Microphones convert sound into electrical impulses that can be recorded onto some form of storage media. Once captured and stored, it can be reproduced at a later time or place. Hearing recorded sound requires a playback device, an amplifier, and, most critically, a loudspeaker. What Is a Loudspeaker? A loudspeaker is a device that converts electrical signals into sound as the result of an electro-mechanical process. Speakers typically incorporate the following construction:...

The Xbox Series X|S controller, also known as the Xbox Wireless Controller, has a pretty clear pedigree. Set it next to an Xbox One controller, and you have to look closely to notice the differences. It includes one extra button, the D-pad looks a little different, and that’s about all. It does include a handful of welcome upgrades, but Microsoft clearly wasn’t looking to fix something that wasn’t broken. Unlike previous generations of Xbox hardware, Microsoft chose to make Xbox Series X|S controllers and Xbox One controllers entirely interchangeable....

There are a lot of reasons for this. First, EVs are new, and even the folks selling them at the dealer level don’t know all that much about them. Plus, instead of automaker ads explaining the fundamentals of EVs using well-known actor voices, we’re still being sold trucks with awesome multi-function tailgates. The Monroney sticker (the piece of paper affixed to all new vehicles that show all the features, the price, its environmental impact, and its efficiency) does give you a yearly cost to run the vehicle, but it’s wrapped up in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent), a weird calculation you’ll never make in real life....

Your car knows where you drive, how fast you go, your favorite destinations, and more. Pair your car with your phone, and it can access your contacts, your email, SMS history, favorite songs, and anything else stored on your phone. And while this data makes your car more convenient to use, it is far too valuable to remain private. “Car manufacturers benefit the most from the ‘data troves’ that cars carry around inside them,” Daivat Dholakia, director of operations at Force by Mojio, a GPS fleet tracking company, told Lifewire via email....

What Is the YouTube Music Replay Mix Playlist? YouTube Music’s Replay Mix playlist is a playlist made by the YouTube algorithm and populated with tracks based on the user’s listening history. The feature is nearly identical to Spotify’s On Repeat playlist and is used to collect all of the most-listened songs in one convenient place. Unlike other automatically generated playlists, which often include suggestions of new songs or genres for the listener to try out, the Replay Mix playlist only features songs the user knows and has already listened to multiple times....

Keep Your Videos Private You can choose to share your YouTube videos with the world, or you can keep your videos private and limit viewers to a select 25. When you upload numerous private videos, consider a video-sharing site other than YouTube. That said, YouTube is an exceptional video platform, supporting 4K videos, 360 videos, and more. Be sure to investigate other platforms before making a switch. While there are other players, few have the capabilities or bottomless resources a Google-owned site like YouTube can deliver....

I went into the open beta for Legends cold, knowing little other than that it existed. I was half-expecting a more traditional MMORPG, World of Warcraft-style, but instead, I found myself beating up fungus monsters with an ax in the finest Diablo/Path of Exile tradition. It’s a surprisingly natural fit for the Magic: The Gathering universe, where you can summon creatures and cast spells to mow down an assortment of Magic’s trademark monsters....

You spend much of the game on psychic deep dives into people’s minds, where you fight their own intrusive thoughts and doubts inside their unique mental landscapes. Gravity, perspective, and physics are all up for grabs, so you never know what’s coming next. I’ve played more painstakingly realistic shooters than I can count, but this kind of unrestrained creativity is always much more engaging. It’s a real highlight of what a video game can actually be in 2021....

Upgrade to Strava Premium for $59.99 per year and gain customizable training and workout plans, along with live feedback, so you can achieve your goals faster. Strava is a great one-stop solution for all your workout needs, with advanced analysis over the standard Apple Watch Workouts app. Download: Upgrade to the MVP Premium package for $5.99 per month or $29.99 per year, and you gain heart rate zone analysis designed to determine when you’re working your hardest, as well as specialist training plans for help in achieving your goals....

We routinely test each of them and can confirm they really are free, and they really do offer driver downloads; they don’t just scan for potential updates like some “free” driver updaters. While there are others we could include in this list, we’ve omitted them because they either are too restrictive or include malware. “…makes updating drivers simple because it does all the heavy lifting for you.” Best for Offline Driver Installs: Snappy Driver Installer “…gives you immediate access to install the updates—with or without an internet connection....

Many have lots of other features that make them unique, like having address books, letting you manage photos, allowing you to upload and share documents, and much more. Below is a list of the best online calendars out there. Be sure to use the review links to learn about how they work, what you can with them, how to use them as online shared calendars, and more. Choose who’s allowed to make changes to your calendars and who can view them, or keep your Google calendars completely private....

Speaking to CNET, Adobe’s Marc Levoy hinted at a new camera app that will rely heavily on computational photography to create a “dialog” between camera and photographer. The app is still in development, so Levoy wouldn’t spill any secrets, but given his background (which we’ll get to), it’s pretty easy to guess the direction it will go in. We asked some professional and amateur photographers what they would want in such an app, and the answers were somewhat surprising....

Overall Findings When considering ADT vs Ring security systems, you’re not exactly comparing apples to apples. Instead, ADT is a professionally installed and monitored service, where Ring is more a do-it-yourself solution (though Ring does offer professional monitoring). And there are major differences in the monitoring. ADT requires a contract that usually about three years in duration where Ring doesn’t require a contract, and you can pay month-to-month for monitoring, but you’re encouraged to pay by the year....

“At first I was really appalled. I thought ‘are they joking?’“said Eve, who did not want to reveal her last name because she prefers to keep her personal and gaming lives separate. “I thought they were kidding. But then, seeing them do it over and over again, I realized, ‘oh no this is an actual mentality. People think this way.’” Many young women have been in Eve’s place. Via in-game chat or headsets, anonymous male players often harass or belittle women, who tend to be outnumbered....

What Is an APK File? A file with the APK file extension is a package file used to distribute apps on Google’s Android operating system. APK files are saved in the ZIP format and are typically downloaded directly to Android devices, usually via Google Play, but can also be found on other websites. Some of the content found in a typical APK file includes an AndroidManifest.xml, classes.dex, and resources.arsc file; as well as a META-INF and res folder....

Overall Findings Apple TV and Roku created intuitive user experiences that make it easy for anyone in the house to find something to watch. Both stream video up to 4K to an HD-capable TV through an available HDMI port. The least expensive Roku model streams video at 1080p. Both Apple TV 4K and Roku Premiere are champs at delivering the eye-defying clarity of 4K video. Roku and Apple TV offer full-featured apps that find and play content....

When is WWDC 2023? WWDC 2023 hasn’t yet been announced. If it takes place in the first full week of June, as it has traditionally, it will occur June 5 through 9. If it follows past formats, the keynote will begin at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on June 5th. The conference, like last year, will likely be a virtual event. How to Register and Attend WWDC The Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is always free to attend online, with a free stream of the event directly from Apple’s website....

Over the last few years, more and more computer monitors have started to include FreeSync technology, but it takes more than a variable refresh rate to make a good gaming monitor. The Asus VG245H appears to have several features that provide a next-level gaming experience. I tested the VG245H, evaluating its design, picture quality, and more, to see how it performs as a budget gaming monitor. Design: Ergonomic and VESA compatible The VG245 is black with small blue highlights on the base....

What Is Auro 3D Audio? Auro 3D Audio is a consumer version of the Barco Auro 11.1 channel surround sound playback system used in some cinemas. If you haven’t experienced Barco Audio 11.1, check out a list of cinemas and films that you may be able to view. Auro 3D Audio is a competitor to the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive surround sound formats in the home theater space. Still, it has its own characteristics....

Although it’s fading in favor of the next-generation network (NGN), the ATM protocol is critical to the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) that forms the backbone of many internet service providers, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). How ATM Networks Work ATM differs from other data link technologies such as Ethernet in several ways. ATM uses zero routing. Instead of using software, dedicated hardware devices known as ATM switches establish point-to-point connections between endpoints, and data flows directly from source to destination....