Technology
The first Dolby FlexConnect soundbar is coming from LG
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology debuted this year with the TCL Z100 speakers, and now we’re getting our first FlexConnect soundbar thanks to LG. The new H7 soundbar — which runs on the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 chip as LG’s OLEDs and new Micro RGB LED — is a part of the LG Sound Suite, a modular home audio system the company will debut at CES 2026. In addition to the soundbar, the Sound Suite will include the M5 and M7 surround speakers and the W7 subwoofer. All of the speakers feature Peerless Audio components.
The two main drawbacks of TCL’s Dolby FlexConnect implementation were the limitation of only allowing four connected speakers, including a sub, and the need for a 2025 QM series TCL TV. So you needed to pick between better sound coverage with a fourth speaker or more bass performance with a sub. LG’s Sound Suite, on the other hand, will allow you to connect the soundbar with up to four surround speakers and a subwoofer for a potential 13.1.7-channel system.
And while the speakers can be used with a compatible LG TV (including the 2026 premium LG TV lineup and 2025’s C5 and G5 OLEDs), it isn’t required. It’s possible to use the H7 soundbar with any TV — or without — and have it act as what’s called the lead device to connect the surround speakers and sub. LG says there are 27 different speaker configurations possible, from using two speakers as a stereo pair up to the full system with soundbar, surrounds, and sub.
In my experience with the TCL Z100, calibrating FlexConnect speakers to your space is also fast. Once they’re in place and plugged in, a short musical clip is played for a few seconds and then setup is complete. The system is able to know where the speakers are placed and how to optimize the surround and Atmos sound for your room. With other room correction software, the process can take much longer, requiring taking sound readings from multiple locations in the room.
LG is using ultra-wideband technology to adjust the sweet spot based on your listening position that it’s calling Sound Follow. What will be interesting to see with the LG Sound Suite’s Dolby FlexConnect implementation is how customizable it is after setup (for instance, adjusting subwoofer levels).
I’ll be hearing the system at CES and plan on reviewing the system when it’s available to see how well the technology translates into a home.
Technology
The best robot vacuum deals available during Prime Day
If you’ve been wanting to buy a robot vacuum but have been put off by how much it can cost to get a good one, now is not a bad time to start looking. Prime Day has kicked off, though more than just Amazon is offering deals on several models we’ve tested from brands like Roborock, Dreame, and Shark. Whether you’re looking for a basic robot vacuum that can cut down on the amount of vacuuming you have to do or a high-end model that can wash and dry its own mop pads and climb over room thresholds, there are deals available across a wide range of price points.
Update, June 23rd: Adjusted prices and availability and added deals for the Narwal Flow, Narwal Flow 2, and SwitchBot K11 Plus.
Technology
Hoto’s 25-bit electric screwdriver is 40 percent off during Prime Day
You knew there’d be a Hoto deal, right? Whether you’re moving into a new apartment or tackling a growing list of small repairs around the house, a good electric screwdriver can save you time and effort. Hoto’s 3.6V Electric Screwdriver Kit Pro is one we love to recommend, especially because it’s on sale for $28.49 ($21.50 off) at Amazon and Walmart during Prime Day, which is just $5 shy of its all-time low price.
Unlike a big power drill, the Hoto is small and lightweight enough to keep in a drawer or car trunk, yet it’s powerful enough to tackle a number of common household tasks. The kit includes 25 interchangeable steel bits along with an extension bar, making it well suited to everything from assembling furniture to making small appliance repairs, or working on scooters and bikes.
The Hoto offers three torque settings, allowing you to apply less force when working with delicate electronics and more when putting together furniture. The rechargeable 1,500mAh battery charges via USB-C and can handle dozens of small projects on a single charge. As a convenience, there’s a built-in LED light that makes it easier to see what you’re doing, which is especially handy when working behind a TV stand or under a desk.
Technology
Nvidia says its AI data center design runs hotter to use a lot less water
Public pushback against data centers has emphasized their water and energy consumption, and now Nvidia is highlighting its claim that the Rubin generation reference design for a fully liquid-cooled data center has “eliminated massive amounts of power usage and pretty much all water usage.” Still, it doesn’t address all of the concerns around AI data centers, including during their construction, and for the power generation requirements of the massive facilities. Also, as Gizmodo points out, Nvidia’s blog post doesn’t mention the cost of building this style of data center vs. one using less efficient air cooling, but claims that “every cloud provider and data center operator building for [Rubin] is making the transition.”
The efficiency gains are partly due to running AI servers hotter, as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). In a recent report, Amazon similarly touted higher heat tolerances as part of making its mostly air-cooled data centers more efficient.
With Nvidia’s system, “heat is captured directly at the chip and transported through liquid loops operating at much higher temperatures, allowing outdoor dry coolers to reject heat efficiently for much of the year,” with much more flexibility when it comes to the ambient air temperature.
According to Nvidia’s head of sustainability, Josh Parker, the reference design takes water use “from roughly 2.6 million gallons per megawatt per year for conventional cooling-tower-based systems to near zero — up to a 100 percent reduction.”
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