Category: Tech News

ASUS Republic of Gamers Reveals ROG Phone 8 Series at #CES2024

In the biggest redesign in its history, the ROG Phone 8 series has evolved from a thoroughbred gaming phone into a futuristic and game-changing premium device, with a slimmer, lighter body and thinner bezels that make it the perfect lifestyle phone for gamers. Designed as a powerful all-round powerhouse, catering to gamers, streamers, content creators and more, it stands out with gaming-friendly features combined with the ultimate AI-powered performance, premium design and everyday practicality. This reimagined smartphone series goes beyond the ordinary, offering cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and a commitment to an exceptional user experience.

 

Beyond gaming

The ROG Phone 8 series has been completely reimagined, maintaining its impeccable gaming credentials while widening its appeal to anyone seeking an extraordinary everyday phone to help them accomplish extraordinary things. The eye-catching new design is up to 15% thinner than the previous generation, without sacrificing performance, and the emphasis on premium design and durability ensures that these devices are not just phones; they are statements of sophistication and power.

The ROG Phone 8 series challenges assumptions in mobile gaming, offering unbridled performance, innovation, and a design that blends aesthetics with functionality. Whether dedicated gamers or tech enthusiasts, the ROG Phone 8 series beckons users to elevate their mobile gaming experience.

 

Unbridled performance

At the core of the ROG Phone 8 series is the formidable Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, supported by 8533 Mbps LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for unmatched performance. To allow marathon gaming sessions without overheating, the revolutionary Rapid-Cooling Conductor design — part of the advanced GameCool 8 thermal design — conducts heat directly from the processor to the back cover. Additionally, the all-new AeroActive Cooler X clip-on cooler is now 29% smaller but offers 1.2X higher thermal efficiency, reducing the back cover temperature by as much as 26°C.

In addition to offering premium design and ultimate performance, the ROG Phone 8 series is the world’s first IP68-compliant gaming smartphone, built to resist dust and water ingress so that users can enjoy worry-free operation wherever they are.

 

Ultra-bright display

The ROG Phone 8 Pro series features a brand-new 6.78” flexible AMOLED (Samsung E6) panel that supports adaptive refresh rates using LTPO technology. The system can adjust refresh rate automatically from 1 Hz to ‑120 Hz depending on the current task in order to reduce power consumption. Users can also choose up to a 165 Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming, and the touch sampling rate goes up to an amazing 720 Hz for instant response. Peak brightness is now boosted to 2500 nits, so users can game or watch movies even in sunlight with no problem at all. The superb visuals are tuned in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks® for world-beating color accuracy. It’s a display without compare.

 

Pro-level AI cameras

Gamers and creators can now explore endless photographic possibilities with the ROG Phone 8 series’ advanced tri-camera system. Additionally, OZO Audio technology gives users the choice of eliminating wind noise for crystal-clear outdoor recordings, or capturing immersive, high-fidelity 3D Surround spatial audio.

The main camera uses the latest 50 MP Sony image sensor for crystal-clear images. Its 24 mm wide-angle lens is perfect for dynamic street snaps, while a 2X zoom mode transforms it into a versatile 50 mm prime lens, ideal for portrait and food photography. Photography and videography can reach new heights with the 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, which ensures even smoother videos and shake-free photos on the move. The advanced stabilization now supports both standard and portrait shooting modes, making it ideal for low-light photography. Video stability is assured with hardware anti-shake OIS and an upgraded EIS software algorithm that uses gyroscopic data to detect movement. This dynamic adjustment of the field of view ensures videos remain rock-steady.

For the first time, the ROG Phone 8 series includes a 3X telephoto lens that enables the capture of distant objects. The lens, equipped with built-in OIS, delivers crisp and sharp results, even in low-light conditions with Night Photography mode. ASUS HyperClarity technology, using unprocessed (RAW) files, preserves every detail in photos, providing clearer images even at up to 30X zoom. During video shooting, the telephoto camera employs adaptive EIS to produce stable results with up to a 10X zoom.

The 13 MP ultrawide camera has a free-form lens and cutting-edge algorithms to reduce lens distortion, resulting in stunning yet natural images. The ROG Phone 8 series delivers exceptional quality and clarity in every shot and recording.

Finally, the front 32 MP ultrawide selfie camera has a field of view (FoV) that’s been increased from 73° to 90° to make it perfect for group selfies. The lens has an RGBW sensor that ensures images are clean with less noise, even in low light.

AI-enhanced features

Four gaming-friendly AI features in the ROG Phone 8 series elevate the gaming experience to a new level. Gamers can effortlessly shift a game to the background with Background Mode or capture key moments with X Capture, making these devices indispensable to discerning gamers. The intuitive AI Grabber for text capture and X Sense further elevate the gaming experience, providing tips and assistance when needed. AI Grabber can now also grab text directly from games using Machine-Learning Recognition technology, and X Capture and X Sense 2.0 now support more new top games thanks to AI Pattern Recognition technology.

Other AI-powered features include Semantic Search using natural language in the Gallery, Launcher and Settings. AI Wallpaper1 can create amazing-looking wallpapers using Stable Diffusion technology, and AI noise-cancelation technology supports bidirectional noise cancelation for crystal-clear sound in voice calls, video calls, and in-game communications2.

 

AniMe Vision

The new ROG Phone 8 series includes unique customizable elements, including the Aura RGB Lighting logo (ROG Phone 8) and Anime Vision Mini-LED display (ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition), that allow owners to express their individuality and creativity. AniMe Vision is a 341-element display that can display preset or user-created animations, and users can also unlock secret animations by touching their phone back-to-back with another ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

The ROG Phone 8 comes in Phantom Black and Rebel Grey with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage and will be available for £949.99.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage will be available at £1,099.99.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition with 24 GB RAM, 1 TB storage and an AeroActive Cooler X in the box will be available for £1,299.99. This model is exclusive to ASUS Official Online Store.

The ROG Phone 8 series will be available for pre-order from January 9th in United Kingdom from ASUS Official Online Store, Amazon UK and SCAN UK.

The early-bird offer will run from January 9th to February 4th. Customers who purchase the ROG Phone 8 Pro 16GB/512GB in this period will get a free AeroActive X.

JBL Unveils Exciting Innovations at #CES2024 JBL Live TWS 3 Series, Enhanced Portable Speakers, PartyBox Lineup, and Quantum Microphones

JBL has unveiled the new JBL Live TWS 3 Series of true wireless earphones at CES 2024 including the Live Buds 3, Live Beam 3 and Live Flex 3, all featuring the brand’s game changing Smart Charging Case with LED touch display as well as upgraded audio performance and connectivity.

JBL has also launched refreshed models of its award-winning range of portable speakers: the Xtreme 4, Clip 5 and Go 4. All the new products boast supercharged audio as well as upgraded design, new colourways and impressive portable playtime.

The audio leader is also showcasing new PartyBox speakers and a refreshed Quantum microphone lineup for content creators.

 

JBL Live TWS 3 Series

  

 

  • The JBL Live TWS Series, including Buds, Beam and Flex designs, features the game changing Smart Charging Case found in the JBL Tour Pro 2.
  • Taking the user experience beyond audio, the 1.45″ inch LED touch display provides listeners full control of almost all features and functions in real time.
  • Equipped with Hi-Res Audio Wirelessly and JBL Signature Sound, the newest true wireless lineup also features Bluetooth 5.3 with LE so users can enjoy stable multipoint connections.
  • Battery life is improved too, with the JBL Live Buds 3 carrying up to 40 hours of portable playtime, up to 48 hours with the JBL Live Beam 3 and up to 50 hours with the JBL Live Flex 3.
  • Available in four new colourways, Purple, Blue, Silver and Black, the JBL Live TWS 3 lineup offers users both style and durability with an IP55 waterproof rating.
  • Prices: £179.99/€199.99 from mid-June 2024.

JBL Xtreme 4, Clip 5 & Go 4

Introducing AuracastTM to JBL portables for the first time unlocks unlimited connectivity options for stereo or multi-speaker pairing across different speakers.

JBL Xtreme 4 and JBL Clip 5 now incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials for 70% of the plastic, and 80% PCR materials are used for the plastic in the JBL Go 4. All speakers use 100% PCR fabric for the speaker grille.

All three of the new speakers feature Bluetooth v5.3 with LE audio capabilities, IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. All are available from mid-March.

 JBL Xtreme 4 – £329.99/€349.99 

  • Now enhanced with AI Sound Boost which analyses audio in real time with an AI algorithm to optimise the acoustic output level.
  • Two woofers, two powerful drivers and dual-pumping JBL Bass Radiators effortlessly deliver dynamic, immersive sound with deeper bass and plenty of detail.
  • Up to 24 hours of playtime and a power bank to charge your phone on the go. The battery is replaceable, to extend the lifespan of the speaker.

JBL Clip 5 – £59.99/€69.99

  • Redesigned carabiner has a bigger and more accessible opening, making it easier to clip on.
  • The stylish travel accessory continues to bring the sound with an increase in driver power that allows for more streamlined sound and consistent bass at every volume.
  • Up to 12 hours of playtime – the perfect travel companion.

JBL Go 4 – £39.99/€49.99

  • Boasts a more robust sound and punchier bass than its predecessor.
  • Features updated silhouette and wider and more durable strap, making it more hand-friendly.
  • Up to 7 hours of playtime and available in six colourways.

JBL PartyBox Category 2024

  • JBL PartyBox Club 120 – £349.99/€399.99

o    Powerful sound, and deeper bass, along with a dynamic light show all synced with your music.

o    Up to 12 hours of playtime and an easy-to-swap replaceable battery

o    Two mic inputs and one guitar input and is compatible with the JBL PartyBox App.

  • JBL PartyBox Stage 320 – £549.99/€599.99

o    With two high-sensitivity woofers and dual tweeters, users can listen to all the details of their favourite tracks, even at the loudest volumes.

o    Easily transported with telescopic handle and wide, sturdy wheels.

o    Up to 18 hours of playtime and an easy-to-swap-out replaceable battery, and FastCharge, a 10-minute charge boost that delivers 2 hours of playtime.

  • JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic –  £119.99/€129.99

o    Easy-to-use and compatible with all JBL PartyBox speakers.

o    Comes in a plug-and-play two-mic pack guaranteed to deliver clear voice and crisp sound.

o    Easy-to-use, plug-and-play, the new Mic comes with up to 20 hours of playtime and a rechargeable battery that can be charged while using.

  • All three products will be available to purchase from April 2024.

JBL Quantum Stream Microphones

  • JBL Quantum Stream Talk – £39.99/€49.99

o    Features built-in JBL QuantumENGINE PC software allowing users to adjust the microphone’s EQ.

o    Background noise-free recordings through a shock-absorbing base and a super cardioid pickup pattern.

  • JBL Quantum Stream Wireless – £79.99/€99.99

o    Versatile and wearable with an omnidirectional pattern that picks up high quality sound from every direction.

o    A dongle for automatic connectivity and lightweight, clip-on design delivers easy portability.

o    Environmental noise cancelling ensures recordings are captured without interruption from surrounding sound sources.

  • JBL Quantum Stream Studio – £129.99/€149.99

o    Levels up any recording to professional quality with its specially designed three condenser microphones and 192 kHz/24 bit broadcast quality sampling rate.

o    Optimal sound capture is also supported by the mic’s universal mounting solution, which allows users to mount the mic to their preference.

o    The JBL Quantum Stream Studio’s dynamic range compressor stops loud noises from getting distorted in recordings, calls or streams, and it amplifies quiet sound for a more enjoyable recording.

BlackBerry QNX Announces General Availability of QNX SDP 8.0, its Scalable, High-Performance Foundation for Next Generation Automotive and IoT Systems

BlackBerry Limited has announced general availability of its new QNX® Software Development Platform (SDP) 8.0. Combined with the next generation QNX® OS 8.0, the platform delivers a scalable, high-performance real-time operating system available for today’s embedded computing industry.

The fifth generation QNX SDP 8.0 architecture builds on decades of development and a field-proven safe and secure platform, while maintaining its POSIX API to provide an instantly productive environment for both QNX® and Linux® developers. QNX SDP 8.0 adds support for ARM v9 and GCC 12, and delivers near-linear performance scaling with CPU core counts, enabling developers to fully realize the power and opportunities of increasingly advanced processors for generations to come.

The new platform extends the QNX Tool Suite with support for Microsoft Visual Studio Code to complement the Eclipse-based Momentics Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and new command line tools including over 200 Unix utilities. It also provides cloud-enabled OS support for development. Furthermore, QNX OS 8.0, with its advanced microkernel architecture, is designed to support emerging CPU architectures such as RISC-V.

“QNX SDP 8.0 provides the trusted foundation upon which our customers can truly future-proof their products for many years to come,” said John Wall, Senior Vice President and Head of QNX at BlackBerry. “It fundamentally enables embedded software design to support safe, secure and reliable systems in a way that fully harnesses the benefits of CPU advancements way into the future.”

“As a premium smart mobility technology brand, we’re keen to align with the very best development technologies that will future-proof our investment in world-class design, engineering and innovation,” said Jun Tao, Software Senior Director at ZEEKR Intelligent Technology. “Our early access experience with QNX SDP 8.0 has been incredibly positive, enabling us to integrate all areas of development within a single high performance compute environment that sets our vehicle software advancements up for success, today and into the future.”

QNX SDP 8.0 lays the foundation for the entire line of next generation BlackBerry® QNX® portfolio products, including QNX® OS for Safety, QNX® Hypervisor and QNX® Hypervisor for Safety. Customers can seamlessly migrate between the platforms to best suit their specific application requirements.

To learn more about BlackBerry QNX, please visit BlackBerry.QNX.com.

OMEN and HyperX Power Up Coolest Portfolio Yet for Personalised Play #CES2024

Today at CES 2024, HP Inc. unveiled its most personalised gaming portfolio yet with innovations across its OMEN and HyperX brands. New laptops, accessories, and software are all designed to work together to create a seamless gaming ecosystem so gamers can focus on what they do best – play.

“Computing continues to become more personal, and this is especially true in the gaming community,” said Josephine Tan, Senior Vice President & Division President of Personal Systems Gaming Solutions, HP Inc. “Whether it is your gaming laptop, monitor, or accessory, HP has developed a customisable and personalised solution that can be tailored to your need.”

Lightning-Speed Gaming with Advanced Creative Capability

Those who value a gaming lifestyle crave versatile machines capable of handling the rigor of top-tier AAA games while boasting the performance to manage visually demanding creative endeavours from multitasking projects to operating robust creative platforms. Specifically crafted for gaming and creative work, including students, the OMEN Transcend 14 Gaming Laptop is offered with an advanced OLED display, an elegantly slim body, and superior-grade internals, which make up the world’s coolest and lightest 14-inch gaming laptop.

The new OMEN Transcend 14 brings hybrid lifestyle gaming to life with:

  • Exceptionally Vivid Display: Immersive for gameplay and perfect for content creation, this stunning device is offered with an IMAX Enhanced Certified 2.8K 120Hz VRR OLED display for incredible details and vibrant true-to-life colour.[iii] The world’s first gaming laptop with a lattice-less sky printed RGB keyboard[iv] extends the vibrant colour experience beyond the screen.
  • Luxurious and Compact Design: Gamers want significant power in easily portable designs. This device weighs in at world-class 1,637 g with up to 11.5 hours battery life and a type-C PD 140W adapter to make charging on-the-go easier than ever before.
  • Epic Speed Through AI: Maximize your experience with up to an Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 185H processor[vi] and up to NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX™ 4070 Laptop GPUs to effortlessly engage with the latest games or handle compute-intensive tasks. Streamers and gamers can leverage the device’s NPU and OpenVINO™ plugins for OBS studio to make streaming and gameplay smoother than ever with up to a 24.6% Frames Per Second (FPS) improvement. Take full advantage of Auto Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) in OMEN Gaming Hub for a smoother gameplay experience by automatically switching between different refresh rates depending on content and power mode which can improve battery life up to 7%. Get up to 20% longer battery life in ECO mode.
  • Thermal Revolution: No one wants scorching hot hands when they’re gaming, creating, or working. A redesigned chassis utilises inbound airflow to create a pressurised zone using a vapor chamber for direct heat dissipation through rear vents. This thermal innovation co-engineered with Intel’s dual channel flow technology produced in the world’s coolest 14-inch gaming laptop,1 which can achieve 4x higher static pressure with an 80w thermal capability within a 12 mm base.
  • Boost Your Play and Productivity: Perfect for the student gamer, OMEN Transcend 14 offers both local AI capabilities through its Intel® and NVIDIA® processors, as well as built-in AI with Otter.ai for features like live transcript and real-time captions during meetings or classes, a record function for transcribing audio, and AI-generated notes.
  • The World’s First Gaming Laptop with Audio tuned by HyperX: The HyperX audio team worked closely with the OMEN Transcend 14 engineers to custom tune the laptop’s sound performance, elevating clarity and spectral balance to enhance the overall gaming audio experience, ensuring that subtle details are not overshadowed by louder sounds.

HP has also updated its OMEN Transcend 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC with the addition of up to a striking 2.5K  240Hz OLED display option as well as its OMEN 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC and Victus 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC – all updated with Intel® Core™ i7 HX processors.

A Seamless, Personalised Gaming Experience with HyperX

Seamless connectivity is a critical part of any gamer’s wireless headset experience. Expanding on last year’s first gaming laptops with an embedded module for intuitive audio pairing and ultra-low latency (ULL) solution, the all-new OMEN Transcend 14 ups the ante with a bundled option for the world’s first gaming laptop with 2.4 GHz ULL connectivity for the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Headset. This gives gamers easy switching between your PC and console. Its straightforward setup enables anyone to dive into a flawless gaming experience with outstanding audio, from the get-go.

New offerings designed for the next level in personalisation from HyperX include:

  • Small, Compact and Mighty:[xiii] The HyperX Cloud Mini Headsets are tailored for younger gaming enthusiasts to provide comfort and safe sound experiences with volume-limiting capabilities to ensure a safer auditory experience. Available in both wired and wireless versions, both boast immersive audio, and a handy flip-to-mute microphone with multi-platform compatibilities. The HyperX Clutch Tanto Mini Wired Controller is a lightweight choice that promises easy access to all standard buttons and controls while also being compatible with Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC, Steam Deck, and Android devices, including a mobile mode switch and a 3.5mm stereo jack for wired headsets.
  • Built for Personalisation and Customisation: The first hot-swappable keyboard with a gasket mounted design from HyperX, the HyperX Alloy Rise Keyboard is available in full-size and 75% options with dedicated arrow keys. Equipped with pre-lubed HyperX Linear Switches and pre-installed HyperX PBT Keycaps, it features enhanced RGB lighting with an ambient light sensor for auto-adjusting brightness, ensuring optimal visuals. The keyboard comes with HyperX’s signature onboard memory, allowing gamers to save 10 keyboard profiles directly onto the keyboard for personalized settings on the go. Built for even greater personalisation, the keyboards feature hot-swappable key switches, magnetic top plates, badge packs, a new 3D Mythic Themed Collection, along with robust construction, ensuring durability and flexibility.
  • High Performance with a Smaller Footprint: The new HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini, a compact gaming mouse, has been designed for gamers who appreciate ultra-lightweight, high-performance tools, and offers an impressive battery life of up to 100 hours. It features a highly precise HyperX 26K Sensor, dual wireless mode connectivity, dust-proof HyperX Switches, and adaptable grip tape for superior handling.
  • Travel Ready: The HyperX Knight and Delta Gaming Backpacks offer a place to securely stow gaming laptops and gaming accessories with durable and weather-resistant polyester, classic HyperX colours, and compiles with most airlines carry-on size regulations for gaming on the go.

 

The Pinnacle of Gaming Display Technology

Whether you’re a gamer deeply immersed in a digital world, or a creator conceiving a new one, you need a device capable of keeping up and pushing the envelope of what’s possible. Driven by a relentless desire to offer a transformative experience, the OMEN Transcend 32 UHD 240Hz OLED Gaming Monitor is the world’s most advanced gaming monitor offering gamers:

  • A Sea of Firsts: As the world’s first gaming monitor with independent switchable USB Ports, seamlessly switch between devices or utilise the incredibly smart KVM features to drag and drop files across devices. Experience easy and seamless connectivity with the world’s first OLED gaming monitor with 140W USB-C power delivery.Enjoy game audio and music to the fullest on the world’s first gaming monitor with audio tuned by HyperX, which includes a 10 band EQ that is fully customisable within OMEN Gaming Hub.
  • Breathtaking Visuals: Action pops of the screen like never before thanks QD-OLED Panel Technology that enables an insane 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio[xviii] across its 4K UHD, 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.3 ms response time panel. As OMEN’s first monitor to feature Dolby Vision, compatible games yield a truly magnificent HDR experience. It’s the first OMEN display to be certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 providing up to 50x greater dynamic range and 4x improvement in rise time compared to DisplayHDR 1000.
  • Live Long and Prosper: Panel life is of vital importance for OLED, and OMEN Tempest Monitor Cooling Technology addresses burn-in concerns, backed with a 3-year warranty for peace of mind.

For more information about the HP at CES 2024, including pricing and availability, please visit the HP Press Center.

Chipolo launches limited edition item trackers #CES2024

In a bold, unconventional move to encourage self-acceptance and to celebrate authenticity, Chipolo — the award-winning Bluetooth item tracker company — announces at CES 2024 the release of 10,000 limited edition “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo CARD Spot wallet finders, working exclusively with the Apple Find My network. 

In a world that frequently underscores the pursuit of perfection, Chipolo’s campaign challenges those conventional societal expectations that demand flawless perfection from individuals. Each of these exclusive Chipolos, though bearing minor cosmetic flaws, functions seamlessly — highlighting the notion that what we perceive as “defects” often go unnoticed by others, yet they can become pronounced in our minds as we focus on them and even magnify them. Chipolo aims to redefine the narrative surrounding imperfections, highlighting the idea that what may seem imperfect on the surface can indeed be just right. 

“Chipolo is excited to introduce the ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ limited series of CARD Spot trackers, as it’s another testament to our dedication to create products that make our lives easier — both physically, through functionality and mentally, by helping to bring people peace of mind”, said Primož Zelenšek, Co-founder and CEO at Chipolo. “Through this campaign, we want to inspire a shift in perspective, encouraging people to embrace their imperfections and recognize the real beauty in what makes each of us irreplaceable.”

Each Chipolo CARD Spot product that is part of this new series boasts its distinct blemish on one side, and the “Perfectly Imperfect” engraving on the other, written in letters that resemble the type of illustration done with a marker. When developing the font, Chipolo collaborated with an independent, female-owned type design studio based in Slovenia. Chipolo wanted a lettering style that would reflect both some of the core values of the brand, such as friendliness and openness, as well as support the overarching idea of the campaign — we are not here to be perfect and, actually, our perceived imperfections are part of what make us unique. 

Launching this line of products on the market is also a representation of Chipolo’s commitment towards sustainability, as it uses plastic that, due to some imperfections it presents, would otherwise have been discarded, and only afterwards be sent to post-consumer plastic recycling. By keeping the “imperfect” material as it is in the manufacturing process, the team avoided the creation of additional waste, while bringing to life wallet trackers that have full functionality under the slightly imperfect exterior.

To amplify the impact of the campaign even further, Chipolo has partnered with The Global Mental Health Peer Network (an international organisation that builds capacity among people with lived experience of a mental health condition through empowerment, mentorship and support), Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs (the largest self-help and aid community for the blind and visually impaired in Austria) and VDC Zasavje (a local public social welfare institution in Slovenia). For every “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo sold, $1 will be donated to support the missions of these three non-profit organisations.


“Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo CARD Spots will be showcased for the first time at CES 2024 at the Venetian Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D, at booth number 54243, and will be available for purchase starting January 9 on the official Chipolo website, as well as in selected independent and department retail stores.

Audioscenic Collaborates with Acer to Deliver Spatial Audio on World’s First Fully Immersive 3D Monitors #CES2024

Audioscenic, the UK-based developer of the Amphi AI Beamforming spatial audio technology, announces their collaboration with Acer, one of the world’s top ICT companies, to integrate their technology with Acer Immerse Audio. The technology is available on its newest SpatialLabs 3D monitors: the Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 and the Predator SpatialLabs View 27. Combined with Acer’s industry-leading naked-eye 3D visualisation solution, the 27-inch SpatialLabs monitors offer enveloping 3D gaming and viewing experiences with Audioscenic’s proprietary audio technology to provide a completely immersive listening experience without the need for headphones. Audioscenic will showcase a wide range of implementations of their spatial audio technology at the 2024 CES Show in Las Vegas from Tuesday, January 9th to Friday February 12th, 2024, at The Venetian Hotel on the 29th Floor of the Venetian Tower. For more information and to book your immersive experience, please click here.

“Enhanced by Audioscenic’s Amphi 3D audio beamforming technology, Acer Immersive Audio complements the sensual stereo 3D experiences on the 27” SpatialLabs monitors. Rich soundscapes are echoed from dual 2.5 W speakers for truly encapsulating experiences for gamers, cinephiles and developers. These efforts prove our dedication to providing an intuitive and natural, yet captivating digital adventure without the need for additional components such as headphones or glasses,” comments Jane Hsu, Head of Business Development, Spatial Computing BU at Acer.

A new threshold for the immersive experience

The SpatialLabs 27-inch 4K 3D displays are Acer’s flagship monitors designed for a ground-breaking 3D experience. Acer collaborated with Audioscenic to power its Acer Immers Audio with Audioscenic’s Amphi AI Beamforming technology that elevates the audio-visual experience. The displays are fine-tuned in every facet of the audio system to craft a virtual headphone experience that takes advantage of the latest spatial technologies without the need for headphones or aid from 3D glasses.

“We’re proud to cooperate with Acer in pushing this technology forward, and are eager to see the impact it has on consumers and creators in the industry alike. The beamforming technology in Amphi has been tuned to utilise the dual speaker system in the SpatialLabs 27 monitors which allow for great immersion,” explained Audioscenic Chief Technology Officer, Marcos Simon. “This implementation, alongside Acer’s SpatialLabs 3D visualisation solution, creates a heightened level of experience for the viewer that is different from any other monitor on the market.”

The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 follows the first collaboration between the companies, with the Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 monitor announced in October 2023. This monitor geared toward professionals like visual designers and developers now grants an opportunity to create realistic content for video, education, retail, museums, simulations and training accompanied by an unmatched life-like audio experience.

The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 is Audioscenic’s latest collaboration to merit a high-profile launch at CES and the brand’s latest venture in consumer products. Previously the brand partnered with Razer and THX to integrate Amphi technology in the Leviathan V2 Pro gaming soundbar, which received several ‘Best of CES’ awards in 2023. Looking forward, the brand continues to explore new and exciting applications for its unique approach to spatial audio technology within a wide array of platforms.

“The strength of Amphi is its flexibility — it can be implemented in any device that has a pair of speakers and a camera as most consumer devices today do,” stated Audioscenic CEO David Monteith. “Our technology offers an accessible, and affordable alternative to existing spatial audio implementations and we are eager to explore new product implementations that will deliver a no-compromise spatial audio experience for everyone and make it an essential part of everyday life.”

Esri’s digital mapping system delivers savings of €5.8M to Fibrus in NI broadband rollout

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today announcing that its digital mapping system has delivered savings of up to €5.8 million to broadband provider Fibrus as it accelerates broadband rollout in Northern Ireland. Fibrus is providing connectivity to 85,000 rural homes and businesses under the Northern Ireland Executive’s initiative, Project Stratum.

Using its ArcGIS technology, Esri Ireland designed a suite of integrated solutions to streamline processes throughout the entire lifecycle of planning, constructing, and maintaining fibre networks. The technology is improving cost control for Fibrus, as ArcGIS calculates precise costs for new infrastructure plans and optimises the number of potential customers in project areas.

The solution is transforming Fibrus’ operations and resulting in time savings of 500 hours per week for Fibrus, its contractors, and subcontractors. It has enhanced process efficiency by at least 50% and is enabling the company to maintain a steady rate of over 5,000 rural home and business connections every month.

Wherever they’re working, over 1,000 field operatives can view plans on digital maps, collect survey data, record cable and pole installations, and flag any issues. Data is shared in real-time to a central dashboard which is improving workflows and increasing collaboration. This has also improved data accuracy, streamlined time-intensive tasks, and decreased misinformation-related issues, enabling Fibrus to meet targets significantly faster.

Issues such as cut cables or storm-damaged poles are now promptly identified, simplifying maintenance planning and facilitating rapid repairs. Dependence on paper-based maps has been eliminated, and Fibrus also uses data collected and shared via ArcGIS online to validate contractor invoices and approve payments based on the latest construction progress information.

Riain Garcia, Senior Manager, GIS, Fibrus, said: “Esri’s system provides far greater visibility of what is happening on the ground, helping us to improve financial control, traceability, and accountability. We have already seen significant cost savings by using ArcGIS to reduce build revisits and by using dashboards to track progress instead of manual processes.”

“I don’t think we would have accomplished the exceptionally high number of connections needed for Project Stratum as fast as we did without ArcGIS. It gives everyone a one-stop shop for information on everything to do with Fibrus projects.”

Philip McLaughlin, Client Manager, Esri Ireland, said: “Fibrus is paving the way towards a more connected future. We’re thrilled to see our technology making a real difference in bringing connectivity to people and businesses throughout Northern Ireland. ArcGIS is a powerful tool which is not only impacting positively on Fibrus and its operations, but is ultimately benefiting and connecting more communities.”

Dell Technologies Ireland unveils technology outlook for 2024

Dell Technologies has released 2024 predictions by Catherine Doyle, Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland highlighting emerging trends that are set to shape the future of business in 2024 and beyond.

The technology leader is forecasting how advancements in Generative AI (GenAI), Quantum Computing and Zero Trust technology together with a growing focus on sustainable IT will help organisations and their people to innovate, enhance productivity and remain secure.

“As we look towards a new year, breakthrough technologies will help Irish businesses to navigate new challenges that may emerge in the coming months and to innovate at speed,” said Catherine Doyle, Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland.

“Generative AI will be the centre of business focus next year. 2024 will be all about putting AI into action and implementing Generative AI projects that can be truly transformational. The first step on the AI journey should be to organise and structure data which will help avoid AI sprawl.

“With the global explosion of data, there will be an increasing need for organisations to manage that data effectively. Quantum computing will help to address this and bring about a massive leap in the computing power required to unlock AI innovation. By looking to the horizon and identifying the technology trends that will shape Ireland’s economy, Dell Technologies can support public and private sector organisations to adapt, grow and advance sustainability.”

1. GenAI will take centre stage, moving from theory to practice

Generative AI will take centre stage in 2024, moving from theory to practice. While GenAI has fostered many creative ideas in 2023 of how it will transform business, there are very few real-world examples of GenAI in action. As we enter 2024, Gen AI projects will start to be business-ready with visible productivity gains becoming evident. An increasing number of Irish businesses will adopt AI and scale it across their organisation. According to our latest GenAI Pulse survey, nearly half of IT leaders expect to see meaningful results from GenAI initiatives within six months to a year. One of the first steps that leaders can take to ensure successful AI adoption in the year ahead is to organise and structure data within their business.

2. AI will come to life in more powerful PCs

PCs will become more powerful as AI comes to life, enabling the technology sector to deliver on the promise of digital assistants. Over the next 12 months the PC experience will shift from searching to prompting, from reading to understanding, and from editing to directing. This will result in the emergence in a two-way human-machine partnership in workplaces across Ireland. Also, as AI becomes a key part of laptops and devices, it will unlock improved privacy and security while also advancing sustainable design.  

 

3. Quantum Computing and GenAI will become intertwined

With the global explosion of data and AI, there will be an increasing need for organisations in Ireland to put in place the computing power to manage it effectively. Quantum computing will begin to address this and bring about a massive leap in the computing power that is required to unlock AI innovation. If we were surprised by the GenAI advancements of the last year, leaders should expect to see a bigger jump forward when quantum computing becomes intertwined in the near future.

 

4. Zero Trust will become central to strengthening cyber resiliency

Although there has been much discussion about Zero Trust, 2024 will see Zero Trust will evolve from a concept to a real technology. Adopting a zero-trust approach helps organisations build a more resilient and responsive security infrastructure while ultimately lessening the impact of cyber-attacks. As the benefits of Zero Trust technology becomes evident, it is expected that Zero Trust will become the norm in a wider range of industries in Ireland.

 

5. Greater adoption of green tech as leaders prioritise sustainability

The role played by technology in advancing sustainability will grow in 2024. With larger companies being required by the EU to disclose their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and activity, business and IT leaders in Ireland will increasingly rely on technology to track their climate data and reduce emissions. Our latest Digital Pulse Survey revealed that almost half of companies are looking at upgrading technology in the coming year to cut rising energy costs and drive sustainable innovation.

Kingsbridge ‘Techs the Halls’ this Christmas with new Robotic Surgery offering for the North West at Ballykelly Hospital

Kingsbridge Healthcare Group (KHG) is celebrating another “first” with Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West, in Ballykelly taking delivery of a state of the art MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System that will allow orthopaedic surgeons to perform joint replacements with even greater precision and accuracy.

As the only hospital in Northern Ireland offering such a pioneering device, this latest development reinforces KHG’s commitment to leading the way in providing new services, expertise, innovation, and technology to the NI Healthcare arena.

Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West General Manager, Anthony McKenna explains the positive impact this new assisted surgical system will have on both patients and surgeons.

“The MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System allows consultants to plot every step of the procedure in advance using CT imaging and 3D technology to plan and visualise the positioning of the implant before surgery, ensuring predictable and consistently successful outcomes.

“Software within the device creates an individualised pre-operation plan that facilitates less dissection, minimising trauma to soft tissue surrounding the joint resulting in a quicker recovery, less pain and shorter hospital stays for patients. The combination of the consultant’s expertise alongside the precision of technological assistance also means that replacement joints can not only feel more ‘natural’ but will also last longer.”

Specialised training has been completed in both Belfast and Luxembourg with a team of Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons led by Mr Graham Bailie, along with Mr Andrew James and Mr Danny McCaffrey, organised by Kingsbridge Training Academy in conjunction with leading medical technology company Stryker, manufacturers of the MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System.

Sarah Marks Chief Operating Officer at KHG said “We are very excited to begin robotic surgery and finish a 4 year journey to bring this service to people in NI. The delivery of the MAKO robot cements further our close relationship with Stryker who have been our long-standing partners in our orthopaedic growth journey.”

While scans and consultations can be arranged in Belfast as well as Ballykelly, all MAKO Robotic – Arm Assisted Surgery will be undertaken in Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West.

Self-Pay Orthopaedic patients can find out more about this new service and other orthopaedic treatments at a series of Public Information sessions being hosted by Kingsbridge Hospital Group in January at locations in Belfast, Ballymena, Craigavon, Omagh and Derry.

For further information and to register for free go to https://kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com/info-events/