Ever since the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple has been working hard to make wireless audio the default for smartphones. That future may become one step closer with the iPhone 11, if recent rumors are to be believed. According to a rumor fr…
Category archives: Headphones and Speakers
Will.i.am’s ‘i.am+’ Abandons Its Purchase of Earin Bluetooth Earbuds
Audio startup Earin has announced that Will.i.am’s company i.am+ will not be acquiring the company. The world first learned about the acquisition at CES 2018, when the startup announced the deal for an undisclosed amount. So why did the deal fall thro…
Beats Introduces a $250 AirPods Alternative — ‘Powerbeats Pro’
Beats Powerbeats Pro wireless earphones will be available to pre-order on Apple.com starting on May 3rd. The Powerbeats Pro will be available for purchase in stores one week later on May 10th. The new Beats earphones are powered by the same Apple H1 c…
Apple Is Already Working on Brand-New AirPods — With Noise-Cancellation a Distinct Possibility
Rumors from multiple analysts suggest that Apple will launch two new AirPods models as early as Q4 2019. Multiple reports, including an opinion by TF Industries’ influential Ming-Chi Kuo, are pointing to aggressive AirPods updates ahead. The updates c…
‘Bone Conduction’ Headphones Don’t Go Over Your Ears — But How Do They Transmit Sound?
‘Bone conduction’ headphones are one of the strangest things you’ll try. But they amazingly transmit audio while keeping your ear canal open to other noises. What? You’re not subscribed to the Digital Music News Podcast? We’re available on iTunes, S…
Looks Like Microsoft Is Releasing an AirPods Competitor — ‘Surface Buds’
Noted Microsoft leaker Paul Thurrott believes that the company is working on a competitor to Apple’s AirPods. But is there room in the market for more competition? According to Paul Thurrott, the rumored Surface earbuds will feature Cortana integration…
Amazon Unleashes Its Echo Link Amp for Hi-Fi Streaming Audio — Here’s a First Look
The Amazon Echo Link Amp is finally available for sale after it was announced in September last year. The $299 device brings internet-connected streaming to traditional speakers. The device features a 2-channel amplifier with up to 60W per channel. Th…
Ikea and Sonos Release Their ‘Symfonisk’ Line of Budget Wifi-Connected Speakers — Including a ‘Hidden’ Lamp Speaker
Ikea and Sonos have joined forces to create a lower-cost, Swedish-style speaker entry. Teasing early adopters with design images for months, the partners have released The Symfonisk — budget-friendly, ergonomic Wifi speakers sets coming in two models; …
Amazon Prepares to Launch AirPod Competitor in Second Half of 2019
With the launch of its own AirPods, will Amazon successfully undercut Apple’s costly wireless headphones? Amazon has a new plan to compete with Apple. According to a new report, the e-commerce giant has prepared to unveil its own Alexa-powered wireless…
YouTube Music Continues Its Google Home Expansion Into 10 More Countries
Google is well-known for introducing multiple versions of services and apps. YouTube Music is replacing Google Play Music, but it lacked integration with Google Home. YouTube Music also wasn’t available on Android Auto when the service launched, takin…