Lighter, faster and more secure: The latest innovations for mobile workers
For more than four decades, the annual Consumer Electronics Show has provided a glimpse into the future, revealing innovative technologies that transform the way we work. This year, several companies took the opportunity to showcase portable and powerful tools designed to enable employees to be productive no matter where they’re working — in the office, at home, or on the road.
New portable computing solutions from Lenovo
Employees in today’s workplace need powerful computing in a light, easy-to-carry package. Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop and ThinkPad X1 Yoga convertible, unveiled at CES, feature the latest Intel processors and sleek, sturdy builds.
The 2019 edition of the Yoga is slightly smaller and lighter than its 2018 predecessor and boasts an aluminum chassis. It also comes with multiple display options, Windows 10 Pro operating systems and business-class security and encryption.
The newest ThinkPad X1 Carbon also features a lighter, more compact design, weighing just 2.5 pounds. It has the latest Intel processor, Dolby Atmos speakers and a higher quality camera than the previous version.
360-degree video in the palm of your hand
For workers who need to videoconference on the fly, Lenovo launched the VoIP 360 Camera Speaker, a compact device with echo cancellation, background noise suppression and 360-degree video capability. The VoIP 360 is compatible with multiple platforms including Skype, Cisco Webex, Jabber and Google Hangouts. It weighs in at a mere .41 pounds and connects through USB.
New security and privacy features for mobile workers
Dell used CES 2019 to roll out a brand-new 2-in-1, the Latitude 7400. The PC comes in at just 14 inches and features a convenient proximity sensor, which can notice a user’s presence, wake the system and start a Windows Hello facial recognition scan, enabling faster start-ups. The 7400 can also tell when a user is away from the device and can lock the system for added security. The 7400 features Intel’s 8th Gen Core processors, a robust battery with up to 24 hours of operation and multiple connectivity options.
Security and privacy are top-of-mind for businesses of all sizes, especially for employees who work outside the office. HP used CES 2019 to unveil the third generation of its Sure View feature, which is designed to help workers maintain privacy with the touch of a button. The latest generation of Sure View is available on desktop displays and can fade to black, rather than white, to help preserve battery life.
The latest innovations from Intel
Intel introduced Ice Lake, its next generation of chips, at CES. The chips feature a new graphics architecture, integrated Thunderbolt 3 and Wi-Fi 6 capability and the company’s DL Boost feature, which speeds artificial intelligence workloads. Chips based in Ice Lake won’t be available until later this year, but they should lead to thinner, lighter and more powerful laptops with improved graphics.
Intel also announced an innovation program for advanced laptops dubbed Project Athena. Athena is designed to outline platform requirements, provide benchmark targets and eventually offer certification for laptops that support next-generation technologies such as AI and 5G. Most major laptop manufacturers have already signed on to the program.
Collaboration and mobility aren’t trends — they’re a reality in today’s workforce. These latest technologies displayed at CES 2019 can provide Canadian businesses with a roadmap for how to equip their employees with solutions that keep them productive and engaged, no matter where they happen to be working.
Contact CDW Canada to learn how we can help you keep pace with mobility and collaboration technology.
