Latest news with #CES
Atlantic
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Atlantic
The Myth of the Gen Z Red Wave
Are the kids all right-wing? Donald Trump won the 2024 election thanks in part to increased support from young voters. Some experts see this as a sign of a generational sea change. As the prominent Democratic data scientist David Shor pointed out in a recent podcast conversation with the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, 75-year-old white men were more likely to support the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, than 20-year-old white men were. 'Young people have gone from being the most progressive generation since the Baby Boomers, and maybe even in some ways more so, to becoming potentially the most conservative generation that we've experienced maybe in 50 or 60 years,' Shor said. If Shor is right—if Gen Z (now ages 12 to 30) is durably to the right of previous generations—a significant part of the Democratic coalition is gone. Luckily for the party, however, he probably isn't. The best available evidence suggests that the youth-vote shift in 2024 was more a one-off event than an ideological realignment. Faith Hill: The not-so-woke Generation Z The Cooperative Election Study, one of the largest politically focused surveys of Americans, goes back to 2006 and just released its 2024 data. Those data aren't perfect—they have yet to be validated against the voter file, meaning they are based on self-reported voter turnout. But they are still a much better source for studying generational shifts than data from just one year, like Shor's. The CES is also more comprehensive than the average election poll, asking about voters' ideological self-identification, party affiliation, and views on specific issues. Consistent with other reports, the CES data show that young adults (ages 18 to 29) voted for Trump in 2024 at a much higher rate than they did in 2020. The trend was especially pronounced among young men, whose support for Trump increased by 10 percentage points since 2020, compared with 6 points for young women. Although some recent polling suggests that 18-to-21-year-olds were more likely to support Trump than 22-to-29-year-olds, the CES data show the younger and older subgroups voting for Trump at near-identical rates in 2024. Young adults were also more likely to vote for Republican House candidates than in 2020, though the change was not as large as in the presidential race. But voting for a Republican candidate isn't the same as identifying as conservative. Here is where the CES data cast doubt on the notion that Gen Z is an especially right-leaning generation. According to my analysis of the CES data, young adults have actually become less likely to identify as conservative in surveys during presidential-election years since 2008. The trend is not due to increases in the nonwhite population; fewer white young adults identified as conservative in 2024 (29 percent) than did in 2016 (33 percent). What about young adults' positions on specific political issues? For the most part, they are more liberal than previous generations. (No single definition of generational cutoffs exists. In my research and writing, I define the Millennial generation as being born from 1980 to 1994, and Gen Z from 1995 to 2012.) In the 2024 CES survey, 69 percent of young adults supported granting legal status to undocumented immigrants who have not been convicted of felony crimes and who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least three years, up from 58 percent in 2012, the last year all 18-to-29-year-olds were Millennials. Also in the 2024 survey, 63 percent agreed that 'generations of slavery and discrimination have created conditions that make it difficult for blacks to work their way out of the lower class,' up from 42 percent in 2012. Support for legal abortion among young adults rose from 46 percent in 2012 to 69 percent in 2024, though the question was worded somewhat differently in those two years. Only one belief shifted in the conservative direction: 62 percent of young adults in 2024 supported increasing border patrols at the U.S.-Mexico border, up from 45 percent in 2012. From the May 2023 issue: The myth of the broke Millennial The trend looks different if we look at data on partisanship rather than ideology. The Democratic Party has steadily been losing market share among young adults since 2008, mostly because young people have grown likelier to identify as independents; Gen Z is only slightly more Republican than Millennials were at the same age. These young independents tend to vote for Democrats, but, given their lack of party affiliation, their votes are more likely to swing from one election to the next. Indeed, most of the change over the past two elections appears to have been driven by young independent voters breaking for Trump in 2024 when they didn't in 2020. Given that young voters have not become more likely to identify as conservative or hold broadly conservative political opinions, Gen Z might not be the disaster for Democrats that Shor and others are predicting. The 2024 election might have been an anomalous event in which young people's deep dissatisfaction with the economy, especially the inflation that hit their just-starting-out budgets, drove them to want change. Another distinct possibility is that, going forward, Gen Z will vote for whichever party is not currently in office. Gen Z is a uniquely pessimistic generation. In data I analyzed for my book Generations, Gen Z high-school seniors were more likely than previous generations at the same age to agree with the statements 'It is hard for me to hold out much hope for the world' and 'I often wonder if there is any real purpose to my life in light of the world situation.' Young Americans today are also unconvinced that their country is anything special: Only 27 percent of high-school seniors think the U.S. system is 'still the best in the world,' down from 67 percent in the early 1980s, according to a long-running national survey. If young people's attitudes persist as they get older, Gen Z might never be pleased with how things are going in the country. They'll want to 'vote the bastards out' in the next election no matter which party is in power. Compared with the idea of a new and persistent conservatism in young voters, a generalized pessimism bodes better for the Democrats in 2026 or 2028. But if Democrats regain power, Gen Z might turn on them once again, repeating the cycle in an endless loop of political dissatisfaction.
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
The JBL-infused Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro's sound reactive lighting put a big smile on my face
Music festival season might now be in full swing, but not everyone fancies muddy fields and moshing crowds. Govee's second-gen smart light/speaker combo blends stadium-strength sound with the light show to match – just on a scale small enough to squeeze into your bedside table. The Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL ($180) was first revealed at January's CES show, and is finally going on sale later this month. I've had the sleek-looking lamp illuminating my office for the last week. It's a tech world team-up, with JBL supplying a punchy 2.5in full-range driver (plus the EQ tuning to go with it) and Govee focusing on the visuals. The bowl-like shape and second, down-firing LED mood light reminds me of the Harman Kardon Aura speaker, except here the Govee Table Lamp is an opaque white. It's distinctive enough when powered down, but underneath there's a whopping 210 individually customizable RGB LEDs, which throw out a full 360 degrees of pulsating patterns and eye-catching colours. They cast a vivd glow over whatever surface you place the lamp next to – more subtly during daylight hours, but with real flair at night. There's nothing subtle about some of the lighting modes, while others can be a lot more relaxing. All those LEDs shine brighter and look clearer than the ones Govee used for its last table lamp, so you can use 'em to create DIY images and patterns through the firm's Home app. Or just pick from the 100+ preset lighting scenes, including a bunch that react to whatever tunes you happen to be piping through it via Bluetooth. Govee has sped up reaction times to a rapid 32ms, so the lights don't lag behind the audio. Get some high intensity electronica going with some of the wilder scenes and it's quite the party-starter. The Table Lamp 2 Pro can do serious, too, putting out 600 lumens of adjustable white light. It's switchable between 2700K and 6500K, so you can pick one colour temperature for work and another for relaxing once you clock off for the day. There was easily enough shine here to be the sole illumination in my home office. Being able to set a bunch of presets to the mode button on the lamp itself is a nice touch, saving you from reaching for your phone just to escape a rainbow onslaught in favour of something calmer. There's no carry handle, but the 5200mAh battery inside means the Table Lamp 2 Pro can bring the party pretty much anywhere. It'll do four and a half hours of Bluetooth streaming at 50% light brightness and 50% volume. The power brick is proprietary though, so charging somewhere away from its usual home isn't as easy as your typical Bluetooth speaker. I've mainly left it plugged into mains power, so it's always accessible to my Alexa and Google voice assistants. There's Matter connectivity on board, too. I was blown away by how loud the speaker can get; when sat a few feet away I could leave it at the lowest volume setting and hear tunes perfectly clearly. This was actually a problem at night, because it wouldn't go quiet enough for bedtime listening without sound travelling to the next room. 40% was so loud I could hear it downstairs – on the other side of the house. With the doors closed. You can also pair 'em in stereo mode if you've got two to hand, though that could result in a noise complaint from your neighbours. I didn't have two to test the theory. Happily JBL's tuning ensures you get enjoyable amounts of low-end oomph and a clean, clear mid-range. The high-end is a little sharp and shrill depending on the track, and there's no custom equalizer to dial things back either, but at the lower volume levels the tone didn't leave much to complain about. The Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL will be on the Govee website and Amazon US from June 23, for $180. It'll head to Europe and the UK later in the year. Stuff Says… A sleekly styled smart lamp with tons of colorful customisation, that also happens to double as a potent portable speaker. The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro sounds the part as well as looking it. Pros Bright, colourful illumination Properly loud Bluetooth audio Cons Proprietary charger Doesn't get quiet enough for nighttime listening
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Startup makes revolutionary breakthrough that could change camera tech forever: 'A significant advancement'
MetaOptics Technologies didn't set out to create just another camera lens. The startup wanted to revolutionize optics from the ground up — making them lighter, smarter, and better for the planet. With a breakthrough that's now capturing the attention of major tech players, the company is proving it's possible to do all three, reported Tech In Asia. The company's journey began with a simple question: Could traditional plastic-heavy camera lenses be made more efficient — and more sustainable? With that lightbulb moment, the team brought together research scientists, engineers, and designers to rethink how lenses are made and used. The result was the Advanced Color Metalens Imaging System — a first-of-its-kind single-layer glass "metalens" that uses AI and nanophotonics to outperform traditional multi-layer optics. Thinner, lighter, and more durable than plastic lenses, MetaOptics' system also produces sharper, more vibrant images — even in low light — and reduces plastic waste in the process. By eliminating the need for bulky, multi-component lenses in smartphones, laptops, VR devices, and security cameras, the company reduces plastic use. It minimizes production materials and opens doors to sleeker, more sustainable tech. The lens's advanced image-tuning software also reduces the need for post-processing, saving time and energy downstream. Since launching in July 2024, MetaOptics has already secured purchase orders for direct laser writers and is exploring opportunities to scale in medical imaging and consumer electronics. After showcasing the lens system at CES, interest from major tech brands quickly followed — a strong sign that the future of imaging could look a lot clearer and greener. MetaOptics' story is a reminder that tackling climate problems doesn't always mean starting big. Sometimes, it's as simple as flipping the script on everyday objects we take for granted. Would you live in a home made of bacteria? Absolutely Depends on the cost Depends how it looks No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Senior corresponding author Junsuk Rho, Mu-Eun-Jae endowed chair professor at POSTECH in Korea, summed it up best in an article shared by "This deep-learning-driven system marks a significant advancement in the field of optics, offering a new pathway to creating smaller, more efficient imaging systems without sacrificing quality." If a startup like MetaOptics can reimagine something as established as a camera lens, imagine what else is possible. You can be part of the movement by choosing to support eco-friendly initiatives by your favorite brands — it's a simple shift that helps drive innovation and sustainability forward. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
I tested the $390 Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. Here's why it's my new favorite budget Android tablet.
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro may not be your first choice for a budget Android tablet, but it's one of the best you can get in 2025. With an outstanding display and speaker setup, reliable performance and battery life, and a good out-of-the-box software experience, it's an excellent package for less than $400. Shopping for an affordable Android tablet in 2025 is… less than ideal. We're at a point where Samsung and Amazon are largely keeping the budget tablet market afloat, coupled with endless options from no-name brands, none of which are worth your time or attention. It can make your choices feel quite limited, but you do have more to choose from. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is one such choice. It was announced at CES this January and hit store shelves this April, all of it done with very little fanfare. The $390 price is on the high end of the budget Android tablet space, but it's more appealing than the $500+ flagships. The hardware looks good, too, but the quiet, inconspicuous launch makes it feel like Lenovo lacks confidence in the tablet. Curious to find out for myself, I spent the last few weeks testing the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, and it's not at all what I expected. Lenovo's tepid launch strategy might lead you to believe there's nothing special here, but having used and lived with the Idea Tab Pro, I think this is one of the best budget Android tablets you can buy right now. Everything I love about the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Joe Maring / Android Authority There's a lot that can go wrong with lower-cost tablets. Whether it's the hardware, display, performance, battery life, charge speeds, or software, one of these things usually takes a backseat to accommodate a low price. But, amazingly, that's not the case with the Idea Tab Pro. The build quality is what struck me first. The Idea Tab Pro's entire body is constructed out of aluminum, and it looks and feels exceptional. It's cool to the touch, the 6.9mm profile means it's easy to grip, and the frame has shown no signs of bending or creaking — something that's not always a given with cheaper tablets like this. Joe Maring / Android Authority The (very good) fingerprint sensor on the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. I was also really happy to find a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. This is a feature a lot of budget Android tablets often forgo (even the $700 OnePlus Pad 3), but Lenovo managed to include one in the Idea Tab Pro. And it's great! It's fast, reliable, and makes unlocking the tablet or accessing a password manager/banking app so much easier. Entering a PIN for these things isn't the end of the world, but I'd much rather have a fingerprint sensor for them, and I'm glad to have one here. Even more impressive than the fingerprint sensor is the screen. While I don't love the 12.7-inch size (more on that later), everything else about the screen is excellent. The 2944 x 1840 resolution is sharp, the LCD panel produces pleasing colors, and the 400 nits of max brightness is plenty for normal use. Joe Maring / Android Authority You probably won't want to use the Idea Tab Pro in direct sunlight, but sitting in a brightly lit coffee shop right by a window, I had no visibility issues whatsoever. The off-axis viewing angles aren't the best, but so long as you aren't watching a movie at an off-angle, they shouldn't be a serious issue. Almost everything about the Idea Tab Pro's screen is excellent. Also seeming to understand that a good display is only as good as the speakers that accompany it, Lenovo has crammed in a shockingly good audio experience into the Idea Tab Pro. You get a quad speaker setup (two on the left frame, two on the right), and it's legitimately incredible for a sub-$400 tablet. The speakers get really loud, so loud that if I have the tablet at just 50% volume, I can easily hear it at the opposite end of my 1,000-square-foot apartment. At max volume, the Idea Tab Pro sounds like a portable Bluetooth speaker — and with surprisingly little audio distortion, too. It's honestly pretty amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect from the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip and 8GB of RAM, but the Idea Tab Pro has been surprisingly performant. Its CPU benchmarks below the Legion Tab Gen 3 and OnePlus Pad 3, which is to be expected considering both are more expensive. The Idea Tab Pro also scores the lowest in the Wild Life GPU Stress Test, but interestingly, it ran significantly cooler throughout, too. Those low numbers may seem concerning, but unless you're actively trying to push the Idea Tab Pro to the limit, I don't think you'll have any serious performance complaints. Apps open and run without a problem, multitasking isn't an issue, and 2160p YouTube videos play without a hitch. Even playing a few rounds of Call of Duty: Mobile at Very High graphics and High frame rate settings, the Idea Tab Pro handles it like a champ. Joe Maring / Android Authority What about the battery? Tablet use can vary wildly from person to person. As someone who grabs the Idea Tab Pro a handful of times each day to watch a video, scroll through Reddit, or play a couple of rounds of CoD: Mobile, I can usually get through five days before needing to charge. Watching a 2160p YouTube video only drains 10% after an hour, while the Idea Tab Pro barely loses 1% battery while sitting idle overnight. And when it is time for a top-up, the 45W wired charge speeds mean you get back up to a full battery in about two hours with a compatible USB-C Power Delivery charger — not too shabby at all. A great software experience, with one catch Joe Maring / Android Authority PC Mode on the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. I have slightly more mixed feelings about the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro's software, although most of it is a positive experience. Lenovo's ZUI skin has some visual tweaks compared to 'stock' Android, but for the most part, it's a clean, familiar interface. Google's Entertainment Space lives to the left of your main home screen, there's split-screen and floating window multitasking, and you can swipe up to see your app dock at any time. I've also been surprised by the amount of extra (and useful) goodies Lenovo throws on top of the stock Android experience. My personal favorite is PC Mode, which transforms the usual Android UI into a desktop layout in the same style as Samsung DeX. It's laid out well, allows for more advanced multitasking, and is a great option to have if you plan on using the Idea Tab Pro with a keyboard accessory. Once Android 16 arrives, that's the last OS upgrade the Idea Tab Pro will ever see. That 'one catch' mentioned above is Lenovo's update policy. The Idea Tab Pro ships with Android 14 out of the box, is now upgradeable to Android 15, and will eventually be updated to Android 16. But once Android 16 arrives, that's the last OS upgrade the Idea Tab Pro will ever see. You'll get security patches for longer (four years total), but that doesn't excuse the limited number of Android OS updates. At the bare minimum, the Idea Tab Pro should be supported through Android 17, and, if we're being honest, even Android 18. Calling it quits after updating the Tab Pro to this year's Android version is not adequate support and is objectively the worst thing about Lenovo's otherwise excellent tablet. My biggest issue with the Idea Tab Pro Joe Maring / Android Authority Although that update policy is the biggest objective issue with the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, I do have a more personal issue I want to mention before we wrap things up. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro has a 12.7-inch display and weighs 620 grams. If you ask me, that's too big and too heavy for the ideal tablet form factor. While the big screen is great for watching movies, it can make some on-screen game controls a bit awkward, and it makes unoptimized Android apps all the more obvious and irritating to interact with. And for some weight context, the 620-gram body is significantly heavier than tablets like the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Google Pixel Tablet (497 grams and 493 grams, respectively) — and you feel it after holding the Idea Tab Pro for too long. I don't think this is a dealbreaker for the tablet, but it is something to keep in mind. A slightly smaller screen and lighter build would go a long way in making the Idea Tab Pro a more comfortable and welcoming tablet, and I hope that's something Lenovo addresses if/when it releases a second-gen model. Lenovo Idea Tab Pro review verdict: Is it worth it? Joe Maring / Android Authority Even with the bulky design and lacking update policy, I've still been really happy with the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. This is a well-made Android tablet with a great display, outstanding speakers, solid performance, reliable battery life, fast charging, and a good software experience. It even comes with a free, pressure-sensitive stylus that attaches to the back of the tablet. The Idea Tab Pro will set you back $390 if you buy directly from Lenovo, but if you pick it up at Amazon, it's available for $380 and comes with a free folio case. Considering everything the Idea Tab Pro gets right, it's a pretty exceptional price. What are your alternatives? The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus ($219.99 at Amazon) is quite a bit cheaper, but it also has a lower-quality display, a weaker chipset, less internal storage, and much slower charging. It's a solid option for the price, but you also get what you pay for. Joe Maring / Android Authority Lenovo's own Legion Tab Gen 3 ($549.99 at Lenovo) is also worth considering. It's pricier, but it also has a much smaller display, a more manageable design, and significantly more horsepower. If you want a compact and powerful Android tablet, it's one of the best options out there, but it's also not nearly as well-suited for watching TV/movies, and it's a weaker overall value proposition. If you want a big Android tablet under $400 with a great display, loud speakers, and good performance and battery life, I can't think of any other tablet that's a better deal than the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. It may not be perfect, but at this price, it's pretty darn close. Lenovo Idea Tab Pro MSRP: $390.00 Budget tablet beast. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a budget Android tablet, released in the US in April 2025. It stands out for its large 12.7-inch display, aluminum design, and impressive speaker setup. See price at Amazon Positives Premium build Premium build Excellent display Excellent display Unbelievably loud speakers Unbelievably loud speakers Good performance and battery life Good performance and battery life Comes with a free stylus Cons Very limited Android updates Very limited Android updates A bit too big and heavy
Android Authority
13-06-2025
- Android Authority
BlueAnt Soundblade under-monitor speaker drops to a record-low price!
Are you looking for some PC speakers? I came across this one at CES, a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, it's what I would buy if I needed good desktop audio. The thing is, I wasn't a big fan of the $199.99 retail price. The BlueAnt Soundblade is currently available at just $94.99, which happens to be its record-low price. It's looking much more enticing now! Buy the BlueAnt Soundblade for just $94.99 ($105 off) This offer is available from Amazon. The discount applies to all color versions available, including Charcoal, White, Green, and Pink. The BlueAnt strikes a perfect balance between design, performance, and price. Let's start with the design, which is what makes it different from other desktop speakers. This speaker is flat and meant to live under your monitor. It can also be used as a laptop stand or riser. This unique form factor makes it look sleek and also leaves less wasted space on your desk. Looks and design conveniences aside, this is actually a great 2.1-channel speaker. I remember being impressed by how loud it was, especially considering I tested it at the biggest tech convention, surrounded by thousands of people and booths playing loud music. This makes more sense as you take a look at the specs, as it can output 120W. Its connectivity is also quite flexible. You can connect it to your devices using Bluetooth, an AUX cable, or USB-C, which covers most devices. And get this: it even has a remote control! Again, I loved this speaker, but I thought it was too expensive, at nearly $200. At under $100 bucks, though, it is looking like a really nice option. I am actually considering getting one, myself!
