Tag: audio

Samsung gets serious about audio — why your next pair of Galaxy buds could sound incredible

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 09:23:36 +0000

The Harman Audio group grows, with Samsung adding B&W to its list of premium audio brands.

Samsung adds Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and Polk to its audio empire

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 08:20:57 +0000

Samsung subsidiary Harman has agreed to acquire the audio business division of Masimo, taking ownership of audio brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, and Polk Audio.

The $350 million deal brings them under the same roof as JBL, Harman Kardon, Arcam, AKG, Mark Levinson, and Revel, which Samsung acquired back in 2016 with its $8 billion acquisition of Harman. The Masimo transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

“Finding the right home for this business has been a stated priority of the new Board from day one, and this transaction represents an important milestone,” said Masimo vice chairman Quentin Koffey. Masimo, you might recall, is the global medical technology company that launched a US patent infringement lawsuit against Apple over the pulse oximetry tech used in the Apple Watch.

In its press release, Samsung says it “plans to solidify its global No. 1 position in the consumer audio market” by combining the Harman and Massimo businesses. Part of that plan also includes applying professional audio technology from Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, and Marantz to Samsung’s lineup of smartphones, wireless earphones, headphones, TVs, and sound bars, alongside expanding its car audio business portfolio with brands like Bowers & Wilkins.

“Harman is proud to have grown into a world-class audio company with 75 years of history, and we expect that the acquisition of another luxury audio brand, B&W, will further solidify Harman’s position as a true audio powerhouse,” said Dave Rogers, president of Harman’s lifestyle business unit.

iRobot’s vacuum-only Roomba j7 is on sale for nearly 75 percent off

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 18:06:12 +0000

When the dust bunnies in your home are getting large enough to adopt as pets (and yes, I’m talking about my own living quarters at this point), maybe it’s time to stop promising yourself you’ll clean up “one day” and get yourself a robot vacuum. Admittedly, they’re not inexpensive, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of sales when they come along. Luckily, there’s currently a great one on iRobot’s Roomba j7, which is available at Woot for $169.99 ($430 off) until May 12th at 1AM ET, or while supplies last.

The Roomba j7 — previously our No. 1 robot vacuum pick — is basically a simpler version of the j7 Plus (that adds an auto-empty base) and the Combo j7 Plus (which includes some new sensors, a bigger battery, and the ability to mop). That being said, if you’re looking for something at a reasonable price to clean up your space, this is a good gadget to consider. What is included is intelligent smart mapping so you can control when each room is cleaned and the ability to avoid obstacles (so you don’t have to clean up in order to clean up), including pet waste. It also works with your chosen voice assistant, so you can request it to take care of, say, all the cereal that your toddler just pushed onto the floor. Not a bad way to keep those dust bunnies from taking over.

More of today’s deals

If your AirPods are outdated or you accidentally stepped on one, you can take advantage of today’s deal on the AirPods 4, which are on sale for an all-time low of $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. These are the latest version of Apple’s popular earbuds and feature the company’s H2 chip, which powers several new features that boost sound quality and voice call clarity. Sadly, the base model does not offer noise cancellation; for that, you’ll want the AirPods 4 with ANC, which are on sale for around $148 ($30 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Read our review.
For those who prefer on-ear headphones, the Beats Solo 4 are currently available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for around $99.95, a cool $100 off their usual list price of $199.95. Beats’ comfortable and capable headphones can be used for either wireless or wired audio, support native software features on both Android and iOS, and boast up to 50 hours of battery life. However, they lack active noise cancellation. Read our review.
The third-gen Fire TV Cube, a hybrid Echo speaker and Fire TV device, is Amazon’s fastest, most capable streaming player yet. It’s currently on sale at Amazon for $94.99 ($45 off), which is the steepest discount we’ve seen this year. Read our review.
Going camping this summer? The BougeRV Telescopic Camping Light is a 15600mAh rechargeable and collapsible outdoor light with three flexible LED panels that adapt to your outdoor — or indoor — lighting needs. (Our reviewer called it “a multifunctional work lamp for any place that needs an extra dose of lighting.”) At the lowest setting (using one panel at its lowest brightness level), it can give you up to 60 hours of illumination. It’s available on Amazon and BougeRV for $80.99 ($9 off), matching its best price to date. Read our review.

The New York Times, e.l.f. and Business Insider are 2025 Digiday Content Marketing Awards winners

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 17:01:42 +0000

This year’s Digiday Content Marketing Awards winners embraced video content, in its various forms, to craft compelling narratives that successfully connect with audiences. As brands work to build long-term consumer relationships, tailoring content to individual preferences has become mission-critical.

For instance, L’Oréal Groupe partnered with The New York Times to launch “This Is Not a Beauty Story,” a global media campaign rooted in the Essentiality of Beauty research study. At its center was “This Is Not A Beauty Podcast,” winner for Best Branded Podcast. Hosted by Isabella Rossellini, the six-episode series explored beauty’s hidden role in industries like sports, politics and business. The podcast leveraged The New York Times’ audio journalism style and was distributed across major platforms, including Apple, Google, Spotify and NYTimes.com. The campaign sparked conversations and helped L’Oréal Groupe strengthen its role as a thought leader across new and influential audiences.

To engage Gen Z and millennial beauty lovers, e.l.f. Cosmetics partnered with BDG Studios for the winning effort in the Most Innovative Use of Content category. “The Beauty Hotline” campaign leaned on a retrofuturistic ’90s and Y2K aesthetic, merging real-world utility with a nostalgic digital experience. A unique LLM was trained on e.l.f.’s top products to provide personalized recommendations, boosting awareness and driving purchases for e.l.f.’s priority products while rewarding loyal Beauty Squad members. The collaboration successfully positioned e.l.f. as a disruptive force in the beauty industry, setting a new standard for innovation in beauty marketing.

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Sonos and Ikea are ending their partnership

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 16:39:45 +0000

After several years, the collaboration between Sonos and Ikea on “Symfonisk” products like lamp speakers, bookshelf speakers, and even picture frame speakers has reached its conclusion. Sonos confirmed to The Verge on Tuesday that current inventory of the Symfonisk lineup is being phased out globally at all Ikea locations and no future devices are planned. Existing products will continue to receive software updates.

“Over the past eight years, we’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Ikea and are proud of what we’ve achieved,” Sonos spokesperson Erin Pategas told me by email. “Although our work together has largely wound down and we won’t be releasing new products as partners, we’ll continue to support every existing Symfonisk product so customers can keep enjoying great sound in their homes for many years to come.”

The Symfonisk products offer full integration with Sonos’ whole-home audio ecosystem, and often at lower prices than the company’s own speaker hardware. If you’ve been considering a purchase, now would be a good time to make sure you don’t miss out on remaining stock.

The news comes as Sonos prepares to report its latest quarterly earnings on Wednesday. Those results should offer fresh insight as to how adversely US tariffs will affect the company’s business.

Last month, Sonos dropped the price of two products — its entry-level Era 100 speaker and Ray soundbar — in an attempt to boost slumping demand. Just a day later, Sonos told me that it was “closely monitoring developments related to the proposed tariffs and actively assessing potential implications for our business, customers, and supply chain.” At least so far, the company’s prices have held at their pre-tariff MSRP.

As for the Symfonisk hardware, the speakers have proven to be a popular choice as home theater surrounds for Sonos soundbars; the lamp and picture frame blend into a room’s decor more naturally than traditional speakers. They’re also an affordable gateway into the larger Sonos ecosystem. Sound-wise, the bookshelf speaker in particular has long held its own against speakers like the Sonos One / Play:1, though it’s been eclipsed by more recent Sonos offerings like the aforementioned Era 100 and Move 2.

Sonos remains focused on improving its mobile software after releasing an overhauled app last May that torpedoed the brand’s reputation when customers ran into numerous bugs and worse system performance. Interim CEO Tom Conrad has said that polishing the core user experience remains the company’s top priority.

Earlier this year, Sonos canceled its long-in-the-works video player, the clearest indication yet that it’s serious about getting back to basics and concentrating on audio gear.

Opera has new ways for Android users to manage tabs

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 15:32:46 +0000

Opera has added new tab features to its Android web browser that give users more control when organizing web links. Opera says version 89 of its browser introduces “the best tab management system for Android devices,” providing new tab layout options, grouping features, and capabilities for searching, muting, and restoring tabs.

This update includes Tab islands, which allow users to manually group tabs together. Tab Islands can be created by either long pressing on a tab and dragging it onto another tab, or long pressing on a webpage link to open a new tab. These tab groups can be renamed to better organize tabs by category, such as bundling links together based on shopping, study, and more.

Users can also choose between carousel, grid, and list tab layout configurations, which display both standalone tabs and categorized tab groups. The layout option can be changed by pressing the far left button on the redesigned tab gallery menu. The idea is to help de-clutter tabs and make them less overwhelming to manage, especially for tab hoarders who can’t shake the habit.

These new features aren’t all unique to Opera, but the idea is to have more of them available in a single Android browser. | Image: Opera" data-portal-copyright=" Opera" />

Users can search for a specific tab by selecting the magnifying glass option at the top right-hand corner of the tab layout page. If any intrusive audio starts playing from an open tab, Opera’s Android browser now lets users mute specific tabs to prevent the entire device from needing to be silenced. And finally, any tabs that were erroneously closed can now be restored by selecting the “recently closed tabs” button in the tab gallery, allowing users to swipe right on any web pages or tab islands they want to bring back.

Beats Solo 4 just fell to lowest price ever at Amazon — only $99

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 09:34:15 +0000

The Beats Solo 4 have been given a massive limited time discount at Amazon bringing them down to their lowest ever price.

The sporty Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are on sale for $50 off for the first time

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:25:28 +0000

For the longest time, we considered the Beats Fit Pro to be the best gym earbuds around. However, with the arrival of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in February, Beats’ last-gen earbuds have become somewhat dated and a lot harder to recommend at full price. That’s especially true today, given the Powerbeats Pro 2 are now on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and B&H Photo in multiple colors for an all-time low of $199.95 ($50 off).

The Pro 2 are, by all accounts, some of the best wireless earbuds you can get. They still tout the signature ear hook design found on previous models, though the hooks themselves are noticeably smaller this time around (as is the wireless charging case). The comfortable earbuds also feature active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode — both absent from the first-gen model from 2019 —so you can stay in sync with what’s going on around you while exercising.

As for other hallmarks, the fitness-focused Pro 2 sport IPX4 water resistance, easy-to-use physical buttons, and native support for both Android and Apple features — including head-tracking spatial audio, automatic device switching, and Find My integration for iPhone users. They also offer heart rate monitoring thanks to built-in sensors in each earbud; however, sadly, they can’t play music and broadcast heart rate to gym equipment at the same time when paired with an iOS device, which makes the Pro 2 a better heart rate monitoring alternative for Android users than iPhone users.

Thankfully, if bass-heavy sound is what you’re after and not necessarily the ability to track your heart rate, rest assured that this pair of Beats delivers great sound with enough low-end oomph to make the latest tracks from Kendrick Lamar and Saba shine. They can’t rival the latest AirPods Pro or Sony’s XM5, but that’s not really the point, is it?

Read our full Powerbeats Pro 2 review. More ways to save today

The Google Pixel 9A, which is arguably the best budget phone you can buy right now, is available from Best Buy and Google for $499 with a free $100 gift card (or store credit, in the case of Google). The terrific midrange handset is outfitted with Google’s reliable Tensor G4 chipset and a 6.3-inch OLED screen, the latter of which is bigger and brighter than the panel on last year’s 8A. It also packs a robust IP68 rating and seven years of software updates — an impressive feat for a phone that retails for under $500. Read our review.
Star Wars Day might technically be behind us, but you can still grab a Goliath Power Saber at Amazon for $15.28 (about $6 off), which is the best price we’ve seen. The lightsaber-like saber isn’t an official Star Wars toy — blame Hasbro — but it is the first light-up blade that can automatically extend and retract with the push of a button. It will also collapse when you press it against something, meaning you needn’t worry (too much) about giving it to a kid.
If you’re looking for a cheap charger to take on the go, Anker’s 10,000mAh Zolo Power Bank is on sale at Amazon in a slew of colors for $12.94 ($13 off), matching its best price to date. The 30W battery pack isn’t the most robust in terms of capacity, though it can deliver up to two full charges to an iPhone 16 Pro; it also features an integrated 5.4-inch USB-C cable for added convenience.

Best Skype alternatives now that it’s officially gone

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 14:11:10 +0000

After 23 years of connecting people worldwide, Skype, the iconic video-calling service, officially shuts down today, May 5, 2025. Microsoft, Skype’s parent company, announced that users can migrate their contacts and chats seamlessly to Microsoft Teams, or alternatively, download their data and explore other video-calling platforms.

Top Skype alternatives to consider in 2025

If you’re seeking new communication solutions, we’ve compiled the top alternatives to Skype, complete with key features and pricing, to help you make the smoothest transition possible.

1. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams offers comprehensive integration within the Microsoft 365 environment, ideal for businesses already leveraging Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools. It simplifies remote collaboration with video conferencing and document sharing capabilities.

Integration with Microsoft 365, video conferencing, file sharing, collaborative editing.
From $15 per user/month.

2. Zoom

Zoom is known for reliable, high-quality audio and video calls, making it suitable for professional meetings, webinars, and group discussions. Its user-friendly interface has made it popular among diverse user groups.

High-quality audio and video calls, breakout rooms, webinar functionality, screen sharing.
Free for basic (40-min limit); Pro plans start at $15 per user/month.

3. Google Meet

Integrated directly into Google Workspace, Google Meet offers straightforward video conferencing and collaboration for teams who utilize Google’s productivity tools, ensuring easy adoption and efficiency.

Browser-based meetings, deep integration with Google Workspace, real-time collaboration.
Free basic version; Google Workspace plans from $6 per user/month.

4. Slack

Slack excels in real-time team collaboration, featuring robust messaging and calling tools, extensive integrations, and an intuitive user interface.

Real-time messaging, audio/video calls, integration with numerous business apps.
Free with limited features; Pro plans start at $8 per user/month.

5. Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex delivers enterprise-level video conferencing with strong security measures, making it highly suitable for large organizations and businesses requiring advanced management and analytics tools.

Enterprise-grade security, large-scale video conferencing, AI-enhanced productivity tools.
Free basic tier; Paid plans from $13.50 per user/month.

6. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is ideal for straightforward, personal, and small-scale business communications, featuring secure and easy-to-use messaging, video, and voice calls.

End-to-end encryption, voice/video calls, easy-to-use interface, group chats.
Completely free.

7. Discord

Originally popular among gamers, Discord offers robust community-building features with voice, video, and text communication, making it ideal for creative groups and communities.

Voice and video calls, community-oriented text channels, screen sharing.
Free with premium “Nitro” options starting at $9.99/month.

8. Signal

Signal is widely respected for its emphasis on privacy and security, providing encrypted messaging and calls for users who require maximum security.

Secure messaging, encrypted video and voice calls, open-source.
Free.

9. Jami

Jami stands out for its decentralized, peer-to-peer architecture, making it ideal for users interested in privacy and independent control over their communication infrastructure.

Peer-to-peer communication, decentralized infrastructure, complete user control.
Free.

10. RingCentral

RingCentral combines phone, video conferencing, and messaging into a robust cloud communication system suited for businesses of all sizes.

Cloud telephony, video conferencing, integrated messaging and call management.
Starting from $19.99 per user/month.

11. Pumble

Pumble provides streamlined team messaging and video calling solutions, ideal for businesses needing reliable internal communication without additional complexity.

Team messaging, voice/video calls, unlimited message history.
Free basic tier; paid options available.

12. GoTo Meeting

GoTo Meeting offers professional video conferencing and meeting solutions designed for ease of use and effective remote collaboration.

Online meetings, screen sharing, mobile app support.
From $12 per user/month.

Choosing the right Skype alternative depends significantly on your specific communication needs, integration requirements, and budget considerations. Whether you’re an individual user or a large corporation, the tools listed above provide robust features designed to enhance productivity and ensure seamless communication.

Evaluate the options carefully and embrace this opportunity to upgrade your communication strategy post-Skype.

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Intel’s second-gen car chip packs serious AI power

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 12:15:55 +0000

Intel made its debut at Auto Shanghai 2025 with significant announcements, including the launch of its second-generation AI-enhanced software-defined vehicle (SDV) SoC and partnerships with ModelBest and Black Sesame Technologies. The company’s automotive business is headquartered in China, a market Intel views as having massive potential.

Intel VP and Intel Automotive GM Jack Weast stated that the automotive sector is one of the greatest growth opportunities for Intel. He highlighted that the company’s automotive business is part of its Client Computing Group (CCG), alongside PC-related businesses, allowing it to leverage substantial investments in AI PCs. Weast declined to provide the current revenue contribution of Intel’s automotive business.

The second-generation AI-enhanced SDV SoC features a multi-process node chiplet architecture, integrating independent CPU and GPU computing units. This design enables a flexible mix of process nodes for optimal performance. Compared to the first-generation SDV SoC, the new product offers a tenfold increase in AI performance, a 61% boost in CPU power efficiency per watt, and enhanced audio and graphics processing capabilities, supporting up to 12 camera channels.

The new SoC is expected to be installed in mass-production vehicles starting in 2026 and will bring the AI PC experience to vehicles. Weast noted that this will allow users to enjoy AAA games, high-definition video, and audio inside the car. Intel’s partnership with ModelBest will focus on on-device, AI-enhanced smart cockpits, while its collaboration with Black Sesame Technologies will center on immersive cockpit experiences.

Intel says: Back to the office, four days a week

Weast indicated that Intel is open to collaborating with all advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) providers for immersive cockpits. He also hinted at further partnership announcements in 2025. Intel’s entry into the automotive market was first announced at CES 2024 with the launch of its first-generation AI-enhanced SDV SoC, nearly 18 months before the unveiling of the second-generation product.

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Huge Sony headphone and speaker sale on Amazon — 11 audio deals I'd shop now from $48

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Sony makes some of the best audio devices we've reviewed. Right, now Amazon is knocking Sony headphones and speakers to as little as $48.

New OpenAI guide helps users pick the right ChatGPT model

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 09:07:48 +0000

OpenAI has released a document explaining when to use each of its ChatGPT models, making it easier for users to understand the different options available. The document, titled “ChatGPT Enterprise – Models & Limits,” was posted on May 3 and provides an overview of the available models and their applications.

Currently, ChatGPT offers five models: GPT-4o, o3, o4-mini, o4-mini-high, and GPT-4.5. According to OpenAI, GPT-4o is the “omni model” with real-time information, suitable for tasks such as summarizing content, brainstorming ideas, and generating emails. As a multimodal model, it supports features like custom GPTs, image generation, canvas, advanced audio, and data analysis.

In contrast, GPT-4.5 is described as a “creative” powerhouse, offering better emotional intelligence, communication, and a creative approach to brainstorming. While similar to GPT-4o, GPT-4.5 is recommended for tasks that require more creativity.

For technical tasks, ChatGPT offers three reasoning models: o4-mini, o4-mini-high, and o3. The o4-mini model is suitable for quick technical tasks, such as STEM-related queries and programming. The o4-mini-high model is better suited for detailed technical tasks, including advanced coding, math, and scientific explanations. The o3 model excels in complex or multi-step tasks, such as strategic planning, detailed analyses, and extensive coding.

Users can choose between these models when they upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for $20. The document’s guidance is applicable to both enterprise and regular users, helping them select the most appropriate model for their needs.

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Inside the Stream Podcast: Diamond Sports’ Bankruptcy, HBO Max’s Confusing Pricing; YouTube’s Multiview; FAST’s Growth

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:34:54 +0000

This week on Inside the Stream Colin and I do an “around the horn” of four significant industry topics. We lead off with the expected bankruptcy filing of Diamond Sports Group earlier this week, the largest owner of regional sports networks (RSNs), resulting in a complete wipeout of the equity-holders. Where to from here is anyone’s best guess; but I reiterate my stance that sports teams’ franchise values and players’ salaries have already peaked. When the dominant player in an industry - with over 50% market share - goes belly up, nothing good happens next.

Next up is an update on WBD’s planned pricing strategy for its combined HBO Max and discovery+ streaming service launching soon. Colin’s been all over this one for months and is really scratching his head, as am I.

In time for March Madness, YouTube TV has launched a new feature called “multiview” allowing subscribers to stream a mosaic of four pre-selected games and choose which audio feed they prefer. I think it’s really cool, and as you’ll hear in real-time I realize that it might mean YouTube TV “automagically” just quadrupled its ad inventory for multiview users. If so, that’s a neat trick; new CEO Neal Mohan is off to an even stronger start than I expected!

Finally, Colin gives a short wrap-up of the latest doings in the burgeoning FAST market. It’s getting harder and harder to keep up.

Listen to the podcast to learn more (27 minutes, 11 seconds)

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I've been using the AirPods 4 for 6 months — what I like and don't

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:30:00 +0000

The AirPods 4 have been out for 6 months now, but has my opinion on Apple's budget buds changed at all in the intervening time?

Media Buying Briefing: Google’s CTV updates show how the DSP arms race is accelerating

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 04:01:00 +0000

More advertisers and their media agencies are considering DV360, Google’s demand-side platform (DSP), for their connected TV (CTV) campaigns. It’s another sign that competition between the big DSP providers — a triumvirate including The Trade Desk, Amazon and Google — continues to heat up. And it comes despite Google’s recent challenges in court to its expanded power and influence over the marketing and media landscape.

The status quo in previous years has directed most advertisers toward The Trade Desk as their chosen DSP for CTV inventory, due in part to the company’s strong connections to publishers. By and large, DV360 has been reserved for YouTube, audio and display ads.

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