More screens are nice, but more dimensions are nicer. You won’t even have to wear 3D glasses.
On May the fourth, known to sci-fi fans around the world as Star Wars Day, storage provider Seagate released special hard drives adorned with Boba Fett, Baby Yoda, and other beloved characters from the franchise. Cool, right?
Don’t worry—if you’re not a Star Wars fan, we found some better tech you may have missed this May.
3D in 3D
Do your 3D models seem a bit too flat on your 2D screen? You could check them out in virtual or augmented reality, but for that you’d need to don a clunky headset. If only there were some way you could just see your screen in all three dimensions.
PC maker Acer has a way, and its called SpatialLabs. The company announced three new products last week that incorporate SpatialLabs, a glasses-free stereoscopic display that Acer first unveiled a year ago. The new products include two portable monitors, SpatialLabs View and View Pro, and a gaming laptop, the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition.
SpatialLabs combines three different technologies to create the illusion of a 3D display: eye tracking sensors, a lenticular lens (bonded to the display, this refracts a slightly different image to each eye), and rendering algorithms that respond to a user’s movements in real-time. The result, according to Acer, is content that “literally floats in front of the screen.” Well, not literally, but you get the idea.
You may have seen similar technology before, such as in the Nintendo 3DS, a handheld game console released over a decade ago. There’s a reason it didn’t catch on—stereoscopic displays have generally performed poorly in metrics like resolution and viewing angle, relegating them to the status of gimmick for most. Just ask the 3D TV you never bought.
That’s not to say Acer’s SpatialLabs tech is no good; unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell without seeing it in person. But early reviews are mostly positive, and Acer’s marketing videos sure do make it look cool:
The SpatialLabs View monitor will be available this summer and will start at $1,099, according to an Acer press release. The company hasn’t revealed availability details for the Pro variant, which is nearly identical hardware but with extra software for pro users (like SpatialLabs Model Viewer, which displays common 3D formats like OBJ, FBX, STEP, and more in stereoscopic glory). The Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition will be available in Q4 starting at $3,399.99.
Three Screens Are Better Than One
For those used to a multi-monitor desk setup, it can be hard to get work done on a single-screen laptop. Where once a flick of the eyes would reveal all, now windows must be juggled and applications resized to tiny specks. Annoying as this is, it would be even worse to lug a 27-inch monitor to the corner café.
Thankfully, there’s another way: the Tropire Tri-Screen, a portable accessory that adds not one but two displays to a laptop.
Compatible with laptops from 13 to 16.5 inches, the Tri-Screen attaches behind the main display to provide an extra screen on either side. The screens are held in place by a tensioned spring mechanism, and a built-in kickstand reduces strain on the laptop hinge. Each screen is connected to the laptop with its own cable, and several types are included in the box to accommodate different laptops.
The Tri-Screen’s 12-inch LCD displays are modest but workable, offering a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 60Hz, and a max brightness of 300 nits (typical of an average laptop screen). A light weight of two and a half pounds means the Tri-Screen won’t burden your back, but it may burden your wallet with its $399 price tag.
If this product seems a bit familiar, you may have it confused with the Xebec Tri-Screen, a nearly-identical device that launched last year. Imitation, as they say, is the highest form of flattery (though that line may not fly with the U.S. Patent Office).
Can You Hear Me Now?
‘Say again?’ ‘Sorry, you’re breaking up.’ ‘Maybe it’s my connection.’ ‘Could you just put it in the chat?’
If these phrases sound familiar, you may be suffering from bad audio quality—or rather, you’re making your colleagues suffer from it. But fear not, audio hardware provider Jabra has the solution: the Engage 55, a wireless headset with noise-cancelling microphone made for those unceasing virtual meetings.
The Engage 55 is a DECT headset (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications; as opposed to Bluetooth) and boasts the highest level of DECT security with 256-bit encryption. With a wireless range up to 490 feet, the headset allows users to walk and talk throughout the office, roleplaying their favorite West Wing characters or maybe just grabbing a mid-call snack.
The Jabra Engage 55 comes in three different styles—stereo with dual earcups, mono with one earcup, and an earhook version that can also be converted to use a neckband or headband. The headset connects to the user’s computer via a flexible, puck-shaped USB-C adapter, and an optional charging stand will top up the headset’s 13-hour battery.
The Engage 55 will be available soon, though Jabra has not yet announced its price. Other headsets in the Engage series range from $403 to $509.
