HP Sprout Pro preview: It’s like the old Sprout – but better and aimed at pros

HP has updated the original Sprout it launched in 2014. And it’s added “Pro” to the title.

The Sprout is an all-in-one with a projector and camera extrusion, and it comes with a mat for you to get all interactive with it. The original version was aimed at creatives who wanted a neat setup that would allow them to do more with the space in front of their computer. The Sprout’s 20-inch, touch-enabled mat lets you draw on it, touch it, and put things on top of it to scan – and everything will appear on the PC’s actual 23-inch display.

The new Sprout, technically called the Pro G2, features a “higher resolution projection, more powerful processing, advanced 3D scanning and a more accurate precision active pen for drawing compared to the previous model,” according to HP. It’s also black now and has a larger 23.8-inch display and a bigger 21.3-inch Touch Mat. We tried out the new Sprout at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

We really liked the new palm rejection software, which registers your hand and allows you to scribble without any interference. But the main thing we enjoyed in the demo was the 3D-scanning feature. Sprout can scan whatever you place on or above the Touch Mat. The Pro G2 has the same camera as the old one, but now it can do “quick 3D capture capability” to recreate an object in under three minutes, HP said.

The HP Sprout Pro has also been updated to include a suite of apps called WorkTools, so that users scan and manipulate objects in 2D and 3D in an interactive clipboard. It also has a seventh-generation Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GTX 960M graphics card, and a new active stylus (the old one was passive), the latter of which lets the Pro G2 differentiate input from your hand and the pen, which is handy (heh).

Pocket-lint

First Impressions

HP emphasised that Sprout Pro will fully leverage the upcoming Microsoft Creator Update that’s all about letting people effortlessly scan objects and manipulate them in 3D using just a Windows PC. HP scanned everything from a croissant to a dog statue, and it made sure to show us how Sprout captured all the fine details, including the lines of a barcode sticker. HP also demoed how one could manipulate and rotate scanned objects.

While doing so, it admitted that HP is really targeting businesses with the new Sprout Pro. It wants manufacturers and retailers and start-ups and other types of business to use this machine to enhance their workflows – whether that be designing 3D objects or scanning 3D objects. It even told Pocket-lint that General Electric in Europe has been using the new HP Sprout Pro, though it neglected to tell us why.

There’s no word yet on how much the Sprout Pro G2 will cost, but HP said it will be more forthcoming in March. The HP Sprout from last year costs $2,199, so the new Sprout may have the same starting price – or it could be more expensive now that it’s meant for businesses.

Focal Utopia by Tournaire preview: Yes, these really are a $120,000 pair of headphones

We’ll start by saying that there is no doubt that the Focal Utopia open-back, over-ear headphones are astounding. They are quite possibly the best headphones we’ve ever used and every ounce of the renowned French manufacturer’s audio expertise is right there for you to enjoy.

However, the Tournaire edition, made in collaboration with one of France’s top jewellers, will set you back $120,000 (around £97,000). That’s a staggering amount to pay for a sports car let along a pair of headphones. So why will they set you back so much?

Well, you have the hand decorated gold and diamond elements to thank for that.

There is 18 karat yellow gold on the ear pieces and at the start of each side of the headband. There are also 6 carats worth of diamonds, set into them.

Pocket-lint

While this might sound a bit too bling for your taste, they are actually elegant up close. And they feature the same audio signature as the conventional, black Utopia headset – that’s only $3,999 if you can’t quite stretch to the whole $120 K.

There are some clever technologies at work too. Much of it is housed in the head strap across the top, with a 40mm Berylium ‘M’ shape dome driver for each ear. The drive unit is also placed slightly forward, giving the impression of audio origination in front of you rather than at the sides.

They have a huge frequency response of between 5Hz and 50kHz, and an impedance of 32 Ohms. Impressive stuff.

The cups are covered in super soft lambs leather, while the yokes above each earpiece are carbon fiber to reduce weight. They are extremely comfortable to wear, as we discovered in our preview session, but however nice they feel, the audio performance is the real star of the show.

They are, quite simply, stunning.

Spatial representation is excellent and there is so much clarity throughout volumes – up to ear splittingly loud. You can hear every slide of a finger on a string, or a cough in the audience at a recording.

Pocket-lint

First Impressions

There’s little doubt that people will want the Utopia by Tournaire edition headphones, but on only a few generally will.

They will be lucky people indeed through. These are the Ferrari of audio listening. They even almost cost as much.

And we can safely say that even before we get a pair in for testing.

Samsung’s 32-bit wireless speaker is sleek and loud

24-bit audio is, presently, the upper echelon for high-resolution digital music. So, of course, Samsung has a 32-bit speaker here at CES. The company says the H7 Wireless Speaker will upscale your 8- and 24-bit audio to cover a wider frequency range, therefore making your music sound closer to the original recording.

That claim is pretty dumb. There’s no way to get 32-bit audio files, and there’s no hidden data inside a 24-bit recording, so any extrapolation is pure guesswork on the speaker’s part. But that doesn’t mean the H7 is a complete write-off. For what it’s worth it’s a very attractive wireless speaker, that also sounds pretty good too.

All of the inputs are hidden beneath the H7, which means the only discernible details on the speaker are two circular grilles up front, two circular dials up top (one for volume, the other for navigating menus), and a small display. The listening area at Samsung’s booth wasn’t ridiculously noisy, but it’s still not an ideal environment to judge a speaker’s quality. What I can say is it’s definitely loud enough to fill a room, and that there was no distortion at full volume.

Hopefully we’ll get the chance to spend some more time with the H7 before it launches this summer. There’s no word on pricing, but Samsung said we’ll be “pleasantly surprised” by their MSRP. which it characterized as “affordably premium.”

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Amazon wants rival retailers to sell goods through its app

Amazon is opening up its mobile app to rival retailers, but it’s definitely not out of the goodness of its heart. According to The Information, the e-commerce website will launch a “place cards” service that its competitors can use for newsletters and the like. It’s part of an even bigger undertaking called Amazon Commerce Services. When you click on a link in the place card, you’ll get taken to a page that looks like the store’s app or website but is actually part of Amazon’s app. Apparently, the e-retail giant is hoping that the companies it manages to entice will end up using its other services, as well, particularly Amazon Payments. Since the company takes a cut out of every transaction made through the payment solution, it could become a lucrative venture if it ever takes off.

While Amazon’s app has more users than other big retailers’ applications, the company will likely have a hard time convincing them to sign up. A Macy’s executive sounded dubious when asked despite having to shut down stores after a dismal holiday season. The company told The Information that it all “depends on who gets the customer data. If Amazon takes any of our data, it’s a no. We have to watch out for that.” Walmart, Target and other big-box companies will likely share that sentiment. Amazon’s service is reportedly still in the very early stages of its development, though, so its rivals still have time to think it through.

Source: The Information

Finally, a haptic display that might be worthwhile

Back in 2011, tactile displays were thought to be the next big thing in mobile computing, since you can’t feel anything from glass-fronted smartphones. Tanvas, a startup out of Northwestern University, is looking to change all of that with its prototype haptic display. It’s a system that can, theoretically bolt onto any existing touchscreen, although some of its most exciting uses may not be on a smartphone (or tablet).

Tanvas is the product of a decade of research by Ed Colegate and Michael Peshkin, and uses electrostatics to modulate friction. In English, it uses statics to alter the friction that your finger is feeling as you move it across the touchscreen. It’s not that accurate, but you’re certainly aware of something that changes depending on what’s being shown.

For instance, your digits will bump along a series of horizontal lines, feel the ting of every tooth in a zip or the roughness of sandpaper. It’s certainly not as if you’re touching the real thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a very definite feeling. In fact, one of Engadget’s video team was blown away by the sensation of texture on a screen.

One of the most exciting demos that the company showed off was related to automotive displays, like the one you’ll find in a Tesla. Rather than having to look at the display, the Tanvas screen can actually give you the sensation of a notched controller. So, when you want to activate something, you’d push a switch into the adjacent gear as you would on a real car.

Given the risks inherent in taking your eyes from the road, being able to feel a control on a touchscreen display seems ideal. That, to me, seems like a much more essential use of the technology than Tanvas’ own big idea, which is feeling the ass of a pair of corduroy pants on a clothing retailer’s website.

For now, Tanvas is just showing off a prototype that it bolted on top of a Nexus 9. But if it can garner some interest from the tech industry, maybe it won’t be too long before we see it in a working product.

Nick Summers felt something for this report.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

David Byrne opens a neuroscience-themed art exhibit

David Byrne is no stranger to making odd, tech-infused art exhibits, but he’s kicking things up a notch. The legendary musician and technologist Mala Gaonkar have launched Neurosociety, a science-themed exhibit at the Pace Art + Technology gallery in Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park. The installation, which draws on the work of 15 cognitive neuroscience labs, guides you through four interactive rooms that each reveal a “surprising aspect” of you and your connections to others. Appropriately enough for the Talking Heads singer, it’s a serious mind trip: you’ll do everything from predicting real elections to seeing yourself represented in a doll’s body. Your choices will even contribute to research data for the labs in question.

As to why Byrne and Gaonkar are doing this? Experiments like this are a “form of theater,” they argue. And even Byrne says it’s one of the “more unexpected things” he’s done, which is saying something for an artist who created a musical based on Imelda Marcos.

You’ll want to plan a trip soon if you’re curious, since the exhibit wraps up on March 31st. And it’s not exactly something you’ll do on a whim — you’re paying $45 for an hour-long experience. If you’ve ever wanted to see how an iconic musician puts his spin on the cutting edge of medicine, though, it might be worth a visit.

Via: Consequence of Sound, AV Club

Source: Eventbrite

Toshiba’s Portege X20W is a sleek, durable convertible

Remember when Toshiba made laptops you could buy? Since the company stopped making consumer notebooks, it’s been quietly regrouping and fine-tuning its business lines. Here at CES 2017, Toshiba is showing off its first convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge for enterprise users. It’s called the Portégé X20W, and after my brief hands-on with it, I’m already taken by its sturdy build, sharp design and promised endurance. But its lack of ports are a questionable decision to me.

The X20W’s magnesium alloy frame and stylishly slim 15.4mm profile made it sumptuous to look at and touch. I liked how the device’s 12.5-inch full HD screen (made of Gorilla Glass) did not flex, even as I held the notebook up just by its top right corner. The 360-degree hinge is also sturdy enough to support the Portégé’s weight regardless of whether it’s been set up in laptop, tablet or tent modes.

Speaking of, the whole thing only weighs 2.5 pounds. Even though that’s the same weight as the 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, the Toshiba system somehow managed to feel lighter. Plus, the company is boasting that the new Portégé can provide up to 16 hours, which is longer than the 15 hours Lenovo promises on the ThinkPad.

I’m still a bigger fan of the ThinkPad’s keyboard, but the Portégé’s deck was evenly spaced and comfortable to type on, at least for the few short sentences I entered. The touchpad was responsive during my testing, and depressing the touchpad to register clicks was easy enough and doesn’t require too much force. On it sits a fingerprint scanner that you swipe your finger on to unlock your computer or access specific apps.

In addition to the fingerprint reader, the laptop also has two cameras and two microphones to supports facial and voice login via Windows Hello.

The Portégé also comes with a Wacom-designed pen that has a finer nib than I have seen on other active styli. I easily sketched random doodles and wrote the word “Engadget” over and over again, and appreciated how smooth and lag-free it was.

The X20W starts at $1,199, including the pen, with a respectable combination of guts. You’ll get a seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD to start, and the system ships with Windows 10 Pro. My biggest gripe with the laptop is that, for a device that’s meant for business users, only having two ports (USB-C with Thunderbolt and USB A 3.0) is a very limiting design flaw. Toshiba will include an HDMI dongle for free so those who want to stream their content to a big screen can still have that option, but otherwise the company believes it is future-proofing the new Portégé by offering USB C and Thunderbolt.

If that lack of ports doesn’t put you (or your company’s computer buyer, anyway) off, you can start ordering the Toshiba Portégé X20W in the middle of January.

Onkyo VC-FLX1 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Onkyo hopes their Amazon Echo-like speaker that will make audiophiles happy.

Onkyo

In the 80s, it was digital clocks in everything. Then in the 00s, it was MP3s. Could Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant in everything be this decade’s new trend?

The ability to control your home with a voice-activated speaker is one of the most interesting technologies to enter the home in the past few years, and the Alexa-enabled Amazon Echo is at the forefront.

While we’re likely to see a lot of these products at CES 2017, one of the first out of the gates is the Onkyo VC-FLX1 which not only incorporates Alexa but also includes an integrated home security camera. But why would you consider this over a host of other potential Swiss Army Knives? One would hope that it’s sound quality.

While we love the technology in both the Amazon Echo and the Google Home, the problem is they are pretty lousy as music speakers. Most companies’ solution is “use the speaker to control our better sounding one,” which is kind of kludgy. However, with Onkyo’s long heritage in audio, you’d hope they could finally fix this with the new “Flex.”

First impressions aren’t so encouraging at first, as it looks very similar to the Echo. However, Onkyo says it offers “High-quality music playback via proprietary full range speaker driver.”

The speaker also includes temperature and humidity sensors, which can be monitored with the use of a third-party smartphone app (not specified).

As a music device, it also includes built-in Wi-Fi with a “wide variety of network music services” and Bluetooth capabilities.

Onkyo has yet to announce availability or pricing on the VC-FLX1.

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Whirlpool Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer Combo Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

There’s no need to transfer wet clothes to the dryer with Whirlpool’s Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer Combo.

Whirlpool

If you’re always forgetting to move your wet, freshly cleaned clothes from the washer to the dryer, Whirlpool might have a solution for you. The large appliance manufacturer today debuted its Whirlpool Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer Combo.

As its name suggests, Whirlpool’s newest appliance fits a washer and a dryer into one tidy machine. While the washer-dryer hybrid isn’t a new idea, this version has a bit of an edge over the competition. It’s Wi-Fi-enabled and the related Whirlpool app is supposed to give you a little additional control over your cleaning and drying cycles.

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According to Whirlpool’s official press release, this model will send an alert to your phone when a cycle ends, so you know your clothes are ready. The app also offers a feature called Download & Go Cycles that’s supposed to let customers select among a wider variety of cleaning cycles.

This washer-dryer unit is also supposed to sense when your laundry detergent is low and automatically order more through a partnership with Amazon’s Dash service.

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The Whirlpool Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer Combo also features a detergent reservoir for auto-dispensing. It’s supposed to automatically begin drying clothes after a wash cycle ends, too. That could prove problematic if you want to remove a few delicate items before drying the rest; maybe you can customize the alerts to receive a notification when the wash cycle ends.

Whirlpool also announced an Amazon Alexa Skill for early 2017 that should extend voice control capabilities to most of the company’s current and upcoming connected appliances. I’ve reached out to Whirlpool to confirm if its Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer Combo will support the Alexa Skill. Read more about Whirlpool’s Alexa integration here.

Click here to find out what else is happening at CES 2017.

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Nvidia Shield TV (2017) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

CNET’s best-reviewed streaming devices are made by Roku, but the more-expensive Nvidia Shield has always been more than just another box that serves up Netflix.

The newest version, available for preorder today and shipping later this month, could broaden its appeal beyond tech nerds and Kodi/Plex fans. Welcome improvements include more apps, new smart home capabilities from Google Assistant and a better game controller. And now there’s even a remote in the box.

Pricing hasn’t changed though: the basic Shield with 16GB of onboard storage is $200 and the Shield Pro with 500GB storage is $300.

I got a full hands-on demo of the new device and software today. Here’s what I learned.

Sarah Tew/CNET

App upgrades: Amazon Video and 360 YouTube

One of my biggest complaints about Shield has finally been addressed: there’s now an app for Amazon video. It’s the latest interface, just like the one found on Roku’s new 4K boxes and many Smart TVs, and offers full access to Amazon’s vast library of content, including Prime video, a la carte movies and TV shows, and 4K and HDR content (when connected to a compatible TV).

Now the sole major streaming platform that doesn’t have Amazon — the second-most popular service after Netflix — is Apple TV.

The Shield YouTube app will now work with 360 video. While other devices will also handle YouTube’s 360 video, which lets you pan around to get different views of the action, Shield’s game controller makes it more natural. I found it much easier to scan around using its thumbsticks than it would be using a standard remote controller.

Since it launched Shield has added just about every other major app, it often gets the latest and best interfaces, and of course you can cast compatible apps from your phone. Netflix and Amazon offer 4K and HDR at launch, while Google Play Movies and TV and Vudu will have 4K. Nvidia reps told me that when Vudu launches HDR10 support (expected later this year) the Shield will also support its HDR. Shield doesn’t handle Dolby Vision, however.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Smaller box and controller, better gaming

The new Shield box has the exact same powerful processing and graphics as the original but is 40 percent smaller. It has all of the same connections (HDMI, two USB) except there’s no longer an SD card slot. If you want extra storage you’ll have to use USB or a NAS, or buy the 500GB Pro model.

On the original Shield the remote control was a $50 option, used a rechargeable battery, and lacked infrared so it couldn’t control TV volume directly. The updated one can; it relies on a coin cell battery that lasts a year, and best of all, is now included in the box along with the game controller.

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I complained about the original controller’s bulky size, but the new one is much better. It’s smaller and lighter and feels much closer to PS4 or Xbox One-grade. The grips are cobwebbed with futuristic angles, it now has haptic feedback, and Nvidia claims a 60-hour battery life between charges.

Nvidia has upgraded to Pascal servers for its GeForce Now game streaming service, enabling better graphics and less lag, and enabled syncing and cloud saves. It also revamped the GameStream system that lets Nvidia-equipped PC owners play on the big screen (and even in HDR for select games), added an app that links directly to Steam’s Big Picture mode, and consolidated all games (including Google Play) into one interface.

Sarah Tew/CNET

OK Google, turn down the lights and control my TV

Later this year the Shield will get a software upgrade that enables Google Assistant, the always-listening Amazon Alexa competitor that debuted on the Google Home speaker.

Unlike Alexa on the Fire TV stick or Siri on the Apple TV, which require you to push a button and talk into the remote’s mic to get a response, Google Assistant on Nvidia Shield relies on a far-field mic built into the game controller. It’s always on and always listening for the “Hello Google” awake phrase.

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Nvidia’s demo worked like a charm. After the rep said “Hello Google, start my day” with the controller a few feet away on a nearby table, the system sprang into action, adjusting the Nest thermostat and starting the coffee-maker. Voice commands also caused searches for TV shows and movies, launched apps like Netflix and even played shows like directly — all without having to speak into the remote. If you don’t want the Google listening all the time, you can disable the feature in the main menu.

Shield can control all of the Smart Home devices Google Home can, and even works as a full SmartThings hub if you plug in the $30 SmartThings USB dongle (coming later this year). Also available later this year will be the $50 Nvidia Spot, a far-field mic/speaker that plugs into a power outlet on the wall and extends Shield’s listening range.

Sarah Tew/CNET

We’ll have a full review of the new Shield at CNET soon, but it’s already one of the most powerful all-in-one TV boxes you can buy, and it just keeps getting better.

PS: If you happen to own an existing Shield, rejoice. With the exception of the always-on mic and new remote, all of the upgrades described above will come via a software update that’ll be available the same day the new Shield ships (around January 16).