Tag Archives: USB-C

I Stopped Paying for Cloud Storage After Trying This Tiny 256GB iPhone SSD

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I remember a time when smartphones had expandable storage. In fact, I remember feeling this internal rage when I saw the iPhone Air and that Apple even decided that a physical SIM slot wasn’t necessary anymore, because apparently a SIM tray blocks so much space that you need to shave down on a phone’s battery capacity. It’s wild that we’ve gotten to this point in our lives, and what’s more wild is that we now have to ‘rent’ storage out by paying for iCloud or Google Drive subscriptions to store our photos and videos. I remember when you could pop in a MicroSD card and those low-storage problems would go away… and ADAM Elements is trying to bring back that convenience with its ultra-tiny SSDs.

The iKlips S isn’t as small as a MicroSD, but it’s sufficiently more advanced than one. Barely the size of a 4-stud LEGO brick, this SSD plugs right into your smartphone, giving it an instant 256GB memory boost. It docks in your phone’s USB-C port, transferring data at incredible speeds, and here’s the best part – the tiny device packs biometric scanning too, which means you can pretty much secure your backups with a fingerprint the way you secure your phone with FaceID. The best part? No pesky subscription fees. You pay once and own the storage forever, and everything’s local and offline… so you never need to worry about remembering passwords, or about having companies and LLMs spy on your personal data to train themselves.

Designer: ADAM Elements

Click Here to Buy Now: $62.3 $89 (30% off, use coupon code “30YANKOIKPS”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Think a thumb drive, but insanely tinier. That’s the beauty of SSDs, and ADAM Elements touts that the iKlips S currently holds the record for the world’s smallest SSD. Plug it into your phone, tablet, laptop, or any device and it instantly gets a 258GB bump. Data transfers at speeds of up to 400Mb/s with read speeds of 450Mb/s, that’s fast enough to move RAW files in milliseconds and entire 4K videos in seconds, or even directly preview/edit ProRes content on your phone, tablet, or laptop without having to transfer data to local storage. After all, that’s the dream, right?

The tiny device comes with a machined aluminum body and a lanyard hole so that you can string something through to prevent it from getting lost. Plug it into your phone to back up media, then into your laptop or iPad to edit said media. You can transfer data between multiple devices fairly quickly, across platforms too, thanks to cross-compatibility with iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and even Linux. The tiny design sits practically flush against your phone, tablet, or laptop, occupying about the same amount of space as a USB receiver for a wireless keyboard or wireless mouse. Its most important design detail, however, hides in plain sight.

On the underside of the iKlips S is a fingerprint scanner, allowing you to add authentication to your SSD the way you add a password to your iCloud. The device can hold as many as 20 fingerprints, making it perfect for redundancies (just in case you cut a finger while chopping veggies) or even for a team of multiple people sharing data. Place your finger on the iKlips S and it unlocks the SSD, allowing you to read/write data in no time. You’re never faced with forgetting your iCloud password as your password literally lives on your fingertips.

The price of it all? A mere $62.3, which costs about as much as an annual subscription to these cloud storage services. For that, you get something you truly own, and can use without needing an app or an internet connection. Just plug it in and you’ve suddenly got extra storage. Secure the storage with a fingerprint, and move data around at speeds your internet service provider could only dream of. Neat, huh?

Click Here to Buy Now: $62.3 $89 (30% off, use coupon code “30YANKOIKPS”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post I Stopped Paying for Cloud Storage After Trying This Tiny 256GB iPhone SSD first appeared on Yanko Design.

1.3mm Tracker Card Charges via USB-C, Trumps AirTag and Tile Slim

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Losing your wallet, passport, or bag is a universal frustration that can turn a busy day or a big trip into a scramble of retracing steps and hoping for a miracle to happen in your favor. Most tracking cards promise peace of mind, but end up bulking up your wallet like a small pebble wedged between your cards or running out of battery just when you need them most during critical moments when losing something could ruin your plans.

The Slimca HERE 2 is a rethink of what a tracker card can be for modern life and daily carry needs. At just 1.3mm thick, it’s as slim as a credit card, bends without breaking under pressure, and works with both Apple Find My and Android Find Hub seamlessly across platforms. It’s a tracker designed to disappear into your daily life completely until you need it, then spring into action when it matters most.

Designer: Jerry & Minami

Click Here to Buy Now: $29.4 $42 (30% off). Hurry, only 629/1200 left! Raised $88,000.

Imagine rushing through airport security, your mind on deadlines and gate changes, when you realize your wallet isn’t in your pocket anymore. That sinking feeling hits, but your phone buzzes with an alert from the Slimca HERE 2, telling you exactly where you left it. No panic, no frantic backtracking through three terminals—just a quick glance at your phone and a confident walk back to the checkpoint where you set it down.

Slimca HERE 2 is crafted from mirror-finish 304 stainless steel, giving it a premium look and the resilience to flex up to 15 degrees without snapping under pressure from daily use. Slip it into a wallet slot next to your debit cards, tuck it behind your passport in a travel pouch, or drop it in a bag’s hidden pocket, and it vanishes completely without a trace. No bulge, no awkward fit, just seamless integration with your essentials.

Unlike plastic trackers that crack or warp over time from repeated stress, HERE 2’s steel body shrugs off pressure from sitting on hard surfaces, bending when you squeeze into tight spaces, or getting jostled in crowded subways during rush hour. The minimalist face features a single button for playing a sound when you need to locate it, a charging light for battery status, and subtle gold or silver branding that keeps the look clean and timeless.

One of the biggest innovations of the Slimca HERE 2 is the USB-C port ingeniously integrated into its 1.3mm frame, allowing for easy, direct charging with any standard cable you already own for other devices. A single charge lasts up to five months, and the battery supports 100 cycles. The rechargeable design and stainless steel construction make Slimca HERE 2 a sustainable choice for conscious consumers who care about reducing waste while ensuring that their tracker is always ready for the next adventure.

Slimca HERE 2 is one of the only tracker cards to support both Apple Find My and Android Find Hub networks, so you’re covered no matter what phone you use or switch to in the future. Pair it with your device in seconds, and you’ll get instant notifications if you leave your wallet or bag behind at a coffee shop, plus the ability to play a sound to help you find it when it’s nearby but hidden.

For travelers who’ve had their luggage separated from them, students who lose their wallets between classes, and anyone who values peace of mind without carrying bulky gadgets, HERE 2’s blend of durability and discretion solves real problems elegantly. The tracker becomes invisible until the moment you need it, then delivers exactly what you need without fuss or complicated apps. And when you do need to bring it out, the HERE 2’s mirror-polished steel and impossibly slim profile make it as much a design object as a tech accessory worth showing off.

Click Here to Buy Now: $29.4 $42 (30% off). Hurry, only 629/1200 left! Raised $88,000.

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Credit Card-Thin Handheld Has 300 Games and A Multiplayer Cable

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There’s something magical about pocket-sized gaming that never gets old for those who grew up with handhelds in their backpacks and pockets. The thrill of squeezing a whole arcade into your palm, the nostalgia of pixel art and chiptunes, and the joy of discovering new games on the go bring genuine smiles that modern mobile gaming just can’t replicate. Most modern handhelds chase power and graphics, but sometimes it’s the simplicity and creativity of 8-bit gaming.

The Arduboy FX-C is a new take on that classic formula with a modern twist for contemporary gamers who appreciate retro aesthetics. It’s slim, open-source, and loaded with over 300 homebrew games, all ready to play on a device that’s barely thicker than a credit card you carry daily in your wallet. With USB-C charging and multiplayer support via link cable, it’s a retro playground for your pocket.

Designer: Kevin Bates

The FX-C is built specifically for portability, with a polycarbonate front, stamped aluminum back, and a transparent shell that shows off the ultra-thin circuit board inside for tech enthusiasts. At just 5mm thick, it slips into your wallet or pocket with room to spare for other essentials like keys and cards. The tactile buttons and crisp black-and-white 128 by 64 OLED screen channel the spirit of classic Game Boy handhelds.

Limited editions add a splash of color and personality to the minimalist design that collectors will appreciate. Purple buttons mark the Founders Edition, while electric green branding distinguishes the Standard Edition produced by Seeed Studio for wider distribution. The robust construction shrugs off daily bumps and scratches without showing wear, while the slim profile means you can carry it everywhere without thinking twice about added bulk.

The big upgrade is USB-C, making charging and programming easier than ever before for users who’ve moved to modern cables. But the real fun starts with the included USB-C link cable that enables local multiplayer battles. Connect two FX-Cs together and you unlock head-to-head multiplayer action, from classic Pong to new homebrew duels created by the passionate community. The same port supports external sensors and future mods for experimenters.

Inside, the ATmega32u4 chip and 16MB flash storage hold over 300 games, with instant switching between titles and no need to reflash the device constantly like earlier models. The 180mAh battery delivers over 8 hours of continuous play on a single charge, and the 4-channel piezo speaker brings retro soundtracks and sound effects to life. The entire system runs on open-source hardware and software that anyone can modify.

The FX-C comes preloaded with a sprawling library of platformers, shooters, puzzles, and more titles spanning every retro genre imaginable, each one crafted by a global community of open-source developers who contribute freely without commercial motivation. If you’ve ever wanted to build your own game or learn to code in a friendly environment, free tutorials and a thriving forum make it easy to get started without prior experience.

Whether you’re commuting on crowded trains, waiting in line at the coffee shop, or just need a break from your phone’s endless notifications and social media, the Arduboy FX-C delivers a burst of retro fun wherever you are throughout the day. For anyone who loves the spirit of classic gaming with a modern twist and open-source freedom, it’s proof that sometimes less really is more.

The post Credit Card-Thin Handheld Has 300 Games and A Multiplayer Cable first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tiny USB-C accessory adds a physical volume slider to your laptop

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Laptops are getting thinner and smaller, but their functionality is getting even more powerful. The usually means plenty of things to control, and some of them need to be reached faster than digging through menus and clicking on buttons. Keyboard shortcuts are, of course, a viable solution, but they can also be cumbersome, complicated, and unintuitive.

Something as normal and as regular as changing the volume, for example, shouldn’t take two keystrokes or scrolling your mouse wheel (which might not exist) over some tiny icon. This simple yet useful accessory brings a bit of sanity and physicality to that action on laptops, at least if you have an extra USB-C to spare.

Designer: Pavel Burgr

Depending on your laptop’s keyboard layout and settings, turning the volume up or down can involve one or two keystrokes. The problem is that the location of these keys is inconsistent across keyboards and laptop brands, and they’re not exactly memorable or intuitive in their location. Having dedicated volume keys would be nice, but it could be a waste of precious space on the keyboard.

SoundSlide attacks that problem from a different angle by providing a physical volume control that you can connect and remove as needed. It’s a rather small object, smaller than a USB-A port and only 3.5mm thin, so it barely sticks out from the side of your laptop. It does connect via a USB-C port, and when it does, it gives you a way to actually feel like you’re raising or lowering your laptop’s volume.

The flat capacitive surface has exposed gold contacts that translate the sliding gestures to volume controls. A tap also mutes or unmutes the volume, giving you instant physical control without having to second guess which keys to press. It’s also promised to work out of the box on Windows, macOS, and even Linux, so you can use it without any setup or configuration. That said, you can also change a few settings such as sensitivity, orientation, and custom gestures using a Web-based interface.

The catch to this almost wonderful trinket is that it does occupy a USB-C slot. Some laptops have a limited number of ports, so you’re sacrificing what could be a potentially critical connection. That said, you don’t always need to have SoundSlide connected, so it’s not like you’re permanently losing an important USB-C port either.

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Apple AirPods Max get a USB-C port thanks to this clever engineering hack

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Ken Pillonel takes consumer satisfaction a little too seriously. Famous for hacking previous versions of the AirPods to give them USB-C ports and make them more repairable, Pillonel has now turned his sights to the AirPods Max (which hasn’t received an update in over 3 years, as he points out). The regular AirPods and even the iPhone have both made a concerted shift to USB-C, but Apple surprisingly forgot to upgrade their flagship headphones, leaving it in the lightning era.

No stranger to hacking (ahem, upgrading) Apple’s accessories, Pillonel decided to build a USB-C AirPod Max before Apple did. The video above takes us through the journey, showing how Pillonel disassembled the existing AirPods Max, designed a new PCB with a USB-C port, and mounted it (with relative ease) in the headphones, giving them the upgrade they severely needed. The best part, Pillonel even sells his PCBs on his own website, encouraging other people to hack their AirPods Max too and upgrade them to USB-C.

Designer: Ken Pillonel

The AirPods Max debuted in December 2020, which means they’re one of the only mainstream Apple products to not have received a major upgrade in years (they were announced even before the AirTag). Realizing that now was a better time than ever, Pillonel decided to take his AirPods Max for a spin, cracking them open to see the assembly inside and whether it would be easy to upgrade it. Luckily, the lightning port was relatively easy to upgrade without any invasive procedures to the headphone’s body itself. Apple designed the port with a removable metal lip that allowed it to magically become wider (it’s almost as if Apple was preparing for this transition in advance), and knocking the lip out made the hole perfectly sized for a USB-C port.

Pillonel simply unplugged the lightning connector from the existing motherboard and designed a new one that housed the USB-C port. He shared the new PCB design on PCBWay, and had the circuit boards sent to him. An older iteration featured a single-piece PCB that worked, but was susceptible to wear and tear, so Ken redesigned the PCB with a flexible ribbon cable, allowing it to bend without applying pressure on certain parts. The new PCB is available in Pillonel’s shop for 39.9 CHF ($45.3 USD).

The older PCB was prone to wear and tear if used roughly

A flexible ribbon cable on the new PCB made it much more resistant to regular daily usage

The upgraded AirPods Max (Pillonel calls it the AirPods Max 2.0) only has the one design upgrade, although knowing Pillonel, he’ll soon make the entire thing repairable and probably even figure out how to replace batteries on them. You can visit his YouTube channel here, or read our coverage on his other interesting projects here.

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Standalone AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen USB-C charging case might not be worth the price

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The newest iPhones have finally jumped on the USB-C bandwagon, but there are still a few Apple products that still cling to the older Lightning technology. That includes all iPhone models before the iPhone 15, older iPads, and the majority of charging cases for the AirPods. A few months back, Apple did release a version of the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case, but you’ll have to buy the whole set to enjoy this upgrade, both earbuds and charging case. If you already have a 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that came with a Lightning charging case, however, you can now just buy the USB-C case on its own, but the price tag on this very optional accessory could have you thinking twice why you’d want to buy one in the first place.

Designer: Apple

To be fair, the USB-C charging case does have a few advantages, though the biggest one would be consistency between the most recent Apple devices. You won’t have to carry a separate Lightning cable, presuming you’ve gone all-in on USB-C already. There’s also this convenient reverse charging feature where you can charge the AirPods Pro case from an iPhone 15 using a USB-C to USB-C cable. Handy in an emergency but not exactly a ground-breaking game-changer.

Given the nearly similar features, the $99 price tag on this standalone USB-C charging case for the AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen might seem a little excessive. It also only makes sense if you already have the Lightning version of these AirPods Pro and only want to enjoy the benefits of USB-C mentioned above. Otherwise, it doesn’t offer any charging speed advantages between these two models and both support the same wireless MagSafe capability.

That said, you might want to upgrade from the 2nd generation Lightning AirPod Pro to its USB-C sibling for future-proof durability and features. The USB-C AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen has an IP54 rating, up from last year’s IPX4, which means it’s better protected against dust and small particles, though it’s still only splashproof rather than waterproof. It will, however, support lossless audio when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset, at least if you can get your hands on one next year.

The USB-C case itself is also IP54 rated, but you won’t get the dust-proofing upgrade for the earbuds just by switching cases. That makes the standalone case less appealing for the majority of AirPods owners. Then again, there will always be someone who wants a complete and consistent set of products or may have had the misfortune of losing their original charging case. Fortunately, now you won’t have to buy a new set just to replace that.

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Genius Hack for the Apple Magic Mouse gives it Charge-While-Use feature and a USB-C Port

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8 years ago, Apple (helmed by Jony Ive) committed one of design’s biggest cardinal sins by taking a hatched to product usability. Sounds a little extreme, but ask anyone about Apple’s biggest design flaw and they’ll probably tell you how the Magic Mouse needs to be flipped over to charge, thus rendering it absolutely unusable. The flaw is so hilariously bad that most people even overlook the fact that the Magic Mouse is the least ergonomic mouse to begin with. Its ultra-sleek design is perfect for slipping into laptop bags, but it’s a nightmare for anyone with carpal tunnel, and even generally, makes for a horrible gripping experience (resulting in people designing pretty clever ergonomic grips for the Magic Mouse).

Many a DIY-er has tried fixing both the ergonomic and charging problems, but failed at the latter… but Ivan Kuleshov thinks he may have finally cracked the code. His solution? A redesigned shell for the Magic Mouse that doesn’t just fix the infamous charging issue but also enhances its ergonomic feel. The new design allows for upright charging through a USB-C port, a simple yet effective fix that Apple seemingly overlooked.

Designer: Ivan Kuleshov

Kuleshov’s design does the unthinkable – lets you use your Magic Mouse while charging it. Apple apparently engineered a failsafe into its mouse that disabled usage during charging (something that designer Matt Benedetto figured out the hard way), but Kuleshov’s solution circumvents that by technically ‘hacking’ the mouse.

The journey wasn’t straightforward. Existing 3D models of the Magic Mouse fell short, pushing Kuleshov to adjust the enclosure shape by eye, iterating through multiple prints and adjustments. This process epitomized the trial-and-error spirit inherent in DIY projects. He crafted a frame-adapter for the upper part of the mouse in just four iterations, meticulously designed to extend the original mount. This adaptation allowed for a spring and an offset lever to press the button, integrating seamlessly with the mouse’s design.

Kuleshov didn’t stop at mere design modifications. He tackled the electrical challenge head-on, soldering a TP4056 directly to the battery outputs, ensuring the mouse continued to work while charging. This modification enabled the mouse to bypass Apple’s standard charging protocol, a nifty workaround to a long-standing problem​.

After numerous trials, Kuleshov finally achieved the ideal enclosure shape. It charges the battery directly, and despite its increased size, the mouse’s sensor still makes contact with the table, ensuring precise movement. Kuleshov labels it as “the world’s first ergonomic Magic Mouse without any flaws,” and while this might be a bold statement (given its slightly bulky appearance), it seems to be a significant improvement from a practical standpoint.

Kuleshov took to Twitter (or whatever Musk wants you to call it) to showcase his rather complicated but functional redesign. The internet’s consensus seems mixed, but with everyone on the same page. While most people are marveling at this new modification, calling it a truly “magical” mouse, others are applauding Kuleshov’s ingenuity while also commenting on the fact that this level of ‘hacking’ was even necessary to undo a simple problem that Apple seemingly engineered on purpose into their product. To make things better, Kuleshov has made his entire project open-source and tinkerers can download the files on GitHub to modify their own Magic Mice…

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