The Spotify-Siri integration that Apple users have been asking for is here
After years of waiting, a new Spotify update adds the ability to use Siri to summon up your favorite artists, album, and tracks. The feature works on mobile devices with iOS 13, including vehicles equipped with CarPlay, and there's also a new Spotify app for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K.
Walmart-exclusive Roku soundbar and sub put price before performance
The new Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer are great ways to add streaming smarts and better audio quality to any TV setup, but at $180 each, they're still not affordable for everyone. Walmart's exclusive versions of these products fix that, but the performance and features have taken a hit.
LG’s Tone+ Free are true wireless earbuds for germaphobes
Wondering what the next killer feature is for true wireless earbuds? As it turns out, it's a literal killer feature: LG's Tone+ Free earbuds have a UV light inside their charging case that's meant to reduce or eliminate any bugs that might be hiding out. Otherwise, the Tone+ Free have a standard set of features.
Marshall updates its Major III wireless headphones with Google Assistant
Improving on a popular product is always risky, but Marshall seems to have gambled and won with its new $169 Major III Voice, an update to its wireless Major II headphones that adds both Google Assistant access and an enormous boost in battery life. Here's what we know about the new cans.
Pandora revamps its mobile apps with more personalization and unique content
Pandora has a new mobile app experience for iOS and Android that puts a heavier emphasis on personalization, discovery, and the company's unique content and features. It leans heavily on its podcasts and SiriusXM shows while giving users new ways to tweak what they hear on the app's Stations.
TiVo debuts the Edge DVR and TiVo+, its own livestreaming service
TiVo is back with the TiVo Edge, a new 4K DVR that also packs Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos technologies. Available in cable and antenna versions, the two models are joined by TiVo+, the company's answer to free streaming content like the Roku Channel and Amazon Channels. The new DVRs start at $350.
You can now buy Klipsch’s new WiSA-certified wireless home theater speakers
First shown off at CES 2019, the new wireless home theater speakers from Klipsch let you create anywhere from a 2.0 to a 7.1 surround sound system without the use of wires, or even an A/V receiver. The WiSA-certified models include bookshelf monitors, a center channel, and a subwoofer.
You can finally watch YouTube TV on Amazon Fire TV devices
Due to a very public spat between Amazon and Google, it was impossible to watch YouTube TV on an Amazon Fire TV device. But after a reconciliation earlier this year, that has now changed, with Amazon announcing full support for Google's live-TV streaming service on all but two of its Fire TV streamers.
Spotify now lets you mix tunes and talk with podcast playlists
Playlists have always been a big part of Spotify, and now they're set to become even bigger with the ability to create podcast-based playlists. It's a mobile-only feature for now, but users can create huge lists of podcast episodes for listening on-the-go, or they can add podcasts to existing playlists.
Amazon takes a shot at Apple and Sonos with $199 Echo Studio, a 3D smart speaker
Amazon has just put companies like Apple and Sonos on notice: It's getting into the high-quality speaker game with its $199 Echo Studio, an immersive, 3D smart speaker that is designed to work with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 sound formats.
Dolby Atmos Music will make its streaming debut on Amazon Music HD
Dolby Labs has been telling us that its Atmos Music is going to revolutionize music for years. But with precious few ways to experience it, it was hard to get excited. A new partnership with Amazon Music changes everything as Atmos Music will finally be able to be streamed.
Here’s how to get tvOS 13 with Apple Arcade for your Apple TV
After a long wait, tvOS 13, with its many new features, is finally here for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD users. With a new home screen, multiple user accounts, Apple Arcade, and a revamped Apple Music experience, it's a big upgrade. What does tvOS 13 include and how can you get it right now? We have the answers.
Spotify’s new personalized playlists deliver your favorite tunes with one tap
In the streaming music wars, Spotify is still the king, and its music discovery playlists are a big reason why. Its latest playlists go in the other direction, mining users' play history on the service to dig up the most-listened-to tracks from both the last 30 days as well as the less recent past.
Buy the LG Z9 — an 88-inch 8K OLED TV — right now for just $30,000
The biggest, highest-res OLED TV you can buy is now available in the U.S. for just $30,000. That's the price for an LG Signature Z9 88-inch Class 8K Smart OLED TV, which takes its rightful place as the company's new flagship, beside its slightly smaller (and cheaper) 75-inch NanoCell 8K TV sibling.
Fox Sports’ Thursday Night Football goes 4K HDR for the first time
For the first time, NFL fans will be able to watch the Thursday Night Football matchups in 4K and HDR. Fox Sports, which won the rights to the live broadcasts in 2018, will be making the ultra-high-definition video available via traditional satellite and cable companies, and via several streaming services.
TCL’s 6-series Roku TVs are now on sale, with more new sets to follow in 2020
Here are the details on TCL's 2019 lineup of new TVs -- the 8-, 6-, and 5-Series -- and what they'll cost. The new 6-Series is already on sale, and the 8-series with its QLED display and a huge number of mini-LEDs, looks especially promising, but TCL is withholding the 8K versions until 2020.
Apple’s next AirPods case may be waterproof and let you recharge an Apple Watch
Apple didn't exactly wow us with its update to the AirPods earlier this year. In particular, they're still not water-resistant. But if a newly published patent application is any indication, the next version could be. Descriptions of the charging case suggest it will be waterproof, and let you recharge an Apple Watch.
Amazon Music HD offers hi-res streaming for a lot less than Tidal
Amazon has added a high-quality tier to its music streaming service called Amazon Music HD. It will offer over 50 million tracks in lossless CD-quality, and many of these will also be available in hi-res format, which has better-than-CD-quality. Prime members get it for as little as $13 per month.
Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will strut into homes in April 2020
After months of speculation, NBCUniversal has firmed up several details around its planned streaming service. It will launch in April 2020, it will have virtually all of NBC's biggest hit shows, including The Office, and it will be called Peacock -- named for NBC's famous multicolored logo.
These are the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays to show off your home theater
What good is a 4K TV if you don't have the means of pushing it to its limits? If you're looking to bask in the sheer glory of your new 4K Ultra HD TV, you're going to need the right movies to make the most out of it. We've put together a shortlist of our favorite 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays.
Sony’s insane 16-foot Crystal LED screens will cost more than a Ferrari
In a surprise move, Sony has announced that its MicroLED displays that can scale up to a whopping 16K, 17-feet in size, are now available to consumers who can afford to buy them. At a reported price of $10,000 per module, the least expensive version will cost $180,000 -- and that is not a 4K model.
Epson’s new projection screen stops ambient light from washing out your movies
Epson has just announced a pair of new 4K laser-projection TVs, but what has us fascinated is the screens these projectors come with. They're specially treated to deflect ambient light away from viewers while ensuring that the light from the projector makes it through uninterrupted.
Ikea gives us a closer look at its Sonos/Symfonisk wireless controller
As Ikea gets closer to finally launching its remote volume control for its Sonos-built Symfonisk speakers, we've now got some more details on how the remote control works and what it will cost, thanks to Ikea's France website, which has released an entire product page for the Symfonisk volume remote control.
Apple HomePod is getting multi-user support but will that satisfy its critics?
Apple's HomePod sounds amazing, but since its launch, it has been criticized for being heavy on price while light on features. Apple has now revealed some new abilities are headed to HomePod in the fall, like multi-user support and radio stations. Will they be enough to please buyers?
Samsung and SK Telecom team up for what they hope is the first 5G-powered 8K TV
Now that Huawei and Sharp have announced their intentions to build and sell consumer 8K TVs with embedded 5G technology, it makes sense that Samsung, one of the first adopters of 8K technology, is promising to do the same, at least in South Korea, where it has partnered with SK Telecom.
We might see an Apple TV mini at tomorrow’s iPhone event
A recent discovery is leading some to speculate that in addition to the expected iPhone refresh at Apple's September 10 event, we could see an Apple TV mini. The rumors are based on a listing that shows the device with a new A12 chip. But what would such a speedy processor mean?
FuboTV’s totally free sports network hopes to put ESPN on notice
FuboTV, provider of a sports-centric subscription streaming TV service is launching a free sports-only channel called Fubo Sports Network. The channel will be launch on Xumo-powered services like LG's Channel Plus and FuboTV's own base package, featuring a mix of live events, news, and original shows.
Spotify’s improved family plan features now available to new subscribers
Spotify has added a feature that has long been on parents' wish lists: The ability to filter explicit content on the sub-accounts of Spotify family plans. For some, the lack of such a feature has been a reason to join services like Apple Music, which makes the new controls an important addition.
Polk Audio’s Legend Series is an impressive new flagship speaker line
Polk Audio, a brand with a reputation for high-quality but affordable speakers, has decided to go upmarket with its latest flagship speaker series called Legend. With prices that start at $1,199 for a pair of bookshelf models and go up sharply from there, these are not your average Polk speakers.
Braun reinvents its classic speakers with Google Assistant to compete with Sonos
Braun has partnered with the U.K.'s Pure Audio to revive its iconic LE line of speakers, with tech and features that put it on par with today's best wireless audio products. The three new speaker models clearly pay homage to Dieter Rams' original designs, but the price may scare off all but the most ardent Braun fans.
JBL’s colorful new wireless speakers brighten up any party or situation
JBL came out with a slew of new audio products for IFA 2019, including the colorful Pulse 4, the Link Music and Link Portable smart speaker duo, and three new soundbar packages that can add immersive sound to any size of home theater. They all arrive this fall and we've got the low-down on prices and features.
Jabra’s new Elite 75t true wireless buds offer 7.5 hours of battery life
In what appears to be a case evolution, not a revolution, Jabra has released the Elite 75t -- the successor to the company's excellent Elite 65t true wireless earbuds. The $200 earbuds improve on the 65t's battery life and comfort, with a few tweaks to the charging case thrown in for good measure.
Sonos unveils updated Play:1 and Connect with new names, new features
The Sonos Play:1 and Sonos Connect have been mainstays of the company's wireless audio product lineup for years, but now it's time for a change. The Play:1 is now superseded by the $179 One SL, designed to stereo pair with a Sonos One, and the new $399 Port replaces the Connect. Here are all the details.
Sennheiser makes its Momentum Wireless headphones smarter and more affordable
How do you improve on a set of wireless headphones that are already among the best-sounding cans you can buy? Make 'em smarter. That's what Sennheiser has done with the latest generation of its Momentum Wireless noise-canceling headphones. Hands-free operation and voice assistant access are just the start.