Tag Archives: Pokemon

Western Digital’s Pokémon-themed SD cards are adorable options to expand Nintendo Switch memory

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Nintendo Switch owners who love playing Pokémon on their portable device and like to keep their gaming library non-exhaustive, have the perfect match to expand the available memory. SanDisk has revealed the officially licensed Pokémon microSD cards.

This is not the first time Western Digital-owned brand has collaborated with big names in the gaming niche. Previously they’ve created Fortnite, Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Apex Legends and Yoshi-themed microSD cards. These limited edition versions do cost more than the regular SD cards with the same specification, but still, if you like to go with the theme it’s worth spending a few extra dollars.

Designer: Western Digital

The Pokémon-themed SanDisk microSD cards are specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch but you can use them for other compatible gadgets that require the mentioned read/write speeds. There are three different capacity variants, each one having 100MB/s read speed and up to 90MB/s write speed. The options for the 151 Pokémon come in neon yellow colored Pikachu with c capacity, Gengar ghost in a deep purple hue that offers 512GB and the blue-colored 1TB Snorlax card with a smile.

According to Susan Park, Vice President, Consumer Products & Strategic Partnerships, at Western Digital, “For more than 28 years, the Pokémon brand has captured and continues to capture the hearts and minds of gamers and fans globally. Together we are helping fans get the most out of their gaming experience.”

If you want to grab these cute Pokémon themed SanDisk microSD cards you’ll have to purchase them ASAP from the Western Digital website as they’ll be soon out of stock. The 1GB Snorlax memory card is priced at $130, Gengar version comes for 512GB and the 256GB Pikachu microSD card will set you back $33. For now, only the Snorlax variant is available on Amazon. Just for comparison a 1.5TB SanDisk microSD card can be bought for around $110 with a respectable discount. Also, the 1TB SanDisk variant comes for $85.

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Le Creuset is launching Pokémon-themed cookware in Japan and I’m extremely jealous

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Gotta Cook ’Em All!

An unlikely collaboration between two brands that have millennials obsessed, Le Creuset and the Pokémon company have joined forces to drop a limited-edition cookware collection featuring the iconic pocket monsters we know and love. From dutch ovens and saucepans to even kettles, plates, and cups, the Le Creuset x Pokémon collection artistically hat-tips Nintendo’s classic alternate-universe game, with Poke-ball-shaped plates, and Pikachu-themed pots. Don’t worry, no Pokémon was harmed in the making of this collection! The only thing being harmed are probably users around the globe that will probably never get to own any of this cookware given its limited-edition release only in Japan.

Designer: Le Creuset

The star of the show is likely to be the sunshine-yellow Cocotte cooking pot, featuring the instantly recognizable lightning bolt tail of Pikachu. Meanwhile, the black Marmite pot features a subtler nod to the franchise, with outlines of the original starter Pokémon – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – etched onto the lid alongside Pikachu and Snorlax.

Le Creuset isn’t stopping at pots. The collection also boasts a range of tableware, featuring colorful stacking mugs, plates, and rice bowls decorated with silhouettes of popular Pokémon characters like Pikachu, Snorlax, and the original starters. The playful touch continues with plates designed to resemble Poké Balls and Master Balls, the iconic tools used by Pokémon trainers to capture and store their companions.

The collection’s appeal extends far beyond its charming design. Le Creuset emphasizes the line’s potential to bring families together in the kitchen, with children likely to be drawn to the familiar characters. However, judging by the buzz on the Le Creuset subreddit, adults are just as eager to get their hands on these unique pieces.

With a limited release planned for select regions and a two-drop rollout across July and November, the Le Creuset x Pokémon collection is poised to become a collector’s item. It’s a clever collaboration that injects a dose of nostalgia and playful design into the kitchen, proving that even the most well-established brands can find innovative ways to engage with their audience.

The post Le Creuset is launching Pokémon-themed cookware in Japan and I’m extremely jealous first appeared on Yanko Design.

Le Creuset is launching Pokémon-themed cookware in Japan and I’m extremely jealous

Posted on by

Gotta Cook ’Em All!

An unlikely collaboration between two brands that have millennials obsessed, Le Creuset and the Pokémon company have joined forces to drop a limited-edition cookware collection featuring the iconic pocket monsters we know and love. From dutch ovens and saucepans to even kettles, plates, and cups, the Le Creuset x Pokémon collection artistically hat-tips Nintendo’s classic alternate-universe game, with Poke-ball-shaped plates, and Pikachu-themed pots. Don’t worry, no Pokémon was harmed in the making of this collection! The only thing being harmed are probably users around the globe that will probably never get to own any of this cookware given its limited-edition release only in Japan.

Designer: Le Creuset

The star of the show is likely to be the sunshine-yellow Cocotte cooking pot, featuring the instantly recognizable lightning bolt tail of Pikachu. Meanwhile, the black Marmite pot features a subtler nod to the franchise, with outlines of the original starter Pokémon – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – etched onto the lid alongside Pikachu and Snorlax.

Le Creuset isn’t stopping at pots. The collection also boasts a range of tableware, featuring colorful stacking mugs, plates, and rice bowls decorated with silhouettes of popular Pokémon characters like Pikachu, Snorlax, and the original starters. The playful touch continues with plates designed to resemble Poké Balls and Master Balls, the iconic tools used by Pokémon trainers to capture and store their companions.

The collection’s appeal extends far beyond its charming design. Le Creuset emphasizes the line’s potential to bring families together in the kitchen, with children likely to be drawn to the familiar characters. However, judging by the buzz on the Le Creuset subreddit, adults are just as eager to get their hands on these unique pieces.

With a limited release planned for select regions and a two-drop rollout across July and November, the Le Creuset x Pokémon collection is poised to become a collector’s item. It’s a clever collaboration that injects a dose of nostalgia and playful design into the kitchen, proving that even the most well-established brands can find innovative ways to engage with their audience.

The post Le Creuset is launching Pokémon-themed cookware in Japan and I’m extremely jealous first appeared on Yanko Design.

Actual working Pokédex uses ChatGPT to identify Pokémon… and you can build one too

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Let’s face it. You didn’t click on this article by accident. You’re as much of a Pokémon nerd as I am and there’s complete reason to feel excited given what I’m about to show you. A YouTuber by the name of Abe’s Projects decided to throw together a few components to make a rudimentary (but functioning) Pokédex and I CANNOT KEEP CALM!

This Pokédex works surprisingly like the original. Relying on the powers of ChatGPT to identify imagery captured through a rather basic camera setup, Abe’s Pokédex does a fairly good job of replicating the experience of the original from the hit TV series and comic book. Abe even encased his electronics in a wonderfully nostalgic red 3D-printed enclosure, making it resemble the original Pokédex to an uncanny degree… and if that wasn’t enough, he even programmed the Pokédex to speak just like the original, with a computer-ish robotic voice.

Designer: Abe’s Projects

The process, although fairly complicated, gets detailed out by Abe in the YouTube video. One of his admittedly harder builds, Abe mentions the first conundrum – planning the exterior and interior. The problem – you can’t 3D model an outer shape without knowing where your inner components are going to sit, and you can’t know where your inner components are going to sit without planning out your outer shell. Nevertheless, Abe designed a rudimentary framework featuring an outer shell, a few removable components (like the bezel for the screen and buttons), and a flap that ‘opens’ your Pokédex.

The internals feature a XIAO ESP32S3 Sense microcontroller that has its own integrated camera, connected to a black and white OLED screen (based on the Pokédex toy from the 90s), an amplifier that hooks to a speaker, a set of breaker buttons, a battery, and a USB-C port for loading all the information to run the mini-computer, as well as to charge the battery.

The way the Pokédex works is rather clever – it uses GPT4 along with the PokéAPI, relying on the latter’s massive information database. The GPT4 gives the device its AI chops, and an AI voice generator (PlayHT) helps create the signature vocal effect of the Pokédex. Together, they work in tandem to first, identify the Pokémon, second, reference the information in the database, third, display the Pokémon on the screen, and finally, play relevant audio about the Pokémon’s name, type, background, and performance. This does, however, mean that the Pokédex needs to stay connected to WiFi at all times to constantly tap into GPT4 and the PokéAPI (since nothing happens locally on-device).

The entire process wasn’t without its fair share of problems, however. The problems started with the software itself, which hung, crashed, and sometimes got overburdened with just the amount of heavy lifting it had to do. Meanwhile, the PlayHT audio generator posed its own share of issues, like an annoying ticking noise that played in the background as the AI spoke. Abe mentions all the problems he had in a dedicated section of the video, also outlining how he fixed them (hint: a lot of coding).

Once all the bugs were fixed, Abe took his Pokédex out for a spin. In all fairness, it did a pretty good job of identifying Pokémon strictly by analyzing their shape. This meant the Pokédex worked absolutely flawlessly when pointed at images, or an accurate 3D figurine or toy. It didn’t however, fare too well with plushes, which can sometimes have exaggerated proportions. That being said, it’s still impressive that the Pokédex works ‘as advertised’.

Building your own isn’t simple, Abe mentions… although he does have a paywall on his YouTube page where paid members can get access to behind-the-scenes content where Abe talks more extensively about his entire process. If you’re a coding and engineering whiz (with a penchant for Pokémon and 3D printing), hop on over to the Abe’s Projects YouTube page and maybe you’ll figure out how to build your own Pokédex too! Maybe you’ll simplify the process so simpletons like us can build them as well…

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Apple Vision Pro’s Spatial Computing needs a Killer App… and it should be a Pokemon Game

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It seems unbelievable that Pokemon GO debuted a stunning 8 years ago… but if you remember the year 2016, you’ll also remember what a massive phenomenon it was. The game singlehandedly revived the relatively flatlined mobile gaming industry, uniting millions of players around the world and actually getting them to step out of their houses. Most importantly, however, it proved to be the PERFECT embodiment of the potential mixed reality killer app. The Apple Vision Pro, which begins deliveries starting 2nd of February, currently lacks that killer app… and a strategic partnership between Apple and Nintendo (just like their partnership with Disney) could really give the Vision Pro the killer app it needs – Mixed Reality Pokemon (or ‘Spatial Computing’ if you’re one of Apple’s vocabulary purists).

This game demo, designed by Thailand-based Kumpanat Samkumlue, explores the many benefits and features of Apple’s spatial computing push. The company boasted quite a few features like realistic rendering, voice commands, and gesture inputs – all that would complement the game perfectly. Imagine seeing Pokemon battling on your coffee table, with the ability to hold and throw Pokeballs during fights, or even give vocal commands to your Pokemon mid-battle. The UI (and even the UX) lend themself PERFECTLY to the Vision Pro, which would vastly benefit from this smash success game. Heck, it would put the Vision Pro leaps and bounds ahead of Meta’s own Quest headsets, which lack their own Pokemon game too (but have other killer-app-worthy experiences like Beat Saber, Supernatural, and more recently, Assassin’s Creed).

Designer: Kumpanat Samkumlue

“Imagine turning your home into a Pokémon playground, where you can use cutting-edge technology like Apple Vision Pro or Oculus Quest 3 to embark on thrilling Pokémon adventures right on your tabletop. With this fan-made version, I bring to life the idea of playing a Pokémon game in Mixed Reality (MR), Inspiration from the popular Pokémon Sword and Shield games,” says designer Kumpanat. “Transforming Your Home into a Pokémon Playground: A Vision for Tabletop Pokémon Adventures in Mixed Reality. Catch ’em, battle ’em, and explore ’em—all in your own space with voice commands or a controller magic!”

What Pokemon GO did for mixed reality gaming on the phone, it can absolutely do for the Vision Pro too. Sure, your first instinct is to dismiss the idea that a Pokemon game could make a $3500 headset more desirable, but here’s what we aren’t thinking of. The point isn’t to sell more units of the Vision Pro headsets… the point is to give spatial computing its Killer App, which in turn helps the entire headset category. Apple’s rumored to be working on a cheaper, more consumer-friendly model of the Vision Pro too… and this game would pretty much etch its commercial success in stone.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Poke Ball cases add a fun, eco-friendly twist to wireless earbuds

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Once frowned upon as a sign of being disconnected from your surroundings, TWS or truly wireless stereo earbuds have now become the norm for smartphone users. They do bring quite a few benefits, like freedom from the tangle of cables, though they also become prone to getting lost easily. They also open up a lot of opportunities as far as design goes, particularly when it comes to brand collaborations. After all, it’s only too easy to slap colors and logos onto these earbuds’ charging cases. A bit more interesting, however, are designs that embrace less conventional shapes or materials, like these cases for Samsung’s line of Galaxy Buds that come in the form of iconic monster-catching balls from the popular Pokemon franchise.

Designer: Samsung

To be clear, these Poke Balls don’t replace the charging cases that Samsung earbuds use. In Pokemon parlance, the original earbuds case would be the Pokemon that would live inside the ball when not in active use. Instead, the charging cases go inside these balls, which solves both the problems of compatibility. In fact, these Poke Balls are compatible with the entire range of Galaxy earbuds, including the Galaxy Buds Live, Buds Pro, Buds 2, Buds 2 Pro, and the recent Buds FE.

As for the Poke Ball designs, what’s being made available in Europe, particularly in Spain, are the purple Masterball, the blue Greatball, and the Yellow Ultraball. A bit ironically, the classic red and white Poke Ball is not available, which would have been a design that would have immediately identified the spheres as Poke Balls rather than just some random toy. That was actually the first design that was launched, so it might make its way to other countries at some other point in time.

This, after all, isn’t the first time that Samsung and The Pokemon Company collaborated on Pokemon-themed accessories and devices. What makes this particular set of Poke Balls, however, is that it’s a part of a range of eco-friendly accessories that use recycled materials rather than virgin plastic. Whether these make their way to other markets, only time will tell.

As endearing as these designs might be to Pokemon fans, there are a few practical drawbacks that interested buyers must be aware of. First is that the earbuds will no longer be easily pocketable when in the Poke Balls because unlike in the animated show, these don’t shrink to tinier sizes. The second is that the balls themselves don’t have built-in batteries or ways to charge the cases inside, which means you’ll have to take out the charging case if you need to top it off.

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