It’s 2024, and if you’re still carrying multiple plugs, charging cables, and a travel adapter every time you visit a different country, you’re living an incomplete life. Chargers have evolved over the years, charging bricks have become slimmer and more powerful, and something as simple as the SWIFT PRO can technically charge your phone, tablet, laptop, handheld gaming device, and AirPods together at the same time, anywhere in the world. The world’s only travel adapter running on 4th-gen GaN technology, the SWIFT PRO offers a staggering 140W of power that can charge multiple devices at the same time. That amount of power is enough to even fast-charge all your devices together, so you’re never waiting hours to get your iPad or smartphone fully charged. Moreover, it works internationally, and is the same size as your regular travel adapter, eliminating the need to travel with multiple charging bricks… or even work from home with a cluttered power strip and multiple plugs and wires strewn across your desk.

Designer: iBlockCube Team

Click Here to Buy Now: $68 $103 (34% off) Hurry! Only 13 of 105 left.

The iBlockCube SWIFT PRO may look like your average travel adapter, but it’s also an all-in-one charging solution. Designed with a multi-plug framework that lets it work with different socket types across multiple countries, the SWIFT PRO slides right into your backpack or travel bag, going everywhere you go. In fact, it’s good enough to use at home too, helping you charge multiple devices together. Like any traditional travel adapter, it has switches on the side that let you deploy the plug type depending on what country you are in. It has a universal AC outlet too, allowing you to plug in appliances, chargers, or other devices, but look to its bottom and you’ll see three USB-C ports for connecting devices and gadgets directly to the SWIFT PRO. A USB-A port on the side gives you the ability to hook yet another device, allowing you to plug a total of 5 gadgets at the same time.

The reason the SWIFT PRO can handle 5 concurrent gadgets is thanks to 4th gen GaN technology. A replacement for silicon carbide, GaN has much better power efficiency as a semiconductor material, helping deliver energy without heat loss. This means more powerful, and thinner charging blocks. The SWIFT PRO has an overall output of 140W, which makes it powerful enough to simultaneously fast-charge your laptop, phone, AND a tablet – something that clunky chargers couldn’t do 10 years ago.

This effectively translates to being able to travel light. All you need is the SWIFT PRO along with a few cables for your devices. The plug on the front can be used for a hairdryer or charging your electric razor while traveling, while the USB-C and USB-A ports on the bottom and sides can effectively juice your laptop, phone, tablet, and AirPods or Watch all together. Two of the USB-C ports can output up to 140W, letting you divert full power to a single laptop, while a third USB-C port caps at 20W, and the USB-A port caps at 18W. Plug multiple devices in and the SWIFT PRO automatically adjusts power delivery to each device, ensuring that all your gadgets get the right amount of fast-charging capacity. The charger will also intuitively cap the power to match your device’s highest charging requirements, protecting your gadgets from damage.

The AC outlet on the front outputs 1000W at 100V and 2500W at 250V, complying with global standards. The 140W gets distributed between the USB ports. The SWIFT PRO is perfect for charging all your gadgets, whether it’s the traditional laptop, tablet, phone, watch, and TWS earbuds, or even a drone, camera, handheld gaming device, hairdryer, or electric razor. A 10A dual-fuse keeps your devices safe from surges, and the GaN semiconductor doesn’t heat up as much as silicon carbide, ensuring efficient power delivery.

The SWIFT PRO comes in 3 color options, white, black, and tinted transparent. The travel adapter measures 3.5 inches tall, 1.9 inches wide, 2.1 inches deep, making it small enough to easily travel with. Each SWIFT PRO also ships with a small travel pouch for your adapter, and a lanyard cable that opens up to transform into a USB-C to USB-C charging cable just in case you end up running short! The SWIFT PRO is priced at a discounted $68 and ships globally starting July 2024.

Click Here to Buy Now: $68 $103 (34% off) Hurry! Only 13 of 105 left.

The post Ultimate 140W GaN Travel Adapter gives you Power to Charge All Your Devices Anywhere You Go first appeared on Yanko Design.

It may not have the mechanical joy that the Lofree EDGE offered as the world’s slimmest mechanical keyboard, but the Keychron B1 Pro does offer an incredibly slim design that’s portable enough to slide right into your backpack. Boasting a minimal aesthetic bundled within a portable design, the B1 Pro is an ultra-slim wireless keyboard that comes with a whopping 1200 battery life and a rather commendable $39.99 price tag.

Designer: Keychron

The B1 Pro deviates from Keychron’s usual mechanical keyboards by opting for scissor-switch keys, similar to those found on laptops. This design keeps the profile incredibly thin, measuring just 5.2mm at the front and reaching a maximum height of 14.5mm. It’s incredibly lightweight too, at only 425g, making it a perfect companion for tossing in your bag and working from anywhere.

Despite its slim profile, the B1 Pro doesn’t compromise on performance. With a 1000Hz polling rate on the 2.4GHz wireless connection, you can expect smooth and responsive typing. It also offers Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, allowing you to seamlessly pair it with multiple devices. This is also accompanied by a battery life of a staggering 1200 hours on a single charge. Translated to real-world use, that translates to roughly 8 months of typing for 5 hours a day – a near elimination of charging woes.

The keyboard has a Mac layout while remaining functional with Windows and Linux. It even features the same multimedia and function key functions as Apple keyboards, providing a familiar experience for Mac users with the added benefit of a more comfortable typing experience thanks to the scissor-switch keys. For added comfort during extended typing sessions, the B1 Pro features a 3.2-degree tilt angle and concave keycaps designed to improve accuracy. It even comes with a dedicated emoji shortcut key and a protective silicone keycap cover for increased durability.

The B1 Pro supports ZMK firmware, allowing users to program keys, macros, and shortcuts directly through a web interface. This eliminates the need for complex software installations and provides a user-friendly way to tailor the keyboard to your specific needs.

At an affordable price point of $39.99, the Keychron B1 Pro offers a compelling combination of portability, functionality, and battery life. Whether you’re a minimalist on the go, a student juggling classes, or someone who simply prefers a low-profile keyboard, the B1 Pro is definitely worth considering.

The post Keychron B1 Pro: Ultra-Thin Wireless Keyboard for Minimalists on the Go first appeared on Yanko Design.

The problem with the Vision Pro, aside from its shocking price tag, is it claims to replace the laptop – a device that has been perfected over decades to be the perfect productivity machine for on-the-go workers. Laptops didn’t need replacing (nobody I know has had a complaint that their laptop wasn’t spatial enough), and honestly, they’re the perfect form factor for the job they do, which is why the Vision Pro may not be the ideal device to replace them… but that doesn’t mean a spatial laptop isn’t a good idea. Meet the Spacetop, a hybrid ‘laptop’ that fills the gap between the conventional Laptop and the Vision Pro. It’s slim, light, affordable, and gives you a traditional laptop experience with an augmented reality twist.

Designer: Sightful

The Spacetop G1 comes from the minds of the folks at Sightful, who believe AR/VR may be the future of work, but current headsets aren’t. The Spacetop G1 is a unique AR laptop that ditches the display for a set of AR glasses. Pop them in and you’ve got yourself a screen that’s wider than your FoV, and the fact that the Spacetop G1 still packs a keyboard and a trackpad means being able to work on a laptop, but just in AR.

The format is very unique, but isn’t surprising. Most AR/VR headsets come with remotes, and are targeted towards entertainment and immersion. The fact that the Spacetop G1 opts for a close-to-laptop-style format means there’s less of a learning curve. Pop the glasses in, have multiple virtual screens unfold in front of you, and begin working. The Spacetop G1 boasts a massive 100-inch virtual workspace, shattering the limitations of traditional laptops. Imagine working on documents, browsing the web, or editing videos on a virtual canvas that feels like a home theater screen. This expansive workspace allows for effortless multitasking and a truly immersive computing experience.

Given its spiritual closeness to a laptop, the Spacetop G1 is designed to be slim enough to fit right into backpacks without any problem. The keyboard and trackpad are as thin as the kind you’d find on most conventional laptops, while the ‘lid’ houses a pair of AR glasses that fold down to a slick format. They aren’t as bulky and cumbersome as the Vision Pro, Hololens, or any of Meta’s headsets, making it less clunky to wear and making you less awkward around other people. Your eyes still perceive the environment around you too, so you’re not completely blocked out of the outer world.

Under the hood, the Spacetop G1 packs a powerful punch. A Qualcomm chipset delivers a 70% performance boost over previous models, ensuring smooth operation even with demanding tasks. With a commendable 8-hour battery life, you can work uninterrupted throughout your workday, or even work in AR while on a train or flight without missing your multi-display setup. The 90Hz refresh rate of the optics translates to crisp and responsive visuals, further enhancing the user experience.

The presence of a 100-inch workspace just means being able to do more with less. You can multitask effortlessly, having various windows within your periphery that you can move around, bring forward, or push backward. Important tasks can occupy the center of your attention. Other windows can lounge in the back or in the corners, still letting you see them if/when you need them.

That being said, the AR laptop doesn’t come cheap. It’s available for pre-order at $1900, which is significantly higher than your conventional laptop, but factoring in the AR aspect makes the price more palatable. After all, you’d spend a lot more on a laptop along with a widescreen/multiscreen layout. The fact that the Vision Pro costs a whopping $3499 is also something that makes the case for the Spacetop G1. Shipments of the Spacetop G1 start as soon as October 2024. Early adopters can secure their unit with a $100 reservation.

The post Meet the world’s first Augmented Reality Laptop – the Spacetop G1 first appeared on Yanko Design.

To celebrate 8 years of cutting-edge devices that have helped the creative community build like never before, Snapmaker announces a Premium version of their flagship Artisan all-in-one making device. The Artisan, which debuted in 2022, is a multipurpose desktop device that laser cuts, 3D prints, and even CNC machines all thanks to a compact form factor and a brilliant modular design that lets you swap out 3D printing, CNC, and laser modules whenever you need. A whopping 400x400x400mm work area means you can create, prototype, or set up a factory line right on your table, and the Artisan Premium now features an upgraded 40W laser module that’s 4x more powerful than the one on its 2022 model. Along with this, the company is also ushering in its 8th anniversary with a 48-hour Makerathon event that fans can watch online, coupled with offers, gifts, and a referral program that gets you rewards!

Designer: The Snapmaker Design Team

Click Here to Buy Now: $2,599 $2999 ($400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The Artisan Premium is Snapmaker’s top-of-the-line creating tool. A 3-in-1 device that prints, engraves/etches, and CNC machines, the Artisan Premium offers a large work area and still saves space by offering so many functions in one workstation. An all-metal design ensures factory-grade precision, an enclosure contains the dust and protects your eyes from laser damage, and a control unit with a 7″ touchscreen allows you to easily operate the Artisan with ease. On the inside, a modular interface lets you plug in any of Snapmaker’s variousmodules, giving the Artisan its functions.

3D Printing: Thanks to the optimized transmission system and motion control algorithm, Artisan features a high dimensional accuracy when printing at a high speed.

Laser: Coming with the 10W Laser Module, Artisan is capable of faster and deeper cutting on more materials, and delivering refined laser engraving.

CNC: The high-rigidity linear modules and high-speed spindle empower the CNC module to carve or cut smoothly on various materials with a high dimensional accuracy.

The new 40W laser module is now more powerful than ever, allowing you to cut through thicker and tougher materials faster, giving you mastery over paper, fabric, leather, wood, plastic, metal, brick, glass, and many more materials. The 3D printer features a dual-extruder design that lets you print in multiple colors or add different material supports, and the 200W CNC machine is perfect for subtractive prototyping from wood, or even soft metal and stone. The 400x400x400 working area gives you the ability to build large-scale models, and the inclusion of an air pump in the Premium variant helps clear the working area while the Artisan is doing its job.

Along with the reveal of the Artisan Premium, which goes on sale on May 28th with an MSRP of $2999 USD, or €3299 EUR (vat included) if you’re in Europe, Snapmaker is even holding a 48-hour Makerathon with the theme “Play Well” that reflects the company’s roots in fun and exploration and its ongoing commitment to innovation and creativity. Held on 31st May and 1st June, the Makerathon will see Snapmaker’s entire company divided into 10 teams that will then participate in a series of challenges where they’re required to “Make Something Wonderful”. The event will stream on Snapmaker’s Facebook page, and will also coincide with Snapmaker’s Print & Play Challenge, a video contest that all Snapmaker users can participate in.. All you need to do is print anything you can play with (toys, games, music instruments, etc.) and film a video of yourself playing with it. The first five submissions will be screened at the Makerathon, and the Print & Play Challenge will continue all the way up until the 16th of June or Father’s Day. You can participate in the Print & Play Challenge, or even visit Snapmaker’s website to explore tonnes of new content, including printable 3D models of Snapmaker’s 3-in-1 machines, massive discounts on all products, and a referral program that offers a FREE 1064nm IR Laser Module to anyone whose friend buys an Artisan Premium.

Click Here to Buy Now: $2,599 $2999 ($400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Snapmaker unveils a powerful all-in-one desktop device for 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC, for its 8th anniversary first appeared on Yanko Design.

I swear these pocket knives keep getting smaller and smaller, but remain just as fascinating and sharp.

Meet the Tiflex, a knife so tiny you could hold it using just two fingers. Designed to be compact enough to fit on your keychain, the Tiflex is a petite little knife that shouldn’t be underestimated. It packs a titanium body and houses a scalpel blade on the front, known for its deceptive sharpness. If you’ve ever used an Xacto Knife, imagine having the same kind of blade in a form factor small enough for you to carry safely with you and use for everything from opening boxes to cutting ropes and even self-defense.

Designer: Titaner

Click Here to Buy Now: $42 $65 (35% off) Hurry! Only 33 of 100 left.

Open and close the Tiflex with a single hand

Measuring a little more than 2 inches when closed, the Tiflex might be tiny, but it’s still rather immaculately designed. It comes with a flipper that makes one-hand opening easy – the flipper even acts as a finger rest to prevent your index finger from ever accidentally touching the blade’s edge – and even has a frame lock that prevents the blade from shutting while in use. All this packs itself in a design small enough that even your house keys look larger in comparison. Now you’re probably worrying about ergonomics.

The problem with small knives is that they have small handles, which can be annoying to hold, but that’s where the Tiflex achieves a pretty good balance. The knife’s handle is 2.1 inches, and along with the blade, the knife measures 3.7 inches from tip to base. Even for that small size, the Tiflex is fairly handy to hold and use. Sure, you can’t measure it against much larger, more ergonomic knives, but the Tiflex offers convenience instead, with its compact form factor. The knife is perfect for outdoor use, craft, EDC-adjacent activities, or even for self-defense. The sharp scalpel blade plays its role wonderfully in that regard, giving you a knife that feels effortless to use.

The scalpel blade, often made with either high-carbon steel or hardened tempered stainless steel, is known for its versatility. You can use the Tiflex to cut paper, leather, plastic ties, ropes, or even seatbelts. The sharp edge can carve wood too, and that hook shape comes in handy for piercing or clawing. Hold the knife upside down like you would a karambit (with the blade emerging from the base of your grip) and it’s perfect for self-defense too, allowing you to potentially get out of a messy situation quickly.

The entire knife is made out of just 5 parts, including the blade. The handle, hinge, and blade holder are all machined from solid titanium, making the overall knife extremely light at just 6.6 grams or 0.2 ounces, but still rather durable. The knife is impervious to damage, is waterproof, corrosion-proof, and can last decades. However, the blade won’t, but that’s why the Tiflex comes with a replaceable blade design.

The clever frame lock ensures the knife’s blade stays in its open position while you use it

The replaceable blade format is great for the Tiflex for a bunch of reasons. Sharpening knives is an art that not many people have the skill or patience for, and sharpening a tiny knife like the Tiflex can be even more of a challenge. Scalpel blades come in a variety of shapes and you can buy them in bulk, replacing the Tiflex’s blade whenever it gets dull, or if you want to swap out its hook shape for something a little different. There are quite a few blade designs to choose from, and they’re all compatible with the Tiflex. All you need to do is take the old blade out and pop a new one in and it locks in place. This ensures you can use the Tiflex for years just by replacing the blade every few months, and it also means the Tiflex is inherently TSA-friendly and flight-safe, because you can simply ditch the blade and carry the rest of the knife with you on board.

The chances of you accidentally carrying your Tiflex on board a plane are pretty high because of just how ludicrously little it is. It’s designed to be attached to your keychain and forgotten about until you need a knife. That’s honestly the best kind of knife – one that’s there when you need it and gone when you don’t. Designed by the folks at Titaner, the Tiflex comes in both right-handed as well as left-handed variants, so you can choose the style of knife based on your dominant hand. The knife is originally priced at $65, but backers can grab the Tiflex at a special discounted price of $42, with 10 scalpel blades included, and global shipping starting July 2024.

Click Here to Buy Now: $42 $65 (35% off) Hurry! Only 33 of 100 left.

The post Tiny Titanium Pocket Knife is smaller than a Key, and uses a Replaceable Blade Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

The internet is littered with videos of children (and even adults) running headfirst into mirrors at those carnival mirror-maze-rooms. Imagine a mirror moving at breakneck speeds with the ability to completely obliterate you to pieces because you didn’t see (or hear) it driving towards you. The Tesla Cybertruck was already termed a death-machine on wheels, and now someone’s taken things to the extreme by giving it a thorough polishing, turning it into a literal ‘murder-mirror’. Here’s why this is such a terrible idea, why it’s dangerous even for other riders, and why it might potentially even be illegal in certain countries.

Designer: Tyson Garvin

This particular project comes from Tyson Garvin, who shared the project on Twitter (also known as X.com) complete with a video of the process. It took about a week and four people total to polish every metal surface of the truck’s exterior, resulting in a finish so glossy it practically looks like a vinyl wrap. However, that’s just extremely buffed and waxed metal, which reflects everything around it. In theory, the Cybertruck looks awesome, practically, though, this might just be more dangerous on the roads than your regular Cybertruck.

We humans detect objects by assigning color and depth to them as we move around. It’s easy to identify a mirror when it’s in an ornate or a defined frame, or if it has specs of dirt on it. Otherwise, it can be difficult to spot a mirror or a pane of glass, which is why sometimes people walk right into well-polished glass doors, or sometimes fall through an open door because they thought there was glass there. The same thing applies with cars on the road. When you’re a pedestrian, you need to be hyper-aware of everything around you. Your mind pays attention to objects, people, sounds, lights, everything while you make a decision to cross a road. Ambulances and police cars have lights for a reason, to make them extra visible, school buses are yellow so that you see them from a distance, so are red fire trucks. When you’ve got something as mirror-finished as a mirror-finish Cybertruck hurtling down the road, chances are your mind will ignore it because it reflects stuff around it, blending in instead of being more visible. Especially if it’s making a turn, you’re less likely to notice it out of the corner of your eye because you don’t perceive a block of color in your periphery. This is terrible for other cars too, as they may not notice you while driving, or while approaching a crossing. The onus is then on the Cybertruck driver to be hyper-vigilant – and I may not speak for you but I don’t put my life in the hands of people who drive Cybertrucks.

In fact, chrome wraps or finishes are outlawed in certain countries like Australia and New Zealand (you can’t register your car if it has a chrome finish) for this exact reason. These countries (especially New Zealand) have lower population levels, and emptier roads, prompting you to drive faster – this dramatically decreases your reaction time with such vehicles, increasing chances of a collision.

The problem doesn’t end there, a mirror-finish car can sometimes blind people because of glare. Imagine driving on a sunny day, and a massive mirror flashes sunlight in your eye, causing you to temporarily lose control of your vehicle. Chrome-finish vehicles can be quite a nuisance during the day, or even at night when headlights bounce right off the body, hitting your eye. Even if the Cybertruck remains parked in a driveway, it could potentially shoot glare right into your eye, creating a moment of temporary blindness that can lead to a disaster.

Finally, and this is just for the truck owner – Tesla spent months (if not years) developing a coating to prevent the Cybertruck from getting rusted (turns out it still might be able to), so polishing the Cybertruck’s matte surface without ensuring you give it a protective coating might just cause your Cybertruck to rust more than others. How this mirror-finish Cybertruck ages is truly something we’ll have to see with time, but I honestly do feel scared for the people who may be around this vehicle, and hope they have much better peripheral vision and situational awareness than most.

The post Why this Chrome-Finished Tesla Cybertruck is a Big Risk for Pedestrians and Drivers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nature and tech are almost always at odds. Technology is fast-moving, often focused on productivity/entertainment and nothing else. Nature, on the other hand, is a more immovable force that nourishes you and teaches you patience. It isn’t common to see the both of them intertwined together seamlessly, but the folks at MOSSLAB seem to have figured out the impossible. Designed to be a smart display, a speaker, an alarm clock, an air purifier, and also a living plant, the Moss Echo intertwines both shrubbery and silicon into one unique solution. The tabletop device is characterized by a wall of moss – the plant responsible for 30% of all the oxygen we breathe – but power it on and an LED screen comes to life right through the moss facade. This acts as the Moss Echo’s display interface, while the device itself works as an alarm, wireless speaker, and an air purifier that relies on real living greenery to cleanse the air you breathe and help relieve stress.

Designer: Yoonsang Kim of Mosslab

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off). Hurry, only 263/400 left! Raised over $158,000.

Moss Echo goes beyond the typical utilitarian smart device. Yes, it displays the time, functions as an alarm clock, and lets you play music or podcasts via Bluetooth. But the real star of the show is the moss itself. Nestled within a replaceable filter, this actual living plant isn’t just decorative; it serves as a natural air purifier. The moss’s tiny structures efficiently absorb pollutants, releasing clean air back into your environment, while filling your room with the natural scent of flora that is known to be an instant stress-buster.

Perfect for having by your bedside, living room, or even on your work-table, the Moss Echo helps keep you calm. While the wall of moss itself looks delightful, it works in tandem with the built-in wireless speaker to calm and recharge you. Moss Echo’s companion app lets you play soothing nature sounds while the display accompanies it with visuals to match. You can even choose between different visualizations for the speaker, or set a sleep mode that cues the device to gradually lower its audio before turning off within half an hour.

Moss is considered to be the world’s oldest plant, and by that logic, can be said to be responsible for all natural life because of its first ability to synthesize oxygen from carbon dioxide. Even though it’s so small, it’s arguably much more effective than plants thousands of times larger than itself. Just two hours of exposing indoor air to moss can reduce fine dust by 90%, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by 60%, and CO2 by 40%.

The living moss and LEDs coexist together in mutually beneficial ways. The LEDs use a proprietary light pole technology that actually boosts the moss’ photosynthesis capabilities by 20%, allowing it to clean air more efficiently, while the moss adds a touch of greenery to the otherwise industrial-looking LED panel, creating an illusion of the plants actually lighting up to display the time or respond to music and other cues.

The magic is evident when you water the moss by spraying it with mist with the smart sprayer that comes along with the Echo. Moss Echo’s LED screen reacts to the user every time water is sprayed and shows various interactive graphics. The moss itself comes to life too in no time too, opening up and spreading its distinct plant-like smell in the air. The screen can additionally be personalized to display other things too, when sitting dormant. You can choose to have something as utilitarian as a clock, or opt for calming elements like clouds or a sunrise/sunset or even dandelions. If you have a child around the house, the Moss Echo’s screen can even display a cute avatar cartoon that looks around with animated eyes.

The Moss Echo’s design also strikes that beautiful balance, with the wall of moss on the front interspersed with the LED matrix, encased within a sleek box-shaped design that comes in either black or white. Buttons on the top, along with an elegant linear knob let you access the Moss Echo’s features and control playback. LEDs also give you status indications, like WiFi and Bluetooth connection, or even when the moss needs watering Under the dynamic green matrix lies a powerful set of audio drivers that draw their thump from a 120 Mhz Qualcomm® Kalimba DSP, providing a high-performance 24-bit mono audio interface.

The Moss Echo comes from the folks at MOSSLAB, who designed the mini vertical forest Moss Air last year that used the power of moss to clean and humidify your air. The Echo is the company’s next logical step, bringing nature to the omnipresent wireless speaker in a way that goes well beyond just listening to music or having one or two potted plants.

Each Moss Echo comes with a USB-C cable to power it, and a smart spray bottle that tells the Echo’s display to react when it’s spritzed with water (your regular plant could never!) To ensure that the Moss Echo can withstand the water, the light poles or LEDs are built to be waterproof, and to keep your moss alive, it’s recommended you mist it 2-3 times every day. However, it’s an incredibly resilient species too, capable of enduring up to 6 months without moisture. Once watered, it quickly springs back to life, resuming photosynthesis to sustain its vitality. The Moss Echo starts at $179 for a single unit and ships globally.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off). Hurry, only 263/400 left! Raised over $158,000.

The post Experience Pure Sound and Fresh Air with the Moss Echo: The Ultimate Air-Purifying Wireless Speaker first appeared on Yanko Design.

As incredible as Apple’s products almost always are, there’s always a sense of mystery around their catalog. Unless leaks confirm the launch of a product, there’s always a will-they-won’t-they discussion about things like a folding iPhone, an Apple Car, or up until recently, an Apple VR headset (which did eventually get launched at WWDC last year). This discussion is fueled by one undeniable fact – when Apple enters an industry, it makes a grand entrance. Everything Apple does, it does with great intent and decades of hidden innovation. So it only makes sense to want Apple to enter more industries and disrupt them. Here’s a look at a few product categories that fit well within Apple’s catalog, and even though it makes absolute sense for Apple to design these products (and I’m sure they’d do a stellar job), Apple is probably never going to consider making them. From drones to e-bikes to even printers, here are 10 products everyone wishes Apple made… but Apple probably won’t.

01. Apple Drone

The first-ever drone we saw from Apple actually made its appearance in the company’s iPhone 14 Pro keynote. The video showed a rather crude-looking drone engineered to fly with the iPhone 14 Pro Max mounted on it, relying on the iPhone’s camera system to capture footage. We later learned that the drone was entirely made in-house by Apple’s engineers… so why not make one for us regular consumers too? Imagine a drone rivaling the ones from DJI and Parrot, using a state-of-the-art camera system taken from Apple’s latest iPhones. An object-avoidance LiDAR system taken from the iPhones and iPads, and a 3-axis gimbal so advanced, it helps Apple make better motorized stabilizers for their phone cameras. It’s no secret that DJI’s three product lines – their Osmo cameras, gimbals, and their drones – all benefit from advancements in each other’s domains. A truly symbiotic system that helps create great products. I don’t see why Apple couldn’t do the same.

02. Apple Arcade Gaming Controller

Apple has a gaming service, a game-ready tablet that has better rendering capabilities than some laptops, and Apple also has a spatial reality headset that’s perfect for games, but lacks a controller input. It just makes absolute sense for Apple to launch a gaming controller that works in tandem with all their devices, helping you play/test all sorts of games, whether it’s on Unity or on Apple Arcade. Here’s yet another thought. What if you could remove the control part of the controller from its ergonomic case and use it like an Apple TV or Nintendo Wii-style remote? All speculative of course, but not without reason. Apple’s tech offering severely lacks a gaming controller, and if Apple is serious about gaming, it just makes sense.

03. Apple MovePod Wireless Speaker

You know what else also makes sense? Being able to take your music on the go. Both of Apple’s speakers – the HomePod and the HomePod Mini are wired, tethered devices that don’t have batteries of their own, and can’t be carried around with you. Ironically enough, Apple’s released quite a few wireless portable speakers under its Beats by Dre sub-brand… so why not just launch an unchained HomePod that you can travel with? An orb-shaped device with a handle (sort of like the Devialet Mania) occurs to me as the most obvious bet. Instead of relying on AirPods to listen to music on the go, this wireless speaker gives you the thump of a HomePod, but on the beach, at parties, on a terrace, in a backyard, or even a campsite. Obviously you couldn’t call it HomePod anymore, so something like the MovePod made sense as just a naming ritual.

04. Ergonomic Magic Mouse

The Magic Mouse sucks. It charges horribly, hasn’t been redesigned in years, and it’s an ergonomic nightmare. In fact, it’s so bad to hold that people have even designed grips for the Magic Mouse that make it more comfortable to grasp. Needless to say, an ergonomic Magic Mouse doesn’t exist, but it desperately needs to. The current slim mouse is perfect for travel, but let’s be honest, nobody chooses mice based on their travel-ability. So here’s an appeal to Apple to just make a slightly chunkier Magic Mouse that’s better to hold while working, because that’s really what a mouse is for… working.

05. Apple Printer

MKBHD once said that if there was one gadget he wished Apple designed, it would be the printer. Current printers are the absolute worst. They’re complicated, they jam, they’re a nuisance to configure, and their software are more complex than they need to be. Printers and their user experiences definitely need a major rehaul, and if there’s one company anyone trusts to do a better job, it’s Apple. That being said, Apple probably doesn’t see much sense in a printer. It makes world-class computers for professionals, it dominates the pro-res display market, and printers are an incredibly niche item. Sure, Steve Jobs could have probably launched one in the iMac G3 days when printing was absolutely essential – but printers aren’t a household essential anymore. Want to read documents or preview artwork, use an iPad. That being said, the world definitely deserves a GOOD printer that shows all companies how it’s supposed to be done.

06. Apple e-Bike

Everyone was expecting an Apple Car, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The Apple Car was supposed to be Tim Cook’s effort at building an all-encompassing self-driving vehicle (he didn’t even want a steering wheel in it) with nothing but comfortable seating and infotainment. The car would boost Apple’s self-driving algorithms, but ultimately it was a way of pushing Apple’s services like Apple TV, CarPlay, Apple Music, etc. The Apple Car would ultimately lock horns with multiple giants in the field, Tesla, GM, Ford, the works… so why not enter a field that hasn’t seen much (or any) competition from the big automotive giants? An Apple e-bike would be a great transition into automobiles, it would help Apple understand riders, refine its maps service, and even boost their battery technology. All that could LATER be carried into EVs. Not to mention, the absolute lack of competition… but that’s something Apple has always avoided because it views its competition as a proof of a healthy market. That’s why it waited for Samsung to launch a Watch first, and for Meta, Microsoft, and dozens of other companies cut their teeth on AR/VR before launching the Vision Pro.

07. Apple HomeCam Security Camera

Apple prides itself on privacy and security on a software level – so why not on a hardware one too? The Apple HomeCam would be a perfect smart camera to keep in your house for an added layer of security. It would tie in perfectly with Apple HomeKit’s smart home dashboard, plus, imagine being able to have instant FaceTime calls with your house to check if everything is okay. A smart speaker was Apple’s first step in entering the home, a smart camera would be the logical next step. Yes, I was tempted to call this the Vision Cam but decided HomeCam was a better bet!

08. Apple Ring

Of all the products in this list, the most likely seems to be the Apple Ring, and for two reasons – the first, the Apple Watch is a great health wearable but it doesn’t have a battery that lasts weeks, and the second, Samsung is gearing up to launch their Galaxy Ring too, validating the market space. Ring wearables are great for a bunch of reasons – they don’t have screens so there’s really no distraction with notifications and whatnot, but more importantly, the lack of a screen means a MUCH better battery life. People can wear rings everywhere, and unlike a watch where you can only wear one on your wrist (you’d look stupid if you wore two watches), you can actually pair a health-tracking ring with other jewelry for something that’s sleek yet functional. Rumor has it that Apple’s been considering adding a ring to their portfolio, but then again, a lot of it hinges on how successful Samsung’s own efforts are. Besides, would you really want to wear an Apple Watch and an Apple Ring together? Seems like overkill, no?

09. Apple TV Projector

Probably more of a wishlist item than anything, the Apple TV Projector would be Apple’s first foray into projectors. The company already makes the Apple TV box that brings the company’s TV service to televisions. Wouldn’t it be great if they made a projector that could turn your wall into a theater, and fill your room with loud, balanced audio coming directly from the projector itself? Obviously, the projector would have to be an ultra-short throw (UST) one, because who really places projectors 10 feet away from walls anymore? I’d pay good money for a 4K UST Apple TV projector with the service built-in, along with a year of Apple TV+. Pair it with Apple Arcade’s gaming controller from earlier on in this article and you’ve got yourself a stellar immersive gaming rig.

10. Apple WiFi Router

Another area that Apple should enter is the wireless and cellular service business. Just like Apple entered the payments business to fix something that was broken, the company can enter the carrier business to provide high-speed internet to your homes at a fraction of the cost, and with all of Apple services baked in. Imagine paying a single fee for your internet and iCloud storage, and even getting your cellular plan as a bonus. Here, we’ve imagined an Apple WiFi router that broadcasts high-speed internet to every corner of your home, with a built-in VPN that protects user data because Apple cares for privacy. We threw in an Apple NAS (Network Attached Storage) too, so that your iCloud can live in your home instead of on a server in a different state or country.

Did I miss anything? What else do you think Apple should release? Or rather, which product category desperately requires Apple’s magic touch?

The post Top 10 Apple Products We Wish Existed – But Probably Never Will first appeared on Yanko Design.

I’m sure that there’s a non-zero percentage of people who saw the first HomePod and were reminded of the paper lanterns that decorate each house during Chinese festivals. These lanterns use a thin crepe paper, joined at intervals to create a diamond-shaped honeycomb pattern not too different from the one seen on Apple’s HomePod, albeit at a much smaller scale. Designer Shengtao Ma saw this as an opportunity to more deliberately design a speaker that pays a hat-tip to tradition. The Sirocco Speaker is a slim audio unit with a decorative cover that tributes the lanterns seen in Chinese culture. The speaker’s cover folds open and close just like the lantern, attaching around the speaker’s slender stem-shaped design. The result is something that’s sculptural yet functional, with a cover that can be changed on demand, and a tactile knob on the bottom for controlling the speaker’s volume.

Designer: Shengtao Ma

The Sirocco Speaker comes in multiple shapes and sizes, resembling the traditional lantern seen in Chinese and other Asian cultures

Shengtao Ma makes a case that the speaker’s foldable outer structure plays a role in amplifying the sound. The speaker itself is a slim, vertical number, but the different diamond-shaped elements act as acoustic chambers, helping channel and amplify the audio much like cupping your hands around your mouth. Whether this theory works in reality is yet to be determined, but the concept secured an A’ Design Award this year.

“This speaker further conducts and diffuses sound through its unique honeycomb structure design, thereby further enhancing the user’s experience and music quality. This speaker is foldable. The speaker’s shell is stowable and modular, and comes with a variety of shell shapes that can be replaced at any time according to the user’s mood and home environment,” Shengtao says. “The foldable honeycomb structure at the upper end can be assembled and disassembled by rotation, making it easy to replace, store, and clean.”

The post Chinese Lantern-inspired Speaker Takes The HomePod Texture To New Cultural Heights first appeared on Yanko Design.

In an exciting announcement today, Logitech expanded its “Designed for Mac” lineup with the introduction of the Wave Keys for Mac, an ergonomic keyboard crafted to provide comfort and enhance productivity for Mac users. This launch, set to coincide with the release of other Mac-centric peripherals in Logitech’s portfolio, underscores the company’s commitment to creating seamless, user-friendly experiences within the Apple ecosystem.

Designer: Logitech

Ergonomics Meets Mac-Specific Design

The Wave Keys for Mac stands out as Logitech’s first ergonomic keyboard specifically designed for the Mac, adapted from the Wave Keys that launched at the end of last year. Emphasizing comfort and usability, it features a signature wave shape that ensures a natural typing posture. This wavy design positions the hands, wrists, and forearms in an optimal manner, reducing strain and promoting comfortable typing throughout the day.

A key highlight of the Wave Keys for Mac is its cushioned palm rest, which comprises three layers: memory foam, high-density foam, and a knitted fabric covering. This thoughtful design offers 57% more wrist support compared to traditional Logitech keyboards without palm rests, making it an ideal choice for prolonged use.

Compact and Versatile

The compact layout of the Wave Keys for Mac is not only space-saving but also strategically designed to promote a more natural shoulder position while using a mouse. This makes it a practical addition to any desk setup, particularly for those who prioritize ergonomics without compromising on functionality.

Further enhancing its appeal, the keyboard includes easy-to-use +4° tilt legs, allowing users to adjust the keyboard’s angle to their preference for maximum comfort.

Seamless Integration and Personalization

Logitech’s commitment to enhancing user experience is evident in the Wave Keys for Mac’s seamless integration with macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices. Users can connect up to three Apple devices simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly with the tap of a button. This multi-device capability is complemented by the Logi Options+ app, which enables users to personalize their keyboard shortcuts and optimize their workflow.

The Wave Keys for Mac also boasts an impressive battery life, capable of lasting up to three years on the included AAA batteries, reducing the need for frequent replacements and ensuring consistent performance.

Sustainable Design

In line with Logitech’s dedication to sustainability, the Wave Keys for Mac is made with 48% post-consumer recycled plastic, excluding the plastic in the printed wiring assembly, receiver, and packaging. This eco-friendly approach aligns with Logitech’s broader initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of its products and promote environmentally conscious manufacturing practices.

This launch is part of a broader initiative by Logitech to cater to the needs of Mac users. Alongside the Wave Keys for Mac, Logitech is also introducing other products such as the MX Keys S for Mac, MX Keys S Combo for Mac, MX Anywhere 3S for Mac, and MX Keys Mini for Mac. These additions are designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and ensure ergonomic comfort for Mac users.

Delphine Donné, Vice President and General Manager of Personal Workspace Solutions at Logitech, highlighted the company’s focus on integrating user-centric solutions with the Apple ecosystem while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. “With a focus on optimizing workflow, productivity, and comfort, our Designed for Mac portfolio empowers Apple users to unleash their creative potential and enjoy day-long comfort at the desk without sacrificing Mac compatibility and look,” said Donné.

The Wave Keys for Mac will be available for purchase in May 2024 at a price of $59.99.

The post Logitech Debuts Wave Keys for Mac: Ergonomic Keyboard for Apple Enthusiasts first appeared on Yanko Design.