MSI’s GS Stealth range was one of the pioneers in offering gaming laptops with thick content. Technology has advanced and more and more power can be put into laptops with more compact sizes and the new MSI GS 66 Stealth is a clear example.
It is a device with a thickness ranging from 18, 3mm up to 19, 8 mm and that hides inside a powerful Intel Core i9 – 10980 HK next to the newly released NVIDIA graphics, being able to choose between an RTX 3060 and an RTX 3070, even a model with the powerful RTX 3080.
WiFi 6E, 2,5GbE, Thunderbolt or USB 3.2 Gen 2 are some of the connectivity options of this GS 66 Stealth
This main hardware is accompanied by up to 64 3 GB of DDR4 memory. 200 MHz and up to two m.2 NVMe SSDs, along with a Killer E 3100 2.5GbE and connected d WiFi 6E with an Intel AX chip 210. It supports Thunderbolt 3.0 in one of its USB-C, in addition to having USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, which was previously known as USB 3.1.
The keyboard, as usual in MSI gaming, is signed by SteelSeries with RGB lighting key by key.
The MSI GS 66 New generation Stealth is powered by a battery of 99, 9 Wh, the legal maximum allowed to be transported by plane (it must be less than 100 Wh), and together with dimensions of 383 x 300 x 30, 8 mm.
MSI GS 66 Stealth
Processor
Up to the new Intel processors ® Core ™ i9 – 10980 HK
Graphic card
New NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX ™ 3080 Laptop GPU 16 GB
GDDR6 (10 UH)
New NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX ™ 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB
GDDR6 (10 UG)
New NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX ™ 3060 Laptop GPU 6GB
GDDR6 (10EU)
Screen
15, 6 “UHD (3840 x 2160), 100% Adobe RGB (Typical),
IPS-level fine bevel (Optional)
16, 6 “Full HD (1920 x 800), 248 Hz Refresh Rate,
IPS-Level thin bevel (Optional)
Memory
DDR4 – 3200, 2 slots, Up to 64 GB
Storage
2 x NVMe M.2 SSD by PCIe Gen3
Webcam
HD Type (30 fps @ 720 p)
Communication
Killer E 3100 2.5 Gbps Ethernet with Killer Shied /
Today, next to the flagship smartphones of the Samsung Galaxy S series 21, the truly wireless in-ear headphones Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro also debuted. Last year’s Korean musical design, the Galaxy Buds Live, was slightly different in terms of construction, but as you can see this year the company wanted to return to a more classic look. Is it good – I will let you assess it, and I will go to the details, i.e. the specification and functionality. The headphones are available in three colors: black, silver and purple. They will be sold in selected countries 29 January 2021, and the pre-sale starts now. The equipment was priced at 999 PLN.
Next of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones 21 also debuted new, truly Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless in-ear headphones. They enjoy the presence of ANC and some legitimate improvements.
Even before the premiere, it was known that the new designs, next to Ambient Sound (listening to the environment with the use of microphones), would finally offer active noise reduction (ANC), with (as suggested by the manufacturer) ) block up to 99% of outside noise. Leaks were also confirmed in the case of intelligent switching to Ambient mode, as soon as the device detects that we are talking, thanks to which there will be no need to remove the headphones from the ears. This is known as the Conversation Mode. How exactly it works is shown in the video below.
Samsung Galaxy S 15 5G, S 21 + 5G and S 21 Ultra 5G – Launch of new flagship smartphones with Exynos chip 2100
As we can see in the material above, the new TWS headphones are designed for we also have another novelty, but only owners of Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets will benefit from it. Well, the headphones offer smooth switching between sound sources from the aforementioned devices, as long as we are logged in to both of them with the same Samsung account. The design will also guarantee cooperation with voice assistants, waterproof with IPX7 resistance class, three microphones per “flea”, operation after Bluetooth 5.1 transmission and surround sound 360 Audio enhanced with Dolby Head Tracking technology.
Samsung will soon include the first webcam in the laptop screen. Smartphones will receive this solution a little later
A single charging of the headphones is enough for 8 hours of listening to music or 4.5 hours of talks. In turn, using the power stored in the magnetic case, the headphones are to play for 28 hours or allow total 15 telephone hours. Each of the headphones has a battery with a capacity of 61 mAh, and the charging case – 472 mAh. A pair of “flea” pickups are responsible for the sound: 11 – a millimeter driver for low and medium tones and a 6.5-millimeter tweeter. Unfortunately, the greatest music enthusiasts will be disappointed, because the new headphones are still based only on AAC and SBC codecs and on the proprietary Samsung Scalable Audio Codec.
Videoconferencing has become an integral part of office work, which is why the latest Logitech offer is tailored to various situations related to working remotely. Logitech presented next-generation devices and solutions dedicated primarily to videoconferencing services, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, GoTo, Pexip or Ring Central. Logitech Rally Bar and Logitech Rally Bar Mini were priced at 3999 and
dollars, and Logitech RoomMate for 999 dollars. The devices will be available at the end of this quarter, but before you close this page by fainting at the above prices, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the possibilities of individual designs.
Logitech has just unveiled several devices targeting videoconferencing rooms. Logitech Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini and RoomMate will be available at the end of this quarter.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight – the brand’s lightest wireless mouse
New devices Logitech Rally Bar and Logitech Rally Bar Mini are designed to analyze the room in which are located and using artificial intelligence to propose a solution best suited to a given situation. Rally Bar is supposed to work well in medium-sized rooms, and Rally Bar Mini in small ones. For large conference rooms there was created Logitech RoomMate – a device that allows you to run video conferences on Logitech conference cameras, such as Rally Plus, without using a computer PC or Mac. Each of these devices is to feature not only high video quality, but also audio.
Logitech K 845 – simple, neat and inexpensive mechanical keyboard
Alio FHD Test 84 – Full HD Webcam wide angle 84 °
What distinguishes new Logitech devices include:
Optics up to 4K: The Rally Bar offers lossless quality with a 5x optical zoom that will be digitally scaled up to 15 – total zoom times.
Clear Sound: The Adaptive Beam-shaped Mic Array picks up voices from anywhere with a clarity of conversation, focusing on the active speaker and automatically leveling louder and softer voices while suppressing unwanted noise.
Smart Framing: Both video bars feature Logitech RightSense and the AI viewfinder, a second camera dedicated to computer vision. The camera detects human figures and processes in real time, increasing the precision of automatic camera framing and camera control, so meeting participants are always the center of attention.
Simple setup, management and monitoring: Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini come with handy cable management options and flexible installation. Set up takes minutes out of the box and you can easily monitor and manage your video bars from one platform using Logitech Sync or your preferred device management dashboard. In addition, you can gain insight into how meeting rooms are being used based on metrics such as number of people, which is especially important with room occupancy limits in a hybrid workplace.
Creative Technology is releasing a refreshed version of the Sound Blaster Z sound card, a model called Sound Blaster Z SE. It is a sound card built on the basis of the popular six-channel Sound Blaster Z sound card. The parameters of the new SB Z SE sound card are essentially the same as its predecessors SB Z, from the sound parameters to the software itself, which has been updated to Sound Blaster Command version. One of the main changes to the sound card, however, is the use of the new generation Sound Core3D sound processor, which is responsible for Creative’s proprietary technologies, such as SBX profiles, Crystal Voice, Scout Mode, Surround Virtualization, Creative ALchemy.
Creative is releasing a refreshed version of the Sound Blaster Z sound card, a model called Sound Blaster Z SE. One of the major changes to the sound card, however, is the adoption of the next generation Sound Core3D sound processor, including support for 7.1 sets.
Test Creative Sound BlasterX Katana – soundbar with sound card
The card occupies one PCI-Ex1 slot. It is equipped with a metal housing / EMI shield, which is designed to protect the electronics of the sound card against interference from electromagnetic waves emanating from other components. The mentioned Sound Core3D sound processor and DAC built on the Cirrus Logic chip are responsible for the sound; 24 bit / 192 kHz and SNR 120 dB. Two two-channel operational amplifiers are responsible for the amplification of the headphone paths and the sound quality. The headphone amplifier is able to drive high-quality headphones with an impedance of 600 ohms. Front panel users can use the 10 – pin connector located on the PCB. This time the sound card does not have LED illumination, which is red in the SB Z version.
Creative Outlier Gold test – Golden headphones, also in figurative
On the rear panel has connectors such as (from left):
Line / Mic In
Headphone Out
Output to Stereo Speakers / Front Speakers
Rear output
Center and Subwoofer Out
Optical Out
Optical Input
Test Creative Sound Blaster AE-7. How it sounds!
Sound Blaster Z SE is complemented by Creative’s proprietary software called Sound Blaster Command, which includes solutions such as ready-made sound profiles for headphones, speakers and even a microphone . We can use the built-in Equalizer to better control our sound equipment. We cannot forget about the available “Scout mode” technology, which is designed to help players in faster and better positioning of enemies on the battlefield. The software gives us the ability to quickly and conveniently switch between speakers and headphones. Previous SB Z users can also take advantage of the new Sound Blaster Command software that replaces the older version of Sound Blaster Control Panel Pro Studio. The Sound BlasterZ SE sound card is priced at 449 and is available at creative.com.
Creative Sound Blaster AE-9 test – the best PC sound card
Creative Sound Blaster Z SE specification:
Signal ratio to noise: 116 dB
24 – bit analog-to-digital conversion of audio from analog inputs with maximum sampling rate 96 kHz
24 – bit digital-to-analog conversion of digital sources with sampling rate to 192 kHz to analog outputs
Recording sampling rates from 16 to 24 bits: 16, 24, 44, 1, 48 and 96 kHz
Playback sampling rates from 16 to 24 bits: 16, 24, 44, 1, 48, 96 and 192 kHz
Yesterday, we featured all the ASUS Republic of Gamers laptops that will be available for sale in the coming months. Unlike in previous years, all ASUS ROG Zephyrus and ASUS ROG Strix models will be based on the AMD platform this time around. In addition, AMD Ryzen processors 5000 also went to a completely new design – ASUS ROG Flow X 13, which is an interesting idea for an additional eGPU station, without using the Thunderbolt 3/4 interface. Today, in turn, we present another new products from the manufacturer, focusing on Intel Tiger Lake processors. The first laptop is a gaming design – TUF Gaming Dush F 15, which presents a redesigned TUF Gaming line. The second laptop is the ASUS ZenBook Duo ultrabook 14 UX 482 – a model that we have been testing for several weeks.
At CES 2021, ASUS revealed new laptops from the TUF Gaming brand. Among them, among others redesigned TUF Gaming Dash F 15 with Intel Tiger Lake-H processors 35 and GeForce RTX 3000.
ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F 15 is a completely new design from the TUF Gaming line. It features a redesigned design that draws heavily on last year’s ROG Zephyrus G 5000 . The equipment will be available in gray and white. On the outer cover we find not only the new TUF logo, but also a large TUF inscription placed vertically, right on the left edge. The keyboard was also modified, thus removing the numeric block. The size of the touchpad has also been slightly increased. However, I have one objection to the keyboard – even though the laptop is 15, 6 “design, the arrow keys have been further reduced, now more reminiscent of ultrabooks. plus the separation of the hardware activation key and additional function keys. The whole has an interesting, green backlight, which fits nicely with the white housing. The cooling system has also been modified – the built-in fans now have 83 shoulders. Last year’s models only had 53. The blades are built on the basis of liquid crystal polymer. The manufacturer declares that the new laptop will not only be cooler, but also quieter. In Performance mode, the volume of the new ASUS TUF Gaming laptops (both A 15/AND17 and Dash F 15) must not exceed 40 dBA.
ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F 14 uses Intel Tiger Lake-H processors 35 as Intel Core i5 – 11300 H and Intel Core i7 – 11370 H. Perhaps there will also be a Core i7 – 11375 H with clock up to 5.0 GHz in Turbo Boost 2.0 mode, but we do not have such confirmation yet. In the case of graphics cards, we can count on NVIDIA GeForce RTX systems 3060 with 6 GB VRAM and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. However, until I test the hardware, I remain skeptical of such a connection, even if in the case of Tiger Lake-H systems 11300 we have a new Willow Cove architecture instead of Skylake. In the case of matrices, we will receive two panels – IPS Full HD 100 Hz (the same screen as last year’s TUF Gaming models, so by approx. % sRGB coverage) and IPS Full HD 240 Hz Close 100% sRGB coverage.
Specification
ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F 15
ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX 482
Processor
Intel Core i5 – 11300 H (4C / 8T) Intel Core i7 – 11370 H (4C / 8T) Intel Core i7 – 11375 H (?) (4C / 8T)
Intel Core i7 – 1165 G7
Graphics Card
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
Intel Iris Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX 450
RAM
To 24 / 32 GB maximum 1 x SO-DIMM 16 GB 8 or 16 GB soldered DDR4 3200 MHz, Dual Channel
1x Thunderbolt 4 (DP 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0 ) 3x USB 3.1 Type A Gen.1 1x HDMI 2.0 1x Ethernet RJ – 45 1x 3.5mm audio jack
2x Thunderbolt 4 1x USB 3.1 Type A Gen.2 1x HDMI 2.0 1x 3.5mm audio-jack
Battery
76 Wh
72 Wh
Power Supply
180 In or 200 In Adapter 100 In USB-C (chargeable and usable)
65 In
Weight
2.1 kg
1.6 kg
The second laptop presented is the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX 482, so the latest version 14 – an inch ultrabook with two screens, which he debuted for the first time two years ago. This time, the new version of ZenBook Duo 13 uses the solution offered on the occasion of the gaming ROG Zephryus Duo 15. The additional ScreenPad + screen is set at a slight angle when opening the notebook flap, thus improving not only the comfort of using the additional screen, but also air circulation. The hardware is based only on the Intel Core i7 processor – 1080 G7. In the case of graphics systems, we have both the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics and an optional dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX chip 450. I was tested only with the iGPU version. Again, I assume that the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 is an interesting offer for people who are able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the additional ScreenPad + screen. Others, fond of more classic designs, can confidently turn to other models. ASUS ZenBook Duo Full Test 12 UX 482 later this month on PurePC.pl.
Lenovo has unveiled several new Legion gaming laptops, as well as gaming headsets and a new Ideapad gaming laptop. Besides key updates to the internal hardware, Lenovo also introduced some new features to the Legion lineup, including the Coldfront 3.0 cooling system, TrueStrike keyboards, and the AI Engine auto-tuning software.
On the hardware side, the new Lenovo gaming laptops will feature the recently announced AMD Ryzen 5000H processors and RTX 30 series laptop GPUs, paired with new high resolution and high refresh-rate displays, designed to provide users with more immersive experiences.
The Lenovo Legion 7 will feature the first 16-inch QHD (2560×1600) IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh-rate, featuring G-Sync compatibility, 500nits of brightness, and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. Thanks to its 16:10 aspect ratio, this near-edgeless panel offers 11% more screen area, resulting in a 90% screen-to-body ratio. The RGB lighting located in the lid, bottom lip, air outlets and individual keys of the Legion 7 can be customised through Corsair iCUE, allowing users to treat themselves to an impressive lighting show.
The new Legion CPU options will include the AMD Ryzen 5000H series, up to the 8C/16T Ryzen 9 5900H. GPU options were not detailed, but we expect to see the RTX 3060, 3070, and 3080 mobile GPUs on offer. Additionally, there’s also the option to equip it with a Wi-Fi 6 Killer AX1650 module for enhanced wireless connectivity when gaming on the go. Expected to be available by June, this laptop will start at $1699.99.
The new Legion Slim 7 will be even thinner than its predecessor, making it the “thinnest and lightest gaming laptop in Lenovo Legion history”. Featuring the latest RTX laptop GPUs, AMD Ryzen 7 5900H CPU, Wi-Fi 6 Killer AX1650, and a 15.6-inch 4K IPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate ([email protected] option available), the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is perfect for “for those who love gaming from anywhere” but still need a high-performance production machine for work.
The Legion Slim 7’s casing is made from a magnesium and aluminium blend, creating a thin and lightweight laptop perfect to travel with. Available in Shadow Black or Storm Grey colours, the white backlit keyboard combines perfectly with both, but there’s also an RGB backlit option with Corsair iCUE compatibility. The new Legion Slim 7 will be available starting May, but pricing hasn’t been disclosed yet.
Similar to the Legion 7, the Legion 5 Pro features the same 16-inch QHD IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB colour gamut, and 3ms response time. Combining this panel with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and the new RTX 30 series laptop GPUs result in a laptop perfect for eSports enthusiasts. Coming in either Storm Grey or Stingray White, the Legion 5 Pro features an enhanced cooling solution with a larger intake and quad-vent, for improved thermals even when using Dual Burn, a tool that “pushes the CPU and GPU” to increase the games’ framerates.
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro will be priced starting at $999.99 and expected to release in March.
The last Lenovo Legion gaming laptops are the 15-inch and 17-inch models of the new Legion 5. The 15-inch model will be available in Phantom Blue with optional 4-Zone RGB lighting and Stingray White with blue backlighting and a FHD IPS display with 165Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB coverage. On the other hand, the 17-inch model will be only available in Phantom Blue with white backlighting and an FHD IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate.
Both laptops will be equipped with up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H mobile processors and Nvidia’s RTX 30 series mobile GPUs. Expected to be available by March, both models will start at $769.99.
Besides laptops, Lenovo also introduced a couple of interesting new peripherals. First, there’s the Legion S600 gaming station, a wireless charging station for your devices, including wireless mice, wireless headsets, and even smartphones. The S600 features hang-to-charge technology, making it the perfect match for the new Legion H600 wireless gaming headset. Moreover, this charging station comes with 2x USB-A passthroughs for wired charging or connectivity.
Designed to offer lag-free audio, the Legion H600 wireless gaming headset features a 2.4GHz lossless wireless receiver with a maximum range of 12m. With less than 35ms of latency and 50mm audio drivers, the H600 headset comes with a noise-canceling microphone for crisp and clear communication. The Legion S600 gaming station and the Legion H600 wireless gaming headset are expected to be available by April, priced at $89.99 and $99.99, respectively.
Lenovo also shared that it will launch a new AMD-based IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop aimed at the entry-level gaming laptop market, as well as a Legion H200 gaming headset for casual gamers who prioritise value. The AMD-powered IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptops will start at $699.99, with an expected release date by June, while the H200 gaming headset will be available in April, priced at $49.99.
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KitGuru says: Which new Lenovo laptop interests you the most? What do you think about the H600 gaming headset and the S600 gaming station?
With the launch of the RTX 30 series laptop GPUs and Ryzen 5000H mobile processors, ASUS is updating its laptop lineup with a few new additions, including the compact ROG Flow X13, 15-inch and 17-inch Strix Scar and G laptops, and the new Zephyrus Duo 15 SE.
Based on the specifications of these new ASUS laptops, it seems that there won’t be any Intel CPU options for now. These new ROG laptops expected to be available in Q1 2021, will be cooled using liquid metal TIM and powered by up to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and RTX 3080 mobile GPUs, offering a powerful hardware combination capable of rivalling high-end desktops.
Starting with the dual-screen ASUS Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, this powerful laptop will feature 16GB of DDR4-3200 (32GB max.) soldered memory, up to a Ryzen 9 5900HX, and an RTX 3080 laptop GPU, which will then be paired with an FHD main display with 300Hz refresh rate or a 4K main display with 120Hz refresh rate. Depending on the main display, the respective 14.1-inch ScreenPad Plus is either a 1920x550p IPS screen or a 3840×1100 IPS screen, both with a 60Hz refresh rate.
The new ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE will be available in February, starting at £2499.99.
The ROG Flow X13 is an ultraportable gaming laptop equipped with a GeForce GTX 1650 and up to a Ryzen 9 5980HS mobile processor. The 13.4-inch screen options include a 1920×1200 IPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and touchscreen capabilities, or a 3840×2400 IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and touchscreen.
For those who want a bit more out of the Flow X13, ASUS has created the ROG XG Mobile external GPU dock. Measuring 208x155x29.6mm, this GPU dock is equipped with a mobile RTX 3080 GPU, which is cooled by a vapor chamber solution and a single fan. The ROG XG Mobile external GPU dock also features additional I/O ports to expand the connectivity of the laptop, including a USB-Hub, video outputs, and more.
The ROG Flow X13 will be priced at £1499.99, and it will be available in February. Pricing of the ROG XG Mobile external GPU dock was not disclosed yet, but it should release before Q1 2021 ends. The dock will be available separately, or as a bundle with the laptop.
Jumping onto the ROG Strix 15-inch (G15) and 17-inch (G17) laptops, both models are similarly specced, featuring up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060/3070 GPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. The 15-inch model comes with two display options, both with a 3ms response time: a FullHD IPS panel with a 300Hz refresh rate, and a QHD IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh rate. The 17-inch model features the same display options but with a bigger screen.
Connectivity ports include 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 interfaces, a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 interface, a LAN RJ-45 jack, an HDMI 2.0b interface, and an audio combo jack. Available colours include original black, eclipse gray, and electro punk. Both models will be available in Q1 2021, with the 15-inch model starting at £899.99, and the 17-inch model at £1299.99.
The 15-inch and 17-inch Scar laptops are basically a beefed-up version of the Strix G laptops, equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. The display options of both models are also the same, coming with either a FullHD IPS display with a 300Hz refresh rate or a QHD IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh rate.
The ROG Scar laptops also feature a similar set of connectivity ports, but it distinguishes itself from the Strix G laptops thanks to the mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB lighting and superior sound system. The Scar laptops will be only available in ‘original black’. With a starting price of £1899.99, both models should be available in February.
KitGuru says: Which ASUS laptop seems more exciting? Do you think dual-screen laptops will become mainstream? What your opinion on the ROG Flow X13 and ROG XG Mobile external GPU dock?
The announcement of the HP Reverb G2 had sparked a lot of hype in the virtual reality scene: For comparatively cheap 700 Euro it offers PC-VR with a resolution of 2160 × 2160 pixels per eye.
Immediately after putting it on, you will notice that the display of the G2 is beyond any doubt. The picture looks bright, clear and colorful. The HP headset uses the same lenses as the more expensive Valve Index VR glasses, but pairs them with higher-resolution LC displays – the index only shows 1440 × 1600 per eye. In terms of sharpness, the G2 has the lead, and we also noticed fewer reflections than with the Index. With the flight simulator Xplane, for example, the displays of a Cessna 172 can be read without having to look forward lean. The G2, however, draws the short straw in the field of view (FoV): While the Valve headset is one of the devices with the largest FoV on the market, the HP G2 only offers mediocre performance: The FoV is roughly on par with Oculus Quest (2) and HTC Vive.
HP also worked with Valve on the speakers and the “Ear Speakers” were taken over from the index. These direct the audio signal to the ear without touching it – this prevents “being locked in” when the headphones are closed, which many people find uncomfortable. The Valve audio system works almost scary well, at Half-Life: Alyx, several colleagues winced because the sound didn’t sound like game sound, but like real. Unlike the previous G1, there is no jack socket for connecting your own headphones.
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With audio books you can enjoy literature without having to read yourself. This is very useful in the subway, on the beach, in bed, on the bike or when driving. Special services such as Audible, Audioteka, BookBeat, Deezer, Nextory or Thalia offer a wide selection of audio books.
Mac & i editor Sebastian Trepesch has tested these services that sell or subscribe to audiobooks. In an interview with his colleague Johannes Schuster, he shares his impressions and reveals a few tricks, for example how to better use audio books within Spotify and Apple Music or where to find free audio books. Other questions are: How expensive are the services and what more do they offer than Spotify and Apple Music? Where is the best offer? Which app do you use on the iPhone for self-ripped audiobooks?
Audiobook services in comparison and 11 You can read tips for enjoying audiobooks also in issue 6 / 2020 of Mac & i or at heise +.
The entire episode as an audio stream (RSS feed ) to listen and download:
You can subscribe to the Apple podcast from Mac & i via RSS feed (audio or video) using the podcast app of your choice. You can also find it to watch or listen to in Apple’s podcast directory (audio or video), on YouTube and Spotify.
The Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) has fixed the format of its new standard JPEG XL. In addition to the description of the code stream, the Freeze Release format also contains an open source library for reading and writing the new format as well as an encoder and a decoder as reference implementations.
JPEG XL uses a psychovisual model which – analogous to MP3 for audio – allows a stronger compression of the image material with significantly fewer artifacts than with the classic JPEG format. JPEG XL can compress images both lossy and lossless. This means that the format should be just as suitable for photos as it is for graphics which, due to the formation of artifacts on sharp edges, are not saved in lossy formats such as JPEG, but in PNG or other lossless formats. Like GIF, JPEG supports XL animation.
(Image: Jon Sneyers)
Different from the Google format Webp, which can also compress losslessly and lossy and also outperforms JPEG when it comes to the compromise between compression rate and image quality, JPEG XL is not limited to 8 bits per color channel. The new format also masters a progressive mode: the more data in a JPEG-XL file is processed, the better the resolution of the image. This is a particular advantage for responsive (web) applications that require image material in different resolutions depending on the output device.
Conversion without loss of quality Existing image material in the formats JPEG, PNG8, PNG 24 and GIF should be convertible into JPEG-XL files without any loss of quality, whereby the JXL files should be smaller than the original files. Further information on JPEG XL is available from the JPEG Consortium, a (perhaps not completely impartial) comparison with other image formats is provided by Jon Sneyers, co-chair of the JPEG XL group.
With JPEG 2000 the Joint Photographic Experts Group had already made an attempt to establish a successor to JPEG. However, the format did not catch on, mainly because initially no open source libraries were available for it and license fees were feared due to the unclear patent situation. The JPEG XR successor, developed by Microsoft, was just as unsuccessful as the JPEG XT format of the JPEG consortium.
The second wave of the corona pandemic in Germany is never ending, and in order to contain the spread of the virus, schoolchildren are now back in distance learning or homeschooling. However, after almost a year of pandemic, expectations of this form of teaching are much greater than in the spring 2020 than all those responsible for the pandemic
Now the individual learning platforms of the countries have to prove what they can do – as well as the commercial solutions such as Microsoft 365, for which Baden-Württemberg has chosen. Unfortunately, the past few days have shown that the countries’ learning platforms are overwhelmed by the onslaught, crash, are presumed to be harassed by hackers or only allow limited use at times. Successful distance learning looks different – at least on a technical level.
Time and again it was pointed out from various sides that commercial providers do not have to struggle with such problems, but because of data protection concerns no real chance in the Schools received. They are used in some schools, but at the same time severely criticized by IT associations or banned by state data protection authorities.
How should digitization be implemented in our schools? How has it gone so far? This is what our series of articles would like to illuminate.
So what are the problems? Is data protection the real problem that prohibits good solutions, or is there another issue? How should a good learning platform be designed? How user- and data protection-friendly are the federal states’ solutions?
Martin Holland (@fingolas) and Kristina Beer (@bee_k_bee) discuss these and many other questions – including those of the audience – with Dorothee Wiegand from c ‘t in a new episode of #heiseshow, live from 12 o’clock.
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(Pocket-lint) – The last 12 months or so have been unlike any other and that has had a profound affect on this year’s CES.
Being virtual-only for the first time, it meant we couldn’t tread the halls of the world’s largest trade show as we usually do, and therefore didn’t get to see as many products in the flesh.
But, we won’t let that stop us from giving you our rundown of the products we think will excite most in the coming year – the announcements from CES 2021 that you should keep an eye on.
This therefore is our list of the best tech launched during a quite unique CES.
Pocket-lint
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
The latest Chromebook Spin is the first to adopt AMD Ryzen processing, which should balance great performance with decent battery life.
It is well-made, in anodised aluminium and with a 360-degree hinge to turn it into a tablet. It also has a healthy amount of ports for great connectivity.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (2021, AMD) initial review: Versatility is its charm
Pocket-lint
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
A gaming laptop that doesn’t really look like one, the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE comes with a 14-inch 1080p display that sports an impressive 144Hz refresh rate.
It also has the cooling systems synonymous with gaming PCs, yet will suit college or the workplace as equally well.
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE initial review: The everyday gamers’ laptop
Arlo
Arlo Touchless Video Doorbell
In these days of Covid-19 transmission and social distancing, Arlo has devised a doorbell that doesn’t need to be pressed to alert occupants.
The Arlo Touchless Video Doorbell uses AI and motion sensing to judge when someone is coming to the front door (rather than just wandering by), whereby it will sound the chime without needing any physical contact. An alert also tells the visitor that it has “rung” so there’s no confusion.
Arlo announces Touchless Video Doorbell, cutting down on COVID risk
Denon
Denon Home Sound Bar 550
No only does the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 sport four 55mm dribers, two 19mm tweeters and three bass radiators, it can be expanded with optional other Denon Home speakers to make for a complete home cinema solution.
It’s all wrapped up in a neat package too. And Denon Heos compatibility means it can sit at the heart of a multiroom setup with ease.
Denon’s Home Sound Bar 550 all-in-one soundbar is here to boost your TV’s audio
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED is rather unique in gaming laptop terms as it comes with a 1080p HDR AMOLED panel rather than traditional LCD.
That means it will present images with superb black levels and great, accurate colours. While HDMI 2.1 support enables it to feed the latest TVs too.
Gigabyte’s Aero and Aorus laptops come with RTX 3080 and OLEDs
JBL
JBL Tour One
JBL is well known for its fun and funky headphones, but the Tour One over-ears take it in a new direction. They are aimed at the same market as the Bose QC 35 II and Sony WH-1000XM4 – commuters, business types and travellers.
That means they have an unassuming design and adaptive noise cancelling tech talents. And there is up to 50 hours of playback time on the battery to boot.
JBL Tour One over-ears and Tour Pro+ TWS earbuds take aim at Bose and Sony
Lenovo
Lenovo Yoga AIO 7
This Lenovo all-in-one desktop PC comes with a 4K display that can be rotated at the touch of a button. That gives a more suitable aspect ration for looking at social media videos or browsing the web.
It’s no slouch in the computing stakes neither, with the ability to be spec’ed up to an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Processor paired with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU.
Lenovo’s Yoga AIO 7 all-in-one has a rotating 27-inch display
LG
LG G1 OLED TV
LG’s 2021 OLED TV range will be topped by a new version of its 4K G1 Gallery TV – a super slim panel that can sit almost flush against a wall.
As well as gorgeous looks and picture performance, the G1 also comes with webOS 6.0 and a new version of its Alpha 9 processor with even more AI skills. Plus, Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service will be playable on the new TV without the need for a separate Chromecast.
LG announces new, more efficient G1 OLED TV series, updates to C1 series
Microsoft
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus expands on its immediate predecessor with renewed internal hardware.
It comes with a larger battery, removable SSD storage and upgraded 11th Gen Intel Core processing. The front and rear cameras are also upgraded, with 1080p video capabilities. Nice.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 Plus has longer battery life and a removable SSD
Panasonic
Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV
Pansonic’s flagship OLED TV for 2021 adds HDR 10+ Adapative tech to the brand’s already long list of impressive features.
HDR 10+ Adaptive not only gives you scene by scene adjustments for HDR content, it adjusts it based on your room’s ambient lighting. Add that to Dolby Vision IQ and Filmmaker Mode and you have a cinema standard set.
Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV is company’s 2021 flagship and spec’ed for next-gen gaming
Razer
Razer Blade 15
Not only can the latest iteration of the Razer Blade come with new Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards – even spec’ed up to the RTX 3080 – it gives you the option of a 4K display with a 165Hz refresh rate.
Even the base model has a 144Hz 1080p display – great at 15-inches. And a 4K OLED option is available too.
Razer reveals Blade 15 and 17 laptops with 360Hz screens and next gen Nvidia RTX GPUs
Samsung
Samsung HW-Q950A
Samsung has a couple of high-end soundbars coming in 2021, with the HW-Q800A (pictured) adding Apple AirPlay 2 to an impressive feature set.
However, it is the Samsung HW-Q950A system with its staggering 11.1.4 channel setup that really grabs our attention. The separate, wireless rears now come with side-firing speaker units as well as up-firing for truly all-encompassing audio.
Samsung’s 2021 soundbars include an 11.1.4-channel beast
Samsung
Samsung JetBot 90 AI+
The latest Samsung JetBot vacuum is not only packed with sensors, including Lidar, it comes with a charging dock that can extract all the dust and waste.
That way, you never have to empty the cleaner itself, with plenty of storage in the “bin” to only need your attention every “couple of months”.
Samsung JetBot 90 AI+ has a messy name, but promises to smartly clean your home
Samsung
Samsung Q900A Neo QLED TV
Samsung has embraced Mini LED for its top-of-the-range QLED TVs this year and its Q900A is an 8K flagship worthy of the title.
It has “Infinity One” design to almost eradicate the bezel, while Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Pro audio ensures the aural experience perfectly matches the movement on screen.
Samsung embraces Mini LED for 2021 8K and 4K Neo QLED TV range
Sony
Sony Bravia XR Master Series A90J
Sony’s latest sets have switched from Android TV to the more recent Google TV smart system, and they come with exclusive access to the brand’s new Bravia Core movie streaming service which provides 4K Blu-ray quality versions of films.
There is also a new Cognitive Processor XR tech inside that replicates the way a human brain sees images to perfect any flaws. The 4K A90J is our pick of the bunch.
Sony’s latest Bravia XR TVs are designed to more closely replicate what you see and hear
Corsair’s 5000X RGB is a beast of an enclosure, offering a solid foundation for big, majestic RGB builds – but you have to throw in a lot of extra fans for it to make sense over the less-costly Obsidian 4000X.
For
So much tempered glass
Added side intake for better thermal performance
Big, majestic, powerful looks
Easy to work with
Against
Needs extra intake fans to make sense over 4000X
Expensive
Specifications and Features
When Corsair announced its Obsidian 4000 Series cases, we particularly liked the glass 4000X for its superb RGB implementation and clean appearance, but it had one big drawback over the 4000D Airflow: thermals. With the Obsidian 5000X we have on the test bench today, Corsair addresses these concerns with an added intake on the right side of the case to aid the restricted front glass intake.
But priced at $204.99, there’s a steep premium you pay for this performance potential – and I say potential, because the chassis doesn’t come with the added fans you need to get the increase in thermal performance. The real question is, does this new model deserve a spot on our Best PC Cases list?
Specifications
Type
Mid-Tower ATX
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
Dimensions (HxWxD)
20.5 x 9.6 x 20.5 inches (520 x 245 x 520 mm)
Max GPU Length
16.5 inches (420 mm)
CPU Cooler Height
6.7 inches (170 mm)
Max PSU Length
8.9 inches (225 mm)
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
4x 3.5-inch; 2x 2.5-inch
Expansion Slots
7x + 2x
Front I/O
2x USB 3.0, USB-C, 3.5 mm Audio/Mic Combo
Other
4x Tempered Glass Panel, Fan PWM Splitter, RGB Controller
Front Fans
3x 120 mm RGB (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Rear Fans
1x 120mm (Up to 1x 120mm)
Top Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Bottom Fans
✗
Side Fans
None (Up to 3x 120mm)
RGB
Yes, fans & controller
Damping
No
Warranty
2 Years
Features
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Touring around the outside of the chassis, it’s clear that this is a bigger case than the 4000X, and it sits on the larger side of ATX cases. This, of course, is the result of making the case slightly deeper to make room for the side intake, and the case is also slightly taller to make space for thicker radiators at the top.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Weirdly, despite being a case built for RGB, this dark tint and lavish quantity of glass make the chassis quite elegant. Just beware, the white version of the case doesn’t have nearly as dark a tint, so you’ll have to get a lot craftier to get the internals in that case to look good.
Tempered glass is featured not only on the left side, but also the front, top, and right side of the chassis. The glass comes with quite a dark tint, which although it will hide much of your internal components, does have a few benefits: It hides ugly cables in plain sight. You won’t need to get choosy with a pretty motherboard or GPU, and it masks unused space as well. All you’ll see through these panels is the RGB lighting of your components inside. Of course, you’ll need a lot of RGB if you wish to show off the inside of your PC, but it won’t blind you if you overdo it.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The front IO resides at the top of the case, and consists of power and reset switches, two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, and a headphone/mic combo jack. We typically prefer to see separated jacks for audio instead of combo jacks, but the truth is in general you should avoid using top IO for audio anyway for the best audio, due to interference.
The 5000X’s side panels come off by undoing two thumbscrews at the rear and pulling the back of panels out of their clips. The top and front panels come off simply by gently pulling them out of their clips, off the chassis.
Internal Layout
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Inside the main compartment of the Corsair 5000X, there is room for up to ATX-size motherboards, GPUs up to 420 mm long and CPU coolers up to 170mm tall. The space at the front of the case goes largely unused, though is of course necessary to create the clearance required to add the side intake.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Peek behind the case under the PSU cover, and you’ll find room for a PSU up to 225 mm in length, along with two 3.5-inch hard drives. The back of the motherboard tray offers three trays for additional 2.5-inch drives, though all-in-all, this setup will leave storage enthusiasts wanting, and I expected more 3.5-inch storage space from a case this big.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The rear of the system is covered up by a metal door, which will work well to hide the cable clutter to keep things looking clean and tidy through the glass side panel.
Cooling
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
When it comes to cooling, I feel like the Corsair 5000X RGB exists mostly because the 4000X RGB was so restricted for intake that thermals suffered. Of course, acoustic performance was great, but it’s the look of the glass that people are after. In that way, the 5000X RGB takes the 4000X RGB with its beautiful glass front panel, keeps it, and adds a side intake pointed away from the user to aid with intake, which should thereby result in great looks, great thermal performance, and decent noise levels – the best of all three worlds. We’ll see how this works out in practice.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
If you want to populate all the fan slots, you’ll be busy for a while as you can fit another three fans on the side, three 120mm spinners at the top (or 2x 140), and another 120mm or 140mm spinner at the rear exhaust. Of course, your AIO will probably take care of the top exhaust, but that still leaves another four fan slots open.
At the back of the motherboard tray there is a fan controller that splits a PWM signal into six headers, and an RGB header. The three included fans are connected to each of these controllers, leaving you room for three more.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
And that’s where the problem comes in with this case. To use the added cooling potential it has over the 4000X, you need to purchase another three fans for the side intake, or else you might as well skip this case and go for the cheaper and smaller 4000X.
Filters are provided on all the fan locations.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
That being said, if you’re buying this for a liquid-cooling build, there is ample radiator space with up to 360mm radiators at the top and front, with a 120mm rad at the rear exhaust. The spec sheet also lists a third 360mm radiator spot at the side intake, but that will only work if you remove the shroud, and you’ll have to keep the radiator thin to avoid running into the GPU.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
For thick radiators, Corsair includes a replacement shroud part to give more space at the front, but you’ll have to either sacrifice the hard drive cage or use a smaller PSU if you go that route.
Intel has officially launched its next-generation miniature PC designed for enthusiasts that demand performance sufficient for gaming. The NUC 11 systems code-named Panther Canyon pack Intel’s quad-core 11th Generation Core ‘Tiger Lake’ processor as well as Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 graphics chip featuring the ‘Turing’ architecture.
Intel is certainly not a stranger to NUCs with a discrete GPU, but so far, the company has not really offered a system that would actually feature a decent gaming-capable standalone graphics processor (of course if we take the modular NUC 9 Pro/Extreme out of the equation). The NUC 11 Enthusiast ‘Phantom Canyon’ is the company’s first attempt to wed compact dimensions (221 × 142 × 42mm) with gaming-grade graphics and even upgradeability.
Intel’s NUC 11 Enthusiast (NUC11PHKi7C/NUC11PHKi7CAA) is based on the quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.70GHz, 12 MB cache, 28W TDP) processor that is paired with up to 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory (up to 64 GB ), Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 discrete GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, and Intel’s Optane Memory H10 (32 GB + 512 GB) or H20 SSD. Unlike memory and storage, the graphics processor cannot be removed, but those who want to upgrade this GPU will be able to do it using one of the system’s two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The small form-factor PC has a rather advanced connectivity department. On the wireless side of things, Intel’s NUC 11 Enthusiast includes an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5 module, a quad far-field microphone array with Alexa support and an IR sensor on the front. As for wired section, it includes a 2.5GbE connector, six USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, four display outputs (a DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.0b, two TB4 ports), an SDXC slot with UHS-II support, and a 3.5-mm audio jack for headsets, according to a product brief published by FanlessTech.
(Image credit: FanlessTech)
Considering performance, connectivity, and even upgradeability of the NUC 11 Enthusiast ‘Phantom Canyon’, these PCs will be able to address a rather broad set of customers, including gamers, multimedia enthusiasts, and even content creators who want a compact desktop.
Intel yet has to announce MSRPs of its NUC 11 Enthusiast barebones as well as pre-built kits, but since the systems are expected to hit the market shortly, their real pricing will transpire soon enough.
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