Gadgets
Acer Launches New TravelMate Line of Business Laptops
Acer today announced new TravelMate business laptops, all powered by 13th Gen Intel Core vPro processors, and feature 16:10 premium OLED displays, 65 Wh fast charging long battery life, and secured log-in with a fingerprint reader or IR camera, coming together to achieve the performance and mobility requirements of today’s hybrid workforce.
Acer TravelMate P6 14
The latest TravelMate P6 14 is the ultimate premium business laptop for mobile professionals and executives. Professionals can experience elevated viewing experiences on a large screen surface with a 2.8K OLED (2880×1800) display panel, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and support for 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. Powered by Intel vPro, and an Intel Evo design, the high-end business laptop is packed with power as it comes with 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, 32 GB LPDDR5 memory, and a 65 Wh fast-charging battery. Online business meetings and video calls are further enhanced with the laptop’s FHD IR webcam, AI-powered noise-reduction technology through Acer PurifiedVoice, and upward-facing speakers with DTS Audio. A PrivacyPanel feature helps obscure viewing angles beyond 90°to defend against prying eyes. The TravelMate P6 14 laptop also features 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity for faster and stronger wireless internet connection needed by mobile professionals.
Acer TravelMate P4 14 and Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14
The TravelMate P4 14- and 16-inch versions, along with the TravelMate P4 Spin laptops come with next-gen performance powered by 13th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors in addition to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 GPUs. The TravelMate P4 14 highlights a lightweight magnesium-alloy chassis and larger screen real estate on a 16:10 thin bezel display with up to 2.2K resolution, showcasing upgraded visuals in a new premium design. Additionally, the convertible TravelMate P4 Spin 14 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass, a touchscreen panel with up to WUXGA resolutions, and a dockable stylus for effortless handwritten note-taking.
Acer TravelMate P2 14 and Acer TravelMate P2 16
The Acer TravelMate P2 series laptop showcases a 14- and 16-inch 16:10 WUGXA (1920 x 1200) screen and an IPS wide-angle view of up to 170 degrees. The compact business laptops powered by 13th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 GPUs provide upgraded levels of usability with a larger OceanGlass touchpad, keys with a 1.55mm travel distance, and a 180-degree hinge that lets the laptop lay flat when needed. Connecting to the internet and peripherals has been made easier with support from Wi-Fi 6E and 4G LTE and the inclusion of a wide variety of ports such as a Thunderbolt 4 Type C port that supports 40 Gbps data transfer and dual 4K displays.
All the latest TravelMate business laptops run on Windows 11 and feature Acer Dust Defender technology to minimize the accumulation of dust and maintain consistent high-power performance. Acer Light Sensing technology intelligently detects ambient color and light to adjust the brightness and color temperature of the display, so the screen always looks natural and provides better viewing experiences overall. TravelMate business laptops’ commercial keyboard provides larger touchpads, quieter clicks, and keys with a 1.55 mm travel distance for fast and smoother typing.
The laptops also highlight the efforts to reduce their carbon footprint by incorporating PCR plastic and ocean-bound plastic in the device, using 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging, and having been granted TCO certification with selected configurations in some countries and an EPEAT rating. The Windows secured-core PCs with TPM 2.0 provides out-of-the-box protection, paired with Acer’s User Sensing technology on the TravelMate P6 14 and made optional on the TravelMate P4 Spin 14, TravelMate P4 14 and TravelMate P4 16 models, keeping data safe by locking the screen when users leave, and quickly waking up when they return.
The Acer TravelMate P6 14 (TMP614-53) will be available in EMEA in July, starting at $1,399. The Acer TravelMate P4 16 (TMP416-52) will be available in EMEA in June, starting at $1,299. The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 (TMP414RN-53) will be available in EMEA in June, starting at $1,249. The Acer TravelMate P4 14 (TMP414-53) will be available in EMEA in June, starting at $1,199. The Acer TravelMate P2 16 (TMP216-51) will be available in EMEA in June, starting at $1,049. The Acer TravelMate P2 14 (TMP214-55) will be available in EMEA in June, starting at $999.
Gadgets
Drop Announces New Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones
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.
Accessories
Other World Computing Launches OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
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:
- 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
- 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
- Works with Millions – No worries or confusion…connect to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, or USB4 machine or device with 100% compatibility
- 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
- Multiple Daisy Chains – Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
- Powerful – Safely delivers up to 140 watts to charge the most power-hungry notebook computer
- 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
- Thunderbolt Certified – Built-in OWC reliability and dependability for Mac and Windows
- 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.
Artificial Intelligence
The Price of Apple’s Intelligence
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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