• Dell kills the XPS brand
    www.theverge.com
    The tech industrys relentless march toward labeling everything plus, pro, and max soldiers on, with Dell now taking the naming scheme to baffling new levels of confusion. The PC maker announced at CES 2025 that its cutting names like XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, and OptiPlex from its new laptops, desktops, and monitors and replacing them with three main product lines: Dell (yes, just Dell), Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. If you think that sounds a bit Apple-y and bland, youre right. But Dell is taking it further by also adding a bit of auto industry parlance with three sub-tiers: Base, Plus, and Premium.The new Dell product naming structure for 2025. Image: DellThat yields new products like the freshly announced Dell Plus 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor and Dell Pro Premium laptops. In the future, it means we can also expect product names like Dell Pro Max Plus. Since a laptop like the Dell Pro Premium comes in two sizes, 13-inch and 14-inch, their proper full names are Dell Pro 13 Premium and Dell Pro 14 Premium. Theyre spiritual successors to outgoing Dell Latitude laptops.Dells XPS line, which has been a prominent name in premium laptops for years, is being replaced by new Dell Premium models. So theyre part of the base-tier Dell line, at the Premium sub-tier.While this is a substantial brand restructuring for one of the worlds biggest PC manufacturers, Dell isnt tossing the old names out all at once. Existing products already launched under XPS, Precision, and other retiring brands will continue on as they are. But once theyre discontinued, theyll only be replaced by whatever Mad LibsOne of the current versions of the Dell XPS 13. Successor models will be called Dell 13 Premium. Photo by Joanna Nelius / The VergeUntil Dells lines are fully turned over, there may be even more confusion when, for example, customers are cross-shopping current XPS laptops with Dell and Dell Premium ones or when businesses have to consider a fleet of leftover Dell Precision notebooks or newer Dell Pro Max / Dell Pro Max Plus / Dell Pro Max Premium models.When I asked Dell for confirmation that the new branding means names of popular lines like XPS will be phased out, Frank Cestone, public relations for consumer and gaming at Dell, said, It will be a journey, but were taking the necessary steps to make this as easy as possible for customers on day-one and we know itll only get easier once the transition is fully complete.Simple names are nice, but the words plus, premium, pro, and max are so commonplace today its like theyre being stripped of all meaning. And Dell a company named after an actual person is stripping itself of some of its identity.
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  • Anker shows off its solar beach umbrella at CES 2025
    techcrunch.com
    At CES 2025, Anker unveiled its first solar umbrella, designed to charge electronic devices like coolers or phones while outdoors. The new umbrella is part of Ankers SOLIX lineup, which includes energy-efficient products like portable power stations and solar generators intended for powering home appliances during blackouts and emergencies.Though many solar-powered beach umbrellas are available on the market, Ankers product stands out due to its use of perovskite solar cells. According to the company, these cells offer 30% better performance than traditional crystalline silicon solar cells in bright light and double the efficiency in low light. As with any solar-powered device, these umbrellas can help contribute to reducing pollution and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Its also a handy addition to your beach day packing list.Image Credits:AnkerAnker announced this umbrella alongside several other new products at CES 2025, including the second generation of its EverFrost electric cooler and a karaoke speaker featuring an AI voice removal function. The company likely hopes that customers will view the umbrella as a complementary accessory for the electronic cooler, as it can be attached to the cooler to power it. Alternatively, it can be installed with a standalone base.The umbrella provides 80 watts of power to portable devices through USB-C. It can also power the EverFrost 2 or other compatible devices using an XT-60 connection, which links power from a battery to a motor or other electronics.Anker didnt disclose the cost of the umbrella, but it is expected to be available in the spring or summer.
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  • CES 2025 Press Day: Everything Nvidia, Sony, Toyota, Samsung announced, and more
    techcrunch.com
    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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  • Can you help create that kind of effect
    realtimevfx.com
    1 post - 1 participant Read full topic
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  • Gertrude Abercrombies Autobiographical Surrealism Traverses Dreams and Reality
    www.thisiscolossal.com
    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
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  • This smart ring maker may have just solved one of the wearable's biggest pain points
    www.zdnet.com
    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.
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  • The next big HDMI leap has arrived - what the 2.2 standard means for you
    www.zdnet.com
    Voluminous bandwidth, buttery-smooth refresh rates, and pricier cables are on deck with the new HDMI 2.2 standard, announced at CES 2025.
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  • United's free in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi is now launching even earlier than we expected
    www.zdnet.com
    The airline's partnership with SpaceX invites Starlink technology to its fleet, making Wi-Fi connectivity workable at 35,000 feet.
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  • UFC Announces Huge Main And Co-Main Events With 2 Former Champions
    www.forbes.com
    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.
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  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Users About To Get A New Free Upgrade, Report Claims
    www.forbes.com
    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.
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