| Cult of Mac

Apple strikes big deal with Broadcom for US-made 5G components

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Apple struck a multibillion-dollar deal with Broadcom for 5G components made in the US.
Apple struck a multibillion-dollar deal with Broadcom for 5G components made in the US.
Photo: Brad Gibson/Cult of Mac

Apple said Tuesday it struck a “new multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement” with technology manufacturer Broadcom to develop 5G radio frequency components in the United States.

“We’re thrilled to make commitments that harness the ingenuity, creativity and innovative spirit of American manufacturing,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

“All of Apple’s products depend on technology engineered and built here in the United States, and we’ll continue to deepen our investments in the U.S. economy because we have an unshakable belief in America’s future,” he added.

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max could employ powerful next-gen Bluetooth

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AirPods Pro 2 could be among Apple's earphones that take advantage of the new Bluetooth standard.
AirPods Pro 2 could be among Apple's earphones that take advantage of the new Bluetooth standard.
Photo: Killian Bell / Cult of Mac

The standards body behind Bluetooth technology said Tuesday the next-gen version first promoted two years ago is finally here. With Bluetooth LE Audio now complete, new headphones like the upcoming AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max can incorporate an array of improvements.

Just to name a few, we can expect better sound, improved power efficiency and connectivity to an “unlimited” number of devices if Apple fully integrates the new standard.

Run the show with this new wireless intercom headset system

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If your team is within 1,000 feet, you can talk to them.
If your team is within 1,000 feet, you can talk to them.
Photo: Hollyland

Anyone who works in event management — weddings, conferences, film sets — knows that fluid communications are key. But rather than run around with your iPhone glued to the side of your head while everything goes to pieces, why not invest in a wireless intercom headset system? Hollyland launched a new set Thursday that could fit the bill.

That way, you and your team can keep in constant touch and you’ll look super-important, too.

Content creator? Try Joby’s 5 new Wavo microphones.

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Joby's new Wave Pro microphone offers
Joby's new Wave Pro microphone offers "broadcast-caliber audio."
Photo: Joby

Known for its flexible tripods and mobile lighting, Joby is now covering the content creator market for audio recording like a blanket. It rolled out five new microphones in its Wavo lineup to take on rivals like Rode, Shure and Sennheiser at several different price points.

The new mics mean more options for vloggers and audio streamers of all stripes. Four of the mics are available now and one, the Wavo Pro DS, comes out in March.

Joby’s deeper embrace of the microphone market doesn’t come as a complete surprise. After all, its parent company, Vitic, recently bought two microphone brands — Rycote in 2018 and Audix in January.

Nothing’s new black transparent earbuds look totally badass

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Nothing's new
Nothing's new "Black Edition" Ear 1 buds retain the cool transparent design.
Photo: Nothing

Nothing released its first Ear 1 earbuds in late summer 2021 with a partially transparent design, a cool transparent case, good sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging. Now the company’s rolling out the new Ear 1 “Black Edition,” which retains the interesting design and tech elements in a cool new look.

And Nothing, created by OnePlus founder Carl Pei, added the product is now carbon neutral and you can buy the product — still $99 — with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. So there’s that.

Get a load of Beats Studio Buds’ first limited-edition design

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Beats Studio Buds get a bold design for Union's 30th anniversary.
Beats Studio Buds get a bold design for Union's 30th anniversary.
Photo: Beats

Beats released a new version of its Beats Studio Buds on Tuesday in a joint effort with the trendy mens fashion store Union. The limited-edition wireless earbuds commemorate Union’s 30th anniversary. You can snap them up at the store’s Los Angeles and Tokyo locations and, as of Wednesday, online.

Edifier launches low-cost, hi-res wireless earbuds to rival AirPods Pro

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Edifier Neobud Pro high-res, wireless, noise-cancelling earbuds are coming soon.
Edifier Neobud Pro high-res, wireless, noise-cancelling earbuds are coming soon.
Photo: Edifier

Beijing-based Edifier built a reputation for producing high-quality speakers and headphones. Now, with the upcoming release of its Neobuds Pro hi-res, wireless, noise-canceling earbuds, it looks hungry to capture market share from top contenders like Apple’s AirPods Pro and Sony’s new WF-100XM4.

AirPods absolutely dominate the wireless headphones market

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AirPods wall display is on show in New York.
They may be small, but AirPods are a big hit.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

AirPods aren’t just a massive hit for Apple, they’re a giant in the overall “wireless hearables” market. According to new research from Counterpoint, AirPods made up a massive 60 percent of the overall market in Q4 2018.

It would have been even bigger, too, if customers hadn’t been waiting on Apple’s updated AirPods 2 at the time!