Think of your wishlist of features for the perfect power bank – you’d want it to be sleek, right? You’d also want it to have a great battery capacity. You’d ideally want wireless charging capabilities. Perhaps even throw fast wires charging in just in case you can’t deal with the slow 7.5W wireless charging speeds. Finally, what if the power bank had extra features – a stand perhaps? Well, this isn’t a wishlist of features, it’s quite literally a description of Meizu’s latest Pandaer 35W wireless power bank…
The Pandaer 35W boasts a 10,000mAh capacity, offering multiple charges for most smartphones. A key feature is the integrated magnetic ring, designed to work seamlessly with Meizu’s Pandaer magnetic ecosystem as well with MagSafe devices. This allows for effortless charging – simply snap your phone onto the power bank and watch it get a battery boost to take you through an entire weekend… and then maybe some more.
Designer: Meizu
Rotate your iPhone while charging and you can benefit from the Standby Mode feature announced at last year’s WWDC.
Beyond magnetic convenience, the Pandaer 35W offers a traditional USB-C port for wired charging, supporting up to 35W output. This can significantly reduce charging time for devices that support fast charging protocols. The power bank also boasts 15W wireless charging, making it compatible with a wider range of devices. For users who need to juggle multiple devices, the Pandaer 35W allows for simultaneous wired and wireless charging.
The power bank is built with a user-friendly experience in mind. A built-in kickstand folds out to prop your phone up for comfortable video watching or gaming. A large digital display keeps you informed on the remaining battery level and charging status. Safety is also prioritized, with the Pandaer 35W adhering to safety standards and incorporating nine layers of protection, including overcharge, over-discharge, and temperature control.
The Pandaer 35W’s 19.7mm slim design and smooth arc shape make it comfortable to carry around. An additional perk is the integrated magnet, allowing you to stick the power bank to metal surfaces for easy storage or hands-free charging on the go. This could be particularly useful on airplanes or while traveling by train.
Priced at a highly affordable 199 yuan (around $27), the Meizu Pandaer 35W offers a compelling feature set for those seeking a convenient and versatile power bank solution. Meizu seems to indicate that their upcoming phones will be a part of this magnetic ecosystem, which reinforces the reason for them to build out magnetic accessories for their own devices.
Apple never fails to mesmerize us with its incredible designs. Let’s take a moment to appreciate all the awesome products and inspiration Apple has provided us with. The groundbreaking tech giant never fails to surprise us, we always find ourselves biting our nails and squirming with curiosity, whenever Apple announces a new product launch. Their ingenious and mesmerizing designs and design philosophy have inspired and influenced designers all over the world, resulting in some pretty unique Apple-inspired designs. And we encountered some pretty amazing Apple-inspired concepts in the past few months. From a touch controller for the Apple Vision Pro to an Apple-inspired alarm clock – these mind-blowing designs are the best of the lot and a dream for every Apple lover.
1. Apple Vision Joystick Pro Max
This is the “Apple Vision Joystick Pro Max” – a conceptual design of the Apple Vision Pro Controller by Alex Casabò. The sleek-looking controllers seem to perfectly complement the headset’s futuristic look, and they’re designed to offer smooth and seamless functionality irrespective of what you throw at them. They will elevate the gaming experience for every kind of modern game out there, taking note of the VR environment. The controller is amped with a top surface, equipped with a touch-sensitive surface for smart controls like swaying the road or reloading a sniper rifle.
2. Watch X
Luke Gehrer designed the Watch X to celebrate the Apple Watch’s 10-year anniversary. The Watch X is amped with a few exciting upgrades such as an edge-to-edge screen, a hole-punch camera, a blood pressure monitor built into the watch strap, as well as TouchID integrated into the crown. By adding these incredible touches, Gehrer doesn’t simply make the Watch better, he converts it into a miniature iPhone, which is something Apple has done before, by converting the iPad into a mini MacBook!
3. Apple-Inspired Alarm Clock
This Apple-inspired alarm clock features a big flat button on top it, which lets you snooze the alarm, and extend your sleep, without waking you up entirely from your slumbering state. You can hit the button even with your eyes closed, which is the aim behind the design. The design of the alarm clock is pretty streamlined since it has a focused purpose. It features Apple’s famous minimalist design language and is essentially a small cube with a small LCD screen on the front, and a USB-C charging port on the back, with Apple’s logo on the top.
4. iPhone Fold
Called the iPhone iFold, this conceptual design is an innovative foldable phone by Micheal Dufka. The iFold is inspired by the format of the MotoRAZR and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It has a clamshell-style folding design which offers a compact iPhone with a large screen. It features two displays, with a smaller display placed to the side of the camera bump. You can access essential stats and important notifications without actually opening your phone! It has the same convenience as an Apple Watch.
5. Modern iPhone 4 Concept
Designer Nathan Basset feels that the iPhone 4 is the best-looking iPhone there was, and he designed an incredible smartphone concept inspired by it. Nathan’s modern iPhone 4 features two massive camera lenses which softly protrude out from the flat surface of the phone. It is equipped with a Dynamic Island on the front, and a USB-C on the bottom. But unlike the OG iPhone 4, this one doesn’t have a Home button or any other button for that matter. However, it does have a flush control surface and a mute switch.
6. MacBook Go
Meet the MacBook Go – a MacBook without a screen! The MacBook Go is the complete opposite of the iMac – it is basically all keyboard. Featuring its own DLP projector, this all-in-one keyboard has everything you need to work anywhere anytime. You just need to find an empty wall, pair a Magic Mouse, and you’re all set to get working. It is a keyboard-shaped device, but it functions as a full-fledged computer. How cool is that?! You don’t need spatial computing with a keyboard that serves as an entire computer system.
7. Magic Mouse Touch
Reid Parsekian tweaked and elevated the Magic Mouse, imparting it with a cool new feature! This revamped Magic Mouse features a sprawling curved display on the top. He combines the Touch Bar with the Magic Mouse to create a device that is more user-friendly, functional, and appealing to Apple’s hardcore audience. This “Magic Mouse Touch” is designed to be an external display, something you never thought you would need but will probably want now. It serves as a better mouse too!
8. Apple Car Concept
This mesmerizing Apple Car was created by Dall-E 2 based on a text prompt from the designer, educator, and YouTuber John Mauriello. The incredible-looking car is really quite unique, and is intended to be a ‘minimalist Sportscar inspired by a Macbook and a Magic Mouse, built out of aluminum and glass’. It features a sleek and curvilinear quality and is a complete looker. The car is amped with a machine aluminum body, and zero breaks on the surface.
9. All-Screen Apple MacBook Concept
Meet the All-Screen Apple MacBook concept! This design is a whole other kind of MacBook, one that we haven’t seen before. It supports TouchID (as a slide button), a trimmed version of FaceID, as well as an AirPen to doodle and write on the massive screen. The display is entirely foldable, and it doesn’t have a physical keyboard, but it does feature a digital keyboard with haptic feedback for the real typing experience. This unique device will have dual usage – it could serve as an iPad when folded, and a full-fledged laptop when open.
10. Apple Watch Series X
Dubbed the Apple Watch Series X, this super cool and interesting conceptual design is an innovative smartwatch with a large folding screen. This allows you to use the watch as a de-facto iPhone! The Apple Watch Series X is like other regular foldable on the market since it features a primary screen on the front, which can be gently opened like a book to reveal a ‘larger’ secondary screen on the inside, serving as a smartwatch and a smartphone.
Isn’t it funny that somehow we went from universal remotes in the early 2000s to suddenly having these complicated hubs to connect all the devices in our smart homes? I won’t lie but talking to a hub isn’t as great as it promised to be. It’s a lot easier to point a remote at something and press a button than to tell Alexa to reduce the volume of music or raise the temperature of the AC… and while Amazon, Google, Apple, and the like just think hubs are the answer, one company is reverting back to the remote days. The Haptique RS90 is perhaps the world’s first universal remote controller designed to operate practically any wireless or smart device you’ve got around you. It uses a combination of infrared, WiFi, and Bluetooth to interface with devices around your house from smart TVs to Bluetooth speakers, ACs, soundbars, projectors, air purifiers, and even your PS5. You don’t need to talk to a hub, and better still, you don’t need to install twenty apps on your phone to manage multiple devices around your house.
The Haptique RS90 departs from the clunky look of traditional universal remotes. Instead, it takes on the shape of a smartphone, albeit with physical controls along with a 3.2-inch touchscreen. This display serves as the central hub for navigating menus, controlling smart home features, and even watching tutorials. A well-curated set of essential buttons line the bottom, providing quick access to core functions like volume control, channel surfing, and playback options. This thoughtful blend of touch and physical controls caters to both those who prefer a tactile experience and users who want the ease of a touchscreen. The overall design of the RS90 sticks to a recognizable linear format of most remotes, which gives you a feeling of familiarity. Hold it and you intuitively know how to use it – there’s a minimal learning curve with the controls, and even less so with the touchscreen. The remote is sleek without being too sleek – it’s less likely to get lost, thanks to a tilted design that makes it impossible to slide in between sofa cushions. Simultaneously, the tilt allows the screen to face you when you’re holding the remote horizontally – a clever detail that ends up becoming the RS90’s defining iconic silhouette.
The Haptique RS90 isn’t just about controlling your TV – it aspires to be the central nervous system of your entire smart home. It boasts broad infrared (IR) compatibility, allowing it to command traditional TVs, projectors, sound systems, and more. But its true strength lies in its ability to connect with smart home devices too. The RS90 promises seamless integration with popular smart home interfaces like Philips Hue, Home Assistant, Tuya, Sonos, Zigbee, with Homey and Smart Things in the works. The remote can directly control popular streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, or devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire Stick, eliminating the need to juggle multiple apps or even actual remotes. The list goes on, with integrations planned for Roku, and game consoles like the PS5 and Nvidia Shield too!
Tactile buttons (with backlights) provide a traditional remote control experience
With great power, as the saying goes, also comes great responsibility. Having a centralized remote for all your smart home gizmos also means needing to make sure your 12-year-old doesn’t go messing with devices around the house. The remote boasts fingerprint-based security, allowing you to pretty much lock it the way you would a smartphone (available in the higher-tier model). Aside from locking your remote, you can also personalize its UIs with macros and shortcuts (something even smartphone apps don’t let you do) to ensure that you have every possible command right under your fingertips. After all, nothing feels more frustrating than fumbling with a remote trying to figure out basic functions, right?
The Haptique RS90 arrives at a pivotal time in the smart home revolution. While it doesn’t currently support Matter, the new industry-wide standard for smart home communication, it demonstrates a clear understanding of the need for interconnectivity. Thankfully, the developers have indicated that Matter support is planned for future updates. This future-proofing ensures that the RS90 won’t become obsolete as the smart home landscape continues to evolve.
While discussing the battery life of a remote control seems pretty trivial, the RS90 is clearly more than your average remote control. Given how much functionality it packs, it also arms itself with a 2000mAh battery that keeps it going for days (the small screen helps reduce battery drain too). To charge your remote, the RS90 is also accompanied by a slick charging hub that lets you simply dock your controller when it needs a battery boost. This also means your remote is less likely to get lost because you aren’t carelessly leaving it around the house.
The Haptique RS90 ships in two variants – the regular RS90 itself with 1GB RAM, 2.4 GHz WiFi, Android 8.10.0, Bluetooth 4.1 (and BLE), and a Quad Core ARM chip. Alternatively, the higher-tier RS90x model ships with 2GB RAM, Dual-band WiFi, Android 12, Bluetooth 5.0 (and BLE), an Octa Core ARM chipset, and the fingerprint sensor to help you lock your remote. Personally, the RS90x just seems like a better future-proofed option, running newer OS on more powerful hardware. Smart homes aren’t going anywhere, in fact, they’re only going to expand. If hubs annoy you, it makes sense to own the best possible version of a universal smart remote that lasts you for years, doesn’t it? The RS90 starts at $257, while the RS90x has a starting price of $321. Both models come in silver and gun-metal grey options, and ship with the charging dock and USB-C cable included, along with a 3-year warranty.
Nothing as a transparent brand reflects its vision in the see-through aesthetics of each of its offerings. The intricate working of the tech is visible, highlighting the beauty of simplicity which has resonated with many fans of the Carl Pei. They’ve focused on audio products, mainly earbuds with an official pair of headphones not far from fruition.
The inspirational transparent design of their phone and earbuds has captured the imagination of designers who’ve mustered up their thoughts on presenting what a pair of Nothing headphones would look and feel like. Case in point, the concept AIAIAI Headphones, Headset 1 and head (1). Now yet another concept pair dubbed Head.Phone (1) caught my attention for all the right reasons.
Where this concept design sets itself apart from those other iterations is the smart use of the Glyph interface in the headphones. It’s more aggressive looking with physically moving Glyphs that can be customized to send cool messages to the on-lookers. The texture is very nice, something that Nothing would love. The color and finish of the materials are impressive with detailing in the right places. Transparent design elements flow down to the headbands which give it the typical DNA of the brand.
The ANC, transparency and normal modes can be toggled from the physical glyph interface. The ANC mode is represented by the closing Glyph lights, while transparency has a more open representation. This way, anyone talking to you can visually understand whether you are open to conversations or just in your zone, preferring not to be disturbed. Features and specifications apart from these over-the-ear headphones will freshen up the otherwise predictable market led by consumer-centric options from Sony, Apple, Sennheiser and Bose.
Although the designer didn’t intend to create a pair that is inspired by the Teenage Engineering elements, this concept has telltale good looks. So why wear a pair that seems more or less contemporary, when you could (in the future) get the option to sport a one from Nothing?
Since 2011, Samsung has been launching two flagships a year, one under its premium Galaxy S brand and another with the Galaxy Note name. The latter has mostly been defined by its large screen and S Pen stylus, though now large screens or phablets are the norm rather than the exception. By now, the Galaxy Note is pretty much history, but it seems that it might be making a comeback in an unexpected and perhaps unwelcome way. We’re still half a year away, but rumors about the Galaxy S25 Ultra have already started to attract attention, both good and bad, especially on how its design will be throwing away what has made it look unique in exchange for what is both a throwback to the past and a nod to its stylus-less siblings.
Designer: Samsung (via @Wvisioncreation)
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Although Samsung retired the Galaxy Note name, its legacy lived on in the Galaxy S Ultra series. Not only does it have an S Pen stowed inside its body, it also retains the design that set the previous Galaxy Notes apart from the Galaxy S phones. Specifically, it had a rather boxy design, especially when viewed from the front. Not only are the top and bottom edges flat, the corners are also sharp and angular, a design that you’ll rarely see on other phones these days.
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
According to the first rumors to come out for Samsung’s 2025 flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be losing that design DNA. The design is described as having more rounded corners, similar to the Galaxy Note 7 from 2016 with one important exception. The screen is still flat, something that Samsung did for the first time in this year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, rather than the heavily curved display of yesteryear’s Galaxy Notes. In not so many words, it’s going to look like the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, and presumably the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+.
Galaxy Note 7
On one hand, this change makes sense from a branding perspective, especially if you consider how the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip are also transforming. Samsung’s foldables are becoming edgier, so to speak, taking on an appearance similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The company, therefore, needs to differentiate the two product lines, and making the Galaxy S25 Ultra look like its siblings from the same Galaxy S line makes the integration of the Galaxy Note complete.
Galaxy S24+
On the other hand, response to the rumored change has been generally negative so far. That boxy and squarish design has become the visual identity of the Galaxy S Ultra, especially for fans of the Galaxy Note. In fact, they probably wish the Galaxy S to adopt the design rather than the other way around, if only to set Samsung’s flagship apart from the sea of phones with flat edges, flat screens, and rounded corners.
Even with the advent of smart TVs and streaming, remote controls are still an indispensable part of that user experience, imperfect as it may be. The basic design of remote controls has changed very little, save for the extra minimalist variants that, in exchange for simplicity, sometimes make you crawl through menus and options just to get to the function you need. More importantly, however, the complexity of these electronic accessories has made them too stressful to use, and their tendency to get stuck in the corners of couches was a meme even before there were memes. This concept tries to revolutionize the remote control design to deliver a more tactile experience that lets you operate or even pick it up without looking at it at all.
The traditional remote control design has always been one of practical convenience rather than comfort or enjoyment. It’s meant to let you quickly change channels or the volume, but the irony is that it often takes more time to look for the right button or, worse, look for the remote itself. Even with more minimal designs that reduce the buttons to half a dozen or so, the rectangular shape of the device itself lends it to being lost too easily.
The Sightless Remote Control proposes a rather drastic change to the standard design in order to address these issues. Instead of a flat rectangle, the remote has a T-shaped form that ensures it won’t slip through the gaps in couches and chairs. It also makes it easy to pick up the remote, whether from those corners or from the top of a table, all without even looking at the remote and just using our sense of touch instead.
The same is true for the buttons themselves, which are no longer distinct circles or ovals. Instead, there’s a single column in the middle of the remote’s top surface with wedge-like shapes rising on opposite sides almost like waves in the ocean. Instead of using printed icons, text representing the functions are instead embossed, again allowing for “blind” use by letting your fingers do the seeing. It will still require a bit of muscle memory to help place that finger in the right area, but it won’t be as tedious as on a typical remote with very smooth buttons.
More than just enabling sightless use of the device, this design tries to bring back the joy of using an analog device in an age of smartphones and touchscreens. It makes entertainment not just a pleasure for our eyes and ears but also for our sense of touch, all while helping reduce the cognitive overload that multi-functional screens and phone apps bring to our brains.
I am definitely a complete cat person, but I really cannot help adoring doggos at times! They are just so cute, not to mention insanely loving (a quality most cat owners aren’t used to witnessing in their pets). And as much as I love pampering my kittie cats with presents from time to time, I’m sure all dog owners feel the same. Ensuring your pet feels safe, secure, and comfortable at home is every pet owner’s priority. We want to make sure they always feel loved and truly at home! It’s important to create an environment where they feel completely safe to let their guard down, while also managing to stay active and playful. And, we’ve curated a collection of dog-friendly product designs that promise to do exactly that! These pet products will help turn your home into the ultimate safe haven for your dogs, allowing you to connect and bond with them better while ensuring they’re always comfortable.
1. Fetch House
Dubbed the Fetch House, and designed by CallisonRKTL, this unique-looking home offers shelter to one happy doggo. It features a modular internal structure that lets you compression-fit at least a 1000 tennis ball into it! You can randomly pluck out the balls from their individual enclosers to play fetch with your pet. And once your dog is done playing, you can press-fit the ball back into the dog house.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you like, you can add fewer balls and build patterns in the facade, or even form windows for ventilation and light. “Ultimately, we would like to create a platform that allows individuals to customize the doghouse design based on their specific dog,” says Brendan O’Grady, VP of CRKTL’s Dallas office. “They can then download the digital model and use a local maker space or their own desktop 3D printer to fabricate the structure.
What we like
Unique and fun home for your dogs
Easy access to balls, so you can play fetch with your pet whenever
What we dislike
We’re unsure how to maintain and clean the dog house
2. ORo
Ogmen Robotics unveiled something super cool at CES 2024. It is an intelligent home robot that was designed from the ground up to be the “pawfect” guardian, playmate, and caretaker for your canine best friend. It looks like one of those robots on wheels that are intended for human use.
Why is it noteworthy?
ORo can provide physical, mental, and emotional stimulation through playful activities. It can help you keep track of the dog’s health, and even find out when they’re feeling anxious, and play some soothing music to help calm them down.
What we like
Help owners train their dogs through obedience games and virtual training services
What we dislike
Not sure how comfy dogs would feel with a robot, they could get aggressive or feel threatened
3. Clink Clicker
Named the Clink Clicker, this tiny gadget is perfect for training your doggo! The click combines clicking and the treats in one nifty design, so you need to hold and operate only one device while training your dog. The clicker looks like a typical clicker, but it is equipped with a sliding mechanism that holds treats for your doggo!
Why is it noteworthy?
Once you’re done training your dog, you need to press the clicker, and your doggy will come to you. You can feed him the treats then! The clicker features a tiny space for the treats, which is essentially a desiccant compartment that keeps the treats fresh even if you’re outdoors with your pet.
What we like
Simplifies your training session with your pet
Reduces the time spent on the training process
What we dislike
The size of the clicker is quite small, so you need to take care to not misplace it
4. Precision-Crafted Pet Bowl
Called the Precision-Crafted Pet Bowl, this aesthetic-looking food bowl for your furry buddies isn’t just good-looking, it is functional too. Creativity and craftsmanship were combined to create a pet bowl that offers a delightful experience for all the members of your home. The bowl was designed to focus completely on the eating experience, making the “ease of eating” the main aim of the design, but doing so in a simple yet efficient manner.
It is a stainless steel bowl that serves food at an angle of 20 degrees, making it easy for your pets to slurp on their food and eat it up, without spilling anything. At the same time, this makes life easier for humans, as they don’t need to keep cleaning up once their pets are done eating.
What we like
Meets the needs of humans and pets alike
The base is made of fine Japanese cypress wood
What we dislike
Too easy for food to spill out
5. ROLA PetPal Robot
Raising pets isn’t an easy task and with busy schedules, it can be hard to be present for them all the time. This is where the Enabot ROLA PetPal robot comes in! The robot helps you and takes a load off your shoulders, especially if you’re not able to always give your pet what he/she needs. You can change what the robot does, by switching out the load it carries on its back!
Why is it noteworthy?
The ROLA PetPal resembles the popular disc-shaped robot vacuum cleaners. It features two wheels on the side and has a “face” on the front. It has a modular design and can switch from providing entertainment to exercise. You simply need to switch to the Interactive Toys module or the Treat Dispenser module.
What we like
Keeps your doggos occupied with a playful stick, laser games, or rolling balls
What we dislike
Pets may not take too well to the robot and may take some time to adjust to it
6. Dyson Pet Grooming Kit
Getting your pets neat and clean can be a tedious process, but something that cannot be avoided at all costs. If you want to break down and simplify your doggy’s cleaning process, then you may want to get your hands on the Dyson Pet Grooming Kit. This grooming kit works great for cats as well!
Why is it noteworthy?
Cats and dogs both tend to shed quite a bit, depending on their breed and the season. This grooming kit helps you handle the issue at its root, keeping your pets neat and tidy, while also ensuring you don’t need to run around constantly vacuuming and cleaning your house.
What we like
Makes the after-bath ritual less hectic and more calming
Comes along with an extension hose, which offers 3 feet of flexibility
What we dislike
You need a Dyson vacuum cleaner to pair up with the accessories and use them
7. Wowo Multipurpose Furniture
Dubbed Wowo Multipurpose Furniture, this collection of furniture designs is intended for human kids and fur babies both! It includes furniture pieces with rounded and playful forms, as well as colorful hues that truly make them stand out. The shapes of the furniture designs are inspired by the mouth shape kids make when they say the word “wowo”.
Why is it noteworthy?
The designs feature a hollow structure, merged with “saturation color and mellow shape”, to create comfortable furniture products that are cozy for both kids and pets. Some of the seats are hallowed, creating space for your pets to sit in, and lounge about. This furniture collection serves as a harmonious space for your human kids, and pet kids!
What we like
Works well for your kids and pets both
The main components of the furniture are 3D-printed
What we dislike
The collection seems to be a concept currently, so we are unsure how well it will translate as a real product
8. Cottage Dog House
This adorable little structure is called the Cottage Dog House! It is a minimalist dog house designed for your beloved pets. It features metallic elements, and eco-friendly felt coverings, creating a cozy little corner for your dog. It allows your pet to have a space of their own in their home, somewhere they can retire to and rest, without being disturbed. Although dogs aren’t too fussy, and they can get comfy anywhere, it is still nice to have a special space for them in your home.
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed by LSY and Jaeyeon Choi, this dog house is one-of-a-kind, as it serves as a comfortable haven using only a felt covering, and a pretty sturdy and durable build. Although the home is quite minimal and simple to look at it, it has a resilient build, and can handle your dog’s weight and sudden activity.
What we like
Features an internal cushion that offers extra comfort for your canine buddy
It has a removable roof to allow for an open-air sleeping area as well
What we dislike
The aesthetics are a bit too simple and could have been worked upon
9. Maeve Pet Protection System
Say hello to the Maeve Pet Protection System – an innovative system by Tavo that lets you take your pet from your home to the car, and then to the final location with total ease. This system is a lifesaver when you need to take your pet to a dreaded vet appointment. It contains a carrier and a vehicle base for the carrier.
Why is it noteworthy?
The latest United Nations ECE child restraint standards were used by Tavo to provide the highest degree of safety and protection possible. With this protection system, you can travel with your pet in peace, knowing they are safe and secure.
What we like
Ensures the ultimate safety and comfort while traveling for your doggo
What we dislike
We’re not sure how easy to clean and maintain the system is
10. Hank Feed Bowl
This is the “Hank” Feed Bowl, and it is designed to help your doggo eat with ease. It features a maze pattern which ensures they don’t just gobble down their food in one go without raising their heads, as this can cause choking and clogging of the digestive tract. The feed bowl helps them eat in a better manner.
Why is it noteworthy?
Made from silicone, the bowl can be removed and cleaned easily, which should be done often. It is fitted inside a container with a cover, which keeps dust, dirt, and other unhygienic substances away from their food. The designer also says that the “working principle of the cover will automatically turn on” when it detects that your dog is nearby.
What we like
Features a silicone strap, so you can carry it with you whenever you head out with your dog
It resembles an adorable little toy
What we dislike
It is a conceptual design, so we are unsure how functional it will be as a tangible product
Power strips and extension cords are now an unavoidable part of modern life. Unless you have custom-designed furniture, there will always be cases when you have too few power outlets or ones that are too far from your desk to matter. Unfortunately, these power supply accessories haven’t exactly evolved in terms of design, or at least most of them still look like appliances from the 90s rather than anything that fits modern aesthetics. Hiding these power sources has become an important part of the so-called cable management problem, which is often a source of tension and headache for some people. There are, thankfully, a few that try to embrace more pleasing designs, like this power supply box that thinks outside the box, pun intended, so that you don’t have stress over hiding it and instead proudly show it off on your desk or shelf.
Genuine wood isn’t often used as a material in many electronics, mostly because of its poor thermal handling, making it warp and deform over time due to heat. That and it’s a potential fire hazard, making it unsuitable for many devices. That doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t be used as a chassis or covering in a safe manner, especially if it can significantly change the character of a product from utilitarian to humane.
The Willow Power Supply is one such design that employs the warmth and natural beauty of wood to uplift the image of an ordinary extension cord from a tool to a decorative object. While most power strips and extension cords are painfully hidden behind or even under desks, Willow stands proudly on top. More than just boasting rights, however, this also means quick and easy access to those essential ports for your computer and devices.
Willow is available in a combination of beech or walnut shells and clear or black power boxes, though the best combination is the beech and clear or white box since it clearly brings out the beauty of the wood complimented by the minimalism of the power supply. The box itself has very little detail save for the outlet and ports in front and the braided cord coming out of its back.
While the Willow Power Supply might delight as an aesthetic product, it might disappoint as an actual power supply. There is only one power outlet, one USB-A port, and a lone USB-C port, a very basic and perhaps inadequate number for today’s needs. At $250, it does give off a feeling of being more like a designer product than one that’s made for power users, more for casual use than heavy-duty workstations. Either way, there is little doubt it adds a bit of accent to any workspace, especially matching minimalist designs with wooden furniture.
Desktops and laptops were named for their ability to sit on desks and on laps. Tablets, on the other hand, can’t do any sitting of their own and need to be propped up via a stand. Sure, you could buy a fancy case worth hundreds of dollars that packs a keyboard, or a flimsy one that barely props your tablet up… or you could go for the Ryze 360, a stand that lets you angle AND height-adjust your iPad, and even prop it up in both landscape and portrait modes. Relying on a clever design inspired by origami, the Ryze 360 takes the term ‘stand case’ to new heights, no pun intended. Use the case to prop your iPad up at surface level, or fold the flap to give your iPad a 3-inch height boost, turning it into a makeshift monitor that you can look at without straining your neck. The Ryze 360 also has a swiveling design that lets you rotate your iPad to landscape or portrait orientations – something you wish your current iPad case-stand did.
The Ryze 360 builds on the success of its predecessor, the Ryze. Originally designed to give the iPad its own protective case and support stand, Ryze managed to do what most stands couldn’t – elevated docking. Almost every case stand (even the one I have on my iPad Pro M2 right now) gives you the ability to rest your tablet at a variety of angles, ranging from nearly horizontal to diagonal, and nearly vertical. Ryze did that too, while allowing for one more position – docking at a height… and the Ryze 360 retains that clever ability with one more trick up its sleeve, portrait/landscape switching.
The case comes with a faux-leather PU exterior that both gives the iPad its distinct leather-bound book-like feel, while protecting it from bumps and scratches. A crease pattern on the front flap guides you into setting up the Ryze’s stand. There are 3 angles you can choose from, depending on what you use your iPad for (doodling requires a lower angle, Facetime requires a higher front-facing angle), and a special fold lets you prop your iPad up at a height, raising it to match your eye-level so you don’t bend your neck while viewing the tablet. In this elevated mode, you can also rotate your iPad freely, alternating between landscape and portrait modes depending on what you use your iPad for.
The Ryze 360 comes in four colors – black, gray, lichen green, and caramel, and is compatible with both 11″ and 13″ models of the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro. The tablets are protected by a polycarbonate shell on which the faux PU leather is mounted. A magnetic flap holds the front lid of the case in place, preventing it from accidentally opening on its own, while also protecting/holding the Apple Pencil Pro in place as it’s docked on the side of the iPad. The Ryze 360 starts at $49.90, but YD readers get a 10% discount using the coupon code YANKO-UNIQ10.
This clever little hack basically turns the Rabbit R1 into what it originally was – an Android device – albeit without the limited interface and shoddy AI abilities. YouTuber ‘HowToMen’ showed how he loaded Android 13 onto the R1, and the results are frankly surprising. The touchscreen now works, you can load almost every conceivable app, you can send SMSes, use the camera to take photos/videos or better still, pair it with Google Lens to tap into Google’s AI chops. The scroll wheel now becomes a volume scroller, and heck, the entire device just feels a little more redeemed from its failed past. If you’ve got a Rabbit R1, here’s a clever little trick to make it a little more useful just in case you weren’t happy with its capabilities before.
Designer: HowToMen
After disastrous reviews from the tech community, Humane and Rabbit saw their street cred evaporate almost overnight. Humane ended up folding entirely, trying to sell its entire operation to any buyer. Rabbit, on the other hand, has been a little more steadfast… although people who own the R1 never seem to recommend getting it. The result, dwindling sales and the prospect of a total device failure. For people who already ended up buying the R1, instead of being left with a pretty useless device that doesn’t do half the things it promises, it just makes sense to boot Android onto it. After all, the R1 is basically a highly stripped-down version of Android running just an AI app. Turns out, if you want to jailbreak your Rabbit R1, it isn’t too difficult. You can easily load Android 13 onto the device and use it just the way you would a smartphone.
HowToMen basically jailbroke the Rabbit R1 and installed Android 13 on it. Once done, he installed the Lawnchair launcher to give it a distinct Android-esque aesthetic while adding widgets that he developed himself. The result is basically a tiny Android phone that does everything except make actual calls (although someone on Twitter did demonstrate the ability to call people too). To be honest, it robs the R1 of its Rabbit-esque essence… but then again, I’m an advocate for the ‘if you buy it you own it and you can do whatever you want to it’ school of thought.
What you’re left with is a pretty capable device that lets you do much more than you previously could with the R1. It has every feature you’d expect from the Android OS, including a dropdown control center, a working camera (although the camera’s direction has to be toggled from the dropdown control center). The camera can be made to face forwards, backwards, or even downwards as a privacy filter.
The camera interface isn’t too detailed, and just lets you either click photos or record videos.
The screen regains its touch-ability, something that Rabbit disabled for the most part. You can navigate it the way you would any Android phone. The speakers at the back work just fine, and a built-in microphone lets you record voice notes. Notably, the scroller on the side now becomes a volume wheel, and the lock button works just as advertised. Pop a SIM card in and you can even do things like send SMSes to friends. I’m not sure if WhatsApp would work on the device, but that’s worth a try too.
The procedure is pretty simple, from what HowToMen describes. It involves installing Android onto the device from a GitHub repository, and then you can add launchers to your device to customize its appearance. There are, however, two caveats – for starters, that 2-inch screen feels like a massive downgrade, giving you an Android experience that feels like something from 2014. The second, is the massive reduction in battery life. Instead of running just the Rabbit AI app, you’re now running Android 13, with all its apps, a colorful interface, and 128 gigs of storage that let you really use the R1 like a phone – that takes a toll on the battery life of the device, making it last significantly less than the R1 originally would. That being said, it’s still a bit of a win, given that you can do much more with the device than you previously could. For a $199 device, it’s quite an achievement, isn’t it?! Even budget Android phones aren’t that cheap!
