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Blue raises the bar for wireless audio with its Satellite headphones
After making its name building microphones for both amateurs and professionals, Blue made the leap to headphones back in 2014. Its first model, the Mo-Fi, featured a built-in amplifier and the company followed up with three others, including a planar magnetic set that also has an onboard amp. All of those options were wired, though, and if we've learned anything about "courageous" smartphone makers these days, the headphone jack is on its way out. To cater to the wireless craze, Blue announced its first wireless headphones, the Satellite, at CES in January. While this $400 model features and amp for top-notch audio, the Satellite lacks a key selling point for headphones: comfort.
Genetic engineering creates an unnaturally blue flower
Blue flowers are rare in nature, and for good reason: the color is usually the result of mutations and quirks of acidity levels rather than an actual blue pigment. That makes genetically engineering a blue flower tricky, since you can't just make a straightforward tweak and expect a garden full of unnatural hues. Scientists have just managed a breakthrough, though. They've produced the first truly blue chrysanthemum (above) by splicing in genes from two naturally blue flowers, the butterfly pea and Canterbury bell. The modifications shifted the plant's acidity level, turning normally reddish pigments to the blue you see above.
Blue's wireless Satellite headphones pack a built-in amp for $400
Blue announced its first wireless headphones back at CES, but now you can finally get your hands on a pair. The company's latest model, Satellite, has Bluetooth 4.1 and Apt-X to keep the wireless streaming from your go-to device going strong. To further enhance the high-quality audio, there's a built-in headphone amp. Similar to some of Blue's existing headphone models, you can turn that feature off to save battery or at times to you may not need it -- like when you're listening to podcasts.
Google's 'really blue' Pixel and Pixel XL come to the UK
When Google announced the Pixel and Pixel XL, it showed off three colors: silver, black and "really blue." Only two of those made it to the UK, however, with the third and whackiest option remaining a US exclusive. Well, not anymore. The blue Pixel is available for pre-order today through EE and Carphone Warehouse "until stocks last." Yeah, it's being described as a "limited edition," so like the regular Pixel we're not expecting much in the way of stock. It's available in both the 5-inch X and 5.5-inch XL varieties, although you're stuck with 32GB of storage (no 128GB option, boo.) Google says the phone will come to stores on February 24th, so even if you miss the pre-order blast, there's still a chance of picking one up.
How Blue used its microphone know-how to design headphones
Blue's USB microphones have been a podcasting staple since the Snowball was introduced in the mid 2000s. Before then, the company had years of experience crafting professional-grade studio mics that became the go-to options for producers and engineers. It's a reputation that Blue maintains to this day. In 2014, the company decided to tackle headphones with Mo-Fi -- a wired model with a unique hinged design and a built-in audiophile-grade amplifier. Then, at CES this week, Blue took the wraps off three new models: the planar magnetic Ella; Mo-Fi's successor, Sadie; and the wireless Satellite. Soon after, I sat down with CEO John Maier to find out how the company put its microphone expertise to use in a range of headphones.
Blue's pricey planar magnetic headphones feature a built-in amp
Blue may be a company known more for its studio-grade and USB microphones, but in 2017 it's taking a deeper dive into headphones. After the 2014 introduction of Mo-Fi, a set of headphones with a built-in amplifier, the company released Lola last year. Although that second set didn't feature an amp, it did still offer Blue's rather unique hinged design cut out the added heft. At CES today, the company already took the wraps off of the wireless Satellite headphones and it also has two other models that are set to ship early this year.
Blue's first wireless headphones nix the cord, keep the built-in amp
Blue is a name most people associate with USB microphones for podcasting and desktop recording. But the brand has a stellar reputation for studio mics as well. Back in 2014, the company released its first set of headphones, Mo-Fi, which featured a built-in amp to drive high-quality sound. At a time when headphone jacks are becoming scarce, wired headphones are an increasingly tough sell. Against that backdrop, Blue has a wireless option it's debuting off at CES -- and it still features an amplifier to preserve top-notch audio quality even after nixing the cable.
The Galaxy S7 Edge gets doomed Note 7's Coral Blue outfit
Samsung's Galaxy S7 series is benefiting yet again from the death of its Galaxy Note cousin. After that always-on display update, this time around the S7 Edge gets a new color scheme: Coral Blue. This was the flagship color in most of Samsung's media releases and ads -- and it's pretty darn nice in person. The company is looking to make the most of all that leftover blue casing, we assume, after halting Note 7 production. It joins the existing color options of Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, White Pearl, Silver Titanium and Pink Gold; all of which sound like Pokémon games.
Blue's Raspberry mic is small, but delivers stellar audio quality
It's no secret that Blue's line of USB microphones are a go-to choice for podcasters and anyone else who wants a simple, easy-to-use recording device. The company's Snowball and Yeti mics may be the most popular, but its last few products have focused more on technology that helps you streamline the postproduction editing process. The same can be said for its latest device, the Blue Raspberry. The Raspberry's compact stature and built-in audio tools make it ideal for on-the-go recording, even with the $200 asking price.
Blue's new microphone is a compact option for recording on the go
Blue Microphones' gear has been the go-to choice for novice podcasters and audio pros for years and now the company has yet another option for mobile recording. The new device is called the Raspberry: an iOS and USB microphone that offers plug-and-play audio tracking without the headaches of a lengthy setup process. The ease with which you can be up and running has become a key feature for Blue's gear so it's nice to see that continue with this new offering.
Blue's Lola headphones nix features in favor of comfort
When it comes to headphones, comfort is at the top of my list of demands. It even edges out sound quality. Blue's Mo-Fi headphones were announced last year, and while they offered great sound, a built-in amp added an uncomfortable amount of bulk. Thankfully, the company announced a lighter version, the Lola, just before the end of the year. These new headphones weigh less, but that's because they don't have that on-board headphone amplifier. The new model is $100 cheaper, but is it still worth the investment without the fancy tech?
Blue's Lola headphones slim down for a more comfortable fit
Blue, a company known primarily for its microphones, announced its Mo-Fi headphones last year. They sound great, but the cans are quite hefty. Mo-Fi houses a built-in amp to handle the high-quality audio, so the extra weight is necessary, albeit somewhat uncomfortable during extended listening sessions. Now, the company has a comfier headphone option with Lola. These new headphones leave out the amp, which cuts out the extra weight, and feature a slimmer headband. Without the bulk of the Mo-Fi, Blue says Lola brings the high-fidelity sound in a package that's more cozy.
Valve makes finding your next Steam game easier
When Valve debuted game-recommendation tags not long ago, it was apparently a precursor to something much bigger. Today the PC game-sales juggernaut has revealed a new look for its store that aims to put games in front of you that you didn't even know you wanted. By utilizing the tags, your gaming history and a few other aspects, Valve has redesigned the homepage so that it'll apparently make finding games you're interested in a lot easier. The Discovery Queue gives you a chance to browse through suggested releases, wishlist them or skip updates on titles completely. Valve says that the list will refresh daily, giving you a chance to possibly find the next killer indie before anyone else.
Blue's first headphones have a built-in amp for better mobile audio
Blue Microphones, as the company's name suggests, specializes in recording equipment, from professional studio mics to desktop models to mobile accessories. Today, Blue is breaking into a brand new product category, though not really out of its comfort zone, with the launch of the Mo-Fi headphones. It's a move you may have been expecting, given Blue announced its intentions at the beginning of the year, and has continued to tease this first foray into listening gear ever since. Put simply, the idea is to bring the kind of high-fidelity audio you'd get from a home sound system to other, more portable devices (as long as you're willing to pay for it). Blue's Mo-Fi cans are available in the US today for $350, and will be coming to the UK "soon" for £275.
Leak reportedly shows Windows Phone 8.1's new notification center
Wondering what Windows Phone 8.1's rumored notification hub would look like? You may be looking at it right now. Winphollowers claims to have a leaked Microsoft presentation outlining the feature, which might be called Action Center. While Windows Phone's approach to notifications would share much in common with what we've seen for a while in Android and iOS, it would have a few tricks up its sleeve. A driving mode shortcut would be available to (presumably) keep distractions to a minimum while on the road. Apps may also have more control over their notifications than you've seen on some other platforms. Alerts would silently appear, update or vanish, making it easy to deliver constantly changing information (think sports scores) or to clear out time-sensitive notices when they're no longer relevant. There's no guarantee that we'll see Action Center in 8.1, but the historically reliable WPCentral vouches for its existence -- we won't be surprised if it's part of the final OS release.
Blue intros Mo-Fi headphones at CES 2014
When you think of Blue, you think of the company's microphones and audio tools that have been amazing musicians and podcasters since 1995. The company's CEO, John Maier, realized that classic hi-fi headphones are incompatible with the low power requirements of mobile devices, so most headphones used with smartphones and tablets provide rather low fidelity. As a result, Blue announced the Mo-Fi line of mobile headphones this morning at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. According to Maier, "We set out to do what no one else is doing: to end the compromise music lovers make when they listen on their mobile devices. In the past, the headphone industry has approached this compromise with clever workarounds, but we simply went ahead and solved it. We're prepared to unleash Mo-Fi, true mobile high-fidelity." While the video below is short on specifics, it's high on hype about a new product line that is sure to get a lot of attention. We'll update the post once we're able to get more details about what to expect in a few months.
Blizzard's tips for dealing with a locked account
Having your account locked isn't an uncommon problem -- and it doesn't necessarily mean your account has been compromised. Because Blizzard is trying to stop hackers in their tracks, doing anything that makes it look like you aren't the one playing the game -- like logging in from an unusual location -- can trigger a lock. So what's a gamer to do when hit with a locked account? Fortunately for all of us, Blizzard CS representative Araxom has explained how to avoid locked account woes -- without even getting in touch with customer support. An easy fix? Change your password from your new computer or new location. This requires you to authenticate with Blizzard -- and answer your secret question -- so the servers are sure that you're actually you. Another helpful tidbit: have an authenticator (or authenticator app) attached to your account and SMS protect enabled. These helpful security features not only make it harder for your account to get stolen -- they can make it clear to Blizzard that your account is in your hands, even if you're logging on from a new computer. For more details and tips, check out Araxom's thread on Reddit. And if your account actually has been hacked, it's going to take a few more steps, but we'll walk you through it.
Your Kindle Fire HDX's blue-tinged screen edge is perfectly normal
If you've been curious why the screen on your Kindle Fire HDX has a blueish tint around the edges, wonder no more. To help achieve the HDX's vaunted color accuracy, Amazon used blue LEDs to light the display, which is why you see an azure hue peeking out around the screen's sides on books and web sites. The shopping giant further explains that this lighting technique increases battery life by 20 percent too. The "we want you to know" heading on the HDX's product page has the full details, and our video review is a click away if you're still on the fence about buying one.
Google Glass app Blue puts real-time baseball info in your eye (video)
The boys of summer are about to come home, but that doesn't make developer Aaron Draczynski's Google Glass baseball app any less rad. Blue uses geolocation to determine what park you're at and feeds all manner of ball diamond-data directly into your eye. Whether it's displaying play-by-play descriptions, who's on the mound or how fast and what type his last pitch was, sitting in the stands no longer means missing out on the info you'd get from a TV broadcast. While this might seem like it'd be a better tablet or phone app, wearing Glass to a ballgame does have a distinct advantage: it lets you hold more than two $15 beers at a time.
