Minimalist Phone Takes On Teenage Engineering-inspired Design To Offer Hyper-Functionality

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This phone is so minimal it doesn’t even have a name. This brick-ish beauty comes from the mind of Keziah Mendjisky, an industrial design student out of Paris. The idea is simple, how much can you take away from current phones to give you something that feels like a phone and performs like a phone, but doesn’t have any of the distractions? Mendjisky’s attempt at re-envisioning a connectivity device is gorgeously risqué, resulting in something that you’d first think was a calculator.

Grab it, however, and you’ll realize it doesn’t have your calculator’s layout. The numbers are laid out like a phone, starting from the top unlike a calculator (which starts from the bottom), there are volume and playback keys, and two conspicuous buttons marked green and red, which become obvious once you realize they’re for answering or rejecting calls. Everything gets packaged in a design format that would make folks at Braun or Teenage Engineering very happy – the use of white, the employment of tactile surfaces, and just the right amount of fun without making the device look like an unserious toy.

Designer: Keziah Mendjisky

“This concept rethinks what a phone should be in a world of constant distraction. No glass screen. No endless scrolling,” says Mendjisky. One could argue that ‘no glass screen’ might be pushing things a little too far, but the minimal phone he designed with this very constraint still feels ‘cool’. The screen is replaced by a backlit plastic panel with a dot-matrix light-up display – think screen on your Ember thermos or the Mui Board Gen 2.

The top right corner of the display is dedicated to the time and weather. The left, however, is where the main elements are visible, A very tactile scroll wheel lets you quickly jump through functions or contacts, while a green or red button lets you call or disconnect. In the middle, a speaker key lets you activate the loudspeaker mode while on calls, with the speaker unit itself right above the button array.

The rest of the buttons lack a concrete explanation, but it’s easy to infer what they could be for. Numbers dial numbers, obviously, but there’s a T9 keyboard underneath too, presumably for searching contacts or texting. Forward and rewind buttons could possibly hint at voicemail playback, although the phone apparently handles media too. Most buttons are concave, making them reliable to press, although a few critical buttons have an embossed/extruded design, probably hinting at more core functionality.

Phoning is arguably the most important aspect to this minimalist gadget, although Mendjisky’s visuals hint at a few core tools like music playback, navigation, and maybe even an alarm. Plus, given its calculator-esque aesthetic, I’d probably expect a calculator function to be built-in too, but the lack of addition/subtraction/etc buttons does tend to worry me!

The post Minimalist Phone Takes On Teenage Engineering-inspired Design To Offer Hyper-Functionality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Kathleen Kennedy steps down as Lucasfilm president, marking a new era for the Star Wars franchise

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Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm. Although she will continue as a producer for several Star Wars projects, including upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu, the company will now be helmed by a duo in Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. It's a big changing of the guard for Star Wars fans, and marks the start of a fresh chapter for the sci-fi universe. 

Before taking over at Lucasfilm, Kennedy had seen great success as a producer with a couple little films you may have heard of: E.T. and Jurassic Park. She became Lucasfilm's president in 2012 when the company was acquired by Disney. At that point, it had been several years since the last Star Wars movie; Revenge of the Sith closed out the generally panned prequel trilogy in 2005. Fans' best option for Star Wars content was The Clone Wars, a standalone film and animated series which were well-regarded but primarily popular among the hardcore devotees rather than reaching the widespread cultural relevance of the prior feature films. 

During Kennedy's tenure, Star Wars returned to the big screen with The Force Awakens in 2015. Although that J.J. Abrams-led trilogy was also a roller coaster for many fans, it marked a renaissance for the franchise. Lucasfilm embarked on two standalone movies in Rogue One and Solo, which generated yet more buzz and more money for the company. Star Wars got the full cinematic universe treatment, with critically acclaimed live-action television projects and several new video games. The world fell in love with Baby Yoda. Ewan McGregor finally got to don his Obi-Wan Kenobi robe in a better vehicle. The franchise was back in the mainstream, with the budgets and expectations of media behemoth Disney at its back. No matter your feelings on the current state of Star Wars, it's an impressive accomplishment by Kennedy and a big legacy that she leaves behind at Lucasfilm.

So now that Lucasfilm has arguably ended this phase on a high note, what's next? Dave Filoni moving into the top spot isn't much of a surprise. He's long been seen by fans and seemingly by the company as George Lucas' spiritual successor. Filoni was also the showrunner on The Clone Wars back in the day and has been involved in some capacity with many of the recent TV series, most notably The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. All that history means his new role of President and Chief Creative Officer is pretty expected, and the Star Wars faithful likely feel that they are in good hands. 

As the title implies, Filoni will be responsible for the artistic side of the operation, while as Co-President, Lynwen Brennan will be in charge of the business side. Brennan may be a less familiar name, but her tenure with Lucas' businesses dates back to 1999 when she joined the legendary effects studio Industrial Light & Magic. Dividing the art and the commerce can yield good results if the two are able to find a good synergy. Star Wars has proven that it's a moneymaker even when the films and series aren't particularly well-received, but here's hoping that Filoni and Brennan will each be able to maintain high standards for Lucasfilm and the Star Wars fandom.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/kathleen-kennedy-steps-down-as-lucasfilm-president-marking-a-new-era-for-the-star-wars-franchise-003407687.html?src=rss

Swedish Design Transforms 290 Square Feet into a Multifunctional Sanctuary

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Swedish builder Vagabond Haven has unveiled Julia, a thoughtfully designed tiny home that proves downsizing doesn’t mean compromising on comfort or style. At 26 feet long and nearly 10 feet wide, this compact dwelling packs an impressive 290 square feet of living space into a layout that feels both spacious and intimate. Categorized as extra large in Vagabond Haven’s lineup, Julia represents the company’s latest innovation in creating homes that embrace the “slow life” philosophy while meeting the practical demands of modern living.

Julia’s design centers around a large open kitchen and dining area, anchored by generous glazing that floods the interior with natural light. The thoughtfully planned kitchen comes fully equipped with a sink, small fridge, oven, and induction cooktop, providing everything needed for preparing meals in a compact footprint. The dining space features a large table that can accommodate family and friends, complemented by integrated storage seating that maximizes every inch of available space. This open layout creates a welcoming atmosphere that makes the home feel larger than its modest square footage suggests.

Designer: Vagabond Haven

What sets Julia apart is its clever multifunctional design that adapts to different lifestyle needs throughout the day. The home includes a dedicated mini-office space that easily transforms into a relaxation nook with a hammock, perfect for those seeking a quick escape from daily routines. This flexibility makes the space ideal for remote workers who need a professional environment that can shift into leisure mode. The sleeping arrangements showcase equally practical thinking about modern family needs, with a spacious ground-floor bedroom that benefits from generous windows continuing the light-filled aesthetic throughout the home. Above, a sleeping loft provides a cozy retreat for guests or family members, offering enough room for a comfortable night’s sleep with optional skylights for stargazing.

Perhaps Julia’s most unique feature is its net-mezzanine, an innovative design element that adds an unexpected playful dimension to the space. The interior showcases elegant plywood walls that blend rustic charm with contemporary style, a finish that adds warmth to every corner, and has become so popular it’s now available across all Vagabond Haven models. Buyers can also choose spruce for the walls, paired with laminate flooring to complete the Scandinavian aesthetic that gives the home its distinctive character. These material choices create an environment that exudes rustic chalet vibes while maintaining a clean, modern sensibility.

Built for year-round living in harsh Scandinavian conditions, Julia features robust construction designed to last generations. The home sits on a steel frame for durability, with exterior cladding options of ThermoWood or spruce siding that provide both weather resistance and timeless visual appeal. The construction includes a lightweight aluminum roof, mineral wool insulation throughout the walls, well-insulated two-pane windows, and an entrance door with tempered glass. Vagabond Haven has equipped Julia with modern sustainable features, including ceiling-mounted LED lights with dimmers, solar system capability, an energy-saving water heater, freshwater tank and pump, rainwater harvesting system, and comprehensive ventilation throughout with a recuperator for energy efficiency.

The result is a tiny home that successfully bridges the gap between solitude and community, offering a serene retreat that welcomes family and friends while maintaining the intimate character that makes tiny living so appealing. Julia demonstrates that thoughtful design can create a peaceful sanctuary where work, relaxation, and social connection coexist harmoniously in a compact footprint, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to embrace a simpler, more intentional way of living.

The post Swedish Design Transforms 290 Square Feet into a Multifunctional Sanctuary first appeared on Yanko Design.

Six-Legged LEGO Technic Walker Moves Like a Real Creature Thanks To Pure Mechanical Engineering

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Walking machines are hard. Really hard. Which is why most LEGO motorized builds stick to wheels or treads, and the ones that do attempt legs usually end up with something that shuffles more than it strides. But every so often someone figures out the mechanical magic trick that makes it work, and this six-legged walker currently on LEGO Ideas is one of those builds that actually delivers on the promise. The creator has managed to build something that moves with genuine fluidity, the kind where you can see the weight transfer from leg to leg.

The secret is in the gearing system. Rather than trying to program each leg’s movement independently, the build uses variable-speed gears that automatically adjust leg velocity based on where it is in the stride cycle. Slow and deliberate when the foot is planted, quick when it swings through the air. Combined with a vertical stabilization mechanism and shock-absorbing feet, you get something that can handle real terrain rather than just demonstration videos on smooth surfaces. It’s styled as a space exploration rover complete with a crew cabin and solar panels, leaning into that AT-AT aesthetic without directly copying it.

Designer: Alexis_MOCs_FR

Here’s the thing about making LEGO walk. You can throw servos at the problem and program every joint independently, which is how Boston Dynamics does it and why their robots cost more than a house. Or you can do what Theo Jansen did with his Strandbeest sculptures and let the mechanism itself figure out the gait. Jansen’s beach creatures run on wind power and pure geometry, converting constant rotation into this weirdly organic walking motion that makes you forget you’re watching PVC pipe and zip ties. That’s the approach Alexis_MOCs_FR took here, using two L motors and a gear train that does all the thinking mechanically. No Arduino, no sensor feedback loops, just smart engineering that exploits the physics of rotating linkages.

The look is peak 1970s futurism. White body panels, black structural framework, blue solar arrays, elevated cockpit with room for two astronaut minifigs. There’s a satellite dish up top because of course there is. The whole thing sits maybe 12 to 16 inches tall based on minifig scale, and all that gearing is completely visible. Some builds try to hide the mechanism under cosmetic panels, but here the exposed gear trains are the entire point. Watching the motion transfer from motors down through the variable-speed system and into the legs is genuinely mesmerizing, like those transparent mechanical watch movements that cost absurd money because people will pay to see the machinery work.

The vertical stabilization bit is where you can tell someone really understood the assignment. When your upper leg is swinging through a 60 or 70 degree arc, keeping the foot flat on the ground becomes this annoying trigonometry problem. Most people either accept some wobble or add complexity with extra actuators. This build has a sliding element in the lower leg that compensates for the angle automatically. Upper leg tilts, slider adjusts, foot stays vertical. It’s passive, it’s reliable, and it’s the kind of solution that only works because someone actually prototyped this thing instead of just CAD modeling it and calling it a day.

High-stepping gaits hit hard. You’re lifting legs way off the ground and slamming them back down at whatever speed your motors can manage. Without damping, every impact rattles through the structure and either knocks gears out of alignment or turns the whole thing into a vibrating mess. Custom shock absorbers at each foot solve this, which is why the creator can apparently run it over rumpled blankets and piles of Kapla blocks without it face-planting. The build is allegedly both lightweight and robust, which sounds like marketing speak until you consider that you need enough mass for stability but not so much that momentum tears the gear teeth apart during direction changes.

The project is currently in its very early stages, with 424 more days to gather votes and hit the next milestone. If it gets to the coveted 10,000 mark, LEGO actually reviews it for production. The Technic lineup has been pretty safe lately, lots of supercars and construction equipment but not much that pushes mechanical boundaries. This thing demonstrates actual engineering innovation, the kind where someone solved hard problems with clever solutions instead of just adding more motors. If you want to see it become a real set, go cast your vote on the LEGO Ideas website!

The post Six-Legged LEGO Technic Walker Moves Like a Real Creature Thanks To Pure Mechanical Engineering first appeared on Yanko Design.

Senate passes minibus bill funding NASA, rejecting Trump’s proposed cuts

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After a tumultuous 2025 that saw it lose around 4,000 employees, NASA finally has an operating budget for 2026, and one that largely preserves its scientific capabilities. On Thursday, the Senate passed an appropriations bill funding NASA, alongside the National Science Foundation and a handful of other federal agencies. 

Going into the appropriations process, the president called for a 24 percent year over year reduction to NASA's total operating budget. As part of that plan, the White House wanted to reduce the Science Mission Directorate's funding by nearly half, a move that would have forced NASA to cancel 55 ongoing and planned missions, including efforts like OSIRIS-APEX. The bill effectively rejects President Trump's plan, reducing NASA's total operating budget by just 1.6 percent year over year to $24.4 billion. 

Per the new appropriations, NASA's science budget will stand at $7.25 billion, 1.1 percent less relative to fiscal 2024, while shuffling the remaining funds to focus on different priorities. For instance, the House and Senate allocated $874 million (+8.7 percent) for the agency's heliophysics work; planetary sciences, which oversees missions like New Horizons, was cut to $2.5 billion (-6.5 percent) compared to 2024. At the same time, NASA's STEM engagement office, which the president proposed eliminating, escaped unscathed with its funding maintained at parity.

"It's almost everything we had been asking for, and it's very encouraging to see a House and Senate run by the president's own party agreeing that we need to keep investing in things like NASA science," says Casey Dreier, chief of policy at the Planetary Society, a nonprofit founded by Carl Sagan that advocates for the exploration and study of space. "It contains very clear and direct language that not only is this funding made available to these projects, but that it will be spent on the initiatives that Congress states."

Lawmakers also rejected Trump's effort to scuttle the Space Launch System after its third flight. NASA's heavy-lift rocket is billions of dollars over budget, but remains — as of now — the only spacecraft ready to ferry astronauts to the Moon. Compared to the rest of NASA, the fate of the SLS was never really in doubt. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) secured funding for the rocket as part of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. "I've been saying for a long time you should never underestimate the political coalition behind the SLS, and I think that was very much validated this year," says Dreier. 

More importantly, it appears the Goddard Space Flight Center will be safe from further damage. Over the summer, the future of the facility, known for its work on projects like the James Webb Space Telescope, was put in jeopardy. By some estimates, the campus has lost a third of its staff due to workforce cuts, and dozens of buildings, including some 100 laboratories, have been shut down by management. One of the casualties was NASA's largest library, which houses irreplaceable documents chronicling the history of the space race. As part of a "consolidation" effort, many of those documents will be thrown out.

Under the appropriations bill, the Senate has directed NASA to “preserve all the technical and scientific world-class capabilities at Goddard.” It has also instructed the agency to ensure employees of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies are able to continue their work with "minimal disruption." The New York-based office, one of America's leading climate labs, was sent into limbo last spring after the Trump administration moved to shut it down. 

The bill also provides a lifeline for NASA's to bring back samples of Martian dirt collected by the Perseverance rover. Congress has effectively cancelled the official program tied to that ambition, the Mars Sample Return (MSR), but has set aside $110 million for the agency to continue developing technologies for future science missions to the Red Planet. MSR advocates have argued the mission could lead to significant scientific discoveries, but Dreier notes the program was "ripe for cancellation" after it became mired in mismanagement. 

"I worry MSR now has this stink of bloat, excess cost and threat of overruns that are really going to make it challenging to restart this without having a dramatically different approach," says Dreier, adding that deciding what to do with mission will likely be top of mind for the agency's new administrator, Jared Isaacman. 

The 2026 budget leaves NASA with fewer resources. Even in areas where Congress allocated the same amount of funds as it did in 2024, the agency will need to do more with less due to inflation. Compared to the absolute blood bath that would have been Trump's proposed budget, a marginal funding cut is the best case scenario given the circumstances, but the circumstances remain less than ideal. 

"There will be another presidential budget request coming out in the next couple of months," Dreier said. "They could do this all over again if they wanted to."

In the immediate future, NASA and its employees are at least protected from the potential fallout of another impending government shutdown. Congress has until January 30 to fully fund the federal government, and as of earlier this week, it has yet to find a way forward on appropriations for agencies like the Department of Labor.  

Correction 9:05PM ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Casey Dreier’s surename as Drier. We regret the error.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/senate-passes-minibus-bill-funding-nasa-rejecting-trumps-proposed-cuts-231605536.html?src=rss

A $250 billion trade deal will see Taiwan bring more semiconductor production to the US

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The US and Taiwan have signed an agreement that will see a multi-billion dollar investment into domestic development of semiconductors and related infrastructure. The US Department of Commerce announced that Taiwanese businesses will make an upfront investment of at least $250 billion into their US production capacity, while Taiwan's government will provide credit guarantees of at least another $250 billion in support of the semiconductor industry and supply chain in the US. 

In exchange, Taiwan will receive a better deal on tariffs. Reciprocal tariffs will be limited to 15 percent, compared with the previous 20 percent rate. Generic pharmaceuticals and their generic ingredients, aircraft components, and unavailable natural resources will be not be subjected to reciprocal tariffs under the arrangement. Taiwanese companies with US production will also see increased import amounts without being charged duties under the Section 232 framework.  

According to reports from CNBC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSNC) is already in position to take advantage of the new trade agreement with further expansion in Arizona. The major Taiwanese chip manufacturer had previously committed to investing $100 billion in its US operations over four years. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC in an interview that the current US government wants to bring 40 percent of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain stateside, continuing to use tariffs as an incentive. "If they don’t build in America, the tariff’s likely to be 100 percent,” Lutnick said.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/a-250-billion-trade-deal-will-see-taiwan-bring-more-semiconductor-production-to-the-us-224326501.html?src=rss

Bluesky’s ‘Live Now’ badge is available to everyone

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After testing the feature in a limited beta, Bluesky is making its "Live Now" badge for streamers available for everyone on the social network to try. Live Now is included as part of Bluesky's v1.114 update, alongside "cashtags," a separate type of hashtag for collecting conversations about publicly-traded companies.

Bluesky first started testing its Live Now badge in May 2025 with a limited group of accounts, including the official NBA account. The feature lets Twitch streamers with Bluesky profiles append a Live Now badge to their profile picture that links directly to their livestream. Live Now badges are limited to Twitch links for now, but Bluesky says "support for other streaming platforms may follow" as it learns from the beta. Linking to other social platforms shouldn't be a radical concept, but since Bluesky's competitor X has tried to prevent users from posting links in the past, the company has made it a point of trying to do the opposite.

Cashtags are a similar attempt to appeal to a certain type of veteran X user. Originally a feature of pre-Musk Twitter, cashtags work like a hashtag, marking posts in a way that makes them easy to find in a search or by tapping the cashtag itself. On Bluesky, by typing a dollar sign ($) and the stock abbreviation of a company (AAPL for Apple, for example), you can add a cashtag to your post that links it to other posts using the same cashtag. So far, the cultural makeup of Bluesky hasn't seemed as business-oriented as X, but the feature suggests Bluesky wants the option to be available for anyone who jumps ship.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/blueskys-live-now-badge-is-available-to-everyone-223335221.html?src=rss

Louis Vuitton’s Beijing Flagship Turns Retail Into a Vertical, Immersive Journey

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Retail and hospitality design is one of those rare territories where architecture gets to perform on multiple levels at once. It is not just about function or spectacle, but about storytelling, how materials, light, circulation, and atmosphere come together to momentarily detach visitors from the outside world and immerse them in a carefully choreographed experience. The newly opened Maison Louis Vuitton Sanlitun in Beijing is a compelling example of this ambition realized at an urban scale.

Designed by Jun Aoki for Louis Vuitton, the flagship is located in Beijing’s energetic Sanlitun district. The building brings together retail, hospitality, and exhibition spaces within a single vertically organized envelope, offering an experience that unfolds floor by floor rather than spreading outward. In doing so, it rethinks what a luxury flagship can be in one of the city’s most intense commercial neighborhoods.

Designer: Jun Aoki & Associates

The project continues Jun Aoki’s long-standing collaboration with the House, following earlier Louis Vuitton buildings in Tokyo and Osaka. In Beijing, however, his approach feels particularly attuned to context. Rather than competing with Sanlitun’s visual noise, the building introduces a sense of material depth and calibrated transparency. The architecture does not shout; it subtly absorbs and refracts the city around it.

The most striking element is the facade. Drawing inspiration from Taihu stones, scholars’ rocks historically associated with classical Chinese gardens, Aoki translates their eroded, organic character into an outer skin of hand-curved glass panels. Each panel is individually shaped, creating irregular contours and a layered surface that reads differently as daylight shifts. The glass possesses translucent and dichroic qualities, producing chromatic changes that respond to sun angle, weather, and movement. From close range, the facade feels tactile and sculptural; from across the block, reflections stretch and compress, giving the building a constantly changing presence.

Behind this expressive outer layer sits a secondary envelope that handles thermal performance and weather protection. This dual-skin strategy allows the facade to operate simultaneously as cultural reference, environmental filter, and urban interface, an architectural device that balances symbolism with performance.

Inside, visitors enter directly into a central atrium that rises through three levels and organizes the Women’s collections. Daylight filters through the glass facade into this vertical void, animating floors, balustrades, and circulation cores. Retail programs are distributed across four levels, housing Women’s and Men’s Leather Goods, Ready-To-Wear, Shoes, Jewelry, Accessories, Perfumes, and Beauty. Movement remains clear and legible, with escalators and stairs positioned to preserve long sightlines through the atrium and back toward the city. More private client lounges are tucked into quieter zones, defined through subtle shifts in material and lighting rather than overt separation.

A distinct tonal shift occurs on the third floor, where the Louis Vuitton Home collection is presented. Furniture, textiles, and tableware by designers such as Patricia Urquiola and Cristian Mohaded are displayed in rooms scaled closer to domestic interiors, with softer finishes and calmer light, allowing the objects to breathe.

At the top, Le Café Louis Vuitton crowns the building, the brand’s first café in Beijing. Arrival begins with a mirrored vestibule that multiplies reflections before opening into a flowing dining space. The bar references the proportions and layered construction of Louis Vuitton trunks, while a terrace runs along the facade, partially screened by the glass skin and offering views across Sanlitun and the surrounding city.

By combining retail and hospitality within a single architectural envelope, Maison Louis Vuitton Sanlitun demonstrates how experiential design can transcend shopping alone. Through material storytelling, spatial sequencing, and a sensitive response to context, the building creates an immersive world, one that briefly pulls visitors away from Beijing’s relentless pace and invites them into a more deliberate, crafted experience.

The post Louis Vuitton’s Beijing Flagship Turns Retail Into a Vertical, Immersive Journey first appeared on Yanko Design.

Honda enters modular camper market with lightweight, solar-powered trailer

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Honda has built capable off-roading and towing vehicles, but the company has not had a trailer to match. The Japanese auto manufacturer is changing that now with its own towable solar-powered trailer. Weighing under 1,500 lbs., the prototype is light enough to be towed by nearly every SUV, crossover, or EV in Honda’s lineup and even outside.

Designed to rattle the ultralight, modular camper market, the Honda trailer is customizable to make family camping more accessible and enjoyable. Dubbed the Honda Base Station, it is built to be spacious, airy and bright with a rear hatch entry, a slide-out side kitchen, and a pop-up roof that increases headroom and also creates space for additional sleeping at the campsite.

Designer: Honda

The primary objective behind designing the Base Station is to bring the camper experience to more families. In order to achieve that, Honda has kept the prototype trailer incredibly light, which means it can be towed by a wider range of vehicles, opening its accessibility to a bigger audience. The zero-emission towable Honda trailer features a fiberglass upper shell, which rests on a full aluminum cage, including the chassis.

Courtesy of the tailgate entry, an optional teardrop-style door on the side, and five huge windows around the trailer, the interior is very bright. The Base Station opens up to become spacious and packs power options to make it a capable off-grid camper. On the outside, it doesn’t have anything distinct to show, except for the color-changing LED light strip installed around the trailer’s perimeter. On the inside, it’s a whole new ballgame.

Upon entry you get a low floor, useable for storage and maybe hauling a bike. The queen-size bed on the far end folds down from a futon position to sleep a couple. Modular features allow people to use the Base Station however they want. For instance, the roof can be popped up to create seven feet of stand-up space, or use it for an optional bunk bed. The five windows on the sides can be left as they are or replaced with optional features like a slide-out kitchen, an air conditioner, or an outdoor shower, all while still keeping the overall size of the camper compact enough to fit in an average garage or parking lot.

With the additional sleeping arrangement, Honda affirms, the Base Station should have enough room for a family of four. It is designed for off-grid living; therefore, the camping trailer comes with a lithium battery installed underneath the convertible futon, an inverter for backup, and solar panels to keep the camper and its towing EV powered at all times. All of it can be managed by the Base Station App or onboard touch display indoors, Honda notes.

As mentioned, the Honda Base Station is still a prototype. There is no word on its price and availability timeline as of now, but there is a strong voice within the company that the camper should hit production in the near future.

The post Honda enters modular camper market with lightweight, solar-powered trailer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Amazon’s New World: Aeternum MMO will go offline January 31, 2027

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Today, Amazon shared more details about the final chapter of its game New World: Aeternum. The company announced in October that it would wind down support for the MMO, with the Nighthaven season to be its last. New World will be delisted and no longer available for purchase starting today, but the game's servers will not be taken offline until January 31, 2027. People who own the game will be able to continue playing until that date. Nighthaven season will continue through to that end date.

Players who had previously purchased New World: Aeternum will be able to re-download and continue playing up to the shutdown date. In-game currency such as Marks of Fortune will no longer be available to buy starting July 20, 2026, and refunds will not be offered for Marks of Fortune purchases.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazons-new-world-aeternum-mmo-will-go-offline-january-31-2027-205449407.html?src=rss