VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI), a leading supplier of USB4, SuperSpeed USB, USB Power Delivery Controllers, and now Display Controllers, today announced the start of mass production and immediate availability for the VIA Labs VL605 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter. The VL605 Protocol Converter achieved USB-IF certification for USB Power Delivery 3.1 with support for Extended Power Range (EPR) and HDMI 2.1 FRL certification and is now listed on the USB-IF Integrator's List under TID: 10462.

VIA Lab VL605 is an innovative single-chip USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter supporting modern display features and a highly integrated, low-power design. It's optimized for USB-C video dongles and multifunction docks and integrates a two-port USB PD 3.1 controller that supports pass-through charging at up to 240W when EPR is enabled. A single VL605 can convert a DisplayPort input to HDMI 2.1 at up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz while simultaneously charging the connected host. VL605 supports HDR and is compatible with Adaptive Sync from the DisplayPort standard and AMD's FreeSync technology, seamlessly converting these into HDMI 2.1's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). Products incorporating VL605 can enhance gaming experiences with higher quality and smoother visuals while expanding peripheral connectivity and enjoying faster charging.

ASUS today introduced the NUC 14 Performance, which as its name suggests, is geared for performance. This is essentially a twin of the ROG NUC, but without the flashy ROG styling, and a broader range of hardware options. The top-spec NUC 14 Performance combines an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H "Meteor Lake" processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 desktop GPU, however other processor and graphics options include the Core Ultra 7 155H processor, and RTX 4060 desktop GPU. You can't opt out of a discrete GPU, for that you'll need to opt for the NUC 14 Pro+, which only packs a Core Ultra 185H, and presents its Arc iGPU, but the I/O of that NUC will be significantly different.

Back to the ASUS NUC 14 Performance, and the box measures 270 mm X 180 mm X 50 mm (WxDxH), weighing just 800 g. You're supposed to add your own memory and storage, the NUC features two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory; and an M.2-2280 slot with PCIe Gen 4 x4 wiring. Network connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3; 2.5 GbE wired LAN. The main high-bandwidth I/O connection is Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps), which doubles up as USB4 40 Gbps, with a USB-C port that also supports DisplayPort 1.4 passthrough from the discrete GPU; a couple of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 2.0 ports for input devices, additional DP 1.4 ports from the GPU, and an HDMI 2.1. The NUC 14 Performance comes with a 330 W power brick. The company didn't reveal pricing, but pricing is expected in the USD $2,200 to $2,500 range.

For those looking for something a bit out of the ordinary when it comes to monitors, HP might have your next productivity monitor in the shape of the Series 7 Pro Monitor 738pu. It sports a 3840 x 1600 resolution which gives the 37.5-inch panel a rather unusual aspect ratio of 24:10 or 12:5 if you prefer. The monitor is built around an 8-bit + FRC IPS Black panel with a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a 400 nits peak brightness. The panel supports a colour gamut of 98 percent of the DCI-P3 colour space and sports a 5 ms grey to grey response time. However, it also has a max refresh rate of 60 Hz and is edge lit, which means it'll be terrible for HDR, although it's only certified for DisplayHDR 400, which means pretty poor HDR support to start with.

On the connectivity side, HP has loaded out the 738pu with a wide range of ports, starting with a HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort input, as well as daisy chain output, one Thunderbolt 4 port that also supports 100 W USB PD and DP 1.4, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port that also supports 65 W USB PD and DP 1.4 Alt Mode, one Thunderbolt 4 output for daisy changing (limited to 15 W), one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port (no video, also limited to 15 W) and five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, of which one is a 7.5 W capable charging port. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet port, four integrated speakers with DTS Virtual:X and KVM support, but no headset jack, microphone or built-in camera. It also supports Picture-by-Picture or Picture-in-Picture when multiple sources are connected. The stand supports height, tilt and swivel adjustments. The power supply is integrated and the 738pu has a maximum power draw of 318 W fully loaded. HP is asking for US$1,249 for the Series 7 Pro Monitor 738pu.

Xencelabs, the global provider of digital drawing solutions and new choice for creative professionals, announces the Xencelabs Pen Display 16, its new pen-on-screen solution for creative content professionals, educators, and students. Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 and the number of ways you can use the device is a testament to Xencelabs' product design philosophy. At just 0.47 inches (12 mm) and very light, 2.67 lbs (1.21 kg), the display can go wherever creativity takes you - to your favorite café, a client presentation or from classroom to home. The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 will connect to any compatible PC, Mac, or Linux laptop via a single USB-C to USB-C cable. A 10-bit hub is included for those needing to connect through HDMI or DisplayPort. The included light and easy to carry Xencelabs Mobile Easel stand offers two drawing angles.

A 4K OLED pen display answers the call from creative users wanting the colors from their drawings and paintings to be more vivid and realistic. The OLED display also provides an absence of visual artifacts such as backlight bleeding and blooming pixels. Furthermore, artists delight in the device's ability to create lifelike colors against a true black background.

If you have been searching for a quality, do-everything USB-C dock, we have the perfect solution. The Sabrent USB-C Universal Docking Station (DS-UICA) has near-limitless potential with a wide variety of ports and capabilities to enhance your computing experience. Enjoy and get the most out of your laptop, ultrabook, Chromebook, Android phone or tablet, MacBook, Apple iPhone or iPad, and more with this incredibly compact and featureful docking station. Everything is connected through a 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) USB-C upstream host port designed for modern machines. Downstream it has two 10 Gbps USB-C ports, two 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) USB-A ports, and two 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) USB-A ports. The first four can deliver 5 V/1.5 A; the latter two are great for keyboards and mice.

This dock has it all, including dual video output via two pairs of HDMI 2.0 and DP ports with the optional use of a single USB-C port for display. Simultaneous output up to 4K@60 Hz is possible with DSC. Forget unreliable Wi-Fi. Connect to your network and Internet at up to 1000 Mbps with wired Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE). You can also easily access your content with the built-in dual microSD/SD card reader with UHS-I (104MBps) support. On top of that, there are three 3.5 mm ports for audio out, a microphone, and one for audio in/out. We've included a USB-C to USB-C cable and an external power adapter to power everything with the device charging up to 80 W. The docking station has a cradle for your device of choice with front-facing LEDs for extra clarity.

Targus, the number one third-party docking station and laptop bag brand in the US1 and a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, today announced the availability of its new USB4 Triple Video Docking Station with 100 W Power (DOCK460). With full USB4 (and Thunderbolt) speeds in a triple video enterprise-grade dock, this Alternate Mode dock packs all of the ports and power necessary to support and power a wide variety of laptop brands and various platforms.

"Our new DOCK460 is an outstanding docking solution for enterprise users who want more power, speed, and performance than previously available, while offering ultra-compatibility with a wide variety of laptop brands and platforms," explains David Dorantes, Director, Product Marketing, Targus. "With this powerful dock, users can enjoy a native triple-video workstation that stays charged and ready with 100 W power delivery, plus the addition of a USB4 connection and 2.5G Ethernet."

Aetina, a leading Edge AI solution provider, announced the launch of the Aetina IA380E-QUFL at Embedded World 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany. This groundbreaking product is a small form factor PCIe graphics card powered by the high-performance Intel Arc A380E GPU.

Unmatched Power in a Compact Design
The Aetina IA380E-QUFL delivers workstation-level performance packed into a low-profile, single-slot form factor. This innovative solution consumes only 50 W, making it ideal for space and power-constrained edge computing environments. Embedded system manufacturers and integrators can leverage the power of 4.096 TFLOPs peak FP32 performance delivered by the Intel Arc A380E GPU.

Baseus Technology is a respected global consumer electronics brand that is excited to announce the launch of the latest and greatest product, the Baseus Spacemate Series 11-Port USB-C Docking Station. This professional, adaptable, and innovative docking station makes streaming, transfers, charging, and so much more a seamless and simple experience.

One-Stop Dock Solution: The Baseus Spacemate Series 11-Port USB-C Docking Station provides a high-grade docking solution with 11 different ports to fit a variety of needs and applications.

Lenovo has announced today that the Lenovo Legion Tab, an 8.8-inch Android tablet for the modern mobile gamer, is soon going to be expanding availability from China to select markets in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and Asia. The Lenovo Legion Tab bridges the gap between PC and mobile gaming, offering a solution for gamers seeking a high-performance gaming experience that is both accessible and convenient.

The Lenovo Legion Tab transcends the typical expectations of a tablet, delivering outstanding gaming performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4 nm processor and 12 GB of LPDDR5X memory all in a 76 mm thin Storm Grey tablet weighing in at just 350 grams. The Lenovo Legion Tab allows for even more gaming on the go owing to its 256 GB onboard storage—expandable with the microSD slot that supports up to 1 TB cards. The 144 Hz 8.8-inch QHD+ Lenovo PureSight gaming display brings visuals to vibrant life, allowing any Android compatible game to shine crisp and colorful. The tablet's integrated haptic system gives gamers a further level of immersion and feedback so they can truly get in the game.

ECS Industrial Computer Co., Ltd., also known as ECSIPC, proudly unveils its latest generation of mini PCs for quad-display industrial applications, the LIVA Z5 series, which includes the LIVA Z5 Plus, LIVA Z5E Plus, and LIVA Z5F Plus. Committed to providing industry-specific value solutions, ECSIPC focuses on developing niche products and solutions for vertical industry applications. ECSIPC has achieved success in various application areas, including educational electronic whiteboards in Europe and the US, airport real-time flight systems in India, image projection for Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains, and electronic menu and POS systems for KFC in South America, while also exploring applications in vending machines and digital signage.

The newly launched LIVA Z5 series is powered by Intel 13th and 14th generation Core processors, delivering significant performance improvements with up to 10 cores capable of efficiently handling various demanding tasks. The series has Wi-Fi 6E speeds up to 9.6 Gbps for enhanced data transmission efficiency, allowing seamless playback of high-quality audiovisual content. Additionally, the multi-storage design accommodates PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSDs and a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD, offering greater storage flexibility. The series ensures high-speed data processing in industrial environments with two 2.5G Base-T (2.5G) ports. At the same time, support for vPro and physical TPM significantly enhances the value of industrial applications.

BenQ, a global leader in display technology, announced today the launch of its newest professional monitor, the PD3225U. Featuring IPS Black for 2000:1 contrast ratio, Color Match with Mac devices through M-book mode, and iKeyboard Control, the PD3225U is the perfect creative complement for Mac users in need of color accuracy and enhanced connectivity.

Through IPS Black technology, the PD3225U expresses 35 percent deeper blacks than a conventional IPS monitor by minimizing light leakage, changing and improving liquid crystal array, so colors are more vibrant than ever before. The new design monitor also offers Color Match for Mac devices with its M-book Mode and 98% Display P3 color space, as well as certifications such as Calman Verified, Pantone Validation, and Pantone SkinTone Validation. For corner-to-corner authentic color and consistent luminance, the PD3225U leverages BenQ's exclusive Uniformity Technology. In addition, the monitor incorporates BenQ's exclusive Display ColorTalk software, which effortlessly matches colors between the monitor and MacBook Pro without needing a calibrator.

For those of you that have been waiting patiently for the first DisplayPort 2.1 monitors to start arriving, we have good news as Gigabyte has revealed details of its first display equipped with DP 2.1. The monitor in question is the AORUS FO32U2P which also sports a 4K QD-OLED panel with a 240 Hz refresh rate. The 31.5-inch QD-OLED panel does follow the standard feature set with a 10-bit panel, 250 cd/m² brightness, 1.5 million to one contrast ratio, 0.03 ms GTG response time and a DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification. Gigabyte has gone for an anti-reflective coating as well, which might not appeal to everyone.

As for the inputs, the DP2.1 ports support the full UHBR20 spec, which is 80 Gbps of total bandwidth over four 20 Gbps DisplayPort lanes, which means Gigabyte hasn't skimped on anything here. Yes, you read that correctly as well, the monitor has two DP 2.1 inputs, one full size and one mini DP input and there's also a USB Type-C input that supports DP-Alt mode, in addition to 65 W USB Power Delivery and USB data, although it's not clear if this port also supports DP 2.1. Furthermore, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports, one upstreams and two downstreams USB 3.2 ports, as well as a headphone and microphone jack. Gigabyte has also equipped the AORUS FO32U2P with a pair of 5 W speakers and a stand that offers tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments. The maximum power usage is said to be 78 W, but this shouldn't include the USB PD part. Other features include KVM support, daisy-chaining via a DP output, picture in picture and picture by picture support and various gaming features such as crosshairs, night vision, black equalizer etc. Gigabyte has as yet to announce official pricing on a release date.

Update Mar 5th: We've received additional details on the DisplayPorts of the AORUS FO32U2P from Gigabyte and only the DP inputs supports DP 2.1, whereas the USB Type-C input and the DP daisy-chain ports are limited to DP 1.4. The MSRP of the AORUS FO32U2P will be US$1399.99 with the AORUS FO32U2 which is a DP 1.4 version will have an MSRP of US$1199.99.

AMD recently tried to add support for key HDMI 2.1 features like 4K@120 Hz and 5K@240 Hz to their open-source Linux graphics driver called AMDGPU. They invested engineering resources over several months to prototype the necessary code internally before publishing. The goal was to showcase HDMI 2.1 capabilities and get the implementation approved by the HDMI Forum. Unfortunately, the Forum ultimately rejected AMD's request, blocking Linux users of new AMD Radeon GPUs from utilizing those cutting-edge display features over HDMI. In comments, AMD stated: "The HDMI Forum has rejected our proposal unfortunately. At this time an open source HDMI 2.1 implementation is not possible without violating HDMI Forum requirements." This outcome comes as a major disappointment given the time and effort AMD expended aiming to satisfy the Forum's guidelines. The months of work now feel wasted with this outright rejection. As reasoning, the HDMI Forum cited legal and compliance rules around not enabling open-source HDMI 2.1 code.

Legal issues and compliance are major problems for open-source HDMI developers, as HDMI Forum has decided to make the HDMI specification private in 2021. This directly translates into the newest open-source driver developments, where the latest features will probably remain behind a closed-source binary. Consequently, AMD is advising Linux gamers to use DisplayPort if they want access to features like 4K 120 Hz gaming. Meanwhile, Windows AMD users still get full HDMI 2.1 capabilities. This dichotomy spotlights the ongoing obstacles around open-source driver development. The rejection also strains the AMD - HDMI Forum relationship. AMD hoped spearheading open-source HDMI 2.1 drivers would position them as leaders in the open-source community. Instead, their flexibility plea was denied by the rigid HDMI Forum requirements. Ultimately, whether Linux-based AMD owners can ever utilize next-gen HDMI 2.1 displays fully remains to be determined. For now, AMD continues pushing open-source as the best approach, while the HDMI Forum refuses to budge on compliance demands. Both sides seem firmly entrenched, leaving consumers caught in the middle.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today announced new GeForce RTX 3050 6G graphics cards. The GeForce RTX 3050 EAGLE OC 6G and GeForce RTX 3050 OC Low Profile 6G graphics cards are powered by Ampere- NVIDIA's 2nd gen RTX architecture, featuring dedicated RT cores, AI Tensor cores, and fast GDDR6 graphics memory. They deliver the most realistic ray tracing graphics and advanced AI features with DLSS. In addition to providing gamers with a visually stunning and smooth 1080p gaming experience, creators can also indulge in the joy of creative expression.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 EAGLE OC 6G graphics card incorporates futuristic design elements, presenting distinctive and personalized features through cosmic-themed graphics, symbols, and geometric shapes. The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 EAGLE OC 6G is equipped with the GIGABYTE WINDFORCE cooling system. Featuring unique blade fans, alternate spinning, and fan stop functionalities, this cooling system efficiently lowers the working temperature of the graphics card, ensuring stable performance even under high-demand operations.

Serial leaker @yuuki_ans on X/Twitter has released details on Intel's upcoming Barlow Rridge Thunderbolt 5 controller which will be known as the JHL9580 or JHL9540 depending on the SKU. The good news is that Intel has finally moved to PCIe 4.0 for the bus interface, which was expected due to the increased bandwidth on offer by Thunderbolt 5 over Thunderbolt 3 and 4. Barlow Ridge will use a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface to connect to the host and it appears that the earlier leak that suggested native Thunderbolt support in Arrow Lake-S might be incorrect, as there are diagrams showing Barlow Ridge connected to Arrow Lake-S CPUs.

Besides the faster bus, Thunderbolt 5 brings asymmetrical data transmission support which means that for display applications there will be a 120/40 Gbps mode, whereas for data only applications Thunderbolt 5 will deliver a symmetrical 80 Gbps mode. We should point out that this only appears to apply to the JHL9580 SKU, which also supports 40 Gbps USB4 speeds, whereas the JHL9540 for some reason remains a Thunderbolt 4 controller. That said, both of the Barlow Ridge SKUs get support for 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, something that was lacking in previous Thunderbolt implementations. There will also be support for DisplayPort 2.1 via DP Alt Mode with full UHBR20 support when used with a DP80 certified cable. Actual data transfers are limited to the 64 Gbps PCIe 4.0 interface to the host system, just like USB4, but this does at least give Thunderbolt 5 extra head room for display data even in symmetrical mode. The Barlow Ridge controllers appear to be connected directly to the Arrow Lake-S CPUs via the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, much in the same way USB4 host controllers connect to AMD's Ryzen 7000-series CPUS.

Courtesy of X/Twitter user @yuuki_ans, we now have what should be very detailed information on Intel's next generation consumer desktop platform, assuming the leaked information is real. The leaker not only provided confirmation on the CPU specs of the Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs, which will feature up to an 8+16+1 core configuration. However, it appears that it's not all smooth sailing for Intel to get Arrow Lake-S up and running, as a note points out that the pre-alpha hardware has the performance cores disabled due to a hardware bug that is expected to be fixed in a future hardware revision. We can also see that the official memory support is DDR5-6400 from the block diagram, which is quite a jump from DDR5-5600 which is what the current 14th gen CPUs officially support.

That said, the rest of the documentation shared is very detailed and provides us with a ton of details in terms of the various platform interfaces we can expect. For starters, the Arrow Lake-S CPUs will feature native Thunderbolt 4/USB4 support (once again an odd mistake here stating USB4.0), as well as DisplayPort 2.0 (UHBR20 only) and HDMI 2.1 support. The CPU is said to deliver 24 PCIe lanes, of which 16 are PCIe 5.0 lanes for the GPU and the remaining eight are for NVMe SSDs, with half being PCIe 5.0 and half PCIe 4.0.

SPARKLE is announcing the low-profile series: SPARKLE Intel Arc A380 GENIE graphics and SPARKLE Intel Arc A310 ECO graphics. Both graphics cards come as low-profile configurations with 1x HDMI and 2x mini-DP video outputs, a free additional short bracket in the box, and are packed with Intel Arc technologies. Advanced technologies include AI-enhanced Intel Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) for higher image quality and performance, DirectX 12 Ultimate support including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, full AV1 hardware encode and decode for the latest multimedia support, and Intel Deep Link Technologies for exclusive platform advantages combining Intel Core processor and Intel Arc graphics.

These cards are ready to fit into any magic lamp and make gaming wishes come alive! Furthermore, SPARKLE has built an exclusive Intel Arc A310 by successfully reducing the TBP (total board power) of the Intel Arc A310 from Intel's default 75 W to 50 W, providing the best balance of features, technologies and experiences in a small but advanced form-factor.

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, launches the TD3207, a 32-inch open-frame touch display solution. The TD3207 is engineered to be used in commercial and industrial environments with 24/7 usage. With an IP54-rated screen for advanced durability, the monitor is an ideal display for self-service kiosks, control automation, wayfinding, and a variety of other applications and trades.

The TD3207 features 10-point projective capacitive [PCAP] technology for smooth and responsive interactivity, native 1080p Full HD resolution, and a 3 mm thick-glass screen with 7H hardness that is resistant to moisture and scratches. The SuperClear VA panel delivers vivid color and lifelike imagery while the 450 nits of brightness ensures consistent clarity and illumination. The open frame design with 400 mm x 200 mm and 200 mm x 100 mm VESA compatible mounting options allow for seamless and secure installation in portrait, landscape, or face-up orientations for easy integration in different venues.

INNOCN brought its latest gaming monitors to the 2024 International CES; it didn't waste out time with monitors based on 15 year old tech; but rolled out the very latest—IPS with miniLED backlighting, and OLED. The Titan Army P27A6V is a 27-inch planar display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and a blistering 144 Hz refresh rate (which is high, considering this is 4K). This display uses an IPS panel with miniLED backlighting, and meets DisplayHDR 1000 spec. Display connectivity include HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, both of which provide enough bandwidth of 4K HDR @ 144 Hz. Brilliant stuff, but this is "only" a 27-inch display, which will incur Hi-DPI scaling. Need something bigger? Check out the Titan Army P32A6V, which has identical specs to the P27A6V, but in a larger 32-inch planar format. Both these displays come in gunmetal gray and matte-white body color variants.

Switching up gears is the INNOCN M27E6V, a 27-inch planar display with a Fast IPS panel paired with miniLED backlighting. This one provides 4K Ultra HD with even faster 160 Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR 1400, and 99% coverage of DCI-P3. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB type-C (DisplayPort passthrough). You can use the monitor in single cable mode if the USB-C connection is capable of delivering 90 W. The next premium display is the Titan Army G27E8S, a 26.5-inch planar display that uses an OLED panel, and meant for performance gaming. You get a lower WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution than the other three displays we mentioned so far; but at higher 240 Hz refresh rate, and under 0.5 ms GTG response time, thanks to the OLED panel. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1. The display meets HDR10 spec.

"Dude, why do you have a phone stuck to your CPU?" could be a natural first reaction the HYTE THICC Q60 AIO CPU cooler. HYTE figured that people like to have little screens on their AIO pump-blocks, and decided to give them a big one—a rectangular 5-inch 720p IPS display that it very likely scored from a smartphone parts bin. The block underneath is a regular-size water block designed for maximum clearance around the CPU socket area. The screen hangs in the air above the block, over an armature.

Behind the display is a silicone diffuser with an array of 42 qRGB LEDs, for even more lighting, as bright as 300 nits. Perhaps why HYTE didn't go with a square screen has to with clearance around the memory area. This screen is fully programmable, plugs into your graphics card over DisplayPort, and can be made to display just about anything. To your PC, this is just another monitor. HYTE is already into oddly-shaped screens with its award-winning Y70 Touch case, and has the HYTE Nexus app that makes use of the screen to display useful real-time monitoring or Windows 11 widgets. The same HYTE Nexus app will control this display.

GIGABYTE certainly came to the CES 2024 show in force and big part of its showcase were existing and new monitors, including the 48-inch OLED AORUS FO48U and the 49-inch OLED AORUS CO49DQ gaming monitors. During the show, GIGABYTE revealed a bit more information about its current monitor lineups, including gaming oriented AORUS, as well as multimedia, and standard G- and GS-series gaming monitors.

The flagship offer and the star of the monitor show at GIGABYTE's CES 2024 event was certainly the AORUS OLED monitor lineup, including the CO49DQ, MO34WQC2, FO32U2P, and the FO48U. The big 34-inch AORUS MO34WQC2 OLED monitor with 3440x1440 WQHD resolution and 240 Hz refresh rate is certainly a sight to behold. It is AMD FreeSync Premium certified, has 0.03 ms GTG response time, has integrated KVM switch, and offers two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 inputs. The CO49DQ is also another one that peaked our interest, and although it does not include the KVM switch, this 49-inch 10-bit OLED monitor with 5120x1440 resolution offers impressive picture quality with 99% DCI-P3 but sticks with 144 Hz refresh rate. It is also AMD FreeSync Premium certified and has two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 inputs, but lacks integrated KVM switch.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that it has published the latest update to DisplayPort, version 2.1a. This update replaces the VESA certified DP40 ultra-high-bit-rate (UHBR) cable specification with a new VESA certified DP54 UHBR cable spec to enable up to four-lane UHBR13.5 link rate support (a maximum throughput of 54 Gbps) over a two-meter passive cable. As a result, the DisplayPort 2.1a update effectively doubles the passive cable length for UHBR13.5 GPU-to-display connections—which previously could only be supported through a DP80 UHBR cable—providing consumers with greater flexibility in their gaming or workstation setup.

VESA also announces it has published a new Automotive Extension Services protocol specification for both DisplayPort 2.1a and the latest version of VESA's Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) specification, version 1.5a. This new protocol extension provides support for automotive display functional safety as well as secure integrity and authentication for up to 16 display regions of interest. With the VESA Automotive Extension Services protocol, VESA has for the first time established a standard for vehicle displays that can enable display safety engineers to achieve ISO 26262 ASIL-D* - the holy grail of electronic safety integrity. Silicon manufacturers are already adopting VESA's Automotive Extension Services protocol today for chipsets that will be integrated in future vehicles.

ASUS today announced that ProArt Display PA32UCXR will be available on shelves by January 2024. This 32-inch 4K monitor features mini LED backlighting with 2304-zone local dimming, a peak brightness of 1600 nits, and up to 1000 nits sustained brightness without partial patch limitation. PA32UCXR boasts 99% Adobe RGB and 97% DCI-P3 gamut. Designed for post-production workflows, each monitor is factory pre-calibrated to guarantee Delta E1 color accuracy and features a built-in motorized flip colorimeter along with Auto Calibration and Self Calibration functionality for convenience.

PA32UCXR works with ProArt Calibration software as well as third-party offerings such as Calman and Light Illusion ColourSpace CMS to ensure professional-grade colors. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a host of other connectivity options enable seamless and efficient creative workflows, making this monitor ideal for content creators.

VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI), a leading supplier of USB4, USB 3.2, and USB Power Delivery Controllers, today announced that the VL832 USB4 Endpoint Device Controller achieved USB4 certification from the USB Implementor's Forum (USB-IF). VIA Lab's VL832 supports USB 40 Gbps operation and is now listed on the USB-IF Integrator's List under TID: 10033.

VIA Lab VL832's USB-IF Certification represents a key milestone in the USB4 ecosystem. The certified USB4 device controller with an integrated USB 3.2 USB 10 Gbps Hub, USB 2.0 Hub, and DisplayPort output, provides essential connectivity for peripheral devices such as multi-function adapters and docking stations. In USB4 40 Gbps mode, VL832 supports full DisplayPort HBR3 bandwidth (32.4 Gbps), and the USB 20 Gbps hub can enable multiple USB 10 Gbps devices to operate at full performance on supported host platforms. Both metrics are double what was previously possible using DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which is limited to 2-lanes of DisplayPort when supporting USB 3.2 functionality.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the launch of the SD5800T Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Video Docking Station. The powerful plug-and-play docking station supports up to four 4K monitors, delivers data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, provides up to 100 W of power delivery, and features 16 connectivity ports enabling users to release the potential of their premium laptops.

Providing a true plug-and-play experience with no drivers or downloads required, the SD5800T is one of the first Thunderbolt 4 docks capable of supporting Quad 4K displays, and is compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C devices. Ideal for graphic designers, video editors, and animators, the 16-in-1 design includes built-in UHS-II SD and Micro SD card readers for the efficient transfer of files at ultra-fast speeds.