With its GeForce "Maxwell" family, NVIDIA, riding on the multi-monitor fad, began equipping its graphics cards with up to three DisplayPort connectors, besides an HDMI, and optionally, a legacy DVI connector. Prior to that generation, AMD dabbled with equipping its cards with two mini-DisplayPorts, besides two DVI and an HDMI.

With the latest GeForce RTX "Turing" family, NVIDIA could push for the adoption of USB type-C connectors with DisplayPort wiring, and perhaps even USB-PD standards compliance, pushing up to 60 Watts of power from the same port. This could make it easier for VR HMD manufacturers to design newer generations of their devices with a single USB type-C connection for display and audio input form the GPU, USB input from the system, and power. We reckon 60W is plenty of power for a VR HMD.

GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the release of the new B450 AORUS Motherboard series. These new models support the full spectrum of AMD Ryzen processors and boast innovative technologies including AMD StoreMI as a way to accelerate traditional HDDs to speed levels only found in SSDs. Excellence in computer experience is achieved through the use premium details such as the integrated I/O shield, next-gen Wi-Fi and USB Type-C connectivity. A new armor design highlights the contours of the AORUS falcon while providing an advanced cooling solution for one of the most critical areas of the motherboard.

With this launch, GIGABYTE is also introducing a new naming scheme for the AORUS models. It better represents model hierarchy using terminology more familiar to gamers with B450 AORUS PRO and B450 AORUS ELITE as the top options based on the B450 chipset from AMD. True optimization for all 2nd Gen Ryzen CPUs requires a robust power design and to meet all power requirements with the utmost quality, the motherboards utilize solid pins inside the power connectors.

(Editor's Note: Naturally, the adoption of such a standard does imply that graphics card manufacturers will have to start fitting USB 3.1 connectors on their graphics card outputs. This opens up a proverbial can of worms on backwards compatibility of this new data delivery protocol, however, in that even current top-of-the-line graphics cards lack such a port - meaning that this protocol will only be compatible with eventual, future GPU releases.)

A new industry consortium led by NVIDIA, Oculus, Valve, AMD, and Microsoft today introduced the VirtualLink specification - an open industry standard that enables next-generation VR headsets to connect with PCs and other devices using a single, high-bandwidth USB Type-C connector, instead of a range of cords and connectors.

iKBC shared a booth space with Mistel, and decided that this year was the year of the wireless mechanical keyboard. In doing so, they showed off the Bluetooth version of their budget-friendly CD108 full-size keyboard. The new CD108 BT has PBT plastic keycaps, a battery tray for two AAA batteries on the back, cable management for the removable USB Type-C cable for when you want to go wired, dipswitches for onboard functionality controls and a choice of genuine Cherry MX switches to choose from. Releasing later this year, the iKBC CD108 BT looks to be one of the only options for a wireless full-size mechanical keyboard coming up.

Sony is expanding its External Solid-State Drive (SSD) range with a brand new top of the range SL-E series. This new model is a stylish, high-capacity external SSD that is small enough to put in your pocket but powerful enough for high-speed and safe data transfer. Designed with the needs of professionals such as architects, engineers and researchers in mind, the handy external solid-state drive is smaller than a credit card, so you can take it anywhere and with up to 960GB of storage you can keep all your important files with you all the time.

Compatible with wide range of devices
This SSD is equipped with compact and reversible USB Type-C ports for connection to all the latest mobile technology, as well as standard-A cables. Having both ports ensures usability with a wide range of devices including Mac and Windows PCs, Android smartphones and tablets.

LG has released a behemoth of a new monitor that aims to deliver the same image quality as a standard 4K panel in a much, much wider package. The 38WK95C is a 37" monitor with a staggeringly wide 24:10 ratio, which delivers its 3840x1600 pixels in an ultrawide field of view that's sure to be a powerhouse of a working environment. There's even FreeSync support, as is the case for many LG monitors, so that users who want to try and catch some gaming can do so at a buttery-smooth frame rate - if they can find some games that get around the ultrawide aspect ratio and can actually play with no distracting graphical glitches, that is.

The panel is an IPS affair with 5 ms gray-to-gray response time and 75 Hz refresh rate - somewhat adequate to the resolution this monitor will be used at. LG does seem to be back at their misleading HDR badges, though, as they claim HDR10 support, despite the fact that brightness is set at a pretty low 300 cd/m² brightness. The bare minimum that AMD considers for an entry-level HDR-capable display is 400 nits of brightness, so LG seems to be merely quoting support for HDR inputs - there's likely no real HDR image quality enhancement at play here. The panel is being quoted as being 10 bit (8-bit+FRC) color capable. As for inputs, there are 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 and 1x USB Type-C connectors; the monitor includes 2x 10 W speakers, a headphone jack and 2x USB 3.0 ports, and will enter the market at a $1,499 asking price.

HP today announced immediate availability of some monitors specifically geared for the professional - or at least pixel-conscious - crowd. The EliteDisplay S270n monitor features a 4K, IPS, 27" diagonal, 350 cd/m² brightness, 1300:1 static contrast ratio panel with 14 ms gray to gray response times. Display input duties can be allocated towards 1x DisplayPort 1.2 or 2x HDMI inputs (1.4 and 2.0). Additionally, there's 1x USB Type-C supporting Displayport 1.2 which is able to deliver up to 60 W of power to a connected device.

The other three models HP has announced today sport the Z27, Z32 and Z43 monikers, which directly reference the diagonal size of the monitors. The feature set is practically the same across all three of these models; they offer the same 4K UHD resolution and IPS based panels. 350 cd/m² remains as the peak brightness value, as well as a 1300:1 static contrast ratio, but the response time is improved on the 27" and 42" models to 8 ms gray to gray (the 31-inch model is at 14 ms, just like the EliteDisplay). The HP Z27, Z32 and Z43 all support 1x USB Type-C which supports DisplayPort 1.2 and can send up to 65W of power to the connected device. Display outputs are the same across these monitors (1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x Mini-DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB Type-C, but the Z27 and Z32 pats only carry three additional USB 3.0 ports, while the Z43 ups that number to 5x. All monitors are available now, with pricing being set at $549 for the EliteDisplay S270, while the Z27, Z32, and Z43 are priced at $559, $899, and $799 respectively.

Akitio, creators of premium, high quality, external storage solutions, today announced an important expansion of their storage product offerings - to integrate hard drives into select Akitio storage enclosures. The expansion creates a new line of products for Akitio as previously the company sold only unpopulated enclosures. The first Akitio enclosure that will be available with drives will be the new Akitio Thunder3 RAID Station and it will be populated with two Seagate 2TB Iron Wolf Pro drives. Akitio also plans to offer higher capacity drives and also incorporate them into other Akitio enclosures.

This new product expansion makes Akitio products even more flexible than they already were by offering consumers and businesses the option of purchasing either a fully populated, plug and play storage solution or an empty enclosure and installing their own drives.

After years of experience in the optical disc, computer equipment, auto and industrial markets, Pioneer has recently made the leap into the consumer electronics market and launched its all-new USB Type-C Series which include a docking station, multiport adapter, and external Portable SSD and more.

Versatile Docking Station helps build a super powerful personal workstation
The docking station features a simple design, intuitive use, and perfect compatibility with MacBooks and Thunderbolt computers. Only the USB-C terminal is required to connect all devices to significantly improve work efficiency. It supports Windows dual-screen output, having the complete expanding capability for the A/V output. It is flexible, easy to use and charges your device to greatly enhance your work efficiency.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), a committed technology leader, announces the latest additions to its line of portable hard drive solutions for personal storage, the CANVIO PREMIUM, ADVANCE and BASICS models, offering flexible capacity ranging from 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 3TB options. Although the models may differ in materials and features, the CANVIO line brings a unified design of flat and rounded devices thanks to the new 1TB-per-platter technology.

The CANVIO PREMIUM series offers versatile connectivity in a stylish design with an aluminum finish and diamond-cut edges in silver metallic. The device is easy to store with the thinness body and give it a sharper look. It is accompanied by a USB Type-A to USB Type-C2 adapter that can be inserted in any orientation for easy connectivity to everything from notebooks to high-end desktop PCs. The 2TB devices in the Premium line have a 13.5mm profile, 5.5mm slimmer than the previous model. The 1TB devices also have a 13.5mm profile and the 3TB devices have a 19mm profile.

USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, today announced the expansion of its Certified USB Charger Compliance and Logo Program to include Certified USB Fast Chargers. Certified USB Fast Chargers support the Programmable Power Supply (PPS) feature of the USB Power Delivery 3.0 specification.

The USB-IF Certified USB Charger Initiative was first announced in August 2016 to provide a universal charger for the evolving device and computing markets. The Certified USB Charger Initiative aims to increase the reusability and sharing of chargers across all compliant USB Type-C devices, reduce electronic waste in landfills, and provide a reliable and easy to use charging solution for consumers. USB-IF anticipates USB Fast Charging to become the de facto industry standard for charging.

At today's Consumer Electronics Show 2018 (CES 2018), Western Digital unveiled new and breakthrough consumer solutions that address today's personal content explosion, including voice-activated media streaming via popular Smart Home devices, the world's smallest 1TB USB flash drive and a portfolio of ultra-mobile, high-performance, wireless and high-capacity flash storage products. Sold under the SanDisk and WD brands, these offerings ensure that personal experiences and memories can thrive for years to come.

Smartphones, drones, action cameras and virtual reality (VR) goggles are capturing and creating rich content that users want to access and share with friends and followers alike. Innovations in multi-lens cameras, 8K video, 5G wireless, VR, augmented reality (AR) and video streaming are enabling more immersive experiences. As a result, consumers are looking for easier ways to capture, preserve, access and share their personal content as it becomes richer and more robust.

Kingston Digital Europe Co LLP, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, is set to share its latest and upcoming products at CES. Kingston will have demonstrations highlighting the capabilities of their family of solid-state drives and encrypted USB Flash drives, as well as additions in the consumer lifestyle space with mobile and embedded solutions.

"We are excited to share what's to come from Kingston in 2018. CES week provides a great opportunity to showcase the many quality technology solutions that make up the Kingston family," said Robert Allen, Director Marketing and Technical Services -EMEA, Kingston. "From enterprise SSDs, encrypted USBs, consumer mobile products to embedded solutions, we continue to offer customers rock-solid reliability, ultimate security and maximum performance. When guests visit our suite, they will fully understand Kingston's commitment to offering the most complete family of performance solutions."

To complement the release of the highly anticipated new Define R6, Fractal Design announces two accompanying accessories to even further expand the capabilities of the new case, both visually and technologically. The Connect D1 upgrade kit enhances speed and convenience with full USB 3.1 Gen 2 support and the latest Type-C connector. The Connect D1, available for purchase in early 2018, enables fast charging and blazing 10Gbps transfer speeds on compatible motherboards and devices with hassle-free bidirectional Type-C connections.

The Flex VRC-25 offers a unique step-up in style as a vertical PCI-E riser card and extender, making your graphics card the outward facing centerpiece of your build. Coming late January, R6 owners can free their GPU from the bounds of traditional mounting with confidence knowing the Flex VCR-25 is stress-tested for guaranteed stable, uncompromised performance. The Flex VCR-25's patented shielded overlap cable and riser card solution is specially fitted with custom standoffs for the Define R6, ensuring every installation is as clean-looking, reliable and rock-solid as the case itself.

LG Electronics (LG) will introduce its latest LG gram notebooks that deliver superior portability, enhanced powerful performance and convenience features. Since the incredibly lightweight notebook line debuted in 2014, LG has consistently surprised consumers by maximizing portability without sacrificing performance. The 2018 LG gram notebooks push the boundaries of portable computing with improved mobility and durability, as well as upgraded processors and more versatility.

"The new LG gram PCs have been designed for those users who want an all-round, high performance notebook with maximum portability," said Tim Alessi, head of product marketing at LG Electronics USA. "The 2018 gram series ticks all the boxes for users who want versatile and lightweight notebooks with faster processing capabilities."

Transcend Information Inc., a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the release of the StoreJet 200 for Mac portable hard drive. This large capacity, elegantly designed, and lightweight drive is an instantly classic accessory for Mac devices. Featuring the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, a USB Type-C connector, and pre-formatted with the HFS+ file system, the StoreJet 200 is ready to go right out of the package.

Lightweight and capacious
Transcend's StoreJet 200 for Mac is only 9.95 mm thick and weighs in at just 133g, making it the perfect storage companion for work or travel. In addition to its portability and sleek design, the StoreJet 200 for Mac has a storage capacity of 2TB, allowing users to enjoy their digital life wherever they may roam.

Today, Drobo announced two new special editions for the 5N2 and the 5D3 to bring performance and peace of mind to power users. Power users among creative professionals, SMBs and connected homes require increased speeds, data recovery protection, and extended support for their data-intensive workflows. These special editions are best-in-class complements to Drobo's stellar history of delivering award-winning simple, safe, and smart storage solutions.

All Gold Edition Drobos include a premium DroboCare warranty for five years, replacing the standard two-year coverage for uninterrupted protection on Drobo products. Additionally, the Gold Editions include a 128GB mSATA SSD for up to 30% faster access to frequently used files. The Platinum packages also include one instance of a data recovery service within a five year period. This partnership is an industry first and a direct result of our power users' desire to ensure their data will never be compromised. DriveSavers has the highest recovery rate for mechanical, water and fire damage, file corruption, and more on hard drives and all data storage devices. Drobo has an exclusive partnership with DriveSavers for this level of service, potentially saving customers thousands of dollars in recovery fees.

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing computer components and peripherals, today announces its new performance focused mechanical gaming keyboard, the MasterKeys MK750. The new addition to its award winning lineup of gaming peripherals boasts a removable magnetic wristrest, four dedicated media keys, full RGB backlighting with an illuminating light bar, USB Type-C removable Cable and of course Cherry MX Mechanical Switches mounted to an anodized aluminum body. It's a pro-grade gaming keyboard perfect for the aspiring gamer looking for a pro-gaming experience.

"We wanted to further raise the bar so we designed a keyboard that harbors all of the fantastic existing features of our MasterKeys Pro line except now we added more elements that are needed for a competitive gaming set up such as dedicated media keys and removable wristrest for comfort," says Bram Rongen, Peripheral Sr. Product Marketing Manager.

Synaptics Incorporated, the leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced its AudioSmart CX21988-THX is the industry's first USB-C audio codec solution to achieve THX Approval. By offering a THX Approved USB-C audio codec, Synaptics can supply OEMs with an important building block that affords a significant head start in the development of THX Certified headphones and headsets, mobile gaming devices and other personal audio devices. THX, founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1983, is a globally recognized assurance of uncompromising quality, consistency and performance.

"The key to developing a great sounding set of headphones, especially ones capable of accurately reproducing the engineered sound field of a mix, is utilizing a winning combination of professional-grade components," said Peter Vasay, Senior Vice President, Technology and Operations, THX. "The Synaptics AudioSmart CX21988-THX USB-C codec impressed us, as it supports high-resolution audio with best-in-class headphone performance, and boasts ultra-low distortion, and tuning options to greatly improve the performance of connected transducers. We believe it to be the ideal foundation for the development of THX Certified headphones."

AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces the AOC 16" class USB-C Monitor (I1601FWUX), with ultra-slim IPS panel for extreme portability. The USB-C monitor is slim and lightweight to be easily used on-the-go. The widescreen monitor receives both power and signal via a single USB-C cable for plug-and-play connectivity. It does not require a dedicated power cord or VGA cable, and comes with a foldable flexi-stand for maximum flexibility. This makes it perfect for accountants working at a client's office or a road warrior working from his hotel room. It is available now at Amazon for $199 (MSRP).

Designed with a piano-black glossy finish, this USB-C monitor has a 15.6" display with a 700:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time and a full HD resolution at 60Hz. The IPS panel provides wide viewing angles and has better color uniformity than TN panels. The USB-C monitor also utilizes AOC's LowBlue Mode. Through the software, the monitor decreases harmful blue light by controlling color temperature while keeping the vivid color. At 15.6 inches and about 1.81lbs, the monitor is extremely portable. Its small form factor makes it perfect for business presentations, travelling or dual-monitor setups on-the-go. It easily fits into a backpack or its own included carrying case.

Transcend Information Inc., a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the release of the StoreJet 600 for Mac. Housed in a stunning metallic casing, this light and durable StoreJet 600 for Mac matches the sleek lines and elegant curves of Mac devices. The space-gray color reflects a sophisticated style, and makes this portable SSD a fashionable on-the-go accessory. The StoreJet 600 for Mac features the latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface and pre-formatted HFS+ file system, allowing it to be used right out of the box.

Transcend's StoreJet 600 for Mac utilizes the USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, which achieves double the transfer speeds of USB 3.1 Gen 1 devices, and meets UASP standards to boost transfer rates up to 470 MB/s. In addition, both a USB Type-C cable and a USB Type-C to Type-A cable are included in the package to accommodate Mac models featuring the Thunderbolt 3, USB Type-C, or USB 3.0 interface.

With the DH270, thanks to the Intel H270 chipset, an HDMI 2.0 port now also features on Shuttle Mini-PCs for socket LGA 1151 desktop processors. However, the model presented here has more on offer and shows itself to be versatile at other places, too. The case design has proven to be successful since the DS61, the first model with dimensions of 19 x 16.5 x 4.3 cm (DWH). The space-saving steel chassis can withstand ambient temperatures of up to 50°C and, thanks to the VESA bracket and various threaded holes, it is also suitable for individual mounting options on screens and surfaces. The operating position is flexible and can be horizontal or vertical.

As well as offering space for one 2.5-inch drive and one NVMe SSD, the XPC Barebone DH270 also provides two SO-DIMM slots for up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory. Any Intel Core processors (LGA1151) from the seventh and sixth generation with up to 65 Watt TDP are suitable. There is a total of two M.2 slots on the mainboard, 1x M.2-2280 and 1x M.2-2230, which can be used for an SSD and WLAN module, for example. With 1x HDMI 2.0 and 2x HDMI 1.4b, this model enables multi-screen workstations or digital signage scenarios with up to three 4K monitors (1x 60 Hz, 2x 30 Hz).

ASUS is introducing the MX38VC and the MX32VQ, IFA 2017 product design award-winning products for their sundial-inspired aesthetic on the Qi charger stand and edge-to-edge frameless panels.with similar Qi-charging capability. The product names don't truly showcase the disparity between features in both monitors, so we'll do a rundown on both of them. The Designo Curve MX38VC is a 37.5" ultrawide, QHD+ 3840 x 1600 display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. ASUS is boasting of its SonicMaster technology on this monitor, technology which was co-developed with Harman Kardon. Display inputs on this monitor include 2x HDMI, 1x USB Type-C, and 1x PC audio input port. The MX38VC can sync with a user's smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to play music wirelessly as well. The Qi-charger base also doubles as moody ambient lighting; the Halo Lighting base can synchronize with the audio output on the monitor's speakers.

The Designo Curve MX32VQ, on the other hand, has a smaller 31.5" WQHD 2560 x 1440 monitor with a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio. It includes the same Harman Kardon-imbued built-in speakers, the Halo lighting base and Bluetooth integration. Ports are the same as the MX38VC, sans the USB-C port. Both the MX38VC and MX32VQ also support exclusive feature such as ASUS GamePlus and Adaptive-Sync. The 31.5-inch MX32VQ should retail in Europe for €550, while the larger and wider MX38VC will set you back some much less reasonable €1600.

Silicon Power, a leading provider of memory storage solutions, adds another brilliant coup of storage convenience to its OTG flash drive portfolio - the new Mobile C50. As all good things come in threes, SP's new OTG Mobile C50 has three connectors -USB Type-A, Micro-B, and Type-C. Never lost for the right connection, it's easier than ever to share data between new-generation USB Type-C devices, any "traditional" USB PC or laptop, and Micro-B smartphones or tablets. The compact drive is also a reliable companion for extra storage needs plug-n-play and tops up USB Type-C or Micro-B mobile devices with up to 128GB free space.

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced the pending release of the USB 3.2 specification, an incremental update that defines multi-lane operation for new USB 3.2 hosts and devices. USB Developer Days 2017 will include detailed technical training covering USB 3.2, fast charging advancements in USB Power Delivery, and other exciting topics.

While USB hosts and devices were originally designed as single-lane solutions, USB Type-C cables were designed to support multi-lane operation to ensure a path for scalable performance. New USB 3.2 hosts and devices can now be designed as multi-lane solutions, allowing for up to two lanes of 5 Gbps or two lanes of 10 Gbps operation. This enables platform developers to continue advancing USB products to fit their customers' needs by effectively doubling the performance across existing cables. For example, a USB 3.2 host connected to a USB 3.2 storage device will now be capable of realizing over 2 GB/s data transfer performance over an existing USB Type-C cable that is certified for SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps.

"When we introduced USB Type-C to the market, we intended to assure that USB Type-C cables and connectors certified for SuperSpeed USB or SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps would, as produced, support higher performance USB as newer generations of USB 3.0 were developed," said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. "The USB 3.2 update delivers the next level of performance."