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Bose's new smart speaker and soundbars offer Alexa control
Voice assistants don't seem to be going anywhere. If anything, they're becoming more and more ubiquitous. Case in point: Bose's new line of soundbars and speakers with Alexa and other smarts built in. Out of the box, the Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700 will react when you start shouting commands at Amazon's digital assistant this October. Bose promises that other voice assistants will follow at some ambiguous point, and early next year there will be an update that adds AirPlay 2 streaming.
Bose's QC35 II wireless headphones now support Alexa
Bose revealed that its QuietComfort 35 IIs would get outfitted with Google Assistant last September. Starting today, owners have another voice assistant option: The wireless headphones now support Amazon Alexa.
Bose puts crowdfunded 'sleepbuds' on sale for $250
Last year, Bose took to Indiegogo to gauge people's interest on an experimental device: a pair of noise-masking wireless earbuds designed to help you sleep. That experiment was a success, and the "sleepbuds" sold out within six days on the crowdfunding platform, so now the audio giant is making them available for purchase. These sleepbuds were designed to fit snugly -- they're apparently Bose's smallest products yet --allowing you to drift off to sleep without the feeling that there's something in your ears. In addition to blocking noise, they come with 10 pre-loaded white noise tracks that mimic snoring, the sound of gentle waves, dogs, traffic and wind turbines, among other things. What they don't do, however, is stream music.
Apple lists speakers that work with AirPlay 2 streaming
Today, Apple released iOS 11.4, bringing with it AirPlay 2, Apple's latest standard for streaming audio, video and games to your speakers or TV. One of the key features of AirPlay 2 is the option to play audio through two HomePod speakers in stereo -- that's the only speaker which supports AirPlay 2 right now. But there are a number of third-party speakers you can also soon use with AirPlay 2, with the option to chain them together to set up groups and multi-room playback.
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.
Bose sunglasses hands-on: audio AR makes more sense than you think
This week, Bose made a surprise announcement that it was getting into the augmented reality game. But Bose makes headphones, right? And AR is all about glasses with visual overlays? Well, nobody told them, and that's a good thing. The company believes that the classic approach works fine for many things, but it still presents barriers (cost of specific hardware, battery life and so on). Visual distractions also aren't always appropriate, and sometimes all you need is relevant info -- restaurant opening times, points of interest, for example -- whispered in your ear. That's what Bose is offering, and we (me and my colleague Cherlynn Low in the pictures and video above) tried it out for ourselves in downtown Austin at SXSW.
Bose's AR glasses are all about audio, not video
Bose announced today that it's getting into the augmented reality game. But Bose AR isn't about video, it's about audio and through a "wafer-thin acoustics package," the company says it can introduce a useful and relevant layer of audio into your everyday activities. Bose says the small audio technology produces powerful and clear sound and can be incorporated into wearables like headphones, eyewear and helmets.
Which true wireless earbuds are worth buying?
With so many flagship phones leaving behind the headphone jack over the past two years, the need for a good pair of Bluetooth earbuds has only intensified. While the first crop of true wireless products had their share of comfort and connection problems, the selection improved dramatically in 2017, with companies like Bose and Bang & Olufsen coming out with sets that gave Apple's AirPods a real run for the money. If you've been holding off on buying a pair because of cost, poor audio or because they just look ridiculous, it might finally be time to make the leap. We consulted reviews from top critics and came up with a list of six solid options that should have something for everyone, whether you're on a budget or prize sound quality above all else.
Harman is designing smart interiors for tomorrow's autonomous cars
The days of owning your own car may soon be coming to an end, what with the growing popularity of ride sharing matched with the promise of autonomous vehicle technology. Should that self-driving car service future come about, Harman International want to be ready with audio and connected vehicle systems to match whatever you're riding in to your specific mood and tastes.
Some Sonos and Bose speakers are being remotely hijacked
If you have a Sonos or Bose product connected to your home Wi-Fi system and you've been hearing some strange sounds out of it, the good news is that your speaker isn't haunted. The bad news is that it's possible someone has remotely gained access to your speaker and is tricking it into playing an audio file. Only a small fraction of Sonos and Bose speakers are vulnerable, but it's certainly a strange exploit to keep an eye out for.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you can still grab
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.
Bose uses Indiegogo to test wireless earbuds for sleep
It may seem odd for a proven audio company like Bose to take to crowd-funding, but an Indiegogo campaign for the company's upcoming noise-masking wireless earbuds (or 'sleepbuds') makes a lot of sense as a beta test its fans can pay to get into. The sound-isolating buds act like a white-noise machine, only plugged into your ears.
The best noise-cancelling headphones
By Geoff Morrison This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After testing 42 headphones, including 22 for this update, the Bose QuietComfort 25 are still the best option for most people who want over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. They have the best overall noise reduction of any wired noise-cancelling headphone available, plus they're comfortable, lightweight, and able to fold down into a compact carrying case. They aren't perfect—the sound quality is decent enough, just not spectacular—but if your goal is to turn down the volume on the outside world, these are hard to beat.
Google Assistant is definitely part of Bose's new QC35 headphones
Last week, we reported that Bose's QuietComfort 35 II Bluetooth headphones might include Google Assistant. Now, it's confirmed. Bose has revealed that this pair of QC headphones is the first to have a Google Assistant integration. They retail for $350, the same price as the regular QC35 model.
Bose's next headphones may include Google Assistant
When Bose accidentally leaked a new pair of headphones in an email newsletter of all places, no one quite knew what the cans' mysterious action button was for. Well, now we do: activating Google Assistant. The upcoming Quiet Comfort 35 II over-ear cans will feature Mountain View's digital assistant and be among the first headphones to do so. 9to5Google confirmed this via Bose documentation, and a Reddit user spotted them in retail packaging as well.
Meet R2-D2 and BB-9E, Sphero’s new ‘Star Wars’ toys
It's been nearly two years since Sphero introduced its app-controlled BB-8, a replica of the cute rolling droid that first appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That toy quickly became one of the most coveted by fans of Disney's franchise, and it wasn't long before the company followed it up with a Battle-Worn Edition, designed to look as rugged as the character does in film. And today at IFA 2017, Sphero announced it is expanding its connected-toy universe with two more Star Wars droids, R2-D2 and BB-9E. Naturally, Sphero worked closely alongside Lucasfilm to bring these to life, just as it did with BB-8. The idea, as you might expect, is to make them as close to the real thing as possible.
Amazon adds multiroom audio control to Echo devices
There were rumors earlier this month that Amazon was working on incorporating multiroom audio into its Echo line and today, the company has announced that it's done just that. For those with Echo devices in multiple rooms, you'll now be able to play music on a specific device or group multiple speakers together.
Apple brings multiroom speaker support to HomeKit with AirPlay 2
Apple's HomeKit has provided iPhone and iPad users with a simple platform to connect multiple smart home devices, but it's shied away from one of the most important gadgets: speakers. Before revealing the rumored Siri speaker, the company announced today that it's expanding its smart home hub to support a large number of third-party audio hardware.
Bose accused of secretly sharing your listening habits
The podcasts and music you listen to can reveal a lot about your personal and political leanings. That's the basis of a class-action lawsuit filed against Bose, whose wireless headphone and speaker companion app tracks the listening habits of its users. The complaint claims that Bose not only collects, but transmits and discloses its customers' private music and audio history to third parties and a data-mining company.
Bose goes premium with its outdoor-ready Revolve speakers
You might see Bluetooth speakers as a commodity item, but Bose is having none of that with its premium, pricey SoundLink Revolve and Revolve Plus models. Much like the Vizio Cast, they output music from 360 degrees, so they sound the same to anyone in the vicinity. At the same time, Bose has eschewed typical plastic materials for a fancy "single-piece aluminum enclosure" that's resistant to spills, rain and splashes with an IPX4 rating.
