- Today, we're digging deep into the strange parts archive
for an extended version
of an interview I shot almost two years ago,
when I did the wireless charging video.
If you haven't seen that video,
you can click up here to go watch that.
But Yakko the designer
of the wireless charging module that I used
is such a fascinating character to me.
He's a self-taught engineer,
but he's super immersed in the Shenzhen cell phone markets
and manufacturing ecosystem around them.
And so it's allowed him to do this incredible thing
leveraging the work of a ton of other people
and all these resources and services
and machines that he has access to.
And so he had tons of interesting things to say
that we couldn't fit into the original video.
So, I was saving it up
and I wanted to release that at some point.
And now it seems like a good time.
I've actually saved up a number of interviews like this,
so we'll be releasing those as the weeks go on here.
Alongside plenty of other stuff.
This is a new studio space for me,
and I'm getting it all tweaked out
so I can start recording some builds
and tear downs and stuff in here, so stay tuned.
Without further ado,
let's jump into the interview.
So, Yakko, we have been talking back and forth
at your shop about your wireless charging cables,
but I wanted to find a time where we could sit down
and drink tea together, and you could explain to me
a bit more about your design and how you designed it.
And so I brought with me Ken,
who has offered to translate for us.
Maybe Yakko, you could tell me
how you came up with the idea for this,
maybe a little bit about what you've done previous to this.
(speaking in foreign language)
The LED logo?
(speaking in foreign language)
So there's an extra connector-
- Extra.
- They can plug into? Ah, okay.
(speaking in foreign language)
And this is before the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X
came out with wireless charging built into them, right?
(speaking in foreign language)
- There's leather.
- Yeah, like a different design,
like a different color-
- Yeah. - Yeah.
(speaking in foreign language)
When did you come up with this idea?
Was it before or after
the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X were released?
(speaking in foreign language)
So I saw that design in the market
six months ago, maybe more?
And I had the same idea as you,
I could take this
and I could put it inside the phone instead of only outside,
'cause it was something that
you plug into the lightning Jack,
and then it sits between your rubber case and your phone.
And I thought, oh, I'll do the same thing.
So I had the same idea, but I did not try (chuckling)
So I'm very happy that you tried
(all laughing)
(speaking in foreign language)
I have the same problem.
Yeah, I have the same problem with my headphone Jack design.
What happens if the phone is
on the wireless charger and is charging
and I plug something into the lightning jack?
(speaking in foreign language)
How long did he work on this?
To design this from the start,
from the idea to having this now?
(speaking in foreign language)
- About one year.
- One year? Whoa!
(speaking in foreign language)
A year ago was when I was working on the headphone jacks,
fit the project.
So, we were starting at the same time,
working on something very similar.
I wish I had known you then, we could have shared ideas.
(speaking in foreign language)
Same passion, yes, absolutely.
Definitely, we definitely have
the same interests and passions here.
Maybe show us, you have a couple of different prototypes
you brought with us, with you?
So maybe show us your prototypes?
(speaking in foreign language)
(phone ringing)
Okay, so hooked up to the speaker, yeah?
(speaking in foreign language)
It's very cool.
(speaking in foreign language)
And so you were showing this to me earlier,
so this is an iPhone on this side,
but on this side, it has wires coming out of it.
And then you have a set of six Pogo pins.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Got it.
- And so is this what they use for testing
every one that they make, or is this only for development?
Is this used in the factory or just for development?
(speaking in foreign language)
would you consider yourself or what you do to be Shanzhai?
(speaking in foreign language)
I wanted to jump in really quick here
and just explain what Shanzhai is.
So Shanzhai is this Chinese word
that literally translates as mountain stronghold.
It was where the bandits operated
outside of the reach of the central Chinese government.
But now in modern times, what it refers to
is low quality imitation consumer goods, often electronics.
And it's an ecosystem
that has been based in Shenzhen for a long time.
Those factories have actually evolved over time though
and are no longer these, you know,
poor quality ill-equipped family owned factories.
They've often been able to upgrade their equipment
substantially over the years,
but they've retained their values
around moving very quickly, producing goods very cheaply
and this like tight knit cooperation
with other companies and factories.
And so it's this perfect environment
for someone like Yakko to who has limited resources
to make something very, very quickly.
I think you should be very proud to be Shanzhai.
This is incredible engineering
and I think is only possible because of Shanzhai.
(speaking in foreign language)
As a westerner, I still am trying to understand
what is Shanzhai or what is not Shanzhai.
When I think of Shanzhai,
I don't think so much of copying as this kind of thing
of taking something, changing it a little bit,
changing it little bit more, adding something on,
moving very, very fast, being very clever.
(speaking in foreign language)
Do you think that DIY things like this
are included in Shanzhai or is Shanzhai only about copying?
(speaking in foreign language)
Yeah, I don't think this is a copy at all.
What do you think is the best word,
best Chinese word to describe what you're doing?
In the West, we might call it a clever hack,
like a hacker.
(speaking in foreign language)
- DIY. - DIY, okay.
Many hackers, (indistinct), think that this is like magic,
what you have done.
They think that this is very complicated technology,
and that what they do is very simple compared to this.
They would never call this DIY,
they would say this is too complicated for DIY.
(all laughing)
And it's why I love to come to Shenzhen.
And this is very unique I think in many ways in the world,
that this is a very special place
to be surrounded by so many people
that do this kind of DIY
and these kinds of little improvements
and learn from each other and share
and share tools and resources.
It's an amazing place.
- Welcome to (indistinct)
- Yeah, thank you.
(all laughing)
(speaking in foreign language)
Me too, I also have ideas I want to share with you.
That about does it for today,
I wanted to thank Yakko for sharing so much with us
and Ken for translating.
As I mentioned at the beginning,
I have a few more interviews like this
that we'll be releasing in an extended format,
over the next few weeks here.
Not to worry though,
I am getting this new studio slash workshop online
and have some exciting projects in store
as well as some tear downs and some other fun stuff.
So stay tuned,
I'm Scotty from Strange Parts.
Make sure you hit that subscribe button down below.
I'll see you again soon, I hope you're well.