Smart home device concepts empower visually-impaired members of society

Our homes and appliances are becoming more powerful, but they are also becoming more complicated. Many interfaces are fortunately being reworked to simplify our interaction with these devices, but almost all of them still require a clear view of what the interfaces are. Sure, there are voice commands nowadays, as well as AI, but as any smart homeowner has experienced, these aren’t always fast or reliable. Unfortunately, all these new interfaces, even the minimalist ones, tend to cut off those with vision disabilities, depriving them not only of enjoyment or convenience but also of a sense of confidence and security in their own homes. It doesn’t actually take much to design with accessibility in mind, and as these three smart device concepts show, such creative designs might be useful or even fun for those who can see perfectly as well.

Designer: Jaehee Lee, Byeonguk Ahn, Minseok Kim

Many smart devices today tend to value aesthetics or functions too highly without considering how those would negatively impact the experience of people who are either blind or visually impaired. Some have too many buttons or have buttons that are all shaped similarly, making it difficult to tell by touch which one is which. Worse, there are those that use only touch controls on flat glass surfaces, which are completely useless unless you can see their marks. Beyond Sight is a collection of concept designs that address these flaws by using unambiguous motions and shapes that actually look fun to use, regardless of the state of your vision.

A smart speaker, for example, uses simple taps to play or pause the audio. Volume is controlled by sliding a ball up or down a pole while changing tracks involves turning the dial at the top. For people who can’t see or can’t see clearly, these definite tactile controls leave no room for guessing their functions. For those that can see what the speaker looks like, the design adds an element of fun and play to a device that has almost become too utilitarian these days.

The smart remote control might look and feel like a toy flashlight, but its polygonal shaft does more than provide a good grip. To change channels, you roll the device to one or the other side. To turn the TV on, you simply put the remote down from a standing to a lying position. The head of the device is a dial that you can turn to adjust the volume, and a large button lets you summon your voice-controlled AI assistant to do the more advanced functions that the remote doesn’t support. Admittedly, the rolling gesture might be a bit cumbersome, especially if you need to go through many channels quickly.

Lastly, a timer imitates the primary mechanism of rotary phone dials of the past so that people can slip their finger into the large hole and read the time in Braille. Setting the timer involves just turning that dial to the desired amount of time in 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60-minute intervals. The circular surface of the device slopes down toward that hole, easily guiding the finger to where it needs to be.

For those with visual impairments, the designs of these concept devices give them enjoyment and security in a home that’s increasingly becoming impersonal and intimidating for them. For those that can see clearly, the devices’ designs give them a toy-like character that hints not only at their ease of use but also at their fun controls, proving that accessible designs can truly benefit everyone.

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Apple just announced the 2nd Gen HomePod, now with Matter support

Outwardly, there’s absolutely no difference between the 2nd Gen HomePod and its predecessor, which was discontinued in 2021. However, on the internals and software front, the new speaker has Apple’s S7 chip with support for Spatial Audio and compliance with the Matter smart-things protocol. The new HomePod now even has temperature and humidity sensors built-in, making it a little more useful than its ancestor… while also being $50 cheaper at just $299.

Designer: Apple

It seems odd that Apple would revive the HomePod after conveniently killing it in 2021 to prioritize the HomePod Mini. However, the fact that Apple’s pushing the smart-home angle with automations, a temperature + humidity sensor, sound detection (for alarms), and Matter compatibility probably indicates the much bigger picture here. Siri was never really Apple’s strongest suit (and Amazon even admitted that Alexa was an overall failure), but the smart home market seems to have gotten a revival with the rise of Matter protocol, which helps unite all compatible IoT devices under a single universal standard.

Other (existing) features are the ability to play music through the speaker simply by tapping your phone on it, using it as an intercom, and pairing two HomePods together for a stereo setup. The HomePod, however, now can sense where it’s in the room and automatically adjust its audio output to provide the best sound quality. There’s even support for Spatial Audio, which allows the HomePod to mimic a 5.1-channel home theater.

The HomePod 2nd Gen will be available starting February, for $299.

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The Acer Halo Swing is an eclectic, portable, water-resistant smart speaker with a hidden LED display

The Acer Halo Swing’s design is a confusing yet enchanting combination of design details that don’t immediately go together, but somehow create an overall experience that feels pleasant. The speaker’s monolithic like any smart speaker, but comes with a handle and a portable design, like Bose’s Soundlink Revolve+ II. It has a set of colorful lights at the bottom (which feel at odds with the black appearance on the top) and if those weren’t enough, the speaker’s front sports a concealed LED dot display that shines through the fabric to display icons like an alarm clock, the time, and the weather. Debuted just today at CES, the Acer Halo Swing has support for Hey Google, comes with its own built-in subwoofer and DTS Sound™ that fills your room with clear 360° audio, and a battery life that reportedly gives up to 10 hours of non-stop play. The Halo Swing’s built to be water-resistant too, and comes with its own charging platform that juices the speaker’s battery as soon as it’s placed on top.

Designer: Acer

Right off the bat, the Halo Swing feels like it’s trying to tick as many boxes as possible. While most smart speakers are designed as stationary units that don’t leave your room, let alone your home, the Acer Halo Swing comes with a portable design that encourages you to travel with it and use it outdoors… even in questionable weather, thanks to an IPx5 rating. The monolithic black design has a thick leather strap on top that feels reminiscent of the Vifa Helsinki, although the entire design is black from top to almost bottom. I say almost bottom because the smart speaker also comes with an RGB LED array at the base that lights up to create a visual ‘flutter’ that adds to your music-listening experience.

The other notable visual ‘flutter’ on the speaker is its LED dot matrix on the front that shines through the grill to outline the Halo Swing’s multiple features. It lights up when you set an alarm, or displays the weather when you ask it to, and also gives you the freedom to customize it with emojis, drawings, and messages of your own using the Acer Halo App.

Details on the actual audio elements of the Halo Swing are scarce, although Acer mentioned there’s a subwoofer somewhere in there for expansive, foot-tapping audio, and an omnidirectional far-field microphone for voice commands. The Halo Swing also comes with Bluetooth® 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, along with support for Google Fast Pair, and can either be controlled via the app, or the panel on top of the speaker, which houses a microphone mute button, hinting at the fact that it can be used for video and audio calling too. The Halo Swing also has the ability to pair with multiple other units to create a symphony of sound, with that 10-hour battery being extremely handy for long parties… although the biggest one of the year just got over the day before!

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Xiaomi’s latest high-end smart speaker is part audio unit, part decorative LED ambient lamp

Described as a high-fidelity smart speaker, the Xiaomi Sound Pro comes with a 4-inch low-frequency 40W driver, three 1.5-inch full-range 5W drivers, and three passive radiators that absolutely fill your room with a well-balanced hearty soundscape. However, in a bid to outdo itself, the Xiaomi Sound Pro also houses its own ambient LED lamp on top that supplies your music with its own abstract colorful visualizations.

Designer: Xiaomi

The Xiaomi Sound Pro follows the rather simply named Xiaomi Sound, the company’s first-ever hi-fi speaker. The higher-end Pro-version comes with what the company calls a “7-part speaker system”, to describe the 1+3+3 setup of the woofer, tweeters, and passive radiators, and has audio professionally tuned by HARMAN AudioEFX, which helps omnidirectionally fill entire rooms with crisp, clear, loud audio and a ‘shocking’ bass.

The Sound Pro is significantly taller than its predecessor, thanks to the presence of an LED unit on top that adds a touch of ambient visualization to your audio experience. The speaker supports connections via Bluetooth 5.1, and is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2. An NFC feature lets you tap to send music using Xiaomi Instant Play, and if you’re a bit of a smart speaker traditionalist, you can give your speaker voice commands too, or control it using the capacitive touch panel on the top. If you prefer going even more analog, there’s a 3.5mm audio input on the speaker, although at this point it seems almost archaic as a feature. The Xiaomi Sound Pro Bluetooth Speaker is available in China for approximately $144 USD (¥999 RMB).

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This beautiful smart lamp helps you relax by soothing your senses

Different people try to relax in different ways. Some just need to pop in a good video and lose themselves for hours in entertainment. Others, however, need something a little more sublime. Soothing music, pleasing aromas, or even hypnotic candle lights can help flick a switch in our brains to start winding down. Each one of us has a unique preference, but those preferences can change at a moment’s notice. Most relaxation products, however, address only one or at most two use cases, limiting what you actually achieve when it comes to bathing the senses in positive stimuli. That’s why this smart lamp concept breaks down those barriers to offer a multi-sensory experience that will delight and soothe the senses to help you enter into that state of calm.

Designer: Anil Ramesh (Analogy Design)

Some people shut their eyes tight when they want to block out the world, while others prefer being mesmerized by flickering lights. Some take to their favorite kind of music to chill, while others prefer the scents of essential oils. There are obviously different ways to help our bodies and mind settle down, and also different products targeting those different senses. If you ever wanted to combine all three or find yourself switching between them once in a while, you’re pretty much forced to buy all three kinds of products.

Idiya goes beyond those monosensory devices and combines all three experiences into a single, elegant solution. It’s a smart lamp that looks like a giant candle on the outside, which isn’t by accident. After all, appearances are for the eyes, so it’s critical that the product comes in a familiar and aesthetically pleasing package. The gently sloping middle surface, surrounded by an uneven wall, is designed in the semblance of the basic candle shape, while the lamp’s different and changing colors adapt to a person’s preferences and inclinations.

The device, however, is also a smart speaker that can emit sound in all 360 degrees. A mobile app will let you select your preferred soundscape or theme and even match it with the light of the candle. Last but definitely not least, There’s also an essential oil diffuser that completes the equation, creating a more powerful and entrancing experience that will definitely change the atmosphere inside your home or room.

Truth be told, Idiya is technically a mashup of three different devices, but it’s a combination that is executed in such a graceful manner that you’d be left wondering why it hasn’t been turned into an actual product just yet. Arguably, some prefer simpler, single-use products, but human desires can change so frequently that a single device that targets three of your five senses might be a more efficient and economical way to relax and find your center.

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These smart devices will feel at home in your minimalist living space

Thanks to the events of the past two or three years, people have become more conscious of how their homes can be expressions of their personalities as well as a way to set certain moods. Homeowners have started to pay closer attention to the designs of their homes, especially living rooms that act as a hub for families and visitors. Although there are countless design trends and styles, minimalism continues to be the most popular, especially because of how clean it looks by default. Appearances can sometimes be deceiving, though, and it might ironically be more difficult to pull off because of the choices you have to make to get that effect. A minimalist room doesn’t have to be barren, though, and it definitely doesn’t mean it has to be low-tech. To help get you started in upgrading your living room, here are a few gadgets and devices that will deliver a hi-tech lifestyle without clashing with your space’s minimalist aesthetics.

IKEA Dirigera Smart Home Hub

As the number of smart devices at home grows, the need to have them communicate well with each other also becomes more important. Smart home hubs are on their way to becoming essential pieces of any setup, and they will soon have to also be more conscious of how they look against their surroundings. The IKEA Dirigera not only communicates with almost all smart home devices and platforms in the market, but it also communicates well with the rest of your living room decor with its more refined and less conspicuous design.

Designer: IKEA

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

As the king of minimalist furniture and decor, you can never really go wrong with an IKEA. Compared to its predecessor, the IKEA Dirigera comes in a shorter form, almost resembling a low bowl. It still has the same white and gray dual-tone color scheme, but its stature makes it more discreet and more space efficient. Whether you prefer to place it inconspicuously on a shelf or put it near your Hi-Fi entertainment system, this central gateway to your smart home quietly stands as part of your minimalist decorations.

Google Pixel Tablet

Although it has confirmed that it will be launching its own tablet next year, Google is bucking the trend and giving the Pixel Tablet a different focus. Designed mostly to be a homebody, the tablet will behave as a smart home hub and video calling device when docked or a more portable entertainment slate that you can carry around inside the house. Sure, you can use it as a regular tablet as well for work or even games, but its mission is to keep you company at home and be the nexus of your Google-centric life.

Designer: Google

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

The Pixel Tablet is a good example of how minimalism can have different flavors as well. It might be less visually interesting compared to an iPad Pro, but its plain design is meant to make it blend better with your home decor. It is unassuming and almost nondescript so that your eyes are immediately drawn to its screen instead. That said, Google is pouring resources into special materials that will make the tablet’s body feel good in your hands, while the Charging Speaker Dock has the typical fabric wrapping common among smart speakers. As something that should be easily visible and accessible, the Pixel Tablet won’t make you feel ashamed about having a piece of tech become the virtual and perhaps literal center of your house.

Small Transparent Speaker

Next to smart bulbs, the smart speaker market is easy to get into because of their ubiquity and a wide variety of designs to choose from. Thanks to the Amazon Echo, most wireless speakers take on a cylindrical design or something close to it. Not all of these are a good fit for minimalist styles, though, especially those that look like miniature tanks or rubber capsules. Fortunately, there is also a good selection of fine-looking audio equipment, and the Small Transparent Speaker that we reviewed earlier this year is one of the bolder designs our eyes have feasted on.

Designer: Transparent

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Nothing is probably more minimal than naked speakers enclosed in a metal frame. A glass enclosure not only protects the delicate electronics inside but adds both visual appeal and class to a barebones piece of audio equipment. The Transparent Speaker’s unique charm is its simplicity and honesty, hiding no tricks up its sleeves to stand in between you and your listening experience. While some speakers stand in corners or hide below TVs, this is one that you’ll want to prominently and proudly put on display, even when you’re not using it.

IKEA Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker

If two heads are better than one, then furniture or devices that perform two or more functions will definitely be more desirable. Of course, those multiple functions need not be directly related, only that they can co-exist in the same body in a harmonious fashion. Using the principle of hiding in plain sight, the IKEA Symfonisk collaboration with Sonos offers a speaker that looks good by default because it is a speaker hiding in an art piece you will really want to hang on your wall.

Designer: IKEA

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Less of a picture frame and more like framed art, the IKEA Symfonisk challenges the preconceived notions of how speakers should look like. Blending technology and art in a simple yet ingenious way, the smart speaker brings your living room to life by letting sound emanate from locations you least expect. Although you can’t exactly change the art, the geometric patterns on contrasting black or white canvases are typical of minimalist decor, especially those that distill the colors of the world down to black and white.

LG Objet Collection Easel TV

Television sets have traditionally served the purpose of being an entertainment hub where families and friends would gather around and bond over shared interests. While they still function similarly, today’s TVs have started to change shape in order to avoid wasting space when not in use. Even the thinnest panel, however, will leave a black box in the middle of your wall, so some manufacturers have gotten a bit more creative in solving that problem. As part of its Object Collection, the LG Easel TV becomes an attractive art canvas that adds a little to any wall it leans on.

Designer: LG

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Unlike colorful artwork that could become a source of visual distraction, this TV, as its name implies, brings a more subdued space that uses pastel hues to blend or pop out from its backdrop when the TV is not in use. Even when the canvas is rolled up, a small part of the screen remains visible to show not only some information like the time but also to complement the room’s motif with your own choice of appropriate artwork. And since it’s not mounted to your wall, you can even change the LG Easel TV’s location to better match your ever-changing design tastes.

Samsung The Frame TV

While some modern TVs try to masquerade as artwork, Samsung The Frame TV becomes the artwork itself. Who says an unused TV has to be turned off (maybe your electricity bill does), especially when you can use it for other things? Whether you’re showing off family photos or boasting your familiarity with the masters, the Frame TV will always give your family and visitors something to talk about aside from the latest TV shows or news.

Designer: Samsung

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Rather than spending money on art or wall decorations that might change later on along with your interests and preferences, why not turn the TV into a dynamic and customizable digital canvas instead. With custom bezels that truly make it look like frame art, The Frame TV lets you pick and choose the art that matches your style, which may change depending on the day or mood. Or why settle for just one when you can go through different photos, bringing a pinch of anticipation and excitement to your living room.

NOMVDIC X300 Portable Project Speaker

Although some TVs have started to become more sophisticated in their appearance, some people have decided to just do away with them altogether. Choosing wall space and flexibility, these people have espoused projectors of all kinds to deliver their movie-watching fix when and where they want to. A lot of these home projectors come in large, bulky boxes, but the NOMVDIC X300 project and speaker sets itself apart not only with its dual functions but also with its rather distinctive appearance.

Designer: Leo of NOMVDIC

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

The old never really gets old and sometimes becomes new again. With the rise in interest in retro designs, the NOMVDIC X300’s vintage looks will charm its way into many people’s hearts. Looking like a transistor radio of old, the portable projector that carries its own speaker isn’t just a great fit for the home but also an attention-grabbing companion outdoors. It doesn’t hurt that the audio experience is tuned by Harman Kardon, so you won’t have to worry about that aspect of the 2-in-1 device.

LG Aero Air Purifier Side Table

Multi-functional furniture is becoming quite the fad these days, but there’s another way to go about upgrading your home life. Furniture that merges with electronics is starting to rise, even if it’s simply embedding a wireless charging coil on a part of its surface. Conversely, some consumer electronics are also trying to masquerade as works of art or pieces of furniture, like LG’s new air purifier that adds a tabletop so that it can be used in more ways than one. And yes, it can charge your phone, too.

Designer: LG

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Not all will be fans of LG’s color choices, but the idea of turning an air purifier into a piece of furniture is admittedly interesting. Since the air purifier has to stand in some part of the room anyway, why not give it another task it can easily accomplish as well. Whether it’s holding a book or a mug or charging your phone, the LG PuriCare Aero Furniture won’t be wasting space, especially when that space is at a premium.

Bissell air320 Max Smart Air Purifier

Air Purifiers have become hot items in the past two years or so, in no small thanks to a certain deadly virus that almost made the world grind to a halt. The large majority of these devices come in the form of large boxes or cans, which are admittedly the easiest to produce and probably the most efficient way to suck up air from all directions and blow it out again. Most of these look like your typical home appliance, but fortunately, some manufacturers have started getting better design sense, like Bissell’s air320 Max that looks stylish in any part of the room or with any kind of decor.

Designer: Bissell

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

The size and shape of a small suitcase, the air320 Max’s compact and flat body makes it easier to place it in the edges of the room where it won’t get in the way of foot traffic. Its white frame blends nicely with any kind of background or wall color, while the gray filter in front is made of fabric that goes in line with the design conventions of many smart home devices today, particularly smart speakers. In fact, this air purifier can easily be mistaken for a large speaker. The stubby wooden legs add a little charm to it, making it look more like a part of your furniture rather than some appliance.

Fiture Fitness Mirror

Personal health and fitness have become another widespread obsession lately, and people have started scrambling for ways to stay in shape, even at home. One can always just use whatever furniture and tools are available at hand, but a new breed of hi-tech devices and programs was born from this need to get guided training even without an instructor dropping by. Of all the new equipment that popped up recently, fitness mirrors like Fiture are perhaps the most novel and have the most potential to become part of your room’s decor.

Designer: Fiture

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

Having a sleek and stylish mirror always adds a special flavor to any room. One that functions as an advanced piece of technology definitely deserves mad props. You definitely wouldn’t have guessed that this tall apparatus was actually a display intended for exercise, especially since it doesn’t look like any piece of fitness equipment or device. It might be a bit pricey for now, especially with a subscription fee, but this could very well be the future of home fitness lessons.

LAYER Home Harmony Collection

Admittedly, this one might remain on the level of “concept,” but Layer Design’s collaboration with Deutsche Telekom gives us a preview of what is possible in the very near future. A roster of devices you might already be familiar with is given a facelift, transforming them into products that not only hide their technological underpinnings but also offer a calming atmosphere you wouldn’t associate with these kinds of devices.

Designer: Benjamin Hubert (LAYER Design)

Maximum Minimalist Appeal

It’s not hard to see how these designs will easily find their way into homes if they ever become available. A router that functions both as a table mirror and a minimalist display will definitely be a sight for sore eyes on desks or even shelves. A Wi-Fi mesh repeater in the form of a decorative wooden bowl can easily be placed inconspicuously anywhere, even on walls. It’s a delightful twist on the devices that have become part and parcel of every modern home, and hopefully, someone will take these designs or something similar to upgrade the aesthetics of these common smart devices.

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HD projector merges with a ceiling lamp and a built-in smart speaker, creating a space-saving entertainment centre

And now I’m wondering, why didn’t someone think of this before?

Brands have gone crazy innovating and designing projectors: 4k projectors, laser projectors, pocket projectors, short throw projectors, the list is endless. While being through all these variants, I’m not sure why someone didn’t choose the option to embed a projector into a lighting unit in the ceiling so it could project without hindrance? XGIMI for some reason was struck by the idea and the company has churned out the innovative projector, which I’m not sure how convincing it is in performance, but it certainly has me floored by its ceiling-worthy functionality.

Born out of thought above the rest; the XGIMI Magic Lamp is designed to function as a projector, a ceiling light, and a Bluetooth speaker all-in-one. The ceiling-mounted full HD (1,920 x 1,080) DLP projection system has its own 8W Harman Kardon speaker built-in. The smart speaker is compatible with voice assistant, supports Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual X, and helps in creating immersive theatre-esque experiences. Onboard is also a LED room lamp; this dimmable lamp features 176 LED mood lights.

Designer: XGIMI

Click Here To Buy Now!

The XGIMI Magic Lamp is currently on sale in China for 7,999 yuan (roughly $1,100). For the ones in Europe willing to shell out their dosh for this interesting ceiling projector; XGIMI is expected to showcase it at the IFA 2022 in Berlin next month. Before you make up your mind, here is a little about the projector’s ability. Capable of a 0.71 transmittance ratio, the Magic Lamp can project a 100-inch picture in 1080p resolution from 1.5 meters away. The projector delivers a very modest 900ANSI lumens of brightness, which should be fine if you have a closed room with little natural light.

XGIMI Magic Lamp for its projection prowess is powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor, and an AI engine supported by 4GB of RAM and 32 gigs of onboard storage. The internal storage ensures you can install a few streaming apps to play content when you want. Even if the XGIMI Magic Lamp is not the best projector, it is a capable multifunction device, which will by virtue of this placement in the ceiling ensure there are no shadows on the screen as people move about in the room!

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This Echo Dot speaker stand has the Greek God Atlas holding up your Alexa device

Call it an eclectic piece of home decor or an odd metaphor for Amazon’s global dominance.

Meet Atlas. Greek Titan, mythical holder of planet Earth, and now a tabletop accessory to plop your 4th Gen Echo Dot smart speaker on. Designed and manufactured by Etsy seller MisfitGeekGifts, this rather quirky little relic comes 3D printed from a special PLA filament which gives it a marble-like finish. Available in plinth and no-plinth varieties, Atlas holds up your Echo Dot perfectly, as if it were a massive globe. My only gripe is that it isn’t designed to conceal the Echo Dot’s charging cable, which would honestly then make it the perfect smart speaker stand in my book!

Designer: MisfitGeekGifts

Legend has it that Atlas, a Titan, was condemned to hold up the earth and skies in eternity after losing the battle versus the Titan gods and Olympian gods. Most representations show Atlas holding up a globe while simultaneously succumbing to its incredible weight. In the case of this little tabletop accessory, though, the globe gets replaced for a spherical Echo Dot 4th Gen. (If you’re a flat earther, you could just use the flatter Echo Dot 3rd Gen too)

The 3D printed stand comes in a plinthed (below) and a non-plinthed (above) version depending on how much vertical space you have on your tabletop surface. The model isn’t aggressively detailed, although that works in its favor since the filament is just translucent enough to look cloudy against the light, looking exactly like marble from afar. You can choose from MisfitGeekGifts’ catalog of other filaments too, including sandstone, wood, rainbow, or even bronze/silver/gold-colored plastic filaments! MisfitGeekGifts will also resize the print for you if you’ve got the larger Echo speaker as opposed to the Echo Dot.

Prefer sci-fi over Greek mythology? Here’s another Echo Dot speaker stand that turns your smart device into the Mandalorian helmet!

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X300 portable projector and speaker adds a vintage twist to entertainment

Home and portable projectors are becoming more common these days. And like any other popular consumer electronics, their designs are becoming more common as well. The large, nondescript boxes try to avoid calling attention to themselves so as not to ruin or clash with your room’s existing decor. But what if you actually had something worth noticing? What if your hi-tech piece of equipment could actually be the centerpiece of the room or a reason to brag to your friends? That is the fusion of technology and aesthetics that the X300 Smart Portable Speaker and Projector puts on the table, literally and figuratively, and, best of all, it’s more than just a pretty face.

Designer: Leo of NOMVDIC

Click Here to Buy Now: $749 $1099 (31% off). Hurry, exclusive for YD readers only and limited to 10!

You’d be forgiven if you are completely distracted by the X300’s vintage looks, which is actually part of its charm. Looking like a transistor radio from a bygone era, the trapezoidal box bears the hallmarks of a luxury piece, from the leather carrying strap to the matte metallic accents to the lattice-inspired slats at the sides. Even the controls are deliciously analog to stick with the theme, allowing owners to have a bit of fun in fine-tuning their listening experience.

Personal Big-screen Entertainment from Anywhere, Anytime – 3,000,000:1 native contrast delivers stunning 100” imagery on any surface–day or night.

The image of a high-class audio device is no illusion, though, as the X300 is a premium smart speaker both inside and out. Two tweeters, two woofers, and a 30W Class D amplifier promise to deliver a soundstage and audio presence you will rarely find in portable speakers, much less one that is also a portable projector. And, of course, these are no ordinary speakers as they have been developed and tuned by the famed Harman Kardon, adding more weight to the product’s identity as a luxury item.

Of course, the X300 is no mere smart speaker either. Flip the top cover open, and you will discover an LED DLP projector that lets you bring your favorite videos with you anywhere and not be confined to the straining size of a smartphone screen. Watch indoors or outdoors, on walls, on portable screens, or even on your ceiling, the X300’s reflective mirror and bright bulbs will make sure you’ll get the best views no matter what. You can enjoy your favorite movies and TV series on a 100-inch surface without having to worry about making room for a gigantic TV.

Built-in Battery for Complete Portability – The built-in 10,000mAh battery provides up to 6 hours of audio or 3 hours of projection.

Despite its classic appearance, the X300 is a true work of modern technology, supporting the latest connectivity options, both wired and wireless. 5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth let you conveniently stream your phone’s or computer’s content, while USB, HDMI, and memory card slots let you get physical with some media and sources. The same goes for audio output if you prefer to listen privately or hook up a thundering sound system to the projector. The X300 gives you the freedom to enjoy your entertainment your way.

With its dashing vintage looks and top-of-the-line video and audio performance, the X300 Portable Projector and Smart Speaker truly stand out from the growing crowd of home and portable projectors littering the market. And despite that luxurious charm and top-of-the-line hardware, the X300 carries an unbelievable $799 price tag, a 27% discount off its retail price, for a limited time, making it an offer that’s very difficult to pass up.

Click Here to Buy Now: $749 $1099 (31% off). Hurry, exclusive for YD readers only and limited to 10! Raised over $180,000.

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This Birdcage-inspired Sound Box Concept is one stylish smart speaker

Bird Intelligent Sound Box Concept

Smart speakers are quickly becoming a standard in smart homes. Your house can’t be considered smart if no smart speaker is available. It’s not just about owning the latest smart TVs or smart appliances now. You need to be able to have something that can talk back to you and really understand what you feel, think, and say.

Only a smart speaker can hear and understand what you have to say. This innovation has proven to be really successful as millions of smart speakers have been sold worldwide. We are now at the point where brands can play around with designs.

Designer: LIGUOYIN

Concept Design Bird Intelligent Sound Box

The Bird Intelligent Sound Box is a perfect example of how product design can make an ordinary gadget into something more special and unique. But, of course, birds can sing, and some can talk, so it makes sense that the idea is used here. Instead of just talking to your phone or a dull-looking box, why not speak to a bird? The Bird Intelligent Sound Box will make you feel like you’re just talking to a parrot which can be fun at times. This one won’t tell you bad things—just all you want to hear.

Bird Intelligent Sound Box

This concept product looks like a birdcage, but the bird isn’t inside. Instead, it stays on top as it also functions as a knob to control the volume. The birdcage portion is the speaker part where the sound comes out.

Bird Intelligent Sound Box Designer

The design of this smart speaker is minimalist and straightforward. It is a smart speaker in the form of a birdcage made with plastic material. We are also assuming it can support Siri and Google because it is supposed to be really intelligent. With artificial intelligence, this little birdie can tell you many things and do different tasks for you.

The Bird Intelligent Sound Box is rendered in three different colors. There’s silver, gold, and green but we think it will also look nice in other colors and other finishes. All three are elegant choices that we imagine seeing in homes with luxe and stylish interiors.

This isn’t the first time the idea of birds has been incorporated into a design. We even started with that bird-shaped camera. We remember the Canary Smart Speaker concept that could make two-way conversations. We love that CRYO Balancing Bird Lamp. That pelican-beak restaurant overlooking a cliff gives an absolutely stunning view. The Canairi Fresh Air Monitor can tell us whether air quality is good or bad.

Bird Intelligent Sound Box Details

Bird Intelligent Sound Box. Design

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