Gadgets

System76 Unveils New Gaming Laptop, Flipper Zero Announces New Model, and More

System76 introduces Adder Pro with Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. Plus, Flipper Zero's new model, Bigme's 25.3-inch E Ink monitor, AMD Ryzen Halo mini PC, and Pixel 11 updates.

5 min read Reviewed & edited by the SINGULISM Editorial Team

System76 Unveils New Gaming Laptop, Flipper Zero Announces New Model, and More
Photo by Onur Binay on Unsplash

Linux PC vendor System76 has announced an upgraded version of its gaming laptop, the Adder Pro, equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (Panther Lake) processor. According to a report by Liliputing, this device also adopts Intel Panther Lake technology, similar to the recently announced lightweight laptop Lemur Pro by the company. However, the Adder Pro differentiates itself by featuring discrete graphics and a high refresh rate OLED display. Weighing approximately 3.4 pounds (about 1.54 kg), the laptop boasts a 15.3-inch 2.5K (2560×1600) resolution OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. Graphics options go up to the NVIDIA RTX 5070, and the laptop supports up to 96GB of RAM.

The price is expected to exceed the $1,923 (approximately 310,000 yen) price tag of the Lemur Pro, highlighting its focus on gaming or mobile workstation use. Compared to competing Windows gaming laptops, this device presents a compelling option for users prioritizing enterprise-level workflows in a Linux environment. Organizations considering costs associated with operating system licenses may find value in the pre-installed Linux model.

Flipper Zero Moves Towards Community-Driven

Development

The team behind the versatile hacking tool Flipper Zero has announced a new model. It has been about eight months since the last official firmware update, and with the new model, the company plans to actively integrate code contributions from the community. This marks a significant shift towards community-driven firmware development. For a device that has garnered significant attention in the fields of security research and hardware hacking, this change represents a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Bigme B251 Pro:

A 25.3-Inch E Ink Monitor with 60Hz Refresh Rate

Chinese electronic paper device manufacturer Bigme has unveiled the 25.3-inch E Ink monitor “B251 Pro.” With a resolution of 3200×1800 pixels, the monitor employs E Ink Kaleido 3 technology, supporting the display of 4,096 colors. Key improvements from the previous model, the B251 released in 2023, include an increased maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and the addition of a monochrome mode. These upgrades enhance its usability for long-duration tasks such as document editing and coding, where reduced eye strain is a priority. With the emergence of this product, there is potential for E Ink monitors to be more widely used for video playback, similar to existing devices like the LitPlayer, an Android video player supporting SMB/Jellyfin.

AMD Ryzen Halo Mini PC: A $4,000 Workstation

A mini workstation featuring the AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor is now available for $4,000 (approximately 650,000 yen) from U.S. electronics retailer Micro Center. The configuration includes 128GB of LPDDR5x RAM, a 2TB SSD, and 10-gigabit Ethernet, with support for both Windows and Linux. Priced well above standard mini PCs, it is positioned as a high-end workstation designed to fulfill demanding needs such as AI inference and large-scale data processing locally. As the flagship model of the Ryzen Halo series, it caters to professionals requiring cutting-edge performance.

Pixel 11 to Be Unveiled on August 12

According to 9to5Google, Google is expected to announce its “Pixel 11” series at an event in New York on August 12. The design has reportedly been revamped, and a new feature called “Pixel Glow” will be introduced. A host of new AI features are anticipated, making this an important announcement that signals the direction of AI integration within the Android ecosystem. The focus will be on the deepening relationship between Google’s AI strategy and its hardware offerings. Additionally, it will be intriguing to see how the Pixel 11 incorporates expanded AI functionalities, such as those seen in YouTube Music Gemini integration, transforming the Android music experience.

Steam Machine Gets Windows Driver Support

Valve has released Windows drivers for its Steam Machine, enabling users to install Windows 11 on the $1,049 mini gaming PC, which comes pre-installed with Linux-based SteamOS. Designed as a gaming PC for living rooms, the Steam Machine was previously limited to SteamOS. With the addition of Windows support, users can expand compatibility with their game libraries as well as the potential for business use.

HMD Nokia Feature Phones:

Unique Models with AI Buttons

HMD Global has announced four feature phones under the Nokia brand. Notable features include a numeric keypad, video call functionality, information services for news and weather, and an AI button supporting voice commands and Q&A interactions. However, the AI assistant service is free for the first 180 days, after which a subscription is required. The integration of AI functionality into feature phones marks a novel attempt to enhance the user experience in the affordable device segment.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, the announcement of the System76 Adder Pro contributes to expanding the Linux gaming market. The combination of Intel’s latest CPU and the NVIDIA RTX 5070 offers a strong option for Linux users in a market previously dominated by Windows gaming laptops. Particularly for organizations sourcing laptops for development environments, the inclusion of pre-installed Linux could become increasingly significant when considering operating system license costs.

The shift of Flipper Zero towards a community-driven development model is an intriguing development, reflecting the evolving relationship between popular devices and the open-source software community.

From a long-term perspective, the 60Hz refresh rate of E Ink monitors and the launch of high-resolution products like Bigme B251 Pro may expand the use of electronic paper devices from static document displays to more dynamic information terminals. Although current E Ink technology still lags behind LCD and OLED in terms of response speed and color reproduction, it is gradually becoming more practical for use in secondary display setups and long-duration programming environments.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main specs of the System76 Adder Pro?
It features an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (Panther Lake) processor, a 15.3-inch 2.5K 165Hz OLED display, up to NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics, support for up to 96GB of RAM, and weighs around 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg). It comes pre-installed with Linux.
What are the changes in the new model of Flipper Zero?
Eight months after the last official firmware update, the new model shifts towards a community-driven development approach, actively integrating code contributions from the community.
What improvements does the Bigme B251 Pro offer over its predecessor?
It features a 25.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display with a resolution of 3200×1800 and support for 4,096 colors. Major upgrades include a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and the addition of a monochrome mode.
Source: Liliputing

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