CES is a great place to check out all sorts of upcoming tech for the year, but its often the wildest gadgets that steal the show. The conference hosts thousands of exhibitors, all vying for attention, and you really never know what theyre gonna come up with. And this year's show did not let us down. So without further ado, here's the weirdest tech at CES 2025 that we encountered all of the crazy (and crazy useful) devices we spotted out in the wild of the show floor. Just keep in mind, weird doesn't necessarily mean bad we actually want to buy some of these! They're just not quite the run-of-the-mill laptop or TV from the big vendors that dominated the show floor. EcoFlow Power Hat Engadget Do you want to look like a professor at Hogwarts while effortlessly charging a smartphone? Then we have the hat for you. The EcoFlow Power Hat includes an embedded set of Monocrystalline Silicon solar cells and a pair of charging ports. It looks dorky, sure, but it also looks pretty dang useful. It costs $129 and is available right now. Roto VR Explorer VR can easily show us digital vistas, but cant do much about natural movement. Thats where this bizarre, and cool, spinning chair comes in. The Roto VR Explorer moves in the direction you tilt your head and has been designed to work with Meta Quest headsets, but can integrate with other models. Surprisingly, it doesnt seem to cause too much motion sickness. It costs $800 and is available now. Yukai Mirumi Say hello to Mirumi, the unbearably cute new robot from Yukai Engineering (be nice, its a little shy) #CES2025 pic.twitter.com/miV8U71pnr Engadget (@engadget) January 6, 2025 It wouldnt be CES without an adorable robot to steal our hearts. This years cutie-pie is the Yukai Mirumi, and its an absolute unit of a fluffball. All it really does is look cute and engage in eye contact, with occasional coy glances elsewhere as it plays hard to get. But thats enough. Playing with it feels like getting to know a new kitten, and we are totally fine with that. It should cost around $80 when it hits a crowdsourcing platform later this year. Anker Solix Solar Beach Umbrella Anker Solar umbrellas are such a good idea. The thing is already open, to provide some much-needed shade, so may as well make it suck up juice from the sun. Thats Ankers thought behind the Solix Solar Beach Umbrella. It uses perovskite solar cells in its panels, which are highly efficient, and offers of up to 80W of power. We dont have pricing or availability on this one yet, but it should arrive in time for summer. Roborock Saros Z70 Roborock's new robo vac can pick up your dirty socks. #CES2025 pic.twitter.com/6TumFV6OJD Engadget (@engadget) January 6, 2025 This is not a drill. The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum boasts actual robotic arms that will pick up objects from the floor as it cleans. It can lift stuff up to 300 grams, so it excels with dirty socks, pet toys and even some light sandals. However, it looks like theres a cap on the number of items the AI can recognize. This handsy robovac doesnt have a price or release date yet. Mecha Systems Comet Engadget The Mecha Systems Comet is the handheld computer of our dreams. This diminutive little doodad is a modular, Linux-based computer built for hobbyists, engineers, artists and roboticists. It boasts a 1.8 GHz ARM64 Quad-core processor, 32GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. However, everything is expandable and customizable. A magnetic snap interface allows folks to clip on all kinds of different control panels for unique use case scenarios. Its coming to Kickstarter soon, with a starting price of $160. Jizai Mi-Mo This is Mi-Mo a "general purpose AI robot" that looks kind of like the Pixar lamp on top of a small table. pic.twitter.com/yTHq8Smnoz Karissa Bell (@karissabe) January 6, 2025 Heres another robot, and this one looks exactly like the iconic Pixar lamp. The Jizai Mi-Mo is described as a general purpose AI robot that thinks and acts on its own. It has a built-in camera and microphones, and uses multiple large language models for voice and image recognition. The company hopes that one day the robot will be used for simple childcare tasks, like reminding kids to do their homework. This is just a prototype for now, so theres no price or availability. AirStudio One Engadget Why spring for both a microphone and headphones when you could just opt for this 2-in-1 oddball gadget? The AirStudio One is a decent wireless condenser microphone with a secret lurking underneath. When you open up the chassis, theres an audio interface, a wireless USB-C dongle and a pair of true wireless headphones. We couldnt really get a sense of how the mic sounded (CES is noisy) but this could be a real boon for musicians when it gets released later this year. SwitchBot K20+ Pro Engadget Heres a robot vacuum with a built-in stand that allows it to wander the home while carrying something else, like an air purifier or a tablet. The SwitchBot K20+ Pro is described as a multitasking household assistant that can do stuff aside from cleaning a floor. To that end, it supports a wide variety of attachments and connects seamlessly to other SwitchBot appliances. Theoretically, this thing can also deliver drinks and snacks. It goes on sale later this year, but theres no price yet. Haus.me microhaus Pro Engadget The Haus.me microhaus Pro is a tiny home with not-so-tiny ambitions. It can be placed just about anywhere, doesnt require professional contractors or site prep and is seismic California fire code and CAT-5 hurricane compliant. These 120-square foot domiciles also include floor-to-ceiling windows, a full-sized shower, a kitchen and a Murphy bed that folds up to reveal a table and two bench seats. The price starts at $35,000, which isnt that bad considering, well, its a home. Preorders are open right now. Govee Gaming Pixel Light Engadget Want a unique set piece for your gaming room? The Govee Gaming Pixel Light comes in two sizes, with the option to be placed on a desktop or mounted to a wall. Out of the box, users can choose from 150 pixel-based scenes, but thats just the beginning. The unit is programmable, both on the display itself or by using a companion app. That app actually has a chatbot, allowing folks to simply describe what they want to see. Pretty cool, right? Itll be available later this year and should cost $100. MSI Mag Coreliquid A13 MSI made a concept CPU water block for CES 2025 that has a built-in turntable and it's kind of awesome.Sadly, there are no plans to put it into actual production. Also, the Lucky the dragon figure does not come included.@engadget pic.twitter.com/X70XJeAq8I Sam Rutherford (@samrutherford) January 7, 2025 The MSI Mag Coreliquid A13 is a CPU cooler with a built-in turntable. Yeah. You read that right. Its based on the Mag Coreliquid A15 360, but adds a cute spinning table that goes directly inside a desktop computer. Now, the word turnable is apt here, but it doesnt play records. Instead, MSI showed off the device being used to spin around a dragon mascot character. Its very cool and I want it very much, but its just a concept design for now. MSI has no plans to sell this thing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-weirdest-tech-we-saw-at-ces-2025-190014510.html?src=rss

A judge has approved the settlement that finally wraps up a case brought against Tesla by the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit. The shareholders argued that Tesla's board of directors overpaid themselves between 2017 and 2020.Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of Delaware's Court of Chancery approved the settlement yesterday. Tesla's directors will be required to return roughly $277 million in cash and $459 million in stock options, as well as forgoing stock options for 2021-23 worth $184 million. McCormick also awarded $176 million in fees and costs to the trio of law firms that brought the case on a contingency basis.Some of the notable directors named in the suit include Chair Robyn Denholm, James Murdoch (son of Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch) and Larry Ellison (co-founder of Oracle). The board members did not admit to wrongdoing and the settlement does not specify how much each individual should return, only the collective amount.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/judge-approves-settlement-in-suit-that-teslas-board-overpaid-themselves-185901600.html?src=rss

The iSeq 100 device did not come with standard boot protections, allowing crooks to establish persistence.

Ivanti uncovers multiple flaws in its VPN appliances.

Lenovo ThinkVision P32UD-40 has a dozen ports and a KVM switch for managing multiple devices.

Elon Musk used his social network X to promote Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party, hosting a discussion with party leader Alice Weidel.

There are surely many reasons that the parents of tech icon Michael Dell did not name him Inspiron or XPS. For one, Dells parents arent Elon Musk. More generally, there is appeal to a commonplace name. Yes, you sacrifice originality. You risk being called a copycat by your cousin. But in return you get benefits like clarity and simplicity.This is why it makes sense that Dells eponymous company just announced an overhaul of the naming schema for its computers, replacing fairly distinctive brands (Inspiron, XPS, Latitude, Precision, OptiPlex) with branding architecture that has all the sparkling originality of a tape measure. The old names, hailing back to the 90s, will be phased out. In their place will be three more intuitive options: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max.If youve got a nagging feeling this seems familiar, it may be because Apple has long used this tack (iPhone, iPhone Pro, iPhone Pro Max, etc.). But while Dells move is derivative, adopting this language also leverages the fact that others have already trained consumers to understand what these descriptors mean. If theres already a Big Mac, one hardly needs to explain what a Big King is. If theres already a Disney+, everyone is well broken-in for Paramount+.People love to hate a new name. Paramount+, for one, was greeted with some eye rolls; on its face, it admits to not being the main character. And critics have similarly come for Dell. The naming scheme is Apple-y and bland. Its an attempt to make currently uncool PCs cool again. Yet Nike had Max shoes back in the 1980s. Using pro to mean professional dates back to the 1850s. Many companies have used these qualifiers.Just how telegraphic a brand name should be is, in part, related to how complicated the sector and shopping experience are. Using an original and evocative name can be a powerful tool of differentiation, yielding engagement and memorability for consumers. A bold move may well make sense if youre naming a new startup in a crowded space (as when the branding firm I work for developed Asana circa 2008) or selling certain products (see: skincare company Drunk Elephant or canned water maker Liquid Death). But for individual lines of tech products from a big player today?In a realm where consumers are facing a firehose of confusing specs and debilitating hyperchoiceas well as feeling anxiety about trustmore straightforward product names can be the answer. This is especially true if the master brand already has a lot of equity. If the 40-year-old Dell brand has always really been the selling point, why not lean into it and focus the marketing attention there? And if the brands spirit has always been more about performance and value than creativity, why not reflect that?In explaining the change, company executives nodded to the immense confusion and overload among customers and a resultant desire to simplify things. What we want to doismakeiteasyfor ourcustomertofindtheright PC, VP Kevin Terwilliger said in a video interview. But then also find therightperipheral,therightheadset,therightdisplay,andeventherightservicesand support. If youre spending less time orienting buyers around brand names, there is, arguably, more time for customizing and selling.Dells Pro Plus [Photo: Dell]This is not to all say that Dell has eliminated the possibility for confusion. Just look at Terwilligers list of options that consumers must still consider: peripherals, headsets, displays, services. All the inputting and outputting can be off-putting. Plus, the revamp doesnt just include three names but ninebecause each new tier comes in three versions: Base, Premium, and Plus.The execution is imperfect and criticisms can be made. Might longtime, loyal users be confused or annoyed as brands rise and set? Could a consumer mistakenly think a Dell Premium is more powerful than a Dell Pro Base? Could the third tier have just been Max rather than Pro Max? Is there some overall potential for descriptor salad here, especially given that the products come with various screen sizes and more models will likely be added in years to come?The answer to all is yes. And the company is giving up smaller equity around each sub-brand by putting all the chips on Dell. But in streamlining and clarifying the decision process for shoppers, the overhaul is as sensible as it is uninspired.

Sony has unveiled a new gaming system that could allow PlayStation players to sniff their way through games like The Last of Us.Unveiled at CES 2025, the Future Immersive Entertainment Concept (FIEC) features a huge, room-size setup designed to push the boundaries of immersive gaming. A trailer for the concept shows a giant cube built from high-definition LED screens that enables players to step directly into their favorite games (unfortunately, this isnt something youll be setting up in your living room anytime soon).In the trailer, players experience the postapocalyptic world of The Last of Us with enhanced audio and the addition of smell-o-vision, delivering a completely new experience. One of the pillars of Sonys creative entertainment vision is the idea of narrative everywhere, where stories from Sony are transformed across new and exciting mediums, explains the video. This Future Immersive Entertainment Concept aims to explore these possibilities. This proof-of-concept project combines the latest location-based technologies, Sony Crystal LED panels, engaging audio, haptics, scent, and atmospherics to fully immerse you into the world of the story.While the infected world of The Last of Us may seem an odd choice to demonstrate what the FIEC can do, players could shoot clickers as they appeared around them and get a whiff of the games grim postapocalyptic world. I think I speak for everyone when I say nobody asked for this, one skeptical fan responded to the announcement. Cant think of a single game that will enhance my experience by smelling it, a second X user added, unimpressed.Can't think of a single game that will enhance my experience by smelling it. ' (@SoldierBoyLeon) January 8, 2025 While the use of scents in entertainment has been around since the 1960s, the FIEC builds on a PlayStation patent for scent-based gaming filed four years ago. Whether or not gamers will embrace this feature remains to be seen. Perhaps they should have led with the waft of pizza in the world of Cooking Mama to get gamers onside.

As devastating fires continue to rage in the Southern California area, an app that tracks wildfires with live maps and alerts has become the No. 1 free app in Apples App Store.Watch Duty, launched in 2021 and used by firefighters and first responders across the western United States, surpassed the ChatGPT app, Lemon8, and Threads for the top spot as of Wednesday morning. Across social media, concerned citizens and Los Angeles residents encouraged others to download the free app for updates about nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts. One X user posted, In 24 hours, I went from never having heard of Watch Duty to checking the app religiously.The app, which is run by the Santa Rosabased nonprofit Sherwood Forestry Service, has already added 600,000 new users in just the last 24 hours according to CEO John Mills. Watch Duty is powered by a team of volunteers and staff, including active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and veteran storm watchers. The team uses automated alerts sent to its Slack platform whenever a 911 call is made regarding a fire. They actively monitor fire-related developments by listening to radio scanners, reviewing wildlife cameras and satellite data, and tracking official updates from law enforcement, fire services, and other public sources.The apps interface uses a color-coded system: dark red for active fires or burned areas, light red for mandatory evacuations, and yellow for evacuation warnings, signaling users to prepare for potential orders. However, its important to remember the app is not a replacement for official information.Whats happening right now in L.A. is the worst that Ive seen in the five years Ive been doing this . . . This is catastrophic, Mills told The Los Angeles Times. Its really hard to watch, but Id rather be doing this than not doing anything. It feels like we could at least do something to help, because otherwise were just sitting here watching the world burn.Mills was motivated to launch the app by his own experiences of wildfires after moving to Sonoma County in 2020. During the 2020 Walbridge Fire, which burned to the edge of his property, he relied on Facebook groups for updates and wondered if there was a better way to share information. Since its launch, Watch Dutys downloads have skyrocketed as climate-related weather events continue to impact communities. In December, the app said it increased its yearly active users to 7.2 million from 1.9 million in 2023.The Los Angeles fires, driven by dry conditions and strong winds, are currently causing widespread devastation beyond the immediate danger zones. As of Thursday morning, at least five people have died and over 130,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as the fires continue to spread.

The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features automotive brand Nissan's electric version of a 1980s sports car. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now.This week, Nissan revealed an electric iteration of its R32 Skyline GT-R sports car. Created in 1989, the R32 Skyline GT-R became popular in racing for its 2.6-litre twin-turbo engine and all-wheel-drive system. It has now been revived as a concept model with an electric motor.21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 BuildingsThis week's newsletter also featured Dezeen's launch of its latest editorial series, BIG's completion of the first phase of the Toyota Woven City in Japan and a mechanical bike that transforms into an e-bike with the CLIP device.Dezeen AgendaDezeen Agenda is a curated newsletter sent every Thursday containing the most important news highlights from Dezeen. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Agenda or subscribe here.You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features the hottest reader comments and most-debated stories, Dezeen Dailyis our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours andDezeen In Depthis sent on the last Friday of every month anddelves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.The post Dezeen Agenda features an electric version of Nissan's 1980s Skyline car appeared first on Dezeen.