Facebook snags hit Latino YouTube shows for its Watch video tab

Facebook is steadily adding shows to its recently launched Watch video tab for mobile, desktop, and TV. Last week, it nabbed a docuseries based on viral blog Humans of New York, which already boasts a massive following on the social network. The same goes for its latest additions — two new latino shows that have found considerable success on rival video service YouTube. The weekly programmes come courtesy of digital video network Mitú, and include Mom’s Movie Reviews, and What’s Good in Your Hood.

In case you’re not familiar with Mitú, the online media company claims it attracts around 600 million monthly content views. Its output can be found on YouTube, Comcast’s Watchable streaming service, and Snapchat Discover. It’s also been busy amassing millions of followers across social media, including Instagram, Twitter, and (its biggest platform) Facebook. That success has brought with it the attention of some notable backers — the likes of Verizon, YouTube network Awesomeness TV, and ad agency WPP have poured $43 million into the company.

Mitú’s shows tend to be aimed at Latino millennials, and its Facebook Watch programmes are no different. Mom’s Movie Reviews is cast from the YouTube mold, offering weekly reviews of new movie releases by a (you guessed it) Latina mom and her son. Starting today, the unscripted comedy series will be available to view on Facebook Watch every Wednesday.

The second show from Mitú is also an extension of an existing programme, dubbed What’s Good In Your Hood. The Facebook Watch series sees comedian Andrew Santiago visit local American neighbourhoods to sample their cuisine, and highlight the work being done by community members. The focus on food should go down well on Facebook, where clips about grub reign supreme. What’s Good In Your Hood also debuts today, with new episodes landing every Wednesday.

—

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AT&T Expanding 5G Network Tests Into Three More U.S. Cities by End of 2017

In early 2016, AT&T began its first test of a fixed wireless 5G cellular network within Austin, Texas and expanded that test to new local businesses this past June, including a car wash, an apartment unit, and a church. Today, the carrier announced that its test of next-generation 5G cellular connectivity will be expanding to new businesses and residential customers in three new U.S. cities by the end of 2017: Waco, Texas; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana.

AT&T noted back in 2016 that the 5G trials introduced download speeds in gigabits per second, improving upon the normal megabits per second that customers on current wireless networks see, allowing 5G customers to “download a TV show in less than 3 seconds.” In today’s press release, AT&T said that it has seen speeds up to 1 gigabit per second in Austin, and latency rates “well under 10 milliseconds.” In 2016, the carrier predicted 5G latency at somewhere between 1 to 5 milliseconds.
In the Austin apartment unit, AT&T set up a fixed wireless 5G home with various apps running simultaneously on the same connection, with usage centering on streaming DIRECTV NOW, 360-degree video, and international video calls without lag. While the test remained at fixed locations in Austin for over a year, AT&T said that its findings demonstrated “how people can live, work, and play in a connected home of the future.”

AT&T said that its findings in Austin will help during the expansion to the three new cities, with new insights gained into millimeter wave performance and propagation, and how obstructive objects (foliage, buildings, etc), the weather, and device placement can impact the 5G signal in the real world. As with other carriers, AT&T’s 5G test data is being contributed to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a group of telecommunications organizations that oversee the development and maintenance of major communication networks.

“In Austin, we see all types of weather and substantial foliage,” said Marachel Knight, senior vice president, Wireless Network Architecture and Design, AT&T. “Taking our fixed wireless 5G trials out of the lab and into the real world helps us learn important factors about mmWave and 5G. And in doing so, we’re learning how to better design our network for the future.”

As it expands, the carrier said it will apply the knowledge it gained from the Austin tests, while also increasing the number of participants and expanding the physical footprint of the 5G network trials in each new city, hinting at much larger tests coming to Waco, Kalamazoo, and South Bend. In these three cities, trial participants are said to potentially include universities, hospitals, churches, restaurants, and other small businesses, bringing the ability to stream live TV and experience faster broadband services over the 5G connection.

AT&T will continue to test both fixed and mobile wireless solutions based in the millimeter wave spectrum in these field trials, and in closed “testbed” settings. The goal for the new expansion is to “help speed up” the deployment of new 5G network standards, with AT&T hoping that this deployment will happen as soon as late 2018. AT&T is working with Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia, and Intel during these trials, which also includes a test location in Indianapolis as of July, 2017.

Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have also announced interest in 5G networks, with Sprint saying its own wide-scale 5G network will launch by 2019, and T-Mobile aiming for nationwide 5G coverage by 2020. Of course, all of this progress hinges on the 3GPP first completing the 5G Release 15 standard. According to AT&T, once Release 15 is out then 5G-supported “commercial equipment” will be available within six months.

Tags: AT&T, 5G
Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone Users Will Be Able to Say ‘Hey Cortana, Open Alexa’ in Future

Amazon and Microsoft today jointly announced that Alexa and Cortana will soon be able to communicate with each other.

Microsoft said the collaboration will allow access to Alexa via Cortana on Windows 10 PCs later this year, and via the Cortana app for iOS and Android at an unspecified point in the future. Similarly, users will be able to access Cortana on Alexa-enabled devices like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show.

iPhone users should eventually be able to open the Cortana app and say “hey Cortana, open Alexa,” to access Amazon’s virtual assistant. Alexa can be used to shop and manage orders on Amazon, ask a variety of questions, stream music and audiobooks, check the news and weather, and many other tasks.

However, iPhone users won’t be able to say “hey Cortana, open Alexa” from the Home screen, or when the device is locked. Apple only allows third-party virtual assistants to function within their apps, so accessing Alexa via Cortana will be a lot more cumbersome than simply using Siri.

For a complete virtual assistant experience, iPhone users could also say “hey Siri, open the Cortana app” and then say “hey Cortana, open Alexa.”

Alexa can already be used in the Amazon app on iOS [Direct Link], while Cortana has been available on the App Store [Direct Link] since December 2015.

Tags: Amazon, Microsoft, Cortana, Alexa
Discuss this article in our forums

Dell at PAX West: Inspiron 7000 Gaming serves quad-core and GTX 1050 for $1,000

Why it matters to you

These two new Dell Inspiron options are great ways to dive into the pools of PC gaming, and the new Alienware monitors are icing on the cake if you can stomach the rich pricing.

During the PAX West 2017 gaming show in Seattle, Dell introduced several new products to meet the needs of its PC gaming customers. The product rollout included a new AMD-powered Dell Inspiron desktop, an Intel-powered Inspiron laptop, and two Alienware-branded curved monitors. The PCs won’t be made available until sometime in September, and will follow just one of the two Alienware monitors that are now available to purchase.

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop

For starters, the big news with Dell’s latest Inspiron desktop is that it’s now sold with a clear panel. That means if you configured the PC with optional Recon Blue lighting, you’ll be able to see all the tasty hardware inside washed with a blue hue without having to remove the side panel. You can also see this illumination through the angled intake grille on the front.

As the specifications show, this gaming desktop is based on AMD processors including two of its latest all-in-one APU chips, and six of its most recent Ryzen processors. What you won’t find here are configurations for AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips, which are provided through Dell’s Alienware-branded Area-51 Threadripper Edition desktop instead.

That said, you will see a slight difference between the APU and Ryzen versions, such as the number of available open expansion slots, and the number of ports. For instance, the Ryzen model includes an additional USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port on the front, and two additional USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports on the back. Neither PC provides options for Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity.

In addition to Windows 10, the new Dell Inspiron ships with trial versions of Office 2016 and McAfee LiveSafe already installed. Dell’s other pre-loaded programs include My Dell, Dell Digital Delivery, Dell Backup & Recovery, Dropbox, SupportAssist, and Adobe’s PDF converter. Windows 10 will have Flipboard, Groove Music, iHeart Radio, and Twitter apps already installed.

Processor:
A10-9700 APU (4-core)
A12-9800 APU (4-core)
Ryzen 3 1200 (4-core)
Ryzen 5 1400 (4-core)Ryzen 5 1600X (6-core)Ryzen 7 1700 (8-core)
Ryzen 7 1700X (8-core)Ryzen 7 1800X (8-core)
Processor cooling:
Air cooling
Liquid cooling
Expansion slots (APU model):
3x PCI Express x1
1x PCI Express x16
Expansion slots (Ryzen model):
2x PCI Express x1
2x PCI Express x16
Graphics:
AMD Radeon RX 560 (2GB)
AMD Radeon RX 570 (4GB)
AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB)
Memory (2x UDIMM slots):
4GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (4GB x 1)
8GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (8GB x 1) (4GB x 2)
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (16GB x 1) (8GB x 2)
24GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (8GB x 1 + 16GB x 1)
32GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (16GB x 2)
*32GB is the maximum
Storage (single):
500GB to 2TB 7,200RPM 3.5-inch HDD
500GB to 2TB 7,200RPM 2.5-inch HDD
128GB to 512GB M.2 SSD
Storage (dual):
128GB M.2 SSD + 500GB HDD
128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
512GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
512GB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
Storage (optical):
Tray-load Slim DVD-RW
Connectivity:
Wireless N + Bluetooth 4.0 (up to 150Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.1 (up to 867Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.1 (up to 433Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.2 (up to 433Mbps)
Ports (APU model):
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (front)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (front)
1x Headphone/microphone jack (front)
1x SD card reader (front)
————-
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (back)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (back)
1x P/S2 port (back)
7x Audio ports (back)
1x HDMI (back)
1x Gigabit Ethernet (back)
Ports (Ryzen model):
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (front)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (front)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (front)
1x Headphone / microphone combo (front)
1x SD card reader (front)
————-
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (back)
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (back)
1x P/S2 port (back)
7x audio ports (back)
1x HDMI (back, on graphics card)
1x Gigabit Ethernet
Audio:
HD 7.1 Performance Audio
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
Power supply:
300 watts
460 watts
Case color and panel options:
Recon Blue with solid panel
Recon Blue with clear panel
Dimensions:
18.07 x 8.50 x 17.23 inches
Starting weight:
30.27 pounds
Illumination:
Optional Polar Blue LED lighting
Availability:
September 2017
Starting price (APU model):
$650
Starting price (Ryzen model):
$1,250

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop

Here is Dell’s latest gaming laptop entry without rocketing into the Alienware zone. Packing seventh-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics, the updated Inspiron 15 7000 laptop includes options such as an Ultra HD resolution, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and dual storage configurations.

As the specifications show, customers can configure the laptop with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 discrete graphics chip based on Max-Q technology. This enables the GTX 1060 (and higher graphics chips) to reside in laptops measuring as thin as 0.70 inches. Dell’s Inspiron 15 isn’t quite that thin, but customers configuring the laptop with the GTX 1060 won’t see the graphics chip’s performance throttled back to prevent excessive heat in a compact area.

“A striking, gamer-focused design with dedicated forward and rearward thermal vents provides the first clue to this system’s capabilities,” Dell says. “Behind those vents are extra-capacity heat exchangers connected by oversized piping to dual cooling fans with high-efficiency blade pitch.”

The laptop ships with Windows 10, and can be configured with Ubuntu in various regions. Software installed by Dell includes My Dell, Dell Digital Delivery, Dell Backup & Delivery, Dropbox, Adobe PDF Converter, SupportAssist, and trial versions of Office 2016 and McAfee LiveSafe. Windows 10 will have the Flipboard, Groove Music, iHeart Radio, and Twitter apps already installed.

Screen size:
15.6 inches
Screen type:
In-Plane Switching
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080 (FHD)
3,840 x 2,160 (UHD)
Processor:
Intel Core i5-7300HQ (4-core)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ (4-core)
Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB)
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB)
GeForce GTX 1060 w/ MaxQ (6GB)
Memory:
4GB to 16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
*supports up to 32GB
Storage (single):
256GB SATA SSD
512GB PCI Express SSD
1TB 5,400RPM HDD
1TB 5,400RPM Hybrid w/ 8GB cache
Storage (dual):
128GB SATA SSD + 500GB HDD
128GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.2
Audio:
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
2x stereo speakers
Camera:
720p webcam
Dual array digital microphones
Ports:
1x Microphone / headphone jack
1x HDMI 2.0
3x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (one charges)
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x SD card reader
1x Gigabit Ethernet
Backlit keyboard:
Optional (red only in some regions)
Precision touchpad:
Yes (optional backlighting)
Fingerprint reader:
Optional in power button
Battery:
56WHr 4-cell
*GTX 1050/1050 Ti has 130-watt AC adapter
*GTX 1060 model has 180-watt AC adapter
Dimensions:
15.32 x 10.82 (D) x 0.98 (H) inches
Starting weight:
5.82 pounds
Color options:
Matte Black
Beijing Red
Operating system:
Windows 10
Ubuntu (in select countries)
Availability:
September 12, 2017
Starting price:
FHD – $1,000
UHD – $1,500

Alienware 34 Curved Gaming Monitor

Finally, we have a pair of Alienware-branded curved monitors packing four customizable lighting zones and the trademark Alienware silver/black design. The AW3418DW model sports a curvature with a 1,900mm radius and an Ultra HD resolution while the AW3418HW has a wider curvature (3,800mm radius) but a lower maximum resolution.

According to Dell, the new Alienware monitors synchronize their lighting with Alienware laptops and desktops, but they work just fine on non-Alienware products, too. To customize the lighting, you can download Dell’s free desktop software and assign colors to four zones located on the back: three separate lines and the Alienware logo. Lighting effects include Static, Morphing, Probing, and Spectrum.

The new panels also ship with “gaming-centric” menu settings. Here you can enable built-in features such as the Timer, and the frames-per-second counter. There are also three pre-optimized profiles for first-person shooters, role-playing games, and real-time strategy games. Three additional profile slots are provided for your own customized group of settings as well.

Finally, all ports reside on the bottom of the display. The stand is actually hollow, and provides a removable cover so you can route all dangling cables inside, removing visual clutter. This stand is height adjustable, and provides plenty of tilt (-5 to 25 degrees) and swivel (-20 to 20 degrees) adjustment for your viewing pleasure.

AW3418DW
AW3418HW
Screen size:
34.1 inches
34.1 inches
Screen type:
In-plane Switching (IPS)
In-plane Switching (IPS)
Screen resolution:
3,440 x 1,440 @ 120Hz (overclocked)
2,560 x 1,080 @ 160Hz (overclocked)
Screen curvature:
1900R
3800R
Synchronization technology:
Nvidia G-Sync
Nvidia G-Sync
Aspect ratio:
21:9
21:9
Maximum brightness:
300 nits
300 nits
Pixel pitch:
0.233 x 0.233 millimeters
0.233 x 0.233 millimeters
Pixel per inch:
109
109
Supported color spaces:
sRGB 99 percent
sRGB 99 percent
Color depth:
16.77 million
16.77 million
Contrast ratio:
1,000:1
1,000:1
Response time:
4 milliseconds gray to gray
4 milliseconds gray to gray
Ports:
1x DisplayPort 1.2
1x HDMI 1.4
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Audio output
1x DisplayPort 1.2
1x HDMI 1.4
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Audio output
Availability:
August 30, 2017
Holiday Season 2017
Price:
$1,500
$1,200

Dell at PAX West: Inspiron 7000 Gaming serves quad-core and GTX 1050 for $1,000

Why it matters to you

These two new Dell Inspiron options are great ways to dive into the pools of PC gaming, and the new Alienware monitors are icing on the cake if you can stomach the rich pricing.

During the PAX West 2017 gaming show in Seattle, Dell introduced several new products to meet the needs of its PC gaming customers. The product rollout included a new AMD-powered Dell Inspiron desktop, an Intel-powered Inspiron laptop, and two Alienware-branded curved monitors. The PCs won’t be made available until sometime in September, and will follow just one of the two Alienware monitors that are now available to purchase.

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop

For starters, the big news with Dell’s latest Inspiron desktop is that it’s now sold with a clear panel. That means if you configured the PC with optional Recon Blue lighting, you’ll be able to see all the tasty hardware inside washed with a blue hue without having to remove the side panel. You can also see this illumination through the angled intake grille on the front.

As the specifications show, this gaming desktop is based on AMD processors including two of its latest all-in-one APU chips, and six of its most recent Ryzen processors. What you won’t find here are configurations for AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips, which are provided through Dell’s Alienware-branded Area-51 Threadripper Edition desktop instead.

That said, you will see a slight difference between the APU and Ryzen versions, such as the number of available open expansion slots, and the number of ports. For instance, the Ryzen model includes an additional USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port on the front, and two additional USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports on the back. Neither PC provides options for Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity.

In addition to Windows 10, the new Dell Inspiron ships with trial versions of Office 2016 and McAfee LiveSafe already installed. Dell’s other pre-loaded programs include My Dell, Dell Digital Delivery, Dell Backup & Recovery, Dropbox, SupportAssist, and Adobe’s PDF converter. Windows 10 will have Flipboard, Groove Music, iHeart Radio, and Twitter apps already installed.

Processor:
A10-9700 APU (4-core)
A12-9800 APU (4-core)
Ryzen 3 1200 (4-core)
Ryzen 5 1400 (4-core)Ryzen 5 1600X (6-core)Ryzen 7 1700 (8-core)
Ryzen 7 1700X (8-core)Ryzen 7 1800X (8-core)
Processor cooling:
Air cooling
Liquid cooling
Expansion slots (APU model):
3x PCI Express x1
1x PCI Express x16
Expansion slots (Ryzen model):
2x PCI Express x1
2x PCI Express x16
Graphics:
AMD Radeon RX 560 (2GB)
AMD Radeon RX 570 (4GB)
AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB)
Memory (2x UDIMM slots):
4GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (4GB x 1)
8GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (8GB x 1) (4GB x 2)
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (16GB x 1) (8GB x 2)
24GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (8GB x 1 + 16GB x 1)
32GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz (16GB x 2)
*32GB is the maximum
Storage (single):
500GB to 2TB 7,200RPM 3.5-inch HDD
500GB to 2TB 7,200RPM 2.5-inch HDD
128GB to 512GB M.2 SSD
Storage (dual):
128GB M.2 SSD + 500GB HDD
128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
512GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
512GB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
Storage (optical):
Tray-load Slim DVD-RW
Connectivity:
Wireless N + Bluetooth 4.0 (up to 150Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.1 (up to 867Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.1 (up to 433Mbps)
Wireless AC + Bluetooth 4.2 (up to 433Mbps)
Ports (APU model):
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (front)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (front)
1x Headphone/microphone jack (front)
1x SD card reader (front)
————-
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (back)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (back)
1x P/S2 port (back)
7x Audio ports (back)
1x HDMI (back)
1x Gigabit Ethernet (back)
Ports (Ryzen model):
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (front)
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (front)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (front)
1x Headphone / microphone combo (front)
1x SD card reader (front)
————-
2x USB 2.0 Type-A (back)
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (back)
1x P/S2 port (back)
7x audio ports (back)
1x HDMI (back, on graphics card)
1x Gigabit Ethernet
Audio:
HD 7.1 Performance Audio
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
Power supply:
300 watts
460 watts
Case color and panel options:
Recon Blue with solid panel
Recon Blue with clear panel
Dimensions:
18.07 x 8.50 x 17.23 inches
Starting weight:
30.27 pounds
Illumination:
Optional Polar Blue LED lighting
Availability:
September 2017
Starting price (APU model):
$650
Starting price (Ryzen model):
$1,250

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop

Here is Dell’s latest gaming laptop entry without rocketing into the Alienware zone. Packing seventh-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics, the updated Inspiron 15 7000 laptop includes options such as an Ultra HD resolution, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and dual storage configurations.

As the specifications show, customers can configure the laptop with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 discrete graphics chip based on Max-Q technology. This enables the GTX 1060 (and higher graphics chips) to reside in laptops measuring as thin as 0.70 inches. Dell’s Inspiron 15 isn’t quite that thin, but customers configuring the laptop with the GTX 1060 won’t see the graphics chip’s performance throttled back to prevent excessive heat in a compact area.

“A striking, gamer-focused design with dedicated forward and rearward thermal vents provides the first clue to this system’s capabilities,” Dell says. “Behind those vents are extra-capacity heat exchangers connected by oversized piping to dual cooling fans with high-efficiency blade pitch.”

The laptop ships with Windows 10, and can be configured with Ubuntu in various regions. Software installed by Dell includes My Dell, Dell Digital Delivery, Dell Backup & Delivery, Dropbox, Adobe PDF Converter, SupportAssist, and trial versions of Office 2016 and McAfee LiveSafe. Windows 10 will have the Flipboard, Groove Music, iHeart Radio, and Twitter apps already installed.

Screen size:
15.6 inches
Screen type:
In-Plane Switching
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080 (FHD)
3,840 x 2,160 (UHD)
Processor:
Intel Core i5-7300HQ (4-core)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ (4-core)
Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB)
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB)
GeForce GTX 1060 w/ MaxQ (6GB)
Memory:
4GB to 16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
*supports up to 32GB
Storage (single):
256GB SATA SSD
512GB PCI Express SSD
1TB 5,400RPM HDD
1TB 5,400RPM Hybrid w/ 8GB cache
Storage (dual):
128GB SATA SSD + 500GB HDD
128GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.2
Audio:
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
2x stereo speakers
Camera:
720p webcam
Dual array digital microphones
Ports:
1x Microphone / headphone jack
1x HDMI 2.0
3x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (one charges)
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x SD card reader
1x Gigabit Ethernet
Backlit keyboard:
Optional (red only in some regions)
Precision touchpad:
Yes (optional backlighting)
Fingerprint reader:
Optional in power button
Battery:
56WHr 4-cell
*GTX 1050/1050 Ti has 130-watt AC adapter
*GTX 1060 model has 180-watt AC adapter
Dimensions:
15.32 x 10.82 (D) x 0.98 (H) inches
Starting weight:
5.82 pounds
Color options:
Matte Black
Beijing Red
Operating system:
Windows 10
Ubuntu (in select countries)
Availability:
September 12, 2017
Starting price:
FHD – $1,000
UHD – $1,500

Alienware 34 Curved Gaming Monitor

Finally, we have a pair of Alienware-branded curved monitors packing four customizable lighting zones and the trademark Alienware silver/black design. The AW3418DW model sports a curvature with a 1,900mm radius and an Ultra HD resolution while the AW3418HW has a wider curvature (3,800mm radius) but a lower maximum resolution.

According to Dell, the new Alienware monitors synchronize their lighting with Alienware laptops and desktops, but they work just fine on non-Alienware products, too. To customize the lighting, you can download Dell’s free desktop software and assign colors to four zones located on the back: three separate lines and the Alienware logo. Lighting effects include Static, Morphing, Probing, and Spectrum.

The new panels also ship with “gaming-centric” menu settings. Here you can enable built-in features such as the Timer, and the frames-per-second counter. There are also three pre-optimized profiles for first-person shooters, role-playing games, and real-time strategy games. Three additional profile slots are provided for your own customized group of settings as well.

Finally, all ports reside on the bottom of the display. The stand is actually hollow, and provides a removable cover so you can route all dangling cables inside, removing visual clutter. This stand is height adjustable, and provides plenty of tilt (-5 to 25 degrees) and swivel (-20 to 20 degrees) adjustment for your viewing pleasure.

AW3418DW
AW3418HW
Screen size:
34.1 inches
34.1 inches
Screen type:
In-plane Switching (IPS)
In-plane Switching (IPS)
Screen resolution:
3,440 x 1,440 @ 120Hz (overclocked)
2,560 x 1,080 @ 160Hz (overclocked)
Screen curvature:
1900R
3800R
Synchronization technology:
Nvidia G-Sync
Nvidia G-Sync
Aspect ratio:
21:9
21:9
Maximum brightness:
300 nits
300 nits
Pixel pitch:
0.233 x 0.233 millimeters
0.233 x 0.233 millimeters
Pixel per inch:
109
109
Supported color spaces:
sRGB 99 percent
sRGB 99 percent
Color depth:
16.77 million
16.77 million
Contrast ratio:
1,000:1
1,000:1
Response time:
4 milliseconds gray to gray
4 milliseconds gray to gray
Ports:
1x DisplayPort 1.2
1x HDMI 1.4
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Audio output
1x DisplayPort 1.2
1x HDMI 1.4
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Audio output
Availability:
August 30, 2017
Holiday Season 2017
Price:
$1,500
$1,200

Acer comes to IFA 2017 packing 2-in-1s with quad-core processors

Why it matters to you

Your options in new laptops and 2-in-1s using Intel’s newest eighth-generation Core processors just increased significantly with Acer’s latest additions.

It’s that time of the year again when consumer electronics companies show off their newest products. IFA 2017 has not even started yet and PC manufacturers have already started announcing new lines of laptops, desktops, and accessories. The biggest news this cycle is Intel’s eighth-generation Core processors, which are hitting mobile PCs first with quad-core CPUs offering 40 percent or better performance improvements. Acer jumped into the fray with its own announcement of some new models in its Windows 10 2-in-1 and laptop lineup along with a new Chromebook and Aspire all-in-one (AIO) PC.

The new Windows 10 machines include an all-new Spin 5 convertible 2-in-1, a new Switch 7 Black Edition detachable 2-in-1, and a refreshed Swift 5 laptop, each with the new 8th Gen Intel Core processors. A new Chromebook 15 model brings a large-screen option to fans of Google’s Chrome OS platform. Finally, Acer is introducing the newest member of the Aspire line of AIO PCs with the Aspire S24, its slimmest-ever model, that also makes use of Intel’s newest technologies.

Acer Swift 5

Acer’s Swift 5 slots in between the Swift 3 and Swift 7 traditional laptops, offering a 14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS touchscreen display with thin bezels for minimized chassis size. The refreshed models will be equipped with new 8th gen Intel Core processors while retaining the usual thin design, and weighing less than one kilogram. Magnesium-lithium alloy is used in the top and bottom covers, and it adds some strength to the palm rest.

The Swift 5 uses Acer TrueHarmony and Dolby Audio Premium technologies to bring the sound, and Skype for Business certification helps make sure the machines can be used for professional video conferencing and responsive Cortana experiences. Windows 10 is on hand, of course, along with 802.11ac wireless with 2×2 MIMO support.

Acer has not provided any additional specifications for the machines, so it is reasonable to expect that the same general experience with today’s models will be on-hand. If so, that will mean 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), Windows Hello support via fingerprint scanner, and up to 13 hours of rated battery life.

The refreshed line will start at $1,000 and ship in December.

Here are the full specifications for the Swift 5.

Display Size:
14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS multi-touch
Processor:
Intel Core i7-8550U
Intel Core i5-8250U
Memory:
8GB or 16GB LPDDR3
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
Storage:
256Gb or 512GB PCIe Or SATA SSD
Dimensions:
329 x 228 x 14.9 mm
Weight:
0.97 kg
Battery Life:
Up to 8 hours
Wireless
802.11ac with 2×2 MIMO
Webcam
HD webcam with HDR

Acer Spin 5

The refreshed Spin 5 adds a 15-inch model to the current line’s 13-inch version, while significantly increasing the machine’s gaming chops. Both models are equipped with eighth-generation Intel Core processors for some additional performance punch, offer up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and promise up to 13 hours of battery life. Acer TrueHarmony and Dolby Audio Premium once again handle the audio, with two front-firing speakers placed specifically to avoid being blocked in whichever convertible mode, while Skype for Business certification and Cortana support is provided by four array microphones with far-field voice-recognition technology.

Writing via Windows 10 Ink is enabled with the optional Acer Active Stylus, and solid wireless connectivity is ensured via Acer’s omnidirectional ExoAmp Antenna. Both machines utilize all-metal chassis and Full HD displays.

The 13-inch Spin 5model weighs 1.5 kg, is a thin 15.9 mm, and promises up to 13 hours of battery life. It will start at $800 in North America and it will ship in September.

The new 15-inch version of the Spin 5 is 17.9 mm thin while weighing just over two kilograms, with an estimated 10 hours of battery life. This model will go up against Lenovo’s Yoga 720 15-inch model by packing in an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 discrete GPU that promises some serious gaming performance along with significant improvements in creative productivity when editing images and video. The 15-inch Spin 5 will also ship in September 2017, and will start at $800 in North America.

Here are the specifications for the Spin 5:

Display Size:
13.3-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD IPS
Processor:
Intel Core i7-8550U
Intel Core i5-8250U
Memory:
8GB or 16GB DDR4
Graphics:
Intel UHD Graphics 620
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (15-inch only)
Storage:
256Gb or 512GB SATA SSD
Dimensions:
15-inch: 381.5 x 258.1 x 17.9 mm
13-inch: 324.4 x 226 x 15.9 mm
Weight:
15-inch: 4.41 pounds
13-inch: 3.31 pounds
Battery Life:
15-inch: Up to 10 hours
13-inch: Up to 13 hours
Wireless
802.11ac with 2×2 MIMO
Webcam
HD webcam with HDR

Acer Switch 7 Black Edition

Acer’s line of detachable 2-in-1 machines increases by one with the introduction of the Switch 7 Black Edition, which is the world’s first fanless 2-in-1 machine to feature a discrete GPU for enhanced gaming and productivity performance. The Switch 7 Black Edition pairs Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7 CPU with Nvidia’s new GeForce MX150 GPU, the latter of which has has been shown to slot in between the older GeForce 940MX and the GTX 1050 in terms of overall gaming chips. The fanless design is enabled through the use of Acer’s Dual LiquidLoop cooling technology, to maintain the tablet’s silent operation within its 1.15 kg brushed-aluminum chassis.

Another first is the use of the Acer AutoStand, a kickstand that can automatically deploy and retract for one-handed operation. The Switch 7 Black Edition sports a 13.5-inch display with a sharp 2,256 x 1,504 (201 PPI) resolution in the increasingly popular 3:2 aspect ratio for enhanced productivity. The embedded, battery-free stylus uses Wacom EMR technology with a full 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and pen tilt support to compete directly with the new Microsoft Surface Pro. Finally, Windows Hello support is provided by an optical-based under-glass fingerprint sensor that supports power-on authentication (POA), letting users turn on and instantly log into the machine with a single touch.

The Switch 7 Black Edition will ship in December, starting at $1,700.

Here are the full specifications for the Switch 7 Black Edition:

Display Size:
13.5-inch FHD+ (2,256 x 1,504) IPS display
3:2 aspect ratio
Processor:
Intel Core i7-8550U
Memory:
16GB of LPPDR3
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce MX150
Storage:
512GB SATA SSD
Dimensions:
329.4 x 229.7 x 9.99 mm – tablet only
329.4 x 236.4 x 15.29 – tablet and keyboard dock
Weight:
1.15 kg – tablet only
1.55 kg – tablet and keyboard dock
Battery Life:
Up to 10 hours
Wireless
802.11ac with 2×2 MIMO
Webcam
Rear camera: 5MP Full HD
Front camera: 720p HD

Acer Chromebook 15

Acer’s Chromebook 15, one of our Chromebooks, has received an update. In this case, it is a Full HD IPS panel nestled with a brushed-aluminum top cover and keyboard deck built into a chassis that weighs 1.72 kg (3.79 pounds) and is 18.9 mm thin. The machine utilizes dual-core Intel Celeron or quad-core Pentium processors coupled with up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of eMMC storage. Acer engineered the new Chromebook 15 to be fanless, so it’s completely silent.

Additional features include a backlit keyboard, 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2×2 MIMO support, and two USB Type-C 3.1 ports for future peripheral support. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.2, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, SDXC card reader, and a combo audio jack. The front-facing HD webcam offers an 88-degree field of view, and sound duties are performed by two upward-facing speakers with high-definition audio. Finally, Acer estimates battery life at 12 hours.

The Chromebook 15 will be shipping in October to North America at $400. The machine will be carried at the Acer Store and at retailer Best Buy.

Here are the full specifications for the Chromebook 15:

Display Size:
15.6-inch Full HD IPS touch or non-touch
Processor:
Intel Celeron dual-core N3350
Intel Celeron dual-core N3450
Intel Pentium quad-core N4200
Memory:
Up to 8GB LPDDR4
Graphics:
Intel HD graphics
Storage:
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB eMMC
Dimensions:
378 x 256 x 18.95 mm
Weight:
3.97 pounds
Battery Life:
Up to 12 hours
Wireless
802.11ac with 2×2 MIMO
Webcam
HD webcam with HDR

Acer Aspire S24

Acer’s final mainstream PC announcement involves its latest addition to the Aspire line of AIO PCs, the Aspire S24. It’s Acer’s slimmest AIO ever, fitting a 23.8-inch Full HD IPS display into a slim profile of only 5.97 mm. The display has ultra-narrow 2.7 mm bezels, for a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, and offers a 178-degree viewing angle.

The Aspire S24 is intended to look good in any decor with its black-and-matte-gold color scheme. The display is tiltable from negative-5 to 30 degrees and incorporates Acer’s ExaColor for accurate colors and its Bluelight Shield and Flickerless technologies to reduce eye fatigue.

In terms of computing power, Acer is incorporating Intel’s eighth-generation Core process and optional Optane memory, with storage options ranging between 256GB SSD and 2TB hard disk drive (HDD) options. Wireless connectivity is provided by Intel 802.11ac W-Fi with 2×2 MIMO support. Audio duties are provided by a 2.1 channel sound system with subwoofer, Acer TrueHarmony, and Dolby Audio Premium. For an extra bit of convenience, Acer has built a Qi-compatible wireless charger into the Aspire S24’s base.

Buyers in North America will be able to purchase the Aspire S24 in January at a starting price of $1,000.

Here are the full specifications of the Acer Aspire S24:

Display Size:
23.8-inch Full HD IPS
Processor:
Intel Core i7-8550U
Intel Core i5-8250U
Memory:
Up to 32GB LPDDR4-2,133 MHz
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
Storage:
Up to 2GB HDD
Up to 256GB M.2 SSD
Optane memory support
Dimensions:
540 x 410 x 5.97 mm
Weight:
3.94 kg
Audio:
2×2 watt speakers
2-watt subwoofer
Wireless
802.11ac with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 4.2
Qi-compatible wireless charger
Webcam
HD webcam

Acer stalks IFA with insanely powerful desktop, cutting-edge ultrawide monitor

Why it matters to you

If you have an itch for a new PC gaming desktop, Acer has a new beast that can scratch it with Intel’s monster $2,000 18-core CPU.

During the IFA 2017 technology show in Berlin, Acer revealed a huge load of new devices arriving this year and into the first quarter of 2018. Several of these fell into the Acer Predator umbrella for PC gamers, including a headset, a mouse, and curved display. But the show-stopped was Acer’s new Predator Orion 9000 desktop capable of packing Intel’s $2,000 18-core processor, up to 128GB of system memory, and up to four AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 cards. Seriously, we’re a little scared to see its maxed-out price tag.

Acer Predator Orion 9000 Desktop

First, we have Acer’s monster desktop. According to the company, it supports Intel-based processors up to the massive 18-core i9-7980XE “X-Series” chip, which sells for $2,000 on its own. Other models will offer more mundane Core i5, i7, and i9 flavors.

Acer plans a variety of configurations, so that means the hardware specifications shown below are more of a generalized list that encompasses all those possible configurations, including one that has four AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 cards in CrossFire mode, and one with two Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti cards in SLI mode. You’ll also see up to eight slots for memory, and given that Acer will sell a model with Intel’s $2,000 processor, you’ll see up to 128GB of memory available, too.

To keep the components chilled, Acer is relying on liquid cooling for the processor (closed loop). It’s also using what Acer calls IceTunnel 2.0, which divides the interior into several “thermal zones” to manage airflow more efficiently. Each zone includes individual airflow tunnels to eject the heat, and are complemented by “huge” metal mesh panels mounted on the front, and on the top. The case supports up to five 120mm fans, two of which are installed on the front. The other three reside at the top, and on the back.

“Part of the airflow is redirected towards the back of the motherboard tray to cool the storage devices. The graphic cards feature blower-style fans to drive the heat out from the back, while the PSU is self-contained to avoid thermal interference,” Acer says.

Here are the specifications:

Model:
P09-900
Processor:
Up to Intel Core i9-7980XE (18-core)
Graphics:
Up to 4-way AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (Crossfire)
Up to 2-way Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (SLI)
Memory:
8x quad-channel DDR4 U-DIMM slots
Supports up to 128GB (16GB x 8)
Storage:
Up to 2x 3.5-inch SATA HDDs @ 4TB each
Up to 4x 2.5-inch SATA HDDs @ 3TB each
Up to 2x M.2 NVMe SSDs @ 512GB each
Connectivity:
Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 7265 (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.2
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C
7x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 2.0 Type-A
*Video output depends on installed GPU(s)
Expansion slots:
4x PCI Express x16 slots
2x M.2 2280 (PCI Express x4)
1x M.2 2230 (PCI Express, USB 2.0)
Cooling:
Liquid cooling
IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management
2x intake fans on front (optional RGB lighting)
Chassis features:
Lighting supports 16.7 million colors
2x rear wheels for easy movement
2x built-in handles
Massive EMI compliant side window
Tool-less side panels
Front-access headset cradle
Button for “one punch” overclocking
Power supply:
Unknown
Dimensions:
27.63 x 11.80 x 25.32 inches
Weight:
33 pounds
Color:
Black and silver “spacecraft”
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Availability:
December 2017
Starting price:
$2,000

Asus stuffs 8th gen quad-cores in svelte laptops at IFA 2017

Why it matters to you

Asus is going all-in on 8th gen Intel Core, placing it in thin new 2-in-1s as well as updated versions of popular models.

IFA 2017 is the place for manufacturers to announce their new PC lineups heading into 2018. The highlight of most announcements has been the integration of Intel’s eighth-generation Core processors that bring quad-core power to laptops, along with thinner machines gaining the performance benefits of discrete graphics. Asus presented its newest machines at its “The Edge of Beyond” press event, and the highlights of its PC segment include a slate of new ZenBook Flip 2-in-1 machines, a refreshed ZenBook laptop, and a new member of VivoBook family.

With its newest machines, Asus is focusing on squeezing more power into increasingly thin and light chassis for both traditional laptops like a refreshed ZenBook 13, and the new VivoBook S14, as well as 360-degree convertibles like the ZenBook Flip 14, Flip 15, and Flip S. In addition to utilizing Intel’s newest quad-core mobile processors, Asus is taking advantage of the Nvidia GeForce MX150, that in our testing provided performance in between the aging GeForce 940MX and the new GeForce GTX 1050.

ZenBook Flip 14

First up is the ZenBook Flip 14, or UX461, which Asus dubs the “world’s thinnest 2-in-1 laptop with high-performance discrete graphics.” This superlative refers to the machine’s thin 13.9 mm, 1.4 kg chassis that still manages to fit an Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU inside for better lightweight gaming and enhanced creative productivity, for tasks like image and video editing. In addition to an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) can be configured. Audio is provided by Harman Kardon, and the 14-inch NanoEdge Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) display uses minimal bezels to fit into a typical 13.3-inch chassis.

Asus is promising up to 13 hours of battery life with the ZenBook Flip 14. Windows Hello support is provided by a fingerprint sensor, and the machine will be available in two colors, Icicle Gold and Slate Grey.

ZenBook Flip 15

Next up is the ZenBook Flip 15, or UX561, which aims to take on larger, well-equipped convertible 2-in-1s like Lenovo’s Yoga 720 15-inch. Specifically, the 15.6-inch display, available in either Full HD or 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolutions, is driven by an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU that should provide for solid mid-range gaming on the go. That’s coupled with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of DDR4-2400 MHz RAM, and up to a 2TB hard disk drive (HDD), and a 512GB SSD.

Asus is equipping the ZenBook Flip 15 with USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3 ports for futuristic support of the highest-performance connectivity, and its usual Harmon Kardon-powered audio with a quad-speaker setup is on hand. The all-metal chassis will be available in Smokey Grey and Pure Silver color schemes.

ZenBook Flip S

Asus only recently introduced its ZenBook Flip S, or UX370, and already it’s refreshed the line with Intel’s eighth-generation Core processors, up to the Intel Core i7-8550U, bringing quad-core processing power to an extremely thin and light convertible 2-in-1 machine. The ZenBook Flip S is only 10.9 mm thick and weighs a scant 1.1 kg, a feat that’s made possible via a new liquid-crystal-polymer fan impeller that’s just 0.3 mm thick, and keeps the CPU’s thermal output under control. Complementing the new Intel Core processors is up to a 1TB PCIe SSD for fast storage performance, and if the new model conforms with the previous models up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM will be configurable.

As with the previous models, buyers will have a choice between 13.3-inch Full HD or 4K UHD touchscreen displays with NanoEdge bezels and support for Asus’s active stylus. Windows Hello support will be provided by the smallest fingerprint sensor ever used in an Asus laptop, at a tiny 16 x 3.6 mm. Asus has build in its innovative 360-degree ErgoLift Hinge that lifts and tilts the keyboard into position via a dual-action mechanism when the display is opened past 135 degrees.

ZenBook 13

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Another Asus machine getting a refresh is the ZenBook 13, or UX331, which also benefits from an upgrade to eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor. The machine can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD to round out the high performance. The ZenBook 13 utilizes a 4K UHD NanoEdge touch display that manages to squeeze a 13-inch panel into a much smaller chassis that weighs just 1.12 kg, and driving that display is an Nvidia GeForce MX150 discrete processor for lightweight gaming and enhance creative productivity performance. According to Asus, the ZenBook 13 at 13.9 mm thick is the thinnest laptop utilizing that particular GPU.

The previous version, called the UX330UA, was one of our favorite laptops. We’re eager to see how 8th Gen Intel Core processors improve that already solid system.

VivoBook S14

The last Asus laptop of note is the VivoBook S14, which is 18.8 mm thin and weighs 1.3 kg, while offering the eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8550U processor, up to 16GB DDR4 RAM, and the discrete Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU. The 14-inch display offers the same thin NanoEdge bezels, in this case, 7.8 mm wide, maximizing display size while minimizing chassis size. The VivoBook S14 will be available in Icicle Gold or Star Grey color schemes.

Asus enters Windows Mixed Reality with featherweight headset built for comfort

Why it matters to you

Microsoft wants to make virtual reality more accessible and Asus’ easy-to-use headset may fulfill that goal.

Asus showed off its Windows Mixed Reality headset at IFA 2017. The device is part of Microsoft’s effort to bring virtual reality to the masses, which will see the company collaborate with a number of other manufacturers to launch new hardware.

We saw a glimpse of Asus’ headset at Computex 2017 in May, but now the company supplied some more information on what to expect from the device. It weighs just 400 grams, and utilizes a balanced-crown design to reduce pressure on the nose and face, ensuring that users are comfortable even when wearing it for long periods of time.

The headset has an unusual design, with the visor covered in hundreds of polygons sporting a tone-on-tone effect. The inside is coated with antibacterial cushioned materials to keep things hygienic.

Like other recently announced Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Asus uses inside-out tracking that hinges upon two built-in front-facing cameras, which offer six-degrees-of-freedom positional tracking. The headset does not require any external sensors, or even any additional software to take care of the setup process, which the manufacturer claims will make it much easier for users to get up and running right away.

A big part of Microsoft’s plan to promote augmented reality involves making the technology accessible and easy to use. The plug-and-play aspect of Asus’ headset certainly seems to be inspired by this idea.

“We are excited about our collaboration with Asus to deliver a Windows Mixed Reality headset, unlocking amazing content experiences on an affordable and easy-to-set-up device,” Peter Han, Microsoft’s vice president of Partner Devices and Solutions, said in a statement. “Windows Mixed Reality, paired with Asus design and materials, enables a comfortable and fun experience for customers to achieve more and let their imagination wander.”

Asus vice president Eric Chen said that he was “thrilled” about the company’s collaboration with Microsoft, and described virtual reality hardware as “the forefront of technology.”

The company did not announce a firm release date, or details on pricing and specifications, such as resolution. However, all signs point toward the first wave of Windows Mixed Reality hardware — including Microsoft’s own headset — launching before the end of 2017.

Asus’ new ROG Chimera laptop has built-in Xbox Wireless compatibility

Why it matters to you

Asus is merging the PC with console by integrating Xbox Wireless technology into its Asus ROG Chimera laptop, and that’s a good thing for Play Anywhere gamers.

During the IFA 2017 technology show in Berlin, Asus showcased a huge lineup of laptops, displays, motherboards, and desktops shoved under its Republic of Gamers banner. Most of these were already revealed earlier this year during Computex, such as the ROG Zephyrus, the ROG Strix GL702ZC, and the ROG Strix GL702VI laptops. The ROG Swift PG27VQ monitor was even revealed before then, in April.

Given this, we weeded through the Asus ROG lineup and surfaced with two previously unannounced products: the ROG Chimera laptop, and the ROG Strix XG35VQ display. At the time of this publication, we know very little about these two products save for what was provided in the press release. That means we also don’t know when they will launch, or their price.

According to Asus, the ROG Chimera will be the world’s first laptop sporting a 17.3-inch screen with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a seven-millisecond response time, and a 144Hz refresh rate.  This screen will be backed by Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, which will synchronize the refresh rate of the display with the frames-per-second output of an installed GeForce discrete graphics chip.

While we don’t have the laptop’s full specifications, Asus says the laptop will include Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1080 graphics chip. With this GPU and the display’s G-Sync component, you likely won’t see the annoying screen tearing or stuttering when the GPU is outputting frames at a different rate than how the screen is rendering them.

The upcoming ROG Chimera laptop will rely on Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7-7820HK processor. This is a quad-core chip built for laptops, with a base speed of 2.90GHz, and a maximum turbo speed of 3.90GHz. It can support up to 64GB of DDR4 memory clocked at 2,400MHz, and includes an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 component.

What’s interesting about this laptop is that it includes Xbox Wireless. If you own an Xbox One controller or related Xbox Wireless peripheral, you can connect up to eight of these devices simultaneously using Microsoft’s proprietary 2.4GHz wireless connection. There’s no need for USB-based dongles, and no need to rely on Bluetooth.  Xbox Wireless partners include Astro, HyperX, Mad Catz, PDP, Plantronics, SteelSeries, Turtle Beach, and more.

In addition to the ROG Chimera laptop, Asus also introduced the ROG Strix XG35VQ curved monitor. The details are scarce, but Asus says the panel has a 35-inch screen with 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and a 100Hz refresh rate. The curvature is unknown.

The only other feature Asus revealed was that the panel supports Aura Sync. That means the curved panel includes customizable RGB lighting that can be synchronized with Aura Sync-enabled PC components, peripherals, and accessories — like Razer’s Chroma. You can also synchronize the lighting system with in-game audio.

Again, we don’t know when these products will be made available, nor do we know their price. Perhaps we will know more information shortly after the show.