There are resin 3D printers and then there is the Uniformation GKTwo. Many people getting into the 3D printing hobby progress from FDM printing using great machines from Bambu Labs* or Elegoo and then begin to crave the extra detail that printing with resin gives you.

This is especially true if you want to print models for tabletop gaming as well as for decoration. Today we are going to look at both. Our ongoing series about how to create the most unique items to make your games room really stand out has been so popular, today we are donning some PPE and getting messy. But it will be worth it.

As with our other games room printing exploits, we are going to need some great models to print. It makes sense that the figures we want to print first are from our favorite games so we have chosen to get started with is Godfrey, the first Elden Lord from Elden Ring from Nom Nom Figures. This Godfrey is hugely detailed and you couldn’t dream of printing it with an FDM printer, and we are going to need all the great detail that the GKTwo provides to get the best out of it.

Setting up the GKTwo for best results is imperative, but fortunately our slicer of choice, Lychee Slicer comes with a solid GKTwo profile which does pretty much all the hard work for us. Our model comes in 45 parts we can print in batches and glue them together, or you can, as we did for speed print largely complete sections. We started by printing Godfrey’s base and the GKTwo made short work of producing an amazingly detailed model. I’ve used many resin printers and to have one that “just works” out of the box makes such a difference.

The GKTwo’s large build plate and resin vat also make a difference. If nothing else it means you have to mess around with resin less. The UI on the machine is simple to use and after a few tests, the machine is ready to use for the first time out of the box.

The fact that the machine comes pre-levelled is also such a massive bonus. Okay, so it doesn’t take long to level a resin printer generally and it’s still advised that you check the leveling before you start, but the confidence given by the knowledge that this is leveled at the factory cannot be underestimated. You can level them yourself, but are you ever really sure you have done it correctly?

I have printed countless models with the GKTwo and have never had a single failure. That’s not to say some of that is not luck combined with experience, but the features you get for the extra cash that the GKTwo gives you just make things easier.

We haven’t yet mentioned the fact the machine comes with a heated chamber – which was new to me. This helps keep the resin in the vat at the perfect temperature for printing and exposure. This is important in a cold country in winter – like where I am, where you could start a print in the day and the temperature drops dramatically at night, while your print is still going. This can cause all manner of issues in your print as the resin cures at constantly changing temps. The heated chamber eradicates this fear.

The GKTwo comes with a lot of features that just make sense. I am so used to having to take the protective lid off a resin printer and find somewhere to put it down while I get at my prints, then invariably end up putting it back on with dirty, resin gloves and making the lid sticky and covered in undesirable chemicals. I am a messy worker.

The GKTwo has a green flip-up lid that you can just lift out of the way while you remove the build plate, again using a unique clamping mechanism that is simple and effective to operate. This should absolutely be the standard way to do this.

As you can see from our Godfrey models the detail you get from the GKTwo’s 8K screen is exemplary. It takes what you throw at it and just prints you great results you can paint up and show off in your games room.

Tabletop gaming with the GKTwo

In terms of tabletop gaming and small models I wanted to print some replacement Aliens for those that come in the board game ‘Aliens – Another Glorious Day in the Corps” – the models that come with the game are fine, but I had my eye on the amazing Aliens vs Humans models from Papsikels Miniatures. I absolutely love these. Anyway, I sliced a load of them for the GKTwo’s large build plate, set it going, and came back a few hours later to a plate full of my new Xenomorphs. Happy Days.

Suffice to say Warhammer proxies or even display miniatures can be printed in abundance and with ease here.

The final thing and this is a sneak peek of our next feature, is I printed some new artisan keycaps for my mechanical gaming keyboard. I chose to print the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they came out amazing. The GKTwo’s tolerances were great and they fit perfectly onto the stems of my Vermilo Sekura switches. So not only can we print out great models for our room we can also start to customize what we play on. Artisan Keycaps used to be the domain of specialist crafters. No more.

Why choose the GKTwo from Uniformation

Okay so if we are serious about printing great models for our gaming setup, and we are, can we print them for less than the GKTwo costs? Yes, we can. The GKTwo will set you back around $849 at the moment and if you go for the kit with the washing and curing stations, which, to be fair, are well worth the extra cash if you can afford it, will cost you north of $1000 when you can get a resin printer for probably half that, but what you get with this machine is ease of use, and I would argue, a safer printing environment. I have seen arguments that suggest you don’t splurge on the best machine out there if you are new to resin printing in case you find it is not for you. I’d argue the opposite, I would say the ease of printing great models will make you fall in love with the hobby, rather than face the frustration of constantly having failed models and mess everywhere. If you can afford it, get the GKTwo. If you can’t. save up.

How to stay safe printing with resin

The Unifomation GKTwo makes it easier than ever to stay safe from chemical disasters than the vast majority of 3D resin printers, but you still need to take precautions. Firstly resin stinks and you do not want to be breathing it in if you don’t have to as it is nasty. The GKTwo comes with a carbon filter block that will reduce the number of nasty particles in the air, but still never resin print unless you are in well-ventilated areas. Certainly, never print in your bedroom and go to sleep printing. Ever.

Secondly, you do not want to get resin on your skin so when handling, always wear protective rubber or nitrile gloves, they are cheap to purchase on Amazon. When removing models from the GKTwo’s build plate they will be full of resin juice, so keep those gloves on. The models will be strongly attached to the plate so when you are knocking them off with a scraper be aware they could fly anywhere and drops of resin could splash. You do not want these in your eye. Safety glasses should be worn at all times.

And finally, take care while pouring it into your vat, or returning unused resin to the vat. This stuff is poisonous and while the GKTwo’s excellent, large vat makes it easier than most, if you get resin spilled everywhere it not only is a pain to clean up, but if you get it on your GKTwo’s screen you run the risk of destroying it.

Post Processing with Uniformation’s Washing and Curing setup

Whether you choose to use a less-fuss water-washable resin or a standard resin, you need to wash the excess off. Normal resin requires washing off with Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) – another nasty chemical, or a special resin wash which is expensive. Either way, you need to work out how to get the uncured resin off your prints. After that, the print will need proper curing under a UV light of sorts. The easiest way, keeping in line with this article, is to get the washing and curing stations as part of a bundle from Uniformation. I have used wash stations before, and while super convenient, can be a hassle constantly having to change the washing fluid, be it water or IPA. The wash station from Uniformation has a clever draining hose at the back which is operated by a tap and you can empty the unit directly into a bucket.

The curing station is also cool, featuring a turntable that gets hit from all angles by strong UV light for a few minutes, hardening your model and preparing it for a coat of primer before painting.

Some minor downsides to both units, the power switch is located on the rear, which I always find an unnecessary hassle, reaching around, especially when limited space is available. I would love it to be on the side, or even front like the GKTwo and the second is also to do with space, all three units together take up a considerable amount of desk space. I prefer the separate unit idea, but just be aware you need to set aside some permanent desk space for all three.

Both units however are definitely worth picking up if they are withing your budget

The lowdown

3D printing with resin has come a long way in a few years and is now accessible to the masses. The GKTwo from Ultimation is an exciting look at the future of this great hobby and I can’t wait to see what Uniformation comes up with next.

Printing bespoke models and art for your room is a great way to give it that individuality and make you stand out, especially if you are a streamer.

• Note: The Bambu Lab A1 is currently under a recall

The post How to 3D print amazing models and keycaps for your games room on the Uniformation GKTwo appeared first on ReadWrite.

3D-printing has never been so close to the mainstream with printers from Bambu Lab and Uniformation being as close to plug-and-play as any newcomer can get. What has been missing from the hobby so far however is a user-friendly method of being able to scan your own objects and turn them into 3D models to print out yourself. 3D scanners have existed for a while, but like the printers themselves, the technology is now speeding up and the price coming down.

Enter the Moose, from 3DMakerpro which has just kicked off its pre-sale today, and from the press release it sounds like it could be just what we are looking for: “(The Moose scanner are) beginner-friendly 3D scanners with AI visual tracking technology. The Moose series is 3DMakerpro’s latest consumer-grade 3D scanner line-up offering, designed to handle real-world medium-sized objects into 3D models with remarkable efficiency and precision.

“Powered by a set of AI features and in collaboration with Oqton, the developer of Geomagic Wrap, 3DMakerpro aspires to make 3D scanning easier and more accessible to beginners and advanced users in the creative field.”

“The Moose series brings consumer 3D scanning to new heights of accuracy and allows more users to benefit from the convenience of 3D scanning,” said Tianshi Yuwen, Global Marketing Director of 3DMakerpro. “Our dedication to innovation empowers us to democratize high-precision 3D scanning and push beyond the boundaries of making all creative visions a reality.”

The Moose comes in two different variants, the Moose and the Moose Lite with the latter costing $249 at pre-sale ($399 after) and the main Moose costing $454 ($699 after). The Lite’s scans are not as detailed and operate with a Mono texture mapping method, while the main Moose has full 24-color mapping.

Hopefully, we will get to see within the next couple of weeks whether 3DMakerpro has pulled this off, but initial signs look great, and those pre-order prices are tasty.

The post The Moose from 3DMakerpro could be the 3D scanner that hobbyists have been waiting for appeared first on ReadWrite.

GameSir announced the X2s a few weeks back and it certainly raised a lot of interest. An upgraded version of the X2 from a couple of years ago, especially now new iPhones all rock a USB-Type C port having ditched the Apple Lighting port opens up a whole new audience as well as the Android crew who could already utilize a device such as this.

Combine this with an increased interest in mobile gaming, and a wider offering with things such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, could mean that the stars align for little hand-held controllers like this that you can just throw in your bag and whip out when you need to.

GameSir sent us over an X2s for review, so we didn’t need to stump up the £50 asking price, but we will get into that later on. First, the controller itself.

So, what is the GameSir X2s?

There are lot of nice things about the X2s, despite its small appearance the body stretches out to fit a mobile phone up to 168mm long in between its buttons.

My phone is an iPhone 15 Max Pro which is around 160mm long. Throw on an Apple case for another couple of millimeters and I am getting towards the top end of tolerance.

The USB connection is at one side, so, orientating my phone that was and fitting it in was a little fiddly. The connector moves up and down (deliberately on sort of a rocker mechanism, which is quite cute, but with it moving while I was trying to connect didn’t make things easier.

Having inserted the USB as best I could I stretched out the other side to fit my iPhone in which was a push. I did accidentally let go before it was in properly and it snapped closed again, but that was my fault. The spring, after a few goes doesn’t seem quite so violent, either that or I just stopped being stupid, and now connection is a breeze.

Once you have a solid connection the only real indication that things have gone to plan is a tiny LED that will light up showing that the unit is drawing power from your phone. There are no batteries here so using it will drain your phone battery.

Thankfully it does have a USB passthrough connector on the bottom of the controller so you can always throw a charger or power bank in there as you play.

How does it feel?

Gaming with the X2s was a really pleasant experience to be fair. The joysticks are Hall-Effect switches, meaning they have magnets inside that measure resistance and are far more accurate and sensitive than what we normally get on this type of device. Also, they should not suffer from any dreaded Stick Drift and would be a welcome addition on the next set of Joycons Nintendo comes up with.

The buttons themselves are very small, those of us with big fingers may not enjoy fighting games on the X2s, but if you are looking to play racers, shooters, or even platformers you will be well served here. Just maybe avoid anything with a tricky combo.

The X2s in truth is barely bigger than my smartphone so is easy to just have with you for all the times on the bus or train you might feel like playing a game properly. The controller is responsive and it doesn’t seem as though it is a big battery hog. It just works, I was looking for some indication that it was even connected and operational, but once I loaded a game everything was seamless.

It has a retro styling like an old Nintendo handheld but the grey and lilac color scheme may not appeal to everybody. We think it still looks great though. Its biggest selling point is definitely the joysticks, which even come with rubber caps (and a spare set at that) to make it a bit more grippy.

Conclusion

At £50 it is not a throwaway purchase that a casual mobile gamer is likely to make to see if they like it. You are paying for a very neat little technology package but you have to be in the market for a good mobile controller.

Having said that other offerings from the like of Razer have been considerably more expensive, but you can still get a legit Xbox controller for less, although granted it doesn’t offer the same handheld convenience.

If you want to get in on the handheld gaming craze, don’t want to drop big money on a Switch, ROG Ally, or a Steam Deck, and want to utilize that stupidly powerful computer you carry around in your pocket every day instead, the X2s will certainly not let you down. Playing games console style is a huge step up from touchscreen controls and it is unlikely that if you buy this, you won’t come to love it very quickly.

It just depends on what you play and how often. You can order the X2s direct from GameSir’s website.

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Our 3D printing adventure so far has had us using the Bambu Lab A1 to print out cool, unique models for our perfect games room but what if you want something larger than a standard 3D printer can handle?

The Bambu Lab A1 is a great printer that requires very little effort but sometimes you are going to need to get your hands dirty with a more traditional 3D printer, especially if you are looking to make or even sell cosplay items that look amazing.

That’s where the Neptune 4 Max from Elegoo comes in. The behemoth of a 3D printer needs a few things – first, it needs a lot of space. It’s a big, heavy unit. On top of the actual space the unit itself needs you need to factor in space in front and behind it because, as it is a bed slinger, that build plate is going to fire forwards and backward.

So far, so obvious, but here’s another one that you may not have worried about quite so much if you have only had a smaller printer until now – a sturdy table.

The Neptune 4 Max runs on Klipper and that means it is fast and will throw the build plate around at breakneck speed.

The first surface I put it on was a standing desk, so therefore the legs have movement in them as it needs to go up and down, and I genuinely thought it might fly off the table. You need something sturdy here. And if it’s fixed down, so much the better.

The Elegoo Neptune 4 Max is what’s also known as a ‘helmet-class’ printer. That means it has a big enough print volume to be able to print a full-size helmet, big enough for a human head for cosplay purposes. It has a build volume of 420 x 420 x 480 mm, which is slightly less than the Max 3, but this is due to the giant cooling fan strapped onto the gantry.

Even with a fast printer, these take a while so today we are just going to print a full-size cosplay mask, and then print something larger out for our game room – a large bust of Walter White from Breaking Bad to add a little Heisenberg to the place.

Starting with the mask we decided on this low-poly full face mask because it looks both sinister and cool. This was my first big print attempt and watching the 4 Max do its thing was a joy to behold. I had to leave it printing overnight as I didn’t start it until late in the day but woke up, checked the Fluidd interface via my phone while still in bed, and was delighted to see it had printed perfectly. The only supports here were on the hooks for the ears and they were removed easily.

Next up is our second piece, the Walter White bust from Sid Naique. I wanted to print this so much larger but plumped for a smaller than I wanted size simply because I was put off by the two-day print time to make it a lifesize head. One day though when deadlines aren’t as pressing.

Again the bust printed flawlessly and even with the slightly tricky support around the beard, this all came away easily and the Elegoo PLA+ in grey worked a treat.

This is one of my go-to prints when I want to show off the 4 Max, the level of detail is insane even with the 0.4mm standard nozzle (will somebody please let me buy different-sized nozzles). This would look great on any shelf in your games room. I think I am ultimately going to print him again with a marble PLA to make him look that bit more, er museum!

So let’s have a look at the print experience as we did with the Bambu Lab A1 in our last 3D model feature.

What is the Neptune 4 Max like?

My time with the 4 Max has been a bit of a mixed bag, but fortunately, it all seems to have turned out alright in the end. From the off it printed great, putting out really high-quality prints. After a week or so suddenly nothing would stick to the plate, the Z-offset was all over the place and no amount of leveling seemed to help. Then I had a huge problem with the extruder as when the print reached a certain part of the axis the temperature reading would drop from around 180C to 0. Obviously, this was a false reading but it would cause Klipper to crash mid-print. 

With some excellent help from Elegoo Support, we established there was a dodgy connection in the cable from the main board to the print head so they arranged to replace that. As all this was happening though the Neptune 4 Max suffered a huge clog that destroyed the entire hotend and heat block. Fortunately, Elegoo replaced the entire print head for me, but I did have to wait for that to arrive from China which delayed this page. It seems to me as though there may be a slight design flaw in the way that if a clog starts and you don’t notice it, it gathers speed and runs away to self-destruction under the silicon sock and that is pretty much the end of that, you need a spare part as the thermistor and other wires are encased like Han Solo in Carbonite. The problem is at the moment, with it being a new model and using a proprietary nozzle, you can’t just get them on Amazon and need to go through Support, which is frustrating when you just want to print stuff.

I must emphasize though that Elegoo Support is among the best there is in the 3D printer world, it’s just that post from China, even UPS isn’t always the fastest. 

Now however, after a couple of firmware upgrades and a change of the cable and hotend (which was a pain in the rear), the Neptune 4 Max is working flawlessly like a charm and I can trust it to do what I want. It is a more hobbyist printer though than say a Bambu Lab, so you need to have some 3D printer experience to get the most out of it and get it dialed in perfectly. I was undoubtedly unlucky, but big printers are not necessarily ideal as your first bit of 3D printing kit. Now it is working fine would I recommend the Elegoo Neptune 4 Max for this kind of project?

Absolutely, for the price the speed and build size are great, and if you are looking to get into printing props, cosplay, and large items for your game room, you can’t do much better for the cost. Also, the great customer support is reassuring, there is an active discord, and hopefully, spares will be available in Amazon warehouses soon which will take the pain out of the nozzle issue.

Finishing our printed models

We used a sparkly filament for the mask and in the main it genuinely doesn’t need much sanding down, such is the quality of the print. We did a little work where the supports on the eyes and mouth but generally that was it. Again, with Walker White things came off pretty clean but we will sand down the areas where the arms would be for a smooth finish before priming for painting. Because the detail on the model is so good, Walter’s beard, stubble, and shaved head don’t need sanding because they are stubbly, which cuts down post-work a lot.

Neptune 4 Max slicer settings

We didn’t use anything other than a basic 0.2mm later height in either model. You could, if you had the time reduce that for the bust but the mask certainly doesn’t need it. We sliced and printed the models in Orcaslicer, which is the current go-to slicer for the 3D printing game at the moment.

The post How to 3D print huge models for cosplay and game rooms with the Neptune 4 Max appeared first on ReadWrite.

As gamers we all want a cool-looking gaming space we can call our own, but what does that look like? A nice gaming chair? An adjustable gaming desk like one from Flexispot? Copious amounts of LEDs and lighting solutions like the ones from Nanoleaf? But how do we stand out from the crowd – especially if you want to become a streamer or just want your friends to see you have something they can’t?

3D print things yourself that’s how. There are an absolute ton of 3D printable models out there, some free, some paid for and if you have a 3D printer, or are thinking of getting one, you can set to work creating your own bespoke gaming artwork for your room.

Which 3D printer?

For this project, we are going to use the new Bambu Lab A1 which recently came out at the end of last year. With its multi-material AMS Lite add it can print in multiple colors on the same print easily, which, while you can do on other printers, the AMS makes it so much easier.

Having said that, in the main, we are going to print our models in a single color and attempt to paint them to a standard that looks half-decent. Because of this, we can print them in any old filament we have lying around that we maybe don’t use that much.

Another reason we are using the A1 here is because, right now, we don’t want to tinker and play around with settings. For the most part, the A1 just works out of the box. Many other 3D printers need fine-tuning and tweaking to get the best out of them, even keeping a watchful eye to make sure nothing goes wrong. Unless you are unlucky the A1 should let you print and return later when it’s done (although it is good practice to regularly check on what’s happening, just in case.)

Our model here is this excellent chibi version of classic gaming hero Duke Nukem from 3DXM. Because we are going to paint him, we are just going to use some green filament we don’t mind using up.

Popping the model into Bambu Studio – the slicer software that comes with all Bambu Labs printers, sizing it to the size you want for your desk or shelf, adding supports, and slicing it ready to print should take only a minute or so.

From there you can send it over wi-fi to the A1, choose the color you want to print in if you have the AMS Lite, hit print, and sit back. This Duke Nukem took around five hours to print at 100% but had we pushed the printer into Sport or even Ludicrous mode it would have been much faster.

If you are new to 3D printing you should know that any part of the model that hangs suspended in mid-air will need supports while it prints. Your A1’s nozzle can’t just make things appear in mid-air. This means that this support material is a) a waste of filament and b) needs to be removed when the print is complete. It should be a case of just pulling it off, but it can be sharp and you can cut yourself so maybe pop on a pair of gardening gloves or even washing up gloves for a little protection. Having said that you haven’t lived until you have got your blood all over that nice model printed in white filament that you just spent nine hours printing.

As you can see from the picture the supports pulled away nicely, leaving a great-looking model., even if at this stage he looks a bit like the Hulk because of the color.

At this stage, you can choose to lightly sand him down to smooth out the lines between the layers and remove any anomalies from the printing process. For this feature, we didn’t bother but you can spend as long on this section as you like until you are happy.

With the print of the model complete and the A1 having performed admirably we set it going on our next model for our room, a free Jigglypuff Pokemon from Makerworld. While this is printing in just over two and a half hours we can hit our Duke Nukem with a couple of coats of white primer to ready it for painting. We used Army Painter Matt White but any light primer will do. We specifically use white because we are going to paint him with Army Painter Speedpaints 2.0 which works best on a white primer.

Because of the green filament used, we ended up needing three light coats of primer to cover out the green completely

After letting Duke dry we took him over to the workbench and used a base coating brush for the most part to apply speedpaints for a (very, apologies) down-and-dirty paint job so you can see what is possible in around half an hour. Obviously, you can spend much more time on your painting if you like.

By now you can see the Pokemon Jigglypuff was complete and the Bambu Lab A1 did a fantastic job and came up with a really smooth ball shape. There was a small amount of stringing for no obvious reason but you can remove that by hitting it with a lighter for a second or two to burn it away. Now, you can just paint it and have a print of something else going while you do.

By the end of a day of printing, you could have a shelf full of really great models from about half a roll of filament (which will cost about $22.

Is the Bambu Lab A1 the best 3D printer for beginners?

On this project, we just wanted great-looking models as part of our Games Room redesign. We didn’t just want to go out and buy the same Funko Pops everybody has so we needed a frustration-free method of getting our game characters out. Because the A1 rarely seems to have issues – at least in our experience – you can set a model going and head off out if you need to.

If you have more experience with a more hobbyist rather than beginner printer you might be able to do the same, but if you are new to the 3D printing maker space then the ability to just get out of the printer what you expected is a boon.

The A1 is not a large format printer and the size of models and busts you can print might be a hindrance. We will be looking at the impressive Elegoo Neptune 4 Max soon, which is a helmet-class printer that needs a little more attention to get great results, but if you want to print a lifesize version of the guy from Fortnite for the corner of your room, you will need to up the size of your printer.

Bambu Lab A1 settings for Bambu Studio

If you want higher quality prints you should change your layer height from 0.2 down to something like 0.12 or even 0.08. This will give you finer detail but will take significantly longer to print.

You could also invest in a 0.2mm nozzle to swap out the base 0.4mm that comes with the A1. They only cost about $15 from Bambu Labs, can be swapped in seconds unlike other printers, and it is always good to have in your printing arsenal.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to make some of your own game room decorations or even to pick up a 3D printer for the first time. We will be bringing you more features to help you level up your gaming space in the future.

The post How to 3D print amazing models for your games room on a Bambu Lab A1 appeared first on ReadWrite.

Now that we are finally in a position where Apple iPhones have finally moved to a USB Type C charging and connection port and ditched Lightning ports it can start to get a little uniformity across the board with its Android cousins.

GameSir has built on its incredible success with controllers designed for mobile devices of late with this latest offering – the X2s, complete with that all-important Type C connection allowing compatibility with Android and now, newer iPhones.

The X2s features Hall Effect sticks and triggers which should remove any stick drift and time spent teaching yourself how your controller handles compared to your regular console controller. The dream is you can just pick up a GameSir, attach your phone and it feels just the same as playing on your main machine.

The dead zones on the sticks can all be adjusted and you can change the ABXY layouts to suit your preference. The buttons should have a durability rating of three million clicks (that’s about 10 minutes of me trying to play Street Fighter) meaning the X2S should be your mobile gaming partner for some time to come.

GameSir X2s Technical Specifications

• Working Platform: iPhone 15 series and Android phones
• Compatible Models: Length between 110-168 mm / 4.3-4.6 in
• Connection: Built-in wired Type-C to your phone
• Hall Effect Sticks: Yes
• Hall Effect Triggers: Yes
• Mechanical Buttons: Yes
• Battery: No
• Product Size: 177.9*84.36*37.53 mm / 7*3.32*1.48 in
• Net Weight: 171.6 g / 0.38 lbs

The GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller is now available for purchase for $45.99/ £49.99/ €59.99 from Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Europe stores, and the GameSir official website.

The post GameSir unveils X2s Type-C gaming controller for Android and iPhone 15 appeared first on ReadWrite.

Is it too early to send Santa our Christmas List because we definitely want one of the new mechanical gaming keyboards that 8BitDo has just launched in Europe.

The keyboard was originally launched in the USA last year but the demand has been so great that it is now available in Europe as well and, priced reasonably for a mechanical keyboard of this spec.

Firstly, just look at it. If you have an ounce of retro nostalgia in your body you can’t help but smile. Besides the regular N edition, the new limited Fami edition brings back the maroons and beiges of the classic Nintendo Famicom from Japan and looks pretty smart.

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is loaded with technology ensuring it can keep up with the most demanding of gaming or work uses. Compatible with both  Windows and Android, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard features a variety of connectivity options including Bluetooth, Wireless 2.4GHz (via an included USB dongle), and wired USB in case you need the faster response a wire will bring you. 

As an unusual bonus, the keyboard also comes with the Super Button Unit which features two oversized action buttons which can also be programmed to activate user-chosen commands or shortcuts. It’s a bit weird, but hey, this is how we did it in the 80s and 90s kids. And if you are into your emulation on a Steam Deck or Rog Ally, a fittingly retro Bluetooth keyboard is a must.

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is distributed across the EU by Game Outlet Europe and is available for an SRP of €99.99 / £85.99.

For more information on the 8BitDo® Retro Mechanical Keyboard, you can check out the keyboard’s web page.

They do also seem to be available on Amazon in some regions, so you could probably be typing away on it within a few hours should you so desire.

The post 8BitDo launches super-cool retro-inspired mechanical gaming keyboard appeared first on ReadWrite.

Considering Apple has a reputation for releasing product updates every couple of years, it is somewhat surprising that we’re yet to be treated to the second generation of the hugely popular Apple AirPods Max.

The AirPods Max represented Apple’s first foray into the over-ear headphones market when they launched in 2020, having already taken the wireless earbud market by storm with the AirPods and AirPods Pro.

A sublime blend of reliable battery life, comfort, cinematic spatial audio, incredible sound quality and beautiful design made the Airpods Max the most popular headphones on the market. Even at the high-end price of £549.

However, in what is a little out of character for Apple, fans are still patiently waiting for the second generation Apple Airpods Max. Current rumors, though, suggest the wait may be over pretty soon.

When will Apple AirPods Max 2 arrive?

There are no concrete dates for when Apple fans can get their hands on the AirPods Max 2, but a few rumors are circulating that we might be able to expect a new Max edition in the latter stages of 2024.

That is according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claimed earlier this year that a new edition of the AirPods Max is likely to launch alongside a newer, more affordable version of earbuds, which he believes is due later in 2024.

(4/5)
The next-generation AirPods will likely begin mass shipments in 2H24 or 1H25, including more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99) and new AirPods Max, which will be assembled by Luxshare ICT and Hon Teng.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 12, 2023

Apple has a history of making us wait for AirPods Max releases, though. Before officially launching in December, it was expected they would debut a couple of months earlier alongside the launch of the iPhone 12. That didn’t happen due to “complications” and fans were made to wait a couple more months.

But a three-year wait for a fresh upgrade is unusual, which is fuelling rumors of an imminent announcement at some stage in 2024.

How will the Apple AirPods Max 2 look?

Whatever upgrades are in line for the Airpods Max 2, you can bet the overall design, look and feel will be sleek, comfortable and eye-catching. That’s what we’ve come to expect from Apple ever since the launch of the iMac G3 in 1998.

As we’re still relatively in the dark about the next edition of the Max, we’re having to rely on insider speculation to get a picture of what we might expect when they do eventually arrive.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has fueled many of the rumors in this area with several comments in an October 2023 newsletter, in which he also echoes the views of Kuo regarding a potential release date. He mostly hints at new colors and the introduction of USB-C charging.

The color range

Firstly, there’s the color range. The Airpods Max is available in Silver, Blue, Space Grey, Pink and Green. Gurman believes an “AirPods Max refresh with new colors” is on the horizon. That has fuelled rumors that the tech giant are considering introducing Yellow, Orange and Purple to the range, while it’s also being whispered that a Product (Red) edition. Some believe the new colors may be in sync with those of the upcoming iPhone 16, which is also expected to debut later this year.

USB charging

Elsewhere, the rumored introduction of USB-C charging is arguably the least surprising rumor of all. Apple announced the USB-C connections on the new iPhone 15 and charging cases for the Airpods Pro 2 in December 2023, so it’s a reasonable assumption to make that it will be present in all Apple products in the future.

Touch controls

Meanwhile, there is talk that Apple is making changes to the Max’s control mechanism, moving closer towards touch controls instead of continuing with the existing Digital Crown. This may come as music to the ears (pun intended) to current Max owners who find themselves knocking the Digital Crown when adjusting them.

The carry case

And finally, on to the carry case. While the AirPods Max’s design wowed fans, their protective case has come under some criticism. Particularly for not being very protective. Thankfully, a patent uncovered in the summer of 2022, appears to suggest Apple is working on a more substantial and durable case that utilizes a magnetic clasp.

This points towards an actual case, as opposed to what can only be described as a wrap-around cover we have today.

What are the Apple Airpods Max 2 specs?

The first edition AirPods Max arrived packed with top-of-the-range specifications and features, including active noise-cancellation (ANC), adaptive EQ, spatial audio with dynamic head-tracking and two H1 Apple chips.

That’s quite a lot to live up to and improve on in a second edition, but rumors point towards Apple working on making several significant improvements.

Firstly, there are improvements to ANC, with a recent AirPods Max patent referring to “audio howl” detection, with Apple looking to improve on ways to better mitigate unwanted feedback that is typically created by ANC microphones.

Elsewhere, there are whispers that Apple might be working on a way to deliver wireless lossless audio via better-than-Bluetooth audio transmission technology. If true and, of course, if it’s included in the Max, this will likely revolutionize the quality of portable wireless audio.

There is currently no noise surrounding what chip the Airpods Max 2 will use, but we can make a reasonable assumption that the H2 chip might be introduced to replace the H1 chips in the first edition Max. The H2 chip is already incorporated in the Airpods Pro 2. That said, there a no guarantees.

Other rumored features include the new “Find My” feature, which will allow owners to locate their headphones via the use of their iPhone, and a likely IPX rating, which means the Airpods Max 2 will be more suited to wetter conditions, such as rain, splashes and even sweat, for those that use their cans in the gym.

How much will Apple AirPods Max 2 cost?

Eyebrows were raised when the first-generation Airpods Max launched with a hefty £549 price tag, but it still didn’t stop people rushing to buy them. They sold out almost instantly, with the waiting list peaking at around 14 weeks.

There is nothing on the rumor mill to suggest Apple will launch the second-generation Max at a lower price point, so we should still expect to pay a top-of-the-range fee for what is going to be a top-of-the-range product.

Some fans have expressed wishes for a cheaper model to be released alongside the new Max to give fans the option depending on their budget, which Apple has previous with when it comes to their iPhone, Macbook, iPad and Apple Watch ranges.

However, that’s just people expressing their wishes as opposed to a credible rumor at this stage.

Featured Image: Photo by Super Snapper on Unsplash.

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Apple has been working on its first foldable product for quite some time — but it won’t be an iPhone.This is according to Taiwanese supply chain sources, who told DigiTimes (via MacRumors) that this product has been in the works for quite some time. According to the outlet, the foldable Apple product is set to be a “larger device” than your run-of-the-mill iPhone, being closer in design to an iPad or a Macbook than a smartphone. 

These sources also claim that different design prototypes and ideas are converging, with mass production of the item reportedly being the next step. But what’s with the hold-up? Samsung released its first Galaxy folding phone back in 2019, meaning that even if we do get a foldable Apple device, it will be five years later than its main competitor.

Barriers to Apple’s development of foldable devices

Purportedly, the biggest barrier Apple is facing right now are the hinge mechanisms for foldable devices. The company is still trying to design a foldable design panel that meets its usual high standards in quality. And according to DigiTimes, rumors that Apple Vision Pro engineers have moved the foldable phones are true. But contrary to other rumors, the company has not put a pause on its work on foldable products. Instead, it is being claimed that Apple now has multiple departments dedicated to different foldable products.

But don’t expect to see them anytime soon — the report added that we won’t be seeing any of these devices launching before 2025. Still, we shouldn’t give up hope on the release of an Apple flip phone just yet. We know that Apple has, in the past, been granted a patent for a multi-layered flip phone for a crack-resistant protective screen layer structure not just for smartphones, but for other foldable devices like tablets and laptops.

Featured Image: Photo by Saad Chaudhry on Unsplash 

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Cooler Master unveiled an ambitious plan to reinvent GPU cooling systems by developing a prototype dual-fan GPU cooler. This new design aims to provide enhanced temperature control and decreased noise levels compared to the conventional triple-fan setup used in many high-end graphics cards. By incorporating Mobius fans from Cooler Master, cutting-edge cooling technology is anticipated to offer exceptional airflow while reducing noise. Cooler Master’s dual-fan GPU cooler has been engineered to optimize the cooling process by distributing the heat load more efficiently and effectively without the need for additional fans.

The prototype boasts an all-white or silver housing enveloping the GPU’s front, with the Cooler Master logo prominently displayed. The sleek design adds aesthetic value and ensures optimum cooling performance for the GPU. Additionally, the customized casing showcases the collaboration between Cooler Master and the GPU manufacturer, highlighting their commitment to quality and cutting-edge technology.

The Cooler Master must design multiple cooler variations to accommodate specific graphics card models. Secondly, the company must consider factors such as size compatibility, heat dissipation efficiency, and noise reduction to create a high-performance cooling solution for these graphics cards. Furthermore, collaboration with GPU manufacturers could be beneficial to ensure seamless integration and optimal functionality across various models.

User concerns and warranty issues

Additionally, users may be reluctant to remove their graphics card‘s original fans for fear of damaging their cards and invalidating the warranty. This concern is not unfounded, as disassembling a graphics card can void its warranty and potentially harm the sensitive components. Therefore, it is crucial for users to carefully weigh the pros and cons and consider seeking professional assistance or diligently following proper guidelines when attempting to replace their GPU fans.

The aesthetic appeal is a factor, as some users might prefer their original card’s appearance without a white or gray covering. The covering may not align perfectly with the card design, potentially detracting from its visual appeal. Users need to weigh the importance of aesthetics against the potential increased security the overlay provides. The innovative design of the cooler could provide efficient thermal management, ensuring that the components function at an optimal level.

Proving performance improvements

The success of Cooler Master’s third-party GPU cooler hinges on whether the company can prove tangible performance improvements compared to existing alternatives. To achieve this, Cooler Master needs to showcase significant enhancements in temperature control and noise reduction, as these are the primary concerns for users looking to upgrade their GPU cooling solutions. The COMPANY can effectively demonstrate its product’s superiority and gain traction in the highly competitive industry by providing real-world test results and customer testimonials.

Featured Image Credit:panumas nikhomkai; Pexels

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If you are a gamer who wants a cool games room, especially if you are streaming, you know all about Nanoleaf and its range of great-looking LED lights that, at a glance, show you are serious about looking good.

Having started with now much-copied wall decorations adorning some of the online world’s biggest content creators’ streams, the company is now branching out further into the interactive light space with a series of launches at CES 2024, launching a range of futuristic lights that are compatible with Matter – the rapidly growing standard for controlling all this sort of stuff.

The new additions to the Essential Matter line are a Smart Multicolor light strip, multicolor outdoor string lights, and smart multicolor permanent outdoor lights.

The Nanoleaf Essential Matter devices can be controlled via an app on your phone, or via a voice-controlled smart speaker. Matter makes this easier than ever as you no longer have to have a variety of hubs and bridges to make all your smart devices talk to each other.

The sky is the limit

Also arriving, and first previewed at last year’s CES, winning eight “Best of CES” awards for product design and innovation is the Nanoleaf Skylight – smart modular ceiling panels that function not only as a traditional ceiling light but can be customized to your heart’s content with a vast number of routines to change the ambiance of your space.

You start by hardwiring one square into your existing light power, and then you can add up to 100 additional squares to cover as much of your ceiling as you like. It really does look very cool indeed.

Nanoleaf Skylight will ship at the end of January and is available to pre-order now for $249.99 for the Smarter Kit (three-pack) and $69.99 for expansion panels.

Finally, Nanoleaf’s new Orchestrator software will transform your lights with real-time music analysis and beat detection, making it a powerful house party weapon of choice.

Planned for a spring release, Orchestrator goes a step further than normal sound-to-light technology and works on picking up the audio directly from your computer’s sound source. 

We will look forward to trying out Orchestrator for real soon.

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Sony’s PlayStation typically dominates in virtually every realm when it comes to gaming success, but now Microsoft’s Xbox is fighting back.

For the first time, the Xbox franchise is expected to overtake PlayStation when it comes to gaming revenue, as revealed by a detailed report by analysis firm Newzoo. This comes after Microsoft acquired Activision in a $68.7 billion deal, meaning it’s now the owner of huge games like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. As such, Activision’s revenue for the second half of the year now counts towards Microsoft’s, edging them ahead of Sony for the first time on record.

If the delay to the deal had not happened, however, Microsoft would have moved ahead of Sony even earlier. From January through June, Microsoft and Activision’s combined gaming revenue was $10.4 billion, far more than Sony’s $8 billion. Looking ahead, Activision is moving from strength to strength, experiencing 35.5% year-on-year growth, the highest rate for any of the top ten gaming companies in Newzoo’s report.

The world’s biggest video gaming companies

In top place, Chinese tech giant Tencent holds strong by a long way, largely due to investments in companies like Epic Games, a strong presence in China, mobile gaming titles, and ownership of League of Legends’ Riot.

Newzoo also predicts that the games industry will generate $184 billion in revenue for the entirety of the 2023 financial year, forecasting a growth of $205.7 billion by 2026. While PlayStation and Microsoft tend to stick to console and PC gaming respectively, the biggest stake in gaming software revenue remains in mobile, thereby giving Tencent its massive lead ahead of the pair.

Although PC and console did see some growth in 2023, browser-based games continue to plummet. Mobile gaming holds strong, taking 49% of overall gaming revenue, with console and PC trailing with 29% and 21% stakes respectively.

Microsoft does have a foot in the door with mobile gaming as well, owning some heavy hitter titles like Candy Crush and successful studios like Bethesda Game Studios and ZeniMax Online Studios, which could contribute to still more future growth in comparison to Sony down the line.

Meanwhile, in a move that has enraged customers and emboldened advocates of digital piracy, PlayStation sent out emails to players informing them that some digital content they have purchased – and therefore thought they actually owned – will be removed from their libraries from the end of the year.

Featured image: Pexels

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With a tap any Android or Apple phone user will be able to talk to ChatGPT.

OpenAI, the company behind the hugely popular AI chatbot,  introduced voice chats on ChatGPT for Android and iOS in September, but initially only for its Plus and Enterprise subscribers. Now, co-founder Greg Brockman has revealed the feature is rolling out to all free users on mobile.

How will ChatGPT voice chat work on the mobile app?

Now, with ChatGPT’s voice chat right in your mobile app, you can dive right into dynamic, spoken dialogues with the chatbot just by hitting the little voice symbol. Your spoken words will be interpreted by the large language model, and you’ll receive a response that eerily mirrors human speech, taking your conversation to a whole new realm of authenticity.

Powered by a text-to-speech model, it generates “human-like audio” and offers five different voices. Despite the wide release announcement, universal access may take time. It’s still unclear if users need to opt in, but paid subscribers can enable it in Settings.

OpenAI claim ChatGPT’s voice chat not only enhances user experience but also caters to a variety of preferences, offering a rich, multimodal experience that goes hand-in-hand with classic text-based interactions. It has the potential to offer a whole new level of engaging and accessible communication.

A hectic week for OpenAI

The $80 billion valued company is going through a chaotic period.

Brockman announced the latest ChatGPT release after resigning as OpenAI’s President, stemming from CEO Sam Altman’s sudden departure on November, 17. The move led to protests and threats of mass resignations from employees. Less than five days later and Altman was back as the CEO. Furthermore, a restructured leadership team was announced, featuring the former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and the ex- US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

ChatGPT Voice rolled out for all free users. Give it a try — totally changes the ChatGPT experience: https://t.co/DgzqLlDNYF

— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 21, 2023

OpenAI has been making significant strides in its field, pioneering progress in areas like reinforcement learning and natural language processing. It’s one of the companies leading the charge into the AI revolution.

But they’re not without critics. The world’s richest man, Elon Musk has called attention to some of the company’s more questionable decisions.

Musk, who recently launched his own chatbot AI Grok, has publicly challenged former board members. In response to Altman’s firing, the billionaire asked OpenAI’s co-founder and board member, Ilya Sutskevar:  “Why did you take such a drastic action? If OpenAI is doing something potentially dangerous to humanity, the world needs to know.”

Featured image from Pexels

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On Oct 12, 2022, Valve launched an updated version of its popular handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck, with an improved OLED screen, longer battery life, and other enhancements over the original.

According to a recent PC Gamer report, many were worried that Valve would face similar inventory shortages with the OLED model as it did when the original Steam Deck launched in February 2022. However, Valve seems to have prepared adequately for the OLED launch day this time around.

When the original Steam Deck became available for preorder, stock sold out within hours. New orders were placed on an extensive reservation list, with customers waiting months to receive their devices. Valve underestimated the demand, resulting in frustrating delays for eager customers.

Fortunately, that has not been the case with the Steam Deck OLED. The estimated delivery dates for the new $549 and $649 models still show only a 3-5 business day wait. The availability suggests Valve stockpiled units ahead of launch to meet demand. The cheaper $399 original Steam Deck is still readily available for fast delivery.

Valve spokesperson Jay Shaw said the company hoped to avoid the previous supply issues. “We’re confidently hoping that everything holds up well and people aren’t slipping into reservations for months and months out,” Shaw told the media earlier this month.

That preparation seems to have paid off on launch day. Apart from minor hiccups with payment processing and an OLED delay in Taiwan, most buyers have reported a smooth purchasing experience with quick delivery estimates.

Valve still advises they are not ready to announce a full sequel to the Steam Deck yet. For now, the OLED model provides the best Steam Deck experience available with its gorgeous display and refined design.

Photo by Rafael Guajardo.

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Major suppliers to Apple in Taiwan recorded another substantial sales decline in September, falling 16.4% year-over-year to NT$1.24 trillion ($38.7 billion). The drop comes despite the launch of Apple’s latest iPhone models and new Android devices from competitors and follows similar data from the PC market.

According to an Oct. 12 Bloomberg report, the sales decline extends a downward trend that began in 2022 for Taiwan’s contract chipmakers and electronics assemblers that supply Apple and other tech giants. The September figures mark the steepest monthly drop since June. For the first nine months of 2023, sales have fallen 8.8% compared to the same period last year.

The new iPhone 15 lineup went on sale in September, with upgrades to the base model receiving positive reviews. However, the iPhone launch did little to boost suppliers’ sales. This highlights the smartphone market’s maturity and Apple’s challenges in spurring demand for new models.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, recorded a 13.4% sales decline in September. This was better than many analysts feared, reflecting TSMC’s strength in non-smartphone segments like high-performance computing chips.

Device assemblers like Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) and Compal Electronics posted double-digit percentage declines in September. Quanta Computer, another major Apple contract manufacturer, also saw significant decreases — revealing challenges faced across Apple’s Taiwan-based assembly ecosystem.

The sales downturn reflects both softening consumer demand for personal electronics like smartphones and market saturation in developed countries. The next catalyst for growth in the smartphone market is unclear, as new features like foldable displays have yet to go mainstream.

Going forward, Apple and its suppliers must target growth avenues outside smartphones and PCs, including new product categories like AR/VR headsets. Software and services have become increasingly vital to Apple’s results as hardware sales moderate — but, in the near term, Taiwan suppliers face more uncertainty and potential downside amid a sluggish global economy and weak electronics demand.

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Although Apple and Meta have yet to release their first consumer virtual reality headsets, the tech giants are already working on the subsequent iterations.

According to an Oct. 8 Bloomberg report, Apple’s first headset, the Vision Pro, will likely launch in early 2023. The Vision Pro features high-resolution cameras that enable mixed reality, a powerful Apple-designed M2 chip, and crisp micro-OLED displays.

However, the current Vision Pro prototype is large and heavy, and testers have reported neck strain from wearing the device for prolonged periods.

For the next version, Apple engineers want to reduce the headset’s weight and size to improve comfort. One option under consideration is an over-the-head strap to better distribute the weight. However, designing lighter hardware components may be the best long-term solution. Apple also aims to simplify prescription lens integration for glasses wearers.

Meta prepping Quest 3 release

Meanwhile, Meta is preparing to release its Quest 3 headset next week at a starting price of $500. The Quest 3 offers upgrades like faster performance and a refined design compared to the prior model — but at $200 more than the Quest 2, Meta wants to lower costs on future versions to expand mainstream appeal.

One strategy is to launch a new entry-level headset without controllers, allowing hand gestures to control the interface. This would lower the production cost, with some rumors suggesting a price under $200 — albeit at the expense of functionality. Meta also plans a high-end replacement for the failed $1,500 Quest Pro.

Though confidence is high at Apple, Meta sees the Vision Pro as a potential game-changer in making virtual reality mainstream. One Meta employee compared the anticipation to how the mobile industry awaited the original iPhone reveal:

“We’re in the ‘afraid of Apple’ stage.”

Both companies continue to have long-term ambitions in augmented reality devices. Apple paused its AR glasses project last year due to immature technology — but it may restart development to fulfill CEO Tim Cook’s vision of sleek and discrete AR spectacles. Meta remains committed to eventual AR spectacles and is already testing display components.

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For the first time, some iPhone 15 models could be available in India — where Apple has been building some of its famous phones since 2017 — on launch day.

The news — first reported by Bloomberg — follows widespread reports that contractor Foxconn would aim to manufacture more iPhone 15 models at the Tamil Nadu, India facility than before as part of Apple’s plan to diversify manufacturing amid supply chain risks stemming from U.S.-China tensions.

The availability of iPhone 15 models in India — where Apple aims to eventually increase smartphone production from seven percent to 25 percent — on launch day will largely depend on Foxconn’s ability to scale production and the availability of components. However, the expected arrival of Indian-made iPhones alongside more common China-made units is widely heralded as a big win for the tech giant.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 — which is rumored to have thinner bezels, a titanium frame and USB-C charging — today at its Cupertino headquarters alongside its iOS 17, watchOS 10 and iPadOS 17 operating systems.

This article has been updated with additional information.

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Apple reportedly plans to increase production in India to around $40 billion — a more than five-fold increase from its current $7 billion — in the next four to five years.

The news — which ReadWrite has yet to verify independently — originates from news agency PTI, which cited government sources that said: “Apple has plans to increase production in India to over $40 billion in the next 4-5 years. It has crossed $7 billion in the last fiscal.”

“They don’t have any plans to participate in IT hardware PLI,” the officer added — implying the iPhone creator has no plans to make iPads or Macbooks in India. “They may come at a later stage but as of now their focus is to scale up existing production levels.”

However, The Cupertino-based firm reportedly plans to manufacture Airpods in India from next year.

Apple outpaces Samsung in smartphone exports from India

Apple is the largest exporter of mobile phones from India — where it, for the first time, made its new made-in-India iPhones available on launch day earlier this month. The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max hit store shelves on Sept. 22, with Indian-made units available both domestically and abroad.

Apple has reportedly outpaced, for the first time, Korean rival Samsung in smartphone export volumes from India — shipping 49 percent of India’s total 12 million shipments in the June quarter versus Samsung’s 45 percent.

Industry sources are widely reported as claiming that Apple’s iPhone 15 series registered 100 percent growth compared to the iPhone 14 series on launch day.

Featured Image Credit: Laurenz Heymann; Pexels; Thank you!

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Today, September 20, 2023, Amazon introduced an impressive lineup of over a dozen new products at their autumn hardware event. This diverse array of devices is designed to elevate the smart home experience, ranging from smart speakers, entertainment systems, and fashionable wearables, to advanced routers and security solutions. To celebrate this exciting launch, Amazon is hosting an early holiday sale, providing customers with exclusive deals, bundled offers, and promotional add-ons that further enhance the value and functionality of these cutting-edge devices.

Echo Show 8: The Intelligent Home Hub and Speaker

The Echo Show 8 is one of the standout products from Amazon’s arsenal of new devices. Priced at $149.99, it serves as a smart home hub and speaker boasting spatial audio and a responsive interface that reacts to proximity. Its sleek design and user-friendly functionality make it an ideal centerpiece for any connected home, providing seamless control over other smart devices and a rich, immersive audio experience.

Amazon Glow: Augmented Reality Storytelling for Kids

The Amazon Glow is an innovative device that captivates children and stimulates their imagination. Priced at $249.99, it utilizes augmented reality technology to deliver highly interactive and immersive storytelling and play experiences. This device redefines engagement for young minds, offering new possibilities for exploration and learning while catering to their innate sense of wonder. This device was announced at the Amazon event in 2021, but it is worth mentioning here.

Ring Always Home Cam: Advanced Security and Surveillance

The latest addition to Amazon’s security lineup is the Ring Always Home Cam, retailing at $199.99. This high-tech camera offers unparalleled security and convenience, with a unique flying camera feature that allows users to monitor multiple areas of their home from a single device. Equipped with intelligent motion detection and a sleek design, homeowners can keep a watchful eye on their property without compromising style or functionality. This device was also announced at the Amazon event in 2021, but it is worth mentioning here.

Echo Pop Kids: A Vibrant and Educational Smart Speaker

The Echo Pop Kids smart speaker is specifically designed for children, featuring a whimsical tiger-striped design and a rich library of kid-friendly content. Priced at $49.99 for pre-order, this educational device comes with parental controls and a complimentary six-month Amazon Kids+ subscription. It provides entertainment and peace of mind to parents seeking a safe yet engaging experience for their little ones.

Fire HD 10 Kids Tablets: Durable Entertainment and Learning Tools

The newest range of Fire HD 10 Kids and Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablets retail at $189.99 with the Disney bundle option for $199.99 and is loaded with child-friendly content, robust parental controls, and academic resources. The Fire TV Stick Max is $59.99. These lightweight devices offer enhanced performance and durability, ensuring they remain functional and engaging even in the most demanding playtime scenarios. With the accompanying Amazon Kids+ membership, these tablets are transformed into comprehensive learning tools that can grow alongside children aged 3-12 years old.

Echo Frames: Where Fashion Meets Innovation

The third generation of Echo Frames is now available in seven distinct styles, including two limited edition designs created in collaboration with premium Italian eyewear brand Carrera. These fashionable frames seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology with the latest design trends, ensuring users stay connected without sacrificing personal style. Starting at $269.99, they are resistant to scratches and water, featuring a 14-hour battery life and multiple pairing capabilities that ensure user comfort and convenience.

Fire TV Soundbar and Sticks: Enhanced Streaming and Gaming

Amazon’s new entertainment devices include the Bluetooth-enabled Fire TV Soundbar at $119.99 and the updated Fire TV Stick 4K at $49.99, both offering superior performance and a six-month free trial of MGM+. The inaugural Fire TV Stick 4K Max ($54.99) supports WiFi 6E, leading the charge for enhanced connectivity, reduced buffering, and higher download speeds. These devices also cater to casual gamers, offering smoother gameplay experiences and quicker load times.

Early Holiday Savings on Amazon’s Latest Devices

In celebration of these innovative product releases, Amazon is hosting an early holiday sale from October 10 to 11, providing enticing discounts on their latest gadgets. This exceptional promotion presents the perfect opportunity for customers to upgrade their smart home setup or begin their holiday shopping early, enjoying exclusive bundles, pre-order bonuses, and add-on services that enhance Amazon’s newest devices’ overall value and user experience.

FAQs: Amazon’s Autumn Hardware Event

1. When did the Amazon Autumn Hardware Event take place?

The Amazon Autumn Hardware Event took place on September 20, 2023.

2. What products were introduced during the event?

Amazon introduced a wide array of devices, including Echo Show 8, Amazon Glow, Ring Always Home Cam, Echo Pop Kids, Fire HD 10 Kids Tablets, Echo Frames, and Fire TV Soundbar and Sticks.

3. What is the Echo Show 8?

The Echo Show 8 is a smart home hub and speaker with spatial audio and a responsive interface, priced at $129.99.

4. What is Amazon Glow?

Amazon Glow is a device that uses augmented reality technology for interactive storytelling and play experiences for children. It is priced at $249.99 and announced at the 2021 event.

5. What is Ring Always Home Cam?

Ring Always Home Cam is a security camera with a unique flying camera feature for monitoring multiple areas of a home. It retails at $ 199.99 and was announced at the 2021 event.

6. What is Echo Pop Kids?

Echo Pop Kids is a kid-friendly smart speaker featuring educational content, parental controls, and an Amazon Kids+ subscription. It is available for pre-order at $59.99.

7. What are the Fire HD 10 Kids Tablets?

Fire HD 10 Kids and Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablets are durable devices designed for children aged 3-12 years old, featuring child-friendly content, robust parental controls, and academic resources. They retail at $199.99 each.

8. What is the latest generation of Echo Frames?

The third generation of Echo Frames comes in seven distinct styles, including two limited edition designs in collaboration with Carrera. They start at $269.99.

9. What are the new Fire TV Soundbar and Sticks?

Amazon’s new entertainment devices include the Fire TV Soundbar at $119.99, the Fire TV Stick 4K at $49.99, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max at $54.99. They offer enhanced streaming, gaming, and connectivity features.

10. When is the early holiday sale for Amazon’s new devices?

Amazon is hosting an early holiday sale from October 10 to 11, 2023, offering discounts, exclusive bundles, and add-on services for their latest gadgets.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Luis Quintero; Pexels; Thank you!

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Welcome to our in-depth look at the CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera, an innovative device revolutionizing digital documentation.

This article will explore this technological marvel’s superior features and seamless operation in detail. Discover what sets the CZUR Fancy S Pro apart in document imaging, from its high-resolution imagery to its advanced processing capabilities.

What is the CZUR Fancy S Pro

The CZUR Fancy S Pro is a high-tech document camera designed for documents or real objects. The Fancy S Pro also doubles as a high-resolution webcam, perfect for classrooms, webinars, and meetings.

It offers features including advanced software, height adjustment, and page flattening technology. The device is ideal for environments such as classrooms, offices, or remote working/learning setups.

Main Takeaways

1. CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera is a high-quality device designed for picturing documents and other items with exceptional detail and clarity. It comes with an 12MP camera with LED fill lights that ensures high-quality capturing of documents up to A3 size.
2. The document camera offers advanced features such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology that allows digitizing texts for editing right away, it also enables searchable PDF creation and provides support for over 180 languages.
3. Lastly, this document camera is user-friendly with its easy setup and safe operation. It is compatible with both Windows and MacOS and integrates smoothly with prevailing software like Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams for remote teaching, remote work, and online study.

You may want to use CZUR Fancy S Pro for…

1. Education: The CZUR Fancy S Pro document camera can be used in a classroom setting for sharing textbooks, drawing illustrations, or showing experiments. It can be connected to a computer to share high-quality images or live feed of documents or objects with the entire class.

2. Business Meetings: In a business setting, the camera can be used to present documents or materials in a meeting. This can help in making presentations more interactive and engaging.

3. Work from Home: Working from home has become more common. Users can use the camera to share hardcopy documents during online meetings or virtual conferences.

4. Live Demonstrations: For tutors, artists, or crafters, the document camera can be used to record or live stream step-by-step demonstrations.

5. Reading Aid: For people with vision issues, the camera can be used as a reading aid. It can magnify textbooks, newspapers, magazines, etc.

6. Telemedicine: In healthcare, the CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera can be used to share medical documents or images over a teleconference call with other healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment purposes.

7. Courtrooms: In legal situations, attorneys can present evidence to the judge, jury, and courtroom by displaying object details, paper documents, etc.

8. Showing Product Details: Retailers can use the document camera to show details of their products during live sales events or videos. This helps the buyer to get a closer and clearer look at the product.

Main Features

• High Resolution: CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera delivers 12MP resolution and can image any object or file up to A3 size. It captures every detail clearly and accurately.
• Advanced OCR( Optical Character Recognition): It converts documents into editable or searchable files, compatible with formats like Word, PDF, and TIFF.
• Performance Lighting: The device has three adjustable lighting levels to remove shadows and glare.
• Compatibility: The Fancy S Pro is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS, making document management easy and efficient.
• Video Recording: It has the feature to record high-resolution videos while tutoring or creating teaching materials.
• Software: Comes along with CZUR’s unique software, making document management easily manageable.
• Portable and Compact Design: The Fancy S Pro has a lightweight and small footprint that makes it easy to carry and use anywhere.

Pros and Cons

The CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera is a modern and efficient device that serves to digitize paper documents, books and more with high accuracy and speed. Below are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

1. High-Resolution Camera: The 4k camera offers clear, high-quality imaging and video. This ensures that even the smallest details in documents or books are accurately captured.
2. Multipurpose: This device allows for imaging of various items – from documents to any solid objects, like ornaments, tokens, or even jewelry. This makes it suitable for diverse uses.
3. Easy to Use: The operation of this document camera is simple and intuitive, making it user-friendly for different individuals.
4. Compact and Portable: It’s lightweight and does not occupy much space. You can easily carry it around or move from place to place.

Cons:

1. Pricing: The CZUR Fancy S Pro is slightly more expensive compared to other document cameras available in the market.
2. Learning Curve: While it is generally user-friendly, those unfamiliar with digital document cameras may initially find the device a bit complex.
3. Compatibility: There might be compatibility issues with certain computer systems.
4. Occasional software bugs: Some users have reported occasional software glitches and bugs.

Please note that individual experiences with the CZUR Fancy S Pro Document Camera may vary, and it’s always important to research a product thoroughly before making a purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the CZUR Fancy S Pro?

A: The CZUR Fancy S Pro is a next-level document camera and webcam designed to make digitizing documents and other flat materials easy and efficient.

Q: What are some key features of CZUR Fancy S Pro?

A: The CZUR Fancy S Pro features a 12MP Sony camera sensor.

Q: How does the OCR feature work in the CZUR Fancy S Pro?

A: The Smart OCR feature can recognize texts in 180+ languages and convert them into editable Word, PDF, and other formats, offering high recognition accuracy.

Q: Can the CZUR Fancy S Pro connect to other devices?

A: Yes, it can. The CZUR Fancy S Pro supports computers easily.

Q: Where can I buy the CZUR Fancy S Pro?

A: The CZUR Fancy S Pro is available on various online platforms including Amazon, eBay, and the official CZUR website, as well as selected physical stores.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CZUR Fancy S Pro is an innovative device designed to bring top tier productivity to the table of every user. With its smart technology and user-friendly interface, it truly reinvents the way we perceive and use traditional imaging solutions.

It stands as a testament that technological advancements focused on practical efficiency can seamlessly integrate into everyday use, providing convenience, speed and high-quality functionality.

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