Team news is starting heat up ahead of Formula E’s Gen3 debut next season, and today one of the bigger expected announcements was made official. Ahead of the Berlin E-Prix, McLaren Racing announced its move to Formula E for season nine, committing to fielding a team when the series’ new spec makes its first competitive laps. Rumors began to swirl weeks ago that the company was coming to the all-electric racing series.
True to the reports, McLaren will acquire the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team. Current team principal Ian James will remain to ensure “a smooth transition.” Mercedes-EQ is the current world championship team and driver Nyck de Vries won the individual series title in 2021 to complete the double trophy season. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown explained that it was “satisfying” to provide a new home for the “class-leading” Formula E team that Mercedes has built. No word on a driver line-up just yet, but de Vries’ stablemate Stoffel Vandoorne will move to DS Penske next season.
“McLaren Racing always seeks to compete against the best and on the leading edge of technology, providing our fans, partners and people with new ways to be excited, entertained and inspired,” Brown said in a statement. “Formula E, like all our racing series, fulfills all those criteria.”
McLaren is certainly no stranger to Formula racing. As the second-oldest active team in F1, the constructor made its debut in 1966 at Monaco. It amassed eight constructors championships in the 70s, 80s and 90s with 12 individual drivers championships. Its most recent trophy-winning season was 2008 when Lewis Hamilton won his first championship (and did so in quite dramatic fashion).
McLaren also has experience racing EVs as it competes in the off-road Extreme E series. The racing series is still in its infancy after it first debuted in 2021, however, like Formula E and Formula 1, Extreme E is also sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). McLaren also fields two cars in IndyCar as Arrow McLaren SP, an open-wheel series it returned to in 2021 after a 40-year break. The team is a joint effort between Arrow Electronics, McLaren Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.
McLaren joins Maserati as a major manufacturer entering Formula E next season. Maserati announced in January that it would participate in the series, and in April it revealed a partnership with the Monaco-based ROKiT Venturi Racing. Nissan also recently took full ownership of the e.dams team it has partnered with since 2018. In the lead up to this weekend’s Berlin E-Prix, German team ABT Sportsline revealed plans to return to Formula E next season and Avalanche Andretti announced it would run Porsche powertrains starting in 2023.
The rumors were (mostly) true. Sony did indeed have a follow-up to its stellar WH-1000XM4 ready for a proper debut. Today the company announced the WH-1000XM5 ($400), its latest flagship noise-canceling headphones equipped with all of the things we’ve …
Google plans to finally launch its new smart home industry standard called Matter this fall. Devices will all connect quickly and easily using Fast Pair and the platform will support a variety of voice assistants and networking protocols. Those include Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri as well as WiFi, Thread and Bluetooth LE. While Fast Pair feature has been used for headphones and audio gear, the company is working to use it for more things, including syncing lightbulbs and smart plugs with Android and Nest devices. You’ll be able to scan a code with your phone to get things rolling, which should be quicker and easier than the current method for adding new gear to your arsenal.
The company first announced Matter in 2019, although back then it was known as Project Connected Home over IP (Project CHIP). At I/O 2021, Google announced a redesign to its smart home Developer Center to include all the tools developers would need to make product compatible with the standard. Matter was delayed until 2022 last August and the fall timeline now means Google has pushed it out yet again. The delayed launch was supposed to happen in the first half of this year. Still, after all of the roadblocks, the promise of a more seamless process for adding devices to your smart home from a wide range of companies is a compelling one.
Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2022 right here!
On top of all of today’s other big I/O news, Google is adding a new set of true wireless earbuds to its lineup of audio accessories. The Pixel Buds Pro are the first earbuds from the company with active noise cancellation (ANC) and soon they’ll support spatial audio when paired with a compatible Pixel phone. However, noise blocking and immersive sound aren’t the only big features Google has packed into these $199 buds.
Inside, there’s a new custom-built six-core audio processor powered by Google algorithms that blasts sound through custom drivers. The company says all aspects of the setup, including the active noise cancellation, were tuned by its in-house audio engineers. A feature called Volume EQ feature adjusts lows, mids and highs when you change the volume level to maintain a balanced sound profile. If you turn down the volume, for example, the buds automatically increase the bass while also keeping mid-range and treble in check. Touch controls give you the ability to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and activate (or deactivate) noise cancellation. Like both the Pixel Buds and A-Series, the Pro is IPX4 rated so you shouldn’t have any reservations about using them during a workout.
Google has also accounted for the fact that everyone’s ears are different. Even though the company says it scanned thousands of ears to find a shape with the most comfort for the most people, the included tips may not work perfectly for all users. With a tool called Silent Seal, Pixel Buds Pro can adapt to your ears to maximize the effectiveness of the ANC. Google says the earbuds also monitor pressure inside your ear canal and they can relieve it as needed to keep you comfy.
Multipoint connectivity is a must for earbuds and headphones these days, allowing you to switch seamlessly between your phone and a computer or tablet. Pixel Buds Pro offer this feature, swapping from the last two Bluetooth devices you’ve connected them to — including TVs and iPhones. There’s also hands-free access to Google Assistant so you won’t have to reach for your phone to summon some help with a range of tasks. And yes, the list of chores still covers real-time translation for 40 languages. Transparency mode is another handy feature, allowing outside noise to come in when you need to be aware of your surroundings or have a quick chat.
Google
Speaking of voice, Google has employed bone conduction to help pick up your speech during calls. Combined with beamforming microphones, a voice accelerometer and wind-blocking mesh covers, the company says you can expect clear calls even in less than ideal environments. Mileage varies greatly claims like this from earbuds companies, so we’ll hold off on any proper judgement for now.
Google promises up to seven hours of use with ANC on or up to 11 hours of listening with it turned off. That second figure is more than double the battery life of both the 2020 Pixel Buds and the Pixel Buds A-Series, neither of which have true noise cancelling abilities. Even if you opt for ANC mode, you still get two more hours than Google’s previous two sets. The case, which looks similar to one that came with the most recent models, supports wireless charging (Pixel Stand or Qi-certified accessories) and adds 13 hours of noise-cancelling use. Lastly, there’s a quick-charge feature that gives you one hour of ANC listening time in five minutes.
The Pixel Buds Pro will be available for pre-order on July 21st for $199. They’re expected to start shipping on July 28th. And if you do decide to make a purchase, you’ll be able to choose from Coral, Lemongrass, Fog and Charcoal color options.
Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2022 right here!
Update 4:06PM ET: This post has been updated with correct pre-order and launch dates. We apologize for the error.
For the 2022 season, Formula 1 has entered a new era. The sport introduced a new car spec for this year, complete with a new set of regulations that govern how it can be used. There’s a new circuit in the United States as well as a continuation of the …
If you’ve ever wished your podcast audio was just a bit more immersive, you’re in luck. Well, you’re in luck as long as you’re a Wondery+ subscriber. Dolby and Wondery have announced that the Amazon-owned podcast studio will be the first platform in the United States to offer shows in Dolby Atmos. Starting today, Blood Ties, Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound and Iowa Chapman and The Last Dog can be streamed with the immersive audio. Wondery plans to offer Against the Odds in the format “in the coming months.”
Dolby Atmos episodes and shows are exclusive to Wondery’s podcast subscription Wondery+. The $5 monthly or $35 annual plan gives you access to the company’s full catalog of content without ads. Subscribers also get exclusive episodes. Although Wondery is the first US-based podcast studio to offer Dolby Atmos, the immersive audio will be available in 28 countries where the service is available.
Dolby says it’s “actively working” with other platforms to add more podcasts in Atmos audio. Currently, the company has partnered with Earshot in India and Anghami in the Middle East and North Africa on the initiative. So if Wondery’s catalog doesn’t entice you, more shows from other networks should be available in the future.
Amazon bought Wondery in late 2020, shortly after it added podcasts to Amazon Music. The podcast studio had already made a name for itself with shows like Blood Ties and Dying for Sex, and it had launched its subscription service that offered ad-free listening. Amazon and Wondery have lined up other perks for paying users too, like the ability to listen to Guy Raz’s How I Built This a week early.
Georgia Wells, Yoree Koh and Salvador Rodriguez; The Wall Street Journal
“The employees, many of them veterans of other major tech companies, say TikTok emphasizes relentless productivity and secrecy to a degree uncommon in the industry,” the report explains.
A lot of companies have already entered the metaverse in some way, and today another big name is doing so. Spotify has announced that its venture into virtual worlds is coming via a Roblox interactive space called Spotify Island. The setting is a place where users can create music, chill in virtual venues and get access to exclusive virtual merchandise — and it’s debuting today.
Spotify has given its Roblox island a design that’s true to its brand: lots of green with shapes, colors and icons you’ll recognize from its apps. These are all part of the game as well. You can collect the heart-shaped “Like” icons for free merch, for example. Speaking of digital goods, Spotify says the exclusive in-game virtual merchandise will give artists a chance to connect with fans and a way to earn money. The company explains that a portion of sales will go to the artists, though it didn’t specify a percentage. It did say that it has already collaborated with some acts to create a collection of items that “truly reflects who they are.”
The main tasks on Spotify Island are hanging out with artists, completing quests and accessing “exclusive content.” The company says it has stuffed the virtual world full of Easter eggs for users to find along the way. You can also create your own music and sounds via beat-maker stations that are powered by Soundtrap, the online recording platform Spotify acquired in 2017.
Spotify says its first “themed experience” will debut in a few weeks. K-Park, a nod to K-Pop, will give users the ability to interact with artists Stray Kids and SUNMI. This is surely the first of many of the hangouts as the metaverse as a concept is just getting started. You don’t have to wait until K-Park starts to buy things either. SUNMI’s merchandise will be on sale today, with items for Stray Kids coming soon.
It’s a big week for Formula E. The all-electric racing series has debuted it’s incredibly efficient Gen3 car ahead of this weekend’s Monaco E-Prix. And while Formula E’s show car gave us a good idea of what the next-gen racer will look like when it hits the track next season, it wasn’t exactly decked out in circuit-ready livery. Thankfully, some of the teams have shared concepts of what their cars could look like in Season 9, so those give us a better reference point for track-ready Gen3 cars.
As an all-electric racing series, Formula E presents a unique set of challenges for drivers. The hurdles include power management, when to enable attack mode and the constant effort not to overheat the tires. The day before the Monaco E-Prix, we stopped by the Avalanche Andretti Racing garage to chat with Formula E rookie Oliver Askew, the lone American driver in the series. Askew discusses the series’ challenges, racing in Monaco and the new Gen3 car.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Billy Steele: With this being your first year in Formula E, are there any specific challenges that are unique to this series? Are there things you didn’t expect or aspects that have been more challenging?
Oliver Askew: Multiple things. We’ll start with the tracks. They are very different from what I’m used to. I have raced street tracks from the Road to Indy and IndyCar, but there are different straight tracks, they’re a lot more tight. Combine that with how I need to drive this car, which has very little grip. It’s very heavy, no aero and we’re on treaded tires. So that’s been a bit of a challenge.
But it’s a race car at the end of the day, and it has good power, good acceleration and it decelerates well. The window of operation is very small, so in the racing situation, with our energy, it’s a completely different story.
SOPA Images via Getty Images
Qualifying is one thing, but when we go to the race, it’s all a big chess match. You are racing other guys and deciding when to deploy energy and when to save energy. Obviously, qualifying is very important. But if you’re able to go fast, while saving energy at the same time, you can overtake guys. It’s a very action-packed race day, usually, and you keep seeing guys come from the back to the front by preserving energy in the beginning and then deploying it at the end – and vice versa.
We rely a lot on our engineering. Our preparation in the simulator is massive, especially for me. I show up on the race weekend, and I get like six push laps if I’m lucky before qualifying, which is nothing from what I’m used to.
BS: What is your favorite aspect of Formula E?
OA: I’d like to say that the car suits me. I do like operating in that very small window – the fine margins – especially when we go to the street tracks. It’s a game of inches. And though I’m still learning how to get the most out of it, my development is on a very steep road at the moment. And I think it’ll continue to be that way until we get to where we want to be at the front.
The traveling aspect I really, really enjoy. It can be tiring. But back in the States racing IndyCar the biggest trip that I would take would be from Florida to Indianapolis, or from Florida to the west coast, which doesn’t take much time at all. Traveling to Jakarta and then going back to the simulator in Munich, seeing countries that I wouldn’t have the chance to see before this experience, is pretty cool.
BS: And not the opposite. What’s your least favorite?
OA: Probably my teammate, Jake. Super annoying bloke.
Just kidding, we get along really well. I’d say the fact that we get virtually no practice.
BS: Most of your practice is in a simulator, right?
OA: Yeah, and at the end of the day, it’s very impressive what we’re able to do there. But it’s still not the real thing.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
BS: What are your thoughts on the circuit here in Monaco? It’s quite different from other tracks.
OA: There is a lot of elevation. I’ve never been to this city before, so I didn’t realize how vertical it was. Like you’re literally taking elevators across town just to get to where you want to go.
On the track, Monaco is pristine – like everything about it. It’s the most gorgeous three track I’ve ever been to. Combine the harbor and the yachts with the glitz and glam and it’s definitely a special place. And just to imagine are legends of sport, icons racing around here. I’ll definitely take that in for the first couple laps and then get to work.
BS: Are there any specific challenges to the circuit?
OA: This is our most high speed circuit. To put that into perspective, this is one of Formula 1’s slowest. So yes, these cars are not as quick as the F1 course, but they’re very difficult to drive – combined with a very high speed circuit. Take turn three, for example, the line is a very long left hander, and you’re cresting the hill on approach. It’s difficult to find the braking zone. You have to rely a lot on the car settings through there. And then you take the hairpin, the heavy braking out of the tunnel into turn 10. Like we spoke about before, the brakes in this car are vital to get right.
Billy Steele/Engadget
BS: With this weekend being the debut of Gen3, do you have any initial thoughts on the new car?
OA: Hopefully I get to drive it at some point! On paper, it seems very powerful and very fun to drive. I think the other drivers are in the same boat. It’s impressive what they’ve been able to put into this car. And I think it’s going to be a lot more enjoyable to drive than the Gen2.
BS: Is there one aspect that stands out more than the others in terms of the new technology on board?
OA: With four-wheel regeneration, we’re able to put twice as much battery into the car throughout a race. We put back 40 percent into the battery of what we use energy-wise during a 45 minute race, which is pretty impressive. The brake zones are kind of going to condense with that extra front axle breaking. I don’t know what that’s going to do to the racing aspect of the series. It’s probably going to make it a lot more difficult to overtake but the excitement is still gonna be there.
