Jan 05
The girl was wounded when gunfire hit her family’s second-story apartment.
Jan 05
<img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sky1-1280×720.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="The Skydio 2+ in action" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="705665" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/skydio-2-drone-brings-dazzling-cinematography-within-easy-reach-05705662/sky1/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sky1.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,810" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sky1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Image: Skydio
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sky1-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sky1-1280×720.jpg” />Skydio is already well-known for the autonomous capabilities of its drone range. Looking to build on this legacy, the company has introduced the Skydio 2+ that offers improved battery life, enhanced range and a new KeyFrame feature that brings cinema-like continuous shots within easy reach. Where the superseded Skydio 2 model offered around 22 minutes of flight time, the new … Continue reading
Jan 05
The KeyMander Nexus Gaming KVM is the next evolution of IOGEAR’s connective hardware for PC and consoles, and it’s due to come out between April and June 2022 for $200. It specifically supports Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 consoles, making it possible to play any game on those systems with a keyboard, mouse, monitor and headset connected to a PC.
The name of the game here is streamlining. The Nexus Gaming KVM brings multiple consoles to a single screen and input system on the PC, while also allowing users to swap among Switch, Xbox One and PS4 controllers. It supports video at 4K and 60Hz, using HDMI 2.1.
Now to address the ninth-generation elephant in the room: The Nexus Gaming KVM doesn’t fully support PS5 or the DualSense controllers. This is in line with previous iterations of the KeyMander switches, which also have limited functionality with PS5.
“We have limited support for PS5, can only play PS4 and non-DualSense PS5 games,” an IOGEAR spokesperson told Engadget. “We are looking to launch a dongle in late Q2 that may bring full support.” Q2 ends ends in June 2022, the spokesperson clarified.
IOGEAR has been talking about that dongle for about seven months now, and the use of “may” in that statement isn’t reassuring. Sony’s DualSense controllers for the PS5 include a range of new features, like adaptive triggers and ultra-sensitive haptics, and several titles actually require this gamepad to function. This makes it difficult to translate PS5 games to a standard input method like a keyboard and mouse. However, IOGEAR says it’s still trying.
There are ways to play certain games with a keyboard and mouse plugged directly into consoles, but these titles are limited. Not only does the Nexus Gaming KVM unlock this input method for every game on supported systems, but it keeps things organized by running each console through a single monitor and headset, negating the need to swap screens and controllers. Unless you have a PS5, for now.
Jan 05
Lenovo's ultrawide 17-inch laptop has an 8-inch screen next to the keyboard
Posted in: Today's ChiliLenovo always unveils a cornucopia of gadgets at CES and this year is no different. In addition to smart home products and various laptops, the company is showing off an unconventional approach to PCs. Since introducing the ThinkBook Plus series in 2020, Lenovo has used it as a platform to roll out unusual form factors, like the previous iteration with an e-ink screen on its lid.
Now that the laptop is in its third generation, Lenovo is moving its second panel down to the keyboard deck and making it a full-color LCD instead. Not only is this approach more useful, it’s also potentially more power-intensive. At a recent hands-on in New York (held in accordance with COVID-19 regulations), I checked out the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 and, in spite of some bugs, I’m intrigued by the premise.
The laptop’s main screen is a 17.3 inch IPS display that runs at a 3K resolution. It’s accompanied by an 8-inch 800 x 1,280 LCD to the right of the keyboard and features an integrated digitizer layer to enable stylus support. The machine runs an interesting version of Windows 11 that offers several more orientations, in addition to the typical snap shortcuts that you see when you hover over an app’s title bar.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
On the ThinkBook Plus, when you drag an app, a small dialog box pops up with two suggested layouts (and five more appear when you hover over an arrow here). Windows 11 will just see the 8-inch LCD as an external screen and push out content the way it would to your connected monitors. You can choose to snap a window to take up the whole bottom panel, half of it, cover the entire top display, take up only two thirds of it and more. The most unconventional of these layouts is something Lenovo called “waterfall” where an app can spill over the top screen into the bottom, which could be nifty for extra long lists.
I dragged a long spreadsheet into waterfall mode, for example, and could see entire columns at a glance. Or say you’re watching a live-changing Ted Talk up top and want to jot down notes by hand. Writing on the demo unit was surprisingly smooth with satisfying latency. I also appreciated the position of the pad because it felt more intuitive than trying to draw on a laptop’s display.
During my hands-on, the ThinkBook Plus was responsive at snapping apps where I wanted them to go and did so quickly. But it struggled when launching some other functions that Lenovo built into the lower display.
There’s a whiteboard tool that turns the panel into a notepad, as well as a digital numpad. With supported apps like Adobe Lightroom, you can also have a dedicated dashboard of shortcuts or a magnified view sitting next to the keyboard. Lenovo made a “Magic Launcher,” which is a row of buttons at the bottom of this screen for quick access to the whiteboard, numpad and other specialized software.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
This was the most buggy part of my hands-on experience. Sometimes, tapping the buttons wouldn’t work (or would take more than a few seconds before anything happened). The demo unit crashed at least once, too. But we’re at least a few months away from May, when Lenovo expects to sell these machines, so it has some time to iron out these kinks.
The rest of the system performed as expected. The main 17.3-inch IPS display runs at 3,072 x 1,440, which is an aspect ratio of 21:10. It’s easy enough to split three apps on that roomy screen, though if you want to use all of it for editing pictures in Lightroom, at least you can keep an eye on Slack or Twitter with the bottom display.
Keeping all this running is a 12th-generation Intel Core processor with up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. It uses Intel’s Xe graphics with Unified Memory Architecture, which should be powerful enough for some photo editing. There’s also a Full HD IR camera with a privacy shutter and an array of ports including an HDMI socket, two USB A jacks and a Thunderbolt 4 connection.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
It’s worth noting that the battery size here is 69 Whr, which is pretty typical for most laptops this size. But most laptops this size don’t also have a secondary monitor to power, so we’ll have to wait till we can test one out for ourselves to get a sense for real-world endurance. You’ll only be able to get these in May, and they’ll start at $1,399.
Lenovo also announced a slew of other products in its ThinkBook and ThinkCentre family of business-minded devices. There’s the updated ThinkBook 13x Gen 2, which can work with a “Wireless Multi-Device Charging Mat” that recharges Qi-compatible gadgets while also powering the laptop itself. The company also debuted a new ThinkCentre Neo line comprising three desktop systems for small and medium businesses. Finally, the new ThinkBook 14 and 16 Gen 4+ i (yes, that’s part of the name, not a stray letter) sport 16:10 screens running at 90Hz and 120Hz respectively, among other updates.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 is one of the most eye-catching things I’ve seen this CES, though that’s not to say Lenovo is breaking new ground. ASUS has already made several dual-screen laptops in its ZenBook Pro Duo series, and Lenovo itself also tried before with the ill-fated Yoga Book line. Dell and Intel have shown off some concepts, too and I’m very intrigued by the premise here. With Windows 11’s release last year, it seems like more PC makers could be ready to deliver real dual-screen laptops and we could see more of them in 2022. As a taste of what’s to come, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 is tantalizing and I applaud Lenovo for continuing to try and innovate.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 05
Razer seems to treat each CES as its personal carnival, using the show as a chance to show off things like wild-looking masks and insane triple-screen notebooks. This year, in addition to launching new laptops, it’s also teamed up with smartwatch maker Fossil to launch a special edition wearable. The two companies are announcing the Razer x Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch at CES 2022 and it’s basically what you think: A themed version of an existing Wear OS device with straps and faces that reflect the gaming company’s identity.
But the Razer edition of the Gen 6 has some small differences. It only comes in the 44mm size (while the original is also available in 42mm) and also features some unique interface elements. I’ve had a sample to play with for awhile, and frankly, this feels like most Fossil smartwatches, just with an aesthetic nod to Razer.
The Fossil Gen 6 was the first to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip, and like the original series, the Razer edition will be updated to the new Wear OS 3 later this year. So far, the existing software on the watch felt familiar and performed quickly. I swiped through cards and changed watch faces with no delay, though that’s par for the course for Wear OS watches these days. The three custom watch faces for the Razer-branded wearable were what I expected — that is, they had matching color schemes and displayed the time in “fun” fonts. The Wellness face shows your daily stats, but doesn’t look very Razer-esque.
There’s not much else different about the device, and most other elements like battery life and system performance require me spending much more time with it to test.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
What I can say now is that as a person with smaller wrists, the Razer watch is a bit too big for me. Are most Razer fans people more big-boned, or do they prefer a chunky aesthetic? I don’t know, but it sure seems like that assumption is being made.
One thing I do believe Razer’s loyalists love is the company’s distinct acid green color that permeates their products. The special edition Gen 6 comes in a black finish with a black 22mm band with no pops of green on the case itself. But it does come with a bright green strap that you can swap out. Both silicone bands were pliable and comfortable, though, again, I’d prefer a narrower style.
The larger size does allow for a roomier screen (though the 42mm Gen 6 has the same display dimensions), and I enjoyed how easy it was to read app titles and notifications.
Razer and Fossil are only selling 1,337 units of this special edition device, because Leet, get it? Anyway, you can get one for $329. For comparison, the Fossil Gen 6 costs between $299 and $319. With its higher price and limited quantity, the Razer watch is clearly meant to be a collectible for the most loyal of the company’s fans.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
If you don’t manage to get one of the Razer watches or are intrigued by Fossil’s other brands, you could also consider the new Skagen Gen 6. The Skagen Falster is my favorite of Fossil’s smartwatches, and the company is launching an updated version that offers its latest suite of features like the Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor, faster battery charging and upgraded sensors. It’ll be available in six styles and cost $295.
Fossil also told Engadget that the Gen 6 series will be getting Alexa support early this year, so those who use Amazon’s assistant for smart home device control can do that from their wrists.
The Razer x Fossil watch represents an intriguing expansion of Fossil’s lineup, though we might see the company team up with other brands in future. Fossil told me it’s open to the idea, so who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see collabs with the likes of Tesla, McDonalds or, oh God, White Castle.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 05
You Can Just Shake This Digital Thermometer to Power It Up, No Batteries Required
Posted in: Today's Chili
In a time when taking temperatures is a required daily routine for some as part of Covid-19 safety precautions, instant-read digital thermometers are a welcome convenience—assuming you don’t pull it out of a medicine cabinet with dead batteries. The BCool’s solution to that problem is to trade batteries for a…
Jan 05
The premiere of The Book of Boba Fett painted a portrait of Boba Fett that fans have wanted to see for decades, even if that portrait added little to the larger Star Wars tapestry. Its sophomore episode sees the show start to build Boba into something more.
Jan 05
Desi Lydic explained the government’s latest official advice in her own inscrutable way.
Jan 05
<img width="1200" height="800" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/windows11comp-1200×800.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Windows 11" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="705470" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/the-best-way-to-fix-a-stuck-windows-update-05705466/windows11comp/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/windows11comp.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,960" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="windows11comp" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
rawf8/Shutterstock
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/windows11comp-1080×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/windows11comp-1200×800.jpg” />No matter which version of Windows you use, it’s important to stay on top of the latest Windows Update. These updates give Microsoft the chance to patch any potential problems, fix security issues, and introduce new features. While you sometimes may want to opt-out of an update or two, the general rule of thumb is that it’s good to download … Continue reading
Jan 05
Japanese electronics giant Sony has made a few important announcements at 2022 CES. In its keynote presentation earlier today, Sony has unveiled a new concept SUV called the Vision-S 02. In a world where crossovers and SUVs are outselling conventional sedans two to one, we didn’t find it surprising that Sony has a follow-up to its Vision-S 01 sedan that … Continue reading
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.