Lenovo came to CES 2025 to prove that theres still room in its ThinkPad family for fresh designs. It may seem sacrilegious to ditch the carbon fiber frames and Trackpoint nubs found in classic ThinkPads, but thats exactly what the new ThinkPad X9 line does.Lenovo may not admit it outright, but the goal with these new models is to entice younger buyers who might not have a ton of nostalgia for the companys 30-year-old laptop line. That said, the X9 line (which will be available in both 14- and 15-inch variants) still delivers the same military-grade durability (MIL-SPEC 810H) youd expect from a typical ThinkPad while boasting an even sleeker and more minimalist appearance.The lid of the X9 line is made from a smooth sheet of aluminum with the only defining characteristic (aside from the ThinkPad logo) being the long communication bar that houses the laptop's microphones and cameras. On the inside, Lenovos streamlined aesthetic reveals the complete absence of a Trackpoint nub, a redesigned keyboard with new keycaps and an even larger haptic touchpad than what youd get from the X9s siblings.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetSo even though Im an elder millennial who has some fondness for old-school ThinkPads, I must admit that I find Lenovos break from tradition rather appealing. I never understood the Trackpoint nub, especially on modern notebooks with super responsive touchpads. Getting rid of it not only reduces distractions, but makes the keyboard easier to use. And even with its tweaked keycaps, theres still plenty of travel to deliver a very comfortable typing experience.On its bottom, Lenovo is using what it calls an Engine Hub to deliver great connectivity for its size including a Thunderbolt 4 port on each side, a full HDMI 2.1 jack, 3.5mm audio and USB-A, while still providing plenty of room for thermal management. The X9 lines D-cover (the bottom panel) can also be removed by loosening just four captured screws, which gives you easy access to the laptop's user-replaceable SSD and battery. Unfortunately, because the system is powered by up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, RAM is soldered on so you cant upgrade its memory on your own.Both the 14- and 15-inch versions of the X9 feature bright OLED displays with 2.8K resolutions and 400 nits of brightness (or 500 nits on the X9 15) and all models come with 80Whr batteries, Wi-Fi 7, 8-megapixel high-def webcams and dual noise-canceling microphones. I also appreciate a lot of the smaller design touches like the physical shutter for the webcam and what might be one of the smallest 65-watt power adapters Ive seen from any major laptop manufacturer to date.Finally, Lenovos Aura Edition branding is there to remind you that the X9 line includes a handful of AI-powered tools including Smart Share, dynamic power modes, enhanced security and more. And in case anything ever goes wrong, youll also have access to 24/7 live support thats meant to deliver more of a white-glove experience compared to less premium machines.The internals of the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 and 15 can be accessed just by removing four screws. Unfortunately, while the SSD is upgradable, its RAM is soldered on. Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAll told, the new X9 line really does seem like a more modern approach to laptop design. Now, that doesnt mean Lenovo needs to kill the classic ThinkPad (I still love those carbon fiber frames), but especially for younger customers, I feel like theres plenty of room for both of these lines to live together happily.Both models are expected to go on sale in February, with the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition starting at $1,399 or $1,549 for the 15-inch version.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-new-thinkpad-x9-is-the-least-thinkpad-ever-160019926.html?src=rss

Audio-Technica typically produces excellent sound quality on its headphones and earbuds even though it may not always build a complete package. The company has also been ahead of the competition on battery life at times, and at CES 2025, it's making some bold claims about its latest set of active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds. On the ATH-CKS50TW2, Audio-Technica says you can expect up to 25 hours of battery life on a charge when ANC is disabled, or 15 hours when you're trying to block distractions. There's another 40 hours in the charging case (25 with ANC on), but the other big feature on the ATH-CKS50TW2 is... magnets. Audio-Technica calls it Magnetic Switch Technology, and the tool snaps the earbuds together to turn them off before you toss them in a pocket without returning them to the case. If you're ready to use them again, they'll turn on when you pull them apart. Hybrid active noise cancellation is also on the spec sheet and 9mm drivers power the sound profile. Multipoint pairing is here too, as is Qi wireless charging and an IP55 rating for dust and water. There are touch controls on the earbuds as well, offering access to playback, volume, calls, voice assistant and noise control settings. The ATH-CKS50TW2 is available now in black for $149 and a beige color option appears to be on the way. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/audio-technica-debuts-earbuds-with-a-whopping-25-hours-of-battery-life-at-ces-2025-175430830.html?src=rss

Lenovos Legion gaming laptops are getting a big refresh thanks to CES 2025. The new series of notebooks includes whats probably the star of the show, the 10th-generation Legion Pro 7i. It supports up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU thanks in part to a cooling system that enables up to 250W thermal design power (TDP). It also uses an AI engine to dynamically adjust CPU and GPU wattage for optimal performance.Itll also support up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor to pair with that high-powered NVIDIA graphics card. Lenovos Legion Coldfront Vapor cooling helps it support that high-end hardware. On top of that, youll get up to 64GB of 6400Mhz DDR5 (2 X 32GB) RAM and a built-in LA1+LA3 AI chip. All of that is a recipe for souped-up gaming on the go or really just about anything you need to do, anywhere at any time.The laptop has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10) OLED display. The screen supports up to a 240Hz frame rate and has a 1ms response time. It can reach 500 nits of brightness. The Legion Pro 7i has two USB-C ports (one of which is Thunderbolt 4), three USB-A ports and HDMI 2.1. With all that high-end hardware inside, its quite the beefy machine, with a starting weight of around 6 lbs.It launches in March. But all that horsepower doesnt come cheap: Lenovo says the Legion Pro 7i has an expected starting price of $2,399 and you can safely bet that RTX 5090 variants will fetch a premium on top of that.Lenovo Legion Pro 5iLenovoMeanwhile, the 10th-gen Legion Pro 5i (Intel) and Legion Pro 5 (AMD) offer up to an Intel Ultra 9 275HX (the same as the Pro 7i) or AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, respectively. Their thermal power supports up to 200W, which enables up to an RTX 5070 Ti Laptop for graphics. You can order configurations with up to 32GB (2 X 16GB) of 6400Mhz DDR5 RAM.It also has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10) OLED screen at up to 500 nits with a 1ms response time. But at 165Hz, its maximum frame rates dont go quite as high as the Pro 7i.Like the Pro 7i, the Pro 5 series uses Lenovos AI Engine+ with a Scenario Detection feature that dynamically tweaks the CPU and GPU wattage based on the moments needs. It has the same port setup as the Pro 7i, but at least it weighs a bit less (a minimum of 5.58 lbs).Unfortunately, youll have to wait longer for the more affordable Pro 5 series. The Legion Pro 5i launches in May (starting at $1,499), while the Legion Pro 5 arrives in June (starting at $1,399).Lenovo Legion 7iLenovoLenovo also has a 10th-gen version of the (non-Pro) Legion 7i, which the companys oddly specific PR copy says is for gamers actively studying in STEM programs and fields. It also supports up to an Intel Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5070 GPU and has up to a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED with up to 240Hz and 1ms. However, its Coldfront Hyper cooling maxes out at a lower 145W TDP, so you wont get the same top-level performance as the more expensive Pro models.Starting at 4.4 lbs., its notably thinner and lighter than the Pro models. (The fact that its more portable but still decently powerful likely explains Lenovos strange STEM student framing.) It has an all-metal chassis. It will be available in June for $1,599.Finally, theres also a 10th-gen Legion 5i. Sticking with the oddly specific PR framing, Lenovo says this model is for university gamers in non-STEM programs. (Gotta nail down every niche!) It has up to a 15.1-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600, 16:10, 165Hz, 1ms) OLED and supports up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. (Theres also an AMD variant with up to a Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU.)The Legion 5i is slated for a May launch, starting at $1,299.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/ces-2025-lenovos-10th-gen-legion-pro-7i-gaming-laptop-supports-up-to-rtx-5090-graphics-160004613.html?src=rss

CES 2025 is continuing in Las Vegas, and the TechRadar team is busy picking out the highlights of the show.

Microsoft once again tries to push users towards Windows 11 as Windows 10 EOL looms.

It's a huge day: Technics' update to the excellent EAH-AZ80 earbuds is here behold, the EAH-AZ100!

Bitcoin slumped on Tuesday as a spike in Treasury yields weighed on risk assets broadly.

ARM, directed by Jithin Laal, is a visual feast that blends the art of storytelling with visual effects that are truly path-breaking. Kishal Sukumaran, VFX concept artist, played a key role in creating the films breathtaking visuals, in collaboration with VFX supervisors Jithin Laal, Aniruddha Mukherjee, and Saalim Lahir. The incredible VFX was handled by leading studios Envision VFX, Visual Birds Studio, and Mindstein Studios, while Tiltlabs delivered exceptional previsualization. Jomon T. John ISCs cinematography has captured all the visuals; the music score of Dhibu Ninan Thomas is the heartthrob, adding layers to the film.ARM is a magic creation of Listin Stephen and Dr Zachariah Thomas under the Magic Frames banner. The meticulous editing done by Shameer Muhammed and Gokuldass intricate production design made the film itself very creative. Bycreative direction from Dipil Dev, the story unfolds visually. This talented association of producers and studios redefines the new standards of Indian films of creative filmmakers.The post ARM Concept Art and VFX Breakdown appeared first on Vfxexpress.

President-Elect Donald Trump is weighing an executive order that seeks to protect gas-powered appliances including stoves and heaters from federal and local regulators who want to phase them out of homes and businesses, two sources familiar with the plans said.Republicans, including Trump, have spent the last few years attacking local Democratic efforts to limit gas-powered appliances in new construction projects amid environmental and health concerns.The U.S. consumer regulator said in 2023 it was reviewing gas appliances and links with respiratory conditions such as asthma, but noted that any regulation would be a lengthy process.Details of the executive order are still under discussion but are likely to mirror Congressional efforts to limit federal dollars for state and local initiatives that restrict gas-powered appliances or impose regulations that would increase their cost, the sources said.Trumps transition team did not respond to requests for comment.Gas-powered stoves, favored by cooks who like fast, high heat, have joined plastic straws in recent years as fodder in the U.S. culture wars between liberals trying to curb climate change by convincing Americans to rethink lifelong habits, and Republicans like Trump and business groups.It speaks volumes when an order from the White House is needed to stop our own government from banning natural gas furnaces and water heaters, Karen Harbert, president of the American Gas Association, an industry trade group, said in a statement. Despite the illegal efforts to ban access and use of natural gas, our industry is hard at work to keep life essential energy affordable and reliable especially during the extreme cold we are experiencing right now.Over 75 million U.S. households use natural gas for at least one appliance, mostly for home or water heat, according to the most recent residential energy consumption survey published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in 2020.The survey found that more Americans are also turning to natural gas to cook and dry clothes. Some 47 million households used natural gas for cooking in 2020, up from 39 million in 2015, the survey found.Roughly two out of every five American homes have a gas stove, the survey found.Premature deathsWhile gas appliances first came under fire for their impact on climate change, over the last few years several studies have shown that gas stoves emit nitrogen oxides that are harmful to human health along with other planet-warming gases.A study last year by researchers at Jaume I University in Castell de la Plana, Spain, found that exposure to gas stove pollutants was responsible for about 40,000 premature deaths annually in the European Union and Britain.Dozens of Democratic-controlled cities, including San Francisco and Berkeley, California, have sought to restrict new buildings from using gas stoves as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality. New York state approved a law last month banning natural gas stoves and furnaces in most new buildings.Those policies have faced legal challenges. Berkeley, the first city to enact such a ban, was barred from enforcing its policy by a U.S. appeals court ruling in 2023. It repealed the rule last year.In response to those policies, legislators in more than 20 Republican-led states have passed laws that prohibit local governments from restricting gas in buildings, according to S&P Global.The Energy Department, under President Joe Biden, proposed a rule requiring both gas and electric stoves and cooktops to use more efficient designs and technologies, but they scaled back the plan amid Republican and industry criticism.Jarrett Renshaw and Nichola Groom, Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday will create two new national monuments in California, solidifying his legacy as the U.S. leader who has conserved more lands and waters than any of his predecessors.The designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument in the southern California desert and the Sattitla Highlands National Monument near the states northern border comes a day after Biden protected nearly every U.S. coastline from offshore oil and gas development.The moves are aligned with his goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.Under federal law, presidents have the authority to create or alter national monuments in recognition of a sites cultural, historical, or scientific importance, but a designation can be rescinded by a future president.In 2021, Biden restored the boundaries of three national monuments that had been reduced in size by President-elect Donald Trump during his first term in the White House, following their original designations as monuments by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.By contrast, national parks are created by acts of Congress, largely to protect outstanding scenic features or natural phenomena, giving them a much higher level of protection.According to a White House statement, the Chuckwalla National Monument preserves more than 624,000 acres just south of Joshua Tree National Park. The area holds cultural and historical significance for tribes including the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano. The monument will protect habitats for species including the desert tortoise, bighorn sheep and the Chuckwalla lizard, for which it is named, and will provide outdoor recreation opportunities for nearby poor communities.The monuments creation seeks to strike a balance between conservation and clean energy development, another Biden priority. The White House said the Chuckwalla monument will allow the construction and expansion of electric transmission lines to transport clean energy to population centers in the West. Renewable energy projects will be able to be developed near or adjacent to the monument.The establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument demonstrates that we can balance conservation and drive toward a clean energy future that serves everyone, Laura Daniel-Davis, the Interior Departments acting deputy secretary, said in a statement.The Chuckwalla monument will be managed by Interiors Bureau of Land Management. Its establishment creates a 600-mile corridor of protected lands from southwestern Utah to Chuckwalla, the White House said.The Sattitla Highlands National Monument in northern California will preserve 224,000 acres across three national forests. The area is sacred to the Pit River and Modoc tribes.A dormant volcano, known as Medicine Lake, creates a dramatic landscape of craters and lava tubes. Rainfall in the area is filtered through the volcanic rock, filling underground aquifers for Northern California communities.Brandy McDaniels, a Pit River tribe member who has advocated for the creation of the monument, said her people have fought geothermal energy development in the area for decades, and welcomed lasting protection.As tribal people that are socio-economically suppressed, we are constantly faced with corporations that have endless resources to come and exploit and degrade our water resources and our land, McDaniels said.The Sattitla monument will be managed by the U.S. Forest Service, a division of the Department of Agriculture.Nichola Groom, Reuters