Gadgets & Gizmos

[Fuzz]

Welcome to Gadget & Gizmos, the info spot for all those nifty little devices to spend your hard earned cash on.... whether you need them or not!

[Fuzz]

BeamO - Perform in-home health checkups and share data with telehealth providers

While smartwatches now include lots of health and wellness tracking features, it's still difficult to get accurate health data at home, particularly in the age of telehealth. Enter the Withings BeamO: A single device that serves as a thermometer, electrocardiogram, oximeter, and stethoscope. The BeamO connects with the Withings smartphone application so that reports can be developed from the data.

Withings is known for making advanced medical-grade and FDA-cleared devices. The BeamO is designed for families to perform in-home checkups while also being able to aid doctors who are providing telehealth visits remotely. When you visit a medical providers office, this key data is often captured first prior to the visit, so now you will have the ability to gather this same data at home with a device that you can trust is accurate and effective, the company says.

An animated LED display is positioned along one side of the BeamO, so you can see the results on the device prior to syncing with the smartphone app. Sensors along the sides of the BeamO are used to capture your heart rate and SpO2 readings simultaneously. Core body temperature readings are taken with a noninvasive scan of the temporal artery. Heart and lung measurements are captured through the digital stethoscope using a piezoelectric disc.  

Wi-Fi is used to sync the BeamO to your Withings account and then to your smartphone application. The BeamO's results are incorporated into the Withings app and other Withings-connected health products. 

The BeamO has a retail price of $250 and is scheduled to be available in June 2024, following FDA clearance of its ECG capability.

The Withings app is also getting updated so that you can enter the details of your medications, and then set alerts and reminders to take those medications when prescribed. Side effects from meds can also be captured and shared with your medical provider. 

 

[Fuzz]

Invoxia has a new smart collar suitable for both cats and dogs

Getting a BeamO for yourself? What about your furry companions?

CES never disappoints when it comes to gadgets for pets. And Invoxia is going all out by releasing a new smart collar called Invoxia Minitailz that is suitable for both cats and dogs. The company said that this gadget is an upgrade from last year’s Invoxia Smart Dog Collar, which measured both location and biometrics like the heart rate of your dog.

The Minitailz weighs around 36 grams, compared to last year’s Smart Dog Collar, which weighed in at 130 g. The company said the weight makes it ideal for both cats and dogs. Plus, it can be fitted to almost any existing cat or dog collar through an adjustable ring.

For location tracking, the device uses a built-in SIM and GPS tech to measure movements in almost real time. The company claims that Minitailz can measure walks, runs, and even daily zoomies.

The pet tracker can also measure and detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) so that you can know if your pet has an issue related to irregular heartbeat. The French company said that if the device detects any anomaly, it sends an alert to you.

Because we are in 2024, it is almost a given that any product that displays data in an app will have some kind of generative AI element. The Minitailz app has a conversational GenAI agent that creates personalized pet reports and answer any questions about them.

There are plenty of dog collars that measure canine health and location. But for the last few years, we have seen companies like Catlog make products for cat health.

Invoxia’s Minitailz smart pet tracker for dogs goes on sale today and the cat version will be available in March 2024. Both versions are priced at $99 for the hardware and a subscription for SIM services starts at $8.30 per month.

[Fuzz]

This new bone conduction headset comes with an AI trainer, plus health tracking and more

Mojawa is taking the bone conduction audio experience to the next level with its new HaptiFit Terra headset that brings activity tracking, health monitoring, and an AI training program to the headset.

The Mojawa Haptifit Terra is available for pre-order now for $199.99 and will be available in March for a price of $299.99. You can save $100 by ordering a headset prior to its availability. The HaptiFit Terra will be available in black, light blue, gray, red, dark blue, and pink.

The open-ear bone conduction headset provides up to eight hours of use with an IP68 waterproof rating. You can connect to a phone or watch for Bluetooth music streaming or load up MP3 files into the 32GB of onboard storage, which is very useful for swimming sessions.

The headset has a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, pressure sensor, and optical wear detection. There is no integrated GPS receiver for specific location tracking. Haptic controls in the headset provide vibrations for training guidance and confirmation of touch-sensitive controls. There are also integrated lights, but I'm not sure how these will work with a headset that is not visible to the user wearing it. 

The companion smartphone application provides you with a post-workout AI analysis, stat tracking, and customization options for the headset.

Screenshots of the app suggest that the AI sports trainer provides you with a full training program based on the parameters you enter for your desired exercise. I'm curious to see how this connects to GPS sports watches and smartwatches, as well as third-party fitness services like Strava or Apple Health.  

 

[Fuzz]

Airthings breezes into CES with its first smart air purifier

What’s the logical next step for a company that focuses on air quality monitoring? An air purifier, of course, and Airthings, a manufacturer known primarily for its air quality monitors, is at CES this week showcasing its first entry in the smart air-purifier market.

The Airthings Renew arrives with a matte-gray enclosure, a woven textile front cover, and a design that allows the unit to stand upright or lay on its side.

Rated for rooms up to 525 square feet, the 16.1 x 16.3 x 6.7-inch (HxWxD) Renew is ideal for cleaning the air in medium-sized spaces like your living room or rec room. But Airthings is also pitching the Renew for use in a bedroom, given that it can operate at a “library quiet” 23dB when it’s running in silent mode.

Besides silent mode, the Renew has an “auto” mode that adjust the fan speed based on measurements from its laser-based particulate matter (PM 2.5) sensor, while a “boost” mode will run the purifier on its highest setting for an hour.

The unit’s four-stage HEPA-13 filter and separate carbon filter are designed to clearn 99.97 percent of all fine particles, Airthings says. Unsurprisingly, the Renew will work in concert with any current Airthings monitors. 

The Renew syncs with the Airthings app, which can track air quality trends as well as let you control the Renew from outside your home.

For now, the Renew doesn’t offer integrations with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or any other smart home ecosystems, but an Airthings rep said the company “anticipates” the addition of smart integrations down the road.

In addition to the Renew, Airthings also debuted the Wave Enhance, a compact, battery-operated version of its popular Wave air quality monitors. Equipped with a flip-out stand, the Wave Enhance is best suited for bedrooms, officers, or other spaces where either focus or rest is important. 

Five sensors measure CO2 levels, VOCs, temperature, humidity, and air pressure, as well as ambient noise and light. The Airthings app analyzes this data, and then provides a “Sleep Disruptors” report to offer guidance on how to get a better night’s sleep. 

[Fuzz]

Timekettle’s $699 translation hardware handles multiple languages at once

Personal translation devices have had a hugely transformative decade. Improvements to processing power, machine learning and cloud platforms have all played key roles in this development. The technology is increasingly becoming a mainstay of wireless earbuds, and the recent explosion of generative AI platforms will only serve to further these impressive results.

It’s easy to imagine a time in the not-so-distant future when real-time, in-person smartphone translation is a ubiquitous commodity. What, precisely, such a sea change would do to those companies building standalone devices remains to be seen, of course, but in the meantime, we’re seeing a truly world-changing technology grow increasingly accessible.

Timekettle first crossed our radar back in 2017, when TechCrunch was hosting an event in the startup’s home of Shenzhen. At the time, the young company was showing off a face to face communication device that looked like a pair of oversized earbuds. You take one, give the other to someone else and then start talking.

Announced today at CES 2024, the X1 Interpreter Hub is a more robust solution, designed for meetings. Timekettle calls it, “the world’s first multi-language simultaneous interpretation system” – a lofty claim, to be sure, but it’s certainly a compelling solution.

The system works out of the box, without having to download a separate app. For in-person meetings, two devices are touched together to initiate conversation translation. The handheld devices house earbuds, similar to past Timekettle products. All told, the X1 is capable of supporting up to 20 people at once in five languages.

The system can also handle virtual conversations. Remote users dial into the phone number associated with the product to access its translation capabilities.

The Timekettle X1 is available online starting today, priced at $699.

[Fuzz]

Rabbit r1 Is Your Smart AI Companion For Streamlined Digital Tasks

Transforms your online experience by seamlessly navigating multiple apps using natural language commands.

Tech enthusiasts, get ready to meet your new digital sidekick – the Rabbit r1 AI Pocket Companion. Tech startup Rabbit has just unveiled this groundbreaking AI-powered device, and it’s poised to change the way you interact with your digital world.

The r1 is all about simplifying your digital tasks by bridging the gap between your intent and your device’s actions. It’s the world’s first device to feature Rabbit OS, an innovative operating system designed to revolutionize your online experience by seamlessly navigating multiple apps through natural language commands.

Powered by the proprietary Large Action Model (LAM), the r1 streamlines complex tasks by learning and replicating your actions across various interfaces. Jesse Lyu, CEO of Rabbit, describes it as “a new era of human-device interaction” where AI not only understands natural language but also performs actions based on your intentions.

Unlike typical voice-based assistants, Rabbit OS can handle a wide range of digital errands, from basic tasks like searching for information to complex ones like researching travel options or even virtual grocery shopping.

Atmosic’s LAM forms the backbone of the r1, allowing it to comprehend and execute human-like actions without the need for complex integrations. The Rabbit OS introduces “rabbits,” AI agents capable of executing various tasks, and operates through a secure cloud hub called the “rabbit hole.”

With an intuitive design inspired by retro gadgets and a 2.88-inch touchscreen, a push-to-talk button, a scroll wheel, and a 360-degree rotating camera named “rabbit eye,” the r1 is ready to assist you wherever you go. This standalone device prioritizes user privacy, ensuring microphone and camera activation only when initiated by the user. Priced at $199, the Rabbit r1 AI Pocket Companion is your passport to a more streamlined and efficient digital life.

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

Invoxia has a new smart collar suitable for both cats and dogs

Getting a BeamO for yourself? What about your furry companions?

CES never disappoints when it comes to gadgets for pets. And Invoxia is going all out by releasing a new smart collar called Invoxia Minitailz that is suitable for both cats and dogs. The company said that this gadget is an upgrade from last year’s Invoxia Smart Dog Collar, which measured both location and biometrics like the heart rate of your dog.

The Minitailz weighs around 36 grams, compared to last year’s Smart Dog Collar, which weighed in at 130 g. The company said the weight makes it ideal for both cats and dogs. Plus, it can be fitted to almost any existing cat or dog collar through an adjustable ring.

For location tracking, the device uses a built-in SIM and GPS tech to measure movements in almost real time. The company claims that Minitailz can measure walks, runs, and even daily zoomies.

The pet tracker can also measure and detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) so that you can know if your pet has an issue related to irregular heartbeat. The French company said that if the device detects any anomaly, it sends an alert to you.

Because we are in 2024, it is almost a given that any product that displays data in an app will have some kind of generative AI element. The Minitailz app has a conversational GenAI agent that creates personalized pet reports and answer any questions about them.

There are plenty of dog collars that measure canine health and location. But for the last few years, we have seen companies like Catlog make products for cat health.

Invoxia’s Minitailz smart pet tracker for dogs goes on sale today and the cat version will be available in March 2024. Both versions are priced at $99 for the hardware and a subscription for SIM services starts at $8.30 per month.

I will pay you $100 USD and free airfare from Australia to North Carolina to install this on Debbie’s cat.*

*Medical insurance not included

[hawkeye5050]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

hardware handles multiple languages

I am looking forward to this technology getting good. I don't imagine you will need anything more than your cellphone and headphones though...    Seems like all those parts (speech recognition, translation ai and text-to-speech) are available, just need to be turned into a good product.

[Fuzz]

Seergrills announces AI-powered Perfecta grill at CES

Seergrills unveiled its new flagship Perfecta grill at CES 2024. A CES Innovation Award honoree, the Perfecta is the “world’s first AI powered grill,” according to Seergrills. The grill has a list price of $2,500 and is available for preorder now with an exclusive $1,000 discount until the end of the CES. 

Powered by Seergrills’ proprietary NeuralFire technology, the Perfecta packs a quad-core processor and a suite of smart sensors that measure environmental and food variables, including thickness and temperature.

Seergrill has dubbed its program the aiChef. A cook can set the desired doneness and sear level via touchscreen. The aiChef then takes those instructions and uses information from the smart sensors to dynamically control the grill’s dual vertical infrared burners. These burners pulse and move horizontally, getting closer and further from the food as the program directs. 

The burners operate at up to 1,652 degrees F and provide 360-degree cooking, simultaneously doing both edges and sides, creating the perfect sear and eliminating the need for the cook to flip. When complete, the burners turn off automatically and return to their home positions. 

Seergrills says the Perfecta prepares delicious and nutritious meals ten times faster than conventional cooking, finishing a 1-inch ribeye steak in 90 seconds and four chicken breasts in two minutes and 30 seconds. Chefs prize the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between proteins and sugars that gives browned foods their unique, juicy flavor, and the Perfecta promises to deliver that perfect sear on the outside and a just-so doneness on the inside with ideal moisture retention.

Conventional grilling methods lead to fat drips and cause flareups that can burn and dry out the meat, yielding inconsistent texture and taste. Perfecta directs all water vapor and gasses out the top, so fat drips into a removable dishwasher-safe drip tray. 

The Perfecta combines the custom preferences set by cooks in the Seergrills app with sensor data readings to control the grill’s burner system. After each meal, users can rate their meals in the app, creating data that will train the AI and improve cooking in the future. 

Not only will the Perfecta cut cooking times by 90 percent, the grill also uses 50 percent less energy than traditional barbeques, ovens, or air-fryer methods, according to Seergrills. Cooking modes include grill and oven, with the option to add on pizza and rotisserie modules.  

 

Seergrills also offers the GrillStation for users who want a traditional outdoor grill setup that includes extendable prep and serving stations, drawers for spices and accessories, and an edge rim for hanging utensils.

 

 

[Fuzz]

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid Can Switch Between Android and Windows

There are plenty of laptops that can double as tablets, but it's rare that those two-in-ones run both Windows and Android. That's exactly what the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, just announced at CES 2024, promises to deliver. 

Lenovo's new hybrid device can switch between the two operating systems depending on how you're using it. Want to use it as a tablet? Just detach the 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen from its base and it turns into an Android tablet. Reattach it to the keyboard base and it kicks back into Windows mode. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid launches in the second quarter and is expected to start at $2,000. 

It's not the first time Lenovo has tried something like this: There was the IdeaPad U1 from 2011, which similarly blended Windows and Android into one device. Samsung's Ativ Q from 2013 also allowed you to switch between Windows and Android with the press of an icon. Still, even in 2024, a device that can run both Android and Windows is rare, and it's interesting to see Lenovo revive this concept now that laptop-tablet hybrids have matured.

Similar to Lenovo's old IdeaPad U1, the new ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid has a Qualcomm processor powering the tablet and an Intel chip in the base. That means the two pieces can function independently when needed, with the base serving as a standalone Windows machine when connected to an external monitor. There's an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor in the base, which Lenovo calls the Hybrid Station, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip in the Hybrid Tab tablet. The Tab runs on Android 13 and has a 38-watt-hour battery, while the Station is powered by Windows 11 and has a 75Whr battery.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid jumped between Windows and Android seamlessly during my brief time trying the device. Once I pulled the Tab off its base (which admittedly took a little bit of force at first), the Windows interface I had been browsing just a moment ago switched to Android after a brief pause. 

The Tab itself is slim and relatively light for a tablet of its size, weighing roughly 1.7 pounds compared with the 1.5-pound, 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But at 14 inches, the Lenovo feels cumbersome to hold for more than just a few moments. It's likely best suited for those who want to use their tablet with a kickstand while they're watching movies or playing games. 

When I snapped the Hybrid Tab back onto the Hybrid Station, the screen briefly went blank before Windows once again appeared on the screen almost instantly. The process seems smooth and simple so far, but it's difficult to tell how well it will hold up without extended use.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid comes after tech companies including Apple have attempted to find a middle ground between positioning tablets as a larger extension of your smartphone and a laptop replacement. There's more cross functionality than ever between Windows and Android, for example, and Apple has gradually customized the iPad's operating system to make it better equipped for productivity, multitasking and entertainment. 

In a sense, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid feels like the result of these efforts over the past 10 years. But at the same time, it's a decidedly different approach from making Windows more mobile-friendly and Android more productivity-oriented. Instead, Lenovo is giving you the full version of both. We look forward to seeing whether it lives up to its promise.

[Fuzz]

ColdSnap Makes Homemade Ice Cream in Under 2 Minutes, and It's Inching Closer to Release

At CES 2021, CNET got a first test and taste of the ColdSnap, a pod-style (think Keurig) at-home ice cream maker, which churns out fresh servings of ice cream in under two minutes. The appliance can also make frozen boozy beverages, smoothies and coffee drinks. Now, three years later, the device is back at CES 2024. The ice cream was sweet, creamy and delicious, and I should know because I tested it every time I walked by the booth.

I still can't buy a ColdSnap for my home until 2025, but we all might get to try it at a restaurant. The first-of-its-kind ice cream machine will be rolling out to restaurant partners this year.

Back in its initial prototype phase, CNET's own Lexy Savvides took the first-of-its-kind frozen treat dispenser for an exclusive spin. She liked the ice cream then, as did I when I wolfed down a cup of vanilla this week at the world's largest tech trade show. The ice cream, made with real cream, cane sugar and nothing scary, was up to snuff and similar to gelato in consistency; somewhere between traditional ice cream and soft serve.

The "pods," which are about the size of a Red Bull can and recyclable, don't require freezing or refrigeration. Simply scan the barcode to let the ColdSnap know what it's making and plop the canister in through the top. A few gentle whirrs and about 90 seconds later, a fresh batch of ice cream (or smoothie or coffee drink) oozes softly into the waiting bowl below.

The countertop machine is hefty, weighing in at 50 pounds, and takes up more space on the counter than we'd want to forfeit: It measures 11.5 inches wide by 17.75 high and nearly 20 inches in depth. Before the ColdSnap, making ice cream from scratch, even with a new-fangled electronic model like the viral Ninja Creami, you know it takes up to eight hours to freeze a custard enough to be spun into ice cream. Crowded counter aside, if you love ice cream but hate waiting hours for it or paying $8 a pint, the ColdSnap will get plenty of reps.

I'm looking forward to getting ColdSnap ice cream and more from a local restaurant or food court in the near future. Until then, I might have to walk by that booth one more time...

 

[Fuzz]

GE Unveiled an Indoor BBQ Smoker at CES and Now It's Summer All the Time

We chowed down on smoked brisket, salmon and even cocktail garnishes made in this first-of-its-kind indoor smart smoker. Here's what we thought.

Smoking indoors is back in vogue with the launch of a first-of-its-kind small appliance for smokers. Wannabe pitmasters need no longer wait for warm weather to break out the hickory and maple. GE Profile took its new indoor smoker for a spin at CES in Las Vegas and we got to see the smart cooker in action. 

CES 2024 is the official coming-out party for the indoor smoker that uses a catalytic converter to filter smoke, but we got to see the buzzy indoor smoker even earlier, at an exclusive preview event in New York ahead of CES. 

The indoor smoker is small enough to fit on your countertop, is safe to use inside and won't fill your home with billowing smoke fumes. It cooked various types of meats from smoke powered by wood pellets with just a few swirls of visible smoke inside and without releasing any plumes. 

The brisket emerged from the chamber perfectly tender inside with a beautiful crust and hearty smoke flavor. A more delicate smoke setting was used on trout, which was served over cucumber slices and carried just the right amount of Kona wood flavor.

It's one of only a few indoor smokers and the first with true smart features and remote app control. You can precisely control and monitor smoking sessions from your device, and the smoker offers suggested cooking times and temps and learns your preferences to fine-tune the process over time. A built-in probe helps avoid overcooking or undercooking.

Unlike traditional smokers and pellet grills, no significant amount of smoke escapes the chamber of GE Profile's new appliance, which is sized to live on your countertop. Instead, wood-pellet smoke is filtered through an advanced catalyst converter, allowing heat and smoke-flavored hot air to cook and add flavor to the food inside. There are no filters to clean or replace.

After a cooking cycle is finished, you can open the smoker's doors and only a faint smell of smoke, akin to a wood stove fire, is emitted.

The electric smoker is fueled by wood pellets and pumps filtered smoke into a tightly sealed chamber where it cooks food and imparts smokey flavor to meats, fish, vegetables and whatever else you can fit inside the modestly sized chamber. Five adjustable smoke levels allow would-be pitmasters to tinker with smoke intensity on various foods. 

The Indoor Smoker isn't cheap, retailing for $1,000 at select national retailers, including Best Buy and Williams Sonoma.

[Nevrknow]

8 hours ago, Fuzz said:

GE Unveiled an Indoor BBQ Smoker at CES and Now It's Summer All the Time

That takes all the fun out of it. (Says the guy who will smoke meat and/or cigars in snow.) 😁

[puromaniac]

Damn you @Fuzz for tempting me with toys I never knew I needed, especially when I'm already spending too much of my precious coin on cigars that are overpriced and out of my budget.

[Fuzz]

46 minutes ago, puromaniac said:

Damn you @Fuzz for tempting me with toys I never knew I needed, especially when I'm already spending too much of my precious coin on cigars that are overpriced and out of my budget.

Just wait, I have many more to post about.... and this thread will be ongoing.

[Magnum Dongle]

Some people are gonna be really let down in the year of our Lord 2024 when they realize what AI promises to do and what it can actually do without costing a bazillion dollars.

[Fuzz]

The ASUS AirVision M1 glasses give you big virtual screens in a travel-friendly package

At CES 2024, ASUS seems to have taken people by surprise with the announcement of its AirVision M1 glasses, with some viewing it as an alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro headset. But I discovered that ASUS’ glasses are much more of a novel alternative to portable monitors than something meant for spatial computing.

The big difference between the AirVision M1 glasses and something like the Vision Pro or even Xreal’s Air 2 Ultras is that it doesn’t really support anything in the way of interactive AR. Sure, the glasses are able to project your desktop or multiple windows into space, but it needs to be tethered to a nearby device and doesn’t recognize hand gestures or other virtual objects.

Instead, I found that its primary purpose is to give you extra screen space, but without the need to carry around big and bulky portable monitors. Featuring built-in microLED displays with a full HD resolution, the AirVisions can display up to six or seven virtual windows or desktops. You can also choose between a handful of aspect ratios (16:9, 21:9, 32:9 and more), with the glasses three degrees of freedom allowing you to either pin those screens in virtual space or track your head as you move around.

During my first demo, I used the AirVision M1s while tethered to a laptop, in which it behaved almost exactly like having a bit floating desktop that appeared to be hovering six feet in front of me. At first, the virtual displays were a little blurry, but after a short adjustment period and some time dialing in my IPD (interpupillary distance), I was pleasantly surprised by how sharp everything looked. When compared to something like Sightful Spacetop, which is billed as the world’s first AR laptop, not only did it have a much larger vertical field of view (up to 57 degrees), it also didn’t require any additional special equipment, as the glasses are essentially plug and play. While I didn’t need them, it’s important to note that the glasses come with a pair of nose pads to help ensure you can get a good fit, plus a prescription insert for people with glasses.

Once set up, it was pretty easy to create additional virtual workspaces. All I had to do was pull up a small command menu, press a plus sign where I wanted a new window to appear and that’s it. You can also freely adjust the overall size of the virtual display by zooming in or out. And one of the best things about the AirVisions is that using the laptop’s touchpad or typing wasn’t difficult at all. Because you can see through the virtual displays, I simply looked down and focused my eyes where they needed to go. That said, if you become distracted by something in the background, ASUS’ glasses also come with magnetic blinders that clip onto the front and provide a clean black backdrop.

However my favorite use case was when I tried a different pair of the AirVisions that were connected to an ROG Ally, where the glasses provided me with a massive virtual screen for gaming. In this way, it’s a lot like wearing a headset such as the Meta Quest 3, but for non-VR games. This is the kind of device I would love to have on a plane, where space is at a premium, especially for something like a portable monitor. That said, I’m not sure I could handle the embarrassment of being a modern day glasshole, at least not until devices like these become a bit more popular.

But perhaps the biggest difference between the AirVision M1s and Apple’s Vision Pro is price. While ASUS has yet to provide an official figure, a company spokesperson told me that ASUS is targeting around $700, versus $3,000 for Apple’s headset. And when you compare that to the price of a portable monitor, which often goes for between $250 and $400, and offers a lot less screen space, suddenly that price doesn’t seem too ridiculous.

So if you’re on the lookout for an alternative to the travel monitor, keep an eye for ASUS’ AirVision M1 glasses when they become available sometime in Q3 2024.

[Fuzz]

More Apple Vision Pro hands-on impressions: Heavy, but impressive

Apple has once again invited a slew of journalists to try out its spatial computer (or virtual reality headset, if you prefer), the Vision Pro.

From what we've read, the demos weren't all that different from the ones Apple carried out last year. About 20 minutes in length, they consisted of a short setup for fit and eye tracking, and then a little bit of video (including spatial video), some spatial and panoramic photo, an overview of the Disney+ app's beta version, a meditation experience, a virtual reality setting with dinosaurs in it, and a brief time with the Vision Pro's virtual keyboard.

So what's it like?

The verdict on the actual virtual reality experience is unanimously positive. Engadget's Cherlynn Low wrote that of all of VR, AR, and MR headsets she'd tried, "the Apple Vision Pro is far and away the best, and easily the most thought-out." The Verge's Victoria Song called the experience a "whirlwind."

"I spent a half-hour like a kid gawping at an alien planet — even though I’d never left the couch," she wrote.

And The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern praised "how easy and natural it is to navigate with just hand movements. It's freeing to have no controllers and getting around the interface is just second nature."

Heavy and not all that comfy

Most of the reviewers in this latest round of demos had spent some time with the Vision Pro before. It's no wonder, then, that they had more time to focus on details such as comfort of the Vision Pro's straps and overall comfiness of the headset after a session.

The impressions here aren't nearly as positive, though. Stern said she "really felt the weight of the face computer on my face" while wearing the Solo Knit Band, though she did note that the Dual Loop Band is "not as elegant looking but definitely more comfortable."

Song mentioned that "like any other VR headset, you feel it sitting on your head and wrecking your hairdo once you slip it on." And Low said that, while the strap she used was "wide, ridged and soft," fifteen minutes into the experience she "started to feel weighed down by the device."

"Five more minutes later, I was in pain," she wrote.

[Fuzz]

Nanoleaf releases new Matter smart light strips and open preorders for Skylight

Nanoleaf is showcasing impressive smart home technology at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, including new Orchestrator software for music integration, three new smart light strips with Matter support, and the preorder availability of the Nanoleaf Skylight. 

The company's three new smart lights with Matter support include an indoor Smart Multicolor Lightstrip, Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights, and Smart Multicolor Permanent Outdoor Lights.

These Permanent Outdoor Lights are reminiscent of Govee's Permanent Outdoor Lights, which also feature Matter support. Nanoleaf's new Permanent Outdoor Lights are launching as part of the company's Essentials line, along with the rest of the new Matter light strips.

The other Outdoor Smart Multicolor String Lights are perfect to adorn and illuminate a balcony or deck, with the appealing look of patio string lights and the smart integrations from Nanoleaf and Matter. These two additions mark Nanoleaf's first outdoor light strips and are planned for a Spring 2024 release.

The company also announced a new Orchestrator software for music integrations that connects directly to the computer's sound source and isolates the response to the device. Many brands perform music synchronization with built-in microphones that pick up audio in the vicinity. While this is convenient in many instances, it also means that the lights react to any and all sounds heard nearby, including people talking, stomping, or clapping.

The Orchestrator software promises to deliver a more accurate real-time experience with synchronized lights that only react to the music being fed to the lights. Nanoleaf explains the new software will ensure the lights react to an audio track's different layers; each beat and melody can be seen in gradient effects, rather than having the lights just react to the thumping sound they pick up.

Finally, Nanoleaf announced that it's making its Nanoleaf Skylight Smart Modular Ceiling Light available for preorder right now, with a retail price of $250 for the Smarter Kit and $70 for Expansion Packs, with products shipping in late January.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a set of square light panels that are meant to be installed on the ceiling, with a flush-mount design and a wide array of color options to choose from. Installation involves hard-wiring one panel, like when replacing an existing light fixture, and users can subsequently add up to 100 additional squares.

Each square from the Skylight is capable of emitting 1400 lumens with a lifespan of 25,000 hours.  Unlike traditional ceiling light fixtures, the Nanoleaf Skylight can be controlled via the Nanoleaf app, with the ease of setting schedules, automations, and the ability to control them remotely. 

[PigFish]

Fuzzy! Did you buy that new ai post generator??? 🤪

[Fuzz]

55 minutes ago, PigFish said:

Fuzzy! Did you buy that new ai post generator??? 🤪

Nah, it was two expensive, kept making erorrs, and once threatened to kill all humans.

[Fuzz]

Anker Nebula Mars 3

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a room-to-room-to-outdoor projector, with an emphasis on the outdoor part. Much like the Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K, it's reminiscent of a car battery with a handle on top. However, it's not just a lower-resolution (1080p) clone of its 4K relative. The Mars isn't quite as tall or as heavy as the Cosmos, and it depends on an LED light source instead of a laser one. It's also more rugged than the Cosmos is, with ratings for water, drop, and dust resistance that are sure to come in handy for outdoor use. Add in high image and audio quality, and you get our first-ever Editors' Choice pick for an outdoor portable projector.

Design: Easy to Hold, Hard to Break

At 9.9 pounds and measuring 9.8 by 6.3 by 10.2-inches (4.5kg, 160mm x 260mm x 250mm HWD), the Mars 3 is a little heavy for a portable battery-powered projector, but it's typical for a room-to-room portable model, a category defined as having good enough onboard audio so you don't need to lug an external sound system with you. The Mars 3 easily qualifies on that score, both in terms of its sound quality and volume, which is more than enough to fill a large family room or for use outdoors. And unlike most room-to-room portables such as the Epson Mini EF12, our top pick among room-to-room portables for indoor use, it adds a handle on top to make it a lot easier to carry.

Although it would be a stretch to call the Mars 3 fully rugged, it's more rugged than most projectors. It's rated IPX3 water resistant, which translates to surviving a 5-minute spray of water, so it should survive all but the most torrential of downpours. It's also rated to survive drops onto a cement floor from half a meter (about 19.7 inches), and the bottom is designed to be dust resistant—or more precisely, resistant to particles as small as 0.7 millimeter. In short, it will survive rougher treatment than most projectors, which can pay off if your backyard movie night gets cut short by a rain shower, for example, or the projector gets bounced around in the back of your car. And if you place it on the ground outside, it's reasonably safe from particles getting into the case.

Inside the box, there's a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel DLP chip and an LED light source rated at 25,000 hours in full-power mode. Also inside are the already-mentioned sound system and the battery. The sound system takes advantage of a 40-watt, three-way speaker (meaning there are separate drivers, or components, for high, midrange, and low frequencies) plus Dolby Digital Plus. The battery is rated at 2 hours in full-power mode for video, 5 hours in Eco mode, and 15 hours for audio only when serving as a Bluetooth speaker. The projector can also serve as a power bank to charge other devices.

One minor annoyance for viewing is that the battery's power status light—a circle of white LEDs—sits on the handle, so it's at the top of the projector, on the back of the unit. If you're sitting behind it in dim or dark lighting, the bright white lights can be distracting. Anker says it will add a menu command to dim the light in a future firmware update. In the meantime, a good workaround (which I used for my tests) is to paste on one or more small sticky notes. A single note dimmed the LED circle to a tolerable level. Adding a second note over the first hid it entirely.

Physical setup requires little more than pointing the projector at whatever you're using for a screen and turning it on. Connecting a power cord is optional, as long as the battery is charged, as is connecting cables from a video source to the one HDMI port. There's also a USB-C and a USB Type-A port available for charging or powering other devices. Initial Android TV 11 setup is standard, and requires a Wi-Fi connection to the internet. Note also that in addition to serving as a Bluetooth speaker itself, the Mars 3 can connect to another Bluetooth speaker for output, and it includes an audio delay adjustment should the video and sound fall out of sync.

Beyond the physical setup, the Mars 3 offers automatic keystone adjustments and digital zoom. It also can automatically fit its image to match the size of whatever you're using for a screen. In my tests, all of these features worked as promised. The auto focus also worked nicely, but sometimes required rerunning it a second or third time to get sharp focus. Still, as with any projector, you might want to ignore these automatic adjustment features, since they lower image brightness and can introduce artifacts.

Testing the Nebula Mars 3: Good Image Quality

As is increasingly common for native 1080p projectors, the Mars 3 negotiates a 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) connection by default when possible, so it effectively behaves like a 4K projector with soft focus. In my tests, however, it had problems connecting with some sources that were set to 1080p. When connecting to a Verizon Fios box, for example, it usually connected at 1080p, but once negotiated a 720p connection instead. It also repeatedly failed to connect with the Bodnar meter I use for testing input lag at 1080p, reporting "no signal."

Anker says it is looking into the problem to see if it's a compatibility issue that a future firmware upgrade can fix. In the meantime, if you run into it, the easy workaround is to set the video source to 4K or 720p. Even the Bodnar meter worked using 4K/60Hz input, reporting a 26.6-millisecond input lag, which is suitable for casual gaming.

The Mars 3 menus offer four predefined modes with no adjustment options, plus one Picture Custom mode with settings for Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Color Temperature, Wall Color, and Gamma. The brightest mode, Bright, adds a green tint, but is in the range that most people will consider tolerable if they need the extra brightness. The others are all more than acceptable by most people's standards. Picture Custom takes on the setting of whatever mode you were just using before switching to it, so whatever your preferred choice among the predefined settings is, be sure you're in that mode before switching to Picture Custom.

For my tests using 1080p SDR input, I chose Movie as the starting point, then turned off the frame interpolation. I would have also switched to Picture Custom to adjust the brightness, which was a touch too high, but there's no standard Brightness setting available. (There's one that's labeled as Brightness, but it sets the LED brightness, rather than the picture brightness.) The default settings offered good enough color accuracy that I wouldn't have spotted any issues if I weren't so familiar with our test clips, and shadow detail held nicely. When viewing in a dark room, dark scenes weren't as visually dramatic as they would be with a darker black level, but that wasn't obvious with even a low level of ambient light.

The Mars 3 also handled 4K HDR input reasonably well, down-converting the resolution to 1080p and keeping the high dynamic range (HDR). Using default settings, the image lacked contrast, but boosting the Contrast setting in Picture Custom mode solved that problem. The only issue is that the projector uses the same settings for HDR and SDR, so if you want different settings for each, you have to keep changing each setting back and forth when you switch between the two kinds of input. That said, after tweaking the contrast, the picture quality was close to matching the SDR quality, except that bright scenes were perhaps a touch darker. I didn't see any noticeable improvement in shadow detail, but it was so good when using SDR input that there wasn't much room—or need—for improvement.

Note that although there is no 3D support in the unit I tested, Anker Nebula says it will be added in an upcoming firmware update. Very much on the plus side, I saw almost no rainbow artifacts (red/green/blue flashes), and I tend to see them easily when present on a projector. You may be even more sensitive to them than I am, however. If you're concerned with the issue, you'll need to test the projector for yourself. Anker accepts returns for any reason within 30 days of purchase, although you'll have to pay for the return shipping.

Anker rates the Mars 3's brightness at 1,000 ANSI lumens. For the settings I used for testing, the image brightness for both SDR and HDR input was close to what I expect from about 550 lumens—easily bright enough to light up my 90-inch, 1.0-gain screen in a dark room, or my 80-inch screen in the level of ambient light typical for a family room at night. It was also watchable (but washed out) on my 80-inch screen on a bright afternoon.

Verdict: An Otherworldly Outdoor Projector

To say that the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is the most impressive projector we've seen for outdoor use doesn't mean as much as it might, since so few competing models offer water, dust, and drop resistance, plus an onboard battery. The BenQ GS50—which has a lower level of water resistance and a lower brightness at a lower cost—is one of the few.

But not having much competition also means the Mars 3 is nearly unique, and that's pretty impressive by itself. Even if you're not interested in it as an outdoor projector, it's still a good choice for strictly indoor room-to-room use, where the battery power and ruggedness are nice but not essential extras.

If rainbow artifacts are an issue for you, be sure to also consider the Epson Mini EF12, which offers a laser light source and a guarantee of being free of rainbows, though it doesn't handle HDR as well as the Mars 3 does. Or, if you want 4K resolution and are willing to pay extra for it, consider the Cosmos Laser 4K or the BenQ GP500, our current top pick for a 4K room-to-room portable. Between them, the Cosmos Laser 4K is brighter, while the GP500 scored better for image quality on our tests.

Ultimately, if 1080p is the resolution you want, the Mars 3 deserves a close look, and if you need a projector to use outdoors, it can be a compelling choice.

[ha_banos]

^^ I'm not going outside to watch movies in the rain.....

[Fuzz]

Baseus Blade2 Slim Laptop Battery

For frequent travelers, a power bank is an essential accessory, especially for users who carry laptops on their journeys. Back in 2021, Baseus addressed the need for extended laptop battery life by introducing the Blade 100W Laptop Power Bank. What set it apart from typical power banks was its ultra-thin, book-like design, perfectly tailored to the needs of laptop users, making it fit comfortably in a laptop bag without adding bulk.

Since its initial release, the Baseus Blade 100W Laptop Power Bank has undergone continuous improvement. Recently, they organized a fall 2023 launch event in Berlin, where they unveiled the second generation of the Blade series, the Blade2 Smart Power Bank. This new iteration supports features like app connectivity, scheduled shutdown, charging duration control, and boasts an intelligent display screen for customizable meeting timers. It comes in two power variants, 65W and 140W, catering to various travel requirements. The high-power version supports the latest PD3.1 fast-charging standard and offers an increased battery capacity of 24,000mAh.

Let's take the 140W version as an example. The Baseus 140W Blade2 Smart Power Bank inherits the flat form factor of the Blade family, designed specifically for laptop use, ensuring a snug fit alongside your laptop. In terms of colors, it's not limited to just black; you can choose from Sandstone Orange, Mariana Blue, and Horizon Silver, catering to a wider range of user preferences.

The most significant highlight of the Baseus 140W Blade2 Smart Power Bank is prominently labeled "140W" on its body, signifying its support for the new PD3.1 fast-charging standard. It features a 28V5A PDO, delivering faster charging speeds for devices like the MacBook Pro 16" that support PD3.1. Additionally, it is backward compatible with PD3.0 and other fast-charging protocols. (As shown in the image for the 65W version).

This power bank employs dual-port independent fast-charging technology, where USB-C1 supports 140W fast output and 100W fast input with PD3.1, while USB-C2 supports 30W fast output. When multiple devices are in use, it intelligently adjusts to 100W + 30W, allowing two devices to share fast charging. (As shown in the image for the 65W version).

As shown in the figures, the 140W version's battery capacity has been upgraded to 24,000mAh, providing even longer-lasting power compared to the first-generation 20,000mAh model.

Furthermore, based on the information released, the 65W version utilizes a next-generation silicon-carbon anode battery technology, offering advantages such as higher energy density, more efficient charging, and reduced heat generation. It's reasonable to expect that the higher-spec 140W version will also incorporate this kinds of battery.

Both models also feature TFT full-color displays, enabling UI customization and real-time display of crucial information like current, voltage, remaining battery life, estimated time to full charge, and battery temperature. They can also be controlled via a smartphone app through Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to monitor the power bank's status conveniently.

Summary of ChargerLAB

In conclusion, the Baseus Blade Laptop Power Bank family now offers three models: Blade 100W 20,000mAh, Blade2 65W 12,000mAh, and Blade2 140W 24,000mAh. While their capacities and power ratings vary, they all share the ultra-thin design philosophy, making them excellent companions for laptop users on the go.

The Blade2 series, as an upgraded version of the family, features higher energy density silicon-carbon anode batteries, supports power levels up to 140W, and complies with the new PD3.1 universal fast-charging standard. It surpasses the 100W power limit of PD3.0, offering a faster charging experience for devices like the MacBook Pro 16". In terms of interaction, it comes equipped with a multifunctional TFT color screen, offering seamless connectivity with a mobile app, providing real-time access to various charging and discharging parameters and supporting various interactive functions.

Currently, the Blade2 series' pricing and release date are not yet known, but ChargerLAB will continue to keep a close eye on it and provide updates as soon as they become available. (Due to release March 2024, 65W approx USD110)