No, this isn't a speaker. It's actually a Windows PC.

The HP Pavilion Wave is a sneak-attack tower PC that looks — and can even act like — like a speaker. 

In a departure from virtually anything else we've ever seen from HP (now HP, Inc.) or any other Windows computer company, the HP Pavilion Wave is a category-redefining introduction that will likely leave you wondering whether this system belongs in the den, the kitchen or on a shelf next to your favorite vase. The answer may be all of the above.

HP Inc., which has been taking some design risks since its separation from HP Enterprise late last year, introduced the tiny, yet versatile and reasonably powerful Pavilion Wave on Thursday and will offer it for sale on the HP website starting Sept. 16.

The Wave's unusual triangular design came, at least in part, out of HP's desire to cater to millennials, 78% of whom, according to HP, say design matters a lot. However, that look also helps HP deliver a number of key innovations.

A speaker inside

At the core of the roughly 9-inch-tall-by-6-inch-wide PC is, in fact, a speaker, which is surrounded by system components and positioned so it fires upwards (yes, some of this will remind causal observers of the workhorse, circular, Mac Pro) This lets the sound waves take advantage of the unique parabola that tops the Pavilion Wave system. 

The new HP Pavilion Wave looks more like a speaker or subwoofer than a PC,  It does, though, feature a centrally located speaker and dual-array microphone, a first for an HP tower PC..

IMAGE: HP INC.

Even the parabola is unusual. It has been designed with a combination of plastic with metal fused to it through something called vacuum metalization, and an EVA foam core, all of which help better reflect sound and, yes, dissipate heat. Like the audio, the hot system hair is funneled up through the center of the PC, past the parabolic reflectors and out of the system.

Despite the opening at the top, HP officials claim that the Pavilion Wave operates as quietly as a notebook PC.

In addition to the mono, 360-degree speaker, which is powered in part by Bang and Olfsun technology, the Pavilion Wave is a listening device. As a Windows 10 system, the Pavilion Wave will include Windows Cortana digital assistant.

HP Inc. partnered with Intel to refine the design for optimal Cortana performance, at one point testing it with an array of eight speakers around it. They were used to gauge how the Wave's far-field listening system would pick up commands while the speakers recreated real-world background noises.

The HP Pavilion Wave has a full complement of ports, including USB-C.

IMAGE: HP INC.

HP will offer the Pavilion Wave in a range of Intel Quad-core CPU configurations, ranging from Sixth Generation Core i3 through Core i5. The systems will also support up to a 2 TB hard drive and 128 GB SDD and 16 GB of RAM. It will offer a USB-C port, as well as three USB 3 ports, HDMI-out, DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet and an SD Card reader. The system will range in price from $529.99 up to $699.99 for the three core configurations. Two base models will offer Intel integrated graphics, while the top end configuration will add discrete AMD-powered graphics. Consumers can configure the system how they like on the HP website, including swapping out the Core i5 CPU for a faster Core i7, but that will raise the price of the PC.

For business

HP also introduced a new business-class PC, the HP Elite Slice, a modular system that will let HP customers add features by the slice.

HP Elite Slice is a module system. This is the main PC.

IMAGE: HP INC.

Each one will snap into the other via a USB connection, without the need for external wires. The tiny systems are designed to fit in increasingly shrinking and flexible work spaces.

The main system, which is about the same thickness as two AA batteries stacked together, will feature wireless charging and dedicated conference call buttons.

Among the modules that will be offered are an optical disc drive (retro, yet cool), speakers, and a VESA Plate if you want to lock the system in place on your desktop. They are all sold separately.

The base PC will feature Intel Core i3-through-7 options, up to 32 GB of DDR 4 memory, HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C, USB 3.0 and Integrated WLAN.

The HP Elite Slice with all its modules connected.

IMAGE: HP INC.

Elite Slice PCs will start at $99 and ramp up to $999. There will also be a special Elite Slice for use in meeting rooms, it will have a similar configuration to the mid-range, $899 model, but add Intel Unite collaboration hub technology.

Microsoft’s HoloLens sells out, goes commercial

Microsoft has declared HoloLens, its augmented reality headset, “open for business” with the launch of its commercial suite.

Aimed at enterprise, the suite has additional security and management features that won’t make it to the consumer model. These include:

• Kiosk mode – Allows businesses to set HoloLens to a specific app or run in “demo mode” for presentations or experiences. Useful for tourism and education.
• Mobile Device Management (MDM) – Microsoft provides InTune, a software program that lets businesses manage hundreds of HoloLens’ at the same time.
• Work access – Employees can take HoloLens home and connect to work applications, or a HoloLens enthusiast can bring their own device to work and connect to the business platform.
• Windows Store for Business – Provides businesses with the ability to tailor to the app store to the company’s apps or apps that are considered productive, like Word, Excel, or Photoshop.
• Windows Update for Business – Businesses tend to receive more frequent updates and the devices are supported for longer. Microsoft is sticking to that with the HoloLens.
• Azure Active Directory – Higher level security for business users.
• Bitlocker encryption – Encrypts the login for HoloLens, Microsoft also provides secure boot, an essential for security focused businesses.

That’s quite an impressive lineup of enterprise features, but we shouldn’t be surprised, considering Microsoft has already begun preliminary tests of HoloLens with government organizations like NASA.

Microsoft may also be attempting to pull businesses away from Google Glass, which has seen some success in the market, thanks in part to startups like APX Labs pushing new enterprise software to the device.

HoloLens far from finished

HoloLens is still in development, so the current version shipping to developers and enterprise customers is far from finished. That said, some businesses may want to get ahead of the curve by deploying AR early, or at least testing it to see the advantages.

Microsoft sells the developer edition for $3,000, but doesn’t say how much the enterprise version will cost. It does however mention that HoloLens can be purchased in bulk, a signal to large businesses that Microsoft is capable of large deployments.

WhatsApp launched a native desktop app for Mac and Windows

While plenty of WhatsApp fans were already chatting over the platform's web browser option, the rest of us can now join them on the desktop.

On Tuesday, WhatsApp launched its first-ever native desktop app — a simple step that makes sharing emoji with your friends a lot easier to hide from your boss behind a dozen web browser windows. 

The app is available on both Windows 8 and Mac OS 10.9 or above, the company said in a blog post.

It's simple to set up. Download the desktop app, select your operating system, scan a QR code from your phone under the WhatsApp Web tab, and it will load your existing conversations. Usage is largely the same as on mobile — you'll be able to share photos in the same way, among other functions.

Your phone needs to be connected to the Internet for the app to work however, so the company advises users switch to Wi-Fi to avoid burning through a lot of data.

With more than one billion users globally, many of whom may be largely mobile-only, it would be interesting to find out how many installs the desktop app actually clocks up. Let us know, WhatsApp?

IMAGE: MASHABLE

 

HP's new 2-in-1 laptops are inspired by Nike Flyknit sneakers

As part of its annual back to school refresh, HP's updated its Pavilion-branded laptops, which include its 2-in-1 laptops, standard laptops and all-in-one PCs.

All of the Pavilion machines are now running Windows 10. But most striking, on the laptops, they're all sporting a new "digital threaded" design on the palm rest that HP says was inspired by Nike's Flyknit sneakers. You'll either really love the design or hate it. 

The 2016 HP Pavilion x360 laptops in 11-, 13- and 15-inch.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

HP says this was what they were shooting trying to shoot for with the new design:

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Like last year's models, the Pavilion x360 comes in three sizes: 11.6-inch (starting at $379.99), 13.3-inch (starting at $479.99) and 15.6-inch (starting at $579.99). And since they're convertible machines, you can switch between laptop, tent, stand and tablet modes.

The laptop in "stand" mode.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Their lower price points means they're made of plastic and not premium metal like on the Spectre x360. The 2-in-1 laptops come in multiple colors and as far as I could tell, the design is sturdy enough to survive a typical student lifestyle.

HP's streamlined the Pavilion x360 laptops to tighten up some of the nuts and bolts. The hinge on the 11- and 13-inch models are metal (the same one from the Spectre x360), but the 15-inch's is plastic. 

The keyboards feel great on the laptops, except the cramped on on the 11-inch.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

In my brief hands on with the machines, I found the keyboards were comfy and felt good (the 11-inch is still cramped), the trackpads felt more responsive than last time around with smoother tracking and scrolling, and the the touchscreens were responsive, too.

The laptops have HD screens, which, truthfully, didn't look great. But you can bump it up to a full HD IPS screen on the 13- and 15-inch laptops for extra. HP's partnership to include B&O Play sound in its devices extends to the Pavilion x360s.

Tons and tons of ports on these laptops.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Performance-wise, the 11-inch is configurable with an Intel Celeron, Pentium or Core i3 (Skylake) processor and up to 8GB of RAM. The 13-inch with a Core i3 or i5 (Skylake) processors and up to 16GB of RAM. And the 15-inch with a Pentium or Core i3, i5, or i7 (Skylake) chip with up to 8GB of RAM and an optional NVIDIA GeForce 930M graphics chip.

Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours on the 11-inch, up to 9 hours on the 13-inch and up to 9.25 hours on the 15-inch Pavilion x360. Some models support HP Fast Charge, which lets you charge them up from 0% to 90% in about 90 minutes.

HP Pavilion Notebooks

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The Pavilion Notebook lineup doesn't come with a hinge that lets you flip the screen all the way back, but it does come with the new threaded palm rest design.

They also come in three display sizes and in various colors: 14.-inch (starting at $539.99), 15.6-inch (starting at $579.99) and 17.3-inch (starting at $899.99). Resolution choices include HD, full HD and 4K; touchscreens are optional.

The 2016 Pavilion Notebooks are still made of plastic. There's nothing remarkable about the design. The 14- and 15-inch are up to 22% thinner and have occupy a smaller footprint over last year's models, though. Like all of HP's laptops, they have B&O Play sound.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

The 14-inch Pavilion Notebook is configurable with Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 (Skylake) processors, up to 16GB of RAM and an optional NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics chip. The 15-inch with Core i3, i5 or i7 (Skylake) chips, up to 16GB of RAM and optional NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, GTX 950M, GTX 960M graphics; seventh-generation AMD A12-9700 quad-core with optional Radeon R7 Graphics is also an alternative. The 17-inch model is configurable with Core i3, i5 or i7 (Skylake) processors, up to 16GB of RAM and an optional NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics chip.

Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours on the 14-inch and 9.5 hours for both the 15- and 17-inch laptops. All of the Pavilion Notebooks come with the aforementioned HP Fast Charge.

Pavilion All-in-Ones

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Not a laptop person? No biggie. HP's also refreshed its all-in-one (AiO) Pavilion desktop running Windows 10.

Available with a 23.8- or 27-inch full HD or QHD resolution display, the new AiO can be specced out in and Intel Pentium or up to Core i7 (Skylake) processors, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 3TB of hard drive storage (or hybrid hard drive/SSD up to 1TB), and optional NVIDIA GT 930A graphics of seventh-generation AMD A10 graphics.

IMAGE: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Audio is, of course, by B&O Play. Below the front-facing speaker grille all the ports, including a USB Type-C port that can be used to charge other devices, USB 3.0 port, 3-in-1 memory card slot and a headphone jack. Around back are more ports: another USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, ethernet, and HDMI.

A touchscreen isn't standard, but you can customize it with one. You can also opt for an Intel RealSense camera for Windows Hello authentication.

The 23.8-inch model starts at $699.99 and the 27-inch model starts at $999.99.