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Better audio than AirPods?

Better audio than AirPods?

New type of microspeaker sounds promising.

Leander Kahney
December 13, 2023

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AirPods sound great, but one audio company claims to have developed something even better: a solid-state microspeaker with really killer bass.

Because of their size, a lot of small speakers struggle to deliver good bass: They just can’t move the volume of air necessary. That’s especially true for the tiny speakers in AirPods and other earbuds and headphones.

But xMEMS Labs says it developed a new solid-state speaker that uses chiplike microelectromechanical systems, or MEMs, to deliver amazing audio across the full spectrum of human hearing. The company claims it’s a major breakthrough.

The first earbuds to use the new ultrasonic speaker have just been released: the wireless Falcon Max from Texas-based Noble Audio.

No word yet on whether Apple will use the technology, but if they sound as good as claimed, let’s hope so!

Also in today’s newsletter:

Talking of AirPods, Apple just launched a standalone USB-C case for AirPods Pro 2. The case costs a pretty penny, but it’s great if you're moving everything to USB-C. And today’s the day that AirPods revolutionized the headphone industry. I think they are up there with the best products Apple ever made.
I’m an avid biker (proof: I just broke my collarbone falling off one), and I love electric bikes. They’re super-fun and I guarantee that they’ll put a childlike grin on your face. If you wanna dip your toe, these BirdBikes look like a good deal at just $750.
Looking to buy someone special a Mac for Xmas? Peruse our Mac buying guide first, which will help you decide on the best model.
This setup makes me sick! Look at that view!

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Noble's swanky new earbuds use xMEMS' advanced solid-state driver

Noble's partnership with xMEMS leads to "the first TWS earbuds to adopt xMEMS' cutting-edge MEMS speaker technology.”

You can now buy stand-alone USB-C case for AirPods Pro 2 ... for $99!

You can replace the Lightning charging case for your AirPods Pro 2 with a USB-C one without also having to buy new wireless earbuds.

iOS 17.3 beta 1: All the features and changes

A surprising new Stolen Device Protection feature accompanies Apple Music playlist collaboration. But does the latest iOS beta pack any other changes?

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Store}

Beautiful magnetic stand turns iPad into iMac

The Elago Magnetic Stand for iPads lifts the tablet up and does so beautifully, closely mimicking the design of the iMac.

Best Macintosh buying guide: Choose the best Mac and accessories

When you buy a new Mac, you will spend a decent stack of cash. So, whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, it’s important to know what you’re getting.

Ugreen’s potent new power bank charges 3 gadgets on the go

Need a lightweight yet powerful portable charger? Ugreen's new power bank pairs a powerful battery with USB-C and USB-A ports.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Electric bike sale: Score a BirdBike e-bike for less than $750

BirdBike electric bicycles let you zoom around town while pedaling as much (or as little) as you want. Save in this electric bike sale.

How to switch back to the old notification sounds on iPhone [Updated]

Apple added more sounds and changed many of the defaults in iOS 17. If you want the old noises back, you can change (most of them) back manually. Here’s how.

New Keychron mechanical gaming keyboard supercharges customization

Highly responsive switches open up customization options for the new Keychron Q1 HE QMK Wireless Custom Keyboard.

How eCommerce Brands Unlock Profitable Growth

Still not hitting those ideal numbers for your eCommerce brand?

Multiple brands have soared in recent weeks because they have a secret weapon: Shoelace, a Shopify-recommended digital ad agency.

Just look at these results:

One skincare brand saw a 316% revenue jump in just 3 weeks.
A fashion powerhouse doubled orders in 2 weeks.
A home decor brand saw a 240% ROAS spike in just 2 weeks.

Shoelace delivers results, not just promises. They aim for profitable, sustainable growth.

Want to be the next success story?

Work with Shoelace this Q4 and knock 15% off your first month.

How to use grocery lists in Reminders on iPhone

In iOS 17, you can use Reminders as a grocery list app on your iPhone. Bonus: Items you add are automatically sorted into common sections.

Today in Apple history: AirPods arrive to conquer the audio world

December 13, 2016: After months of anticipation and delay, Apple finally released AirPods. The tiny wireless earbuds quickly changed the way we listen to nearly everything.

Stunning view comes with top display and killer KEF sound [Setups]

An amazing view deserves a powerful Mac mini, Apple's best display and audio from a phenomenal set of KEF speakers, right?

Mastodon o’ the day

Steve Troughton-Smith (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image 'Whisper' benchmark using Apple's new MLX machine learning framework supposedly boosts the M2 Ultra to double the speed of an RTX 4090; I'd like a bit more science and more comparison points, but this is an interesting start https://owehrens.com/whisper-nvidia-rtx-4090-vs-m1pro-with-mlx/ /via @iKyle

One more thing ...

❝

So that’s our approach. Very simple, and we’re really shooting for Museum of Modern Art quality. The way we’re running the company, the product design, the advertising, it all comes down to this: Let’s make it simple. Really simple.

— Steve Jobs, 1984.

Today’s poll

Which AirPods are your favorites?

Results from yesterday’s poll: What's your favorite new feature in iOS 17.2?

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