Month: March 2023
Hisense’s super-bright 85-inch QLED TV is ready to take on OLED TVs
Hisense has announced a new NBA basketball partnership, and is now the maker of The Official Television of the NBA.
TV maker Hisense held an event in NYC this week to announce its new partnership with the National Basketball Association. Along with the NBA sponsorship news, the event gave the company a chance to announce that they are now the number two TV brand in North America based on unit share according to data supplied by the Circana retail tracking service.
Hisense has made great strides in the North American TV market over the past few years, heightening its visibility with a lineup of affordable QLED sets. Last year’s U8H series, the first model with mini-LED backlighting to arrive from the company, impressed us with its high brightness and rich contrast, earning a spot on our list of the best 4K TVs and best 120 Hz TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Mini-LED in general has given QLED tech a shot in the arm, with top new Mini-LED backlit TVs like the Samsung QN95C starting to rival the best OLED TVs when it comes to performance aspects like shadow detail and black uniformity. As it previously announced at CES, Hisense will offer four series of mini-LED TVs in 2023, starting with the budget U6K line and topping out with the flagship limited edition UX series.
As part of its NBA partnership, Hisense will sponsor X-Factor Moments, a weekly series of game highlights from the 2023 postseason on the NBA’s social media channels. The NBA League Pass live game subscription service will also be available in the NBA TV app on Hisense smart TVs.
ULED X: The Official Television of the NBA
While the sponsorship arrangement extends to all Hisense TVs and appliances, the flagship ULED X model has been designated as The Official Television of the NBA.
The limited edition ULED X, which will only be available in an 85-inch screen size, boasts impressive specs. Its backlight consists of over 20,000 mini-LEDs that are controlled by 5,000-plus local dimming zones. Peak brightness is 2,500 nits, according to Hisense, with a claimed two times higher contrast range than OLED TVs. The ULED X also features a built-in 4.1.2 Dolby Atmos and DTS:X speaker system powered by 80 watts.
The other new mini-LED models in the Hisense lineup are the U8K, U7K, and U6K series. These are all available in 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch screen sizes and have a peak brightness spec ranging from 600 nits on U6K series up to 1,500 nits on the U8K series. Both the U8K and U7K also have 144Hz-capable panels, making them a good choice for gaming, while all models feature a built-in ATSC 3.0 digital TV tuner.
Hisense’s L9H laser TV ultra short throw projector comes with 100 and 120-inch screen options. (Image credit: Future)
L9H Laser TV ultra short throw projector
Hisense’s top ultra short throw projector for 2023 is the L9H. This comes paired with either a 100- or 120-inch ambient light rejecting screen and uses an RGB laser light engine that’s capable of 107% BT.2020 color space coverage. Dolby Vision high dynamic range is supported by the L9H and it runs the Google TV smart interface for streaming and voice control.
Other features of the L9H include a built-in 40-watt Dolby Atmos sound system and an ATSC 3.0 tuner for viewing next-gen digital TV broadcasts.
Hisense was also showing its L5H ultra short throw projector at the event, a step-down model that uses a blue laser light source with reduced BT.2020 color space coverage.
Hisense USA CEO David Gold announcing the brand’s NBA sponsorship. (Image credit: Future)
TVs and sports: a winning combination
There’s no surprise in Hisense becoming the official partner of the NBA, because the high visibility that sports sponsorship nets a brand literally brings it into the living room of millions of viewers. That’s why TCL, Hisense’s main competitor in the budget TV space, is the official partner of NFL football, and OLED TV maker LG is an official partner of NCAA basketball.
For Hisense to compete with TCL it needs to expose its brand to as many eyeballs as possible. And while this sponsorship should do precisely that, the upside to Hisense’s competition with TCL for consumers is that the company’s TVs are seeing year-over-year picture quality improvements, while their prices remain affordable.
Hisense hasn’t yet announced specific pricing for its new TVs, all of which should arrive around June. At that time, we’ll see just how good they look when we get the new U8K model in for review.
Twitter releases its algorithm to the world, making it the first platform to bring transparency to social media
Keeping to his promise of transparency, Twitter today released its algorithm to the public for the first time since its inception over a decade ago. The social platform behemoth released the source code that shows which tweets show up on
Keeping to his promise of transparency, Twitter today released its algorithm to the public for the first time since its inception over a decade ago. The social platform behemoth released the source code that shows which tweets show up on […]
GOG’s Spring Sale deals include ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ for $30
GOG is winding down its annual Spring Sale, and this is a good opportunity to score some hit games at steep discounts. For starters, Cyberpunk 2077 is down to just $30. If you haven’t yet tried the Keanu Reeves-starring action RPG, now might be a good time to jump in.
Other major deals tend to revolve around classics. Witcher 3 Complete is available for $15, while the Alien: Isolation Collection is down to $10. Hollow Knight is on sale for $7.50, as isHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The enhanced version of the legendary RPG Planescape: Torment is selling for $5, and you can snag XCOM 2for $3. Not that this is the end of the bargains. Over 4,500 titles are discounted, so the odds are that a game you want available on the cheap.
The sale ends April 3rd at 6PM Eastern. As of this writing, GOG is also giving away the survival-tinged turn-based combat game Deep Sky Derelicts. All games in the store are DRM-free and thus don’t need activation or an internet connection to play. While this won’t get you many cutting-edge releases, it might help build your collection — or at least, add to your backlog.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gogs-spring-sale-deals-include-cyberpunk-2077-for-30-193415686.html?src=rss
GOG is winding down its annual Spring Sale, and this is a good opportunity to score some hit games at steep discounts. For starters, Cyberpunk 2077 is down to just $30. If you haven’t yet tried the Keanu Reeves-starring action RPG, now might be a good time to jump in.
Other major deals tend to revolve around classics. Witcher 3 Complete is available for $15, while the Alien: Isolation Collection is down to $10. Hollow Knight is on sale for $7.50, as isHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The enhanced version of the legendary RPG Planescape: Torment is selling for $5, and you can snag XCOM 2for $3. Not that this is the end of the bargains. Over 4,500 titles are discounted, so the odds are that a game you want available on the cheap.
The sale ends April 3rd at 6PM Eastern. As of this writing, GOG is also giving away the survival-tinged turn-based combat game Deep Sky Derelicts. All games in the store are DRM-free and thus don’t need activation or an internet connection to play. While this won’t get you many cutting-edge releases, it might help build your collection — or at least, add to your backlog.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gogs-spring-sale-deals-include-cyberpunk-2077-for-30-193415686.html?src=rss
The ‘Truckla’ DIY Tesla pickup truck is still trucking
Simone Giertz pulls up in her freshly detailed and upgraded Truckla. | Image: Simone Giertz
Remember that Tesla Model 3 that was chopped up to make an all-electric pickup truck many years ago? Well, it’s still alive! Inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz — the self-described “queen of shitty robots” — uploaded a new video on Thursday with an update on how her custom Truckla’s been doing (via Boing Boing).
In the video, Giertz says it’s been four years since the Truckla was built, and since then, she’s been using it as her daily driver. It was never completely finished, though: the custom truck bed was never weather sealed, some trim was still unfinished, and the removable tailgate stopped working.
“She’s a little bit rattle-ly, because the truck bed isn’t welded in,” Giertz explained in the video. She also has to baby the car when rainstorms come, sometimes running out in the middle of the night to cover it. “Other than that, she’s great,” Giertz said jokingly.
Years later, Giertz decided it was time to take it to a shop and finally give Truckla the finishing touches it deserved. One of Giertz’s witticisms is that she never quite finishes any project (she says she finishes about 80 percent), so letting someone else complete the Truckla allows her to keep that habit rolling.
At the shop, it was determined that the Truckla miraculously doesn’t have any major problems, including water damage under the bed. So the shop added a fresh new tailgate that can pull out, fold down, and support up to 500 pounds. They also fixed the side chrome trim, which looks really good now, and raised the car a bit, too.
Image: Simone Giertz
The new tailgate was engineered with drawer slides that go under the truck bed.
Image: Simone Giertz
It can hold up to 500 pounds, perfect for a couple of friends to sit on and chill.
As a side mission, Giertz is also involved with robotics company Viam. It’s building another robot that, like Tesla’s snake charger prototype from years ago, can automatically plug in a Tesla for charging at home. The very rough prototype (dubbed “Chargla”) moves freely on a rolling platform and is hilariously clumsy, but it seems to work. The project is open source, so you could build it yourself, if you’d like.
All in all, Giertz’s wild Tesla pickup truck project is an amazing long-term success story, and I would totally love it if Tesla made one just like it. Of course, Tesla announced the Cybertruck in 2019 and may finally ship it this summer. But in that time, it’s the Truckla, not the Cybertruck, that’s been roaming the streets for years — with windshield wipers.
Simone Giertz pulls up in her freshly detailed and upgraded Truckla. | Image: Simone Giertz
Remember that Tesla Model 3 that was chopped up to make an all-electric pickup truck many years ago? Well, it’s still alive! Inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz — the self-described “queen of shitty robots” — uploaded a new video on Thursday with an update on how her custom Truckla’s been doing (via Boing Boing).
In the video, Giertz says it’s been four years since the Truckla was built, and since then, she’s been using it as her daily driver. It was never completely finished, though: the custom truck bed was never weather sealed, some trim was still unfinished, and the removable tailgate stopped working.
“She’s a little bit rattle-ly, because the truck bed isn’t welded in,” Giertz explained in the video. She also has to baby the car when rainstorms come, sometimes running out in the middle of the night to cover it. “Other than that, she’s great,” Giertz said jokingly.
Years later, Giertz decided it was time to take it to a shop and finally give Truckla the finishing touches it deserved. One of Giertz’s witticisms is that she never quite finishes any project (she says she finishes about 80 percent), so letting someone else complete the Truckla allows her to keep that habit rolling.
At the shop, it was determined that the Truckla miraculously doesn’t have any major problems, including water damage under the bed. So the shop added a fresh new tailgate that can pull out, fold down, and support up to 500 pounds. They also fixed the side chrome trim, which looks really good now, and raised the car a bit, too.
Image: Simone Giertz
The new tailgate was engineered with drawer slides that go under the truck bed.
Image: Simone Giertz
It can hold up to 500 pounds, perfect for a couple of friends to sit on and chill.
As a side mission, Giertz is also involved with robotics company Viam. It’s building another robot that, like Tesla’s snake charger prototype from years ago, can automatically plug in a Tesla for charging at home. The very rough prototype (dubbed “Chargla”) moves freely on a rolling platform and is hilariously clumsy, but it seems to work. The project is open source, so you could build it yourself, if you’d like.
All in all, Giertz’s wild Tesla pickup truck project is an amazing long-term success story, and I would totally love it if Tesla made one just like it. Of course, Tesla announced the Cybertruck in 2019 and may finally ship it this summer. But in that time, it’s the Truckla, not the Cybertruck, that’s been roaming the streets for years — with windshield wipers.
Jeep just mushed together a 1970s Cherokee with a modern hybrid Wrangler
This isn’t an early April Fool’s gag. Jeep just unveiled a mashup of a 1978 Cherokee with a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, a higher-end hybrid SUV, to create a Frankenstein vehicle that is heavy both on delicious retro looks and modern performance metrics. The 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept vehicle is an old-school two-door affair with a modern Starburst yellow paint job that could actually be mistaken for a lovingly cared-for, decades-old vehicle.
Underneath the hood is where all of the modern technology resides. For the uninitiated, 4xe vehicles are 4×4 plug-in hybrid electric SUVs, so there are “two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and a high-tech 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine,” as Jeep describes it. An eight-speed automatic transmission and custom 37-inch tires wrapped around 17-inch “slotted mag” style wheels round out the design. The interior is also a custom job, with low-back bucket seats trimmed in leather, a four-point safety cage instead of a rear bench seat and a rear cargo space complete with a full-size spare tire.
This is just one of many concept vehicles Jeep unveiled as part of its annual Easter Jeep Safari event held in Moab, UT, where the company likes to show off some wild prototypes. The other highlight is the fully-electric Magneto 3.0 Wrangler prototype, based on the two-door 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It features a custom-built electric motor that operates up to 6,000 rpm connected to a six-speed manual transmission. That’s right, this EV is a stick shift.
JeepJeep has been messing with this Magneto EV concept for a few years, but this year’s version more than doubles the peak amps available in the propulsion system and offers a 20 percent increase in range. The motor delivers up to 900 pounds of torque and 650 horsepower.
These are concept/prototype vehicles, so you can’t walk into a local showroom and try one out, though you could see them in person if you are in Utah from April 1st to April 9th. Jeep has been making massive inroads lately in the hybrid and EV space, making good so far on its promise to release hybrid versions of each of its primary models by 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jeep-just-mushed-together-a-1970s-cherokee-with-a-modern-hybrid-wrangler-193056948.html?src=rss
This isn’t an early April Fool’s gag. Jeep just unveiled a mashup of a 1978 Cherokee with a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, a higher-end hybrid SUV, to create a Frankenstein vehicle that is heavy both on delicious retro looks and modern performance metrics. The 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept vehicle is an old-school two-door affair with a modern Starburst yellow paint job that could actually be mistaken for a lovingly cared-for, decades-old vehicle.
Underneath the hood is where all of the modern technology resides. For the uninitiated, 4xe vehicles are 4×4 plug-in hybrid electric SUVs, so there are “two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and a high-tech 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine,” as Jeep describes it. An eight-speed automatic transmission and custom 37-inch tires wrapped around 17-inch “slotted mag” style wheels round out the design. The interior is also a custom job, with low-back bucket seats trimmed in leather, a four-point safety cage instead of a rear bench seat and a rear cargo space complete with a full-size spare tire.
This is just one of many concept vehicles Jeep unveiled as part of its annual Easter Jeep Safari event held in Moab, UT, where the company likes to show off some wild prototypes. The other highlight is the fully-electric Magneto 3.0 Wrangler prototype, based on the two-door 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It features a custom-built electric motor that operates up to 6,000 rpm connected to a six-speed manual transmission. That’s right, this EV is a stick shift.
Jeep has been messing with this Magneto EV concept for a few years, but this year’s version more than doubles the peak amps available in the propulsion system and offers a 20 percent increase in range. The motor delivers up to 900 pounds of torque and 650 horsepower.
These are concept/prototype vehicles, so you can’t walk into a local showroom and try one out, though you could see them in person if you are in Utah from April 1st to April 9th. Jeep has been making massive inroads lately in the hybrid and EV space, making good so far on its promise to release hybrid versions of each of its primary models by 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jeep-just-mushed-together-a-1970s-cherokee-with-a-modern-hybrid-wrangler-193056948.html?src=rss
Right to repair, universal charging port mandates eyed to save Canadians money
Canada’s newly released budget considers consumers’ wallets and e-waste.
Like in other parts of the world, Canada is working out what the right to repair means for its people. The federal government said in its 2023 budget released Tuesday that it will bring the right to repair to Canada. At the same time, it’s considering a universal charging port mandate like the European Union (EU) is implementing with USB-C.
The Canadian federal government’s 2023 budget introduces the right to repair under the chapter entitled “Making Life More Affordable and Supporting the Middle Class.” It says that the “government will work to implement a right to repair, with the aim of introducing a targeted framework for home appliances and electronics in 2024.” The government plans to hold consultations on the matter and claimed it will “work closely with provinces and territories” to implement the right to repair in Canada:
When it comes to broken appliances or devices, high repair fees and a lack of access to specific parts often mean Canadians are pushed to buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have. This is expensive for people and creates harmful waste.
Devices and appliances should be easy to repair, spare parts should be readily accessible, and companies should not be able to prevent repairs with complex programming or hard-to-obtain bespoke parts. By cutting down on the number of devices and appliances that are thrown out, we will be able to make life more affordable for Canadians and protect our environment.
The budget also insinuates that right-to-repair legislation can make third-party repairs cheaper than getting a phone, for example, repaired by the manufacturer, where it could cost “far more than it should.”
Synopsys Intros AI-Powered EDA Suite To Accelerate Chip Design and Cut Costs
Synopsys has introduced the industry’s first full-stack AI-powered suite of electronic design automation tools that covers all stages of chip design, from architecture to design and implementation to manufacturing. From a report: The Synopsys.ai suite promises to radically reduce development time, lower costs, improve yields, and enhance performance. The set of tools is set to be extremely useful for chips set to be made on leading-edge nodes, such as 5nm, 3nm, 2nm-class, and beyond. As chips gain complexity and adopt newer process technologies, their design and manufacturing costs escalate to unprecedented levels. Designing a reasonably complex 7 nm chip costs about $300 million (including ~ 40% for software). In contrast, the design cost of an advanced 5 nm processor exceeds $540 million (including software), according to International Business Strategies (IBS) estimates. At 3 nm, a complex GPU will cost about $1.5 billion to develop, including circa 40% for software.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Synopsys has introduced the industry’s first full-stack AI-powered suite of electronic design automation tools that covers all stages of chip design, from architecture to design and implementation to manufacturing. From a report: The Synopsys.ai suite promises to radically reduce development time, lower costs, improve yields, and enhance performance. The set of tools is set to be extremely useful for chips set to be made on leading-edge nodes, such as 5nm, 3nm, 2nm-class, and beyond. As chips gain complexity and adopt newer process technologies, their design and manufacturing costs escalate to unprecedented levels. Designing a reasonably complex 7 nm chip costs about $300 million (including ~ 40% for software). In contrast, the design cost of an advanced 5 nm processor exceeds $540 million (including software), according to International Business Strategies (IBS) estimates. At 3 nm, a complex GPU will cost about $1.5 billion to develop, including circa 40% for software.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.