I saw a lot of tech at this year's CES Unveiled. The event is filled with row after row of AI-powered, motorized, holographic, shape-shifting technology, and is only a fraction of the amount there is to see at CES in total.While there were plenty of cool, interesting, wacky, and weird things on display, seven products in particular caught my eye. In fact, some of my favorites are not necessarily products you'd be able to pickup and buy. But I appreciate both the concepts behind some of these things, as well as where the tech could go in the future. ColdSnap This poor ColdSnap unit, with its "faulty pod" warning, was not the machine that served me ice cream. Credit: Jake Peterson I saw ColdSnap at least year's CES, and it was equally fun both times I visited the booth. ColdSnap acts like a Keurig machine for ice cream: You use a single-serve poda particular flavor, of coursebut instead of coffee, out comes ice cream.Last year, I assumed ColdSnap's deserts wouldn't impress. An interesting concept, sure, but I imagined the single-serve design, in execution, would not be more compelling than buying a pint of ice cream from the store.Truth be told, ColdSnap makes excellent ice cream. Last year, I got the bourbon flavor, and I don't know if it was just the bourbon talking, but I really enjoyed it. (I made the same joke last time.) This year, I tried their coffee flavor, and I was impressed once again. Better yet, the rep tells me all their flavors are gluten free, and use certified gluten free oats. As someone with celiac disease, I appreciate that, and appreciate more being able to safely test taste food at a mega convention like CES. It almost takes the sting out of the $3,000 price tag. LOOI Credit: Jake Peterson There were a number of robots to see at Unveiled. Many companies seem keen on not only making a robot, but one with an anthropomorphic face. Most of them don't interest me all that much; some, in fact, creep me out. However, LOOI caught my eye. It's a robot with a WALL-E-like face, which in and of itself isn't necessarily groundbreaking. But what I found particularly interesting is you don't buy LOOI's face: You only buy the robot's body, and provide the face with your own smartphone. Your iPhone or Android sticks to LOOI and, through the app, turns it into a robot you can interact with. LOOI responds to hand gestures, so you can "push" the bot back by moving your hand towards it. (This doesn't always seem to workor, at least, not under CES Unveiled's indoor lights.) You can also talk to LOOI: The rep asked LOOI to introduce itself to me, and it did, complete with a virtual microphone to speak into. Because LOOI operates from your smartphone's display, it can display other things besides its face. It can show text when "talking" to you; graphics, like a digital microphone or even a cheeseburger it can "eat;" or a camera view if taking a selfie. I don't think LOOI is necessarily practical, and I'm not sure what I'd actually do with one. But it's a unique concept I certainly haven't seen before.E-SKIMO Credit: Jake Peterson If you've ever ridden an e-bike, you know how cool an experience it is. When you're used to relying on just your own momentum to move a bike, the boost from an e-bike's motor is really something else. That's how I imagine electric skis would be. E-SKIMO is working on just that: a motorized ski, that can offer a boost whether you're skiing downhill or cross-country. Trying to move on skis across long stretches of flat land is always a low-point of any ski day, so I totally welcome motorized skis (or e-skis).In addition to the motor, E-SKIMO has sensors built into the skis to collect data as you complete your runs. If you're someone who likes to track their performance and look for ways to improve, that's an enticing concept. Concept is the key word here: The product E-SKIMO showed off at CES isn't available commercially, and isn't aimed at consumers; rather, the company is looking to sell the tech to brands to integrate into their own skis. I hope it works out, so I can look forward to power-assisted skiing in my future.Electric Salt Spoon Credit: Jake Peterson This one drew a crowd, and for good reason: "Electric Salt Spoon," developed by Kirin, claims to be able to make low sodium food taste salty. The spoon, according to Kirin, adds a "mild electrical current" through the food in your mouth, which supposedly stimulates Na+ ions that would otherwise be lost to your taste buds. To use the spoon, you scoop up your food, then press the button to trigger the electricity flow. There are four intensity levels to choose from (Kirin recommends first-time users start with the lowest setting). Then, you hit the button, and eat. The light on the spoon will turn white while you're eating, and the company advises you try to make each bite countabout half a second per bite. I did not test the spoon, so I cannot personally attest to its powers. But it's a wild idea: Can you save yourself some added salt by using an electric spoon?LISSOME R1 Credit: Jake Peterson I spent many years living in small apartments without dishwasherand I hated it. I actively avoided cooking because I could not stand having to hand wash every plate, bowl, or utensil I used. That's why LISSOME R1 piqued my interest. To be honest, I couldn't care less about its "AI wash features," or that it dries dishes in 15 minutes (even if that would be convenient). It's a low-profile portable dish washer that I would have loved having in my small kitchens. I hope this one lives up to my personal hype.Aurzen ZIP Credit: Jake Peterson Aurzen's portable projector doesn't have the highest resolution at 720p. It also only lasts 90 minutes, so it's probably not excellent for most movie nights. However, its folding design is really cool: When fully folded up, it looks like a Game Boy Advance SP, which speaks to me directly. But as you unfold it, you're able to customize how you want it to project. One orientation lets you project on the wall, while another lets you project on the ceiling.I could live with the resolution on a product like this, actually. It's so portable, that if the battery life could be extended just a bit, it could make for an excellent movie machine on the go. As it is now, it's probably better for portable presentations, or movie and shows that are 90 minutes or less. Bodyfriend Credit: Jake Peterson I'd be remiss not to mention the transformer massage chair. Bodyfriend was impossible to miss, since it looked like Bumblebee retired from fighting Decepticons to become a masseuse. Aside from moving around like a giant robot, it offers a slew of different zones for massages. I'm not sure I see catching on in the average household, but it was very fun to watch in action.

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

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 EngadgetIt 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

Stress can really take a toll on a person, often in ways we dont immediately recognize. Swiss startup Nutrix AG is hoping a quick, at-home spit test can help, by giving people a better idea of how stressed out they really are and the tools to manage it. At CES 2025, Nutrix showed off its cortiSense device, which measures levels of cortisol in saliva and can be used to track how this changes over time. The startup is planning to launch it by the end of the year, and itll work with the gSense app and digital platform to offer things like personalized wellness coaching from a medical team. Its meant to be an easy and noninvasive way to identify and combat burnout. The part thats a little sus, though? In a press release, Nutrix CEO Maria Hahn said the company is focusing on empowering enterprises," noting that employee burnout can present a significant challenge with a huge human and financial cost. So, get your stress under control to better perform labor, I guess. I wasnt able to pop one in my mouth and try it out (I did ask), but the Nutrix team says a reading should take about 3-5 minutes to complete. The device, which looks like a vape, uses disposable tabs that have a cortisol measuring sensor. You get the quantitative information of the cortisol in saliva, which is then transmitted over to the digital health platform to combine with other data, like activity monitoring, glucose [and] weight, said Nutrix co-founder and CTO Dr. Jemish Parmar at CESs Unveiled event. Youre supposed to take four measurements a day. Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget The company didnt share pricing information, but the team says it will be offered as part of a subscription program that would include the cortiSense device, the single-use sensors and the digital health platform. The gSense platform so far offers guidance around weight loss, but it will soon offer mental health services too, according to Dr. Dominika Sulot, the Data and Software Lead. Once you have all the data, youre scheduling an appointment with [the medical team] and then theyre providing you the personalized plan, Sulot says. For personal use, this kind of thing could be great if it works as stated, especially if it would connect users with physical and mental health support. But I'm not loving the emphasis on enterprise applications to, per the press release, foster a healthier, more productive workforce. Actually, I might have just vomited in my mouth a little writing that. I wonder what cortiSense would detect in that. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/spit-on-this-stick-to-see-how-burned-out-you-are-024531311.html?src=rss

Samsung has announced its 2025 OLED TV lineup with improved features and AI enhancements.

TechRadar saw the cheerful yellow robot and chatted with Samsung's Head of Home Entertainment Product

While 2024 brought a new category of Samsungs Frame a smart speaker dubbed the Music Frame 2025 is ushering in an entirely new Frame TV the Frame Pro, with a Neo QLED screen.

Step into the shadows with Wolf Man, a spine-chilling reimagining of the classic Universal monster tale. From visionary filmmaker Leigh Whannell, who made waves with The Invisible Man, comes a film that explores isolation, dread, and anxiety in crafting a psychological thriller that brings your deepest fears to life.Starring Ryan Gosling in the title role, Wolf Man promises a thrilling balance of horror and humanity, set against an atmosphere of creeping tension. Whannells subtlety with suspense is matched by CGI and hauntingly immersive soundscapes that leave viewers writhing long after the credits roll.Witness the start of a new age of horror as Wolf Man opens in cinemas on January 17. Face your inner beast! universal picture The post Wolf ManLeigh Whannell & The New Era of Terror appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Experience the magic of Disneys Snow White with a special preview of Waiting On A Wish, an enchanting new song by the award-winning duo Pasek and Paul. This modern take on the timeless fairy tale invites audiences to rediscover the beloved classic, blending nostalgia with fresh creativity.Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, this film is an epic retelling of the beloved story in stunning visuals, memorable musical numbers, and a message of courage and kindness. Directed by Marc Webb, this live-action adaptation brings together state-of-the-art visual effects with the timeless charm of Disneys storytelling.Mark your calendars for March 21, 2025, and be the first to witness Snow Whites magical journey in theaters. Let Waiting On A Wish transport you to a world of dreams, wonder, and inspiration!The post Disneys Snow White Waiting On A Wish Special Look appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Lets address the elephant in the room: Amazon Prime membership costs arent getting any cheaper. My credit card just caught the brunt of the yearly auto-renewal.And as I fondly remember the modest $79 annual fee in 2005, which has ballooned to $139 today, I wonder aloud, Why am I paying so much for two-day shipping and a video service?But Amazon has strategically packed the membership with enough perks that it can offset the cost and then some. Its just that not everyone knows about all the options available to them.Heres a look at some of the lesser-known goodies.Free Grubhub+Most Prime members have no idea theyve got fee-free restaurant delivery built into their membership. This is a dangerous perk and Im sorry you know about it now.The Grubhub+ partnership offers meal discounts, earned credit toward future orders, and zero delivery fees from participating restaurants.Just link your Amazon Prime account to Grubhub, and youre good to go.RxPass: $5 unlimited prescriptionsAmazons RxPass is a prescription service that charges a flat $5 monthly fee for unlimited generic medications. Not per medication, but total. More than 50 medications are eligible, and you dont need to fight with your insurance to get them as long as youve got a prescription (or 50) from your doctor. Its available in every U.S. state except California, Texas, and Washington.10 cents off per gallon of gasPrimes fuel savings program allows members to save 10 cents per gallon at more than 7,000 gas stations nationwide.By linking your Amazon account to the Earnify app, you can locate eligible BP, Amoco, and AM PM stations where you can save on fuel purchases and then blow those savings on fountain sodas and carb-laden snacks inside the store.Gaming galoreEach month, Prime Gaming offers up free full-game downloads, exclusive in-game content, and Twitch channel subscriptions.At least one of the games each month is terrific, too. The games Ive collected alone have easily made up for the yearly Prime cost.Theres also a cloud gaming section where you can stream popular titles to Amazons Luna gaming service. If youve got an Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, its a great way to play games on the big screen without buying a full console.Unlimited photo storageWhy pay for cloud storage when Prime offers unlimited full-resolution photo backups? Hell, why even delete photos at all? Mash that shutter button with reckless abandon. This feature provides automatic backup across all your devices, family sharing options, and organization features with the Amazon Photos app.Download it to your phone and enable the auto-backup feature to ensure your precious memories are safely stored and easily accessible.