You might have thrown out the wrapping paper and are readying the drinks for the countdown to the new year, but some of us are already getting ready for CES 2025. Shortly after New Years Day, many from the Engadget team will be packing our bags to fly to Las Vegas, where well be covering techs biggest annual conference. As usual, our inboxes are already flooded with pitches from companies that are planning to be there, and our calendars are filling up with appointments for briefings and demos.Based on our experience, as well as observation of recent industry trends, its fairly easy to make educated predictions about what we might see in January. Over the years, the focus of the conference has spanned areas like TVs, cars, smart home products and personal health, with a smattering of laptops and accessories thrown in. At CES 2025, we expect to see AI get even more pervasive in all areas of the show floor. But we are also likely to get the usual slew of new processors and subsequent laptops, as well as all manner of wearables, trackers, bathroom appliances and massage chairs. Oh, the massage chairs.What we already know is comingThere's already a lot we know is coming, just by a cursory glance at the lineup published by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). In addition to numerous panels and talks, there will be keynotes by NVIDIA's founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Delta CEO Ed Bastian as well as C-suite executives from companies like Panasonic, SiriusXM, Waymo and Volvo group. We've also seen that Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (Twitter), will be interviewed by journalist Catherine Herridge at a keynote on January 7, while Snap CEO Evan Spiegel will be speaking about the "future goals of the platform" on January 8.Some companies didn't even wait till January to make their news known. LG, for example, continues its annual tradition of sharing its upcoming CES launches weeks ahead of the show by unveiling the 2025 refresh for its QNED evo line of LCD TVs. The company has continued to release more information, including announcing its 45-inch UltraGear bendable OLED gaming monitor alongside a line of curved OLED screens.Hyundai Mobis, meanwhile, has said it will be giving us a look at its "Holographic Windshield Display," something it's claiming is a world's first. Hyundai Mobis even shared a picture of what its booth at CES 2025 will look like, in case pictures of convention center booths get you excited.Hyundai MobisIf youre already looking ahead to 2025 and are studiously researching what might be coming in January, heres a taste of what our team expects to see at the show.New video cards from AMD and NVIDIATheres no doubt 2025 is going to be a momentous year for PC gamers. NVIDIA is expected to debut its long-awaited RTX 5000 video cards at CES, while AMD CEO Lisa Su has confirmed well see next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs early next year. Of the two companies, AMD could use the upgrade more. Its last batch of Radeon 7000 cards were decent mid-range performers, but they lagged far behind NVIDIAs hardware when it came to ray tracing, and AMDs FSR 3 upscaling also couldnt compete with NVIDIAs AI-powered DLSS 3."In addition to a strong increase in gaming performance, RDNA 4 delivers significantly higher ray-tracing performance and adds new AI capabilities, AMD CEO Lisa Su said in an October earnings call.As for NVIDIAs new hardware, a rumor from the leaker OneRaichu (via DigitalTrends) suggested that the RTX 5090 could be up to 70 percent faster than the RTX 4090. (Thats a GPU that I previously described as having unholy power.) They also note that other high level cards could see 30 to 40 percent performance bumps. Those gains might be enough to tempt wealthy RTX 4090 owners to upgrade, but RTX 4070 and 4080 owners might want to skip this generation. For NVIDIA holdouts with RTX 3000 and earlier GPUs, though, next year may be the perfect time to upgrade. Devindra Hardawar, senior reporterAI PCs round 2Last year, I predicted that AI PCs would dominate CES, and that mostly turned out to be true. As 2024 rolled on, we saw even more powerful NPUs in chips from Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. Microsoft also doubled down on AI PCs with its Copilot+ initiative, which gave a big marketing push for artificial intelligence features and premium specifications (like having at least 16GB of RAM).Expect more of the same going into CES 2025, alongside even more AI being stuffed into every category of product imaginable. This year, in particular, PC makers are likely to gear up to take advantage of Windows 10 support ending next year. Instead of just upgrading your old computer to Windows 11, the likes of Dell and HP would rather you buy a whole new AI PC with the new OS pre-installed.While 2024 was a year of endless AI PC hype, 2025 might end up being a year of reckoning. Microsofts long-delayed Recall feature is slowly trickling out to more users, but its already showing some glaring security holes, like failing to scrub social security and credit card numbers from screenshots. Weve also been mostly underwhelmed with Apple Intelligences image generation capabilities. PC makers have been eager to talk up the potential of AI-powered features until now, but in 2025 theyll have to actually prove they can live up to their fantastical claims. D.H.Earbuds that follow Apples lead on hearing healthIm fully aware not every audio company has the ability to build out a clinical-grade hearing test and hearing aid features in their apps. However, Apples recent update for the AirPods Pro 2 should inspire the competition to offer some form of hearing health tools on their flagship products. Jabra was probably the best equipped to do this since parent company GN has extensive hearing aid experience. Sadly, the company announced earlier this year that it wouldnt make earbuds anymore.Samsung and Google could probably integrate something like what Apple made for the AirPods, given both companies existing health platforms. If they did, those announcements are unlikely to be made at CES, as both companies prefer to host their own standalone hardware events throughout the year.That leaves Sennheiser as the biggest audio company that consistently launches earbuds and headphones at CES. Last year, it showcased multiple new models, including one with heart-rate tracking for workouts. Plus, it already offers hearing assistance with dedicated devices like the true wireless Conversation Clear Plus. Those earbuds are more hearing focused than for general content consumption, so it would be great to see Sennheiser bring some features from that product to its flagship Momentum line of earbuds. Perhaps a Momentum True Wireless 4 Pro or Plus is in the cards, but the current model is just nine months old.Of course, theres plenty of room for other companies to innovate here, and there will be no shortage of new earbuds in Vegas next month. We also tend to see a ton of assistive devices and technology launch at CES, from major accessibility companies like OrCam and all manner of smaller brands. I just hope some of the new tech includes more general hearing tools on the models most people will want to use. Billy Steele, senior editorVehicle electrification goes sky highAs the growth of electric cars nears 10 percent of new models sold in the US, its easy to forget that wheeled vehicles arent the only kind of transportation seeing the shift to battery-powered propulsion. Flying taxis have been a mainstay of CES for the past few years, with concept vehicles from brands as large as Hyundai dotting the show floor in Vegas.Granted, these contraptions look more like giant drones with cockpits than anything the Jetsons ever dreamed up. But with companies like Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation pledging to actually launch eVTOL services (electric vertical take-off and landing) in 2025, the era of air taxis may have landed for real this time. Sam Rutherford, senior reporterTurning more phones into satellite phonesSince Apple introduced Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 in 2022, we've seen a serious uptick in development in satellite communications. Not only did Apple expand its feature to allow for non-emergency communications, component makers like Qualcomm, too, tried to bring similar capabilities to Android devices. Snapdragon Satellite was announced at CES 2023, as a project between Qualcomm and Iridium, but the initiative did not gain popularity with smartphone companies, and was ultimately ended in November that same year.Since then, Google launched satellite calling in Pixel 9 phones, while SpaceX's Starlink satellite texting service has gone live in New Zealand via telco One NZ. In the US, T-Mobile opened up beta signups for its Starlink-powered satellite cell service this year. The skies are getting more crowded, too, with AT&T and partner AST SpaceMobile launching five satellites in September, as well as Amazon's Project Kuiper looking to boost its satellite internet network with space lasers.This year, Garmin launched the inReach Messenger Plus, which it describes as an "SOS Satellite Communicator with Photo and Voice messaging." Though satellite hotspots like that have been around for years from companies like Iridium and GlobalSat, they've historically cost $800 to $1,000, and haven't had the ability to send much more than a few lines of text. Garmin's product may be an indicator of things to come not only are we likely to see major phone makers embed satellite communication capability into future handsets, but in the interim we're probably going to get a bunch of hotspots so we'll never lose connectivity, not matter how far off the grid we get. And I wouldn't be surprised if CES 2025 is rife with devices that let us tap into satellites to get help and talk to others. Cherlynn Low, deputy editorExpanded dialog improvement features on soundbarsWhen it comes to the main aspects of soundbars, there really isnt a ton of innovation from year to year. Heck, Samsungs biggest update last year was the addition of HDMI 2.1 support to its flagship model, which shouldve been there already. Companies have also been focused on the transition to cable-free everything, whether thats wireless Dolby Atmos or wireless transmission boxes. Audio enhancement features are a place where companies can really rise above the fray, and tools like Sonos TV Audio Swap and Boses Personal Surround Sound are great examples of this. A key area nearly every company can improve is dialog boost, a feature that raises the volume or separates spoken word from background noise and music for better clarity.Sonos made a huge leap in this regard on the Arc Ultra, offering two additional settings for its so-called Speech Enhancement. Previously, this was just an all-or-nothing toggle, which is how most companies handle their versions of this tool. Not only is the Sonos update customizable to a degree, its also just better, thanks in part to the redesigned architecture of its new premium soundbar. This is an obvious area where other companies can improve.LG and Samsung typically announce new soundbars at CES, and there are plenty of smaller companies that will debut some too. Id love to see all of them take dialog enhancements a step further and at the very least give multiple options for how its applied. LG has been using AI Sound Pro from its TVs since 2021 and Samsung offers something called Adaptive Sound on its home theater speakers. I would expect them both to generally improve the quality of their features, but Im hoping theyll expand the capabilities too. B.S.Update, December 17 2024, 12:40PM ET: This story has been updated to include the companies and CEOs that will be making keynotes at the show.Update, December 20 2024, 11:55AM ET: This story has been updated to include LG and Hyundai Mobis' announcements ahead of CES 2025.Update, December 25 2024, 10:00AM ET: This story has been updated to include a prediction about satellite communication devices being everywhere at CES 2025.Update, December 30 2024, 11:30AM ET: This story has been updated to include a section titled "What we already know is coming," that contains newer information about appearances by X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, as well as updates on LG's UltraGear line. The intro was also updated to be more accurate about the time of year since we first published this piece.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ces-2025-lgs-bendable-5k-oled-hyundais-holographic-windshield-display-and-other-tech-were-expecting-to-see-in-las-vegas-200052676.html?src=rss

LG just unveiled its latest microwave ahead of CES 2025. The LG Signature model features a 27-inch FHD display. We can finally watch stuff during the 90 seconds it takes popcorn to pop. Let us never be without screens!This is a touchscreen display thats being described as an immersive entertainment experience right in the kitchen. The microwave also connects to Wi-Fi, for streaming content, and has built-in speakers. We dont know what OS it runs on or if it can access every streaming platform out there. Traditional LG smart TVs run webOS, so maybe the same is true here.The company has also remained mum as to whether this screen is ad-supported or not. Putting a bunch of ads right in the kitchen sure sounds like something a boardroom of execs would salivate over. LG already shows full-screen ads on many of its televisions when they are idle.The touchscreen does integrate with LGs ThinQ Smart Home Dashboard, which allows control over compatible Matter and Thread devices. It can also pair with the companys induction range oven to display cooking progress metrics, thus eliminating the need to bend down and check the oven manually. What a scourge, all of that bending down.LG hasnt revealed pricing or availability for this snazzy new appliance. Its likely well learn more when CES 2025 starts in earnest on January 7. Well be there and will report back as to what it feels like to watch Arcane while standing in front a microwave.LGThe company is in love with screens right now. It also announced a new refrigerator with an OLED display and a washer/dryer with an LCD. Im all for increased entertainment options but, uh, what happens when those displays break? It seems like buttons and knobs would be easier to repair or replace than a giant touchscreen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/lg-slapped-a-27-inch-touchscreen-on-its-latest-microwave-162736550.html?src=rss

A new set of US government requirements aims to tighten cybersecurity after multiple recent attacks.

It comes a day after the former president passed away at 100

Atos says its been warned of a potential ransomware attack, but there has been no concrete evidence so far.

The U.S. faces a potential surge in COVID-19 casesa wave, the 10th since the pandemic began, that experts say could take many by surprise due to its silent nature.Unlike previous years, where winter waves began in November, this years surge has started later. Wastewater surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a sharp increase in viral activity. As of December 21, SARS-CoV-2 levels are classified as high or very high in 28 states.Michael Hoerger, a public health expert at Tulane University, describes this phenomenon as silent transmission, noting that many are unaware of the rising risk due to low activity levels earlier this fall. Theres a good chance that a lot of people are going to get sick in the next couple of weeks and be unaware of it. Most people are not tracking CDC data, and so their only way of knowing whether were in a wave is if theyve gotten sick, he told TODAY.com.Wastewater data and regional trendsThe CDC has shifted its focus from tracking individual cases to monitoring wastewater, test positivity rates, and emergency department visits. Recent data shows:COVID-19 levels in wastewater have risen nationally, increasing from low in November to high by late December.States with very high activity include Arizona, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, among others.Test positivity rates stand at 7.5%, up nearly 2% from the previous week.Symptoms and current variantsThe dominant variants circulating, including XEC and KP.3.1.1, are highly transmissible but generally cause mild symptoms. Common symptoms include:Sore throatCongestionFatigueCoughFever or chillsDespite their mild nature, infections can still lead to severe outcomes, particularly for high-risk individuals, and contribute to the ongoing challenge of long COVID-19.Vaccination and preventionThe CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the KP.2 variant. This vaccine is expected to provide strong protection, though uptake remains low, with only 21% of U.S. adults vaccinated.To mitigate the spread, health officials advise:Staying up to date on vaccinations.Testing for COVID-19 if symptomatic or exposed.Masking in crowded indoor settings.Staying home when unwell.

The German government accused U.S. billionaire Elon Musk on Monday of trying to influence its election due in February with articles supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, even though it suggested they amounted to nonsense.Musk, who is set to serve Donald Trumps new administration as an outside adviser, endorsed the AfD as Germanys last hope in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that prompted the commentary editor to resign in protest.It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election with X posts and the opinion piece, a German government spokesperson said.Musk is free to express his opinion, the spokesperson said, adding: After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.Musk, the worlds richest person, has defended his right to weigh in on German politics because of his significant investments, and has praised the AfDs approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation.His intervention has come as Germans prepare to vote in a parliamentary election on Feb. 23 after the collapse of the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Musk also called for Scholzs resignation after a car rammed into a crowd at a Christmas market on Dec. 20, killing five people.The AfD is currently in second place in opinion polls behind the main opposition conservatives, and might be able to thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority in the election. Germanys mainstream parties have pledged not to work with the AfD at the national level.The government spokesperson said Musks endorsement of the AfD was a recommendation to vote for a party that is being monitored (by domestic intelligence) on suspicion of being right-wing extremist and which has already been recognised as partly right-wing extremist.German politicians have excoriated Musk for his endorsement of the AfD, with the co-leader of Scholzs Social Democrats (SPD) comparing him to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Both want to influence our elections and specifically support the AfDs enemies of democracy. They want Germany to be weakened and plunged into chaos, Lars Klingbeil told the Funke news group on Monday.Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and current favourite to succeed Scholz as chancellor, told Funke that Musks comments were intrusive and pretentious.Friederike Heine, Reuters

A popular soda of the 1980s and 90s is set to make a grand reentrance.Jolt, which had double the caffeine of other colas, will return to stores in 2025but now, as an energy drink. The soda was removed from shelves after its founders filed for bankruptcy in 2009, due to dwindling sales. Then in 2017, Jolt Cola was briefly resurrected, appearing on shelves at Dollar General stores. Not managing to regain enough of a following, the chain stopped selling it in 2019.Jolt 2.0 never caught on, in part, due to health concerns consumers had about high-caffeine drinks, especially for children. However, energy drinks have surged in popularity in recent years. From 2018 to 2023, energy drink sales grew by 73%. Given the boost, the new Jolt owners believe it stands a fighting change.Aaron Singerman, who grew up in the 80s, is the founder of Redcon1, the supplements-and-energy-drink company reprising Jolt. He previously told MarketingDive that as a kid, he wasnt allowed to drink Jolt Cola. But now, the entrepreneur appears to be leaning into the high-caffeine aspect of the soda, as it will now be marketed as an energy drink. Though Singerman reportedly is figuring people wont be thinking about the energy factor of the new Jolt, consumers trying it are more than likely to feel it. Jolt will contain nearly three times the caffeine of its previous incarnation, jumping from 71 milligrams to 200 milligrams. The serving size is increasing from 12 ounces to 16 ounces, and sucralose is replacing sugar as its sweetener.Jolt will hit the market in early 2025. Its reentry comes after concerns around the safety of energy drinks have escalated in recent years. Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that consumption of energy drinks is linked to cardiac arrhythmia in patients with genetic heart disease. And multiple lawsuits have been launched against Panera Bread alleging that deaths were due to cardiac arrest from consumption of the restaurants highly caffeinated lemonade. Panera settled one of the suits in 2024.Still, when it comes to energy drinks, there is a clear demand, as sales of the global energy drink market is growing. The same goes for products that remind us of our childhood. To the older audience like us, we remember when we werent allowed to have it. So that has that nostalgia play, Ryan Monahan, Redcon1s chief marketing officer, told MarketingDive. And though Monahan said Redcon1 doesnt intend to target Jolt to those under 21, some company execs expect Gen Z, a demographic thats a big user of energy drinks, to show an interest. Theyre kind of reimagining these older types of experiences or brands or products in a new way.

Canadian studio HCMA has completed an aquatic and community centre in British Columbia that is the country's first zero-carbon certified building.The tmsewtx Aquatic and Community Centre opened in 2024, providing a 10,684-square metre (114,571-square foot) public athletic space for people of all abilities in the city of New Westminster.HCMA has completed an aquatic and community centre in British ColumbiaLocated on the site of the former Glenbrook Ravine headwaters that were lost to development, the architecture studio wanted to "reconcile" the "lost historical landscape", allowing people to reengage with it."tmsewtx aims to make a strong, civic statement while being sensitive to the natural environment and human-scale experience. Our goal was to design a building that would both integrate with its historical context and be a source of pride for the community," Vancouer-based HCMA told Dezeen.The building features a slanted roof made of iron ore standing-seam metalThe design of tmsewtx the name was chosen by a panel of Indigenous community members and means "sea otter house" was guided by a two-year public engagement process involving over 3,000 people from different multicultural groups.The building was rotated diagonally off the orthogonal street grid in order to align with the ravine's topographical line and reconnect the northern headwaters to the southern ravine in a public plaza and rain garden on the south side of the site in addition to allowing for the continued use of two neighbouring buildings during construction.The centre is Canada's first all-electric, zero-carbon-certified buildingThe ceremonial southern plaza allows visitors to arrive via a series of bridges through dense vegetation and are welcomed by a Miyiwts sculpture by Squamish Nation artist James Harry, while the urban northern plaza encourages informal gatherings and allows indoor programming to flow outside.The stair-stacked facade is composed of floor-to-ceiling glass that separates perpendicular walls made of scalloped off-white precast concrete and topped with a striking slanted roof made of iron ore standing-seam metal.Read: Project Mingde uses "cascading" roofs on Chinese nursery to recycle rainfall"The stepped, modulated elevation achieves a human scale where the building touches the ground, anchoring it into the re-established ravine space, while the strong black roof unifies the diverse program elements into a singular form," the team said.The two plazas are connected by a large glazed lobby that divides the paid programming areas from the free access zones and features a monumental free-floating, helical staircase.The lobby features a free-floating spiral staircaseThe eastern half of the building holds the aquatic spaces an eight-lane competition lap pool with dive platforms, a leisure pool with a lazy river, two hot tubs, and sauna and steam rooms in addition to changing rooms and service spaces.Meanwhile, the western half of the building contains two gymnasia, multi-purpose spaces, childcare, tenant spaces, and offices.Selected for their high performance in damp aquatic environments, "mass timber and wood elements introduce an organic, variegated expression that warms and calms spaces, connecting them to the outdoor environment that surrounds the building."Mass timber and wood elements were used in the interiorsThe black metal roof transitions to an exposed wooden structure and off-white and glossy blue tiles bounce light around the space.Aquatic centres are some of the worst offenders when it comes to energy use and carbon emissions. Its time to change the paradigm," HCMA principal Paul Fast told Dezeen.The building is topped with a photovoltaic array that produces five per cent of the centre's annual operating energy the rest is supplied through electric systems and passive daylighting strategies.Its zero-carbon certification was dispensed by the Canada Green Building Council.The black metal roof transitions to an exposed wooden structureIn addition to being Canada's first all-electric facility, tmsewtx is also the first to use a gravity-fed InBlue filtration system, reducing chlorine usage and associated harmful byproducts in favour of improved air and water quality.Previously, HCMA embedded "Indigenous design principles" in student housing in Terrace, British Columbia and teamed up with Saucier + Perrotte to create a crystalline soccer stadium that references the mining landscape of Montreal.The photography is by Nic Lehoux.Project credits:Architect: HCMA Architecture and DesignArchitectural Firm Project Team: Paul Fast, Darryl Condon, Alexandra Kenyon, Ian McLean, Maeve Counihan, Rob Wilson, Michael Dimock, Elena Bushell, Katherine Mathers, Nicole Laguit, Rebecca Holt, Jason Burtwistle, Zina Berrada, Natalia Mulekova, Marni Robinson, Fiona Jones, Amanda Klassen, Alice Rooney, Maianne Capellan, Judy BauStructural: Fast + EppMechanical: AMEElectrical: AES EngineeringLandscape: PFS StudioCost: Ross TempletonCivil: Aplin & MartinAcoustic: RWDIWayfinding + Signage: HCMAPublic Art: James HarryProject Manager: Turnbull ConstructionContractor: Heatherbrae BuildersThe post HCMA designs all-electric aquatic center in British Columbia appeared first on Dezeen.

Our ancient ancestors may not have lived in modern comfort, but the legacy they left behind continues to inspire and even drive our own endeavors today. Even with the advancements in manufacturing and materials, the ideas and even the methods used by previous civilizations serve as a springboard for modern artworks and products, demonstrating the lasting power of great craftsmanship and designs. Even something as practically useless today as amphorae can become figurative vessels of delight and wonder, especially when interpreted in a uniquely different way.These designs, for example, have a loose similarity to those ancient Roman vases and jugs, but their fluorescent colors and moss-like surface give them an other-worldly appearance. Coupled with their slightly distorted forms that make them look almost organic, these PVC-coated objects connect past and present in a surreal way, as if these objects were taken by aliens and transformed into their own image and likeness.Designer: Maxwell MustardoAmphorae were critical tools during ancient times, used to carry valuable liquids like oil and wine or used for storing grain. They were so important in peoples daily lives that they were alternatively used as units of measurement much like todays cups and gallons. Elaborately painted amphorae were also used for funerary purposes, either as grave markers or as containers for ashes, the ancient predecessors of modern urns.Of course, we now have better ways to store perishable goods, but the distinctive beauty of these neck-handled vases is not something that can be easily dismissed. To our modern tastes, they seem to have come from an entirely different world, so its not that uncommon to see these reinterpreted exactly like that. Adding some luminous rods has given some amphorae a futuristic glow, literally and figuratively, but a different treatment takes the design in an entirely new direction thats truly out of this world.Mixing stoneware clay with modern production techniques, these Anthropophorae look almost alive, albeit frozen in time or petrified. Using sandblasting and wet exfoliation, the ceramic material receives a rough, moss-like texture that looks almost organic. Layers of PVC coating give it an almost glossy sheen that, together with a unique choice of color pigments, makes the objects seem to glow even without any internal light source.The Anthropophorae collection is both mystical and alien, distorting familiar designs and reshaping them into something not only new but also strange. It combines the craftsmanship of the ancient past with the techniques and materials of the present, creating a new language that has roots in humanitys rich history.The post Fuzzy glowing vessels give ancient ceramics an eerie alien character first appeared on Yanko Design.