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Qualcomm introduced its Sound Elite platform built around a new S3 chip small enough to fit inside earbuds, allowing them to stream Wi-Fi lossless audio without needing a paired phone nearby. The design lets users leave their phone in another room while still receiving uninterrupted high-quality sound.
Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 chip at its Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, designed to power a new generation of 'hearables' including earbuds, headphones, audio glasses and other multimodal wearables. The chip is meant to enable features like adaptive sound processing, real-time translation, AI note-taking and combined audio-visual interactions in devices with cameras.
YouTube Music is rolling out two updates: a new AI-audio feature called 'your podcast lineup' that gives spoken previews and reasons for recommended podcasts, and expanded capabilities for its Ask Music assistant, letting users customize their listening queue and get more details about artists. Both features will roll out worldwide soon and are available to regular app users and YouTube Premium subscribers.
Leaker pdfu shared code and video from audioOS 27 revealing a redesigned Siri interface for HomePod, built on the 'Linwood' system that powers Apple's Siri AI. The update includes new status lights in white, blue and orange, matching Siri AI's visual style on other Apple devices, though the feature isn't yet active for users.
Motorola has announced a multi-year deal with Danish audio maker Bang & Olufsen to co-engineer sound hardware for its flagship smartphones. B&O's acoustic engineers will work alongside Motorola's design teams to define, test and tune audio components across upcoming devices, with the first model expected to launch soon in the US and other markets.
PS Audio told customers in January it is ending production of its PMG Signature Audio CD Transport because it can no longer source the optical disc drive mechanism it relies on. Separately, Naim's new Uniti Star Lite streaming amplifier, launched last month, drops the built-in CD player found in the original model because that drive mechanism is no longer manufactured. Neither company has named the specific drive or supplier behind the shortage.
iOS 27 adds a settings option letting users replace the iMessage waveform icon—used to start voice recordings—with a microphone icon for dictation, or remove the button entirely. The change addresses a common complaint about accidentally tapping the button while typing, which triggers a voice recording and stops any playing music. Singer Justin Bieber had drawn attention to the issue in a viral Instagram post criticizing the button's placement.
Motorola showed off the Signature 27 at the Snapdragon Summit, marking the debut device for Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. The phone features a 50MP Sony LYTIA 910 main sensor and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera, plus upgraded cooling and Bang & Olufsen tuned audio. Motorola says it will offer seven years of OS and security updates, with a global launch expected in 2026.
Sonos has released the Ace Ultra, an update to its original Ace headphones that keeps a similar design but overhauls internal technology. The headphones run on Sonos' new Headphone Engine 2 software, enabling 'headphone linking' that lets users send audio from Sonos speakers or turntables directly to the headphones, alongside expanded noise cancellation and EQ customization.
Apple has launched a dedicated live-music venue called Apple Music Hall at its London headquarters in Battersea Power Station, built to host and broadcast Apple Music Live concerts. The space seats up to 600 people, features 48 speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 16 camera positions, two recording studios and a broadcast control room supporting iPhone video capture. Its stage can switch between a traditional front-facing layout and an in-the-round setup.
EssilorLuxottica has released the Nuance Audio Plus, an upgraded version of its FDA-cleared over-the-counter hearing aid glasses that look like ordinary eyewear. The new model adds sharper voice clarity in noisy settings, extra physical controls on the frame, and up to 10 hours of battery life, and comes in three frame styles and five colors starting at $829. The original Nuance Audio glasses, priced from $699, will continue to be sold alongside the new Plus version.
Apple is launching a new live music venue called Apple Music Hall inside London's Battersea Power Station, opening September 28. The 600-person venue will host single-show performances that are simultaneously live-streamed to Apple Music subscribers, backed by a 38-foot stage and a 48-speaker Spatial Audio system. Apple also confirmed it is relocating its London-based Apple Music Radio hosts to new studios at the same site.