Sony - page 3

A MacBook and a whopping big monitor make for an epic rig [Setups]

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Who says a MacBook-centered setup can't be epic?
Who says a MacBook-centered setup can't be epic?
Photo: Aral Tasher

Front-end web developer Aral Tasher’s MacBook-powered rig is minimal but powerful. With just his laptop, a 49-inch monitor and a Thunderbolt 3 cable, he gets desktop-level performance from his humble MacBook.

To hold his MacBook, the nerve center of the setup, he uses a premium wood mount by Grovemade. This is paired with a custom-built keyboard from KBDfans, and a top-of-the-line MX Master 3 mouse from Logitech.

Tasher is also wired for sound. A pair of KRK studio monitors and LG noise-canceling headphones would make any audiophile jealous.

Sony 4K smart TVs with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit hit store shelves

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Sony X950
The Sony X950 is part of the new 2020 range. All models support Apple's AirPlay 2 & HomeKit.

Sony on Monday launched more than a half dozen smart TV models with 4K HDR LED displays in sizes from 43 inches to 85 inches. They include Airplay 2 and HomeKit, Apple’s wireless audio streaming and home automation technologies.

Sony plans to release more smart TVs throughout the year, including some 8K models. These will also have Apple’s tech.

A 49-inch ultrawide monitor dominates this sweet WFH battlestation [Setups]

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An LG UltraWide monitor (and a second screen on top) take this battlestation to the next level.
An ultrawide monitor (and a second screen on top) take this battlestation to the next level.
Photo: iSetups/Instagram

An amazing 49-inch LG UltraWide monitor dominates the sweet work-from-home setup of front-end developer Justin Chua from San Jose, California. A second 32-inch Dell monitor floats above, adding even more screen real estate to this eye-blasting battlestation.

And check out his sweet, custom-made mechanical keyboard!

Save over half on premium Sony headphones [Deals]

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Sony Accessories (Open Box) MAIN
These headphones are out of the box, brand new, and going for about half the new price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Sony makes some of the best personal audio gear on the market, and it typically boasts a premium price tag to match. We rounded up open-box deals on the best Sony headphones models, so you can save a bunch of money on a great set of new cans. Each one is certified to be in new condition, either in retail packaging or totally repackaged.

CES 2020 trends: AirPower alternatives, rise of 5G, tasty TVs

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CES-2020-trends
It's shaping up to be an exciting year for tech.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

CES 2020The post-holiday tech fest that is CES shutters its doors today for another year. This week’s event has been as weird and as wonderful as any other, giving us a glimpse of all kinds of innovative gadgets on the way in 2020.

Better AirPods alternatives. Wireless chargers that achieve what Apple couldn’t. iPhone cases you can throw on the compost heap when they’re no longer needed. Here are the biggest trends from CES 2020.

Apple TV+ coming to more smart televisions later this year

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What Apple TV+ needs to be a big player in 2020
What Apple TV+ needs to be a big player in 2020
Photo: Apple

Buried in a press release with nothing from the manufacturers themselves, Apple revealed Wednesday its Apple TV+ app is coming to Sony and Vizio smart televisions “later this year.”

The additions join Samsung, which added the app to some of its TVs in December 2019. LG also announced this week it would be adding the app to its units later this year.

iPhone 11 Pro eliminated in first round of blind camera test

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iPhone-11-vs-OnePlus
Yes, it got just 30% of the votes.
Photo: MKBHD

iPhone 11 packs Apple’s most impressive cameras to date. They’re some of the best available in any phone today. So you might be surprised to find they were just eliminated in round one of a blind camera test.

A photo taken on iPhone 11 Pro secured just 30% of the votes when up against a snap from the OnePlus 7T Pro — a handset that costs $400 less.

Sony’s new CarPlay system is big as an iPad

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BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
Photo: Sony

Car infotainment systems have grown dramatically in size, and Sony promises one that allows people with older models to upgrade to an 8.95-inch screen. It supports Apple’s CarPlay, so the driver’s iPhone is ready to provide navigation, make calls or play music.

Travel tips: How to choose and use noise-canceling headphones

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Maybe it's time for a set noise-canceling headphones, amirite?
Maybe it's time for a set cable-canceling headphones, amirite?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Noise-canceling headphones are fantastic. They cut down on traffic noise, airplane rumble and even — to a certain extent — the racket from that never-ending construction work across the street. Not only is life more pleasant without this noise pollution, but less background noise is also healthier for your ears.

Because you’re not trying to drown out the ambient noise with your music, you can set the volume lower, thus preserving your hearing (as well as your sanity).

Today we’ll see how to choose from the different kinds of available noise-canceling headphones, and how to use them. What this won’t be is a buyer’s guide — although I do have some recommendations based on personal use.

Sony’s new USB-C hub boasts world’s fastest SD card reader

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Sony MRW-S3 USB-C hub
This USB-C hub can pull data from an SD card faster than any other.
Photo: Sony

Taking aim at professional photographers, Sony Electronics unveiled a USB hub that includes readers for UHS-II SD and microSD cards. There are plenty of hubs that can access memory cards, but the MRW-S3 is faster than any of them.

Sony’s hub also has an HDMI port, plus high-speed USB-A and USB-C ports.

Sony’s answer to AirPods boasts one big advantage

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Sony-wireless-buds
But they’re not cheap.
Photo: Sony

Sony’s new wireless earbuds are ready to take on AirPods.

The horribly named WF-1000XM3 promise the same impressive audio quality as Sony’s best-selling headphones — but in an earbud form factor. And they boast one big advantage.

Here’s why you might want to avoid Apple’s hottest accessory and pick up these instead.

Apple becomes world’s fourth-largest gaming company

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Fortnite iOS 14
Everyone should welcome skill-based matchmaking.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is now the world’s fourth-largest gaming company, according to a new report.

It is ranked higher than gaming giants like Nintendo, EA, and Activision — thanks mostly to the popularity of mobile gaming on iPhone. Apple is estimated to have earned $9.453 billion from games during 2018 alone.

Samsung’s first TVs with AirPlay 2 and iTunes are now on sale

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Samsung TV
iTunes is now available on some Samsung TVs.
Photo: Samsung

The first wave of AirPlay 2 enabled TVs are already here.

After revealing at CES 2019 that some of its new TVs would ship with an iTunes Store app and AirPlay 2 support, Samsung announced today that its QLED TVs are shipping out now. Sharing video from your iPhone to the big screen just got a whole lot easier.

Sonos headphones will face off against Beats (and maybe Apple)

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sonos beam
Sonos is ready to bust out of the house.
Photo: Sonos

Apple’s Beats lineup of headphones could soon face some new competition from one of the HomePod’s biggest rivals.

Sonos is allegedly planning to create a set of premium headphones. Development for the over-the-ear buds is reportedly in the early stages, but they could launch by next year and offer some features rivals can’t.

Finally! Apple’s bringing HomeKit to your favorite TVs and gadgets, this week on The CultCast

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CultCast 370 Lisa
You'll soon be able to control your favorite TVs and gadgets right from your iPhone.
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: Smart window blinds, smart plugs, smart lights, smart locks and now … the best televisions on the market. Apple just revealed big moves to bring HomeKit to all your favorite gadgets, and Cupertino is just getting started. In 2019, the smart HomeKit devices we’ve always wanted finally arrive. Plus: Tim Cook just let it slip — Apple’s got new services lined up for release this year, but what could they be? We think we might just know.

Our thanks to LinkedIn for supporting this episode. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Head to LinkedIn.com/cultcast and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Here are all the TV sets adding AirPlay 2 support

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AirPlay 2
Sign up for SmartCast 3.0 access today.
Photo: Apple

One of the nice surprises to come out of CES this week is that a bunch of TV manufacturers are finally adding AirPlay 2 support to their latest sets. To help you keep track of which ones, Apple has published a list of TVs that are compatible with its streaming platform.

These are the ones to look out for if you want to send content to your TV over AirPlay.

PlayStation brings brand new Lemmings game to iOS

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Lemmings on iPhone
Get it from the App Store today.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The lovable Lemmings are back and better than ever. Help them navigate there way through challenging environments in a brand new game, exclusively for mobile, from Sony PlayStation.

With more levels than every previous Lemmings game combined (literally thousands!), carefully perfected touch controls, and plenty of variety throughout, it’s a must-have for mobile gamers.