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Man of Many
a day ago
- Man of Many
Nothing Goes Big on Audio with $549 Headphone (1)
By Dean Blake - News Published: 2 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 3 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Nothing is launching its first major foray into high-quality on-ear audio with the Headphone (1) on 15 July for AU$549 The design-first headphones will last 35 hours per charge, while using ANC To deliver great audio in a new form factor, Nothing partnered with 60-year-audio-veterans KEF UK-based tech company Nothing has finally lifted the lid on one of its most ambitious products to date: the Nothing Headphone (1). It's the company's first foray into the over-ear audio, marks a new collaboration with Hi-Fi pioneers KEF, and importantly is launching on 15 July, 2025 for AU$549. Nothing has built its brand on doing things differently from a design point of view, and the Headphone (1) very much delivers on that. So many headphone brands fall into the same design language, but here Nothing has produced something that looks like old-school cassette tapes jammed against your head – but in a way that I'm super into. The Nothing Headphone (1) also comes in black | Image: Nothing Sound by KEF It's not just a bold design, though: the Headphone (1) delivers the goods. By partnering with the audio legends at KEF, Nothing have been able to pack some serious quality into what is its first real attempt at an over-ear product. Custom-built 40mm dynamic drivers are set to output deep bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs – all dialled-in by experts with more than 60 years' experience in producing and replicating high-fidelity sound. Plus, it seems like the Headphone (1) adds in all the modern amenities you'd expect: support for Hi-Res Audio, LDAC, USB-C lossless playback, a 3.5mm audio jack, a precision damping system, and on-device spatialisation and built-in head tracking – which effectively allows the Headphone (1) to turn stereo audio into a '360-degree soundstage' that responds to your movement. We're looking forward to testing that. Nothing Headphone (1) | Image: Nothing It'll also include real-time active noice cancelling to help you drown out the busy city around you (or busy office), while a transparency mode will serve to keep you alert when you need it. By pairing the device with the Nothing X app, which is also used to control the brand's earbuds, you can activate AI-powered ANC which has been trained on more then 28 million noise scenarios, and will raise and lower the ANC as needed to keep unnecessary sound out while also potentially keeping battery life high. Speaking of battery, the Headphone (1) feature a pretty beefy internal battery which will, by Nothing's tests, deliver up to 35 hours of listening time per charge with ANC turned on. Nothing Headphone (1) | Image: Nothing The 'Button' At the centre of this listening experience, according to Nothing, is the Button. What is the button? Well, it's a button, of course, but it highlights a unique approach to how the brand sees people using the Headphone (1). A single press will activate something Nothing is calling 'Channel Hop', which will switch the Headphone (1) between a number of recent audio apps or favourite functions without the user needing to actively using their device. It's meant to make hands-free use a bit easer, and, again, it's something we're keen to test out ourselves. It can also be configured to trigger voice commands or open the brand's AI product, Essential Space. When Can I Get the Nothing Headphone (1)? The Nothing Headphone (1) is available to pre-order on 2 July, 2025 through Nothing's website, as well as Optus and JB Hi-Fi, and is set to launch on 15 July for AU$549.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Airwrap Co-anda 2x: Dyson unveils $999 hair styling tool
EXCLUSIVE As Londoners swelter during an 'extreme' heatwave, I've taken refuge in a swanky hotel room overlooking the city's famous skyscrapers. But I'm not here to eyeball landmarks from the comfort of AC, something far hotter has lured me the almost 17,000kms from the office in Sydney to the UK's capital: Dyson's latest beauty launch. The British tech giant, best known for changing the way we all vacuum our homes, has fast become one of the world's most sought-after beauty brand's in recent years after launching the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in 2016. Two years later, the engineering giants released the Airwrap, a 'game-changing' device that revolutionised the haircare industry with its ability to curl, wave, smooth, and dry hair without the use of extreme heat. Since then, the Airwrap – which some critics speculated would never take off – has arguably overtaken as Dyson's most popular product. You only have to take a quick glance on TikTok where the hashtag '#DysonAirwrap' has tens of millions of views to know the naysayers were very wrong. Today, the gadget is so integral to Dyson's beauty offering, the brand has just announced a new iteration that has twice the power to deliver even better results. The new 'supercharged' version of the cult hair tool, dubbed the Airwrap Co-anda 2x, is a 'next level multi-styler and hair dryer', Dyson says. So what makes it so special? flew all the way to London to be the first in Australia to test out the 6-in-1 hair styler – so here's everything you need to know. Extra oomph The Airwrap 2x comes with an improved Hyperdymium motor that has been 're-engineered from the ground up' to be what Dyson calls its 'fastest and most powerful hair care motor'. 'Dyson has developed a new motor for our Airwrap 2x, which spins at 150,000rpm, delivering twice the air pressure, faster drying, and less heat damage,' James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer, said. 'The high pressure creates a longer lasting curl and straighter styles. Traditional stylers can damage hair, but we have always focused on developing tools that protect hair health whilst enhancing without compromising precision or performance.' Described by the brand as 'the heart of the machine', the wire powering the motor is as thin as a strand of human hair, allowing Dyson to 'miniaturise' the device, enabling it to sit comfortably in the palm of your hand'. It's one of the key reasons the Airwrap 2x is smaller and lighter than its predecessors, the original Dyson Airwrap released in 2018 and later revamped in 2022, and the more recent Dyson Airwrap i.d launched in August last year. But despite producing more air pressure than ever, the 'supercharged' machine won't hurt your eardrums according to Dyson, who said its increased output hasn't affected the amount of noise it makes. Doing the hard work for you Clever AI-driven sensors have also been added to the Airwrap2x's attachments, to help 'take the guesswork' out of styling and maintenance of the machine. There are six attachments included that dry, curl, wave, straighten, smooth, and volumise hair that all contain an RFID chip that communicates with the machine to instantly adapt to the best temperature and airflow settings. The attachments are preset with recommended airflow and heat settings, but are customisable by the user on the MyDyson app. The once clunky experience of curling hair, which involves manipulating strands on the barrel attachment before blasting it with cool air, has been simplified with 'the i.d sequence' – an automatic four step process for 'consistent curls with a push of the action button'. Dyson introduced this last year with as a new feature on the Airwrap i.d following widespread complaints from users that the curling attachments were difficult to use. But now Dyson said the device produces the 'perfect curl every time'. There's even a new sensor that will let users know when the device's filter needs cleaning – talk about impressive. All new and improved attachments While many of the six attachments will feel familiar to loyal Airwrap users, there is one that is entirely new, and has been described by some as a mini-version of Dyson's wet-to-dry straightening device, the AirStrait. The AirSmooth 2x is a finishing attachment that can be used to smooth and straighten smaller sections of hair, such as bangs or baby hairs, without the need for hot ceramic plates. More recognisable attachments have also had a makeover, such as the paddle brush, which now has a swanky new name: the Anti-snag loop brush 2x. It features noticeably different bristles that are hooked for more control while styling, especially at roots and ends, and are softer on the scalp too to help prevent irritation. The Round volumising brush also comes in a new 2x edition, featuring improved bristles for more control. While the 20mm, 30mm and 40mm Co-anda 2x curling barrels have been tweaked too, with angular, square-shaped tips that are 'more ergonomic' compared to the original rounded ones for an easier grip. The booming beauty industry The supercharged motor has also enabled Dyson to give its hair drying attachment more bang for your buck than ever, delivering twice the air pressure to dry hair as fast as a full performance hair dryer. Now that's impressive – especially as it could potentially eliminate the need to purchase a stand-alone hair dryer, a real selling point in the current economy. Talking of the state of the world's finances, the beauty industry is one of the only markets not suffering amid the global economic downturn, with figures showing it is on track to exceed $990 billion ($US 646.20 billion) in revenue by 2025. In fact, Statista anticipates the beauty industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.33 per cent from 2024 to 2028. It's believed the beauty and personal care market has thrived in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic as consumers shifted to a greater focus on self-care and wellness. Additionally, changing consumer attitudes, particularly among younger generations, are driving demand for diverse and inclusive products that emphasise self-expression – and this is where Dyson's personalised offerings fit in. The brand also claims its multistyler is the only one on the market that includes this many attachments with purchase, arguing it makes the $999 price tag more palatable. Indeed, in the few hours since was first unveiled on social media, consumers have expressed eagerness to purchase the expensive item. 'Now this is a must!' one declared on Instagram within minutes, as another exclaimed: 'So excited to try it!!! Is it ready to order?' My 30 minute shocker Back in the airconditioned hotel room overlooking London's skyline, one of Dyson's pro hair stylists set to work showing me the Airwrap 2x in action, and I was surprised at just how quickly my hair took to finish. Within 30 minutes I went from having sweaty locks after hot footing it across the city in the 34 degree heat to a fresh wavy style. As I'm writing this, the curls are still very much in tact, an impressive feat – especially in humid weather. The product goes on sale in Australia on July 30 in two different colourways; Ceramic Pink and Jasper Plum.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Science reveals the truth of why you're feeling carsick in EVs
While electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular for drivers around the world, many are realising that they can make you more carsick than conventional petrol cars. If you've found yourself questioning why you feel a little queasy behind the wheel of the future, don't worry. It's a real thing, and you're not the only one. According to multiple studies, there are very scientific reasons why a person may experience more motion sickness in an electric vehicle. Lack of previous experience Though EVs are becoming increasingly popular, most people's experiences with cars are based on combustion cars. If you've learnt how to drive in a conventional petrol car, you've likely adapted to their specific cues. According to a 2020 study published in Applied Ergonomics, the lack of a traditional engine sound could be an influencing factor to motion sickness. 'Being able to anticipate upcoming motion is known to potentially mitigate sickness resulting from provocative motion,' the 2020 study said. For example, upon pressing the accelerator pedal and hearing the rev of the engine, your brain will prepare you for the increase in speed. In an electric vehicle, drivers may experience a low hum or even no sound at all, making it harder for their brain to anticipate movement. 'If we are accustomed to travelling in non-EVs, we are used to understanding the car's motion based on signals such as engine revs, engine vibrations, torque, etc,' William Emond, a PhD student at the Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard in France, explained to The Guardian. 'Yet, travelling in an EV for the first time is a new motion environment for the brain, which needs adaptation,' Regenerative braking Similarly, EV's 'regenerative braking' is also a contributing factor to nausea in drivers. For those unaware, regenerative braking is a system where the vehicle's kinetic energy is generated automatically through the action of braking, and routed back into the battery as usable power. Regenerative braking can cause motion sickness for EV drivers, especially for those who have the EVs set for max regenerative braking, or for those using one-pedal mode, as the act of simply lifting off the accelerator would cause the car to slow down dramatically. For drivers, it can feel like the car is slowing down when they haven't prepared for it, and throw off their balance. 'Better knowledge on self-motion allows us to anticipate motion forces, which is crucial for motion sickness,' Emond explained to The Guardian. 'Yet, when the motion forces as estimated or anticipated by the brain differ from what actually is experienced, then the brain interprets this 'neural mismatch' as a situation of conflict. 'If this conflict persists over time, it may surpass a threshold for triggering autonomic reactions of the body such as symptoms apparent to 'motion sickness'.' For those considering purchasing some new wheels, Australia's car market is undergoing one of its biggest shake-ups in decades, with some experts calling it the most dramatic shift in automotive history. Australia has become a viable market for Chinese car manufacturers which has lead to aggressive local pricing, especially from brands such as BYD, Chery and GWM. data services Director Ross Booth said much of the automotive growth is coming from electric and electrified vehicles. 'We're seeing a clear shift towards more fuel-efficient vehicles, with strong growth in New Energy Vehicles – which include hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles,' Mr Booth said. Hybrid and electric vehicle sales made up just 8 per cent of new cars in 2021, jumping to 25 per cent by the end of 2025.
