By Lisa Eadicicco, CNN

New York  — Silicon Valley thinks it’s finally found the next big thing in tech: smart glasses – the same thing Google tried (and failed at) more than a decade ago.

But Google Glass may simply have been ahead of its time. Now tech companies believe technology has finally caught up, thanks in part to artificial intelligence—and they’re going all-in on truly “smart” glasses that can see and answer questions about the world around you.

Get ready to see the world differently – or at least, capture it more dynamically! Meta is set to unveil a new line of smart glasses, this time in an exciting collaboration with sports eyewear giant Oakley. The buzz is building for a major reveal on June 20th, with hints pointing towards a product specifically designed to cater to athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

The excitement reached a fever pitch recently with the emergence of a new Instagram handle, @oakleymeta, which dropped a tantalizing teaser video announcing the highly anticipated June 20th date. The collaborative effort was immediately amplified as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram’s official account, and Oakley themselves all reposted the teaser, signaling a significant launch just around the corner.

The teaser video culminates with the Oakley and Meta logos prominently displayed side-by-side, mirroring the familiar branding of the successful Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Further fueling the anticipation, Meta’s own online store is now adorned with a banner proclaiming, “The next evolution arrives June 20,” along with an option for eager consumers to sign up for exclusive updates.

While concrete details remain under wraps until the official launch, earlier reports suggest these innovative smart glasses could be based on Oakley’s sleek Sphaera design. A key difference from the existing Ray-Ban version is the rumored central placement of the camera on the frame, as opposed to the side. This strategic design choice strongly indicates a focus on action-packed, point-of-view capture, suggesting Meta and Oakley are setting their sights on challenging established players like GoPro in the burgeoning action sports market.

The collaboration itself is a natural fit, given that Oakley and Ray-Ban both operate under the umbrella of the same parent company, EssilorLuxottica. This existing relationship laid the groundwork for such a partnership, but it’s the specific timing, the design hints tailored for performance, and the clear athletic target audience that truly make this upcoming launch a fascinating development in the wearable technology space.

All eyes are now firmly fixed on June 20th. Whether you’re a tech aficionado, a dedicated cyclist, or simply someone who appreciates cutting-edge gadgets, this unveiling promises to be one to watch. The convergence of Meta’s technological prowess with Oakley’s renowned expertise in sports eyewear could truly redefine how athletes capture and share their adventures.

WARREN — The CEO of a nonprofit energy-tech incubator based in downtown Warren is stepping down as part of a planned leadership transition, BRITE Energy Innovators announced last week.

Rick Stockburger, who has served as BRITE’s first CEO for nearly eight years, will be assuming “a prominent national role in the energy sector,” the incubator stated in a news release.

BRITE’s current managing director, Jing Lyon, will serve as interim CEO as its board conducts a national search for a permanent leader.

“Rick has been at the heart of BRITE since its early days,” said Michael Stacey, BRITE board chair and managing director at KPMG US. “His leadership has guided the organization’s momentum, and we are grateful for his commitment to our mission.”

Under Stockburger’s leadership, BRITE has helped its portfolio companies raise more than $200 million in capital in 2024. Since its founding in 2010, BRITE has supported more than 650 energy-tech startups, catalyzing more than 2,100 jobs and raising more than half a billion dollars in third-party investment while working with BRITE.

“Leading BRITE has been such a privilege,” Stockburger said. “Together with our incredible team and trailblazing startups, we’ve built a place where proud Midwestern grit meets innovation.

Lyon is a Case Western Reserve-trained chemical engineer and early team member at battery technology startup Stratum Energy. She joined BRITE in 2022. Under her leadership, BRITE’s startup programs have tripled in scale, including the launch and rapid growth of its flagship CXO Program, which embeds fractional executives into startup teams.

Stockburger will remain at BRITE in an advisory capacity through June 30, with Lyon assuming leadership July 1.

Eric Trump, the president’s son running The Trump Organization in his absence, announced a new venture Monday called Trump Mobile. The plan is to sell phones that will be built in the U.S., and the phone service will maintain a call center in the country as well.

The announcement of the new mobile phone and service, called T1 Mobile, follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $1.5 billion partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, though the deal was in the works before Trump was elected.

Even oversight of such a company, with the Trump name attached, raises ethical concerns.

Trump has already used the federal government to reward his allies and punish his enemies. The Federal Communications Commission, the primary regulatory body overseeing mobile phone companies, has already launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing.

Eric Trump said Monday that consumers deserve a phone that aligns with their values.

“Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that’s affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on,” he said in a statement.

The company would also enter a highly competitive market that includes companies that have been directly attacked by Donald Trump.

The president criticized Apple last month because it planned to make most of its U.S. iPhones in India, and threatened to slap a 25% tariff on the devices unless the tech giant starts building the phones domestically.

The Trump phone deal comes as a mandatory financial disclosure report just filed with the government shows the president has moved fast in the last year to profit off his celebrity, taking in $3 million in revenue from selling “Save America” coffee table books, $2.8 million from Trump watches and $2.5 million from Trump branded sneakers and fragrances.

The Trump Organization on Monday said the new, gold-colored phone available for $499 in August, called the T1 Phone, won’t be designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company.

The Trump Organization did not respond immediately to a request for more details.

In the first term, Trump was blasted by conservative and liberal government ethics experts alike for opening his Washington hotel to lobbyists and diplomats and violating his company’s pledge to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between his private profit and the public interest.

The company is feeling more emboldened now in the second term.

The mobile service is partnering with existing cellular carriers with access to a 5G network, raising questions of how they will be treated by federal regulators now that they have partnered with his company. The Trump Organization said those companies are America’s three biggest mobile network providers, an apparent reference to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, the latter with a trademarked name that is very similar to Trump’s T1 Mobile.

The name given to the monthly service offer, The 47 Plan, and the monthly fee of $47.45 make reference to Trump’s two terms, the 45th and the 47th. The service will include unlimited calls, texts and data and free roadside assistance and telehealth services.

A mock-up of the planned phone on the company’s website shows Trump’s slogan “Make America Great” on the front and an etched American flag on the back.

By sticking to licensing, the Trump family is limiting its risk. Still, the new service faces big challenges if it hopes to sell beyond the president’s loyal MAGA fans.

The Trump company tried to tap into support among the middle class in the first term with two mid-priced hotel chains. Called American Idea and Scion, and unveiled like the phone service Monday under a giant U.S. flag in the Trump Tower atrium, they flopped.

Despite taking in millions of dollars each year in various licensing deals and a string of new ventures, the Trump brand has taken a series of hits to its brand over the years.

During his first term, the Trump name was stripped off residential buildings and hotels in Toronto, Panama and Manhattan.

The Trump International Hotel in Washington, since sold, lost money even though the family opened its doors to businesses and governments trying to shape U.S. policy.

The average condo in 11 Trump-branded residential towers around the country underperformed the broader market during and immediately after Trump’s first term. More recently, the value of Trump condos in New York City fell in the past two years as similar properties rise in value, according to brokerage CityRealty.

The Trump Organization has had more success with some ventures launched in the first few months of his second term.

Trump Media & Technology Group, a Florida company that operates the Truth Social media platform, filed plans with security regulators Monday to launch an exchange-traded fund tied to the prices of two popular cryptocurrencies.

The ETF is part of the Trump family’s rapidly growing crypto empire, which includes a new stablecoin and launching and promoting memecoins.

The president’s most recent financial disclosure report reveals he made more than $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, a crypto company he and his sons helped launch in September.

___

AP Business Writer Alan Suderman contributed to this story.

SHENZHEN, China, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On June 16, Mibro, a brand of ZhenShi Information Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, proudly announces the launch of three new smartwatches: GS Explorer S, GS Pro2, and GS Active2, marking a milestone in its brand evolution. With a renewed focus on integrating sports and technology, the release underscores the brand’s commitment to supporting athletes across various disciplines.

Each smartwatch in the lineup is designed to serve a unique athletic purpose. The Mibro GS Explorer S is engineered for extreme outdoor adventurers, ensuring durability in demanding environments. It supports freediving, sailing, surfing, mountaineering, and rock climbing, featuring military-grade durability, Bluetooth calling, a 100-meter water resistance rating and advanced health monitoring. A premium version boasts an aerospace-grade titanium alloy body. At MWC 2025, the GS Explorer S won the “Best in Show” award from Wareable, highlighting its exceptional performance and design.

The Mibro GS Pro2 targets triathlon participants, particularly those who engage in the sport regularly through amateur events. As the flagship model of the lineup, it combines rugged construction with a lightweight build. The smartwatch supports multi-sport tracking for swimming, cycling, and running, and includes trajectory navigation for enhanced route planning and performance analysis.

The running community will find its match in the lightweight design of the Mibro GS Active2, which weighs just 39.9 grams. Tailored specifically for runners, the smartwatch incorporates six core technologies, reshaping training experiences through various running modes and personalized training plans.

A notable innovation across the new GS Series lineup is the Padel mode. Using real athlete performance data and guidance from China’s top Padel professionals, the feature provides sport-specific metrics and professional-grade feedback tailored to players of all skill levels.

All three watches are powered by Galaxy OS 2.0, delivering a smoother and more intuitive user interface. The system allows seamless health and fitness data integration with third-party platforms, including Google Fit for Android users, Apple Health for iOS, and Strava for GPS-enabled devices, ensuring a connected and holistic user experience.

This launch marks Mibro’s evolution from a wearable brand to a sports tech partner. Backed by 300+ R&D engineers, 200+ patents, and an in-house sports science lab, the company is poised to drive the next generation of smart athletic performance tools.

SHENZHEN, China, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On June 16, Mibro, a brand of ZhenShi Information Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, proudly announces the launch of three new smartwatches: GS Explorer S, GS Pro2, and GS Active2, marking a milestone in its brand evolution. With a renewed focus on integrating sports and technology, the release underscores the brand’s commitment to supporting athletes across various disciplines.

Each smartwatch in the lineup is designed to serve a unique athletic purpose. The Mibro GS Explorer S is engineered for extreme outdoor adventurers, ensuring durability in demanding environments. It supports freediving, sailing, surfing, mountaineering, and rock climbing, featuring military-grade durability, Bluetooth calling, a 100-meter water resistance rating and advanced health monitoring. A premium version boasts an aerospace-grade titanium alloy body. At MWC 2025, the GS Explorer S won the “Best in Show” award from Wareable, highlighting its exceptional performance and design.

The Mibro GS Pro2 targets triathlon participants, particularly those who engage in the sport regularly through amateur events. As the flagship model of the lineup, it combines rugged construction with a lightweight build. The smartwatch supports multi-sport tracking for swimming, cycling, and running, and includes trajectory navigation for enhanced route planning and performance analysis.

The running community will find its match in the lightweight design of the Mibro GS Active2, which weighs just 39.9 grams. Tailored specifically for runners, the smartwatch incorporates six core technologies, reshaping training experiences through various running modes and personalized training plans.

A notable innovation across the new GS Series lineup is the Padel mode. Using real athlete performance data and guidance from China’s top Padel professionals, the feature provides sport-specific metrics and professional-grade feedback tailored to players of all skill levels.

All three watches are powered by Galaxy OS 2.0, delivering a smoother and more intuitive user interface. The system allows seamless health and fitness data integration with third-party platforms, including Google Fit for Android users, Apple Health for iOS, and Strava for GPS-enabled devices, ensuring a connected and holistic user experience.

This launch marks Mibro’s evolution from a wearable brand to a sports tech partner. Backed by 300+ R&D engineers, 200+ patents, and an in-house sports science lab, the company is poised to drive the next generation of smart athletic performance tools.

For more information, please visit https://www.mibrofit.com/, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

For business inquiries, please contact business@mibrofit.com.