Author Archives: Gaurav Sood

This bottle opener will satiate a motorhead’s frenzy and slay others with its supercar-esque design

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It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we at Yanko Design are ardent fans of high-quality EDCs that do more than the purpose they’re designed to serve. Of course, the first look at the new Bottle Opener 3.0 from Discommon Goods suggests it doesn’t do anything other than the little purpose of opening a beer bottle in a snap; but who cares when it can satiate the frenzy of a motorhead and slay the others with its supercar-esque design.

It is a given; a device that can open metal caps from glass bottle in one quick pop is a worthy opener. But Discommon Goods is more serious with its bottle openers, which are meant to be functional art pieces you can put on the table in the middle of a party and kickstart conversations. The Bottle Opener 3.0 is a fitting embodiment!

Designer: Discommon Goods

This bottle opener that looks as good as it works is a delightful companion for all of us who take cars and beer seriously. Then, as the company states, the opener is “designed in an ultra-sexy shape” that nods the hips and curves of the finest supercars on the block.

Think then this as not only a functional EDC but a piece of sculptural art. While there is everything that the design can offer with the evident thumb impression for comfort when flipping the cap open, the Bottle Opener 3.0 is not for kids to play with.

Discommon Goods opener has a nice chrome finish which makes it hard and durable. The company notes that the Bottle Opener 3.0 is “heavy.” So, if you accidentally drop it on the floor, the opener “is ready” to make a “dent” in the “floor.” This is something to be embraced in the $79 bottle opener for a select few only. For me, the weight is insignificant. The look is paramount, and this guy checks all the boxes in that department. I though cringe an option to hang it on the keychain! ­­­

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Urbanista reveals second generation headphones and earbuds that solar charge for infinite playtime

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When venturing out to buy wireless headphones or earbuds, the primary consideration is their battery backup. This one feature holds high merit for those who travel a lot. A pair of cans or buds that can be free from this constraint, or at best, have limitless battery power at their disposal is the way to go and solar-powered function makes this possible.

Urbanista hooked on to this idea with their impressive Los Angeles headphones and the Phoenix TWS earbuds. Then adidas followed suit with their solar-powered RPT-02 SOL headphones. For audio lovers who want to stay away from the hassle of charging their headphones or earbuds time and again, these products make complete sense.

Designer: Urbanista

Riding on the success of the over-ear headphones and the Phoenix earbuds, the Stockholm-based company has announced the second generation of both these audio products. Just for the record, both of them are currently in development and expected to launch sometime in mid-2024. The good news is, they are going to cost slightly less than the first-generation versions. Los Angeles headphones will carry a price tag of $179 (vs $199 for the original version) and $129 for the Phoenix earbuds compared to the $149 of the earlier version. For those who are eager to have a first look, the audio accessories by Urbanista will be demonstrated at CES 2024.

Similar to the predecessors (the current versions on sale), they employ the latest version of Powerfoyle solar charging material to charge the batteries. They absorb natural sunlight as well as light from artificial sources indoors to charge the battery. The amount of charge will depend on the intensity and duration of exposure to light but it will be impressive, offering at least a week of non-stop listening to infinite music if you live in places that have a good share of sunlight all year round. In case they run out of juice, the conventional method of charging them via the USB-C ports is also there.

The Los Angeles headphones typically will give ample juice for four hours of listening daily on a 10-hour low-light charge with 50 days before another charge is needed. The second-generation Phoenix on the other hand will offer around 16 days of playtime with similar parameters.

They come with better-designed components for improved efficiency, so we can expect them to stay charged for longer. The design of both is more streamlined and the Active Noise Cancellation is now adaptive meaning it applies the ANC depending on the amount of noise in the ambient environment.

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Renault 5 E-Tech is a retro-futuristic electric revamp of R5 hatchback from the 70s

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When we talk of cult favorite hatchbacks that rocked the scene back in the 70s, Renault was right up there with the best thanks to the R5. Now, the French carmaker has reincarnated the iconic sports car in a retro-modern avatar they call the Renault 5 E-Tech. All set to make its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in February 2024, the modernized version carries the same fun and styling in an environmentally friendly iteration.

The obvious differences between the two include more rugged wheel arches. Boxier body frame and a flowing soft-top roof. Other changes come in the form of the original bonnet air intake morphed into a charging port. Of course, to stay abreast of the latest automotive trends, the LEDs illuminate the logo on the bonnet and accents on the front section!

Designer: Renault

The electric car is a five-door version of the classic sports car that dominated the scene for nearly five years. This newer version will be powered by a 100-kW electric motor that delivers 136 horsepower and has an impressive range of 400 km on a single full charge.

The electric car debuted back in 2021 as a concept from the brand with no surety about its future as a production-ready version. In fact, last year Renault joined forces with Pierre Gonalons (French designer/interior architect) to create the Renault 5 Diamant. Fast forward to 2023 and it is breaking the scene as a viable four-wheeler that is all set to steal the show. According to Renault, the 5 E-Tech will be assembled in their Douai plant in France. The car is all set to roll off the production lines next summer in Europe for an estimated price tag of around $27,636.

If you are already interested, the Renault 5 E-Tech can be pre-booked right away. Renault also has plans to come up with the Super5 and R5 Turbo versions sometime in the future depending on the consumer response to this current announced model.

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Mercedes Benz Vision iMobility combines style and functionality for ultra-relaxed commutes in urban landscape

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The future of level 5 autonomous mobility is largely going to revolve around relaxation and the whole experience of getting from point A to B.  Inspired by the protective shell of turtles, the Mercedes Benz Vision iMobility concept emphasises efficiency and resilience in a smooth curvy design. The form factor in particular is a combination of style and functionality, creating a bridge between cutting-edge automotive technology and the organic beauty of nature.

The designer imagines this vehicle to dot the landscape of four-wheelers in the year 2050 where cars communicate with the traffic systems, other vehicles and urban environment to optimize routes and bump-up safety. A time when autonomy, connectivity and sustainability are the driving force of innovation. Richard states, “Vision iMobility isn’t just a means of reaching a destination; it’s a dynamic and adaptive space that caters to individual needs.”

Designer: Richard Huang

The nature-inspired details don’t end there as the headlights get the reminiscence of a dwarf arrowhead flower. The front-open design of the vehicle makes it easy for the occupant to enter the cozy relaxing interiors and the compact shape gives the iMobility flexibility in tight urban spaces. Running out of juice in this electric vehicle is out of the question as it can be charged wirelessly just by parking on the readily available charging junctions.

Since we are talking about complete autonomy, there’s no need for driving hardware like a steering wheel, brakes or accelerator. The interior space is rather a personalized oasis for laying back, gaming in VR or simply exploring different realities in metaverse worlds. The small size no a limitation as there is enough tactically designed space for sleeping in comfort. In fact the interior is flexible enough to be arranged for different scenarios. Mercedes Benz Vision iMobility truly becomes an extension of the personal space for self-expression and fulfillment of the rider.

Richard has mustered up the idea of this compact autonomous vehicle for east Asian workforce who have to deal with demanding work cultures, long working hours and intense competition. I believe this EV could be the perfect personal transportation for individuals living in any urban space.

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Wear your attitude with Cybertruck-inspired Future Warrior OLED watch from Benly Design

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Elon Musk’s darling, the Tesla Cybertruck, cannot be left out of the news, or can it? Turns out not! After inspiring campers, pick-ups, and tents, the ultra-futuristic Cybertruck, way ahead of its time in terms of design and appearance, has now stirred the horology world.

Carrying the same distinctive geometric shape and a powerful metallic touch to it, the Future Warrior OLED digital watch from Benly Design embodies the sense of coolness and futurism. At first glance itself, the shape of the watch reflects the Cybertruck image, impersonating the distinctiveness. The cool look and the automotive styling of the watch make it a desirable timepiece.

Designer:  Benly Design

The Benly Design’s watch is priced at $110, pretty affordable for its absolute uniqueness, which sees the watch display divided into two sections within its zinc alloy casing. The bottom half features an OLED panel angled toward the wearer, and the top section has a visible circuit board with an LED backlight.

The angled digital OLED display is a nifty design tweak, it permits the wearer to see the time without twisting the wrist. The display comes alive when the arm is raised so viewing time is easy, without clicking a button or tapping the display, through the mineral glass overlay.

This at-a-glance electronic watch with a nice, visible OLED backlight display, can be your everyday partner unlike those smartwatches that run on batteries or the manual-wound counterparts. The Future Warrior doesn’t require power for charging every day, it comes with a solar panel to keep it going for years without fail.

Complementing the angular zinc alloy case of the watch is the accompanying sandblasted stainless steel strap with buckle clasp. The watch case measures 19mm thick and has a 39.9mm width. By that measurement, the watch is ideally sized for smaller wrists as well, and along with time function, it also has 12/24H, stopwatch, alarm, temperature, humidity, date and day features.

The Benly Design Cybertruck-inspired timepiece is waterproof up to 30m. To that accord, it is suitable for swimming in shallow water or taking it for a cold shower. Making a bold statement with its design and material usage, the eye-catching watch can make for a cool gift to someone who loves wristwatches especially, if you are not a big motorhead with a wristwatch fanaticism yourself.

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Joyce’90 electric bike with integrated boombox and pop-up headlights comes in peppy design

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If the micro-mobility market was looking for an evolution that Gen-Z would love, it’s right now. That’s because TOZZ has just revealed its new hip electric motorbike. This is the Joyce’90 by the sub-culture brand based in Istanbul that’s known for its e-mobility solutions for the young generation that doesn’t follow anything mainstream.

Smart design with sustainable production is their niche and durable construction is their forte. All these attributes are reflected in the Joyce’90 e-bike that shines with its peculiar pop-up headlights. The interesting USP of the electric motorcycle is the integrated Bluetooth boombox, because why not?

Designer: TOZZ

At first glance, you’ll notice the reminiscences of 90s cross bikes (maybe that’s where the name is derived from) and grand tourers. As expected, the body is as tough as a bull and draped in trending color decals, and we can safely say, that millennials will hit the skip button here. Coming on to the hip youngsters who’ll fancy this ride, the 150W 2.1 boombox hides in the body to get the party started anywhere, anytime.

On the performance front, the electric bike reaches a maximum speed of 45 km/h but the company plans to limit it to 25 km/h and 250W output in the European countries to keep up with the regulations. The base battery capacity of the e-bike is 45 km but an upgraded battery pack can be fitted to increase it by double to 90 km. The ride currently in the prototype stage will ultimately be licensed as a pedelec so that it can be driven in the bike lanes in the region. When the electric bike will be available in other parts of the world?

Joyce’90 will be available for pre-order this month and deliveries can be expected soon. The price and availability of the e-bike will be revealed in the coming days on the website and social media channels.

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Bauhutte’s special cabinet for storing game consoles, controllers, and titles will get the gamers highly organized

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Japanese gaming furniture brand, Bauhutte, basically functions out of there bases: comfort, comfort and comfort. What did I miss? Comfort, allowing gamers to add days and more days to their regular gaming routines. Then whether it’s the Electric Gaming Bed or the Gaming Sofa, everything out of this company’s warehouse is designed to make the gamers addicted and lazier for their liking.

While that’s that. There ought to be a solution that is less about comfort and more about convenience and organizing. Two aspects that are as far from gamers as life outside their consoles. So, Bauhutte has taken some time out from creating ultra-addictive furniture to make us languid, to launch a specially designed cabinet to store game consoles, title, and other items in one place.

Designer: Bauhutte

The table with open shelves looks to have been made using MDF board and is pretty similar to other stationary game console cabinets on the market. Two distinguishing factors: Bauhette’s dark color scheme and the open rack design. The primary layout without a backboard or door considers heat dissipation and ensures your valuable console is well-ventilated at all times.

Although it has a simple design that will never look out of place even if it’s installed in the living room, it is highly functional. Giving an open space for the game console to rest, the specially conceived cabinet for the gamers’ den, has a drawer to stack your titles, controllers, and other accessories that have grown through the years.

The cabinet organizes the gaming equipment neatly which would otherwise pile up on the side of your rig. A side hook has been installed on the cabinet for hanging headsets, etc. This keeps the headies in easy reach, so you can quickly pick them up whenever you want to use and then store it neatly after playing. But what really had the storage cabinet win my heart was its hidden cable box on the back and the ability to team up with an open rack for placing more than one game console. There is no word on the price or the global ability of the cabinet yet, but we are hopeful its coming soon!

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All-electric Ferrari Alto reinforces legacy of The Prancing Horse in zero-emission dominated future

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The prancing horses from Italy capture motorheads’ imagination whether they own one or not. These set of wheels adorn either the lavish garages of billionaires or stick to the walls of youngsters who have mustered up a million dreams of where they would take their Ferrari.

The brand laid the foundation of fast car trend that to date have proved their metal as more automotive sports car makers took up the challenge of satisfying demanding drivers. Such is the elegance and performance of The Prancing Horse that every fresh model rolling out of the production lines is as exciting as the last one.

Designer: Alban LERAILLER

With all the major automakers making the gradual transition to electric vehicles, performance cars also seem to be ready for the electrified future. Ferrari SF90 Stradale is the initial step that the Italian automaker had to offer in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle setup, and they are currently building an all-electric hypercar to dominate the closely contested race for the zero-emission future.

This concept in line with the upcoming plans of Ferrari redefines the shift in strategy to an all-wheel drive electric sportscar that can induce the same level of excitement as the fuel-powered V12 monsters. The front intake of the Alto brings an advantage in terms of the rotation axis of the electric motor – the more speed it gains, the more air intake optimizes performance.

Alto has a divided approach in terms of design with a fluid top (for optimized aerodynamics) and a geometric bottom section (for constant and uniform tension), creating a mix of smooth and sharp aesthetics. Based on the iconic 365GTB chassis, the concept Ferrari here adapts the front section of the Daytona and the grille of the 250 GTs. The subdued spoiler is an extended part of the full body headlights and the panels on top open to act as aérofrein for active aerodynamics.

To add a bit of spark to the predictable concept car designs of today, Alban incorporates a wind instrument organ that diffuses the low-pitched sound inside and outside the cabin to create a peculiar sound. This gives the sportscar a personality of its own.

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Intricately detailed Ferrari 296 GT3 replica model is perfect for passionate motorheads

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Amalgam Collection has created a niche for itself in the car scale model-making craft and they go down to the last-minute details, leaving nothing to nit-pick. The Bristol-based company creates intricate scale models of acclaimed cars at their workshops in China Hungary and the UK. These faithful reproductions are dream-worthy for those who can’t afford the real thing and also for those who already own the $600,000 Ferrari but want a replica to sit on their desk to show off some love.

Their latest creation is the 1:8 scale model of the Ferrari 296 GT3 sportscar that was originally based on the Prancing Horse’s first-ever V6-powered 256 GTB. The model measures 22 inches in length and is made using the original CAD data of the 296 GT3. The level of realism can be judged from the fact that the development process took 3,000 hours and the assembly (including sanding, fitting and painting) of each one takes around 350 hours in total. It’s like a shrunken-down version of the real sportscar down to the details such as the 2.9-liter V6 engine bay, Pirelli race tires Stäubli fuel-filler cap, magnesium gearbox case and the original paint codes for the exterior. Even the individual metal parts are carefully crafted using CNC-milling techniques.

Designer: Amalgam Collection

The intricate details carry down to the interiors right from the dashboard with Bosh-branded monitor and Manettino-equipped steering wheel to the control console and the handstitched racing harness. According to the in-house team at Amalgam, the scale models they create are no less than crafting high-end watches detailed down to the last millimeter. The Ferrari 296 GT3 is perhaps their best creation thus far in that regard and it shows in the end product.

Amalgam is going to craft only 199 limited edition units of the 1:8 scale model of the high-performance car for passionate collectors. The level of realism will continue down to the customization options for the interested buyers. For example, the exact color match and interior upholstery hues are based on that choice. All this for a mind-numbing price tag of $18,090. Sure, you’ll easily buy a mid-sized car for that amount, but hey, we are talking about passionate motorheads who are fat-pocketed!

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LG’s game-changing house robot is a secret smart AI agent with numerous tricks up its sleeves

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I had an idea about what’s possible with AI and machine learning integration. What I didn’t know, until today, was that LG is committed to realizing a vision of “Zero Labor Home” with robotics and artificial intelligence. Does that sound safe is a discussion for another day, but what’s on the horizon (as progress in the direction) is the pre-CES announcement of a smart home AI agent from LG.

The AI agent is a cute little robot with large googly eyes that LG has outfitted with multi-modal technologies for autonomous mobility, advanced communication, and engaging functions to help homeowners with daily chores. A home manager and companion robot to say, the LG’s two-legged, wheeled agent can “move, learn, comprehend and engage in complex conversations.”

Designer: LG

This interesting robotic figure with a headphone-like carrying handle over the head has articulated leg joints for free and independent mobility. The AI robot is based on Qualcomm Robotics RB5 development kit enabling face and companion recognition. This means that the LG smart agent can recognize users, understand and express emotions, and interact verbally. For instance, it “greets homeowners at the front door, discerns their emotions by analyzing their voice and facial expressions, and selects music or other content to suit their mood.”

“Embedded with the ability to process natural language, the robotic smart home AI agent can “understand context and intentions” to “actively communicate with users.” This is made possible with built-in sensors, camera, and a speaker. These together also put a lot of other interesting aspects to the robotic abilities of the AI agent. It can double as a mobile smart hub in the house allowing you to connect with and control IoT devices, and note temperature, indoor air quality, and humidity.

Since the little guy can move around the house quite like the humans, it can patrol the confines on your behalf to notify if you have left a window open or an appliance turned on. By this concept, it can also work as a house guard and pet monitor sending timely alerts if any unusual activity is detected or the pet needs attention. As a partner to the seniors at home, AI agent can provide reminders to take medications or manage personal schedules. With a robot capable of endless features, LG aims to “liberate” us “from the burden of housework.”

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