TechEBlog -

Stradex1 is a Homebrew Violin That Hits All the Right Notes, Thanks to 3D-Printing and a Raspberry Pi

By Jackson Chung October 12, 2025

Brady Y. Lin treats the Stradex1 like an old friend; it’s been four years since he originally attempted to create a violin simulator – a box of buttons that created chiptune sounds. Lin, a beginner maker at the time, coaxed square waves out an Arduino, imitating strings with discrete presses that locked pitches into stiff steps. Lin is now halfway through his electrical engineering degree and has turned his aggravation into something playable, portable, and free for anybody to print and assemble.

Dacia’s Hipster EV Concept Arrives as a Boxy Family-Carrying Transporter

By Bill Smith October 11, 2025

Dacia debuted the Hipster last week, a small electric vehicle with four seats and a foldable trunk in a box less than ten feet long. The Romanian company, famed for its no-frills vehicles such as the Spring, has expanded on this idea with its latest prototype. Engineers began with daily commutes in mind – short excursions around town or to the suburbs, nothing more – and everything follows from there. The Hipster is slightly under 3 meters long, 1.55 meters wide, and 1.53 meters tall, making it ideal for parking in compact areas.

RedMagic 11 Pro Gaming Smartphone Puts Water Where It Counts in the Form of Liquid Cooling

By Jackson Chung October 11, 2025

Nubia is very familiar with designing phones for users who use their phone as a controller extension. The RedMagic brand has always gone all in on that, packing features that turn a slab of glass and metal into a handheld console. The 11 Pro, which will be available in China on October 17, is their most extreme effort yet. Liquid cooling joins the fan, which has been there since the beginning, and the result is a phone that can withstand any marathon session without breaking a sweat – or in this case, boiling over.

Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025 Aims to be a Tiny (Yet Huge) TV Upgrade for $17

By Jackson Chung October 11, 2025

Streaming is a part of how we consume entertainment, but not all televisions are equipped for the digital age. We still own earlier TVs, which were steady workhorses before apps and Wi-Fi existed. That’s where the Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025 comes in: a little but powerful device that can transform practically any modern TV into a portal for infinite shows, movies, and other content. It’s a low-cost update that packs a powerful punch for $17 (was $29.99).

Samsung’s W26 is the Foldable Smartphone That Dials Up the Luxury for China’s Elite

By Jackson Chung October 11, 2025

Every year, Samsung releases something extra for the Chinese market, such as a foldable phone that takes the Galaxy Z Fold recipe and goes all in. This time around, the W26 features gold accents and a price tag of more than $2,300, geared at buyers who prefer to flaunt their technology.

All-Electric Renault 5 Turbo 3E Tears Through Historic Tour de Corse Rally Stages for the First Time in Public

By Bill Smith October 11, 2025

Corsica’s twisty roads have long been a mecca for car enthusiasts, those dusty tracks where machines and men battle the island’s brutal corners. Last week, under a clear October sky, two Renault 5 Turbo 3E prototypes took to the Tour de Corse rally stages for the first time in public. The event celebrated 40 years since Jean Ragnotti won the first Maxi 5 Turbo in 1985 and felt like a purposeful echo.

First Look at Hapt-Aid, a Revolutionary Band-Aid That Tracks Your Moves

By Jackson Chung October 11, 2025

A Band-Aid-sized patch attaches to your arm and runs quietly in the background while you go about your business. This is Hapt-Aid, a simple, self-powered device from Carnegie Mellon University and UCLA that reimagines what a health wearable can be.

Shadowman39’s 8-Bit Knex Mechanical Computer Evolves, Can Process Numbers from 0 to 255

By Bill Smith October 11, 2025

In a world of silicon and circuits, Shadowman39 is building a new kind of computer: one made entirely of Knex, the colorful plastic construction toy some may remember from their childhood. His latest video reveals a mesmerizing step forward in his 8-bit mechanical computer project.

Innovative 3D-Printed Bike Drivetrain Defies Expectations

By Jackson Chung October 10, 2025

A $60 second-hand steel-frame bike, stripped to the bone and rebuilt with 3D printed PLA gears sounds like a recipe for disaster. But YouTuber Well Done Tips took this crazy idea and rode it – literally – at 20 km/h and proved that plastic can punch above its weight.

Dell’s Crystal Monitor and the Forgotten Glow of Raj’s Desk in The Big Bang Theory

By Jackson Chung October 10, 2025

Fans of The Big Bang Theory probably remember Raj Koothrappali’s room as a monument to awkward genius, and there was one thing that constantly stood out: a 22-inch monitor with speakers that appeared to float, wrapped in a coating of glass. Dell created the Crystal (model C22W). It debuted in early 2008 for $1,199 (about $1,800 now), a time when most screens were less expensive and focused on functionality over form.