Robotics

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETGoogle has been a fierce competitor in the AI space with its Gemini assistant, which powers its chatbot and voice assistant on devices. Now, the company is infusing Gemini into Google TV to level up your home entertainment. I got a demo of the upcoming features, and here’s a break down of the best new tools.1. Google Assistant replacementGoogle’s releases at CES 2025 are focused on improving your Google TV experience. One of the biggest updates is the integration of Gemini capabilities on Google TV. This will replace Google Assistant with a much more capable voice assistant, which will help the assistant better understand your requests and provide better assistance.Also: CES 2025: The 13 most impressive products so farWith the upgrade, you’ll now be able to speak to it more seamlessly, using natural language and conversing with Google TV without needing to say “Hey Google,” and using conversational queries to find what you are looking for. For example, in the demo below, the user asked to see movies like Jurassic Park, but for kids. Gemini was able to understand what they meant and provide options.2. Ask more complex queriesUsers can also now ask more complex queries you typically wouldn’t ask the Google Assistant on Google TV. For example, in a demo, the user asked, “Tell me about the solar system for a third grader,” and “Help me plan a vacation spot with great beaches.” In both instances, Gemini was able to quickly generate the answer and display it on the TV, presented in the same way as the photo above.Also: The Google TV Streamer pleasantly surprised me – and I’m an extreme cord cutterRelated YouTube videos will also accompany Gemini answers, since when looking for something on TV, you are likely looking for visual content over standard web text content. You will also be able to use your voice to create AI-generated screensavers and to control your smart home devices more easily. More

Getty Images Almost every aspect of modern life is affected by our connectivity to the Web. On those rare occasions when my internet provider has an outage, life seems to come to a standstill. Everything from logging onto a VPN for work to streaming Spotify is suddenly out of the question. Even many smart home […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhile this year was only my fourth time at CES, you don’t need to physically be in Vegas to know just how much vaporware floods the show floor. Also: CES 2025: ZDNET’s 25 products that impressed us the mostAt this point, it’s almost an expectation for the flashiest, most promising products at the show to be ones that will either never go on sale or cease to exist in a matter of years — when companies, small and large, shift their focuses to the next big industry buzzword.But if I put all that doubt aside and looked at CES as if it were weeklong programming of QVC, here are three products that would make me yell, “Take my money!”. 1. Mcon MagSafe phone controller More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETRoborock just dropped the mic in the robot vacuum market at CES 2025 with the Saros Z70 robot vacuum launch, which features a mechanical arm to remove obstacles in its path. The company also launched two new robot vacuums, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R.Also: The best robot vacuum we saw at CES 2025 – and 4 others that impressed usThe Saros Z70 features a foldable mechanical arm with OmniGrip technology that deploys itself to remove obstacles under 300 grams or about 8 oz. The five-axis arm will initially be limited to socks, small towels or cloths, tissue papers or napkins, and sandals, but Roborock plans to add more items over time. The Roborock Saros Z70 cleans your floors and identifies objects it can lift in a first pass. Then, the robot returns to pick up the identified items, put them away, and clean the missed areas.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The OnePlus 13 is a snappy, nearly no-compromise phone that starts at $899. A Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with a 6,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, is a recipe for endurance success. IP69 is almost excessive, but you’ll appreciate it when least expected. more buying choices It’s not often that I […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFor years, TVs have been the center of attention at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). That holds true in 2025, even with the AI takeover well underway. LG’s OLED TVs are brighter than ever, Samsung is still chasing the 8K TV dream, Displace has double-downed on wireless sets, and Panasonic is back, baby.Also: We have named the 12 winners for the official Best of CES 2025 awardsBut among all the releases at this year’s Las Vegas trade show, one TV stood out to me the most: LG’s StanbyMe 2. Unlike the brand’s flagship G5 and M5 OLED sets, the StanbyMe 2 is a little more playful and nonchalant, yet full of confidence. Its 27-inch display isn’t trying to be the centerpiece of your living room; it wants to follow you around the house, from your countertop to your bathtub (no, seriously.)The new lifestyle TV is accentuated by a few practical upgrades, such as a built-in battery that LG claims can last up to four hours (compared to the previous version’s three and a half hours), travel and mounting accessories, and space at the top of the TV to magnetically attach the remote. It’s like stashing an Apple Pencil on the side of an iPad — it just makes sense. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhen I first laid eyes on Samsung’s stretchable Micro LED display concept, I was taken back to when my childhood self watched The Ring. Seeing that infamous scene of a creature crawling out from within the TV led to many, many sleepless nights as a six-year-old. Also: I replaced my Google Pixel 9 Pro with the OnePlus 13 – and it set a new standard for meLike that movie scene, seeing subjects physically push out of the Samsung display concept is polarizing and disruptive, like something that shouldn’t be possible. But it is. More

TCL unveiled the latest iteration of their flagship LED TV, the QM6K, which features an updated QD-Mini LED panel for sharper contrast, more lifelike colors, and a brighter picture overall. With both Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X audio, you’ll get room-filling virtual surround sound without having to set up extra equipment. And if you’re a console gamer, you’ll love the 144Hz refresh rate, auto low-latency mode, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR. More