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Govee’s new desktop display is reserved for pixel art
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
LG’s OLED evo TVs for 2025 come with AI and a 165Hz refresh rate
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
LG previews the compact S20A soundbar at CES 2025
LG is carrying over much of its 2024 soundbar lineup to 2025, but the company has one all-new model that it plans to debut this year. At CES, I got a preview of the compact speaker, the S20A, that will provide a boost to your TV audio without taking up too much space. The 2.0-channel unit offers 50 watts of power and works best with LG’s TVs.
When paired with one of the company’s televisions, you can expect its Wow Interface that allows you to make sound adjustments through the TV UI. There’s also AI Sound Pro tech that calibrates the audio based on each scene. LG will offer a three-band EQ on the S20A, so you can tweak treble, mids and bass to fit your preferences.
Billy Steele for Engadget
During a quick demo of the S20A, I was impressed with the punchy highs and clarity from the smaller unit. LG says it won’t come with a subwoofer as the company uses the soundbar’s drivers for that low-end tone. Of course, this setup doesn’t provide the booming bass that a standalone wireless sub would, but the company doesn’t see that as an issue here. We’ll look forward to testing that theory later in the year when the S20A is available for review.
There’s no word on pricing or availability just yet as LG is only teasing this new soundbar here at CES. That info, as well as more detailed specs, should arrive closer to launch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/lg-previews-the-compact-s20a-soundbar-at-ces-2025-191337487.html?src=rss
LG is carrying over much of its 2024 soundbar lineup to 2025, but the company has one all-new model that it plans to debut this year. At CES, I got a preview of the compact speaker, the S20A, that will provide a boost to your TV audio without taking up too much space. The 2.0-channel unit offers 50 watts of power and works best with LG’s TVs.
When paired with one of the company’s televisions, you can expect its Wow Interface that allows you to make sound adjustments through the TV UI. There’s also AI Sound Pro tech that calibrates the audio based on each scene. LG will offer a three-band EQ on the S20A, so you can tweak treble, mids and bass to fit your preferences.
During a quick demo of the S20A, I was impressed with the punchy highs and clarity from the smaller unit. LG says it won’t come with a subwoofer as the company uses the soundbar’s drivers for that low-end tone. Of course, this setup doesn’t provide the booming bass that a standalone wireless sub would, but the company doesn’t see that as an issue here. We’ll look forward to testing that theory later in the year when the S20A is available for review.
There’s no word on pricing or availability just yet as LG is only teasing this new soundbar here at CES. That info, as well as more detailed specs, should arrive closer to launch.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/lg-previews-the-compact-s20a-soundbar-at-ces-2025-191337487.html?src=rss
The second-gen Kindle Scribe is on sale for the first time
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your Kindle Scribe, now wouldn’t be a bad time — Amazon is running its first sale on the new model, which has only been out for a month. Normally $450, the 2024 Kindle Scribe is 19 percent off, bringing the 64GB model down to $365. With the latest generation, Amazon tweaked the appearance of the tablet and added some AI features, along with some new note-taking options.
The second-gen Kindle Scribe has white bezels around the screen and either a green (Metallic Jade) or gray (Tungsten) border, in contrast to the previous model’s thick black border. The discount applies to both colors and, for the gray version, all storage options (16GB, 32GB and 64GB). When we tried out the new Kindle Scribe, we liked the new design and found the reading and writing experiences to be smooth.
The new Kindle Scribe uses AI to help you clean up and summarize your notes, with the Summarize and Refine tools — and you can apply these to individual pages or the entire Notebook. These features worked out pretty well for us. In her review, Engadget’s Deputy Editor of Reviews Cherlynn Low found the Scribe was able to “make sense of a disorganized plan” she’d written out by properly putting list items in sequential order, and she saw “largely accurate results” when it summarized her notes. “Any mistake the system made felt reasonable, since I have horrible handwriting,” she wrote.
There’s also now a better way to write directly on ebooks. With the 2024 Kindle Scribe, Amazon introduced Active Canvas — a little box that will pop up when you put your pen to whatever you’re reading. The box can be resized and won’t disappear when you leave the page. You’ll also soon be able to write in collapsible margins, a feature expected to arrive early this year. One of our biggest gripes about the new Kindle Scribe was the relatively high cost, so if it appeals to you, don’t miss your chance to get it at a discount.
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/deals/the-second-gen-kindle-scribe-is-on-sale-for-the-first-time-184403045.html?src=rss
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your Kindle Scribe, now wouldn’t be a bad time — Amazon is running its first sale on the new model, which has only been out for a month. Normally $450, the 2024 Kindle Scribe is 19 percent off, bringing the 64GB model down to $365. With the latest generation, Amazon tweaked the appearance of the tablet and added some AI features, along with some new note-taking options.
The second-gen Kindle Scribe has white bezels around the screen and either a green (Metallic Jade) or gray (Tungsten) border, in contrast to the previous model’s thick black border. The discount applies to both colors and, for the gray version, all storage options (16GB, 32GB and 64GB). When we tried out the new Kindle Scribe, we liked the new design and found the reading and writing experiences to be smooth.
The new Kindle Scribe uses AI to help you clean up and summarize your notes, with the Summarize and Refine tools — and you can apply these to individual pages or the entire Notebook. These features worked out pretty well for us. In her review, Engadget’s Deputy Editor of Reviews Cherlynn Low found the Scribe was able to “make sense of a disorganized plan” she’d written out by properly putting list items in sequential order, and she saw “largely accurate results” when it summarized her notes. “Any mistake the system made felt reasonable, since I have horrible handwriting,” she wrote.
There’s also now a better way to write directly on ebooks. With the 2024 Kindle Scribe, Amazon introduced Active Canvas — a little box that will pop up when you put your pen to whatever you’re reading. The box can be resized and won’t disappear when you leave the page. You’ll also soon be able to write in collapsible margins, a feature expected to arrive early this year. One of our biggest gripes about the new Kindle Scribe was the relatively high cost, so if it appeals to you, don’t miss your chance to get it at a discount.
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/deals/the-second-gen-kindle-scribe-is-on-sale-for-the-first-time-184403045.html?src=rss
Belkin’s new accessory is a magnetic power bank and camera grip rolled into one
Belkin has a new phone accessory at CES 2025 that somehow brings something fresh to the crowded field of magnetic charging accessories (in other words, MagSafe and non-Apple-certified alternatives). The company’s Stage PowerGrip is a wireless power bank, camera-like grip and stand rolled into one. It even has a little screen and comes in several fun colors.
Belkin pitches the PowerGrip as an accessory for creators and travelers. While modern smartphones are all most people need for photography, holding a candy-bar-shaped handset in landscape mode for long periods doesn’t feel as comfortable or natural as the heartier grip of a dedicated camera. This accessory remedies that with a thick bulge similar to what you’d find on a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Belkin
Inside that lump is its 10,000mAh battery, which offers 7.5W magnetic wireless charging. An LED on its backside gives you a quick way to check its battery level. And a retractable USB-C cable is tucked inside the accessory, so you don’t need to remember to throw a separate one in your bag.
Belkin says the PowerGrip will be available in powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper and lavender (the company’s press images show a sixth black option, too). It’s scheduled to ship this May. Unfortunately, Belkin hasn’t yet announced pricing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/belkins-new-accessory-is-a-magnetic-power-bank-and-camera-grip-rolled-into-one-170057685.html?src=rss
Belkin has a new phone accessory at CES 2025 that somehow brings something fresh to the crowded field of magnetic charging accessories (in other words, MagSafe and non-Apple-certified alternatives). The company’s Stage PowerGrip is a wireless power bank, camera-like grip and stand rolled into one. It even has a little screen and comes in several fun colors.
Belkin pitches the PowerGrip as an accessory for creators and travelers. While modern smartphones are all most people need for photography, holding a candy-bar-shaped handset in landscape mode for long periods doesn’t feel as comfortable or natural as the heartier grip of a dedicated camera. This accessory remedies that with a thick bulge similar to what you’d find on a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Inside that lump is its 10,000mAh battery, which offers 7.5W magnetic wireless charging. An LED on its backside gives you a quick way to check its battery level. And a retractable USB-C cable is tucked inside the accessory, so you don’t need to remember to throw a separate one in your bag.
Belkin says the PowerGrip will be available in powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper and lavender (the company’s press images show a sixth black option, too). It’s scheduled to ship this May. Unfortunately, Belkin hasn’t yet announced pricing.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/belkins-new-accessory-is-a-magnetic-power-bank-and-camera-grip-rolled-into-one-170057685.html?src=rss
Roborock’s new flagship robot vacuum has an arm that can grab small objects
Robot vacuums can remove the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still have to pick up stray socks and and any item strewn about your home. Now Roborock, a Chinese company that manufactures robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new model that can pick up small objects so you don’t have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has a foldable robotic arms that the company calls the “OmniGrip.” It has five axis and can lift objects under 300 grams like socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.
Apparently, the AI-powered vacuum marks objects it can lift while going about cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when it’s done. It then cleans the areas underneath the objects during its second pass. The OmniGrip uses its equipped precision sensors, camera and LED light to determine its position and whether an item is too heavy to pick up. Before you can use it, you will have to activate the arm through the Roborock app, where you can also set what kind of objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While not quite Rosey the Robot, Saros Z70 has the potential to make tidying up a lot easier. And it’s not just a prototype — Roborock is planning to make it available for purchase this year.
In addition to Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuums, a lineup of handheld wetdry vacuum cleaners, as well as three all-in-one washer-dryers. It will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/roborocks-new-flagship-robot-vacuum-has-an-arm-that-can-grab-small-objects-170020390.html?src=rss
Robot vacuums can remove the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still have to pick up stray socks and and any item strewn about your home. Now Roborock, a Chinese company that manufactures robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new model that can pick up small objects so you don’t have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has a foldable robotic arms that the company calls the “OmniGrip.” It has five axis and can lift objects under 300 grams like socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.
Apparently, the AI-powered vacuum marks objects it can lift while going about cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when it’s done. It then cleans the areas underneath the objects during its second pass. The OmniGrip uses its equipped precision sensors, camera and LED light to determine its position and whether an item is too heavy to pick up. Before you can use it, you will have to activate the arm through the Roborock app, where you can also set what kind of objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While not quite Rosey the Robot, Saros Z70 has the potential to make tidying up a lot easier. And it’s not just a prototype — Roborock is planning to make it available for purchase this year.
In addition to Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuums, a lineup of handheld wetdry vacuum cleaners, as well as three all-in-one washer-dryers. It will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/roborocks-new-flagship-robot-vacuum-has-an-arm-that-can-grab-small-objects-170020390.html?src=rss
Belkin’s new Creator Bundle makes hands-free recording easy
Belkin just unveiled a unique bundle at CES 2025 that’s being described as a “comprehensive toolset designed to meet the needs of budding creators.” The appropriately-named Creator Bundle comes with a bunch of useful accessories and “offers everything needed for hands-free recording.”
So what comes in the bundle? It ships with a pair of tiny wireless clip-on microphones with a 100m transmission range. These mics are battery-powered and last up to 5.5 hours per charge. They operate via a handy push-button design, making it easy for folks to mute, record or make adjustments to the sound.
The kit ships with a sturdy tripod and a magnetic mount for a smartphone. The tripod reaches 1.7m in height and the mount can be adjusted to suit different shooting angles. The Belkin Creator Bundle also comes with a USB-C cable for charging up those mics.
The combo of a tripod, a mount and wireless microphones will indeed allow for hands-free recording. However, the camera won’t track people as they move around the room, so creators will have to stay in the center of the frame. The company does note that the bundle has been designed to integrate with its Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, which does track movement, but that costs an extra $180.
Speaking of pricing, Belkin hasn’t announced how much this bundle will cost. That’ll likely come closer to the launch date, which is in May.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/belkins-new-creator-bundle-makes-hands-free-recording-easy-170006787.html?src=rss
Belkin just unveiled a unique bundle at CES 2025 that’s being described as a “comprehensive toolset designed to meet the needs of budding creators.” The appropriately-named Creator Bundle comes with a bunch of useful accessories and “offers everything needed for hands-free recording.”
So what comes in the bundle? It ships with a pair of tiny wireless clip-on microphones with a 100m transmission range. These mics are battery-powered and last up to 5.5 hours per charge. They operate via a handy push-button design, making it easy for folks to mute, record or make adjustments to the sound.
The kit ships with a sturdy tripod and a magnetic mount for a smartphone. The tripod reaches 1.7m in height and the mount can be adjusted to suit different shooting angles. The Belkin Creator Bundle also comes with a USB-C cable for charging up those mics.
The combo of a tripod, a mount and wireless microphones will indeed allow for hands-free recording. However, the camera won’t track people as they move around the room, so creators will have to stay in the center of the frame. The company does note that the bundle has been designed to integrate with its Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, which does track movement, but that costs an extra $180.
Speaking of pricing, Belkin hasn’t announced how much this bundle will cost. That’ll likely come closer to the launch date, which is in May.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/belkins-new-creator-bundle-makes-hands-free-recording-easy-170006787.html?src=rss
United will start testing Starlink on flights in February
United Airlines has announced plans to start testing Starlink on flights in February, and eventually add SpaceX’s satellite internet service to its entire fleet. The company first announced a partnership with SpaceX to “set a new standard of inflight connectivity” in September 2024.
After testing, United expects the first commercial flight with Starlink to be on a United Embraer E-175 in the spring. The rest of the the airline’s “two-cabin regional fleet” will have Starlink installed throughout 2025, and United says it will have the “first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air” before the end of year.
Starlink will available for free to all members of United’s MileagePlus program. Besides improving the quality of inflight Wi-Fi, United sees Starlink as an opportunity to “unlock new partnership” for its members. Do not be surprised if United cooks up new deals with streaming services to offer more free content during flights.
United is joining both Delta and Hawaiian Airlines in partnering with Starlink for inflight Wi-Fi. SpaceX originally announced its intentions to offer 350 Mbps internet speeds to planes in 2022, and both Delta and Haiwaiian Airlines have either tested Starlink or committed to offering it on their planes.
Starlink has expanded in some serious ways in the last year. SpaceX got to test Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service with T-Mobile during Hurricane Milton’s landfall in the US, made plans for a larger beta test of the service for February and launched a nationwide satellite texting service in New Zealand.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/united-will-start-testing-starlink-on-flights-in-february-130047392.html?src=rss
United Airlines has announced plans to start testing Starlink on flights in February, and eventually add SpaceX’s satellite internet service to its entire fleet. The company first announced a partnership with SpaceX to “set a new standard of inflight connectivity” in September 2024.
After testing, United expects the first commercial flight with Starlink to be on a United Embraer E-175 in the spring. The rest of the the airline’s “two-cabin regional fleet” will have Starlink installed throughout 2025, and United says it will have the “first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air” before the end of year.
Starlink will available for free to all members of United’s MileagePlus program. Besides improving the quality of inflight Wi-Fi, United sees Starlink as an opportunity to “unlock new partnership” for its members. Do not be surprised if United cooks up new deals with streaming services to offer more free content during flights.
United is joining both Delta and Hawaiian Airlines in partnering with Starlink for inflight Wi-Fi. SpaceX originally announced its intentions to offer 350 Mbps internet speeds to planes in 2022, and both Delta and Haiwaiian Airlines have either tested Starlink or committed to offering it on their planes.
Starlink has expanded in some serious ways in the last year. SpaceX got to test Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service with T-Mobile during Hurricane Milton’s landfall in the US, made plans for a larger beta test of the service for February and launched a nationwide satellite texting service in New Zealand.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/united-will-start-testing-starlink-on-flights-in-february-130047392.html?src=rss
Samsung CES 2025 press conference: Watch it here Monday at 5PM ET
Samsung’s CES 2025 theme is “AI for all.”Samsung
Samsung is the 800-pound gorilla of CES, a global electronics giant that produces mobile devices, TVs and home theater products and kitchen appliances — just to name a few. It’s traditionally used CES to remind the world that it’s a major competitor in all those arenas, while offering a peek behind the curtain of some more cutting-edge tech, too.
In 2024, for instance, Samsung’s CES press conference covered all the usual iterative updates — new TVs, new projectors, new soundbars — but also offered up some genuinely futuristic product first looks as well. And while we won’t see the transparent MicroLED screens at the local Best Buy anytime soon, you can already buy the Music Frame speaker that was first shown off at CES 2024. But it’s the Ballie robot, a two-time CES veteran, that we’re most hoping will make a return appearance — ideally with a real-world release date this time.
What to expect at the Samsung CES 2025 press conference
Or perhaps Ballie will be more autonomous this time around. That would better fit the “AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere” theme that the company has announced for its presentation in Las Vegas. The Korea-based giant has already posted several weeks worth of early CES announcements in its online newsroom, touting AI-enhanced refrigerators and appliances with built-in screens. But there’s non-AI stuff, too: Samsung has preannounced a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor, and the company is teaming up with Google (!) to deliver Eclipsa, a new 3D audio technology that is apparently aiming to be an alternative to Dolby Atmos and DTS.
One thing you shouldn’t expect to see in Vegas: The presumed Galaxy S25 smartphone line. If it follows its recent scheduling, Samsung will likely slate that unveiling for the second half of January, when it will have the tech news spotlight to itself. (Last year it was a January 17 event, which was announced on January 11.)
Samsung’s CES 2025 livestream
You can watch the Samsung CES press conference as it happens here. The feed will start Monday, January 6 at 5:00PM ET. (We’ll add the embed once it becomes available.) This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/samsung-ces-2025-press-conference-watch-it-here-monday-at-5pm-et-005529946.html?src=rss
Samsung’s CES 2025 theme is “AI for all.”
Samsung is the 800-pound gorilla of CES, a global electronics giant that produces mobile devices, TVs and home theater products and kitchen appliances — just to name a few. It’s traditionally used CES to remind the world that it’s a major competitor in all those arenas, while offering a peek behind the curtain of some more cutting-edge tech, too.
In 2024, for instance, Samsung’s CES press conference covered all the usual iterative updates — new TVs, new projectors, new soundbars — but also offered up some genuinely futuristic product first looks as well. And while we won’t see the transparent MicroLED screens at the local Best Buy anytime soon, you can already buy the Music Frame speaker that was first shown off at CES 2024. But it’s the Ballie robot, a two-time CES veteran, that we’re most hoping will make a return appearance — ideally with a real-world release date this time.
What to expect at the Samsung CES 2025 press conference
Or perhaps Ballie will be more autonomous this time around. That would better fit the “AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere” theme that the company has announced for its presentation in Las Vegas. The Korea-based giant has already posted several weeks worth of early CES announcements in its online newsroom, touting AI-enhanced refrigerators and appliances with built-in screens. But there’s non-AI stuff, too: Samsung has preannounced a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor, and the company is teaming up with Google (!) to deliver Eclipsa, a new 3D audio technology that is apparently aiming to be an alternative to Dolby Atmos and DTS.
One thing you shouldn’t expect to see in Vegas: The presumed Galaxy S25 smartphone line. If it follows its recent scheduling, Samsung will likely slate that unveiling for the second half of January, when it will have the tech news spotlight to itself. (Last year it was a January 17 event, which was announced on January 11.)
Samsung’s CES 2025 livestream
You can watch the Samsung CES press conference as it happens here. The feed will start Monday, January 6 at 5:00PM ET. (We’ll add the embed once it becomes available.)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/samsung-ces-2025-press-conference-watch-it-here-monday-at-5pm-et-005529946.html?src=rss
What to read this weekend: The friends you make in the apocalypse
These are the new releases that caught our attention this week: a (surprisingly refreshing) post-apocalyptic tale, and an exorcism thriller.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-the-friends-you-make-in-the-apocalypse-150002035.html?src=rss
These are the new releases that caught our attention this week: a (surprisingly refreshing) post-apocalyptic tale, and an exorcism thriller.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-the-friends-you-make-in-the-apocalypse-150002035.html?src=rss