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Lenovo is all about dual displays at CES 2023

Lenovo unveiled a ton of new products at CES 2023 (19 total if you don’t count variations of the same laptop with different CPUs). Since, dear reader, I care about your time as well as mine, I decided to focus on the coolest products, including several laptops with two screens, the ‘Magic Bay,’ and a few other fun releases. Lenovo also showed off the Microsoft Kinect-like Project Chronos, which you can learn more about here.

First up is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Twist, a new take on the 2-in-1 laptop form factor that offers a 360-degree hinge — like previous iterations. However, the Twist offers a twistable hinge as well, allowing users to flip the display around. Moreover, the laptop’s lid features two screens — a 13-inch OLED panel on one side, and a 12-inch colour e-ink screen on the other.

While I can’t speak to the practicality of having two displays, at least the ThinkBook Plus Twist is trying something new. It’s certainly more intriguing than a traditional clamshell (admittedly, I am a staunch proponent of the traditional clamshell). And unlike many things at CES, you might actually be able to buy the ThinkBook Plus Twist in the future — at least, in the U.S. Lenovo says it expects the Plus Twist to be available starting in June 2023 for $1,649 USD (about $2,239.78).

Wireless add-ons and docks

Lenovo’s Magic Bay webcam attachment.

Alongside the twist, Lenovo showed off an interesting new accessory for some laptops: the ‘Magic Bay.’ Available on laptops like the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4, the Magic Bay allows users to wireless connect additional modules to add new or improve on existing functionality. There’s a 4K webcam add-on for better video calls, or users can opt for the Magic Bay Light to get better lighting for their video calls. There’s also a Magic Bay LTE attachment for getting cellular on your laptop. These attachments connect wirelessly view magnets and pogo pins to the top of the laptop’s display.

Speaking of wireless, Lenovo also unveiled a ThinkBook Wireless Dock. While it unfortunately only supports the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 for now, it actually seems like a neat solution. Lenovo describes it as “put-and-play,” an upgrade to plug-and-play. The Wireless Dock works exactly as you’d expect — it’s a large pad that users can place their laptops on. The dock offers connectivity for additional monitors and up to 65W charging (there’s also a 10W wireless charger for your smartphone).

More dual displays

Lenovo showed off the absolutely insane Yoga Book 9i, which is basically a clamshell laptop except with a whole second display where the keyboard should be. Some of the product renders showing off the ways to use the Yoga Book 9i can only be described as deranged, but I’m also very intrigued by the idea of being able to carry around multiple displays in one convenient package. The Book 9i will cost $2,099.99 USD (roughly $2,852.34 CAD) and will be available starting June 2023.

Moving away from laptops, I want to highlight the Lenovo Tab Extreme and Lenovo Smart Paper. The Tab Extreme is Lenovo’s latest take on an Android tablet, but rather than a cheap mid-range option ideal for entertainment, the Tab Extreme seems aimed to take on the iPad Pro. While I have no illusions about whether the Tab Extreme will succeed in that regard, it does offer some interesting specs: a 3K Oled display with 120Hz refresh rate powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Octa-core CPU, JBL 4-channel speakers with spatial audio and more. There’s also a fancy keyboard accessory for it that is basically Lenovo’s take on Apple’s ridiculously expensive Magic Keyboard.

The Smart Paper, on the other hand, is a 10.3-inch e-ink tablet designed for writing and drawing with “virtually no lag.” The Smart Paper is, for all intents and purposes, a Kindle Scribe. However, I think these e-ink notepads are really interesting concepts — whether it could replace my trusty notebook remains to be seen.

Both the Tab Extreme and Smart Paper are expected to be available “later in 2023.” The Tab Extreme will start at $1,199.99 USD (about $1,629.90 CAD) while the Smart Paper will start at $399.99 (roughly $543.29 CAD).

You can find all of our coverage from CES 2023 here.

Image credit: Lenovo

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Mobile Syrup

Lenovo’s Project Chronos can beam you into the metaverse

Lenovo revealed its ‘Project Chronos’ at CES 2023, and it’s a device comparable to Microsoft’s Kinect, although with more advanced tech.

Project Chronos is a device that allows users to beam an avatar of themselves into a virtual world/metaverse. Powered by a 13th-Gen Intel core processor, the device uses an RGB depth camera to capture and transmit user movements in real-time onto a screen.

In a demo at CES, the company showed the device in action to create virtual version of people onto a screen in real-time. As reported by The Verge, “One person did some jumping jacks that animated smoothly. Later, they wound up a kick and sent a soccer ball into a goal.” The device can also capture facial expressions, though the facial capture was noted as being slightly off.

“Hybrid experiences that are immersive yet convenient are on the rise as the lines between the physical and the virtual continue to blur,” Lee Highsmith, an analyst at Lenovo, said in a virtual press briefing ahead of CES. “With Project Chronos, the goal is to create virtual and hybrid experiences by vividly capturing full body motion and even clearly visible facial expressions in near-real time.”

The device can be adjusted to capture a specific angle or turned inward for privacy, and Lenovo is also creating a remote for navigating menus from a distance.

It is currently unclear if and when Project Chronos will go on sale, and which apps it will be compatible with. Lenovo also did not announce the tentative pricing for the device. However, according to Lenovo pokesperson Jeff Witt’s statement given to The Verge, Lenovo’s “intent” is to ship the device in 2023.

Elsewhere, Lenovo made several other product announcements at CES 2023.

You can find all of our coverage from CES 2023 here.

Image credit: Lenovo

Source: Lenovo Via: The Verge 

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Apple Fitness+ adding kickboxing and new trainers to its January 9 update

Apple users looking for new workouts and meditative themes will likely be pleased with the new offerings Apple Fitness+ will release on January 9th.

A new kickboxing class will feature a total-body cardio workout. Users can pick from a 10, 20, or 30-minute class requiring no equipment.

If you’re looking for something a little less intense, “Time to Walk” is a good option. The audio-walking experience features stories and thoughts from influential figures. The update will feature various new guests, including actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Nina Hoss.

The update also focuses on mindfulness through the new “Sleep” meditation theme. Themes are part of the meditation library, which currently houses nine other themes. The new program, “Introduction to Meditations for Sleep,” will focus on helping users wind down before falling asleep.

The revamped offerings will also include a new core training program, three new trainers (including Toronto’s Jenn Lau for Strength and Brian Cochrane for HIIT), and an updated Artist Spotlight featuring workouts with music from Beyoncé.

Apple Fitness+ can be accessed on various devices for $12.99 month/$99/year across iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Image credit: Apple 

Source: Apple

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This Xbox controller features a built-in OLED display

Asus loves to put screens in everything.

The company’s new ROG Raikiri Pro Xbox/PC gamepad includes a customizable 1.3-inch OLED display that displays information like charging status, an option to mute your microphone, your active profile, animations, text and more.

The display seems entirely unnecessary, but at the same time, it’s still pretty cool.

Other features include Bluetooth, RF and USB-C connectivity, alongside an ESS DAC to improve audio quality from its 3.5mm headphone jack. Unfortunately, the controller can only connect to the Xbox through USB-C, which means it isn’t wireless on console.

Along with the familiar Xbox controller layout, there are four programmable rear buttons and trigger locks, similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. Further, there’s an app that allows you to alter the gamepad’s deadzones, vibrations and more.

While a built-in screen is undeniably cool, it doesn’t seem to have an actual practical purpose, and I also question how it could affect battery life, considering that that the controller can connect to PCs wirelessly.

It’s unclear how much the Raikiri Pro will cost, but Asus says it will release in the first quarter of this year.

Image credit: PR Newswire

Source: PR Newswire

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PlayStation’s ‘Project Leonardo’ is an accessibility controller kit for PS5

At CES 2023, PlayStation unveiled ‘Project Leonardo,’ a highly customizable accessibility controller kit to help players with disabilities.

Developed in partnership with game developers, consultants and accessibility charities like AbleGamers and SpecialEffect, Project Leonardo aims to offer a variety of configurations that work alongside many third-party accessibility accessories.

It’s also been designed to address several disability barriers, such as limited motor control, difficulty in holding a controller for prolonged periods or standard thumb and finger positioning on a standard controller. Its flat, spherical form means that it can easily rest on tables and wheelchair trays or be secured to AMPS mounts and rotated 360 degrees.

Additionally, the kit includes swappable components like a series of analogue stick caps and buttons of various shapes and sizes. These components, plus the PS5’s own button remapping feature, will allow players to set up control layouts that best suit their needs.

Project Leonardo can also be used as a standalone controller or alongside an additional Leonardo controller and DualSense gamepad. This will effectively create a “single” virtual controller that offers mix-and-match input capabilities or co-op play with others.

On top of that, Leonardo sports four 3.5mm AUX ports to connect all kinds of external switches and third-party accessibility accessories. For example, some disabled players who like to use custom 3D-printed specialty switches for added comfort could be able to connect those.

PlayStation didn’t confirm launch timing or pricing for Leonardo, but promised to share more “in the future.” For context, Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller, which offers similar features for those with disabilities, is priced at $129 CAD.

For now, though, it’s certainly good to see PlayStation reveal Leonardo. Ever since Microsoft launched that configurable accessibility gamepad in 2018, there have been calls for Sony to follow suit. To its credit, PlayStation has been ramping up its accessibility efforts on the software side during this time, with titles like The Last of Us Part I and II and God of War Ragnarök being highly praised for their robust suite of accessibility features. And now, we know that PlayStation’s answer to the Xbox Adaptive Controller is officially on the way.

In other PlayStation CES news, the company revealed that it’s sold 30 million PS5 units worldwide since the console’s November 2020 launch and confirmed that more than 30 games are on track for the PS VR2’s “launch window” (the headset releases on February 22nd).

Source: PlayStation

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AMD confirms overheating issues with some Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPUs

With Nvidia’s 40 series graphic cards (GPUs) and AMD’s 7900 series GPUs now available, it’s up to the users to decide which GPU offers their setup a better performance.

Both companies launched their new GPU series in the fourth quarter of 2022, though it seems like AMD is already facing criticism about its 7900 XTX GPU.

Since the launch of the graphics card, several users have reported that the GPU runs at excessively high temperatures, which hampers its performance. In a statement given to Tom’s Hardware, AMD has acknowledged the thermal issue, and said, “We are working to determine the root cause of the unexpected throttling experienced by some while using the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics cards made by AMD.”

The company added, “Based on our observations to-date, we believe the issue relates to the thermal solution used in the AMD reference design and appears to be present in a limited number of the cards sold. We are committed to solving this issue for impacted cards. Customers experiencing this unexpected throttling should contact AMD Support.”

It’s worth noting that not all AMD RX 7900 XTX GPUs are affected by the overheating issue. AMD said in its statement that a “limited number of the cards sold” face the issue, though it is currently unknown if the “limited number” amount to hundreds or thousands. Further, the flaw is only present in the RX 7900 XTX, which means the RX 7900 XT works as intended.

If you have a faulty AMD RX 7900 XTX GPU, contact AMD here.

Image credit: AMD

Source: Tom’s Hardware

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Android 14 might make it easier to update the share sheet

A long-running problem with Android is the ‘share sheet,’ which offers access to various options for sharing content from one app to another. But it might not be a problem for much longer — Google is reportedly looking to improve the share sheet perhaps as early as in Android 14.

Although the share sheet generally works, it’s not the best experience — Google has been working to improve it for years. For example, Google updated the share sheet in Android 12 to block third-party apps from setting themselves as the default share sheet, and in Android 10, it boosted the loading speed. However, because the share sheet can only be updated with a new Android version, changes come slowly and sporadically.

According to Mishaal Rahman, senior technical at Esper (via Android Police), Google developed an experimental version of the share sheet that’s hidden in Android 13. Although it’s functionally the same as the current share sheet, the experimental version is a mainline module. Those modules are decoupled from Android itself and can be updated through Play Services — other mainline modules include the Bluetooth stack and networking components.

Unfortunately, Google hasn’t said whether it plans to make this change with the share sheet, but the experiment suggests it could be a future change. And if the change does happen, it could go a long way to helping improve the share sheet by letting Google update it more often. Making the share sheet a mainline module could also help Google ensure a more consistent experience across phones from various manufacturers. The downside, however, would be that manufacturers may not be able to customize the share sheet as much.

Android 14 would be the most likely candidate for implementing this change. However, as mentioned above, Google hasn’t said whether it plans to go through with it. We’ll have to see what happens with the Android 14 developer previews and betas, which will likely arrive in the coming months.

Source: Esper Via: Android Police

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Dirac and BlackBerry QNX collaborating to improve audio performance in vehicles

Dirac and BlackBerry QNX are working together to optimize sound performance in car cabins.

Dirac is a digital software development company based in Sweden. The two companies will integrate the Dirac Opteo Professional solution with the QNX Acoustics Management Platform, an audio solution part of BlackBerry QNX.

The partnership will make it easier for automakers to perform digital sound system upgrades in high-end vehicles, applying it to vehicle lineups, Lars Carlsson, Dirac’s vice-president and head of business development automotive audio, said.

“High-quality audio can be challenging for automakers to perfect across entire line-ups, but, with the new Dirac-enabled QNX audio framework, manufacturers can quickly and easily upgrade any vehicle’s sound system with enhanced performance,” Carlsson said.

In a press release, the companies say they’ve begun implementing the platform in a “high-end electric vehicle from a leading European manufacturer” but did not provide specifics.

Image credit: Dirac

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon offers deep discounts on tech in latest ‘New Year, now you’ sale

Amazon Canada is making the most of 2023 with its latest sale, dubbed “New Year, now you!” This offers deep discounts that include “up to 50% off electronics, toys, home, fashion,” and basically anything else on the online retailer.

Here are some of the best tech deals:

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Source: Amazon Canada

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PlayStation Holiday sale adds more games

PlayStation’s Holiday Sale has added more games, offering titles up to 75 percent off. You can get FIFA 23 Standard, Madden NFL All Madden Edition PS5, Sifu and more.

Below are some of the best deals:

These deals end on January 18th.

Image credit: PlayStation