Author Archives: Sarang Sheth

Orico and Western Digital’s Mac Studio-shaped device offers up to 112 Terabytes of High-Speed Storage

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We’re living in a time where entertainment is at a point of evolution. Blu-Ray came and went, as did 3D content… but we’re fast approaching a future where spatial content may just become the norm. Videos today are shot in 4K and 8K, and videos in the future could be shot in spatial reality too, covering a 360° FoV. This means post-production teams will work with heavier file sizes and will need more than just an SSD attached to their iMac or Mac Pros. That’s where the Orico Data Matrix comes in. A hybrid storage solution that can provide anywhere between 5 and 112 terabytes of storage, the Orico Data Matrix lets you work with large files while offering write speeds of up to 1500Mb/s for CFexpress cards, or transfer speeds of a whopping 40Gb/s using Thunderbolt. The $699 device is absolutely perfect for video editing, post-production, and even animation, allowing you to speed up your workflow, no matter how heavy your files are!

Designer: Orico Tech

Click Here to Buy Now: $699 $1099 ($400 off) Hurry! Only 10 days left.

The Data Matrix’s design clearly evokes a sleek, Apple-inspired sense of minimalism. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s exactly the same width and length as the Mac Mini or Mac Studio. The exterior is all anodized aluminum, while the interior sees the use of low-speed WD RED™ hard drives, combined with a large cache, anti-vibration mounting, and magnetic levitation fans, ensuring a quiet and efficient operation. This feature is particularly beneficial for creative professionals who often work during late hours and require a noise-free environment to maintain concentration and productivity. Its table-friendly design sits seamlessly on your desk alongside your other work peripherals, and if you’re relying on a Mac Mini/Studio or a Mac Pro, it helps to have all those ports accessible for cables.

The Data Matrix supports multiple I/O ports, including Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and HDMI, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices and peripherals. This flexibility allows users to connect external hard drives, 4K displays, card readers, and other essential equipment seamlessly. The device also supports up to five daisy-chained devices, enabling users to expand their setup without compromising performance. This robust connectivity ensures that the Data Matrix can integrate smoothly into any professional workflow. Working with large file-sizes can often dramatically slow down your flow and pace too – but 1,500Mb/s writing and 3,000Mb/s reading speeds for the CFexpress cards, and overall 40Gb/s transfer speeds from the WD drives, allowing you to comfortably edit 8K videos in a jiffy.

The ORICO Data Matrix is available in various storage capacities, ranging from 5TB to 112TB, catering to different project sizes and requirements. This flexibility makes it a versatile solution for various professional needs, from small-scale projects to extensive, high-capacity demands. The system also supports up to five daisy-chained devices, allowing users to connect additional hard drives, 4K displays, card readers, and other peripherals, further enhancing its versatility and adaptability.

RAID stacking capabilities further enhance the reliability and security of the ORICO Data Matrix. With various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD, and Normal, users can choose the setup that best suits their needs. These configurations provide a balance between performance and redundancy, safeguarding valuable data against potential loss. The hardware-level RAID stacking ensures that data integrity is maintained, offering peace of mind to creative professionals who rely on secure storage for their work.

The ORICO Data Matrix is available in various storage capacities, ranging from 5TB to 112TB, catering to different project sizes and requirements. This flexibility makes it a versatile solution for various professional needs, from small-scale projects to extensive, high-capacity demands. The system also supports up to five daisy-chained devices, allowing users to connect additional hard drives, 4K displays, card readers, and other peripherals, further enhancing its versatility and adaptability. The 1-bay 5Tb variant starts at $699 and is perfect for agile teams and smaller studios, while the highest configuration (5-bay 112Tb) goes up to a whopping $4999 – but that’s almost entirely for larger organizations and global production offices.

Click Here to Buy Now: $699 $1099 ($400 off) Hurry! Only 10 days left.

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Leaked Images show Anker’s MagSafe SD Card Reader that lets you Locally Back Up your iPhone Gallery

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iCloud who??

With this one single device, Anker aims to upend cloud storage by allowing you to access and even back up your files on SD cards. Imagine not needing a laptop while shooting on a DSLR, or not needing to worry about all your iPhone photos clogging up your system. The MagGo Nano (whose alleged images were leaked on Reddit not too long ago) is Anker’s way of allowing your iPhone to interface with memory cards. A part of the MagGo series, the adapter looks sort of like the old Chromecast devices, and snaps to the back of your iPhone using MagSafe tech. A fold-out cable lets you connect the MagGo Nano to your phone (or you can even connect it to a tablet, laptop, etc.), and a flip-top presents the Nano’s card slot. Insert an SD card in and you’ve instantly got extra storage + file access.

Designer: Anker

Images of the MagGo Nano (we aren’t even sure if that’s the official name) were shared on Reddit by credible leaker ‘Joshuadwx’. The images show a pretty compact device that looks and feels just like (if not smaller than) a Chromecast device. Under the lid of the accessory, there appear to be both SD and TF card slots, offering data transfer speeds up to 312 Mbps… reportedly. The device seems to be powered by USB-C, which means it’ll be compatible with more than just iPhones (you can attach a MagSafe sticker to your Android device and use it with that too), and rumors suggest it’ll be available in three colors: white, gray and green, with a tentative price range of $30-$40.

The MagGo Nano is a boon for photographers who like the idea of being able to quickly transfer photos from cameras/drones to their phones for editing and uploading on social media. However, for the rest of us, it’s a great way to extend your phone’s storage by uploading things to an SD card. Sure, USB-C thumb drives do exist too, but there’s something much more elegant about using an SD card to take photo backups – be it from a smartphone, a professional camera, an action camera, or a drone.

Images via u/joshuadwx

The post Leaked Images show Anker’s MagSafe SD Card Reader that lets you Locally Back Up your iPhone Gallery first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO unveils Mario and Yoshi set with a hand-cranked movement and a gorgeous 16-bit aesthetic

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I don’t know about you, but I remember the exact moment I knew that Mario was going to become a successful gaming franchise. The year, probably sometime in the 90s, the device, a borrowed Nintendo Game Boy Advance, and the game, Yoshi’s Island. The creation of Super Mario World, or the entire world around the famous princess-saving plumber was a pivotal moment for the game, turning it from a small success story to a full-fledged ecosystem. Celebrating that very journey, LEGO just unveiled images of its Mario and Yoshi set. Priced at $129.99, it offers a unique blend of classic video game nostalgia with the engaging and creative play that LEGO is known for. The set, composed of 1,215 pieces, vividly captures the essence of the beloved Super Mario World, featuring Mario and Yoshi in a brick-based flat design that captures the glorious 16-bit aesthetic of games in that era.

Designer: LEGO

At first glance, the Mario and Yoshi set looks like a wonderful, nostalgia-evoking tabletop artpiece. LEGO’s approach leans heavily into the pixelated nature of its square-shaped bricks. The brick-bases aesthetic lends itself almost perfectly to the kind of 16-bit aesthetic of the video game. But that’s not all – a small hand-crank visible on the bottom right turns this static artpiece into a kinetic installation, mimicking the gameplay perfectly! Turn the hand crank and the entire figurine comes to life, with Yoshi’s legs moving as if it’s walking, and mario’s legs swinging from front to back. Yoshi also occasionally sticks out its tongue as a nod to the engaging gameplay of the classic Mario titles.

At 1,215 bricks, you’d think this particular set would feel complicated, however, most of the bricks just serve as mere pixels in the overall set, making the entire building process extremely easy to follow. When completed, the entire artpiece measures over 15.5 inches in height, and has a vibrant appeal that should definitely catch your attention from across the room. Looking at it is just half the experience – crank the handle on the side and the brick-based automata is sure to delight pretty much anyone!

For those eager to own this piece of LEGO and gaming history, pre-orders are now available directly from LEGO’s website. The combination of high-quality bricks, interactive features, and a nod to classic gaming makes this set a noteworthy addition to any enthusiast’s collection. Whether you are reliving childhood memories or discovering the charm of Super Mario World for the first time, the 71438 set offers a blend of nostalgia and innovation that stands out in LEGO’s extensive catalog.

The post LEGO unveils Mario and Yoshi set with a hand-cranked movement and a gorgeous 16-bit aesthetic first appeared on Yanko Design.

Italian-Japanese Collaboration Reimagines the Moto Guzzi SP3 as a Gorgeous Retro-Modern Cafe Racer

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As far as automotives go, there’s a common consensus that Italy and Japan share equal stake in building mammoth industries and leading the design language in this sector. So what do you get when an Italian and a Japanese overcome physical and even language barriers to collaborate? What design language results from this unique confluence of styles? This stunning custom Moto Guzzi SP3, dubbed the “Fragore” (Italian for “roar”), exemplifies that collaborative spirit perfectly. The project stands out not just for its final form, but for the unique cross-continental effort that brought it to life.

Designers: Maurizio Carraro & Fujita Koichi

Maurizio Carraro of Imbarcadero 14 in Venice, Italy, has long admired the Japanese approach to cafe racer design. So, when the opportunity arose for an international project, he knew exactly who to call: Fujita Koichi of An-Bu Custom Motors in Nagoya, Japan. Despite the distance and language barrier, their shared passion for motorcycles transcended these limitations.

Koichi, with his expertise in modifying non-Japanese bikes, readily agreed. They chose a 1989 Moto Guzzi SP3 1000 as their canvas, a machine with a distinct engine layout compared to Koichi’s usual projects. Drawing inspiration from 1980s endurance racers, Koichi’s vision focused on a sleek new fairing design.

The stock bodywork was stripped away and replaced with Koichi’s signature An-Bu style half fairing with an asymmetrical headlight – a feature he meticulously adapted to the Guzzi’s dimensions. For the rear, a narrow, race-inspired seat and tail section were designed to integrate seamlessly with the bike’s subframe.

Meanwhile, Maurizio took to the subframe with a grinder, shortening it for a sportier look. He then fabricated aluminum surrounds for the tiny taillight Koichi envisioned, incorporating LED indicators for a clean aesthetic.

The original fuel tank was given a new lease on life. Its paint was removed, the raw steel meticulously brushed, and a protective satin clear coat applied. Both the frame and wheels received a fresh coat of black powder coating, while modern, grippy tires were mounted.

To ensure the resulting motorbike was more than just eye-candy, Maurizio removed the airbox and replaced it with high-flow air filters and a custom-made stainless steel exhaust system. The exposed electrical system was simplified and tucked away in the tail section, along with a lightweight lithium-ion battery, helping elevate the redesigned motorcycle’s performance.

The final touches included a suede-covered seat and a custom tank pad to conceal the original seat mount points. The crowning glory? A stunning satin metallic green paint – Maurizio’s interpretation of Moto Guzzi’s Griso green – adorned the An-Bu bodywork, along with subtle branding for all collaborators.

The post Italian-Japanese Collaboration Reimagines the Moto Guzzi SP3 as a Gorgeous Retro-Modern Cafe Racer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ditch the AirTag. ESR’s Geo Wallet comes with built-in Apple-certified Find My support

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Isn’t it strange that the AirTag isn’t designed to fit into the one item worth actually tracking – your wallet?! Its bulky design just doesn’t go well with sleek wallets or traditional bifolds, and the fact that third-party companies like Chipolo and Tile are designing sleek card-shaped tracking devices just feels like a missed opportunity entirely. That is, until the folks at ESR stepped up and designed the first Geo Wallet with built-in tracking. Instead of worrying about having a card or tracking device IN your wallet, the ESR Geo Wallet is ITSELF a tracking device. It works with Apple’s Find My network, letting you see your wallet’s location in real time. When the wallet is nearby but still out of sight, you can also ‘ring’ your wallet thanks to a powerful speaker built into the Geo Wallet’s sleek design.

Designer: Justin Wong

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $55 (25% off). Hurry, only 358 left of 1600 left! Raised over $100,000

Here’s what I personally love about the Geo Wallet’s design. It’s futuristic if you think about the fact that your wallet has a built-in tracking device – but it doesn’t look futuristic. The wallet isn’t the kind you attach onto the back of your phone, it isn’t made of metal or carbon fiber, it doesn’t have fancy moving parts or a rugged design you can run over with your car – it’s as classic as it gets. The traditional bifold that the entire world loves and uses – except underneath the faux leather exterior is a fair bit of technology that makes the Geo Wallet so remarkable.

A full-fledged tracking chip with a Find My module allows you to track your Geo Wallet just the way you would an AirTag. It pairs with your phone, letting you see its location at all times. If you get separated from your wallet, you get an alert… and if you do end up losing your wallet or if someone steals it, the Find My app lets you track your Geo Wallet in real-time, seeing its location update on the fly. A speaker lets you ‘ring’ the wallet too, in case it’s nearby and you can’t find it.

Despite the electronics, the Geo Wallet measures a mere 15mm thick, making it a slick piece of EDC to add to your collection. It features a spacious cash compartment, four convenient card slots, two ID windows, and extra room for coins. You’ve got enough space to store up to 10 bills, multiple credit + ID cards, and 15 coins – talk about being super traditional!

The ESR Geo Wallet comes in 7 colors, all made from faux leather to keep things stylish yet eco-friendly. A built-in rechargeable battery allows the Geo Wallet to run for 5 months on a full charge… and unlike any other wallet, the exterior also features a magnetic contact point that lets you charge your wallet using ESR’s proprietary snap-on charger (which charges your Geo Wallet in under 2 hours). The ESR Geo Wallet is currently available on Kickstarter for $38 – quite a bargain for a wallet with its own Apple-compatible Find My tracker, no?

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $55 (25% off). Hurry, only 358 left of 1600 left! Raised over $100,000

The post Ditch the AirTag. ESR’s Geo Wallet comes with built-in Apple-certified Find My support first appeared on Yanko Design.

How NASA’s Starshade Design Inspired this Unique Origami Folding Umbrella

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There’s a consensus in the common world that if something isn’t broken, you shouldn’t fix it – it’s a consensus that designers often reject because good design isn’t a goal, it’s a journey. The way current umbrellas open and close isn’t particularly faulty – but that didn’t stop designer Vinayan Ravikumar from taking things to the next level. Meet the Bloombrella, an umbrella that blooms open just like a flower. Relying on origami folding techniques, the Bloombrella borrows from a NASA experiment for unfolding foil shades/sails in space. The umbrella’s fabric starts as a folded cluster that opens outwards, becoming a perfect octagonal parasol that protects against sun and even rain.

Designer: Vinayan Ravikumar

Vinayan’s design borrows inspiration from the blooming of the dianthus flower. The flower bud practically unfurls in bloom, and is also the inspiration for NASA’s Starshade. Vinayan’s explorations led him down a similar path, relying on origami to mimic how the starshade opens outwards. The result, an umbrella like nothing you’ve seen before. Watching it open and close is nothing short of hypnotic, as the umbrella’s fabric creases and un-creases to take its closed or open shape. The creases are uniquely geometric too, resulting in an umbrella that doesn’t need any artwork or patterns to make it look attractive.

“The umbrella is an interesting object. As designers, we don’t notice or revere it the way we see chairs, cars, or lamps. Yet when caught in a sudden downpour, it becomes a lifesaver. An object of understated elegance and functionality, its form hasn’t changed much over the past hundred years,” says designer Vinayan Ravikumar. “Drawn to this fascinating contraption that has sheltered us for millennia, I felt it was the perfect canvas to explore tension in motion.”

Rethinking how the umbrella opened or closed meant rethinking the umbrella entirely. The Bloombrella comes with a stem and shade, but its intermediary mechanism gets completely redone. The new mechanism responds to twisting, rather than pressing a button or pushing a member up the umbrella’s shaft. The twisting action allows metal rods to move outwards, opening the umbrella’s shade. Vinayan created his prototype using Tyvek, a tear-proof paper-like material from Dupont. Tyvek has the unique distinction of being great at creasing as well as being durable and waterproof. This made it a perfect candidate for the Bloombrella’s shade, allowing it to hold its origami shape incredibly well, while still repelling water to a noticeable degree.

The rest of the prototype uses traditional materials, like aluminum for the metal parts, and plastic for the mechanism, moving elements, and hinges. The Bloombrella is currently just a student concept, but given that NASA has been employing similar techniques for its starshade shows it’s more than just a proof-of-concept… at least on a cosmic level! Whether it makes for a great umbrella is still something worth determining – perhaps as a larger beach umbrella or a shade for an arena/stadium!

The post How NASA’s Starshade Design Inspired this Unique Origami Folding Umbrella first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Compact Folding Rowing Machine gives you an All-in-one Gym the size of a Side Table

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For many people, the dream of a home gym often gets snagged on the harsh reality of limited space. Traditional rowing machines, with their long frames and bulky builds, can feel intrusive in a compact apartment or cluttered living room. Rowing machines, although the perfect example of a healthy, full-body workout, aren’t really designed to be space-saving, or even good-looking, to be honest. They’re designed to be used, and then hidden away, which makes their large, cumbersome design unsuitable for most homes (not necessarily just smaller apartments). In comes the JOYSONG Cube Rower, with its IKEA meets Pottery Barn meets Planet Fitness approach. Designed to be compact, multipurpose, aesthetic, and highly effective, the JOYSONG Cube Rower gives you the full rowing machine experience in a space-saving form factor. Its unique design is perfect for rowing, but also lets you do more than 80 other exercises (so you aren’t restricted to just one boring workout), and when you’re done sweating it out, the JOYSONG Cube Rower folds down into a form factor no larger than a side table, with a wooden exterior that allows it to perfectly blend into apartments without looking as obnoxious as a Peloton.

Designer: The JOYSONG Team

Click Here to Buy Now: $649 $999 (35% off). Hurry, only 466/500 left! Raised over $222,000.

The key feature of the JOYSONG Cube Rower lies in its name – the cube. This ingenious design allows the machine to fold up into a compact cube after your workout, taking up minimal floor space. At just 55cm in height when folded, the JOYSONG Cube Rower practically disappears into your home, occupying a fraction of the space your conventional home gym would. Besides, a leather seat on top of the cube means your rower actually doubles as a stool when not in use, giving you a multipurpose piece of furniture that you can exercise with. When it’s time to exercise, the Cube Rower unfolds in minutes, transforming into an extensive rowing apparatus complete with an app as well as real-life training videos you can watch on TV as you row, creating a simulation-like experience that has you feeling like you’re really on a lake with a boat. For users who prefer not to use an app, the rowing machine includes a digital display screen that enables them to track and record their workout data.

Under the JOYSONG Compact Cube Rower’s hood lies a powerful Water & Magnetic Resistance system that provides the resistance required to facilitate your exercise. The dynamic duo of ferromagnets and fluid allows you to experience the smooth feel of magnetic resistance while simultaneously enjoying the realistic dynamics of rowing on water. Combined, they provide up to 30 kilograms of resistance, which can be easily adjusted through a digital panel, making it suitable for beginners who are just starting their fitness journey or seasoned athletes looking for a challenging workout.

Once you’ve set the rower up, strapped yourself in, and set the resistance level of your choice, an app lets you transform your mundane exercise into something truly adrenaline-pumping. JOYSONG’s rowing app boasts a catalog of more than 40,000 real-life training videos that let you visualize rowing in a way that truly feels immersive. Designed to be compatible with large screens like your television, the app lets you broadcast real-life PoV rowing videos that put you in the driver’s (rower’s) seat quite literally. The videos act as a simulation while encouraging you to follow along, while the app captures your workout progress for you.

However, if you want to do more than just rowing, JOYSONG also has a variant of the Cube Rower that also packs a home gym in its design. Exactly the same size as the Compact Cube Rower (and with the same foldable format), the ‘Home Gym Cube Rower’ has a few more modifications that lets you do rowing along with 80 other exercises from crunches to bench presses, chest flies, stretches, or even yoga. To facilitate this, the Home Gym Cube Rower ditches the Water + Magnetic resistance system for pure magnetic resistance, along with the ability to simulate up to 40 kilograms of weight, adjustable to 24 different levels for novices and experts. From yoga to pilates, strength training, and other core exercises, the Home Gym Cube Rower lets you switch things up, focus on specific body parts, and frankly do more than just row all the time. Whether you’re looking to improve your cardiovascular health, build muscle strength, or increase your flexibility, the Home Gym Cube Rower brings an entire gym to your home without those pesky membership fees, sweaty people, or bulky equipment.

Both variants of the Cube Rower (with and without the Home Gym) come with the exact same folded size of 618 x 454 x 555 millimeters (24.3 x 17.8 x 21.8 inches), although the Home Gym Cube Rower weighs a little more at 65 kilograms (143.3lbs) as compared to the Compact Cube Rower 52 kilograms (114.6lbs). This is also where the built-in wheel system helps, allowing you to move the Compact Cube Rower around to any part of your house. The outer body for both are crafted from Quercus Rubra or Northern Red Oak, with a strong yet lightweight aluminum alloy frame on the inside. Finally, a leather seat puts you in the lap of comfort while you exercise, and pops right on top of the Cube Rower when not in use, allowing it to double as a nifty stool that you can easily place anywhere around your home!

Click Here to Buy Now: $649 $999 (35% off). Hurry, only 466/500 left! Raised over $222,000.

The post This Compact Folding Rowing Machine gives you an All-in-one Gym the size of a Side Table first appeared on Yanko Design.

iPhone Standby Mode on Steroids: The Vobot gives you a Multi-Hub Display Dock for Widgets and Tools

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Sure, your iPhone can show you the time or the game score or even photos of your holiday when it’s docked horizontally during charging… but can it give your laptop HDMI and LAN connectivity? Can it track crypto prices? Does it let you code your own apps/widgets? And hey, can it play DOOM? Well, Vobot can. A compact desktop display that doubles as a multiport hub for enhanced productivity, the Vobot puts fun and function together. It has 7 ports for enhanced connectivity and charging (up to 90W), but its magnum opus is the display on front, which does everything from being a clock, weather forecast indicator, Pomodoro timer, Todoist task tracker, Crypto or stock ticker, or even a screen-mirroring display. The best part, you can code your own apps for it, so unlike the iPhone’s Standby Mode, the Vobot can be exactly what you need it to be.

Designer: Mocreo Pvt. Ltd.

As the folks behind the Vobot say, it’s first and foremost a mini dock. With 7 ports to supercharge your laptop/desktop, the Vobot offers connectivity and power to your device. It sports a 4K@60Hz HDMI port, a Gigabit LAN port, one USB-A 3.0 port, and two USB-C 3.0 ports. There’s one single USB-C input port that powers the Vobot (the Vobot comes with its own adapter, and doesn’t have a battery of its own)… so in essence, it’s every bit a multiport USB hub… but the screen on the front is what radically changes things.

Think of that screen on the front of the Vobot as a dedicated secondary display. It’s split into two parts – the part on the left is a dot-matrix seven-segment LED display that’s dedicated to showing the time and day, while the right half is an LCD IPS screen that can be controlled using a knob and button interface on the right side of the device (reminiscent of a watch’s crown). When plugged in and running, the Vobot’s screen becomes your custom control center. The left half shows you the time, while the right half unlocks productivity in a variety of ways. The Mini Dock has its own built-in app gallery, including a weather widget, a Pomodoro timer, a Todoist task manager, calendar, stock/crypto tracker, PC monitor, indoor air detector, game emulator, WiFi status checker, screen-mirroring applet, and a lot more.

The vast app gallery means the right half of the Vobot mini dock’s display becomes your work and your life’s control panel. You can track productivity, review the stock market, watch YouTube videos on the side, check your PC’s performance or thermals, or even code your own IoT apps. With MicroPython programming, you can add new features to the dock that serve your needs, from doing things like monitoring cameras around your smart home, to checking your home’s power consumption. Create games that you can play using your laptop keyboard or a game controller (which comes along with the mini dock), or just build something as simple as a subscriber counter or notification center for your phone.

The Vobot Mini Dock boasts compatibility across Windows, Linux, and MacOS machines, but there’s also support for Android and iOS devices. Each Mini Dock ships with a 100W power adapter, and a tiny gaming controller that lets you play games on the dock’s built-in emulator. A quick-start guide briefs you through the dock’s features, and an online app store lets you access apps by other creators, or make your own to boost productivity… or should I say, pro-dock-tivity!

The post iPhone Standby Mode on Steroids: The Vobot gives you a Multi-Hub Display Dock for Widgets and Tools first appeared on Yanko Design.

MOFT’s new MagSafe iPhone Stand packs a Sleek Pen and Notepad for Jotting Ideas and Doodles

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For the people who think Artificial Intelligence is a bit of a gimmick, the MOFT Snap Flow helps you harness the power of Human Intelligence. Designed to attach to the back of your phone, the MOFT Snap Flow gives you the sleekest possible note-taking solution ever designed. While the company is best known for designing ‘invisible’ stands for phones and laptops, the Snap Flow takes the phone stand to another creative level. Sure, it props your iPhone up at an angle when you want hands-free viewing… but flip the Snap Flow open and you’re greeted with a tiny Post-It-sized notepad, a foldable pen, and a tiny folder for organizing your paperwork, to boost productivity and creativity anywhere. It’s analog beauty at its best, allowing you to quickly jot down ideas, take notes, make lists, capture verses, or make subway doodles – without an app, a screen, or the cloud. Just good old-fashioned ink and paper.

Designer: Julianna He, Founder of MOFT

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $49 (20% off). Hurry, only a few left! raised over $130,000.

Your smartphone can be an extremely noisy place, mentally and visually. You could get a call while you’re typing an email, an Instagram DM while working on a deck, or just get sidetracked by a flurry of notifications during a video call. Your phone is a multipurpose device, and when you’re trying to concentrate on a single task, that multipurpose nature goes from blessing to curse really fast. That’s where the notepad becomes a sanctuary. You can allow your mind to think without being distracted, since pen and paper don’t inundate you with messages and notifications. That’s what the MOFT Snap Flow hopes to provide – a personal space that lets you ditch digital distractions, and apps snooping on you or storing/stealing your personal information. The Snap Flow’s notepad gives you that slice of analog, but while being conveniently snapped against the back of your smart device. It’s slim, lightweight, and hey, it also works as a phone stand.

The design is sheer genius. The Snap Flow is like a mini notebook that sits on the back of your phone. Open it the way you would a book, and you’re greeted with blank papers (or as MOFT calls it, a ‘canvas’) on your left, an organizing folder system on your right, and a flat-packed pen. Lift the pen off its magnetic base and fold its three-panel design to go from flat to a grippy prism-shaped writing tool. You can now use the pen on the paper to write notes, capture ideas, make to-do lists, or just doodle away. Believe me, there’s something truly primal about ideating on paper with a pen that a digital notepad cannot compete with. It feels intuitive and allows you to feel more productive.

Once you’ve sketched on a canvas, tear it off and either mount it on the magnetic clipboard on the right side of the Snap Flow, or tuck it away in a hidden folder behind the clipboard for later. Effectively, you’re left with a miniature organizer that’s smaller than the size of your phone… and that isn’t including the fact that there’s a stand built into the design too.

Nobody does invisible stands better than MOFT, and the Snap Flow embraces that culture too. A flap on the bottom lets you open the Snap Flow’s stand, which lets you vertically rest your phone on any flat surface – or simply rotate the Snap Flow to have your phone rest horizontally. MOFT’s most user-loved feature gives your iPhone its very own kickstand that sits fairly flat against the phone’s back. Prop it up on a table without your phone and it becomes a miniature focus. Clever, eh?

The MOFT Snap Flow measures 7.56mm thick, and weighs a mere 62 grams. Aside from the stack of papers and that Invisible Pen, the Snap Flow has yet another slot for storing up to 2 payment cards, doubling as a wallet for good measure. Each Snap Flow is made from MOFT’s proprietary scratch-resistant MOVAS™ eco-friendly vegan leather. The Snap Flow comes in 4 color options ranging from subtle to eye-catching, and starts at just $39. The package includes the stand and pen, along with two sets of paper – one regular and one sticky. For non-iPhone users, there’s even a magnetic ring sticker included that turns any non-supported smartphone or case into a MagSafe one so you can securely attach your Snap Flow and take notes mindfully without any of that visual or mental clutter!

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $49 (20% off). Hurry, only a few left! raised over $130,000.

The post MOFT’s new MagSafe iPhone Stand packs a Sleek Pen and Notepad for Jotting Ideas and Doodles first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 5 WiFi Router Placement Tips for Perfect Internet Connectivity at Home

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Have you ever wondered why the WiFi signal in your home is strong in one room but weak in another? Or why sometimes your internet seems slower even though you’re paying for high-speed service? The culprit often lies not in the service itself but in the placement of your WiFi router. Think of your WiFi router as the heart of your home network system. Its location can either make or break the quality of your internet connection. Proper placement isn’t just about putting the router anywhere that’s convenient; it’s about strategically positioning it to maximize its effectiveness. In this article, we’ll explore five essential tips to help you place your router for the best possible WiFi coverage throughout your home.

1. Centralize Your Router

One of the simplest yet most effective tips is to place your router in the center of your home. The router ’emits’ connectivity through waves… so think of these waves as ripples – the further they travel, the weaker they get. The more they bounce off objects, the weaker they get. A video by a physicist above shows exactly how WiFi travels around in your home. If your router is placed at one end of the house, the signal has to travel a longer distance to reach the farthest rooms, leading to weaker coverage in those areas. By centralizing the router, you ensure a more even distribution of the signal, minimizing dead zones.

For example, if your home has multiple floors, consider placing the router on the main floor in a central location. This placement allows the signal to reach both the upper and lower floors more efficiently. Additionally, central placement can help reduce interference from walls and other obstructions that can weaken the signal. Remember, the goal is to give your WiFi signal the shortest, most direct path to all areas of your home.

2. Elevate the Router

Once you’ve found the central spot for your router, the next step is to elevate it. Placing your router on a high shelf or mounting it on the wall can make a significant difference in your WiFi coverage. WiFi signals tend to spread out and downward, so positioning the router higher up allows the signal to cover a larger area with fewer obstructions. Try to look around in offices, hotels, or at the airport and you’ll notice that WiFi routers are always wall or ceiling-mounted. There are a bunch of good reasons for this.

Think of it this way: if you place your router on the floor, the signal has to pass through furniture, appliances, and other objects that can absorb or deflect it, weakening the strength. By elevating the router, you reduce the number of obstacles the signal encounters, leading to better performance. Sniper mentality, in short! Additionally, mounting the router on the wall can help avoid interference from other electronic devices that are often found at ground level, such as TVs and gaming consoles.

3. Avoid Obstacles

Obstacles are one of the main enemies of a strong WiFi signal. Large metal objects, thick walls, and electronic devices can all interfere with your WiFi signal, causing it to weaken or drop entirely. When choosing a spot for your router, try to keep it away from such obstacles as much as possible.

For instance, placing your router next to a large metal refrigerator or inside a cabinet can severely impact its performance. Metal absorbs and reflects WiFi signals, causing significant signal loss. Similarly, thick walls, especially those made of concrete or brick, can block the signal from passing through. If your router has to transmit through several thick walls to reach certain rooms, you might experience weaker connectivity in those areas. To combat this, place your router in an open area, free from obstructions, and consider using WiFi extenders or mesh networks for larger homes.

4. Optimal Antenna Position

Many routers come with adjustable antennas, and how you position these antennas can impact your WiFi coverage. A common mistake is to leave the antennas pointing in the same direction. However, adjusting the antennas can help direct the signal more effectively.

For multi-floor homes, the best practice is to position one antenna vertically and one horizontally. The vertical antenna will help distribute the signal to the floors above and below, while the horizontal antenna ensures better coverage on the same floor. This configuration allows the signal to spread more uniformly throughout the home. In single-floor homes, positioning both antennas vertically can provide a wider range of coverage across the floor. Experiment with different angles and positions to find what works best for your specific home layout.

5. Limit Interference

Lastly, minimizing interference from other electronic devices is crucial for maintaining a strong WiFi signal. Many household devices operate on the same frequency as your WiFi router, leading to potential interference that can degrade your internet performance. Common culprits include microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices.

To limit interference, try to place your router away from these devices. If possible, avoid placing the router in the kitchen where appliances like microwaves can interfere with the signal. Additionally, consider using a dual-band or tri-band router, which can help separate your devices across different frequency bands, reducing the likelihood of interference. Dual-band routers operate on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, allowing you to allocate different devices to each band. For instance, you can reserve the 2.4 GHz band for devices that require longer range but can tolerate slower speeds, like smart home devices, and use the 5 GHz band for devices that need higher speeds and can be closer to the router, like laptops and gaming consoles.

Achieving optimal WiFi performance in your home isn’t just about having the latest router or the fastest internet plan; it’s about strategic placement and understanding how WiFi signals work. These tips come from a mix of technical knowledge and practical experience, and while every home is different, the principles remain the same. Implement these strategies and watch as your WiFi performance reaches new heights, providing you with the seamless connectivity you need in today’s connected world.

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