All Things Tech

After several weeks worth of leaks, the latest version of Apple/Beat’s Powerbeats arrive this week. One key thing many of the rumors got wrong is the name. There will be no Powerbeats 4 — not for now, at least. Instead, the company’s somewhat confusingly doing away with the number scheme in favor of the simpler “Powerbeats” name. The name is, in part, to distinguish the bluetooth headphones from the well-regarded Powerbeats Pro. The new models adopt a number of new features from those truly wireless earbuds, while maintaining the familiar tethered design. Powerbeats Pro are the Bluetooth earbuds to beat No doubt some prefer that design. Frankly, I’m a bigger fan of the Pros, though I can see where the ability to let the headphones dangle around one’s neck while not in use would have its appeal. If that’s not a great selling point, how about the headphones’ stated 15 hours of battery life nine on-board hours? Of course, the Pros get a full 24 when you include the giant case. Th...

A human clinical trial of a potential vaccine for the new coronavirus will begin on Monday, the AP reports . The trial, which will test the effects of an experimental vaccine shot developed by the National Institutes of Health and drugmaker Moderna, won’t make use of either an active or inactive sample of the virus, as is common for vaccines, but will instead use a gene-based method that uses messenger RNA to trigger an immune response in the target individual. The Wall Street Journal reported on the vaccine being developed by Moderna in February , which is a relatively young company built around this gene-based approached to drug therapy development. At the time, the paper reported that testing was set to begin in April, but it seems like the change in the situation globally between the end of February and today have accelerated the timelines involved. That said, any final validation of a vaccine, even if it proves effective in trials, is at least a year to 18 months out according t...

Apple has officially revealed the Beats Powerbeats, packaging the audio quality of last year’s Powerbeats Pro into a more affordable, longer-lasting set of earbuds. Despite slicing $100 off the sticker, the promise is up to 15 hours of playback compared to the nine hours your Powerbeats Pro should last, plus arguably easier charging. Rather than the hard – and hardly … Continue reading from SlashGear https://ift.tt/3d2CSM3

The wheels of the regulatory machine continue to turn, and today Apple, along with two of its wholesale partners, was dealt a major blow in France over antitrust violations, by receiving the biggest-ever fine levelled against a business over anti-competitive practices and “sterilizing the market” for Apple products, specifically as they are sold across a range of Apple Stores, large “big box” retailers and smaller, independent resellers. Apple, along with its wholesale distribution partners Ingram Micro and Tech Data, have been accused and fined by the French competition authority (Autorité de la Concurrence), over operating a cartel —  affecting pricing and who could sell products — for virtually all  Apple products including computers and tablets, but not the iPhone (which is often sold via mobile phone distributors and carriers). Apple is being ordered to pay up €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion), while Tech Data was fined €76.1 million and Ingram Micro €62.9 million in the fine....

COVID-19 can seem like a paper tiger, when looking at bare mortality rates. The far greater problem is the increase in fatalities as health systems are stretched to the limit. With thousands of patients presenting all at once, hospitals quickly run out of beds and resources and suddenly, normally survivable conditions become life threatening. One Italian hospital found themselves in such a position, running out of valves for a critical respirator device needed to save their patients. Supplies were running out – but additive manufacturing was able to save the day. The original part, left, with its 3D-printed replacement. While the article uses the term “reanimation device”, it’s clear we’re talking about respirators here, necessary to keep patients alive during respiratory distress. The valve in question is a plastic part, one which likely needs to be changed over when the device is used with each individual patient to provide a sterile flow of air. After the alarm was raised by Nun...

Technology and manufacturing have truly come a long way if an 8-inch “laptop” can run AAA games. At least that’s the idea that China-based GPD (GamePad Digital) is trying to make with its biggest and most ambitious product to date. The GPD WIN Max aims to combine the best of both worlds in a small size and while the demonstration … Continue reading from SlashGear https://ift.tt/3aXwbsF

The Galaxy S20 series, especially the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, has unsurprisingly been the topic of many smartphone news and reviews, overshadowing even the Galaxy Z Flip. Those aren’t Samsung’s only phones for this year, of course, and it’s only a matter of time before it announces the rest of its 2020 lineup. It still hasn’t made such an announcement … Continue reading from SlashGear https://ift.tt/3d5KNIn