ASUS today announced the ASUS Chromebook CR series of laptops, tailored to meet the needs of K-12 students. The ASUS Chromebook CR Series stands out as the ideal companion for students, whether engaged in in-person classroom learning or remote education. The rugged and modular design, featuring replaceable internal parts, guarantees both durability and longevity. With 11.6-inch or 12.2-inch Corning Gorilla Glass touchscreens and a 180° lay-flat or 360°-flippable hinge, the laptops offer flexibility for enriched educational experiences. This design fosters the adventurous mindset of modern students, ensuring an enjoyable and secure learning journey, whether they're engaging in online courses or in-class sessions—ready for every learning journey.

A trusted study partner
For K-12 students, an everyday-use laptop should be invincible. With lively and active users, scratches and knocks are an almost-inevitable part of their daily routine, so the ASUS Chromebook CR series features an all-round rubber bumper for extra peace of mind. The laptops also feature a rugged design that's tested to meet or exceed the MIL-STD-810H US military-grade standard, and use tough Corning

Acer today announced the launch of its new eco-friendly Vero projectors, designed to elevate home entertainment experiences while minimizing their environmental impact. Two new models are equipped with 4K UHD resolution and HDR10 compatibility to deliver stunning visuals and enhanced brightness with 4000 ANSI lumens from its laser/LED hybrid light source. The Acer Vero HL6810ATV comes with an Acer-exclusive Android TV embedded dongle design, giving users access to smart home features at their fingertips.

In line with the Vero line's advocacy for sustainability, the new laser projectors are designed to consume less power without sacrificing performance and offer long-lasting brightness consistency with up to a 30,000-hour lifespan. Their hybrid light source is also 100% mercury-free and the devices incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in their chassis and recycled paper for packaging.

Radxa is a Chinese manufacturer of various Arm based devices and something of a minor competitor to the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The company has just launched its latest product which is called the ROCK 5 ITX. As the name implies, it's a Mini-ITX form factor motherboard, which in itself is rather unusual for Arm based hardware to start with. However, Radxa has designed the ROCK 5 ITX to be a NAS motherboard and this is the first time we've come across such a product, as most Arm based boards are either intended for hobby projects, software development or routers. This makes the ROCK 5 ITX quite unique, at least based on its form factor, as it'll be compatible with standard Mini-ITX chassis.

The SoC on the board is a Rockchip RK3588 which sports four Cortex-A76 cores at up to 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This is not exactly cutting edge, but should be plenty fast enough for a SATA drive based NAS. The board offers four SATA 6 Gbps connectors via an ASMedia ASM1164 controller, each with an individual power connector next to it. However, Radxa seems to have chosen to use fan-header type power connectors, which means it'll be hard to get replacement power cables. The board also has a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 slot for an NVMe drive. The OS boots from eMMC and Radxa supports its own Roobi OS which is Debian Linux based.

BenQ, a global leader in display technology, unveiled today its newest photo and video monitor, the SW242Q. Joining BenQ's SW series, the 24.1-inch 2K monitor is designed with professional photographers and videographers in mind and features BenQ's exclusive AQCOLOR technology, third generation uniformity technology and Paper Color Sync for accurate color reproduction.

With wide gamut space at 99% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3 and Display P3 along with an aspect ratio of 16:10 at a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600, the SW242Q ensures color precision in every pixel. To achieve screen-wide color accuracy, BenQ's uniformity technology adjusts color and brightness in hundreds of sub-regions to maintain fine-tuning of the screen. The SW242Q's fine-coated panel also reduces reflections of the ambient light for less distractions, while BenQ's proprietary Paper Color Sync software helps photographers accurately and efficiently edit photos to showcase the screen-to-print transition in a preview.

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.

Today, Logitech International introduced Mevo Core, the next generation live streaming camera in the Mevo ecosystem. Mevo Core is a new intuitive 4K camera, built for live streaming and content creation, which can be fully controlled from a smartphone or tablet. Featuring a compact, sleek design with versatile mounting options, Mevo Core's interchangeable lens design gives streamers the freedom to accomplish high-quality results every time.

"We are on a journey to democratize live content creation for everyone at any skill level. Mevo Core embodies this value by bringing beautiful 4K DSLR level quality but with a fraction of the complexity of a traditional camera," said Otto Cedeno, head of Mevo. "Every single aspect, from adjusting the optical zoom, to setting the right focus are simple taps, making it an incredibly accessible pro-level camera, even for beginners."

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.

VITEC, a market-leading provider of IPTV, video streaming and digital signage solutions, is launching the MGW Diamond-H 4K HDMI encoder to further enhance its broad portfolio of HEVC encode and decode products. "VITEC is proud to introduce the MGW Diamond-H, a powerful compact 4K HDMI Encoder demonstrating our commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of our customers," says Richard Bernard, Head of Product Management, at VITEC. "With its impressive encoding capabilities, seamless integration features, and Power over Ethernet support, the MGW Diamond-H opens up new possibilities for IPTV distribution and video contribution across various industries."

The MGW Diamond-H, a portable 4K HDMI Encoder is a significant addition to VITEC's portable HEVC encoder product line, setting a new standard for quality, efficiency, and integration. With the ability to encode up to 4 channels from two HDMI inputs, the MGW Diamond-H empowers users to capture and stream content with unparalleled quality and minimal latency. The unit is designed to facilitate integration into existing setups. Featuring HDMI loop through, the MGW Diamond-H ensures a smooth workflow and enhanced connectivity with existing video equipment. For optimal reliability and power efficiency, the MGW Diamond-H can be powered via Power over Ethernet, streamlining installations and reducing the need for additional power sources.

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.

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, introduces the LX700-4K Laser Projector for Xbox. Designed exclusively for Xbox, the LX7004K features native 4K Ultra HD resolution, 3,500 lumens of brightness, and built-in Harman Kardon speakers for immersive big-screen audio and video experiences with images up to 300-inches.

ViewSonic again partnered with Microsoft to deliver the best gaming experience to Xbox series X/S consoles to develop the LX700-4K laser projector. It is compatible with the Xbox CEC (consumer electronics control), and features Xbox-exclusive resolution and refresh rate combinations. When used with other video sources, the LX700-4K runs with a 4.2 ms response time and 240 Hz refresh rate for super smooth gaming or video playback.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, introduces the BIH61-AHA industrial motherboard, designed for smooth, seamless industrial application from AIOT machines, Edge computing, HMI machine, Digital Signage and more. Built based on the Intel H610 chipset, the BIOSTAR BIH61-AHA motherboard is engineered to support the latest Intel Core i7/i5/i3 processors (LGA1700). Featuring the latest DDR5 technology with support for 2x DDR5-4800 MHz LONG-DIMM up to 96 GB max, it offers extensive customization to meet the intricate needs of various industries.

Targeting a diverse audience, from system integrators looking to build sophisticated AIoT machines to enthusiasts aiming to construct powerful automation or edge computing systems, the BIH61-AHA provides unparalleled connectivity and expansion options. With 10 COM ports, 5 PCI slots, dual Intel GbE LAN ports for reliable and high-speed network communication, extensive USB connectivity with 6x USB2.0 & 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and multiple storage interfaces, including 4x SATA 6 Gb/s and 1x M.2 M-KEY socket. Its support for a wide operating temperature range (0 ~ 60 degrees C) and ATX power input also ensures the motherboard's adaptability in challenging environments.

Cooler Master introduced the GA2501, its most affordable monitor, which is expected to raise the bar for what constitutes entry-level. This 24.5-inch planar monitor covers all the basics, but with a premium-looking design that doesn't come across as cheap. The monitor offers a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution using an IPS panel, that offers 84% coverage of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB; and 109% coverage of sRGB. Vital specs of this Full HD IPS panel include 1 ms (GTG) response time, 100 Hz refresh rate, 250 nits maximum brightness, and 1500:1 static contrast ratio. As it's an IPS panel, you of course get 178°/178° viewing angles. The panel is embedded into a 3-side thin bezel body.

There are two very interesting aspects about this monitor. Firstly, its connectivity that includes an HDMI and a D-Sub—that's right, you get legacy analog connectivity with this monitor. With this, you can have the native resolution, but at a reduced 75 Hz refresh rate. A D-Sub cable isn't included in the box, though. What is included, is an HDMI cable, since this is the monitor's sole digital input, and you need it for the full 100 Hz refresh rate. And now, the second very interesting aspect about this monitor is its price. In Europe, the Cooler Master GA2501 is selling for just 110€, including taxes. How's that for an entry-level product?

Roland announces BRIDGE CAST X, the latest addition to the growing family of BRIDGE CAST products for online gaming and livestreaming. BRIDGE CAST X is a powerful desktop interface and connection hub that allows streamers to simplify their setups and improve their content with Roland's renowned pro AV features. Multiple USB-C, HDMI, and audio ports provide simultaneous connectivity for computers, gaming consoles, and other devices, eliminating the need to repatch for different streaming scenarios. BRIDGE CAST X also includes an XLR mic input, assignable control pads, and support for thousands of royalty-free backing music titles via the BGM CAST service on Roland Cloud.

From online gaming to podcasting, vlogging, and other video content, BRIDGE CAST X keeps users focused on creating rather than fussing with cables and different pieces of specialized gear. The integrated design simplifies connections and reduces clutter, while the friendly panel is filled with controls for executing actions in real time while streaming.

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.

Chinese consumer electronics giant Hisense showcased its latest audio-visual innovations at the 2024 CES show in Las Vegas this week. The company unveiled massive, ultra-high-end televisions as well as advances in its Laser TV lineup. Headlining Hisense's CES showcase was the 110UX, a 110-inch television with 40,000 backlighting zones and a searing 10,000 nits peak brightness. With unmatched contrast and brightness, Hisense calls it one of the most impressive 100+ inch TVs ever made. Also on display was the 98UX, a 98-inch set capable of 144 Hz refresh rates alongside over 10,000 local dimming zones. Beyond these flagship models, Hisense also introduced its thinnest Mini LED TV to date - the 75UX. At just 14 millimeters thin, Hisense claims it sets a new industry benchmark for slim design without compromising picture quality.

IOGear unveiled a handful products relevant to content creators and creative professionals on the move, at the 2024 International CES. The star attraction here is the Quantum Thunderbolt 5 Dock Pro. It plugs into a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, putting out three Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, with display passthrough of dual 8K @ 60 Hz or triple 4K @ 120 Hz. The dock doesn't support the 120 Gbps Bandwidth Boost feature being mooted by Intel, but you'll definitely get 80 Gbps per direction. Also shown was the Quantum Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock, which supports up to one 8K @ 30 Hz display stream or dual 4K @ 60 Hz, within its 40 Gbps switching bandwidth. Both docks are TAA compliant.

Next up, we have the IOGear Upstream Pro 4-port HDMI to UVC mixer, which mixed and captures non-DRM HDMI inputs to PGM UVC video at resolutions of up to 4K @ 30 Hz. The Upstream Pro Seamless 2-port webcam matrix lets you switch between multiple web cameras within a live stream, so you can change the shot while you're live. There are also some handy adapters and cables. IOGear specializes in ports, cables and adapters of all shapes and sizes.

UGREEN just announced its NASync line of NAS servers at the 2024 International CES, and we went hands on. Our tour begins with the large NASync DXP8800 Pro 8-bay 3.5-inch NAS; and DXP6800 Pro 6-bay 3.5-inch NAS. These are powered by unspecified models of 12th Gen Core i7 and Core i5 processors, respectively, along with 8 GB of single-channel DDR5 memory, a 128 GB SSD for as their internal system disk, and dual 10 GbE networking interfaces. The two also feature their own HDMI display outputs from the UHD 700-series iGPUs, SD card readers, and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Next up, are the smaller NASync DXP4800 4-bay, and DXP2800 2-bay NAS; which are powered by Intel N-series SoCs that feature only E-cores; 8 GB of DDR5 memory, 32 GB of eMMC based system disks, an SD 3.0 card reader, and 2.5 GbE networking interfaces. The DXP4800 has two 2.5 GbE interfaces, while the DXP2800 has just the one. The star attraction is the NASync DXP480T Plus, an all-flash based NAS. It has pretty much the same underpinnings as the DXP6800, including a 12th Gen Core i5, 8 GB of DDR5 memory, and a 128 GB SSD as system drive; but comes with four M.2-2280 slots, each with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring. You get one 10 GbE networking interface, two Thunderbolt 4, an unspecified Wi-Fi + Bluetooth interface (possibly 6E), and an HDMI output from the iGPU of the Core i5.

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.

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.

Today, Lenovo announces its new Chromebox Micro media player during the Digital Signage Experience (DSE). The Lenovo Chromebox Micro is a new breed of Chromebox: an ultra-thin and affordable media player offering high performance, proven data security, and easier remote control and device management with ChromeOS.

The global digital signage market size was estimated at nearly USD 25 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent from 2023 to 2030.i Growth in the industry is being driven by innovation in consumer experiences in retail and hospitality, as well as smarter infrastructure in healthcare, education, and the enterprise.

BenQ has launched their latest Industry-leading dual source dock, the beCreatus DP310 Hybrid Dock, fitted with both USB-C and HDMI inputs. BenQ's latest product launch is aimed to support programmers, creators, designers, and editors to enhance their display productivity and efficiency when navigating different input sources. The new beCreatus DP310 Hybrid Dock, supports both hybrid and remote workers, allowing them to use their workstation as an entertainment hub.

The beCreatus DP310 Hybrid Dock enables users to seamlessly switch between inputs as needed, for both work, gaming and personal use. The two input sources-an USB-C and HDMI-have a dedicated button for switching, letting you go back and forth between sources with just one press of the button. Users can easily switch from editing to gaming to browsing with one button. With the USB-C input users can add new displays as needed to utilize the screen space required. The beCreatus DP310 Hybrid Dock has multiple inputs to allow users to connect to three monitors at 4K resolution, when utilizing the USB-C input, for maximum productivity and enjoyment.

AV Access, a leading provider of Pro AV and AV over IP solutions, is proud to present its latest innovation, the iDock C10 KVM switch docking station. This versatile device combines a dual monitor KVM switch and a 12-in-1 USB-C docking station, enabling users to control their desktop and laptop with two monitors and multiple peripherals, and switch between them seamlessly.

The iDock C10 4K KVM switch is designed to meet the needs of both home office and gaming enthusiasts. It features a USB-C (MST) input port for a laptop and an integrated HDMI + DisplayPort input port for a desktop computer. It also provides shared peripheral ports including 3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB-C, 1x SD card, 1x LAN, 1x Toslink out, 1x 3.5 mm headset, and two HDMI outputs.

Intel today released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4972 beta fixes an issue with "Starfield" posting lower than expected performance with game patch version 1.8.86 on Arc GPUs. The drivers don't include any new performance updates or bug fixes, but Intel has taken the opportunity to identify a few new issues to address in its future driver updates, spanning games such as "Ghostrunner 2," "Total War: Pharaoh," "Dead by Daylight," and Topaz Video AI. Grab the driver from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4972 Beta

Targus, the number one laptop bag brand in the US1 and a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, today announced the availability of its new USB-C Dual Host Hybrid Triple Video KVM Docking Station with Dual 100 W Power (DOCK750). This flexible hybrid/universal dock enhances the capabilities of a single docking station by allowing users to connect and simultaneously power and control two different host devices across up to three monitors and multiple downstream peripherals via a single dock.

"By bringing dual host with KVM-sharing capabilities to a dock, enterprise users can quickly and easily operate two laptops or switch between them, while keeping them powered and connected through the docking station," explains Ron DeCamp, Vice President, Global Product Management & Development. "This makes it faster and easier than before to perform common tasks like standardizing desks for mobile and desktop users, plugging into a workspace for quick collaboration, or transitioning between a work and personal computer at home. By expanding the capabilities of a single docking station, DOCK750 is also an excellent solution to optimize the use of valuable workspace and reduce desktop clutter."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Swift Pro PG248QP, featuring an innovative FHD (1920 x 1080) 540 Hz (OC) Esports-TN (E-TN) panel for the smoothest and clearest visuals ever. It's the fastest gaming monitor available today and is up to 50% more responsive than traditional TN panels. The PG248QP boasts numerous features that will appeal to esports gamers, including NVIDIA G-SYNC Ultra Low Motion Blur 2 (ULMB 2) technology for supersmooth visuals, the NVIDIA Reflex Analyzer for measuring system latency, and a unique base with retractable claws to free up more desktop space for a keyboard and mouse.

Made for esports pros
This groundbreaking ROG Swift Pro esports gaming monitor series pushes the boundaries of speed and responsiveness to provide pro gamers and enthusiasts with unparalleled gaming experiences. The PG248QP uses a 24.1-inch E-TN panel to deliver stunning visuals at a buttery-smooth 540 Hz (OC), making it the fastest gaming monitor available. Its features include an adjustable base with retractable claws that ensure a smaller desktop footprint, leaving more space for a keyboard and mouse. The PG248QP meets the requirements of DisplayHDR 400 certification to immerse gamers in incredibly lifelike gaming worlds bursting with color.