Tag: audio technology

Google Home head Anish Kattukaran confirmed the company remains committed to smart displays and hinted at a forthcoming Nest Hub that will integrate the Gemini AI model. The new device would build on Google’s smart‑display lineage that began in 2018, with the last refresh occurring in 2021. As Google prepares its announcement, Amazon has recently unveiled updated Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 models featuring enhanced 360‑degree speakers. The emerging competition highlights the importance of design, audio quality, and AI integration for the next generation of home smart displays. Leggi di più

Google announced a refreshed Google Home Speaker that places its Gemini AI assistant at the forefront. The new device adds a multicolored light ring that signals listening, processing, and responding states, and offers 360-degree audio for immersive sound. Premium subscribers can access Gemini Live, while a physical mute button addresses privacy concerns. The speaker will launch in the spring of 2026, retail for $99, and be available in a range of colors across major global markets. Leggi di più

Amazon introduced the Echo Dot Max, a compact smart speaker that combines a fresh, mesh‑body design with a new placement for the Alexa light ring. Inside, the device houses a high‑excursion woofer and a custom tweeter, delivering bass and clarity that reviewers say rival larger speakers. The Echo Dot Max also includes far‑field microphones, the AZ3 processor for edge‑case AI tasks, and Omnisence room‑acoustic technology. Priced at $99, the speaker is positioned as an affordable upgrade to the standard Dot while offering a pathway to multi‑room Dolby surround setups. Leggi di più

Amazon introduced a redesigned Echo Studio at its hardware event, featuring a modern orb shape, woven mesh exterior, and a flat base. Powered by the new AZ3 Pro chip, the speaker combines three full‑range drivers with a high‑excursion woofer for clearer vocals and deeper bass. The device supports spatial audio, can be grouped with up to five speakers, and includes Alexa’s LED ring for status cues. Priced at $219.99, the Echo Studio ships on October 29, 2025, and is compatible with Alexa+ out of the box. Leggi di più

Amazon introduced two upgraded smart speakers at its recent New York City event: the Echo Dot Max, a larger, higher‑end version of the compact Echo Dot, and a newly shaped Echo Studio that replaces its cylindrical predecessor with a spherical form. The Dot Max adds a dedicated woofer and tweeter for stronger bass, while the Studio incorporates three full‑range drivers, Dolby Atmos and spatial‑audio support, and a smaller footprint. Both devices integrate the latest Alexa features, including a home‑theater mode that can link up to five speakers for surround‑sound experiences. Leggi di più

Amazon announced Alexa Home Theater, a feature that lets users turn compatible Echo speakers into a surround‑sound system for Fire TV devices. The setup works with up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max speakers, auto‑configures, and is positioned as an affordable entry into home theater audio, though it excludes the original Echo Studio and carries a starting price of $500 for a five‑speaker package. Leggi di più

Nothing has launched the Ear 3 earbuds, featuring a transparent design, metal-reinforced case and buds, and a new "Super Mic" system that uses two microphones built into the charging case. The case includes a prominent Talk button that lets users make calls, voice notes, or memos when the buds are out of the case and connected to a phone. Ear 3 also offers 12mm drivers, spatial audio, LDAC Hi‑Res support, a personalized EQ, five and a half hours of playback with ANC, a total of 22 hours with the case, wireless charging, and a price of $179 with pre‑orders starting today. Leggi di più

Nikon has introduced the ZR, its first cinema camera co‑designed with RED. The hybrid model blends RED’s color science and video codecs with Nikon’s advanced subject‑detect autofocus and five‑axis in‑body stabilization. Featuring a partially stacked 24‑megapixel sensor with Dual Base ISO 800/6400 and 15+ stops of dynamic range, the ZR can record up to 12K RAW video and supports multiple RAW and ProRes formats. Built‑in 32‑bit float audio, versatile mic patterns, and a high‑brightness 4‑inch display round out a feature set aimed at creators seeking high performance at a lower price point. Leggi di più

JBL announced the PartyBox 720, its largest battery-powered party speaker, offering 800 W of power, up to 15 hours of playtime, dual 9‑inch woofers, 30 mm dome tweeters, AI Sound Boost, Auracast multi‑speaker connectivity, USB‑C streaming, a synced lightshow, and XLR inputs for microphones and instruments. Priced at $1,099, it ships on September 21. JBL also introduced the Boombox 4, an updated portable speaker featuring AI Sound Boost, a lighter chassis, IP68 water and dust protection, Auracast linking, a replaceable battery lasting up to 28 hours, and a $550 price tag with three colorways, shipping on September 28. Leggi di più