After Apple loosened its App Store guidelines to permit game emulators, the retro game emulator Delta — an app 10 years in the making — hit the top of the App Store’s charts. But the increased attention also brought the threat of legal action, as Adobe targeted Delta for sporting a logo that looked too much like its own.
Delta’s game emulator was built by developer Riley Testut, who had begun his experiments in this space by figuring out how to load games onto graphing calculators, before turning to iOS. The app itself evolved from Testut’s older app, GBA4iOS, which leveraged a loophole to run emulated games on iOS without jailbreaking an iPhone. Consumer demand for such an app was high — millions of people used GBA4iOS while it was available. But Apple eventually locked things down and put GBA4iOS out of business.
Now, as Apple faces regulatory pressure to open up its App Store to increased competition, the tech giant began permitting game emulators in April. That’s opened up a whole new market for developers who had not previously been able to take advantage of the massive distribution power the App Store brings. In short, Apple would rather host these apps itself than have to compete with alternative app stores where the apps it had once banned could find traction with consumers.
Testut took advantage of the opportunity to launch Delta to the public and it quickly became the No. 1 app on the App Store, holding a top spot on Apple’s Charts for weeks and gaining millions of downloads. More than a month later, Delta is still ranking fairly high as the No. 33 app overall on the U.S. App Store. The No. 5 slot, meanwhile, is now held by yet another game emulator, PPSSPP (a PSP emulator).
However, becoming the top app on the App Store has its drawbacks. Though a more under-the-radar app like GBA4iOS may have been ignored, Delta’s ride to No. 1 has brought increased scrutiny.
According to a post on Mastodon, Adobe came after Delta, threatening legal action because it thought Delta’s logo resembled its own.
“Adobe is threatening legal action because they think our logos are too similar — so we changed it,” the post explained. “This new icon is an inspired design by Caroline Moore (@carolinemoore@threads.net), we hope y’all love it as much as we do,” it read.
Image Credits: Delta
Both logos had featured a broken triangle, similar to the Greek letter delta. Adobe’s logo, however, is red and white, and its “A” is thicker and stretches to the edge of the app icon. Delta’s logo is purple and white, smaller, and centered within the app icon. They’re also operating in different spaces, of course, as Adobe offers a suite of tools for creatives, not a way to play retro games. It’s hard to argue there would be much consumer confusion over which logo was which.
Delta told us it first received an email from Adobe’s lawyer on Wednesday, May 7, telling the company that its app icon infringed on Adobe’s “A” log and requested that it be changed in order to not violate “Adobe’s rights or the law.”
Adobe gave Delta until May 17 to respond, but then it received a second email from Apple stating that Adobe asked Apple to take down the Delta app for infringing on its trademark. Delta replied to both companies to explain that its icon was a stylized Greek letter delta, not an “A,” but that it would update the logo anyway.
Image Credits: Delta
To avoid any potential legal issues, Delta launched a new logo that looks like a broken triangle. The redesign isn’t as simplified and clean as before, unfortunately, leading some users to suggest it could have gone a different route — like using the lowercase delta letter, for example, or having custom artwork created as the new brand.
Testut tells us the new app features a temporary logo on its icon, but he plans to update it once again when Delta 1.6 rolls out.
“…We’re planning to update the icon again to a ‘final’ version — also designed by Caroline — soon,” he said, adding “we’re not too worried about brand impact in the interim.”
Audeze is known primarily for its high-end planar headphones, and although the brand has dabbled in gaming-focused headsets that retail for under $500, it doesn’t have any entry-level products. That’s changing with the introduction of the MM-100; like the MM-500, these headphones are made in collaboration with Manny Marroquin, and they’re designed to be used mainly as a reference headset.
The biggest difference is that the MM-100 costs just $399, making it the most affordable Audeze headset you can buy at the moment. By contrast, the MM-500 retails for $1,699, more than four times as much. Having used the MM-100 alongside the MM-500 for the better part of two weeks, it is clear that the latter has a more refined sound, but the MM-100 comes close, and that is no small feat.
While Audeze uses a few plastic bits in the chassis, the MM-100 has a similar design and the same great build quality as the MM-500, and there are absolutely no issues in this area. Essentially, the MM-100 takes the best features of the MM-500, and brings it to a much more affordable price point.
If you’ve been holding out for an affordable pair of Audeze headphones, your wait has come to an end. The MM-100 isn’t just one of the best Audeze headphones — it is easily among the best overall options you’ll find in the sub-$500 category.
Audeze unveiled the MM-100 in April 2023, with the headphones going on sale in the month of August. It’s now available globally via audio retailers and Audeze distributors, and in North America, you can get your hands on the MM-100 for $399.
Considering the affordability of these headphones, there’s longer-than-usual wait times. That’s if you’re buying straight from Audeze; you can also get the MM-100 via Amazon, where it is selling for the same $399. While most Audeze products have a standard three-year warranty, the MM-100 comes with a one-year warranty.
Other than the headband, there isn’t much in the way of a difference between the MM-100 and MM-500. Audeze retained the same styling and design aesthetic, and you get a gunmetal grey color scheme that looks elegant. Audeze uses plastic in the construction of the ear cups, but the yoke and grilles are made out of a magnesium alloy, and the headband is fashioned out of steel.
The build quality is just as exquisite as costlier Audeze headsets like the LCD-X and MM-500, and the best part is that the MM-100 is considerably lighter than other Audeze products I used thus far. Coming in at 475g, it is 20g lighter than the MM-500, and that difference is noticeable. Don’t get me wrong; the MM-100 is still on the heavier side, but it is significantly lighter than most Audeze designs — the LCD-X weighs 612g.
As is the case with the rest of the brand’s products, the grille has Audeze’s distinctive stylized A logo on either side, with Audeze branding on the right and Manny Marroquin to the left. While the design is largely identical to the MM-500, Audeze switched out its standard mini-XLR connectors to 3.5mm, and that makes the MM-100 much more versatile. What’s interesting is that you need to connect just one side to the cable, giving you the flexibility of plugging in the headset either via the left or right connectors.
The bundled braided cable is of a decent quality, but it doesn’t have a sheath, and it ends in a 6.35mm plug — like most other Audeze headsets. I would have liked a 3.5mm plug considering the category the MM-100 is debuting in, because as it stands, the choice of plug limits its usability with portable sources.
Audeze went with a floating headband design with the MM-100, and it does a good job distributing the weight of the headset evenly. The only issue I have in this area is that the adjustability of the headband is limited; you can’t move the stalk up or down, and you’ll instead have to adjust the leather band between three notches. While this is an inelegant system, you won’t have to adjust the band too many times.
The MM-100 is the most comfortable Audeze headset I used to date, and that includes the lighter LCD-GX gaming headset. A big part of that has to do with the clamping force; it isn’t as high as the MM-500, and combined with the lighter design, the MM-100 is ideal for extended use.
The ear pads have a faux leather finish, and they’re extremely comfortable even after prolonged use. They don’t have a vented design, but because of the inherent open-back nature of the MM-100, you get good ventilation. Overall, Audeze nailed the design brief with the MM-100, and the headphones have sturdy build quality and are light enough that you can wear them for hours on end.
With a sensitivity of 98dB/1mW and impedance of 18Ω, it’s effortlessly easy to drive the MM-100, but like all Audeze products, you can make the most out of the planar drivers by pairing it with a decent source. On that note, the MM-100 uses the same 90mm planar magnetic drivers as the MM-500, and it has Audeze’s Fluxor magnet array.
I used the MM-100 with the Fiio K19 DAC most of the time, switching over to the Q7 Bluetooth DAC to use with a phone. Any source that’s able to deliver over 250mW of power should be adequate to drive the MM-100 well.
As for the sound, Audeze retained a similar tonality as the MM-500. The MM-100 has a good bass extension, and while the low-end is neutral, you get a good rumble that’s enjoyable along with fast transients. The mids are where the MM-100 truly shines; it has a boost in the mid-range that gives added warmth and clarity to vocals, and it sounds fantastic.
The treble is clean and detailed, and while there is some sparkle, it doesn’t sound harsh, and there is no sibilance. There’s good dynamics and instrument separation — as you’d imagine on a headset aimed at studio use — and the mid-forward presentation means the MM-100 is a great choice as a reference headset.
HiFiMan’s Sundara continues to be a stalwart in this segment, and at $299, it is also a great value. It has a similar bass presentation as the MM-100, and you get a slightly higher treble elevation. That said, the MM-100 has a clear advantage in the mids, and I like the design a little better.
Sennheiser’s HD660S2 is a good alternative as well if you need a reference headset. It is costlier than the MM-100 at $499, but you get a neutral sound that’s ideal for studio use as well as casual listening sessions.
The MM-100 is one of Audeze’s most significant products to date. It has the same great design and build quality as the MM-500, and it sounds remarkably similar. Yes, Audeze made a few tweaks to the design to bring the cost of the headset down to $399, but the MM-100 doesn’t look or feel like a budget product.
Like the MM-500, the MM-100 nails the technical presentation, and it has a good bass extension that allows mainstream music to shine. The energetic mids may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it gives the headset a lot of character, and it has a good treble presence.
Ultimately, it’s the value that gives the MM-100 a distinct advantage. It is designed as a studio headset, but it’s just as comfortable for daily listening sessions, and the sound quality on offer makes it one of the best contenders in this category.
With an incredible sound and comfortable design, the MM-100 is Audeze’s most accessible product yet.
Intel has announced a new feature for Thunderbolt designed to make life easier for folks with both a laptop and a desktop (or just two different PCs they use frequently). Thunderbolt Share allows two PCs to be “networked” together via Thunderbolt to share files, their screens, and connected devices. Intel says this feature is now available to PC OEMs, who can license the technology for their prebuilt PCs, so DIY PC builders can’t partake in the fun.
Thunderbolt Share lets two PCs be connected in several ways. Both can be connected with a physical Thunderbolt cable via a licensed Thunderbolt dock or with both PCs connected to a Thunderbolt display. For example, you’d have a laptop with a Thunderbolt 4 or 5 cable going from the laptop to a desktop PC, and then the PC connected to a monitor. You can then operate both computers on the same display with a mouse and keyboard, share files between them, and so forth. The connection between the computers is established via a new app that has to be downloaded onto both computers, but only one PC has to have a license for Thunderbolt Share.
This new feature lets you accomplish four tasks once they’re connected, and Intel says it’s fast and fluid thanks to high-bandwidth and low latency. Credit: Intel
Once the connection is established, you can perform various activities to share resources between the two PCs using a high-bandwidth connection. For example, you can drag and drop files between the two computers directly in File Explorer or sync folders between them, such as Documents, Pictures, etc. You can also use the feature as a KVM of sorts, as it lets you control the other computer. That allows you to see the display of the second PC and control it with the attached mouse and keyboard. Intel says you can also plug an external drive into the second PC and access it from the first one, reducing the amount of “sneakernet” in your household.
One caveat is that this feature is only supported by the newest versions of Thunderbolt, 4 and 5. Version 5 was just announced last year and isn’t prominent in the marketplace, though version 4 is, at least for laptops, which brings us to the other caveat: Thunderbolt isn’t something you find on many desktop computers. Intel has stated that its upcoming Arrow Lake desktop chips will support Thunderbolt 5, so perhaps it’s about to become more common. Finally, Intel says it’s only being licensed to OEMs, and they can choose whether they want to offer it as a “value add” to their prebuilt computers, so DIY PC builders will not have access to it.
Intel says Thunderbolt Share will be available in prebuilt PCs and accessories in the second half of 2024. Companies such as Lenovo, Acer, MSI, Razer, Kensington, Belkin, Promise, Plugable, OWC, and others will begin offering compatible products later this year.
A long-running working group in the Senate has issued its policy recommendation for federal funding for AI: $32 billion yearly, covering everything from infrastructure to grand challenges to national security risk assessments.
This “roadmap” is not a bill or detailed policy proposal, but nevertheless it gives a sense of the scale lawmakers and “stakeholders” are looking at whenever they get around to the real thing — though the likelihood of that occurring during an election year is vanishingly small.
In a final report published by the office of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the bipartisan working group identifies the most important areas of investment to keep the U.S. competitive with its rivals abroad.
Here are a few top-line items on the roadmap:
“A cross-government AI R&D effort, including relevant infrastructure,” meaning getting the DOE, NSF, NIST, NASA, Commerce and half a dozen other agencies and departments to format and share data in an AI-friendly way. In a way this relatively simple-sounding task is the most daunting of all, and will likely take years to accomplish.
Fund American AI hardware and software work at the semiconductor and architecture level, both through the CHIPS act and elsewhere.
Further fund and expand the National AI Research Resource, still in its naissance.
“AI grand challenges” to spur innovation through competition in “applications of AI that would fundamentally transform the process of science, engineering, or medicine, and in foundational topics in secure and efficient software and hardware design.”
“Support AI readiness and cybersecurity” in elections, particularly to “mitigate AI-generated content that is objectively false, while still protecting First Amendment rights.” Probably harder than it sounds!
“Modernize the federal government and improve delivery of government services” by “updating IT infrastructure to utilize modern data science and AI technologies and deploying new technologies to find inefficiencies in the U.S. code, federal rules, and procurement programs.” I get what they’re saying here, but that’s a lot to bite off for an AI program.
A lot of vague but large defense-related things like “Assessment and mitigation of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) AI-enhanced threats by DOD, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOE, and other relevant agencies.”
Look into the “regulatory gap” in finance and housing, where AI-driven processes can be used to further marginalize vulnerable groups.
“Review whether other potential uses for AI should be either extremely limited or banned.” After a section on potentially harmful stuff like AI-driven social scores.
Legislation prohibiting AI-generated child sexual abuse material and other non-consensual imagery and media.
Ensure the NIH, HHS, and FDA have the tools necessary to evaluate AI tools in healthcare and medical applications.
“Establish a coherent approach to public-facing transparency requirements for AI systems,” private and public.
Improve the general availability of “content provenance information,” i.e. training data. What was used to make a model? Is your use of the model being used to train it further? And so on. AI makers will fight this tooth and nail until they can sufficiently sanitize the ill-gotten hoards of data they used to create today’s AIs.
Look at the risks and benefits of using private vs. open-source AI (should the latter ever exist in a form that can scale).
You can read the full report here; there are plenty more bullet points where the above (a longer list than I anticipating writing) came from. No budget numbers are suggested.
Given that the next six months will be mostly given over to election-related rigmarole, this document serves more to plant a stake in a lot of general ideas than to spur actual legislation. Much of what is proposed would require months if not years of research and iteration before a law or rule is arrived at.
The AI industry moves faster than the rest of the technology sector, which means it outpaces the federal government by several orders of magnitude. Though the priorities listed above are mostly prudent, one wonders how many of them will remain relevant by the time Congress or the White House actually take action.
When phone manufacturers ditched the 3.5mm jack on their devices, the justification was to create room to slot in larger batteries and bigger antennae. That excuse doesn’t hold up in 2024, particularly when you consider that a small phone like the Zenfone 10 somehow has a 3.5mm jack, a 5000mAh battery, and all the extras you need in a modern phone.
But all other brands already moved away from the analog jack, and are instead pushing their wireless earbuds as a way to listen to music on the go. Outside of a few budget and mid-range devices, you won’t find the 3.5mm jack on most phones these days. This is what Moondrop wants to fix. The audio manufacturer is nothing if not bold in its vision, and its latest product is the MIAD01, an Android phone that has a 3.5mm jack as well as a balanced 4.4mm port — which is unheard of.
In addition to the ports, the MIAD01 has a decent DAC, and the design is intriguing to say the least. I wasn’t sure about the feasibility of such a device, but I used the MIAD01 for the better part of a week, and it has a few unique advantages. While there’s no shortage of dongle DACs like the Fiio KA13, being able to plug in any IEM or headset into a phone is just much more convenient, and the MIAD01 has standout sound quality. It is also able to drive demanding planar headsets without breaking a sweat, and that’s just an added bonus.
However, the MIAD01 also has to do all the other phone-related features in addition to audio playback, and this is where it doesn’t measure up to regular phones. The software doesn’t have any custom features, the cameras just aren’t worth the hassle, and the hardware isn’t quite the best in this segment. But if you don’t care about all of that and just need a phone for daily use that also doubles as a portable audio player, the MIAD01 has a lot to offer.
Moondrop launched the MIAD01 in China in April 2024, and the phone is now on sale globally. It is available in a single variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it costs $399 at audio retailers like HiFiGo. While the phone is sold with 256GB of internal storage, it has a MicroSD slot that lets you add up to 2TB of additional storage — ideal if you have a lot of offline music.
The MIAD01 has a distinct visual design, and the phone is decked out in a grey color scheme that has the same sci-fi aesthetic as the rest of the brand’s products. The orange accents for the power and volume buttons give the design a little bit of added flair, and I like the fact that the cameras at the back don’t jut out from the design.
The defining characteristic of the MIAD01 is the presence of 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports at the top, and to accommodate the analog connectors, Moondrop increased the thickness of the top third portion. This is a good design choice as it ultimately doesn’t affect usability, and because it extends to the entire width of the phone, there is no wobble when using it on a table.
The back and sides are made out of plastic, but the build quality is decent, and the buttons have good tactility. There isn’t much in the way of branding either; you get the Moondrop logo along with the model name at the back.
Another interesting design choice is the dual-curved OLED panel; the curvature is just enough that you get the benefits of a curved screen, but not so much that it limits usability. There is enough room on the sides to hold the phone comfortably, and this allows the MIAD01 to differentiate itself a little better.
What isn’t great is that the curved design doesn’t extend to the back, so you’re left with an asymmetrical aesthetic that’s just uncomfortable. Sure, the phone looks cool, but the flat back tends to dig into the palm, and it makes holding and using the MIAD01 much more awkward than it needs to be.
There’s a good reason that every other phone that has a curved screen has symmetric curves at the back, but that isn’t the case here, and it ultimately makes using the MIAD01 tedious. On that note, there’s no ingress protection of any kind, but that’s a given considering the phone has analog ports.
Rounding out the design, the MIAD01 has dual SIM card slots in addition to a dedicated MicroSD slot, giving you the ability to add up to 2TB of storage above and beyond the 256GB of built-in storage.
Switching over to the screen, the MIAD01 has a 6.7-inch OLED panel with 120Hz refresh. It has good colors and contrast levels, and while the brightness level isn’t the best in its class, I didn’t see any issues in this regard. There’s stereo sound, but as the device is limited to Widevine L3, it doesn’t play streaming content at 1080p — it maxes out at 720p.
As the software itself is barebones, you don’t get many customization options. The phone has an always-on mode, but you just get a digital clock and unread notification icons along with the battery level. The screen refresh is set to Auto out of the box, but you can manually toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz.
Obviously, a key talking point of the MIAD01 is the audio potential. As I mentioned above, the phone has a single-ended 3.5mm jack in addition to the balanced 4.4mm port, and the latter in particular is interesting. The phone has plenty of power to spare, and having used it with the likes of the Fiio FT5, Moondrop Venus, and other planar headsets, I didn’t see any issues in this regard.
The MIAD01 is just as reliable at driving sensitive IEMs, and there’s no background hiss whatsoever. I tested it with the Fiio FX15, Thieaudio Prestige LTD, Sennheiser IE200, and a half-dozen other IEMs, and it was terrific throughout.
You get dual Cirrus Logic DAC hardware, and the MIAD01 is similar to the MoonRiver 2 dongle DAC in this regard. If anything, the sound is almost identical, and you get a neutral sound with a hint of warmth. The DAC has good dynamics and imaging, and the overall sound is refined — it is equivalent to the best dongle DACs.
If you prefer a warm signature, there’s a service dubbed AudioConsole that comes bundled with the phone, and it lets you emulate a tube amp sound. The difference is noticeable, but I prefer the default sound characteristic. The phone doesn’t have AptX codecs, so you’re limited to the usual SBC and AAC in addition to LDAC.
What I like the best is that the phone has granular volume adjustment, unlike Android’s asinine slider. There’s a nifty toggle that allows you to stream music in the background, and you can use it with any audio and video streaming service.
Moondrop says the MIAD01 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7050, but the device info shows it is using the MT6877V (Dimensity 1080) instead. Both platforms use the same set of cores: there are two Arm v8 Cortex A78 cores that go up to 2.6GHz, along with six Cortex A55 cores that hit 2.0GHz. You get a Mali-G68 GPU, and it definitely shows its age when playing demanding titles.
To Moondrop’s credit, the MIAD01 doesn’t have noticeable lag in daily use. It handles mundane tasks like browsing and social media with relative ease, and because the interface doesn’t have any overt customization, it is fluid. However, this is not a gaming phone, and if you play anything but casual titles, you’ll see a lot of jitter and unstable framerates.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Category
Moondrop MIAD01
OS
Android 13
Display
6.7-inch 120Hz OLED, 2400 x 1080, HDR10+
Chipset
MediaTek Dimensity 1080, 6nm
RAM
12GB LPDDR4X
Storage
256GB UFS 3.1, MicroSD slot up to 2TB
Rear camera 1
64MP Sony IMX686, f/1.9, 4K at 30fps, EIS
Rear camera 2
8MP OmniVision OV8856 wide-angle lens
Front camera
32MP OmniVision OV32B
Ingress protection
❌
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, limited Sub-6 5G bands
The phone is sold in a single variant, and it has 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Again, it isn’t the latest storage or memory standard available today, but there are no issues in usability, and with the MicroSD slot, you can easily boost the addressable storage to up to 2TB.
Coming to the connectivity side of things, the MIAD01 has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and a limited selection of 5G bands: 1/3/5/7/8/20/28/41/77/78. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast to authenticate and doesn’t have any issues with reliability, but it is located a little lower on the screen.
Switching over to the battery, the MIAD01 has a 5000mAh battery that lasts a day consistently. There’s no charger in the box, but the phone uses the USB PD 3.0 standard, and goes up to 33W. It’s annoying that Moondrop didn’t bundle a charger in the box, but as you can use any USB PD charger, it isn’t too much of a hassle.
Most other mid-range phones have better hardware and connectivity, and it’s clear that Moondrop didn’t set out to create a powerful phone; the focus is instead on delivering the best audio performance, and it managed to achieve that.
Tuning the cameras on a phone takes a lot of resources and effort, and it’s not something smaller brands can manage. This is evident when using the MIAD01; the phone has outdated sensors and no camera tuning whatsoever, and the result is that it takes sub-par shots in any given situation.
What’s particularly telling is that even the brand doesn’t think the cameras are up to scratch, as it notes in its marketing materials: it’s not good, but it works. That sums up the state of the cameras on the MIAD01, and I don’t really have much to add to that.
The MIAD01 has a 64MP f/1.9 main camera that uses a Sony IMX686 sensor, and it is joined by an 8MP OmniVision OV8856 wide-angle lens, and a 32MP camera at the front that features OmniVision’s OV32B sensor. The interface is similar to what you get on most phones; the shooting modes are arranged in a ribbon at the bottom, and you get toggles throughout the viewfinder.
Daylight shots are passable at best, with the phone able to deliver decent colors in outdoor scenarios with good lighting. There are issues with focusing, foliage rendition isn’t accurate, and the AI mode tends to oversaturate colors. The wide-angle lens isn’t worth the hassle; it is barely usable in daylight situations, and the resultant shots have muted colors and graining.
When it comes to low-light conditions, the MIAD01 is objectively the worst camera I’ve used in a very long time. There’s so much noise that it reminds me of phones from over a decade ago, and you don’t even get a Night mode.
I used phones with the IMX686 quite a bit, and the sensor itself isn’t at fault — it has the potential to deliver great photos. This is down to the software, and it is possible to get decent shots by installing a different camera utility. On that note, the MIAD01 has level 3 Camera2 API integration, so you should be able to install an aftermarket utility like GCam and get much better photos.
It’s a monumental undertaking to design a custom Android skin, and most smaller brands choose to use a vanilla interface with limited customizability. That’s the case with the MIAD01 as well; it has a plain UI that doesn’t have any overt styling, and that’s a good move. You get a standard notification pane, large toggles, and Material You accent colors.
The biggest annoyance is the stylized icons, and this makes the UI look a bit chintzy; this is similar to what Chinese manufacturers did a half-decade ago. The device runs the November 2023 security update out of the box, but there is an OTA available that installs the May 2024 update. However, you’re still limited to Android 13, with no mention of when Android 14 will become available.
There isn’t much else to talk about the software. The overall UI is unfinished, and it reminds me of the Nothing Phone 1 back when it launched; you get all the requisite features, but there isn’t any customizability.
Another egregious omission is the Play Store and associated Google services — you’ll need to sideload these onto the device, so if that’s not something you’re willing to do, you should consider another phone. Once you have it installed, it’s easy enough to set up the phone the way you want.
Updates are also an unknown, and while the brand hasn’t shared how many platform versions the device will receive, it’s a good bet that it won’t go beyond Android 15 — if that.
The Pixel 7a continues to be a great choice if you want a great mid-range phone. The Pixel 8a is now available, but that device is costlier at $500, and while it has better hardware, the Pixel 7a is a great value — particularly if you can get it at a discount. As with most phones these days, there’s no 3.5mm jack on the device, so you will need to invest in a dongle DAC if you’re interested in pairing the phone with IEMs or a balanced headset.
The OnePlus 12R is a terrific option to consider, with the phone offering standout hardware and decent cameras at the back. Similar to the Pixel 7a, you’ll need to buy a USB DAC to get the most out of the device, but if you want a powerful phone with lots of useful features, the 12R is my recommendation.
You want a phone that’s also a digital audio player
You need a MicroSD slot
You shouldn’t buy this if:
You want polished software
You use the cameras a lot
You want the Play Store preinstalled
You need timely updates
The way I think of the MIAD01 is that it is a sleek digital audio player with a 5G modem. The design is closer to other mid-range phones, and while the in-hand feel isn’t great thanks to the asymmetrical curves, it is light. The biggest selling point of the device is the fact that you get 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports, and the sound quality is on par with most dongle DACs — no small feat. The MIAD01 can easily drive planar headsets, so that isn’t an issue.
There are other things the device gets right; the 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED panel has good colors and is great in daily use, and the 5000mAh battery lasts a day with ease. I would have liked better hardware, because as it stands, the Dimensity 1080 doesn’t quite measure up to demanding tasks. Similarly, the cameras just aren’t in the same league as other $400 phones.
Then there’s the software. You get a clean interface without too much bloatware, but it doesn’t have much in the way of features. You’ll need to sideload Google’s services before the phone becomes usable, and it’s still on Android 13. Considering the state of the software, there’s no telling when it will switch to Android 14, much less Android 15.
That said, the built-in ports and decent DAC make the MIAD01 stand out quite a bit, and if you’re interested in a digital audio player that doubles as a phone, then yes, it is worthy of consideration. It isn’t as good as a standalone player or a regular phone, but as a two-in-one device that lets you listen to high-res music on the go, the MIAD01 is unrivaled.
Just like CPU manufacturers used to be in a race to be the first to hit 1GHz (AMD won that race, by the way), NAND flash makers are currently vying to be the first to reach 1 petabyte (1,000 terabytes) of storage in a single SSD. To do that, they’re going to need a lot of layers of NAND flash. According to a new report from industry researchers, Samsung might have found one simple trick that will allow it to cross the 1,000-layer finish line first.
At an upcoming technology symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the presentations will be made by researchers with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The discussion details note that the team will show its findings on using Hafnia Ferroelectrics as a “key enabler” of QLC NAND beyond 1,000 layers, which would be a watershed achievement in the world of non-volatile storage. The lecture is titled, “In-depth Analysis of the Hafnia Ferroelectrics as a Key Enabler for Low Voltage & QLC 3D VNAND Beyond 1K Layer Experimental Demonstration and Modeling.”
Samsung’s 9th generation V-NAND uses 290 layers, so it’s still far from its goal of 1,000 layers and petabyte capacity. Credit: Samsung
As Wccftech notes, research into Hafnia ferroelectrics is groundbreaking and something that is still years away from reality, as the technology isn’t fully understood yet despite ongoing research. However, it could allow for much smaller electrical components if it’s ever proven reliable enough to replace existing technologies. Although Samsung isn’t directly involved with this research, the team working on it is reportedly aligned with Samsung. It’s believed the work they’re doing will be directly transferred to Samsung’s labs at some point if it bears enough fruit.
Samsung isn’t expected to be anywhere near 1,000 layers for another couple of years, and it might need a new technology such as this to get there. The symposium lecture notes state bluntly that Samsung’s 3D V-NAND is “currently approaching a state of stagnation,” which might indeed be the case. Samsung just announced its 9th generation V-NAND at 290 layers and is expected to announce its 10th generation at 430 layers in 2025 or so.
Apple and Google announced on Monday that iPhone and Android users will start seeing alerts when it’s possible that an unknown Bluetooth device is being used to track them. The two companies have developed an industry standard called “Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers.” Starting Monday, Apple is introducing the capability in iOS 17.5 and Google is launching it on Android 6.0+ devices.
Users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.
The move follows numerous cases of Bluetooth trackers like Apple’s AirTags being used for stalking. Last May, Apple and Google announced that they would work together to lead an industry-wide initiative to create a way to alert users in the case of unwanted tracking from Bluetooth devices.
When Apple launched AirTags, they were quickly adopted as a way to track the location of everyday items like keys. However, the trackers also ended up being adopted by bad actors who use them to track people. To address this, Apple released a “Tracker Detect” Android app in 2021 to help people who don’t own Apple products to identify unexpected AirTags near them. The new industry standard announced on Monday takes an OS-level approach to addressing the issue of unwanted Bluetooth trackers.
Bluetooth tag companies including Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee have committed that future tags will be compatible with the new industry standard, Apple says.
Apple and Google say they will continue to work with the Internet Engineering Task Force, a standards organization for the internet, via the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers working group to develop the official standard for this technology.
Apple’s AirPods along with its Pro and Max versions are excellent for FaceTime, phone calls, and music playback. The seamless transition between devices, like as your iPhone and Mac when you sit down at your work, is one of its best features. However, they do experience issues sometimes. One of the common problems is that the volume on the AirPods gets too low. We will demonstrate how to resolve that in this article.
Why Is The Volume in My AirPods So Low?
Depending on the gadget you’re using your AirPods with, there are several reasons why they might not be loud enough. For instance, your Mac or iPhone’s accessibility settings may be restricting the volume, or your battery may be almost dead. Additionally, your AirPods’ performance may be unpredictable if you’re getting close to the boundary of their Bluetooth range. This could result in the volume being too low.
One of the following common issues could be the cause of your AirPods becoming quiet:
Accumulation of earwax: It’s unpleasant, but earwax buildup on your AirPods’ mesh might really reduce sound quality.
Poor bluetooth: Your AirPods’ sound quality may be impacted by a weak Bluetooth connection or disturbance from other devices.
Software problems: If your AirPods haven’t received the most recent software update, you will experience low sound levels.
Battery life: Low-level batteries may also have an impact on sound quality.
Configurations: It’s possible that the volume or balance of the audio settings on your device are off.
7 Ways To Fix Quiet AirPods
First, determine if the issue affects all of the devices you use or just one of them. Try them on your iPhone or iPad if you see the issue on your Mac, and vice versa. In this manner, you can determine if your Mac, iPhone, or AirPods are the source of the issue.
There are a few options available if your AirPods are the issue. This is how you should proceed.
1. Clean your AirPods
AirPods occasionally become a bit dirty because of all the debris that gets accumulated in the speaker mesh. So, wipe them down with a soft, wet cloth that is free of lint as soon as possible. Make sure the cloth is only slightly wet. You do not want to get moisture on your AirPods. Use the same method to clean the charging port and the casing. You can take off the silicone ear tips from your AirPods Pro and give them a quick wash in cold water. Before you reattach them, make sure they have dried.
2. Use The Ear Tip Fit Test
After everything has been cleaned, you can confirm that your AirPods Pro fits comfortably in your ears. For this, Apple offers a helpful fit test that can distinguish between muffled and clear music. This way, you won’t need to increase the AirPods’ volume for louder sound and guarantee a better sound quality.
A proper fit could actually make the difference between your AirPods feeling too quiet and just right.
3. Reset and Recharge Your AirPods
Even though your AirPods seem to have a lot of power left, there can be a problem with the battery life display itself. Recharge them and give them another go to be sure that’s not the case.
If the volume of your AirPods is too low on a particular device but not on another, there may be a problem with Bluetooth or your device itself. You can follow these steps to resolve the issue with system reset:
Place your AirPods in their case, then select System Settings>Bluetooth, from the Apple menu on your device.
Click on “Remove” and confirm.
Open the cover of your AirPods case, then hold the setup button until the light begins to flash.
Navigate to System Preferences>Bluetooth, and select “AirPods.”
Check to see if the problem is resolved
4. Check the Volume
It may seem silly, but check sure that the affected device’s volume is up before performing any more actions. In case your Mac is not working with your AirPods, select Control Center and move the slider towards the right. Verify that the app you’re using is not on mute and that the volume is also cranked up.
Apple customers also check if they didn’t turn on any odd equalizer settings by double-checking the settings of their programs. Things may sound much quieter than they actually are if you have adjusted the level sliders partially or completely. This user tip is quite helpful in most situations.
Additionally, some websites, such as YouTube, have volume sliders built right into their playback windows. It would be wise to make sure that all of these are adjusted to a high level before using the Mac’s main volume adjustment.
5. Check Your iPhone Settings
Check the Settings on your iPhone if the volume on your AirPods is only too low when you use them with your phone. Select Sound & Haptics > Headphone Safety after opening the Settings app. Verify that the toggle switch for “Reduce Loud Sounds” is turned off.
Additionally, you should look at the accessibility options, since occasionally they can be set up in a way that makes your AirPods too silent. Navigate to Settings, select Accessibility, then Audio/Visual. Verify that the slider is positioned halfway between L and R. Select Headphone Compatibility. Turn them off and back on if the toggle switch is in the “on” position to avoid the potential issue.
6. Run Maintenance Scripts
There are various reasons why your Mac could be the source of the quiet music coming from your AirPods. Using maintenance scripts is the most efficient way to address multiple issues at once. There are several apps made specifically for that purpose. They can perform a wide range of other maintenance tasks, such as reindexing Spotlight, thinning out Time Machine pictures, and freeing up RAM, in addition to executing maintenance scripts.
7. Check if the Volume On Both Earphones is the Same
It’s possible that one earbud might have ended up being quieter than the other. You’ll need your iPhone close at hand to verify if that is the case:
Launch the Settings application.
Log in to your Apple ID if you’re not logged in.
Click or tap “Accessibility.”
Select “Audio/Visual” under “Hearing.”
Make sure the “Balance” section’s slider is in the middle, then move it back there if necessary.
You may need to get in touch with Apple for support if none of these fixes work to address your loudness problems. Even so, it is worthwhile to experiment with all of the aforementioned settings, in case you happen to miss something simple, like the volume controls. You can also contact community forums to see if you can find any unique information. Your feedback can help others as well so if you want to add your experience to it, that’s helpful as well.
Conclusion
If you’ve performed all the checks above and still don’t see any improvement, it’s time to go to the Apple service store. Just know that you may be saying goodbye to your AirPods if you’ve read this far and you don’t have a fix. You will have to go without them for a short while while they are being fixed or replaced.
In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness tech related to running and health, in his quest to get faster and more fit.
Google I/O 2024 arrives this Tuesday, and we expect a Wear OS 5 announcement. The last three I/Os gave us a massive Wear OS 3 overhaul (2021), a Pixel Watch reveal (2022), and a Wear OS 4 preview (2023). After two bombshells, last year’s wearable news was more perfunctory, so I’m crossing my fingers for a bounce-back year with a long-overdue fitness fix to Wear OS.
We know that Wear OS 5 is on the I/O schedule, with a talk on “Building for the Future of Wear OS.” Google might bring up the new Hybrid Interface that gives Wear OS watches longer battery life, or perhaps it’ll announce plans to bring Wear OS watches into the new Find My network.
We might see Gemini coming to Pixel and Galaxy Watches, given I/O’s likely AI focus. And perhaps we’ll get a glimpse of the Pixel Watch 3, even if it won’t arrive until the fall.
Those all seem like fair bets for your Google I/O bingo card. What’s less likely, but still important, is that the Wear OS team announces a proper OS-wide replacement for the dying Google Fit. Maybe that’s Fitbit, maybe not; it just needs to be something.
(Image credit: Google)
The Google Fit API shuts down next year in favor of “Android Health,” a new API with universal data categories like steps, distance, and calories. Designed to work with Health Connect, it’ll seamlessly transfer data between apps, with the ability to export niche data like blood glucose or pressure once watches start tracking them.
Sounds great, in theory! In practice, it still creates a vacuum where Google Fit used to sit as an agnostic option. You can transfer data, but you still need an end destination, and most fitness apps are designed to trap you in their ecosystem and charge you a fee. Yes, the Google Fit app is still available, but the writing is on the wall for the app to get the boot now that Google has turned its attention to Fitbit. Samsung Health is the closest “universal” and unpaid alternative, though that app is only available on Samsung smartwatches.
One could argue that health and fitness apps are a key way Wear OS watches differentiate themselves from one another these days, as it seems to be the big draw for the Pixel Watch. Also, these companies sell your health and fitness data to advertisers, and a universal app might prevent smaller brands from profiting. So, with a universal fitness app experience, how would Wear OS watches stand out from each other?
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
(Image credit: Chris Wedel / Android Central)
When Samsung joined Wear OS, Google didn’t insist that it abandon its own apps, UI, and unique approach; leaving Samsung Health as the default option is part of that. As for other brands, they might not want their apps to have to compete with Fitbit or Samsung Health.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Wear OS brand suffers from this fragmentation. Every non-Samsung/Google watch has a proprietary app that’s usually stripped down compared to what dedicated fitness watches offer, such as workout recommendations and recovery times. The same goes with Apple Fitness Plus, with its popular workout videos.
Instead, we saw how OnePlus’ first Wear OS offering — the OnePlus Watch 2 — had issues with health sampling, while Fossil abandoned Wear OS for good because it couldn’t keep up on the software front with its woefully lackluster Wellness app. Without more support from Google, I’m not certain how many third-party brands will break out of their small niches.
(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)
What’s the solution? My first plan is simple enough and would make for a splashy Google I/O announcement: Say Fitbit is coming to all Wear OS watches with Wear OS 5, either via the Play Store or as an alternative “default” option — the same way you can choose between Bixby or Google Assistant on a Galaxy Watch.
Yes, this makes Wear OS watches more uniform. However, health data is just as vital for a good smartwatch experience as Google Assistant or apps; Samsung prefers its users to use the Galaxy Store or Bixby, but at least there are reliable Google alternatives.
As far as how Wear OS watches would stand out, there are still other ways to differentiate between different models in their design, displays, UI, and so forth, without leaving health and fitness as this Wild West marketplace.
This move would also give the struggling Fitbit brand a bigger profile with Android users. I’d even suggest that Google compensate partners like Mobvoi or OnePlus by cutting them in on the profits for any Fitbit subscriptions bought on their watches after the trial period ends.
(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)
My other solution would play into Google’s love of renaming services that fulfill the same purpose: Just make “Android Health” an app like Google Fit. Give it some basic goals and coaching, make it free, and let people use it as a waystation between their Wear OS watch and whichever proprietary fitness app they prefer.
Eventually, I expect Google to offer something like “Gemini Coach AI,” which looks at your health data and gives you recommendations on sleep, training, and recovery. But unless that’s another Fitbit exclusive to sell Pixel Watches, then it will still need a uniform Wear OS fitness experience.
We’ll see if Google I/O 2024 has a fitness surprise in store for us this year, Fitbit-related or otherwise. All I know is that, at some point, Google’s choice to leave its Wear OS partners to fend for themselves on health and fitness — the first priority for a lot of Android watch buyers — could backfire on them.
Mention the words “Windows 11” to any tech-savvy person these days, and you’ll get either an eye roll or a brief shrug that’s physically the same as uttering “Meh.” It has not won over the masses, to say the least. Many feel it doesn’t do anything better than Windows 10 while offering a new interface that repels Windows diehards.
Thankfully, many changes can be reversed or tweaked to make the OS easier to use, and we’re here to walk you through them. You’ll also want to look at some cool new features. Here are our top Windows 11 tips.
1. Restore Your Right-Click Options
One of Microsoft’s most infuriating changes to Windows 11 is the redesigned right-click menus. The company removed most previously available options from the default view to make it more compact. However, it did keep the full list of options around. It moved them one layer deeper in the UI, forcing you to click “Show More Options” to see it.
The new simplified right-click menu is the bane of our existence. Thankfully, it’s easy to get the old one back. Credit: Microsoft
Some of us have to use this every time we right-click, which is highly annoying. Thankfully, there’s a way to revert to the old menu permanently. All it involves is adding an entry to the registry via the command line. Here’s what you must do to get the old right-click menus back via Microsoft:
Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal
Copy and paste this into the window: reg.exe add “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32” /f /ve
Close Terminal
To see the changes, reboot your PC or restart File Explorer. You can restart it by killing it in Task Manager, then clicking “Run new task” and typing “explorer.exe” in the window without quotes.
2. Customize Your Quick Settings
If you glance at the System Tray in Windows 11, you’ll notice a small “gear” icon next to it, along with the icon for your speakers. A menu pops up if you click the icon, giving you quick access to frequently toggled items. It’s like a control panel on your smartphone. The options let you cast your screen, change Wi-Fi networks, enable Airplane mode, and more.
Many of these seem more relevant to mobile users, though, which might be your cup of tea. On the desktop, they’re not so helpful. Thankfully, you can remove most of them or add ones not currently shown. Click the gear and the “pencil” icon to customize the menu to your heart’s content.
You can quickly change your, uh, quick settings here. Credit: Windows
3. Use the Xbox Game Bar
Don’t be like your humble author and ignore this feature if you don’t have an Xbox. It’s incredibly useful and something that has been missing from gaming for ages. It’s a built-in toolbar for gaming that drops down from the top of the screen when you press Windows + G. The most valuable feature, in this PC gamer’s opinion, is it provides a moveable, transparent overlay on the screen showing your CPU, GPU, VRAM, and system RAM usage, along with your current frames-per-second as well.
Yes, you could previously use MSI Afterburner for this, but you had to download, run, and configure the software to do it, and that’s a bridge too far for many. Plus, it’s stuck in the corner of your game, which is not always an ideal location to glance at.
The Xbox Game Bar is actually quite useful for PC gaming, despite its name. Credit: Microsoft
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Game Bar. You can also use it to adjust your audio settings, snap a screenshot or record your gameplay, view your current system resources, and chat with Xbox friends (supposedly, as we did not test last this feature). Our favorite is each of the modules (performance, resources, audio, capture, etc.) can be pinned to the desktop and made transparent. If you have a big monitor, you can easily stash them on the edges of your game and keep tabs on what your PC is doing without them getting in the way. And of course, make sure Game Mode is enabled under Settings -> Gaming > Game Mode for maximum performance and no interruptions about updates.
4. Use Multiple Desktops
This is a returning feature from Windows 10, but it’s been upgraded. To use it, you need to enable the Task View icon in your taskbar (Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar). Click it to add a new desktop. You can then easily switch between them by hovering over the icon and selecting the desktop you want to use.
You can setup one desktop with work apps, and another with apps that are more for after work. Credit: Josh Norem
What makes this feature great is that you can easily separate your preferred apps for work and not work, and quickly swap them when needed. New for Windows 11, you can also change the wallpaper for each desktop to make it easier to identify at a glance. Whatever theme you’ve selected will be applied across the board, though.
5. Tweak Your Privacy Settings
We’ve always worried about third parties tracking us as we use our computers. But in Windows 11, Microsoft has become the tracker (insert Captain Phillips meme here). The company has begun touting that the more it’s aware of your activities, the more it can personalize suggestions, ads, and the overall experience. It’s similar to the line companies like Facebook use, where they say they can only serve you relevant ads if they know what apps you’re using.
It makes sense, sure—but that doesn’t mean we have to like it or even allow it. Thankfully in Windows 11, you can disable these settings. First, head to Settings and click Privacy & Security > General. From there, you can disable all the settings below, as they will serve you ads from Microsoft.
Turn this crap off ASAP. Credit: Microsoft
Next, click back to Privacy & Security and go to Diagnostics & Feedback. In this box, Microsoft says it is required to collect data on you to keep your Windows 11 PC “secure, up to date, and working as expected.” Sadly, there’s no way to opt out of this, but at the bottom is a box that should be unchecked if you care about privacy. It lets Microsoft uses your diagnostic data (excluding website traffic) to show you personalized tips, ads, and recommendations. You can safely turn this off.
Sorry Microsoft, but we don’t need our experience to be “enhanced” with ads. Credit: Microsoft
6. Try Out Live Captions
Microsoft has added Live Captions to Windows 11 for videos. It’s a neat feature, if not consistently accurate. By default, the captions appear in a bar on the top of your display, but you can change its location and have it appear as a floating box. Although you might expect it to work only with Microsoft’s media player or Edge browser, it works with almost anything, including Google Chrome and VLC.
Live Captions also work in Chrome as well. Credit: Microsoft/Colonel Nathan Jessup
For people with hearing impairments, it also works in games that don’t offer subtitles. A Redditor discovered this cool trick, and the thread notes there are some caveats for games. The biggest is it doesn’t work in full-screen mode, only windowed mode. It also has a slight delay, as it has to hear the words before transcribing them, so there can’t be any music playing in the background. It’s only in English and struggles with music videos where people are screaming/growling (sorry, metal fans).
Still, if you find a game that doesn’t offer subtitles, it’s worth a shot.
7. Try Focus Mode
You don’t need to be a writer on deadline all day to appreciate the new Focus mode in Windows 11. It was rolled out with the 22H2 Windows update, and it’s a great way to shut the outside world out for a bit and get some work done. You can enable a session by going to Settings -> System -> Focus and clicking Start Focus Session.
Once enabled, your PC will go into Do Not Disturb mode for the allotted time. Apps in the taskbar will not flash when notifications arrive, and badge notifications in the taskbar will also be disabled.
You can also add Spotify to your Focus timer. Credit: Microsoft
Once it begins, an on-screen timer appears in the corner. It includes a built-in notification for when you need to take a break, which is on a 20-minute timer by default. You can add Spotify to the app to listen to music while working. Additionally, the app lets you add various tasks from Microsoft To Do.
8. Move the Start button Back to the Left Corner
The above list of Windows 11 tips is a collection of features you should check out when first using the OS. There are several other pitstops we believe every Windows 11 user should make, but these last three tweaks are subjective, so you might not want to do any of them. Regardless, these are the things we’d change immediately upon first booting Windows 11.
First up is the Start button. By default, it’s in the center now, and we hate it. To move it back, go to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar. Under Taskbar Behaviors, you can change the location of the Start Menu.
Back to where you belong. Credit: Microsoft
9. Experiment With Dark Mode
Though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, we appreciate Dark mode since Light mode is too bright for our tastes, so don’t skip this new feature in Windows 11. To fiddle with it, click Settings -> Personalization -> Colors and enable it under “Choose Your Mode.” Click Custom to adjust it the way you prefer.
You can choose light, dark, or a blend. Credit: Microsoft
10. Boost Your Power (Settings)
Microsoft hasn’t really figured out where to put this collection of options. As a result, in Windows 11, power settings exist in three different locations. Go into Settings -> System -> Power to start, but the most important ones are still in Control Panel.
But even when you go to Control Panel -> Power Options, you must click “Change Plan Settings” and then “Change Advanced Power Settings.” You’ll see a box that looks like it’s from Windows XP. In that window, you can customize your power settings at a granular level, whether you prefer maximum performance on a desktop PC or want your laptop to sip battery.
The control panel is still where you can make granular changes to power settings. Credit: Microsoft
