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A busy, stimulating convention like CES can exacerbate hand tremors for those living with Parkinson's Disease. For Roberta Wilson-Garrett, however, a new wearable device has been helping keep the tremors at bay. Wilson-Garrett has been using the GyroGlove, which launched here at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. It's a hand-stabilizing glove designed to "counteract hand tremors by utilizing advanced gyroscopic technology," giving wearers more control over their mobility.In the few days she has been wearing the GyroGlove, Wilson-Garrett says she's been able to perform certain tasks more easily. Things like buttoning up a shirt, moving a cup of coffee around or writing down a note had become easier with the device. One morning, she had forgotten that she didn't have the glove on and grabbed her coffee, only for her hand to shake and and the drink to spill over.It's in little daily activities like that where assistive technology can help give people with disabilities some sense of control and independence again. The current iteration of GyroGlove comprises of three parts: The fabric glove, the gyroscope in the stabilization module and a battery pack on the forearm. Though the company's reps said they designed the glove to be easy to put on by people with hand tremors, they wanted to help me get the device on. I held my palm out, and a representative slipped the GyroGlove on.The unit at the booth was too large for me, so my experience wasn't as effective or accurate. Though I tried to move my hand in a way that might be similar to tremors, I didn't quite feel any counteracting force or stabilizing effect.If anything, I just felt like there was a fairly heavy weight on the back of my palm and a constant low whir of the gyroscope spinning inside the module. According to the company's founder Faii Ong, the gyroscope is spinning at a speed that's over four times faster than a jet turbine. The device is powered by rechargeable lithium polymer batteries that last about four hours of continuous use, which Wilson-Garrett said was in line with her experience. She also said that she's heard of some people who manage to get two days out of a charge, if they use the device more intermittently depending on the frequency of their tremors.The components were designed to be bulky and easy for people with hand tremors to grip and maneuver. Large buttons on the battery pack allow for power control and navigation of the screen on the power unit, which also displays the battery status in large icons and font.Photo by Liviu Oprescu / EngadgetAll of these parts are attached to a comfortable harness, which felt stretchy, soft and spongy. The company said the fabric was "benchmarked against top yoga and athleisure brands" and "manufactured by the very same leading manufacturers." Altogether, the GyroGlove weighs about 580 grams (or about 1.27 pounds), with the stabilization and power modules each coming in at 200 grams.During my time with the device, I mostly held my hand up awkwardly in mid-air while gesturing at our video producer, and that prolonged strain might explain why the GyroGlove felt more heavy to me. Wilson-Garrett, however, said she found the glove comfortable to wear all day, and I noticed she was using her hand more naturally than I was. It's likely she had grown more accustomed to the GyroGlove's weight and presence, and had adapted to it.Ultimately, I'm not a person who lives with significant hand tremors and had tried on the wrong size of the device, so I cannot really criticize its effectiveness. Wilson-Garrett, who has been living with Parkinson's disease for at least six years, said she's happy with it and intends to purchase one.The GyroGlove is available for sale worldwide for $5,899 (though it's on sale for $1,000 cheaper for a limited time). Like many assistive devices, that's a high price that not everyone can pay. Ong said the GyroGlove is registered with the FDA and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as a medical device, and that the company is in talks with insurance providers in the US to consider covering the glove for those who need it. It's worth noting that GyroGlove is not meant to replace medication or other types of treatment, too.The company's reps said it has hopes for future iterations to be smaller and offer more sophisticated stabilization. For now, the fact that GyroGlove is an actual device you can buy (if you have the money for it) is a good sign of its potential ability to help the many people living with hand tremors.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gyroglove-is-a-hand-stabilizing-glove-for-people-with-tremors-223816688.html?src=rss

While MEMS drivers may be the next big thing in true wireless earbuds, the first models with the solid-state components still require a hybrid setup. These products pair a MEMS speaker with a dynamic driver to ensure proper bass performance. The current-gen driver from xMEMS, a California-based company that develops the audio components, is called Cowell and it's already available in earbuds from the likes of Creative and Noble Audio.The next-gen MEMS driver is called Cypress, and while it won't arrive in new products until 2025, I got a chance to hear the difference been it and Cowell at CES 2024 here in Las Vegas - and it's quite striking. With Cowell, there's bass, but it's subdued and the emphasis is on the highs and the mids. It sounds great, on both complete products and reference designs, offering punchy highs, full mids and great clarity. With Cypress alone though, there's a blanket of warm, bassy low-end that really fills out the soundstage. It will be a massive improvement for what MEMS drivers are capable of doing for wireless earbuds."We moved to a sound from ultrasound principle where we have ultrasonic modulation and demodulation to deliver 30 to 40 times greater low-frequency pressure for anti-noise generation for ANC earbuds, while still delivering all of the benefits of our solid state speakers," xMEMS vice president of marketing Mike Housholder explained. "Wide dynamic range, with excellent low-frequency performance for deep bass and noise cancellation."Photo by Billy Steele/EngadgetIndeed, that 30 to 40 times louder bass response was clearly evident when on a Cypress reference design. The prototype was built to showcase the MEMS drivers on their own, without that secondary dynamic driver today's true wireless models require for bass. The results are the pristine clarity you'd expect in a send of high-end wireless headphones or even some audiophile-grade cans. The additional bass isn't loud and boomy, but instead it's warm and full, inviting you to stay and listen a while. And that I did: I had a hard time putting the Cypress prototype down even when I felt I'd overstayed my welcome.On the whole, MEMS drivers offer a host of benefits over coil speakers that should all lead to better audio quality in your earbuds. They're more efficient in terms of mechanical response, with faster speeds there contributing to increased detail and clarity - something I certainly noticed on the Noble Audio FoKus Triumph wireless earbuds. This model pairs Cowell with a 6.5mm dynamic driver, but the boost in fidelity in the mids and highs is apparent. And getting a set of earbuds with MEMS drivers doesn't mean you'll pay more. The two models Creative has already debuted are $130 and $150. The same will be true for upcoming products with the ultrasonic Cypress drivers, according to Housholder."We see ourselves going to market first in flagship products," he said. "As with our current products, we really see the sweet spot for our products anywhere 150 and up, [which] is easily achievable day one. And then over time and over volume, getting down to that $100 price point."Various MEMS drivers for IEMs and wireless earbudsPhoto by Billy Steele/EngadgetAnd that's really the big takeaway from me. For years, companies have offered true wireless earbuds with some of the features of more premium flagship models, but usually lacking the sonic performance of pricier options. With MEMS drivers, the audio quality is greatly improved in affordable models that are half the price of the top-of-the-line Sony or Sennheiser noise-canceling earbuds. And with Cypress, xMEMS can offer audio companies the ability to improve overall sound quality without having to raise prices.xMEMS has also developed what it calls a DynamicVent to relieve occlusion in sleep earbuds. The component can automatically open or close depending on if the buds detect ambient noise like a snoring spouse. When open, the DynamicVent offers a semi-open fit like AirPods, but when it's closed the ear will be completely sealed off. The open vent should also keep sounds of your own breathing or the earbuds rubbing against a pillow from disturbing your sleep. xMEMS is showing off the DynamicVent at CES in a set of reference sleep buds equipped with its Cowell MEMS drivers.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/next-gen-mems-ultrasonic-solid-state-earbud-drivers-will-deliver-the-bass-214131547.html?src=rss

A year since Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) announced its debut EV concept, the Afeela, the company is back at CES 2024 in Las Vegas to offer more details, more collaborations and a driving simulator.The name of the concept vehicle hasn't changed since last we saw it. What is new, however, is the car's ability to be driven around with a PlayStation controller. I didn't get to do that - it was a stunt operated by one of the company's employees - but there was a DualSense controller involved in my demo.So let's begin where SHM left off. At last year's CES 2023, Sony revealed the Afeela Concept EV, which packed in 45 cameras and an expansive media bar" that spread across the vehicle's dash, showing a mix of car information, navigation, music players and more. The steering wheel was redesigned as a yoke so that the driver can better view that sumptuous dash. The company also further teased some mixed-reality tricks in collaboration with Epic Games.The Afeela EV itself looks mostly the same as the prototype from last year, although it now has a substantial LiDAR bar above the windscreen that looks like a giant smartphone notch. The company says that the car will be available for pre-order in 2025 before going on sale in the US the following year.At CES 2024, I got to step inside an Afeela, while an SHM representative gave me a tour of everything that's so far been crammed into this concept vehicle.Combining both Sony and Honda's expertise, the Afeela will create its own noise cancellation bubble, apparently tailoring the cabin for entertainment" using Sony's Spatial Audio technology. According to SHM's renders, there appear to be roughly 30 speakers, although that's more than likely to change as the concept further evolves. A spokesperson added that over 42 sensors grace the Afeela's initial spec sheet.Photo by Mat Smith/EngadgetIn one of the most surreal experiences I've had at CES, I also got to play Horizon Forbidden West on the Afeela's expansive dashboard display. No, there isn't a PS5 baked into this concept EV - why not, though? - but a demonstration involving PlayStation's long-running Remote Play feature. Sure, the Bluetooth connection to the controller was temperamental (CES is just hundreds of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals clashing), but conceptually, you get that it's possible. The two screens for passengers sitting in the rear would also be able to display games, movies and more; however they were just dummy screens in this demo car.SHM also announced during Sony's CES show that it's already teamed up with Microsoft to use its Azure OpenAI technology to create a Mobility Personal Agent" - a conversational in-car virtual assistant for drivers and passengers alike.It's also working with Polyphony Digital, the company behind Gran Turismo, on a nebulous goal of developing vehicles that fuse the virtual and the real, mainly in the area of human senses." For now, that collaboration has resulted in an Afeela you can drive in Gran Turismo.But it's the new dash, combined with AR graphics overlays and that LiDAR notch, which intrigues me most. The EV will draw information and imagery from its sensors and create 3D models of the outside world. This can be used for frivolous things, like Godzilla-styled monsters on your dashcam feed and augmented reality games. Or more simply, rich, detailed overlays for navigation to nearby businesses and destinations.While we weren't driving the Afeela EV around Las Vegas, SHM tried to offer the next best thing: a car simulator made in collaboration with Epic Games (and what appears to be that Unreal Engine 5 Matrix demo). Steering around the virtual world, in an Aveela cockpit (in a moody black colorway, different from the light gray showroom car I sat in earlier), the digital wing mirrors also displayed the same highly realistic 3D world. The dash display then offered an AR overlay, showing vehicles, objects and pedestrians, flagging nearby hazards in red.SHM is still putting a lot of its focus on developing its autonomous driving technology and advanced driver assistance systems, the latter are non-autonomous helper features, similar to Tesla's Autopilot. With Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride SoC powering the concept vehicle's advanced driving features, the Afeela could reach limited Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities. At that point (and we're not there yet) a vehicle can manage most aspects of driving without any human intervention. A spokesperson added it would be capable of Level 2 Plus autonomous driving in urban settings. SHM also teased traffic monitoring through the sensors, detection for objects like traffic cones, and apparently, using what it calls a Vision Transformer that will work to detect environmental characteristics in a broader perspective" - this could translate into predicting future traffic jams before you meet them or alternative driving routes.The car will also utilize all those sensors more frivolously, to detect drivers' approach and open the door for them. The same sensors, including LiDAR and cameras, will guide the Afeela as it parks itself.Many of us still wonder if SHM's EV will ever exist as a consumer vehicle. The commitment to getting its car on roads by 2026 is still there, and while CES may be the perfect audience for the hype being served up, will car buyers think the same?We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/i-played-horizon-zero-dawn-inside-sony-and-hondas-afeela-concept-ev-at-ces-2024-205902922.html?src=rss

When I'm away from home and don't have access to my big desktop displays, it feels like I'm missing a limb. Unfortunately, there's a limit to how big a portable monitor can really be. After a certain point, it's not going to fit in a reasonably sized bag. ASUS's ZenScreen Fold solves that problem through the use of a bendy OLED panel. I had a chance to see it person while covering CES 2024 here in Las Vegas this week.Measuring 17.3 inches across, the ZenScreen Fold is still a far cry from the 27-inch monitors I have at home, but it's a huge step up from typical 14- or 15-inch portable displays. And thanks to the fact that you can bend it in half, it can collapse down to something not much larger than a hardcover book and just 0.38 inches thick. Though it is a bit heavier at two and a half pounds. It also comes with a handy travel case and, because its display is protected when closed, you should be able to toss it in a bag without worrying about damaging its soft plastic panel.The display's specs are more than decent too, as it boasts a QHD+ resolution (2,560 x 1,920), a gamut that covers 100 percent of DCI-P3 and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 compliance. That said, this shouldn't come as a complete surprise as the ZenScreen Fold is based on the same basic panel as what ASUS used in the Zenbook 17 Fold.The difference this time is that the panel is a slightly newer revision, so it's a bit more durable. And, thanks to a redesigned hinge that creates a waterdrop-shaped fold, there's even less of a crease - you have to look hard to see it. Even its kickstand is better than the one on ASUS' bendy laptop, as it offers solid stability in either portrait or landscape. And for a portable monitor, there's more than enough connectivity including mini HDMI, two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.Sadly, while ASUS may have made a big travel display that's easy to carry around, this thing is really expensive at a cool $2,000. But if you want a portable monitor that gives you the most screen space in the smallest physical size, the ZenScreen may be it.The ZenScreen Fold is expected to go on sale sometime in Q2.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-2000-asus-zenscreen-fold-solves-the-biggest-issue-with-portable-monitors-ces-2024-204009822.html?src=rss

The best part about CES 2024 has been all of the cool product announcements. Many of these products are early in development, so not available for purchase. Some, however, are already on store shelves, allowing tech-crazed consumers to see what all the fuss is about. Here are some of the niftier items displayed at this year's CES that are ready, willing and able to empty your bank account. These products range from cool smartphone accessories to gaming laptops and some items that simply defy description.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/25-gadgets-from-ces-2024-that-you-can-buy-right-now-202332730.html?src=rss

OpenAI has rolled out its store for custom GPTs and a new ChatGPT subscription tier for smaller teams. The GPT Store allows developers and users to share and profit from their custom versions of the viral chatbot. Meanwhile, ChatGPT Team costs $25 to $30 monthly per user while offering data security and supporting longer queries.GPT StoreOpenAIThe GPT Store allows OpenAI to turn ChatGPT's white-hot prominence in the tech world into a tollkeeper's business model, taking a cut of revenue like in Apple's App Store. Anyone can build and share GPTs -you don't need coding experience - but creators must make a Builder Profile that shares their real name or points users to a verified website.OpenAI says a revenue program for GPT creators is coming soon in Q1. As a first step, US builders will be paid based on user engagement with their GPTs," the company wrote, promising to provide more info as the program's launch approaches. For now, GPT creators will have to settle for riding the hype train and hoping the terms are attractive.ChatGPT TeamAs OpenAI describes it, ChatGPT Team provides a secure, collaborative workspace to get the most out of ChatGPT at work." Unlike ChatGPT Enterprise, which was launched in August, the Team tier doesn't require thousands of dollars or calls with the company's sales team. Instead, anyone subscribed to ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise can join for $30 (when billed monthly) or $25 (annually) per month.ChatGPT Team offers access to GPT-4 with a larger (32,000-token) context window for longer queries. In addition, subscribers get higher message caps, and (like with the Enterprise tier) OpenAI says it won't train its models on ChatGPT Team subscribers' data or conversations.The Team tier also provides a secure workspace," including an admin console to manage seats. Team members on the plan can also create and share custom GPTs internally. Finally, OpenAI teases that ChatGPT Team subscribers will receive early access to new features and improvements."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-maker-openai-launches-gpt-store-and-a-subscription-tier-for-teams-195339463.html?src=rss

Earlier this week, Volkswagen announced plans to augment its in-car voice assistant IDA with ChatGPT. I'll admit that I initially didn't quite understand the point, but I got a chance here at CES 2024 in Las Vegas to hear about the vision for this integration from Cerence, the company that already powers the back-end of VW's voice assistant. As usual, it's a bit of a rough demo, because it's hard to exactly see how ChatGPT will help you out when you're on the road when you're instead sitting in a stationary car inside of a convention center.But conceptually, the idea behind bringing ChatGPT into a car is all about avoiding a "dead end" when you as IDA something, Cerence told us. Drivers don't need to do anything different - you just say "Hello IDA" or press the voice assistant button on the driver's wheel and start talking. And if there's something that IDA doesn't know, it'll check with ChatGPT. When the voice assistant hits ChatGPT, you'll only know because the response says "According to ChatGPT" at the beginning of it.I wasn't able to get a great sense yet of what things ChatGPT is good for. One of the demos we saw involved asking the car to tell us a story about dinosaurs, as a theoretical way to entertain kids in the back seat. ChatGPT quickly came back and started spinning a cute yarn - a good proof of concept but probably not something you'll need to do in the car a lot. I asked the car to tell me about Sphere, the massive new concert / entertainment venue in Las Vegas, and it started responding with details about it "opening soon." That's because the version of ChatGPT in the car didn't have the absolute latest details about it. I was expecting more of a Google-like experience, where I could ask things like "who won the Celtics game last night?" but that's not really what ChatGPT is for.Given how capable the IDA voice assistant already seems to be, I'm not yet sure how much ChatGPT will add to the equation. But, the usual caveats apply - this was just a quick demo, not on the road, and it's not fully ready for release yet. But VW is not alone in seeing benefits for adding LLMs to its cars. BMW is working with Amazon to bring AI-powered vehicle info to its cars, and Mercedes-Benz started testing a ChatGPT integration last year. I wager we'll hear more about this from other manufacturers in the year ahead.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-volkswagen-with-chatgpt-told-me-a-story-about-dinosaurs-at-ces-2024-185239472.html?src=rss

Sony shared its upcoming PlayStation Plus free games for January on Wednesday. Headlining this month's batch are Capcom's 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake and the Borderlands spinoff Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can claim the 14 new games on January 16.The Resident Evil 2 remake (PS5 / PS4) is far from just a fresh coat of paint. Although the revamp retains the core gameplay elements from the 1998 original, it's visually unrecognizable, now running on Capcom's RE Engine. It feels like a contemporary title," Engadget's Jessica Conditt wrote in a 2018 preview.CapcomTiny Tina's Wonderlands: Next-Level Edition (PS5, PS4) takes one of Borderlands' most memorable NPCs and drops you into a genre-blending fantasy world conjured from her macabre and erratic imagination. Expanding on the ideas from the Borderlands 2 DLC Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, Gearbox's spinoff (and Dungeons & Dragons parody) includes magic, guns and chaotic instant revisions to the game world. It also has star-studded voice work from Andy Samberg, Wanda Sykes and Will Arnett.Other claimable titles this month include salvaging sci-fi physics sim Hardspace: Shipbreaker (PS5), Lego's rare non-IP installment Lego City Undercover (PS4), 2015 action-adventure title Just Cause 3, tactical stealth game Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (PS4), narrative RPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong (PS5 / PS4) and post-apocalyptic strategy title Surviving the Aftermath (PS4).CapcomThis month's redeemable classic (retro) titles include the Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4), which collects 12 classic games in the fighting series, including the original installment and the trendsetting Street Fighter II. Secret of Mana (PS4), Legend of Mana (PS4), Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace (PS5 / PS4) and Rally Cross (PS5 / PS4) will also be available for subscribers starting on on January 16.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-and-re2-headline-januarys-playstation-plus-monthly-games-183050065.html?src=rss

LG Display came to CES 2024 with something to prove. Its showroom in Las Vegas had transparent OLEDs, a 480Hz gaming monitor and the company's most advanced OLED panels yet, featuring its META technology 2.0. While it sounds like promotional fluff (and there is some of that), LG Display is trying to address arguably OLED's biggest weakness in the face of ever-improving LEDs, MicroLEDs and the rest. Using advanced microlens arrays (now called MLA+) and new algorithms, LG Display says it's made an OLED 42 percent brighter than the displays that came before it.At CES 2024, I took a closer look at the prototype panels, headed to TVs later this year.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThis e-bike has integrated ChatGPTCES 2024 live: All the tech announcements so far The EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra is a home battery that can harvest power from 42 solar panelsWeber reveals its more affordable, more versatile Searwood smart grill at CES 2024The best smart plugsAmazon won't support AirPlay or Chromecast but will adopt Matter CastingHBO's The Last of Us has found its AbbyRabbit R1 is a very different AI-powered virtual assistantIt's co-designed by Teenage Engineering.RabbitA new startup called Rabbit seems to think our virtual assistants are less-than-ideal implementations of AI - and they're not wrong. The dream of Rabbit is you leave your apps behind for conversation and, rather than a distracting device shoving icons in your face, you interact with what amounts to a walkie-talkie for an AI.The stylish hardware (thanks, TE) is reminiscent of the Playdate handheld-with-a-crank, with an analog scroll wheel and a 360-degree rotational eye," but the coolest feature - not that we've seen it working in real life yet - is its ability to use interfaces rather than APIs or apps. You can train it to use Photoshop to perform simple editing tasks and, apparently, even play Diablo for you. You can then make it repeat those tasks just whenever.The Rabbit R1 costs $199 and is available for pre-order, with an expected ship date before the end of April.Continue reading.OpenAI admits it's impossible to train generative AI without copyrighted materialsThe company has also published a response to a lawsuit filed by The New York Times.OpenAI and its biggest backer, Microsoft, are facing several lawsuits accusing them of using other people's copyrighted works without permission to train the former's large language models (LLMs). OpenAI wrote in its evidence to the UK's House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee that it would be impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials."In some lawsuits, the plaintiffs accuse the companies of refusing to pay authors for their work while building a billion-dollar industry and enjoying enormous financial gain from copyrighted materials.Continue reading.The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a stunning dual-screen laptop with seemingly no compromisesIt's relatively affordable at $1,500.EngadgetThe ASUS Zenbook Duo features two screens and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard that can be stashed inside for traveling. This iteration stands out because the OLED panels are slightly larger than those on rival devices, at 14 inches, while also offering a 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and stylus support. Plus, with a starting price of $1,500, it costs $500 less than the Yoga Book.Continue reading.Clicks hands-on: An iPhone keyboard for 2024Whimsy in three colors.EngadgetThe iPhone's touchscreen killed the physical smartphone keyboard, so why not resurrect it with a case? Clicks' design couldn't be simpler. It's a silicone case with a physical keyboard bolted on the bottom, coming to the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Read on for our first impressions.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-lg-displays-next-gen-oleds-are-42-percent-brighter-than-its-predecessors-181523507.html?src=rss

There's a fact, discovered by Scientific American and popularized by Steve Jobs, that a human on a bike is the most efficient animal on Earth. Shift Robotics, a startup spun out of Carnegie Mellon, is hoping to disrupt that wisdom with its Moonwalkers, shoes with built-in wheels that speed up human walking. The company rocked up at CES 2024 in Las Vegas with the existing Moonwalkers and its new model, the Moonwalkers X, for us to have a play with.Essentially they're shoes that, when your foot strikes the ground, spin their wheels to push you a little further forward. Each step only offers a small extra distance but the cumulative effect can make your journey up to three times faster. The battery should give you around 7 miles of range, after which point you'll have to grab a USB-C cable and wait 1.5 hours to recharge. And, if you'd like to own a pair for yourselves, you'll need to stump up $1,399 for the privilege.Now, much as the original model is designed to be used on the sidewalks of the United States, that may not be its ideal environment. That's why the company has developed Moonwalkers X, which shaves a pound off the weight and reduces the number of wheels. These are instead aimed at warehouse and logistics workers who are walking around smooth concrete floors for hours at a time. It seems an ideal way to speed up transit while reducing fatigue in industrial environments where concerns about fashion are less prevalent. Unfortunately, there's no price for these just yet, but we will expect to learn more before their release date at the midpoint of this year.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dont-call-em-skates-because-theyre-moonwalkers-164737288.html?src=rss

Amazon is laying off hundreds of people across Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, as reported by Variety. This is for the usual reason. The company found a way to save some money and went for it. You know the drill. Amazon's entertainment chief Mike Hopkins wrote in an email to staff that it has identified opportunities to reduce or discontinue investments in certain areas while increasing our investment and focus on content and product initiatives that deliver the most impact."Hopkins didn't give an exact number, but did note that several hundred" employees would be given walking papers and that most American workers will know by the end of the day, with global employees following suit by the end of the week. He also wrote that it is hard to say goodbye to talented Amazonians."Amazon says it'll help laid off workers with benefit packages that will include a separation payment and external job placement support. The company promises continued investments in programming, marketing and product," despite the layoffs.Amazon has been in something of a layoff frenzy of late, even with over 200 million paying Prime subscribers. Most recently, it absolutely gutted Twitch with layoffs amounting to 35 percent of the service's workforce. The company laid off nearly 200 people from its gaming division back in November, along with a few hundred people from its Alexa division. In January of last year, Amazon laid off an astounding 18,000 people from its retail and recruiting divisions. The company posted record profits in 2023.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-laying-off-several-hundred-employees-at-prime-video-and-mgm-studios-161307199.html?src=rss

Urtopia has tried to separate its e-bike's from the pack with copious use of technology and this year the company has outdone itself. It just showed off its flagship Fusion model for the first time in full at CES 2024 (after teasing it earlier this year) and it's fully integrated with none other than ChatGPT, the buzzy AI assistant. The Fusion follows the company's previous tech-infused Chord and original Urtopia models.Urtopia calls the Fusion "the world's first dual battery, dual motor ebike by design visionary Hartmut Esslinger," a very specific claim. It's built with carbon fiber to reduce weight and uses a Shimano CUES derailleur on the regular model and Enviolo stepless shifter on the premium CVT version. The dual 540Wh battery allows for 120km of range (75 miles), but the 360Wh battery extender brings that up to 200km (124 miles) - enough to traverse Paris from north to south about 20 times.UrtopiaIt can hit up to 25 km/h thanks to the 95Nm mid-drive motor and has 100mm of travel with the air suspension fork. All that, combined with the relatively light weight (23 kg) wide tires and stable frame, make it suitable for off-road, trails and city riding.That could be any e-bike, but the Fusion's headline feature is the tech. It's connected by 4G and uses GPS tracking to keep you informed of the bike's location even if stolen. It also comes with a movement alarm, fingerprint unlock, route tracking, navigation without a cellphone and Bluetooth music via a built-in speaker - all as with past models.What's new is what the company calls "Jarvis" technology enabled by a smart ring (the company didn't say which one) to power the bike on, play music or activate the other tech feature, ChatGPT. You can also converse directly with ChatGPT through the built-in speaker. You may reasonably ask what ChatGPT is doing on an e-bike - the answer is that it can help you "explore new routes, get real-time information, and even engage in entertaining conversations," according to Urtopia.We're not sure how useful a chat assistant is when dodging traffic at 25 km/h, but it might at least keep you company on a lonely trail. It's also a pretty solid marketing gimmick that the company is using to separate itself from the many, many other e-bikes on the market. Buyers will have to be pretty well heeled, though, as the Fusion will cost 3,999 (around $4,375) and the Fusion CVT will run a hefty 4,999 ($5,467). There's no word yet on when it'll go on sale or if it will come to the US.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/urtopias-fusion-e-bike-has-fully-integrated-chatgpt-144429572.html?src=rss

Valve has introduced new rules to abide by that will allow the company to add more games with AI content to its Steam gaming platform. To start with, it's updating its content survey form for developers so that they can give the company a description of how they use artificial intelligence in their games. If they used AI tools to generate art, code, sound or any other kind of content for their title, developers must ensure that they do not include anything illegal or anything that infringes on someone else's copyright. Valve says it will evaluate each game and check if the developer has submitted truthful information.For live-generated AI content, developers have to tell the company what kind of guardrails they've put up to prevent their games from creating anything considered illegal. And since Valve will not be able to review all content games create in real time, it's launching a new system on Steam that will allow players to easily send in a report. If a player sees anything they believe should've been caught by appropriate guardrails, they can use Steam's new in-game overlay to notify the company.Valve said it will also be transparent with gamers when it comes with what kind of AI content a developer's title has by including their disclosure on their Steam store page. The company explained that the new rules are a result of it improving its "understanding of the landscape and risks" in the AI space. Last year, Valve admitted that it was still "working through" how to account for AI content in its review process after developers complained that the company was rejecting their submissions. It needed "some time to learn about the fast-moving and legally murky space of AI technology," Valve clarified in its new post. The company said it still can't release games with live-generated adult sexual content right now, but that it will revisit its rules as it learns more about the technology and as the legal issues surrounding it evolves.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valves-new-guidelines-will-allow-for-more-ai-content-in-games-134515623.html?src=rss

Sennheiser announced two very different sets of wireless earbuds at CES 2024 here in Las Vegas, extending its Momentum line with a fourth-generation flagship model and a high-tech sport version. The company's premium earbuds have offered excellent sound quality for a while now, consistently earning the best overall audio in our best wireless earbuds list. We paid Sennheiser a quick visit to see how the two new sets stack up.There's no need to mince words here: The audio performance on the Momentum True Wireless 4 is outstanding. I only listened to them for a few minutes, but I had a hard time walking away. The jazz demo tracks the company selected played to the earbuds' strengths with excellent clarity and pleasant, inviting tuning. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) also seems to be improved as I was able to silence a noisy hotel suite at the press of a button. Transparency mode is also better and more natural sounding, but you still don't get as much of your voice beamed back through the earbuds as you do on the AirPods Pro.Sennheiser clarified during my demo that its stated battery life on the Momentum True Wireless 4 of seven and a half hours is with ANC off. However, it explained that it has narrowed the gap in regards to noise cancellation impacting battery life as enabling it only reduces play time by 30 minutes.Sennheiser Momentum SportPhoto by Billy Steele/EngadgetI'm also happy to report there's no discernible drop off in audio quality with the Momentum Sport. There's still crisp, clear sound that's evenly tuned despite the company's goal of "impressive bass" for workouts. There's ample low-end tone here, but it didn't seem to be cranked any higher than the Momentum True Wireless 4. The size of the Sport model makes them very comfortable to wear and the ANC seemed to do a solid job blocking the roar of CES surrounding us.The Momentum True Wireless 4 goes on sale March 1 and the Momentum Sport will be available April 9. I'll be putting both sets of earbuds through their paces closer to their respective launch dates.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sennheiser-momentum-4-and-momentum-sport-hands-on-excellent-sound-in-two-very-different-earbuds-133029171.html?src=rss

The original iPhone convinced me (and many others) that typing on touchscreens was the future. So the last thing I expected to test out during CES 2024 here in Las Vegas was a mobile accessory that's trying to bring back the physical keyboard. And, while I wanted to dismiss Clicks as a thing for people who can't let go of yesteryear, what I found was a gadget that's solving some modern problems by taking cues from the past.Clicks' design couldn't be simpler. It's a silicone case (Clicks' website actually says it's Liquid Silicon, but I think that's a typo) with a physical keyboard bolted on the bottom. There's a small vegan leather accent on the back, little bumps to accommodate buttons and switches, and a passthrough connector at the bottom (either Lightning or USB-C depending on your device). At launch, Clicks will be available for three devices starting at $139: the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe first problem that Clicks tries to address is giving you back your screen space, because when you don't need to display a virtual keyboard at the bottom all the time, suddenly things feel a lot roomier. And Clicks accomplishes this with flying colors. But personally, with the increasing size of phones (especially new-fangled foldables), this has never really been an issue for me. But that doesn't mean this isn't a problem for others so it's nice to see Clicks providing people with alternatives to typing on glass.Another big goal for Clicks is optimizing your device by providing tons of shortcuts, which to me is much more appealing. It almost gives your phone the type of speed and productivity you enjoy on a laptop. You can press CMD+H to go home, tap the Spacebar to scroll in Safari, hit CMD+Space to open up Spotlight search and so much more. Some commands even work in third-party apps like Instagram, which is just really handy. And after seeing Apple add a single Action key on the iPhone 15 Pro, my head is already swimming with the possibilities of having 30+ customizable shortcuts.Finally, there's the simple joy of having physical keys to wail away on. While you don't get mechanical switches like on a desktop keyboard (Clicks features rubber domes), the tiny nickel-plated keycaps feel solid and offer a nice tactile bump with each press. You also get some handy backlighting so you don't have to suffer in dark rooms. The one issue is that after years of typing on screens, I'm not entirely sure I want to go back. And that probably goes double for anyone who prefers swipe-based entry methods.After years of typing on glass, just banging out a short text using Clicks felt lethargic. And even with their circular design which leaves ample space in between the keys, I found myself fumbling. But then old habits started coming back and I can easily see how those yearning for their old Blackberrys, Sidekicks, or Motorola Envys might be enchanted.Now that I've used it, I can't deny that there's something endearing about Clicks. But when it comes to getting more use out of a device, I lean more towards foldable phones or simply bigger screens. Plus, there are a few other minor issues, like iPhones not being able to handle charging and data over USB-C at the same time, which could be an issue for anyone who relies on wired CarPlay while using Clicks. Also by tacking a keyboard onto the bottom of an iPhone, which already have extra long 19.5:9 aspect ratios, you may feel like you're lugging around a stack of rulers. And if you have an Android handset, you're just plain out of luck (at least for now). But there's no doubt that Clicks is a charming device, especially those flashy yellow and blue/pink models.Clicks will be available starting on February 1 for the iPhone 14 Pro with the other models following sometime later this spring.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/clicks-hands-on-a-charming-keyboard-for-2024-thats-relying-on-more-than-just-nostalgia-131537619.html?src=rss

The US Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule to the Federal Register on Wednesday that would increase the difficulty of classifying workers as independent contractors. If the rule survives court challenges unscathed, it will replace a business-friendly Trump-era regulation that did the opposite. It's scheduled to go into effect on March 11.The new rule, first proposed in 2022, could have profound implications for companies like Uber and DoorDash that rely heavily on gig workers. It would mandate that workers who are economically dependent" on a company be considered employees.The rule restores a pre-Trump precedent of using six factors to determine workers' classification. These include their opportunity for profit or loss, the financial stake and nature of resources the worker has invested in the work, the work relationship's permanence, the employer's degree of control over the person's work, how essential the person's work is to the employer's business and the worker's skill and initiative.In its decision to publish the new guidance, the DOL cites a longstanding precedent" in the courts predating the Trump administration's hard right turn. A century of labor protections for working people is premised on the employer-employee relationship," Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said in a press call with Bloomberg.Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is a serious issue that deprives workers of basic rights and protections," Su wrote in the announcement post. This rule will help protect workers, especially those facing the greatest risk of exploitation, by making sure they are classified properly and that they receive the wages they've earned."Mike Kemp via Getty ImagesIf the rule takes effect, it's expected to increase employer costs. The US Chamber of Commerce, a non-government lobby for business interests, unsurprisingly opposes it. It is likely to threaten the flexibility of individuals to work when and how they want and could have significant negative impacts on our economy," Marc Freedman, VP of the US Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement to Reuters.DoorDash sounds optimistic that the rule wouldn't apply to its workforce. We are confident that Dashers are properly classified as independent contractors under the FLSA, and we do not anticipate this rule causing changes to our business," the company wrote in a statement. We will continue to engage with the Department of Labor, Congress, and other stakeholders to find solutions that ensure Dashers maintain their flexibility while gaining access to new benefits and protections."Groups with similar views are expected to mount legal challenges to the rule before it goes into effect. A previous attempt by the Biden Administration to void the Trump-era rules met such a fate when a federal judge blocked the DOL's reversal.Although the most prominent theoretical applications of the rule would be with gig economy apps like DoorDash, Lyft and Uber, it could stretch to sectors including healthcare, trucking and construction. The department is seeing misclassifications in places it hasn't seen it before," Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looma said to Bloomberg on Monday. Health care, construction, janitorial, and even restaurant workers who are often living paycheck to paycheck are some of the most vulnerable workers."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-department-of-labor-rule-could-reclassify-countless-gig-workers-as-employees-130836919.html?src=rss

My experience with smoking meat has been entirely outdoors, using a mix of grills that burn charcoal, wood or pellets. Not everyone has the space for one of those setups, but thanks to GE Appliances' latest device, you can bring the barbecue indoors. Plus, you don't even have to been there while it's cooking. At the company's CES 2024 booth in Las Vegas, I finally got a taste of that the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker is capable of cooking.Lousiville-based chef and Food Network Chopped champion Dallas McGarity is with GE Appliances at CES this week. He explained that he's been using the Smart Indoor Smoker in his restaurant for infusing flavor in everything from spices to cheese and deviled eggs. Of course, when most people think of smoking foods, they think of meat. McGarity prepared a one-bite sampler to showcase the type of flavor we can expect from the device: beef tenderloin with a sweet and spicy rub, roasted garlic barbecue sauce, Southwest breadcrumbs and scallions. An elevated taster, for sure, but not too far from something you might prepare at home.After just a couple of hours in the Smart Indoor Smoker, the beef had noticeable flavor from the wood pellets. McGarity was also preparing a pork butt, but it still had several hours to go before it would be ready. Given my experience with outdoor smokers, even just one bite gave me a sense of what the GE Profile model was capable of. My main concern was the amount of smoke flavor it would impart, and it was great to see that the device managed infuse an ample amount in a limited time period. That bodes well for an 8- to12-hour low-and-slow smoke session.One other aspect of the Smart Indoor Smoker that I was able to see in action was the Clear Smoke function. Or, I should say, I got to see what happens when you don't use it. McGarity was keeping the beef bites warm in the device and, rather than make me wait 10 minutes for the cooking chamber to clear of smoke, he opened the unit and smoke wafted up in the air. Ideally, you wouldn't want to do this in your kitchen, but he worked fast and the cloud was minimal. Even still, the Smart Indoor Smoker recovered quickly, getting back to its target temperature with visible smoke returning in seconds.The cooker costs $1,000 and, unlike many other gadgets launched at CES, is already available at some retailers.Photo by Billy Steele/EngadgetWe're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/we-tried-meat-from-the-ge-profile-smart-indoor-smoker-and-it-was-delicious-130029336.html?src=rss

Taylor Swift is not giving out free Le Creuset products in social media advertisements - though deepfakes of her voice would like you to believe otherwise. A series of posts have recently surfaced on TikTok and in Meta's Ad Library claiming to show Swift offering free Le Creuset cookware sets, the New York Times reports. The ads featured clips where Swift was near Le Creuset products and used a synthetic version of her voice. The scammers used AI to have the cloned voice address her fans, "Swifties," and produce other little remarks.These posts led interested parties to fake versions of sites like The Food Network with made-up articles and testimonials about Le Creuset. Shoppers were then asked just to provide the $9.96 for shipping to get their free products. Unsurprisingly, no Dutch ovens arrived, and customers had additional monthly charges added to their cards. Le Creuset confirmed no such giveaway was occurring.Swift is hardly the only celebrity who has recently found their voice co-opted using AI. She's not even the only one used in the scam, with interior designer Joanna Gaines mimicked in ads from verified accounts or ones labeled as sponsored posts. In April 2023, the Better Business Bureau warned consumers about the high quality of ads featuring AI-manufactured versions of celebrities. Since then, scammers have used deepfakes to convince consumers that Luke Combs was selling weight loss gummies, Tom Hanks was promoting dental plans and Gayle King was selling other weight loss products, to name a few examples.Little regulation exists for monitoring deepfakes or punishing the people who create them. A lot of the responsibility currently falls on the platforms, with YouTube, for example, laying out new steps for reporting deepfakes. At the same time, its working with select musicians to loan their voices out and create greater interest in AI-generated versions of real people.Last year, two bills were introduced in Congress to address deepfakes: The No Fakes Act and the Deepfakes Accountability Act. However, the fate of both pieces of legislation is uncertain. At the moment, only select states, such as California and Florida, have any AI regulation.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/taylor-swift-deepfake-used-for-le-creuset-giveaway-scam-123231417.html?src=rss

Hyundai has debuted its new air taxi concept, the S-A2, at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle is a follow-up to the S-A1 model it introduced at the same event back in 2020. Hyundai still envisions the S-A2 as an every day transportation solution for urban areas, one that could get passengers from point A to point B a lot more quickly than if they'd traveled by car or bus and had to contend with traffic.The S-A2 has a cruising speed of 120mph upon reaching an altitude of 1,500 feet and was designed to fly short trips between 25 to 40 miles. It has eight rotors and an electric propulsion architecture that the company says can operate "as quietly as a dishwasher" unlike loud traditional helicopters. Inside, the vehicle has seats for a pilot and four passengers, and it has lighting that provides visual cues, such as where to enter and exit. For safety purposes, it has a lot of redundant components, such as its powertrain and flight controls, which can take over if the main ones malfunction.Hyundai's air mobility company Supernal is hoping to achieve commercial aviation safety levels and to enter the market with an eVTOL vehicle by 2028. We might see future versions of the concept in the next CES events before that year - or after, if the company has to adjust its timeline. If and when Supernal does make it to market, it intends to use Hyundai's mass production capabilities to manufacture its eVTOLs and make sure its business is cost-effective.HyundaiWe're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-shows-off-its-updated-s-a2-air-taxi-at-ces-2024-115516581.html?src=rss

It's been about three months since we first saw Tesla sell an upgraded version of the Model 3 in Europe, China and the Middle East. Now, Tesla's 2024 Model 3 is available to purchase in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The sedan is a refreshed version with some clear changes between the models.Inside the Tesla 2024 Model 3 is a new eight-inch rear display that controls things like infotainment and climate. The front display remains the same size at 15 inches but is brighter and has a thinner bezel. The updated car also offers ventilated front seats, "softer, more sophisticated materials," and an audio system with up to 17 speakers. The entire 2024 Model 3 is outfitted with acoustic glass for a quieter drive and has customizable ambient lighting.The car's exterior also has some upgrades, with Tesla integrating the fog lights and indicators into the main headlights. The 2024 Model 3 also foregoes the front bump with "styling optimized for maximum aerodynamics." At the rear, the lights fully connect versus two separate pieces. Plus, there are two new color options: Ultra Red and Stealth Grey.The Model 3 is available in two types. The new Real Wheel Model 3's range remains at 272 miles. Notably, its alternative, the 2024 Long Range Model 3, has a slightly increased EPA estimated range of 341 miles versus its predecessor's 333 miles. This boost - albeit minor - comes at a time when Tesla is lowering many of its listed driving ranges in response to a new US government regulation testing vehicles to ensure they're providing accurate estimates. Tesla has previously manipulated the number displayed in cars to appear higher and even set up a secret team in 2022 tasked with suppressing range complaints and canceling service appointments about range limits.Tesla's 2024 Model 3 is now available to order with an estimated delivery of January or February. The Real Wheel Mode starts at $38,990, with the option to lease for $329 monthly. The Long Range Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Model 3 is available for $45,990 or $439 per month if leasing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teslas-refreshed-2024-model-3-is-now-on-sale-in-the-us-111533256.html?src=rss

The first truly busy day of CES 2024 has come and gone and it feels like we've been run over by a giant metaphorical eighteen-wheeler full of press conferences. From home robots to electric vehicles to AI, laptops and processors, there was news from pretty much all areas of tech. There were pleasant surprises like Samsung's cute new Ballie robot ball and Sony's spatial content creation headset, and intriguing concepts like Razer's vibrating cushion for gamers. We also got exactly what we expected in the form of new processors from the likes of AMD, Intel and NVIDIA, as well as the subsequent flood of laptops carrying the just-announced chips for 2024.And for everyone else, this CES also saw the launch of things like headphones, electric vehicles, gaming handhelds, grills, gaming phones, e-ink tablets, strange hybrid devices, noise-suppressing masks, standing desks and more. It's a free for all and we're nowhere near done. Here's just a small selection of the biggest news out of CES 2024's press day, right before the show officially opens.Samsung and Sony's press conferences had some of the best surprises this year. Samsung showed us a new version of its Ballie robot, which is cute as heck. It's basically a yellow bowling ball with a projector built in and can send you text messages and video clips of what's at home while you're out. You can ask it to close your curtains, turn on your lights or stream your favorite yoga video to your ceiling while you lie on your back for a meditative session. Samsung told The Washington Post that Ballie will be available for sale some time this year, but did not say how much it would cost. I guess that's another surprise we can look forward to in the coming months.Then there's Sony, which brought us a few unexpected demos, starting by driving its Afeela concept electric car onstage using a PlayStation controller. Then, it showed off its mixed reality headset for spatial content creation," which sounds somewhat similar to Apple's Vision Pro and Microsoft's HoloLens. Sony's does appear to target content creators, though, and looks like a pared down PSVR2 headset. It'll be powered by a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, sport dual 4K OLED microdisplays and have user and space tracking. The new Sony headset still has no name, no price, but itwill be available later this year.Also dominating our news feeds on Day 1 was the barrage of chip news coming from Intel, AMD and NVIDIA. AMD, for example, launched a new Radeon RX 7600 XT GPU, which is a slight upgrade from last year's entry-level model. The company also brought processors with neural processing units for AI acceleration to its desktop offerings by announcing the Ryzen 8000G series.Meanwhile, NVIDIA unveiled the RTX 4080 Super, RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Super, which will cost $999, $799 and $599 respectively. It also announced updates for its GeForce Now cloud gaming service, adding G-Sync support and day passes for streaming. Intel kept things fairly tame and tidy, simply giving us its complete 14th-generation CPU family, including HX-series chips like a 24-core i9 model. It also launched the Core U Processor Series 1, which is designed to balance performance and power efficiency in thin and light laptops.Speaking of laptops, most PC makers followed up the chip news flood by announcing all their new models containing the latest silicon. We saw notebooks from Alienware, Lenovo, MSI, Acer, Asus, and Razer, among others. MSI also had a new gaming handheld to show us, which is the first of its category to use Intel's just-announced Core Ultra chip.Asus also put that chip in a non-laptop product, debuting a new homegrown NUC. Meanwhile, Lenovo continued to challenge our notions of what a laptop with its ThinkBook Plus Gen 5, which is a weird gadget mermaid of sorts. Its top half is a 14-inch Android tablet, while its bottom half is a Windows keyboard and all of it is just funky.Speaking of odd Android tablets, TCL was here with a new version of its NXTPAPER e-ink-ish tablet. This year's model can switch between a matte e-paper-like display and a full-color LCD at the push of a button. The company also showed off a miniLED TV, which, at 115-inches large, is the biggest MiniLED TV with Quantom Dot technology to date.We also got to check out Razer's Project Esther, which is a proof of concept vibrating cushion showcasing the company's new Sensa HD haptics platform for more immersive gaming experiences. That might be one of my favorite demos so far because... well... It vibrates. It's a vibrating cushion for most office or gaming chairs.There was plenty of car and transportation news, too, like Kia's new fleet of modular vans and Volkswagen adding ChatGPT powers to its in-car voice assistant. The CES 2024 showfloor was also littered with piles of headphones, earbuds (and earwax) thanks to announcements from JBL, Sennheiser and less-known names like Mojawa, which put an AI-powered running coach in its bone-conducting headphones.At the Pepcom showcase, we also saw some intriguing and fun products, like the Skyted Silent Mask that lets you talk in private in public, as well as the LifeSpan standing desk bike that lets you cycle really hard to generate enough power to charge your phone.Intrigued? Check out our articles and videos with more details on everything I've mentioned and more. Or if you prefer, we'll be back tomorrow to recap all the biggest news again to make your life easier. We've got plenty of press conferences coming up, and the show floor has officially opened, which means there's still lots of stuff to check out in the days to come.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ces-2024-day-1-recap-samsung-and-sony-dominated-as-did-chips-and-laptops-140024127.html?src=rss

Wearable startup Humane AI laid off four percent of its employees before it has started shipping its Ai Pin, The Verge has reported. Leadership reportedly told employees that budgets would be lowered in 2024, according to sources familiar with the matter. The cuts were implemented earlier this week and affect around 10 people.On LinkedIn, CEO and co-founder Bethany Bongiorno called the cuts "part of a wider refresh of our organizational structure as our company evolves with purpose for this next phase of growth." She added that CTO Patrick Gates will be transitioning to an advisor role, and that Humane AI had promoted new heads of hardware, software and others as part of a reorganization. Bongiorno told The Verge that the cuts were "not communicated as a layoff," though sources told that outlet that they were, both verbally and in writing.Humane was founded by ex-Apple executives Bongiorno and her husband Imran Chaudhri. It's primary product is the "Ai Pin" that acts as a sort of wearable AI assistant. The company first unveiled the device at a Paris fashion show and announced last month that it would start shipping in March for $699.HumaneThe pin takes voice commands from the user and beams relevant information onto the user's hand via a built-in projector. It can also perform AI-powered optical recognition via a camera. It's powered by a quad-core Snapdragon processor with a dedicated Qualcomm AI Engine using Cosmos OS software. The founders have said that it "quickly understands what you need, connecting you to the right AI experience or service instantly."The Ai Pin has yet to be thoroughly reviewed (other than a few short tests), but the company demonstrated how it works in a video released last month. The founders showed how you can give it specific commands like "play music written by Prince, but not performed by Prince." The device can then display the information on your hand via the projector and control music playback and more by tilting or closing your hand.It can also answer questions by searching the web and send messages with modifiers like "add more excitement." You can use it to monitor your health and nutrition, and Humane provides a central hub for images, etc., along with accessories like clips, battery cases and more. How well it performs its AI tasks in the real world, though, remains to be seen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/humane-lays-off-staff-before-its-ai-pin-begins-shipping-103548514.html?src=rss

Amazon-owned Twitch is preparing to lay off 35 percent of its employees or around 500 people, Bloomberg has reported, citing "people familiar with the matter." The move follows a headcount reduction of around 400 people in 2023 and Twitch's decision to cease operations in Korea. The cuts could be announced Wednesday, but no other details were provided, including who may be affected.The move was reportedly made amid concerns over losses at Twitch, which has failed to become profitable nine years after Amazon acquired it for nearly $1 billion. The costs of running the site are huge, given that it supports around 1.8 billion hours of live video content a month. A similar issue forced Twitch to leave South Korea, though CEO Dan Clancy said costs there are "ten times more expensive" than other countries.Near the end of last year, several key executives departed the company, including its chief product officer, chief customer officer, chief revenue officer and chief content officer. Clancy himself has been CEO less than a year, as he replaced co-founder and CEO Emmett Shear in March of 2023.In attempts to boost profitability, Twitch has reworked the way it does advertising and pays streamers in recent years. The site had over 50,000 partner creators back in 2022 and many have reportedly praised Clancy for using a more hands-on approach and listening to their concerns.Parent Amazon has been on a cost-cutting mission, having laid off 27,000 employees over the last two years, including 9,000 in 2023. That's part of a downturn across tech companies, with large-scale layoffs last year at Google, Meta, Spotify, Epic Games, Unity and others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-is-reportedly-laying-off-35-percent-of-its-workforce-085946333.html?src=rss

ASUS has introduced quite a lengthy list of products at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, including a high-tech eyewear called the AirVision M1. It's not really a competitor to the upcoming Apple Vision Pro and the mixed reality headgears other companies debuted at the event, though. The AirVision M1 is a wearable display with the ability to generate multiple virtual screens, supposedly so that users can juggle several tasks at once. It's equipped with an FHD (1,920 x 1,080) Micro OLED display that has a 57-degree vertical perspective field of view.The device's system has three degrees of freedom, and users can pin several screens where they want in the aspect ratio they prefer, whether it's 16:9, 21:9 or 32:9. They can do so through the glasses' intuitive touchpad located on the left temple, where they can also adjust brightness and activate 3D mode. The device also comes with built-in noise-canceling microphones and speakers.While it may sound like the AirVision M1 could be a good companion for people who need to bring their work with them when they travel, it's not a standalone wearable: It has to be connected to a PC or a phone via USB-C to work. ASUS has yet to reveal how much it costs and when it'll be available, but its specs and capabilities indicate that it'll cost a fraction of Apple's Vision Pro.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-asus-airvision-m1-is-a-wearable-display-for-multi-taskers-060237509.html?src=rss

TikTok recently pulled a tool that allowed researchers and others to study the popularity of hashtags on its app. The change, first reported by The New York Times, came shortly after researchers published a report using data from the tool that criticized the company.As The New York Times points out, the tool was one of the few publicly-accessible methods of tracking details about the popularity of specific hashtags. TikTok, like other social media companies, has made it difficult for outsiders to track how content spreads in its app.The tool in question is a feature called Creative Center, which provides data about the popularity of hashtags to would-be advertisers and others. Researchers at Rutgers' Network Contagion Institute had used Creative Center's search function to track hashtags deemed sensitive" to Chinese government interests. The researchers compared the prevalence of the hashtags between TikTok and Instagram and concluded that many "sensitive" topics were "dramatically underrepresented on TikTok" compared with Instagram.Soon after the report was published, the researchers said the search feature in Creative Center disappeared without an explanation. Search capacity for Hashtags has itself now been removed from the user interface entirely, which NCRI discovered to have occurred on Christmas day, days after this report's initial release," they wrote in an addendum to the report. They added that TikTok had also disabled direct access to a number of sensitive" topics they had previously tracked, including hashtags related to US politics and other geopolitical issues.In a statement to The New York Times, TikTok confirmed the change. Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have misused the Center's search function to draw inaccurate conclusions, so we are changing some of the features to ensure it is used for its intended purpose," a company spokesperson said.The dust-up is the latest example of mounting tensions between social media companies and researchers trying to study thorny topics like misinformation. Meta has also found itself at odds with researchers, and reportedly plans to deprecate CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by researchers and journalists to study how content spreads on Facebook. X has also greatly restricted researchers' access to data since Elon Musk took control of the company, making its once open APIs prohibitively expensive to most groups.In TikTok's case, the company may be particularly sensitive to what it considers improper use of its tools. The company has for years denied that it aligns its content policies with the interests of the Chinese government as numerous government officials have called for the app to be banned. More recently, the company faced increased scrutiny over its handling of content related to the Israel-Hamas war - criticism that was also fueled by what the company said was an inaccurate portrayal of hashtag data.That said, the company has made some concessions to researchers. TikTok began offering an official Research API to some academic institutions last year, and reportedly plans to make the tools available to some civil society groups that have questioned the company's content moderation practices.But for researchers, the move to abruptly cut off a tool will likely fuel more questions about just how willing the company is to work with them. This lack of transparency is of deep concern to researchers," the NCRI researchers wrote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-pulled-a-hashtag-tracking-feature-researchers-used-to-study-the-platform-015454077.html?src=rss

If there's a problem with the world of ambient computing we're all expected to live in, it's that you can't really be discreet. Most commands to your voice assistant of choice have to be spoken at a volume slightly higher than you would speak to another person. That's the societal ill VTouch, a South Korean company, has chosen to tackle with its WHSP Ring. It's a ring with a proximity sensor and microphone that activates when you raise it to your mouth. So when you want to talk to your assistant, you can simply mutter toward your knuckle and have it understand you. I saw a brief demo on the first day of CES 2024 here in Las Vegas.The idea is that you'll utilize VTouch's own app, which will offer a number of AI assistants to aid you. This includes, in the example shown to me, an AI Art Curator or even a digital Psychiatrist, all of which can be accessed from your phone. You can also interact with your smart home, setting all of the usual parameters from the comfort of your hushed tones. It'll last for around a day and a half on a single charge, while the charging case you can take around with it will extend the life by up to nine days. Any responses will, of course, be pumped through your headphones, enabling you to chat" to your assistant. There's even a button that, if tapped five times at once, will trigger a system to alert your contacts of an emergency and record ambient sound.Touch is planning to launch WHSP Ring as a Kickstarter in the near future, but there's no word yet on how much you could expect this thing to cost or when you can get your hands on one.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-ring-lets-you-whisper-to-your-phone-because-sometimes-we-need-to-use-our-inside-voices-002529204.html?src=rss

Yes, you probably already have a virtual assistant in your pocket on your phone. Heck, if you're reading Engadget, I'm willing to bet you've got at least one smart speaker floating around your home as well that you can ask to complete basic tasks. But a new startup called Rabbit seems to think these are less than ideal implementations of AI (if you can really call Siri and Alexa that). The company, which is exhibiting at CES 2024 in Las Vegas this week, envisions a world where you trade apps for conversation and, rather than a distracting device shoving icons in your face, you interact with what amounts to a walkie-talkie for an AI.The R1 is the first device to be launched by Rabbit and it's an objectively adorable little square in an endearingly bright shade of orange. Even if you're not sold on the necessity of a dedicated gadget for a virtual assistant, it's hard to deny the aesthetic appeal, which comes courtesy of the design gurus at Teenage Engineering. It features a small 2.88-inch touchscreen, an analog scroll wheel, two mics, a speaker and a "360 degree rotational eye," which is just a fancy name for a camera you can spin to face toward you or through the back of the handset.The primary way you interact with the R1, though, is by pressing and holding the "Push-to-Talk" button. This tells Rabbit OS to start listening. A heavily stylized and disembodied rabbit head bobs slowly as you ask your question or give it a task, and then it quickly gets to work. Want to book an Uber? Need a recipe to use up the leftovers in your fridge? Wondering who sampled The Isley Brothers "That Lady"? (The answer is Beastie Boys, Basement Jaxx and Kendrick Lamar, FTR.) The R1 seems pretty capable of handling those tasks, at least in the controlled video demo.Rabbit OS is able to tackle those tasks using what it calls the Large Action Model (LAM). This is what founder and CEO Jesse Lyu pitches as the company's major innovation. It's designed to take actions on interfaces rather than through APIs or apps. In short, it can be trained to carry out almost any task that can be accomplished through a user interface. It's sort of like a fancy version of a macro.As a way of demonstrating its capabilities, Lyu teaches the R1 how to generate an image using Midjourney via Discord. Once Lyu walks and performs the process, with Rabbit OS recording his actions, it can repeat the task when asked.The rotating camera faces up into the body by default, acting as a sort of privacy shutter. Only turning its sensor towards its target when summoned. It can do the usual tricks like identify people or thing in the real world (within reason, at least). But the way it interacts with the AI is sure to pique people's interest. In the demo Lyu points the R1 at a full refrigerator and asks it to suggest a recipe that's "low in calories" based on its contents.RabbitOf course, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the R1. How is the battery life? The company claims it's "all day," but what does that really mean? And will the average user be able to train it easily. At least we know a few things, though. We know it costs $199 and is available for preorder now, with an expected ship date sometime in March or April.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rabbit-r1-is-an-adorable-ai-powered-assistant-co-designed-by-teenage-engineering-001051537.html?src=rss

EVs, like me after the holidays, have a tendency to bloat at the slightest provocation, which is why I can't fit into those size 34 jeans. The big issue for electric cars is heavy batteries force cars to grow in size to accommodate them. Of course, the heavier the load, the more power is needed to keep going, forcing you into a vicious cycle. Even a small city car like the original Smart has, in its latest electric version, grown into a grotesque parody of its predecessor. Which is why there's a lot of hope riding on truly small EVs, like Squad Mobility's solar-powered car that's designed not to grow too big to fit inside a city.The company was founded by Chris Klok and Robert Hoevers, who met while working on the Lightyear solar car. Klok was chief vehicle engineer of that project, while Hoevers was previously involved with NIO's Formula E team. But they left Lightyear to help develop a small, solar-powered car that would offer affordable and clean mobility for dense cities. And while it's just got a few prototypes to show off, like the one here at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, it's expecting to begin production in 2025. Even better, many of its existing pre-order customers are based in the US, given the need for a car like this in those communities that exclusively rely on golf carts to get around.The Solar City car has a 250Wp panel in its roof, which is designed to generate enough power for a few short trips each day. The company says that, in Las Vegas, you could expect to travel for around 13 miles purely from the energy collected from the panel. (You can plug it in to an outlet if you really need to.) With a kerb weight of 794 pounds, it's light and efficient enough to get you around short distances without much stress. Of course, the speed is limited - and you'll only get around 25mph out of the 4kW motor, but if you live in a big city and just need to get to work, or pick up some groceries, that's probably all you need.You might expect the car to be poky, but the high roofline and low floor means it's surprisingly comfortable. The prototype here has some quirks - like acceleration and brake pedals that are a bit too close to the seat - which will be eliminated in the production version. There's even a rear load space big enough for a suitcase or a couple of decently-sized bags, and the prominent tires mean you could even tackle rough terrain in short doses. The fact it measures just 6.6 feet long means you can park it sideways and it'll take up the same amount of room as most cars, too.We're still a year out from seeing the production model of this car, but there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful. The company expects the retail price to be $6,250 excluding sales tax, making it ideal as a city runaround or second (or third) car. That said, the figure does exclude the cost of the doors which, like AC, count as an optional extra.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/squad-mobilitys-tiny-solar-powered-ev-is-a-dream-for-crowded-cities-235540577.html?src=rss

Right now there are a bunch of companies trying to figure out new and better ways to work on the go. Lenovo made a laptop with two displays and a detachable keyboard to help give owners additional screen space without too much added bulk. And there are headsets from Meta, Apple and others that offer a way to create a completely virtual workspace without the need for a tethered PC. But with the Spacetop, startup Sightful has come up with an in-between solution that uses the bottom of a laptop, but instead of a traditional display, it's attached to a pair of AR glasses.In theory, the glasses provide a 100-inch virtual display that can hold more windows than you could ever fit on a traditional laptop screen. And with the Spacetop being powered by Android, you get a familiar working environment too. Instead of controllers or hand gestures, there's a typical keyboard and touchpad for writing, browsing the web or anything else you might need to do. But after trying one out at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, while I like the idea, I'm not so sure about Sightful's execution.The system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chip (the same processor Meta used in the Quest 2 from 2020), just 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It feels smooth, though I wouldn't necessarily call it fast. I didn't notice much lag when dragging windows around or typing, but I didn't get to see how it handles a ton of open apps or anything more demanding than a web browser. Sightful has also come up with some simple shortcuts for doing things like re-centering the screen (just press the left and right Shift keys at the same time).The issue I ran into is that, while Sightful developed the base of the laptop itself and put its logo on the side of the glasses, the bundled AR eyewear attached to the PC is actually off-the-shelf specs from Xreal (in this case the Xreal Lights). So while Xreal glasses are somewhat sharp, their narrow field of view (especially vertically) and somewhat small sweet spot left a lot to be desired when it came to actually using that 100-inch virtual display.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAdditionally, the Spacetop's keys felt spongy and its touchpad was lackluster too. It's a far cry from the more precise haptic surfaces you'd get on a premium Mac or Windows PC. And when you combine all this with a starting price of $2,000, I just don't see the appeal. For people who already have a laptop, I'd argue you'd be much better off getting a Meta Quest 3, which costs $500, sports a much newer chip and can sync with your laptop to create its own version of a virtual desktop. Plus, then you'd have a headset that's way better at playing games, watching movies and more.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThere's a reason why Meta, Apple and others have sunk billions of dollars into making headsets and glasses with finely tuned optics. And I'm sure someday (maybe even sometime in the next few years), off-the-shelf AR glasses will make some pretty big advancements. But between its high price, dated specs and a big but not great-looking virtual display powered by two-year old AR glasses, the Spacetop doesn't quite deliver on the promise of revolutionizing the common laptop.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-spacetop-is-a-laptop-that-really-wants-to-swap-your-screen-for-ar-glasses-ces-2024-233638523.html?src=rss

Imagine being at a crowded convention or noisy bar and trying to have a conversation with someone across from you. It's tough enough for people with hearing to focus on what the person is saying, not to mention those with hearing loss. Assistive technology company OrCam has rolled into CES 2024 with a host of new products including a set of devices and an iPhone app designed to help those with hearing loss deal with auditory overload. The platform is called OrCam Hear and after a quick hands-on at the show in Las Vegas, I'm pleasantly surprised.OrCam Hear consists of a pair of earbuds and a dongle that plugs into any phone, and you'll use the app to control who you want to listen to. The system listens to voices for a few seconds (via the dongle) and uses AI to create speaker profiles for each person that then allows you to "selectively isolate specific voices even in noisy environments." This targets the issue sometimes known as the "cocktail party problem" that's a challenge for hearing aids.During a demo, my editor Terrence O'Brien and I spoke to two people whose voice profiles were already set up in the app. We stood around a table with Terrence on my right and the two company spokespeople across us about five feet away. I put the earbuds in (after they were sanitized), and the noise around me immediately sounded a little less loud and a lot more muffled.Photo by Terrence O'Brien / EngadgetI looked at everyone around me and though I could see their lips moving, I couldn't hear anyone speaking. After OrCam's reps used the app to drag a floating circle into the ring surrounding me, I started to hear the person diagonally across me talk. And though the executive next to him was also moving his mouth, I could still only hear the voice of the person selected. Only after we moved the other speaker's icon into the ring did I start to hear them.What impressed me more, though, was how the system handled relatively new participants like Terrence. He didn't have a profile set up in the app, and I initially couldn't hear him at all. A few seconds into the demo, though, a new circle appeared with a gray icon indicating a new "Anonymous" person had been recognized. When we dragged that into the ring, I was suddenly able to hear Terrence. This was all the more impressive because Terrence was wearing a fairly thick mask, which would have made him hard to understand any way. Yet, I was able to clearly make out what he was saying.The OrCam Hear isn't perfect, of course. I was still able to hear the speakers as they talked, and the audio playing through the earbuds was slightly delayed, so there was a small echo. But people who have hearing loss, whom this product is designed for, aren't likely to experience that. There was also some audio distortion when the selected speakers were talking, but not so much that it impeded my comprehension.OrCam said that the Hear platform is "currently in a technology preview phase and is expected to be shipped later in the year." Hopefully, that gives the company time to iron out quirks and make the app available on both iOS and Android, so that the assistive tech can be truly inclusive and accessible to more people.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/orcam-hear-hands-on-a-surprisingly-effective-voice-isolation-platform-for-those-with-hearing-loss-230243953.html?src=rss

The official X account belonging to the Securities and Exchange Commission was briefly compromised," the regulator said, after an apparently rogue post on X temporarily juiced bitcoin prices.On Tuesday, the SEC's official X account tweeted that bitcoin ETFs had been approved for listing on all registered national securities exchanges." The tweet included an official-looking graphic featuring a quote from SEC Chair Gary Gensler. However, Gensler himself quickly clarified from his X account that the post from @SECGov was the result of a "compromised" account.The @SECGov twitter account was compromised, and an unauthorized tweet was posted," Gensler wrote. The SEC has not approved the listing and trading of spot bitcoin exchange-traded products."Screenshot via XThe confusion comes as the SEC is, in fact, considering whether to approve spot bitcoin ETFs, investment funds that hold the cryptocurrency. The regulator is expected to make a decision Wednesday in a process that has been closely watched by crypto investors.Naturally, the now-deleted tweet from the SEC's official (and gray check-verified) account on X prompted a momentary surge in bitcoin prices, followed by a steep decline. The post and subsequent clarification from Gensler wiped out over $50 million of leveraged derivatives trading positions within an hour," according to and analysis from CoinDesk.It was initially unclear exactly how the SEC's X account was compromised." In a statement, an SEC spokesperson told Engadget that it was investigating the matter. "The SEC has determined that there was unauthorized access to and activity on the @SECGov x.com account by an unknown party for a brief period of time shortly after 4 pm ET," the spokesperson said. "That unauthorized access has been terminated. The SEC will work with law enforcement and our partners across government to investigate the matter and determine appropriate next steps relating to both the unauthorized access and any related misconduct."X didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company shared the results of its "preliminary investigation" Tuesday evening."We can confirm that the account @SECGov was compromised and we have completed a preliminary investigation," X write in a post from its safety account. "Based on our investigation, the compromise was not due to any breach of X's systems, but rather due to an unidentified individual obtaining control over a phone number associated with the @SECGov account through a third party. We can also confirm that the account did not have two-factor authentication enabled at the time the account was compromised."

Today, at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Honda revealed two concept EVs - a sedan dubbed the Saloon and the minivan-esque Space-Hub. Honda said it will develop a model based on the Saloon concept car for North American markets in 2026, before it eventually reaches other buyers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa. Additionally, the carmaker debuted a redesigned 'H' logo that will be exclusive to its EV lineup.The Saloon, which is its flagship concept EV, has an aerodynamic design and rides low to the ground. While the Space-Hub is quite a bit boxier and renders show it with seating that has passengers facing each other. Besides touting a spacious cabin, Honda did not share much about when or if it plans to actually manufacture a car inspired by the Space-Hub concept.The first entries in Honda's 0 Series lineup will feature advanced driver-assistive systems that pair with the carmaker's Sensing Elite software. In the latter part of the decade, Honda expects the 0 Series to gain automated driving features through the integration of AI.Around the same time the company expects to implement dramatic improvements to its battery technology, like fast charging from 15 to 80 percent in around 15 minutes and reducing battery degradation to less than 10 percent over 10 years. Those are bold goals, especially for a company that is a little late to the EV space.HondaWe're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/honda-debuts-two-futuristic-0-series-ev-concept-models-at-ces-2024-225422387.html?src=rss

Samsung's Ballie robot is one of the more delightful things we've heard about at CES 2024. The spherical robot was a surprise from Samsung yesterday, though the company first showed off a version of it back in 2020. Ballie's now a lot bigger, growing from a tennis ball to a bowling ball, and it has a built-in projector.Unfortunately, Samsung isn't letting us get any one-on-one time with Ballie here in Las Vegas, but the company did show off a demo at its booth. It was obviously tightly scripted and controlled, but at the very least it gave us an idea of how the company envisions Ballie being used. The actor asked Ballie to start a workout routine for him and it started projecting a workout video on the wall and started some tunes. Sure, you could just use your TV for that, but when one of the exercises called for laying down, Ballie shot the video to the ceiling so the actor could continue following along.In another example, Ballie was able to give a visual representation of the house's air quality, pulling data from a connected air purifier. In addition to showing some stats on the wall, Ballie noted that a filter needed to be changed. The idea here is to show that Ballie can talk to all your smart home devices and display info from them, even if they don't have a dedicated display.Naturally, Ballie can also display events on your calendar and place phone calls, and it can show video from things like the inside of your Samsung fridge or oven as well as when someone is at your doorbell. Basically, Ballie feels like a smart home hub on wheels that can also display stuff when you want it to.It's cute, and it was fun to see Ballie confidently rolling around the floor of the demo area, but I can't help but think that it's solving exactly zero real world problems either. We'll have to see how development progresses, but Samsung says it'll be on sale by the end of the year. I'm not fully convinced, as we've seen a lot of, but I am definitely rooting for the little robot.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-ballie-robot-didnt-do-much-at-ces-2024-but-it-sure-is-cute-221425179.html?src=rss

Qualcomm is ringing in the new year at CES 2024 in Las Vegas with some updates in its chip lineup that power virtual and mixed-reality headsets. The keynote, which will detail more about what's new for its anticipated AI-powered chip, will happen on January 10 at 5pm ET. It can be streamed on Qualcomm's website or directly on the CES keynote page.What to expectThere might be some information divulged about Meta and Qualcomm's chip collaboration and how it could improve functionality on new gen VR headsets. Qualcomm has said that the technology has been engineered into a single chip architecture that allows it to support smaller and sleeker headsets.The AI-integrated chip technology will not only make it easier to track a headset user's hands, controllers and eyes during use, it will also deliver better display resolution per eye. The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip will offer up to 4.3k by 4.3k resolution per eye, as well as upgraded raw image processing and full color display.Cristiano Amon, the CEO of Qualcomm is also going to focus on generative artificial intelligence and how Snapdragon platforms will integrate AI on devices from smartphones to PC gaming systems. Amon's keynote is in alignment with the company's overall move towards investing in AI hardware in its offerings, which we saw in its recently revealed mobile chipset for Android devices.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-qualcomms-ces-2024-keynote-on-its-highly-anticipated-ai-powered-chip-220039557.html?src=rss

This year, LG Display came to CES 2024 with something to prove. It had multiple sizes of transparent OLEDs (the show's theme appears to be transparent displays) and a gaming monitor capable of 480Hz refresh rates - double what we're used to seeing. Perhaps the most interesting things at its showroom were LG Display's most advanced OLED panels yet, featuring its META technology 2.0. While it sounds like promotional fluff (and there's some of that here), the company is trying to address arguably OLED's biggest weakness.While the company revealed its META technology last year, version 2.0 features advanced microlens arrays (now called MLA+). These are micrometer-sized lenses with a Dragonfly eye design that improves the viewing angle of OLED displays up to 160 degrees. These lenses (and there are 42.4 billion of them in LG Display's 83-inch 4K prototype), combined with new algorithms result in an OLED far more brighter than its predecessors - 42 percent brighter than conventional OLEDs, according to the company.META 2.0 could address one of the biggest criticisms of OLED compared to rival screens- whether Mini or MicroLED - that it can't get bright enough. LG Display says its META 2.0 OLEDs can hit 3,000 nits of brightness.Why would you want an even brighter OLED? Combining MLA+ with a new brightness-optimizing algorithm analyses scenes in even more detail, to enhance both peak and also color brightness. These next-gen OLED displays can reach color brightness of up to1,500 nits - 114% brighter than conventional OLEDs. A new detail-enhancing algorithm will also attempt to accurately render bright and darker images, where detail is sometimes lost. It's not just a matter of image quality either - the technology offers power savings too.LG Display's 83-inch 4K META 2.0 OLED demonstration display will apparently be joined by 55-, 65- and 77-inch options, as well as 8K OLEDs as big as 88 inches. These will reach consumer TVs, monitors, and the rest - just in time to go head-to-head with the latest, brightest MicroLED rivals.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-displays-next-gen-oled-panels-address-the-techs-biggest-weakness-001551026.html?src=rss

Netflix's long-anticipated sci-fi series 3 Body Problem finally has a full trailer, following a short teaser released last year. This new trailer is over two minutes long and absolutely filled with exciting moments and tantalizing clues. Watch it below.The show's based on a hit book series by Chinese author Liu Cixin. The showrunners include David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, formerly of Game of Thrones. Yes, everyone hates them because of the ending of HBO's fantasy epic, but here's the thing. 3 Body Problem is the first novel in the finished Remembrance of Earth's Past series, and the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones, when working from pre-existing material, were absolutely iconic. So this could be very good, though it has suffered from delays.As for the plot, well it's complicated and hard to even discuss without getting into spoilers. The books are out there if you can't wait until the show's March 21 release date. As a clue, the clunky title actually refers to a common problem with both classical physics and quantum physics involving Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation. In other words, it's hard sci-fi, but the books have plenty of action and mystery set-pieces, and the show looks to follow suit. Expect plenty of advanced technologies and otherworldly weirdness.3 Body Problem stars Benedict Wong, Eiza Gonzalez and several Game of Thrones alums including Jonathan Pryce and John Bradley. Besides Benioff and Weiss, screenwriter Alexander Woo is on-board as a co-showrunner. Woo's best known for his work on True Blood and The Terror, among other well-regarded series.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflixs-sci-fi-adaptation-3-body-problem-finally-gets-a-full-sized-trailer-200027248.html?src=rss

NASA is delaying its return to the Moon with the Artemis program. "To give Artemis teams more time to work through the challenges with first-time developments, operation and integration, we're gonna give more time on Artemis 2 and 3," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told reporters on a call.As such, Artemis 2, which had been scheduled for a November 2024 launch, is now targeting September 2025. That four-person mission is set to fly around the Moon, in a similar fashion to the uncrewed Artemis 1. As for Artemis 3, which will take humans back to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, that's now targeted for September 2026, marking a nine-month delay.Those are the only delays NASA has announced for now. Nelson said "Artemis 4 remains on track for September 2028." Along with a lunar landing, that mission will mark the delivery of a habitat module to the Lunar Gateway, a space station that's planned for lunar orbit.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing thousands of performers, has struck a deal with an AI voice acting platform aimed at making it easier for actors to license their voice for use in video games. Under the deal, which was announced during a press event at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, SAG-AFTRA members will be able to work with Replica Studios to license their voice to game studios.Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's top negotiator, said that the agreement paves the way for professional voiceover artists to safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice replicas." The agreement comes as Hollywood is still grappling with the use of AI. Last year, SAG-AFTRA reached a deal with Hollywood studios that included AI protections following a months-long strike. As a result, studios are now required to pay actors (and obtain their consent) before using an AI-generated version of their likeness.SAG-AFTRA's latest agreement with Replica Studios seems to follow a similar framework. According to Crabtree, the agreements cover the creation of so-called digital voice replicas" and how they can be used by game studios and other companies. The deal has provisions for minimum rates, safe storage and transparency equirements, as well as limitations on the amount of time that a performance replica can be employed without further payment and consent."Notably, the agreement does not cover whether actors' replicas can be used to train large language models (LLMs), though Replica Studios CEO Shreyas Nivas said the company was interested in pursuing such an arrangement. We have been talking to so many of the large AAA studios about this use case," Nivas said. He added that LLMs are out-of-scope of this agreement" but they will hopefully [be] things that we will continue to work on and partner on."SAG-AFTRA's deal with Replica only covers a sliver of the game industry. Separately, the union is also negotiating with several of the major game studios after authorizing a strike last fall. I certainly hope that the video game companies will take this as an inspiration to help us move forward in that negotiation," Crabtree said.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sag-aftra-strikes-deal-for-ai-voice-acting-in-video-games-at-ces-2024-191533846.html?src=rss

The modern classic mystery game Immortality is finally coming to PS5 on January 23 and it'll cost $20, which is in line with the price on other platforms. It already exists on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Android and iOS. The game was originally released back in 2022.For the uninitiated, Immortality is more of an interactive film trilogy than a video game, recalling full-motion titles from the 1990s. The surreal narrative tasks you with solving the disappearance of an actress named Marissa Marcel. You do this by scrubbing through video clips and gathering clues. Creator Sam Barlow has likened the gameplay to a mental Metroidvania", in that you return to previously-viewed clips once you have a new understanding of some aspect of the mystery.We loved the title upon release and it made our list of the best games of 2022. The script, penned by writers behind films like Wild at Heart and TV shows like Mr. Robot, is not just good for a video game, but engaging throughout. The atmosphere is moody and tense, recalling the cinematic stylings of Alfred Hitchcock and, especially, David Lynch. Immortality is geared more towards cinephiles than mainstream gamers, so don't expect a lot of action. The acting performances, however, are excellent.Sam Barlow made a similar game called Her Story, which was also well-received, and the less popular Telling Lies. He's been involved with several entries in the Silent Hill franchise, including Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cinematic-mystery-game-immortality-comes-to-ps5-on-january-23-191054771.html?src=rss

EcoFlow has arrived at CES 2024 in Las Vegas to show off its largest and most useful home battery backup solution, the Delta Pro Ultra. It's calling the hardware a smart hybrid whole house battery generator and backup" that will draw power from a wide variety of sources. You'll be able to charge it from either high or low-output solar panels, from the grid, or even juice it up from a gas powered generator. (But also, don't do that unless lives are on the line, please, the planet can't handle it.) The Delta Pro Ultra also vastly increases how much power you can keep on hand at any one time. The existing Delta Pro can scale - with additional batteries - up to 25kWh but, if your wallet is thick enough, you can equip the Ultra with 90kWh of batteries, which the company says should be enough to keep your home's essentials running for up to a month.In fact, the theme of this hardware is supersized capaciousness since every element of it has been built to service the most extravagant McMansions. For instance, the solar input can take up to 16.8kW of power at a time, letting you wire up to 42 400W panels at a time. Combined with the ability to draw extra power from the grid when energy costs are low and you should see the initial outlay paid back fairly quickly. And the company says output runs from 7.2kW - enough to run a Central Air unit - all the way through to 21.6kW with enough additional gear, which should be enough to power most key appliances in your home.On its own, the Ultra is plug-and-play, although if you want to take advantage of its higher outputs and deeper integration with the home, you'll have to buy its Smart Home Panel 2. That will of course require the services of a qualified contractor but, even so, the company says that installation is pretty clean and tidy. Not to mention that it's nice and quiet when outputting less than 2,000W to help avoid complaints from the neighbours.If you're looking to splash out on a new whole house battery backup system, the Delta Pro Ultra is available to order starting today. For the first month, the inverter and battery will set you back $4,999, while the Smart Home Panel 2 costs an extra $1,599 when bought separately. Not to mention you can snag both in a bundle for $6,399 until February 9, when prices for all three will leap up to their RRP of $5,799 (Ultra), $1,899 (Panel 2) and $7,499 (bundle).We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ecoflow-delta-pro-ultra-is-a-home-battery-that-can-harvest-power-from-42-solar-panels-190032452.html?src=rss

Palworld, often described as Pokemon with guns," finally has an Early Access release date. In addition to its violent battles, the game tackles labor exploitation themes with a sardonic sense of humor while adding (perhaps) just enough changes to evade Nintendo's lawyers. It launches in Early Access on Steam and Game Pass on January 19.At first glance, Palworld's trailers make the game look like a simple and charming 3D open-world riff on Pokemon. You'll see battles with strange monsters, vaguely resembling those in the creature collecting franchise, including players capturing them inside a sphere after a victory.PocketpairBut Palworld also takes things to darker places Nintendo would never dream of. For example, take this slice of developer Pocketpair's Steam FAQ about the game. In response to What kind of game is this?", it reads, Pals can be used to fight, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them!"A section of the FAQ on building reads, Want to build a pyramid? Put an army of Pals on the job. Don't worry; there are no labor laws for Pals." On factories and automation, it says, Letting Pals do the work is the key to automation. Build a factory, place a Pal in it, and they'll keep working as long as they're fed - until they're dead, that is." The game's trailers showcase piles of Pal corpses to prove the point.For yet another example of the game's dark undertones, take the video above, Using Pals Efficiently." To build a great base, catch a Pal and make it work," the voiceover says, repeating the last part twice for emphasis. Simultaneously, we see various Pokemon-like monsters sweating away constructing the player's headquarters.The narration continues: Creating a productive base like this," as we see a yard full of Pals swinging hammers, is the secret to living a comfortable life in Palworld." The player circles them, holding an assault rifle to ensure they're on task.Palworld will be available in Early Access on January 19 at 00:00 PST. You can catch them all - and put them to work -on Steam and Game Pass (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pokemon-with-guns-satire-palworld-launches-in-early-access-on-january-19-185152491.html?src=rss

The second season of HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us is about to go into production. That means we're starting to find out the actors who have been cast in key roles from the second game, including the most pivotal new character of them all, Abby. No spoilers here, but Kaitlyn Dever, the star of Booksmart and No One Will Save You, is taking on the challenging role. (Let's just say we hope she nukes all of her social media accounts.)Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material," the show's co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann told Variety. Nothing matters more than talent, and we're thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro [Pascal], Bella [Ramsay] and the rest of our family."

Sony's big press event at CES 2024 didn't reveal much for the first half, retreading the company's entertainment successes in TV, film and music. Then, out of the blue, it revealed an as-yet-unnamed mixed reality headset, with almost anime-looking controllers.SonyWhile there are some design similarities, this isn't a VR headset a la PSVR. This is for spatial content creation." The headset is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, announced just as CES began. This means it's a self-contained device that doesn't require a computer. Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said the 4K OLED microdisplays on the headset would offer a crisp viewing experience" and intuitive interaction for 3D design."The headset has a pair of controllers. One is described as a ring controller" for manipulating objects and the other as a pointing controller" for... pointing. Sony envisions creators being able to craft 3D models in real time with them.It all seems a more creative interpretation of Microsoft's HoloLens. We haven't yet seen the headset in person, though. Hopefully, we'll get more details from Sony's booth, here in Las Vegas.Oh, and the company drove its incoming Afeela EV on stage with a PlayStation controller. That's CES. For all the latest CES news, find all our stories right here.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedThe MSI Claw is the first gaming handheld built on Intel's Core Ultra chipsWatch Sony's CES 2024 keynote in under 6 minutesLockly's Visage smart lock can unlock doors by scanning your faceFormlabs shows up at CES 2024 with more realistic 3D-printed teethYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Lots of refreshed laptops landed at CES 2024Intel's updated chips need to go somewhere.EngadgetYesterday, Intel revealed its entire 14th-generation CPU family, which includes powerful HX series chips, like the 24-core i9-14900HX, as well as new mainstream desktop CPUs. That means, of course, lots of new laptops. We've got impressions and reports on new ASUS, Alienware, Acer, Lenovo and Razer computers, but I'd point you toward the weirdest PC we saw so far: the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5. As pictured here, the bottom is a Windows laptop deck, and the display is a 14-inch Android tablet. You can use the tablet as a standalone Android device, a wireless monitor for the laptop base or a Wacom-like drawing display.Continue reading.Samsung's Ballie robot ball showed up at CES 2024 with a built-in projectorAnd a yellow new look.SamsungSamsung showed off a robot named Ballie, which has a projector built in. Interestingly, though, according to a report from The Washington Post, Samsung said the robotic sphere will actually be available for sale within the year.We first saw an early iteration of Ballie in 2020, touted as a household assistant and potential fitness assistant, with such sophisticated skills as opening smart curtains and turning on the TV. But four years later, it's a little different. It's now bowling-ball-size" and has a spatial LiDAR sensor and a 1080p projector. The latter has two lenses and allows the robot to display movies, video calls and greetings" on its surrounding surfaces.Continue reading.

Between the Zenbook 17 Fold, Project Precog and previous Zenbook Duo machines, it feels like ASUS has been working towards building a true dual-screen laptop for ages. And now at CES 2024, that time has come with the arrival of the simply named Zenbook Duo.Similar to Lenovo's Yoga Book 9i, the Zenbook Duo features two separate screens and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard that can be stashed inside the system for traveling. The difference is that ASUS' OLED panels look even better, as they are slightly larger at 14 inches, while also offering a 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and stylus support. Plus, with a starting price of $1,500, it costs $500 less than the Yoga Book and not that much more than your average high-end ultraportable.That alone would be enough to make it interesting, but what really elevates the Zenbook Duo is the polish ASUS has put into making it look and function just like a regular clamshell. Measuring just 0.78 inches thick and weighing 3.64 pounds (including its removable keyboard), it's only a touch larger and heavier than a typical 14-inch notebook. And it doesn't give up anything in terms of performance, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD inside,. The same thing goes for connectivity, where you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and even a full-size HDMI 2.1 socket.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetBut the best thing about the Zenbook Duo is its fit and finish. Even though what I got to mess around with was a pre-production model, it felt incredibly sturdy. When packed up with its keyboard sandwiched between the two screens, there are no gaps or wasted space. And despite its super shallow dimensions, the detachable keyboard features full backlighting and more than enough travel to make sure your fingers don't get sore while typing.ASUS also added something I wish Lenovo had included on the Yoga Book 9i: a built-in kickstand. By mounting one on the bottom of the laptop, it sidesteps the need to have a separate folding cover, which streamlines the process every time you have to pack up and go. The small downside is that the orientation of the kickstand promotes a stacked setup with one display on top of the other. Though I'm not that bothered since that's my preference anyway. Technically, you can use the Zenbook Duo with vertical side-by-side mode, but because there's no way to adjust the kickstand in this position, it's not quite as flexible.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAs you'd expect from a system like this, you can use it as a standard clamshell with the Zenbook Duo featuring hidden magnets that allow the keyboard to snap neatly in place. However, when you have more room to work with, you can place the keyboard in front of the system and instantly double your screen space. There's also a responsive virtual keyboard and touchpad you can use in a pinch along with handy widgets for the news, weather and monitoring system performance. And when you need to top up the removable keyboard's battery, there are some thoughtfully placed pogo pins that allow it to trickle charge while it's nestled inside the system.Surprisingly, when it comes to battery life, ASUS managed to fit a 75 Whr power pack in the Zenbook Duo which is slightly larger than what's available in the new Zephryus G14 (73 Whr), and that's a gaming machine with way fewer moving parts. And ASUS claims the Zenbook Duo adheres to MIL-STD 810H testing standards, so it should be pretty durable too.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetLast year, the Yoga Book 9i felt like a revelation; Lenovo combined all the right components needed to create an appealing dual-screen laptop. But ASUS has optimized that template even further by adding ports, moving to bigger and better screens, including a built-in kickstand and making it even more portable. And then there's that surprisingly affordable $1,500 starting price. I've been waiting for years to switch over to a dual-screen laptop, and the Zenbook Duo might actually convince me to finally make that jump.The ASUS Zenbook Duo is expected to go on sale sometime later in Q1 2024.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-asus-zenbook-duo-is-a-stunning-dual-screen-laptop-with-seemingly-no-compromises-180017370.html?src=rss

Google is expanding its smart home integration at CES 2024. The company said Tuesday that, in the future, LG TVs and some Google TV (and other Android TV) products will work as Google Home hubs. Considering Google's support for the Matter smart home standard, the move could make it easier for customers to set up and control their smart homes without buying a Nest device.In the future, LG TVs and select Google TV and other Android TV OS devices will act as hubs for Google Home," Google Android VP Sameer Samat wrote in today's announcement blog post. So if you have a Nest Hub, Nest Mini or compatible TV, it's easy to add Matter devices to your home network and locally control them with the Google Home app."The announcement closely aligns with a comment teased by Google's Eric Kay during LG's CES 2024 press conference. LG TVs will act as hubs for Google Home where you can easily set up and control any Matter device," Kay said. You'll be able to see, control, and manage both LG and Google Home devices right from the TV or the ThinQ app. These features will roll out later this year."The eventual move will give smart home customers more options to set up and control a Google Home setup -including for Matter devices. Currently, you need a Google Nest device to do that.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-tvs-will-soon-be-matter-compatible-google-home-hubs-180015856.html?src=rss

A promotion at Sling TV is taking 50 percent off your first month of service. Sling divides its offerings in two: Sling Blue and Sling Orange, with different channels in each package. Those go usually for $40 per month separately or $55 monthly combined, but are now down to $20 and $27.50 after the discount. Unlike a cable subscription, you can cancel whenever you'd like with no penalty. Sling TV is one of the many ways to watch live TV channels, including sports and news stations, without having the commitment or higher price of cable. We named it a top pick in our live TV streaming guide.Sling TV is our recommendation for the most customizable live TV streaming service, letting you get just the channels you want without paying for too many you won't watch. Sling Orange includes six exclusive channels like the ESPN stations and the Disney Channel, while Sling Blue gives you 14 exclusive channels including FS1, MSNBC and Fox News. Both options come with 24 other channels such as CNN, BET and TNT. In addition to the two packages, you can choose from a number of add-on bundles that go for between $6 and $11 per month. Those include blocks of sports, kid-friendly fare, lifestyle channels and news packs. Premium extras include Starz, Showtime and Acorn which will add $2 to $10 to your monthly bill. In larger market areas (such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, NYC and Miami), Sling TV will also grant access to local NBC, ABC and Fox affiliate channels for no extra charge.We liked the way the menus were organized and found them easy to navigate. The service also does a good job of recommending stuff to watch based on your history. We had a little trouble with the service freezing occasionally and felt the 50 hours of DVR allowance could be more generous, but if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to cable and don't want to pay for channels you don't need, Sling is a good way to go.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sling-tv-subscriptions-are-half-price-for-your-first-month-174537428.html?src=rss

Vehicle-based voice assistants are the next great frontier, incorporating artificial intelligence into the driving experience. At CES 2024, Amazon and BMW announced a partnership to significantly improve the pre-existing experience, marrying a large language model (LLM) with Alexa and the actual driver's manual. The end result? You can ask the Alexa-powered chatbot anything about your car and receive accurate real-time information. That's right. That thick and unwieldy manual can stay in the glovebox, for good.Amazon says this tool offers a more natural way of getting to know your new car." You can ask how various features work, like the parking assistance system, and get conversational answers. Both companies suggest that this voice technology will strip away complexity and minimize distractions in the car."It's not just an information delivery system. You can also ask the bot to take actions on your behalf, like entering a specific drive mode. Additionally, this will fully integrate with the infotainment system, so you'll be able to ask the assistant to turn on music, navigate to a destination, change the internal temperature and just about anything else.BMW has been using Amazon Alexa in its infotainment systems for years, but this is a significant step forward. The companies previously announced a partnership to build a custom BMW in-vehicle voice assistant that used Alexa as a framework, and this looks to be part of that effort.There's something of an arms race with this tech. Volkswagen announced something similar in Las Vegas this week. It plans on merging ChatGPT with its current IDA voice assistant, and this feature will begin showing up in forthcoming vehicles. Mercedes also made an announcement regarding ChatGPT integration last year.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-and-bmw-are-replacing-the-drivers-manual-with-ai-173031770.html?src=rss

Between the ASUS ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go and the Steam Deck, AMD has a virtual monopoly over the chips powering high-end gaming handhelds. But for the Claw, MSI is partnering up with Intel to bring a little more balance to the portable PC performance wars.On paper and in its design, MSI's Claw shares a lot with the ROG Ally. It has a 7-inch full HD LCD screen with 500 nits of brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. (I asked an MSI rep if the Claw also supports VRR, but they didn't have an immediate answer, so stay tuned.) Even its case looks very familiar, with both handhelds sporting almost identical chassis, button layouts and power buttons with built-in fingerprint sensors, except that the Claw is black and has much bigger grips, which makes it way more comfortable to hold.But that's where the similarities come to an end, because on the inside, the Claw is powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 5 chip depending on the configuration. That's a pretty big departure amongst the sea of AMD-based alternatives, and may have some people wondering if Intel's first foray into high-end gaming handhelds can keep up. That's because in addition to a new chip, developers will be relying on Intel's integrated Arc graphics and a library of drivers that simply aren't as deep or as well tested as AMD's. It's also unclear how much the NPU inside Intel's latest chip will help with things like XeSS super sampling, which is sure to play a big part in the Claw's capabilities.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetHowever, even on the pre-production models with unfinished software (including beta drivers) that I tested things were surprisingly smooth. Launching games was snappy and I only ran into a small handful of hitches. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pull up MSI's built-in performance monitor, as its MSI Center game launcher is still a work in progress. A spokesperson I talked to claimed that, during internal testing, the Claw delivered 20 to 25 percent higher frame rates than an equivalent AMD-based handheld in 14 out of 15 popular titles. That's a pretty big claim but, if those figures carry over to a larger library of modern games, AMD might soon find itself playing catch-up. But, that's a big if.Another benefit of going with an Intel chip is that it allows MSI to include a Thunderbolt 4 port (Thunderbolt is a proprietary connector owned by Intel), which brings super fast data speeds and the option of hooking up an external graphics dock if you want even more performance. MSI is even using one of Intel's Killer modems that includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, so wireless connectivity is pretty much as good as it gets.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAlso, while I didn't have enough time to test its longevity, the 53Whr battery should give the Claw some significant advantages over the ROG Ally, which has just a40Whr pack. There's huge mesh vents on its back too, which should help keep MSI's handheld and your hands from getting too sweaty. Also, both the Claw's buttons and joysticks use precise hall effect sensors, compared to the Ally whose sticks relies on potentiometers. In a lot of ways, the Claw feels like what a mid-life refresh for the Ally might look like, assuming ASUS felt like switching from AMD to Intel.Even this early there's a lot to like about MSI's new Intel-based handheld. And when you factor in that the Claw starts at $699 with a Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, $749 for a faster model with a Core Ultra 7 CPU or $799 for one with a 1TB SSD, it looks to be pretty competitive regarding pricing as well.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetUnfortunately, there's no word on an official release, though MSI says it's shooting for a window closer to the end of Q1 instead of Q2. And as someone who loved the huge wave of gaming handhelds we got last year, it's really encouraging to see MSI carry that momentum into 2024 with the Claw.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-intel-powered-msi-claw-is-challenging-amds-handheld-gaming-monopoly-ces-2024-171643042.html?src=rss

Even though it often seems Behaviour Interactive is on the verge of running out of horror icons to add to Dead by Daylight, it's still managing to bring notable characters to the hit survival horror game. The next well-known name to hit DbD is the one and only Alan Wake.One of the protagonists of Alan Wake 2, widely regarded as one of the best games of 2023, the renowned author is officially coming to DbD on January 30 as part of the next chapter. However, you can try playing as the new survivor on the latest public test build on Steam right now.Actors Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta are once again lending their likeness and voice, respectively, to Alan Wake. As you might expect, you'll hear new voicelines from Wake as he tries to survive the horrors of The Fog. Of course, he wields a flashlight in this game too. Wake gets extra movement speed while shining a flashlight and if he successfully dazzles a killer, they'll be temporarily slowed down.Alan Wake is joining a litany of classic horror characters in Dead by Daylight, including Chucky, the Demogorgon from Stranger Things, the Xenomorph and Ellen Ripley from Alienand Sadako from The Ring. Nicolas Cage (yes, the actual Nicolas Cage) is in the game too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-is-coming-to-dead-by-daylight-on-january-30-171513476.html?src=rss

Audio-Technica's earbuds have run the true wireless gamut. The company has built separate models over the years that individually offer long battery life or ultra affordability, but it has yet to construct a complete package. At CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the company is launching its latest entry, the AT-TWX7, which offers active noise cancellation (ANC) in an all-new AirPods-like stickbud design. Audio-Technica combines 5.8mm high-resolution drivers capable of 24-bit/96 kHz LDAC audio with a compact design and a number of conveniences for $199.I'm going to start with calls. A lot of people use wireless earbuds for calls, either because they're on the go or want to keep their hands free while having a chat. Every earbud company promises crystal clear voice performance but few actually deliver. Audio-Technica offers two voice modes for calls, Natural and Noise Reduction, that aim to keep you sounding your best in any environment. What's more, there's a Call Test built into the company's companion app that lets you record up to 10 seconds of audio before you hop on the line. When I tried this, the Natural Mode provided above-average results while the Noise Reduction Mode did well to combat a roaring A/C unit, albeit with reduced voice quality.In terms of sound quality, those 5.8mm drivers offer the clear, warm audio I've coming to expect from the company. It's quite pleasant to listen to across genres, and the great clarity means you'll pick up on finer details - like string noise in Charles Wesley Goodwin's country tunes and the texture of the upright bass laying down the rhythm. There are four audio presets if you don't like the standard tuning and the company gives you the ability to make your own with manual adjustments to a five-band EQ. The ANC setup did well to block most of the noise from that raucous hotel A/C unit, but I could still hear it faintly at low volumes.Photo by Billy Steele/EngadgetThere's a transparency or Hear-through mode you can activate with a long tap on the left earbud, a gesture that also cycles between ANC and off along with the ambient sound. Audio-Technica has managed a quite natural-sounding profile for Hear-through, although it's still not as good at what Apple manages on AirPods. You don't hear quite as much of your own voice as you do on Apple's gear. However, A-T provides and additional Talk-Through option that can be activated with a long tap on the right earbud. This is meant to lower or pause content while focusing on human voices. There are two settings for it, Natural and Strong, that differ in terms of primary function: reducing noise or enhancing environmental sound pickup.In addition to those long taps, tiny physical buttons on the ATH-TW7 offer access to volume and playback controls. The smaller overall design of the earbuds leads to a more comfortable fit, especially for longer periods of time. What's more, the company gives you two different types of ear tips with four sizes of each: soft for comfort and standard for a secure fit. Bluetooth multipoint pairing is available for easy switching between devices as well. And lastly, Audio-Technica promises up to six and a half hours of listening on the earbuds with another two full charges in the wireless case.The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 is available now in black, white and gray color options.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio-technica-ath-twx7-hands-on-great-audio-compact-design-and-a-call-quality-test-170006493.html?src=rss