Tag Archives: DIY

DIY tiny Windows XP PC is an extreme nostalgia trip

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Although the craze for old “retro” designs has gripped many industries, it has taken a rather odd direction in the computing and gaming worlds. More than just recreating the designs and experiences of the past, many retro computers or consoles also strangely decided to shrink those products down to sometimes unusable sizes. Though manufacturers like Nintendo have jumped on that bandwagon, the biggest push comes from makers and modders who now have a wide arsenal of tools available at their disposal, giving them the freedom to create or recreate almost any design imaginable. This painstaking DIY project, for example, tries to bring back the iconic beige computer boxes of the 90s in a way that’s almost usable, at least if you can manage squinting at a 4-inch screen.

Designer: Salim Benbouziyane

The PCs of the 90s and early 2000s aren’t really the epitome of inspired industrial design, which is why their rival Macs became the choice of designers, creators, and design-conscious users. Nonetheless, these geometric boxes were also the pinnacle of computing technology of that period, earning them their place not only in offices and homes but also in iconography. There are also quite a number of fond memories attached to these machines, which some more skilled craftsmen are now using to turn some of that nostalgia into a working PC, albeit a miniature one.

Patterned after one of the more common designs of Dell PCs, this tiny retro computer revives the spirit if not the function of those 90s computers. It’s pretty much a box-like CRT monitor sitting on top of another horizontal box which was the convention for desktop computers at that time. The attention to detail is pretty impressive, from the carved DELL branding to tiny “Intel Inside” and Windows decals.

It’s a completely functional computer, though not all represented features actually work. The floppy disk drives, for example, are naturally too small for any disk, but they happen to be the right side to let a micro SD card through. There are LED lights to indicate power and mimic the flickering “hard drive spinning” activity. On the software side, it convincingly mimics the Windows XP look and feel, but it’s actually a flavor of Linux designed for the Raspberry Pi that’s running inside. And, of course, it can run DOOM, just like any self-respecting computer.

As impressive as this intricate recreation might be, it is also one that is a true labor of love. It requires a lot of 3D printing, custom soldering, and fiddling with electronics, so it’s not something that just about anyone can do on their own. Fortunately, the instructions and materials for this project are all listed and available for anyone to see, reliving the spirit of openness and exploration that was also alive during that period.

The post DIY tiny Windows XP PC is an extreme nostalgia trip first appeared on Yanko Design.

DIY tiny Windows XP PC is an extreme nostalgia trip

Posted on by

Although the craze for old “retro” designs has gripped many industries, it has taken a rather odd direction in the computing and gaming worlds. More than just recreating the designs and experiences of the past, many retro computers or consoles also strangely decided to shrink those products down to sometimes unusable sizes. Though manufacturers like Nintendo have jumped on that bandwagon, the biggest push comes from makers and modders who now have a wide arsenal of tools available at their disposal, giving them the freedom to create or recreate almost any design imaginable. This painstaking DIY project, for example, tries to bring back the iconic beige computer boxes of the 90s in a way that’s almost usable, at least if you can manage squinting at a 4-inch screen.

Designer: Salim Benbouziyane

The PCs of the 90s and early 2000s aren’t really the epitome of inspired industrial design, which is why their rival Macs became the choice of designers, creators, and design-conscious users. Nonetheless, these geometric boxes were also the pinnacle of computing technology of that period, earning them their place not only in offices and homes but also in iconography. There are also quite a number of fond memories attached to these machines, which some more skilled craftsmen are now using to turn some of that nostalgia into a working PC, albeit a miniature one.

Patterned after one of the more common designs of Dell PCs, this tiny retro computer revives the spirit if not the function of those 90s computers. It’s pretty much a box-like CRT monitor sitting on top of another horizontal box which was the convention for desktop computers at that time. The attention to detail is pretty impressive, from the carved DELL branding to tiny “Intel Inside” and Windows decals.

It’s a completely functional computer, though not all represented features actually work. The floppy disk drives, for example, are naturally too small for any disk, but they happen to be the right side to let a micro SD card through. There are LED lights to indicate power and mimic the flickering “hard drive spinning” activity. On the software side, it convincingly mimics the Windows XP look and feel, but it’s actually a flavor of Linux designed for the Raspberry Pi that’s running inside. And, of course, it can run DOOM, just like any self-respecting computer.

As impressive as this intricate recreation might be, it is also one that is a true labor of love. It requires a lot of 3D printing, custom soldering, and fiddling with electronics, so it’s not something that just about anyone can do on their own. Fortunately, the instructions and materials for this project are all listed and available for anyone to see, reliving the spirit of openness and exploration that was also alive during that period.

The post DIY tiny Windows XP PC is an extreme nostalgia trip first appeared on Yanko Design.

Super dad hand-crafts a working Apple Car concept out of wood for his son

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The dream of the electric Apple Car has vanished after much speculation, and finally the painful official closing of the Project Titan by the Cupertino-giant after a decade of R&D. While millions were invested in the exciting project, Apple ditched the adventurous plan this year.

However, ND Woodworking Art, the YouTube DIY channel by Trương Văn Đạo, a Vietnamese craftsman has his version that suggests Apple should have gone ahead with the venture. The skilled dad has created some of the most amazing wooden cars for his kids, and this time around he has bowled me over with the Apple iCar. His son has to be one of the luckiest kids on the planet, and perhaps the only one to own a functional Apple Car. Even though it’s a custom DIY with no association with the consumer electronics giant, the final finishes of the electric car are stunning.

Design: ND Woodworking Art

The design of the aerodynamic-looking iCar starts with assembling the metal frame structure on which the specially cut wooden panels sit one plank at a time. The intricacy of the handmade design doesn’t end there as Trương fine-tunes the look beyond anyone’s imagination or crafting plans. The process involves a lot of detailing and intricate work. He first sands the wooden surface for the ideal finish that’s complementary to a supercar’s bodywork. Then comes a layer of coating for the glossy look.

For the steering wheel, seats and other consoles he uses a darker tone of wood to contrast the light finish on the outside.  To create a faux dashboard and infotainment system he puts a tinted fiberglass on Apple iOS-like interface. He doesn’t shy away from installing tinted fiberglass panels for the windshield and windows as well. Lastly, He meticulously crafts the Apple logos from dark wood, both for the front and back, and the wheel rims. For the headlights, taillights and ambient lighting on the windows, Trương uses LED lighting strips.

The final creation is simply breathtaking even though it is in an electric toy car powered by an electric motor on the rear. Seeing it drive on the local roads is more than just satisfying and dads should derive inspiration from this man for his effort and skill!

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This electric monowheel is surprisingly easy to maneuver and packs a good amount of torque

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Creating extreme stuff from junk is a special skill that YouTube channel ‘Make It Extreme’ possesses. Their Monotrack bike made from a single recycled car tire was something of a shocker and they’ve upped the ante with another custom build. Called the Electric Monowheel this is a Herculine version that positions the rider inside the wheel.

The obvious challenge in making this big wheel was actually creating a perfectly round wheel measuring 9.1 inches in diameter. Due to the large shape, the metallic wheel acts as a base for the rubber tires salvaged out of a motorcycle and go-kart. These three recycled tires are connected to make the final giant wheel.

Designer: Make It Extreme

The chassis of this unique ride is the centric circle that stays stable even when the outside wheel is in motion. The trick here is to attach three rollers and a plastic encasing on which the wheel spins. To put it simply, just take for reference a hamster wheel. The power for this monowheel is derived from a go-kart’s electric motors attached to the tire. This explains the use of go-kart tires that are non-slip and provide transmission to the wheels without any wheel spin. The steering input is translated instantly to the movement of the wheel and so is the throttle input via the two controllers.

The current build has a better torque of the electromotion that is attributed to the faster-reacting motor. This is a major improvement over the earlier version. According to the makers, the vehicle feels very amazing to drive even though it is a bit dangerous if you don’t know how to handle it. There’s some good news for DIYers who are interested in this project as Make It Extreme is in the process of preparing the detailed plans of the monowheel motorcycle. That means you’ll have all the groundwork served on the platter for you to build on.

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This Wheel-less Bicycle replaces the Rubber Tire with multiple Sandals and the results are… surprising

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Sergii Gordieiev is well known for his unique creations, showcasing his DIYs on the YouTube channel ‘The Q’ for people who love things out of the box. The wheel-less bicycle and square-wheeled ride are the prime examples. His love for customizing an ordinary bicycle is not going to fade away soon, as the slipper bicycle proves it all right.

As weird as it sounds, wait until you see the full video transcript. Sergii manages to slap the tarmac with this unusual ride one slipper at a time and that trippy sound is so irritatingly addictive. Everything apart, the level of detail and the amount of creative intent that the DIYer brings to each of his DIYs is worth appreciating. What next is he going to do with a bicycle is anybody’s guess, but for now, enjoy this one.

Designer: Sergii Gordieiev

On first look, it seems the slippers will wear out from all the spanking on the road but there are 14 metal cutouts to take all the weight and contact force when the bicycle is paddled forward. These metal cutouts become the base for an outrageous-looking set of wheels for an adult bike. Both the wheel frames are designed from scratch with meticulous cutting and molding of the metal. Thereafter the wheels are attached to the bicycle frame.

The final step involves sliding on the rubber slippers onto each of these metal struts. Sergii fits each of the wheels with 12 yellow slippers and two black slippers to create a contrasting look when the wheels turn. The best thing about his creations is that no matter how much non-functional the bikes look, they glide on the road beyond anyone’s expectations. This one is no different as he takes a casual ride in the park to onlookers’ amazement.

 

The post This Wheel-less Bicycle replaces the Rubber Tire with multiple Sandals and the results are… surprising first appeared on Yanko Design.

Creative woodworking dad turn AI-renders into a timeless wooden car for his son

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Truong Van Dao of ND Woodworking is one of the most creative and loving dads you’ll ever meet. His tenacity for making wooden cars that are second to none speaks a lot of his passion. The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail brought to life in his wood workshop was one of the coolest gifts a father can give his toddler son. As my fellow editor rightly said in that article, the creation is undoubtedly “more valuable than a $28 million car can ever be!”

Now the super dad has created a unique wooden car right out of some sci-fi series plot. The idea initially generated from AI took shape as a real-life vehicle that is second to none. To me, this seems like the machine from the acclaimed novel Time Machine by H.G. Wells. The most amazing thing is the wooden vehicle’s attention to detail in design, and I’m completely in awe just looking at the thing.

Design: ND Woodworking Art

The inside of the big cogwheels makes up the cockpit section for the driver to maneuver this crazy looking four wheeler. The front wheels are the normal size, but real wheels even smaller, are given the appearance of big chunky wheels with design ingenuity. Functional mechanical parts are exposed making the DIY even more intricate. The initial phase involved creating the chassis out of a metal frame and then building the intricate woodwork for it. Mind you it took a lot of time to carve each section with hand, carving the wheels, mechanical levers and the curvaceous body. The power comes from the four onboard batteries with good torque to pull the thing forward. Top speed is kept very limited since Truong’s son will be driving this crazy contraption.

Every little detail is taken care of by the talented woodworking dad, right from the seating compartment, gearbox and input pedals to the cog-driven lever mechanism, taillights and concealing away the rear wheels. The snail-shell-like cockpit of the four-wheeler has neon lights to add an element of sci-fi. No matter where this vehicle goes – be it in the dark or broad daylight – it is going to catch eyeballs and garner appreciation from everyone simply because of the amount of effort and creativity put into the making.

The post Creative woodworking dad turn AI-renders into a timeless wooden car for his son first appeared on Yanko Design.

Creative woodworking dad turn AI-renders into a timeless wooden car for his son

Posted on by

Truong Van Dao of ND Woodworking is one of the most creative and loving dads you’ll ever meet. His tenacity for making wooden cars that are second to none speaks a lot of his passion. The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail brought to life in his wood workshop was one of the coolest gifts a father can give his toddler son. As my fellow editor rightly said in that article, the creation is undoubtedly “more valuable than a $28 million car can ever be!”

Now the super dad has created a unique wooden car right out of some sci-fi series plot. The idea initially generated from AI took shape as a real-life vehicle that is second to none. To me, this seems like the machine from the acclaimed novel Time Machine by H.G. Wells. The most amazing thing is the wooden vehicle’s attention to detail in design, and I’m completely in awe just looking at the thing.

Design: ND Woodworking Art

The inside of the big cogwheels makes up the cockpit section for the driver to maneuver this crazy looking four wheeler. The front wheels are the normal size, but real wheels even smaller, are given the appearance of big chunky wheels with design ingenuity. Functional mechanical parts are exposed making the DIY even more intricate. The initial phase involved creating the chassis out of a metal frame and then building the intricate woodwork for it. Mind you it took a lot of time to carve each section with hand, carving the wheels, mechanical levers and the curvaceous body. The power comes from the four onboard batteries with good torque to pull the thing forward. Top speed is kept very limited since Truong’s son will be driving this crazy contraption.

Every little detail is taken care of by the talented woodworking dad, right from the seating compartment, gearbox and input pedals to the cog-driven lever mechanism, taillights and concealing away the rear wheels. The snail-shell-like cockpit of the four-wheeler has neon lights to add an element of sci-fi. No matter where this vehicle goes – be it in the dark or broad daylight – it is going to catch eyeballs and garner appreciation from everyone simply because of the amount of effort and creativity put into the making.

The post Creative woodworking dad turn AI-renders into a timeless wooden car for his son first appeared on Yanko Design.

Distraction-free digital typewriter carries a playful and whimsical character

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Smartphones and tablets today are extremely powerful devices, allowing us to do almost anything and everything, including writing a novel. Of course, that will require more than the on-screen keyboard, but an external keyboard, even a mechanical one, isn’t always enough for a good writing experience. These mobile computers, powerful as they are, also tend to bombard writers with notifications and temptations, distracting them from the sometimes fragile flow of thought and words. Digital and smart typewriters offer a better solution, but their dry and clinical designs aren’t exactly inspiring to look at. Enter the Micro Journal, a writing device designed not just to make writing convenient but also enjoyable.

Designer: Un Kyu Lee

Digital typewriters, sometimes called smart typewriters, are the evolution of electronic typewriters. They’re more portable than these, offering the benefits of modern technologies and design, but are also single-purpose appliances compared to tablet computers. You turn them on, type on them, and turn them off again when you need to go. Everything is saved on local storage or a memory card and they don’t have any other function like connecting to the Internet or running apps.

Many such devices sport minimalist designs to avoid unnecessary visual distractions, but these designs also tend to feel uninspiring, which can actually influence the mind subconsciously. Some writers will want their tools to reflect their own creativity, and the Micro Journal’s design tries to add some style and flourish to the product to the point that it almost looks more like a toy with its pastel blue body and yellow display bezel. That tiny display also sits above the keyboard at a slight angle, offering a slightly more comfortable typing experience even if you have it on top of your legs instead of on a table.

Of course, the Micro Journal isn’t all looks and actually delivers that fun typing experience through hot-swappable Cherry MX switches. Many writers and programmers swear by this type of mechanical keyboard, and you can customize it to the layout that you want. Using the writing device is as simple as turning it on, though it also offers some advanced connectivity features, unlike other distraction-free typewriters. In particular, it allows you to sync your work with Google Drive, but it’s purely an optional feature, not a necessity.

Another difference between this product and others in the market is that, while it’s available as a finished device, you can also buy the Micro Journal as a kit that you can assemble yourself. This offers a greater level of flexibility and customization, especially if you’re the type to tinker with your tools before you use them. Either way, you get a writing partner that doesn’t nag you with incessant notifications, tempt you away from your train of thought, or make you feel embarrassed to use it in public.

The post Distraction-free digital typewriter carries a playful and whimsical character first appeared on Yanko Design.

DIY Game Boy arcade blows up classic titles with a giant screen, giant controls

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We have seen no shortage of retro designs that try to recreate the glory of old product designs, especially in the gaming world. Many of these try to be as faithful as they can to the original, but some are content to add a few interesting twists like sticking to the spirit of the design and the experience. A Game Boy, for example, was one of the earliest handheld gaming devices to gain international fame, but that doesn’t mean it has to stick to that petite size today. In fact, this DIY retro project goes in the opposite direction and brings the green-tinted monochrome display of the OG Game Boy to an extra large arcade cabinet screen, complete with a joystick and buttons that could feel more satisfying to mash to quickly get through dialogues.

Designer: Shaun Campbell (didsomebodysayretro)

Compared even to its colorful successor, the original Game Boy felt a bit underwhelming. Despite that, it opened gamers of the past generations to a world of gaming that they can take anywhere with them. In addition to special features that allowed them to link up with other Game Boy devices, the gaming handheld embodied a kind of freedom that was revolutionary in an age of home consoles. It’s almost ironic, then, that the WoodBoy project removes that portable design but exchanges it with another of the Game Boy’s popular traits: pure gaming fun.

In a nutshell, WoodBoy shoves the original Game Boy, not the Game Boy Color, into a handmade wooden arcade cabinet. This gives it a much larger screen than the minuscule 2.5-inch screen of the handheld original, something a bit better for today’s more discerning eyes. In fact, everything about the arcade is an upscaled version of the Game Boy, redefined for, well, arcade play. Instead of a gigantic D-pad, for example, you get a more satisfying joystick for directional control.

Curiously, WoodBoy eschews the traditional 2×2 button arrangement you might find on most arcades for two red buttons at the top and two black buttons on the front edge of the cabinet. This mimics the separation of the A, B, Start, and Select buttons on the Game Boy and minimizes the potential for confusion or erroneous presses. At the same time, however, that might make it harder to hit pause quickly with either of your hands if it has to travel to the front.

What makes WoodBoy different from many DIY retro projects is that it runs actual original Game Boy cartridges rather than using emulation. It utilizes a kit that mods the original Game Boy device into a console, making it compatible with authentic cartridges and games. That, of course, makes it dependent on owning said cartridges, but WoodBoy is definitely a collector’s product anyway.

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Hive-like LED wall clock offers a colorful and dynamic way to tell the time

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Clock designs come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of complexity. On one end, you have ultra-minimalist analog clocks that barely have discernible hands or numbers on their faces. On the opposite end, however, you have not only sophisticated mechanical clocks with all their gears and movements, you also have digital clocks with smart features that go beyond telling the time. Of course, it’s always a matter of balancing functionality and features, and some designs intentionally tip the scales toward one or the other depending on their target audience. This DIY wall clock, for example, caters to those who want a more vibrant and creative way to display the time, though it does require a bit of technical and electronics know-how to make.

Designer: Dawid Karoński

It’s really impressive how far DIY tools have come these days, from desktop 3D printers to small circuit boards that can run complicated programs to control nontrivial devices. And depending on the skills of the one making them, the end result could even look like a professionally made product that came from a factory rather than someone’s garage or home workshop. The Hexaclock, named for its unusual shape for a clock, is one such example, offering a wall clock and smart lamp that can rival the quality and features of well-known smart lighting brands.

The catch is that you have to make one yourself, which may or may not result in a product of equal quality. You’ll need a 3D printer, unsurprisingly, but that is actually the easier part of the process. The more tedious phase requires precisely cutting an LED light strip into specific sizes so that the LEDs actually line up with the hexagon-shaped compartments of the lamp. Even more laborious is connecting these segments together again into a single unit, at least electronically, so that you can control the strip with a program as if it was never cut at all.

All of these details, from the schematics to the software, are made available for free so that anyone with the right tools and knowledge can make their own hive-shaped wall clock. In terms of functionality, the clock offers plenty of customization options, from animated color transitions to dancing patterns. What’s even more impressive is that it supports a light sensor that can dim all LEDs except the ones displaying the clock itself so that the bright lights won’t disturb your sleep at night.

The post Hive-like LED wall clock offers a colorful and dynamic way to tell the time first appeared on Yanko Design.