Tesoro looked to keep things stately at this years Computex, going with more refined designs that feature a cleaner aesthetic for office and business use. The first item to make s splash was the Alphaeon W1 which is a set of glasses that protect one's eyes with blue light reduction lenses which are TÜV Rheinland certified. Made for use both indoor and outdoor with both computers and mobile devices, but if that's all they were capable of they wouldn't be newsworthy. Meaning they took things a step further with the company equipping these glasses with Bluetooth 4.0 with a connection distance of up to 15m. Add in Bone Conduction technology and users can not only enjoy music or answer phone calls but also hear surrounding sounds. Compatibility is quite broad as the glasses are capable of pairing with any Bluetooth devices and are Active Voice Control ready. They are also lightweight at just 45g and have a rated phonecall/music playback time of up to 8 hours.

Leopold is a boutique keyboard manufacturer based out of Korea, and one we have not yet had the pleasure of covering in detail on TechPowerUp. That is about to change, however, as we were invited to meet representatives of the company and go through their products at their Computex booth. I have been familiar with their existing lineup to an extent, noting that they use both Cherry MX and Topre switches in their keyboards designed for the high end market. The FC660 especially is quite popular among keyboard enthusiasts wanting a small form factor keyboard for ergonomics, and Leopold showed off their new version of an electrostatic capacitive switch based on the Topre switch.

The new switch finds its way in the equally new FC660PT keyboard, with the primary design change being the location of the spring relative to the switch housing and rubber dome that gave Topre switches the unique tactile feedback which people either loved or did not. The new design attempts to appease users who long since have wanted compatibility with Cherrry MX stem keycaps, which account for the vast majority of aftermarket keycap sets. The spring is thus right on top, and makes for an interesting two-step feedback mechanism seen in the force-travel diagram below, which may well be just as divisive as the Topre switch itself. Noting that the springs may work loose and possibly be lost, Leopold tells us they plan to also include an extra set of springs with the keyboard as well. The rest of the keyboard is unchanged, and that by itself is a good thing in my books given it is hard to improve on the build quality provided by the thick metal case paired with the 1.5 mm thick PBT keycaps with dye-sub legends. Read past the break for more Leopold offerings at the show floor!

VORTEXGEAR, or simply Vortex for convenience, is another keyboard company that goes the path of atypical form factors, similar to Mistel Keyboard whom the company often collaborates with. Vortex especially gained popularity with the enthusiast keyboard market thanks to their 60% form factor Poker keyboard lineup, with the current iteration being the Poker 3, or Pok3r. At Computex, Vortex showed off a low profile Pok3r using the relatively new Cherry MX Low Profile switches, and the Red RGB variant in particular.

The Pok3r Ultra Slim will come with different keycap options to choose from, with some colors seen in the images below. As with the standard Pok3r, it features near-complete programmability with onboard macro support and three layers to work with. The keyboard will use an anodized CNC-machined aluminium case, with a detachable USB Type-C cable as well. Expect pricing to be similar to the standard Pok3r when this comes out later this year. Read past the break for more new keyboards from Vortex!

Delux may not be well known in the west, but they are looking to make a splash with a diverse product range which they had on display at Computex 2019. The company had quite a few keyboards to check out including partial gaming keyboards like the T6 which was designed with Fortnite in mind. It featured blue mechanical switches with RGB backlighting that comes with six effects. It also used a pluggable Type-C braided cable which was quite a bit different compared to more contemporary designs as well.

Another unique offering was the KM16 which has Bluetooth built in and through which supports mobile devices. It has adjustable height feet that use a rotating design delivering a more user customizable experience without having to flip the keyboard over to make said adjustments. When it comes to the keys themselves, they are fully programmable and feature N-key rollover.

Mistel Keyboard has been making waves in the mechanical keyboard market for the last few years now, with new products shown off at Computex that then get ready for the retail channels soon after. Their product portfolio has been predominantly based on split keyboards and non-traditional form factors to appeal to a more specific market segment not targeted by the vast majority of other companies. The company has dipped their feet into the TKL form factor before with the MD870 SLEEKER, and at Computex this year they showed off their first full-size keyboard in the form of the HACKER MD800.

The keyboard supports USB (over a Type C detachable cable) and Bluetooth connectivity options, uses a metal case thick enough to ooze build quality and mass alike, OEM-profile thick PBT doubleshot injected keycaps in black, white, or a special mix edition, onboard macro support with three layers for functionality and programming, native Windows and MacOS support, and white LED backlighting with multiple lighting effects to choose from. Powered by AA batteries on the back, as well as the new Mistel logo on the Esc key, the HACKER MD800 arrives in Q3 2019 with a price point the company is finalizing on to appeal to the mass market upon release. Read past the break for more on the new Barocco MD770 keyboard as well.

Mixcder, the audio experts providing superior sound quality at a low price, announced today the lightest, most comfortable, lowest cost foldable Hi-Fi wireless headphones on the market -- The Mixcder HD901 premium Bluetooth headphones. The Mixcder HD901 Headphones are designed to be everyone's travel-everywhere headphones, featuring a great combination of low price at $19.99, high quality sound with superior bass and 40mm drivers, easy compact travel foldability, light weight at just 5 ounces, and comfort with soft ear cups and adjustable headband sliders. The HD901 is the all-in-one solution for music lovers, audio-book listeners, travelers, sports enthusiasts, and students.

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, announces its new lineup of wireless peripherals and ultra-lightweight mouse at Computex 2019.

"Showcasing this new wireless lineup at Computex reflects the Cooler Master commitment to bring high-performing and innovative products to gamers and creative pros of all levels." says Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager.

ZOTAC Technology, a global manufacturer of innovation, today introduced the more capable ZBOX Q Series Mini Creator PC featuring the advanced NVIDIA Quadro GPU and powerful workstation focused Intel Xeon processor. The new addition to the ZBOX Q Series leverages the ZBOX Mini PC's sleek and minimal design without compromising the powerful hardware components inside. From stunning industrial design and advanced special effects, to complex scientific visualization and sophisticated data modeling, to creating and editing images and videos, the ZBOX Q Series enables limitless creations.

The new ZBOX Q Series features the industry certified NVIDIA Quadro with up to 16GB GDDR5 memory. It's a tested and certified fully compatible hardware on many major professional design applications. The new Q Series models come equipped with an Intel Xeon processor to deliver fast and responsive performance.

ASUS unveiled the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix Carry compact wireless mouse, with "gaming" conspicuously missing from its main branding. Its specs sheet, however, suggests it can game. The mouse requires two AA batteries, adding around 50 g to the mouse's 72 g dry-weight. Measuring 101 mm x 62 mm x 36 mm (LxWxH), the ROG Strix Carry features an almost ambidextrous design although is designed for the right hand, with two right-side programmable buttons. The two main buttons have socketed switches, letting users replace switches on their own. The included switches are made by Omron.

Under the hood, the ROG Strix Carry packs a 7,200-dpi optical sensor with an on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. It supports two wireless modes, 2.4 GHz RF (needs the included USB dongle) and Bluetooth (dongle not needed, your notebook/PC needs to have a Bluetooth interface). The RF mode offers more responsiveness (for gaming), while Bluetooth mode offers more battery-life. The mouse offers up to 300 hours of gaming in RF mode, or up to 465 hours of standard usage in Bluetooth mode. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, today launched its first Bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard, the SK621. "We created the SK621 with design and functionality in mind. Especially for those who are on the go, workers by day and gamers at night." says Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager.

The SK621 is a 65-key compact design Bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard with all the essentials. It uses Cherry MX's new low profile switches providing a reduced travel distance and actuation point with the same signature durability and precision as a standard red switch. The wireless hybrid design allows users to choose between a corded or cordless set up based on preference. The keyboard grants approximately 14 hours of usage while backlit or up to four months without lighting. The board is equipped with Type-C USB for convenience, per-key backlighting, surrounding light bars, and macros can be fully customized through Cooler Masters easy to use Portal Software Application. On-the-fly-controls allow real-time adjustments to lighting and macros without the need of software, including Windows Lock On/Off to prevent accidental actuation during game play. Its chiclet keycaps are slim and slightly contoured to provide a comfortable feel. The SK621 will be available on Amazon starting May 7, 2019, respectively, for $119.99. For more information, please visit the product page.

CORSAIR , a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the addition of two new high-performance mice to its rapidly expanding gaming peripheral lineup. IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS, a wireless version of the acclaimed IRONCLAW RGB launched in early 2019, uses hyper-fast SLIPSTREAM CORSAIR WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY alongside an 18,000 DPI optical sensor to provide gamers with cutting-edge wireless performance and superb accuracy and tracking. GLAIVE RGB PRO sees the popular GLAIVE RGB, featuring three interchangeable side grips, updated with a new 18,000 DPI sensor and additional RGB lighting. Whether gamers choose the wireless freedom and palm grip-friendly shape of IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS or the customizable grip of GLAIVE RGB PRO, they'll find a CORSAIR mouse that elevates their gameplay and in-game performance.

IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS retains the palm grip-optimized shape and rubberized side of the wired version, while adding CORSAIR's industry-leading 2.4GHz SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS. With unbelievably fast sub-1ms wireless latency, a wireless range of up to 33ft, and Intelligent Frequency Shift (IFS) ensuring a stable signal even in heavy wireless traffic, SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS offers a wired mouse gaming experience, without the wire.

Intel formally launched the Wi-Fi 6 AX200 client-segment WLAN card for notebooks and PC motherboards in the M.2-2230 and M.2-1216 form-factors, based on the "Cyclone Peak" PHY powering the Wireless AX-22260 NIC family. The card interfaces with its host over PCI-Express 3.0 x1 and USB 2.0, for the Wi-Fi and integrated Bluetooth interfaces, respectively. As a Wi-Fi 6 adapter, it supports 802.11ax over 2x2 MU-MIMO antennae, and peak bandwidth of 2.4 Gbps, with support for both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. The Bluetooth interface is version 5.0.

beyerdynamic, one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and conferencing products, announces Blue BYRD, the first wireless, in-ear headset within the BYRD Series, and the Soul BYRD, an in-ear headset. Featuring a unique, extra-flat design, the Blue BYRD and Soul BYRD allow for unrestricted listening with state-of-the-art technology and crisp acoustics.

Blue BYRD combines simple elegance, impressive sound and enjoyable wearing comfort to create an everyday wireless headphone. Blue BYRD boasts flawless Bluetooth transmission with Qualcomm aptX and AAC technology for a balanced listening experience for up to six hours of playing time. Blue BYRD's universal, three-button remote microphone provides flexibility to manage media playback, phone calls, and virtual assistants on both Android and iOS playback devices. Blue BYRD retails for $199.00 USD and is currently shipping. For more information, please visit north-america.beyerdynamic.com/blue-byrd.html.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Valve had promised continued support to the Steam Link after discontinuing it last year, and most took it to mean basic updates to the hardware device itself at the time. That was 2018, and it is remarkable how the topic of in-house game streaming has come up since. Be it Google's Project Stream which seemingly is leading up to a major announcement by the company at GDC coming up very shortly, or Microsoft introducing their new Wireless Display app for PC game streaming on the XBOX One, as well as bringing its XBOX Live service to mobile platforms on iOS or Android alike, 2019 seems to herald a re-focus into the concept of game streaming whether the infrastructure is ready or not.

Valve for their own part has had their Steam Link be enjoyed by a fairly niche audience, one that shares a more local form of game streaming from a host device to another on the same network. NVIDIA's Shield offered a similar concept, and that too has not really made the news as much as NVIDIA would surely have wanted. This latest news from Valve allows streaming of one's Steam library (games, in particular) to phones, tablets, and TVs with no download or service fees applicable. Interested users can participate in the open beta program by simply downloading the app (Google Play store only for now) or on the Raspberry Pi as has been the case for a few months already. The Steam Link app is compatible with a number of popular Bluetooth controllers, including the Steam Controller, and Valve recommends a 5 GHz network or wired Ethernet for best experience. Looks like the weekend just got busier than I originally planned!

Following on from the excellent feedback received for its E7 and E8 noise cancelling headphones, global audio specialist, Mixcder, is pleased to announce the launch of the latest headphone in the range, the E9. The next generation headphones feature the latest advancement in ANC technology to deliver superior noise-cancelling performance and audio quality. The foldable headphones have the premium, soft foam pads expected of Mixcder but now with upgraded technological advancement and improved sound. The Mixcder E9 headphones are available now for £59.99/$69.99 from Amazon UK and Amazon.com.

With the launch of the E9, Mixcder has increased the length of time music can be enjoyed thanks to its 30 hour battery promise without using ANC and 24 hours with. Hybrid ANC technology uses an active noise cancellation system that works in a wider frequency range in the low to midrange frequencies than most ANC designs and provides an improved degree of noise cancellation. The ANC continues to work when using the included audio cable and can play for around 40 hours. If ANC is switched off, the headphones require no battery and can be used continuously.

beyerdynamic, one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and conferencing products, announces Xelento, a wireless, in-ear headphone combining outstanding quality and cutting technology to create an exciting musical experience. The Xelento wireless features beyerdynamic's innovative, miniaturized Tesla drivers, aptX HD Bluetooth technology and MOSAYC sound personalization by Mimi Defined.

beyerdynamic's Xelento wireless bridges the gap for convenient on-the-go solutions and sophisticated luxury headphones by creating a single solution to combine two worlds. Xelento's drivers and acoustic design provide uncompromising sound with Bluetooth connectivity to enable comfortable listening in any environment. Xelento's breathtaking Tesla drivers are recognized among audio enthusiasts for their incredible sound, precise impulses, exceptional transparency and acoustic balance ranging from tight bass to detailed highs. Featuring a sleek design, the Xelento wireless is both an exquisite piece of jewelry and an audiophile listening device creating a platinum state for in-ear headphones.

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, today announces full Fortnite compatibility across all its mobile controllers including the new Stratus Duo, Stratus XL and Nimbus. This comprehensive family of critically acclaimed controllers is ready for Fortnite on mobile or PC. "With the massive success of Fortnite, we want to ensure gamers have the best possible gaming experience regardless of what platform they're playing on," said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries Chief Technical Officer.

[Editor's note: Our own review of the Cooler Master SK630 is published here for those interested.]

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, today launched two low profile mechanical keyboards from its new SK series, the SK650 and SK630. "We created the SK series with design and functionality in mind. Especially for those who are workers by day and gamers at night." says Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager.

The SK650 and SK630 are slim profile mechanical keyboards with the perfect balance of "work and play." The SK series features Cherry MX low profile switches that provide a reduced travel distance and actuation point with the same signature durability and precision as a standard red switch. The boards are equipped with Type-C USB for convenience. Per-key backlighting, surrounding light bars, and macros can be fully customized through Cooler Masters easy to use Portal Software Application. On-the-fly-controls allow real-time adjustments to lighting and macros without the need of software, including Windows Lock On/Off to prevent accidental actuation during game play. Users can choose from two sizes depending on preference. The SK650 is a full layout keyboard while the SK630 is its little brother, a ten keyless layout for users with limited desk space.

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, today announced its newest full-size, multi-platform controller, the Stratus Duo. Gamers can swap between the low latency 2.4GHz wireless connection for gaming on Windows, and Bluetooth for mobile gaming on Android, Oculus Go and Samsung VR. Gamers can utilize the Stratus Duo in multiple ways using the 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired connections. With its Bluetooth connection, the Stratus Duo supports Android, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go. Gamers no longer need to struggle with awkward touchscreen controls while playing mobile games on their Android devices.

The Stratus Duo allows gamers to enjoy playing on their Android device via Bluetooth or on their PC via the 2.4GHz wireless connection with no additional software needed for setup. "The gaming ecosystem is continuing to evolve and grow beyond PC and consoles to include mobile devices and VR systems," said Tino Solberg, SteelSeries CTO. "The Stratus Duo allows gamers to easily navigate across several platforms through wireless and Bluetooth technology to create a truly seamless experience."

Intel is giving finishing touches to its new family of compact WLAN cards for portables and motherboards, under the "Cyclone Peak" family. These include the Wireless-AX 22260 sold under Intel's main brand, and two re-branded or differentiated products by RivetNetworks: Killer Wireless-AX 1650x (22260NGW), and Killer Wireless-AX 1650W (22260D2W). Device IDs for these cards were recently added to the IWLWIFI repository by Intel software teams. "Cyclone Peak" offers 802.11ax Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to Bluetooth 5. 802.11ax provides about 37 percent higher data-rate than 802.11ac, but improved effective bandwidth due to better spectrum utilization.

Creative Technology today announced the launch of the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Creative SXFI AMP - the Creative SXFI AIR series. Comprising the SXFI AIR and SXFI AIR C, these are the very first headphones featuring built-in Super X-Fi technology, the game-changer which has captured the imagination of users by delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system, simply through a pair of headphones.

"After the SXFI AMP, it was a natural next step to develop headphones with built-in Super X-Fi technology. With the SXFI AIR series, users can now enjoy the magic of headphone holography, complemented by the best of our headphone engineering. The SXFI AIR is meant to pave the way for the headphone industry to adopt Super X-Fi into all future headphones," said Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative Technology.

We were invited to take a look at the Kanto Audio suite at CES by their PR firm, and the brand itself has been on my mind for a while now- offering good quality powered monitor speakers at various price points. This year they are bringing out their new high-end TUK powered speakers, which were first shown off last year, and the entire spec sheet reads like a must-have for many audio enthusiasts, including yours truly. The TUK comes in white or black color schemes, is rated at 130 W RMS for the pair, and features AMT tweeters with 5.25" aluminium concave cone drivers coupled with an on-board DSP and a Class D amp.

I/O includes Bluetooth 4.2 with Qualcoom AptX HD and AAC codec support for those who need it, but most will end up using one of the several wired options encompassing optical TOSLINK, RCA and Phone inputs, a USB DAC for us PC users, subwoofer out, and a headphone jack. So if you fancy connecting a turntable to it to play some old vinyls, go for it! Oh, it also has a USB charger to use with portable media players as well. Read past the break for more on the TUK and other Kanto Audio products we saw this past week.

Hexgears is, in their own words, "a global gaming brand with influences from the USA, Germany, and China". We briefly covered them before thanks to their first adoption of the new Kailh Sun switches, and at CES 2019 they had a booth on the showfloor for this very keyboard and other products. The GK760 from Hexgears is still the only keyboard announced to use those new Sun switches, which effectively allows for a central backlighting similar to Omron switches, while still retaining Cherry MX keycap compatibility. The GK760 is a full-size keyboard with 104 keys and ABS plastic keycaps, which also appear to be low in profile even though the actual switches are not necessarily so. There is an entire column of programmable G-keys (macro keys), as well as a dedicated volume scroll wheel and a thick plushy wrist rest. Read past the break to know more about the products they showed off at CES.

Beyerdynamic had a lot for us to check out at CES 2019 including their new Soul BYRD In-ear Headset which they debuted at the event. Designed to be an all-rounder it delivers well-balanced sound along with a universal three-button remote with microphone that allows for full functionality with Android and iOS devices giving users access to both platforms respective virtual assistants along with the flexibility of media playback, and phone calls. They use a closed design to prevent sound penetrating out while still being focused on comfort via its ergonomic shape that gives users a snug fit. It even has aluminum faceplates giving the Soul BYRD a clean, premium feel. To accommodate various ear shapes and sizes, Beyerdynamic includes five in ear tip sizes from XS to XL. MSRP is listed as $89.00.

Next up during our little tour was the Beat BYRD which is another in-ear design that focuses on delivering balanced sound and powerful bass. It uses an ergonomically shaped housing for a secure fit much like the Soul BYRD with flexible cabling for extended comfort during use. The ones on display featured bright orange wiring indeed living up the high-flier moniker in the placard. However, unlike the Soul BYRD, the Beat BYRD in-ears are just headphones. Meanwhile, the Blue BYRD offering gets rid of the wires altogether and instead uses Bluetooth for connectivity. Like the Soul BYRD, it offers a universal three-button remote and microphone. They also had an active noise canceling Blue BYRD ANC on hand as well which is a neckband in-ear option that makes use of Bluetooth.

Corsair at its CES 2019 presser detailed key in-house, under-the-hood innovations that will be part of its gaming peripherals for years to come. The first of these is called Slipstream, and is developed to improve latencies (in turn responsiveness) of wireless gaming peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and even headsets. It combines existing physical-layer technologies such as 2.4 GHz radio, with a proprietary protocol-layer by Corsair that delivers twice the packets per millisecond, thereby reducing latency. This protocol-layer is different from Bluetooth, although all Slipstream devices will maintain compatibility with Bluetooth.

At the heart of what Corsair is trying to do, is a technique called IFS (intelligent frequency switching), a process that continuously scans the spectrum for radio channels that are most optimal (have least interference and best strength), and switches to that frequency/channel. This switching happens at a sub-millisecond rate, and the effective response-times claimed by Corsair are impressive - 0.5 ms to move a packet of data from the peripheral to the receiver (or vice versa). Corsair is also working on improving wireless signal strength of all devices that implement Slipstream, so your peripherals can work flawlessly up to 20 meters (65 ft) away from your PC (bodes well for living room gamers).