Live updates: How to watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote
It’s WWDC, our favorite time of year when Apple shows off all of its new software. This year there are lots of exciting updates from iOS 12 to a very sleek MacOS 10.14. Here's how to watch the keynote, and we'll be updating this post live throughout the show to include major announcements.
LG has a solution for smelly concertgoers at the Bonnaroo festival
If you're attending the 2018 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, you might be surprised to see LG Electronics at the big event. The home appliance and electronics company is holding the "LaundRoo Lounge and Vintage Clothing Swap, Powered by LG."
Spotify admits fault, will work with civil rights groups on Hate Content policy
Weeks ago, Spotify removed several artists from promoted playlists under the new Hate Content policy. Now, following backlash from Kendrick Lamar and others, CEO Daniel Ek admitted fault and said the company is currently working on a new policy with civil rights activists.
Is laser-cut ‘HD Vinyl’ the Holy Grail for audiophiles, or just a gimmick?
Austrian music distributor Guenter Loibl wants to revolutionize the way vinyl records are made, using a precise industrial laser in the pressing process with an aim to offer increased fidelity and play time. We asked the experts: Can HD Vinyl deliver on such lofty promises, or do records already sound as good as they ever will?
Streaming music is clearly the future. Here’s why that sucks
Spotify and streaming services like Apple Music are taking over. But are we losing something valuable as we shift to on-demand music? Here’s why streaming isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Ditch the milk crates. Store your vinyl properly in this elegant DIY stand
Want a better way to store your vinyl collection than resorting to milk crates and repurposed bookshelves? Build yourself one of these awesome record stands! Not only does this design look great, but it doesn't require glue, screws, or even many tools.
From Aaliyah to Garth Brooks, here is the music you can’t find on Spotify
Spotify boasts a library of more than 30 million songs, meaning finding something to listen to is never tough. There are some artists, however, who continue to shun the popular streaming service for one reason or another. From Queen Bey to Dr. Dre, here are the biggest Spotify holdouts.
Pioneer’s newest in-dash receivers take CarPlay or Android Auto fully wireless
With even using your phone at all while in the driver’s seat being illegal in some states, options like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are becoming increasingly popular. Pioneer’s new NEX in-dash receivers make things even easier by letting you connect without even taking your phone out of your pocket.
Pop some brews and blast some tunes with Scosche’s new BoomBottle MM speaker
Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Scosche’s new BoomBottle MM is a twist on the standard Bluetooth speaker format that combines a rugged, waterproof build with handy features you never knew you needed in a speaker.
Looking for a drummer that won’t argue with you? Spider-like robot fits the bill
This oddball robotic creation is designed to play the cajón, the box-shaped drum that hails from Peru. Play, sing, or rap and Cabot will accompany you in the background by tapping out a handy rhythm to augment your jam session. Here's how you can get your hands on one.
Ossic X 3D headphones won’t ship, as company shuts its doors
The Ossic X were touted as the world’s first 3D headphones, and its crowdfunding campaigns raised more than $5 million. Unfortunately, this proved to be entirely insufficient, as Ossic has now shuttered, and will be unable to deliver tens of thousands of headphones it promised to early backers.
Did Tidal really fake Kanye and Beyoncé’s streaming numbers?
A Norwegian language newspaper claims that it has data that shows that popular high-fidelity streaming service Tidal manipulated listening data for two of its biggest artists, generating bigger streaming payouts for the artists. The evidence posed, if true, is compelling, but Tidal is vehemently fighting the claims.
The Backstreet Boys are back, and their new single is … a banger?
All-male pop quintet The Backstreet Boys have returned with their first new single in five years after a three-day social media countdown, and we've got to admit -- from coordinated dance moves and matching outfits to solo vocal runs -- the aging boy band has still got it.
Sennheiser’s CX Sport in-ears are tough enough to keep up with your daily run
Sennheiser’s CX series of headphones have always been for people on the go, and the new CX Sport in-ear Bluetooth headphones combine a tough build, lightweight construction, and customizable fit to make sure they can keep up with your fitness regime, no matter how intense it might get.
Revamped YouTube Music is Google’s latest effort to take on Spotify
With so many people hitting YouTube for their music fix, parent Google has always felt well placed to attract people to a subscription-based music service. But up to now the company has failed to nail it. Now it hopes that with the launch of a revamped YouTube Music service on Tuesday, it's a step closer to its goal.
AirFly connects wireless headphones to wired-only devices
There are plenty of gadgets out there that will help you use your wired headphones with a Bluetooth device, but what about the other way around? The AirFly does exactly that, letting you use your wireless headphones with any device that has a headphone jack, even your old Walkman.
Apple Music hits 50 million users, doubles down on original content
Apple Music is growing, and growing fast. In a recent appearance on Bloomberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the service's latest subscriber numbers. In total, Apple Music now boasts 50 million users, a figure that includes both paid members and trials. In April, Apple said it had 40 million paid subscribers.
Master and Dynamic’s MW50+ are a flexible take on already-great headphones
Master and Dynamic released its MW50 wireless headphones in 2016, and when we got our hands on them we found they both looked and sounded great. Now the company has released a follow-up in the MW50+, which keep the look and sound but offer a more flexible experience than the original.
Apple Music: How to cancel your subscription
For folks who own an Apple product, an Apple Music subscription is the best of both worlds, allowing you to listen to music alongside those songs you've already purchased and downloaded. But sometimes it makes more sense to cut ties with the service. Here's how to cancel your Apple Music subscription.
Plex for Sonos unlocks your music library’s full potential
While you probably think of Plex as a video-centric service, it can also be used to manage and stream music. For Sonos users, it opens up the doors to audio files that could previously not be played. Once the service is set up, you’ll be able to browse your collection by artist or album.
Who’s next? As it snubs R. Kelly, Spotify opens a moral can of worms
Spotify recently introduced a new Hate Content & Hateful Conduct Policy, removing R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from its curated and algorithmic playlists. Apple Music and Pandora are also pulling material promoting Kelly. Is it justified? And how does this decision impact the streaming industry at large?
Kendrick Lamar’s using AR to sell pairs of the new Cortez Kenny on tour
During Top Dawg Entertainment's nationwide Championship Tour, fans will get the chance to purchase Kendrick Lamar's new Cortez Kenny sneakers using Nike's SNKRS app -- but only if they're at the show. Fans who don't attend will have an opportunity to buy the sneakers via the app at a later time.
You may be able to step foot into this massive Google Home Max
At Google I/O 2018, we stepped inside a larger than life-size Google Home Max to experience a wave of sound and immersive visuals. This big structure, which first popped up at Coachella, showcases the audio capabilities of the Google Home Max smart speaker, and it may be toured around the country.
Technics’ gorgeous new compact speaker is a powerhouse of audio tech
Technics unveiled its new premium class Ottava S SC-C50 compact speaker system at the High End 2018 show in Munich, Germany, and while the system may be housed in a relatively small package, it looks like the audio power the 3.1-channel system reproduces will be anything but.
With Astell & Kern’s latest hi-res audio players, there’s something for everyone
Astell & Kern is known for its excellent high-resolution audio players, and now the company has given audio enthusiasts even more options for portable listening with the launch of two new lines of players in the premium A&futura line and the more affordable A&norma line.
Como Audio debuts a new streaming Wi-Fi music system and a turntable to match
Como Audio has announced a new streaming Wi-Fi multiroom wireless music system called the SpeakEasy. To make sure you can play your entire music collection through the SpeakEasy, the company is also debuting its first turntable, which can stream your records to the SpeakEasy via Wi-Fi.
Tivoli Audio makes its signature style portable with its new Go collection
Tivoli Audio is known for its products that not only sound great but look great as well. Now the company has introduced its new portable Go collection, which takes its stylish audio gear on the move, as well as new models in the company’s home décor-matching ART collection.
Marshall’s Major III headphones crank up audio quality, keep classic design
Marshall’s Major III headphones are the company’s third take on the line, and it seems the company doesn’t want to fix what isn’t broken, as the headphones offer improved audio quality while keeping the design and 30-hour battery life of the previous Major II Wireless model.
Fluance’s new bookshelf speakers pack major performance into a small package
Bookshelf speakers are among the most versatile type of speaker, capable of producing serious sound without filling a room full of speakers. Fluance’s new Ai40 powered bookshelf speakers are just this type of speaker, making for a great music experience, no matter how small a space you have available.
PS Audio’s Sprout100 doubles the power on an already impressive amplifier
PS Audio’s Sprout digital integrated amplifier impressed us with its combination of great-sounding audio and ease of use. Now the company is back with a next generation version in the Sprout100 that keeps everything great about the original while doubling the power output.
Want to learn to play bass guitar? Fret Zealot teaches rhythm section wannabes
Remember how the Guitar Hero game made us all feel like we were one wrecked hotel room and a pair of uncomfortably tight leather pants away from being rock gods? Fret Zealot uses a similar idea (the Guitar Hero bit, not the hotel room-trashing and tight pants) to help you master the guitar for real.
Adrian Younge makes music for everything from orchestras to Netflix’s ‘Luke Cage’
In speaking with musician Adrian Younge, you instantly realize his DNA is probably made up of musical notes. He proudly eschews modern digital recording techniques in favor of more time-consuming analog ones. Along with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, he created the rapturous score for the Netflix series Luke Cage.
Mamma Mia! ABBA will share new music, return to stage as holograms
Fans of the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA have a lot to be excited about in 2018 and 2019, as the band has announced a delightful blend of new music, and a fresh stage show that involves the acclaimed quartet being "digitally de-aged" to look identical to the way they did in 1979.
Google will reportedly kill Play Music when it launches YouTube Remix
Google is reported to be planning to launch a new streaming service called YouTube Remix later this year -- and when it does it will reportedly put an end to Google Play Music, its current most-used music streaming services. The existence of YouTube Remix has been rumored since the end of last year.