OnePlus’ Nord N20 5G is coming to T-Mobile for $282 on April 28
OnePlus’ Nord N20 5G smartphone is official and it’s a T-Mobile US and Metro exclusive for now. It will launch in a single Blue color and 6/128GB configuration on April 28, priced $282.
The Nord N20 gains a better-looking, but slower display than its predecessor. It’s a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED of 60Hz refresh rate.
The chipset is a Snapdragon 695, built on the 6nm process – slightly more efficient than the 8nm SD690 in the Nord N10 5G.
The 4,500mAh battery supports 33W wired charging. The main camera has a 64MP sensor, there’s also an 8MP ultrawide camera and a depth sensor.
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Interestingly, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G ships with Android 11, which puts it at a disadvantage, compared to its main rivals from Samsung’s A and M series, which all ship with Android 12.
OnePlus hasn’t shared any global availability details about the Nord N20 5G just yet.
Elden Ring patch 1. 04 is out, with major balance changes and bug fixes
FromSoftware has released patch 1. 04 for Elden Ring, making extensive balance changes to the game as well as a ton of bug fixes aimed at improving stability and performance.
That’s not to say there’s no new content or features, either. Players are sure to welcome the ability to toggle auto-rotation of the camera on or off. Patches is a beloved trickster character and fan favorite. However, new event phases have been added to the game. You might like to go visit him in order find out what all that means.
The patchnotes mainly focus on balance and strength changes. However, there is a special focus on faith- and strength-based builds. Sorceries and weapon skills receive a slew of buffs, and comparatively few nerfs. Colossal weapons get increased attack speed and two-handed attack damage, making them more viable.
All in all it seems like good news for most Tarnished. From even appears to have fixed a bug tied to the dreaded underwear that penalized some players.
You can see the complete patch notes here.
Major Changes Included in the Latest Update
Additional Elements Added
Added an option to turn camera auto rotate function ON/OFF
Added some event phases for the NPC “Patches”
Balance adjustments
Increased Colossal Swords/Colossal weapons attack speed and lowered their recovery time. Jump attack not included.
Increased the two-handed attack damage of Colossal Swords/Colossal Weapons. Jump attack is not included.
Increased physical block rate and guard boost of the Colossal Sword, Colossal Weapons, Great Sword, Great Hammer, Great Axe, Great Spear, and Halberd weapon classes.
Increased the damage of Grafted Blade Greatsword.
Increased the damage of Devourer’s Scepter.
Decreased the scaling of status effect build-up from spells and incantations of Albinauric Staff and Dragon Communion Seal.
Decreased the effect of Greatshield Talisman for weapons with high block rate.
Shortened the length of the madness afflicted animation.
Lowered the speed of madness buildup recovery.
Slightly increased FP and Stamina growth rate at lower levels*
*Players will need to perform any of the following actions for the changes to be reflected. This is required only once. This action is not required for any new characters after the update.
Level up
Activate Godrick’s Great Rune
Require any equipment (armor or talisman), which gives bonus stats to Strength, Dexterity and Vigor, Endurance Intelligence, Faith, Faith, and/or Arcane
Other enemy and weapon balance changes
Sorcery/Incantation
Upward adjustments
Crystal Barrage – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time
Gavel of Haima – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
Shatter Earth – Increased cast speed and decrease recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
Rock Blaster – Decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
Thop’s Barrier – Increased area of effect and slightly increase effect duration
Rennala’s Full Moon – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Ranni’s Dark Moon – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Carian Greatsword – Increased cast speed at lower dexterity
Magma Shot – Decreased FP cost and increased cast speed
Roiling Magma – Increased cast speed and decreased time until magma explodes
Gelmir’s Fury – Slightly decreased the random nature of projectile’s range and increased the damage of lava pool. Increased the hitbox
Rykard’s Rancor – Decreased FP cost
Oracle Bubbles – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Great Oracular Bubble – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Briars of Sin – Decreased recovery time. Increased blood loss buildup on enemy
Briars of Punishment – Decreased recovery time. Increased blood loss buildup on enemy
Explosive Ghostflame – Decreased FP cost and recovery time
Tibia’s Summon – Increased damage and cast speed
Aspects of the Crucible: Tail – Decreased FP and Stamina cost
Aspects of the Crucible: Horns – Decreased FP and Stamina cost, Increase cast speed. Increased the distance traveled when not charged and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged
Elden Stars – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time
Black Blade – Decreased Stamina consumption and decreased recovery time
Discus of Light – Decreased FP cost. Increased damage and cast speed
Triple Rings of Light – Increased damage
Radagon’s Rings of Light – Decreased FP cost. Cast speed and damage increase. Reduced recovery time.
Lightning Strike – Decreased Stamina cost. Cast speed increased and recovery time decreased.
Honed Bolt – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Spear – Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Cast speed increases and recovery times are reduced. Casting allows the caster to resist enemy attacks more effectively.
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike – Decreased recovery time
Lansseax’s Glaive – Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy’ attacks while casting.
Fortissax’s Lightning Spear – Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Cast speed increases and recovery times are reduced. Allows caster to withstand enemy attack while casting more easily.
Frozen Lightning Spear – Decreased Stamina cost. Cast speed increases and recovery times are reduced. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy attack while casting.
Death Lightning – Decreased FP cost, Increased the duration of death-accumulating smoke
O, Flame! – Increased damage
Giantsflame Take Thee – Decreased Stamina Cost
Flame of the Fell God – Decreased FP cost and increased damage
Whirl, O Flame! – Increased damage, decreased recovery time
Burn, O Flame! – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Black Flame – Increase damage and the spell can break enemy’s guard more easily.
Scouring Black Flame – Decreased FP cost and recovery time. Increased attack range and area of effect.
Black Flame Ritual – Reduced FP cost and increased damage.
Gurranq’s Beast Claw – Increased damage and decreased recovery time.
Bloodboon – Increased damage. Increased cast speed and decreased effect start-up time, decreased recovery time.
Pest Threads – Decreased Stamina cost.
Scarlet Aeonia – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy attacks while casting.
Unendurable Frenzy – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Decreased the random nature of projectile’s range and increased Madness buildup on enemies.
Inescapable Frenzy – Increased cast speed.
Placidusax’s Ruin – Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time.
Dragonclaw – Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged.
Dragonmaw – Decreased FP, stamina cost, recovery time and increased cast speed and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged.
Greyoll’s Roar – Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time.
Upward and downward adjustments
Adula’s Moonblade – Decreased the power of single cast and improved performance so that the blades and frost hit more consistently and continuously. Cast speed increased at lower dexterity.
Flame, Fall Upon Them – Decreased the damage of single cast and improved the performance so that it hits the enemy multiple times. Decreased FP cost.
Howl of Shabriri – Decreased the madness buildup on the enemy. Cast speed increased and recovery times decreased.
Downward adjustments
Swarm of Flies – Decreased blood loss buildup on enemy.
The Flame of Frenzy – Decreased madness buildup on enemy.
Frenzied Burst – Decreased madness buildup on enemy.
Weapon Skill
Upward adjustments
Lion’s Claw – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Kick – Increased cast speed.
Hoarah Loux’s Earthshaker – Increased cast speed. Cast speed increased on follow-up input and decreased recovery time.
Troll’s Roar – Decreased Stamina Cost. Increased cast speed on follow up input, increased distance traveled.
Giant Hunt – Decreased recovery time.
Storm Assault – Decreased recovery time.
Carian Greatsword – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Increased the damage when charged and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch.
Carian Grandeur – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Increased the damage when charge and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch.
Gravitas – Increased cast speed.
Flaming Strike – Increased the travel distance of a stepping cleave in a strong attack.
Black Flame Tornado – Added hitbox to weapon when spinning, and added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
Lightning Slash – Increased cast speed. Added a hitbox to the stomp animation.
Sea of Magma – Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
Flame Dance – Decreased Stamina cost, decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
Storm Kick – Decreased Stamina cost.
Bear Witness! – Increased cast speed.
Upward and downward adjustments
Thundercloud Form – Decreased damage when not charged. Decreased FP cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where the damage of Inescapable Frenzy was affected by right hand weapon.
Fixed a bug where the damage of the weapon arts “Carian retaliation” was increased by weapon and status, and the effect was not displayed correctly during online multiplay.
Fixed a bug where the animation when inflicted with blood loss and frostbite was bigger than originally planned.
Fixed a bug during character appearance change menu in which some parameter changes were sometime not reflected.
Fixed a bug that prevented a dialog from appearing when executing “Leave” on some items.
Fixed a bug that allowed unauthorized items to be passed to other players.
Fixed a bug in multiplayer that prevented grace to be registered on the map if it was found just before the player is summoned.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the mechanic of Rennala Queen Of The Full Moon fight from working properly during cooperative multiplayer.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from entering the boss area after defeating Morgott, the Omen King.
Fixed a bug that prevented “Edgar the Revenger” and “Festering Fingerprint Vyke” from invading after defeating all the bosses in Liurnia of the Lake.
The item Tonic of Forgetfulness can now be obtained at the Volcano Manor if the player wasn’t able to obtain it due to quest progression.
Fixed a bug that caused the reduction of runes due to NPC “Gostoc” when player died in “Stormveil Castle” to occur at an unintended timing.
Added a protective barrier to Millicent after helping her at Miquella’s Haligtree so she cannot be unintentionally killed.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from obtaining the reward after defeating the Dung Eater.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from progress Diallos’ questline.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented player from duplicating remembrance at the Walking Mausoleum.
Fixed a bug that prevented player from inputting consecutive attacks when dual wielding thrusting sword.
Fixed a bug that causes scythe to lose blood loss effect if poison affinity is applied to the weapon.
Fixed a bug where the damage of the Iron Greatsword was lower than expected when an affinity is applied.
Fixed a bug that caused FP consumption to increase when the player cast Night Comet with charge.
Fixed a bug that causes he default key setting on keyboard for weapon skill (Left Ctrl) to not be set (on PC only).
Fixed a bug in the Steam version where the history of players who played multiplayer was not displayed correctly under certain circumstances.
Increased online multiplayer stability.
Fixed a bug that caused incorrect sounds to be played under certain circumstances.
Fixed a bug that caused some places on the map to have incorrect visual and hitbox.
Fixed a bug that causes some enemies to have incorrect visual and behavior.
Fixed a bug that causes some armor to have incorrect stats.
Design from Samsung EV batteries could be adopted for smartphones to increase capacity
About a year ago Samsung SDI started producing 5th generation batteries for electric vehicles using a stacking method instead of the usual “jelly roll” method. This way the battery components can be packed tighter, resulting in a higher capacity for the same volume. Now The Elec reports that the company is preparing to use this method for smartphone batteries as well.
Batteries produced using the stacking method have at least 10% higher capacities than the traditional roll design. This means that a 5,000 mAh battery like the one in the Galaxy S22 Ultra could have 5,500+ mAh capacity instead. You can also make phones lighter and smaller while still keeping the same battery capacity.
Flat roll batteries cannot be packed tightly as the natural swelling that occurs when the battery is charged and discharged can bend the electrodes, damaging them in the process. This problem is solved by the stacked design, which allows for the filling of the empty space within the battery.
The new batteries will reportedly be produced at the Cheonan plant in Korea, the company is also expected to convert one of the lines at its Tianjin plant in China to use the new method as well.
OnePlus Ace and Nord CE 2 Lite leak in official images
OnePlus Ace is scheduled to arrive in two days while a Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is said to launch next week and we now have some detailed press images of both phones at our disposal thanks to Evan Blass.
OnePlus Ace
OnePlus Ace will usher in a new product group for the brand in China and is expected to make its way to other markets as the OnePlus 10R which is also launching next week. The phone brings a centered punch hole display which would be a first on any OnePlus phone to date.
The back features a triple cam setup and a dual textured material with the area below the cameras sporting ridges. In terms of specs, we’re expecting a rebranded Realme GT Neo3 here with a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED, Dimesity 8100 chipset and a 4,500 mAh battery with 80W/150W charging.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite brings a punch hole display with the selfie cam on the top left side and a dual tone back with ridges in the upper half next to the triple cam setup. In terms of specs, the Nord CE 2 Lite is rumored to bring a 6.85-inch IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate alongside the Snapdragon 695 chipset and a 4,500 mAh battery with 33W charging.
nubia RedMagic 7 Pro continues the odd design trend of gaming smartphones
Gaming smartphones are starting to look a lot like gaming PCs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to also copy all of the latter’s designs.
Almost all smartphones, save for the cheapest bunch, can handle most mobile games. The super powerful and super expensive ones are even more so, with their high-end hardware and advanced cooling systems. These phones, however, are often designed more for general-purpose use and are optimized to strike a balance between power, battery life, and thermal management. Those are actually fine for most gaming purposes, but some manufacturers argue that you don’t really have to compromise. That’s why they carved out a niche for smartphones that pull out all the stops but, in doing so, hit the same walls as gaming PCs, but with different and perhaps worse consequences for mobile devices.
Although it can be used for anything a “normal” smartphone can do, the new nubia RedMagic 7 Pro is clearly intended for gaming purposes. Sure, it shares many of the same specs with today’s premium phones, like the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, paired with plenty of RAM, up to 18GB even, and plenty of uptime with a 5,000 mAh battery. The point is that all these are pushed to their very limit here, at least more than your average high-end phone.
Also, unlike your average phone, the RedMagic 7 Pro doesn’t try to hide its gaming nature behind stylish glass backs or vegan leather. Every part of the phone, from the back to the edges, bear hallmarks of a gaming device, at least on the same wavelength as gaming PCs. The regular “Obsidian” finish, for example, flaunts the kind of RGB lighting that gamers love. The Supernova model, on the other hand, lets the owner take peeks under the hood, at least the parts on the periphery, with its transparent plate, also another gamer stylistic favorite.
The front of the phone might look less exciting, but it’s also designed for gaming. That’s thanks to the absence of a punch-hole cutout or even a notch. That leaves the full 6.8-inch panel free of any obstruction other than your fingers, though there are additional buttons on the edges of the phone that can be used as programmable triggers like on a game controller. These alone make the phone gaming-worthy, but it has one special feature very few “normal” phones would even dare to have.
Hot is Cool
There’s a reason why desktops and even laptops have fans, and they’re not just to prevent the computers from burning or melting. While they do perform such functions, a computer’s cooling system is designed to keep processors running at their maximum for longer periods of time. In order to prevent overheating, computers are hard-wired and programmed to slow down their activity when processors reach a certain threshold. This is a phenomenon called thermal or processor throttling, and it is quite common for any computer, including the ones we shove in our pockets.
That has never been a big problem with phones until recently, as mobile processors get more powerful and apps, particularly games, become more demanding. While most manufacturers try to improve passive cooling techniques and materials, those have been deemed inadequate by gaming phone makers. Phones still eventually throttle down, which results in dropped frames in games. That’s why some brands like Lenovo and nubia (a former ZTE subsidiary) have started putting tiny fans inside their gaming phones in addition to typical cooling chambers, and the RedMagic 7 Pro continues this tradition.
You can directly see that fan in the transparent Supernova, but you can definitely hear it on any model. In addition to that fan, there are also plenty of vents around the phone’s edges that facilitate the circulation of hot and cool air. This system isn’t exactly new and, to be fair, has proven to be effective. Unfortunately, it has its own costs, something that is a non-issue for desktops and laptops.
Durability Doubts
With that many points of entry, from the vents to the fan, it’s really no surprise that the RedMagic 7 Pro doesn’t come with any dust and water resistance promises. A constantly moving part like a fan also increases the risks when something breaks inside, especially after an accidental fall. The materials used in the transparent Supernova variant also make the phone noticeably heavier, which translates to more stress and strain on the hands and wrists when using the phone for prolonged periods, like when gaming.
There is no doubt that the nubia RedMagic 7 Pro is a visual delight for gamers, and its performance might even surpass more expensive phones. It does what it is designed for, but it also makes compromises to reach those goals. Unlike even a laptop, a smartphone is almost always exposed to the elements and has a higher risk of meeting accidents. Given those factors, buyers of this phone and other gaming phones are pretty much making a leap of faith that their somewhat expensive and portable gaming machine is going to last as long as their gaming PC.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 will not have an S Pen slot
Last November, we heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 will skip the S Pen slot, but in February, Korean media reported that the foldable smartphone will come with a dedicated S Pen holster. Now new information again claims that the Galaxy Z Fold4 won’t have an S Pen slot onboard.
Word comes from reliable tipster Ice universe, who also said that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 “will be a little smaller and thinner” without providing any specifics.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 with S Pen support
The Galaxy Z Fold4 not featuring an S Pen silo is hardly a surprise since its predecessor – Galaxy Z Fold3 – didn’t have one either. However, Samsung is rumored to bundle an S Pen with the Fold4, which wasn’t the case with the Fold3 since the stylus was sold separately.
If that happens, the Galaxy Z Fold4 will be the first Samsung foldable smartphone to ship with a stylus.
Realme Q5 and Q5 Pro display and battery specs confirmed the day before launch
The Realme Q5i was announced ahead of the pack, the rest of the Q5 series is coming tomorrow. Realme CMO Xu Qi Chase can’t help himself, though, and posted a series of promo images and details for the upcoming devices.
The Realme Q5 will feature a 5,000 mAh battery with 60W fast charging – same battery capacity as the Q3, but double the charge power. The phone will also rock a 120 Hz display, an LCD like its predecessor. The orange color and overall design may make the Q5 look like the Realme 9 or 9 Pro, but the specs are different. For example, the Q5 has a 50 MP main camera on the back.
The Realme Q5 will have a 5,000 mAh battery with 60W fast charging
The Realme Q5 Pro is getting the AMOLED treatment, specifically a Samsung E4 panel with 120 Hz refresh rate. The phone clearly has gaming ambitions and was certified for use in competitions in QQ Speed (aka GKart).
The phone’s power stems from the Snapdragon 870 chipset. Faster chipset, faster charging too – the Q5 Pro will support 80W fast charging.
The Realme Q5 Pro will sport a 120 Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 870
Besides the Realme yellow, the Pro model will also be available in white, also showing off the checkerboard pattern. This one is dubbed “Snow Drift”.
There is no mention of Vans or the white and yellow checkerboard that leaked last week, not yet at least. That could be a ‘one more thing’ at the presentation tomorrow.
Top 10 kitchen appliances to help you brush up on your cooking skills
Do you remember when the pandemic awakened the inner chef within all of us? Well, the lockdown ensured that we had no option but to COOK at home. But, with life regaining normalcy, the days of banana bread, dalgona coffee, and disastrous cooking experiments at home seem like a far-off dream. Takeaway and restaurants that I love are open and ready to serve me every day. The need to cook is barely existent, and the desire to cook is completely non-existent. Cooking your own food is healthier and more cost-effective than buying readymade meals. We gathered Masterchef-level cooking skills during the lockdown and have curated a selection of handy kitchen appliances to help us encourage more people to cook. With the right kitchen tools and appliances, cooking can be a fun and effortless process. The right products can reduce your prep time in half, make the little cooking tasks much easier, and help you with tedious and complicated techniques. From a rice cooker that keeps a watch over your blood pressure to a smart grill that makes grilling more efficient and mess-free – this collection of kitchen appliances promises to transform cooking from a Herculean feat to an approachable and enjoyable process! These innovative kitchen appliances will let you unleash your inner chef!
1. The Barbecue Nx
The smart grill concept has been designed by Swapnil Yeutkar who is a Product Designer for Whirlpool India. It’s only an idea but the Barbecue Nx has the potential to be big when it becomes a reality. It goes beyond its stylish form but it doesn’t look anything like the common grills we see in the market. It looks like an oven toaster or small air fryer at first. From another angle, it appears like an oven toaster.
Why is it noteworthy?
This grilling device is unique because it allows for more efficient and low-smoke grilling. A centrifugal fan helps in grilling so everything is efficient. It’s what powers the grill and sends out air to the chimney via two input manifolds. The fire plate ignites the fire gel according to the design. The machine is ready for grilling in five minutes.
What we like
Ready to grill within five minutes
Separable grill that can be easily cleaned, and is user friendly for cooking veggies + meat at once
Unique low smoke technology
What we dislike
Not very portable
Looks more like an air fryer, than a barbecue grill
2. The Aura refrigerator
The Aura refrigerator is a modern home appliance equipped with smart technology to optimize storage and use.
Why is it noteworthy?
As we sink deeper into the world of technology, so do our homes and home appliances. Modern kitchen appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers are controlled by smart technology. However, their appearance has mostly remained unchanged in recent years. Aura, a brand new refrigerator from FUHUA Design Studio, aims to modernize the fridge’s structure and technological fittings in order to meet today’s environmental and smart technology needs. Designed by FUHUA Design Studio, the Aura refrigerator breaks down the conventional fridge into smaller compartments to allocate the energy used and minimize its impact.
What we like
The refrigerator automatically turns its lights off when users aren’t around
Aura is designed for optimal organization, allowing users to easily pullout food and drink items according to their designated compartment
What we dislike
No complaints!
3. LESHAN smart rice cooker concept
For some cultures, rice is more than just a side dish, and this beautiful rice cooker idea makes it possible to cook this staple food wherever you go, for better health, of course.
Why is it noteworthy?
This smart rice cooker concept tries to take the middle road by encouraging the consumption of rice in the proper amounts. This regulation mostly happens through a mobile app, which is able to not only check particular stats but also control the operation of the rice cooker itself. That feature definitely doesn’t sound that special in light of the number of smart cookware today, but it’s the design of LESHAN that really captures the eyes and the imagination.
What we like
Keeps a watch over your blood pressure
Portable design
What we dislike
The design doesn’t sound that special in light of the number of smart cookware today
4. Rekook
Rekook is a modular kitchen system designed for the digital nomads of today to bring their kitchen with them anywhere work takes them. Rekook combines the IKEA design language with an interchangeable modular build. It is designed to make digital nomads feel at home, wherever they go.
Why is it noteworthy?
Constructing Rekook, product designer Edoardo Gouffran hoped to build a flatpack kitchen system that allowed digital nomads to bring their kitchen with them as they move from one space to another. Depending on the space they move into, digital nomads can configure Rekook to fit their culinary and spatial needs.
What we like
The kitchen respects the rule of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Easy and quick to assemble
What we dislike
No complaints!
5. The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven
The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven has functions such as Steam and Steam Convection. Because they preserve more nutrients than other methods, these two functions promise healthier meals. That brings the number of functions to seven (hence the name), including Air Fry, Convection Bake, Slow Cook, Sanitize, and Ferment.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven is expanding its size and its features in order to also expand the number of healthy dishes one can prepare at home. Although it doesn’t completely remove the work that needs to be done to prepare these meals (not to mention the cleanup afterward), it tries to reduce the number of cooking appliances you have to juggle. Although it’s tempting to minimize these conveniences, ease of use as well as reducing friction in getting started can go a long ways towards promoting healthier living.
What we like
The Steam and Steam Convection functions preserve more nutrients compared to other cooking methods
What we dislike
Calling the HomeCHEF 7-in-1 “compact” might be a bit of a stretch, at least when compared to its siblings. This newest addition to the lineup is larger to accommodate the more spacious 20L capacity and bigger 800ml water tank
6. Timer Bob
I’m not much of a cook but the few times that I did find myself in the kitchen, it’s to try and follow a recipe to the letter. Most of the time that involves using timers aka my smartphone. Sometimes, however, I’m preoccupied or my hands get dirty so it can be a pain to use a smartphone. My phone can get dirty, or I need to wash my hands more often. This may result in missing seconds and minutes. A new product concept will help solve that problem.
Why is it noteworthy?
The device is simply named Timer Bob and is described as a “sleepy kitchen timer”. Because it is likely to be a friend in the kitchen, the designers decided to give the device a personality. You can use the device without touching it, which is great for those who have messy hands. There is also some sort of interactivity between the user and the timer, hence the need to add a “personality”.
What we like
The product has a ‘personality’
You can use it without touching it
What we dislike
The storyboard and explanation don’t include how the alarm works
7. The NOOK Built-in Water Purifier
Built-in water purifiers are preferred, but you can also have something that looks as inviting as the NOOK Built-in Water Purifier. This water purifier was designed by Hyunbin Yan in South Korea. It can be placed in a corner. It will not interfere with the rest of your sink or kitchen counter because of its slim and sleek build. It does not take much space in a small sink, so it can be the perfect choice for tiny homes or apartments.
Why is it noteworthy?
The NOOK Built-in Water Purifier’s interesting features are what make it unique. It features an attachable drip tray. The magnet on the body’s bottom can also be adjusted to user preference. At first glance, it looks like a sleek coffee machine, but it is just a purifier. The black button at the top lets you know when water is out. You can adjust the temperature and amount of water by touching the controller.
Designed on the principles of Origami, the Uphold Cup is a foldable, portable, reusable travel cup that goes from a tumbler to a flat-packed disc when not in use. The cup’s materials are food-grade, BPA-free, and can carry beverages of up to 100degC in temperature. Polymer Polypropylene (PP), which has a stiff body, can be folded multiple times without cracking (live hinging).
Why is it noteworthy?
The Uphold cup’s unique form encourages an almost telescopic-inspired folding action. To allow the cup to fold and open in its unique way, it uses a mathematically-designed method. Although the cup’s unique shape is only due to its function, it adds a distinctive characteristic to the Uphold that creates a tactile and visual delight. Sure, the cup’s primary function is to hold your liquids when you need it to, and fold down to its puck shape when you don’t… but just the interaction built into the Uphold is so incredibly engaging, I won’t be surprised if I find myself constantly opening and closing the cup just as a fidget toy!
What we like
Portable design
Reusable and compact
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. DADO
This minimalist-looking capsule tea machine is a concept design that can maybe someday fulfill my wish. The DADO is a name that refers in East Asia to the formal preparation of tea. The device doesn’t look like what you would use in a typical tea ceremony but the designer created something inspired by it but with a modern twist. The kettle part is inspired by what is used in traditional tea making and the minimalist design aims to bring a sense of calm and peace, things usually associated with drinking this caffeinated beverage.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you have used a coffee capsule maker, this is the exact same process. There is a kettle and two cups placed on top of a “heating pad” that looks like an induction stovetop or a wireless charger. You need to fill the kettle with water in the bucket part located at the back. Then you have to preheat the cup or cups that are beside the kettle and all you have to do is press a button. The traditional DADO cup is pre-heated and part of the ceremony. This modern addition to the DADO concept is quite nice.
What we like
A mix of traditional + minimal aesthetics
Different flavors for the tea capsules
What we dislike
Disposable capsules with a substantial carbon footprint
10. The Fresh Fridge
Ditching trendy diets for mindful eating, the Fresh Fridge designed by Tati Feruccio is paired with an array of technical features that encourage a health-conscious lifestyle. Fresh Fridge, a smart fridge that analyses each person’s eating habits and determines how much food they eat to provide healthy meals. Its main feature is its digital interface, located above the small fridge.
Why is it noteworthy?
The digital interface broadcasts mindful facts and recipes, allowing you to create your personal cooking program for different meals every day. The interface’s space to prepare meals is located just below it. This makes it easy for you to follow along and chop up your produce.
What we like
Encourages mindful eating over trendy short-term diets
An integrated digital interface
What we dislike
We don’t know how well would the fridge’s analyzed portions work for everyone
Here is how a Lightning port was grafted onto an Android phone
You’d be forgiven for thinking it was an April Fools joke – it was posted on April 1st, after all. But the Samsung Galaxy A51 that modified with a Lightning port is very real. Maker Ken Pillonel previously modded an iPhone with a USB-C port and due to popular demand he did the opposite as well.
Why do this? For fun and also for the challenge. The first obstacle was to subvert the authentication hardware inside Apple accessories – this is primarily intended to disable knock-off products, however, it will prevent an Android phone from using a Lightning cable. If the chip inside the cable doesn’t hear the right authentication, it will refuse to carry power and data.
As you will see in the video, there is a way around this, but it is not as straightforward as plug and play. The final challenge was miniaturization – modern smartphones are so tightly packed that there is hardly any room inside for new hardware.
Well, you already know that Ken succeeded in grafting a Lightning port onto a phone that Cupertino would not approve of. Now here’s how he did it:
This projector concept frees sticky notes from physical limits
Ever since their invention, sticky notes have almost replaced 3×5 index cards as the analog tool of choice for taking quick notes, putting reminders everywhere, and trying to make sense of a sea of notes scattered on a wall or floor. As part of the age-old battle between analog and digital, sticky notes have become one of the preferred media for pen and paper users, but it naturally carries the limitations that fellow physical tools bring with them. And like notebooks and even index cards, there are numerous attempts at bringing sticky notes into the digital realm, each with its own drawbacks. With a twist, one concept attempts to bridge the gap between virtual and physical with an approach that addresses those shortcomings. This is especially important when you need to make your sticky notes more cohesive.
Designer Kyeongmin Kim
There is no shortage of tools that try to mimic the look and workflow of sticky notes, offering a nearly infinite supply of notes and the conveniences of computers and the cloud. There are many note-taking tools, however, the design and mentality behind square, small notes can be quite different from digital notebooks. You are forced to write more quickly and efficiently due to the limited space. Sometimes you need to filter and process your thoughts before you even touch paper.
Digital sticky note have similar psychological effects, but you also have the option to reverse what you’ve done, back up your notes or combine different types of digital objects into one note like reminders, links, and so on. These implementations come with the unfortunate downside that you are limited in how many notes you can spread around and organize as you wish. Unlike physical notes that can cover as much floor or wall space as you can afford, digital notes are practically confined to the size of your screen. Sure, you could have an infinite canvas, something that’s not possible in the physical world, but the amount of notes you will be able to see at a time is still limited to how many you can fit on a computer monitor.
The Memojector concept tries to remove those limitations while offering an experience that is actually closer to physical sticky notes. Although the device is slightly thicker and wider than the typical square note, its screen is nearly the same. The note can be used to write or draw as you would with a paper note. You also have the option of flipping the page to create a blank note. This is like having endless sticky notes within a small device.
What sets this device apart, however, is the built-in projector. This would allow people to use a wall like in the old days while still keeping the benefits of digital notes. An ideal implementation would use gesture detection so that users can move notes around on the wall rather than using the projector’s touch screen as an interface. This is a fantastic way to easily share notes in meetings with other people without the need to use sticky notes on a whiteboard.
