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Seamus Byrne

Founder and Head of Content at Byteside.

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Great designs stand out yet again. In a mesh wireless router setup, you need a few devices dotted around the house. But usually that means very "router" looking devices sitting here and there. But these? The D-Link Aquila Pro M30 just look like lovely little sculptures that also happen to spread Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 around the house. They come in 2-pack and 3-pack setups (but they're selling out with hot demand).

CES

Absolutely stunning. The LG Cinebeam Qube is a 4K laser projector. But just look at it! Absolutely gorgeous design. More gadgets, more home devices, take note! LG has been leaving its competitors for dead with its approach to industrial design lately. I adore this one.

Computers

Asus offers the smartest new laptop screens around at CES

Between the ZenScreen Fold portable display and the ZenBook DUO dual-screen laptop, Asus is exploring new possibilities in screen design.

Asus offers the smartest new laptop screens around at CES
Apple

I've been a fan of Twelve South accessories since I first saw their BookBook for the original iPad. Well their first ever product was the BookArc, a lovely way to store a MacBook upright when plugged into a desktop setup.

They've now launched the BookArc Flex, a gorgeous update that makes it easier to use as well. The first version needed you to swap inserts to suit different MacBooks (Air vs Pro), but the new version 'flexes' to suit the size needed. Looks great and it'll hit stores in the next few months.

Technology

Let's start taking even more drones for granted, shall we? DJI just announced the new DJI FlyCart 30, making industrial delivery drone transport feel very ordinary. Targeting scenarios where cargo can be tricky – mountains, offshore, emergency rescue – these long range, high reliability, and large payload capacity drones seem very next generation. Give it a week and we'll think they're old news. Browse the official site to get wowed by how they operate.

Image of a delivery drone over open water near a cargo ship depot.
Technology

For me, transparent flatscreens have been the final 'we live in the future' dream I've been waiting for. It's probably about turning our windows into displays so we can have useful information available on every glass surface. So does a TV count? Let's say yes, because the LG Signature OLED T revealed at CES looks lovely.

77-inches, well designed frame, and wireless transmission of AV so it can just sit mid room and look amazing (just get clever with your powerpoints). Next stop: stick on panels for our windows. Let's do it in 2025, LG!

Ideas

Is handwriting better than typewriting for learning? A study by Professor Audrey van der Meer at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and published in Frontiers in Psychology, has tackled this debate and found evidence that you're better off with a pen in your hand.

"We show that when writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns are far more elaborate than when typewriting on a keyboard," says Prof van der Meer. "Such widespread brain connectivity is known to be crucial for memory formation and for encoding new information and, therefore, is beneficial for learning."
Health

At CES, Withings launched the BeamO. We abuse the old "Star Trek Tricorder" analogy a lot, but this 4-in-1 health check up tool really is a 'multiscope' that offers a wide ranging insight into health data. Includes ECG, oximeter, stethoscope, and thermometer. It all syncs to your Withings app and they say it can also be used to share data to your doctor for telehealth.

It'll be $449.99. Pretty exxy, but pretty fancy as a smart home health gadget.

Security

Norton Genie is a new tool for checking if something you've been sent is a scam. Screenshot a text message, email, or other suspicious info and it will examine the details and let you know if it's a scam or not.

Well now Norton has brought Dan Levy into the team to help promote the free app to the masses. We need more friendly tools like this, so it's a clever promo push.

Art & Culture

Meet Nightshade. A tool for collective, offensive artist action against image scraping for AI. Nightshade adds a human-eye invisible interference pattern to images that will accumulate to increase the cost of training on unlicensed data".

Games

Exploring a Gold Road in 2024. The Elder Scrolls Online does story so well, making the annual chapter reveal always a moment for excitement. This new chapter picks up on the same story threads from last year as we learn more about a new Daedric Prince and their plot to – you guessed it – wreck our world.

Lots of juicy details here.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road Reveal
Venture into West Weald, utilize the new Scribing system, and investigate the emergence of an all-new Daedric Prince in the upcoming Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road.
Games

The third season of Diablo IV kicks off January 24. Season of the Construct adds a lot of new features, like Companions, Vaults, and a new town centre. A lot of meat to flesh out the game. Nice to see.

New Realities

We recently mentioned the arrival of body trackers for HTC VIVE XR Elite. Now there's the VIVE Full Face Tracker as well. It tracks eye movement as well as face and mouth expressions. Also adds auto calibration to the headset for better comfort, while opening the doors to detailed capturing facial expressions in virtual environments and experiences.

Games

Final Fantasy XIV has revealed the next expansion, Dawntrail, will launch 'Summer 2024' (so mid year here in Australia). Two new jobs, Viper and Pictomancer, will arrive with it – Picto in particular looks rather colourful!

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail
The official site for FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail.
Google

Google Gemini upgrades AI powers in Bard, Pixel, and more

Can the arrival of Google Gemini give OpenAI the serious competition we've been waiting for?

Google Gemini upgrades AI powers in Bard, Pixel, and more
Apple

Make spatial videos for your family's science fiction future

Apple's iOS 17.2 update enables Spatial Video capture on iPhone 15 Pro models. Your descendants will thank you for using it.

Beach scene with two guitar players while a woman videos on her iPhone.
Games

Donate to cancer research and win prizes: do it now!

Give $50 to charity and win a prize worth the same or more? Yes! Help fight cancer through the gift of giving and get a gift of giving in return.

Screenshot from the Great GameOnCancer Giveaway homepage
Technology

Logitech G goes high-end with Astro A50X wireless gaming headset

Logitech G ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED gaming headset goes seriously premium, with a base station to switch between Xbox, Playstation and PC.

One black and one white version of the Logitech G Astro A50X headset
Games

Holiday themed game festivities are always a bit of fun. And World of Warships isn't being left out of the yuletide joy. There's 20 stages of rewards available through their 'Holidays in Santa City' update. In Blitz you'll also find an Advent Calendar of goodies, and in Legends you'll find a free Holiday Box gift bundle.

So remember to relax for a few moments and enjoy the vibes. Then get back to blowing your enemies out of the water.

Nintendo

Clever new launch from CRKD (pronounced 'Cracked') that give you a chunkier, more comfortable in the hand controller setup for your Nintendo Switch (both OG and OLED). The Nitro Deck gives adds swappable thumbsticks, and a generally improved control setup with drift-free sticks and remappable back buttons, plus a carry case.

Get it in white, black, mint and purple. $99 for the first two. $149 for the others. It's at JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, Big W, and The Gamesmen.