What ChatGPT did to search, what Midjourney did to photography, what iPhones did to cameras, the Bored Keyboard is doing to mechanical keyboards. Designed to be the first mechanical keyboard with built-in predictive models, the Bored Keyboard supercharges your workflow by making you type faster, switch between tasks faster, and game more lethally. A touch-sensitive display along the top of the keyboard serves up autocomplete suggestions as you type, boosting your typing speed by nearly 3x. The display also stores items in your clipboard, allowing you to copy-paste text more efficiently, and even lets you toggle between multiple keyboard modes as you work. Think of it as the MacBook TouchBar, but with MUCH more potential, within a mechanical keyboard that’s like a symphony for your fingertips.

Designer: Marzex Bored Inc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $252 (33% Off) Hurry, only 5 days left!

The reason why the Bored Keyboard is so exciting is because it thinks outside the box. To be straight, there’s nothing wrong with conventional mechanical keyboards. I’m using one right now, and it serves its purpose well… but it doesn’t explore its potential. The Bored Keyboard does just that – it explores the idea of a keyboard on a much more fundamental yet broad level. It supercharges your typing with autocomplete, gives you a lengthy clipboard that lets you paste stuff you copied 5 hours ago, and even has RGB backlit keys that do everything from highlighting predictive keys to lighting up in zones during games to help you understand where your enemies are located. Not a single mechanical keyboard can boast those features, and let’s face it, Apple clearly didn’t explore the full potential of the TouchBar either.

The Autocomplete feature is easily the Bored Keyboard’s biggest USP. Borrowing from the experience of typing on a smartphone, the mechanical keyboard’s lateral display lights up with word suggestions as you type. See something you like, hit it instead of typing out the entire word. The predictive models get better with time as you keep using the keyboard, shooting up predictions faster and more accurately, effectively reducing the time between thinking and typing so you can work as fast as you think. The autocomplete model doesn’t just work with the English language, it works while coding too, helping you type and push out code fast simply by letting the keyboard complete lines of code for you. Things get even better with the keyboard’s RGB backlights as they predict the next key you want to type before you do. The lights highlight the key for you so you can find the right key faster – a feature that’s incredibly useful for people who aren’t quick typers and who spend time scanning the keyboard as they click each key.

The Bored Keyboard’s Clipboard feature is perhaps its most underrated. Think about working with spreadsheets and needing to copy multiple pieces of data and paste them in individual cells. The traditional way of doing it would be to copy one item, go to the sheet, paste it, then go back and copy item number two, paste it again, and repeat the process multiple times. The Bored Keyboard’s clipboard feature eliminates that back and forth. Copy multiple pieces of data, go to your final document, and access each individual copied item through the display on top. Just hit CTRL and the Bored Keyboard reveals its entire clipboard of all the stuff you copied. Click on an item to paste it, or select another item to paste that instead… your clipboard can hold more than one element now, allowing you to bulk-copy and then bulk-paste.

When you begin using the Bored Keyboard for gaming, you realize what I meant when I spoke about a keyboard’s ‘potential’. While gaming, the keyboard’s entire canvas becomes an audio ‘heat-map’. The keyboard listens to in-game sounds to determine where footsteps and gunshots are coming from, lighting up those respective areas. This helps you track your enemies in a much more intuitive way, often even without headphones. The keyboard becomes your pair of extra eyes, keeping tabs on the whereabouts of your enemies for you. Follow the lights and they literally lead to victory.

The Bored Keyboard just continues to tick all the right boxes with its design and software. On the software front, the Bored Keyboard is designed to be entirely open-source. You can customize the autocomplete settings, configure key mappings, set shortcuts and macros, run your own custom scripts/actions, and obviously tinker with the RGB backlight settings. The folks behind the Bored Keyboard encourage you to hack the keyboard to suit your needs, giving you a piece of hardware that truly fits your exact requirements.

On the hardware front, it’s delightfully mechanical, with Gateron switches (red/brown/yellow/blue) and double-shot PBT keycaps that can be hot-swapped to retrofit keycaps of your own. Depending on whether you choose the standard or the premium variant, the keyboard’s body comes made either from ABS plastic or machined Aluminum, houses either a 6000mAh or a 10,000mAh battery, and has either an LCD or a PMOLED lateral display up top. The standard version connects to machines via USB-C or Bluetooth, while the premium model also packs a 2.4GHz receiver.

The Bored Keyboard has a compact 75% layout, which means it loses the number pad, but packs an entire row of function keys. It measures 320mm across (12.5 inches) and 171mm in depth (6.7 inches) thanks to the presence of that added touchscreen. The Bored Keyboard is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS devices, starting at $169 for the standard/basic variant, or $363 for the premium variant, with global shipping included.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $252 (33% Off) Hurry, only 5 days left!

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Yacht owners are known for indulging in luxury and the thrill of the open sea. Over the years, this community has indulged in buying submarines and Jet Skis to satisfy their growing desire for new thrills, and it is no surprise that electric VTOL and jetpacks will be on the list soon. In order to create the demand or perhaps be ready for when the need arises, a French company is making a deal visible.

Enter Acro eVTOL, a cutting-edge creation by Klissarov Design, specifically engineered for the yachting industry. The renowned French design studio is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of innovation in vehicle design. Studio’s portfolio spans boats, automobiles, and even aircraft and the latest addition to their impressive repertoire is the Acro, this electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concept.

Designer: Klissarov Design

Acro is classified as an ultralight aircraft, which eliminates the need for a pilot’s license. The aircraft leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in its operation, ensuring a seamless and secure flying experience. This makes it accessible to a wider range of enthusiasts who want to experience the thrill of piloting their own craft.

The Acro eVTOL, designed with a molded seat to ensure the pilot’s comfort during flight, boasts a 3D-printed airframe, setting it apart from traditional aircraft design. With a length of 3.85 meters, a width of 4 meters, and a height of 1.6 meters, it combines compactness with performance and stability, making it a true marvel.

Designed with versatility in mind, Acro can transport a single mariner to and from a yacht or port with minimum noise and max comfort using two joysticks to maneuver the aircraft. Equipped with two screens for enhanced visibility, it offers a range of flight modes, enabling a personalized experience for every pilot.

This futuristic aircraft looks sleek, but it’s quite robust with an empty weight of 200 kilograms and a maximum take-off weight of 280 kg. It’s envisioned to deliver an exceptional experience while maintaining the highest standards of safety. With a cruise speed of 102 kmph (63 mph), Acro ensures a safe and controlled flight. It can touch down on any regular deck, making it the perfect companion for yachts in all kinds of weather conditions. The craft includes an emergency ballistic parachute at the top, a reassuring feature for those moments when all does not go according to plan, providing peace of mind to the thrill-seeking pilot.

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As a digital native (meaning I live and breathe online), I have not been very conscious of all my data that is uploaded to various websites and all the cloud-based applications out there. There have been a lot of horror stories about people whose identity have been hacked or compromised because of their data on the cloud but so far, I have been lucky enough to not experience any of this. But if you’re the type of person that is very careful about these kinds of things, this new product may be something worth having.

Designers: Wenkai Li and Yu Dan

ZimaBlade is a x86 personal server that will let you have control over most things even while you’re connected to the world wide web. It will basically remove your files from the cloud and let you have control over things like file sharing, media playback, key management, and even encrypted P2P transmission. It also has a lot of expansion ports and slots including for storage, high-speed networking, PCIe slots, a USB port, and other ports that you may need as you use this server.

The design of the server is more old-school Sony Walkman than actual server or it may also look like a small robot that will transform anytime. It is around the same size as the Raspberry Pi devices but it does not have the usual GPIO pins found in devices like this. It seems to not be that heavy so it can be portable and is made with low-power and modularity in mind. It has an aluminum alloy heatsink so it will not overheat in case you’re a heavy user.

It is pre-installed with the open source CasaOS operating system that has more than 50 Docker apps. The early reviews seem to be positive for those who are in need of portable, personal servers. I don’t have any need for it right now because I am still basically unconcerned with clouds but if one day I do realize that everything I send to the Internet is a risk, then this is something that can be useful for someone like me.

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Nestled against the foothills of the Alps, Lake Como has been a holiday destination for the rich and famous since ages galore. Although I haven’t been, I’ve been busy manifesting it, so who knows, hopefully, we’ll experience some Lake Como soon! The 19th-century Villa Roccabruna is tucked away in the stunning greenery of a botanical park on the lake’s southeast shores. The beautiful property features bold neoclassical lines and is an absurdly romantic space that was once the home of Italy’s iconic opera singer Giuditta Pasta. Now the property has been transformed into a hotel by the Mandarin Oriental group, and it recently launched a 40m floating infinity pool!

Designer: Herzog & de Meuron 

Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the floating infinity pool is an absolute beauty to look at! And also it is the largest in the world! The hotel was designed by Herzog & de Meuron as well, and it features 21 rooms, 52 suites, two restaurants, an award-winning lower-level spa, and two standalone villas. The pool is a subtle yet beautiful addition that perfectly complements the villa’s architecture, as well as the lower vaulted stone colonnade that supports it.

The infinity pool has been finished in a dark local Cardoso sandstone, and it is designed to seamlessly and harmoniously blend into the lake’s cobalt blue waters. The impressive infinity edge of the cake creates an optical illusion, with a prefabricated steel structure in a glossy deep green that subtly reflects the water’s surface. The pool is designed in Switzerland, constructed in Finland, and assembled in Italy. In fact, the pool is considered an engineering feat and features a catamaran-like form to reduce the impact of the waves. The form is invisibly attached to the lake bed and is connected to the bar and dining area via a ramp.

The NAMI Café is a cool and casual poolside hangout spot that serves pizzas, burgers, and salads along with cocktails and healthy juices. The cafe is framed by the historic and massive stone arches of the building, creating a truly special spot. The largest floating infinity pool in the world is definitely going to be on my vacation list now!

The post Meet The World’s Largest Floating Infinity Pool At Lake Como first appeared on Yanko Design.

You’ve got portable grills, induction cookers, and portable stoves, but there’s no portable version of the microwave. Most microwaves today are heavy, bulky, and aren’t designed to be carried around… but what if they were? Designer Park Saun created the Foldwave concept to show what a portable microwave could look like. With a collapsible design that turns into a portable carry case when not in use, the Foldwave gives you the option of being able to carry your microwave around. Use it at home from one room to another, carry it to work, or even to a picnic. The collapsible design makes it easier to carry on your shoulders… and if you’re wondering whether portable microwaves are even feasible as a concept, a Japanese company developed the world’s first battery-powered microwave this year!

Designer: Park Saun

The Foldwave’s innovation, as a concept, lies primarily in the way it goes from cube-shaped to compact. The sides of the microwave buckle inwards, allowing the top and the bottom elements to join together into a smaller, more manageable carrying volume. A handle on the top makes it easy to carry the Foldwave around with you, and using the Foldwave is as simple as opening the door in front, adding your food, and turning the knob on top to run the appliance.

Even though conceptual, it’s important to really address how this technology would be feasible in the long run. Microwaves are usually sealed shut to prevent radiation leakage, and it’s important that the Foldwave keeps that in consideration too. As far as the components go, the microwave magnetron sits on the top, while the rotating platform can be found at the bottom. One would assume that the high-voltage transformer sit right at the top with the magnetron, powering the device, while a battery unit could be potentially stored at the bottom, allowing the microwave to balance its components and weight out while still being bottom-heavy enough to stay stable when open.

The Foldwave is a winner of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept for the year 2023.

The post This Award-Winning Foldable Microwave Oven Concept Turns into a Portable Carry Case first appeared on Yanko Design.

We often underestimate the importance of great office furniture! When in reality we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on our office chairs or typing away on our desks whether we’re working in our home office or a corporate one. Hence, these pieces of furniture need to be not only comfortable but ergonomic, and aesthetic as well. And, a great furniture design for modern corporate offices would be the Choice Lockers by Narbutas.

Designer: Narbutas

Designed by workplace furniture brand Narbutas, the Choice Locker System is a modular and efficient locker system intended to organize office spaces and keep them tidy and neat. The locker system was designed with the goal of making corporate offices more aesthetically pleasing. The Choice Lockers are available in a diverse range of door, lock, and accessory options. This storage solution is aimed at enhancing and improving any office space, or even a reception area. It can be used in corridors as well since it has a slender and compact footprint.

“Even if employees have permanent workplaces, lockers are useful for keeping common spaces uncluttered,” said the brand. “This maintains order in the office and creates a pleasant, aesthetic environment for both employees and visitors.” The Choice Locker System can be customized, and you can pick doors of diverse heights or materials. You can also pick open cabinet spaces for hanging jackets or cushioned nooks for people to sit and rest in.

What makes the Choice lockers even more personalized is that they are available in lock options ranging from combination locks to discreet electronic locks that can be swiftly opened with a swipe card. You can also pick from a wide collection of colors and materials such as perforated metal, melamine, HPL (high-pressure laminate) panels, and wood veneer. The Choice lockers are also designed to be sustainable, hence they are 97% recyclable, and they can be accentuated with planters to add a touch of green to the space, and enhance the overall indoor air quality. The Choice Locker System is a functional, efficient, and sustainable storage system designed to meet the needs of modern offices and modern officegoers.

The post This Compact Customizable Locker System Is The Storage Solution Every Modern Corporate Office Needs first appeared on Yanko Design.

When large, not to mention expensive, foldables didn’t seem to be appealing to people, manufacturers tried a different angle and sent a different message. Taking lessons from the somewhat inexplicable popularity of clamshell flip phones from the 80s and 90s, brands found the perfect opportunity to market a foldable phone that seemed hip, classy, and a bit more relatable. Thus, the flip-style foldable phones were born, straddling the fine line between compactness and usability, and we’ve been witnessing big changes in design and features in every iteration. But like their larger foldable siblings, these stylish phones have traditionally been held back by space constraints, especially when it comes to squeezing advanced cameras inside cramped bodies. With the Find N3 Flip, OPPO is trying to change the formula once and for all, so we put it through the wringer to see whether that large bump on its back is worth its presence.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

There’s no denying the fact that two things will immediately catch your attention when you behold the OPPO Find N3 Flip. First is the large rectangular external display, formally called the Cover Screen, which has been the signature design of the OPPO Find N Flip. It’s admittedly smaller than ones from Samsung and Motorola, but its shape more closely resembles a phone screen and doesn’t force the cameras to be stuck with a particular design only. As we’ll soon see, OPPO added some new features for the Cover Screen, but it really only takes a second seat to the other most obvious design feature of its new flip foldable.

There is a distinct camera bump on the Find N3 Flip, and it isn’t some discreet bump either. It’s a large raised circle that houses no less than three sensors arranged in a symmetrical triangular pattern. It takes inspiration from the OPPO Find X6’s “Cosmos Ring” design, with an added “Starlight Track” that aims to mimic the control ring on camera lenses. On a wide area on a large phone like the Find X6, this design element is striking and quite pleasant. Squeezed into a very small space, the raised structure looks more pronounced and visually distracting. Some will love the luxurious style and materials of the ring, but there will also be some who will criticize its almost obnoxious presence, especially when the rest of the smartphone can stand up as an elegant accessory that you can proudly show off at a gala.

This isn’t surprising since the Find N2 Flip before it already flaunted stunningly good looks, and OPPO wisely preferred not to change that winning formula. The glass back panel’s edges gently curve toward the metal frame to produce a pleasing aesthetic that also increases comfort when holding it in your hand. It’s a departure from the predominantly flat trend of smartphones these days, but one that still works in the Find N3 Flip’s favor. The color options are just as gorgeous, with Cream Gold and Misty Pink offering soft hues and Sleek Black carrying a classic character. The phone has a minimalist charm to it as well, broken only by that large circle whose presence can, fortunately, be justified by its performance.

Ergonomics

Unlike with the larger book-style foldable, holding the OPPO Find N3 Flip is less of a hassle and risk because it can be easily held in one hand. In fact, you can even open it up with a single hand, if you’re not afraid of digging your finger in between the two halves. The phone folds completely flap with no gap in between, though there’s still a bit of space created by the raised edges of the foldable screen where you can slip your finger in. Some might still be a bit too wary of tempting fate, but opening and closing the foldable is quite easy and can even be quite addictive to be perfectly honest.

Holding the phone in your hand is just as pleasurable, thanks to both the texture of the materials used as well as their forms. The curved edges of the back panel contrast and complement the flat sides of the frame, providing both comfort as well as grip. It’s taller than most flat smartphones, of course, so you might still find yourself reaching elements higher on the screen with your free hand. Compared to other flip-style foldable phones, however, it has a wider main display and a wider body. This means the aspect ratio of the screen is more standard and that your hands won’t feel cramped when tapping away on it.

The improved Flexion Hinge also plays an important role in enhancing the usability of the foldable phone, especially when taking photos. Since it can stay open at almost any angle, you can take shots from difficult angles that would normally require a tripod or monopod and still have the confidence in being able to hold the phone firmly. Considering how this kind of foldable is being marketed primarily at Gen Z customers who love to take selfies or record videos, that kind of stability and ergonomics goes a long way in appealing to that consumer base.

Performance

The OPPO Find N3 Flip is quite the looker, but it thankfully isn’t just a pretty face. It boasts some of the best specs in the smartphone market today, like the latest LPDDR5x memory and fast UFS 4.0 storage technology. The one oddity in that hardware list is perhaps the choice of processor, a MediaTek Dimensity 9200. It’s definitely no Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as synthetic benchmarks will show, and there will be some areas where the Dimensity 9200 might fall behind in terms of numbers. That said, the gap isn’t that wide, especially in practice, and you can expect premium performance from this foldable, no matter what task you throw at it.

The foldable display inside helps support those use cases, providing a vibrant and bright display when you need it but folding out of the way when you don’t. It’s the exact same screen as the OPPO Find N2 Flip, which means a 6.8-inch 120Hz foldable display with a resolution of 2520×1080, a few pixels shy of the standard ultra-wide format. Thanks to the aforementioned Flexion Hinge, the screen has no visible crease in the middle, not unless you intentionally search for or feel it. It presents a traditional user experience, the same you’d find on regular smartphones, just that you can fold it halfway to enable some extra features, especially with the camera.

Ironically, it’s the secondary display outside that’s more interesting than the foldable panel. The Cover Screen, after all, allows you to use the phone without opening it up as well as easily take high-quality selfies using the more powerful cameras on its back. It’s the same 3.26-inch 720×382 screen, though, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection for this year’s model instead. The traditional rectangular shape might seem almost old-fashioned given these year’s flip phone designs, but its straightforward implementation actually makes it more flexible in features, at least in theory. It also frees up more space for bigger camera sensors, which is the true star of OPPO’s 2023 flip foldable phone.

The OPPO Find N3 Flip boasts the world’s first triple camera system on a clamshell foldable, which explains the decisions that the company had to make. It wouldn’t have been efficient to just have three dots lined up on the side of the phone, especially given the sensors’ sizes, so they had to resort to a more familiar design of having a large camera bump instead. Just having three cameras wouldn’t have been enough to justify such a large enclosure and, thankfully, OPPO didn’t stop there either.

Portrait Mode

The 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor makes its return from last year, but this time it comes with Optical Image Stabilization or OIS. The ultra-wide shooter has been upgraded with a whopping 48MP camera so you won’t have to sacrifice quality for field of view. The biggest change, however, is the dedicated telephoto camera with a 32MP sensor that’s useful not only for 2x optical zoom but also for taking stunning portrait photos, with some help from Hasselblad tuning. The results are simply impressive, with images containing lush colors and high levels of detail, no matter which of the three cameras you use. And thanks to that multi-angle Flexion Hinge, you can use these powerful cameras in more ways, taking breath-taking shots or videos without having to use sticks and stands.

Ultra-wide

1x

2x

The Find N3 Flip runs the latest OPPO ColorOS 13.2 based on Android 13. This flavor of Android has all the bells and whistles you’ve come to expect from the brand, including the dizzying amount of options and several pre-installed apps. Unlike with the larger foldable, the focus on this flip phone is not exactly multi-tasking but on “mini-tasking,” that is, the mini apps that can run on the small Cover Screen. OPPO has expanded that experience to include a few more Google apps and social networks, but the limitations are still the same. You can’t use it for anything other than OPPO’s sanctioned set of apps and experiences, which now includes having a furry pal on your lock screen. It’s a double-edged that keeps the experience simple and streamlined but also misses out on big opportunities. It gets the job done, which focuses mostly on basic tasks you can do without flipping the phone open, but that’s all there is to it.

Normal Mode

Night Mode

Powering this whole ensemble is a 4,300mAh battery that is quite generous for a flip foldable. It’s more than enough to last you a full day, though your mileage will depend on what you’re using it for, and it also charges up quickly thanks to SuperVOOC 44W technology. There’s still no wireless charging, which is a bit of a shame in this day and age, especially when you consider the premium price that OPPO is asking for.

Sustainability

Despite its rapid growth, OPPO has thankfully been mindful of the role it plays in keeping the planet alive for future generations of customers. It has a strong and detailed strategy for reducing its impact, at least as far as operations and production go. There’s definitely plenty of room for improvement, especially when talking about the use of recycled materials, but that will probably require a bigger investment and more partnerships than OPPO can muster at the moment.

Fortunately, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is built to last, and not just because of its improved hinge. Earlier generations of foldable phones have been notoriously vulnerable to the slightest accidents, especially when it comes to dust and liquid. The Find N3 Flip’s IPX4 rating still doesn’t hit the mark, especially when it comes to protection from small particles, but the waterproofing goes a long way in inspiring confidence in such a pricey investment.

Value

It was quite easy to impress crowds with foldable phones, but they turned out to sell in practice. Durability and usability have always been concerns, but there’s also the question of practicality vis-a-vis their expensive price tags. Modern flip phones are an attempt to make the idea of foldable phones more approachable while also pushing down the price just a bit. Unfortunately, many of these devices failed to match expectations when compared to flagships on the same price tier, especially when it comes to the photography experience that many users consider to be critical to their smartphone use.

That’s where the OPPO Find N3 Flip comes to the scene with guns blazing. A glance at the specs sheet suggests an incremental upgrade from last year’s model, but you can immediately see there’s something different once you behold that large camera ring on its back. It is perhaps the closest that flip phones have gotten to matching the power of traditional flagships, both in the overall experience as well as in photography. It’s still a bit pricey, but that price finally makes sense considering you’re finally getting what you’re paying for.

Verdict

Foldable are here to stay and the market will only get noisier in the coming years. There’s plenty of room for improvement, especially as they try to catch up with features that have become standard in buyers’ eyes. Durability and reliability are always top priorities, but matching the photography prowess of flagships without giving up thin and light designs is something that has eluded even the biggest smartphone brands.

The OPPO Find N3 and the Find N3 Flip raise a challenge to the status quo, proving that, yes, you can put great cameras on foldable phones, too. While much of the Find N3 Flip hasn’t changed, it steps up its game with a team of imaging sensors that empowers any user to become a content creator. Yes, the large camera ring looks a little awkward, but we’ve seen worse designs on regular smartphones. It’s one of the prices that OPPO and users have to pay to achieve this level of performance, and it’s definitely worth that design cost. Fortunately, the rest of the phone looks as elegant as ever, so if you’re in the market for a stylish phone that has both a “Wow!” factor and impressive cameras, the OPPO Find N3 Flip deserves a spot on your list.

Aki Ukita contributed to this review.

The post OPPO Find N3 Flip Foldable Phone Review: Refinement with a Big Twist first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tiny homes gained popularity a couple of years ago, and since then they’ve cemented their place in the world of architecture. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. You could say that 2022 was the year of tiny homes! And I do believe this will continue well in the future. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And if you love exploring tiny homes, as much as I do, then you’ve reached the right spot. We’ve curated an eclectic and exciting range of micro homes that will totally satisfy your love for tiny homes! From a 40′ highly insulated converted shipping container tiny home to a smart tiny home that expands to 3 times its size – there’s a tiny home here for everyone!

1. Pod Studio

California-based Podform just launched the world’s smartest tiny home called Pod Studio. The innovative tiny house can expand up to 3 times its original size!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Pod Studio’s original size is 161 square feet, however, it can transform to 454 square feet within 15 minutes! The tiny home is portable and easily transportable and requires no foundation owing to its built-in hydraulic legs.

What we like

• Features solar panels and smart technology which can be controlled via an app

What we dislike

• It’s not out on the market yet, so we’re not sure what the final home will be like

2. Vagabundo Flex

The Vagabundo Flex is a special little home that extends gracefully over two levels, owing to an inventive automated lifting root system, that upgrades the comfort and functionality of the home. The house is built using timber framing, wood fiber insulation, double-glazed aluminum windows that have been laminated with safety glass, and three-layer fit wood for the interior paneling.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Vagabundo Flex’s innovative and unique design supports the roof in rising to an impressive height of 20.3 ft, in turn creating a spacious interior that occupies 300 square feet.

What we like

• The bulky elements have been smartly concealed in the corners and tucked away in cupboards
• The tiny home has been amped with all the essential amenities, as well as massive panoramic windows and timber furnishings

What we dislike

• Heavily priced

3. Fujitsubo

Japanese construction startup Serendix unveiled ‘Fujitsubo’ – a small home priced at 5.5 million yen or around $37,600!

Why is it noteworthy?

Dubbed Fujitsubo or “the barnacle”, the compact home occupies only 538 square feet, which is pretty small in comparison to the average new American home, which is five times larger. This 3D-printed home features one bedroom, one bathroom, and an open living room connected to a kitchen.

What we like

• Costs as much as a car

What we dislike

• It’s still in the conceptual phase

4. Browny

This adorable-looking tiny home is called Browny, and it ranks really high on versatility, as it effortlessly accommodates a home office, exercise area, and a guest bedroom all within a length of 6 meters.

Why is it noteworthy?

Browny is installed in Loire-Atlantique, western France to offer the homeowner an improved space to work and live in. Founded on a double-axle trailer and finished in red cedar accentuated by aluminum accenting and a roof, Browny is one good-looking tiny home. It has been equipped with an ample amount of glazing to maximize the natural light within.

What we like

• Accommodates multiple amenities in a small space
• Features integrated storage space

What we dislike

• Lacks a proper kitchen and bathroom

5. Ecocapsule NextGen

A couple of years ago Ecocapsule launched an egg-shaped off-grid tiny house, which became a major hit. And recently they launched a new and upgraded version called the Ecocapsule NextGen!

Why is it noteworthy?

The size of the Ecocapsule NextGen has been increased. From 4.67m the home has been expanded to 5.2m, making it larger than the original version, but still maintaining a small and compact form.

What we like

• Features a gull-wing door that makes the home more open to the outdoors

What we dislike

• It’s not released on the market, so we don’t know what the actual final product will be like

6. The Pathway

Called the Pathway, this latest model by MTL is designed to maximize limited space. It features a length of 8 feet and a couple of star features such as a rooftop deck, and a smart space-saving interior accentuated with a pulley-operated ladder.

Why is it noteworthy?

The compact home is supported by a double-axle trailer and finished in engineered wood. The aforementioned rooftop deck area is a brilliant space to host guests, which was a priority for the homeowner, and has been equipped with a collapsible security railing for safety.

What we like

• Features a rooftop deck
• Features an impressive amount of storage space

What we dislike

• It isn’t the smallest tiny home on the market, you can find more compact options if you like
• The bedroom is only accessible via a pulley-operated ladder, which isn’t the most inclusive design, and could be uncomfortable for some to climb

7. Napoles House

Located in Napoles, Ecuador, and quite rightfully called the Napoles House, this micr0home was designed by PJCArchitecture and features two brick forms that are connected by a glass bridge that relies heavily on passive heating and cooling.

Why is it noteworthy?

“The design is based not only on the client’s needs but on her desire to embrace the local environment, culture, and vernacular,” said lead architect Nandar Godoy-Dinneen. “It was also heavily shaped by the availability of construction materials and by working within the local traditions.”

What we like

• Constructed using locally sourced materials and by local crew and craftsmen

What we dislike

• No active systems, which may be inconvenient for some people

8. Ark Tiny Homes’ Delta Model

Ark Tiny Homes designed a highly insulated tiny home that is built from a converted shipping container home with a modest price tag of $59,500.

Why is it noteworthy?

Located in Heber City, UT, the tiny home has been equipped with premium quality amenities and generous living space. The layout of the home manages to provide an element of spaciousness and openness to the 40′insulated home.

What we like

• An environmentally friendly home that has been outfitted with great quality amenities while going easy on the pocket

What we dislike

• The aesthetics of the home are a bit old-fashioned and traditional

9. The Nest

The Nest is one of the two short-term rental properties available at ReWild Rentals and is located in Hocking Hills, Ohio. It showcases the beauty of the location to the guests!

Why is it noteworthy?

The exterior of the small house is clad in black board-and-batten wood siding, which gives the home a modern and contemporary feel, accentuated by a long sloping roof on one side, that also shelters the outdoor patio.

What we like

• Unique layout unlike the typical tiny homes
• Seems more spacious and larger than it actually is

What we dislike

• The barn-style door is a bit old-fashioned and doesn’t provide much privacy in the bathroom

10. Kjerringholmen Cabin

Dubbed the Kjerringholmen Cabin, this idyllic cabin occupies 63 square meters and is located in the Hvaler archipelago. The cabins occupy a decent amount of space and have an airy and spacious feel to them.

Why is it noteworthy?

Kjerringholmen is proof “that large houses don’t necessarily mean more quality of life. In just 63 square meters, with smart planning, it still has plenty of usable space,” said the studio. Occupying 63 square meters, the cabin is supported by steel pillars and surrounded by a dusky rocky landscape.

What we like

• Blends perfectly with the natural landscape
• Designed extremely efficiently to support a smart way of living

What we dislike

• Birds may not notice the home and could crash into it since it merges so perfectly with its surroundings

The post Top 10 Tiny Homes That Are Transforming Housing in 2023 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Landor & Fitch launched a collection of adaptive toothbrush add-ons called the Accessoires handles. These handles have been created for people with dexterity issues. The handles feature chunky grips that curve outwards, giving the impression that they’re wrapped around a tennis ball. The grips feature a unique texture of grips, spines, or ridges which are the focal point of the entire Accessories collection.

Designer: Landor & Fitch

The handles are 3D-printed for different customers, and customized based on the answers of an online questionnaire. The add-ons can also be attached to the handles of regular toothbrushes to form a sturdier and larger grip, making it a more accessible and usable design. This unique design is a major boost for people who have limited dexterity, as it allows them to handle a toothbrush more easily and efficiently. Currently, 360 million people suffer from dexterity challenges, and this design will provide them with a better alternative than the household hacks they usually resort to. The add-ons have an almost sculptural and artistic appeal to them, making them look like regular homeware pieces.

“Whilst researching accessible design, we came across users hacking toothbrushes in functional but extremely uncomfortable ways,” said Landor & Fitch’s industrial design lead Jack Holloway. “This was by attaching toothbrushes to hands via elastic bands, using dog toys, lollipop sticks, and wet cloths. After seeing this, we realized there was a real problem that we as a creative team thought we could solve.”

To create the Accessories collection, Landor & Fitch invited a group of people with dexterity issues due to arthritis or carpal tunnel. They participated in co-designing the product in hands-on workshops called “makers labs”. They were involved in the entire process, and they even gave their feedback on the final product. This helped Landor & Fitch create the perfect design that could truly have utility and ease out the experience for people with dexterity problems.

Out of the 142 possible designs for the add-ons, users can pick the permutation that works best for them, this finalized design is then 3D-printed, allowing the entire process to be economical, and quite personalized as well.

The post These 3D Printed Toothbrushes Make Brushing Teeth An Easy & Smooth Process For People With Dexterity Issues first appeared on Yanko Design.

With a fully-enclosed design that makes it incredibly user-friendly and safe for even homes, the xTool S1 is the most powerful laser cutter consumers can buy. It sports a slim design that doesn’t occupy the kind of vertical space required by other consumer-grade devices like 3D printers, and has a modular design that lets you swap out the laser attachments depending on the material you’re working with. The enclosed design eliminates the need to wear goggles while the cutter’s in action, and multiple flame-detectors keep the entire operation safe at all times. Despite all that, the xTool S1 sports a starting price of just $1,599 for the S1 with a 20W laser, going up to $1,999 if you want to pack ultimate power with a 40W laser diode.

Designer: xTool

Click Here to Buy Now: $1599 $2099 ($500 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Occupying the same footprint as a flatbed scanner, the S1 from xTool is an industry-grade laser cutter designed specifically for hobbyists, prototypers, designers, engineers, small entrepreneurs, and other creatively inclined folk. It packs a powerful laser diode into an enclosed flatbed-style design that isn’t just compact, it’s also much safer than most consumer-grade open-diode laser cutters that either require you to splurge another couple of hundreds on a safety enclosure, or require you to have goggles on at all times while operating the machinery. The S1 is a suitable alternative, and comes with its own enclosed design that doesn’t break the bank.

The 40W laser is powerful enough to slice through wood, leather, stainless steel to plastic, precious metals, acrylic, and almost all other common materials with absolute ease. A modular design allows you to swap between laser diodes of different powers so you can engrave too, while also letting you attach accessories like risers for working on taller/thicker elements, or a rotary module for engraving on cylindrical surfaces.

The modular design extends to even the laser itself, with the ability to switch between the 40W laser, a 20W laser, or a 1064nm laser. The entire process is easy for even first-timers to do, giving your S1 the range to work with a whole host of materials. Other modules include the riser, which elevates your S1 so you can engrave on products as thick as 125mm (4.9 inches), the RA2 Pro rotary module for engraving on cylindrical surfaces (covering 90% of the cylinder), or even the Automatic Conveyor Feed that lets you feed in longer pieces of material as the S1 does running cuts on them. You can even add a honeycomb lattice to catch your parts as they fall, filtering dust off in the process, or install a smoke purifier module that purifies 99.97% of the exhaust fumes generated while the laser is at work.

Experts as well as novices will appreciate how intuitive using the S1 is. Right off the bat, it accepts all leading file types including SVG/DXF/JPG/JPEG/PNG/BMP/TIF, while supporting working with a variety of material categories from paper all the way up to stainless steel.

While most laser cutters use cameras for positioning, the S1 offers a new twin-point positioning system that’s much more accurate than the traditional camera method. This sidesteps the camera’s own shortcomings like its ability to distort or succumb to small amounts of parallax. The twin-point positioning system offers higher accuracy thanks to xTool’s advanced algorithms, allowing you to accurately visualize previews within the software for the best possible results.

The S1 also features an advanced Intelligent Focus System, enabling multi-point high-precision ranging and automated 3D object modeling. The motorized Z-axis dynamically adjusts focus in real time during processing, ensuring meticulous precision. Once you’ve loaded and calibrated your job, the S1 gets to work at 600mm/s, offering a respectably speedy yet incredibly stable performance thanks to the robust guide rail system that guides the laser with ease.

40 watts of power is no joke, especially in the laser world, which is why the folks at xTool take safety as seriously as they do. Rated Class-1, the laser is certified safe to be used around humans given how many precautions the S1 takes with its design. A large, high-transparency cover offers excellent dual-wavelength filtering capabilities (diode laser and 1064nm Infrared laser), freeing you from cumbersome protective glasses while giving you a clear view of the job while it’s being processed.

The entire enclosure is fire-resistant, but the chances of a fire are drastically minimized thanks to omni-directional flame detectors that constantly monitor the S1 while it’s in action. A powerful smoke exhaust rapidly discharges harmful gases produced during laser processing, ensuring your safety and well-being, with the option of adding a purifier module that purifies 99.97% of the air making its way out of the S1. The device additionally has auto-shutdown protocols when you lift the lid in the middle of a job or when the S1 detects a tilt or impact, and at any other time, a conveniently placed emergency stop button lets you instantly pause a job.

The xTool S1 measures 765mm x 561mm (30 inches x 22 inches) in length and diameter, while being 183mm or 7.2 inches in height (going to 268mm or 10.5 inches with the riser module attached) and weighing 20 kilograms (44lbs). The S1 40W has a 498mm x 319mm (19.6 inches x 12.5 inches) work area, extendable indefinitely via the Automatic Conveyor Feed module. The device connects via both USB as well as WiFi, working with popular software Lightburn or even xTool’s proprietary XCS software that’s available for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and iPadOS devices. The xTool S1 starts at $1,599 for the 20W model, while the 40W variant costs $1,999, undercutting most powerful laser cutters that can run up even 5 figures in cost. Addon modules for the cutter are available separately.

Click Here to Buy Now: $1599 $2099 ($500 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post This Compact 40W Diode Enclosed Laser Cutter Is Every Designer + Hobbyist’s Dream first appeared on Yanko Design.