The AURGA Viewer transforms connectivity by serving as a versatile, lightweight wireless HDMI dongle that seamlessly integrates a wide range of devices across various platforms. It combines the functionalities of a wireless video streamer, mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, and digitizer pen, extending the usability of devices far beyond their standard capabilities. This dongle supports high-definition video streaming at 1920x1080p 60Hz alongside 48K audio, ensuring a high-quality viewing and interaction experience.
Designer: AURGA Design
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Ideal for diverse applications, the AURGA Viewer can be used with computers, laptops, single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, and gaming consoles such as the PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch. It also connects seamlessly with mini PCs, cameras, DSLRs, and TV boxes, enhancing its versatility. The device itself is incredibly portable, measuring only 79.4mm by 26mm by 11mm and weighing just 14.5 grams, making it easy to carry and use anywhere.
For Designers – Turn your tablet into a pen display for Windows 10.
For Professionals – More screen space by seamlessly extending your desktop.
For PC enthusiasts and technicians, the AURGA Viewer offers a particularly valuable solution. Typically, setting up a computer to access BIOS settings or conduct tests requires a complete setup with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The AURGA Viewer simplifies this process dramatically by allowing for platform-agnostic remote control with just an HDMI and USB connection—eliminating the need for a monitor or even an operating system installed on the PC. This can be a game-changer for testing PCs, bare motherboards, or any “headless” device, providing both display and control access directly from a mobile device or tablet via the AURGA app.
Amplify your Mini PC – Connect your iPad for greater computing power.
For Photographers & Videographers – A larger monitor screen to make sure your videos are perfect everytime.
A compelling use case also exists for Nintendo Switch users. The Switch operates in different performance modes—handheld and docked. In handheld mode, the display is limited to 720p, reducing visual quality to conserve battery life. However, when connected via the AURGA Viewer, the Switch can output its display to devices like PCs or tablets, allowing users to enjoy the enhanced visual quality of docked mode on a larger, more vibrant screen. This feature is useful when the TV isn’t available or when traveling, ensuring gamers still enjoy high-quality gameplay.
For Developers – Seamless coding experience with extra screen real estate.
For Gamers – Turn your mobile device into a portable gaming console.
Acting as an extension for PCs, the AURGA Viewer serves multiple purposes beyond entertainment, such as allowing a tablet or a second laptop to function as an additional screen. This element is particularly valuable for professionals looking to increase their productivity by expanding their available screen real estate. Additionally, it also allows for interactive control over the primary device using the secondary one, which includes using touch inputs or connecting peripheral devices.. This capability adds significant flexibility and efficiency to any workflow, enabling users to manage tasks and execute commands directly from their secondary screens. Whether for complex professional tasks, creative projects, or general multi-tasking, the AURGA Viewer integrates smoothly into a variety of digital environments, streamlining operations and extending the functionality of connected devices.
The device operates by connecting to devices through HDMI for video output and USB for power and peripheral connectivity. It does not require any software to be installed on the host device, making it a plug-and-play solution that’s easy to set up. The video and control signals are transmitted over a local Wi-Fi network, accessible through the AURGA app available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Android TV with some additional setup.
The AURGA Viewer is a versatile tool that broadens the functionality of electronic setups from gaming consoles to professional workstations. As a compact device, it offers robust solutions for enhancing connectivity and streamlining the use of various devices, making it an essential addition for anyone looking to optimize their digital interactions.
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An excellent option for budding or casual astrophotographers, the Vaonis Vespera offers an effortless experience in discovering and enjoying the universe at night.
The historic successes of companies such as SpaceX have put space travel and space exploration at the center of discussions once again. Along with those, however, is a resurgence of interest in the objects that we can see at night beyond just the moon. Astrophotography has become quite the trend that even smartphone companies are using that as a selling point for their cameras, like taking photos of the moon or star trails. While those might be impressive and fun for one-off shots, they can never compete with a more dedicated piece of equipment designed specifically for watching the night sky. Those, however, tend to be bulky and difficult to use, but smart telescope maker Vaonis is arguing that it shouldn’t be the case. The Vespera observation station promises a better way to see our planet’s distant neighbors, so we give it a spin to see if it can deliver.
Vaonis doesn’t call the Vespera a telescope, and it definitely doesn’t look like one. Instead of the stereotypical long black tube, you are greeted by a sleek, ice-white shape that looks like a flattened egg or capsule. There’s a seam that goes down and the middle and to the right side, clearly indicating that this isn’t a unibody design.
Aside from that rather odd shape and seams, there aren’t many things that will catch your attention on the surface of the observation station. There is a button on the left side, but it would have been nearly invisible if not for the LED ring surrounding it. It’s a pretty minimalist design, one that has very few distractions so that you’re left to focus not on the product but on its output via the Singularity mobile app.
Whether on its own or standing on the very short desk tripod, the Vaonis Vespera looks alien yet also alluring. Its unusual shape, at least for a “telescope,” its automated movement that we’ll see later, and its glossy white surface might even remind some of the props for sci-fi flicks and games. That’s not a bad association to make, and it’s a design that leaves quite a visual impact, one that makes you even more curious to discover what it’s capable of.
Ergonomics
The Vaonis Vespera’s simple yet attractive design is matched by its usability and portability. Using the astrophotography machine couldn’t be simpler, really. Simply set it down and push the button to turn it on. It creates a wireless network that devices can connect to and then it orients itself automatically without or with very little human intervention. You’ll see the telescope arm slowly rotate into place, pointing to the part of the night sky of interest, and that’s pretty much it. All you need to do is to tell it to start taking photos, and even how long it will run the exposure is automated depending on the object, its distance, or its clarity.
This ease of use might make you want to use the Vespera anywhere all the time, and its design definitely makes it possible as well. At only 11 lbs (5kg), it’s not that difficult to bring with you, whether in a car or even on your back with the optional backpack. Amateur telescopes are also meant to be portable to some extent, but the Vespera’s compact design makes it even more conducive to setting it up anywhere there’s a clear sky.
There is a bit of a caveat to that setup that does make the Vespera less ideal in some cases. The tripod it ships with is quite short and is best for using the observation station on top of a platform or, if preferred, close to the ground. If you prefer a higher perch, you’re going to have to order a separate one from Vaonis or, alternatively, look for a compatible alternative. There’s also a light pollution filter for urban astrophotographers and a solar filter for observing the sun, but these, too, are all separate purchases rather than something you can opt to buy all in one.
Performance
The reason why the Vaonis Vespera can’t be called a telescope, especially by pros and purists, is that there isn’t an eyepiece to speak of. Sure, the telescope arm does have a quadruplet apochromatic refractor with a 2-inch (50mm) f/4 aperture, but the light that it captures isn’t meant to go into your eyes but to a 2MP Sony STARVIX IMX462 CMOS camera sensor instead. In other words, the Vespera is a telescope and camera in one, a combination that has very important ramifications as far as the device’s usability and performance go.
As mentioned earlier, all you really need to do is to turn on the machine and you’re almost good to go. What happens behind the scenes is that it creates an ad hoc wireless network for your smartphone to connect to via the Singularity mobile app. Vespera then takes the GPS location from your mobile device and, using its internal maps of the night skies, orients and configures itself. All you really need to do is to tell it which nebula, galaxy, or star you want to take photos of and Vespera will automatically turn in that direction. It will even use the appropriate exposure time and settings depending on that night sky object so you don’t have to bother with the details. Of course, you still have complete manual control if you want to, but it is designed to be easy to use by default.
M13 (8 exp)
NGC7789 ()
Part of the magic of the Vaonis Vespera is that Singularity mobile app, which is pretty much your control center for the device and a gateway to learning more about the world above. It acts as the viewfinder for the observation station since there is no eyepiece, and you can see in real-time as it takes and stacks new images every 10 to 20 seconds until you get the best image for that particular celestial body. Depending on the visibility of that star, the process could take anywhere from half a minute to half an hour, so there might be times you would want to either manually set the timer or even cancel the process. If left on its own, however, Vespera is smart enough to track the object and adjust itself in order to compensate for the Earth’s movement.
The images that Vespera takes are quite impressive, though your results will naturally vary depending on atmospheric conditions. Admittedly, the 2MP 1920×1080 images won’t satisfy more discerning astrophotographers, but Vespera is pretty much marketed as a tool for beginners and casual users. If there’s one notable flaw that the observation station has is that its large field of view makes it less ideal for large and nearby space objects like planets or even the moon. For objects that are too big for the telescope, Singularity has a mosaic mode that joins exposures together to create a larger image than what is normally possible with its field of view. The disadvantage to this mode is that it can sometimes take hours to complete one panorama.
The Vaonis Vespera’s ease of use and portable design make it easy to use anywhere, though you’d most likely want to set it up away from bright lights and on a clear field. Fortunately, you can operate the observation station without having to plug it in, thanks to its built-in battery. It’s advertised for four hours of use, after which you’ll have to charge it again. Vaonis uses a proprietary magnetic connector for the charging cable, which can make it easier to connect but more difficult to find replacements when the cable goes bad. Either way, the 7,000 mAh battery is probably not going to be enough for a full night’s experience, so you might want to keep a large portable battery nearby.
Sustainability
Smart telescopes like the Vaonis Vespera are relatively young products, born from a desire to capture the heavens without having to become experts in the field. As with many young device manufacturers, creating a successful business is their topmost priority, and sustainability often takes a backseat to that. To its credit, Vaonis does recognize its responsibility to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment, but there’s not much information regarding concrete actions or the use of more sustainable materials.
In terms of the Vespera’s durability and repairability, there is that same level of uncertainty. The machine is IP43-rated, so it will survive a spray of water but not rain. Parts for this kind of device are also pretty uncommon, and the chassis design doesn’t lend itself to easy repairs. All in all, you will need to send the Vespera back to Vaonis for repairs, if you’re lucky to be in a country where such support is available.
Value
Even with the powerful cameras that smartphones now have, they can’t compare to having a telescope to really appreciate the beauty of outer space. At the same time, however, not everyone who’s interested in recording the stars in the sky might be willing to deal with the intricacies and hassles of operating professional equipment. They just want to take beautiful shots or learn more about the universe around them, working their way to becoming pros but also wishing for a gentler introduction to this almost mystical world.
The Vaonis Vespera offers this kind of experience, designed to entice beginners or casual photographers to forego the ceremony and burden and just start taking images of galaxies, nebulae, and more. That said, its $1,499 price tag might sound beginner-unfriendly, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anything that offers that much convenience and capability in the same price range. Admittedly, the image quality, while decent, is hardly at the top of its class and will probably dissatisfy more seasoned stargazers. Then again, they aren’t Vespera’s target audience, and Vaonis does have other products to cater to these astrophotographers.
Verdict
People have thankfully become more aware and appreciative of the world around them, whether it’s enjoying the great outdoors or being enchanted by the stars in the sky. For the longest time, watching heavenly bodies has been an activity reserved for more knowledgeable professionals and far out of reach of regular people. The trends are trending, fortunately, and the Vaonis Vespera is paving the way.
The observation station, a combination of telescope and camera, has a simple and elegant design that belies the power it hides inside. That power, however, is delivered in a manner of operation that is as easy as using a mobile app. Granted, the portable machine is on the pricey side, and the photos it takes won’t win awards. But if you’re the kind of celestial explorer who loves to learn and discover new things every night, the Vaonis Vespera will help you have an effortless and fun journey, each and every time.
Achievements and advancements in space exploration in the past decade have put the spotlight on what is commonly known as humanity’s last frontier. Just like the depth of our oceans, the skies have always given us awe, from the stars that twinkle at night to the sun that sometimes gets occluded by the moon. These heavenly bodies that paint both day and night skies have been objects of fascination for almost everyone at some point in their lives, but the skill and the equipment needed to get a closer look at them eventually kill off those dreams for most folk. Fortunately, we’re at an age when almost anyone can become budding sky watchers and stargazers with the potent combination of a modern smartphone and this innovative telescope that makes astronomy accessible to everyone, just in time for the North American total solar eclipse taking place in April 2024.
Watching the sky, whether day or night, is no longer just a field for professionals, simply going by the number of “moon photography” features being advertised for recent smartphones. Of course, even the most powerful smartphone camera today can’t really go that far, especially if you plan on exploring the vast majority of space objects beyond the moon. That’s where Hestia comes in, an innovative telescope that combines sophisticated optics with the brains of your smartphone and wraps it in a portable and easy-to-use package.
Hestia – The first-ever smartphone-based telescope.
Future-proof – Thanks to a system of removable magnets, Hestia accommodates all sizes of current and future smartphones.
The Sun – Shot with iPhone 14 Pro & Hestia.
The Moon – Shot with iPhone 14 Pro and Hestia.
With the Hestia telescope, all you really need to do is to place your smartphone on the device, aligning the phone’s camera with Hestia’s ocular. Using the Gravity app by Vaonis, you can pick the object of interest that you want to see and follow the guide to point Hestia in the right direction. A patented six-lens optical design collects and focuses light directly into a smartphone’s camera, accomplishing what bulkier telescopes can do but at a significantly more compact size. The app also uses proprietary image processing algorithms to merge multiple short-exposure images into a single, high-quality shot that brings the beauty of the heavens up close.
How Hestia Works – Attach Hestia to its tripod and align your smartphone’s main camera with Hestia’s ocular with the help of Gravity by Vaonis. Pick your destination and let the app guide you to find it.
Reach your Favorite Stars – Explore the constellations, learn to recognize the sky around you, and find an object that piques your interest.
Prepare for the Most Breathtaking Celestial Event for 2024 – Next year, on April 8th, a total solar Eclipse will cross North America. Millions of people will gather to watch the breathtaking event of a lifetime.
Unlike most telescopes, including those “smart” ones of late, the Hestia isn’t made just for watching the night skies. Thanks to a solar filter, budding space scientists can start observing the sun’s behavior and how it affects both the weather in space as well as on Earth. Remove that solar filter and you can behold the striking beauty of the setting sun as it makes its final appearance above the horizon. That makes the Hestia perfect for the biggest celestial event to come our way next year, when a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8th, 2024.
Despite all its sophisticated capabilities, Hestia remains easy to carry around, easy to set up, and easy to use. At only 1.1 lbs (500g), it’s no sweat to stash the telescope in a bag to take with you anywhere. With an innovative removable magnet system, it can support not only current smartphones but also future ones, ensuring that Hestia will get better as smartphone cameras advance. And since it’s powered by nothing but your smartphone, the device is sure to last almost as long as the stars in the sky. There’s no better time than now to learn more about the beautiful expanse of the skies with this smartphone-powered telescope that unlocks the universe and brings the heavens closer to your eyes.
Mobile app presents plenty of automation and customization options
CONS:
The number of features can be a bit overwhelming
A little pricey for curtain lights
RATINGS:
AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
With convenient smart features and nearly limitless customization options, the Govee Curtain Lights are must-haves for those who go all out on decorating their walls for any occasion.
Dynamic RGB lighting might be a common presence in gaming gear, but that doesn’t mean only gamers have been drawn to the mesmerizing and enjoyable display of these playful lights. There are indeed a few lighting products for “regular” consumers that allow them to display all the colors of the rainbow, but most of these are either static or too complicated to use, designed only for the hardest of hardcore DIYers. Something that hits a sweet spot between these two extremes is uncharted territory, which is what makes Govee’s new Curtain Lights quite a tempting prospect. Its feature list definitely checks a lot of boxes, but so do many “fairy lights” that promise a kaleidoscopic experience for every party or holiday. That’s why we rolled up our sleeves to put the Govee Curtain Lights to the test to see if they can deliver and make our days and nights brighter and more interesting.
To be honest, the Govee Curtain Lights are not much to look at when you pull them out of their simple yet functional packaging. You might even pass it off as regular rice or fairy lights, at least until you take a closer look and feel the product in your hands. From that moment onward, you know that you’re holding something special, hinting at the secrets it might be hiding inside.
Right off the bat, you will notice that the LED lights are different from typical curtain lights, particularly those that use bullet-like lights that extend from their thin cords. The teardrop-shaped LED beads are actually embedded in the flat cords that run down the length of the curtain, encased in a plastic material that’s more durable and less fragile than the typical glass of small LED bulbs. The light strands themselves also feel more solid and resilient, so you gain a bit of confidence in handling the curtain lights.
The Govee Curtain Lights’ unique design is fully revealed once you plug it in and turn it on. The 520 LEDs don’t immediately light up simultaneously, starting off with a pattern dance that showcases its dynamic properties, but even that is just the tip of the iceberg. What it does is give a memorable first impression, especially for those new to this rather new market. You’ll also immediately notice how bright the lights are, so bright that you might even want to put some thin curtain in front to dampen the light at times. That does mean that lights will be visible under bright ambient light, but you might have a harder time making out the details.
A single Govee curtain runs 4.9 x 6.5 feet, which should be an average size to cover a good portion of a wall or large windows. As we’ll see later, you can actually “connect” three of these together to work in harmony, but that means you’ll have to make provisions for three power adapters since you can’t daisy-chain those, unfortunately. Fortunately, Govee designed these lights to be easy to set up so placement won’t be much of a problem at least.
Ergonomics (Installation)
You won’t be handling the Govee Curtain Lights all the time, so the usual metrics of ergonomics and usability don’t really apply to it. Instead, the physical convenience and comfort come from the first-time installation and setup of the lights. You might only need to do these steps once unless you decide to move the lights to a different location, but that initial experience can make or break your enjoyment of the product just as much.
The good news is that Govee has made it trivial to install its Curtain Lights and even provides three options along with the necessary parts and tools, depending on how permanent you want the installation to be. If you plan on simply hanging the lights of an existing curtain track or rod, then simply screwing the buckles with G4 hooks is more than enough. There’s an option to also stick these buckles to walls using the provided adhesive strips, while more permanent setups might want to hammer in the seamless nails instead.
Interestingly, the light strings don’t get tangled up as much as you would expect during this process. That’s thanks to those beads that don’t snag on their neighbors, creating the tangled mess that many curtain lights are notorious for. The one detail you’ll have to consider is how some of the LED beads won’t be facing in the same direction, creating an uneven column of lights that may result in small “holes” in some areas. If uniformity is critical, you can also tape the strings down so that all the LEDs face forward.
Pairing the Govee Curtain Lights with the mobile app is also easy as pie, proving how experienced the brand is in this area. It can automatically detect the lights once plugged in, though you can also manually select the product if it’s having a harder time. Once Bluetooth pairing is done, you can also connect the curtain lights to your home Wi-Fi so that they can be controlled by smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Performance
The Govee Curtain Lights’ bright and colorful lights are already impressive on their own, but you didn’t spend money on just a wall of dotted lights. The real magic begins once you bridge the lights and the Govee app, opening up a whole new world of fun and convenience, whether you’re preparing for a holiday party, spicing up your livestream, or simply sprucing up your house.
The Govee app has plenty of features to control the curtain lights. In fact, there might be too many features that you can easily get lost in all the options and menus. Fortunately, there are a few presets already available that let you simply pick out a single color, a moving pattern, or even animated images. If you’re feeling more creative, however, you can upload your own GIF or draw your own masterpiece. Your creativity and imagination are the limits.
The Govee Curtain Lights boast 520 LEDs, each of which can be controlled individually, and its RGBIC technology bumps up the colors to 16 million hues. What this means, in practice, is that you get a “high-resolution display” that makes those patterns and images jump to life. That catch is that you really have to view them from just the right distance to really appreciate the quality. Too close and you won’t be able to make out the images. Too far and the colors tend to blend into each other.
These Curtain Lights have a neat trick when you put three of them in a row. You can connect all three to the same app and indicate their positions, creating a much wider canvas for even bigger images. They may seem like they’re moving as a whole, but it’s really just a trick of the app. These are still three distinct curtains, just controlled to sync the animations as if they were one.
There are plenty of ways to make the lights and colors move, but the one that will be the life of the party is Music Mode. Using the built-in mic on the control box, the Govee Curtain Lights will sync its patterns to the beat of the music. Technically, it just syncs to any sound it hears, so even voices will affect its display. It’s not a true visualizer, but its dynamism will surely be the talk of your friends.
Like any of Govee’s lighting products, the Curtain Lights can also be hooked up to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice commands. The number of functions you can use here is more limited, mostly revolving around turning the lights on or off, changing the color, or adjusting the brightness. With this integration, however, you can tie the lights with automated scenes so that you won’t even have to lift a finger when it comes time to turn all the house lights off.
Sustainability
For all its innovation and convenience, the Govee Curtain Lights are unfortunately not exactly designed with sustainability in mind. The packaging is at least minimalist, but the composition of the lights themselves as well as the hooks contain less environment-friendly materials, particularly plastic. Then again, that’s not exactly surprising given the requirements of such a product, particularly when it comes to durability and survivability.
Govee, fortunately, makes for this by making sure that the Curtain Lights last as long as possible, even when used outdoors. The lights themselves are rated IP65, which means they won’t die after a heavy downpour. Even the adapter has IP44 dust and water resistance, so it isn’t as fragile as regular electronics, though you will have to take more precautions given you’re dealing with electricity. Along with the durable plastic material surrounding the LED beads, the string, and the power cord, Govee is guaranteeing that its curtain lights are going to see many holidays and parties, even if you leave them outside.
Value
There is very little doubt that the Govee Curtain Lights are one-of-a-kind, finally delivering the kind of customization power that more tech-savvy people have been enjoying for some time now, and packaging it in an easy-to-use product. It will easily liven up gatherings, catch the attention of livestream viewers, and put your house on the map. The question is, however, whether it’s worth the $129.99 price tag it comes with.
That’s admittedly higher than most curtain lights in the market today, but those can barely match Govee’s features anyway. There is also the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, where you’ll be able to grab these lights at a tempting price. The more important consideration is whether you can think of a use for the lights when the parties and holidays are over. They are not exactly general-purpose lights, unlike other Govee products, so it will boil down to whether these curtain lights have a place in your house all year round to make that $129.99 a worthwhile investment.
Verdict
We can always use a little pizzazz in our homes, whether it’s through furniture that injects some vibrancy into a space, or lighting that sets up the right mood. Wall and pendant lamps are often the go-to solutions for the latter, but Govee has delivered another option, one that inspires creativity and dynamism. The Govee Curtain Lights are easy to set up, ensuring that almost anyone can decorate their wall or window without breaking much of a sweat. The highly customizable app offers plenty of ways to control the lights, even through Alexa and Google Assistant. Everything about the lights screams ease-of-use, while also delivering power and control on a silver platter.
The Govee Curtain Lights practically give you a 4.9 x 6.5 ft canvas to showcase your creativity, interests, and passion. The bright and colorful LEDs and powerful app act as your paint and brush, giving you nearly complete freedom to create the design or animation that you really desire. Whether you’re gearing up for a summer night party, attracting new viewers to your channel, or simply making sure the house is well-lit, the Govee Curtain Lights will give your family, your friends, and even your neighbors a light show they will never forget.
It’s like staring into a rectangular portal that leads to a prismatic psychedelic world. I wish I was exaggerating.
With a total of 172 individually addressable LEDs on both the front and the back, the Neon Crystal Cube lights up together to create some of the most beautiful gradients and patterns you’ll see. The device comes from the folks at Moonside, who designed the ‘lava lamp on steroids’ we featured earlier in 2021. I still use my own Moonside Neon Lighthouse every single day as an ambient light to fill my room with a gentle wash of intermingling colors. It’s the perfect way to make you feel relaxed and eventually fall asleep, although the one major problem I’ve had with the Neon Lighthouse is the fact that it’s extremely prone to accidentally falling over. The Neon Crystal Cube, however, fixes that with its stable, sleek, rectangular design… but that isn’t the only part. The Neon Crystal Cube’s also designed to create more complex light patterns, using both front and backlighting. It responds to music, has a whole host of customizable presets, and can be connected to multiple other Neon Crystal Cubes to create a modular panel of psychedelic pixels. Touted as a smart-lamp too, the Neon Crystal Cube integrates with your smart home ecosystem, boasting compatibility with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and even with the emerging universal Matter protocol.
360-Degree Dynamic Lighting Angle – No dark spots all around.
The Neon Crystal Cube is the fourth in the series of smart LED lamps from Moonside. Its brick-shaped design could fool the casual onlooker, but switch it on and the thing comes to life, glowing in a rainbow of different, everchanging colors that are diffused by an internal film and then refracted thanks to the slab of crystal on the front. 32 LEDs on the back of the Neon Crystal Cube also create a halo effect on the wall right behind it, extending the light show to your wall for maximum appeal.
The Moonside Smart App – Control the color and brightness of every single led pixel on your light.
The lamp can be controlled via the remote attached to its power cable, or via an app that lets you choose colors, create your own custom patterns, or dip into the expansive catalog of presets from the Moonside team… or alternatively, you could connect the Neon Crystal Cube to your smart home network to do things like sync it with your bedtime routine, your alarm clock, or better still, your music app. A built-in microphone turns the Neon Crystal Cube into your personal visualizer that reacts and responds to the music you play, creating light effects to match the genre and intensity of the sound, whether it’s Beethoven or Boombox Cartel.
Modular Swappable Crystal Cover – Turn the smart lamp into a unique decorative lighting art piece.
The Neon Crystal Cube’s most underrated feature, however, is its modular nature that works both intrinsically as well as extrinsically. Intrinsically, the Neon Crystal Cube features swappable crystal covers that help refract light differently. You can grab flat, fluted, ribbed, or rippled crystal covers, and they all refract the LEDs differently, creating new light patterns. Extrinsically, however, the Neon Crystal Cube’s modular approach means you can connect multiple units together to respond as a single ‘organism’. Borrowing a feature from the Moonside Neon Hex (their modular wall lights), the Neon Crystal Cube lets you stack and connect multiple cubes together, sort of like creating your own LED brick wall. You can do this to either match your space requirements, or better still, coordinate lighting between two cubes to create the perfect backdrop for product photography.
The customizable LEDs in the Neon Crystal Cube are perfect for product photography (or even for creating viral TikToks) without an expensive light setup. Each Neon Crystal Cube starts at a pretty low $78, with two packs for $152. Your Neon Crystal Cube ships with the crystal cover of your choice (you can grab extra textured covers as an add-on) along with a power cable, smart controller, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. The app remains completely free and can be installed on Android and iOS devices.
160 Individually Addressable LEDs – Turns your light into a lively screen with endless animated lighting effects.
We’ve covered our fair share of smart-lamps in the past, more so given that CES was filled with them, but what really stands out with the Neon Crystal Cube (and all of Moonside’s products) is just how remarkable they look when lit up. Most smart bulbs don’t come with individually addressable LEDs, but that really seems to be the Neon Cube’s most impressive feature. The entire panel glows with gradients that look completely unreal, and now with a backlight and modularity built-in, you can pretty much design your own vivid smart lamp to brighten your space, even more so if you’re a gamer, YouTube/Twitch streamer, or vlogger.
Mobile photography has become quite the trend, but as powerful as smartphone cameras could be, they still fall short of certain capabilities necessary for more professional work. On the flip side, most professional cameras go in the opposite direction and put everything, including the kitchen sink, resulting in a hefty and bulky body that hinders more than helps. With today’s technologies and manufacturing processes, however, it is certainly possible to shrink camera hardware down to a more manageable size without compromising on the experience and output. All it needs is some creativity and ingenuity, which is what the DWARF II smart telescope brings to the table, whether you’re taking photos of the stars, lions, or anything you need to get up close and personal.
At first glance, the DWARF II almost looks like an old-fashioned camcorder, though its lenses are actually on the long side of its body. That visual association with one of the most portable video recorders probably wasn’t by accident. In size and weight, the DWARF II is definitely one of if not the most compact pro gear you’ll lay your eyes on, especially when you consider all the features it’s actually packing inside.
The DWARF II is a telescope and camera smashed together, and its biggest pull is taking pictures of objects that are either too far away or should be kept at a safe distance. Wildlife photography definitely falls in that category, and the camera’s AI-powered object recognition and tracking make following moving critters no problem at all. The telescope has a wide-angle camera for regular pictures and a telephoto camera for close-ups that’s always aimed at the center of the wide-angle image, making it very easy to find the object you need to shoot in close-up.
Where the smart telescope shines brightest is in taking photos of stars and galaxies in the skies above. The DWARF II’s 100mm lens has an equivalent focal point of 675mm lens on a 35mm camera. That’s more than enough to not only see details on our moon but also to see some galaxies and nebulae. Of course, it’s not enough to simply just reach distances when it comes to astrophotography. Stars “move” slowly across the sky, and cameras need to be able to keep up with them. Fortunately, the DWARF II does that automatically, and it can rotate left and right up to 340 degrees and up and down on its pitch by up to 240 degrees. With a minimum rotation speed of 0.001° per second, enough to track slow-moving stars without a hitch.
Auto Star Tracking and Stacking – DWARF II can rotate around the altitude and azimuth along the movement of stars. DWARF II uses a field-rotation-correction algorithm to avoid the field rotation. Then you can use DWARF II to track deep-sky objects with long exposure time.
Gigapixel Panorama Zoom the World – DWARF II can capture multiple images through 2-axis scanning, then stitch them into ONE picture. The pixel count can even reach ONE BILLION!
AI-powered Object Recognition and Tracking – The maximum angular velocity tracked by DWARF II is 30 °/s, and the maximum linear velocity that can be tracked at a distance of 150 m is 80 m/s, which is 290 km/h. Even airplanes can be tracked.
Although the telescope is already smart by itself, it gets even smarter when paired with a smartphone. In addition to typical remote controls, the smartphone app can make short work of locating objects in the sky and making sure the DWARF II keep track of them. Even more seasoned astronomers and astrophotographers will probably appreciate the guides that will help them locate stars, planets, and galaxies more quickly.
Given all the features you’d normally find in bigger equipment, it’s almost shocking that the DWARF II manages to keep its portable size. That’s thanks to some creative design work, like using a periscope-style telescope to not only save up space but also increase its stability, even when used outdoors with strong winds. Even more surprising is that the DWARF II Smart Telescope only costs $359 for a limited time, offering budding photographers of all kinds an accessible tool they can take with them anywhere, ready to capture moments when inspiration strikes.
Journaling is not a lost art yet, and we believe more people would want to dabble in this hobby if only they had more time. Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a diary can be time-consuming, but it offers several benefits. Journaling lets you improve your writing, self-reflect, and stay organized.
Writing in a diary also helps reduce stress because you can express your feelings and frustrations. However, writing takes time, so we only know a few people who write in their journals. If you can’t write in your notebook, you can try blogging. But if you still don’t have enough time, you can try the Mazi.
Mazi is a digital journal that allows you to record what you’re doing. There is no need to write down your thoughts on a diary or a blog because you can keep one by simply “talking” to the Mazi. It comes with a compatible app that records what you say. You can easily remember your thoughts and what you’re doing with the product-app duo. The Mazi takes writing to a new level by recording your notes and “writing” them on an app. In a way, it’s like having a friend to talk to.
With the pandemic still in, people are still trying to beat loneliness. Social isolation has been a problem, and even if we’re already at the tail-in of the covid situation, people are still trying to beat their anxieties. We say you can still do everything you want to do to reduce stress as long as you’re not hurting anyone.
We suggest journaling because it allows you to express whatever is inside you. It may be good to verbalize or write down your thoughts. Don’t keep things bottled up inside because you might break down. Mazi can help you in little ways as it can help you ease distress, especially when struggling.
Studies have shown people who journal show reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. Mazi can be a friend to you, especially if you’re feeling lonely. No, it won’t talk back to you, but sometimes, all you need is a listening ear. This “ear” will record things you say and keep things for you.
The Mazi simply works like a small recorder—the kind that reporters use before smartphones. You press a button to record, rewind, and hear where you left off. You can also delete or highlight a part. No need to edit on the mobile app as you can edit right on the Mazi with the three touch controls.
Mazi is a little companion about the size of a palm. It works with an app, so we’re assuming it works over Bluetooth or WiFi. It will just update the app whenever it’s paired with another device. It’s easy to use: simply press a button on the corner to turn it on or start giving commands.
Mazi can be your friend just when your loved ones are nowhere to be found because they are busy. It can keep your secrets like no friend or diary ever can. Every important moment in your life must be recorded. Even if you don’t have a phone with you, you can record things on the Mazi. There’s no forgetting what you have done or what you need to do because of Mazi.
Wear the Mazi around your neck with a strap. You can also clip it on a surface or on your shirt to record your thoughts hands-free. Design-wise, the Mazu is made of coral soft-touch plastic, recycled plastic, and white hard plastic. It boasts a white, simple packaging that is very minimalist. The box is secretive—just like the Mazi.
I have a confession to make: I do not know how to ride a bike and I don’t think I ever will. The few times I have attempted to do so did not end well for my knees and for the bike and so the klutzy and accident-prone me will not even try to learn anymore. But while I have no interest in riding one, I do know the challenges that bikers and motorbikers face when it comes to navigating, communicating, keeping safe, not to mention all the socio-economic issues that come with having a two-wheeled ride. I also understand that helmets are their best friends. This concept for a smart helmet may very well be the most technologically advanced best friend they can ever have.
Designers: Jennifer Zhang and 陈 庆
The DIDI BIKE Smart Helmet was conceptualized due to the “One Helmet, One Seatbelt” policy that is being implemented in China. While safety while riding a bike is of utmost importance, there are also times when you would need to use gadgets like your smartphones for navigation, communication, and other important things. There’s the option to pull over of course to use your device but what if there was a smart helmet like this one?
The concept design for the smart helmet includes front-and-rear cameras that can be both dashcams and smart screens as well. Not only is it able to give you more visual information about your surroundings and the other vehicles on the road with you, but you can also get traffic and navigation information without being distracted by your smartphone. They can be controlled through voice commands and also works with image recognition and AI technology.
Users will be able to adjust the tint of the visor either through voice command or depending on the ambient light available. The backside meanwhile has an LED light strip that gives color-coded information like whether they’re in motion, braking, or turning. The helmet is also designed to give an SOS signal and call emergency services in case there’s an accident. The strap also has bone-conduction earphones for listening to music or podcasts or taking calls while the AR display on the left eye gives important information like navigation, device information, etc.
That’s actually a lot of information and functionality for a helmet concept-wise. In fact, it might be too much for a device whose primary function is to keep the user safe while driving. Design-wise it also looks pretty heavy and looks more like what a futuristic soldier would wear rather than a normal, everyday biker. But in terms of function, it should be pretty useful for those who need to do other things while riding a bike or motorcycle.
You know what your Google Home smart device has been missing? Muscles. Mine? Mine has been missing ever being taken out of the package after I received it as a gift because I don’t like being listened to all the time. Even my wife only pays attention to about half of what I say, and she could probably tune that back to about a quarter because the majority of what comes out of my mouth is nonsense and/or burping. Hey Google – add antacid tablets to my shopping list.
Google Home Muscles from Etsy seller 3DPrintThatThing is a $20 set of 3D printed muscles for your Google Home smart device (also for purchase as a 3D printing file on Cults3D for $4 if you own your 3D printer). Now, if you could only change the voice of your Google Home to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Available in black, white, blue, red, and green, Google Muscles is still sure to be a conversation starter. A conversation that presumably starts with, “Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong with you?”
A personal assistant is one gadget that has the potential to change life on an everyday scale. Right from giving you the information you asked for, playing music when you’re feeling blue, turning on the lights to a specific hue in your living room, or doing some 50 random tasks you have in a day! Meet Miko, the portable smart assistant that does more than its intended function. Created by industrial designer Vandana Bhanushali, the smart device doubles as a microphone for content creation!
Miko has cardioid microphones to pick up the voice in real-time and amplifies the sound. This means we can use the cheeky little gadget for anything from small rallies, office meetings, live performances to even karaoke nights with buddies. Don’t mistake Miko for any ordinary mic, as it can address a room filled with 60 people in crystal clear vocals or audio. Even better, the gadget can be used in one of the two modes – either as a handheld mic or as a detachable lavalier clip mic. There’s a pin on the base mic that keeps it charged, and this base mic is further amped via the main dock. So as soon as we pick up the mic from the dock, it sets into action the voice amplification. This function makes the little gadget perfect for podcast creators or video content makers. Plus, the attractive design is well thought out to appeal to the next-gen crowd.
When you don’t require the mic or amplification, the cute little speaker turns to the task of being a smart assistant. For sure, this gadget is something unique amongst the very predictable products out there. However, Miko has the potential to get past the concept stage, and content creators will already be eying this gadget with keenness.
