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Vaio has announced the Vision+ 14 portable monitor as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The Vision+ 14 weighs just 325g, equivalent to 0.72 pounds, and features a 14-inch, 1920x1200, 16:10 aspect ratio display. The screen boasts properties such as 400 nits of brightness, wide viewing angles, anti-glare technology, and a wide color gamut.

The monitor isn’t just light; it’s also incredibly slight - it measures just 3.9mm at its thinnest part. The back panel of the main unit is made of 3D molded carbon, making it both lightweight and strong. It comes with a solid metal kickstand for easy use alongside PCs or laptops, particularly in compact workspaces, and comes with a cover stand.

Extra screen for laptops

The monitor, which Vaio is proud to stress is made entirely in Japan, comes with dual USB Type-C ports that support PD pass-through and DP-Alt. It is priced at 54,800 yen, approximately $340 including sales tax. There are two versions - one for consumers and another for businesses. There doesn’t seem to be any difference in the models however, just the option for firms to bulk buy at reduced rates.

We’ve reported on a couple of laptops with dual screens in recent months, including the GPD Duo and the Acemagic X1, suggesting it could be a trend for 2024. If you like the idea of a laptop with twin screens stacked above each other, but don’t want to spend money on a new PC, the Vision+ 14 could be the percent solution as the included cover stand will allow it to sit above your existing screen.

Vaio says the Vision+ 14's thin and light design addresses the issue highlighted in a company survey that found 50% of people said a sub-display is a necessary device for hybrid work, and of those, over 40% said they had issues with portability.

Once a division of Sony, Vaio was sold off in 2014 when the PlayStation maker decided to exit the PC market. Since then, Vaio has continued to make products in Japan and has recently begun exporting its line of computers to markets like the US and Brazil.

(Image credit: Vaio)

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Latest Tech News

Many mini PCs are becoming increasingly popular because they offer the power of a regular computer in a much smaller package, making them great for people who don't have a lot of space or who need a portable solution that they can easily take with them on the go. 

One of the more unusual mini PCs we've come across lately is the Meenhong JX5, which stands out because it looks like a smartphone and runs Windows 11, bringing to mind Microsoft’s failed Windows Phone experiment.

The JX5 has a sturdy aluminum body and a 5.5-inch touchscreen with FullHD (1920x1080) resolution. The screen is big enough to be usable, but you may struggle to read smaller text or interact with some on-screen elements. At 161mm tall and 92mm wide, it’s a little larger than an iPhone 15 Pro Max, but considerably thicker. A chunk of the 23mm depth is down to the inclusion of a cooling fan.

Limited battery life

It’s another mini PC powered by an Intel N100 processor with Intel UHD Graphics. It comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5 4800MHz soldered-in RAM and you can buy it on AliExpress where it goes under the SZBOX brand. The barebone model with no SSD and no OS sells for $220. If you opt for the top version, with a 2TB SSD, the price rises to $356.32.

The Meenhong JX5 has WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, a full USB Type-C port, a USB-A 3.0 port, two USB-A 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There’s no SD card slot, though. It’s able to power two additional screens at 4K@60fps, so you can use it for a three-screen setup.

We’ve covered its predecessor, the Meenhong JX2, before, and while that device was intriguing, the lack of a battery massively limited its portability. The JX5 does have a battery, but it’s a 1500 mAh model, so you’re going to be looking at about an hour’s use between charges. Like the JX2, it doesn’t have a webcam either, which seems like a strange omission. Although the JX5 runs Windows 11, you can opt for a Linux OS if that better suits your needs.

This mini PC brings to mind similar products like HiGOLE's tablets, the GOLE1 and GOLE1 Plus, both of which we've reviewed here before.

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Movie of the day

Every day, we cut through the bottomless list of streaming options and recommend something to watch. See all our Netflix movie of the day picks, or our Prime Video movie of the day choices.

Vampires are sexy, and Bram Stoker's Dracula knows it. With Francis Ford Coppola at the helm and a cast including Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman, it's a lavish, stunning and highly erotic horror movie that’s so tense it's almost unbearable. 

It's grand. It's operatic. It's wildly over the top. And it's not scared to be silly. No wonder it's so beloved. It's one of the best Prime Video movies for goths, for movie lovers and for anyone else who wants a movie they can – oh yes – get their teeth into.

• Watch Bram Stoker's Dracula on Prime Video now

They did things differently in the past, and by the past I mean 30-odd-years ago: when Bram Stoker's Dracula was released in 1992 it was a breath of fresh – if slightly coffin-fragranced – air compared to the rather tired Dracula movies we'd become accustomed to. That's not to say there weren't some great vampire movies in the years leading up to its release – The Lost Boys, anyone? – but we'd drifted some way from the true gothic horror of Bram Stoker's 1897 story. 

As Stoker's name in the title indicates, this movie was an attempt to address that, but he was mainly there to avoid a lawsuit: the author's name is in the title because another studio had the rights to the singular Dracula.

It's a beautiful production. Roger Ebert wrote that "the sets are grand opera run riot, Gothic extravaganza intercut with the Victorian London of gaslights and fogbound streets, rogues in top hats and bad girls in bustiers," and that lushness helps distract from some of the more clunky dialog and Keanu Reeves' less than stellar performance: "I enjoyed the movie simply for the way it looked and felt," Ebert said.

Gary Oldman was an inspired choice for the count. As The Guardian put it in a 2022 retrospective review, "Oldman’s performance is outstanding"; he is "the fierce and anguished count who hundreds of years ago renounced God and embraced an eternity of parasitic horror in his rage at the unjust death of his countess". As for Keanu, he was just Keanu: "Reeves plays Jonathan with that innocent, faintly torpid calm which audiences would come to know and love for the next three decades."

As far as Esquire is concerned, this is "more than gothic horror. It's a love letter to movie making," a "deafening thunderclap in an endlessly long line of otherwise mostly forgettable Dracula films". Reviewer Dom Nero argues that the movie "is not unlike Apocalypse Now, an awesome work of terror that is so filled with ideas and ambition that it always seems on the verge of complete self-immolation."

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Mini PCs are gaining in popularity due to their compact size, stylish appearance, and surprisingly powerful performance, often at an affordable price. These small-form-factor computers also frequently offer unique functionalities not typically found in traditional desktops.

The most noteworthy feature of the Topton RGB Color Mini PC is the large, colorful fan mounted on top. This keeps the unit cool under load (helped by a large heat dissipation plate inside), but also looks good with its bright RGB lighting. The fan includes customizable lighting settings, such as "Breathe" and "Horseman", and it can remember your preferences and start them automatically. You can also opt to turn off the colors or kill the lights completely if you find it too distracting.

This mini PC comes equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with integrated Radeon 780M graphics. If you want to save some money, then you can downgrade to a 7840HS, and R9 6900HX CPU instead. The device supports DDR5 4800MHz dual-channel memory, and M.2 NVMe SSD storage. You can buy it barebone or configure it how you like with up to 64GB RAM and a 2TB SSD.

Surprisingly affordable

Connectivity options include dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. There are  HDMI and DisplayPort outputs and USB 2.0, USB 3.2, and USB 4 ports, plus an audio jack. The mini PC can drive up to three 4K displays at 60Hz.

The Topton RGB Color Mini PC measures a compact 13cm x 13cm x 5.4cm, weighs 0.5kg, and can sit flat or sideways with a handy stand.

Available to buy from AliExpress now, the mini PC is currently priced at $399.79 for the barebone 8845HS model, a 36% discount from its usual price of $624.67. The figure rises to $700 if you want to populate it with full complement of RAM and storage. The 7840HS version will set you back $330.04, also at a 36% discount, while the 6900HX model, presently out of stock, typically sells for $319.83.

Topton RGB Color Mini PC: was $624.67 Now $399.79 at AliExpress 

Topton RGB Color Mini PC features a top-mounted, colorful RGB fan and is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with support for up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD storage. Extensive connectivity includes dual Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, multiple USB ports, and the ability to drive up to three 4K displays.View Deal

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HP recently launched its new EliteBook Ultra G1q AI PC, the first Copilot+ PC business laptop featuring Qualcomm's 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chipset. 

The arrival of this ARM-based laptop, could, in theory, go some way to challenging the dominance of Intel and AMD in the business market, but two of the first reviews, from Laptop Mag and Notebookcheck, present differing opinions that might make you think twice about opening your wallet.

Laptop Mag’s review is optimistic about the EliteBook Ultra's capabilities, highlighting its fast performance, over 16 hours of battery life, and vibrant 14-inch 2.2K IPS display.

The jury is still out

"With the EliteBook Ultra, HP has made a fantastic case for why Windows on ARM systems are ideal for business professionals. Between the quality performance, impressive battery life, and vibrant display, the EliteBook can be kept up in most professional settings. While its poor graphics performance is disappointing, it will be fine for an enterprise machine," writes reviewer Madeline Ricchiuto.

She also praises the laptop's thin, lightweight design and sustainability efforts, including its use of recycled materials and EPEAT Gold certification. But while recognizing its strengths, Laptop Mag also points out potential issues with graphics performance and specialized app support, advising users to evaluate their specific needs before making a purchase.

Notebookcheck casts a more skeptical eye on the EliteBook Ultra's position in the competitive landscape. The review acknowledges the laptop's decent performance and build quality but stresses that it faces tough competition from existing Intel and AMD machines. "Buyers already have a handful of excellent subnotebooks to choose from (including from HP's own portfolio) that can match or exceed the features and capabilities of the EliteBook Ultra," Allen Ngo, the site’s lead US editor, writes.

The review further notes that the laptop's price point of $1,699 does not offer significant advantages over rivals, suggesting that it might have been more appealing at a lower cost. "The EliteBook Ultra G1q 14 is a good start for Qualcomm, but it's going to need to do much more as the latest from Intel and AMD are a step ahead for the same price."

Ultimately, while the EliteBook Ultra showcases potential with its cutting-edge AI and ARM architecture, its mixed reviews suggest that it may not yet be the definitive go-to for business professionals. 

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Windows 11 is getting some fixes for various frustrating issues with stuttering in the interface here and there.

Windows Latest points out there are numerous problems around glitchy animations and generally sluggish loading when using certain parts of the desktop interface in Windows 11, both in testing, and in the release version of the OS. However, the good news is that the 24H2 update is bringing some fixes for all these gremlins when it’s rolled out later this year.

The problems witnessed in test builds of Windows 11 include freezing or stuttering with Task View previews and other UI elements. However, Microsoft has implemented a cure in the recent build 26100 (24H2 in the Release Preview Channel).

Microsoft observed: “This update addresses an issue believed to be the underlying cause of some Insiders noticing stutters in some animations recently (dropping frames), particularly with Task View.”

More broadly, Windows Latest notes that issues around sluggish or buggy animations are evident in older Windows 11 versions already out there. Furthermore, the tech site also highlights a glitch with the Quick Settings interface, which has been slow to appear when invoked on Windows 11 23H2 (or indeed older versions of the OS).

The Quick Settings panel itself may appear swiftly enough, but some elements may not actually become visible – and therefore usable – for a few seconds. Again though, with the 24H2 update this problem has been ironed out, we’re told.

Small bugs, but seriously annoying glitches

While these glitches might sound like little things – and indeed they are in the grand scheme of bugs, which can really mess with your PC in the worst cases – they are still wrinkles that can hamper the overall experience of using an operating system.

When you flit around from menu to menu in Windows 11, if, at times, you’re having to pause to wait for a panel of options to actually appear, it feels like using a piece of beta software more than anything else. And true, some of these problems are indeed only in testing right now – but not all of them, with others actually affecting the finished version of Windows 11.

A modern OS must not only look good – and Windows 11 has done some impressive work on that front – but it has to feel good, too, which means no unresponsive bits of interface ruining the smooth flow of navigating around the desktop. Still, at least these fixes are inbound now, and should be here before too long – we’re expecting the 24H2 update to arrive in September or thereabouts.

Note that the 24H2 update is not to be confused with Windows 11 24H2 as installed on Copilot+ PCs – the latter was needed for these Arm-based machines, but it doesn’t contain all the full fixes and features that’ll be delivered in September (in theory). Think of it as a barebones version, with the meat still to be added as an update when Microsoft finalizes everything for the 24H2 update (which is officially still in testing).

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Japanese memory giant Kioxia says it has begun sampling shipments of 2Tb QLC devices, utilizing its eighth-generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory technology. 

This new chip will be used in SSDs, servers, and other forms of digital storage hardware that require high-capacity, high-efficiency memory components.

Kioxia's BiCS FLASH technology expands the memory die vertically and laterally, while the integration of CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology supports denser memory creation and interface speeds of up to 3.6Gbps. The new product features a bit density about 2.3 times higher than Kioxia's previous fifth-generation QLC device and 70% greater write power efficiency. With a 16-die stacked architecture in a single memory package, Kioxia says its new QLC device can achieve 4TB capacity.

Pure Storage to adopt the technology

Hideshi Miyajima, Chief Technology Officer of Kioxia, said, “With its industry-leading high bit density, high speed data transfer, and superior power efficiency, the 2Tb QLC product will offer new value for rapidly emerging AI applications and large storage applications demanding power and space savings."

Pure’s DirectFlash Module (DFM) storage (which allows all-flash arrays to communicate directly with raw flash storage) already offers improved density and efficiency, as well as longer life spans compared to SSDs. The firm has previously said it will release 150TB DFMs in 2025, with the aim of shipping 300TB DFMs by 2026. Incorporating Kioxia’s technology in its products will assist that aim. 

Kioxia also added a new 1Tb QLC memory device to its portfolio. Compared to the 2Tb QLC, the 1Tb device provides approximately a 30 percent faster sequential write performance and about a 15 percent improvement in read latency and will be used in high-performance applications including client SSDs and mobile devices.

Charles Giancarlo, Chief Executive Officer of Pure Storage, said, "We have a long-standing relationship with Kioxia and are delighted to incorporate their eighth-generation BiCS FLASH 2Tb QLC flash memory products to enhance the performance and efficiency of our all-flash storage solutions. Pure’s unified all-flash data storage platform is able to meet the demanding needs of artificial intelligence as well as the aggressive costs of backup storage.” 

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