Razer announces a cheaper external GPU enclosure and support for macOS

Razer is updating its Core line of external GPU enclosures today, introducing a new Core X model and adding support for Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The Core X is designed as a new, entry level model for Razer’s external GPU line, costing just $299 (as opposed to the Core V2’s $499 price tag), although it loses out on some of the Core V2's more advanced features like USB and Ethernet ports and Razer’s Chroma lighting. That said, the Core X does offer some improvements over the Core V2, with 100W pass-through charging over Thunderbolt, an integrated 650W power supply (versus the V2’s 500W), and support for larger 3-slot GPUs (compared to the 2.2-GPU size on the V2.)

The Core X (and the Core V2) also works with Apple’s macOS laptops, in addition to the previously offered Windows 10 support, although Razer says that you’ll need to be running High Sierra 10.13.4 or higher and be using a Mac-compatible AMD Radeon card. It’s worth noting that Nvidia does make official drivers for many of its cards for Macs which might work even without OS-level support like AMD, but your mileage may vary and Razer — at least on paper — only recommends AMD GPUs for Mac use with its enclosures.

The Core X is available today from Razer’s website for $299, although like the Core and Core V2 before it, you’ll need to supply your own graphics card.

Google partners with JBL for an Android TV-powered soundbar

Google is partnering with JBL to develop a new hybrid device that blends a standard sound bar with a streaming set-top box. The new product, called the JBL Link Bar, will work as an audio hub for your living room, but it will also run Android TV and come with Google Assistant integration to enable voice search and control.

It’s an interesting combination of home entertainment products, and it’s sure to strike a little bit of a fear into Sonos, which is planning what sounds like a similar product to be unveiled on June 6th.

According to a recent FCC filing, Sonos is planning to introduce an update to its Playbar and Playbase line of soundbars, but with Alexa integration and a direct HDMI connection. That way, the new Sonos soundbar could more directly control your TV and enable voice control as well. An image attached to its June event invitation implies the company is working on something akin to a universal remote, so the new soundbar may possibly run on Amazon’s Fire TV platform or may be capable of controlling what you watch and listen to through your TV through some other method.

What is clear, however, is that Google and JBL may beat Sonos to the punch. Google is billing its product as the “first in a series of hybrid devices that delivers a full Assistant speaker and Android TV experience,” so it’s clear JBL is not going to be alone in this category and other partners may be announced soon, perhaps during the Google I/O keynote tomorrow.

More impressive is that — beyond using the “Hey Google” command to control media and YouTube content — you can use the Assistant-powered voice control to play music from the Link Bar even when the TV is off. According to Google, the device will also connect via HDMI, and it will enable input switching via voice so you can jump from TV and movies to a game console or other device.

Jaguar E-Type Zero The World’s Most Beautiful Electric Car

Nearly 60 years after the world’s most beautiful car hit the road, the E-Type still turns heads and reduces grown men to slack-jawed schoolboys. But now, thanks to Jaguar’s growing classic division, the E-Type is not only gorgeous to look at, but also good for the planet, after being retrofitted with a zero-emissions, all-electric powertrain.

There is only one right now, of course, but Jaguar says that it can convert any classic Jaguar – and change it back again too (if so desired).The E-type Concept Zero delivers performance without compromise.

The all-electric lithium-ion powertrain is of a comparable size to the original Jaguar straight six and is located in the same place for optimum weight distribution and handling, whilst saving a total of 80kg.

The 0-62mph sprint takes just 5.5 seconds, one second quicker than a Series 1 E-type.The motor itself takes the place of the E-Type’s factory gearbox, allowing the whole electrified drivetrain to fit in exactly the same place as the factory engine, using the exact same mounts.

The digital dials – supposedly influenced by the original instruments – give the game away completely.How this level of tech transplanted onto an original E-Type will go down with purists, we’ll have to wait and see.

At Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works, you’ll find state-of-the-art technologies and equipment in use alongside traditional hand-working skills. To preserve the authenticity of E-type Concept Zero, our team of skilled craftsmen and technicians use as many of the original practices and tooling as possible.

Zero Mass Solar Panels Turn Air Into Drinking Water

Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of the global population. In the third episode of Next Level season 2, Lauren Goode visits Zero Mass Water, an Arizona-based startup, that is harvesting water using solar panels that pull moisture from the air, even in the desert.

Each panel costs $2,000 (plus a $500 installation fee) and generates an average of 2 to 5 liters of water daily, depending on levels of humidity and sunlight.

A standard SOURCE array is made up of two hydropanels, with additional panels added as needed for the water production or the local climate, and this self-contained unit is designed to be mounted onto the roof of a building, where it can then produce an average of 4-10 liters per day.


An onboard 30-liter reservoir holds the collected water and mineralizes it with calcium and magnesium, and the outflow of the device can be plumbed right to a tap (or refrigerator or dispenser) inside the building for ease of use.

No maintenance is said to be necessary other than annual filter changes and swapping out the mineral cartridge every five years, which a subscription program delivers when it’s time.

A Solar Powered Luxury Catamaran – The Solarwave 64

The time when the fantasy comes to us in the form of a real product has come in the form of a catamaran that is able to move and provide energy with everything needed on board using only the energy of the sun.The hull with the use of carbon fiber gives high strength and light weight, strength for seaworthiness, weight for a combination of speed-range characteristics.

The yacht’s roof is clad with a 15 kW photovoltaic array connected to a series of 100 kWh batteries. The number of batteries can change depending on the yacht owner’s needs.

Unlike other vessels using solar batteries, this catamaran has the comfort of a premium catamaran where you have everything you need: comfortable cabins with separate bathrooms, a spacious bright salon with a large galley and a dining table.


The sailing from the energy of the sun is unlimited, since at a speed of 4 knots the storage batteries are charging in the day time , despite the use of everything necessary on board, and in the dark hours storage batteries are enough for 10 hours of travel at a speed of 4 knots.

This allows you not to use a diesel generator to charge storage batteries not on the run, not in the anchor, marinas, day or night, as the energy of the batteries in the 4 knots speed mode is enough.The solar-powered catamaran can be easily and inexpensively upgraded or equipped, depending on the customer’s demand and operational tasks.

The Arcimoto SRK – A Crazy, Street-Legal Electric Trike

The Arcimoto SRK is a three-wheeled electric vehicle with a unique design. It’s fast, fun, and maybe even a little bit practical. The Verge’s Sean O’Kane took it for a test drive in Las Vegas. Here is his initial reaction.

Arcimoto defines the Fun Utility Vehicle category, delivering a thrilling ride experience, exceptional maneuverability, full comfort for two passengers with gear, optimal urban parkability, and ultra-efficient operation, at an affordable target base model price of $11,900.

Two people and their gear can comfortably drive 70 miles or 130 miles on a charge, well over the daily driving average of 33 miles. Charge up at a charging station on the road or in a standard outlet at home with no special equipment.

Instant torque from the independent dual-motor front-wheel drive takes you from 0-60 in 7.5 seconds and up to 80 mph. The low center of gravity, light weight, and anti-dive optimization makes for an extremely agile and responsive ride.

The small form-factor and motorcycle classification make city traversal a breeze. Weave in and out of traffic, drive alone in the HOV lane, and park like a rockstar wherever you go.The expandable frame architecture easily accommodates removable enclosure options, as well as bolt-on accessories to carry your bike, surfboard, golf bag, or other bulky items.

Quantino – The Car That Is Powered By Salt Water, With 600 Mile Range

The QUANTiNO 48VOLT is pioneering sustainable individual mobility for the future. Its nanoFlowcell® drive will play a major role in making individual mobility safe, environmentally compatible and sustainable. With the models of the QUANT series, nanoFlowcell Holdings is currently continuing its pioneering work aimed at a zero-emissions environment.

A new level of sporty performance at low voltage. The integration of low-voltage drive and nanoFlowcell® give the QUANTiNO 48VOLT agile handling characteristics and exceptional propulsion. The engineering benefits in terms of functional safety, particularly in contact and arcing protection, facilitate faster and easier homologation compared with regular HV systems.

The power plant in the QUANTiNO 48VOLT, the nanoFlowcell, runs on bi-ION electrolytes. Harmless to human beings and nature, it is also sustainable and cost-effective. When paired with the 48-volt low-voltage drive, the QUANTiNO 48VOLT achieves a range upwards of 1,000 kilometres on just a single tank and reaches speeds of 200 km/h, unheard-of, even for the very latest electric vehicles.

The QUANTiNO demonstrated its extraordinary endurance from its very first durability test drive – 14 hours nonstop without refuelling!

When the test driver was forced to stop due to exhaustion after 14 hours and three minutes, the electrolyte tanks in the QUANTiNO 48VOLT were still far from empty.The QUANTiNO 48VOLT is the first true eco-alternative for high-mileage drivers, with a 2+2 interior concept that has the family compatibility of a compact crossover.