Technologies

I’m Not a Gamer, but This Stunningly Real 3D Tech Makes Me Want to Be

Leia’s Immersity feature makes both games and movies appear to jump out, no glasses or headset needed.

Unlike many of my colleagues at CNET, I’m not a gamer. But an immersive experience at CES 2026 almost convinced me to become one.

«I feel like I’m hallucinating,» I said, stationed in front of what appeared to be a standard desktop display, controller in hand. As I moved my character through a series of tunnels, it seemed as if the three-dimensional imagery was pulling me in.

I’ve never felt so drawn into a digital world, and I wasn’t even wearing a headset. How was this even happening?

The demo that hypnotized me was powered by a feature called Immersity, from 3D display company Leia, which uses spatial AI software paired with hardware that can switch between standard viewing and holographic depth projection. On-screen images on a phone, tablet, monitor or laptop appear to leap out at the viewer, no glasses needed. That includes video games, movies, YouTube or social media posts and even medical images like CT scans.

I got to see several of these applications firsthand at Leia’s demo in Las Vegas, and the impressions are still lingering.

Unlike 3D immersion using a headset or glasses, Leia’s tech works by tracking your face with cameras, sending a left view of the on-screen content to your left eye and a right view to your right eye. You then see the display in stereo vision, similar to how you view the real world. That means if someone is standing off to your side (or recording the experience on camera), they won’t necessarily get the full three-dimensional effect, because it’s catered to the person sitting in front of the display.

Along with the gaming experience, I watched a nature video on YouTube go from two dimensions to three with the click of a button, making the animals stand out against leafy backgrounds. I joined a video call in which the person I was chatting with and I could seemingly reach out and give each other a high-five. (It reminded me of trying Google’s Beam 3D video call.) And I saw a snippet of the film Avatar in 3D, without needing to don a pair of IMAX glasses.

3D glasses-free displays aren’t a new thing. Leia, the company that created the Immersity feature, was notably behind the 3D displays in Red’s Hydrogen One phone released in 2018. The phone’s lukewarm reception led to it being quickly discontinued, with some reviewers noting the holographic display was lackluster.

But Immersity’s capabilities and wider-reaching applications seem to be more promising, and their impact impressed me far more than I expected.

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A lot of 3D tech can feel gimmicky, with subjects hardly jumping out from the screen. Immersity really did feel, well, immersive. The multilayered effect was alluring and lifelike in a way I didn’t know was possible without glasses.

The 3D tech is already available on a handful of hardware devices you can buy today, including the 16-inch Red Magic Laptop and the Samsung Odyssey 3D monitor. Products like the zSpace Inspire and Onsor AMAD can be used for educational purposes like getting a 3D view of diagrams or molecular structures, and the Barco Eonis 3D can make it easier to decipher medical images.

Immersity could also shake up VR gaming. Leia teamed up with a company called PortalVR, which lets you play any SteamVR game on your PC without a headset. Plug in a Meta Quest or Pico VR via USB and use the controllers to play, while leaving the bulky head-mounted gear on the table. Immersity takes that experience one step further by making the images on your display pop out at you, more closely resembling what you’d see with a headset on. Considering Meta’s VR cuts this week, maybe software like Leia’s could be an alternative for some apps.

Personally, I’m not sure how practical or necessary a three-dimensional display is when I’m scrolling through TikTok or watching period dramas, but there’s something to be said about leveling up display technology that’s remained stagnant for so long.

It’s neat to see a real-world feature that feels like it was pulled out of a sci-fi flick. While I’m not sure what displays or monitors I’d own that could work with it, I saw the appeal instantly.

I walked away from Leia’s demo in awe and with a new resolution: «I’m gonna start gaming just for this.» Though I may need to wait for the tech to become a little more widely available.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, April 8

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 8.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Hint: It uses a lot of the letter Z for some reason. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: ___-Carlton (hotel chain)
Answer: RITZ

5A clue: Span of the alphabet
Answer: ATOZ

6A clue: Cable channel with an out-of-this-world name
Answer: STARZ

7A clue: Takes care of, as a squeaky wheel
Answer: OILS

8A clue: Toy on a string
Answer: YOYO

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: When a post receives far more negative comments than likes, in social media slang
Answer: RATIO

2D clue: World’s leading wine producer
Answer: ITALY

3D clue: Middle of the human body
Answer: TORSO

4D clue: Sleeping sound
Answer: ZZZ

6D clue: Tofu base
Answer: SOY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 8, #562

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 8 No. 562.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Working out.

Green group hint: Cover your face.

Blue group hint: NFL players.

Purple group hint: Leap.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Exercises in singular form.

Green group: Sporting jobs that require masks.

Blue group: Hall of Fame defensive ends.

Purple group: ____ jump.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is exercises in singular form. The four answers are crunch, plank, situp and squat.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is sporting jobs that require masks. The four answers are catcher, fencer, football player and goaltender.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame defensive ends. The four answers are Dent, Peppers, Strahan and Youngblood.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ jump. The four answers are broad, high, long and triple.

Technologies

The $135M Google Data Settlement Site Is Live — See If You’re Eligible

Use the settlement website to select your preferred payment method, and you may end up $100 richer.

You can now file a claim in the $135 million Google data settlement. The case centers on claims that Android devices transmitted user data without consent. Specifically, the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC contends that Google’s Android devices passively transferred cellular data to Google without user permission, even when the devices were idle. While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in January, agreeing to pay $135 million to about 100 million US Android phone users.

The official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live. The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will consider whether Google’s settlement is fair and listen to objections. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much will I get paid?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.