Meta Ray-Bans Translate Live and Roku Unveils New Streaming Sticks with Enhanced Features

At a recent event in New York City, Roku unveiled its 2025 lineup, featuring two new streaming sticks and upgrades to its Roku TVs. The new Roku Streaming Stick is compact and priced at $30 but limited to HD content, making it ideal for secondary TVs like those in kitchens or dens. For $10 more, the 4K UHD Streaming Stick Plus offers better value with UHD support. Both devices can be powered directly by most TVs and include new software features such as a “Coming Soon to Theaters” row and personalized sports highlights.

Roku’s TV lineup also received updates. The Pro Series TVs now feature custom factory calibration for improved picture accuracy, while the more affordable Plus Series gains mini-LED backlighting to enhance contrast and reduce light bleed. Additionally, all Roku TVs now support Bluetooth headphone mode for quick audio switching. The new streaming sticks are available for preorder with shipments starting May 6, while TV pricing and availability will be announced later in the year.

Meta has expanded the availability of its AI-powered real-time translation feature for Meta Ray-Bans smart glasses globally. Users can download language packs for English, French, Italian, or Spanish and engage in conversations without needing Wi-Fi or cellular connections. By saying “Hey Meta, start live translation,” the glasses translate speech through built-in speakers, while the other party can view transcripts on their phone. This advancement makes multilingual communication seamless and practical for travelers.

Beyond translation, Meta Ray-Bans now support messaging via Instagram, expanded music playback through Meta AI, and song identification features. The glasses are also launching in new markets including Mexico, India, and the UAE, with new frame styles and colors enhancing their appeal.

In automotive news, Kia EVs have gained access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, adding over 21,500 DC fast chargers across North America. This partnership significantly expands Kia’s charging infrastructure by more than 80%. New Kia EV6 and EV9 models will feature Tesla-compatible NACS connectors, while existing owners can obtain adapters for their CCS1 ports, facilitating broader and faster charging options.

Coffee enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as Cuisinart launched its first espresso bar collection, featuring three bottomless portafilter machines ranging from a slim $230 model to a $600 grind-and-brew variant with 16 grind settings. Each machine includes a frothing wand and supports cold-extracted espresso for iced drinks. The slim model is notably compact, catering to users with limited counter space.

San Francisco-based Fellow also debuted its first espresso machine, the Espresso Series 1, boasting a patented “boosted boiler” system with three independent heating elements. This design achieves commercial-grade temperature and pressure stability with rapid heat-up times under two minutes. Priced at $1,500, early buyers can preorder for $1,200 and receive $100 in coffee credits, marking a significant innovation in home espresso technology.

Finally, Duolingo is expanding beyond language learning by introducing chess lessons in its app. Currently in early testing, the chess course teaches fundamentals such as piece movement, patterns, and strategies through gamified mini-matches and coaching. This initiative follows Duolingo’s 2023 launch of non-language courses in music and math, continuing its mission to make complex skills accessible and engaging.

Together, these developments highlight the rapid pace of innovation across consumer technology, from AI-driven communication tools and enhanced streaming experiences to expanded EV infrastructure and smarter home appliances. They underscore a growing trend of integrating advanced software and hardware to enrich everyday life and connectivity.