How to watch the Hyundai CES 2026 press conference live

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Hyundai's wheeled robot took home an award.
Hyundai

CES has long felt like a full-on auto show, but the car-centric energy seems somewhat muted at CES 2026. Sure, the Afeela electric vehicle from the Sony-Honda joint venture is returning to the show floor, but with the Trump administration yanking most EV incentives from the market, the industry isn't offering a full-court press of new vehicles in Las Vegas this year.

That includes Hyundai. While the company's Mobis subsidiary will present "more than 30 mobility convergence technologies" during CES week — including its Holographic Windshield Display — we're hearing the Korean auto giant will instead use its press conference to focus on its AI Robotics Strategy. That will apparently include showcasing its new Atlas robot, as well as the wheeled MobED robot line. We'll get into the details below, along with how to watch it today.

Hyundai's presentation takes place today, January 5 at 4PM ET, and you can livestream it on either its HyundaiUSA YouTube channel or its global YouTube channel. (We've embedded the link below.)

Hyundai is putting a huge focus on its AI Robotics Strategy during its presentation today — the theme is "Partnering Human Progress." That'll include its strategies for commercializing AI-enhanced robotics, keeping with the very AI-centric focus of this year's CES.

We'll also get a first-ever look at the company's new Atlas robot. In the teaser image shown in the press release, Atlas looks rather dog-like, which makes sense when you remember that Boston Dynamics was purchased by the Korean multinational back in 2020.

"This next-generation Atlas represents a tangible step toward the commercialization of AI Robotics, highlighting the Group’s commitment to building safe and adaptable robotic co-workers," the company said in the same press release.

But Atlas isn't the only robot the company has up its sleeve. There's also the MobED Droid, a wheeled 'bot that scored a CES 2026 Innovation Award as the show opened this week. 

While on stage, Hyundai says it will "reveal its strategic AI Robotics learning, training and expansion plans," via its Group Value Network and Software-Defined Factory approach. That includes a manufacturing strategy and an advanced smart factory.

We originally thought Hyundai would showcase its Holographic Windshield Display during its press conference, but a Hyundai representative notified us it won't be featured today. It will have a separate CES presence, though not a separate press conference. 

Update, January 5 2026, 2:58PM ET: This story has been updated to include information on the MobED robot line, and to note that the Holographic Windshield Display likely won't be featured at the press conference.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/how-to-watch-the-hyundai-ces-2026-press-conference-live-190051823.html?src=rss

This $418 French Strap Solves the Watch vs Smartwatch Problem

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Look, we all know someone who wears a beautiful vintage Rolex or Omega but keeps glancing at their phone every five minutes to check their step count. Or maybe you’re that person. There’s this weird tension happening right now between watch lovers who appreciate the craft and heritage of mechanical timepieces and those of us who genuinely need the convenience of a smartwatch to get through the day. Enter Smartlet, a Paris-based startup that’s decided this whole either-or situation is kind of ridiculous.

The Smartlet dual-watch strap does exactly what it sounds like. It lets you wear both a traditional watch and a smartwatch on the same wrist, simultaneously. One sits on top of your wrist like normal, the other hides underneath. Flip your wrist one way to check the time on your classic timepiece, flip it the other way to see your notifications, heart rate, or whether you’ve hit your daily movement goal.

Designer: David Ohayon for Smartlet

Created by engineer David Ohayon, who himself couldn’t decide between his beloved mechanical watches and the practical features of modern smartwatches, the Smartlet system uses a patented modular design that lets you clip and unclip watches in seconds without any tools. The strap itself is made from stainless steel and comes in different finishes (Classic, Shadow, and Titanium), so it’s not trying to look like some weird tech gadget. It actually resembles a regular metal watch bracelet, which means it won’t clash with the aesthetic of luxury timepieces.

Now, before you start imagining some clunky contraption, the total weight of the setup sits between 60 and 100 grams with both watches attached, which is comparable to most steel bracelets already on the market. The thickness is between 9 and 12mm, compared to 4 to 8mm for classic watches, so yes, it’s noticeably thicker but not absurdly so.

The system is compatible with watches that have 20mm or 22mm lug widths, which includes iconic brands like Omega, Tudor, Tag Heuer, Rolex, Breitling, and Zenith. On the smartwatch side, it works with Apple Watch, 41mm Google Pixel Watch, various Samsung Galaxy Watch models, and even fitness trackers like Whoop 4 and Fitbit Charge. So whether you’re Team Apple or Team Android, there’s room for you here.

But here’s the thing about Smartlet that gets interesting. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about something deeper that watch enthusiasts understand. There’s emotional value in wearing a watch your grandfather gave you, or a piece you saved up for years to buy. These watches tell stories and carry memories. Yet in 2025, we’re also living in a world where contactless payments, fitness tracking, and instant notifications have become genuinely useful features we don’t want to give up.

The Smartlet has already won a bronze medal at the prestigious Concours Lépine 2025, a French innovation competition that’s been recognizing inventions since 1901. It’s also been featured across major watch publications and tech outlets, with some calling it a potential game-changer for the industry.

Of course, there are practical considerations. Wearing a smartwatch on the underside of your wrist means it’s in regular contact with desks, armrests, and tables, which could lead to scratches or damage. And aesthetically, this is clearly designed for people who want the best of both worlds without compromise, which admittedly might not be everyone. The marketing does lean heavily into “modern gentleman” territory, but honestly, the concept itself is pretty gender-neutral. Anyone who loves watches and also wants smart features could find this useful, whether you’re tracking workouts, managing notifications during meetings, or just want your health data without sacrificing style.

What makes Smartlet genuinely clever is that it doesn’t ask you to choose. It recognizes that technology and tradition aren’t enemies, they’re just different tools for different needs. You can protect your luxury watch from daily wear by keeping it underneath while your smartwatch handles the heavy lifting on top. Or you can showcase your mechanical masterpiece while discreetly monitoring your fitness data from below.

Is it for everyone? Probably not. But for the growing number of people caught between worlds, wanting both the soul of traditional watchmaking and the brains of modern tech, Smartlet offers something genuinely new. It’s a design solution that says you don’t have to pick a side anymore. Your wrist, your rules.

The post This $418 French Strap Solves the Watch vs Smartwatch Problem first appeared on Yanko Design.

Furniture That Dances: The Moon Series Reimagines Seating

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There’s something almost poetic about furniture that moves. Not in the literal sense, but in the way it invites you to play, rearrange, and reimagine your space. The Moon Series from Craft of Both and MADE does exactly that, and honestly, it’s one of the most captivating furniture concepts I’ve seen in a while.

Picture this: a chair that unfolds like a Chinese paper fan, its pleated form spreading out in a graceful arc. That’s the essence of the Moon Series, designed by Christina Standaloft and Jay Jordan. The collection features two core pieces, the Moon Chair at 60 degrees and the Moon Bench at 120 degrees, both built on radial geometry that gives them this incredibly sculptural quality.

Designers: Christina Standaloft, Jay Jordan

What makes these pieces special isn’t just how they look (though they’re absolutely stunning). It’s how they work. The designers describe the interaction as a “meditative fan dance,” which might sound a bit flowery until you actually see someone adjusting the modules. There’s something genuinely calming about sliding those pleated panels along the wooden framework, customizing the backrest to exactly how you want it. It’s tactile design at its finest.

The modularity here goes way beyond what we usually see in flexible furniture. Each piece can be constantly redefined, changing both its physical form and the amount of space it occupies. Want more privacy? Add modules. Need a more open feel? Remove some. The radial structure means every adjustment changes not just comfort but the entire aesthetic of the piece.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. When you start combining multiple Moon Chairs or Benches together, you’re essentially creating sculptural landscapes in your living space. The arrangement of those fan-like elements determines everything: how the pieces orient toward each other, how much privacy each seating area has, the comfort level, and the overall visual impact. It’s like being handed a set of beautiful building blocks and being told to go wild.

The technical execution is impressive too. Those 60-degree and 120-degree angles aren’t arbitrary. They’re precisely calculated to allow the pieces to connect and configure in multiple ways. A full circle is 360 degrees, so you could theoretically arrange six Moon Chairs or three Moon Benches to create a complete circular seating area. Mix and match them, and the possibilities multiply exponentially.

What strikes me most about the Moon Series is how it bridges Eastern and Western design sensibilities. The inspiration from Chinese paper fans brings this delicate, almost ceremonial quality to the pieces. Yet the execution feels very contemporary, with clean lines and that minimalist aesthetic we’ve come to associate with modern Scandinavian or Japanese design. The wooden slats radiate outward like sunbeams, and those pleated paper or fabric panels catch the light beautifully.

There’s also something refreshingly honest about the design. You can see exactly how it works. The structure is exposed, the modularity is obvious, and the craftsmanship is on full display. In an era where so much furniture hides its mechanics behind upholstery and veneers, this transparency feels almost rebellious. From a practical standpoint, this kind of modular system makes a lot of sense for how we actually live today. Smaller spaces, frequent moves, evolving needs… furniture that can adapt alongside us isn’t just clever, it’s necessary. But the Moon Series doesn’t sacrifice beauty for function. If anything, the functionality enhances the beauty.

The partnership between Craft of Both and MADE brings together thoughtful design philosophy with production expertise, and it shows. These aren’t concept pieces that will never make it past the design blog circuit. They’re real, functional furniture that you could actually live with. I keep coming back to those images of someone adjusting the fan modules, their hands gently pulling the pleated material into place. There’s an intimacy there, a personal relationship between user and object that most furniture just doesn’t offer. Your Moon Chair becomes uniquely yours through how you configure it, day by day, mood by mood.

The Moon Series offers something different when we’re used to flat-pack sameness. It’s furniture that invites participation, rewards creativity, and somehow manages to be both statement piece and practical seating. That’s not an easy balance to strike, but Standaloft and Jordan have done it with grace.

The post Furniture That Dances: The Moon Series Reimagines Seating first appeared on Yanko Design.

iPhone 18 Pro Max Early Leaks: Everything is Changing!

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iPhone 18 Pro Max Early Leaks: Everything is Changing!

Apple appears poised to make a significant change to its long-standing product launch strategy. Reports indicate that the company might release the iPhone 18 as early as spring 2026, deviating from its traditional September launch schedule. While the standard iPhone 18 could arrive months earlier, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to retain […]

The post iPhone 18 Pro Max Early Leaks: Everything is Changing! appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Airloom will showcase its new approach to wind power at CES

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One of the many concerns about artificial intelligence these days is how the rush to build data centers is impacting local communities. Data centers can create a drain on resources, and some utility companies have already said customers can expect to see their electricity bills growing as these facilities increase demand. There have been some discussions of what other power sources could support the AI engine, and wind power specialist Airloom is one company that's looking to address the problem. Ahead of the business' upcoming appearance at CES, we've learned a bit about what Airloom has accomplished this year and what it is aiming for next.

Rather than the very tall towers typically used for this approach, Airloom's structures are 20 to 30 meters high. They are comprised of a loop of adjustable wings that move along a track, a design that’s akin to a roller coaster. As the wings move, they generate power just like the blades on a regular wind turbine do. Airloom claims that its structures require 40 percent less mass than a traditional one while delivering the same output. It also says the Airloom's towers require 42 percent fewer parts and 96 percent fewer unique parts. In combination, the company says its approach is 85 percent faster to deploy and 47 percent less expensive than horizontal axis wind turbines. Airloom broke ground on a pilot site in June for testing out its approach and confirming how those figures work in practice.

It’s not feasible to bring a wind farm, even a small one, into CES, but Airloom will have a booth at the event with materials about its technology and engineering. While the business isn't in a consumer-facing field, the impact of Airloom's work could have a future positive impact on people if the data center boom continues.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/airloom-will-showcase-its-new-approach-to-wind-power-at-ces-160000063.html?src=rss

Valve’s Compact Steam Machine Console Blends PC Flexibility with Sharp 4K at 60 FPS

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Valve’s Compact Steam Machine Console Blends PC Flexibility with Sharp 4K at 60 FPS

What happens when a tech giant refuses to back down after a high-profile failure? In 2015, Valve’s ambitious Steam Machines stumbled out of the gate, leaving a trail of fragmented hardware, limited game compatibility, and confused consumers in its wake. Many wrote off the project as a cautionary tale of overreach. But Valve, known for […]

The post Valve’s Compact Steam Machine Console Blends PC Flexibility with Sharp 4K at 60 FPS appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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This Smart Jar Lid Uses UV Light to Keep Your Food Fresh Longer

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You know that moment when you open your fridge and discover that beautiful container of berries you bought three days ago has turned into a science experiment? We’ve all been there. But what if I told you there’s a clever piece of design that could help solve this perpetual kitchen problem, and it looks pretty fantastic while doing it?

Meet SmartLid, a reusable jar lid created by designers Hakan Gürsu and Sezin Hasgüler that’s basically giving your ordinary glass jars a serious tech upgrade. Instead of just sitting there looking cute (though these lids definitely do that with their array of fun colors), SmartLid actively works to keep your food fresh using UV-C light technology.

Designers: Hakan Gürsu, Sezin Hasgüler

The concept is surprisingly simple yet brilliant. Inside each lid sits a 254 nm UV-C LED that emits light known for its bacteria-fighting powers. When you pop this smart lid onto your jar, it creates a chemical-free preservation system that inhibits mold and bacteria growth. No weird sprays, no mysterious additives, just clean ultraviolet light doing what it does naturally. And here’s the kicker: it uses less than 1 watt of energy, so you’re not exactly running up your electricity bill for fresher strawberries.

What really caught my attention is how SmartLid tackles the sustainability angle from multiple directions. First, there’s the obvious benefit of reducing food waste. When your food stays fresh longer, you’re throwing away less, which means fewer trips to the grocery store and less strain on your wallet. But the designers went deeper than that. The lid itself is made from recycled ABS plastic and bio-based silicone, so even the product’s materials align with circular design principles.

The modular design is particularly smart. That geometric cutout sleeve you see wrapping around the jars isn’t just for looks (though those organic shapes definitely give off modern design vibes). It’s functional, allowing you to see your food while protecting the jar and creating a cohesive system. The lids come in a gorgeous palette of colors, from soft lavender and mint to bolder oranges and teals, making them equally at home in a minimalist Scandinavian kitchen or a more eclectic space.

Looking at the technical side, SmartLid is waterproof and sensor-controlled, which means it’s actually thinking about when and how to deploy its UV powers. This isn’t some primitive gadget that just blasts light constantly. The intelligence built into the system helps optimize the preservation process while being energy efficient. For anyone who loves tech-forward solutions to everyday problems, this is pretty exciting stuff.

The best part? SmartLid transforms containers you probably already own into active preservation systems. You don’t need to buy a whole new set of specialty containers or invest in some bulky appliance. Just screw one of these lids onto a standard glass jar, and suddenly you’ve upgraded your food storage game. This approach feels particularly relevant right now when we’re all trying to be more conscious about consumption and waste.

From a design perspective, SmartLid hits that sweet spot where form meets function. The product feels approachable rather than overly technical or intimidating. You could see it fitting seamlessly into contemporary kitchen aesthetics that celebrate both style and substance. There’s something refreshing about a product that doesn’t hide its technology but instead makes it part of its visual identity, with that purple glow visible when the UV light is active.

The designers made sure to connect SmartLid to broader global sustainability goals too. It aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production. That might sound like corporate speak, but it actually matters. Design that considers its impact beyond the individual user and thinks about systemic change is design that can genuinely make a difference.

Kitchen gadgets often feel gimmicky or solve problems nobody actually has but SmartLid addresses something universally relatable: the frustration of wasted food and money. It does so with thoughtful design, legitimate technology, and a sustainability mindset that goes beyond surface-level greenwashing. Whether you’re a design enthusiast who appreciates clever problem-solving, a tech lover excited about practical UV applications, or simply someone tired of moldy leftovers, this little lid deserves your attention.

The post This Smart Jar Lid Uses UV Light to Keep Your Food Fresh Longer first appeared on Yanko Design.

10 Massive Upgrades Coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

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10 Massive Upgrades Coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra represents a significant evolution in smartphone technology, combining innovative advancements with user-centric design refinements. With improvements spanning performance, design, and functionality, this flagship device redefines expectations for the Galaxy Ultra series. Below, we explore the most noteworthy upgrades that make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a standout in the competitive smartphone […]

The post 10 Massive Upgrades Coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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In 2025, quitting social media felt easier than ever

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For a tech writer, being very offline is sort of like being a marathon coach who doesn’t run. So in 2025, I tried to reverse years of studied avoidance towards the most ubiquitous technological phenomenon on earth — I got back on social media. The change was short-lived. 

My first exodus from the feeds took some work — disabling notifications, removing apps from my homescreen and then deleting accounts entirely. This time, the phone put itself down. The whole thing has simply lost its luster.

I started with Instagram. Every experience went like this: I’d see a single post from one of the rare family members or IRL friends who are active on the platform. Next, I was fed a sponsored post, followed by suggestions to follow randos. After that, a series of influencer videos that, admittedly, appeal to my taste (funny/absurdist women and dissertations on urban planning). That was followed up with more sponsored posts, mostly from brands I’d looked up for work. Then it’d circle back to the influencers. My eyes glazed over and I tossed the phone aside.  

Years back, the platform gave off a jolt of quasi-social connection that I’d spend hours sucking up. I fed on pointless thoughts from an ex-coworker, vacation reels from a college roommate, a half-baked loaf of bread that an old friend dropped on the floor but took a picture of anyway. Now it’s a bare sliver of that stuff, shoehorned between towers of sponsored content and posts from people who make or promote their living on Instagram. The real people have left. The connection is gone. The FOMO is no more.   

I experienced some variation of the same disappointment on every platform I rejoined. When I got back on TikTok a few months after the ban, it felt like a frenzied shopping mall. Every video seems to be about four seconds long and most are promotional and/or shoppable. YouTube Shorts is drowning in AI-generated videos, and I don’t hit up social media to watch fake footage of desperate wild animal babies clambering onto the boats of helpful humans. My life has no need for simulated toddlers admonishing their pets. Occasionally, I’d hit on something compelling: a clip from late night TV, a stupidly decadent dessert recipe, people from other countries explaining cultural subtleties. 

But for me, these social media platforms are no longer velcro for the eyes. I remember losing focus, spending long hours on YouTube Shorts and IG. I’d look up bleary-eyed and shame-faced after hours scrolling TikTok’s For You Page. Now, after a few minutes, a bored ickiness sets in. I feel like I’m trapped in a carnival of bots hawking shampoo at me and I just want to go home. 

It’s not a mystery how or why things feel different; The answer is always money. These billion- and trillion-dollar companies have shareholders who prize year-over-year performance over anything else. So we get more sponsored posts on Instagram. TikTok purposefully, enthusiastically overloads itself with shoppable content (which isn’t going to change no matter who owns it). YouTube is obsessed with engagement so it ends up rewarding people who flood the platform with AI slop. These platforms aren’t about human connections and the spread of creativity — the stuff that used to draw me in — they’re thinly varnished ecommerce sites sprinkled with brute-forced AI oddities.   

I’d be sadder about the whole thing if I thought it could be any different. These companies are among the most valuable in the world. The fact that I can’t connect with my fellow common people using their services is not surprising. The change isn’t even driving everyone away. Instagram reported more users than ever this year, to the tune of 35 percent of the planet. Billions of users still scroll TikTok and watch YouTube Shorts. So maybe it’s just a me thing.  

And I have options. Over-monetization may have made me not want to engage with a few social media behemoths, but things aren’t so dire everywhere. Bluesky reminds me of Twitter before X. I take comfort in seeing posts that prove most people are as dismayed as I am over a government and wider economic system that are nakedly uninterested in serving the public. The hot takes aren’t quite as funny as they were on Twitter years back — maybe it’s just all been said before or perhaps things have gotten too dire for levity. I still don’t end up spending a lot of time on the platform, however. It’s not as weird as it was before the defection and I get tired of the stream of news headlines contextualized with tut-tutting and handwringing — I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.  

It’d be easy to say that social media just isn’t my thing, but that’s not true because I can’t quit Reddit — the shining exception to my social media ennui. It feels filled with actual people. Ads exist, but in a subdued, manageable way. And every contributor, commenter and moderator I’ve come across on the app is militantly vigilant against the onslaught of artificially generated content. I also like the organizational structure. I know my Home tab will only expose me to my chosen subs and I derive great joy from happy cows, greeble-chasing cats, enigmatic night feelings and freaky abandoned spaces. I use my local subreddit r/Albuquerque daily to answer questions and keep tabs on the world (directly) around me. 

Sadly, Reddit is an outlier, a misfit exception to the rule, and now that it’s gone public, it may follow a similar monetization push. Bluesky is tiny, new and not yet profitable, so who knows where its financial journey will lead it (though the “world without Caesars” shirt gives us some hope). 

There’s something lamentable about the loss of the connections we gleaned from platforms that were once compelling, engrossing and rife with the creativity of our fellow humans. Ultimately, any public-facing company that prioritizes profits over everything else has no incentive to look out for its users. So I don’t expect any of the larger social platforms to pull back on their monetization marches. For now, I’ve decided I’m comfortable with my admittedly narrow interaction with the world of social media. As a Gen-Xer, online-first wasn’t how my relationship to the world started out. And I’m pretty confident I know enough about other tech-related stuff to be useful to my editors and readers without a black belt in social. (Ed. note: She is.) Besides, Karissa’s got us covered. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/in-2025-quitting-social-media-felt-easier-than-ever-140000374.html?src=rss