Category: Tech News

Fall in love with these gadgets and accessories this Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, the challenge is on for lovers across the UK to find the perfect gift for their partners. Ten Four Communications has put together a selection of gadgets and accessories for shoppers searching for the perfect presents – no matter who you are buying for. Ranging from £15.99 to £209.99, including a sunrise/sunset simulation clock and affordable soundbars, there’s a great gift for everyone.

Groov-e Light Curve sunrise/sunset simulation clock

Price: £34.99

Available from Amazon UK and Robert Dyas

 

Help your loved one start their day a little easier with the Groov-e Light Curve.The light, which mimics natural daylight, will come on at the selected time, starting off gently and gradually getting brighter until it’s at the optimum level, offering a gentler wake-up that leaves them feeling fresher.

When it’s actually time to get out of bed, a chosen alarm sound or radio station will also be activated to help users wake fully. For those who like to read or need the light on darker mornings to get ready, the Light Curve has 10 levels of brightness using its LED lamp. And for those who want to create more of an atmosphere, one of the seven coloured mood lighting options can be selected.

 

Rocketbook Mini

RRP: £15.99

Available from: Amazon.co.uk

Whether you are crafting the perfect love poem, or penning a love letter, the Rocketbook Mini notebook provides a classic pen and paper experience, yet is built for the digital age. Although it feels like a traditional pocket-sized notebook, the Mini is endlessly reusable and pairs with the Rocketbook app to connect to all of your favourite cloud services. Perfect for shopping lists, quick notes/reminders or to carry with you if you’re out and about. Rocketbook Mini comes in 11 colours.

 

Pocketalk S

Price: £209.99

Available from Amazon UK

 

If your partner is a lover of language and conversation , Pocketalk S is the perfect gift. They can enjoy flowing conversations without language barriers when travelling abroad. This handheld translator utilises the world’s best translation engines allowing for conversations in 82 different languages at the touch of a button. It offers more languages than Google Translate and yields quicker results, it even understands regional dialects and slang.  What’s more, the camera offers speedy image-to-text translation, to easily decipher signs, menus and more. Additionally, a two-year roaming data plan for use in 130 countries is included in the cost so they don’t need to rely on WiFi or incur roaming charges.

Twelve South PowerPic Mod

Price: £54.95

Available from: Amazon UK

 

The perfect gift for him or her, this stylish wireless charging stand makes a great personalised gift as it also doubles up a photo frame! With a blend of modern design and 10 watts of Qi charging technology, PowerPic Mod charges all of the newest, and oldest, wireless charging phones, including phones with cases up to 3mm thick and even AirPods Pro. The acrylic frame on PowerPic mod looks great in its own right or can be positioned vertically or horizontally and customised with any 4×6 photo.

Groov-e Soundbar 20

Price: £29.99

Available from Groov-e now and from Amazon, Curry’s and Robert Dyas from February

This stylish soundbar would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for music lovers. Compact, lightweight and offering 10+ hours playback per charge, it can easily be packed in suitcases, taken to university or used in the garden. The two 10 watt drivers and LED lights make it a perfect portable or party speaker. It’s also ideal for video and voice calls. Connect to a laptop, smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth.

Bittle STEM it

Price: £264

Available from https://www.petoi.com/ now and Amazon UK from February

 

The ideal gift for your tech enthusiast lover, the Bittle STEM kit is a palm sized robot dog that can help teach tech enthusiasts, young and old, learn about robotics and coding. Small but agile, Bittle STEM Kit can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Differing slightly from Bittle V1, the STEM Kit contains plastic-gear servos instead of metal ones and thus making it lighter and more flexible with different movements. It is more suitable for general STEM education and those who want to enjoy some robotics fun.

GOMATIC Slim Wallet

Price: £19.99

Available from Amazon UK

 

Gift your partner a slim profile, stylish wallet which offers easy access to all of their cards. There is also room for cash and a key. Classy, professional, casual, or active — the GOMATIC wallet is right for any situation. Choose your favourite colour or buy multiple colours to match your style.

Official Launch of Dublin Discovery Trails AR App Developed by Peel X

Members of the Peel X team were delighted to attend the official launch of Doors into Docklands recently, part of the Dublin Discovery Trails series of mobile app based immersive discovery trails, using innovative Augmented Reality (AR), designed, developed and delivered by Peel X.

Doors into Docklands was co-funded by Dublin City Council and Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Town Investment Scheme and Peel X was brought on board, to help unlock the tourism potential of the Docklands by bringing the area to life using its augmented reality and immersive, digital storytelling.

Jess Wright, Managing Director of Peel X, said: “The team brought together the full range of Peel’s app development services to this project, augmented reality, 3D modelling, animation, historical research, script and copy writing, green screen filming, audio and soundscape development, all interwoven to create stunning digital storytelling of the Dublin Docklands”.

“Merging the old and the new, combining history and technology, visitors are transported back in time. Users can see Guinness barges sailing down the River Liffey, a Crimean Banquet held in the Custom House Quarter (CHQ) and the story of the famine statues. History comes to life along the trail with a 360-degree view of the Custom House fires blazing in 1921, and animated Port workers in the Diving Bell at the bottom of the sea.”

Delighted with the successful launch of Doors into the Docklands, Barry Rogers, Head of Dublin City Council Tourism Unit, said: “As part of the delivery of our Smart Tourism programme we have become very familiar with the market of service providers in the area of digital tours, immersive heritage trails and museum based digital tours and digital visitor experiences in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

“We have consulted the market on these services twice and have developed the best practice guide Toolkit in this area. Having worked with Jessica and her team over the past twelve months, I can say that Peel X is the best supplier of this kind of service that is currently in the market today that I have encountered.”

The App is a first-of-its-kind development for Dublin City Council and further promotes the capital’s position as a leading ‘Smart City’. The app is aimed at locals and visitors who want to know more about the city and experience the history of the Docklands from a new and unique perspective. It’s already creating a stir on the international stage too as Dublin City’s Smart Tourism Programme took the Best Digital & Innovation Award at the Global Tourism Innovation Awards 2022, held in Seville last year.

Walking tour guide, Donal Fallon, whose Three Castle’s Burning podcast grew an army of fans during the pandemic, was invited to road-test the app, he said: “The app lets you see familiar places in new and exciting ways. There are so many different stories in the app, using augmented reality, taking something digital and putting it into the real environment, that’s a brilliant way of seeing things differently. There’s great humour and where there’s a there’s a heaviness to the history, that’s acknowledged too.

“I hope people have many happy wanderings around this part of the Dublin from the Diving Bell to the Custom House, using the app. Well done to everyone involved in making the app, it’s really special. From locals to visitors, I’m sure there’ll be many happy hours on Doors into the Docklands.”

Candela reveals world’s longest-range electric boat with Polestar batteries and DC charging

With up to 57 nm(65 US miles) of expected range and DC charging, the foiling Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ is designed to upend the hegemony of fossil fuel boats.

Today, the electric boatmaker Candela unveiled the first product emerging from the battery collaboration with premium electric car brand Polestar announced in August 2022: Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’, the longest-range electric boat to date.

The Candela C-8 will use the same 69 kWh battery pack and DC charging technology as the Polestar 2 and has an expected range of up to 57 nautical miles (65 US miles) on one charge at a cruising speed of 22 knots (25 mph). The range is two to three times longer than what conventional electric speedboats can achieve at high speed and compares favorably with how internal combustion engine powerboats are used.

“This collaboration means that C-8 can travel to destinations previously only reachable by combustion engine boats. The Candela C-8 powered by Polestar marks a significant breakthrough for electrification at sea”, says Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of boat maker Candela.

Usage data from Europe’s premier boat-sharing service Agapi, with fleets in several locations in Europe, from Helsinki to Mallorca, show that 95% of their members’ day excursions are less than 50 nautical miles, or well within the range of Candela C-8.

The secret to the long range lies in Candela’s hydrofoil technology. Flying above the waves on computer-guided underwater wings that greatly reduce water friction, the C-8 uses 80% less energy than conventional boats at high speed. Its highly efficient pod motor, Candela C-POD, outputs 75 kW/100hp for takeoff. Once foilborne, the C-8 flies efficiently, drawing only around 23 kW/30hp continuously from its Polestar battery pack – whereas a similar-sized conventional boat would use around 120 kW/160hp.

 

The Polestar collaboration also enables DC charging in Candela C-8, which opens up new routes and future-proofs the boat as DC charging networks are rolled out along coastlines.

“With access to DC fast chargers, which now start to pop up in several places around the globe, you can cover totally new routes with Candela C-8. You can go from Sweden to Finland in one day, or along the entire French Riviera in a few hours. For a few euros/dollars’ worth of electricity”, says Gustav Hasselskog.

The supply of battery and charging systems to a third party, a first for Polestar as an EV manufacturer, marks the start of a broader intended partnership between Polestar and Candela.

“Sharing our know-how on batteries and vehicle engineering with Candela will help us reach our shared goal of transitioning to a future where all forms of transport are sustainable,” says Thomas Ingenlath, CEO Polestar.

Half of Generation Z willing to accept short-term economic limitations for a more sustainable future

Nearly half (47%) of Generation Z is willing to accept short-term economic limitations, such as lower GDP growth, for policymakers to invest in a longer-term strategy that promotes more sustainable growth, according to Dell Technologies research.

The research across 15 international locations captures Gen Z adults’ (18–26 years) voice regarding social and economic recovery strategies. Almost two-thirds (64%) of survey respondents believe technology will play an important role in the fight against climate crisis.

With many of Gen Z willing to bear short-term economic limitations, they ranked sustainable energy (42%), enabling a circular economy (39%) and more sustainable public transport (29%) as the top three investment areas for governments to prioritize. A quarter of respondents (25%) also expressed support for greater sustainability education for citizens.

Aongus Hegarty, President International Markets, Dell Technologies, said: “Gen Z will arguably be the most impacted by public and private investment decisions taken today and will facilitate and maintain a long-term, sustainable recovery. There is an opportunity to earn the support of Gen Z for longer-term strategies that put sustainability at the core of economic growth strategies.”

Gen Z’s confidence that public sector recovery investments would deliver a flourishing economy within 10 years is split: a third globally (32%) have low or no confidence while 38% are undecided and 29% have high or total confidence.

Understandably, there are geographic differences, with Singapore (56%) and Korea (41%) having the most respondents with high or total confidence. Japan (47%) and Brazil (49%) had the highest number of respondents who had low or no confidence.

Respondents said that this digital future must have a strong cybersecurity backbone. More than half (56%) feel there is a need for robust legislation and higher investment in cybersecurity to protect national infrastructures and ensure private businesses meet tough standards. To make this happen, and to improve trust in governments, 38% of respondents want private and public sectors to work together and hold each other accountable.

Closing the digital skills gap and digital divide

Gen Z recognizes the value of developing the necessary digital skills for their future careers. Three-quarters (76%) consider learning new digital skills essential to increasing future career options or plan to acquire them.

Respondents feel their education could have better prepared them with digital skills. Over two-fifths (44%) said school only taught them very basic computing skills, and around one-in-ten (12%) did not receive any education in technology or digital skills. Over a third (37%) claim school (under 16) didn’t prepare them with the technology skills needed for their planned career.

To help bridge the digital skill gap, a third (34%) of respondents suggested making technology courses at all levels of education more interesting and more widely available. A quarter (26%) believe mandatory technology courses up to 16 years will encourage young people into technology-driven careers.

Hegarty added: “It’s clear that Gen Z see technology as pivotal for their future prosperity. It is now up to us – leading technology providers, governments, and the public sector – to work together and set them up for success by improving the quality and access to digital learning. 44% of Gen Z feel educators and businesses should work together to bridge the digital skills gap and with the speed at which technology continues to evolve this will require constant collaboration.”

In response to their views on where governments should prioritize investments to help close the digital divide experience across different locations, demographics and socio-economic groups, Gen Z sees access to devices and connectivity for disadvantaged groups (33%) and connectivity in rural areas (24%) as the most important focus areas.

The research also found:

  • To support economic growth, improving healthcare services (21%), investing in education to help close the skills gap (11%) and investing in sustainable/green infrastructure (11%) were the top three priorities globally amongst Gen Z.
  • Over half (57%) of Gen Z have low or neutral confidence in their personal data being stored compliantly by healthcare providers.
  • Over half (55%) of Gen Z consider flexible and remote working as an important consideration when choosing an employer.

For more information, visit XX and read our research report.

Research Methodology:

Fieldwork was conducted by market research company, Savanta ComRes, from July-August 2022 across 15 locations.

Base: 15,105 ‘Gen Z’ adults (those aged 18-26), with nationally representative quotas set for gender and region in each market. Locations include:

  • Australia (1,018 respondents)
  • Brazil (1,021 respondents)
  • Canada (1,011 respondents)
  • France (1,014 respondents)
  • Germany (1,020 respondents)
  • Italy (1,063 respondents)
  • Japan (1,021 respondents)
  • Korea (1,020 respondents)
  • Mexico (1,005 respondents)
  • Netherlands (1,013 respondents)
  • New Zealand (811 respondents)
  • Singapore (1,022 respondents)
  • Spain (1,019 respondents)
  • United Kingdom (1,041 respondents)
  • United States (1,006 respondents)

Additional resources

Samsung and Sprinklr Partner to Reinvent the Shopping Experience

Sprinklr, the unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform for modern enterprises, today announced that Sprinklr is now an official Software Partner for Samsung, an industry leader in the global display market. As a Software Partner, the Sprinklr platform is now available as an integrated app for Samsung SMART Signage and Hospitality Displays.

Leveraging Sprinklr’s platform enables Samsung to deliver content and data from more than 30 social and digital channels directly via their commercial display products. Users can update information in real time and manage 100% remotely with Samsung’s service offerings. Moreover,  Samsung is also an official reseller for Sprinklr, now offering Sprinklr capabilities directly to their customer base.

“Shoppers expect to receive a positive first impression when interacting with a brand. These rising customer expectations are prompting retailers to rely on  Samsung to create meaningful experiences for their customer base through the use of display technologies in their stores,” said Parrish Chapman, Director, Enterprise Retail Sales Key Accounts at Samsung Electronics America. “Our partnership with Sprinklr helps our retail customers meet this mission by consolidating social media content, promotions and reviews that are updated in real-time while consumers are shopping.”

Samsung and Sprinklr announced the partnership at NRF and will be showcasing how customers such as The Honest Worm and Duck Donuts are leveraging the integration and capabilities at both the Samsung and Sprinklr Booths during the show.

“Delivering real-time, customizable data and content from digital channels to consumers will help retailers revolutionize the shopping experience,” said Doug Balut, Senior Vice President of Global Alliances, Sprinklr. “By pairing Sprinklr’s Unified-CXM platform with the industry-leading digital signage and displays from Samsung, companies can enhance the seamless experience of customers, differentiate their stores and brand, and drive business results.” 

To see the partnership in action during NRF, visit Samsung at booth #3657 or Sprinklr at booth #4061.

ZHIYUN CRANE M2S crowned GOOD DESIGN(R) Awards 2022 winner

ZHIYUN, the world’s pioneering gimbal innovator for cameras and smartphones, has been awarded the prestigious GOOD DESIGN® Awards for its CRANE M2S gimbal.

The CRANE M2S won in the electronics category of the 72nd edition of the awards. Approximately 4,000 shortlisted entries from 52 countries were judged by independent and international jurors with the awards given to products with the highest design quality and innovation.

The gimbal joins ZHIYUN’s range of award-winning products and offers a compact design that feels completely natural in the hand during use. With a built-in 0.66-inch display offering real-time status and operating parameters of the camera and gimbal, users benefit from an at-a-glance view while they shoot.

Another award-winning feature is ZHIYUN’s latest quick release technology, the V-shape design provides better working efficiency allowing quick interchange between any cameras used. While dual safety locks ensure the equipment always remains attached.

At just 549g, the CRANE-M2S impressed judges since it is as portable as a phone gimbal, but can  hold cameras up to the Sony A7SIII with small prime lenses. The super lightweight body is combined with stronger motors and extended axes, making it a must-have for high velocity, run-and-gun filmmakers.

GOOD DESIGN is the first, oldest and longest running design prize in the world that honors all design achievements in all its disciplines: from product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture to user interface (UI), user experience (UX), and professional concept.

The highly-prized, highly anticipated, and highly-publicized awards are bestowed annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The competition evaluates product design, communication design, packaging design and concept designs by the world’s leading brands and sheds light on current trends emerging in the international design and manufacturing sectors.

ZHIYUN’s Head of R&D, said:

“At ZHIYUN, design innovation is key to the success of our products, and we are honoured to be awarded this prestigious recognition for our continuous R&D efforts in gimbal technology. It is our intention to continue to deliver even more novel product experiences to video creators, whether amateur or professional from around the world.”

Further information on CRANE M2S at the GOOD DESIGN® Awards can be found here.

Bolt’s eBikes hit the East Coast with Wexford & Bray launches

Bolt, the European mobility champion, will launch two new shared electric bike schemes in Wexford Town and Bray in Spring 2023. These schemes add to Bolt’s successful existing operations in Sligo and Kilkenny, bringing its total Irish fleet to 400 electric bikes across 4 regional towns.

There are 200 electric bikes earmarked for the year-long pilots with up to 100 in each town. Bray will form the first Irish location where the Bolt app provides both taxis and eBikes, a multimodal offering that has proved highly valuable across European cities.

Since launching shared mobility schemes in the summer of 2022 in Sligo and Kilkenny, over 105,000 km have been travelled on Bolt’s eBikes. With surveyed users opting for this sustainable mode of transport over cars, Bolt schemes have saved 14,800 km of car trips in Ireland to date, approximately 1,545 kg of CO2*.

Bolt has previously earmarked up to €5m in its bid to roll out electric bike operations across Irish cities and towns with up to 2000 bikes available to deploy immediately as required.

The Government recently committed to promoting e-mobility solutions in cities and towns and will be relying on such schemes to provide essential alternatives for commuters as Demand Management solutions are considered in the coming year.

Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Erika Doyle, said,  ‘With a number of cycle schemes planned for the area, such as linking the stunning seafront and harbour area with neighbouring Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and a cycle link planned with Greystones, Bray is the perfect location for a shared electric bike scheme. Aside from being a sustainable alternative to car trips, electric bikes can offer a more accessible option for many. They can also assist when tackling some of Bray’s hilly stretches. The simpler and more convenient we can make accessing electric bikes, the more likely people are to use them. I’m delighted that both local residents and visitors to the town will soon have the option to avail of Bolt’s eBikes.”

Claire Goodwin, Cycling & Walking Officer from Wexford County Council said, “Wexford County Council is delighted to provide local residents and visitors with a sustainable mode of transport. We are seeing a real enthusiasm for making the change from private car use if there is a convenient and affordable alternative. With the introduction of Bolt’s Bikes on a trial basis for Wexford town, we hope people will try them out and perhaps change how they travel, where possible”

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland, John Buckley, said, “We’re very excited to take Bolt to the East Coast, and we’re working closely with Wicklow and Wexford County Councils to roll out the service as soon as possible. Bolt’s shared electric bike offerings in both Sligo and Kilkenny are proving extremely popular and our user surveys show our eBikes are reducing the reliance on private cars and supporting the National Climate Action Plan. One user has clocked up over 400 rides alone and we expect to see similar levels of  utilisation on the East Coast!”

Bolt is in talks with several other councils keen to accelerate their active travel services in line with the National Development Plan and the Climate Action Plan. Bolt is keen to add electric scooters to its operations when legislation is in place later in 2023. Electric bikes and electric scooters cover a fuller range of travel options across most European cities and could help significantly move Irish transport users away from private car use.

Bolt is a leading European mobility champion operating a range of services including electric bikes, electric scooters, ride-hailing and car clubs for over 100 million people across 500 cities in 50 countries in Europe and Africa. The company currently operates ride-hailing taxi services in Dublin and Cork and is seeking to bring electric bikes, and in time, electric scooters to cities and towns across Ireland.

How to rent a Bolt electric bike

Users need the Bolt app, available on app stores, and a payment card tied to an account.

Follow these steps to start riding a Bolt electric bike:

 

  • Open the app and tap on the electric bike icon to locate your closest bike;

  • Scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it;

  • Carefully read through the safety tips;

  • When you’re ready to roll, push off and go!

Continuing Bolt’s reputation of offering affordable micromobility service across continents, Bolt is the most affordable provider of shared electric bikes in Ireland, thanks to having low rates and no unlock fee. The per-minute rental price is the lowest on the market at just 0.15 EUR/minute during the launch campaign.

Dell unveils new Alienware releases at CES 2023

Alienware and Dell revealed at CES 2023 six new gaming laptops, along with the world’s fastest refresh rate of 500Hzi on a Fast IPS Gaming Monitor and the evolved Aurora R15 gaming desktop with AMD technology.

Alienware’s new 18-inch performance juggernaut

Alienware M Series is designed for gamers who prioritize performance. Rising to that challenge are the all-new Alienware m18 and Alienware m16 powerhouses.

Alienware’s most powerful laptop, the m18ii, is in a performance class of its own, with customization options that span the gamut of new CPU and GPU technology. This includes up-to 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processors and the full stack of next-gen NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ Laptop GPUs, plus soon-to-be-announced next-gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors and Radeon™ Graphics for mobile. All this performance is enabled by a suite of major Alienware Cryo-tech™ advancements.

These significant improvements to platform thermal capacity (~35% using Full Speed modevii) and cooling pave the way for higher-performance CPUs and GPUs, allowing us to push the total system power to 250Wviii.

Introducing the most luxurious Alienware yet, the first-ever x16

X Series laptops are designed for gamers who expect their Alienware laptop to compliment every aspect of their lifestyle, including beyond gaming. X Series serves as Dell’s innovation portal, bringing many technology breakthroughs in addition to elevating premium materials, finishes and features to the forefront of the product experience.

The new Alienware x16 is the first 16” gaming laptop since 2004 and Dell’s most premium Alienware product yet. Promising more performance, a taller 16:10 display and an improved six-speaker design, the new x16 bests our current x17 in almost every way and does so in a sleeker and more robust full-metal chassis.

Built with top-firing tweeters for clarity and a dual woofer configuration for strong bass, x16 creates a spatial audio experience with its 6-speaker audio. With Dolby Atmos, users will experience rich, layered sound that reveals depth, clarity, and details like never before.

Dell continues to offer per-key RGB keyboard lighting with optional CHERRY MX mechanical keys to complete our most dynamic and customizable lighting experience to date, all controllable via Alienware Command Center.

G Series unveils stylish new design with G16 and G15

Taking a bold new design approach, the G15 and G16 are available in eye-catching colorways, with retro pops of orange and blue set against premium metallics, that are sure to be coveted by those with an appreciation for ‘80s pop aesthetics. Both feature the G-mode key, exclusive gaming function macro keys, and toggle audio keys to enhance the player experience. G15 offers one-zone and four-zone RGB keyboard options with numpad, while G16 offers one-zone RGB and Cherry MX keyboard options.

Looking under the hood, G15 and G16 supports graphic-intensive games with ease and consistency, even in marathon sessions, powered by the latest Intel, AMD and NVIDIA technology to help users get lost in their favourite games. And for the first time, G Series receives Alienware inspired Vapor Chamber Cooling and Element 31 thermal interface.

Commenting on the new gaming laptops, Ryan Gu, Alienware Product Director, said: “As what defines preeminent gaming experiences constantly evolves, Alienware and Dell continue to set itself apart with meaningful high-impact innovation that meets the changing needs of gamers. Whether you’re a competitive or hobby gamer, if freedom without compromise is what you value most, look no further than our intrepid new fleet of high-performance laptops.”

Gu also spoke about the design framework behind the releases: “In 2019, we made a bold move to undergo a complete portfolio redesign to distinguish Alienware’s brand identity from the industry. At the time, the landscape was swarmed by red and black machines. It was at that time we chose to charter a new course for Alienware and retire the iconic space-age identity of our Epic design language.

The journey began with our design team sifting through endless scores of Sci-fi lore and artwork across a variety of mediums (comic books, games, illustrations, and film). The goal was to project the iconic AW design 30 years into the future. This led us to our current design framework, known as Legend.

Now entering its third evolutionary stage, Legend 3 debuts today on all four new Alienware laptops. With a keen focus on form, function and quality, the latest machines bring forward intuitive design features that reinforce interactivity and convenience—all while enabling higher performing technology.”

Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor & Aurora R15

Following up on these releases, the Alienware line has been further enhanced at CES 2023 with the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor and the Aurora R15.

Introducing the monitor with the world’s fastest refresh rate of 500Hzi, the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524H) is a CES 2023 Innovation Award and Best of Innovation winner. Coming in at a 24.5-inch full high-definition (FHD) resolution with a supersonic refresh rate of 500Hz overclocked (480Hz native) on a Fast IPS panel, this elite display offers incredible frame rates to deliver stunning motion clarity in fast-paced games and help gamers clinch victory.

Designed for competitive gamers, the 500Hz Gaming Monitor also offers new functional elements such as a built-in retractable headset hanger and new hexagonal base structure which occupies a smaller footprint so users can place their gaming keyboard and mouse to their convenience and just focus on slaying the competition.

Announced a few months back, the Alienware’s flagship Aurora R15 is designed with expressive curves and an iconic, sculpted shape that houses powerful performance. Originally configured with 13th Gen Intel Core K-Series processors, the latest Aurora now offers AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors and Intel 13th Gen 65W Desktop processor options. Later this Winter, Dell will also introduce AMD Radeon ™ 7000 Series Graphics options.

Pricing & Availability

  • Alienware x16: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Alienware x14: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Alienware m16: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Alienware m18: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524H): Coming soon in Q1; Pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Alienware Aurora R15: Available now, with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Dell G15: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date
  • Dell G16: Coming soon in Q1 with pricing to be announced closer to shipping date

 

 

 

DxO releases 1,693 new Optics Modules, providing unrivaled corrections for Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Fujifilm X-T5, Sony A7R V, and a selection of Sigma lenses

DxO’s Optics Modules offer unparalleled corrections, including unique lens softness improvements and distortion corrections that maximize field of view. DxO’s software now corrects more than 80,000 lens and camera combinations.

Paris (France): DxO, the company that has pioneered calibration-based optical corrections for 20 years, today announces its latest batch of Optics Modules. The release of 1,693 DxO Optics Modules includes support for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, the Fujifilm X-T5, the Sony A7R V, five lenses from Sigma, and more.

For quality-conscious photographers, DxO Optics Modules are a wealth of individually tailored, laboratory-grade corrections, which present the most accurate and powerful route to improving image quality on the market. Superior to other optical correction software, DxO’s adjustments vastly improve results, whether they are applied to entry-level lenses or professional-grade glass.

Essentially, the performance of any lens can be boosted by processing RAW files with DxO software: PhotoLab, PureRAW, FilmPack, and ViewPoint.

A unique approach to defeating lens softness

All correction software offers digital sharpening to combat lens softness, but DxO’s approach is unique and superior, taking into account the varying levels of sharpness across a lens’s entire field of view. Rather than applying general sharpening across the entire image (as with lesser software), DxO Optics Modules target sharpening as required, such as when a lens gets progressively softer towards its edges.

As seen with the Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN, the boost in image quality by DxO Optics Modules makes it perform better in terms of sharpness and distortion (while also eliminating vignetting and aberrations). As illustrated below, nowhere is this clearer than in combating lens softness. 

 

  • The uncorrected lens displays a significant difference in sharpness between the center of the frame and the corners.

 

  • Typically, photo editing software uses a generic profile to make a global correction across the entire image based on the sharpening required at the center.

 

  • Edge of frame sharpening from Adobe Lightroom® (left) and DxO Optics Modules (right). Unlike Adobe Lightroom, DxO Optics Modules are able to progressively increase corrections away from the frame’s center, allowing for a sharper overall image.

Sophisticated distortion corrections deliver greater image area

DxO’s Optics Modules frequently deliver a greater image area thanks to more refined assessments when correcting distortions. When needed, DxO Optics Modules give photographers the option to gain extra image area when compared with the crop applied as the result of Lightroom’s corrections.

Intelligent control of chromatic aberration

In addition, DxO’s Optics Modules remove chromatic aberrations — both longitudinal, and lateral. Chromatic aberrations vary depending on the focal length and distance, and DxO’s algorithms take these into account in order to perform more accurate corrections. Colored outlines are removed without degrading the image’s color or detail.

Vignetting accurately removed

Finally, vignetting is resolved, correcting the darker edges of the frame that can occur in certain lenses and at specific focal lengths.

The most exacting science, the highest quality

Each DxO Optics Module is created using individual camera and lens combinations. This means that any minor differences in the performance of a sensor can be measured across all the examples of it in a manufacturer’s lens mount range. 

For instance, with the new Optics Modules for the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S, measurements were not made using just a single full-frame Alpha camera, but with almost every Sony camera on the market.

Latest DxO Optics Modules

The latest DxO Optics Modules update — available now — includes the following cameras and lenses, each optimized for specific camera and lens combinations:

 

  • Canon EOS R6 Mark II
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • OM System OM-5
  • Sony A7R V

 

  • Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C (L-mount)
  • Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | C (Sony FE)
  • Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN | C (Sony FE)
  • Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN | C (L-mount)
  • Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S (Sony FE)
  • Tokina ATX-M 11-18mm F2.8 (Sony E)

 

About DxO

For over 20 years, DxO has blazed a pioneering trail in the fields of photographic science and digital image processing. Built on principles of technical rigor and ceaseless innovation, we were at the forefront of bringing RAW development to photographers, and continue to build the most powerful and versatile software on the market, all designed to offer the greatest image quality and creative freedom. Along with its exacting Optics Modules, available in all our products, we publish DxO PhotoLab, which won the EISA 2020-2021 award for Best Photo Software and the TIPA award for Best Imaging Software in 2020, 2021, and 2022; the award-winning RAW preprocessing and noise reduction software, DxO PureRAW; and Nik Collection, the renowned suite of creative plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop®, Lightroom Classic®, and DxO PhotoLab.