Tag Archives: Computers

Gaming Box gives a whole new interpretation to portable gaming

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Inspired by the Nintendo Switch’s success, there has been a rise in devices with somewhat similar designs running different gaming platforms. There’s Valve’s Steam Deck for PCs, of course, but there are also gaming handhelds running Android instead. Even computer accessory maker Logitech is getting its game on with a cloud-centric collaboration with gaming giant Tencent. Despite varying designs and sizes, the basic format of these portable gaming devices is the same. There’s a large screen in the middle flanked by the two halves of a typical gaming controller. That, however, isn’t the only way to design a portable gaming device, and this concept design tries to think outside the box to put gaming back inside the box in a slightly different way.

Designer: Eli Lan

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There’s definitely a good reason why these portable gaming devices are designed this way. Gamepad controls are easier to use without the support of a desk or any surface, unlike keyboards and mice, and they offer better haptics and tactile feedback compared to just a touch screen. That’s not to say it’s the perfect design or that there are no other possible forms a portable gaming computer can take.

At its simplest, the Gaming Box design concept is pretty much a mini PC with a screen on top. Mini computers, which include the likes of the Apple Mac Mini, have become more ubiquitous these past years. They come in a variety of designs, and some are portable, not just in form but also in operation. The one thing they all have in common is that they need to be connected to a monitor, at the very least, to actually be usable.

This gaming twist on that design puts an end to that problem and puts a screen on the top, or rather the front, of the box. Unlike typical mini PCs that lie on their larger face, the Gaming Box is designed to stand on one of its thinner edges. It’s a more precarious position, admittedly, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to view the screen anyway.

There are also other and probably bigger issues with this design. The display seems large enough, at least when compared to other objects around it, but its square aspect ratio doesn’t really conform to any of the conventions used in gaming and even in videos. There are no controls to speak of, either, so it’s presumed to be using a touch screen. You can attach or connect controllers, of course, but that won’t make it convenient for playing on the go, which isn’t its primary use case anyway.

In truth, the Gaming Box is probably better as a Media Box, allowing owners to enjoy videos or maybe even social media anywhere inside the house. It is more like a home console or gaming PC that you can move around inside the same space rather than something you’d use outside, so it complements rather than replaces designs like the Steam Deck.

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Retro 35 USB-C Charger Looks Like a 1984 Macintosh Computer

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Nostalgia: it’s a great tool to use to sell things to people. In this case, preying on the fond memories of the Macintosh Classic to sell 35W chargers. And it’s working too; I just bought a two-pack. Currently, an already-funded Indiegogo campaign, the Retro 35 GaN Charger by SHARGEEK, is a 35-watt plug capable of high-speed charging of electronic devices, including laptops, but probably not that big laser thing they use to open portals to The Upside Down in Stranger Things.

And not only does this little Mac charge your device, but it also lights up different colors to let you know just what kind of charging it’s doing, with white indicating no charging, yellow normal charging, blue fast-charging, green super-charging, and no light indicating no load for the past five minutes. Now, if only it played sound effects too.

The Indiegogo early bird special will get you this charger for $25. It’s actually not a bad price for a 35W charger, especially not for one with more personality than a boring black or white cube. Granted, it’s going to live the entirety of its life in the rat nest of other cords under my desk and probably never be seen, but I’ll still know it’s there… illuminating the darkness with its smile like an evil clown.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Acer ConceptD 500 is a sleek, minimalist yet powerful PC tower

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Acer ConceptD 500 Specs

Acer has recently introduced a slew of new products. We already looked into the Aspire Vero laptops, and now we’re ready to focus on the ConceptD 500.

This computing device comes in a tower form, ready to deliver powerful performance with its 12th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and GeForce RTX 3070 or NVIDIA RTX A4000 GPU for improved multitasking. The NVIDIA Studio RTX GPU is very much ideal for creative workflows. The PC also runs on a max of 128 GB DDR4 3200 Mhz of memory. It can accommodate up to 4TB HDD and up to 4TB of M.2 Gen 4 SSD, so you are guaranteed more—almost unlimited storage.

Designer: Acer

Acer ConceptD 500 Tower

The ConceptD 500 Desktop lets you create without limits. It’s a powerful desktop PC that can help you with intensive tasks like video editing, 3D animation, 3D modeling, and other complicated design projects that need speed and efficiency.

Design-wise, the desktop PC tower appears minimalist in white. It looks timeless and comes with amber lighting for that warm appeal. It’s considered mid-sized at 20L but delivers powerful Windows 11 performance. The elegant package makes it look fragile, but it’s not, especially with its powerful promises.

Acer ConceptD 500

The clean and minimal design makes it a more stylish and attractive choice, but its worth goes beyond the form. This tower computer comes in a sleek design but is packed with specs and features that can handle hard-core computing, especially tasks that need a lot of resources and storage. It’s also quiet and remains silent at all times, thanks to the front air intake design that allows optimized cooling. As a result, noise levels are mainly kept at only 40 dbA and below.

Acer ConceptD 500 Features

Acer ConceptD 500 DetailsCompared to the previous model, this one is smaller and only has a wooden accent around the top edges. The old model arrived with a wooden panel, so this one looks different and is more distinguishable. The front IO ports are also easily accessible, while the warm amber indicator light adds to its modern appeal.

Acer ConceptD 500 Design

Since this computer is for major computing tasks, it comes with numerous ports that let you connect to other gadgets or storage devices. There is also an integrated SD card reader and a USB Type-C port that can handle 10 Gbps of data transfer. In addition, its LAN connection can reach up to 2.5Gbps high-speed. All these and more mean file and data sharing is easier and more seamless. The full-sized features and compact design combined make the Acer ConceptD 500 a real winner.

Acer ConceptD 500 Price

Acer ConceptD 500 Availability

The post Acer ConceptD 500 is a sleek, minimalist yet powerful PC tower first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sci-Fi Inspired Computer Terminal With Round Monitor Is Space Ready

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The Mainboard Terminal is the brainchild of computer modder Penk Chen, who drew inspiration from old sci-movies, which imagined a future a lot cooler than it actually is. The all-in-one computer uses a Framework Mainboard (which, unlike a Rasberry Pi, is capable of running x86 operating systems) running a version of Ubuntu 22.04 LT that’s been slightly modified to account for the round display. Commander, an enemy ship just appeared on our radar! God, I love playing space rangers.

The Mainboard, which replaces a traditional motherboard and most other hardware (it’s basically an Intel-powered, single-board computer), sits inside a custom 3D-printed case, which also houses a OLKB Preonic mechanical keyboard, perfect for complementing the computer’s retrofuturistic style. I love retrofuturistic style. Maybe that’s why I spend so much time playing Fallout. Plus, you know, it’s a great escape from real life.

Now Penk just needs to make it run off an onboard battery instead of AC power so it’s portable, and I’ve got myself a new mobile workstation! Are people going to stare at me on the subway? Of course, but is it the computer they’re staring at or my space suit? Who knows!

[via TechEBlog]

Pockit is a tiny modular computer that’s not only cute but also useful

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The dream of a modular computer you can keep in your pocket has been around for quite some time now. The idea of simply swapping out components for features you need at a moment’s notice is the stuff of science fiction, and a few tech fans and companies, including Motorola and LG, tried their hand at bringing modular phones to life. None stayed around long enough to actually be commercial successes, but that never stopped tinkerers from making their dreams come true. A lot of DIY projects have surfaced looking like weird Frankenstein experiments, but this working prototype is not only usable but also a bit pleasing to look at.

Designer: Anil Reddy

Unlike other attempts at a modular pocket computer, Pockit’s white exterior hides most of the ugly circuits you’d associated with DIY projects. Instead of daunting pins and cables, the system makes use of magnets and POGO connectors, those golden circles you’d find in many mobile accessories these days, to make connecting and removing modules as painless as possible. You simply have to lift them up or place them near the connection points, and they’ll easily snap into place.

The point of a modular computer is that you can add functionality at a moment’s notice without having to replace the computer itself. That depends on the number and features of the modules available, and Pockit has quite a large collection, ranging from sensors to LED lights to screens and keypads.

With such an easy-to-use modular system, there is almost no limit to what a single Pockit computer can do. You can use it to control smart home appliances, create entertaining light shows, or set up an ad hoc security camera. While there are products designed for specific purposes, the advantage of Pockit is that you can use the came base for another purpose when your needs change.

Since it’s running on an RPi, you have a true computer available in the palm of your hands. If you’re fine with a small screen and thumb-typing like in the old BlackBerry days, it could serve you as a mobile computer. You can, of course, also hook it up to a larger screen and use it as a desktop.

Pockit’s magnet-based modular system does mean that it might not survive your pocket, despite its name. The chassis for the base and modules are 3D printed, so there is also a potential for using more sustainable materials other than typical plastic. There is no word yet on whether its designer will turn Pockit into a commercial product or release schematics as open source, but its very existence proves the possibilities of a modular pocket computer that is easy to use and looks quite charming as well.

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Teenage Engineering’s Computer-1 Mini-ITX Chassis shows off how a PC can look awesome

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Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Release

Don’t be fooled by the name of the team behind this gorgeous computer case. The Computer-1 is no youngster when it comes to power. The choice of color alone is bold which tells us Teenage Engineering is one brave company.

The new Computer-1 case is simply a computer chassis that offers a small footprint. It’s compact and portable so you can easily transport your machine and move it to different locations. It’s just a PC case which means you need to build your desktop computer from scratch. This is not for people who don’t care much for their computers. The Computer-1 is aimed at those who like customized PCs and not the generic ones available in most stores.

Designer: Teenage Engineering

Teenage Engineering Computer–1

Before the final design is reached, the design team had gone through several changes. They started by using a laser cutter to cut through a high-density board and spray-painted the case. The handles could not support the weight so they tried to use aluminum for the case and chrome for the handles. The result was a sturdier but lighter design at only 6.69 x 7.48 x 12.67-inches (dimension).

You only need a very small GPU so it could fit. It’s unclear though why the GPU’s location is not at the bottom which is the usual position. One problem we see is airflow but we’re assuming there is a workaround.

Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Chassis

This Computer-1 is built around the SFX power supply format and a mini-ITX motherboard. It can fit a dual-slot graphics card (170mm max) and other parts that are important to almost every kind of computer user whether a game, designer, engineer, or programmer. The system features a flat pack design and is only 1mm aluminum thin.

Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Colors

This PC case requires some tools to assemble. They will come in a special kit when you buy a Computer-1 case. Its $195 price tag makes us think it is a worthy investment especially if you’re planning to build a mega computer machine but we believe there are less inexpensive options.

Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Launch

Many will probably say this reminds them of the Mac Pro. It looks a bit like it with the handles and the holes that act as air vents but you can make the Computer-1 more powerful as you like with the custom hardware and components. You don’t need to be an expert as the computer case can be assembled easily like most products from Ikea.

So this is another DIY system? It’s better to call it build-your-own. You’re not just building the computer case. You’re also building the computer itself with the components and all. We can imagine now the power your computer system housed in Computer-1  can be.

Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Features

Teenage Engineering Computer–1 Specs

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This DIY pocket computer will make you feel like a cyberpunk hacker once you’re done

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If you’ve dreamed of making your own computer that looked straight out of a movie set, all the planets and stars have aligned to make it happen.

Although things called single-board computers have existed before it, the Raspberry Pi can be credited for giving birth to a new generation of creators, makers, and hackers that democratized processes that were once available only to big companies. Every day, the world is greeted with half a dozen or so “hacks” that try to solve a problem or even solve a problem no one thought was even a problem, using only off-the-shelf materials assembled together in garages or basements. Not all of them turn out to be useful or even attractive, but some do pique our interests, like this DIY pocket computer that actually works like a regular computer.

Designer: Penk Chen

Called the Penkesu Computer after its creator, the ultra-compact device that resembles a bulky communicator from the good old Nokia days has a distinctive charm despite its unpolished looks. While you probably wouldn’t use it for serious work, the wide but short laptop has the makings of a cyberpunk prop, specifically a cyberdeck that’s often used by characters to access the net or other computers. If you’re into that genre and style, the Penkesu Computer will definitely tickle your fancy, and it will undoubtedly turn heads if you use it in some cafe.

It’s not for sale, though, but makers and hackers will probably love even more the fact that you can make one yourself. Penk Chen has generously provided the exact list of materials and components to buy, as well as the pattern for 3D printing the enclosure. Almost anyone can freely follow in his footsteps, though you’d at least need to have access to a 3D printer.

There might be a bit of soldering involved, though a lot of the parts also just need to be plugged into each other. It isn’t a trivial project for beginners, but there are also variants of this kind of DIY project that are more involved and more complicated. It’s an endeavor that will definitely generate a euphoric feeling of satisfaction when completed, earning you your “hacker” badge.

The best part? This isn’t just a prop or toy device. The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W inside can actually run a full Linux-based operating system. You won’t be flying with it, of course, but it can still let you get stuff done, complete with a hacker feeling.

The post This DIY pocket computer will make you feel like a cyberpunk hacker once you’re done first appeared on Yanko Design.

A compact PC chassis design built to keep your computer cool without taking up too much space

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Fractal Design launched two new compact PC chassis designs to keep your PC cool without taking up too much space.

The premium PC hardware builders with Fractal Design know computers. Known for its long-lasting collection of cases, cooling, power supplies, and accessories, Fractal Design is a PC hardware company based in Gothenburg, Sweden. When Fractal Design first came out with the Define R2 cooling case, it was a game-changer.

Since then, Fractal Design has been releasing PC chassis designs that feature high-density sound dampening material, integrated fans for airflow, as well as water-cooling capabilities. Today, they’ve released two new PC chassis designs, the Torrent Nano and the Torrent Compact.

The Torrent Nano “is built to maximize cooling potential straight out of the box,” as the Fractal designers put it. While the Torrent Nano is compact by design, it comes equipped with a Fractal Design 180 x 38 mm fan that leverages the power, size, and thickness of massive air-moving capacity.

Built to save space, the Torrent Nano is still capable of handling up to 3-slot thick 335 mm long GPUs. Fractal Design also integrated a removable top bezel and routing clips with cable ties to ensure seamless installation and easy cable management.

The Torrent Compact differs from the Torrent Nano in that it hosts two 180 x 38 mm Dynamic PWM fans and an open-front grille design. To maximize airflow and performance potential, the interior of the Torrent Compact is left open and the top is mounted with PSU to provide plenty of breathing room. This PC chassis design also features an expansive base that allows for added fan support, which in turn provides exceptional GPU cooling potential when the bottom PCI slot is free.

Designer: Fractal Design

The post A compact PC chassis design built to keep your computer cool without taking up too much space first appeared on Yanko Design.

HP’s leather-covered business laptop uses a Snapdragon CPU

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It’s been more than two years since HP announced that it made a laptop out of leather, and based on our review the Spectre Folio was more than just a gimmick. It was the company’s take on the Always Connected PC category of thin and light laptops and...

The Lavie Mini is a modern netbook that doubles as a game console

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With tablets and full-size laptops as pervasive as they are, it can be easy to forget that — for a few years there, at least — netbooks were all the rage. And why wouldn’t they be? What they lacked in pure power, they made up for with portability and...