– Ccontient des liens affiliés Amazon –

Après des années de galère avec un NAS bruyant puis un miniPC pas beaucoup mieux, j'ai fini par trouver la configuration Plex idéale. Un Mac Mini M4 , deux SSD Lexar SL500 , et le silence absolu. Retour d'expérience.

Le bruit, l'ennemi numéro un

J'ai un serveur Plex depuis des années. Un serveur que je partage avec ma famille et mes amis les plus proches, et qui me sert à stocker des films et des séries souvent introuvables sur les plateformes légales, ou des versions numérisées de DVD et Blu-Ray que j'ai achetés, mais que je veux pouvoir streamer sur mon Apple TV. Vous voyez l'idée. Pendant longtemps, tout ça tournait sur un NAS Synology d'entrée de gamme. Ça marchait, mais dès que je voulais transcoder un film pour le regarder à distance, c'était mort. Lecture directe obligatoire, avec les problèmes de débit que ça implique, surtout à l'époque où j'étais encore en ADSL. Il y a trois ou quatre ans, j'ai décidé de monter d'un cran en déportant le serveur Plex sur un miniPC Beelink. Plus de puissance, transcodage enfin possible, bien pratique pour moi à distance ou pour mes proches qui n'ont pas forcément la fibre.

Sauf que toutes ces solutions avaient le même défaut. Le bruit. Entre les disques durs mécaniques, le ventilateur du NAS Synology qui ronronnait en permanence et celui du miniPC Beelink qui se mettait à souffler dès qu'on lui demandait un peu d'effort, c'était toujours pénible. Et comme je n'ai jamais eu la place de planquer tout ça dans un bureau ou un placard technique, le serveur a toujours tourné dans mon salon. Autant dire que les soirs de film, l'ambiance était moyennement au rendez-vous.

Le Mac Mini M4, une bête silencieuse

Et puis il y a quelques semaines, j'ai tout changé. Adios le miniPC, filé à un ami, et place au Mac Mini M4. Ce petit machin tout mignon, complètement silencieux, est une vraie bête de course pour Plex. On parle de quatre à cinq transcodages simultanés sans broncher, avec une sollicitation processeur qui reste sous les 3 à 4%. C'est presque absurde. Le tout en restant frais, sans ventilateur qui se déclenche, sans bruit parasite. Rien. Le silence total.

Pour l'administration, pas besoin d'écran ni de clavier. Tout se fait à distance via l'application Partage d'écran de macOS. Le Mac Mini est branché directement sur ma Livebox, et ça tourne comme une horloge. Et comme bonus, ça me fait un second Mac pour faire des tests quand j'en ai besoin. Pas mal pour une machine qui fait à peine la taille d'une main.

Les SSD Lexar SL500 en remplacement du NAS

Pour compléter le tableau, j'ai déplacé mes données les plus consultées, les films et les séries que ma famille et moi regardons le plus souvent, sur deux SSD SL500 de chez Lexar. Et là, c'est le coup de grâce pour le bruit. Non seulement les ventilateurs ont disparu avec le Mac Mini, mais les vibrations et le ronronnement des disques mécaniques du NAS aussi. Le silence est total. J'ai quand même gardé un NAS Synology en arrière-plan pour stocker les données froides, mon Time Machine et les films que personne ne regarde jamais. Il reste accessible à Plex au cas où, mais il est si peu sollicité qu'on l'entend à peine.

Le résultat, c'est une configuration compacte, silencieuse, et qui gère sans effort tout ce que je lui demande. Le Mac Mini fait tourner Plex comme si de rien n'était, les SSD Lexar offrent des temps d'accès instantanés, et le NAS se contente de dormir dans son coin.

Franchement, si vous êtes du genre à soigner votre setup multimédia à la maison, ce genre de configuration change la vie. Ça a un coût, on ne va pas se mentir, un Mac Mini M4 plus deux SSD externes ce n'est pas donné. Mais le confort au quotidien est incomparable. Plus de bruit, des performances de dingue pour le transcodage, et une machine qui ne chauffe même pas. Si vous avez la possibilité de basculer votre serveur Plex sur un Mac Mini, n'hésitez pas trop longtemps. Moi en tout cas, je ne reviendrais pas en arrière.

Si vous voulez vous équiper, voilà ma config :

• Mac mini M4
• SSD SL500 de chez Lexar

When the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived in June 2025 at $449.99, it came with a 7.9-inch display, a faster processor, and a Joy-Con that doubles as a mouse. What it didn’t come with was a comfortable way to hold it for long sessions. The handheld form factor has always been a compromise between portability and ergonomics, and for players who log serious hours, that compromise starts showing up as wrist fatigue, awkward thumb angles, and a nagging wish for something with a proper grip. The accessory market has tried to fill that space for years, with results ranging from decent to deeply uninspiring.

Abxylute’s answer comes in two forms: the N6 and the N9C, both deck-style controllers purpose-built for Switch 2 play. The N6 wraps the console in a full-size ergonomic grip with Hall-effect joysticks, native 9-axis motion control, a dedicated C Button for GameChat, and adjustable vibration levels the player can cycle through without leaving a session. The N9C leans into personality, drawing from GameCube design DNA with mechanical buttons, trigger switches, and a capacitive joystick system paired with swappable gates.

Designer: Abxylute

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $110 (28% off) Hurry! Only 10 days left.

Joy-Cons were engineered for flexibility: detachable, shareable, usable solo or in pairs, functional as individual controllers for two-player sessions on a single console. That versatility comes at the cost of ergonomics, because a controller small enough to slide into a rail and function independently will never offer the grip depth, trigger travel, or palm support of something purpose-built for extended solo play. The N6 and N9C abandon that modularity entirely in favor of doing one thing exceptionally well, which is making handheld Switch 2 sessions feel like you’re holding a full-size controller instead of a tablet with thumbsticks glued to the sides. The tactile feedback is immediate and familiar, the kind of responsiveness you get from hardware designed around sustained single-player sessions rather than multi-function compromise. Both controllers connect via wired USB-C, skipping wireless pairing lag entirely, because when the target is solo handheld performance, eliminating variables takes priority over flexibility.

The N6’s open-top design is the first thing people will argue about online, and they’ll mostly be wrong. The Switch 2 stands over 11 cm tall, and a fully enclosed grip pushes that height further, putting your palms in the kind of awkward hover position that builds exactly the fatigue you were trying to avoid. Abxylute held the grip height at 8.5 cm, matching full-size controller proportions, so your palms have something to rest against rather than squeeze. The 7-inch grip width sits narrower than the console body deliberately, keeping your hands at a natural, relaxed spread instead of forcing them wide across a bulky frame. The physics of holding something for two hours straight are pretty straightforward, and this design reads those physics correctly.

Hall-effect joysticks solve a specific, measurable problem that standard potentiometer sticks fundamentally cannot. Potentiometer sticks use resistive contact that physically degrades over repeated use, which is why drift rates climb after a year or two of regular play. Hall-effect reads joystick position magnetically, with zero physical contact between moving components, and the N6 bumps the stick travel angle to 23 degrees compared to 18 degrees on Joy-Con, giving your thumbs more range for fine-grained inputs. A POM anti-wear ring around each stick handles mechanical stability without adding stiffness or noise to the movement. It’s a small detail, but the kind that separates purpose-built hardware from a generic controller with a different shell. On a device you use daily, that engineering choice compounds in your favor in a way that contact-based sticks simply never will.

Inputs across the N6 break down by material type, and the distinctions matter. ABXY buttons use conductive rubber for cushioned presses that reduce finger fatigue; the D-pad uses tactile switches for sharper directional accuracy; shoulder buttons deliver tactile clicks for faster responses in action-heavy play; and the linear digital triggers provide a genuine 0-100% input range rather than binary on/off clicks. That trigger range matters considerably in racing games and anything relying on gradual pressure inputs. Vibration adjusts at four levels, 0%, 40%, 70%, and 100%, switchable via button combo directly on the controller, bypassing the game-by-game settings adjustment that the Pro Controller requires. The grip’s internal structure forms a resonance chamber that redirects the Switch 2’s speakers forward and reinforces bass by around 10%, which you’ll register in a quiet room as fuller, punchier audio than bare Joy-Cons produce.

The N9C is doing something more niche and, honestly, more interesting. Where the N6 chases Pro Controller parity, the N9C chases the GameCube controller’s specific feel, complete with a centered A button and asymmetric face layout, rebuilt for a modern console using mechanical micro-switches and ALPS tactile shoulder buttons. Capacitive joysticks sidestep magnetic interference entirely, and the swappable 8-way and circular gate rings mean you can dial in a tight directional gate for fighters and swap to a smooth circular gate for platformers. A built-in battery hatch holds two replaceable batteries that reverse-charge the Switch 2 directly during play. Most grips on the market ignore battery life almost entirely, and a reverse charge system that powers the Switch 2 directly from the controller is a differentiator almost nothing else in this category offers.

The N9C carries four programmable rear buttons, two per side compared to the N6’s one per side, and each supports the same macro-recording system that chains directional inputs and actions into a single trigger. Switch 2 system-level button remapping works natively, requiring no third-party software, so a custom layout travels across every game without reconfiguring anything. An integrated rear stand sets the N9C apart from virtually every grip in this category, giving the Switch 2 a propped tabletop angle without relying on the console’s own kickstand. The primary connection is wired USB-C for ultra-low latency, with BLE available for configuration only, keeping the input chain clean during actual play. Every N9C ships with both C-stick and ring-style joystick caps in the box, so players can dial in the stick feel before the packaging hits the trash.

Mass production kicked off in March 2026, with shipping expected between April and June. Super Early Bird pricing runs $79 for the N6 (retail $110) and $89 for the N9C (retail $120), with a bundle sitting at $159. Nintendo’s own Pro Controller for Switch 2 retails at $79.99 and carries none of the Hall-effect sticks, programmable back buttons, or turbo functionality. Abxylute has shipped over 120,000 units across more than 20 projects to 100,000-plus customers, so the production infrastructure exists. What they’re solving for is specific: handheld Switch 2 play that performs at Pro Controller level without forcing players to accept the Joy-Con’s ergonomic ceiling as permanent.

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $110 (28% off) Hurry! Only 10 days left.

The post A GameCube Controller on the Nintendo Switch 2? Meet Abxylute’s Deck-style Joy-Con Alternatives first appeared on Yanko Design.

Power banks have spent years being boring on purpose. Black rectangles, white rectangles, the occasional textured finish. The category settled into a kind of utilitarian invisibility, as if the industry collectively decided that anything carrying electrons should look like a bar of soap. SHARGE never got that memo. The Shargeek 300 looks like a prop from a near-future thriller, with transparent panels revealing glowing circuitry beneath, RGB light bars running along its flanks, and a CNC aluminum body that catches light the way expensive things tend to. It belongs on a desk you’d actually want to show people.

Founded in 2020, SHARGE built its identity around the conviction that charging hardware deserves the same design attention as the devices it powers. The original Shargeek 100, launched in 2021, was the proof of concept: a transparent, display-equipped power bank with DC charging that found a devoted audience almost immediately. The Shargeek 300 is what four years of that bet looks like fully cashed in. It pushes 300 watts of total output, enough to charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros simultaneously while still fast-charging a smartphone on a third port. The 24,000mAh battery lands at 86.4Wh, sitting just under the 100Wh threshold airlines enforce for carry-on batteries. Recharge time from flat to full is 75 minutes with a 140W input. The whole unit is roughly the size of a 330ml can of cola. SHARGE spent 40 months getting here, and the result makes most rivals in the category look underprepared.

Designer: Sharge

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $199 ($40 off) Hurry! Only 6 days left.

That meticulous attention to detail is most obvious in the physical construction. The main body is a matte silver CNC aluminum frame, which is then given a 180-grit sandblasted, anodized finish for a smooth, premium feel. The company’s head of production is even quoted as personally comparing the feel of every unit to an iPhone to ensure they are equally premium. The signature transparent casing is not just a window, but a piece of safety equipment, made from V0 flame-retardant, UL94-certified polycarbonate that resists both scratches and heat. The dual RGB light bars are fully customizable, allowing users to adjust brightness, change colors, and cycle through effects via the onboard display, turning a functional object into a piece of personalized desk art.

Inside that striking shell is technology that sets a new benchmark for portable power. The Shargeek 300 is the first power bank to use the same Full-Tab Battery Cell technology pioneered by Tesla. This design significantly lowers internal resistance compared to conventional cells, a change that unlocks faster charging speeds, higher sustained output, and superior heat dissipation. This internal efficiency is the key to how a device this compact can safely manage a 300W total output without overheating or degrading quickly. The advanced battery structure results in a longer-lasting, more stable power source that can handle the demanding, continuous power draws required by high-performance laptops and other professional equipment, putting truly next-generation power in your hands.

This power is routed through a versatile array of four output ports designed to handle nearly any device. The stars of the show are the two USB-C ports, both of which support the Power Delivery 3.1 standard to deliver a massive 140W of power each. This is what allows the Shargeek 300 to simultaneously fast-charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros at their maximum charging speed. A third USB-A port provides up to 20W for legacy devices and smartphones. The fourth and most unique port is the adjustable DC barrel port, a feature carried over from the Shargeek 100. It now supports up to 140W and its voltage can be manually set between 5V and 28V, unlocking compatibility with a world of gear that USB-C cannot serve, from professional camera equipment to high-performance drones. The 24,000mAh capacity provides enough energy for approximately one full charge of a modern MacBook Pro, six charges for an iPhone 16 Pro, or two charges for an iPad Pro.

The user experience is managed through a 1.9-inch IPS display, which is 60% larger than the screen on the previous model. It provides a level of control that is unheard of in this category. Beyond showing real-time input and output wattage, the display allows you to monitor battery health, track charging cycles, and check internal temperatures. You can use it to precisely adjust the DC output voltage, set a custom welcome message, and configure the RGB lighting. This smart display transforms the power bank from a simple battery into an intelligent power hub. This intelligence extends to its handling of delicate electronics. A dedicated Low-current Mode ensures that devices like earbuds, smartwatches, and fitness trackers receive a safe, optimized charge, preventing the overcharging that can damage the small batteries in those devices.

This combination of raw power and intelligent control is backed by a comprehensive suite of safety features, including overvoltage, undervoltage, short-circuit, and real-time temperature protection. This commitment to safety extends to its travel-readiness. Crucially, the power bank’s 24,000mAh capacity is engineered to a rating of 86.4Wh, keeping it comfortably under the 100Wh limit imposed by airlines for carry-on luggage. This makes it one of the most powerful charging solutions that can be legally carried onto a plane, a critical detail for mobile professionals. The low standby power consumption is another practical benefit, allowing the Shargeek 300 to retain over 90% of its charge after 15 days of inactivity. For anyone who has pulled a power bank from a bag after weeks only to find it unexpectedly dead, this is a genuinely valuable feature.

The Shargeek 300 starts at $199 but is available at a discounted $159 price for earlybird backers. Cobble together $209 and you can get the power bank along with its companion Pixel 140W PD 3.1 wall charger from Sharge with its adorable pixel-matrix display. The Shargeek 300 comes with a 12-month warranty, and ships globally as early as May 2026.

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $199 ($40 off) Hurry! Only 6 days left.

The post The Shargeek 300 is a Cyberpunk-style Power Bank that can charge two MacBook Pros first appeared on Yanko Design.

The retro handheld market has a strange problem. The hardware keeps getting better, the screens get sharper, the processors get faster, and yet most of these devices land looking like prototypes someone forgot to finish. Generic shells, forgettable proportions, and LED lighting as a substitute for actual design thinking. For a category built entirely on nostalgia, very few of these devices actually look like they belong to any era at all.

That tension is what one Reddit user decided to address. Starting with a Retroid Pocket 5, a $199 Android handheld running a Snapdragon 865 and a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, the mod layers Sony and Nintendo branding onto the same shell. Vinyl decals, translucent polycarbonate, a 3D-printed volume rocker from Etsy, and a cable replaced in PS2 color. The result looks less like a sticker job and more like a concept render from an alternate 1999.

Designer: Mitchieyan

The translucent shell is doing most of the work. It pulls from the visual language of the N64’s Funtastic series, those clear and atomic-purple controllers Nintendo released in the late 1990s, where showing the circuitry was the design choice rather than concealing it. Over a piano-black grip body with PlayStation-colored face buttons, the frosted polycarbonate shifts from grey to near-white depending on the light. It shouldn’t feel considered. It does.

The branding placement is where intent becomes clear. The Sony wordmark sits centered on the upper face, exactly where it appeared on a PSOne. Below it, the PlayStation four-color logo. At the bottom bezel, the Nintendo badge mirrors its position on a Game Boy Advance SP. None of it is licensed, of course. These are adhesive vinyls placed by someone who grew up with both systems and wanted their coexistence on one device to feel inevitable rather than absurd.

Not everything here reaches backward. The analog sticks are translucent caps over hall-effect sensors, lit teal on the left and purple on the right, owing nothing to 1999. That generation didn’t have RGB anything. The lighting reads as a concession to the present; the one feature announcing this is still an Android device in 2025, not a prototype from some alternate Sony-Nintendo licensing meeting. Whether it sits comfortably alongside the retro shell is a fair question.

The rear view shifts the frame again. A large dual-grip body in smooth black rubber dominates the back, a clear plastic hinge connecting the screen to grip in full view, structural and unapologetic. The 3D-printed volume rocker at the top edge puts a physical control where fingers naturally land. The back half feels closer to a DualShock than a Game Boy, which is either the point or the problem, depending on what you wanted this thing to be.

Flip to the front screen, and the emulator grid makes the whole thing literal. DuckStation for PS1, Dolphin for GameCube, PPSSPP for PSP, melonDS for Nintendo DS, and a live PS2 wallpaper cycling behind all of it. This device runs both companies’ libraries simultaneously without asking permission from either. The branding on the shell, in that context, stops being a novelty and starts reading as a plain statement of what the hardware already does.

The retro handheld category is large enough now that sameness has become its default. The Retroid Pocket 6, the current flagship from the same manufacturer, drew community criticism for being indistinguishable from competitors: glass front, LED sticks, rounded edges, and no particular character. A fan mod building identity out of borrowed logos is one response to a problem the manufacturers haven’t solved. It’s also just someone enjoying a hobby and being honest about what they want.

The hardware to play PS1, PS2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance all on one screen already exists and costs under $200. What the market hasn’t resolved is what that device should actually look like, or whose name should go on it. This mod doesn’t answer either question. It just makes the gap between what’s technically possible and what anyone has bothered to design feel a little harder to dismiss.

The post This Fan Made the Sony-Nintendo Handheld the Companies Never Would first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple has launched AFib History on Apple Watch in mainland China, giving diagnosed users a new way to track heart rhythm patterns over time.

The post Apple Watch Launches AFib History Feature in China, Expanding Heart Health Tracking appeared first on TechRepublic.

– Article invité, rédigé par Vincent Lautier , contient des liens affiliés Amazon –

UGREEN a lancé la Zapix 200W , une station de charge GaN avec six ports USB-C et deux USB-A pour une puissance totale de 200W. De quoi alimenter en même temps un MacBook Pro, un PC portable, des smartphones et quelques accessoires, le tout dans un seul bloc posé sur le bureau. Chaque port principal peut monter jusqu'à 100W, et la station gère tous les protocoles de charge rapide du marché. J'ai testé la bête.

Huit ports et jusqu'à 100W par sortie

La Zapix 200W propose donc huit sorties au total : six USB-C et deux USB-A. Les trois premiers ports USB-C (C1, C2, C3) sont les plus costauds, avec chacun jusqu'à 100W en individuel.

Vous pouvez même charger deux portables à 100W en même temps sur les ports C1 et C2, ce qui couvre les besoins d'un MacBook Pro ou d'un Dell XPS sans forcer. La puissance est gérée par un contrôleur qui répartit le courant en fonction de ce qui est branché.

Par contre, quand les huit ports sont occupés, la puissance est partagée et les derniers ports (C6, A1, A2) se retrouvent à 15W à eux trois. Il y a donc une logique de branchement à respecter : les appareils gourmands sur C1 à C3, le reste après.

GaN et compatibilité tous protocoles

Le bloc repose sur la technologie GaN, ce qui lui permet de rester compact malgré les 200W de puissance.

La chauffe est contenue même en charge maximale grâce au système ThermalGuard, qui surveille la température en temps réel et ajuste la sortie si besoin. Côté protections, on a le classique du genre : surtensions, courts-circuits, surcharges.

Pour ce qui est de la compatibilité, la Zapix 200W gère le Power Delivery 3.0, le Quick Charge 4.0 et 3.0, et aussi le PPS en 45W sur les ports C1 et C2.

Ce dernier point est intéressant si vous avez un Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, qui a besoin du PPS pour atteindre sa vitesse de charge maximale. Les ports USB-A sont utiles pour les accessoires plus anciens ou les appareils moins exigeants. Par exemple j'y charge le GPS de mon chat !

Un format bureau bien pensé

Le bloc se pose à plat sur le bureau et se branche au secteur via un câble standard. Les ports sont bien organisés en façade pour un accès facile. Vous pouvez aussi le placer droit, avec un petit support livré avec.

Bref, deux portables à 100W en simultané, c'est quand même pas mal, et la compatibilité avec tous les protocoles de charge rapide évite de se poser la question de l'écosystème. Je vous recommande donc ce petit appareil que j'ai bien rapidement adopté perso. Et en plus elle est en promotion sur Amazon en ce moment, à moins de 63 euros au lieu de 80, disponible ici .

Nobody sits down to play Mario Kart and thinks “what this experience needs is a force feedback wheel, a pedal set, and a clamp-mounted desk rig.” And yet here we are, with Hori releasing two officially licensed racing wheels for the Switch 2, timed to launch alongside Mario Kart World on March 23. The Deluxe has an 11-inch wheel, a full pedal set, seven sensitivity levels, an adjustable dead zone, and a Quick Handling Mode that toggles steering output between 270 and 180 degrees. That last feature exists so you can more precisely navigate a rainbow-colored highway while a cartoon turtle throws a shell at you.

To be fair, the wheels look genuinely good. The Deluxe goes for a dark, almost aggressive red-and-black motorsport aesthetic, while the Mini leans fully into Mario’s red-blue-white color scheme with the Mario Kart World logo stamped on the base. Both add a C button for Switch 2’s GameChat, connect via a 9.8-foot USB-A cable, and work with the original Switch and OLED too. The Deluxe is $129.99, the Mini is $79.99, and both are available for pre-order now.

Designer: Hori

Click Here to Buy Now

The two wheels are closer in spec than the price gap suggests. Both have textured rubber grips, ZL and ZR buttons, racing paddles, programmable buttons, and the same ZL hold function that lets you drag items behind your kart in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. That hold function is disabled in Mario Kart World, which handles item use differently, so if World is the primary reason you’re buying one of these, that particular feature is decorative. The Mini’s 8.6-inch wheel is smaller but not dramatically so, and for a game where precision steering matters about as much as knowing when to deploy a star, the size difference probably won’t register mid-race. Both also carry the Nintendo/PC toggle on the back, which is new to the Switch 2 versions and means you can run either wheel through a PC racing title if the Mario Kart novelty wears off.

The Mini, with its Fischer-Price aesthetic, attaches via suction cups only, which works fine on a smooth desk but becomes a liability if you’re the type to slam the wheel hard into a corner. The Deluxe, on the other hand, adds a physical clamp mount, a meaningful upgrade for anyone who takes their banana peel delivery system seriously. The dead zone adjustment and the 180/270 degree toggle are also Deluxe-only, and those matter more than they sound: dialing in the dead zone tightens center response considerably, and 180-degree mode makes the wheel feel snappier in arcadey conditions where full-rotation sim behavior would actively work against you.

The Deluxe reads like a peripheral that wants to be taken seriously, with perforated black leather-look grip material, metallic red spokes, and a fairly restrained button cluster around the center M logo. The Mini abandons that restraint completely: solid red rim, blue and white spokes, yellow accent buttons, Mario Kart World branding on the base. They’re aimed at different buyers within the same audience, and the visual split is deliberate enough that you wouldn’t mistake one for the other in a product lineup.

Both wheels connect over USB-A, which is worth flagging because the Switch 2 uses USB-C natively. You will need an adapter or a hub, and Hori ships neither in the box. The 9.8-foot cable is generous in length, but the connector mismatch is a friction point on a product designed specifically for a new console, and it’s the kind of thing that should have been sorted at the design stage rather than left to the buyer.

Hori has been the default answer for Switch racing wheels since the original console launched, and these Switch 2 versions do not reinvent that position. The older Switch wheels already work on the Switch 2, so this is really a product for new Switch 2 buyers rather than existing Hori customers looking to upgrade. For that audience, $79.99 for the Mini is a reasonable ask, $129.99 for the Deluxe is justified by the clamp mount and calibration options alone, and both are about as good as a wired USB wheel built around Mario Kart is ever going to get. Whether you need one is a separate question, but if you’re going to sit down with a dedicated racing rig to hurl banana peels at a go-kart driven by a plumber, at least Hori has given you two good ways to do it.

Click Here to Buy Now

The post This $130 Mario Kart Racing Wheel for the Switch 2 Has Seven Sensitivity Levels for Throwing Banana Peels first appeared on Yanko Design.

Retro designs often carry a sense of nostalgia, but occasionally they evolve into something more functional and imaginative. The M2x2 workstation by Watt IV is a good example with the inventive reinterpretation of a classic LEGO element transformed into a fully working desktop computer. Created by Dutch designer Paul Staal, the device takes inspiration from the iconic sloped LEGO computer brick introduced in 1979 and scales it up into a practical workstation powered by a modern Mac mini.

The DIY centers around the familiar wedge-shaped Slope 45 2×2 LEGO piece, a part historically used in LEGO space-themed sets as a representation of computer terminals inside spacecraft cockpits. Staal enlarged this element to roughly ten times its original size, turning it into a functional housing that blends retro toy aesthetics with contemporary computing power. Inside the oversized brick sits an Apple Mac mini equipped with Apple’s M4 chip, transforming the playful concept into a capable desktop system.

Designer: Paul Staal

Rather than serving as a simple decorative shell, the M2x2 integrates several practical features that enhance its usability as a workstation. A slanted 7-inch IPS touchscreen is embedded in the front face of the structure, echoing the display graphic printed on the original LEGO piece while providing real functionality. The compact screen acts as a secondary interface, often used for quick system information or dashboards. Staal, for instance, uses it primarily to monitor and control his smart home through a Home Assistant interface while working on a larger external display.

The case includes front-facing ports enabled through a USB-C hub, along with an SD card reader for easy access to external storage and accessories. This arrangement ensures the device remains practical for everyday use despite its playful form factor. The system also retains portability elements inspired by early Apple computers, including a built-in handle at the back that makes the unit easy to move around a desk or workspace. While the M2x2 works as a self-contained computer, it is typically paired with a larger external monitor for full productivity. In everyday use, the Mac mini handles the heavy computing tasks while the built-in display functions as a control panel or status screen.

Perhaps the most creative detail lies in the oversized LEGO studs on top of the case. Instead of being purely decorative, these studs are designed to perform useful functions. One of them operates as a rotary control that can adjust volume or media playback, while the other conceals a wireless charging bay capable of powering devices such as AirPods or an Apple Watch. The studs themselves remain compatible with standard LEGO elements, allowing users to attach minifigures or bricks for a playful finishing touch.

The M2x2 is largely built from 3D-printed components, making it accessible to enthusiasts who want to build their own version. Staal modeled the structure in CAD software and designed it as a modular system consisting of multiple printable parts. Aside from the Mac mini itself, the required materials are relatively simple, including PLA filament, a small touchscreen display, screws, and a USB-C hub. Assembly instructions and downloadable files are available, allowing makers to replicate or modify the design to suit their needs.

The post This classic 1979 LEGO computer brick hides a fully functional Mac mini workstation inside first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most of us have looked up at the night sky at some point and felt that brief, humbling recognition that there is an enormous universe out there, and we have no idea what is happening in it. Then a notification comes in, and the moment passes. Lumen Orbit, a student concept from CEPT University, is a small handheld accessory designed to keep that awareness alive without requiring a telescope, a star chart, or a dedicated app.

The device is disc-shaped and roughly palm-sized, with a two-part body split along its equator by a copper-toned accent band. The upper half is a polished silver-gray cap; the lower sits wider and shallower in a dark matte gunmetal finish. A woven braided lanyard with a hexagonal metal clasp attaches to the body, making it something you can loop around a wrist, hook to a bag, or hang using a built-in fold-out carabiner.

Designer: Kinshuk Agarwal

The primary face carries a circular display showing real-time planetary positions: which planet is currently visible, where it sits in the sky relative to your location, and when it rises and sets. Flip the device over, and a second, smaller screen on the reverse offers a close-up planetary render. The UI uses pixel-art-style graphics for its planet illustrations, landing somewhere between retro charm and deliberate restraint.

The interaction model is equally considered. A flip gesture switches between the two display modes, squeezing the body cycles through planets, and haptic vibration signals astronomical events such as meteor showers, eclipses, and alignments. The idea is that information about the cosmos arrives the same way a text message does, as a quiet nudge rather than something you have to actively seek out.

What the concept is really proposing is a dedicated single-purpose ambient device for astronomical awareness. Smartphones can technically do all of this through apps, but a specialized physical object changes the relationship to the information entirely. Carrying something whose only purpose is to connect you to the solar system is a genuinely different proposition than opening an app between emails.

The open questions are substantial. How the real-time tracking handles connectivity, how the device charges, and how positional accuracy works without confirmed GPS integration are things the concept leaves unspecified. The form is confident, and the interaction logic is coherent. The more interesting problem is whether a working version could fit into a jacket pocket for easy access.

The post A Student Built a Pocket Planet Tracker That Works Without Your Phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Pick up this Grade A refurbished Apple iPad 7th Gen with Retina display and A10 Fusion chip for just $94.99.

The post Save 52% on a Refurbished Apple iPad 7th Gen for Under $100 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026 starts March 25, but early tech deals are already live. Here are the best discounts worth shopping before it begins.

The post Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Best Early Tech Deals appeared first on TechRepublic.

Somewhere between the overstuffed tech pouch and the empty pocket lies a sweet spot that most gadget makers ignore. The minimalist carry is not about owning less for the sake of it, but about each object earning its place through thoughtful design and genuine daily utility. We have been keeping tabs on pocket-friendly gadgets that manage to pack serious functionality into forms small enough to forget about until the moment they are needed. These seven picks balance portability with purpose, skipping gimmicks in favor of smart engineering.

What ties this list together is a shared restraint. None of these products tries to do everything. Each one solves a specific problem within a compact footprint, and the design decisions behind them reflect a growing shift in how makers approach portable tech. Less bloat, more intention, and a willingness to rethink form factors that have gone unchallenged for too long.

1. OrigamiSwift Mouse

The OrigamiSwift borrows its name from Japanese paper folding, and the comparison holds up. This foldable Bluetooth mouse collapses flat for storage and springs into a full-sized shape in under half a second, making it one of the more clever portable input devices we have come across recently.

At just 40 grams, the mouse is lighter than most pens and thin enough to slip into a jacket pocket without adding bulk. The ergonomic curve that appears when unfolded feels closer to a standard desktop mouse than most travel mice bother attempting, which makes extended work sessions far less punishing on the wrist.

Click Here to Buy Now: $85.00

What we like

• The origami-inspired folding mechanism is quick and satisfying, going from flat to functional almost instantly.
• Weighing only 40 grams, it vanishes into a bag or pocket and adds almost zero weight to a travel setup.

What we dislike

• The folding hinge is a mechanical point of failure that could wear over time with heavy daily use.
• Bluetooth-only connectivity means no option for a USB dongle, which can be a dealbreaker for users who prefer a dedicated receiver.

2. DuRobo Krono

Reading on a phone screen is a compromise most people accept without questioning. The DuRobo Krono pushes back on that default by squeezing a 6.13-inch E Ink Carta 1200 display into a form factor that fits pockets as easily as a smartphone, but replaces the distraction engine with a focused reading and productivity tool.

The 300 PPI resolution matches what premium Kindles deliver, and the tall 18:9 aspect ratio gives the Krono a narrow, phone-like grip at 154 x 80 x 9mm and 173 grams. Built-in AI capabilities turn it into a note-taking and creative thinking companion, not just a page-turner.

What we like

• The E Ink display at 300 PPI is sharp and comfortable for extended reading without the eye fatigue that LCD screens cause.
• AI features baked into the device add a productivity layer that separates it from standard eReaders stuck in single-purpose territory.

What we dislike

• E Ink refresh rates remain sluggish for anything beyond static pages, making note-taking and navigation feel slower than on a phone.
• At 6.13 inches, the screen is on the smaller side for PDFs and academic papers that need more real estate to be readable.

3. Pokepad Pocket PC

Most devices aimed at students are either stripped-down tablets or locked-down phones fighting a losing battle against social media. Pokepad takes a different route: a compact learning device shaped like a slim rectangular box, with a flip-out pen and zero gaming apps. The goal is a distraction-free tool that travels from classroom to bus to bedroom.

The design team tested multiple shapes before landing on this box form factor, balancing enough internal volume for a decent battery, speakers, and a pen mechanism without tipping into tablet territory. The deliberate absence of an app store full of entertainment is the product’s sharpest design choice, and its most controversial one.

What we like

• The flip-out pen integrated directly into the body eliminates the need to carry (and inevitably lose) a separate stylus.
• A distraction-free software environment means this device stays focused on learning rather than competing with TikTok for attention.

What we dislike

• This is still a concept, so there are no confirmed specs, pricing, or a release timeline to evaluate.
• The locked-down software approach assumes students will not simply resist using a device that blocks entertainment entirely.

4. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers

In a category drowning in Bluetooth speakers that need charging, the iSpeakers strip things back to pure physics. This metal smartphone speaker amplifies sound using acoustic design alone, with no battery, no electricity, and no pairing process. Slot a phone in, and the Duralumin body does the rest.

The material choice is the interesting detail here. Duralumin is an aluminum alloy used in aircraft construction, chosen for its vibration-resistant properties and its ability to project sound cleanly. The speaker’s proportions follow the golden ratio, which shapes how sound waves travel through the chamber and spread outward. Optional +Bloom and +Jet mods (sold separately) let users direct sound for different room setups.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179.00

What we like

• Zero power requirement means no batteries to charge, no cables to carry, and no wireless connectivity to troubleshoot.
• Duralumin construction gives it a premium, lasting feel that ages well and resists the kind of dings that kill plastic speakers.

What we dislike

• Volume output is inherently limited by passive amplification, so this will not fill a large room or compete with powered speakers.
• Compatibility depends on phone size and speaker placement, so not every phone model will fit or project sound optimally.

5. Unix UX-1519 NEOM Power Bank

Power banks are the most boring objects in the average carry. The Unix UX-1519 NEOM challenges that assumption by wrapping 10,000mAh of capacity and 22.5W fast charging in an industrial design language that actually looks intentional. This is a real, shipping product, not a concept render.

The retro-modern aesthetic slots neatly alongside devices from brands like Nothing and Teenage Engineering, where exposed design elements and visible construction details are part of the appeal. Under the surface, a high-density Lithium Polymer battery provides a safer, longer-lasting cell compared to standard lithium-ion packs found in most competing power banks.

What we like

• The industrial design treatment turns a utilitarian object into something worth displaying alongside the rest of a curated collection.
• 22.5W fast charging keeps compatible devices topped up quickly, cutting the time spent tethered to a power bank.

What we dislike

• The design-forward approach may command a price premium over functionally identical power banks with plainer exteriors.
• At 10,000mAh, capacity is adequate for one to two phone charges, but falls short for users who need to power tablets or laptops on the go.

6. Keychron B11 Pro

Portable keyboards have spent years treating compactness as the only variable worth optimizing. The Keychron B11 Pro adds a second priority: ergonomics. It folds in half to a 196.3 x 143 mm footprint (smaller than a paperback) at 258 grams, but unfolds into a 65% Alice layout that angles both key clusters inward for a more natural wrist position.

The Alice geometry is what separates this from every other folding keyboard in its price bracket. Keychron already uses the same split-angle approach in the desk-bound K11 Max, a full mechanical keyboard, so the ergonomic logic is well tested. Putting it into a foldable form at $64.99 is a different proposition, one that treats travel typing as something deserving of the same wrist comfort as a home office setup.

What we like

• The Alice split layout reduces lateral wrist strain during long typing sessions, a benefit that flat portable keyboards do not offer.
• At $64.99, the price point is accessible compared to other ergonomic keyboards that cost two to three times as much.

What we dislike

• A 65% layout means missing dedicated function rows and navigation clusters, which power users may find limiting.
• The folding hinge adds a visible seam along the middle of the keyboard that could collect dust and affect long-term build quality.

7. Frame CD Player

Streaming killed the CD, but it never replaced the ritual. The Frame CD player leans into that gap with a portable player that does double duty as a display for album jacket art. Pop in a disc, slide the cover art into the built-in frame, and the album becomes an object again instead of a thumbnail on a screen.

Bluetooth 5.0 lets the player connect to wireless speakers and earphones, so it works within modern audio setups without demanding a wired system. A built-in battery makes it portable enough to move between rooms or take on the go, and the minimalist housing is designed to hang on a wall as a piece of functional decor when not in transit.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169.00

What we like

• The album art frame transforms a music player into a visual display piece, giving physical media a presence that streaming cannot replicate.
• Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity bridges the gap between vintage formats and modern audio gear without extra adapters or cables.

What we dislike

• CD collections are shrinking, so the player’s long-term utility depends on how committed a listener is to physical media.
• Sound quality through Bluetooth compression will not satisfy audiophiles who are drawn to CDs for their lossless audio in the first place.

Less carry, more intent

The common thread running through these seven gadgets is not a spec sheet or a price bracket. It is an attitude toward what portable tech should be: small enough to disappear when not needed, capable enough to perform when called upon, and designed with enough intention that carrying them feels like a choice rather than a burden. Not every product on this list will suit every carry, but each one earned its pocket space.

What makes this current wave of compact gadgets exciting is the refusal to treat portability and quality as opposites. The best pocket-sized tech does not ask for compromise. It simply demands better design thinking, and these seven products deliver on that front in different, often surprising ways.

The post 7 Best Pocket-Sized Tech Gadgets Built for the Modern Minimalist first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone could bring side-by-side apps, iPad-style layouts, Touch ID, and a premium price of roughly $2,000.

The post Foldable iPhone 2026: Apple’s Most Ambitious iPhone Yet Could Cost $2,000 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Creality lance Filastudio, un duo composé de la M1 Filament Maker et du broyeur R1 qui permet de transformer vos impressions 3D ratées en filament réutilisable. Le système est en campagne de financement à partir de 899 dollars le bundle, avec des livraisons prévues au deuxième trimestre 2026. Les premiers tests sont plutôt encourageants, même si le prototype a encore du chemin à faire.

Recycler ses ratés pour réimprimer

Creality vient donc de dévoiler un concept qui va parler à tous ceux qui ont une imprimante 3D chez eux : recycler ses impressions ratées pour en refaire du filament neuf.

La M1 Filament Maker est une extrudeuse de bureau qui transforme des granulés de plastique en bobines de filament prêtes à l'emploi. Elle fonctionne avec huit familles de matériaux : PLA, ABS, PETG, ASA, PA, PC, TPU et PET.

Le R1, c'est le broyeur qui va avec. Il découpe vos impressions ratées en particules de 4 mm maximum, que vous pouvez ensuite réinjecter dans la M1. Creality parle d'un débit allant jusqu'à 1 kg de filament par heure et d'une précision de plus ou moins 0,05 mm avec des granulés neufs. Avec du plastique recyclé, la tolérance double à plus ou moins 0,1 mm, ce qui reste acceptable mais en dessous du filament commercial classique.

Ce que disent les premiers tests

Hackaday a pu mettre les mains sur un prototype de la M1, et le verdict est mitigé mais encourageant. Le filament produit imprime, et les résultats sont même qualifiés de bons malgré des variations de diamètre.

Le bobinage fonctionne avec les bobines fournies par Creality, mais le mécanisme a encore besoin d'être affiné. On est sur du préproduction, donc Creality a encore de la marge pour corriger le tir avant les livraisons.

Une contrainte à garder en tête : le recyclage ne fonctionne qu'en monomatériau. Si vous mélangez du PLA avec du PETG dans le broyeur, vous risquez d'endommager le système. Il faut donc trier ses déchets d'impression, ce qui demande un minimum d'organisation.

En 2024, je me suis acheté un WalkingPad A1 Pro (lien affilié) et j'ai complétement oublié de vous en faire un petit retour ! Ce mot ne vous dit peut-être rien, mais c'est ce petit tapis de marche pliable qui se glisse sous votre bureau debout. 143 cm de long, 55 cm de large, 6 km/h max + une télécommande et une appli pour piloter le tout. L'engin pèse dans les 28 kg et se plie en deux pour se planquer sous mon bureau. Et comme maintenant j'ai un peu de recul, je peux vous dire qu'il y a quelques trucs à savoir avant de craquer.

Déjà, si vous faites plus de 100 kg (comme moi, oui je sais, beau bébé), attendez-vous à des petits à-coups au démarrage car c'est conçu pour supporter max 105 kg (quand je l'ai acheté sur la fiche produit c'était écrit 136 kg donc j'sais pas trop...).

En fait, le moteur et la bande ont besoin de chauffer 2-3 minutes avant de tourner rond. Rien de dramatique, mais les premiers pas c'est saccadé. Ensuite, une fois le rythme chopé, ça roule !

Après le piège classique, c'est de vouloir aller trop vite. Dès que vous dépassez 3 km/h, votre clavier mécanique commence à danser sur le plateau du bureau et là... bonne chance pour viser un pixel avec votre souris. Plus vous allez lentement, plus vous êtes précis avec la souris. Perso, je reste à 2-3 km/h max quand je bosse, parce que au-delà c'est ingérable. On n'est pas là pour un marathon !

Au début, c'est perturbant, j'avoue. Genre votre cerveau sait plus s'il doit lire l'écran ou gérer vos jambes. Ça dure quelques jours, pas plus et ensuite, vous n'y pensez même plus, ça devient naturel et du coup vous marchez sans y penser.

Most portable computers are sealed boxes, which is exactly what makes them frustrating for anyone who wants to experiment with electronics. You can run code on a laptop, but try wiring a temperature sensor or an infrared transmitter directly to it, and you’ll realize that consumer hardware was never designed for that kind of access. A maker who goes by PickentCode got tired of that gap and built something to close it.

The CyberPlug 3.0 is the third iteration of a personal cyberdeck project, the earlier two having usability problems that sent PickentCode back to Blender to redesign. The final build packs a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, a 4-inch IPS touchscreen, a Rii K06 mini keyboard with a built-in touchpad, and a 5,000 mAh USB-C power bank into a 3D-printed hinged body that folds flat for handheld use or props open at a desk-friendly angle.

Designer: PickentCode

What separates this from a standard Raspberry Pi build is the pair of breadboards soldered directly to the GPIO pins, seated inside the case, and accessible through a removable back panel. Connecting a sensor no longer means hunting for a separate breadboard and a tangle of jumper wires. PickentCode plugged in a temperature and humidity sensor and had it reading live data within minutes, then built an infrared setup that records remote control signals and replays them as single-button macros.

The two form factors each have a distinct locking mechanism rather than just flopping into position. In handheld mode, twin magnets pull the two halves together. In desktop mode, a metal ring on the back grabs the MagSafe-style power bank magnetically, holding the whole thing at a stable upright angle. Both the keyboard and the power bank slide out independently, and the deck keeps working on a desk without either of them.

Extensions are where the project gets more interesting. PickentCode added a PWM-controlled external fan that reads CPU temperature and adjusts speed automatically, and a small speaker module that opened the door to YouTube and older games. Doom, Half-Life, and GTA: Vice City all ran on it, better with an external setup in desktop mode, though workable in handheld after some button remapping.

PickentCode frames this plainly as a testbed for learning electronics, not a replacement for a phone or a real computer. The 3D files are free on Printables, so the main cost is filament, time, and the components. For anyone who has ever stared at a sealed laptop wishing they could just plug something into it, that framing is probably the most relatable thing about it.

The post This Foldable DIY Cyberdeck Has Breadboards Built In and Runs Doom first appeared on Yanko Design.

– Article invité, rédigé par Vincent Lautier , contient des liens affiliés Amazon –

Teufel a lancé la ROCKSTER Cross 2 , une enceinte Bluetooth portable qui mise sur un son stéréo puissant, une autonomie de 38 heures et une certification IPX5 contre les éclaboussures. Vendue 240 euros sur Amazon, elle embarque un système 2 voies avec subwoofer, la technologie Dynamore et une fonction powerbank, je la teste depuis plusieurs semaines, et je la valide complètement ! Voilà pourquoi :

Un son qui a de la patate

La ROCKSTER Cross 2 est équipée d'un système 2 voies avec deux tweeters de 20 mm, un subwoofer de 120 mm et deux membranes passives à l'arrière. Le tout est propulsé par un amplificateur classe D de 39 watts qui peut grimper jusqu'à 98 dB. Et ça s'entend : les basses sont profondes et bien tenues, le son reste maîtrisé même quand on pousse le volume, et l'ensemble dégage une assurance qui fait plaisir.

Pas de distorsion désagréable, pas de saturation aux aigus. La technologie Dynamore, propre à Teufel, élargit la scène sonore et donne une vraie sensation de stéréo, ce qui change des enceintes portables qui sonnent souvent mono dans les faits. Pour les sorties en extérieur, un mode Outdoor ajuste le rendu pour compenser l'absence de murs, et l'inclinaison intégrée permet de poser l'enceinte au sol avec un angle de diffusion optimal. Malin.

38 heures sans charge

Côté autonomie, Teufel annonce 38 heures à 70 dB selon la norme IEC, et jusqu'à 46 heures en mode Éco. C'est quand même confortable : on peut partir en week-end sans emporter le chargeur. La recharge se fait en USB-C, et bonne nouvelle, l'enceinte fait aussi office de powerbank pour dépanner un smartphone à plat. Le boîtier est certifié IPX5, ce qui le protège contre les projections d'eau dans tous les sens.

Le design anti-chocs, les boutons en caoutchouc et les finitions antidérapantes sont clairement rassurantes pour un usage en extérieur, y compris avec les mains mouillées. Teufel fournit une sangle de transport réglable et des poignées latérales, et l'ensemble se transporte sans problème. Elle est disponible en trois coloris (noir et vert, noir et rouge, gris clair), le design a le mérite de ne pas ressembler à ce qu'on trouve chez la concurrence.

Bluetooth 5.3 et Party Link

Côté connectivité, on est sur du Bluetooth 5.3 avec codec AAC, compatible Google Fast Pair. La portée annoncée est de 15 mètres, et la fonction Multipoint permet de connecter deux smartphones en même temps pour enchaîner les playlists sans coupure.

Mais le vrai plus de l'enceinte, c'est le Party Link : vous pouvez connecter sans fil jusqu'à 100 enceintes compatibles (ROCKSTER Cross 2, Neo, Go 2 ou Mynd) pour diffuser le même son partout. Et en mode Party Link Stereo, deux ROCKSTER Cross 2 forment une paire stéréo avec canal gauche et droit séparés. Pour 240 euros l'unité, ça devient intéressant pour ceux qui veulent un vrai système audio d'extérieur sans trop se ruiner.

Bref, à 240 balles sur Amazon, la ROCKSTER Cross 2 est un bon choix. Le son est riche et bien calibré, l'autonomie laisse tranquille pour un bon moment, et la construction inspire confiance pour un usage baroudeur. Disponible ici sur Amazon !

Article invité publié par Vincent Lautier .

Modern laptops aren’t short on power, but they’re increasingly short on ports. One USB-C port ends up doing everything: charging, video out, storage, and peripherals, while a small pile of adapters accumulates next to the keyboard. The setup works, but it doesn’t look like the clean, minimal desk you were going for, and it means carrying more pieces than you’d like when you’re working somewhere that isn’t home.

ADAM elements’ Hub S is a USB-C hub with built-in SSD storage, designed around the idea that a hub and an external drive don’t need to be two separate objects. Instead of plugging in one thing for ports and another for files, you plug in one slim aluminum accessory that handles both. It isn’t trying to replace a full docking station, but it’s the right-sized tool for someone who needs the essentials covered without the clutter.

Designer: ADAM elements

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.30 $99 (30% off, use coupon code “30YANKOHBSN”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The built-in SSD is available in 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB capacities, so there’s a size for whether you’re keeping a working project library or just enough space for recent shoots and backups. Having storage physically attached to your hub means it’s always there when you need to dump footage, move large project files, or keep a client’s assets close during a session, without remembering to pack a separate drive.

Transfer speeds are rated at up to 520 MB/s read and 456 MB/s write, which makes moving large files feel routine rather than something you schedule around. That kind of speed isn’t just a spec, though. It’s the difference between waiting through a transfer and forgetting it’s happening. For photographers and video editors working on the road, that matters more than it sounds on a product page.

For Mac users, the ADAM elements Hub S is also Apple Time Machine compatible. That means it can act as a rolling backup target every time you plug in, turning a habit that’s easy to forget into something that happens automatically. Backup isn’t exciting, but having it built into the same accessory you’re already using for everything else makes it feel less like a separate job.

The USB-C port on the hub supports PD 3.0 pass-through charging up to 60W, so your laptop doesn’t lose its charge while the hub is handling storage, display, and peripherals. That’s a meaningful consideration when you’re transferring large files and streaming to an external display at the same time, both of which can pull enough power to make a laptop feel like it’s running a sprint.

The HDMI port outputs up to 4K at 30Hz and supports HDCP 2.2, which is the protocol required for streaming 4K HDR content from services like Netflix. A lot of hubs advertise “4K output” but fail on DRM handshakes, so the HDCP 2.2 compliance isn’t a minor footnote. Whether you’re mirroring for a presentation or extending to a monitor for a proper editing session, the connection holds up where it matters.

Rounding out the port selection is a USB-A 3.1 port rated at up to 5 Gbps for peripherals or flash drives, and a 3.5mm headphone jack that supports 48kHz/16-bit audio. Neither is glamorous, but together they cover the inputs that would otherwise require yet another adapter. The aluminum alloy body is designed to sit flush on a desk surface, and the whole thing weighs about 2.5oz, roughly the weight of a single C battery.

The ADAM elements Hub S works best as the kind of accessory you stop thinking about. You plug it in, your files are there, your display is connected, your laptop is charging, and your headphones are plugged in. That’s it. For people who’d rather carry one considered piece of hardware than a small collection of adapters and drives, consolidating all of that into a single slim object that fits in a jacket pocket feels like the more sensible way to work.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.30 $99 (30% off, use coupon code “30YANKOHBSN”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Carrying a USB-C Hub and SSD? ADAM elements Hub S Does Both first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember when instant cameras were magic? You pressed a button, a mechanical whir filled the air, and moments later you were shaking a photo like it owed you money. Polaroid made photography feel like alchemy, turning light into physical memory right in your hands.

The Poor Man’s Polaroid by Boxart brings that instant gratification back using a thermal printer (the same kind that spits out your CVS receipts) and costs less than a cent per print compared to roughly a euro for each Polaroid picture. The name is a bit tongue-in-cheek since the parts actually cost more than the cheapest Polaroid cameras, but the creator clarifies it’s a “fun DIY project, possibly made by poor hands”.

Designer: Boxart

The whole setup is beautifully straightforward. A Raspberry Pi Zero and camera drive a receipt printer, all housed in a 3D-printed case with the guts of a power bank providing juice. Press the button, wait a beat, and out slides your photo on thermal paper. No film cartridges to buy, no wondering if you loaded it correctly, no accidentally exposing your entire pack to light.

Does the image quality match a real Polaroid? Not even close. The photos aren’t the same quality as self-developing film, but they have some charm to them. You get a not-very-good grayscale image on curly paper. But that’s kind of the point. The beauty of instant photography was never really about pristine resolution. It was about immediacy, about physicality, about having something tangible to pin on your wall or slip into someone’s hand.

This project lives in that sweet spot between nostalgia and practicality. Thermal paper might fade over time and the images might look like they came from a 1990s fax machine, but you can shoot hundreds of photos without bankrupting yourself. The economics are almost absurd when you compare it to authentic instant film, which has climbed to luxury pricing in recent years.

I love that this exists because it reminds us that the tools we carry don’t always need to be the most advanced or expensive. Sometimes the joy is in the making itself, in cobbling together a Raspberry Pi, a webcam, and a thermal printer to recreate something that used to cost hundreds of dollars and came from a factory. It’s technology as craft project, gadgetry as personal expression.

The curling thermal paper and grainy output might not win photography awards, but they capture something else: the spirit of experimentation that made instant cameras revolutionary in the first place. Edwin Land didn’t perfect the Polaroid overnight. He iterated, tinkered, and eventually changed how we thought about photography. Boxart’s version might use Python code instead of complex chemistry, but the impulse is the same.

What makes this project particularly appealing is its accessibility. The parts are 3D printed and the code is in Python, meaning anyone with basic maker skills can attempt it. You’re not locked into a proprietary ecosystem or dependent on a company that might discontinue your film stock. You own the entire chain of production, from capture to print.

Sure, you could buy cheap instant print cameras from import sites for less money. But where’s the story in that? Where’s the satisfaction of building something yourself, of understanding exactly how it works, of being able to modify and improve it over time? This isn’t just a camera. It’s a statement about what technology can be when we strip away the branding and the markup and the planned obsolescence.

The Poor Man’s Polaroid won’t replace your smartphone camera or even a proper instant camera if image quality is your priority. But it offers something more valuable: proof that with a little ingenuity and some off-the-shelf components, you can recreate the magic of instant photography on your own terms. And sometimes that curly thermal paper printout means more precisely because you built the machine that made it.

The post A Maker Just Built A Polaroid Camera for 100x Cheaper Using Thermal Receipt Paper first appeared on Yanko Design.