CES 2018: Qualcomm claims its newest SoC fixes issues plaguing wireless earbuds

Wireless earbuds makes things easier for users but it isn’t without fault. Qualcomm hopes to fix the issues plaguing these tiny wearables have. The new QCC5100 chipset claims to offer three times the battery life of previous devices and it comes with more wireless transmitting power, meaning it’ll most likely not cut out as much even when it encounters interference.

When compared to its predecessor, it’s said to have twice the processing power. This means, manufacturers can introduce better noise cancelling as well as integrate smart assistants and other smart features. The possibility of getting zero-delay fast translation like those in the Pixel Bud might head your way. We can’t say yet though when we might see manufacturers integrate this chip into their audio accessories.

Source: Engadget

CES 2018: HTC goes after hardcore and professional VR users with the Vive Pro

The new HTC Vive Pro doesn’t mean the original Vive virtual reality headset is going away. As its name suggests, the Vive Pro is going after the hardcore VR enthusiasts and those businesses that need the most powerful virtual reality experience they can get. HTC bumped up the resolution on the Vive Pro, it sports high-res OLED screens with a 2,880 x 1,600 resolution and 615 pixels per inch (which is a significant jump from the 1,080 x 1,200 resolution and 448ppi of the Vive). Ars Technica claims the field-of-view might not be improved this time around, instead the new resolution conforms to the resolution ratio of the original Vive. This new resolution though will work particularly well for training simulations as Ars Technica reports.

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CES 2018: ASUS brings high-capacity battery-toting ZenFone Max Plus to North America

If having a smartphone that comes with a high-capacity battery is something that’s high on your list of priorities, Taiwanese company ASUS is giving you that option. The company is bringing the ZenFone Max Plus (M1) to this side of the world. It packs in a 4,130mAh battery, which offers up to 26 days of standby time and can even be used to charge other devices. It sees ASUS joining the 18:9 display aspect ratio for its 5.7-inch screen. ASUS is also introducing Face Unlock technology with this device.

When it comes to the cameras, the front-facing camera comes with either 8-megapixel/16-megapixel shooter with f/2.0 aperture for your brighter selfie needs. It also has a dual-rear setup with a 16-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a secondary 8-megapixel shooter with 120-degree wide-angle lens. The Max Plus is said to run on a MediaTek 6750T 64-bit octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and Android 7.0 layered with ASUS ZenUI. It comes with 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD. It’ll retail for US$229 (around CA$285).

Source: CNET

CES 2018: Pioneer establishes the high end for turntables with Technics SP-10R

Dj's and audiophiles know the Technics SL-1200 is the best turntable ever made and has remained the desired component for nearly 40 years. At CES this year, Pioneer is ushering a new era and a new standard for high end turntables.

Renowned for direct drive technology and superior sound quality, the SP-10R High-End Direct Drive Turntable and SL-1000R Direct Drive Turntable System are designed and engineered for ultimate analog vinyl performance.

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