Tag Archives: voice

Roku Streambar Pro brings virtual surround, headphone remote to streaming soundbar hybrid

Roku has rebranded its existing Smart Soundbar as the Streambar Pro for the same $180 price, but it now includes an upgraded voice remote. The Streambar Pro is a hybrid device: a 4K HDR streamer, similar to the Streaming Stick Plus, built into a soundbar. The improved remote comes with Roku headphones for private listening, …

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Roku’s new remotes have dedicated buttons for Apple TV Plus

Looking for faster access to Apple TV Plus on your Roku? You may want to get a new remote.  As part of a slew of updates on Tuesday — including a new Voice Remote Pro, Express 4K Plus and Streambar Pro — Roku made a small change across its remotes. Out is the dedicated shortcut key for Sling TV; in …

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AirPods Pro vs. Jabra Elite 75t: I tested both wireless earbuds for months

The AirPods Pro are excellent wireless earbuds with effective noise canceling that’s almost as good as a pair of over-ear headphones (like, say, the AirPods Max). They also work seamlessly with the iPhone and other Apple devices. But other options cost less than the AirPods‘ asking price, such as the Galaxy Buds Live, Amazon Echo Buds and Jabra Elite 75t. I used both the AirPods Pro and …

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro tips and tricks: Get the most from your new wireless earbuds

Samsung announced the Galaxy S21, and along with the trio of new phones, the company also unveiled the Galaxy Buds Pro. The completely wireless earbuds compete directly with Apple’s AirPods Pro, offering advanced features like active noise cancellation, long battery life and improved sound quality.  They even have a feature that the AirPods Pro currently lacks. The Buds Pro can …

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Hey, Siri, what happened to you?

I remember the introduction of Siri on the iPhone 4S way back when. This was going to be a magic Apple feature that no one could ever catch up to. Instead of having to dig through settings and apps, you could just talk to your iPhone. Competitors, however, soon popped up. Who could forget S Voice, the forgettable voice assistant …

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Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro noise

I was expecting Anker to release a noise-canceling version of its popular Liberty Air 2 earbuds last year, but the launch apparently got delayed a few months, thanks in part to the pandemic. But the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro ($130, £130), the company’s first earbuds to feature active noise canceling, are now available and except for one small but …

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Bose Frames 2020 review: These audio sunglasses rock

Dec 2020 A lot of people aren’t sure what to make of the Bose Frames audio sunglasses. For 2020, the line has been updated and expanded to include three new models: The Tempo sports model, which offers better performance, joins the more traditional-looking Tenor and Soprano.  Read more: The best headphones of 2020 Yes, audio sunglasses are a thing and Bose’s …

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Jabra Elite 85t review: AirPods Pro competitor impresses but doesn’t wow

Like many people, I’d been waiting for Jabra to put out a set of noise-canceling true-wireless earbuds. It finally has: the Elite 85t ($230, £220, AU$349). What I didn’t anticipate, however, was that it would also add noise cancellation to the earlier Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t via a firmware upgrade. This gives you two Jabra noise-canceling options, one significantly less expensive than …

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PlayStation app refresh adds voice chat, messages integration

Sony Interactive Entertainment on Wednesday unveiled the updated PlayStation app, which includes a new layout, voice chat support and messages integration. The upgraded app is designed to “enhance your gaming experiences on both PS4 and PS5,” said a blog post about the update. The PlayStation App will start rolling out globally through updates on iOS and Android devices starting Wednesday. Players who …

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Beats Flex review: Not true wireless earbuds, but a good $50 AirPods alternative

Over the last few years, I received a trickle of email asking me when Beats’ might release an upgraded version of its once-popular BeatsX neckband-style headphones. Truth be told, I didn’t think I’d ever see a version 2.0, but now it’s arrived with a new name — the Beats Flex — and a much-cheaper $50 (£50, AU$80) price tag, which is …

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