No one knows what the future of tech shows holds. For example, the pricey, flashy E3 show had been on the decline for years before the last in-person show in 2019. Other shows have had notable drops in exhibitor numbers, in-show announcements, and attendance numbers.
This May, however, remained a time for tech fairs. Computex kicked off Tuesday, and The Society for Information Display (SID) held Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles last week.
As a tech reporter, the fun of trade shows isn’t taking steps or seeing bits of time to eat and sleep. It is viewing interesting products, features and concepts that customers will soon see. It feels a little strange to say in this post-pandemic world, but May was actually an interesting time for stock markets.
Here are six debuts that have piqued my interest in what they’re doing now and what they could mean for the future.
20 displays, one modular macro path
Cooler Master shows off the mama of macro pads at Computex. The MasterHUB is a modular device that is said to go on sale in “late November” with nine modules available. Cooler Master initially aimed at video editors, photo editors, and streamers, but macro pads have earned a place on the desks of various types of power users, and the extensive variety the modules offer highlights the untapped potential of macro pads.
“But I thought this was an article about displays,” you say? Well, there are 20 displays distributed across all modules of the MasterHUB. Among them is an 8-inch, 1280×800 touchscreen, as reported by sites like Tom’s Hardware. There are also two modules with smaller screens, plus another with an ultra-wide one. A fifth module has a 1.3-inch watch face with its own screen. Cooler Master believes this IPS display can be used to show off your images (photos from attendees show the watch face with a pet).
For added control, there’s a module that adds 15 custom keys to your setup, and each key is backlit with an IPS display.
Cooler Master has big dreams for the macropad, but I’ve seen the company lag behind in peripheral releases before. When I reached out about future features, a spokesperson said the company doesn’t have more information yet.
“Combined with the API integration for broad software support and an SDK for user customization, the MasterHUB and MasterControl [Cooler Master software] evolved into powerful tools for any tech enthusiast. The journey begins with the system environment in 2023, expands to support the room environment in 2024, and broadens to full smart home automation in 2025,” said Cooler Master’s announcement today.
There are other non-screen modules, such as one with scroll wheels and another with rotary knobs. These input options set the MasterHUB apart from other maker-oriented macro pads, such as the Elgato Stream Deck, or mechanical switch-based options, such as Megalodon’s popular macro pads. The Thunderbolt-connected base can hold two to six modules, depending on their size. Cooler Master is reportedly planning to make an even bigger base that can hold more modules.
However, the MasterHUB can become a modular headache if programming is complex or buggy. I’ve used Cooler Master’s frustrating peripheral software before, so it’s good to hear that a new app is in the works for this product.
Cooler Master will sell the MasterHUB as three ready-to-use kits (video editor, photo editor and streamer) and will eventually sell individual modules.
