You normally have to choose between fast refresh rates or OLED’s vivid imagery when buying a laptop, but Razer claims it can offer both at once. The company plans to update the Blade 15 with an option for what it says is the first 240Hz OLED laptop display. You’ll get the high responsiveness that can provide an edge in multiplayer games, but you’ll still have a color-accurate 1440p panel (100 percent of the DCI-P3 space) with deep contrast. If the machine lives up to its billing, you could dominate the latest online shooter in one breath and edit video the next.
There will be a few compromises. The 240Hz panel isn’t particularly bright at 400 nits. You won’t want to work in bright sunlight, then. And while the risk of burn-in that comes with OLED isn’t as high as it used to be, this might not be your best choice if you regularly work with static content like photos.
And if you thought a 240Hz OLED had to be expensive… you guessed correctly. The Blade 15 with this panel will arrive in the fourth quarter of the year at $3,500. You’ll get 32GB of RAM, a 12th-gen Core i9-12900H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics and a 1TB SSD as part of the package, but it’s clear Razer is aiming this spec at well-heeled gamers who want a do-it-all screen.
Update 5/3/22 11:33PM ET: The processor model was previously listed as i9-12800H. This has since been corrected.
Last year, Google announced smart canvas, a suite of tools the company promised would make it easier for people to collaborate across its productivity apps. Since then, it has consistently introduced new “smart chips,” small modular features designed t…
Instagram will test some additional changes for the main feed, including more recommendations. Extra content from accounts you don’t follow will bubble up in the default algorithmic feed “based on what you love.” It’s not clear how many of these suggested posts you’ll see, though Instagram says the experience will be personalized and factor in things like the number of accounts you follow and how often you use the app.
This isn’t a massive surprise, given that Instagram has been placing more emphasis on recommendations. Showing photos and videos from people you don’t already follow might boost engagement, but Instagram’s running the risk of annoying people who want a more curated experience centered around their friends, family and whatever @sainthoax is posting.
That said, Instagram is promising to give people more ways of personalizing their experience in the app over time. Two more feeds were introduced to the app in March. The Following view shows posts from the accounts you follow in reverse chronological order. Favorites, meanwhile, allows you to keep closer tabs on up to 50 accounts. You can switch between the feeds by tapping the Instagram icon in the top left corner.
Instagram is also testing some tweaks to how posts are displayed in the feed. It says posts will have a “full-screen” appearance. It plans to make videos more prominent too.
The new view looks like how Stories are presented, based on an image Instagram shared. The username, profile photo and caption are laid on top of the post, as are the like, comment and share icons. Tabs will still be displayed at the bottom of the screen. Stories will remain at the top of the feed, but as is the case now, these will be hidden after you start scrolling.
SoundCloud wants to make it easier to find must-listen tunes buried deep in its catalog. TechCrunchnotes the company has bought Musiio, an AI music curation company. The firm’s technology uses AI to “listen” to songs, tag them and slot them into playlists. Ideally, this improves the chances of discovering tracks you like, whether they’re from an established artist or a new bedroom DJ.
The companies didn’t disclose the terms of the deal, but said Musiio would “become core” to SoundCloud’s discovery system. Musiio will still offer its technology to other companies.
The two haven’t revealed their exact plans or an integration timeline. However, it’s easy to see advantages for both SoundCloud and listeners. The company could use Musiio’s AI to spot a breakthrough artist before a label or rival service poaches them. It might also increase play counts for many songs and convince indie performers to stick around. You, meanwhile, might listen to more varied playlists and discover a breakthrough song before it reaches the charts.
Anchor co-founder Michael Mignano is leaving Spotify, where he has led the podcast tech team over the last few years. The company told The Vergethat Mignano has submitted his resignation and will move on from Spotify at the end of June.
Spotify bought Anchor in 2019 for a reported $150 million to help people create, record and manage their own shows. Mignano, who co-founded that company in 2015, started overseeing podcast tech at Spotify as a result.
He played a role in Spotify becoming a major player in podcasting and was involved in the company’s push into live audio. Around 85 percent of new podcasts on Spotify are uploaded from Anchor. The platform reportedly hosts 4 million podcasts, four times the number it had in 2020. Anchor now even supports video podcasts.
Although Spotify is firmly entrenched as a leader in the podcasting space, that side of the business is going through a shakeup. It was reported last month that Courtney Holt — who was involved in the Anchor acquisition and helped sign the Obamas, Joe Rogan and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclusive podcast deals — has stepped down as a Spotify executive but will remain as an advisor. Lydia Polgreen also left her position as managing director of Gimlet Media in April.
Barack and Michelle Obama are moving on from Spotify as well. The company says it opted not to offer them a new deal. Their production company, Higher Ground, is looking for a new partner and is said to have been in discussions with the likes of Audible and iHeartMedia.
ViacomCBS has finally narrowed the timing for some of its international Paramount+ launches. As Varietyreports, Paramount Global announced during an earnings call that the streaming service will arrive in the UK and Ireland on June 22nd. South Korea will also have access sometime in June. You’ll have to wait a while longer in other parts of the world, however. Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland will can start watching in the second half of 2022, while people in India will have to wait until 2023.
In the UK, you’ll pay £7 per month or £70 per year. Sky Cinema customers will have Paramount+ included at no extra charge.
The expansion will be welcome if you’ve wanted to watch Halo and other shows that have remained exclusive to Paramount+ so far. However, this won’t thrill everyone. Until late last year, ViacomCBS made shows like Star Trek: Discovery available outside of Paramount+ coverage areas through rivals like Netflix. You’ll now have to subscribe to yet another service to follow affected shows.
With summertime right around the corner, you may want to see your new grad off on a trip. After all, your child might have finished school, but that doesn’t mean they’re done learning. And one of the best ways for them to find out both about themselves and different cultures is to experience a new place first hand. When they’re ready, see them off with a few of our travel essentials that will help them stay connected — and have more fun — while on the road.
Twelve South PlugBug Duo
Twelve South
None of the gadgets we recommend in this list are of much use if your grad can’t charge them when they’re away from home. If they own a MacBook, you can save them money and headaches dealing with different electrical standards by getting them an all-in-one charger like PlugBug Duo from Twelve South. It works with all existing MacBook power adapters and comes with five different electrical plugs, providing coverage for Australia, Canada, China, continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the US. It also features two built-in USB-A ports, making it possible to charge three devices at the same time. If your grad doesn’t need the extra USB-A connections, another option is the $29 World Travel Adapter Kit from Apple. Either way, you’re giving them something that will serve them on many trips to come.
Crying babies, turbulence and rowdy passengers — there are so many sounds that can make an already trying travel experience even more tiresome. Speaking from experience, comfortable and capable noise-canceling headphones can go a long way toward making all of that easier. Thankfully, you don’t have to look far to find the best option in the field: Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM4.
Outside of masterful noise canceling you can customize to your preferences, the M4 has one feature that makes it especially suited for traveling: You can get up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, and another five hours after just 10 minutes of charging. In other words, they’ll easily get your adult child through a marathon of flights and layovers. If the $348 M4 are outside of your budget, Sony still sells their excellent predecessor, the WH-1000XM3 for about $249.
There’s no such thing as the perfect backpack, but if there’s one that gets close, it’s the Daypack Original from Topo Designs. Made in the US with Cordura fabric and YKK zippers, it’s built to last. I’ve had one since 2017 that I’ve taken on trips to Europe, Hawaii, South Korea, Japan and parts of the mainland US and Canada. I’ve returned each time without any frayed stitching on my backpack. Topo’s trademark classic styling is complemented with details that make it particularly fit for traveling. A 21.6-liter capacity will allow your grad to carry a surprising amount of stuff with them when they land on the ground. Internally, there’s a sleeve big enough to accommodate most 15-inch laptops, and high contrast fabric makes it easy to see inside when you need to find a specific item. It also has dedicated pockets for water bottles and plush shoulder straps.
If you want to get your new grad a backpack they’ll be able to take with them to any workplace, we like the Classic Backpack from Bellroy. It features a 20-liter capacity, a 16-inch laptop sleeve, water-resistant fabric and a chic design that won’t stand out when they’re wearing professional attire.
The Fujifilm X-E4 is the successor to the X-E3, a camera I’ve packed on every trip I’ve taken since 2017. What I love about the X-E3 is its unimposing exterior and size. It strikes the perfect balance between portability and image quality. The X-E4 makes an already ideal travel camera even better by adding a tilting 3-inch LCD touchscreen, USB-C connectivity and Fujifilm’s latest 26.1-megapixel X-Trans 4 CMOS sensor. Oh, and did I mention it’s the company’s smallest interchangeable lens camera and weighs less than a pound? Add to that Fujifilm’s film simulations and Bluetooth connectivity, and you have a camera that will allow your kid to take great photos and easily transfer them to their phone to share over social media.
What’s more, you can buy the X-E4 with a 27mm prime lens. Don’t judge this lens by its small size, though: It’s sharp across its entire aperture range and has a field of view that will make composing shots easy. It’s worth noting Fujifilm has one of the best and most comprehensive lens ecosystems of any camera manufacturer. For almost every expensive piece of glass like the 56mm f/1.2, the company offers a more affordable f/2 alternative that is light, compact and weather sealed. That makes the X-E4 the perfect starter camera.
Every trip involves some amount of downtime. Between long flights and train rides, as well as lengthy layovers, there are plenty of opportunities to do some reading and last-minute research. For that reason, an e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect travel companion. Not only is the Paperwhite the weight and size of a small paperback, but even the 8GB model can hold thousands of books and it now has an adjustable warm light, too. If the trip your grad plans to take involves the beach, the latest version is waterproof as well. Best of all, with the Paperwhite’s battery good for up to six weeks on a single charge, there’s one less cable and charger for them to carry on their trip.
You’ll notice there’s more than one photography-related item on this list. The reason for that is that no one camera is perfect for every task. The X-E4 I just mentioned is great for stills, but if your grad is on the more adventurous side, an action camera like the GoPro Hero 10 Black will be a better fit. While GoPro didn’t give this model a huge overhaul compared to the previous, the new GP2 processor makes a huge difference when it comes to image quality, interface speed and general performance. It also has a bunch of new slow-mo and frame rate options that will give your grad more ways to line up the perfect shot.
Peak Design is known for making some of the most practical camera bags and accessories you can buy. But over the last few years, it has also made a name for itself in the travel bag space. If you want to help your grad organize all their cables and gadgets before they leave for their next trip, look no further than the company’s Tech Pouch. It has a handful of nifty features that separate it from the competition. Exterior handles make it easy to open and hold the pouch, even on a plane flying through turbulence. Meanwhile, inside you’ll find loops and Peak’s signature origami dividers there to make it easy to organize things like pens, SD cards and batteries. Another handy detail is a cable passthrough that allows you to keep a power bank within its interior and connect it to your phone in the front pocket. Oh, and the nylon exterior is water-resistant, so your grad can relax knowing all their electronics are secure from any accidental water damage.
At some point during their trip, the battery on your grad’s phone is likely to run low or even die at a critical moment. It could happen when they’re trying to navigate a complex subway, for example. That’s a stressful moment, especially if you’re in a place where you don’t speak the language. Help them avoid situations like that with a power bank. There are a lot of capable models out there, but we like the ones Mophie makes. Specifically, the Powerstation PD XXL with its 20,000mAh cell, 18W PD fast charging, and a mix of USB-A and USB-C ports. It will allow your grad to quickly charge three devices simultaneously, so that they can easily avoid that dreaded moment when their lifeline to the internet dies.
I never leave my house, let alone travel anywhere, without a water bottle. There are so many reasons to bring one with you on a trip, not the least of which is that you’ll avoid needing to buy any plastic ones. Seattle-based MiiR makes some of the best reusable bottles in the business, with one of my favorites being the company’s 23-ounce, insulated, narrow-mouth style. It’s perfect for travel because it can keep liquids either hot or cold for long periods of time, and it won’t sweat or transfer any flavors to a drink thanks to the medical-grade stainless steel that coats its interior. It also looks great and comes in a variety of vibrant colors, so there should be one that will appeal to your grad.
Between flying and the eventual jet lag that sets in after hopping countries and continents, getting a full night’s sleep can be a challenge. That’s where a sleep mask can help and one I’ve found to be better than the rest is made by a company called Manta. At this point, it makes a lot of different models, so take a look at their website to find the one that will best suit your kid. That said, the original Sleep model is a best place to start. What makes it stand out is that the eyecups aren’t sewn into the mask. Instead, they’re attached to it using velcro, allowing you to reposition them to make the mask as comfortable as possible. The company says they’re also 100 percent effective at blocking out any light, a claim I’ve found to be accurate.
While we’re on the subject of masks, why not also get your grad some extra face ones? After all, even if they’re vaccinated, you’ll want the peace of mind that they’re taking care of both their own personal safety and that of the people around them.
If your grad has a relatively recent phone like the iPhone 13 or Galaxy S22, they don’t need a dedicated camera to take great-looking video during their trip. But what can help is a smartphone gimbal like the OM5 from DJI. Making some of the best commercial drones in the world, DJI knows a thing or two about camera stabilization. The OM5 will help your grad film smooth and cinematic footage while they’re on their trip. The latest gimbal has a magnetic mechanism that makes attaching your phone to the gimbal much easier than a traditional clamp mount, plus it weighs 100 grams less than the previous model.
If you’ve been coveting Samsung’s 2022 The Frame TV lineup but felt the asking prices were a tad steep, you’ll want to take notice — Amazon has put the art-centric 4K sets on sale for the first time. The 55-inch model is the best deal of the bunch, selling for $1,298 ($200 off). The 65-inch version is also a better bargain at $1,759 (down from $1,997). The 43-inch set has dipped to $879 (normally $997) if you want a smaller model for the bedroom, while the wall-filling 75-inch panel has received a $200 discount to $2,797.
The 2022 version of The Frame is, arguably, the one that fulfills Samsung’s vision of an art-focused TV that blends into your home decor. Its namesake customizable frame is more welcoming than the usual plastic or metal, but the centerpiece is a matte-finish display that reduces glare and helps digital paintings stand out. This is a set you’ll want to leave on around the clock, if just to bring some Van Gogh or Vermeer into your living room.
There are some compromises. This is a QLED screen, so you won’t have the extra-deep contrast of OLED or mini-LED. You’ll also need a subscription to the Art Store if you want full access to Samsung’s virtual gallery. All the same, The Frame is easy to justify if you’re tired of your TV being an imposing slab of technology when it’s not in use.
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Marshall has just announced two new Bluetooth options to its stable of portable speakers, along with a few new features. The Willen is the company’s first ultra-compact portable and it’s joined by the Emberton II, which improves on the previous model i…
Your pool of potential FIFA 22 rivals will soon extend beyond your platform of choice. 9to5Googlenotes EA has confirmed plans for a FIFA 22 cross-play test on PlayStation 5, Stadia and Xbox Series X/S. Once the test is available, you can opt in to play against a wider range of gamers in Online Seasons and Online Friendlies. You’ll have to add buddies to the in-game friends list if you want them to join in, but there otherwise won’t be any associated headaches.
EA didn’t say just when the test would launch, or when it might become a regular feature of the game. The publisher is expecting feedback in its community forum when the test launches, however.
The test will no doubt frustrate you if you’re an PS4 or Xbox One owner. All the same, this may be one of the more influential cross-play additions in recent memory. The FIFA series remains one of the most popular sports games worldwide, and that has typically made your choice of console important — you didn’t want to get an Xbox if all your friends would play the latest FIFA title on PlayStations. Cross-play support will let virtual soccer fans use the platform they want without fear of being cut off from their social circles.
