Bluetooth
Latest
Android security flaw lets attackers send malware over Bluetooth
If you're using a not-quite current Android phone, you'll probably want to check for an update. Security researchers at ERNW have detailed a vulnerability, BlueFrag, that lets attackers silently deliver malware to and steal data from nearby phones running Android 8 Oreo or Android 9 Pie. The intruder only needs to know the Bluetooth MAC address of the target, and that's sometimes easy to guess just by looking at the WiFi MAC address. You won't even know the attack is happening, ERNW said.
Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW review: Decent, affordable true wireless earbuds
There's no denying the ATH-CK3TW was Audio-Technica's most interesting announcement at IFA. The prospect of $99 true wireless earbuds from a company you could trust to deliver decent sound could have a huge impact on the competition. And even though the company increased the price to $119 before they went on sale, the point stands. Audio-Technica already has premium and mid-range options. Now it's trying to bring its true wireless formula to a budget device. And as you might expect, a cheaper price comes with a few sacrifices.
Watch Google's upcoming AirDrop-style file sharing in action
It's been a while since we've heard anything about Fast Share, Google's upcoming take on AirDrop. But based on a new hands-on video, it looks like you may soon be able to check out the file-sharing feature on your Android phone. Now known as Nearby Sharing, XDA-Developers was able to get the in-development tool working to send photos and videos between a Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 4.
Teenage Engineering’s IKEA collection lands in stores next month
If IKEA's Sonos speakers are a little bland for your taste, you might be happy to know that the FREKVENS line, a collaboration between IKEA and Teenage Engineering, arrives in February. The collection is meant to get funky house parties started, and it includes everything from speakers to spotlights, spill-resistant furniture and a raincoat -- all with Teenage Engineering's signature colorful quirkiness.
NuraLoop hands-on: Possibly the smartest earbuds around
Nura burst onto the headphone scene a couple of years ago with the Nuraphone. With its app-based hearing test for customized audio, haptic bass, noise cancellation and over-ear-but-still-in-ear design, it was clear the company never received its copy of the rule book. This was confirmed when it revealed its $199 NuraLoop buds that are both wired and wireless (depending on your preference), claim a solid 16 hours battery life (in Bluetooth mode) and, of course, come with the same automatic hearing test to adapt their sound to your hearing.
Audio-Technica brings active noise cancellation to its wireless earbuds
Audio-Technica is esteemed for its high-quality equipment in pro audio -- you're likely to find the company's ATH-M50x headphone monitors in most recording studios. And while the brand may not be well known for its consumer-level headphones, the company's recent efforts in the wireless earbuds market have ranged from decent to impressive. Audio-Technica's latest true wireless model, the QuietPoint ATH-ANC300TW, will add active noise cancellation (ANC) -- but at the cost of battery life.
New Bluetooth audio standard promises better sound and music sharing
Bluetooth is getting a new spin-off standard for audio, called LE (low-energy) Audio, announced by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). This is different from general Bluetooth formats like Bluetooth 5 -- this is a new standard for Bluetooth audio specifically.
Sennheiser's latest over-ear wireless headphones offer affordable ANC
Don't panic if you want wireless over-ear Sennheiser headphones but can't stomach the $400 for the Momentum Wireless -- there are more affordable options. The audio veteran just unveiled the HD 350BT and noise-cancelling HD 450BT (pictured), two Bluetooth 5.0 models that replace the earlier 4.40BT and 4.50BTNC. They both offer up to 30 hours of listening, fast charging over USB-C and a dedicated voice assistant button, but they cost roughly half as much or less. You're looking at $130 for the 350BT and $220 for its ANC-equipped counterpart.
Netatmo's first smart door lock works with HomeKit
Smart home company Netatmo already has a HomeKit-friendly video doorbell, connected smoke alarms and AI-equipped security cameras. Now, the company is ready to introduce its first smart lock.
Klipsch debuts noise-cancelling headphones with 30 hours of listening
Alongside new true-wireless earbuds, Klipsch will show off its first pair of wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones at CES 2020. For now, they're simply called Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling headphones. When they go on sale this fall, they'll cost $399. That makes them $50 more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the same price as the Bose 700 headphones, two of the best Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones you can buy at the moment. And from a feature standpoint at least, they compare favorably to the competition.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW review: Long battery life at a decent price
Now that companies are on at least their second or third generation of true wireless earbuds, many of them are worth recommendations. A lot of these new models address earlier issues like poor battery life, connectivity issues and subpar sound quality. Thankfully, some companies have introduced more affordable options that will cost you less than $250 -- and in a lot of cases, less than $200. In 2018, Audio-Technica debuted its first true wireless model, the ATH-CKR7TW. Those earbuds lasted six hours on a charge and were priced at $249. This year, the company took things a step further with the ATH-CKS5TW ($169). Not only are they more affordable, but they offer more than double the battery life: 15 hours on the earbuds alone. There are some caveats, but at that price, are Audio-Technica's latest earbuds too good to pass up?
Tile trackers will warn when you've left your bag at the coffee shop
Tile's trackers already help you find lost items, but now they might help you before the wave of panic hits. The company is relaunching Smart Alerts in beta to automatically warn when you've left a tracked item behind if it's been there for at least five minutes. If you rush out of the coffee shop without your bag, you'll ideally get an alert before you've reached your car. You'll need a Premium subscription ($30 per year or $3 per month), but it might be a small price to pay if you can't bear the thought of leaving a valuable item alone for more than a few minutes. The beta will be available in December.
Jabra Elite 75t review: The leap from good to great
Jabra's Elite 65t have been some of the best true wireless earbuds you could buy since their introduction last year. They don't have the best sound quality, but overall, the company assembled a compelling package that costs significantly less than a lot of the competition's. Now Jabra is hoping lightning strikes twice. In September, it debuted the follow-up: the Elite 75t ($180). The new model is smaller, lasts longer and adds a lot of handy features, but is it better than last year's surprise superstar?
AIAIAI debuts ‘HD’ editions of its modular TMA-2 headphones
Since 2015, AIAIAI has offered headphone buyers something unique: a completely modular system of parts that allow you to craft your perfect set. The TMA-2 line is a collection of headbands, speakers, earpads and cables that are all designed for different use cases, sound preferences and more. Yes, you can pick a configuration for specific activities like DJing or recording in a studio, but you can also build your own from AIAIAI's selection of components. All of the options maintain the minimal, all-black design of the series. And starting today, those options include the TMA-2 HD as well as its new speakers and earpads.
Master & Dynamic made a wireless version of its iconic MH40 headphones
Master & Dynamic's MH40 was first set of headphones the company designed, and it released it in 2014. In may ways, that model set the standard for what would become M&D's trademark design style: a refined mix of metal and leather. It makes sense that the company would go back to the beginning to celebrate its five-year anniversary, and it's doing so with a $299 wireless model of the MH40.
Beats Solo Pro review
Both Apple and Beats have benefited greatly from their relationship over the last five years. Since Apple bought the headphone company in 2014, Beats has improved its gear on all fronts, from design to audio quality and even adding useful features. There's no doubting the Apple influence, especially since the latest Beats headphones pack the same chip that powers AirPods. With the Solo Pro ($299.95), we get the best intersection of the two companies yet, in a set of headphones that look good, sound great and pack in powerful features.
The latest Windows 10 Insider build gets new PowerToys
The latest Microsoft Windows 10 preview build (19013) for Insiders in the Fast Ring includes new kaomoji shortcuts, the latest version of PowerToys and a Linux update that will send unused power back to your Windows machine. There's also a key change for Samsung phones using the Your Phone app.
Razer's first true wireless earbuds include a low-lag gaming mode
Razer couldn't resist hopping on the true wireless earbud bandwagon, and it's unsurprisingly putting a gaming spin on its offering. The company's newly unveiled Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds will look very familiar between the stem-equipped buds and battery charging case, but they promise to kill much of the lag you sometimes see with Bluetooth audio -- important when you're playing games or watching videos. The Hammerhead uses a "customized" Bluetooth 5.0 link that even includes a gaming mode with latency as low as 60ms. That's not "lag-free," as Razer claimed, but it shouldn't be jarring.
Echo Buds review: Alexa smarts packed into a mediocre AirPods rival
By the time Amazon got around to announcing its Alexa-powered earbuds in September, the rumors had already been swirling for months. They were hardly a surprise. The online retail giant has a solid track record of keeping upcoming products under lock and key, but word of these voice-controlled true wireless earbuds first surfaced way back in April. Now that they're here, the Echo Buds ($129.99) are poised to take on Apple's AirPods with hands-free Alexa, touch controls, Bose's active noise reduction and more.
Google Assistant is ready to find your Tile tracker
As promised, Google Assistant can now help find your Tile trackers with very little effort. Link the Bluetooth gadget in the Google Home app, set up Voice Match in Assistant and you can ask the voice helper to locate your trackers (and hopefully, the items attached to them) using a simple sentence rather than adding a prefix like "ask Tile to" every time. You can tell Assistant to ring your keys or find your bag.
