Saramonic BlinkMe B2 Wireless Mic Review: A Creator’s Dream Partner

PROS:


  • Clear and crisp audio in almost any scenario

  • Magnetic attachments allow more freedom where to use the transmitters

  • Eye-catching touch screens allow for showing brand logos in addition to recording information

  • Supports both real-time streaming and on-board recording

CONS:


  • Extra strong magnets can easily pinch the skin if not careful

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Magnetic attachments and customizable touch screens add incredible value to an already excellent wireless microphone.

With plenty of focus being lavished on cameras, optics, and image sensors, you’d almost think that all we have on our heads are eyes. While the visual quality of content is definitely important, it’s also easy to demonstrate how poor or even no audio can completely ruin an experience. Audio recording equipment, particularly microphones, sometimes comes as an afterthought, a decision that filmmakers and creators often immediately regret. Finding the right mic can be a daunting experience, especially when you’re forced to choose between small lavaliers with discrete designs but barely passable recording and large mics with studio quality but distracting sizes. The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 promises to save you from that dilemma with the promise of a small yet distinctive design and unbeatable audio recording, so we naturally had to put it through the test to see how it measures up to real-world use.

Designer: Saramonic

Aesthetics

If you were expecting a small clip or some small rectangular box, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it isn’t the case at all. The entire Saramonic BlinkMe B2 system comes in a rather unique package that is closer to some hi-tech gadget than what you’d normally see in wireless microphones. When joined together, the three parts look like a short square box with two smaller discs at the top and the bottom. You’ll probably be too focused on production to actually appreciate how distinctive the BlinkMe B2 looks, but it definitely puts the product a level higher than its peers.

The wireless mic’s personality, however, really shines the moment you use it, particularly when you separate these three pieces. You’ll immediately discover that they aren’t held down by flimsy locking mechanisms that get in the way but only by the sheer power of very strong magnets. These make it easy to remove the transmitters from the receiver base while still holding them securely when not in use or when charging. Once you pull off the transmitters, however, you immediately see the most visible feature that makes the BlinkMe B2 extra special.

Both transmitters have circular touch screens covering their faces, making them look like smartwatches without straps. In fact, you operate them exactly like smartwatches, swiping and tapping through controls and options. There are, of course, also physical buttons on the side that, unsurprisingly, might also remind you of smartwatch buttons. This is more than just an embellishment, though. While it’s definitely dandy to see the mic’s gain levels from a distance as you record an interview, its real value shines when you realize that you can actually customize what’s shown on the screen.

In essence, you can upload your studio’s logo or any other graphic (that fits a circle area) from the Saramonic mobile app to the transmitters and have it always on display while shooting. Considering how conspicuous this disc-shaped mic will be on your chest, it’s a great opportunity to do some subtle advertising. Conversely, that also means that the BlinkMe B2 transmitter will always be visible, though not everyone will actually realize that it’s a mic and presume it’s just some sort of fancy LCD badge.

Ergonomics

Saramonic’s use of magnets and touch screens isn’t just for show. They actually make the BlinkMe B2 one of the easiest wireless microphones to use. Need to start recording almost immediately? Simply pop off the transmitters. Need to charge one of the little pucks? Just have them snap back onto the top of the receiver. And since the transmitters can record audio on their own, you don’t even have to worry if you accidentally left the cables that would connect the receiver to a camera. It’s as simple as that.

Operating the three pieces themselves is a piece of cake thanks to the touch screens, though there are also physical buttons for the most important actions you need to have quick access to. What actions would those be? Actually, you get to decide that since you can customize what each button does through the Saramonic mobile app. The distinctive yellow button on the transmitters, however, has a single function, and that’s to toggle Noise Reduction on or off. That color might seem garish, but you won’t miss it even in a dark environment.

The magnets on the transmitters aren’t just a one-trick pony. Thanks to this design, you can easily stick the transmitters anywhere on a shirt, not just the edges. The package comes with four magnetic attachments that let you sandwich clothing between these two discs, though there’s also a magnetic clip in case you do need to go old school. You can even stick it to doors, posts, and any other metallic surface if you want to keep it out of the way. One word of caution, though. The magnets are so strong that you risk pinching the skin of your finger or, worse, certain body parts if you’re not careful how you connect two pieces together.

For all its ease of use, this magnet-based design does have one drawback. To charge the transmitters, you have to attach them to the receiver, which functions as the charging station. You can’t charge them independently using some accessory, so you’ll probably want to keep tabs on their battery levels. Given how the receiver is usually mounted on top of a camera, it also means you can charge only one transmitter at a time. Then again, if you do need to charge both, you’ve probably stopped recording anyway.

Performance

If we stopped at the BlinkMe B2’s unique aesthetic, people would simply pass it off as a pretty face. Fortunately, that is definitely not the case, because Saramonic’s smartest wireless definitely punches above its weight. You get clear and usable audio recordings even when there’s some busy activity around you, as we ourselves experienced on the hectic CES 2024 floor.

Even more impressive is that neither the signal nor the quality actually drops from a distance, even with some obstacle between the transmitter and the receiver, making it an excellent tool for sports or action footage. With the transmitter’s built-in recording functionality and 8GB of storage each, you don’t even have to worry when the stream does get cut off. As a bonus, the transmitter also has a “Safety Track” that’s recording at -6dB that’s meant to buffer against clipping and distortion, ensuring you will always have usable audio no matter the condition.

With wireless mics, battery life becomes just as important as audio quality, and fortunately, the BlinkMe B2 doesn’t skimp in that area either. Of course, Saramonic’s advertised 24 hours for the receiver and 8 hours for the transmitter are a tad too generous, but even hitting 22 hours and 6 hours, respectively is already quite an accomplishment. They charge fast, too, so you can be up and running for an additional hour with just a few minutes charge.

As mentioned earlier, controlling all the pieces of the BlinkMe B2 system is as easy as pie thanks to the sensitive touch screen. The transmitters, in particular, operate almost like smartwatches, with a swipe from the top revealing quick toggles and a swipe from the bottom going back to the main screen. The only slight complication is the smaller screen on the receiver, which is better used for displaying information rather than controlling the device. All in all, the BlinkMe B2 offers an unbeatable experience, not just in the quality of audio it produces but especially in the unique features it offers.

Sustainability

Saramonic introduced many features in the BlinkMe B2 that you won’t find in other wireless microphone systems, and thankfully, they’re all useful and essential to delivering an excellent audio recording experience. Unfortunately, that also makes the design of the device a little bit more complicated, which also means that repairs are going to require more specialized skills and components.

Although a wireless mic such as this is expected to be able to weather different environments, the presence of screens actually puts their durability at more risk. And the use of plastics and less eco-friendly materials are present all around, though not surprising considering it’s still the status quo in consumer electronics. Hopefully, the day will come when Saramonic puts sustainability as a major bullet point on its marketing material, allowing creators to make great content while also feeling good about their positive impact on the planet’s future.

Value

The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 is hardly a cheap kit, setting you back at about $249. There are definitely more accessible streaming mics in the market right now, with some of the popular ones just under $200. That said, those also have plenty of flaws of their own, like taking the form of a traditional mic that you need to place on a table. If you need something that can go the distance, literally, there are few that can outdo the BlinkMe B2.

The audio clarity and volume are just impressive, especially considering how crazy it always is at CES in Las Vegas. The fact that it can deliver more than just decent recordings at great distances is a huge boon for those who want to record more dramatic footage from a safe distance. Magnets make using and placing the transmitter easier and more hassle-free, and the ability to turn these recording devices into advertisements is definitely a great help for creators and studios. Even better, that price includes an entire kit, from four magnetic attachments to two magnetic clips to even a handy carrying case that lets you bring your precious equipment with security and convenience.

Verdict

It’s almost too easy to take the importance of quality audio for granted until that dreaded moment when you realize you barely recorded anything intelligible. Reliable audio that you can use is even more critical for those moments that will never come to pass again, including interviews you might not be able to retake. It’s in those moments that you’ll wish you had an audio recorder you could also rely on, just like your camera or smartphone.

The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 smart wireless microphone system is definitely ready to step up to the challenge. It breaks away from mic design conventions to deliver a product that has just enough tech to deliver convenience and a unique aesthetic without overburdening the user with inessential details and options. It’s powerful, a little bit quirky, and, most importantly, reliable, delivering quality audio recordings even in the most trying conditions. Yes, it’s also a bit pricey, but it’s an investment that will pay for itself throughout the coming years of creating high-quality audiovisual content.

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This desktop gadget helps students study on their own by making them more social

Although many schools have returned to traditional face-to-face interactions, there are still some that utilize online classes. Even without these more recent changes in school systems around the world, there have always been times when students had to face their school work on their own, separated from classmates and friends. Of course, smartphones and computers make connecting with others remotely all too easy to the point that they become distractions instead. Striking a balance between focus and socialization in the age of the Internet can be a daunting prospect for both students and their parents; that’s why this rather curious touch screen device tries to perform that delicate dance by connecting students to one another without becoming a distraction.

Designers: Simay Tokus, Muhammet Uzuntas, Brenda Gallardo Flores

Self-study has long been encouraged by many education systems, but let’s face it, few students really enjoy and thrive in that environment. While they may be able to focus for some time, they eventually find themselves craving a connection with their classmates, especially when they come across a problem they can’t solve on their own. Smartphones and the Internet break down barriers and connect students to one another easily. Unfortunately, they also become a source of distraction, even when the screen is turned off.

Summy is a dedicated device designed to keep students connected while still setting up limits to how many interruptions they can do. At its most basic, the device is a voice messenger, a timer, a daily planner, and a sort of social network among friends, most likely students in the same class or level. The idea is that you only get to send short voice messages to those in your circle, at least only when they’re available.

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The device uses a UI made of concentric circles and icons represented by old-school monochrome 8-bit characters. Tapping on a friend’s icon allows you to send a voice message, which is more limited and less disruptive than a voice call. You can view other friends’ daily schedules, and if they’re free, you can send a “Study with Me” request so that both of you can set a synchronized timer to study for the same time period.

Summy creates a rather playful atmosphere around the concept of studying together, even remotely, making it easier for students, especially younger ones, to adjust to the system that might remind them of mobile games that have short bursts of activity and communication only. The spherical shape of the device reinforces that playful character, especially with how the screen flips over to turn off the device. Of course, this only works if the student has a number of friends willing to play the same “game,” but Summy can also be a fun gadget to keep tabs on their own time and maybe have a retro display on their desk to keep them entertained.

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Universal TV remote with a built-in touchscreen display gives remote controllers a ‘modern touch’

In theory, the TouchSense Remote sounds like a brilliant idea. It could work with practically any TV or set-top box, replacing the need for multiple remote controls, and giving you one device with one interface that’s easy to understand and master. The dynamic touchscreen surface can easily transform to display the UI of any streaming service (in any language too), giving you the ability to more ‘universally’ control your devices. Want to switch apps, want to browse media, want to accurately seek through videos? That’s where a touchscreen display offers much more flexibility and functionality over simple buttons.

Designer: Alan Cabanelas

It’s quite surprising why a touchscreen remote hasn’t been made the default reality yet. Sure, remote controllers are designed as accessories and as auxiliary devices to the actual hardware – the TV or set-top box, but the TouchSense elevates the humble remote to a powerful interface for browsing content. It comes with a uniquely longitudinal screen that lets you browse apps, content within apps, and even control playback with sheer precision and intuition.

The only barrier I personally see with the TouchSense is that unlike with normal remotes (where you can use them blindly without taking your eyes off the screen) the TouchSense requires a bit of getting used to. The flat surface means your hands can never get used to any layout, and you HAVE to look down at the remote every time you use it. While that does seem like a problem, the TouchSense has some clever workarounds. The fact that the entire remote controller is a display means that you can look away from the TV and still see the content on your remote. Scared you’ll miss a scene, the remote could theoretically be displaying the same content as the TV, so you could look down without missing a thing. The long display also means you can’t operate the remote with just one hand. Chances are, you’ll need both hands – one to hold the remote and one to browse. The lack of bezels on the display could accidentally register palm touches, but that’s splitting hairs, to be honest.

Another clever set of details on the TouchSense are the presence of hardware buttons on the side for doing things like changing channels (on a regular TV) or increasing and decreasing volume. A set of buttons and a rotary dial on either side of the remote allow you to intuitively browse channels or alter volume without looking away from the TV.

The TouchSense comes with a rather handy design (unlike the slim, easy-to-lose Apple TV remote) that houses a large battery and charges via USB-C. The fact that it has a touchscreen display also means you won’t accidentally press any buttons with your butt… although you may want to be careful of damaging such a high-end tech accessory!

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This circular screen could be the future of hotel and restaurant concierge

The past two years really tested the systems we had in place, especially when it came to face-to-face interactions. Work that bosses said couldn’t be done at home was successfully accomplished at home, and transactions that used to be done on-site started to be handled online. There was also a trend in reducing the need for close contact to avoid the risks of transmitting airborne diseases, some of which may have proved to be more efficient after all. Those included processes like checking into hotels and restaurants, activities that could probably be done more efficiently with an automated system like this futuristic-looking screen that could be how the likes of Airbnb will do business someday.

Designer: Ivan Zhurba

Many futurists and visionaries paint the picture of a world filled with screens, most of them touch-enabled, that put almost everything that we need under our fingertips, figuratively and literally. Most of these seem to revolve around personal matters, like checking social media, working at the office, and similar. Of course, in such a future, even transactions like ordering food inside restaurants could be screen-centric, something that some venues are already adopting little by little today.

This concept puts that same screen-based interaction in the hospitality business, particularly as part of the hotel concierge. The idea is for guests to check themselves in using an easy-to-use interface on a large circular screen. The machine is quite stylish and would look at home in high-class hotels. A rod lamp “goes through” the display at an angle, providing not only illumination but also an interesting visual as well. It would use face recognition to verify the identity of guests and dispense access cards from a cylinder hanging from the side of the display.

This kind of concierge would probably be more applicable to services like Airbnb rather than large hotel chains with very precise systems and processes in place. Smaller businesses might not have enough resources and manpower to offer the same kind of experience that big hotels can, so such a machine could save them money over time. It also reduces the risks involved in having to meet people, providing some sense of security and privacy that is absent from home rental services.

At the same time, however, this kind of concierge could be seen as impersonal and cold, which is almost antithetical to what “hospitality” means. We’re definitely far from being able to rely on such technology completely, anyway, considering the current state of AI and face recognition. There’s definitely plenty of room for improvement, not to mention ways to keep that personal human touch even when you’re just talking to a screen.

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WOWCube System is a mind-blowing mashup between a Rubik’s Cube and a gaming console

Challenged your assumptions of how gaming handhelds should be with this innovative spin on a tangible video game system.

Smartphones, the Nintendo Switch, and now the Steam Deck have all given gaming a new face. No longer confined to desks or couches, gaming has taken on a more tactile and more portable character. That said, even touch-centric mobile games still use traditional controls, like D-pads on the left and actions buttons on the right. Video games, however, don’t necessarily have to be limited to a single screen or a single surface for that matter. Take, for example, this ingenious creation that takes a decades-old toy and gives it a modern spin that will really make you wonder why no one has thought of it before.

Designer: Ilya Osipov

Click Here to Buy Now: $274 $499 ($225 off with coupon code “yankodesign25”). Hurry, sale ends June 30th.

You’ve probably seen plenty of Rubik’s Cubes and their variants, and you’ve probably seen plenty of gigantic displays made up of dozens of small screens acting as a single entity. What you probably have never seen before is a Rubik’s Cube with small screens on all sides that can either act independently or together, each small display showing different things or a single 2×2 image. And each surface of a cube is a touch screen as well, letting you tap and swipe to play a game or control an app. The more interesting part is that you can also shake the cube or twist and turn its movable parts, opening new possibilities in the kinds of games that can be made and played on this gaming device.

Immersive Gaming Experience – Interact with the digital world like it is a real object. Control games by twisting, shaking, and tilting the console.

There are plenty of details that will really make you go “WOW!” both on a technical level as well as in terms of possibilities. For example, each of the eight small cubes that make up the WOWCube System is actually an independent computer with its own CPU. Those modules are still able to communicate quickly and change their configuration in an instant, thanks to special magnetic connectors. After all, you can’t expect a Rubik’s Cube to be able to twist and turn like a Rubik’s Cube if there are wires inside to connect each part.

Unique Technology – WOWCube® allows video games to be played on all 24 screens, covering 6 sides of the device, that run simultaneously.

The WOWCube Entertainment System is primarily a new kind of gaming system, and it already bundles a variety of popular games like Butterfly, Hyper Space, 2048, and the addictive Cut the Rope. Unlike their “normal” incarnations on other gaming devices like smartphones, you can play these games with more tactile and more physical controls, like twisting the halves of the cube or even shaking it. It makes games not only more interesting but also more interactive and more immersive on a physical level.

Widgets – Broadcast any information you’d like, including currency exchange rates, photos, the weather forecast, or notifications from your apps.

Aquarium – Put fish or other pets in the aquarium, feed them by tapping the top, and watch them grow over time

The cube, however, isn’t just for gaming. Thanks to the availability of a Development Kit, the possibilities are nearly endless, allowing you to make your own games for this innovative console. You can even make other kinds of apps called “widgets” that can display different pieces of information on each screen, from stock prices to weather, thanks to its ability to connect to your smartphone. You can turn the cube into a desktop aquarium where you feed your virtual fish by simply tapping the top of the cube. Because it is a programmable computer at its very heart, the WOWCube System can become almost anything, including a multi-functional controller for computers or IoT devices.

Gaming is supposed to cultivate creativity and problem-solving skills, but the very gaming systems we have today seem to be lacking those qualities themselves. Who would have expected that an old toy would lead to one of the most innovative entertainment systems to ever hit the market? That’s exactly what the WOWCube Entertainment System brings to the table, but it’s probably going to do more than just sit on that table unless you’re feeding your digital fish.

Click Here to Buy Now: $274 $499 ($225 off with coupon code “yankodesign25”). Hurry, sale ends June 30th.

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Kwumsy K2 is a mechanical keyboard that carries its own touch screen

There are two things that hardcore PC users and gamers require and agree on, whether or not they use a touchpad or a mouse with one hand. They all want a trustworthy keyboard, often a mechanical one, and they all believe that a second screen would improve their productivity or level up their game. Funnily enough, it seems that someone did take those desires to heart and smashed them into a single peripheral. Taking a few pages from Apple’s MacBook Pro Touch Bar as well as the ASUS ZenBook Duo, this keyboard does more than just offer a second screen on top of a keyboard but also delivers a mechanical keyboard that tries to give that kind of typing experience that gamers, programmers, and writers love talking about.

Designer: Kwumsy

The idea of having a screen on top of your keyboard might sound ridiculous or excessive at first until you realize that PC manufacturers are actually going in that direction. Apple may have dropped the controversial Touch Bar from the MacBook, but other PC makers are starting to embrace it. ASUS took that idea to the extreme by having a rather sizable display instead of just a strip of OLED screen above the keyboard.

In theory, the idea is that this second screen could become a dedicated control panel or tool palette for different apps. This would free the main monitor to actually display content or the document that you’re working on. It could also simply be a second monitor for less important parts of an, like chat in a live stream, comments on YouTube, and the like. In practice, however, it’s not something that happens magically and requires a lot more juggling and trial and error to get right.

The mechanical keyboard part is at least more conventional, using Gateron Blue switches that offer plenty of resistance and clickyness to satisfy the needs and preferences of very active users. The tactile feedback and accuracy offered by these switches can even be critical in maintaining an edge in fast-paced competitive gaming. The pudding keycaps have transparent lettering to let the gamer-typical RGB lights shine through. Unfortunately, they’re also made from ABS plastic, so they wear out easily over time.

Despite looking almost like a complete computer, albeit one with an odd half-screen, the Kwumsy K2 is really just an external monitor and keyboard that you have to connect to a desktop or a laptop. That does limit its compatibility to a few devices, though it’s really only iPhones and iPads that are not invited. Even if it does successfully connect to a computer, however, the functionality of that built-in touch screen can be a hit or miss, depending on the operating system and the software.

The whole enclosure is also quite big and thick, about 1.22 inches think and 9.15×13.17 inches around. It’s not exactly the most portable peripheral, especially if you’re already carrying around a hefty gaming laptop. It’s definitely meant to stay at home or in a studio, where its extra screen could do wonders for people using specialized software. Outside of those, however, it’s a pretty niche accessory for an almost niche group of computer users, but one that seems to be catching on among other accessory makers trying to capitalize on this new fad.

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Corsair’s first-ever laptop embraces a divisive MacBook Pro feature

Gaming laptops are a dime a dozen these days, and many of them have started to look similar on the inside. The computing hot rods are often distinguished simply by their branding, but once in a while, you get a newcomer that tries to do more than just promise insane performance that won’t burn the house down. That’s somewhat the proposition that Corsair is making with the upcoming Voyager a1600 laptop. A veteran in gaming desktops, parts, and accessories, Corsair is leaping into the gaming laptop market that’s a little too crowded already at the moment. Its claim to fame, other than the first for a well-known brand, is a feature targeted at a very niche group of gamers and creators, one that takes a page out of Apple’s less than perfect book on MacBook Pro design.

Designer: Corsair

Despite being famous for its design acumen, it’s hard to deny that Apple made a few missteps in some of its products, including the venerable MacBooks. Its adoption of problematic keyboard switches, for example, led to numerous class action lawsuits before Apple returned to tried and tested designs. It was also heavily criticized for throwing away almost all ports, forcing people to spend more money on USB-C hubs and docks to fill in the need. There is also the case of the ill-fated Touch Bar that replaced the entire row of function keys. These three were all instances where Apple backtracked on its design, but it seems to have also opened the door for others to follow in its footsteps.

The Corsair Voyager a1600 has your typical gaming laptop features, from the top-of-the-line hardware to the RGB lighting that gamers seem to adore. One thing that sets it apart from the competition, however, is a row of capacitive buttons sitting on the edge of the laptop, right where the hinge should be. These programmable buttons are inspired and powered by the Elgato Stream Deck, a popular accessory aimed at live streamers. In a nutshell, both the Stream Deck and its incarnation in this laptop allow owners to assign different shortcuts to those buttons, automating much of the work that’s needed in a smooth live broadcast.

This will undoubtedly call to mind the Touch Bar that Apple just killed, starting with the latest MacBook Pros. This feature split Apple fans into camps, but lukewarm reception and technical problems eventually spelled the end of the Touch Bar. Criticized as it may have been, Apple’s Touch Bar has one huge usability advantage over the Corsair laptop’s version. The Voyager a1600’s shortcut bar only shows buttons numbered S1 to S10, and it will be up to the user to remember which buttons map to which actions. Ironically, the Elgato Stream Deck on which this feature is based actually lets you customize the icons that each button shows, creating a better mnemonic for programmed actions.

The Corsair Voyager a1600 does have one other unique feature that very few laptops have, if any have it at all. It has an integrated receiver for its CORSAIR SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS system, which means you can connect up to three wireless peripherals to the laptop without having to plug in their USB receivers. Not only does this free up the USB ports for other uses, it also makes for a cleaner look. Of course, that only works if you’re using compatible Corsair peripherals, which is probably the point of this particular feature. Maybe other PC makers will wise up and adopt something similar, though it runs the risk of creator vendor lock-in in the long run.

Corsair is making a daring entry into the congested gaming laptop market in more ways than one. While the S-key shortcut bar can be programmed for any use, it is primarily designed for streamers and content creators, just like the Elgato Stream Deck. It’s a rather niche market, even among gamers, so it remains to be seen if it will actually appeal to that crowd or if Corsair will kill off the feature after just one try. It’s definitely a big risk for its first laptop, considering it won’t be inexpensive. The Corsair Voyager a1600 will start at $2,700, though the company hasn’t yet announced when it will be available.

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This upright piano features a built-in HD display screen for easy playing and learning

The Mozart Console Piano is an upright digital piano with an integrated HD display screen for easy playing and learning.

If everyone could play piano like Mozart, we would. One of the most sought-after skills to learn, playing the piano is no easy feat. It takes practice, musical knowledge, and some natural rhythm to pull off the melodies and chord progressions we hear on the radio.

Designer: Hs2 Studio

That being said, learning how to play the piano is worth it if you’re interested in progressing your musical expertise. The Mozart Console Piano, an upright keyboard with an attached screen display, was designed by Hs2 Studio to merge the digital world with the classic piano for easy playing and learning.

The Mozart Console Piano merges the conveniences of technology with the artful craft of analog devices to turn the piano into a musical experience that anyone can enjoy. The Mozart Console Piano appears like any other classic, upright piano, except for its 32-inch HD touch display that’s propped right in the center of the piano.

The 32-inch HD display is multipurpose, offering both distance learning features for amateur players to follow along with and familiarize themselves with piano playing. Just like a regular piano, the 32-inch display screen also functions as a digital songbook, showcasing music sheets for piano players to follow.

As our world is immersed deeper and deeper into technology, our non-tech devices have been getting supplemented with digitized features for optimization. The crafts and skills that might have felt just beyond our reach, like learning a new language or reading 100 books over the span of a year, have become easier to obtain through technology. Innovations like audiobooks and Duolingo are testaments to how technology makes everyday activities feel a little more accessible. The Mozart Console Piano aims to bring that same touch to the world of music.

An accompanying seat comes along with the upright piano.

The Mozart Console Piano’s digital display screen can showcase sheet music in real time.

The Mozart Console Piano maintains a simple silhouette and all-black glossy finish.

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Etto dining table imagines how tech can be unobtrusively embedded in everyday things

Minimalist furniture is often considered antithetical to hi-tech features, but this concept challenges those assumptions in a simple yet beautiful way.

There is no stopping the fact that our appliances and even our furniture are getting smarter. Many lighting solutions today connect to the Internet, and some wooden desks or shelves have built-in wireless charging. The influx of technology in our homes can sometimes feel a bit too invasive and disruptive, especially if they tend to drive people apart, even when sharing the same physical space. Technology can sometimes also be too “in your face,” flexing its muscles and creating disharmony in people’s lives. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way at all, and thoughtful product design offers the opportunities to upgrade what looks like simple, minimalist furniture without disrupting a family’s dynamics. In fact, it can even become a place for family and friends to build stronger relationships.

Designer: Dan Nigri

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The dining table has always been traditionally associated with family bonding, at least before the era of television and smartphones. You only have to look at how many romcoms and TV dramas play out their most emotional or pivotal scenes around the dinner table. Things have changed drastically over the past years, especially when family members started paying more attention to their phones instead of each other, even when sitting around the same table. It’s only fitting, then, that this concept starts with a dining table to help repair the damage that technology has done in our lives.

At first brush, Etto looks like a nondescript wooden table. Its minimalist design is pleasing to look at but nothing we haven’t seen before. Things change, however, when you “turn on” the table and the surface starts to display icons and text. Underneath that wooden veneer is apparently a screen that you can also touch and play with. It doesn’t take much imagination to also presume it connects to the Internet as well.

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The motivation behind this concept design is to bring everyone back to the dining table again. In addition to eating together, the table encourages other social activities, particularly playing games. With a touch screen, however, Etto can really become a canvas for almost anything, like a calendar and project board for discussing the next family vacation or a leaderboard of chores that everyone has accomplished.

It isn’t a gigantic tablet, though, so there are still limits on what you can do on the table. It is limited to a monochrome display of white against the natural wooden surface of the table, and there don’t seem to be enough pixels to display hi-res images. Those restrictions are intentional, of course, because technology is meant to blend into our everyday lives and not be another source of disruption and distraction.

Many of the technologies needed to make the Etto table happen already exist today, with touch screen panels hiding behind wooden planks. It is definitely a more pleasing and less overwhelming way of seeing a future that’s filled with touch screens and information at every turn. You can have your cake and eat it too, and not be worried that it’ll come screaming at you for attention.

The post Etto dining table imagines how tech can be unobtrusively embedded in everyday things first appeared on Yanko Design.

A movable knob puts a tactile twist on the modern touch screen car dashboard

Touch screens are great and all, but they aren’t always the best solutions for controlling things, especially when you need to keep one hand on the dash and both eyes on the road.

The cars of the future are imagined to have almost no physical controls. They might not even have steering wheels if the promise of self-driving vehicles gets fulfilled perfectly. Buttons and knobs will be a thing of the past, replaced by slick screens you can simply glide your finger on. Reality, however, still needs to catch up with our imaginations, and our fingers and hands are still critical in how we interact with cars.

Designer: Gabor Jutasi

Touch screens provide more controls and functionality in a small amount of space, while buttons, dials, and switches are not only limited functionality but also restricted by the laws of physics. Until we finally make tactile touch screens a reality, however, there is one thing that physical controls can do that touch screens can’t provide. More often than not, you don’t have to look at a button to know that it’s on or off, nor do you have to look at a dial when twisting its knob.

This “no look” functionality is critically important when driving, where your eyes should be on the road, not the touch screen. At the same time, we can’t feasibly turn back the clock on car dashboards, so we need a compromise that takes these needs and limitations into account. Enter the Electric Car Dashboard, where a simple, movable knob does the trick.

Actually, that knob is anything but simple and is a sophisticated device on its own. It has a dynamic display on the top that changes its content depending on where you place it on the dash. It also acts as a button you can push to access more functionality that would otherwise require a second knob.

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The idea is that this dial gives drivers the necessary physical control they can turn in order to adjust the volume or the temperature without even looking at the screen. The knob’s function isn’t fixed, however, and you can move it to a different portion of the screen to make it control a different setting, like skipping to the next or previous track in a playlist. And in case there’s more than just one setting in that position, you push the knob’s button to switch to the next set.

This kind of multi-functional dynamic knob isn’t just a concept, though. Microsoft already demonstrated this in action with the Surface Dial. Of course, there are plenty of things to iron out with this Electric Car Dashboard concept, and it isn’t a foolproof solution either. It is, however, a very interesting one that creatively combines the digital and the physical in a way that doesn’t compromise one or the other.

The post A movable knob puts a tactile twist on the modern touch screen car dashboard first appeared on Yanko Design.