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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It was a false start that must have hurt those responsible, because Volkswagen actually wanted to take the lead with the modular infotainment system. In the first attempt, the group failed completely. The software carried and still carries countless bugs that may have deeply annoyed many loyal customers. Now the group wants to take countermeasures with power.
Voluntary action At round 56. 000 Golf 8 should be the software Problems can be resolved with an update. The group stressed on Tuesday (12. January 2021) that it was acting This is not about a mandatory recall or “no safety-relevant issues”, but about a voluntary action. However, the measure should be seen in connection with electronics problems in the important model.
“In vehicles that have already been delivered, the functionality of the user interface should be increased and known Comfort restrictions will be eliminated, “explained the company. The uploading represents a “normal process in an active digital lifecycle management”. Golf 8 delivered from the end of July 2020 would have the new version ex works. According to information from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, it is also about persistent problems with a control unit that is supposed to contribute to the “apparently massive errors” in the car’s digital infotainment system. In some of the affected vehicles there are failures of the navigation system and other screen displays.
According to Volkswagen, around 26. 000 Golf 8 with the update, the rest 30. apply to other European countries. “The service campaign lasts one day, customers get a free rental car and a service voucher. In addition, every updated Golf receives a one-year follow-up guarantee free of charge.”
Starting difficulties With the eighth edition of the Golf, there were initially considerable problems with the electronics in production. By the end of the start-up year 2019, less than ten percent of the originally targeted amount had been produced. In the course of this, the works council also sharply criticized the management: too much new technology had been stuffed into the Golf 8 too quickly.
The Volkswagen management, on the other hand, spoke at times of one of the best so far Model starts at all. That should sound like a mockery to the ears of the customers concerned. Some of the software is unstable and unreliable. The infotainment system crashes in some cars, assistants only work temporarily. The problems could be understood in a VW Golf GTE that we just had in the editorial office. It shows in the phases in which everything ran smoothly, but also how smoothly the helpers can work – if they work.
At the ongoing CES 2021, LG announced new OLED, NanoCell and QNAD Mini LED TVs that will be equipped with the latest version of the webOS 6.0 platform. Not only that, the mentioned Smart TV will allow users to enjoy virtual entertainment in the form of streaming games. This will be made possible by services such as Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. However, it should be remembered that software solutions are only additions to what LG devices really offer for a year 2021. The new models include the OLEDs of the C1, G1 and Z1 series and QNED Mini LED QNED TVs 99 and QNED 95, as well as LG NanoCell NANO 99 and NANO 95. Let’s check what new features have been used in them.
At CES 2021, LG presented its latest OLED TVs, NanoCell and QNED Mini LED. They also include game streaming support and the new version of webOS 6.0.
We are testing Xiaomi Mi Box 4K, NVIDIA Shield and Apple TV 4K
The manufacturer, known and appreciated in the Smart TV industry, has just shown three new series of OLED TVs. The G1 line in the option 55, 65 and 77 inches received OLED evo screens with higher luminance and a more vivid, more realistic picture. LG C1 series available in sizes 48, 55, 65, 77 and 83 all use the new 4th generation Alpha 9 processor, which is based on artificial intelligence recognizes the type of material and optimizes it for room conditions. The said processor works great with the AI Sound Pro and Auto Volume Leveling functions that ensure the appropriate volume level even when switching between different materials. LG Z1 TVs will come in sizes 77 and 88 inches and are to convince customers with 8K resolution panels. There will be support for HDR formats 10 and Dolby Vision IQ.
Samsung Q7FN – we are testing the new QLED TV 4K HDR with Ambient Mode
LG also showed new models based on LCD technology, including the flagship QNED TVs 99 and QNED 95 with Mini LED illumination. There were also NanoCell NANO 99 and NANO 95 devices. All of these Smart TVs provide features to optimize games, a response time of 1 millisecond and minimal input signal delay. The TVs are compliant with the NVIDIA G-SYNC (G-SYNC Compatible) and AMD FreeSync standards, which means that they can be called models intended for gamers. It is worth mentioning that the described portfolio for the year 2021 has been certified by TÜV Rheinland, which certifies low emission of harmful blue light, and Underwriters Laboratories, which guarantees no flickering. If you want to see the exact details of the individual units, visit the virtual LG stand at CES 2021.
Meet the new LG QP5 Éclair, a super-small 3.1.2 channel soundbar complete with upfiring drivers that’s set to arrive on our shelves in late June. It measures a mere 11.7-in (30cm) long, is two inches high, and comes in a fetching Sonos-esque white jacket with rounded edges.
Although ultra compact soundbars have been gaining in popularity and prevalence for a little while (think Roku Streambar, JBL Bar Studio and Sky Soundbox) none of these has managed to support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X by way of a set of upfiring speakers – until CES 2021 and until now.
Under the hood, the 320W Éclair boasts five drivers: a centre channel, left and right channels (positioned at 45-degree angles to widen the soundstage), and crucially, two upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X height effects.
In addition to this little soundbar unit, the QP5 Éclair also comes with a wireless “small space-friendly” subwoofer featuring bi-directional drivers. The whole package is designed to deliver solid rather than “teeth-rattling” bass, according to LG, making it a viable option for smaller rooms.
(Image credit: LG )
Of course, the Éclair isn’t the only soundbar LG will release in 2021. The South Korean tech giant has announced a full suite of eight soundbars to go with its new OLED Evo and QNED TVs for 2021 – and with a 42-inch OLED made by LG Display now in the pipeline, a soundbar with a similar form factor makes perfect sense. Also on the menu from LG are premium 7.1.4, 5.1.2, and 3.1.2 ‘bars, each of which boasts support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio along with LG’s Meridian sound technology.
Models at this end of the spectrum (such as the SP11R, SP9 and SP8) also boast compatibility with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Chromecast built-in and Apple AirPlay 2.
But it isn’t all flagship models. LG’s new entry-level TV speakers are typified by a more compact, all-in-one design that includes HDMI connectivity plus a softer, more home-decor friendly appearance. The SP2, for example, is billed as a 2.1-channel, 100W lifestyle soundbar with onboard subwoofers. It offers HDMI connectivity as well as Bluetooth, and comes in a choice of charcoal or grey.
One step up, the 5.1-channel SP7 model maintains the all-in-one design but adds tuning by Meridian Audio, DTS Virtual:X and more oomph (440W).
Here’s the full 2021 lineup from LG:
LG SP11R – 7.1.4 channel, 770W, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Meridian tuning
LG SP9 –5.1.2 channel, 520W, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Meridian tuning
LG SP8 –3.1.2 channel, 440W, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Meridian tuning
LG SPD7 – Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, 3.1.2 channel, 380W
LG SP7 – 5.1 channel, 440W, Meridian tuning
LG QP5 Éclair – 3.1.2 channel, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
LG SN4 – 2.1 channel, 300W
LG SP2 – 2.1 channel, 200W, HDMI and Bluetooth
LG says most of the new models, aside from the cutesy QP5 Éclair, will be available by March or April 2021. Pricing has yet to be announced – but we’ll let you know as soon as.
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Considering one? Read Should you buy an LG soundbar?
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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Apparently we can expect a whole bunch of new desktop announcements at CES this week, although the manufacturers should continue to focus more on mobile products. According to the latest information, Intel is planning to introduce the next desktop generation, alias Rocket Lake-S, and accordingly there are also new mainboards.
The Gigabyte Z was shown last week 590 Aorus Xtreme with 19 + 1 voltage phases. Now product photos of some boards from ASUS have appeared – including the ROG Maximus XIII Hero, ROG Maximus XIII Glacial and the TUF Gaming Z 590 – Plus WIFI and Prime Z 590 – A. Twitterer @harukaze 2021 put the two ROG mainboards online, Videocardz added the TUF mainboards.
The differences between the ROG Maximus XII Hero and ROG Maximus XIII Hero are (up to on the Z 590 – chipset) not known. ASUS is promoting its previous Z 483 – Mainboards do not explicitly support PCI-Express 4.0, even if they will be technically able to do so if a Rocket Lake S processor is installed. There could be upgrades in the area of network connections (keyword Wi-Fi 6E) and the onboard sound. But as I said, apart from the photos, we have no further information.
The ROG Maximus XIII Glacial offers a pre-assembled water cooler that covers the processor, the power supply and the chipset. The water cooler was created in cooperation with EK Water Blocks. Details about both ROG mainboards will certainly follow soon.
In addition to the high-end versions of the ROG series, there will also be numerous other models, including from the TUF series . These also include the TUF Gaming Z 516 – Plus WIFI and the Prime Z 590 – A, which can also be seen in the first product images demonstrate. Here, too, the changes to the predecessors are certainly limited to a few details such as the aforementioned support for PCI Express 4.0 and the network and connection options offered. We also expect further details with the official presentation.
Intel’s press conference will take place tonight at 19: 00 o’clock. In addition to Rocket Lake-S, an announcement about Tiger Lake-H is also expected.
Besides the new LGA 1200 – boards apparently the idea of a more accessible Ryzen awaits us -Threadripper Pro platform. ASUS could here the WRX 51 Pro WS Sage SE Wifi introduce and from Gigabyte is the WRX 80 SUB8 IPMI in the starting blocks.
Update: 11. 01. 2021 around 22. 30 Clock
The entire Z 590 – Portfolio officially by ASUS presented and comprises a total of 13 different mainboards. Starting with Prime Z 516 – P, the Prime Z 516 M-Plus and the Prime Z 590 – A Pro continues with the two TUF gaming models Z 590 – Plus and Z 590 -Plus WiFi to the four ROG Strix offshoots: ROG Strix Z 590 – A Gaming WiFi, ROG Strix Z 590 -F Gaming WiFi, ROG Strix Z 516 – I Gaming WiFi and the ROG Strix Z 590 – E Gaming WiFi.
The head of ASUS-Z 590 – PCBs clearly represent the ROG Maximu s-XIII series and consists on the one hand of the ROG Maximus XIII Hero, the ROG Maximus XIII Apex via ambitious overclockers, the ROG Maximus XIII Extreme and the already teased ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial. The latter sets itself apart from the normal Extreme model with a monoblock water cooler.
ASUS has informed us about the RRP and availability of all of the motherboards mentioned and would like our readers this information of course not withheld:
Two years after the launch of new developments for Sony positional audio format 360 Reality Audio: tools for artists to create more easily songs with audio at 360 ° and possibility to use immersive audio in videos, including live performances
by Roberto Colombo published 12 January 2021 , at 12: 21 in the Audio Video channel Sony
360 Reality Audio had been one of the leading technologies ù interesting exhibited at CES 2019 and last year had shown interesting evolutions: now it is a technology that can be exploited on several Sony commercial products. Headphones came first, but recently Sony also introduced home speakers that offer the experience of spatial placement of sounds and instruments.
360 Reality Audio, not only in headphones
A few days before the opening of the digital edition of the CES 2021, in fact, Sony has announced the introduction of two new ones wireless speaker ?? SRS-RA 5000 and SRS -RA 3000 ??, able to play the tracks in format 360 Reality Audio, listenable through compatible music streaming services, c he incorporates three-dimensional sound positioning data.
At the rendering level the technology 360 Reality Audio is one of the most interesting among those that aim to give spatiality to sounds, even if played through headphones. One of the negative aspects of the coin is the fact that the songs must be remastered in the positional audio format to enable the rendering to 360 ° . Until now, the catalog available on the various streaming services – for example Tidal with Hi-Fi subscription – was not very extensive (Currently, the songs in 360 Reality Audio available are approximately 4. 00 0, with artists from Alicia Keys, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Cyrus, Zara Larsson), but Sony has announced interesting news in this regard, with tools that make it easier to create audio content (and not only) 360 RA.
Sony and Virtual Sonics, Inc. have developed new content creation software, called 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite , to facilitate the creation of content in 360 Reality Audio by musicians and authors. The software plugin 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite is compatible with the main Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) . Virtual Sonics, Inc., will release the software through its subsidiary Audio Futures, Inc. at the end of the month.
Not only that, the positional audio format now also lands in video content, for example example live shows: Sony showed the first example last night, with a performance by Zara Larsson , available in format 360 Reality Audio on the Artist Connection app and viewable enjoying the all-round audio using the Sony enabled headphones (for example the WH – 1000 M4) and optimizing the sound reproduction in the app .
We remind you, to enable the technology it is necessary to take a photo of your ears via the Headphones app, to optimize playback based on to the person characteristics the ear, the shape and the consequent absorption and reflections that allow us to position the sounds we hear in space.
With the “launch”, or at least the presentation of some data of what will be the eleventh generation of Intel Core processors for desktop, codenamed Rocket Lake-S, will arrive new motherboards from the main manufacturers together with the new Intel chipsets of the series 500.
It seems that MSI has not wanted to wait and has shown the four main families of motherboards that will release the highest range of chipsets, the Intel Z 590 together with chipsets B 560 and H 510 ready to take full advantage of the Rocket Lake-S news , such as native support for PCI Express 4.0, WiFi 6E or USB 3.2 2×2 of 20 Gbps.
All four MSI families will use Intel chipsets Z 590, B 560 and H 510
We will have four main families, each with different models: the MEG, MPG, MAG and PRO ranges.
The MPG range will consist of the MPG Z 590 GAMING CARBON WIFI, MPG Z 590 GAMING FORCE, MPG Z 590 GAMING EDGE WIFI and MPG Z 560 GAMING PLUS
The MEG family will have among its ranks the highest-end models: MEG Z 590 GODLIKE with 10 GbE, new dissipation systems and improved sound Audio Boost 5 HD, other boards in the range will be the MEG Z 590 UNIFY and MEG Z 590 I UNIFY.
The PRO family, aimed at users of equipment for environments professionals such as businesses or offices but without losing the high performance of this platform, including the overclock characteristics of the Z chipset 590. It will consist of the models Z 590 – A PRO and Z 590 PRO WIFI and will have models with B chipsets 560 and H 510.
Finally, the MAG range will launch a new color scheme and will arrive with models with chipset Z 590 and B 553, both with Wifi included. They will be the MAG Z 590 TOMAHAWK WIFI and MAG B 553 TOMAHAWK WIFI.
The launch, as you can see on MSI’s own website, it will take place within 15 days, on 27 from January.
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Dominic Moass 33 mins ago CES, Featured Tech News, Motherboard, Tech News
The latest 500-series chipsets from Intel are here, and that means a ton of new motherboards. MSI has entered the fray by announcing no less than thirty motherboards across the Z590, B560 and H510 chipsets.
For its 500-series motherboard, MSI is doubling down on the four product ranges we have come to know over the years – MEG, MPG, MAG and Pro. In total, the company has announced fifteen Z590 boards, twelve B560 boards and three H510 boards. Full details will become available during MSI’s keynote on Thursday, but for now the company has shared some initial information.
In general terms, all MSI 500-series motherboards support PCIe 4.0, with up to 64GB/s bandwidth. MSI’s Z590 boards will also come equipped with WiFi 6E and its 6GHz band. The company’s Z590 Gaming series are also seeing upgraded Audio Boost 5 codecs, which MSI says can ‘create a synergy effect which can amplify sound and have better gaming experience.’ The company’s Dragon Center software has also been updated with a new UI and integrated functionality like overclocking and RGB control.
As for its MEG series, MSI says these boards are best described as ‘exquisite and gorgeous’, and outlines a number of new features, including aluminium backplates on both the MEG Z590 Godlike and MEG Z590 ACE, designed to provide greater surface area for heat dissipation. The Godlike also offers a new ‘Frozr heatsink’ design as well as a stacked fin array.
The we come to the MPG boards, here MSI highlights the use of its M.2 Shield Frozr (M.2 heatsinks) and K7 thermal pads, designed to offer optimal SSD performance. MSI’s MAG range, including the popular Tomahawk boards, have been refreshed with ‘new colour matching’, while the Tomahawk boards offer graphite heatsinks. Lastly, the PRO series are designed ‘for common use’ and offer a new Frozr AI Cooling technology ‘which will detect CPU and GPU temperatures and automatically adjust system fan duty to a proper value’.
Here is the full breakdown of MSI’s latest 500-series boards:
Z590 Chipset
B560 Chipset
H510 Chipset
MEG Z590 GODLIKE
MPG B560I GAMING EDGE WIFI
H510M PRO
MEG Z590 ACE
MAG B560 TOMAHAWK WIFI
H510M-A PRO
MEG Z590 ACE GOLD EDITION
MAG B560 TORPEDO
H510I PRO WIFI
MEG Z590 UNIFY
MAG B560M MORTAR WIFI
MEG Z590I UNIFY
MAG B560M MORTAR
MPG Z590 GAMING CARBON WIFI
MAG B560M BAZOOKA
MPG Z590 GAMING FORCE
B560M PRO-VDH WIFI
MPG Z590 GAMING EDGE WIFI
B560M PRO-VDH
MPG Z590 GAMING PLUS
B560M PRO WIFI
MPG Z590M GAMIMG EDGE WIFI
B560M PRO
MAG Z590 TOMAHAWK WIFI
B560M-A PRO
MAG Z590 TORPEDO
B560M PRO-E
Z590 PRO WIFI
Z590-A PRO
Z590 PRO 12VO
MSI says its 500-series boards will be available on January 27.
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I made it, I switched completely from Whatsapp to Signal. That doesn’t sound like a Herculean work done, but wait a minute: I also managed to migrate two WhatsApp groups. To explain why this was not a trivial undertaking, I’ll dig a little.
What is missing: In the rapid world of technology, there is often time to rearrange the many news and backgrounds. At the weekend we want to take it, follow the sidewalks away from the current, try different perspectives and make nuances audible.
I have been using instant messengers since they spread on a larger scale, roughly since 1996 / 1997. ICQ, AOL, Yahoo, MSN – I had them all and more, there was a lot of mess on the desktop. The solution was Adium, where accounts from different providers could be gathered under one roof, everyone could continue frying their extra sausage and still reach me. The matter was clear on the cell phone, SMS was sent and received with it.
About ten years ago Whatsapp came onto my cell phone , which was no longer an old-style cell phone, but an iPhone. Whatsapp offered itself as an alternative to SMS messages, because at that time they still cost something per piece; That could add up to a lot in intensive SMS dialogues. Smartphones were slowly gaining acceptance among my family, friends and acquaintances, so that I could easily convince them of the free alternative. Yes, I was, so to speak, a missionary without a contract and helped ensure that the software could spread so universally. Already 2017 there should have been 2 billion Whatsapp users.
All the world on Whatsapp Everyone used Whatsapp, with the exception of a few around me who didn’t want to buy a smartphone or then, when they did have one thing, specifically refused to do this service. They continued to get SMS or a good old email from me and did not become part of all the many groups that formed on Whatsapp – digital outsiders, so to speak, who at most used messengers like Threema or Signal.
I had installed it at some point, despite my aversion to the mess of communication that I still knew from the desktop, and knowing that this Unified Messaging, as Adium made it possible, does not exist on the mobile phone. In Signal and Threema, it also became apparent that, apart from me, only a few of my contacts could be reached through them. Whatsapp developed into a giant and was consequently taken over by another giant called Facebook almost seven years ago, whose user base is now also in the billions.
It is similar with both: They bid for Communication and networking have indisputable advantages, otherwise they would not have spread so widely. And the more they spread, the greater the advantages of being able to reach everyone under one roof, so to speak. So I was able to write to people via Whatsapp 200, with Signal and Threema only a dozen.
Of those But the digital outsiders didn’t let themselves be confused, because they belong to the small kind of people who read terms and conditions and data protection declarations, maybe even completely. Their concerns were aroused at the latest when Facebook boss Marc Zuckerberg asserted shortly after the takeover of Whatsapp that the messenger service would remain autonomous. His company’s hunger for data was already too well known at the time.
CES 2021 has its fair share of headphone launches, but a new Sennheiser pair always stands out from the crowd. The IE 300 in-ears are powered by a refined version of the company’s 7mm Extra Wide Band (XWB) transducer, and Sennheiser is promising superior sound to go with their professional audio-inspired design.
But perhaps what’s most noticeable about them is that there are no mod-cons: there’s no wireless functionality, no noise-cancelling tech. Instead, the focus is squarely on sound quality.
Sennheiser claims every component has been carefully tuned to refine the listening experience, from the optimised membrane foil designed to minimise vibrations and distortion, to the resonator chamber that removes masking resonances in the ear to enhance high frequencies.
The design is inspired by the world of pro audio – not only do they look the part, they should be extremely comfortable too. There are flexible ear hooks to help with fit, and both silicone and memory foam ear adaptors in three sizes.
They’re built to last, too. The cable is reinforced with para-aramid, making it more flexible and more hardwearing, while the gold-plated, Fidelity+ MMCX connector is housed in a recessed socket to make it more durable. Balanced cables with 2.5mm or 4.4 connectors are available as optional accessories.
The Sennheiser IE 300 are due in March, and will cost £259.
A little romantic candlelight is especially nice on dull autumn and winter days. With this smart solar candle hack, it’s easy at the push of a button.
Candlelight in the smart home: Modify LED candles and control them via smartphone In the beginning there was the LED candle Power supply One project – three results Part 1: Equip the LED candle with a Li-Po battery Part 2: LED candle via ZigBee Connect module to smart home Part 3: A solar charging station for the candle Article in Make Magazine 6 / 2020 read As a smart home enthusiast, I have set up a series of “scenes” in my self-built control center with which I can control lights, audio players, blinds and shutters as desired – depending on the mood. A scene was created for relaxed evenings that dims my lights and plays my favorite music. How nice it would be if one or two candles were lit – from the sofa, with the smartphone at the push of a button.
In the beginning there was the LED candle So I had the idea to modify the cheap LED candles of a well-known furniture chain so that I can control them remotely. The only problem: the power supply. Control via WLAN was out of the question, because the popular ESP 8266 -Microcontrollers need with their good and happy 97 mA much more current than a compact battery could deliver in the long run. Deep-sleep modes were also dropped early, as the candles could not have been switched on with a smartphone when the WLAN module was in power-saving mode.
So I started the “Smart Candle “thoughtfully shelved until I stumbled across an old Make online article during the Corona period. There it was explained how the authors had managed to remove the ZigBee module from an IKEA Trådfri lamp in order to reuse it in a separate, simple LED circuit. My interest was piqued.
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Log in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Candlelight in the smart home: Modify LED candles and control them via smartphone In the beginning there was the LED candle Power supply One project – three results Part 1: Equip the LED candle with a Li-Po battery Part 2: LED candle via ZigBee Connect module to smart home Part 3: A solar charging station for the candle Article in Make Magazine 6 / 2020 read
Stereo and surround sound are fine and dandy, but what’s the next big thing in consumer audio? Sony would like you to believe its 360 Reality Audio format is top of the list.
Sony is working with a number of major record labels (including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group), streaming services and other music organisations to refine a next-gen audio format that sits the listener smack bang in the middle of a 360-degree music listening experience.
But what exactly is Sony 360 Reality Audio? How does it work? And which products support it? You’ll find all that information, and more, below.
As it happened: Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format launched with 1000 tracks
What is Sony 360 Reality Audio?
Sony 360 Reality Audio is an audio format that uses Sony’s object-based spatial audio technology to deliver a full 360-degree audio experience. Its launch was one of Sony’s key CES 2019 highlights, but the service has come a long way since then, with more streaming partners and compatible products announced.
Its aim? To make the listener feel like they’re right in the recording studio or at a live concert watching their favourite artist. This is especially timely given that around the world, music venues are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The format has been built using the open MPEG-H 3D Audio standard, which itself has been optimised for music streaming. It supports up to 64 speaker channels and allows audio coding to be done in different ways.
Engineers can map out and place everything including vocals, individual instruments and a live audience in any position inside a 360 spherical space. Different parameters can be altered for various elements, including distances and angles.
Sony’s teamed up with the Fraunhofer IIS (Institute for Integrated circuits) to open the format up for content creators and artists to take advantage of. At CES 2021, it made two further announcements: it added video streaming capabilities to 360 Reality Audio, and it developed a new content creation software called the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite.
Sony is currently in talks with major music labels and streaming services about launching video streamed content later this year. And the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite plugin software (which is compatible with popular digital audio workstation) will be released at the end of January.
These are the best Sony TVs you can buy
How can you listen to music in Sony 360 Reality Audio?
(Image credit: Sony)
To experience Sony 360 Reality Audio, you’ll need the right kit and compatible software.
To experience 360 Reality Audio on a pair of headphones, you’ll first need to download the iOS/Android app for a compatible streaming service. At the moment, these are Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music HD and nugs.net.
In case you haven’t heard of it, nugs.net is a streaming service for live concerts. It currently has over 10,000 concerts in its catalogue including artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
You’ll also need to be subscribed to the premium tier of said streaming service. If you’re currently enjoying Deezer’s Free tier, for example, you need to upgrade to Deezer HiFi to experience the new format. Other than that, it shouldn’t cost you extra.
MORE: Check out the best Sony earbuds
(Image credit: Sony)
Sony claims that 360 Reality Audio can be experienced “using headphones from most manufacturers”. It’s not exactly crystal clear what separates one pair of compatible headphones from a non-compatible pair, but Sony has been quick to highlight which of its own headphones will work on its official 360 Reality Audio site.
With select Sony models you can even use its Headphones Connect app to analyse your ear shape and help optimise the sound field for its new audio format. Open the app and you can scan both ears using your phone’s camera. The results are then applied to the app of your streaming service of choice.
Head to Sony’s site and you’ll be able to see a full list of compatible headphones, which include current What Hi-Fi? favourites (and Award-winning) WH-1000XM4, their predecessors the WH-1000XM3, and the WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds.
(Image credit: Sony)
Of course, you can listen to Sony 360 Reality Audio using speakers, too. Sony recently launched two speakers that are compatible with the tech: the SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000. They’re both wireless models, with Bluetooth and wi-fi onboard, and can link up to create a multi-room system. The RA5000 is compatible with Hi-Res music files too, and they both support Immersive Audio Enhancement, which upscales stereo sound so it has a surround effect.
Sony is also licensing the key technologies involved in 360 Reality Audio, meaning we should see more compatible devices come to market.
What can you listen to in Sony 360 Reality Audio?
(Image credit: Sony)
At present, you can stream over 1000 tracks in the format, including tunes from Mark Ronson, Pharrell Williams, Billy Joel and Jeff Beck.
Sony’s promising more tracks will be added via major record labels, plus over 100 songs recorded from live concerts, including the likes of CHARLI XCX and Kodaline.
Sony has also added video streaming to the format’s skillset. The aim is to recreate the feel of a live gig – very timely, given that music venues around the world are currently closed. It’s in talks with major music labels and service providers to begin streaming video content later this year, so stay tuned.
Which products support Sony 360 Reality Audio?
(Image credit: Amazon)
Besides headphones (and apps of compatible music streaming services), you can also experience Sony 360 Reality Audio on at least one speaker made by a third-party company: the Amazon Echo Studio wireless speaker (pictured above). However, you will need to be a subscriber to Amazon Music HD to take advantage.
The key to experiencing 360 Reality Audio in hardware, is that each product will need to have Sony’s custom decoder built-in. Sony has confirmed that it’s looking to make the new sound format available across a number of Alexa-enabled devices and those that support Chromecast built-in.
It’s also working with chipset manufacturers Media Tek, NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm, so you can expect to see support for the format increase across more consumer kit moving forward.
Sony 360 Reality Audio vs Dolby Atmos Music
(Image credit: Dolby)
Now there just so happens to be another object-based audio tech in the offing from Dolby. Dolby Atmos Music is based on the company’s surround sound tech, Dolby Atmos, and allows engineers to either remix tracks and place sounds at specific points in your soundstage, or record live mixes in-studio, as long as they’ve got access to the necessary Dolby Atmos Music mixing kit.
Dolby Atmos Music tracks work on any home audio kit that supports Dolby Atmos, which does give this audio format an immediate advantage with TVs, soundbars, AV receivers, smartphones and tablets already geared up to support the format. Whether Dolby Atmos Music will be able to offer the same sort of 360-degree sound experience as Sony’s offering remains to be heard. But it’s certainly an exciting time for music listeners, as streaming enters its third dimension.
MORE:
Listen up! Dolby Atmos Music: everything you need to know
Find out Tidal vs Spotify – which is better?
These are the best music streaming services: free streams to hi-res audio
Records and cassettes can be digitized and dusted off with little technical effort using the free Ocenaudio software.
(Image: Martin Reche)
Crash course: digitizing records and cassettes with Ocenaudio Hardware requirements and structure Preamplifier for turntable Selection of the recording program Set level and test recording Improve sound Export songs Analog Sound carriers are back in vogue: Limited special editions of records achieve astronomical prices among collectors and bands in their twenties like to put their music back on the good old cassette. Not only does it look fancy on the shelf, it also sounds warmer and fuller to some ears on an analog player than a dead-compressed MP3. Vinyls and tapes have a few disadvantages, however: the former cannot be heard on buses and trains and the latter will age badly if improperly stored. As a backup and for enjoying music on the go, you can do digitization yourself for private purposes. This also largely covers the copyright, as long as you don’t circumvent copy protection or want to use the copies in public, e.g. for a DJ gig.
Hardware requirements and structure The The technical effort for digitization remains manageable: apart from a playback device with audio outputs, you only need an audio interface that converts the analogue into digital signals and forwards them to the PC. In addition, there are the appropriate connection cables and the computer. Used interfaces cost from 60 Euro, new models are available from around 110 Euro. Important: For stereo sound you need an interface with at least two inputs. The trade also offers models with only one entrance, it is worth taking a closer look here. For this article we worked with an old Focusrite Saffire 6 USB interface. A Sansui turntable and a JVC tape deck were used as playback devices, both of which have cinch audio outputs.
The interface (below) converts the analog signals from the playback device into digital signals. The preamplifier for the record player is on the interface.
(Image: Martin Reche)
In theory, with a suitable cinch-jack cable, at least the tape deck can be married off directly to the jack input of the sound card and the recording can be started. We advise against this, however: An interface not only offers better sound thanks to better converters and preamplifiers, but also allows optimal control of the signal using a potentiometer and direct monitoring via headphones. So you can hear during the recording whether the level is overloaded or whether you need to correct the level.
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Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Crash course: digitizing records and cassettes with Ocenaudio Hardware requirements and structure Preamplifier for turntable Selection of the recording program Set level and test recording Improve sound Export songs
Today, Qualcomm announces its second-generation in-display fingerprint sensor called its 3D Sonic Gen 2. Unlike many other optical in-display fingerprint solutions, Qualcomm’s remains ultrasonic, meaning that it uses sound waves to scan for 3D features in a user’s fingerprint.
The first generation of Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor was featured on Samsung’s Galaxy S10, Note10, S20, and Note20 series and its performance and dependability were often questionable. Accuracy and speed were not up to par with other optical in-display solutions from Chinese OEMs like OnePlus and Huawei, many of which currently use quicker and more accurate optical solutions (versus ultrasonic).
The next-generation Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor promises to be 50% quicker than its predecessor and 77% larger. One of the paint points about the first-gen sensor was that the activation area was quite small, and it was difficult to accurately find the scanner by feel alone.
For reference, the generation 1 scanner was 4 x 9 mm while the new sensor will measure 8 x 8 mm and allows the sensor to pick up 1.7X more biometric information. The new sensor will also measure only 0.2mm thin at the scan area, enabling the possibility of integrating in-display scanners on flexible panels of foldable devices. We wonder if this means Samsung’s foldables will sport in-display scanners this year.
Qualcomm says that the second gen 3D Sonic Sensor will debut in smartphones “in early 2021”. Perhaps Samsung may use this new in-display sensor on the incoming Galaxy S21 series, expected to debut in less than one week.
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