Meta Ray-Bans Translate, Roku Debuts New Sticks

This week brought exciting tech announcements. Meta Ray-Bans now offer live AI translations. Roku unveiled new streaming sticks and TV updates. Other notable news includes Duolingo teaching chess. Kia EVs are getting Supercharged. Coffee enthusiasts also have good news.

Roku’s 2025 Streaming & TV Plans

Roku held a swift event in New York City. They announced their plans for 2025. These include two new streaming sticks. There are also nice software updates. Their top two Roku TVs are getting upgrades. The value-focused Plus Series is a key highlight.

New Streaming Sticks Detailed

The new Roku Streaming Stick is compact. It costs $30. Like the older Roku Express, it supports only HD content. This limits its use. However, it is a solid choice for small TVs. A kitchen or den TV could benefit. It includes the Roku voice remote. This helps search the easy-to-use streaming platform.

For just $10 more, get the 4K UHD Streaming Stick Plus. It is similarly slim. This offers better value. Both devices can power directly from most TVs. No wall outlet is needed. They also feature new software. This includes a “Coming Soon to Theaters” row. Personalized sports highlights are also available.

Roku TV Enhancements

Roku’s top-tier Pro Series TVs received a small update. This includes “custom factory calibration.” It ensures a more accurate picture. The affordable Plus Series got a bigger makeover. It now includes mini-LED backlighting. This should improve dimming control. It will offer better contrast. Deeper black levels are expected. Light bleed should be reduced. All Roku TVs will also feature a Bluetooth headphone mode. This allows for quick sound swapping.

This is hardly Cuisinart’s first foray into espresso, but it does amount to a bit of a reboot for the American brand. Each device in the Espresso Bar collection comes equipped with a frothing wand, a 52-millimeter stainless steel bottomless portafilter, and an option on cold-extracted espresso for iced lattes or martini lovers.

The devices offer a fairly tall profile: Cuisinart advertises that each will allow room for a 20-ounce travel mug. Likely the most distinctive of the three machines, the lowest-priced “Slim” device is less than 7 inches wide.

Meta Ray-Bans Get Live AI Translations

Meta announced a new feature. AI-powered real-time translation is coming. This is for Meta Ray-Bans smart glasses. It is rolling out to all markets. If you travel internationally, this helps. You can download a language pack. Hold conversations without Wi-Fi or cellular data. Supported languages include English, French, Italian, or Spanish.

Just say “Hey Meta, start live translation.” You will hear the translation through the glasses’ speakers. The other person can see a translated transcript. This appears on your phone.

Fellow reserved its biggest excitement for the Espresso Series 1’s patented new boiler system, which the company says will offer what it calls the “holy grail of espresso”—true temperature and pressure stability, in a home espresso machine market best known for wild fluctuations and slow heat-ups.

Translation Experience and New Styles

Previous text translation experience was adequate. It helped read children’s books in Spanish. Meta AI even offered unprompted insights. Live translation with text was awkward for a coworker. Live translation with spoken words should be more useful.

Meta also revealed new frame styles. New colors are available. This includes the Skyler cat-eye style. It comes in chalky gray. More software features were announced too. You can send and receive Instagram messages on your glasses. Ask Meta AI to play music from expanded apps. This works if you ask in English.

You can also ask Meta AI to identify songs playing nearby. Meta is expanding Meta AI access in the EU. The glasses are also launching in Mexico, India, and the UAE.