CES 2021: Earin A-3 Brings 14.3mm Dynamic Drivers to True Wireless Earbuds
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CES 2021: Earin A-3 Brings 14.3mm Dynamic Drivers to True Wireless Earbuds

Dave Hamilton ·

Earin, the company who brought the first true wireless earphones to market, has announced their latest model, the Earin A-3. Sleeker than all previous models, the A-3 fits completely in the outer ear, with no stem, and yet is still able to pack a 14.3mm dynamic driver to deliver full sound. Available later in Q1 2021 for US$199, Earin A-3 uses the combination of a microphone, an accelerometer, and an adaptive algorithm to monitor voice and background noise in real-time, removing ambient noise and giving wearers high quality music and calling experiences. With 5-hour battery life, USB-C and wireless Qi charging, and Earin’s past performance, we expect these to be winners. Look for Earin A-3 at both Earin.com and Amazon later this quarter.

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Kevin Kelly vs. Kirkpatrick Sale: Has Tech Destroyed Society?

Andrew Orr ·

Here’s your long read for the weekend. Back in 1995, then-executive editor of Wired made a bet with Luddite Kirkpatrick Sale. The proposition? A bet that technology would destroy the world by 2020.

Twenty-five years later, the once distant deadline is here. We are locked down. Income equality hasn’t been this bad since just before the Great Depression. California and Australia were on fire this year. We’re about to find out how easy that money is.

I find myself between their arguments. Technology produces both positives and negatives, and issues like climate change largely accelerated by corporations make me pessimistic as a young person.

TMO Deals

LifePro FlexCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike: $149.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a deal made for pandemic times and working from home: an under-desk exercise bike called LifePro FlexCycle. Put it under your desk and peddle while you work. This one features eight adjustable tension settings, and allows you to monitor your stats. It’s $149.99 through our deal.

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Quibi Confirms Deal to Distribute Content on The Roku Channel

Charlotte Henry ·

Roku has done a deal to purchase the rights dozens of Quibi shows, Deadline reported. Titles like Most Dangerous Game, Dummy and Murder House Flip were included in the deal.

The deal puts a final punctuation mark on the Quibi experiment. Founded by Katzenberg and Meg Whitman with a remarkable $1.75 billion in startup capital, the mobile-focused streaming service had a noisy debut last April but never gained traction. Six months in, execs announced it would shut down by the end of the year. The coronavirus pandemic did not help the on-the-go premise of Quibi, whose name is short for “quick bites,” but its shows also drew generally mixed reviews, though #FreeRayshawn netted two Emmys. “The most creative and imaginative minds in Hollywood created groundbreaking content for Quibi that exceeded our expectations,” said Quibi Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel.”

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FTC Settles With App Maker ‘Tapjoy’, Blames Apple in Process

Andrew Orr ·

The FTC has reached a settlement with Tapjoy over claims that is used false advertising offers for in-game rewards that weren’t given to users.

But regulators also said Apple and Google helped create the environment that squeezes mobile gaming industry players and incentivizes them to find other monetization models that may have unsavory consequences for consumers.

Tapjoy runs a platform that lets users complete activities, like signing up for a free trial or downloading and running an app, in exchange for in-game virtual currency. It earns commissions from third-party advertisers who want to entice users to perform these tasks.

I think if a company is willing to do “unsavory things” to people, it probably doesn’t need to be forced into doing so. On Apple’s side, Tapjoy possibly ran afoul of review guideline 3.2.2 (vi).