Author Archives: Sarang Sheth

Why this Chrome-Finished Tesla Cybertruck is a Big Risk for Pedestrians and Drivers

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The internet is littered with videos of children (and even adults) running headfirst into mirrors at those carnival mirror-maze-rooms. Imagine a mirror moving at breakneck speeds with the ability to completely obliterate you to pieces because you didn’t see (or hear) it driving towards you. The Tesla Cybertruck was already termed a death-machine on wheels, and now someone’s taken things to the extreme by giving it a thorough polishing, turning it into a literal ‘murder-mirror’. Here’s why this is such a terrible idea, why it’s dangerous even for other riders, and why it might potentially even be illegal in certain countries.

Designer: Tyson Garvin

This particular project comes from Tyson Garvin, who shared the project on Twitter (also known as X.com) complete with a video of the process. It took about a week and four people total to polish every metal surface of the truck’s exterior, resulting in a finish so glossy it practically looks like a vinyl wrap. However, that’s just extremely buffed and waxed metal, which reflects everything around it. In theory, the Cybertruck looks awesome, practically, though, this might just be more dangerous on the roads than your regular Cybertruck.

We humans detect objects by assigning color and depth to them as we move around. It’s easy to identify a mirror when it’s in an ornate or a defined frame, or if it has specs of dirt on it. Otherwise, it can be difficult to spot a mirror or a pane of glass, which is why sometimes people walk right into well-polished glass doors, or sometimes fall through an open door because they thought there was glass there. The same thing applies with cars on the road. When you’re a pedestrian, you need to be hyper-aware of everything around you. Your mind pays attention to objects, people, sounds, lights, everything while you make a decision to cross a road. Ambulances and police cars have lights for a reason, to make them extra visible, school buses are yellow so that you see them from a distance, so are red fire trucks. When you’ve got something as mirror-finished as a mirror-finish Cybertruck hurtling down the road, chances are your mind will ignore it because it reflects stuff around it, blending in instead of being more visible. Especially if it’s making a turn, you’re less likely to notice it out of the corner of your eye because you don’t perceive a block of color in your periphery. This is terrible for other cars too, as they may not notice you while driving, or while approaching a crossing. The onus is then on the Cybertruck driver to be hyper-vigilant – and I may not speak for you but I don’t put my life in the hands of people who drive Cybertrucks.

In fact, chrome wraps or finishes are outlawed in certain countries like Australia and New Zealand (you can’t register your car if it has a chrome finish) for this exact reason. These countries (especially New Zealand) have lower population levels, and emptier roads, prompting you to drive faster – this dramatically decreases your reaction time with such vehicles, increasing chances of a collision.

The problem doesn’t end there, a mirror-finish car can sometimes blind people because of glare. Imagine driving on a sunny day, and a massive mirror flashes sunlight in your eye, causing you to temporarily lose control of your vehicle. Chrome-finish vehicles can be quite a nuisance during the day, or even at night when headlights bounce right off the body, hitting your eye. Even if the Cybertruck remains parked in a driveway, it could potentially shoot glare right into your eye, creating a moment of temporary blindness that can lead to a disaster.

Finally, and this is just for the truck owner – Tesla spent months (if not years) developing a coating to prevent the Cybertruck from getting rusted (turns out it still might be able to), so polishing the Cybertruck’s matte surface without ensuring you give it a protective coating might just cause your Cybertruck to rust more than others. How this mirror-finish Cybertruck ages is truly something we’ll have to see with time, but I honestly do feel scared for the people who may be around this vehicle, and hope they have much better peripheral vision and situational awareness than most.

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Experience Pure Sound and Fresh Air with the Moss Echo: The Ultimate Air-Purifying Wireless Speaker

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Nature and tech are almost always at odds. Technology is fast-moving, often focused on productivity/entertainment and nothing else. Nature, on the other hand, is a more immovable force that nourishes you and teaches you patience. It isn’t common to see the both of them intertwined together seamlessly, but the folks at MOSSLAB seem to have figured out the impossible. Designed to be a smart display, a speaker, an alarm clock, an air purifier, and also a living plant, the Moss Echo intertwines both shrubbery and silicon into one unique solution. The tabletop device is characterized by a wall of moss – the plant responsible for 30% of all the oxygen we breathe – but power it on and an LED screen comes to life right through the moss facade. This acts as the Moss Echo’s display interface, while the device itself works as an alarm, wireless speaker, and an air purifier that relies on real living greenery to cleanse the air you breathe and help relieve stress.

Designer: Yoonsang Kim of Mosslab

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off). Hurry, only 263/400 left! Raised over $158,000.

Moss Echo goes beyond the typical utilitarian smart device. Yes, it displays the time, functions as an alarm clock, and lets you play music or podcasts via Bluetooth. But the real star of the show is the moss itself. Nestled within a replaceable filter, this actual living plant isn’t just decorative; it serves as a natural air purifier. The moss’s tiny structures efficiently absorb pollutants, releasing clean air back into your environment, while filling your room with the natural scent of flora that is known to be an instant stress-buster.

Perfect for having by your bedside, living room, or even on your work-table, the Moss Echo helps keep you calm. While the wall of moss itself looks delightful, it works in tandem with the built-in wireless speaker to calm and recharge you. Moss Echo’s companion app lets you play soothing nature sounds while the display accompanies it with visuals to match. You can even choose between different visualizations for the speaker, or set a sleep mode that cues the device to gradually lower its audio before turning off within half an hour.

Moss is considered to be the world’s oldest plant, and by that logic, can be said to be responsible for all natural life because of its first ability to synthesize oxygen from carbon dioxide. Even though it’s so small, it’s arguably much more effective than plants thousands of times larger than itself. Just two hours of exposing indoor air to moss can reduce fine dust by 90%, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by 60%, and CO2 by 40%.

The living moss and LEDs coexist together in mutually beneficial ways. The LEDs use a proprietary light pole technology that actually boosts the moss’ photosynthesis capabilities by 20%, allowing it to clean air more efficiently, while the moss adds a touch of greenery to the otherwise industrial-looking LED panel, creating an illusion of the plants actually lighting up to display the time or respond to music and other cues.

The magic is evident when you water the moss by spraying it with mist with the smart sprayer that comes along with the Echo. Moss Echo’s LED screen reacts to the user every time water is sprayed and shows various interactive graphics. The moss itself comes to life too in no time too, opening up and spreading its distinct plant-like smell in the air. The screen can additionally be personalized to display other things too, when sitting dormant. You can choose to have something as utilitarian as a clock, or opt for calming elements like clouds or a sunrise/sunset or even dandelions. If you have a child around the house, the Moss Echo’s screen can even display a cute avatar cartoon that looks around with animated eyes.

The Moss Echo’s design also strikes that beautiful balance, with the wall of moss on the front interspersed with the LED matrix, encased within a sleek box-shaped design that comes in either black or white. Buttons on the top, along with an elegant linear knob let you access the Moss Echo’s features and control playback. LEDs also give you status indications, like WiFi and Bluetooth connection, or even when the moss needs watering Under the dynamic green matrix lies a powerful set of audio drivers that draw their thump from a 120 Mhz Qualcomm® Kalimba™ DSP, providing a high-performance 24-bit mono audio interface.

The Moss Echo comes from the folks at MOSSLAB, who designed the mini vertical forest Moss Air last year that used the power of moss to clean and humidify your air. The Echo is the company’s next logical step, bringing nature to the omnipresent wireless speaker in a way that goes well beyond just listening to music or having one or two potted plants.

Each Moss Echo comes with a USB-C cable to power it, and a smart spray bottle that tells the Echo’s display to react when it’s spritzed with water (your regular plant could never!) To ensure that the Moss Echo can withstand the water, the light poles or LEDs are built to be waterproof, and to keep your moss alive, it’s recommended you mist it 2-3 times every day. However, it’s an incredibly resilient species too, capable of enduring up to 6 months without moisture. Once watered, it quickly springs back to life, resuming photosynthesis to sustain its vitality. The Moss Echo starts at $179 for a single unit and ships globally.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off). Hurry, only 263/400 left! Raised over $158,000.

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Top 10 Apple Products We Wish Existed – But Probably Never Will

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As incredible as Apple’s products almost always are, there’s always a sense of mystery around their catalog. Unless leaks confirm the launch of a product, there’s always a will-they-won’t-they discussion about things like a folding iPhone, an Apple Car, or up until recently, an Apple VR headset (which did eventually get launched at WWDC last year). This discussion is fueled by one undeniable fact – when Apple enters an industry, it makes a grand entrance. Everything Apple does, it does with great intent and decades of hidden innovation. So it only makes sense to want Apple to enter more industries and disrupt them. Here’s a look at a few product categories that fit well within Apple’s catalog, and even though it makes absolute sense for Apple to design these products (and I’m sure they’d do a stellar job), Apple is probably never going to consider making them. From drones to e-bikes to even printers, here are 10 products everyone wishes Apple made… but Apple probably won’t.

01. Apple Drone

The first-ever drone we saw from Apple actually made its appearance in the company’s iPhone 14 Pro keynote. The video showed a rather crude-looking drone engineered to fly with the iPhone 14 Pro Max mounted on it, relying on the iPhone’s camera system to capture footage. We later learned that the drone was entirely made in-house by Apple’s engineers… so why not make one for us regular consumers too? Imagine a drone rivaling the ones from DJI and Parrot, using a state-of-the-art camera system taken from Apple’s latest iPhones. An object-avoidance LiDAR system taken from the iPhones and iPads, and a 3-axis gimbal so advanced, it helps Apple make better motorized stabilizers for their phone cameras. It’s no secret that DJI’s three product lines – their Osmo cameras, gimbals, and their drones – all benefit from advancements in each other’s domains. A truly symbiotic system that helps create great products. I don’t see why Apple couldn’t do the same.

02. Apple Arcade Gaming Controller

Apple has a gaming service, a game-ready tablet that has better rendering capabilities than some laptops, and Apple also has a spatial reality headset that’s perfect for games, but lacks a controller input. It just makes absolute sense for Apple to launch a gaming controller that works in tandem with all their devices, helping you play/test all sorts of games, whether it’s on Unity or on Apple Arcade. Here’s yet another thought. What if you could remove the control part of the controller from its ergonomic case and use it like an Apple TV or Nintendo Wii-style remote? All speculative of course, but not without reason. Apple’s tech offering severely lacks a gaming controller, and if Apple is serious about gaming, it just makes sense.

03. Apple MovePod Wireless Speaker

You know what else also makes sense? Being able to take your music on the go. Both of Apple’s speakers – the HomePod and the HomePod Mini are wired, tethered devices that don’t have batteries of their own, and can’t be carried around with you. Ironically enough, Apple’s released quite a few wireless portable speakers under its Beats by Dre sub-brand… so why not just launch an unchained HomePod that you can travel with? An orb-shaped device with a handle (sort of like the Devialet Mania) occurs to me as the most obvious bet. Instead of relying on AirPods to listen to music on the go, this wireless speaker gives you the thump of a HomePod, but on the beach, at parties, on a terrace, in a backyard, or even a campsite. Obviously you couldn’t call it HomePod anymore, so something like the MovePod made sense as just a naming ritual.

04. Ergonomic Magic Mouse

The Magic Mouse sucks. It charges horribly, hasn’t been redesigned in years, and it’s an ergonomic nightmare. In fact, it’s so bad to hold that people have even designed grips for the Magic Mouse that make it more comfortable to grasp. Needless to say, an ergonomic Magic Mouse doesn’t exist, but it desperately needs to. The current slim mouse is perfect for travel, but let’s be honest, nobody chooses mice based on their travel-ability. So here’s an appeal to Apple to just make a slightly chunkier Magic Mouse that’s better to hold while working, because that’s really what a mouse is for… working.

05. Apple Printer

MKBHD once said that if there was one gadget he wished Apple designed, it would be the printer. Current printers are the absolute worst. They’re complicated, they jam, they’re a nuisance to configure, and their software are more complex than they need to be. Printers and their user experiences definitely need a major rehaul, and if there’s one company anyone trusts to do a better job, it’s Apple. That being said, Apple probably doesn’t see much sense in a printer. It makes world-class computers for professionals, it dominates the pro-res display market, and printers are an incredibly niche item. Sure, Steve Jobs could have probably launched one in the iMac G3 days when printing was absolutely essential – but printers aren’t a household essential anymore. Want to read documents or preview artwork, use an iPad. That being said, the world definitely deserves a GOOD printer that shows all companies how it’s supposed to be done.

06. Apple e-Bike

Everyone was expecting an Apple Car, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The Apple Car was supposed to be Tim Cook’s effort at building an all-encompassing self-driving vehicle (he didn’t even want a steering wheel in it) with nothing but comfortable seating and infotainment. The car would boost Apple’s self-driving algorithms, but ultimately it was a way of pushing Apple’s services like Apple TV, CarPlay, Apple Music, etc. The Apple Car would ultimately lock horns with multiple giants in the field, Tesla, GM, Ford, the works… so why not enter a field that hasn’t seen much (or any) competition from the big automotive giants? An Apple e-bike would be a great transition into automobiles, it would help Apple understand riders, refine its maps service, and even boost their battery technology. All that could LATER be carried into EVs. Not to mention, the absolute lack of competition… but that’s something Apple has always avoided because it views its competition as a proof of a healthy market. That’s why it waited for Samsung to launch a Watch first, and for Meta, Microsoft, and dozens of other companies cut their teeth on AR/VR before launching the Vision Pro.

07. Apple HomeCam Security Camera

Apple prides itself on privacy and security on a software level – so why not on a hardware one too? The Apple HomeCam would be a perfect smart camera to keep in your house for an added layer of security. It would tie in perfectly with Apple HomeKit’s smart home dashboard, plus, imagine being able to have instant FaceTime calls with your house to check if everything is okay. A smart speaker was Apple’s first step in entering the home, a smart camera would be the logical next step. Yes, I was tempted to call this the Vision Cam but decided HomeCam was a better bet!

08. Apple Ring

Of all the products in this list, the most likely seems to be the Apple Ring, and for two reasons – the first, the Apple Watch is a great health wearable but it doesn’t have a battery that lasts weeks, and the second, Samsung is gearing up to launch their Galaxy Ring too, validating the market space. Ring wearables are great for a bunch of reasons – they don’t have screens so there’s really no distraction with notifications and whatnot, but more importantly, the lack of a screen means a MUCH better battery life. People can wear rings everywhere, and unlike a watch where you can only wear one on your wrist (you’d look stupid if you wore two watches), you can actually pair a health-tracking ring with other jewelry for something that’s sleek yet functional. Rumor has it that Apple’s been considering adding a ring to their portfolio, but then again, a lot of it hinges on how successful Samsung’s own efforts are. Besides, would you really want to wear an Apple Watch and an Apple Ring together? Seems like overkill, no?

09. Apple TV Projector

Probably more of a wishlist item than anything, the Apple TV Projector would be Apple’s first foray into projectors. The company already makes the Apple TV box that brings the company’s TV service to televisions. Wouldn’t it be great if they made a projector that could turn your wall into a theater, and fill your room with loud, balanced audio coming directly from the projector itself? Obviously, the projector would have to be an ultra-short throw (UST) one, because who really places projectors 10 feet away from walls anymore? I’d pay good money for a 4K UST Apple TV projector with the service built-in, along with a year of Apple TV+. Pair it with Apple Arcade’s gaming controller from earlier on in this article and you’ve got yourself a stellar immersive gaming rig.

10. Apple WiFi Router

Another area that Apple should enter is the wireless and cellular service business. Just like Apple entered the payments business to fix something that was broken, the company can enter the carrier business to provide high-speed internet to your homes at a fraction of the cost, and with all of Apple services baked in. Imagine paying a single fee for your internet and iCloud storage, and even getting your cellular plan as a bonus. Here, we’ve imagined an Apple WiFi router that broadcasts high-speed internet to every corner of your home, with a built-in VPN that protects user data because Apple cares for privacy. We threw in an Apple NAS (Network Attached Storage) too, so that your iCloud can live in your home instead of on a server in a different state or country.

Did I miss anything? What else do you think Apple should release? Or rather, which product category desperately requires Apple’s magic touch?

The post Top 10 Apple Products We Wish Existed – But Probably Never Will first appeared on Yanko Design.

Chinese Lantern-inspired Speaker Takes The HomePod Texture To New Cultural Heights

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I’m sure that there’s a non-zero percentage of people who saw the first HomePod and were reminded of the paper lanterns that decorate each house during Chinese festivals. These lanterns use a thin crepe paper, joined at intervals to create a diamond-shaped honeycomb pattern not too different from the one seen on Apple’s HomePod, albeit at a much smaller scale. Designer Shengtao Ma saw this as an opportunity to more deliberately design a speaker that pays a hat-tip to tradition. The Sirocco Speaker is a slim audio unit with a decorative cover that tributes the lanterns seen in Chinese culture. The speaker’s cover folds open and close just like the lantern, attaching around the speaker’s slender stem-shaped design. The result is something that’s sculptural yet functional, with a cover that can be changed on demand, and a tactile knob on the bottom for controlling the speaker’s volume.

Designer: Shengtao Ma

The Sirocco Speaker comes in multiple shapes and sizes, resembling the traditional lantern seen in Chinese and other Asian cultures

Shengtao Ma makes a case that the speaker’s foldable outer structure plays a role in amplifying the sound. The speaker itself is a slim, vertical number, but the different diamond-shaped elements act as acoustic chambers, helping channel and amplify the audio much like cupping your hands around your mouth. Whether this theory works in reality is yet to be determined, but the concept secured an A’ Design Award this year.

“This speaker further conducts and diffuses sound through its unique honeycomb structure design, thereby further enhancing the user’s experience and music quality. This speaker is foldable. The speaker’s shell is stowable and modular, and comes with a variety of shell shapes that can be replaced at any time according to the user’s mood and home environment,” Shengtao says. “The foldable honeycomb structure at the upper end can be assembled and disassembled by rotation, making it easy to replace, store, and clean.”

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Logitech Debuts Wave Keys for Mac: Ergonomic Keyboard for Apple Enthusiasts

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In an exciting announcement today, Logitech expanded its “Designed for Mac” lineup with the introduction of the Wave Keys for Mac, an ergonomic keyboard crafted to provide comfort and enhance productivity for Mac users. This launch, set to coincide with the release of other Mac-centric peripherals in Logitech’s portfolio, underscores the company’s commitment to creating seamless, user-friendly experiences within the Apple ecosystem.

Designer: Logitech

Ergonomics Meets Mac-Specific Design

The Wave Keys for Mac stands out as Logitech’s first ergonomic keyboard specifically designed for the Mac, adapted from the Wave Keys that launched at the end of last year. Emphasizing comfort and usability, it features a signature wave shape that ensures a natural typing posture. This wavy design positions the hands, wrists, and forearms in an optimal manner, reducing strain and promoting comfortable typing throughout the day.

A key highlight of the Wave Keys for Mac is its cushioned palm rest, which comprises three layers: memory foam, high-density foam, and a knitted fabric covering. This thoughtful design offers 57% more wrist support compared to traditional Logitech keyboards without palm rests, making it an ideal choice for prolonged use.

Compact and Versatile

The compact layout of the Wave Keys for Mac is not only space-saving but also strategically designed to promote a more natural shoulder position while using a mouse. This makes it a practical addition to any desk setup, particularly for those who prioritize ergonomics without compromising on functionality.

Further enhancing its appeal, the keyboard includes easy-to-use +4° tilt legs, allowing users to adjust the keyboard’s angle to their preference for maximum comfort.

Seamless Integration and Personalization

Logitech’s commitment to enhancing user experience is evident in the Wave Keys for Mac’s seamless integration with macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices. Users can connect up to three Apple devices simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly with the tap of a button. This multi-device capability is complemented by the Logi Options+ app, which enables users to personalize their keyboard shortcuts and optimize their workflow.

The Wave Keys for Mac also boasts an impressive battery life, capable of lasting up to three years on the included AAA batteries, reducing the need for frequent replacements and ensuring consistent performance.

Sustainable Design

In line with Logitech’s dedication to sustainability, the Wave Keys for Mac is made with 48% post-consumer recycled plastic, excluding the plastic in the printed wiring assembly, receiver, and packaging. This eco-friendly approach aligns with Logitech’s broader initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of its products and promote environmentally conscious manufacturing practices.

This launch is part of a broader initiative by Logitech to cater to the needs of Mac users. Alongside the Wave Keys for Mac, Logitech is also introducing other products such as the MX Keys S for Mac, MX Keys S Combo for Mac, MX Anywhere 3S for Mac, and MX Keys Mini for Mac. These additions are designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and ensure ergonomic comfort for Mac users.

Delphine Donné, Vice President and General Manager of Personal Workspace Solutions at Logitech, highlighted the company’s focus on integrating user-centric solutions with the Apple ecosystem while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. “With a focus on optimizing workflow, productivity, and comfort, our Designed for Mac portfolio empowers Apple users to unleash their creative potential and enjoy day-long comfort at the desk without sacrificing Mac compatibility and look,” said Donné.

The Wave Keys for Mac will be available for purchase in May 2024 at a price of $59.99.

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8BitDo Unveils Retro-Style Mechanical Numpad With Built-In Calculator Functionality

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Following the release of last year’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard, 8bitdo decided to give the keyboard the one good thing it was missing – a gorgeous numpad. Inspired by the retro aesthetic of tech from the 80s and 90s, the Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad exists as an independent peripheral device that can either pair up with its companion keyboard, or be used independently like an old-school calculator. A red and black seven-segment display on the top feels like retro-perfection to the eyes, and those clacky keys are sure to get your fingers crunching numbers every day because of how wonderfully tactile they are.

Designer: 8bitdo

Click Here to Pre-Order

The Numpad comes in four delightful flavors, ahem colors, each inspired by iconic gaming systems: the M edition, the Famicom edition, the C64 model, and the N edition reminiscent of the NES. These draw inspiration from the design language of those classic consoles, offering a delightful dose of retro charm for your desk setup. The M Edition is the only one to sport a black and white display, while all the others have a black-red screen that is literal eye-candy.

Beyond aesthetics, the Numpad boasts functionality in the form of two modes: a standard calculator mode with an integrated display and a PC numpad mode for entering numbers on your computer. This versatility allows it to seamlessly switch between basic calculations and data entry tasks. Buttons on the top let you alternate between modes and even explore connectivity options.

For connectivity, the Numpad offers a variety of options. It includes a USB cable, Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless freedom, and a 2.4GHz USB adapter for a lag-free connection. The rechargeable 1000mAh Li-on battery offers a solid 160 hours of use on a single charge, ensuring it can keep up with your workflow.

The Numpad’s quality matches 8bitdo’s high standards, featuring dye-PBT or double-shot ABS keycaps (depending on the edition) for a comfortable typing experience. It utilizes Kalih Box White V2 switches, known for their satisfying tactility and durability. Additionally, the hot-swappable PCB allows for easy switch customization to personalize your typing feel.

A dongle at the bottom allows easy 2.4Ghz pairing with any laptop or desktop

Priced at $44.99 and available for pre-order now, the 8BitDo Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad is a niche product, but one that caters to a specific audience. It injects a shot of retro charm into your workspace while offering a functional and well-built numpad experience. Besides, if you’ve got a keyboard with a layout that’s either 80% or smaller, chances are you’ll need a numpad to match – this one’s perfect to complement your mechanical setup or your retro sensibilities. I also appreciate the fact that you’ll never have to open your phone’s calculator app again.

Click Here to Pre-Order

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LEGO launches first-ever Zelda Playset for fans and enthusiasts priced at $300

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While LEGO’s released quite a few game-themed playsets in the past few years (the Super Mario and Animal Crossing ones immediately come to mind), they’ve notably missed one title that’s arguably had just as big an impact (if not bigger) on the gaming community as Mario and Animal Crossing. I’m sure Zelda fans have waited with bated breath for the day LEGO dropped a Zelda-themed playset and looks like that wait finally paid off. LEGO’s first official Zelda Playset captures the Great Deku Tree in a 2-in-1 build that lets you either make a variant of the tree shown in its early stages, or in full-bloom as shown in the franchise’s 2017 game, Breath of the Wild. The set also includes a whole slew of familiar characters like Zelda, Link, and many more!

Designer: LEGO

Clocking in at a hefty 2,500 pieces, The Great Deku Tree offers a unique two-in-one build experience. Zelda veterans can choose to construct the iconic tree as it appears in the opening chapter of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, complete with a section inspired by the Deku Tree Dungeon and a miniature replica of Link’s house in Kokiri Village. Feeling a touch more recent? The set also allows you to build the weathered and majestic Great Deku Tree from Breath of the Wild, complete with hidden Koroks.

Beyond the impressive tree itself, the set boasts a treasure trove of characters and accessories to bring Hyrule to life. We’re talking buildable figures of Link (both his classic and Breath of the Wild incarnations), Zelda, and even a creepy-crawly Skulltula. The set also includes iconic items like the Deku Shield, the Sheikah Slate, and the legendary Master Sword, nestled snugly in its pedestal.

With intricate details, playable features, and a whopping piece count, The Great Deku Tree promises an immersive building experience for Zelda fans of all ages. Whether you yearn for the nostalgia of Ocarina of Time or prefer the open-world adventure of Breath of the Wild, this Lego set caters to both sides of the Hyrulean coin.

The Legend of Zelda Great Deku Tree set is available for pre-order now for $300, with a release date set for September 1st. So grab your rupees, dust off your Master Sword replica (safety first!), and get ready to embark on a Lego brick adventure through the beloved world of Zelda.

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This ‘Office VR Headset’ focuses on productivity without cutting the real world out

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Immersive VR is great for entertainment… but for work, not that much. The idea is to be able to interact with spatial elements, but not have them completely cut you off from the real world. Just the way a laptop screen or desktop monitor offers you only with a window of productivity but still gives you the option of stepping away to attend meetings, talk to coworkers, or take notes/make doodles, this VR headset concept from Umeå Institute of Design student Simon Ljungblahd lets you easily switch between real and spatial life.

The VR headset features a familiar design, but instead of having screens strapped to your eyes, this one mounts them on a visor-style hinge that you can flip upwards when not in use, allowing yourself to engage with the real world. Meanwhile, a screen on front acts much like the one found on the Vision Pro, giving people around you a sense of your status, whether you’re busy, free, or even when you’re up for a coffee break!

Designer: Simon Ljungblahd

The headset’s design is relatively lightweight, with a display unit that doesn’t need to be bulky because it doesn’t wrap around your eyes, cutting light from the outside world out. It sits ahead of you almost like a HUD (Heads-up Display), giving you the spatial experience just within a portion of your PoV, like a desktop monitor would. Except, you can move your head around to see more of the spatial environment around you. Or look through the corner of your eye to see the real world. When you want to quickly leave the simulation, flip the headset up and you’re out of virtual reality.

“As screen resolution on these devices increases, the use-case of work, or productivity, becomes more interesting as it enables users to view interfaces with a high density of information, which is necessary for that use-case. Spatial Computing would allow users to have a full 360-degree interface and with depth, which would enable much richer multi-tasking,” says Simon. “The depth aspect would also potentially create more intuitive interfaces when it comes to use cases like 3D modeling, or map viewing. The Spatial Computing headsets that are made for entertainment, social experiences, and simulations are designed to optimize the user experience for those use-cases, but so far, no headset on the market is made to focus solely on the use-case of productivity.”

The headset is unique in that it offers the best of both VR headsets and desktop monitors. VR headsets keep you locked in an environment that can affect your productivity by cutting the real world out, but also give you a sense of fatigue with too much use. Laptops and desktop monitors, on the other hand, don’t give you unlimited virtual space for multiple tabs/windows and the ability to work in 3D. Simon’s design therefore strikes a clever balance between the two. Besides, I love the idea of the display on the front of my headset being used to let others know whether I’m busy, free, or up for a quick break in between work sessions!

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Pininfarina Unveils Limited Edition Oksýs Chaise Longue: Merging Automotive Design with Luxury Furniture

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Legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, famed for its historic decades-long collaboration with Ferrari, has unveiled its debut piece of collectible furniture – the Oksýs chaise longue. This unique creation seamlessly blends the company’s automotive design heritage with the functionality of a high-end chaise lounge. The Oksýs is a limited-edition statement piece designed to complement Pininfarina’s recent foray into branded residential projects. The chaise longue embodies the studio’s core design principles, which center on the harmonious marriage of aesthetics and technical innovation.

Designer: Pininfarina

The Oksýs is a striking visual interplay of contrasting elements. The upper section features smooth, ergonomic lines reminiscent of a Pininfarina sports car. This section is crafted for comfort and boasts a reflective finish that invites touch. In stark contrast, the lower portion resembles a rough, crystal-like rock, creating a sense of groundedness.

“Seen from above, Oksýs is smooth and reflects light with no aggressive angles,” explains Marco Becucci, the in-house architect who designed the chaise longue. “This upper part invites the user to touch it, while the lower section offers a textural counterpoint, left coarse and milled to resemble an untouched rock.”

The design and development process for the Oksýs mirrored Pininfarina’s approach to creating high-performance automobiles. The project began with sketches, followed by ergonomic testing, computer-aided modeling, and finally, the creation of physical models using CNC milling to achieve the complex form.

The prototype showcased at Milan Design Week was crafted from polyurethane and finished with a gleaming epoxy resin, creating a captivating metallic effect. Pininfarina envisions future iterations cast entirely in steel or aluminum, further solidifying the connection to its automotive roots. Only three Oksýs chaise longues will be produced, each sold exclusively through the Rossana Orlandi gallery.

The post Pininfarina Unveils Limited Edition Oksýs Chaise Longue: Merging Automotive Design with Luxury Furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.

Credit Card-shaped MagSafe Power Bank gives your iPhone a massive 5000mAh Battery Boost

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Picture this, it’s summer, you’ve packed your bags and you’re heading on a Eurotrip (maybe for a nice holiday on the Amalfi coast or to see Taylor Swift perform). In true holiday fashion, you intend on spending the entire day out and about, exploring the city, but you realize an hour in that your phone’s already on 15% battery. You might have a charging cable in your pocket, but there isn’t a power socket in sight. Here’s where a MagSafe power bank just makes things much easier. Designed to simply snap onto the back of your phone and give it a battery boost, the TORRAS MiniMag is a compact power bank that’s no larger than a credit card. With its compact size, 0.3mm thickness, and MagSafe compatibility, the MiniMag merely attaches onto your phone, giving it an extra 5000mAh battery so you can go about your day without worrying about being perpetually on ‘Battery Saver’, or worse, a completely drained battery.

Designer: TORRAS

Click Here to Buy Now: $33.44 $49.99 (33% off with coupon code “summer527”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

TORRAS MiniMag Power Bank & Ostand R

Convenience seems to define the MiniMag’s entire design approach. It’s compact enough to slide right into your pocket or laptop bag when not in use, with a form factor no larger than your average payments card. At 0.3-inches or 7.6 millimeters thick, it might not be slim enough to fit into your wallet, but it attaches to your phone without making it too bulky the way other power banks would. It weighs a minimal 4 ounces (113 grams) and has curved edges running throughout that lets you slide your phone into your pocket without the power bank snagging anywhere.

Card-sized Power Bank, Snap and Go!

Long-lasting Battery Life

The TORRAS MiniMag packs a 5000mAh battery, which practically doubles your iPhone’s battery capacity. Wireless MagSafe charging occurs at a standard 7.5W, and if you’re looking to go faster, plug it into your phone using a USB cable to get 18W of wired charging speeds. The MiniMag supports pass-through charging too, allowing you to basically charge the power bank as it wirelessly charges your phone, keeping your iPhone’s own charging port free for accessories or dongles.

Ostand R case: 360 Magnetic Rotatable Stand

The MiniMag comes with a matte anodized aluminum outer body, in either silver or pink. Although designed to be used independently, it pairs exceptionally well with TORRAS’ Ostand R case, which also gives your phone its own dedicated rotating kickstand. The Ostand R is practically a marvel of engineering, with a stand that sits flush against the case when closed, but opens to prop your phone up. It relies on a specially engineered hinge that’s 1.2mm (0.04 inches) thick, but can resist tens of thousands of folds, and can even hold its angle like a laptop hinge (while taking the weight of your phone). The ring even rotates independently to let you place your phone in either landscape or portait, and it does so with super-slim magnets inside that extend your phone’s MagSafe compatibility, whether it’s attaching accessories or mounts, or snapping on a wireless charger or power bank like the TORRAS MiniMag.

Click Here to Buy Now: $33.44 $49.99 (33% off with coupon code “summer527”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post Credit Card-shaped MagSafe Power Bank gives your iPhone a massive 5000mAh Battery Boost first appeared on Yanko Design.