Acer was on the API booth and was said that in monitors, it was currently a case of “Go bigger or go home”. It said that interest in 21:9 models is increasing and that it plans to introduce curved 21:9 models later in its B2B monitor line. As we had previously seen at CES and MWC, Acer was showing the Liquid Jade Windows phone running in Continuum mode over a type C connector. The company made the point to us that type C could also create a market for ‘public’ docking – with keyboards, monitors, mice and other peripherals being easy to connect. They expect to see the technology supported in airports and other places where people have to spend time. Staff also told us that the company is getting good feedback from resellers on the Type C docking opportunity.
Acer has previously shown an external graphics module for its Acer Switch 12 S convertible notebook at IFA (Acer Looks to Gamers, Chromebooks and “PC Phone”) and at CeBIT more information was released. The dock has an integrated Nvidia GXT 960M GPU and is connected to the Switch via the USB Type-C on the notebook, which apparently supports Thunderbolt 3 to talk to the dock. The dock has three USB ports, a headphone jack, a couple of DisplayPorts and an HDMI as well as ethernet. Pricing is estimated at around €300 including tax.
Picoprojector specialist, Aiptek, was highlighting the modular projection system that it had shown us at BETT (Aiptek Modularises a Projector). The block concept has also been developed by Acer and Lenovo, but Aiptek highlighted to us that its system was not PC-architecture-based. The ‘intelligence’ module is a tiny tablet that can run Android or Windows 10 (dual boot).
Asus highlighted to us a new “universal” (at least electrically – mechanically the USB connector needs to be in the right place!) USB 3.0 docking station that it was showing that supports 4 USB connections, HDMI, DVI , VGA and Ethernet. Other than that, there were no new products. The dock is unusual in that it allows the notebook to be swivelled up and off the desk surface.
Asus’s USB Dock can support the PC when it’s folded away. Image:Meko
BenQ had a large area on the API booth and one of the most professional presentations that we saw and received. Sadly, there wasn’t much in the way of new products as so much had been shown at ISE. The company is expecting a boost to projector sales before the Euro soccer championships this summer.
Club3D was on the API booth and was highlighting a USB Type C universal dock called the Sensevision. The product looked good, being made in aluminium and can support dual monitors via HDMI, VGA or DVI. Other features include an RJ45 for ethernet and a slot for direct reading of memory cards. The design is intended to allow a notebook to rest with the back on the dock to tilt the keyboard.
Concept International is from Munich, where it distributes mini-PCs and other systems. It was showing a range of integrated Android-based smartscreens in 13″, 15″, 18″ and 21″. They were not new at the show, but we haven’t reported on them before.
IcyBox is a developer of accessories and was showing a Type C universal docking solution that uses Thunderbolt 3 and should be available in mass production in Q2. As well as Thunderbolt 3 input, it has an output as well as a DisplayPort with 4K DCI support at 60Hz.
MMD was promoting AOC at the show as it was working with API and that company is not a Philips distributor, so there was no Philips presence – in contrast to the significant presence at some recent previous CeBIT shows. The firm was showing the recently announced 35″ curved gaming monitor. (AOC Meets Gamers’ Criteria) We talked about the development of USB Type C monitors and heard that the first from MMD would be under the Philips brand. AOC had on show 22″, 24″ and 27″ versions of existing monitors that were previously only available in black, but will now be available in a light grey colour. Staff told us that there are public tenders that require this kind of case colour. (Which probably harks back to earlier ergonomics advice for monitor use. At one time, the influential TCO approval was not available for black monitors, on the same basis. However, that position came under pressure, so they were later allowed. Man. Ed.)
The first booth we went to was Fujitsu Technology Solutions as we covered the whole of the Reseller hall. The company was on the API booth and FTS told us that it did not have its own booth at all this year – which really shows how CeBIT has changed. The company showed us the P27T-7LED and told us it was new – however, it seems to have been available for a long time!
As we had caught up with Iiyama at ISE (ISE 2016 Round-up), there was not much new at CeBIT. The 3237 is a new version of a 32″ multitouch procap monitor that was previously only available in black, but is now also available in white. The GB2788HS was highlighted at the show and is a 24″ or 27″ 144Hz FreeSync gaming monitor (Iiyama is Top of the Food Chain). Staff on the booth were in a positive mood as sales of Iiyama products have been going well.
Inno3D, which specialises in gaming peripherals and graphics cards, was showing a new PC that is optimised for 3D and also a new headset (think Rift). Unfortunately, the products were prototypes, so little information was available. We were quite impressed with the image quality, with only small areas of the image out of focus and only barely visible pixels (the unit does not use a phone, but has its own display imagers). We did not a strange “juddering” when we moved our head on the 3D games, but the 3D video was good quality. Unfortunately, as a prototype, we couldn’t get any real information on the imager used. As well as the headset, PC and graphics board, the company has developed a 3D printer.
The Inno3D headset is pretty good and in pre-production. Image:Meko
Last year, LG‘s monitor group had a special area to itself at the fair to talk to customers, but that was not repeated this time. LG was particularly promoting its projectors at the event. We heard that the company was not satisfied with the progress it had made in projection sales, so the responsibility for sales has now been moved to the IT peripherals sales group, which also handles monitors. The group plans a big push on the category this year and is particularly optimistic for success with the PF1000U ultrashort throw (UST) model. It is also pushing the 21:9 curved monitor products and was notably less positive about the potential and speed of adoption of these products this year. We asked about the Type-C docking monitor that we saw at CES, but staff seemed to confuse this with monitors that support the USB fast charge mode.
At CeBIT 2015, Samsung had a big booth in Hall 3, but this year it was confined to an area on the API booth where it was showing monitors and public displays, although we noted that there were no discrete LED displays this time. There were no new products that we haven’t previously reported.
TCL has started to distribute its TVs through API (since January) and was on the firm’s booth to promote its TVs, although there were no sets we haven’t previously reported. The company believes it will take time to build up momentum under the TCL name, although it is also using Thomson, which is widely recognised. Two of its chinese competitors have acquired German brands (Loewe/Hisense and Metz/Skyworth) as we have previously reported. The company is optimistic about sales of its 50″, 55″ and 65″ UltraHD sets, which were on display.
You can see how busy CeBIT was this year! Image:Meko
