A new pair of truly wireless earbuds will hopefully hit the market soon, and they're called TicPods Free. The somewhat unfortunate name aside, TicPods are an attractive alternative to AirPods for Android owners, promising interactive functionality that includes taps for answering calls. The model boast both noise isolation and noise-cancelling tech, in-ear detection, and more.
Sonos has teamed with Danish design brand HAY to launch limited edition versions of the Sonos One speakers. The new lineup is called the HAY Sonos One Limited Edition Collection, and it features green, red, and yellow variants of the model. The new colors appear to be a temporary addition to Sonos' catalog, but the company teases that other products may be launched in collaboration with HAY in the future.
Sennheiser is offering professionals a new set of headphones and headsets that promise a mix of high-end audio and comfort that persists over hours of use. The series, which doesn't launch until August, will include the HMD 300 Pro and single-sided HMD 301 Pro headsets, as well as the HD 300 Pro and HD 300 PROtect monitoring headphones. All models boast enhanced comfort.
Urbanears is back with a new compact wireless speaker, Lotsen. The model's design mirrors the maker's Stammen and Baggen models, though Lotsen has a smaller size (and price tag) for more modest needs. As with both of those models, Lotsen features physical control dials and an angular, square shape, and it can be used as part of a multi-room audio setup.
IKEA has launched its first Bluetooth speaker designed for the home, its new Eneby range. The IKEA Eneby is offered in two different sizes, and features a design that is intended to pair well with existing ranges from the company. As with many Bluetooth speakers, Eneby is portable and can be used in a variety of situations, including on-the-go or mounted on stands/wall brackets.
Some people still swear by dead tree paper books despite the digital age. Others can’t live without the convenience of carrying a whole library in a single slab of plastic. Still, others prefer not to read words at all but still enjoy the “reading” experience with audiobooks. Earlier this year, Google added that second method of digital reading to its Google Play Books app and service. But it is only two months later that Google Play Books audiobooks actually became worth using at all.
Polk Audio will soon start taking preorders for Command Bar, its home theater sound bar with Alexa built-in. The sound bar is slim and relatively minimalist in design, offering HDMI 2.0b for use with most HDTVs and 4K TVs. Among other things, the sound bar features far-field microphones for listening to the user's voice. According to Polk, its Command Bar was the first sound bar with Alexa support to be announced.
Marshall has launched a new pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Mid ANC. Unlike its previous models, the Mid ANC sports active noise cancelation, a first for the company. Despite that feature, the Mid ANC still manages to offer excellent battery life alongside the promise of "superior wireless audio." As with the company's other headphones and audio products, the Mid ANC sports the classic design Marshall is known for.
Remember earlier this month when Audible launched on Sonos, only it turned out it didn't and it was all a cruel mistake? That changed today with the actual, official, guaranteed-real-this-time launch of Audible support for Sonos speakers, making it easy for users of both products to listen to their audiobooks through their sound system.
A little under a year ago, Master & Dynamic announced a new team up with Leica. This partnership saw Master & Dynamic create a new series of headphones under the brand 0.95, which was an call out to the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens, with two pairs of headphones and a pair of earbuds initially leading the way with this new line. Fast forward to today and Master & Dynamic is ready to reveal the next products inspired by Leica's lens.
This week the folks at Jabra revealed the Jabra Elite 65e wireless earbuds. These earbuds are connected to one-another with a wire that runs along the back of the neck of the wearer. With this new pair of earbuds, users are able to take advantage of ANC, Active Noise Cancellation, "providing two levels of noise cancellation" so that you'll never have to hear the gym play Steve Winwood again.
This week Sony revealed an accessory that SHOULD come with every new smartphone by default. The device is called USB Type-C 2-in-1 Cable EC270, and it's rather simple. This dongle has a USB-C jack on one side, and both a headphone jack and a USB-C port on the other. Can't it be when it was all so simple?