Category:
Investing
Category:
Investing
Category:
Investing
2026-01-05 08:00:00|
Engadget
Over the last ten or so years, L'Oréal has brought a taste of beauty tech to the masses at CES 2026. This time, it has three devices to show off: the Light Straight + Multi-styler as well as the helpfully named LED Face Mask and LED Eye Mask. Dont let the unassuming names mislead you. These three products actually harbor some unique traits. The Light Straight (and multi-styler, which Im going to just call the Light Straight from here on), for instance, uses infrared light to help generate the heat required to style your hair. Meanwhile, the LED Face Mask is different from those made by companies like Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark. Instead of fairly hard shells that sit rigidly on your face, L'Oréals version looks to be pliable and thin. I havent seen this in person yet, though I do intend to do so as soon as possible, but the pictures of the LED Eye Mask look, and I mean this in the best way, ridonkulous. Not only do they appear supple, but they also seem to be transparent, with bulbs and wires you can see inside. In some of the images that the company provided, the masks are completely awash in red as the lights are on. In others, only parts of it are red. One of them even shows the masks sitting in a little carrying case and they almost look like wireless earbuds. I havent seen any photos of the LED Face Mask but I can imagine theyd be fairly similar to these.The L'Oréal LED Eye Mask in a carrying caseL'Oréal According to the press release, this ultra-thin, flexible silicone mask is currently in prototype form and was developed in collaboration with LED solutions company iSmart. The company said this mask delivers light directly to the face in 10-minute automatically timed sessions. Thats not too different from existing red light masks, but LOréal said it believes the key to the masks effectiveness is its advanced, transparent support, which integrates a skin-safe microcircuit to precisely control the emission of two selected wavelengths of lightred light (630 nm) and near-infrared light (830 nm).Since the mask is only launching in 2027, there arent details yet on pricing and availability, though the companys global vice president of tech and open innovation Guive Balooch told Engadget that it would be a premium product that would sit somewhere below the highest priced offerings currently out there.One of my problems with full-face LED masks is that my skin always feels too parched under them, because you have to use them on clean, dry skin for 10 minutes at a time. Balooch told me that L'Oréal would have a serum developed to be used with its mask that would help with that, while also improving the effectiveness of the light treatment.That certainly is intriguing, and Balooch indicated that creating formulations that are designed to work with devices like the LED masks is a future direction for the company. A pair of hands using the L'Oréal Light Straight and multi-styler on a person's hair. L'Oréal Im also interested in the Light Straight, which like the companys AirLight Pro uses infrared light to help dry or style hair. According to the companys press release, hair straighteners with ordinary heating places can reach temperatures of 400°F and higherabove the threshold at which keratin denatures, leading to weakened cuticles, breakage and reduced shine. For context, I used to turn my flatiron all the way up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to tame my tresses (though these days I find a more reasonable 330 degrees is good enough).LOréal says the Light Straight and its patented infrared light technology can help provide exceptional styling results at lower temperatures, to better protect the health of the hair. The devices glass plates never exceed 320 degrees, and the company says its testing found that the Light Straight is three times faster and leaves hair twice as smooth as leading premium hair stylers. Im not sure how you would quantify smoothness, but Im hopeful the results do pan out in the real world. The Light Straight uses near-infrared light that LOréal says penetrates deeply into hair fibers to reshape internal hydrogen bonds. It also has sensors onboard with built-in proprietary algorithms and machine learning to adapt to your gestures to maximize individual experience. Im not sure what that means, but I hope to find out more this week at CES. Given the Light Straight doesnt launch till 2027, its not surprising that pricing and other details arent yet available. But for now, Im keen to see companies continue to investigate novel, hopefully healthier ways for us to look and feel beautiful.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/loreals-ces-2026-beauty-devices-include-a-skin-like-flexible-led-mask-070000576.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
2026-01-05 07:08:41|
Engadget
Samsung announced its newest portable projector ahead of its First Look showcase at CES 2026, but you might have been a little confused as to whats changed. The company says the Freestyle+ is nearly twice as bright as the 2022 Freestyle projector, rated at 230 ISO lumens, which was pretty underwhelming. The new Freestyle+ can output at 430 ISO lumens. If this is the first youre hearing of ISO Lumens, its an internationally standardized rating for projectors, intended to standardize manufacturers' claims of brightness.
It still looks very similar to its predecessors, with 160 degrees of rotation that makes it easy to set up in most homes, Airbnbs or meeting rooms. Samsung added support for Q-Symphony, allowing you to connect it to the companys soundbars, if you conveniently have one nearby. While the sound quality of its built-in speaker was hard to test in the middle of a post-keynote trade show floor, youll probably want to augment the built-in speaker, if only because its so small.
Vision AI, mentioned several times during Samsungs CES keynote, is also built into the portable projector. You can summon Bixby to adjust settings and whatever youre watching. Based on the demos I saw, youll need to speak into the remote to access Bixby.
Other improvements bring the projector into 2026, with keystone correction and focus. The Freestyle+s AI OptiScreen can calibrate projections to different wall surfaces and colors to improve visibility even on your most vivid walls.
Mat Smith for Engadget
The updated 3D Auto Keystone corrects distortion even when projecting onto uneven or non-flat surfaces, such as corners, curtains or angled walls. Its hard to put into words, but pointing the Freestyle+ to a corner, or at an undulating curtain, and watching the image morph and contort was almost hypnotic. The premise is that you can point this at any area of your home (or even, say, the side of a tent), and the 3D Auto Keystone will flatten the image in seconds.
Theres also Screen Fit, which automatically adjusts the image to match a projector screen size. The Freestyle+ can project up to a 100-inch 1080p image, at maximum. However, Wall Calibration might be the most technically impressive in a device this size. It detects and analyzes the color of the projection surface and recalibrates the images color tone to minimize the effect. It can even detect and match a wall pattern to reduce visual interference, which worked well in person. The Samsung spokesperson used the aforementioned Bixby voice commands to calibrate the screen.
If theres still something to address, its that this portable projector must be plugged in to operate. When that can be either a power bank or a wall outlet, it seems a bit cheeky to call it portable.
Samsung typically announces prices and launch dates once the CES dust has settled, but it's set to arrive in the first half of 2026. Previous iterations cost around $900, but early impressions suggest its a versatile, petite projector. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsung-freestyle-plus-projector-hands-on-ces-2026-060840386.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
2026-01-05 07:02:45|
Engadget
Amid endless AI hype and a guest visit from the CEO of Hartford Steam Boiler (?!), Samsung had a big surprise for us tonight at CES 2026: A massive 130-inch Micro RGB TV. Its so large, its suspended by a large metal stand that surrounds the entire screen, which also lets you tilt the screen just a bit. (For the Samsung diehards, its basically a reinvention of its timeless gallery stand from 2013.) I imagine bringing this TV home would be like Bart Simpson adopting his beloved elephant Stampy: Your pets would be terrified, and your family would probably be annoyed at this television dominating so much of your home.But boy, it sure looks amazing in person. Just like LGs Micro RGB set, its using an evolved form of Mini LED technology that allows for far better color accuracy and richness. As I fought through the crowds of Samsungs CES First Look event to catch a glimpse of it, I couldnt help but notice how everyone just looked a bit stunned, like the monkeys from 2001 seeing the monolith for the first time.Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV from the side.Devindra Hardawar for EngadgetSamsung representatives were clear that this Micro RGB set was only a concept of what the company could do with the technology, its not an actual product it plans to ship. In another demo, Samsung took the 130-inch screen and mounted it directly on a wall (below). Of course, it still looked stunning. I also learned that if you wanted to wall mount the timeless gallery stand concept, you actually have to mount the entire stand to the wall, since its part of the TVs speaker system.Samsung didnt have too many details about the technical aspects of the 130-inch Micro RGB TV, but it did shout buzzwords at us during its announcement. its powered by the companys Micro RGB AI Engine Pro processor, which includes Micro RGB Color Booster Pro and Micro RGB HDR Pro technology, using AI to enhance dull tones and refine contrast, delivering vivid color and subtle detail across bright and dark scenes alike for realism and picture fidelity.Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV mounted in a wall.Devindra Hardawar for EngadgetThe Micro RGB set also sports the companys Glare Free technology to reduce reflections, and it supports HDR 10+ Advanced and the companys Eclipsa Audio. It can also tap into Samsungs Vision AI Companion for conversational search, as well as Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity.But of course, those details really dont matter, because you wont be able to buy the 130-inch Micro RGB TV in its current form. We were impressed by last years 115-inch model, but its $30,000 price didnt make it feasible for anyone but the ultra-rich. And those folks would be better off investing in Samsungs own Micro LED sets, which offer the benefits of OLED that Micro RGB does not. (Sure, those TVs start at $110,000, but for thats not exactly a huge leap for those with deep pockets.) Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV from the rear.Devindra Hardawar for EngadgetThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsung-brought-an-absolute-beast-of-a-130-inch-micro-rgb-tv-to-ces-2026-060245387.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
