A parent with no prior electronics experience built Marelleo, a DIY audio story box that plays a track when a child places a figurine or tag on it, similar to commercial products like the Toniebox, Yoto, and Lunii. The project is open-source, uses an ESP32 microcontroller and RFID tags, and lets users assign their own audio content rather than buying from a locked catalogue. The creator says the project began as frustration with the subscription-like business models of existing story boxes and a long-standing desire to learn electronics hands-on.
zebra.rodeo
· 2026-10-27
Yoto has released new versions of its Yoto Player ($150) and Yoto Mini ($110), both priced $40 and $30 higher than prior models. The key addition is a dedicated button letting kids access favorite audio without inserting a physical Yoto Card or using a parent's phone, alongside improved durability including splash resistance.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-01
Fast Company named winners of its 2026 Innovation by Design Awards for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, recognizing products, packaging, and built projects focused on waste reduction and resource reuse. The top honor went to Yoto Mini, a screen-free audio player developed by Yoto and Heirloom, praised for giving children access to stories, music, and podcasts without phones or AI.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-14
Yoto's Mini, a screen-free portable audio player for children, has been named winner of the Best Design Europe, Middle East, and Africa category at the 2026 Innovation by Design Awards. The device lets kids listen to stories and music without a screen or algorithm-driven recommendations, relying instead on physical cards to select content.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-14
Yoto has announced a fourth-generation Yoto Player and a refreshed Yoto Mini, both aimed at kids' audio listening without needing a smartphone. The new Player adds a green dial for quick access to up to 20 favorite tracks or stories without inserting a Yoto Card, plus 64GB storage, faster downloads and simplified routine settings. The redesigned Mini is now rugged and water/dust-resistant, holds up to 1,000 hours of audio, and also supports card-free playback via the same green button.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-10
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