Rapoo, a popular brand from China known for its peripherals, has launched a new gaming headset called the VH850. This headset is priced at 199 yuan ($28) and can be found on JD.com. Let’s dive into its main features.
Key Features of the Rapoo VH850
The Rapoo VH850 is equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers along with graphene composite diaphragms. This combination delivers impressive sound quality, with enhanced resolution and dynamic audio performance, including strong bass output.
To improve audio clarity, the headset includes physical dual acoustic chambers that help separate the bass from other sound frequencies, which reduces distortion and enhances overall sound positioning.
Microphone and Connectivity
The headset comes with a detachable omnidirectional noise-canceling microphone that can be rotated 360°. This design allows for clear voice chats while cutting down on background noise. Additionally, it features a dedicated switch for easy muting.
For connectivity, the VH850 offers three modes: Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4GHz wireless, and a 3.5mm audio wired interface, making it suitable for gaming, office use, or just casual listening.
Comfort and Design
With large, over-ear protein leather ear cups, this headset is comfortable for extended use. The ear cups are soft, breathable, and help reduce outside noise. The lightweight metal single-head beam design is adjustable with telescopic arms, allowing the headset to fit different head sizes perfectly.
The headset also has RGB backlighting with a mirror finish, adding a stylish flair to your gaming setup. However, it’s worth noting that the lighting is only functional in wireless modes and not when wired. Convenient controls are available, including buttons for switching modes, adjusting volume, muting the microphone, and controlling light effects.
Battery Life
The Rapoo VH850 is powered by a 1200mAh rechargeable lithium battery, which can last up to 46 hours in non-lit mode and 17 hours with the RGB lights on. Charging is done through a USB-C port and takes around 3 hours to reach a full charge.
In other news, Baseus has also launched the GoPlay 1 Max gaming headset, which features 40mm dual drivers, an adjustable microphone, and low-latency performance.
Edifier has recently introduced its new TWS earbuds named X3 Pro in China. These earbuds are priced at 149 yuan ($20) and can be purchased on JD.com. Now, let’s take a look at some of the main specifications.
Key Features of Edifier X3 Pro
The X3 Pro earbuds come with composite diaphragms, but the specific size of the driver is not mentioned. They also use high-quality imported voice coil wires, which aim to provide a better sound experience. With Bluetooth V5.4 technology, these earbuds ensure strong connectivity with minimal disruptions.
Noise-Cancellation and Battery Life
One of the standout features of the X3 Pro is its active noise cancellation (ANC) system, which effectively reduces outside noise. Additionally, they include AI-driven call noise reduction to make sure voice clarity is maintained by cutting out background sounds during calls. The earbuds boast an impressive battery life of 23 hours, with a single charge lasting for about 7 hours. The charging case allows for a total of 23 hours, and the earbuds can be fully charged in just 1 hour, making them ideal for users on the move. They also have an IP54 rating, meaning they are dust and water-resistant, suitable for workouts and outdoor use.
Comfort and Customization
The X3 Pro features ear tips that are 99.9% antibacterial, promoting hygiene and comfort thanks to their high-efficiency materials. Users can also customize their listening experience through an app, where they can adjust equalizer settings and touch controls. This ensures a unique audio experience tailored to individual preferences.
The earbuds are compatible with various Bluetooth protocols, such as A2DP, AVRCP, and HSP, which allows them to work seamlessly with many devices. They have a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz and a sound pressure level of 92±3dB. Touch controls make it easy to manage music playback, handle calls, and activate gaming mode. The design of the X3 Pro comes in different colors, including Cloud Rock White, Misty Pink, and Midnight Blue.
In other news, Noise has launched the Buds Trooper TWS earbuds that feature longer battery life and reduced latency. At the same time, Philips has released cost-effective TWS earbuds and headphones in India, which promise excellent battery performance.
DeepL has introduced two innovative services aimed at businesses under the new DeepL Voice brand – DeepL Voice for Conversations and DeepL Voice for Meetings. These services provide instant translations between speakers of various languages including Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Competing in Language Translation
DeepL is becoming a serious rival to Bing Translator and Google Translate in the field of language translation. It provides an alternative that sometimes excels in capturing the subtleties of dialogue from one language into another. The latest offerings from the company utilize AI technology to engage in real-time voice translation, positioning themselves as strong competitors in the voice translation sector.
Meeting Integration Features
Voice for Meetings can seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Teams, allowing attendees to express themselves freely while real-time translated captions appear for everyone involved. Every conversation is translated, captioned, and transcribed for ease of use, and there is no restriction on the number of participants in any meeting. All languages available can also be spoken during such gatherings. For personal interactions, Voice for Conversations allows for live translations during one-on-one discussions using smartphones that run on Apple iOS (iOS 17 or later) and Android (OS 8.0 or later).
Data Security Commitment
DeepL guarantees that all data collected during meetings will be erased after the session, and it will not utilize any dialogue for enhancing its AI models. The service complies with ISO 27001 standards, ensuring robust data security.
For travelers using a Samsung device, they can purchase Samsung Galaxy Buds FE earbuds for an easy listening experience of live translations facilitated by Samsung Interpreter.
Anker’s Soundcore is reportedly working on a new pair of over-ear headphones called the Q11i (Model A3005). These headphones will likely include 40mm drivers with an impedance of 16Ω, supporting a frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz. They are designed with Bluetooth 5.3 to ensure a reliable connection up to 14 meters and also have a 3.5mm auxiliary port for those who prefer wired options.
Features and Battery Life
The Q11i will come with multipoint connection, allowing users to connect to several devices at the same time. It’s anticipated to offer an outstanding battery life of 60 hours, with a quick charge feature that gives 4 hours of playtime from just a 5-minute charge. According to leaks, a full charge will take around 2 hours via the USB-C port with a 3.75W input.
Comparison with Previous Models
Interestingly, the Q11i looks almost the same as the earlier Q20i (Model A3004), which is currently on sale for $49.99 on Amazon. However, the Q11i will have an upgraded Bluetooth version but will not include active noise cancellation. It’s still uncertain if this new model will be sold online or only in stores. The leaked specs suggest it might be priced lower than the Q20i, likely around $50. More details should be available soon.
Oppo has announced that it will host its next product launch on November 25 in China. The Reno 13 series will take the place of the Reno 12 models, which were introduced back in May this year. Additionally, the Reno 13 Pro has been spotted in the Geekbench database, providing insights into its chipset and other specifications.
Upcoming Launch Details
The event will feature several products, including the Pad 3 tablet and the Enco R3 Pro true wireless earbuds (TWS). While Oppo has already shared the design, color choices, and specifications for the Pad 3, details about the Reno 13 series remain unannounced.
Reno 13 Series and Competitors
The Reno 13 series is currently available for blind pre-orders through various online platforms in China. There are speculations that the Honor 300 series and the Vivo S20 lineup, which are also set to launch by the end of this month, will be rivals to the Reno 13 models.
Geekbench Insights
A new Oppo device with the model number PKK110 has surfaced in the Geekbench database. Reports indicate that the global version of the Reno 13 Pro is identified as CPH2697, suggesting that the PKK110 might be the variant intended for China.
There are indications that the Reno 13 Pro could be the first phone to incorporate the upcoming Dimensity 8350 chipset. However, details from the Geekbench listing concerning CPU and GPU suggest it may be equipped with the Dimensity 8300. Thus, it is possible that the device could feature either the Dimensity 8300 or the new Dimensity 8350, with the latter potentially offering similar configurations to the 8300 but with added improvements.
Specifications of Reno 13 Pro
Further information from the Geekbench listing reveals that the Reno 13 Pro comes with 16 GB of RAM and runs on Android 15. A recent article detailed that the Pro version includes a 6.83-inch OLED display with a micro-quad-curved design, a 50-megapixel front-facing camera, and a triple rear camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel lens, and another 50-megapixel telephoto lens. Additionally, it boasts 1 TB of storage, a 5,900mAh battery with either 80W or 100W charging options, support for wireless charging, a metal middle frame, eSIM capability, and an IP68/69 rated body.
Edifier has introduced a new desktop gaming speaker named the Hecate G2500bar in China. This speaker is available for 299 yuan ($41) and can be found on JD.com. Let’s take a look at its main features.
Key Specifications of the Edifier Hecate G2500bar
The Edifier G2500 soundbar is designed to be compact, making it about 30% shorter than traditional soundbars. This compactness makes it a great fit for smaller desktops without occupying too much space. It is equipped with 53mm dual full-range neodymium magnetic drivers along with a dual reflex tube acoustic system, which produces a rich and immersive audio experience with strong bass.
Advanced Features for Clear Communication
This soundbar is outfitted with second-generation Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) technology, which helps to provide clear communication by removing echoes during voice chats. Furthermore, it includes an integrated DSP chip to ensure precise audio processing, offering three distinct sound modes: gaming, music, and movies. The soundbar also supports 7.1 virtual surround sound, which enhances the listening experience with a professional sound field and accurate audio positioning.
Dynamic Lighting and Connectivity Options
The G2500 features TempoFlow RGB lighting technology that offers 12 different dynamic lighting effects that sync with sound, adding a visual element to the experience. Users have the ability to customize these effects via the Hecate Connect Center software on their PC or the Edifier Connect App on mobile devices. The speaker provides dual connectivity options, such as a USB sound card and Bluetooth 5.4, making it compatible with a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs, PS4/PS5, and Nintendo Switch. It also comes with a detachable microphone that features AI noise reduction and anti-feedback technology for clear audio capture, adjustable according to user needs.
Design and Performance Specs
The speaker is designed with a 5° tilt angle, optimizing sound delivery to minimize sound wave reflection and ensuring a direct path to the listener’s ears. It has a physical button interface for volume control, light mode switching, anti-slip feet, and a convenient one-click mute function. The soundbar provides R/L 2.5W + 2.5W power and operates within a frequency range of 90Hz to 15kHz. It maintains minimal noise with a sound level of ≤20dB (A) and a signal-to-noise ratio of ≥85dB (A). The design features a sleek cyber-mechanical look with sharp lines and a semi-transparent front panel, and it comes in two colors: Cosmic Grey and Pearl White.
In other news, EarFun has launched the UBOOM X speaker, boasting an 80W output, an IP67 rating, and up to 30 hours of playback time. Additionally, if you are a console gaming enthusiast, you might be interested in whether the Nintendo Switch 2 can compete with Sony’s PS5 Pro.
Apple has recently rolled out Hearing Health features for the AirPods Pro 2 with the latest 7B19 firmware update. These features include Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection options. However, the first two features are limited to certain regions due to regulations. Sadly, users in India can’t access these features yet, as the country is not included in Apple’s list of supported locations.
Creative Workaround Found
Despite this limitation, a resourceful group of tech enthusiasts has discovered a way to bypass Apple’s geo-restrictions. Upon the release of the iOS 18.1 update, Rithwik Jayasimha (@thel3l on X) bought a pair of AirPods Pro 2 for his grandmother, only to find out that the much-anticipated features were unavailable in India. Instead of giving up on the shiny new earbuds, Rithwik and his colleagues at Lagrange Point devised a method to sidestep Apple’s geolocation checks.
Technical Exploration
You can check out the complete story on how they managed to bypass Apple’s restrictive geolocation measures. Essentially, Rithwik found out that iOS relies on three primary methods to determine the location of an iPhone: a GET request to a specific endpoint (https://gspe1-ssl.ls.apple.com/pep/gcc), the location of the Apple Store, and probably the device’s timezone and region settings. For cellular devices, Apple also utilizes GPS and an internal database that helps calculate location based on mobile country/network codes (MCC/MNC) received from the network.
Overcoming Challenges
The first logical step taken was to simplify the identification of location from MCC/MNC. Rithwik and his team used an iPad 10th generation that only had Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities, avoiding cellular connection. However, spoofing the location turned out to be more complex than anticipated. They tried changing the device’s locale, manipulating the GET request to reflect a US location, and even using Xcode to simulate location, but all efforts were futile. While the iPad did alter its apparent location, it seemed to recognize that something was amiss.
Additional brainstorming led them to realize that the iPad was likely triangulating its position using a mix of GPS, Wi-Fi SSIDs, and MAC addresses from nearby devices. They attempted to modify the Skylift ESP32 project to mimic SSIDs from Menlo Park, California, but this too was unsuccessful. Moreover, it was nearly impossible to eliminate all Wi-Fi networks from their surroundings.
The Faraday Cage Solution
For those unfamiliar, a Faraday cage is a structure that blocks electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves. A common example is a microwave oven, which operates at a frequency similar to Wi-Fi. Thus, a microwave can also act as a Wi-Fi jammer. The team’s approach involved placing the ESP32 inside a cardboard box lined with aluminum foil to emit California SSIDs to the iPad. This setup was then placed on top of a microwave oven that should ideally block out 2.4 GHz signals. Initially, the iPad still recognized it was in India, but after some adjustments, it finally acknowledged its location as being in the US.
With anticipation, they opened the AirPods Pro 2 case and awaited the outcome. To their delight, the Hearing Assistance features were immediately activated on the AirPods Pro 2.
Final Thoughts
The team also discovered that the hearing aid feature essentially functions as an equalizer preset, replacing the transparency mode, and should theoretically work even with older firmware. An added bonus is that once activated using this hack, all devices linked to your iCloud account can access the Hearing Health features on the AirPods Pro 2 without going through the entire process again.
Rithwik and his team have since constructed a more effective Faraday cage with assistance from a friend and are even hosting a small camp at Lagrange Point to assist others in need. While the AirPods Pro 2 are not the cheapest true wireless earbuds on the market, they certainly provide an economical alternative for hearing aids.
If you or someone you know owns an AirPods Pro 2 and would benefit from these features, reach out to Rithwik on X for assistance.
When looking for earbuds, consumers have a vast array of options across different price ranges. Recently, the Urbanista Copenhagen 2 has been introduced, bringing a vibrant selection of colors and priced below $50.
Design and Features
The new Urbanista earbuds adopt a half-in-ear style similar to the AirPods 4 (currently listed on Amazon for $119). They come with a clamshell charging case that allows the earbuds to rest flat. With 12mm dynamic drivers, the Copenhagen 2 earbuds also support the SBC codec. They are equipped with four microphones; two of these are designed to reduce background noise and ensure clearer phone calls.
Sound Quality and Connectivity
While the AirPods 4 variant features active noise cancellation (ANC), the Copenhagen 2 earbuds do not include this option. However, users can enjoy three equalizer settings: Default, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost. Switching between these presets is made easy through the touch controls on the earbuds.
These earbuds utilize Bluetooth 5.4 and offer Bluetooth multipoint connection, enabling users to connect to two devices at once. This functionality can be activated directly on the earbuds or via the charging case. Additionally, they have an IPX4 rating for water resistance, making them a good choice for exercising.
Battery Life and Compatibility
The Urbanista Copenhagen 2 earbuds work well with both Android and iOS devices and support voice assistants. The total battery life is impressive at 36 hours, split into 7 hours for the earbuds themselves and an extra 29 hours provided by the charging case. The case includes four LEDs to show battery levels and charging status, and it charges through a USB-C port.
At a price of $49, the Copenhagen 2 earbuds are $20 cheaper than the previous model. Although the promotional video showcases four color options, they are currently available for purchase in just three shades: Cloud White, Lavender Purple, and Midnight Black, on the official site.
NTT has revealed that it’s working on new active noise cancellation tech designed for open-ear headphones, like the nwm ONE open-ear headphones. These types of headphones let in surrounding sounds, which means users can stay aware of important alerts and announcements at all times.
Innovative Hardware and Software
To create the extra noise-cancelling effect that minimizes sound leakage from open-ear headphones, NTT has engineered new hardware and software solutions. The hardware includes reference and error feedback microphones, featuring ultra-low latency circuitry, alongside specially designed speakers. On the software side, they use ANC algorithms that have low computation delays and don’t require much processing power.
Improved Noise Reduction
This combination leads to a notable decrease in noise within the 1 kHz to 3 kHz frequency range, outperforming existing ANC technology for open-ear headphones that typically only cancels noise below 1 kHz. Testing showed an average noise reduction of 7.8 dB, with some instances reaching up to 13.7 dB. NTT plans to further develop this ANC technology before making it available commercially, aiming to broaden the ANC frequency range bandwidth.
Upcoming Showcase and Availability
The new technology will be presented at the 2024 R&D Forum, scheduled for November 25-29, 2024. For those eager to try out NTT’s open-ear headphones with active noise cancellation, the current model, the nwm ONE without ANC, is available on Amazon for $299.
Along with the release of the Fire TV Omni mini-LED series, a new soundbar has been introduced by Amazon. The Fire TV Soundbar Plus is positioned as a more premium option compared to the Fire TV Soundbar that came out in 2023.
Design and Size
The design of the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is sleeker and flatter than its earlier version. Notably, it’s much bigger, measuring 37” in length, while the original Fire TV Soundbar is only 24” long. The larger size allows for a built-in subwoofer, which supports a 3.1 speaker channel.
Audio Features
This soundbar is equipped with advanced audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS TruVolume, along with a special dialogue channel. It has a Dialogue Enhancer feature that boosts voice clarity, making them stand out against background noise.
While the integrated subwoofer certainly provides an advantage for the Fire TV Soundbar Plus over its predecessor, Amazon also gives consumers the choice to buy it with an external sub-woofer, or even with both an external sub-woofer and surround speakers for a true home theater vibe. The soundbar can either be mounted on the wall (a mount kit is included) or set on a TV stand.
Connectivity and Control
Being an audio-only product, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus doesn’t come with built-in Alexa or Fire TV capabilities. It includes its own remote and has physical buttons on top, but users who own a compatible Fire TV device can control the soundbar with its remote as well. Connectivity options include an optical port, an HDMI eARC port, and a USB port. Plus, it supports Bluetooth, allowing you to link it to your smartphone or tablet.
The Fire TV Soundbar Plus is now available on Amazon for $249.99. This is more than double the price of the Fire TV Soundbar, which retails for $104.99. If you opt for the Soundbar Plus with an external sub-woofer, the cost rises to $374.99, and if you choose to add the external sub-woofer along with two surround sound speakers, the total comes to $489.99.
