Tag Archives: Technology

iPad Pro M4 hands-on first impressions: Lightweight, Thin, and Sexy

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If I could review a tablet with one word, I’d pick the iPad Pro, and the word I’d use is perfect. You’d probably demand an explanation, right? Apple has achieved design perfection with the iPad Pro, both inside and out, as well as with the redesigned Magic Keyboard. Now, before you start asking, “What about iPadOS? It’s nowhere near perfect,” let me clarify: I’m specifically talking about the hardware here. We’ll have to wait until WWDC 2024 in June to see what Apple has in store for the operating system.

Over thirty-odd years ago, I enjoyed reading philosophy in my spare time, and one of my favorite philosophers is Plato. Okay, you caught me—rarely does anyone read Plato just for fun. But it’s true that Plato’s “perfect object theory” inspired me in my quest as a tech and automotive journalist to find the perfect [fill in the blank]. My search didn’t initially start with the iPad; I was hoping for a “MacBook touch.” I even bought the domain name MacBooktouch.com back in 2007 as proof that I foresaw Apple making a touch-screen MacBook.

macbooktouch.com domain name

Fast-forward to 2015, when we got the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display and the first Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. That hardware wasn’t close to a MacBook Touch. Nine years later, or 17 years since I registered macbooktouch.com, we finally have the closest thing to a MacBook touch.

The MacBook touch—er, 2024 iPad Pro—is powered by the M4 chip. In case you don’t know, it’s the only device with this new processor. The only things keeping this device from being a MacBook touch are 1) the iPad branding and 2) it’s not running macOS. Is it capable of running macOS? Absolutely. So, why isn’t it? I’ll leave that for you to ponder.

Before I move on, I won’t be revisiting whether you should upgrade to this year’s iPad Pro. If you’re asking if you should, read my analysis here. Okay, let’s dig in, and if anything I say in this article sounds familiar, you’re right—you’ve probably heard it from tech YouTubers or read it in reviews over the past week. Just think of what I’m sharing as confirmation.

The iPad Pro is lightweight, thin, and sexy as hell. It exudes minimalist charm, practically begging, “Pick me up and use me right now!” The Magic Keyboard is what makes this iPad Pro a true MacBook replacement. It’s the key to unlocking the full potential of the iPad Pro, providing a MacBook Pro-like experience with a responsive trackpad, comfortable keys with the right amount of travel, and premium build quality.

Comically, early reviewers seemed genuinely surprised that Apple managed to thin out the iPad Pro even more. One famous YouTuber even asked, “Who was asking for it?” Well, my friends, that “who” was yours truly. Apple delivered on almost everything I asked for, except for titanium—and yes, that was wishful thinking. I’m happily settling for aluminum for both the iPad and Magic Keyboard. I’m also thrilled that both devices have shed some weight, making the iPad, especially the 13-inch model, much more manageable to hold and use over longer periods. The 11-inch model is now just 5.3mm thick and weighs 444 grams, while the 13-inch model is 5.1mm thick and weighs 580 grams.

Briefly touching on the Magic Keyboard, I’ll save the full details for the review, but Apple addressed my issue where the lower portion of the iPad Pro would constantly get in the way of my typing. Thanks to a whole new redesigned hinge system, it’s possible to have a full-size keyboard with an entire row of function keys. For those developers out there yearning for an ESC key, you have it now. The way Apple designed the placement of the iPad, which is now pushed further back yet still articulates at the same or greater angles than the outgoing model, reminds me of how car designers suddenly got so much more room to play with when designing electric vehicles sans the motor. The wheels are pushed further to the edges, creating more internal room for leg space and whatever else they can dream up. I’m sure the new hinges were no small task, but wow—a full keyboard with a function row and a larger trackpad, a proper MacBook Pro-style trackpad with a haptic engine built in.

At the end of the day, I really don’t care what the iPad’s called; what matters most to me is what I’m able to do with it in real life. Whether consuming content or playing games (which I rarely do, but hey, I might start) without a bulky keyboard, or getting down to business and writing, like I am doing right now with this article and many others to come, I know this is the ultimate, ultra-portable device that ticks all my needs now and possibly over the next decade.

I’ve left out a lot in this initial impressions article, such as display quality, performance, battery life, the Apple Pencil Pro, and other features. I also haven’t compared it to my existing 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M1 chip. But rest assured, I’ll cover all these aspects in my full review. I just need more time to test everything thoroughly.

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Narc robot concept helps detect contraband in public spaces

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One of my family’s favorite things to see at places like malls and airports are the drug sniffing dogs. We always joke about wanting to pet them, although of course we’re not supposed to. But there are times when I pity them since they have to work hard and it can even be dangerous for them. There are of course other technologies and devices that can be developed so the load of detecting contraband does not fall solely on them or on the staff that are monitoring the security check machines in the terminals.

Designer: Junwoo Lim

This concept for a robot that can serve as a contraband detection tool can serve both cargo terminals and passenger terminals. Narc will be able to help machines, dogs, and humans detect contraband like explosives, drugs, and other dangerous materials that are not supposed to be in public places like airports and terminals. You probably didn’t like being called a narc (if ever you were called one) during your school days but this device, which looks like a robot with four legs, gets the job done.

For the cargo terminals, Narc can serve as the detector for small packages in the conveyer belt so the first pass will not need human intervention. It has a small x-ray button at the bottom and 90 degree rotatable legs and a movable body that can go up to 500m up and down. It can scan the small cargo by moving around the cargo rails so humans can just focus on monitoring larger cargo. For passenger terminals, the Narc can move around, like those robots going around malls asking if you need help. But this time, they really act as a “narc”, scanning random people and if they detect contraband, they will alert security staff.

Once they spot someone “suspicious”, the staff can use the portable ion scanner to detect if the person really is carrying contraband. A sample can even be placed in the middle of the suction port if it needs further checking. There may be some privacy issues involved here but that’s probably a problem that can be resolved or fixed by the airport or terminal if ever this concept gets made into an actual product.

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Portable AI device uses camera, projectors, sensors to make you more productive

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For better or for worse, depending on where you stand on the debate, artificial intelligence has changed and will continue changing how we create and communicate. Services like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Gemini, and Copilot are pretty popular with those who are adventurous enough to experiment with AI. We can expect that over the next few years, we’ll see more services, gadgets, and devices that can help us use the technology and integrate it into our workflow and every day lives.

Designers: Mingwan Bae, Sohyun An, Junyoung Min, Youngsuh Yoo

Lay is a concept for a portable AI device that is equipped with a wide-angle camera, a projector, and a sensing module. The 48MP wide-angle camera has a 13mm focal length and is able to recognize objects and space as well as have text recognition and upscale objects it can scan. The 4K UHD projector can project up to 30 inches screen with auto keystone and has under 10cm ultra-short throw distance and high brightness and contrast. The sensing module, which includes LiDAR, ambient light, and proximity sensors, is able to sense its surroundings in real time.

The device basically scans your surroundings and then leverage AI to make suggestions and give assistance on tasks that you can do to as you’re working, drawing, reading, scribbling, building, creating, or just leisurely browsing. It looks like a small spherical robot with a round head that moves around and that you can carry around and place on your desk or space as it helps you make your workflow smoother. It projects onto a surface which will serve as your screen as you do your different tasks. It can recognize and select text, drawings, photos, sketches and then all the content and information are updated in your real-time cloud.

The device still seems to be mostly theoretical and specific tasks you can do or that it can suggest are still a bit vague. But it’s an interesting concept for an AI-powered device that you can carry around with you especially if you’re a digital nomad. And with the speed at which some digital natives and early adapters are using and exploring AI, this can actually be a real device soon.

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What if AirPods had ChatGPT, could translate languages, and came with a touchscreen case?

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Meet the Wooask TransBuds A8 – a pair of TWS earbuds that are so unique you’ll want to ditch your AirPods for them. Built with ChatGPT integration in the earbuds themselves, these wearables put the power of AI in your ear, actively translating 147 languages and accents in real-time, without an app. What’s better, if you do need to navigate through the TransBuds A8’s functionalities, you don’t even need to look at your smartphone, the earbuds case comes with a nifty 2-inch screen for both online or offline translation, as well as the ability to simply chat with ChatGPT the way Iron Man chats with JARVIS. Oh, and you can listen to music too.

Designer: Wooask Technology

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $299 (40% off). Hurry, only 63/200 left!

The A8 translation earbuds facilitate real-time bidirectional translation, allowing two people to wear one earbud each for instant simultaneous interpretation.

The TransBuds A8 has a familiar design, albeit with a few VERY clever upgrades. Sure, you’ve got the white case with a flip-top lid that reveals two white earbuds… but on both hardware and software fronts, the TransBuds A8 are much more advanced than any regular TWS earbuds you’ll find on the market. For starters, the entire wearable has ChatGPT integration, giving you a voice assistant that is far more advanced than Google, Siri, or Alexa. You can simply tap the earphones to talk to ChatGPT, or access the AI through the unique interface built into the case. The case with a touchscreen is a welcome feature too – it eliminates the need for an app, and gives you a perfect standalone device that works without draining your phone’s battery or piggy-backing off your phone’s cellular network.

By leveraging ChatGPT’s vast knowledge base and natural language processing capabilities, users can enjoy more than just translation assistance.

The presence of AI isn’t just a bandwagon feature, it helps aid the TransBuds A8’s core value proposition – the ability to actively translate 77 languages and 70 accents in real-time, giving you the ability to pretty much travel anywhere in the world without a language barrier. The interaction is swift and seamless, either share an earbud with someone and have bi-directional conversations in two separate languages, and the earbuds will actively translate both of them simultaneously, or use the earbuds and case together to have a conversation with a local. The earbud-sharing method is perfect for in-person meetings and other long conversations. Each person wears one earbud like a Bluetooth earpiece of sorts, and the TransBuds A8 listens to what the opposite person is saying, and translates it for you right in your ear. A transcript of your entire conversation gets captured as a text thread on the TransBuds A8’s screen, and can be saved for later, allowing you to quickly and easily transcribe an entire meeting using the power of AI.

Alternatively, the case itself comes with a microphone and powerful speakers, allowing you to use just the case as a translator device. Hold it up and speak into it, and the TransBuds A8 lets you have a conversation with a local or a stranger without needing to share an earpiece. A powerful mic and speaker system allow you to easily converse with people even around ambient noise, while the display on the case does a good job of allowing people to read the translated text if they can’t hear the translated audio.

The case, frankly, is more of a smartphone that houses earbuds than just your average charging case. It runs on a Qualcomm Quad-Core Processor and earbuds use a Qualcomm 3040 chipset that allows it to translate 147 languages and accents with a latency of 0.5 seconds and an impressive 98% accuracy. The 2-inch screen has an app drawer that lets you access the TransBuds A8’s different features, even letting you tap into the offline translation feature that works with 16 popular languages. Buttons on the side of the case let you increase or decrease the case’s volume, or even go back to the home screen while navigating the interface.

The earbuds are remarkable too, with an ergonomic design, and a dual-mic setup that powers the ENC (Environment Noise Cancelation) feature to help you speak and hear clearly even if you’re in a noisy environment. The earbuds have a translation time of 5 hours, and a regular battery life of 35 hours along with the case that doubles as a charging dock for the buds. 16 gigabytes of in-built memory means you can even load your favorite MP3 files right onto the case, turning it into a makeshift iPod Touch that plays music directly without a streaming app or pairing with your phone. You can, however, pair the earbuds with your phone to listen to music, watch movies, or take calls too.

Quite the all-round device, the TransBuds A8 are for any and everyone. They work independently without your phone, translating over a hundred languages, transcribing conversations, and giving you the power of ChatGPT right in your ears. They also work as your standard TWS buds when you’re looking for something traditional, pairing with your phone via Bluetooth for answering calls, watching TikTok, or listening to music and podcasts. The buds are ideal for avid travelers, students, digital nomads, expats, and people working in multicultural companies and teams. The TransBuds A8 starts at a discounted $179 (an absolute steal considering the features it packs), which also includes one year of free ChatGPT integration. Subsequently, you’ll either be required to pay $9.9 per month or $40 annually for the AI features – online and offline translation remains free forever.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $299 (40% off). Hurry, only 63/200 left!

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Hidden hub clears your desk of cords, sockets, and port clutter

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To say that I have a messy desk is an understatement. Aside from the various books, office supplies, and knick-knacks that I have lying around, one of the things that make it pretty messy are all my cords connectors, and sockets. I work with multiple devices so I need all kinds of charging and connecting tools, therefore adding to the clutter on my desk. If ever I one day decide to have a cleaner and more minimalist desk, then I definitely need one of these docking hubs to make my work and home office life a bit more organized.

Designer: Lon

The Lon:HUB is one such docking hub that can give your desk a cleaner appearance and at the same time provide you with all the outlets and ports that you need. The ports and sockets are attached under your desk and on top of your space, you have some of the ports that you would need. Underneath, you have 5x 110V AC sockets, 2x HDMI 2 display ports, and 2x arms where you can wrap your cords around so you don’t get a spaghetti-like mess. On the edge of your desk, the hub has a 10 Gbps USB-C 100W port, 2x USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and it even has a wireless charger landing pad.

The hub also comes with a proprietary high-speed PCB with 100W PD and medical-grade power unit. It will also be available in several color options. We’re seeing orange, yellow, and a dark blue/grayish one if you prefer muted colors. If you want a more powerful unit, there will be a Pro version available which has a Thunderbolt 4 port, 2x HDMI 2.1 and 2x DisplayPort 1.4 ports,, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet card, 2x 10Gbps USB-C and 6x 10Gbps USB-A ports, a UHS-II SD-Card slot, QI2 wireless charger pad, and a 100W PD. It will also have a full aluminium casing.

The price tag hasn’t been officially revealed yet but it looks they’re planning to go for $199 which is a pretty good price tag for a dock. Design-wise the Lon:HUB is pretty minimalist and that is the point as something intricately designed may add to your desk’s clutter. I may not be leaving my maximalist style anytime soon but removing the cord and socket clutter may be the first step I’ll take and this dock would be a good start.

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10 Best Accessories To Perfectly Complement Your Apple AirPods

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My AirPods are one of my prized Apple possessions! I use them multiple times in a day, whether’s it’s for calls, to watch videos during work breaks, or to listen to some pumped-up tunes during my evening jogs. You’ll find them around me almost all the time. I’m sure there are other AirPods addicts in the house, and for those individuals, here’s a collection of AirPods accessories that we swear by!  These nifty product designs will completely elevate and enhance your AirPods experience. They serve as the perfect sidekick to your AirPods, either by taking the best care of them, boosting their functionality, or making sure you never lose them again. These are a must-have for all AirPods fanatics!

1. AirPods/AirPods Pro Neck Strap

This AirPods/AirPods Pro Neck Strap is a great way of ensuring you never lose your precious AirPods! It features a neck strap made from a woven necklace, which keeps your AirPods around your neck at all times. This neck strap perfectly combines fashion, good looks, and practicality to form a unique and clever Apple accessory amped with a patented One-Click Magnetic Lock, which keeps your earbuds in place safely.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39.

2. Casetify Iron Man Case

Casetify teamed up with Marvel to create a few Iron Man-themed accessories, and the one that truly caught our eye is their AirPods case! The super cool AirPods case is designed to look like an Iron Man helmet which gently opens up to unveil your TWS earbuds. It is equipped with a stand, allowing you to place it on a carabiner clip-in case you feel like attaching it to your backpack. It even has light-up eyes that will surely grab the attention of onlookers!

3. Snapshot Case

Elago Snapshot Apple AirPods Case with AirTag

Elago Snapshot Apple AirPods Case with AirTag

Called the Snapshot case for the AirPods Pro, this adorable-looking has a cute camera-shaped design that includes an AirTag inside the faux camera lens. The little case looks like a small point-and-shoot that protects precious AirPods Pro from any kind of physical damage and theft. Since it has an all-silicone design, this absorbs shock, while still supporting wireless charging.

4. Game Boy Charger Case

Elago has been doing a pretty good job of making Apple accessories a bit nostalgic, and they’ve recently unveiled a Nintendo-inspired design! One of their latest releases is a Game Boy cover for your AirPods charger. This Game Boy-inspired cover will transform your charger into the now-classic Game Boy design. It works as a “wrap”, and is quite similar to the MagSafe wallet they launched a while ago. This one is a must for the Game Boy lovers!

5. ElementProof Waterproof Case

Meet this innovative AirPods Pro 2 case that enhances your earbuds with an IP68 rating to offer better water and dustproofing. This case provides a very high level of protection from the elements, such that you can keep your AirPods and their case submerged in the water for 6 hours. It can even provide protection from an extremely dusty environment. The case is called the ElementProof Waterproof Case, and it has military-grade MIL standards for shock resistance.

6. 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Concept

Meet the 15W MagSafe compatible iPhone 15 charger concept which can be laid down, or positioned in an alternate orientation, letting you set up your iPhone in portrait mode for productivity. The alternate pad of the charger can be utilized to charge your earbuds, or even your Apple Watch, while laid down. At the moment, this charger is still a concept, however, we would love to see it as a tangible design someday.

7. Ultra Hybrid Zero One Covers

Designed by Spigen, these transparent Ultra Hybrid Zero One covers for the AirPods Pro 2 draw inspiration from the stunning iMac G3 designs from the olden days. The unique covers offer a layer of Spigen-backed physical protection to the AirPods case, providing protection from bumps and scratches, owing to the impact-resistant PolyCarbonate (PC) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) build.

8. Nomad MagSafe Base One Charger

Nomad Base One MagSafe Design

Nomad Base One MagSafe

Dubbed the Nomad MagSafe Base One charger, this innovative charger features a glass and aluminum design, and it is equipped with the official MFi MagSafe charging. The Base One works well with most Qi devices, and it can offer up to 15W charging speed. The charger has a weighted metal body which is wonderfully paired up with an elevated glass panel. This sophisticated look complements most desks and workspaces.

9. Air Omni

Called the Air Omni, this unique charging dock can charge your iPhone, AirPods, Watch, and iPad as well. It is created for not only charging but docking as well, and it features a dedicated pop-up wireless charging hub for your Watch and a wireless charging zone for your AirPods. The docking zone has a unique design which makes it quite innovative, and it can shapeshift to accommodate your various devices.

10. Chargepuck

Dubbed the Chargepuck, this unique innovation serves as a replacement for your wireless charging dock or mat. The little puck can be attached to your iPhone, and it has its own retractable cable which lets you plug it wherever you like. However, the Chargepuck isn’t a battery pack, and it doesn’t have its own battery inside it. It is a charging apparatus that is attached to your iPhone, letting you charge three devices in one go.

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This $599 Exoskeleton gives your legs Superhuman Powers while helping you save 50% energy

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It isn’t Iron Man’s suit, but it’s still a pretty big augmentation to humans and their capabilities.

The promise of great technology is to make life easy for everyone… the only problem is that a lot of times, it takes YEARS before great technology can become accessible to everyone. EVs were very niche before they weren’t, DARPA (the defense research wing of the US government) played a pivotal role in developing the internet for communication on the front lines in the 1960s before the internet finally became household technology. Cameras were incredibly specialist equipment before they became small enough to fit into a smartphone, and exoskeletons were originally developed for military personnel to give them superhuman strength, before ending up in warehouses to allow workers to lift heavy objects without using all their energy. If you went online, chances are you wouldn’t be able to simply buy an exoskeleton for yourself (or you’d probably end up paying thousands of dollars for it), but the folks at Dnsys are hoping to make the technology accessible to all humans.

The $599 X1 is an exoskeleton that aids with mobility by giving your legs an extra set of mechanical muscles. Powerful enough to reduce the energy you spend walking/running/trekking by a staggering 50% and reduce your load by nearly 83 lbs, the Dnsys X1 runs on a set of 900W motors that output 1.2 horsepower with a top speed of 27km/h (16.7mph), allowing you to walk, climb, and run with more agility and less exertion. The entire device, which straps to your waist and thighs, weighs a paltry 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lbs) and has a battery that offers a range of 25 kilometers, allowing you to push your boundaries further without being restrained by your human limitations.

Designer: Dnsys

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $1198 (50% off) Hurry! Only 10 left of 890. Raised over $1,000,000.

The X1 hopes to shatter the misconception that exoskeletons just belong in warehouses. Quite like Apple’s Vision Pro became one of the first VR headsets to actually be seen in real society, with people wearing them in cafes and subways, the Dnsys X1 aims at being the exoskeleton for all kinds of outdoor use. You could be an explorer or trekker looking to cover lots of ground, a backpacker trying to walk large distances with a heavy backpack, a photographer looking to navigate an outdoor location with a lot of gear, or just a fitness enthusiast looking to get in your movement while protecting your knees and legs from strain or injuries. The X1 gives your legs a set of helping hands (or helping legs, if you want to switch the idiom), allowing you to move faster, farther, and with much less energy.

The hallmark of the Dnsys X1 is its ultra-lightweight construction, weighing a mere 1.6kg, thanks to the utilization of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and carbon fiber. This not only ensures durability but significantly reduces weight, making it an unobtrusive companion for any journey. The exoskeleton’s sophisticated motor, the DNA-1, embodies sheer power, delivering 1.2 horsepower and a torque of 50 Nm/kg, which, in simpler terms, is similar to the power performance of a Formula One race car.

Making an exoskeleton isn’t as easy as simply slapping motors onto a body brace. The X1 employs advanced AI algorithms to adapt to the user’s walking pattern, offering instantaneous walking assistance that makes every step feel lighter. This AI innovation, combined with state-of-the-art motion sensors, enables the device to conserve up to 50% of the user’s energy, essentially halving the strain of carrying heavy loads during challenging treks or climbs. Imagine exploring the wild with the ability to walk or run with less fatigue, climb higher, and embark on longer adventures, all while protecting your knees and reducing the risk of physical exertion-related injuries. The X1’s clever design also enables all kinds of movements, aiding you with walking forwards and backwards, sideways, upwards, or even any odd movement that would result from you walking on an uneven path or terrain.

Different modes let you achieve different tasks. A regular mode gives you a maximum range of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), aiding with load reduction and energy conservation, while a Boost mode, activated simply by pressing a button on the sides, gives you the full effect of the X1’s 1.2 horsepower output. The regular mode is perfect for walking and climbing, while the boost mode is the equivalent of going full throttle, allowing for more machine power that gives you maximum speeds of 27km/h or 16.7mph. Conversely, instead of having the X1 boost your performance, you can even flip to a Workout mode which restrains your walking ability, making you put more effort in. Designed to be the equivalent of training with weights or resistance bands, this mode is for maximizing your exercise, making it perfect for strength training and isokinetic exercise. The resistance mode also helps reduce impact on your knees during downhill walks, helping prevent injuries.

The X1 starts at $599, a massive 50% reduction over its original $1198 retail price. It includes an app that also works to monitor device status in real-time, and track medical-grade health data such as hip joint mobility and step frequency. Each X1 ships with a smart battery capable of kinetic energy recovery (KERS) for high efficiency, a charging dock, and a charging cable. The Dnsys X1 ships globally starting July 2024.

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $1198 (50% off) Hurry! Only 10 left of 890. Raised over $1,000,000.

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Portable Powerbox can juice up your laptop and other mobile devices

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When you go to coffee shops, public spaces, and even the beach, you’ll probably see people facing their screens and typing away for work or for leisure. The digital nomad and work from anywhere lifestyle is truly upon us. One of the most important things that they need is a power source since not all places have sockets. Of course there’s the pretty common powerbanks to juice up our smartphones but for those that need something a bit heavier in terms of power, there are only a few options out there.

Designers: Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of Industrial Facility

The OE1 Powerbox is a portable battery so you can power up your laptop, tablet, smartphone, and other mobile devices wherever you are. It is more than just a powerbank as it can actually charge three 70W laptops at the same time with its 250Wh of power. It has three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a tracking device holder. It can also fit into the OE1 Storage Trolleys if you need to power larger electronics like monitors, speakers, projectors, etc. The Powerbox has a power level indicator on top so you can see the power level. It can be charged through a PowerTray or with a charging cable kit that you can purchase separately.

But on its own, the Powerbox is already powerful enough for your mobile devices. It looks like a tool box that is “meant to hold the feeling of ‘battery-ness’. It has a minimalist design since you don’t need it to look like anything other than a battery you can carry around. It is also created sustainably as it uses lithium ion phosphate (LFP) so it can have a longer life cycle. The housing uses 100% post-consumer ABS plastic making it easier to handle during the recycling process.

Of course since it’s more powerful than a powerbank, it’s not that light or can fit into your bag. But it’s still light enough that you can carry it around when needed. As someone who works outside a lot (and whose device batteries seem to be giving up on me easily), this can come in handy even if it may be a little heavy.

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Empowering Children with a Watch That Guides Habit Formation and Joyful Growth

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As a parent, managing your children’s daily routines can be daunting. The NehNehBaby Training Watch simplifies this with practical features that do more than just tell time. It uses timed alarms, gentle vibrations, and engaging screen animations to remind your child of essential activities like eating, using the potty, brushing teeth, and playing. The potty alerts are particularly helpful, encouraging independence and confidence in bathroom habits. Additional reminders for drinking water and exercising promote healthy physical habits. These features integrate seamlessly into daily life, bringing structure to the chaos of growing children’s schedules and supporting their exploration and growth with fun, effective reminders.

Designer: NehNehBaby

Click Here to Buy Now: $29.99 $39.99 (25% off).

The NehNehBaby training watch guides your child’s day, gently ushering them through essential routines—from mealtime and potty breaks to tooth brushing and cherished periods of reading and play. This guiding presence is what transforms the NehNehBaby training watch from a simple tool into a treasure within the parenting toolkit, as it smoothly orchestrates the daily routines, ensuring smoother days filled with less friction and more harmony.

The Training Watch integrates timed alarms, vibrations, and screen animation reminders to help children develop regular lifestyle habits, covering critical daily activities such as potty, drinking water, brushing teeth, bathing, studying, and exercising.

The importance of this tool becomes even more apparent for parents of children aged 2 to 8. This period is akin to the prime planting season in a garden, where the seeds of healthy routines are sown, destined to grow into lifelong habits. These early years are when habits around healthy eating, staying active, getting sufficient rest, and engaging in regular learning activities take root, setting the stage for a lifetime of well-being.

The training watch ingeniously incorporates the principles of habit formation, as detailed in James Clear’s influential work, “Atomic Habits.” The watch brings to life Clear’s habit cue formula—’I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]’—through engaging animations and musical cues that signal when and where specific tasks should be performed. This makes the habit-forming process enjoyable for children and solidifies the association of certain activities with specific times and places, embedding these routines deeply within their daily lives. Moreover, the watch is equipped with timed reminders, skillfully encouraging children to independently recognize and respond to these cues, fostering a growing sense of autonomy.

The watch’s reminder function helps children remember and execute daily tasks, reducing the mental load of parental supervision.

Habit Cultivation

Time Management and Self-Monitoring

The watch’s task completion log represents another strategic application of Clear’s insights, transforming the tracking of habits into an interactive and rewarding experience for children. This feature allows kids to mark off their completed tasks visually, paving the way for parental recognition and rewards. Such positive reinforcement not only celebrates their accomplishments but also motivates continued adherence to their routines, solidifying the desired behaviors and making the cultivation of these habits a natural and integral part of their day.

As children become accustomed to the rhythm introduced by the training watch, the device’s role evolves, with a significant focus shifting towards teaching time management and self-monitoring skills—abilities that are increasingly vital in today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world. While task management is an integral part of this stage, the focus is on empowering children to approach their days confidently, significantly reducing stress and allowing them the freedom and space to fully embrace the joys of childhood. The ability to keep up with tasks through delightful animations that accompany task reminders engages children. Taking a potty break or brushing their teeth without constant adult supervision cultivates a sense of independence in children, lightening their mental load and creating ample room for play, creativity, and relaxation.

The watch’s design acknowledges the unique ways children perceive and interact with time. They often become fully immersed in the moment or rush through tasks that are less appealing. With its musical or vibrational alerts, the watch’s timer feature bridges the gap between a child’s relaxed pace and the adult world’s need for timeliness. By establishing clear end times for activities, the watch transforms potential daily challenges, like toothbrushing or getting ready for school, into smooth, enjoyable routines that teach the importance of time management without the pressure of feeling rushed.

Additionally, the watch introduces the “Breath Sync” feature, a thoughtful addition designed to help children relax and manage stress. This feature provides guided breathing exercises through charming animations, such as easy-to-follow text cues or a friendly bear demonstrating deep breathing techniques. This focus on relaxation is particularly beneficial, helping children wind down and find calm amidst their active days.

Physically, the watch has a 1.09-inch screen and a comfortable, hypoallergenic silicone strap. It features a power button, which also serves as a “return to home screen” button, and a “Fun button” that announces the time with a short press. A double tap on the “Fun button” brings up the settings. The watch charges through a magnetic charger port, avoiding the need for exposed charging holes.

Click Here to Buy Now: $29.99 $39.99 (25% off).

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Tim Cook rocks an exclusive pair of Nike Air Max 1 ’86s “made on iPad”

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Nike made these exclusive ‘Made on iPad’ Air Max 1 ’86s for Tim Cook

When Apple announced, “Nike made these exclusive ‘Made on iPad’ Air Max 1 ’86s for Tim Cook to celebrate the launch of the new iPads,” calling them exclusive barely scratches the surface. The design of these Nike Air Max 1s immediately grabs your attention. They have an off-white upper that seems to be a blend of synthetic rubber and mesh. The sneaker really stands out with its multicolored Nike Swoosh wrapping around it, displaying a vibrant rainbow spectrum with a textured, paintbrush-like effect.

Designer: Nike

Speckles of color are scattered throughout the white midsole, adding a playful touch to the otherwise minimalist design. The visible air unit in the heel, a signature of the Air Max series, is showcased through a transparent window, offering a glimpse into the shoe’s cushioning technology.

The shoe’s sole sports a speckled brown finish that really pops against the lighter upper. Parked next to the shoe is the latest iPad Pro and the shiny new Apple Pencil Pro, showcasing a sketch of the design. It’s like a little window into how this cool shoe came to life. This sneaker is a piece of art—but also practical too, something Tim Cook might wear every day. For the rest of us? It’s the kind of collector’s item we daydream about scoring.

‘Made on iPad’ Air Max 1 ’86s

The tongue of this Nike Air Max 1 features a special customization. It sports a crisp white label with the iconic Nike logo in blue at the top. Below the logo, a striking red Nike Swoosh catches the eye. The unique touch is the phrase “made on iPad,” scrawled in a casual, handwritten-style font right beneath the Swoosh. This detail highlights the collaboration between Nike and Apple, connecting the sneaker to the creative capabilities of the iPad. It’s a sleek blend of technology and fashion, making this shoe truly one of a kind.

Shifting from the colorful design of the Nike Air Max 1 ’86, let’s explore another uber-rare sneaker with a nostalgic twist. These Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers were custom-made for Apple employees and distributed at a National Sales Conference in the mid-’90s. Featuring a predominantly white upper, the old-school rainbow Apple logo on both the tongue and the lateral quarter is a standout detail, adding a splash of color.

Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers

Never released to the public, this particular pair of sneakers is one of the most obscure in existence and highly coveted on the resale market. Each pair comes with an alternative set of red laces, enhancing their collectibility. The sneakers bear the style number 8106 and, comically, come with a note that sales are final and not eligible for return.

With prices reaching up to $50,000 USD, these sneakers are among the rarest Apple collectibles. They highlight Apple’s early initiatives to blend technology with lifestyle long before their tech products became global icons.

Circling back to the origin of the Nike Air Max 1, this iconic sneaker first hit the shelves in 1987. It was the first in the Nike Air Max line to feature visible Air cushioning in the midsole. Created by Tinker Hatfield and inspired by the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Air Max 1 is celebrated for its innovative design that showcases its inner workings, much like Pompidou’s architecture.

Tim Cook wearing a pair of exclusive ‘Made on iPad’ Air Max 1 ’86s

This shoe has become a major favorite in sneaker culture, known for its comfort and the array of colorways it has inspired, such as the striking original red and white. Each version highlights the unique style and enduring appeal of the Air Max 1.

The post Tim Cook rocks an exclusive pair of Nike Air Max 1 ’86s “made on iPad” first appeared on Yanko Design.