Author Archives: Sarang Sheth

Speck Tagimals hands-on at CES 2024: Adorable AirTag holders that attach to kids’ shoes!

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Part cute character, part serious parenting tool, Speck’s latest AirTag case may be a literal lifesaver.

Dubbed the Tagimals, these AirTag covers come with slots that let you strap them to kids’ shoes, letting parents keep tabs on the whereabouts of their young ones. Each Tagimal sports a unique character (with its own name), and houses a single AirTag within. It works with kids’ shoes as well as pet collars, going above and beyond what Apple envisioned for its mere ‘keys and wallet tracking device’.

Designer: Speck

The Tagimals (a portmanteau of Tag and Animal) come in four styles, each with their own animal character. Children can choose the animal they love the best and strap/secure them to their shoes, sort of like Crocs Charms. A wide slot allows parents to string the Tagimals onto laced shoes, slide them into velcro shoes, or even secure them around pet collars.

You’ve got four adorable creatures to choose from – ‘Milo’ the dog and ‘Mittens’ the cat make for the most obvious Tagimals, but you’ve even got whimsical creatures like ‘Blaze’ the dragon and, ‘Tink’ the unicorn for kids with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Attaching an AirTag to a Tagimal is as easy as pushing it in as the tag then secures within with a satisfying click. To remove the AirTag, simply press down on the silicone animal face and it forces the AirTag out, allowing you to replace it, or put the AirTag in a new character because maybe your kid feels like a dragon on some days and a cat on others!

The Tagimals come in a set of four, featuring the motley crew of animal characters. The kit starts at $34.95, which works out to be vastly cheaper than Apple’s own AirTag holder… while offering features that most parents and pet-owners will absolutely love!

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Shiftcam Probe Lens hands-on at CES 2024: the WILDEST iPhone camera accessory ever, just $299

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Remember the $1,599 probe lens Laowa made for DSLRs? Well, Shiftcam built one for 1/5th the price… and it mounts onto your iPhone for the most surreal macro videos ever.

A probe lens for smartphones was definitely not on my 2024 bingo card, but it seems like Shiftcam had other plans. When Laowa launched the first probe lens in 2019, it instantly became the talk of the photography community. The lens had a distinct design, shaped less like a cylinder and more like a projectile. Its design was the perfect example of form following function, because the probe lens could shoot macro unlike any other lens on the market. The only problem, it cost an eye-watering $1,599.

At CES, Shiftcam’s broadly achieved two incredible feats. Not only has it debuted its own probe lens for an ultra-affordable $299, it’s also redesigned it to work with iPhones, bringing the incredible experience to pretty much any smartphone photography enthusiast.

Designer: Shiftcam

Shiftcam’s Probe Lens has that same unmistakable design, with its long, tubular form factor. This pretty much lets you sneak your way into places where most smartphone camera lenses wouldn’t, allowing you to get what’s called a ‘bug’s perspective’ on things. Aside from being able to prod your way into tree trunks, aquariums, and other tight nooks, the distinct benefit of a Probe Lens is the fact that it doesn’t have an extreme DoF. This keeps things in your frame relatively clear, unlike most macro lens that aggressively blur foregrounds and backgrounds out to focus on a singular subject.

The Probe Lens boasts a wide-angle 25mm focal length, quite similar to Laowa’s 24mm lens. The results are incredibly similar too, but it’s a constant endeavor to remind yourself that while Laowa’s $1500 lens fits on expensive high-end cameras, Shiftcam achieves the exact same thing with a $299 price tag and the ability to mount onto any iPhone.

The lens builds on your smartphone’s camera specs, basically leveraging the iPhone’s wild 4K@60fps shooting ability. It relies on Shiftcam’s existing mounting cover cases, which means the lens can attach onto older versions of the iPhone too.

Shiftcam’s announced two versions of the Probe Lens at CES 2024. The regular variant sports a $299 price tag, while the $399 Pro variant boasts extra features like a built-in LED ring, variable DoF adjustment, and a waterproof front tube that lets you point the tip of your lens into water.

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The Minimally Elegant ‘mui Board’ IoT dashboard gets upgraded at CES 2024 with Matter and ChatGPT support

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At first glance, the mui Board Gen 2 appears to be nothing more than a simple wooden plank, designed to be mounted on a wall. However, this unassuming piece of timber transforms into a touch-sensitive interface for controlling various aspects of a smart home. Imagine adjusting your lighting, curtains, thermostat, and even your speakers with a simple tap on this wooden surface.

Now in its second generation after a successful run on Kickstarter back in 2022, the designers behind your smart home’s most minimally elegant accessory are back with round two. The mui Board Gen 2, which made its simultaneous debut at CES 2024 as well as Kickstarter, now comes with a few upgrades which include support for the Matter protocol, as well as integration with ChatGPT for a more innovative and intuitive smart home experience.

Designer: mui Lab

The second-generation Mui Board integrates the new Matter networking protocol, significantly broadening its compatibility with smart devices from tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon. This integration promises easy connectivity and enhances the Mui Board’s appeal as a universal smart home control hub​.

Additionally, the Gen 2 also gets ChatGPT integration via APIs, allowing you to interact naturally with your Mui Board to create schedules, task lists, and even ask questions and get answers on the backlit wood interface.

When not in use, the Mui Board slips into sleep mode, reverting to its original wooden plank appearance. This feature underscores the company’s ethos of blending technology seamlessly into the home environment, making it a subtle yet powerful addition to any room. The Gen 2 continues to use real wood veneers to give the mui Board its unique natural appeal. While the company only showcased the mui Board in a single color, it’ll be available in ‘natural’ and ‘dark’ veneer options at the end of its Kickstarter campaign.

What truly sets the mui Board apart is its focus on “calm technology.” Japanese company mui Lab, the creators of the mui Board, aims to reduce distractions and information overload in our daily lives. By minimizing the presence of glaring screens and providing a more discreet way to interact with smart devices, they hope to maintain a balance between connectivity and tranquility at home.

The post The Minimally Elegant ‘mui Board’ IoT dashboard gets upgraded at CES 2024 with Matter and ChatGPT support first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lenovo Unveils Powerful Yoga and IdeaPad Laptops at CES 2024, along with its own Generative AI app

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New Year New Gear, as they all say… which holds especially true for tech enthusiasts as CES comes rolling in. Lenovo’s taking this opportunity to announce a series of devices that are set to redefine our interaction with personal technology. The spotlight this year is on the Yoga, Tab, and IdeaPad devices, each a testament to Lenovo’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and user-centric design. With the explosion of AI over the past year, Lenovo’s also shining a light on its own AI offering, the Yoga Creator Zone – a generative AI that comes built into its Yoga-series laptops running Microsoft Windows 11.

Designer: Lenovo

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16-inch Gen 9

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 14-inch Gen 9

Yoga Series: The Pinnacle of Premium Personal Computing

The Yoga series has long been synonymous with premium quality and cutting-edge technology, and the new additions continue this legacy with flair and function.

  • Yoga Pro 9i (16” 9): This laptop is a fusion of power and elegance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU makes it a beast for high-end creative tasks, gaming, and AI applications. The PureSight Pro Mini-LED 3.2K screen isn’t just about stunning visuals; it’s about bringing your creative visions to life with impeccable clarity and color accuracy. The six-speaker system, with enhanced bass, transforms your laptop into an auditory theater, ensuring that every note and sound effect is heard with crystal clear precision. It’s not just a laptop; it’s an experience.
  • Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (14” 9): This device redefines versatility. As a 2-in-1, it easily switches between a high-performance laptop and a dynamic tablet, adapting to your needs on the fly. The PureSight OLED 2.8K screen offers visuals that are as vivid as they are smooth, perfect for professional-grade design work or enjoying your favorite media. Coupled with the rotating soundbar featuring Bowers & Wilkins speakers, the audio is just as immersive as the display. Add in the Lenovo Smart Pen, and you have a tool that’s ready for whatever creative task you throw at it.
  • Yoga Slim 7i: This model is the epitome of sleek, portable computing. It’s designed for those who are always on the move, offering a balance between performance and portability. With advanced Intel processors and an optional 4K display, the Slim 7i doesn’t compromise on power or visuals. It’s slim, it’s light, and it’s ready to accompany you wherever your work or creativity takes you.
  • Yoga Pro 7i: This laptop is a balance of performance and aesthetics. It’s built for those who demand top-tier functionality and a design that stands out. With its high-performance processors and stunning display options, the Yoga Pro 7i is ready for everything from intensive work sessions to movie marathons. And with its stylish design, it’s sure to turn heads wherever you go.
  • Yoga Pro 7: Designed for professionals who demand durability and performance, the Yoga Pro 7 comes equipped with features that make multitasking a breeze. Its robust build quality ensures it can handle the rigors of daily use, while its high-performance internals mean it’s ready to tackle any task. It’s a workhorse that doesn’t skimp on style or functionality.
  • Yoga Book 9i: This innovative device pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with a laptop. Featuring a unique dual-screen design, the Yoga Book 9i allows for unparalleled multitasking and creativity. Use it as a traditional laptop, or take advantage of the extra screen real estate for drawing, designing, or extending your workspace. It’s a glimpse into the future of personal computing, offering a new way to work and play.

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Gen 9

Yoga Creator Zone: AI Features for Lenovo’s Yoga lineup
In a groundbreaking shift, Lenovo’s latest array of Microsoft Windows 11 Yoga laptops come equipped with the Lenovo Yoga Creator Zone, an AI text-to-image software exclusively designed for creators, artists, and anyone eager to leverage the simplicity and privacy of generative AI. Positioned as a catalyst for creativity, the Lenovo Yoga Creator Zone simplifies the process of transforming text descriptions or sketches into vivid imagery, eliminating the need for intricate prompts, codes, or setups. Users can effortlessly input their vision, and the system promptly materializes it into a visual form.

For those using Lenovo Yoga Pro devices with specialized GPUs, including the powerful NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070 Laptop GPU, the Lenovo Yoga Creator Zone introduces an advanced feature called Image Training. This unique Lenovo capability enables users to cultivate a personalized model that resides directly on the device. With each image or series of images fed into the system, the Lenovo Yoga Pro laptop becomes more attuned to the user’s artistic inclinations, generating images that reflect their distinct style and preferences. Whether a user is drawn to the geometric intricacies of cubism or the bold vibrancy of pop art, Image Training ensures their creations are consistently aligned with their tastes, without the need for repetitive specification. The result is a series of stunning creations that are deeply personal, offering a bespoke reflection of the user’s artistic identity.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i 14-inch Gen 9

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i 2-in-1 16-inch Gen 9

Lenovo Tab M11: Entertainment and Education in One

The Lenovo Tab M11 is a testament to Lenovo’s understanding that technology should be accessible and enjoyable. Designed for students and entertainment enthusiasts, the Tab M11 features an 11-inch FHD screen that makes learning and leisure a visual treat. The dual-screen capability and the Lenovo Tab Pen transform it from a reading device to a digital canvas, offering a versatile tool for both productivity and play.

Lenovo Tab M11

IdeaPad Series: Powering Everyday Excellence

The IdeaPad series is where innovation meets the everyday, offering a range of laptops that are as diverse as the users they’re designed for.

  • IdeaPad Slim 5i (15″, 9): The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i (15”, 9) introduces a new form factor to the IdeaPad family, offering a 15.3-inch 16:10 display that provides more screen real estate for your ideas to roam free. The WUXGA display with 90% AAR and 100%sRGB ensures ultra-vibrant, accurate color reproduction, making every visual more immersive and every detail crisper. With an edge-to-edge keyboard design and two full-function USB Type-C™ ports, it offers extended compatibility with peripherals. The up to 76WHr Polymer battery with Rapid Charge Boost ensures that your creative flow isn’t interrupted by a search for power outlets.
  • IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1: The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 and 5i 2-in-1 convertibles redefine what it means to be versatile. Available in both 16-inch and 14-inch sizes, these devices offer OLED displays that bring every image to life with stunning clarity and color. Whether you’re working in laptop mode or exploring your creativity in tablet mode, the full touch functionality ensures a smooth, intuitive experience.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i G9

Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

Lenovo’s dedication to sustainability can be seen across its entire lineup. The entire Yoga, Tab, and IdeaPad lineup reflects a commitment to a greener tomorrow, with recycled materials and plastic-free packaging being standard across the board.

Pricing and Availability: Innovation Within Reach

With a range of products designed to cater to various needs and budgets, Lenovo ensures that innovation is accessible. Starting April 2024, the Yoga, Tab, and IdeaPad devices will be available, with prices ranging from the affordable Lenovo Tab 11 at $179.99 to the premium Yoga Book 9i at $1999.99.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 9

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The XGIMI Aladdin is the iPhone of smart projectors…

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It’s a Smart Projector, a 360° Harman Kardon Speaker, and also a Ceiling Lamp.

Far be it for me to throw an iPhone analogy willy-nilly, but when Steve Jobs took the stage to reveal his breakthrough device, he used a similar analogy. The iPhone was touted as three great things (a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a Phone, and an Internet communications device)… but in one small handheld package. XGIMI’s Aladdin, which was announced at CES 2024, has a similar back story. Disguised to look like a ceiling lamp, the Aladdin is, in fact, a 1080p short-throw projector capable of outputting a screen as large as 100 inches, with a more-than-capable 2.1-channel 360° Harman Kardon speaker built into its rather compact ceiling-mounted design.

Designer: XGIMI

Foraying into a new format after dabbling with compact projectors and UST behemoths, the Aladdin explores an entirely new design template for XGIMI – putting a projector into a ceiling light fixture. It addresses the perennial problems of traditional projectors – bulkiness, screen blockage, and glare – with an innovative approach. By integrating a projector into a ceiling light fixture, XGIMI offers a solution that is both space-efficient and aesthetically pleasing. Imagine having a cinematic experience of up to 100 inches, projected directly from your ceiling, without sacrificing any floor space. The added benefit of it being a short-throw projector with a 0.7:1 throw ratio means that it can easily fit into small rooms, making it a perfect addition to a bedroom.

The Aladdin is a fixed-position short-throw projector, capable of casting a 1080p image that spans 100 inches, all from a mere 5.98 feet away from the projecting surface. The strategic positioning not only provides an immersive viewing experience but also prioritizes user safety by preventing direct light exposure. Moreover, once installed, the image can be adjusted and tweaked to cater to the size of your room, accounting for direction, angle, focus, and keystone.

The auditory experience with Aladdin is equally impressive. The integrated 360-degree speaker by Harman Kardon, featuring a 2.1-channel sound system, creates an immersive audio environment. This system ensures that sound seems to emanate from the screen itself, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

In terms of design, Aladdin mirrors the simplicity of installing a standard ceiling light, making it a practical choice for homes. The projector also goes beyond traditional usage, offering interactive experiences like dynamic wallpapers, interactive children’s books, and ambient sounds, adding a unique touch to everyday moments. Speaking of unique touch, the Aladdin operates entirely touch-free and without a remote, relying on voice commands that make it a breeze to operate.

Scheduled to launch in Japan in June 2024 and priced at under $1000 USD, the Aladdin is poised to make a significant impact in the market. This pricing strategy positions the XGIMI Aladdin as an accessible option for a wide range of consumers.

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Timekettle’s $699 translator device can simultaneously translate between 20 people in 5 separate languages

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Timekettle CEO Leal Tian compares it to an entire UN General Assembly meeting being translated by a simple $699 device…

Over the past few years, Timekettle has really carved its niche into the translation industry. Translating speech is usually seen as a feature, not an entire category in itself, as companies like Google and Microsoft have integrated it into their larger offerings for meetings and calls… however, Timekettle solidified its vision as a company that puts translation front and center. First building their repertoire with TWS earbuds like the M3 and the WT2 Edge before moving onto handheld translator devices like the Fluentalk T1 Mini, the company is now broadening their hardware lineup and their horizons with the X1 Interpreter Hub, a multi-device translation solution that offers multi-language translation both online as well as offline for business ad education.

Timekettle has a history of advancing translation hardware, and the X1 Interpreter Hub is a culmination of user feedback and technological advancements. The device offers an all-in-one design that requires no additional apps or complex setups. Its primary function is to enable real-time translation for one-on-one conversations or multi-language meetings, making it a versatile tool for various communication needs.

The individual modules pair simply by touching them to connect.

At its core, the X1 boasts an advanced simultaneous translation engine capable of handling multiple languages both online and offline. This flexibility is crucial in a world where internet access can be unreliable. The device’s patented Vector Noise Reduction algorithm is a standout feature, ensuring that translations are not only swift but also clear and accurate, even in noisy environments.

The X1 offers five versatile translation modes:

  1. Face-to-Face Conversation Mode: This mode allows two people to speak back and forth in their native languages, with the X1 providing instantaneous translation.
  2. Group Meeting Mode: Designed for multilingual meetings, this mode can connect multiple X1 devices, allowing each participant to follow and contribute in their preferred language.
  3. Listen Mode: Ideal for lectures or speeches, this mode translates what’s being said into your language in real-time.
  4. Speak Mode: This turns the X1 into a handheld translator, useful for quick translations in informal settings.
  5. Voice Call Translation: For remote communication, this mode translates phone conversations on the fly, making every word clear and comprehensible.

Understanding the need for record-keeping in business and education settings, the X1 comes with a built-in recording feature. This allows users to save important conversations, lectures, or meetings for later review. Privacy is also a paramount concern, and the X1 addresses this with a secure data erasure feature, ensuring that all recorded content can be permanently deleted as needed.

Moreover, Timekettle is also promising exciting additional features via OTA upgrades, including the ability to actively audio-translate videos in real-time (something that Spotify and YouTube still haven’t figured out), as well as AI voice cloning, which allows translated speech to play in the same voice as the speaker. This makes real-time arguments more fun, suggests Timekettle CEO Leal Tian!

The X1 Interpreter Hub sports a sleek, compact design that belies its powerful capabilities. It’s built to be portable, ensuring that effective communication isn’t confined to a single space. The device’s intuitive interface allows for easy operation, a critical feature when navigating the complexities of multiple languages. Additionally, its robust construction means it’s designed to withstand the rigors of travel and frequent use, making it a reliable companion for business professionals, educators, and travelers alike.

“Our vision at Timekettle sets us apart from other players in the market, focusing on differentiation in product design and development direction. We strive to develop the best communication solutions to address real-life user cases and encourage proactive engagement in different languages,” says Leal Tian.

Priced at $799, the X1 Interpreter Hub is a premium offering in the translation device market. This price reflects its advanced features and the value it provides in professional and educational settings. Set to be released at CES 2024, it will be available on Timekettle’s official website and Amazon.

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Panasonic announces “World’s Smallest & Lightest” medium-telephoto macro lens at CES 2024

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At CES 2024, Panasonic introduced the LUMIX S-E100, the world’s smallest and lightest medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens. This addition to Panasonic’s LUMIX S Series isn’t merely an incremental update but a significant leap forward in the realm of photography and videography gear, reflecting a blend of compactness, performance, and innovation.

Designer: Panasonic

A marvel of engineering, the S-E100 weighs in at a mere 298 grams. But don’t let its featherweight profile fool you. This lens packs a punch with high resolution, stunning bokeh unique to macro lenses, and an excellent depth of expression. The inclusion of a new optical design and a newly developed Dual Phase linear motor ensures that it’s not just lightweight but also a heavyweight performer in its category.

The S-E100 stands out not only for its close proximity photography but also for producing impressive portraits and images unique to medium-telephoto lenses. It comes with a bright F/2.8 aperture and supports fast autofocusing, making it versatile for various shooting conditions. With an increased demand for video capabilities, Panasonic has equipped this lens with a silent operation feature and optically corrected focus breathing, ensuring high-quality video content production.

Panasonic’s aim is clear: to spearhead a new era in the digital mirrorless camera market. With cutting-edge performance and enhanced mobility, the S-E100 is not just a tool for photographers and videographers; it’s a companion for those who dare to explore and capture the world in all its detail.

With features like a new Double Focus System, three aspherical lenses, and a newly developed Dual Phase Linear Motor with a new actuator, the S-E100 is designed for a wide range of scenarios. Its high resolution and photographic performance capture every detail of the subject, creating a mesmerizing bokeh effect unique to medium-telephoto macro lenses. For video producers, the S-E100 offers silent operation, suppressing focus breathing and allowing for smooth exposure changes.

Furthermore, the fast autofocus performance of the S-E100 expands its capabilities, enabling speed and precision for faster action tracking in both photo and video uses. Its ultra-high precision manual focus sensor ensures unparalleled manual focus precision, even at 1:1 macro.

Panasonic has also considered the overall user experience. The S-E100 is designed to integrate seamlessly with Panasonic’s existing F/1.8 series of lenses, offering a consistent and unified experience across various focal lengths. This thoughtful design extends to the color rendering, ensuring uniformity regardless of the lens used, a crucial aspect for professionals managing extensive shoots.

The LUMIX S-E100 lens is set to be available at the end of January 2024 for $999.99.

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Samsung’s ‘First Look’ at CES includes some of their most Uniquely Innovative displays

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Set against the backdrop of the Augustus Ballroom at the Caesar’s Palace, Samsung unveiled its entire lineup for CES this year. From new versions of the Freestyle Projector to showcasing the behemoth Odyssey Ark Gen 2, there was a lot to lay eyes on (some could even marvel the Neo QLED TVs on display), but our eyes caught the most unique exhibits on the floor. Samsung’s undoubtedly the juggernaut in the display category, and when it flexes, it absolutely shows. The company showcased its latest transparent MicroLED tech, put its massive curved monitors on full blast, and even reintroduced us to the elegant Serif and Sero TVs.

Designer: Samsung

The Transparent MicroLED was impressive on its own, but even more so when showcased beside the other transparent displays from Samsung. When kept beside Transparent OLEDs and Transparent LEDs, the differences were quite literally between day and night. The MicroLEDs have much better illumination and color, while the OLEDs look frankly like yesterday’s news in comparison. The LCDs don’t have a light source of their own, resulting in a display that was dark and dull without the backlight. Notably, aside from being the brightest and most vibrant, the Transparent MicroLEDs also had virtually no bezels on the side, resulting in an edge-to-edge experience.

The other goliaths to make their appearance at the First Look event were the Odyssey Ark Gen 2 (shown above), and the Odyssey G9 (below). The Ark display, which made its appearance earlier last year, stood tall with its massive 55″ screen boasting a 4K resolution and the ability to rotate into portrait mode, transforming instantly into a multi-screen display (because who really needs 55 inches of landscape vision, amirite?) The Ark Gen 2’s ability to work as a multi-screen display (when in portrait) is perhaps its most useful feature… but for people looking for an immersive landscape monitor, the 49″ Odyssey G9 gives you all the immersion your eye really needs, as the world’s first 32:9 aspect ratio OLED gaming monitor.

Finally, Samsung also flexed its design chops with the Serif and Sero, some of their more visual-focused TVs that aren’t just about hardware chops. The Serif, which made its appearance years ago, got an elegant makeover, still retaining its shelf-like design with the typography-inspired side profile. The Sero, on the other had, is best known for being able to rotate into portrait mode for watching vertical content (especially social media). Unlike the Odyssey Ark Gen 2, however, it doesn’t bend to capture your entire periphery. However, the fact that it comes with its own easel stand makes it a perfect addition to most rooms.

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Chipolo announces “Perfectly Imperfect” trackers at CES 2024 that are as visually unique as you are

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Automation almost always means the death of imperfection. The reason we have robots manufacturing products is because not only is it faster, robots are much more precise than humans, resulting in the kind of consistency we’ve come to expect from the Industrial Age. In a world hyper-focused on sheer perfection, Chipolo is embracing the flawed with its latest release at CES 2024, the limited edition “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo CARD Spot, exclusively compatible with the Apple Find My network.

Designer: Chipolo

The brand has launched 10,000 of these unique item trackers, each with its own minor cosmetic imperfection, a bold move that’s more than just a marketing strategy — it’s a statement. Chipolo is challenging the pervasive societal norms dictating that perfection is paramount, suggesting instead that these so-called “defects” are often barely noticeable to others and might be unduly magnified in our own eyes.

Primož Zelenšek, Co-founder, and CEO of Chipolo, expressed his excitement about the launch, stating, “Through the ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ series, we aim to ease lives not just physically through functionality but also mentally, by promoting peace of mind.” This initiative isn’t just about producing unique trackers; it’s about inspiring a change in how people view themselves and their imperfections.

What sets these Chipolo CARD Spot trackers apart is not just their philosophy but also their design. Each tracker features a distinctive blemish on one side and the campaign’s motto, “Perfectly Imperfect,” engraved on the other in a marker-like font developed in collaboration with a female-owned type design studio in Slovenia. This choice in typography reflects the brand’s core values of friendliness and openness and supports the campaign’s message that our imperfections contribute to our uniqueness.

To ensure that this ‘imperfection’ isn’t just a gimmick but is more of a well-rounded message on sustainability, Chipolo has chosen to use plastic with minor imperfections that would typically be discarded, thereby reducing waste and avoiding the creation of additional pollution. This choice underlines Chipolo’s commitment to the environment, ensuring that each tracker is fully functional, with only its exterior bearing the marks of its sustainable journey. It also isn’t the first time Chipolo’s relied on recycled plastic, as the company debuted a series of trackers made from repurposed ocean plastic back in 2020.

Keeping in line with the campaign’s overall message, the company has partnered with The Global Mental Health Peer Network, Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs, and VDC Zasavje, promising to donate $1 for every “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo sold. This partnership aims to support the missions of these non-profits, focusing on mental health, support for the blind and visually impaired, and social welfare, respectively.

As these limited edition trackers make their way into pockets and purses worldwide, they carry with them a message of acceptance, sustainability, and community support. Sometimes, it’s about discovering a sense of acceptance and peace within ourselves — and that’s something worth searching for.

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Acer’s Predator Monitor lineup for CES 2024 includes a GORGEOUS 57-inch curved MiniLED Display

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Acer’s latest announcement at CES 2024 has quite a bit in store for gamers. From game-ready 5G Wi-fi 7 routers to some rather whopping displays (including even a 3D one), the company is making some significant strides forward. The unveiling of its new lineup of Predator gaming monitors introduces a series of models designed to cater to a diverse range of gamers’ needs, each combining innovative technology with high performance.

Designer: Acer

Acer Predator Z57

Let’s begin with the crown jewel, the Predator Z57 – a 57-inch behemoth, curved to wrap your vision in a MiniLED display. But Acer didn’t stop at size. They doubled down with a dual UHD resolution of 7680×2160 at a smooth 120 Hz. This colossus offers a 32:9 aspect ratio, making it feel like you’re not just observing the game; you’re part of it. With VESA DisplayHDR™ 1000, the colors and contrasts are so vivid they’ll make reality seem dull. And if the immersive experience isn’t enough, its 1000R curvature, picture-by-picture, and picture-in-picture modes ensure multitasking is as seamless as your gameplay.

Acer Predator Z57

But perhaps you’re seeking something a bit more traditional, yet no less groundbreaking. Enter the Predator X34 V3. This 34-inch curved MiniLED display brings you an ultra-wide QHD resolution of 3440×1440. Its 1500R curvature is like a gentle embrace, ensuring no enemy lurks just out of sight. With a 180 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time, every moment is a fluid transition, with no room for lag or ghosting. It’s not just about speed; it’s about experiencing every detail in a symphony of colors with its DCI-P3 94% color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR™ 1000.

Acer Predator X34 V3

Now, for those who live in the fast lane, Acer’s OLED models, the Predator X39 and Predator X34 X, are the perfect pick. These 39-inch and 34-inch titans offer UWQHD resolution at up to 240 Hz refresh rates. But it’s the 0.01 ms pixel response time that makes these monitors a dream for the fast and the furious gamer. Their 800R curvature and DCI-P3 99% color gamut deliver a visual feast, while the VESA DisplayHDR™ True Black 400 ensures the darkest blacks and brightest whites. And for the marathon gamers, they’re Eyesafe 2.0 Certified, so your eyes are protected even during those all-night campaigns.

Acer Predator X39

Across this lineup, Acer integrates features like AMD FreeSync Premium™ to address screen tearing and stuttering, ensuring smoother gameplay. The inclusion of a USB Type-C 90W PD port and a built-in KVM switch reflects a thoughtful design, aimed at providing convenience and flexibility to users.

Let’s talk brass tacks – pricing and availability. The Predator Z57, the flagship of this fleet, will start at USD 2499.99. For the OLED aficionados, the Predator X39 and Predator X34 X are priced at USD 1499.99 and USD 1299.99, respectively. And for those seeking that perfect balance of performance and price, the Predator X34 V3 is an enticing option at USD 899.99. These technological marvels will start gracing desks in North America and EMEA in Q2 2024, with China getting a head start in Q1 2024.

Acer Predator X34 X

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