Sony Mobile Communications ("Sony Mobile") is pleased to announce that Xperia Ear Duo will be available in the United States for pre-order at b8ta starting May 1, 2018. Xperia Ear Duo will then be available at b8ta and on Amazon on May 25, 2018. Suggested retail price is $279.99.

Built to reimagine the wireless headset, Xperia Ear Duo features Dual Listening technology, so you can listen to music and receive notifications, while simultaneously hearing environmental sound or conversation. Whether you're listening to music during a workout or while commuting, it's an unparalleled ambient experience.

Vibrant melodies, pulsating rhythms, driving basses: music and movement go together marvelously. That is why the new Amiron wireless combines the flawless sound experience of the legendary Tesla technology by beyerdynamic with the complete freedom of movement that only wireless Bluetooth-headphones can provide. With Amiron wireless, music becomes a dynamic experience in every room and even the finest nuances become audible like never before. The innovative sound personalization via the ground-breaking MIY app takes these closed over-ear headphones to a completely new level of perfection. This makes Amiron wireless the ideal headphones for anyone who wants to enjoy their music without limits and in every room.

INDIVIDUAL LISTENING EXPERIENCE VIA MIY APP
Can tonal perfection be enhanced further? The confident answer to this question by beyerdynamic is "yes". The human ear differs from person to person and changes greatly in the course of a lifetime - as has been confirmed by latest audiology research. That is why beyerdynamic worked with the German experts at Mimi Hearing Technologies in Berlin to design its wireless headphones. Their common goal: headphones that adapt perfectly to the individual hearing of the wearer like a custom-tailored suit - consistent with the motto of the new wireless line of headphones by beyerdynamic: MAKE IT YOURS.

American global audio specialist Mixcder, is today pleased to announce the availability of its latest wireless active noise cancelling headphone, the E7. Featuring ANC (active noise cancelling) tech and crafted with an easy-to-carry design, E7 is designed to appeal to travellers and commuters who do not want to be disturbed by any external noise. This portable noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones is now available on Amazon for just £41.99.

The Mixcder E7 Bluetooth headphone adopts ANC technology, which can not only isolate noise physically, but also blocks out noise by smart and active technology. When the headphones detect an incoming noise, a digital signal processor (DSP) analyses the sound waves and creates inverse waves to cancel out the ambient sound. To activate the ANC function, users simply switch on the ANC button on the left ear cup. The ANC technology makes E7 ideal for those who want to focus on music but not noise, and those who appreciate a quieter environment.

GIGABYTE today rolled out a variant of its Brix S mini-PC barebone powered by Pentium Silver J5005 SoC (model: GB-BLPD-5005). This chip packs a quad-core "Goldmont Plus" CPU, and faster UHD Graphics 605 iGPU than the one which Celeron J4005 comes with. You add your own DDR4 SO-DIMM memory (up to 8 GB of dual-channel memory over two slots); and storage. Storage options include an M.2-2280 slot with PCIe gen 2.0 x2 wiring, and a 2.5-inch drive bay with SATA 6 Gbps interface (up to 9.5 mm-thick drives supported).

An included Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168 card sitting in its own M.2 slot (other than the vacant M.2-2280 slot) provides dual-band 802.11 ac and Bluetooth 4.2. Wired networking is care of a Realtek RTL8111HS controller, putting out a GbE interface. The Realtek ALC255 HD audio codec puts out stereo audio with around 89 dBA SNR. USB connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two up front, including a type-C port). Display outputs include one each of mini-DisplayPort 1.2a and HDMI 2.0a. Measuring 46.8 mm x 112.6 mm x 119.4 mm (HxWxD), it supports VESA mounting. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Reinventing smart headphones for fitness enthusiasts everywhere, Vinci 2.0 introduces the industry's first smart in-ear, voice-controlled, hands-free noise cancellation headphones. Created to be the ultimate personal sports companion that offers the ability to make phone calls, track body vitals during exercises, and listen to music completely phone-free, Vinci 2.0 has already launched a successful Indiegogo campaign to transform the way consumers listen to music while exercising. Vinci 2.0 integrates music streaming, calls, and fitness tracking into a single device giving consumers an opportunity to work out phones and hands-free.

"At Vinci, we're focused on reinventing headphones and revolutionizing the music listening experience," said Cathy Cao, U.S. business director for Inspero Inc., the parent company of Vinci. "Vinci 2.0 is a very ambitious product. By integrating Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity to stay connected at all times, uniting audio streaming services into a completely standalone device, adding an interactive voice assistant and gesture control system, providing real-time music recommendation and personal smart coaching, while maintaining strong consideration on audio quality, comfort, security, and battery life, Vinci 2.0 is truly optimizing the user experience."

Premium audio has never looked so suave than with Edifier's brand new speakers, the S880DBs. Crafted with a high tech interior and completed with a glossy white exterior and wood side panels, these speakers will bring both a beautiful ambience and stunning aesthetic to any room. Whether as a gift for a loved one, or a treat for yourself, a set of these speakers is sure to impress.

More Kick Than You'd Believe
Accredited with Edifier's first High-Res Audio certification, the S880DB speakers are designed for people who love audio. Equipped with a titanium-laminate tweeter unit, you can expect you beautifully detailed acoustic music to play through these speakers with incredible fidelity.

Audio and communications technology specialist Jabra announced today that it has expanded its Elite franchise, a family of headphones and earbuds engineered for superior sound to provide the best combined voice and music experience, with the Jabra Elite 65e. These neckband wireless earbuds are engineered for best-in-class wireless calls and music. They feature Jabra's leading Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) solution, providing two levels of noise cancellation and challenging existing products in the market.

Standing on a noisy train platform? Walking through a busy downtown street? Cancel out disruptive background sound with Jabra's unrivaled total noise cancellation solution - with optimized engineering for both active and passive noise cancellation. The Jabra Elite 65e also offers incredible conversation quality with three-microphone technology (two outer microphones used for optimizing transmitted audio and one microphone in the mic box) that creates a noise-blocking zone, ensuring your voice is conveyed with crystal-clear clarity.

Logitech G, a brand of Logitech, today announced two new additions to their family of high-performance gaming gear. The Logitech G560 PC Gaming Speaker is the first dedicated gaming speaker system with advanced Logitech G LIGHTSYNC, a technology that synchronizes both light and sounds to gameplay. Joining the speaker is the new Logitech G513 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The Logitech G513 also features LIGHTSYNC RGB, provides the choice of two Romer-G mechanical key switches and a premium palm rest for a comfortable experience. Logitech G continues to expand its range of high-performance gear that is purpose-built for the needs of gamers, and push innovation in RGB to new immersive levels.

"Our goal with these two products was to complement our G502, the world's best selling gaming mouse," said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech Gaming. "With LIGHTSYNC technology we are able to add real intelligence to what RGB lighting can do - synchronizing audio and RGB lighting to on-screen gameplay. If you already own a G502, then the new G513 keyboard and G560 speakers with LIGHTSYNC are the perfect way to complete your desktop, and create a totally immersive solution."

GIGABYTE today launched four new BRIX mini-PC models featuring 8th generation Intel Core processors. These include the GB-BRi5-8250, the GB-BRi7-8550, the GB-BRi5H-8250, and the GB-BRi7H-8550. The GB-BRi5-8250 and the GB-BRi7-8550 are built in a more compact 0.46L (34.4 x 112.6 x 119.4mm) chassis, while the GB-BRi5H-8250 and the GB-BRi7H-8550, come in a slightly taller 0.63L (46.8 x 112.6 x 119.4mm), with added room for a 2.5-inch drive bay. As their names suggest, the GB-BRi5-8250 and GB-BRi5H-8250 are powered by the Core i5-8250U processor (4-core/8-thread, 1.60~3.40 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache, 25W TDP); while the GB-BRi7H-8550 and GB-BRi7H-8550 implement the range-topping Core i7-8550U (4-core/8-thread, 1.80~4.00 GHz, 8 MB L3 cache, 25W TDP).

The 0.46L models offer two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, a 32 Gb/s M.2-2280 slot, a second M.2-2240 slot holding the pre-installed WLAN card, HDMI and mini-DP display output, two USB 3.0 type-A ports on the rear panel, and two USB 3.1 ports on the front-panel, including a type-C port; and network connectivity including a gigabit Ethernet connection driven by Intel i219-V controller, and Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168 WLAN card with dual-band 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2. Stereo audio makes for the rest of it. The 0.63L models simply add to this feature-set with a 9 mm-thick 2.5-inch drive bay that has SATA 6 Gb/s interface. All models feature VESA mounting, so you can tuck them away behind your monitor. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Microsoft today launches the Surface Precision Mouse. Designed for exceptional accuracy, comfort, and control, the new mouse helps you stay in your flow with flawless scrolling and three customisable buttons. Boasting an ergonomic shape, the mouse allows for either wired or Bluetooth connection and can work and switch seamlessly up to three different PCs. The Surface Precision Mouse is available for purchase now from the Microsoft store for $99.99. Special pricing is also available for eligible students, parents and teachers.

Corsair has launched a revised version of their K63 tenkeyless keyboard. The revised version brings with it support for wireless connection protocols (Bluetooth 4.2 (2.4 GHz and 128-bit AES wireless encryption), which means that users will now have one less wire running from their desk to their PC. In another bid to differentiate this revision from the wired one is that the per-key red LED lighting in the wired K63 has been replaced with blue LED illumination for this wireless version - another way for consumers not to be confused and know exactly which keyboard to buy. Corsair is also giving users who prefer it the option to go wired via a USB connection, however.

Other features include a 1,000 Hz poll rate, N key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting capabilities. There's also support for Corsair's "Utility Engine". The 91 keys (with the same Cherry MX Red switches as found on the wired K63) fit into a W 366 mm x 173 mm x H 41 mm frame, and the unit weighs about 1.09 kg. This model is compatible with the Lapdog solution, if that's something you care about, and should be available around the $109 mark.

Plantronics, an audio pioneer and communications technology leader, today introduced Voyager 6200 UC, the company's latest addition to its flagship Voyager family of enterprise headsets. The new neckband wearing style features Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a boomless design with comfort-fit earbuds, active noise cancellation (ANC) and integration with major unified communications (UC) applications. With the addition of Voyager 6200 UC to its line-up, Plantronics is now offering professionals the widest range of stereo Bluetooth devices with ANC of any vendor in market.

"Accommodating individual employee workstyles is becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to retaining millennial and Gen Y talent," said Alaa Saayed, ICT Principal Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "By offering a wide choice of headsets and letting people choose their preference, IT and line of business managers can create a solid win-win scenario; optimizing the UC and collaboration experience overall for the company, and engendering goodwill with highly valuable personnel."

AZIO, a well-known keyboard manufacturer, has started shipping a Bluetooth version of its well-received Retro Classic Keyboard. Originally released via a Indiegogo funding campaign as a way to increase the product's visibility, AZIO has now put a few more dollars into the keyboards' development, and included a Bluetooth model. Not so retro now, I'd say, as wires are part of a retro product's flair.

QNAP Systems Inc. today officially released Cinema28, a multi-zone multimedia application that allows for single-interface management of multimedia playback, streaming, and more. Cinema28 turns a QNAP NAS into a multimedia hub that provides greater convenience for users to stream media files to connected devices throughout every corner of their home.

In addition to continuous development in storage-related applications, QNAP also strives to provide home users with a greater home entertainment experience. The new Cinema28 app integrates the streaming functionalities of QNAP's existing applications (including Photo Station, Video Station and Music Station) into a single app, allowing users to centrally manage all of the media files on their NAS and linked storage devices. No matter where the playback devices (including PC, smart TV, and mobile devices) are located, users can simply drag-and-drop files or playlists onto them for direct playback.

At CES 2018 Audio-Technica debuted its ATH-ANC700BT QuietPoint over-ear wireless active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones, which feature the company's latest advancements in ANC technology to deliver superior noise-cancelling performance and audio quality, along with improved wireless convenience. The ATH-ANC700BT wireless headphones with Bluetooth technology employ a newly-developed active noise cancellation system that operates in a wider frequency range in the low through mid range frequencies than typical ANC designs, and provides a greater degree of noise cancellation. The ATH-ANC700BT also provides improved isolation for better cancellation outside the active range. This enables the headphones to have much more effective noise-cancelling performance by responding to and cancelling a wider range of outside noise.

In addition, the headphones' microphones are mounted behind the driver diaphragm. In standard ANC headphones, the mics are mounted in a location where they can unintentionally pick up some of the generated noise-cancelling signal, which is then reprocessed in a feedback loop and can limit noise reduction performance. The ATH-ANC700BT eliminates this issue by placing the ANC mics behind the driver diaphragm, which provides better noise cancellation along with improved audio quality.

German switch maker Cherry officially announced their MX Low Profile RGB switches at CES 2018 a few days ago. Ducky Channel also seized this opportunity to promote their upcoming Ducky Blade Air mechanical keyboard which features the new low profile switches. Thanks to the slim design, the Ducky Blade Air stands just 22 mm tall, but boasts a full feature set that includes various RGB lighting modes, customizable LED zones, USB N-key rollover support, floating keycap design, Doubleshot keycaps, and macro support. The Ducky Blade Air allows consumers to connect the keyboard to their computers using an old-school USB cable or via a wireless Bluetooth connection. The keyboard works in a Windows or Mac environment, as well as with Android and iOS mobile devices.

beyerdynamic, popular German audio equipment manufacturer, showcased some of their latest wireless audio products at their CES booth. The Amiron Wireless and Aventho Wireless are both on-ear headphones that make use of Bluetooth 4.2. The controls are touch-based and are integrated into the right earcup. In terms of battery life, the headphones should last around 30 hours on a single charge. The Xelentho Wireless was the only in-ear Bluetooth headset present. This model features an ergonomic casing with molded eartips, silver-plated cables, universal 3-button remote, and an aluminium battery casing. All three siblings are supported by beyerdynamic's MIY app which allows users to personalize the audio to their linking.

We visited AZiO's booth to get a sneak peek of their upcoming products. First up, we got a glimpse of their Atom, Aventa, and Bluetooth Retro Classic mice. The AZiO Atom is an ambidextrous RGB gaming mouse which is available in black or white. It boasts a 280-degree surround RGB lighting system with onboard control. The Atom features an anti-slip surface finish to provide users with a better grip and a Pixart 3360 optical sensor for dead-accurate precision. The Aventa, on the other hand, sports a more aeronautic exterior with a Zinc alloy exoskeletal frame complemented by an ergonomic hand grip. Both the scroll wheel and 3D logo possess RGB backlighting. The Aventa utilizes the exact same sensor as the Atom. Lastly, the Retro Classic is built with a metal frame with bolts and makes use of a refined leather and plastic interchangeable surface.

AZiO also had some interesting keyboards on display as well. The MGK Ultra is the company's latest RGB backlit gaming mechanical keyboard. It's available with Cherry MX Blue, Red, Brown, or Silver switches. This keyboard features a full RGB backlit control which doesn't require the use of software. The lighting is separated into two independent zones. The interchangeable top plate is made of bulletproof Kevlar and exotic carbon fiber material, and the spacious palm rest is magnetic. An integrated USB 3.0 hub and audio ports are also present on the keyboard.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced a new speaker line for PCs, the Razer Nommo and Nommo Pro. The Nommo Pro is a no- compromise, THX Certified, 2.1 speaker system with Dolby Virtual Speaker technology for gaming immersion. The Razer Nommo a 2.0 speaker system is a price-performing alternative for balanced, full-range sound.

The Nommo speaker range was engineered to aid gamers with sensing environmental factors. The entire range features accurate positional audio using true left and right stereo imaging to help ensure gamers know exactly where sounds are coming from for quicker more accurate response. Additionally the Nommo Pro features Independent Tweeters for enhanced highs to catch minute details in gaming audio.

At CES 2018, audio specialist Sennheiser introduces the CX 6.00BT, new Bluetooth in-ear headphones that let you enjoy brilliant sound on the go. The CX 6.00BT features ear-canal earbuds joined by a cable around the neck - a lightweight design that is compact yet robust and provides superior fit and comfort. Powered by Sennheiser's high-quality proprietary speaker system, the CX 6.00BT delivers clear, detailed sound with an enhanced bass response. Thanks to Bluetooth 4.2 and Qualcomm apt-X, it is possible to enjoy this uncompromised wireless audio performance to the full. Qualcomm apt-X Low Latency compatibility also enhances gaming or video viewing by keeping the audio transmission perfectly in sync with the visuals.

"We have created the CX 6.00BT to deliver everything you need to enjoy excellent sound on the go," said Nan Chen, Product Manager at Sennheiser. "Thanks to the latest wireless technologies you can enjoy this unspoilt audio experience with the flexibility of supremely compact, lightweight and comfortable Bluetooth headphones."

At its 2018 CES booth, ZOTAC showed off its smallest mini-PC to date, the Pico PI226. This mini PC is barely bigger than a portable hard drive, but packs a proper Intel x86_64 machine that can run Windows 10. It packs an Intel Celeron N4000-series processor with 4 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of eMMC storage, which can be expanded by up to 256 GB with a microSDXC card. Connectivity includes an HDMI 1.4 display output (via a USB type-C to HDMI dongle that's included); two USB 3.0 type-C ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi (up to 896 Mbps), and Bluetooth 4.1.

HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, today announced the launch of the JBL Everest 710GA, 310GA and 110GA. The around-ear, on-ear and in-ear premium wireless headphones combine legendary JBL Pro Audio Sound with built-in Google Assistant.

After an easy setup on Bluetooth enabled smartphones and tablets, the JBL Everest GA headphones, along with the Google Assistant, are ready to provide easy and quick assistance, whenever and wherever it's needed. Now featuring the Google Assistant, users can take full control of their music experience with the use of voice control and receive notifications without needing to look at their smartphone or tablet. To access the Google Assistant, download the Assistant on your phone, connect the headphone and then simply touch the sensors located on the ear cup. Once activated, listeners can control volume, get access to meetings and events, and enjoy tracks on-the-go by stating simple phrases like, "volume up/down," "tell me about my day" or "play pop music."

Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Creative Outlier Black. The high-performance Bluetooth headphones personify the perfect fusion of impressive audio performance and the stylish aesthetic of modern-day fashion.

Black, Bold, Beautiful
Unapologetically bold and inspired by the functional minimalist aesthetics found in today's streetwear apparel and sneaker collections, the Creative Outlier Black fits stylishly into the active urbanite's lifestyle: whether it's walking around town, working on a laptop at a cafe, running to catch a bus, or the daily urban commute on the subway. Exuding the powerful presence of a well-engineered piece of acoustic engineering, the Outlier Black makes a fashion statement without trying too hard.

TwoEyes Tech is a startup that has developed a binocular 360-degree field-of-view VR camera that captures images using two pairs of fisheye lenses arranged 65 millimeters apart, just like the eyes of a human, thus allowing for a more comfortable VR experience. TwoEyes Tech, a member company of the K-ICT Born2Global Centre, made sure that the VR images it produces mirrors human eyesight by taking the standard distance between human eyes into consideration when capturing the images. As a result, the images show a three-dimensional representation of the world as people see it. In only one filming session, the VR camera captures 360-degree 3D video that can be viewed on VR headsets, smartphones, computer monitors, and 3D TVs. The videos, in full HD, 3D, and red-cyan mode, can be converted from and into 180-degree and 360-degree content, meaning that a single recording can be converted into six different types of content.

Moreover, filming with the camera is quite easy. When held horizontally, the camera records in binocular mode; when held vertically, it records in monocular mode. The recordings it produces can be viewed immediately on a smartphone or uploaded to social media.

LG Electronics (LG) at CES 2018 is showcasing superior, clearer and smarter lineup of premium audio products that promises to change the way people think about home speakers. New for 2018 is Meridian Audio's advanced high performance audio technology to deliver more natural and warm sound. From immersive Dolby Atmos soundbars to portable Bluetooth speakers and its latest artificial intelligence (AI) speaker , LG has something for every music and movie lover.

Sound All Around and Above
LG's new SK10Y soundbar delivers 550W of powerful output and supports 5.1.2 channels by harnessing the power of Dolby Atmos technology. A unique aspect of the technology is that unique "sound objects" can be precisely placed anywhere in a three-dimensional space for an immersive sound from all directions, including the ceiling, which enhances realism and the effect of being in the middle of the action. To create such powerful, textured sound, the SK10Y is equipped with multiple speakers - including a pair of powerful up-firing speakers - to envelop the listener from every angle. Users can adjust the volume of the upfiring speakers to optimize the sound with the height of the ceiling in room.