HP EliteBook x360 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The HP EliteBook Folio G1 was one of my favorite laptops of 2016, combining serious business-friendly styling and professional features with a slim body that competed with the thinnest Windows laptops. HP’s latest EliteBook moves past the standard clamshell design to add a 360-degree hinge. The concept behind this new version, according to HP, is to push the ideas of design, security and collaboration.

And that design is the first thing you notice. The unibody construction is similar in concept to a MacBook, but has diamond-cut accents. Like a Mac (but unlike even many high-end Windows PCs), it’s an all-metal body. The “asteroid silver” color (personally, I’d just call it “silver”) is conservative enough to pass as a business laptop, without being a boring dull gray.

Josh Miller/CNET

At 14.9 mm thick and weighing 2.84 pounds (1.29 kg), this isn’t the thinnest or lightest laptop around. In fact, it’s closer to the new 2016 MacBook Pro, while the absolute thinnest 12- and 13-inch systems dip just below the 10 mm mark. But in that added bulk is room for both traditional USB-A and newer USB-C ports, plus an HDMI output — all features rapidly falling away from consumer laptops.

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It’s also a tough hybrid, tested against MIL-spec standards for drops and spill resistance, and the display, in either full HD or 4K versions, is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass. For data security, it can be equipped with a fingerprint reader and even HP’s new integrated Sure View privacy screen, which turns on with a keyboard command and obscures the screen image from side angles. An active stylus is included in the US and in some other countries.

Josh Miller/CNET

For collaboration, the EliteBook x360 adds a handful of new “collaboration keys,” such as one to launch Skype… in case you were confused about how to launch Skype. To be honest, collaboration tools on business laptops always felt like a marketing bullet point in search of a purpose, but the rest of the EliteBook line is cool enough that I frequently recommend them to people looking for a great all-around personal laptop.

The new HP EliteBook x360 should be available in late January, with the price yet to be set.

HP Sprout Pro G2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

While I, personally, don’t have any use for a computer with a built-in 3D scanner, I have to admit that the HP Sprout G2 is pretty damn cool.

It houses both a 2D and 3D scanner, as well as a projector, cameras and touch mat (with stylus) for scanning and manipulating the objects you’ve scanned. The computer is kind of like an all-in-one stop for anyone in the 3D-printing field — minus the printer, of course.

The HP Sprout Pro G2 can capture and detect 3D objects.

Juan Garzón/CNET

HP debuted the Sprout Pro G2 at CES 2017, alongside a slew of new computers and monitors, but I got a look at it a few weeks ago at a private event in San Francisco.

I never thought I’d be so mesmerized by a machine that can digitally render a toy frog quicker than it takes to order a deli sandwich. Yet there I was having a great time using the Sprout Pro G2 to help customize a new appliance I’ll never own from a Portuguese retailer I’ll never visit.

The most high-tech way to customize a fridge.

Josh Miller/CNET

HP wants the Sprout computer line (it’s been making them for a few years now) to be equally accessible and easy to use for the manufacturing, retail and education sectors. I found the computer very user-friendly during my time with it, though, again, I don’t know how I’d take advantage of all of its abilities. But that’s just me.

Anyone who is interested in the HP Sprout Pro G2’s unique features shouldn’t hesitate to check out all it has to offer. Pricing and availability is expected to be announced in March 2017.

Specs

• Intel Core i7 CPU
• 1TB SSHD storage
• 8GB DD4 memory
• Nvidia GTX 960M GPU
• Microsoft Windows 10 Pro

HP Spectre x360 (15-inch) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

There’s been no shortage of praise for HP’s line of Spectre x360 hybrid laptops. Both an early-2016 model and a late-2016 update received high marks in our reviews, thanks to a slim aluminum body, excellent keyboard and a good selection of ports (even if the late-2016 version retained only one full-size USB port).

Josh Miller/CNET

The lead update for CES 2017 is a new 15-inch version of the Spectre x360, and it looks and feels different from its predecessor, but not always in the way you’d expect. This new x360 has a slimmer screen bezel, which is a trendy new feature to add right now, down to just 4.65mm on the left and right sides of the 15.6-inch display. The overall footprint is also smaller, while the glass trackpad has gotten wider, although not nearly as big as the massive trackpad in the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

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But there’s a trade-off involved. This new version is actually a little thicker and heavier than the one it replaces, moving up to 4.4 pounds and 17.9mm thick. That’s because there’s an Nvidia GeForce 940MX discrete graphics option, as well as a battery that HP says is 23 percent larger than before.

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You’ll probably need that battery, as there’s only one screen resolution option, a full UHD 4K display. That’s a very cool feature to have in a 15-inch laptop, but it’s also a bit of a battery killer in our experience.

The new 15-inch Spectre x360 will be available around the end of February, starting at $1,249 in the US (£1,017 or AU$1,737). The smaller 13-inch Spectre x360 is also getting a 4K screen option, plus optional Intel Iris graphics (slightly better than the default Intel graphics in most laptops), and the same cool-looking ash silver color as the 15-inch model.

HP Envy Curved AIO 34 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

HP is not afraid to put a curve on it. At CES 2017 it debuted two new high-end, curved displays, including an all-in-one computer and a gaming monitor.

HP Envy Curved AIO 34

The computer is inside of the base stand.

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The HP Envy Curved AIO 34 is an ultra-wide, 34-inch all-in-one computer (there’s also a similar 27-inch model available) with a special design and pricing starting at $1,729. (UK and AU pricing converts to £1,729 AU$2,389, respectively

Not only is the screen elegantly curved, the computer and its B&O speakers are built into the dock, allowing for an impressively thin display (to match its sleek and skinny bezels, I assume).

Easily crank up the volume with the built-in button.

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Additionally, it has a radial button on the dock to easily turn the volume up and down, and tucked inside of the display there’s a built-in pop-up camera that you can easily hide if you have any privacy concerns.

It’s expected to go on sale on HP’s website on January 11 and at select retailers on February 26, 2017.

Specs

• 34-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio screen
• Seventh-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 CPU options
• Nvidia GPU
• Up to 256GB SSD and 2TB HDD
• Four front-facing speakers
• Wireless charging (optional)

HP Omen X

HP’s PC gaming flagship now has a monitor to match.

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HP made a monitor to match its big, powerful and cube-shaped Omen X gaming computer. The Omen X has an ultra-wide, curved 35-inch display with a 3ms response time and 100Hz refresh rate. It’s expected to go on sale in the US in March for $1,299. (UK and AU pricing converts to £1,056 and $1,795, respectively)

The 35-inch monitor is made for gaming.

Josh Miller/CNET

Specs

• Nvidia G-Sync
• 1800R curvature
• DisplayPort and HDMI
• Three USB 3.0 ports
• Height adjustable stand with ambient lighting
• Built-in headphone hook

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Acer Predator 17X (2017) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

“You get a new processor! And you get a new processor!” — Acer to the Predator 17 X and Aspire V Nitro laptops.

Acer

In the excitement and flurry of all of the new tech being announced at CES 2017, it’s easy to forget that a select variety of oldies but goodies are also receiving a few fitting updates. Acer is doing exactly that with the Predator 17X gaming laptop and the Aspire V Nitro notebook.

Acer Predator 17 X

The updated model has a newer, faster processor.

Acer

The new model of the Acer Predator 17 X, which debuted last year, will start at $2,599 in the US and 2,999 euros in Europe, and go on sale in January. UK and Australian details have yet to be announced, but that converts to about £2,555 or AU$4,360.

Specs

• 17.3-inch G-Sync panel
• Seventh-gen Intel Core i7-7820HK CPU
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU with 8G RAM
• 64GB of DDR4 memory
• Custom triple-fan cooling system with front air intake

Acer Aspire V Nitro

The Aspire V Nitro comes in 15- and 17-inch versions.

Acer

The ultrasleek, aluminum-clad Aspire V Nitro is also made for gaming, but its focus on superior graphics will also please anyone interested in heavy-duty video editing. The new all-black models come in 15- and 17-inch variants, have seventh-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs. Pricing for the 15-inch base model starts at $1,199 (£975 or AU$1,655, converted) and $1,399 (£1,135 or AU$1,935) for the 17-inch base model. They will be available to purchase in the US in February.

Specs

• Seventh-gen Intel Core i processor (KBL H series)
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or GTX 1050 GPU
• 16 GB of DDR4 memory
• 4K (3,840×2,160-pixel) ultra-HD display option available
• Tobii eye-tracking (optional)
• USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, two USB 3.0 ports (one featuring power-off USB charging), two USB 2.0 ports and one HDMI
• Fingerprint sensor

Polar Team Pro Shirt Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Polar

Polar is entering the smart apparel market. The company, which is primarily known for its wireless heart-rate sensors and fitness trackers, on Tuesday announced the Polar Team Pro Shirt, a smart workout shirt designed for professional athletes.

The shirt integrates Polar’s heart rate technology directly onto the fabric, removing the need for an uncomfortable chest strap or not-as-accurate wrist sensor. In addition to heart-rate tracking, a small GPS-equipped motion tracking sensor on the back collar is used to measure metrics such as an athlete’s speed, distance and acceleration.

Rami Lappalainen/Polar

The shirt is compatible with Polar’s Team Pro system, a platform used by sports teams to gain insights into an athlete’s performance and monitor effort, recovery and other metrics throughout an entire season. The sensors in the shirt can also broadcast training data to a coach’s iPad in real time.

Pricing information wasn’t immediately available, although the Polar Team Pro Shirt won’t be available to consumers. It is instead being offered exclusively to sports teams and will arrive sometime in March.

Symantec Norton Core Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Norton Core comes in titanium gold and granite gray.

Symantec

You’ll know Norton as one of the most popular names in security software, but now it’s a piece of hardware too, as parent company Symantec introduced today at CES 2017 its first home router, the Norton Core.

Protection for the entire family

This is a new app-enabled router that has built-in security to protect the entire home, rather than just an individual computer, the way Norton Security software does. Symantec says the device aims to keep safe up to 20 devices connected to it, including Windows computers, Macs, phones, tablets or any internet-of-things devices, in real time. (It’s unclear what happens if you have more than 20 devices, however.)

According to Symantec, the Norton Core is backed by a team of security experts who are constantly analyzing and eliminating cybersecurity attacks worldwide. The router gets regular updates on cybercrime information and protection mechanisms to keep any device connected to it safe. In case an infected device is connected to the network, it can isolate it from the rest of your devices to prevent the spreading of the malware.

You can use the mobile app to view your security score.

Symantec

Easy home network management

Security protection at router level is not new. Asus has teamed up with Trend Micro to offer this for free on its high-end routers, such as the RT-AC5300 or RT-AC88U. The Norton Core, however, has gone one step further by making the protection comprehensive to home users.

Via the mobile app, you can monitor the network and see a list of online threats that the router has blocked. It even shows you the current safety level of your home network with a credit-score-like number, from zero (completely vulnerable) to 500 (completely safe). You can also use the app to pause the internet for any connected device and set a bed time, during which the broadband connection is turned off.

Powerful hardware

The Norton Core is a compact dome-shaped device that measures just 6 by 6 by 5 inches (15 by 15 by 13 cm). Yet it’s packed with powerful hardware, including a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1MB of system memory and 4GB of flash memory. The router supports the latest 4×4 AC2600 Wi-Fi standard, with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megabits per second and up to 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

Symantec says the Norton Core’s Wi-Fi can cover a home of somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. It also comes with four Gigabit LAN ports for wired clients.

The Norton Core is a relatively compact router.

Symantec

Availability

The Norton Core is now available for preorder at $200, with a regular price of $280, in either titanium gold or granite gray. The price includes one year of subscription to its security protection, called Norton Core Security Plus, after which the ongoing cost is $99 per year. UK and Australian availability was not announced, but the preorder price converts to about £165 or AU$275.

The router is set to ship this summer.

LG SJ7 Sound Bar Flex Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

LG

LG has announced a “transforming” sound bar, the SJ7 Sound Bar Flex, which consists of two detachable stereo units that can be used as fronts, rears or as Bluetooth speakers.

One speaker acts as the master while the second unit connects wirelessly and features an onboard battery. This second unit can be used as the wireless rear or for streaming Bluetooth anywhere in the house. The system appears to have a switch which determines which mode the second unit operates in.

The sound bar comes with a separate subwoofer, and the entire system features a claimed output power of 320W.

The unit will be on display here at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, where further details such as inputs, codec compatibility and pricing/availability are expected to be announced.

The idea of a modular sound bar isn’t new; the Philips Fidelio B5 with its detachable wireless rears came out in 2015.

LG S9 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

LG

Immersive sound technology Dolby Atmos is the latest thing to hit sound bars with companies such as Yamaha, Samsung and now LG bringing the surround sound standard to your living room in compact form-factors.

The LG SJ9 is a squat sound bar with front-firing speakers as well as dual upfiring speakers which are designed to project a 3D audio bubble using Dolby Atmos soundtracks. There are about 100 Blu-ray discs that currently support Dolby Atmos in addition to several streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Video.

The LG’s main competition, the Samsung HW-K950, doesn’t decode the other immersive format, DTS:X, and it’s yet to be announced if the LG SJ9 will.

The sound bar will include HDMI inputs in addition to Google Cast compatibility which means you’ll be able to control the speaker with a Google Home speaker as well as use it as part of a multiroom system.

The system comes with a wireless subwoofer but unlike the Samsung it doesn’t appear to have rears included.

Pricing and availability is yet to be announced.

• Dolby Atmos
• 4K Sound (Hi Resolution Audio) and 24-bit upsampling feature
• 4K HDMI Pass-Through for HDR support

Earin M-2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Earin M-2 is scheduled to ship in late March.

Earin

Before Apple’s AirPods showed up, a handful of companies, including Sweden-based Earin, were making truly wireless earphones. Its M-1 was decent but pricey and lacked a built-in microphone for making calls.

Now Earin’s introduced its new M-2 at CES 2017, claiming the wireless earbuds will be “the smallest and lightest available on the market.” Like the M-1, the new model will come with a docking capsule that both charges and stores the earbuds. The M-2, which has built-in microphones for making calls, is scheduled to ship in late March, but Earin hasn’t said how much it’ll cost (the M-1 is now $200).

Earin claims these are lighter than Apple’s Airpods.

Earin

I’m supposed to get some hands-on time with the M-2 in the coming days and will add my impressions once I do. But for now here’s a look at its key features, according to Earin:

• Unique shape, with noise-isolating design
• Smallest and lightest truly wireless earbuds available to date
• Dual antenna and near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) powered by NXP Semiconductors delivers a reliable and stable connection
• Touch interface on the tip of the earbud for answering calls, playing/pausing music, and skipping to the next song
• 3 hours battery life for music
• Charging case delivers 3 extra charges for 12 hours total music playback
• Expected to ship in late Q1
• No pricing available yet

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