Author - Jerry Paxton

Razer Unveils Project Motoko at CES 2026 AI-Native Wearable

2026/01/06
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, News, Tech News, Trailers / Videos

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled Project Motoko, an AI-native wireless headset concept that redefines the boundaries of wearable technology.

Powered by Snapdragon® platforms and universally compatible with leading AI solutions, Project Motoko ushers in a new era of personal computing with contextual awareness, real-time vision processing, and intuitive controls – all delivered through a sleek, wireless form factor.

“Project Motoko is more than a concept, it’s a vision for the future of AI and wearable computing,” said Nick Bourne, Global Head of Mobile Console Division, Razer. “By partnering with Qualcomm Technologies, we’re building a platform that enhances gameplay while transforming how technology integrates into everyday life. This is the next frontier for immersive experiences.”

“Snapdragon delivers the advanced AI and XR capabilities that make Project Motoko possible,” said Ziad Asghar, SVP and GM of XR at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “As we transition to an era of multiple AI powered Personal devices such as Project Motoko, that can see and hear and work together with an AI agent to anticipate your every need. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Razer to enable this vision and push AI wearable computing into a new era where intelligence, performance, and immersive experiences converge.”

Designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life, Motoko combines cutting-edge hardware with advanced AI capabilities to deliver an intelligent companion for work, play, and everything in between.

Augmented AI Computer Vision

Dual first-person-view cameras positioned at eye level match the natural viewpoint, enabling real-time object and text recognition for smarter interactions. From translating street signs to tracking gym reps or summarizing documents on the fly, Motoko’s vision system understands context instantly to keep pace with modern lifestyles.

AI-Enhanced Visual Awareness

Motoko delivers stereoscopic precision with a wide field of attention, capturing depth, symbols, and details beyond human peripheral vision. This expanded awareness ensures users perceive more than ever before, whether navigating complex environments or multitasking on the go.

Dual Far and Near-Field Microphones

Multiple microphones work together to capture voice commands, pick up dialogue within view, and sense environmental audio—providing accurate sound detection for seamless interaction in any setting.

On-the-Fly Audio Feedback

Motoko interprets and responds instantly, acting as a full-time AI assistant that adapts to schedules, preferences, and habits. Hands-free control ensures uninterrupted flow during commuting, gaming, or multitasking at home.

Universal AI Platform Compatibility

Motoko connects effortlessly with leading AI platforms such as Grok, OpenAI, and Gemini, offering complete flexibility and customization for every task.

Machine Learning Tools

By capturing authentic human POV vision data—including depth, focus, and attention patterns—Motoko provides robotics teams with high-value datasets to train humanoids for natural perception and decision-making.

Availability

Project Motoko debuts as a concept at CES 2026, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-driven wearables. For more information, visit razer.com/concepts/project-motoko.

Audeze Unleashes Maxwell 2 Gaming Headset

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

Audeze today announced the release of their latest gaming headset, Maxwell 2. This is an inside-and-out upgrade of the original Maxwell, which received global recognition from media, gamers, and audio industry professionals. Every aspect of Maxwell 2 has been engineered to provide unmatched audio fidelity, exceptional comfort, and seamless connectivity across all platforms. Serious competitors and immersion-seeking enthusiasts alike will find much to praise in this latest evolution of a vaunted gaming audio classic.

The cornerstone of Maxwell 2’s audio improvements is Audeze’s patent-pending SLAM™ technology, which produces heightened spatial immersion and precision along with punchier bass response. First introduced in 2024’s flagship CRBN2 electrostatic headphone, this new technology joins Audeze’s advanced 90mm planar magnetic drivers with patented Fluxor™ magnets and Fazor™ waveguides to deliver an expansive 10 Hz to 50 kHz frequency range that clearly articulates every detail from the faintest footsteps to the most earth-shattering explosions with near-zero distortion.

Maxwell 2 is designed for extended hours of comfortable gameplay. The upgraded suspension strap is wide and supple, with ventilation holes to ensure long-term comfort. A new earpad design offers increased space to the over-ear closed-back fit to accommodate fatigue-free listening for a wider range of users. The new magnetic attachment system makes earpad replacement quick and easy.

Communication is key in competitive gaming, and the Maxwell 2 delivers with its cutting-edge, AI-powered noise-cancelingnoise canceling microphone system. Featuring the newly upgraded FILTER™ AI noise removal with twice the bandwidth, the removable hypercardioid boom microphone eliminates unwanted background noise, ensuring crystal-clear voice communication with your teammates. Convenient hardware volume control puts command of your audio right at your fingertips.

Maxwell 2 is engineered for seamless connectivity and extended gameplay. Connect wirelessly with the included ultra-low latency USB-C dongle for lag-free gaming, or utilize the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology including LE Audio and LDAC for versatile connectivity with mobile devices. The high-capacity lithium-polymer battery provides over 80 hours of continuous wireless use (at 80dBA), and the USB-C fast charging ensures you’re never sidelined for long.

An all-new Audeze app debuts with Maxwell 2, with sleek, modern design, lightning-quick responsiveness, and improved user experience and customization management. The new Audeze app also supports the original Maxwell, and is available on Windows and MacOS, as well as the iOS and Android app stores.

Styx: Blades of Greed Gameplay Trailer

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

To celebrate the New Year 2026, NACON and Cyanide Studio are delighted to unveil the gameplay trailer for Styx: Blades of Greed. More than 8 years after his last adventure, the most devious of goblins returns in a third-person, solo stealth experience, launching on February 19 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store).

In a new adventure for the master of shadows, Styx: Blades of Greed invites players to explore the Continent of Iserian in all its verticality and to stealthily eliminate their enemies. Thanks to the powers of Quartz and new traversal tools, Styx is freer than ever. In this installment, stealth is driven above all by creativity, giving players a great deal of freedom in their approach, where every situation becomes a playground for experimentation. There is never just one way to tackle a mission: players are free to invent their own style of stealth to sneak, trap, and assassinate without leaving a trace.

Styx now boasts an entirely new arsenal: he can harness the mysterious powers of Quartz to control his enemies or even time itself. He also has new mobility tools, including a glider to soar through the air, metal claws to climb walls, and a grappling hook to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Finally, the most mischievous of goblins can be fully customized through skill trees that enhance his powers and tools, as well as runes that modify gameplay.

Developed on Unreal® Engine 5, the game features vast vertical environments that players can explore freely. For the first time in the series, the game adopts a Metroidvania-style structure, allowing players to gradually unlock previously inaccessible areas as they acquire new abilities.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a stealth and action-adventure game developed by French studio Cyanide® and the third installment in the Styx series, which has captivated more than 2 million players worldwide. The game builds on the proven formula of its predecessors and refines it by placing freedom and creativity at the heart of the experience. Players take on the role of Styx, a cunning goblin with a razor-sharp mind and a true master of stealth. Their goal is to get their hands on Quartz, the most valuable and dangerous resource in a world on the brink of war between elves, humans, and orcs. Players can freely explore vast vertical environments thanks to new tools such as the grappling hook and the glider, as well as new powers. They must help the master of shadows steal the Quartz while outsmarting the traps of the Inquisition. Whether discovering Styx for the first time or reuniting with a familiar goblin, greed has never felt this good!

XGIMI Unveils New Professional Grade Projector Series TITAN Noir Max

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

After its breakout debut in the professional world, XGIMI’s TITAN returns at CES 2026 in a new generation built for anyone who craves uncompromising quality. The new TITAN Noir Max Series takes everything the brand has learned from designers, producers, AV professionals, and everyday viewers, and transforms it into a projector that feels just as at home in a family media room as in a high-end creative workspace. It’s powerful enough for professionals, but intuitive enough for the people who simply want their favorite movies, games, and stories to project extraordinarily.

Where last year’s TITAN marked XGIMI’s entrance into the pro space, the new TITAN Noir Max Series marks something bigger: the moment professional-grade projection becomes personal. Upgraded hardware, the most advanced dynamic iris system, and precision-tuned optics bring out the kind of depth, contrast, and color nuance once reserved for post-production studios – now available to anyone who wants the best picture XGIMI has ever engineered.

A Dynamic IRIS System That Brings Stories to Life

The heart of the TITAN Noir Max Series is XGIMI’s most advanced dynamic IRIS system to date, boosting native contrast to 10,000:1 and reshaping how every scene feels. This isn’t just about deeper blacks or brighter highlights, but mood, emotion, and immersion that improve real-world viewing.

Every frame becomes an invitation to look closer. See the individual drops of rain catching neon light on a midnight street, the delicate weave of a velvet curtain in shadow, the faint tremor of a candle flame illuminating a character’s face – details once lost now define the scene. Highlights don’t just glow, they breathe: city lights hold their shape against true black, eyes gleam with intention, and specular reflections on metal stay crisp, not blown out. This is how contrast becomes narrative – by revealing not just what’s in the frame, but why it matters.“We’ve always believed that projection should feel extraordinary – something that elevates

any space, whether it’s a family room or a full production studio,” said Apollo Zhong, Chairman of XGIMI. “With TITAN Noir Max, we took everything we learned from building our first professional model and pushed it further. This series reflects our vision for projection’s future: professional-grade performance that anyone can enjoy, without complexity or compromise.”

Re-engineered SST DMD Architecture Pushes Brightness Boundaries

At the heart of the new system is SST, a re-engineered DMD architecture capable of handling substantially higher light power densities. The upgraded thermal pathway effectively dissipates heat at the chip level, ensuring sustained brightness, reduced thermal stress, and improved lifecycle stability in demanding projection environments.

The re-engineered SST Architecture advances XGIMI’s philosophy of accessible innovation by pairing professional hardware with the kind of simplicity usually reserved for consumer products.

For professionals, TITAN Noir Max offers the stability, accuracy, and reliability required for color-critical work, studio environments, and high-end installations. For families and enthusiasts, it turns a blank wall into a cinematic event.

This is projection in its purest form: precision engineering that fades into the background, leaving only a brilliant, immersive image before users.

From CES to Launch

The new TITAN Noir Max Series will make its public debut at CES 2026, where media, creators, and industry partners will be invited for hands-on demonstrations ahead of its preorder in Q1 2026. Further sales details for the TITAN Noir Max Series will be announced at a later date.

XGIMI Goes Beyond the Screen at CES 2026 with MEMOMIND

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

For years, XGIMI has helped people see differently – transforming walls into canvases and light into an immersive experience. Now, the company is reframing how we see the world itself. At CES 2026, XGIMI announces the launch of a new AI hardware brand, MemoMind, which will unveil its first suite of customizable AI glasses.

Born from XGIMI’s strategic incubation, MemoMind marks its first venture beyond projection, drawing upon the company’s design philosophy and optical precision to enter the fast-emerging world of AI wearables. Unlike many AI wearables that feel experimental or intrusive, Memomind is designed to blend seamlessly into daily life. Its first-generation products focus on what matters most: all-day comfort, intuitive interaction, and AI that works quietly in the background – supporting users only when they need it.

Through a combination of ultralight design, adaptive intelligence, and unparalleled visibility, MemoMind reimagines what AI glasses can be: not another gadget to manage, but a companion to think with.

Designed for Personalization, Built for Daily Life

MemoMind’s AI glasses are among the most customizable on the market, offering eight frame styles and five interchangeable temple designs, along with full prescription-lens support. This modular approach allows users to tailor their glasses to their style, needs, and routines – making MemoMind as personal as the eyewear people already wear every day.

Comfort is a foundational design principle. The ultra-light Memo Air Display weighs just 28.9 grams, making it one of the lightest AI glasses available today. Designed for all-day wear, it’s supported by a full-day battery and a charging case that extends use up to a full week, ensuring AI assistance is always available without friction.

Three Product Series, One Everyday-First Philosophy

At launch, MemoMind introduces three product series, each designed around a different balance of display capability and wearability, while maintaining a consistent focus on comfort, simplicity, and ease of use.

  • Memo One is MemoMind’s most feature-complete model, combining integrated speakers with a dual-eye display for both visual and audio AI interaction. It’s designed for users who want the most comprehensive AI experience in a fully customizable pair of display glasses.
  • Memo Air Display prioritizes minimalism and natural wear, featuring a single-eye (monocular) display that delivers essential information while preserving the look, balance, and feel of traditional eyewear. Fully customizable across frames and temples, it’s designed for users who want intelligence without visual overload.

MemoMind also confirmed that a third model, designed to feel even closer to normal glasses, is currently in development and will be announced at a later date.

AI That Works Quietly in the Background

MemoMind glasses run on a multi-LLM hybrid operating system that automatically selects the most suitable AI model for each task – including OpenAI, Azure, and Qwen. Features such as translation, summarization, note-taking, reminders, and contextual guidance operate quietly in the background, keeping interactions brief, relevant, and unobtrusive.

Built on XGIMI Expertise, Designed for Everyday Thinking

Drawing on more than a decade of XGIMI’s experience in optics and industrial design, MemoMind delivers clear, stable air-display visuals that adapt seamlessly to ambient light and movement. Refined proportions, ultralight materials, and thoughtful engineering help MemoMind avoid the bulky look of many AI wearables, redefining AI glasses as a natural companion for everyday thinking, not another device to manage.

“Why choose AI glasses?” said Apollo Zhong, XGIMI Founder and lead investor of MemoMind. “Glasses are the most natural, lowest-friction form factor for intelligence. They fit into people’s lives without requiring new habits. We didn’t choose AI glasses—this is simply the form that makes the most sense for delivering real, everyday intelligence.”

Availability

MemoMind AI Glasses will be showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, at Pepcom (Paris Las Vegas) on January 5, 2026, and at The Venetian Expo – Galileo 1005, January 5, 2026 through January 9, 2026. Preorders will open soon, with Memo One expected to be priced at approximately $599, followed by additional models at later dates.

ORIGIN PC Introduces the S-Class Edge AI Developer Kit

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, News

ORIGIN PC today revealed the S-Class Edge AI, a compact and turnkey developer kit built around the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB Super. The platform is designed for developers, researchers, and integrators who need a ready-to-use environment for robotics, computer vision, and edge AI workloads. It delivers up to 157 TOPS of performance and allows users to move from unboxing to real-time inference within minutes. S-Class Edge AI represents a new step in ORIGIN PC’s expansion into advanced edge computing solutions.

A Compact and Developer Focused Form Factor

The S-Class Edge AI features a small enclosure that fits easily on a desk, lab bench, or classroom workstation. Front and rear ports include USB 3.2, USB Type C OTG, HDMI 2.0, audio I/O, DC power, and dual Ethernet connectivity. This layout supports peripherals, displays, and robotics equipment and allows developers to begin testing immediately.

 

S-Class Edge AI Image2

 

The thermally optimized chassis supports stable operation during extended workloads. The compact footprint reinforces the platform’s role as a lab-friendly and classroom-friendly solution that provides workstation level capability without taking up significant space.

 

S-Class Edge AI Image3

 

Turnkey Software Environment for Faster Development

S-Class Edge AI arrives with a fully prepared JetPack SDK environment, curated sample pipelines, and validation-ready workflows. This configuration removes setup barriers and allows teams to validate models and perception pipelines quickly. The kit also supports ROS2 development and structured benchmarks that help early prototypes align with real deployment requirements.

The combination of 16GB LPDDR5 memory and 1TB high speed NVMe storage supports larger AI models, multi-stream robotics workloads, and concurrent inference pipelines.

Built for Developers, Researchers, Integrators, and Education

  • Developers benefit from a ready-to-run environment that accelerates testing and model optimization.
  • Research institutions gain consistent hardware and software for reproducible experimentation.
  • System integrators can prototype and validate concepts more efficiently.
  • Education programs receive classroom-ready documentation and Jupyter notebook support for multi-unit labs.

 

S-Class Edge AI Image4

 

Key Capabilities of S-Class Edge AI

  • Up to 157 TOPS of AI performance powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB Super.
  • Turnkey JetPack environment with CUDA, TensorRT, and validated pipelines.
  • 1TB NVMe storage and 16GB LPDDR5 memory for demanding robotics and AI workloads.
  • Validation toolkit with structured benchmarks and ROS2 support.
  • Compact and thermally optimized chassis with flexible I/O options.
  • Designed for rapid prototyping and development aligned with deployment needs.

Launch Timing

S-Class Edge AI will debut at CES 2026 in January, with full availability in February 2026.

Learn more at: https://www.originpc.com/workstation/desktops/s-class-edge-ai/

Disneyland Handcrafted Official Trailer

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

The magic of Walt Disney’s dream unfolds when Disneyland Handcrafted, a feature documentary from Leslie Iwerks, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. Built from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, the film begins streaming on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22.

Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955.

The documentary captures both the legacy and nostalgia of the year leading up to the creation of the Disneyland Resort. Through newly unearthed materials from the Walt Disney Archives, Iwerks and her team uncovered long-forgotten 16mm film reels and audio recordings. The result is an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall perspective that captures what was truly happening behind the scenes, told through the firsthand accounts of the artists, craftsmen, and Imagineers who were there.

Since opening over 70 years ago, Disneyland has laid the groundwork for a massive global theme park industry that is currently in the biggest era of growth, making this film a truly special treat for Disney fans.

Digital Storm Debuts Vector and Aventum 5 at CES 2026

2026/01/05
Jerry Paxton
CES, Geek News, Hardware News, News

Digital Storm today unveiled two new desktop platforms at CES 2026, Vector and Aventum 5, which showcase two distinct approaches to modern high-end computing: an unapologetically extreme liquid-cooled tower and a dramatically slimmer performance desktop that condenses serious hardware into a compact footprint.

Rethinking High-end Desktops

For the last decade, many high-end desktops have grown bigger, louder, and more power hungry in the race for peak numbers. Vector and Aventum 5 take a different path, focusing on how a PC performs and behaves over hours of rendering, creation, or AI workloads, not just what it hits in a 30-second benchmark run. Both platforms are engineered around modern CPUs from Intel and AMD and graphics options up to NVIDIA RTX 6000 Pro Blackwell, targeting enthusiasts, creators, and AI users who need high, repeatable performance without turning their setups into space heaters.

“High-end desktops shouldn’t have to feel excessive just to be fast,” said Harjit Chana, Founder at Digital Storm. “With Vector and Aventum 5, we wanted to show that you can push hardware to its limits while still caring about thermals, acoustics, and the space it takes up on or under a desk.”

Vector: Compact, Dense, and Deliberate

Vector approaches the same problem from the opposite direction: what if a serious high-end desktop did not have to dominate a room? With a much slimmer footprint than a traditional ATX tower, Vector measures roughly 18 x 13 x 4 inches, packing high-end hardware into a chassis just 4 inches wide.

Vector focuses on performance density, carefully managing heat, airflow, and noise within a constrained volume while still supporting powerful CPUs and modern high-end GPUs. In its top configurations, Vector can be equipped with up to an NVIDIA RTX 6000 Pro Blackwell GPU paired with either an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X or an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, bringing workstation-class performance into a compact desktop.

The layout, cooling path, and component clearances are designed to highlight the real tradeoffs involved in compact design, rather than hiding them. The result is a system that challenges expectations of how small a “real” desktop can be while remaining upgradeable and suitable for demanding rendering, creator, or AI workloads.

“Vector is for people who want a powerful PC but do not necessarily want a massive tower next to their desk,” added Harjit Chana. “It acknowledges the constraints of compact systems and then works within them, instead of pretending size does not matter.”

Aventum 5: Extreme Sustained Performance

Aventum 5 is Digital Storm’s latest expression of a no-compromise, fully liquid-cooled desktop, built for long-duration CPU and GPU workloads where stability and thermals matter as much as peak speed. The chassis has been redesigned from the inside out to prioritize radiator capacity, airflow routing, and serviceability, with the goal of keeping next-generation CPUs and RTX 6000-class GPUs performing at boost clocks for extended sessions without throttling.

Aventum 5 integrates a large display directly into the chassis, bringing real-time system telemetry and custom visuals into view without overlays or extra monitors. Users can monitor temperatures, clocks, utilization, and cooling performance at a glance, turning the system’s internals into part of the experience rather than something hidden behind software.

“Aventum has always been about going further than a typical tower, but this generation is specifically tuned for sustained loads, from heavy 3D rendering to long AI runs,” said Harjit Chana. “We sized the cooling and power delivery around the reality of modern high-wattage GPUs and multi-core CPUs so users can push their hardware hard without watching clocks fall off a cliff after a few minutes.”

Configurations, Pricing, and CES Availability

Both Vector and Aventum 5 will be available with a wide range of configurations, including the latest desktop platforms from AMD and Intel and graphics options from NVIDIA up to the RTX 6000 Pro Blackwell. Systems can be tailored for ultra high-end rendering, professional content creation, or AI and data science workloads, with options for large memory configurations, fast NVMe storage, and robust power supplies.

Pricing for Aventum 5 is expected to start at approximately $3,000 USD, with higher-end builds scaling based on component selection and custom cooling options. Vector will start at approximately $2,000 USD, offering a more compact entry point into high-end performance desktops without abandoning upgrade paths or thermal headroom. Both systems are planned to be available to configure on digitalstorm.com in Q2 2026.

Digital Storm will showcase Vector and Aventum 5 by appointment at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, with private walkthroughs, hardware deep dives, and media briefings available for attending press and creators. Media interested in demos, additional technical details, or review units can contact Yael Grimaldi at press@digitalstorm.com to schedule a time during the show.

About Digital Storm

Digital Storm is a U.S. based manufacturer of high-performance desktops, workstations, and servers, known for custom configurations, advanced cooling solutions, and enthusiast-grade builds for gamers, creators, and professionals. For more information, visit www.digitalstorm.com.

Avatar: Fire and Ash Passes $1B at the Global Box Office

2026/01/04
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

The Walt Disney Studios announced today that 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash has officially surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, cementing another monumental achievement for James Cameron’s groundbreaking franchise and underscoring its unparalleled connection with audiences worldwide.

The milestone makes Avatar: Fire and Ash the third film in the franchise to surpass $1 billion globally, establishing Avatar among the most elite franchises in cinema history – and one of only a select few whose three films have each crossed the billion-dollar threshold. It is also the third $1 billion title released by The Walt Disney Studios in 2025 alongside Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch.

Avatar: Fire and Ash has demonstrated the franchise’s signature theatrical staying power, building its global total through sustained performance driven by premium-format demand, and extended international play – hallmarks that have defined the Avatar phenomenon since 2009.

Key Highlights:

  • $ 1.083 billion global gross to date ($306 million domestic / $777.1 million international)
  • #2 MPA global release of 2025
  • #2 among the year’s top-grossing MPA international releases with standout results across multiple markets including China ($138 million and the second highest-grossing MPA film of 2025), France ($81 million), Germany ($64 million), and Korea ($44 million)
  • Franchise power with three Avatar films delivering a combined global box office total exceeding $6.35 billion to date

Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its theatrical run in theaters worldwide.