Author Archives: JC Torres

Why Every Professional Needs the NeoRulerGO: The Ultimate Digital Measuring Tool

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The NeoRulerGO combines cutting-edge technology with a sleek, minimalist design. Its ergonomic shape and smooth finish make it comfortable to hold and easy to use. The bright display ensures you can track measurements effortlessly, even in varying light conditions. Its compact size and lightweight build make it easy to carry in a pocket or on a keychain, ensuring you can take it anywhere you need precise measurements.

Designer: Tiancheng Liang

Click Here to Buy Now: $49 $69 (30% off). Hurry, less than 72-hours left! Raised over $185,000.

Despite its compact size, the NeoRulerGO measures just 12mm (0.5 inches) in thickness and weighs a mere 45 grams (1.5 ounces). Its impressive built-in battery lasts up to 90 days on a single charge, ensuring long-lasting performance. Plus, with an IP54 rating, it’s both water and dust-resistant, ready to tackle any environment. You can grab the NeoRulerGO for a special price of $49. For those looking for even more, the $109 premium bundle offers the NeoPencil Case, a NeoPencil Mini, the NeoPencil Classic, and NeoStands with both color and black graphite nibs—delivering exceptional value with a range of versatile tools from Hozo Design.

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One of the key features is its adaptability. The roller design allows smooth, continuous measurement over straight lines, curves, and irregular surfaces. The laser guide ensures accuracy, helping you stay on track. In the images, you can see how it glides over different materials, capturing precise measurements in real time. This makes it an excellent tool for architects, designers, and engineers who need exact project measurements.

Working seamlessly with the MEAZOR app, the device allows you to save, convert, and scale measurements. This feature is handy for professionals who need precise data for their projects. The app’s user-friendly interface makes all your data easily accessible and editable, enhancing your workflow. The NeoRulerGO is incredibly user-friendly. Its compact size and lightweight build don’t compromise its functionality, as the device can measure anything from millimeters to several meters with impressive accuracy. The screen displays measurements clearly, and the app organizes all your data.

The NeoRulerGO’s design combines functionality and aesthetics. Its ergonomic shape ensures it fits comfortably in the hand, reducing strain during extended use. The smooth finish adds a touch of elegance, while the bright display is designed for easy readability in various lighting conditions. The device’s intuitive interface allows users to quickly switch between different measurement modes, making it user-friendly even for those new to digital measuring tools. The laser guide is a crucial feature, providing a clear visual reference for starting and ending points. This ensures that measurements are straight and accurate, even over long distances or complex surfaces. The roller mechanism operates smoothly, allowing continuous measurement without resetting the device. This is a significant improvement over traditional tape measures that can be cumbersome and limited in length.

The flexibility of this device extends beyond just architects and engineers. Fashion designers and custom tailors can benefit from its precise measurements for fabrics, patterns, and garments, ensuring every piece fits perfectly. Its ability to measure curved and irregular surfaces means it can easily handle complex designs and unique cuts. Interior designers will find it invaluable for measuring spaces, determining dimensions for custom pieces, and creating floor plans. The laser guide helps maintain straight lines, even in tricky spaces, and the ability to convert measurements quickly makes it easier to switch between metric and imperial units.

DIY enthusiasts will appreciate how it simplifies the process of measuring materials for home improvement tasks, woodworking, or crafting. The ability to measure continuously without the limitations of a traditional tape measure means handling large projects more efficiently. Construction workers will find it indispensable on job sites, with its durability and water and dust resistance making it suitable for rough environments. Precise measurements ensure that all work meets exact specifications.

Artists and designers can use it to measure canvases, frames, and other materials accurately. The ability to measure curved and irregular shapes is beneficial for sculptors and those working with mixed media. The compact size makes it easy to use in the studio or on location, and the MEAZOR app provides a convenient way to keep track of all measurements for future reference. Teachers and students in technical fields such as engineering, architecture, and design can utilize the device to learn about measurements, scaling, and spatial relationships in educational settings. Its ease of use and accuracy make it valuable to any educational toolkit, helping students understand and apply measurement concepts in real-world scenarios.

The integration with the MEAZOR app enhances NeoRulerGO’s functionality, offering features such as unit conversion, scaling, and the ability to create technical drawings from measurements. The app’s user-friendly interface makes accessing and editing measurements easy, improving workflow efficiency for professionals and hobbyists. Hozo Design’s innovation is evident in its modular approach. The optional NeoPencil Case acts as an ergonomic handle and houses the NeoPencil Mini, creating a versatile tool for measurement, sketching, and marking. The case also provides storage for extra graphite tips, keeping everything you need at your fingertips. Additionally, the NeoPencil Stand comes with the NeoPencil and 12 replaceable nibs in various colors, enhancing its functionality. Crafted from durable 7075 aluminum alloy, the NeoPencil offers both reliability and elegance. The stand includes an eraser and a pen holder, making it a comprehensive accessory for designers and artists. With 12 tip refills, you are always prepared for detailed work.

The NeoRulerGO is a versatile and indispensable device for various applications. Its advanced technology, user-friendly design, and portability make it an ideal choice for anyone needing precise measurements. Whether you’re a professional in a technical field, a DIY enthusiast, or someone who values accuracy and efficiency, the NeoRulerGO is a worthwhile investment.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49 $69 (30% off). Hurry, less than 72-hours left! Raised over $185,000.

The post Why Every Professional Needs the NeoRulerGO: The Ultimate Digital Measuring Tool first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO-like concrete blocks made from waste are easy to assemble and disassemble

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The more buildings we put up to address the growing needs of our civilization, the more materials and energy are consumed along with a rise in waste. And these structures don’t last forever, so the unsustainable process happens over and over again. The need for more sustainable alternatives to building materials has never been greater, especially at the rate that we’re building, tearing down, and rebuilding structures. This new kind of cinder block alternative is trying to be that answer, and it’s notable not just for its composition but because of the interlocking design that makes it easy to build a wall and, when the time comes, take it down again and reuse the blocks for some other building.

Designer: Dustin Bowers

Although your typical cinder block isn’t completely harmful to the environment, they are simply wasteful and inefficient. Putting together a wall requires a lot of time, effort, and materials like mortar to give it strength, and even then it’s not that strong anyway. And if you have to, say, move the wall or remove it completely, there’s no other method other than demolishing that wall and then building a new one from scratch.

PLAEX-crete attacks the problem of concrete blocks from two angles: composition and construction. Unlike other sustainable blocks, PLAEX doesn’t hesitate to get down and dirty, using materials that are considered different to recycle, including agricultural, marine, and industrial plastic waste and aggregate waste from the construction industry. Each block is made up of more than 90% recycled waste but is 33% lighter than traditional cinder blocks while also stronger.

The material alone isn’t enough to radically change the construction industry, though. The second part of the two-hit combo that PLAEX delivers is the shape of the blocks that look like gigantic LEGO blocks. The interlocking mechanism is no joke, however, and allows workers to build up a wall twice the time as regular concrete blocks. Best of all, you don’t even need mortar or other materials to keep the blocks together, and they still end up being more solid, sturdier, and more durable than a cinder block wall.

That same interlocking design makes it possible to disassemble the blocks just as easily so that they can be reused, saving money and resources. A modification of the design has also given birth to the PLAEX LinX which supports connections at different angles for more creative shapes and constructions. At the moment, PLAEX can only be used for non-occupancy walls, but work is underway to make the material certified for homebuilding, at which point it could revolutionize the construction industry with its environment-friendly and convenient design.

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MagSafe iPhone sliding game controller gives off PSP Go vibes

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The iPhone has always been a powerful device, but like many smartphones, that power is always tested when it comes to gaming. Of course, there are plenty of games that run smoothly on the iPhone, especially those either designed specifically for iOS or optimized for it under the Apple Arcade ecosystem. Recently, however, the chance for emulators and emulated games to run on iPhones has become more feasible, which puts game controllers under a microscope. Although these have been around for years now, the large majority of them felt inconvenient, clunky, and less ideal for gaming on the go. This upcoming design tries to address those concerns from a different angle, and it takes inspiration from sliders like the PSP Go or, closer to home, the Xperia Play.

Designer Name: Josh King

Phone game controllers these days mostly come in two flavors. One is a bulky, traditional controller with a clip to hold your phone, while the more popular design flanks the phone with split controls. The latter is more portable but still tedious to use, especially when it requires taking off your iPhone’s protective case every time you want to play. To fix this design problem, the M-Con looks to other portable gaming systems that are more suitable for phone-sized devices, and it turns out that Sony already answered the same problem years ago.

The short-lived Xperia Play smartphone, and the PSP Go handheld console before it, utilized a sliding mechanism to keep the buttons and joysticks out of the way when you’re not playing. This, however, was built into the devices themselves, which made the Xperia Play too bulky to be used as a regular phone. The M-Con, in contrast, is removable just like those other smartphone controllers today, but the difference is that it uses MagSafe technology to easily and securely attach to an iPhone’s back. You can opt to have it attached all the time or quickly separate the two pieces to shove them into your pockets separately.

The design, however, has one more trick up its sleeve. The controller part and the MagSafe plate can also part ways, as the latter can also be used as a stand for the iPhone. Since M-Con uses Bluetooth to connect to the iPhone, the controller can still be used as normal, allowing you to play with the phone standing on a table. In fact, you can even connect the iPhone to a larger screen to have a home console experience in the same manner.

M-Con is said to be coming soon, but availability details and pricing are still unknown. Since it was born from a DIY and 3D printed project, the quality of the resulting product is also an open question. And while this sliding controller does have a more compact and convenient design, it also squeezes the controls tightly together, which could lead to a cramped and uncomfortable gaming experience.

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Top Design Innovations from Computex 2024: Where Technology Meets Aesthetics

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One of the world’s biggest computer-centric tech expos has just ended and, unsurprisingly, a lot of the rhetoric revolved around AI. But if you walk around the showroom floor, another theme quickly becomes evident in the midst of new products as well as some not-so-new wares. Consumer tastes have evolved once again, even among those who would embrace the label of being a gamer. Design is no longer just a feature for the few but an important part of a product’s DNA. We’ve seen quite a wide range of designs across an equally wide range of products, from the eccentric to the elegant. Here are some of the most notable designs to grace our paths at Computex 2024 in Taiwan, showcasing not just the trends but also the innovations in the computing industry.

Cool Computing: PC Case Designs

Desktop computers have evolved from uninspiring towers to smoldering workstations with over-the-top lighting to a smorgasbord of designs that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Computex 2024 is a glowing testament to not only the changes in design trends but also to the extent that some manufacturers will go to in order to appeal to their loyal fans.

ADATA XPG Invader X

Designer: ADATA

Winner of an iF Design Award, the ADATA XPG Invader X values transparency in more ways than one. Its clear front and side panels let you marvel at the neatly arranged components that power this gaming beast, including the tubes and RGB-lit fans that keep the box operating at maximum efficiency. Equally interesting, however, is the chassis’s ESG-compliant design, utilizing post-consumer recycled plastics and upgrade-friendly components. It’s a stylish, eco-friendly computer that tries to offset the carbon emissions of your gaming lifestyle.

Cooler Master Mecha Cases

Designer: Cooler Master

Who said computers needed to come in the form of boxes? Cooler Master definitely didn’t. With designs that come in the form of a robotic shark and a giant mechanical sneaker, these PC cases shatter expectations and misconceptions about how our computers should look like. And as hardware becomes smaller even as they become more powerful, it’s only a matter of time before these become the standard rather than the outlier.

PNY Aftershock Bubble Tea PC

Designer: PNY x AftershockPC

Electronics and liquids don’t mix but it becomes a mind-blowing mystery when you see the two together. And now, we don’t mean liquid cooling. From the makers of ramen-themed desktop towers, this Bubble Tea PC will have you not only scratching your head but also craving a cup of boba. Instead of a sugary and milky drink, however, it’s a luscious-colored coolant that has faux tapioca balls swirling around as it keeps your cool-looking PC thermally cool. This collab between PC maker PNY and case designer Aftershock isn’t a joke either but a fully functional gaming PC that’s ready to put a new spin on your cravings.

Power In Your Hands: Handheld Gaming PCs

While there are plenty of AI-toting laptops scattered around Computex this year, they are hardly the only computers vying for attention. Gaming handheld PCs are pushing the envelope not only in performance in a small form factor but also in terms of design. There’s definitely plenty of room for experimentation, and there are a few that have caught our attention and fancy.

ADATA XPG Nia

Designer: ADATA

An unexpected contender from a brand better known for its memory and data storage hardware, the XPG Nia focuses on the aspects often left out in the wake of specs and benchmarks. A tilting screen, for example, can drastically improve the comfort of staring at a handheld computer for long periods of time, while upgradable RAM in addition to upgradable storage gives the device a longer life than even some of the smartphones we have today.

ASUS ROG Ally X

Designer: ASUS ROG

The ASUS ROG Ally X is a fine example of refinement over sensational changes. The base design remains the same, but the subtle and sometimes invisible improvements deliver an almost totally different experience that’s a step above in terms of usability. Best of all, however, ASUS isn’t removing the OG ROG Ally from the market just yet, leaving consumers with the choice between affordability and power.

MSI Claw 8 AI+

Designer: MSI

The MSI Claw A1M was an odd one when it came out, but the Claw 8 AI+ cements the manufacturer’s position in the young handheld gaming PC segment. With newer, AI-friendlier hardware comes significant improvements that are necessary for such a small gaming device. It’s still rather unique in its use of Intel silicon, and it will live or die by that commitment. Its design, however, is also enough to make it a noteworthy contender in this fast-growing arena.

ZOTAC ZONE

Designer: ZOTAC

ZOTAC is another new contender, one that has its sights set on the name that started it all: the Steam Deck. While it resembles this progenitor in some aspects, the ZOTAC ZONE tries to take the design where Valve seems reluctant to go. Better hardware and configurable controls will sing to the hearts of many gamers, but the steep price tag could be a major deterrent as well.

Material Matters: Aesthetic and Sustainable Designs

Design innovation doesn’t just have to come from wild new forms or combinations of ideas. Even the materials used for products can have a notable positive effect on the user experience, especially when they delight not just the eyes but also other senses like touch. Bonus points if they also benefit the environment, ensuring there will still be a planet for consumers to live on.

ASUS Ceraluminum

Designer: ASUS

Laptop users are becoming more and more design-conscious. Even those who don’t tend to personalize the backs of their laptops want it to be something that will leave a lasting positive impression on bystanders, not to mention on themselves. Combining the durability of metal with the luxury of ceramic, ASUS’s new Ceraluminum material subtly elevates the laptop from a technological product to an art object. First used on the new ASUS Zenbook S 16, this material exudes beauty that you not only see but also feel every time you touch the laptop or lift its lid.

TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Design Edition

Designer: TECNO

Paying homage to both coffee lovers and environment-conscious consumers, TECNO and LOEWE designed a back cover material that gives waste coffee grounds new life. Using an equally eco-friendly process, this more sustainable material gives the TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Design Edition a distinctive appearance and texture that easily sets itself apart from the crowd. Plus, the use of color blocking also marks the phone with a modern style to fit the discerning tastes of modern consumers.

Creative License: Tools for Designers

All these wonderful designs don’t just pop out from thin air. Someone has to make them, from initial ideation to prototyping to manufacturing. Designers and creators naturally need tools that can meet the growing complexities of their work, and Computex definitely has quite a few in store for them.

Acer SpatialLabs Eye 3D Camera

Designer: Acer

Spatial computing, mixed reality, and the metaverse require a special kind of content, one that breaks free from the confines of flat, 2D space. Even in video meetings and live selling streams, 3D objects are becoming more in demand, offering not just viewers but also presenters new ways to connect and communicate. Acer’s new SpatialLabs Eye 3D camera tries to democratize that process, effectively giving anyone the ability to capture, record, and stream any real-world 3D object as a digital copy.

ASUS ProArt PZ13 Detachable Laptop

Designer: ASUS

As computers become more powerful and geographical boundaries become shorter, content creation can no longer be confined to a desk in an office or room. The ASUS ProArt PZ13 gives designers, artists, engineers, and everyone in between that kind of flexibility with its portable and detachable design. What makes this 2-in-1 computer different is that it’s part of the new breed of Windows computers running on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip, promising improved performance and, of course, on-device AI capabilities.

Power to the User: Empowering Gamers and Creators

One thing that gamers, creators, and power users have in common is their need for power, both literally and figuratively. The ability to customize not only their experience but also the appearance of their equipment goes a long way in giving them the confidence to get their job done, and these designs definitely deliver that with a touch of pizzazz!

ASUS Project DALI E Ink Cover Laptop

Designer: ASUS

E Ink is no longer just for eBook readers. Now that it has color and is being used in signage, the eye-friendly and power-efficient display technology is finding its way to the most unexpected places, like the back of this laptop concept. Project DALI turns the laptop cover into a canvas for users of all walks of life to express themselves or simply have a different design every day if they want. All without draining the battery even when the laptop isn’t running.

ASUS ROG Mjolnir Portable UPS

Designer: ASUS ROG

Nothing scares a gamer or designer more than losing power in the middle of an intense playing or working session. Uninterruptible power supplies are a staple for these people, but if you’ll be getting one, why settle for a boring box when you can have one of the most powerful weapons in the universe? Shaped after the mythological hammer of Thor, the ROG Mjolnir is a power station with an attitude and, more importantly, the power and features to actually match.

Cooler Master MasterHUB Modular Stream Kit

Designer: Cooler Master

A typical computer keyboard has 87 to 101 keys or more, but sometimes even those aren’t enough for content creators, streamers, gamers, and advanced computer users. When you have to remember a bunch of keyboard shortcuts that differ from program to program, you’re putting a heavy burden on your mind that could be used for actual creative thinking instead. This modular MasterHUB stream kit and control center not only offers the power of programmable buttons but also lets you decide how you want those controls to be arranged and look.

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ASUS ROG Mjolnir power station promises uninterrupted gaming for an hour

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It seems that the gods of Asgard are truly smiling on brave digital warriors. After two months of debate and speculation on whether they’re just pulling a long hoax, ROG has proven that there is, indeed, a real Mjolnir power station, or at least one working unit shown off to the public at Computex 2024. And it is as massive as you might have expected, but also had a few surprises we didn’t see coming. It probably won’t satisfy outdoor adventurers, but for the avid collector, comics fan, and loyal ROG gamer, the ROG Mjolnir will definitely be one to keep an eye on, at least when ASUS finally spills all the beans.

Designer: ASUS Republic of Gamers

The ROG Mjolnir is a huge box, perhaps too big for the 768Wh battery it packs inside. Exact dimensions and weight aren’t available yet, but it’s definitely not something you’ll be carrying around a lot despite the “portable” in its name. And you’ll definitely not want to lift it by that handle sticking out from the top because you won’t be able to. And it’s not because you’ve been deemed unworthy.

As speculated, that stick is actually the torch that ASUS teased in April, but it doesn’t work the way you might expect it to. The light is actually on the top end of the stick, so you have to lift it rather than pull it up like you would when trying to pick up a hammer. The opposite end that has a flat disc is actually a magnetic connector that attaches to the magnetic wireless charger on the top of the box.

Yes, there is a 16W wireless charger and it’s compatible with both MagSafe and Qi 2.0. There’s a telltale sign of a charging coil smack in the middle of the Mjolnir’s top, and it’s a bit raised so you can feel the spot with your hand if it’s too dark to see. Of course, you could just use the torch handle to light up the space since you’ll be removing it from its spot anyway. One design oversight, however, is that there doesn’t seem to be any other way to attach the handle so you’ll have to make sure it doesn’t roll off or get lost while you’re charging your smartphone.

Apart from its majestic design, the ROG Mjolnir is pretty average as a power station and is clearly aimed at computer users more than travelers. There are two USB-C ports capable of 65W and 100W of output, two USB-A ports, and four AC outlets with a total maximum load of 1200W. There are no DC barrels or car chargers, it can be charged via solar panels if a direct power source is unavailable.

That’s pretty much a standard for portable power stations but its main purpose is really to provide an uninterruptible power supply in a sudden power outage that should last one hour at 700W or 30 minutes with the max 1200W load. With a fast switchover of 10ms, you’ll have enough time to safely shut down your PC or, better yet, finish your battle before finally going down with the power. There is no word yet on when the ASUS ROG Mjolnir will descend on stores, but expect it to have a price tag worthy of a god when it does.

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Acer Wave 7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router brings a less stressful design to your desk

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As our Internet needs grow, so do the power and complexity of the networking devices we have at home. Strangely, however, the more powerful routers become, the more intimidating they seem to be. Many seem to have fully embraced the tech and gamer culture that would put futuristic-looking designs on a pedestal, whether they look like spaceships or alien mechanical monstrosities. That, unfortunately, forces many homeowners to choose between these powerful yet menacing designs and minimalist yet outdated hardware. Fortunately, manufacturers are also beginning to take note of the gap between these two extremes and are producing designs like the Acer Wave 7 that blends the latest technologies with an almost Zen-like aesthetic.

Designer: Acer

The spec sheet of the Acer Wave 7 definitely looks formidable, employing the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard to support the demands of modern Internet-connected devices, be they Smart TVs for streaming, laptops for work, or smartphones for gaming. Those capabilities include support for super-fast and super-wide 6GHz bandwidth with support for older 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for older devices. It also utilizes 320 MHz lanes for double the transmission rates, which, along with Multi-Link Operation (MLO), ensures all connected devices get the Internet data they need quickly and reliably.

It also has not just one or two Ethernet ports but four, giving the ability to support multiple high-speed wired connections to computers, TVs, and smart home appliances. Of course, not all devices are created equal and need the same amount of data at a rapid speed, so the Wave 7’s smart Hybrid QoS bandwidth management makes sure that data-hungry services like games and video conferencing are prioritized over social media scrolling.

These are features that many routers these days support, but what makes the Acer Wave 7 distinctive is its design. Instead of a black horizontal box with many sharp-looking antennas sticking up from it, this router is tall, slim, and white. And it isn’t a boring minimalist design either. The grilles on its side stay true to its name with their undulating lines, creating what looks like a rippling water not unlike what you’d see in Zen gardens.

It’s admittedly a simple and subtle design cue, but one that immediately changes the atmosphere in a given space. The imagery it triggers has a psychological calming effect, giving your eyes and brain a visual respite from all the cold and impersonal designs you might have in your home or office.

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ZOTAC ZONE gaming handheld PC tries to outdo the Steam Deck

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Although it’s unsurprising that plenty of the announcements at Computex 2024 revolved around AI, the event is still pretty much a showcase of actual physical products. Among the new AI-toting laptops are, also unsurprisingly, a new batch of handheld computers that try to recreate the magic of the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch for themselves. Although there are finally some variations in designs that are showing up, the original Steam Deck still has nooks and crannies that can be explored and improved. That seems to be what PC maker ZOTAC is trying to do by putting out what is trying to be a better Steam Deck than the Steam Deck.

Designer: ZOTAC

Although there have been some handheld gaming PCs before it, the Steam Deck was the first to come from a well-established name in the industry. But rather than simply be a Nintendo Switch clone, the Steam Deck differed significantly in its design, not to mention its internals and software. In a nutshell, it was an extra large handheld that, unlike any other gaming handheld even today, added not one but two trackpads on each side of the screen. It was a rather unique design detail that has so far been exclusive to the Steam Deck, at least until now.

To be rather blunt, it’s not hard to see the ZOTAC ZONE as a Steam Deck clone precisely because of this feature. In fact, there are two other things that make it almost too similar to Valve’s gaming handheld. It has an OLED screen, something that almost no other handheld PC has at the moment, and its button layout follows the PlayStation controller more than the Xbox which everyone except the Steam Deck uses.

At the same time, however, the ZOTAC ZONE is, to some extent, also a step above the Steam Deck in so many ways. For one, it will be running more recent hardware while the Steam Deck is still stuck in 2022. For another, it has a built-in kickstand, a feature that’s oddly absent from many handheld PCs that are clearly inspired by the Nintendo Switch. Last but not least, ZOTAC goes all out on configurable controls, from two-stage adjustable triggers to programmable dials around each of the two joysticks. It’s a gamer’s dream, definitely, but one that also carries quite a steep price.

According to the latest information, the ZOTAC ZONE will launch in September with a $800 price tag, which puts it on the more expensive end of the spectrum. That’s not surprising, though, given how much power the device will be carrying. But as ZOTAC’s first foray into this niche market, it remains to be seen whether the handheld PC will experience growing pains, especially when it comes to the durability of its components.

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How CNC Machining Revolutionizes Product Design: Boosting Efficiency and Precision

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CNC machining plays a transformative role in modern manufacturing and revolutionizes product design and production by automating machine tool control through computers. Therefore, CNC machining is a high-precision solution for modern manufacturers, utilizing advanced electro-mechanical devices to move tools across various axes based on computer-programmed instructions. A typical CNC machine includes a controller, machine tool, and workpiece. The controller executes instructions from a computer program, directing the machine tool to cut or shape the workpiece.

Designer: Proximars

While robots are typically associated with repetitive tasks, Primus challenges this notion by partnering with human creators to execute artistic visions. This robotic arm translates digital art into commands, creating geometric pieces reminiscent of Andy Warhol. With Primus, users can mount a canvas, calibrate, and begin painting, combining human creativity with robotic precision for a truly unique artistic experience.

What are the advantages of using CNC Machining?

1. Accuracy

Precision turning machines operate autonomously, ensuring defect-free products with consistent accuracy. Governed by codes and software, they maintain settings throughout production cycles for product consistency. Additionally, they operate continuously without compromising quality.

Image courtesy of: stockfilmstudio

2. Achieves Speed in Production

The Running milling machines can run at their fastest speed to meet high demands, they can work nonstop, 24/7, staying accurate and saving material. This makes production fast, efficient, and scalable without extra costs.

Designer: Kenji Abe

Kenji Abe’s Hakusaku series features exquisite machined aluminum saké glasses designed to elevate its visual appeal. Crafted from duralumin, these cups boast thin rims, as slim as 0.6mm, offering a unique drinking experience. Precision-machined and adorned with geometric textures, they prevent temperature transfer while enhancing aesthetics.

3. Lower Production Costs

Using CNC machines drastically cuts down production costs, enhances efficiency, and scales production without waste. It also reduces energy usage, trimming operational expenses, making it a cost-effective method without sacrificing quality. Additionally, the low overhead cost due to minimal human intervention substantially reduces expenses.

Designer: Yunjae Lee

Designing unique chairs can be tough due to their long history, yet they inspire endless creativity. Seoul-based designer Yunjae Lee innovates with birch plywood and CNC milling, crafting a chair with three rounded legs, requiring no additional hardware for assembly. The Tri-Round Chair, reminiscent of IKEA projects, breaks down into eleven pieces before assembly, creating a stable structure with its interlocking design. Built from 18mm birch plywood, the chair offers stability without extra hardware, reimagining traditional chair design with a modern twist.

4. Reduced Wastage

CNC machines use iterative optimization to minimize waste and produce components efficiently. This approach, coupled with fixed tooling and routes, maximizes raw material usage and significantly reduces waste for manufacturers.

Designer: Jörg Hugo

Ceramic Bodies is a collection of four porcelain vases designed by Jörg Hugo to fit together like a three-dimensional puzzle. Utilizing a blend of digital and analog design methods, Hugo creates timeless pieces that explore the relationship between materiality, form, and space. Each vase undergoes geometric optimization to minimize structural mass and energy, resulting in a visually captivating ensemble. CNC-milled plaster molds ensure precision in sizing, while 3D-scanning and modification techniques enable efficient production and customization. This innovative approach combines the craftsmanship of handcrafted ceramics with the efficiency of digital design, offering a unique and visually striking addition to any space.

5. Ensures Safety

One primary benefit for CNC machine operators is safety. CNC machines operate behind guards or enclosed, transparent safety doors, making them much safer than manually operated machines.

6. Supports Various Materials

Image courtesy of: zokov

CNC machines work with a variety of materials, including composites, metals, foam, phenolics, and plastics. When choosing materials for CNC milling, some factors like hardness and heat tolerance need to be taken into consideration.

Designer: Dom Riccobene

Dom Riccobene’s CNC-machined Mt. Fuji sculpture showcases the intricate beauty of Richlite, a durable and sustainable material. Blending data, art, and design, Riccobene creates detailed sculptures crafted by algorithms, earning him the title of “data sculptor.” With applications in various industries, Richlite’s versatility and tactile properties make it a preferred choice for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.

7. Low Maintenance Required

CNC milling machines are low-maintenance, usually requiring only periodic tool changes and light cleaning. This in-house serviceability saves money as professional maintenance engineers are not needed.

8. Consistent Output

The CNC process ensures uniformity by being computer-controlled, resulting in identical parts with no variations in quality.

Designer: Baliza Norte

The BN! lamp, a modular table lamp crafted with CNC milling techniques, ensures precise and interchangeable assembly. Inspired by timber toys, its design guarantees symmetry and seamless operation. Delivered in a flatpack, it requires no extra hardware for assembly. Each component is meticulously crafted for easy replacement, and users can choose a bespoke brown color scheme.

CNC machines initially require a higher investment than manual machines, but as usage grows, costs decrease. Skilled technicians are still essential for programming and supervising, but finding them can be challenging, potentially impacting the quality of machined parts in some shops.

What are the four Steps of CNC Machining?

CNC machining progresses through four stages:

Step 1: Create the CAD Drawing

Image courtesy of: SpaceOak

The first step involves creating a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model using 2D or 3D design software. Note that complex designs may require skilled designers, and the CAD model serves as the blueprint for the machining process, guiding the CNC machine in executing precise instructions for material cutting or shaping.

Designers: Ahmet Yasir Karakus & Ahmet Ergun

The ROWND unveils a user-friendly CNC lathe, compact and precise, suitable for new users and professionals alike. Its intuitive touchscreen interface and compatibility with various materials make it accessible and efficient for diverse projects.

Step 2: Convert CAD to CNC File

To convert CAD to CNC, use Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software or basic tools. CAM translates CAD designs into G code, which CNC machines understand. Note that basic tools offer simplicity but lack the advanced capabilities of CAM software.

Step 3: Configure the CNC Machine

Before manufacturing, the CNC machine needs proper setup, akin to configuring a printer. This involves positioning the workpiece accurately and configuring the die and other settings.

Designer: Jasper Mallinson

Jasper Mallinson’s Mecha-Morphis Wearable CNC Machine revolutionizes design manufacturing with its portable exoskeleton design. Small enough to fit on the arm, it provides remarkable mobility for intricate tasks, empowering creativity on the move. Versatile and sustainable, Mecha-Morphis reflects a fusion of innovation and environmental consciousness, offering a glimpse into the future of creative freedom.

Step 4: Execution

Once the configuration is complete, machine operation can proceed by executing the program on the CNC machine’s display panel. One may need to navigate program prompts for different settings. The machine runs continuously until manually stopped or due to errors or any form of power disruptions.

Designer: Makera Design

The Carvera enables one to create prototypes, designs, PCBs, and molds on your tabletop. Compact and equipped with powerful modules, it offers 3-axis CNC machining capabilities with optional laser-cutting and a 4-axis upgrade. Self-leveling and intuitive, it includes drill bits, a probe tool, and a laser module. With a robust build and versatile compatibility, it’s perfect for home or workspace use.

In conclusion, CNC-produced machines play a key role in product design as their components offer superior quality, and zero defects, alongside environmental benefits. Opting for CNC over manual machining brings advantages like precision, speed, safety, efficiency, and cost savings.

The post How CNC Machining Revolutionizes Product Design: Boosting Efficiency and Precision first appeared on Yanko Design.

TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Edition has a back made from coffee grounds

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It’s arguable that coffee makes the world go round, but to some extent, it also does a bit of harm in the process. Our rapid and massive consumption of this beverage has resulted in no small amount of waste, from the plastic cups and straws that we throw away daily to even the grounds that often go into the bin. The latter is, of course, biodegradable, but even that takes time to decompose, during which time they pile up and pollute the environment. Waste coffee grounds can actually have other uses, from aromatic candles to even skin care, so you simply need a creative mind to figure out ways to reuse these traces of caffeinated drinks. Working together with famed luxury design marque LOEWE, TECNO has thought of transforming this waste product into a beautiful and sustainable material to grace the back of its latest flagship smartphone.

Designer: TECNO x LOEWE

With a reported average consumption of 2 billion cups every day around the world, it’s no surprise that waste coffee grounds can actually be an environmental problem. Even when they do decompose in landfills, their improper disposal releases harmful greenhouse gasses that slowly but surely kill the very planet that coffee trees grow on. Recycling these coffee grounds is, of course, a solution, but traditional recycling processes also use up plenty of water and energy.

In contrast, the back cover of the new TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Edition uses not only sustainable materials but also a sustainable process. The coffee grounds are processed without using organic solvents, don’t consume more water, and also use solar power. The result is a back cover that is composed of more than 20% bio-based material that gives the surface a unique texture that will delight your hand the moment it touches it.

You might not be able to tell that the TECNO CAMON 30 LOEWE Edition has a back made from recycled coffee grounds because of its distinctive green color instead of the brown that’s associated with coffee. This gradated color was chosen to be symbolic of nature, representing the natural life cycle of leaves. More interestingly, TECNO also opted to adopt a color-blocking style that not only makes the phone look modern but also gives it a bit of character.

This industry-first coffee grounds back design is available on all TECNO CAMON 30 Series models with no changes to their internal specs. For the Premier 5G variant, that means having no less than four 50MP cameras sitting on top of this unique and sustainable material. Availability details of the TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Design Edition are unavailable at the moment.

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Innovative EDC Flashlight Brightens Up Your Outdoor Adventures With Three Light Sources

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People are rediscovering the joys of being outdoors, but worries begin to sink in as the sun starts to set. The night has always been an unfamiliar and sometimes unsettling territory for most people, but it also holds countless wonders for those who dare brave the darkness. Of course, in our modern world, you no longer have to fear stumbling in the dark, especially when you have plenty of advanced and portable lighting solutions available today. This small EDC accessory, for example, might look like a tactical knife at first glance, but it’s actually a very handy, compact, and multi-functional flashlight that sheds light on your path, lets you verify bank notes, or even gives your cat something to play with.

Designer: JETBeam

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $149 (40% off). Hurry, 77/600 left! Raised over $103,000!

You might think of a flashlight as a very simple device. After all, there’s not much to it other than turning it on or off and adjusting its intensity. Of course, there are considerations regarding brightness and longevity, but those don’t sound very exciting. Despite its small size, the JETBeam E26 EDC flashlight shatters those misconceptions with an innovative design that combines three different light sources in a single compact body, delivering all the lighting you’ll need when braving the night, whether outdoors or even indoors.

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The main star of the show is undoubtedly the Luminus SFT-40 LED which delivers bright white light that can reach 2,000 lumens of brightness at a distance of 165 meters. Of course, you can make the light as soft or as bright as you want with four levels of brightness for every need. And when you need something more tactical or more dynamic, the strobe button at the opposite end of the handle flashes the light for better visibility in an emergency. Best of all the JETBeam E26 remembers the brightness level you last used so you don’t have to go through the whole process of changing the brightness every time you turn the flashlight on.

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The JETBeam E26 flashlight’s list of impressive features doesn’t end there, of course. Along with the bright white light, the flashlight can also shine UV light which is great for seeing in the dark, activating glow-in-the-dark material, and checking the authenticity of bank notes. Last but not least, the flashlight also has a 5mW green laser that can be used for stargazing, construction surveys, making presentations, or playing with your cat. Switching between these three light sources is as easy as turning a dial, and with a 1700mAh rechargeable battery, this flashlight is ready for action any time with a 65-hour battery life, even with all that light.

With such a variety of features, it’s only fitting that the JETBeam E26 carries a design suited for greatness as well. Made with aircraft-grade aluminum and boasting an IPX8 waterproof rating, the flashlight is ready to weather rain or shine and will even survive an accidental drop in a puddle. A variety of safety features, from Intelligent Temperature Control to a Low Voltage Warning System ensure the longevity of the flashlight from within as well. Whether you’re out exploring the world at night, giving a presentation, or simply looking for something in the dark, the JETBeam E26 EDC flashlight will bring the brightness you need in a compact design that doesn’t get in your way when you’re done.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $149 (40% off). Hurry, 77/600 left! Raised over $103,000!

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