Samsung just launched the Galaxy S24 series with an impressive set of features. Here are a few that I wish Apple would copy for the iPhone 16.
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Whether you love it or hate it, AI is here to stay, and even Apple is looking into it. Here are some AI features I would love to see on the iPhone.
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The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be here before you know it. Here are all the latest rumors, plus a few things we’re hoping to see.
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Next up on the IFA 2023 conveyor belt of launches is Lenovo’s brand new handheld gaming device called the Legion Go that runs on Windows 11 and and a substantial 8.8-inch display. This means it’s the largest ‘handheld’ device yet and as such Lenovo offers a set of attachable control grips for it that are […]
Come comment on this article: Lenovo’s new Legion Go may push the definition of ‘handheld’ but we still want one
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be here soon. Here’s a roundup of everything we know about the phone, plus a few things we’d really like to see.
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Samsung is reportedly aiming to cancel the midtier Galaxy S24 Plus in 2024. It sounds odd, but maybe, the Plus model has finally run its course.
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Fellow is well-known among coffee geeks for its well-designed range of brewing accessories. The company makes everything from kettles and mugs to brewers and grinders. And while Fellow’s first grinder, the Ode, is mostly designed for pour overs, the company will debut a more versatile model next month. The Opus is a conical burr grinder than can sort everything from fine espresso to coarse cold brew.
Inside, a six-blade 40mm burr set offers consistent grinds across 41 different settings. So whether you’re brewing AeroPress or French press, the Opus will cover a lot more styles than the flat burr Ode. Fellow did bring its anti-static tech back for the new model, which the company says will help keep the mess to a minimum. Plus, there’s an automatic timed stop, single dose loading, 110-gram capacity hopper and no-tool calibration. The Opus will be available on February 21st for $ 195, significantly cheaper than the second-gen Ode.
T-Mobile has been pushing its customers to travel, and now its limited-edition smart suitcase allows them to do just that.
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The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are almost outstanding smartphones. But they suffer from ongoing issues the Pixel line has faced for years — and that’s a problem.
Android – Digital Trends
Reports that Apple is at work on a foldable iPhone have circulated for years, but that’s about more than hardware. Apple also needs to properly fold iOS, too.
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India-based startup Glance is in talks with U.S. mobile carriers to bring lock screen advertisements to Android smartphones within two months.
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If you think that earbud design has plateaued, take a look at Sony’s new LinkBuds earbuds that feature a hole to let ambient sound in while making sure you can still hear your content. Sony thinks that the $ 180 LinkBuds are so good that you’ll never want to take them off. Designed to be small […]
Come comment on this article: Sony doesn’t want you to take off its unique-looking LinkBuds
The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds have a unique design, but does the sound meet expectations?
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Samsung’s first Unpacked event of 2022 is coming up. Here are some things we’d like to see with the Galaxy S22.
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is likely to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4 toward the end of 2022. Here’s what we want to see on the upcoming foldable.
Mobile | Digital Trends
A new entrant to the true wireless headphone space you say? Sure, that might be a fairly common occurrence these days, but this one – Grell Audio – comes with some pretty strong heritage. Its founder, Axel Grell, is well known in the headphone industry for his extensive work at Sennheiser on some of the company’s most prestigious products. The TWS/1 is his first solo product under the Grell brand. Accordingly, we’re interested to see what the $ 200 wireless buds can do.
The TWS/1 has a modern look. The mostly circular design is only interrupted by a small, AirPod-like protuberance on each bud. Originally the plan was to have the outer casing entirely metal but physics and radio waves meant that some concessions (plastic parts) were needed. Overall, they maintain a premium feel that stands above that often found at this pricepoint. They visually remind me slightly of the Jabra Elite 75t, but a little lower profile.
In terms of fit, that slightly more streamlined design means you don’t feel like something is balancing in your ear which can sometimes happen with more rotund models. As per usual they come with a charging case that promises four full charges of the TWS/1. The buds themselves offer around 6 hours per charge which holds true in my experience with ANC activated. Curiously, the buds are placed in the case with the right one to the left and vice versa. I’m not sure why this would be, but it does take some remembering (you’ll soon be reminded as the buds don’t fit the other way around).
In a world of me-too products, it’s hard to stand out. The easiest differentiator is price, then sound quality and or additional/premium features. It seems Grell Audio has tried to tackle all three of these, and with general success, I would say.
The price point puts the TWS/1 in an unusual category. Many premium brands are landing in the $ 250+ zone while more affordable options, like Google’s second-gen Pixel Buds or the aforementioned Jabra’s live in the $ 150 area. Budget options, south of $ 100, are also increasingly more common. This, then, pitches the TWS/1 at the overlap between high-mid and low-premium. I would wager this is entirely intentional as feature set and build quality skew higher end, but the barebones packaging and more accessible price indicate a more mainstream audience.
As for sound quality, this is where things are a little more clear. In my testing, I was generally pleased with the default sound. It was perhaps a little on the thinner side for my personal preference with a slight weight on the lower end for a typically commercial sound. But Grell has partnered with SoundID – a third-party app that tunes select brands of headphones to your personal preference/hearing.
We’ve seen things like this before, most notably with Nura which takes this to a whole new level. SoundID is a little more understated in its approach. It still uses some form of hearing test, but rather than asking if you can hear certain tones, it simply plays you some music and asks “which do you prefer, A or B.” Once I completed this short test, the difference was night and day. With my own personal profile activated (it uploads to the headphones so it applies no matter what you are listening on), my usual mix of mid ‘10s indie and rave nonsense came alive.
I have a slight preference for dynamic range and beefier low and mid-high frequencies. At least, I presume I do because that was the biggest change in sound after completing the test and I instantly found them much more enjoyable. In the SoundID app, you can toggle between the default sound and your own profile and it really does make a huge difference. You don’t need the app to get good sound, but I’m going to guess that you’ll be happier with what it gives you.
Coincidentally, SoundID is also where you’ll get software updates for the TWS/1. I had one during my testing and it improved a few things including the slightly unresponsive touch controls. They’re still not reading my taps 1:1 but its about on par with most other touch-control buds I have used. Before the update, it was much more frustrating (or, maybe I just learned the technique?).
Those controls aren’t user-configurable, so you’re stuck with what Grell gives you. But, fortunately, that’s pretty much everything you’d want and without too many complicated tap or gesture combinations. Swiping forward or back on the left ear skips tracks, up or down on the right for volume, and so on. It was the single taps that I was having issues with which control play/pause on the right and transparency mode on the left – both of which are more annoying if not activated immediately.
This brings us on to smart(er) features. As mentioned, the TWS/1 has Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode – both of which are becoming increasingly standard. But there’s also a Noise Annoyance Reduction (NAR) mode. Grell explained to me during their initial announcement briefing that ANC is great for lower-frequency sustained noises, but doesn’t work as well for higher-frequency annoyances (think, crying baby on a plane). NAR is Grell’s own attempt at offering some reduction of these types of sound.
In practice, I found it hard to pinpoint the difference that NAR makes. With ANC, it’s easy to hear the low rumble of the road outside my apartment decrease in volume. It’s maybe not the most powerful ANC I have heard but it does the job. With NAR, whatever the ear equivalent of squinting is, proved to be a little more indeterminate. It does seem to slightly improve the listening experience in combination with ANC, but it’s also hard to tell how much of that was me willing it to do so. It’s an interesting concept though and one that I hope Grell can continue to improve over time.
Other small perks include a “mono” mode (listening with just one bud). This isn’t as common as it should be in my opinion and it adds more flexibility for those that want to maintain some spatial awareness without having to wear both buds. It’s also, obviously, how some people prefer to handle their calls, too (reliving the Bluetooth headset days).
Another small added bonus is wireless charging “compatibility.” It’s not something I was able to test, but the more things that support it the better? Or, at the very least, it’s a nice perk for those already invested in the wireless charging world.
All in, Grell has given price, features and sound quality enough consideration that the result is a promising first product from an emerging brand. The price point, in particular, strikes a good balance between signaling premium ambitions without putting it too far out of reach for mainstream casuals. I’d love to see some further advances on the NAR technology and the controls could still be more responsive, but if you’re looking for a fresh set of true wireless headphones that are customizable to your taste, these are a great place to start.
Apple is expected to release a rugged Apple Watch and Watch SE 2 alongside the Series 8 in 2022
Wearables | Digital Trends
The pandemic has brought a lot of changes, but one you may not be expecting is in hotel rooms, where TV remotes are quickly becoming artifacts of a past era.
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Despite the ongoing saga of its troubles with the US government, Huawei continues to plow ahead with its smartphone plans with its new Mate 40 Series once again pushing the envelope of technology. The trio of handsets consists of the Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, and the Mate 40+ that, as with the Mate 30 […]
Come comment on this article: Huawei’s Mate 40 Pro and Pro+ are official with almost everything you could want in a flagship smartphone
Since 2009 a startup called NextVR has been developing proprietary cameras and striking deals to bring live events — think sporting events, wrestling matches and concerts — straight to the VR headset of your choice. It sounds like a potent cure for…
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The Essential Phone 2 is canceled and Essential as a company is gone, and despite some last gasps, it’s officially over for the company. But we do know they were working on something before going under, and some new hardware prototypes have surfaced showing off what could’ve been the company’s follow-up smartphone. Essential Phone 2 […]
Come comment on this article: Want to see the canceled Essential Phone 2?
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is one of the Android One devices that Xiaomi seems the most proud of. It packs in a dual-camera module and two-day battery life at a low cost, and it’s running Google’s trimmed down version of Android One for better performance. Well, it finally got its update to Android 10, […]
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite gets Android 10, but you might want to hold off for now
If you’re not using a VPN, you’ll probably want to change that up soon. Whether you need one for privacy, getting around blocked content, or you’re just trying to keep your traffic secure, it’s one of the best tools you can have on your Android phone. Privacy and security Using a VPN for privacy is […]
Come comment on this article: You’ll want to use a VPN on your Android phone in 2020
Howard University and Amazon Studios are working together to diversify the entertainment industry. Today, they announced Howard Entertainment, a program that will give African American, Latinx and Native American students a chance to study and train…
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It's been a long day. You get home as the sun is setting and close the door behind you, throwing down your keys and sliding off your shoes. You grab a drink and sink into the chair in front of your PC. The screen boots up and — click, click — it's…
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In search of a good VPN, but don’t know what you want? If you’re looking for a solid option that won’t break the bank, Talk Android Deals is running a promotion on a bundle that includes both a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN, plus a one-year subscription to Cylance Antivirus, and you can pick what you […]
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Love it or hate it, Java is popular, and it’s here to stay. If you’ve done any kind of web development or app development, you’ve probably had to at least dip your toes into the language, and if you haven’t but you’re planning on getting into it at some point? Well, you’re going to want […]
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In July, three members of Congress — Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Representative Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) — sent Amazon and CEO Jeff Bezos a letter requesting information about the company's facial recogni…
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Have an interest in Android and Google news? Want to use that interest and write for a team with other smartphone enthusiasts? Talk Android might just be the destination for you! We’re looking for part time writers to join our site and cover the daily news cycle, review gadgets, and offer your opinion one of the […]
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Huawei might have taken Apple's place as the second largest smartphone seller in the world, but that doesn't mean everyone's a fan now. According to CNN, the Democratic National Committee has warned candidates running in November against using device…
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Machine learning is one of the biggest trends in current development and tech circles, and you’re going to want to stay in the loop with something this big. Right now we’re offering a comprehensive machine learning bundle that includes several ebooks and educational courses, and it won’t break the bank. The bundle includes six ebooks […]
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Companies have been testing the waters of truly wireless headphones for a few years, but recently, especially after the launch of Apple’s AirPods, it seems like everyone’s cranking out significantly improved models that no longer have to sacrifice sound quality just to completely ditch the wire. Anker’s offering, the ZOLO branded Liberty+ headphones, offer up […]
Come comment on this article: Anker ZOLO Liberty+ review: Truly wireless earbuds you’ll actually want
2018 is a great year to get into building and coding with the Arduino platform, and we’ve got an e-book bundle to help you out. Right now you can name your price for the 2018 Arduino Enthusiast bundle which includes 8 books and 2 courses to help you build a ton of different things with […]
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It’s never a bad time to kickstart your professional coding career, and right now you can score a deep discount on a bundle that’ll take you through a programming crash course. You can pay what you want to get started, too. The bundle covers Python, JavaScript, C#, full stack web development, and even touches on […]
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It’s never a bad time to kickstart your professional coding career, and right now you can score a deep discount on a bundle that’ll take you through a programming crash course. You can pay what you want to get started, too. The bundle covers Python, JavaScript, C#, full stack web development, and even touches on […]
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Pay what you want for the Learn to Code 2018 bundle
Internet access and quality varies widely depending on where you live in the US. There's a huge rural broadband gap that the FCC, companies like Microsoft and the Trump administration have said they'd like to close in the coming years and as Clevelan…
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Researchers at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) presented a mission plan today at the European Planetary Science Congress that would allow scientists to observe hundreds of asteroids over the course of just a few years. Their plan is to sen…
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You want to learn coding — Python, Ruby, Angular, Java, and more. Don’t go scouring the web for lengthy, confusing tutorials. There’s something you can get on Talk Android Deals that takes you from no one to someone at your own pace. And it’s available at a price set by you. The Learn to Code […]
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Google’s Android has a lot of great phones in the ecosystem, as well as plenty of excellent features from phone-to-phone; however, there are a handful of features that I, and many others, would no doubt like to see become official Android features. This isn’t speaking in terms of one OS is better than the other, […]
Come comment on this article: Features on iOS we want to see on Android
Surgeons around the world are preparing to enter the incredibly pressured environment of an operating theater using an app called Touch Surgery, and now the company’s embracing mixed reality technology.
The post Want to learn how to perform surgery? You need one HoloLens, stat! appeared first on Digital Trends.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 represents a beautiful fusion of metal and glass, but it’s still a fragile beauty that’s prone to cracks and scratches if you don’t protective it. Here are few of our favorite cases for the aging device.
The post Ordering a beautiful Galaxy S6? We’ve got 30 cases you may want appeared first on Digital Trends.
This week European scientists launched the “I Support AIM” campaign — an initiative to urge the European Space Agency (ESA) to move forward with its Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM) in 2020. Over 100 scientists have signed on.
The post Top European scientists want to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid — again appeared first on Digital Trends.
360 video is coming to wearables — the Orbi Prime is a pair of sunglasses capable of recording 360 video using four built-in cameras. Previous camera glasses have had mixed results, but the Indiegogo campaign is already halfway to their goal.
The post Want to capture 360 video wherever you go? Wear these sunglasses appeared first on Digital Trends.
Fuel3D, a 3D scanning company, has developed an impressive new smart technology for retail optical locations that makes finding a pair of spectacles that fit perfectly as simple as glancing in the mirror.
The post Want to find glasses that fit perfectly? Look into this 3D-scanning smart mirror appeared first on Digital Trends.
A new deal brokered between the social media platform and Bloomberg Television will allow the Twitterverse to view a live-stream of all three presidential debates, the first of which is to take place on September 26.
The post Want to watch the presidential debates? Just head over to Twitter appeared first on Digital Trends.