ASUS Announces Fresh New Verdure Green Color for Zenfone 11 Ultra

ASUS today announced Verdure Green, a fresh new color option for its Zenfone 11 Ultra lineup that pays homage to the lush greenery of New York’s Central Park, an oasis of calm in a bustling city. This new shade offers the user a touch of serenity, wherever they go.

Building upon the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s legacy of innovation, the Verdure Green variant retains all the hallmark features that users have come to love. The Verdure Green variant maintains consistency in design, with both the upgraded aluminum-framed, glossy glass-covered triple-lens camera module and the back cover elegantly clad in the same captivating color. This harmonious design aesthetic ensures a visually striking device that stands out from the crowd. Additionally, the on-trend green colorway gives users an up-to-date fashion choice to suit modern style sensibilities.

Zenfone 11 Ultra provides more of everything, packing a more expansive screen, a faster processor, and a bigger battery into its meticulously-designed chassis.  The phone includes a raft of AI-powered features, including AI Noise Cancelation, AI Call Translator, AI Transcript, and AI Wallpaper, which make the user’s mobile lifestyle easier and more fulfilling[i]. ASUS continues to deliver cutting-edge technology wrapped in an ultra-elegant package.

The Zenfone 11 Ultra in Verdure Green delivers the perfect blend of style and technology, elevating users’ AI-powered mobile experience and making a statement with this fresh new addition to the Zenfone family.

“The Color plan pursues the essence of simplicity and nature, inspired by the colors and inspired by the Life, to pay tribute to the incomparable beauty of nature. Low-chroma color matching provides maximum product adaptability across a wide range of environments.” said Jess Wu, Industrial Design Senior Manager. “Drawing inspiration from the Earth’s natural elements, the phone’s back cover showcases a range of earth-inspired hues, including Eternal Black, Skyline Blue, Misty Gray, and Desert Sand. These colors not only add vibrancy and innovation to the phone’s design but also evoke a sense of tranquillity, stability, energy, and presence, reminiscent of the serenity found in nature’s elements.”

“In addition to all those features, we’ve embraced sustainability from the design phase, incorporating eco-friendly practices throughout. This includes a touch panel with 22% PIR recycled glass, a protective case made from 50% PCR recycled plastic, a 100% recycled aluminum frame, and fully sustainable packaging,” concluded Jess Wu. “Our packaging materials are FSC-certified, printed with non-toxic soy-based inks, and all phone and cable components are encased in paper. We are committed to making strides in sustainability, from the inside out.”

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra in Verdure Green will be available from 17th June 2024 in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Czechia from https://www.asus.com/mobile-handhelds/phones/zenfone/zenfone-11-ultra/.

Edifier D32 tabletop speaker – Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified, AirPlay compatible and high-capacity built-in battery

Edifier International, the award-winning audio design house, has announced details of their new retro-inspired D32 Tabletop Wireless Speaker. Producing high quality audio playback, the D32 is precision manufactured to satisfy savvy audiophiles and design lovers alike.

Edifier have become known for marrying premium production quality with flawless audio experiences and the D32 is no exception. With a hand-made wooden housing, the speaker is acoustically treated to reduce excess resonance and distortion, whilst dual bass reflex ports enhance lows without overpowering mids and highs. Fitted with two 1″ silk dome tweeters and one 4″ long-throw mid-low driver, the speaker is capable of producing a frequency response of between 52Hz – 40kHz and has earned the prestigious Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certifications.

Elsewhere inside, the D32 includes dual Class-D audio amplifiers from Texas Instruments, capable of providing enhanced end-to-end high resolution audio processing. Importantly, this is done via a two-way active crossover, which separates the audio signal during processing to ensure it remains as pure as possible. Additionally, the D32 has in-built dynamic range control (DRC) that reduces the difference between the loudest and quietest aspects of an audio signal, overall producing a more balanced, detailed and consistent audio fidelity when listening between different genres.

Together, with support for SBC, AAC, LDAC, and ALAC (Apple AirPlay 2) codecs and an 11-hour battery life, the Edifier D32 TableTop Speaker places a premium on outstanding audio whilst maintaining, at its core, multi-use functionality. Featuring multiple input options, including Bluetooth V5.3, USB-C, Wi-Fi (Apple AirPlay) and AUX, the D32 weighs just 3.04Kg. Measuring 250mm x 162mm x 179mm, users can enjoy the D32 in a range of home and on-the-go settings, whether enjoying the latest podcast on the couch, singing to a favourite song in the bathroom or entertaining friends in the summer sun.

Quintessential to this multi-use functionality, Edifier place particular importance on the visual language of their products. The D32 sports a unique mid-century modern feel; built using the most advanced production techniques and materials, it combines the sleek and minimal lines of the Bauhaus design movement with subtle nods to timeless 1970s radio design. Delivering in both form and function, the warm and sophisticated appearance has a tactile-yet-luxe character, complete with a textured, braided grille, satisfying accordion-style keyboard buttons and smart metallic detailing. Available in both white and black walnut colour ways, the aesthetic versatility of the D32 truly sets it apart – making this an unrivalled choice for the decor-conscious consumer who values a balance between elegant award-winning design and industry-leading audio technology.

Together, Edifier has produced another defining product for the market. A perfect fit for modern life, the D32 achieves impeccable sound whilst maintaining a distinct and eye-catching presence. Finally, the D32 is compatible with the Edifier ConneX App, allowing users to sculpt their sound to taste, including a source switch, various playback controls, sound effects switch and EQ customization.

  • 60W (RMS) total output power with quality sound
  • Dual 1″ silk dome tweeters and one 4″ long-throw mid-low driver
  • Full digital signal processing, two-way active crossover, and DRC
  • Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified
  • Works with Apple AirPlay2 via the 5GHz and 2.4GHz dual-band Wi-Fi connection
  • Bluetooth V5.3, USB, and AUX inputs
  • Supports SBC, AAC, LDAC, and ALAC (AirPlay mode only) codecs
  • 11 hours playtime by the built-in battery pack
  • Works with EDIFIER ConneX mobile app
  • Codecs – SBC, AAC, LDAC, and ALAC (AirPlay mode only)

Price & Availability:

Available for £189.99 from https://www.kbaudio.co.uk/products/edifier-d32-bluetooth-wifi-desktop-speaker

FinTech Depowise, platform handling €800bn in assets, enters the UK and Irish market

Depowise, the Estonian-founded oversight and process automation startup for financial services firms, is expanding into the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company aims to increase its current 5% market share tenfold in the domiciled funds market of Luxembourg, Ireland, and the UK, valued at more than €16.5 trillion. Over the next five years, Depowise plans to achieve a volume of assets on the platform of €8 trillion and become a market leader.

Leading this significant expansion is Leonid Belov, the newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Belov has a wealth of experience across front-to-back and cross-asset-class solutions, having worked in leading financial institutions such as BlackRock, State Street, MSCI, and Bloomberg.

“Having known Leo since our Bloomberg days, I have always admired his drive and insight. During one of our chats, I brought up my ambition to develop Depowise, and this resonated strongly with Leo, who thought we could disrupt the status quo and bring about meaningful change,” says Artur Reiter, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise. “We are beyond delighted to welcome Leonid Belov to our team. His exceptional talent in growth engineering, coupled with his strategic approach, sales expertise, and extensive financial technology knowledge, will undoubtedly secure our success in these new markets.”

Mr Belov shares the excitement: “Depowise has incredible growth potential that I couldn’t resist being a part of. The dedication and achievements of the team in just three years – developing a market-leading end-to-end tool for the depositary market – are truly impressive.

Market starving for automation

The global asset servicing and management industries are in dire need of technological advancement. “Despite the significant pace of automation, a meaningful proportion of the industry still relies on manual processes for critical tasks. We see this as a big market opportunity for Depowise – our modern technology can unlock scale and achieve viable efficiency for our customers,” notes Belov.

In Queen Elisabeth II’s time, asset custody and oversight were managed primarily in Excel; in King Charles’s time, we aim to move it into Depowise, and by the time Prince William picks up the reigns, it will be largely driven by AI,” says Belov.

Depowise offers a comprehensive automation solution that streamlines compliance, oversight, safekeeping, reporting, and record-keeping tasks, significantly reducing manual efforts and inherent inefficiencies.

Unicorn-size market potential

Based on discussions with Depowise clients and prospects, we note that around a third of asset servicing and management companies in the UK and Ireland currently use multiple service providers to manage different parts of operations, around another third use in-house solutions, and nearly every organisation still heavily relies on Excel. The market size for automation in this sector is projected to grow to over €7bn by 2027, and with no complete, end-to-end competitors, Depowise aims to become the market leader within five years.

Our 2022 customer survey showed that Depowise increased efficiency for our customers by up to 82%. “You don’t have to spend your mornings searching for discrepancies because Depowise does the checks for you in the background,” Sven Peekmann, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise, explains the efficiency phenomenon. “Now, when nearly 90% of daily work is done automatically, Depowise allows you to focus on the issues with the most significant business impact.”

Virgin Media further expands market reach adding 254,000 premises nationwide in deal with National Broadband Ireland (NBI)

Virgin Media has agreed a network deal with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) whereby Virgin Media will offer a full range of superfast broadband and digital TV services to over 254,000 currently enabled NBI premises throughout Ireland.

Virgin Media’s ongoing €200m network upgrade to full fibre is continuing to 2025 and will support speeds up to 10Gbps. Virgin Media has recently upgraded over 281,000 premises to fibre, offering speeds of 2Gbps across its own network. The Virgin Media network already provides broadband speeds of 1Gbps (gigabits per second) to 1 million premises across Ireland.

Virgin Media’s deal with NBI, along with other already announced wholesale network access developments, brings to 1.4 million the number of premises now able to access Virgin Media’s fastest ever broadband services nationwide.

Virgin Media Ireland CEO Tony Hanway said“With lightning-fast speeds of up to 2 Gig and 99.9% reliability, our full fibre broadband network is designed to revolutionise the way we connect and experience the digital world. This announcement today with NBI brings our ultrafast broadband and TV services to even more premises across Ireland, enabling homes, businesses, communities and regions nationwide to further prosper and grow.”

Peter Hendrick, CEO of National broadband Ireland (NBI) said, “We’re delighted that Virgin Media will join the growing number of retail service providers offering broadband packages on our network. There are now 70 retail service providers on our network, meaning there is huge choice for anyone connecting to high-speed fibre through NBI. Our rollout will ensure that every home, farm and business in Ireland has access to high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second available. We’ve now passed over 254,000 premises across the country and all of these have the same guarantee in terms of access, speed, and reliability.”

Creative Triumphs at EHA Awards 2024 with Double Accolades for Innovative Products

Creative proudly announces its recent triumph at the prestigious European Hardware Awards (EHA) 2024. Both Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and Creative Pebble X Plus have received top accolades, cementing the brand’s position as a frontrunner in the technology industry.

The EHA Awards are regarded as the pinnacle of achievement in the European tech landscape, uniting over 100 of Europe’s most respected technology journalists from prominent publications to recognize the year’s best hardware innovations. Celebrated for a decade of highlighting top technology hardware, the awards draw expertise from editors at leading tech publications across Europe, including Hardwareluxx (Germany), Geeknetic (Spain), KitGuru (UK), Cowcotland (France), PurePC (Poland), IO-Tech (The Nordics), Hardware Upgrade (Italy), Technology Insider (The Netherlands), and Lab 501 (Romania). Together, they ensure that the awards represent a comprehensive view of the best in the market.

The Creative Aurvana Ace 2 clinched the Best Earphones award, a testament to its superior sound quality and innovative design. Powered by xMEMS technology, the Aurvana Ace 2 unleashes the full potential of lifelike sound. It offers superior CD-quality clarity and precision, enhanced by Snapdragon Sound with Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology and Qualcomm Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation. These premium features are beautifully complemented by an aesthetically pleasing translucent compact charging case, perfectly blending performance and style.

In the Best Speakers category, the Creative Pebble X Plus stood out for its exceptional sound clarity, compact design, and powerful audio performance. Boasting an impressive RMS power of up to 30W and a peak power of up to 60W, both the 2.0 and 2.1 configurations promise a superior listening experience for music, movies, and gaming. In addition to its audio prowess, the Pebble X Plus features customizable RGB lighting, allowing users to create a pulsating light show to match any mood. With both wired and wireless modes, these speakers are an excellent choice for those seeking a premium desktop audio upgrade.

“We are thrilled and deeply honoured to receive these prestigious awards from the European Hardware Association,” said Song Siow Hui, CEO of Creative. “The recognition of the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and Creative Pebble X Plus underscores our commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering outstanding products to our customers. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

For more information about their award-winning products, visit their website at Creative.com

See out latest Creative reviews

CRKD Engages Nitro Power in Time for Summer, Announcing the Shipping of NITRO DECK+ for Nintendo Switch & OLED Switch Consoles

CRKD, the premium collectible gaming brand behind the award-winning Nitro Deck and the recently launched NEO S™ collectible controllers, announced today that the highly anticipated NITRO DECK+, has begun shipping to gamers worldwide.
The award-winning Nitro Deck redefined gaming for Nintendo Switch users playing their console in handheld mode, enhancing their experience via stick drift free control and a raft of useful features. Announced via the IGN FanFest event in February, the handheld deck proudly returns for an encore with the all-new NITRO DECK+.
Featuring the same comfortable footprint as the original Nitro Deck, the NITRO DECK+ introduces several new innovations based on community feedback and designed to make Switch gaming better than ever.
Gamers will immediately note the improved ergonomics, made possible by shifting the placement of the right thumbstick to allow for more intuitive play via the symmetrical design. Gamers can now play their Switch on the TV without the need of an external dock! Featuring an integrated USB-C HDMI compatible output, users can switch between handheld and TV play without ever needing to remove their Switch console from their NITRO DECK+.
Even greater options for precise control feature on the NITRO DECK+ thanks to the new ‘Sidekick’ buttons located to the side of each thumbstick. Designed to work in conjunction with the new symmetrical thumbstick configuration, the Sidekick buttons are pre-programmed to replicate the B and A action button commands, ideal for super-fast feedback when gamers need it most. By replicating the most commonly used action buttons, the Sidekicks provide speedier reaction times, and when used in conjunction with the re-mappable back buttons that are pre-programmed to the action buttons (X, Y, A, B), users have a variety of ways to interact with the action buttons while keeping both thumbs resting comfortably on the sticks, leveling up your game by putting more power and versatility in the palms of your hands.
The new easy eject system makes removing your console from the NITRO DECK+ even easier with no need to touch the screen or add additional stress while removing.
An upgraded rumble system delivers more intense vibration which can be adjusted to suit the gamers’ preference, and Bluetooth® has also been added, which can be used as an alternative connection, allowing for simple pairing to CRKD CTRL, a feature within the CRKD Companion App for iOS™ and Android® that allows users to control the adjustable features of the Deck which include re-mapping buttons, adjusting trigger sensitivity, changing thumbstick dead zones, fine tuning rumble settings, firmware updates & more!
The NITRO DECK+ is also compatible with the True Collection System, another feature within the app that allows users to tap their smart device to their hardware revealing their product number and rarity rank as well as the ability to add their Deck to their unique collection. The app also features the CRKD Shop & CRKD TV, a hub for all things CRKD related.
The NITRO DECK+ adds all these new features without removing the standout innovations featured on the original design. The full list of features present on NITRO DECK+ include:
  • Ergonomically designed – all-new thumbstick placement
  • No Stick Drift – made possible via Hall-Effect sensors
  • USB-C to HDMI Compatibility for TV play – (play while docked)
  • Programmable Sidekick buttons – faster, more responsive control
  • Low latency response – (direct connection via USB-C)
  • Adjustable trigger sensitivity – tweak your triggers to suit your style
  • Swappable Stick Tops – better grip to suit your style
  • Re-mappable back buttons – keep your thumbs on the sticks
  • Gyro compatible – ideal for motion control games
  • Adjustable Vibration Feedback – to rumble or not rumble, the choice is yours
  • No Deadzone Mode – find the sweet spot in your chosen game
  • Pass-through charging feature – no need to stop play to charge
  • Use NITRO DECK+ as a wired controller on PC or Switch – perfect for TV play
  • Integrated Display Stand – stands AND delivers!
  • Turbo Function – (add turbo functionality to any action or trigger button)
  • Bluetooth connection – (to update firmware via app)
  • Easy Eject System – remove the Switch without touching the screen
  • Connects to the CRKD companion app – (True Collection System)
The NITRO DECK+ is shipping now to those who pre-ordered and is available to purchase for new customers in two colors: Clear Black and Clear White. Both designs retail for:
$69.99 / €79.99 / £69.99 without a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and $79.99 / €89.99 / £79.99 with an adapter. Purchase today at: https://go.crkd.gg/ndplus
For more information about NITRO DECK+ and all CRKD products, please visit: https://crkd.gg

First look – HONOR 200 Pro first look and walkthrough

We have been busy in Paris lately at the latest smartphone launch from HONOR and their all new 200 series and the event was something else and there was many new devices on offer that will certainly get any mobile interested. The HONOR 200 Pro is the flagship model coming in at a really good price too which is good for competition and the consumer.

We are now checking out the HONOR 200 Pro over the next few weeks and so far I am impressed at what is on offer here and i you like portrait this is a game change make no mistake about it. With a great build quality fabulous screen great battery and a portrait mode like no other this looks like it is going to be a good one.

We are very busy so will keep this one quick and you can check out more about the launch event in Paris here and see what was on show and in the interim if you have any questions feel free to comment on our social media and YouTube where we will gladly answer any questions.

Recognizing the most important tools in portrait photography are light and shadow, the HONOR 200 Series has been equipped with advanced hardware and meticulously co-engineered AI-powered software that recognizes even the most subtle nuances of lighting. The HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Main Camera with a Super Dynamic H9000 Sensor enabling users to capture compelling images with the perfect balance of light and shadow in even challenging lighting scenarios. With support for 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with a pixel size of 2.4μm, users can capture intricate details in their images even in low light scenarios. Additionally, the HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Telephoto Camera and a customized telephoto sensor from Sony. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides better light sensing capabilities, ensuring clear and true captures of distant objects with exceptional details.

Image and video samples

Read more and purchase here

HONOR 200 Pro walkthrough

HONOR Launches HONOR 200 Series, bringing Studio-Level Portrait Photography to Europe

HONOR, the fastest growing smartphone brand in Europe, unveiled the HONOR 200 Series line-up during a landmark event at the iconic Hipódromo de París-Longchamp in Paris. At the event, attended by over 800 media representatives and partners from across Europe, HONOR confirmed that the HONOR 200 Series will be available in Europe almost immediately, with pre-sales starting today. This marks the first time the Pro version of this product range will be available in the region. The HONOR 200 Series will be available in the UK from today. And make sure you stay tuned as we are here at the event for more coming soon.

Central to the keynote presentation was further detail on the partnership with Studio Harcourt, a legendary Parisian portrait photography house, which was unveiled recently by HONOR CEO, George Zhao. Demonstrating HONOR’s unwavering commitment to innovation, HONOR’s product team have worked closely with Harcourt’s expert photographers to analyze thousands of images and co-engineer the HONOR AI Portrait Engine. By combining Studio Harcourt’s expertise and artistry with HONOR’s cutting-edge platform-level AI capabilities, the HONOR 200 Pro enables users to manipulate light and shadow, the foundation of studio-level portraits, to get the perfect shot every time.

“With the HONOR 200 Series, we’re proud to bring the perfect fusion of artistry and technology to Europe, allowing anyone to take studio-level portraits every time”, said Tony Ran, President of HONOR Europe. “While a studio-quality portrait has been out of reach for many until now, the HONOR 200 Series sets a new standard in smartphone portrait photography, putting a professional studio in your pocket. This unprecedented achievement in AI technology not only showcases HONOR’s commitment to innovation but also underscores our relentless pursuit of excellence in redefining the boundaries of mobile photography.”

Other key announcements at the event included a major collaboration with renowned portrait photographer, Rankin, famous for his iconic shots of celebrities including Queen Elizabeth II, David Bowie and Kate Moss. Further details of what the partnership entails will be announced in the coming weeks but a potential summer event in London was teased. Additionally, it was announced that the MagicBook 16 Pro, previously unveiled at this year’s MWC, will be available in some European countries this summer.

At the event, we had the opportunity to celebrate the new HONOR 200 Series and experience its capabilities firsthand through interactive experience zones and pop-up portrait studios, provided by Studio Harcourt.

Unlocking the Mastery of Studio Harcourt Portrait Photography

Recognizing the most important tools in portrait photography are light and shadow, the HONOR 200 Series has been equipped with advanced hardware and meticulously co-engineered AI-powered software that recognizes even the most subtle nuances of lighting. The HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Main Camera with a Super Dynamic H9000 Sensor enabling users to capture compelling images with the perfect balance of light and shadow in even challenging lighting scenarios. With support for 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with a pixel size of 2.4μm, users can capture intricate details in their images even in low light scenarios. Additionally, the HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Telephoto Camera and a customized telephoto sensor from Sony. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides better light sensing capabilities, ensuring clear and true captures of distant objects with exceptional details.

The HONOR 200 Pro takes portrait photography to new heights with the powerful AI-enhanced HONOR AI Portrait Engine. With a rich history of photographing legends from Roger Federer to the esteemed Queen Rania of Jordan, Studio Harcourt is synonymous with timeless portraits that showcase a symphony of visual storytelling through the skillful use of light and shadows. In collaboration with Studio Harcourt, the HONOR AI Portrait Engine distilled Studio Harcourt’s craftsmanship and understanding of shadow and light expression, empowering users to capture unique, distinctive portraits on their smartphones effortlessly.

The mutual ideation process involved an extensive exploration by more than 20 Studio Harcourt and HONOR imaging experts over 400 days. The team analyzed over 1,000 lighting scenarios and millions of datasets, ensuring Studio Harcourt’s classic essence can be captured on smartphones. In addition, the Triple 50MP Portrait Camera incorporates an upgraded HONOR RAW Domain Algorithm, producing well-balanced portraits that manage exposure in bright areas while preserving intricate details in darker lighting scenarios.

Innovative Eye Comfort Display for Extended Immersion

Adhering to its commitment to human-centric innovations, the HONOR 200 Pro features 3840Hz Risk-free PWM Dimming, as verified by the TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Display Certification and the TÜV Rheinland Full Care Display Certification. To ensure extended eye comfort, the HONOR 200 Series also features Natural Tone 2.0, which optimizes the display color temperature gradient based on ambient light, and an AI Circadian Night Display that leverages AI to intelligently adjust the color temperature of the screen to regulate blue light and transition to a melatonin boosting setting at night to improve sleep quality based on users’ sleep cycle. Furthermore, the HONOR 200 Series supports Adaptive Dimming, which adjusts screen brightness based on external light input and the application use, ensuring a more comfortable viewing experience. With the 1.5K Quad-curved Floating Display and a peak HDR brightness of 4000 nits, the HONOR 200 Series allows users to enjoy excellent visibility even in the most challenging scenarios such as direct sunlight.

Enhanced Hardware Performance for Seamless Connectivity

The HONOR 200 Pro is packed with a large 5200mAh Silicon-carbon battery that enables up to 61 hours of continuous music streaming on a single charge. To maximize user productivity, the HONOR 200 Pro features powerful supercharge capabilities. With lightning-fast 100W Wired HONOR SuperCharge and 66W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge, users can charge their device fully in only 41 minute making it the ideal device for busy users who are always on the go. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides an impressive 12GB memory and large 512GB storage drive, which allows users to store and access their data without limitations, guaranteeing a seamless and hassle-free experience.

Equipped with the robust Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the HONOR 200 Pro achieves a CPU clock speed of up to 3GHz, guaranteeing seamless graphics rendering and real-time responsiveness. Featuring MagicOS 8.0, the HONOR 200 Pro offers an intelligent user experience enriched with a range of AI-powered smart functionalities. MagicOS 8.0 also offers flagship features such as Magic Portal, Magic Capsule and Magic Ring on the HONOR 200 Pro that streamline user digital interactions.

HONOR 200 Lite: Capture Every Moment with its Versatile Triple Camera System

Launched alongside the HONOR 200 PRO and HONOR 200, the HONOR 200 Lite equipped with a powerful triple camera system, the HONOR 200 Lite excels in portrait photography, empowering users to capture stunning images with exceptional detail. The system consists of a 108MP Main Camera with f/1.75 aperture and HIGH-RES mode, a 5MP Wide & Depth Camera, and a 2MP Macro Camera. The 50MP Front Camera with a Selfie Light that creates artistic lighting effect. It also boasts an impressive 6.7-inch Eye-comfort AMOLED Display with the 3240Hz risk-free PWM Dimming and the display’s peak HDR brightness of 2000nits, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and exceptional durability.

Pricing and Availability

Showcasing an elegant design inspired by nature, the HONOR 200 Pro is available in three colours: Ocean Cyan, Moonlight White, and Black, while the HONOR 200 is available in Moonlight White, Emerald Green, and Black.

The HONOR 200 Pro and HONOR 200 will be available for purchase in the UK from today on HONOR.com/uk and pre-order through major retailers on the 21st June, with general sale on the 26th June. Both devices will also be available in Three on the 28th June and other key UK operators in due course.

The HONOR 200 Pro launches at£699.99 RRP, and customers will also receive a FREE Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8, worth£279.99 RRP, across all available sales channels, whilst stocks last.

The HONOR 200 is priced at just £499.99 RRP, and customers will also receive a FREE JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi, worth£199.99 RRP, across all available sales channels, whilst stocks last.

For those looking to perfect their portraits at a more affordable price, the HONOR 200 Lite is also available at £279.99 RRP on HONOR.com/uk and major UK retailers. Plus get £30 off on HONOR.com/uk with code “A200L30”.

Visit HONOR online store at https://www.honor.com/uk/.

UNBOXING HONOR 200 PRO

The event in 7 minutes

Walkthrough of the HONOR 200 Pro

AWS Announces $230 Million Commitment for Generative AI Startups

Amazon Web Services, Inc. today announced a $230 million commitment for startups around the world to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications. This will provide startups, especially early-stage companies, with AWS credits, mentorship, and education to further their use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. Part of the new commitment will fund the second cohort of the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, a program that provides hands-on expertise and up to $1 million in credits to each of the top 80 early-stage startups that are using generative AI to solve complex challenges. Applications for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator open today and will be accepted until July 19. Startups can apply here.

“For more than 18 years, AWS has helped more startups to build, launch, and scale their business than any other cloud provider—it’s no coincidence that 96% of all AI/ML unicorns run on AWS,” said Matt Wood, vice president, Artificial Intelligence Products at AWS. “With this new effort, we will help startups launch and scale world-class businesses, providing the building blocks they need to unleash new AI applications that will impact all facets of how the world learns, connects, and does business.”

Interested startups can learn more about how to access these funds here. Startups can use AWS credits to access AWS compute, storage, and database technologies, as well as AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia2, energy-efficient AI chips that offer high performance at the lowest cost. These credits can also be used on Amazon SageMaker, a fully managed service that helps companies build and train their own FMs, as well as to access models and tools to easily and securely build generative AI applications through Amazon Bedrock.

AWS Generative AI Accelerator continues to launch successful startups

The AWS Generative AI Accelerator identifies top early-stage startups that are using generative AI to solve complex challenges in areas such as financial services, healthcare and life sciences, media and entertainment, business, and climate change, among others. Participants will access sessions on ML performance enhancement, stack optimization, and go-to-market strategies. The 10-week program will match participants with both business and technical mentors based on industry vertical. Startups will receive up to $1 million each in AWS credits to help them build, train, test, and launch their generative AI solutions. They will also have access to industry experts, technology, and technical sessions from NVIDIA, the program’s presenting partner, and be invited to join the NVIDIA Inception program, designed to nurture cutting-edge startups.

AWS will announce selected startups for the second cohort on September 10, and the program will kick off on October 1 with in-person sessions at Amazon’s Seattle campus. All 80 participating startups will be invited to attend and showcase their solutions to potential investors, customers, partners, and AWS leaders in December at re:Invent 2024 in Las Vegas.

“AWS has been instrumental in enabling us to scale our generative AI platform to meet the rapidly growing demand from our global user community. Their robust generative AI infrastructure helped us reduce inferencing costs by 60% and accelerate our language model inference speeds by up to 35%,” said Jachin Bhasme, co-founder and COO of Leonardo.AI, a powerful suite of generative AI tools for creators and one of the 21 startups to participate in the first cohort of the program. “The accelerator was also an incredible experience for us. The business and technical mentorship we received and the connections we made played a crucial role in shaping our product and strategy.”

“AWS has the right combination of technology, network of partners, and potential customers in the life sciences space that made it the best fit to support our vision of building the next generation of AI models for drug discovery,” said Nima Alidoust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Vevo Therapeutics, an AI-driven biotechnology startup building the world’s first platform to generate high-resolution, single-cell in vivo data in living organisms at scale. “Participating in the AWS Generative AI Accelerator program provided us with valuable opportunities to tap into this community and to leverage AWS’s infrastructure and expertise in scaling model training and development.”

To learn more about the opportunities for generative AI startups choosing AWS, and the application process for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, visit startups.aws.