Tag Archives: Technology & Electronics

Sony’s new budget-friendly earbuds have a transparency mode and longer battery life

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Sony refreshed its affordable earbud offering in 2021 when it debuted the $100 WF-C500. While that model delivered a refreshed design with 10 hours of battery life, support for 360 Reality Audio and more, budget-friendly sets have dropped well below the initial price of the C500. Now Sony is back with an even cheaper option, the WF-C510, that will be available for $60. 

The company tweaked the design once more for this budget-friendly pair, engineering earbuds that are 20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the C500. In fact, Sony says this new model is its smallest design ever for closed-type buds. The C510 maintains its predecessor's IPX4 rating, so they should still be okay to use during workouts, and the earbud housing and case are made with recycled plastic. Thankfully, Sony added ambient sound (transparency) mode even though the earbuds don't have active noise cancellation (ANC). Ambient sound typically only comes on ANC sets, so the added convenience is notable here. The company also tacked on multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, which will bring another handy feature to the C510. 

Sony extended the battery life by an hour up to 11 on the earbuds themselves. Just like the previous model, the charging case provides enough juice for one additional full charge. What's more, a quick-charge feature will give you up to one hour of use in just five minutes. The C510 will work with Sony's headphones app to allow you to tweak settings, and both 360 Reality Audio and DSEE upscaling, a tool that recovers detail lost to compression, are on the spec sheet.

The WF-C510 are available for pre-order now in black, blue, white and yellow colors for $60, and are scheduled to ship in early September. 

Update, August 26 2024, 2:57PM ET: After this story was published, Sony clarified that the price of the WF-C510 is $60. We have updated the story where appropriate. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-new-budget-friendly-earbuds-have-a-transparency-mode-and-longer-battery-life-160018370.html?src=rss

Samsung expands its UST projector lineup with the Premiere 7 and Premiere 9

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After teasing them at CES 2024 earlier this year, Samsung has officially launched the Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 ultra short throw (UST) 4K projectors. They offer enhanced picture quality compared to the previous Premiere LSP9T and LSP7T models, particularly in the areas of brightness and color accuracy. Samsung's main goal with the new products, it said, was to give buyers a "cinematic experience."

Smart TV features are available via Samsung's Tizen OS, offering access to Samsung TV Plus, Netflix, YouTube and other streaming services. The newly integrated Samsung Gaming Hub also comes with more than 3,000 titles from Xbox and others, with no console needed. Both models include 4K AI upscaling and Vision Booster, which automatically adjusts color and contrast for different lighting conditions.

The Premiere 7 looks like a solid mid-range contender in the UST category with 2,500 ISO lumens of brightness and 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 HDR standard. That should allow for accurate colors and expanded dynamic range, though most projectors fall well short of required HDR specs in terms of brightness. 

Speaking of HDR, the Premiere 7 only offers HDR10, while others like the Formovie Theater can handle Dolby Vision content. As for sound, it comes with Dolby Atmos tech and 30W 2.2ch speakers.

Samsung expands its UST projector lineup with the Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 4K models
Samsung

Meanwhile, the Premiere 9 sits a notch below the Premiere 8K UST projector also announced at CES. With the triple laser engine, it ups the brightness to 3,450 ISO lumens, below the Premiere 8K's 4,000 lumens but higher than most 4K UST projectors (Epson's EpiqVision Ultra LS800W 4K 3LCD projector is a notable exception with 4,000 ISO lumens). 

It also comes with Samsung's answer to Dolby Vision, HDR10+. Considering the brightness and 154 percent DCI-P3 color accuracy, the picture should be impressive. It also features 40W speakers with Dolby Atmos in a 2.2.2 channel up-firing configuration. 

Samsung projectors can be expensive compared to others and the new models are no exception. The Premiere 7 retails for $2,999, while the Premiere 9 doubles that to an eye-watering $5,999. Both models are now available at samsung.com and across select retailers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsung-expands-its-ust-projector-lineup-with-the-premiere-7-and-premiere-9-150002515.html?src=rss

Apple’s Mac Mini with the M2 Pro chipset is $150 off right now

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Are you looking to boost your iMac's capabilities without having to do a complete overhaul? The Mac Mini with an M2 Pro chip is quite a force to be reckoned with and it's available for a record-low price of $1,150, down from $1,299, thanks to an eight percent discount and a $49 coupon you can click right on the product's page. This model has 512GB and 8TB of storage but no AppleCare+. 

Apple released the Mac Mini with an M2 Pro chip in early 2023. We gave it an 86 in our review thanks to its excellent performance (it has up to 12-core CPU and up to 19-core GPU). It also offers two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack and gigabit Ethernet.

The look and experience of the Mac Mini with an M2 Pro chip are solid. By the latter, we mean that it doesn't really make any sound. Meanwhile, its sleek, compact design ensures you have room on your desk.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-mac-mini-with-the-m2-pro-chipset-is-150-off-right-now-144724475.html?src=rss

Apple’s AirPods Max are on sale for $399 for Labor Day

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Apple might be best known for its in-ear AirPods when it comes to sound, but headphone lovers also have the AirPods Max to consider. As part of Labor Day sales, these headphones are 27 percent off, dropping to $399 from $549. The $150 discount is only $4 more than their Prime Day all-time low and is available in every color. The AirPods Max provide a solid option for anyone who wants to stay in the Apple family without worrying about losing a tiny earbud. The biggest issue is that they are costly, but this Labor Day sale makes them a better buy.

The Apple AirPods Max came on the scene in 2020 as the company's first foray into headphones and have remained the sole option since. We gave the headphones an 84 in our review thanks to a lot of features we did like and some things we were unimpressed by. We liked the AirPods Max's active noise cancellation abilities and easy-to-use buttons — such as when switching from ANC to transparency mode. The headphones also provide a balanced sound and have 20 hours of charge when ANC and spatial audio are enabled.

As we said, the biggest issue with these headphones is arguably the price, but this sale helps quite a bit. Other aspects we were less than impressed with include their 385-gram weight — though the wider headband balances it out. Plus, the earphones just aren't that comfortable, as the rings are noticeable after only a few minutes of wear. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-max-are-on-sale-for-399-for-labor-day-131059800.html?src=rss

Amazon will discontinue the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main reason for existing

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If you own an Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos edition, be prepared for your device to start showing ads. According to emails posted by customers on Reddit and Threads and first reported by The Verge, Amazon will discontinue its PhotosPlus subscription feature that let people upload and display their own pictures on the Echo Show 8.

Amazon customers who own an Echo Show 8 got an email saying their subscription to PhotosPlus will end in September.
Reddit/amazonecho

PhotosPlus subscriptions will end on September 12 and Amazon will end support for the photo feature on September 23. Instead, affected customers will have to upload their photos to Amazon Photos with 25 GB of storage and learn to live with the ads on their home screen.

The feature, which costs $2 a month, let users upload their own photos for display on the Echo Show 8’s home screen turning the voice and touch controlled screen device into a digital picture frame. The screen would rotate the owners’ photos every 30 seconds, a feature that could be left on indefinitely (or as long as it could last on its chargeable battery).

Any mention of the PhotosPlus subscription has been removed from Amazon’s website. The Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition is also no longer for sale.

Amazon has seen some major struggles with Alexa devices. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Alexa lost Amazon more than $25 billion from 2017 to 2021. Amazon has tried to recoup some of those losses by eliminating bonuses to Alexa developers. The tech giant is also reportedly working on an advanced version of Alexa known as “Remarkable Alexa” that could come with a monthly subscription fee.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-will-discontinue-the-echo-show-8-photos-editions-main-reason-for-existing-210045966.html?src=rss

Meta has reportedly killed its Apple Vision Pro competitor

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Meta has canceled its plans for a long-rumored mixed-reality headset that was intended to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, according to reporting by The Information. The company told employees at Reality Labs to stop working on the device after a product review meeting attended by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, as cited by Meta staffers.

The headset was internally referred to as La Jolla and was reportedly supposed to release in 2027. This mixed-reality device was allegedly heads and shoulders above the Quest 3, with ultra-crisp micro OLED displays. This is the same display technology used in the Apple Vision Pro.

Reporting indicates that a major sticking point was cost. The team wanted to get the device under $1,000, but those micro OLED panels don’t come cheap. The Vision Pro, after all, is $3,500.

Another likely reason the premium device got canned is that, well, there might not be that much hunger for expensive headsets. The Vision Pro’s sales have been sluggish and Meta’s own pre-existing high-end headset, the Quest Pro, was widely ridiculed for coming in with a $1,500 price tag.

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean Meta is abandoning VR and MR devices. It’s just putting the kibosh on one expensive, high-end headset. There are plenty of rumors out there that a Quest 4 is coming, alongside a more budget-friendly version of the Quest 3. Meta is also reportedly prepping some new AR glasses that will likely be shown off at the next Connect event on September 25.

The CTO of Meta, Andrew Bosworth, echoed the above sentiment. He wrote on Threads that the company has "many prototypes in development at all times" and that "decisions like this happen all the time." 

The company is, however, shifting its strategy a little bit. Beyond canceling the aforementioned headset, Meta’s been trying to license its XR software to third-party hardware makers. The platform, which is called Horizon OS, might be licensed to Indian tech giant Jio as an opening move in this gambit. A deal with LG, however, fell through.

It’s always possible that the company will revive the concept of a high-end headset in the future, once the space gets more consumer traction. In the meantime, the Quest 4 will reportedly hit store shelves in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-has-reportedly-killed-its-apple-vision-pro-competitor-184446962.html?src=rss

Microsoft will host a security conference after the CrowdStrike shutdown

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Microsoft announced it will host a special conference in September to discuss the lessons and security measures the industry can take away from the CrowdStrike computer shutdown in July. The Windows Endpoint Security Ecosystem Summit is scheduled for September 10 at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA headquarters.

The event will feature representatives from Microsoft, CrowdStrike and other cyber and computer security companies. The participants will explore changes in industry practices and the use of applications that can prevent future computer shutdowns.

An executive who spoke to CNBC anonymously says one of the talking points of the conference will address the use of applications that rely more on Windows’ user mode instead of kernel mode. The July outage occurred because Crowdstrike’s agent operated in kernel mode in which the central processing unit gives software total access to a system’s resources and hardware. Applications in user mode are more isolated so they can’t bring down other systems.

The attendees will also discuss implementing eBPF technology into systems to check programs without triggering system wide crashes. The conference will also feature discussions on the use of safer programming languages such as Rust, an alternative to programming languages such as C or C++.

CrowdStrike blamed faulty testing software included in an update as the cause of the crash that shut down 8.5 million Windows machines starting on July 19. The shutdown causes blue screens of death for systems for banks, airlines and businesses around the world.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/microsoft-will-host-a-security-conference-after-the-crowdstrike-shutdown-172119101.html?src=rss

The 9th-gen iPad is cheaper than ever at $199, plus the rest of this week’s best tech deals

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Even if you're not a student, you can still take advantage of the many back to school sales out there. As we do each Friday, we searched around to see if any of the tech we've previously covered and recommend is currently on sale. We spotted the lowest price yet on the 9th-generation iPad — it may be discontinued, but $200 for a capable Apple tablet is still a sweet deal. Our current favorite wireless headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are back down to their July Prime Day price. And Amazon is throwing in a free smart bulb on top of discounted prices for a number of its Echo speakers and displays. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-9th-gen-ipad-is-cheaper-than-ever-at-199-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-170600479.html?src=rss

iFixit put the landfill-bound Samsung Galaxy Ring through a CT scanner

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iFixit took apart Samsung's Galaxy Ring, scrutinized its components and wrote its findings, which could make you think twice about buying the device. It warned that the Galaxy Ring is "100 percent disposable" which is to say: once the battery died, the whole thing becomes junk. It "isn’t designed to last more than two years," iFixit warned.

To be fair the website did say that "all smart rings like it" are disposable, because they can't be non-destructively opened. It explained that lithium ion batteries "have a shelf life," and while they could be replaced on other devices, it's not possible to dismantle a smart ring to do that without wrecking the device completely. If the battery dies in the ring, you'll have to throw it away. 

The website also put the Galaxy Ring through a CT scanner found that Samsung used a press connector to attach the battery to a circuit board. A press connector, as its name implies, connects components inside a device without solder. iFixit said it typically loves press connectors, because they make replacing individual parts easier. However, the one inside the Galaxy Ring is apparently sealed and doesn't make the device repairable. It said that the company most likely used a connector instead of soldering the components for its own benefit, because the parts came from different production facilities. 

We gave the Galaxy Ring a score of 80 in our review; we found it basic and expensive at $400 — $100 more than its competitor, the Oura Ring. That said, Oura charges $6 a month to use its software, which does add up over time. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ifixit-put-the-landfill-bound-samsung-galaxy-ring-through-a-ct-scanner-131529577.html?src=rss

Labor Day sales include 25 percent off one year of 1Password

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Labor Day sales have come for subscriptions and services as well as things like tablets and speakers. One of the best Labor Day sales we've seen is actually a "back to school" deal being offering by 1Password. New subscribers can get a 25 percent discount to the 1Password Families plan. Normally a year of coverage under this plan costs $60, but in honor of back-to-school season, the price has been cut to $45. The reduced pricing is available through September 15. After the first discounted year, plans will renew at the regular cost.

Managing the multiple subscriptions and accounts that comprise online life, and the complexity grows exponentially if you're also looking out for family members' digital security. Enter password managers. There are a lot of options for this service, but 1Password has consistently been a top performer and an Engadget favorite.

The 1Password Families plan extends the company's Individual tier benefits to up to five people, complete with admin controls for managing each relative's account. Core features in this service are a password generator, login autofill and sharing, and access across unlimited devices. Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, and Linux platforms are all supported. The Families plan also has shared vaults that let members easily share data between plan members. It also provides alerts when a user's passwords may be at risk or when a website is compromised.

Last year, 1Password further strengthened its security by offering its customers use of passkeys, with Android support added in March. This tech has been increasingly popular for online services since it replaces a password that can be guessed or stolen with a locally stored digital authentication key.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/labor-day-sales-include-25-percent-off-one-year-of-1password-130035140.html?src=rss