Month: June 2023
A free update to WiiM’s cheap wireless high-res music streamer adds a great feature found on expensive streamers
A free upgrade to the WiiM Pro adds Roon Ready certification, making a great wireless music streamer even better
At just $149 (£149 / around AU$225) the WiiM Pro is an inexpensive music streamer that packs the kind of feature set you’d expect to see on streamers priced much higher. That fact alone makes it an incredible value, but the company has just announced that the WiiM Pro has received Roon Ready certification – a feature typically found on the kind of high-end audio components with stratospheric pricing.
In our WiiM Pro review, we found it to be an excellent option for adding not just high-res streaming capability to an existing speaker system, but also for wireless multi-room streaming capability. Same as with a Sonos setup, this lets you listen to tracks from the best music streaming services on a single system, or play them across multiple systems with everything managed by an easy to use control app.
Roon’s extensive metadata makes listening to music a multi-media experience (Image credit: Roon Labs)
What Roon Ready certification adds to the mix is the ability to use the WiiM Pro as an endpoint for Roon’s sophisticated music management and playback software. If you’re not familiar with Roon, here’s how it’s described in WiiM’s press release announcing the update:
“Roon is a rich and engaging way to browse, organize and listen to music. Artist photos, credits, bios, reviews, lyrics, tour dates and composers are located automatically, then interconnected by links to build a surfable digital magazine. Through Roon Ready, the WiiM Pro offers a multi-room, multi-user networked audio platform featuring bit-perfect playback, DSD and PCM upsampling, multichannel support and Signal Path display.”
You can buy a Roon Ready version of the WiiM Pro now on Amazon. And if you already happen to own a WiiM Pro, you will receive a notification prompting you to upgrade to the latest version of its software to enable the feature.
Analysis: Roon Ready certification makes a great, affordable streamer even better
I’ve been using the WiiM Pro as the streamer in my speaker system for a few months now, and I’m impressed with how good it sounds for the money. I’m equally impressed that it lets me access Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora, Deezer, TuneIn radio and more directly from its control app without having to launch any of those services individually.
Roon works in similar fashion, aggregating high-res-compatible services like Tidal and Qobuz along with internet radio stations and music files stored locally on your network. And it presents everything in a visually stunning app that you can use to control playback from on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Not only that, but Roon’s extensive metadata offers up artist biographies, discographies, song credits, and much more to browse while listening. And it also has an almost frighteningly accurate discovery and recommendation engine, one that puts other streaming music apps to shame.
WiiM Pro’s characterization of it as a “surfable digital magazine” is completely spot-on – you don’t just listening to music when using Roon; you experience it as a multi-media presentation.
As a Roon user, I’m used to making do with that software’s AirPlay support to stream music to devices like the WiiM Pro and the Apple TV 4K. And while AirPlay works fine, you’re not able to take advantage of Roon’s high-res audio compatibility since Apple’s wireless streaming protocol limits resolution to a CD-level quality.
With the WiiM Pro getting upgraded to Roon Ready status, I can now stream music wirelessly in high-res format from Tidal and Qobuz via Roon, which should make an appreciable difference when listening with the best stereo speakers. In some instances you’ll pay thousands of dollars for that privilege. With the upgraded WiiM Pro, however, it will cost a mere $149.
Sony didn’t want ‘Roblox’ on PlayStation due to child safety concerns
Sony blocked Roblox from PlayStation consoles because it was worried about inappropriate content reaching children. The revelation comes from a 2022 document, first reported byAxios, uncovered in the FTC’s Microsoft trial. However, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan said at the time that the company’s stance was softening, leaving the door open to an eventual PlayStation port for the viral user-generated platform.Ryan explained the decision to withhold Roblox to investors early last year. “Historically, because of the large number of children that play on the PlayStation, we have been very careful with regards to opening them up to anything that could potentially exploit them,” he said at the time. But he struck an optimistic tone for investors eager to see Roblox on Sony consoles. “Over the last couple of years, however, we have reviewed those policies and relaxed a little on this. We have been conservative for too long, and now we are currently engaging with people at Roblox. We hope that the situation will change.”Despite making the comments over a year ago, Roblox still isn’t on PlayStation consoles. The beloved title, which lets users create, share and play user-created content, is available for Xbox, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. Nintendo hasn’t commented on Roblox’s lack of availability for Switch, but the console maker has also historically erred on the side of caution in keeping inappropriate content away from kids.Roblox introduced a content rating system in 2021 to help parents better control the user-created games their children play. More than half of the platform’s daily users are under 13. Although it forbids content displaying sexual activity, illegal substances and swearing, occasional rule-breaking content can slip past moderation in user-created titles. In addition, Roblox is working to hang onto its users as they grow, now allowing content for players 17 and older. It says the 17 to 24 age range is its fastest-growing segment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-didnt-want-roblox-on-playstation-due-to-child-safety-concerns-200631635.html?src=rss
Sony blocked Roblox from PlayStation consoles because it was worried about inappropriate content reaching children. The revelation comes from a 2022 document, first reported byAxios, uncovered in the FTC’s Microsoft trial. However, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan said at the time that the company’s stance was softening, leaving the door open to an eventual PlayStation port for the viral user-generated platform.
Ryan explained the decision to withhold Roblox to investors early last year. “Historically, because of the large number of children that play on the PlayStation, we have been very careful with regards to opening them up to anything that could potentially exploit them,” he said at the time. But he struck an optimistic tone for investors eager to see Roblox on Sony consoles. “Over the last couple of years, however, we have reviewed those policies and relaxed a little on this. We have been conservative for too long, and now we are currently engaging with people at Roblox. We hope that the situation will change.”
Despite making the comments over a year ago, Roblox still isn’t on PlayStation consoles. The beloved title, which lets users create, share and play user-created content, is available for Xbox, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. Nintendo hasn’t commented on Roblox’s lack of availability for Switch, but the console maker has also historically erred on the side of caution in keeping inappropriate content away from kids.
Roblox introduced a content rating system in 2021 to help parents better control the user-created games their children play. More than half of the platform’s daily users are under 13. Although it forbids content displaying sexual activity, illegal substances and swearing, occasional rule-breaking content can slip past moderation in user-created titles. In addition, Roblox is working to hang onto its users as they grow, now allowing content for players 17 and older. It says the 17 to 24 age range is its fastest-growing segment.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-didnt-want-roblox-on-playstation-due-to-child-safety-concerns-200631635.html?src=rss
TSMC Says Some Of Its Data Was Swept Up in a Hack on a Hardware Supplier
Chipmaker TSMC said on Friday that one of its hardware suppliers experienced a “security incident” that allowed the attackers to obtain configurations and settings for some of the servers the company uses in its corporate network. From a report: The disclosure came a day after the LockBit ransomware crime syndicate listed TSMC on its extortion site and threatened to publish the data unless it received a payment of $70 million. The hardware supplier, Kinmax Technology, confirmed that one of its test environments had been attacked by an external group, which was then able to retrieve configuration files and other parameter information. The company said it learned of the breach on Thursday and immediately shut down the compromised systems and notified the affected customer.
“Since the above information has nothing to do with the actual application of the customer, it is only the basic setting at the time of shipment,” Kinmax officials wrote. “At present, no damage has been caused to the customer, and the customer has not been hacked by it.” In an email, a TSMC representative wrote, “Upon review, this incident has not affected TSMC’s business operations, nor did it compromise any TSMC’s customer information. After the incident, TSMC has immediately terminated its data exchange with this supplier in accordance with the Company’s security protocols and standard operating procedures.” The statement didn’t say if TSMC has been contacted by the attackers or if it plans to pay the ransom.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Chipmaker TSMC said on Friday that one of its hardware suppliers experienced a “security incident” that allowed the attackers to obtain configurations and settings for some of the servers the company uses in its corporate network. From a report: The disclosure came a day after the LockBit ransomware crime syndicate listed TSMC on its extortion site and threatened to publish the data unless it received a payment of $70 million. The hardware supplier, Kinmax Technology, confirmed that one of its test environments had been attacked by an external group, which was then able to retrieve configuration files and other parameter information. The company said it learned of the breach on Thursday and immediately shut down the compromised systems and notified the affected customer.
“Since the above information has nothing to do with the actual application of the customer, it is only the basic setting at the time of shipment,” Kinmax officials wrote. “At present, no damage has been caused to the customer, and the customer has not been hacked by it.” In an email, a TSMC representative wrote, “Upon review, this incident has not affected TSMC’s business operations, nor did it compromise any TSMC’s customer information. After the incident, TSMC has immediately terminated its data exchange with this supplier in accordance with the Company’s security protocols and standard operating procedures.” The statement didn’t say if TSMC has been contacted by the attackers or if it plans to pay the ransom.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Popular Reddit App Apollo Shutting Down After Today, Pixel Pals Migration Feature Added
Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo is set to shut down after today as Reddit will be implementing its paid API changes tomorrow. Apollo’s shuttering was announced earlier in June after developer Christian Selig was unable to work out a deal with Reddit to keep the app functional.
Reddit as of tomorrow will be charging third-party developers who use its API. Every 1,000 API calls will be priced at $0.24, with 50 million available for $12,000. With the number of users that Apollo has and the average API calls used per person, Selig calculated that he would need to pay $1.7 million per month or $20 million per year to keep Apollo functional, a price point that he was not able to work with.
Selig was only given 30 days notice to implement changes before Reddit would begin charging for API access, which he said was not enough time to change Apollo’s business model and make the necessary updates to accommodate the fees. Apollo has free tier users, those who pay by month, lifetime subscription users, and yearly subscribers, a complicated mix that would leave Selig without sufficient monthly revenue to pay for the API usage within Reddit’s timeline.
Apollo’s yearly subscribers will receive a refund for the time remaining on their subscriptions, but those who have enjoyed Apollo during the time that it was available have the option to decline the refund. Selig estimates that he will need to pay around $250,000 to refund subscribers. “It’s been the pleasure of a lifetime building Apollo for you over the last nine years. I thank you so much for your kindness, input, and generosity over the years,” Selig wrote yesterday.
Customers who do not want a refund can log into the Apollo app and turn it down, otherwise the refunds are automatic. Selig plans to shut down Apollo in the hours ahead of July 1 to avoid Reddit’s fees. Other Reddit apps like Reddit is Fun will also be shutting down prior to tomorrow.
I released the final update to Apollo for Reddit! It tidies up things for the closure later today, adds some really cool easter eggs, and lets you migrate your pixel pals from Apollo to the separate Pixel Pals app, which also unlocks an Apollo Pixel Pal so he can live on ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MJgPTiqccF— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) June 30, 2023
Apollo today received one last update ahead of the app’s shutdown, with Selig implementing a feature that allows Apollo users to transfer their Pixel Pals to the official Pixel Pals app. [Direct Link]Tags: Apollo, RedditThis article, “Popular Reddit App Apollo Shutting Down After Today, Pixel Pals Migration Feature Added” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo is set to shut down after today as Reddit will be implementing its paid API changes tomorrow. Apollo’s shuttering was announced earlier in June after developer Christian Selig was unable to work out a deal with Reddit to keep the app functional.
Reddit as of tomorrow will be charging third-party developers who use its API. Every 1,000 API calls will be priced at $0.24, with 50 million available for $12,000. With the number of users that Apollo has and the average API calls used per person, Selig calculated that he would need to pay $1.7 million per month or $20 million per year to keep Apollo functional, a price point that he was not able to work with.
Selig was only given 30 days notice to implement changes before Reddit would begin charging for API access, which he said was not enough time to change Apollo’s business model and make the necessary updates to accommodate the fees. Apollo has free tier users, those who pay by month, lifetime subscription users, and yearly subscribers, a complicated mix that would leave Selig without sufficient monthly revenue to pay for the API usage within Reddit’s timeline.
Apollo’s yearly subscribers will receive a refund for the time remaining on their subscriptions, but those who have enjoyed Apollo during the time that it was available have the option to decline the refund. Selig estimates that he will need to pay around $250,000 to refund subscribers. “It’s been the pleasure of a lifetime building Apollo for you over the last nine years. I thank you so much for your kindness, input, and generosity over the years,” Selig wrote yesterday.
Customers who do not want a refund can log into the Apollo app and turn it down, otherwise the refunds are automatic. Selig plans to shut down Apollo in the hours ahead of July 1 to avoid Reddit’s fees. Other Reddit apps like Reddit is Fun will also be shutting down prior to tomorrow.
I released the final update to Apollo for Reddit! It tidies up things for the closure later today, adds some really cool easter eggs, and lets you migrate your pixel pals from Apollo to the separate Pixel Pals app, which also unlocks an Apollo Pixel Pal so he can live on ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MJgPTiqccF
— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) June 30, 2023
Apollo today received one last update ahead of the app’s shutdown, with Selig implementing a feature that allows Apollo users to transfer their Pixel Pals to the official Pixel Pals app. [Direct Link]
This article, “Popular Reddit App Apollo Shutting Down After Today, Pixel Pals Migration Feature Added” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Huawei’s Ambitious Plan to Introduce 5.5G Network Equipment by 2024
Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, recently made a bold announcement during the MWC Shanghai event, stating that it plans to
The post Huawei’s Ambitious Plan to Introduce 5.5G Network Equipment by 2024 appeared first on ReadWrite.
Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, recently made a bold announcement during the MWC Shanghai event, stating that it plans to provide all the necessary components for running a 5.5G network by 2024. This move is seen as an attempt by Huawei to position its upcoming release, known as 5.5G, as the next iteration of 5G technology. However, the term “5.5G” is not yet recognized by the standardization bodies responsible for defining 5G and related standards. Let’s delve deeper into Huawei’s ambitious plans and the potential implications for the industry.
While the term “5.5G” is not officially recognized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the organization responsible for defining 5G and its evolution, Huawei aims to establish it as the next stage of 5G technology. Yang Chaobin, the director and president of ICT Products & Solutions at Huawei, envisions the launch of 5.5G as the beginning of a new era for the industry. However, it is important to note that the 3GPP is currently focused on evolving 5G through its work on Release 18, also known as “5G-Advanced.”
Release 18 includes significant enhancements, such as 10Gbps connections and the utilization of mmWave frequencies. These advancements aim to improve network performance and availability. Although the term 5.5G is not formally recognized, Huawei remains confident in its ability to deliver advanced technologies, including AI-native capabilities, to further enhance network capabilities.
Huawei’s announcement showcases its intention to deploy AI capabilities throughout the network, which is a significant aspect of their 5.5G vision. By integrating AI into the network infrastructure, Huawei aims to enhance network performance and deliver more efficient and reliable services. This strategic move aligns with Huawei’s commitment to driving technological and commercial advancements in the telecommunications industry.
According to Yang, Huawei plans to launch a complete set of commercial 5.5G network equipment by 2024, enabling the commercial deployment of 5.5G. The company’s comprehensive solutions will provide the necessary infrastructure to support the next generation of connectivity. Huawei’s emphasis on AI capabilities and network enhancements demonstrates their commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation.
Huawei’s involvement in 5G infrastructure has raised concerns among many governments due to security risks associated with the company. Several countries have even banned or restricted the use of Huawei’s 5G and 4G equipment. As a result, it is unlikely that a significant number of global buyers will consider Huawei’s 5.5G offerings, especially in regions where security concerns are prevalent.
However, Huawei’s announcement could still attract positive attention domestically, especially in its home market of China. Additionally, developing nations may be attracted to Huawei’s competitively-priced communication equipment, presenting potential opportunities for the company to expand its market share.
Despite Huawei’s ambitious plans, the lack of formal recognition of the term 5.5G from standardization bodies poses a challenge for the company. The geopolitical challenges it faces, coupled with the security concerns surrounding Huawei, may limit its global reach and hinder the widespread adoption of its 5.5G solutions.
First reported on Telecoms
The post Huawei’s Ambitious Plan to Introduce 5.5G Network Equipment by 2024 appeared first on ReadWrite.
Jsaux’s ultimate RGB dock stretches to fit Steam Deck, ROG Ally and more
Image: Jsaux
Jsaux is currently the Steam Deck accessory company — but their latest dock isn’t exclusively for Valve’s handheld. Remember the new RGB dock we mentioned earlier this week? Turns out it’s got a push-to-open expanding stand that not only fits the Steam Deck, but also the Asus ROG Ally, handhelds from Ayaneo, OneXPlayer, Ayn, cloud devices from Razer and Logitech, and any USB-C tablets you’d care to insert.
Today, Jsaux’s taking the wraps off its $89.99 HB1201 and $59.99 HB0801 (via Overkill.wtf) with the former its most advanced dock yet. It’s a 12-in-1 dual-monitor dock offering up to 4K120 over both HDMI and DisplayPort, plus 100W passthrough USB-C PD charging, both full-size SD and microSD readers, and a bunch of standard USB ports too.
Here’s the full visual breakdown:
Image: Jsaux
After you’ve connected power and your handheld, you’ll have one 10Gbps USB-C port, two 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 ports, and one USB 2.0 port — plus video, SD cards, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Oh, and those RGB gamer lights? Jsaux says you can control them with OpenRGB from both Windows and Linux. (I prefer SignalRGB because of the simpler setup, but that’s just me.)
The dock definitely still has some limitations: the USB-A ports and the extra USB-C port are all limited to 5W output, meaning some of your external drives may not work. The SD card slots top out at a paltry 480Mbps, and you can’t use both of them at once. And you can’t use these docks with a Nintendo Switch.
Also, the cheaper $60 version ditches USB 3.2 entirely — it’s capable of just 5Gbps over its USB ports and has a single HDMI port that tops out at 4K60.
But there is one seeming redaction that I actually prefer: instead of a fixed USB-C cable like many docks, the new Jsaux comes with a detachable 1.2 foot USB-C 3.2 100W right-angle charging cable that should make it easier to adapt to handhelds of different sizes and shapes.
Image: Jsaux
Everything you get with the RGB back cover.
Jsaux is also launching its RGB transparent back plate for the Steam Deck today for $40, which was already my favorite Steam Deck mod even before the improvements. Now, it’s got an array of RGB LEDs inside each grip, a pair of silicone grips (in black or grey) you can stretch over the plastic ones, and a new vent directly behind the Steam Deck’s fan to reduce internal travel.
It still comes with the built-in aluminum heatsink for passive heat dissipation, and the extra hair-trigger and longer-throw back buttons.
While it’s not clear how the RGB backplate is powered or activated from Jsaux’s product listing, the company tells us it has its own battery and switch. We’re asking for more detail.
Both peripherals should be available this July, Jsaux tells us.
Image: Jsaux
Jsaux is currently the Steam Deck accessory company — but their latest dock isn’t exclusively for Valve’s handheld. Remember the new RGB dock we mentioned earlier this week? Turns out it’s got a push-to-open expanding stand that not only fits the Steam Deck, but also the Asus ROG Ally, handhelds from Ayaneo, OneXPlayer, Ayn, cloud devices from Razer and Logitech, and any USB-C tablets you’d care to insert.
Today, Jsaux’s taking the wraps off its $89.99 HB1201 and $59.99 HB0801 (via Overkill.wtf) with the former its most advanced dock yet. It’s a 12-in-1 dual-monitor dock offering up to 4K120 over both HDMI and DisplayPort, plus 100W passthrough USB-C PD charging, both full-size SD and microSD readers, and a bunch of standard USB ports too.
Here’s the full visual breakdown:
Image: Jsaux
After you’ve connected power and your handheld, you’ll have one 10Gbps USB-C port, two 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 ports, and one USB 2.0 port — plus video, SD cards, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Oh, and those RGB gamer lights? Jsaux says you can control them with OpenRGB from both Windows and Linux. (I prefer SignalRGB because of the simpler setup, but that’s just me.)
The dock definitely still has some limitations: the USB-A ports and the extra USB-C port are all limited to 5W output, meaning some of your external drives may not work. The SD card slots top out at a paltry 480Mbps, and you can’t use both of them at once. And you can’t use these docks with a Nintendo Switch.
Also, the cheaper $60 version ditches USB 3.2 entirely — it’s capable of just 5Gbps over its USB ports and has a single HDMI port that tops out at 4K60.
But there is one seeming redaction that I actually prefer: instead of a fixed USB-C cable like many docks, the new Jsaux comes with a detachable 1.2 foot USB-C 3.2 100W right-angle charging cable that should make it easier to adapt to handhelds of different sizes and shapes.
Image: Jsaux
Everything you get with the RGB back cover.
Jsaux is also launching its RGB transparent back plate for the Steam Deck today for $40, which was already my favorite Steam Deck mod even before the improvements. Now, it’s got an array of RGB LEDs inside each grip, a pair of silicone grips (in black or grey) you can stretch over the plastic ones, and a new vent directly behind the Steam Deck’s fan to reduce internal travel.
It still comes with the built-in aluminum heatsink for passive heat dissipation, and the extra hair-trigger and longer-throw back buttons.
While it’s not clear how the RGB backplate is powered or activated from Jsaux’s product listing, the company tells us it has its own battery and switch. We’re asking for more detail.
Both peripherals should be available this July, Jsaux tells us.
Reddit API changes are imminent. Here’s what’s happening to your favorite apps
submitted by /u/gabestonewall [link] [comments]
submitted by /u/gabestonewall
[link] [comments]
The Asus Zenfone 10 is a tiny 5.9-inch phone with flagship specs
Asus invites small phone lovers to put their money where their mouth is.
The Asus Zenfone 10 in a variety of colors. [credit:
Asus ]
Lovers of small phones: Meet the Asus Zenfone 10, a tiny little device headlined by a 144 Hz, 5.9-inch, 2400×1080 OLED display. For those asking for a one-hand device, this 146.5 mm×68.1mm×9.4 mm phone is one of the smallest on the market, and it has flagship specs. It’s not quite the size of the iPhone SE (138.4 mm×67.3 mm×7.3 mm) or the microscopic iPhone 13 Mini (131.5 mm×64.2mm×7.7 mm) but on Android, this is as small as you’re going to get.
With those flagship specs, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 gen 2 SoC, a baseline of 8GB of RAM with an option for 16GB, and UFS 4.0 storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. The big downside to a small phone is the battery, which here is only 4300 mAh. Asus somehow found room to pack in a 3.5-mm headphone jack, along with 15 W wireless charging (wired is 30 W), stereo speakers, NFC, IP68 dust and water resistance, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3.