Latest news with #CES2025
Android Authority
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
The Govee Gaming Pixel Light is a creative fix of 8-bit goodness for any RGB-heavy desktop
Govee Gaming Pixel Light The Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that will add fun retro flair to any gamer's desktop. Having fully embraced that I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis that manifests explicitly as a need to buy excessive amounts of glowy RGB products for my desktop gaming setup, I've been quite excited to try Govee's Gaming Pixel Light panels ever since they were revealed at CES 2025. I'm also a sucker for nostalgia, so the 8-bit-styled animations they can conjure up via an LED array also had an instant appeal. Having tested both the larger, rectangular version and the square model (each sent over by Govee for review), I can tell you that they're wildly impractical and could use some fine-tuning on the software side, but they are overall a pretty fun way to add some flair to your PC or console setup. Pixel-tastic desktop flair Oliver Cragg / Android Authority The Gaming Pixel Light comes in two distinct sizes with the same individual LED dimensions on each — a compact square 32 x 32 pixel model (1,024 LEDs) and a wider 52 x 32 pixel rectangular version (1,664 LEDs). I personally prefer the square one as it's easy to fit on my cramped desk, but the wider option does make it more compatible with landscape images/clips you want it to show (more on that later), and separates it from most of its competitors, which are predominantly square. Because the LEDs are the same size on each model, you're not losing out on image quality. Each one comes with a little plastic stand to hold the display in place, and you can also choose to wall mount it with an included attachment. It also comes with an AC/DC adaptor, which has a fixed barrel jack cable. I sorely wish this were USB-powered — power adaptor space around my desktop is already at a premium, so occupying another plug with the Gaming Pixel Light was a pain. Here's hoping future versions can be run through a PC port or a desktop charger. The Gaming Pixel Light is outfitted with the same gamer-tastic border frame no matter which size you opt for, and this is the most contentious part of the design for me. I quite like a minimalist aesthetic (outside of all the bright lights, obviously), and these borders look like they've been awkwardly grafted on from spare parts of a knock-off Evangelion mecha. The angular sections, matte gray with green accents, and a few words in white (like 'Loading' and 'Game') are all far from offensive, but the frame's overall aesthetic does detract slightly from the real attraction: that display. With animations at 30 frames per second and impressive color vibrancy, the Govee Gaming Pixel Light certainly stands out. It comes pre-loaded with a library of over 150 scenes, many of which evoke retro gaming classics or other nerdy references (such as an obvious Spider-Man template). My daughter is obsessed with the colorful fish scene, but if you want something more low-key, there are effects like dynamic color shifts and other screensaver-type animations that are a little less distracting and a lot more moody, in a good way. With a library of over 150 pre-loaded scenes, sketching tools, and community sharing, the Gaming Pixel Light will never become boring. It also has real-time displays, which update automatically when connected to Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only). This includes a clock, weather, NBA/NFL scores (soccer next, Govee!), and even stocks and Bitcoin price tracking. You can access these with a quick tap of a physical button. I found the clock and weather relatively useful, but you might get more mileage out of the rest than I did. These and other scenes can also be accompanied by audio clips via the built-in 3W speaker. It's clear enough for 8-bit beeps and boops, and timers, but not much more than that. You can also upload your own musical snippets in .wav, .mp3, and .ogg formats, which is a nice touch for customization. The display animations can also dynamically match the audio, which can make for some cool ambient effects. Get creative (or cheat with AI) Setting up the Pixel Gaming Light was fairly painless via the Govee Home app, though it did take a couple of tries for the device to register. After that, you're ready to dig into all of the many, many customization options on offer. Aside from the pre-loaded scenes, you can upload your own images and GIFs or sketch new pixel art creations using the in-app tools. There's also a Share Space where you can show off these DIY images and animations to other users and download other people's creations. Again, Govee's broader ecosystem is a boon here, as it's likely this will fill out pretty quickly as more people get their hands on the Gaming Light and start creating. The only downside right now is the lack of useful filters; there's a search feature, but no way to rate submissions or view by popularity. The whole artistic process is aided by the feature Govee really wants you to use: the AI Lighting Bot. This lets you enter prompts, and Govee's chatbot will create something that tries to match your description (and with very little care for IP infringement in my experience — check out the Chelsea Football 'Clug' logo). I personally found this to be quite hit and miss, and I couldn't get it to create animated images, only static ones. I'd stick to your own sketches, or the image/animation uploads. The latter can also occasionally translate poorly, but that's only when you try to feed it complex images — it's an 8-bit-style LED array after all, so if you pick simple pictures and GIFs with bold colors and lines with good spacing, you'll get great results. Just be aware that I had to reload the app a few times when the device idled for the AI creations, sketching, and DIY modes. Hopefully those bugs get squashed soon. Oliver Cragg / Android Authority One thing I didn't get to test is the connection to Govee's HDMI 2.1 Sync Box, as I don't have one. If you are in the Govee ecosystem, that'll let you create real-time DreamView experiences and pair the effects with other Govee lights. Smart home users without the Sync Box can still connect the device(s) to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands/automations. It also supports IFTTT and Matter. Govee Gaming Pixel Light review: The verdict Oliver Cragg / Android Authority At $99.99 for the square model or $129 for the rectangular version (or $79.99/$103.99, respectively, for a limited time launch sale), the Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that can give any gamer's desktop some funky retro flair. Is it a novelty? Absolutely, but sometimes you don't need a reason to get something beyond pure aesthetics. If there's ever a second-gen model, I'd love to see the gamer-fied border eliminated (or at least made optional) for something a little more unassuming, and I'd really want to see a USB power and/or charging option to save my desk management headaches. Before then, I hope Govee can iron out some of the software quirks on the first-gen models. The Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that can give any gamer's desktop some fun retro flair. The most popular competitors to the Pixel Gaming Light come from Divoom, such as the Pixoo-Max and the Pixoo64. The former is another 32 x 32 LED panel, while the latter cranks the number of LEDs up to a whopping 4096 total for even more impressive designs. The Pixoo64 also costs almost double, while the Pixoo-Max is $30 more expensive than the square Pixel Gaming Light. Govee has an ecosystem advantage in this emerging category, and considering the reasonable pricing, it is definitely worth a look if you want to pixel-up your gaming space. Govee Gaming Pixel Light Bright and rich LED display • Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations • Versatile customization tools MSRP: $99.99 LED display for creative gamers. The Govee Gaming Pixel Light lets users easily create and display their favorite pixel art and GIFs. With over 150 preset scene modes, a diverse range of DIY tools, and an AI Lighting Bot, this LED display (available in 32 x 32 or 52 x 32 pixel models) is a perfect desktop addition for 8-bit obsessives. See price at Amazon Positives Bright and rich LED display Bright and rich LED display Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations Versatile customization tools Versatile customization tools Easy-to-use Govee app Easy-to-use Govee app Reasonable price Cons AI creations are hit and miss AI creations are hit and miss Share Space needs filters Share Space needs filters Not USB powered Not USB powered Divisive frame design Divisive frame design Some connection bugs
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Memorial Day Deal Still Live: This Anker 165W Laptop Power Bank Is Down to Just $110
This year's Memorial Day deals are essentially over, but there are still many leftover discounts that can help you save on cool tech devices that can help you take on the day. If you don't want to deal with the inconvenience of looking for an outlet when working at a café or during travels, then a top-tier power bank can help. We've spotted the the Anker 25,000-mAh 165-watt Laptop Power Bank for just $110 at Amazon, down $25 from its regular $135 price tag. Of note, this power bank's price went up by 18% due to tariffs, so now is the perfect opportunity to save before this deal is over. This power bank has three 100W USB-C ports, which can each deliver enough power to fast-charge a MacBook Pro. With a 25,000-mAh capacity, it can fully recharge most laptops at least once or your phone multiple times. The power bank has two built-in cables -- one retractable that extends up to 2.3 feet and another short one that doubles as a carrying strap, making it perfect for travelers who hate carrying extra cables. When charging multiple devices, the power bank smartly distributes its 165W total output, delivering up to 100W to a single device or dividing power between multiple gadgets. It also has a digital display, which shows you exactly how much power is going to each connected device along with battery percentage and charging status. The powerbank only launched earlier this year at CES 2025. At this price, it's one of the best Anker deals currently available. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. At under $110, this power bank hits the sweet spot between capacity, charging speed and price -- especially for a device that can handle a laptop's power demands. While it's not the lightest option at around 600 grams, the convenience of built-in cables and multi-device charging capability makes it well worth the weight for frequent travelers or anyone who needs reliable power away from outlets. If you're looking to complete your charging setup, Amazon is also offering this laptop power bank bundle that also includes a 30-watt power bank you can use for other devices. It's down to just $126 and saves you $35. Why this deal matters This power bank went up due to tariffs, but now is a great time to save $25 before the deal expires. While Anker often discounts its smaller power banks, finding a 25,000mAh power bank with 165W output on sale is uncommon. The built-in cables alone save you from having to purchase and carry separate charging cables, adding even more value to this deal. If you've been waiting for a powerful, travel-friendly power bank that can handle your laptop's charging needs, this remaining Memorial Day discount offers excellent timing before the summer travel season.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Roborock Saros Z70 Review: This Robovac's Robotic Arm Is a Swing and a Miss
Coming out of CES 2025, there wasn't a single product that generated more buzz than Roborock's Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop, aka the one with the robotic arm. Anybody who's used a modern robovac knows you need to tidy up before the robot can go in and take care of the little bits. The Saros Z70 promised to change that. With a robotic arm that emerges from the top of the vacuum, it's supposed to move pieces of garbage into a box and sort your loose slippers over into a dedicated zone. Unfortunately, not only does it fail to do that nearly every time, but it takes a step backward in its cleaning abilities, too. Not great, especially when we're talking about the most expensive robovac on the market ($2,600), by a lot. At its core, the Saros Z70 is very similar to the Saros 10 and Saros 10R, the latter of which is currently our highest-rated robot vacuum. It boasts a whopping 22,000 Pa of suction power, which puts it at the top of robovacs. It has dual spinning mop pads (one of which can extend away from its body to get right up against walls), which can automatically detach and reattach in the base, depending on whether they're needed. There's a sweeper arm that extends off the side of it to get into corners. The Saros Z70 can vault itself over thresholds up to 4 centimeters (1.58 inches) tall. The base has two large water tanks, a small tank for floor cleaning liquid, and a disposable bag where all the dust and debris get collected. The mop pads are washed with 80-degree Celsius water (176 degrees Fahrenheit) and dried with hot air. Like the 10R, the Z70 doesn't have a 360-degree LIDAR turret on top, but it does have LIDAR beaming out from the front, in addition to cameras and other sensors. Roborock Saros Z70 Putting a robotic arm inside a robovac is great idea, but the Roborock Saros Z70 comes up short in execution. Maybe version 2.0 will work properly. Pros Genuinely cool and innovative robot arm Genuinely cool and innovative robot arm Excellent, maintenance-free dock lasts for weeks Excellent, maintenance-free dock lasts for weeks Intuitive setup and customizable app Cons Robot arm fails to sort items as promised Robot arm fails to sort items as promised Cleans worse than last-gen Roborocks Cleans worse than last-gen Roborocks Buggy Buggy Most expensive robovac by about $1,000 But of course, the main point of differentiation between the Z70 and any other robovac we've seen is the arm, which Roborock calls the OmniGrip. When the robot encounters an object that it recognizes as something it can clear, it announces, 'Sorting item,' and then a plastic panel on top opens up, and an articulating arm with a pincer pops out. The arm is then supposed to grab the object and sort it. The Saros Z70 comes with a small cardboard box with QR codes printed on all sides of it. You set the location of that box inside of a companion app, and the robovac is supposed to carry small items (like balls of paper or socks) over to the box and drop them in. If the Saros Z70 detects a slipper, it's supposed to pick it up and bring it to a footwear zone that you designated in the app. Currently, it's limited to recognizing slippers, socks, and balls of paper, but Roborock says it will be adding to those capabilities in future updates. You'll notice I said 'supposed to' a couple of times. That's intentional. Unfortunately, the Saros Z70's performance was absolutely abysmal when it came to doing its special tricks. It actually did a fairly good job recognizing and picking up balls of paper (though it often failed to see them on my patterned rug), and in the odd cases that it missed, it would make a second attempt and grab it. The problem is in the sorting. I ran more than 40 tests with paper balls and the occasional sock, and it only managed to put a ball of paper into the sorting box once. Once! I worked with Roborock on this, experimented with different box placements, placed the zone in the app differently, and remapped my entire apartment. It was going so badly that Roborock sent me a replacement unit just to make sure that there was nothing wrong with mine. Nope. Each time, the robot would pick up a ball of paper, take it somewhere near the box, and drop it on the floor, usually within 18 inches of the box. It would look right at the box, then turn at the last minute and drop it on the floor. It was maddening. Performance with slippers was even worse. In most of my tests, even though I could see in the app that the Z70 correctly identified them as slippers/footwear, the robovac would just bump into them and nudge them around. A few times, the arm would emerge and it would pick up the slipper, but then it would look around for a second and put the slipper right back down where it was. I tried it with three types of slippers and a shoe on both hardwood floors and carpet, and it had a zero-percent success rate. This is tremendously disappointing. It seems that Roborock is aware of these issues and has already issued a statement about fixes planned for June and July firmware updates, but I can only review this product as I'm testing it, and unfortunately, my reservations about the Z70 extend beyond the arm (no pun intended). One of the key differences between the Z70 and previous Roborocks that we have loved is a new vacuum brush design. Units like the Saros 10R, Saros 10, and Qrevo Curv all feature a roller brush that's split in two in the middle, and the system did exceptionally well at picking up debris large and small, as well as remaining tangle-free even when dealing with long hair. The Saros Z70 has a brush that is just one single roller with a smaller diameter, I'm guessing to make more room for the arm that lives in the robot's body. Unfortunately, the new brush simply doesn't work as well. In my Snack Gauntlet Test (patent pending!), it was more prone to crushing Goldfish Crackers and Cheerios and leaving crumbs behind, whereas the previous units slurped them up with little difficulty. It did even worse with pistachio shells. While that's a tougher challenge, the units with the split brush design still managed to choke them down. With the Z70, they just got pinned between the brush and the floor, preventing the roller from spinning at all. It just dragged them around and made a horrible sound until I came and rescued it. I also found that the Z70's mops were more prone to dripping and streaking than previous Roborocks I tested. The Saros Z70 also appears to have more difficulty with navigation than previous Roborocks we've tested. It often takes slow, inexplicable routes. One time, I used the voice command (which works with Google Home, Alexa, and Apple Home, but also has its own mic and works independently), 'Hello Rocky, clean the kitchen,' and it only cleaned the front two-thirds of my kitchen. When I used the app to have it try again, it also only cleaned the front part. This is after it had no issue cleaning my kitchen more than a dozen times over the last two weeks. I had to command it to clean a special zone at the back, and even then, it didn't get nearly as close to the corner or the edges of the wall as it's supposed to. The Z70 was also pretty hit and miss when it came to avoiding power cords. This is personal preference, but I think the dock is a bit more of an eyesore than it was on the Qrevo Curv or Saros 10 (though it's effectively the same as the 10R). The water tanks at the top aren't covered, and it's just a bit more visually obtrusive. I've also noticed that the Z70 tends to bump into and grind along walls a bit more, which has created some white marks on its front bumpers where paint has rubbed off onto it—I don't love that. The Z70 is supposed to have 'Intelligent Dirt Detection,' which will cause it to go back and re-clean an area that it senses as particularly dirty, but I never saw this happen, and it often left messes in its wake, then returned to the base declaring itself finished. There is a first-person view remote control mode, which you can use to manually pick items up and move them around, which is fun, but ultimately it feels like a novelty. It's so slow that it's not something you'd ever really use when you're home. The real nail in the coffin here is the price. The Z70 was set to debut at $2,000 dollars, which would already make it the most expensive robovac on the planet. But between the initial announcement and the actual availability, Trump's tariffs hit, and boy did they hit hard. As a response, Roborock raised the price of the Saros Z70 to a staggering $2,600. That is a full thousand dollars more expensive than the Saros 10R, and it doesn't do basic cleaning as thoroughly based on my tests. I have a hunch that the engineering team spent so much time trying to get the OmniGrip working that it didn't have the resources dedicated to make sure it got the fundamentals right. If it sounds like I'm disappointed, it's only because I'm really, really disappointed. Robovacs are suffering from sameness. They're all practically clones of each other these days, so I was excited to see something so different finally come through. The Saros Z70 was a huge swing, and I love it when companies do that, especially when it could represent a lot of added convenience for the consumer. Unfortunately, Roborock's first attempt is a swing and a miss. There's potential there if the bot really can improve via software updates, and I hope that it does (though I still have concerns about the new roller brush), but as it is right now, I can only say that the Saros Z70 massively underdelivers on its promises.
CNET
6 days ago
- Automotive
- CNET
Last Chance Memorial Day Deal: This 3-in-1 Eufy Vacuum Is Back Down to a Record-Low Price
Why choose between a handheld, robot or stick vacuum when you can have all three? The extremely versatile Eufy E20 offers you the best of all worlds so you can tackle any mess, and right now you can grab it at an all-time low price during Amazon's Memorial Day sale. Though this is just one of many incredible Memorial Day vacuum deals available now -- but not for much longer. The online retailer has knocked this Eufy vacuum back down to a record-low $400, which saves you a whopping $250 compared to the usual price. However, the deals are starting to wind down as we near the end of Memorial Day, and there's no guarantee that this offer will still be available tomorrow. We'd recommend getting your order in soon if you don't want to miss out. This vacuum won the CES 2025 Best of Innovation award, and for good reason. The robot vacuum has 8,000Pa in suction power and laser detection to help avoid objects in its path, and a runtime of up to 180 minutes. It also converts into a handheld when you need to clean stairs, upholstery or your car. For spot cleaning and deep cleaning, the cordless stick vacuum has 30,000Pa suction power. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The features keep on coming, too. The self-emptying robot vacuum means you won't have to deal with dust or dirt for up to 75 days between manual empties. Throw in a five-stage filtration system that captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, and you have everything you need for a stress-free clean. Why this deal matters It can be hard to choose between a stick or a robot vacuum to tackle messes around the home, but with this 3-in-1 vacuum, you don't have to. Plus, with $250 off, it's a little more affordable than it usually is. If you're considering an upgrade, this Eufy vacuum combo is a great option.
Gizmodo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Govee Gaming Pixel Light Review: These Lights Make My Dumb Gamer Brain a Little Too Happy
The bare walls of my bedroom—bedecked as they are with sporadic small prints but devoid of lights—demand I add some flair to my usually nerdy living space. The Govee Gaming Pixel Light seemed to fit the bill a little too well when I saw it back at CES 2025. The specialized display doesn't support enough colors to show all my favorite 8- or 16-bit artwork at their best quality, and it won't produce strong enough audio for anything more complicated than classic chiptunes. If the digital art and speaker for my desk didn't sport cringey decals and a frame that would make visitors assume I chugged Mountain Dew Game Fuel for breakfast, it would be the perfect antidote to my dull apartment. Govee sent me a pair of pre-release Gaming Pixel Lights long before the company finally made them available on May 19. It sat on my desk for ages, showing me a 32-pixel version of Samus from Super Metroid. Her staunch, visored visage helped me get through the hectic days. Both the $120 32×32 and $140 52×32 pixel frames don't take much effort to set up, though the digital wall or desk art lacks a battery and needs to be plugged into an outlet. Once it's connected through the Govee Home app, you'll have a wide variety of default and user-made effects to add to the screen. Yes, you can stick a static image on the screen, but the real fun comes from displaying GIFs of scenes from your favorite 8-, 16-, or perhaps a few 32-bit retro games. Govee Gaming Pixel Light It does what it needs to do, but limited colors limits what it can show. Pros Bright enough to work in most environments Bright enough to work in most environments Wide variety of art in the app Wide variety of art in the app 30 fps on GIFs offers speedy 8-bit images Cons Gamer aesthetic isn't for everyone Gamer aesthetic isn't for everyone Low-fidelity speaker Low-fidelity speaker Limited color range for pixel art Depending on how complicated your image is, the pixel light may have a harder time displaying every pixel with perfect color accuracy. The smaller device contains 1,024 lights, while the 52×32 version sports 1,664. The $155 Divoom Pixoo-64—a competing pixel light with a 64×64 pixel field—supports 4,096. Considering the limited lights, a 32×32 pixel image of ET might look great on the smaller Pixel Light, but a fan-made 8-bit portrait of Arielle from The Little Mermaid that appears fine on my phone lacked the color definition necessary to show fine features on her nose or hair. The more stark the colors, the better each image or GIF will appear. The screen is bright enough on its highest settings, but you can set it to dim or turn off on a timer if you want to sleep without a rainbow of pixelated light shining at you. Images look marginally better on the larger display thanks to its wider range of colors, but you'll still need to try out various images until you find one that fits your style. You can also upload your own artwork to the Govee app, though any of your photos you take from your phone will turn out splotchy and incoherent on the Pixel Light. You may find that uploading your own pixel art could produce mixed results. I had to try several different versions of Samus before I found a Metroid image that didn't look half bad. The GIFs play at 30 fps, which made a GIF of Sonic's classic spinning leg running animation look extra smooth. Divoom's similar offering runs at 24 fps. The device includes a rear 3W DSP speaker made for pairing your favorite chiptunes with this artwork. The built-in speakers aren't enough to fill a room with sound, but even without much bass, it's just enough to offer a retro feel, as if I was listening to a game on the age-old mono Game Boy speaker. The device itself has a single button for controlling volume and no physical mute button, which means you're forced to load into the app just to adjust your sound. All this meant I was more likely to eschew music entirely. After all, if you're planning to use your Govee Pixel Light to spruce up your gaming room, you'll end up listening to the game you're playing anyway. If you're the type to pick up a brush, you could create your own art and animated GIFs with the sketch mode. It's certainly easier to use with a stylus, but I don't have the time, patience, or ability to sketch something that will look any nicer than the artists who do pixel art for a living. The device has almost too many modes, from a clock feature to a stock ticker. There's even a counter to tell you the current price of bitcoin, as if you really need to pay attention to crypto prices on your fun, cute pixel monitor. The Pixel Light seems to think gamers want a very specific aesthetic, one full of cyberpunk-esque hard-edged contours with decals reading 'loading' and 'game.' A black frame is all I really need. The art is the reason you buy Govee's first real gamer product. But damn me if I enjoy it blaring the Magmar Caverns theme from my desktop, as if my bedroom had any more need for even more Metroid artwork.
