Amid rising AI and automation in contact centres, new research finds leadership, empathy and agent support now outmuscle technology alone. Read...

When the news first broke that legendary Apple designer John Ive was joining forces with OpenAI on the first made-for-ChatGPT hardware, imaginations ran wild.  What could the first ChatGPT hardware be? Not anything with a screen, insiders said (Ive and ChatGPT founder Sam Altman have remained mostly mum on the subject.) Maybe more a “pebble” that would fit in your pocket, a “third-core” device that would be “contextually aware” of its surroundings.  Indeed, reports of a leaked OpenAI conference call detailed Altman calling the device the “coolest piece of technology that the world will have even seen,” while Ive has called the upcoming ChatGPT hardware the beginning of a “new design movement.”  Well, a groundbreaking ChatGPT hardware device may yet be in the pipeline, but a new report says one of the first ChatGPT devices will be far more familiar: a plain-old smart speaker.  The speaker, which might not arrive until February 2027, would ship with a camera and cost between $200 and $300, according to the Information and its anonymous sources.   Other OpenAI hardware in the works include smart glasses and—maybe—a smart lamp, the report said, with the glasses not expected to be released until 2028 or later.  OpenAI has yet to comment on The Information’s story, and like any report from anonymous industry sources, it should be taken with a grain of salt.  But if we are just getting a glorified, ChatGPT-powered Echo speaker as our first OpenAI product, it will be quite a letdown. I already have an AI-powered smart display in my kitchen—the Google Nest Hub Max with Gemini inside—and it mostly just sits there, displaying family photos, while the Alexa+-enabled Echo Dot in my office stays mostly silent. Personally, I haven’t found many inspiring uses for AI in a smart speaker, and the same goes for ChatGPT’s voice mode and Gemini Live on a phone; the conversations tend to be stilted, halting, or downright weird. ChatGPT has done a lot for me on a desktop, but in a smart speaker? I’m not so sure.  The rumored ChatGPT smart glasses would be a little closer to the vision of an on-the-body device that gathers intel from your surroundings, but OpenAI would be heading into well-trod territory (hello, Meta, and possibly even Apple).  A ChatGPT smart lamp? That’s a little more out of the box, and we have seen similar smart lights with integrated smart speakers before.   Personally, I’ll be waiting for the ChatGPT pebble. Read...

Would you rent or lease PC? I never entertained the thought before. This idea springs from new attention on Sony’s partnership with a UK tech shop for PlayStation 5 rentals. These leases will be available as a continuous rental or 12, 24, or 36 month terms, and function similar to car leases. You pay to borrow the console, and then have to give it back at the end. (Or contact Raylo, the UK partner, to discuss buyout options.) Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the surprising topics on our YouTube show or latest news from across the web? You’re in the right place. Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website!  When I first thought about this initiative as applied to PC—let’s say, renting a Dell or HP box, or even something from a smaller vendor or boutique builder, like NZXT or iBuyPower—I hated it. For about the last decade, we’ve enjoyed a golden era in home computing, with incredibly high performance from (mostly) affordable components. For pretty much any situation, you could stuff in what you needed at far cheaper prices than ever before, in highly tailored ways. All the way down to the aesthetics, even. And you owned all of it. It’s one thing to rent digital media and never own any. But only borrowing a physical object that I put personal information into (or store personal information on)? No thanks. Then I had a second thought, and very unexpectedly, I had a 180 on the idea. What if leasing could save the Steam Machine from another failed launch? Ultimately, the Steam Machine v2 is a gaming console, just one with a PC-style operating system. If you treat it as such, it’s more of a tool to get something done. Very little personal data would get stored on it. Saves are synced with the cloud. Games can be redownloaded. I want this second version of the Steam Machine to succeed.Valve Pricing dangles over the Steam Machine like a sword waiting to drop. Memory and storage costs have exploded; Valve has relatively weaker ability to compete with Dell, Acer, Lenovo, HP, Asus, and other such giant vendors to negotiate favorable contracts. Not enough demand exists yet to help offset costs through scale—this is a gaming console designed to create demand. Meanwhile, economic uncertainty and higher cost of living have caused many to pull back on discretionary spending. Certainly, some enthusiasts are still in a position to afford fun new toys. But others will end up watching from the sidelines as opposed to investing in the new hardware. In that scenario, where the only choice is to buy, it seems possible that the Steam Machine could fail to get the adoption and traction to take off—just as it did the first time around. But with an option to lease? That could open up far more of an audience. Take me as the example. I wouldn’t buy a $800 to $1,200 gaming console. But I might spend a hundred-plus to rent one for a year, just to see how I like it. Demand for gaming consoles took off in part because we saw them in other people’s homes. You could go hands-on while hanging out. Folks then talked about them. It created buzz. Of course, I have no idea if this would make sense financially. But the way I see it, Valve needs to capture people’s attention for the Steam Machine v2 to take off. And having the consoles in living rooms would solidify or even expand use of Steam. With a possible delay coming for next-gen traditional gaming consoles, there is a window where Valve could lure console gamers over to PC gaming…and to make Steam their platform of choice. I can’t say this is the craziest idea I’ve had, but I do wonder what other people think on this front. Drop me a line. In this episode of The Full Nerd In this episode of The Full Nerd, Adam Patrick Murray, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, and Will Smith answer your many questions (and some that come from within). In addition to touching on the Steam Deck going out of stock, we cover a boatload of other topics, some more granular than others. (I got to grump out over Discord’s age verification policy at length.) We also show off one of Willis’ last side projects, Outrage Pony red envelopes for Lunar New Year! And I get to mention my favorite clip from a Netflix comedy special yet again. Alex Esteves / Foundry Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd Network YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real time! Don’t miss out on our NEW shows too—you can catch episodes of Dual Boot Diaries and The Full Nerd: Extra Edition on our channel as well. PLUS: Adam says episode zero for his new joint endeavor with Retro Gaming Corps is imminent… And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s wholesale nerd news After a long quiet period, interesting blurbs keep spilling into my inbox. This time around, I took a warehouse shopping approach—just grabbed all the good stuff in bulk. Science in particular caught my attention: nifty experiments with audio signal transmission, fresh insight into what Mars was like billions of years ago, and ways to store heat for future use. (But also, loosely related, I couldn’t resist a nifty cooking tip for the meat lovers out there.) As for tech? Microsoft says it can store data for up to 10 millennia on glass. I’m very curious to see how Microsoft’s Project Silica progresses.Microsoft That’s kind of neat: Microsoft says it may have a way to etch data into glass for ultra-long term storage. But at the same time, what truly is worth preserving up to 10,000 years from now? (Maybe nyancat, I guess.) Sounds more fitting: The planet named for the god of war wasn’t always what it is now. Billions of years ago, it was warm and wet, according to a study published in Nature. Block everything: As best I can tell, uBlock Origin and Disconnect’s extensions can help block invasive tracking pixels like this TikTok nightmare. Happy birthday, ENIAC: One of the ground-breaking forebears of modern computing turns 80 today. How far we’ve come. And also how far we have to go, because back then, the 1,000x performance jump still involved careful verification. (Looking at you, AI.) Train your brain: This exercise for your brain could help cut dementia risk. I’m all for it—feeling my own gray matter blip on occasion while seeing my possible future in older generations is grim, man. Yes, Steam. More of this: Because adding your PC specs to game reviews on Steam is voluntary, I like how this UI update allows easy sharing of helpful troubleshooting info. Community service at its finest.Valve Why not…be more efficient? Anthropic says it’ll pay for expansions to electrical grid infrastructure, but also warns that the AI sector could need as much as 50 gigawatts of capacity to power new models in the near future. Dystopia (momentarily) halted: Amazon and Flock’s partnership to allow law enforcement access to video footage from Ring cameras has been paused for now. So has Ring’s “Familiar Faces” technology, which would use facial recognition for humans. Always double tap: Apparently, Zombieland’s guiding rule for survival applies to making sure your SSD is later unreadable. Baaaaacon: I always love new ways to make cooking easier. (Learning the science behind how best to heat a stainless steel pan was rad, for example.) This is a way to cook a whole pack of bacon faster and with fewer painful oil splashes—I can’t wait to try it. Fortnite security lockout? Nope, not yet. Unless you’re playing in tournaments, you won’t need to worry about Secure Boot and TPM requirements. It was time: Much respect to Firefox for allowing extended use of its browser on Windows 7 and 8 for so long—it helped with a couple of transitions I had to navigate for older PCs. But yeah, it’s time to let go. This experiment adds a whole new angle to the phrase “clear as mud.”Pano / diyaudio.com Adam, you game? I kind of want to see how he’d rate these different conduits for audio signals. Copper wire vs. banana vs. wet mud sounds like quite the showdown, especially since mud apparently doesn’t sound as bad as you’d think. Hard no: A Copilot bug allowed AI to peruse confidential email it was supposed to ignore. Remind me why are we paying to be alpha testers, again? Cool, so then what? Microsoft’s top AI exec says that in 12 to 18 months, all white-collar workers’ “human-level performance” will be replaceable with AI. This, from the same company that used AI in up to 30 percent of its code, and now is pledging to clean up Windows 11’s issues. Routers are next: Anything with memory is about to get hit with higher prices…and that includes routers, unfortunately. If you were planning to upgrade, consider doing it sooner rather than later. Privacy nightmare: I respect this engineer fixing his smart sleep mask, but why is no one hollering about the idea of a rando being able to set off electrical impulses in other users’ masks? Science is cool: Well, in this case, warm. University researchers have found a breakthrough for storing heat from solar energy in molecular batteries—a concept that’s waited ages for traction. San Francisco has been suffering a cold snap—something that feels a little funny to mention, given how chilly it is in other climates. But I’ve been at my desk with my thermometer showing 58°F (14.4°C), and after my east-coast colleague Mike Crider assured us west coasters that our homes are indeed built without adequate insulation, I feel better voicing this. Mostly I just want to recommend electric blankets to everyone. These things are magic. Also terrifying to keep clean. Catch you all next week! Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive design and high build quality Gigantic 52-inch ultrawide display Lots of connectivity across Thunderbolt, USB-C, USB-A, and Ethernet Crisp 6144×2560 resolution Cons No HDR support Limited contrast ratio Very high MSRP Our Verdict The Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is a uniquely gigantic display aimed at multitaskers who work across multiple computers. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Back in my day, a 21-inch CRT display was considered gigantic. These days, computer monitors can frequently reach TV-like dimensions—and the Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is among the largest monitors yet. This 52-inch behemoth tips the scales at 40 pounds and ships in a box roughly as large as most 65-inch HDTVs. It also has an enormous $2,899.99 MSRP. So, is it worth the price? Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor U5226KW specs and features The star of the show is certainly the Dell Ultrasharp 52’s display panel. It’s not only large at 51.5 inches diagonally but also pixel dense with a resolution of 6144×2560. It’s an IPS Black panel and offers refresh rates up to 120Hz. Display size: 51.5-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 6144x,2560 Panel type: IPS Black LCD Refresh rate: 120Hz Adaptive sync: VRR compatible HDR: None Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 4x USB Type-A 10Gbps downstream ports, 3x USB-C 10Gbps upstream port, 1x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps upstream ports with DisplayPort 1.4 and 140 watts of Power Delivery, 1x RJ45 2.5GbE Ethernet, 1x USB Type-A 10Gbps downstream, 2x USB-C 10Gbps downstream with 27 watts of Power Delivery Audio: 2x 9-watt speakers Extra Features: Light sensor, VESA mount Software support: Windows 11, MacOS later Price: $2,899.99 MSRP There’s a lot more to the story than the display panel, though. The Ultrasharp 52 has a focus on connectivity that spans a Thunderbolt 4 port, five USB-A ports, five USB-C ports, and Ethernet. It also provides 140 watts of Power Delivery over Thunderbolt 4, a serious upgrade over the more typical 65 to 90 watts. None of this comes cheaply, however. The monitor has an MSRP of $2,899.99 and is currently sold at that price. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor design The Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is big. Really big. The 52-inch ultrawide display provides roughly the same total display area as a 48-inch widescreen television though, due to its 21:9 aspect ratio, the Dell Ultrasharp 52 is a few inches shorter and about 5 inches narrower. It measures about 52 inches wide from side to side—that’s over 4 feet! It’s the widest monitor that I’ve ever reviewed, as it’s a few tenths of an inch wider than a 49-inch super-ultrawide like the Philips Evnia 8000 or Dell Ultrasharp U4924DW. Of course, that means you’ll need a large space to comfortably place the display. My desk has room at over 6-feet wide, but it’s not that deep at 26 inches, so I often felt I was too close to the monitor. You’ll probably want a desk with 30 inches of depth or more. The Ultrasharp 52 is also much heavier than usual. The panel alone weighs 28.5 pounds and the total weight with stand attached is over 40 pounds. By comparison, my 48-inch LG B4 television weighs less than 25 pounds. None of this is a downside, really, but it’s something you should know before you buy. Despite its size and ultrawide aspect ratio, the Ultrasharp 52 sticks to a subtle 4200R curvature. A lower number means a more dramatic curve, and many super-ultrawide monitors have a curve of 1800R or 1500R. The Ultrasharp 52 seems flat at a glance though the curve is easy to notice on closer inspection. While the subtle curve might not be preferable for gaming, I prefer it for productivity and creative work. A dramatic curve can slightly skew how content looks on a display. Matthew Smith / Foundry A beefy stand keeps the Ultrasharp 52’s bulk in check and provides some ergonomic adjustment for height, tilt, and swivel, as well as a couple degrees of slant (meaning the display can rotate a couple degrees in each direction). The amount of ergonomic adjustment is less than normal for a monitor at this price point, though that’s a consequence of the display’s size and aspect ratio. Rotating into a portrait orientation would be comical. Even swivel is restrained to just 40 degrees overall, as the display is so wide that it’s likely to start knocking things off your desk when you move it. Because of its size, the Ultrasharp 52 has not only a 100x100mm VESA mount but also a 200x100mm and 200x200mm mount option, which is extremely unusual for a computer monitor. You can even order the Ultrasharp 52 without a stand if you want to go straight for a heavy-duty monitor arm or a wall-mount, but this will only save $100. Build quality is outstanding. Large ultrawide monitors can sometimes feel a bit flimsy, but the Ultrasharp feels rigid and hefty. While I still wouldn’t want to drop it, the plastics didn’t noticeably creak or warp as I handled the display—something that can happen with monitors in this category. That’s good, because the monitor’s high MSRP would make build quality issues difficult to forgive. The Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor targeted at people who want to replace several smaller monitors with a single display… Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor connectivity The Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is, well, a hub monitor. What does that mean? Put simply, it means it has a boat-load of connectivity. However, contrary to what you might think, it’s actually not all about Thunderbolt 4. Still, let’s talk about Thunderbolt first. The Ultrasharp 52 has a Thunderbolt 4 port with a 40Gbps data rate. This port also of course supports DisplayPort, so it can be used as a video input (and will work with USB-C sources that support DisplayPort). It also has up to 140 watts of Power Delivery, which is enough to power many Windows laptops and all current MacBook models. That makes for easy single-cable connections to a laptop. However, the real focus is not on the Thunderbolt input but, rather, what that Thunderbolt port connects to. This is where the hub comes in. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Ultrasharp 52 has a total of five USB-A downstream ports and two USB-C downstream ports. Most of these are on the rear of the display, but two USB-C ports and one USB-A port are in a pop-out module on the lower bezel. The USB-C ports on the front can deliver up to 27 watts of power, which is handy if you want to quickly charge a phone or tablet. The display can drive up to 150 watts of power overall. In addition to the Thunderbolt 4, these ports can also be driven by three USB-C upstream ports on the rear of the display. That means you can connect the monitor’s ports to up to four devices. A KVM switch is used to switch between them. A 2.5Gbps Ethernet port can also be found lurking around the rear. This is an unusual, if not entirely unique, feature for a monitor. The inclusion of an Ethernet port means you can bring high-speed wired Internet connectivity to a laptop or other device connected to the monitor. While the Thunderbolt 4 is really the star of the show in terms of video connectivity, as it also provides connections to the monitor’s many USB ports, you have a lot of other options. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor menus and features Although it’s meant for work, the Ultrasharp 52 is designed more for day traders than digital artists. Still, it does have a respectable range of image quality adjustments including gamma, color temperature, and color saturation calibration. Though it lacks a built-in or included colorimeter, the range of image quality adjustment available here will be enough to satisfy creatives who work with clients that don’t demand exacting color accuracy and tight conformance to particular color standards. The Ultrasharp 52 is compatible with Dell’s Display and Peripheral Manager software, which makes it possible to change monitor settings through a desktop software interface on Windows 11 and MacOS machines. The monitor is also compatible with remote management software that allows IT departments to remotely manage options across a fleet of displays. As mentioned, a KVM switch is included. That’s not at all unusual for a modern monitor, but the Ultrasharp 52 also has an Ethernet Switch Mode, which can be used to switch the Ethernet port’s connectivity along with the rest of the monitor’s connectivity. Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor also supports automatic brightness and color temperature adjustment. However, I found that these features didn’t work well. The speed of adjustment between different levels of brightness, or different color temperature modes, was rapid and distracting. I also found the auto-brightness mode was often too bright, and while there is an auto-brightness range setting that seems intended to provide some adjustment, I was never happy with how auto-brightness worked and ultimately turned it off. Given its many features, you might need to read the Ultrasharp 52’s manual. Fortunately, Dell provides better documentation than most companies. This includes not only the user manual but also a service manual and teardown document with extensive detail, including photographs, that shows how to tear down and repair the display. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor audio The Dell Ultrasharp 52 has two 9-watt speakers. They provide great volume and a robust sound with good clarity at most volume levels, though distortion can become an issue at the highest volumes. Audiophiles will definitely still want to use external speakers or headphones, but less discerning listeners are likely to be satisfied by the built-in speakers. That gives the Ultrasharp 52 an edge, as many monitors designed for productivity or business have weak speakers. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor SDR image quality Like many recent Dell Ultrasharp monitors, the Ultrasharp 52 has an IPS Black display. This type of display panel, which is relatively new, boosts contrast when compared to other IPS panel types and retains the technology’s strengths in color performance and brightness. This is mostly good news for the Ultrasharp 52, though contrast remains a concern. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Ultrasharp 52 achieved a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 336 nits. As the graph shows, this is not all that bright for a display in this category, though it’s not dim either. Even so, 336 nits is more than enough for most situations. It will only seem dim if you’re in a room that lacks light control and has sunlit windows or a lot of artificial light. In addition, the Ultrasharp 52 has an effective anti-glare coat and matte finish. It does not readily show reflections, which are diffused across the display surface. Also, the display’s subtle curve doesn’t suffer the light-focusing effect that can increase glare on more dramatically curved displays. All in all, it looks bright and readable in most situations. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast is where the Ultrasharp 52 falls short in spite of the IPS Black panel’s improved contrast performance. A measured contrast ratio of 1960:1 is solid for an IPS monitor, and it looks immersive in brighter rooms. However, using the monitor in a dark room will still reveal the “IPS glow” which is caused by the monitor backlight. The effect is obvious and not uniform across the display, so it can be distracting. To be fair, the Ultrasharp 52’s overall uniformity is better than many ultrawide LCD monitors, but I still noticed a very slight increase in brightness in the lower right side of the display as compared to the left. My colorimeter confirmed this with a maximum brightness variance of 18.2 percent.You’ll need to ask yourself how you intend to use the monitor. If you want to use it for office and business productivity, or even for less color-critical creative work, the contrast offered here is fine. But if you want to game, or watch movies, you should consider a 45-inch OLED ultrawide like the LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the Ultrasharp 52’s contrast is just okay, it does better in color gamut. I found the monitor can display 98 percent of the DCI-P3 and 90 percent of the AdobeRGB color gamut. These figures are slightly behind QD-OLED monitors, which tend to achieve similar results in DCI-P3 and 93 to 95 percent in AdobeRGB. However, the Ultrasharp 52’s color gamut is still extremely broad and provides a vivid, saturated image. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Ultrasharp 52’s color accuracy results are more middle-of-the-road. This level of color error is by no means a problem, but as the graph shows, it’s not at the top of the class. I noticed that a large amount of the monitor’s average color error came from the grayscale results, so I was not too surprised to find the monitor produced a gamma curve of 2.1, which is slightly off the target gamma 2.2. This indicates that the image seems a bit brighter and more luminescent than it should. It’s tough to notice though, so this isn’t a show stopper. The color temperature was also just a tad off target with a measured default color temperature of 6700K, off the target of 6500K. However, the monitor does have settings for both color temperature and gamma, so it’s possible to come closer to these targets—or whichever setting you prefer. Sharpness is an interesting conversation. The Ultrasharp 52 has a native resolution of 6144×2560. That’s more than 15 million pixels overall and almost twice as many pixels as a 4K display and results in a pixel density of 129 pixels per inch. While it’s definitely not as sharp as a 27-inch 4K display, the Ultrasharp 52’s pixel density beats the LG 45GX950A-B (123 ppi) and far exceeds most 49-inch super-ultrawide monitors (which typically pack in 109 ppi). Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor HDR image quality You might be surprised to hear that the Dell Ultrasharp 52 doesn’t support HDR. Most monitors in this price range do, of course, so the lack of HDR is a mark against the monitor. On the other hand, I respect that Dell didn’t try to stuff HDR into the monitor by ramping up the backlight and calling it a day—a tactic that is common among IPS monitors that claim HDR support. Still, if you want HDR, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor motion performance While the Dell Ultrasharp 52 lacks HDR, it does manage to provide a refresh rate of 120Hz. That’s a bit surprising given the monitor’s size and high resolution and it’s certainly good news for motion clarity and fluidity in games. Still, you shouldn’t get too excited. While it can handle a refresh rate of 120Hz, the monitor quotes gray-to-gray response times no lower than 5 milliseconds. By comparison, the quickest IPS gaming monitors have response times below one millisecond and OLED monitors have response times as low as 0.03 milliseconds. In practice, that means the Ultrasharp 52 will show more motion blur than a display with a lower pixel response time. The monitor also doesn’t have official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync, or G-Sync, though my AMD video card did detect it as an AMD FreeSync display. Should you buy the Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor? The Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor has a specific audience in mind. It’s targeted at people who want to replace several smaller monitors with a single display or want to expand their overall display real estate. That functionality is combined with lots of connectivity, which is handy if you want to work across multiple devices or need to connect a lot of peripherals. Those who want a monitor for entertainment will find the Ultrasharp 52 less appealing. It’s not bad in this role, as it at least provides a 120Hz refresh rate and a sharp, color-rich image. However, the monitor’s limited contrast and lack of HDR support are notable downsides. The monitor is also more expensive than OLED ultrawides which, though smaller, have even better image quality. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a gigantic display with well-rounded performance and top-tier connectivity, the Ultrasharp 52 is large and in charge. Read...

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Microsoft just announced a breakthrough in its push to commercialize Project Silica, its effort to etch data into glass as an archival medium: The company has successfully made the etching technique work with the type of glass used in oven doors. Previously, Project Silica used a special type of fused glass, good enough for research work but not for bringing the Silica technology to the mainstream. Now, Microsoft has made it work with borosilicate glass, the type of glass found in Pyrex containers. Silica otherwise remains the same. The goal has always been to store data “permanently,” in a medium that won’t degrade over time. Or close to it, anyway: The stated goal is to store data for over 10,000 years, and the company has previously tested it by etching movies like Superman into glass as a way to store them. A similar test archived music for future generations, too. Otherwise, even “archival” storage media can suffer from degradation. “Bit rot” can occur in everything from hard drives to recorded media like DVD-ROMs and rewritable optical media. Microsoft first experimented with encoding data into DNA, and then moved to Silica in 2019. Project Silica encodes data holographically into glass just 2mm thick, and still does — now, the glass being used is much more commercially available. While Microsoft said that the research phase of Silica is over, it didn’t indicate that production would begin. Microsoft said in a blog post that it will “consider learnings” from what it has discovered. Microsoft published its results in a new article in Nature. Microsoft also added that it has made advances in actually writing the data. Rather than use the polarization of the glass to encode the data, Microsoft can now use what it calls “phase voxels” — using the phase change of the glass instead. Many more of these voxels can now be written in parallel, Microsoft added. If polarization voxels are used instead, Microsoft said that it had found a way to simplify the writing process to just a pair of pulses. Finally, Microsoft said that it had applied machine learning to optimize symbol encodings, and to better identify how data could “age” within the glass. Of course, our descendants 10,000 years from now will need to be able to actually read the data. Let’s hope that Silica glass doesn’t end up as some archival Zip drive from the 21st century. Read...

We love Anker around here for their high-quality power banks, hubs and docks, charging cables, and other accessories. That’s why I’m excited about this deal: you can now grab a speedy 30W Anker Nano USB-C charger plug for a mere $10 on Amazon. That’s a massive 50% discount down from its original $20 price! Man, that’s a good deal. Despite its ultra-compact size, this Anker charger will get the job done just fine. Thanks to GaN technology, this Anker model is capable of reaching fast charging speeds without all the heat or power inefficiencies of yesteryear models, all while staying small and portable with foldable prongs. Replace your old power adapter with this. You won’t regret it. What’s great is that it reaches 30 watts of power delivery, which is more than fast enough for smartphones, tablets, wireless earbuds, and more. In fact, Anker claims it can recharge an iPad Air to 50% in about 45 minutes, and an iPhone 17 Pro in about 20 minutes. Just plug it into a wall outlet and let ‘er rip. You deserve a cheap but fast charger like this. The only downside is that it only has a single USB-C port, so it can’t charge multiple devices at once. If you’d prefer something like that, you may want to opt for this 3-port 65W Anker charger for $26 instead (originally $40). It’s just a tad bit bigger but features two fast USB-C ports and a slower USB-A port, plus it still has the foldable prongs. But if you want to absolute cheapest thing, get the 30W charger for $10. Note that this price is for the white model. The black model is also on sale, but that one’s gonna cost you a little more at $12. Still a great deal, though! Get either one for cheap while you can. Save 50% on this tiny Anker Nano USB-C charger plugBuy now via Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Very comfortable fit, even for spectacle wearers Lightweight (290 grams) Stylish white design with RGB High-quality workmanship Wireless via Lightspeed, Bluetooth and USB Good gaming sound with surround support First-class microphone Long battery life Cons Sounds rather flat for music straight out of the box Large, bulky design May fit loosely on smaller heads No 3.5 mm jack connection No simultaneous BT and wireless connection Incompatible with Xbox Consoles Our Verdict Overall, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed with its microphone catapults itself into the top tier of gaming headsets. The combination of an outstanding microphone, versatile settings and the comfort of a wireless headset without an additional microphone makes the G522 highly recommendable in this category. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Logitech G522 Lightspeed Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Logitech G522 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset promises premium features at a moderate price, and that in a stylish white color variant (in addition to classic black). This model is the successor to the G733 and aims to impress PC and PS5 gamers with wireless Lightspeed technology, Bluetooth connectivity and outstanding sound. You can look forward to immersive gaming sound, a decent microphone and long battery life, all without any cable clutter. One thing is clear from the outset: the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is aimed at gamers who want both comfort and performance without paying a high-end price. Below, we clarify whether the headset lives up to this claim and whether it can impress technically as well as visually. For even more great picks check out our roundup of the best wireless gaming headsets. Considering its price, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed delivers respectable audio performance that comes dangerously close to some much more expensive headsets. Friedrich Stiemer Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Design and comfort The white version of the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is a real eye-catcher. With its slim, modern design and side-aligned Lightsync RGB lighting (eight zones, 16.8 million colors), it makes a visual statement. The configurable color effects are particularly impressive on the white housing. Despite its predominantly plastic construction, the headset does not look cheap at all. On the contrary: the workmanship is robust and high-quality. As an alternative to the white version tested here, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is also available in black, but the white version clearly emphasizes the gaming look. Logitech has made noticeable improvements to comfort compared to its predecessor. Generously sized ear cups with soft dual-layer memory foam padding completely enclose the ear and leave enough room even for glasses wearers or gamers with ear jewellery. The very comfortable fit is particularly noteworthy: even after hours of use, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed remains one of the most comfortable headsets we have ever tested. One reason for this is its low weight of around 290 grams, combined with the flexible, padded headband system. The headband uses an elastic suspension band (made of washable fabric) under the rigid frame, similar to previous Logitech G headsets. It can be hooked into two positions to accommodate different head sizes. Many users with normal to large heads will find the contact pressure just right: firm enough for a secure fit, but never too tight. The breathable fabric covering the padding and grooves in the headband also ensure that you sweat less and hardly feel the headset. Friedrich Stiemer However, gamers with small heads should be aware that the headset will probably sit a little loosely even at its tightest setting and that their ears might bump against the inside. Thanks to its generous design, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed also looks quite bulky on the head. Those looking for a petite headset may find its clunky appearance distracting. In normal use, however, the size is hardly noticeable. This is because in video calls, the “gaming headset look” is only visually noticeable; comfort remains unaffected. A potential disadvantage of the white version is that dust and dirt are more visible than on dark headsets. Regular cleaning helps here, as everything white shows dirt more clearly. Logitech focuses on sustainability when it comes to materials: the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is made partly from recycled plastic and even low-carbon aluminium, which does not detract from its durable impression. In summary, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed impresses with its high level of comfort and stylish design. The white color variant is a refreshing eye-catcher in the gaming corner and fits perfectly with Logitech’s G5 series in the same color, such as the G502 X Plus gaming mouse and the G515 TKL keyboard, allowing you to arrange a harmonious setup on your desk. So you’ll be entertained not only acoustically, but also visually. Friedrich Stiemer Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Technology and features When it comes to features, the manufacturer has pulled out all the stops with the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, in a positive sense. The wireless gaming headset offers tri-mode connectivity, i.e. wireless 2.4 GHz Lightspeed operation, Bluetooth and wired USB mode. The included USB-A dongle enables lag-free 2.4 GHz connections on PC, Mac and PlayStation 5; however, Microsoft’s Xbox is not supported. Alternatively, the G522 can be paired via Bluetooth 5.3. This is particularly handy for smartphones, tablets or the Nintendo Switch when on the go. The headset already supports the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard (LC3 codec) for low latency and better audio quality, provided that playback devices support this. In Bluetooth mode, it should be noted that the microphone quality is slightly lower than in Lightspeed or USB cable mode due to the system. However, it’s still sufficient for listening to music on the go or using Discord on your mobile phone. For critical voice recordings, it is better to use the dongle or USB cable anyway. The latter is included as a USB-A to USB-C cable and serves both as a charging cable and an audio cable (USB class-compliant sound card). However, there is no analogue 3.5-millimeter jack connection, which means that the Logitech G522 Lightspeed cannot be used purely in analog mode. Friedrich Stiemer Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Battery life One highlight of the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is its enormous battery life. Logitech promises up to 40 hours with RGB lighting activated and an impressive 90 hours without lighting. We were able to confirm these values in practice: In Lightspeed mode with the lighting switched on continuously, the battery lasted around 38 hours. This is an excellent value, far exceeding that of its predecessor, the G733 (around 20 hours with RGB). Without lighting effects, you can enjoy several days of gaming marathons before the battery runs out. Friedrich Stiemer Although there are competing headsets with even longer runtimes (such as the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless with around 300 hours of runtime; see review), the Logitech G522 Lightspeed sets the standard in the mid-range. A practical feature that increases the battery’s longevity: Logitech’s G-Hub software allows you to optionally activate a charging limit of 80 percent to conserve the battery. And if the battery does break down after years of use, it can be replaced with just a little skill. Logitech is collaborating with iFixit and plans to provide replacement batteries and instructions. This shows that sustainability and longevity have been taken into account here. Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Sound quality For the audio drivers of the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, the manufacturer relies on both tried-and-tested and new technology. 40-millimetre Pro-G speakers ensure good sound quality. However, these are embedded in a new acoustic module: completely enclosed in the ear cups, which is designed to minimize resonance-related distortion and produce a more symmetrical sound. According to Logitech, this has improved bass response and clarity while reducing power consumption by around 35 percent. The frequency response remains classic at 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, the drivers do indeed deliver a powerful, low-distortion sound, but more on that in the sound test below. A positive feature is that the headset supports DTS Headphone:X 2.0 for virtual surround sound (license via the Windows app “DTS Sound Unbound”) as well as native spatial sounds such as Windows Sonic or PS5 Tempest 3D on consoles and PCs. This means you’re equipped to locate your opponents acoustically with pinpoint accuracy for competitive gaming. The Logitech G522 Lightspeed is easy to use and well designed. All controls are easily accessible on the left ear cup: a power slide switch (with LED status indicator), below which is a recessed button for switching between Lightspeed and Bluetooth mode, followed by an easy-to-use volume wheel and a two-stage microphone mute button. The latter is particularly clever: when you press it to mute, it extends slightly and a red ring becomes visible – so you can immediately see and feel that you’re muted. In addition, a small red LED lights up at the tip of the microphone as soon as the mic is deactivated. So if you forget to “unmute” yourself, embarrassing silences in voice chat are a thing of the past. The detachable microphone connects via a trapezoidal 3.5-millimeter plug and can be flexibly adjusted. Friedrich Stiemer Last but not least, Logitech offers exemplary software support. In Logitech G Hub (PC/Mac) and the Logitech G mobile app, you can configure the headset extensively: everything is available, from RGB lighting control (various effects or synchronization with other Logitech devices) to the 10-band equalizer and “Blue VO!CE” microphone filters. Also, up to three audio profiles can be conveniently stored directly on the headset. Once set up, you can save a gaming, music and chat profile, among others, and use them on another console or device without having to restart the software. This device-independent profile storage is a great feature, especially for cross-platform users. All in all, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed excels in versatility and user-friendliness. From connectivity options to battery and audio technology, pretty much everything that demanding gamers appreciate has been thought of. Sound quality review Let’s get to the most important thing: how does the Logitech G522 Lightspeed sound? The short answer: very good, especially for gaming, with slight compromises for music in the factory settings. In gaming mode, the headset impresses with a clear, spatial sound image. Footsteps, gunshots and ambient noises can be precisely located; tracking down opponents in FPS games is easy thanks to the clean stereo stage and spatial sound capabilities. Whether competitive shooters like CS2 or cinematic single-player epics, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed delivers clearly defined details and convincing surround sound. Activating DTS Headphone:X on your PC adds even more depth to the sound—the atmosphere becomes even more immersive, which is particularly noticeable in story-driven games or films. Even at high volumes, the sound remains distortion-free and pleasant. Explosions rumble, voices are clear, and even the slightest sounds are not lost. Friedrich Stiemer Although the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is obviously designed for gaming, many of us naturally want to use our headset for music and multimedia as well. Here, the G522 is somewhat idiosyncratic in its default settings. The bass sounds a bit flat and restrained, while the mids are a bit too prominent and the highs a bit too soft. This means that music initially lacks a bit of punch and brilliance. However, there’s no need to worry: with a few equalizer adjustments, the sound can be improved enormously. Logitech G Hub offers a comprehensive equalizer and numerous presets for this purpose. So if you subtly boost the lower frequencies (20 to 125 hertz) and treble, you’ll get a much more balanced sound. Bass lovers should take a moment to adjust the settings, and then the Logitech G522 Lightspeed will purr right along when listening to songs and film soundtracks. On a positive note, the drivers respond excellently to EQ without distorting – presumably thanks to the new acoustic modules. Conclusion regarding sound: gamers will immediately enjoy themselves, and those who like to listen to music can achieve a well-rounded sound with just a few clicks. Considering its price, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed delivers respectable audio performance that comes dangerously close to some much more expensive headsets. Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Microphone quality The microphone on the Logitech G522 Lightspeed deserves a special mention, as Logitech has really delivered here. The detachable boom mic is boldly advertised by the manufacturer as “the best microphone in the gaming world”, and we can indeed attest to the wireless gaming headset’s surprisingly high voice quality. The microphone records at 48 kHz/16 bit, covers a wide frequency range (70 Hz to 20 kHz) and sounds very clear, natural and with low-noise in practice. In online rounds and Discord chats, you’ll be understood crystal clear with the G522 – your voice comes across as present and in near broadcast quality. Streamers and frequent chatters in particular benefit from no longer needing an external table microphone arm to achieve decent voice transmission. Friedrich Stiemer The “Blue VO!CE” technology also gives you additional tools to improve your voice via software. Noise reduction, compressor, de-esser (to reduce sharp S sounds) and EQ profiles can be activated to mute background noise or adjust the sound of your voice. In our test, the raw signal from the microphone was already very good, but somewhat sensitive to ambient noise (mechanical keyboard strokes could be heard quietly). But this is exactly where Blue VO!CE and the G-Hub filters come in, effectively cleaning up the input. After that, all that remains is the voice, clear and distinct. The microphone thus also meets semi-professional requirements for streaming or podcast recording. The only downside: during testing, we noticed that the microphone sometimes swallows the first letters of a new speech passage. This could be due to the automatic speech recognition or a sensitivity threshold – however, the noise gate can be adjusted in G Hub to remedy this behavior. Is the Logitech G522 worth it? The Swiss manufacturer has scored a major success with the Logitech G522 Lightspeed. The white version reviewed here combines technology and style to create an attractive overall package. The G522 delivers almost everything you would expect from a modern gaming headset, and at a very reasonable price of only $130. In our test, the G522 impressed us with its high level of comfort, first-class sound for games and an outstanding microphone that transmits your voice so clearly that it’s hard to believe you’re talking through a wireless headset. The battery life is respectable – the headset can handle long gaming nights or streaming sessions without needing to be recharged. Of course, not everything is perfect: audiophile music lovers will need to fine-tune the equalizer, and the large headset feels a little loose on smaller heads. But these are minor flaws considering the overall performance. All in all, we can give the Logitech G522 Lightspeed a clear recommendation. For PC and PS5 gamers looking for a comfortable wireless headset with versatile features, the G522 is currently a very attractive option. It easily keeps up with more expensive premium models and surpasses its direct predecessor in all respects. Read...

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