JBL has never met a CES it couldn't dump a bunch of new audio products on, and CES 2025 is no different. The company's new Tour One M3 headphones might be the star of its lineup, but JBL is announcing a total of seven new pairs of wireless earbuds across the Endurance Race 2, Vibe 2, and Tune 2 lines, on top of new wired headphones, kid-friendly options, and an alarm clock.
The JBL Endurance Race 2 are wireless earbuds for working out with an ergonomic fit thanks to some raised ridges and a built-in wing tip. The headlining feature for the Endurance Race 2 is the addition of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a Sports Mode that lets you set separate ambient sound settings depending on what workout you're doing. Beyond, that the Endurance Race 2 support Bluetooth 5.3, are IP68 rated and will be available for purchase for $80 in black, white, blue or purple.
JBL
JBL's more affordable line, the JBL Vibe 2, is also getting ANC and Smart Ambient Aware settings that let you hear more of the world around you while you're headphones are in. In terms of physical hardware, the big change for the Vibe 2 is the addition of two additional mics to improve call quality and an extended battery life of 40 hours. All Vibe 2 models will support Bluetooth 5.3, and you can get a pair in three different styles: Buds, which are basic wireless earbuds, Beam, which are stick-shaped buds with ear tips, and Flex, which are stick-shaped buds with no ear tips. All JBL Vibe 2 models will cost $60 and will come in either black, white, pink, or blue.
If you're looking for a step up, or care about the (mostly unnecessary) addition of spatial audio, the JBL Tune 2 line could be for you. JBL says the new models will offer ANC, "Spatial Sound," 10mm drivers, and support for Bluetooth 5.3. Like the Vibe 2, the Tune 2 will be available in Buds, Beam and Flex versions, though you'll only be able to pick between black, white and turquoise finishes. Regardless of which you pick, the JBL Tune 2 costs $100.
Alongside those wireless headphones, JBL also has a pair of wired USB-C headphones called the JBL 520C, the JBL Junior 470NC and 320BT for kids and the new JBL Horizon 3, an alarm clock with built-in ambient lighting and preloaded with soothing nature sounds.
All of JBL's new earbuds and headphones will ship in March 2025. The Horizon 3 alarm clock will be available in May.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/jbl-is-adding-anc-to-seven-new-pairs-of-wireless-earbuds-at-ces-2025-130025314.html?src=rss
HMD took to CES this year to reveal a satellite-based rescue device called the OffGrid. This is a small emergency gadget to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe while exploring remote parts of the world.
The OffGrid uses the L Band satellite radio spectrum to allow users to connect directly to satellites, even in the worlds most challenging environments. The device can send texts, which is done via an affiliated app, and shoot out safety pings to friends and loved ones. It can also contact emergency services and share a location.
The portable device can connect to keychains and offers MIL-STD 810H durability. The battery life is stellar, at three days, and it weighs just 60 grams.
HMD
While the OffGrid is budget-friendly, costing $200, there is one major caveat. A subscription is required to use many of this products premium features. The Unlimited Plan costs $15 each month and includes unlimited text messages and check-ins, in addition to SOS services. Theres an option for live tracking, but that costs an additional $5 per month.
The Freedom Plan requires a yearly payment of $80 and allows for 350 text messages and unlimited check-ins. This plan also offers live tracking, but at a cost of $0.10 per ping. HMDs OffGrid will be available sometime this month in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with more territories coming later in the year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/hmds-offgrid-is-a-satellite-based-rescue-device-that-fits-on-a-keychain-130009057.html?src=rss
At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, which kicks off this week, Roborock, a Chinese manufacturer of robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new robotic vacuum model with a foldable robotic arm. It had already piqued my curiosity, but now I really want one.
The OmniGrip arm has five-axis movement and can lift objects under 300 grams, like socks and dog toys. It marks objects it can lift while cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when its done. It even cleans the areas under the objects on its second pass thats attention to detail! The Saros 270 will go on sale later this year, but the price is TBA.
Mat Smith
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Were live from CES 2025!
TVs, cars, headphones, weirdness.
The previews are done and CES 2025 is full steam ahead. The Engadget team is in Las Vegas, reporting on all the biggest tech launches. And all the ridiculousness. Were running a dedicated live blog with all the news from Vegas follow along here.
CES 2025: All the keynotes of note
And what we already know is coming.
In addition to the usual tradeshow floor chaos, there will be keynotes by NVIDIAs founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Delta CEO Ed Bastian and more. Weve also seen Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (Twitter), will be interviewed by journalist Catherine Herridge at a keynote on January 7. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel will speak about the future goals of the platform on January 8. Those last two might be the most interesting.
Continue reading.
Meta sends its creepy AI-generated profiles to hell
Where they belong.
Meta
Meta has killed most of its AI-generated profiles from Facebook and Instagram, the company confirmed, after the AI characters prompted widespread outrage and ridicule from users on social media. AI managed by Meta launched in September 2023, rolling out alongside the companys celebrity-branded AI chatbots (also discontinued). Meta has updated none of these profiles for several months, and the pages seem to have been largely unnoticed until this week. On Instagram, their profiles also featured AI-generated posts that, as 404 Media noted, looked a lot like the AI slop thats filling the corners of the internet.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-122437246.html?src=rss
Elvie, the company known for its popular wearable breast pump, is showing off a new piece of baby gear at CES. Called Rise, its an app-controlled baby bouncer that can transform into a bassinet with a baby inside.
The $799 device is made for infants in the first few months of their lives. Elvie says the bouncer works for babies up to 20 lbs or 6 months old, while the bassinet is meant for babies up to 5 months or 22 lbs.
While in bouncer mode, parents can customize the specific bounce pattern from the accompanying Elvie Rise Sleep & Soothe app. The company says its SootheLoop technology is meant to be a gentle motion thats more like the movement of a caregiver rather than a repetitive robotic movement. Theres also a manual mode for babies to bounce themselves as they grow a bit bigger and stronger.
In its press release, Elvie says its own study found that two-thirds of babies between 0 and 3 months often sleep in non-safe products like bouncers or swings. The Rise is meant to address this as parents can switch from bouncer mode to bassinet mode without hopefully waking their child.
Elvie
The Rise is equipped with a "transition handle that allows parents to transition the device between modes. While in bouncer mode, this involves pushing on the bottom end, near the feet, and squeezing the handle to pull up the sides to form the walls of the bassinet. The straps from bouncer mode automatically retract to make it a surface suitable for sleeping.
The company says its bassinet complies with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)s sleep safe guidelines, though babies should not be left in the bouncer unattended. The device is also meant to be more portable than the typical bassinet. It collapses for easier transport and has a magnetic charger so it can be used even when its not plugged in.
The Elvie Rise is available now for pre-order. The company expects to begin shipping orders March 14, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/elvies-newest-product-is-a-smart-baby-bouncer-that-transforms-into-a-bassinet-111550670.html?src=rss
The Espresso 17 Pro is our favorite portable monitor. It delivers great image quality, has a rugged build, boasts built-in speakers and includes a touchscreen function. The only real trouble is that, with a 17-inch screen, it's perhaps not as truly portable as it could be.
Enter the Espresso 15 Pro.
As you might have guessed, the latest model has a 15-inch display. This is the second Pro-level portable monitor from Espresso Displays. The company already has a 15-inch non-touch version, but as the name implies, this one's geared toward professionals and business travelers who could do with more on-the-go screen real estate.
The Espresso 15 Pro, which was unveiled at CES 2025, has a resolution of 4K and 1,500:1 contrast. It's said to display 1.07 billion colors with full coverage of the AdobeRGB color spectrum. The LCD panel is actually brighter than the 17-inch model at 550 nits versus the larger monitor's 450 nits of peak brightness. It also has two USB-C inputs. On the downside, the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz.
Espresso Displays
Along with MacOS and Windows devices, the Espresso 15 Pro works with iPhones, iPads and DeX-enabled Samsung Galaxy devices. It's possible to use the Espresso Pen for notetaking on the touchscreen as well.
Elsewhere, the Espresso 15 Pro will come with the brand's new Stand+. The monitor magnetically attaches to the Stand+, which supports landscape and portrait orientations.
Pricing and availability for the Espresso 15 Pro has yet to be revealed, though it's slated to arrive in the coming months. Logic dictates that the price will fall somewhere in between the $299 Display 15 and $799 Espresso 17 Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-espresso-15-pro-is-a-compact-version-of-our-favorite-portable-monitor-105237176.html?src=rss
If you've ever been confused about the vast array of skincare products on the market and exactly which ones are right for you, LOréal claims to have the answer. For CES 2025, the company introduced a gadget called the Cell BioPrint that can biochemically analyze your skin and provide advice on how to make it look younger.
The company partnered with a startup called NanoEntek, a Korean manufacturer that develops microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology. To use the system, you place a facial strip on your cheek, then transfer it over to a buffer solution. That is then loaded into a Cell BioPrint cartridge, which is in turn inserted into the machine for analysis. While that's being processed, the device also takes images of your face and has you fill out a short questionnaire around skin concerns and aging. All of that takes just five minutes, the company says.
In an interview with Engadget, Loreal's Guive Balooch said that the skin strip can be applied near the jawline, and that even if someone has sunscreen on, it won't affect the results.
Once the data is crunched using something LOréal calls proteomics, Cell BioPrint can provide advice on how to improve your skin's appearance. It can suggest how well you may respond to certain ingredients like retinol, and predict potential cosmetic issues like dark spots or enlarged pores before they become visible.
It all sounds good and reasonably science-based, but LOréal didn't cite any peer-reviewed studies that may prove the machine's efficacy. Still, it seems like a good time for such a product as skincare awareness has blown up of late thanks in part to Covid, influencers and Sephora. That has generated in a lot of new information (and misinformation), allowing LOréal to come in and save the day using science to hypothetically fix your issues.
In any case, the BioPrint machine won't be available for consumers just yet, and to be clear, the first iteration of the device isn't meant for at-home use. It's slated to start pilot tests in stores in Asia sometime in 2025, but so far, there's no firm launch date or price. Balooch indicated it would follow a similar rollout pattern to the company's other tech launches in the past, by appearing first at the counters in flagship stores for one of LOréal's luxury brands. Over time, it may make its way to more mainstream segments.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/loreals-latest-device-promises-to-help-find-out-how-well-your-skin-responds-to-ingredients-like-retinol-090300942.html?src=rss
Samsung is kicking off 2025 with a lineup of new AI-enhanced televisions. At CES 2025, Samsung unveiled the Neo QLED 8K QN990F and QN900F, plus the Neo QLED 4K QN90F, QN80F and QN70F. The TVs come with glare-free technology and a suite of AI features driven by Samsung Vision AI.
The Neo QLED 8K QN990F is Samsungs top-of-the-line model and it features a super-slim, minimalist footprint and an NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor. Its AI abilities include proprietary 8K upscaling, frame-by-frame HDR remastering, adaptive sound, color boosting and AI Mode, which automatically optimizes picture and sound based on the content on screen. These represent updates to existing Samsung AI efforts.
In line with the minimalist aesthetic, Samsung is also shipping a Wireless One Connect Box for the QN990F, allowing users to keep their TV space wire-free. This is similar to LGs Zero Connect Box, and its a clever bit of clutter-clearing equipment. Samsung claims the Wireless One Connect Box works at a distance of up to 10 meters, even with obstacles in its transmission path.
Meanwhile, Samsungs QLED 4K line features an NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, 4K AI Upscaling Pro, improved picture quality and a 165Hz refresh rate. The QN80F has a 100-inch option, while the QN90F comes in 115 inches.
Samsungs AI ambitions cover all of its 2025 TVs, with Vision AI delivering new personalization and optimization features across the board. Click to Search can identify people, places and products on-screen and then provide relevant information about these things in real time. Identify the actors in a scene, specific pieces of clothing or the displayed location, for instance. In a similar vein, the new Samsung Food ability can identify the grub on your TV and even provide relevant recipes. This feature can also analyze the contents of your connected Samsung fridge and build specific shopping lists, or prompt you to order groceries or takeout from the TV using third-party apps.
Samsung AI Home Security turns your TV into a house-monitoring hub. It leverages the built-in microphone and connected cameras on your Samsung TV, and can detect unusual sounds and movements. It then delivers alerts to your phone or directly on the TV. Live Translate delivers real-time subtitle translations, and Generative Wallpaper allows users to create dynamic, personalized art canvases.
In OLED land, Samsung is introducing the S95F, S90F and S85F. As the flagship in this line, the S95F includes an NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, improved glare-free technology, a 165Hz variable refresh rate and a brighter display than ever before.
There's also The Frame Pro, a TV so special that we have a separate story all about its new features.
As usual, Samsung is primed to reveal more details about pricing and availability of its new hardware during CES 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsungs-ces-2025-tv-lineup-includes-8k-ai-enhancements-and-a-wireless-connect-box-030058512.html?src=rss
Samsung's Frame series of TVs are one of the best solutions available for making a giant display blend more seamlessly into your home. At CES 2025, the company is expanding its lineup with the Frame Pro, a more advanced version of the TV that includes Samsung's top-of-the-line Neo QLED panel. The catch is that we don't yet know if Samsung is using a 4K or 8K panel here, a choice that'll significantly affect how much the Frame Pro costs when it eventually launches (Samsung hasn't provided a price or release date yet, in true CES fashion).
Besides the panel, the Frame Pro also uses Samsung's Wireless One Connect box, which lets you transmit content from consoles or set-top boxes to the TV without needing to plug things in directly. Instead, you plug into the Wireless One Connect and it'll beam things to the TV, which means you can make a much cleaner, cable-free setup that feels particularly useful with a set like the Frame.
It also uses Samsung's NQ4 Gen3 AI processor, an update on the 2nd-generation one that Samsung used on some of its sets last year. As is usually the case, we don't know exactly what this does for the set, but given the amount pixels a modern TV needs to push, an annual update makes sense. The NQ4 also gives a hint that this might be a 4K rather than 8K panel, as Samsung's just-announced Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV uses the NQ8 processor perhaps the 4 or 8 are a nod to the TV's resolution. Either way, we'll know more soon.
For those who haven't seen the Frame before, it's a TV meant to be mounted to the wall, complete with a frame that's more reminiscent of something you might find in an art gallery rather than a media room. When you turn it off, you can choose to have it display a fine art image from a collection Samsung has curated, and the screen itself is matte with anti-glare coating that goes a long way towards making it feel like just another big TV mounted to a wall.
As is typically the case, Samsung is holding a CES showcase tonight where we'll get to see the Frame Pro as well as other new Samsung TVs in person if we get more details on the Frame Pro, we'll update this post. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsungs-frame-pro-tv-features-the-companys-high-end-neo-qled-panel-030042346.html?src=rss
Samsung has new soundbars and updates to an existing model to show off at CES 2025. First, the HW-QS700F is an all-new speaker that's designed to sit on a shelf or TV stand, but it can also be mounted at 90 degrees flat on a wall under a TV. The QS700F can optimize the sound based on how you've situated it for the best performance. This adjustment happens automatically thanks to a built-in gyro sensor. The QS700F will come with Samsungs redesigned subwoofer, the same one that is packaged with the new Q990F.
In a quick demo, the QS700F sounded every bit as crisp and clear as the Q990F. However, I only got a few seconds in a noisy room, so I'll have to wait for a full review to see if this holds true. Still, Samsung's trademark clarity is likely to be a main aspect of the sound profile, and the included sub provides ample bassy thump. That low-end tone was apparent even in the raucous demo area.
The company's flagship soundbar returns for 2025 with a significant tweak. The HW-Q990F will remain an all-in-one package with wireless subwoofer and rear satellite speakers included and retains the same angular look. But, the company says it reduced the size of the sub to less than half of the previous version. What's more, Samsung explains that it did so while providing even more powerful audio performance from the unit. As someone who reviewed both the Q990D and Q990C, I can tell you the previous subwoofer was enormous, so this is a great update.
The Q990F remains an 11.1.4-channel speaker with "clearer, richer and more effortless sound" and Dolby Atmos support. The included rear surround speakers also pack in up-firing drivers, which enhances the overall effect of the immersive audio. And as I've noted before, having everything in one package is convenient and saves you from having to make extra purchases on top of a pricey soundbar. I was able to hear the Q990F in Samsung's CES demo area, and it's as loud as ever, with the crisp, clear details I've encountered on the two previous models. As I already noted, that smaller sub packs a punch, and it should fill in nicely as a replacement for the larger unit the flagship soundbars were previously packaged with.
Samsung Q990FSamsung
Samsung will use AI to boost sound quality on its soundbars in 2025. Two features, Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Q-Symphony Pro, use artificial intelligence to enhance dialog over background noise and analyze sound with a Samsung TV's processor respectively. The company says Q-Symphony Pro will also be available on two new B-series soundbars, the HW-B750F and HW-B650F, which will arrive in 2025.
Another item Samsung is keen to discuss at CES is its Eclipsa Audio platform it's developing in collaboration with Google. Details are scarce on the new 3D audio standard for now, but Samsung has already said its 2025 TVs and soundbars will support it. According to the press release, Eclipsa Audio enables content creators to adjust sound data and location for spatial audio. It sounds like Samsung and Google are developing their own take on Dolby Atmos. What's more, Samsung says creators will be able to upload videos with Eclipsa Audio to YouTube later this year, but there's no word on support for other platforms yet.
Samsung first announced plans to develop 3D spatial audio in 2023 when it collaborated with Google on Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). IAMF was adopted by the Alliance for Open Media (AOM), which lists Amazon, Apple and Netflix among its members. This also isn't the first time Samsung has shunned Dolby as it has opted for HDR10+ over Dolby Vision for its TVs.
There's no word on pricing and availability on any of the new soundbar models just yet. That info is likely to arrive closer to launch. For reference, the Q990D is $2,000, but once again, it includes a subwoofer and rear speakers. Sony's Bar 9 is $1,400 just for the soundbar itself.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/samsung-debuts-the-qs700f-soundbar-and-updates-the-q990-at-ces-2025-030042257.html?src=rss
At CES 2025, Bosch is showing off an AI-enabled bassinet with sensors that can detect just about anything an anxious parent could ever hope to monitor about their baby. Its not clear when the device, called Revol, may actually be available, but its able to track an impressive amount of data.
At first glance, the Revol looks somewhat similar to other smart bassinets like the ever-popular Snoo. It has mesh walls and can soothe a sleeping baby with automated movements. But unlike the Snoo, which rocks in a horizontal motion, the Revol moves vertically with the mattress slowly raising and lowering like a tiny elevator.
But most of the power of the crib lies in the built-in baby monitor that provides a live video feed to caregivers. Inside the arm that extends over the crib is an array of sensors that can track both the environment around the bassinet and whats going on inside.
Karissa Bell for Engadget
It uses a millimeter wave radar sensor that Bosch says can accurately measure the heart rate and respiration of the baby. That data is then sent to an app on the caregivers phone, where they can view real-time stats and health reports. There are also sensors for monitoring the environment of the babys surroundings, including temperature and humidity sensors, as well a particle meter to measure air quality.
Finally because it's 2025 and every product needs to have an AI component the Revol also has AI-enabled features. It uses computer vision to detect if an object, like a blanket or stuffed animal, is near the babys face and can alert parents to the danger (the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against keeping any soft objects in babies sleep area).
All that sounds like a pretty impressive list of features for a bassinet, but expecting parents shouldnt hold their breath for the Revol to become available. A Bosch rep told me that the company plans to bring the bassinet to the Chinese market first and that its targeting sometime in 2026 for a launch in the US, citing the need to comply with US laws and regulations.
Theres also no price yet on the device, though Bosch told me they are hoping to price it at around $1200. That may seem steep, but the company plans to offer additional add-ons that can convert the crib into a changing table and desk, so parents and kids can get more use out of it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/boschs-ai-enabled-bassinet-tracks-everything-youd-ever-want-to-know-about-your-babys-sleep-025258549.html?src=rss
