Most of the lamps we have on desks and shelves take on a mostly vertical form to save space. If that isn’t an issue, however, then there’s ample opportunity for more memorable and mind-blowing designs. This ring lamp, for example, looks like a Dyson-esque product that turns the hollow space inside a circle into something like an art form. That, however, isn’t its main feature, which is a unique design that eschews almost all kinds of traditional physical controls and instead employs a seemingly magical levitating orb that not only adds an air of mystery to the product but also brings a more satisfying form of interaction every time you push down that ball to control the lamp.
Designer: Inovaxion
Levitating spheres are, of course, nothing new, and truth be told, they can be unreliable once the magnetism starts to weaken or, worse, wear off. It is still a source of fascination and the simple technology has been used to great effect in producing designs like a levitating Death Star, the Moon, or even a 360-degree speaker. The Levitos Ring Lamp isn’t as complicated as those, however, but it is able to utilize that gimmick in a more practical yet still delightful manner.
As a ring lamp, Levitos isn’t exactly that remarkable. In fact, some might feel that it’s rather limited since it only has two modes. One gives a soft yet steady white glow, while the other mode slowly cycles through different colors. The ring itself is pretty bare, connected to a similarly simple circular base, and its light is bright yet just as plain. In fact, the design is so simple that you won’t find any button, switch, or dial, and the only way you can control it is through its biggest trick.
The Assembly comes with a small metal orb that you carefully place in the middle of that base using a specially designed cork disc. Once properly oriented, you simply lift the cork and behold the metal sphere hovering and spinning in place. To turn the lamp on, you push the ball down lightly. Another light push switches the lamp to the multicolor cycling mode. Another tap switches the mode again, so you have to double-tap the ball to turn it off.
The ring lamp comes with a much larger metal ball as an alternative, one that mimics the appearance of the moon. It has the exact same function but gives the lamp a different flavor, especially when the light bounces off the small moon. The design is admittedly gimmicky and probably not that reliable in the long run, as there will be no easy way to control the lamp when the magnet starts to fail, but it’s definitely fun and mesmerizing while it lasts.
Most of the lamps we have on desks and shelves take on a mostly vertical form to save space. If that isn’t an issue, however, then there’s ample opportunity for more memorable and mind-blowing designs. This ring lamp, for example, looks like a Dyson-esque product that turns the hollow space inside a circle into something like an art form. That, however, isn’t its main feature, which is a unique design that eschews almost all kinds of traditional physical controls and instead employs a seemingly magical levitating orb that not only adds an air of mystery to the product but also brings a more satisfying form of interaction every time you push down that ball to control the lamp.
Designer: Inovaxion
Levitating spheres are, of course, nothing new, and truth be told, they can be unreliable once the magnetism starts to weaken or, worse, wear off. It is still a source of fascination and the simple technology has been used to great effect in producing designs like a levitating Death Star, the Moon, or even a 360-degree speaker. The Levitos Ring Lamp isn’t as complicated as those, however, but it is able to utilize that gimmick in a more practical yet still delightful manner.
As a ring lamp, Levitos isn’t exactly that remarkable. In fact, some might feel that it’s rather limited since it only has two modes. One gives a soft yet steady white glow, while the other mode slowly cycles through different colors. The ring itself is pretty bare, connected to a similarly simple circular base, and its light is bright yet just as plain. In fact, the design is so simple that you won’t find any button, switch, or dial, and the only way you can control it is through its biggest trick.
The Assembly comes with a small metal orb that you carefully place in the middle of that base using a specially designed cork disc. Once properly oriented, you simply lift the cork and behold the metal sphere hovering and spinning in place. To turn the lamp on, you push the ball down lightly. Another light push switches the lamp to the multicolor cycling mode. Another tap switches the mode again, so you have to double-tap the ball to turn it off.
The ring lamp comes with a much larger metal ball as an alternative, one that mimics the appearance of the moon. It has the exact same function but gives the lamp a different flavor, especially when the light bounces off the small moon. The design is admittedly gimmicky and probably not that reliable in the long run, as there will be no easy way to control the lamp when the magnet starts to fail, but it’s definitely fun and mesmerizing while it lasts.
Magnetic attachments allow more freedom where to use the transmitters
Eye-catching touch screens allow for showing brand logos in addition to recording information
Supports both real-time streaming and on-board recording
CONS:
Extra strong magnets can easily pinch the skin if not careful
RATINGS:
AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
Magnetic attachments and customizable touch screens add incredible value to an already excellent wireless microphone.
With plenty of focus being lavished on cameras, optics, and image sensors, you’d almost think that all we have on our heads are eyes. While the visual quality of content is definitely important, it’s also easy to demonstrate how poor or even no audio can completely ruin an experience. Audio recording equipment, particularly microphones, sometimes comes as an afterthought, a decision that filmmakers and creators often immediately regret. Finding the right mic can be a daunting experience, especially when you’re forced to choose between small lavaliers with discrete designs but barely passable recording and large mics with studio quality but distracting sizes. The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 promises to save you from that dilemma with the promise of a small yet distinctive design and unbeatable audio recording, so we naturally had to put it through the test to see how it measures up to real-world use.
Designer: Saramonic
Aesthetics
If you were expecting a small clip or some small rectangular box, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it isn’t the case at all. The entire Saramonic BlinkMe B2 system comes in a rather unique package that is closer to some hi-tech gadget than what you’d normally see in wireless microphones. When joined together, the three parts look like a short square box with two smaller discs at the top and the bottom. You’ll probably be too focused on production to actually appreciate how distinctive the BlinkMe B2 looks, but it definitely puts the product a level higher than its peers.
The wireless mic’s personality, however, really shines the moment you use it, particularly when you separate these three pieces. You’ll immediately discover that they aren’t held down by flimsy locking mechanisms that get in the way but only by the sheer power of very strong magnets. These make it easy to remove the transmitters from the receiver base while still holding them securely when not in use or when charging. Once you pull off the transmitters, however, you immediately see the most visible feature that makes the BlinkMe B2 extra special.
Both transmitters have circular touch screens covering their faces, making them look like smartwatches without straps. In fact, you operate them exactly like smartwatches, swiping and tapping through controls and options. There are, of course, also physical buttons on the side that, unsurprisingly, might also remind you of smartwatch buttons. This is more than just an embellishment, though. While it’s definitely dandy to see the mic’s gain levels from a distance as you record an interview, its real value shines when you realize that you can actually customize what’s shown on the screen.
In essence, you can upload your studio’s logo or any other graphic (that fits a circle area) from the Saramonic mobile app to the transmitters and have it always on display while shooting. Considering how conspicuous this disc-shaped mic will be on your chest, it’s a great opportunity to do some subtle advertising. Conversely, that also means that the BlinkMe B2 transmitter will always be visible, though not everyone will actually realize that it’s a mic and presume it’s just some sort of fancy LCD badge.
Ergonomics
Saramonic’s use of magnets and touch screens isn’t just for show. They actually make the BlinkMe B2 one of the easiest wireless microphones to use. Need to start recording almost immediately? Simply pop off the transmitters. Need to charge one of the little pucks? Just have them snap back onto the top of the receiver. And since the transmitters can record audio on their own, you don’t even have to worry if you accidentally left the cables that would connect the receiver to a camera. It’s as simple as that.
Operating the three pieces themselves is a piece of cake thanks to the touch screens, though there are also physical buttons for the most important actions you need to have quick access to. What actions would those be? Actually, you get to decide that since you can customize what each button does through the Saramonic mobile app. The distinctive yellow button on the transmitters, however, has a single function, and that’s to toggle Noise Reduction on or off. That color might seem garish, but you won’t miss it even in a dark environment.
The magnets on the transmitters aren’t just a one-trick pony. Thanks to this design, you can easily stick the transmitters anywhere on a shirt, not just the edges. The package comes with four magnetic attachments that let you sandwich clothing between these two discs, though there’s also a magnetic clip in case you do need to go old school. You can even stick it to doors, posts, and any other metallic surface if you want to keep it out of the way. One word of caution, though. The magnets are so strong that you risk pinching the skin of your finger or, worse, certain body parts if you’re not careful how you connect two pieces together.
For all its ease of use, this magnet-based design does have one drawback. To charge the transmitters, you have to attach them to the receiver, which functions as the charging station. You can’t charge them independently using some accessory, so you’ll probably want to keep tabs on their battery levels. Given how the receiver is usually mounted on top of a camera, it also means you can charge only one transmitter at a time. Then again, if you do need to charge both, you’ve probably stopped recording anyway.
Performance
If we stopped at the BlinkMe B2’s unique aesthetic, people would simply pass it off as a pretty face. Fortunately, that is definitely not the case, because Saramonic’s smartest wireless definitely punches above its weight. You get clear and usable audio recordings even when there’s some busy activity around you, as we ourselves experienced on the hectic CES 2024 floor.
Even more impressive is that neither the signal nor the quality actually drops from a distance, even with some obstacle between the transmitter and the receiver, making it an excellent tool for sports or action footage. With the transmitter’s built-in recording functionality and 8GB of storage each, you don’t even have to worry when the stream does get cut off. As a bonus, the transmitter also has a “Safety Track” that’s recording at -6dB that’s meant to buffer against clipping and distortion, ensuring you will always have usable audio no matter the condition.
With wireless mics, battery life becomes just as important as audio quality, and fortunately, the BlinkMe B2 doesn’t skimp in that area either. Of course, Saramonic’s advertised 24 hours for the receiver and 8 hours for the transmitter are a tad too generous, but even hitting 22 hours and 6 hours, respectively is already quite an accomplishment. They charge fast, too, so you can be up and running for an additional hour with just a few minutes charge.
As mentioned earlier, controlling all the pieces of the BlinkMe B2 system is as easy as pie thanks to the sensitive touch screen. The transmitters, in particular, operate almost like smartwatches, with a swipe from the top revealing quick toggles and a swipe from the bottom going back to the main screen. The only slight complication is the smaller screen on the receiver, which is better used for displaying information rather than controlling the device. All in all, the BlinkMe B2 offers an unbeatable experience, not just in the quality of audio it produces but especially in the unique features it offers.
Sustainability
Saramonic introduced many features in the BlinkMe B2 that you won’t find in other wireless microphone systems, and thankfully, they’re all useful and essential to delivering an excellent audio recording experience. Unfortunately, that also makes the design of the device a little bit more complicated, which also means that repairs are going to require more specialized skills and components.
Although a wireless mic such as this is expected to be able to weather different environments, the presence of screens actually puts their durability at more risk. And the use of plastics and less eco-friendly materials are present all around, though not surprising considering it’s still the status quo in consumer electronics. Hopefully, the day will come when Saramonic puts sustainability as a major bullet point on its marketing material, allowing creators to make great content while also feeling good about their positive impact on the planet’s future.
Value
The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 is hardly a cheap kit, setting you back at about $249. There are definitely more accessible streaming mics in the market right now, with some of the popular ones just under $200. That said, those also have plenty of flaws of their own, like taking the form of a traditional mic that you need to place on a table. If you need something that can go the distance, literally, there are few that can outdo the BlinkMe B2.
The audio clarity and volume are just impressive, especially considering how crazy it always is at CES in Las Vegas. The fact that it can deliver more than just decent recordings at great distances is a huge boon for those who want to record more dramatic footage from a safe distance. Magnets make using and placing the transmitter easier and more hassle-free, and the ability to turn these recording devices into advertisements is definitely a great help for creators and studios. Even better, that price includes an entire kit, from four magnetic attachments to two magnetic clips to even a handy carrying case that lets you bring your precious equipment with security and convenience.
Verdict
It’s almost too easy to take the importance of quality audio for granted until that dreaded moment when you realize you barely recorded anything intelligible. Reliable audio that you can use is even more critical for those moments that will never come to pass again, including interviews you might not be able to retake. It’s in those moments that you’ll wish you had an audio recorder you could also rely on, just like your camera or smartphone.
The Saramonic BlinkMe B2 smart wireless microphone system is definitely ready to step up to the challenge. It breaks away from mic design conventions to deliver a product that has just enough tech to deliver convenience and a unique aesthetic without overburdening the user with inessential details and options. It’s powerful, a little bit quirky, and, most importantly, reliable, delivering quality audio recordings even in the most trying conditions. Yes, it’s also a bit pricey, but it’s an investment that will pay for itself throughout the coming years of creating high-quality audiovisual content.
Productivity systems like GTD and the Bullet Journal have made paper notebooks all the rage again. But while it’s inspiring to see so many creative designs for notebooks and stationery, these can also get in the way when you just need to write or sketch something down. Bound notebooks might not have the right combination of grids and lines that you need, or they might have too many or too few pages. Ring binders let you add, remove, and move pages, but the rings tend to get in the way, and the holes lead to tears and unaesthetic pages. You could always make a DIY notebook combining just the sheets and designs that you need, but keeping them together can also be a hassle. If all these sound familiar to you, here’s how this simple yet ingenious clipboard removes the friction when it’s time to take notes while also letting you design your notebook your way.
Rather than limiting yourself to the type and number of pages a notebook comes with, this clipboard lets you mix and match any kind of paper that fits inside it. An A4 jacket, for example, can hold A4 paper or A3 paper folded in half, while the A5 version can use A5 and A4 sheets in the same way. You can use unmarked blank paper, grid paper, dotted sheets, printed designs, or anything you want or need to give your thoughts a physical form.
You can really use any paper that you can write on, even those with printed text on the back. This is an excellent way to make use of those discarded sheets before they’re dumped into the bin. Even perforated or loose leaf paper with holes is fair game because they can easily be hidden inside the jacket’s “margin.”
Clip Paper Easily in Any Order
Unlike typical binders, this clipboard uses a clever Magnet x Lever mechanism to hold those loose sheets together while still letting you easily remove them as needed. Simply pushing down on the edge lifts up the clip, releasing the paper and allowing you to add or remove sheets in a snap. The clip can hold up to 30 sheets of paper, but it can secure even a single sheet if that’s all that you have left.
This deceptively simple design gives you absolute freedom in how you arrange your notes. You can always put a blank page at the top of the stack, ready to meet the tip of your pen or pencil at a moment’s notice, or you can order them according to topic or a specific flow of thought. Or you can just leave them as-is and none will be the wiser.
Take Notes Anywhere
This ultra-minimalist paper notebook isn’t just easy to organize, it’s also super easy to use. Simply lift the flip tab to open the notebook and you’re good to go. You can even leave your pen inside so that it’s ready the next time inspiration strikes. The same strong magnets that keep the sheets of paper together also keep the cover from accidentally opening and exposing your precious scribbles. The jacket’s rigid hardcover and flexible angle make it trivial to fold it around and hold it in one hand, allowing you to take notes even while standing up.
Best of all, both the inside and outside of the jacket are waterproof and you can easily wipe any drops that fall on it. This gives you the flexibility to not just take notes anywhere but also take your notes everywhere. You can even put it up on a metallic surface or whiteboard thanks to its magnetic clip. Time to ditch those pretty but inflexible notebooks and embrace the freedom that this magnetic, loose paper jacket can bring to your creativity and productivity.
Many aspects of our lives have become digitized, and writing and drawing are no exception. Many of us use some sort of digital tools for keeping up our schedule, taking notes, brainstorming new ideas, or sketching. Even though digital tools offer great convenience, there is something about old-fashioned writing with pen and paper that inspires creativity in us. The designer behind notesX believes writing down your thoughts and ideas with pen and paper is the best outlet. However, traditional pen and paper may not necessarily be economical or ecological since the traditional paper cannot be reused. notesX is like a combination of a whiteboard and a notebook, providing great reusability and customizability with the familiarity of a paper notebook.
This innovative notebook utilizes small magnets to bind the pages, the front cover, and the back cover. Since the papers are not glued or sewn together like traditional notebooks, you can easily add, remove, or move pages around as much as you like.
You can even take a page out from the bundle and stick it to metallic surfaces like a fridge door or a magnetic whiteboard. The front cover also has pockets to hold cards and small pieces of paper, things you’d usually stash inside a normal paper notebook.
The notebook’s special papers aren’t actually made with paper. Instead, they use synthetic resins and natural minerals. While the material offers a high-quality surface for writing from the get-go, its special property is that it can erase marks easier than you could when using a pencil. You can write with erasable pens like Pilot’s FriXioin series and then erase what you wrote by rubbing a plastic eraser that usually comes with these pens. You can also use wet wipes to erase a larger area or simply rinse the page down with water when you want to erase everything on it.
The pages themselves are minimal and bare, but there is a faint blue grid on the paper that acts as a guide without distracting you from what you’re writing. The synthetic paper also prevents glaring when taking photos of a page, making it easy to detect the edges of the page when you want to digitize it. This way, you can keep a digital copy of the page before you erase its contents. With this, you have an immortal and infinite notebook, allowing you to rearrange and reuse pages as much as you need.
The notebook has an elastic pen holder that can accommodate any pen with a diameter of 9mm to 15mm, regardless of whether it has a clip or not. A rubber band also keeps the notebook from opening accidentally, similar to those on notebooks like Moleskine. Beyond offering this basic function, this rubber band brings a philosophical aspect to the notebook. Almost like a ritual, the act of removing the rubber band to open the notebook commences your creative activity and putting it back to close it gives you great satisfaction by marking the completion of writing your idea down before it flies away.
Because every possible piece of Star Wars merchandise that can exist does, Disney is selling droid restraining bolt magnets in the Galaxy’s Edge areas of its amusement parks. Thankfully for those of us without a Disney trip planned in the foreseeable future, they’re also available on Amazon (affiliate link). I can already close my eyes and see my wife opening the Amazon package and wondering what the heck I just spent money on.
For any of you who are unfamiliar, in the Star Wars universe restraining bolts are small, cylindrical metal units affixed to droids that limit their functionality to that desired by their master. They can’t be removed by the droid (or by other droids) and can have commands relayed to them via a handheld controller. Obviously, it would be wise to attach one to every robotic device in your house, lest they go rogue.
Of course, for people who aren’t relatively serious Star Wars fans, they won’t know what the magnetic restraining bolt that’s holding your grocery list up on the fridge really is. ‘Is it a robot nipple?’ I imagine a dinner guest asking before I have to take the time to explain to them that yes, that’s exactly what it is.
Do you love Star Wars? Well here’s something new you really need to add to your collection. Yes, kids, it’s an official Star Wars tauntaun magnet, courtesy of the creative minds at Regal Robot.
Based on Han Solo’s trusty steed on the ice planet of Hoth, this hefty magnet measures 3″ tall, and is cast from solid polyurethane resin and handpainted to bring out all of the details of the tauntaun’s head. While the inside of a tauntaun is good for keeping things warm in sub-zero temperatures, we’ve been assured that this one won’t cause the contents of your freezer to melt.
The tauntaun magnet is available for order now over at Regal Robot, where it’s going for $29.99. They’re also teasing the next magnet in their Beast Collection, which is pretty obviously that nasty Rancor that thought about having Luke Skywalker for lunch.
If you haven’t yet been introduced to Qualy’s style of products, you’re really in for a treat! The Thailand-based studio is responsible for some incredibly adorable, clever, and unique products that draw inspiration from nature, natural phenomena, or just the things you see around you. Qualy’s products are literally designed to delight, as forms cleverly balance function as well as emotion. The Desk Bunny is yet another incredibly apt example.
Meet the Desk Bunny. It isn’t a part of a magician’s prop collection but this bunny surely has a few tricks up its sleeve… and its ears! The looped ears are actually a pair of safety scissors that dock beautifully into the bunny’s body to protect kids from accidentally touching the blade. Whenever you need the scissors, pull the bunny’s ears upwards and the scissors un-dock, allowing you to safely use them. The Desk Bunny even happens to be holding onto a magnetic carrot with green paper-clips attached to it, serving as the carrot’s shoots. Pick the paper clips from their nicely organized cluster, or just remove the carrot and use it as a fridge magnet… it’s entirely up to you! Pretty enchanting, eh? That’s what you call a bunch of clever ideas tied beautifully together into a product that’s functional, playful, and safe for kids.
One feature that seasoned MacBook users may miss is the good ol' MagSafe connector, because no one wants to accidentally drag a pricey laptop off the table. Alas, ever since Apple made the jump to USB-C, it decided to retire its handy magnetic invent...
Toyota has designed a magnet that halves the amount of rare earths needed in its electric cars, which could help mitigate the fall out of a looming materials shortage. Like other electric carmakers, Toyota has traditionally used neodymium, terbium an...
One feature that seasoned MacBook users may miss is the good ol' MagSafe connector, because no one wants to accidentally drag a pricey laptop off the table. Alas, ever since Apple made the jump to USB-C, it decided to retire its handy magnetic invent...
Toyota has designed a magnet that halves the amount of rare earths needed in its electric cars, which could help mitigate the fall out of a looming materials shortage. Like other electric carmakers, Toyota has traditionally used neodymium, terbium an...