This iPhone case gives your smartphone the Apple Mac Pro ‘cheesegrater’ texture

“Never knock an idea until you actually try it.”

My opinion on the 2019 Mac Pro has aged pretty well, I’d say. Sure, my reaction (which came just moments after the design was released) may have been premature, and so were the memes that followed the debut of the ‘cheesegrater Mac’… but even now, 2 years down the line, it feels slightly cathartic to know that my opinion hasn’t really changed – the 2019 Mac Pro still looks visibly odd and sort of gets my skin crawling.

Recently though, the media discovered a patent for an iPhone that used the ‘cheesegrater’ texture for efficient cooling or thermal transmission, and let’s just say, people weren’t happy. Some even legitimately debunked it as an April Fool’s Prank from Apple. My thoughts on the matter weren’t any different – it sounds like a terrible idea, but I thought the best thing to do would be to really give Apple the benefit of the doubt and MAKE a cheesegrater iPhone just so I have something to visually judge it by.

Presenting, the ‘Cheesegrater’ Case for the iPhone 12 Pro. Made from a TPE bumper and a machined aluminum backplate, the case puts the familiar cheesegrater texture on the back of the iPhone to help it cool more efficiently (well at least in theory). In theory, it’s also perfectly suited to mince cloves of garlic or grate some Parmigiano Reggiano.

Now that we have a (sort of) clear vision of what the cheesegrater texture would look like on an iPhone, let’s objectively and subjectively judge this. For starters, it just looks like a really bad idea. Objectively speaking, a textured metal body would most certainly trap dirt, dust, pieces of lint, aside from also preventing the phone from wirelessly charging. The current textured metal plate is 1mm thick, and for any sort of texture, you’d need 3D depth which adds unnecessary thickness to the phone – something Apple probably won’t want to do. Subjectively speaking, the texture looks worse on the iPhone than on the Mac Pro (although it may also be my execution). Apple’s patent file states “the components of the electronic device may be designed to provide a unique and pleasing look and feel for a user”, a purpose that gets defeated when even Digital Trends calls it “Apple’s worst-ever design idea”. Moreover, at that scale, the texture could actually be used as a garlic press or a microplane for grating hard cheeses, which makes it difficult to take seriously when the texture is on a $1200 flagship smartphone. Let’s not even get into the ‘trypophobia’ angle.

My opinions aside, it seems like a weird idea for Apple to take such an extreme route for “enhanced levels of heat removal”. What exactly is the iPhone doing that it would even need desktop-grade heat removal? Is Apple going all-in on AR, or is it looking to put more powerful Apple-built silicone chips in their new iPhones? We’ll never really know. All we can say with a certain degree of confidence is that a ‘Cheesegrater’ iPhone isn’t really a great idea…

If you really want to make your own ‘Cheesegrater’ iPhone case, you can download the 3D files by clicking here.

Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth

Housefly-inspired board pins are the most quirky and creative stationery I’ve ever seen!

Don’t go grabbing your fly-swatter yet! These houseflies are a convenience, not a nuisance! Designed as a quirky novelty, the Fly Push Pins replace your boring old board pins with something unique, eye-catching, and definitely conversation-starting!

The pins are shaped and sized to look exactly like houseflies (complete with the wings), and when pushed into a board, look like you’ve got flies resting on your important notes. I guess it helps undercut the seriousness of what’s pinned up on the board, creating a fun environment… but more importantly, it evokes a reaction – something that art (or appropriately kitsch) is supposed to do. Now that reaction could be a fond smile, a look of surprise and awe, or of sheer abhorrence and disgust. Either way, you’ve got yourself some fun stationery on your hands (or on your board).

Designer: SuckUK Design Team

Click Here to Buy Now

Click Here to Buy Now

How many cameras is too many cameras for a smartphone??

Trigger Warning: Trypophobia

I’m mildly trypophobic, so yes, the idea of a smartphone dotted with camera lenses does irk me, but conceptually it’s too funny an idea to ignore. The How Many Cameras Smartphone is a parody concept by Phoenix Bai, who pokes fun at companies (Apple, we’re watching you) that just incrementally increase the number of cameras on their phones for the sake of ‘innovation’.

The smartphone directly points its guns at the L16 smartphone by Light, which had a whopping 16 camera lenses on its back. The How Many Cameras smartphone, however, sports a mind-numbing 47 lenses on the back, accompanied by four flashes on the corner. Obviously, it isn’t a concept to be taken seriously, but given the trajectory of tech, I wouldn’t be surprised if even 20% of that became a reality. (My OnePlus 8 Pro currently has 4 cameras on the back, which is 3 more than my Pixel 2 had)

What would even be the advantage of having a 47-lens smartphone though? For starters, I imagine you’d practically be able to 3D scan every photo or video you take in real-time (although your hand would feature in a lot of them). 47 bumps would even dramatically make it easier to grip the phone, preventing it from accidentally falling or slipping from your hand. The disadvantages, however, outweigh those cons by a MASSIVE margin. Imagine getting finger-smudges on those lenses? Or never being able to put a case on your smartphone because the back-panel would have to be bare? How about the fact that 47 freaking lenses would mean no place for a wireless charging coil? Or that running your camera app could drain your battery in a matter of minutes… This smartphone is clearly a parody, but it does ask a fundamentally important question. How many cameras IS too many? 4? 5? 16? At this point, I’d just prefer carrying a DSLR with me…

Designer: Phoenix Bai

Razer’s April Fool gaming-toaster prank got so much support, they’re building it for real!

Not sure what a gaming toaster is? You’re not the only one!

This is the BreadWinner. It started out as an April Fool’s Day prank for gaming-equipment behemoth Razer, but the amount of overwhelming support it got after the company launched this parody video sort of made Razer wonder if their die-hard fans would actually follow through. So yes, Razer is building this hardcore toaster-for-gamers. It comes with all the features you’d want from your toaster and some more. It sports the signature green backlight (or underlight in this case) found on post Razer products, and packs USB ports to charge your phones as you supercharge your day with some toasted bread. Moreover, the toaster even etches the Razer logo onto your bread. What more could a die-hard gaming fan possibly want? Multicolored butter? Yeah, the toaster doesn’t do that quite yet, but I’d give it a few years!

Designer: Razer

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon’s next aerial fulfillment center

While the origin of this video has something, in part, to do with April Fool’s day, there’s some truth to this concept too. Amazon has, for long, been experimenting with aerial deliveries, sending unmanned drones to fulfill package deliveries. In fact, the blimp idea isn’t completely far-fetched, either. A quick look at a patent file from 2014 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows Amazon’s intentions to ‘take to the air’.

The idea is to shift their fulfillment center to the skies, unofficially dubbed as ‘Prime Air’. The warehouse would float in the skies, occasionally deploying drones to drop off and pick up packages. It eliminates possibly every point of friction, from the need for human delivery partners, to traffic/connectivity problems.

The video above was created by Japan-based artist Zozi, and was shared a whopping 17000 times and liked by over 52000 users… and while the general response to the video has been to call it horrifyingly dystopic, who can say what Amazon has in store for us in the future??

Credits: Zozi009

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon's next aerial fulfillment center

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon's next aerial fulfillment center

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon's next aerial fulfillment center

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon's next aerial fulfillment center

This drone-deploying blimp could be Amazon's next aerial fulfillment center

Apple’s latest dongle is its most multi-functional one ever

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple may have killed the AirPower, but if anything, it’s still the most customer-friendly company out there! Take for instance this Dongle that truly empowers iPad Pro users into connecting pretty much anything to their iPad Pros. With one USB-C port at one end, and a WIDE variety of possibilities at the other, the latest dongle lets you connect everything from a LAN cable, to a pair of headphones, to memory cards, to even iPods (Hallelujah!)

“With the dongle’s multi-purpose design, there’s something for everyone”, says Jonathan Ive, to which CEO Tim Cook adds, “We believe this is truly the best iPad Pro and MacBook accessory we’ve ever built. We can’t wait to see how the dongle helps users in their day to day tasks”. The dongle even comes with a proprietary cable technology that ensures that the dongle’s multitude of wires don’t get entangled, and is available in a wide variety of colors.

Designer: Ryan Geraghty

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Apple's latest dongle is its most multi-functional one yet. Built with 16 different functions.

Disclaimer: This is an April Fool’s post. Don’t believe everything you see online today! Cheers!

Thinkgeek’s April Fools Day Tentacuddle Blanket Was Real

I’m really happy that April Fools Day was on a Sunday this year, so I didn’t have to look like a fool, falling for stuff all day long. Every year, people try to fool you with fake products. ThinkGeek’s lineup on April Fools Day is legendary. People still buzz about these items every year so much that some actually become real products. Such is the case with the Tentacuddle Blanket.


Yes, you can really buy this. It’s real and you can be as cozy as a Kraken, snuggled up in its green grip! It has five tentacles “each with an opening near the end to put your thumb, hand, or foot through”. Basically, you can get lost in this blanket.

Stay warm and look like a sea creature. Other’s will think there’s a Kraken on the couch, but nope, it’s just you being toasty and warm. I know that my cats would love to snuggle with me in this blanket. They would love crawling out of those holes, like cute little Kraken parasites.

You can grab one of the blankets right now for $59.99. Better get Kraken because they won’t be around forever.

Lexus Genetic Select Customizes Cars Based on Your DNA

Coinciding with the 2018 New York Auto Show, luxury performance automaker Lexus showed off something highly unexpected – a new offering designed to offer the ultimate in automotive customization. Partnering up with DNA analysis company 23andMe, they plan to build cars catered to your exact genetic makeup.

With Lexus Genetic Select, No longer will you need to decide on things like paint or interior colors, as those will be automatically matched to your DNA. Simply provide a small saliva sample, and in about 2 days, you’ll have a custom-fitted vehicle optimized to your genes. The system will choose from 20 models, 55 trims, 47 wheel options and over 100 color combinations based on your DNA. Even attributes like your sensitivity to the sun will be used to decide whether or not to include a sunroof, and the size of the cupholders will be based on how much coffee you drink.

The video below provides a brief overview of the Genetic Select service:

Crazy stuff, eh? Buyers can sign up for the Genetic Select service starting on April 1, 2018. Scroll down for more information.

 

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention one thing… APRIL FOOLS!

The slimmest smartphone ever built

There’s no better way to begin the new year than with some amazing tech. Right? What if I told you the NoPhone is the next big thing in smartphone design? It has no headphone jack, which is the upcoming trend. It also has no battery problems (cuz no battery). The absence of controls means you have a zero learning curve. And let’s be honest… you’ll never see a phone sleeker than this.

The NoPhone’s design is backed by incredible material choice. Crafted out of the most premium and finest military grade Air, the NoPhone is light, pocketable, and known to be waterproof, shockproof, and even scratchproof. Plus… So so sleek.

Editor’s note: Let’s welcome the new year with some good old humor. The NoPhone parody certainly makes me laugh but it also has a pretty strong underlying concept. In the rush to preserve and showcase memories, we often forget to live them. Ditch the selfie with a friend for a hug. Ditch the camera at the concert to actually enjoy the live show. Let’s live a life that’s less virtual and more authentic this year. A very happy new year to our fam from the Yanko Design team!

Designer: NoPhone Design

Buy It Here: $5.00

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