Lenovo have teased a futuristic prototype of a laptop with a transparent display.

The Thinkbook Transparent Display is a 17.3-inch laptop with a MicroLED display that appears (almost) clear when unlit. This creates the effect of near-transparency when using dark mode apps, while a white, full-brightness display remains opaque.

In practice the display has no bezel, and is currently only 720p, which would now feel a little basic compared to most modern laptops. Like most devices, the top of the base contains most of the components, with the keyboard being a projection.

Lenovo has form for unusual laptop concepts – being among the first to experiment with rollable displays, touch keyboards, dual-displays and other unusual variants – as well as a prototype transparent smartphone.

While technologically impressive, it’s not entirely clear what practical applications transparent displays have for this form factor. Lenovo argue this is another kind of augmented reality, with the user able to look behind the screen or visually check design work against the real world, although laptops usually rest on a surface while being used.

The first transparent laptops appeared more than a decade ago from Samsung, and LG plan the release of an OLED transparent TV for 2024, although Lenovo’s attempt is one of the most impressive to date.

For now the transparent ThinkBook is a mostly just an advert for Lenovo’s more conventional laptops, but Lenovo acknowledges one major strength: a screen which “seamlessly blends and harmonises with its surroundings.” Or, to put it another way, perhaps one day all our giant screens will be a little less… in the way.

If your staff’s company-issued devices are now everywhere, how can you keep track – and what are the benefits?

Device Management technology has really come into its own in the last few years, particularly as companies have embraced hybrid working during Covid. 

Maintaining a large digital estate of company devices far beyond the reach of your travel distance or office network sounds like a logistical headache – but it simply requires a shift in approach. Here’s why your organisation should consider rolling out device management:

The Basics

First and foremost, device management means protecting access to data and your hardware investment.

Tracking a device’s specifications and physical location remotely have long been a cornerstone of device management – but modern hardware-loss protections go a step further by adding the ability for IT admins to remotely lock or even wipe a device in the event of a suspected theft. On the best solutions, MDM software can also look out for suspicious warning signs like a mobile device being jailbroken – and conditionally deny access to company apps or data.

In 2022 that safeguarding can now apply across desktop, mobile and tablet devices – right across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android & ChromeOS. Now that staff work anywhere from their homes to airports, that lockdown ability is a powerful tool.

Stress-Free Maintenance

With modern device management it’s easier for your IT administrators to manage devices, apps and the updates that apply to them.

In the old days (well, the early 2000s), remote administration meant a device had to be domain controlled, connected via VPN or similar, or within physical travelling distance of the technician.

No longer. Modern device management means device profiles, Windows updates, access to company-approved apps, patches, firewall rules and more can all be created and pushed out centrally via content-distribution ‘over the air’. Device management means even the hardware specifications of company devices can be remotely managed, potentially saving thousands of hours of IT support hours.

The ‘Out-of-the-Box’ Experience

Don’t forget the users! Device Management isn’t just to make life easier for the IT admins, but also helps make sure the end-user gets a great experience.

With remote device onboarding, the preparation of new or re-issued devices can be done in advance, allowing the user a complete profile of settings and apps to launch right ‘out of the box’. That flexibility allows organisations to enroll staff that never visit a central hub to collect the device, supporting distributed organisations with personnel (potentially) all over the world.

If your MDM solution also supports single-sign-on, that sign in can be the user’s passport to the full ecosystem of company apps and IT resources, right from day 1.

For IT support and systems expertise, please contact our team today.

Google have previewed a design study of sensory notification devices designed for a less stressful digital life.

‘Little Signals’ demonstrates interesting ways the end-user might receive notifications in a calmer, more subtle way than via their smartphone screen – using ambient sound, changing shadows and discrete movements.

The friendly-looking set of six tabletop devices are a zen paradise of pastel shades and soft movements designed to be less anxiety-inducing than a constant blizzard of push notifications.

Little Signals is one of several Google ‘Digital Wellbeing’ experiments – with others including ‘digital detox’, a visual ‘anchor’ that prevents infinite doom scrolling, and a minimalist ‘paper phone’.

Some of the devices can be interacted with, or are intended to have minor affects on surrounding objects to get the user’s attention.

Each prototype hides an onboard Arduino micro-computer, but none of the devices use either display screens or artificial light, demonstrating how Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices might become better disguised as part of our physical environment.

For IT support and expertise, contact our team today.

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi have debuted a new, longer-range, wireless ‘air charging’ technology.

Mi Air Charge allows a special charging beacon in the home to detect a device, such as a smartphone, and directionally provide up to 5W of wireless charging at a distance.

The company claims this is the first ‘truly’ wireless charging technology that doesn’t require a device to be physically placed at a base station for induction charging.

144 antennas comprising a phase control array allows the beacon to direct millimetre-wide charging waves via beamforming to a special rectifier circuit on a Xiaomi smartphone handset that recharges the device battery. The company believes similar technology will eventually be available for smartwatches, smart speakers and other home devices.

It’s not yet clear how far a user will be able to roam from the beacon, although Xiaomi claim the charging will work at ‘several meters’ distance.

Although the device is largely a marketing prototype at this stage, Xiaomi are expected develop it into a viable consumer product. The corporation has been officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2018, and is focusing on ‘Internet-of-Things’ (IoT) devices and supporting technology.

For IT support and expertise, contact our team today.

Ever wish you could add handwritten notes to documents in Microsoft Office? Now you can – as Microsoft have unlocked the ‘Draw’ tab for Office 365.

The new tools come with a range of pen shapes and bright colours, and have been designed particularly with touchscreens and tablets in mind. Accessible across all Office 2016 documents, spreadsheets, presentations and notes, the ‘Draw’ tab follows the recent releases of Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the iPad Pro. Those with clumsy fingers may prefer to use a stylus.

It’s undoubtedly a pretty and relevant addition to Microsoft’s historically bland Microsoft Office – the simple colour wheel can be used for highlighting text or adding freeform annotations in various ‘ink’ colours.

Behind the new sketchpad fun is some intelligent software, which includes shape recognition that allows users to ‘rough’ draw polygons for conversion to regular shapes for use in diagrams or flowcharts .

The possibilities for working collaboratively, marking homework, sketching designs, reviewing reports or simply saving paper are endless and enjoyable – and show just how practical Office 365 has already become.

Explore Office 365 with Lineal today: click here or call 01271 375999

Online shopping giant Amazon have announced they will sell a budget tablet computer, the Fire Tablet, at an advertised price of just £50 from the end of September.

In possibly a promotional world first, Amazon will sell the Fire Tablet in a ‘six-pack’ for the cost of five tablets. Take note education sector; for under £1500 an entire class of 30 children could have personal access to this basic tablet computer.

Nor are there any indications that the Fire Tablet will be poor quality. Like many tablets the Fire will burn on a standard Android system, with the technical specs boasting a 1.3Ghz processor, 8GB of storage space, a 7-inch (171 ppi / 1024 x 600) screen and 7 hours of battery life, all fairly standard for the lower end of the tablet market.

Of course Amazon’s pitch is more strategic than it may first appear – the bargain handheld device allows the massive retail conglomerate another way to promote Amazon video streaming services, Amazon Prime, Kindle Books and other online shopping services.

But commercial clients too could benefit from working with low-cost handheld and mobile devices like the Fire Tablet – here at Lineal we’ve long argued that technology needs to suit your business, not vice versa. Portable access and low outlay means that these tablets allow your digital information to spread into less static or safe working environments – out of private offices and studios, into public places, onto construction sites, factory floors, classrooms, or the remotest of small businesses.

The cost of the device may even ignite interest among some users reluctant to risk moving to a tablet, encouraging them to finally give it a try.

Lineal can help match your tech needs to your business. Learn more here: http://www.lineal.co.uk/contact/

More from Lineal News

This week saw the hotly anticipated release of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, Apple Inc’s flagship smartphone announced in their annual product release that has become as inevitable as the tides.

With the iPhone now accounting for something close to 70% of Apple’s revenue, the 6S and 6S Plus were the main attraction. The new design fixes old durability problems with a stronger case and tougher screen, but added features include the obligatory faster processor, a new rose gold colour choice, and an upgraded 12MP camera – all aimed at keeping ahead of the competition, at least when it comes to performance.

‘3D Touch’ is Apple’s newest technical innovation, making the screen of the company’s newest devices pressure sensitive. This gives users the illusion of screen depth by accurately judging the strength of the screen press, allowing for new capabilities like a ‘peek’ at an app with a gentle touch, and giving Apple another technical edge with which to play the long game.

Not that Apple’s thinking hasn’t been questioned: commercial clients may find the power to shoot high resolution 4k video enticing, but will likely be sceptical at how practical it is to save such high-quality video files on a smartphone.

Indeed, for a company whose founder’s dislike of the stylus is well documented, releasing a large tablet with a stylus appears an open invitation for criticism. Nevertheless this is exactly what Apple have now done, introducing the new iPad Pro, a 12.9 inch tablet, ostensibly optimised for creative use by designers, illustrators and other editors needing a larger screen.

The demonstration of the iPad Pro included the new $99 (£65) stylus, the Apple ‘Pencil’ effortlessly photoshopping a woman’s smile on screen, an illustrative but perhaps ill-chosen example that somehow made it through Apple’s press office without ringing media alarm bells. Appropriate use aside, the technology is nevertheless impressive: the Apple pencil combined with 3D Touch allows pressure sensitive brush strokes on screen drawn with great precision.

This year’s releases represent Apple maturing a little, yet still relying on groundbreaking technical features to stay ahead of the curve.  Apple Inc. shares actually slid two percent to close lower on Wednesday, with investors holding their breath to see whether the new products were enough to really ‘impress’ customers. The tech giant has arguably sacrificed some of the flamboyance of previous years’ releases to concentrate on the innovation needed to outpace rivals, and open more important doors for its own future, including in the form of its renewed invasion into our living rooms with the new Apple TV and tvOS complete with the long heralded AppStore.

Lineal has over 20 years of business experience with Apple Mac, including connecting your mobile devices for working on the move – why not get in touch with us today? http://www.lineal.co.uk/contact/