Gadget

The Steam Deck finally has a concrete launch date, having been delayed towards the end of last year. The gaming handheld will debut on February 25 and should start shipping on February 28. However, Valve will only allow people to purchase a Steam Deck if they have reserved one; reservations will only remain valid for three days from February 25 too.

New details about a cheap Google Chromecast HD have emerged online. The Chromecast HD will be positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Chromecast 4K and could launch for just US$35. The device should arrive with a remote control too, instead of requiring a smartphone.

Garmin's website has already listed the Forerunner 955 LTE, a smartwatch that also has GPS connectivity. The Forerunner 955 should cost as much as the fēnix 7 and fēnix 7S, at least in its LTE form. The Forerunner 955 is one of many Garmin smartwatches that the company has released this year or plans to, including the Instinct 2 series.

While Apple Watch became the number one best selling watch in the world, surpassing Rolex back in 2017, the smartwatch still feels very much like a unique utility for Apple enthusiasts. Here are four amazing apps that casual users and dedicated techies alike will find entertaining, useful, & packed full of utility.

A new set of Xiaomi Mix 5 Pro renders surfaced recently. According to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, however, the leaked renders have a few errors. The leaker also reveals the existence of two Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered Xiaomi phones with flagship-grade LTPO displays.

Orange Pi has revealed another mini-PC, the Orange Pi 4 LTS. The new Raspberry Pi alternative relies on a Rockchip RK3399 SoC and will be available from the middle of next month, starting at US$55.

Robotics company German Bionic has designed a smart exosuit that improves worker health and safety. The device collects data in real-time to detect poor posture and tiredness in employees and recommend remedies such as stretches and breaks.

The OPPO Find N is OPPO's new foldable phone. The device has now been put through JerryRigEverything's durability test, and performed rather well—particularly in the dust test where the phone's hinges still work without even creaking.

Valve has tested numerous games for Steam Deck compatibility, its RDNA 2-based handheld games console. So far, just over 40 have been certified as playable, including Cuphead and Death Stranding, among others.

The EYVA device is, according to the startup behind it, not only the world’s first non-invasive glucose monitor but also the world’s first healthtech gadget. The EYVA can check the user’s blood sugar levels and also measure things such as temperature and SpO2. The non-invasive gadget has been designed by an Indian startup called BlueSemi.

The latest software update, v37, has been released by Oculus. The update includes multiple productivity features and aims to ease the navigation of the environment.

Weber has unveiled the new Genesis smart grills, which assist you when cooking. The Weber Connect technology links up with an app to notify you when your grill is up to temperature, amongst other features.

Have you ever taken a look at a new product and thought "what was this product design team thinking"? Hi-fi speakers are notorious for having their aesthetics overlooked in favor of a design that stands out, provides enhanced acoustic transparency, or delivers deeper bass. The profoundly unappealing Hi-Fi speakers on this list more than live up to this stigma by achieving what we can only define as "eyesore status".

The Framework Laptop has four module bays for swapping in different ports and connections. People have now started developing third-party modules that bring more versatility to the innovative laptop, including magnetic charging.

Apple's upcoming AR/VR headset will feature an M1 Pro SoC, dual 8K displays, and advanced audio. The headset is likely to be priced around the US$2,000 mark, according to known Apple watcher Mark Gurman. Gurman also notes in his latest newsletter that the Apple headset will focus on gaming, multimedia, and communications. He even predicts a few possible names for the device including Apple Vision, Apple Reality, and Apple Sight.

DJI has finally brought its Mini SE drone to Europe and the UK. The drone starts at €299 in the former and £269 in the latter. A Fly More Combo is also available for €100 more, but not everywhere.

PINE64 has started selling the PineNote, a large eReader with a built-in digitizer. The PineNote has a 10.1-inch display, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of eMMC flash storage and a 4,000 mAh battery. The eReader is available for US$399 and supports Wacom EMR-based pens.

A new eco-rower from SportsArt lets you generate electricity as you workout. This energy can immediately be plugged back into the machine or used to power other devices.

The Khadas Tea may be a MagSafe compatible DAC, but it also works with Android devices using USB Type-C or Bluetooth. The DAC supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio when using a wired connection and should start shipping in March 2022. The Khadas Tea is orderable now for US$159 through Indiegogo.

Google TV’s Director of Product Management, Rob Caruso, has suggested that the company plans to bring new features to its product this year. According to Caruso, Google TV is looking to expand its tools and integrate with more smart home and fitness devices.

Anker has brought the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K to Kickstarter, where it is orderable from US$1,499. The DLP projector will retail for US$2,199; Kickstarter orders will ship in March.

One-netbook has started selling the ONEXPLAYER mini globally, a 7-inch handheld powered by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. The ONEXPLAYER mini costs at least 60% more than the Steam Deck though, even during One-netbook's pre-sale period.

Leica has presented the Leica M11, 68 years after the launch of the Leica M3. The Leica M11 has a new 60 MP full-frame sensor, an electronic shutter and a significantly faster Wi-Fi module than its predecessors. Other upgrades for the compact camera are inbound for the camera too, which costs US$8,995.

NordicTrack has launched the iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells, which you can control with voice commands via Alexa. The weights can adapt to loads from 5 to 50 lbs (~2.3 to 22.7 kg).

Radxa has unveiled the ROCK 5B, a single-board computer powered by a Rockchip RK3588 SoC. The Pico-ITX board features up to 16 GB of RAM, has an HDMI-in port and an M.2 2280 slot for NVMe SSDs. The ROCK 5B will start shipping in Q2 2022.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is likely to miss out on various health functions according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, including the much-rumored non-invasive blood glucose monitor. Disappointingly, Gurman opines that it could be quite a few years before such a useful tool for diabetics could turn up in an Apple Watch.

The VAVA Chroma triple laser projector has pipped the Lomi compost maker to become the highest-funded campaign on Indiegogo in 2021. The triple laser projector attracted over US$7.5 million in funding and even beat out the highly popular GPD WIN 3 handheld console in terms of amount backed.

Sleep Number has revealed its latest smart bed, the New Sleep Number 360. The device has features including temperature regulation and snore detection.

Ring has announced the Glass Break Sensor, which you can connect to its alarm system. The new sensor can detect if your windows are cracked or smashed from up to 25 ft away.

Nex Computer has announced the NexPad, a device that doubles as a tablet or a secondary display. The NexPad has a 12-inch display, a kickstand and costs US$249. Nex Computer hopes to ship the NexPad in July 2022.

Razer has showcased a new version of the Zephyr mask called the Zephyr Pro. The Pro will cost US$50 more than the Zephyr, which cost US$99. The US$149.99 mask will feature built-in speakers and will come with 10 filters for up to 30 days of use. Razer will sell a 99-day bundle too for US$199.99, too.

Anker has announced a new projector under its Nebula brand at CES 2022. The new Cosmos Laser 4K is Nebula's first laser projector, and one that can be carried around thanks to its built-in handle. The Cosmos Laser 4K projector can create up to 150-inch images, among other features.

Nex Computer has unveiled its latest accessory aimed at utilising the performance of current smartphones. The NexMonitor will be available in 2.5K or 4K variants, both 27-inch monitors. Each NexMonitor has numerous ports, a magnetic wireless charging stand for your smartphone and enough stand space to house a mini-PC like the Mac mini.

Mojo Vision has made two announcements at CES 2022; that it has received a further US$45 million of investment and that it plans to partner with several fitness companies, including Adidas Running. The company is working on a smart contact lens, which will overlay data onto the real world.

Samsung announced a unique projector device at CES 2022, called the Freestyle, as it shoehorns powerful projector features into a smart speaker form factor that weighs less than two pounds with the stand. The picture size output ranges from 30"-100", depending on the distance from the projecting surface, and the Freestyle can be powered by an external battery in case you want to take it on the road.

Razer will soon let users control their RGB-enabled devices with a smartphone app called Razer Smart Home. It has also invited other OEMs to join the ecosystem via the Razer Chroma Smart Home Program, which includes the likes of Nanoleaf, LIFX, Yeelight, Monster, and Twinkly.

Roborock has revealed the S7 MaxV, to be available as a standalone robot vacuum or with two cleaning docks. The S7 MaxV Ultra will be the flagship model, which has a 3-in-1 cleaning dock. The Roborock S7 MaxV will be available from Q2 2022.

HyperX has revealed the Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset, a new headset with a removable microphone. The headset offers up to 300 hours of battery life and has 50 mm drivers, among other features. The Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset will be available next month for US$199.99.

HyperX has introduced the Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller, a US$49.99 controller that supports Android devices and PCs. The Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller has a familiar button layout, plus support for 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset has 53 mm drivers, a vibrant colour scheme and an audio control box. The headset offers 7.1 virtual surround sound too, along with a uni-directional microphone. The Cloud II Gaming Headset will retail for US$99.99 when HyperX starts selling it in March.

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless Gaming Mouse has arrived in two colours. The Pixart PAW3335-equipped gaming mouse supports RGB, up to 100 hours of battery life and wired or wireless connections. The Pulsefire Haste Wireless Gaming Mouse will be available for US$79.99.

The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is a 65% mechanical gaming keyboard. The compact keyboard has dedicated arrow, delete, page up, and page down keys though, plus media controls. The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard will sell for US$99.99 will be available with a choice of three switch types.

The HyperX Cloud Core Gaming Headset is a US$69.99 gaming headset with removable accessories. The headset is available in one colour and has 53 mm drivers, among other features.

The Alienware Tri-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse is now official with a 26,000 DPI sensor, 1,000Hz polling rate, and an ambidextrous design with eight programmable buttons. It costs US$149 and will be released to the public on February 9, 2022.

Garmin has launched the Venu 2 Plus, a 43 mm smartwatch available in three colours. The Venu 2 Plus has an AMOLED display, stainless steel hardware, countless health and fitness features, plus voice assistant functionality. The Venu 2 Plus will be orderable in multiple markets, starting with the US.

In a recent YouTube video, Hyundai engineers demonstrate a unique way to repurpose car parts by taking apart a redundant test vehicle and using the components to build an air purifying device.

META has been working on its glucoWISE Home Hub system, which comprises of two parts: the Diabet non-invasive glucose sensor and its accompanying wearable sensor. The system utilizes radio waves, machine learning, and metamaterial film to take blood sugar level readings without the need for a painful blood draw.

bHaptics has announced the TactGlove, a haptic glove to allow you to touch things in VR. The company will demonstrate the gadget at CES 2022 in collaboration with Hand Physics Lab and Unplugged VR.