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OnePlus’ 8T Concept Phone Can Change Colour and Motion Track

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Plenty of phones have a special back panel with a colourful gradient or shimmering effect. Very few, however, actually change colour altogether. The OnePlus 8T Concept is different, though. The experimental phone has a stylish pattern on the back that can switch between light silver and dark blue. According to OnePlus, the design relies on a special film “that contains metal oxide in glass,” with “the valence state of the metal ions varying under different voltages.” So whenever the metal oxide activates, the color of the pattern changes, reflecting the “multi-hued flowing water,” an explainer supplied by OnePlus claims.

I know what you’re thinking: okay, so what? Well, OnePlus believes that the film could become a genuinely useful part of the phone. The company claims the pattern can be used in combination with millimeter-wave (mmWave), the same technology underpinning 5G, to change color on command. That means the pattern could change colours or alternate quickly to indicate an incoming call. OnePlus says a mmWave radar module could enable the user to accept or reject the call without touching the device. The company even suggests that the module could track and, through the film, replicate your breathing, “effectively making the phone a biofeedback device.”

The OnePlus 8T Concept is, of course, a concept phone, so we wouldn’t expect to buy one anytime soon. It follows the Concept One, another experimental phone that used electrochromic glass to hide the rear-facing camera. OnePlus says the new device was created by OnePlus Gaudí, a team of 39 designers based in Shenzhen, Taipei, New York and India. At the very least, it shows that the company is focused on more than blazingly-fast performance. To stay at the front of the Android pack, it’ll eventually need to innovate in other ways, or risk being surpassed by rival manufacturers that are willing to invest more into speculative R&D projects.

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Gadgets

Drop Announces New Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones

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Drop, CORSAIR’s community-driven e-commerce brand, today announced its latest Grell headphone collaboration, with the latest edition of the Drop + Grell OAE1. Building on the momentum of the signature headphones that launched earlier this year, selling all 1,000 units in a short period, this new edition offers the same world-class engineering and immersive sound profile at a more accessible price.

Based on community feedback, Drop made key adjustments to the new OAE1 headphones to improve the listening and user experience. The OAE1s feature a lighter clamping force and single-sided 6.3mm cable with an insert indicator for added ease of use, as well as a new all-black colourway with dark grey accents. The headphones, rooted in Axel Grell’s three decades of audio engineering and audio product development, feature a driver-forward, open-around-ear structure to map to the human ear and achieve a more natural and realistic sound field.

By moving the drivers in front of and away from the ears, the new OAE1 headphones enable the sound field from the transducers to take advantage of the ear’s natural structure to direct sound into the ear canal. The open-around-ear design minimizes acoustic reflections and controls sound pressure, with the culmination of both innovations resulting in improved stereo imaging, a natural sound field, and the uncovering of the deepest dimensions of any song.

“Building on the success of the signature headphones that sold out earlier this year, the new OAE1s bring the same level of audio innovation and sound precision to a broader audience,” said Grell. “With the Drop + Grell OAE1 headphones, we’ve maintained our commitment to precision engineering and high-fidelity sound while offering a more accessible price point. It’s all about making premium audio experiences accessible to more listeners without compromising on quality.”

The Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones are available today for $249, $100 less than the previous signature headphones.

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Accessories

Other World Computing Launches OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub

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Other World Computing (OWC) has announced the general availability launch of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – opening a new world of workflow possibilities and performance. By turning a single cable connection into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, the new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub breaks the connectivity handcuffs of host machines not offering enough Thunderbolt 5 ports.

With up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed – up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 – and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub redefines productivity. Connect portable SSDs exceeding 6000MB/s, up to three 8K displays @60Hz with DSC, today’s USB-C connector compatible devices, and yesterday’s USB-A desktop accessories – all while keeping modern notebooks and tablets powered and charged up for mobile use with 140 watts.

Key Features of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub:

  1. Easy Port Expansion – Adds more universally compatible Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports to a Mac, PC,iPad Pro, or tablet to greatly expand device connectivity possibilities and productivity
  2. Incomparable Speed – Work and play faster with up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs
  3. Works with Millions – No worries or confusion…connect to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, or USB4 machine or device with 100% compatibility
  4. Best Today, Best Tomorrow – Delivers the best performance of devices with today’s computers and the best speed possible in the future with a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or PC
  5. Multiple Daisy Chains – Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
  6. Powerful – Safely delivers up to 140 watts to charge the most power-hungry notebook computer
  7. Stunning Visuals – Connect to the latest and future Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort displays for incredible 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to three 8K displays
  8. Thunderbolt Certified – Built-in OWC reliability and dependability for Mac and Windows
  9. Silently Cool – Fanless aluminium enclosure for quiet and cool operation

“The bi-directional bandwidth design of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub enables users to send and receive data simultaneously – making it ideal for connecting high-res displays, SSDs, and more without compromising speed,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing (OWC). “With three additional Thunderbolt 5 ports, users gain the flexibility to power multiple displays or create complex daisy chains with ease. The hub’s 140W power delivery guarantees notebooks and tablets remain charged, no matter how demanding the workload.”

O’Connor continued, “For tablet users, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub turns any iPad Pro or tablet into a pro workstation. Connect external drives, displays, and peripherals to unlock the tablet’s full potential – without being tethered to a bulky desktop or laptop.” The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is available now for pre-order for $189.99 and begins shipping in December.

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Artificial Intelligence

The Price of Apple’s Intelligence

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Apple has taken its first steps into the generative AI space with the introduction of Apple Intelligence for iPhone and Mac platforms. Currently, only a limited number of the proposed AI apps are available, with a significant update expected in December when ChatGPT will be integrated into iOS and macOS.

This move marks an unusual moment for Apple, a company known for building proprietary systems to control user experience and data usage. The inclusion of ChatGPT signifies Apple’s intent to engage with the broader generative AI community. However, it also highlights Apple’s position lagging behind its competitors in the AI race.

The integration of ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence comes with costs that users must pay to fully benefit from the features. The second beta version of iOS 18.2, scheduled for a December release, introduces the next wave of Apple Intelligence apps. System settings now display a daily limit for ChatGPT usage, with an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan or revert to an older AI model.

Existing ChatGPT Plus users can sign in on their iPhones, while new users can choose to upgrade. It remains to be seen if Apple will impose its usual 30% fee on the $19.99 monthly subscription for ChatGPT Plus.

While OpenAI has long offered a tiered pricing structure for ChatGPT, Apple’s decision contrasts with other smartphone AI platforms. Google and Samsung, for instance, have provided free AI-powered tools to enhance platform utility. Although Apple is adopting a freemium model, Google and Samsung’s AI services may eventually become chargeable.

Apple’s slow introduction of generative AI contrasts with the marketing surrounding Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16 series launched a month before Apple Intelligence became publicly available, but this delay was not evident in promotional materials. Mobile networks in the UK have even had to clarify the delayed AI features in their marketing.

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