Blue
Latest
Twitter's Blue subscription comes to Android devices
Twitter Blue has arrived on Android, and just like on iOS, it will cost you $11 a month to pay for a subscription through Google Play.
Twitter's Blue subscription gets a slightly cheaper annual option
Twitter is now offering a discount for an annual subscription on its Blue service.
Twitter Blue perks now include higher ranking replies and 60-minute video uploads
Twitter Blue has enabled new perks for subscribers including "prioritized rankings in conversations" and video uploads up to 60 minutes in length.
Twitter is reportedly raising Blue subscription's pricing on iOS to $11
According to The Information, Twitter plans to charge users $11 for Blue subscription if they pay through its iOS application. But if they pay through the web, it will only cost them $7 a month for the service.
Logitech reveals a $100 Litra Beam key light for creators
Along with a new Blue Sona microphone, Litra Beam is available today.
Nintendo’s Switch Lite will soon come in deep blue
The new colorway drops the same day as Miitopia.
The best USB microphone
By Melanie Pinola and Kevin Purdy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to USB microphones. The built-in microphones on most computers don't do your voice justice—they're likely to pick up too much room tone, add too much fuzz, and miss out on the warm tones of being in the same room as someone. Whether you're on a conference call or recording a podcast, a standalone mic connected over USB will help you sound your best. After testing more than 25 different USB microphones over the past six years with the help of audio professionals, we've found that the Blue Yeti is still the best microphone for most people. The Yeti has been our pick since 2013 and has come out on top during every retest of available microphones. In our latest blind test with two Wirecutter staffers and three professional audio engineers, all five experts ranked Yeti recordings at or near the top of the samples they listened to because it produced clear and rich recordings and preserved our speakers' natural vocal warmth. This is a microphone that both amateurs and professionals turn to for their voice or music work and one that will last for years. If you're looking for a portable mic or one that doesn't hog your desk space, the Shure MV5 is a better option than the Yeti. When using the voice preset, all our experts ranked the audio samples in their top three, with one audio engineer even rating it best. The mic (when unscrewed from its stand) is about the size and shape of a stress ball or pool table eight ball; you'll hardly notice it on your desk more than you would a big paperweight. It can also plug directly into an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Although it doesn't have the additional sound pickup patterns that the Yeti does, the MV5 is a fine single-voice microphone. The small size makes it much easier to pack in a bag than the Yeti—but that also means you'll have to figure out how to prop it up to match your speaking height. The AmazonBasics Desktop Mini Condenser Microphone is as no-frills as you can get while delivering surprisingly good audio quality. Basically, you plug it in and start talking, because other than a mute button, there's nothing else to fiddle with. Despite its simplicity and low price, four out of five of our audio experts ranked this in their top three mics, with two of them even choosing it as best (one preferred it for female voices while another chose it for male voices). It doesn't feel as durable as the Yeti and isn't as compact as the Shure MV5, but it's a good compromise if all you want to do is sound better and clearer than how your computer's mic makes you sound.
Blue's Yeti X microphone comes with everything you need to sound like a pro
Blue's microphones have been a popular choice for podcasters and live streamers for years, mostly due to their plug-and-play ease of use. Now the company is aiming to make things even easier with its latest USB mic: the Yeti X. The new $169.99 option has redesigned LED metering built in so you can keep tabs on vocal levels in real time. Should you need to make a change, a multi-function control knob does that right on the microphone -- similar to previous Blue devices. What's new here is that same control also acts as the mute switch and can be used to control volume for headphone monitoring.
The best Amazon Prime Day 2019 deals: Best of the rest
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commissions. that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of Amazon Prime Day deals here.
Logitech's G Pro X headset helps you sound like a pro streamer
After teasing it earlier this week, Logitech has now revealed its new gaming headset, designed to help you sound like a professional streamer. The G Pro X marks the debut of Blue VO!CE software, which includes a suite of real-time mic effects that will let you tune your voice based on your individual preferences. Out of the box, you'll be able to select preset filter profiles that match your own voice's unique tone and volume, or you can customize a filter using pro-grade effects such as a compressor, de-esser and de-popper.
Logitech G teases Blue gaming headphones on the way
Late last year Logitech acquired Blue Microphones, and a tweet indicates their next combo project is for gamers. We've already seen the debut of the Blue Ember XLR microphone for streamers, but it seems likely that this Logitech G product will actually be a new set of Blue-designed headphones for the gaming lineup. All we can see is a logo that's probably located on an ear cup -- that bears little resemblance to the older A Logitech G933 gaming headset pictured above -- but what they'll sound like is what matters, and Blue has come through on that front before. Expect them to be unveiled July 9th -- the usual set of streamers and influencers are already touting the unveiling date on their Twitch channels and social media profiles -- when we should find out how these will help you get more kills and/or talk to the folks in the stream chat a little more clearly.
Blue's latest microphone gives streamers an XLR option
With the rise of livestreaming, easy-to-use audio gear has become a staple among YouTubers, podcasters and more. Blue has been catering to that group for a while now with its line of plug-and-play USB microphones, but at CES 2019 the company has a new XLR option aimed at streamers and professional recording environments. The Blue Ember is a $100 mic that's designed to cut down on background noise thanks to its "tight pickup pattern." Basically, the cardioid pattern of the microphone focuses on what's right in front of it to minimize any room noise.
The best gifts for PC gamers
For many, PCs are the ultimate way to play games, so we've got plenty of picks to help your loved ones get started or improve their setups in our holiday gift guide. If they're starting from scratch, they'll need a gaming machine. Gigabyte's Aero 15X is our choice, a lightweight laptop that packs a punch with its impressive specs. If your giftee is interested in streaming their gameplay (or at least using a good microphone to let their teammates hear them well), the Yeti Nano from Blue is a great all-rounder, while Elgato's Stream Deck Mini is a solid option for giving broadcasters more control over their streams. Our picks also include important accessories such as headphones and headsets, VR rigs, controllers, mice, mechanical keyboards and, of course, some games. Meanwhile, the Fortnite fans in your life will definitely appreciate some V-Bucks, which they can use to buy in-game cosmetic items such as outfits and emotes.
The best mobile and computer accessory gifts
If there's someone in your life who spends most of their time with a phone in their hand or at a computer, we've got you covered for gift ideas with our holiday gift guide. We've shortlisted 11 great phone and computer accessories that are sure to brighten up their holiday. We mean that literally with the LuMee Duo smartphone case, which has built-in lighting for perfect selfies. Meanwhile, we also threw in a pair of gadgets that can keep their phone battery topped up.
Blue wins engineering Emmy for its Mix-Fi headphones
Blue is probably best known for its line of microphones, but the company's headphones managed to take home an Emmy. The Blue Mix-Fi headphones won Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development, becoming the first headphones ever to win the award.
Blue's Yeti Nano is built for simple, high-quality desktop recording
When it comes to podcasting and livestreaming, USB microphones are a great option due to their plug-and-play design. And perhaps no name is more synonymous with these recording devices than Blue Microphones. The company that's best known for it's popular Yeti and Snowball modes (in addition to a line of pro-level studio mics) is introducing its first new product since it was purchased by Logitech for $117 million last month. Meet the Yeti Nano.
The nine headphones that made our back-to-school guide
So you're headed off to college in the fall. What are you going to use to help you focus when you're on deadline? To tune out the rowdy partiers down the hall? Whether you need a pair of earbuds, a set of sound-cancelling cans or just a pair of budget headphones that don't suck, our annual back-to-school guide has you covered. If you can only afford one pair, Jabra's Elite 65t wireless earbuds are our go-to recommendation. Athletes will appreciate the Jaybird Run earbuds or perhaps the wired Beats X 'buds, while market leader Bose remains our top pick in the noise-canceling category. (Go with the QuietComfort QC35 II.) And if you're looking for an over-the-ear-style headset, we have picks from Audeze, Blue, TMA-2, Corsair and Even, including a few models designed for gamers. Find all that and all our other picks in Engadget's full back-to-school guide.
Blue Microphones sells to Logitech for $117 million
As the market for equipment needed by podcasters, streamers and other content creators grows, Blue Microphones has become a trusted and well-known name. Now Logitech has stepped in to acquire the company for about $117 million in cash. Both companies make headsets, but adding the microphones to Logitech's set of cameras is a natural fit. Said Blue CEO John Maier: "So here's the deal: all of us here at Blue will keep creating cool stuff for professional musicians, gamers, podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers; Logitech will help us conquer the world. It's a great partnership full of possibilities." As usual, the promises are that everything will be good, better and best, but we will have to wait and see if all of the products involved continue to maintain the quality customers (and listeners/viewers) have come to expect.
The best wireless headphones
Music is a necessity while I'm working. If it's not tunes from Spotify, there's at least a podcast chattering on in my ear. Of course, if you don't want to bother those around you with what you're listening to, you need a good set of headphones. The best options will also do a good job of blocking out the outside world. We've already offered some suggestions on the best wireless earbuds, so now it's time to examine the best over-ear wireless headphones. Each was selected for its mix of comfort, sound quality and effective noise cancellation. Because let's be honest: Audio is just one part of the equation when it comes to long listening sessions.
The best gifts for the PC gamer in your life
Of the more than two dozen sections in our massive holiday gift guide, the PC gaming is one of the largest. That's because there are so many directions you can go in here: You can splurge on a laptop (we recommend three here) or pick up any number of accessories like headphones, a mouse, keyboard, mic or webcam. Or, you know, you can pick up some actual games. Find all that in our guide at the link below, and while you're there, check out the 100-plus other items in there.
