PlayStation VR: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

First announced in 2014, under the codename Project Morpheus, PlayStation VR is likely to be a hit this coming Christmas and could even be the definitive device in the explosion of virtual reality.

Sony’s virtual reality headset works with the PS4, which has an enormous global userbase, so has a heads up on its major competition, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. They both require serious gaming PC setups to run the best VR experiences, while you can power your PS VR from a standard console.

That makes it a very attractive prospect indeed. What’s more, the pricing structure seems very reasonable for the amount of tech crammed inside and we suspect it will sell out at the pre-order stage – maybe even prompt the same kind of queues we saw when the PlayStation 4 first launched.

Before you decide to put your money down though, we suggest you read our handy guide on the PlayStation VR headset. That way you’ll find out everything you need to know about the potential future of gaming.

READ: PlayStation VR preview: Affordable virtual reality for the gamers

What is PlayStation VR?

PlayStation VR is the, eventual, name given to Sony’s PS4-compatible virtual reality headset. It was formerly called Project Morpheus when touted around certain technology and videogames conventions, such as E3, Gamescom and CES.

It will plug into a conventional PlayStation 4 console via an adaptor box and play dedicated virtual reality software titles that we presume will be available through the PlayStation Store.

A PlayStation VR headset fits over and around your head, with a front “shoebox” style eyepiece that contains the display and sensor equipment. A separate pair of headphones are required to provide the audio, which are included in the box.

It also needs a PlayStation Camera and either a DualShock 4 controller – which comes with the PS4 – or PlayStation Move motion controllers to play different titles.

For an explanation of virtual reality, check out our handy guide here: What is VR? Virtual reality explained.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR release date

During its press conference at GDC 2016 in San Francisco, Sony announced that the PlayStation VR headset will be available from October 2016. It didn’t go into specifics about the actual launch day, but Amazon.co.uk has revealed it will ship from 1 October. It is clearly aimed at capitalising on the holiday season to come.

Previously, Sony said that PS VR would be available in the first half of 2016, but that has turned out not to be the case.

PlayStation VR price

PlayStation VR costs £349 in the UK. That gets you the headset, a processor unit, VR headset connection cable, HDMI cable, USB cable, stereo headphones, and a power cord and adaptor.

It doesn’t include the PlayStation Camera required to track the LED markers on the front and rear of the headset. That will set you back another £39. You will likely already have a DualShock 4 controller as that comes with the PS4, but if you don’t have PlayStation Move batons lying around from the PS3 days, you’ll probably want to shell out for a pair. They currently cost £24 apiece.

Of course, if you are investing in the whole package from scratch, you’ll also need a PlayStation 4. These days the console starts at around £285.

In the US, the PlayStation VR headset costs $399. It is 399 euros in Europe. And, in Sony’s homeland of Japan, the PS VR will set you back 44,980 yen.

PlayStation VR design

All virtual reality headsets share the same basic shape because they need to bung a load of tech into a “shoebox” style design that attaches to the top half of your face – you need to see the screen, after all.

However, the PlayStation VR looks more space-age than most, with Sony opting for a Samsung Gear VR-like white and black exterior and smooth curves. Indeed, we’d say that it looks the best of all the headsets for the people not actually wearing it.

That’s also partly down to the glowing LEDs situated around the visor and the rear of the device. Not only do they look cool – Tron-esque – but they are used to help track the headset, with a PlayStation Camera constantly picking up their location.

Like many if not all VR headsets, the PlayStation VR is able to be worn by people with or without glasses and is light enough to be comfortable. The headset weighs around 610g, not including the cable that must be attached. It measures approximately 187 x 185 x 277mm.

PlayStation VR display

With the PlayStation 4 only capable of 1080p video output, it comes as no surprise that Sony has opted for a 1080p 5.7-inch OLED display as the PS VR’s screen. That means the 1920 x 1080 resolution is split into 960 x 1080 per eye.

The display is also one panel rather than a separate display for each eye, as found on the Oculus Rift, for example.

The field of view is also truncated in comparison to some of the high-end rivals, with approximately 100-degrees listed by Sony.

Where the PS VR display is slightly more advanced over some rivals is that it has a refresh rate that is capable of reaching 120Hz (120 frames per second). It is also capable of 90Hz.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR hardware and specs

Other specifications listed for the PlayStation VR include the built-in sensors. There is Sony’s six-axis motion sensing system built into the headset, comprised of a three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer.

Latency is claimed to be 18ms.

The separate processing unit handles the 3D audio processing, Social Screen functionality – which splits the screen to the headset and a TV separately so others can see the user’s experience on a TV, and a Cinematic mode to watch movies and TV shows, even play conventional PS4 games bought from PlayStation on a virtual screen from within the headset. It has two HDMI outputs, to TV and PS VR, a HDMI input from PS4, USB and AUX sockets.

How do I control PlayStation VR games?

As previously mentioned, PlayStation VR games can be controlled by either a DualShock 4 controller or PlayStation Move motion controllers.

Importantly, some games will require the Move controllers and it is worth checking before purchasing a title. For example, The London Heist, which we’ve played at a couple of trade shows, has sections where you use a Move controller as a gun, reloading by touching two of the batons together.

PlayStation VR pre-order details

Pre-orders are now available at some retailers, including Amazon.co.uk, Game.co.uk, and GameStop.co.uk.

Strangely, even though Sony quotes the price at £349, both Game and Amazon list it at £349.99, while GameStop is three-pence cheaper. Game also offers a bundle that includes the necessary PlayStation Camera for £389.98.

We’ll expand this section as we find out about other retailers and locations you can pre-order the console.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR games

Sony has revealed that more than 230 developers and software publishers are working on games and entertainment titles for PlayStation VR. And there are more than 160 titles in development.

It also claims that over 50 of those games and experiences will be available before the end of 2016 – many of which on launch day.

They include Eagle Flight by Ubisoft, EVE: Valkyrie from CCP Games, Headmaster, Rez Infinite, Wayward Sky, RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and PlayStation VR World.

Even more exciting perhaps is that EA and Dice are working on a VR version of Star Wars Battlefront.

The Playroom VR, which we played at Paris Games Week last year, will be a free download with every PS VR purchase.

You can find out more about some of the games, and see trailers of them in action, in our handy round-up here: Sony PlayStation VR game trailers: Sony reveals the PS4 gaming future for 2016.

We will update this feature regularly with new content as more is discovered. If you are interested in the PlayStation VR headset, we recommend bookmarking this piece for future reference.

Tesla Motors: Everything you want to know about the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y and more

Tesla has taken more than its fair share of headlines over the past few years. The Californian company has been heralded by the tech and motoring presses for its innovation, stirring up fairly a traditional market and introducing electric cars with a distinct buzz about them.

Some of this has been driven by the excitement of the much talked about “Ludicrous” mode on some Tesla cars, some through the company’s determination to move away from fossil fuels. There’s been a good helping of savvy media handling by CEO Elon Musk, as well as endorsements from many excited customers.

But what’s does Tesla really offer, what’s coming in the future and how can you you join in the fun? Here’s everything you need to know about Tesla Motors.

What is Tesla Motors?

Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers, including CEO Elon Musk (who also happens to be the founder and CEO of SpaceX and co-founder of PayPal). The company, which is named after inventor Nikola Tesla, designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars, electric vehicle powertrain components, and battery products. It launched its first car, called Tesla Roadster, in 2008.

What Tesla models are available?

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is a full-sized, five-door, lift-back electric vehicle introduced in June 2012. It’s available in many different configurations, including multiple performance options as well as both exterior and interior design options.

If you want to buy a new Tesla Model S, Tesla offers the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model S 70: 70 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (230-mile range, 5.5 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model S 70D: 70 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (240-mile range, 5.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model S 90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (288-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model S P90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (270-mile range, 3.1 seconds 0-60 mph or 2.8 seconds 0-60 mph with Ludicrous Speed upgrade, 155 mph top speed)

If you want to buy a pre-owned Tesla Model S, you can find the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model S 60: 60 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (215-mile range, 5.9 seconds 0-60 mph, 120 mph top speed)
• Model S 85: 85 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 5.4 seconds 0-60 mph, 130 mph top speed)
• Model S P85: 85 kWh battery, single motor, rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 130 mph top speed)
• Model S P85+: 85 kWh battery, single-motor, performance rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model S P85D: 85 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (249-mile range, 3.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X is a full-size crossover SUV you can reserve from Tesla right now, though the first deliveries of the electric vehicle began arriving for select customers in September 2015. Similar to the Model S, it’s available in many different configurations, including multiple performance options as well as both exterior and interior design options.

If you want to buy a new Tesla Model X, Tesla lets you reserve the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model X 70D: 70 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (220-mile range, 6.0 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model X 90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (257-mile range, 4.8 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model X P90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (250-mile range, 3.8 seconds 0-60 mph or 3.2 seconds 0-60 mph with Ludicrous Speed upgrade, 155 mph top speed)

What happened to the Tesla Roadster?

The Tesla Roadster was a 2-door sports car produced from 2008 to 2012. Tesla only sold about 2,450 Roadsters in over 30 countries, before it announced in 2011 that it was discontinuing the Roadster – including direct sales – to focus on the Model S.

The car was sold with three different electric-motor powertrain options: 1.5 (2.0), 2.5 non-sport, and 2.5 sport. The standard model has a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph. It also has a range of 231 miles.

A new Tesla Roadster is coming however, and you’ll have to wait 3 years it. Musk confirmed in 2015 that it’s getting revived. After talking about Tesla’s new speed upgrades during a press conference, which you can read about here, the CEO said: “There is of course one speed faster than ludicrous, but that is reserved for the next generation Roadster in 4 years: maximum plaid.”

The Ludicrous mode and maximum plaid refrences are from the 1987 film Spaceballs (Musk is showing is true inner nerd here). All jokes aside, he later confirmed the upcoming Roadster would be an all-new car. So, expect a fresh Roadster that’ll be just as fast as the P85D.

What are the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y?

Tune in for the 3/31 unveiling on https://t.co/7Ol1Bw0ZaG #Model3 pic.twitter.com/P1PY0U8H4T

— Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) March 15, 2016

The Tesla Model 3 is an upcoming car that Tesla is expected to unveil during a press conference on 31 March. The Model 3 was previously called the Model E, as Musk wanted to name Tesla’s three main car models so that they’d spell out “SEX”. Now it’ll be “S3X” – because Ford’s lawyers have reminded Tesla that it owns the Model E trademark. Party poopers, much?

In October, Musk tweeted that the Model 3 would go into production in 2017. But he also posted a tweet confirming that the company was planning to roll out another vehicle called the Model Y, meaning Tesla’a lineup would eventually spell-out “S3XY”. Musk later deleted that tweet, which effectively drummed up publicity, even though JB Straubel, Tesla’s CTO, also teased in June 2014 that a crossover vehicle was coming.

There is not much known about the Model Y. It could have Falcon Wing doors, like the Model X. When Musk tweeted about the Model Y in October, for instance, he said that either the Model 3 or the Model Y would have Falcon doors. All we know for sure is that the Model 3 sedan will be smaller than the Model S. It’ll also offer a range of 200 miles per charge and be the most affordable Tesla car to date.

The current Model S starts at just over £55,000, going up to nearly £100,000 for the top-end model. This puts it out of the reach of many people wishing to go electric. However, the upcoming Model 3 line, which will represent “both sedan and crossover variants”, according to Tesla, includes a sedan priced at $35,000 (about £30,000 in the UK). Electrek’s Seth Weintraub said the Model 3 will show up alongside the Model Y in March.

Citing “second-hand sources”, he said Tesla has “at least two different versions” of the Model 3 planned for the unveiling event. The second car will presumably the Model Y crossover, while the other is the Model 3 sedan. Weintraub backed up his claims with a screenshot from a Tesla presentation that shows partially-wrapped cars.

Check out Pocket-lint’s Tesla Model 3 hub and Tesla Model Y for more details.

What is Tesla’s autopilot mode?

If you own a relatively-new Model S or are itching to get a Model X, you’ll be glad to know that after this week both cars are capable of enabling some of the fancy autopilot features that Tesla first showed off last last year.

When Tesla launched the Dual-motor Model S, it unveiled a $2,500 add-on hardware package coming to Tesla vehicles (the Model S and Model X) that would enable autopilot functionality. The hardware, which is not available as a retrofit, meaning you can only get it on new Teslas, works with software updates to deliver a range of autonomous-like features.

“Model S will be able to steer to stay within a lane, change lanes with the simple tap of a turn signal, and manage speed by reading road signs and using active, traffic aware cruise control,” announced Tesla. “Our goal with the introduction of this new hardware and software is not to enable driverless cars, which are still years away from becoming a reality.”

Tesla said its “autopilot” system isn’t fully autonomous but instead similar to systems that aircraft pilots use to increase safety when conditions are clear: “Tesla’s Autopilot is a way to relieve drivers of the most boring and potentially dangerous aspects of road travel – but the driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car,” Tesla said, while noting it still opens up long-term possibilities.

You can learn all about Tesla’s autopilot mode from here.

How can you buy a Tesla?

You can buy a Tesla car directly from Tesla’s website or a Tesla dealership.

• Go here to order a new Model S
• Go here to buy a pre-owned Model S
• Go here to reserve a Model X
• Go here to find a Tesla dealership

What are Tesla Superchargers?

Tesla

Supercharger stations are Tesla’s answer to the “range anxiety” problem. The idea is that a Supercharger will charge a Tesla car more quickly than a typical J1772 public charging station, which provides roughly 10 miles of range for every 30 minutes of charging. A standard outlet in a garage can provide 15 miles of range in 30 minutes. As for a Supercharger, it provides 200 miles of range in 30 minutes.

As of March 2016, there are 604 Supercharger stations across the world (with 3,542 Superchargers). Tesla announced in 2015 that Supercharger routes span the entire width of the US, and it claimed that by the end of 2016, 98 per cent of the country’s population would be within 100 miles of a Supercharger. The company also said it would expand the network in Europe and Asia.

Information about how Superchargers work and where they can be found are available on Tesla’s website

Does Tesla make anything else?

Powerwall

Tesla announced a home battery system in 2015 that took the energy-saving scene by storm, and then, in early 2016, the carmaker began to tease a “version two”. Powerwall is basically a home battery designed to be paired with rooftop solar systems. Within a month of debuting, Tesla had received 38,000 pre-orders, with some customers reserving more than one battery.

The original Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery that comes as a single unit or in multiples for those who need more power. It stores excess energy produced from your own solar generation (so that energy not used at the time will be available later) and can store power when electricity from the power grid is at its cheapest rate (off-peak), It’s also able to juice up everything in your house.

From a 0.2kWh fridge to a 2.3kWh washing machine, the 7kWh or 10kWh Powerwalls should be able to keep you running. For those who know their electricity consumption numbers, the Powerwall offers continuous power at 2kW with a peak power output of 3kW. You can read all about the original Powerwall from here, or you can read about the Powerwall 2 from here.

Gear

Tesla also sells apparel, charging accessories, and various driving-related goods, including iPhone cases crafted from automotive-grade leather from the interior of its vehicles, which it designs and manufacturers. You can browse through the different collections at its online shop.

Want to know more about Tesla?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Tesla hub for related news, reviews, and analysis on the company and its products.

Huawei P9, P9 Max and P9 Lite: Superb specs totally revealed in massive leak

The eagerly anticipated high-spec but low-price flagship smartphone from Huawei has leaked with all three variants, the P9, P9 Max and P9 Lite.

The complete reveal has happened ahead of the expected launch event on 6 April. An invite for this event was already sent out by Huawei. This is when the P9 family is expected to officially launch. For now we have this new leak.

Ruining the surprise Oppomart, a site that exports Chinese smartphones to the US, has revealed the handsets early.

On the site can be found the Huawei P9 for $499, the P9 Max for $699 and the P9 Lite for $299.

In order of spec quality, the flagship P9 Max is listed as featuring a 6.2-inch QHD display, 2GHz Kirin 955 octa-core processor, 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB storage. It should also have a 12-megapixel dual rear camera with OIS plus a 3000mAh battery.

The Huawei P9 is listed as featuring a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 2GHz Kirin 950 octa-core with 3GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB storage. It also features 12-megapixel dual rear camera tech with OIS and a 3000mAh battery.

The P9 Lite should be a 5-inch 1080p display toting smartphone with 1.5GHz Snapdragon 650 processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM and 16GB storage. This also has the 12-megapixel dual rear camera with OIS. The P9 Lite will come with a 2500mAh battery.

Expect to hear these spec confirmed at the Huawei P9 launch event on 6 April where it’s likely the handsets will go on sale and be available immediately.

READ: Huawei P9: What’s the story so far?

Pigeons track air pollution in London with tiny backpacks

A small flock of pigeons have been given tiny backpacks to monitor air pollution in London. The project was dreamt up by Plume Labs, a company focused on the environmental problem, and the marketing agency DigitasLBi. The rucksacks are fitted to the birds using small fabric vests, and the sensors inside are able to measure nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels. Only 10 birds are in flight at any one time, so the amount of data being collected is pretty small. However, it’s still a creative way of analysing the air that millions breathe in every day in the capital.

If you’re interested in tracking the birds’ progress, a live map is currently available on the project’s microsite. Alternatively, you can tweet the @pigeonair account on Twitter for a quick summary of a specific borough or neighborhood. The project is a three-day affair, designed to attract new beta testers for a wearable pollution monitor built by Plume Labs. As such, the new “Pigeon Air Patrol” feels more like a marketing campaign than an evolution in air pollution management. Still, it’s neat to know that there are birds in the sky with backpacks — and maybe, just maybe, there’s scope to expand and refine the idea if these experimental test flights take off.

And we’re off! The first #PigeonAir patrol flies from Brick Lane, monitoring air pollution as we go! pic.twitter.com/W8KnyrxnCe

— Pigeon Air Patrol (@PigeonAir) 14 March 2016

Source: Pigeon Air Patrol

Ring’s Video Doorbell Pro is a sleeker, more powerful home portal

Ring’s Video Doorbell is helpful if you want to know who’s gracing your door, but it has its limitations: it streams in 720p, its motion detection isn’t fine-grained, and its boxy design can stick out like a sore thumb. That’s where the just-announced Video Doorbell Pro might save the day. The upgraded ringer not only captures footage in 1080p (helping you read that salesperson’s name tag), but lets you specify motion zones that alert you when there’s activity in a specific area, like your front porch or the mailbox. And as you may have noticed, the Pro is much smaller and slicker than its precursor — it won’t look quite so out of place at the front of a vintage home.

Most of what’s left is familiar from the standard Ring, including two-way conversations, night video capture and an optional cloud recording service ($3 per month or $30 per year) that stores evidence of would-be visitors. You’ll be happy to know that it now supports 5GHz WiFi, though, so you won’t have to worry about keeping a 2.4GHz network around to know when someone is stopping by. You can pre-order the Pro at Ring’s website now for a not-too-unreasonable $249, and it’ll reach both Best Buy and Home Depot stores in May.

Source: Ring

Nixon’s Android Wear smartwatch is water resistant up to 100 meters

A number of smartwatches tout activity tracking and sporty looks, but Nixon is looking to offer more for folks who like to take the action outdoors. The watchmaker is jumping on the wearable tech bandwagon with the $400 Mission: an Android Wear device that touts a 10-ATM water resistance rating, which means it’ll hold up in depths of up to 100 meters. Nixon says this is the highest rating for any smartwatch. To put that designation to the test, the Mission offers both surfers and snowboarders/skiers up-to-date info on conditions around the world through a pair of pre-loaded apps.

Under the hood, the Nixon Mission smartwatch is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 underneath a round AMOLED display covered with Gorilla Glass. The outer bezel is stainless steel around a polycarbonate and stainless steel shell with a silicone band that aims for both comfort and durability. What’s more, Nixon’s taking a similar approach to customization as Motorola did with the Moto 360. You’ll be able to customize the finish and both bezel and band colors to make a unique color scheme. The customization doesn’t stop their either, as you can also set the Mission’s digital display to mimic the look of the company’s other timepieces like the 51-30, The Sentry, The Player, The Ranger and The Unit.

We’ve always pushed things that have never been done before and we’re doing it again with The Mission,” said Nixon CEO Nick Stowe. “We wanted to make our entrance into the smart category in a disciplined and purposeful way by bringing functions that are useful and true to our DNA and action sports heritage.” Stowe also said that Nixon has a “family of smart products to come,” so we’ll be hearing more about connect gadgets from the company in the future. As for the Mission, the smartwatch is making its official debut at Baselworld before going on sale this fall.

Waze helps you plan future trips based on expected traffic

Traffic can ruin your careful planning for that appointment in the ‘burbs, but Waze can help with a feature called “timed drives.” After you enter the destination, date and time, it will open a special screen that shows how busy your route will be at a given hour. “This takes into account expected traffic conditions based on smart algorithms, aggregated traffic history and predictive analysis,” according to the Google-owned company.

Once it calculates the start time, you can set an alarm for the departure. As the hour approaches, Waze will automatically adjust it to account for real-time driving conditions (you can change the departure location any time). If you’re okay giving the system access to your calendar and Facebook feeds, it can create timed drives for any pre-programmed events, too. As before, you can have it send alerts to other parties when you leave and add any stops for gas, coffee, etc. The update is now available on iOS and will arrive “soon” on Android.

‘Deadpool’ used way more CGI than you probably think it did

The folks behind last month’s raucous Deadpool movie lied to you more than you probably could’ve imagined. That intro sequence that serves as a narrative framing device for practically the whole flick? Almost entirely composited together in post processing. As you’ll see in the video below, during the opening car chase, even the merc with a mouth kicking the goon riding shotgun out of the Chevy SUV was a collection of polygons. But when an entire movie is as over the top as Deadpool, finding stunt performers who could withstand the level of abuse that’s on display would probably be pretty difficult.

There are a few ways to look at this: One is to be impressed that the CGI was convincing enough to trick you into thinking there were more practical effects used (kind of like in Star Wars). The other is to be disappointed that there was a whole lot less real carnage actually happening on set. The choice is yours. Sadly, there’s no Salt-N-Pepa in the video below to help take the pain away if you choose the latter.

“Deadpool” Visual Effects Breakdown from Atomic Fiction on Vimeo.

Via: i09

Source: Atomic Fiction (Vimeo), Fast Co. Design

Apple Actively Working to ‘Double Down’ on iCloud Encryption

Apple is working to further harden iCloud security so that even it won’t be able to access user information stored on its data servers, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

According to yesterday’s report, which cites “people familiar with the matter”, Apple executives are actively considering how to harden iCloud encryption without inconveniencing users.

Currently, data kept on the cloud service is accessible by Apple using a key, which is used for restoring account information if, for example, a user forgets their password. Apple’s access also allows the company to provide relevant information it has to law enforcement agencies that approach it with proper, legal requests.

However, Apple appears to be concerned that keeping a copy of the key means it could be compromised by hackers or that the company could be legally compelled to turn it over to governments.

The news follows a report earlier this month suggesting that Apple viewed privacy and security issues differently between physical devices that can be lost and its iCloud service.

However, according to The Wall Street Journal, Apple pointed to comments by senior VP of software engineering Craig Federighi in reference to the company’s fresh concerns. “Security is an endless race—one that you can lead but never decisively win,” he wrote in a March 6 opinion piece in The Washington Post. “Yesterday’s best defenses cannot fend off the attacks of today or tomorrow.”

iCloud backups contain iMessages and texts, content purchase history, photos and videos, device settings, app data, voicemail password, and health data. Any steps Apple takes to close off access to these backups are likely to further antagonize law enforcement authorities, especially given the company’s current fight with the FBI over the latter’s demand for help to unlock the iPhone at the center of the San Bernadino shooter investigation.

A court hearing to address the issue is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 22, the day after Apple’s media event, where it is expected to introduce a new 4-inch “iPhone SE” and a new 9.7-inch iPad, as well as make additional announcements.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless headphones review – CNET

The Good The Master and Dynamic MW60 wireless Bluetooth headphone is constructed out of premium materials and has excellent build quality along with strong sound for a Bluetooth headphone. It folds up and comes with a decent carrying case and a cable for wired listening. Battery life (16 hours) was good, and the Bluetooth connectivity was impressively steady with extended range.

The Bad The headphones are expensive, somewhat heavy and may not fit people with smaller heads. Lacks dual microphones for reducing ambient noise during calls.

The Bottom Line If you can overlook the fact that it costs too much, the MW60 is beautifully designed wireless headphone that delivers very good performance.

In case you’ve never heard of Master & Dynamic, it’s a new company that made a name for itself with its MH40 over-ear headphone, the wired model that the wireless MW60 reviewed here ($549, £419) is based on. It’s currently not sold in Australia, but that $549 price tag would equate to about AU$735 at today’s exchange rate.

Design-wise, the MW60 is a great looking headphone that’s really well built with metal parts, leather trim and folding hinges. It’s also comfortable, though somewhat on the heavy side, weighing in at 12.2 ounces or 345 grams.

For those with smaller heads, these ‘phones may be a tad large — they barely fit my head. But I liked the feel of the lambskin covered earcups and overall this definitely comes across as a premium headphone. It also has good battery life at around 16 hours and maintained a consistent wireless connection.

Master & Dynamic’s MW60 integrated controls are on the right earcup.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Master & Dynamic says it has four times the range of your typical Bluetooth headphone. In my tests in our CNET offices in New York, I found that it did indeed offer extended range, though just how much extended range — beyond the typical 33 feet or 10m — will depend on your surroundings (I got about 50-60 feet away from my phone).

Performance

We like how the wired MH40 sounds, and we like how this headphone sounds as well — it’s an excellent Bluetooth headphone that offers clean, fairly even-handed sound with plenty of bass that manages to stay pretty tight (by that I mean it’s not boomy or muddy).

That all sounds pretty good, right? So what’s the problem?