The Italian telephone company introduces itself again before the judge. The charge is a crime of computer fraud. The “zero click” banners that activate paid services in which customers often fall unconsciously have been indicted. The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office seizes in advance 21, 2 million euros
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 14 January 2021 , at 16: 58 in the Telephony channel WindTre WIND
The famous Italian telephone company is was again recalled in front of the judge after the accusation of the Milan prosecutor , which started an investigation. “Competition in computer fraud ” is the crime indicted against the telecommunications company, as the Corriere writes, to which have been seized in advance 18 million euro , or “the percentage forfeited by Wind for the services activated peacefully with fraudulent modalities until November 2018 by the companies producing contents Brightmobi and Yoom for the through the Pure Bros technology platform. “.
WindTre in the storm, the crime: computer fraud
Wind had already been accused of the fraud scandal technology last summer, where there were well 000 under investigation including 3 company executives. The July lesson does not seem to have been served to the company that, in the past few hours, has fallen back into the storm of illicit business to the detriment of customers. It often happens to see paid services and subscriptions such as gossip, horoscopes or music activated, without the customer’s consent . These fraudulent services are strictly prohibited , and are activated via a mechanism called “machine to machine” which is able to circumvent the consent procedure by the customer. Subscriptions “click zero” for a fee yes they activate automatically even if the deceptive banner is not clicked. That’s right, it is enough to visit the offending web page that the subscription has already started on the customer’s telephone account. Wind defends itself by stating that it has already reimbursed their customers for an amount equal to 20 million euros with an adjoining block of paid services. The power of attorney confirms Wind’s thesis but specifies that the reimbursements are of no relevance as they are made in 2019, or after the investigation period, dated November 2018.
According to the estimates, the large telephone companies make a significant profit from these rounds of illicit money, figures that exceed one billion euros every year . If the previous seizures by the content companies Brightmobi and are also considered Yoom , WindTre had a total of 38 million euros . It is curious to note that after the intervention of the Milan public prosecutor the activation of these deceptive paid subscriptions has decreased from approximately 40. 000 per day for only 100 per day .
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Xiaomi’s cheap smartband is sold for only 14 ?? on offer, with a discount of 36% compared to its original price list. This is one of those promotions not to be missed (really), but we warn you that it is about to expire
of Editorial staff published on 14 January 2021 , at 06: 01 in the Wearables channel Xiaomi
The Xiaomi Mi Band 4C is now on offer at 14, 06 ?? on GearBest. It is a smartband, a gadget that you probably don’t miss but which, once tried, you can hardly do without it. It reproduces the timetable (only on-demand, when needed, to save on battery), and helps with an endless series of activities, starting from the simple receipt of notifications, up to the most advanced functions related to fitness.
At the price of 14?? it is absolutely worth giving it a chance, and on this page we give you 5 reasons not to miss the opportunity. Badly, you can still give it to your cousin, making him happy!
Buy here Xiaomi Mi Band 4C a 14, 06 ??
1. The price
14, 06 ?? and are you still thinking about it? On Amazon at this price you often find only junk, to be honest , which you will hopelessly leave to collect dust in the drawer after an initial trial period. Xiaomi Mi Band 4C is instead a concrete product, designed to offer all those essential and useful functions for all users. It usually costs little, but with the current offer on GearBest it becomes an absolute best-buy !
2. Comfortable 24 and waterproof
Unlike a smartwatch, the Xiaomi Mi Band 4C is designed to be worn all day, and even night. It protrudes slightly from the wrist and weighs only 13 grams , without strap. You will hardly feel it during the vast majority of daily activities and it can also be used during pool activities. All with a youthful design, with the possibility of combining up to four different colored straps: in addition to black we have orange, green and blue.
3. Autonomy and fast recharge
Lots of bulky, heavy and uncomfortable smartwatches offer autonomy about a day (sometimes even less). Sure, they have a lot more features, but tell the truth: how many do you really need? Xiaomi Mi Band 4C has the essential functions (those that are then needed by everyone) and guarantees an effective duration of 14 days of use. And when it’s about to run out, just plug it in via USB to a charger for about two hours to get full charge again.
4. Lots of useful functions for everyone
Xiaomi’s cheap smart band connects via Bluetooth 5.0 , is resistant to liquids up to 50 meters deep and has a heart rate monitor integrated, working 24 hours a day. If connected to a smartphone it can receive all notifications , such as calls, SMS, other types of messages from other apps, reminders and appointments, and much more. It also supports monitoring of five fitness activities , such as step counting, running, cycling, treadmill sessions or free movement. Through a dedicated app on your smartphone you can then monitor all your progress, or receive reminders on when to continue with your workouts.
Obviously, the
sleep monitoring , and there is also a integrated media player with which to listen to music (via Bluetooth headphones). We then have a reminder after a certain period of inactivity and also the weather forecast! Do you really need anything else?
5. The large luminous display
Last, but certainly not least , the large display. How wide? 1, 08 inches, with resolution of 128 x 220 pixels, certainly interesting values for a smart bracelet. Sure, it’s not an OLED, but the much higher maximum brightness won’t make you regret the better blacks of organic LED technology, especially in bright sunlight. The Mi Band 4C can be used in all circumstances, even and especially outdoors, without any hindrance.
All for only 14, 06 ?? , we repeat it, but only if you make the purchase in these hours. Xiaomi Mi Band 4C can be purchased at this address , on GearBest.
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Today, next to the flagship smartphones of the Samsung Galaxy S series 21, the truly wireless in-ear headphones Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro also debuted. Last year’s Korean musical design, the Galaxy Buds Live, was slightly different in terms of construction, but as you can see this year the company wanted to return to a more classic look. Is it good – I will let you assess it, and I will go to the details, i.e. the specification and functionality. The headphones are available in three colors: black, silver and purple. They will be sold in selected countries 29 January 2021, and the pre-sale starts now. The equipment was priced at 999 PLN.
Next of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones 21 also debuted new, truly Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless in-ear headphones. They enjoy the presence of ANC and some legitimate improvements.
Even before the premiere, it was known that the new designs, next to Ambient Sound (listening to the environment with the use of microphones), would finally offer active noise reduction (ANC), with (as suggested by the manufacturer) ) block up to 99% of outside noise. Leaks were also confirmed in the case of intelligent switching to Ambient mode, as soon as the device detects that we are talking, thanks to which there will be no need to remove the headphones from the ears. This is known as the Conversation Mode. How exactly it works is shown in the video below.
Samsung Galaxy S 15 5G, S 21 + 5G and S 21 Ultra 5G – Launch of new flagship smartphones with Exynos chip 2100
As we can see in the material above, the new TWS headphones are designed for we also have another novelty, but only owners of Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets will benefit from it. Well, the headphones offer smooth switching between sound sources from the aforementioned devices, as long as we are logged in to both of them with the same Samsung account. The design will also guarantee cooperation with voice assistants, waterproof with IPX7 resistance class, three microphones per “flea”, operation after Bluetooth 5.1 transmission and surround sound 360 Audio enhanced with Dolby Head Tracking technology.
Samsung will soon include the first webcam in the laptop screen. Smartphones will receive this solution a little later
A single charging of the headphones is enough for 8 hours of listening to music or 4.5 hours of talks. In turn, using the power stored in the magnetic case, the headphones are to play for 28 hours or allow total 15 telephone hours. Each of the headphones has a battery with a capacity of 61 mAh, and the charging case – 472 mAh. A pair of “flea” pickups are responsible for the sound: 11 – a millimeter driver for low and medium tones and a 6.5-millimeter tweeter. Unfortunately, the greatest music enthusiasts will be disappointed, because the new headphones are still based only on AAC and SBC codecs and on the proprietary Samsung Scalable Audio Codec.
With audio books you can enjoy literature without having to read yourself. This is very useful in the subway, on the beach, in bed, on the bike or when driving. Special services such as Audible, Audioteka, BookBeat, Deezer, Nextory or Thalia offer a wide selection of audio books.
Mac & i editor Sebastian Trepesch has tested these services that sell or subscribe to audiobooks. In an interview with his colleague Johannes Schuster, he shares his impressions and reveals a few tricks, for example how to better use audio books within Spotify and Apple Music or where to find free audio books. Other questions are: How expensive are the services and what more do they offer than Spotify and Apple Music? Where is the best offer? Which app do you use on the iPhone for self-ripped audiobooks?
Audiobook services in comparison and 11 You can read tips for enjoying audiobooks also in issue 6 / 2020 of Mac & i or at heise +.
The entire episode as an audio stream (RSS feed ) to listen and download:
You can subscribe to the Apple podcast from Mac & i via RSS feed (audio or video) using the podcast app of your choice. You can also find it to watch or listen to in Apple’s podcast directory (audio or video), on YouTube and Spotify.
The American electronics fair CES, together with the Berlin IFA, has become an important place of pilgrimage for gadget fans. With the pandemic, the happening was pushed into virtual space. But that now enables interested parties from Japan to introduce themselves to the world without much travel. Nippon’s foreign trade organization Jetro managed to steer more startups onto the global tech stage than ever before.
53 Companies now presented their ideas digitally at CES, twice as many as a year earlier. And with its own “Japan Session”, Jetro put the offensive into a larger framework: Japan’s companies, so the idea, transform the super-aging into a super-smart society with new visions and solutions.
Furry creature The action was at least partially successful. The startup Vanguard Industries received a “Best Innovation Award” for its hand-sized, furry robot creature “Moflin”, which can beep and respond to touch. The creator Masahiko Yamanaka promises a companion who can learn and develop thanks to artificial intelligence.
The machine pet had already made it into the top in its crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter platform – 10 Robot projects completed. Yamanaka was already getting a proud price from his investors: 41. 800 Yen, always 330 Euro – or a good one Euro for one gram of “live weight”.
The award-winning startup was by no means the only company that advertised itself with robots. South Korea’s electronics company Samsung sent in a trio: a robot vacuum cleaner JetBot 90 AI +, which can detect the type of obstacle; the communication robot Samsung Bot Care, which is supposed to talk to people, and the robot butler Samsung Bot Handy, which uses its robotic arm to load the dishwasher and pour wine.
First drone from Sony Other major topics from Asian manufacturers were televisions, which, thanks to the pandemic, are enjoying great popularity just like notebooks and computers. Sony also used the exhibition to present its venture into the air: the first drone from the new Airpeak brand. This is a fairly large device that generates enough lift with four wings to let one of Sony system cameras fly next to cars at high speed.
Japan has always tried everything possible with electronics – and often the impossible. Every Thursday our author Martin Kölling reports on the latest trends from Tokyo.
Another highlight was Sony’s the real remote control of a virtual three-dimensional avatar. The application was supplied by the owner of film and music studios at the same time: The electronics and entertainment company explained how it recorded a virtual concert with the American singer Madison Beer in which the 21 – year olds moved their digital counterparts on a digital stage, where the audience can choose their own perspective.
This opens the door to Sony new real-virtual hybrid experience that fits particularly well with this pandemic period of popular amusement. Sony’s rival Panasonic also provided a glimpse into the future of virtual reality (VR) – with VR glasses that are a bit reminiscent of glacier glasses.
The company even proved that it was involved in one point can keep up with the Japanese robot startup. The Sound Slayer gaming speaker also received an innovation award from the trade fair. Like the pet robot, the award also fits in with the new everyday life in the pandemic. The device promises that thanks to the surround sound from the flat, compact loudspeaker, video players can lose themselves even more in their dream worlds than before. (bsc)
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 phones are official. The firm took the wraps off its Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra during its Galaxy Unpacked event, where it also unveiled the Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless earbuds.
The event, which took place a month earlier than usual, was of course virtual, but that didn’t stop Samsung from giving chapter and verse on its new Galaxy S Series.
The headline news: the flagship S21 Ultra sports the S-Pen that was until now exclusive to the company’s big-screen Note phones, such as the Note 20 Ultra, and features an even more highly-specified 108MP quad camera. The Galaxy S21 range features cameras capable of shooting 8K video at 24fps, and a new camera bump design for a refreshed aesthetic.
Could the Galaxy S21 not only prove the company’s best yet but also rise above the latest flagship Sony Xperia 1 II to claim the best phone plaudits? We certainly wouldn’t bet against it.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung)
Galaxy S21 price and release date
The Galaxy S21 5G will be available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Grey, Phantom Pink and Phantom White finishes, available with 8GM RAM in 128GB (£769, $799) and 256GB (£819) storage options.
The Galaxy S21+ 5G comes in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black options with 8GB RAM and 128GB (£949, $999) or 256GB (£999) storage sizes.
And lastly, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, coated in a ‘frosted haze’ matte finish. Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown are additional finishes available exclusively on Samsung.com. RAM and storage pairings are as follows: 12GB RAM with 128GB (£1149, $1199), 16GB with 256GB (£1199), and 16GB with 512GB (£1329).
Galaxy S21 pre-orders are open immediately for all three phones, with shipping beginning on 29th January.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung)
Galaxy S21 series: camera
We found the camera on last year’s Galaxy S20 to be a real highlight, so the fact that Samsung has improved its excellent software for the S21 series is promising. Single Take, which creates a portfolio of all the best moments you capture in one shot (useful when scrolling through options to upload to Instagram), enters a 2.0 version, now using five times more AI processing for the promise of even better results. There’s Dynamic Slo-Mo, as well as a Highlights Reel, the idea being that you don’t need to edit shots yourself.
Portrait Mode has been improved (you can now alter the lighting or your backdrop), as has Space Zoom, which now has a lock to neutralise shaky hands at 30x zoom. The new Director’s View mode lets you simultaneously view both the front and rear cameras in your viewfinder, with all of the lenses available to easily switch between. Vlogger view, meanwhile, lets you simultaneously capture from both the front and back lenses, so you can shoot something while, say, documenting your own reaction.
8K at 24fps video recording is onboard, with 8K Video Snap allowing you to capture high-res photos when playing your videos back. And this is the first time 4K filming at 60fps is achievable through all lenses.
While the Galaxy S21 and S21+ have triple-lens snappers (a 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide and 64MP telephoto) and a 10MP front shooter, the Ultra takes things further once again. We’re looking at Samsung’s “most advance Pro-grade cameras yet” here. There’s still a quad rear configuration here, but the main 108MP wide lens is new and promises 64x richer colours and three times wider dynamic range. That’s complemented by 12MP ultra-wide and two 10MP telephotos.
That dual-telephoto system (one 3x optical, one 10x optical) powers the Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom, with the lenses automatically switching according to the distance from your subject. And with a new Bright Night sensor, improved Night Mode, noise reduction and 12MP Nona-binning technology, Samsung is promising its “biggest leap yet in low-light photography”. We look forward to trying all that out for ourselves.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung)
Galaxy S21 series: screen
The camera lens bump marks the biggest design tweak for the S21 family, with the contoured cut-out blending into the device’s metal frame on the top left corner. It certainly gives the body’s rear a sleeker, more streamlined look.
The front of the phone shouldn’t let the side down either, their ‘Dynamic AMOLED 2x’ screens supporting 120Hz in 6.2in FHD+ (S21), 6.7in FHD+ (S21+) and 6.8in WQHD+ (S21 Ultra) sizes, and featuring a new Eye Comfort Shield that automatically adjusts blue levels.
The Ultra boasts the “best display Samsung has ever created”, offering that maximum refresh rate even in maximum resolution quality. Samsung is promising 25 per cent more brightness (the peak is an eye-dazzling 1500 nits) and double the contrast of the S20 Ultra’s screen. Bold.
Of course, that display is at the mercy of your fingertips – or the S-Pen, as it hits the S Series for the first time. When asked where this leaves the Note line, TM Roh, Samsung’s president and head of mobile communications business, said: “We’ve made the bold decision to expand the S Pen experience to Galaxy S21 Ultra, and plan to expand the S Pen experience across additional device categories in the future.”
Samsung Galaxy S21 (Image credit: Samsung)
Galaxy S21 series: the rest
While Samsung has predominantly moved the S21 family on in camera and screen technology, more modest improvements have been made under the hood, too. Ready for a numbers breakdown? Here it goes.
Samsung is promising 20 per cent faster CPU, 35 per cent faster GPU, and double-the-speed AI processors over the S20 handsets, making the S21 its fastest phones to date. The ‘Ultrasonic’ in-screen fingerprint scanner is now 1.7x larger for improved accuracy, too.
Battery-wise, the S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra sport 4000mAh, 4800mAh and 5000mAh juice packs respectively – the only change over the S20 series being the middle device gaining an extra 300mAh.
There’s 8GB RAM, plus either 128GB or 256GB storage options for the S21 and S21+, while the S21 Ultra gets either 8GB or 16GB RAM, with either 128GB, 256GB or 512GB storage options.
All three support Samsung’s Smart Things Find (which helps you locate Galaxy devices using Bluetooth LE – even when they’re offline) and £29/$30 Galaxy Smart Tag (which helps you locate non-connected devices or belongings that are tagged – pets, keys etc).
5G is, as expected, on the menu across the line-up, while Ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communication technology support in the S21+ and S21 Ultra means we could see those premium devices able to, say, unlock a car (i.e. replace a car key fob) in the near-future, too.
So there you have it: three 5G Galaxy S21 phones for 2021, with improved cameras and screens, sleek (and tweaked) designs, and an expanded feature set for the Ultra handset. We, for one, cannot wait to get our hands on them very shortly. Watch this space, Android fans.
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Having been leaked all across the web in recent months, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are finally official. The company’s latest true wireless earbuds have been announced alongside its Galaxy S21 phones during today’s Galaxy Unpacked event, and are its latest and most ambitious response to the AirPods Pro yet.
If you’ve watched this 17-minute long hands-on video leak, you already know a lot about these next-generation Samsung wireless earbuds. Indeed, most of it has turned out to be true. But if you haven’t, or would rather read about them instead, here’s the full lowdown…
(Image credit: Samsung)
Like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live they replace, the Galaxy Buds Pro sport active noise-cancellation – only this time it’s more versatile and supposedly more effective. Which is why Samsung is calling it ‘Intelligent ANC’. While Samsung claimed that the Buds Live could reduce background noise under 700Hz (e.g. trains and buses) by up to 97 per cent, the Buds Pro promise to block 99 per cent of outside noise.
There’s ‘high’ and ‘low’ levels of ANC this time, as well as four levels of Ambient Sound, allowing users to vary the intensity of the isolating effect and let in varying degrees of sound if they need to.
Also helping to justify the ‘Intelligent’ naming, the Buds Pro can also automatically switch between ANC and Ambient Sound, too, with the earbuds able to recognise when a conversation begins and ends. Start talking and the Buds Pro will turn down your music, firing it back up to volume when you’re done, and offering a skip-back function if you missed your favourite part of the song you were listening to.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung Galaxy fans can take advantage of the AirPods-like Auto Switch feature, which lets the earbuds simultaneously connect to multiple Galaxy devices and automatically switch to the one you’re using. For example, if you’re watching a video on your Galaxy Tab tablet when a call comes in, the Buds Pro will switch to your phone so you can answer it, switching back when you hang up.
As rumoured, the Pro Buds offer IPX7 water protection – an upgrade from the IPX2-rated Buds Live and Galaxy Buds+ before them. That’s the difference between surviving water drips to being able to be completely submerged under at least one meter of water for at least half an hour. Consider the Buds Pro pretty waterproof, then!
As for battery life, you get 18 hours in total (which is OK but only OK), with a five-minute fast charge delivering one hour of playback time.
(Image credit: Samsung)
As you can see, Samsung has ditched the kidney-bean design of their predecessors (which is a shame; we actually quite liked it) and returned to the more traditional rounder shape of the Galaxy Buds+ with more traditional earbud tips. They come in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black – all pictured above.
We can only hope the 11mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeter pairing inside their glossy exterior fares better than the drivers inside the Buds Live, too. Our Galaxy Buds Live review only deemed them worthy of three stars and concluded: “They produce a hefty and full-bodied sound, but it’s a sound that lacks dynamism and excitement.” Fingers crossed the Buds Pro are more competitive in the sonic department, and they’ll need to be, given their price tag.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro cost £219 ($199) – a smidgeon over the rumoured UK price of £199 – and can be pre-ordered now, with shipping beginning on the 29th January.
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Samsung is announcing the $199.99 Galaxy Buds Pro today, its most premium set of true wireless earbuds yet. They feature an in-ear design similar to the Galaxy Buds Plus but are aesthetically inspired by the Galaxy Buds Live. The Buds Pro aren’t bean-shaped, but they’ve got the same metallic-looking style and a similar charging case. The tweaked design “reduces the contact area between your ear and the bud, improving comfort and minimizing any clogged-up feeling,” according to Samsung.
More important is that Samsung says they deliver the “best audio experience yet” of any of the company’s earbuds thanks to an 11mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeter. The active noise cancellation should also be much improved since these earbuds now create a full seal with your ear. Samsung has also refined its ambient sound mode, which now lets you amplify surrounding noise by up to 20 decibels. The Galaxy Buds Pro are able to detect when you’ve started speaking, and they can automatically switch into ambient sound mode and lower music volume when you do. We’ve seen this convenient trick on headphones like the Sony 1000XM4, but it’s still relatively rare in earbuds.
Image: Samsung
Samsung says the Galaxy Buds Pro also offer the best microphone performance yet from the earbuds lineup; they’ve got three built-in microphones and a voice pickup unit to help you come through clearly on phone and video calls. “One of the outer microphones also has a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) rating, further eliminating background noises,” the company said in its press release. “In addition, Samsung has integrated its new Wind Shield technology into the Galaxy Buds Pro. While a less protrusive shape minimizes the wind contact area, specially designed chamber with mesh filters out wind interference.”
The Galaxy Buds Pro offer excellent IPX7 water resistance.Image: Samsung
Some features of the Galaxy Buds Pro seem to take after Apple’s AirPods Pro: there’s 360 audio “featuring Dolby Head Tracking technology” when watching videos on a Samsung phone or tablet — a clear answer to Apple’s spatial audio. And the Buds Pro will also switch between Samsung mobile devices automatically.
Battery life is about on par with other premium ANC earbuds: Samsung says you can expect up to five hours of continuous playback with noise canceling enabled (eight if it’s off), and enough juice in the case for an additional 13 hours (20 hours with ANC off) of listening time. The Galaxy Buds Pro are rated IPX7 for water and sweat resistance, so they should be able to handle even your sweatiest workouts.
The Galaxy Buds Pro will come in black, silver, and purple colors to match the new Galaxy S21 lineup. You can preorder today, and they’ll be available from retailers as soon as tomorrow, January 15th.
Asus usually divides its gaming laptops into three categories: eSports (Strix), hardcore (Zephyrus) and casual (TUF). Strix is where you’ll find the most powerful components, while the latter is where you’ll save. But with a new generation of AMD Ryzen CPUs set to compete with Intel’s Tiger Lake soon, plus new Nvidia mobile RTX models just around the corner, Zephyrus and Strix look more tempting than ever at this year’s CES. That’s in no small part thanks to software innovation on Asus’ end that strives to show these components in the best light.
Asus Zephyrus Duo SE
Screen-obsessed gamers can rest easy knowing that this year, Asus is bringing the improvements it made in the Zenbook Duo line to the Zephyrus Duo as well. The Zephyrus Duo line sets itself apart from other best gaming laptop competitors by incorporating a long, thin “screenpad plus” just above its keyboard. It can be used for notes, videos, music control and productivity. The Zephyrus Duo has been around since last year, but this year’s Zephyrus Duo 15 SE refreshes it with new internals and software.
Asus Zephyrus Duo SE (Image credit: Asus)
The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE is all about displays. Its main screen is 15.6 inches, Pantone-validated, IPS and has both 1080p at 300 Hz and 4K at 120 Hz options. Its touchpad screenpad plus, meanwhile, is 14.1 inches, IPS and comes in either 1920 x 550 or 3840 x 1100 resolution. The screenpad plus sits at a 13-degree angle when the laptop is open, for both easy viewing and touch control.
Powering both of these screens is either an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor or a Ryzen 7 5800H. The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE also has a discrete GPU, with options for the RTX 3070 with 8GB of VRAM or the RTX 3080 with 16GB of VRAM. It’s also got 16GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM out of the box, which you can expand up to 32GB total. In that same fashion, the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE also has two M.2 SSD slots and comes with either 512GB or 1TB of storage pre-installed in one slot.
Debuting with the Zephyrus Duo SE is more advanced screenpad software with a new control center hub for quickly accessing screenpad apps, plus pre-built shortcut menus for Adobe programs. Asus will also make its screenpad app development tools open source shortly after CES, which means we may potentially see new tools for use with streaming apps and other software that might benefit from setting custom controls on a secondary display.
Rounding all of these features out is a backlit keyboard with 1.4mm of key travel and 4 speakers including two downward firing woofers. There’s also a microphone array with AI noise cancellation, though no webcam.
All of this utility means a fairly large body at 14.2 x 10.6 x 0.8 inches and a hefty weight at 5.3 pounds. The chassis comes in a stylized black finish, which has a slash across that separates a plain matte black area from one decorated with abstract pixels.
Asus Zephyrus Duo 15 SE (Image credit: Asus)
If a screenpad doesn’t seem necessary to you, you can also opt for either the refreshed Zephyrus G14 or Zephyrus G15. These have the same aesthetic design and next-generation AMD CPUs and RTX mobile GPUs. The G14 limits its display to 1080p at 144 Hz or
1440p
at 120 Hz, while the G15 has options for 1080p at 144 Hz and 1440p at 165 Hz. Both also have the same memory and storage options as the Duo 15 SE.
Apart from their lack of a screenpad, setting these two laptops apart is their AniMe Matrix display, which uses the pixels on the back of their lids to show GIFs and other custom animated or still designs.
Asus ROG Strix Scar eSports Laptops
Asus ROG Strix Scar eSports Laptops (Image credit: Asus)
Asus also announced today refreshes of the ROG Strix Scar 15 and ROG Strix Scar 17, plus their slightly smaller G15 and G17 counterparts. These are Asus’ eSports laptops and represent the pinnacle of its gaming machines. The new SKUs come with AMD’s next generation of mobile CPUs and Nvidia’s next generation of mobile GPUs, plus 32GB of memory and up to 1TB of storage. Displays range from 1080p at 144 Hz to 1440p at 165 Hz, depending on your configuration.
The chassis is colorful, with full per-key RGB keyboards and, on the G-series, colored rubber armor on the back of the laptop hinge. Thickness varies across models but generally hits 1 inch. We don’t yet know how much Asus’ new Strix laptops weigh.
Asus has yet to announce pricing info on any of its newest laptops but has confirmed that the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE will be available in North America in Q1 2021.
We’ve had Sony’s Airpeak drone, Samsung’s butler robot for your washing-up needs, tuneable glasses that let you adjust lens strength, and pretty much a health-checking app for everything. Indeed, while CES 2021 has been a markedly different affair due to its online-only format, the consumer electronics show has kept up its tradition of being a stage on which the latest, greatest and craziest technological innovations are introduced.
But while it’s a soapbox for future, far-out concepts, it’s also a reliable launchpad for the next-generation technology coming to our homes. As has become par for the course, TVs have hogged most of the CES 2021 spotlight, with LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and TCL all revealing brand new TV technologies and models.
No CES is complete without a slew of new audio products, though, and doing two-channel proud has been the likes of JBL and Sony – even if high-end hi-fi remains something of a distant memory for the Vegas trade show.
The first-ever virtual CES may have been a frustratingly hands-off affair, but we can’t complain about the quality of new products that have been revealed. From rollable phones and TVs, to wireless earbuds and next-gen OLED panels, here’s our round-up of the most exciting consumer electronics products and technologies; the best of CES 2021.
LG ‘OLED evo’ TV panel
(Image credit: LG)
LG is sticking to its OLED guns for (at least) another year, but the arguably necessary shake-up comes in the form of a brand-new OLED panel it’s calling ‘evo’. The OLED overlord says it brings such advancements that it represents the ‘Second Evolution’ of OLED (with the first having been the move to 4K HDR in 2015), and is no doubt the company’s response to critics who say OLED panel technology has reached its technical limitations.
By featuring a new luminous element to the panel structure, evo supposedly produces brighter, punchier and more detailed images than the OLED panels LG has previously produced for itself and other TV brands. While the majority of LG’s OLED TV line-ups in recent years have shared the same panel, this will, however, introduce more disparity in the 2021 LG OLED range – only the 4K G1 OLEDs (and presumably the higher-ranging 8K models) are set to get it, with the lower-ranging 4K A1, B1 and C1 series missing out.
LG 2021 TV lineup: everything you need to know
LG unveils G1, C1 and B1 4K OLED TV ranges
Sony 360 Reality Audio expansion
(Image credit: Sony)
Sony’s expansion of its 360-degree spatial sound technology is two-fold: it’s introducing two new 360 Reality Audio-supporting wireless speakers, and pairing the format with video streaming for the first time in an attempt to emulate an immersive live gig experience.
The Sony SRS-RA5000 (£500, €599) and SRS-RA3000 (£280, €359) are hi-res, wi-fi and Bluetooth speakers with omni-directional drivers that have not only been designed to make the most of the formatted tracks (which are currently available on Tidal and Amazon Music HD), but also to upscale stereo tracks, courtesy of Sony’s Immersive Audio Enhancement technology.
During its CES 2021 press conference on Monday, Sony showcased its 360 Reality Audio and video pairing with a Zara Larsson concert clip – an experience that could, to some extent at least, fill the gaping hole in gig-going caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sony is currently in talks with music labels and service providers to begin launching streaming video content later this year, so watch this space.
Sony launches 360 Reality Audio wireless speakers and video streaming service
LG Rollable phone
Roll up, roll up! Or, in the case of LG’s new rollable phone, roll sideways, roll sideways. LG already makes rollable TVs, of course (and has a new one to show off, at that), but, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s now working on developing a rollable phone. We’ve known this since September, however CES 2021 has provided our first look at the concept handset in action.
During the firm’s press conference, the LG Rollable was demoed expanding sideways to create a tablet-like device. As you can see in this clip and the one above, its screen smoothly expands into a larger one by rolling out from the opposite edge. Details are slim on the ground, but LG’s message to the phone industry (and perhaps specifically its Korean rival, Samsung) was clear: the future is rollable, not foldable.
Groundbreaking LG Rollable phone turns into a tablet in CES 2021 teaser
Samsung Neo QLED TV
(Image credit: Samsung)
The fact that Samsung is finally launching consumer-friendly versions of its MicroLED TVs this year is fantastic news… for the mega rich. Indeed, while the giant, modular displays the firm has dazzled eyes with for years are going to be offered in more living room-friendly packages and without quite the eye-watering price tags, they’re still going to be prohibitively expensive for most of us. A more accessible Samsung offering? Its equally exciting, all-new Neo QLED TVs (pictured above and top).
These premium TVs essentially pair QLED (quantum dot) technology with Mini LED backlighting. Our Samsung 2021 TV lineup offers a detailed lowdown on the technology, but in short the Neo QLEDs use extremely tiny ‘New LED’ backlights that, instead of having protective packaging and light-guiding lenses like traditional LEDs, use a new ‘micro layer’ that guides the light through the quantum dots (which provide the set’s colours).
The promise: no light leakage or blooming. Because the New LEDs’ diminutive size means significantly more of them can be packed in, we can expect even better contrast control than last year’s already impressive QLED TVs. Fingers crossed.
Samsung 2021 TV lineup: everything you need to know
Samsung announces 2021 ‘Neo QLED’ TVs with Mini LED backlight tech
Sony Bravia CORE video streaming service
(Image credit: Sony)
Sony has introduced its own movie streaming service, and while it’s not going to be a replacement for Netflix, it could well set a new standard for streaming picture quality.
The Bravia CORE catalogue offers “hundreds of the latest releases and classic blockbuster movies” (including the “largest IMAX Enhanced collection”), available to stream in 4K HDR on compatible* Sony Bravia TVs in up to 80Mbps quality – that’s almost four times the quality of Netflix’s 4K HDR streams.
Of course, that means you’ll need huge internet capabilities: a minimum internet speed of 115Mbps for 80Mbps quality (or 43Mbps for 30Mbps quality), according to Sony. If you’ve got the bandwidth you should have picture quality that more or less matches Ultra HD Blu-rays. That’d be a first for movie streaming.
*Sony lists eligible new TVs at the bottom of this page and also specifies how many free ‘credits’ (i.e. films) a TV purchase gets you.
Sony’s Bravia CORE streaming service goes big on IMAX Enhanced movies
JBL 75th anniversary hi-fi
(Image credit: JBL)
Hi-fi launches at CES have been dwindling in recent years. This isn’t hugely surprising considering, a) the increasing headline-stealing dominance of TVs, and b) the quality of the international Munich High End Show further in the calendar year. But there’s often a gem or two to be found – last year they were the JBL L82 Classic and NAD Masters M33 – and this year’s no different. JBL has kicked off its 75th anniversary on the front foot, using the world stage to introduce two new celebratory products.
The limited-edition JBL L100 Classic 75 floorstanders ($5500), of which there are only 750 pairs, are acoustically and aesthetically tweaked versions of the 2018-released (and well reviewed) L100 Classic, complete with special edition badges and commemorative plaques.
The second member in the inarguably classy combo is the JBL SA750 Class G streaming amplifier ($3000, pictured), which marries old with new by packaging streaming-savvy features into a retro casing made of milled aluminium and teak wood veneer.
JBL kicks off 75th anniversary celebrations with L100 Classic speakers
JBL SA750 is a modern-retro Class G amplifier with streaming
Google TV gaining momentum
(Image credit: Google )
Google’s Android TV has been the smart platform for Sony and Philips sets in recent years but now the search giant has a new software platform: Google TV. Already inside the latest Google Chromecast stick, we’re now seeing the first TVs that will run it.
At CES 2021, both Sony and TCL announced new models that embrace Google TV. Sony’s 2021 Bravia XR TVs – the Master Series Z9J, A90J, A80J, X95J, X90J, X85J and X81J – all support it. TCL has been less forthcoming about specific models, simply stating it plans to roll out a series of Google TV-toting sets in the US first, before expanding to other regions later in the year.
Google TV offers over 6500 apps and supports more than 30 streaming services. It’s slick, highly usable and has one of the best recommendation engines we’ve ever tested, so it should make for an excellent addition to forthcoming TVs.
More Technics true wireless earbuds
(Image credit: Technics)
At CES 2020, Technics announced it was joining the true wireless earbuds revolution with the EAH-AZ70W, which proved themselves fine performers. Twelve months later and we have a promise (albeit very little else) of the firm’s next pair, due “later this year”.
We don’t know whether this new model will be a successor to, or a sibling of, the EAH-AZ70W, but there was a hint that they could be cheaper: “Now, for the first time, that legendary audio experience is available to everyone,” announced the speaker during the Panasonic press conference.
Noise-cancelling was also mentioned, so hopefully we’ll have a nicely priced pair around the £150 ($150) mark to rival the Sony WF-1000XM3 and AirPods Pro and help stamp the brand’s authority on the market.
Technics teases cheaper wireless earbuds to rival AirPods Pro
OLED TV is going smaller (again)
(Image credit: LG / The Boys, Amazon Prime)
Just a few years ago, OLED TVs were limited to 55 inch and 65 inch sizes. Fast forward to 2021 and we have a choice of seven screen sizes. That’s in part due to the rising popularity of much bigger screens, especially in the US, but also recently due to the availability of smaller OLED screens too.
Last year, LG introduced the 48 inch size – the Sony KD-48A9 (which used LG’s 48in OLED panel) was our TV of the year, no less, and LG’s own OLED48CX (pictured above) also proved impressive, demonstrating that the panel technology could flourish in smaller screens too.
And 2021 could be the year we see a 42-inch OLED TV on shop shelves. LG Display has shared key specs on the displays it’ll be offering to TV manufacturers this year, and they include a 42-inch option. However, no TV brand has yet announced plans for a 42-inch model – so it’s one for the future.
Whenever it arrives, one thing looks certain: OLED isn’t done yet and will undoubtedly hit more homes, and maybe even more rooms in homes, if sizes and prices continue southwards.
LG Display announces its smallest OLED TV panel to date
Dolby Atmos Music is coming to the car. At CES 2021, Panasonic and Klipsch have joined forces to show off a proof-of-concept in-car system capable of playing Dolby’s immersive audio format.
The in-car system is made by Panasonic, in collaboration with Klipsch and Dolby. As it’s just a proof-of-concept for now, there’s no consumer product as such – not yet, at least. According to Panasonic, though, the result is “an impressive listening experience that features an immersive soundscape for the automotive cabin.”
As well it should. Dolby Atmos Music is 360 surround sound technology for, you guessed it, music. By adding height and being able to position sound in 360 degrees around the listener, it adds a completely new angle to your listening experience, similar to Sony’s 360 Reality Audio.
Sadly, there’s no word on which cars or systems will get the tech, but hopefully, it’s only a matter of time before we get to experience it…
MORE:
Find out Dolby Atmos Music: everything you need to know
And Sony 360 Reality Audio: everything you need to know
Return of the Mac: McIntosh’s first in-car audio system in two decades is a Jeep
Dominic Moass 59 mins ago Featured Tech News, Headphones, Speakers, Tech News
Over the years Edifier has earned a well deserved reputation for high-quality speakers and audio gear. At CES 2021, the company unveiled three new products – the D12 Bluetooth speakers, as well as two pairs of TWS earphones.
Starting with the D12 speakers, these utilise Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with a wood grain finish housing. Each unit features 2x 20W bass speakers and 2x 15W treble speakers, which offer ‘beautifully balanced sound with high-low frequency separation and deeper tones not previously found in traditional desktop speakers’ according to Edifier. These speakers are set to retail for just $99, launching on February 20.
In terms of the company’s new earphones, well start with the TWS NB2 Pro. These sport a rather futuristic design, and Edifier says they offer ‘over-ear noise-canceling headphone technology in a stylish low-profile true wireless earphone package’. Thanks to a Qualcomm chipset and lithium battery, Edifier claims 7 hours of usage with ANC on, or up to 9 hours with ANC turned off. The included charge case can also provide an extra 23 hours of play time, while fast charging means a 15-minute charge should be enough for two hours of listening.
These earphones also sport Bluetooth 5.0 and IP54 certification for dust and splash resistance. TWS NB2 Pro is set to launch in March, also for $99.
Lastly, Edifier also introduced the GM5 gaming earphones. These utilise Qualcomm AptX low-latency technology, so ‘level after level can be completed without any lagging or low battery notifications for gamers, streamers, or mobile show bingers’ according to Edifier. The company also says ‘countless trials and tests’ were conducted to make sure these earphones make the grade for gamers.
There’s also a rated 8-hour playback time and an extra 32 hours from the charging case. GM5 doesn’t support ANC, but there is ENC, while Edifier also provides two different audio profiles. GM5 also supports the quick pausing of music by removing an earbud from your ear. Just like the TWS NB2 Pro, we can expect availability in March, with pricing set at $79.
KitGuru says: I quite like the look of the TWS NB2 Pro. Do you currently use TWS earphones?
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Sonos will help customers get more longevity out of its $399 Sonos Move wireless speaker by offering a new battery replacement kit. The Move is Sonos’ first battery-powered speaker, whereas the company’s other products all plug into the wall. The kit costs $69 and includes the battery, a couple tools that help remove the old one, and a pair of replacement screws.
“The new replacement battery kit was designed so customers can continue to enjoy extended battery life for their speaker even after years of use, without needing to replace the speaker altogether,” Sonos says. The company has previously mentioned that the Move’s battery can be swapped out, but it hasn’t offered the standalone battery until now. You can order it from the Sonos website.
The Move’s battery is estimated to last around 900 charge cycles (approximately three years).Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Considering how little comes with the kit, replacing the Move’s battery doesn’t seem like that daunting of a task. You can purchase the battery replacement kit in either black or white to match the color of whichever Move you own. As for what to do with the old battery, your best bet is taking it to a local e-waste recycling facility.
Fresh out of the box, the Sonos Move is estimated to reach around 11 hours of continuous music playback. And the company has said the factory-installed battery should last for around 900 charge cycles (or roughly three years). But if you eventually notice the battery life getting shorter and shorter, you’ve now got an option for restoring full capacity. That’s an option that a lot of wireless speakers just don’t give you.
also arrived in Italy Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2e , two interesting smartwatches that correspond to the economic version of GTR 2 and GTS 2. The smartwatches in question were presented last December in China and, finally, availability has also arrived for the global version available in Italy. GTR 2e and GTS 2e enjoy excellent value for money compared to their older brothers, but are forced to lose the music player and integrated memory . The NFC module, the microphone for the voice assistant and a long-lasting autonomy compared to the competition remain supplied. The substantial differences between the GTR 2e and GTS 2e concern the design and the battery.
GTR 2e between the two shows the more elegant , with a circular dial , light and thin. The display is AMOLED 1, 39 inch resolution 454 x 454 pixels and buttons settable on the right side.
GTR 2e instead has a rectangular body with a more sporty but still suitable for any situation and environment. The display is a 1, 65 inch unit AMOLED with resolution 348 x 442 pixel with the button also here on the right.
Both smartwatches offer resistance water up to 5 ATM , in addition to the SpO2 sensor for measuring blood oxygen saturation and monitoring of heart rate . 6 sport modes are manageable and there is a sensor for monitoring sleep as well as the new sensor for temperature detection . Smartwatches do not have an internal memory, and they also lose the speacker for calls and Wi-Fi.
Autonomy is among the strong points of Huami’s wearables, and the new cheap smartwatches have not disappointed expectations. Both benefit from excellent autonomy, even if we notice a difference in capacity and duration. GTS 2e is equipped with a 246 mAh which allows the smartwatch about 14 days of autonomy . For GTR 2e we have a 471 mAh which guarantees 24 days of autonomy , 10 more than its brother GTS 2e.
Prices and availability
After China, Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2 and also arrive in Europe, but especially in Italy. GTR 2e is available in the following colors: black , gray and green , while GTS 2e in the colors : black , green and pink . The wearables are available on Amazon.it starting today at an introductory price of 129,90 EUR.
TCL wants to help you banish messy cables and extra remotes with a new smart soundbar that wirelessly connects to Roku TVs.
Launched at CES 2021, the TCL Alto R1 is the TV maker’s first foray into wireless soundbars and the first to feature Roku’s own WiFi Audio streaming technology. Simply plug the power cable in, turn it on and the device automatically pairs with your TCL Roku TV.
No HDMI or optical cable required – in theory, at least. Once the TV has detected the Alto R1, you’ll be walked through a simple on-screen set-up and given the chance to tweak the sound to suit your space.
Aside from cutting down on copper spaghetti, TCL says the device brings “ease of use with only one remote” and “regular and automatic software updates”.
As with wired, Roku-friendly soundbars you’ll be able use your TV’s existing remote to control the sound. You may also benefit from improved audio synching, although that’s yet to be confirmed.
So far, TCL has remained coy about the R1’s specs, price and release date but we do know that it will feature Bluetooth for music streaming. In the meantime, you may want to consider whether you’re willing to risk your cash on a soundbar that is tied to a single smart TV platform.
On the lookout for a wired soundbar? TCL is also launching two wired options in the second half of this year: the Alto 82i and Alto 8e.
The TCL Alto 82i is Dolby Atmos-capable, boasts built-in subwoofers, and support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay. The Alto 8e will be bundled with a wireless subwoofer and upfiring Atmos speakers.
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Read all the latest CES 2021 news
TCL to launch 8K, Mini-LED and QLED Google TVs this year
Samsung 2021 TV lineup: everything you need to know
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