The Moto G30 arrived in Europe in February and later it expanded its availability to India. Now, the phone has gone on pre-order in the United States on Amazon, revealing its price – $299.99.
The phone was initially launched with 128GB storage, but the US version is getting downgraded to 64GB, as well as just 4GB RAM. At this point the only available in Black with the flashier Pastel Sky color missing.
Other specs of the phone include a Snapdragon 662 chipset, a 5,000 mAh battery and four cameras on the back, with the main one having a 64MP sensor. This device is not 5G-enabled, maxing out at LTE networks but it does support NFC and Bluetooth 5.0.
The Moto G30 will start shipping on July 30 according to the listing. This is more than two months from today, but at least the phone is not tied with any telecoms and is sold unlocked for all carriers.
Microsoft isn’t talking about its big Windows plans at Build 2021 this week, and that’s because the company is preparing to detail what’s next for its PC operating system separately. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella teased this announcement during his Build keynote this morning, revealing he has been testing “the next generation of Windows” in recent months.
“Soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators. I’ve been self-hosting it over the past several months, and I’m incredibly excited about the next generation of Windows. Our promise to you is this: we will create more opportunity for every Windows developer today and welcome every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to build and distribute and monetize applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon.”
Microsoft has been working on a new app store for Windows in recent months, alongside some significant UI changes to the operating system. Nadella appears to reference the store changes here, with a promise to unlock a better economy for developers and creators within Windows itself.
This will likely include some significant changes to the Windows Store, allowing developers to submit any Windows application — including browsers like Chrome or Firefox. Rumors have suggested Microsoft may even allow third-party commerce platforms in apps, so developers could avoid Microsoft’s own 15 percent cut on apps and 12 percent cut on games.
Nadella’s specific mention of a “next generation of Windows” is interesting, too. Microsoft typically refers to everything as “Windows 10,” and this language could suggest the company is preparing a more significant shift with Windows branding than just the user interface alone.
Windows 10X was supposed to ship this year before it was canceled.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Microsoft confirmed last week that Windows 10X, its OS originally built for dual-screen devices, will no longer ship. The software maker is now bringing the best bits of Windows 10X, a simplified version of Windows, into the main version of Windows 10 instead. We’re expecting to see some significant UI changes to Windows under something codenamed “Sun Valley.”
Some of that work has already started, with new system icons, File Explorer improvements, and the end of Windows 95-era icons. Microsoft is also focusing on improving the basic foundations of Windows, with fixes for a rearranging apps issue on multiple monitors, the addition of the Xbox Auto HDR feature, and improvements to Bluetooth audio support.
Nadella says we’ll hear more about the future of Windows “very soon,” so we’d expect some type of announcement or event in the coming weeks ahead.
(Pocket-lint) – Speak to any diehard music lover and you’ll always get the same answer: there’s nothing like vinyl. Forget about the new trends of getting the purest form of music, this is it.
These record players age are modern in approach but have a retro style. You’ll find a lot of retro-styled options out there complete with wooden finishes and maybe even a suitcase aesthetic.
But don’t be fooled. Many of these new record players not only play your parent’s vinyl, some of them even connect to your Bluetooth speaker so you can mix generations, too.
Best retro record players to buy today
Crosley
Crosley Sterling Turntable
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It’s not very often that you come across a music player that makes so much of a statement as the Crosley Sterling Turntable.
Its bold, retro design makes it as much an ornamental piece in your house as a great way to listen to music. You have the option of removing the legs too if you have a nice table to put it on.
It plays 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records and houses dual stereo speakers. You can connect it up via RCA output or even Bluetooth if you fancy.
Not all record players are made alike, and the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK Direct-Drive Turntable is one that stands out among the crowds.
It has a classic look and is packed with features. It’ll play 33 1/3, 45, and 75 RPM records, and while it doesn’t come with speakers, it can be connected to your favourite speakers through RCA cables or USB.
If you’re a die-hard turntable enthusiast, then Audio-Technica’s fantastic reputation and the long list of features on this record player make it a worthy option.
Steepletone
Steepletone BT-SMC386r PRO
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For those who use every way imaginable to listen to music, there are few systems that will cater to them. There is the Steepletone BT-SMC386r PRO, however, an 8-in-1 music player.
It definitely has an air of old-school to it. The main body houses a record player on top, twin cassette tape players, an FM and AM radio, CD player, a place for a USB stick, SD card slot, and Bluetooth.
Then there are two classic-looking speakers on either side as well for a stereo sound.
If you’ve got a whole host of different ways to listen to music from pretty much every generation, then the Steepletone BT-SMC386r PRO is something to look at.
House of Marley
House of Marley Stir It Up Record Player
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The House of Marley Stir It Up Record Player brings the record player right up to modern standards. Its sleek bamboo cover will match right up in your stylish living room.
It connects to your Mac or PC via USB, so you can digitally record your vinyls if you like, in case you want to take that classic music with you in the car.
It’ll play both 35 and 45 RPM records powered by a preamp through speakers of your choice.
Udreamer
Udreamer Vinyl Record Player
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We love the fact that the Udreamer Vinyl Record Player delivers a retro look, but still maintains an ageless class. It wouldn’t be out of place in any living room.
It’s able to play in 33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM, as well as 3 sizes of record: 7”, 10” and 12”. The spring and belt-driven design in combination with the wooden build help it absorb any vibrations and deliver a warm tone.
If you’re out of vinyls to play for the evening, then switch over to your phone with its Bluetooth functionality.
Victrola
Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player
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Talk about bringing back the retro. The Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player travels through time with its analog knobs and dials to deliver a distinguished style.
A lovely hinged door reveals the belt-driven turntable that can play 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM records. That large radio dial is just awesome and dominates the front.
It’s not just a radio and record player, though. There’s a CD player and cassette, player, AUX jack, and even Bluetooth s you can stream from other devices. Looking at it, you’d never guess.
SeeYing
SeeYing Record Player with Speakers Bluetooth Turntable with FM Stereo Radio
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The SeeYing Record Player with Speakers is a bang-up-to-date turntable. It’s got speakers on its sides that you can even connect a Bluetooth device to when you run out of records.
No matter if you have 7, 10, or 12 inch vinyls, or need 33, 45, or 78 RPM playing speeds, this record player has you covered.
The sedate styling will make it work in most spaces too.
Victrola
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player
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The Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player transports you back to a day when taking your music with you wasn’t quite as easy as it is today.
But there’s nothing like the sound of vinyl. Take this along with you to parties to give the music a bit of a taste of the classics.
Everything’s included in the Victrola Vintage, so you don’t need to connect it to any speakers. It also will play 33 1/3, 45, or 78 RPM playing speeds
WOCKODER
WOCKODER Record Player Turntable
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The WOCKODER Record Player Turntable brings back the 70s in style and does so in a compact package.
The belt driven player and spring on the turntable base make sure vibration is kept to a minimum, which is great for sound quality.
It’s simple to use with little fuss needed to get going. And it’s also got Bluetooth in case you’re keen on something not yet released on vinyl.
Kedok
Kedok Belt Driven Suitcase Vinyl Record Player
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Retro styling meets modern tech. The Kedok Belt Driven Suitcase Vinyl Record Player is a great looking turntable that allows you to listen to your records wherever you go.
It’s capable of playing three different-sized records in three speeds, and has built-in speakers so you don’t need anything more to play your classics.
Writing by Claudio Rebuzzi. Editing by Dan Grabham.
Smart device and audio specialist Oppo is today launching two new additions – the Enco Air true wireless earbuds and an Oppo 46mm wi-fi smartwatch.
The Chinese brand has expanded its wireless headphone offering to include the Oppo Enco Air earbuds, which promise to combine “lightning-fast Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with an ergonomic and lightweight design” – a design that’s clearly aimed squarely at the best AirPods alternative market but with a clever translucent-lidded case (so you’ll always know they’re actually in there).
(Image credit: Oppo)
The Oppo Enco Air earbuds come with a Vocal Enhancement mode as standard. Under the bonnet there’s a 12mm dynamic driver with dedicated bass duct in tow, thus promising deep bass and clear highs, plus a dynamic, real-time algorithm to adjust signal – which should allow those voices to stand out from the instrumental.
In terms of stamina, Oppo says the earbuds feature a battery with fast charging that allows up to four hours play from the buds on just a single, 10-minute charge – that is efficient – and 24 hours of total battery life.
Aside from the audio tech, the Enco Air earbuds have also been thoughtfully designed for comfort. The company says that the design (weighing in at only 4g per earpiece) has been user-tested on over 400 different ear shapes to ensure a perfect fit for all customers. This, combined with an IPX4 splash-resistance rating, makes them an interesting budget proposition on paper.
(Image credit: Oppo)
The Oppo 46mm Smart Watch, powered with Wear OS by Google, features a 1.9 inch AMOLED display plus the full suite of Google apps and services – including Google Pay and Google Maps. The AI watch-face design can synchronise to match any outfit thanks to the HeyTap Health app and, with a wide range of wrist strap colours available, it’s never been easier to switch styles. Regarding the frame, Oppo says the 46mm WiFi Watch has been sculpted in a 6,000 series aluminium alloy and is available in a Black finish.
Through Google FitTM1, the wearable enables access to reams of tracked exercises in addition to its key, wrist-based five-minute workouts with voice coaching. With a summer out of lockdown on the horizon, Oppo promises its 46mm WiFi Watch will take the sting out of training and help keep you fit on-the-move. For those out from morning until night, the Watch VOOC Flash Charging allows users to build up 16 hours of power from just one, 15-minute fast charge too.
Ready for prices? The Oppo Enco Air true wireless headphones are available now in a choice of white, black or light blue, for £69 (around $98 or AU$126, although those prices are unconfirmed) and the Oppo 46mm Smart Watch is also available from Oppo’s e-store or Amazon, for £279 (around $395 or AU$510).
MORE:
See our pick of the best cheap wireless earbuds under £100
Slightly stretchier budget? These are the best wireless earbuds 2021
Need noise cancelling? Here’s our summary of the best noise cancelling earbuds 2021
Google’s long-awaited Fuchsia OS is starting to quietly roll out on its first consumer device, the first-generation Nest Hub, 9to5Google reports. Google’s work on Fuchsia OS first emerged in 2016, and the open-source operating system is notable for not being based on a Linux kernel, instead using a microkernel called Zircon. “You don’t ship a new operating system every day, but today is that day,” tweeted a Google technical lead on the Fuchsia OS project, Petr Hosek.
While the rollout on the Nest Hub (which originally released as the Google Home Hub before being renamed) begins today, the whole release process will take several months. It’ll come to users in the Preview Program first, before slowly releasing more broadly. We’ve known for a while that the operating system has been tested on the Nest Hub, and earlier this month more evidence for a release emerged thanks to a Bluetooth SIG listing that showed the Nest Hub running Fuchsia 1.0.
You don’t ship a new operating system every day, but today is that day.
— Petr Hosek (@petrh) May 25, 2021
Although the Nest Hub will swap its current Cast OS for Fuchsia OS, 9to5Google notes that the experience is likely to be almost identical, and most users are unlikely to even notice the switch.
All of this raises the question of what exactly Fuchsia OS is meant to achieve. Google calls it a “production-grade operating system that is secure, updatable, inclusive, and pragmatic.” We know that the OS could eventually power laptops and smartphones (Google was spotted testing it on the Pixelbook back in 2018, and more recently it proposed a solution for how it could run Android and Linux apps), but Fuchsia is not meant to be a one-for-one replacement of Android or Chrome OS.
“Fuchsia is about just pushing the state of the art in terms of operating systems and things that we learn from Fuchsia we can incorporate into other products,” Android and Chrome chief Hiroshi Lockheimer said cryptically in 2019. Google’s smart display is unlikely to be the last device or even form-factor to receive an update to Fuchsia OS. But the exact implications for the switch might take longer to emerge.
Following the recent announcement of its second-generation 14 and 15 Series amplifiers, Rotel has now taken two of its preamplifiers into their next generation.
The new RC-1590MKII (pictured top) and RC-1572MKII (below) replace the original, 2015- and 2017-released models, elevating the designs with performance upgrades that include “over 75 critical” component changes (between them) and an enhanced acoustic circuit that borrows technologies engineered for the high-end Michi series.
Rotel has chosen to use new coupling capacitors directly in the audio signal path for improved frequency response in the DAC circuits, while resistor and capacitor upgrades have blessed the DAC power supply, volume circuit and XLR balanced circuits.
To that end, there are balanced XLR inputs and outputs, a PC-USB input that supports MQA, a moving magnet phono, plus more analogue and digital connections, the latter of which are fed by a 32-bit/384kHz Texas Instruments DAC. There’s aptX and AAC Bluetooth onboard too and both machines are certified Roon Tested.
(Image credit: Rotel)
The RC-1590MKII is the reference model, its design built around a power supply that features dual in-house manufactured toroidal transformers that are physically and electrically isolated and promise to provide current to the circuits with low distortion and a quiet noise floor. Dual RCA and XLR outputs can accommodate bi-amplification, and a subwoofer output is also on the menu.
Beneath it is the RC-1572MKII, which has a design built around one of Rotel’s in-house manufactured toroidal transformers.
Orders can now be placed for the Rotel RC-1590MKII and RC-1572MKII, which are priced £1695 ($2100) and £1150 ($1400) respectively. Shipping begins in July in the United States and Canada, with the rest of the world to follow shortly thereafter.
MORE:
Best stereo amplifiers 2021: best integrated amps for every budget
Rotel 14 and 15 Series MKII amps benefit from high-end Michi technology
What Hi-Fi? Awards 2021: all the dates and details
Still waiting for the Sonos wireless headphones to appear? They’re expected by the end of 2021, but it seems the Californian tech giant might have another surprise up its sleeve.
A recent US patent filing (spotted by zatznotfunny) appears to depict Sonos’ first ever pair of wireless earbuds. The drawings are rudimentary but appear to show a couple of different designs, including a wedge-shaped pair that slot into either end of a USB-C charging case.
Interestingly, it looks like Sonos is also planning to extend the play time of its buds using tiny, detachable battery plates (Sonos calls them “charging adaptors”). The plates look to be roughly the size of a thumbnail and attach (possibly magnetically?) to the outer body of each bud. The drawings even reveal how the plates would be powered up using the charging case. Ingenious, but is it realistic?
The filing doesn’t give too much else away, other than to confirm the purported Sonos buds would feature voice control, media playback, and the ability to sync with “Multiple Network Devices” (Sonos’ increasingly broad range of wireless multi-room audio products, we presume).
Major tech firms file hundreds of patents every year and many come to naught, so today’s development is no guarantee that Sonos will launch a pair of true wireless earbuds. That said, somebody at Sonos has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about developing an Apple AirPods (2019) rival.
MORE:
Get the lowdown: which Sonos speaker should you buy?
Sonos: everything you need to know about the multi-room king
Read our full review of the new Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker
This is a weird one because the review of the Epomaker B21 keyboard was supposed to go out well before that of the Epomaker AK84S. The B21 launched earlier, again via the crowdfunding route, and the campaign is nearly done too as of the time of writing. Unfortunately, my review sample came in much later than originally planned, so here we are to help anyone who might still be interested in the keyboard make an informed purchasing decision. Thanks again to Epomaker for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!
Epomaker works with different brands to get the products out under its big Epoch of Makers umbrella. The B21 wireless keyboard looks to be an Ajazz design, similar to what we saw with the Ajazz Zinc when it comes to the form factor, but that’s also where the similarities end. The Epomaker B21 targets a completely different market compared to the AK84S, with lots of glitz and a cute appeal foremost. Lots of comparisons have already been made to the Etch A Sketch toy, and the retro design coupled with the smaller form factor, plastic buttons above the mechanical keyboard, two knobs, and glossy plastic finish to the case makes it seem like a toy, too. Let’s dig deeper and see whether the Epomaker B21 is able to balance the fun with function.
Specifications
Epomaker B21 Wireless Keyboard
Layout:
65% form factor in a US ANSI layout
Material:
ABS plastic case, PBT plastic keycaps, and steel plate
Macro Support:
No
Weight:
0.88 kg/1.94 lbs.
Wrist Rest:
No
Anti-ghosting:
Full N-key rollover USB, 6KRO with Bluetooth
Media Keys:
Dedicated playback and volume control
Dimensions:
148 (L) x 317 (W) x 46 (H) mm
Cable Length:
6 ft/1.8 m
Software:
No
Switch Type:
Choice of Cherry MX Red, Brown, or Blue mechanical switches
Apple is releasing its latest iOS 14.6 update today, and it’s largely focused on audio improvements. This new OS update will allow Apple Music subscribers to enable lossless audio or Dolby Atmos once it’s available next month, and it also debuts Apple Podcasts subscriptions.
Podcasts users can now subscribe to content in the app for extra perks like ad-free and bonus content, as well as early access. Apple is also improving the Podcasts app with the ability to mark all episodes as played, recover old episodes, and remove downloads.
iOS 14.6 includes a number of other quality-of-life improvements. If you’re an AirTag owner, iOS 14.6 includes the option to add an email address as a contact method for when the item tracker is in lost mode. There’s also Apple Card Family sharing, with support for up to five people to share an Apple Card for purchases.
As always, this latest version of iOS also includes some fixes and security improvements. Apple has fixed an issue with the Apple Watch not unlocking an iPhone correctly, problems with reminders as blank lines, call blocking extensions not appearing in settings, reduced iPhone performance during startup, and Bluetooth issues during calls.
Radxa have announced that it has updated its Raspberry Pi alternative, Rock Pi 4 line of single-board computers with the Rockchip OP1 processor, onboard eMMC storage, and a pre-installed version of Twister OS to create the new Rock Pi 4 Plus family of products. Via CNX-Software.
Camera connector for camera (possibly the Raspberry Pi official camera)
Gigabit Ethernet with PoE support (Model B and additional HAT required)
Dual-band 802.11ac WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 (Model B)
2 x USB 3.0 ports
2 x USB 2.0 port
40 Pin GPIO
Real Time Clock
USB C PD
There are two models of the Rock Pi 4 Plus at launch, the Model A and Model B, that can both be configured with either 2GB of LPDDR4 memory and 16GB of onboard eMMC storage or 4GB of LPDDR4 memory and 32GB of onboard eMMC storage.
We noticed on the Aliexpress listing that the primary difference between the Model A and Model B is that the latter offers wireless connectivity out of the box and POE support via a HAT.
The inclusion of the community created Twister OS is an interesting addition. Twister OS has been with us for around a year and has seen some success as an alternative to Raspberry Pi OS. It is a solid operating system that comes with plenty of extras.
Radxa did say these new models will be 11% faster than their predecessors thanks to the OP1. It’s not clear how that would be the case, however, because OP1 appears to be a brand name for the RK-3399 SoC used in the original models. Radxa may have upgraded the Rock Pi 4 Plus to the RK-3399Pro, which adds a 2.4 TOPS NPU to the base SoC, but that doesn’t mesh with the company’s claim that the “OP1 brings faster performance on both CPU and GPU” to the new models.
Radxa said all of the original Rock Pi 4 accessories will be compatible with the Rock Pi 4 Plus. The new models are supposed to be available via AliExpress, Allnet, and Amazon, but at time of writing the storefronts only offer the Rock Pi 4 Plus Model B.
Microsoft teased the potential for an Xbox handheld-like experience with the Surface Duo during its unveiling nearly two years ago, and it’s finally appearing today. Microsoft is updating its Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) app for Android, and it includes dual-screen support for the Surface Duo.
The app update allows Surface Duo owners to use a virtual gamepad on one screen of their device and games on the other. It makes the Surface Duo look more like a Nintendo 3DS than a mobile phone, with touch controls for a variety of games.
Microsoft has been steadily adding Xbox Touch Controls to more than 50 games in recent months, including titles like Sea of Thieves, Gears 5, and Minecraft Dungeons. The full list of touch-compatible games is available here, and you can of course just use a regular Bluetooth or Xbox controller to stream games to the Surface Duo.
Microsoft is turning its Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox today. The latest app update for Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) let’s you use one screen for touch controls and the other for the game. It’s like a Nintendo 3DS with Xbox games. Details here: https://t.co/ubbsEAW3r8 pic.twitter.com/aP94t9xgzC
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 24, 2021
The benefits of a dual-screen device for this type of mobile experience are obvious. You no longer have touch controls over the top of the game, and your thumbs don’t get in the way of seeing important action on-screen. If dual-screen or foldable devices ever catch on, this is a far superior way to play Xbox games without a dedicated controller.
Microsoft has also tweaked the rest of the Xbox Cloud Gaming to work better on the Surface Duo. Improvements include making it easier to view content, move through menus, and the addition of columned layouts. The updated app is available now in Google Play Store.
(Pocket-lint) – Lockdowns around the world led to a boom in indoor cycling, with training and virtual racing taking off. For many this has meant buying a smart turbo trainer – such as the excellent Wahoo Kickr or Tacx Neo 2T Smart – and hooking your bike up to it before riding off into the virtual sunset.
However, if you have the space and the money there’s another option: the indoor smart bike. This is where the Wattbike Atom – here the 2020 model, described as the ‘Next Generation’ product by the maker – comes into play. But, at 10 times to price of a ‘dumb’ exercise bike, is it worth the outlay?
Much like mobile phones, there’s a big difference between budget and flagship. The Wattbike Atom 2020 uses top-of-the-range internal components, while it looks like a thing of relative beauty compared to a clunky budget spin bike. But more important than that, it’s designed to integrate seamlessly with third-party apps such as Zwift to allow training, social riding and racing in the virtual world.
So how does the Wattbike Atom ‘Next-Generation’ stack up in the world of dedicated indoor trainers?
Design & Setup
Footprint: 1.24 x 0.5m (4′ x 1’7″) / Weight: 40kg (88lbs)
Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, FTMS
This is the second-generation Atom, arriving 3 years after Wattbike’s first foray into the smart bike home market. Out of the box the Atom is pretty much ready to go, which is not the case for its competitors that require a larger degree of assembly.
Pocket-lint
The only things you need to do are attach the pedals – a flat pair are included, but you’ll most likely be installing your own – clip in the aerobars (which double as a tablet holder) and, if you’re so inclined, add the aerobar resting pads. Once you’ve heaved it into position (it’s very heavy, but has two small carriage wheels at the front which are helpful when you need to move it), you’ll need to fit the bike to your geometry.
Anyone who’s had a professional bike fit will be a step ahead of the game here, but Wattbike’s website will take you through what you need to do if you haven’t. The saddle and handlebar height and forward/backward position are fully adjustable, as is the tilt of the saddle, meaning that the vast majority of riders will be able to replicate their road bike position.
However, it’s not possible to adjust the crank length at all, so you’re stuck with 170mm – which for most people won’t be a major issue, but it won’t please everyone (as typical setups are usually 172.5mm or 175mm – both of which you can match on the Tacx Neo Bike Smart, for example).
As we’ve already mentioned, the Wattbike Atom comes complete with aerobars that double as a tablet holder. They’re fairly rudimentary, but they provide a snug fit for your tablet and there’s no worry that it’s going to slide out mid ride.
Pocket-lint
Rather frustratingly, there is no USB port at the front of the bike to be able to plug your screen into though, which is an annoying oversight on Wattbike’s part and means you end up trailing an extension socket to the front of the bike when you need a power boost.
On the frame there are two water bottle cages, which is practical given how hot riding indoors can get.
Under the hood
Resistance: electromagnetic
Gears: 22
The mechanics of the Wattbike Atom are where the major upgrades over the previous version have happened. In particular the electromagnetic drivetrain that allows for super-quick gear changes and smoother variations in resistance to simulate climbing/descending or interval training.
Linked to this are the electronic gear shifters that you press to simulate changing gear by changing the resistance to the motor. The gear shifters are battery operated by a coin cell, which of course means you’ll have to change these periodically, but more irritatingly it means they don’t offer any vibrating feedback when you change gear – which we felt would have improved the overall experience.
Pocket-lint
Coupled to this, there is no way of telling which gear you’re in when you’re on the bike – except in compatible apps, of which there are few – and an LED display of this would be useful.
All in all, it feels as though there have been some compromises made with the gear system, perhaps as a consequence of trying to achieve the relatively low price point of the Next Generation Atom. Go up the ranks to the priciest-of-the-lot Wahoo Kickr Bike and you get a much more true-to-life (well, Shimano) gear shifter setup.
On the (virtual) road
Maximum power: 2500W
Power accuracy: +/-1%
Our time on the Atom started well. Wattbike provided us an iPad with Zwift, Sufferfest and the Wattbike app all preinstalled and ready to go – and we found our first ride on Zwift, a gentle noodle around Watopia, to be as smooth as we would hope. The Bluetooth setup worked flawlessly.
Best fitness trackers 2021: Top activity bands to buy today
By Britta O’Boyle
·
The resistance changes as we hit the slopes felt good, gear changes were near instantaneous, and there was a useful gear indicator shown in the top corner of the Zwift screen. Similarly, we found Wattbike’s own app to be seamless, providing a range of interesting and helpful data on pedalling dynamics, as well as a range of interval training workouts.
Pocket-lint
The power data was accurate and consistent when we compared it to our Garmin Vector 3 pedals, as was the cadence.
But the Atom isn’t a bike for gently cruising around the great indoors on, it’s a thoroughbred racing machine, so we decided to put it through its paces in a Zwift race. As you might expect, race conditions expose the differences between the Atom and the turbo trainer/bike setup that we’re used to using.
The first thing we noticed was that finding the correct gear was not as intuitive or easy as we would have liked, particularly in situations where you might want to drop a few gears in quick succession. That lack of feedback from the button press gear changers is noticeable.
Pocket-lint
There is an option to change from the standard 22 gear set up to 11 gears, but rather than recreating a well mapped out 1×11 set up, the Atom just gives you every other gear from the 22 gear set up. This is disappointing, as is the fact that you can’t customise the gears through Wattbike’s app to create your own ratios – we would like to see Wattbike make customisation an option through firmware update.
The other thing that became more obvious as we pushed the bike hard was that it’s rock-solid stability was, well, rather too rock solid in some ways. The bike was literally rooted to the spot and, try as we might, it didn’t offer even the slightest feedback during all out sprints. On the one hand this is reassuring – we don’t want to be wobbling or worrying about stability during a race – but on the other, many riders want a little side-to-side movement to give a more realistic ride feel, to relieve fatigue, and to avoid a numb rear!
To some extent this is about personal preference, but we found that this rigidity made the Wattbike Atom better suited for jumping on and doing a 30 minute or hour-long interval session, rather than anything longer. A bit like a spin bike session, really.
Furthermore, we found that the Wattbike wasn’t quite as quiet as we had expected. Compared to the whisper quiet high-end turbo trainers we’ve tested, the Atom is definitely a little more noisy, giving a similar level of hum as a washing machine on a mid-speed spin.
Pocket-lint
Another niggle that that we found with the Atom – and this must be a huge frustration for Wattbike – is its integration with third-party apps. When we linked the bike up to our own Zwift account on our laptop, rather than using Wattbike’s pre-loaded iPad version, the Bluetooth kept dropping out, meaning we’d repeatedly lose power for 20-30 seconds every few minutes. Then something went very wrong and the bike wouldn’t connect properly to anything on the laptop or the iPad, which was only solved when we reinstalled the Wattbike app on a third device.
When speaking to the people at Wattbike about this they explained that resolving these problems is a priority, but they are also reliant on the app developers to work with them to do this. So it should happen, but it’s a bit of a waiting game.
From then on we stuck to using the iPad, but still some minor issues remained. Using both the Trainer Road and Sufferfest apps, we found that at the beginning of each interval the Atom would “surge” – demanding more watts from us for a couple of seconds, then drop below the target, before it started to stabilise. This same effect happened when riding in Road Grand Tours, with the start of every incline feeling tougher than it should, which, combined with the slightly difficult-to-master gear shifting, could be frustrating.
Verdict
At first glance the idea of paying the price of a mid-level road bike for one that goes nowhere might seem a little indulgent, but the market for this technology is growing, and Wattbike has put out a really solid offering at a price point quite a bit below the competition.
This means there are a few compromises – but nothing that would stop us seriously considering the Atom from a hardware point of view. There are some software integration issues with third-party apps, though, which we’ve found frustrating.
Overall, the smart bike market is continuing to grow and evolve. Some people may think that a smart turbo trainer is still the better option for indoor training at the moment, whereas others will see the benefits of a dedicated training bike like this one.
Wattbike has created a good offering in the Atom and it’s priced a fair bit less than the key competition, which certainly makes it a contender if you want to take this next step in your indoor training.
Also consider
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Tacx Neo Bike Smart
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The Tacx Neo Bike Smart is an obvious rival to the Wattbike Atom. It’s more expensive, and you’ll encounter similar shifting and rigidity issues with it. But third-party software integration is no problem at all, which makes it a more stable offering.
Sony has announced the arrival of its top LCD TV for 2021. The hotly anticipated Sony X95J will be available to buy in June and is even open for pre-order already in some regions in 75in and 85in panel sizes. The 65in model will be released later in the year.
The X95J features Sony’s all-new Cognitive Processor XR – a picture processor that aims to add a more human perspective and enhancement to each sound and frame – as well as a full-array 4K HDR panel with X-Wide Angle and X-Anti-Reflection technologies.
These IMAX Enhanced-certified TVs have much of the premium look and feel of the Master Series sets from the 2021 range. They have aluminium, backlit, voice remote controls as well as the super-skinny Seamless Edge Bezel design. There’s a three-way stand on the two bigger panel sizes with a central position not required for the smaller 65in variant.
The X95J gets the slight step-down version of the Sony Contrast Booster technology, XR Contrast Booster 10. It’s designed to boost peak brightness while maintaining well exposed whites and blacks in the image. X95J owners also get 12 months’ access to Sony’s Bravia CORE high bitrate streaming service with credits for five film purchases.
Like all the sets in the Sony 2021 TV range, the X95J gets Sony’s Ambient Optimization technology, Dolby Vision HDR, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth with A2DP. There are HDMI 2.1 features, such as 4K 120fps, VRR (when available) and ALLM, and it’s also one of the first Sony sets to make the switch from Android TV to the Google TV platform.
(Image credit: Sony)
There’s no pricing on the X95J at present, but the fact that the step-down 65in X90J retails at £1799 should be a decent steer.
If these premium, big screen LCD TVs are a little out of budget, then take a look at the Sony X85J range, which Sony has also confirmed for a June release today.
The X85J is an edge-lit LED TV without local dimming abilities. It comes in 43in, 50in, 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in sizes but doesn’t get the Cognitive Processor XR. Instead it makes do with the very able Processor X1 from the 2020 range – so that means no XR Contrast Booster or 3D Sound Upscaling either.
Sony’s X-Balanced speaker system takes care of sound, but there’s still Google TV and much of the other technology support mentioned above, as well as Sony’s high-performance motion processing. Again, no pricing is available at present.
Recognising the convenience of Bluetooth and the fact that not every hi-fi system – especially those of the vintage variety – has it integrated, McIntosh has launched a device that brings it onboard any home audio set-up.
The MB20 Bluetooth transceiver is a two-way device that can both receive and transmit audio wirelessly. In receiver mode, the MB20 can accept audio from a phone or any other Bluetooth source for playback through the system it’s connected to. In transmitter mode, the transceiver can send music playing on a system, including from vinyl and CDs, to a pair of Bluetooth headphones or speakers. A back-panel switch changes the device to the required function.
The MB20 supports the latest Bluetooth 5 codec, as well as aptX HD, aptX Low Latency and AAC for higher quality transmission between compatible devices. It can connect to systems via a range of outputs and inputs, which include RCA, XLR, optical and coaxial connections.
(Image credit: McIntosh)
As a receiver, it utilises a 32-bit/192kHz DAC (if used with an external DAC, its output is fixed at 96kHz). And when in transmitter mode, it uses an ADC with a 110dB signal-to-noise ratio.
The Class 1-supporting MB20 can transmit audio within a 150-foot (45.7m) range – 10x greater than a typical Class 2 Bluetooth device – and features an external antenna designed to maximise its range.
The McIntosh MB20 is available to order now, priced £649 ($500), with shipping expected this month for the United States and Canada, and in June for the UK.
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(Pocket-lint) – Make a list of things the world is crying out for. How far up your list does ‘another pair of true wireless in-ear headphones’ come? The answer may well be ‘not very’.
However, at least LG’s Tone Free HBS-FN7 aren’t just another ‘me-too!’ by-the-numbers attempt to steal market share from the likes of Apple’s AirPods Pro.
The HBS-FN7 have a feature or two that sets them apart from the majority, including ultraviolet (UV) cleaning. So while the world is all too familiar with products like this, might it find room in its heart for these LGs?
Design
Black or white finish
Weigh: 5.6g per earbud
Included charging/self-cleaning case
The wireless earbud arrangement pioneered by Apple, whereby a stem drops from the wearer’s ear like some hi-tec jewellery, is a bit of a ‘Marmite’ proposition, isn’t it? So whether you dig it or despise it, that’s the route LG has gone down with the HBS-FN7. The stem is pretty short here, mind you, though that’s counterbalanced (literally) by the fairly bulbous in-ear area of the FN7 design.
Best true wireless earbuds: Wire-free Bluetooth audio bests
At less than 6g per earbud, though, the LG are undeniably easy to get comfortable and to wear – even for hours on end. They’re provided with a selection of hypoallergenic eartips, too, so even the uncommonly sized ear should have no trouble finding a decent fit.
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The options for earbud finish – it’s shiny white or shiny black – look good until they’re dulled by fingerprints. And that happens pretty much immediately.
The brilliantly compact charging case – which is less than 3cm deep, less than 6cm in diameter, and a mere 39g – is in a much more successful (and slightly grippy) matte finish. Fingerprints, therefore, are less of a bother here.
Best USB-C headphones for Android phones 2021
By Dan Grabham
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You won’t be staggered to learn, given that it’s LG we’re discussing here, that build quality is beyond criticism. Keep them safely in their case when you’re not using them and the HBS-FN7 will last a long time.
Features
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX4 splash resistance
Ultraviolet (UV) cleaning
Sound tuned by Meridian
Active noise-cancellation (ANC)
Battery capacity: 390mAh (case), 55mAh (per ‘bud)
Having promised an unusual feature or two, that may as well be where we start – with LG’s UVnano technology. Pop the earbuds into their charging case, close the lid and wait for the little blue LED to illuminate – this indicates the case is scrubbing the earbuds free of bacteria using UV light. And in these ‘hand-sanitiser everywhere you turn’ times, that can only be a good thing, right?
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Elsewhere, it’s business slightly more as usual. The FN7 use Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, and are compatible with SBC and AAC codecs. That’s more than good enough to access some hi-res audio from a top-tier streaming service subscription, but it would have been nice to see aptX Low Latency too – after all, we all like to consume a bit of video content on the move, don’t we?
The sound, once it’s on board, is delivered by a couple of 6mm neodymium full-range drivers. And as another differentiator, LG has opted to give the FN7 a bit of hardcore hi-fi credibility by continuing its partnership with UK specialist Meridian. So there are some Meridian-derived equalisation (EQ) settings to be investigated.
There’s active noise-cancellation (ANC) included here too, and while that’s hardly a revolutionary feature it’s not especially common down in lower price brackets. There are a couple of intensities to choose from – ‘high’ and ‘low’, naturally – as well as an ‘ambient sound’ setting that boosts external noise to keep you orientated. Noise-cancelling can be switched off, too.
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Battery life is an OK-we-suppose 5 hours from the earbuds (with noise-cancelling switched on), with another three full charges available from the charging case. So 20 hours, all in, is plenty long enough to go between charges, but there are plenty of alternative earbuds that will go for longer. For recharging there’s USB-C or wireless Qi charging is available.
Interface
Raised touch-surface
Control app
There’s the tiniest little bump at the top of each FN7 stem – it’s a capacitive surface, and it proves extremely responsive. So you can instruct the earbuds to ‘play/pause’, ‘volume up/down’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘cycle through noise-cancelling options’ and ‘answer/end/reject call’ really easily and with confidence.
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Alternatively, you can always avail yourself of LG’s impressive Tone Free control app. It’s very nicely rendered, is unswervingly stable and reliable, and has quite a breadth of functionality. Rearrange the way the touch-controls respond, explore Meridian’s EQ presets (‘natural’, ‘treble boost’, ‘bass boost’ and ‘immersive’ are pretty self-explanatory), control noise-cancelling intensity, or save a couple of EQ presets you’ve defined yourself.
It’s here where you can update software too, and where you can provoke the earbuds into emitting a piercing chirrup. ‘Find my earbuds’, that last feature is called – and they’d have to be quite a long way away for you to fail to hear them calling to you.
Sound quality
As far as sound quality is concerned, what the HBS-FN7 do well they do very well indeed. Where they’re found wanting, though, they fall down quite heavily.
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On the plus side, set the EQ to ‘natural’ and the balance of the sound is very nicely judged. The low frequencies have weight but plenty of momentum too – so a chunky tune like The Bug’s Poison Dart hits more than hard enough, but doesn’t get bogged down by its own heft.
The feverish vocal in the midrange of the same tune is detailed, packed with character and enjoys a lot of breathing space too, and as a consequence there are real powers of communication on display here.
And the top of the frequency range has ample crunch but doesn’t get particularly hard, even if you like to listen at oppressive volumes.
The integration of the whole frequency range is smoothly achieved, too, so there’s convincing unity to the sound – nothing is overstated or underplayed. (Of course, mess with the EQs and you can undermine all of this good work. The choice, as always, is yours.)
The soundstage upon which all this happens is properly laid out and coherent. There’s more than enough space available for each individual strand of the recording to be identified, but that’s not at the expense of unity or integration – there’s proper confidence to the way the FN7 stage a song.
Pocket-lint
What there isn’t much of, though, is dynamism or attack. The LG just can’t summon the reserve to put much distance between the quietest and the loudest parts of a recording, and neither can these ‘buds shine much of a spotlight on the little harmonic variations that are so important to giving the listener the complete picture. Attack, of which in normal circumstances The Bug is far from short of, is of the mildest, politest type. And anyone who knows this recording knows ‘polite’ isn’t really what it’s aiming for.
The active noise-cancelling is only a qualified success, too. Set to ‘high’ it undoubtedly takes quite a lot of external noise out of the equation – but it introduces a slight-but-definite hiss at the bottom of the noise-floor as it does so. Set it to ‘low’ and it may as well be set to ‘off’.
Verdict
We go out as we came in: by pointing out that you’re spoiled for choice where products of this type are concerned.
The LG HBS-FN7 have some real strengths, no doubt about it – the balance of their audio reproduction, the quality of their construction and the excellence of their control app, for instance, as well as the reassurance of their self-cleaning technology.
But if the reason you’re buying earbuds is to get as complete an account of the music you like as your budget will allow, they come up fractionally short. Still, the UV cleaning technology is undoubtedly a special attraction.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
Sony WF-1000XM3
For a little less than the cost of the LG, Sony will sell you equally adept (and more attacking) sound, much better noise-cancelling and a different, but equally odd, physical form. You’ll have to clean the bacteria off them manually, mind you…
Read our review
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Writing by Simon Lucas. Editing by Mike Lowe.
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