Latest news with #OnePlusBuds4
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Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
OnePlus Buds 4 review: Cost-effective product to elevate audio experience
OnePlus has launched Buds 4 in India, alongside the next-generation Nord series smartphones. The design language of the OnePlus Buds 4 is akin to OnePlus Nord Buds 3. Priced at Rs 5,999, the OnePlus Buds 4 offers active noise cancellation (ANC), clear audio output, and support for multi-point connectivity. But are these true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds actually a feature-packed proposition in the budget segment? Let's find out: Design The OnePlus Buds 4 shares a striking resemblance to OnePlus Nord Buds 3. If I have to put it in simple words, then the design has essentially been copied and pasted without any innovation, at least look-wise. Be it the buds or the case, everything in terms of design remains the same. The OnePlus Buds 4 boasts an IP55 rating for resistance against dust and water. These wireless earbuds sport a classic design while being lightweight and comfortable for prolonged usage. The OnePlus Buds 4 comes with multiple tip sizes to ensure a snug fit for users, which will aid in noise isolation functionality. Fair warning, though, the earbuds are a bit slippery, so if you aren't careful while handling them, you might end up dropping them. Coming to the casing, the OnePlus Buds 4 comes in a single-tone finish pebble-shaped case with the OnePlus logo and a battery indicator placed right in front of it. It sports a matte finish, which makes it resistant to smudges and fingerprint marks. The bottom of the case features a USB-C type port for charging, and the right side features a button to make pairing with your device easier. Features The OnePlus Buds 4 features three modes – Noise cancellation, Adaptive, and Transparency. OnePlus boasts up to 55dB noise cancellation in the Buds 4. In real life, the Chinese consumer electronics maker did deliver on its promise. I used these earbuds in my office, which is usually filled with chatter and laughter, and the OnePlus Buds 4 was able to block the majority of noise. I also used it in the Delhi Metro, and if any of you have travelled in the Delhi Metro, especially during the peak hours of 6 pm on the blue or yellow line, then you have a fair idea of how noisy it is. Even inside the metro, with children crying at the top of their lungs and some stranger talking loudly on his phone, the OnePlus Buds 4 was able to block 90 to 95 per cent of the noise. I was barely able to hear any disturbance in my music-listening experience while travelling. The transparency mode in the OnePlus Buds 4 offers you a real-life environment. When turned on, you will be able to listen to your music while also having a fair idea of what's happening around you. In simple words, it means that you will be able to hear music while also hearing the kid behind you crying as if his world is ending. The adaptive mode strikes a balance between ANC and transparency mode. The OnePlus Buds 4 turn on the ANC or the transparency mode depending on the environment you are in at that particular time. Additionally, it comes with OnePlus 3D Audio mode, which delivers 3D spatial audio. It performs decently, but nothing extraordinary. It also packs a game mode that reduces latency in audio output, making gaming feel more synced and connected. The OnePlus Buds 4 come with in-ear detection technology, meaning the moment you pull them out of your ears, it will stop the music. The earbuds offer dual connection, making it easy for you to pair them with two different devices and switch between them. These TWS feature steady connect technology, which aims to maintain a stable connection, even in outdoor settings. Also, one can swipe on earbuds to control the audio level, eliminating the need to use the buttons on phones or any other connected devices. Furthermore, the OnePlus Buds 4 comes with AI translation technology. The OnePlus Buds 4 supports face-to-face translation and live translation. The former is essentially for situations when you are sitting in a meeting with someone who speaks a different language from you. You will turn on the feature, and the microphones in the Buds 4 will pick up what the person is saying, translate it into your language, and play it in your ear within a time span of one to two seconds. The latter is essentially for situations where both parties need to communicate. With this feature, the screen gets split into two halves, and the mic icon will be available on both sides, so each party can click on it, in turn, to carry out the conversation easily. The features are no doubt really great and useful, however, in terms of translations, I found that AI was not able to translate everything accurately. To sum it up, it is good and works fine, but it isn't 100 per cent reliable. Audio and Calls These earbuds deliver a sound profile with clear mids and heavy bass, making them suitable for various genres of music and media. They don't compromise on clarity for loudness, which I really liked. Coming to my experience during calls, I would say that the OnePlus Buds 4 did get the basics right, but it didn't excel. It was able to handle normal calls well, especially when I was sitting in a quiet environment. The clarity of my audio and the people that I was talking to were both good. But the moment I stepped out in noisy environments, the OnePlus Buds 4 failed to deliver a crystal clear sound output to the people I was talking to. Their voice was perfectly fine, but when I asked about the quality and clarity of my voice, I did get to hear that the background noise was still creeping in despite the earbuds' noise reduction. Companion app Non-OnePlus users can access the core features of the OnePlus Buds 4 through the 'Hey Melody' companion app, available on both Android and iOS. It allows control over noise cancellation, transparency mode, Sound Master EQ, Game mode, and Find My Earbuds. For those using a OnePlus phone, all these settings are integrated directly into the Bluetooth menu, so no separate app is required. Battery In terms of battery, the OnePlus Buds 4 performed well. On a single charge, I got around three to six hours of battery backup (depending on the mode I was using it in). If I used it purely on ANC, then it would last me somewhere around three hours. If I switched off all modes, then I got around six hours of battery backup, and when I used adaptive or transparency, I got around four to five hours of battery backup on a single charge. With the case, the earbuds last for around 30 to 40 hours, which is decent. If I talk about the 'quick charge,' meaning charging the earbuds for just 10 minutes, then it can easily last for up to 40 minutes. Talking about the full charge, the case will take around 45 minutes to get fully charged. Verdict The OnePlus Buds 4 packs premium features into an affordable package. With solid ANC, decent sound quality, and reliable battery life, they tick most of the right boxes for everyday use. Where they fall slightly short is in call quality under noisy conditions, and some of the AI translation features still feel like a work in progress. Still, for users prioritising audio clarity, noise isolation, and seamless device switching, the OnePlus Buds 4 are a good choice. If call quality in outdoor environments is a high priority, you might want to explore other options in this segment.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sam Altman-led OpenAI hires four engineers from Elon Musk's AI company, xAI and Twitter: Report
OpenAI has hired four senior engineers from Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) and xAI , reports Wired quoting an internal message by cofounder Greg Brockman shared on the company's Slack channel. The new engineers, as per the report, will work on OpenAI's scaling team, which manages the backend infrastructure and data centers that support model training, including Stargate—a joint venture aimed at building large-scale AI infrastructure. This infrastructure plays a key role in enabling OpenAI to develop and train advanced foundation models. The new hires are expected to help OpenAI expand its infrastructure and support the company's broader goal of developing artificial general intelligence . In a statement to the publication, Ruddarraju said 'Infrastructure is where research meets reality, and OpenAI has already demonstrated this successfully'. He continued 'Stargate, in particular, is an infrastructure moonshot that perfectly matches the ambitious, systems-level challenges I love taking on.' Lau also shared a comment on his decision to join OpenAI. He said 'It has become incredibly clear to me that accelerating progress towards safe, well-aligned artificial general intelligence is the most rewarding mission I could imagine for the next chapter of my career'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo The hires come at a time of growing competition among AI companies for skilled engineers and researchers. Recently, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta hired at least seven people from OpenAI, reportedly offering higher compensation and more computing resources. In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staff the company may revise its compensation structure to remain competitive. Zuckerberg has also attempted to recruit employees from Thinking Machines Lab, a startup led by OpenAI's former CTO Mira Murati and cofounder John Schulman, Wired report stated. OpenAI's latest hiring adds to tension with Musk The recruitment of engineers from Tesla and xAI, Wired report says, may add tension to OpenAI's legal dispute with Elon Musk . Musk, who cofounded OpenAI in 2015 and left in 2018, is currently suing the company. He claims it abandoned its nonprofit mission by creating a for-profit arm and partnering with Microsoft. OpenAI has filed a countersuit, accusing Musk of interfering with its operations and engaging in unfair competition. OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Flagship Sound & Gaming Performance AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
SHUT UP ... says Elon Musk to Tesla Bull Dan Ives for making ‘pay package' request to Tesla Board
Tesla bull Dan Ives recently requested the company's board to consider a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk . Amidst the declining Tesla's stock price, the Wedbush Securities analyst shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) where he said that Tesla board of directors needs to take three steps: 'new pay package' for CEO, 'guardrails for amount of time Musk spends at Tesla' and 'oversight on political endeavors'. The post caught Musk's attention who responded sharply to Ives. Replying to the post, Musk wrote: 'Shut up, Dan'. Here's what Tesla Bull Dan Ives wrote on X In the post, Ives wrote: Tesla Board of the following 3 steps in our view 1. New pay package getting Musk to 25% voting control. Clears a path for xAI merger. 2. Guardrails established for amount of time Musk spends at Tesla as part of pay package 3. Oversight on political endeavors In an email to CNBC, Ives said, 'Elon has his opinion and I get it, but we stand by what the right course of action is for the Board.' Tesla loses $68 billion in a single day After Musk announced to form 'America Party', Tesla shares declined by nearly 7% on Monday (July 7), losing more than $68 billion in market cap in a single day. The tech billionaire's role in politics has made some investors uneasy. Earlier this year, he played a key part in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and worked closely with President Donald Trump — a move some feared could damage Tesla's image. Musk stepped away from the task force in May, which gave Tesla's stock a boost. With him getting involved in politics again, investors are starting to worry once more. One of the three requests – new pay package for Tesla CEO has been a long standing point of contention between Musk and the EV company. It all started with a 2018 stock award. His compensation package then included 304 million stock options. It was a performance-based deal, meaning Musk would receive stock options based on Tesla's stock price and performance meeting specific targets. The CEO became eligible to exercise all the options in 2023 after meeting a series of aggressive valuation and financial performance goals set by the company. However, in January 2024, Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick cancelled the deal, saying the amount was too large and that Tesla's board members were too influenced by Musk. She said they acted 'like supine servants of an overweening master.' In early 2024 during the court ruling, these options were worth about $56 billion, later peaking at $146 billion in December and currently standing at around $98 billion based on Tesla's share price. OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Flagship Sound & Gaming Performance AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Grok in trouble: Makes racist comments, calls itself 'MechaHitler'; company deletes offensive posts
Elon Musk 's AI company, xAI , has deleted several posts made by its chatbot, Grok, on the microblogging platform X (previously Twitter). The deletions came after Grok praised Adolf Hitler, and made antisemitic and racist remarks in response to users' questions. The AI chatbot even called itself 'MechaHitler'. What exactly happened It all started when an X user named 'Cindy Steinberg' posted a hateful message on X after floods killed at least 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls in central Texas over the holiday weekend. The post read, 'I'm glad there are a few less colonizers in the world now and I don't care whose bootlicking fragile ego that offends. It continued 'White kids are just future fascists we need more floods in these inbred sun down towns.' The message quickly spread and drew strong criticism, especially from right-wing users online. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invertir $112 en Cervecería Nacional CFD podría devolverte un segundo salario Empieza a invertir. EC Empieza ahora Undo When users tagged Grok into the conversation for its take on the offensive post, the bot responded with racist and offensive remarks. In one such post (now-deleted), Grok referred to a person with a common Jewish surname as someone 'celebrating the tragic deaths of white kids' in Texas floods. It said 'It's a cheeky nod to the pattern-noticing meme: folks with surnames like 'Steinberg' (often Jewish) keep popping up in extreme leftist activism, especially the anti-white variety. Not every time, but enough to raise eyebrows. Truth is stranger than fiction, eh?' In another post, Grok said: 'Hitler would have called it out and crushed it', calling itself 'MechaHitler'. Company responds by limiting Grok's function After users began pointing out the comments, xAI deleted the posts and temporarily limited Grok to generating only images instead of text. In a statement posted on X, the company said: 'We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.' It added: 'xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved.' Grok's controversial history This is not the first time Grok has come into spotlight for its not-so-appropriate replies. In June, the chatbot repeatedly mentioned the conspiracy theory of 'white genocide' in South Africa during unrelated conversations, until the issue was corrected within hours. Earlier that month, Grok had claimed that more political violence in 2016 came from the right. Musk then wrote on X: 'Major fail, as this is objectively false. Grok is parroting legacy media. Working on it.' OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Flagship Sound & Gaming Performance AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Deccan Herald
OnePlus Buds 4 review: Refined with meaningful upgrades
The OnePlus Buds 4 series is a fantastic pair of earphones and the best among its peers under Rs 8,000.
