I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates the cuteness of small objects, there’s just something special about tiny objects, especially when they mimic bigger stuff. As amusing as the future seems, the retro charm is has a sense of warmth that most of us connect with on some level. Imagine the classic charm of an old-school telephone, but shrunken down and upgraded to handle your modern labeling needs. It’s a journey through time and creativity as one explores the adorable universe of this labeling machine. It’s a small package with a big dose of charm!
The body of the labeling machine boasts a rounded design, reminiscent of the classic form of retro telephones. However, what truly sets this product apart is the incorporation of the iconic rotary dial as the switch design element. The rotating switch key serves as a metaphorical time tunnel, transporting users back to an era when telephones were more than just communication devices—they were symbols of nostalgia and romance.
As users rotate and slide their fingers across the switch key, a tangible connection to the past is established. The tactile experience evokes a sense of pleasure as if one is traversing through time and reliving the romanticized memories of bygone days. Each turn of the switch key becomes a delightful journey, immersing individuals in the soft embrace of a bygone era.
What adds to the appeal of the Vintage Phone Labeling Machine is its graceful color palette. Available in three distinct colors, the machine is not only a functional tool but also a stylish accessory that effortlessly complements any setting. The attention to detail in the design ensures that the labeling machine becomes a statement piece, blending seamlessly into both modern and vintage environments.
Despite its retro aesthetics, the labeling machine is not just about reliving the past—it also brings a touch of practicality to its users. Although seemingly limited to printing numbers on the telephone, the device excels in its simplicity and functionality. It manages to strike a perfect balance between form and function, offering users a unique and enjoyable experience without compromising on usability.
So if you’re looking for a cozy hug from the past in this contemporary tech world, this vintage phone labeling machine is for you! It’s a nod to the good old days when phones had that classic charm. This labeling machine isn’t just a tool; it’s a trip down memory lane. It lets you feel the nostalgia and romance of the days when phones were more than just devices – they were a whole experience.
Time-telling has become one of those things we take for granted since we only have to look at our computer or our smartphones or our smartwatches to find out the current time. Sure there are still some places that have actual wall clocks or desk clocks but even those have become few and far between. It’s also rare now for people to collect unique-looking clocks but for those who actually do it, there is a “rare find” clock that you can find on Etsy if you can spare around $900.
Designer: Sergey
If you’re very much into hand crafted stuff that looks pretty unique and classic, the Nixei tube vintage clock may interest you. It looks like something that would have fit in during the Victorian era in a 19th century home. Its design is basically a hydro-mechanical column with manual drive and is made from brass, copper, bronze, and glass. They are soldered and threaded together and all these parts are connected by hand.
It can tell time in either the 12 and 24 hour format and has seven different colors as indicators. You can turn off the glow of these indicators if it proves to be too distracting at night. There are three buttons to control the different functions of the clock and you don’t need to be connected to a network to make it function. It is powered by a 5V adaptor and has a 24 x 29 x 11 cm dimension.
Oh and aside from telling time, it can also serve as a phone stand as there’s a cylinder shape on the side of the clock that can hold your smartphone. Of course it destroys the illusion of being a vintage piece if you put a modern device there but if you’re going for a contrast, then that’s the perfect thing to add to this desk clock.
The Nikon Zf mirrorless camera finally gets the right mix of a classic design that photographers love and the modern performance that photographers need.
The powerful cameras inside our smartphones were touted to spell the end of dedicated cameras, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Not only are smartphones severely limited by their sizes, mobile photographers actually graduate into pros and switch to these more powerful and larger cameras. Digital cameras, both DSLR and mirrorless, have also been progressing in their designs, though some seem to have hit a wall in bringing classic aesthetics to present-day specs. Nikon has had a few hits and misses in the past, but that hasn’t stopped it from trying yet again. With the Nikon Zf, the brand makes another attempt at reviving its classic SLR aesthetic for the 21st century, and we give it a good look to see if it manages to finally pull it off.
Designer: Nikon
Aesthetics
Unless you count outliers inspired by Polaroid-style instant cameras, the basic design of cameras hasn’t changed that much in decades. Sure, there are new components like LCD touch screens, D-pads, joysticks, and buttons, but the shape, knobs, dials, and even the location of these elements have mostly stayed the same. There is definitely staying power in the classic camera designs, and Nikon has been trying to bring back those memories and grow a new appreciation for them with the new Nikon Zf, and to much success, we’re happy to say.
The Nikon Zf accurately captures the look and feel of the brand’s early SLRs almost to a fault. It has that all-black finish on a simple and almost featureless rectangular body, wrapped in leatherette covering, and topped by a collection of chunky dials made from brass. The back does have modern amenities like a touch screen, a directional pad to navigate certain options, and buttons as shortcuts to most-used functions, but the overall look remains classic and vintage to some degree. Unfortunately, Nikon opted to really stick close to the old design of cameras like the 80s FM2 to the point that it barely added a hand grip that has become a necessity in this day and age.
Unlike the camera maker’s previous attempt, namely the Nikon Zfc, the Nikon Zf feels just as premium as it looks. You can definitely feel the magnesium alloy body that gives it a solid build, and the brass controls add more to that heft, for better or worse. Unfortunately, the choice of materials may have limited Nikon’s color options, as there is no combination that uses a silver finish for the top section, though there are other leatherette colors available to match your preferred style.
Ergonomics
The Nikon Zf’s solid construction helps it feel premium, but that also works against it in one particular manner. The mirrorless camera has quite a bit of heft to it, which wouldn’t be a problem except for one design quirk. Unlike some cameras today, the Nikon Zf doesn’t have a substantial hand grip that would have improved the ergonomics of the design. It does have a small elevation on the right side of the camera body, but not exactly enough to offer confidence and stability. And that’s not even considering the weight of the lenses you will be attaching to the camera.
You can add a hand grip courtesy of an official Nikon accessory, but that’s an added $40 on top of the camera’s already substantial price tag. There are Nikon cameras that do have such a large hand grip built-in, so it’s not like it’s an alien concept for the manufacturer. It just intentionally chose to stick to this old-school design that, unfortunately, didn’t have that kind of focus on ergonomics.
Fortunately, using the Nikon Zf isn’t that much of a difficult chore, with most of the important dials and buttons within easy reach of your right thumb. The analog dials give a satisfying tactile experience while switching modes, ISO levels, and more. The vari-angle LCD screen makes it possible to capture photos and videos even from difficult angles, though the mushy circular directional pad makes it a little less enjoyable to navigate the camera’s menus, at least compared to a joystick.
Performance
It might look vintage, but the Nikon Zf is definitely equipped to handle the challenges of modern photography. In addition to the tried and tested 24MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor that it has been using on well-received mirrorless cameras, Nikon has installed a newer Expeed 7 processor that opens up more possibilities for photographers, particularly when it comes to subject recognition and object tracking with autofocus. It’s quite an impressive combination that puts the Nikon Zf on par with many modern digital cameras these days. Admittedly, it’s not exactly a revolutionary new feature but at least it won’t be lagging behind its peers.
The images the Nikon Zf produces are definitely no joke, with clear and crisp details matched with accurate colors that are neither too warm nor too cold. The 8-stop in-body image stabilization makes short work of shaky hands, though you’ll still want to grab a tripod for features like pixel-shift multi-mode that composes multiple shots together for a higher-res image, or 14fps continuous shooting. The Nikon Zf has plenty of other interesting modes that let photographers flex their artistic muscles. Black and white modes offer basic Flat or red filter Deep Tone controls, and it even has a dedicated switch on the dial for this mode. You can also record videos, something the original SLRs couldn’t, at up to 4K 30fps (full-frame) or 60fps (1.5x crop).
The mirrorless camera, powerful as it may be, also has a few design quirks when it comes to hardware. Some of them look good on paper, while others might leave you scratching your head. There’s a second memory card slot that can be used for backup, for example, but it can only fit a slower microSD card compared to the main UHS-II SD storage. There’s also an HDMI port for an external monitor, but it’s of the older and somewhat rare micro HDMI variety, not even a mini HDMI port. Not exactly deal breakers, but something you might want to keep in mind when buying accessories.
Sustainability
The choice of magnesium alloy for the body and brass for the controls gives the Nikon Zf a bit of an edge when it comes to sustainable materials. Sure, there is still plenty of plastic inside, especially in places where Wi-Fi radio signals have to pass through, but the amount of plastics used is reduced to some extent.
Those materials also help preserve the camera’s longevity and long-term value. The solid construction adds to the product’s durability, while the magnesium alloy shell is advertised to be dust and drip-resistant. The brass metal components also gain character as the surface develops unique patinas over years of use.
Value
One of the biggest hurdles that aspiring photographers have to climb over is the seemingly insurmountable price tag attached to these cameras. You could easily buy two or even three of the most powerful smartphones for the price of a single mirrorless or DSLR camera and you’d be able to use those devices for more than just photography. Of course, this is comparing apples to oranges, but it’s a challenge that all budding photographers will have to overcome someday.
The Nikon Zf, for example, goes for a hefty $1,999.95, and that’s for the camera body alone, which you can’t use as-is. You’ll need to attach a lens, and if you’re scratching from scratch, you’ll need to throw in another $400 or more for a complete kit. Might as well add the $40 SmallRig to get the extension grip that will help prevent accidents that will flush that expensive investment down the drain. In the end, the Nikon Zf is exactly that: an investment. It definitely has the right mix of features that will let you capture stunning and potentially award-winning shots or videos, features that won’t become obsolete in just a few years, unlike smartphones.
Verdict
The digital camera market is far from dead, though some will definitely say it is crawling to a stop. That doesn’t mean there’s no more room or opportunities for improvement, especially when trying to find the right mix of design, performance, and price. We only need to look back to the past to see where we went wrong and what we did right, and the Nikon Zf is definitely putting those hard-earned lessons to heart in order to bring a fusion of the past and the present while looking toward the future.
It’s far from being the best mirrorless camera in town, even among Nikon’s roster, but it strikes a good mix of essential features that photographers from all ranges will be able to appreciate and utilize. It packs those in a design that embraces Nikon’s legacy wholeheartedly, as if trying to prove that those designs are far from being obsolete, even decades later. Sure, there are some things we wished Nikon did differently, especially with the grip, but those don’t detract from the fact that the Nikon Zf is one solid and stylish mirrorless camera that photographers need to take note of.
No Wife, No Dog, No Home. You Have Nothing, John. Vengeance Is All You Have Left!
Image Credits: Lionsgate
The highly anticipated “John Wick 4,” starring Keanu Reeves, made its much-anticipated debut this year, featuring Reeves’ return as the renowned hitman set on avenging the wrongs of the High Table. In the world of the John Wick series, a retired assassin is reignited into a world of violence after his car is stolen and a puppy gifted to him by his late wife is killed. Constantly on the move to survive and eliminate his targets, Wick is determined to seek revenge against the powerful High Table.
“When Helen died, I lost everything. Until that dog arrived on my doorstep. A final gift from my wife. In that moment I received some semblance of hope. An opportunity to grieve unalone. And your son took that from me…stole that from me…killed that from me! People keep asking if I’m back. And I haven’t really had an answer. But now, yeah, I’m thinking’ I’m back!”
With the John Wick series staged in the 1970s, we have carefully selected design elements and products that seamlessly blend with movie series and can craft a modern narrative.
Image credits: Koimoi.com
1. Continental’s Location
A suit doesn’t make a man; it’s what’s inside the suit that counts – resourcefulness and perhaps an open heart,” Winston continues, adding, “This is more than vengeance; this is justice,” as he assumes control of the notorious ‘The Continental’ hotel, renowned as a sanctuary for assassins.
The outer facade of the Continental was captured on film at the distinctive flatiron-shaped Beaver Building located at 1 Wall Street Court in Manhattan’s Financial District.
Image Credits: Lionsgate
Apart from the facade, the entrance hall of the Continental is the sole setting featured in every John Wick film to date. Situated approximately half a mile from the Beaver Building, these scenes were shot in the lobby of the Cunard Building at 25 Broadway.
In Chapter 4 of John Wick, the car he drives is a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, a part of the Barracuda’s third generation, manufactured by Chrysler from 1964 to 1974. The 1971 model is renowned for its distinctive front grille divided into six sections resembling barracuda fish teeth. Alongside its updated aesthetics, the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda offered an impressive eight engine options, spanning from the 125 bhp six-cylinder to the remarkable 425 bhp 426 Hemi V8.
Imagine Keanu seeking vengeance while driving these sleek vehicles.
Audi introduces the “activesphere,” a unique crossover merging Audi Sportback’s elegance, SUV practicality, and off-road capability, driven by the PPE modular system. With an electric drive, quick-charging tech, 600+ km range, and zero local emissions, it embodies sustainability, dynamics, and long-distance capabilities of modern EVs.
Would you like to witness your favorite hitman behind the wheel of a futuristic sedan capable of shifting through 32 colors, akin to a chameleon?
Unveiled at CES 2023, the futuristic concept car aims to transform the driving experience and creates a stronger bond between people and cars. The sedan stands out as it can switch between colors and change its looks by using color-changing E-ink technology. Also, while welcoming the driver into the vehicle, an image of the driver’s avatar can be projected onto the side windows!
3. His Two-Wheeled Avenger
Don’t confuse my personality with my attitude….My personality is who I am. My attitude depends on who you are…
Hugo Eccles, known for collaborations with Nike, TAG Heuer, Ford, and LG, unveils the UMC-063 XP Zero by Untitled Motorcycles, after seven years of development. This custom electric bike, derived from the Zero SR/F, melds retro-futuristic style with aviation nuances. Its 82 kW motor, powered by a 15.2 kWh battery pack, delivers 110 hp and 146 ft-lbs of torque, reaching 124 mph and 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The UMC-063 XP Zero’s design, performance, and customization options are now available for orders.
Hyperscooters, akin to hypercars in the e-scooter world, exude performance. Dragonfly electric scooters feature four wheels, offering stability on rugged terrain. The patented Full-Tilt Steering System makes control intuitive. With dual 550W motors, speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h), and a 49.7-mile (80 km) range, safety is upheld via dual wishbone suspension and hydraulic damped spring suspensions. Dragonfly Hydroscooter offers two variants: urban-friendly standard and adventure-focused Dragonfly X. Both combine style and power.
Also known as a brandy snifter, brandy glass, brandy bowl, or a cognac glass, snifter is a short-stemmed glass with a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top. It is primarily used for serving aged brown liquors such as bourbon, brandy, and whisky.
5. Embracing the Night Mood
In Chapter 4, the majority of its intricate sequences unfold against the nighttime backdrop, with these illuminations capturing the enchantment of the John Wick series.
“Solti” by Northern Lights is crafted from Georgian brass and paired with meticulously crafted clear fluted glass, resulting in a compelling and impactful design.
In harmony with its source of inspiration, the lamp ignites through candlelight, initiating a luminous flow resembling currents that cascade towards illuminating the lamp’s cube-shaped ends. Captivating and deeply connected to its origins, this lamp promises to evoke a sense of awe in all who encounter its mesmerizing presence.
The iconic Chesterfield sofa is characterized by equally high, rolled arms mirroring the back’s height. Typically draped in rich leather or velvet, its notable charm emanates from deep button tufting.
7. Weaving Elegance into John Wick’s World
Introduce vintage elegance using this exquisite Green Gold Wallpaper, featuring details for a luxurious touch.
8. A Slice of Lethal Style
You stabbed the devil in the back and forced him back into the life he had just left.
Weighing just 4.5 oz (127g), Tekto F3 Charlie boasts a 3.8-inch drop-point blade, inspired by hunting knives, for precision piercing, scraping, and slicing. G10 fiberglass handle strikes a balance between size and control. Deploy swiftly with button lock and finger flipper—perfect for tactical use. Resilient D2 steel blade features a titanium finish for enduring strength.
Experience swift precision with the Tekto F2 Bravo tactical knife. Its D2 steel drop point blade, propelled by durable ceramic ball bearings, ensures efficient cutting. The minimalist Forged Carbon and G10 handle, featuring titanium accents, offers lightweight durability without compromising comfort. Weighing 68g, this knife empowers you to tackle tasks confidently and swiftly. The F2 Bravo seamlessly combines power and aesthetics for a high-end tool.
9. Capturing John Wick’s Universe through the Lens
Xiaomi 12S Ultra Concept flaunts an audacious camera bump with dual 1-inch sensors. Resembling its predecessor, this conceptual smartphone notably accommodates a sizable Leica lens, blurring the smartphone and professional camera distinction. Despite omitting one camera, the centrally located periscope lens, the phone’s innovation lies in the two 1-inch CMOS sensors within the bump.
10. How It All Began with A Puppy!
Image Credits: Lionsgate
All of this for what, because of a puppy? John Wick : It wasn’t just a puppy.
Wicked Egg is a dual-purpose pet toy and reward system. It holds treats in its upper cavity, promoting obedience training by dispensing treats for pet actions. Designed for use when the pet parent is away, it provides stimulation and engagement, enhancing your pet’s development and fun.
John, I’m sorry I can’t be there for you. But you still need something, someone to love, so start with this. Because the car doesn’t count. I love you, John. This illness has loomed over us for a long time and now that I have found my peace, find yours. Until that day, your best friend, Helen.” – Helen
Meet the Flying Brick, a car that’s just about as badass as Peaky Blinders’ protagonist, a certain Thomas Shelby. With its dominating hot-rod demeanor, reinforced by visible exhausts, gnarly front bumpers, and a carbon-fiber body, this mafioso’s town car was actually designed for Russian billionaire and avid drift-master Sergei Kabargin. The name Flying Brick comes from the symbol of resistance and the role bricks have played in populist uprisings, and sort of fits well into the car’s overall aesthetic, with its square-ish shape and the fact that the engine outputs a mind-numbing 900 horsepower!
Designer: Alexander Opanasenko for Sergei Kabargin
The Flying Brick comes 7 years in the making, from a mere napkin sketch to actual reality. Kabargin recruited his own team to build out his one-off hot rod fantasy, getting senior car designer Alexander Opanasenko on board to help fine-tune the design and build the renders we see here. The car’s references come from a variety of places, and it’s really difficult to pin-point the aesthetic language Kabargin and team were going for with this, but their brief was pretty simple – “the car must have its own character and personality.”
The body of the car is based on a monocoque made of aluminum and carbon fiber, clocking in at 1200 kilograms (2645 lbs), and will be outfitted with a MAST LS7 supercharged engine capable of 900 horsepower. The car’s overall body adds to the theme of dominance with aggressive surfacing that exposes the car’s elements like superchargers that pop out of the hood, and exhausts emerging from the front quite typical of hot rods.
There’s a fair amount of retrofuturism with the Flying Brick – starting with its interplay between the vintage aesthetic and the use of carbon fiber. The car’s details are decidedly antique-inspired, but the headlights are quite certainly modern. There’s also a unique interplay between luxury and brutish aggression, which ties in wonderfully with the Shelby theme Kabargin and team were going for. I doubt if Tommy would particularly care about the exaggerated front bumper or the somewhat out-of-place spoiler on the rear, but that boot looks big enough to store your entire weapon arsenal… or perhaps a few unlucky suspects and victims!
Kabargin and team are apparently hard at work, realizing the Flying Brick as a one-off automobile. It’s unclear what the car’s timelines are, what its interiors look like, and how its performance stacks up, but given Kabargin’s enthusiasm for sitting behind the wheel, we can rest assured that this hot rod isn’t going to spend most of its time in a garage!
Dubbed the Bow Wave, this spectacular bottle of scotch from Old Pulteney dates back 45 years, making it the company’s oldest-ever single malt to be bottled and sold. Given its elite status, the scotch is contained in a bottle that’s just about as precious-looking as the elixir within it.
While the scotch isn’t particularly our domain expertise here, the bottle itself truly grabbed our eye as one of the most spectacular containers ever made. The whiskey, which has its origins in Northern Scotland, celebrates Old Pulteney’s maritime heritage with a bottle that takes inspiration from the waves around the area. The bottle assumes the shape of an egg, a universal symbol of origin and birth, and comes meticulously designed and hand-blown by the talented duo of Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns from Glasstorm. The bottle is adorned with waves made from actual silver, while the bottle itself bears ripple marks, almost looking like the boulders that get carved by the waves on a rocky coastline. The clear glass at the base allows a glimpse of the liquid’s golden hue, gradually transitioning to a deep blue at the top, reminiscent of sunlight dancing on the water’s surface. Unlocking the hidden cork requires a bespoke anchor key, adding an element of intrigue to the experience. For display, the bottle rests gracefully on a single piece of locally sourced Scottish slate, completing its captivating presentation.
Designer: Glasstorm for Old Pulteney
The scotch spent 4 decades in American oak barrels, before being finished for an additional 5 years inside first-fill Spanish oak butts, which helped bring whisky’s notes of leather and nut, along with hints of dried pineapple, sandalwood, and myrrh. At 45 years old, the scotch is roughly 1/4th as old as the distillery itself. It exists as a one-off bottle and will be auctioned on the 5th of October at Sotheby’s as a part of Old Pulteney’s Distillers ‘One of One’ event.
Founded by Etsy co-founder Robert Kalin and NASA engineer William Cowan, audio brand ‘A for Ara’ hopes to be the very antithesis of the modern-day hi-tech smart speaker. While smart speakers are designed ultimately for music, they take the joy and the ritualistic nature out of music listening and appreciation, which is where A for Ara comes in. The audio company hopes to takes us back to simpler times with their retro-modern speakers that use an eclectic blend of design styles as well as old and modern fabrication techniques. The word ‘Ara’ stands for Altar in Latin, giving the speaker the reverence it deserves. For now, A for Ara has two speakers under its product umbrella – the FS-1 and FS-2. Both speakers have a larger-than-life appeal to them, and have a nature-inspired whimsical design. The speakers can broadly be split into their two visual parts, the base unit, which houses the audio drivers and the acoustic cabinet, and the upper phonograph-inspired horn which serves both visual and functional purposes. Visually, it resembles a large morning glory flower, while acoustically it helps amplify sounds and channel them in a particular direction.
“We have lost our rituals of listening, and we need them back,” say Robert and William, who run their studio and workshop on 100 acres of farmland up in the Catskills. The speakers they produce are an audiovisual treat, combining audiophile-grade engineering and tuning, and a design that just delights with its avant-garde appeal. What’s really beautiful about the FS-1 and FS-2 speakers is that they have a sort of timeless beauty about them. They aren’t too cutting edge, there aren’t any LEDs anywhere and you can’t see any metallic details on the product. However, they aren’t boring and vintage either. They fill you with joy the same way seeing an orchard of flowers does, and the audio that plays through them is pleasantly surprising too.
Both the FS-1 and FS2 stand at a staggering 54″ in height and have a presence that feels visually commanding enough to become the center of attention in any room. While the FS-1 features a more slender horn connected to a geometric base, the FS-2 has much more of a visual flair, with a boxier base cabinet that sports an abstract leaf-inspired pattern. The former features a horn-loaded coaxial driver, passively crossed to a front-firing, long-throw 13” woofer, while the latter has the same horn-loaded coaxial driver crossed to a trio of front-firing, long-throw 12” woofers in an H-frame.
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.
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.
The 1990s Hot Wheels PC: it made the top of my Christmas list three years in a row, and I never got one. But enough about how expensive therapy is now, below is a video of Shank Mod’s journey to pack a top-of-the-line gaming PC into the body of one of those bright blue PCs with the flame job. And what a journey it is! You know they say every journey starts with a single step, but I’ve started many with a stumble and skinned knees.
The original Hot Wheels PC came with an Intel Celeron 333MHz processor, 3GB hard drive, 32MB of memory, a 56k modem, 32X CD ROM drive, a 15″ CRT monitor and ran Windows 98. It retailed for $899 and was worth every penny as far as I was concerned. Of course, it’s basically an electric-powered rock by today’s standards.
All said and done; Shank managed to stuff the old case with an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor, Gigabyte X570 Aorus Mini-ITX motherboard, ASUS X570-I ROG Strix Mini-ITX motherboard, an EVGA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 XC graphics card, G.Skill Trident Z Neo Series RGB 128GB (4 x 32GB) RAM, a Samsung 980 Pro 2TB SSD, and an LG WH16NS40 16x Internal Blu-Ray Rewriter.
Interestingly, he uses three original Hot Wheels CRT monitors for the display, citing the frame rate benefits of CRTs and the ability to crank all game settings up to max without hindrance. It’s so beautiful I could cry. I could also cry remembering 10-year old me opening a box I thought was a Hot Wheels PC but turned out to be a popcorn maker. Now I can’t even smell popcorn without getting nauseous.
De Markies is a vintage camper circa 1985 with accordion-like expansions that triple the camper’s size with the push of a button.
Since the start of stay-at-home orders, campers have made quite the comeback in the world of modern camping. The campers coming out from recent years have been some of the most versatile and compact designs we’ve seen in years. A few years back and ahead of its time, Dutch architect Eduard Böhtling submitted his transforming De Markies camper design to 1985’s Temporary Living architecture competition. The type of camper that can be reintroduced in years to come and still send a tingle down any camper’s spine, De Markies is a tiny home on wheels that can triple in size with the push of a button.
Ten years after the Temporary Living competition, De Markies saw its first prototype and received 1996’s Rotterdam Design Prize’s Public Prize for it. Fast forward to 2021 and De Markies is still turning heads. Built with accordion-like expansions, De Markies’s shape begins as a cubic camper on the road and triples in size to form a complete semicircle.
Once De Markies expands into its final shape, the camper’s main bedroom can be found inside of its opaque orange awning, while a sunroom comes into shape underneath the van’s transparent awning. Inside the caravan, a kitchen, bathroom, and sitting room come with all the amenities needed for a comfortable retreat on the road, including a stove, sink, countertop, storage space, and tables.
Constructed to withstand most elements, Böhtling found durability in plastic cladding for De Markies’s roof. Unfurled into its semicircular shape, the awnings find privacy on one side through an opaque orange plastic covering, and a sun-soaked room on the other side with a transparent plastic covering. Slated for next year’s Geneva Architecture Exhibition, De Markies is still making its rounds.
