Hardware Archives • GadgetyNews https://gadgetynews.com/category/hardware/ Low Jargon: High Tech Tue, 27 Aug 2019 21:36:53 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://gadgetynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-icon-32x32.jpg Hardware Archives • GadgetyNews https://gadgetynews.com/category/hardware/ 32 32 Lindy Port Blocker https://gadgetynews.com/lindy-port-blocker/ https://gadgetynews.com/lindy-port-blocker/#respond Tue, 27 Aug 2019 21:36:52 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=69123 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Lindy Port BlockerUnguarded USB ports are an easy way into networks for viruses. Lindy’s Port Blockers are

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Lindy Port Blocker

Lindy Port Blocker Physically Protects USB and Ethernet Ports

Unguarded USB ports are an easy way into networks for viruses. Lindy’s Port Blockers are a tangible and straightforward way of preventing unauthorised access.

Businesses spend vast amounts of money and time dealing with infected computer systems and policing unauthorised access. While it remains necessary to have systems in place should either of these occur, prevention is always better than a cure.

Lindy Port Blocker

Where you can disable ports via software, Lindy’s inexpensive, easy to fit, and highly effective family of Port Blockers get the job done efficiently.

Lindy Port Blocker

As the name suggests, the products block users from plugging in phones, flash drives, MP3 players and other personal devices to USB ports. Additionally, the blockers come with their own colour coded lock and key combination. Handy for when you require access to the blocked port(s) again. 

The Lindy Port Blocker can block all types of USB ports, including Type C. They even come in versions for PC/Laptop style products. 

To use, simply plug the ‘keylock’ into the port, release the latch and the lock remains in place. Plug the key back into the lock to remove. 

Lindy Port Blocker

The protection does not end there. The range can also block access to RJ-45 network ports as well as USBs. The Lindy RJ-45 Port Blocker blocks open network ports to prevent users from connecting cables, devices or inserting foreign objects without permission.

Simple and Effective

All the products come with a two-year warranty and are available in a wide variety of colour-coded choices and pack sizes.

In short, Port Blocker’s ability to deliver a wide-ranging and practical level of protection compared to cost is unrivalled in the IT sector. 

Price and availability

The Port Blocker Family is available now from Lindy and prices start from just £20.50 inc. VAT for a pack of four. www.lindy.co.uk

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Poly RIG 700 Series Gaming Headsets Announced https://gadgetynews.com/poly-rig-700-series-gaming-headsets-announced/ https://gadgetynews.com/poly-rig-700-series-gaming-headsets-announced/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:54:57 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=69043 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Poly RIG 700Poly has announced the launch of a brand new member to the iconic RIG family, the RIG 700 Series. RIG 700 Gaming

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Poly RIG 700

Poly RIG 700 Series Announced at Gamescom

Poly has announced the launch of a brand new member to the iconic RIG family, the RIG 700 Series.

RIG 700 Gaming Headsets

The new Poly (formally Plantronics + Polycom) RIG 700 range has been announced at Gamescom 2019 and boasts dedicated headphones for Xbox, PlayStation and PC.

Poly RIG 700

Available in a variety of new colours and patterns, they are light-weight and equipped with an onboard game/chat balance dial enabling you to get your perfect mix.

Audio

Thanks to the RIG 700’s high-sensitivity 40mm drivers audio quality should be top-notch, too. Those drivers a further augmented by ‘bass tubes’. Poly tells us to expect “high-quality, full-range audio with substantial bass and articulated mid-range for high-frequency detail and auditory acuity.”

Poly Rig 700

RIG 700 HX and HD versions feature Windows Sonic surround-sound to boost game audio the way game designers intended. Don’t tell anyone but this could give you a competitive edge.

Furthermore, Poly tells us that the RIG 700 Series have zero audio lag and up to 12 hours of battery life – perfect for gaming marathons.

You’ll also stay connected while reaching for that drink as the RIG 700 Series has a wireless range of 30 feet.

Gamescom

If you’re attending Gamescom, please feel free to drop by the stand (located in Business Hall 2.1 – MarketPoint Stand A010) for a chat with the Poly team. 

Price and availability

The RIG 700 series is now available for Xbox One (HX), PlayStation (HS) and Windows PC (HD), priced at £119.

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BenQ WiT ScreenBar Lamp review https://gadgetynews.com/benq-wit-screenbar-lamp-review/ https://gadgetynews.com/benq-wit-screenbar-lamp-review/#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2018 18:26:53 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=68714 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

benq wit screen bar topThe BenQ ScreenBar is one of those things where you first look at it and

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benq wit screen bar top

We have been living with the BenQ ScreenBar e-reading lamp. Here is our review.

The BenQ ScreenBar is one of those things where you first look at it and think, “what’s the point?” That is until you use it. You see, if you have limited desk space but would still like a lamp to illuminate your keyboard, etc. this is where the ScreenBar plays its trump card.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp design

The ScreenBar measures 18-inches wide. As soon as you lift it from the packaging, the lamp feels like another quality BenQ lighting item as it’s solidly constructed from aluminium. The metal tube is about 3/4-inch in diameter and is fitted with a row of LEDs.

Fitting it to your monitor is done by way of a clever, and deceptively heavy, counter-weight mount. The entire tube rotates a little enabling you to get the right angle. Additionally, you can further adjust it by moving the mount on the monitor a bit.

benq wit screen bar monitor top

Along the top of the aluminium bar are four touch controls. The buttons are for power, an auto-brightness feature, brightness controls, and colour temperature controls. Brightness varies between a bright max output of 320 lumens and a low light output that works well at night.

The lamp is powered entirely by USB and BenQ bundles in a 60-inch long cable for this.

Lighting was fairly even and easy to adjust from shining on the screen.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp performance

We have had the ScreenBar sat atop an old Phillips and a new BenQ monitor (23-inch and 27-inch respectively), and there were no issues as far as fitment went. However, my other half regularly uses a webcam for family Skypes, and the ScreenBar meant that the cam had to be repositioned. A minor niggle but perhaps something to consider. The plus side is that there is minimal overhang from the lamp’s stand so if your monitor has an integral webcam, chances are this won’t interfere with it.

Bright idea

The light output is quite directional, thankfully. My main concern was that the lamp would create glare on the screen – not something anyone needs. However, I should have realised that a company such as BenQ who actually make monitors with eye-friendly tech would have this covered. The band of light can be aimed to stay off of the screen and just light up your desk and keyboard. Furthermore, the light quality is exceptionally even and doesn’t appear to have any hot spots.

The lamp illuminates the area of my keyboard and mouse perfectly. No need for a long goose-necked lamp clamped to the edge of my desk here.

Flicker-free and temp control

benq wit screen bar back

Another area where BenQ have seemingly worked their eye-care, flicker-free magic is with the LEDs themselves. To my knowledge, most LEDs will strobe or pulse. I have taken both video and still shots of the lights and have not been able to decern either. Now, this is not to say that they are not strobing, but it leads me to assume that the rate at which they do so will not produce any ill effects to our eyesight.

The colour temperature can be varied between a very cold/ blue, 6500K and a reasonably warm 2700K. Just as the BenQ WIT desk lamp does, the ScreenBar has warm amber-tinted LEDs mounted next to standard blue/white LEDs. When set to its warmest 2700K, the colder LEDs are pretty much switched off, so you also get less light on the warmest setting. Naturally, for the settings between warm and cold mix the two LEDs for the temperature you want.

screenbar review back lamp

If you leave the adjustments to the auto-brightness, then the photosensor mounted directly on top of the bar takes control. I have had mixed results from allowing the sensor to do its job; however, this may be due to my monitors being directly in front of a window. With the blind shut then the sensor is pretty accurate with the amount of light it decides to dish out. Also, the automatic setting seems to ignore your colour warmth choices. Again, something to keep in mind.

Although, the ScreenBar does remember the settings from the last time you used it. So, as soon as you turn on your PC or monitor (depending on whose USB out you are using for power), the lamp will be how you left it.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp review conclusion

The BenQ ScreenBar has left me with one initial question – why the heck as this not been done before? Again, this lamp goes to prove that some of the most genius designs are the simplest and most overlooked.

This monitor-mounted lamp takes up no desk real estate, has adjustable brightness and warmth and even an automatic mode. Furthermore, it’s solidly built and, once set-up does not move unless you really want it to.

Aside from the premium price tag, we cannot find a downside to the BenQ ScreenBar lamp.

BenQ ScreenBar price and availability

You can buy the BenQ ScreenBar right now for £90 from Amazon.

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Speedlink CIUS mouse stylishly wrapped in fabric https://gadgetynews.com/speedlink-cius-mouse-stylishly-wrapped-in-fabric/ https://gadgetynews.com/speedlink-cius-mouse-stylishly-wrapped-in-fabric/#comments Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:29:38 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=67632 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Speedlink has recently announced the CIUS mouse. Not only is it compact, wireless and ambidextrous,

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speedlink cius redSpeedlink has recently announced the CIUS mouse. Not only is it compact, wireless and ambidextrous, it is covered in fabric and sports silent buttons.

The wireless CIUS mouse is perfect for work on the move. Furthermore, it’s dressed to impress.

Speedlink CIUS

speedlink cius blueThe new mouse features an innovative fabric covering that’s available in three colours. Additionally, it boasts side strips that glow blue.

It not only has the swagger simply buoyed by looks, it also has the chops on the practical side. Firstly, the mouse runs silent thanks to buttons damped to reduce noise by up to 90%. Whether in the office or on the train, neither colleagues nor fellow passengers will be disturbed. Also, at just 60g, it won’t add bulk to your luggage.

speedlink cius greyWhen not in use the mouse can be switched off so it doesn’t go activating itself accidentally in your bag.

Thanks to robust 2.4GHz technology you can use it anywhere within an 8m radius of the computer. Finally, the powerful and adjustable 1,600dpi sensor (800/1,200/1,600dpi) tracks even the slightest of movements with pin-point accuracy.

Price and availability

The CIUS is available in a grey, blue or red fabric covering. It is available now with an RRP of €14.99 so this eye-catcher comes at a stunning price.

Check out the Speedlink website for more information and to order.

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Epson XP and WF wireless printers: Ideal for home office https://gadgetynews.com/epson-xp-and-wf-wireless-printers-ideal-for-home-office/ https://gadgetynews.com/epson-xp-and-wf-wireless-printers-ideal-for-home-office/#respond Wed, 23 May 2018 12:53:42 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=66752 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

While functionality must always come first, there’s no need for a printer to stick out

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epson XP-5100While functionality must always come first, there’s no need for a printer to stick out like a sore thumb in your environment. Thankfully, there is the latest models from Epson: XP-5100, XP-5105, WF-2860DWF, WF-2865DWF.

The new Epson printers feature a compact and stylish design as well as an enviable list of easy-to-use features and connectivity solutions.

New Epson printers

epson xp-5105These newest top-performing all-in-one printers (XP-5100, XP-5105) are ideal for everyday home printing. Additionally, you are also covered for more serious 4-in-1 solutions (WF-2860DWF, WF-2865DWF).

These are perfect for those working remotely, running a business from home or even operating from a small office. Furthermore, they blend easily into any setting. This is due to their compact and sophisticated aesthetic that runs throughout and incorporates a 6.1cm LCD screen and easy-to-use interface.

Built to work and look good doing it

The printers aren’t just great value upfront – they also provide long-term savings. This is definitely the fact when they paired with XL inks as these enable you to print up to 2.5x more pages.

These models also include helpful features such as A4 double-sided printing and a 150-sheet front-loading paper tray. Furthermore, the WF-2860DWF and WF-2865DWF offer an automatic document feeder and PrecisionCore printhead, making it easy to work efficiently and speed through tasks.

WF-2865DWFOf course, you can print from anywhere in the home using Wi-Fi connectivity, or Wi-Fi Direct to print from compatible devices without a Wi-Fi network.

Epson’s free mobile printing apps and solutions provide further versatility, such as the Epson iPrint app for printing and scanning wirelessly from a smart device around the home. For those on the move, Epson Email Print makes it possible to send items to print from almost anywhere in the world.

Additionally, the WF-2860DWF and WF-2865DWF incorporate Ethernet and NFC capabilities.

Words

Alice Ramsden de Gomez, product manager, Epson UK, says,

More and more people need highly functional printers in the home to tackle everything from everyday chores to business tasks. It’s essential to design printers which hit the mark on ease of use, functionality and connectivity, yet are also sleek and compact to fit within any environment. Our latest models give users even more choice.”

Price and availability

The XP-5100, XP-5105, WF-2860DWF, WF-2865DWF are available now and priced at £99.99 direct from Epson.

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Intel Optane 905P SSDs spotted in stores https://gadgetynews.com/intel-optane-905p-ssds-spotted-in-stores/ https://gadgetynews.com/intel-optane-905p-ssds-spotted-in-stores/#respond Mon, 30 Apr 2018 10:22:56 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=66564 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Intel is updating the Optane 900P as the Optane 905P has been spotted listed online.

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intel optane ssdIntel is updating the Optane 900P as the Optane 905P has been spotted listed online. The new range features both an M2 and PCIe model.

Intel’s Optane/XPoint memory is impressive as it offers performance levels which sit somewhere between NAND and DRAM. This means it is able to deliver non-volatile storage with extremely high-performance levels, particularly at low queue depths.

Over the weekend, new Optane-based SSDs have appeared on the US retailer Newegg under the 905P series moniker. It’s not a huge leap to assume that these new models are refined versions of the company’s existing 900P series.

intel optane priceFurthermore, they also seem to have a more gamer-friendly aesthetic. The PCIe card version features LEDs on the edge of the SSD’s cooling solutions. Additionally, the 2.5-inch version has been clothed in a more textured covering.

At this time it is unknown what has changed with Intel’s new 905P series of Optane SSDs, whether they offer higher performance levels, a new controller, enhanced durability or some other hardware improvements.

Not all good news

intel optane ssdsHowever, it does seem that the volume sizes will be different from the current 900p models. The specs for the Optane SSD 905P overall are also slightly different. Firstly, the Idle power consumption has risen from 2 towards 7 Watts. Secondly there is an increase in operating temperature range from 0-75 degrees to 0-85 degrees.

Deeper specs for performance and precise volume sizes, however, are lacking at this time aside for the 960GB and 480GB models.

At this time the main sticking point with Optane is its high pricing when compared to standard NAND memory, making standard SSDs much more viable from a price/GB standpoint.

Until we receive more information, I don’t really see the point at this time. Disagree? Let me know why below.

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Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB portable HDD review https://gadgetynews.com/toshiba-canvio-advance-2tb-portable-hdd-review/ https://gadgetynews.com/toshiba-canvio-advance-2tb-portable-hdd-review/#respond Fri, 06 Apr 2018 11:30:20 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=66241 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Toshiba recently refreshed their range of Canvio portable hard drives with the Canvio Premium, Advance

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canvio advance reviewToshiba recently refreshed their range of Canvio portable hard drives with the Canvio Premium, Advance and Basic models with capacities up to 3TB. I have been living with a rather swish-looking 2TB Canvio Advance drive.

I have been using a 3TB Canvio Premium for a year now. It is mostly used for backing up photos when I am doing shows just in case something happens to my laptop. It has served me very well and so I was very interested when Toshiba announced their latest models.

Canvio Advance design

canvio advance 2tbThe first thing I noticed about the drive I was sent to review was its colour. A gorgeous glossy blue. Now, I like blue, so this already had me looking at my silver Premium like it was a 70s sweater.

canvio premium and advanceThe Canvio Advance range has drive capacities of 1TB, 2TB and 3TB. By using Toshiba’s 1TB platter technology the drives are slimmer than previous models too. So the 2TB Advance I have here has a 14mm profile; that’s 5.5mm slimmer than previous versions. Above shows my Premium sat next to the less aerodynamically challenged Advance.

canvio advance portThe drive uses USB 3.0 and measures a rather pocketable 78 x 109 x 14mm. It also weighs a nicely portable 149g.

canvio advance status lightIn one corner there is a status light in a neat ring cut out. Yes, it is still blue, much to my delight.

Bundled in the box with the drive is a USB 3.0 Type A to Micro-B cable and some paperwork. The Canvio Advance’s manual also comes pre-loaded on the drive itself. No velvety carry pouch like the one I got with the Premium though.

That glossy finish, no matter how attractive it is, does tend to be a bit of a finger print magnet.

Canvio Advance performance

canvio advance rearThe new drive takes advantage of Toshiba’s latest 1TB platter technology. This not only allows for larger capacity drives in a 2.5-inch format, but also allows for the Canvio range to get more compact.

Like the rest of the new Canvio line-up, the Advance uses a standard USB3.0 interface with a 5,400rpm HDD on board.

Speed test

Just as I did with the Premium, I used CrystalMark to gain insight of the drive.

The utility stated that the drive uses a pair of 1TB platters with a spindle speed of 5,400rpm.

I used the drive straight out of the box, factory formatted as NTFS. Here are the details as shown by CrystalDiskInfo.

canvio cd infoThe sequential read/write scores are displayed by running CrystalDiskMark. I set up the Advance test just as I did with the Premium. This uses a 32GB file in order to test sequential and random read and write speeds.

toshiba canvio premium crystal markFirst, as a reminder, above is the Canvio Premium tested last year.

toshiba canvio advance crystal diskHere is how the new Canvio Advance fared. Now, I am using a newer version of Crystal Disk Mark but you can see the top rows are measuring the same. Here you can see quite an increase in performance. The writing scores all look more impressive across the board in the Advance.

On the whole the drive performed well when it came to dealing with real life file transfers.

Canvio Advance review conclusion

You might be asking yourself “who still uses portable hard drives in this, the age of the Cloud?” Well, me for a start. As I mentioned earlier, when attending multi-day shows such as Sound & Vision in Bristol and Mobile World Congress, I tend to bounce the day’s photos on to my laptop and also on to my Canvio Premium, just in case. Not only does that give me a back up, but not all hotels have super speedy internets that will enjoy taking 100+ RAW image files per day. Then there’s the video footage!

There may still be faster external HDDs out there but the Advance is smaller, lighter and faster than the Premium. So, to me at least, that makes it a worthwhile purchase.

In conclusion, it’s a good performer that offers a large capacity in a pocket-sized form-factor. Shove it in your laptop or camera bag and it will come in useful, I promise.

Price and availability

You can buy the Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB portable hard drive now. It is available in red, white, blue, or black for £79.99 from Amazon.

The 1TB versions can be had for £59.99.

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Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouse review https://gadgetynews.com/bakker-elkhuzien-srm-vertical-mouse-review/ https://gadgetynews.com/bakker-elkhuzien-srm-vertical-mouse-review/#respond Mon, 05 Feb 2018 13:11:13 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=64513 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Bakker Elkhuzien has asked GadgetyNews to take their SRM vertical mouse for a test spin.

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Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouseBakker Elkhuzien has asked GadgetyNews to take their SRM vertical mouse for a test spin. Is it more comfortable to use than a regular one? Will it help prevent RSI? Who knows? Well, hopefully, we all will by the end of this.

Most of you who visit this little corner of the interweblogosphere will spend hours at your computer. We are all, or at least should be, aware of the risks of repetitive strain injury, RSI. Wrist rests, ergonomic keyboards, good, adjustable seating, and adjustable monitors are all obvious areas for focus. However, what about the humble mouse?

When you add up the amount of time you spend dragging your mouse around, the side-to-side action of your wrist has the potential to cause you discomfort, or worse.

The way that this mouse eliviates such a scenario is by putting your grip in a more natural ‘handshake’ position.

I spend a full working day sat at a computer, I go home and then, after some food, go up to my home office and spend around another 4 hours at my desk. Both PCs are hooked up to a ‘regular’ mouse, albeit my home one is a gaming spec device.

It sounds convincing, but does it work?

So, for a week, I have swapped the mouse at my day job for the SRM vertical jobby.

SRM mouse design

Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouseThe SRM Mouse is a cabled mouse with a vertical grip. It does look quite ungainly but, once used for a while, it starts to make sense.

Ignoring its orientation for a moment, everything else is pretty standard.

Firstly, you get three buttons and a scroll wheel. The SRM Mouse is designed for small and medium-sized hands (hand widths up to 7.5 cm, excluding the thumb). Although I have quite long digits (bass player) I still found the SRM confortable to use.

Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouseIf you have spade-like hands, the Evoluent mouse is probably better for you.

Secondly, the SRM Mouse has a powerful laser sensor and the option to choose between 400/1600/3200 DPI.

Styling is the familiar workwear black and silver colourway.  The mouse itself measures 68 x 70 x 120 mm (WxHxD) and weighs 147 g.

Finally, the cable is 165cm long.

SRM mouse performance

The Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouse is an odd-looking critter.

Once I had plugged it in to my work machine and waited the few seconds for Win 10 to sort its drivers out, I just stared at it.

Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouseI had read the reasoning for the design I was gawping at, but that didn’t make me any more enthusiastic about using it.

The first few moment of using the mouse was unusal. Naturally, whenever I stuck my hand out to grab the mouse it was already in my normal ‘claw grip’. Some adjustment had to be made here.

I also found me using my index finger to flick the scroll wheel for quite a while. This eventually passed and I was back to using my middle finger for this task.

After a day-or-so, using the SRM mouse had become second-nature. Obviously, change-over periods will vary down to how quickly you adopt new things and how much you use a mouse.

Thanks to the “handshake” position when using a vertical mouse the wrist doesn’t bend sideways too much and the lower arm needs less inward rotation (Schmid et al., 2015). Furthermore, there is less muscle activity in the lower arm than when using a standard mouse (Quemelo & Vieira, 2013).

I’ve not really felt any wrist fatigue at work. However, it occassionally occurs on an evening. Which makes sense after a day’s work at a PC and then a further 4-or-so hours at home.

Since using the SRM mouse at my day job, changing position to the more usual grip on an evening will no doubt help.

SRM mouse review conclusion

I have been using the Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouse for a week now.

I does take a little time to get used to its orientation but it really is comfortable to use. Having the vertical mouse in use at work and my SteelSeries Rival 700 at home should take the strain off my wrist.

Anything that lessens the chance of getting RSI has to be worth trying. If you do spend long hours at your computer, especially with mouse-heavy duties such as design or gaming, I would recommend you check out the Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouse.

SRM mouse price and availability

You can buy the Bakker Elkhuzien SRM vertical mouse right now for around £52.

 

 

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 – meet the power behind 2018’s flagship phones https://gadgetynews.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-845-meet-power-behind-2018s-flagship-phones/ https://gadgetynews.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-845-meet-power-behind-2018s-flagship-phones/#respond Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:44:47 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=63529 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

qualcomm snapdragon 845The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor was officially announced yesterday but now Qualcomm has released

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qualcomm snapdragon 845

qualcomm snapdragon 845The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor was officially announced yesterday but now Qualcomm has released more details about their new flagship processor.

The Snapdragon 845 is Qualcomm’s most powerful mobile processor to date. Amongst its skillset is the ability to capture high end 4K HDR videos as well as packing artificial intelligence.

Snapdragon 845 is Qualcomm Technologies’ third-generation AI mobile platform. It delivers 3x improvement in overall AI performance when compared with the previous generation SoC (system on chip). This promises to transform your mobile device into the ultimate personal assistant.

With these smarts you can expect it to simplify how you take pictures and videos; enhanced VR games, and make voice interaction more natural.

SoC

snapdragon 845Like its predecessors, the 845 is not just a processor, but a complete system – hence System on Chip (SoC). Here you have a mix of processors and systems, such as a CPU, GPU, ISP (Image Signal Processor), and DSP (Digital Signal Processor), all contained on a single unit. Additionally, the platform utilises Qualcomm’s latest gigabit LTE and Wi-Fi modems for connectivity.

Powerful video and photos

The big new feature for this year is the ability to capture 4K video in HDR at up to 60 frames per second.

The 845 can also shoot slo-mo 720p video at 480 frames per second and 240 frames per second 1080p video.

For still photography, the 845’s Spectra 280 ISP can perform multiframe noise reduction on 16-megapixel images at 60 frames per second. It also supports supports a wider colour gamut and 10 bit color depth for 64 times as many color shades as before.

Bluetooth audio

The new TrueWireless Bluetooth 5 system will let a single device broadcast audio to multiple speakers or headphones simultaneously.

Qualcomm says that this system can provide a 50% improvement in power consumption for truly wireless headphones.

Voice activated assistants

Snapdragon 845 improves voice-driven smart assistants with improved always-on keyword detection and ultra-low-power voice processing thanks to the performance from the Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec (WCD9341) and low-power audio subsystem. This means that you will be able to interact with your devices using your voice all day.

In addition to the existing support for Google’s TensorFlow and Facebook’s Caffe/Caffe2 frameworks, the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine (NPE) SDK now supports Tensorflow Lite and the new Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX). This opens it up for developers to use their framework of choice. Snapdragon 845 also supports Google’s Android NN API.

Availability

You can bet that this will appear on new devices from Samsung (Galaxy S9 and such) as well as other top-flight mobiles from the likes of HTC, LG, Google and more. The Snapdragon 845 will also be featured in Windows 10 PCs by the end of the year.

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Epson: Inkjet is the future of business printing https://gadgetynews.com/epson-inkjet-future-business-printing/ https://gadgetynews.com/epson-inkjet-future-business-printing/#respond Mon, 30 Oct 2017 10:30:33 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=62575 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

epson workforce inkjet printerEpson is not holding back in proving the Inkjet printer is not dead. Furthermore, it

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GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

epson workforce inkjet printer

epson workforce inkjet office printerEpson is not holding back in proving the Inkjet printer is not dead. Furthermore, it could even be more eco-friendly and more cost effective than laser.

Epson is perhaps better known for its industrial and consumer printing operations but it also has a keen eye on the enterprise space.

Back in September (how time flies) I was at the launch of a variety of products that will certainly give the likes of Canon, Sharp and Ricoh cause for concern.

Inkjet

Epson has thrown its weight behind Inkjet printing technology. This might at first appear a strange thing to do given the typical Laserjet systems often seen in many business printers today.

However, Inkjet technology does not result in heat, pressure or ozone being emanated. That adds up to a better working environment for staff.

Furthermore, this means less chance of breakdown or maintenance required of the printer itself. Moreover, you don’t have to handle messy toner cartridges.

Flexibility

epson workforce inkjet printerEpson believes that Inkjet printing can be a far more flexible solution for enterprises. Especially on the points of providing benefits to efficiency and energy usage.

The company states that Inkjet printing offers a 92% saving on waste, and 94% less CO2 emissions.

Epson’s existing consumer Workforce printers have given it a strong position in the market

Reasoning from Rob Clarke

Epson inkjet photo printerReaching out to Rob Clark, senior vice president, Epson EMEAR, he had this to share:

The past decade has seen great leaps in technology and innovation. Technology has advanced our lives and how we work in ways that we could never have imagined ten years ago. If we look further back, today’s workplace is in many ways unrecognisable to that of the generation before us – and tomorrow’s workplace will change further still. But through all the change, some technologies manage to have incredible staying power, while others come and go. If we take inkjet printing as just one example, this technology has been extensively developed and re-developed for over 65 years, and today, my focus lies on having inkjet take a greater share of the €38 billion EMEA business printing market.”

Betting on Inkjet

He goes on to add:

Epson has invested €400 million in new inkjet production facilities in Japan and other markets, and we’ve made a commitment to invest a further €185 million over the next three years, specifically to further develop our PrecisionCore printhead technology. Incremental innovations in inkjet over time have already responded to many of today’s demands in the workplace, and the technology is so flexible and adaptable that it will continue to meet future needs.

I don’t believe that laser technology, for example, has the same staying power. It will likely one day be among the ranks of VHS recorders and typewriters. As a technology it was introduced almost 30 years after inkjet, and for a time it brought improved business benefits in terms of cost and speed. But the benefits of other technologies are fast overtaking the limited improvements laser is able to offer, and the once ubiquitous technology is now losing ground.”

That last statement does seem rather strong. However, it is backed up by real figures.

Industry analyst firm, IDC, has indicated that the overall business inkjet market is expected to grow at a rate of 10.2% (CAGR) by 2020.

Inkjet is expected to account for 34% of the total business printer market in Europe by 2019.

Tanks not cartridges

Epson ET-16500 inkjet A3 printerI realise that things move on but I hadn’t realised just how far Inkjet has come. I still buy cartridges, when needed. However, I was quite taken by Epson’s EcoTank solution.

Most of Epson’s printers pack these refillable tanks.

EcoTank printers offer an ultra-low cost per page that could reduce your printing costs by 74% on average.

That’s not surprising when you discover that they come with up to three years’ worth of ink included in the box.

Certain EcoTank printers enable you to print up to 14,000 pages in black and 11,200 in colour in one fill.

There is, of course, the added bonus of not having to find a place to dump your used cartridges safely. Epson’s inks come in recyclable plastic bottles.

I am certainly considering buying an Epson printer next.

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