Lenovo’s new ThinkBook laptop comes with MagSafe-style snap-on modular accessories

Do you remember the Moto Mods? Sure, they date back to 2016, so I won’t fault you for forgetting about them, but the company announced a series of modular accessories like a battery pack, speakers, and a Hasselblad camera that could basically snap onto the back of the Moto Z phone. Magnets would hold the accessories in place, and connector pins would allow the accessories to interface with the phone. While the logistics of that idea never really worked out (Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem is limited to charging too), the idea seemed rather impressive, and Lenovo (who owned Motorola back in the day) is implementing it with their latest ThinkBook 16p.

Designer: Lenovo

The ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 is a commendable 16-inch laptop with the latest 13th gen Intel Core H-series processors and optional discrete graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX. The laptop sports a 165hz 3.2K 16-inch panel with Dolby Vision® support, and has DDR5 memory and dual-SSD storage providing up to 1TB of storage space. It’s an impressive laptop, no less… but there’s one detail that really adds the cherry on this clamshell cake. The outward-facing notch on the top of the display, with various connector pins. This notch acts as the docking spot for Lenovo’s new line of Magic Bay accessories, which completely transform the laptop by adding modular features to it.

The most notable of Lenovo’s Magic Bay accessories is the 4K webcam that simply snaps onto the top of your laptop, giving you a bigger, better camera that’s designed for content creators and streamers. The ThinkBook 16p already has an FHD IR (or optional RGB) webcam built in, but snapping a 4K camera absolutely transforms your setup while eliminating any tabletop clutter like tripods, wires, etc. The webcam sits on a 270° adjustable hinge, allowing you to change its angle to face you, upwards, downwards (at your keyboard), or even in the opposite direction (if you’re producing while shooting another subject). An electronic privacy shutter lets you turn the camera off when not in use, or you can just pull it off the laptop when you don’t need it.

Lenovo Magic Bay 4K Webcam

Close-up of the 270° swivel hinge

Although created as a separate accessory (instead of being bundled with the 4K camera, the Magic Bay Light is an independent module that snaps to the ThinkBook 16p, giving your laptop’s own webcam an additional light source. “Poor lighting is often the cause of user frustration, either too dark or too light, and ambient light frequently creates unwanted or unflattering shadows. Lenovo Magic Bay Light can deliver up to 200-lux of adjustable brightness with minimal power consumption”, says the company.

The final Magic Bay accessory may just be the dark horse. Dubbed the Magic Bay LTE, this module gives your laptop mobile connectivity in remote locations where the internet is unreliable and cafes with sketchy WiFi hotspots. The Magic Bay LTE offers 4G LTE speeds thanks to the SIM card slot in it that lets you easily access mobile networks no matter where you are. An LED indicator on the top lets you know your connection status, and the gadget also comes with a USB-C port that lets you hook it to other devices that don’t have the same docking system as the ThinkBook 16p.

The Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 will start at $1349 and is expected to be available starting May 2023. Magic Bay accessories will be available exclusively with the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4.

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This delicately designed ceiling light looks like it’s floating in mid-air

Sandwiched between two metal structures that measure a whopping 10 feet when combined, the Aria is a lighting solution that puts emphasis on the term ‘light’. It looks almost like it’s floating in mid-air, with the three light spheres suspended between the metal structures almost like they’re frozen in time. There’s immense visual tension in the light because you expect the glowing orbs to roll around on their metal rails… but that visual tension is left unresolved, and that’s what makes Aria so interesting!

Designer: Gabriela Saadia

A winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award, Aria combines lighting with the delicate beauty of visual imbalance. The lighting solution, designed to look minimal yet expressive, comes with three glowing orbs held in place by two curved metal structures. The orbs stay suspended in the middle, balancing out the structure both visually and by weight, and the lack of any perceivable electrical wires leading directly to the lights really make it fascinating to people who observe it!

“Aria is made of a 1-inch rolled steel tube that is powder-coated in copper and three white acrylic sphere diffusers. Its construction magic is imperceptible to the naked eye — everything happens inside the acrylic spheres”, designer Gabriela Saadia told Yanko Design. The same structure that holds the lamp together also holds the light source, which consists of three LED lightbulbs. The entire structure remains suspended by two metal cables, and can be adjusted to any size or even easily disassembled for transportation.

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Light is a minimalist watch concept that has a bit of 80s TRON charm

Watches were originally invented to be able to tell the time whenever and wherever we are, but they have evolved to become fashion pieces and lifestyle choices over the decades. Even without considering smartwatches that can have a multitude of different faces, watches now come in a variety of designs that do more than just tell the time. In fact, there are some designs that make it harder to tell the time at a glance but are so eye-catching, attractive, or intriguing that it’s difficult to give them a pass. This minimalist watch concept design does make it a chore to guess even the hour beyond 3, 6, 9, and 12, but its play on the contrast between dark and light gives it a particular visual character that some sci-fi and pop culture fans might associate with TRON’s iconic design.

Designer: Daniel Wu

The actual inspiration for this minimalist design is the Church of Light by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Although the design has deep spiritual undertones, the contrast of light and darkness, as well as solid and space, give it an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Light shining through thin lines against a solid or dark background, however, is also a hallmark of the sci-fi franchise TRON, where glowing lines visualize how the lines on a circuit board could light up if the electricity that passes through them were visible.

To be fair, the Light watch isn’t even trying to aim for a sci-fi motif, and the rest of the timepiece implies a more classical bent. The straps are meant to be made of leather, with what seem to be metal clasps and buckles to join them together. The main body’s material is a bit harder to guess, but it would be shocking if it wasn’t metal that was painted or coated with something that would make it look like concrete to go in line with the Church of Light origin.

The face of the watch continues that concrete-like material appearance and is composed of two concentric circles that have thin gaps that let what seems to be a backlight shine through to create the desired visual effect. It’s probably going to be a drain on the battery, but that’s why this is simply a concept design. Actually, this watch would be a beautiful but impractical concept, and not just because of that battery consumption.

It’s easy enough to tell which is the hour hand and which is the minute hand by their proximity to the edge of the watch, but telling the exact time from their positions would be a bit of a challenge. There are grooves on the watch’s bezel pointing to the four cardinal directions, making it a bit easier to tell if the hands have hit those four hours. Anything in between, however, would be a guessing game instead, which actually defeats the purpose of having a watch on your wrist, no matter how beautiful it is.

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This ‘50s microphone-inspired portable lighting speaker is fabulous interplay of light and sound

There have been many stylish lamp and Bluetooth speaker combos designed with fashion and function on top of the mind. These options have either been spherical or bulky. To offer a device – inspired by the shape of a 1950’s microphone – designer Alessandro Pennese has come up with Mik – Lighting Speaker, which interplays with light and sound: elements that enliven the environment!

Mik is modeled after the microphones from the ‘50s but it changes the function. The Lighting Speaker is a light source in one half and a smart Bluetooth speaker in the other with a handle that offers it that microphone appearance. Capable of being used as a pendant lamp, travel lamp or table lamp – the speaker lamp supports voice control and manages impactful audio (however, the exact sound output possible is not specified). A smart candlelight speaker for modern dwellers, the Mik’s sleek profile renders it lightweight for effortless transition between hanging light and portable speaker for campsites.

Designer: Alessandro Pennese

A solution offering versatility in use, while saving space, the Mik – Lighting Speaker comes in two parts. Tapered in the middle, the upper part comprises a smart speaker and the lower section is an LED lamp that has a nice, mood-enhancing ambiance. The speaker shell is made from polypropylene, the lighting diffuser has a translucent polycarbonate casing and the lantern-style handle is made from steel. All the mentioned materials are made using injection molding for uniformity in the finish.

For precise control when in portable mode, the Mik features dedicated buttons for power, Bluetooth, and light intensity adjustment on the top of the speaker section. The two parts of the Lighting Speaker are assembled by mechanical interlocks. This allows the light and speaker to be connected or disconnected by simple rotation, making the device easier to service and repair. The music playing light source is certainly a concept begging to see the light of day.

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Kartell TEA lamp weaves recycled plastics into an interesting play of light and shadow

Kartell Tea Table Lamp Prototype

Kartell is well-known for numerous things, including premium-quality plastic products and the innovative designs of furniture. The brand can bring an ubiquitous material like plastic to next-level sophistication and novelty. The Italian design brand has been around for more than seven decades, and it remains legendary in industrial design and production, venturing into soft furniture, couches, furnishing accessories, lighting, fashion, and even eyewear. It continues to explore the untapped potential in the furniture business because Kartell is all about pursuing beauty and absolute quality. The brand has had several successful partnerships with creative designers, most of which have already become iconic– like those with Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, Piero Lissoni, and Ferruccio Laviani.

Designer: Ferruccio Laviani

Kartell Tea Table Lamp

Ferruccio Laviani has been with Kartell since 1991 as the company’s artistic director, leading with passion and capable creativity. He has directed Kartell’s lighting division since its return in 2002 and has helped propel the business’ phenomenal growth. Kartell lights have been illuminating homes and establishments for twenty years, and we don’t think that will change anytime soon.

Lamps and lights are indispensable in our everyday lives as they don’t just offer ample illumination, but they also evoke different feelings, emotions, and reactions. Kartell has worked on new lamps and other products being showcased at Salone del Mobile 2022 this week. Laviani’s works usually turn out to be art masterpieces, and the TEA Lamp is no different.

Kartell Tea Table Lamp Salone del Mobile 2022

Kartell Tea Table Lamp Features

What is meant to be a functional table-top object for illumination is suddenly transformed into an awe-inspiring sculpture. The Kartell TEA Lamp is still a conventional lamp but it also delivers pleasure to anyone who will use it. Ferruccio Laviani’s new lamp design can be a table ‘companion’ in many ways especially if you’re alone and have no one to talk to.

The abstract shape of the lamp presents to us what appears to be hands holding a light in their palms. When illuminated in a dark room, shadows are projected but seem to be irregularly shaped and beamed. The lamp cover is innovative yet natural-looking with the woven pattern. The design is actually like a torn piece of a native woven mat given a natural finish and ended with a porous texture, glued together to cover whatever is peeking. Others may say the appearance is wafer-like with the pattern—specifically, stroopwafels, a famous Dutch waffle cookie treat.

Kartell Tea Table Lamp Details

Kartell Tea Table Lamp Design

Kartell loves the planet, and that love is evident in the TEA Lamp’s design and production as the lamp is made from recycled thermoplastic technopolymer and is available in different colors: Black, White, Brown, and Bronze. This product is another perfect example of “design meets functionality meets sustainability”. Kartell still has so much to do in the area of sustainability and planet-friendliness, but the TEA already lives up to the demands. It is now environmentally responsible and is exercising good sustainability practices, but the good work has just started.

Kartell Tea Lamp Production

Kartell Tea Lamp Features

The Kartell TEA Lamp is a result of creative design and radical innovation after all those years of coming up with iconic products that can now be considered timeless. Kartell’s many efforts have identified what innovative materials can be regenerated and used but not negatively impact the planet. It will only continue to work with designers that give importance to the environment, and as long as Ferruccio Laviani is with Kartell, expect more products created using cutting-edge technologies and designed with sustainability in mind.

Kartell Tea Lamp Details

Kartell Tea Lamp Design

Kartell Tea Lamp Concept

Kartell Tea Lamp Salone de Mobile 2022

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Artemide Integralis light platform allows a safer, well-illuminated, and sanitized area

Artemide Integralis

Light design must be effective if we want it to make a lasting impact, however, achieving such an ultimate effect can be a great challenge. With all the choices and technologies available, lighting can be difficult to build as part of interior design. Interestingly, like most categories in the design world, lighting can be enhanced to reach a point where lights not only provide an excellent play with our perceptions but also where they can help a person’s circadian rhythm and health.

We can go beyond the aesthetics of lighting and just focus on science, and that is where Artemide comes in with the Artemide Integralis. Over at the Salone del Mobile 2022 event in Milan, the Integralis is currently being showcased as a universal light so people can stay safe together. It seems the theme of staying safe and sanitized is still not used up. The pandemic isn’t over, so people are still encouraged to keep safe, clean, and sound.

Designer: Artemide

Artemide Integralis

Artemide Integralis Tagora Ceiling 570

The Artemide Integralis universal light brings together luminous performance and sanitizing efficacy. Furthermore, the beautiful design allows itself to be integrated into environments and situations where needs are interpreted differently. The people behind Integralis based their work on a social and humanistic vision and the company’s scientific and technological research. As a result, the technology is more of a light platform that is sustainable and innovative that helps in ensuring responsible use of the environment.

Artemide Integralis 1

The idea of the Integralis is that it can act against any pathogenic microorganisms by simply illuminating them. The Artemide Integralis offers selected frequencies of visible light that can inhibit the growth and development of bacteria, mold, or fungi. The act is straightforward and is expected to work the way most disinfecting UV lights work.

Artemide Integralis 3

Artemide Integralis Tolomeo Table Pure Integralis

Such frequencies can also act on viruses, so the effect is a clean surface and environment all the time. But unlike the standard UV lights available, the Integralis is safer for humans and materials within a space. So this lighting solution definitely can help people to live a safer life with more protected health in the days to come.

Artemide Integralis Discovery Vertical

What makes this more compelling is that this technology works on the concept of “dose,” adapting the antimicrobial action’s intensity depending on the absence and presence of people in the surrounding. This also works on the idea of “time” as the light is activated or deactivated by the presence of sensors. Integralis’ intensity is more significant when there are no people, so this means sanitization and safety are guaranteed. During the day, it can still do its job but with a minimum antimicrobial dose only. The maximum antimicrobial dose is activated at night or during people’s absence.

Artemide Integralis

Artemide Integralis

Quality light plus antimicrobial properties seem like a dream. And good news, several light models are available now for the general consumers, with each one offering different looks. In addition, Artemide has integrated the Integralis into some of its current collections already available. These are some of the Integralis models worth checking out: the NUR, DISCOVERY, Tolomeo Table Lamp, and the Tagora Ceiling 570.

Artemide Integralis

The concept is to help improve human safety and environmental quality in different application contexts; thus, the technology is integrated into the current lighting solutions from the brand. In addition, this Artemide Integralis can be managed via the Artemide app as a digital interaction system accessible by everyone. The technology is still patent-pending, but we can expect it to be approved soon.

Artemide Integralis

Artemide Integralis

Artemide Integralis Nur Lights

Artemide Integralis Nur Collection

Artemide Integralis Nur

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Sun-mimicking lamp looks like a classy tabletop accessory that lets you grow any plant indoors

Drawing the fine line between a functional piece of plant-growing hardware and an elegant tabletop lighting accessory, the Plant Light Nº1 turns your interior space into an ideal set of conditions for growing plants. The light comes with a neo-industrial design aesthetic, and sports a surface to rest your planter on. Above it sits a height-adjustable lamp that comes equipped with full-spectrum LEDs that mimic the light quality (color), light intensity (brightness), and photoperiod (duration) of the sun, allowing any plant to grow indoors.

Designer: ample

Click here to Buy Now: $207 $295 (30% off). Hurry, only 3/100 left!

The PL1 lamps are designed to have a minimal-yet-industrial appeal that reminds one of chemistry-lab equipment. They’re utilitarian, yet classy, and come with aluminum + steel bodies that are designed to be lightweight yet sturdy, and still dissipate any heat coming from the LEDs. The lamp unit itself sits on a telescopic handle that can be slid up and down to adjust its height (depending really on how tall your plant is) and comes with a matrix of full-spectrum 90+ CRI LEDs that mimic the sun in a way that sets the PL1 apart.

The PL1 lamp’s secret sauce is its ability to match the color, brightness, and duration of the sun’s light, hitting the sweet spot for all plant types. The PL1 comes with three different lighting modes that cater to the 3 different phases of a growing plant – germination, vegetation, and production, and a built-in timer allows the PL1 to intuitively switch on or off, providing the right duration of light for your plants. It does so intuitively, without any smartphone apps or IoT features, making the PL1 an uncomplicated, well-designd lighting fixture for practically anyone.

The Plant Light Nº1 was designed by Charles Skender of Melbourne-based creative outfit ample. An avid plant lover and supporter of the idea that plants do wonders for mental wellbeing, Charles found it difficult to grow plant in his tiny indoor flat with limited access to sunny areas. Not all flats have equal access to a balcony or even sunny areas, and this has its own cascading effects on our mood and focus.

Skender designed the PL1 to help even people living in small, crowded flats to grow their own plants and create mood-lifting indoor gardens. The PL1 is a wired lamp (there’s no internal battery), and stands at 52 centimeters or 1.7 feet tall. The lamp’s spherical platform allows you to fit planters up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) wide, and vertically mounted light has a height adjustability factor of 20cm or nearly 8 inches. Skender’s lamp also focuses on external aesthetics, with a slender yet impactful visual language that gives it the status of a minimalist lighting device designed for all contemporary home decors. The PL1 comes in black or white, and for now, ships just to the United States and Australia, starting December 2022.

Click here to Buy Now: $207 $295 (30% off). Hurry, only 3/100 left!

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Real Cracked Log Lamps: For That Campfire Feeling Indoors

There’s nothing quite like telling stories around a campfire. But what if you’re inside? And what if you don’t have a fireplace like me? Enter Tasmanian artist Duncan Meerding’s beautifully crafted Cracked Log Lamps, salvaged pieces of wood that he’s outfitted with a lightbulb socket inside so they glow warmly through the cracks. Quick, you turn the log on, I’ll run out and get the ingredients to make s’mores!

Duncan is legally blind with only 5% of his sight remaining, so he works in the medium of light and shadow because they’re still elements he can perceive and harness with his limited visibility. Work with what you’ve got – my dad always used to tell me that, but I never knew what it meant until now. A much more profound message than I gave it credit for at the time.

The logs are available with a natural or charred finish and cost around $270 apiece, meaning I’ll probably try making my own for cheaper and failing miserably before deciding to buy one professionally crafted by Duncan. I only hope I don’t accidentally burn the house down during my little learning experience.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Super Mario Bros. Build-A-Light Level Is a Definite 1-Up

The original Super Mario Bros. changed the course of video games as we know it, and arguably the most influential game of all time. And what better way to celebrate that than with a Super Mario Bros light with stackable, interchangeable, light blocks? Okay, I’m sure there actually are better ways to celebrate that, but this article isn’t about those. This is about the light.

The Build-A-Light level, available from FireBox, includes a lighted base and 16 double-sided light blocks to stack as you see fit, constructing the perfect level and lighting ambiance for your gaming room. Or your bedroom. Granted my wife said there will be no Mario light in our bedroom, but she also said the same thing about food, and I keep a stash of OREOs in my bedside table.

But do you think they’ll also release a Super Mario Bros. 3 version if this one is a financial success? Because I’d buy one of those too. And a Metroid one! And The Legend of Zelda! Actually just take my wallet already, Nintendo, you win.

[via The Awesomer]

Friday the 13th Glowing Jason Mask Light is Nightmare Ready

Because nothing says ‘Sweet dreams!’ like the glowing mask of a mass murderer in your bedroom, FireBox is selling this officially licensed Friday the 13th lamp. The lamp looks like Jason Voorhees’ iconic hockey mask from Friday the 13th Part III, and will make the perfect addition to a child’s bedroom after making them watch the movie for the first time.

The mask lamp can be powered via USB or two AAA batteries so it can be displayed (base included) or hung anywhere, and its energy-efficient LED lights ensure you’ll get the most out of its battery life. Your actual life? I mean, you did just invite a masked murderer into your bedroom.

Am I going to get up early one morning and put this mask in my place on the pillow, waiting for my wife to wake up and see it? Maybe! I guess it really depends on just how badly I want to be killed.