Though you’re likely to hear many odd sounds on the CES showfloor, the last I expected to hear was amateur sing-alongs. Singing Machine, a company that makes karaoke products, announced this week that it’s working with the entertainment company Stingray to turn cars into self-contained karaoke setups.
There are a lot of portable Bluetooth speakers out there, but if you’re looking for something that not only has big sound but is IPX7 waterproof, your choices dwindle considerably. One company that does both of those things is Tribit, and some of its best products are on sale for up to 52 percent off at Amazon. Deals can be found on the 16W XSound Go ($30 or 41 percent off), StormBox Micro 2 ($47 instead of $70) and MaxSound Plus, now on sale for $48 or a full 52 percent off.
First on the list is the Tribit StormBox Micro 2, appearing perennially on best Bluetooth speaker lists including our own for 2022. It doesn’t stand out in terms of fidelity, but it pumps out copious amounts of volume. It’s also very portable, and the rear strap easily attaches to things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars. It doubles as a USB-C powerbank to charge your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two for party mode or stereo sound. It supports both iOS and Android, has 12 hours of battery life and is IP67 waterproof — all for just $47 (32 percent off).
If you want to spend the bare minimum without cutting corners, the Tribit XSound Go ($30, or 41 percent off) is a great choice. Its sound is clearer and louder than other budget Bluetooth speakers and it’s small enough to slip into a laptop bag. It offers 10 hours on a charge and is IPX7-rated, so it can survive a half-hour dunking in three feet of water.
Finally, there’s the Tribit MaxSound Plus ($48, or 52 percent off). As the name suggests, it’s exceptionally loud with 24W of power, while offering driving bass, adjustable EQ and more. You also get an exceptional 20 hours of battery life and again, that IPX7 waterproof rating. Tribit is also offering discounts on wireless earbuds, kids headphones, shower speakers and more.
Shop Tribit sound products at Amazon
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As concerns about the possible end of American democracy persist, let us remember: It’s always been the end.
CES 2023 marked the annual tech expo’s triumphant return after it went virtual in 2021 and faced lackluster attention in 2022. The general vibe? Well, you know that feeling you get when you had three months to write an essay but only got it done the week it was due? Las Vegas was certainly packed this year, but…
After canceling our CES plans in 2022 (and there wasn’t even a show in 2021), the Engadget team sent a dozen staffers to this year’s CES. The show wasn’t as busy as in pre-pandemic years, but many events were packed, and companies had plenty of announcements to dig into. So, what was the best of CES? You can check out all the award winners right here.
Our Best of the Best winner wasn’t a car or a TV that sticks to the wall. No, it’s Project Leonardo. This is Sony’s first piece of gaming hardware designed specifically for people with limited motor control – and it’s rather eye-catching.
This controller kit works out of the box with the PlayStation 5, offering two circular gamepads lined with swappable buttons, third-party accessory ports and other customizable inputs. The controllers sit flat on a table or mounted on a standard tripod. They can also pair with a DualSense to turn all three devices into a single gamepad, offering plenty of flexibility.
To make sure it delivered on its accessibility promises, Sony partnered with advocacy organizations including AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and Stack Up, much like Microsoft did with the revolutionary Xbox Adaptive Controller. Though there’s no release date or price for Project Leonardo yet, Sony is finally seizing an opportunity to expand the PS5 player base.
– Mat Smith
The Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.
LG Display’s latest foldable OLED can bend in both directions
MSI made a router with antennas that follow you around your house
US Department of Agriculture approves first-ever vaccine for honeybees
Seattle schools sue TikTok, Meta and other platforms over youth ‘mental health crisis’
Twitter has reportedly laid off more of its global content moderation team
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to announce its first mixed reality headset this spring, ahead of its annual WWDC conference in June. In a sign that a launch is finally on the horizon, Apple has reportedly shared the headset with a handful of high-profile software developers, giving them a first look at its new xrOS software. A focus on its newest hardware line will allegedly affect its heavy hitters, however.
The next version of the company’s iOS operating system will likely ship with “fewer major changes than originally planned” due to Apple reassigning software engineers to the xrOS team. “The same goes for macOS 14,” Gurman adds. The company apparently has no updates “of note” for its iPad, Apple Watch and audio product lines.
Roland’s 50th-anniversary celebration included a gorgeous Anniversary Concept Piano, built in collaboration with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku. The outside is one piece molded from Japanese Nara oak that hides a 360-degree 14-speaker system. Roland also built speakers into drones that hover above the piano, controlled by the player. Unfortunately, those couldn’t be flown on the showfloor at CES, because safety, so Roland dangled a pair of them from wires. Boo.
Samsung may have inadvertently confirmed it’ll unveil its next flagship phones early next month. The company’s Colombian website published a page revealing its next Galaxy Unpacked event is scheduled for February 1st, 2023. “Epic moments are approaching,” it read before the page was pulled offline. Samsung’s showcase for its flagship devices has crept earlier in the calendar over the years: For the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung held an event on February 9th, 2022.
HTC is hitting back at Meta’s Pro VR headset with the Vive XR Elite. The XR Elite matches plenty of the Quest Pro’s highlight specs, including support for 2K resolution to each eye, a 90Hz refresh rate and full standalone operation. However, weighing 625 grams (versus 722 for the Quest Pro) and with a more comfortable headband, the XR Elite does an even better job of delivering a breezy portable VR/AR experience. Despite its high points, the XR Elite also shares a lot of the same flaws as the Quest Pro. Starting at $1,099, it’s a bit cheaper than Meta’s $1,500 rival, but still pretty expensive. We put it to the test on the showfloor at CES 2023.
While none claimed a Best of CES award from Engadget, there was a boom in toilet-bowl technology. You could pitch this as a natural evolution of the fitness tracker, testing your pee for many easy-to-identify maladies. But is this truly the next frontier of consumer health tracking? These devices might never have the popularity of a Fitbit, but for medical facilities and assisted living complexes, they could be game-changing.
“Totally classless,” one observer tweeted when the Steelers mimicked chest compressions after a sack.
Raspberry Pi has launched the Camera Module 3 with big improvements, including higher resolution, infrared, HDR, autofocus, a wide angle FOV and more, the company announced. Not counting the interchangeable lens model introduced in 2020, it’s the company’s first new camera module in six years.
The previous Module 2 cameras used a Sony IMX219 8-megpixel sensor. However, the new models carry Sony’s new 12-megapixel IMX708 chip, which is not only larger but has more resolution. That translates to sharper images and also better low-light sensitivity. It also has a 16:9 aspect ratio, so HD video up to 1080p50 can be captured using the entire sensor area.
Better still, where the previous module had fixed autofocus, Module 3 has built-in powered autofocus capability. That makes them a bit thicker (up to 12.4mm compared to 9mm) but more versatile, letting you focus on objects ranging in distance from 5cm (2 inches) to infinity.
The standard field-of-view (FoV) variants provide a 66 degree horizontal field of view, roughly equivalent to a 28mm full-frame lens. The wide angle version, however, bumps that to 102 degrees horizontal (a 14mm full-frame lens). With a “more expensive and complex optical stack,” the wide-angle version is a bit thicker, 12.4 compared to 11.5mm, according to Raspberry Pi.
It also offers HDR capability, taking multiple simultaneous exposures with different exposure times. That lets you capture interior shots, for instance, with the correct exposure on both interior and exterior details. And finally, the NoIR (no infrared filter) sensors, first introduced with the Module 2, can effectively convert your Raspberry Pi into a night-vision camera.
The launch includes no less than four modules, including standard and wide angle models, both in visible light and NoIR infrared versions. Both the normal models start at $25, while the wide angle versions cost $35. They’re now available at Raspberry Pi’s store .
He also again insisted violent Capitol rioters were simply “protesting a dishonest election,” despite a complete lack of evidence of anything but a legitimate vote.
Anker is notable for its premium charging products, but you also pay a premium for the extra quality. You can now grab a number of Anker chargers and other smartphone accessors at Amazon with discounts of up to 46 percent. Some of the key items include the Anker 726 Charger Nano II 65W ($37 or 32 percent off), the 347 Power Bank, priced at $56 instead of the usual $100 and a two-pack of USB-C to Lightning cables ($24 or 37 percent off)
Shop Anker charging accessories at Amazon
If you need portable power for up to four devices, the 347 Power Bank delivers 40,000 mAh with USB-C high-speed charging for MacBooks, iPhones or Android smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and more. You can connect devices via the two USB-C and two USB-A ports to ensure they stay charged on the go. It’s on sale for $56 right now, saving your 44 percent off the full price.
Meanwhile, Anker’s 726 Nano II charger offers an impressive 65W of charging power in a small size. That lets you charge a single device like MacBook Pro/Air quickly at a size 50 percent smaller than the stock Apple charger. You can also charge up to two USB-C devices at a time. Normally priced at $60, you can pick it up now for $40 ($20 off).
Finally, Anker’s 10-foot PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning cable is available in a two-pack for $24, or 37 percent off the regular $30 price. That gets you a pair of long cables compatible with 20 watt USB-C chargers. Plenty of other Anker devices or on sale too, including the PowerExpand 8-in1 USB charger ($49 or 46 percent off), the 30W PowerPort Strip PD2 Mini ($26 instead of $40) and more.
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“I’ve learned you can’t rush it. I’ve learned that it takes time,” Jackman said.
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