Putting themselves at the very forefront of high-speed, low-latency gaming, Acer has announced its latest foray into the world of networking hardware at CES 2024. The Predator Connect X7 5G CPE and the Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router are Acer’s bold statement in the high-stakes world of gaming infrastructure. These devices are engineered to provide the high-speed, low-latency connections that are essential for today’s immersive and competitive gaming environments.
The Predator Connect X7 5G CPE puts speed and low-latency at the very forefront, leveraging 5G as well as Wi-Fi 7 to do so. It features a sleek, angular design with customizable RGB lighting, appealing to gamers’ aesthetic preferences. The core of its performance lies in the incorporation of Qualcomm’s advanced quad-core processor, which drives the device’s ability to deliver extremely fast internet speeds of up to 3.5Gbps through the latest 5G networks. The X7 boasts latency as impressively low as 1 millisecond, crucial for competitive gaming and seamless streaming but also facilitates advanced features like Gaming Mode, which prioritizes gaming traffic to optimize online play. Additionally, AI-powered network optimization is used to continuously adjust settings and maintain peak performance, adapting to the dynamic nature of online gaming.
Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE
Meanwhile, the Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router focuses on providing expansive, reliable coverage throughout the home. Utilizing the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, it ensures a stable connection in every corner, supporting both gaming and other bandwidth-intensive activities. Tri-Band technology and a dedicated gaming band work in concert to minimize interference and prioritize gaming traffic, respectively, enhancing the overall online experience.
When used together, the Predator Connect X7 and T7 create a robust, efficient network ecosystem. This synergy ensures that all devices in the home network, from gaming PCs to streaming devices, benefit from optimal performance and reliability. The integration of Qualcomm’s advanced quad-processor in both the X7 and T7 exemplifies the high-performance hardware that underpins this ecosystem, driving the speed and responsiveness that gamers demand.
Acer Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router
“We are excited to announce the latest Predator routers with 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity options, empowering gamers to take their gameplay to new heights,” said Wayne Ma, General Manager, Connectivity, Acer Inc. “Thanks to Qualcomm’s Immersive Home Platform and quad-core processors, the new Predator routers bring next-level performance and speed output to a wider range of players and gaming environments.”
Gamers also stay in full control of the routers through the Acer Predator Connect utility app and can monitor network signal strength through the Predator logo’s multi-color lighting indicator located at the top enclosure. For an added layer of security, the devices are integrated with the Trend Micro Home Network Security engine built-in to keep networked devices protected against potential attacks and help examine network traffic. This comprehensive approach ensures that gamers not only enjoy a superior online experience but also maintain security and control over their network environment.
As Acer enters the competitive high-end gaming router market, these models stand out with their innovative features and strong gaming brand presence. They offer unique advantages over established offerings from companies like Asus, Netgear, and TP-Link, especially for consumers who prioritize the latest technological advancements.
The release of the Predator Connect X7 5G CPE and T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router underscores Acer’s dedication to advancing the gaming experience through enhanced networking solutions. By focusing on both speed and coverage, Acer aims to eliminate the common obstacles faced by gamers, such as lag and unstable connections. As these routers reach consumers, they promise to elevate gaming sessions with their advanced features and robust performance.
I’ve always believed that tech giants are great at making devices… not accessories. You’re much better off buying an iPhone case from Spigen, hubs from Satechi, and charging gear from Anker rather than directly from Apple, Google, or Samsung. Third-party designers and makers usually take creativity and innovation much more seriously than the large companies driven by profit, which is why I’d never recommend buying a MagSafe wallet from Apple. The DuoFlip, on the other hand, is exactly the same size but is vastly better in comparison. It too holds two cards, but with a unique flippable mechanism that lets you make a card of your choice face outwards. This is great for easy-access, but also makes the DuoFlip perfect for tapping on POS devices and RFID readers without needing to take the card out of your wallet. The two cards sit in individual pockets, separated by an RFID-blocking liner. That means only the card that’s facing outside gets tapped during payments or access approval. Moreover, one of the card slots comes with a clear window, making it perfect for storing ID cards. Plus, if all that wasn’t enough to convince you, the flipping mechanism can also be used as a kickstand, giving you the ability to prop-up your phone in landscape or in portrait modes.
Sure, the DuoFlip presents a great alternative to Apple’s MagSafe Wallet, but take it out of Apple’s shadow and you see that it’s a pretty nifty design on its own too. It solves the problem of needing to dig around in your pockets or bag for cards, and eliminates the need for a second card to hang around your neck if your workplace demands it. The two cards slide right into the DuoFlip which snaps satisfyingly onto the back of your MagSafe-capable iPhone (or any phone with the MagSafe sticker).
Flipping between cards is easy to the point of being addictive. The magnets inside the DuoFlip offer just the right amount of resistance that allows you to flip sides in under a second. The two sides have their distinct advantages. One is completely opaque, making it perfect for payment cards, while the other one comes with a clear window that’s well-suited for ID cards. Place your cards in and you’re ready to go. The card that’s facing outwards can be used to tap on terminals, whether they’re for making payments or for registering access/entry. A liner in the middle blocks the hidden card from being read, so there’s never an accidental tap of the wrong card.
Moreover, flip the ‘flap’ halfway and it doubles as a nifty stand for your phone. Sure, it won’t rival an actual stand or tripod, but it’s honestly a perfect easter egg for the wallet, giving it a great added feature that everyone’s sure to love… and people with Apple MagSafe wallets are sure to miss…
The DuoFlip has a sleek, slim design, which means it’s easy to slide into your pocket along with your phone. However, if you’d like to have the wallet more accessible, the folks at SleekStrip also designed a lanyard that attaches to the DuoFlip, letting you wear it around your neck like your standard lanyard ID. Keep the windowed card facing outwards for ease-of-use, but the second you step out for a meal or a quick coffee, flip to the payment card to make quick tap payments.
The adjustable-length lanyard can be used with the DuoFlip wallet, or even your phone thanks to a quick attachment that sandwiches itself between your phone and case. Although I probably wouldn’t want to wear my phone around my neck, that’s an option available to people who want their smart devices to be even more accessible than being right in their pockets or as crossbody.
Each DuoFlip wallet comes crafted from vegan leather, with a plastic back that houses the wallet’s N52 rare-earth magnets in the MagSafe array. A proprietary 6-layer anti-interference partition sits between both cards, allowing for accurate tapping every time, and the wallet’s flipping mechanism is tested to last over 100,000 flips (that’s 27 years worth of flips if you flip 10 times every day).
The wallet comes in black, brown, and gray color variants, and starts at a discounted $28… that’s less than half the price of Apple’s $59 MagSafe Wallet.
In a blend of sustainable energy and outdoor adventure, Jackery is redefining the concept of off-grid living with its latest innovation: a rooftop tent that doubles as a powerful solar generator. Debuting at CES this year, this 1000W system, featuring retractable solar panels, is not just a fleeting showcase but a promising reality set to enter production in the latter part of 2024. Positioned atop a pickup, the tent unfurls to reveal a sizable solar array, angling gracefully toward the sun. The retractable panels are designed to generate up to 4.96kWh daily in the sunny western U.S., diminishing slightly to 4kWh as one travels eastward. While details about its wind resilience are pending, the focus, for now, is on its remarkable energy-harnessing capability.
Rooftop tents equipped with solar panels aren’t novel, but Jackery’s approach is. Traditional setups often rely on lightweight, flexible panels that don’t fully utilize the available surface area, leading to suboptimal energy conversion. Jackery changes the game by covering the entire roof with solar cells and extending them outward, ensuring maximum power generation and neatly integrating the necessary wiring to feed the Jackery power station.
The concept feeds into a separate 1.26kWh E1000 Plus power station, boasting 2000W of AC output, enough to power a range of appliances from a portable air conditioner to an electric cooker. Interestingly, the E1000 Plus isn’t just sun-dependent; it can also recharge from your car or a wall jack, offering flexibility for various travel scenarios.
Beyond power, the tent promises comfort and convenience. It’s equipped with a memory foam mattress, insulation, dimmable and color-controllable lighting, and waterproof fabric with blackout windows. The promise of an “onboard charging module” in the production version adds a layer of anticipation to what’s already an exciting proposition.
As Jackery prepares to bring this concept to life, outdoor enthusiasts and tech aficionados alike wait with bated breath. The company’s innovation not only offers a greener way to travel but also promises a blend of comfort and convenience that’s often lacking in off-grid adventures. While we await more details and the eventual roll-out in Q4, one thing is clear: the future of outdoor living looks a lot brighter, and it’s powered by the sun.
Small enough to fit into a duffle when packed, but large enough to seat up to 10 people when opened out, the Gather table from AroundFire might just be the big upgrade to the age-old campfire. It puts the fire front and center, with tabletop space for multiple people to sit around as they grill their food. The setup is lightweight, fireproof, height-adjustable, and accommodates everything from coals to pellets, firewood, or even a portable stove.
Designed to make outdoor barbecues a much more personalized and interactive experience, the Gather is a foldable table small enough to fit in the back of your car when flat-packed. Opening it up takes all of 30 seconds, but once you do, your barbecues will never be the same. Quite like its name suggests, the Gather gets everyone huddled around in a circle with the fire at the center. Each person has their own table-space and can grill their food right where they’re seated like a mini outdoor Benihana. The table features an adaptable center that accommodates a variety of fuel sources, letting you effectively (and safely) set up your outdoor barbecue with no hassle, and no smoke, thanks to the table’s relatively uninterrupted airflow system.
The Gather table sports an all-metal design, which allows it to be robust, lightweight, and completely fire-resistant. The outer table itself is made from double-layer powder-coated steel mesh that’s heat-resistant and fast-cooling, while also being fairly light. The inside, on the other hand, features a setup with modular accessories that you can add based on the kind of fire you want to light. At the heart of it is AroundFire’s mesh pit, which accepts wood, coal, or pellets. The ultra-light mesh comes with a rectangular profile that ensures your fuel is scattered evenly and doesn’t clump to the center due to sagging. Its tight weave also prevents loose sparks from falling down, while ensuring proper airflow so that your wood/coal burns cleanly, completely, and without smoke.
Once you’re ready to grill away, the Gather comes with two grill tops – a standard stainless steel grill that everyone knows and is familiar with, and the woven grill mesh seen on Korean or Japanese grills. The grills fit perfectly into the window left at the center of the table, and are accessible to anyone no matter where they’re seated. If the fire burns too hot, the grills can be elevated a few inches thanks to a kickstand that helps ensure your food gets cooked without charring, and if it’s exceptionally windy, a foldable windscreen lets you guard your fire against gusts of breeze. The foldable windscreen’s individual panels can be used to ‘plug’ the table’s fire-hole, making it a conventional flat table on which you can put food or even place a portable stove.
The Gather table comes in two sizes, accommodating up to 6 or 10 people respectively. Both the Gather Lite and the Gather Grand, as they’re called, are designed explicitly for travel and for providing a zero-compromise grilling experience. They weigh 16 lbs (7.4 kgs) and 20 lbs (9.1 kgs) respectively, and stand at 15 inches (38cm) tall, extendable up to 21.6 inches (55cm) with the leg-risers. Each Gather table is accompanied by the fire mesh that holds the wood/coal, along with a grill plate that goes on top, and a travel bag that helps you carry your table along with you anywhere you go. You can add extra modules to your table by purchasing them separately, like the KBBQ grill mesh, the windscreen that doubles as a tabletop, a camping stove, or even a pair of barbecue tongs.
The Gather Lite starts at a 50% discount of $149, while the Grand has an early bird price of $179. Each table ships globally, and comes with a 2-year rust-free warranty.
We’re witnessing an age of creative explosion. Whether it’s the accessibility of fabrication tools like 3D printers and laser engravers over the past decade, or the rather recent barrage of AI-based tools that allow anyone to be an artist, never has the time been MORE perfect for the independent creator. For just a few hundred dollars, creators can get their hands on consumer-ready high-end prototyping tools, allowing them to build their creations whether they’re hobbyists, small businesses, or artisans. I’d like to think that 3D printers have gotten their time in the sun, but laser engravers still deserve their moment to shine (pun intended). Arguably more easy to use than 3D printers and CNC machines (since you don’t need to deal with CAD software), laser engravers allow creators to build and customize products like no other tool. You can cut through materials like paper, veneer, vinyl, cardboard, and even thin plastic sheets… but more importantly, a good laser engraver also lets you etch onto a vast variety of materials, like metal, wood, glass, and even ceramics.
Enter the LumiTool F20, a compact powerhouse that embodies this new era of creation. Designed to be a tabletop engraver that can also double as a handheld tool, the LumiTool F20 relies on a powerful industrial-grade 20W laser to effectively etch/carve through materials 10x faster than most standard laser engravers. Created for the home user in mind, the LumiTool is powerful but also intuitive, with a user-friendly experience that prioritizes safety while also offering the ability to work on a variety of materials and even surfaces (horizontal, vertical, and even tilted). When paired with the AI features built into LumiTool’s app, it forms an unstoppable combination, offering precision and speed that’s accessible to all.
The LumiTool F20 looks fairly different from any other laser engraver on the market, and a lot of that boils down to what it’s designed for. It comes with a vertical form factor, allowing you to place objects on its bed below and have the laser hover above, etching designs onto it… however, a handle on the LumiTool F20 also allows you to lift it and point it at other surfaces like door nameplates, mirrors, or larger immovable objects. The laser sits on a hinge too, allowing you to tilt it to engrave on tilted surfaces (to avoid warping and parallax during the job).
The heart of the LumiTool F20’s superiority lies in its fiber laser source, a feature that sets it apart from diode, CO2, and infrared lasers. The fiber laser delivers exceptional results on as many as 100+ materials, ranging from the run-of-the-mill wood, paper and plastic to even metals, glass, and ceramic. The sheer power output of the 20W laser allows it to engrave up to 1.5mm in metal, and a staggering 3mm in stone, giving you the ability to deeply carve into surfaces for high-contrast design work. It can cut into sheet materials too, helping make paper cutouts, acrylic profiles, and even sheet-metal stamps with the simple press of a button.
Equipped with LaserDrive Beam Control technology, the LumiTool F20 boasts engraving speeds up to 7000mm/s. That’s 10 times faster than typical hobbyist engravers, ensuring that your ideas don’t just stay ideas for long. Combine this with a high resolution of 8K (sharper engravings without jagged edges) and a fine granularity of 0.001mm, and you have a tool that captures every detail, ensuring crisp, clear, and precise designs every time. In fact, the F20 possesses the unique ability to engrave in color too, relying on laser wavelengths to bring out colors in metals while running a job.
With a remarkable 8K resolution and a fine granularity of 0.001mm, it achieves a striking level of engraving accuracy.
The LumiTool F20 boasts a work area of up to 150mm x 150mm (6 x 6 inches), and has a height-adjustable head that lets you move the laser module up or down, depending on how big or small the product you want to engrave on is. The laser engraver’s user interface is fairly simple to navigate, making it perfect for first-timers or even seasoned engravers. A dual-light positioning system lets you set the engraver’s focus in mere seconds, and single button lets you start or emergency-stop a job. The engraver comes with a removable tinted shield to protect your hands and eyes from the laser’s sparks, along with a pair of safety goggles to enhance protection.
The F20 pairs with a rather intuitive (and innovative) smartphone app that allows you to upload, adjust, and engrave designs. Sure, you can share jobs via a laptop/desktop too, and the folks at LumiTool are working on Lightburn integration too, but the app really helps break beyond the barrier of wires and complicated software. You can share DXF files for precise pathways for cutting jobs, or directly upload images if you want to engrave/etch something like a wooden frame, a mug, hip-flask, name-plate, or any other object. The app lets you share images directly from your mobile, but it also boasts Midjourney integration, letting you create AI-generated images right within the app itself. These novel AI images can then directly be etched onto objects in mere minutes, taking an otherwise week-long workflow and condensing it down to a 5-minute job.
The LumiTool F20 comes as a standalone device, but you can upgrade your kit with accessories like the safety shield as well as modules like a rotary attachment that lets the device etch on curved surfaces, a chuck rotary for more precise curved jobs like engraving on rings, and a slide extension for working on larger canvasses. The regular lens gives the F20 a 110mm x 110mm work surface, but a field lens upgrade unlocks the F20’s 150mm x 150mm potential. The LumiTool F20 starts at $1599 (that’s as affordable as you’ll ever get for industrial-grade engraving equipment), although the bundle with all the accessories will cost you $2299. The app remains free to use, barring the AI features which cost $99 a year. However, early bird backers get the first year free.
Announced just ahead of CES, UGREEN bringing sheer power to its charging brick lineup with the Nexode Pro series. Touting a power capacity of anywhere between 65W to a whopping 160W, these chargers leverage the latest GaN semiconductor technology to ensure a compact design, incredible thermal management, and the ability to charge multiple devices concurrently at their highest possible PD (power delivery) requirements. The Nexode Pro 160W, which immediately caught our eye, is smaller than your average MacBook charging brick, but has 4 outputs for charging multiple devices, with the ability to route up to 140W of power to a single USB-C port. It’s quite literally one plug to rule them all…
The Nexode Pro 160W is perfect for your workplace or even for travel. It touts the ability to fast-charge your laptop, tablet, phone, and any other gear from your TWS earbuds to a gaming console, simultaneously. At the heart of the charger lies UGREEN’s ‘GaNInfinity’ technology, which expertly manages energy requirements of multiple devices with a whopping 95% conversion rate – which means 95% of the energy from the outlet makes its way to your devices, with only 5% being lost to heat… a feat that most silicon-based semiconductors can’t compete with. The result is a deceptively tiny charging brick, unlike the massive clunky ones seen with laptops and smartphone fast-chargers.
To put numbers into actual words, UGREEN boasts of being able to charge a MacBook from 0% to 50% in just 27 minutes (or 87% with just an hour of charging). When paired with a 140W MagSafe cable, the charger outputs 140W to a single device, letting you fast-charge your laptop at blitzing speeds. Once you plug multiple devices in, the charger manages power delivery to them intuitively, splitting its overall 160W output between its multiple ports. The uppermost USB-C port has the highest output of 140W (when used alone), while the ports below are 100W, 30W, and a USB-A that outputs 22W respectively.
The Nexode Pro 160W is 21% smaller than than other charging bricks of similar power capacity.
All that power means a whole lot of responsibility too, which UGREEN takes in the form of multiple checks and balances to ensure device safety. Its 11-stage safety protocol involves smart thermal management, along with a fire-resistant enclosure, and multiple layers of projection from overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, surges, short circuits, etc. The Nexode Pro 160W weighs a paltry 310 grams (10.9 ounces), and is compatible with the power requirements of over 1000 devices, from laptops to phones, tablets, wearables, drones, cameras, and consoles. It starts at $119 on Amazon, but as a launch offer, you can grab a 15% discount by claiming a coupon during checkout.
When LG isn’t making televisions that fold into briefcases, they’re working on other oddball projects like this rather eclectic jukebox that simultaneously relies on vintage vacuum tube amps for retro-style warm audio, and a transparent OLED display on the front that lets you view the album art and control playback, but also see the magical hardware behind. The DukeBox, as LG calls it, will make its grand debut at CES this year, along with other new devices that LG has been teasing in the past.
Designer: LG
The DukeBox is a unique proof of concept for a high-end speaker that rivals the likes of Devialet and B&O when it comes to building an experience around listening to music. It’s vaguely reminiscent of the Lyric Speaker from back in 2017, but instead puts a transparent screen in FRONT of the speaker’s hardware, with the ability to adjust the transparency depending on your mood. The speaker’s highlight remains the tube amplifiers encased within it, although it also boasts a large front-facing speaker at the bottom and a set of 360° tweeters on top that fill your room with booming sound. The display on the front can also be used in a variety of ways, ranging from displaying semi-transparent album art and playback information, to something a little more seasonal like a roaring fireplace. There’s no word on the DukeBox’s pricing, although if LG plans on selling it, expect this retrofuturistic audiophile’s dream to cost a pretty penny.
Have you ever seen a power bank that A. folds in half, B. comes with two wireless charging coils, and C. has a built-in SSD to take backups of photos on your phone and store other data? No? Well, neither had I until I first saw the ANX Duo. Clearly, the ANX Team looked at the power bank and realized it had so much more potential because just putting a lithium-ion battery inside a brick-shaped device is so yesterday. Designed to do much more than charge your phone, the ANX Duo has a foldable-phone-shaped avatar. It folds in half when not in use, opening up into a charging ‘mat’ that can simultaneously wirelessly charge two devices together. A total of 6 USB-C ports on the side let you connect more devices to the ANX Duo, while a 16,000mAh battery on the inside reliably juices all your devices. When your battery woes end and your storage woes begin, the ANX Duo’s built-in SSD (which starts at 128 gigabytes and goes all the way up to a cool 4 terabytes) lets you store all your photos and videos locally, saving on those pesky cloud subscriptions and their monthly fees.
Calling the ANX Duo a power bank is almost a muscle reflex at this point, but in all honesty, this device is MUCH more than just that. It charges batteries (both wirelessly as well as in wired formats), acts as a pass-through charging hub for multiple devices, stores/manages data from your smartphone, and even doubles as a card reader that wirelessly transmits files to your phone from memory cards. It also folds open when in use, and shuts to a compact pocket-friendly form factor during travel.
While most power banks are brick-shaped given the interior layout of Li-ion batteries, the ANX Duo takes on a unique bifold-like design, almost like a folding smartphone. Fold it open and you’re greeted with two wireless charging coils offering a maximum output of 15W per coil. If you want more power, however, a wired connection to one of the many USB-C ports gives you a maximum output of 60W, helping you fast-charge your phones when you’re in a bit of a hurry. The ANX Duo’s 16,000mAh overall battery holds enough power to juice all your devices, from the larger tablets and handheld gaming consoles to phones, wearables, and even the smallest TWS earbuds.
Even though it looks like a folding smartphone, its 6 USB-C ports should convince you of the fact that you’re dealing with something entirely different. The 6 ports, combined with the two wireless coils, let you simultaneously juice multiple devices at the same time… but the ANX Duo has another trick up its sleeve. Connect it to a power source using one of the USB-C ports and it enters what its creators call a “Desk Hub Mode”. In this mode, the ANX Duo goes from being a power bank to being a multi-device hub, managing power delivery to its five other USB-C ports and two wireless coils. When plugged in, the ANX Duo effectively lets you charge 7 devices at the same time, managing the energy requirements of each device right through one power source while ALSO charging itself. This pass-through charging feature means you can use your ANX Duo and a single power outlet to recharge ALL your portable gadgets at the same time… a feature you probably wouldn’t expect from any power bank on the market.
When you’re not charging devices, the ANX Duo serves as an external drive for storing and managing data. Plug your ANX Duo into your phone, tablet, or laptop and you can switch into OTG mode to access the Duo’s built-in M.2 NVMe SSD. The folks at ANX offer storage capacities ranging from a conservative 128GB all the way to a whopping 4TB. That means you can store large files, take device backups, and dump all your phone’s photos and videos directly onto your so-called ‘power bank’. A smartphone app lets you manage your ANX Duo’s data, allowing you to sort through files, transfer them to and from your phone, and even wirelessly access and transfer media from memory cards by plugging them directly into the ANX Duo. Superfast read/write speeds of 1050mbps/950mbps allow you to transfer files much faster than you would through the cloud. Plus, since the data is stored locally on your ANX Duo, you don’t need an internet connection, you don’t need to shell out subscription fees, and more importantly, your files are safe from being snooped on or breached by bad actors, governments, or large companies.
The ANX Duo measures a cool 5.3″ x 2.9″ (135mm x 75mm) in length and width when folded, boasting an overall thickness of just 0.7 inches (19mm). Open it up and you’re provided with a sizeable charging mat that’s now 5.9 inches wide (152mm) and a mere 0.35 inches thick (9mm). The entire device’s enclosure is made from aluminum along with ABS + PC polymer for durability as well as heat management, and the ANX Duo weighs a paltry 9.2 ounces (263 grams), making it perfect for travel. The multi-functional gadget starts at a discounted $69 which gets you the 128GB variant, although you can upgrade to 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or even 4TB (which is still a steal at just $219). Each ANX Duo begins shipping as early as February 2024, and comes with a 1-year warranty on the power bank, and a 3-year warranty on the SSD.
Ever felt weird chatting with Siri or Google Assistant because you know for a fact that they don’t exist? Or even ChatGPT for that matter. The folks at Wehead have a solution. It isn’t a fairly remarkable one, or an affordable one either… but it aims to help humans anthropomorphize AI assistants, because there’s nothing Silicon Valley won’t try solving.
Designed to look like a cyborg bust that sits on your table, the Wehead is a GPT-powered AI assistant that has a face (or something that passes off as one). Multiple displays come together to create the Wehead’s face, which offers a variety of different avatars that you can chat with. The cameras built into the device help the AI ‘see’ you as it makes conversation, and the head moves too, tilting sideways, nodding up and down, and being able to look around. Despite all that advancement, the Wehead feels less like a head and more like a tech-driven caricature. The attempt to humanize AI almost feels like a parody as it exists miles away from the uncanny valley, even though it’s technically impressive on paper. Oh, and it also costs a whopping $5,000 of your American dollars. If you’re scared of a future where AI replaces humans, don’t worry… this one surely won’t.
Designer: Wehead
The Weahad takes a stab at technology’s age-old pursuit of creating ‘companionship’ through AI. It’s designed with an objective of being a friend you can talk to, and who can provide sage advice… although the idea of taking a split-screen body-less oracle head’s advice seriously feels equal parts dystopian and hilarious.
“Wehead GPT is embodied LLM that helps you with brainstorming, decision making and self-reflection. For thinking out loud. At home or office. Any time you need it. On any topic,” says the company behind the device. However, as noble (and honestly remarkable) as that problem statement is, the Wehead’s appearance is what holds it back. Besides, the use of the word ’embodied’ feels rich. You’re constantly reminded that you’re talking to a bunch of oddly angled screens that mimic the shape of a human head. Maybe Wehead should reach out to the folks behind Google’s Project Starline…
The announcement of the WeHead GPT Edition brought to mind the unforgettable moment when Tesla unveiled its humanoid robot. Except instead of a sleek, futuristic robot, we got a person in a spandex suit doing the robot dance. It was a masterstroke of trolling, reminding us all that sometimes, the future isn’t as polished as we imagine it to be.
Despite its dystopian vibe, you have to admit there’s something endearingly humorous about the WeHead. It’s like having a pet that doesn’t need feeding or walking, just a good, old-fashioned power outlet and perhaps an existential conversation about its purpose every now and then. It won’t judge you for wearing the same pajamas three days in a row or for talking to a head because, well, it’s a head.
And let’s face it, in a world where we’re increasingly glued to our screens, having a physical head to talk to might just be the quirky solution we didn’t know we needed… although might I remind you that you’ll still be glued to screens with the WeHead. It’s an attempt to bring back the art of conversation, albeit with a partner that’s more circuit board than flesh and blood. The WeHead doesn’t pretend to be your friend; it’s a reminder of the slightly off-kilter future we’re stepping into, one awkward interaction at a time.
So, if you’re longing for a taste of tomorrow, today, and you’ve got a sense of humor about the whole ‘AI taking over the world’ thing, the WeHead GPT Edition might just be for you. Just remember, it’s more than a conversation piece; it’s a conversational piece. Available soon to anyone looking to spice up their chats with a touch of the future’s peculiar flavor, and with 5 grand to spare. Besides, who knows, in a world gone mad, talking to a head might just be the sanest thing you do.
New Year New Gear, they say… but before we explore what 2024 has in store for us, here’s a look at our top EDC gear from the year gone by. Our love for EDC only grew in 2023 as we began venturing outdoors again (you know, after the entire 2-year house arrest), and we honestly believe 2023’s been a golden year for the category. Titanium finally went mainstream, with Apple adopting it for their flagship 2023 iPhones, and we saw multiple independent creators taking to platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to bring their EDC visions to life!
So what really constitutes this list and how did we arrive at our top ten? It’s simple, really. All the EDC have a few things in common. They’re built to be compact, robust, highly utilitarian, and have a wow-factor, whether it’s a unique feature, or just stellar craftsmanship. We’ve even awarded a Best EDC Design of 2023 to a certain multitool so scroll ahead to know more about why we loved it so much!
1. Prytium Titanium Multitool by G.S.G (Best EDC Design of 2023)
With a staggering 14 features built into its compact, lightweight, machined titanium design, the Prytium Multitool wins our award for just being the most versatile, capable, and handy piece of EDC money could buy. Perfect for pretty much any situation life throws at you, the Prytium is the kind of EDC you wish you’d have if you were stranded on a desert island. It’s got possibly every conceivable tool from a folding knife to a bottle opener, pry tool, nail file, glass breaker, and even a few wrenches and screwdrivers to get you through a whole gamut of worldly situations, whether they’re mildly frustrating like a hangnail or actual emergencies that require tactical tools.
Why is it noteworthy?
Aside from being made from Grade-5 that is well known for its sheer durability, the Prytium really surprises with exactly how much it manages to pack into its pocket-friendly design. It does so rather cleverly too, offering tritium slots so that your EDC is visible even at night, a deep pocket clip so you can attach your multitool to your clothing for convenience, and my favorite bit, a removable replaceable blade that you can change whenever the old one gets dull… so you spend less time sharpening your blade and more time using it instead.
2. Septimo Multi-tool by Jeremy Valdez for CRKT
The CRKT Septimo Multi-Tool may appear to be your typical pocket knife, but it’s ingeniously designed to offer far more than just a flipper blade. Crafted to combine compactness, ergonomic comfort, and a rich array of features, this versatile tool was conceived by Jeremy Valdez, a seasoned member of the 7th Special Forces Group. Inspired by his vision of the perfect everyday carry multitool, the Septimo (which translates to ‘Seventh’ in Spanish) boasts a 2.86-inch fold-out American Tanto blade with a secure liner-lock mechanism. It also includes a built-in bottle opener, a dual-purpose flathead and Phillips head screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a handy glass-breaker tip for those tricky situations. Plus, with its convenient pocket clip, you can keep your Septimo Multi-Tool easily accessible, ensuring you’re always prepared for a wide range of everyday situations.
Why is it noteworthy?
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but for the Septimo Multitool, it was more like a strong survival instinct. The origin story of the Septimo is probably the wildest thing you’ll ever hear. A member of the 7th Special Forces, Jeremy Valdez was posted in Afghanistan in 2009 when his helicopter crashed during a combat operation. In the heat of the moment, Valdez realized that the tools he had at the time failed miserably at real-world applications when it came to prying open fuselage, cutting harnesses, and freeing his fellow soldiers from the blazing, mangled chopper wreckage. Some people live in the trauma of such incidents, but not Valdez. He went to the drawing board and came up with the Septimo – a tribute to his fallen brothers and sisters, and an EDC so capable it has literal military experience.
3. Rike Knife S05 by Rike Knife
This knife almost won Best EDC of the Year for just how bonkers-beautiful it is. Intricate to the point of being absolutely impossible to counterfeit, the Rike Knife S05 has one of the most unique Damascus blades we’ve ever seen. In fact, I can say with a degree of confidence that I’ve never seen a blade this beautiful. With a dizzyingly detailed pattern that’s brought about by using different grades of metal that are hammered, forged, and acid-etched to reveal the marbled texture, the S05’s blade is a literal work of art. It sports a clip-point design that folds into a titanium handle that has a marbled pocket clip too. The price of such beauty? Well, given that you’re paying for top-tier craftsmanship, the $550 price tag doesn’t really hurt as much.
Why is it noteworthy?
I’m going to sound like an absolute broken record at this point, but that Damascus blade has my heart. Almost like a piece of psychedelic art, it has something hidden in every corner, from checkers and strips to even Japanese symbols. Oh, and as far as the blade’s sharpness goes, it has a viciously sharp edge that cuts through materials like they’re made of butter.
4. KeyMaster by EDC Monster
I’d like to think that the KeyMaster is key-shaped because of its sheer ability to ‘unlock’ any kind of real or metaphorical door that holds you back. Sure, the key-shaped design means it’s the ideal size to fit on your keychain, but let’s also acknowledge the fact that this key-sized EDC has 14 different tools built in, including multiple wrenches for bicycle spokes as well as hex nuts, a few popular screwdrivers, a fold-out scalpel blade, a bottle opener, and even a miniature scale that has BOTH metric as well as imperial measurements.
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s small enough to sit on your keychain, weighs a paltry 29 grams (1 ounce), and is made from the most durable metal known to mankind. What’s not to love?! The KeyMaster is a handy-dandy EDC for when you need to perform minor repairs or when you need a small knife to cut open boxes, slice paracord, whittle wood, or defend yourself. And when you’re done, crack open a brewski with the built-in bottle opener!
5. Folding Travel Cutlery Kit by Uphold Living
The problem with travel cutlery is that in the interest of portability, it often makes a few unfortunate trade-offs. Take the spork, for instance… a two-in-one piece of cutlery that saves material/space, but is just an odd contraption that nobody loves to use. The Uphold Travel Cutlery Kit possesses the unique distinction of being a rather no-compromise solution. Designed to be as small as a bunch of credit cards, this kit contains not one, not two, but three cutlery sets that you can use just as you would the ones at home. The Uphold kit features a working spoon, fork, and knife that sit flat when not in use, but curve to assume their ergonomic shape when you need them, thanks to clever design and the use of flexible materials at exactly the right points, while relying on food-grade titanium alloy and aluminum alloy for the rest.
Why is it noteworthy?
Single-use plastic spoons and forks are a menace. Not just for the environment, which they pollute by thousands of tonnes every year, but also for humans. Why? Because flimsy plastic spoons and forks don’t offer any robust functionality at all. They bend and flex when you try to cut through food, and they’ll melt if your gravies are too hot. Uphold’s alternative is vastly better. Not only is it made from durable metals like titanium, but it’s also designed to be compact when tucked away, and incredibly functional when you need to dig into your food. The full-length design gives you all the convenience you need while you eat, and the fact that you’ve got a separate knife, fork, and spoon means no more dealing with that spork nonsense.
6. Typhoeus Morphing Knife by CIVIVI
We’re big fans of CIVIVI’s knives in general, but when I laid our eyes on the Typhoeus for the first time, I honestly felt my jaw drop a little. The Typhoeus isn’t your conventional folding knife, because it has a handle that folds too. Once you flip the blade out, you can either use it as a conventional clip-point knife, or fold the handle further to turn it into a push-dagger. This unique format gives you two knives, a conventional one and a hardcore tactical one, so you can cut open boxes and defend yourself with equal effectiveness. The Typhoeus features a 14C28N steel blade sitting within a G10 handle, but our eyes are on the Damascus steel variant that gets an upgraded aluminum handle for a more robust experience.
Why is it noteworthy?
The novel format is exciting and really reinvents a category (knives) that doesn’t see too much out-of-the-box thinking as far as mechanisms are concerned. Plus, with the Typhoeus you really get two knives for the price of one, and that itself should be enough to convince the moderate skeptic!
7. A2 Badger OTF Knife by Tekto Knives
Another one of our favorites remains Tekto’s OTF range. In a world where most portable knives have blades that swivel inwards and outwards, Tekto’s OTF (or Out The Front) knives shoot outwards when you hit the switch on top. The A2 Badger grabbed our eye this year for how compact yet capable it was. It eschewed the spear-point edge seen on most OTF blades for an American Tanto-style blade, crafted from titanium-coated D2 steel, and features a glass-breaker tip on the reverse end of the handle, giving you a knife that’s dangerous from head to toe!
Why is it noteworthy?
We firmly believe that if you’re an EDC enthusiast or even an amateur collector, you NEED to have an OTF knife in your arsenal. The A2 Badger, to that degree, is perfectly compact, well-built, and designed to be reliable and last long. The titanium-coated blade holds its edge remarkably well, and that aluminum handle feels great in your grasp, whether it’s for cutting or for shattering even laminated glass. When all’s said and done, that pocket clip lets you slide your OTF knife right into your jacket or pants, for another day.
8. M-Stand Titanium Multitool by ActMax
The M-Stand proves that there’s always room for more features in an EDC. It might look like your conventional push-dagger, but the M-Stand, as its name suggests, also doubles as a stand for your smartphone or tablet simply by splitting it apart into its two halves. Neodymium magnets hold the two titanium halves together, giving you an EDC you can wear around your neck simply by sandwiching a chain between the left and right elements of the M-Stand. However, when you need to use its vast catalog of features, split it apart and you’ve got two knives that also have built-in features like hex wrenches, a bottle opener, a paracord cutter, pry-bar, fire starter, and the phone stand, as I mentioned earlier. Snap them back together and you’re armed with a rather capable spear-point push dagger that you can wear between your knuckles and use for everything from self-defense to shotgunning a beer-can!
Why is it noteworthy?
The beauty of the EDC industry is its rather low barrier to entry. Sure, you’ve got a few big-name brands that dominate the category, but then an independent small-time creator shows up with a novel design and a Kickstarter campaign, getting the entire EDC community excited to see something new. The M-Stand is that novel design. It’s unlike any multitool we’ve seen. It does its job well, and has a fidget-like quality that’ll have your hands and eyes falling in love with it every single day!
9. Batch #003 Knife by Leatherman
When it comes to multi-tools, Leatherman is practically a household name. Back in 1975, during a European holiday, Tim Leatherman and his wife Chau found themselves encountering leaky hotel plumbing and making roadside repairs to their temperamental Fiat. This experience sparked a brilliant idea that gave birth to the plier-based multitool – a remarkable innovation that Leatherman is renowned for pioneering. Based out of Portland, Oregon, the Leatherman company still champions this category as one of the most functional tools in their catalog, but earlier this year, the company developed a new kind of EDC that caught our fancy. The Batch #003 isn’t your everyday EDC knife. It comes with Leatherman’s proprietary interchangeable blade system. Press a button and you can pop out the old blade for a new one. Unlike most knives with replaceable standardized blades, Leatherman actually makes their own blades in-house, offering you a choice between a drop-point and a sheepsfoot blade, both made from 420HC stainless steel and completed with a stone-washed finish.
Why is it noteworthy?
Aside from being a gorgeous folding knife, the Batch #003’s proprietary blade-changing system sets a standard that I really hope more knives follow in the future. It’s difficult to sharpen some types of blades (especially serrated ones), and discarding a knife for just that fact seems like a truly wasted potential. Swapping blades is a great way to prolong a knife’s overall lifespan. Did I also mention that the Batch #003 comes with its own torx and bit drivers too? Just as a nifty cherry on the cake!
10. 8-in-1 EDC Multitool Scissors by Eiger Design
The world of EDC goes well beyond just knives. It also includes tools, fidget toys, stationery, wallets even… but you’ll be hard-pressed to find an EDC scissor, yet here we are. Perfect for indoor and outdoor culinary adventures, this 8-in-1 EDC Scissor comes apart to double as a set of knives… but what’s more interesting is the fact that it also has a built-in bottle opener, can opener, nut-cracker, and even a fire-starter, all in one handy package. Quite like the M-Stand from before that splits into two, this pair of scissors can separate into its individual halves, giving you two knives, and a variety of multitools on demand. Put them back together and the hefty scissors can cut through hard materials like cured meats too, while also relying on a serrated mid-section to crack through walnuts.
Why is it noteworthy?
This gizmo is the kind your kitchen couldn’t live without, but it’s also perfect for outdoor cooking on a camping trip. Use it as a single scissor, two handheld knives, or by its whole gamut of features… the 8-in-1 EDC Scissors get points for being clever, practical, and reinventing an aspect of life that isn’t just outdoor/lifestyle. Pair it with Uphold’s travel cutlery for the ultimate cooking experience outdoors! Oh, and if you’re looking to buy your own pair of scissors, we recommend checking out the YD Store.
