STACK #196 Feb 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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SONY Some people swear that the only TV for them is a Sony, so luckily the Japanese electronics titan had new television tech to show off. Each of their new range houses a Cognitive Processor XR processor, which collects info on the people watching, how they're viewing and more, then optimises the picture accordingly. The Master Series Z9J is this year's flagship model, packing an 8K LED screen, Acoustic Multi-Audio speakers, Google TV and more, and will arrive in 75- and 85-inch guises. Sony's OLED boffins have also been busy improving their Acoustic Surface Audio tech, which uses the screen itself to deliver powerful sound, rather than tiny, tinny speakers. The Bravia Master Series A90J now boasts a top-end 83-inch model, too. CES ACES! continued

Hisense ULED

HISENSE The exciting TV tech continues, with new models from China's Hisense. Their take on Mini-LED, ULED, is set to launch with 4K and 8K models, available in sizes up to 75 inches. Features abound, including IMAX enhancement, low latency game modes, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, as well as full 8K Ultra HD and 4K HDR Ultra HD certification. Meanwhile, if Hisense's 100-inch Laser TV just isn't big enough for you, an upcoming 120- inch model may do the trick. Plus, Hisense are promising even bigger to come...

Sony Master Series Z9J

Also on show were Sony's SRS- RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 speakers. These are designed to support Sony's 360 Reality Audio format, which aims to have the listener feel like they're in the midst of their own bubble of sound – much like a top Dolby Atmos setup, but with way less speakers.

8K OK! With more and more 8K TVs hitting the market, you may be wondering what it's all about. Basically, with 7,680 x 4,320 pixels – the number of dots that make up the picture – it's twice the resolution of 4K, which in itself looks astonishing. The result? Much sharper, more life-like images.

Sony SRS-RA5000

MACHINES THAT GO 'PING!' We're more health conscious than ever, and this trend was reflected in new personal health tech. thermometers and air purifiers bumped shoulders – and other body parts – with such devices as smart insoles to count steps, disposable bio buttons to allow healthcare professionals to monitor vitals remotely, and even a Bluetooth water bottle that makes sure the user keeps hydrated. The out-and-out practical such as

Lenovo Thinkpad X1

COMPUTING The humble laptop is getting more and more feature-packed. HP showed off their

lightweight, 13.3-inch Dragonfly Max. Built with an eye for our new world of regular Zoom meetings, it packs a top notch 5-megapixel webcam, as well as four microphones. Plus, if you take it out and about, there's built-in Tile tracker support in case you misplace it. In the Asus virtual corner, the latest twin-OLED screen Zenbook Pro Duo that they showed off is seriously cool. Packing Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, it has a 4K, 15.6-inch touchscreen coupled with a second, 14-inch touchscreen that can be flipped up as desired. Lenovo also presented a raft of updated machines, with the ThinkPad X1 TitaniumYoga really catching our eye. This convertible tablet/PC is a mere 11.4mm thick and weighs just a smidge over 1kg. Or, if you prefer desktop Yoga, the new AIO 7 is wild. It's an all-in-one unit with built-in speakers and a 27" display that can be rotated 90 degrees.

HP Dragonfly Max

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo

50 FEBRUARY 2021

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