The Game Developer Conference 2018 has Intel show off the Hades Canyon NUC-- the most powerful version of the mini-PC format yet, one Chipzilla says is capable of powering virtual reality headsets.
First launched back in January 2018, the Hades Canyon NUC runs on an 8th generation Intel Core i7 CPU with Raden RX Vega M graphics. Intel claims it allows the creation of the smallest VR-capable systems ever, since the motherboard fits in a chassis with a volume of just 1.2 litre. The system should also be complete with a good amount of connectivity, including dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, dual ethernet ports and an HDMI port for VR headsets.
The Nomadic Audio speaker consists of two components, the aforementioned Nomadic stereo speaker and the Speakase suitcase. The speaker carries two 6- by 4-inch woofers in a boxless design and two soft dome 22mm tweeters allowing it to cover the entire frequency range, together with a 60W Class D amplifier and 2200mAh battery. Connectivity comes through either Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX and stereo pairing (TWS) ability or wired 3.5mm jack.
The extra-tiny (1 x 1mm!) computer is part of the "5 in 5," a collection of inventions and technologies IBM Research says "could change our lives in the next 5 years." It consists of a few hundred thousand transistors, an unspecified amount of RAM, a solar cell and an LED-based communications module. IBM adds it should be very cheap to produce, at around 10c apiece.
The Versa promises a "perfect mix of fit and function," with a square (or "squircle", as Fitbit insists on calling it) aluminium body packing a 1.34-inch LCD touchscreen with 1000 nits brightness, 4GB storage and 145mAh battery. It runs on the Fitbit OS seen in the Ionic, and includes some fitness functionality with a heart rate monitor and preloaded Fitbit Coach app. The body is water-resistant up to 50m, allowing for a swim mode together with 15 other exercise functions.
