Sports / e-Sports

Baseus has just released its first-ever open TWS earbuds for those who want to feel more like a "Free Spirit", particularly while working out or otherwise being active. The Bluetooth 5.3 accessories accommodate "Ultra-Large" drivers powered by a Deep Bass Boost Algorithm as well as potentially "Ultra-Long"-life batteries.

Suunto has just augmented their line of open-ear headphone sets with the Sonic variant. Its Qualcomm internals confer some of the best advantages of the Bluetooth 5.2 wireless audio experience, aptX Adaptive, dual-device connection and cVc wind-noise exclusion for calls included. They also benefit from "premium" materials, "Enhanced Bass" and some waterproofing for under $150.

Mobvoi asserts that its latest smart treadmill can fit into a remote-working routine as easily as it can fit into any home. It is also touted as a "simple, convenient" way to get into walking without even leaving the house with multiple intensity and modes. Its motor is rated for silent operation, and runs a "shock-absorbing" platform.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has unveiled the NB-AI chatbot at the 2024 NBA All-Star Tech Summit. Demonstrated by Spurs No. 1 Wembanyama, the AI can create stylized game clips, answer questions, and more. The NBA is facing declining viewership amid low TV usage.

A prototype 3D printed airless basketball first showcased by Wilson a year ago will finally be available to buy from February 16, albeit in a limited run of fewer than 200. Designed as a rigid open-lattice shell, the Airless Gen1 Basketball has the exact same size, weight and rebound as a regular basketball. However, at $2500, the first-of-its-kind ball certainly won’t come cheap.

Heybike has announced that its next new e-bike will launch based on the brand's first "T800 Carbon-Fiber Frame". The Hero is also backed to yield up to 60 miles of range per charge, and also to come with "full suspension" and a hydraulic disk brake. The fat-tire bike is also hyped to "re-define performance" with a mid-drive motor and a torque sensor.

Some wireless earphones are marketed as capable of withstanding sweat and splashes, yet none are overtly backed as worthy of keeping on in the swimming pool. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro, on the other hand, are touted to launch with the same official ingress-protection as smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for potentially increased peace of mind when these open-ear buds are exposed to liquid.

Popular free-to-play FPS The Finals has mysteriously started supporting Linux. Fans may want to temper their excitement, as Embark Studios has not officially acknowledged or announced support for the open-source operating system.

Amazfit's probably final round of 2024 New Year's deals are exclusive to one online retail platform, and offer a chance to grab the distinctively flat-faced Limited Edition of the GTR 3 Pro smartwatch for a limited time. The discount requires a specific code, as does that for the OEM's ANC-enabled PowerBuds Pro.

The Purfree Lite Open-Ear Headphones are Haylou's latest foray into bone-conduction audio, and are now available to buy from online stores - for a limited-time discount, in some cases. They are thus touted as a premium take on their form-factor at a particularly affordable price, with a three-stage flexible titanium wrap-around wire to keep them in place, large drivers and IP55 ingress protection.

Himiway has announced that it is headed to CES 2024, and that it will bring its latest electric bikes with it. In the meantime, the brand is teasing its plans to expand its offerings with new lines, the first-gen Ultra carbon-fiber variants among them. New Himiway e-bikes for kids, commutes and all-terrain riding will also become available in the new year - not to mention an electric motorbike.

Redmi has announced a "new record" for its current flagship K70 line of Android smartphones: 1 million units sold in just 14 days. The devices are also now backed to build on their reputation for "championship speed" with the imminent launch of the new Lamborghini Edition of the top-end K70 Pro.

Gigabyte has confirmed that 2024 versions of the AORUS 17 and 15 are on the way, and that, furthermore, they will be "Intel Core Ultra 7"-powered laptops. They are also touted to land as high-refresh rate gaming machines with custom cooling technology for their RTX 4000-series graphics. The AORUS-series PCs are also backed to come with extra AI features in this upcoming generation.

Garmin has launched the eTrex Solar handheld GPS unit with built-in solar panel. The internal battery can power the GPS for up to 75 days, while recharging during bright days can extend runtimes indefinitely for those tackling the Appalachian Trail.

Cyrusher has announced that it intends to take its e-mobility hardware even further beyond e-bikes at CES 2024 with its very first equally electric skateboard. The OEM will also demo electricified surfboards and even snowboards during the Las Vegas event, although its line of "professional fat tire electric bikes" will also be on show.

Kangsters Wheely-X wheelchair fitness treadmill has been awarded a CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree. Bluetooth connected sensors allow wheelchair users to participate in esports gaming and practice cardio exercises.

Vuzix touts its new smart glasses as so well-designed they can be worn while working out or training. They are based on the OEM's Ultralite platform for a head-worn, hands-free connection to a smartphone or smartwatch. The new S-variants are also backed to eliminate some typical on-the-go augmented reality (AR) issues that might persist with other glasses.

Garmin smartwatch users can now search for live events via the Ahotu calendar in Garmin Connect. The database covers a wide variety of races, from 5ks to marathons in 187 countries. Once you have selected a race, you can use the Garmin Race Widget to tailor your training accordingly.

Valve has dropped one of the most-awaited updates for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) on November 2. It fixes many frustrating bugs and brings back community maps to the game. And so far, the community’s reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.

The Rivian R1T has become the first all-electric vehicle to win the Rebelle Rally, which takes the crown as the US's longest off-road rally. The 2,500-km (1,553 miles) course crosses the Nevada and California desert, and racers must use traditional mapping methods to reach the finish.

German semiconductor and IoT systems giant Infineon, in collaboration with adidas, has made the Lighting Shoe prototype to showcase its sensor and power systems technology. The shoe, based on the adidas originals NMD S1, uses MEMS microphones and a microcontroller to ‘listen’ to music and create striking lighting effects in sync with the beats. Unfortunately, there are no plans to bring it into production.

World Rugby is introducing smart mouthguards with in-game alerts to detect high acceleration events that could result in concussion. This will help pitch-side doctors assess the severity of individual impacts as well as monitor long-term effects in players. An initial €2 million is being invested towards adoption of the new technology, supplied by Prevent Biometrics, and debuting this month in the WXV elite women’s competition.

Brooks has partnered with HP to develop its new Brooks Exhilarate BlueLine running shoes. HP’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology has been used to create an open 3D lattice for the midsole, labelled 3DNA, which supposedly creates a bouncy, propulsive feel. For now, it will be only released as part of a testing program to select Brooks Run Club loyalty members.