Tag Archives: Music

Sony WF-C510 earbuds impress with Ambient mode, longer battery life and comfortable design

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The Sony WF-C500 earbuds have been the company’s budget true wireless option that may not rival the premium WF-1000XM5 but punch above their weight with a balanced sonic sound at a very reasonable price. The TWS earbuds were launched in September 2021 and have been a huge success all these years.

Now Sony has launched the successor to the WF-C500 earbuds with design tweaks, new features, and a price that’s hard to deny. In fact, the buds offer some advanced features that are rare for reputed budget options on the market. For example, including Ambient Sound Mode and multipoint connectivity for a price of $60 ($30 less than the outgoing model) is a deal-making prospect.

Designer: Sony

According to the Japanese consumer electronics giant, the WF-C510 earbuds are 20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the outgoing model. These buds are the smallest ever closed-type designs by the company. The IPX4-rated buds can handle the odd splash or sweaty workouts, and they stay snug in place with a refreshed design that results from the analysis of users’ detailed ear shape data. So, one can be rest assured of a stable fit that’ll be comfortable for most people.

This time, Sony has gone for a more contoured shape on the outside, a flatter button surface and a matte finish for better grip and comfort. The cylindrical charging case made partially from recycled plastic is also thinner and smaller for convenience. Looks like they’ve taken a cue from the book of Jabra Elite 8 Active.

The battery also gets a bump up with a total time of 11 hours on the buds themselves and another 11 hours in the charging case. A quick charge of five minutes will give up to 60 minutes of listening time. Another lucrative feature users will cherish is the two-device Bluetooth multipoint connectivity compatible with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. Supported audio formats on the C510 are SBC and ACC, making them ideal for music and gaming.

The sound signature from these earbuds will be balanced with not too much focus on any frequency range. That’s attributed to the 6 mm driver unit and a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. Combine that with the in-app features including the 360 Reality audio, equalizer settings and DSEE upscaling, and you’ve got a very satisfying sound if you know how to tweak them right. Although ANC is missing, the buds make up with a far better passive voice isolation.

WF-C510 earbuds are now available in four color options – blue, yellow, black, and white – from Amazon. The eco-friendly initiative trickles down to the packaging too as it is 100 percent plastic-free. Being feature-packed and well-designed, the TWS earbuds are going to continue the success of the predecessor for sure.

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Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli ordered to surrender copies of one-off Wu-Tang Clan album

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Convicted felon and ex-pharmacy profiteer Martin Shkreli has been ordered to surrender all his copies of a one-off Wu-Tang Clan album he used to own, ArtNet reported. The preliminary injunction, issued by federal judge Pamela Chen, was made on behalf of an NFT collective called PleasrDAO, the current owner of the record. 

As part of the ruling, the court ordered Shkreli to turn over all copies to his attorney within a week, along with an affidavit confirming he'd done so (under penalty of perjury). He must provide an inventory of all copies of the album, a list of anyone who may have received it and any money made from distribution.

The judgement could prove a challenge for Shkreli. In a May 2024 podcast, he reportedly said he copied the album and "sent it to like, 50 different chicks," while also boasting that "thousands of people have listened to it," according to PleasrDAO's original complaint.

Shkreli — who became infamous for buying and jacking up the price of life-saving AIDS medication Daraprim — purchased the only copy of the Wu-Tang album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin back in 2015 for a reported $2 million at auction. Following his securities fraud conviction, the album was seized along with other assets to satisfy a forfeiture judgement. The government then sold the album in 2021 to PleasrDAO for $4.75 million. 

However, that group sued Shkreli in June 2024, accusing him of streaming the music as part of a "Wu-Tang Official Listening Party" on social media. To promote that, he reportedly boasted in a now-deleted video that he made copies "hidden in safes around the world." In June, Judge Chen issued restraining order requiring Shkreli to stop distributing the album and to appear in court to explain why he should be allowed to keep his copies. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-ordered-to-surrender-copies-of-one-off-wu-tang-clan-album-120013576.html?src=rss

nwm ONE open-ear headphones boast unique sound tech and lightweight design to be your daily driver

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Open-ear headphones have garnered a lot of interest lately because of their better-sounding acoustics, lesser pressure on the ears and the ability to listen to the outside world. All these features are very handy when traveling or commuting when you need to be aware of the ambient noises around you. That way you never miss out on any transit announcements or vehicles passing by on the road.

More commonly known as open-back headphones, the options are plenty but finding the one that keeps your music in focus without any sound leaks is important. NTT sonority wants your search to end with its nwm ONE open-ear headphones that employ a deeply researched noise suppression tech dubbed Personalized Sound Zone (PSZ) for next-gen sound.

Designer: NTT sonority

The headphones have 2-way drivers – a 35mm main driver for pristine audio in your ears and a smaller 12mm driver to cancel out unwanted ambient sounds to minimize sound leakage. Together they work to amplify the high and low frequency sounds to create a perfect balance between a high-quality audio listening cocoon and audible peripheral sounds that are important. In conjunction with the PSZ, there’s the Magic Focus Voice technology with advanced beamforming tech to accurately focus on anyone talking to you, and the Spectral Filtering to diffuse other noises that are not important.

All these technologies are developed in-house by the NTT Computer & Data Science Laboratories resulting in a next level three-sixty degree sound that’s comparable to surround sound speakers. It goes without saying that no matter how much technology is stuffed into headphones if they are not comfortable, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, the whole purpose is defied. Thankfully nwm ONE open-ear headphones don’t disappoint with their sleek form that sits on any ears without being uncomfortable after long sessions of listening.

They weigh just 6.5 ounces and clamp onto your head and ears without any uncomfortable pressure. The promise of these open-ear headphones seems good on paper but how they’ll perform in real life and justify their price of $299 remains to be seen. However, we are confident the pair of cans will live up to their claims and become a daily driver for many audio lovers!

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Instagram copies… Myspace?

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If there's one thing that's guaranteed in the world of social media, it's that platforms are going to copy each other's features. However, the newest iteration of this is still surprising, to say the least. Instagram has announced a new music feature that allows you to attach a song to your profile a la Myspace. 

Instagram has copied MySpace, a platform that peaked long before Instagram ever existed, and arguably was thrown into decline by the rise of Instagram's parent company.

So, how does this new feature work? You can choose a song by going to edit profile and clicking "Add music to your profile." You can then choose a song or search in the For You section. From there, pick the 30 seconds of the song you want to feature and it will remain on your profile until you pick a new one or decide Myspace features are better left in the past. Don't worry if you're scrolling in public as songs won't start playing now the second you go on someone's profile — click the play button to hear it. 

Instagram's new music feature on phone screen.
Instagram

Instagram teamed up with singer Sabrina Carpenter to promote the feature, with fans able to hear a clip of her new song "Taste." exclusively on her profile (though the album comes out tomorrow). Earlier this year, Instagram's parent company, Meta, teamed up with another pop star, Taylor Swift. She created a Threads account alongside the release of her new album, The Tortured Poet Society, in April. The first group of people to share her post received a customized badge on their profile.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-copiesmyspace-140049134.html?src=rss

Magnetic instrument presents a more playful way to create music

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When people think of musical instruments, they most probably think first of traditional ones like guitars, pianos, and violins. These days, music can come from a wide variety of sources, sometimes generated by unexpected things, like the flow of fluids in plants. There is going to be some debate on whether these random arrangements of tones can qualify as “music,” but there will be little argument that the sequences they produce can be melodic and even pleasant. Plus, the way they’re generated can be just as interesting as the sounds they make, like this drum-like cylinder that produces a curious mix of synth tones by moving magnetic balls and objects around its surface, almost like playing with marbles and sticks.

Designers: Nicola Privato, Giacomo Lepri

Thanks to modern electronics, software, and a bit of AI, it’s nearly possible to use any phenomenon to generate different kinds of sounds and combine them in a harmonic way. This opens up a world of possibilities in how instruments can be designed, from passive sources like the biological processes of plants to more actively controlled machines with knobs and sliders. Stacco is an experimental instrument that mixes these two, using magnetic forces influenced by objects in your hands.

At the heart of Stacco, or rather beneath the surface, are four devices called magnetic attractors. These can detect the changes in the magnetic fields around them, which is then processed by artificial intelligence called Neural Audio Synthesis into sound or data that can further be manipulated into music, mostly of the synth type. What makes Stacco interesting is that you can use a variety of objects to affect these attractors as long as they generate some amount of magnetic field.

You can, for example, push or roll around four magnetic marbles to produce sound. Ferromagnetic objects like nails, rods, and rings can also be used to “push” the magnetic fields around. You’re not limited to just moving the balls on the surface of the drum-like instrument either. To some extent, you can also pick and drop objects to have the same effect, though probably on a smaller or weaker scale.

This odd musical instrument not only offers a more interactive experience, it also changes the way you can record or compose music. Since the tones are generated by moving objects across the surface, these can be noted down as lines, circles, and other figures that can result in beautiful geometric patterns. Musicians can then just simply trace those lines to recreate the same musical score or simply let it guide their hands to create variations and discover new melodies in the process.

fot. Marta Zając-Krysiak

The post Magnetic instrument presents a more playful way to create music first appeared on Yanko Design.

Vinyl player concept shows off transparent design

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You would think that in this age when we mostly listen to music through streaming services, old school ways of listening to music would be all but extinct. While we probably won’t see cassette tapes make a comeback soon, we still see CDs and vinyls have a pretty niche but passionate market. So we’re seeing several music players that are able to still play these “relics”, mostly for the vinyls (sadly, I have yet to see excellently designed CD players with great sound quality).

Designer: Vadzim Sadouski

There is no lack of great-looking and great-sounding turntables out there if you’re in the market for one. And there is also no dearth of interesting concepts for vinyl players, ranging from retro to cutesy to premium to sci-fi/out there levels. This concept for a “record player transparent design” is one of those that catches the eye and would be interesting to see as an actual vinyl player (and hopefully it gets a specific name too). From the moniker itself, you probably have an idea of what it would look like even if you don’t see the renders.

There’s a certain fascination with transparent things now and seeing how the inside looks like as it does its thing. This one is inspired by the play of light inside ribbed glass as the light refracts and plays around. The designer says the starting point for the design are things like glass, lighthouse lenses, tableware, and even lamps. What you get is a vinyl player with its base showing off the light inside from the glass grills.

Now as to how the vinyl records would sound like from having a transparent design like this is a problem for another day. But the concept itself seems pretty interesting and is definitely eye-catching. But real music lovers would tell you that no matter how well designed something is, the important thing is the sound quality of course.

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Apple Music is currently offering new subscribers three months free

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Non-subscribers who open the Apple Music app on a new iPhone or iPad typically see an offer for a free month of the service. The trial was once three times as long, but Apple quietly shortened it in early 2022. But now through September 23, anyone new to Apple's music streaming service will get to try it out for free for three months. The deal only applies to first-time subscribers; if you've never succumbed to the music app's temptation, now is as good a time as any to check it out. Just keep in mind that the service will automatically renew for $11 per month after the trial ends. Be sure to cancel if you don't want to pay. 

Apple Music has a lot to offer. It's currently our top recommendation in our guide to the best music streaming services. We like its approach to recommendations, balancing a good amount of editorial playlists and stations with algorithmic suggestions. Every song is available at CD-quality or better and lossless streaming doesn't cost extra. 

For computer-picked listening, there's a "Discovery Station" that helps you find new music by playing songs you've never streamed before, both from artists you know and others the algorithm thinks you'll like. And, in my experience, saying, "Hey Siri, play me some Apple Music," produces pretty good mix of stuff I like that's novel enough to be interesting, but not so familiar I'm sick of hearing it. 

There are a few caveats to note about the service: It's really made for Apple devices, though its available on Android devices too. You won't find podcasts on Apple Music. And, aside from this deal, there's no free version of Apple Music. Pay your $11 monthly or listen elsewhere. 

As for the deal, we'll restate that it's only for new subscribers — previous subscribers and even those who've had access to Apple Music through a Family plan aren't eligible. You also have to sign up using the Apple Music app on an iPhone, Mac or iPad running the latest software. An Apple ID is also required. You can read all terms of the deal here. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-music-is-currently-offering-new-subscribers-three-months-free-185834470.html?src=rss

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 make first appearance as a display unit ahead of official launch

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The options for premium true wireless earbuds have gotten more interesting since the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro debuted with the stem design. Now, users have more reasons to rejoice as Google Buds Pro 2 is just around the corner, according to reliable leaks. The new ANC earbuds for the Pixel ecosystem are slated to make an appearance at the Made by Google event on August 13. The Pixel 9 series smartphones will be released at this event, and we have our calendars marked already.

According to numerous leaks and rumors, the buds will have wings for a secure grip, and unlike the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro that have adapted the stem design (very similar to the AirPods) this time, the Google’s audio accessory will continue with the stemless aesthetic of the current generation. As it goes in the gadget rumor mill, the Buds Pro 2 display unit has been received at a Reddit user’s store.

Designer: Google

User [nothighandmighty] has not been shy about sharing the picture of the display model of the upcoming earbuds. For the most part, the new buds will be a lowkey upgrade to the previous version with incremental improvements that help them stay at par with heavyweights like Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2. The Buds Pro 2 will be smaller than the current generation Pro model which makes them comfortable and compatible with small ears. Also, the wingtip is slightly larger for a more secure fit and will be color-matched with the chosen option. According to a leak by Dylan Roussel, the earbuds will come in peppy color options including Raspberry, Mojito, Porcelain and Haze.

The case will be smaller as well which makes them easier to carry around in a pocket. [nothighandmighty] notes that there is a small speaker mesh at the bottom, most probably to beam sound for the Find My Device feature just in case you happen to lose them a lot.

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Heineken-themed music device lets you discover new music and create unique jams with strangers

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Heineken has laid great emphasis on the importance of social connections all these years, even before the times we got familiar with online socializing. For the Gen-Z the brand signifies freedom of thought and enjoyment with no strings attached. Going with this philosophy, a team of designers has conjured up this cool gadget christened Hei-Five.

A culmination of Heineken and high five, the palm-sized music device is about sharing songs with like-minded individuals and discovering new music. For instance, you hear a jiving tune at the trending restaurant in your city and desperately want to add that song to your playlist. Yes folks, the Hei-Five will do that without breaking a sweat.

Designer: LFD Official

Simply push the bottle cap-shaped button on one side and the gadget finds the song, thus allowing you to explore music tastes from around the globe. Whenever you meet a new friend at the beach or even a stranger at the local bar, simply clink each other’s device to create a unique playlist of both your tastes. There’s a dedicated share button to instantly share a song or playlist with someone having a Hei-Five device. That’s not it, when hanging in a group, stack everyone’s device on top of each other to create a potent speaker that plays the most liked songs in everyone’s playlist.

When the Hei-Five runs out of juice, simply dock it on the accompanying charger and it displays the current time and charging levels. The packing of the audio accessory is as interesting as its functionality. As soon as you open the box, there’s a Heineken can concealing the Hei-Five docked in the charging box. Stash it on your desk or living room shelf, onlookers will surely mistake it for a striking-looking beer can!

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Fan-made LEGO Technics Turntable features rotating disc, movable tonearm, and sliding faders

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Short of actually playing music, this Technics SL-1200 MK2 turntable made from LEGO bricks is as near the real deal as it could possibly get.

With a build of over 2,000 pieces, the LEGO build pays tribute to the SL-1200 MK2, an iconic turntable from 1979 that became the club standard for all disc jockeys in the day, helping pioneer the scratching trend and even allegedly being the technical epicenter of movements like disco and house music genres. The submission comes from the mind of LEGO builder Tamás Borján, aka Tomasso Builds, who created the design from scratch, building it smaller than scale but exactly the perfect size to fit a 7-inch vinyl disc.

Designer: Tamás Borján (Tomasso Builds)

Tomasso’s SL-1200 MK2 may look undoubtedly brickish, but it’s as detailed as they come, with buttons, faders, settings, a weighted tonearm, rotating discs, and even a motor on the inside to power the entire experience. The built-in motor drives the turntable, which you can also spin manually to ‘scratch’ the disc, and Start and Stop buttons toggle the motor. The tonearm has adjustable weights and an anti-skating knob, and right under it is a pitch slider that deejays famously use to mix songs with different pitches or scales. Right beside the Start/Stop buttons is also a toggle switch to let you alternate between 33RPM and 45RPM speeds.

The movable parts and rotating turntable really make this build more than a sum of its bricks. The entire piece contains 2,215 LEGO bricks, which may sound like much, but a lot of the bricks go into building the turntable’s flat surfaces like the outer housing and the upper disc. A motor on the inside controls the disc’s rotation, and runs on a battery that also sits under the hood, giving you an overall LEGO kit that’s wireless and can be placed as a collectible anywhere around the house. We recommend keeping a few 7-inch vinyls nearby too to complete the look!

This isn’t the first LEGO turntable we’ve seen, though. Back in 2023, someone built a highly detailed version of the Pioneer CDJ 2000 that featured actual controls, a rotating disc, a dynamic display, and even a USB stick. Spiritually, however, the SL-1200 MK2 has a good 2 decades on the CDJ, given the fact that it absolutely dominated the 70s and 80s.

Tomasso’s build is currently a submission on the LEGO Ideas website – an online forum where LEGO builders and enthusiasts share their own creations and accept votes from the larger LEGO community. Entries that cross the 10,000 vote mark eventually get reviewed by LEGO’s own internal team and turned into box kits that us commonfolk can then buy. Tomasso’s submission is picking up votes at a surprising speed, having just crossed the 800-vote mark as of writing this piece. If you want to see an SL-1200 MK2 LEGO kit in the future, head down to the LEGO Ideas website and cast a vote for this fan-made build!

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