Monthly Archives: July 2024

Clad In Cork, This Tiny Home Features An Impressive Unusual Layout That Maximizes Space

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Dubbed the Terra m2_Tiny House on Wheels, this tiny home by Portuguese woodworking specialist MadeiGuincho is a follow-up to the noteworthy Terra m1. This exceptional tiny home follows suit to its predecessor and features a rather unique and unusual interior layout that spans over three stories. The impressive layout maximizes the space available, and features a quaint little rooftop terrace area, which makes for a cozy little spot to lounge about in after a long day working from home or completing some errands.

Designer: MadeiGuincho 

The Terra m2 is the second of the three homes created by MadeiGuincho for Portugal’s Alentejo area. The home is designed for couples and individuals who intend to use it for short vacations. It is founded on a double-axle trailer and features a length of 16.4 ft. The home has a finish of wood and cork, and it is manufactured sustainably and provides good insulation. The interior has been spread over three floors, and as you enter the home, you are welcomed by a compact and simple kitchen with a sink, cabinetry, and appliances that have been kept away.

Stairs offer access to the living area which has been equipped with seating. In the kitchen, other steps lead downstairs to the bedroom which includes a double bed, and some storage. Much like the other MadeiGuincho models, the interior is quite rustic and attractive. The finish showcases the natural beauty of the wood. The home is equipped with generous glazing, which allows natural lighting to stream in through the day.

The level which accommodates the kitchen also accommodates the bathroom. The bathroom includes a toilet and shower, and it is connected to a second door that leads to a deck. The deck expands the living space. The Terra m2_Tiny House on Wheels also includes storage-integrated stairs in the living room, which offer access to a skylight and a rooftop terrace area that provides lovely views of the local area.

The post Clad In Cork, This Tiny Home Features An Impressive Unusual Layout That Maximizes Space first appeared on Yanko Design.

Concrete iPhone MagSafe Stand adds a touch of Brutalism to your Desk Setup

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I think it’s wonderful that we managed to create an entire art movement out of trauma and recovery. The Brutalist design period was mainly seen as a post-war period when buildings were being rebuilt to help cities restore themselves. With very little money to spend on opulence, architects often opted for more utilitarian styles, relying purely on concrete (sometimes without even so much as a coat of paint) to reconstruct societies and neighborhoods. This is a period that people associate with pure functionality to the point of emotional coldness, and somehow, it managed to turn into an architectural style even though the severe limitations on aesthetics. Today, brutalism is seen as a design style that reflects a clutter-free mind, or an almost industrial approach to life – brutalism is getting revived in homes, and even in home decor, with people making their own concrete side tables, using exposed concrete facades indoors, and opting for concrete stationery/decor too. To that end, the Monument brings a wonderful touch of brutalism to homes. Inspired by the cold architecture of brutalist Germany/UK and Soviet-era Russia (with a touch of Arrakis from Dune), the Monument is a monolithic stand that docks your iPhone’s MagSafe charger.

Designer: The Artifox

The stand comes cast in a single block, with no extra parts, glue, or fasteners. It’s as monolithic and brutalist as it gets. The relatively clean design emphasizes the brutalist approach further. Place the Monument anywhere on table and you can pass the Apple MagSafe Wireless Charger right through it, effectively concealing the wire within the Monument’s hollow body. A micro-suction pad holds the charger in place, and the MagSafe magnets allow your iPhone to securely attach to the Monument, allowing it to charge.

The Monument is position-agnostic. You can mount your iPhone either in portrait mode, allowing you to make video calls or watch TikTok videos. Flip it into horizontal mode and you can either watch YouTube/Netflix on it, or activate the iPhone’s Standby Mode which turns the screen into a functional display with clocks, calendars, widgets, and photos to choose from.

At a whopping 2lbs, the Monument is as stable as can be, so you can stop worrying about your phone ever getting knocked over. A felt base ensures that the stand doesn’t scratch your tables either. Each Monument is made in the USA, and comes in two colors – a lighter Natural color, and a darker Charcoal finish (shown here), and starts at $90.

The post Concrete iPhone MagSafe Stand adds a touch of Brutalism to your Desk Setup first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts

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Meta, the parent company of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, has decided to remove restrictions placed on former President Donald Trump’s accounts.

Meta updated its original statement announcing the end of Trump’s suspension on Facebook and Instagram in January of 2023 to reflect the Republican presumptive presidential nominee’s new online status. Axios first reported on the news.

Meta removed Trump from all of its platforms following the attack on the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 amid “extreme and highly unusual circumstances,” according to Meta’s original statement. 

Seven people were killed as a result of violence on or collateral damage as a result of the attack on the Capitol building.

The following May, the Oversight Board ruled that Facebook failed to apply an appropriate penalty with its indefinite suspension of Trump’s accounts for “severely” violating Facebook and Instagram’s community guidelines and standards. Trump said in a video statement released less than three hours after the violence began “We love you. You’re very special” and called the insurrectionists “great patriots.” Those and other statements made in the wake of the US Capitol attack convinced the board that Trump violated its standard against praising or supporting people engaging in violence on its platforms.

Two years later, Meta restored Trump’s accounts following a time-bound suspension with stricter penalties for violating its terms of service, a standard that was higher than any other user on Facebook and Instagram. Meta noted in its latest update that the ex-president will be subject to the same standard as everyone else.

“With the party conventions taking place shortly, including the Republican convention next week, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated,” according to Meta’s statement. “In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.”

Twitter, now X, also took action against President Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol for three tweets he posted that were labeled for inciting violence. It started with a 12-hour suspension on Jan. 6, 2021. Two days later, Twitter banned him completely after determining that subsequent posts also violated its community standards. The following year, Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk conducted an informal poll on his account asking if he should remove President Trump’s ban and reinstated his account a few days later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-rolls-back-restrictions-on-trumps-facebook-and-instagram-accounts-220203014.html?src=rss

Three senators introduce bill to protect artists and journalists from unauthorized AI use

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Three US Senators introduced a bill that aims to rein in the rise and use of AI generated content and deepfakes by protecting the work of artists, songwriters and journalists.

The Content Original Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media (COPIED) Act was introduced to the Senate Friday morning. The bill is a bipartisan effort authorized by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), according to a press alert issued by Blackburn’s office.

The COPIED ACT would, if enacted, create transparency standards through the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) to set guidelines for “content provenance information, watermarking, and synthetic content detection,” according to the press release.

The bill would also prohibit the unauthorized use of creative or journalistic content to train AI models or created AI content. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general would also gain the authority to enforce these guidelines and individuals who had their legally created content used by AI to create new content without their consent or proper compensation would also have the right to take those companies or entities to court.

The bill would even expand the prohibition of tampering or removing content provenance information by internet platforms, search engines and social media companies.

A slew of content and journalism advocacy groups are already voicing their support for the COPIED Act to become law. They include groups like SAG-AFTRA, the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Songwriters Guild of America and the National Newspaper Association.

This is not the Senate’s first attempt to create guidelines and laws for the rising use of AI content and it certainly won’t be the last. In April, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) submitted a bill called the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act that would force AI companies to list their copyrighted sources in their datasets. The bill has not moved out of the House Committee on the Judiciary since its introduction, according to Senate records.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/three-senators-introduce-bill-to-protect-artists-and-journalists-from-unauthorized-ai-use-205603263.html?src=rss

This Electric Cafe Racer revives the motorcycle category with a modern-classic design aesthetic

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The road to electrification strangely lacks enough two-wheelers. While the electric movement has seen a whole slew of automotive companies jump on board, the EV spectrum only covers cars and last-mile e-scooters and e-bikes. The motorcycle everyone is familiar with hasn’t seen an electrification… the reason? A combination of a lack of demand, and a lack of infrastructure. Even then, there are companies looking to bring an electric powertrain to the motorcycle category, while also redefining the aesthetic of these motorbikes in a way that allows people to differentiate between gas and electric two-wheelers.

Inspired by Tesla’s mission to bring eco-friendly cars to the mainstream, Brooklyn-based Tarform is setting its sights on sustainable motorcycles. The Vera is not only electric, but it’s also crafted with recyclable materials and natural fibers, minimizing its environmental impact.

Designer: Tarform

The Vera’s design is a head-turner. It balances classic motorcycle aesthetics with a modern twist, echoing the design DNA of Tarform’s previous creation, the Luna. The clean lines and sculpted bodywork convey a sense of sophistication, while the lightweight build (around 360 lbs) promises agility and maneuverability in city traffic. Visually, it’s evident that the Vera sits well within cafe racer territory, but there’s a refined sense of design that makes it stand apart from gas-powered motorbikes. The surfaces, although curvy and aerodynamic, are exceptionally clean. Everything is designed with intent and with sleekness. The silhouette looks distinctly classical, but the form language and surfaces are exceptionally modern, from the slick tank-to-seat integration, the halo-shaped headlight, and a rather unusually pretty split mud-guard on the rear wheel.

The Vera’s stunning design is matched by its impressive performance capabilities. The electric motor propels the bike from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds, delivering an exhilarating rush of acceleration. With a top speed exceeding 85 mph and a peak torque of 120 lb-ft, the Vera provides ample power for navigating cityscapes or conquering challenging terrain. An air-cooled system keeps the motor from overheating, ensuring reliable performance even in demanding conditions.

The fuel tank gets replaced by a battery that gives the Vera a surprisingly good range for e-bikes. The motorcycle boasts a 100-mile range on a single charge, making it ideal for everyday commutes and weekend getaways. The 8 kWh lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in just 2 hours using a Level 2 charger, ensuring you’re never stranded for long.

A keyless ignition system adds convenience, while a 3.4-inch digital display dashboard provides essential information like speed, battery level, and navigation. 4G connectivity allows riders to connect their smartphones for navigation or entertainment.

The Tarform Vera addresses a key barrier to electric motorcycle adoption – affordability. With a starting price of $16,000, it positions itself as a more attainable option compared to some high-end electric motorcycles on the market. This strategic pricing makes electric motorcycle technology more accessible to a wider range of riders, potentially accelerating the shift toward sustainable urban transportation.

The post This Electric Cafe Racer revives the motorcycle category with a modern-classic design aesthetic first appeared on Yanko Design.

8BitDo marks its 11th anniversary with gold and silver metal controllers

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The controllers available for consoles like the Xbox Series X and the Nintendo Switch and even some for PC gaming are the peak result of an evolutionary ergonomic transformation. The days of boxy controllers like the NES GamePad and even the Atari 2600 joystick are almost gone from modern gaming but 8BitDo has done a great job of preserving those classic designs without totally sacrificing their functionality.

8BitDo has been making these modern throwback peripherals for 11 years and it’s marking this anniversary with a pair of limited edition gold and silver SN30 Pro controllers.

These controllers aren’t just matte painted in gold and silver. They are made with a “zinc-alloy metal” so they weigh a hefty 381 grams. They also cost just under $100 each. They are compatible with the Nintendo Switch and computers running Microsoft Windows, according to 8BitDo’s website.

The new gold and silver limited edition controllers have the same layout as the original SN30 Pro with a Super Nintendo-esque button layout and two analog sticks. A metal version may give it the little bit of extra weight the original needs so it feels a little more balanced. Plus, a metal controller that looks like gold or silver just makes you feel like a total baller. Such a confidence boost could transfer from your brain to your hands and may improve your game. So it could be an effective controller or just a cool looking paperweight that you might find on Elon Musk’s desk (assuming he stops tweeting long enough to notice it exists).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/8bitdo-marks-its-11th-anniversary-with-gold-and-silver-metal-controllers-195616688.html?src=rss

AI-Powered Bike Safety Camera Launches on Indiegogo

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Are you ever concerned about how close cars get behind you? As cyclists ourselves, this has always been a source of worry when trying to navigate our busy city. A new solution is here: the AI-powered Rear View Mirror.

Key Features:

  • Real-Time Alerts: Provides visual and audio notifications for approaching vehicles.
  • Compact and Easy to Install: Fits seamlessly on various bike types.
  • Enhanced Safety: Aims to reduce accidents and increase cyclist awareness.
  • Customizable Alerts: Tailor visual and audio warnings based on preferences and set your own warning distances.

The Luna Oculus, a rear-facing camera integrated with a bike light, connects to a smartphone app to give cyclists a heads-up when vehicles get too close. The app shows a livestream view of what’s happening behind and provides escalating alerts as vehicles approach.

This innovative device brings the benefits of smart camera technology to cyclists, helping them stay safe on the roads. For more details, visit the Indiegogo page.

The post AI-Powered Bike Safety Camera Launches on Indiegogo appeared first on OhGizmo!.

Amazon is adding a free $300 gift card when you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

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If you’re considering a premium foldable phone, these pre-order deals ahead of Prime Day may be the way to go. You can get a $300 Amazon gift card when you reserve the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and a $200 one with the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Both phones begin shipping on July 24.

The Samsung Z Fold 6 will typically cost $1,900 for 256GB of storage and $2,320 for 512GB. But Amazon’s deal gets you the 512GB with a $300 Amazon gift card for $1,900. (The 256GB model costs the same, so there’s no reason to go with it.) That’s still loads of money to spend on a phone, but if you were going the premium foldable route anyway, at least this offer doubles the storage and adds a nice chunk of store credit for the same entry price.

The Z Fold 6 has the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and more RAM than its predecessor. It also adds a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a brighter display (up to 2,600 nits).

In Engadget’s hands-on, Sam Rutherford found the phone to be sharper and sleeker than its predecessor. The Z Fold 6 has a new dual-rail hinge with Samsung’s enhanced Armor Aluminum for a lighter feel. The main screen’s slightly tweaked dimensions also improve the viewing experience. The phone even has a 60-percent larger vapor chamber to help cool the phone during intense gaming sessions.

Two Samsung Z Flip 6 phones sitting on a stack of books.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

For the Z Flip 6, you can also pre-order the 512GB model for the same price as the 256GB model ($1,099), and you’ll get a $200 Amazon gift card with your purchase.

The smaller foldable had more changes in this year’s upgrades. These include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM, a 4,000mAh battery (the largest on any Z Flip) and cameras to match the excellent ones on the Galaxy S24: a 50MP main one and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a 2024 flagship phone without AI features, and both phones have plenty. Carrying over from the Galaxy S24 series, both phones add generative tools like browsing assist, dictation, new translation tools and Circle to Search.

Both phones arrive on July 24, and the deal is only valid through July 23 or as long as supplies last.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-adding-a-free-300-gift-card-when-you-pre-order-the-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-193426527.html?src=rss

Dubai’s 40-Mile Green Spine Will Include One Million Trees

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The architectural firm URB is following the proposals for the Dubai Mangroves and Dubai Reefs projects to convert Dubai’s landscape into a lush green paradise. Called the Green Spine, it will serve as a highway in the region with park areas, farms, trams, and more than a million trees planted. The Green Spine will cover almost 64 km, and it will be focused around the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, one of the most important highways in the area.

Designer: Urb

The Green Spine will be connected to a massive solar panel array which will offer electricity to power an electric tram system. There will be enough power remaining to provide electricity to nearly 130,000 homes. Bioswales will also be integrated to capture and manage rainwater, as well as greywater. The aforementioned million trees will be placed in parks, urban farms that produce veggies and fruits, as well as gardens.

The Green Spine will also be incorporated with outdoor fitness areas, playgrounds, and dedicated sports facilities. Cycling will also be encouraged since footpaths and High Line-style elevated park areas will also be constructed. The space will also include retail areas and food stores.

“By integrating a comprehensive network of green pathways, pedestrian routes, and cycling tracks, the Green Spine enhances urban connectivity, making it feasible for residents to reach essential services and leisure areas quickly and conveniently,” explains Urb. “This initiative not only promotes a healthier, more active lifestyle but also significantly reduces the need for vehicular travel, thus lowering urban traffic and its associated environmental impacts. The Green Spine’s role in this broader urban planning framework showcases its commitment to creating a more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly city.”

The Green Spine is a multi-year project, and it will be constructed as a component of a much larger Dubai 2040 plan to heighten the city’s sustainability, as well as the quality of life. But, for the moment we aren’t aware when it will be completed.

The post Dubai’s 40-Mile Green Spine Will Include One Million Trees first appeared on Yanko Design.

Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus is now live for all US customers

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There’s another chatbot in town. Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus is now live for all US customers, albeit in a beta version. This follows a testing phase that began back in February. Rufus looks to currently be tied to the app and not the web version of Amazon.

So what does it do? It’s an Amazon chatbot so it helps with shopping. You can ask for lists of recommended products and ask what specific products do and stuff like that.

I’ve tooled around with it a bit this morning and it seems fine, though a bit boring. I will say that I cross-referenced some of the recommended products with the web version and Rufus does not automatically list promoted items, at least for now.

Chatbot answer
Amazon

It spit out a seemingly random list of well-reviewed products on several occasions. That’s fine by me, though I’m not about to buy something based on the word of a one-day old chatbot. You can also ask specific questions about products, but the answers seem to be pulled directly from the descriptions. As any regular Amazon customer knows, some of these descriptions are accurate and others aren’t. The chatbot is tied to your personal account, so it can answer questions about upcoming deliveries and the like. 

Amazon says that the bot has been trained on its product catalog, along with customer reviews, community Q&As and public information found throughout the web. However, it hasn’t disclosed what websites it pulled that public information from and to what end. It didn’t even confirm that these were retail-adjacent websites.

If you want to try it out, update to the latest version of the app and look for the colorful icon on the bottom-right. Maybe, if we all work hard enough at asking ridiculous questions, we can break it just in time for Amazon Prime Day.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-ai-chatbot-rufus-is-now-live-for-all-us-customers-190938911.html?src=rss