Lenovo is rising the vary of equipment that may be magnetically connected to its ThinkBook laptops—and that might quickly embody SSDs and second screens.
Lenovo first launched its vary of Magic Bay gadgets final yr, however is utilizing CES 2024 in Las Vegas to point out off each confirmed new equipment and prototypes that might arrive later this yr.
Magic Bay equipment join magnetically to suitable Lenovo ThinkBook laptops, which have a small set of pin connectors on the laptop computer’s lid, simply behind the place the webcam is generally positioned.
Among the many prototypes being displayed at CES is a compact SSD unit, which might present further storage or act as a backup disk with out having to occupy one of many more and more uncommon USB ports on the laptop computer.
Lenovo product supervisor Steven Wang mentioned the clip-on storage nonetheless provides the equal of USB 3 speeds, which suggests it ought to be capable of switch knowledge at a price of as much as 5Gbits/sec. Wang demonstrated how Home windows acknowledged the extra storage as quickly because it was connected to the rear of the laptop computer, as if it had been plugged right into a USB port.
Though the corporate confused the Magic Bay SSD was nonetheless solely a prototype, Wang mentioned it could possibly be launched as a industrial product as quickly as the center of this yr.
On the extra novelty finish of the size, Lenovo additionally confirmed off a prototype of a clip-on digital assistant that “gives encouragement” as you’re employed away at your laptop computer. Its tiny round display screen has a spread of emoji-like facial expressions to speak with the laptop computer’s proprietor.
Magic Bay Display
The Magic Bay display screen provides further desktop house
Barry Collins
Among the many different Magic Bay prototypes Lenovo unveiled was a small, secondary display screen that sits simply above the laptop computer’s common show. The 10in display screen would supply further working house for enterprise vacationers, with out having to plug in secondary screens.
The magnetic connection on the Magic Bay display screen being proven at CES did appear somewhat flimsy, with the second display screen being unintentionally knocked off on multiple event in a brief house of time. Nonetheless, it have to be confused it was a prototype gadget with no confirmed launch date.
Whether or not the comfort of the magnetic attachment is sufficient to outweigh the additional house afforded by standard secondary screens provided by Lenovo and lots of different producers awaits to be seen. There are comparatively few Home windows functions that cope properly with being squeezed into such a small show.
Magic Bay Studio
The Magic Bay Studio is a stick-on 4K digicam
Lenovo
One accent that Lenovo did verify could be launched later this yr is the Magic Bay Studio. This can be a 4K webcam that’s designed to supply a superior videoconferencing expertise to the digicam constructed into laptops.
Lenovo claims the digicam’s sharp photos are additional enhanced by AI to assist professionals look their greatest on video calls. The Magic Bay Studio additionally enhances the laptop computer’s audio with its personal 2W audio system, serving to to extend the sense of spatial audio when videoconferencing.
The Magic Bay Studio will probably be accessible from June, at an anticipated worth of $199. That definitely positions it on the premium finish of the webcam market.
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