Latest news with #SonosMove2
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Tech Wrap July 16: Sonos Move 2, Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs, Acer Swift Lite 14
Sonos Move 2 speaker launched in India. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition on Apple Macs. Acer Swift Lite 14 laptop launched. BGMI 3.9 update. Xbox cloud streaming on PCs. Microsoft Copilot Vision BS Tech New Delhi Sonos launches portable Move 2 speakers in India with stereo sound US-based audio brand Sonos has launched its new portable speaker – Move 2 in India. The new Sonos Move 2 speaker brings stereo sound and is said to offer up to 24 hours of battery life. Additionally, the speaker offers flexibility in connectivity with support for both Bluetooth and WiFi streaming. The company claims that the Move 2 speaker is made for every setting — from living rooms and balconies to weekend getaways and open-air adventures. CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will launch on Apple Silicon Macs on July 17. The game promises enhanced visuals and smooth gameplay on M-series chip-powered devices. This version includes all content released to date, such as the Phantom Liberty expansion. Acer has introduced the Swift Lite 14 AI laptop in India as part of its Copilot+ PC lineup. Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra processor, the laptop supports AI-powered functionalities such as multitasking and content creation. It also includes a Copilot key for one-touch access to Microsoft's AI assistant in Windows 11. Krafton has rolled out version 3.9 of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), introducing a new game mode inspired by the Transformers franchise. The update also includes new gameplay mechanics and themed events. Microsoft is testing a new cloud streaming feature that allows users to play Xbox console games they own on Windows PCs via the Xbox app. The feature, available to Xbox Insiders through the PC Gaming Preview program, requires an active Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft is enhancing Copilot Vision on Windows with broader screen reading capabilities. Previously limited to two apps at once, the updated feature now scans the full desktop or any selected app window to deliver real-time insights and task support. Google has introduced a special offer for Indian students, providing a free one-year subscription to the Gemini AI Pro Plan. Eligible students aged 18 and above must complete their registration by September 15, 2025. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has released a high-severity alert concerning Microsoft Windows and Office users. According to the advisory, multiple security vulnerabilities in Microsoft products could expose users to potential cyber threats. Given the widespread use of these platforms across India, the agency highlighted that both individual and business users could be at significant risk. Samsung has introduced new anti-theft features in India through its One UI 7 security update. These enhancements build upon existing Android security tools with additions like Identity Check and Security Delay, expanding on Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock capabilities. Following criticism over changes to its terms of service, Dutch file-sharing company WeTransfer clarified that it does not use user-uploaded files to train AI models. The firm has also updated its policy language to clear up any misunderstandings. Apple is preparing for the release of the iPhone 17 series, expected to consist of four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, which may replace the existing Plus variant. Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, has dropped S Pen support in favor of a slimmer and more durable design. As reported by PCMag via ET News, Samsung acknowledged that accommodating the stylus would have required additional internal hardware, which was sacrificed to maintain a lighter form factor. Apple's iOS 26 update adds three new AI-driven tools that enhance how users interact with screenshots. These tools—Add to Calendar, Image Search, and Ask ChatGPT—make screenshots more actionable, helping users complete tasks like scheduling, shopping, or gathering information with fewer steps. Samsung has confirmed it will launch the Galaxy F36 5G in India on July 19. The company revealed key specs ahead of the launch, including camera features and AI-driven enhancements. The phone will be priced under ₹20,000. The Vivo X Fold 5 stands out as one of the most refined foldables on the market. It combines a sleek, lightweight build with a powerful 6000mAh battery and high-performing cameras, especially its telephoto portrait lens—delivering strong performance without the usual bulk. Apple has announced a $500 million investment in MP Materials, a rare earth mining company, as part of its effort to localize its supply chain. This move aligns with broader goals to shift iPhone production to the U.S. and reduce dependency on China, following pressure from the Trump administration. OpenAI is working on new features that could rival Microsoft Office tools like Excel and PowerPoint. According to The Information, users will soon be able to create and edit spreadsheets and presentations directly within ChatGPT, bypassing Microsoft software altogether. Latent content analysis explores how text can carry hidden meanings and emotional cues. This method can help reveal subtle political biases or emotional tones in communication. Recent studies suggest that AI models like GPT-4 are approaching human-level skill in recognizing sentiment, sarcasm, and intensity across varied texts. After OpenAI restricted access to its advanced tools last year, Chinese developers turned to open-source AI platforms—particularly those from Meta—to continue progress. Backed by state support, infrastructure investment, and local development, China is accelerating its AI ambitions through homegrown and community-driven alternatives.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Sonos launches portable Move 2 speakers in India with stereo sound: Details
Priced at Rs 49,999, Sonos Move 2 speakers offer stereo sound experience, audio streaming over Bluetooth and WiFi, as well as a replaceable battery New Delhi US-based audio brand Sonos has launched its new portable speaker – Move 2 in India. The new Sonos Move 2 speaker brings stereo sound and is said to offer up to 24 hours of battery life. Additionally, the speaker offers flexibility in connectivity with support for both Bluetooth and WiFi streaming. The company claims that the Move 2 speaker is made for every setting — from living rooms and balconies to weekend getaways and open-air adventures. Sonos Move 2 : Price and availability Sonos Move 2: Key features Sonos said that the Move 2 speaker features a completely overhauled acoustic architecture compared to its predecessor. This includes dual tweeters for stereo sound and crisp vocals. This is complimented by a precision-tuned woofer that the company said offers deep, dynamic bass even outdoors. With automatic Trueplay tuning, it adjusts the sound based on the listener's surroundings. Additionally, Sonos Move 2 speaker features the same intuitive user interface as of the Sonos Era lineup including the volume slider for simple control. For connectivity Sonos Move 2 offers concurrent Bluetooth and WiFi streaming support. Additionally, the speakers can be grouped with other Sonos systems to offer a more immersive experience. The speaker also features a USB-C port that not only facilitates charging but also offers reverse charging capabilities for charging your smartphone or other accessory. Coming to the battery life, Sonos claims that the speakers can deliver up to 24 hours of play time on a single charge. Sonos Move 2 is rated IP56 for resistance against dust and water. The company said that it features a design that can withstand accidental drops, splashes, rain, and dust. The speaker also includes a replaceable battery to extend the product life.
Tom's Guide
27-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tested 3 pairs of Bluetooth speakers to see how they sound in stereo mode — here's the one I'd recommend
Despite their many, many strengths, the best Bluetooth speakers have a key weakness — their limited soundstage. Generally, they're a single box that plays sound in one direction, making their sonic capabilities restricted. That's why some manufacturers offer stereo modes in their speakers, which let you connect two speakers together for left and right channels, or even just extra sound to fill a room. To find out if its worth buying two speakers for stereo mode, I've tried out three of the most popular. Bose's stereo mode is represented by the SoundLink Max, Sonos the Sonos Move 2, and UE with the UE Boom 4 and MegaBoom 4. Let's dive in. Bose's stereo mode is available in a range of different speakers, although stereo mode itself is only available on two of the same model. To that end, I've got two SoundLink Max that connect together into a left and right stereo pair. It's easy enough to get them connected. There are little buttons on the top that you press on both, and the two link up. The right speaker says 'right' and the left speaker says 'left' in a pair of audio feedback cues so that you know which channel they represent — and away you go. Interestingly, this is mostly how the rest of the Bose Bluetooth speaker line connects with each other. They've got the same little button on top, which you press on both units. Unless you've got a SoundLink Home, in which case you'll need to hold down the volume minus and Bluetooth buttons. From there, we can listen to our music in stereo. What does that mean when it comes to the Bose SoundLink Max? It means that your music sounds imminently wider, as each channel now plays the left and right parts of your music. The speakers already sounded great, but now that each driver inside the box doesn't have to do as much work, the music sounds clearer and easier on the ears than before as well. It's not going to hold a candle to a pair of passive speakers and an amp; of course not. But if you're looking for a way to quickly fill a room, or bring stereo on the go so that you can enjoy it at the beach, it's a great way to go. Is it worth it? Perhaps not. After all, just one of the speakers will cost you $399, so two are going to set you back around $800 in total. That's a lot of money — perhaps a better way to stereo is to buy two SoundLink Home speakers, or a pair of SoundLink Flex gen 2s. The SoundLink Max is a great Bluetooth speaker, and buying two of them does give you some great stereo playback. Battery life is solid too, and it doesn't get affected by stereo mode should you connect two together. If you want a similar effect but don't want to spend $800, then you should also consider the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. So this is going to be by far and away one of the most expensive options on the list when it comes to stereo mode. The Sonos pair that I tested where the Sonos Move 2 and the Sonos Era 300 — both fairly expensive options. To match their lofty prices, however, they both also sound really good. Sonos thankfully makes things pretty easy when you go to connect a pair of speakers together. You'll find it in the settings menu of the Sonos app. Just select your speaker, and then the 'Set Up Stereo Pair' option. Much like Bose, you can only use two of the same speaker. From there, you can choose which is left and which is right, and then use the TruePlay tuning to get them sounding their very best. Despite the Move 2's portable Bluetooth nature, the stereo mode only works when it's tethered to Wi-Fi. That means it can move around the house, but you won't be taking it on the go with you — which is a shame. The increase in sound quality is remarkable, however. The Sonos Era 300 in particular made the most sonic gains, especially when it came to spatial audio playback. My Apple Music tracks sound huge, with excellent placement around the room. The soundstage for both options was widened, and there was a palpable increase in bass control thanks to the extra bass drivers sharing the low-end load. This actually will hold a candle to a HiFi system, especially if you've bought a pair of the Era 300s. It sounds immaculate, and it brings excellent spatial audio to the table that really wows. Buying to Move 2s is perhaps not as worth it — but I'd argue that you absolutely should buy two Era 300s if you can stump up the cash. It sounds amazing, and it's easily one of the best ways to enjoy spatial audio that I've heard yet. The Sonos Era 300 already sounds incredible, but if you combine two of them together you get some truly epic sound. Better bass, and mind-blowing spatial audio make it well worth the $900 asking price for two of them. I should preface that I tested this more with the party mode function, to see how it worked when I hooked up several different speakers together. To that end, I connected a Boom 4, a MegaBoom 4, and an EpicBoom together to see if the sound was indeed more, but also if it was better. Getting them all connected together was incredibly easy. All it took was a quick glance at the app and a quick button press, and they where all linked together in one big Ultimate Ears party. Be aware that some UE speakers don't link up in the same way, however. Party mode will only work with speakers that use the app — if you have a Miniroll or a WonderBoom speaker, you'll need more of the same in order for it to work. They won't hook up with the rest of the line. This one is less about improving the quality of the sound, and more about bringing more volume. At that it absolutely excelled — my little family of speakers all joined together to make some very loud noise. Enough, I imagine, that if I was to crank it really loud I could have probably annoyed the house a block over. This is more about having loads of music at a party. Thanks to the technology that links each speaker to it's own partner, it means that you can string them around the house, giving you music in different rooms. If you use them all in the same room, however, the sound does start to show some sonic holes. Because they're all using different audio setups and have slightly different sound signatures, it doesn't sound particularly good. Not that it needs to when it's 3am and the cops have just turned up thanks to a noise complaint, however. Is it worth it? If you're going to do it for yourself, buy two of the same unit and connect them together. That's going to sound much better. If you're having a big party though, make sure everyone brings their UE speakers along for party mode. The Boom 4 is the middle child of the UE range, and perfect if you want to grab two for some extra sound. It's $100 more overall than a single Megaboom, but you get more separated sound if you use the connection capability. It's also around the same as a single Epicboom — and separated stereo sound is better than a solo speaker, let's face it. If there's one thing I've been reminded of throughout my stereo testing, it's that stereo sound always sounds better than a single speaker, even if it does double the price. What I've learnt, however, is that not all stereo modes are created equal. The stereo mode of the Era 300, for example, was well worth the extra spend. It sounds epic, with more spatial audio chops and greater bass control. The speakers worked together very well to make the audio sound amazing. I wasn't quite so sure about the Move 2 or the SoundLink Max, however. It jacks up the price in both instances by a lot, and I can't think where you'd need the portable stereo of the latter. The Move 2 feels slightly pointless, given it then roots the speaker into one spot — at that point, just buy the Era 300. If you're on a budget, I'd say that stereo mode isn't really all that important in the long run. Is it fun? Yes. Is it useful beyond a pair of already costly Wi-Fi connected speakers? No.
Tom's Guide
27-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
The Sonos Move 2 has been my pick for the best Bluetooth speaker for years — until the Marshall Kilburn III came along
The Sonos Move 2 has been my go-to speaker for a long time. It's even topped our best Bluetooth speakers list, thanks to strong battery life and excellent sound. But, just as things were looking comfortable for Sonos' monolith of sound, a leather-clad bad boy has entered the fray with the swagger of a rock star. The Marshall Kilburn III wows with excellent sound and some truly epic battery life. While it lacks the Wi-Fi connection of the Move 2, it more than makes up for it in other areas, and it's my new pick for the best Bluetooth speaker that you can buy today. Here's why. The Marshall Kilburn III is the best speaker that Marshall has ever made. It sounds great and offers spectacular battery life to keep it playing for a long time. I love my Kilburn III, and it's become my new favorite Bluetooth speaker. The Sonos Move 2 is not an unattractive speaker. In fact, it's probably more things to more people given it's more simplistic, subdued style. There's an Ikea-like minimalism to the speaker, with its block like monolithic shape and simple grille. I like the look of the Move 2, to be clear, and it's likely that loads of other customers will as well. But it's nothing compared to the rock and roll stylings of the Marshall Kilburn III. It just looks so cool with its brass knobs and leatherette wrapping. It's one of those retro designs like the modern Fiat 500, which conjures images of the past while still feeling distinctly modern. The Kilburn III is more exciting as a result than the Move 2, and more functional. There are more physical controls that manipulate more elements of the speaker, for one, so you don't always need to pull out your phone or fiddle with an annoying touch panel. All around it's a better design, with greater usability in mind that works perfectly with the aesthetic. Sonos Move 2 is undeniably the cleverer of the two speakers. It will read the world around you to change the sound depending on your environment, whereas the Kilburn III uses app toggles to change the sound of the speaker. Besides that, however, the Kilburn III is the better performer. The bass, thanks to the bass port in the back of the speaker, is more controlled and deeper than the Move 2. The stereo separation is better as well, thanks to Marshall's clever audio engineering. There's more detail from the Kilburn III, and the mids are just as good as Sonos' offering. The Move 2 sounds very good — but Marshall has made something special with the Kilburn III that's going to be a better sonic experience. For a long time, the Move 2 has had some exemplary battery life. 24 hours, in Bluetooth speaker land, is good. But the Marshall Kilburn III absolutely blows the Sonos out of the water. You get 50 hours of music playback. That's double the Move 2, and more than pretty much every other Bluetooth speaker you can buy today. Enough said. There is one place where things get trickier for the Kilburn III, and that's connectivity. The Kilburn III will only hook up to your devices over Bluetooth. There's no other wireless connectivity at all, and there's not a way to connect with a wire either. That's a shame. Because the Move 2 connects over Wi-Fi. That's a big bonus for the Sonos speaker, and for some it might even be worth it for the compromises over the Marshall option. Dampening excitement, however, is the price. The Sonos 2 is a very expensive speaker. It will set you back $449, making it more expensive than pretty much anything else in it's size class. It's likely down to Sonos' premium device category and the Wi-Fi connection, but it's still a tough pill to swallow. The Marshall Kilburn III is not cheap either — but it's a whole lot cheaper than the Sonos Move 2. It sets you back $379 in the U.S., making that lack of Wi-Fi a whole lot easier to swallow. If you're in the UK, things are even better. It costs £299, making it a whole £150 cheaper than the Sonos Move 2. I know where my money would be going. So we've got a new speaker to top the list of the best Bluetooth speaker — and I couldn't be happier. I've been rooting for Marshall to release a list topping speaker for some time now, and the Kilburn III is just that. Thanks to it's excellent battery life, stunning sound and great looks, it really is almost the perfect package. Just one thing Marshall — Wi-Fi for the Kilburn IV?
Tom's Guide
15-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested the Marshall Kilburn III — and it's one of the best Bluetooth speakers ever
How do you stand out in a sea of identical Bluetooth speakers? If you're Marshall, you continue to design speakers based on the amps that you've been making since the 60s. The Kilburn III isn't a departure from Marshall's current design philosophy, and that is no bad thing at all — it looks great. But are those looks only skin deep? Thankfully not. There are plenty of reasons to love the Kilburn III, from its excellent sound and epic battery life to its physical controls and helpful carrying handle. Despite a slightly bassy tone, the Kilburn III might just be one of the best Bluetooth speakers that I've ever tested — here's why. Price: $379/£299Colors: Black/CreamSize: H x 5.9' D x 6.6" W x 10.7" Weight: 6.1 poundsConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth range: up to 33 feet (10 m)Custom EQ: YesVoice assistant: NoMulti-speaker connectivity: No The Marshall Kilburn III is going up against the likes of the Bose SoundLink Max ($399), the UE Epicboom ($329), and even the Sonos Move 2 ($449). That's a strong set of competition, so it's a very good thing that the Marshall undercuts almost all of them on price. The Kilburn III will set you back $379, less than both the SoundLink Max and the Sonos Move 2. You might miss the Wi-Fi connection of the Move 2, but you get far superior sound to the SoundLink Max in arguably a more attractive and interesting package. When it goes up against the slightly cheaper UE Epicboom, the only place the Kilburn III loses out is waterproofing. IP54 as opposed to the UE's IP67. In every other metric, like sound, looks, and battery life, the Kilburn III comes out very firmly on top. There's an expected look to a Marshall product, and the Kilburn III doesn't deviate from the formula. It looks like a small version of one of the firm's guitar amps, from the metal grille and Marshall logo to its brass knobs and buttons. Evocative like little else, and absolutely ready to be cranked up to 11. There are some key extras in the design that are well worth highlighting as well. The battery is removable, so that you can replace it in the future should it start to die sooner than you'd like. That's a nice bonus, considering how many Bluetooth speakers end up in the trash the moment the battery stops holding a charge. The whole thing is built exceptionally well. The fake leather coating feels great in the hand, and there's a reassuring heft to the speaker. It's not heavy, per se, but it's weighty enough that you know there's some great hardware inside. I'm yet to drop it, but I can imagine it not being too perturbed by a couple of falls from tables during particularly energetic parties. Compare the Kilburn III to its closest rivals and you not only find a similar if not superior build, but I'd argue a more interesting industrial design. It is slightly larger than the likes of the SoundLink Max, and the retro styling look far more interesting than Bose's relative minimalism. The Kilburn is more of a statement, that's to be sure — but it's one well worth making. Some might consider Wi-Fi a glaring omission, but given that Sonos seems to be the only firm that offers a wireless internet-enabled portable speaker of similar caliber, I'm not so sure it is. It would go some way to justifying its slightly higher US price, but held to the same standard as the Bose and UE options, the blow is softened. It would be nice to have, but I don't miss it. Now that the lack of WiFi is out of the way, I can talk about the other connection options packed into the Kilburn III. There's Bluetooth 5.3, and it's easy to get connected and solid once engaged. I've had no signal weirdness, and it's even exceeded the 10m range when I've walked around the house with my phone. The Bluetooth connection affords Auracast, ready to listen to broadcasts. Unfortunately, there's little support for hi-res codecs, which is a shame — but if you want to listen to higher resolution tracks the aux port is but a 3.5mm cable away. There are then a couple of ways to control the Marshall Kilburn III. There are the lovely knobs on the top of the unit, which control the volume, bass, and treble. They have little lights circling them to give you an idea of the level. They're joined by a kind of jog switch that clicks down to skip and play/pause your music. Then there are two small buttons. A Bluetooth button to initiate connection, and then an 'M' button shortcut that can be programmed in the app. The Kilburn III uses the same Marshall Bluetooth app as the likes of the Willen II and the Emberton III. It remains a very good app. There are plenty of options on board, including EQ and other settings. There's the speaker placement options, for example, which change the sound depending on where you've put it. It works well, and changes the sound accordingly. There are also Battery preservation options to elongate the life of the battery, as well as the M-button customization settings. It can be set to change the equalizer — at the moment, that's about it. Or nothing. It can also do nothing. You can't control the playback of the speaker through the app either. You'll have to use the on-device physical controls for that, or the controls in your streaming app of choice. When you've got a speaker the size of the Kilburn III, there's one thing you're going to hope for in the sound department: That it sounds really, really big. And really, really big the Marshall Kilburn III indeed sounds, thanks in part to its interesting audio engineering. Traditional Bluetooth speakers are very conventional. They have drivers facing forward, which points the sound in one direction. The Kilburn III switches things up with what Marshall calls 'True Stereophonic' 360-degree audio. That means drivers pointing every which way, blasting out sound for a stereo effect. It's surprisingly effective — you can still place the speaker when you close your eyes, but the sound is alarmingly wide and 3-dimensional. Add that on to the sound placement options, dynamic volume and even the EQ settings, and you've a speaker that sounds truly epic no matter where you place it. It fills large rooms with very little effort, and even at loud volumes, it doesn't get peaky or distorted. There's a built-in subwoofer for the low stuff, and for some, it might even be a touch too much in some spaces. Thankfully, it's super easy to turn down on top of the speaker with the bass knob, or with the EQ settings in the Marshall app. Detail isn't lost to the all-conquering bass either, with plenty of crash to cymbals and even delicacy during quieter moments. It's a whole load of fun to listen to, and given how well it fills a room, I'd wager it's the best sounding Bluetooth speaker at this price range. It also happens to go very loud indeed. It out-matched the SoundLink Max and even the Sonos Move 2 in my testing, although those two can be doubled up for extra volume should you want it. For a solo device, the Kilburn III is unbelievably loud. I managed to blast out Ne Obliviscaris' Equus with little problem. Despite the speaker pumping out impressive volume, the intricacies of the prog metal track where extremely well represented. The dancing bass line was impactful and strong, while the layered guitars created and palpable wall of noise. Not impenetrable, however — the sung and growled vocals were crisp and clear, cutting through the rest of the ensemble with ease. Tame Impala's Elephant and its fuzzy guitars got the head bobbing and the foot tapping. The bass line is well defined and window-shaking in presence, while the drums pulsate. I don't have any major criticisms of the sound of the Kilburn III — and any I do have can be very quickly EQ'd out with ease. Where most Bluetooth speakers last for 20 or so hours, the Marshall Kilburn III steps it up with some truly astonishing staying power. Up to 50 hours of battery life is the best battery life of any speaker you can buy today, outdoing the likes of the Sonos Move 2, Bose SoundLink Max, and even the current record holders, JBL. I found the battery life claims rang true during my testing. After around 8 hours of continuous use at ⅓ volume (plenty loud enough), the speaker has 85% of its battery left. Volume level and even genre will bring that figure up and down of course, although Marshall's claims look to be accurate. Extra bonus — plug your phone into the USB-C charging port at the back and juice your phone up in a pinch. Nice. With the Kilburn III, Marshall has made one of the best Bluetooth speakers around. It sounds excellent, with an open, stereo-adjacent sound stage, and some of the most articulate bass at the price. It gets mind-blowingly loud, and even lasts for a few days while doing so. A lack of Wi-Fi is a shame, but that's about the only real criticism you could level at the speaker. The price is right when compared to similar rivals, and it's looks more than give it enough cool points to stick out in a very busy, competitive space. I love this speaker, and it's a great statement piece from Marshall to show off what their audio engineers are capable of.
