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Ubuntu's first tablet doubles as a desktop, goes on sale in Q2
Remember that time Spanish device maker BQ started promoting a new, Ubuntu-powered tablet before Canonical was ready to start talking about it? Well, the Ubuntu developer finally decided to get chatty. As expected, the device is a Ubuntu-fied version of BQ's existing Aquaris M10 tablet, with just about everything from the 10.1-inch display to the quad-core MediaTek MT8163A chipset left unchanged. The biggest difference centers on what Canonical calls "Convergence" — the updated M10 is the first bit of consumer Ubuntu hardware that acts like a full-blown PC when you connect a keyboard, mouse and display to it.
Siemens' waterproof Aquaris hearing aid means rain doesn't need to stop play, we go ears on
Being deaf or hearing impaired may present technological challenges, especially if you are fond of the great outdoors and all the weather-related perils that come with it. Siemens knows this and developed the Aquaris hearing aid, the only one to receive an IP68 rating for continuous submersion underwater (to three feet). It's also dust- and shock-proof, if you're further up the extreme activity lifestyle ladder. It's not just about keeping the elements out, it's also got Bluetooth, meaning wearers can listen to music on smartphones and other devices while underwater. The device itself is what you might imagine a hearing aid to look like, if it was given the sports treatment, which makes it attractive to younger folk, and those of an active disposition. Most importantly, it works impressively well, which was amply shown by the demonstration we were given with the device permanently submerged in water at the booth, streaming its audio to another device. The waterproof functionality doesn't come at the expense of the sound, either, with the Aquaris sporting high-definition sound with 48 channels with high frequency resolution and a 12 kHz frequency range. Given the nature of the device, you'll need to speak with your physician or ENT / otolaryngologist if this sounds like something for you. Available now. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Sean Cooper contributed to this report.
