Latest news with #cluttered
North Wales Live
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Tech review: Gaming specialist unleashes OXS Storm wireless headphones
The gaming headphones industry is a fairly cluttered one, and also a very competitive one. Littered with big names and big players like Turtle Beach and Logitech - it's an established market and it's big business as gaming continues to accelerate. Online gaming particularly continues to be a huge leisure activity, and any gamer worth their salt knows the importance of a good pair of headphones. With that in mind, I tried out the Storm A2 headphones, the latest product from gaming audio experts, OXS. I have an OXS soundbar so I am well aware of their dedication to targeting gamers with high-end products. The headphones look premium and have a decent build quality with metal around the cups and the headband. The ear cups themselves have memory foam lining, and the headband also has this on the underside, for comfort. The quality is decent and for what is essentially a middle of the road kind of price for a decent pair of gaming headphones, there certainly can't be too many complaints in terms of the build. As with many headphones these days this pair fold away for storage and for travelling and can be reasonably compact in a carry case if needed. They are pretty comfortable to wear, although I did test these out on the hottest couple of days of the year and it was a bit clammy because the ear pads to stick a bit. I expect on a cooler day i'd be a lot happier! From a sound perspective, I thought these were up to the task in hand, switching modes gives you an extra bass boost and the Active Noise Cancellation, I have to say I found to be pretty effective. The bass boost adds a bit of oomph to the sound and I'd suggest that using it is the best option, unless treble really is your thing. I felt that with the bass kicked in, the headphones really enveloped your senses and got me hooked into what I was playing. There's a lot of great bullet points to deliver, like a 70 hour battery life, super low latency to avoid lagging, and all the wireless connection options you could need. It connects to all devices and consoles, other than Xbox. You can even connect to a mobile phone, should you so wish. The rich, deep sounds of the headphones through the surround sound are perfect for gamers, allowing you to hear every noise and direction the game throws at you. I had no issues with the mic, other than that it's very much pointed straight down like an arrow, so you need to train it to stay in place, which works after a while. I liked the sound, and for what I need I was really impressed. It isn't the best sound I have heard, I have better general headphones. But for the price, I think they offer a decent degree of quality and satisfaction.. OXS Storm A2 Wireless Gaming Headset is available for £129.99 from Amazon. Customer reviews Amazon user: Ear cups are comfortable but after about an hour long online meeting, my left lobe felt sore. The cups are not big enough for my whole ear so they pretty much sit on top of my ears, which, for me, can be uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Amazon user: It's about turning on surround mode. Just because it's turned on doesn't mean the sound field expands impressively, but it is said that when you turn it on, the sound comes forward, and anyway, it's such a good sound that I recommend turning it on all the time. The treble isn't bad either, but the volume is to such an extent that the midrange is particularly beautiful and not too loud.
Wales Online
05-07-2025
- Wales Online
Tech review: Gaming specialist unleashes OXS Storm wireless headphones
Tech review: Gaming specialist unleashes OXS Storm wireless headphones These headphones are the latest offering from gaming audio firm, OXS OXS Storm wireless headphones The gaming headphones industry is a fairly cluttered one, and also a very competitive one. Littered with big names and big players like Turtle Beach and Logitech - it's an established market and it's big business as gaming continues to accelerate. Online gaming particularly continues to be a huge leisure activity, and any gamer worth their salt knows the importance of a good pair of headphones. With that in mind, I tried out the Storm A2 headphones, the latest product from gaming audio experts, OXS. I have an OXS soundbar so I am well aware of their dedication to targeting gamers with high-end products. The headphones look premium and have a decent build quality with metal around the cups and the headband. The ear cups themselves have memory foam lining, and the headband also has this on the underside, for comfort. OXS Storm wireless headphones The quality is decent and for what is essentially a middle of the road kind of price for a decent pair of gaming headphones, there certainly can't be too many complaints in terms of the build. As with many headphones these days this pair fold away for storage and for travelling and can be reasonably compact in a carry case if needed. They are pretty comfortable to wear, although I did test these out on the hottest couple of days of the year and it was a bit clammy because the ear pads to stick a bit. I expect on a cooler day i'd be a lot happier! From a sound perspective, I thought these were up to the task in hand, switching modes gives you an extra bass boost and the Active Noise Cancellation, I have to say I found to be pretty effective. The bass boost adds a bit of oomph to the sound and I'd suggest that using it is the best option, unless treble really is your thing. I felt that with the bass kicked in, the headphones really enveloped your senses and got me hooked into what I was playing. There's a lot of great bullet points to deliver, like a 70 hour battery life, super low latency to avoid lagging, and all the wireless connection options you could need. It connects to all devices and consoles, other than Xbox. You can even connect to a mobile phone, should you so wish. The rich, deep sounds of the headphones through the surround sound are perfect for gamers, allowing you to hear every noise and direction the game throws at you. I had no issues with the mic, other than that it's very much pointed straight down like an arrow, so you need to train it to stay in place, which works after a while. I liked the sound, and for what I need I was really impressed. It isn't the best sound I have heard, I have better general headphones. But for the price, I think they offer a decent degree of quality and satisfaction.. OXS Storm A2 Wireless Gaming Headset is available for £129.99 from Amazon. Customer reviews Amazon user: Ear cups are comfortable but after about an hour long online meeting, my left lobe felt sore. The cups are not big enough for my whole ear so they pretty much sit on top of my ears, which, for me, can be uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Amazon user: It's about turning on surround mode. Just because it's turned on doesn't mean the sound field expands impressively, but it is said that when you turn it on, the sound comes forward, and anyway, it's such a good sound that I recommend turning it on all the time. The treble isn't bad either, but the volume is to such an extent that the midrange is particularly beautiful and not too loud. Alternatives Article continues below Turtle Beach Stealth Ozeino Wireless Gaming Headset
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf
— Healf, a leading online retailer selling premium wellness products, has closed a multimillion-dollar funding round led by Iris Ventures, an international growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. Launched four years ago by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf has become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing well-being companies. It has built a reputation for its polished curation, clear communication and a personalized approach to well-being. More from WWD The Top Five Health and Wellness Trends in 2025, According to The Vitamin Shoppe Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets EXCLUSIVE: Beekman 1802 Founders Release Book 'G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business' The company has been able to scale quickly in what remains a fragmented market in the U.K., populated by pharmacies and retail chains that are often cluttered with product — and the opposite of aspirational. Healf has a growing community of 325,000 customers and 282,000 followers on Instagram, and is on track to post $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. The plan is to expand Healf across Europe and capitalize on the booming wellness trend. The personal health and well-being category alone is estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion globally. Healf's approach is to help people take control of their health with a holistic approach that's focused on the basics: eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness. The site stocks more than 4,000 curated products to tend to those needs, and helps customers personalize their approach. Healf is also packed with slick editorial images and articles on how to lower cortisol levels naturally; special massages for lymphatic health; and how to bring 'more brain-soothing beauty into your life.' Customers take surveys to help them target the best remedies, and there is also an AI assistant that doles out recommendations about gut health, sleep habits and how to manage stress and anxiety. McCree said he and Clarke started the company because 'well-being shouldn't feel overwhelming — but it so often does. From Day One, Healf has been dedicated to cutting through the noise with simplicity, credibility and curation.' He added that the company's trademarked Four Pillars strategy focused on eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness acts as a compass, and helps the founders deliver on quality, service and product offerings. Clarke said he and his brother were inspired by their own well-being journeys and have experienced the 'tangible and synergistic benefits that accompany a holistic approach to well-being — a major unlock we believe all consumers deserve access to.' Florian Wojewodzki, partner at Iris Ventures, said 'we quickly understood that Max and Lestat were a rare breed of founders. They are mission-driven brothers exemplifying laser focus and militant execution at every turn. 'Their uncompromising pursuit of product, innovation and customer journey excellence has been a masterclass, and propelled Healf to the forefront of health and wellness disruption. The company's highly engaged and growing community is a testament to its standout offering and the consumer trust it has so deservedly earned,' Wojewodzki said. Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner of Iris Ventures, said that 'with smart retail curation, personalized tech, and habit-forming products, wellness is no longer an add-on — it's seamlessly woven into everyday life. We're seeing a powerful shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. 'Max and Lestat recognized this early on and, with unwavering focus on excellence, have rapidly built an exceptional business. We're proud to partner with them and to help shape the future of well-being together,' she said. Iris Ventures is a thematic fund targeting European, U.K. and U.S. high-growth customer-centric brands and tech-enabled solutions across consumer sectors including beauty, health, wellness, family, lifestyle, nutrition, daily tech and modern commerce. Recent investments have included Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand; and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf
— Healf, a leading online retailer selling premium wellness products, has closed a multimillion-dollar funding round led by Iris Ventures, an international growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. Launched four years ago by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf has become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing well-being companies. It has built a reputation for its polished curation, clear communication and a personalized approach to well-being. More from WWD The Top Five Health and Wellness Trends in 2025, According to The Vitamin Shoppe Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets EXCLUSIVE: Beekman 1802 Founders Release Book 'G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business' The company has been able to scale quickly in what remains a fragmented market in the U.K., populated by pharmacies and retail chains that are often cluttered with product — and the opposite of aspirational. Healf has a growing community of 325,000 customers and 282,000 followers on Instagram, and is on track to post $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. The plan is to expand Healf across Europe and capitalize on the booming wellness trend. The personal health and well-being category alone is estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion globally. Healf's approach is to help people take control of their health with a holistic approach that's focused on the basics: eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness. The site stocks more than 4,000 curated products to tend to those needs, and helps customers personalize their approach. Healf is also packed with slick editorial images and articles on how to lower cortisol levels naturally; special massages for lymphatic health; and how to bring 'more brain-soothing beauty into your life.' Customers take surveys to help them target the best remedies, and there is also an AI assistant that doles out recommendations about gut health, sleep habits and how to manage stress and anxiety. McCree said he and Clarke started the company because 'well-being shouldn't feel overwhelming — but it so often does. From Day One, Healf has been dedicated to cutting through the noise with simplicity, credibility and curation.' He added that the company's trademarked Four Pillars strategy focused on eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness acts as a compass, and helps the founders deliver on quality, service and product offerings. Clarke said he and his brother were inspired by their own well-being journeys and have experienced the 'tangible and synergistic benefits that accompany a holistic approach to well-being — a major unlock we believe all consumers deserve access to.' Florian Wojewodzki, partner at Iris Ventures, said 'we quickly understood that Max and Lestat were a rare breed of founders. They are mission-driven brothers exemplifying laser focus and militant execution at every turn. 'Their uncompromising pursuit of product, innovation and customer journey excellence has been a masterclass, and propelled Healf to the forefront of health and wellness disruption. The company's highly engaged and growing community is a testament to its standout offering and the consumer trust it has so deservedly earned,' Wojewodzki said. Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner of Iris Ventures, said that 'with smart retail curation, personalized tech, and habit-forming products, wellness is no longer an add-on — it's seamlessly woven into everyday life. We're seeing a powerful shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. 'Max and Lestat recognized this early on and, with unwavering focus on excellence, have rapidly built an exceptional business. We're proud to partner with them and to help shape the future of well-being together,' she said. Iris Ventures is a thematic fund targeting European, U.K. and U.S. high-growth customer-centric brands and tech-enabled solutions across consumer sectors including beauty, health, wellness, family, lifestyle, nutrition, daily tech and modern commerce. Recent investments have included Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand; and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Tom's Guide
26-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I test AI for a living — here are 5 features ChatGPT still needs
As someone who spends most of their day testing models and pushing AI tools to their limits, I've developed a running list of features I wish ChatGPT had. Don't get me wrong, OpenAI's chatbot is still one of the most capable assistants out there alongside Gemini 2.5 Pro and Claude 4 Sonnet, but after testing nearly every major model, I've noticed some annoying gaps in functionality. Here are five features I think ChatGPT needs to stay ahead of the curve — especially now that the competition is steeper than ever. ChatGPT can analyze images, but it doesn't remember them once the session ends. That means if you share a screenshot while troubleshooting an issue or working on a multi-step project, the assistant won't retain that context. It would be nice for the chatbot to store and reference visuals across chats, just like it remembers previous conversations. OpenAI introduced an Image Library, which is helpful for managing visuals you've generated, but why does the chatbot stop there? Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It would be nice if conversations could be organized by topic, project or even simple searchable tags. I've noticed that even searching for previous chats isn't as effective as it could be. It would be easier to revisit important threads without digging through a cluttered sidebar. Created with Google Flow. Visuals, Sound Design, and Voice were prompted using Veo 3 to a new era of filmmaking. 21, 2025 While ChatGPT can write scripts, shot lists and generate images for storyboards, it still lacks the ability to generate video on its own. With competitors like Google's Veo 3, Kling and Runway AI pushing the envelope on text-to-video, native video generation feels like the next logical step. It's a feature that would open the door for creators even more. Custom GPTs are a great idea and fairly easy to do yet setting them up still takes some time and effort. What if ChatGPT simply observed how you use it — your tone, your preferred formats, the kinds of tasks you repeat — and automatically spun up a tailored GPT that fit. A passive "build-as-you-go" GPT would make personalization effortless for casual and power users alike. ChatGPT can summarize PDFs and documents, and it offers a Voice feature. It would be nice to see it handle scanned books or handwritten pages, and then read them aloud. Imagine uploading an old textbook and having it narrated back to you, audiobook-style, while also answering your questions or summarizing chapters. That blend of voice and visual input could make ChatGPT far more useful for students, researchers and busy professionals. ChatGPT is powerful, but it's not perfect. As AI tools continue to evolve, features like visual memory, smarter chat management and video generation seem like obvious updates. And as someone who tests AI every day, I'll be among the first to welcome those upgrades when they arrive.
