Apple’s BIGGEST design flaw gets (sort of) fixed by this YouTuber’s 3D-printed plastic accessory

Posted on 08/04/2022 by Sarang Sheth

For a YouTube channel named Unnecessary Inventions, this might be their most necessary one yet…

If you’ve been on the internet long enough, you’ll have come across Matty Benedetto or one of his hundreds of creations that solve some of the world’s most ridiculous problems, like wanting to eat an Oreo without hands, or wanting your sunglasses and AirPods to exist as one singular device. Benedetto finds ridiculous problems and over-engineers even more absurd solutions, prototyping them and putting them to the test (some are even available on his web store)… although this problem may not be so ridiculous after all. Widely touted as Apple’s biggest design flaw, the company’s Magic Mouse is infamous for needing to be flipped over in order to charge it, making it entirely useless in the process. It’s inelegant, and the only (logical) explanation seems to be the fact that Apple doesn’t want you using the mouse while you charge it, but Benedetto has a clever solution that defies it all… well, sort of.

Designer: Matt Benedetto (Unnecessary Inventions)

Having faced this problem too, Benedetto decided to tackle it head-on, or rather, underside-on, because that’s where the charging port is located on the Apple Magic Mouse. Benedetto’s solution just involved bending the wire and introducing a makeshift trolley that still allows you to slide the mouse around your mousepad/desk WITH the bent wire. Simple, isn’t it?

Made from 2 pieces of 3D-printed plastic, with massive ball-bearings on either side, this unnecessary invention lets you route an L-shaped lightning cable through it and right into the charging port. On the other side of the mouse lies its optical sensor, which Benedetto believes wouldn’t get affected too much, because his invention literally props the Magic Mouse up instead of having it lay flat against the surface. Using the Magic Mouse with this nifty gadget actually proved that his calculations were right, and that the optical sensor could, in fact, still work even when angled ever-so-gently… but that wasn’t where Benedetto’s solution ran into a brick wall.

Much to his chagrin, Benedetto discovered (quite literally the hard way) that no matter what sort of over-engineered solution he would come up with, it was doomed to fail. You see, the evil folk at Apple didn’t just awkwardly place the charging port on the Magic Mouse… they also built a kill-switch into it which would cause the mouse to NOT WORK while charging. Pretty devious, isn’t it? I guess it’s just Tim Cook’s way of telling us all to just buy the Magic Trackpad instead.

The post Apple’s BIGGEST design flaw gets (sort of) fixed by this YouTuber’s 3D-printed plastic accessory first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meet the unnecessary designs that have taken the internet by storm: Part 3

Posted on 01/04/2020 by Neha Mistry

It’s April first, aka April Fool’s Day! While we are acutely aware of how COVID-19 pandemic has us safely quarantined in our homes for the near future, we can’t help but worry over this nightmare and hope for some relief. So much so that many of us (including me) lost sight of the fact that its April’s Fools Day, the day traditionally filled with light-hearted pranks. Today we decided to push the gloomy news aside and bring to you some well-designed entertaining products that according to their designer and creator are completely unnecessary, but are sure to bring some well-deserved laughter and brighten up your day! Meet Matt Benedetto, the designer running the Instagram page Unnecessary Inventions whose inventions have taken the internet by storm!

They say two is better than one but in this case, one is more than enough to take on both of your pockets. We are talking about the Solo Stash, a uni-pocket that stretches across the back of your jeans, providing a huge space to store all things extra. Now only if we could store this lot and sit down comfortably…

Even after the COVID-19 dies down a bit, we are going to require self-discipline and prevention techniques that ensure we don’t revive the pandemic. Built following the CDC guidelines, the Pandemic Prevention Utility Belt comes with spandex connected strings that won’t let your hands touch your face! The utility belt comes with 2 spare ‘hands’, one for shaking hands with the people you meet so you don’t seem disrespectful while the other hand comes with an attached sleeve for you to sneeze into! Lastly, two hand-washing pockets are attached at the front of this multi-functional gadget to keep your hands washed and clean at all times.

For the days when you are too cold to flip people off but just have to, because how else would you display your feelings for them, you have the Flippin’ Mittens! Designed to keep your fingers warm and your opinions public, this mitten arrives with a very specific middle-finger cutout that can be flexed to flip people off without losing the warm sanctuary of your mittens.

Do you know those moments in life when you need to have a nugget to keep you going? This necklace is for all the breakfast, pre-lunch, post-lunch or whatever-ungodly-hour times the cravings strike. Whenever the chicken nugget fervor rises, the Nuggie Necklace is here to rescue you. If you ask me, I would take this over a Batmobile any day, unless the Batmobile has a nugget compartment!

Summer is almost here and who wants to waste all that time rubbing deodorant on our armpits? Well, now you don’t have to! The Dual-Odorant comes equipped with two deodorant sticks (go with the same fragrance or you can even mix them up for fun) that lets you get minty-fresh pits in half the time!

Stylishly transparent, the Transpari Pockets permanently solves the lifelong question – which pant has my wallet and keys?! Providing guaranteed 100% transparent plastic and durability, this hottest piece from the fashion runaways is the perfect mix of functionality and a certain, umm…shall we say, aesthetic quality!

This state-of-the-art Offensive Snowball Maker has you prepped for the upcoming winter. In fact, we are so impressed by it, we might just take it out with us to the beach and make sand structures of this perfectly sculpted middle-finger shaped mold. Who would dare to anyone kick my sandcastle now (evil laughter)!

Don’t you just hate it when you want to listen to your music with only one AirPod but the sound stops the moment you remove the unwanted earbud? Worry not, the ExtraEar Pod is here to hold onto the extra earbud while you single-handedly (I mean ear-ly) listen to your favorite tunes!

This invention might just become a real-life bestseller! Meet the Crapper Concealer- your best buddy for those days you know you will let out some obnoxiously smelly fumes and don’t want to be recognized by your neighbors in the adjoining stalls by your uniquely fabulous shoes. Just enter the loo, put on your Crapper Concealers and happily go about making the space unfit for human occupation!

Have you been poked in the eye or lost your noodles, dumpling, or food in general to chopsticks manhandling? The Handy Chops are here to save your morsel! These hand-shaped chopsticks carry all the style of the chopsticks without requiring any kung-fu ability to take the food to your mouth. Now conveniently eat with hands, albeit not you own.

If you’re interested in more unnecessary yet intriguing designs like these, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this series!

Meet the unnecessary designs that have taken the internet by storm: Part 2!

Posted on 26/12/2019 by Srishti Mitra

For a product to really work for us, and for it to work well, it needs to be jam-packed with high functionality, and promise to solve at least some critical issues for us. However, Matt Benedetto, creator of the Unnecessary Inventions page on Instagram, develops products to solve problems that don’t exist. Or maybe they do exist, and we just don’t consider them a problem, until we come across one of his solution-oriented products! And to be honest, I have half a mind to purchase at least a few of these!

Popping bubbles on bubble wrapping paper is a guilty pleasure of its own, something we’ve all indulged in at some point or the other. The Burst Your Bubble Belt Buckle allows you to strap bubble wrap onto your belt using this special utility device. Feeling stressed at work, or just simply saturated with life? Keep bursting bubbles all day along with this buckle, relieving yourself of all your worries!

If you own AirPods, you know the feeling when one of them goes missing, and you’re left sitting with only one pod in hand. You’re probably even more familiar with the feeling of rushing about trying to find it, the relief that follows when you do, or the shame if you never do. Benedetto’s BulkPods comprises of a super cool charging case filled with enough AirPods to last you a lifetime. An accompanying lanyard helps you to attach it to your belt or bag, and you can carry the case stuffed with AirPods everywhere.

If you’ve ever stepped on a piece of LEGO, you know there’s no pain worse than that. The Lego Socks were designed to make sure you never experience it again. Put on the socks, and try walking on pieces of LEGO. The flexible sole with a geometric hole pattern picks up the LEGO bricks, allowing them to get attached to it. And you’ll feel no pain at all!

The Tear-Rings is a pair of earrings to wipe away those treacherous tears! Pop these earrings into your ears, and let yourself have a little cry if you need one. Tug out some tissue paper from them, and wipe away those tears when you’re good to go. Refillable cartridges for the tissues arrive every other day on a subscription basis. Prepare yourself for some neat and tidy crying sessions!

Another product that’s even better equipped to handle your crying sessions! The Sobbing Spectacles feature two highly absorbent sponges to soak up your tears as you cry along. Carry these around with you everywhere, and shed a couple of tears without any fear. Simply squeeze out the salty water once you’re done, and the spectacles are as good as new!

Our Instagram feeds are always overflowing with posts, and going through them all can sometimes end up feeling like a chore. Here’s where the Swipe-n-Like 4000 comes in. The little robot will automatically swipe through your feed for you, while its proprietary algorithm will like all the pictures that are suited for your Instagram and you! Give your fingers a quick break from the constant swiping.

JiffyCuts combines four nail cutters into one. You can now cut all your fingernails in one go, rather than going through them one by one. A nail cutting solution that not only saves time but makes the experience a lot more fun than you expected!

You know when you pick up a baguette from the bakery and just wish you had a suitable bag to carry it in? Well, me neither, but somebody out there must. The Baguette Pack is an ergonomically designed pouch featuring the perfect shape and size to carry a baguette. Simply slide the baguette in, and stroll home knowing your piece of bread is completely protected!

Now here’s one design I definitely need! The Chip-Xractor is a patented high-suction device with an ergonomically designed tip, that sucks out that last chip at the bottom of the can. No more struggling to fish out the final chip with this 4X long turbine shaft equipped design! An accompanying can holster allows you to carry a can of chips with you everywhere.

The MegaPod is basically a ginormous and supersized AirPod! Our tiny little AirPods can be exceedingly easy to lose, however, that’ll never happen with The MegaPod. The 12″ headphone does everything at a 100X scale. Simply place the pod near your ear, and have yourself an XL audio experience!

With Facebook around, we have practically no privacy…except in the washroom. But The Zucker-Rug promises to invade that as well! The bathmat has moisture sensors to know when you shower, sound recording to identify when the sink is running, and smell-o-vision for when you use the toilet, with all this data reported back to Facebook!

If you’re interested in more unnecessary yet intriguing designs like these, check out the Part 1 of this series!

Meet the unnecessary designs that have taken the internet by storm!

Posted on 08/08/2019 by Neha Mistry

Form and functionality – these are the core factors that define any good product design! But this one innovator has us scratching our heads with his ingenious take on some problems we may or may not have, with solutions that are as innovative as the trouble itself! Meet Matt Benedetto, creator of the Unnecessary Inventions page on Instagram who creates solutions, from his recently viral Croc Gloves, a version of Thanos’s gauntlet that comes with sauces for all your chip dipping needs, to even a Pizza Fanny Pack, that to be honest, would be a fun carry-on for those days when you just need that slice of pizza to make everything better!

Crocs Gloves feature all the best things from the shoes, including that thick foam material and safety strap. Start getting all your household chores done in style.

Incognito Kicks lets you feel the ground beneath you where ever you go. Just slip on these comfortable loafers and enjoy the sensation of walking barefoot while maintaining the appearance of appropriate attire.

This Avengers-inspired Infinity Saucelet brings all your fast food dreams to life in one snap of your fingers. This extremely powerful gauntlet can wield the power of all of your favorite fast food sauces all at once. Cover everything in sauce… whatever it takes.

The Pizza FannyPack lets you carry your precious pizza, anywhere – anytime! Strap on our futuristic fanny pack that features two transparent pouches for your favorite slices on the go! The rugged waist strap has a high impact resistant buckle and reflector for a safe Pizza Party on the go.

Meet the TetherPods If you are sick and tired of your Apple AirPods always falling out or getting lost, then I have exciting news for you. Those issues are now a thing of a past with our signature iPhone Case that features an attached flexible cord that easily slides onto each AirPod. Always have a secure lifeline directly to your phone.

The UtilityNails are here for any home improvement job. Simply secure these rugged steel nails with superglue and have all your tools at the tips of your hands. It features wrenches, screwdrivers, and an Allen key!

The Digits Comb for the times you just don’t want to run your hands through your hair, simply use our silicone fingers comb. Breeze through your hair as if you would be doing it with your own hands to get each strand back in its place.

Scooter Computer Commuter lets you grab your electric scooter and get those TPS Reports done before you even get to work. This stand-up desk is designed specifically for your electric scooter to ensure you are making the best use of your time. Now back to work and don’t be late!

Wearing the FlopFlips means you can reverse your steps to ditch that stalker on the beach. These sandals feature a backward sole to ensure all your footprints always appear to be traveling the opposite direction you are walking.

With EyeWiped you can swish and say goodbye to those annoying raindrops on your sunglasses. Outfitted with water detecting sensors, automatically wipe away any water that gets onto your lenses when you are out and about. Finally no need to take your shades off during that class 5 hurricane.

The SockLocker is a solution for all who are sick and tired of always losing just one of your favorite socks! Completely turn your life around with our handy little sock storage device so you never misplace any of your precious socks. Three proprietary sock hangers are included to neatly and safely hang your sock collection.

The Voyage Sleep Mask Makes Snoozing On Long Trips Easier

Posted on 09/10/2018 by Sarang Sheth

Designer Matt Benedetto loves to travel. As a result, he knows pretty much every con there is to traveling. Whether it’s not having the correct travel bag to accommodate your luggage, or whether it’s the fatigue associated with red-eye flights, Matt has spent a sufficient amount of time designing products that make traveling and spending time outdoors easier.

Designed to make long commutes easier, the Voyage Sleep Mask is a padded microbead eye mask that follows the contours of your face to absolutely cut out any light that might sneak in. The padded pillowy eye-mask applies a light pressure on your eyes, not only keeping light from trickling in, but also massaging them to lull you into a slumber. The lycra construction on the outside stretches wonderfully to fit around your face, while the microfiber inner lining feels great against the skin and eyes. With a velcro strap at the back, you can strap the sleep mask around your head as tight or loose as you want, and the mask comes with its own miniature nylon drawstring bag that you can easily fold your Sleep Mask into and stash in your travel bag.

Benedetto’s Sleep Mask works perfectly with the travel pillow he designed last year. Both come with a microbead filling that adjusts to the contours of your body, giving you a comfortable and snug surface to rest against as you grab a few winks. The eye mask’s puffy design also makes it great for sleeping with your head facing downwards… because there’s nothing worse than wasting a 10-hour flight trying to catch some shut-eye and not getting any!

Designer: Matt Benedetto

Click here to Buy Now: $20.00

The Voyage Sleep Mask is the compact and adjustable sleep mask with 360° microbead padding for the perfect nap for your daily commute, a mid-day power nap, camping adventure, international flight, and anywhere in between!

360° PADDED COMFORT

The Voyage Sleep Mask features 360° microbead padded comfort around your entire head to allow for maximum support when it’s time for you to take a nap. Find your own perfect position to rest your eyes knowing you’ll find comfort and support from any angle.

MULTI-LAYER MICROBEAD SUPPORT

They designed the Voyage Sleep Mask with their multi-layer support for equal distribution of padding throughout. Never worry about the microbeads falling all to one section of the Voyage Sleep Mask.

ADJUSTABLE VELCRO DESIGN

Enjoy the perfect fit around your head with our fully adjustable velcro design. This design allows the Voyage Sleep Mask to fit almost any head shape and size while enabling the customization of pressure against your face.

Use the velcro to loosely wear it around your neck for quick access between naps.

COMPACT DESIGN & CARRYING CASE

Bring your Voyage Sleep Mask with you on every adventure with our included carrying case! Simply Roll the sleep mask in a compact ball before heading out. The carrying case features our signature water-resistant nylon fabric found within our Voyage Bag which features a custom two tone topographic print and a paracord closure.

Simply roll it up into the carrying case and be on your way to your next adventure.

FABRIC DESIGN

They selected the best possible fabrics to add flexibility with a soft touch and feel against your body for amazing comfort. The exterior fabric is comprised of our flexible poly-spandex blend fabric which allows to a light stretch to move with your body just as you do. The interior plush fleece fabric will feel extremely soft again your skin allowing you to easily and comfortably fall asleep.

MULITPLE COLORS & MINIMAL BRANDING

select the colorway that best fits your life! Similar they strive to let their products speak for themselves! The Voyage Sleep Mask features extremely minimal branding to never get in the way of your next nap!

Click here to Buy Now: $20.00

The Voyage Chair Brilliantly Combines Backpack and Backrest!

Posted on 09/05/2018 by Sarang Sheth

Wanting to literally be the only thing you carry to the beach, Sondre Travel’s Voyage Chair is nothing short of marvelous. Matt Benedetto’s latest design is a beach chair + backpack hybrid, allowing you to carry it around on shoulder straps and assemble it on site with a literal flick of your wrist. Much more than a chair, the Voyage is a backpack of sorts too, letting you carry all your beach paraphernalia to and from the beach in a series of compartments sensibly designed to be accessible without being a hindrance. Built with an aluminum tube construction, the beach chair folds open and closed pretty easily, and can recline at five different angles. Wooden armrests give your hands a flat, comfortable surface to rest on (without heating up like the metal).

Built with a tropical fabric that’s eye-catching yet breathable, the Voyage Chair genuinely looks like a good backpack and chair, allowing you to spot it from the distance among all the other flat-colored beach chairs. The chair comes with a breathable mesh base that lets you dry off fast after a dip in the water, and even allows sand to pass through, so you don’t take the beach back with you on your way home! With no shortage of compartments, the Voyage Chair has two insulated pockets on the back that are large enough to fit 6 cans of chilled beverages, along with a third pocket for food, sunscreen, or anything else you may need to carry. It also has easy-access pockets near the armrests, letting you store one drink in an insulated pocket, as well as a phone and power bank or wireless speaker in the other pockets on the opposite armrest. The Voyage also comes with an adjustable head-pillow that provides comfort as well as covert storage, allowing you to stash valuables in its back panel that remains hidden from the eye.

One has to admit Benedetto has an incredible eye for detail and a knack for being able to spot problem areas and solve them with ingenuity. Take for instance the Voyage Chair’s towel rack on the back, that lets you hang a wet towel on it, but also doubles up as a support pillar for your headrest when the chair is completely in recline mode. The Voyage chair knows how to be functional yet aesthetic, looking absolutely balanced as opposed to bulky and cumbersome. It even features a carabiner clip on its base, allowing you to securely clip an additional backpack to the chair in case you need to carry more than one item of baggage. Made to tick all boxes, the Voyage Chair is portable, sensible, and solves all problems it sets its eyes on. This is literally the ultimate beach chair!

Designer: Matt Benedetto

Click here to Buy Now: $69.00

Custom Vibrant Fabric

All beach chairs have a similar boring look with solid colors and stripes. We wanted the Voyage Chair to stand out against the crowd, so we created our own premium 600D Polyester custom printed fabric. Our tough polyester fabric features an eye-catching multi-colored paint stroke design. Quickly spot your chair anywhere on the beach.

Poly-Mesh Seat

When sitting on the Voyage Chair, the seat is constructed with a unique poly-mesh material. This fabric will have extra flexibility to adapt to your body for additional comfort.

Similarly the poly-mesh fabric will help increase airflow and allow sand to easily fall through for less of a mess when enjoying the beach or packing up to head home.

Durable Frame & Wooden Armrests

The Voyage Chair is constructed with a the tough aluminum frame. Its soft matte finish is rust proof and has a total capacity of 300lbs.

Other beach chairs have flimsy plastic armrests that heat up quickly under the sun. However the Voyage Chair features real wood armrests with a smooth finish for a premium and durable feel.

Padded Shoulder Straps

Go to and from the beach comfortably with our adjustable wider and padded shoulder straps. Have the support you need even when the Voyage Chair is completely packed!

Secret Access Pocket

Everyone travels with valuable items on them at all times, from your wallet to your smartphone. It’s important to keep those items safe everywhere you go. The Voyage Chair’s has a secret access zipper pocket located behind included pillow.

Secure Bag Carabiner

If you have an additional bag with you for the day, you can securely attach it to the secure carabiner clip to keep any other items completely safely. Take a nap in the sun knowing your belongings aren’t going anywhere!

Dual Can Sleeves

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice cold beverage when relaxing in the sun? The back of the Voyage Chair sports two insulated can sleeves that perfectly can fit three 12oz. cans in each sleeve.

Larger Compartment & Mesh Pocket

The exterior mesh pocket has an open top for quick and easy access for other accessories you might want to bring such as flip flops, a speaker, frisbee, a book and much more!

Arm Rest Pockets

Have everything thing need within reach with two convenient arm rest pockets. On the left side, there is a dual flat pocket compartment perfect for your smartphone, a speaker, sunscreen, and much more.

Five Comfortable Positions

Find the perfect angle when enjoying the sun with five adjustable positions in the Voyage Chair. Each position locks securely in place to relax whichever way works best for you.

Fold Out Drying Rod

The fold out rod on the back of the Voyage Chair can also double as a drying rack. It locks securely in place to handle the weight of a wet towel or clothing to dry as you enjoy your day.

Adjustable Pillow

The included pillow on the Voyage Chair is completely adjustable to maximize comfort.

Easy Grip Handle

For a quick grab and go, there is an easy grip handle located on the top of the Voyage Chair. Perfect for those times when you need to grab it out of your car or moving locations on the beach.

Click here to Buy Now: $69.00

The Twice-as-awesome Travel Bag

Posted on 13/11/2017 by Sarang Sheth

It took this world a long time to reach this moment in time where we have a product like the Voyage Pillow. Matt Benedetto’s keen eye and urge to solve problems that no one else is solving gave us an incredible product in the Voyage Pillow, that’s part pillow, part eye-mask, and full awesomeness.

Matt’s problem solving approach is rather optimistic in the sense it takes on multiple challenges, combining different plus-points, and oftentimes different products into one solution. The Voyage Pillow solved more than two problem statements and the resultant product saw itself fitting into multiple scenarios. The Voyage Bag is no different in the sense that it tackles multiple problems, becoming a product that morphs into multiple variations as a result, and honestly, that’s a really neat approach because it makes the bag appeal to multiple user personas.

The Voyage Bag is literally a bag that accompanies you on your voyages no matter what they are, short or long, big or small. It seamlessly transforms from a spacious backpack with enough storage for an entire weekend out, to a duffel bag for a quick business trip, to even a gym bag. The bag comes with multiple handles for easy carrying in both vertical and horizontal configurations, a single shoulder sling-strap that can be detached and attached on convenience, and two hidden backpack straps that you can unzip to reveal. Depending on your type of journey, the Voyage Bag changes its avatars to make traveling comfortable for your ever-changing needs. On the inside, the Voyage Bag takes care of every need. The spacious duffel comes with a laptop slot and even a smaller slot for tablets, ebooks, or regular books. Aside from that, it even has two slots for an extra pair of shoes. The circular shape of the bag proves more than ideal for sports equipment. The insides of the bag come in an electric blue fabric, allowing you to see inside the bag clearly, and spot the items you need… another testament to Benedetto’s keen problem-solving eye! The bag’s outside comes in a durable, water-proof fabric (including the zips). Available in a grey/black melange, the bag sees itself being easily used everywhere from leisure to work, to even the gym. What’s more, the bag comes with easy access outer pockets for all your necessities, and a size that makes it just ideal for stowing away on overhead cabins in planes. Pair that with the Voyage Pillow, and you’ve got everything you need to travel with absolute peace of mind!

Designer: Matt Benedetto of Sondre Travel

Click here to Buy Now: $79.00 ~~$109.00~~

The 2-in-1 design allows you to adapt the Voyage Bag mid-trip to allow for the most comfortable traveling experience.

The included shoulder strap quickly clips onto the two black metal rings to comfortably carry the Voyage Bag across your chest.

Two easy to grab handles are located on the top and middle of the bag for those times when you want to head out in a flash!

For longer trips, the Voyage Bag is compatible with your roller luggage!

We wanted the Voyage Bag to adapt to your life for any occasion from your daily commute, heading to class, a weekend carry-on, camping, and any adventure you could imagine!

You can easily store your shoes, separate clean and dirty laundry, keep your water bottle in place, pack carry-on essentials, or simply not use them at all! The possibilities are truly endless!

The interior zip pocket is perfect for those small valuable items you want to keep safely inside and away.