Awesome Tech

A different perspective from Simone Giertz’s visit to Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen, China, The Verge stopped by the massive electronics marketplace which has long been home to countless knock-offs, but has been gradually becoming a center for innovation.

Google employees Nat and Lo spoke with their colleagues and visited a ship that lays new Internet cables to give us a comprehensive yet still digestible explanation of how these critical communication links are made and deployed. More here.

The resin-based NexD1 takes rapid prototyping to the next level, allowing for the creation of intricate 3D objects with circuits embedded directly into them. It can print circuit board, flexible materials, and even full-color objects, using up to six materials at the same time.

Ampoids creates these very special tube amplifiers which pay tribute to vintage TW-style guitar amps. We absolutely love the flame maple cabinetry on this 33-watt amp, which is best enjoyed when paired with a Celestion loaded speaker cab.

Give your keyboard an upgrade with these walnut wood keycaps from MechanicalleeKBs. They work with Cherry MX compatible keys, and are sold in sets of 4, so this could get expensive. We wish they sold a complete set with modifier keys and spacebar too.

Branch Designs’ port hub fit snugly on the side of the latest MacBook Pros. They take up both USB-C ports on either side and give you one USB-C port, an HDMI port, three USB 3 ports, a microSD slot and an SD slot. Available in two sizes: one for the 13″ and one for the 15″ MBP.

Ging-ko’s beautiful portable alarm clock has a wood body with a marble finish. Its white LED digits appear when you snap your fingers, clap your hands, tap the surface that it’s on or when the alarm goes off. It can also display the date and temperature.

The NES Classic Edition’s controllers have inexplicably short cables. That’s why 8Bitdo came up with the Retro Receiver, a Bluetooth adapter and wireless NES-style controller for the tiny console. The adapter also works with the Wii Mote, Wii U Pro, PS3 & PS4 controllers.

What they lack in contemporary styling, Grado’s premium mahogany-trimmed open-back headphones more than make up for in acoustic quality, offering up incredibly accurate, clean, warm, and rich sounds, without distortion.

Retro gaming company Hyperkin applies its design sensibilities to a computer keyboard. This mechanical USB keyboard features super clicky backlit Gaote Blue switches, and has a grey and blue color scheme reminiscent of the classic Super Nintendo console and controller.

A Bluetooth headset and fitness tracker integrated into an unassuming pair of sunglasses. Vue lets you listen and control music from your mobile device, take calls and more. It’s water-resistant, has bone-conduction speakers and comes with a charging case.

Made by Snips, Capsule uses your iOS device’s GPS as well as your email, contacts and calendar data to automatically track your photos. Not only does it add time and location data to your photos, it also creates a weekly digest of your travel habits.

One of the hottest gifts this year is the miniature remake of the NES, but we’re thinking of investing our cash in this versatile palm-sized console instead. It works with a variety of retro game emulators and USB controllers, has an HDMI output, and works as a 4K media player.

In Apple’s endless quest to reduce thickness and weight, they trimmed nearly all of the ports from the new MacBook Pro. HyperDrive brings them back, trading two USB-C ports for HDMI, microSD/SD, Thunderbolt 3, two USB 3.1 ports, and a USB-C port for good measure.

A compact yet powerful portable speaker with a unique canteen-like design. It’s waterproof, so you can take it kayaking or on the beach, and attaches to bikes, backpacks, or other items using its durable bungee strap.

The latest version of Evil Mad Scientist Labs‘ versatile pen plotter can write on most flat surfaces, using a writing instrument of your choice to create intricate, precise, and repeatable drawings and handwriting. It runs at up to 2x the speed of the old model.

Lexus and Vevo collaborated to build this awesome version of its IS sports sedan, wrapped in 41,999 colorful LEDs. It can display images and animations, and can respond to gestures or music. It appears in the music video for Be the One from UK musician Dua Lipa.

The Foldscope is an incredibly affordable flat-pack microscope that’s mostly made of paper. It comes with a lens that provides 140x magnification – on par with four-figure microscopes. The $20 kit comes with prepared and blank slides, an LED lamp and more.

Amazon is piloting a new grocery store in Seattle with no checkouts. Items are monitored with RFID and computer vision, and added or removed from your cart when you pick them up or put them back. When you’re done, just leave the store and you’ll be charged.

People with cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s or other disabilities can have issues with stability or the angle of their hands, making it difficult to eat. The Liftware Steady can overcome tremors, while the Liftware Level keeps utensils flat regardless of the user’s hand position.

Gamers, upgrade your PC with a new keyboard, mouse, and headphones from SteelSeries. Drop by The Awesomer Shop to grab the speedy and responsive Apex 300 keyboard, accurate Rival 100 laser mouse, and awesome sounding Siberia 150 USB headset for 25% off.

Bang & Olufsen’s take on the over-ear noise-cancelling headphone. The H9 is made of aluminum and leather with lambskin leather over its memory foam ear pads. It lasts up to 14h per charge and has a touch-sensitive surface for playback control.

iXoost’s officially-licensed 800W 6.1 Bluetooth speaker uses Lamborghini exhaust pipes. It has a Lambo-style carbon fiber cabinet and power button, a passive shock absorber, a 15″ subwoofer, two 8″ woofers, two 6.5″ midrange drivers and two 1″ tweeters.