Lutron has launched a line of smart wood blinds as an addition to its well-regarded Caséta smart lighting system. Designed for do-it-yourself installation, like its Caséta in-wall smart dimmers, switches, ceiling fan controllers, smart plug and plug-in dimmer, the blinds connect to a homeowner’s Wi-Fi network via the Caséta Smart Hub and use Lutron’s Clear Connect wireless communication protocol. This isn’t a new concept for Lutron. The company introduced smart wood blinds as part of its Serena product offering in 2020, and I reviewed them favorably in the same year. The primary differences between the Serena product and the new Caséta Smart Wood Blinds are related to price, selection, and options. Where the blinds I reviewed six years ago were priced by size—the 34 × 58-inch (WxH) blinds I evaluated cost $579 each–the Caséta blinds are priced at a flat $429 for windows up to 48 inches wide and 80 inches high (wider sizes are available at additional cost). The electronics and batteries for Lutron’s Caséta Smart Blinds are located in the headrail.Lutron And where Serena smart blinds can be ordered in four painted colors or four stained finishes, the Caséta version is only available in either a painted white or stained walnut finish. The Serena brand blinds offer more options—such as hardwired power, valance accessories, and a choice of two remote controls—but for a price. The slats in both the Caséta and Serena products are fabricated from North American basswood, with their electronic smarts integrated into the headrail. The blinds’ tilt can be adjusted with Lutron’s optional Pico remote ($32.40), or you can take advantage of Lutron’s Natural Light Optimization (NLO) technology. NLO automatically adjust the tilt of the blinds relative to your home’s geographic location and cardinal orientation. For example, the blinds in a west-facing window will tilt open in the morning to start the day, and then close in the late afternoon to reduce direct light and minimize glare and heat gain. As night approaches, the blinds in any window will tilt closed for privacy, allowing some filtered natural light into the room. You can also lift the bottom rail to expose as much of the window as you’d like (there is no motorized lift). In addition to NLO and any other schedules you might want to create in the Caséta app, the blinds can be integrated into smart home ecosystems including Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and others for tilt control via voice commands. Lutron says its smart blinds are easy to install, and I found that to be the case in my Serena review. The most nerve-wracking aspect of the process is taking the measurements—especially if you’re installing the blinds inside the window frame. I found that using a laser measurer alleviated that stress. DIY-installed Caséta blinds and smart shades are available for order now on Lutron’s website. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting and best smart lighting controls. Read...

Maytronics is showing an expanded line of Dolphin robotic pool cleaners at CES this week. The Dolphin Eon series promises to work in shallow water—areas with as little as 8 inches of coverage—making them usable on steps, shelves, ledges, and zero-entry slopes (at least up to a point). More typical pool robots must be completely submerged in order to properly operate, limiting some larger robots to cleaning pool surfaces with a minimum water depth of 14 inches, leaving shallower areas for you to scrub. The Eon line includes two models, both of which feature treads connecting two large front wheels and two smaller rear wheels, part of the design that allows for their shallow water operation. Maytronics’ JetIQ technology also allows the robots to traverse steps and walls vertically, providing for wall and waterline scrubbing. The battery-powered robots have a maximum runtime of up to 4.5 hours, depending on the model. The Eon robots also provide for app-based control, so you can troubleshoot problems, configure settings, and schedule runs without needing to step outside. The entry-level Dolphin Eon 100 includes all the features above, while the Dolphin Eon 120d adds one additional feature called DebrisLock. This is a backwash filtration system designed to clean the unit’s filters while it’s in the pool, preventing trapped dirt particles and leaves from escaping once they are captured. The Maytronics Dolphin Eon 120D promises to work in shallower areas than most robotic pool cleaners can, including stairs and sloped-entry (aka walk-in) pools.Maytronics DebrisLock sequesters these materials in a sealed compartment that Maytronics says is effective at collecting even the smallest of particles and includes sensors that can detect if a filter is clogged, triggering an automatic cleaning cycle. Not only is the system designed to provide clearer, cleaner water, it can also reduce time spent on maintenance; namely, cleaning the filter baskets, which needn’t be cleaned out after each run). Later this year, Maytronics plans to introduce a hybrid power design option to the Eon line, allowing users to operate the robot either via battery power or while connected via a cable plugged into a power outlet. MSRP for the Dolphin Eon 100 is set at $899, while the Dolphin Eon 120d has a price tag of $1,199. Both models are available for purchase today, with shipping at the end of January. You’ll also find them in dealers’ inventories beginning in February. All units are covered by a three-year warranty. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robotic pool cleaners. Read...

Aiper, best known for its sleek and hard-working robotic pool cleaners, has brought four new devices to CES 2026. The Aiper Scuba V3 line includes three underwater scrubbers of increasing sophistication — the Scuba V3, V3 Pro, and V3 Ultra. Meanwhile, the all-new Aiper EcoSurfer Senti is a new surface-only skimmer that adds some surprising new tricks in what has become a fairly sleepy category in the last year. Naturally, AI is the focus for each of these products, with the Scuba V3 line absolutely stuffed to the gills with the technology. Each V3 model includes cameras outfitted with vision-based analytics that analyze the shape and size of your pool, with the goal of optimizing the route the robot takes to clean its floor and walls. The Aiper Scuba V3 is the least expensive robotic pool cleaner in the new line, equipped with AI that enables it to identify more than 20 pieces of debris in the pool in as little as three seconds.Aiper Aiper’s Vision Cleaning tech is trained to recognize more than  20 types of debris, including leaves, rocks, and even hair, from a distance of up to two meters. Robots can adjust their movement in real time if they detect debris outside the current path on which they are traveling. Complementing this tech, Aiper’s new AI Patrol Cleaning tech is designed to give especially dirty areas extra coverage. Aiper has also applied AI to automated scheduling. If you leave your robot in the water for extended periods, it’s common to configure a periodic schedule for cleaning runs—usually once every 24 to 72 hours. Aiper’s Cognitive AI Navium technology removes the need for such strict schedules, replacing it with a more flexible design that takes into account the size of the pool, ambient weather, and how frequently historical cleaning sessions have been run. The Aiper Scuba V3 Pro can clean a pool’s floor, walls, and shallow areas. Aiper The models differ considerably in size and performance. At $999, the 18-pound Scuba V3 is the entry-level model for the line. The V3 Pro (expected at $1199) adds an anti-stranding mode and improved filtration, while the V3 Ultra (pictured up top) adds the Cognitive AI Navium system for intelligent scheduling and a considerably more powerful suction system. Pricing for the Ultra model has not been announced. Lastly, Aiper’s EcoSurfer Senti is also outfit with AI technology that can scan the surface of the pool for debris. Most skimmers move in a largely random fashion, hoping to encounter debris in the water. The EcoSurfer Senti actively searches for it, aiming to collect the material before it sinks or dissolves. Uniquely, the unit also includes sensors that monitor pH, chlorine, ORP (oxidation-reduction potential), and temperature as it traverses the pool. If something is out of balance, an onboard chemical-dispensing system can dose out chlorine and pH adjuster as needed via replaceable cartridges. The solar-powered Aiper EcoSurfer Senti patrols the surface of your pool, automatically picking up floating debris within a 2-meter radius of its current position. It can also analyze your pool’s chemistry and dispense microdoses of treatment to condition it.Aiper Naturally, all this data can be monitored through Aiper’s mobile app. And like other skimmers on the market, the Senti is fully self-sufficient thanks to a top-mounted solar panel that tops up the battery during daylight hours. Pricing had not yet been set at press time. If you’re attending CES in person, you can catch demoes of Aiper’s new robotic pool cleaners at its booth: Venetian #52310. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robotic pool cleaners. Read...

Lockin announced the V7 Max mortise-style entry lock/handle at CES today. There have many several smart locks with solar panels to recharge an onboard battery, but the V7 Max is the first we’ve seen that’s continuously powered by an optical transmitter that beams light to a sensor panel on this mortise lock’s interior escutcheon. The innovative power system earned the product a CES 2026 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honor. Lockin’s new AuraCharge technology is key feature. Instead of relying on disposable cells, rechargeable lithium batteries, or solar panels for power, the V7 Max receives it wirelessly—and continuously—from a dedicated AuraCharge transmitter using eye-safe optical output. The transmitter plugs into a wall outlet and is installed indoors within 13 feet of the lock, either on a tabletop or mounted to a wall. The AuraCharge requires an unobstructed line of sight to the lock, but it delivers power regardless of lighting conditions. According to Lockin, AuraCharge represents a “fourth generation” of smart-lock power technology, solving the battery anxiety that’s one of the most common frustrations with connected door hardware. The system is designed to operate reliably in all weather and installation environments. The AuraCharge panel on the Lock V7 Max’s interior escutcheon converts light beamed from a transmitter into continuous power for the smart lock.Lockin The V7 Max is also packed with sensors and displays. It supports triple biometric authentication, combining finger-vein recognition, palm-vein recognition, and 3D facial recognition. Two high-definition exterior cameras provide panoramic video doorbell functionality, while dual 5-inch touchscreens allow users to view visitors, manage access, and interact directly with the lock from both inside and outside the home. Additional cameras and sensors on the exterior camera system reduce blind spots near the door. The lock also introduces LockinAI, a software platform with scenario-based automation for tasks such as delivery detection, theft prevention, visitor management, and searchable video indexing. Connectivity is handled through Matter, allowing the V7 Max to integrate with Google, Apple, Amazon, and Samsung smart home ecosystems without requiring a separate hub. The AuraCharge transmitter can be set on a table or mounted to a wall.Lockin The lock’s industrial design was led by Hartmut Esslinger, Apple’s former chief designer, and results in a notably slim 15mm front panel despite the lock’s feature set. Pricing for the V7 Max has not yet been announced. Since mortise locks require a precision installation, Locklin will provide professional installation for anyone who buys a V7 Max and wants to replace a conventional mortise lock and entry handle. Lockin also confirmed that AuraCharge will arrive in a redesigned version of its bestselling Veno Pro smart lock in early 2026, with pricing expected to remain around $350. The V7 Max will be available for preorder in January, with shipping planned for early March 2026. If you’re attending CES in person and would like to check out the Lockin V7 Max for yourself, the manufacturer has it on exhibit at its booth: Venetian Expo, #52712. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

SwitchBot introduced its SwitchBot Lock Vision Series of smart deadbolts at CES today. The new locks use facial recognition as a primary unlock method, which the company positions as a more foolproof and hands-free means of securing your home’s front door. A 3D structured-light facial recognition system is the big attraction. By projecting thousands of infrared points onto a user’s face to create a depth map, the lock aims to prevent spoofing via photos or videos. SwitchBot claims the system works even when the person in front of it is wearing glasses, a hat, or heavy makeup, and that all the biometric data the lock’s camera captures is stored locally on the device itself, versus in the cloud, for enhanced privacy. The SwitchBot Lock Vision Series supports Matter over Wi-Fi, allowing it to work with all the most common smart home ecosystems–Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, among others–without requiring a smart home hub. The less-expensive version of the SwitchBot Lock Vision omits the palm vein and fingerprint recognition that’s present on the Pro model. SwitchBot The lock is powered by SwitchBot’s DualPower, DualBackup system: a 10,000mAh rechargeable battery that should last up to six months on a full charge handles day-to-day use, and there’s also a CR123A backup battery inside that kicks in should the primary battery source become drained (SwitchBot says the backup should last up to five years or 500 emergency unlocks). Should that backup fail while you’re out, there’s a USB-C emergency port for temporary operation. There will be two models in the series: The standard SwitchBot Lock Vision supports facial recognition, PIN codes, NFC, a physical key, geofencing, and app-based unlocking. The higher-end SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro adds palm-vein and fingerprint recognition to those technologies. Palm vein recognition uses near-infrared sensors to map vascular patterns inside the hand. The manufacturer says this technology works even when users have with wet or dirty hands–issues that can trip up a fingerprint scanner–and that it works even in low-light conditions. The locks are designed to integrate with SwitchBot’s existing ecosystem, including its video doorbells, enabling broader smart home automation through the SwitchBot app. SwitchBot hasn’t announced pricing or a release date but says more information will be available closer to launch. SwitchBot hasn’t disclosed a BHMA or ANSI grade for the Lock Vision Series, which are commonly used benchmarks for mechanical lock durability. If you’re attending CES in person, SwitchBot is exhibiting its wares at Venetian Booth #52655. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

It’s that time once again: CES 2026 is here. Think of CES like a harbinger of what’s next in technology. Every January, the industry descends upon Las Vegas to pull back the curtain on the products that will power the upcoming year. Not only will you gawk at massive walls of bleeding-edge OLED monitors and oddball demoes of all sorts of PC gear, but CES often serves as the grand reveal for new generations of processors — and the army of laptops you’ll find them inside. This year is no different — but what is different is that for CES 2026, PCWorld’s crack team of PC experts will be blogging about the gaudy sights and fresh new tech goodies live as we see them. The show proper kicks off Tuesday, January 6, but many of the biggest blockbuster keynotes will take event on Monday, and CES Unveiled will even showcase a horde of goodies Sunday night. It’s a packed week, y’all — and the PCWorld team is here and primed to cover all of it. Check out our early primers on what we expect from major PC chipmakers and the laptops of CES 2026, then bookmark this page and check back throughout the week for the hottest announcements and wildest sights from the show. Here’s hoping we don’t get too unhinged as the announcements, interviews, and briefings bleed into a week-long haze. It’s Vegas baby. Let’s get weird! ~Brad Chacos 10 mins ago, By bchacosWhite Castle² On the Vegas strip, White Castle is literally a White Castle. Back to tech shortly but ?? — Brad Chacos Link copied SHARE 17 mins ago, By bchacosJensen welcomes the crowds to Las Vegas CES 2026 hasn’t kicked off yet, but the signs are everywhere — literally. Not gonna lie, seeing a 100 foot-tall digital display of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang smiling benevolently down at the crowds from a gigantic techno-pedestal, in front of high-end Forum Shops dedicated to former Roman emperor Julius Caesar, feels a bit on the nose. Don’t be surprised if AI is the major theme of the show yet again, and Huang certainly is the kingmaker in that field. Look for Nvidia’s livestream keynote to go live at 1p.m. Pacific Time on January 5. –Brad Chacos Link copied SHARE Read...

Florian Wirtz thought his goal for Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Fulham was offside - so how did technology allow it to stand? Read...

OWC has announced the first two-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable in advance of CES 2026, offering more convenience for Thunderbolt dock setups, as well as desktops, which aren’t constrained by space. To date, most docks ship with a one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable included, which is barely sufficient for a Thunderbolt dock on your desk. As I write this, my current dock sits rather awkwardly to the right of my laptop, with the cable stretched all the way behind it to the only Thunderbolt ports it incudes — which happen to be on its left-hand side. Yes, I could rearrange my desk to move the dock, too, but the way it’s set up, with a power strip in a specific position, and a phone charger set up just so — well, you get the idea. I’d rather have a slightly longer cable to accommodate my current desk setup, rather than rearrange my desk to fit in a dock in a certain way. OWC’s new $79.99 two-meter cable stretches 6.56 feet, versus the 3.2 feet a one-meter cable offers. Presumably, the cable is an “active” cable, which includes a bit of logic to amplify the signal as opposed to a thinner (and cheaper) passive cable. By comparison, OWC’s one-meter cable costs $34.99. Apple supplies longer Thunderbolt cables as well, such as the two-meter Thunderbolt 3 cable it shipped for $129 five years ago, or the $159 three-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable it announced three years ago. It has yet to announce a longer Thunderbolt 5 cable, however. Meanwhile, PCs still tend to use the HDMI port for productivity, and DisplayPort for high-refresh-rate gaming connections. We do see some displays with dedicated USB-C connections, though. For now, however, Thunderbolt 5 is primarily a Mac-specific technology. While a small number of PC gaming laptops include Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, Thunderbolt 5 isn’t natively integrated into any of the PC processor platforms, including Intel’s imminent Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” chips. (Thunderbolt 5 can be added if a laptop maker purchases a discrete chip, and a few gaming notebooks have done so.) Instead, the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro as well as the MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip integrate Thunderbolt 5, making them the preferred platforms. Is a longer Thunderbolt 5 cable a necessity for PC users? No. But it’s certainly a welcome convenience. Read...

Nothing beats a skylight when it comes to brightening up a gloomy living space, but installing one can be a pricey proposition. At CES, smart light manufacturer Govee is showing off an alternative: a smart ceiling light that mimics daylight.  The Govee Sky Ceiling Light employs “custom-engineered LED and architectural gradient illumination” to serve up “clear-sky tones and soft skylight transitions,” ideal for casting some simulated daylight into a gloomy, windowless living area.  The light boasts a total of 180 RGBICWW beads—84 for the main circular panel, 60 on the side, and 36 in back—that combine to shine at up to 5,000 lumens at a daylight-equivalent 6,500 Kelvin color temperature, according to Govee. If you’re looking for more of a golden glow in the morning, the light’s color temperature can be dialed all the way down to a warm 2,700K.  The 21 x 4.3-inch (WxH) ceiling light (we don’t have pricing details or a release date yet) uses wired power, so you’ll need to connect it to in-ceiling wiring; otherwise, it should be relatively easy to install.   The Sky Ceiling Light can be controlled with the Govee app, which offers dozens of animated lighting scenes along with smart automations and wake-up/go-to-sleep routines. We’ve reached out to Govee for specifics on integrations with other smart home platforms, such as Alexa, Google Home, and Matter support.  Govee is also unwrapping a couple of other new smart lights at CES this week, including a second ceiling light with a 616-pixel LED matrix that delivers “vivid patterns and animations,” Govee says.  The Ceiling Light Ultra is the same size as the Govee sky light and also shines at up to 5,000 lumens at a daylight-equivalent 6,500K, but this ceiling light is more focused on groovy animations courtesy of Govee’s AI Lighting Bot 2.0, the brand’s updated generative-AI lighting tech that’s designed to “instantly” create “expressive” and “animated” effects.   Govee As with the Sky Ceiling Light, the Ceiling Light Ultra relies on wired power and works with the Govee mobile app.  Finally, the Govee Floor Lamp 3 is a revamped version of Govee’s previous floor lamps, and it arrives with another new Govee technology: LuminBlend+, a color management system with an upgraded 16-bit chip for “smoother, more precise color transitions,” according to Govee.  The Floor Lamp 2 also works with Govee’s AI Lighting Bot 2.0 as well as DaySync, an adaptive lighting technology that automatically adjusts the lamp’s color temperature and brightness according to the time of day.  Govee The 59 inch-tall Floor Lamp 2 can shine at up to 1,900 lumens and has an exceptionally wide color temperature range, all the way from 10,000K (producing a cool, bluish light) to 1,000K (for a very warm reddish-orange color). Aside from Govee app control, the lamp can also be adjusted with the included remote.  Aside from its new smart lights, Govee is also announcing a partnership with Samsung SmartThings, allowing for “seamless” integration between the SmartThings ecosystem and “key” Govee smart lighting products. We’re awaiting details on the first Govee lights to offer SmartThings support. Matter-enabled Govee lights can already work with SmartThings, along with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and other smart platforms that connect via Matter. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lights. Read...

We asked several experts to predict the technology we`ll be using by 2050 Read...