Bluetooth - SlashGear

Virginia first in the US to use Apple-Google exposure notification tech

Ewdison Then | Aug 5, 2020

There are many facets to fighting the COVID-19 coronavirus but when it comes to stemming its infection, the most basic strategy is also the most difficult. Contact tracing relies mostly on people remembering who they've been in contact with or where they've been, an arduous and inaccurate task at best. That is why many are turning to technology to help automate some parts of that process and the State of Virginia is the first in the US to release an app that utilizes the exposure notification technology co-developed by Apple and Google just a few months back.

OnePlus Buds hands-on: AirPods power for half the price?

Chris Burns | Jul 21, 2020

Today we're taking a peek at the OnePlus Buds wireless earbuds with touch controls in two colors. One is the White, one of two versions that'll be available for purchase in the United States. The other is the Nord Blue, a version that'll only be available in India and parts of the EU.

OnePlus Buds release date and price details revealed

Chris Burns | Jul 21, 2020

Today OnePlus revealed the OnePlus Buds wireless earbuds right alongside the first OnePlus Nord smartphone. OnePlus Buds are the first "true wireless headset" from OnePlus, ready to roll in three colors right out the gate. OnePlus Buds first release include two earbuds, a charging case (aka a charging box), and a small USB-C cord for charging said box.

Marshall Emberton is a new waterproof speaker with a retro look

Chris Burns | Jul 1, 2020

So you like the look of classic Marshall guitar amplifiers, and you wish you had one that you could use at the beach. Marshall just revealed a speaker called the Marshall Emberton. This device connects wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet to deliver "360-degree sound" in a speaker that's IPX7 water resistant.

You can use Nearby Sharing (beta) on Android now

Chris Burns | Jun 30, 2020

If you're using the right phone with the right software update, you can use Nearby Sharing right this minute. This is a software feature that makes sharing files from device to device super simple and relatively fast. It's like what Bluetooth connectivity was originally meant to be... but better.

Apple Find My network to help Tile and others track lost items

JC Torres | Jun 23, 2020

Apple has been rumored to be working on its own Bluetooth-powered item tracker but AirTag was still a no-show at WWDC. Apple did announce something related that could also be setting the stage for that product's launch later this year. Ironically, it also allows Bluetooth trackers like Tile to be on equal footing by opening its Find My network to these third-party devices, allowing users to harness the vast number of Apple devices to locate their lost keys or bags.

Google AirDrop rival could beat Apple in one big way

Chris Burns | Jun 22, 2020

Google's "Nearby Share" (once called "Fast Share") file-sharing system for Android, Chrome, and other systems may soon be far more useful than alternative means of file transfer. The system is based in Android, and indeed seems rather similar to Apple's AirDrop for iOS and MacOS. Other companies like OnePlus, OPPO, RealMe, Meizu, etc are part of a file transfer alliance to create a seamless system - one might wonder why a single system hasn't yet been agreed upon.

Major Samsung Galaxy S9 update One UI 2.1 released after Note 9

Chris Burns | Jun 16, 2020

Today the folks at Samsung responsible for releasing major updates to top-tier smartphones pushed One UI 2.1 to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Samsung Galaxy S9+. This update was first released in Germany and in Korea, and follows a Galaxy Note 9 update with One UI 2.1 in Germany (first) just a week ago. This update includes a June 2020 security patch as well as a wide variety of tweaks and upgrades for the Galaxy smartphone family.

White Sonos Move arrives along with an extra hour of battery

Chris Davies | Jun 16, 2020

Sonos has launched a new finish for its portable speaker, with the Sonos Move Lunar White switching things up later this month. Joining the existing Shadow Black Move that launched last year, the new Move also benefits from a new software update from Sonos, which the company says will add an extra hour of playback time when it's being used wirelessly.

Wearable contact tracing proposed as app fails to gain traction in Singapore

JC Torres | Jun 8, 2020

Just as it is difficult to accurately tally the number of COVID-19 cases in a country, it's even more difficult to trace the people a confirmed case might have had in the past 24 hours, let alone the past week or so. Human memory is not so reliable in such cases, which is why many governments and health agencies are turning to technology for help. Following the relatively low rate of adaption of its TraceTogether mobile app, Singapore is looking to what could be a simpler solution: a contact tracing wearable device.

Sony WH-1000 XM4 wireless headphones leak with smarter sound cancellation

Chris Burns | Jun 4, 2020

This week the folks at Walmart responsible for listing products at a specific time and date are... probably in trouble. A new model Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones were revealed early by a listing on the Walmart store website, well ahead of official release. This is before Sony acknowledges that they exist, much less that they'll be released soon.

Braven BRV-XXL/2 Review: Your beefy bass buddy

Chris Davies | May 17, 2020

Bluetooth speakers so vast they demand their own carry handle may trade portability for punch, but when social distancing says you can't go further than the garden you might as well drag some music out there with you. Braven's BRV-XXL/2 is one such example of high-volume company for the COVID-19 pandemic, and it'll even be your drinking buddy too.