Monthly Archives: June 2024

The TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT Is A Product Of Fusing Japanese Traditions With 3D-Printed Sustainability

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At the prestigious Salone Del Milano 2023 in Milan, Italy, the design lab HONOKA showcased their innovative TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT furniture series. This project, conceived by a team of forward-thinking product designers, leverages advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing to breathe new life into traditional Japanese tatami mats. The result is a fusion of heritage and cutting-edge technology that reintroduces the essence of tatami into contemporary living spaces.

Designer: HONOKA LAB

Tatami mats have been a staple of Japanese interiors for centuries, renowned for their aromatic qualities, humidity regulation, and odor reduction capabilities. HONOKA’s project aims to integrate these traditional benefits into modern furniture design. By blending recycled tatami with biodegradable plastic, they have created a sustainable material that is both adaptable and durable. This innovative composite can be 3D printed into a variety of functional and decorative home products, embodying the future of artisanal design while retaining a distinct connection to Japanese culture.

One of the key highlights of this project is its commitment to sustainability. Traditional tatami production often results in significant material waste, with nearly half of the plant-based material discarded. Honoka addresses this issue by recycling tatami waste and combining it with biodegradable plastic, significantly reducing the environmental impact. This material is not only eco-friendly but also versatile, allowing designers to explore new aesthetic possibilities and create unique forms that enhance modern living spaces.

The collection features several distinctive pieces that exemplify the versatility and beauty of the tatami-resin composite:

SORI and MUKURI:

These knitted tatami-resin furniture pieces reinterpret traditional Japanese shapes and textures through 3D printing. The unique structure of these items offers moderate transparency and varying visual expressions depending on the viewing angle. They are sturdy enough to support glass and other heavy materials, making them ideal for dining tables.

CHIGUSA:

Inspired by the traditional Japanese “Sen-suji” pattern, this stool combines multiple 3D-printed parts. The vertical pattern of the elastic and durable tatami-mixed resin provides a resilient and comfortable seating experience.

TABA:

A lighting fixture designed to resemble bundled grass, TABA uses a dripping technique in its 3D printing process. The tatami-mixed resin diffuses light beautifully, with light spilling through the gaps in its branches, creating a soft, natural ambiance.

TACHIWAKI:

This self-standing basin, inspired by the Japanese “Tachiwaki” pattern, features multiple stripes created by varying the purging speed of the 3D printer. Its water-resistant nature makes it suitable for innovative bathroom designs.

YOCELL:

A stool that draws from the traditional Japanese “Asanoha” pattern, it uses the layer marks of the 3D printer to create unique visual effects by aligning them in different directions. The modular shape makes it sustainable even for transportation and packaging.

AMI:

Combining the aesthetics of traditional Japanese 2D weaving with modern 3D printing, the AMI stool and lampshade feature intricate designs created by dripping resin from the air. The resulting pieces change their expression based on the viewing angle.

KOHSHI:

This lattice-like vase is reminiscent of Japanese architecture and allows for flexible plant arrangements, inspired by the art of Ikebana. This design has such a lightweight aesthetic, making any room feel airy. It’s perfect for minimalistic homes.

The post The TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT Is A Product Of Fusing Japanese Traditions With 3D-Printed Sustainability first appeared on Yanko Design.

Uber is locking New York drivers out of its apps and blaming a city pay rule

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For the last month, Uber has been locking New York City drivers out of its apps during low-demand periods, and Lyft has threatened to do so, too. Bloomberg reports that the ride-hailing companies blame a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rule for their behavior. At least one drivers’ union says it may consider striking if the lockouts continue.

The mid-shift lockouts stem from a six-year-old NYC pay rule that requires ride-sharing companies to pay drivers for idle time between fares. Capping how long drivers without passengers can be paid means Uber pays less, but it also means drivers are taking home much less money for the same amount of time on the clock. And they can’t predict when they’ll lose access to the app.

Drivers are understandably angry. “I used to work 10 hours and make $300 to $350,” Nikoloz Tsulukidze, a full-time Uber driver, told Bloomberg. “Now, I just worked 10 hours and barely made $170. I was so disappointed. I’m paying for my gas and cannot make money.”

Uber and Lyft are deploying the “Look what you made me do!” strategy, pointing fingers at the TLC’s pay rule (and each other) while trying to turn drivers into lobbyists against the regulation. An Uber email to its drivers from last month, viewed by Bloomberg, encouraged drivers to “let the TLC know the effect their rules have had” on their wages.

The way the rule affects the companies differently is also a factor in their blame games. Uber’s drivers have been busier this year, meaning its numbers have more weight on the city’s averages, which determine the minimum-pay limits. “The city’s rule bizarrely holds Uber responsible for Lyft’s failures,” Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told Bloomberg. “With Lyft struggling to keep drivers busy, we don’t have other options.”

Meanwhile, Lyft (naturally) views the situation in reverse. “Uber wants to change the rules so that Lyft is penalized,” the company wrote in a June email to drivers. “The current NYC pay formula is broken,” Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin told Bloomberg. “It forces rideshare companies to limit when drivers can earn, and therefore how much they can earn.”

A drivers’ union says Uber’s over-hiring is the root cause of the ordeal. Bhairavi Desai, president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, told Bloomberg that the company “mismanaged” hiring by allowing too many drivers to join its ranks — and the workers are now left to foot the bill. She accused Uber of “gaming the system” by using the TLC’s rule to withhold “time that should be paid under the law and making it unpaid.” Desai says the union will consider striking if necessary.

Although Lyft hasn’t yet begun locking out drivers, it might. A June email to the company’s drivers warned that it would soon “have to” adopt a similar practice.

The current mess in NYC follows a long trail of ugly fights across the country between ride-sharing companies and city regulations. Uber and Lyft staged similar lockouts in 2019 in response to a flat minimum wage requirement for drivers that continued until the following spring. Earlier this year, the two companies threatened to pull out of Minneapolis after the city tried to force a driver pay raise that would push their rates up to the equivalent of minimum wage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-is-locking-new-york-drivers-out-of-its-apps-and-blaming-a-city-pay-rule-204737818.html?src=rss

The new boAt Stone Lumos Wireless Speaker will project galaxies on your ceiling while you listen to music

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Why buy a sunset lamp AND a Bluetooth speaker when you could have both in the same device?! boAt Lifestyle (India’s largest audio hardware brand) just announced the boAt Stone Lumos, a speaker with its own built-in LED projector that casts ambient scenery onto your ceiling while you listen to music.

Scheduled to launch in India today (June 25th), the boAt Stone Lumos is a fairly hefty boombox-style portable speaker boasting a 60W output. However, its crown jewel isn’t the audio, it’s the integration of a projector on the top left of the speaker, which reportedly shines ‘stars and lights’ on the ceiling to create am ambiance that goes together with the music you’re listening to. Details on the projector seem scarce at this point, but given the Rs. 6,999 INR ($83.8 USD) price point, we wouldn’t expect anything too immersive or detailed.

Designer: boAt Lifestyle

The speaker packs a lot of punch for its price tag, boasting a 60W output. A control panel on top of the boAt Stone Lumos lets you adjust various parameters, like playback, volume, EQ, and even cycle through the 7 different projection modes the speaker has to offer.

The control panel offers a variety of adjustments, while a two-part LED projector casts light and stars onto the ceiling above, creating a soothing atmosphere.

The speaker comes with a maximum of 9 hours of playback (with the projector off), has support for the boAt Hearables app, is IPX4 splash and water resistant, and has a built-in mic for hands-free calling. The boAt Stone Lumos also packs Bluetooth 5.3 for a crisp connection, although if you’re old school, there’s 3.5mm aux and USB connectivity too!

What the boAt Stone Lumos does is rather unusual, but seems pretty fitting. Most mid-range Bluetooth speaker do pack their own ambient backlights and LED strips for an extra audio-visual oomph, so the fact that this speaker actually turns your room into a makeshift galaxy just feels like taking wireless speakers to their logical next-step. Now to just play Sky Full Of Stars by Coldplay on this bad boy!

The post The new boAt Stone Lumos Wireless Speaker will project galaxies on your ceiling while you listen to music first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple TV+ subscribers will get early access to the company’s latest original podcast

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Apple will release its first premium podcast with early access available to Apple TV+ subscribers. The company made the announcement in a press release today that its first dual-language podcast, My Divo, will be the first podcast tied to an Apple TV+ subscription.

All eight episodes of My Divo will be available in English and Spanish for Apple TV+ subscribers when they connect their subscriptions to Apple Podcasts starting July 1. Non-subscribers will listen to new episodes every week. However, they will get access to the first two episodes on launch day. Apple indicated that My Divo will serve as an example of its new business model for podcast distribution going forward, saying that “all upcoming Apple TV+ podcasts will also be made available in full to subscribers.”

My Divo is a podcast about Mexican singer Juan Gabriel, also known as El Divo de Juárez (hence the title), hosted by award-winning journalist Maria Garcia as she tries to reconcile her identity with the legacy of the flamboyant Latino performer. She reexamines similarities within their Mexican heritage, including their sexualities and their upbringing in Ciudad Juárez.

Apple releasing a podcast behind an Apple TV+ paywall is similar to its plan of producing companion podcasts to Apple TV+ shows, which happened shortly after the launch of the streaming service four years ago. My Divo is the first Apple podcast not tied to an Apple TV+ show of the same name.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-subscribers-will-get-early-access-to-the-companys-latest-original-podcast-195756992.html?src=rss

Apple TV+ subscribers will get early access to the company’s latest original podcast

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Apple will release its first premium podcast with early access available to Apple TV+ subscribers. The company made the announcement in a press release today that its first dual-language podcast, My Divo, will be the first podcast tied to an Apple TV+ subscription.

All eight episodes of My Divo will be available in English and Spanish for Apple TV+ subscribers when they connect their subscriptions to Apple Podcasts starting July 1. Non-subscribers will listen to new episodes every week. However, they will get access to the first two episodes on launch day. Apple indicated that My Divo will serve as an example of its new business model for podcast distribution going forward, saying that “all upcoming Apple TV+ podcasts will also be made available in full to subscribers.”

My Divo is a podcast about Mexican singer Juan Gabriel, also known as El Divo de Juárez (hence the title), hosted by award-winning journalist Maria Garcia as she tries to reconcile her identity with the legacy of the flamboyant Latino performer. She reexamines similarities within their Mexican heritage, including their sexualities and their upbringing in Ciudad Juárez.

Apple releasing a podcast behind an Apple TV+ paywall is similar to its plan of producing companion podcasts to Apple TV+ shows, which happened shortly after the launch of the streaming service four years ago. My Divo is the first Apple podcast not tied to an Apple TV+ show of the same name.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-subscribers-will-get-early-access-to-the-companys-latest-original-podcast-195756992.html?src=rss

Valve is selling the 512GB LCD Steam Deck for less than $400

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Valve isn’t waiting for the beginning of its Steam Summer Sale to kick off the festivities. On Monday, the company posted 15 percent off deals on two discontinued Steam Deck LCD models, offering the 64GB variant for under $300 and the 512GB edition for under $400. The sale lasts until July 11 at 10AM PDT or — the key bit — “while supplies last.”

The star of the fire sale is the 512GB (NVMe SSD) LCD Steam Deck model. Initially, it was $449, but the handheld is available for only $381.65. Its OLED equivalent retails for $549, letting you save big if you can live with the cheaper (but still high-quality) LCD screen technology. Meanwhile, the 64GB (eMMC SSD) LCD model, which initially sold for $349, is on sale for $296.65.

Both devices have seven-inch displays with 1280 x 800 LCDs, 60Hz refresh rates and 400 nits brightness, but the 512GB model includes anti-glare etched glass. They have 40Wh batteries with a theoretical eight-hour runtime, but they will likely average around 4.5 hours. Each model ships with a standard carrying case.

Screenshot of Valve’s website, listing the features and specs for two Steam Deck models on sale (64GB LCD: $269.65, 512GB LCD: $381.65).
Valve

Engadget re-reviewed the LCD Steam Deck last fall after the OLED variants launched. Although the handheld’s chunky size, weight and mediocre battery life hold it back to a degree (especially for those with smaller hands), it’s still a solid choice for home-based gamers invested in Steam’s ecosystem. The bottom line: “If you have the extra cash, go ahead and grab the OLED version,” as Jessica Conditt wrote, but “compared with the wider handheld sector, the Steam Deck LCD offers a fantastic return on investment.”

You can check out the sale for all the details. Meanwhile, to save on games galore, you can mark your calendar for the Steam Summer Sale, which begins on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-is-selling-the-512gb-lcd-steam-deck-for-less-than-400-185918912.html?src=rss

Valve is selling the 512GB LCD Steam Deck for less than $400

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Valve isn’t waiting for the beginning of its Steam Summer Sale to kick off the festivities. On Monday, the company posted 15 percent off deals on two discontinued Steam Deck LCD models, offering the 64GB variant for under $300 and the 512GB edition for under $400. The sale lasts until July 11 at 10AM PDT or — the key bit — “while supplies last.”

The star of the fire sale is the 512GB (NVMe SSD) LCD Steam Deck model. Initially, it was $449, but the handheld is available for only $381.65. Its OLED equivalent retails for $549, letting you save big if you can live with the cheaper (but still high-quality) LCD screen technology. Meanwhile, the 64GB (eMMC SSD) LCD model, which initially sold for $349, is on sale for $296.65.

Both devices have seven-inch displays with 1280 x 800 LCDs, 60Hz refresh rates and 400 nits brightness, but the 512GB model includes anti-glare etched glass. They have 40Wh batteries with a theoretical eight-hour runtime, but they will likely average around 4.5 hours. Each model ships with a standard carrying case.

Screenshot of Valve’s website, listing the features and specs for two Steam Deck models on sale (64GB LCD: $269.65, 512GB LCD: $381.65).
Valve

Engadget re-reviewed the LCD Steam Deck last fall after the OLED variants launched. Although the handheld’s chunky size, weight and mediocre battery life hold it back to a degree (especially for those with smaller hands), it’s still a solid choice for home-based gamers invested in Steam’s ecosystem. The bottom line: “If you have the extra cash, go ahead and grab the OLED version,” as Jessica Conditt wrote, but “compared with the wider handheld sector, the Steam Deck LCD offers a fantastic return on investment.”

You can check out the sale for all the details. Meanwhile, to save on games galore, you can mark your calendar for the Steam Summer Sale, which begins on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-is-selling-the-512gb-lcd-steam-deck-for-less-than-400-185918912.html?src=rss

Paramount+ is raising prices again for all of the Tulsa King fans out there

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It’s about to get a bit more expensive to watch Tulsa King, Star Trek shows and that Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff. Paramount Global is once again raising prices for its streaming service, Paramount+, as reported by CNBC. This will bring the price of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan to $13 a month, up from $12, and the bare-bones Paramount+ Essential plan to $8 a month, which is an increase from $6.

The increase takes effect on August 20 for new customers, though pre-existing users will have until around September 20. There is a silver lining. Pre-existing customers who subscribe to the Essential plan will avoid a price increase, for now. So only current Paramount+ with Showtime users and all new subscribers will see the uptick. This follows another fee increase just last year.

Paramount Global has been trying to find a buyer for Paramount+ for months now, with no success. Most recently, a proposed merger with Skydance and National Amusements collapsed. The company, however, recently boasted that the streamer had amassed 71 million paying customers, though it still operates at a loss. As a reference point, Peacock has around 31 million subscribers and Max has just over 97 million.

That puts Paramount+ right in the middle of the pack. It does have a lot going for it in the IP department. Knuckles was well-received and my dad has had Tulsa King on continuous repeat for over a year. I subscribe, though I’m there exclusively for Star Trek. Once that well runs dry, which seems to be happening, I’m out.

Of course, Paramount+ is by no means sitting alone at the streamflation lunch table. Price increases have been running rampant the past year or two, and just about every major platform has been involved. Max raised subscription costs earlier this month and Peacock announced a similar move for later this summer. Disney+, Apple TV+ and Netflix have all recently raised prices.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/paramount-is-raising-prices-again-for-all-of-the-tulsa-king-stans-out-there-183720943.html?src=rss

New difficulty mod in Stardew Valley will purge your saves if you use a guide

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A great number of us have played games in extra-difficult modes (or in the case of Kingdom Hearts, Proud Mode) to challenge ourselves. Now, a Stardew Valley player has created a “hardcore” option for the otherwise chill game, one that will delete the save files of any player who uses a guide while playing the game on PC.

According to GamesRadar, software engineer Sylvie Nightshade created the high difficulty mod on June 21 after reading an article published the day before on the satirical website Hard Drive, the gaming version of The Onion. The article in question joked about a “hardcore mode” in Stardew Valley that will delete players’ hard grown farms if they dare read the wiki at any point during gameplay. That same day, Nightshade quote-tweeted the article on X with the link to the mod in GitHub announcing that she turned the joke into reality.

The mod works by scanning the title of every window or tab that is open while Stardew Valley is running. If any window title includes “Stardew Valley Wiki” in the title, it erases everything the player has worked hard to achieve, forcing them to start from square one without using the guide. Nightshade even updated the mod so that it not only deletes the player’s save file but also closes the browser window the wiki was found in “just to add insult to injury.”

Hardcore mode being programmed into Stardew Valley is another case of life imitating art after Hello Kitty Island Adventure launched on Apple Arcade 17 years after it was mentioned as a joke in the South Park episode “Make Love, Not Warcraft.” Here’s a tip: If you play Stardew Valley on hardcore mode on your computer but use the guide on your phone, you should be safe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-difficulty-mod-in-stardew-valley-will-purge-your-saves-if-you-use-a-guide-175521779.html?src=rss

Apple’s iPhone 15 is up to $120 off at Woot right now

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Woot is selling iPhone 15 models for up to $120 off, with various configuration and color options. This discount makes the 128GB version just $680 and brings the 256GB model down to $800. Those are some good prices for one of Apple’s latest and greatest smartphones.

There are some caveats. This sale is just for the standard iPhone 15, so don’t go looking for Pro or Pro Max versions. These are brand-new smartphones, but they don’t come with official Apple packaging. Instead, you get a “sleek custom black box.” Finally, these handsets aren’t eligible for AppleCare, though they do ship with a one-year vendor warranty.

There’s also the ghost of Christmas future. It’s late June right now and Apple typically unveils new smartphones in September. This means that in a few short months, that iPhone 15 will likely get outshined by the iPhone 16. Still, modern updates tend to be iterative, so you probably won’t be missing that much, outside of Apple Intelligence integration.

On the upside, this is the iPhone 15. It’s one of the best smartphones money can buy. We gave the standard iPhone 13 the award for best budget-friendly smartphone, but the Woot deal brings the two models much closer in price. 

With that in mind, the 15 is a major step up in just about every way. It features a better chip, improved cameras, longer battery life and, at long last, USB-C integration. We called it "the most substantial update to the regular iPhone in years" in our official review. If you want a reliable and powerful smartphone that should keep on ticking for a few years, don’t sleep on this deal.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-iphone-15-is-up-to-120-off-at-woot-right-now-174040952.html?src=rss