Audeze’s iSine buds will upgrade your Oculus Rift audio
When I first saw Audeze’s new planar magnetic in-ear headphones my eye was drawn to the slightly goofy design. But, any self respecting audio lover will probably overlook that if the sound is right. And, on first listen, it looks promising. Audeze has been making planar magnetic headphones for a while, but this is the first time it’s squeezed the technology into an in-ear headset (it claims, it’s the first time by anyone, ever). Why should you care about that? Well, depending who you ask, some will claim that planar drivers are a good mid-ground between regular dynamic drivers, and pricey electrostatic ones. An unexpected bonus, is that Audeze worked with Oculus so they play nice with Rift, if you’re looking for a dedicated set for your VR headset.
But first, back to that the hardware itself. By definition, planar magnetic headphones need more space to accommodate the 30mm flat driver. That’s why the buds are much bigger than most in-ears. That said, the iSine may be tall, but it’s relatively thin on the profile, like a small audio pancake. The part that goes in your ear is a regular bud, and all in, the headphone is light and comfortable enough to wear. If anything, the over-ear hooks are where any wearing issue comes in. Both myself, and one of the staff members at the IFA booth had to fiddle with them for a few seconds to get them set right. But once you’re done, it’s a comfortable ride.
The audio experience was promising. The usual caveats of testing on a show floor apply, but from the few minutes I had with the iSine, I listened to some Miles Davis, and the plucked guitars of Daylight by Alison Krauss (the company’s demo music, not my choice). The picked strings in that bluegrass song were particularly crisp, clear and had an nice airy sound I’ve not really heard with most dynamic driver in-ears. In general, bass tones were subdued, but I didn’t get chance to pump any throbbing dance music through them, so we’ll wait and see.
Audeze is shipping two versions of the iSine, the difference is in the impedance which will be down to personal preference. There’s also the option to choose between a regular 3.5mm connector and one with a lightning adapter — something which will become much more common now it’s almost certain that Apple is axing the headphone jack on the iPhone. Perhaps more interesting is that Audeze also had a demo pair that connect directly to the Oculus Rift. The company had to design a proprietary connector, working with Oculus’ own bespoke technology, but you will be able to get an adapter to work with whichever set you buy, so it’s a nice bit of bonus functionality if you’re a Rift owner.
If you’re curious about the iSine, you’ll have to wait a month or so until it starts to ship, but for $399 you can pre-order a pair right now if you’re already sold on the idea.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Sony’s run out of ideas for its smartphones
If the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting different results, then someone needs to check in on Sony. Every six months, the company announces a handset in the hope of making some tiny level of impact on the mobile industry. And every six months, those same devices are rated as being generally fine, but not as compelling or cheap as alternatives from rival companies. You’d think that, after a couple of years of this crushingly predictable cycle, someone would have suggested a change. Well, you’d have hoped so, because the Xperia XZ just feels like more of the same.
The new Xperia XZ isn’t a bad phone, by any means, but it’s little more than a glorified polish job on the Xperia X Performance. That was Sony’s early-2016 flagship and when we reviewed it, our Chris Velazco called it “$700 worth of disappointment.” But this isn’t just a one-off, it’s the latest in a series of conservative, underwhelming handsets that have failed to click with buyers across the world. Technology purchases like smartphones are meant to excite you — especially if you’re spending the better part of a grand on one — and Sony simply can’t do that.
In order to illustrate Sony’s malaise, it’s worth looking at the list of flagship-level handsets that it’s launched since the start of 2013. This list of devices covers three eras of Sony, immediately before and during Kaz Hirai’s much vaunted “One Sony” turnaround strategy, as well as his subsequent U-turn when it came to mobile. At the start of 2015, Hirai said that the mobile division would now simply produce a handful of devices each year in the hope of keeping skilled employees and facilities around just in case future technologies needed them.
- Xperia Z – (January 13)
- Xperia ZR – (January 13)
- Xperia ZL – (January 13)
- Xperia Z1 – (September 13)
- Xperia Z1s – (September 13)
- Xperia Z1 compact – (January 14)
- Xperia Z2 – (February 14)
- Xperia Z3 – (September 14)
- Xperia Z3 compact – (September 14)
- Xperia Z3+ – (April 15)
- Xperia Z5 – (September 15)
- Xpera Z5 compact – (September 15)
- Xperia Z5 premium – (September 15)
- Xperia X – (February 16)
- Xperia XA – (February 16)
- Xperia X performance – (February 16)
Sony’s defenders would point to Samsung and say that both companies have a similar Spring-to-Fall release cycle. But Samsung caters to two distinct user groups with two very different products in the form of the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note handsets. There’s also the fact that Samsung is happy burning billions on advertising to support its devices, in stark contrast to Sony’s relatively empty pockets.
If Sony can’t compete with Samsung’s financial muscle, then it should probably attempt to innovate its way out of trouble. Except that’s going to be a problem too, since — right now — there are no new technological worlds to conquer in smartphones. Last year, Sony added 4K displays to its flagship Z5 Premium with predictably beautiful, but otherwise pointless, results. The fact that the Xperia XZ ships with a 1080p screen shows that wiser heads prevailed this year.
That doesn’t leave Sony with many places to go, and there’s not much it can do in hardware, despite its legendary expertise. After all, LG couldn’t make a big impact with the “friends” ecosystem that surrounded the G5 and Motorola doesn’t appear to have set the world on fire with its own version. So that just leaves software, an area where Sony notoriously lags behind its Android rivals.
Then there’s the fact that the smartphone world is slowly beginning to crunch and, much like the tablet space, it won’t be long before several manufacturers pull out of the market. We’ve reported on this problem a few times, but everyone who can afford a smartphone already has one, and fewer people feel the need to replace them once every two years. In that vacuum, it’s price, rather than quality, that has become a big driver for people’s purchases — which is why low-or-no-margin companies like Huawei and OnePlus have become so huge. Oh, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Samsung is targeting Japan for its next big growth opportunity: parking its tanks directly on Sony’s lawn.
Given that Sony has very few places that it can turn, I asked my colleagues what they would do in its place. The most repeated answer was “Vita Phone,” a device that would combine the company’s (under-loved) gaming handheld with a smartphone. Of course, Sony’s been there already with the Xperia Play and other companies have tried to blend gaming with smartphones — wave hello, Nokia’s N-Gage, with no success. Then again, Sony is now at the point where it’s got so little to lose that maybe a little bit of left-field alchemy is exactly what it needs.
Google’s Project Ara modular phone is reportedly suspended
Google’s big plans for Project Ara might never pan out. According to Reuters, the big G has decided to shelve its modular phone initiative. Earlier this year, the company said it will be releasing a developer phone with interchangeable components in the fourth quarter of 2016 ahead of a consumer version scheduled for 2017. Alas, that might no longer happen.
Mountain View is reportedly suspending Ara “as part of a broader push to streamline the company’s hardware efforts.” It’ll be tough releasing a consumer version of a phone with interchangeable components, after all, even though the latest prototype isn’t as customizable as Motorola originally envisioned. (To note, Google chose to keep Project Ara when it sold Motorola to Lenovo.) The company will have to manufacture not just the units themselves, but also the modular speakers and cameras that people can swap out.
Those same sources said Google’s modular phone dream might not be completely dead, though. The company could still license out Project Ara’s technology to other phonemakers, which could eventually and finally release a version we can buy.
Source: Reuters
Google rumors point to ‘Pixel’ phones, 4K Chromecast
The answer to the question of what Google will call its next Nexus phones may turn out to be not Nexus at all. Android Central first reported a name change last week, while tonight Android Police notes sources saying there will be two devices, one 5-inch phone called the Pixel and a 5.5-inch phone called the Pixel XL. More importantly, it also has a date (seconding a previous report by Droid-Life) for their debut: October 4th.
The rest of the rumor concerns other hardware, including an upgraded Chromecast ready for 4K video called the Chromecast Plus or Ultra, and a new Daydream VR headset that Google announced during I/O 2016. Finally, it’s also expecting the company to fully detail its Google Home efforts, although other details on prices or release dates are still unknown. Google has not yet commented on these reports or confirmed a date, but we’ll keep our calendars open all the same.
Source: Android Police
Verizon finally adds free unlimited slow data to all its plans
When Verizon first unveiled its revamped prices in July, several new features seemed really lame. The most egregious was the company’s “Safety Mode,” which was included only on its XL and XXL plans for free. Customers on other packages had to opt in and pay an extra $5 a month for the service, which gave you unlimited data at slower-than-LTE speeds after you exceeded your limit. But it looks like Verizon has wised up. A spokesperson for the carrier confirmed to us that, starting Sept 6, Safety Mode will be included for free on all sizes of the new Verizon Plan.
The company is also introducing a new limited-time 12GB plan for $80, which sits between its existing 8GB and 16GB tiers that cost $70 and $90 respectively. In comparison, AT&T offers 10GB for $90 a month, and both providers impose an additional access charge of $20 per month. T-Mobile now only offers unlimited data for $70, while Sprint charges $60 a month for 12GB (with a $20-$45 access fee).
In response to our article in July questioning the Safety Mode fee for plans under XL, Verizon’s director of communications Kelly Crummey told us that those on bigger data plans got the feature for free because they need it more than those on smaller allowances. “Customers on our larger plans (who typically have multiple lines and share data) exceed their data allowances more than people on smaller plans,” she wrote.
Big Red has clearly changed tack since then. It’s not a completely new move in the industry. T-Mobile, Sprint and low-cost carriers such as Cricket Wireless also provide an always-available data connection at a slower 128kbps speed.
That’s not ideal for impatient users, but it at least means you won’t be completely disconnected from the Internet when you run over your allowance. Safety Mode will still require an opt-in, though, so those who just signed up for the new Verizon plan should check the My Verizon app to make sure it’s activated if they wish to avoid overages.
Via: The Verge
Samsung reportedly gearing up to announce a Galaxy Note 7 recall
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 debuted to almost surprising critical acclaim earlier this month, but since launch we’ve seen occasional reports of devices exploding while being charged. The company said yesterday that it delayed Note 7 shipments while it looked into the situation, but a report from Korea’s Yonhap News Agency suggests Samsung knows what’s going on and is prepared to announce a widespread recall.
Yonhap spoke to an anonymous Samsung official, who claimed the cause of the explosions stemmed from the Galaxy Note 7’s battery. While the exact cause of these battery explosions has yet to be disclosed, Yonhap’s source went on to say “less than 0.1 percent” of devices sold are affected. When asked for comment, a Samsung spokesperson provided the following statement:
“In response to questions on Galaxy Note7, we are conducting a thorough inspection. We will share the findings as soon as possible. Samsung is fully committed to providing the highest quality products to our consumers.”
If the report holds true, the company doesn’t plan to announce the results of its investigation until either this weekend or early next week. That delay is said to be a result of discussions Samsung is having with its global carrier partners — Verizon is said to be one such company Samsung is discussing the matter with, which suggests that the upcoming recall could be a global one. The cynics in us also can’t help but note that if Samsung waits to announce the results of its investigation until next week, it might be able to dodge a certain degree of press scrutiny at the IFA tradeshow currently running in Berlin.
To date, the Note 7 has been launched in ten countries, and Samsung has said demand has exceeded its own expectations. The sales situation has grown so strained, in fact, that Samsung told CNBC it had to adjust the device’s launch in some markets. That people want Galaxy Note 7s isn’t a surprise; reviewers (myself included) seemed to love the device. More importantly, after the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge helped the company rebound from a rough financial start to 2016, Samsung looked to the Note 7 as one of its financial pillars for the latter half of this year. If a recall — global or otherwise — is in the works, Samsung’s near future won’t be as rosy as it hoped.
Source: Yonhap
Apple is hunting down unused, dysfunctional apps
Apple has vowed to remove from the App Store any programs that no longer work, don’t follow current review guidelines or are simply outdated. Starting September 7th, Apple will review and remove apps that crash on launch, and the company will contact developers whose apps don’t meet the new guidelines. Developers then have 30 days to submit an update; otherwise, their programs are gone for good.
Even if they’re removed, apps will continue to work for anyone who has already downloaded them (and that includes in-app purchases). Plus, new developers won’t be able to steal the names of deleted apps — those remain tied to the original developer’s account.
Apple also plans to fight spammy and long names in the App Store, TechCrunch reports. After September 7th, all app and update names will have a maximum length of 50 characters. This gets rid of apps that attempt to capture extra search relevance with names that read like a list of Tumblr tags.
These moves are aimed at cleaning up search results in the App Store, which hosts more than 2 million games, tools and time-wasters. September 7th also happens to be the day of Apple’s big iPhone event, where we expect to see the so-called iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Source: Apple, TechCrunch
Xiaomi announces its China-only answer for Android Pay
Xiaomi and China UnionPay have joined together to launch Mi Pay in China, a brand new way to pay via Xiaomi smartphones.
Mi Pay allows users to pay for purchases via smartphone with debit and credit cards from 20 popular banks, folded into the Mi Wallet app. These include Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank among others.
Mi Pay will also support public transportation cards. It isn’t the first to do this, however, as Huawei retains the title of the first smartphone company in the world to support transactions with both bank cards and public transportation cards with its Huawei Pay service. In fact, Huawei Pay already supported Bank Of China from the beginning and now it supports China UnionPay, thus boosting its list of supported banks to 25.
Those with Xiaomi phones can add their cards to their devices in four steps by opening the Mi Wallet app, using the option to add a bank card, adding the card number and other bank details, and verify it all via SMS. The card is then entered in the Mi Wallet for safekeeping and touchless payments in the future. You can add up to eight cards on one device.
Currently, Xiaomi’s Mi 5 is the only device available that supports the payment system, whereas Huawei’s Huawei Pay is supported across several additional devices like the Mate S, Honor V8 (the tri-network version) and Honor 8. Huawei Pay’s transportation card support was actually introduced with the Honor V8 initially, giving it a leg up on Mi Pay in terms of installation length.
It should be noted as well in terms of paying for public transportation that both Apple Pay and Samsung Pay can also be used for paying for public transportation in some cities, such as Guangzhou.
Mi Pay should be a big get for those looking to switch over to mobile payments in China, especially with all the institutions it supports.
Source: Xiaomi
Play ‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’ on Wii U today
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is available to purchase and download on the Wii U via Virtual Console today. This is the original version of Skyward Sword with no remastering or updates, Nintendo announced during its 3DS-focused livestream this morning.
The Zelda franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and Nintendo is bringing the presents: Special Zelda Amiibo hit stores shelves this winter and a new art book about the series from Dark Horse Comics is available for pre-order now. The Amiibo function the same as the Super Smash Bros. Link and Zelda figurines, and they’ll unlock special functions in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which lands on Wii U and Nintendo’s new console, the NX, next year.
During today’s livestream, Nintendo revealed a handful of games heading to the 3DS, including Wii U titles Yoshi’s Woolly World and Super Mario Maker, plus new games like a 3DS-only Pikmin adventure. Nintendo is quietly phasing out the Wii U before it launches the NX, while the 3DS is still going strong. The company recently revealed the New Galaxy Style 3DS XL, a version of the handheld that’s covered in deep purple swirls and cosmic dust.
ICYMI, the New Nintendo #3DS XL now comes in a slick New Galaxy Style design! pic.twitter.com/1bRnxPC5bn
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 1, 2016
TP-Link’s latest Neffos smartphones are its most ambitious yet
Though TP-Link is a pretty well-known maker of networking equipment in other parts of the world, the brand hasn’t made much of a dent in the US. Recently, however, it’s been working on a rebranding in an effort to do so. It’s pivoting more toward the smart home market and has also released a couple of smartphones earlier this year under the Neffos name. At IFA today, the company is continuing that consumer trend with the announcement of the Neffos X Series of smartphones, which consists of the Neffos X1 and the Neffos X1 Max.
Both phones are made out of a unibody metal exterior, featuring a dual curved back that tapers towards the sides. The X1 Max has a stunningly slim edge of 2.75 mm while the X1 comes in pretty close at 2.95mm. At their thickest, the X1 Max is 7.75 mm while the X1 is 7.95mm. Both are clad in 2.5D scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. The X1 has a 5-inch IPS HD display while the X1 Max has a 5.5-inch IPS Full HD display. Both phones boast edge-to-edge displays, with a 76% screen-to-body ratio. On one side are the power and volume buttons while the other features a slide-to-mute key.
Now on to the features. Both the X1 and the X1 Max have a 13-megapixel camera sensor that boasts backside illumination, fast phase-detection autofocus and f/2.0 aperture. There’s also a dual-tone flash LED on the back. TP-Link says that it has something called real-time night shooting, which promises great performance in low light. It also has HDR and time lapse photography. Both phones have a front 5-megapixel shooter complete with something called real-time beautify mode, so capturing the perfect selfie is that much easier. Oh, and also on the rear of the phone is a fingerprint sensor, located right underneath the camera lens and flash.
As for the internals, both carry octacore MediaTek Helio P10 chipsets, which claim blazing fast speeds. The X1 comes in both 16GB and 32GB models while the X1 Max comes in 32GB and 64GB varieties. Both have dual SIM slots, dual-band WiFi and multiple LTE band support. What’s even more impressive is that the X1 has a 2,250 mAh battery while the X1 Max has a 3,000 mAh battery. TP-Link says this gives the X1 300 hours of standby and 10 hours of talk time while the X1 Max has a rated standby time of 400 hours and 13 hours of talk time. Both phones ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
I played around with the X1 and the X1 Max a little at TP-Link’s event in Berlin and came away impressed by how solid the build quality was on both phones. The chamfered edges look gorgeous and that curved metal back makes it feel really nice and smooth in the hand. The display is stunning too, with colors that pop and blacks that look true and deep. An assistant showed me that he was able to unlock the phone pretty quickly using the sensor, which matches TP-Link’s claim of 0.2 second. There’s also a gesture awakening mode, which is useful when you’re out in the snow and rather not take your gloves off to touch the phone.
The Neffos X Series definitely falls in line with TP-Link’s new vision in trying to be much more of a global consumer brand, which is a departure from its humdrum router roots. “We were a low profile brand for nearly two decades,” said Thomas Bai, Neffos’ brand director. “We were a strong brand but we are quiet. The journey hasn’t been easy.” He adds, “Neffos brings us even closer to our consumers.”
Jeffrey Chao, TP Link’s CEO, said Neffos is part of the company’s new goal. “Our mission is connecting everything,” he said.
The X1 will retail for 199 euros while the X1 Max is priced at 249 euros. It comes in either a black front and a silver rear or a white front and a champagne gold back. Both phones are slated to arrive in store shelves in the fourth quarter of this year.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
AIVAnet 