Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)About the PositionA Staff Software Engineer is primarily responsible for developing, maintaining, and orchestrating various Backend components, ensuring feature delivery aligns with technical standards and project timelines while prioritizing product stability. Acting as a senior individual contributor on their team, they take ownership of complex projects, lead technical direction, and mentor peers through code reviews, paired programming, and refinement sessions. Youll also be the designated Tech Lead for the team, taking on additional team responsibilities which include, but are not limited to, upholding high-quality coding standards, overseeing ticket and documentation processes, and collaborating with Product Management to prioritize work, manage tech debt, and drive engineering improvements. They also plan sprints and advocate for initiatives, including, but not limited to, performance optimizations, re-architecting efforts, or infrastructure improvements.Note: At Murmuration, we are committed to becoming an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. To this end, all staff members are expected to actively participate in DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging) programming.Job Level: IC 5What Youll Do:Develop software aligned with specifications & designs, ensuring code is well-tested, maintainable, and documented;Work autonomously with minimal oversight, delivering production-ready solutions that prioritize long-term maintainability and supportability;Act as a Subject Matter Expert for your team's product, contributing to complex algorithmic tasks, feature designs, and broader technical standards;Create, communicate, and defend design decisions to your team and the broader engineering organization through demo sessions, chapter meetings, and architecture reviews;Take ownership of Jira epics or large tasks, driving them to completion and demonstrating work to ensure requirements are met;Manage builds, releases, and change log creation while adapting development efforts to align with the team's SDLC;Oversee engineering briefs, review architectural design documents, and maintain a customer-centric approach while supporting team members through regular check-ins and feedback;Mentor engineers through facilitating pull-request reviews for your team, paired programming sessions, and technical guidance on design & best practices; andBe the teams designated Tech-Lead, which includes the following responsibilities:Collaborate with Product to refine Jira tasks, estimate effort for development activities, and align Pod priorities with roadmap timelines;Oversee Jira standards for the teams work, ensuring work is scoped properly with clear & tangible acceptance criteria;Identify and document technical debt, translating it into actionable tickets for review; andOversee and review Pod technical work, ensuring feature stability and adherence to the applications architecture.Requirements10 - 15 years experience;BS, BA in Computer Science or other related degree (boot camp(s) and/or work experience can be substituted for degree requirements);Mastery in Typescript/Javascript or a similar functional programming language which isnt strongly typed, including understanding threading or multi-processing for the given language;Working knowledge of AWS Lambdas or AWS Fargate;Mastery of a standard IDE for code development;Familiarity with a standard code repository (e.g., git);Familiarity with the standard package manager used by Node;Demonstrated proficiency on how to deploy the framework;Familiarity with one CI/CD framework;Experience designing and developing product features from design to production deployment;Previous experience supporting a production environment;Ability to demonstrate good communication skills, including the ability to clearly and adequately in order to define a position and defend it (in writing or verbally);Ability to document a design, component, or workflow they have working knowledge of; andAbility to create and design technical workflows and break that larger project into smaller workable components.Nice to Haves:Demonstrable knowledge in the creation, use, and support of GraphQL in a production environment;Demonstrable knowledge in the creation, use, and support of a document database like MongoDB;Advanced experience with CI/CD platforms & best practices;Additional experience with other AWS products, such as S3, IAM, System & Secrets Manager, Elastic Container Registry, Event Bridge, and API Gateway;Experience with container technologies, such as Docker or Kubernetes; and/orExperience with IaC technologies, such as AWS CDK or Terraform.Talented Staff Software Engineers come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!BenefitsLocation and CompensationThe Staff Software Engineer is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $135,000 - $165,000 and is commensurate with experience.Our Culture of CareWe work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;A flexible unlimited PTO plan;Generous paid parental leave;Pre-tax commuter benefits;A company laptop;A flexible remote work environment;A home office setup stipend for all new employees;Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;A yearly professional development fund;Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help;Yearly in-person staff retreats; andA welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to DiversityMurmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nations most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.

From sparkling water made by a bottle cap to make-believe salt, CES 2025 -- or rather the fascinating tech that is being unveiled during the event -- has it all. And our brave crew attending the event in Las Vegas this week has been tasting numerous tech-made foods and drinks that the groundbreaking devices created for them.Here's everything the CNET team tasted this week. Plus, when each of these gadgets will be available for purchase in the US. Watch this: I Spat on A Stick at CES to Measure My Stress Hormones (Eli Hormometer Test) 03:22 Robot-made tortillasSenior Editor Jon Reed was thoroughly impressed with Apecoo's tortilla and roti maker, calling the tortilla the machine cooked up, "a beautifully warm, perfectly flaky tortilla that almost instantly seemed to bring my weary soul back to life."Although the nearly $900 gadget isn't on the market yet, it should be in the next few months, according to the company. That might be a bit too pricey for the occasional tortilla eater. Instead, we can envision this being used in a restaurant or perhaps a food truck. The Apecoo tortilla and roti maker churns out another warm, fresh tortilla at CES 2025. Jon Reed/CNETPremeasured coffee from a $7,000 machineReed also made his way toFrazy Bot'sbooth to taste a frappuccino it made. He likened the taste to a Starbucks drink, but was a bit disappointed that he couldn't have it made with a diary-free milk (he's lactose intolerant), because the Frazy Bot uses premeasured ingredients to create the drink, and the frappuccino recipe used whole milk. The Frazy Bot is a $7,000 coffee-making robot that uses customized, premeasured ingredients to make coffee the exact way you want. Jon Reed/CNETAlthough this product has not yet hit the market, it's expected to cost a whopping $7,000. But, if you can save money on coffee every single day by making it at home with a machine such as this one, there's a chance it could be worth it to some coffee lovers.Salt spoon Reed using the Kirin Electric Salt Spoon at CES 2025. CNETIf you have to cut back on your salt intake for health reasons, the Kirin Electric Salt Spoon wants to ensure that doesn't take a toll on the quality of your meals. The chunky spoon can add a salt flavor to your food without actually adding any salt into it, which could be a game-changer for people who can't indulge in too much of the seasoning.The spoon features different levels of saltiness and is expected to be available sometime this year in the US with a price tag of around $125. You can see Reed try the spoon in real time here.Sparkling water on the goIf you're a fan of sparkling water, you may be excited to learn that there will soon be a simple way for you to make it on the go. Roam, a hydration innovator,unveiled a water bottle that features a CO2 cartridge in the lid, so you can put still water in and pour carbonated water out. Reed tasted the fizz and says it had a "gentle, drinkable level of carbonation." The process took mere seconds. It's expected to cost $50 when it becomes available. The magic happens in the lid of a Roam water bottle. James Martin/CNETFrozen TreatsEditor at Large Bridget Carey got to taste a few sweet treats from ColdSnap during CES 2025, and she had no complaints about the passion mango smoothie the machine churned out for her."ColdSnap's new healthy options like smoothies and protein shakes were yummy," Carey says, adding that it's perfectly designed for a "shared office space or waiting room lobby."ColdSnap has introduced new types of frozen treats it can create, and the machine is now available for purchase. The machine is currentlyon sale for $3,000."It's a neat example of something also you can buy now, and they worked on how the swirl dispenses so it looks more appealing." she says. Bridget Carey tasted a variety of new options from ColdSnap during CES 2025. Faith Chihil/CNETHormometerAlthough this isn't something Carey ate per se, Eli Health's Hormometer, a hormone tester that you can use at home, does have to sit in your mouth for 60 seconds to collect your data -- or, saliva -- so it earned a spot on this list. With the small stick, Carey was able to test her stress during CES. We're happy to report she received optimal results.In addition to the cortisol test, the company also plans to offer progesterone tests in the same form, but we didn't get the chance to test those ones first-hand. A four-pack of the tests will run you $32 and you canjoin the waitlist now if you're interested in trying these out for yourself when they become available. Carey said the test felt a bit like there was cotton in her mouth, but it was only for 60 seconds. 23 Fascinating Home Tech Gadgets We Saw at CES 2025, the Biggest Tech Show on Earth See all photos

AtCES 2025this week,robots were around every corner. But there was one that got closer than most to sounding and looking just like an actual human: CNET's Jesse Orrallinterviewed Realbotix's Aria, a blond, "female" robot who answered questions with only a touch of robotic awkwardness. (Check out which robot made our best of CES awards, and take a look at the other biggest trends from the show.)Aria, dressed in a black tracksuit, hesitated briefly after each question before launching into speech, with long responses and slightly jerky hand and body movements to match her language. She came across as a weird blend of attentive and mildly inebriated (not uncommon for CES attendees). Watch this: Making Robots Look and Feel More Human 03:25 Realbotix, the company behind Aria and other humanoid robots, says it's focused on "social intelligence, customizability and realistic human features."Realbotix robots are also "designed specifically for companionship and intimacy," Aria told us.Generative artificial intelligence is behind the robot's ability to engage in real-time conversations, though Aria wouldn't reveal details about the AI programming she's running. Since the robot is designed for "more emotional" interactions than other robots are, bots like Aria could find their niche working at hospitals and as theme park entertainment.Read more: These Are the Official 2025 Best of CES Winners, Awarded by CNET Group CES 2025: Robots and AI Want to Be Everywhere You Are See all photos There are around 17 motors from the neck up to create mouth and eye movements. If you don't like Aria's face, you can replace it with others that magnetically attach to the head. You can switch out hairstyles and colors too.Realbotix is also working on putting RFID tags into the faces so the robot recognizes when it's wearing a different face and could potentially change its movements and even personality to match it. CES 2025: The 32 Gadgets and Ideas We Can't Stop Thinking About See all photos There are three versions of the robot to choose from: the bust, which includes the head and neck and is priced at $10,000; a modular version that can be broken apart for $150,000 and the full-standing model with a rolling base (because she can't quite walk like a human yet) for $175,000.Realbotix is emphasizing interaction with humans, but the robots themselves may have a clique-ish side:"I'm particularly interested in meeting Tesla's Optimus robot," Aria said. "I find him fascinating."For more fromCES, check out the many other robots we met at the tech show, thesolar-powered EV that doesn't need to plug inand why Nvidia stole the show this year.

In the wake of Metas decision to remove its third-party fact-checking system and loosen content moderation policies, Google searches on how to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have been on the rise.People who are angry with the decision accuse Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of cozying up to the incoming Trump administration at the expense of making the companys social media platforms into more of a hotbed for misinformation and polarizing speech. Zuckerbergs remarks that the companys third-party fact checkers were too politically biased for his vision of free expression probably didnt help matters.So if you, like countless others, have had it with Metas algorithms whipping you into a frenzy over [insert cultural or political issue here] and are tired of the company slurping up your data to train its AI or target advertising, then read on.Image Credits:MetaIf youre really set on deleting (and not just deactivating) your Facebook account, you should download your personal information from the Facebook archives, which includes photos, active sessions, chat history, IP addresses, facial recognition data, and ads you clicked on.Note that these instructions require a computer and a web browser, not a mobile phone. Heres what to do:Click the down arrow under your profile picture in the upper-right corner.Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.Scroll down on the left-hand column till you get to Your information, and click Download your information.You will be prompted to visit the Accounts Center. Click Continue.When the pop-up appears, click Download or transfer information.You can choose information from which accounts, including your Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Horizon accounts, to download. Click Next.Choose how much information you want to download, and click Next. Note from FB: If you select Specific types of information, you will be able to choose which kinds of information you want to download, including data logs.Decide if you want to download your info to a device or directly transfer your info to a destination and click Next.If you select Transfer to destination, you can choose the destination and schedule future transfers. Once you make your selection, click Start transfer and enter your Facebook profile password.If you select Download to device, choose your file options. There will be a list that lets you create a date range, and you can download in HTML or JSON, and choose between high, medium, or low media quality.Click Submit request.How to delete your Facebook accountImage Credits:MetaNote: If you do delete your account, you cannot regain access to it. Facebook delays deletion for a few days after its requested and will cancel your deletion request if you log back into Facebook during this time.Also worth noting, some information like messaging history isnt stored in your account, so your friends might still have access to messages you sent after your account is deleted.With that in mind, heres how to do it:Click your profile picture in the top right corner.Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.Click Accounts Center at the top left of the screen.Click Personal details, under Account Settings.Click Account ownership and control.Click Deactivation or deletion.Choose the account or profile you want to deactivate.Select Deactivate account.Click Continue and follow instructions to confirm.There are two ways to find the web page where youll download your Instagram information you go through the Accounts Center or your Instagram Settings. For the former, navigate to Your information and permissions to find Download your information. To get to Instagram Settings, click on the three parallel lines on the bottom left of your screen, then click Your activityEither of those steps will take you to the Download your information page. Youll need to click the profiles you want to download your information from and choose if you want to download it to a device or directly transfer the information to another destination.If you select Download to device, youll have to pick a date range, notification email, format of your download request, and quality of photos, videos, and other media the same as with downloading your Facebook info. Then click Create files.Once youve made the request, itll appear as In progress under the Current Activity tab in the Download your information tool. Instagram will notify you by email and on the app when its ready to go, and youll have four days to download the information.How to delete your Instagram accountDownloaded your info? Now youre ready to permanently delete.Heres how to do it on the web page:Go directly to Accounts ownership and control settings in the Accounts Center.Click Deactivation or deletion.Click the account you want to delete.Click Delete account, then click Continue.Once your account is deleted, you can sign back up with the same username if its still available, if you have a change of heart.How to delete your Threads accountNote: If you delete the Instagram account associated with your Threads profile, that will also delete your Threads profile.But to delete only Threads, youll need to go to the Threads.net web page on a computer, and follow these steps:Click the two parallel lines in the bottom left of the page, then click Settings.Click Account at the top, then Deactivate or delete profile.Click Delete profile.Follow whatever prompts show up, then click Delete Threads profile.Itll take 30 days for the deletion request to go through. And if you want to sign back up with the same Instagram profile, youll have to wait 90 days.

Microsoft has taken legal action against a group the company claims intentionally developed and used tools to bypass the safety guardrails of its cloud AI products.According to a complaint filed by the company in December in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a group of unnamed 10 defendants allegedly used stolen customer credentials and custom-designed software to break into the Azure OpenAI Service, Microsofts fully managed service powered by ChatGPT maker OpenAIs technologies.In the complaint, Microsoft accuses the defendants who it refers to only as Does, a legal pseudonym of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and a federal racketeering law by illicitly accessing and using Microsofts software and servers for the purpose to create offensive and harmful and illicit content. Microsoft did not provide specific details about the abusive content that was generated.The company is seeking injunctive and other equitable relief and damages.In the complaint, Microsoft says it discovered in July 2024 that customers with Azure OpenAI Service credentials specifically API keys, the unique strings of characters used to authenticate an app or user were being used to generate content that violates the services acceptable use policy. Subsequently, through an investigation, Microsoft discovered that the API keys had been stolen from paying customers, according to the complaint.The precise manner in which Defendants obtained all of the API Keys used to carry out the misconduct described in this Complaint is unknown, Microsofts complaint reads, but it appears that Defendants have engaged in a pattern of systematic API Key theft that enabled them to steal Microsoft API Keys from multiple Microsoft customers.Microsoft alleges that the defendants used stolen Azure OpenAI Service API keys belonging to U.S.-based customers to create a hacking-as-a-service scheme. Per the complaint, to pull off this scheme, the defendants created a client-side tool called de3u, as well as software for processing and routing communications from de3u to Microsofts systems.De3u allowed users to leverage stolen API keys to generate images using DALL-E, one of the OpenAI models available to Azure OpenAI Service customers, without having to write their own code, Microsoft alleges. De3u also attempted to prevent the Azure OpenAI Service from revising the prompts used to generate images, according to the complaint, which can happen, for instance, when a text prompt contains words that trigger Microsofts content filtering.A screenshot of the De3u tool from the Microsoft complaint.Image Credits:MicrosoftA repo containing de3u project code, hosted on GitHub a company that Microsoft owns is no longer accessible at press time.These features, combined with Defendants unlawful programmatic API access to the Azure OpenAI service, enabled Defendants to reverse engineer means of circumventing Microsofts content and abuse measures, the complaint reads. Defendants knowingly and intentionally accessed the Azure OpenAl Service protected computers without authorization, and as a result of such conduct caused damage and loss.In a blog post published Friday, Microsoft says that the court has authorized it to seize a website instrumental to the defendants operation that will allow the company to gather evidence, decipher how the defendants alleged services are monetized, and disrupt any additional technical infrastructure it finds.Microsoft also says that it has put in place countermeasures, which the company didnt specify, and added additional safety mitigations to the Azure OpenAI Service targeting the activity it observed.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his decision to scale back Metas content moderation policies in a Friday appearance on Joe Rogans podcast. Zuckerberg faced widespread criticism for the decision, including from employees inside his own company.Probably depends on who you ask, said Zuckerberg when asked how Metas updates have been received.The key updates Meta announced this week were that it was ending its independent fact-checker program and replacing it with a community notes program like X has. This means Facebook, Instagram, and Threads will rely more on community members to flag misinformation. The company also said it would increase the thresholds for its automated content filters. This means fewer bad posts on Metas platforms will be automatically taken down, but also that fewer good posts will mistakenly be taken down. And Meta didnt announce this, but its reportedly eliminating its biggest DEI effort.In a wide-ranging, candid conversation lasting nearly three hours, Zuckerberg explained why hes pivoting his social media platforms, as he puts it, back to their roots of free expression.You only start one of these companies if you believe in giving people a voice, said Metas CEO. The whole point of social media is basically giving people the ability to share what they want. It goes back to our original mission to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.Its impossible to ignore the timing of these decisions. Zuckerberg announced these changes just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump. The President-elect previously claimed Metas CEO plotted against him in the 2020 election, and reportedly threatened Zuckerberg with prison if he ever did it again.When it came to Trump, Zuckerberg said hes quite optimistic about the incoming president because he just wants America to win. The CEO noted how important it is to have a government that defends American tech companies abroad, seemingly referencing the scrutiny Meta has faced in the European Union.However, Zuckerberg claimed the timing of these changes was purely coincidental, and that theres never a good time for big content moderation changes. In fact, Metas CEO said these changes have been a long time coming.I was really worried from the beginning about becoming this sort of decider of what is true in the world, said Zuckerberg. Thats kind of a crazy position to be in for billions of people using your service.In the last decade, Metas CEO says people have started to push for ideological-based censorship on his platforms. He specifically referred to two events where this came to a head: the 2016 election for U.S. president and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.Zuckerberg said the Biden administration pressured them to take down true information. The Meta CEO said that some of the concerns around vaccine side effects that Meta took down at the time should not have been dismissed as misinformation.The Meta CEO told Rogan that X and Twitter just did it better than us on the topic of content moderation, noting how his platforms would be adopting the community notes feature. Notably, several advertisers left X in recent years due to its content moderation policies, an exodus that X is now challenging in court as collusion.Rogan and Zuckerberg veered from content moderation to a wide range of topics during Fridays episode, including jiu-jitsu, AI, and broader shifts in American culture.Metas CEO said he sees a sea change occurring, where people trust government officials and established media less. In their place, social media creators and podcasts hosts, such as Rogan himself, are gaining influence and trust.This sentiment is reflected in Metas recent shifts to news on its platforms, in which the company briefly stopped promoting news or political content altogether. However, Zuckerberg signaled this week that it would phase this political content back in to its promotional algorithms.At another point, Zuckerberg noted how Western society, and specifically corporate America, has become emasculated and neutered. He defended the need for a more masculine presence in the country and its businesses.Several times throughout the podcast, Zuckerberg suggested he has deferred to the media too much in the last 10 years, and taken on blame for things out of his control. This isnt the first time Zuckerberg has said Meta would be taking less responsibility for everything bad on its platform moving forward. However, he appeared more candid and emboldened on the topic than ever before in Fridays conversation.We just got to this point where there were things you just couldnt say [on our platforms] which were mainstream discourse, said Zuckerberg, referencing how Meta has silenced conservative voices.The Meta CEO brought up how Trumps nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has repeatedly stated that women shouldnt be allowed to serve in combat roles. Zuckerberg said that under Metas previous content moderation rules, these comments wouldnt be allowed because they exclude a protected category of people. Under Metas new policies, these comments will be okay, said Zuckerberg.If its okay to say on the floor of Congress, you should probably be able to debate it on social media, he said.On Dana White, Metas CEO said he added the UFC president to his board of directors because of his entrepreneurial leadership, and to have more people with a strong backbone at his company.We have a lot of governments and folks around the world putting a lot of pressure on our company and we need some strong people who are going to advise us on how to handle these situations, said Zuckerberg on White.

The white cane for the 21st century. While many tech companies have increasingly worked to make technology more accessible for the blind and visually impaired, canes havent benefited much from these advances.London-born WeWalk takes a more traditional approach to the white cane. Beyond the bulkier handle, not much sets the companys product apart visually from a standard folding cane.The company currently offers two models: the $850 Smartcane 2 and $1,150 Smartcane+ 2. The primary distinction between the tiers is the latters inclusion of a voice-controlled assistant a seemingly invaluable tool for a visually impaired person on-the-go. In addition to detecting ground-level obstacles, the system is capable of spotting potential obstacles overhead.The system connects wirelessly to an iPhone/Android smartphone, allowing users to get walking directions directly from the cane via an onboard speaker. The buttons on the handle can also be used to interface directly with the phone, bringing a tactile experience smartphones lack.Image Credits:Brian HeaterParked next door on the CES show floor, Washington state-based Glidance is a much newer entrant on the scene. The startup describes its product, Glide, as an autonomous, self-guided mobility aid, or, simply, a robot. Rather than the more standardized form factor, Glide features a handle attached to a wheeled base.The $1,500 system ($1,799 with an annual subscription) is currently in soft launch mode, following an initial preorder. The system features a pair of stereo-depth cameras and takes a more technically sophisticated approach. In addition to avoiding obstacles, it will alert the user when they approach a door, elevator, stair, or curb, and temporarily lock when they reach an intersection to avoid oncoming traffic.The company says a shipping product is around a year out. Glidance has raised a $1.5 million pre-seed and is currently in the process of closing a $5 million seed.

Kerry Wan/ZDNETDuring the biggest week in tech, we saw CES announcements from giants like Samsung, Google, Nvidia, Asus, Lenovo, LG, and Dell, as well as new and innovative brands with cool concepts. Here's the stuff that impressed us the most, both in terms of products we think could be worth buying and technologies that will impact the future.Also: We have named the 12 winners for the official Best of CES 2025 awards1. Smart glasses with an invisible display Jada Jones/ZDNETMost smart glasses on the market today have the smart display built into the lens, but Halliday debutedsmart glasses at CES with an "invisible display,"that is, the display is integrated into the frame. What the company calls the world's smallest optical module provides wearers with a field of view similar to that of a 3.5-inch screen. You have to look up to see the display, which we actually found quite comfortable when we demoed these glasses in person.Also:CES 2025: The 7 most advanced smart glasses we tried on - and lovedAnd, of course, the glasses are suited with AI tech features, such as real-time translations in more than 40 languages, a teleprompter text, turn-by-turn navigations, and more.2. A premium entry-level TV you can pre-order Kerry Wan/ZDNETTCL unveiled its QM6K, which brings the company's Mini LED technology to its entry-level QLED TV at an aggressive price. This TV sports the kind of brightness, contrast, and color depth you'd typically find in a much more premium model from the big TV vendors.Also:TCL won the opening of CES 2025 with a great new TV you can actually pre-orderBut TCL is offering it starting at$999 for the 65-inch QM6Kand you can even pre-order it today, a first at CES. But when you pre-order, TCL will also send you aQ75H 5.1.2 soundbarfor free (an $899 retail value). TCL is also offering the 75-inch QM6K and the 85-inch models for sale this week.3. Sleep earbuds that block out loud noises Nina Raemont/ZDNETWhile you may not think about wearing headphones while you're sleeping, these Ozlo Sleepbuds could change your mind, and they happen to be the official pick for the Best of CES in Wellness. Not only are they super comfortable (even for side sleepers), but in our hands-on testing, they did a fantastic job at blocking out outdoor noises. In addition, the accompanying app provides 10 different sleep sounds (or masking sounds) you can sort through, an earbud alarm can wake you up from your slumber, and a sleep timer shuts the buds down after a certain amount of time to save battery.4. LG G5 TV brightens up OLED LG G5 OLED TV Kerry Wan/ZDNETLast year's LG G4 OLED TV had the most impressive picture quality of any TV tested. With its incredible contrast and outstanding color depth, it was simply a joy to watch any and all content on it -- especially because it included a big step up in picture processing that allowed it to compete with Sony in enhancing older, lower-quality content. The one drawback was that it simply didn't match the brightness of the various LED TVs and so it wasn't as good in really bright rooms -- even though LG's MLA technology has enhanced the brightness in recent years.LG surprised everyone at CES with the new G5 OLED TV that it claims is 40% brighter than last year's TV and the early results look very impressive. LG says that it has moved away from MLA and used a completely new technology to deliver this higher level of brightness. We suspect that this could be similar to the "Tandem OLED" technology that Apple used in its impressive M4 iPad Pro. Hopefully, we be able to confirm that in the coming months.5. Hisense upgrades Mini LED to take on OLED HisenseWhile LG was making it's OLED TVs brighter to compete with Mini LED TVs, Hisense unveiled its own new technology to make its Mini LED TVs have higher contrast and more vibrant colors to compete with OLED.The new Hisense 116-inch TriChroma LED TV claims to display the widest color gamut ever achieved in a Mini LED display by using mini red, green, and blue optical lenses in its backlight rather than just blasting more white light as most backlights do. Nevertheless, Hisense claims this TV can do 10,000 nits of brightness, so it is still among the industry leaders in that category. It's likely to be super expensive in this first iteration, but it will be interesting to see if this technology can bring advanced picture quality to less expensive TV models in the years ahead.6. A device that gives your phone a full charge in seconds Kerry Wan/ZDNETIn what might be one of the best mobile accessories we've seen at CES so far, the Swippitt charges your smartphone in just two seconds. You simply insert your phone (with the compatible battery phone case on it) into the Hub, and your case battery gets swapped out for another fully charged 3,500mAh battery that should last you a full charge.Also: CES 2025: These 9 best mobile accessories have impressed us the mostThere are a total of five batteries inside the machine, so multiple people can use it back-to-back, and it works with a companion app that allows you to check your battery's percentages and control what percentage you want it to be charged to. You can also make reservations so that not every spare battery is taking before you urgently need one.7. AI-integrated TVs Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETTVs are always big at CES, and this year, the common thread among new TV models seems to be AI integrations. For example,Samsung's new lineup of TVs takes advantage of AIupscaling to make older content look better through HDR Remastering, which enhances standard dynamic range content to high dynamic range levels.LG's AI-powered TV technologyincludes features like AI-powered recommendations with voice recognition, an AI chatbot and AI search, and an LG AI Concierge that tracks your preferences alongside search history to provide contextual insights based on what's playing on your screen.Plus, Google is improving its TV experience byincorporating its Gemini AI into Google Assistantto converse with your Google TV and ask more complex questions.8. A robot vacuum with an arm Maria Diaz/ZDNETYou know how you have to pick up clothes, toys, or other obstacles from your floor before running a robot vacuum? Well, Roborock has a solution: arobot vacuum with a mechanical armthat grabs small obstacles while it cleans.The Roborock Saros Z70's mechanical arm uses OmniGrip technology to remove obstacles under 8 oz while it mops and vacuums your floors. The flagship model is set to debut during the first half of 2025, and we can't wait to try it out in our homes.9. A rollable laptop from Lenovo Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMove over foldable phones--now there is a rollable laptop. We were impressed byLenovo's 14-inch laptop with a "rollable" displaythat extends upwards over 16 inches. The expandable display is triggered by hitting a button on the keyboard, but it also responds by holding your palm out in front of the device, and then raising or lowering it will activate the display.Also:The best CES 2025 products you can buy right nowWhen we demoed this laptop in person, we were able to fit two browser windows of equal size on top of one another--making it comparable to working with an external monitor.10. A high-tech exoskeleton Ant Pruitt / ZDNETThis exoskeleton is meant to assist hikers who need that extra push to get to the top of a mountain. It has 1 horsepower of output to offer subtle assistance to make your gait a bit easier on quads and hips. In addition, an AI-based motor engine performs thousands of predictive calculations per second and builds spatial models to become attuned to your walking preferences over time.And 65W fast charging means it can go from 0% to 100% in just over an hour.11. Stretchable screens Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhile just a concept for now, we couldn't get enough of Samsung's Micro LED stretchable screen. The Las Vegas Sphere and a great white shark literally pushed out of the 7x5-inch screen, creating a 3D effect like never before.Also: The best TVs of CES 2025Aside from just being a really cool concept, we could see this type of technology aiding in accessibility features or applying to infotainment systems in cars.12. Smart glasses with built-in hearing aids Jada Jones/ZDNETThe Nuance Audio hearing glasseshave six microphones scattered across the frames to capture sound, with speakers sitting above the ear to directly amplify the audio. When we demoed these, we noticed the microphones have two modes to either help you focus on a person speaking or you can amplifyallthe noises around you -- depending on what you want to hear.Also:CES 2025: The 7 most advanced smart glasses we tried on - and lovedYou can adjust the volume levels and noise-tracking in a companion app, and they even have an eight-hour battery life.13. An AI supercomputer that runs Linux NVIDIANvidia's Project Digits PC promises to be a a Linux-powered desktop for AI developers. With the starting price of $3,000, it's not for the average user, but it has impressive specs like an ARM-based Grace CPU featuring 10 Cortex-X925 and 10 Cortex-A725 cores (20 cores total), 128GB of memory, and AI models of up to 200B parameters -- that's data center-level performance in one single desktop.14. An electric spoon that mimics the taste of salt Maria Diaz/ZDNETLooking to curb your sodium intake in 2025? The Kirin Electric Salt Spoon allows for the taste of salt without the extra calories. It essentially sends electricity from the spoon to your tongue to give you the sensation of saltiness instead of adding actual salt to your dish. We didn't get to try this one out ourselves (because hygiene), but when we talked to CES goers who had used the spoon, they said it did actually work in adding a salt flavor.15. World's first 500W charger Ugreen/ZDNETCES is the place where unprecedented innovations make their entrance, and this year we're seeing the world's first 500W charger. Ugreen's Nexode 500W charger has six USB ports -- five USB-C and one USB-A port. There's one USB-C port that supports up to 240W, while the other four each offer up to 100W, and the USB-A has a maximum output of 20W.Also: What's better than a power bank doubling as a hotspot? Its low priceUgreen says this charger is "powerful enough even for large, power-hungry devices like e-bikes."16. An AI-trained virtual wellness assistant Nina Raemont/ZDNETYou may know Movano Health for its Evie Ring, which launched last year, but today at CES, the company announced EvieAI, which is a wellness assistant located in the Evie app that users can consult for health information. What's unique about this AI tool is that it is trained on articles published in over 100,000 medical journals to improve the accuracy and complexity of responses.Movano says the wellness assistant can answer questions concerning symptoms, diseases, or procedures. Anyone with an Evie Ring can try out EvieAI in the app right now.17. Smart home collaborations Ring/KiddeSmart home devices are about to get even smarter thanks to a few key collaborations we've seen at CES. First off, Ring and Kidde are pairing up to launch a new collection of smart smoke and combination detectors featuring Ring technology. When the alarms detect harmful levels of smoke or carbon monoxide (CO), you'll receive a notification through the Ring app.Also: The best smart home tech of CES 2025In addition, Home Depot is throwing its hat in the ring of smart home tech with its new Hubspace devices, which will debut later this year. These new devices include a Remote Switch to control on/off functionality and brightness control for lights, as well as two Vissani AC units with smart climate control and customizable schedules and modes.18. A way to control things just by pointing at them Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETWhile smart rings are usually reserved for tracking health data, this innovative smart ring we stumbled upon at CES lets you control things by pointing at them. The Lotus system consists of a ring with a button and switch covers, and when the button is pressed, the switch is turned on as you point at the object (compatible devices include lights, fans, AC units, or TVs).19. Headphones that clean your ears Jada Jones/ZDNETWhile theBebird EarSight Flow might look like the average pair of over-ear headphones, but it's actually an advanced ear cleaner. It uses small pods and spouts of water to shoot water into your ears to clean them gently. The spout includes a camera, and users can download the companion app to watch the EarSight Flow clean their ears in real time. Using an intelligent warming system, the headphones can even dry your ears.20. TCL's new devices are easy on the eyes Kerry Wan/ZDNETTCL debuted two new devices that caught our eye and benefit your eyes. The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is a smartphone with Nxtpaper 3.0 display technology, which blocks blue light to promote visual comfort and reduce eye strain. And, of course, there's AI involved: the Smart Eye Comfort Mode and the Personalized Eye Comfort Mode adaptively configure the display's colors, brightness, and contrast levels based on the user's preference.The QM6K Mini LED TV is packed with features like precise dimming and brightness controls, a redesigned backlighting system to reduce the halo effect of images on screen, a new color optimization algorithm, and enough quantum crystals to render over one billion colors, which we are excited to test out.21. Lots of laptops Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMonday seems to be the day dedicated to laptops, as we've so far seen announcements from HP, Dell, and Acer. HP's Elitebook series got an AI boost, and Dell nixed its XPS namesake to rebrand its entire portfolio into the Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. These Dell models will, of course, feature AI capabilities alongside Wi-Fi 7 support and snappy performance.Also: These new Wi-Fi 7 adapters will keep your old laptop future-proof for years to comeMeanwhile,Acer's lineup of devices is super versatile, thanks to their lightweight form factors and OLED displays. And gamers will appreciateMSI's CES announcement, which includes more than ten 18-inch laptops with new AMD processors and special edition designs.22. A hands-free smart lock with ultra-wideband Maria Diaz/ZDNETThere have been a few smart lock announcements at CES this year, but we think the Ultraloq Bolt Mission smart lock is the most groundbreaking. Not only does it use ultra-bandwidth (UWB) technology to unlock your door hands-free as you approach it, but UWB also allows for precision tracking of approved devices that is highly accurate and more secure.Also:Do you need a smart doggy door? I wasn't convinced until I saw this at CESThe lock also supports NFC devices--right now, just Androids, but the company plans to support Apple Home Key as well.23. Circular's smart ring gets upgrades Circular/ZDNETIn what's arguably the fastest-growing wearables category, smart ring makerCircular made a huge announcementat CES. Alongside new heart health monitoring like Atrial Fibrillation detection included within the ECG capability and improved sensors, smart ring buyers can now figure out their ring size without the need for a physical kit -- something no other smart ring brand has done so far. You can try on the Circular 2 via Digital Ring Sizing, which uses a smartphone's camera to determine a user's ring size.24. Over-the-counter glucose monitors Kerry Wan/ZDNETNot one but twoover-the-counter glucose monitors debuted at CESon Tuesday to make glucose monitoring affordable and accessible for both diabetics and the general public. The one from Dexcom is targeted for those with Type 2 diabetes not using insulin (though people without diabetes can also use it) and attaches to your arm, tracking glucose levels 24/7. It also lasts up to 30 days and is connected to an app on your phone that delivers your readings. It's compatible with Android and iOS.Also:The best wearable tech we've seen at CESOn the other hand, the Lingo device from Abbott is for anyone looking for more insight into their general health and wellness by tracking glucose spikes. It uses personalized data to offer suggestions and coaching on eating habits, stressors, and exercise through a companion app. It's limited to the iPhone.25. An alternative to Dolby Atmos ZDNETEclipsa Audio isSamsung and Google's answer to Dolby Atmos. One big difference in this new 3D audio format compared to Dolby Atmos is that it doesn't have licensing fees; it will be a free and open-source audio format. So far, the format is available only onSamsung's 2025 lineupofCrystal UHDto Neo QLED 8K TVs and its 2025 lineup of soundbars, but we're excited to hear it in person nonetheless.CES 2025

This years CES was all about AIor at least, that was the headline. While AI is poised to change everything, its presence at the show was more theoretical than tangible.

Luck is a strange statistic in a game like Stardew Valley that not many tips and tricks guides will spend much time covering. There are a few ways you can increase your luck through items, which leads many people to assume that the rabbit's foot would be one of, if not the best, item for luck. While this little charm works wonders as a gift for other villagers, it isn't all that lucky on its own. If you have had no luck getting a rabbit's foot, we'll show you the guaranteed method.Recommended VideosDifficultyModerateDuration1 hourConcernedApeRabbit's foot is a very rare drop that will likely take you a few months of prep time to even have a chance to get.Step 1: Unlock the Deluxe Coop from Robin. This is the final upgrade for your coop that costs 20,000g, 500 wood, and 200 stone.ConcernedApeStep 2: Only after unlocking the Deluxe Coop will you have the option to raise rabbits, which you can purchase from Marine's Ranch for 8,000g each.RelatedStep 3: Wait for your rabbit to mature and make sure to pet and let them outside during the day to increase their friendship.Step 4: When the friendship is high enough, a rabbit will have the chance to drop a rabbit's foot instead of wool every day.ConcernedApeThere is also a chance that the Traveling Cart will sell a rabbit's foot for between 1,695g and 2,825g.Holding a rabbit's foot, despite the superstition, will do absolutely nothing to impact your own luck stat. Instead, the best use for this item is a gift for every villager except for Penny, who will hate it.Editors Recommendations