design
Latest
The Morning After: The rotary cellphone DIY kit you've been waiting for
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Sick of foldable phones? OK, if closing with a flip isn't your throwback design of choice, then maybe you'd prefer a rotary dial. Seriously. Brookhaven National Lab engineer Justine Haupt built a working mobile device that can show simple messages on its 2.1-inch ePaper display, has 24 hours of battery life, easily dials pre-programmed numbers and is entirely unable to tweet. It might be the perfect phone -- for some people. If "no apps, no problem" is a fit with your style, then Haupt is offering a DIY kit that will get you most of the way toward building one of your own. -- Richard
Nintendo unveils a coral-colored Switch Lite
Nintendo has unveiled a new color for the Switch Lite, and it's just fine. You'd be mistaken for calling it pink, but it's actually considered coral -- "Living Coral" was Pantone's color of 2019, so that may well be the inspiration behind it. Like the rose gold craze a while back, this hue is proving pretty popular on electronics at the moment -- we've already seen this shade on the Pixel 4, for example. In any case, it's the first new color for the Switch Lite since it was released in September last year, and joins a line-up of turquoise, gray and yellow models. The pink coral version will be available in Japan on March 20th and the US on April 3rd.
Wacom One review: A great, no-frills drawing tablet for budding artists
The Wacom One is a $400 graphics tablet designed for folks used to editing pictures and video on mobile devices. Teens looking to up their Snapchat game, YouTubers and would-be digital artists who want the functionality of a Cintiq, but at iPad prices. It still has the same baggage as other Wacom devices, more on which later, but at a fraction of the cost.
Motorola's foldable Razr is unsurprisingly hard to repair
Motorala's contemporary take on the Razr has been quite publicly panned by testers. CNET, for example, wanted to see if the device could withstand 100,000 folds -- it only made it to the 27,000th fold before it started showing problems (which Motorala has subsequently defended). With foldable smartphones still far from the norm, consumers are understandably wary of making such a sizeable investment in something that's still relatively unpredictable. If it goes wrong, how much of a hassle will it be to repair? And in the case of Motorola's Razr, the answer is "a big one," according to iFixit's recent teardown.
Researchers find a way to 3D print whole objects in seconds
When you think of 3D printing, you probably imagine a structure being created layer by layer, from the bottom up. Now, researchers from Switzerland's Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) say they have developed a completely new way of creating 3D objects that offer remarkable resolution "in record time."
Hyundai will make cheap EVs based on Canoo's subscription pods
EV startup Canoo first gained attention back in September 2019 when it announced its plans to launch the world's first subscription-only electric vehicle. Now, it's joining forces with Hyundai to develop an all-electric, scalable EV platform, which could make for simpler and cheaper models in the future.
Puma’s latest Sonic clothing line stays true to the original hedgehog
Ahead of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie coming out next week, Puma has released the latest in a series of clothing, shoes and accessories that feature Sonic and his friends. If you weren't a fan of the movie's first, nightmare-inducing trailer, the good news is that the line pulls its designs exclusively from the Sonic games.
Autonomous flying taxi Cora set for passenger trials in New Zealand
Companies have been saying for years that flying taxis are on the agenda. Now it looks like they're finally set to take flight. Wisk -- a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk -- has signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Zealand government to begin passenger trials of its electric, autonomous aircraft Cora. The trials are set to take place in the Canterbury region of the country, although it's not clear exactly when they'll start.
The Morning After: Meet Cadillac's tech-heavy new Escalade
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Good morning! Since there's nothing at all wonky to report with Election 2020 results and incredibly flawed apps that were shoddily included in the primary process, let me point you to your next 4K demo reel. It's from 1896. Yes, that's a bit older than most reference-quality material, but that's just because you haven't seen Denis Shiryaev's neural network-enhanced edition of the 50-second silent film L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat. Some people, like Engadget video producer Chris Schodt, note that blowing it up to full screen will expose some ugly artifacts caused by the additional processing, but also, some people are haters. -- Richard
See how VFX artists included Carrie Fisher in 'The Rise of Skywalker'
Whatever your opinion on Rise of Skywalker, we can probably all agree that its effects were pretty impressive -- not least because of the seamless inclusion of Carrie Fisher's scenes. The iconic Leia actress had only recorded a small amount of footage before she passed away. Now, the studio behind the film's VFX, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), has released a short video showcasing exactly they did it, as well as the work that went into other major scenes, such as the final space battle and Rey's jump over the TIE Silencer. Take a look below, although if you've somehow avoided seeing the movie yet, be aware that the video contains minor spoilers.
Yubico is making it easier for businesses to buy its YubiKeys
A growing number of companies are looking at hardware authentication security keys as a trusted and convenient way to protect sensitive corporate data. Indeed, Google has recently launched an open source project to help advance the uptake of this technology. But for companies with hundreds of employees, ensuring the right people have the right keys can be a huge logistical undertaking and added expense. As such, security key maker Yubico has launched an enterprise service to help businesses integrate the tech into their operations more easily.
Microsoft made a Nike Air Max 90 Xbox but you can't buy it
The Super Bowl is right around the corner, so here come all the brand collabs. To celebrate Sunday's showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Xbox, EA Sports and Nike have joined forces to create a limited-edition custom Xbox One console. Inspired by the special edition Nike x Madden NFL 20 Air Max 90 sneakers unveiled yesterday, the all-white console features red and blue details representing the EA Sports logo and NFL Shield, as well as the iconic Nike swoosh.
Google is making a short-form video sharing app for DIY tutorials
Today, Google introduced Tangi, an experimental video sharing app created in Area 120, Google's lab for experimental projects. The app lets users post 60-second how-to videos on topics like crafting, cooking, makeup and clothing. It seems that Google hopes the focus on creativity and DIY projects will help Tangi stand out from other bite-sized video apps like Byte or TikTok.
Dyson hopes you'll throw down $650 for its lamp that mimics candlelight
Dyson's newest light, the Lightcycle Morph, is its most flexible lamp yet. At first glance, it looks similar to the Dyson Lightcycle, introduced last year, and it has many of the same key features -- like the ability to automatically adjust based on your local daylight. It also has three axes which allow it to rotate into different positions and the ability to emulate candlelight, but you'll have to shell out a minimum of $650 for this updated version.
Google vows to make Search 'better' after redesign backlash
Last week, Google upset desktop users when it changed the appearance of Search. The changes were relatively minor, showing companies' favicons next to link previews, but critics argue that the changes cluttered an otherwise clean interface and made it difficult to distinguish ads from search results. Now, Google is backtracking a bit. In a tweet, the company said it is going to "experiment with new placements for favicons."
Craig Kaths' intricate synth sculptures look real enough to play
Recently, I spent the afternoon traipsing through the streets of Brooklyn for Gowanus' annual open art studios tour. It's a yearly ritual for me because the industrial neighborhood, which is full of warehouses turned CrossFit gyms, is a veritable playground for creative types. Every abandoned-looking building opens its doors to reveal dozens of artists' studios.
Sega's new app lets you remotely win prizes from a real claw machine in Japan
If you've ever wanted to play around on a claw machine without all the hassle of leaving your house -- or even standing up -- technology has come through for you. Sega has launched a new mobile apps, Sega Catcher Online, that lets you do exactly that: play on a real life claw machine (also known as UFO catchers) via a video feed on your phone. Also, the machine is literally located in Japan, and if you win something it'll be delivered to you free of charge -- but that doesn't mean you don't have to pay to win.
Wirecutter's best deals: Save $150 on a Tiertime Up Mini 2 3D printer
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of deals here.
JDI's ultrathin biometric sensor is built for 'high security' authentication
Japan Display, the company known for cramming massive screen resolutions into tiny spaces, has created the world's first ultrathin image sensor that measures fingerprints, veins and pulse waves. At 15 micrometers thick the sensor is as thin as paper and features both high-speed readout and high-resolution imaging capabilities.
The latest Louis Vuitton true wireless earbuds cost over $1,000
True wireless earbuds are the new black, but let's face it -- most of them look boring at best and ugly at worst. The updated Horizon Earphones by Master & Dynamic and Louis Vuitton solve that first-world problem, but at a cost. The buds made waves when they launched last year for just under $1,000. This year's model is even more expensive, coming in at $1,090, but you'll get some upgrades -- both functional and aesthetic -- for the extra cash.
