Digitization trends

In a move that has been anticipated for years, Apple finally — if somewhat awkwardly — confirmed that it will no longer make the iPod Touch , the last remaining iPod version. The reasons, according to Apple are clear: Given our ability to access music through all of our other digital devices (phones, laptops, tablets, and smart speakers), we’ve all moved beyond needing a dedicated device for listening to music on-the-go, especially one that can’t connect to streaming services like Apple Music through mobile data. Contents A&K Kann Max, $1,299, available in June 2022 A&K HC2 USB-C Dual DAC Cable, $249, available in June 2022 AK Pathfinder IEMs, $1,899, available in July 2022 That may be true, but Apple’s devices have in any case never fully satisfied audiophiles — a group of music lovers who expect convenience to go hand-in-hand with quality, not one at the expense of the other. Astell&Kern’s (A&K) lineup of hi-res digital audio players … [Read more...] about Miss the iPod? Astell&Kern has the cure — for a price | Digital Trends

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) just updated its flagship noise-canceling headphones — be sure to read our Px7 S2 review . But even before the first reviews could be published, the British audio brand hit us with a bombshell: The Px7 S2 will have a very short reign as the company’s best cans. Later this year, we will be introduced to the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, a set of wireless headphones that B&W has already indicated will be its new flagship product. But that’s about all the company would say, at least for now. Well, that, and the price. The Px8 will sell for $549 — an increase of more than one-third over the price of the Px7 S2. And that puts the Px8 in a very small category of wireless headphones that cost more than $500. In fact, we can only think of three models in that bracket (that don’t lean on exotic materials like gold and diamonds for their price): Apple’s $549 AirPods Max , Beyerdynamic’s $600 Amiron , and the just-released $599 Master & Dynamic … [Read more...] about Bowers & Wilkins Px8 price revealed — but that’s it so far | Digital Trends

Fake reviews for items on sites like Amazon are a nuisance at best and downright dangerous at worst. Despite efforts to tackle the issue, it’s still a big problem for online shopping sites, so it comes as a surprise to learn that this week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) achieved only its first settlement in proceedings that challenged a merchant’s use of fake, paid-for reviews. The FTC targeted Cure Encapsulations, Inc. in a case that accused it of paying a third-party website to write and post fake Amazon reviews for its garcinia cambogia weight-loss supplement, and of making unsubstantiated claims for the product. According to the FTC, the company advertised and sold “Quality Encapsulations Garcinia Cambogia Extract with HCA” capsules on Amazon.com as an appetite-suppressing, fat-blocking, weight-loss pill. Supplements using garcinia cambogia have been at the center of much debate over the years, with many experts questioning the safety and effectiveness of the fruit … [Read more...] about Fake, Paid-for Amazon Reviews Lead to Huge Fine for Merchant | Digital Trends

In 2021, rumors began to emerge that Sonos had started working on its own voice assistant technology in a bid to supplement (or even rival) the existing integration the company’s smart speakers have with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Now, a new report from The Verge, that cites unnamed people familiar with the company’s plans, suggests that Sonos is very close to launching such a service and we could see it as soon as June 1, 2022 in the U.S., with other countries to follow. Digital Trends reached out to Sonos representatives for comment on the reported launch of Sonos Voice but we were told only that, “We don’t comment on rumor or speculation.” This new report comes on the heels of a Sonos leak for a new speaker that will reportedly be called the Sonos Ray — a soundbar-style speaker that will be smaller and less expensive than the Sonos Beam. It’s been suggested that the Ray could be used in pairs as surround sound speakers with either a Beam for 5.1 sound, or a … [Read more...] about Report: Sonos Voice could launch as early as June 2022 | Digital Trends

The leaks, hints, and other implications were all true. Sonos today unleashed a new soundbar , its own voice control service, and new colors for an existing speaker. Contents Sonos Ray Sonos Voice Control Sonos Roam colors Sonos Ray is the new entry in the product line and the new least-expensive option in the company’s home theater lineup. Sonos Voice Control — that’s the official name — perhaps is the most intriguing of the three releases, if for no other reason than it’s using a serious actor’s intonations. (Or an actor’s serious intonations. More on that in a minute.) And the portable Sonos Roam has some new colors on the way. Digital Trends got a sneak peek at the new fare this week in New York City — let’s break it all down. Sonos Ray Sonos has had some great soundbars for a while now, from the now-discontinued Playbar to its two Dolby Atmos -enabled models — the $899 Sonos Arc , and the less-expensive-but-still-excellent $449 Sonos Beam Gen … [Read more...] about Sonos announces Ray Soundbar and its own voice control | Digital Trends