- Disney is opening its seventh theme park – in Abu Dhabi
Last month, the Walt Disney Company announced that it would be opening up its seventh global theme park to Abu Dhabi. Currently known as Disneyland Abu Dhabi, the upcoming park’s concept art includes a spiral-shaped castle as the area’s centerpiece. The waterfront resort and park will be located on Yas Island, a region that has grown exponentially over the last two decades to become a resort and entertainment district that currently includes several other theme parks.
Disney says that it has partnered with UAE-based company Miral, which it callsAbu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences,” to oversee development, construction, and operations of the resort. “Disney and its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience,” says Disney. - 3-in-1 attachment quadruples your laptop’s screen real estate
For those who need maximum screen real estate, even while on the go, Aura Displays has introduced a fold-out attachment that adds three 14″ screens to a traditional laptop. The Triple Boost 14″ Pro outfits a laptop with three 1080p displays–one on either side of the laptop’s screens, and one that folds out above the screen. Each display runs at a refresh rate of 60Hz and is anti-glare, and all three are powered by a single USB-C cable. All three displays can also be folded all the way out to allow users to share their screens with those sitting around them.
Additional technical specs provided by Aura Displays include a color palette of over 16 million colors and a brightness of 300-nits. The Triple Boost 14″ Pro weighs 4.7 lbs in total, and folds down into a portable slab that can slide into a laptop bag. - South Korean clothing stores begin utilizing virtual hologram models
We’ve previously featured stories about how Proto, the self-described ‘world’s first holographic communications platform’, utilized its technology to enhance communication for people with hearing impairments, and even facilitate remote consultations with cancer specialists. Now the hologram company is lending its tech towards a new cause: fashion. South Korean fashion retailer Matin Kim has announced that it has installed Proto hologram displays at five of its Matin Kim and Hago Haus locations.
According to Matin Kim, customers can prompt the 3D ‘models’ to turn 360-degrees to show off a variety of outfits. Customers can interact with hologram booths via integrated speakers, microphones, and cameras, and touchscreens. Proto says that the displays feature the Proto AI platform, which allows the virtual models to answer customer questions about any products in realtime. The hologram content was produced by Proto’s exclusive content solution partner in South Korea, Creative Mut. In addition to virtual models, Matin Kim states that intends to use the Proto displays to ‘beam in’ live special guests to its stores, who could then virtually interact with shoppers in real-time. - This Star Wars-themed cargo robot will carry your tools for you
Robotics manufacturer Piaggio Fast Forward has released a new spin on its compact cargo carrier just in time for Star Wars day. Designed in collaboration with Lucasfilm, G1T4-M1N1 is a new Star Wars-themed special edition of Piaggio’s Gitamini, which itself is a smaller version of its Gita robot. The Gitamini already looks like something out of a sci-fi universe, using several integrated cameras and sensors to avoid obstacles and follow its owner around on its two prominent wheels.
In addition to a Star Wars-inspired look and name, the G1T4-M1N1 comes with a custom sound bank, meaning audio notifications and alerts will come in the form of beeps and whistles reminiscent of the films’ famous droids. The G1T4-M1N1 can carry up to 20 lbs of gear while getting around at up to 6 mph, adjusting its speed accordingly while following its leader. - L-Acoustics secures important victories against European counterfeiters
In a significant achievement for both consumer safety and intellectual property rights, L-Acoustics has successfully won legal judgments against two European counterfeiters of its professional audio equipment. These legal actions underscore the company’s unwavering commitment to ensuring audience safety and protecting the market for legitimate partners.
Working through its dedicated Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, L-Acoustics pursued legal action in both Germany and Norway against companies that were acquiring and renting fake L-Acoustics products, including loudspeakers and electronics. Initial analysis of the seized counterfeit products revealed alarming safety concerns, including metal components only half the required strength of authentic L-Acoustics specifications—resulting in a 48% decrease in safety factor.
In Germany, the court ruled against a rental company utilizing counterfeit Kara loudspeakers, rejecting their defense that they were not liable as they were only renting the equipment rather than selling it. The tribunal recognized the products as counterfeit, prohibiting the company from using other fake products. Critically, the court also mandated the disclosure of information regarding the origin of the counterfeit products, enabling L-Acoustics to investigate potential larger distribution networks. - Samsung claims that we see OLED displays as brighter than equivalent LCD screens
Samsung has made a bold claim that may change the way we think about display brightness. According to Samsung, the difference in contrast ratio between OLED and LCD displays makes us perceive brightness differently. More specifically, Samsung asserts that OLED displays are perceived to be around 1.5 times brighter than an equally bright LCD display. What’s more, Samsung commissioned the testing laboratories at UL Solutions, a global private safety company, to see if this theory had any merit. Here’s what UL Solutions had to say:
“UL Solutions evaluated fifteen of Samsung Display’s OLEDs for laptops, tablets, and automobiles, and seven of its QD-OLEDs for monitors and TVs. UL Solutions verified Samsung Display’s claim that its OLEDs and QD-OLEDs provide an average 1.5 times greater perceived brightness than LCDs of the same PCL score. According to assessments by UL Solutions, Samsung Display’s 300-nit OLEDs have the same perceived brightness as 510-nit LCDs, and its 500-nit QD-OLEDs have the same perceived brightness as 767-nit LCDs.”
