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<img width="2560" height="1440" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-scaled.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="PDNob PDF Editor" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-scaled.webp 2560w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-2048x1152.webp 2048w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1024x576-1280x720.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pdnob-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

If you create PDFs for business, client work, or internal documentation, you already know the pain: subscriptions add up fast. Adobe Acrobat is powerful, but not everyone needs a monthly bill just to edit, merge, or annotate a file. Enter PDNob—a full-featured PDF editor designed to handle everyday document tasks without the heavyweight price tag.

PDNob, from Tenorshare, is a downloadable PDF editor for Windows and Mac that lets you create PDFs from scratch or open and edit existing documents. Whether you’re starting fresh or cleaning up a file someone else sent you, it’s built to simplify the workflow.

The software includes a free tier, plus individual and team licensing options. The standout? A lifetime license option that eliminates recurring fees. For freelancers, small businesses, or teams onboarding new members, that pricing model can be a serious advantage over traditional subscription-based tools.

Get Started Here

Open PDNob and you’ll immediately notice the ribbon-style interface. It feels similar to Microsoft Office, which means less time learning and more time getting work done.

From the main dashboard, you can:

Creating a blank PDF looks and feels like building a Word document. You can add text, adjust fonts, resize and reposition elements, insert images, crop graphics, and manage layout with simple drag-and-drop controls.

One area where many adobe alternative tools fall short is document recovery. PDNob includes built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition), allowing you to convert scanned image-based PDFs into editable text. That means no more retyping entire documents just because they were scanned years ago.

On top of that, PDNob integrates AI features powered by ChatGPT-4 or DeepSeek. You can upload a document to the cloud to summarize long PDFs, extract key insights, or ask questions about the content. For researchers, educators, or professionals digging through lengthy legal or medical PDFs, that’s a serious productivity boost.

Need to merge multiple PDFs into one? Compress large files for email? Convert a PDF into Word, Excel, or even PowerPoint? PDNob handles all of it with built-in conversion and batch processing tools.

You can also protect documents with passwords, control editing permissions, and permanently redact sensitive content. For businesses handling contracts, HR documents, or financial files, these features are essential.

Pros

Cons

If you rely heavily on advanced Acrobat integrations across multiple platforms, Adobe may still be your ecosystem. But if you’re looking for a capable pdf editor that covers editing, OCR, AI summarization, redaction, and conversion—without locking you into a subscription—PDNob makes a compelling case.

For freelancers, educators, small teams, or anyone tired of paying monthly just to tweak documents, this Adobe alternative could be the smarter move.

Get Started Here

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Last Updated on February 17, 2026 8:39 am by Jeffrey Powers

The post This Adobe Acrobat Alternative is Free – Time to Quit Adobe? PDNob appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="2560" height="1440" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-scaled.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Central Hall at CES 2026" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-scaled.webp 2560w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-2048x1152.webp 2048w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1024x576-1280x720.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/central-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

Central Hall is always the heart of CES, and CES 2026 proves once again why this space defines the show. This is where the biggest brands, the boldest concepts, and the most ambitious consumer tech all come together in one place. This year, Central Hall feels like a roadmap for how innovation is becoming more personal, more AI-driven, and more deeply integrated into everyday life.

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One of the most practical examples of CES 2026 innovation comes from VIAIM and its OpenNote headset. These over-ear, open-style AI headphones are designed to keep you aware of your surroundings while giving you access to transcription, voice assistance, and note-taking on the go. The balanced design keeps them comfortable and secure, while features like active noise cancellation, app-based EQ control, and a slim charging case make them feel like a serious productivity tool. With up to 53 hours of total battery life using the case, this is a clear signal that AI-powered wearables are becoming a core part of consumer tech.

Alongside it is the VIAIM Rec.Dot, a smaller AI companion device paired with a compact note kit, reinforcing the idea that in CES 2026, AI isn’t just software anymore—it’s something you physically carry with you.

D Paul takes the idea of a smart assistant and turns it into something you can actually interact with on a more human level. This tabletop device features an animated character that responds to voice, touch, gestures, and even tracks your head movement using its built-in camera. You can switch characters, change scenes, make calls, and control smart home features, all while the character reacts in real time to what you’re doing.

It’s a great example of how CES 2026 is pushing AI beyond simple voice commands and into more visual, emotional, and interactive experiences that feel less like a tool and more like a digital companion.

TUYA shows just how far smart home tech has evolved with its AI pet robot. Using advanced navigation, cameras, and sensors, this robot can move safely around your home while tracking your pet’s activity, food, water intake, and overall health. It can even interact with your pet, turning routine care into something far more automated and data-driven.

TUYA also showcases smaller emotional companion devices like Pazuzu, which feel like a next-generation, AI-powered digital pet. These little characters can respond to touch, remember past interactions, and offer a surprisingly personal experience, highlighting how CES 2026 is blending robotics, AI, and emotional design.

Changhong and its ChiQ brand are making a major statement in Central Hall with massive, ultra-thin AI-powered TVs. The 100-inch RGB Mini LED models push extreme brightness, rich color, and powerful built-in sound, all while sitting nearly flush against the wall. With AI-driven picture enhancements and display modes that can turn the screen into artwork, these TVs show how premium displays are becoming both entertainment centers and design elements in the home.

This is Central Hall at its best: showing how consumer tech is becoming both more powerful and more seamlessly integrated into everyday living spaces.

Hisense is betting big on ultra-short-throw projection with its L9Q Laser TV, turning almost any wall into a massive cinematic display. With enormous screen sizes, high brightness, and a premium audio partnership, the L9Q is clearly designed to deliver a true home theater experience without the complexity of a traditional projector setup. It’s a strong reminder that in CES 2026, big-screen experiences are no longer limited to traditional TVs.

Not everything in Central Hall is about the future—some of it is about reimagining the past. My Arcade’s Atari Game Station packs thousands of classic games into a slim, lightweight console with modern connections and familiar controls. It’s a reminder that even at CES 2026, nostalgia still has a strong place in consumer tech, especially when it’s this easy to pick up and play.

From AI wearables and emotional companion robots to wall-filling displays and cinematic laser projection systems, Central Hall at CES 2026 feels like a concentrated preview of where innovation is headed next. It’s not just about faster or bigger anymore—it’s about smarter, more personal, and more integrated technology that fits naturally into everyday life.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 11:22 am by Jeffrey Powers

The post The Best of Central Hall at CES 2026 appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Venetian at CES 2026" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/venetian-upper-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

The Venetian at CES 2026 is where innovation feels closest to the show floor, and the upper level in particular delivers a concentrated dose of emerging ideas, practical AI, and a surprising number of robots that actually solve everyday problems. Walking this hall feels like a curated preview of what’s about to hit homes, cars, and offices—less concept, more “you could buy this soon.” From smarter wellness tech to genuinely useful home automation, the Venetian proves why it remains a must-see stop every year.

Trevi’s booth is the kind of CES mashup that only works here: premium Korean-engineered bathroom wellness products alongside a fully automated espresso machine. The coffee system handles everything from beans to froth with a simple touchscreen, delivering café-style drinks at a fraction of the usual price for machines in this class. Pair that with Trevi’s lineup of smart bidet toilets—complete with heated seats, remote controls, and wellness features—and you get a surprisingly cohesive vision of everyday comfort tech that blends convenience with affordability.

In the Japan tech area, KO Corporation showed off MySymmetry and The Core, a two-part approach to fixing posture and alignment. MySymmetry uses an app to visualize body misalignment and recommend exercises, while The Core uses smart heel inserts to correct how you stand and walk. It’s a great example of AI being used quietly and practically—less flash, more long-term health benefit—especially for anyone who spends long days on their feet or traveling show floors like CES.

The Innovation Awards area is a highlight reel of CES in physical form. Here you’ll find everything from Nvidia’s latest GPUs to rehabilitation robots, advanced security cameras, smart firefighting robots, and next-gen wearables. It’s also where the robot vacuum and smart home categories continue to evolve, showing how AI is being embedded into devices that clean, monitor, and protect without demanding constant attention.

From Ukraine comes Beatless, a chemical-free agricultural pest control system designed to protect crops while staying pollinator-safe. Using sensors and targeted deterrence, it supports safer food production and biodiversity at the same time. It’s a reminder that innovation at CES isn’t just about consumer gadgets—it’s also about applying technology to global problems in sustainable ways.

The Ontario, Canada area featured ViewReal’s MicroLED reference design kits, including transparent displays that can be embedded into mirrors, windows, or dashboards. The tech opens the door to subtle, context-aware information displays—think side mirrors that warn about passing vehicles or doors that show “On Air” when you’re recording. It’s a glimpse at how AI and display tech will blend into everyday surfaces without screaming for attention.

Hungary’s Voltae showed a smart EV charger designed to integrate with building management systems and smart homes. With app control, safety monitoring, and future-proofing features, it’s the kind of infrastructure tech that makes electric vehicles easier to live with, not just easier to sell.

For travelers who refuse to compromise on coffee, Wacaco’s Pixapresso is a battery-powered espresso machine that fits in a bag and can brew on demand. Whether you’re camping or stuck in a convention center with questionable coffee, this is pure CES practicality—small, focused, and surprisingly refined.

One of the most fun robots in the hall is SwitchBot’s AceMate, billed as the world’s first tennis robot for real rally play. Unlike simple ball launchers, AceMate moves around the court and returns shots, creating something much closer to a real practice session. It’s a perfect example of robotics moving from novelty to genuinely useful training tools.

Also from SwitchBot, the Onro H1 is a home robot designed to handle chores like picking up laundry, loading the washer, and even folding clothes. Watching it scan a room, adjust its posture, and carry out tasks makes it clear that domestic robotics is finally crossing from demo to deployment.

Creality’s Spark X series combines multi-material 3D printing with AI monitoring and even photo-to-3D conversion. With less waste, smarter filament handling, and real-time print supervision, it shows how AI is quietly making maker tech more reliable and more accessible.

The Target Omni system adds an AI-powered scoring ring to a standard dartboard, automatically tracking throws, keeping score, and recording games. It’s a simple upgrade that transforms a classic pub game into a data-driven, shareable experience.

Snailcle rounds out the wellness side with a compact infrared sauna and smart exercise equipment designed for small spaces. It’s another example of how innovation at CES 2026 is focusing on fitting advanced tech into real-world homes, not just show floors.

The Venetian Upper level at CES 2026 delivers a tightly packed tour of what’s next: practical AI, useful robots, and international startups solving real problems with smart design. It’s not about far-off concepts—it’s about tech you’ll likely see in homes, gyms, and courts sooner than you think.

Check it out at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTwZyIriq6E

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 11:06 am by Jeffrey Powers

The post Best of CES 2026 Venetian Upper: Startups, Tennis Robots appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="West Hall at CES 2026" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/west-hall-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

CES 2026’s West Hall makes a bold statement about where the automotive world is headed. Yes, there are cars here—but the real story is how robots, autonomy, and industrial automation are quietly redefining the future of travel. Walking the floor, it feels less like a traditional auto show and more like a preview of a world where vehicles, machines, and infrastructure think and move together.

Waymo’s presence anchors the West Hall with a clear message: fully autonomous mobility is no longer a concept—it’s infrastructure. The latest generation driverless vehicles, including all-electric models already operating in cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, show how far the tech has come since early hiccups. With advanced LiDAR and sensor stacks wrapped into production-ready designs, Waymo is positioning autonomy not as a novelty, but as a dependable, everyday transportation layer for cities, airports, and logistics.

One of the most practical innovations comes from Italy, where IDA demonstrates a retrofit autonomous driving system mounted to a Fiat 500e. The idea is simple and powerful: instead of buying a new car, you can upgrade the one you already own. A roof-mounted LiDAR system and supporting hardware turn a conventional vehicle into a semi-autonomous platform, still allowing the driver to take over at any time. It’s a glimpse of how autonomy could scale globally—by upgrading existing fleets instead of replacing them.

Industrial automation takes center stage with Smart Optical Sensors’ robotic platform. Designed for environments like airports and warehouses, these robots can move luggage or packages directly to people instead of forcing people to hunt for their items. With cameras and intelligent sensors on board, this is the kind of behind-the-scenes robotics that could quietly change how logistics, retail, and travel hubs operate—less waiting, less walking, more efficiency.

Sambo Motors’ multi-propeller drone aircraft looks like it flew straight out of science fiction, but the real star is the robotic inspection system that scans the aircraft before flight. These robots check the exterior, structure, and systems to ensure everything is ready and safe. It’s a perfect example of automation enabling the next generation of transportation—robots maintaining the machines that will move people through the air.

Autonomy in the West Hall isn’t just about cities. Kubota’s versatile robotic platform shows how agriculture is being transformed by connected, cloud-coordinated machines. This multi-purpose robot can handle tasks from tilling to harvesting, communicate with other machines in the field, and adapt to different work sites. It’s industrial robotics meeting food production, and it highlights how the innovation at CES 2026 extends far beyond cars.

Among the crowd-pleasers is the V-Bot Superdog, an intelligent robotic companion designed for real-world environments. Beyond the novelty, it has serious applications: search, rescue, and assistance in outdoor scenarios. With long battery life, advanced perception, and the ability to seek help if someone is injured, this is robotics stepping into roles traditionally filled by trained animals and humans.

Even something as simple as a bird feeder becomes a showcase for on-device AI in Qualcomm’s Dragonwing. With built-in cameras, solar power, and real-time bird recognition, it demonstrates how the same technologies driving cars and robots are also filtering into consumer devices. It’s a reminder that the West Hall’s innovations are part of a much bigger ecosystem of connected, intelligent machines.

Oshkosh brings one of the most imposing vehicles on the floor: a next-generation, sensor-laden fire and rescue truck. With automated doors, advanced cameras, and rugged all-terrain design, this is a vehicle built for speed, safety, and coordination in the most extreme conditions. It shows how autonomy and robotics aren’t just about convenience—they’re about saving lives.

If there’s a symbol of the futuristic spirit of CES 2026, it might be the Leo Flight jet bike. A compact, electric, jet-propelled personal aircraft that doesn’t require a pilot’s license, it promises short hops across lakes or terrain at speeds up to 60 mph. With limited flight time, it’s not practical for everyone—but it perfectly captures the experimental edge of the future of travel.

Not all innovation is about movement—some of it is about protection. Alpinestars’ Tech-Air airbag system for riders deploys instantly during a crash, adding a smart, invisible layer of safety for motorcyclists and extreme sports enthusiasts. It’s another example of sensors and AI quietly working in the background to reduce risk.

The West Hall at CES 2026 feels like a turning point. Traditional automotive hardware is still here, but it’s increasingly surrounded—and sometimes overshadowed—by robots, automation, and intelligent systems. The real story isn’t just about what we’ll drive, but about the machines that will drive, manage, inspect, protect, and even fly us. This is the West Hall’s message: the future of travel isn’t just about cars anymore—it’s about an entire robotic ecosystem moving the world.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 11:00 am by Jeffrey Powers

The post CES 2026 West Hall – Auto and Industrial Automation. Less Cars, More Robots? appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="dreame Cyber X" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dreame-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

Dreame came to CES 2026 ready to show that it’s far more than just a robot vacuum company. The booth was packed with smart home tech that stretches from floor care to hair care, all tied together under the expanding Dreame Home ecosystem. From robot vacuums and stand up vacuums to a robot pool cleaner and smart hair dryers, the company is clearly building a full-stack approach to home automation with a strong emphasis on AI and hands-free operation.

Dreame’s robot vacuum lineup remains the star of the show, led by the X60 Max Ultra Complete. This model focuses on ultra-thin design, advanced obstacle detection, and AI-powered navigation that can identify and maneuver around objects in real time. With strong suction, self-emptying docking, and automated mop cleaning, it’s designed to handle daily cleaning without constant human intervention.

The Cyber 10 Ultra takes things further with a built-in robotic arm that can pick up small objects like socks or toys before cleaning. This tackles one of the most common frustrations with robot vacuums and pushes Dreame closer to true autonomous cleaning. It also features powerful suction, multi-layer threshold crossing, and a multifunction dock that handles maintenance automatically.

One of the most futuristic concepts in the Dreame lineup is the Dreame Cyber X, a modular stair-climbing system that turns a standard robot vacuum into a true multi-level cleaning machine. The Cyber X acts like a powered transport dock, using a bionic quad-track system to carry the robot vacuum up and down a full flight of stairs, dock it, and then deploy it to clean another floor before bringing it back down again. Once docked, the robot separates and continues cleaning on its own, then returns to the Cyber X platform for transport back. It’s a bold step toward fully autonomous whole-house cleaning, especially for multi-story homes where robot vacuums have traditionally been limited to a single level.

Dreame’s stand up vacuum and wet/dry lineup focuses on high power and low maintenance. The Z20 Station and Aero series emphasize strong suction, tangle-free brush systems, and docks that automatically empty debris and prepare the vacuum for the next cleaning session.

Higher-end models like the H15 Pro and H16 Pro Steam introduce hot water washing and steam cleaning, aimed at kitchens, entryways, and homes with pets. These systems are built to handle everything from dry debris to sticky spills and deep carpet grime, while keeping manual cleanup to a minimum.

Dreame is also taking its automation strategy outside with the Z2 Ultra robot pool cleaner. This 7-in-1 omni-clean system uses powerful suction and smart navigation with LiDAR and sonar to clean the bottom and sides of a pool. It features auto-docking wireless charging and can return itself to its dock when the job is done.

A higher-end version can even surface itself for easy retrieval, making routine pool maintenance far more hands-free and consistent.

One of the most surprising areas of the booth was hair care. The Miracle Pro smart hair dryer uses AI-controlled temperature management, high-speed motors, and special cartridges that can deliver nutrients or scent while drying. The goal is to dry hair faster while reducing heat damage and improving overall hair health.

The upcoming Pilot model adds a built-in camera and app control, allowing users to monitor and adjust the drying process in real time. With intelligent nozzle recognition and smart presets, Dreame is clearly positioning hair care as another part of its smart home ecosystem.

Alongside cleaning and hair care, Dreame also showed a lineup of air purifiers and climate devices designed to handle large spaces, pet hair, and everyday air quality concerns. These products reinforce the company’s broader strategy: building a connected Dreame Home ecosystem that covers as many parts of daily life as possible.

From robot vacuums that can climb stairs, to a robot pool cleaner that docks itself, to smart hair dryers and powerful stand up vacuums, Dreame’s CES presence showed a company going all-in on AI-driven home automation. The focus is clear: fewer chores, less maintenance, and a smarter, more autonomous home experience across the entire Dreame lineup.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 10:55 am by Jeffrey Powers

The post Dreame Cyber X – Taking Your Robots Upstairs: CES 2026 appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="pepcom at CES 2026" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pepcom-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

Pepcom always serves as one of the best warm-ups to CES, and at CES 2026, the show floor once again delivered a dense mix of practical gear, ambitious concepts, and a few outright fun surprises. This second walk-through focused on the non-sponsored side of the event, digging into the kinds of products that quietly shape how we work, play, and recover from long days on the show floor. From serious Thunderbolt 5 connectivity to smart locks, recovery gadgets, and even pinball machines, Pepcom proved why it remains a must-stop before CES officially kicks into gear.

At the Pluggable booth, the spotlight was on the TBT-UDH2 Thunderbolt 5 docking station, a vertically oriented dock designed for desks that are short on horizontal space but big on connectivity needs. It brings dual HDMI 2.1 support, multiple USB-C and USB-A ports at 5Gbps and 10Gbps, and power delivery to keep a laptop charged while driving a full workstation setup. The vertical design isn’t just aesthetic—it’s a practical solution for cramped setups, and it signals how Thunderbolt 5 is about to make high-bandwidth, single-cable desks the norm.

Check out Plugable for when TBT-UDH2 is available.

Amazfit showed off the ActiveMax smartwatch, a 51mm, Android-style wearable aimed squarely at people who want features without paying flagship prices. With up to 25 days of battery life, GPS tracking, health monitoring, and roughly 170 sports modes, it’s clearly targeting the “do-everything” fitness crowd. At around $169, it positions itself as the kind of watch you can rely on daily—and even keep a second one charging—without worrying about premium-tier pricing.

Get the Amazfit Activemax

MyQ expanded its smart-home ecosystem with the SecureView 3-in-1 Smart Lock, combining a deadbolt, camera, and doorbell into a single unit. It supports three ways to unlock—key, keypad, or face recognition—and integrates directly into the broader MyQ app experience. The real appeal here is control: see who’s at the door, let in a delivery or a friend remotely, and keep everything logged in one place. At $279, it’s a compelling all-in-one approach to modern front-door security without forcing a subscription just to use the basics.

Get the MyQ 3-in-1 Doorbell

LePro, known for creator lighting gear, showed two interesting pieces of its next generation. The LePro Ami is a prototype personal assistant with a screen, camera, sensors, and touch controls—clearly aimed at a future where lighting and creator tools are more interactive and context-aware. Alongside it, the TV1 Pro evolves the fold-out light concept with an AI microphone and AI-driven lighting designer. You can literally describe the lighting you want, and the device builds the scene for you—hands-free. It’s a strong hint at where creator gear is heading: less fiddling with dials, more telling the gear what you want.

Sign up for AMI

Renpho brought a full suite of recovery and wellness devices. The Eyeris Zen eye massager adds “headspace” style meditation features, adjustable heat, and pressure modes, turning it into more than just a massage tool. Alongside it, the Active Mini Thermacool massage gun introduces both heating and cooling for muscle recovery, while the Artemis LED light therapy mask offers a flexible, silicone-based approach to facial treatment. It’s a reminder that CES 2026 isn’t just about screens and chips—it’s also about surviving long days in front of them.

More at Renphro

Navee previewed the UT5 Ultra X electric scooter, a beast that pushes into motorcycle-like territory with a top speed around 45 mph, a powerful dual-motor setup, and serious climbing ability. It’s not on sale yet, but it shows how the line between “scooter” and “light electric vehicle” keeps blurring. A slightly smaller sibling, the NT5 Ultra X, targets riders who want similar range and performance at a more moderate level.

More on Navee

No Pepcom walk-through is complete without a little fun. A nimble, dog-like robot showed off acrobatics and personality, complete with a front display face and expressive movements. On the retro-cool side, Stern Pinball brought multiple machines, including newer releases, reminding everyone that physical, tactile entertainment still has a place even in an AI-soaked CES 2026.

Check out Stern Pinball

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 3:10 pm by Jeffrey Powers

The post Pepcom CES 2026 Walkthrough: Hidden Gems & First Reveals appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="2560" height="1440" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-scaled.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="CES 2026 Pepcom" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-scaled.webp 2560w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-2048x1152.webp 2048w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1024x576-1280x720.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ces-pep-1-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

Pepcom always serves as an early pulse check for what’s about to break big at CES, and the CES 2026 preview event delivered a focused mix of practical innovation, creator gear, and genuinely useful consumer tech. From smart eyewear that adapts instantly to changing conditions to mobile video rigs, pet safety technology, smarter power accessories, and a surprising resurgence in US-based manufacturing, these five companies show how product design is shifting toward flexibility, portability, and real-world problem solving.

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Chamelo is redefining what “smart eyewear” means with electronically controlled lenses that change tint instantly instead of relying on slow-reacting photochromic chemistry. Using flexible liquid crystal technology laminated into the lens, Chamelo’s glasses let you precisely control brightness levels regardless of lighting conditions. At Pepcom, the company showcased ski and snowboard goggles with three instant tint levels, sports glasses, golf-specific high-contrast lenses, and lifestyle frames made from premium acetate. They also demonstrated lenses that selectively block increasing amounts of blue light, turning everyday eyewear into a customizable visual comfort tool for work, play, and nighttime use.

Chamelo Website

ShiftCam continues to push mobile content creation forward with its new ProRig system, a lightweight but highly modular rig that turns a smartphone into a compact production studio. The system supports mounting lights, external storage, and power hubs, including ShiftCam’s own Planck SSDs, while remaining small and light enough to comfortably carry around a show floor like CES. On the storage side, ShiftCam is expanding its lineup with new Essential and Studio SSD tiers, offering more capacity, faster speeds, and even on-device readouts. Combined with new cases, lenses, and filters, ShiftCam is building a complete ecosystem for serious mobile creators.

Check out Shiftcam

Rescue Retriever addresses a heartbreaking and often overlooked problem: pets lost in house fires. Designed by a firefighter, the system looks like a smoke detector but is built specifically to help first responders find pets faster. When smoke is detected, the unit silently activates and begins strobing, guiding firefighters to the room where a pet is most likely hiding. The system also uses reflective decals to indicate pet locations and can pair with a collar-mounted Fire Tag to help locate pets hiding under beds or furniture. It’s a simple idea with the potential to save thousands of animal lives every year.

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Scosche focused on everyday essentials with the GoBat 10K Pro battery pack, a compact charger that combines Qi wireless charging with two built-in pull-out cables so multiple devices can be charged at once. It even plugs directly into the wall, eliminating the need for extra cords. Alongside it, Scosche showed its MagStack cables, which use magnetic materials to wrap neatly around themselves, preventing tangles while still supporting fast charging. Add in their Found It tracking accessories for wallets and cards, and Scosche continues to refine the small tech that quietly makes daily life easier.

Check out Scosche

StuffMFG may have delivered the most surprising story at Pepcom. Founded by Shark Tank alumnus Hans, the company is opening a silicone manufacturing facility in the US focused on consumer products, an area that has largely been outsourced overseas. Their first in-house product is the Octopad, a MagSafe-compatible suction-cup mount that doubles as a grip, stand, and flexible mounting solution for phones on glass, metal, or even car vents. Beyond the product itself, the bigger story is the factory: StuffMFG is already producing silicone goods for other brands at highly competitive prices, signaling a possible shift in how and where consumer accessories get made.

Check out StuffMFG

Together, these five companies show that CES 2026 isn’t just about faster chips or brighter screens. It’s about making technology more adaptable, more useful, and more human-centered, whether that means empowering creators, protecting pets, or rethinking how products are manufactured.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 2:56 pm by Jeffrey Powers

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<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="CES 2026 Unveiled" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Unveilied-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

CES Unveiled is always the appetizer before the main course, and for CES 2026 it once again delivered a dense, fast-moving look at where consumer and enterprise tech is heading next. Walking the show floor felt like a compressed version of the entire event: accessibility tech, smart home, robotics, energy, health, and creative tools all packed into one evening. It’s also where you start to see early contenders for the Best of CES conversation, long before the doors officially open. The products below stood out as a strong cross-section of what’s coming to CES 2026, from practical problem-solvers to genuinely futuristic ideas.

One of the more meaningful demos at CES Unveiled was a specialized monitor designed to help people with dyslexia read more comfortably. The display uses adjustable light frequency and brightness to reduce visual stress and the letter “doubling” effect many dyslexic readers experience. Instead of software tricks, this is a hardware-level solution built into the screen itself, letting each user tune the display to their own comfort level. It’s a reminder that some of the most important innovation at CES isn’t about flash, but about accessibility and quality of life.

Lucrome showed off ultra-thin electrochromic panels that can be embedded directly into packaging or labels. These can change their display—lines, symbols, warnings, or indicators—using very little power and a simple battery source. The real promise here is dynamic packaging: freshness indicators on food, changing price or status tags, or smart logistics labels. Lucrome even picked up an Innovation Award, and it’s easy to see why this could quietly change how physical products communicate information.

Agritech had a strong showing with Bienesis, a connected system designed to protect crops from weather and environmental threats. It uses a large, deployable canopy combined with sensors and a targeted deployment algorithm to respond to frost, hail, excessive sun, or moisture. Farmers can monitor and control the system from their phone, even when they’re not in the field. It’s a very “CES” take on farming: automation, connectivity, and data all coming together to protect yield and quality.

RoboTin is aiming high with a robot that doesn’t just vacuum or mop, but also washes and dries carpets and cleans itself afterward. The base station handles dirty water, drying, and maintenance, turning the whole process into a largely hands-free experience. With a target price around $1,000, it’s clearly positioned as a premium, do-everything floor care solution, and it shows how far home robotics have moved toward true automation.

Smart home water management got a big upgrade with Droplet from Hydrific. Using ultrasonic sensors and a comprehensive app dashboard, it tracks real-time water usage, detects leaks, and can even integrate with systems like Home Assistant to shut off water remotely. For anyone who’s ever worried about a burst pipe while away from home, this is exactly the kind of quiet, practical innovation that feels like a future necessity rather than a luxury.

Luden’s AI brought Kokomo, a small companion robot designed around emotional interaction. It follows people, reacts with expressive “eyes,” and is meant to build a kind of emotional connection through daily interactions. While companion robots are still a developing category, Kokomo shows how much focus is now being placed on personality and behavior, not just movement and function.

Food allergies are a serious, everyday concern, and Allergen Alert is tackling that with a portable device that can test food for allergens before you eat it. You place a small sample into the unit and it provides a readout indicating potential allergens like peanuts or shellfish. For people who constantly have to worry about cross-contamination, this kind of pocket-sized tester could be genuinely life-changing.

Tovic demonstrated electrochromic glasses that can switch from clear to tinted at the push of a button. They’re designed for everything from sports to photography, where you might move quickly between indoor and outdoor environments. With UV400 protection and a battery that can last weeks with regular use, they’re a slick example of how materials science keeps quietly improving everyday gear.

On the more dramatic end of the floor was the Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle. With claimed fast-charging, a long range, and sports-bike acceleration, it’s another sign that electric vehicles aren’t just about efficiency anymore—they’re about performance and design too. With reservations already open and a premium price tag, this is clearly aimed at enthusiasts who want their EVs to make a statement.

HP showed off the ultra-compact EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a, an AI-ready desktop that underscores how small and powerful office PCs are getting. Nearby, an AI-powered NAS system focused on smarter data search and privacy showed how storage is evolving beyond simple file boxes. And in the pet tech corner, an AI-enabled cat food and water station demonstrated mood detection, health monitoring, and smart hydration—because of course even pet bowls are becoming intelligent.

Health tech also had a strong presence with Teton Medical’s combined ear imaging and treatment device. It uses cameras and LED/infrared to inspect the ear, track temperature, and help detect inflammation or issues that could lead to hearing loss. It’s positioned as something you could keep at home, making preventative care and monitoring far more accessible.

Music tech got a fun twist with the LiberLive C2, a completely stringless guitar-style instrument. Players press buttons and strum to trigger chords and patterns, with visual indicators guiding what to play next. It’s compact, foldable, and designed to make playing and learning more approachable, blurring the line between instrument and interactive music system.

Power and energy storage were big themes again this year, and EcoFlow’s new Delta 3 series and Pro Ultra X systems showed why. These modular, stackable power stations can run anything from small devices to major home appliances, making them ideal for emergencies, RVs, or off-grid setups. The Pro Ultra X even picked up an Innovation Award, and it feels like a strong contender for any Best of CES shortlists in the power category.

CES Unveiled 2026 made it clear that this year’s show will be less about one single breakthrough and more about dozens of very practical, very real improvements across daily life, work, health, and creativity. If this is the preview, the full CES 2026 floor is going to be packed.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2026 10:15 am by Jeffrey Powers

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<img width="1280" height="720" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="youware AI" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youware-133x75.webp 133w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />

If you’ve ever built a website from scratch, you know the pain—coding layouts, managing hosting, and keeping everything updated. YouWare flips that entire process by putting ai website creation front and center. Instead of starting with code, you start with an idea.

Describe the type of site you want, and the platform generates a working version complete with layout, structure, and design. It’s a shift from technical execution to creative direction.

YouWare isn’t just another builder—it’s a full ecosystem. You can create websites, develop apps, and host everything in one place without jumping between tools.

The platform also acts as a hub where users can explore projects, test apps, and even draw inspiration from others. It feels part development environment, part creative community, making it easier to go from concept to launch without friction.

At the heart of YouWare is vibe coding—a more natural way to create. Instead of worrying about syntax or frameworks, you simply tell the system what you want:

The AI interprets your request and builds it out visually and functionally. From there, you can refine it with either visual editing tools or direct code access.

Creating a site in YouWare starts with a prompt and a few assets like logos or images. The system builds a working draft, which you can immediately preview and edit.

Key capabilities include:

Once complete, you can publish directly and even connect a custom domain, all within the same platform.

Beyond websites, YouWare handles full app coding. You can build interactive tools, games, or utilities without leaving the interface.

From simple experiments to more complex builds, the platform supports:

This makes it easy to prototype ideas quickly and turn them into usable tools without setting up a traditional dev environment.

One of the standout features is how easy it is to iterate. If something doesn’t work or doesn’t look right, you can roll back to a previous version instantly.

The platform also uses a credit system, so more complex builds will use more resources. But with version control and rollback options, you’re not locked into bad iterations—you can experiment freely and refine as you go.

While YouWare is powerful, it’s not without limitations. Expanding beyond built-in integrations can take extra work, and importing existing sites isn’t fully seamless yet.

There’s also a learning curve when it comes to crafting the right prompts. The better your input, the better your results—making planning an important part of the workflow.

YouWare represents a bigger shift in how digital products are built. With ai website creation and vibe coding, the focus moves away from technical hurdles and toward creativity.

Whether you’re building a simple webpage or diving into app coding, the platform gives you the tools to move quickly and experiment freely—all while handling hosting in the background.

Check it out at https://yw.app/xTFmrLq

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Last Updated on April 14, 2026 3:38 pm by Jeffrey Powers

The post Create Websites and Apps then Host them at YouWare AI appeared first on Geekazine.

<img width="2560" height="1440" data-tf-not-load src="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-scaled.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-scaled.webp 2560w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576-300x168.webp 300w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-768x432.webp 768w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-2048x1152.webp 2048w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576-480x270.webp 480w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-133x75.webp 133w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576-1280x720.webp 1280w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576-640x360.webp 640w, https://geekazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/scispace-1024x576-444x250.webp 444w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

AI is now a core component of the research process, transforming how scientists analyze data, write papers, and prepare for grants. Yet, with great power comes a new challenge: ensuring authenticity and originality in an era where AI can generate vast amounts of text. SciSpace AI Detector directly tackles this — helping you identify, verify, and refine content so your research remains trusted and verifiable.

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SciSpace is a complete scientific research ecosystem — part research assistant, part analytical powerhouse. It draws from over 280 million research papers, and leverages multiple large language models (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) to answer context-driven questions like, “How does this methodology compare to similar studies?” or “What are the key limitations in this paper?”

Whether you’re writing a dissertation, preparing a grant, or cross-checking data, SciSpace can summarize complex studies, extract quantitative results, and even generate literature reviews on command.

This is where SciSpace really stands out. The AI Detector is built specifically for academic and scientific writing — not generic essays. It analyzes research PDFs, manuscripts, and drafts to identify which parts appear AI-generated and which are human-written.

Instead of flagging everything with false positives (like many general detectors), SciSpace’s Academic AI Detector uses domain-trained models that understand scientific phrasing, formulaic structures, and reference formatting. You get color-coded results highlighting high-, medium-, and low-probability AI text.

If a section feels “too AI,” SciSpace provides tools to paraphrase and humanize your writing while maintaining factual accuracy. It’s designed not to destroy your meaning — just to refine your voice and authenticity.

Using AI in research isn’t just about automation. It’s about accelerating discovery responsibly. SciSpace lets you integrate AI ethically while maintaining full transparency. Researchers can upload papers, check citations, extract data, and ensure their documents stand up to peer review — all within the same platform.

The AI Detector helps maintain this balance — combining efficiency with credibility. Whether you’re drafting a biomedical paper, compiling solar panel research, or preparing a grant proposal, it ensures your work reflects your ideas, not synthetic guesswork.

AI can help you move faster — but only if your work stays credible. With SciSpace AI Detector, you can confidently combine the best of both worlds: AI-powered efficiency and human integrity.

Check it out at geekazine.com/scispace
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Last Updated on November 6, 2025 3:44 pm by Jeffrey Powers

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