All items tagged with Apple (173)
Apple Updates Third-Generation AirPods with Focus on Spatial Audio and Personalization
October 19, 2021 by Joao Martins

Apple Updates Third-Generation AirPods with Focus on Spatial Audio and Personalization

As predicted, Apple announced the next generation of AirPods during a streamed event (October 18). The new model ($179) was improved in every front and promised to be available in just a few days, which was probably the biggest surprise. Apple also announced new colors for its HomePod Mini smart speakers, while it waits for the Matter home standard to be released. And announced a strange Voice Only Apple Music subscription plan, including countries that don’t speak English.
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Smart Speaker Shipments Surged to Record Levels
September 15, 2021 by audioXpress Staff

Smart Speaker Shipments Surged to Record Levels

The smart speaker market in the second quarter of 2021 surged to new heights as consumers and brands adapt to the ongoing pandemic, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics. Even with the looming specters of supply chain challenges, component shortages, and the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus hanging over the market, global shipments of smart speakers and smart displays in Q2 2021 grew 34.8% from Q2 2020 to 39.5 million units, a record for a second calendar quarter.
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Apple Acquires Classical Music Streaming Service Primephonic
August 30, 2021 by Joao Martins

Apple Acquires Classical Music Streaming Service Primephonic

Apple announced it has acquired Primephonic, the classical music streaming service that featured a search and browse functionality optimized for classical, combined with lossless streaming, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings. Available for only 3 years, Primephonic never really went very far because it only worked on web browsers and mobile apps, the lower subscription tier used the obsolete MP3 codec, among many other limitations.
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Market Update 2021: True Wireless Earbuds Evolving Toward Hearables
August 5, 2021 by Joao Martins

Market Update 2021: True Wireless Earbuds Evolving Toward Hearables

There’s a lot happening in the true wireless stereo (TWS) category and this market update article intends to provide a quick overview of the state-of the-art technologies and platforms in the space, as well as some reference approaches in product design. This audioXpress Market Update addresses what is happening in this vibrant product category in 2021.
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AvidPlay Subscription Service Now Enables Artists and Labels to Distribute Dolby Atmos Tracks for Apple Music
July 16, 2021 by Joao Martins

AvidPlay Subscription Service Now Enables Artists and Labels to Distribute Dolby Atmos Tracks for Apple Music

AvidPlay, Avid’s subscription-based, independent music distribution service, now allows artists and labels to distribute their Dolby Atmos tracks directly to Apple Music’s new Spatial Audio offerings. For those Pro Tools users that see the value of the fully integrated subscription that AvidPlay provides, this is now an important argument to increase the value of new Dolby Atmos mixes. Artists can even use the AvidPlay dashboard to manage their tracks and albums, and monitor song performance and earnings.
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Apple Introduces Beats Studio Buds with ANC and new TWS Form Factor
June 15, 2021 by Joao Martins

Apple Introduces Beats Studio Buds with ANC and new TWS Form Factor

Beats - the leading audio brand that also belongs to Apple - announced Beats Studio Buds, a new powerful true wireless earbud design that delivers a high-quality audio experience in a new, lightweight and comfortable design. Sweat- and water-resistant earbuds with an IPX4 rating and up to 24 hours of battery life, the new Beats Studio Buds add quality Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency and for the first time ever, convenient one-touch pairing to both iOS and Android users.
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Global Hey Siri Wake Words Available from Sensory to Control Apple and Third-Party Devices
June 9, 2021 by Joao Martins

Global Hey Siri Wake Words Available from Sensory to Control Apple and Third-Party Devices

Following Apple's announcement at WWDC21 that Siri is now open to third-party device makers, Sensory announced availability of its global “Hey Siri” wake word, complementing its range of custom voice AI solutions. With TrulyHandsfree “Hey Siri” wake word models available in different sizes, languages, and ports for all of today’s popular DSP platforms, Sensory is fast-tracking the development of third-party Siri devices, ranging from wearables to smart speakers and beyond.
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Listening to Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos... Music
June 8, 2021 by Joao Martins

Listening to Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos... Music

As promised, Apple is now offering Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio options for subscribers of its Music streaming service. The update includes Lossless and High-Resolution Audio support. But the big push is going towards Spatial Audio. Basically Apple is saying: "Lossless Audio is here, it's free, so use it and shut-up about it." And meanwhile, Apple suggests we go listen to Spatial Audio which is dubbed like "HD for music," or "the next big thing after Stereo." Is it really?
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NXP Development Tools Support New Ultra-Wideband Applications With iPhone and Apple Watch
June 7, 2021 by Cristina Costa

NXP Development Tools Support New Ultra-Wideband Applications With iPhone and Apple Watch

NXP Semiconductors has announced that it now offers beta Ultra-Wideband (UWB) development tools from its NXP Trimension portfolio that interoperate with the U1 chip in supported Apple products. The beta development tools will allow developers to kick-start the design of innovative applications that interact with UWB enabled Apple products including iPhone and Apple Watch, unleashing the ability to create more precise, directionally aware app experiences.
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The Cell Alpha Triphonic Speaker Design from Syng. A Revolution in Spatial Audio?
May 27, 2021 by Joao Martins

The Cell Alpha Triphonic Speaker Design from Syng. A Revolution in Spatial Audio?

Chris Stringer is a longtime Apple designer and the reason why the unveiling of its latest project caused so much buzz on the usual gadget-oriented click-bait websites. His new company is called Syng and its first product is called the Cell Alpha Triphonic Speaker. A mysterious designation to describe a lot of very ambitious technologies and a bold design that normally would makes us suspicious, if it wasn't for the fact that a lot of great names in speaker engineering are involved.
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