Gadget

Ziketech is now crowdfunding for the ZikeDrive USB4 SSD enclosure on Indiegogo. The company claims that the gadget has read speeds of up to 3,763 MB/s and write speeds of up to 3,146 MB/s. The compact device weighs 245 g (~8.64 oz) and has an aluminum shell to aid heat dissipation.

BIRDSTRIPE is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter for the B3 Thunderbolt 3 HUB. The 14-in-1 device has three 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports, two SSD slots, 60 W PD fast charging and wireless charging pads. Plus, a DisplayPort enables you to connect a screen at up to 8K @ 60 Hz resolution.
Update: Intel has stated that the BIRDSTRIPE B3 Thunderbolt 3 HUB violates copyright law and has not received Thunderbolt certification from the company.

The well-known 3D printer brand Creality has pursued a direct sales model, or one of selling through its own web-store, for about half a year now. Now, it has announced it has raked in over US$12 million since going live in 2022. The company credits the move with a vast growth in success and recognition in the consumer (or prosumer) home extruding market.

Amazon US and NEBULA have included the Anker NEBULA Mars II Pro in their latest round of discounts. The NEBULA Mars II Pro can be used as a battery-operated projector or plugged in and can create up to 100-inch projections. Currently, Amazon US and NEBULA have discounted the NEBULA Mars II Pro by 22%, reducing the projector by US$120.

The Abxylute will be another 7-inch Android gaming handheld. Apparently launching later this quarter for US$200, the Abxylute will look to take on the likes of the Logitech G Cloud as a cloud gaming-first device.

Sony's new Float Run is the OEM's most unique earphone product since the LinkBuds. However, unlike those TWS buds, this new gadget integrates earphones designed to stay just outside the user's ear canal during use. Their maker touts this new form-factor as made for runners, athletes or fitness enthusiasts, as it might eliminate discomfort, not to mention the dreaded risk of fall-out, while exercising.

Anker has announced a crowdfunding campaign in Japan for its Mach V1 Ultra cordless vacuum cleaner. The gadget has up to 16,800 Pa suction power, can steam clean at 110 °C (~230 °F) and lasts for up to 82 minutes between charges. An ERAC filing suggests that the device may also arrive in Australia.

The Hisense PL1 4K laser ultra short throw projector has been launched in Europe. The gadget can produce up to 2,100 lumens brightness thanks to a DLP laser light source. You can use the device to throw images up to 120-in (~305 cm) wide and stream content from platforms like Netflix and YouTube.

The LG PF510Q CineBeam Smart Portable Projector is now available in the US. The gadget has a native 1080p resolution and up to 450 ANSI lumens brightness. You can use the projector to throw images up to 120-in (~305 cm wide). Smart features of the device include Bluetooth Audio Dual Out, Apple AirPlay and Apple HomeKit compatibility.

The Sharp NEC P627UL laser projector will shortly be demonstrated at ISE 2023. The gadget, designed for meeting rooms or educational spaces, has up to 6,200 ANSI lumens brightness. You can use the projector to throw images up to 300-in (~762 cm) wide with support for a WUXGA resolution and 4K @ 30 Hz input processing.

Anker has discounted its Nebula Cosmos series of DLP projectors. Available on Amazon from US$500 to US$700 reductions, the pair can create between 60-inch and 150-inch projections while running Android TV 10.0.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will come equipped with a new 200 MP camera. This sensor, the ISOCELL HP2, has a physical size of 1/1.3", falling short of a type 1-inch sensor like the IMX989 on phones like the Vivo X90 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Pro. Apparently, Samsung has a reason for that decision.

Wyze has launched the Cam OG in the US, starting from US$19.99. The 1080p smart home camera has HD color night vision and comes in two models, which can be stacked and mounted together. The standard edition has a 120° FOV and an integrated spotlight, while the Wyze Cam OG Telephoto has a 3X lens.

Apple's surprise launches this week keep coming, with the company having already introduced new MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16 and Mac mini models this week. The trio are now joined by the HomePod 2, which Apple claims offers 'breakthrough sound'. The HomePod 2 does not necessarily contain upgrades over the original HomePod across the board, though.

The Proscenic T31 Air Fryer Oven has been launched in the UK. The gadget has a 15 L (~500 fl. oz) capacity, enough space for a whole chicken. The device comes with twelve preset cooking modes, and you can control the oven using an accompanying app. Plus, the T31 comes with accessories and a rotisserie cooking setting.

Heisenberg Robotics has revealed the LawnMeister H1, a modular autonomous lawn mower. The gadget can mow, water and fertilize your lawn, and collect or blow leaves. Smart features include automatic scheduling based on the weather and cutting height adjustments. The device is expected to launch via a crowdfunding campaign in February.

The Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro portable power station has launched in the US with a 15% discount. The gadget has 1,800 W AC ports, 100 W PD USB-C ports, and a 1,512 Wh lithium-ion battery. The portable device weighs 37.5 lbs (~17 kg), which the company claims makes it 20% lighter than competitor products.

Allegedly, the launch of a second-generation HomePod is imminent. According to a typically well-informed source, the revived HomePod will be available with hardware upgrades and a cheaper launch price.

EnjoyCool is now crowdfunding for the 1,200 W 11-in-1 power station. The gadget has a 1,008 Wh capacity, which you could use to charge a 60 W laptop 15 times. The portable device has a maximum 1,200 W output via an AC outlet, a 65 W USB-C port, and 10 W wireless charging pads.

Google is apparently developing an Apple AirTag alternative under its Nest brand. Codenamed 'Grogu', the tag will support Bluetooth Low Energy, Google Fast Pair and ultra-wideband connectivity for maximum coverage.

Amazon has reduced the Roborock Q7+, a robot vacuum bundled with an Auto-Empty Dock Pure. Currently available at over a 30% discount, the Roborock Q7+ offers 2,700 Pa of suction power, LiDAR 3D mapping and custom cleaning routines, among other features.

The IKEA SMAHAGEL USB chargers and SITTBRUNN USB cables are now available. The chargers come with one or three USB-A ports and up to 12 W output power. You can buy the cables in USB-A to USB-C, USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to micro USB variants, starting from as little as US$1.99 (or £1.50 or €2.49).

Two new IKEA PILSKOTT smart LED lights are now available in the UK and EU. The floor lamp has a built-in dimmer switch and can reach up to 700 lm brightness. The PILSKOTT LED pendant lamp has up to 1,100 lm brightness, and both gadgets can be controlled by the TRADFRI wireless dimmer or the IKEA Home smart app.

The FiiO M11S is now available to order. Equipped with a Snapdragon 660 chipset and a 5,300 mAh battery, the FiiO M11S supports high-fidelity Bluetooth and wired audio options, plus Apple AirPlay and DLNA technologies, among other features.

Hisense has announced the launch of the U80H Mini-LED ULED 8K 75-in TV in South Africa. The device has up to 1,000 nits brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Gaming features include ALLM, VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Plus, Android TV OS enables you to control the gadget with Google Assistant voice commands.

According to new reports, Apple has no plans to release a new generation of any AirPods model this year. Instead, the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2 will likely debut in late 2024, and could be joined by an all-new AirPods model—the AirPods SE, maybe—seemingly planned to arrive with an MSRP around US$99.

Sony has presented the NW-A306 globally. Equipped with a small display, the NW-A306 will be the cheaper alternative to the NW-ZX707 that the company also announced today. The Sony NW-A306 Walkman will be available later this month in Europe, Japan and the UK.

Sony has presented the NW-ZX707, a premium Walkman that offers up to 25 hours of battery life. The Sony NW-ZX707 will be available first in Japan and ships with Android 12, plus 64 GB of storage and a 720p display.

Lenovo may have cancelled the Legion Play, but prototypes are selling in China. The leak confirms Lenovo Legion Play specifications and that prototype units were in a near retail state.

The Stem Projector is now available to pre-order, a portable device from the company behind the Stem Player. The Kano Computing product comes with a curated selection of movies, with the ability to upload your own to the 128 GB integrated storage or stream via AirPlay or Chromecast. You can control the gadget using touch buttons with haptic feedback.

A 2023 CES Innovation Award has been given to the Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station (12-in-1, Monitor Stand, Wireless). The gadget can help you to streamline your desk setup with 4K @ 60 Hz HDMI and 100 W USB-C ports. The device also has a wireless charging pad and an Ethernet port. The 551 USB-C Hub also received an award at the event.

Reports have shared details of the IKEA VINDSTYRKA smart air quality monitor, a possible new device from the Swedish brand. The gadget appears to have a built-in display to show information such as PM2.5 particle levels, room temperature and humidity. Allegedly, the device could link to other smart home devices, such as the IKEA STARKVIND air purifier, via the DIRIGERA hub.

Samsung has returned to the idea of a dedicated smart home hub, having pulled the SmartThings Hub. In its place is the SmartThings Station, a compact device that is compatible with the Matter home networking protocol. For some reason, Samsung has included a 15 W wireless charging pad within the SmartThings Station too.

Philips has launched the R6 Slim robotic vacuum and mop in China. The gadget has up to 2,700 Pa suction power and can mop with 120 rotations per minute. The device comes with a self-cleaning docking station for weeks of hands-free cleaning, and you can control the robot via the Philips smart home app.

Xiaomi has launched the new Mijia Instant Hot Water Dispenser in China. The gadget has a 2.5 L (~84.5 fl. oz) capacity and can heat water in as little as three seconds. You can control the temperature to within 1 °C (~2 °F) or select from preset temperatures. Smart features include a water shortage alarm and self-cleaning mode.

Jackery demonstrated the LightTent-AIR at CES 2023, an inflatable shelter with built-in GaAs flexible solar panels. The award-winning gadget can produce up to 1,200 W power with integrated energy storage modules. The tent is waterproof and flame retardant, with heat-insulating properties.

The JVC LX-NZ30 projector was unveiled at CES 2023, where the gadget also picked up an award. The 4K projector has up to 3,300 lumens brightness from its laser light source, compatible with HDR10. Gaming features of the device include low latency and support for a 240 Hz refresh rate at 1080p.

Xiaomi has launched the Smart Camera C200 in Germany. The security device has a 1080p camera which can rotate 360° horizontally and 106° vertically. You can view recorded videos or a live stream in the Xiaomi Home app or on a connected device. Plus, the gadget is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home systems.

The Worx Landroid Vision autonomous lawn mower was revealed at CES 2023. The gadget uses an HDR camera and neural network AI to navigate your garden rather than relying on mapping and a traditional boundary wire. The mower can operate quietly at night and avoid rain when needed.

The Pronto, a smart pressure cooker and air fryer, has been unveiled by CookingPal. The eight-in-one device can steam and saute, with a built-in weighing scale to make your food preparation easier. You can control the cooker using an integrated screen or the accompanying smartphone app.

Two new projectors from BenQ, the HT4550i and HT2060, have been revealed at CES. The HT4550i is a 4K device with up to 3,200 lumens brightness, Android TV and support for HDR10. The HT2060 is a lower-end model with a 1080p resolution and 16 ms input lag at 1080p @ 60 Hz.

A new range of smart home products has been unveiled by EcoFlow at CES 2023. The Blade is a smart lawn-sweeping robot that can collect leaves and mow the grass, using GPS rather than a boundary wire for navigation. Also revealed was the Glacier portable fridge with a built-in icemaker and the Wave 2 portable air conditioner.

Zendure touts its SuperBase V as a full home power back-up solution thanks to its switch to "EV-grade" semi-solid state energy storage, as opposed to the lithium-based batteries of most conventional portable stations. It is rated to deliver 6.4kWh in its base-station mode, although it can scale up to 64kWh as a double unit with add-on Satellite Batteries.

TCL has come to CES 2023 to put its latest developments on show, its potentially advantageous inkjet-printed OLED, high-PPI LCDs for VR headsets and extendable-display tablet included. It has also hinted at upcoming gaming technology in the form of a huge, high-refresh-rate 1G1D-pixel TV.

Valencell has unveiled a new cuffless blood pressure monitor. Instead of the cuff, you can take the measurement using your fingertip, and the device does not require calibration. The gadget provides diastolic and systolic readings on a built-in display, or you can view the data in an accompanying smartphone app via Bluetooth.

LG has introduced the Signature OLED M3, a giant Smart TV that measures 97-inches across. Not only is the LG Signature OLED M3 larger than most Smart TVs, but it can also operate wirelessly, albeit not quite in the same sense as the Displace TV that also debuted during CES 2023.

Five new projectors have been unveiled by Hisense at CES 2023. The range includes the L9H, a triple laser TV with a peak brightness of 3,000 ANSI lumens. The gadget supports Dolby Vision and Apple AirPlay 2. The company also revealed the Smart Mini Projector, a portable device which can throw a 130-in (~381 cm) image.