Latest news with #boneconduction
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Rice grain-sized earphone may have been used to cheat on TOEIC English test
A bone-conduction earphone the size of a grain of rice may have been used to cheat on the TOEIC English proficiency test in Japan, police sources said Tuesday. The earphone was confiscated from a suspected test cheater, along with a pendant-shaped relay device and a roughly 40-minute video explaining how to use the equipment, according to the sources. The suspected cheater was one of 10 Chinese test takers at the same test venue as Wang Likun, a 27-year-old graduate student at Kyoto University who has been arrested in the case. The earphone, which was several millimeters in size, was designed to be removed from the ear using a magnetic stick. The relay device was for connecting to a smartphone. The international crimes division of Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department believes that the equipment was provided by a Chinese business offering cheating services. The video explained in Chinese-language audio and subtitles how to use the relay device, including linking it to smartphones via Bluetooth. In May, Wang was arrested at the test venue. He had a small microphone about 3 to 4 centimeters long hidden in his mask. Wang has been served another arrest warrant for allegedly impersonating another person to take a TOEIC test in Tokyo's Nerima Ward on March 1. Fourteen Chinese nationals applied for the same day's TOEIC test using the same address in Tokyo's Nakano Ward as Wang.
Digital Trends
02-07-2025
- Digital Trends
These Shokz bone conduction headphone deals pack the most punch for your dollar
One thing about bone conduction headphones is that they tend to make people curious. For example, we'll instinctively instantly ask how bone conduction headphones work before truly understanding the details of how regular headphones work. The idea of something sitting outside of our ears rattling a message or song into our heads is sci-fi, after all, but that's exactly what the best bone conduction headphones do. Here, I'm going to argue that the best way for you to try out bone conduction headphones is via this deal on the Shokz OpenRun Pro, which reduces their price by $50, making the $160 headphones just $110. Go ahead and tap the button below to see the deal or keep reading to learn more about what makes this offer so appealing. Why you should buy the Shokz OpenRun Pro The Shokz OpenRun Pro have a tight but comfortable fit around your head, doing well with high frequency sounds and use special Shokz tech to make sure you still hear the bass notes you enjoy. They have an impressive 10-hour battery life, considering their slender shape and 29g weight. As the 'OpenRun' part of their name suggest, these are excellent running headphones — they have IP55 environmental resistance, which means they can handle sweat and even some dust. It's here at the mention of running that we get into the real meat of why this deal is so good. If you browse through our list of the best running headphones you'll find an interesting name; Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. They're also our top bone conduction headphones. But should you buy them instead of the Shokz OpenRun Pro? Not while this deal is on. As our Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review explains, they're quite iterative. They take the best parts of the Shokz OpenRun Pro, which are now on sale for just $110, and refine the experience. During ordinary times, when the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 cost $180 and the Shokz OpenRun Pro cost $160, they're the go-to. But for the bone conduction curious, the Shokz OpenRun Pro with this $50 discount are a no brainer. If you've ever wanted to try bone conduction headphones, tap the button below to find this great deal.
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jabees Peace Pillow Is A Bone-Conducting Speaker Designed For Insomniacs
The Peace Pillow speaker from Jabees works by listener pressing it to their temple or cheekbone ... More which enables the sound vibrations to travel through the skull to the inner ear. Jabees is a brand known for bringing together innovative electronic products with everyday comfort. The brand's latest product launch is the Peace Pillow Speaker, a bone-conduction device that's been designed to help light sleepers and insomniacs enjoy music, podcasts and audiobooks without disturbing their slumbering partner. Described as being 'perfect for side sleepers and light sleepers,' the Peace speaker can turn a pillow into a personal sound system by using bone conduction technology to transmit sound directly through the pillow and into the listener's skull without the need for earbuds or speakers. Bone conduction technology transmits the vibrations of sound to the listener's inner ear via the bones in the skull. Bone conduction was used by the classic music composer Beethoven who suffered total hearing loss. The Jabees Peace Pillow speaker is a tiny device that slips into a pillowcase and can transmit music ... More using bone conduction. To carry on composing, it's said that the composer used a metal bar that he held in his teeth while resting the other end on his pianoforte. The vibrations from the piano were conducted to his inner ear by short-circuiting the outer ear. And it worked! For those of us who sometimes struggle to sleep, the answer is often to listen to gentle music, a podcast or a streaming service like The Sleepy Bookshelf. However, if your partner is a light sleeper, the sound of a Bluetooth speaker or even earbuds could keep them awake. By using bone conduction, the chances of disturbing your partner's sleep are significantly reduced. The other main advantage when using the Peace Pillow is you can stay aware of your surroundings. So, if you are waiting to hear your teenager arrive home late at night or need to listen out for a baby, then bone conduction keeps your ears open instead of being blocked by earbuds. The Jabees Peace Pillow Speakers has controls, a charging port, microSD card slot and a four-segment ... More battery level indicator. Louisa Cheng is the co-founder of Jabees: 'We wanted to create a solution for people who share a bed but don't share the same bedtime habits. The PEACE speaker allows users to fall asleep with their favorite audio—without needing earbuds or worrying about waking their partner.' Using the Peace Pillow is as simple as turning it on, pairing it with your smartphone and then sliding it inside your pillowcase. There are controls on the side of the speaker for powering on and adjusting volume levels. There is also a preset timer that can turn the speaker off after 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours. A full charge of the Peace Pillow battery can provide up to 10 hours of listening time and there is a four-segment LED battery meter on the side of the device that shows how much charge is on board. The speaker can be recharged via a USB Type C port. The Jabees Peace Pillow Speakers is available as a Plus version which comes with a 1GB microSD card ... More containing soothing sound effects. The other interesting feature of the Peace Pillow is a microSD card slot. This can contain audio files for playback when there's no cellular data signal or Wi-Fi connection. Jabees offers a premium version of the Peace Pillow that comes with a 1GB microSD card which has eight sleepy sounds on it like thunder, rainfall, ocean waves, Amazon rainforest, white noise and a crackling campfire. These sounds can play continuously and some people find they are useful for falling asleep. The standard version of the Jabees Peace Pillow speaker is available now from the company's website and is priced at $35.99 / £28 / €32.95. The Plus version with a 1GB card containing sleepy sounds costs $39.99 / £31 / €35.95.
CNET
02-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
My All-Time Favorite Headphones for the Outdoors Are 11% Off now
For anyone who walks, runs, cycles or does just about anything outside on a regular basis, I always give the same piece of advice: Ditch those noise-canceling headphones. Don't get me wrong. I have a pair of big over-the-ear headphones that have spectacular noise cancellation and I love them. But when I'm outside -- especially if I'm close to fast-moving cars and heavy traffic -- I need to be able to hear the world around me and not just my music or whatever podcast I'm bingeing at the moment. In those cases, I want something like the OpenFit true wireless headphones from Shokz. I love a good pair of headphones but I don't love spending a ton of money on them. My threshold is about $100, which is why when all of my cycling friends started raving about bone-conduction headphones a few years back, I was more than a little hesitant because I would probably only use them when working out. However, now is a great time to get in on this innovative headphone technology. The Shokz OpenFit headphones are currently marked down to $160 at Amazon, which is a discount of $20. These headphones are designed to be used in places where bone conduction may not be enough and, as a result, I'm rarely seen without mine on. You can grab these headphones at a great price in black and beige. A week after I picked these up, I was nearly sideswiped by a pickup truck and the only thing that saved me was hearing it come up behind me. There's a reason these are recommended on our list of the best running headphones you can buy. If you're looking for outdoor-friendly workout headphones, my first recommendation is always Shokz, formerly known as Aftershokz. Bone-conduction headphones sit just outside your ear, resting on the bone. Music vibrates through a set of pads into your skull and you hear those sounds as if they're coming from a speaker a few feet away. You can hear everything you're listening to on your phone without interrupting the sounds coming from the rest of the world around you. For cyclists and runners -- really anyone who does anything outside -- this is a game-changing experience. It's more accurate and pleasing than traditional headphones with "passthrough mode" and you sacrifice very little in audio quality. My favorite bone-conduction headphones -- and I've tried them all -- are the OpenRun Pro headphones from Shokz. They're waterproof (which means they're easy to clean when I'm all sweaty), the battery lasts me about 7 hours on a charge (perfect for those 70-mile riding days), and they're comfortable enough that I can wear them all day and not feel them pressing on me. They charge magnetically with a proprietary charger but Shokz includes two cables in the box in case you lose things, as I do. If these headphones are a little rich for your blood, no worries. Shokz also has cheaper OpenRun and OpenMove bone-conduction headphones with up to 6 hours of battery life and IP55 dust and water resistance. Whether you're physically active outdoors or you just like exploring new things, I highly recommend giving these headphones a try. The Shokz OpenMove make a great gift for an outdoor runner The Shokz make a great gift, either for yourself or the outdoor runner in your life. Not only are they the best of their kind but giving these to a runner may also give you some peace of mind to know they're a little safer when they're out running alongside busy streets or other high-traffic areas. If you're looking for other gift ideas, check out our roundup of the best Father's Day gifts or the best gifts for grads. For more discounted tech, check out our running list of the best headphone deals.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Comfort and good sound quality without ambient noise intrusion
Shokz OpenFit 2 Price : €190 Website : Where To Buy : Harvey Norman When it comes to earbuds, I usually prefer to block out the world rather than let the ambient noise filter in. That means active noise cancelling is a must and the buds need to have swappable silicone tips. But the Shokz OpenFit 2 don't fit any of those requirements. As the name suggests, the buds are open fit, sitting outside your ear rather than plugging your ear canal. There are times though when you need to hear what is going around you. When you are out walking, for example, it is useful to stay aware of your surroundings so you can hear people approach or be aware of cars around you. But at the same time, you don't want to sacrifice audio quality. Over the years I've reviewed some open-fit buds that promise a lot but really only deliver tinny, weak audio that is drowned out by the background audio. READ MORE I had higher hopes for the OpenFit 2. Shokz is known for perfecting open-fit earbuds, from the bone conduction technology it helped bring to the mainstream audio sector to the open-fit earbuds it is now pitching at runners and other audio fans. The Shokz OpenFit 2 are new to the Irish market. The buds have an ear hook design, with a flexible silicon hook that sits comfortably over your ear and position the speaker so you can hear the audio without blocking out the outside world completely. [ Mixx Streambuds Solo 2 review: Budget Bluetooth earbuds that sound pretty good for the price Opens in new window ] Out of the box, you might need instructions to tell you how to actually position them correctly on your ears, particularly if you have been using in-earbuds for the past few years. The Shokz app will help you get the most out of the buds – luckily, because I realised I was wearing them out of place. The app will also let you change EQ settings, with preset options that include vocal, bass booster and treble boost. There is also a custom setting so you could create your own personalised audio and save it for future use. Shokz has done some work on the audio side for the OpenFit 2. Its bass algorithm has been upgraded, with precisely directed bass tones that still maintain clarity in the higher frequency ranges. The end result was surprising. I expected that with the open fit nature of the buds, the ambient noise would be intrusive, particularly if the buds were being used near busy streets. But it wasn't an issue – I could still hear a podcast playing even with traffic close by. It was the same for music, with powerful bass without the rest of the audio feeling muddy. [ Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds: another leap forward in quality and comfort Opens in new window ] The Shokz have built-in microphones so you can use them for phone calls, video calls and accessing the voice assistant on whatever device they are connected to. Again, the sound quality here was good. On the other end of the call, I came through loud and clear. That is down to a couple of things: the two microphones built into each earbud, and the AI technology that Shokz has included to boost the audio. Sound leak was a concern. With open fit, you are likely to get a little leakage, but for the OpenFit 2, it was only audible at higher volumes. Still, I would be more wary of discussing anything too confidential in public, which incidentally should hold true regardless of what you are using to make or take your calls. The Shokz buds have another distinguishing feature: physical buttons. While many earbuds have opted solely for touch controls, the OpenFit 2 come with small physical buttons. The single click can play or pause tracks. The double and triple click are used for skipping or replaying tracks, while the long press can control volume. Those buttons can be customised, but there is a limit to how much you can do so. The single click, for example, can only be set to the default of play and pause, or disabled. The options for the double and triple click include having the left earbud control skipping to the next track, while the other goes back one track, or some mix of that. The long press can be changed to activate the voice assistant. That is it, however. Touch controls are limited to a single option – a long press – which is disabled by default. The only feature you can assign to it is the voice assistant for your phone. It's no real loss though if you decide to leave it doing nothing; the touch control is more awkward to activate correctly than the physical button. The buds also support multipoint pairing, which means you can pair two devices to them and switch seamlessly between the two, for example your smartphone and a laptop. Best of all, the OpenFit 2 didn't budge, even during the most strenuous workouts. If you've ever had to chase down an errant earbud, you'll appreciate the certainty that brings. Good Comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The buds are so lightweight and fit perfectly over your ear that you almost forget you are wearing them. They are particularly good if you find in-earbuds too uncomfortable to wear. Battery life is decent too. You get 11 hours of listening, with up to 48 hours when the backup battery on the case is taken into account. Bad The ear-hook design may not work for some people, particularly if they wear glasses – or sunglasses. However, the hook itself is quite thin, so it may still work for most wearers. The design of the buds means the case is a bit larger than some earbuds out there. Sound leak is definitely less of an issues than with other open-fit devices, but is still there. Everything else The buds are rated as IP55, which means they will withstand dust, light rain and sweat. Verdict Comfortable earbuds with great sound quality that won't budge during exercise.
