News Weekly: The first Sonos headphones, Samsung Unpacked line leaks, and more

This is News Weekly from Android Central, your go-to source for a concise summary of the week’s most important tech news. This is where we take a look at the top titles that showcase the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

The new Sonos Ace looks familiar, right?

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Earlier this week, Sonos launched its first-ever headset, “Ace,” which looks a bit like Apple’s. AirPods Max. However, as a unique feature, an internal design allows the earcups to be removed, making them easier to clean or replace with new colors. These Bluetooth wireless headphones offer wired playback via the single USB-C port. Out of the box, users will receive a USB-C to USB-C and a USB-C to 3.5mm to accommodate accessories that can be connected to the headphones.

Each cup features 40mm drivers and four microphones, which offer active noise cancellation (ANC) in “Aware mode”. The headphones support Dolby Atmos and can stream spatial audio content from supported services, including head tracking, wherever available. Later this year, Sonos says it will add “TrueCinema,” a new technology that will map the space around you and create a virtual surround sound system tailored to your room.

The Sonos Ace is available in two colors: black or soft white, reflecting the more pronounced colors of Sonos with its Era speakers. The company says the battery lasts up to 30 hours and will be available for pre-order for $449 starting May 21, with general availability on June 5.

Shh… Samsung’s cat is out of the bag

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We might have a potential list detailing what consumers could expect from the upcoming Samsung Unpacked event this summer. According to Evan Blass on Xthe Korean equipment manufacturer is preparing to launch eight new products.

The list mentions the obvious Galaxy Ring, which we’ve had several previews of this year, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Samsung’s next wave of TWS (true wireless earbuds), and three upcoming Samsung smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 7, the recently leaked Watch 7 Ultra and Watch 7 FE. Blass briefly mentioned the Galaxy Book 4 Edge and Book 4 Edge Pro; However, these laptops have already been launched.

We’re only two months away from Samsung’s summer reveal, and the lineup looks interesting to watch. But all our eyes are on the Galaxy Ring. Recently, the device’s rumored price was leaked, putting it in the $300-$350 range, similar to the Oura Ring 3, but it will come with a subscription service for its Health app, which could cost “less than 10 dollars”.

Google quickly fixes Android 15 Beta 2 update

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Google had to follow up Android 15 Beta 2 with another update because those who downloaded the beta were experiencing major issues with the Private Space feature.

When some users have tried for the first time, they saw it remove app icons from the home screen. Google Issue Tracker The website also states that this has been brought to their attention and that beta 2.1, a “minor update”, began rolling out to all eligible Pixels on Monday, May 20.

The new version initially came out of with a file size of 2.57 GB on any of their devices before downloading. However, users who installed this update said in a Reddit thread that the file size was between 11.30 MB and 12.12 MB when they restarted their devices.

Google says that only Pixel devices enrolled in the beta program will automatically be offered an over-the-air (OTA) update, i.e. Pixel 8a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.

iFixit played the “it’s not you, it’s me” card with Samsung

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On Thursday, May 23, iFixit announced that it would officially part ways with Samsung in June because the two companies’ goals for device repairability “do not match.”

I fix it said it will end its partnership through its Repair Hub, which began in 2022. It will no longer be a certified third-party partner for parts and tools to repair Samsung devices. The message states that “despite our best efforts” to ensure a high level of self-repair, “we have not been able to deliver on this promise.”

iFixit adds that it tried to get the necessary parts to local stores at reasonable prices while “the design of Samsung’s Galaxy devices remained frustratingly glued together,” forcing it to “pre-glue” the batteries and the screens in clumps, which speeded up the repair. costs for the consumer.

The company said its self-repair service would continue to sell Galaxy device parts when it could, but its in-house guides would no longer exist. Pre-existing Samsung device repair information will not be deleted, meaning users can still seek help on older devices.

“Alexa, what would an AI upgrade be?”

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Amazon would enter the AI ​​pool to compete with OpenAI and Google. According to CNBC, Amazon is set to give Alexa a boost with generative AI features, but this will come with a monthly subscription fee to access it.

Alexa has long been a handy tool for answering questions, setting reminders, and managing smart home devices. However, with OpenAI and Google’s multimodal models stealing the show, it seems Amazon is experiencing a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out).

CNBC says Alexa’s next update will make it more conversational, incorporating cutting-edge generative AI. Although Amazon hasn’t set a price yet, it appears this upgraded Alexa will require a separate monthly subscription beyond the $139 annual Amazon Prime fee. A source close to the company told the publication that each generative AI query could cost around 2 cents, and there is talk of a possible $20 monthly subscription that is under discussion internally.

These are some of the biggest stories this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth telling: