The market for smartwatches is flush open with brands and fresh designs giving users plenty of options. While all of them stay within the practical boundaries to appeal to a larger set of audience, there’s always scope for something extravagant that Gen-Z prefers.

This is the A_001 PowerWatch concept inspired by the action Japanese metal heroes like Jaspion, Jiban, and Winspector. The wearable concept challenges the mainstream smartwatch designs, both in form and function with its radical shape and operation. All these prime-time series back in the 80s and bleeding into the early 90s have gripped the Japanese audience. Later on, the craze spread worldwide and inspired other similar adaptations.

Designer: Braz de Pina

The color theme of this smartwatch is heavily influenced by the tokusatsu and Winspector, in the red, silver and blue hues. Those who are not very much familiar with these predated action heroes will gravitate towards comparing the watch’s design to the Transformers. I had a flash of the Optimus Prime when I first laid my eyes on this wearable. There are big knobs on either side of the A_001 PowerWatch to actuate inputs for menu controls and app functions. To read on the big screen that attains a Tesla Cybertruck form cannot be ignored. Yes, now you see that familiar CyberTruck body in this wearable!

The smartwatch has a dedicated scroll button on one side to go through the content and make the desired selections. In the AOD the information displayed includes current temperature, date and time. Speakers on the sides make sure you don’t have to reach out for your portable speakers when listening to music or even taking calls in noisy environments. The watch is built like a tank and is not for weak or small wrists, no puns intended!

The metal body of the beefy yet edgy smartwatch is secured by the Velcro strap that indicates its rough use. Carrying such a big watch is not going to be everybody’s privilege and if it ever makes it to the real world, Elon Musk will fancy wearing this.

The post This Optimus Prime inspired smartwatch borrows its body frame design from the Cybertruck first appeared on Yanko Design.

Do you own an Apple Watch? Cause I do, and it is honestly one of the handiest devices I own. Today, the Apple Watch is considered one of the most popular smartwatches globally, and it’s not a surprising fact when you consider the number of people you see walking or jogging on the street with their Apple Watch smartly strapped around their wrists. And, if you’re someone who absolutely cannot do without their Apple Watch, then this collection of innovative and nifty accessories is for you. From an iPod-shaped cover to bands made from plant-based leather – these super cool accessories are a must-have for Apple Watch lovers.

1. RSTR Case

Called the RSTR Case, this beautiful transparent crystalline case for your Apple Watch is designed to be shown off. Created by Golden Concept, the case converts your Apple Watch into a lovely shimmering jewel that you can wear on your wrist. It is available in four pretty colors and is made using 50 meticulously engineered parts. Crafted from stainless steel, the home and action buttons are bigger than usual and more accessible.

2. tinyPod

Dubbed the tinyPod, this little design wraps up your Apple Watch in a case, and it looks exactly like the iPod! the tinyPod is a perfect replica of an iPod, except that it also has a colored screen. You can control the Apple Watch via an authentic click wheel, however we’re unsure how it manages to do this. But, this is quite an important little detail, as Apple Watch’s digital crown cannot be accessed in this new and innovative form.

3. ErgonBand

This ergonomic Apple Watch accessory may look a little ridiculous and funny, but it is quite functional. The band is designed to be more of a strap, and it resembles those thumb or hand braces used by athletes for protection. The Apple Watch is strapped into place utilizing clips that feature standard lugs, and placed below the joint of your thumb. The location was chosen as this allows the screen to be visible without the need to twist your wrist.

4. Pod Case

Designed by Joyce Kang and C.O Design Lab, this is the Pod Case that gives your Apple Watch a nostalgic touch. It introduces the watch to its ancestor which kickstarted the apple craze. The watch’s screen almost matches the screen size of the classic iPod Nanos, while its body is just a little thicker. The Pod Case is built from silicone, and it smoothly slides over the Apple Watch’s body, providing it with a refreshing yet nostalgic throwback.

5. Y24 Apple Watch Cases

This collection of luxurious and aesthetic Apple watch cases is actually quite price-friendly. They draw inspiration from the lifestyle of Tokyo and are designed by Y24. Each watch design captures the cool and charming vibes of Tokyo and converts that fascinating culture into interesting accessories. The cases have been designed to elevate and upgrade the young generation’s style, providing them with a unique and one-of-a-kind identity, without altering Apple’s originality or personality.

6. NightWatch

Named the NightWatch, this Apple Watch dock features a massive curved glass element on the front, which interestingly magnifies the screen. You can place your watch behind the massive lens, and it seems to enlarge the watch screen, increasing the visibility. It can transform your charging smartwatch into an innovative bedside click. It can even enhance your watch’s audio, which makes your alarm more audible.

7. Wristcam

Dubbed the Wristcam, this little device gives your Apple Watch the ability to click pictures all by itself! It features a front-mounted 8MP camera which can shoot images in 4K resolution, while also recording videos in Full HD. It has a selfie camera which can be used for video calling, or for live streaming. It is amped with 8GB of storage, as well as a long-lasting battery that can support a day’s worth of shooting and fun. It is water-resistant up to 1 meter as well.

8.(Re)Classic Band

Designed by Native Union, the (Re)Classic Band for Apple Watch is a cruelty-free Italian leather-inspired band. The unique band is built from repurposed mycelium, which is basically fungal threads that cover long distances underground. Mushrooms grow and bloom from these fungal threads. It forms a plant-based leather which is also one of the many all-natural resources used in the synthesis of Yatay by Coronet.

9. hardgraft Collector’s Watch Case

This artisanal leather product is called the hardgraft Collectors Watch case. It is designed to store your smartwatch in style and elegance. It has a soft Alcantara lining on the inside and is pretty padded. The exterior is made of vegetable-tanned Italian leather and a scratch-free zipper. It has a round compact form, which makes it portable and pretty easy to carry around. You can pick from three elegant color options – Classic, Coal, and Off Grey.

10. 2-in-1 Apple Devices Charging Stand

Designed by Taesung Yoon, and inspired by the daily sunrise, this is the 2-in-1 Apple Devices Charging Stand. The design does exactly what its name implies. It is created using feedback from data-driven research, and what people truly want from their unified Apple charging stand. It is the perfect integration of form and functionality and features a vertical stance with a slightly arched top which holds your iPhone comfortably without letting it topple over.

The post Top 10 Essential Apple Watch Accessories Every Smartwatch Owner Should Have first appeared on Yanko Design.

The iPhone might be Apple’s one and only portable music player today, but it’s far from being its most iconic. That prestige belongs to the original iPad (not the Nano nor the Touch) whose design, like any other Apple product, was hailed for its beautiful minimalism and unique interface, a design that many have dared to copy even today. Of course, the iPod is now just a footnote in history, but there are still a few who want to relive those glorious days of the past in a way that makes a bit of sense in the present. That might be the idea behind a mysterious new accessory that seemingly revives the iPod but, rather than create a completely new device, it reuses a strapless Apple Watch instead.

Designer: tinyPod

The OG iPod was genius in its simplicity. It provided quick and easy access to dozens of functions with an innovative “click wheel” physical control that avoided overloading the user with buttons and menus. Of course, these days it’s just as easy to peck at the iPhone screen with your finger, but a smartphone brings along other sorts of complications and distractions that go beyond the simple joys of listening to music. At the same time, a dedicated media player no longer makes sense these days since it would be yet another device to buy and maintain in addition to a phone, a tablet, and a smartwatch.

tinyPod seems to be trying to solve both problems by enclosing the Apple Watch in a case that is almost like a perfect replica of an iPod, except for the fact that it has a colored screen. What makes the case more interesting is that, at least based on a teaser video, you can actually control the Apple Watch using what looks like an authentic click wheel. It’s not yet known how it manages to do this, but this will be an important detail since the Apple Watch’s digital crown is inaccessible in this form, so you’ll need some other way to navigate through watchOS without always touching the screen.

The accessory is advertised to deliver an experience that’s like “your phone away from your phone,” which refers to the “watered-down” version of an iPhone that an Apple Watch offers. You can listen to and control your music without having to pull out your phone, but unlike the iPod, you can do so much more as well, like watching YouTube. In a way, it’s sort of like the middle ground between a “dumb” portable media player and a full-blown smartphone.

What little we know about tinyPod through a simple teaser still leaves many questions unanswered. You can probably keep this in your front pocket or even hang it around your neck, but it loses many of the health-related features that the Apple Watch is famous for in those situations. It’s also unknown how Apple will react to such an obvious copy of its iPod design, which could mean the device will be short-lived. Either way, we just have a month or so to wait for all the details to drop for this Apple Watch-powered iPod throwback.

The post tinyPod turns the Apple Watch into a tiny iPod for nostalgia and then some first appeared on Yanko Design.