Tech Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option Ambitious plans to transform urban travel with innovative eVTOL tech Published January 10, 2025 11:00am EST close Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option A company is setting the stage for a new era in how we think about commuting and connectivity in our cities. GAC Group, a prominent automotive manufacturer from China, is making waves in the transportation sector with the launch of its new eVTOL brand, Govy.This development reflects GAC's commitment to sustainable air travel, as the company taps into its extensive automotive expertise and innovative technology to create fresh solutions for urban mobility.With Govy, GAC is not just entering the flying car market; it's setting the stage for a new era in how we think about commuting and connectivity in our cities. Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)Introducing the AirJetThe flagship aircraft of Govy, named AirJet, is a revolutionary composite-wing flying car designed to operate as an air taxi for distances of up to 124 miles. This innovative vehicle combines the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of multi-rotor systems, allowing for vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.The AirJet is constructed with over 90% carbon fiber composite materials, making it remarkably lightweight just one-third the weight of a conventional car of similar size. This lightweight design not only enhances performance but also enables longer electric flights.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)Performance and features of the AirJetIn terms of performance, the AirJet is powered by GAC's proprietary electric drive system, which allows it to reach impressive speeds of up to 155 miles per hour. The current model boasts a range exceeding 124 miles, with ambitious plans to extend this range to 249 miles through the development of future solid-state battery technology. Additionally, the AirJet can be recharged in just 30 minutes, ensuring quick turnaround times for operations.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREThe AirJet is designed with both luxury and safety in mind. It features a spacious cabin with a "1+1+X" seating arrangement that provides flexibility for passengers. The aircraft is equipped with autonomous flight capabilities, allowing for seamless operation without human intervention. Safety is paramount in the design of the AirJet. It includes advanced safety systems such as redundant power and control systems, real-time monitoring, and obstacle detection to ensure secure flights. Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)The robo-air taxi systemGAC's vision extends beyond individual aircraft to encompass a comprehensive Robo-AirTaxi system that integrates ground and aerial transport for end-to-end smart mobility solutions. This system will utilize the Govy AirCar for short urban trips under 12.4 miles and the AirJet for mid-range travel up to 124 miles. A key aspect of this vision is the creation of a "40-minute Greater Bay Area life circle" in China, which aims to facilitate efficient intercity travel and significantly reduce transit times and costs. Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)Future plans and commercializationLooking ahead, GAC has outlined an ambitious roadmap for Govy. By 2025, the company aims to achieve airworthiness certification for its flying cars, establish production lines, and begin taking pre-orders from customers. Furthermore, GAC plans to launch demonstration operations in two to three Greater Bay Area cities of China by 2027. Flagship aircraft of named AirJet. (Govy)Kurt's key takeawaysWith the introduction of Govy and its flagship AirJet, GAC Group is positioning itself at the forefront of urban aerial transportation. By combining innovative technology with a comprehensive ecosystem approach, GAC aims to transform urban mobility into something smarter, safer, and more sustainable. As we move toward a future where aerial vehicles become an integral part of our transportation networks, GAC's initiatives could play a pivotal role in shaping how we navigate our cities and connect with one another.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWould you feel comfortable using flying cars like the Govy AirJet for your daily commute, and why or why not? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

Security supplier Ivanti has once again found itself at the centre of an expanding series of breaches after it emerged that two freshly disclosed vulnerabilities in a number of its products are likely being exploited by China-backed threat actors.The vulnerabilities in question which are designated CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283 affect Ivantis Connect Secure, Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA gateway products.Exploitation of the first enables a threat actor to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), and exploitation of the second enables a locally authenticated attacker to escalate their privileges.CVE-2025-0282 is officially a zero-day, and has already been added to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencys (CISAs) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalogue. In the UK, a spokesperson for the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said: The NCSC is working to fully understand the UK impact and investigating cases of active exploitation affecting UK networks.In the real world, Ivanti said, a limited number of users of its Connect Secure appliances have been affected by CVE-2025-0282 as of Thursday 9 January 2025. However, no users of Policy Secure or ZTA gateways have been impacted, and as of 9 January, there was no conclusive evidence that CVE-2025-0283 had been exploited at all.A patch is now available for both CVEs in Connect Secure, but for now, they both remain unpatched in Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA, with a fix not expected until 21 January.An Ivanti spokesperson said: We continue to work closely with affected customers, external security partners, and law enforcement agencies as we respond to this threat. We strongly advise all customers to closely monitor their internal and external ICT as a part of a robust and layered approach to cyber security to ensure the integrity and security of the entire network infrastructure.We have made additional resources and support teams available to assist customers in implementing the patch and addressing any concerns.Thank you to our customers and security partners for their engagement and support, which enabled our swift detection and response to this issue, they added. We remain committed to continuously improving our products and processes through collaboration and transparency.This incident serves as areminder of the importance of continuous monitoring and proactive and layered security measures, particularly for edge devices (such as VPNs) which provide an essential service as the initial access point to a corporate network but which are also highly appealing to attackers.According to Google Clouds Mandiant, which has been working alongside Ivanti on investigation and remediation, in at least one instance, a threat actor has managed to use the flaws to deploy elements of the SPAWN malware ecosystem, including SPAWNMOLE, a tunneller, and SPAWNSNAIL, an SSH backdoor.Mandiants researchers said use of these malwares following the targeting of Ivanti products has been attributed to the UNC5337 threat activity cluster, which is linked to UNC5221, a suspected China-nexus espionage group that is known to have exploited other Ivanti vulnerabilities in early 2024.Writing on LinkedIn, Mandiant chief technology officer Charles Carmakal described UNC5221s latest campaign as developing and still under analysis, and hinted that there may be other threat actors in the mix. Describing a potential mass exploitation scenario, he urged Ivanti users to prioritise applying the new patches immediately.However, he warned, this process may not be without risk. The threat actor implemented a novel technique to trick administrators into thinking theyve successfully upgraded a system, he wrote.The threat actor deployed malware which blocks legitimate system upgrades while simultaneously displaying a fake upgrade progress bar. This creates a convincing facade of a successful update, when in reality, the malware silently prevents the actual upgrade from taking place. Some organisations may assume theyve addressed the vulnerability when they actually havent.He added that the attackers may also have fiddled with Ivantis on-board Integrity Checker Tool designed to help users identify compromises to hide evidence of their malwares presence.Benjamin Harris, CEO of WatchTowr, an attack surface management specialist, urged Ivanti users to pay close attention to the latest developments.Our concern is significant as this has all the hallmarks of APT usage of a zero-day against a mission-critical appliance, he said. It also resembles the behaviour and drama circulating Ivanti products that we as an industry saw in January 2024, and we can only hope that Ivanti has learned from that experience with regard to actioning an effective response.Harris added that the lack of patches across the full affected product stack should be an additional concern.Ivanti Connect Secure users have a patch available, but once again patches for other affected appliances like Ivantis Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA gateways are left waiting three weeks for a patch. Users of these products should not hesitate these appliances should be pulled offline until patches are available, he said.WatchTowr client or not we urge everyone to please take this seriously. Throw your vulnerability SLAs into the proverbial wind in situations like this, they are no longer relevant and the difference between a rapid response, and a response in hours, could be the difference between your organisation calling your cyber insurer or not.Read more about Chinese threat activityNine months after its malicious botnet comprising legacy routers was disrupted by the Americans, Chinese APT Volt Typhoon is rebuilding and presents as persistent a threat as ever.Following the Salt Typhoon attacks, CISA offers advice to 'highly targeted' individuals, such as using end-to-end encryption and moving away from purely SMS-based MFA.US government agencies confirmed Wall Street Journal reports that China-backed threat actors breached telecommunication providers and access data for law enforcement requests.

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Alexander Sikov/Getty ImagesVirtual private networks are no longer just for tech enthusiasts and privacy buffs -- they've become an essential tool for navigating a more restricted internet. VPNs offer a lifeline to digital freedom and security, from bypassing censorship to securing data from prying eyes. In the US, legislation in several states has blocked adult websites orplacedthem behind strict age gates. Regional policies limit access to various types of content, including streaming services and political materials. As more sites and services become geographically restricted, more individuals are using VPNs to bypass these blocks, protect their digital freedoms, and safeguard their data. Beyond unblocking adult websites or region-locked media, many users worry about government surveillance, data retention laws, and the sale of personal browsing data by ISPs. A VPN addresses these privacy risks by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address. However, a VPN alone may not provide a comprehensive solution for network security or privacy concerns. To truly safeguard your data and enhance network privacy, combining a VPN with robust protocols like WireGuard and integrating them into advanced hardware setups (such as Firewalla and others mentioned below) can make a significant difference. Also: How AI will transform cybersecurity in 2025 - and supercharge cybercrimeThis guide outlines how to pair the open-source WireGuard protocol with Proton VPN, a Swiss-based provider celebrated for its strong privacy policies, and to integrate them into router-based setups for entire-network coverage. I'll also explore advanced techniques like policy-based routing, IP passthrough, zero-trust segmentation, and even building your firewall router on Linux or FreeBSD. Understanding VPN protocols and WireGuard Many commercial VPNs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc.) rely on proprietary protocols that often lock users into specific apps. For example, NordVPN'sNordLynx protocol is based on WireGuard but deviates from the standard implementation. It does not use standard WireGuard .conf files for direct use on routers. Instead, NordVPN (and ExpressVPN) employs the older OpenVPN protocol for router configurations, which is less performant and more complex to set up. In contrast, WireGuard provides a refreshing alternative with an open-source design, a tight codebase (4,000 lines total), and notably high performance. Its modern cryptographic methods and lean architecture result in lower latency and faster speeds than legacy protocols like OpenVPN or IPSec, making it an excellent fit for bypassing region locks, streaming content, or engaging in latency-sensitive tasks like gaming. Example of a simple WireGuard configuration (.conf) file created by Proton VPN's download portal. Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNETWireGuard's key management is also straightforward and highly efficient. Each peer -- whether a router, laptop, or smartphone -- is assigned a public/private key pair, eliminating the need to manage complex certificates. This simplified design reduces the overall attack surface and eases auditing, as fewer lines of code typically mean fewer potential vulnerabilities. Notably, you can install WireGuard on a router (rather than on each device in your network), allowing all network traffic to pass through the secure tunnel without managing separate VPN clients or profiles on individual computers or mobile devices. This router-based approach is especially valuable for environments where multiple devices -- from personal laptops to IoT gadgets -- must be secured, as it centralizes the VPN configuration and simplifies network-wide encryption. Legal and ethical disclaimer Using VPNs to bypass regional blocks or consume restricted content may be unlawful in certain jurisdictions. VPNs bolster privacy but do not guarantee total anonymity. If you evade local laws concerning adult content, abortion information, or other regulated material, understand there may be legal consequences. Always research your VPN provider's logging policies -- some free solutions log user data or inject malware, compromising rather than enhancing user privacy. WireGuard VPN providers Although this article primarily showcases Proton VPN for its transparent WireGuard .conf files (no proprietary lock-in), strong no-log policy, and free vs. paid plan structure, many other reputable VPN providers offer WireGuard configuration files for router-based setups. These include: Mullvad An independent, Swedish-based VPN service run by Mullvad VPN AB. Mullvad is praised for its no-email registration, strict no-logs policy, and the option to pay anonymously in cash or cryptocurrency.CyberGhost Part of Kape Technologies, which owns ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access (PIA), and ZenMate. CyberGhost is known for specialized servers (streaming, torrenting) and user-friendly apps.Private Internet Access (PIA) Another Kape Technologies brand, recognized for its large server network, advanced configurations like split tunneling, and its built-in ad/malware blocker ("PIA MACE").Surfshark Now under the Nord Security umbrella (following a 2022 merger), Surfshark is popular for unlimited device connections, ad/malware blocking ("CleanWeb"), and relatively budget-friendly pricing.Many of these services let you select a server in their portal or app and generate a .conf file for WireGuard, which you can then import into your router. The basic steps -- choosing a region, downloading the configuration, and applying it -- are similar to those we'll follow with Proton VPN below. Why Proton VPN? Proton VPN was founded in 2017 by the team behind Proton Mail, the world's largest secure email service. Operated under the Swiss-based, non-profitProton Foundation, Proton VPN prioritizes user privacy over profit-driven motives, similar to theSignalmessaging service. Its structure ensures that no shareholders or external investors influence its mission, maintaining a focus on privacy and security.Proton generates revenue through paid subscription plans to sustain its services, but it remains a not-for-profit organization governed by the Proton Foundation. This unique approach allows Proton to regularly publish transparency reports, invest in independent security research, and avoid corporate ownership by large VPN conglomerates. Proton VPN is a compelling choice for users seeking privacy-first, router-friendly configurations. Even on the free tier, Proton VPN delivers reliable and fast connections. Its focus on privacy extends to its router-friendly WireGuard configurations, which are transparent and free of proprietary lock-in. Proton VPN's tiered Free and Paid plans cater to a broad range of needs.PlanFreePaidServer Locations 35 countries (limited) 110 countries (city-level selection) Speed Decent, not guaranteed Often near max ISP speeds, priority servers Advanced Features Basic NetShield (ad block) Full NetShield, multi-hop, Secure Core Devices 1 device 10+ devices (tier-dependent) Performance ~5070% of ISP bandwidth Potentially close to full ISP bandwidth Step-by-Step: Using WireGuard on Proton VPN Step 1: Create a Proton VPN account Visit ProtonVPN.com and click Get Proton VPN Free.Choose a Free or Paid plan, depending on your needs.Verify your account via email.Log in to your Proton VPN dashboard once your account is confirmed. Proton VPN's download portal. Jason Perlow/ZDNET Step 2: Generate your WireGuard configuration Go to Downloads (or the WireGuard Configuration section) in your Proton VPN dashboard.Enter a descriptive name for your configuration in the "Device/certificate name" field, such as "ZDNET Test Router."Choose Router (or whichever platform you're setting up).Configure NetShield (ad/malware blocker) by selecting the desired filter level, or leave it off if you prefer.(Optional) Enable NAT/PMP (for port forwarding) or Moderate NAT based on your networking needs.(Optional) Check "VPN Accelerator" to improve speeds, if supported.Pick a standard server or region. Proton VPN may also auto-select the best server based on load.Click Create (or "Download") to generate and save the .conf file. Many WireGuard-compatible routers, such as the Firewalla Purple and Gold series, allow direct import of WireGuard .conf files generated by services such as Proton VPN. Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET Step 3: Configure your router Log in to your router's admin interface (commonly accessed via 192.168.x.x).Navigate to the VPN / WireGuard settings section.Import or Paste the Proton VPN .conf file you downloaded. Some routers let you upload the file directly; others might require copying the keys, peer settings, and endpoint details manually.Save your changes and enable the WireGuard interface or tunnel. Step 4: Enable IP Passthrough or Bridge Mode (if needed) If your ISP modem also acts as a router (e.g., AT&T BGW-320, Arris, etc.), you risk double NAT (Network Address Translation) unless you enable "Bridge Mode" or "IP Passthrough." This configuration ensures your custom router (Firewalla, OpenWRT, or another) receives a public IP directly, managing NAT independently. Access the ISP gateway's admin interface (often 192.168.1.254 or 192.168.0.1).Locate Bridge Mode or IP Passthrough in the advanced settings.Assign the MAC address of your router as the passthrough device.Save and reboot both devices. Step 5: Verify your connection Check your public IP at ipinfo.io. It should show Proton VPN's server location. Speedtest.net will also display your IP configuration.(Optional) Run a ping or traceroute to confirm stable routing.All traffic on your network should now traverse the WireGuard tunnel. Which routers support WireGuard? Many router manufacturers are adding native WireGuard support to their devices. Asus, Netgear, and Linksys regularly include WireGuard in their firmware updates, especially for mid-to-high-end models. Open-source firmware platforms like OpenWRT also offer extensive support, making them an excellent choice for advanced users. Other router options GL.iNet OpenWRT-based routers come pre-loaded with WireGuard, making them ideal travel VPN routers. OpenWRT One, developed by the Software Freedom Conservancy and Banana Pi, is a $89 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router (available from Amazon fully assembled for US and EU power supplies) with full OpenWRT firmware. It features a 2.5GbE PoE WAN port, an M.2 slot for hardware add-ons, and a hardware switch to prevent bricking by toggling between NOR and NAND memory. Because it's standard OpenWRT, you can access thousands of packages (including WireGuard) and frequent security updates. Firewalla Purple and Gold series devices are widely praised for their simple configuration, high performance, and mobile app. Its newAP7 Wi-Fi 7 access pointallows zero-trust segmentation, meaning you can isolate IoT gadgets on separate networks to minimize the impact if one device is compromised. Firewalla routers also offer multiple VPN profiles, letting you fine-tune which devices or users tunnel through WireGuard. If you have enterprise-level or advanced requirements, consider a Firewalla Gold Pro, Ubiquiti Dream Machine, Mikrotik, OPNSense, or Netgate device for robust VLAN configurations, advanced QoS, and large-scale LAN deployments. Troubleshooting and FAQ Even with WireGuard's simplicity, a few issues may arise: Handshake failure: Check that your public/private keys match Proton VPN's settings. Ensure the router's clock is accurate, as major time differences break WireGuard's cryptographic handshake.DNS leaks: Your real location is exposed if DNS requests still go to your ISP. Update your router's DNS to Proton VPN's resolvers and validate at dnsleaktest.com.Policy-based routing: If you want to use the VPN only for specific devices or domains (e.g. streaming boxes that need local region access), explore split tunneling or "policy-based routing" in your router firmware (Firewalla, OpenWRT, OPNsense, etc.).Wi-Fi performance: Upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 or adding multiple access points can alleviate coverage gaps. However, your overall VPN speed also depends on your router's CPU speed for WireGuard encryption.General security tips: Stick to reputable VPNs like Proton VPN, avoid free apps, and keep firmware updated. Router-based VPN setups typically offer better consistency than phone-based VPN apps. Show more Advanced tips and security best practices Key rotation: Change your WireGuard keys periodically to reduce the chance of compromised credentials over time. Proton issues profiles that are valid for one year until a new profile import is required.Hardware constraints: Lower-power routers (~700 MHz single-core) might cap out at ~100 Mbps for WireGuard, while dual-core ARM or x86 at 1.4+ GHz CPUs on these devices can handle hundreds of Mbps or more. (Firewalla Gold Pro can handle 2Gbps WireGuard connections.)Kill switch/fail-closed: In advanced firewall OSes (pfSense, OPNsense), you can configure firewall rules that drop all traffic if the VPN goes down, preventing accidental leaks.Zero-trust segmentation: Isolate IoT or guest devices on separate SSIDs/VLANs. If a device is breached, attackers can't easily pivot across the rest of your network. Building your WireGuard-compatible firewall router on Linux or FreeBSD For advanced users, building a WireGuard-compatible firewall router using open-source platforms like Linux or FreeBSD offers near-limitless customization. Solutions such as OPNsense and pfSense (FreeBSD-based) or OpenWRT and IPFire (Linux-based) provide robust options for integrating WireGuard at the OS level. These platforms allow for refined firewall rules, VLAN management, bandwidth shaping, and multi-WAN failover. While setup requires more technical expertise and hardware compatibility considerations, the payoff is unmatched control over advanced routing and security features. Next steps After you've set up WireGuard on a router via Proton VPN: Explore multi-hop/secure core: Proton VPN's paid plans offer layered routing for heightened privacy.Check WAN failover: If your router supports dual WAN or cellular backup, set up automatic failover so your VPN reconnects if one link drops.Refine policy-based routing: Split tunneling allows selective encryption, perfect for devices that need local content or minimal latency (e.g. gaming consoles).Self-host WireGuard: Platforms like AWS Lightsail, Linode, or DigitalOcean let you build your own VPN server, cutting out third-party operators entirely.Intrusion detection: Tools like Suricata or Snort on OPNsense or pfSense can monitor and block suspicious traffic in real time. The increasing need for router-based VPNs Growing geoblocks, censorship laws, and privacy concerns have made VPNs indispensable for many users. WireGuard stands out with its speed, simplicity, and open-source ethos. Proton VPN offers a robust, privacy-centric VPN that's straightforward to deploy on a wide range of routers, including Firewalla's Gold Series/AP7 for zero-trust segmentation or OpenWRT One for budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 performance. Also:How we test VPNs in 2025With proper planning, you can maintain the freedom to access geo-blocked content and the security to navigate the modern web safely. Security

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The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum cleaner drew crowds with its built-in arm that can pick up and ... [+] move objectsRoborockAs CES 2025 in Las Vegas closes its doors, its cavernous halls will soon be emptied of the stands and demo booths that drew in more than 150,000 visitors and members of the press from around the globe. Showcasing tech advances that could reshape consumer electronics throughout the year, this year's show highlighted particularly significant developments in display technology, AI-powered computing and home automation. Heres a round-up of some of the most influential products and key trends from this years show.Next-Generation DisplaysThe LG G5 introduces the company's four stack OLED panel to produce an even brighter image.LIM TAE JOON The display segment saw significant advances in panel technology and processing capabilities. One of the most prominent announcements this week was LG's G5 OLED TV, which abandons the previously favored Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology in favor of an innovative four-stack OLED panel design. This architectural change delivers a 40% brightness increase over the previous G4, with the crucial distinction that this improvement applies to full-screen content rather than just HDR highlights.By stacking four OLED panels together, the G5 is able to provide a noticeably brighter viewing experience for consumers an area in which OLED has traditionally struggled with compared to alternative Mini LED panel TVs. AI, too, has been a prominent part of the TV announcements at CES 2025, with the G5's new Alpha 11 Gen 2 processor providing AI-enhanced upscaling and 11.1.2 surround sound processing, while gaming capabilities have been enhanced with a 165Hz refresh rate, up from the previous 144Hz.Competing for attention in the premium display space, Hisense also unveiled the 116UX TriChroma Mini LED TV, with its innovative RGB Local Dimming Technology. This system employs specialized lenses that individually respond to red, green and blue-colored LEDs, enabling much more precise color control. Elsewhere, TCL's QM6K range brings Mini LED technology to more accessible price points, starting at $999 for the 65-inch model, with the two largest sizes featuring a specialized matte finish for glare reduction.Computing And AI IntegrationNvidia's RTX 5090 GPU offers unprecedented rendering power for consumers.Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe computing segment demonstrated how AI is continuing its integration across different device categories. Nvidia's Project Digits, starting at $3,000, represents a significant milestone in democratizing AI development. Built on the companys Grace Blackwell architecture, this compact system incorporates 92 billion transistors and delivers 3,352 trillion AI operations per second (TOPS). This performance level enables AI researchers and developers to work with large language models directly on their desktops rather than relying solely on cloud infrastructure.Read More: Nvidias Packed CES 2025 Keynote: Gaming, Robots, Self-Driving Cars And Personal AI SupercomputersThis AI acceleration extends to gaming hardware too, with Nvidia's powerful RTX 50-series GPUs taking center stage during the companys CES 2025 keynote. The flagship RTX 5090 introduces neural shaders and advanced ray tracing capabilities, promising up to double the performance of its predecessor through a combination of hardware improvements and DLSS 4 frame generation technology. The GPU's 3,352 TOPS of AI computing power also enables new features like autonomous game character personalities through next-gen Nvidia ACE technology.Form Factor InnovationThe Asus Zenbook A14 weighs under 1kg, thanks to an ultralight "Ceraluminum" chassis.AsusThis year, several manufacturers pushed the boundaries of traditional device design. Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, for example, introduces a rollable screen that expands vertically from 14 inches to 16.7 inches. The display responds to both physical button controls and gesture inputs, enabling users to adjust screen size by raising or lowering their palms. This innovation in display technology allows for enhanced multitasking capabilities while maintaining portability, though it will come at a cost $3,499, to be precise.In the ultraportable category, Asus's Zenbook A14 achieves an impressive blend of form and function, thanks to its innovative materials and design. Weighing under a kilogram thanks to its "Ceraluminum" chassis, the laptop combines Qualcomm's Snapdragon X silicon with a 14-inch OLED panel to deliver an impressive claimed battery life of up to 32 hours. It also provides a respectable number of connectivity options given its svelte form factor, including dual USB4 ports and HDMI 2.1.Smart Home And Health InnovationThis years show demonstrated significant advances in both home automation and health monitoring technology, with devices becoming more capable of complex physical interactions and health analysis.In the robotics space, the Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum cleaner represents a leap forward in automated home assistance. Its OmniGrip Mechanical Arm a sophisticated five-axis system thats built into the body of the robot vacuum itself can identify and lift objects up to 300g. Demos included the Z70 lifting socks out of the way so that cleaning routes could be kept clear. Beyond simple vacuum capabilities, the system also employs AI-driven object recognition to handle household items appropriately and includes pet detection features that modify its behavior around animals.On the health front, Withings introduced Omnia, a smart mirror concept that integrates health monitoring into daily routines. The system combines visual analysis with environmental sensors to track various health metrics, from posture to skin health offering a glimpse of how everyday objects might evolve to support wellness monitoring while blending in with their surroundings.The health monitoring landscape also saw particularly interesting developments with new over-the-counter glucose monitors. Dexcom's device targets Type 2 diabetes patients with a 30-day continuous monitoring system through an arm-mounted sensor connected to a smartphone app. Abbott's Lingo device takes a different approach, focusing on general wellness by tracking glucose responses to provide insights into eating habits, stress levels and exercise effects.In the mobile power space, Swippitt's Instant Power System introduces an innovative approach to device charging. The system combines a toaster-like hub that contains five pre-charged batteries with a specialized phone case, enabling near-instant power restoration through battery swapping rather than traditional charging. This two-second swap system could fundamentally change how users manage device power throughout their day.Lastly, Circular's second-generation smart ring advances wearable health monitoring with integrated ECG capability and AFib detection. Notably, the company has eliminated the need for physical sizing kits through new digital sizing technology that uses smartphone cameras to determine proper fit a first in the smart ring category.CES 2025 Wrap-UpOverall, CES 2025's innovations indicate an industry increasingly focused on practical AI implementation, novel form factors and enhanced automation capabilities. The convergence of AI processing power with traditional consumer electronics also points to potentially significant changes in how consumers interact with their devices throughout 2025 though only time will tell how widespread such adoption will be.

ToplineThe Supreme Court signaled in oral arguments Friday that it may uphold the federal ban on TikTok, potentially leaving it up to President-elect Donald Trump to try and keep the app legal once he takes office but the president-elect has limited options if the law is upheld, and any attempts to stop it could be challenged in court.President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort on December 16 in ... [+] Palm Beach, Florida.Getty ImagesKey FactsTrump opposes the TikTok ban taking effect, his lawyers said in a recent court filing, and the president-elect asked, Why would I want to get rid of TikTok? on Truth Social last week, posting a graphic that boasted his popularity on the platform and the billions of views his official accounts and hashtags associated with him have garnered.The lawwhich prohibits U.S. app stores from hosting TikTok unless Chinese parent company ByteDance divests from itis scheduled to take effect one day before Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, so Trump has also asked the Supreme Court to stop the law from taking effect until after he takes office, arguing he wants time to resolve the ban before it can take effect.Its unclear if the Supreme Court will comply with that request, and if the court upholds the law and it takes effect by the time Trump is inaugurated, hell have limited options on blocking it.The law empowers the president to pause the ban for 90 days if TikTok shows its in the process of separating from ByteDance, so Trump could pause it once he takes officethough without actual evidence showing ByteDance is divesting, Trumps pause may not be legally sound, meaning it could be challenged in court and the ban could take effect anyway.Trump could also similarly just declare TikTok in compliance with the lawregardless of whether or not its actually separated from ByteDanceUniversity of Minnesota law professor Alan Rozenshtein noted, which would keep TikTok legal but similarly leave room for the move to be challenged in court if ByteDance hasnt actually divested.Beyond that, Trump cant do much: He could try to negotiate a deal for TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company so it would properly comply with the law, but if ByteDance isnt willing to sellwhich so far it isntthe ban will stay in effect unless Congress decides to repeal the law.Crucial QuotePresident Trump opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture, and seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office, his lawyer Dean John Sauer wrote in a brief to the Supreme Court.What To Watch ForThe Supreme Court expressed skepticism of TikToks arguments against the ban during oral arguments on Jan. 10, signaling justices could uphold the ban. Its expected the court will quickly rule before the law is due to take effect Jan. 19. Though Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the ban until after his inauguration, he isnt a party in the litigation, and Rozenshtein told CBS News there are no legal grounds for Trump to unilaterally pause the law since hes still a private citizen and isnt actually the president yet. That means theres no guarantee the justices will listen to his request, and its still possible the law could take effect Jan. 19 before Trump takes office.Can Trump Just Not Enforce The Tiktok Ban?Another move Trump could technically make if the TikTok ban takes effect is to say his Justice Department just wont enforce the ban, inviting companies like Apple and Google to leave the app up on its app stores without facing the harsh financial penalties that the law imposes. But thats unlikely to work, as legal experts have noted companies would likely comply with the ban anyway, rather than risk facing penalties if Trump ever changed his mind.Will Bytedance Divest From Tiktok?TikTok and ByteDance so far havent shown any interest in separating, with TikTok arguing in a court filing that doing so is not possible technologically, commercially, or legally. It remains to be seen if the company will change its mind should the Supreme Court uphold the law and it actually take effect, however. Trump could also potentially have an impact on forcing ByteDances hand, as James Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told NPR that China could be persuaded to approve of ByteDance selling TikTok in exchange for Trump backing off his threat of high tariffs on Chinese imports.What Happens If The Tiktok Ban Takes Effect?The full impact of the TikTok ban taking effect is still unclear. The law does not ban Americans from using TikTok and wouldnt wipe it from users phones, but rather bans U.S. app stores and internet service providers from hosting it. That means TikTok may not immediately stop working for its more than 170 million U.S. users. But it would mean that users could not download or update TikTok from Apple or Googles app stores, it would grow obsolete and eventually no longer work. Oracle also wouldnt be allowed to host TikToks U.S. user data, as it does now. It remains to be seen what the effects of that will be in practice: While TikTok said in a court filing that banning internet service providers from hosting the app means the company could no longer provid[e] the services that enable the TikTok platform to function, effectively shutting down TikTok in the United States, Rozenshtein noted to CBS News that TikTok could move its U.S. data servers out of the country, which would keep the app running. Its also still unknown how the ban will affect other parts of TikToks U.S. operations, like the TikTok Shop or paying creators who make money on the platform. Will The Ban Impact Possible Tiktok Alternative Lemon8?Yes, the ban is expected to similarly impact ByteDance-owned apps CapCut and Lemon8.Surprising FactIf the ban does take effect and block TikToks U.S. user data from being hosted by a U.S. company, its possible the data that TikTok already has on its American users could be moved to China, which a Forbes investigation found is what happened when India similarly banned the app. That would actually make it more likely the data could be accessed by the Chinese government, contrary to the federal laws national security goals.Key BackgroundPresident Joe Biden signed the bill requiring TikTok to leave ByteDance or else be banned into law in April, reflecting a bipartisan concern from lawmakers that the app poses a threat to national security. TikTok has long denied any wrongdoing or links to the Chinese government, but Forbes has reported numerous concerns involving the app, including TikTok spying on journalists, promoting Chinese propaganda that criticized U.S. politicians, mishandling user data and tracking sensitive words. The specific evidence the government has for justifying TikToks ban has not been made public, however, and was entirely redacted in court filings. TikTok and creators on the app sued to block the law days after it was enacted, arguing the ban unlawfully infringed on their First Amendment rights. A panel of federal judges sided with the governments argument that the ban was justified due to the national security threat and did not violate TikToks First Amendment rights, given that users can still post on the app if it just separates itself from ByteDance. The court ruled the law as it was enacted is actually a less restrictive way of handling the governments concerns about TikTok, given the fact it still allows the company to operate in the U.S. if ByteDance divests from it. TikTok appealed the case to the Supreme Court after the lower court declined to pause the law from taking effect, and the Supreme Court quickly took it up, scheduling arguments for Jan. 10 but declining to pause the law in the meantime.Further Reading

The 2025 Legion Go FamilyLenovo / Jason EvangelhoTheres always an absolute deluge of exciting announcements coming out of CES. As a result, press normally has to focus on the high-level details and move on, while the smaller details either get skipped or touched on later. Now that the major talking points around the Legion Go 2 and Legion Go S are out there, however, I wanted to circle back and highlight a bunch of interesting information that the Lenovo Legion community team just shared.Most of this info comes courtesy of Lenovo Senior Community Manager Ben Green, who hosted a 2 hour live stream yesterday about all things Legion gaming. Green and his colleague Benjamin Myers, Senior Product Manager at Lenovo, fielded questions from chat, which were predominantly about the 2025 Legion Go family.Before we get into it, Ill lead with something that made a positive impression on me. Myers said hes been constantly funneling feedback from all corners of the Legion community to his global counterparts and key decision makers internally. He expressed that many of the new features (such as VRR, OLED on the Legion Go 2, downscaled native resolution of 1920x1200, improved cooling, improved D-pad, and even the introduction of SteamOS) were heavily influenced by community feedback.Below are all the noteworthy details I gleaned from the live stream, which you can watch in its entirety above.Legion Go 2 + Legion Go S: Display and Driver UpdatesNow that the display is native landscape, it doesnt require a specialized driver. Therefore, Lenovo expects driver updates to be streamlined. Features like AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF2), for example, couldnt be issued directly by AMD because the non-native landscape panel required additional work from Lenovos driver team. Greene acknowledged that more frequent driver updates are an extremely high priority, and Lenovo is actively discussing this with AMD.Legion Go 2 Controller Compatibility and UpgradesThe Legion Go 2s improved and more ergonomic controllers will be available to purchase separately. Additionally, the new controllers feature independent USB-C charging at least in the current prototype. Since the rail design which connects them to the handheld remains the same, this means Legion Go 1 and Legion Go 2 controllers are interchangeable. The exciting thing about this? You could effectively upgrade your original Legion Go with the new controllers for a more comfortable experience.Read More: Todays Massive Switch 2 Leak Reveals Dimensions And Screen SizeD-pads on the Legion Go family have switched to pivot D-pads entirely based on user feedback around fighting games. In a nutshell, this means it should be much more reliable to land inputs like QCB (quarter-circle back) and diagonal commands should be more accurate.Like the original Legion Go, the Legion Go S and Legion Go 2 will have both Hall Effect analog sticks and Hall Effect triggers.Legion Go 2 Cooling, Speakers, Performance, Dual-Boot, Speakers, and Release DateIm going to dump the rest into bullet points since theyre mostly bite-sized but still noteworthy takeaways:Performance for Legion Go S models with the Lenovo-exclusive Ryzen Z2 Go processor should sit somewhere between the Steam Deck and the original Legion Go with its Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor.Modifications were made to the Legion Go 2 cooling system. Myers says its an overall better fan and thermal solution.The Legion Go 2 will have a fingerprint reader, likely integrated into the power button.The Legion Go 2 will have bigger speakers, and the team is actively trying to enhance the overall audio experience. (Lackluster audio was my biggest gripe about the original Legion Go, so this is welcome news.)When asked if users can dual-boot Windows 11 and SteamOS: Most likely, we will never be able to ship a dual-boot [Legion Go] from the factory, but there will be the possibility to load both and set up dual boot.This doesnt come from the live stream, but it warrants mentioning: when asked about more specific release timing for the Legion Go 2, a Lenovo representative on the show floor at CES said we are aiming for [the] second half of 2025.Follow me here at Forbes for all the latest Legion Go 2, Steam Deck, and handheld gaming news and reviews. Happy gaming!

Rumor mill: Multiple sources suggest that a reveal or reviews for the mid-range Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT GPUs could go live in the coming weeks. Additionally, speculation is mounting that AMD may be looking to counter Nvidia's high-end GPU launches by focusing on more competitively priced RDNA 4 offerings. Let's dive into the juiciest rumor from Chiphell: pricing for the RX 9070 XT. According to a post on the forum, AMD might price the reference 9070 XT at $479, with custom third-party models starting around $549. If true, that's a compelling price point for what's expected to be a solid 1440p GPU.Of course, pricing rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt until official confirmation arrives. However, this rumor aligns somewhat with AMD executive Frank Azor's recent (albeit vague) comments in a Spanish interview. Azor hinted that RDNA 4 pricing would range between $300 for budget models and over $1,000 for high-end offerings, steering clear of either extreme.The RDNA 4 series was officially announced at CES 2025 earlier this week. While AMD shared little beyond the new numbering scheme intended to simplify comparisons with competing Nvidia GPUs --it has already generated significant buzz.Beyond pricing, another rumor gaining traction again from Chiphell suggests that AMD has set January 22 as either the review embargo lift date or the official unveiling of the RX 9070 specs. While the rumor specifically mentions the 9070, it's reasonable to assume that both the 9070 and 9070 XT will be part of the reveal.Adding more fuel to the speculation is an Instagram tease from XFX, which used the hashtag #Navi48 the GPU codename for the RX 9070 and hinted at a potential January 24 announcement. // Related StoriesThe conflicting information makes it hard to pin down the exact timeline, but late January seems increasingly likely as the moment we'll get our first proper look at these mid-range RDNA 4 GPUs.As for why AMD may have chosen this timing, the title of Frank Azor's recent interview, as reported by VideoCardz, hinted that AMD is waiting for Nvidia to announce pricing for their own next-gen GPUs. This suggests AMD might price the RX 9070 series in direct reaction to Nvidia's offerings though, of course, this remains in the realm of speculation.

Why it matters: The warnings have proved sadly accurate: 2024 was the hottest year on record, marking the first time that average temperatures exceeded the key target of 1.5C above pre-industrial times. It's a cause for concern, especially as 2023 was also a record hot year. Data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) shows that the average temperature in 2024 was 1.6C higher than in the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900, before humans started burning fossil fuels on large scales. That marks an increase of 0.1C from 2023.The 2015 Paris Agreement, to which most countries have committed, aims to stop average global temperatures from exceeding 1.5C. While this is the first year above that temperature, it does not breach the Agreement's target, which is measured over a decade or two. However, the C3S said each year in the last decade is one of the ten warmest on record, and the situation looks to be worsening. At this rate, the world could be 2.7C warmer than pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.More depressing data from C3S included confirmation that July 22, 2024, was the hottest day in recorded history. It also showed that a record 44% of the planet was affected by strong to extreme heat stress on July 10."There's now an extremely high likelihood that we will overshoot the long-term average of 1.5C in the Paris agreement limit," Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director at C3S, said. "These high global temperatures, coupled with record global atmospheric water vapour levels in 2024, meant unprecedented heatwaves and heavy rainfall events, causing misery for millions of people."C3S director Carlo Buontempo said the warmer temperatures were leading to more extreme climate events, including heatwaves, storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires.Scientists say rapid swings between dry and wet conditions in Los Angeles in recent years, boosted by climate change, has created a huge amount of tinder-dry vegetation that is fuelling the wildfires in the region, where ten people have been killed and hundreds of homes destroyed. // Related StoriesAs reported by Climate Home News, researchers collaborating with the World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central projects said last month that climate change had intensified 26 of the 29 extreme weather events they studied during 2024."The world doesn't need to come up with a magical solution to stop things from getting worse in 2025," said Dr Friederike Otto, at Imperial College London. "We know exactly what we need to do to transition away from fossil fuels, halt deforestation and make societies more resilient."A more recent addition to global carbon emissions is the rise of data centers, which have seen their numbers increase due to the huge demand for cloud services, generative AI, and data storage. They contribute to 1-2% of global carbon emissions, putting them on par with the aviation industry. While companies are looking at other ways of powering and building these facilities, carbon emissions in 2024 are still expected to have set a new record high.