Last year Corsair released the K68, a mechanical keyboard with an IP32 rating making it spill- and dust-proof. Now the PC accessory maker releases a version adding coloured LED lighting, the K68 RGB.

Like the previous model, each keycap on the K68 RGB has an individual silicone rubber shield to protect the internal hardware from any accident involving spilled drinks or snacks. Inside the keys is a choice of either Cherry MX Red or Blue switches and, new to this model, coloured LEDs for rainbow lighting effects.

Accessory maker Hyper takes to Kickstarter to present a combination of USB-C hub and wireless charger-- the clunkily named HyperDrive USB-C Hub + 7.5W Qi Wireless charger iPhone Stand.

Clearly aimed at owners of both the latest MacBooks and iPhones, the HyperDrive offers 8 ports, namely HDMI, ethernet, microSD, SD, x3 USB-A and USB-C Power Delivery. Also built into the compact device is a wireless charging stand able to handle all 4 Qi wireless standards (1.5W, 5W, 10W and 15W).

CES 2018 sees the launch of a new mouse from gaming peripheral maker SteelSeries-- the Rival 600, the first from the company to feature dual optical sensors to track movement even when the mouse is in the air.

The mouse uses TrueMove3+, a system combining a TrueMove3 primary sensor and a second PixArt optical sensor to track lift-off distance. SteelSeries claims the dual sensors eliminate jitter and cursor disparity on lift-off movements, while the lift-off distance is the lowest in the market.

“We took a massive leap forward in sensor innovation with Pixart with the TrueMove3 sensor in the Rival 310 and Sensei 310," the company says. "Now we’re taking that innovation even further by combining the true 1-to-1 tracking of the TrueMove3 with a second optical sensor for precision. It’s the only dual optical sensor system in the world that can offer this level of precision and accuracy of movement.”

Humanscale presents a sequel to the compact M/Connect workplace dock at CES 2018-- the M/Connect 2, featuring the same split docking station design while adding USB-C charging and support for 4K and 5K resolution monitors.

The M/Connect 2 splits connectivity in two, with one part sitting on the desktop offering essential connections, while the other fits below the desk to hide some cables from view. The dock can act as a support for the Humanscale monitor arm range, and looks like the foot of the arm assembly when used as such, since the clamped dock can carry the weight of the display.

The dock offers seven USB 3.0 ports, two of which with 2.4Amp Quick Charge capability. One of the Quick Charge ports is power-only, meaning it does not pass data to connected PCs. Also included are two USB-C ports (une full-feature USB 3.1 type-C with up to 64W power, the other power-only) and two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs able to handle either two 4K monitors or one 5K display.

The Elgato Thunderbolt 3 dock range gets an addition at CES 2018-- the Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock, featuring HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 and ethernet ports with up to 40Gb/s throughput.

A built-in Thunderbolt 3 cable powers the Mini Dock. This can be tucked away, making the dock easy to carry around.

Users of the 2017 iMac and iMac Pro get a new Satechi accessory-- the USB-C Clamp Hub Pro, an add-on plugging into one of the rear Thunderbolt 3 slots to add more ports.

Made out of aluminium, the Clamp Hub Pro offers three USB 3.0 Type-A ports with 5Gbps data transfer, as well as an SD card reader. Setup promises to take just a few seconds thanks to an adjustable knob, and the slim design should add little visual bulk to the iMac.

Peripheral maker Cherry announces the MC 4900-- a mouse featuring an integrated fingerprint reader compatible with Windows Hello, making it ideal for customers wanting an easy biometric authentication solution.

Aimed mainly at office and business environments, the MC 4900 features an ambidextrous 3-button design complete with rubberised side panels and a wide scroll wheel. The optical sensor offers a sampling rate of 1375 DPI, while a 1.8m USB cable handles connectivity.

Berkeley Lab researchers announce a "major step" towards energy dense and safe solid-state magnesium-ion rechargeable batteries through the discovery of the fastest magnesium-ion solid-state conductor yet.

Magnesium promises higher energy density than the currently used lithium. However it lacks good options for liquid electrolyte, with most being actually corrosive against other parts of the battery. As a result, the researchers bypassed the liquid option in favour of creating a solid-state alternative, the impressively named magnesium scandium selenide spinel.