We went to the Showstoppers event on the evening before the main event after a dash back from the 3IT event. There is less and less display-related technology, it seems, at Showstoppers each time we go, but still we found some topics for discussion.
Dell was at the event and also had a booth on the main show floor. At Showstoppers, we looked at the new S2719DC monitor which is a new monitor that exploits the Corning glass LGP to create a very slim (5.5mm) monitor with DisplayHDR 600 certification and supporting a USB Type-C connection including power delivery (up to 45W). The 2560 x 1440 panel is an IPS unit according with 1,000:1 contrast and a 3H hard coating. There are normal (8ms) and fast modes (5ms) and the monitor supports FreeSync. Colour coverage is 99% of sRGB and 80% of DCI-P3. The SRP is €500, which looks like good value to us.
Dell highlighted the new S2719DC monitor at Showstoppers. Image:Meko
Although not a display-related story, Devolo was showing its ‘Magic’ network adaptors, which are based on the second generation of G.hn technology and combine powerline networking with mesh Wi-Fi as well as supporting speeds ‘up to’ 2.4 Gbps (powerline never delivers in the home what it can in the lab!). The adaptors will be available in October and our editor will be in the line to get some.
Fossil was showing its range of smartwatches that it sells with a lot of designs under a range of brand names including Skagen and Misfit as well as licensed fashion brands including Emporio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, DKNY, Diesel, Kate Spade and Burberry. It has recently updated its smartwatches to the the latest Wear OS and the company will have 250 different models for the holiday sales season.
A new product at the show was the Skagen Falster 2, widely seen as one of the best-looking smartwatches, but the previous version was considered to be a bit restricted in functions. The new watch adds a heart rate sensor, GPS, NFC, waterproofing and swim tracking. The Falster 2 uses a Snapdragon 2100 and has a touch-enabled OLED display, but we couldn’t get details.
One of the announcements was a partnership with Noonlight (formerly known as Safetrek) which supports a ‘panic button’ on the watches. If operated, staff will try to contact the user and if unable to do so, will get in touch with ‘first responders’.
HiMirror was showing a special small mirror display that is optimised for make up and beauty. The system uses analytics to identify skin and beauty ‘issues’ such as dark patches under the eyes and shows these on an image on the screen. As well as the basic version, there is a version that has five different LED lighting settings to simulate sunset, restaurant/party view, supermarket or mall, a brightly-lit office and outdoors on a sunny day.
The HiMirror highlights beauty and skin issues. Image:Meko
MyKronoz was showing its ZeTime2 hybrid smartwatch which is available in a regular size of 1.3″ and a ‘petite’ size with a 1.05″ AMOLED, now, rather than the LCD used in the original ZeTime. The display is 360 x 360 resolution and battery time for watch-only functions has been doubled to 60 days from 30. It will cost $230. The company told us that it has its own voice technology and has also got a new product, the ‘ZePop’ that is available on Kickstarter now. The ZePop is a more budget version that has an LCD with 240 x 240 resolution and the original 30 day battery time. It will cost $150.
MyKronoz has a new ZePop smartwatch at a lower price.
Royole was at the event, showing its flexible OLEDs and sensors as well as the sensor-based and headset products that we have previously reported on. Although the company told us that mass production is now available, no technical details of the flexible displays were available. We also went to the main booth at the show, but again there was no extra information, which was a disappointment. We did hear that the yield on the first production was ‘exceptional’, but we’re not entirely convinced that that means exceptionally good! Further, given the world’s limited production facilities for flexible OLEDs, exceptional to what?
The Royole flexible OLED was, literally, flapping in the breeze. Image:Meko
Apparently, the flexible OLED can be used as a hatband. Image:Meko
