DIY

Back in early 2021, a Californian startup revealed plans to launch a 13-inch laptop that users could upgrade, repair and customize. Now the company is about to launch the Framework Laptop 16, which will allow users to upgrade discrete graphics.

From the eerie tones of classic B-movies to atmospheric warbling on modern music tracks, the Theremin is instantly recognizable. An open-source version called the Theremotion uses a Leap controller to add a new layer of expressive control.

Touring kayaks are typically made of plastic, composites or sometimes wood, but unlike canoes, almost never aluminum. That didn't faze Brennen Kunka, however, who recently built his own all-aluminum kayak from the ground up – and it's awesome!

Last year, Hong Kong's MangDang gave programmers the chance to own a small hackable four-legged robot named the Mini Pupper, a kind of baby Spot. Now the team has returned to Kickstarter with a much-improved second generation robo-dog.

Japanese musician and designer Yuri Suzuki has partnered with Sweden's Teenage Engineering for an update to a dinky little lo-fi vinyl record cutter and playback machine originally launched in 2020 in collaboration with Gakken.

German engineer Gaurav Singh has designed and built an industrial USB box camera in a custom 3D-printed case that not only accepts interchangeable lenses, but the image sensor can also be swapped out as needed.

Celebrating the company's DIY legacy, Moog has launched a semi-modular build-it-yourself analog synthesizer called Mavis, which delivers the unmistakable Moog sound in a compact, wallet-friendly package to new users and seasoned musicians alike.

Laptops of yesteryear were never the easiest things to upgrade or repair yourself, but today's machines are even less so. The Framework Laptop is very much designed for user tweaking, and has now been upgraded to 12th Gen Intel Core processors.

Design studio Autonomous has created an assemble yourself building kit designed to easily pop up in the backyard. The Pod can be used as an outdoor office space, games room, gym, art studio or guest room and can be assembled in just one day.

Back in 2015, the Raspberry Pi Foundation launched a $5 project board called the Pi Zero for entry-level tinkerers. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities were added in 2017 for an extra five bucks, and now the Zero W has entered its second generation.

Earlier this year we featured a refreshing idea to make a 13.5-inch laptop that's designed to be easily customized, upgraded and repaired by users. Ahead of its launch, Framework has now revealed more details.

Thanks to a steady rise in vinyl sales of late, turntables are returning to the living room hi-fi setup. But if you're a maker looking for something a bit different, Frame Theory 3D has just launched a 3D-printable turntable kit on Kickstarter.