CES 2025, the annual consumer tech conference held in Las Vegas, is here. TechCrunch reporters are on the ground giving you the latest announcements and reveals at the conference. Today is Press Day, which features keynotes from the biggest players, including Samsung, Nvidia, Toyota, Sony, and more.Below, youll find a list of the biggest announcements from Day 1 of CES.Samsung might finally release its home robot, BallieImage Credits:SamsungSamsungs home robot Ballie has been kicking around the CES circuit for half a decade, but we now have a rough timeline for its launch. Samsung confirmed that Ballie is set to hit the market at some point in 2025, though it still has a rough path ahead. Samsung describes the ball-shaped robot as a personal home assistant, autonomously driving around the home to complete various tasks, and connects to your homes appliances.Adorable gadgets and robots from Yukai EngineeringImage Credits:Yukai EngineeringWho doesnt need an oddly-cute robotic companion? Yukai Engineering introduced Mirumi, a fuzzy and expressive robot that mounts to a purseThe company also announced the Nekojita FuFu, a tiny robot cat that blows on your cup of tea or bowl of soup to cool it down for you.LGs Affectionate IntelligenceImage Credits:LG / Cody CorrallLG demonstrated ways to interact with your home through AI systems the company is dubbing Affectionate Intelligence. LG showcased how its AI agent, LG FURON, can be personalized for the user and the home, like detecting temperature controls or letting you know if you should bring an umbrella before you leave the house.The company also announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft across its home, mobility, and commercial offerings, as well as an expanded cloud gaming experience for Xbox.AMD unveils new chipsImage Credits:AMDAMD announced a new roster of chips for laptops, desktops, and gaming handhelds. The company says its gaming-focused 9950X3D is 8% faster on average in popular games compared to AMDs 7950X3D.The company is also launching refreshed processors to power the next generation of Copilot+ PCs: the Ryzen AI 300 series and Ryzen AI Max series, as well as new processors in its Ryzen Z2 series for lightweight and gaming-focused form factors.A robot lawnmower from John DeereImage Credits:John DeereJohn Deere revealed an electric robot lawnmower meant for commercial-grade landscaping, which the company says can operate for up to 10 hours and see in 360 degrees.While the mower is quieter than its gas-powered predecessors, it raises questions about whether the mower will come for human jobs. The company also announced an autonomous 5ML orchard tractor that can blast spray crops, a larger 9RX tractor for tilling fields, and an autonomous articulated dump truck built for quarry operations.Toyota says its exploring rocketsImage Credits:ToyotaToyota gave updates to its ambitious Woven City project, the carmakers planned community at the base of Mt. Fuji that was first announced at CES 2020. CEO Akio Toyoda showed off how the company taught robot arms to fold T-shirts Japanese style to demonstrate its dexterity.Toyoda also announced that the automaker is exploring rockets. The chairman did not offer any details explaining what he meant, though he did show a rendering of a rocket designed by Japanese spaceflight company Interstellar Technologies.Get a recipe for a meal you see on TVImage Credits:Mint Images / Getty ImagesSamsung unveiled Samsung Food on Sunday, a new feature on its 2025 TVs that uses AI to recognize food it sees on your screen and generate a recipe for it. In addition to recommending recipes, the feature can show the progress of grocery and takeout deliveries you place through the Samsung Food mobile app.

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Where or When (Things Past) (1948), oil on canvas, 21 1/2 x 35 1/2 inches. All images courtesy of the Carnegie Museum of Art and Colby Museum of Art, shared with permissionGertrude Abercrombies Autobiographical Surrealism Traverses Dreams and RealityJanuary 6, 2025ArtHistoryKate MothesSurrealism is meant for me because I am a pretty realistic person but dont like all I see, Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977) once said. So I dream that it is changed. Then I change it to the way I want it.Abercrombies stark, symbol-rich landscapes and enigmatic portraits painted in oil were influenced by the European Surrealist movement, magical realism, and her own dreams. A leading figure in Chicago art, she was also involved in the citys jazz scene, counting musical greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan among her friends.Queen and Owl in Tree (1954), oil on masonite, 4 1/2 x 6 inches (unframed)The artists mystical works suggest a life of wistful introspection and emotional struggle, says a statement for the forthcoming exhibition Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The show and accompanying catalog present an opportunity for visitors to experience the artists highly personal work in significant depth, with access to artworks held in a range of private and public collections all gathered in one place.Born in Austin, Texas, Abercrombie grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and spent some time in her fathers hometown of Aledo, Illinois. The small town in the northwestern part of the Midwestern state eventually became a source of inspiration for her atmospheric paintings.The artist studied the Romance languages at the University of IllinoisUrbana-Champaign and then pursued a course in commercial art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she may also have briefly attended the School of the Art Institute.In 1932, Abercrombie began her career as a professional artist, which was spurred soon after by the support of the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (FPA/WPA). The program ran from 1935 to 1943 and provided economic relief to artists and craftspeople during the Great Depression. Along with Abercrombie, a slew of notable artists participated, from Arshile Gorky and Lucile Blanch to Jackson Pollock and Diego Rivera, among many others.Demolition Doors (1964), oil on masonite, Masonite, 20 x 25 1/2 inches (unframed)The Federal Art Project set up community centers around the U.S., sustaining the careers and livelihoods of around 10,000 artisans who contributed an estimated 400,000 easel paintings, prints, murals, posters, and other works during the programs eight-year run.Abercrombie participated in the FAP/WPA from 1935 to 1940. Around this time, she showed her work widely, including in annual exhibitions presented by the Art Institute of Chicago and venues like Katharine Kuh Gallery, one of the citys first commercial galleries to feature avant-garde work.Motifs like solitary women, dead trees, forking paths, stark landscapes, doors, cats, towers, and shells recur in her work. Abercrombie remarked that the scenes were always pretty real, merging facets of reality and the fantastic. Only mystery and fantasy have been added, she said. All foolishness has been taken out. It becomes my own dream.Split Personality (1954), oil on masonite, 8 x 10 inchesIn Demolition Doors (1964), for example, a black feline parks in front of a series of three multi-colored panels occupying most of the frame, behind which sits a gray, mostly empty landscape that could be either indoors or outdoors. Portal-like, the doors represent choices one makes about what direction to take, what threshold to cross. The cat stands sentry, waiting on the viewersand by extension, the artistsultimate decision. The whole world is a mystery, she had said.Abercrombie associated some of her recurring symbols with a witchs personahistorically an identity connected predominantly to womenwhich she sometimes embraced in her own fashion choices. She occasionally donned a pointed velvet hat to accentuate her sharp features and tall stature. The female figure, including Abercrombies own likeness, is often shown traversing barren terrain, reclining in pensive quietude, or interacting with otherworldly forces.In an interview with Studs Terkel shortly before her death, Abercrombie said that it is always myself that I paint. For example, in Split Personality (1954), a woman in a blue dress, standing inside an unadorned room, has been cut in half at the waist. Her torso and head hover over a pitcher, and she reaches out toward her legs, but the shadow on the wall to the left depicts a complete figurethe sum of two partsas a way of suggesting that looks can be deceiving.The Ivory Tower (1945), oil on masonite, 15 x 19 inches With a deft hand, a concise symbolic vocabulary, and a restrained palette, she created potent imagesthat speak tohermercurial natureandher evolving psychology as an artist, says an exhibition statement.Later in life, Abercrombies artistic output gradually waned as ongoing health issues related to arthritis and alcoholism took a toll. She became more reclusive as she eventually required a wheelchair, before being confined to bed. A major retrospective of her work was held at theHyde Park Art Center the year she died, and her will established the Gertrude Abercrombie Trust, which distributed her work and pieces by others in her collection to cultural institutions across the Midwest.Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery opens in Pittsburgh on January 18 and continues through June 1. The exhibition then travels to Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine, opening on July 12 and running through January 11, 2026. Find more on the Carnegie website.Winding Road (1937), oil on board, 7 7/8 x 10 inches (unframed)Letter from Karl (1940), oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inchesThe Countess Nerona (c. 1945), oil on masonite, 8 x 10 inches (unframed)Self-Portrait Brooch (1954), oil on board, set in wire mount, 1 x 1 inch overallThe Church (1938), oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inchesShell and Drape (1952), oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches (unframed)Charlie Parkers Favorite Painting (1946), oil on masonite, 17 15/16 x 21 7/8 x 1 1/8 inchesNext article

At CES 2025, Circular is bringing more finishes, a titanium build, eight days of battery life, and useful digital sizing to its second-generation smart ring.

Voluminous bandwidth, buttery-smooth refresh rates, and pricier cables are on deck with the new HDMI 2.2 standard, announced at CES 2025.

The airline's partnership with SpaceX invites Starlink technology to its fleet, making Wi-Fi connectivity workable at 35,000 feet.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 15: UFC CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 2024 seasonal ... [+] press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesUFC Seattle has the potential to be one of the most memorable Fight Night events of 2025. On Monday, we learned Dana White and Co. have crafted the beginnings of a card that is sure to draw fans in the Northwest in person and globally on ESPN Plus.The main event for UFC Seattle, which is scheduled to take place on February 22, will see former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo taking on Song Yadong.This was first reported by ESPNs Mike Coppinger.Cejudo last fought in February 2024 when he lost a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo is on a two-fight losing streak, having lost to Aljamain Sterling in May 2023 via split decision.Cejudo will come into the fight ranked No. 7. Yadong is No. 8, and like Cejudo, he is badly in need of a win as well.Hes coming off a unanimous decision loss to Petr Yan in March 2024. If he drops the fight to Cejudo, hell find himself on a two-fight losing streak and having squandered another opportunity to move up in the rankings.MORE FOR YOUIn the co-main event, former two-time UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz may be set to make his final Octagon walk. The oft-injured veteran, who recently fell out of the UFCs rankings, will collide with No. 9 Rob Font.This was first reported by Kevin K.Cruz has been inactive for more than two years. His last fight was a fourth-round KO loss to Marlon Vera via head kick. Hes talked about having one more fight, and this one could be it.Font is coming off what might have been a career-saving win over Kyler Phillips in October 2024. Phillips was one of the hottest prospects in the division, and Fonts wrestling and experience proved too much for him.With a win over Cruz, Font can solidify his place in the Top 10 and perhaps challenge an opponent who sits higher in the rankings.While the main and co-main events are strong, the rest of the card looks solid on paper as well.Here is a look at the entire card as currently rumored:Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong - Mens BantamweightRob Font vs. Dominick Cruz - Mens BantamweightKetlen Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson - Womens BantamweightEdson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia - FeatherweightBrendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez - MiddleweightIon Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan - Light HeavyweightCurtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev - HeavyweightAdam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov - WelterweightJean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan - FeatherweightModestas Bukauskas vs. Raffael Cerqueira - Light HeavyweightMuhammad Abdul-Malik vs. Antnio Trcoli - MiddleweightAside from the main and co-main events, there are potential Fight-of-the-Night scraps with Barboza-Garcia, Allen-Hernandez, Silva-Baghdasaryan, and Vieira-Chiasson.The fights dont happen on paper, but for a non-PPV event, this one looks strong.The UFC is back in action on Saturday, January 11, at the Apex in Las Vegas. The card has a womens strawweight main event featuring Mackenzie Dern trying to even the score with Amanda Ribas in a rematch of their 2019 meeting.Be on the lookout for more information on all upcoming UFC events.

Updated Jan. 6 with details of One UIs release date and more One UI 7 upgrades.Samsung has its new flagship phone, the Galaxy S25 series, almost ready for release (heres when to expect it). But it looks like there will be a major speed boost for one aspect of the current Galaxy S24 series which is great news for those who have the S24, S24 Plus or S24 Ultra and wont need to buy a new phone to get it.Now, a third beta of the One UI 7 software has been launched, with changes to the UI in it, and a Samsung announcement has just revealed when we can expect the new software.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. 2024 Bloomberg Finance LPAs well as the speed improvement, there are plenty of other additions in the One UI 7 free upgrade, such as an app drawer which scrolls vertically, complete with a message to alert users to the change. There are plenty of small changes, such as a new icon for Galaxy AI, new sounds like the ones discussed below, and updates to the settings in the Game Booster mode. Issues that had arisen in earlier versions of the software, such as lock screen shortcuts and volume key operations have also been fixed.At CES in Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 6, Samsung revealed that the next Galaxy Unpacked will be on Wednesday, Jan. 22, which is when we can expect the launch of the Galaxy S25 line. This points to One UI 7, with the benefits discussed below, coming very soon after that.MORE FOR YOUThe new beta software is now rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series, and promises a lot of changes, including enhancements to the Now Bar that features on the lockscreen.The speed boost is the most intriguing change and is down to the upcoming One UI 7 software Samsung is expected to unveil alongside the new S25 range. Its one of the benefits of electronic goods that with improved software, hardware can get better with age.In particular, among the benefits of the new software is a change that leads to a new unlock sound, according to regular leaker Ice Universe. The leaker describes the new lock and unlock sound as crisp, and notes theres a new sound to indicate the phone is charging.Thats mildly interesting, not more than that, but the bigger news is how that will impact the speed of unlocking the S24. In a separate post on X, Ice Universe says, Not only the sound is clearer, but also the fingerprint unlocking speed is extremely fast, which is faster than the previous version.That might not sound revolutionary, but think about it: some reports have claimed that we unlock our phones well over 100 times a day, with some estimates suggesting 300 plus is more accurate.Remember when you had to type in four or six digits or swipe a pattern every time? Fingerprint sensors made this faster, and under-the-display fingerprint sensors made unlocking more convenient.So if the fingerprint unlock is faster, thats a bonus. The video that accompanied the X post demonstrated the unlock on the display of a Samsung Galaxy S24 using beta software, so unless theres a remarkable change, that speed bonus is definitely coming to Samsungs 2024 phones.In the video, it looks more like a tap than a press, so quick is the response.Itll be far from the biggest upgrade in One UI 7, and some features will be exclusive to the phones waiting to be released, but its a neat extra.

Bottom line: Security experts are continuing to to raise alarms regarding Windows 10's impending end-of-life status this October. Despite Microsoft's best efforts, only about 30% of its users have upgraded to Windows 11 since its launch in 2021. The remaining majority face difficult choices, as continuing to receive official security updates will come at a cost, and many Windows 10 devices don't meet Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements. Thorsten Urbanski, a security expert at ESET, warns that the end of support for Windows 10 could put most Windows devices at risk. Without free official security updates, millions of business and personal systems could become highly vulnerable to cyberattacks and other security threats.As Windows 10 approaches its 10th anniversary, it remains the most widely used Windows operating system by far. ESET estimates that approximately 65% of devices in Germany around 32 million are still running Windows 10.Global data from StatCounter paints a similar picture, with Windows 10 accounting for 62% of Windows devices as of December 2024. In contrast, Windows 11 has only crawled up to 34% since its debut in 2021. Surprisingly, Windows 10 has even gained user share in recent months. While Windows 11 is slightly more popular among gamers, the latest Steam survey reveals that 42% of players continue to use Windows 10.ESET warns that the end of official Windows 10 support could lead to more than just security issues. Businesses and individuals may also face software and hardware compatibility challenges. Organizations that fail to upgrade in time risk breaching cybersecurity regulations, compounding the problem.Windows 11's relatively strict hardware requirements are a primary reason behind its low adoption rate. Microsoft has made it clear it has no plans to relax these standards. The company recently reaffirmed that all Windows 11 devices must include TPM 2.0 security, potentially excluding millions of systems with older processors. Even those eligible for Windows 11 have recently encountered problems when clicking on Microsoft's update prompts. // Related StoriesIndustry analysts predict that the October deadline could drive a surge in PC sales, as businesses and individuals purchase devices pre-installed with Windows 11. For those unwilling or unable to upgrade immediately, there are other options to maintain security.Businesses can purchase Extended Security Updates for $61 per device for the first year, but the cost will double each subsequent year. Individual users have the option to pay $30 for critical updates for one additional year.Meanwhile, third-party provider 0patch has pledged to offer unofficial security patches for Windows 10 through 2030. The company has a proven track record, as it continues to release updates for Windows 7, suggesting it is likely to follow through with its plans for Windows 10.

FalcomTable of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Ys impactMore than a new coat of paintIn the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nintendo dominated the handheld gaming landscape with its Gameboy and DS hardware lines. Sony entered the fray with the formidable PlayStation Portable in 2004. The handheld received robust first-party and third-party support during its lifespan, and its power meant it could handle games that Nintendo couldnt.Amid that development craze, Sonys handhelds received a handful of games that were surprisingly crucial spinoffs to larger franchises. Imagine playing Final Fantasy VII Remake, seeing the black-haired Zack Fair, and not knowing who he is because you never played the original PlayStation Portable game where he was the protagonist, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. With the PSP long dead, leaving so many games stuck on unsupported hardware, important pieces of franchise history have been lost to time.Recommended VideosThankfully, thats changing. In recent years, many Japanese developers have been porting their old PSP games to modern platforms. That included a remaster of Crisis Corethat bridged the gap between Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This year, the PSP revival will continue with multiple ports, but a big one for RPG fans kicks off 2025. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana brings a PSP remake of a classic action-RPG back to modern consoles. Its not just a win for fans of Falcoms niche series; its a way to keep another chapter of a long-running story from getting lost.Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana follows a young man named Adol Cristin who journeys across the world in search of new adventures. Apart from the first two games in the series, which are direct continuations of each other, the other Ys games are self-contained and scattered out of chronological order. For example, The Oath in Felghana is the third game in the Ys series, but the sixth chronologically (out of 11 so far). It sits between Ys IV: Memories of Celceta and Ys V: Kefin, the Lost Kingdom of Sand.FalcomWhile its not too important to play the Ys games in chronological order, its still helpful to know the timeline for other details. For example, Adols friend, Dogi, accompanies him on most of his adventures. But hes not present in Ys V. Why? Well, the ending of The Oath in Felghana explains that exact context. In fact, Ys V is the only game in the series that hasnt gotten an official localization so far. If it ever gets one, then that makes Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana even more important as a remaster to all fans, both old and new.Another one of Falcoms franchises, Trails, previously suffered from a timeline issue. The Crossbell Duology was integral to the series canon, as characters from it appeared in later entries, and new players were often confused as to who they were. Falcom finally remastered the two games 11 years after the original PSPs release date. Now, Trails players dont have to miss any story context as they play subsequent entries in the series.The Ys series is often credited for pioneering the action-RPG genre in Japan back in the 1980s. But how come it doesnt have the same amount of popularity as other franchises that debuted back then, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest? One of the many explanations is the franchises fragmented platform distribution, especially on consoles and handhelds.Modern mainline Final Fantasy games have always found their homes on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, while Ys games jump all over the place. All of them are on PC, while some are on PSP, Vita, PS4, PS5, and Switch. The only Ys game that the Xbox has is the prequel. For those who want to get into the Ys series, youll need a chart, which can be intimidating for new fans.FalcomBy releasing remasters of older games onto more platforms, that increases the accessibility of the series and lessens the confusion over which games are available on which platform. The PSP digital storefront was shut down in 2021, and only a few select digital PSP games are backward compatible on the Vita. So the ease of access that Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana provides cant be understated.Along with providing extra story context to an ongoing series, the remasters of these PSP games are another chance to add new gameplay features, quality-of-life changes, and accessibility features.One of the reasons why I was excited for Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana and other PSP ports like Crisis Core Reunion was the inclusion of Trophies on PlayStation. PSP games dont have Trophy support, so thats why when I played the original, I was fine with just a single playthrough. I saw the story to the end, and there was nothing left for me to experience. The Memoire version, however, adds difficulty-related Trophies for me to unlock, encouraging me to do multiple playthroughs.While the Trophy list is just the same as the PC achievements list on Steam, Memoire also adds a new Turbo Mode which dramatically speeds up the game so that I can blaze through dungeons Ive already completed during my first playthrough, decreasing the time needed to complete subsequent runs.FalcomThe PSP era was a time where larger developers could create smaller and more creative spinoff games of their iconic console franchises. But for smaller developers like Falcom, it was a home where they could cultivate an audience for their games that didnt necessarily fit anywhere else. But in the modern era, PSP games serve a different purpose as theyre necessary to understand the lore of fabled franchises, thus facilitating their remasters.With the release of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, Im hoping the other Ys games on PSP will get the Memoire Treatment as well. Id love to play Ys Seven with Trophy support, and I certainly dont want to shell out exorbitant eBay prices for a UMD (universal media disc) of Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim.Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on January 7.Editors Recommendations