The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i, unveiled at CES 2025, is a next-generation AI-powered laptop designed to, according to the brand, meet the evolving needs of modern professionals. Featuring an ultra-slim, lightweight design starting at 1.2 kg (2.64 lbs), the device combines powerful AI features with premium aesthetics.
It is equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors, launched today at CES, featuring NPU technology capable of 48 TOPS for advanced AI applications and enhanced video conferencing.
The EliteBook Ultra G1i boasts AI-powered video and audio capabilities, featuring a 9MP camera with Poly Cam Pro technology, quad speakers, and dual microphones. The haptic click pad provides precise, customizable feedback, improving productivity and control. The laptop’s 14-inch 3K OLED display offers vibrant visuals with low blue light technology to reduce eye strain.
Security is a key focus, with HP Wolf Security for Business providing comprehensive protection across all levels of the device, safeguarding it from AI-based and other modern cyber threats. Hardware-enforced security features ensure resilience against attacks from the BIOS to the browser. The laptop also emphasizes sustainability, using 90% recycled magnesium in its covers, 50% recycled plastic in keycaps, and fully recycled packaging.
Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, offering high-speed data transfers and seamless connectivity. Storage configurations range from 256 GB to 2 TB SSDs, with memory options reaching up to 32 GB LPDDR5X.
Designed with leaders and innovators as the main audience, the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i promises efficient multitasking and streamlining workflows with AI-driven automation, allowing users to focus on high-priority tasks. Its sleek, professional design, advanced security features, and eco-conscious materials position it as a premium choice for forward-thinking professionals seeking performance and sustainability.
The makers of the camera-equipped bird feeder, Bird Buddy, introduced two new products at CES 2025 under a new brand called Wonder that let you spy on nature and help pollinators thrive.
Petal, a solar-powered camera with changeable lenses and Nature Intelligence (aka AI), can be mounted with a clip, a flexible arm or a stem, so it can be set up pretty much wherever you want outdoors. It’ll analyze everything it sees to let you know what birds, insects and other critters stopped by. The second product, Wonder Blocks, is a modular system that’s kind of like an apartment building for bugs and birds. It’s all very cute.
Wonder
The Petal camera comes in soft, bright colors like orange, blue and yellow, so it would look right at home in a flower pot or wrapped around the thin branch of a tree. It can record and livestream footage to your phone, and send commentary about “the sights and sounds of nature, from birds hatching to the flapping of butterfly’s wings, a flower blooming and bees pollinating it,” according to the company. If you also have the Wonder Blocks, you can use Petal to keep an eye on the little community that forms there.
There are several options when it comes to the components you can add to the Wonder Blocks; the full system includes a pedestal at the bottom, a bug hotel, a large base for plants, a seed tray, a bee hotel and a butterfly feeder on top. Both Petal and the Wonder Blocks will launch on Kickstarter this spring.
Wonder
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/new-bird-buddy-smart-garden-products-let-you-peek-into-the-secret-lives-of-pollinators-201510777.html?src=rss
Unveiled at CES 2025, the Dell Pro 13 and 14 Premium laptops marks a significant shift in Dell’s product branding strategy. The company has completely revamped its lineup, removing its traditional XPS, Latitude, Inspiron, G Series, and Precision categories.
These have been replaced with a new, simplified approach using the DELL, DELL Pro, and DELL Pro Max designations. The DELL Pro 13/14 Premium now represents the company’s most advanced offering in the commercial laptop space, combining portability, performance, and sustainability. The Pro Max Lineup, which includes the new Pro Max 14 and Pro Max 16 unveiled at CES, is dedicated to creative professionals requiring maximum performance.
The Dell Pro 13 starts at 2.36 lbs (1.07 kg), while the Dell Pro 14 weighs 2.52 lbs (1.14 kg), making them some of the lightest and most portable laptops in the commercial market. Both models are crafted from 90% recycled magnesium, offering a balance of durability and lightweight design, perfect for professionals on the go. They also undergo MIL-STD H testing to ensure durability and reliability for everyday business use.
In terms of performance, these laptops are powered by Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors (codename Lunar Lake), the latest Intel processors launched today at CES 2025, which provide powerful AI-driven capabilities that enhance efficiency and performance. The 16:10 aspect ratio display is available in up to QHD+ resolution, with the 14” model offering an optional Tandem OLED display that is 24% more power-efficient and 49% lighter than traditional OLED displays.
In terms of sustainability, these laptops are designed with recycled materials such as 50% post-consumer recycled plastic and 98% recycled plastic in the battery frame, contributing to Dell’s ongoing commitment to environmentally friendly design.
Dell mentions that both products offer “unmatched AI-powered productivity” with tools like Dell Pro AI Studio and AI-driven insights for business optimization. It also provides Battery-Saving Mini-LED Backlit Technology, extending battery life by up to 4 hours. Advanced security features are included, such as the Dell Trusted Workspace for enhanced defense against modern cyber threats.
With Dell Premier and APEX PC-as-a-Service options, businesses can easily manage and optimize their fleet of devices, all while benefiting from flexible, secure, and sustainable solutions.
Dell Pro 13 Premium Specs
Chassis Material & Color: Magnesium Chassis in Magnetite Color
Samsung Galaxy phones will finally support Qi2 in 2025, according to the stewards of the standard, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi2 wireless charging was supposed to bring the convenience of the iPhone’s MagSafe to any phone that supports it, but the vast majority of Android phone makers failed to to do anything with it in 2024. That set to change in 2025.
“The exceptional Qi2 growth story will continue in 2025,” Samsung shared in the WPC’s press release. “You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025.” Besides requiring the inclusion of magnets to make it easier to align smartphones with wireless chargers, Qi2 also supports up to 15W charging, which means Qi2 devices should charge faster than before, too.
Alongside Samsung, Google is also throwing its hat in the ring for Qi2, specifically by contributing “its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC” for the development of Qi v2.2. Notably missing from Google’s quote is a commitment to actually using the standard in its own Pixel devices however. The Pixel 9 was inarguably the best Android device the company has shipped to date, but it notably doesn’t support Qi2.
In the more immediate future, WPC says that Qi v2.1 will include a new design for wireless car chargers with a moving charging coil that can adjust and seek out a phone regardless of its size or how awkwardly it’s thrown on a charger.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-will-finally-support-qi2-wireless-charging-in-2025-190430230.html?src=rss
Samsung is rolling out an updated line of Galaxy Books at CES 2025. The new Galaxy Book5 Pro (available in 16-inch and 14-inch screens) and Book5 360 (15-inch display) are equipped with Intel’s newest Arrow Lake Core Ultra processors. Since those laptop chips are built for AI tasks, it’s no surprise that Samsung is touting the laptops’ long list of on-device AI features, including an equivalent of Google’s Circle to Search.
AI Select is Samsung’s branding for its Circle to Search equivalent. Much like Google’s AI trick for mobile devices, it lets you select an area on your screen and “instantly retrieve search results” for it. The Galaxy Book line also has an on-device photo upscaling feature that can sharpen details and clean up blurry pics using Intel’s speedy NPU. (It can process AI tasks at up to 47 trillion operations per second.)
Samsung
Both Galaxy Book5 Pro variants have a 2,880 x 1,800 AMOLED touchscreen with up to a 120Hz variable refresh rate. (Although that means the smaller model has a higher pixel density.) The 16-inch model is a svelte 0.49 inch (12.5mm) thick and weighs 3.44 pounds. It’s estimated for 25 hours of video playback.
Its 14-inch counterpart is a bit thinner at 0.46 inch (11.7mm) but is 21 percent lighter at 2.71 pounds. Its estimated battery life is significantly less at 21 hours of video playback.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Book5 360 has a 15.6-inch AMOLED touch display with a mere 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. (Samsung launched a “Pro” variant late last year with a sharper and smoother 3K / 120Hz screen.) The company says its new model of folding 2-in-1 is good for 31 hours of video playback.
All three devices can be fitted with Intel Core Ultra 7 “Evo” processors, but that only comes standard in the 16-inch Galaxy Book5 Pro. The 14-inch model and Galaxy Book5 360 use a Core Ultra 5 “Evo” chip in their cheapest configurations. Both Galaxy Book5 Pro variants offer 16GB and 32GB memory options and 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage tiers. The Galaxy Book5 360 is limited to 16GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage.
Samsung says pricing and retail partner info are coming soon. All three Galaxy Book5 models will be available in February in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and France.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/samsungs-updated-galaxy-book5-pro-lineup-gets-an-intel-arrow-lake-boost-191600839.html?src=rss
Hisense has introduced the 136MX MicroLED display at CES 2025, marking the company’s first consumer-ready MicroLED product. According to the company, this launch represents a significant step in bringing advanced display technology to more households, addressing the demand for larger and high-performing screens. The 136MX is designed to offer enhanced durability and long-term performance while providing vibrant colors and high contrast.
The display features over 24.88 million microscopic LEDs, each functioning as its own light source. This self-emissive design removes the need for a traditional backlight, resulting in deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and a wide dynamic range. Hisense claims this design prevents common issues associated with OLED technology, such as image burn-in, making the 136MX suitable for both bright living rooms and dedicated home theaters.
At the core of the 136MX is Hisense’s Hi-View AI Engine X chipset. The chipset uses AI-driven algorithms to refine color accuracy and manage dynamic 3D color adjustments, contributing to consistent, high-quality visuals. The display also integrates black nanocrystals to minimize reflectivity, which enhances clarity in well-lit environments. According to Hisense, the display achieves brightness levels of up to 10,000 nits and covers 95% of the BT.2020 color space.
The 136MX supports popular formats like Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, and Filmmaker Mode, ensuring optimized picture quality. Its audio capabilities include Dolby Atmos® and DTS Virtual X for an immersive sound experience. The display runs on VIDAA OS, providing access to major streaming services and smart home integration. Connectivity features such as HDMI 2.1 and WiFi 6E make the 136MX compatible with the latest devices, while gaming-specific technologies like 120Hz VRR and FreeSync Premium Pro enhance gameplay.
Unlike some of the robots we’ve seen at CES 2025, Mi-Mo doesn’t have a face, but it still looks a little familiar thanks to its resemblance to the iconic Pixar lamp. Mi-Mo is still just a prototype, but there are some interesting ideas behind the unusual-looking robot walking around the show floor.
The creation of Japanese firm Jizai, the company describes it as a “general purpose AI robot” that “thinks and acts” on its own. It has a built-in camera and microphones, which allows it to move around and respond to voice prompts and commands. It runs on multiple large language models that enable its voice and image recognition capabilities.
When we saw it, Mi-Mo didn’t show many signs of being autonomous. It mostly shimmied around the show floor and “waved” at people passing by, which was honestly kind of cute. Jizai’s Yuji Oshima told me that the company envisions it as being useful for some childcare tasks, like reminding children to do their homework and then watching over them to make sure they actually complete it. (Jizai’s website notes the company is also interested in using robotics for elder care.)
This is Mi-Mo a “general purpose AI robot” that looks kind of like the Pixar lamp on top of a small table. pic.twitter.com/yTHq8Smnoz
But Mi-Mo wasn’t created only to be a caretaker robot. Oshima said it’s meant to be an open platform for developers, researchers and others to find their own ways to use the robot. Jizai also intends for it to be somewhat modular so people can customize Mi-Mo with bespoke software, additional sensors or other hardware attachments.
Jizai plans to make Mi-Mo available as a developer kit later this year and has opened a waitlist where interested parties can sign up for updates.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/this-six-legged-lamp-might-help-your-kid-with-their-homework-183046893.html?src=rss
Hisense has introduced the 116-inch TriChroma LED TV (116UX) at CES 2025, featuring what the company claims to be the first consumer TV to utilize RGB Local Dimming Technology. This innovation, according to Hisense, advances MiniLED displays by offering enhanced color precision, vibrancy, and efficiency, contributing to the evolution of large-screen televisions.
The RGB Local Dimming Technology distinguishes itself from traditional displays by using independent red, green, and blue LEDs to generate pure colors directly at the source, bypassing the need for conventional white or blue backlights. Hisense reports that this method allows the TV to achieve 97% of the BT.2020 color space, representing one of the widest color gamuts available in a MiniLED display.
The TV incorporates tens of thousands of optical lenses containing individually controlled RGB LEDs. These clusters allow for multi-level dimming at both the LED and lens levels, ensuring enhanced brightness accuracy and precise color reproduction. Hisense notes that this reduces common issues like color filtering inefficiencies and delivers deeper contrasts and lifelike gradients.
Beyond picture quality, RGB Local Dimming Technology enhances energy efficiency by only illuminating necessary LEDs, leading to lower power consumption. Hisense also highlights a 38% reduction in blue light emissions for a more comfortable viewing experience.
The 116UX is powered by the Hi-View AI Engine X, enabling real-time adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color. Additional features include Dolby Vision®, Dolby Vision IQ®, and IMAX Enhanced for optimized visuals, as well as Dolby Atmos® and DTS Virtual X for immersive audio.
With Google TV™ integration and smart home compatibility, the 116-inch TriChroma LED TV reflects Hisense’s focus on merging display innovation with modern convenience.
Microsoft is allowing PC Game Pass members over the age of 18 to earn rewards by playing PC games, a perk previously available only to console gamers with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This update goes into effect on January 7.
Subscribers (on PC or console) will earn points by playing any game from the Game Pass catalog for 15 minutes or more. Do that for five days a week, and they’ll start a streak that increases a multiplier. A four-week streak results in four times the points. There are additional bonuses for playing four or eight different titles per month, but again, they’ll have to meet that 15 minute threshold.
While PC players are no longer left out, the points only rack up on Game Pass catalog games — games requiring a third-party launcher, including anything through Battle.net, don’t count.
The PC Weekly bonus will also be available to all Game Pass Rewards members above the age of 18. Additionally, the console weekly bonus and daily PC play are rebalanced to 150 points and 10 points, respectively.
As touched on by EuroGamer, Microsoft kneecapped the Game Pass experience in recent memory, as rewards were made more challenging to obtain. It seems like the tech giant is trying to get into the good graces of Game Pass subscribers again.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/xboxs-game-pass-now-rewards-users-for-playing-pc-games-171529965.html?src=rss
I tried to go into meeting Mirumi with a heart of steel. There are a lot of cute robots at CES every year, that is a given, and you can’t just let yourself get wooed by every puppy-eyed bot that looks your way. But boy did I melt immediately when that silly little thing locked its gaze on me, then bashfully tucked its head away.
Mirumi is the latest bizarre-but-endearing robot from Japanese startup Yukai Engineering, the company responsible for the Qoobo cat-tailed pillow and the finger-nibbling kitty plush, Amagami Ham Ham. All it does is stare at you and move its head around a little until you’ve successfully been tricked into a few moments of happiness. The idea is to emulate that distinctly joyful experience of meeting eyes with a baby in public — a quick, random interaction that can turn your mood around. Mirumi looks like the combination of a fledgling bird and a shrunken-down yeti, and its long arms let it cling to objects like a purse handle so it can come along wherever you go, and stare down strangers.
Inside Mirumi is a distance sensor and an inertial measurement unit, which tell it when there are people nearby and when it’s on the move or being touched. It has different responses for each of these scenarios. When a person first comes into its line of vision, for example, it will get shy and briefly hide its face, like it did for me. Then, it cautiously peeks out again. Jostle it around and it might shake its head, “No.” It doesn’t make any sounds.
Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget
Playing with Mirumi at CES Unveiled, I found myself delighted at absolutely everything it did. It has a nice bit of weight to it when you pick it up, sort of like a tiny kitten. And on that same note, its little movements make it give off a subtle vibration, almost as if it were purring. I hooked its bendable arms around my wrist, which also had a bulky watch on it and a camera dangling by the strap, and Mirumi felt pretty secure on top of all that as I gently waved it around. On a thinner perch, like a bag strap, its arms wrap fully for a better hold. (I probably wouldn’t trust it to stay on if I was in a packed subway car or similarly crowded environment, though).
Mirumi is rechargeable and should last about eight hours before it needs to be plugged in again. We don’t know yet what the final color options will be, but Yukai had white, black and peach Mirumis on display. The company is planning to launch a crowd-funding campaign later this year before releasing the robot, and it hasn’t yet been determined if it will be sold internationally.
Is it kind of ridiculous? Yes, absolutely. Especially when you consider the price: around $70, according to a Yukai rep. But kind of ridiculous is Yukai’s whole thing, and at least for me (and just about every person who stopped by during the demo), Mirumi elicited the exact emotional response it was made for. “This is all about making people around you happier,” Yukai’s Hiroko Sato said during our chat at CES Unveiled. I can’t really hate on that.
Speaking of ridiculous, Yukai is also showing off a small cat-shaped device called Nékojita FuFu that will blow on food or a hot drink to cool it off for you. Its curved arms hook onto the side of a mug or bowl, or it can be set down on a flat surface to blow on a plate.
Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget
The company says it can bring down the temperature of hot water by 30 degrees Fahrenheit in three to five minutes. We didn’t have any scalding liquids on hand to test that out on the show floor, but it’s basically just a small fan with different blowing modes packaged in a cute silicone body, and the fan did indeed blow air.
As a person who waits an annoyingly long time to take the first sip of coffee or soup because I’m really sensitive to temperatures, I can appreciate an option that doesn’t involve me doing all that work. I can’t see myself going out and buying this, but it strikes me as the sort of product that makes for a fun gift — the kind that’s partially a joke, but also functional. Nékojita FuFu is expected to be released later this year for $25 following a crowd-funding campaign.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/this-fluffball-robot-stole-my-heart-at-ces-2025-173009630.html?src=rss
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
