Archives for October 29, 2019

How much do you want 5GHz turbo on every core?

Are you determined to have the best Intel gaming CPU on the block without splurging on an X-series? You’ll soon have a chance to pick one up. Intel has revealed that its special edition Core i9-9900KS processor will be available on October 30th at a recommended price of $513. If you’ll recall, this is really a top-binned version of the 9900K that can reach a 5GHz turbo speed across all eight cores rather than one, and hit a base speed of 4GHz instead of 3.6GHz. It won’t represent a major leap in performance (especially if you’re used to overclocking), but it could make a difference in games that make good use of multiple cores.

Intel needs this launch to some extent. AMD is slated to release its 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X in November, and the more comparably priced 12-core 3900X is already available. The 9900KS may be tempting for gamers who are on the fence and are more interested in having the highest-possible factory clock speeds (or insist on Intel tech) than loading up on additional cores.

And they go on sale October 30th.

After months of rumors, Apple didn’t wait until its next event to reveal the new version of its AirPods. Officially called AirPods Pro, the new model offers active noise cancellation and hands-free access to Siri for $249. The biggest change in terms of design is the addition of silicone ear tips that offer a better seal. This is essential for noise-cancelling earbuds, and it’s also a tweak that was tipped in an iOS 13 beta.

Apple says the AirPods Pro offer “superior sound quality” with audio feature called Adaptive EQ. According to the company, the tool “automatically tunes” low and mid-range frequencies to suit each person’s ears. There’s also an amplifier on board for “pure, incredibly clear sound” and extended battery life. Apple says the drivers inside the AirPods Pro can produce bass down to 20Hz to round out the “immersive” audio quality. To help you find the right fit, there’s an Ear Tip Fit Test that examines the seal for each ear to determine what size tip will be best for you.

Perhaps the biggest addition here is active noise cancellation (ANC). The AirPods Pro employs two microphones on each earbud and software that continuously adapts the level of ANC to your ears. One microphone keeps tabs on ambient noise while the other faces inward to pick up any additional sound that may remain. Apple says the setup continuously analyzes the sound 200 times per second. If that seems familiar, that description is pretty close to Beats’ Pure ANC that’s available on its noise-cancelling headphones. You’ll be able to put the Airpods Pro ANC to the test at the gym too, since the IPX4-rated true wireless earbuds should also hold up just fine to sweat during your workouts.

Like many noise-cancelling audio accessories, the AirPods Pro have a transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s going on around you or have a quick conversation. You can also activate it directly on earbud itself, thanks to what Apple calls a “force sensor.” Basically, the company is using that tech to offer on-board controls, since you can also use it to play/pause, skip tracks or answer calls. You will have to reach for your phone to make volume adjustments though, but Apple has added a volume slider to Control Center or you can make the change with an Apple Watch. And thanks to Apple’s H1 chip, Siri is always listening, just like it did on the most recent version of AirPods.

In terms of battery life, Apple says you can expect the same five hours of playback as previous AirPod models. However, that’s with ANC turned off. With that trademark feature turned on, the battery life figure drops to 4.5 hours of listening and 3.5 of talk time. When you factor in the included charging case, Apple says you can expect up to 24 hours total. As you might expect, the case can be charged wirelessly on a Qi-certified mat.

AirPods Pro will ship on October 30th for $249. They’ll be available from Apple’s website and at the company’s retail locations.

The smart speaker just got much more useful for households.

Apple just made the HomePod considerably more useful for whole households, albeit somewhat later than expected. It accompanied the release of iOS 13.2 with a corresponding HomePod update that, among other things, introduces promised multi-user support. The smart speaker now recognizes the voices of different people in your home, giving them personalized music access and other user-specific features. This isn’t a new concept in the smart speaker world, but it’ll be helpful if you’d rather not clutter your partner’s Apple Music history with your own selections.

The new software also introduces audio Handoffs with iPhones. You can bring your iPhone close to put calls on speaker, take your home listening on the road or otherwise listen where you see fit.

Other additions? You can listen to ambient sounds to relax, and set sleep timers with either those sounds or music to help you fall asleep. And if you’d like music to play on your HomePod when the lights come on, you can add music to HomeKit scenes.

The update should arrive automatically through the Home app on your iPhone, but you can force it to arrive by pressing the house icon in the Home app and choosing Software Update. While the upgrade won’t make you forget rivals like Amazon’s Echo Studio or the Google Home Max, Apple is clearly bent on eliminating some of the hurdles that would keep you from getting a HomePod.

It wasn’t the ideal ending to Samsung’s marketing stunt.

Samsung is learning first-hand about the risks of using high-altitude balloons for promotional stunts. A Michigan couple found the phone maker’s “SpaceSelfie” balloon (meant to pitch the Galaxy S10) in their yard after it crashed to Earth on October 26th. The vessel didn’t hurt anyone or damage property, but it was clearly a less-than-ideal touchdown — Samsung characterized it as an “early soft landing in a selected rural area” that was prompted by US weather conditions.

The balloon wasn’t small or simple. The entire apparatus spanned half the size of a basketball court and was meant to float about 65,000 feet above the Earth (not technically in space, we’d add), collecting selfies from the ground, superimposing them on live photos of the planet and returning them to the sender. It was supposed to continue floating until October 31st, but clearly fell a few days short of that goal.

Samsung’s balloon builder (Raven Industries) has picked up the payload, and the tech giant itself has apologized for “any inconvenience this may have caused.” It’s ultimately a mild embarrassment that won’t ding Samsung’s reputation. However, it’s also clear that things could have gone much worse — Samsung may be thankful that it’s not cutting a check for house repairs.