Tuning frictional behavior on the fly has been a long-standing engineering dream. This new insight into how surface geometry governs slip pulses paves the way for tunable frictional metamaterials that can transition from low-friction to high-grip states on demand.
Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Phone 4a series on March 5th, with compatibility with the Phone 4a Series via ChatGPT to hear Nothing News or Essential Space, its information hub app. Nothing nailed the audio quality in its previous headphones, as I've written while testing its open-ear Nothing Open and the Nothing Ear (a). It's no different here, with neutral and clear sound fit for all-day listening.
The ring-like portable speaker has a lanyard that lets users hook it onto a backpack or simply carry it around the wrist. Another option is to wear it around the neck, turning the device into a personal stereo system that surrounds the user with sound while remaining lightweight and portable.
In the fast-paced race to load AI into every smartphone, laptop, tablet, and earbud, the flashiest AI-powered features usually receive the most attention. When your earbuds use AI to perform real-time translation services or allow hands-free access to a gen AI chatbot, you'll know. There's another way your earbuds use AI that isn't as exciting to talk about, but when it's done well, it's incredibly valuable: AI-powered adaptive noise cancellation.
I tend to find them underwhelming because overall sound quality is subpar compared to the more "traditional" in-ear models. Any promise of noise reduction, or a far-fetched claim of noise cancellation, usually doesn't hold true. The first time I used the Shokz OpenFit Pro ($249.95) I was immediately met with better audio performance than I'd just experienced on Sony's new LinkBuds Clip and noise reduction technology that actually lessened some distractions.
When people breathe, speak, sing or clear their throats, their bodies are in constant motion. Air flowing through the lungs, the oscillation of vocal folds in the throat and the rhythmic expansion of the chest all produce tiny vibrations that carry valuable information about physiology and health. However, constructing a device that can capture all of these physiological signals has remained a challenge.
Few audio fans will deny that Klipsch's products sound fantastic, whether it's reproduced through the company's high-end reference speakers or its consumer-friendly headphones. The HP-1 are the company's ANC-enabled headphones, targeted to travelers and everyday listeners. Their design features authentic wood accents and a leather headband and earpads. Internally, the HP-1 feature a coaxial driver, a rarity in consumer headphones, which should provide exceptional audio imaging.