ASUS Project DALI concept slaps a color E Ink display on the back of laptops

As much as laptop makers wax philosophical about the power of their hardware and the beauty of their screens, what most people will probably admire the most about their products will be the laptop covers. Like with smartphones, this is the most visible part of a laptop and, therefore, also the most expressive. You can almost tell a lot about the laptop owner from the design and stickers they have on their laptops or, conversely, from the lack of any embellishment. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any easy way to cater to the varied tastes of laptop owners, at least until now. At Computex 2024, ASUS is showing off one of its latest concept designs that lets owners change the design of their laptop covers with a press of a key, and it won’t cost either power or money to keep changing it on a whim.

Designer: ASUS

You could, in theory, put a second LCD screen on the back of your laptop for a dazzling display of images or even captivating videos, but that would put a drain on your laptop’s battery, especially if you need to keep that cover display visible even when the laptop is closed and shut down. As with any problem involving power-hungry LCDs and OLEDs, the solution is using ePaper Display or EPD, like E Ink’s popular panels for eBook Readers. And wouldn’t you know it, E Ink has the perfect technology for that, and ASUS is slapping it on its Project DALI laptop concept to make laptops more personal without having to stick anything to it.

Although it’s primarily being used for signage installations, the E Ink Spectra 6 brings a touch of color to the eye-friendly and battery-conservative E Ink screen. It’s not going to match the vibrant colors of even the crudest LCD, but it has one very important advantage. Once you change the image displayed on it, it will no longer consume any power and can display that image for a long, long time. In other words, it’s perfect for a semi-permanent display that doesn’t change much, something like what the back of your laptop could have.

Project DALI puts this technology to offer an unprecedented level of personalization to laptop owners, something you can’t even imagine doing with stickers or skins. With ASUS’s special software, you can either select from a few preset designs or make your own, allowing you to express your tastes, interests, and personality the way you want it. Best of all, you can change it any time you want, and it will only cost you a bit of time and effort, not money from buying new stickers or energy from cleaning off those pesky adhesive residues.

ASUS Project DALI is hardly the first to put an E Ink display on the back of a laptop, as Lenovo also demonstrated a similar idea back in January at CES 2024. DALI, however, uses a newer Spectra 6 technology with higher color DPI, though the number of supported hues is, of course, still limited. Unfortunately, there is still no word on whether Project DALI will become an official ASUS product, but it’s bound to win plenty of fans once it does.

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Interchangeable emoji camera covers give smartphones more character

The back of our phones is always visible to the people around us, which makes it the most expressive part of the smartphone. That’s why manufacturers spend a lot of time and resources on the design of the phone’s rear, using a variety of materials for the cover and designs for the camera. Those designs, however, are decided by companies and never change once production starts. They don’t always reflect the owner’s tastes, and definitely not all the time. Being able to change your phone’s “face” to fit your mood offers a lot of freedom of expression, and it all takes is putting a different emoji on top of your camera.

Designer: Yifan Hu

Smartphone cameras are becoming more powerful and with that power comes bigger enclosures. What were once just two eyes looking at you from the back of the phone has become a large circle that adds a face to those eyes. It’s just a metaphor, of course, but one that can actually be used to design a set of accessories that turn your mobile partner into some sidekick character, complete with a face and a personality.

These emoji-inspired accessories simply put a smiley or one of its comical variants on top of the camera circle of a smartphone. It takes advantage of how most of these cameras are designed, with two of the cameras placed side by side and near the top of the circle. It’s a perfect location for eyes and a face, one that perhaps more accurately expresses your own personality or just your mood for that day.

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Of course, there are obvious limitations to this design, the biggest of which is how not all camera bumps are circular. And those that are circular aren’t always located in the middle of the phone, making it a bit awkward but not entirely unattractive to put an emoji in the corner. That said, this camera design is actually becoming more popular these days as manufacturers try to figure out the best location for the growing number and sizes of cameras on a phone.

There’s also the consideration that a smartphone might have more than just two cameras, and their locations might not perfectly align with a smiley face. That simply needs a bit of creativity to design around those restrictions, like adding mouths to the face or having asymmetrical eyes that convey even more facial expressions than a traditional smiley. It’s really a simple concept that goes a long way in adding fun to the smartphone experience, while still giving you the freedom to go back to a pristine and “normal” look from time to time.

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A Lightweight Gaming Mouse That Elevates Your Gameplay Experience With Its Personalization Features

News for all the gamers around who are looking for a mouse upgrade! GravaStar, a renowned name in innovative gaming accessories, has recently introduced two amazing gaming mouse designs that promise to revolutionize the gaming experience. The Mercury M1 Pro and Mercury M2, the latest additions to GravaStar’s lineup, are now available for pre-order, capturing the attention of gamers worldwide with their advanced technology, ergonomic features, and customizable options.

Designer: GravaStar

The Mercury M1 Pro stands out with its robust yet lightweight magnesium alloy body, available in two stylish versions: the Silver Mist, equipped with both 1K and 4K dongles and the Gunmetal Gray, featuring a 1K dongle. The gaming mouse boasts a high-precision 26,000 DPI sensor powered by the PAW3395 chip, ensuring unparalleled accuracy in every movement.

The TUROSPEED Wireless Technology embedded in the M1 Pro guarantees a stable and reliable connection, essential for intense gaming sessions. The mouse’s customization options include GLOWSYNC RGB lighting and five programmable buttons, allowing gamers to tailor their experience to their unique preferences.

The Mercury M2 takes a different approach with its distinctive hollowed-out design, reducing the weight to a mere 79 grams. This innovative design not only makes the mouse lighter but also enhances airflow, keeping your hand cool during extended gaming sessions. Like its counterpart, the M2 features a high-accuracy 26,000 DPI sensor, a 1K Hz polling rate, and offers versatile connectivity options, including 2.4G, Bluetooth, and wired connections.

The M2’s adaptability extends to its customizable features, including five LIGHTSYNC RGB modes and programmable buttons. Gamers can seamlessly switch between different modes to match their gaming environment and style.

The Mercury M1 Pro and M2 gaming mice by GravaStar boast an impressive set of specifications tailored to meet the demanding needs of gamers. Crafted with a magnesium alloy construction, these mice combine strength with a lightweight design. The high-precision 26,000 DPI sensor, powered by the PAW3395 chip, ensures unparalleled accuracy in every movement. The incorporation of TUROSPEED Wireless Technology guarantees a stable and reliable connection during intense gaming sessions.

The innovative hollowed-out design of the mice not only reduces weight for enhanced maneuverability but also improves airflow, keeping hands cool during extended gameplay. Operating at a 1K Hz polling rate, these gaming mice provide a responsive and lag-free experience. Beyond their technical prowess, these gaming mice embody the vision of Yong Huang, the creative mind behind GravaStar, who meticulously designed them with a focus on merging performance and aesthetics. Far from being mere peripherals, the Mercury M1 Pro and M2 exemplify GravaStar’s commitment to producing durable, lightweight, and highly customizable gaming devices that resonate with the discerning preferences of gamers.

As gamers eagerly await the release of the Mercury M1 Pro and M2 gaming mice, it’s evident that these devices go beyond being simple tools. They reflect GravaStar’s dedication to enhancing the gaming experience through innovative design and personalization. Whether opting for the sleek Silver Mist or the robust Gunmetal Gray, users are choosing devices poised to elevate their gaming to new heights with precision, comfort, and style.

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