Maria Diaz/ZDNET2025 just began, and it's already shaping up to be a great year for robot vacuums. We're seeing unparalleled innovation in this category at theComputer Electronics Show (CES), with futuristic technology coming to store shelves near you this year, including robotic arms and robots that can climb stairs.Also: CES 2025: The 15 most impressive products so farAs I roam the halls of CES this year, it's becoming clear that robot vacuums are not what they were even five or six years ago. With self-washing and self-emptying robots becoming the norm, the competing edge has shifted to looking for innovation elsewhere, developing more of the robotic aspects of the device. We've checked out all of the most innovative robot vacuums at CES this year, and here are our picks for the best ones.1. Roborock Saros Z70Best robot vacuum at CES 2025 Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe Roborock Saros Z70 is our pick for the best robot vacuum at CES 2025. This new robot vacuum and mop with a mechanical arm will be available in the first half of the year. The five-axis arm is tucked into the robot's body and automatically deploys.During a first pass, the robot vacuum cleans your floors and takes note of any temporary objects it detects and recognizes on the floors. The Saros Z70 then does a second pass across your floors to deploy the robotic arm to pick up the objects and put them away in a predetermined spot, then cleans the spot the item occupies.Also:The best CES 2025 products you can buy right nowAs mentioned above, the Roborock Saros Z70 will be available later this year, but the price has yet to be announced.2. Dreame X50 UltraBest robot vacuum for high thresholds at CES 2025 Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe Dreame X50 Ultra is a brand-new robot vacuum and mop that is a redesign of the previous model, the X40 Ultra. This robot is so unique that it can climb short steps up to 6cm in total, with new robotic legs that lift the robot as it approaches a step it can tackle.The robot vacuum has a new dual-roller brush system that directs dirt and debris toward one side of the robot's body, where the nozzle is now located. This approach prevents hair tangles expertly, as the hair slides off the roller brush towards one end, instead of staying in the middle of the brush while trying to go into the nozzle.Also:The best wearable tech we've seen at CESThe best part? The Dreame X50 Ultra's MSRP is lower than its predecessor, the $1,900 X40 Ultra. The new Dreame X50 Ultra has a $1,700 MSRP, but an early bird pre-order offer has it at only $1,310.3. Mova V50 UltraBest suction power in robot vacuum at CES 2025 Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe strongest suction in a robot vacuum on the market is from a brand you've likely never heard of. After years in Europe and Asia, Mova is entering the US market with the Mova V50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop that features 24,000Pa of suction power. This is the strongest suction we've seen so far, with the next tier featuring the Roborock Saros Z70 and Eureka J15 Max Ultra, both of which feature 22,000Pa of suction.The Mova V50 Ultra has a mopping feature with dual-rotating mop pads, an extendable side brush and mop pad, and it also features a retractable LiDAR sensor that tucks itself into the robot when it detects it needs to clean under furniture.4. Ecovacs X8 Pro OmniBest mopping robot vacuum at CES 2025 Maria Diaz/ZDNETEcovacs' new X8 Pro Omni is the company's latest robot vacuum and mop, released with an extendable OZMO roller mop instead of rotating mop pads. The mop technology, developed by partner Tineco, ensures the robot always mops your floors with clean water instead of dragging a dirty pad. The mop is continuously scrubbed clean within the robot's body, which features two separate clean and dirty water tanks.Also:CES 2025: These 9 best mobile accessories have impressed us the mostThe X8 Pro Omni, launching this spring, features 18,000Pa of suction power on the vacuum side, expert navigation that creates a real-time 3D map of its surroundings, and improved AI to navigate complex environments.5. Narwal FlowBest robot vacuum for carpets at CES 2025 Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe latest Narwal Flow is the company's new flagship robot vacuum, with a redesigned logo and new technology packed into the robot. This robot vacuum and mop also features a mop roller instead of dual rotating mop pads, but its biggest strength lies in the vacuum.The Deep Carpet Boost technology automatically increases suction when a carpet is detected and lowers the roller brush to reach deep into carpet fibers, reaching dust and dirt that other machines would otherwise miss.Honorable mentions Maria Diaz/ZDNETYeedi S14 Pro: The new Yeedi S14 features the same OZMO roller technology from the Deebot X8 Omni, with TrueEdge 2.0 adaptive cleaning and ZeroTangle 2.0 technology. This robot vacuum and mop will be available in March.Eureka J15 Max Ultra: This Eureka robot vacuum is smart enough to detect clear liquids in front of it, turn off the suction, and turn around to mop up the liquid with the mop pads. It's coming to the market in June at the $1,299 price.SwitchBot K20+ Pro: This is the best multitasking robot vacuum at CES 2025. It's a self-emptying robot vacuum with an overlaying platform that connects to the robot for navigation. The platform works to transport items around the house, but it also has various ports to connect a camera and have the robot surveil your home, for example. What is CES? The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a technology show that takes place each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's the biggest event of the year for the technology world, where thousands of companies showcase their latest products. Show more ZDNET Recommends

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Whether its an employee accidentally clicking on a phishing link or a system misconfiguration, human error is often the weakest cybersecurity link.gettyAs technology evolves, so do the threatsand the cybersecurity solutions to combat them.Cybersecurity in 2025 will see significant shifts, driven by AI advancements, operational needs, and regulatory pressures. Heres a closer look at the top three predictions.1. Technology Takes Center Stage in Cybersecuritys Classic TriadFor years, the mantra in cybersecurity has been that people, processes, and technologies form an equal triad in protecting systems.While all three pillars remain critical, 2025 will see a heavier emphasis on technology. Why? Even with the most highly trained personnel and efficient processes, there will always be vulnerabilities.Whether its an employee accidentally clicking on a phishing link or a system misconfiguration, human error is often the weakest link.When attackers breach this entry point, technology becomes the key to minimizing damage. Advanced tools can detect anomalies, block suspicious activity, and respond faster than any human could.For instance, AI-driven platforms analyze vast amounts of data in real time to identify threats before they escalate.In 2025, companies will focus on these technological solutions to ensure business continuity and protect sensitive data. Its not about sidelining people or processesits about leveraging technology as the ultimate safeguard.2. Cybersecurity Teams Wont Go It AloneOnly 1 in 3 data breaches are discovered by in-house security teams or tools.Relying solely on internal resources for cybersecurity is no longer feasible. As IT environments grow more complex and the talent gap widens, businesses are increasingly turning to managed security services (MSS). In 2025, this shift will accelerate, with MSS providers becoming indispensable partners for 24/7 monitoring, threat detection, and rapid incident response.In fact, one of the key advantages of this approach is the ability to view cyber threats from multiple perspectives. In-house security teams typically approach risk management from an internal standpoint, focusing on known threats and system configurations. However, external partners can offer fresh insights and identify emerging threats from an outside view. Additionally, Cloud ERP providers bring specialized protection to their systems, offering tailored security for business applications, infrastructure, and databases.This collaborative approach helps create more comprehensive, 360-degree protection strategyies. By combining internal security resources with external expertise, businesses can stay ahead of cyber risks and reduce the strain on in-house teams.3. The Cloud Wars Will Heat Up Over SovereigntyIn a world of tightening privacy laws and growing geopolitical tensions, control over data will become a battleground in 2025. Seven out of ten countries have established regulations addressing data privacy or digital sovereignty.The concept of cloud sovereigntyensuring that data is stored and processed in specific regions to comply with local regulationswill dominate conversations.Businesses are demanding that cloud providers offer more transparency and control over data flows to meet evolving compliance needs.Major players like SAP together with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are already responding with localized cloud offerings, but the stakes are growing. Sovereignty is no longer just about compliance; its about trust.As concerns over cross-border data risks mount, companies will gravitate toward solutions that give them control over encryption keys, storage locations, and access policies tailored to their jurisdictions.What Does This Mean for You?AI is revolutionizing the threat landscape, managed security services are redefining operational models, and cloud sovereignty is establishing new standards for data governance. Together, these forces are pushing businesses to rethink their cybersecurity strategies for 2025 and beyond."The companies that will thrive in this evolving environment will be those that successfully blend in-house security management with external expertise, leveraging resources like Cloud ERP providers to bolster their defenses. and support regulatory compliance.Finding the right balance between internal security measures and external services and solutions will be essential to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and regulations.Ultimately, those organizations that can adapt quickly, embrace these changes, and take a proactive approach to cybersecurity and compliance will be best equipped to navigate the complexities and succeed in the face of future challenges.Want to learn more? Check out SAP Cloud ERP Security and Compliance.

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In this photo illustration, the logo of TikTok is displayed on a smartphone screen with US national flags in the background on January 4, 2025. Wang Gang/VCGGetty ImagesBy Nik PopliJanuary 9, 2025 7:00 AM ESTThe fate of TikTok in the United States will soon be in the hands of the Supreme Court, as the Justices hear oral arguments Friday over a law that could shut down the popular social media platform.At issue is the constitutionality of legislation passed by Congress and signed into federal law in April 2024 that could force TikToks Chinese owners to sell the app to a U.S. company or face an outright ban in the country. The law sets a Jan. 19 deadline for TikToks sale, citing national security concerns about the app's foreign ownership and potential influence over American users.With over 170 million users in the U.S., TikTok has become a cultural juggernaut, influencing everything from political discourse to entertainment trends. But the government argues that the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, poses a national security risk, particularly over the potential for Chinese influence on the platforms algorithms and access to sensitive data.The Supreme Court agreed to expedite the case, though its unclear how soon a decision might come. Legal experts say the case is complicated because it pits the governments national security concerns against the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, share information, and engage in political discourse. If the Court upholds the law, it will almost certainly do so on relatively narrow grounds, says Alan Rozenshtein, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. It might not tell us a lot about social media regulation generally.The Biden Administration, defending the law, argues that the government has the constitutional authority to regulate foreign-owned entities that may pose a threat to national security. The Administration asserts that TikToks Chinese ownership provides a potential gateway for the Chinese government to access vast amounts of data on American citizens, possibly leveraging the platform for covert influence operations. In its Supreme Court brief, the Justice Department contends that the law does not restrict speech but addresses the specific issue of foreign control over a vital communication platform.By contrast, TikToks legal team and a coalition of app users argue that the law violates the First Amendment, which protects free speech. They assert that TikToks algorithms and editorial choices are inherently expressive, shaping the content that millions of Americans consume every day. TikTok, in its brief, emphasized that the government hasnt furnished concrete evidence that ByteDance has manipulated content or censored users at the direction of the Chinese government. The company argues that simply requiring disclosure of foreign ownership would be a far less restrictive way of addressing national security concerns, without resorting to a full ban.The case presents novel questions about the intersection of national security, foreign influence, and free speech in the digital age. Rarely, if ever, has the Court confronted a free-speech case that matters to so many people, a brief filed on behalf of TikTok creators reads.The legal battle over TikTok has attracted unusual attention due to its political and cultural significance. Congress passed the law that would force a sale in April with bipartisan support as lawmakers from both parties have been uneasy over the apps ties to China. But TikTok has fought the law at every turn, arguing that the U.S. government is overstepping its bounds by attempting to regulate foreign ownership of a private company.In December, a federal appeals court upheld the law, ruling that the government has a national security interest in regulating TikTok in the U.S.The case also finds itself intertwined with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office just one day after the law is set to go into effect. Trump, who has offered inconsistent views on TikTok in the past, has recently expressed an interest in saving the platform. In late December, Trump filed an unusual amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to delay its decision until after his inauguration, suggesting he could broker a resolution between TikTok and Congress once in office. The brief, submitted by John Sauer, the lawyer Trump has nominated for solicitor general, refers to Trump as one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history.This unfortunate timing, his brief said, interferes with President Trumps ability to manage the United States foreign policy and to pursue a resolution to both protect national security and save a social-media platform that provides a popular vehicle for 170 million Americans to exercise their core First Amendment rights.Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at Mar-a-Lago last month. Hours before that meeting, Trump said he has a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because he made gains with young voters in the presidential election. And there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it.While Trumps brief has garnered attention, the Courts focus will likely remain on the core constitutional issues at stake, says Rozenshtein. Supreme Court Justices throughout history do not want to antagonize the President unnecessarily, he says, but at the same time, what Trump is asking for is lawlessThere's no basis in law for the court to delay a duly enacted law for some indeterminate amount of time so as to give the President the ability to do something unspecified.While its difficult to predict how the Court will rule, its involvement signals that the Justices may have reservations about the laws impact on free speech. Last year, the Court signaled social media platforms have the same First Amendment rights as newspapers and other publishers, and TikToks defenders argue that the apps role in free speech is similar to traditional media outlets.Should ByteDance be forced to sell TikTok to an American company, a number of potential options could quickly emerge. Project Liberty, founded by billionaire Frank McCourt, says it has pulled together a consortium of investors interested in pursuing a "peoples bid" for TikTok, including billionaire and Shark Tank host Kevin OLeary. A sale could be worth $20 billion to $100 billion, depending on how the U.S. part of TikTok is split from its parent company. (TikTok employs roughly 7,000 people in the U.S.)More Must-Reads from TIMEHow Canada Fell Out of Love With TrudeauTrump Is Treating the Globe Like a Monopoly BoardBad Bunny On Heartbreak and New AlbumSee Photos of Devastating Palisades Fire in California10 Boundaries Therapists Want You to Set in the New YearThe Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise HarderNicole Kidman Is a Pure Pleasure to Watch in BabygirlColumn: Jimmy Carters Global Legacy Was Moral ClarityWrite to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com

What just happened? In a surprise move for the ordinarily cautious Japanese automaker, Toyota is expanding into rocketry. The investment reflects Toyota's vision of becoming a comprehensive mobility company addressing transportation needs on land, sea, air, and even space. Toyota's chairman Akio Toyoda made the announcement at CES 2025 when he introduced the concept of "invention by kakezan" or "invention by multiplication," referring to the potential that emerges from collaborative efforts."When it comes to what's possible when you work together, the sky's the limit," Toyoda said, before revealing the company's interest in rockets. "The future of mobility shouldn't be limited to just Earth or just one car company," he added, in what appeared to be a subtle reference to Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk's involvement with SpaceX.Toyota is partnering with Interstellar Technologies, a private Japanese spaceflight company, for its space ambitions. The automaker has invested 7 billion yen (approximately $44.3 million) into Interstellar Technologies through its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota.Interstellar Technologies aims to mass-produce lightweight rockets and compete in the growing commercial space industry. The collaboration seeks to leverage Toyota's automotive expertise, particularly its production methods, to transform rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable process.This is not Toyota's first space-related business endeavor. The company has been working with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) since 2019 on developing a lunar rover for NASA's Artemis program. This rover is designed to allow astronauts to explore the lunar surface for extended periods without spacesuits.Hajime Kumabe, CEO of Woven by Toyota, explained the rationale behind the company's most recent space venture. "This is another way to expand mobility in land, sea and air. Our craftsmanship expertise will be an asset to Interstellar's rocket manufacturing," he said. // Related StoriesKumabe elaborated on the connection between space technology and terrestrial innovation in an interview with TechCrunch. "When you think about cars that will be constantly moving, you need to have appropriate telecommunications. This means that the communication should not be interrupted, disrupted, and that seamless communication that is achieved."While Toyota's entry into the space sector is ambitious, it faces significant challenges. Japan's space industry lags behind global leaders, with only three successful launches in 2023. The country aims to increase this to 30 annual launches by the early 2030s, a goal that requires substantial growth and innovation.Moreover, the global space industry is highly competitive, dominated by established players like SpaceX. Japan's geography also poses challenges for building extensive launch facilities, as evidenced by recent setbacks in the country's commercial space efforts.

Cutting corners: Telegram is now actively collaborating with U.S. agencies to provide IP addresses, phone numbers, and other critical information for user identification. According to data revealed in a recent report, the instant messaging platform fulfilled 900 data requests from Washington, impacting a total of 2,253 individual users on the network. Once known as a safe haven for cybercriminals and white supremacists, Telegram appears to be transitioning into a more law-abiding platform. Recent data unveiled by 404 Media confirm this abrupt shift, with U.S. authorities accounting for the majority of user identification requests.The number of fulfilled data requests surged during the last quarter of 2024, as revealed by Telegram's transparency bot. Between January 1 and September 30, the company responded to only 14 requests concerning 108 users. However, the majority of requests came between October and December, and Telegram appeared eager to comply.Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities this summer and was only released after paying a 5 million fine and pledging to cooperate with French authorities. Shortly after the incident, Telegram revised its policies and terms of service, stating that it would promptly disclose users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities when required.The messaging platform's latest quarterly transparency report seems to confirm the effectiveness of these policy changes.Telegram now has a dedicated team of moderators tasked with addressing crime-related issues on the platform. This team utilizes AI tools to identify illegal content and illicit behavior, while regular users are encouraged to report any unlawful activity they encounter on the service. // Related StoriesFollowing Durov's arrest, many notorious criminals hosting private chats on Telegram announced they would leave the platform for good. As the recent Europol investigation into "Ghost" illustrates, no messaging platform is private enough for managing organized crime syndicates or other illegal operations.Durov recently emphasized that the overwhelming majority of Telegram users are not involved in criminal activities. However, with billions of users worldwide, even a very small fraction (e.g., 0.001%) engaged in cybercrime or law violations represents a significant problem. According to a recent analysis, drug dealers, terrorist organizations, and other notorious groups have shown a particular preference for Telegram chats.

New Line CinemaWhen the CompanionIris is an android designed as the perfect girlfriend for Josh, played by Jack Quaid. After jailbreaking his sex bot, Jack experiences a weekend from hell with friends at a secluded cabin. Iris is somehow in the middle of everything, with the footage showing her entire face covered in blood.Recommended VideosThere have been two moments in my life when I was happiest, Iris said in the trailer. The first was the day I met Josh. And the second, the day I killed him.Please enable Javascript to view this contentCompanionsensemble includes Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guilln, and Rupert Friend.Companion | Official TrailerWhat setsCompanion apart from the other android-gone-bad movies i.e. M3GAn is how the robot, not the human, becomes who audiences root for after the breakup. Its artificial intelligence gone right. I love how the character with the most humanity is the robot in this story, Quaid told EW. Its such a cool turn on several genres.RelatedCompanionis written and directed by Drew Hancock. In that same interview with EW, Hancock describedCompanionas a movie about self-discovery and a breakup movie about this woman finding empowerment through discovery of self.The creative team behind Barbarianincluding writer-director Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules, and J.D. Lifshitz are producingCompanion for New Line Cinema.Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner are listed as executive producers.Companionopens in theaters on January 31, 2025.Editors Recommendations