Latest news with #ChrisWelch
The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
Sonos is offering a refurbished Era 100 for just $119
Earlier this year, Sonos permanently dropped the price of its Era 100 speaker to $199, making it more affordable for people looking to build a multiroom wireless speaker setup. Now, the small-but-mighty speaker is even cheaper to kick off summer. Sonos is offering the refurbished Era 100 for just $119 ($40 off), the lowest price we've seen on the smart speaker. Sonos Certified Refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and tested by the brand's in-house team, and you get the same one-year warranty as new Sonos products. The Era 100 is Sonos' most affordable in-home smart speaker. Offering pleasant sound at a relatively compact size, it improves upon the prior Sonos One with stereo audio, line-in support, and Bluetooth support. The Sonos Era 100 is the brand's mainstream home speaker, offering stereo sound, line-in and Bluetooth audio support, and more intuitive physical controls. For instance, there are dedicated track controls — no need for swipe gestures — and a separate indented bar for volume. The speaker features two tweeters, enabling proper left and right channel reproduction. Additionally, the Era 100 comes with a larger midwoofer compared to its predecessor, Sonos One, for more booming bass. In his review of the Sonos Era 100, former senior reviewer at The Verge, Chris Welch, said the smart speaker provides rich sound that's consistently strong across genres, making it a great option for first-time buyers or those looking to add to their Sonos system. The Era 100 supports Sonos' Trueplay feature, allowing you to fine-tune the speaker's sound based on the room it's in. Additionally, you can pair a second Era 100 for wider, more immersive sound. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
VSCO to launch new iPhone camera app 'Capture' with film-style presets
Visual Supply Co. (VSCO) is launching a new iPhone camera app called Capture, designed as a third-party alternative to Apple's native camera. According to a report by 9To5Mac, Capture focuses on enhancing the photography experience by allowing users to apply film-style presets before taking a shot—eliminating the need for post-processing. The launch comes shortly after Adobe debuted its own camera app, Project Indigo, which brings computational photography and manual controls to iPhones, along with Lightroom integration for editing. VSCO Capture app: Details Citing Bloomberg's Chris Welch, the report notes that Capture aims to shift focus from editing to the moment of image capture. Unlike VSCO's primary app, which centres on editing photos after they're taken, Capture allows users to select their desired film-like aesthetic beforehand. At launch, the app will offer 50 of VSCO's most popular presets for instant use. Users can toggle between automatic and manual modes, with options to adjust shutter speed, exposure compensation, and visual effects like bloom and halation. 'Photographers increasingly are moving away from using overly complicated editing software and are using apps that make it easier to get that right moment with a desired aesthetic right at the point of capture,' said VSCO CEO Eric Wittman in an interview with Welch. Capture will be free to use with a VSCO account. While it will not include AI-powered tools at launch, such features may appear later in VSCO's flagship app. The Capture app will start rolling out in select markets including Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand by the end of this week. A wider global rollout is planned for later this summer.
The Verge
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Apple's tiny M4 Mac mini has dropped to its lowest price yet
If you've been curious about trying out a Mac for the first time or need a small computer powerful enough to be your home media server, we strongly recommend the latest Mac Mini. Thankfully, the step-up M4 model with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo for $689 ($110 off), which marks its lowest price ever. The entry-level model with 256GB of storage is also on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo for $469 ($130 off) — another all-time low. Former Verge staffer Chris Welch called the machine 'a tiny wonder' in his review last year, namely because of its size reduction and power boost over previous generations. Apple managed to pack a lot into a computer that's five inches wide and two inches tall. We reviewed the upgraded 512GB model on sale here, and it performed very well using synthetic testing software, such as Geekbench 6 and Cinebench, as well as a 4K export in Adobe's Premiere Pro. If you work with high-resolution audio, video, or photos, Apple's latest Mini should be able to handle your projects without a problem. One of the Mini's other strengths is its abundance of ports. There are three Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI port, and an ethernet jack on the back, along with a pair of USB-C (USB 3) ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the front. You can use these ports to connect up to three monitors simultaneously, plug it into a TV or projector without an adapter, switch from Wi-Fi to a wired connection on your home network, or attach other common accessories. Alas, the pair of USB-A ports that have been on the Mini for over a decade are gone. One of our only knocks against the M4 Mini was how expensive it was to upgrade its RAM and storage capacity, but this deal helps mitigate that. Also, keep in mind that the Mini is a dedicated desktop computer, which means you will need to supply your own monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Even more great deals If you need a new pair of wireless earbuds for working out, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are still available for around $199.95 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Beats' latest earbuds feature a curved shape that wraps around the back of your ears to ensure a proper fit while exercising, IP4X water resistance to prevent damage from sweat, and heart rate sensors that pulse over 100 times per second to provide an accurate reading. The Pro 2 can also last up to 10 hours per charge and run on Apple's H2 chip — the same chip found in Apple's latest AirPods Pro — allowing them to support spatial audio, one-touch pairing with Apple devices, hands-free Siri, and location tracking via Apple's Find My app. Read our review. You can grab a three-pack of Arlo Essential Security Cameras at Amazon for $119.99 ($40 off), which matches the bundle's second-best price to date. The 1080p battery-powered cameras can be installed indoors or outdoors, and you'll receive a notification anytime they sense motion. They also feature a spotlight and siren, and you can view a live feed from the cameras through Arlo's smartphone app or pay for a premium subscription ($7.99 per month) to store videos in the cloud. Marshall's Emberton III speaker is down to $149.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its lowest price ever. The Bluetooth speaker can play music in true stereo, and automatically adjust its EQ as you raise and lower the volume to avoid blowing out its drivers. It also carries an IP67 rating, which means it's dustproof and shouldn't be damaged when submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Marshall says the speaker can last up to 32 hours per charge, and plugging it in for 20 minutes will net you six hours of continuous playback.
Toronto Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on: Bigger screen, faster chip live up to the hype
Published Jun 05, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 3 minute read Nintendo Switch 2. Photo by Chris Welch / Bloomberg The arrival of Nintendo Co.'s Switch 2 marks the biggest consumer tech product release of 2025 so far, with legions of gamers now unboxing and trying the new $629.99 gaming console for the first time. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Despite the hype and a substantial increase over the launch price for the original, the second-generation system manages to impress with faster performance, improved graphics, more comfortable ergonomics and enough tweaks throughout to make this feel like a distinctly new machine. Like the first edition, the Switch 2 has a versatile design, allowing it to be used as a portable handheld or placed in a dock where it will function as a living-room system. This time, it's capable of outputting 4K resolution and more impactful HDR video to your TV screen. For now, Mario Kart World and enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are the best visual showcases of what the Switch 2 is capable of, along with third-party launch titles like Cyberpunk 2077. The improved graphical fidelity and higher frame rates, made possible by the Switch 2's Nvidia Corp.-made processor, are easily noticeable once you've started up a game. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When it comes to performance, Nintendo's console still lags behind Sony Group Corp.'s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Series X, both heavier-duty systems designed to be used exclusively in the home. But for Nintendo fans, the in-game worlds of beloved characters like Mario and Link have never looked better. Unboxing the device will be a familiar experience to owners of the original Switch, and that feeling remains true as you begin using it. The significantly larger 7.9-inch display is much easier on the eyes — a blessing for the eyesight of anyone who's grown up alongside Nintendo's gadgets — and has a sharper 1080p resolution. It's also far more fluid than the screen on the original version; this model supports a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, which makes Mario Kart World feel all the more chaotic (in a fun way). These upgrades help offset the fact that the Switch 2 uses an LCD display instead of a punchier OLED panel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The upsized screen means you're also getting bigger Joy-Con controllers, which makes handheld mode a far more ergonomic experience. The buttons are also larger than before. Everything about the Switch 2 feels less cramped. One of the best changes Nintendo made relates to how the Joy-Cons connect to the console: They now attach magnetically instead of sliding down onto the hardware with a rail mechanism. Magnets inside the console firmly latch onto steel buttons on each Joy-Con. The hold is strong without any of the flimsy wobbling that some users complained about on the original Switch. Disconnecting the Joy-Cons is as simple as pressing the release button on the back of each one. Nintendo's thoughtful improvements continue elsewhere: The Switch 2 has a second USB-C port, which can be used for accessories (or just more flexibility in how you charge the device). There's now a screen lock feature to prevent other people from using your console — something that would have been nice to have on the original. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The speakers, while not best in class, are a vast upgrade over the hollow, thin sound that came from the Switch OLED Model, released in 2021. The console's software interface is similar to the first Switch with some new splashes of color and sound effects thrown in. Nintendo's eShop store for digital game purchases is also more responsive than the sluggish experience on the original console. The buzzy launch drew long lines at retailers including Best Buy Co., GameStop Corp., Target Corp. and Walmart Inc. The era of spending hours waiting in line for the latest iPhone is long gone, but the debut of a new video game console is still a rare enough event that Nintendo fans didn't think twice about driving to retailers in the middle of the night to secure a Switch 2. It will take more testing and longer play sessions to gauge whether the Switch 2's more powerful processor has an adverse effect on battery life — or if there are any performance issues with the large library of backward-compatible Switch titles available for this new hardware. But at the outset, the device makes a strong first impression. Nintendo played it safe with the Switch 2, but that's precisely what many customers were looking for: It's a bigger, faster, more polished version of a wildly successful gadget. World Olympics Toronto & GTA Columnists Music
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spring session entering final day as budget deadline looms
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) – We're finally getting a look at state lawmakers' $55 billion budget plan with just over 24 hours left in the legislative session. On the second to last day of session, the three most powerful men in Springfield met behind closed doors. Talks between Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch (D-Westchester), and Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Illinois) led to the release of a 3,300-page appropriations bill that adds $1 billion in new revenue, though it holds the line on individual and corporate income taxes. Illinois budget battle: What Chicago needs from Springfield 'We've got $1 billion in revenue for this budget in the area of tax collection, for those who have not paid their taxes as well as those who've made choices in terms of gaming and other – tobacco use and gaming,' Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said. Despite having major submajorities in both chambers, Democrats wrestled with a bleak financial picture. Revenue growth did not meet estimates used to draft Pritzker's budget blueprint. 'This budget includes significant investments in our priorities, education, health care, protecting our most vulnerable,' Sims said. Democrats are asking their members to pass the $55 billion spending plan despite uncertainty about federal funding. Lawmakers, groups rally against Medicaid cuts as state budget deadline looms 'It's a tough year. We know instability in Washington, D.C. makes it worse,' Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) said. 'We know there are some real pressures here in the state in trying to bring forth a budget that meets the needs of everybody was a tough one. So this was tough. This has been the toughest budget year since I've been here.' After months of warning from Chicagoland transit that bus and train service might be cut without a state bailout, lawmakers are working to hike the cost of tolls and rideshares to help the system. READ: Illinois has a $770M hole in the transit budget that could leave commuters stranded There's also legislation moving to create a new oversight agency. 'I want to remind folks that when we're talking about CTA, Metra, Pace, this is a statewide transit overhaul,' Buckner said. House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) suggests some of her members might support the transit reforms. 'We saw the governance piece and I think we could probably get some bipartisan support on that,' McCombie said. 'The funding source is what kind of scares all of us, because what is that going to look like?' Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Democrats expect to meet the budget deadline, but the transit legislation might be broken up into pieces or may not even pass at all on Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
