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Stress can really take a toll on a person, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Swiss startup Nutrix AG is hoping a quick, at-home spit test can help, by giving people a better idea of how stressed out they really are and the tools to manage it. At CES 2025, Nutrix showed off its cortiSense device, which measures levels of cortisol in saliva and can be used to track how this changes over time. The startup is planning to launch it by the end of the year, and it’ll work with the gSense app and digital platform to offer things like personalized wellness coaching from a medical team.
It’s meant to be an easy and noninvasive way to identify and combat burnout. The part that’s a little sus, though? In a press release, Nutrix CEO Maria Hahn said the company is focusing on “empowering enterprises,” noting that employee burnout can present “a significant challenge with a huge human and financial cost.” So, get your stress under control to better perform labor, I guess.
I wasn’t able to pop one in my mouth and try it out (I did ask), but the Nutrix team says a reading should take about 3-5 minutes to complete. The device, which looks like a vape, uses disposable tabs that have a cortisol measuring sensor. “You get the quantitative information of the cortisol in saliva,” which is then “transmitted over to the digital health platform to combine with other data, like activity monitoring, glucose [and] weight,” said Nutrix co-founder and CTO Dr. Jemish Parmar at CES’s Unveiled event. You’re supposed to take four measurements a day.

Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget

The company didn’t share pricing information, but the team says it will be offered as part of a subscription program that would include the cortiSense device, the single-use sensors and the digital health platform. The gSense platform so far offers guidance around weight loss, but it will soon offer mental health services too, according to Dr. Dominika Sulot, the Data and Software Lead. “Once you have all the data, you’re scheduling an appointment with [the medical team] and then they’re providing you the personalized plan,” Sulot says.
For personal use, this kind of thing could be great if it works as stated, especially if it would connect users with physical and mental health support. But I’m not loving the emphasis on enterprise applications to, per the press release, “foster a healthier, more productive workforce.” Actually, I might have just vomited in my mouth a little writing that. I wonder what cortiSense would detect in that. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/spit-on-this-stick-to-see-how-burned-out-you-are-024531311.html?src=rss

Stress can really take a toll on a person, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Swiss startup Nutrix AG is hoping a quick, at-home spit test can help, by giving people a better idea of how stressed out they really are and the tools to manage it. At CES 2025, Nutrix showed off its cortiSense device, which measures levels of cortisol in saliva and can be used to track how this changes over time. The startup is planning to launch it by the end of the year, and it’ll work with the gSense app and digital platform to offer things like personalized wellness coaching from a medical team.

It’s meant to be an easy and noninvasive way to identify and combat burnout. The part that’s a little sus, though? In a press release, Nutrix CEO Maria Hahn said the company is focusing on “empowering enterprises,” noting that employee burnout can present “a significant challenge with a huge human and financial cost.” So, get your stress under control to better perform labor, I guess.

I wasn’t able to pop one in my mouth and try it out (I did ask), but the Nutrix team says a reading should take about 3-5 minutes to complete. The device, which looks like a vape, uses disposable tabs that have a cortisol measuring sensor. “You get the quantitative information of the cortisol in saliva,” which is then “transmitted over to the digital health platform to combine with other data, like activity monitoring, glucose [and] weight,” said Nutrix co-founder and CTO Dr. Jemish Parmar at CES’s Unveiled event. You’re supposed to take four measurements a day.

The company didn’t share pricing information, but the team says it will be offered as part of a subscription program that would include the cortiSense device, the single-use sensors and the digital health platform. The gSense platform so far offers guidance around weight loss, but it will soon offer mental health services too, according to Dr. Dominika Sulot, the Data and Software Lead. “Once you have all the data, you’re scheduling an appointment with [the medical team] and then they’re providing you the personalized plan,” Sulot says.

For personal use, this kind of thing could be great if it works as stated, especially if it would connect users with physical and mental health support. But I’m not loving the emphasis on enterprise applications to, per the press release, “foster a healthier, more productive workforce.” Actually, I might have just vomited in my mouth a little writing that. I wonder what cortiSense would detect in that. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/spit-on-this-stick-to-see-how-burned-out-you-are-024531311.html?src=rss

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It’s been ten years since LG introduced its Gram line of ultra thin and light laptops, and despite my early skepticism about its longevity and build quality, the company continues to make new models regularly. It’s expanded the portfolio to offer pro variants, clamshells and 2-in-1s, and in keeping with every laptop maker in recent years, LG is now infusing the Gram Pros with more of its own… you guessed it… AI.
We already learned about this year’s LG Gram Pro lineup when they company unveiled the details last week. From the announcement, we found out that four new models are available. Here at CES 2025, I was able to check out the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 in person to see what I was able to learn beyond the press release. The short answer is: not much. 
In the six days or so since LG shared the 2025 Gram lineup with the world, the company has yet to disclose pricing and availability. That’s pretty common for many CES launches, so I wouldn’t chalk that up as a warning sign. 
Besides the fact that it has new Intel Arrow Lake processors and displays with variable refresh rates that go up to 144Hz, though that’s reserved for the LCD panel option. For models with OLED, you can only go up to 120Hz. There’s also improved treatment to deal with glare, which was surprisingly effective at mitigating the overhead fluorescent lights on the show floor. I could still see the floating glowing orbs reflected on the display, but for the most part I was able to view the YouTube video playing on the demo unit just fine. 
As is becoming tradition for me at CES by now, I tried to bicep curl the Gram Pro 2-in-1 and frankly, the laptop remains unsatisfying for serious gym rats looking for heavy weights. Those wanting a truly portable system that fits into the thinnest of pockets without dragging on your shoulders will appreciate the Gram Pro. But, its 16-inch screen means it’s fairly hefty and won’t fit into many purses. 
I also appreciate the sturdy hinges LG has used in the Gram lineup. The Gram Pro 2-in-1’s case hasn’t been tweaked since last year’s model, and I was mildly concerned when the lid started to flex a bit when a rep at the LG booth was flipping it over. But the device remained intact, and frankly all Gram laptops have always exhibited some level of flex because of how thin they are. 
The other main update to the Gram Pro 2-in-1 is the addition of LG’s Gram AI suite of services. These include “Gram chat,” which is available in on-device and cloud-based versions. The former uses LG’s own EXAONE large language model, while the latter taps OpenAI’s GPT-4o. Gram Chat Cloud can also integrate with your calendar and inboxes to help manage your schedules and “send and receive emails more efficiently,” according to LG.
There are also features like Time Travel, which is LG’s take on Microsoft’s Recall, helping users find what they’re looking for by feeding parameters like date viewed or inline text to the AI system. When I asked an LG rep how the service would avoid the security concerns that Microsoft’s Recall was criticized over, they said that people would have to grant permission before continuing to use their laptops. 
Like I mentioned, LG has yet to share details on price or when these Grams will be available, but with last year’s Gram Pro 2-in-1 going for about $1,300 on Amazon right now, I’d imagine this year’s models won’t be too far off.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lg-gram-pro-2-in-1-2025-hands-on-of-course-a-thin-and-light-laptop-gets-ai-at-ces-2025-023252332.html?src=rss

It’s been ten years since LG introduced its Gram line of ultra thin and light laptops, and despite my early skepticism about its longevity and build quality, the company continues to make new models regularly. It’s expanded the portfolio to offer pro variants, clamshells and 2-in-1s, and in keeping with every laptop maker in recent years, LG is now infusing the Gram Pros with more of its own… you guessed it… AI.

We already learned about this year’s LG Gram Pro lineup when they company unveiled the details last week. From the announcement, we found out that four new models are available. Here at CES 2025, I was able to check out the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 in person to see what I was able to learn beyond the press release. The short answer is: not much. 

In the six days or so since LG shared the 2025 Gram lineup with the world, the company has yet to disclose pricing and availability. That’s pretty common for many CES launches, so I wouldn’t chalk that up as a warning sign. 

Besides the fact that it has new Intel Arrow Lake processors and displays with variable refresh rates that go up to 144Hz, though that’s reserved for the LCD panel option. For models with OLED, you can only go up to 120Hz. There’s also improved treatment to deal with glare, which was surprisingly effective at mitigating the overhead fluorescent lights on the show floor. I could still see the floating glowing orbs reflected on the display, but for the most part I was able to view the YouTube video playing on the demo unit just fine. 

As is becoming tradition for me at CES by now, I tried to bicep curl the Gram Pro 2-in-1 and frankly, the laptop remains unsatisfying for serious gym rats looking for heavy weights. Those wanting a truly portable system that fits into the thinnest of pockets without dragging on your shoulders will appreciate the Gram Pro. But, its 16-inch screen means it’s fairly hefty and won’t fit into many purses. 

I also appreciate the sturdy hinges LG has used in the Gram lineup. The Gram Pro 2-in-1’s case hasn’t been tweaked since last year’s model, and I was mildly concerned when the lid started to flex a bit when a rep at the LG booth was flipping it over. But the device remained intact, and frankly all Gram laptops have always exhibited some level of flex because of how thin they are. 

The other main update to the Gram Pro 2-in-1 is the addition of LG’s Gram AI suite of services. These include “Gram chat,” which is available in on-device and cloud-based versions. The former uses LG’s own EXAONE large language model, while the latter taps OpenAI’s GPT-4o. Gram Chat Cloud can also integrate with your calendar and inboxes to help manage your schedules and “send and receive emails more efficiently,” according to LG.

There are also features like Time Travel, which is LG’s take on Microsoft’s Recall, helping users find what they’re looking for by feeding parameters like date viewed or inline text to the AI system. When I asked an LG rep how the service would avoid the security concerns that Microsoft’s Recall was criticized over, they said that people would have to grant permission before continuing to use their laptops. 

Like I mentioned, LG has yet to share details on price or when these Grams will be available, but with last year’s Gram Pro 2-in-1 going for about $1,300 on Amazon right now, I’d imagine this year’s models won’t be too far off.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lg-gram-pro-2-in-1-2025-hands-on-of-course-a-thin-and-light-laptop-gets-ai-at-ces-2025-023252332.html?src=rss

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LG
LG is the debut act at CES “press day,” the full day of press conferences that precede the show floor’s opening on Tuesday. LG execs will take the stage at Mandalay Bay promptly at 8AM PT on Monday — and you can watch it all right here.
Last year, LG pre-empted Apple by reinventing what the “AI” initials stand for. In LG parlance, it’s “Affectionate Intelligence” — an angle they are leaning into again this year. As for more tangible products, the transparent OLED-T TV the company announced in 2024 did make it across the preorder finish line before New Year’s Eve — with a $60,000 price tag. And in addition to its usual big appliance push, LG even touted new EV chargers. But the little home robot that LG introduced last year hasn’t been seen since. 
What to expect at the LG CES 2025 press conference
Beyond the “AI everywhere” angle (which you’ll hear from nearly every vendor this year), expect LG to tie together its full range of product categories, from TVs to appliances and everything in between. And because LG (like Samsung) has tended to tip its hand in the days and weeks before CES, we already have some idea of what to expect. For instance, we already know that the company’s 2025 OLED evo TV line will pair 4K resolution with gaming-friendly 165Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the new PF600U packs an HD projector, Bluetooth speaker and LED mood lamp into something that looks like an old-school oscillating floor fan. On the audio front, Engadget’s Billy Steele already likes the “punchy highs” he heard during a quick demo of the compact S20A soundbar. And the newest LG Signature microwave includes a built-in 27-inch touchscreen display on its door, so your kitchen will never be without a screen.  
Of course, we’re hoping to see another take on transparent TVs (maybe with a more consumer-friendly price point) and maybe a real-world look at that robot, too. 
Watch the LG CES 2025 livestream
You can watch the LG CES press conference as it happens below. The feed will start Monday, January 6 at 11:00AM ET. We’ll also be embedding Engadget’s liveblog coverage, so you can get up-to-the-minute commentary as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lg-ces-2025-press-conference-and-liveblog-watch-it-here-monday-at-11am-et-013155504.html?src=rss

LG is the debut act at CES “press day,” the full day of press conferences that precede the show floor’s opening on Tuesday. LG execs will take the stage at Mandalay Bay promptly at 8AM PT on Monday — and you can watch it all right here.

Last year, LG pre-empted Apple by reinventing what the “AI” initials stand for. In LG parlance, it’s “Affectionate Intelligence” — an angle they are leaning into again this year. As for more tangible products, the transparent OLED-T TV the company announced in 2024 did make it across the preorder finish line before New Year’s Eve — with a $60,000 price tag. And in addition to its usual big appliance push, LG even touted new EV chargers. But the little home robot that LG introduced last year hasn’t been seen since. 

What to expect at the LG CES 2025 press conference

Beyond the “AI everywhere” angle (which you’ll hear from nearly every vendor this year), expect LG to tie together its full range of product categories, from TVs to appliances and everything in between. And because LG (like Samsung) has tended to tip its hand in the days and weeks before CES, we already have some idea of what to expect. For instance, we already know that the company’s 2025 OLED evo TV line will pair 4K resolution with gaming-friendly 165Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the new PF600U packs an HD projector, Bluetooth speaker and LED mood lamp into something that looks like an old-school oscillating floor fan. On the audio front, Engadget’s Billy Steele already likes the “punchy highs” he heard during a quick demo of the compact S20A soundbar. And the newest LG Signature microwave includes a built-in 27-inch touchscreen display on its door, so your kitchen will never be without a screen.  

Of course, we’re hoping to see another take on transparent TVs (maybe with a more consumer-friendly price point) and maybe a real-world look at that robot, too. 

Watch the LG CES 2025 livestream

You can watch the LG CES press conference as it happens below. The feed will start Monday, January 6 at 11:00AM ET. We’ll also be embedding Engadget’s liveblog coverage, so you can get up-to-the-minute commentary as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lg-ces-2025-press-conference-and-liveblog-watch-it-here-monday-at-11am-et-013155504.html?src=rss

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Current Backyard made its CES debut last year with an electric smart grill and griddle, but for 2025, the company is going in a slightly different direction. Looking to cater to the pizza oven craze, the company revealed the Model P Smart Pizza Oven in Las Vegas. As you might expect, the unit is all-electric, but it’s certified for use indoors and outside. The “smart” portion of the recipe here is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that provides access to tools in the company’s app.
The company says the Model P can hit a maximum temperature of 850 degrees Fahrenheit, the level at which a Neapolitan-style pie can cook in two minutes. For comparison, that’s the same max heat output as the pricier Ooni Volt 12. Current Backyard explains that the internal design of its electric oven uses an algorithm alongside top-mounted graphite and under-stone circular calrod elements to ensure uniform heating. The company says this construction also eliminates the need to rotate pizzas during cooking. A cordierite cooking stone assists with the even doneness, especially for crisping up the crust. 
What’s more, Current Backyard says the Model P will recover quickly between pizzas to keep the cooking process moving along. In fact, the company explains that you can cook three Neapolitan-style pizzas in about 10 minutes. The Model P will alert you when it’s okay to launch another pie after you retrieve one from the oven. 
The Model P has five cook modes for different styles of pizza and other uses: Neapolitan, New York, thin crust, frozen pizza and a broil function with high and low settings. Those presets can be chosen on the oven or with an app. Also inside the company’s app, there’s a Pizza Build Calculator that offers customized cook time and temperature based on a selected style and ingredients. This tool takes into account the amounts of sauce, cheese and toppings along with the thickness of the dough. You can also select well done if you’re like me and prefer your pies extra crispy. 
Current Backyard didn’t include an exact arrival date in the Model P announcement, but it did say that the pizza oven will cost $599 when it’s available for purchase sometime in Q2. You’ll be able to purchase accessory kits and an outdoor cart for the Model P as well, with that latter add-on priced at $399. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/current-backyard-debuts-the-model-p-smart-pizza-oven-at-ces-2025-010054271.html?src=rss

Current Backyard made its CES debut last year with an electric smart grill and griddle, but for 2025, the company is going in a slightly different direction. Looking to cater to the pizza oven craze, the company revealed the Model P Smart Pizza Oven in Las Vegas. As you might expect, the unit is all-electric, but it’s certified for use indoors and outside. The “smart” portion of the recipe here is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that provides access to tools in the company’s app.

The company says the Model P can hit a maximum temperature of 850 degrees Fahrenheit, the level at which a Neapolitan-style pie can cook in two minutes. For comparison, that’s the same max heat output as the pricier Ooni Volt 12. Current Backyard explains that the internal design of its electric oven uses an algorithm alongside top-mounted graphite and under-stone circular calrod elements to ensure uniform heating. The company says this construction also eliminates the need to rotate pizzas during cooking. A cordierite cooking stone assists with the even doneness, especially for crisping up the crust. 

What’s more, Current Backyard says the Model P will recover quickly between pizzas to keep the cooking process moving along. In fact, the company explains that you can cook three Neapolitan-style pizzas in about 10 minutes. The Model P will alert you when it’s okay to launch another pie after you retrieve one from the oven. 

The Model P has five cook modes for different styles of pizza and other uses: Neapolitan, New York, thin crust, frozen pizza and a broil function with high and low settings. Those presets can be chosen on the oven or with an app. Also inside the company’s app, there’s a Pizza Build Calculator that offers customized cook time and temperature based on a selected style and ingredients. This tool takes into account the amounts of sauce, cheese and toppings along with the thickness of the dough. You can also select well done if you’re like me and prefer your pies extra crispy. 

Current Backyard didn’t include an exact arrival date in the Model P announcement, but it did say that the pizza oven will cost $599 when it’s available for purchase sometime in Q2. You’ll be able to purchase accessory kits and an outdoor cart for the Model P as well, with that latter add-on priced at $399. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/current-backyard-debuts-the-model-p-smart-pizza-oven-at-ces-2025-010054271.html?src=rss

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Concept devices are always tricky. For every one that gets turned into a real product a year later there are a thousand disappointments. Maybe the concept can’t be mass-produced affordably enough to make it viable to the business. Maybe the technology isn’t reliable enough to really make good on the promises its creators made during the glossy launch. And sometimes, it was never anything more than a bit of Kabuki to juice the stock price or lure in some new investors.
With that wariness in one hand, we can now examine Withings’ new concept device, Omina, which it says is its vision for the future of health monitoring. It’s a floor mat and smart mirror designed to usurp your bathroom scale and take up way more room in your home. The idea is it’ll offer a “holistic” view of your physical health, demystifying your biological markers as it goes.
Withings
Climb aboard and you’ll be shown a 3D body model that will visualize the results of whatever metrics it can access. Omina will be able to check your weight, heart health and metabolic health, which will be integrated with any data from your other Withings devices. That includes stats on your activity, sleep health and blood pressure, depending on what you own.
Omina “comes” with its own AI voice assistant, offering real-time feedback to help you hit your fitness goals. It’ll also answer questions, offer motivational quotes and guide you through any roadblocks you may find. Plus, it’ll connect with any telemedicine provider that integrates with the system, letting you share your vitals with your physician.
Withings
Naturally, as a concept device, you won’t be able to buy one now, or potentially ever, but it is described as being “in development.” Withings has, however, pledged that the AI assistant and telemedicine features will arrive on its Health Mate app at some point this year. In the meantime you should probably think about buying a house with a bathroom big enough to accommodate one of these things.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/withings-omina-is-its-vision-for-the-future-of-bathroom-scales-010024945.html?src=rss

Concept devices are always tricky. For every one that gets turned into a real product a year later there are a thousand disappointments. Maybe the concept can’t be mass-produced affordably enough to make it viable to the business. Maybe the technology isn’t reliable enough to really make good on the promises its creators made during the glossy launch. And sometimes, it was never anything more than a bit of Kabuki to juice the stock price or lure in some new investors.

With that wariness in one hand, we can now examine Withings’ new concept device, Omina, which it says is its vision for the future of health monitoring. It’s a floor mat and smart mirror designed to usurp your bathroom scale and take up way more room in your home. The idea is it’ll offer a “holistic” view of your physical health, demystifying your biological markers as it goes.

Climb aboard and you’ll be shown a 3D body model that will visualize the results of whatever metrics it can access. Omina will be able to check your weight, heart health and metabolic health, which will be integrated with any data from your other Withings devices. That includes stats on your activity, sleep health and blood pressure, depending on what you own.

Omina “comes” with its own AI voice assistant, offering real-time feedback to help you hit your fitness goals. It’ll also answer questions, offer motivational quotes and guide you through any roadblocks you may find. Plus, it’ll connect with any telemedicine provider that integrates with the system, letting you share your vitals with your physician.

Naturally, as a concept device, you won’t be able to buy one now, or potentially ever, but it is described as being “in development.” Withings has, however, pledged that the AI assistant and telemedicine features will arrive on its Health Mate app at some point this year. In the meantime you should probably think about buying a house with a bathroom big enough to accommodate one of these things.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/withings-omina-is-its-vision-for-the-future-of-bathroom-scales-010024945.html?src=rss

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Smart glasses are traditionally long on promise, short on delivery, especially at these sorts of consumer electronics shindigs. There’s always a steady stream of companies promising we’re on the cusp of having our very own Gary-from-Veep attached to our faces before fading away. The weight of promises Halliday has laid upon the table is a sign of braggadocio, but it’ll take a while before we know if it’s deserved or not.
Halliday has turned up at CES 2025 in Las Vegas with a pair of eponymous smart glasses filled to the brim with technology. There’s a waveguide display in the right eyecup that will project the equivalent of a 3.5-inch screen into the wearer’s view. This display is also easy to read in strong light and the company promises the hardware is “invisible to onlookers.” The company adds the glasses weigh just 35 grams and promise eight hours of battery life on a single charge.
Halliday
There’s no outward-facing camera, but Halliday says its product comes with a “proactive” AI assistant, anticipating your needs before you ask. The glasses have built-in microphones that are listening to your conversations, analyzing them and answering prompts as they come up. If you were to wear one of these in a meeting, say, you’d be able to ask the system to produce a summary of said meeting immediately afterward. (And yes, we are curious about the privacy implications of such a system.)
As well as barking instructions to your glasses, the sides are touch sensitive, but it’s more likely your main mode of interaction will be with the bundled trackpad ring. You should be able to discreetly control what the AI is pumping to your eyes without attracting attention.
Halliday
There’s a fairly long list of tasks Halliday says the glasses will be able to grease the wheels for you. As well as listening out for questions in conversation and throwing up answers from the internet, you can use the screen as a hidden teleprompter. It can also translate 40 different languages, offer real-time directions and play music with the accompanying on-screen lyrics.
Of course, none of this is anything but sweet words until we’ve been able to see how this performs in the real world. Halliday says that pre-orders for the glasses will begin at the end of CES, with shipping starting at some point before March 2025. We don’t know the price yet, but the company says it’ll be between $399 and $499.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/halliday-promises-its-smart-wayfarers-have-a-proactive-ai-assistant-inside-010007688.html?src=rss

Smart glasses are traditionally long on promise, short on delivery, especially at these sorts of consumer electronics shindigs. There’s always a steady stream of companies promising we’re on the cusp of having our very own Gary-from-Veep attached to our faces before fading away. The weight of promises Halliday has laid upon the table is a sign of braggadocio, but it’ll take a while before we know if it’s deserved or not.

Halliday has turned up at CES 2025 in Las Vegas with a pair of eponymous smart glasses filled to the brim with technology. There’s a waveguide display in the right eyecup that will project the equivalent of a 3.5-inch screen into the wearer’s view. This display is also easy to read in strong light and the company promises the hardware is “invisible to onlookers.” The company adds the glasses weigh just 35 grams and promise eight hours of battery life on a single charge.

There’s no outward-facing camera, but Halliday says its product comes with a “proactive” AI assistant, anticipating your needs before you ask. The glasses have built-in microphones that are listening to your conversations, analyzing them and answering prompts as they come up. If you were to wear one of these in a meeting, say, you’d be able to ask the system to produce a summary of said meeting immediately afterward. (And yes, we are curious about the privacy implications of such a system.)

As well as barking instructions to your glasses, the sides are touch sensitive, but it’s more likely your main mode of interaction will be with the bundled trackpad ring. You should be able to discreetly control what the AI is pumping to your eyes without attracting attention.

There’s a fairly long list of tasks Halliday says the glasses will be able to grease the wheels for you. As well as listening out for questions in conversation and throwing up answers from the internet, you can use the screen as a hidden teleprompter. It can also translate 40 different languages, offer real-time directions and play music with the accompanying on-screen lyrics.

Of course, none of this is anything but sweet words until we’ve been able to see how this performs in the real world. Halliday says that pre-orders for the glasses will begin at the end of CES, with shipping starting at some point before March 2025. We don’t know the price yet, but the company says it’ll be between $399 and $499.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/halliday-promises-its-smart-wayfarers-have-a-proactive-ai-assistant-inside-010007688.html?src=rss

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Until today, I could count on one finger the amount of smart rings that offered a one-line ECG in such a small package. Bodimetrics’ Circul+ debuted in 2021, but what it had in heart-monitoring features it lacked in style, or even looking like a real ring. Today at CES 2025, however, Circular is launching its second-generation ring that promises to keep an eye on your heart health.
Circular says the Ring 2 boasts improved sensors as well as the aforementioned ECG, an eight day battery life and a better wireless charging dock. The company added that its companion app and AI has been completely redesigned to offer a “more intuitive and refined user experience.” Not to mention that the body is now cast in titanium with four color finishes; Gold, Silver, Black and Rose Gold.
It won’t be hitting store shelves until February or March 2025, but the company says it’ll cost you $380 when it does.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/circulars-new-smart-ring-has-a-built-in-ecg-010003422.html?src=rss

Until today, I could count on one finger the amount of smart rings that offered a one-line ECG in such a small package. Bodimetrics’ Circul+ debuted in 2021, but what it had in heart-monitoring features it lacked in style, or even looking like a real ring. Today at CES 2025, however, Circular is launching its second-generation ring that promises to keep an eye on your heart health.

Circular says the Ring 2 boasts improved sensors as well as the aforementioned ECG, an eight day battery life and a better wireless charging dock. The company added that its companion app and AI has been completely redesigned to offer a “more intuitive and refined user experience.” Not to mention that the body is now cast in titanium with four color finishes; Gold, Silver, Black and Rose Gold.

It won’t be hitting store shelves until February or March 2025, but the company says it’ll cost you $380 when it does.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/circulars-new-smart-ring-has-a-built-in-ecg-010003422.html?src=rss

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It’s not as if any period in human history was particularly gentle, but we do seem to live in very stressful times. Maybe it’s not the stress that’s changed, but that we’re more able than ever to notice, monitor and analyze what’s going on in our bodies. Here at CES 2025, startup Eli Health is launching Hormometer, an at-home kit that tests your cortisol and progesterone levels.
Hormometer is a wand with a collection tip at one end that you hold in your mouth for 60 seconds. Once it’s absorbed your spit, you’ll sit it down on a table for 20 minutes while the cartridge’s network of built-in microfluidics gets to work. After that, the assay will start displaying lines in a specific color, which can be read and interpreted by your smartphone camera.
The app will then be able to, presumably once it’s established your individual baseline levels, offer helpful suggestions for how to better manage your health. It’s likely those will get more detailed over time, as Eli Health says it’s creating the first data set of its kind. Which, if you’re unaware, means your hormone levels are likely going into a very large database with all of its users. The company will have to answer many questions about how it’s planning to protect the privacy of its users, especially in the US.
Cortisol, of course, is better known as the stress hormone, which increases when you’re in a tough spot. It’s cortisol that’s behind your fight-or-flight response, spiking your blood sugar to get you ready for fighting or fleeing, suppressing other critical bodily functions to do so. High cortisol levels will weaken your immune system, waste your muscles and prevent bone growth.
Progesterone, meanwhile, is crucial for regulating the reproductive system, particularly for those able to become pregnant. Low levels can risk ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or premature labor. Excessively high levels, meanwhile, can create problems with temperature and mood regulation as well as low fertility. Progesterone is sometimes given to transfeminine individuals as well, where it’s believed to play a role in breast development.
It’s worth noting that saliva-testing gadgets aren’t particularly new, and we’ve reported on them in 2005, 2009 and 2016. What’s attractive about this device, and the rest of the current crop of saliva analysis tools, is the easier accessibility. Eli Health isn’t stopping at just those two hormones, and says it’s already working to develop tests for testosterone and estradiol.
The first tests will be available to buy in the US and Canada from January 2025, with various subscription plans available, including one where each test will cost $8 if you commit to a whole year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/this-saliva-testing-wand-knows-how-stressed-you-are-010002378.html?src=rss

It’s not as if any period in human history was particularly gentle, but we do seem to live in very stressful times. Maybe it’s not the stress that’s changed, but that we’re more able than ever to notice, monitor and analyze what’s going on in our bodies. Here at CES 2025, startup Eli Health is launching Hormometer, an at-home kit that tests your cortisol and progesterone levels.

Hormometer is a wand with a collection tip at one end that you hold in your mouth for 60 seconds. Once it’s absorbed your spit, you’ll sit it down on a table for 20 minutes while the cartridge’s network of built-in microfluidics gets to work. After that, the assay will start displaying lines in a specific color, which can be read and interpreted by your smartphone camera.

The app will then be able to, presumably once it’s established your individual baseline levels, offer helpful suggestions for how to better manage your health. It’s likely those will get more detailed over time, as Eli Health says it’s creating the first data set of its kind. Which, if you’re unaware, means your hormone levels are likely going into a very large database with all of its users. The company will have to answer many questions about how it’s planning to protect the privacy of its users, especially in the US.

Cortisol, of course, is better known as the stress hormone, which increases when you’re in a tough spot. It’s cortisol that’s behind your fight-or-flight response, spiking your blood sugar to get you ready for fighting or fleeing, suppressing other critical bodily functions to do so. High cortisol levels will weaken your immune system, waste your muscles and prevent bone growth.

Progesterone, meanwhile, is crucial for regulating the reproductive system, particularly for those able to become pregnant. Low levels can risk ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or premature labor. Excessively high levels, meanwhile, can create problems with temperature and mood regulation as well as low fertility. Progesterone is sometimes given to transfeminine individuals as well, where it’s believed to play a role in breast development.

It’s worth noting that saliva-testing gadgets aren’t particularly new, and we’ve reported on them in 2005, 2009 and 2016. What’s attractive about this device, and the rest of the current crop of saliva analysis tools, is the easier accessibility. Eli Health isn’t stopping at just those two hormones, and says it’s already working to develop tests for testosterone and estradiol.

The first tests will be available to buy in the US and Canada from January 2025, with various subscription plans available, including one where each test will cost $8 if you commit to a whole year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/this-saliva-testing-wand-knows-how-stressed-you-are-010002378.html?src=rss

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Smart lighting company Govee has a new product that creates a quirky new product category. The Gaming Pixel Light displays still or animated pixel art set to 8-bit soundtracks. It can also show you weather updates, sports schedules and Bitcoin prices on its retro display. But it wouldn’t be a CES 2025 gizmo without AI something or other stuffed inside, so you won’t be surprised to learn that its companion app lets you generate AI pixel art from text prompts.
As the product name suggests, the Gaming Pixel Light is marketed as a (desktop or wall-mounted) lighting companion for gamers. But it could work for anyone who wants a groovy ambiance or fun conversation piece in their home. The light has over 150 preset scenes, or you can create your own — manually or with the app’s AI chatbot. You can also control it with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Govee
You can use it for still or animated pixel art, and it supports image and GIF uploads to give you more options to play with. Its animations run at 30fps, and you can build or edit your own multi-layer ones in the app. Govee claims the app’s creation tools are easy to use, but we haven’t tried them yet.
It has a built-in speaker that can sync the lights to the rhythm of 8-bit soundtracks. And if you’re willing to throw down an extra $240 (yikes) for Govee’s HDMI sync box, the company says the Gaming Pixel Light will sync with game visuals in real time.
The Gaming Pixel Light will be available in Q2 2025. Although Govee’s press materials don’t mention pricing, the company’s CES 2025 website lists it as coming soon for $100.
Govee
Also on display at CES is a crossover collab with JBL: the (deep breath) “Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL.” This speaker syncs its curved lighting surface to your music, a feature we’ve seen in many other products. It has 16 music modes, ranging from pumped-up party lighting to “calming, soothing effects for relaxing moments.” The speaker-light hybrid has 240 independently controlled LED beads and over 100 preset scenes. Like the Pixel Light, it lets you go the DIY route if that’s your jam.
The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL is expected to launch in late Q2 2025. There’s no pricing info yet for this model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/govees-new-desktop-display-is-reserved-for-pixel-art-230003228.html?src=rss

Smart lighting company Govee has a new product that creates a quirky new product category. The Gaming Pixel Light displays still or animated pixel art set to 8-bit soundtracks. It can also show you weather updates, sports schedules and Bitcoin prices on its retro display. But it wouldn’t be a CES 2025 gizmo without AI something or other stuffed inside, so you won’t be surprised to learn that its companion app lets you generate AI pixel art from text prompts.

As the product name suggests, the Gaming Pixel Light is marketed as a (desktop or wall-mounted) lighting companion for gamers. But it could work for anyone who wants a groovy ambiance or fun conversation piece in their home. The light has over 150 preset scenes, or you can create your own — manually or with the app’s AI chatbot. You can also control it with Alexa or Google Assistant.

You can use it for still or animated pixel art, and it supports image and GIF uploads to give you more options to play with. Its animations run at 30fps, and you can build or edit your own multi-layer ones in the app. Govee claims the app’s creation tools are easy to use, but we haven’t tried them yet.

It has a built-in speaker that can sync the lights to the rhythm of 8-bit soundtracks. And if you’re willing to throw down an extra $240 (yikes) for Govee’s HDMI sync box, the company says the Gaming Pixel Light will sync with game visuals in real time.

The Gaming Pixel Light will be available in Q2 2025. Although Govee’s press materials don’t mention pricing, the company’s CES 2025 website lists it as coming soon for $100.

Also on display at CES is a crossover collab with JBL: the (deep breath) “Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL.” This speaker syncs its curved lighting surface to your music, a feature we’ve seen in many other products. It has 16 music modes, ranging from pumped-up party lighting to “calming, soothing effects for relaxing moments.” The speaker-light hybrid has 240 independently controlled LED beads and over 100 preset scenes. Like the Pixel Light, it lets you go the DIY route if that’s your jam.

The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL is expected to launch in late Q2 2025. There’s no pricing info yet for this model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/govees-new-desktop-display-is-reserved-for-pixel-art-230003228.html?src=rss

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LG has unveiled its OLED evo TV lineup for 2025 and is showing them off at CES this year, along with its other home entertainment products. The new models are powered by the company’s latest α (Alpha) 11 AI processor Gen2, with deep learning algorithms that give the TVs the ability to sharpen the visuals of low-resolution and low-quality images. LG says the new TVs are also the industry’s first with 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz, as certified by NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium. That enables the models to delivery stutter-free gameplay with minimal input lag. 
The company has upgraded its Brightness Booster Ultimate technology for the new OLED TVs, which means they can achieve brightness three times higher than conventional OLED models. For dark scenes, LG promises “top-notch black levels,” as these models have received UL Solutions’ “Perfect Black” and “Perfect Color” verification. LG was notably the first in the industry to obtain the Perfect Black verification back in 2022, ensuring viewers that their TVs can achieve true black when the image on screen calls for it. 
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
LG’s rapid brightness and color temperature stabilization feature allows viewers to enjoy the best of what their TV can offer as soon as they turn it on. And if they choose to watch a film, the models’ Filmmaker Mode with Ambient Light Compensation feature will kick in to automatically adjust the picture’s settings based on the environment’s lighting conditions in order to stay true to how the filmmaker wants viewers to experience their movie. 
When it comes to audio, the TVs come with AI Sound Pro that can deliver 11.1.2 channels of surround sound. Meanwhile, the models’ AI Remote can recognize individual voices for tailored recommendations. Viewers can also use AI Search powered by Microsoft Copilot to understand conversational queries and “uncover subtle user intentions.” 
One of LG’s new OLED TVs is the latest M5 series, which serves as the successor to its previous M-series models that can wirelessly transmit video and audio. The latest M5 TVs are capable of wireless audio and video transmission at up to 144Hz without loss in picture and quality. While they have a slightly lower refresh rate than the other models in the lineup, the wireless M-series TVs also promise a “tear-free, stutter-free gaming experience.” LG has been showing off this technology for a few years now, but they’re bringing it to more and more TV in their lineup lately. Back in December, LG announced its new, more affordable QNED TVs would work with the Zero Connect Box, for example. Previously, it was available on the OLED M series but only at sizes of 77 inches and up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lgs-oled-evo-tvs-for-2025-come-with-ai-and-a-165hz-refresh-rate-200037568.html?src=rss

LG has unveiled its OLED evo TV lineup for 2025 and is showing them off at CES this year, along with its other home entertainment products. The new models are powered by the company’s latest α (Alpha) 11 AI processor Gen2, with deep learning algorithms that give the TVs the ability to sharpen the visuals of low-resolution and low-quality images. LG says the new TVs are also the industry’s first with 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz, as certified by NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium. That enables the models to delivery stutter-free gameplay with minimal input lag. 

The company has upgraded its Brightness Booster Ultimate technology for the new OLED TVs, which means they can achieve brightness three times higher than conventional OLED models. For dark scenes, LG promises “top-notch black levels,” as these models have received UL Solutions’ “Perfect Black” and “Perfect Color” verification. LG was notably the first in the industry to obtain the Perfect Black verification back in 2022, ensuring viewers that their TVs can achieve true black when the image on screen calls for it. 

LG’s rapid brightness and color temperature stabilization feature allows viewers to enjoy the best of what their TV can offer as soon as they turn it on. And if they choose to watch a film, the models’ Filmmaker Mode with Ambient Light Compensation feature will kick in to automatically adjust the picture’s settings based on the environment’s lighting conditions in order to stay true to how the filmmaker wants viewers to experience their movie. 

When it comes to audio, the TVs come with AI Sound Pro that can deliver 11.1.2 channels of surround sound. Meanwhile, the models’ AI Remote can recognize individual voices for tailored recommendations. Viewers can also use AI Search powered by Microsoft Copilot to understand conversational queries and “uncover subtle user intentions.” 

One of LG’s new OLED TVs is the latest M5 series, which serves as the successor to its previous M-series models that can wirelessly transmit video and audio. The latest M5 TVs are capable of wireless audio and video transmission at up to 144Hz without loss in picture and quality. While they have a slightly lower refresh rate than the other models in the lineup, the wireless M-series TVs also promise a “tear-free, stutter-free gaming experience.” LG has been showing off this technology for a few years now, but they’re bringing it to more and more TV in their lineup lately. Back in December, LG announced its new, more affordable QNED TVs would work with the Zero Connect Box, for example. Previously, it was available on the OLED M series but only at sizes of 77 inches and up.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lgs-oled-evo-tvs-for-2025-come-with-ai-and-a-165hz-refresh-rate-200037568.html?src=rss

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