Asus launches the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition with external display
The ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition from Asus, that debuted back at CES 2022, is finally hitting the shelves. The laptop is powered by Intel’s latest 12th Generation Core i9-12900H CPU with integrated Iris Xe GPU paired with up to 32GB of RAM. As the name implies, it packs a 14″ OLED screen – the panel has 16:10 aspect ratio and 90Hz refresh rate.
Asus ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition
There’s a secondary, 3.5-inch mini OLED screen on the cover, which is certainly setting this laptop apart. It can display various animations, notifications, battery status, date and time and user-customizable text. The rest of the chassis has some futuristic-looking elements that are supposed to resemble a spaceship. In addition, it’s in accordance to the US Space System Command Standards (SMC-S-016A), which makes it resistant to vibrations and extremely low or high temperatures.
Since it’s a 14-inch laptop, it has no numpad, but Asus lets you put one on the LED-illuminated touchpad. The fingerprint reader is integrated into the power button. Around the sides, the ZenBook 14X features 4x USB-C connectors, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port and an HDMI 2.0 one as well.
The device is can already available thtough various retailers in the US with a starting price of $1,999.
Apple to introduce a new telephoto camera with iPhone 15
According to industry sources, a big OIS and autofocus actuators supplier in South Korea has struck a deal with Apple. Last year, the US-based company visited Jahwa and some believe that the OIS modules maker is spending more than $155 million on building a new manufacturing facility.
Given the size of the investment and the fact that Apple often asks its suppliers to build production lines just for its needs that’s a strong indication that the two companies are starting to work together. It’s interesting to note that Jahwa is a supplying OIS modules to Samsung as well.
The new camera hardware, which is believed to be used for telephoto units, will come just in time for the iPhone 15 lineup next year, starting production in Q2 2023.
Now, while this doesn’t mean that Apple has decided to include a periscope telephoto camera, it’s an indication that a more advanced zoom camera is in the works.
Halo Infinite season 2 new maps Catalyst and Breaker previewed in new video
Halo Infinite players will soon have a couple of new multiplayer maps to compete on when season 2 launches on May 3. The game is getting new maps as part of its upcoming season 2 update, and developer 343 Industries gave fans their first look at the new battlefields with a preview video on Friday.
One of the maps is an Arena map known as Catalyst. It’s a Forerunner structure with faded silver everywhere, various ramps leading to different heights, hardlight bridges, and plenty of hallways to meet and fight your opponents. It’s exactly what you expect out of a classic Halo map. 343 says that Catalyst is symmetrical and was inspired by Halo 3’s Epitaph map.
Breaker will be for Halo Infinite’s Big Team Battle mode, which means that it’s a whole lot larger than Catalyst. Breaker takes place in a desert with two massive fortresses for teams to use as their home bases. 343 says that the map is particularly great for Capture the Flag, thanks to its center lane that offers snipers optimal site lines and the huge pit in the middle that you can jump a Warthog over … as long as you avoid the giant laser that guards it.
Both maps look to bring different environments than what Halo Infinite has to offer so far, which should provide a nice change of pace for the community. The season 2 update will be Halo Infinite’s first major content addition since it launched late last year. While season 2 is set to add new multiplayer content, other additions like Forge and campaign co-op won’t be added until a later update.
vivo X Note Aerospace Edition comes with meteorite pendulum
The brand new vivo X Note was announced earlier this week with a gigantic 7-inch AMOLED display and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and now vivo is bringing an exclusive Aerospace Edition of the phone. The major change here is the packaging of the phone which features a much more premium experience including a special pendulum housing a piece of Achondrite meteorite from the Moon. The rare space mineral is stored in a glass housing and is attached to a leather strap.
vivo X Note Aerospace Edition
The actual phone features a blue colorway and 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The regular 12/256GB vivo X Note retails for CNY 6,499 ($1,020) but vivo hasn’t revealed the price premium for the Aerospace Edition variant. The phone will be sold at a flash sale event which kicks off today and goes through April 22 via vivo’s online store and JD.com.
OnePlus 10 Pro gains compatibility with Verizon’s 5G network
The OnePlus 10 Pro went on open sale in the US yesterday and it comes with support for Verizon’s C-band Ultra Wideband 5G. The phone initially did not have access to the coveted n77 band which works on the 3. 3 to 4. 2GHz spectrum but OnePlus managed to work things out with Verizon just in time for the phone’s launch.
OnePlus 10 Pro does not support the faster but not so-widely available mmWave band yet. Verizon and T-Mobile are the only carried that offers 5G connectivity on the OnePlus 10 Pro after. AT&T has not certified the device to work on its 5G network yet and it seems that won’t change in the foreseeable future.
OnePlus confirms exclusive MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX coming to OnePlus 10R in India
OnePlus today confirmed additional details regarding its upcoming OnePlus 10R 5G set to launch in India later this month.
The OnePlus 10R 5G will feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX chipset. This Dimensity 8100 variant is only available to OnePlus. The company refused to comment on the differences between the MAX and non-MAX variant at the time of writing.
The standard Dimensity 8100 features an octa-core design, with 4x Cortex-A78 performance cores clocked at 2. 75GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 economy cores clocked at 2.0GHz. It also features a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU and MediaTek 580 APU. OnePlus touts similar specifications in its spec sheet, which makes the difference all the more nebulous.
Apart from that, the company also confirmed that the OnePlus 10R 5G will support 150W SUPERVOOC fast charging for its 4500mAh battery, which is claimed to charge 0-100% in 17 minutes.
The OnePlus 10R 5G will be launching in India on April 28, alongside the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G.
vivo X80 and X80 Pro+ certified by BIS India, X80 also stops by Geekbench
The three-strong vivo X80 lineup is expected to arrive soon and two of the phones were spotted on BIS India’s database. The vivo X80 (V2144) and vivo X80 Pro+ (V2145) are now certified in India and their market launch should come soon enough. In the meantime, the X80 was also spotted in a Geekbench listing which confirmed the phone is powered by the Dimensity 9000 chipset.
vivo X80 on Geekbench
The Geekbench listing also shows 12GB of RAM and Android 12 on the software side. The vivo X80 managed 937 single core points and 3,313 multi-core points on the tests. The new listings come just a day after the X80 appeared on the Google Play Console which revealed the phone’s curved FHD+ display and punch hole cutout as well as re-confirming the Dimensity 9000 chipset. The X80 Pro+ also ran a Geekbench test last week showcasing its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.
Oppo K10 5G will be the first phone with Dimensity 8000, TENAA reveals
The Oppo K10 Pro was previously certificed by Chinese agency TENAA, and today it was followed by the Oppo K10 5G. The new phone, not to be confused with the Snapdragon 680-powered Oppo K10, will be the first device powered by a Dimensity 8000 chipset. It will also stick to the camera design Oppo implemented in few of its smartphones – two major circles for two of the cameras.
Oppo K10 5G
The phone is listed with a 6.59” LTPS LCD. The resolution is 1080p, and we can just make out the single punch hole in the top left corner for the 16MP selfie camera. Shooters on the back will have 64MP main sensor and 8MP for what is likely the ultrawide camera. A 2MP auxilary unit is hidden under the LED flash.
The chipset is not explicitly listed, but the 2.75GHz CPU clock matches that of the four Cortex-A75 cores in the Dimensity 8000. It also has four Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0GHz. RAM will be either 8GB or 12GB, while storage will be 128GB or 256GB. The actual memory combinations should be revealed at the launch, which is evidently fast approaching.
vivo X Note Aerospace Edition comes with meteorite pendant
The brand new vivo X Note was announced earlier this week with a gigantic 7-inch AMOLED display and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and now vivo is bringing an exclusive Aerospace Edition of the phone. This phone features an upgraded packaging that includes a pendulum to house a chunk of Achondrite meteorite, which is from the Moon. The rare space mineral is stored in a glass housing and is attached to a leather strap.
vivo X Note Aerospace Edition
The actual phone features a blue colorway and 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The regular 12/256GB vivo X Note retails for CNY 6,499 ($1,020) but vivo hasn’t revealed the price premium for the Aerospace Edition variant. The phone will be sold at a flash sale event which kicks off today and goes through April 22 via vivo’s online store and JD.com.
Top 10 accessories designed to be the ultimate sidekick to your Apple devices
Since its foundation in 1976, Apple has been always been at the peak of modern innovation! Apple’s innovative tech company never ceases to amaze us. We find ourselves gnashing our teeth and wondering if there will be a new Apple product. Apple products are my most treasured possessions. They’re so indispensable that they make me feel like I can’t live without them. My MacBook stores all of the data and documents I treasure in my life. However, my iPhone holds the personal details of everyone I know. I would truly be lost without my gadgets. It’s amazing how innovative Apple products are, but it’s still fun to add some excitement with accessories. These accessories, which can be used to charge all your Apple devices and combine your trackpad and keyboard into one magical device called the Magic Bridge, are essential for Apple lovers.
1. The SmallRig 3611
The SmallRig 3611 is a modular ‘phone cage’ that lets you turn your iPhone into a professional-grade videography setup. Designed to work with iPhones 6-13 (and even a few Android models), the SmallRig 3611 gives you a stable rig to mount your phone onto, eliminating jitter. You can attach handles externally to the cage for a more secure grip when filming.
Why is it noteworthy?
The 3611 is a relatively compact phone cage made from aluminum alloy, designed to work broadly with the iPhone and with the Samsung Galaxy series, and even the Pixel series. The rig comes equipped with multiple 1/4”-20 threaded holes and cold shoes to match the SmallRig accessory ecosystem. You will find a clamp to secure your smartphone. It can also be adjusted to adjust the position of your cold shoes and threaded holes.
What we like
Transforms your iPhone into a professional film-making setup
Lets you mount a wide variety of other accessories, from lights and microphones to even an extra battery pack for your smartphone and other gadgets
What we dislike
No complaints!
2. The Strap Anywhere
Designed to let you secure your iPhone to any handle, pipe, railing, bar, or even your wrist, the Strap Anywhere uses Apple’s MagSafe feature to secure your iPhone so your hands are unencumbered. Moment claims that the idea was to enable users to attach their iPhones indoors, such as a Peloton bicycle, squat rack or treadmill.
Why is it noteworthy?
The strap’s silicone construction provides a friction grip and is even sturdy enough to double as a stand for your iPhone, letting you prop it up at an angle on your desk or yoga mat. You can use the Strap Anywhere Mount with your iPhone or MagSafe iPhone cases. The strap is made from sweat-resistant material and can be used for equipment such as gym equipment. However, it’s adjustable design means that you can use it almost anywhere from your bike to your shopping cart.
What we like
Features a proprietary configuration of magnets to provide extra strength, combined along with a grippy silicone material
What we dislike
Not sure if it could withstand a bumpy ride on an offroad trail or other extreme conditions
3. UNEC
This is UNEC, an accessory that makes it possible to track your trusted umbrella, no matter where you lose it by mistake. Although it is a very simple accessory, the benefits are simply undeniable.
Why is it noteworthy?
Attach it to the umbrella handle. It won’t look strange – considering its small size and the funky colors it comes in. As the designer rightly puts it, “UNEC allows people to attach their AirTag to an umbrella so that they will never lose it ever again, because why not?”
What we like
The accessory is also good enough to have an optimum-sized version made for a walking stick that differently-abled or injured people can’t afford to lose
What we dislike
No complaints!
4. The iMac G4
The G4 charger is a wonderful throwback accessory that reminds me of that Elago charger that turned the Apple Watch into the Macintosh. However, its design doesn’t appear to have been as well-received as the Macintosh. Even by today’s standards, the iMac G4 is an incredibly eye-catching device that you’re sure to be amazed by. This charger reduces the beauty of this device into something small enough to draw your eyes towards the iPhone sitting on it.
Why is it noteworthy?
The iMac G4, with its debut in 2002, was truly a design icon in that it was nothing like anything else that existed in its time. While the world still struggled with boxy plastic computers, the G4 had this intensely beautiful organic design accentuated with chrome details. The adjustable stand made it stand out above all others, allowing future iMacs to retain the same level of detail. Eponymously named the G4, this quirky little charger pays a hat-tip to its 20-year-old predecessor. It sports the same dome-shaped base and chrome-plated stand upon which sits the MagSafe wireless charging element that lets you snap your iPhone to it. The iPhone can be placed in its place and transforms into almost a mini computer. It hovers above the ground so that it is easy to see.
What we like
The dual joint system on the back of the charger lets you angle and position your phone however you please
A nifty light within its domed front lights up when your phone begins charging
What we dislike
It isn’t available yet!
5. The MagSnap Wallet
Want more out of your wallet? Well, the MagSnap Wallet’s magnetic design makes it modular too, allowing you to easily attach extra modules that let your wallet hold more cards, cash, and even EDC tools. The MagSnap Wallet has the incredible advantage of being sleek when you want, and modular/accommodating when you need it. It also docks on the back of your phone for easy carrying, and thanks to its all-metal design, it’s RFID-blocking too – a feature that Apple’s own MagSafe wallet still lacks.
Why is it noteworthy?
OhSnap quickly mentions that MagSafe compatibility is not available for the MagSnap Wallet. This would require reorienting MagSnap Wallet magnets in order to increase the thickness of the wallet. Instead, the MagSnap Wallet comes either with a magnet-enabled iPhone case or an adhesive MagSnap plate that can attach to practically any phone. OhSnap designers claim that MagSafe’s magnetic array and locking pin is stronger than MagSafe. They also mention that MagSafe wallets slide on phones while MagSafe wallets are more stable. “Our approach may be slightly less streamlined than Apple’s, but our magnetic connections are stronger, and our products are more modular and way more functional.”
What we like
Has the ability to snap on extra modules that give the wallet a storage upgrade
It is digitally secure – thanks to its RFID-blocking abilities
What we dislike
Their approach is slightly less streamlined than Apple’s, which everyone may not agree with
6. The Magic Bridge
Could it be a coincidence that the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad are exactly the same height? Twelve South correctly points out that they look like siblings who long for one another. Magic Bridge is able to fulfill that longing by bringing together the long-lost sibling and placing them side-by side.
Why is it noteworthy?
Melodrama aside, the Magic Bridge is actually a pretty clever device that does more than just fix your trackpad to your keyboard for the sake of it. It helps to declutter your workspace, by “bridging” the space between your trackpad and keyboard, so that they aren’t cluttering your desk. You can also carry the devices around, place them on your coffee table or on your lap while you work, and then switch between Apple devices.
What we like
Features a clever ambidextrous design that lets you mount your trackpad on either side of your keyboard, depending on whether you’re right or left-handed
Lightweight yet tough form
What we dislike
No complaints!
7. The PITAKA MagEZ Slider
Meet the PITAKA MagEZ Slider. You need a charger. No, wait. It’s a wireless charger. Hold on. It’s a wireless charger with MagSafe capabilities. Oh, let me say that again. It’s a wireless charger with MagSafe capabilities that also has a built-in detachable power bank and can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Simultaneously.
Why is it noteworthy?
Over the course of its existence, PITAKA’s worked to fundamentally make Apple’s products better by designing highly functional charging accessories for them. However, the MagEZ Slider feels like the culmination all of that hard work. A wireless charger designed to work with your phone, watch, and TWS earbuds, the MagEZ Slider is a compact little number that’s perfectly sized to sit on any tabletop surface while simultaneously ensuring that your workspace isn’t cluttered with different wires and dongles.
What we like
Charges all your Apple gadgets
Does not clutter up your workspace
What we dislike
There are similar products on the market
8. The Magcardgrip
A sleek little accouterment for your iPhone, the Magcardgrip is a wallet, stand, and iPhone grip all wrapped in one. It sits flat on the back of your device, holds 2 payment or ID cards (and even supports tap-to-pay), and has a fold-out grip that doubles as a stand for your iPhone. The best thing about it is? The fact that it also happens to support MagSafe charging. The Magcardgrip’s zero-compromise design lets you wirelessly charge your iPhone WITH the wallet still attached… a feature that Apple probably wishes it had thought of first.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Magcardgrip design solves many problems and has few (if any) compromises. The 7mm thin accessory attaches using an adhesive to the back of your phone. Magcardgrip attaches to your phone using a non-destructive adhesive. The Magcardgrip is slim and can be easily slipped into your pocket.
What we like
Features a bifold-inspired design that really reinforces its creator’s zero-compromise vision
Comes outfitted with microfiber, protecting your cards from wear and tear
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. The Fjorden
YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who shoots all his videos in 8K on ridiculously expensive RED cameras, alludes to the fact that “the best camera is the one you have on you”, and that’s almost always your smartphone camera. The image processing engine in your smartphone’s camera is powerful enough to take photos just as well as any DSLR. But, what’s really lacking is the ability to use it with precision and experience. That’s where Fjorden steps in.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Fjorden turns your iPhone into a hybrid DSLR. The Fjorden attaches to your iPhone’s back and gives you analog controls such as a shutter button, zoom slider, jog dial, and a shutter button. You can also use the extra multifunction button to trigger the flash. It’s comfortable and tactile, and has the same texture as cameras. The buttons are oriented in an intuitive way so you don’t need to strain your thumb while using your other hand to press the shutter button. Moreover, the actual physical buttons allow you to use the camera with gloves on, an understated-yet-impressive upgrade to the iPhone camera experience).
What we like
Portable and sleek
Has its own camera app
What we dislike
No complaints!
10. The UFO MagSafe Wireless Charger
For geeks who want more than just a standard MagSafe charger for their den, the UFO MagSafe Wireless Charger will be the preferred choice. The cute accessory is currently a prototype design for Apple’s ecosystem. However, we would love to see the UFO MagSafe Wireless Charger make its way to production. It’s like a UFO riding on the back of your iPhone 13 minus, all the shenanigans of gimmicky gadgets.
Why is it noteworthy?
When charging, the transparent dome with the Android-like being looking you straight in the face lights up with a warm glow as soon as the iPhone is snapped onto it. This will act as an eye-sore for those who stare at their phone in pitch darkness. At least with the UFO MagSafe charger hooked on, your eyes will get some respite, even if for some time!
