AI as a buzzword has many raising their eyebrows at their every reference, but like any emerging technology, it is something that will redefine human life in the years to come. From AI assistants that understand and carry out every query to analytical AI that makes sense of your notes and data to summarize them into digestible information to generative AI which lets anyone create images and words, AI is empowering people to make more efficient use of their time and resources. That technology, however, will only truly have a positive impact on human civilization if it’s made available to everyone rather than just an elite few. As part of its mission to bring advanced technologies to emerging markets, TECNO is now announcing at IFA 2024 its encompassing vision for AI as well as the AIoT experiences and designs to bridge the digital divide.

Designer: TECNO

AI Vision: Practical AI

To some people, “AI” is a vague buzzword, while others understand it only in the form of Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa. The reality is that AI encompasses a wide range of features and applications, but its most important facet is how it can be integrated into daily life in order to improve the quality of people’s lives. For TECNO, this goal involves not just fancy new features or complicated neural networks or large language models, but also AI that can be understood by everyone, requiring localization and integration with local apps in markets where TECNO operates.

One such example is the Gemini-integrated TECNO smart assistant, Ella AI. Its conversational style makes interaction feel more natural, like talking to a real human who can adapt to the dynamic nature of most conversations. Whether you’re asking for advice on what to wear based on the weather or suggestions for recipes, the TECNO AI Assistant offers a more intuitive alternative to the conventional one-question-one-answer systems of smart assistants.

TECNO’s AI vision also includes features like Real-Time Translation that breaks down language barriers and better connects people across the globe. There’s also AI Writing, which can summarize long walls of text to make them easier to comprehend or help improve your writing with proofreading and suggestions. And, of course, there’s also AI Search that puts the world’s information beneath your fingertip, and quite literally, too, with the now popular circle to search gesture.

AI Artboard takes the somewhat controversial generative AI technology and transforms it into a tool to help give users a creativity boost when brainstorming for ideas. AI Image Editing cleans out undesirable objects in photos or helps put together a comical collage of objects in a single composition. Whether it’s for fun or serious work, TECNO’s AI Assistant helps people get their tasks done faster so they can have more time for more important creative work.

TECNO is also showcasing its first-ever AI PC, the TECNO MEGABOOK T16 Pro 2024 Ultra. Powered by an AI-powered Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of storage, this AI laptop promises exceptional power to drive AI experiences, including those from Windows Copilot+.

TECNO Devices: Technology For All

Of course, AI isn’t the only focus of the technology company. At IFA 2024, TECNO is also unveiling its portfolio of devices that help bridge the digital divide and deliver much-needed technologies to emerging markets. First unveiled at MWC 2024 in February, the TECNO Pocket Go puts a twist on the handheld gaming PC market, combining a gaming computer inside a controller and AR glasses that offer a bigger screen than what these small handheld devices can offer. It also offers advanced AI head tracking and vibration algorithms to add a bit of spice to your games.

The TECNO MEGA MINI Gaming G1 shrinks a gaming desktop down to a more space-efficient size without compromising on performance and, more importantly, cooling. A whisper-quiet cooling pump ensures stable and consistent performance that both gamers and creators need to level up their game. Despite its minuscule form factor, it boasts an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card not just for raw performance but to also support AI-powered features.

New to TECNO’s lineup is the MEGABOOK K16S, designed to let entertainment lovers “See bigger, See louder” with its 16-inch widescreen display and 2.5W 4013 quadruple speakers. Running on an AMD Ryzen R7 5800U processor paired with AMD Radeon graphics, the laptop promises stunning visuals and performance as well as AIoT (AI of Things) support that lets it seamlessly multi-task between devices.

The post TECNO at IFA 2024 reveals AI vision and AIoT products to advance Innovation For All first appeared on Yanko Design.

One of the world’s biggest computer-centric tech expos has just ended and, unsurprisingly, a lot of the rhetoric revolved around AI. But if you walk around the showroom floor, another theme quickly becomes evident in the midst of new products as well as some not-so-new wares. Consumer tastes have evolved once again, even among those who would embrace the label of being a gamer. Design is no longer just a feature for the few but an important part of a product’s DNA. We’ve seen quite a wide range of designs across an equally wide range of products, from the eccentric to the elegant. Here are some of the most notable designs to grace our paths at Computex 2024 in Taiwan, showcasing not just the trends but also the innovations in the computing industry.

Cool Computing: PC Case Designs

Desktop computers have evolved from uninspiring towers to smoldering workstations with over-the-top lighting to a smorgasbord of designs that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Computex 2024 is a glowing testament to not only the changes in design trends but also to the extent that some manufacturers will go to in order to appeal to their loyal fans.

ADATA XPG Invader X

Designer: ADATA

Winner of an iF Design Award, the ADATA XPG Invader X values transparency in more ways than one. Its clear front and side panels let you marvel at the neatly arranged components that power this gaming beast, including the tubes and RGB-lit fans that keep the box operating at maximum efficiency. Equally interesting, however, is the chassis’s ESG-compliant design, utilizing post-consumer recycled plastics and upgrade-friendly components. It’s a stylish, eco-friendly computer that tries to offset the carbon emissions of your gaming lifestyle.

Cooler Master Mecha Cases

Designer: Cooler Master

Who said computers needed to come in the form of boxes? Cooler Master definitely didn’t. With designs that come in the form of a robotic shark and a giant mechanical sneaker, these PC cases shatter expectations and misconceptions about how our computers should look like. And as hardware becomes smaller even as they become more powerful, it’s only a matter of time before these become the standard rather than the outlier.

PNY Aftershock Bubble Tea PC

Designer: PNY x AftershockPC

Electronics and liquids don’t mix but it becomes a mind-blowing mystery when you see the two together. And now, we don’t mean liquid cooling. From the makers of ramen-themed desktop towers, this Bubble Tea PC will have you not only scratching your head but also craving a cup of boba. Instead of a sugary and milky drink, however, it’s a luscious-colored coolant that has faux tapioca balls swirling around as it keeps your cool-looking PC thermally cool. This collab between PC maker PNY and case designer Aftershock isn’t a joke either but a fully functional gaming PC that’s ready to put a new spin on your cravings.

Power In Your Hands: Handheld Gaming PCs

While there are plenty of AI-toting laptops scattered around Computex this year, they are hardly the only computers vying for attention. Gaming handheld PCs are pushing the envelope not only in performance in a small form factor but also in terms of design. There’s definitely plenty of room for experimentation, and there are a few that have caught our attention and fancy.

ADATA XPG Nia

Designer: ADATA

An unexpected contender from a brand better known for its memory and data storage hardware, the XPG Nia focuses on the aspects often left out in the wake of specs and benchmarks. A tilting screen, for example, can drastically improve the comfort of staring at a handheld computer for long periods of time, while upgradable RAM in addition to upgradable storage gives the device a longer life than even some of the smartphones we have today.

ASUS ROG Ally X

Designer: ASUS ROG

The ASUS ROG Ally X is a fine example of refinement over sensational changes. The base design remains the same, but the subtle and sometimes invisible improvements deliver an almost totally different experience that’s a step above in terms of usability. Best of all, however, ASUS isn’t removing the OG ROG Ally from the market just yet, leaving consumers with the choice between affordability and power.

MSI Claw 8 AI+

Designer: MSI

The MSI Claw A1M was an odd one when it came out, but the Claw 8 AI+ cements the manufacturer’s position in the young handheld gaming PC segment. With newer, AI-friendlier hardware comes significant improvements that are necessary for such a small gaming device. It’s still rather unique in its use of Intel silicon, and it will live or die by that commitment. Its design, however, is also enough to make it a noteworthy contender in this fast-growing arena.

ZOTAC ZONE

Designer: ZOTAC

ZOTAC is another new contender, one that has its sights set on the name that started it all: the Steam Deck. While it resembles this progenitor in some aspects, the ZOTAC ZONE tries to take the design where Valve seems reluctant to go. Better hardware and configurable controls will sing to the hearts of many gamers, but the steep price tag could be a major deterrent as well.

Material Matters: Aesthetic and Sustainable Designs

Design innovation doesn’t just have to come from wild new forms or combinations of ideas. Even the materials used for products can have a notable positive effect on the user experience, especially when they delight not just the eyes but also other senses like touch. Bonus points if they also benefit the environment, ensuring there will still be a planet for consumers to live on.

ASUS Ceraluminum

Designer: ASUS

Laptop users are becoming more and more design-conscious. Even those who don’t tend to personalize the backs of their laptops want it to be something that will leave a lasting positive impression on bystanders, not to mention on themselves. Combining the durability of metal with the luxury of ceramic, ASUS’s new Ceraluminum material subtly elevates the laptop from a technological product to an art object. First used on the new ASUS Zenbook S 16, this material exudes beauty that you not only see but also feel every time you touch the laptop or lift its lid.

TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Design Edition

Designer: TECNO

Paying homage to both coffee lovers and environment-conscious consumers, TECNO and LOEWE designed a back cover material that gives waste coffee grounds new life. Using an equally eco-friendly process, this more sustainable material gives the TECNO CAMON 30 Series LOEWE Design Edition a distinctive appearance and texture that easily sets itself apart from the crowd. Plus, the use of color blocking also marks the phone with a modern style to fit the discerning tastes of modern consumers.

Creative License: Tools for Designers

All these wonderful designs don’t just pop out from thin air. Someone has to make them, from initial ideation to prototyping to manufacturing. Designers and creators naturally need tools that can meet the growing complexities of their work, and Computex definitely has quite a few in store for them.

Acer SpatialLabs Eye 3D Camera

Designer: Acer

Spatial computing, mixed reality, and the metaverse require a special kind of content, one that breaks free from the confines of flat, 2D space. Even in video meetings and live selling streams, 3D objects are becoming more in demand, offering not just viewers but also presenters new ways to connect and communicate. Acer’s new SpatialLabs Eye 3D camera tries to democratize that process, effectively giving anyone the ability to capture, record, and stream any real-world 3D object as a digital copy.

ASUS ProArt PZ13 Detachable Laptop

Designer: ASUS

As computers become more powerful and geographical boundaries become shorter, content creation can no longer be confined to a desk in an office or room. The ASUS ProArt PZ13 gives designers, artists, engineers, and everyone in between that kind of flexibility with its portable and detachable design. What makes this 2-in-1 computer different is that it’s part of the new breed of Windows computers running on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip, promising improved performance and, of course, on-device AI capabilities.

Power to the User: Empowering Gamers and Creators

One thing that gamers, creators, and power users have in common is their need for power, both literally and figuratively. The ability to customize not only their experience but also the appearance of their equipment goes a long way in giving them the confidence to get their job done, and these designs definitely deliver that with a touch of pizzazz!

ASUS Project DALI E Ink Cover Laptop

Designer: ASUS

E Ink is no longer just for eBook readers. Now that it has color and is being used in signage, the eye-friendly and power-efficient display technology is finding its way to the most unexpected places, like the back of this laptop concept. Project DALI turns the laptop cover into a canvas for users of all walks of life to express themselves or simply have a different design every day if they want. All without draining the battery even when the laptop isn’t running.

ASUS ROG Mjolnir Portable UPS

Designer: ASUS ROG

Nothing scares a gamer or designer more than losing power in the middle of an intense playing or working session. Uninterruptible power supplies are a staple for these people, but if you’ll be getting one, why settle for a boring box when you can have one of the most powerful weapons in the universe? Shaped after the mythological hammer of Thor, the ROG Mjolnir is a power station with an attitude and, more importantly, the power and features to actually match.

Cooler Master MasterHUB Modular Stream Kit

Designer: Cooler Master

A typical computer keyboard has 87 to 101 keys or more, but sometimes even those aren’t enough for content creators, streamers, gamers, and advanced computer users. When you have to remember a bunch of keyboard shortcuts that differ from program to program, you’re putting a heavy burden on your mind that could be used for actual creative thinking instead. This modular MasterHUB stream kit and control center not only offers the power of programmable buttons but also lets you decide how you want those controls to be arranged and look.

The post Top Design Innovations from Computex 2024: Where Technology Meets Aesthetics first appeared on Yanko Design.