Today I’m going to show you how to build your own 3D-printed Nintendo Switch arcade cabinet!
Simply print all the parts, glue them together, and then install the optional electronics. These electrical bits will charge your Switch while you play, as well as provide additional cooling to help keep your Switch nice and chill.
You can even connect USB controllers to the front of the cabinet since all of these electronics connect directly to a powered USB hub. If you don’t want to install the electronics, that’s okay — this thing is still really great as a non-electronic device.
In either case, just remove the top of the cabinet, insert your Switch, and play!
Don’t have a 3D printer? No problem! Read on and I’ll show you some options for getting your parts printed.
Here’s a special shoutout to concavechest who designed this amazing arcade cabinet and uploaded it to Thingiverse. Thanks concavechest!
Watch the video:
I created a step-by-step video that will show you how to assemble your arcade cabinet and install all the electronics inside. The video does a bit more justice to the project than this written guide can. 🙂
The rest of this guide will focus on specific features of the build, so be sure to check it out too when you’re done with the video.
Obligatory disclaimer: As with anything DIY, certain risks are inherent. I’m not responsible if you damage or brick your Switch. 🙂 Since I wrote this guide in April 2019 (firmware 7.0.1), the arcade cabinet is still going strong! However, Nintendo updates their firmware all the time so anything can happen. If you’re concerned about this, you can also build the non-electronic version of the cabinet.
1 – The completed project
Just as the prophecy prophesied, first a final photo!
2 – And the back
Here’s a photo of the back of the arcade cabinet, showing the optional USB fan, fan speed controller, and power input.
3 – The completed electronics
These electronics are optional. 🙂 There are two ways to build the arcade cabinet:
Just 3D print it and drop your Switch in place.
Add some electronics that will charge your Switch while you play and allow you to connect USB controllers.
Because I love building things and this entire project can be done for about $50, I decided to go with option #2.
4 – Inserting the switch
After removing the Joy-Con controllers from your Switch, slide off the top of the arcade cabinet and slide your Switch into place. If you install the charging/data electronics into the cabinet, as I did, your Switch will also charge while in the cabinet — and you can even connect a USB controller!
5 – Printing the parts
First you’ll need to print all the parts. This will take a while. I think it took 18 hours of total printing on my old ANET A8, but I think this would be much faster on my new Creality Ender 3. This time can be reduced further by adjusting the print quality.
The models
There are two versions of the models available on Thingiverse: the “simple” version, which contains no openings/ports for the electronics, and the “electronic” version, which is what we’re building here.
For the electronic version, there are 8 parts to print:
Top
Simple Bottom and Front
Simple Cradle
Simple Back
Left Side
Right Side
Filler
The fan shroud
If your print bed is too small to print the sides, there’s also a “cut” version included so that you can print the sides as halves.
🛈 I printed all the parts without supports. If you orient things properly, they aren’t necessary.
6 – Don’t have a 3D printer?
No problem. A lot of people don’t know there are tons of ways to get a 3D model printed without having a printer. Here are a few of the ways:
Use an online 3D printing service
Online services like Sculpteo will print your model and ship it to you for a fee.
Find your local hackerspace/makerspace
There’s a good chance you have a nearby Hackerspace, and most of them have some sort of “Open Make Night” where you can come in and use the equipment without needing a membership. You can find your local hackerspace using this tool, which lists over 2,000 hackerspaces.
Ask a friend
Post on Facebook; you might be surprised that someone you know has a 3D printer. And in true maker fashion, they’ll probably be happy to help you out while teaching you a bit about 3D printing.
Check your local library
Tons of libraries now have 3D printers available for their patrons to use. Additionally, if you’re a student your university can likely provide you with access to one. Call your university library’s information desk and they can direct you to the college/department that can give you access.
Check Craigslist
Many people advertise 3D printing services on Craigslist for a fee.
Buy a 3D printer
In the last few years, 3D printers have become extremely affordable. I picked up my Creality Ender 3 around $200 on GearBest. I also wrote a full Ender 3 review if you want to check it out!
An “exploded view” of the parts needed to assemble the arcade cabinet. concavechest on. Thingiverse
The cabinet assembly itself is pretty self-explanatory: just use super glue or 2-part epoxy to put everything together. I used a few books to add weight to the parts while they set.
Do not glue the top into place! This is supposed to slide off so you can insert your Switch.
🛈 As mentioned in the video, I recommend connecting the hub before gluing the cradle in place.
8 – Powering everything
Power and data for the Switch and cooling fan are provided by a powered USB-C hub. This small USB-C extension lives in the back of the unit, where a power adapter is plugged in. The hub I used connects to a 90-degree USB-C adapter which lives at the bottom of the cradle — so when you slide your Switch into place, it connects to the hub automatically.
The default Nintendo Switch AC adapter won’t work — when you use it, the Switch thinks it’s in its charging dock and the screen turns off. This is because Nintendo added an extra data pin/signal. Thus, you’ll need to use a separate AC adapter. I recommend one that provides at least 3A.
9 – Adding a fan for cooling
I added this 5V USB fan that draws power from the hub. The fan’s speed controls are accessible from the back of the cabinet. To be honest, I question whether the fan is necessary… It’s extremely inexpensive so I added it, but I don’t think the Switch will get that hot — especially considering all the natural ventilation that the case provides.
10 – Ready player two!
Because this project uses a powered data hub, you can connect any USB device that you’d normally connect to your Switch dock. This dual USB extension cable makes the power ports accessible on the front of the cabinet, which is super handy!
11 – All done
This has been a super fun, super easy project. I love having this thing on my desk so I can pop in to play a game or two when I need a break.
This cabinet is a testament to the spirit of the maker community, blending mainstream gaming with 3D printing and hobby electronics, and I’m very happy that it exists.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the build video for this project.
Questions? Comments?
Post in the comments section below, I’d love to hear from you!
Blender is one of the most popular open-source 3D creation suites today. It doesn’t cost a dime to use and everything you create is yours to own for good. The community is robust and the dev team still releases new updates on the regular. If you want to get the latest version, you may have
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
Starting with MacOS Sierra and High Sierra, your Mac will no longer play a “pop” sound when you adjust your volume. If you prefer to have this sound when you adjust volume up and down (as I do), this guide will teach you how to reenable it. 1 – Open Sound System Preferences Navigate to System
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
As a big fan of Sublime Text, I was excited to find out that somebody made a port of the Monokai theme for macOS and OSX’s Terminal. Originally developed by Wimer Hazenberg, Monokai is a great color scheme available for a variety of text-based applications. This short guide will show you how to get Monokai into Terminal.
1 – Download monokai.terminal
Download Stephen Way’s monokai.terminal port from the project’s Github page. Unzip the file.
2 – Install monokai.terminal
Double-click Monokai.terminal to open it. This will automatically install the color scheme into Terminal.
3 – Allow installation from unidentified developers
You may see a message similar to this:
“Monokai.terminal” can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer
If you see this message, navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and ensure that the App store and identified developers option is checked.
Then, click “Open Anyway”.
4 – Make Monokai your default Terminal color scheme
With Terminal open, navigate to Terminal > Preferences. Select the Profiles tab (MacOS) or Settings tab (OS X) and then click Monokai in the side pane. Finally, click the Default button.
You’re all done!
NEXT UP
How to Enable the “Popping” Sound When Adjusting the Volume on Your Mac
Starting with MacOS Sierra and High Sierra, your Mac will no longer play a “pop” sound when you adjust your volume. If you prefer to have this sound when you adjust volume up and down (as I do), this guide will teach you how to reenable it. 1 – Open Sound System Preferences Navigate to System
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
Blender is one of the most popular open-source 3D creation suites today. It doesn’t cost a dime to use and everything you create is yours to own for good. The community is robust and the dev team still releases new updates on the regular. If you want to get the latest version, you may have
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
OctoPrint is a platform designed for the Raspberry Pi that makes it possible to monitor and control your 3D printer. If you want to watch what your printer is up to remotely, you’ll need a camera. But which camera is the best to use for OctoPrint?
After you’ve installed OctoPrint, consider your priorities when it comes to streaming. Do you want a budget-friendly camera? Do you want to use a camera you already have? Perhaps you just want to stream with high resolution. Whatever your project needs are, identify what they are before investing in a new camera.
Some more factors to consider:Do you want a permanent camera or one that can be easily removed? Do you want a low profile device that doesn’t take up much space? Do you want a camera that mounts to a specific tripod or structure? Do you want a hot-swappable camera?
2 – Use a Pi Camera Module with OctoPrint
The official Raspberry Pi camera module works great with OctoPrint. The Raspberry Pi camera module is plug-and-play, so you won’t have to worry about any special setup configurations. It’s a low profile option, guaranteed to be compatible with the Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3, and 4.
This module is designed for the Raspberry Pi and connects using the camera port on the Pi. It’s an 8-megapixel camera that can create images with a resolution of 3280 x 2464.
The whole unit is only 25mm x 23mm x 9mm (not including the cable). If you want a small camera with a good image that’s easy to mount, you may want to check out the Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2.
3 – Use a USB camera or webcam with OctoPrint
Octoprint will work with many USB cameras, but not all of them. Here’s a list of compatible webcams known to work with OctoPrint. This makes it easy to set up a camera quickly with a spare webcam or USB camera that you might have lying around the house.
The biggest benefit of using a webcam is better image quality. You will likely spend a little time configuring your webcam to work with the Raspberry Pi, but the results are worth it. OctoPrint recommends using mjpg-streamer to set up the webcam. Visit the OctoPrint page on Github for tips on setting up your camera with OctoPrint.
Best USB OctoPrint camera
Most Logitech cameras are compatible with OctoPrint. One of the best (and most popular) for use with OctoPrint is the Logitech C920—recommended for its high resolution, wide FOV, and built-in hardware encoding.
4 – Test and optimize your OctoPrint camera setup
Once you have your camera connected, log into the OctoPrint web interface. You can use the IP address of your Raspberry Pi or put http://octopi.local into the address field of a browser window.
Look under the Control tab. This screen allows you to view and make adjustments to your Octopint video stream. Congratulations! Now you’re ready to monitor your 3D printing progress remotely.
5 – Troubleshooting the OctoPrint camera feed
If you don’t see anything, make sure the camera is properly connected. You may want to power everything off and reconnect the camera. If it still doesn’t work, make sure the camera is working on other devices.
There are several ways to go about running a Minecraft server on the Raspberry Pi. In this guide, I’ll cover how to install Nukkit—a cross-platform Minecraft server that’s super easy to set up on the Raspberry Pi. This server should work with PCs, consoles, and tablets running Minecraft 1.14. I’ll be using a Raspberry Pi
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
Did you know that the number of views on the most-viewed YouTube video is higher than the number of people on the entire globe?! Yup. We’re talking in the billions…and then some.
While YouTube formed YouTube Music, due to music videos and music playlists’ popularity, people still tend to head over to YouTube to listen to their favorite song. Lots of people! So it makes sense that the top viewed videos on YouTube are mostly music videos that people probably put on repeat until they have the song memorized.
With that said, there are definitely some surprises here! So strap in and get ready to find out which YouTube videos people can’t get enough of.
Can you guess what the most-watched video is?
30 – Blank Space
YouTube
Uploader: Taylor Swift
Views: 2.7 billion
It’s no surprise this video makes it onto our list due to the incredible cinematography work by famed music video director Joseph Kahn. Swift plays the role of a slightly mad, rich woman who lives in a mansion and seems to be just a bit…spoiled. Her love interest shows affection but finally cannot deal with the madness that is her life. But just as quickly as the one boyfriend leaves, another approaches and offers her his love.
Did you know?
Director, Joseph Kahn, drew inspiration from the symmetrical framing style of Stanley Kubrik, used in the film A Clockwork Orange. Both the film and this video feature characters who are slightly mad, so that makes a lot of sense!
29 – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
YouTube
Uploader: Shakira
Views: 2.7 billion
This version of Waka Waka features the South African band Freshlyground. The video combines footage from the FIFA World Cup, along with Shakira dancing with children. The song was the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was played in South Africa. The song’s popularity certainly didn’t end with the World Cup, however, and the video continues to get millions of views each year. If your a soccer fan, then you’ll appreciate the many clips of some of the most memorable soccer moments in history.
Did you know?
The video and song generated lots of criticism as the official song for the FIFA World Cup in South African because many felt that a South African artist should have been chosen.
28 – Wheels on the Bus
YouTube
Uploader: Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
Views: 2.8 billion
Get used to the sound of the voices in this animated music video because they’ll be on our list a few times. The video is basically an animated take of the song The Wheels on Bus. It’s a cute video featuring kids, some colorful animals, and, of course, a bus driver who sings along with the song, while demonstrating each of the things that the bus can do. We’re imagining kids playing this song over and over and over. So if you have a kid, then you’ve probably heard this rendition quite a few times.
Did you know?
Wheels on the Bus was written by American, Verna Hills in 1939. Its melody is based on another popular children’s song—Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.
27 – Perfect
YouTube
Uploader: Ed Sheeran
Views: 2.8 billion
This is the first of Sheeran’s multiple appearances on our list. The song has to the best high school prom finisher ever written. It praises young love and encourages blossoming young lovers to give love a try. The video tells the story of Sheeran meeting a young love interest at a train station and enjoying a snowy mountain landscape as they explore their blossoming love. It’s a very sweet video and one that gives us hope in love again.
Did you know?
Andrea Bocelli sang Perfect in an orchestral version called The Perfect Symphony in 2017.
26 – Mi Gente
YouTube
Uploader: J Balvin
Views: 2.8 billion
Mi Gente is a remix of Willy William’s song “Voodoo Song.” The song mentions a love of people from all over the world, and that’s just what the director attempted to showcase in this colorful video. The video features dancers from all over the globe. They dance in front of a backdrop of bright colors. There are many cameo appearances in the video, including Italian millionaire Gianluca Vacchi.
Did you know?
Mi Gente regularly finds itself on the greatest songs of the decade (2010s) list and was even remixed by Beyoncé.
25 – Hello
YouTube
Uploader: Adele
Views: 2.8 billion
The first whole minute of the music video for Hello by Adele has no actual music. Instead, the video showcases a rustic landscape, as the video’s main character returns to an old home. The premise of the video is the main character talking to an earlier version of herself. It’s a rare video, too, in that the entire video is in sepia-tone and not color. Both the excellent cinematography and the song’s popularity push this one well over 2 billion views.
Did you know?
This is the first music video ever shot in an IMAX format.
24 – Let Her Go
YouTube
Uploader: Passenger
Views: 2.9 billion
It’s a classic music video from singer-songwriter Passenger that makes it onto our list. The video combines some staged performances of the song Let Her Go with backstage footage and live footage from concerts. It’s the song’s greatness that gives it such replay value, however, which is certainly why this has made it onto the list. The video does a great job of showcasing some of the band’s talents and the camaraderie amongst them.
Did you know?
Passenger and his record label never expected the song to do so well. It did so well, in fact, that Budweiser even used it in a Super Bowl commercial.
23 – Girls Like You
YouTube
Uploader: Maroon 5
Views: 3 billion
This video has lots of star power! In addition to having Cardi B serve as a co-artist, there are lots of celebrity women who make appearances, dancing alongside Levine. Here’s the complete list of celebrities that make cameos: Camila Cabello, Phoebe Robinson, Aly Raisman, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Lilly Singh, Amani al-Khatahtbeh, Trace Lysette, Tiffany Haddish, Angy Rivera, Franchesca Ramsey, Millie Bobby Brown, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Chloe Kim, Alex Morgan, Mary J. Blige, Beanie Feldstein, Jackie Fielder, Danica Patrick, Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Banks, Ashley Graham, and Rita Ora, with Levine’s wife Behati Prinsloo and their daughter Dusty Rose.
Did you know?
There are multiple alternative videos for the song. In one, the video follows Levine’s career in music until he finally meets his wife.
22 – Bailando
YouTube
Uploader: Enrique Iglesias
Views: 3 billion
An original version of this song served as the theme song of the soap opera Reina de Corazones. So, needless to say, that the song’s popularity in Spanish-speaking countries is pretty massive, which is just one reason this video made it onto our list. The video is filmed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and showcases some of the city’s beauty. The video also highlights the city’s many faces as they watch the dancers perform in the street.
Did you know?
Like many other songs on the list, Bailando also faced controversy over “borrowing” some elements from another composer. Peruvian singer and composer Sergio Pelo D’ambrosio Robles sued the label over copying his compositions but later withdrew.
21 – Lean On
YouTube
Uploader: Major Lazer
Views: 3 billion
Much like the next video on our list, Lean On‘s setting is somewhere not in the Western hemisphere—namely, India. The song is an electronic, dance-pop song with some traditional Indian elements. The video showcases some spectacular spots in India, as well as traditional Indian dancing and garb. It’s a well-choreographed, bright video, which is why it’s made into the billion-views club.
Did you know?
Major Lazer was inspired to make the video after touring throughout India and enjoying the culture and the people.
20 – Dark Horse
YouTube
Uploader: Katy Perry
Views: 3 billion
This video wasn’t without controversy. The Egyptian theme employed by the director had many up in arms because of the sensitivity of the cultural references involved. But as a sheer artistic music video, it’s quite stunning. It also carries on Perry’s tradition of using foreign landscapes and themes for her work. The location of Memphis, Egypt also holds special significance for her co-artist, Juicy J. This won’t be the last time you’ll see a video of Perry’s on the list. Can you guess what her most popular video is?
Did you know?
This was the first video by a female to reach 1 billion views on both YouTube and Vevo.
19 – Faded
YouTube
Uploader: Alan Walker
Views: 3 billion
There’s something romantic about an abandoned city and something magically eerie too. The basic premise from this video by Alan Walker is that a lone survivor wanders an empty city. Set to the backdrop of the beautiful electronic music, the video is certainly compelling, if only to see what the world might look like when there’s no one left.
Did you know?
The video is filmed in Estonia and uses many iconic locations. We’re assuming they had to clear everyone and everything before they could film.
18 – Shake It Off
YouTube
Uploader: Taylor Swift
Views: 3 billion
Released in 2014, Shake It Off solidified Taylor Swift’s rise to pop stardom. It’s hard to remember being anywhere without hearing this song playing in the background. The video features a group of contemporary dancers who perform in as many styles as they can squeeze into this four-minute video. There’s everything from gymnastics to cheerleading to contemporary ballet. It’s a fun video that highlights Swift’s dancing repertoire, which she employs at her sold-out concerts as well.
Did you know?
The song faced multiple lawsuits from various artists who claimed that the song could not exist without references to the lyrics “Haters gonna hate; players gonna play.”
17 – Thinking Out Loud
YouTube
Uploader: Ed Sheeran
Views: 3.2 billion
This is Mr. Sheeran’s second appearance on the list (but not the last). This time Sheeran and a dancer perform a beautiful contemporary dance piece to his song, Thinking Out Loud. In that sense, the video is fairly simple in its concept. It’s the beauty of the ballroom set and Sheeran’s surprisingly amazing dancing that really make this video something special. We also imagine this is the song of choice at countless weddings across the globe.
Did you know?
The dancer that Sheeran performs with is Brittany Cherry, a contestant from the televised American dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance.
16 – Dame Tu Cosita
YouTube
Uploader: Ultra Music
Views: 3.2 billion
We’re not sure where to begin with this strange video. It appears to be a green, alien-like creature dancing to the song Dame Tu Cosita on Mars. The alien creature does a lot of thrusting as he struts back and forth. The song itself is also fairly simple. Our guess is that this video and song have found their way into a lot of dance parties. Props if you can memorize and perform the entire alien dance from the song!
Did you know?
“Dame tu cosita” translates to “Give me your little thing.” We’re not going to discuss the meaning behind that one, however.
15 – Counting Stars
YouTube
Uploader: OneRepublic
Views: 3.2 billion
The symbolism in the music video by OneRepublic includes the crumbling of a foundation, an alligator stalking, a preacher who drives away the devil, and even water that washes away everything. It’s a fairly poetic montage that features the band playing in a basement underneath the preacher, who is preaching to a small group upstairs. Eventually, the two video narratives begin to blend with the upstairs group dancing to the music in the basement.
Did you know?
Writer, Ryan Tedder, originally intended the song to be recorded by Beyoncé, while he was staying with her and Jay-Z. But he didn’t think she would like it enough, so he recorded himself on the Native album.
14 – Roar
YouTube
Uploader: Katy Perry
Views: 3.3 billion
This music video of Roar by Katy Perry is one of those videos that’s essentially an entire movie script built into a short video. Perry crash lands in the jungle and begins by hiding behind a male tour guide. He gets attacked by a tiger, and she’s left on her own. She deals with her fear of the jungle and its creatures—eventually conquering both. Heck, she even gives a crocodile a toothbrushing! Oh, and you’re going to hear her roar!
Did you know?
The video was heavily criticized by PETA, who objected to the use of animals for entertainment purposes.
13 – Sorry
YouTube
Uploader: Justin Bieber
Views: 3.4 billion
If you’re looking for a dance video—meaning a video that’s all dancing—then Justin Bieber’s video for the song Sorry is just what you need. A dancing troupe wearing bright colors dances across a white backdrop in an impressively choreographed routine that will leave you longing for 2015 all over again.
Did you know?
Bieber admits now that this song was written about and for his former lover, Selena Gomez. We’re guessing the apology didn’t work.
12 – Sugar
YouTube
Uploader: Maroon 5
Views: 3.4 billion
This is as heartwarming as it gets. The band Maroon 5 takes off on the road to make surprise appearances at various weddings. The wedding parties are obviously surprised to see the backdrop reveal the band, as this was part-staged and part-reality. It’s nice to see that artists haven’t run out of ideas for music videos and are still finding ways to surprise a viewer. This video‘s rewatchability is to keep seeing the smiles on the faces of newlyweds!
Did you know?
The grooms were told about the wedding crashing, and many were reluctant about the whole thing. Once they found out the band was Maroon 5, however, they all agreed!
11 – Phonics Song with TWO Words
YouTube
Uploader: ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs
Views: 3.7 billion
Though this is a video meant to teach kids the alphabet and pronunciation, the melody is actually fairly complex and haunting. The video begins with the letter A and gives basic examples of each letter in the alphabet. It also reinforces the pronunciation of each syllable, and this would be a great video to have a kid memorize at an early developmental age.
Did you know?
Phonics can be any method for teaching children how to pronounce words. It’s often criticized as an alternative to real reading.
10 – Bath Song
YouTube
Uploader: CoComelon Nursery Rhymes
Views: 3.8 billion
This video has all the tell-tale markers of a viral kid’s video. It’s basically a blend of the Baby Shark video and the Johny Johny Yes Papa video, which will appear later on our list—and those two videos have lots of views! The melody is from the song The Itsy Bitsy Spider and depicts two children washing up in the bathtub. They get into some mischief but really make it fun for any kid to want to take a bath (which seems like a great thing).
Did you know?
The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which is the melody for this song, is included in the Roud Folk Song Index. This index includes more than 25,000 traditional folk songs.
9 – Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm
YouTube
Uploader: Мирошка ТВ
Views: 3.8 billion
Set to the tune of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, this simple animation teaches children six basic colors: black, brown, pink, white, red, blue. The audio is in Russian, so this would be a great video for anyone trying to teach their kids Russian. There are English subtitles, so it’s still a good video for English speakers. The video shows the eggs getting filled with various colors and reinforces what each color is. What probably pushes this video in terms of views is the unique animations of the eggs.
Did you know?
The earliest example of egg coloring was found with a Slavic girl’s remains, dating back to the 5th century. The egg was not associated with Easter.
8 – Gangnam Style
YouTube
Uploader: Psy
Views: 4 billion
The mid-2010s will be forever marked by this song and particularly the style of dance it inspired. There were countless TikTok and YouTube videos made with people doing their own take on the Gangnam Style dance craze. The video itself is pretty funny and features the singer and dancers performing cheeky acts while singing the song. The South Korean artist, Psy, certainly has a sense of humor, as evidenced by this hilarious video!
Did you know?
Gangnam Style is a reference to the Gangnam District in Seoul, South Korea. It’s a trendy area and the video sort of mocks the posers who claim to be “Gangnam.”
7 – Uptown Funk
YouTube
Uploader: Mark Ronson
Views: 4.1 billion
Who would have thought that a throwback video to the early ’80s era of boogie and funk would have been so popular with the YouTube listening audience? But this hit video celebrating fun and partying became an instant hit and features Bruno Mars, who co-wrote the song with Ronson. It wasn’t without controversy, however, as the label was sued multiple times for copyright infringement, causing the performers to make multiple changes to the lyrics and tune.
Did you know?
This song was so frustrating for Ronson and Mars that they almost scrapped the whole thing entirely. They just couldn’t quite get the chorus the way they wanted it. Lucky for the world, however, they stuck with it.
6 – Masha and the Bear
YouTube
Uploader: Get Movies
Views: 4.4 billion
Of all the videos on the list, this Russian-made cartoon has to have the best animation. The story tells of a bear and a little girl named Masha. While the bear tries to beat himself at a game of checkers, Masha makes his life hell. First, she wants to play, so the bear gives her some hockey equipment that she uses against him. Next, she makes some porridge…a lot of porridge. In the end, she does clean up the house but refuses to eat all of that “cruel gruel” she just made. This would be a great video for kids wanting to learn Russian.
Did you know?
Masha and the Bear is actually a television series, created by Oleg Kuzovkov, for Russian television. It’s so popular that it’s been broadcast on almost every streaming service throughout Europe and the US.
5 – See You Again
YouTube
Uploader: Wiz Khalifa
Views: 5 billion
Featured on the Furious 7 soundtrack, the video for See You Again has Charlie Puth singing the iconic “See You Again” chorus and Wiz Khalifa performing the rap. The video, as expected, highlights lots of sports cars and muscle cars as a backdrop to the performers. The video also features clips from the movie, with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker—who passed away before the video was released, giving the song a hauntingly meaningful quality.
Did you know?
The song and video were commissioned for Paul Walker, the famous actor of the Furious films, who died in a car accident on November 30, 2013.
4 – Johny Johny Yes Papa
YouTube
Uploader: LooLoo Kids
Views: 5 billion
Set to a revamped version of the melody of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, this Youtube hit tells the story of a little baby who tries to sneak sugar from a kitchen cabinet. His grandfather catches him, and the baby lies that he wasn’t taking sugar. Eventually, the baby sneaks some sugar while the grandfather falls asleep. Pretty simple, huh? Well, more than 5 billion views show that even a simple story like this will entertain kids over and over again. There’s even a 60-minute version of the song for those who want to listen to the song on repeat.
Did you know?
This video makes it onto another exceptional list. This also happens to be one of the top ten most disliked videos on YouTube, as well. Love it or hate it; people sure do keep watching it!
3 – Shape of You
YouTube
Uploader: Ed Sheeran
Views: 5.2 billion
You’ve already seen Mr. Sheeran on this list a few times, but his smash hit, Shape of You, puts him at #3 on the most-watched YouTube videos list. If you don’t know the song, then you must have been living on another planet for the past few years. The basic premise of the song is that the singer enjoys meeting women while a bit tipsy at the bar. The video, on the other hand, details a much richer narrative of two young lovers meeting at a boxing club and falling in love.
Did you know?
This was the fastest music video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.
2 – Despacito
YouTube
Uploader: Luis Fonsi
Views: 7.2 billion
With more than 400 million Spanish-speaking people globally, many of YouTube’s most subscribed channels and played videos are from Spanish-speaking artists and performers. Despacito, featuring Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, is a rhythmic tune that’s probably a staple of just about every dance party for the past couple of years. As one YouTube commenter notes: When a teacher asks how many people live on Earth, the student can simply say, “Despacito.”
Did you know?
In 2018, Fonsi’s YouTube channel was hacked, and the video was removed for a few hours before his channel could be restored.
1 – Baby Shark Dance
YouTube
Uploader: Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories
Views: 8.2 billion
More and more children are watching YouTube videos today than ever before. In fact, around 80% of parents say their kids watch YouTube videos regularly. So it’s little surprise that a children’s music video topped the list!
If you have a kid, then you know the “Baby Shark Dance” song. You know it really well because you’ve likely heard it over and over, which is exactly the reason this cute (though annoying) little song tops the charts. The video features two children singing about a family of sharks from which they are then chased and escape. Oh yeah…doo doo doo doo doo doo.
Did you know?
The origins of the song are somewhat in dispute. There’s an earlier YouTube version by Johnny Only who assumed it was a traditional campfire song, but it may actually have an owner. Of course, once something gets big enough, there’s usually someone claiming they did it first.
NEXT UP
How to Use Plex to Easily Create Playlists for PlexAmp
PlexAmp rocks but doesn’t easily create playlists. Luckily, there’s an easy workaround.
I love Plex, the self-hosting solution for movies, TV shows, music, and even audiobooks (though this last is still only partly supported). I usually try to go more towards the FOSS (or at least Open Source) end of the market, but, while Jellyfin and Kodi are friggen awesome, their development lags way behind Plex and even Emby.
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
There are so many cool HAT extensions for the Raspberry Pi to make your next project literally sing (if that’s what you want)! HATs are great pre-built add-ons that enhance what your Raspberry Pi is capable of. From turning your Pi into an all-in-one recording deviceâto running the Raspberry Pi on solar powerâto creating an awesome LED discoballâthese HATs will make it easy to do some incredible things on your Raspberry Pi.
What is HAT?
HAT stands for “Hardware Attached on Top.” Essentially, a HAT is a pre-built extension for your Raspberry Pi that allows it to perform some desired function. Most HATs are plug-and-play, requiring no soldering. And the best HATs automatically configure themselves. The EEPROM module communicates with the Raspberry Pi, telling it which IO pins it’s using, how to configure them, and which drivers need to be installed.
What kinds of things can a Raspberry HAT do?
Anything! Well, that’s not actually true. But you’re certainly going to be surprised when you scroll down our list of Raspberry Pi HATs and learn all the cool things you can do just by plugging in an extension!
Unless noted otherwise, HATs do not come with a Raspberry Pi unit.
1 – Best Audio (DAC) HAT for the Raspberry Pi
Raspiaudio Audio Soundcard ++
The Raspiaudio Soundcard DAC HAT gives you everything you need to build an all-in-one stereo output sound machine with your Raspberry Pi. It includes onboard stereo speakers, two onboard microphones, and two 1.3 watt amplifiers. A great all-around audio HAT for the Raspberry Pi used in many audio projects.
Compatible Raspberry Pi Models
Pi Zero / 3 / 4
Honorable Mentions
We would be remiss not to specifically mention this mini speaker from Pimoroni, since it helped us make one of our biggest projects to date.
Pimoroni Pirate Audio Mini Speaker
One of these would look great on your desk! Comes with a full-color LCD screen and built-in Pirate audio software to turn your Raspberry Pi into a mini speaker.
IQaudio Pi Modules Relaunched Under Raspberry Pi Umbrella Add some audio support to your next Pi project.
Now owned by Raspberry Pi, these are official!
2 – Best GPS HAT for the Raspberry Pi
Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT
This GPS HAT is hands-down the best HAT for locating your Raspberry Pi, even when using it outdoors on a cloudy day. Adafruit has a built-in antenna to help with finding your location even in the worst of weather.
The Adafruit GPS HAT includes a real-time clock and a backup battery for 7 + years of timekeeping even if the Raspberry Pi is off. It features 165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, and 66 channels. It comes preassembled and ready to use!
Add location data and atomic-precision timekeeping by plugging this HAT into your Pi.
Compatible Raspberry Pi Models
Pi A + / B +
3 – Best PoE HAT for the Raspberry Pi
Official Raspberry Pi PoE HAT
If you’re looking to power your Raspberry Pi over a PoE (Power over Ethernet) enabled network and skirt the need for a power supply, then you’ll want a dependable PoE HAT. As we all know by now, the official Raspberry Pi Foundation hardware tends to set the gold standard by which other things aspire. So, yes, this is a more expensive PoE HAT, but it’s a piece of hardware on which it’s important not to skimp.
The official PoE HAT comes with a built-in fan and is compatible with an adapter for the Raspberry Pi 4.
Compatible Raspberry Pi Models
Pi 3 + / 4
Honorable Mention
PoE Texas Raspberry Pi PoE Hat
If you’re looking for a budget PoE Hat, then a great option is this one from PoE Texas. Because PoE Texas specialized in PoE’s, you can be relatively comfortable with the quality of this PoE HAT. Note that this one does not come with a fan, so it may not be the best option for a Raspberry Pi 4, which tends to run hot.
4 – Best TRIAC HAT
Waveshare 2-Channel TRIAC HAT
There aren’t many options when it comes to quality TRIAC HATs for the Raspberry Pi. If you need to switch voltages (up to 4400W max) across two devices without the traditional downfall of relays, then this is the HAT you’ll want to get for your Raspberry Pi.
Other features include:
Onboard STM32F0 microcontroller which supports direct command control
Optocoupler isolation preventing interference from the circuit
RC snubber circuit to protect it from power fluctuations
A reserved UART and I2C interface for working with other host control boards
What is a TRIAC HAT and what is it used for?
TRIAC stands for “triode for alternating current.” If we break down again, that is a three-electrode semiconductor device that will conduct in either direction when triggered by a positive or negative signal at the gate electrode. Let’s break it down again. It’s a relay that allows a current to flow in both directions.
The most common application for a TRIAC is in a light-dimmer or adjustable speed electric fan. The TRIAC allows the current to be adjusted in both directions to allow the light to dim or brighten.
Be careful! Do not touch the high voltage section with bare hands!
PiHut
Compatible Raspberry Pi Models
All
5 – Best HAT for kids and learning
Official Raspberry Pi Sense HAT
I’m going to say it. Every kid should have a Raspberry Pi and Sense HAT. With the Sense HAT from the Raspberry Pi, kids can easily see the results of their programming in addition to a host of other cool features. It was constructed specifically for the AstroPi mission for kids to see their programs on the International Space Station, which we reported on.
The Raspberry Pi Sense HAT includes an 8Ã8 RGB LED matrix, a five-button joystick, and the following sensors:
The perfect case for the Sense HAT mentioned above.
Now, you should probably realize that when you put certain HATs on your Raspberry Pi that the Pi may not fit in a standard case. So be sure to get a case that states it will Raspberry Pis with a HAT installed, like this official HAT case from the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
We love that this case has a pop-up clear top, so you can access and interact with your Raspberry Pi HAT. This should make it usable for most HATs that you’ll get for your Pi. Note: you’ll still need to make sure your HAT does not have plugs that this case will not support.
7 – Other cool HATs for the Raspberry Pi
JuiceBox Zero
The JuiceBox Zero HAT for the Raspberry Pi Zero lets you power it from a battery! What makes this even cooler is that even works and charges your battery via a micro USB cable built-in. It has status indicator lights indicating low-battery, on/off, charging, and charge completely. It has a built-in camera mount if you want to use this as a truly mobile security camera. Best of all, it requires absolutely no code to use! We featured this HAT in our solar-powered Raspberry Pi build guide.
Here’s a video that shows you how it works:
PUD (Pull Up/Down) HAT
With this nifty little HAT from ModMyPi, you can forget about the wiring when adding a pull up / down resistor to a circuit. Wire up the sensor output to the pin on the PUD HAT, add a shunt jumper to either pull up or down. When you apply a signal voltage from your sensor or switch, the Raspberry Pi can sense into which logic state the pin has been pulled! So cool!
Perfect for any gardener and Pi fanatic! This a complete compact grow system featuring the Grow HAT from Pimoroni that helps you monitor and take the best care of your plants and herbs. There are built-in moisture sensors to let you know when your plants need some watering. You can even custom tailor the specifications for different plants’ water and food needs.
Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet
Another HAT we’ve used in our projects is the Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet, which allows you to program full color LED displays and light shows. Works with 16×32, 32×32, 32×64 or 64×64 RGB LED Matrices to create a great display. For more details on how to use this, see our guide on building an LED Matrix with a Raspberry Pi.
And for more inspiration, see how the RGB Matrix Bonnet helped us make an LED NHL scoreboard!
There are several ways to go about running a Minecraft server on the Raspberry Pi. In this guide, I’ll cover how to install Nukkitâa cross-platform Minecraft server that’s super easy to set up on the Raspberry Pi. This server should work with PCs, consoles, and tablets running Minecraft 1.14. I’ll be using a Raspberry Pi
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
Danish oil is a general purpose natural finish for wood. It adds depth and richness to any wood species and protects and seals at the same time. It is extremely easy to apply or reapply with a rag, and it is not sticky or toxic like most off the shelf stains and finishes.
There is no one definition of danish oil but generally, it refers to a mixture of oil, some type of varnish or polyurethane, and a thinner. A couple of brands make their own “Danish oil” and don’t disclose the exact recipe, but it is accepted that it is some combination of these three ingredients.
I’m going to show you my very basic recipe that you can then tweak as you get more experienced with it.
1 – Oil
The most common oil to use is boiled linseed oil. Commonly shortened to the acronym BLO, this oil has likely been used to protect wood for a couple hundred years. It is produced by extracting oil from the flax plant and concentrating it. It soaks into the wood, preventing other things like moisture and bugs from getting in, and it darkens the wood almost as if it were wet.
Make sure you buy something that is just boiled linseed oil as there are many products on the market that are not 100% BLO. This one from amazon does the job. You can experiment with other oils, but this one has served me and many other woodworkers extremely well.
I use BLO as 1/3 of my danish oil recipe.
2 – Varnish (or poly)
Using the term “varnish” as an umbrella term for polyurethane, shellac, and actual varnish is a bit of a misnomer, but it’s quite common. In this case, we are referring to any finish whose purpose is for sealing and protecting wood.
When making your own danish oil, you need a “varnish”. I typically reach for a satin polyurethane like this one from Minwax.
I also use about 1/3 in my recipe however, if you’re going to tweak the recipe for your specific project, I would start here. Both with the type of varnish you use and the quantity. A great example would be if you wanted something a bit more water resistant, I would recommend using more varnish. If you like a more shiny finish, use a high gloss poly like this one.
3 – Thinner
In order to go on evenly, the mixture needs a thinner like mineral spirits or paint thinner. Some people believe that only mineral spirits will work, but I’ve used both and cannot tell a difference (besides the price).
I would stick to 1/3 for this one.
4 – Apply the finish
Application is very easy. It generally follows this pattern:
Apply the oil with a rag until the wood no longer soaks up the oil
Wait 20 minutes
Wipe off excess
Let it dry for 24-48 hours
Sand with high grit sandpaper (320 or higher)
Repeat as needed
NEXT UP
How to Make the Perfect Dovetail Joint Using Traditional Woodworking Tools
Learn how to make the perfect dovetail joint every time!
There are plenty of helpful videos on this subject, but I find guides with pictures to be useful with a project like this. I’ve added a lot of close ups for each step so the pictures should help guide you. 1 – Determine which piece of wood will be the tail board and which will
Introducing Howchoo, an enigmatic author whose unique pen name reflects their boundless curiosity and limitless creativity. Mysterious and multifaceted, Howchoo has emerged as a captivating storyteller, leaving readers mesmerized by the uncharted realms they craft with their words.
With an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a love for exploration, Howchoo’s writing transcends conventional genres, blurring the lines between fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal. Their narratives are a kaleidoscope of ideas, weaving together intricate plots, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
In the 1970s, Nick Sheridon made a breakthrough while working at Xerox’s Palo Alto laboratory. By suspending special spheres, mere micrometers in size, within an oil bubble inside a sheet of silicon, electrical voltage could then be applied to decide whether the black side of the sphere or the white side faced up. This allowed the spheres to create a black or a white pixel and, from this, a new revolution in electronic paper technology was born.
Electronic paper (Side view of Electrophoretic display). By FREEscanRIP
Well, not quite. Electronic paper remained a relative specialty item due to the fast evolution of LCD and other screen technology. As demand for those technologies rose, the price for consumers dropped, and it never seemed worth it for companies to dive deeply into the world of electronic paper. Still, the technology did continue to evolve.
An example of old-school electronic paper technology.
In the 1990s, researchers at MIT made a breakthrough that allowed for higher resolution images through a new suspension technique. This led to the creation of the E Ink Corporation and the rise of the technology that’s now ubiquitous with devices like Amazon’s Kindle. E-Ink is a household name even for those who don’t own an E-Ink device, and as its popularity grows the technology behind it evolves at ever-increasing speeds.
Health and E-Ink
In a traditional computer, screen light is emitted out of the screen into the viewer’s eyes. With E-Ink, ambient light is reflected off the screen in much the same way that it would be with a piece of paper.
There’s some evidence that suggests that reading on bright light-emitting screens causes problems for concentration and increases eye-strain, a problem solved by electronic-ink devices. In a world increasingly beset by screens, any improvements that could lead to healthier screen technology are welcome.
The Evolution of the notebook
Amazon’s Kindle has become a common device, promoted by the retail and media giant as the central nexus from which to access the whole range of Amazon services. There are other excellent contenders, such as the Kobo or Onyx brands of e-readers, both of which are arguably superior to Kindle in terms of design. But, until recently, e-ink devices capable of doing more than displaying text (with some very crude note-taking) have been in short supply.
A market is quickly growing, however, for e-ink journal replacements, devices capable of handling your pen-on-paper workflow but with all the added benefits of an electronic device baked in. Early devices produced crude pixelated perversions of handwriting, suitable for only the most elementary note-taking. But the potential existed, if untapped, for so much more. And that’s where we discover that spunky up-and-comer, Ratta, a Chinese company making big waves in the e-ink market through its Supernote series of e-ink devices.
Note
Supernote was kind enough to send me a free A5X for review. However, I was a fan long before that, and my reviews of their products are completely my own opinions.
1 – Enter the Ratta Supernote
Ratta’s Supernote has some super features.
There are several great e-ink devices now on the market, a few of which have taken the capabilities of the hardware to exciting new dimensions. Limitless paper, team integration, and a paper-like writing experience are only some of the advances being made — color displays are now on the market, an explosive event for the e-ink community which has largely operated only in black and white.
What to look for in an e-ink device
When I went looking for an e-ink device, I spent months researching the contenders on the market. I knew that a few things mattered to me:
I wanted a paper-like, not a glassy, writing feel. I love writing by hand so if it felt the same as writing on the surface of my iPad, I might as well just stick with the paper journal.
It should be able to tackle some basic tasks beyond note-taking. I’m an active academic and student, and I need to be able to read .pdf files and e-books for my various projects.
It needed to be able to handle typing as well as handwriting. Ideally, the device could become my go-to travel companion and, alongside my phone, would fulfill all my technology needs.
I figured that finding a device capable of handling all of these would be impossible, and had nearly settled on an entirely different device when the Supernote A6X drifted into my attention sphere.
An e-ink device that does it all… with a great service team?
Ratta is a small e-ink company just getting off the ground. Without the same sort of pre-existing infrastructure as some of the bigger companies, or the clever marketing of devices like the ReMarkable, the Supernote lived in the background of my searches, never quite making it into the top line-up. And then I happened to look closer.
A screen with a “textured writing feel”?
Can handle .PDF files, Microsoft Word, and e-books?
Support for layers when drawing?
Pressure sensitivity?
Customer support that responded within hours to most support needs, bug reports, and even feature requests — a company that honored feature requests within a reasonable monthly time-frame?
The more I learned, the more I felt flabbergasted that Ratta hadn’t dominated the market. But, of course, their new line of “X” brand devices had just become realized. These devices deviated from their previous reliance on Linux architecture and were built on a customized Android suite to provide a greater range of integration possibilities.
To byte or not to byte?
Ratta’s warranty and extremely limited return options stymied me for a time. I had no way of testing the device before I made a final call. If I opened the box, that would be it. I’d either have to resell on my own or stick with my purchase. Finally, a review by MyDeepGuide swayed me—it was for an earlier model, but the positive points were extremely compelling. I bit the line.
Month by month, the improvements climb!
I first received my Ratta Supernote A6X just after release, and it felt a little like a device participating in a public beta. Some of the features I felt most excited by, like the Microsoft Word integration, were “in development” and the Supernote could not yet hook up to a Bluetooth keyboard for typing. But, as of 2022, Ratta has transformed its product into one of the most powerful E-ink devices on the market.
It’s vital to look for only recent reviews for the Supernote, since older reviews are going to be wildly out of date. The Supernote team delivers monthly updates that dramatically improve existing performance, fine-tune features, and add entirely new features as well.
And yet, even in its earliest release state, my new Supernote proved competent when it came to its most basic function: note-taking by hand. The build quality, plain and wonderfully solid, captured my attention as well, and pretty soon the Supernote became a daily part of my workflow. As did a steady back and forth communication with the Supernote customer service and engineering team via the Supernote Reddit forum. I constantly updated them on bugs and the features I most wanted, and they kept me and the community in the know regarding their development process.
These days, connecting with a company’s customer service arm feels like some sort of bizarre psi-ops exercise, a prelude to a Cold War-era interrogation. But with Ratta, it felt like being an extended part of the team. The folks in charge wanted to know what worked for us and continually sought to communicate all their decisions and processes to us as they went.
When they took a week off for holidays, users in the forums cheered and sent them wishes for a happy vacation. It felt less like being part of a capitalist mechanism and more like being part of a cooperative project in something that mattered. Sure, they were producing something we valued, but we were also invited to take part in that process of creation, afforded the choice to make ourselves honestly heard.
Now, after owning the Supernote A6X for some time, I find myself using it for everything. It’s become invaluable for my job, my scheduling, even my weekly Dungeons&Dragons game. And, even well after its initial release, the team is still hard at work improving the software even further. That’s the sort of pride in workmanship that gets my attention. With the arrival of my review copy of the A5X, I can safely say that Supernote remains a vital part of my daily scaffolding and Deep Work productivity system.
2 – Ratta Supernote hardware
Comparing the Supernote A5X and A6X – the best e-ink devices.
The X-series of Supernote comes in two sizes, the 7.8-inch A6X or the 10.3-inch A5X. There is an important difference between them in terms of technology, however, not just size.
Supernote A6X
Screen technology
The older A6X uses a glass HD Carta screen to keep the costs down, which is more prone to breakage. That said, the cushioning of the soft film technology overlaying the A6X makes accidental damage far less likely than it would be for a device with a glass front exposed to the world. I own an A6X and use it regularly without feeling any concern for its safety, but there’s no doubt that the newer Mobius technology is a surefire way to ensure the longevity of your device.
Battery
The A6X uses a 2900 mAH battery which provides around 4 days of battery life, at around two hours of use per day (always on). Note that Supernote continues to optimize their devices, and battery life displays regular improvements. Battery life will go down significantly if the device is being used for extended daily note-taking. Under these circumstances, a “top-up” every day or two will be needed. Luckily, the device charges to 80+% in about a half-hour.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5Ghz, and USB-C.
Stylus
The stylus is another place where things get exciting for Supernote owners. There are two main options for stylus technology when it comes to the Supernote, either the LAMY pen (which Ratta has partnered to provide) or Ratta’s ceramic pen nib. The writing-feel for both is excellent, but the ceramic nib has the benefit of never wearing down and the LAMY pen has a clever “erase” button built into the shaft, making it incredibly intuitive to erase mistakes while working.
Case
The outer design of the Supernote is clean and simple, even a bit blocky, but I find it refreshing in a world of tech aesthetics that too-frequently slides into the garish or unwieldy. There are a couple of powerful aspects of the deceptively simple design that allow for great functionality, however. The first is the slide-and-lock mechanism that connects the Supernote’s outer folio cover to the device itself. The folios that Supernote offers are sleek and classy and provide a nice layer of additional protection for the main body of the device. It also allows the Supernote’s auto-sleep function to work; whenever the folio is closed, the screen automatically turns off and the device is placed into standby mode.
Finally, there’s the control bar on the Supernote’s face. This is a powerful tactile innovation whereby the user can control some of the basic elements of the Supernote simply by sliding their thumb up or down the groove. By sliding up, the screen quickly refreshes, eliminating any ghosting effect (a condition with e-ink screens where weak afterimages from old screens can remain behind a new screen. In other e-ink devices, the process of refreshing to avoid this can be clunky, but the Supernote makes it a breeze). By sliding down, the main context menu of the Supernote is accessed, allowing the user to quickly switch notes as needed, navigate to folders, or open programs like email or Kindle.
Supernote A5X
Screen technology
The newer and larger A5X uses a relatively new type of electronic paper display (EPD) called Mobius. Mobius is a flexible display technology with a couple of large benefits over hard glass counterparts, the first and foremost being its extreme resistance to damage via impact. Where a glass screen might crack with an impact, a Mobius screen will only flex. This type of screen is also much lighter than other designs, thereby creating a much lighter device overall. Like the A6X, the A5X feature’s Ratta’s signature “soft film technology” which creates resistance while writing.
Battery
The A5X uses a 3800 mAH battery, which should provide a battery life of 4+ days, given the estimates experienced from the A6X.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5Ghz, and USB-C.
Stylus
WACOM G14 with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The stylus is another place where things get exciting for Supernote owners. There are two main options for stylus technology when it comes to the Supernote, either the LAMY pen (which Ratta has partnered to provide) or Ratta’s ceramic pen nib. The writing-feel for both is excellent, but the ceramic nib has the benefit of never wearing down and the LAMY pen has a clever “erase” button built into the shaft, making it incredibly intuitive to erase mistakes while working.
Case
The case design and technology for the A5X is undeviated from the A6X. Aside from size and the type of screen technology itself, the bodies of the two devices are nearly identical.
3 – Software and firmware of the Ratta Supernote A6X and A5X
Supernote offers two devices sized packing the same great software.
I’ve already mentioned some of the things that the Ratta Supernote can handle, but there’s so much more detail to explore.
Operating system
The old Supernote devices ran on a Linux-base that provided powerful functionality at a low overhead in terms of hardware needs. The X-series changed that with a shift to a custom OS that Ratta has named Chauvet.
What is Chauvet?
Chauvet is based on Android and therefore allows for easier integration to the already-existing host of Android programs, like Kindle and Microsoft Word. This necessitated an increase in hardware for the X-series and a corresponding jump in cost, but the added functionality more than makes up for that. Within a few years, there may be only one name in the worldwide e-ink device market: Ratta’s Supernote. Read on for a comprehensive overview of the various main software functions that the X-series Supernote provides.
Microsoft Word
It’s exciting enough to be able to access Microsoft Word on a device like the Supernote, an area where comparable devices like the ReMarkable have failed to apply any attention. But the software functionality extends beyond simply being able to type into a Word Document. In a Word document, the user can manipulate the text directly using their stylus to execute traditional proofreading marks!
For example: striking through text with the pen creates a strike-through in the Word file. This is a major focus for Ratta’s design ideology, which seems to be all about redefining how technology functions—doing away with many of the traditional file structure and access systems in favor of creating new interfaces that improve intuitive user access.
Dropbox Integration
Supernote offers two primary forms of software backup and cloud integration: their own Supernote cloud service with servers based in Japan, or through Dropbox integration. The latter is inspired, not only because it makes users comfortable to use a known system for their data, but because Dropbox so easily integrates with the vast majority of common software currently in use elsewhere. That said, Ratta’s own cloud offers a massive amount of storage space for users’ notes.
It’s wonderfully easy to transfer Word files and PDFs back and forth between the Supernote and my laptop, making it possible to secure the safety of my work easily and access whatever I need, no matter where I am (if I have a Wi-Fi connection).
PDF Reading
Speaking of PDFs, the Supernote handles them swimmingly, especially since the February 2021 update that allows for pinch-to-zoom functionality. With my Supernote A6X, the small screen size makes reading PDF files in their native size difficult, but with the new zoom functionality, I can handle reading and annotating full-size PDFs easily.
Note-taking
Note-taking is one of the fundamental points for buying this device. It works great as an e-reader, too, but there are cheaper options on the market if reading is all you care about. Not only do I feel that the writing experience is extremely favorable when compared to writing on a device like the iPad, but I’m also impressed with the range of tools and software capabilities that the Supernote offers.
Everything from different pens and markers to a lasso-select tool, to supporting multiple layers within a note file (great for artists). The one downside I will note is that the handwriting, when exported to PDF and printed out on full-size paper, tends to look pixelated and chunky. This is something that the Supernote team is aware of, however, and has promised to investigate. With another company, this promise might feel suspect, but Ratta has consistently shown itself to be dedicated to improving the capabilities of its devices, making me feel sure that somewhere down the road the notes I print from my Supernote will look clean and sharp. For now, it still looks great on my Supernote’s screen.
Supernote’s Kindle Integration
I’ve mentioned the Supernote as an e-reader already, and this is an important aspect of the device to consider. While there are other dedicated e-readers out there that offer some features specific to reading on an e-ink screen (such as a backlight), the Supernote handles reading eBooks well, even in just its native e-reader application.
A library of books
The thing about having an e-reader, though, is the ease of accessing a vast library of content. If it’s difficult to add books to your e-reader, it removes some of the usefulness of the device. The Supernote comes with full Kindle integration, and that changes everything. Not only is Kindle a known and excellent e-reading application, but it also provides access to the whole wealth of the Kindle store infrastructure. You can purchase books and have them sent directly to the Supernote, or even connect your local library through Overdrive or Libby’s Amazon integration (allowing you to borrow available e-books and read them on your Supernote at your leisure).
Future software and support
Okay, but what else can the Supernote do? For the price, is it worth it? Well, considering the dual superb capabilities of e-reader and pleasing writing experience, I’d already say “yes.” Supernote, however, is all about continued design and evolution. They even stress this directly in their promotional materials. If you purchase one of their devices, you’re not just getting the device itself, you’re getting monthly firmware updates and continued compatibility updates.
To date, the Supernote team has been working on several advanced integrations including Google Drive, different productivity and calendar applications, note-taking software such as Obsidian, and e-reading software that completely bypasses the Amazon Marketplace (such as native Overdrive and Libby support rather than as passed-through Kindle).
4 – Final thoughts
Supernote has a great Reddit community space.
Ultimately, this is what has impressed me most about Ratta and the Supernote team: their ideology and methodology seem entirely different from almost any other technology company I’ve encountered. Their engineers frequently communicate with the wider community through the Supernote Reddit, and they take the feedback they get very seriously — they even go out of their way to elicit that feedback for major design changes.
Every other company I considered when looking into an e-ink device proved to have somewhat substandard customer support. Supernote did away with “customer support” altogether and dove straight into the creation of a “user community” within which the Supernote engineers and marketing staff are constantly involved. Through this community, Supernote not only provides support but actively helps users engage with each other, the team behind the device, and the features of the device itself. Am I impressed?You bet I am. I also bet that Supernote is poised to dominate the e-reader and e-ink-note-taker environment if they continue to maintain this level of commitment to design improvement and user-base interaction.
Also, for those of you desperately wishing for a writing experience like the ReMarkable, which boasts a true “paper-like” writing experience… Ratta has plans in that direction as well, so hold on to your hats. At some point in the future, all your e-ink needs could be handled by Ratta and Ratta alone.
If you’ve been on the fence so-far, I highly recommend you give the Supernote A5X or Supernote A6X a try!
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