Tag Archives: Technology

Elgato Wave Go Turns a Tiny Clip-On Into a Handheld Microphone

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Clipping a microphone to your shirt leaves your hands free, but interviewing someone else calls for something you can comfortably hold between you. Carrying separate gear for both jobs, however, adds to a crowded bag. Elgato’s new Wave Go puts the same tiny transmitter into a handheld grip, changing its shape and controls without changing the microphone or the receiver connected to your phone.

The transmitter has a rounded rectangular body, weighing 0.25 ounces before you add either magnetic mount. With the clip attached, that rises to about 0.4 ounces. It can sit on a collar without a cable running down your clothes, leaving your hands available to demonstrate a recipe or hold the phone. The logo remains visible, though, so it isn’t trying to disappear.

Designer: Elgato

The conversion involves more than sticking that little microphone onto a pole. Twist and lift the Smart Handle’s head, drop the transmitter inside, then replace and lock the cover. The handle’s button and status light take over, keeping power and mute within reach instead of buried underneath. Its slender, 7.1-inch body gives you something to pass between speakers without pinching the tiny transmitter.

Of course, changing the grip also changes where the microphone sits relative to your mouth. Elgato’s EQ Shift automatically selects tuning for chest-level recording and close handheld speech. That doesn’t mean they’ll sound identical, and Elgato acknowledges the distance matters. Automatic level adjustment and noise reduction aim to simplify recording, while the optional app lets you intervene when the processing becomes distracting.

The handle has another job besides giving your fingers somewhere to go. Its battery recharges the transmitter while docked, including during recording. Elgato claims up to eight hours from the mic alone and 48 hours combined with handle top-ups. The carrying case organizes and charges both, but has no battery itself. Leave it unplugged and simply closing the lid won’t replenish anything.

Both configurations send audio over a dedicated 2.4 GHz link to the USB-C receiver, rather than pairing directly with your phone over Bluetooth. Move that receiver to a computer and the same mic can handle video calls, with Wave Link providing mixing options. Lightning iPhones and dedicated cameras aren’t supported, so don’t mistake the familiar interview-mic silhouette for a connection to every recording setup.

A second transmitter costs $29.99 separately and connects to the same receiver, letting an interview guest wear one while you hold the other. That’s convenient, but both voices arrive mixed into one mono track, with shared gain settings. You can’t separate them afterward as independent recordings. Getting the balance right before the conversation starts therefore matters more than having another microphone to hand.

The $99.99 kit includes the handle, receiver, magnetic mounts, and two furry windscreens, keeping the conversion from becoming a shopping list of extra accessories. There are limits, though: no onboard backup recording and no water-resistance rating. That outdoor interview still depends on your phone saving the conversation, and those furry covers shouldn’t be mistaken for protection against a sudden rain shower.

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OPPO Pad Mini Fits a Matte OLED Screen Into a 10-Ounce Tablet

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Tablets give books and sketches more room than a phone, but their glossy screens can turn a nearby window into part of the content. Making the tablet bigger doesn’t help when you’d rather carry less. OPPO’s Pad Mini Matte Display Edition tackles both frustrations with an 8.8-inch matte OLED screen inside a slim metal body designed for reading and creating away from a desk.

The Lavender Purple finish makes that metal shell less businesslike than another gray rectangle. Sandblasted, anodized aluminum carries OPPO’s etched Glow texture, giving the surface a subtle sparkle rather than a mirror finish. At approximately 0.21 inches thick and 9.95 ounces, the tablet leaves less bulk to accommodate in a small bag, although adding a protective case would change those dimensions.

Designer: OPPO

Of course, the more interesting matte surface is the one facing you. OPPO says the display treatment reduces glare, while the 2520×1680 OLED panel retains full color and refresh rates up to 144Hz in supported apps. This isn’t an E Ink reader dressed as a tablet. You can move from a novel to an animated film without asking the screen to change technologies.

Reader Mode offers another way to change the experience, with softer colors and a black-and-white option for concentrating on text. OPPO also lists a minimum brightness of two nits for nighttime reading. That gives you settings to adjust when a bright white page feels excessive, rather than treating the same display setup as suitable for a sunny commute and bedtime.

Add the optional OPPO Pencil 3 and the compact screen becomes somewhere to write instead of just scroll. You can circle text or pictures and drag them between windows, collecting references for a travel plan or gathering material beside your notes. The stylus has a shortcut button for selection tools, putting a frequently repeated action somewhere your fingers can find.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage keep the Mini from being merely an oversized reading device. ColorOS 16 allows floating windows for keeping reference material nearby while you work. That said, an 8.8-inch screen still has limits. Open several apps together, and you’ll have less room for each one, no matter how freely the windows move.

An 8,000mAh battery is a substantial component inside such a thin body, with 67W SUPERVOOC charging supported when it needs a refill. OPPO claims up to 19.5 hours of continuous video playback, based on its laboratory testing. That’s more relevant to a long trip than the headline 48-hour figure, which shouldn’t be read as two days of uninterrupted screen use.

OPPO has yet to reveal availability dates and pricing across markets. Slim bezels keep the enclosure compact, but leave less space for a thumb beside the screen. For longer reading sessions, a case with something to grip might be more useful than keeping the tablet as thin as possible, even if it adds a little bulk.

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Sony’s Gold-Plated Walkman: Cassette Nostalgia Without Tapes

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One of the things I wish I had been able to keep from “the olden days” is my cassette player, specifically my Sony Walkman. It probably wouldn’t get much use now, of course, but there are still cassette tapes around, and it’s a nostalgic bit that kids these days would get a kick out of seeing and experiencing. Most of the time, too, our music is played through our smartphones or laptops rather than dedicated music players. Well, Sony wants to say its golden piece about that.

Sony announced its latest premium Walkman lineup on October 15, 2026, and the flagship device is actually gold-plated, including some of its smallest parts. The catch, though, is that it doesn’t actually play cassette tapes. Instead, the NW-WM1ZM3 is built for playing digital music through your wireless or wired headphones of choice. It’s a device for those who prefer a separate audio player and want something that looks classy and elegant. Oh, and you need almost $6,000 to spare as well. Sony’s U.S. store lists it for preorder at $5,899.99.

Designer: Sony

The gold finish is only part of the story. Sony precision-mills the main chassis from 99.99% pure oxygen-free copper, while the rear chassis uses 99.96% pure copper. Both receive gold plating. According to Sony, this construction contributes to audio performance, making the enclosure part of its sound-engineering approach rather than simply a decorative shell. Whether those choices produce an audible improvement worth the asking price would require independent testing.

Even the gold-plated screws have an intended purpose beyond matching the exterior. Sony says their low resistance helps maintain a stable electrical ground connection between the chassis sections. Inside, dedicated capacitors for the digital and audio sections and a machined copper shielding block continue the effort to manage electrical noise. Much of this design work remains hidden once everything is assembled.

The exterior gives you more immediately noticeable details. Circular machined metal surrounds emphasize the headphone sockets, while a dark, leather-textured rear pad contrasts with the gold frame. That pad also keeps your hand from directly contacting the copper rear chassis. Visually, the dark surface gives the gold some breathing room, so the player doesn’t look like one uninterrupted block of precious metal.

Physical side buttons sit alongside the 5.5-inch touchscreen, providing dedicated playback and volume controls rather than making every interaction depend on a menu. In Sony’s images, the circular buttons have clearly marked symbols and sit within a recessed strip. That arrangement gives the side a recognizable control area, although how easily you can operate it by touch needs hands-on testing.

For those of us still attached to the cassette era, the interface offers a particularly nice nod. A cassette-style playback display and screensaver bring the old format onto the screen, with the cassette graphic changing according to the music’s codec. The volume interface also references analog equipment. You won’t be flipping a tape, but the visual connection is there.

There are practical reasons to keep a separate player, too. Its 256GB of storage, approximately 207GB of which is available, can house music without taking up space on your phone, and microSD expansion leaves room for more. Android and Wi-Fi support streaming alongside local files. Sony claims approximately 33 hours of 24-bit/96kHz FLAC playback in its music app under specified conditions, rather than promising the same endurance for every listening setup.

The material choices do come with a physical compromise. At approximately 670 grams, or almost 1.5 pounds, this Walkman is a substantial extra object to carry. For me, that makes its appeal easier to understand beside an armchair than tucked into a pocket on a daily commute.

I can appreciate the idea of giving music its own device again. I’m less convinced that nostalgia needs quite this much copper and gold. The physical controls and cassette interface are inviting, but the price and weight make this a very different proposition from replacing my old tape player.

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VZMORE AX9 Max Mini AI PC Review: Local AI Without Surrendering Your Desk

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PROS:


  • Compact, minimalist design with automotive-inspired detailing

  • Effective cooling system for sustained heavy workloads

  • Impressive performance for local AI use, graphics work, and light gaming

  • Great price value for its size and features

CONS:


  • Fan is clearly audible during high-performance tasks

  • USB-C ports are all at the back

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The VZMORE AX9 Max Mini AI PC pairs understated design with practical local AI performance and cooling that keeps demanding work moving.

A desktop computer shouldn’t have to dominate the desk it sits on, particularly when that space also holds a drawing tablet, reference books, and the occasional coffee cup. The VZMORE AX9 Max takes that idea in a promising direction, pairing an understated enclosure with hardware capable of running local AI models and tackling extended workloads. Its vapor-chamber cooling gives this small machine an appropriately serious engineering focus.

Of course, fitting ambitious hardware into a compact box doesn’t automatically make a great desktop. Our review configuration combines AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. After testing local models, extended heavy tasks, display connections, and Fortnite, the more interesting story is how VZMORE balances those capabilities with everyday practicality, including a fan that makes its presence known.

Designer: VZMORE

Aesthetics

There’s a familiar language to the AX9 Max’s silver enclosure, rounded corners, and square footprint. Comparisons with the Mac mini are understandable, although VZMORE’s interpretation is boxier and taller, giving it a slightly more substantial presence. It remains compact enough to share a desk comfortably, without adopting the angular styling that often makes performance-focused hardware look as though it belongs beside a gaming chair.

The aluminum chassis and metallic finish provide the visual restraint, while the shield-shaped badge on top supplies a little personality. There’s something faintly automotive about it, like an emblem borrowed from a luxury car rather than a computer. It’s a playful detail on an otherwise straightforward design, and it keeps the AX9 Max from looking completely anonymous among the many silver boxes competing for desk space.

That restraint also makes the design easier to live with beyond a dedicated office. It wouldn’t look particularly out of place beside a living-room display or on a shared worktable. The darker base and ventilation openings supply some visual separation from the metal body, but they don’t turn the cooling hardware into decoration. Most of the personality stays on top, leaving the rest pleasantly businesslike.

Ergonomics

Measuring 5.31 x 5.19 x 2.27 inches and weighing approximately 1.71 pounds, the AX9 Max is easy to relocate between workspaces. The included VESA mount and screws also let it disappear behind a compatible monitor. That’s a kind of flexibility that you’ll want to have when the desk serves several purposes, although the external power adapter still needs a home. Small computers don’t magically make their cables disappear, much as we’d like them to.

The front panel is refreshingly generous with four USB-A ports, a headset jack, and a power button. A side-mounted SD card slot adds another practical convenience for a photography desk. USB-C, however, stays around the back, so regularly connecting a portable drive or another USB-C accessory involves a little reaching. It’s a workable arrangement, though a front USB-C port would have made those frequent swaps easier.

Those rear connections include two 40Gbps USB4 ports and dual 2.5GbE networking, giving a compact workstation useful flexibility for storage and wired connections. Placement still deserves some thought, especially behind a monitor. The bottom intake and rear exhaust need breathing room, so this is a machine to give a clear, firm surface rather than tuck into a fabric-lined corner just because it happens to fit.

Performance

Inside, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 brings 12 CPU cores, 24 threads, and boost speeds up to 5.2 GHz. Its integrated Radeon 890M has 16 compute units, while our configuration pairs that hardware with DDR5 memory and PCIe 4.0 storage. These are substantial ingredients for a compact desktop, but their usefulness depends on how effectively the enclosure handles the heat generated once work gets demanding.

That’s where the vapor chamber earns its attention. Inside this sealed heat spreader, a working fluid evaporates near the hot area, carries heat across the chamber, and condenses in cooler regions. The process helps distribute concentrated heat across the cooling assembly, where fins and a fan can release it. It doesn’t eliminate the need for active cooling, but it gives that cooling system a more useful surface to work with.

During our extended heavy tasks, the AX9 Max maintained performance without an observed sustained slowdown. The fan was clearly audible, although we wouldn’t describe it as exceptionally loud. That’s a trade-off worth understanding rather than disguising: this machine lets you hear some of the work going into keeping it running. For longer processing sessions, that steady output is more valuable to us than pursuing silence at any cost.

For a creative desk, that balance makes the AX9 Max an interesting candidate for editing footage, preparing graphics, or CPU-based rendering. We haven’t measured a specific video export or rendering project here, so there’s no promise that every creative application will behave alike. The appeal is a compact platform with useful processing headroom; demanding GPU effects and large 3D scenes still need expectations appropriate to integrated graphics.

Local AI gave us something more tangible to explore. With up to 24GB of system memory allocated to graphics, a 27-billion-parameter Qwen model at Q4 quantization produced about 16 tokens per second in our setup. Quantization reduces the model’s memory requirements by storing its weights at lower precision. The result makes experimenting with a larger local language model practical, without having to accommodate a separate graphics card.

A smaller nine-billion-parameter Qwen model reached about 22 tokens per second at Q4, with multi-token prediction enabled, 16GB allocated to graphics, and a configured 32K-token context window. These are setup-specific results, not a guarantee for every model. That allocated memory is shared with the rest of the computer, too, so leaving room for other applications remains part of the balancing act when building a local AI workspace.

Our display testing revealed a useful distinction between the available connections. The 5K and 6K monitors worked properly over USB-C DisplayPort, giving us the high-resolution workspace we’d wanted. HDMI was less cooperative with those setups, producing flickering before the image disappeared. We haven’t established the cause, so it wouldn’t be fair to declare a universal HDMI problem. USB-C was simply the reliable option with our tested displays.

Gaming fits into the picture as an enjoyable extra. Fortnite ran in the neighborhood of 80 fps at 1080p in our testing, and 1440p also delivered a very playable experience. At 4K, however, frame rates sometimes dropped into single digits. Settings matter, and these results shouldn’t become a blanket performance promise. The practical takeaway is to enjoy its gaming ability at sensible resolutions rather than chase maximum pixel counts.

Sustainability

The metal enclosure is a welcome starting point for durability, although plastic remains part of the construction, particularly around the airflow base. We don’t have verified recycled-content figures or a life-cycle assessment to attach to it. Its more convincing sustainability argument concerns keeping the computer useful, rather than treating a metallic finish as an environmental credential. That’s a less glamorous story, but a more meaningful one.

Replaceable SO-DIMM memory and two internal SSD slots give the AX9 Max room to grow. The storage slots use different sizes, M.2 2280 and M.2 2230, so an upgrade needs the appropriate drive. That flexibility can extend usefulness as projects expand. VZMORE also provides a three-year limited hardware warranty for official-site purchases, although upgradeable components and warranty coverage don’t establish that every part is equally repairable.

Value

At $1,499 for the 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD configuration, the AX9 Max belongs in the premium mini PC conversation. Its price makes sense when the cooling system, local AI capability, connectivity, and compact design all serve your work. A cheaper office computer or a larger graphics-focused desktop answers a different brief. Here, the attraction is having several useful capabilities gathered into one fairly unobtrusive object.

Discounts, when they’re available, make the package more appealing, but the full-price argument rests on what you need. I’d consider it worthwhile for a compact local AI and content-creation setup, with the creative-work qualifications already noted. Silence-first buyers have another calculation. VZMORE lists 45W, 54W, and 65W profiles, giving users alternatives to selecting the most aggressive performance setting for every task.

Verdict

The VZMORE AX9 Max’s most appealing quality is how little its appearance tells you about the work it can attempt. Under that restrained exterior sits a computer that ran substantial local models and kept going through our extended heavy tasks. The cooling system is central to that experience, even when it’s audible. There’s a coherent relationship between the small enclosure, the airflow design, and the machine’s practical ambitions.

USB-C proved the better partner for our high-resolution monitors, and gaming made more sense below 4K. Those boundaries leave plenty of room for a capable everyday workstation, particularly if local AI is part of the plan. I can see the appeal of keeping a machine like this beside a drawing tablet and a good display. The desk stays available for the work, rather than being surrendered to the computer.

The post VZMORE AX9 Max Mini AI PC Review: Local AI Without Surrendering Your Desk first appeared on Yanko Design.

This compact phone accessory gives you a stand, tripod, and grip in one

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Using a phone hands-free often means propping it against a stack of books, finding a suitable stand, or asking someone else to take a picture. A-Tech’s OmniGrip offers a simpler alternative, combining a kickstand, mini tripod, and handheld grip in a single foldable accessory. It is designed for people who regularly use their phones for watching videos, making calls, and capturing photos without wanting to carry several separate attachments.

OmniGrip features an aluminum alloy body with silicone and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elements. Measuring 3.82 × 2.28 inches and weighing 68.5 grams, it has a compact form that can fit into a pocket or small bag. Its foldable construction allows the accessory to switch between different configurations as needed. For as low as $37, the accessory is a steal for content creators.

Designer: A-Tech

The attachment uses a magnetic connection compatible with MagSafe-style phone setups. It can attach directly to compatible phones and cases, while devices without magnetic compatibility may need a suitable magnetic ring or case. This makes it important to check the phone’s compatibility before purchasing.

In stand mode, the OmniGrip props up a phone at adjustable viewing angles. This is useful for keeping a screen visible during video calls, following a recipe while cooking, or watching content at a desk. The ability to reposition the stand also makes it easier to switch between portrait and landscape orientations, depending on the task.

For photography, the accessory unfolds into a mini tripod. Its adjustable legs are designed to support the phone on different surfaces, while silicone feet help keep the setup in place. This configuration is suited to group pictures, time-lapse recordings, and stationary video capture when holding the phone is impractical. It is intended for everyday use rather than replacing a full-size tripod for professional shoots or elevated camera angles.

The third configuration turns the OmniGrip into a handheld grip. The stand folds down by 180 degrees to create a handle, giving users another way to hold their phones while taking selfies or recording video. This can be particularly useful when travelling or filming short clips on the move.

The utilitarian accessory’s main idea is to make switching between these uses straightforward. Instead of carrying a separate stand for a desk and a tripod for occasional photography, users can keep one accessory attached to their phone or pack it away when it is not needed.

For people who rely on their smartphones throughout the day, the OmniGrip offers a practical way to adapt the device to different situations. Its compact, multi-position design prioritizes convenience over the height and specialized controls of dedicated camera equipment, making it a suitable option for everyday phone use.

 

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Fujifilm’s Instax SQUARE 2 Adds Color Filters Without an App

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With smartphone cameras getting more advanced every day, it’s becoming more convenient to take photos and videos just by opening the camera app. But when you scroll through your gallery, you realize you have a gazillion photos buried in there. Photo printers and instant cameras have become hard for me to resist over the past few years, and every time a new one comes out, I’m always like, “I want that!” or “I actually need that!” The appeal is having physical photos to add to my journal or tack onto my corkboard instead of leaving everything on a screen.

Fujifilm’s instax instant camera line has a new addition to the family. The instax SQUARE 2 is an updated version of the SQUARE SQ1, letting you enjoy on-the-spot photographs in a square format. This time, there are more features, like Landscape mode and the Mood Filter function, which give you more ways to have fun with your pictures. Fujifilm announced the camera on October 14, 2026, with release scheduled to begin October 28.

Designer: Fujifilm

The previous model, the SQUARE SQ1, already included Automatic Exposure and a Selfie Mirror, and both return here. This time around, you get Landscape mode, which Fujifilm says helps you take clearer shots of distant scenery and groups. It’s designed for subjects approximately 9.8 feet away or farther. Standard and Close-up modes cover nearer subjects, and you select them by turning the lens ring. You still get the 1:1 aspect ratio that makes the square format appealing, but you’ll need to choose the appropriate focus mode yourself.

The Mood Filter function lets you change the, well, mood of a photo you’re taking with just one switch. You can choose between “Warm” and “Cool” to fit the atmosphere and aesthetic of your subject, or leave it off for the standard instax look. The interesting part is that these aren’t digital effects. Moving the switch places a physical filter in front of the lens, adding golden or blue tones before you take the picture. It’s a creative choice you make while shooting rather than during an editing session afterward.

They’re also introducing the new SOFT HAZE SQUARE-format film, sold separately. According to Fujifilm, its newly developed film emulsion produces softer light effects and warmer tones, giving your photos a dreamy quality. That effect comes from the film itself, rather than the camera’s filter switch. The two features offer different ways to influence the finished photograph, even though both lean into changing its atmosphere.

The camera itself comes in three colors: Misty White, Slate Blue, and Brick Red. The palette has a muted feel, and design-wise, the SQUARE 2 has soft, rounded body styling and tactile detailing. Striped accents on the grip and lens give the areas you hold and turn a different texture from the smoother body, while debossed branding keeps the logo subtle. The controls also stay physical: a lens ring for shooting modes and a switch for filters, rather than a menu to scroll through.

The US MSRP is $119.95, excluding film, so the camera’s purchase price is only part of the cost. Every photograph uses a sheet of film, something worth remembering before experimenting with every filter and subject combination.

Keep in mind that this is an analog instant camera that captures new pictures directly onto instax SQUARE film, sold separately, rather than a printer for the photos already buried in your gallery. The photographs take approximately 90 seconds to develop, depending on the temperature, so “instant” still involves a little waiting.

For me, the appeal is having a photo you can hand someone right there or save for a journal page. I’d still want a smartphone printer for those gazillion existing pictures, but this offers a reason to make a few new ones with a particular place on the corkboard in mind.

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Bigme’s B13 Pro Gives Your Laptop a Color E-Paper Second Screen

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Reading reports or writing all afternoon doesn’t necessarily call for the same kind of display you’d choose for a movie. E-paper offers a different surface, but sluggish updates can make computer work frustrating. Bigme’s B13 Pro tackles that compromise with a 13.3-inch color e-paper monitor and a claimed 60 FPS refresh capability, bringing a more paper-like screen alongside your laptop without abandoning everyday desktop tasks.

The white frame keeps the appearance closer to an e-reader than a typical gaming monitor, with a broader lower bezel and controls along the edge. Its 4:3 proportions also give documents more vertical room than an equally wide widescreen panel. At roughly 11.3 by 9.1 inches and 1.46 pounds, it’s another object for your bag, though not a full-size desktop monitor.

Designer: Bigme

Rather than shining a backlight through the panel, Kaleido 3 e-paper uses reflected light, with an adjustable frontlight for dimmer surroundings. The listed 3200×2400 resolution delivers 300 pixels per inch for black-and-white content. That gives text-heavy work a more natural role here than cinematic entertainment. Keeping a reference document beside your draft makes sense when the information matters more than constant on-screen motion.

Getting that extra workspace doesn’t have to mean spreading adapters across the desk. A compatible USB-C connection carries both video and power through one cable, although the source device must support both functions. Two USB-C ports and Mini HDMI provide wired options, while wireless casting offers another route.

Of course, Bigme’s claimed jump from 30 to 60 FPS is the attention-grabber. If that translates into cleaner scrolling and cursor movement, it could make the display less awkward for everyday computer use. That doesn’t make it a gaming monitor, however. Without independent response-time or ghosting measurements, treating it like a conventional 60Hz monitor would be getting ahead of the evidence.

Color also comes with qualifications. Kaleido 3 supports 4,096 colors, with color density dropping to 150 pixels per inch. That’s useful for distinguishing lines on a chart or highlighting passages without reducing everything to gray, but don’t expect the richness of an LCD or OLED. Color-critical editing belongs on your regular screen; the e-paper panel makes more sense for keeping supporting material visible.

You can take that division further by putting a B13 Pro on either side of a laptop, leaving the central screen for work that needs conventional display behavior. That arrangement requires two monitors plus mounting hardware purchased separately, not a three-screen device unfolding from one box. It also doubles the added display weight, so the hardware holding everything together deserves some attention.

Bigme lists a $569 preorder price against a $749 regular price, but the product page doesn’t specify a firm shipping date. That’s a substantial investment for a 13.3-inch companion screen, especially if you’re planning a pair. The one-cable arrangement keeps the desk simpler, but the real decision is which tasks you want to move onto e-paper and which should stay on the laptop.

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Fairbuds 2 Earbuds Let You Swap Worn Batteries Instead of Buying a New Pair

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Wireless earbuds have come a long way, ever since Apple started the trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from smartphones. Most sound fine or even great, but batteries both in the buds themselves as well as charging cases still pose a longevity problem. Taking a cue from its larger Fairbuds XL headphones, Fairphone’s new Fairbuds 2 make both those batteries replaceable, so that declining battery life doesn’t have to send the whole set into retirement.

On the outside, the Fairbuds 2 look fairly conventional, with rounded earpieces and short, flat stems. Forest Green offers an alternative to the familiar black, which is also an available option, and the matching case has softened corners rather than a rugged shell. The useful detail is a removable silicone sleeve around each earbud, hiding the opening that lets you reach its battery when it eventually needs replacing.

Designer: Fairphone

Remove that sleeve and the earbud’s battery compartment becomes accessible without tools. The charging case does require a Torx T5 screwdriver to reach its cell, but nothing you can’t get from a hardware store. Fairphone lists seven replaceable parts, including the case body and individual earbuds. Losing one earbud therefore doesn’t require buying another pair, which is reassuring if your usual storage system involves the bottom of a crowded bag.

Of course, easy repairs won’t make you enjoy a playlist if the sound doesn’t suit you. The Fairbuds 2 use 0.43-inch bio-cellulose drivers, with four presets and a five-band equalizer in the companion app. LDAC support adds a higher-bitrate option on compatible Android devices, but it isn’t a shortcut to guaranteed sound quality, and iPhone owners don’t get that particular audio codec.

Active noise cancellation handles the isolation side, with Fairphone claiming up to 45dB of reduction. Six microphones support noise management and calls, while multipoint connectivity keeps two devices connected simultaneously. You can move between a laptop and phone without pairing from scratch every time. The earbuds remember up to six devices, although that doesn’t mean six audio streams competing for your ears.

Battery life is a separate consideration from battery replacement. Fairphone claims up to eight hours of listening, or 40 hours with the charging case, with noise cancellation switched off. Turn it on, and the earbuds’ estimate drops to six hours. That could cover a commute and some desk time, but charging remains USB-C only, so a wireless charging pad won’t help here.

There’s a practical limit to the repair story, though. Seven replaceable parts don’t mean every internal component can be fixed separately, and continued use still depends on getting the right spares. Fairphone includes replaceable ear tips and silicone sleeves in that count. The IP54 rating provides dust and splash resistance for daily wear, but don’t mistake it for permission to take them swimming.

The US price is $119.99, with a November 2, 2026 release scheduled. Fairphone offers warranty coverage of up to three years, but a battery wearing out isn’t automatically a warranty claim. Fortunately, replacing it yourself doesn’t void coverage when done correctly. That leaves owners with two different ways to keep listening: support for manufacturing faults, and accessible spare parts for things that wear out.

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Weather100’s E-Paper Displays Give Daily Weather a Century of Context

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Weather forecasts can tell you how warm tomorrow will be, but a temperature alone doesn’t explain how unusual that warmth is for your neighborhood. Weather100 puts that missing context on a dedicated e-paper display, ranking local conditions against what the company describes as 100 years of weather history. This rather unusual range brings a little historical perspective to an ordinary daily check.

The layout is deliberately sparse, with a weather metric above a circled ranking and a short explanation underneath. Location coordinates and a date sit along the top, making clear where and when the comparison applies. Instead of filling the screen with competing graphs, Weather100 gives one number room to stand out, then explains why that number deserves a place beside your morning coffee.

Designer: Fergus Keatinge

Of course, the ranking needs a little interpretation. According to Weather100, 1/100 for today’s maximum temperature means the hottest matching date in its century-long comparison, not the hottest day ever. Rainfall works toward the wettest end at low numbers and the driest at high ones. A middling result might be less exciting, but that’s rather the point when you’re judging whether conditions are ordinary.

The 10.2-inch Weather100 Pro gives that information a white metal frame, machined rather than molded in plastic. At $179.99, it comes with a desktop stand and supports wall or magnetic mounting. Its rectangular proportions are closer to a picture frame than a smart speaker, letting the weather occupy a shelf or refrigerator door without adding another glowing dashboard to the room.

The smaller 4.2-inch Mini costs $79.99 and brings the same idea to tighter spaces, with colored enclosures offering something less formal than the Pro’s white border. E-paper suits the task because it reflects room light rather than relying on a backlight. A rechargeable battery also lets you place the display away from an outlet, rather than having another cord trailing across your kitchen counter.

Once connected to Wi-Fi, the display fetches fresh rankings each morning between 7 and 8 a.m. local time. The optional iOS and Android app lets you change locations and explore elsewhere, but isn’t required for setup. Physical controls can hide the explanatory text or rotate the screen, so you can choose a cleaner view without making every adjustment through your phone.

That daily rhythm makes more sense for noticing an unusually dry month than watching a storm approach. Forecast rankings still depend on forecasts, and the public documentation doesn’t identify the underlying historical datasets or explain gaps in local records. Treating the comparison as context is sensible; treating it as an official warning isn’t. The company’s own policies explicitly rule out that role.

There’s an ongoing cost behind that quiet screen, too. Weather100 includes the first year of data service, then charges $12 annually to keep the rankings updating. Without renewal, both the device and app show a renewal message instead of fresh comparisons. The display may resemble a framed page, but keeping that page relevant depends on maintaining a connection to the company’s paid service.

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This MacBook Concept Brings Workshop Styling to a Familiar Laptop

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Laptop shopping can get rather repetitive when even very different machines wear similarly restrained metal shells. MacBook Brutal explores an alternative, keeping the familiar clamshell layout while replacing soft transitions with squared edges and conspicuous industrial details. Inspired by brutalism and industrial design language, it gives the familiar laptop a more assertive character without pretending to introduce new technology.

Closed, the body reads as two rectangular slabs, with straight sides and corners that make little effort to disappear. A recessed opening at the front interrupts that rigid outline, giving the lid a place to be lifted. The effect is architectural without becoming a bulky prop, closer to a cut panel than the softened shell you might expect to pick up.

Designer: Braz de Pina

Opening it reveals a keyboard that treats its lettering as part of the decoration. Labels such as SPACE and RETURN are written out prominently, while COMMAND breaks across two lines. The large rectangular trackpad below keeps the working layout familiar. You could recognize where to start typing without understanding the aesthetic reference, although those unusually arranged legends might take some getting used to.

Of course, the detail you’re likely to notice first is the circular red control above the keyboard’s right corner. Against all those rectangles, it looks almost borrowed from a piece of workshop equipment. Its placement and color easily suggest that it’s the power button, perhaps coupled with Touch ID. As a visual choice, though, it gives the otherwise orderly layout a very obvious focal point.

Long banks of parallel slots for the speakers flank the keys, extending that equipment-like character across the deck. More openings run along the sides, where contrasting port interiors make the connections conspicuous. Together, they suggest a machine that isn’t embarrassed about its mechanical side. They also keep the broad deck from feeling completely blank, giving the hardware itself a decorative role without covering every surface in graphics.

The color choices make that approach more playful than the name might suggest. White puts the iconic rainbow Apple emblem on its back, while a dark gray version contrasts its body with white keys. Orange takes the whole idea somewhere much louder, using black keys and a dark trackpad. It’s the sort of computer you wouldn’t confuse with somebody else’s in a shared studio.

The project cites Dieter Rams as an influence, which makes the mixture of restraint and assertiveness worth considering. There aren’t elaborate curves or layers of ornamental trim, but the shapes left behind demand attention. Minimalism here doesn’t mean trying to become invisible. It means limiting the ingredients, then letting a sharp outline or a single red circle do a disproportionate amount of work.

Looking industrial doesn’t automatically make a laptop tougher, of course, nor does it guarantee ergonomics. The angular edges, for example, raise questions about comfort when resting your wrists or carrying it around. MacBook Brutal is more convincing as an exploration of character than engineering. Taking it into a meeting would make an impression; typing through that meeting would need testing.

The post This MacBook Concept Brings Workshop Styling to a Familiar Laptop first appeared on Yanko Design.