Technology 
Apple hires more audio experts – is an offline Siri on the way?
With Siri and CarPlay being sold as high-profile features of Apple’s flagship product, it’s no surprise that Cupertino is doubling down on me research and development. Over the last few months, Apple has quietly hired multiple notable audio experts, and … Continue reading
Curiosity rover finds ancient Mars lakebed with strong potential for harboring ancient life
NASA’s Curiosity rover has found the strongest signs yet that the surface of Mars, roughly 4 billion years ago, had conditions that would’ve been almost ideal for the genesis of life. NASA says that Curiosity has found evidence to suggest … Continue reading
Bop.fm delivers almost ad-free, a la carte music streaming on the go
In 2013, Bop.fm quietly launched a Web service that promised “free legit music you can share with anyone.” Now it’s taking that model to the mobile space. On Tuesday, the company announced the launch of its first iOS app, allowing … Continue reading
Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast: Why not both?
When Amazon announced its Fire TV Stick a couple months ago, many tech watchers (myself included) saw it as a direct assault on Google’s Chromecast. The comparison is certainly inviting. Both streaming media devices fit in the palm of your … Continue reading
DTS takes on Sonos: We go ears-on with three Play-Fi multi-room audio devices
There were multi-room audio systems long before Sonos came along, but the market was tiny and very exclusive. If you couldn’t afford to hire a custom installer to come in and wire your house, you couldn’t have one. Sonos smashed … Continue reading
Wren Sound Systems Wren V5PF Play-Fi Speaker review: Sounds as good as it looks
The $299 Wren V5PF was the most attractive Play-Fi unit I tested for this roundup, and easily the most accurate in its sonic reproductions. It uses the first-gen Play-Fi chip, which supports only 2.4GHz 802.11, but the V5PF streamed just … Continue reading
Phorus PR5 Receiver review: Cheap, but not as polished as a Sonos device
The $179 Phorus PR5 is a second-generation Play-Fi receiver that outputs directly to your existing stereo equipment (an amp, receiver, or powered speakers) rather than incorporating speakers of its own. It’s a dead-ringer for its first-generation PR1 predecessor, but delivers … Continue reading
Polk Audio Omni S2R review: This portable indoor/outdoor speaker will make your milk shake
If you’d like to take your wireless music to the backyard, park, or any other place where there’s no easy access to an AC outlet, Polk Audio’s Omni S2R is one of the more affordable answers. A rechargeable, self-powered, Play-Fi … Continue reading
ET deals: Acer 13.3-inch quad-core 1080p Chromebook for $200
Most Chromebooks offer basic functionality at a low price – but with today’s deal you can go beyond basic and keep the low price. Grab a Chromebook with a Full HD display, quad-core processor and long battery life and still … Continue reading
Foxconn’s robotic workforce isn’t precise enough to assemble iPhones
Foxconn wants to start replacing some of its human workers with robots, but Apple isn’t happy with the accuracy of its first-generation assembly bots. The humans win this round.
