Tesla preps an extra long-range battery for its electric cars
Tesla has dropped hints that it’s ready to extend the range of its electric cars (there was an allusion to a “P100D” hidden in firmware), but it now looks like that long-distance technology is getting closer to fruition. Dutch regulators have approved 100D and P100D versions of both the Model S and Model X, hinting that a 100kWh power pack might soon hit the streets. If the listings are accurate, the Model S would get a whopping 380 miles on a charge — no mean feat when the 90D can ‘only’ manage 294 miles. The Model X would likely have a shorter range given that the existing SUV officially tops out at 257 miles, but it’s reasonable to say that you’d get over 300 miles on a charge.
There’s no official word on when you’d see 100D variants on the street, let alone how much they’ll cost. They’ll likely make the 60D seem like a bargain. Whatever price they’ll carry, they’ll bring Tesla one step closer to its dreams of cars that can drive cross-country (eventually, by themselves). And if history is any indication, the higher battery capacity will come along with a performance boost — add Ludicrous Mode and both EVs could put even the better supercars to shame in terms of short-distance acceleration.
Via: Kentenken.tv Blog, Autoblog
Source: RDW
MIT’s and Microsoft’s flash tattoos can control gadgets
Those stylish flash tattoos could do more than just look cool in the future. A team from MIT and Microsoft Research has developed a fabrication process called “DuoSkin,” which can be used to make temporary metallic tattoos that double as on-skin interfaces. MIT Media Lab already demonstrated their capability in three different ways. First, they can be used for input to control mobile devices and computers, transforming your skin into a trackpad, a button or a slider. They can also be used to turn your skin into a display of sorts, changing colors based on your body temp. Finally, they can store data that phones and other NFC-enabled devices can read.
One of the team’s lead researchers, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, said DuoSkin tattoos are pretty easy to make. You can use any graphics software to create patterns for the circuit and simply slap on a gold leaf layer on top for conductivity. A lot of research teams besides Kao’s are also developing high-tech temp tattoos, but these ones look like something people would actually love to wear. If you want to know more about DuoSkin than what the video below reveals, make sure to check out MIT’s scientific paper on the project’s official website.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: DuoSkin
Google’s Fuchsia operating system runs on virtually anything
Google is no stranger to creating whole platforms when it needs them, but its latest project might be something special. It’s working on Fuchsia, an open source operating system that’s designed to scale all the way from Internet of Things devices through to phones and even PCs. Its kernel includes ‘grown up’ OS features like user modes and a capability-based security model, Android Police notes, and it supports both advanced graphics as well ARM and 64-bit Intel-based PCs. To no one’ surprise, it’s using Google’s own Dart programming language at its heart.
You can run Fuchsia either on a computer or a virtual machine if you’d like to give the early code a try, and Google’s Travis Geiselbrecht adds that you’ll soon see it running on the Raspberry Pi 3.
We’ve asked Google if it can shed some light on Fuchsia, and we’ll let you know if it has something to say. Whatever its answer, there’s no guarantee that this will be the next Android, Brillo or Chrome OS. Right now, it comes across as an experiment that could lay the groundwork for bigger efforts. Given that the company is branching out into making smart household gadgets like Google Home, though, Fuchsia might make sense. It could be the platform that Google uses when it wants more flexibility and power than a platform like Brillo can offer, but doesn’t need the deep feature set (and resulting overhead) of something like Android.
Via: Android Police
Source: Github, Google Git, Hacker News
Android 7.0: Security benefits that truly matter
Google has made some major changes in Android N that enhance security.
Updated August 13, 2016, with information about the final Android Nougat features and APIs.
There are a lot of code changes coming in Android N. Some of them we can see — like the new notifications — and others we can’t (but are still a big deal). We see the same thing with every update. There are refinements and changes in the interface, but under the hood adjustments and changes are made to make Android run better, and safer.
Google has improved security in Android Nougat in a handful of different areas. Some are designed to harden Android itself, while others are tools for developers to use so it stays that way when we install apps. Let’s take a look at the changes themselves.
Seamless updates
Google already does “seamless updates” on Chrome OS, and it works really well. Things will be very similar in Android.
Seamless updates will use two separate system partitions. One of them is the system you’re running as you use your phone every day. When it’s time for an update, the other system partition gets altered and updated, and the next time you reboot you’re automatically switched over. The next time there is an update, the other system partition gets changed and you switch back.
Read more: Android 7.0: What are seamless updates and how do they work?
That means things can be done while you’re working or playing, and when it is finished all you need to do is reboot normally. You’d be surprised (I was when I heard it) but a pretty large chunk of people don’t update their phone because it takes a while. They might have done it once, then sat there waiting, and decided to not do it again. It’s easy to dismiss the notification. But by changing the procedure, making updates easier, and eliminating the horrible wait time while seeing the “updating apps” dialog, more people will do it.
Network Security Configuration
Network Security Configuration lets app developers create and use a custom configuration file for network security settings instead of requesting system-level changes.The configuration file can be changed without modifying the app itself and can be set to use a custom Certification Authority instead of the device default, and can also be set to ignore any or all of the CAs trusted by the system. This is important for connecting to a host that has a self-signed CA (for things like enterprise apps) or for an app that should only trust a specific CA.
In addition, the configuration can be set to opt-out of any plain text network traffic and force encrypted communication using the HTTPS protocol. If you’re a network admin or develop network apps, you know how important these changes are. The rest of us can be happy that we can have more secure network traffic in apps that are easier to develop.
Media Server hardening
Remember Stagefright? While it was blown out of proportion by much of the media, there was a real issue hidden behind the hyperbole. Playing a media file and it having the ability to force you to reboot or to lose all audio is a nasty issue, and the fact that (in theory) this could be used to secretly gain root permissions is even scarier. Google takes it very seriously and we see patches to the media server library every month to try and stay ahead of the bugs and security concerns that come with it.
In Android N, the media server gets a big overhaul. Google has broken up the media server into smaller components that can be updated outside of a full system update — just like they did with the WebView component. This means when they have a new patch you can grab the update from Google Play instead of waiting six months or more for the people who made your phone decide to send the patch out to you.
They have also changed the permission model for the media server, no longer giving it full system permissions. Running with low privileges makes it even harder for anyone to crack into the system if they do get into the media server. This is a major change, and will make hacking an Android phone (the bad kind of hacking) even harder than it used to be.
Key Attestation
Key Attestation will allow developers to make sure the keys they may be using in their apps are valid and stored in the phone’s hardware-backed keystore and not in software. When the attestation tool is given a generated alias for a key (the actual key should never be shared) it then generates a certificate chain that can be used to verify the key. Developers can verify both the key as well as the verified boot state to make sure everything is valid.
Phones that ship with Android N and use Google services will have a certificate that’s issued by Google as the root (or primary) authority while other phones that have been upgraded will need a certificate issued by the company who made them.
Not all phones that can run Android N have a trusted hardware environment to store encryption keys, and in those cases, software-level key attestation is used instead. The verified boot state can still be checked to make sure the system software hasn’t been tampered with. Yes, this means a developer can check for root. That’s a good thing provided no undue penalty is applied to users who have rooted their phone.
File-level encryption
Previously, Android used block-level encryption to make the whole partition or storage device encrypted all at once. This was a very secure encryption method, and keeping the actual tokens out of the storage and in hardware pretty much meant the only way in was with the right password or PIN. With Android N, things have been changed to file-level encryption.
Direct Boot is designed to work with file-level encryption in order to deliver both conveinence and security.
When your encrypted Android device boots up (or reboots in your pocket), the device is encrypted and locked down. Only certain applications can run, and this is called direct-boot mode. It means you can still get phone calls or have an alarm go off (or even see some message notifications), but to do anything more you’ll need to unlock and decrypt the device. Once unlocked, N uses file-level encryption to allow us (the user) and applications to have a bit more control over how data is locked up.
There are two advantages at play here — FDE (block-layer full-disk encryption) makes low-end devices run pretty poorly. It took Google a few tries on the Nexus 6 to get it right, and any device with lower than 50 MB/s read and write flash storage hardware still struggles. The second (and more important) advantage is the use of file-level encryption for Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD). AEAD means that data is harder for an unauthorized user or application to access. For people interested in AEAD, here is a really good read from U.C. Davis professor Phillip Rogaway (.pdf file).
This multi-tiered approach to encryption will allow companies who make very budget-priced Androids to offer encryption without performance degradation.
Direct Boot
File-level encryption will also work better with the Direct boot feature. Direct Boot brings a new mode that developers can leverage so that their app can run as soon as the system is powered instead of waiting for a user to unlock the phone or decrypt it.
This is done with in tandem with a new Device Storage area and the apps that use Direct Boot won’t have any interaction with the normal credential-protected file system and any individually encrypted files or directories.
Read more: Android 7.0: What is Direct Boot, and how will it improve your experience?
Scoped Directory Access
Scoped Directory Access is a way for an app to get permission to access a specific directory on the external storage (external storage is a partition outside of the system and includes both your phone’s storage and an SD card or other attached storage device) without asking for permission for the whole volume or using a pop-up window to ask for folder permissions.
Safely accessing stored data is important. An application that only needs access to the Music or Photos storage folder shouldn’t be seeing anything else, and writing code to use the existing Storage Access Framework to narrow things down has proven to be something many developers refuse to do. the new Scoped Directory Access API will make things easier for developers to build apps that are safe and protect your data.
These crucial security features are a big part of Android N. While some phones (especially those that don’t ship with Nougat) may not use them all, each one helps protect our data when used properly. Android has matured, and the attention to detail Google is showing with 7.0 may not be as flashy as new emojis or a new color scheme, but it is much more important.
Apple Watch supplies run low ahead of September event
You’ll find a lot of Watch variants marked as “Sold Out” if you browse Apple’s online store, 9to5mac has discovered. And, yes, the list includes ones with brightly colored bands Cupertino launched just a few months ago. While there could be a different explanation, it sure seems to support rumors that the company is revealing its next-gen Watch very soon, possibly during its September event. Apple usually slashes a product’s supplies when it’s about to launch a refresh, but it’s not always this conspicuous.
Rumors of a second-gen Watch have been going around for a while, along with reports of possible features, such as built-in GPS and cellular connection. If the new wearable is indeed making an appearance on September 7th, it could be launched alongside the new iPhone. 9to5mac has a pretty comprehensive list of Watch variants marked as Sold Out. But you can head over to Apple’s website and click around on your own to find that even those marked as “New” aren’t available anymore. You’ll also see that each category — Sports, Stainless Steel, Hermes and Edition — has several Sold Out listings. If you’ve been thinking of finally getting an Apple Watch, it’ll definitely be wise to wait until the event is over. That way, you can be sure that you don’t miss out on getting a second-gen wearable or a discount on the first.
Source: 9to5mac
The incredibly intricate badges of Def Con
Three days before the 24th annual Def Con hacker event, badge designer and builder 1o57 (aka Ryan Clarke) had a problem. “The lion’s share of the 20,000 badges showed up this year not programmed,” he told Engadget. He gathered up a team and they went into “hell mode” to hand-program blinking pieces of electronic riddled with cryptographic puzzles.
When the conference opened last week, every one of those robot skull-shaped pieces of electronics found their way onto a lanyard and around the neck of an attendee. For Clarke and other badge makers, it was the end of a long building process: time to see how their months of hard work would be received by the hacker masses. The excitement on the faces of the attendees as they start posting photos online of their newly acquired gadget is proof that this community will only continue to grow.
Because of DARPA’s AI hacking competition, Def Con’s theme this year was “Rise of the Machines.” That informed the Terminator-esque skull design, but the conference badge was more than just a bunch of blinking lights and a homage to a 1980s action film. In addition to the quickly discovered Konami/Contra cheat code that could be entered into the eight buttons above the eyes, each variation of the badge (Human, Press, security Goons, Artist, Vendors, CFP (the folks that pick the speakers), Contest and Speaker) had specific clues and cyphers printed on them.
Clues are also hidden around the conference. “I permeate all the aspects of the conference. I’m on the lanyards, in the program, on the wall signs.” Clarke said. “Anywhere creative I can think of to stick puzzles, hints, clues, games that kind of thing, I can get injected all throughout the conference.”
The prize for solving the conference badge is free attendance for life, but more importantly, the coveted Black Badge. This year’s included an articulating eye worm that popped out of a black skull that Clarke designed with Hollywood special effects artist Rick Galinson.
Clarke became the main designer/builder in 2012 after the success of his annual Mystery Challenge badge contest. When the conference founder Dark Tangent (aka Jeff Moss) recruited him, nearly every security conference was doing an electronic badge and Moss wanted something to set Def Con apart. Thus the Tick/Tock cycle was born.
One year there is an electronic badge (like this year’s); the next, there’s an analog badge. Last year the badge was a vinyl album. Previous years were playing cards on PCBs and titanium. There’s still a contest — it just involves less soldering and flashing lights. But even in non-electronic years, there’s no shortage of technology around attendees’ necks.
By the end of the conference, many attendees will have multiple badges. It’s like a sea of very nerdy Mr Ts. Nearly every subset of Def Con has its own badge: Queercon, Tiaracon, Telephreak, car hacking and others. Each one is a custom designed and typically built by a team of like-minded individuals who are happy to give up their free time to wow their peers.
This year’s Queercon cephalopod badge was especially beautiful, with flowing trace lines and expressive eyes. These octopi could be hooked together to mate and share patterns. Plus thanks to the installed radio, nearby badges would light up when two were connected together. It created a system that forced people to interact with one another.
But for every badge that makes it, there are untold others that stalled. Evan MacKay, a hardware designer of the Queercon badge, says that some would-be badge makers don’t realize how much work and costs goes into it. “Many badge teams get caught off guard and end up failing to make it happen, or come out with partly finished badges,” he said.
Even the ones that do make are forced to make compromises. 1057 wanted the Def Con badge to be four layers thick so the only way to find some clues would be to sand off the top layer or x-ray it. “There are people every year that actually do x-ray the board and it was going to be the year for those guys.” he said. The typhoon in Taiwan made it impossible to have ready in time.
The Queercon badge was supposed to have a thermal printer that output your stats. But it was damaged in transit and the team was unable to get it repaired in time. These setbacks are part of the process, though.
Clarke says that he starts thinking about aspects of the next year’s design while still working on the current one. One of the designers of the Telephreak badge, who goes by ch0l0man, said that the team started working on its analog badge during the drive home from Def Con 23. The Queercon team started working in October.
And even with all the long hours, last minute adjustments, fear of the TSA stopping you because of all the electronics in your bag and typhoons halting production, you can expect more teams to express their technical and artistic abilities. It’s now an ingrained Def Con tradition that brings all the teams together. “Everyone is very enthusiastic and open about sharing info about the design process and their associated woes,” MacKay said.
Plus Def Con is getting bigger. IT has already outgrown the Paris and Bally’s conference and is moving to Caesar’s Palace next year. “Defcon has had a growth spurt in the last couple of years so I expect to see more groups creating their own badges,” ch0l0man said.
But the hacker conference isn’t just getting bigger. Twenty-five years of Def Con is a major milestone. Clarke is already musing about what next year’s badge and contest will entail. But he’s not alone. Back in their homes researchers, hackers and artists are already sketching out their ideas. Maybe it’ll be for a large group of hackers, maybe it’ll be five or six handmade pieces of electronics for their crew. Either way, as the hacking event grows so does its badge culture.
Will you be upgrading to the Galaxy Note 7?
Will you be upgrading to the Galaxy Note 7?
Samsung’s latest flagship comes out on August 19, and the Galaxy Note 7 is shaping up to be one of the company’s best phones ever — and possibly one of the best Android phones ever.
But there are so many great devices out there right now, and practically all of them are less expensive. From the OnePlus 3, which costs less than half the Note 7, to the unique, modular Moto Z, there are a number of brilliant devices to consider.
What makes it more tricky is that we are on the verge of a new Nexus announcement, where Google is expected to unveil a duo of Android devices running Android 7.0 Nougat. With the Note 7 launching with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow — albeit a souped-up version replete with extensive stylus support — it’s hard to know which one to get.
So here’s the question: will you be upgrading to the Galaxy Note 7? And if so, from which device? Let’s get a discussion going!
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 hands-on preview
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- The Galaxy Note 7 uses USB-C
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Sony’s hi-res turntable and software make it easy to go digital
Vinyl has seen a resurgence lately, with sales growth for this format outpacing digital. To stay on top of that trend, Sony refreshed its record player lineup to include the not-so-memorably named PS-HX500. Though it cuts a familiar figure, resembling many minimalist-style turntables, it was built with a 21st century purpose: to make quality digital copies of your treasured discs. That’s important for long-time collectors, of course, but also newer vinyl enthusiasts, who will also want to convert their discs into a high-resolution digital format as painlessly as possible.
As record enthusiasts will tell you, the love of vinyl is about the physical product, artwork and warm sound. Even so, this gives you the option of enjoying your tracks beyond just your home-listening zone. Besides, a digital archive is useful as either a backup of your rare records or a gradual transition to virtual media. (It’s also the format used by most modern DJs.) At $600, the PS-HX500 costs more than competing players, but the addition of an onboard analog-to-digital converter (ADC) helps justify the premium. In addition, the bundled software, though limited and a tad annoying to use, makes the seemingly endless task of real-time recording easier to stomach.
The PS-HX500 is pretty much ready to go right out of the box. You just need to put the platter, belt drive and record mat in place, add the tonearm weight and dial in the antiskate. For output, you can connect to your computer via USB, your stereo system or speaker using RCA (as phono or line-in) or even both at the same time — which can help you preview if you’re recording. The turntable also comes with a premounted Audio-Technica cartridge with a diamond-tipped stylus, so unless you want to swap in your own, you’re good to go there as well.
The power and speed controls are bundled together in a single dial on the front left, as you might expect, and can accommodate speeds of 33 and 45 RPM (rotations per minute). If you’re into vintage 78s, then, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
As far as design, there’s not much going on here. The device looks like most other casual-listening, non-DJ category turntables out there. There’s a straight tonearm with a built-in headshell and the base is made from sturdy-feeling composite wood. There’s a set of stout little legs with rounded, seemingly gel-filled feet, providing some give to kill unwanted vibrations. As usual, there’s also a standard lever for raising the needle off the vinyl without sending it skittering across the platter with your big, clumsy hands.
Unless you’re looking for high-end audiophile gear, this turntable should meet your expectations, with much of the sound output beyond the needle depending on the system you hook it up to. Really, the most interesting feature is the ability to record records to digital files over USB using the built-in ADC. Obviously, you could pick up an external analog-to-digital converter, various turntables and software (like Audacity), but that’s more things to include in your setup. For those without the time or knowledge to put together the right elements, the simplicity of this package is appealing.
Sony Hi-Res Audio Recorder settings.
I have mixed feelings about Sony’s Hi-Res Audio Recorder software. On the one hand, it has a simple, uncluttered interface, but that means you won’t get much in the way of granular or customizable settings. If you dig in, all you’ll find are audio export options and temporary file storage. File types include Sony’s Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and PCM. The DSD format is supposed to offer one of the most accurate representations of an analog waveform, but it’s only compatible with a limited selection of apps and hardware. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is another, more common digital approximation of the original analog waveform and is exported as a WAV file. Because I didn’t have any DSD-compatible options on hand, I stuck with the common WAV format for outputting.
Once your turntable is connected to a computer via USB, you fire up the (downloadable) app and click the record button to get things started. You won’t get any audio monitoring until you do this unless you’re playing audio over RCA in addition to USB. It’s also worth mentioning that the Hi-Res Audio Recorder software is proprietary and will work only with Sony’s turntable.
After clicking “record,” you’ll see a slightly annoying pop-up (one of many, actually) that asks if you’re ready to start the recording. The best way to convert a whole record is to let each side play through, pause, flip the disc and continue recording — up to 100 minutes per file. It’s an easy enough task to set markers at the start and end of each track in the waveform, simplifying the exclusion of breaks and pauses from the final export. When you’re done with all that, hit the “recording complete” button, then write to files for the final step.
Lastly, you’ll need to check off which marked sections contain tracks as opposed to blank material to be skipped. All sections are numbered in order, but if you use the “update file names” button at the bottom, it will consecutively number only the items you’ve selected. For this reason, it’s beneficial to export complete albums in a single file, so the tracks will all be in order. You want to avoid having various duplicately numbered items from multiple exports just lumped in next to each other.
The software also lets you apply the album artist field to all the track artist spots to save some data entry. You can also swap out the numeral-only file names with the track titles. Unfortunately, those options are buried in a drop-down menu at the bottom of the window, making the whole process feel a bit convoluted.
The weirdness doesn’t stop there: When saving files, the dialogue window doesn’t show a “new folder” option, but it will save albums as a unique folder or add tracks to an existing match. There are also quite a few secondary pop-ups that hinder your process, stopping you each time, asking for another click to proceed. Keyboard shortcuts are also in short supply. When you’re ready to start a new recording, Ctrl+N won’t do it; you need to head to the drop-down menu at the top. Ctrl+Z doesn’t help you backtrack in various instances, either. Failure to click the apply button after selecting the update file names option will also default to writing tracks as numerals (oddly, without a pop-up to warn you). Argh!
Ultimately, though, the recordings sound great (assuming your vinyl is in good nick), but you’ll have to wait until the audio files are saved to enjoy them at your selected quality. And if you want to edit out pops and crackles, you’ll need additional software.
Can you get the same results with a variety of other components? Sure. Both the Rega RP1 and Music Hall MMF 2.2 turntables have a similar style. They’re both priced in the $400 to $450 range, but don’t include an analog-to-digital converter. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can get an ADC for as little as $30 or so. If you’re looking to DJ, but want to have a USB output for recording, the Pioneer PLX-500 may be the way to go. If you just want a deck to play tunes and easily make digital high-resolution copies, the Sony PS-HX500 is a tempting option, those few software quirks aside. I found that although I could do all the same stuff (and more) with a multipiece setup, the turntable’s compact design, convenient setup and quality recordings make it worth the few extra bucks.
Test-driving two of Alta Motors’ electric motorcycles
What’s insanely quick, all-electric and only has two wheels? The Alta Redshift MX. On the this Translogic, host Jonathon Buckley rediscovers the joys of electric motorcycles with the Alta Redshift MX and SM. Alta Motors is a company built on the premise that the future of electric motorcycles is speedy and bright. But it’s not about the future, it’s about the present, and Bucko puts these bikes to the test.
“Fundamentally, if it wasn’t a faster and more fun motorcycle… it wasn’t actually what we wanted,” Alta Motors CEO Marc Fenigstein said.
Bucko tested the Redshift MX and SM models and liked them both. It’s no surprise if you’re looking to buy one, you’re going to have to wait at least a few months, but you can reserve your spot in line with a deposit on the Alta Motors website.
- Click here to find more episodes of Translogic
- Click here to learn more about our host, Jonathon Buckley
Meizu EP51 review: Well-balanced, stylish wireless headphones
The quick take
Meizu’s EP51 earbuds are surprisingly well-built and well-balanced, and are priced just right. They may be difficult to find, but they’re worth tracking down.
The Good
- Design and build quality
- Balanced sound
- Fits nicely
- Impressive carrying case
The Bad
- Middling microphone quality
- Average battery life
In the Box
- Meizu EP51
- Carrying case
- MicroUSB charging cable
- Silicone tips
- Documentation
Meizu EP51 Technical Specifications
| Dimensions | 16 x 23 x 25mm |
| Weight | 15.3 grams |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz – 20KHz |
| Impedance | 16 Ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB±3dB |
| Maximum Power | 10mW |
| Battery | 60mAh | Standby time: 400 hours | Charging Time: 2 hours |
Design
The impressive design of the EP51 isn’t surprising. I quite like the design and build quality of Meizu smartphones, and the headset carries on the tradition. For its price point, it is nicely constructed, with aircraft-grade aluminum, and weighs a light 15 grams. It’s solid and looks slick, with subtle Meizu branding.
The wing tips on the silicone ear buds are designed to fit snugly and they don’t fall out even when walking quickly or running. The aluminum ends of the earbuds house magnets which keep the earbuds locked together when stored or when worn around the neck to avoid them sliding and dropping to the ground. They also sport a water resistant coating that protects the headset against sweat, but the company doesn’t recommend using them in the rain — and neither do I.
The sound is balanced, although you won’t get booming bass from these small drivers.
The red cable is pretty good, but I would have preferred a thicker braided one, but you’re not going to find that embellishment at this price point. The cable houses the independent volume control buttons, the built-in microphone, and the Micro-USB charging port. My only gripe is the rubber cover on the charging port doesn’t fit flush on the port, which got worse over the course of my testing. It might be an isolated issue, but it’s a shame to see on an otherwise nicely-built headset.
Overall, the Meizu EP51 is well-designed and stylish, and can easily compete with many of the more expensive earbuds in the market.
Performance
The sound quality on the Meizu EP51 is amazing considering its price, and it even provides decent noise isolation. The sound is balanced, although you won’t get booming bass from these small drivers. Even at maximum volume, there is no crackling or distortion of sound, and at 16 Ohms they’re not difficult to power from even the most paltry of phone amplifiers.
The silicone ear buds are designed to fit snugly and don’t fall out even when walking quickly or running.
The call quality is mediocre — the company saved some money by including a low-quality microphone — although that’s the case with most budget and mid-range headphones. The wireless reception is great, matching the usual Bluetooth 4.0 range of 10 meters before the signal starts to fade out.
Battery Life
At 60 mAh, EP51 packs in a tiny battery that’s a tad underwhelming. Meizu claims six hours of music time, and while the battery life is dependent on volume, I was able to get 6 hours easily on a regular basis. It’s good, but I would have preferred a little more. According to Meizu, it takes 2 hours to fully charge the EP51 from a dead state, but often, it took a little less than that.
The Bottom Line
For its price (which ranges from $28 to $42 at the time of writing, depending on the retailer), the Meizu EP51 is a very good pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds, offering great value for the price. It sounds really good, and the buds fit well, but the highlight is that it looks very modern. If you’re looking for a mid-range wireless headset, the Meizu EP51 is a great option that I’d highly recommend. It’s not perfect, but it packs a punch and is more premium than what you pay for it.
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