Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G and Wi-Fi 6: the latest mobile router
5G will deliver greater speed, throughput and signal reliability. Ideal for a mobile WiFi router.
Netgear is a leading specialist in both fixed and mobile routers. While two major developments are currently underway - the 5G and Wi-Fi 6 So what could be more natural than to bring them together in a single mobile router - one of the first of its kind, ahead of its time (and ahead of 5G networks, which are expected to be in their infancy this year). The Nighthawk M5 brings these two technologies together in a case that is still compact (105 x 105 x 21.5 mm) and easy to carry (just 240 g with battery). This means you can connect this year to the first 5G networks (downloading up to 4 Gbit/s) available on the planet, and test the impressive speeds promised by the very latest generation of telephone networks.
As for Wi-Fi 6, it allows you to connect more devices (up to 32!) and use streaming simultaneously, without loss of quality. For connection security, it uses a VPN Pass-Through function and password protection. The router can run for a day on its battery and can also be plugged into the mains. It is controlled via a 2.4″ colour LCD touchscreen or Netgear's dedicated app. At its heart is the Qualcomm SDx55 chip, which specialises in new telecoms standards.
The router will be available in the second half of 2020 at an as yet undisclosed price. It has received a Innovation Award (Innovation Award) from CES 2020 organisers, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). This annual competition aims to recognise outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products, with a panel of expert judges examining the technical qualities, design, functionality and consumer appeal of the products in the running.
Asus ExpertBook B9: the world's lightest
Is the weight of a laptop your main criterion? Then this one should be at the top of your list, at 870g in 14-inch format.
Ultra-light, powerful and solid, the new Asus ExpertBook B9 presented at CES in Las Vegas achieves a kind of squaring the circle. Its battery is capable of operating for up to 24 hours. What's more, this 66 Wh fast-charging battery can recover 60 % of its capacity in just 39 minutes of charging. A system that automatically disconnects the power-hungry calculation of video images when a still image is displayed saves a considerable amount of energy.
Its record weight of just 870 grams is made possible by the use of a magnesium-lithium alloy chassis (16 % lighter), which also benefits its strength, rated at 38 % higher. Thin but strong, It is approved to US military standard MIL-STD 810G, which tests shock, pressure, the resistance of the hinge, keyboard and integrated sockets, vibration, humidity, temperature and even altitude... The trackpad incorporates a touch-sensitive numeric keypad, the keyboard is resistant to a glass of spilt liquid, while the special articulation of the screen raises the keyboard and makes typing more ergonomic. The sound is by Harman/Kardon.
The very thin edges around its 14-inch screen mean that it can make do with a 13-inch size. Particularly slim, it is just 14.9 mm thick. Its processor is a 10th-generation Intel i7, its RAM is up to 16 Gb and, for storage, two SSDs provide high-speed access (3,500 Mb/s) to up to 2 Tb of data. Despite its very compact size, it packs a complete connectivity with HDMI, RJ45, second-generation USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3 USB-C sockets. It also features a Kensington Lock slot for attaching the device. Wi-Fi 6 is on board, with connection speeds up to 2.7 times faster than Wi-Fi 5. The range can even reach up to 300 metres. An infrared camera takes care of facial recognition identification, complemented by a fingerprint sensor. 1,849 (Spring 2020).
Yubikey Bio: easy fingerprint recognition
A simple USB key with an integrated fingerprint reader to secure access to your PC? Here's an interesting alternative for PCs without built-in readers.
Yubico is a Swedish company that specialises in security keys for enhanced two-factor authentication. The Yubikey Bio incorporates a biometric reader capable of fingerprint recognition, enabling you to connect to your computer in total security, replacing the fingerprint reader on top-of-the-range laptops. This tiny element in the form of a small, flat USB key is perfectly easy to take with you (the manufacturer even presents it as a key ring). Double authentication is possible with an additional PIN code. The Yubikey Bio key was first revealed at the Microsoft Ignite conference, then at CES in Las Vegas 2020. It doesn't require a battery, special drivers or dedicated software. It automatically maps to Windows 10 and the Azure Active Directory, enabling quick and convenient access without having to type in a password. Particularly effective protection against cybercrimeFIDO 2.0 and WebAuthn standards, which create a cryptographic key based on the fingerprint image. As with smartphone systems, the fingerprint image does not leave the device. The launch date and price of this innovation are as yet unknown.
Creative Outlier Gold: wireless, with 360° SxFi effect
True wireless" headsets, with no wires at all, will be omnipresent at CES 2020. Another trend is 360° immersive sound. This model from Creative Audio combines both.
Taiwanese brand Creative Audio cultivates technological solutions in a class of their own, notably with its SxFi system for 360° immersion, now in its second generation. The principle is fairly simple, but difficult to achieve: in headphone listening, the music is broadcast directly into the ears, without any distance. But here, the software processing of the signal "takes off the sound in your ears to give the impression of being immersed in a room dotted with loudspeakers. This applies to music, films and video games. Sony has taken up this principle in its own way this year.
Another major trend is the customisation of sound. Here too, a number of brands are present on the market (JBL, Skullcandy, etc.), as is Creative, which takes an 'imprint' of the ear and the emptying to better adapt the sound to the body shape. For the Outlier Gold wireless headphones, a basic version of the SxFi system has been chosen, enabling sound to be spatialised via a specific application for Android or iOS. These mid-range earphones (€100) offer a beautiful gold finish also found on their aluminium casing (54g). One charge gives a record listening time of 14 hours, while successive charges on the case give 39 hours of autonomy.
La listening skills is there, with 5.6 mm graphene speaker diaphragms, Bluetooth 5.0 transmission, and top-of-the-range aptX and AAC codecs. Siri and Google Assistant are accessible, and if you only want to use one earpiece, for example to stay in touch with the outside world, you can choose left or right, and touch commands can be transferred. The buds are sweat-resistant, so can be used for sports.
