Yearly Archives: 2024

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OPPO Reno 11 Pro In-Depth Review: Portrait Photography in Focus, But a Sliver Shy of Perfect

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OPPO’s Reno lineup was initially launched to bring a sharp focus on mobile photography in smartphones. It’s safe to say that OPPO has successfully done that over the years. So, where does that leave the Reno 11 and the Reno 11 Pro? Well, aside from iterative updates, we’re struggling to see where OPPO can push the bar further. That said, with the rapid improvements in camera technology, OPPO is trying to show us otherwise.

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The Reno 11 series has to be one of the most streamlined Reno series in recent years. Even looking at the specifications on paper, we clearly see where OPPO is putting its focus. Is that going to be enough to set the Reno 11 Pro apart from its competitors? We’re taking a deep dive in our in-depth review of it.

Design

OPPO isn’t shying away from dolling up its smartphones. The OPPO Reno 11 Pro is no exception. The smartphone is kicking 2024 in gear when it comes to design. It’s pushing some boundaries when it comes to the price point. But, what’s more important is OPPO is making design choices that make sense while keeping things aesthetically pleasing. There’s three colours that are available for the Reno 11 series: Pearl White, Rock Grey and Wave Green. But since this is a Reno 11 Pro review – we’re focusing on the Pearl White and Rock Grey.

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We got the Pearl White in for review. So, let’s start with that. The Pearl White comes with an iridescent finish that mimics the sheen of a mother of pearl. OPPO has also textured the finish with irregular swashes of white with a hint of white shimmer as well. The back is of the phone is finished with a matte finish. This has to be one of the best design choices on this phone as it prevents fingerprints from populating your smartphone. The overall design brings pizzazz to what can be one of the more drab colours when it comes to smartphones.

The Rock Grey is a more subtle design with a more subdued finish. It comes with a metallic grey colour which is reminiscent of the gunmetal grey we used to see. The deep hue of grey is brightened up with a touch of metallic shimmer. This gives it a deeper, more emotive finish. It comes with the same matte finish that is used in the Pearl White version.

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Design isn’t just about the colours with the Reno 11 Pro. OPPO has even made the camera hump a little more interesting. The camera sensors of the Reno 11 Pro are housed in a slightly raised, metal pill. What’s more, unlike a lot of the newer camera configurations, the Reno 11 Pro comes with all of its sensors in a row. This is such a refreshing change, especially when you’re in front of the camera. You don’t have to worry about the exact position of the sensors as the arrangement makes it easy to focus in just one place. The camera hump also comes with a ridged finish around the perimeter. It’s a pretty nice touch of texture.

The smartphone comes with a dual-curved finish. Both the display on the front and the back of the phone melt seamlessly into the metallic frame of the smartphone. The frame also comes with some quirky finishes that give the phone a little bit of personality. The buttons bubble up the clean line of the metallic frame. On the bottom, you have four holes for your speaker, the USB-C port and the SIM tray.

Hardware

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro isn’t shying away from pushing the boundaries of what defines a mid-range. It marries capable processing and RAM. However, when you look at the specs of the Reno 11 Pro, it’s as clear as day that OPPO is focused on delivering a camera experience that is beyond normal.

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Specifications – OPPO Reno 11 Pro (CPH2607)

 ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 8200
1×3.1GHz Cortex A78,
3×3.0GHz Cortex A78,
4×2.0GHz Cortex A55
RAM12GB  LPDDR5X
Memory512GB UFS 3.1
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)Mali G610 MC6
DisplayOLED panel
6.7-inch (~435 ppi)
2412×1080 pixels
FHD+ resolution
20:9 Aspect Ratio
120Hz Refresh rate
HDR10+
950 nits peak brightness
Operating SystemAndroid 14 with ColorOS 14
Battery4,600mAh
SuperVOOC Charging (80W)
ConnectivityDual SIM (nano SIM), Dual Standby 5G/4G LTE/HSPA/GSM
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6(ax) GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
A2DP
Bluetooth 5.4, LE, aptX HD
OTG Support
USB 2.0 (Type-C)
NFC
InfraRed Blaster
CameraREAR:
Triple Sensor:

50-Megapixel (Wide)
Sony IMX890
24mm, f/1.8, 1/1.56″
All Pixel Omni Directional Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)  

32-megapixel (telephoto)
Sony IMX709
47mm, f/2.0, 1/2.74”
RGBW
5x optical zoom

8-Megapixel (Ultrawide)
Sony IMX355
16mm, f/2.2, 112° FOV  

LED Flash
HDR
Panorama
4K Video recording (30fps)
1080p Video recording (30/60fps)
10-bit Video

FRONT:
32-Megapixel (Ultrawide) Sony IMX709 21mm, f/2.4, 1/2.74”
RGBW
4K (30fps)
1080p (30/60fps)
Autofocus
SensorAccelerometer
Proximity Sensor
Fingerprint (Optical, under display)
Gyroscope
Compass
MiscellaneousDual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia) 
Retail Price (EU) 

User Interface

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro runs on ColorOS 14 atop Android 14. This iteration of ColorOS comes with a bevvy of improvements. These come in the form of new features and improvements that come with Android 14 as well as new features that come exclusively with ColorOS 14.

ColorOS 14 builds on the Aquamorphic design of ColorOS 13. It’s not a complete overhaul of the UIs. However, OPPO has done quite a few tweaks that bring a whole new dimension to customizations and personalisation on ColorOS. They’ve improved on Android 14’s UI customizations with better colour fluidity – even when it comes to theming.

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That said, ColorOS 14 still maintains its simplicity. In fact, ColorOS 14 on the Reno 11 Pro brings quite a few improvements when it comes to intuitiveness. Certain UI elements like pop-up notifications and even persistent notifications are easier to interact with. One of my personal favourite improvements is OPPO’s approach to folders. With ColorOS 14, you have the option to have conventional Android folders or expand them to display up to 4 interactable icons. This makes it possible to have your most used apps in these folders still accessible on the fly in one tap.

The improvements to ColorOS 14 bring a level of speed and fluidity to the UI that makes using the Reno 11 Pro really enjoyable. Stutters and lags are rare with these improvements. What’s more, OPPO’s approach to Android 14’s improvements not only makes sense to its users but also improves the overall experience without making it necessary to relearn features.

Performance

OPPO’s focus on bringing the best experience when it comes to camera performance hasn’t distracted the company from upping the ante with overall phone performance. The improvements to ColorOS’s fluidity help with overall performance but OPPO’s tweaks under the hood are what truly matter when it comes to performance. Of course, as always, we’re not focusing on benchmarks. Instead, we’re looking at the actual day-to-day experience.

Multitasking & Productivity

Of course, when multitasking always takes centre stage when we talk about performance. The reason behind this is simple – most of us are using our phones as extensions of our computers to keep productive on the go. With the OPPO Reno 11 Pro, you’re not going to be falling back when it comes to performance.

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In fact, if anything, OPPO has made it easier to be productive without AI functionality – something that we’ll be seeing in releases this year in droves. Instead, OPPO’s approach is to bring features that allow you to get things done more intuitively. ColorOS 14 on the OPPO Reno 11 Pro brings one feature that enhances the functionality of the sidebar. In addition to pairing up apps, and having apps you can launch with a swipe and tap, the sidebar is now able to store documents. These documents can either be recent ones or ones you’ve dragged and dropped using the OPPO file explorer.

In addition to this, the Reno 11 Pro also introduces AI-enabled features that allows users to take and create notes more interactively. You can take screenshots and use AI to extract text or pictures in the screenshot without needing to save it to your phone. Extracting pictures or elements of a picture could not be easier with the Reno 11 Pro too.

Overall, the smartphone isn’t missing out on anything when it comes to multitasking. The performance-centred MediaTek Dimensity 8200 allows you to have multiple apps running in the background without much problems. Having things like YouTube running in the background or in split-screen while working on emails and note-taking is no problem. The only time the phone really struggled was when it came to video editing on apps like Adobe Rush and Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. This is also due to the intense processing that these apps need particularly when it comes to exporting videos. Aside from this, there was little to no hiccups when it came to productivity performance.

Call Quality & Connectivity

OPPO’s Reno 11 Pro is really pushing the bar when it comes to midrange smartphones. The experience when it comes to call quality is pretty good. When it comes to midrange smartphones, we’ve become accustomed to some concessions including a little bit of quality when it comes to call audio. However, the OPPO Reno 11 Pro’s call audio is crisp and warm. It didn’t sound metallic or hollow like other midrange and entry-level smartphones.

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It also comes with flagship-level connectivity with Bluetooth 5.4 and Low Energy and support for WiFi 6. These connectivity options allow for faster WiFi speeds as well as support for features such as multi-device connectivity over Bluetooth. This is most apparent when you’re using cross-device features like Windows Phone Link or even OPPO’s multiscreen apps. These apps had quick, stable connections that allowed near-instantaneous interactions with the phone even from the laptop screen. OPPO’s LinkBoost technology is definitely on display when it comes to this. This technology even helps you get connected faster after exiting an elevator.

One of the most welcomed features of the Reno 11 Pro is the return of the IR Blaster. This feature allows you to control your TV, air-conditioner and other appliances straight from your phone. I found myself using this feature to control my room and office air conditioner from my smartphone. It was just a matter of convenience.

Gaming

Gaming is probably one of the only areas where the OPPO Reno 11 Pro was pushed to its limits. As always, we used a wide range of games to push the smartphone. This time around, we used games like Diablo Immortal, Pokemon UNITE, Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile. What we found was that the Reno 11 Pro does have some limitations when it comes to graphical processing.

This was most apparent when playing Diablo Immortal. Diablo Immortal tends to push smartphones to their limits when it comes to the number of events happening on the screen at any one time. You can be overrun by hordes of enemies in seconds and with all of them using attacks that cause some form of animation on screen, the smartphone’s GPU is usually maxed out. This was exactly what we saw on the Reno 11 Pro as we were being overrun by a horde of enemies. There were dropped frames, stuttering and even completely missing visual events. However, this was made more bearable by lowering the graphics settings. That said, it didn’t completely remove the stuttering.

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Aside from this, the smartphone was able to perform commendably with the other games. Where it was struggling with graphical events in Diablo Immortal, the Reno 11 Pro was able to irk out when it came to Pokemon UNITE. Even when there were team battles in the arena, the Reno 11 Pro didn’t miss a beat. This could be due to the lower amount of graphical events happening overall in UNITE as compared to Immortal. Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile were no issue for this smartphone.

The smartphone does get a little warm after a few minutes of gaming. However, it doesn’t get warm to the point that you’re unable to use it or hold it. OPPO’s cooling system in the Reno 11 Pro is able to dissipate the heat pretty effectively. It also cooled down pretty quickly after a gaming session.

Battery Life

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The OPPO Reno 11 Pro excels when it comes to battery life. It was a task getting this smartphone to drop even 1%. We were literally running YouTube at max volume while multitasking to drop the battery percentage a single percentage to get footage of SuperVOOC kicking in.

That said, it comes as no surprise that the OPPO Reno 11 Pro is able to irk out more than a day’s worth of battery on a single charge of its 4,600mAh battery. I was easily able to get about 12 hours of battery with my day-to-day usage. This includes syncing more than seven email accounts and running apps like Canary Mail, and Gmail, and also social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Even with continuous gaming, I was able to irk out at least 4 hours of battery life. This was even with games like Diablo Immortal.

Display

The display of the OPPO Reno 11 Pro is an FHD+ OLED panel. The 6.7-inch curved OLED display is commendable when it comes to display performance. It covers 100% DCI-P3 colour space with certifications for HDR10+ and 10-bit colour. This means that the display supports up to 1.07 billion hues and 950 nits peak brightness. It also has a dynamic refresh rate supporting up to a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s also got 93% coverage of the face of the smartphone.

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This combination is a winning one when it comes to the Reno 11 Pro. It’s able to bring true-to-life colour when you’re watching videos and gaming. That said, the colour is more important when it comes to capturing photos. With the Reno 11 Pro, photos are nearly what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) from display to actual printing.

That said, OPPO’s concessions on display could be one of the few that would have given it a better edge over the competition. I’m excluding the camera setup when it comes to saying this cause, OPPO’s approach to it is on another level altogether. However, while it may be a concession, it doesn’t compromise the value of the overall package of the smartphone.

The smartphone’s display is, however, one of the better ones we’ve seen on a smartphone in its category. Its colour reproduction, bit depth and support for HDR10+ give it an edge when it comes to delivering a user experience that is not only commendable but could also be a benchmark.

Cameras

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro is a poignant statement with its camera setup. Not only is it proving that you don’t need large 100-megapixel and 200-megapixel to get killer pictures. The smartphone comes with a 50-megapixel main camera sensor with a 1/1.56” sensor size and an f/1.8 aperture. This is complemented by a 32-megapixel, 1/2.74” sensor size and an f/2.0 aperture and an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 112°field of view.

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The setup delivers on OPPO’s promise of the Reno series being “The Portrait Expert” and then some. This is thanks to OPPO’s own AI algorithms that kick in with post-processing. OPPO calls this its “Portrait Expert Engine”. With the Reno 11 Pro, they’re kicking it into high gear with better subject and scene recognition, skin and facial feature protection, better clarity, stereoscopic light and shading and better background optimisation and fusion. What all this jargon means is that the smartphone is able to produce near DSLR quality pictures with deep bokeh and sharp subjects.

We tested the smartphone’s cameras in auto, pro and portrait modes. The resultant pictures were not only commendable, but it was also some of the best photos we’ve seen in a while from a smartphone camera. The photos were detailed, sharp and had colour depth. For lack of a better expression, the photos felt more alive. Deep contrasts and vivid colours help bring the resultant picture to life. Even in low-light conditions, the camera is able to perform commendably. However, pictures under lower light are less detailed and noticeably noisier particularly when it comes to human subjects.

When it comes to the front camera, it’s more of the same. Under good lighting, the pictures turn out detailed and lively. However, in low light, the photos leave some space for improvement. This doesn’t make it any less of a performer when it comes to the camera. In fact, it’s probably one of the better front-facing cameras available on the market right now.

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That said, the camera’s performance on video is better than most. It’s able to shoot in 4K 30fps on both the front and back cameras. This is one of the few that can do it without being drained or heating up much. The resultant videos are clear, crisp and detailed. Audio recording can be a little noisy but it’s not unexpected.

The one issue that may crop up for more seasoned photographers with the Reno 11 Pro is the fact that the white balance on each of its sensors is different. The main sensor is very natural. However, when you jump to the ultrawide or telephoto sensors you get either a blue or green tinge that translates into the photos unless you compensate for it. It’s more obvious in videos. However, we don’t see this becoming a make-or-break situation for most users.

OPPO’s Portrait Expert Experience Refined While Striking a Balance Between Performance, Photography and Value for Money

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro is OPPO’s best foot forward when it comes to smartphone cameras within the RM1,500 to RM2,500 price range. While the company has made tweaks to its formula, it still delivers one of the best camera experiences in the price range. If they achieve nothing else, they are setting themselves apart from the competition with features that make their smartphone a real contender for a smartphone that is camera first. OPPO’s Reno 11 Pro not only ups the ante when it comes to photography, it’s setting a standard when it comes to midrange devices.

Business, News

Unity Software layoffs 1,800 or 25% of their staff in “reset”

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Unity Logo

Unity Software Inc., a big player in video game engine software, has hit the reset button and is laying off 25% of their workforce (1,800 jobs). This news comes as part of the new interim CEO Jim Whitehurst, former CEO of Redhat, plans for a company restructuring or “reset”. Whitehurst has taken over the helm of Unity from then CEO John Reiccitiello, who has since retired and left the board in October 2023 after a massive backlash last year because of new “runtime fee” structures.

TLDR for the new pricing structure is that for every new install for a game using Unity, there will be a charge if the game reaches a certain revenue threshold. This angered game developers as this policy came out of nowhere and also worked retroactively. This would be extremely damaging to games that have the free to play model like ‘Pokemon Go’ or ‘Hearthstone’. Eventually Unity had to walk back its changes for damage control, but it may not be enough as developers plan to move on to other platforms.

Unity under Whitehurst seems to have a lot of restructuring planned as they have already terminated an agreement with special effects house Weta Digital, founded by director Peter Jackson. This has already cost 275 jobs on top of the 600 previously trimmed in May 2023. Hopefully, all this trimming, restructuring and refocusing on their core, the Unity Editor and Runtime, and Monetizations Solutions workouts. We will have to wait and see as Whitehurst plans unfold for Unity. So far, shares for Unity have jumped up approximately 40% since the announced reset by Whitehurst.

PR Newswire

Dreame Launches Revolutionized Robotic Lawn Mower A1 that Brings Real Hands-free Experience at CES 2024

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dreame Technology,a pioneer of innovative home appliances, introduced its Roboticmower A1 at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Dreame is well-known for its indoor home cleaning products, and the launch of Dreame’s lawn mower signifies the company’s expansion from indoor to outdoor home cleaning scenarios.


Real Hands-Free Mowing

The Dreame Roboticmower A1 ushers in a new era of hands-free lawn mowing, saving homeowners up to 200* hours a year of tedious work, lowering their landscaping costs over time and enabling them to enjoy other activities. It incorporates several of the company’s breakthrough technologies, including its patented 3D high precision laser sensor technology, OmniSense™ 3D Ultra Sensing System and U Path Planning Program.

The Dreame Roboticmower A1’s signal stays strong and stable even in challenging environments with obstacles such as trees, houses and even darkness. Even in complex outdoor environments, the OmniSense™ system can effectively penetrate obstructions like houses and trees without sacrificing signal stability. Whether in darkness or bright lighting conditions, the A1 consistently delivers superior performance. With centimeter-level positioning, it eliminates repeated mowing or missing areas and guarantees exceptional mowing results. Users can rest assured knowing they can count on consistently reliable lawn maintenance.

Perfectly Planned Impressive Results

Powered by the U Path Planning technology and the OmniSense™ 3D Ultra sensing System, A1 accurately maps and mows the lawn in customized, uniform and flawless user-controlled patterns. That means no more embarrassingly uncut or over-cut areas. Homeowners can feel proud of their perfectly manicured lawns with precisely the right grass height across their entire lawn. 

With its advanced AI algorithm and OmniSense™ 360-degree sensing range, long distance detection and millimeter-level accuracy, Dreame Roboticmower A1 identifies and avoids more than 11* common lawn obstacles. This saves users from the hassle and expense of broken lawn furniture and damaged mowers, ensuring greater cost-effectiveness throughout the life of their robot mower.

Safe Operation Around Children and Pets

The mower’s point cloud data environmental information collection technology and intelligent obstacle-avoidance algorithm ensure safe operation around children and animals too. So even families with young children and beloved pets can enjoy hands-free mowing, safely.

Rain-sensing Technology

Featuring the most advanced rain-sensing technology available today, Dreame Roboticmower A1 automatically returns to its charging station whenever it detects precipitation – and then picks up where it left off when the rain stops, ensuring the lawn gets mowed as soon and as quickly as possible.

Initial installation of the Dreame Roboticmower A1 is easy and up to 90% quicker than other mowers. And the system is simple to adjust as requirements change.  Powered by a blazing fast 2,200 RPM blade rotation, the Dreame Roboticmower A1 can mow 1,000 square meters (0.25 acres) a day, saving up to 200 hours of labor every year. The return on investment is immediate in terms of quality of life, sparing users from the physical and emotional drain of one of life’s most dreaded chores.

Experience The Hands-Free Technology First-Hand at Booth 52747

The Dreame Roboticmower A1 is priced at $1999 and will be available at Dreame’s official Amazon store  from March, 2024. Until then, to get your hands on this revolutionized robotic lawn mower, visit us at CES Booth 52747, Venetian Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D.

About Dreame Technology

Established in 2017, Dreame Technology is an innovative consumer product company that focuses on smart home cleaning appliances with the vision to empower lives through technology. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. For more information please visit https://www.dreametech.com/. 

PR Newswire

HISENSE EXHIBITS NEW ULED X TV, SMART REFRIGERATOR AND DISHWASHER AT CES 2024

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global electronics and home appliance corporation Hisense demonstrates at CES 2024 how its range of home appliances, paired with the ConnectLife smart platform and VIDAA TV operating system, are changing the way consumers engage with their homes. Whether it’s through entertainment via its ULED X TVs, or smart screens in the kitchen, Hisense’s Smart Home seamlessly connects scenario-driven technology with the everyday needs of consumers.

Hisense attends CES 2024
Hisense attends CES 2024

Smart TV for Home Entertainment

Hisense is pushing the limits of LED once again with new introductions to the Smart TV lineup:

98UX Mini LED TV at CES delivers cutting-edge features, including a remarkable 10,000+ local dimming zones, ensuring precise light control and immersive contrast. With a powerful 5,000 nits of peak brightness, 98UX is designed to deliver rich layers and flagship picture quality.

Hisense 110UX ULED TV recognized as CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree
Hisense 110UX ULED TV recognized as CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree

110UX, a CES Innovation Award honoree, is a Mini LED TV with a jaw-dropping peak brightness up to 10,000 nits, it introduces a new level of display precision and performance by incorporating over 40,000 backlight zones on one 110-inch screen, minimizing backlight bleed and measurably elevating contrast.

75UX measures a depth of less than 14 millimeters, making it Hisense’s thinnest Mini LED TV ever produced. Its form factor is an industry first and a bold statement that aligns perfectly with contemporary home trends. In addition to an ultra-thin profile, 5,000 dimming zones bring unmatched contrast.

Hisense CanvasTV blends technology with art
Hisense CanvasTV blends technology with art

CanvasTV is a display that strikes a unique balance of blending technology with art and personalisation. Its unique zero-gap wall mount allows it to hang flush against the wall, effortlessly integrating into any living space.

The core of Hisense’s Smart Home is the interconnectivity between these Hisense Smart TVs and the innovative operating system, ensuring a seamless content experience.

Future of Smart Kitchen

Hisense’s smart kitchen, with the new ProChef@Home, improves the way consumers approach meal preparation, by introducing technologies that prioritise convenience and precision.

Hisense showcases ‘Kitchen of the Future’ at CES
Hisense showcases ‘Kitchen of the Future’ at CES

4-Door Smart Refrigerator with VersaTemp Zone is designed to simplify daily tasks by not only keeping track of food inventory but also providing curated recipes and seamlessly connecting with other smart devices. One of its standout features is the VersaTemp Drawer, effortlessly transitioning from a refrigerator to a soft freezer.

Smart Built-In Dishwasher with Autodose & AutoDry is a recipient of a 2024 CES Innovation Award, with this liquid detergent autodosing dishwasher allowing for consumers to load their dishes, choose a program, and have detergent automatically dispensed for a convenient and hassle-free cleanup.

Further to the innovations in ULED X and smart kitchen appliances, Hisense continues to introduce Matter compatibility appliances, with the latest Auto Louver Smart Window AC also on display at CES 2024. Also, on display is some of Hisense’s Smart Energy Management appliances, including their smart washer/dryer and HVAC products.

PR Newswire

TMYTEK Advances into Automotive Market with Millimeter-Wave Radar, Partnering with HCMF Group to Launch In-Car Child Presence Detection (CPD) Sensing System at CES 2024

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Integrating Millimeter-Wave Radar Modules with Smart Vehicles – TMYTEK and HCMF Group Lead the Way in Advancing Vehicle Safety

TAIPEI, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TMY Technology Inc. (TMYTEK) and HCMF Group strategically collaborated to develop an in-car Child Presence Detection (CPD) system and millimeter-wave intelligent car door sensing technology. The unveiling took place at CES 2024, the largest international consumer electronics expo in the United States (Booth Number: 7211). This year, attendees have the opportunity to experience real-time scenarios in the intelligent car cabin, enhancing the immersive experience for car owners. HCMF Group, with over 60 years of experience as a global automotive components and systems supplier, places particular emphasis on the overall vehicle safety. For this collaboration, they specifically chose TMYTEK’s millimeter-wave radar module to simultaneously enhance intelligent sensing and monitoring both inside and outside the vehicle, evolving safety to version 2.0 in response to the growing trend of vehicle intelligence.

Unveiling the mmWave radar application solution in the smart car at CES 2024, from left to right: Ethan Lin, Co-founder and Vice President of TMYTEK; Kenneth His, Global Sales & Marketing, Chief Commercial Officer of HCMF Group; Su-Wei Chang, Founder and President of TMYTEK; and Jeffrey Hsi, CTO of HCMF Group, showcase the integrated in-car Child Presence Detection (CPD) sensing system and car's door-sensing technology solution.
Unveiling the mmWave radar application solution in the smart car at CES 2024, from left to right: Ethan Lin, Co-founder and Vice President of TMYTEK; Kenneth His, Global Sales & Marketing, Chief Commercial Officer of HCMF Group; Su-Wei Chang, Founder and President of TMYTEK; and Jeffrey Hsi, CTO of HCMF Group, showcase the integrated in-car Child Presence Detection (CPD) sensing system and car’s door-sensing technology solution.

To address the recurring issue of children being left alone in cars and the risk of heat-related incidents, countries worldwide are increasingly focusing on the development of products with similar functionalities, such as CPD. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) includes CPD functionality as part of the automotive safety assessment. Additionally, the U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, urging the Department of Transportation (DOT) to take action to reduce child deaths due to hot cars. This underscores the increasing importance and ubiquity of CPD systems.

Setting itself apart from products that merely detect the presence of occupants, TMYTEK’s in-car CPD technology utilizes millimeter-wave radar TDM-MIMO FMCW technology. This technology can differentiate between adults and children, objects and non-objects. It integrates heartbeat and respiratory detection technology, seamlessly integrating with HCMF Group’s panoramic sunroof system. Operating at the zenith of the car cabin, it conducts a 360-degree, no-dead-angle scan to detect the interior space. The system then transmits real-time interior status information to the car owner’s mobile phone, allowing immediate awareness of the car’s conditions and providing advanced warnings in case of anomalies. The millimeter-wave radar TDM-MIMO FMCW technology utilizes 3 transmitting antennas and 4 receiving antennas to generate 12 sets of transceiver links. This simulates an antenna array aperture similar to the size of 12 antennas, effectively enhancing the horizontal and vertical scanning angles of the antenna array and improving angular resolution.

“TMYTEK’s millimeter-wave radar technology entering the automotive market is complemented by the crucial role played by HCMF Group.” said Su-Wei Chang, Founder and President of TMYTEK. “Our collaboration consistently prioritizes user perspectives, developing cutting-edge products that meet market demands. We believe that the role and applications of millimeter-wave radar are indispensable, and TMYTEK is prepared to address diverse applications in the future, including road vehicle monitoring, automated driving, traffic flow detection, collision prevention, and more.”

Jeffrey Hsi, CTO of HCMF group, stated that, “We are fortunate to collaborate with TMYTEK integrating their advanced millimeter-wave radar technology into our smart vehicles. This collaboration not only enhances the safety and stability of our vehicles but also solidifies our position as a leader in innovative technology. We look forward to providing customers with more advanced and reliable smart vehicle solutions through this integration, contributing to the development of driving safety technology together.”

Regarding intelligent car doors, TMYTEK successfully applied millimeter-wave radar algorithms to HCMF Group’s autonomously designed and developed automatic side door opening and closing system. This system detects obstacles outside the door when it opens automatically and integrates HCMF’s unique anti-pinch mechanism to prevent collisions with external objects during automatic door opening and avoid accidental pinching during closing. TMYTEK’s millimeter-wave radar operates in the 60-64GHz millimeter-wave frequency band, offering a high bandwidth advantage of 4GHz to provide high-distance and high-speed resolution. The system can be set for various modes, such as standby mode, software update mode, and working mode, and for scanning areas, it can be configured into multiple hierarchical blocks, such as alert zones and restricted zones. All of these capabilities rely on the rich data provided by millimeter-wave radar, including speed, angle, and distance.

TMYTEK is dedicated to millimeter-wave solutions, laying the foundation from communication technologies like 5G/B5G and satellite communication. As the technology matures, it rapidly expands into the automotive market, striving to integrate millimeter-wave technology into various future intelligent applications and safety systems, driving the synergy between technology and safety excellence.

# # #

About TMYTEK

TMY Technology, Inc. (TMYTEK) delivers breakthrough millimeter-wave solutions for 5G/B5G and satellite communication applications. By transforming the mmWave RF front-end with innovative devices, inventing ready-to-use beamforming development kits, implementing phased arrays with modern Antenna-in-Package (AiP) technology, and redefining the over-the-air (OTA) testing methodology, TMYTEK empowers industrial innovations to go to market faster. Find out more at tmytek.com.

News Contact: Grace Ho / marketing@tmytek.com

Source: TMY Technology Inc.

PR Newswire

PABLO AIR Unveils Innovative Versatile Drone ‘FB04’ at CES 2024

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  • Debuts Award-Winning UAM Traffic Management Platform ‘UrbanLinkX’ at Eureka Park
  • Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul City and CTA President Join in the Innovative Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Eureka Park Inauguration Ceremony
  • First-ever Unveiling of Korea’s Only Versatile Drone, Highlighting Precise and Dynamic Performance… Targeting the North American Market

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PABLO AIR, a leading expert in autonomous swarm control for unmanned vehicles, is thrilled to announce its participation in CES 2024, the world’s largest IT and electronics exhibition, taking place in Las Vegas from January 8th. The company will showcase groundbreaking technologies and introduce its latest performance drone, ‘FireBird 4’ (FB04), at the Eureka Park startup exhibition.

PABLO AIR is set to make its debut at CES 2024, unveiling the first look of the performance drone FB04.
PABLO AIR is set to make its debut at CES 2024, unveiling the first look of the performance drone FB04.

Visitors can explore the PABLO AIR booth to witness the future of drones, featuring the versatile high-performance platform, ‘FireBird 4’ (FB04), and the award-winning Urban Air Mobility (UAM) traffic management platform, ‘UrbanLinkX.’

The ‘FB04,’ making its debut at CES 2024, is a versatile performance drone crafted by PABLO AIR, the sole company in Korea specializing in fireworks drone shows, leveraging its expertise. Developed with entirely domestic technology, it incorporates key components and solutions, enabling precise formation flights and designed for dynamic maneuvers with swift mobility.

PABLO AIR is commencing mass production and entering the sales phase of the FB04 this year. As the first mass-produced product, it provides insight into the design direction of the upcoming drone lineup. Additionally, it is engineered to ensure convenient operation in all weather conditions by enhancing wind resistance and waterproof capabilities. The drone introduces an innovative charging method aimed at improving efficiency and convenience for battery operation and management.

The award-winning ‘UrbanLinkX’ is a platform designed to efficiently operate and manage Urban Air Mobility (UAM) by reducing operator workload, enhancing economic viability, and mitigating operational risks. PABLO AIR has received high praise for ‘UrbanLinkX,’ recognizing its potential to address future transportation challenges in smart cities and contribute to improving the quality of life in urban areas.

Kim Young-Joon, CEO of PABLO AIR, expressed, “I am honored to receive the innovation award for UrbanLinkX, a technology that can contribute to humanity in this new era.” He added, “Starting from today’s inauguration ceremony, we aim to expand our drone device export business in the Americas region, ensuring profitability, with CES 2024 as a turning point.”

PABLO AIR plans to expand its presence in international markets, including North America, starting this year. In particular, for business expansion in the Middle East, the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saudi Arabia’s accelerator ‘NMOHUB’ for project procurement and the expansion of its fireworks business. Additionally, to facilitate the smooth development of drone art show projects in the Middle East and surrounding countries, PABLO AIR has secured partnerships by signing MOUs with the Spanish fireworks specialist ‘IGUAL’ and the local events company ‘ALBAHIYA PALACE’ in Oman.

PR Newswire

ForexVox Rebrands to MarketsVox: A Landmark Evolution Reflecting Growth and Innovation

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LONDON, Jan. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ForexVox, a prominent name in the online trading sphere, proudly announces a significant transformation with its rebranding to MarketsVox. This momentous shift goes beyond a mere change in name; it symbolizes a strategic and forward-thinking approach that encapsulates the company’s vision for the future.

ForexVox becomes MarketsVox
ForexVox becomes MarketsVox

The decision to rebrand is grounded in a multifaceted strategy aimed at better representing the extensive array of financial instruments offered by MarketsVox. While Forex has been a cornerstone, MarketsVox now extends its offerings to include indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and metals. The new name is a nod to the company’s commitment to evolving with the ever-changing landscape of financial markets.

“Markets” in the rebranded name embodies the company’s dedication to exploring diverse markets and providing clients with a broader spectrum of trading opportunities. The evolution from ForexVox to MarketsVox is not just a change; it’s a declaration of the company’s growth, adaptability, and commitment to staying at the forefront of the trading industry.

This rebranding is not the only exciting announcement from MarketsVox. The company is introducing a host of enhancements to enrich the trading experience for its clients. Among these are new payment options that offer increased flexibility, the introduction of a unique social platform featuring copytrading capabilities, and notable updates to the partner program, promising more rewarding collaboration.

In addition to these changes, MarketsVox is proud to share recent improvements to trading conditions. Fixed spreads have been implemented for three major pairs: EURUSD, GBPUSD, and USDJPY. This enhancement aims to provide traders with greater transparency and stability in their trading activities. To experience the trading conditions, you can open the live account here.

MarketsVox remains dedicated to fostering a dynamic and inclusive trading environment. The rebranding and associated developments are a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation, client satisfaction, and the pursuit of excellence in the financial markets.

MarketsVox will be releasing new and exciting products in January. Stay tuned.

About MarketsVox

MarketsVox is a leading online trading platform committed to providing a comprehensive suite of financial instruments, including Forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and metals. With a focus on innovation and client success, MarketsVox empowers traders with cutting-edge tools, a unique social platform, and a rewarding partner program.

Marketsvox.com

Contact:
Slava Biletska 
slava.biletska@marketsvox.com 
+44 2071678176  

Computers, News

Dell Unveils New UltraSharp Monitor Line-Up Ahead of CES 2024

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Dell’s monitors have long been one of the most sought-after monitors available. Dell’s most popular is the top-of-the-line Dell UltraSharp Monitors. The lineup is packed with cutting-edge features and features most users are looking for when it comes to productivity. The UltraSharp Monitors also set the pace for Dell’s monitors every year.

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The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW) leads the way this year. Yep. It’s a mouthful but comes with everything – including the kitchen sink; which in this case is the whole USB-C hub functionality. This USB-C Hub functionality allows for power pass-through to charge devices as well as extend your connectivity options – particularly if you’re coming from a thin and light laptop like the Dell XPS laptop. With Thunderbolt 4 support, you’ll be able to power the monitor with a single cable. The hub also supports high-speed ethernet connectivity through an RJ45 port, and display inputs with HDMI 2.1 FRL (Fixed Rate Link) and DisplayPort 2.1

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The new monitor has improvements over its predecessor including a doubled refresh rate of 120Hz. It comes with an improved version of Dell ComfortView Plus. This helps further reduce blue light exposure from 50% to lower than 35% in the new Dell UltraSharp Monitors. The built-in ambient light sensor also helps preserve eye health as it automatically adjusts screen brightness and colour temperature according to the ambient conditions of the room.

  • Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024 U4025QW 4
  • Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024 U4025QW 5
  • Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024 U4025QW 6
  • Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024 U4025QW 7
  • Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024 U4025QW 8

Of course, Dell’s UltraSharp Monitor Line-up continues to have a display panel with high resolution and a wide colour gamut. It is the line’s signature feature. This year’s edition comes with a 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space. The colour accuracy can also be calibrated using the Dell Color Management software. The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor comes with an IPS panel with VESA DisplayHDR 600 and IPS Black Panel technology. It’s also a 5K resolution display.

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Dell UltraSharp Monitors CES 2024
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You may be wondering, we’ve been saying lineup for so long but only talking about a single monitor, well, if 40 inches is too much for you, Dell is also launching a smaller 34-inch monitor. The new Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U3425WE) comes with a WQHD resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It comes with mostly the same specifications including IPS Black technology and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. However, it has a lower power delivery over Thunderbolt 4 of only 90W.

Pricing & Availability

Dell Technologies has not announced any pricing details for the monitors just yet. However, they will be available in the market starting end of February 2024.

PR Newswire

ARTERY AT32 MCU-based Solutions for High-speed Multi-Functional Peripheral

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HSINCHU, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Office facilities are always fundamental to business. To save manpower and promote efficiency, more and more user-friendly office equipment have been introduced, and one of the most brilliant device is the multi-functional peripheral (MFP) that integrates copier, printer, scanner and fax machine. It also supports networking, which brings risks of privacy leakage. To eliminate such risks and guarantee stable operation, microcontrollers are used to manage communication and collaboration among functional modules by executing complex instructions with the help of its programmability and powerful processing and control capabilities.

AT32F435/437 series, powered by ARM® Cortex®-M4, have excellent data processing performance and can reach up to 288 MHz computing speed. It supports up to 4032 KB Flash memory and 512 KB SRAM, and features a single precision floating-point unit (FPU), digital signal processor (DSP) and rich peripherals such as 2x QSPIs, 2x OTGs, DVP, communication interfaces and XMC interface (for SDRAM, SRAM and PSRAM) for flexible applications. In addition, it has 3x high-speed ADC engines (5.33 Msps), which supports MFPs to perform for printing, scanning, copying and faxing with fast responses and efficient algorithms.

Main features of AT32F435/437 in MFP applications:

  • High-performance CPU capability, providing a configurable hardware pipeline to support printing, scanning, copying and faxing
  • Support multiple high-speed PWM outputs for simultaneous motor control
  • Multi-channel ADC/DAC designed with sensors for accurate sensing and printing control
  • Up to 18 timers to realize highly integrated motion control for printing unit output, and lower system cost and complexity
  • Small-sized PCB, with built-in high-speed oscillator and providing various package types
  • Support security library (sLib) settings to protect the defined area with a code, thus improving security
  • Integrate high-speed communication interfaces including USART/UART, USB OTG, CAN, SDIO and Ethernet (AT32F437 only) to improving networking efficiency and stability
  • Support software OTA update, which allows users to update, iterate and expand MFP functions

Diagram of hardware system:

Diagram of AT32 MCU MFP applications
Diagram of AT32 MCU MFP applications

About ARTERY:

ARTERY Technology is a global MCU design company focusing on promoting innovative development of ARM® Cortex®-M4/M0+ 32-bit MCUs. As of the year 2023, ARTERY has launched a total of 15 AT32 MCU product series including nearly 200 parts, bringing about 80~288 MHz computing speed and supporting 16~4032 KB FLASH and 9~512KB SRAM. AT32 MCUs also designed with 12-bit ADC to capture external signals, rich communication interfaces and multi-channel PWM to offer solutions for applications such as IoT, industrial control, motor control, consumer electronics and commerce. https://www.arterychip.com 

Gaming

5 Demos to check out on PC/Steam Jan 2024

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As we move into 2024, what better way than to start the first weekend with some new games. 

For those who want to save on some cash after the festive sales, exploring demos on steam is the perfect solution. Besides, this is a perfect way to try out new games and different genres to see if the vibes match.

In this article we will be listing 5 entertaining and diverse game demos on steam that you should check out. If we miss any great demos on Steam do feel free to write in the comments below.

Backpack Battles

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Prepare to fight off other players in this Tetris style fantasy inventory management autobattler game. Similar in mechanics to Backpack Hero, you will be buying items and strategically place them in your back to fight other real players to climb the ladder. With different styles of plays and heroes, this demo is constantly being tweaked and updated. A nice little strategy game to fill up your weekend.

Bopl Battle

Bopl Battle Launch Trailer!

Recently released Nov, 2023, Bopl is a fun couch/online battler similarish to Smash Bros. Have fun with changing the environment you can manipulate to literally crush your foes. Choose to attach rockets to fly islands away or set things on fire. The choices are many and they are all yours as you find new combos to use with or against your friends. There are no bots so bring a friend to play, Bopl supports up to 4 players.

Bread & Fred

Bread & Fred | LAUNCH TRAILER

Released earlier last year in May, 2023, Bread & Fred is a cute co-op platformer game. Playing as two penguins, your goal is to help navigate them up the top of the snowy summit. You will be timing your jumps and swinging each other across gaps hoping not to fall down the mountain. This game is great for playing with your significant partner or potential partner as the New Year starts off. 

If you don’t have anyone to play with, there is a single player mode available. You get to play with Jeff, a pet rock. Only issue is you can’t blame Jeff if you fall, this climb is all on you.

dotAGE

DOTAGE Launch Trailer - out NOW!!

Released recently in Oct, 2023, dotAGE is a fun survival roguelite turn based city builder. For those who love board games and resource management, this game should be right up your alley. Take on the role of the villager elder as you navigate and plan around Doom and Prophecies of the Apocalypse to save your village. As a bonus this works well on Steam Deck and has an active single developer happy to fix bugs in this game of passion 9 years into the making.

TEKKEN 8

TEKKEN 8 - Story & Gameplay Teaser Trailer

Releasing soon on 26 Jan, 2024, TEKKEN 8 will soon be fighting it out with Street Fighter 6 for the attention of all fighter game players. In the demo you will be able to test out Story Mode, Arcade Quest, Super Ghost Battle, Player vs. Player, Player vs CPU, and Gallery Mode. You will have access to 3 stages, Urban Square (Evening), Yakushima, and Sanctum while playing with popular characters Paul Phoenix, Jin Kazama, Lazuya Mishima, and Nina Williams. Also there has been talks on the web that is might be possible to unlock the other characters to try out on the PC version of the demo.