A lightweight M.2 SSD is a great way to add significant performance gains to any laptop or PC workstation. Silicon Power (SP) is releasing a new enclosure that will give your SSD the ability to not only achieve these gains but also take it wherever you go. The PD60 turns your M.2 M-key NVMe or SATA SSD into a portable hard drive for whenever and wherever you need it. Transfer data rapidly up to 10 Gbps via its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface with the included Type-C to Type-C cable. It's also backwards-compatible with USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 at their respective speed limits.

The aluminium body is durable enough to protect your SSD, yet light enough to toss in your bag and hardly notice it, making it the perfect travel companion. It also provides superior heat dissipation, which is further enhanced by its slide design, allowing excess heat to escape when the cover is removed.

When Intel launched its Tiger Lake processors for laptops, the company has foreseen a smooth integration by OEMs and plenty of design wins. While that has turned out to be true, there seems to be a big problem lurking in the OEM component supply chain. In the new Tiger Lake systems, the CPU carries support for Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 technologies. However, these protocols can not work on their own, as they require external power delivery controllers (PDC) to function. These PDCs are used to regulate and control all of the power circulating in the USB specification, and they come in a form of a separate chip. This chip is later integrated into PCBs of various systems implementing these technologies.

Today, we have a report coming from Igor's LAB, in which we are told that the availability of these chips could be very bad. Intel's OEMs are using Texas Instruments (TI) 994AD PDC, however, as the supply of these chips becomes scarce, OEMs are turning to TI 993AC/994AC chips. Intel advises OEMs, carrying these chips in their systems, to only communicate benefits of Thunderbolt 4 and exclude USB 4 mentions, or to communicate benefits of Thunderbolt 4 and reference USB 4 "compatibility." This means that every OEM using the alternative chips will get Intel's Thunderbolt 4 certifications, as the company plans to temporarily issue certifications with these chips included, while the supply chain regulates. TI's 993AC/994AC are assumed to not have the power and regulation capability of the USB 4 as the 994AD PDC can.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, and storage solutions innovator, today released the easy-to-use unmanaged switch QSW-2104 series, including the QSW-2104-2S (with 2-port 10 GbE SFP+ and 4-port 2.5 GbE RJ45) and the QSW-2104-2T (with 2-port 10 GbE RJ45 and 4-port 2.5 GbE RJ45). Featuring plug-and-play set up, near-silent fanless design, IEEE 802.3az compliance, and automatic loop detection and blocking, the QSW-2104 series provides the ideal choice for creating affordable high-speed network environments in homes and workplaces.

"Featuring 10 GbE and 2.5 GbE connectivity in one device, the QSW-2104 series can connect various bandwidth-demanding devices and helps users create a hybrid high-speed network in homes and workplaces. This is especially useful for accelerating file transfer, virtual machine applications, video streaming/sharing, and everyday tasks," said Frank Liao, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "for users looking to fully upgrade their network infrastructure, QNAP offers a range of 2.5 GbE/10 GbE-ready QNAP NAS and PCIe/USB adapters for desktops, servers, and laptops to take advantage of the game-changing bandwidth provided by next-generation networks."

USB Implementers Forum, the organization behind the development of the USB standard and its iterations, has today announced the latest revision to the USB-C standard. In the latest 2.1 version of the USB-C specification, we are in for a surprise when it comes to power delivery. With the previous 2.0 standard, USB-C was rated to deliver a minimum of 3 Amps at 20 Volts or carry a high-power 5 A current that is capable of delivering 100 Watts at 20 Volts. However, in the latest specification, the USB-IF has decided to bump up the power delivery target to a whopping 240 Watts.

This means that with the 2.1 specifications, the USB-C standard will be able to output as much as 48 Volts with a 5-Amp current. While this is a somewhat big change, that doesn't mean that you have to throw away your old USB-C cables. In the mode called Extended Power Range (EPR), the USB-C 2.1 will still work with all of the existing plugs. The plug is physically the same, however, for EPR to work it has changed the connector configuration a bit where pins for power delivery and USB 2.0 support can no longer short to ground, to prevent arcing when the cable is unplugged. The EPR cables will carry an electronic mark with them, so all of the devices will ask them how much power they can carry before transferring it over those cables. The 240 Watt bump will enable us to see more mobile devices, like laptops, with the ability to charge over a USB-C cable.

ROCCAT, Turtle Beach's (Nasdaq: HEAR) Hamburg, Germany-based PC gaming accessories brand, today launched a new color option for itsElo 7.1 Air wireless PC gaming headset. The Elo 7.1 Air is now available in a stand-out white color that is visually stunning with the headset's alluring AIMO RGB lighting. The black Elo 7.1 Air that originally debuted with the wired Elo 7.1 USB and Elo X Stereo, are also still available. The Elo Series headsets perfectly blend ROCCAT's award-winning design and innovation with Turtle Beach's unrivaled gaming audio expertise and exclusive audio technologies. Elo 7.1 Air is the premium wireless model in the series and has been lauded by reviewers and fans alike for its premium offering at $99.99 MSRP. In April 2021, RTINGS.com named ROCCAT's Elo 7.1 Air the Best Wireless Gaming Headset Under $100. The all-new Elo 7.1 Air white is available now at participating retailers worldwide and from www.roccat.com.

Phison Electronics Corp., a global leader in NAND flash controllers and a complete line of storage solutions, and Cigent Technology, Inc., the leader in embedded cybersecurity technology, today unveiled design details behind the partnership that has delivered the industry's first and only line of self-defending storage devices with cybersecurity built into the firmware itself to protect against ransomware, data theft and malicious insider theft.

Phison's innovative and robust NAND flash solutions support a broad range of applications including embedded, consumer, enterprise and automotive. The Phison Crypto-SSD is a line of TCG enabled Self-Encrypting Drives that are designed to pass FIPS 140-3 Level 2 certification. Phison is committed to data security which helps to protect business and government users against loss or theft. Phison's collaboration with Cigent expands the E12DC Crypto-SSD security architecture to add additional compute capabilities, attack detectors and sensors directly on the drive. Together with Cigent, Phison has created a product that raises the bar of data security to a whole new level.

SPC Gear, the gaming label of the European manufacturer SilentiumPC, announces a fresh, bright colour variant of the popular SM950 streaming microphone kit. The new edition is inspired by the rare mineral white onyx, known for its exceptional durability and unique appearance. SPC Gear designed the Onyx White variants with this qualities in mind while offering directional (cardioid) characteristics, ensuring good dampening of unwanted ambient noise. High-quality components on the other hand, allow for a warm, radio-like sound. Being a Plug&Play microphone, the SM950 does not require installing any additional software and is ready to be used straight out of the box. The physical mute button is conveniently located on top of the microphone and provides visual cues when mutes. With the SM950 series, SPC Gear offers a prefect kit for every streamer, YouTuber and musician, seeking an affordable full-fledged recording setup for streaming of games on Twitch or YouTube or recording of podcasts and voiceovers.

The world's leading memory brand, TEAMGOUP, has spared no effort in researching the latest technology in computer hardware storage. In Q1 of this year, we not only demonstrated our outstanding ability to lead the industry in DDR5 memory generation, but today we also announce a major technological breakthrough in storage products, including a UFD flash drive with read/write speed almost comparable to SATA III SSD, and the T-FORCE USB 3.2 external SSD with 8 TB capacity and a read/write sped of 2000 MB/s.

The most common USB flash drives in the past used the USB 2.0 specification, and the read/write speed is about 25/10 MB/s. TEAMGROUP's USB drive has the latest technology and adopts USB 3.2 Gen2 high-speed interface, and the actual transfer speed can reach about 600/500 MB/s, which is almost equal to the performance level of SATA III SSD, and the capacity is topped to 1 TB. TEAMGOUP will accompany consumers to the new generation with our strength in technology. With TEAMGROUP's compact USB drive, you can have the same performance as an external SSD that is the size of a sliced toast.

IBASE Technology Inc. (TPEx: 8050), IBASE, a leading provider of industrial motherboards and embedded systems, launches its latest 3.5" SBC IB953 powered by 11th Gen Intel Core processors (codenamed Tiger Lake). Measuring 146 x 102 mm in a compact footprint, the single board computer offers impressive I/O and computing performance, making it an ideal platform for a broad range of demanding applications in factory automation, machine vision, healthcare, as well as retail environments.

The IB953 features a 5G compatible M.2 3052 socket and the latest 11th Gen. Intel Core and Celeron processors built on 10 nm SuperFin process, delivering up to 25% faster performance and greater AI acceleration. With the Intel Core i7-1185G7 (IBASE model IB953AF-I7) comes the new Iris Xe (Xe-LP) graphics architecture supporting 96 EUs (Execution Units) which equals 768 cores and runs at 1.35 GHz, an increase of 250 MHz over the previous 11-gen graphics to provide up to twice the performance and improved power efficiency. The graphics engine's hardware acceleration can drive up to four simultaneous 4K HDR displays (via 2x DisplayPort + eDP and LVDS).

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, announces the latest B560MX-E PRO and B560MH-E PRO motherboards. Designed to support Intel's 10th/11th Generation Intel Core Processors and professional graphics cards, the new B560 series motherboards are highly versatile. Powered by Intel's B560 chipset, these two new motherboards are efficient and robust in any use case.

PCI-e 4.0 and PCIe M.2 4.0 & M.2 Cooling, among other cutting-edge technology, adds up to a great platform, tailor-made for business or even casual use. The two new motherboards support up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory across 4 DIMM with an overclocking capability of up to 4000+(OC)MHz. Backed by BIOSTAR's proprietary Digital PWM technology, the new B560MX-E PRO, and B560MH-E PRO motherboards are safe and long-lasting, capable of supporting the best hardware with ease. Both motherboards pack all the essentials in their rear I/O panel with almost identical layouts on a Micro-ATX form factor.

Akasa has added two new aluminium enclosures for M.2 drives to the current range of products. These are compatible with both SATA and NVMe drives and features USB 3.1 Generation 2 connectivity and UASP support, meaning you'll be making the most out of the super-fast data transfer speeds from your M.2 drive of up to 10 Gb/s.

The body on both enclosures are machined out of high-quality aluminium, ensuring a tight, safe fit for the closing mechanism. A tool-free design allows the installation of an M.2 SSD to be quick and easy, whilst also functioning as a heatsink to draw away excess heat from the drive. The sleek and simple Akasa logo finishes off the design perfectly, making the enclosure stand out from the crowd.

Seagate Technology, a world leader in data storage solutions, today announced two new additions to the company's line of PC gaming storage, the FireCuda Gaming Hard Drive and FireCuda Gaming Hub. Both new external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) solutions were designed for gamers who are looking to level up their battle stations with high—performing, mass capacity upgrades in a sleek enclosure.

Presented in a bold and refined design, the new FireCuda Hard Drive features RGB LED lighting that gamers can customize through Seagate's Toolkit software for an epic gaming atmosphere. It also features Razer Chroma RGB compatibility to synchronize users' Chroma-enabled gaming peripherals. The lightweight FireCuda Hard Drive is designed with USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection for universal compatibility and quick transfer speeds and is USB bus-powered, making it the winning choice for laptop and PC gamers on the go.

Skullcandy, the #1 selling brand in Stereo Headphones and True Wireless Earbuds under $100, announced today its all-new Dime True Wireless Earbuds. Priced at $24.99 MSRP, the latest solution outperforms other earbuds at the same price point, offering an affordable way to get into the true wireless game. Dime grants users the freedom to live without wires, combining expertly tuned audio with a noise-isolating fit and must-have features, like a microphone in each bud. Available now at Skullcandy.com and major retailers nationwide, Dime delivers a pocket-friendly, stylish form factor in a variety of colors that won't break the bank.

Dime is an ideal, everyday audio companion that boasts up to 12 hours of battery life, freeing users from the hassle of snagging, yanking and tangling wires. When earbuds are removed from the charging case secured with a snap lid, the buds automatically turn on. Easy connection offers a simplified listening experience that's perfect for those new to true wireless. Intuitive, touch-enabled media controls on the compact stick-style buds enable Dime users to effortlessly take calls, change tracks, adjust volume and activate native voice assistants like Google and Siri, all without ever reaching for their devices.

ASUS today announced Mini PC PB62, a durable computer that delivers powerful performance to provide flexibility, expandability and performance to suit a range of business applications, including digital signage, point-of-sales (POS) system, kiosks and intelligent vending machines. Mini PC PB62 is powered by the latest desktop-grade up to 11th Generation Intel Core processor and fast DDR4 3200 MHz memory.

Engineered for performance: 11th Gen Intel Core, DDR4 3200 MHz memory and Intel Optane
With the latest up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, Mini PC PB62 is caters for with support for either a 35- or 65-watt CPU - so it's ready to be specified for supreme efficiency or maximum performance. PB62 also has built-in support for Intel Optane H20 memory, the technology that greatly improves storage speeds, enables frequently-used documents, pictures, videos and applications to be accessed more quickly while improving overall system performance to maximize productivity and efficiency.

AMD has four weeks ago acknowledged that there was a problem with 500 series motherboard chipsets. The problem has occurred with a few chipset functions like USB connectivity, USB 2.0 audio crackling (e.g. DAC/AMP combos), and USB/PCIe Gen 4 exclusion. To fix these problems, consumers were forced to either put up with problems or lower the PCIe standard from Gen 4 to Gen 3 and switch USB protocol revision from 3.0 to 2.0. This of course wasn't the ideal solution, especially for bandwidth-heavy applications. Users have submitted many reports to AMD, and the company appears to have found a root cause of these issues. AMD has published a Reddit thread, that reports that the company found a solution to the problem and that we are going to see a fix for it in a form in AGESA BIOS update.

AMD RedditAMD has prepared AGESA 1.2.0.2 to deploy this update, and we plan to distribute 1.2.0.2 to our motherboard partners for integration in about a week. Customers can expect downloadable BIOSes containing AGESA 1.2.0.2 to begin with beta updates in early April. The exact update schedule for your system will depend on the test and implementation schedule for your vendor and specific motherboard model. If you continue to experience intermittent USB connectivity issues after updating your system to AGESA 1.2.0.2, we encourage you to download the standalone AMD Bug Report Tool and open a ticket with AMD Customer Support.

Users have recently been reporting various intermittent USB connectivity errors on AMD 500 series motherboards. AMD has acknowledged these issues in a recent Reddit post where they have asked affected users for more information to help them resolve the issues. The issues appear to be most commonly found when using VR headsets on X570 motherboards where intermittent connectivity issues are most noticeable. Some of the affected users report that the issues are most common when using a PCIe 4.0 GPU and that switching to PCIe 3.0 can sometimes resolve the issue. AMD is asking affected users to submit reports through their Online Service Request platform and will also contact users directly on Reddit to request detailed information.

Update Mar 9th:

AMD has provided some official guidance for affected users asking them to follow the solutions provided by Reddit such as disabling global C-States and switching to PCIe 3.0 mode if general troubleshooting has failed. AMD has reaffirmed that they were aware of the issue and that their engineers are actively working on a fix.

AAEON, an industry leader in Edge Computing solutions, announces the SRG-3352C Compact Edge IoT Gateway System. The SRG-3352C brings reliable, cost effective gateway operations with expandability and wireless communication support designed to quickly deploy edge networks in a variety of environments.
The SRG-3352C builds upon the features, durability and reliability of the SRG-3352 Edge IoT Gateway System with expanded support for more connections and wireless communications. All of this is packed into a compact form factor that makes deploying the SRG-3352C even easier, powering more flexible edge network deployments.

The SRG-3352C is powered by the Arm Cortex-A8 800 MHz RISC processor. This innovative processor reduces the energy requirements of the system, allowing for a more efficient system to help save electricity costs. While powerful enough to connect edge networks together, the low energy usage can help cities with achieving green energy goals, and even allow the system to operate on solar power or batteries. It also eliminates the need for dedicated heatsinks, allowing the system to operate in wider temperatures, from 0°C up to 60°C without loss in performance.

Cherry Americas, part of the global leader in computer input devices, today announced that the CHERRY KC 4500 ERGO ergonomic keyboard has been added to its portfolio. Through its unique design, the CHERRY KC 4500 Ergo is specifically built to allow hands, arms and shoulders to adopt a natural posture and provides hours of comfortable working.

The CHERRY KC 4500 ERGO is designed to be equally well suited for use in the office or home. As with all its products, CHERRY has placed great emphasis on maximizing ease of use, including three stand-up feet on the front side of the keyboard to enable users to change the angle of operation whether the user is sitting or standing. The inclusion of rubber feet on the keyboard prevents any slipping in all positions. The keyboard also comes with a soft palm rest that provides optimal positioning to allow users to rest their hands comfortably and prevent straining pressure points.

Intel has reportedly caught an ex-employee stealing confidential company files for the Xeon processor lineup. Dr. Varun Gupta, who left Intel last year to join Microsoft as Principal for Strategic Planning in Cloud and AI, has reportedly walked away with over 3900 files of confidential information. The stolen files, contain information about Intel's Xeon processors, pricing data, corporate strategies, and Intel's manufacturing capabilities of the chips. Dr. Gupta is being sued by Intel for 75,000 USD and liability to not use confidential Intel information again. The security forensics team at Intel has discovered that Dr. Gupta downloaded almost 4000 files on multiple USB drives, however, Dr. Gupta is denying these claims. We are waiting to hear more information about the situation as it evolves.

Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of high-performance quality PC components and peripherals. Sharkoon now presents the SKILLER SGK30. This is a mechanical keyboard which has durable mechanical switches, available with or without feedback, and should thus be suitable for prolific writers and casual gamers as well as eSports enthusiasts. It also has an integrated RGB illumination which can be customized thanks to the downloadable software.

Using the downloadable software of the SKILLER SGK30, numerous settings can be made, allowing the keyboard to be modified according to personal preference. Once created, the modifications can be saved in up to 20 game profiles. Also, thanks to the macro function, input commands can be created and saved, while preset function keys enable access to various multimedia actions.

Modern speakers are not only a source of sound, but also an element of interior design. The Genesis Helium 300BT ARGB speakers adhere to this trend, offering not only powerful sound, but also personalization options.

The Genesis Helium 300BT ARGB set are stereo speakers, which can be connected to a computer with a cable or wirelessly through the Bluetooth interface. The manufacturer equipped it with ARGB LED illumination, and the user has full control over it. LEDs which run around the membranes work with illumination systems from the most popular motherboard manufacturers. The compatibility list includes, but is not limited to, Polychrome RGB, Mystic Light Sync, RGB Fusion, and Aura Sync.

In an effort to make it as easy as possible to carry your data with you everywhere, Silicon Power (SP) is releasing 3 new USB flash drives. Despite their small size, these UFDs with OTG support and COB technology are offering plenty of storage space and durability that's reliable for daily mobile usage.

With up to 128 GB of storage capacity, the Mobile C20 is the perfect solution to gain additional storage space on next-gen devices with limited expansion ports, especially smartphones and tablets. Move data between USB Type-C devices easily, or free up space on them and quickly make room for new photos, videos, songs, and apps. With USB OTG support, directly connect these devices to the Mobile C20 for quick back-ups or to easily access the additional storage space.

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., today announced the release of the HyperX Cloud RevolverTM Gaming Headset + 7.1 with virtual surround sound1 for a cinematic experience. Designed to meet the demands of leading PC and console gamers - or hybrid work and learning listening needs - the Cloud Revolver Gaming Headset + 7.1 features immersive sound and a wide audio range, as well as a studio-grade sound stage with signature HyperX comfort and durability.

Cloud Revolver + 7.1 features a studio-grade sound stage with 50 mm directional drivers to deliver greater depth and width for improved audio precisions in first-person shooter and open environment games. The tuning of the driver, mechanical design of the acoustical chamber, and larger ear cups allow users to hear an opponent clearly and accurately for ultimate competitive advantage while gaming.

The leading global motherboard, graphics card, and small form factor PC manufacturer, ASRock, today announced the brand new compact Mini PC - Mars 4000U Series, embedded the AMD Ryzen 4000 U-series processors to deliver exceptional performance. The Mars 4000U Series Mini PC support dual-channel DDR4-3200 MHz memory up to 64 GB as well as equip with Intel Wi-Fi 6 for high-speed connectivity. For Storage, the Mars 4000U Series Mini PC provide a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD slot and a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive bay; all imply into 0.7-liter chassis with 26 mm height.

ASRock Mars 4000U Series Mini PC offers abundant USB devices connectivity, features a total of 7 USB ports, including one Type-C port; In addition, the native SD card reader and dual display outputs provide more convenience and productivity. All of these features make Mars 4000U Series Mini PC well suited for a wide range of uses, including business, gaming and home entertainment.

RHA has introduced new cutting-edge true wireless earbuds to their award-winning lineup - the ergonomically stylish TrueControl ANC.
The TrueControl ANC combines a quality Qualcomm AptX sound signature with advanced active - and adjustable - noise cancellation, a sleek ergonomic design, advanced connectivity, and a 20-hour battery life. In addition, users can use the new RHA Connect App to customise their listening experience.

TAKE CONTROL
Whether it's the traffic outside your home office, the keyboards of your colleagues, or the thrum of the airplane engine, RHA's active noise cancellation turns the outside world off - so you can concentrate on whatever you're working on and whatever you're listening to. (Or just escape!) The TrueControl uses a passive noise cancelling design and ANC technology to eliminate outside noise. External microphones record the world around you, then target these noises with anti-sound.