 |
|
|
|||||
The ASUS Zenbook Duo was easily one of my favorite laptops of 2024 as it was the first dual-screen notebook actually worth buying. But now at CES 2026, ASUS has given the second-gen model a complete revamp with practically all the upgrades and tweaks Ive been hoping for. Like the rest of the Zenbook line, the 2026 Duo is getting ASUS Ceraluminum treatment on its lid, bottom and kickstand, which not only looks great but it adds an extra bit of durability and scratch resistance. Theres also an improved magnetic latch system and Bluetooth connection for its detachable keyboard to help keep it charged up and paired more reliably. However, the biggest upgrade is ASUS all-new "hideaway" hinge. Not only does it allow the system to unfold flat against a table, it also massively shrinks the gap between the laptops two 3K 144Hz Lumina Pro OLED displays to just 8.28 mm. Thats a reduction of 70 percent compared to the previous model and it makes the idea of using a dual screen laptop just that much more seamless and appealing than before. Another important upgrade is that despite having a significantly larger 99Whr battery (up from 75Whr on its predecessor), the overall footprint of the second-gen Zenbook Duo is actually five percent smaller than before. That makes it noticeably more compact without sacrificing on weight or thinness, which is staying pretty much the same at 3.6 pounds and 0.77 to 0.9 inches thick (depending on where you measure). Connectivity remains excellent as well, with ASUS including Wi-Fi 7, two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 connector and even a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack. And for all the artists out there, the Zenbook Duo also supports stylus input via the ASUS Pen 3.0, so you can easily detach the wireless keyboard and use either screen as a built-in drawing tablet. That said, its currently unclear if the stylus comes included or not. Meanwhile on the inside, the Zenbook Duo features either an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 or Ultra 9 386H chip with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. On top of that, ASUS increased the Duos TDP to 45 watts, which is another notable bump up over the original. So not only does it have a larger battery, its performance is getting a big boost as well, especially when combined with the much improved onboard graphics from Intels latest integrated Arc GPU. Here's how the new 2026 ASUS Zenbook duo (right) stacks up against the outgoing model (left). Sam Rutherford for EngadgetI know a lot of people out there still arent convinced that dual screen laptops need to be a thing, and thats totally OK. But as the kind of person who feels like they are missing a limb when Im traveling and away from my two monitors at home, the second-gen Zenbook Duo feels like a major refinement of an already great idea. Its got a bigger battery, faster performance and a hugely streamlined design without gaining any bulkiness or weight. Out of all of the laptops Ive seen at CES 2026, this is the one I most wish I could grab and start using right away. The one potential concern is that ASUS has yet to release pricing for the new Zenbook Duo or say when it will go on sale. So heres hoping it wont break the bank when it arrives sometime later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-asus-zenbook-duo-got-a-fantastic-redesign-for-ces-2026-173000392.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Eric Migicovsky has been thinking a lot about friction. Specifically, hes been thinking about how too much friction in the way of using a device can put people off wearing it altogether. The founder of Pebble is here at CES 2026 with a few new devices from the company he recently started to bring back the beloved smartwatch brand, including the Pebble Round 2 and the Index 01. That second one is a simple ring with a button on it that you push down to talk to Pebbles AI whenever you want it to help you remember something. In the sea of AI gadgets that clutter the showfloors of CES (and the current tech industry in general), the Index 01 is refreshingly simple. The prototypes I saw here in Las Vegas werent connected to phones, so they werent actually working. They also seemed a little unfinished, like there was still some polishing to do. But I was able to put a few on and push their buttons. I also checked out the one Migicovsky wears more on that in a bit.I have to caveat that the rings that Migicovsky and his team had for us to try on were way too large for me. I did manage to get sized and found out I was a Pebble size 7, while my colleague Dan Cooper was determined to be a size 11. These demo rings sat loosely on my finger and Migicovsky was particular that I wear it on my index finger and not my thumb or middle finger. I suspect that has to do with how you reach for and press the button. Its much easier to push the key if its closer to your thumb. Since the idea of the Index 01 began as an app on the Pebble watch, Migicovsky has been working hard to figure out how best to make it easy to access. Back when it was an app, friction points were having to use your other hand to press the screen, he said. We also experimented with gestures and voice activation, wake words, he added. But as many of us are painfully familiar with, those triggers dont always work well. The whole thing that drives this ring is it being something that you can rely on. It being something that you can incorporate into your habits, Migicovsky said. So putting a button right by your thumb not only makes sense, but might even be, in my opinion, a bit more accessible for people with, say, speech impediments or only one hand. I have to admit I initially found the Index 01s design to be a bit bulky-looking, and the rubbery button protrudes a lot more than I expected from looking at it in its glamor shots. Its like in place of a diamond or a gemstone on the ring, theres a weird little nipple that you twiddle around until you want to push it. I did find the button easy to press, if that allays any of your concerns at all. But, really, the Indexs powers arent visible. Its what happens after you push the button that matters. Using the Pebble Index 01 ringThe actual demo was brief. Migicovsky prefaced things by telling me what he was about to ask, held up his hand to his mouth, pushed the button and asked me Whats your favorite book these days? I explained I had recently been reading Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi and then Migicovsky let go of the button. After a few starts and stops due to internet woes, the companion app on his phone responded, showing a transcription of what we said, followed by an answer That sounds like a fun read! I can create a note about the book you are reading if youd like.I didnt get to ask many more questions, and I think Id need to live with an actual unit in my life to start to rely on it more. But I love the idea of a second brain or an AI assistant thats always ready for my random thoughts at the push of a button. Migicovsky said the Index 01 is water resistant, so you never have to take it off, even in the shower. So for those times when youre sudsing up and have a random stroke of inspiration about soap art, you can still tell the Index 01 to remember your Eureka moment.Depending on how you use it, Migicovsky said the Index 01 can last for years up to three if youre not too heavy of a user. Since he doesnt want for you to have to place the ring on a charger and forget to put it back on again, the device is not rechargeable. When youre about a month away from running out of juice, the app will send you a warning and ask if you want to order a replacement. Youll also be offered the option of sending it in for recycling.That still feels a bit wasteful and potentially expensive, but Migicovskys thinking is that if you still are using the ring enough after two years to be thinking about extending its battery life, the price might be justifiable to you.Why a Pebble AI ring instead of others?Its things like this that make me think Migicovsky (and the Pebble team) have the right approach to making an AI ring. Though the hardware is not the most advanced and there is a quaint simplicity to the software, there is a level of thought and care that feels important to any products success. Migicovsky is quick to acknowledge that Pebble watches wont be for everyone. That if you want a health-tracking device or something with a bright, colorful screen, you should consider something else. Hes even considering placing ads for other smartwatches on the website listing the new Pebble devices.Look Im the first person to call myself out when I fail, Migicovsky wrote in a blog he posted last November. And when he spoke with Engadget, he also recognized that Pebble at one point might have tried to do too much. These days, there are other companies making smart rings that are all about tracking your sleep and fitness, and the Index 01 is not that. And Pebble is absolutely 100 percent not that company. Maybe with a renewed focus on a sustainable business model, Pebble actually has a chance to survive and continue making its AI ring and other devices. Nowadays, Migicovsky just wants to make gadgets that will make you smile. And when I look at a cute little nyan cat wiggling about in its lo-fi, lo-res and low-frame-rate glory on the new Pebble smartwatches, I just feel warm inside. The Index 01 is available for pre-order now at an early bird price of $75 and will cost $100 after it starts shipping in May.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/pebbles-founder-might-be-just-the-right-person-to-make-an-ai-ring-170104222.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Multiple of Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 docks are on Engadget's list of the best docking stations, so when the company announces a new accessory, it's usually worth a look. At CES 2026, Satechi is finally making the jump to Thunderbolt 5 with a new docking station and cable. The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure and Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable leverage the faster speeds of Intel's cable tech, and in the case of the dock, also include extra benefits like space for SSD storage. The CubeDock is made from a block of solid aluminum and is clearly supposed to evoke Apple's desktop Macs, like the new Mac mini. Satechi already made a Mac mini hub that can do some of the same things as CubeDock, but that accessory was focused on Thunderbolt 4. With the Thunderbolt 5 on the CubeDock, the new docking station can offer support for multiple 8K monitors, 180W smart power delivery and up to 120 Gb/s transfer speeds. The back of a Satechi CubeDock displaying multiple types of ports. Satechi The dock also features a microSD card slot, SD card slots and headphone jack on the front, with multiple other input options on the back, including Thunderbolt 5 ports and an ethernet port. If you're interested in extra storage, you can also pop off the bottom of the CubeDock and add up to 8TB of SSD storage. To pair with the CubeDock, Satechi is also releasing its own Thunderbolt 5 cable. The Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable supports up to 120 Gb/s uni-directional or 80 Gb/s bi-directional data transfers, 240W power delivery and either dual 8K/60Hz displays or a trio of 4K/144Hz displays. The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable coiled on a white background. Satechi Satechi says you can pre-order the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure on the company's website for $399.99, and it will ship in Q1 2026. The Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable is available to order now for $39.99 from Satechi, Amazon and other retailers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/satechi-is-embracing-thunderbolt-5-at-ces-with-a-new-dock-and-cable-170000137.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
As soon as I held the Pebble Round 2 in my hand, I suddenly realized what Id been missing for the better part of a decade. Ive always felt smartwatches should supplement, rather than supplant, your phone, but thats an attitude that feels almost quaint these days. After all, Apple and Samsung believe everyone wants a watch that can do almost everything your phone can do. But that wasnt the prevailing opinion at the dawn of the smartwatch era, either philosophically or from limitations in the technology. Back then, companies like Pebble, Vector, Basis and others all built devices that added a second screen to the device in your pocket, and were all the better for it. Thankfully, Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky agrees, and if his project to revive the company is successful, perhaps well once again see these alternative approaches flourish. The first step on this very long road is the Pebble Round 2, which aims to be the standard bearer for a new generation of comparatively less smart, but fundamentally more useful, smartwatches. Round 2 was announced on January 2, and is the second product in Core Devices (Migicovskys new company) lineup of revived Pebbles. The first was the revamped Time 2, aping the form of its more successful predecessor, while the Round 2 is an attempt to correct the mistakes of 2015s Pebble Time Round. That watch, when it debuted, was met with disappointment from critics who loved its aesthetics but little else. Back then, building a Pebble with a round face required plenty of compromise, including a higher price, shorter battery life, fewer features and a massive bezel. A decade on, and the technology has come along sufficiently to render such compromises moot, making for a much better device overall. The new watch has a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen which stretches to the end of the case. Its display has been bonded to the glass crystal, dramatically improving the viewing angles and reducing glare. You should expect to get two weeks of life on a single charge, but it remains just 8.1mm thick, and you can really feel that lack of heft when its in your hand. In fact, compared to so many of its smartwatch peers, you could almost unironically describe it as dainty, making its case size feel almost comically large. On the materials side, the case feels strong enough that I think it would withstand the rigors of daily life, and Im quite smitten with both the polished rose gold and brushed silver finishes. On one hand, its hardly the major reason to buy a watch, but Im deeply smitten by how much text the Round 2s display can render. Even the fanciest of smartwatches arent that willing to display big reams of text for your ease of reading. I was tickled to read a lengthy Slack message which reminded me, again, of what Ive been missing for all of these years. Perhaps thats a sign of the broader benefits a device like this offers, which is the ability to tweak its UI to what you need, rather than being tied by the UI designers in Cupertino and Mountain View. There are plenty of omissions in the spec list, including no optical heart rate sensor, no GPS and no speaker. Im not weeping over any of them: Ive not used my smartwatchs GPS in years and yes, and Pebble is swerving away from the health and fitness market. I dont want to take calls from my wrist, either, and while the omitted heart rate sensor is harder to take given their ubiquity, its been done to ensure the watch is thinner than many of its competitors. Migicovsky is candid about Pebbles failure, saying the company spent too much to become a global hardware brand. He invested heavily in inventory in anticipation of blockbuster sales that never came, similar to Pelotons post-COVID slump. This time around, the focus is on ensuring the company remains sustainable over the long term and, hopefully, building a succession of products. Rather than big investments, hell make small batches of devices to cater to pre-orders and wont water down his philosophy in the hope of attracting a broad user base. He even said the Pebble website may include recommendations for alternative smartwatches from other companies to ensure hes only catering to the faithful. Three Pebble Indexes side by side on a table. Daniel Cooper for Engadget Its his hope that this approach will give him the time and space to make more products, such as the already-announced Pebble Index 01. Its a $75 ring equipped with a microphone, Bluetooth and a single push button, where users can record brief reminders to themselves. Rather than add weight and complexity with a rechargeable battery, each Index has a sealed-in cell that the company promises will last for up to two years. A month before the battery is due to expire, youll be asked if you want to buy a replacement, sending in the original for recycling. Its an unusual arrangement but one that Migicovsky believes is more compelling than some others. After all, users arent saddled with any monthly subscription fees, and they only need to buy a new one if theyve actually gotten the benefit out of their existing model. As with the revived Pebbles, the prevailing attitude is that nobodys twisting your arm here. Image of the rear sides of the Pebble Round 2 Daniel Cooper for Engadget More broadly, Migicovsky has the time and money now to explore these product ideas free from the usual pressures. He has no investors or backers demanding instant returns and fast growth, giving him license to pursue his ideas as far as he wants to take them. And he is determined to return a small degree of whimsy to consumer electronics, building gadgets that are in some way fun. Lets hope he succeeds, because the industry cant survive another decade of homogeneity. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/pebble-seeks-to-remedy-the-wearable-industrys-original-sin-170000834.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
The following article discusses themes of an adult nature.Lovense has turned up to CES with a companion doll, a life-size sex doll thats designed to be more than just a life size sex doll. The company has equipped it with its proprietary AI engine and promises human-like cognition, emotional awareness and expressive behavior. The doll, which in the marketing video is called Emily, is Lovenses answer to the global loneliness crisis. It says, over time, a users relationship with the system will grow deeper as it learns to adapt to their needs. And that the doll is the natural evolution of the virtual companions that have, until now, existed only on phones and screens.From a hardware standpoint, the doll uses a standard user posable skeleton for everywhere but inside the skull. Up top, there are various servos and mechanisms to give the doll the ability to slightly move their mouth while speaking, as well as some basic facial expressions. (You havent lived until youve seen Emily attempt a smize or a wink in a matter few would describe as flirtatious.) The company hasnt spoken about the less delicate parts of her anatomy, but did say her built in Bluetooth can integrate effortlessly with the full Lovense ecosystem and can run for eight hours on a single charge.The major focus, however, is on the AI part of the equation, explaining it will remember details of previous conversations to enable users to build a deeper bond with its user. In addition, you can even engage with the AI when youre out and about, messaging it via the Lovense app. Oh, and you can even get AI-generated selfies that mirror her real-world appearance should you want. The company, in its materials, say that the doll will hopefully lead people out of their comfort zone and better equip them to engage with real people. Of course, its worth noting that Lovenses track record with peoples most intimate data isnt the best. In 2017, a Reddit user discovered the Lovense app was recording a private moment between them and their partner. In July 2025, another security flaw enabled hackers to hijack accounts without a password. The company addressed both issues at the time, but its one to consider if youre thinking about forming a long-term relationship with one of its bots.Theres no word on pricing or availability just yet the company will be launching a pre-sale in the near future but you can probably expect it to be fairly expensive.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lovense-launches-an-ai-companion-doll-at-ces-170000490.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Sites : [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] next »