Today, Google has announced that it will discontinue all of its Chromecast products, as the company is transitioning to the Google TV Streamer, which offers a very different form factor to its Chromecast products. Over the past 11 years, Google has sold some 100 million Chromecasts over a handful of different generations of products with quite different feature sets. The most recent addition launched in 2022 and Google has promised to continue to support the latest generations of Chromecast devices for now, although the company didn't say for how long.

The Google TV Streamer moves away from the HDMI dongle design, which some might see as a mistake by the company, but those wanting a set-top-box type device will on the other hand be pleased. The white (porcelain) or grey (hazel) slate isn't the most attractive design maybe, somewhat due to the choice of colours by Google, but it's what's on the inside that counts, right? Although Google didn't reveal the CPU used, the company claims the Google TV Streamer is 22 percent faster than the Chromecast with Google TV, comes with 4 GB of RAM and more importantly, it has 32 GB of built-in storage, compared to 8 GB for its latest generation of Chromecast devices.

D-Link Corporation, a global leader in networking solutions, proudly announces the launch of its cutting-edge G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router. This advanced router empowers users to harness the full potential of 5G technology by using a mobile carrier's SIM card to deliver high-speed 5G connectivity through a robust Wi-Fi 6 network. Engineered with the renowned MIT (Made in Taiwan) quality assurance, the G530 provides a fast, reliable, and flexible networking solution ideal for homes, offices, remote sites, and temporary setups where traditional wired connections are limited or unavailable.

Ultra-Fast Speed
The G530 unlocks the next generation of connectivity, offering 5G speeds of up to 3.4 Gbps and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities reaching AX3000. Leveraging Wi-Fi 6 technology, the G530 expands Wi-Fi bandwidth to 160 MHz and incorporates bi-directional MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies, enhancing data rates and reducing latency for multiple users and devices. Whether users are gaming online, streaming 4K/8K content, participating in conference calls, or downloading large files, the G530 ensures a seamless, high-speed connection without lag.

Get the benefits of cutting-edge Thunderbolt 4 technology in a universal docking station that conveniently mounts to your desk, enhanced with a gas-lift arm for one or two (with SB-DSAM) monitors. The Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with Monitor Desk Mount (DS-T4WA) docking station connects through Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) to deliver a TB4 downstream port as well as four USB ports - two 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) USB-C ports, one 10 Gbps USB-A port, and one 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) USB-A port - to host a wide range of devices. Also built-in is a UHS-II (312MBps) microSD/SD card reader, a 3.5" audio in/out port, and Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) for fast and reliable wired network connectivity. Dock and expand with ease.

Quickly and conveniently configure your displays to match your work environment. Combine the station with one to three monitors (see note) with output up to 8K@30 Hz (DP/HDMI) or 8K@60 Hz/4K@144 Hz (TB4) singly and 4K@60 Hz (DSC) simultaneously in extended or mirrored display modes. The desired displays may be connected via the HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and TB4 ports. The single arm on this mount, or dual arms with our Upgrade Kit (SB-DSAM), support the standard VESA 75/100 mounting patterns for monitors and displays up to 32" in size and 10 kg/22lbs in weight. The gas-lift controls vertical positioning from 0-650 mm and the arm plate is capable of 360-degree swivel, 90- to -45-degree tilt, and +/- 90-degree rotation for ultimate flexibility.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, today released its first full 10GbE L3 Lite managed switch, QSW-M3224-24T. Featuring twenty-four 10G Multi-Gig ports, L3 Lite management capabilities and MC-LAG network redundancy, QSW-M3224-24T assists enterprises in deploying stable and efficient mid to large-scale high-speed network infrastructure, accelerating 4K video streaming and AV-over-IP applications.

"As enterprises grow in scale and the number of networked devices increases, the demand for switches also escalates, making the management of large network infrastructure more complex and challenging." said Jerry Deng, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "as QNAP's first L3 managed switch offering multi-port 10GbE networking and advanced L3 management features, QSW-M3224-24T not only fulfills the needs of low-latency and high-density 10G network applications, but also supports advanced IP routing and network segmentation management. QSW-M3224-24T is ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises to expand their LAN efficiently and securely within a limited budget."

NETGEAR, Inc., the leading provider of innovative and secure solutions for people to connect and manage their digital lives, today expanded its WiFi 7 mesh and standalone router lines with the new Orbi 770 Tri-band Mesh System and Nighthawk RS300 Router. NETGEAR's most affordable WiFi 7 products to date build on the company's promise to provide powerful WiFi performance and secure connectivity.

WiFi 7 Changes the Game
WiFi 7 unlocks 2.4 times faster speeds than WiFi 6, delivers low latency and better handles WiFi interference for families to seamlessly enjoy next gen 4K/8K streaming, video conferencing, gaming, and more. Since the launch of NETGEAR's first WiFi 7 offerings - Nighthawk RS700 and Orbi 970 - multi-gig internet speeds have become more affordable, work from home demands have remained steady, and more devices such as AR/VR headsets or AI-focused platforms like CoPilot+ have been introduced that require extreme low latency and higher throughput.

TP-Link, a leading global provider of consumer and business networking products, today unveiled the TL-WR1502X, a travel router that brings lightning-fast Wi-Fi 6 technology and robust security to nearly any location. Designed for the modern traveler, this pocket-sized device features two Gigabit ports and reaches dual-band Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps, ideal for 4K streaming, rapid file downloads, and smooth video calling on the move.

Featuring Wi-Fi modes for nearly any scenario, the TL-WR1502X travel router delivers Wi-Fi to users wherever they need it. Whether on the road or at home, users can stay connected while camping or in an RV by using USB tethering to convert their phone's data into a stable Wi-Fi network for all devices. With state-of-the-art VPN support, this router ensures a secure, private network even on public Wi-Fi, protecting data wherever a connection is made. With support for up to 1.2 Gbps on the 5 GHz band and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, the TL-WR1502X ensures fast Wi-Fi on-the-go.

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.

Razer also unveiled its new 11-port USB C Dock at CES 2024 show, and while it might not be interesting as the new Blade laptops or high-end gaming chairs, Razer is keeping up with the theme, making a simple USB C Dock feel like a premium device with its lightweight cnc aluminium chassis.

Razer USB C Dock comes with a total of 11 ports, including two standard USB 2.0 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one standard USB 3.2 Type-C port and one USB Type-C Power Delivery port with support for 20 V USB PD 3.0 charging of up to 100 W, HDMI port with support for 4K @ 60 Hz output, Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port, microSD UHS-I and SD UHS-I card slots, and 3.5 mm audio combo jack powered by Razer 7.1 Surround Sound. The Razer USB C Dock is now available in Black and Mercury color options and priced at $119.99.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today unveiled the half-width rackmount QSW-M3212R-8S4T L2 Web managed switch that features twelve 10GbE high-speed ports (eight SFP+ ports and four RJ45 ports) and Layer 2 management functions, providing an ideal networking solution for space-limited environments. SMB/SOHO users will benefit from the QSW-M3212R-8S4T by being able to connect more 10GbE network devices with different interfaces at an affordable price.

"With a 38% reduction in size, the full 10GbE QSW-M3212R-8S4T is only 8.1 inches (207 mm) wide, making it the top choice for IT administrators to deploy in constrained IT rooms," said Jerry Deng, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "Users can easily install one QSW-M3212R-8S4T along with another QNAP half-width rackmount switch in a 1U rack space for efficient physical space utilization and cabling."

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, today released the new Half-width Rackmount 16-port 10GbE switch series, including the L2 Web Managed QSW-M3216R-8S8T and the Unmanaged QSW-3216R-8S8T. The built-in eight 10GbE SFP+ and eight 10GbE RJ45 ports with backward compatibility fulfills the versatile demands of interfaces and speeds in high-speed network infrastructure. The half-width rackmount compact design also allows SMBs to flexibly deploy them in IT rooms or even on desks in offices.

"QNAP's best-selling all 10GbE switch series now releases two new half-width rackmount 16-port 10GbE models, offering more 10GbE ports to satisfy requirements for multiple high-bandwidth network devices in SMBs and offices. " said Jerry Deng, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "Managed and unmanaged models are available for easily upgrading to a full 10GbE high-speed LAN at an affordable price, and their small physical footprint makes them especially useful for businesses and organizations that lack physical space for dedicated IT hardware."

Amazon announced eero Max 7, its first Wi-Fi 7 mesh system and the fastest, most powerful eero yet. eero Max 7 combines the company's patented TrueMesh networking technology with the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard to dramatically increase speeds, avoid interference from neighboring networks, and improve mesh latency-and with 10 Gigabit Ethernet, it's now possible to download a 4K movie in 10 seconds or a 50 gigabyte video game in less than a minute.

"Connectivity is core to our everyday lives—we stream movies and TV, take video calls for work, play online games with our friends, and use an ever increasing number of connected devices," said Nick Weaver, co-founder and CEO of eero. "With tens of millions of eero devices around the world, we know customers notice even a millisecond delay when streaming a movie or gaming, want reliable connectivity in every corner of the home, and always look for faster speeds. eero Max 7 is the culmination of everything we've learned—this is an entirely new class of eero, built without compromise."

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today launched the QGD-1600 16-port Gigabit smart edge switch/cybersecurity switch and QGD-1602 8-port 2.5GbE and 8-port Gigabit smart edge switch/cybersecurity switch. Besides adopting Layer 2 network management and software defined features, the QGD-1600 and QGD-1602 supports running VMs to deploy VPN, firewalls, and network management functions. ADRA NDR software is also supported to provide the widest cybersecurity protection for all the connected LAN devices at the access switch layer.

"Our QGD smart edge switches innovatively integrate the functions of NAS and switches and have received positive feedback from our users," said Alex Shih, QNAP Product Manager, adding, "the addition of the affordable non-PoE models QGD-1600 and QGD-1602 provides a cost-effective all-in-one network solution with cybersecurity software for enhanced LAN security, or running VMs for more software applications."

When it comes to Intel powered mini PCs, Zotac is one of the main players in the market and its latest addition, the ZBOX Pro PI339 pico is an almost pocket friendly PC based on an Intel Processor N100. For those not familiar with Intel's N-range of CPUs, these are pretty much the E-cores from Intel's higher-end chips and Intel offers a range of options from two to eight cores. The N100 is a quad core part that peaks at a 3.4 GHz turbo frequency, has 6 MB of cache and a 6 W TDP. Zotac has paired the CPU with a somewhat meagre 4 GB of LPDDR5/LPDDR5X memory and there's no way to add more RAM to this system.

Storage is handled by a single M.2 slot that's compatible with PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe or SATA drives up to 2280 in size. In terms of connectivity the ZBOX Pro PI339 pico has a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports that are limited to 4K output at 60 Hz, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port and a barrel plug for power input. It's unfortunate that Zotac didn't go with USB-C for the power input, as it would've made the ZBOX far easier to power, since the supplied power adapter only outputs 20 Watts. There's also onboard WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support, although the rather large antennas are a somewhat odd addition to the small PC. Zotac claims to support Windows 11 / Windows 10 IoT ENT LTSC 2021, Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS Linux, but most likely any flavour of Linux should work. The ZBOX Pro PI339 pico measures 115 x 76 x 27 mm (WxDxH) and has a volume of a mere 0.27 litres. No word on pricing as yet.

VisionTek Products LLC (VisionTek), a recognized leader in the field of high-performance upgrades and accessories for PCs and Macs, today announced the introduction of the VisionTek VT4950 KVM docking station. This innovative product is the upgraded successor to the previously celebrated VT4900 KVM docking station and is designed to enhance the workflow of users in today's professional and remote work environments. The VT4950 enables users to seamlessly swap between two connected Windows, Mac, or Chromebook host systems with up to three 4K displays, accessories, and peripherals through a single USB-C connection to each.

"The VT4950 simplifies the process of switching between systems, saving users valuable time and making their workflow more efficient," said Nick Bill, director of product development and product marketing. "This frees these users from the tedium of unplugging and reconnecting everything as they switch between systems, resulting in significant time savings."

Electronics brand JSAUX is celebrating its seventh anniversary during July and it has announced a new batch of Steam Deck accessories: the RGB Docking Station and the RGB transparent backplate are now available, following the release of the transparent front plate and the redesigned transparent backplate. JSAUX is also planning to release an anti-glare screen for Steam Deck later this month. More info about each product below:

The RGB docking station is the latest feature on JSAUX's family of docks for the Steam Deck. This new product features better compatibility, a total customization of the RGB lighting, and comes in two versions: 12-in-1 and 8-in-1, offering different connectivity options.

We've seen all kinds of devices integrate E Ink technology over the years, ranging from USB flash drives to keyboards and of course eReaders. However, Philips decided it was a good idea to stick one next to a 1440p display in its forgetably named 24B1D5600 monitor. The 23.8-inch 2560 x 1440 monitor has the E Ink display attached to its right side and the E Ink display is attached on hinges and can be angled up to 45 degrees towards the main display. The E Ink display measures 13.3-inches and has a resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels.

Although originally revealed at CES 2022, it seems to have taken Philips quite a while to bring it to market, although it appears to have been on sale in Asia for at least a couple of months by now. The main display features an IPS panel with a 75 Hz refresh rate and a brightness that tops up at a mere 250 cd/m². It has a typical IPS contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a grey to grey response time of 4 ms. However, it also doubles as a docking station for a notebook, as it has a USB-C input that supports USB PD 3.0 up to 90 W and it has a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port. It also sports a DP 1.2 input and a four port USB Type-A hub, plus an audio output. One quirky thing is that the E Ink display requires its own input which is via a USB-C port that supports DP Alt mode and that is capable of outputting 15 W of power to an attached device. The 24B1D5600 retails for around US$620 in Asia.

ASUSTOR Inc. today launched two of its fastest NAS devices ever, the all-NVMe Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro. The biggest feature of the Flashstor series NAS is that this is ASUSTOR's first dedicated PCIe 3.0 M.2 NVMe SSD NAS, which brings unmatched performance in a NAS device. The Flashstor 6 has six M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs and dual 2.5GbE for amazing performance while the Flashstor 12 Pro comes with twelve M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs combined with 10GbE for unmatched speed. Both Flashstor models are equipped with Intel's newest generation of 10 nm Quad-Core Intel Celeron N5105 that boosts up to 2.9 GHz. With 4 GB of energy-efficient DDR4 -2933 RAM that provides 40% more efficiency and dual USB 3.2 Gen 2x1, the Flashstor ensures that bottlenecks are a thing of the past.

The advantages of the Flashstor include, but are not limited to, are its low weight to be used as portable storage while efficiently cooled and quiet. The Flashstor series is specifically designed M.2 SSDs and the chassis makes it easy to add or remove SSDs by removing the chassis screws. The design of the Flashstor not only makes it look great in any environment, but also contains efficient hardware that ensures it can chew through virtually any storage or editing workload thrown at it while keeping hardware and SSDs cool. For extra cooling, the Flashstor comes with heatsinks to help more powerful SSDs to receive the cooling they need for optimal performance while remaining quiet at as low as 18.7 decibels. This ensures that content creation and consumption is enjoyed without interference.

Syntech, an innovative manufacturer of quality and affordable electronic accessories and consumer technology products, has today announced the launch of its new 6-in-1 USB-C Docking Station for Steam Deck. Providing users with 6 different ports to meet most needs, and the ability to output to a 4K monitor or TV at 60Hz, it is a handy and ergonomically designed gadget to complement a Steam Deck gaming setup. The Syntech 6-in-1 Docking Station for Steam Deck is available for £39.99/$39.99 on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

To date, there's something of a shortage of actual USB4 devices on the market and to date it appears that VLI with its VL830 endpoint device controller is leading the market. Although we can't be certain that Anker's new 568 USB4 Type-C hub uses the VL830, the VLI chip has appeared in almost all similar devices on the market and the specs suggest it's built around the VL830. The Anker 568 supports a single USB4 input, fortunately it doesn't rely on a captive cable as it has a standard USB-C port as the input. Thanks to a 180 W power input via a 20 V 9 A power brick, it can charge laptops up to 100 W via the USB-C port.

Outputs consist of one HDMI port capable of 4K 60p output and a pair of DisplayPort outputs, both capable of 8K 30p individually or 4K 60p when both are used. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port, four 5 Gbps USB-A ports and two USB 2.0 ports around the rear of the dock. The front houses a pair of 10 Gbps capable USB-C ports that can also deliver up to 30 W of power for charging various portable electronics. The MSRP for the Anker 568 is US$299.99.

With the new PRO and the FOCUS (E23), XMG introduces two laptop series on a similar hardware basis: Both feature Intel's Core i9-13900HX and NVIDIA graphics cards up to the GeForce RTX 4070. While the PRO 15 and PRO 17 are slightly thinner as gaming workstations and boast more extensive connectivity, the FOCUS scores at a more affordable price and is not only available in 15.6 and 17.3-inch versions, but also in a 16-inch format. For the laptops originally designed as an entry-level series, the hardware upgrades mean a significant upgrade: the FOCUS series moves closer to the PRO laptops.

The key components found in the new XMG PRO 15 and PRO 17 as well as the XMG FOCUS 15, FOCUS 16 and FOCUS 17 are almost identical. All laptops employ Intel's Core i9-13900HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores, 16 E-cores) and 32 threads. The freely configurable graphics card options each include NVIDIA's new, DLSS-3-capable GeForce RTX 4050 (FOCUS only) as well as 4060 and 4070 (FOCUS and PRO) with a maximum graphics power rating of up to 140 watts (115 watts TGP plus 25 watts Dynamic Boost 2.0). However, since the clock behaviour and the actual power consumption of the GPUs in the new generation are subject to much more restrictive, application-specific specifications from NVIDIA, the maximum values are only achieved in synthetic stress tests such as Furmark - according to the official requirements of the graphics chip manufacturer.

Last month, Philips introduced a pair of 40-inch ultrawide monitors targeting office work, both with a resolution of 3440 x 1440 pixels. Now the company has introduced a pair of larger 45-inch displays for the same target market, but with a wider 5120 x 1440 pixel resolution and a 32:9 aspect ratio. The 45B1U6900C and 45B1U6900CH are largely identical as with the 40-inch models, with the differentiator being that the latter has a built-in 5 Megapixel webcam with support for Windows Hello. The other difference being that the 45B1U6900C sports one USB-C and one USB-B port for the KVM functionality, whereas the 45B1U6900CH is equipped with a pair of USB-C ports.

The display panel is of VA type with a refresh rate of up to 75 Hz and a typical response time of 4 ms. It has a brightness of 450 cd/m² and a typical contrast ratio of 3000:1. It's also DisplayHDR 400 certified. Outside of the USB inputs, these displays have two HDMI 2.0 inputs, a DisplayPort 1.4, with the USB-C ports on both models offering DP Alt mode, 10 Gbps data speeds and USB PD support up to 100 W. Both models have four downstream USB-A ports, one which supports fast charging and an additional USB-C downstream port that delivers up to 15 W of power. There's also Gigabit Ethernet and an audio jack, as well as a pair of built in 5 W speakers, making these displays decent docking stations at work. The stand is height adjustable and the display can be tilted and swivelled, but not rotated, for obvious reasons. No pricing is available at the moment, but both models should be available shortly.

Qualcomm Technologies' 6th generation modem-to-antenna solution is the first ready to support 5G Advanced, the next phase of 5G. It introduces a new architecture, a new software suite and includes numerous world's first features to push the boundaries of connectivity including coverage, latency, power efficiency and mobility. Snapdragon X75 technologies and innovations empower OEMs to create next generation experiences across segments including smartphones, mobile broadband, automotive, compute, industrial IoT, fixed wireless access and 5G private networks.

Snapdragon X75 is the first Modem-RF System with a dedicated hardware tensor accelerator, Qualcomm 5G AI Processor Gen 2, enabling over 2.5 times better AI performance compared to Gen 1 and introduces Qualcomm 5G AI Suite Gen 2 with new AI-powered optimizations to achieve better speeds, coverage, mobility, link robustness and location accuracy. The Qualcomm 5G AI Suite features advanced AI-based capabilities including world's first sensor-assisted mmWave beam management and AI-enhanced GNSS Location Gen 2, which uniquely optimize Snapdragon X75 for superior 5G performance.

Airvine, the first company to develop a multi-Gigabit-speed wireless backhaul system for indoor connectivity, today announced the general availability of its WaveTunnel product line. The shoebox-sized module mounts on ceilings and other interior high points to provide high speed connectivity for the ever-expanding menu of enterprise applications, whether IT (Information Tech) or OT (Operational Tech). WaveTunnel systems, which can be installed in hours, fill the broadband gap that exists within many large interior spaces by extending LAN reach or upgrading the performance of older 1 Gb/s Ethernet CAT 5 cables.

WaveTunnel operates in the interference-free 60 GHz band, where there is also plenty of spectrum to provide on first release a multi-Gb/s backbone connectivity capability. Typically, 60 GHz systems operate on a line-of-sight (LOS) basis. WaveTunnel, however, can penetrate most indoor walls as well as "beam steer" around corners, making it a true non-LOS 60 GHz system. This breakthrough capability greatly simplifies and expedites network set-up and operational readiness.

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a leading provider of networking solutions for any sized businesses, today announced the launch of the ENH500-AX, a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 5 GHz 2x2 outdoor wireless point to point client bridge. This innovative new product takes advantage of the latest Wi-Fi technology to deliver high-density transmissions between buildings and large outdoor properties without needing the complexity or costs of fiber cables. The EnGenius Wi-Fi 6 outdoor bridge boasts Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and features that significantly improve throughput, efficiency, and accommodates 8k ultra-HD video and heavy multi-application traffic with extended bandwidth over greater distances.

The ENH500-AX "invisible wire" bridge comes with Qualcomm Quad-Core ARM Cortex A53s @ 2.0 GHz CPU and is a game-changer for businesses looking to connect multiple buildings or extend their networks to outdoor spaces without the expense of running fiber cables. Designed for peak performance in harsh climates, EnGenius Fit Wi-Fi 6 outdoor access points feature IP55-rated waterproof and dustproof enclosures ensuring they can withstand harsh outdoor environments.

Back in February 2022 SiFive announced its partnership with Intel Foundry Services (IFS), to bring its "Horse Creek" SoC to market and now SiFive has announced that it's getting ready to launch its first development board on said SoC. This summer, SiFive will launch the HiFive Pro P550 development board, which will kick things up a serious notch when it comes to embedded SoC development boards, regardless of the CPU core the SoC is built around. The HiFive Pro P550 will be one of few microATX based embedded SoC development boards out there and so far, to our knowledge, the only one with a RISC-V based SoC. The Horse Creek SoC sports quad core, 2.2 GHz, 13-stage, triple-issue, out-of-order pipeline RISC-V RV64GBC CPU built on the Intel 4 node. The SoC also has a DDR5 5600 MHz memory interface, support for eight lanes of PCIe 5.0 and comes in a 19 x 19 mm FBGA package.

The HiFive Pro P550 will offer 16 GB of DDR5 memory, but based on the render of the motherboard, this is soldered to the board, rather than relying on standard DDR5 DIMMs. Furthermore, the board has two x16 PCIe 3.0 expansion slots, although it's unclear how many PCIe each slot features, as well as a PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 M-key slot for NVMe SSDs and a PCIe 3.0 M.2 E-key slot for a WiFi/Bluetooth module. The board also sports multiple USB/USB 3.0 ports and even a pair of USB-C ports. The press release also mentions both Gigabit and 10 Gbps Ethernet support, as well as support for onboard graphics and remote system management, without going into any further details. It'll be interesting to see if the Horse Creek SoC can deliver on its expected performance target, especially as SiFive has a lot to prove, especially as the company calls the RISC-V architecture inevitable.