AirPods Pro Get FDA Approved as Hearing Aids; EVgo & GM Roll Out Fast Charger Stations; Harris Did Not Have Audio Earrings; Trump Media Dropped After Debate

Posted: September 12, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Coming quickly after Apple rolled out its new AirPods Pro 2 with hearing testing and the ability to be used as hearing aids, the FDA has now approved Cupertino’s selling of the devices as such. Techcrunch.com reports that the FDA on Thursday announced that it has granted what it calls “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature.” Specifically, it has approved the software update that enables that functionality. With the AirPods Pro 2 selling for $249, and most hearing aids costing $600 to several thousand, this is significant. The AirPods Pro 2 are designed to help with mild to moderate hearing loss. You can upload the results of the apple hearing test to a doctor, too.

EVgo and GM have unveiled their fast charger station ‘experience.’ So what exactly does that mean? Well, the General and EVgo will configure fast charging electric vehicle stations like gas stations, with the chargers where gas pumps usually are, and a well lighted canopy above. According to arstechnica.com, the chargers will be rated for 350Kw, so that an 800 volt EV can minimize charging time. It is expected that both J3400 and CCS1 type plugs will be available on each charger. Most stations will have up to 20 charging stalls. All they need now is to add a stop and rob with chips and other munchies to snack on while you wait for your EV to charge up. the first one will open next year…with earliest states getting them being Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York, and Texas.

The internet, particularly X, lit up with rumors that Kamala Harris was wearing audio earrings at the debate with Donald Trump…and was being fed answers. Engadget.com says some were claiming she was using Nova’s H1 Audio Earrings. There’s a problem with that little conspiracy though…those were from a failed Kickstarter project and wrecked actually never made or sold. Nova’s website was picked up by a guy in Germany who plans to make such earpieces…it’s called Icebach Sound Solutions…but yep…those aren’t available either. Maybe she just did her homework!

The debate between Ex-President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris sure didn’t help Trump Media. CNBC notes that on Wednesday, the day after, the share price dived more than 10%. The stock closed at its lowest price since it started publicly trading. As of this report it is down 3% at 16.18.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

GM Will Have 20+ Electric Cars by 2023; Apple’s TrueDepth Cam is 2-1/2 Years Ahead of Android; Walmart Buys Delivery Service Parcel; Headphones Customize Music to Your Hearing

Posted: October 3, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joining a growing number of car makers, General Motors will launch at least 20 all electric cars by 2023. Theverge.com reports that two of those will join the Bolt in the next 18 months, and that the General will also make a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. GM has said it is committed to an all-electric future. Daimler has said they will have an electric model of every Mercedes-Benz by 2022, Volkswagen will be completely electrified by 2030, and Volvo plant to cease production of gas-only vehicles by 2019.

According to an analysis by KGI Securities, it will take Android makers 2-1/2 years to catch up to the functionality of Apple’s True Depth Camera featured on the iPhone X. 9to5mac.com reports that Apple will ship 30-35 million of the new hero phone by year’s end. The True Depth cam system enables Face ID, and other advanced features like face tracking and analysis for the Animoji. Apparently, it is the difficulty in making the cam system that has delayed production of the iPhone X, which the majority of people seem to be waiting for over the just-released iPhone 8.

With Amazon now doing some of its own deliveries, and not relying on UPS and the post office for everything, Walmart has jumped into the logistics business and picked up Parcel, a Brooklyn based delivery startup. Arstechnica.com says the 4 year old company has focused on getting city dwellers packages at convenient times. They offer a 2 hour pick up window, so your orders aren’t stolen off the porch or out of the entryway. Parcel also sends live updates over text to recipients and shippers updating them on last mile location of the package as its delivered. Walmart plans to expand service beyond New York City, combining Parcel’s infrastructure with that of Jet, which it bought a year ago.

Always of interest to those of us who have made our living wearing headphones…better headphones! According to engadget.com, those might be the Nuraphones. Nura claims they are like prescription headphones for your ears. The cans are over the ear, but contain earbud like inserts inside. They tune themselves to your ears using ‘otoacoustic emissions’…sound returns from the inner ear when stimulated…that produce an aural ‘fingerprint’ of sorts. The processor then creates a personal equalization setting for each ear, custom tailored to your hearing. The app that works on either Android or iOS gives you 3 different hearing profiles, and there are a couple programmable buttons on the headphones. They last 20 hours on a charge, and speaking of charges, they will set you back a princely $399!