Skip to main content

Self-assembly furniture kit lets you build chairs and even giant toys

SPYNTEX CF
In a world where grown men and women still unashamedly play with Lego blocks, it makes perfect sense that sooner or later we’d want to start building our own furniture using the same kind of easy toy-like construction kits.

That’s where a new Kickstarter campaign, called Spyntex, comes into play. A versatile self-assembly product composed of interlocking bars, Spyntex can be assembled into user-designed objects ranging from stylish pieces of furniture to giant toys.

Spyntex’s bars come in nine different colors, and can be formed either into straight or curved surfaces. As with Lego, it’s deceptively simple — but opens up a wide range of possible creations. Cleverly, it also comes with a mobile app that lets users create designs in the virtual world before making them a reality.

“The app’s great because it lets you express your creativity, but also test your creations,” Raimonda Klimasauskaite, one of Spyntex’s production team managers, told Digital Trends. “This is an important part of the process because, for most of us, we’ve only ever bought things which have already been created. From our app you can create any object you want, and also test it with a crash test dummy which lets you check that it can hold a certain amount of weight. You learn the ergonomical part of design, and get to test whether something will work in reality. Then you can build it yourself.”

That’s not all the app does, either. “You can also share designs with the community, and then see them ranked according to how often they are used,” Klimasauskaite continued. “If you manage to create something completely new, it will be named after you — so you become considered a designer yourself.”

Spyntex sets are currently available for pre-order. A kid-sized set starts at $105, while an adult-sized set begins at $242. Shipping is set to take place next November.

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Nest Doorbell vs. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: which is the better video doorbell?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus installed outside a front door.

Ring and Nest are responsible for some of the best video doorbells available. With easy-to-use smartphone apps, simple installation processes, and the ability to customize your motion alerts, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Nest Doorbell have quickly established themselves as two of the best video doorbells money can buy.

But what exactly is the difference between these two popular gadgets? And which is better for your smart home?

Read more
The best Apple HomeKit devices for 2023
A person unlocking the Aqara U100 smart lock with their phone.

While not as widespread as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit remains one of the most popular smart home ecosystems of 2023. The software plays well with iOS devices, and several other gadgets such as smart lights, smart locks, thermostats, and cameras can be controlled using the fancy technology. If you’re looking to build your smart home around Apple’s ecosystem, here are the best HomeKit devices available today.
Locks

HomeKit doesn’t have the largest selection of smart locks, but that doesn’t really matter when you have something as well-rounded as the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Not only does it offer full HomeKit support, but you’ll even gain access to Apple home keys -- allowing you to unlock your door with your iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s also the standard keypad for entering a passcode, along with a fingerprint sensor that can store several dozen fingerprints (so your whole family can enter the home without worrying about forgetting their password or smartphone).

Read more
Secure your home with Ring Floodlight Cam Plus and save $80
Ring Floodlight Camera placed on a wall outside.

Best Buy has one of the best security camera deals at the moment with $80 off the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera. Usually priced at $200, it's down to $120 for a limited time only so if you're fast enough, you'll save a lot of cash. If you're looking to secure your home, keep reading while we tell you all about the advantages this security camera offers.

Why you should buy the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus
Considered to be one of the best floodlight cameras for someone seeking a hard-wired solution, the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera is a highly effective home security measure.

Read more