In today’s fast-paced world, homes are evolving to meet modern needs through technology. Smart homes, once a futuristic concept, are now becoming mainstream, offering convenience and efficiency. Exciting as it may be, stepping into the realm of smart home technology can feel daunting due to the perceived complexity and cost. Fortunately, SwitchBot provides an accessible solution, especially with their enticing Black Friday deals.

SwitchBot simplifies the transition to a smart home by offering innovative, user-friendly products. This brand stands out by ensuring that upgrading your home is both easy and budget-friendly. With the upcoming Black Friday discounts, there’s never been a better time to enhance your living space with smart technology.

Designer: SwitchBot

Living the Smart Way with SwitchBot

A smart home offers numerous advantages, with energy efficiency being a primary benefit. By automating systems like lighting and climate control, smart homes can significantly reduce energy consumption. This not only lowers your carbon footprint but also results in considerable savings on utility bills.

Smart homes help to further reduce overall costs through their automation features. These devices can optimize energy usage by adapting to your daily routines, ensuring that you only use what you need. This level of control translates to financial savings over time, making the investment in smart technology worthwhile.

Many smart home devices require rewiring or replacing furniture and fixtures, but SwitchBot excels in providing products that enhance your home without the need for extensive renovations. For instance, their devices can automate existing curtains, blinds, and switches, eliminating the need for costly replacements. This approach allows you to enjoy the benefits of smart technology without a complete overhaul of your home infrastructure.

SwitchBot also offers smart cleaning robots that efficiently maintain your home with minimal effort. These robots are designed to integrate seamlessly into your daily routine, offering a smart solution for keeping your living space tidy and organized. This feature not only saves time but also adds a layer of convenience to your lifestyle. With the holidays coming, there’s never been a better time to think of the future and invest in products that will save you money, time, and effort for years to come.

SwitchBot Curtain 3

Grumpily pulling curtains in the morning is now a thing of the past! Designed to be compatible with standard Rod and U Rail types, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 automates regular curtains without having to replace them. Installation is a breeze, taking just 30 seconds due to its simple design. Even though it’s now twice as strong, it can work on heavy curtains up to 15kg, it can still operate below 25dB with its Silent Mode, ensuring a quiet environment night or day.

Users have a variety of ways to easily control those curtains, whether via smartphone, voice commands, or a light sensor that uses ambient lighting to make automatic adjustments. Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri out of the box, it also supports the Matter protocol with SwitchBot Hub 2 or Hub Mini, offering a seamless smart home experience. This device transforms ordinary curtains into smart fixtures, enhancing convenience and energy efficiency.

Why It’s Noteworthy

• Simple, no-nonsense installation in just 30 seconds.
• Silent Mode operates below 25dB for slower and quieter drifting to remove disturbances.
• Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Matter (requires SwitchBot Hub 2 or Hub Mini)

Click Here to Buy Now: $62.99 $89.99 (30% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Blind Tilt

If blinds are your preferred window coverings, then the SwitchBot Blind Tilt is for you. This smart robot adjusts blind angles without replacing existing louvers, saving you both time and money. The high-precision motor adjusts blades to the closest 2 degrees, providing precise control over sunlight. It also comes with a 2000mAh lithium battery for continuous use and ships with a solar panel for never-ending green energy.

Remote control is effortless using the app or voice commands when within Bluetooth range, enhancing comfort, energy efficiency, and privacy. Users can also schedule operations or connect to smart assistants through the SwitchBot Hub to open the doors to integration with popular smart home assistants. This innovative device maximizes control over indoor lighting and temperature, contributing to a more efficient home environment.

Why It’s Noteworthy

• Built-in 2000mAh lithium battery can receive power from the included solar panel for energy and cost savings
• High-precision motor can adjust shutter blades precisely to the closest 2 degrees
• Pair with the SwitchBot Hub to use smart assistants such as Alexa, Google Home, and Siri

Click Here to Buy Now: $48.99 $69.99 (30% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot S10 Floor Cleaning Robot

Cleaning the floor should no longer be a chore in the 21st century, especially with this super-convenient robot cleaner. The SwitchBot S10 offers an advanced cleaning experience with its dual-station design, featuring auto-refill, auto-drain, and auto-empty functions. It boasts 100% automated cleaning with self-refilling and dust collection capabilities, freeing you to spend time on the more important things in life.

Connected to your plumbing system, it ensures thorough cleaning without manual intervention, making it an ideal choice for busy households. The all-around cleaner features the tag team of the RevoRoll Roller Mop and RinseSync that cleans and mops at the same time to provide effective cleaning, while the 6500Pa suction power handles pet hair and dirt. It can even fill the water tank of the SwitchBot Evaporative Humidifier to create an even more automated smart home experience for users.

Why It’s Noteworthy

• 100% Automated Cleaning for hands-free cleaning, self-refilling water station, and self-emptying dust bin
• Simultaneous cleaning and mopping remove dirt without damaging floors.
• Powerful 6500Pa Suction for households with pets and automatic cleaning modes for thorough coverage

Click Here to Buy Now: $699.99 $1199.99 (42% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum

Small spaces are no longer big problems with the SwitchBot K10+ Pro. As the world’s smallest yet most powerful robot vacuum, it is perfect for tight spaces and small areas. Despite its size, it offers high-performance cleaning with 3000Pa suction power, tackling dust and dirt efficiently while still operating quietly at 45dB.

Equipped with LDS Laser Navigation and PSD Sensors, it deftly navigates obstacles and cleans edges meticulously. It can even remember up to four floor plans for versatile cleaning environments. Giving you peace of mind, it has an extra-large 4L dust collection base that requires emptying at most four times a year only. Designed for pet owners, its anti-tangle brush prevents hair clogs, cleaning up those pesky hairs while also simplifying maintenance.

Why It’s Noteworthy

• Exceptional 3000Pa cleaning power effortlessly tackles dust, crumbs, and pet litter
• Anti-tangle brush prevents hair from clogging, effectively managing pet shedding.
• Smart navigation accurately identifies obstacles and can map up to four floor plans
• Large 4L dust collection base lasts up to 90 days

Click Here to Buy Now: $399.99 $599.99 (33.33% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Make Your Home Smarter Today: SwitchBot Black Friday Deals

SwitchBot’s approach to smart home technology is both innovative and practical, making it accessible to a wider audience. With their cost-effective solutions, you can enjoy the benefits of a smart home without breaking the bank, offering an ideal opportunity to invest in this technology and transform your home. From November 21 to December 2, 2024, SwitchBot offers extraordinary discounts on various products. These include the SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam Plus 3K for security, smart home hubs like the SwitchBot Hub 2, and environment monitors such as the Meter Pro and Meter Pro (CO2 Monitor).

As you consider upgrading your home, SwitchBot offers a compelling option that combines affordability with cutting-edge technology. Embrace the future of living by making your home smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more comfortable. Don’t miss out on the chance to enhance your lifestyle with SwitchBot’s smart solutions this Black Friday.

The post Upgrade Your Smart Home with SwitchBot: Unmissable Black Friday Deals first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cutting and slicing ingredients might sometimes feel mechanical, but seasoned cooks and food lovers know that there’s some magic behind the seemingly mundane process. Cutting the wrong way can, for example, adversely affect not only the texture of the piece, it can even ruin its flavor. More importantly, the kind of knife used also has an unseen effect on the quality of the food you will eventually put inside your mouth, not to mention the overall experience of preparing the food.

This is especially true for dishes that use “sensitive” soft ingredients like raw fish in sashimi, and a plain old kitchen tool just doesn’t cut it, pardon the pun. To really bring out the flavor of sashimi and similar dishes, you need a knife that makes you feel both like a chef and an artisan, deftly slicing with a tool whose sharpness matches its elegance.

Designer: goyemon

Click Here to Buy Now: $269 $299 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Black Friday sale ends in 48 hours!

Most people think of ceramic as this hard yet brittle material used for plates, mugs, vases, and other fragile vessels. In the food world, however, ceramic is also famed for being lightweight and sharp, especially when used in kitchen knives. Especially with super ceramics produced under high pressure, you can get a blade that’s not only twice the hardness of stainless steel but whose sharpness also lasts 200 times longer.

The benefits of using a ceramic blade go beyond its durability and sharpness. The “matou” sashimi knife is practically maintenance-free, requiring only a normal washing with a detergent and then wiping it down to dry before storing it away. Unlike even stainless steel knives, you don’t need to sharpen the blade or wipe it down with oil regularly to prevent the buildup of rust. Preparing food can already be a taxing chore, so your knife doesn’t need to add to the burden.

Ceramic also does wonders for flavor in the way it doesn’t interact with them. No matter how clean you keep them, metallic knives will always impart some metallic smell or taste to the food they cut. In the same vein, food odors don’t cling to the blade, and simply wiping it off makes sure you don’t transfer garlic scents to other ingredients. Cutting sour fruits like lemons? The ceramic blade is also resistant to both acids and alkali so you don’t have to worry about corrosion. Discoloration is also not a problem by soaking the blade in diluted bleach once in a while.

More than just the sharpest knife in your drawer, this ceramic kitchen knife is going to also be the most handsome among your kitchen tools. Made by Japanese experts, both the ceramic blade and the wooden handle with a buffalo horn muzzle are eye-catching works of craftsmanship, marrying form and function with elegance.

The unique curved single-edged shape of the blade not only ensures a sharp cutting edge but also minimizes the blade’s contact with the food, while the octagonal handle improves comfort and grip. Whether you’re preparing sashimi, or cutting through meat and soft ingredients, this handsome ceramic knife brings the best of Japanese design to bring out the best of your food’s flavors.

Click Here to Buy Now: $269 $299 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Black Friday sale ends in 48 hours!

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Tiny House Listings recently unveiled a new towable dwelling called the Lad. It is perfect for those seeking low-budget downsizing options that are comfortable and cozy. The Lad features a practical and compact interior that can happily house two people. The Lad is an updated version of one of the firm’s previous models, and it is based on a double-axle trailer. It features a length of 20 feet and is the same size as most European tiny homes. The exterior includes painted metal and is topped off with a metal roof.

Designer: Tiny House Listings

The interior of the house occupies around 160 square feet, and it features a finishing in ply. An open layout has been placed on one floor, with the entrance leading to a compact living area that includes a sofa and space for a TV. A storage unit has been integrated as well. The kitchen is closely located, and it isn’t fully featured.

But it does include a countertop, a sink and an electric stove, a fridge/freezer, and an area for appliances and extra storage. The bathroom is also placed nearby, and you can access it via a sliding door. It contains a flushing toilet, a shower, and a small sink.

The tiny home only includes one bedroom, and since it is on the ground floor, it includes plenty of headroom to stand upright. The bedroom includes a double bed with integrated storage, as well as a mini-split air-conditioner, which will heat and cool the entire home. Enough though the bedroom isn’t the largest, the fact that you can stand upright, unlike most bedrooms in other tiny homes is a plus point.

The Lad isn’t the best option if you’re looking for a spacious and roomy tiny home. But if you’re a couple or a small family, then the Lad could be a good fit for you. It includes all the basic amenities, as well as a sense of comfort and coziness that other modern homes often miss out on. Currently, the Lad is priced at US$47,500.

The post This Compact, Cozy & Affordable Tiny Home Is A Great Bet For Couples Seeking Their First House first appeared on Yanko Design.

Christmas is less than a month away, and we’re seeing an influx of creative and passionate designs. Designer Anna Lomax recently unveiled the All Lit Up! glowing Christmas tree-inspired sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s South Kensington Grand Entrance. The sculpture draws inspiration from the museum’s entryway columns, and it stands tall as an interesting spiraling column that adopts the form of a traditional Christmas tree.

Designer: Anna Lomax

The installation is whimsical and playful and was created to “evoke the feelings of joy and child-like wonder” and embody the vibrant Christmas spirit. It takes the traditional Christmas tree and adds an amusing and contemporary twist to it, creating something that instantly sparks wonder and curiosity. A rounded metallic plinth serves as the base of the installation, and it is surrounded by four large columns. The base rises upwards in a fascinating spiral, serving as a lovely decorative design illuminated by LED lights.

“My design for the 2025 V&A Christmas Tree uses the iconic V&A dome columns as a starting point but gives them an actual playful twist, embodying the ‘Christmas Spirit’ through a spectacle of light,” Lomax said.

The installation creates a subtle connection between trees and columns, attempting to “unify the elegance of a tree with the strength of a column”, the museum added. The result is something refreshing and yet traditional. You are reminded of a comforting Christmas tree when you look at the installation, but you also feel curiosity as you observe its fresh new form.

“Lighting up and lifting spirits this festive season, we are thrilled to commission Anna Lomax for this year’s V&A Christmas tree installation,” senior curator Meneesha Kellay said. “Delighting visitors with her playful site-specific response, Anna has taken inspiration from the iconic columns in our Grand Entrance.”

This mesmerizing installation is a part of the museum’s annual Christmas installations, and it will remain on display till January 5th, 2025. If you want to get into some early festive cheer with a twist, then we would recommend a quick visit to the V&A Museum, if you have the time.

The post Reimagined Christmas Tree Sculpture At The Victoria & Albert Museum Is Getting Us Into Early Festive Cheer first appeared on Yanko Design.

A natural celestial body that revolves around a planet in its orbit is a natural satellite. One that orbits around the earth and is man-made is an artificial satellite. And now one that intends to revolve around you – not literally – but the transition between your music consumption requirements is called the Satellite: A pair of headphones that turns into a portable speaker or, if you may, a speaker you can wear as headphones on your morning walk with your pooch.

This idea of headphones that can turn into a speaker is instantly enticing. The main reason is that such concepts have rarely borne fruit. Perhaps because by virtue the speakers in the headphones are designed and optimized to sound good in the ear and placing them on the desk – to function as a speaker – makes them sound rather frail.

Designer: Changhwi Kim

One iteration that comes to mind, and touches on the idea somewhat, is a pair of Bluetooth headphones from Veenax that could transform into a speaker. The headphones had cups you could twist outward in speaker mode and inwards while listening to music through headphones. Either way, you could have them around the neck, but it lacked the loud voice of a speaker. Some interesting takes on this concept have floated since, but none like the one idealized by designer Changhwi Kim in the Satellite.

This pair of headphones with speaker abilities is made to complement our lifestyle so you can enjoy the sound in your diverse activities throughout the day. The designer notes, “when you’re walking alone in a noisy city, it functions as headphones.” In moments shared with others, say in a gathering of friends or while playing with your kid, “it transforms into a speaker.”

There is no technical information regarding the product that we can share. From the design standpoint, that has been awarded the Red Dot Award 2024 in the Design Concept category, this resembles an Amazon’s Echo Dot with a handle when in speaker mode. For the headphone mode, the speaker ball splits in half to form two cups attached to the handle that now rests over the head. Designed in three enticing color options, the Satellite is a sound object imagined to adapt to these different situations, enhancing your music experience in all of them!

The post This Orb-shaped Speaker splits into two halves and transforms into a pair of Headphones first appeared on Yanko Design.

The transparent green of the original Xbox wasn’t some random design choice; it was a symbol of an era when consoles began showcasing their inner workings, literally. Multiple game consoles opted for the see-through aesthetic (notably Nintendo), with even Steve Jobs and Apple jumping onto the bandwagon with their candy-colored Macs. That same transparency has found new relevance in today’s tech landscape, led by companies like Nothing, which has revitalized see-through aesthetics. Given that fashion trends are cyclical, and that everyone loves a little bit of reminiscing, 8BitDo’s Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard and Retro R8 Mouse – Xbox Edition – reimagine nostalgia with a modern twist, bringing Xbox-inspired designs into everyday peripherals.

The Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard feels like a portal back to the early 2000s, dressed in the same vibrant green hue that adorned the iconic Transparent Green Xbox. But this is more than a mere homage. With Kailh Jellyfish X switches under its keys, the keyboard offers a typing experience that’s satisfyingly tactile and precise. Gamers and typists alike will appreciate the n-key rollover and the durability of its double-layered ABS keycaps. A matte UV coating ensures that every keystroke leaves its mark on your gaming session, not the hardware.

Designer: 8bitdo

As you plug it in, the keyboard’s RGB backlight adds a dynamic edge, bathing your setup in customizable color. This lighting isn’t purely decorative; it’s a visual companion, perfect for late-night gaming marathons or a subtle office glow. The multiple connectivity options—wired USB, 2.4 GHz wireless, and Bluetooth 5.0—make it as versatile as it is stylish. Whether tethered to a Windows machine or paired with an Android device, the Retro 87 maintains seamless functionality.

However, the quirks in compatibility might give you pause. Despite being an Xbox-licensed product, the keyboard doesn’t officially support Xbox consoles. This limitation is peculiar, especially considering the design roots. Yet, in practical terms, its focus on PC and mobile connectivity ensures broader utility for everyday users.

The Retro R8 Mouse, on the other hand, feels like the keyboard’s adventurous sibling. Compact and lightweight at just 77 grams, it glides effortlessly across surfaces, guided by the PAW 3395 sensor. Gamers will love the six adjustable DPI levels, which allow precise cursor control for every genre, from FPS headshots to strategic command-and-conquer moves. The variable polling rate, configurable through 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, ensures that every click feels instant, a vital feature in competitive gaming.

What truly sets the mouse apart, though, is its charging dock. Echoing the same transparent green finish, the dock doubles as a display piece, proudly showcasing the mouse while keeping it charged. Battery life is another highlight—100 hours in Bluetooth mode or up to 105 hours with 2.4 GHz wireless. These figures underscore 8BitDo’s commitment to practicality, ensuring you spend more time gaming and less time hunting for a charging cable.

Together, these peripherals serve as a love letter to both Xbox fans and design enthusiasts. The attention to detail, from the hardware choices to the nostalgic color palette, speaks to a brand that understands the importance of aesthetics and functionality. Yet, this release isn’t just about looking back; it’s about reinterpreting the past for today’s tech-savvy users.

What makes 8BitDo’s approach so engaging is their willingness to embrace nostalgia without being shackled by it. The transparent green finish is an instant trip down memory lane – something 8bitdo’s done remarkably well with a lot of its retro-inspired hardware, especially hat-tipping the Nintendo NES.

For anyone who grew up with an Xbox controller in hand, these devices are bound to evoke a smile. But they’re not just for retro enthusiasts. Whether you’re a gamer looking for performance upgrades or a design aficionado drawn to the interplay of form and function, the Retro 87 and R8 Mouse deliver a blend of familiarity and innovation that’s hard to resist. It’s nostalgia with a purpose—because sometimes, looking back is the best way to move forward.

The post 8BitDo reimagines the iconic transparent Xbox look with two stunning new devices first appeared on Yanko Design.

It’s hard not to smile when you think about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Whether it’s the heartwarming friendship between Elliot and his otherworldly guest or the unforgettable image of them soaring across the moonlit sky, the movie’s magic feels timeless. That same magic now finds itself meticulously captured in KoalaBrick’s 2,204-piece LEGO set proposal—a tribute to the iconic “across the moon” scene, combined with a diorama-like display of key elements from the film.

This build is as much about artistry as it is about nostalgia. The silhouette of Elliot and E.T. against a crescent moon forms the centerpiece, with the lunar glow carefully contrasting the dense, detailed forest below. As your eyes wander through the scene, smaller touches, like the flower pot and the communication device, bring a delightful sense of recognition. Even E.T.’s spaceship makes an appearance, cleverly scaled to keep the diorama cohesive. You can almost hear John Williams’ sweeping score as you imagine putting the final pieces together.

Designer: KoalaBrick

What makes this design stand out isn’t just the clever use of LEGO elements; it’s how it balances playability with display-worthy craftsmanship. The forest, for instance, is layered with texture and depth, making it look lush without overwhelming the centerpiece. Peer into the forest and you notice minifigures of Elliot and E.T. standing around the comms device, along with a scaled-down model of the UFO and even the iconic flower pot that E.T. carries around. Yet, when you step back, the build feels more like a cinematic moment frozen in time—a LEGO version of the iconic frame pulled straight from Spielberg’s classic.

The moon backdrop isn’t merely a flat surface but a structure with depth and detail, thanks to the use of LEGO art bricks that help mimic the cratered surface of the moon. Not that a cratered moon is great for scientific authenticity, but rather this helps recreate the very textured detail seen on the poster. These design decisions ensure the set appeals to a wide range of LEGO enthusiasts, from casual fans who admire its display potential to skilled builders eager to create similar artpieces.

Few movies elicit the kind of universal fondness that E.T. does, making this set an instant crowd-pleaser. Whether you watched the film as a child, shared it with your kids, or simply appreciated its influence on pop culture, this build taps into those feelings effortlessly. It’s a love letter to a story that transcends generations. The film’s set around Halloween, but given that we’re a month late, I won’t judge you for re-watching it on Thanksgiving instead!

KoalaBrick’s creation is a heartfelt tribute that reimagines one of cinema’s most iconic scenes in brick form. Currently a submission on the LEGO Ideas website, KoalaBrick is accepting votes from the broader LEGO community to help turn this one-off artpiece into a retail box set that movie buffs and LEGO-nerds can buy and own. Vote for the E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial set on the LEGO Ideas website here.

The post LEGO Meets Spielberg: This 2,204 Brick Fan-made Build Captures the Iconic Scene from E.T. first appeared on Yanko Design.

The predominant minimalism design trend has created hundreds of products with trivial, often singular color schemes with muted hues. Although there’s no rule that it has to be such, this has become the standard practice for those adhering to this aesthetic. This has caused some to label such designs as boring and lifeless, though many will undoubtedly beg to differ.

The retro fever gripping many fields, however, is throwing a splash of color and whimsy on products, whether they’re actually vintage designs or even modern-day objects. Taking inspiration from mankind’s equally colorful history, retro designs like these turntables capture the charm of the past and blend it with the comforts of the present to create an experience that is more memorable and more satisfying than simply listening to music off Bluetooth speakers.

Designer: Gadhouse

Although the television might have only shown black and white, the 50s was characterized by an overabundance of bright, saturated colors, sometimes to a disconcerting degree. The decade also saw the rise of the “Long Play” record format, popularizing the record players and turntables that are being revived today. It seems only fitting that a true-blooded vintage record player pays homage to its roots, at least on the surface.

The Brad Retro Mk II definitely looks the part with its boxy designs, analog controls, and, more importantly, its colorful personality. With a belt-driven mechanism, three-speed play, and support for 7-12″ vinyl, this retro-style record player brings out the analog goodness of the medium, letting you hear it just the way the music was supposed to be heard. Built-in 10W speakers even recreate that experience of not having to plug in speakers just to listen to music.

Of course, the Brad Retro Mk II is also a child of modern technology, and it doesn’t disappoint either. If you do want to play your music louder, you can stream to a nearby Bluetooth speaker or go old-school with a 3.5mm jack. What’s new in this second-gen model is a USB-C port of power, allowing you to play anywhere you want.

The Brad Retro Mk II comes in five color combinations to appeal to as many tastes as possible. The turntables exude a playful charm typical of that period, while still meeting the needs of discerning audiophiles. With vibrant hues, tactile controls, a unique tonality, and modern connectivity, this record player isn’t just a blast from the past but is also a product of humanity’s cumulative history.

The post Colorful retro turntables bring back the free-spirited 50s to the present first appeared on Yanko Design.

Although hardly the first of its kind, the Nintendo Switch definitely kicked off a handheld gaming renaissance. Now we have mini PCs letting us play all sorts of games on the go and innumerable projects that try to cobble up together their own handheld console. The latter has given rise to many unconventional designs, though most follow the standard combination of buttons and joysticks found on gaming controllers.

One designer, however, went out of his way to do something different thanks to his dislike of joysticks. The result is a unique and rather curious handheld device that combines the clamshell form factor of the Nintendo DS and the guts of a laptop, and then stretches it wide to a rather unusual degree.

Designer: Marcin Plaza

There are a few things quite unconventional about this ultra-wide Steam Deck Nintendo DS hybrid, not just its super-wide form factor. Actually, that shape was a result of the decision to repurpose the usable motherboard of a broken Lenovo laptop, which happened to be roughly 13 inches wide. But unlike another DIY Steam Deck that did the same with a modular Framework laptop motherboard, the “DS Deck” didn’t go the usual joysticks and buttons layout either.

Since the goal was to ditch the joystick and replace it with a more PC-oriented keyboard and trackpad, a new kind of shell design was needed. Long story short, it required looking for a compatible 12.7-inch screen that happened to also be in an ultra-wide aspect ratio. These restrictions and requirements led to a design that followed the footsteps of the clamshell DS, which made for a rather interesting device.

While time and effort were saved in using the laptop motherboard as-is, more time was spent designing a custom circuit board for the non-standard keyboard and button layout. There was plenty of soldering and assembly involved, not to mention repairs of data cables that were accidentally torn off. Suffice it to say, this is a project very few will be able to follow.

Still, the final result is just as interesting and special. The DS Deck is able to run a full operating system like Windows or Linux because it basically uses the same motherboard and battery as the source laptop. Widescreen compatibility with games is a mixed bag, but one can always run two windows side-by-side thanks to the screen size. The custom design definitely needs a lot of work, as it doesn’t take into account safety and heat management, but the fact that it even works is itself already a commendable accomplishment.

The post DIY ultra-wide Steam Deck DS hybrid trades joysticks for a keyboard and trackpad first appeared on Yanko Design.

If you ask people how they spend their rest days or leisure time, most will probably say go to a mall and shop, meet up with friends, or travel. But there are also homebuddies like me who would say an ideal rest day is consuming media, whether it’s a book, a TV show, a movie, and snacking while doing it. There are products and concepts that will appeal to couch potatoes who love that kind of alone time.

Designer: Changhwi Kim

fits is one such concept that will, well, fit, that kind of lifestyle. Basically it’s a media projector and a refrigerator in one compact device. You will be able to watch whatever your heart desires and if you get snacky (which of course, you will eventually become), then you just have to reach over and get whatever it is you stored in the mini fridge.

The device also has an adjustable height function so whatever position you want to take, you can calibrate it to the perfect position. The product renders show that it looks just like a typical mini fridge but with a projector on top. In theory, you can also connect it to an app that will give you content recommendations and even suggest snacks that will go with it.

While most of the time I will consume media on my phone or tablet while lying in bed, it will of course be more convenient if I had a mini fridge nearby as I’m watching. So this will probably be marketable for people like me.

The post Projector and mini-fridge in one concept will solve problems of snackish couch potatoes first appeared on Yanko Design.