Apple’s next AirPods case may be waterproof and let you recharge an Apple Watch
Apple didn't exactly wow us with its update to the AirPods earlier this year. In particular, they're still not water-resistant. But if a newly published patent application is any indication, the next version could be. Descriptions of the charging case suggest it will be waterproof, and let you recharge an Apple Watch.
Amazon Music HD offers hi-res streaming for a lot less than Tidal
Amazon has added a high-quality tier to its music streaming service called Amazon Music HD. It will offer over 50 million tracks in lossless CD-quality, and many of these will also be available in hi-res format, which has better-than-CD-quality. Prime members get it for as little as $13 per month.
Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will strut into homes in April 2020
After months of speculation, NBCUniversal has firmed up several details around its planned streaming service. It will launch in April 2020, it will have virtually all of NBC's biggest hit shows, including The Office, and it will be called Peacock -- named for NBC's famous multicolored logo.
Samsung and SK Telecom team up for what they hope is the first 5G-powered 8K TV
Now that Huawei and Sharp have announced their intentions to build and sell consumer 8K TVs with embedded 5G technology, it makes sense that Samsung, one of the first adopters of 8K technology, is promising to do the same, at least in South Korea, where it has partnered with SK Telecom.
Sony’s insane 16-foot Crystal LED screens will cost more than a Ferrari
In a surprise move, Sony has announced that its MicroLED displays that can scale up to a whopping 16K, 17-feet in size, are now available to consumers who can afford to buy them. At a reported price of $10,000 per module, the least expensive version will cost $180,000 -- and that is not a 4K model.
Epson’s new projection screen stops ambient light from washing out your movies
Epson has just announced a pair of new 4K laser-projection TVs, but what has us fascinated is the screens these projectors come with. They're specially treated to deflect ambient light away from viewers while ensuring that the light from the projector makes it through uninterrupted.
Ikea gives us a closer look at its Sonos/Symfonisk wireless controller
As Ikea gets closer to finally launching its remote volume control for its Sonos-built Symfonisk speakers, we've now got some more details on how the remote control works and what it will cost, thanks to Ikea's France website, which has released an entire product page for the Symfonisk volume remote control.
Apple HomePod is getting multi-user support but will that satisfy its critics?
Apple's HomePod sounds amazing, but since its launch, it has been criticized for being heavy on price while light on features. Apple has now revealed some new abilities are headed to HomePod in the fall, like multi-user support and radio stations. Will they be enough to please buyers?
We might see an Apple TV mini at tomorrow’s iPhone event
A recent discovery is leading some to speculate that in addition to the expected iPhone refresh at Apple's September 10 event, we could see an Apple TV mini. The rumors are based on a listing that shows the device with a new A12 chip. But what would such a speedy processor mean?
FuboTV’s totally free sports network hopes to put ESPN on notice
FuboTV, provider of a sports-centric subscription streaming TV service is launching a free sports-only channel called Fubo Sports Network. The channel will be launch on Xumo-powered services like LG's Channel Plus and FuboTV's own base package, featuring a mix of live events, news, and original shows.
Spotify’s improved family plan features now available to new subscribers
Spotify has added a feature that has long been on parents' wish lists: The ability to filter explicit content on the sub-accounts of Spotify family plans. For some, the lack of such a feature has been a reason to join services like Apple Music, which makes the new controls an important addition.
Polk Audio’s Legend Series is an impressive new flagship speaker line
Polk Audio, a brand with a reputation for high-quality but affordable speakers, has decided to go upmarket with its latest flagship speaker series called Legend. With prices that start at $1,199 for a pair of bookshelf models and go up sharply from there, these are not your average Polk speakers.
Braun reinvents its classic speakers with Google Assistant to compete with Sonos
Braun has partnered with the U.K.'s Pure Audio to revive its iconic LE line of speakers, with tech and features that put it on par with today's best wireless audio products. The three new speaker models clearly pay homage to Dieter Rams' original designs, but the price may scare off all but the most ardent Braun fans.
JBL’s colorful new wireless speakers brighten up any party or situation
JBL came out with a slew of new audio products for IFA 2019, including the colorful Pulse 4, the Link Music and Link Portable smart speaker duo, and three new soundbar packages that can add immersive sound to any size of home theater. They all arrive this fall and we've got the low-down on prices and features.
Bang & Olufsen’s first soundbar looks stunning and has a price tag to match
There's a first for everything, and when we're talking Bang & Olufsen, that first is often fancy very expensive. Such is the case with the Beosound Stage, the company's first soundbar. It's a Dolby Atmos-capable, 11-speaker work of art that will set you back $1,750 -- if you go with the base model.
Adidas joins the wireless headphone game with two models designed for athletes
You can now add Adidas to the growing list of companies making wireless headphones. The company has debuted two new models, one with an on-ear headband style, and an around-the-neck earbud set designed to be sweatproof for workouts. Neither offer noise-canceling or voice assistant support.
Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer reinvent the home-theater-in-a-box
Bringing its world-class simplicity to home theater sound, Roku has debuted two new speakers: The $180 Roku Smart Soundbar, which does double duty as a speaker and a Roku media streamer, and the $180 Wireless Subwoofer, which adds extra low-end to the soundbar, or a compatible Roku TV.
Sonos’ first portable Bluetooth speaker likely to debut at IFA next week
In what appears to be confirmation that Sonos is working on its first Bluetooth product, an FCC filing and leaked product photos shows a speaker that bears a strong resemblance to the Sonos One. Given Sonos' plans to attend IFA, the speaker is likely to debut at the electronics show in Berlin next week.
Redmi’s first TV is a $530, 70-inch 4K model that you probably can’t buy
Mostly known for its aggressively priced Android smartphones, Xiaomi's Redmi subsidiary is now making TVs. The company announced that its first model, a 4K, 70-inch smart TV will go on sale in China in September for approximately $530, making it one of the least-expensive TVs in this size.
Here’s how to get Hulu for just $3 per month, thanks to Chrissy Teigen
Thanks to a new promotion around Chrissy Tiegen's upcoming Hulu cooking show, Family Style, you can sign up for the on-demand streaming service for half a year at half the normal price for the ad-supported tier. That's $3 per month for six months -- a pretty good deal, but a very time-limited one.
New TVs may automatically disable the awful Soap Opera Effect
It looks as though the entertainment industry is finally taking some concrete steps to rid us of the scourge that is the Soap Opera Effect. A new proposal would create a Filmmaker Mode, to be used on all new TVs, which would automatically turn off image processing on filmed content.
Huawei reportedly working on a 5G-powered 8K TV: What does that mean?
If a report by Nikkei Asian Review is accurate, Chinese telecom giant Huawei is planning to launch its first TV: A 5G-connected 8K set that may arrive as soon as this year. 5G connections are seen as one of the best solutions to the massive bandwidth needed to supply TVs with 8K content.
First-gen Chromecast still secure, but new features from Google are unlikely
Google's first-gen Chromecast is now 6 years old and it appears that it is beginning to near the end of its life. A report indicates that the HDMI streaming dongle will no longer be getting new versions of the Chrome browser that powers its feature set, though Google has committed to doing security updates for now.
KEF’s new Q250c is the chameleon of home theater speakers
Following in KEF's tradition of building home theater speakers that look as good as they sound, the new $600 Q250c is a smaller version of the company's Q650 center channel, but built with greater flexibility in mind. With a sealed design, smaller footprint, and multiple finishes, it can go almost anywhere.
Here’s why it’s highly unlikely your Bluetooth headphones will be hacked
Despite recent headlines that make it sound like Bluetooth is highly insecure and not to be used under any circumstances, the reality is it's unlikely your Bluetooth headphones are about to be used to compromise your security. We explain the threat, how it could affect you, and what you should do going forward.
TomTom Rider 400 review
In an age of smartphones and free navigation apps, is there really a need for dedicated motorcycle GPS? We make the case for the TomTom Rider 400.
Beautyrest Sleeptracker review
Highly accurate? No. But the Beautyrest Sleeptracker is still a good way to improve your sleep.
Tivoli Audio ART Model One Digital review
Our Tivoli Model One Digital review reveals that despite great sound, problems with Wi-Fi and limited streaming support stops us short from falling totally in love.
TiVo Bolt OTA for antenna hands-on review
Free over-the-air programming isn’t available in 4K, so why would you want a 4K OTA DVR? We’ll discuss what makes the new TiVo Bolt OTA a viable choice for cord-cutters with 4K UHD TVs who want to get ahead of the game. With a cheaper starting price than its previous OTA DVR, and a much faster interface, this could be the best OTA receiver on the market.
Sonos Amp review
With its new Sonos Amp, Sonos reinvents its first product with a view toward making it more appealing to custom AV installers and consumers alike. With more power and more features, it mostly succeeds, but comes at a steeper price.
Senic Nuimo Click review
It can mount to any surface, and power itself: Senic’s Nuimo Click is the remote control your smart device should have come with. Well designed, it’s ideal for your smart home. But you’ll have to keep your expectations in check and your pocket wide open, as the Click’s features are limited.
Bose’s $349 portable smart speaker with Bluetooth aims to steal Sonos’ thunder
In advance of Sonos' much-leaked launch of its first Bluetooth speaker, Bose has dropped its own portable smart speaker -- the $349 Bose Portable Home Speaker -- which looks like a virtual carbon copy of the expected Sonos product. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant and goes on sale in September.
Apple is readying noise-canceling AirPods and a cheaper HomePod
If you've wanted to buy Apple's popular AirPods but feel they're missing features like water resistance or noise-cancellation, and you also kind of wish Apple would drop the price of its HomePod smart speaker, you may be in luck. A new report says the company is prepping to do so in the coming months.
Apple Music takes a peek at what people are Shazaming for new weekly playlist
Taking on Spotify isn't easy, but Apple Music is making great strides, especially in the U.S. Now the streaming giant is hitting Spotify where its users live: A new weekly chart/playlist has been added to Apple Music and it's powered by the company's Shazam music identification app. Will it attract even more users?
Roku Channel adds a section just for kids, gives parents more control
The ever-expanding Roku Channel -- Roku's all-in-one free and paid online streaming service -- now has a section featuring kid-friendly programming from both ad-supported and subscription sources. It comes with a new way for parents to control what their kids watch in the form of a PIN-based filtering system.
Samsung’s quantum OLED plans could mean better, cheaper OLED TVs for all
If you love the way OLED TVs look, but have always been put off by the price, Samsung's latest announcement should give you hope: The company plans to start making QD-OLED TVs, which marry the advantages of QLED and OLED into a single TV. Apart from better TVs, the move could bring us cheaper OLEDs too.
The original Mac design team reimagines Apple’s AirPods. Would you wear them?
Most people would agree that if you were intent on redesigning Apple's mega-popular AirPods, you wouldn't make them more controversial-looking. And yet that's what the team from Frog Design has done — with a purpose. The fully open wireless hoops known as Unum, let people see your ears, which is the whole point.