With the reality of high performance Arm processors from Apple and Qualcomm threatening Intel's market share in the client computing space, Intel is working on learner more PCB-efficient client SoCs that can take the fight to them, while holding onto the foundations of x86. The first such form-factor of processors are dubbed -MX. These are essentially -U segment processors with memory on package, to minimize PCB footprint. Intel has fully integrated the PCH into the processor chip with "Meteor Lake," with PCH functions scattered across the SoC and I/O tiles of the processor. An SoC package with dimensions similar to those of -UP4 packages meant for ultrabooks, can now cram main memory, so the PCBs of next-generation notebooks can be further compacted.

Intel had recently shown Meteor Lake-MX packages to the press as a packaging technology demonstration in its Arizona facility. It's unclear whether this could release as actual products, but in a leaked company presentation, confirmed that its first commercial outing will be with Lunar Lake-MX. The current "Alder Lake-UP4" package measures 19 mm x 28.5 mm, and is a classic multi-chip module that combines a monolithic "Alder Lake" SoC die with a PCH die. The "Meteor Lake-UP4" package measures 19 mm x 23 mm, and is a chiplet-based processor, with a Foveros base tile that holds the Compute (CPU cores), Graphics (iGPU), SoC and I/O (platform core-logic) tiles. The "Lunar Lake-MX" package is slightly larger than its -UP4 predecessors, measuring 27 mm x 27.5 mm, but completely frees up space on the PCB for memory.

In a major leap forward for high-performance computing, Venom Computers announced the launch of its newest model: the BlackBook Zero 14" Phantom G9. The Phantom G9 is the latest example of Venom's commitment to blending unmatched power with conscientious sustainability and is designed for Venom's exclusive users, who include discerning professionals and informed tech enthusiasts.

"The Zero 14 Phantom isn't just about leading-edge specs, though we're proud of those," said Jaan Turon, Director of Venom. "This new model also embodies our dedication to longevity and service in what we call the Venom Value Cycle: a sustainable ethos that benefits both customers and the environment."

Apple today unveiled the new 24-inch iMac featuring the amazing M3 chip, making the world's best all-in-one even more powerful and more capable. Thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon, the new iMac delivers a huge leap in performance in its remarkably thin design and spectrum of seven vibrant colors that users love. iMac with M3 is up to 2x faster than the prior generation with M1.1 And for those upgrading from an Intel-based iMac, the new iMac is up to 2.5x faster than the most popular 27-inch models, and 4x faster than the most powerful 21.5-inch model. It also features an expansive 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels and over a billion colors, faster wireless connectivity, and a seamless experience with iPhone. Combined with its best-in-class camera, speakers, and mics, along with macOS Sonoma, iMac with M3 is better than ever—perfect for everyone, from families to small businesses, aspiring creatives, students, and gamers. Customers can order the new iMac starting today, with availability beginning Tuesday, November 7.

"We're excited to give iMac a big boost in performance with the M3 chip," said John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. "Millions of users absolutely love iMac for its stunning design and expansive 24-inch, 4.5K Retina display that's the perfect size to spread out with all their favorite apps and get things done. And now M3 brings even more speed to everything users do, whether multitasking, creating captivating images and videos, working on a business plan, or playing their favorite games. The new iMac with M3 is incredible for anyone, especially those who haven't yet upgraded from Intel, providing a giant leap in performance and capabilities only possible with Apple silicon."

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solution innovator, today announced TVS-h674T / TVS-h874T Thunderbolt 4 NAS. By employing a Network Attached Storage (NAS) designed exclusively for creators and video productions on existing file-based workflows, users may enjoy boosted productivity and safeguard precious creative works with amazing efficiency.

• TVS-h674T-i5-32G: 6-bay 3.5" SATA HDD Thunderbolt NAS; 12th Gen Intel Core i5 6-core/12-thread Processor; Intel UHD Graphics 730; 32 GB DDR4 RAM
• TVS-h874T-i7-32G: 8-bay 3.5" SATA HDD Thunderbolt NAS; 12th Gen Intel Core i7 12-core (8P+4E) /20-thread Processor; Intel UHD Graphics 770; 32 GB DDR4 RAM
• TVS-h874T-i9-64G: 8-bay 3.5" SATA HDD Thunderbolt NAS; 12th Gen Intel Core i9 16-core (8P+8E) /24-thread Processor; Intel UHD Graphics 770; 64 GB DDR4 RAM

Lenovo has unveiled the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4, setting a new standard for all-in-one (AIO) business desktop computers. Designed to address the needs of modern workplaces and content creators, this powerhouse Windows 11 PC wows with a massive 27-inch QHD display and is equipped with smart features that enhance connectivity, privacy, and usability.

"Modern businesses require more than just a high-performing PC, they need solutions that are smart and intuitive, reliable and efficient, and empowers them to create a multi-device ecosystem seamlessly," said Sanjeev Menon, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Desktop Business in Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "In this evolving hybrid environment, employees use an average of 2.5 devices for work and would like to be provided with both desktops and laptops to allow them to be more productive. Lenovo's ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is the answer for businesses looking for synergy and to make workspaces more flexible, streamlined, and productive."

Western Digital today introduces new solutions from its SanDisk brand and SanDisk Professional line ahead of IBC2023, further enriching its ecosystem of digital content storage solutions for the broadcasting, media and entertainment industry. These pro-grade products, which include two new desktop hard drive solutions and a memory card, offer the quality and dependability required for production-level video workflows without compromising the premium design.

"It is exciting to see Western Digital continue to expand its Thunderbolt offerings, which provide the higher-end capabilities and reliability that the media and entertainment industry needs," said Jason Ziller, General Manager, Client Connectivity Division, Intel Corporation. "By utilizing the power of our Thunderbolt technology, enterprise-class hard drives and multi-device connectivity solutions support prosumers and creative professionals, and their increasingly complex demands and innovative use cases."

Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for 40 years, today announced 8 new products across its power, audio and connectivity categories, underscoring Belkin innovation, quality and its commitment to building products more responsibly. Belkin International can be found on the IFA show floor, Exhibit Hall 3.2, booth #119.

Wireless Charging

BoostCharge Pro Universal Easy Align Wireless Charging Pad 15 W
Delivers a fast and seamless charge for Qi-enabled devices at up to 15 W. The large charging surface provides easy alignment, and its non-slip grip material keeps it in place if jostled or vibrates from an incoming call. It's designed with two separate thermal protection systems to control temperatures and prevent overheating of the charger and connected devices.

Explore the possibilities of what you can create on a bigger canvas with incredible detail (218 PPI) and true color accuracy. The ViewFinity S9 is Samsung's first 5K high resolution IPS display designed for creators (5,120 x 2,880). The 27-inch display offers DCI-P3 99% color gamut and 600 nits of brightness to deliver the color saturation and detail that brings your ideas to life. You can see improved image shadow and highlight details and preserve screen color accuracy with a Matte Display that works to drastically reduces light reflections.

ViewFinity S9 is also Pantone Validated, offering authentic reproduction of more than 2,000 Pantone colors and 100 Pantone SkinTone shades on screen. To customize the display calibration for different projects, the S9 can use your smartphone to adjust settings like DCI-P3 or sRGB color space, color temperature, luminance, and gamma. Smart Calibration allows for simple and intuitive customization without the need for additional, complex calibration tools.

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), the global leading motherboard, mini PC, notebook, mobile device, and smart solution provider, will attend Europe's largest and the most iconic consumer electronics trade show, IFA Berlin 2023, to exhibit a series of new laptops for education and business.

Optimize Cloud-Based Learning & Teaching: A New Series of Education Chromebooks Can Fulfill Teachers' and Students' Different Needs
After the world enters the post-pandemic era, there are enormous changes in both teaching and learning modes. Meanwhile, digital trend is arising. To meet various requirements from education fields, ECS launches the brand new SG20, SE40, and EP20 education PC series. These thin and ultraportable laptops feature rugged chassis certified by MIL-STD-810H tests. Equipped with Chrome OS, their battery life can last up to 10 hours. Besides, they support 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 6, which is ideal for remote learning.

World-renowned mobile accessory brand Spigen announced its newest series to their charging power accessory lineup: Spigen ArcDock Pro Multi Hub 6-in-1 and Spigen ArcDock Multi Hub 8-in-1.

Spigen ArcDock Pro Multi Hub 6-in-1 has 2 USB-C ports, 2 USB-A ports, 1 HDMI and 1 ethernet port. Compatible with USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, each USB-C and USB-A port is faster than USB 3.0, with a 10 Gbps data transfer speed. Also, the HDMI port of the Spigen ArcDock Pro Multi Hub 6-in-1 supports up to 8K@60 Hz. Lastly, with pass-through charging, it provides USB PD 85 W charging power.

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."

Durabook, an innovator in purpose-built, rugged computing solutions, today announced upgrading its U11 Rugged Tablet with the 12th Gen Intel processor and other architectural innovations that establish it as the most versatile 11-inch rugged tablet. The U11 rugged tablet solution goes above and beyond standard requirements to elevate the professional user's experience.

Upgrading the U11 CPU to the latest Intel 12th generation Alder Lake platform, with Intel Core i7 and i5 processors, is significant in part because it enables performance up to 225% faster than the previous, 10th Gen CPU. Sporting the Coolfinity fanless thermal solution lets the U11 tablet operate quietly while offering higher reliability and decreasing downtime and repairs that negatively impact productivity. Delivered with Intel Iris Xe Graphics boosts the U11's computing power to process large amounts of data, images, and video feeds in real-time. Packing these and a trove of functions and features into a rugged tablet appeals to professional users that desire the utmost performance with the ease of a tablet.

Sparkle Computer and Intel, longstanding Thunderbolt development partner since 2015, have announced a new partnership to launch the SPARKLE Intel Arc Series Graphics Cards. With a wealth of experience producing quality industrial graphics cards, ODM solutions and peripherals, Sparkle is now expanding our reach into the consumer graphics business.

"We value this collaboration and we are fully prepared," says Willie Huang, General Manager of Sparkle Computer Co., LTD. "Sparkle is dedicated to creating a creator-friendly working environment, ranging from industrial graphics, external GPU to docking stations.... As the last piece of the puzzle, Sparkle Intel Arc Graphics, featuring an advanced Xe Media engine and AV1 encoder, has fully completed our product line and fulfilled the requirement of the desktop community"

KVM switches are either one of those things you need or you don't have much use for, however Sabrent has launched a new Thunderbolt 4 based KVM switch that differs from your average KVM switch in a few ways. As any KVM switch, it allows two computers to share peripherals and displays, but it also supports up to 60 Watt USB PD charging of laptops. The latter is something Sabrent has offered on its USB-C KVM switches, but this time around the power adapter for the KVM switch handles both devices, unlike its USB-C KVM switches which required a USB-C PD charger per device, with the power being passed through the KVM switch.

The Thunderbolt 4 KVM switch lacks any traditional display outputs, relying entirely on Thunderbolt 4 for display connectivity, although DP Alt mode over USB-C is supported and each output supports up to 8K 60 Hz output with DSC 1.2 or 5K 60 Hz without DSC. The KVM switch supports three Thunderbolt 4 devices, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A devices and two inputs via Thunderbolt 4, with all USB ports supporting data speeds of up to 10 Gbps. It also comes with a switch button, which means you can hide the KVM switch out of sight and still have easy access to switch between devices. Sabrent is asking for US$299 for its Thunderbolt KVM switch, which is a steep premium over its USB-C KVM switch which is currently selling for US$119.99.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today launched the top-grade water-cooled external graphics - AORUS RTX 4090 GAMING BOX. AORUS RTX 4090 GAMING BOX is equipped with the most powerful NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture - GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card and the Thunderbolt 3 high-speed transmission interface. It endows ultrabooks with 3D computational performance beyond imagination, transforming ultrabooks into game platforms with full ray tracing and becoming a reliable assistant for creators, creating an unprecedented work efficiency experience. In addition, the AORUS WATERFORCE Cooling System is the only solution that combines performance and comfort, allowing users to enjoy a quiet and comfortable environment while handling heavy work.

The AORUS RTX 4090 GAMING BOX is the top-of-the-line water-cooled external graphics box in the market. It enables users to enjoy top-level GeForce RTX 4090 performance with independent high-wattage and stable power supply, while enjoying a quiet and comfortable environment. AORUS has minimized the size of the GAMING BOX, taking up minimal desktop space, making it the ideal companion for ultrabooks.

For those waiting for a 5K2K or 5120 x 2160 gaming monitor, it seems like you're going to have to wait a while longer yet, as LG's latest addition in the ultrawide 4K category is targeting professional users. The 39.7-inch Nano IPS based display tops out at a brightness of 300 cd/m² and it has a typical IPS contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a response time of 5 ms grey to grey, with a colour gamut that meets 90 percent of the DCI-P3 standard. Rather interestingly, it has a maximum refresh rate of a rather unusual 72 Hz, rather than the somewhat more common 75 Hz and there's support for AMD FreeSync for those that still want to game on the monitor. The panel is curved, but LG doesn't mention the actual curvature, but a guess would be somewhere between 1800R to 1500R.

However, what makes this display stand out is that it features Thunderbolt 4 and it can be daisy chained with a second, identical display, although this drops the refresh rate down to 60 Hz on both panels. It delivers up to 96 Watts of power over the Thunderbolt port, which means it would power most notebooks that don't feature a discrete GPU. Other connectivity options include a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI ports, which are limited to 3440 x 1440 resolution, a pair of USB 3.0 ports on the side as well as a headphone jack around the back. The display also has a pair of integrated 10 W speakers and sports a stand with height, tilt and swivel adjustments. The 40WP95CP-W is said to retail for around €1,339, but most retailers seem to list it for around €1,400 or more at the moment.

Apple hardware hoarders do exist - a friend told me that he'd only just replaced a 2013 vintage 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro this month - these folks continue to enjoy repairs or miscellaneous services at Apple Stores and authorized service providers on some products. Unfortunately there is potential bad news for preservationist owners of the original Thunderbolt Display and the first generation iPad Air tablet - a leaked internal memo suggests that Apple has decided to add these two antiques to their end-of-life (EOL) device list, according to MacRumors. Apple's Thunderbolt Display was released back in the summer of 2011, the company boasted that its fancy 27-inch 1440p monitor was the world's first display with Thunderbolt I/O technology (at the time), the asking price was $999. Alongside its requisite Thunderbolt I/O port (designed to connect to compatible Mac Notebooks), the monitor had a number of other spiffy features including an in-built 720p webcam, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

Apple stopped making the Thunderbolt Display in 2016, and customers had to wait another six years for a successor to turn up - the Studio Display launched alongside the Mac Studio in March 2022. The original (1st gen) iPad Air was released on November 1 in 2013. It was the first entry in the iPad tablet family to feature a thinner design - its standard (non-Air) predecessors were a bit chunkier in comparison. It was discontinued in March of 2016, and Apple has so far released five generations of iPad Air products - last year's model debuted with the ARM-based M1 chipset.

LG Electronics USA launched the latest addition to its new 2023 LG gram laptop lineup - the LG gram SuperSlim. Designed with ultra-portability in mind, LG's gram SuperSlim laptops measure at just .43-inches thick, making it the thinnest LG gram ever. Exclusively available now at LG.com, customers who purchase an LG gram SuperSlim laptop through May 14 will receive a free LG gram +view portable monitor ($349.99 ARV). The LG gram SuperSlim will also be available at LG-authorized retailers by mid-May.

The LG gram SuperSlim is equipped with Intel's Evo 13th Gen Processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics as well as a brilliant 15.6-inch anti-glare OLED display with a 100 percent DCI-P33 color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR True Black, delivering exceptional image resolution with true-to-life detail and stunning, deep black levels.

ASUS today announced the exciting new Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304), the world's slimmest 13.3-inch OLED laptop. It's also the most eco-friendly Zenbook ever, and takes the brand's signature qualities of ultraportable design, sustainability and on-the-go performance to a new level, proving conclusively that less can be more.

With a world-beating super-slim 1 cm profile and a super-light 1 kg chassis, the sophisticated Zenbook S 13 OLED delivers no-compromise performance, connectivity and battery life, making it the epitome of ultraportable design, and finished in brand-new Basalt Gray or classic Ponder Blue. It's also designed with the environment and carbon neutrality firmly in mind, using recycled metals and plastics in its construction, FSC Mix-certified packaging, an elegant new eco-friendly plasma ceramic aluminium for the Basalt Gray model, and halogen-free electronics, to make this the most eco-friendly Zenbook model we've ever produced.

ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, today launched Pocket AI - the first ever ultra-portable GPU accelerator to offer exceptional power at a cost-effective price point. With hardware and software compatibility, Pocket AI is the perfect tool to boost performance and productivity. It provides plug-and-play scalability from development to deployment for AI developers, professional graphics users and embedded industrial applications.

Pocket AI is a simple, reliable route to impressive GPU acceleration at a fraction of the cost of a laptop with equivalent GPU power. Its many benefits include a perfect power/performance balance from the NVIDIA RTX A500 GPU; high functionality driven by NVIDIA CUDA X and accelerated libraries; quick, easy delivery/power via Thunderbolt 3 interface and USB PD; and compatibility supported by NVIDIA developer tools. For the ultimate portability, the Pocket AI is compact and lightweight - est. 106 x 72 x 25 mm and 250 grams.

ASUS today announced Chromebox 5 (CN67), a computer that combines exceptional performance with a contemporary design. The Red Dot Design Award-winning ASUS Chromebox 5 features a slim chassis that houses an efficient thermal solution for reliability, along with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with up to 32 GB DDR4 3200 memory, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. In addition to the expected DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI ports, ASUS Chromebox 5 also includes versatile Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for speedy data transfers, power delivery, and a connection to external displays. ASUS Chromebox 5 can support up to four 4K displays for stunning visuals and efficient productivity, and is the first Chromebox to feature an optional integrated 15-watt Qi-certified wireless charger that allows users to charge supported devices such as smart phones and earbuds simply by placing them on the top cover. With full support for Android apps from Google Play, ASUS Chromebox 5 allows users to easily download and experience all their favorite apps. The compact chassis can be stood on its side, laid flat, or VESA-mounted on a vertical surface, allowing ASUS Chromebox 5 to be used in a variety of environments, including schools, offices, and retail.

Lightning-fast Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 4 brings Thunderbolt connectivity to USB-C at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, along with DisplayPort 1.4 support. It's even compatible with USB4 to create one compact port that does it all—delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display, or data storage device.

Today at the Amplify Partner Conference, HP Inc. announced new products and solutions to usher in the next era of hybrid work for everyone with a comprehensive set of computing solutions for hybrid flexibility. With only 22 percent of workers describing themselves as 'thriving' in hybrid work, it's clear companies are still figuring out how to make hybrid work. "Most companies want to move past the 'forced return' to the office era of hybrid work," said Alex Cho, President of Personal Systems, HP Inc. "The challenge is, they're not sure how to. We believe the future is hybrid flexibility, which delivers the best of the home and the office to workers everywhere."

According to HP's Future of Work study, 80 percent of workers want to be in the office some of the time, but many companies continue to struggle to get workers back in the office. HP research suggests that the most significant barrier to a return to office is a sub-optimal technology experience. In fact, 89 percent say technology is the most important factor driving return to office decisions. Similarly, of those who report thriving in hybrid work, 90 percent believe that access to the right technology and tools leads to a positive work experience. To accelerate employees' return to work, the right technology is required for optimal work setups, enabling success for companies and their employees.

ASUS today announced refreshed models in the ultralight, kilogram-class ExpertBook B5 laptop series—ExpertBook B5 (B5402C) and ExpertBook B5 Flip (B5402F).

Available in both traditional clamshell and 360°-convertible forms for the ultimate in portability, flexibility and clarity, the latest ExpertBook B5 models feature expansive 14-inch displays and are packed with the latest high-performance and enterprise-grade security technologies, including up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel vPro support and Intel Iris Xe graphics, optional TPM 2.0, both face and fingerprint login, a physical webcam shield, AI noise cancelation for crystal-clear conferencing, ASUS NumberPad for fast data input and, with ExpertBook B5 Flip, a quick-charging garaged stylus.

TerraMaster, a professional brand that focuses on providing innovative storage products for homes and businesses, recently released new model of D6-320 6-bay external hard disk enclosure with USB3.2 Gen 2 protocol, providing a 10 Gbps data transmission bandwidth, and D6-320 supports up to 132 TB (22 TB x 6) storage space, which perfectly meet the professional requirement for speed and storage space at the same time. Adopt the USB3.2 Gen 2 protocol, D6-320 provides a 10 Gbps data transmission bandwidth, with the actual read/write speed up to 1,030 MB/s when 6 hard drives are installed (WD Red 8 TB x 6 simultaneously read/write); with only one hard disk installed, the read speed could reach 510 MB/s (WD Red 1 TB SSD x1).

D6-320 is equipped with a USB Type-C interface and a USB type-C cable (1 meter in length), and could be compatible with a variety of computer interfaces: USB 3.0/USB 3.1/USB 3.2/USB4 /Thunderbolt 3/Thunderbolt 4 (to connect it to the USB type-C interface on your computer, you need to purchase another USB type C-type C cable).

Dynabook Americas, Inc., formerly Toshiba PC Company, has announced that it has refreshed its ultralight Portégé X40L-K and performance-rich 14-inch Tecra A40-K and 15-inch Tecra A50-K laptops to include the new hybrid-architecture 13th Gen Intel Core P-Series 28 W processors. All three laptops also include Windows 11 Pro standard for an enhanced productivity and intuitive computing experience.

"Next generation computing solutions capable of exceeding the demands of modern businesses and individuals is vital to Dynabook's success," said James Robbins, general manager, Dynabook Americas, Inc. "The addition of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors with our own mobile innovations allows Dynabook to deliver uncompromising, premium mobile computing solutions that seamlessly integrate into any business or learning environment. The immense power these three new laptops deliver demonstrates Dynabook's unrelenting commitment to producing the market's best professional-grade computing solutions."