Tag Archives: Technology & Electronics

TCL’s NXTPAPER 14 Pro is somewhere between a tablet and a giant e-reader

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TCL is going for different with its new pro tablet, revealed at CES 2024. There aren’t that many premium tablets beyond the annual updates from Apple and Samsung, and TCL plans to make its new 14- and 10-inch slates stand out with their display tech, featuring its next-gen NXTPAPER 3.0. It's aimed at striking a middle-ground between e-readers and tablets. It’s not about them being sharper or faster, but gentler on our very human eyes.

The TCL NXTPAPER 14 Pro’s display features heavily focus on eye comfort, with a new VersaView interface that can switch between a black-and-white reader mode and the standard tablet views. The 14-inch 2.8K display (2,880 x 1,800) features the company’s new NXTPAPER 3.0, aimed at better reflecting, literally, how the human eye reads natural paper, but on a digital display. NXTPAPER is TCL’s display tech that tries to offer a tablet experience with a paper-like reading surface. We’ve written about earlier iterations found in devices like the NXTPAPER 11 tablet and even some of its recent budget smartphones.

The company says its next family of phones – no fewer than seven, including the TCL 50 XL NTXPAPER 5G and 50 XE NTXPAPER 5G – will also feature NXTPAPER 3.0 technology. The NXTPAPER 14 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8020 chip, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is fine if unremarkable. It’s truly all about the screen.

TCL NXTPAPER 14 Pro hands-on at CES 2024
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

TCL says its NXTPAPER series continues to filter out up to 61 percent of blue light to ease the effects on users’ eyes. Version 3.0 is brighter, hitting 700 nits on the 14-inch matte display. A new Circularly Polarized Light (CPL) screen should also light up text more naturally, while being easier to read in sunlight. TCL claims this creates a reading experience closer to reading books in natural light. There’s also DC dimming, which should also lower flickering effects experienced on some lower-refresh rate screens. In tablet mode, the NXTPAPER 14 Pro can reach up to 120Hz refresh rates, and the new CPL tech also means it maintains legibility even if you’re wearing polarizing lenses.

Meanwhile, the Tab 10 NXTPAPER 5G packs some of the same display technology (NXTPAPER 3.0) but on a 10.4-inch, 2K (2,560 x 1,440) screen. And no dedicated viewing mode button. It does, however, feature 5G support.

To really make sure you get it, TCL also created an Eye Health Assistant to nag remind you to reduce screen brightness or perhaps not stare at your new tablet at midnight. The NXTPAPER 14 Pro also has a dedicated physical button for switching between three different viewing modes. The tablet’s VersaView UI means users can switch between a standard tablet mode and NXTPAPER mode.

TCL NXTPAPER 14 Pro hands-on at CES 2024
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

The latter is an e-ink style (but not e-ink!) monochrome mode, which rarely features on devices headed to the US. However, this isn’t just the tablet processing the Android interface into grayscale. The interface includes stripped-down icons, like line drawings, that can still be differentiated from each other and a lot more blank space and white backdrops for reading ease. It feels like a concentration mode, which I appreciated. You’ve probably heard of the ‘hack’ of turning your smartphone system into black-and-white to make everything less compelling. This simplifies everything 2even more aggressively while ensuring that some content, like video, can still be played in full color. Swiping around the tablet, or using TCL’s stylus on the screen in both modes was fluid, and refresh rates seem much improved from the earliest NXTPAPER hardware

There are no prices for either of TCL’s new tablets yet, but the company has confirmed that the NXTPAPER 14 Pro will be coming to the US in early 2024. In the meantime, these are our reigning picks for the best tablets you can currently buy.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tcls-nxtpaper-14-pro-is-somewhere-between-a-tablet-and-a-giant-e-reader-190047895.html?src=rss

The Morning After: CES 2024 kicks off with transparent displays from Samsung and LG

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Viva Las Vegas! I am contractually obliged to write that in at least one of our posts at CES 2024. So I’m getting it out of the way early. This year, LG and Samsung brought out the big guns, both revealing similar (but technically very different) transparent displays for assembled media and analysts to gaze at and wonder… why.

I’m being cynical, of course. LG, first of all, revealed a wireless transparent OLED. The 77-inch OLED T also taps into the company’s work in wireless transmission technology, reducing wiring needs to power alone. To ensure the display still offers black-enough blacks, a contrast screen rolls down into a box at the base of the OLED T.

A few hours later, Samsung revealed its own transparent display, but it used MicroLED. Samsung showcased the transparent MicroLED display side-by-side next to transparent OLED (oh, snap) and transparent LCD models to emphasize the brighter capabilities of MicroLED. Oh, and it wasn’t only bezel-less — it was frameless.

Lots of questions remain: pricing, availability, and once again, why? The onus is on LG and Samsung to make a case for what will be incredibly expensive displays.

Remember to follow along with all the big CES reveals (and insider views) right here.

— Mat Smith

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The biggest stories you might have missed

Belkin’s Stand Pro iPhone dock uses Apple’s DockKit to track you around a room

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra is the first phone with two periscope zoom cameras

AMD debuts the Radeon RX 7600 XT at CES for entry-level 1440p gaming

Volkswagen thinks ChatGPT integration will make its voice assistant good

NVIDIA reveals RTX 40 Super GPUs at CES 2024

Victrola’s latest streaming turntable, the Stream Sapphire, costs an eye-popping $1,499

The Flappie AI cat door stops your pet from gifting you dead mice

Pet tech for CES 2024.

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Engadget

You know what’s also transparent? A cat flap. Don’t worry, it’s also high-tech and expensive. Flappie’s AI-powered cat door automatically locks if your kitty tries to bring in its caught prey. The flap uses sensors and cameras to detect if your cat has a present — very dead present — for you. Flappie says it has compiled a “unique and proprietary” dataset over the years, which ensures its AI-powered detection system is accurate more than 90 percent of the time. Flappie plans to launch its pet door in Switzerland and Germany later this spring, but there are plans for a US launch. It’ll be $399.

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Samsung made a stylish Frame speaker to match its Frame TV

Hide Dolby Atmos audio behind your framed photos.

TMA
Engadget

This just looks… nice? Samsung also announced the Music Frame. It’s a wireless speaker that pulls double duty as home decor, like Samsung’s popular Frame TV series. There’s no screen here, though. Instead, you literally use it as a frame for your printed photos or art. There is no word on pricing or availability for the Music Frame, but expect to hear more in 2024.

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The Apple Vision Pro goes on sale in the US on February 2 for $3,499

What’s CES?

I love it when Apple just elbows CES in the ribs with its own announcements. The company says the hotly anticipated device will arrive in the US on February 2. Pre-orders for the mixed reality headset, which starts at $3,499 for 256GB of storage, will open on January 19. It’s notable as the first new major product since the Apple Watch, which launched almost 10 years ago. Anyway, back to CES stuff.

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JBL adds a touchscreen case to 3 new wireless earbud models

Sure, put a screen on it.

JBL showed off a set of true wireless earbuds that featured a touchscreen-equipped smart case at last year’s CES. It must have been a hit because the company is bringing the feature to three more devices. The Live Buds 3, Live Beam 3 and Live Flex 3 will all get a smart case as well as customizable adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support for high-res listening, six mics for calls, wireless charging and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-ces-2024-kicks-off-with-transparent-displays-from-samsung-and-lg-182001128.html?src=rss

Anker power banks and charging gear are up to 43 percent off right now

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Team Engadget is on the ground at CES 2024 to bring you all the biggest (and strangest) tech news from Las Vegas this week. To help make that happen, our editors and reporters need to keep their phone and laptop batteries topped up, and that's where power banks come in. While you might not be running around the showfloor at a convention center, you may need to juice up your devices while you're on the go too. As such, there's some good news for you, since many of Anker's power banks and charging accessories are on sale for up to 43 percent off.

Those with an iPhone may be interested in picking up the Anker 622 Magnetic Battery, which can charge MagSafe-compatible devices by attaching it to the rear. The device also supports USB-C charging. This charger has dropped to $40, which is $30 off the regular price and a record low.

This gizmo has a handy PopSockets grip, which should make it easier for many folks to hold their iPhone while it's charging. It can also act as a stand, so you can prop up your phone to watch videos or play games while topping up the battery. The 622 has a capacity of 5,000mAh, which Anker claims will provide your phone with up to 17 hours of extra use.

Next up, we have Anker's 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe charging stand, which has dropped to $112.46. That's also a record low as it's nearly $38 off the regular price of $150.

This is a very handy piece of travel gear as it will let you charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time. The top of the cube tilts open so you can comfortably watch videos on your iPhone while it's charging via MagSafe. The Cube will charge your phone at up to 15W (it comes with a 30W USB-C charger). Anker also notes that the Cube can fully charge an Apple Watch Series 8 in around 70 minutes.

Meanwhile, those looking for a USB-C cable with a high power throughput (likely for laptop use) may be interested in picking up a two-pack for $15. The dual six-foot USB-C to USB-C cables usually cost $23, and this marks another record low.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-power-banks-and-charging-gear-are-up-to-43-percent-off-right-now-171544198.html?src=rss

Victrola’s latest streaming turntable, the Stream Sapphire, costs an eye-popping $1,499

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Victrola has made a somewhat surprising move into high-end, streaming-capable turntables over the last few years, and it's showing off the latest in the lineup at CES 2024. The Victrola Stream Sapphire is a $1,499 turntable with "premium" components and materials that can connect to Sonos and Roon streaming systems and also supports the Universal Plug and Play protocol (UPnP). It can also output up to 24-bit/48kHz lossless FLAC audio. 

Getting beyond the jargon, this means that the Stream Sapphire can output your vinyl to a Sonos system once it's set up on the same network as your Sonos speakers. I've tried this with the Stream Carbon turntable from 2022 and it works pretty seamlessly and is easy to set up, so I wager the Sapphire will be similarly straightforward. 

As for Roon, it's a more complex, server-based system that pulls together music files and streaming services and broadcasts them to compatible speakers and output devices. The variety of hardware you can use is much larger than the Sonos ecosystem, but it sounds like Roon support works the same way. Once you get the Sapphire connected to your Roon setup in Victrola's Stream app, the turntable will output audio to whatever speakers are in that setup. And since Roon integrates with other protocols like Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast, you should be able to send the turntable's audio to devices like the HomePod or any Chomecast-compatible speakers. Similarly, any speakers or audio receivers that support UPnP can output audio from the Sapphire, as well. 

The Stream Sapphire has a few other upgrades over the existing Stream turntables as well. Probably most notable is that it uses the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, compared to the 2M Red. The Sapphire also has a lovely walnut veneer over its MDF and aluminum body, and it has the same high-end carbon fiber tonearm and aluminum platter as the Stream Carbon. It also has adjustable-height aluminum feet with a sound-dampening base to help reduce vibration and make sure the turntable is level on whatever surface it sits on. And, in a nod to the traditional, it has gold-placed RCA jacks for hooking up wired speakers.

This turntable follows the $800 Stream Carbon, which can send music to Sonos speakers; Victrola followed that up with the more affordable $600 Stream Onyx at CES 2023. Since then, the company also announced the Hi-Res Carbon and Hi-Res Onyx, two turntables that opt for Bluetooth or aptX wireless audio output. I really enjoyed using the original Stream Carbon with my Sonos system when I first tested it, but even that felt like a niche device — I'm wondering how big of a market there is for a $1,500 wireless turntable, but Victrola now has a pretty wide range of streaming record players at this point, from the Hi-Res Onyx that's currently selling for $300 all the way up to the new Sapphire. Victrola says the Stream Sapphire will be on sale this spring.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/victrolas-latest-streaming-turntable-the-stream-sapphire-costs-an-eye-popping-1499-170037014.html?src=rss

LG S95TR and SG10TY first look: Two takes on wireless Dolby Atmos for home theater

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LG is one of many companies that usually shows off new soundbars in Las Vegas, and at CES 2024, that trend continues. While the new models are designed to compliment LG TVs, they offer something different in terms of audio, design and features. The most robust option, the S95TR, is a 9.1.5-channel setup that comes bundled with a subwoofer and rear speakers. 

The flagship S95TR musters an output of 810 watts and is what the company calls the first Atmos-equipped soundbar with triple up-firing channels. Those include what LG says is the industry's first center up-firing speaker. That center driver helps with the dimensionality of the sound by boosting clarity and the overall soundstage. Two tweeters handle the treble while a passive radiator offers low-end tone in the correct relation to the wireless subwoofer. The S95TR employs Wowcast Built-in to wirelessly receive audio, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, from LG TVs. The company says the tech can even handle lossless-quality sound without a wired connection. 

Indeed, the audio quality from the S95TR is big and boomy. Aided by rear speakers with three drivers, the sound from the complete setup was full, with punchy highs and bombastic bass when a scene demanded it. Last year, LG nixed the wireless transmission box that sat between the rear speakers on the S95TR's predecessor, opting instead to put that tech inside the speakers themselves. That's still the case, but the company decided to forgo the box on rear speakers that are sold separately this year. You still need to run a cable between them, but an added piece of hardware isn't required when expanding your setup. 

To match up with its premium OLED TVs, LG has introduced the SG10TY. This is a flatter, low-profile option that looks at home situated below the company's M series. It's a 3.1-channel unit that can be expanded to a 5.1-channel setup with the addition of rear speakers. I wasn't able to hear this one during my demo, but I can tell you that it looks quite striking with those LG OLED TVs. And while it doesn't offer the sonic power of the S95TR on paper, I'm willing to bet some people will be just fine sacrificing a bit of dimensionality for improved aesthetics. Thanks to Wowcast Built-in, the wireless audio means you won't have visible wires just to get Dolby Atmos, further enhancing the clean look. 

LG SG10TY soundbar
LG SG10TY soundbar
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget

These two models offer the Wow interface, which puts soundbar settings and sound modes on a menu on the TV. They are also all both equipped with the company's Wow Orchestra tech that ensures the best audio quality thanks to "an enlarged soundstage and improved depth and height." This should particularly come in handy for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content. LG's AI room calibration now factors in the rear speakers in a surround sound setup, adjusting for the proper sound no matter where you put them. The company says the tweak can even happen if the rear speakers are setup at uneven distances due to furniture or other living room constraints. 

There's no word on pricing or availability for either of the new soundbars, but we'll likely hear more as launch day approaches for each one. In the meantime, these are our reigning picks for the best soundbars currently available on the market.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-s95tr-and-sg10ty-first-look-two-takes-on-wireless-dolby-atmos-for-home-theater-154551736.html?src=rss

AMD brings AI to Ryzen 8000G desktop chips at CES 2024

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AMD was the first company to deliver x86 laptop chips with NPUs for AI acceleration last year — now, at CES 2024 it's doing the same for desktops. The company's new Ryzen 8000G processors, which debuted today in Las Vegas (but have already been leaked by retailers), are once again NPU pioneers among x86 desktop chips. And on top of that, the company claims its built-in Radeon 700M graphics are the fastest ever seen on a desktop chip.

While the Ryzen 8000G chips aren't AMD's most powerful desktop offerings — the Ryzen 7700X and above all offer higher clock speeds, core counts and onboard cache — AMD says the new processors could be compelling options for gamers trying to build capable systems on a budget. The fastest model, the Ryzen 7 $329 8700G, is an eight-core chip running between 4.2GHz and 5.1GHz, sporting Radeon 780M graphics.

According to AMD, that processor averages 90 fps in Baldur's Gate 3 in 1080p with low detail settings and the company's Hyper-RX and Fluid Motion Frames features turned on. (The latter is a bit controversial, since it can make gameplay look smoother and deliver higher fps counts, but it's also early technology and it's interpolating even more frames than AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.0.) Without any of those extra features, the 8700G still hits a respectable 58 fps in Baldur's Gate 3.

Of course, not many people, especially self-proclaimed gamers, would actually want to play with the lowest graphics settings. But if you're on a budget and building a system piece-by-piece, the 8700G and the rest of the 8000G family could at least let you play something before buying a dedicated GPU. AMD also claims its built-in graphics are significantly faster than Intel's latest offerings. According to the company's benchmarks, the 8700G is four times as fast in Hitman 3 in 1080p compared to the Intel i7-17400K's UHD 770 graphics.

Even if you're not intrigued by the Ryzen 8000G Series' graphics potential, its NPU still makes it a unique desktop chip. Much like the NPU's we've seen on AMD's recent mobile chips, as well as Intel's new Core Ultra hardware, it'll let you speed up AI tasks without hitting your CPU or GPU. At the moment, NPUs enable features like Windows Studio Effects, which can blur your background during video chats, as well as media editing in Adobe and DaVinci software. NPUs are more compelling on laptops now, as they can help systems be more efficient and potentially save battery life. But having an NPU on your desktop chip today could be a smart way to future-proof your build.

Speaking of those AI accelerators, AMD also teased the performance of its new Ryzen 8040 mobile chips at CES — specifically, by putting them head-to-head with Intel's Core Ultra hardware. AMD says the Ryzen 7 8840U is almost 80 percent faster than the Core Ultra 7 155H while running the Deeplabv3 neural architecture, and it's 43 percent faster while running Yolov8. More useful to consumers, though, are AMD's claims about content creation: the company says the 8840U is 85 percent faster than the Ultra 7 155H while running DaVinci Resolve's HD to UHD enhancement.

But AMD didn't just stop there: It also says that new Ryzen chip is 60 percent faster than Intel's while playing Far Cry 6 in 1080p with low graphics settings. Similarly, AMD says the Ryzen 8840U is 52 percent faster than Intel's hardware in both Handbrake and LAME. We'll have to take these numbers with a huge grain of salt, but if they're accurate it means Intel could end up lagging behind AMD for another year.

To round things out for entry-level and mid-range buyers, AMD also announced a new batch of Ryzen 5000 chips for its older AM4 architecture. They're spearheaded bv the $249 Ryzen 7 5700X3D, an eight-core chip featuring 100MB of 3D V-Cache, running between 3GHz and 4.1GHz. The most affordable new option is the $125 Ryzen 5 5500GT, a quad-core chip that can reach up to 4.4GHz.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amd-brings-ai-to-ryzen-8000g-desktop-chips-at-ces-2024-153032800.html?src=rss

Garmin debuts a ‘first of its kind’ heart rate monitor that works with sports bras

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Garmin has a few pieces of news to share at CES 2024, including a heart rate monitor marketed to women that can deliver an accurate heart rate reading even when attached to a sports bra. The $150 device, called the HRM-Fit, is a "first of its kind," according to Garmin. It should fit what Garmin describes as medium- and high-support sports bras, including select models from Adidas, Under Armour and other brands. It's also compatible Garmin smartwatches to report your pace, distance and stride length. If you leave your watch at home, the clip-on device can store workout data like calories burned and intensity, then load it to your watch once it's back in range. 

Other new Garmin products for CES 2024 include the Lily 2 smartwatches with a 35mm metal case. The Lily 2 retails for $250, while the Lily 2 Classic is available for $280. They both come with heart rate monitoring, sleep quality ratings and a connected GPS. The Lily 2 smartwatches also have move alerts with suggested activities, fitness tracking and a sports app. Only the Lily 2 Classic offers Garmin Pay contactless payments. 

Lastly, the company has a pretty major refresh in store for both the web version of its Garmin Connect app as well as the mobile version. Its homepage now features customizable sections like Today's Activity, Training Plans and In Focus. This update is now available to beta testers and should fully roll out later this year. 

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/garmin-debuts-a-first-of-its-kind-heart-rate-monitor-that-works-with-sports-bras-144910862.html?src=rss

The Apple Vision Pro goes on sale in the US on February 2 for $3,499

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Those who've been yearning for a chance to try the Apple Vision Pro headset and have the cash to spare won't need to wait much longer to snap one up. The company says the hotly anticipated device will arrive in the US on February 2. Pre-orders for the mixed reality headset, which starts at $3,499 for 256GB of storage, will open on January 19. The device will be available at all US Apple Store locations as well as through the company's web store.

Those who require vision correction will need to snap up Zeiss optical inserts and attach them to the headset magnetically (Vision Pro doesn't work with glasses). Readers will cost $99, while prescription lenses will set you back $149. The inserts will only be available for purchase online, so don't expect to be able to wander into an Apple Store to pick them up. Naturally, you'll need a prescription for the prescription lenses. However, Apple says that "not all prescriptions are supported."

This is Apple's first new major product line since it introduced the Apple Watch back in 2014. Apple revealed the Vision Pro release date just as CES 2024 is kicking off, likely to steal some thunder away from the show's exhibitors without needing to actually show up in Las Vegas itself.

The Vision Pro, which Apple announced at WWDC last year, marks the company's initial foray into spatial computing. You'll primarily control it with your hands, eyes and voice, though you can pair a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad for productivity needs or a controller when it's time to kick back and play games. 

Apple says a brand new App Store will support more than a million apps from the iOS and iPadOS ecosystems. Of course, there will be apps that are unique to the headset's visionOS. You'll interact with apps by just looking at them, tapping your fingers (à la Apple Watch's new Double Tap feature), flicking your wrist to scroll and using dictation or a virtual keyboard for typing. Siri will enable to you control media playback, open and close apps and much more, Apple says.

Users can place apps anywhere in a 3D virtual environment, which could be a boon for multitasking. You'll be able to access your Mac through your Vision Pro as well, so you'll have access to a giant 4K canvas for your desktop or laptop to help you get things done. 

On the entertainment front, you'll be able to stream shows and movies from the likes of Apple TV+, Disney+ and Max on a virtual screen that appears to be 100 feet wide. There's HDR support and, through the Apple TV app, you'll me able to check out more than 150 titles in 3D. Vision Pro also supports Apple's new Immersive Video format, through which you can check out 180-degree, 3D experiences in high resolution.

As for games, Vision Pro will support more than 250 Apple Arcade titles as well as others from the App Store. Players will be able to check out "spatial games," such as Game Room, What the Golf? and Super Fruit Ninja. In those cases, Apple says the headset will transform the space around you, likely leading to more immersive gaming experiences. It's possible that you'll be able to use PlayStation and Xbox remote play features using Vision Pro too.

Speaking of immersion, you'll be able to virtually relocate to more peaceful environments, such as a national park or the surface of the Moon, if you don't feel like looking at your office or home in mixed reality. By turning the Digital Crown, you can adjust the level of immersion in these environments. 

The iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max can now capture spatial photos and videos, and you'll be able to view those in "life-size scale" through Vision Pro. Panoramas, for instance, will wrap around you.

FaceTime and other types of calls are getting an intriguing upgrade through Vision Pro. Headset users will appear as a Persona, a virtual representation of them that shows their hand movements and facial expressions (Personas are also supported on the likes of Zoom, Webex and Microsoft Teams). Those taking part in a call on a Mac, iPad or iPhone will appear in a tile, while spatial audio will make it seem as though each person's voice comes from the location of their tile in the space.

Oftentimes, wearers of virtual reality or mixed reality headsets seem disconnected from others in the same physical space as they can't make eye contact with those around them. To mitigate that, Apple has developed technology called EyeSight. This makes it appear as though the Vision Pro is transparent, allowing others to see a wearer's eyes.

Elsewhere, Apple has developed a new authentication system called Optic ID to unlock the device, as well as for password autofill and Apple Pay payment approval. The company says that eye-tracking information remains private — neither Apple nor the makers of third-party apps or websites can access that data. It also notes that Vision Pro has a number of accessibility-minded features, such as the ability to enable eye tracking for one dominant eye (which may be helpful for those who have severe vision loss in one eye or a misalignment).

Given the price of Apple's headset, it's highly unlikely that it will see wide adoption, at least in its first iteration. This is one for developers, early adopters and Apple enthusiasts. It may be the case that Apple eventually becomes the company to make mixed reality mainstream. In the meantime, at least we now know when eager beavers will be able to buy a Vision Pro if they have a spare few thousand dollars burning a hole in their pockets.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-vision-pro-goes-on-sale-in-the-us-on-february-2-for-3499-142006153.html?src=rss

HP’s new 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor lets you drag and drop files across devices

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HP has unveiled the Omen Transcend 32 OLED gaming monitor with high-end specs and new features that should make it a pretty darn good productivity monitor, too. It's part of the company's newly launched Omen lineup at CES 2024, which includes the world's lightest gaming laptop. 

The Omen Transcend 32 looks like an impressive gaming monitor, even before looking at the other new tricks. It uses LG's latest QD-OLED tech and features a 31.5-inch screen with 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, with a 0.3-millisecond response time. It's the company's first Omen display that's Dolby Vision certified, offering 99 percent DCI-P3 coverage and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification with peak brightness up to 1,000 nits. 

On the gaming side, it also supports AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro and is likely G-Sync compatible as well. You can enhance the mood with aRGB back lighting and it uses Omen's "Tempest" technology to cool the OLED panel during prolonged gaming sessions. Audio-wise, it uses HP's HyperX tech, which connects to Omen's Gaming Hub to allow for customized EQ and other settings. 

HP's new 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor lets you drag and drop files across devices
HP

If you're one to alternate gaming with productivity or content creation, it has some truly interesting additional features. It comes with KVM switchable inputs that let you run two devices (including keyboard and mouse) from the same display without having to change cables or use a switching box. On top of that, a picture-in-picture mode shows what's happing on both devices at one. 

That KVM functionality also allows for control of more than one computer at the same time and even the ability drag and drop files across devices, according to HP. All of that could allow you to play a game, all while doing spreadsheets or attending a Zoom meeting — a nice feature for users but perhaps not their bosses. 

Another big feature is USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode and 140 watts of power delivery, enough for even powerful gaming laptops. Other features include Dual HDMI 2.1 ports, the latest DisplayPort 2.1, two USB-C 3.2 ports (each with 15 watts of power delivery) and a pair of USB-A 3.2 ports. Finally, it has a three-year warranty to guard against potential burn-in, much like Alienware's latest QD-OLED monitors. 

The Omen Transcend looks like a desirable monitor, but like many devices launched at CES 2024, it won't be available for awhile. It's set to arrive sometime mid-next year, with pricing to be announced at a later date.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hps-new-4k-240hz-oled-gaming-monitor-lets-you-drag-and-drop-files-across-devices-140507464.html?src=rss

JBL brings new microphones to CES 2024, including a wireless clip-on model

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JBL is best known for speakers, earbuds and headphones, but the company has recently pivoted to microphones to meet the needs of modern content creators. It all started with the Quantum Stream line of condenser microphones, and the company has brought a trio of updated mics in the series to CES 2024 in Las Vegas.

The Quantum Stream Talk, as the name suggests, is primarily for podcasters and streamers. The condenser boasts a super cardioid pickup pattern so it only captures what’s directly in front of it, which will be your mouth. This drastically reduces background noise, as that’s the bane of any podcaster. The shock-absorbing base assists with noise reduction. The mic costs $50 and releases in March.

An image of the microphone and accessories.
JBL

The Quantum Stream Wireless microphone kicks it up a notch. This wireless condenser is actually wearable, via a clip-on design. The mic is intended for on-the-go recording, as it boasts an omnidirectional pickup pattern that captures audio from every direction. This captures ambient noise, of course, but that could be the point when making field recordings and the like. There’s an included algorithm to reduce unwanted environmental noise and the mic ships with a handy case. The Quantum Stream costs $100 and also launches in March.

Finally, the flagship microphone is called the Quantum Stream Studio. This is a professional-grade condenser that shines as a podcasting microphone, but should also be great for music-making, voice-over work and related tasks. The interior boasts three condenser capsules and captures audio in 192 kHz/24 bits, which is a broadcast quality sampling rate. There are four pickup patterns to choose from, depending on your needs, and an integrated compressor to handle sudden bursts of noise. The Stream Studio is available this March for $150.

All of these microphones integrate with JBL’s updated app, which is typically used to adjust headphone parameters. The upgraded app now offers microphone controls, so you can dial in the perfect sound directly from your phone instead of having to mess with buttons and knobs. These microphones are all available to demo at CES, if you happen to be in Las Vegas.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jbl-brings-new-microphones-to-ces-2024-including-a-wireless-clip-on-model-130058745.html?src=rss