Apple may replace the controversial butterfly mechanism keyboards that it has used in all modern MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers introduced since 2015, according to a note from top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The keyboard, which Apple has tried to keep improving, is known for sticking or creating multiple keypresses and has been a problem for some users. Apple has said that only a fraction of users have problems with their keyboards, but it's widespread enough that the company began fixing all laptops with the butterfly keyboards for free in May.
Kuo said Apple will launch a MacBook Air with a new scissor-style keyboard this year, followed by a new MacBook Pro with the updated keyboard in 2020. It might also help Apple increase margins. "The cost of a butterfly keyboard is much higher (by 250–350%) than that of a general notebook keyboard because of low production yields," Kuo said.
Kuo said Apple is turning to a scissor mechanism to replace the butterfly mechanism, which was created to help keep MacBooks as thin as possible.
"There have been successful developments in the new scissor keyboard," Kuo said. "The new keyboard could improve the typing experience by offering longer key travel and durability by adopting glass fiber to reinforce the keys' structure."
Apple said a new keyboard design in the latest MacBook Pro, launched in May, would improve reliability by employing new materials. However, the design of the keys remains the same, and they may still stick.
Sony's latest attempt at making good noise-cancelling true wireless headphones: the WF-1000XM3.
Sony
They come in black and this silver-ish tone.
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Sony says they'll get up to 6-8 hours of battery life on their own depending on if you use noise cancelling. With the included charging case, that bumps up to 24-32 hours.
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A closer look at that charging case. It's not enormous but we've definitely seen smaller.
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The design is a little more horizontally elongated than something like the stem-like Apple AirPods.
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Here's how they look in a model's ears!
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Sony has tried to make true wireless ANC work before, but there might be more reason for optimism this time after the launch of their excellent WH-1000XM3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones.
Sony
Since launching last year, Sony’s WH-1000XM3 headphones have been near-universally praised as one of the most effective pairs of noise-cancelling headphones on the market. Now, the Japanese giant hopes to translate that success to a true wireless design with the launch of the WF-1000XM3.
The new totally wireless earphones are up for pre-order at various retailers beginning on Friday and will become available to purchase sometime in August. They’re priced at $230.
Trying to make true wireless ANC work
Sony’s elevator pitch with the WF-1000XM3 is to mix the active noise cancellation (ANC) technology of the over-ear WH-1000XM3 headphones—which, in our previous testing, has come out slightly ahead of long-time market leader Bose in terms of pure noise cancelling strength—with the cord-free design of Apple’s AirPods, which have seemingly skyrocketed in popularity in recent years and helped increase the demand for the true wireless form factor as a whole.
This is not Sony’s first stab at noise-cancelling true wireless headphones: the company has given it a go with the also awkwardly named WF-1000X and WF-SP700N in the past, but those earphones were met with generally middling reviews from users and critics alike.
The company has reworked some of the internals here, however, in an attempt to fix complaints with those devices. There are now four microphones allocated for active noise-cancelling, for instance, up from the two used before. The earphones also utilize a new chip dubbed the “HD Noise Cancelling QN1e.” A Sony representative described that as a variant of the QN1 chip that helped supply the ANC of the WH-1000XM3 over-ears but is more power-efficient for the WF model’s smaller form factor.
Beyond that, Sony says it's using a new Bluetooth chip—the company wouldn't specify which one when asked—and a “new optimized antenna structure” to keep connection quality steady. Both of the WF-1000XM3’s earbuds connect to a source device simultaneously as well, instead of the more fickle method of having one earbud connect and “bounce” its signal to the other. The whole thing connects over Bluetooth 5.
Each earbud also contains its own battery unit—together, Sony rates the WF-1000XM3’s battery at six hours with noise-cancelling activated and eight hours without. Like most truly wireless headphones, though, the new pair comes with a charging case—using that, the company says you’ll get up to 24 hours of juice with noise cancelling on before needing a charging cable and up to 32 hours with ANC off. When it does come time to refill, the battery case charges over USB Type-C, and Sony says the earbuds have a quick-charge feature—a 10-minute charge will result in 90 minutes of playback time.
To hold all of this, the WF-1000XM3 is somewhat bulkier than something like Apple’s AirPods, with a more horizontally elongated shape. They use a sealed in-ear design, with a number of eartip options in the box, which should grant them a more universally secure fit and greater bass depth than an unsealed pair like the AirPods, which rest on the ear a bit more loosely.
There are next to no physical controls on the earbuds themselves. Instead, the WF-1000XM3s have a couple of touch panels for controlling playback, taking a phone call, activating ANC, addressing a voice assistant, and so on. Some users have complained that the touch controls on the bigger WH-1000XM3 can be finicky, particularly in less than ideal weather, so reliability here could be an area to look out for when the earphones hit retail. There's also no built-in way to adjust volume.
Audio, latency, and other features
As for audio quality, Sony says the new Q1Ne chip supports 24-bit audio signal processing with a DAC and amplifier. That is technically a step down from the 32-bit processing of the WH model’s Q1N chip, but the difference there is effectively meaningless when it comes to audio playback. (The benefits of 24-bit audio are practically nonexistent in playback to the human ear as it is.)
Slightly more notable is that the WF-1000XM3 only supports the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, according to a Sony rep, not the higher-quality aptX, aptX HD, or Sony’s own LDAC technology. This doesn’t mean the earphones will sound mediocre, and I noticed no glaring issues with them during a very brief listening session in New York City last week. There’s an inherent loss in audio quality with most totally wireless Bluetooth headphones, and iOS doesn’t support the latter three formats in the first place. But it could give audio enthusiasts some pause. A Sony rep told me the company aimed to achieve a “balanced” sound signature with the new pair instead of one explicitly geared toward enhanced bass or treble. Either way, we’ll have to use them more extensively before making any judgments.
AAC is known to have latency issues with Android devices, but Sony says lessening latency was a key focus with the new earphones. A brief video demo did indeed suggest that the WF-1000XM3 performs well in this regard, but again, it’s hard to say how successful it is until we use the earphones in areas that are less receptive to Bluetooth connections than a near-empty conference room.
Other features of note include an auto-pause feature that stops playback whenever you remove an earbud, a “Quick Attention” mode that lets in more ambient sound if you want to hear something without taking out the earbuds, Google Fast Pair and NFC support for quicker device pairing, and the ability to adjust ANC levels within Sony’s companion app. Sony is promising improved stereo sound and background noise suppression when taking calls as well. One thing that's not here, though, is any formal sweat- or water-resistance, which seems hard to stomach for small set of earphones that cost this much.
At $230, the WF-1000XM3 earbuds are certainly not cheap. We'll have to wait to see if their sound and noise-cancelling tech justifies that price—during my brief demo, the ANC came off as effective, but there’s really no way to tell how strong it is until we’re able to test it in a variety of environments. Regardless, nobody has really nailed noise cancelling in a true wireless form factor just yet, and Sony’s ANC pedigree is as good as anyone’s. We’ll see if the WF-1000XM3 earbuds can live up to the reputation of their over-ear sibling next month.
So far, it's been smooth sailing for the LightSail 2. The solar spacecraft is orbiting on its own after being delivered to space last week aboard Space X's Falcon Heavy. The mission team of the Planetary Society confirmed on Wednesday that it has established two-way communications with LightSail 2 and is running various tests. According to the spacecraft's telemetry, all of its major systems appear to be operating normally. Over the next few days, a time will be set for LightSail 2 to deploy its signature solar sails which will propel it forward. Unlike traditional spacecraft which rely on rocket engines, LightSail 2's design is powered by photons from the sun. If successful, it will be the first controlled light sail ever to enter and maintain Earth orbit.
"We're all very happy — after years of preparation, we are flying an operational spacecraft!" Bruce Betts, said LightSail program manager and Planetary Society chief scientist in a statement. The spacecraft sent its first signal back to Earth yesterday as it flew over mission control in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mission ground stations at Georgia Tech and Purdue University have also received signals from LightSail 2.
So what's next for the mission? The spacecraft's cameras and momentum wheel will be tested to ensure that they're working properly. This is expected to take roughly a week. After the tests, the mission team will deploy LightSail 2's 32-square meter solar sail. For a highlight reel of the spacecraft's mission by the Planetary Society, check out this video.
I am a cell and molecular biologist and computers have been an integral part of my life ever since I laid my hands on my first PC which was based on an Intel Celeron 266 MHz processor, 16 MB RAM and a modest 2 GB hard disk. Since then, I’ve seen my passion for technology evolve with the times. From traditional floppy based storage and running DOS commands for every other task, to the connected cloud and shared social experiences we take for granted today, I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed a sea change in the technology landscape. I honestly feel that the best is yet to come, when things like AI and cloud computing mature further. When I am not out finding the next big cure for cancer, I read and write about a lot of technology related stuff or go about ripping and re-assembling PCs and laptops.
So far, it's been smooth sailing for the LightSail 2. The solar spacecraft is orbiting on its own after being delivered to space last week aboard Space X's Falcon Heavy. The mission team of the Planetary Society confirmed on Wednesday that it has established two-way communications with LightSail 2 and is running various tests. According to the spacecraft's telemetry, all of its major systems appear to be operating normally. Over the next few days, a time will be set for LightSail 2 to deploy its signature solar sails which will propel it forward. Unlike traditional spacecraft which rely on rocket engines, LightSail 2's design is powered by photons from the sun. If successful, it will be the first controlled light sail ever to enter and maintain Earth orbit.
"We're all very happy — after years of preparation, we are flying an operational spacecraft!" Bruce Betts, said LightSail program manager and Planetary Society chief scientist in a statement. The spacecraft sent its first signal back to Earth yesterday as it flew over mission control in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mission ground stations at Georgia Tech and Purdue University have also received signals from LightSail 2.
So what's next for the mission? The spacecraft's cameras and momentum wheel will be tested to ensure that they're working properly. This is expected to take roughly a week. After the tests, the mission team will deploy LightSail 2's 32-square meter solar sail. For a highlight reel of the spacecraft's mission by the Planetary Society, check out this video.
So far, it's been smooth sailing for the LightSail 2. The solar spacecraft is orbiting on its own after being delivered to space last week aboard Space X's Falcon Heavy. The mission team of the Planetary Society confirmed on Wednesday that it has established two-way communications with LightSail 2 and is running various tests. According to the spacecraft's telemetry, all of its major systems appear to be operating normally. Over the next few days, a time will be set for LightSail 2 to deploy its signature solar sails which will propel it forward. Unlike traditional spacecraft which rely on rocket engines, LightSail 2's design is powered by photons from the sun. If successful, it will be the first controlled light sail ever to enter and maintain Earth orbit.
"We're all very happy — after years of preparation, we are flying an operational spacecraft!" Bruce Betts, said LightSail program manager and Planetary Society chief scientist in a statement. The spacecraft sent its first signal back to Earth yesterday as it flew over mission control in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mission ground stations at Georgia Tech and Purdue University have also received signals from LightSail 2.
So what's next for the mission? The spacecraft's cameras and momentum wheel will be tested to ensure that they're working properly. This is expected to take roughly a week. After the tests, the mission team will deploy LightSail 2's 32-square meter solar sail. For a highlight reel of the spacecraft's mission by the Planetary Society, check out this video.
From the moment it was first teased last year, Samsung's Galaxy Fold convinced many that foldable phones were the next frontier to conquer. To no one's surprise, it wasn't long before competitors announced foldable plans of their own, feeding a cycle of hype that culminated at this year's Mobile World Congress. Samsung showed off the Galaxy Fold to the public (albeit, behind glass). Huawei unveiled its Mate X, a beautiful rival to Samsung's device that somehow cost even more. And Motorola, which had long been rumored to be working on a foldable, indiscreetly confirmed its plans to launch one this year.
By this point, industry watchers and phone nerds had worked themselves into something of a foldable frenzy, and Samsung was supposed to be the first to scratch that itch. The Galaxy Fold was slated to launch in the United States on April 26th, but that, uh, clearly didn't happen.
I have no doubt that Samsung believed in the Galaxy Fold's usability and potential. Even so, it's clear in hindsight that the company was in a rush to get these things out the door, and didn't think through some key design decisions. That top-most layer of protective plastic? Yeah, it shouldn't have been made to look like a removable screen protector. (In fairness to Samsung, Galaxy Folds meant for actual consumers instead of picky reviewers were supposed to have clearer messaging about not removing that top layer of plastic.) Those small gaps formed by the hinge above and below the main, folding display never inspired much confidence either.
Now, it seems like we're finally getting somewhere. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Samsung has completed its Galaxy Fold redesign: That protective top plastic layer should cover the internal foldable screen edge to edge, and tuck under the edges of the bezel so you can't remove it by hand. The phone's hinge is now also said to protrude upward when the device is unfolded, adding more tension to that plastic film and making it feel "harder." Not having seen this redesign, we can't be sure that Samsung has fixed all of the Fold's potentially ruinous design choices. And some decisions, like the air gap that separates the two halves of the screen while closes, probably can't be changed at this point. Even so, it sounds like this newer version of the Galaxy Fold is at least a little closer to what it should've been all long.
And now we wait. Bloomberg suggests that Samsung doesn't yet know when it should officially release the Fold, and that the company won't publicly address the matter at its upcoming Unpacked event in Brooklyn. To be clear, I don't mind waiting for the Fold, or any other foldable for that matter. I am, however, a little miffed that the industry as a whole was more than happy to push the idea that foldables were ready to go before they actually were. I would much rather these companies truly polish their first attempts so that their customers wouldn't shell out gobs of money for what amounts to experimental hardware.
Think the Fold fiasco was bad? Imagine what would've happened if Samsung started selling the handset in April as it planned, and actual consumers who paid $2,000 had to deal with those problems instead of just us reviewers. Had I gone out and purchased one of these things (rather than received a review loaner) only to discover its design was inherently compromised, I'd be pissed. That's not just bad for Samsung's reputation -- that's bad for anyone trying to build a foldable. It's easy enough to phone in a regular slab of a smartphone, but the industry isn't at the point where it can fudge things in a device that bends in half.
Samsung shouldn't have tried to push the Galaxy Fold out the door when it did; it honestly feels like the company's primary concern was being first. What's most telling is that neither of the companies that were seemingly close to launching their own attempts at foldables stepped in to fill the gap Samsung's problems created. And their launches don't appear to have stuck to schedule either.
At this year's Mobile World Congress, Motorola VP of Global Product Dan Dery told me point-blank that the company had been working on foldables for a long time, and didn't plan on releasing its first foldable phone later than the rest of its competitors. A few hours later, Motorola confirmed to CNET that it was eyeing a foldable launch window in the summer. (For what it's worth, my informed-but-unconfirmed hunch pointed to a release date in July.) While that's still possible, the notion of an imminent launch seems questionable. The rumor mill has been remarkably quiet, and a launch of that significance can't really happen in 2019 without something leaking. (Motorola has not responded to a request for comment at time of publication.)
Huawei's Mate X (left) might be the foldable to beat.
Chris Velazco/Engadget
Only Huawei, with its even-more-expensive Mate X, has something like a firm launch window on the books. After originally claiming that its 5G foldable would go on sale sometime this summer, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the phone would actually go on sale this September.
Apparently, Huawei took word of the Galaxy Fold's show-stopping shortcomings to heart and pushed back the launch, all so it could perform even further testing. (When asked for comment, a Huawei spokesperson had nothing new to add.) This was probably the right move, but all the testing in the world probably won't prevent that screen — which folds so that both halves of the display are always exposed — from breaking when it hits the ground. Of course, since this is Huawei we're talking about, that wasn't its only concern in preparing for the Mate X launch -- even now, it's unclear whether the company will be allowed to use Google's Android operating system.
I don't think anyone would've been particularly upset if all of these companies said they'd launch their phones in the latter half of 2019, or even early 2020. Nailing new form factors is pretty hard, especially when you consider the kind of precision engineering that foldable designs require. Instead, we were told we'd have at least two high-end foldable phones by now, and we're currently sitting at zero. By all means, these companies should take their time and get things right — they should also know better than to promise us the future before it's actually ready.
