At MWC 2024, Lenovo presented Project Crystal – a laptop with a transparent screen (the kind they like in science fiction films for some reason), and a touch panel in place of the keyboard. The manufacturer also showed a line of more traditional ThinkPad and ThinkBook computers, but with a key that is fashionable today for calling up the Microsoft Copilot artificial intelligence. The company also offered Smart Connect software, developed together with Motorola, which should make it easier to manage tasks on various devices.
Lenovo Project Crystal
Lenovo's Project Crystal is probably the world's first laptop with a transparent microLED display, an example of science fiction brought to life. There are currently no plans to turn Project Crystal into a retail product. But Lenovo's latest concept device was commissioned by ThinkPad to explore the potential of transparent microLED panels and the integration of artificial intelligence. The most obvious use case would be to exchange information somewhere, such as a doctor's office or a hotel reception. Instead of rotating the screen, you can use software to let anyone on the other side see it.
Combined with a camera built into the back of the system, Lenovo says augmented reality is possible. One example would be using a camera to identify an object, similar to Google Lens. And thanks to the transparent display, this idea can be developed further by superimposing a diagram or diagram on an object for troubleshooting or repair, reports Engadget.
At first glance, the transparency effect is surprising. When closed or when the display is turned off, the Project Crystal screen looks almost like a regular piece of glass with a slight brown tint. But a moment later it bursts into flames like a Russian warship. Nominal brightness reaches 1,000 nits, with Lenovo saying peak values can reach 3,000 nits, making it brighter than the new Galaxy S24. And despite the fact that the panel is made up of several layers, it is thin, which helps blur the line between the digital and analog worlds. Lenovo says it is also considering adding a specific contrast layer to turn it into a traditional opaque display at the touch of a button. However, for a relatively large 16-inch display, its resolution is not very high, so if you look closely you can see individual pixels.
Another design trick is that instead of a traditional keyboard, the Project Crystal features a touchpad similar to those found on older Yoga Books. She suffers from many of the same problems. The most obvious example of this is when hands drift while typing because there is no haptic feedback, resulting in decreased accuracy. Lenovo says that in the future, AI will be able to solve this problem by learning a person's habits and then using that information to account for hand deviations from the starting line. But now it is still a problem.
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ThinkPad and ThinkBook behind the Copilot button
Lenovo calls the upgrades to the ThinkPad T series and ThinkBook line “AI PCs” because they all feature a dedicated Microsoft Copilot button that provides instant access to the digital assistant.
Models announced include the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5, ThinkPad T16 Gen 3, ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2, and ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4. These computers feature new Intel Core Ultra processors.
The ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 boasts a durable 3:2 display with Corning Gorilla Glass and an Intel Core Ultra U processor. This tablet-laptop hybrid can be equipped with up to 32 GB of RAM. The detachable backlit keyboard boasts a three-button trackpad, and the tablet features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera.
The updated ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 features an ultra-thin profile at 16.85mm, slightly thinner than the previous generation. It weighs about 1.6 kg. The 14-inch display has an aspect ratio of 16:10, and the keyboard unit is a larger touchpad made of glass-like material Mylar, reports Engadget. It also comes with the new Magnetic Slim Pen for finer touchscreen control.
The ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 will go on sale this April and will be available in several versions starting at $950. The ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 will also go on sale this April, starting at $1,220. The ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 will launch the same month with a starting price of $1,400. Finally, the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 will go on sale this March with a starting price of $1,170.
Smart Connect from Lenovo and Motorola
A new cross-device management tool called Smart Connect should allow users to easily switch tasks from one device to another. For example, you can transfer a podcast from your phone to your tablet with just a swipe gesture, or easily share files between connected devices using the unified Share Hub. The companies have not yet released a full list of compatible devices, but for now they say that Smart Connect will work with Lenovo PCs running Windows 10 or later and only with select Lenovo tablets and Motorola devices.
Smart Connect lets you navigate between multiple devices using a single keyboard and mouse without interruption and receive synchronized notifications from all connected devices. It also offers a smart clipboard feature for all connected devices, so you can copy and paste items from one device to another. Smart Connect will also allow users to turn their phone into a hotspot for a connected tablet or PC, or use it as a webcam. Users will also be able to stream content from their phones to other connected devices, for example to watch videos on a big screen. Smart Connect will be available in a few months from the Microsoft Store and Google Play Store.
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