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DJI’s latest power station is proof that good things come in mini packages

2026-04-20T09:11:55-04:00

As an avid vanlifer, I have to carefully curate everything I carry in order to eke out every square inch of storage I can to support life off the grid for weeks at a time. That's why I jumped at the chance to review DJI's latest power station.

The DJI Power 1000 Mini is almost half the size of the original DJI Power 1000 released two years ago with the same 1kWh battery capacity. And from my calculations, it's also the smallest 1kWh power station from the major brands that money can currently buy.

DJI's little power station also has a few tricks up its sleeve, including a built-in retractable USB-C cable, a light that can be controlled rem …

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Amazon’s Starlink competitor Leo gets a new date

2026-04-09T09:55:47-04:00

An Amazon Leo terminal being installed. | Image: Amazon

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says the company's space-internet service Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper) will "launch in mid-2026." I'm going to assume that means proper commercial availability since the company already announced the start of an "enterprise preview" at the end of 2025, when the service was supposed to originally launch.

Unlike SpaceX's Starlink service, Amazon doesn't (yet) have its own fleet of rockets to regularly send Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit. That's meant hitching rides with a variety of launch partners, including SpaceX, until Jeff Bezos' own reusable New Glenn rocket is fully operational.

Amazon has FCC app …

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Anker’s Nebula P1 projector is the portable sound king

2026-04-06T10:50:48-04:00

The Nebula P1 goes anywhere you can find a power source.

The Soundcore Nebula P1 from Anker isn't the most portable Google TV projector I've ever reviewed, nor is it the brightest. It doesn't even have a built-in battery. Instead it's a decent video device that focuses on sound.

The Nebula P1's standout feature is a pair of speakers that detach to create true left- and right-channel separation. It sounds much better than typical all-in-ones like the supremely portable TCL PlayCube, Xgimi MoGo, or Anker's popular Capsule projectors.

I've been testing the $799 (currently on sale for $639) Nebula P1 as I travel around the European countryside in my van. It's not my favorite portable projector, but …

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Bluetti’s Sora 500 solar panel is incredibly powerful for its size

2026-03-26T04:43:13-04:00

Those 12 panels generate over 500W and fold down very small.

We don't review many solar panels at The Verge, but the tech inside Bluetti's incredibly portable Sora 500 panel makes it worth a deeper look. The new N-Type panels made by Bluetti and others give you more bang for the buck, pound, and square inch. That's a big deal for vanlifers like me who depend upon these beefy portable solar panels to extend off-grid stays.

In real-world testing, I saw Bluetti's 500W panel deliver 509W to my van's power station, allowing me to generate over 800W when combined with the three sad 140W monocrystalline solar panels I have installed on top of my van. That kind of stationary output is fantastic. I typically …

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The improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is here

2026-04-08T12:05:58-04:00

All hail true remote access.

My Starlink Mini has radically changed the way I live. It's the biggest reason I can work remotely from my converted van, providing fast and reliable internet in places that traditional 4G and 5G data signals don't reach. Peakdo's latest LinkPower battery makes the smallest Starlink terminal even better by setting it free from power cables for hours at a time.

While that might not sound like a big deal, I can assure you it is. For example, I can park in the shade and place the Mini far away to avoid trees and other obstructions, just so long as I'm within reach of its Wi-Fi signal. It even works on my dashboard without any long cables to sn …

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‘Work from home,’ encourages the world’s energy watchdog

2026-03-20T09:54:04-04:00

Many organizations have called employees back to offices following covid-related lockdowns, but the Iran war and ensuing energy crisis may quickly see workers returning to work from home.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) - an energy watchdog established to help safeguard global power supplies following the 1970s oil crisis - is pushing for governments, businesses, and households to adopt recommendations that aim to curb energy demands amid supply disruptions triggered by the conflict. The list of 10 suggested actions identified in the IEA's report includes encouraging people to work from home and/or drive slower to reduce fuel usage, a …

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Leaving civilization is now easier with this ‘off-grid utility core’

2026-03-17T07:13:37-04:00

A prototype Klumpen being tested. | Image: Himmelsfahrtskommando

Klumpen isn't an off-grid cabin, but it does provide all the utilities needed to live away from civilization comfortably. The seven-square-meter teepee is an "off-grid utility core" that provides solar-generated electricity, satellite broadband, a shower, toilet, and small kitchen. It's expected to cost around $35,000 plus an estimated $3,000 to ship within the EU.

The idea is to drop a factory-built Klumpen next to a small cabin and just press "on" - no need for any extra permits, plumbers, or electricians. The electrical system is built around a 7.5kWh battery with inverter to power standard 230V appliances and wall jacks. Water is recycl …

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Tenways nearly perfects the shareable city e-bike

2026-02-28T03:34:33-05:00

The CGO Compact electric bike twists and folds to create a wall-hugging profile.

Good electric bikes are expensive. So why not buy one and share it?

That's the idea behind the Tenways CGO Compact e-bike I've been sharing with my wife and teenage daughter for the last two weeks. It adapts in seconds without any tools to comfortably fit riders of varying heights thanks to its low-entry frame, quick-release seat post, and height-adjustable handlebar.

It also takes up less space than an ordinary bike with its 20-inch wheels, folding pedals, and a handlebar that twists to create a slim, wall-hugging profile that goes flat inside a car or train.

The CGO Compact's geometry puts riders into a comfortable upright body positi …

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The Loch Capsule dishwasher is small, fast, and efficient — it even sanitizes gadgets

2026-01-27T12:08:35-05:00

The Loch Capsule in a tiny house that lacks space for a built-in dishwasher.

A dishwasher is a luxury item some people can't live without. It's one of the first major kitchen devices I bought just as soon as I could afford one, and the appliance I thought I'd miss most in my nomadic vanlife pursuits.

Loch sent me its $459.99 / €459.99 countertop Capsule dishwasher to review in a tiny home on a remote beach and inside a van on a two-month roadtrip. It's an excellent product that washes and dries two place settings quickly at bacteria-killing temperatures up to 75 degrees Celsius (167F) in as little as 20 minutes. It'll even kill bacteria and neutralize viruses on your gadgets with a waterless blast of UV-C light. Hoo …

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TCL’s PlayCube projector is more fun than a Rubik’s Cube

2026-01-17T10:49:13-05:00

Twisting the PlayCube angles the image without a tripod.

The best all-in-one portable projector is the one that makes all the right compromises. It needs to balance image and sound quality with battery life and responsiveness in a device that's not too expensive and small enough to take anywhere. TCL's fun little PlayCube delivers the right mix to justify paying $800 for a 1080p projector in 2026.

I tested the TCL PlayCube running Google TV during a two-month road trip, and then again for a few months at home. It's so small, adaptable, and enjoyable that I've had no problem setting it up at a moment's notice, day or night, anywhere I've been.

TCL PlayCube

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
3 hour battery in bright …

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