Now playing: Watch this: Vizio’s 2017 speakers get Chromecast support 1:13 Update April 27 4:13 pm ET: Vizio has advised that the previously-announced $180 SB3630-E6 and $150 SB3621n-E8M will not be released Vizio has unveiled its 2017 range of sound bars, with the top-of-the-line models featuring Google‘s Chromecast built in. The company has four new …

After five years, it appears that Neil Young’s Pono initiative — which resulted in a hardware player and digital music store — may be finally over. In its place: Xstream. A post on Pono’s forums this week (membership required) confirmed that eight months after its music download store went down, the company was now channeling its efforts into a new …

Apple is reportedly considering investing in Toshiba in the wake of the Japanese manufacturer suffering significant losses. Toshiba has put its semiconductor unit on the market and Apple is said to be considering a bid, according to Bloomberg. The unit makes the memory chips at the core of modern smartphones and computers, marking an opportunity for Apple to consolidate its …

Yamaha has announced its 2017 range of RX-V receivers which boast compatibility with 4K/HDR video and Bluetooth headphone listening. The range consists of four models beginning at $300 RX-V383, followed by the $450 RX-V483, the $550 RX-V583 and the $650 RX-V683. The entry-level RX-V383 is a 5.1-channel receiver which offers 70 W per channel with stereo material. As with last …

Amazon has reportedly delayed the launch of its checkout-less Amazon Go store as it works out kinks in the payments software. The store in Seattle was due to open this month, according the Wall Street Journal, but was postponed because the automatic payment system only works with a small number of customers at a time. The system reportedly has issues …

Facebook launched a new tool Monday that’s designed to make it easier to find and “follow” your elected representatives. The Town Hall tool lets US users find state and federal representatives based on their location. Each official can then either be followed for updates or contacted directly by listing their phone number, address or a link to message them on …

Don’t call it a comeback. Call it a minor miracle. Samsung on Monday said it’s considering selling recalled Galaxy Note 7 devices as refurbished or rental phones “where applicable.” But there’s at least one place you won’t see them again. “Samsung will not be offering refurbished Galaxy Note 7 devices for rent or sale in the US,” a Samsung spokesperson …

Many VR experiences up until now have been geared towards an adult market, with shoot-em-ups the flavor of the day. So it’s refreshing to see a new VR series that is targeted at families. “Raising a Rukus” from the Virtual Reality Company (VRC) is a series of “magical adventures with a brother and sister led by their mischievous pet dog, …

As a result of a preliminary ruling in Sonos’ favor this week, the company’s case against Denon over potential patent infringement is now due to go to court on October 2, 2017. The lawsuit began in 2014 when Sonos accused Denon of “merely copying its system” citing similarities including the lineup and naming system. As part of a preliminary hearing …

Denon has announced its 2017 line of S-series receivers will now feature the company’s HEOS multiroom tech, which should make the company more competitive with Yamaha and Onkyo, and that it will be available at at an affordable price. Until now the the least expensive receiver to feature HEOS was the $1,500 AVR-X4300H, but the recent $1,000 HEOS AVR heralded …