New Xbox Designs for 2024 Leaked
Recently, a document was leaked during the FTC vs Microsoft case revealing their plans to refresh the current line of consoles in 2024. This includes the Series X, Series S, and a brand-new controller. The most eye-catching change is definitely to the Series X console, going from a boxy, fridge-like design to a much smoother […]
SAR at IFA
IFA 2023 unveiled many interesting new products and even some surprising trends. SAR was there to ensure we got all the inside knowledge. Our first takeaway from the Berlin-based electronics show was the drive to XR. At SAR we have been anticipating the rise in these products for a few years now, however, IFA was […]
Bang & Olufsen Unveils Its New Beolab 8 Wireless Speaker
Beolab 8—the attractive new room speaker offering from Bang & Olufsen—is now being welcomed to homes. The news comes as Sonos also welcomes a predecessor to its battery-powered lineup, the Sonos Move 2. The Beolab 8 comes with a few standout features, for example beam-width control which adapts to listening profiles. Also UWB (ultra-wide band) […]
Samsung Unveils Vision for AI-Powered Home Appliances Revolution
The IFA show floor was packed with the latest home appliances from a wide range of brands and demonstrated just how far the market has transitioned to connected devices. Some brands such as LG have gone all in for connected appliances, adding Wi-Fi to most of the range, through its ThinQ platform. SAR’s latest home […]
Solar power to improve speaker performance
Urbanista has continued its venture into sustainable consumer devices by releasing a new light-powered speaker made from recycled materials. The speaker, which retails for $149, is fully waterproof and offers a USB-C charging port if the solar charge is not fast enough. While at SAR we don’t expect solar to be the primary source of […]
Garmin signs purchase agreement to acquire JL Audio, a highly regarded audio solutions manufacturer
Announced just this week is that Garmin is one step closer to acquiring JL Audio. This partnership will be significant due to the potential gains for Garmin in audio engineering expertise. Most notably we are aware of Garmin for its contribution to GPS technologies across a range of markets, including automotive, marine, and fitness/outdoors. JL […]
Exotic New Silicon-Based Speakers Are Coming to Next-Generation Earbuds
MEMS speakers design wins are starting to accelerate, and the technology is being recognised by more media outlets. Recently I was invited to help WSJ journalist Christopher Mims with an article discussing the market, highlighting two vendors xMEMS and uSound. Here are some of the quotes from me, for more details please view the full article […]
Cirrus Logic Helps Ease PC Industry Transition to New MIPI SoundWire® Interface
Source: https://www.cirrus.com/applications/laptops-and-tablets/laptops/ Soundwire, initially launched in 2014, serves as a common interface to facilitate audio features and functions across diverse devices. It underwent an update in 2022 to extend its reach in the market by supporting more sophisticated audio components. The PC space is seen as fertile ground for audio improvement. Several vendors are seeking to […]
Wires vs Lossless Codecs
Apple has just released the latest product from their subsidiary, Beats. The new Beats Studio Pro’s, which retail for $349.99, ironically still comes with wired connections. Despite Apple being the company that inspired many others to drop any connection holes from smartphones in the first place. This has been done to allow users to stream […]
TikTok beta tests premium only streaming service
TikTok is attempting to penetrate the already saturated digital music streaming market. The news recently comes as an expansion to beta testing offered in Brazil and Indonesia. According to the news, “TikTok says it’s inviting users in Australia, Mexico and Singapore to participate in the TikTok Music closed beta test starting today.”This is very significant as […]