WTF?! Would you be willing to wear a stick-on facial tattoo that makes you look like a poor Cyberpunk 2077 cosplayer? You might be more tempted by the fact it's designed to show when your brain is overworked and you're at risk of making errors.
Dr Nanshu Lu, an author of the research from the University of Texas at Austin, writes that the e-tattoo could be valuable for professions that require high levels of concentration for extended periods, such as air traffic controllers, vehicle drivers, pilots, and robot operators.
The device could give wearers warnings and alerts should it detect they are becoming mentally overloaded, allowing them to adjust their workload or ask a co-worker for some help.
"Technology is developing faster than human evolution. Our brain capacity cannot keep up and can easily get overloaded," said Lu. "There is an optimal mental workload for optimal performance, which differs from person to person."
"Previous studies indicated that the optimal mental performance occurs when the mental workload demand is not too low or too high," Lu added. "When it's too low, it's very boring, and the people will just lose focus."
Lu and colleagues write that using self-reporting questionnaires for mental workload assessment often results in participants not objectively reporting their cognitive effort, and they are often conducted after a task.
// Related Stories

While traditional electroencephalographyand electrooculographydevices can be used for physiological mental workload monitoring, they are wired, bulky, and uncomfortable. They are also affected by head movements, meaning they're not exactly practical for real-world use.
The wireless forehead EEG and EOG sensor is designed to be as thin and conformable as possible. It is worn on the skin as a temporary tattoo sticker, which means it can be worn while the wearer is also sporting headgear such as a helmet. Being a sticker means the device can be personalized to fit different sized heads, ensuring the sensors are always in the right spot.
The tattoo is disposable and connected to a reusable flexible printed circuit using conductive tape, with the battery clipped on the device. The entire setup is expected to cost less than The researchers tested the system by placing the tattoo on six volunteers. The participants watched 20 letters flash onto a screen one after another, each in a different spot. They clicked the mouse whenever the current letter or its position matched the one that had appeared a numberof items earlier. Every volunteer repeated the exercise several times while N varied from 0 to 3, creating four escalating difficulty levels.

As the tests became more difficult, theta and delta brainwaves increased, indicating increased cognitive demands, while alpha and beta activity increased in line with their fatigue.
After feeding all the test data into a machine-learning algorithm, the researchers found the system was better able to predict mental workload than EEG and EOG data alone.
The next step for the researchers is to find a method for the signals to be decoded by the device's microprocessor, which can then alert an app if a wearer's mental workload becomes too high.
#this #stickon #etattoo #tracks #mental

An Android presentation at Google I/O 2025.

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2025-05-24T09:00:02Z

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Google's announcements at its I/O developer conference this week had analysts bullish on its AI.
AI features could be a "Trojan horse" for Google's Android products, Bank of America analysts wrote.
Apple's AI mess has given Google a major mobile opportunity.

Google's phones, tablets, and, yes, XR glasses are all about to be supercharged by AI.Google needs to seize this moment. Bank of America analysts this week even called Google's slew of new AI announcements a "Trojan horse" for its device business.For years, Apple's iOS and Google's Android have battled it out. Apple leads in the US in phone sales, though it still trails Android globally. The two have also gradually converged; iOS has become more customizable, while Android has become cleaner and easier to use. As hardware upgrades have slowed in recent years, the focus has shifted to the smarts inside the device.That could be a big problem for Apple. Its AI rollouts have proven lackluster with users, while more enticing promised features have been delayed. The company is reportedly trying to rebuild Siri entirely using large language models. Right now, it's still behind Google and OpenAI, and that gap continues to widen.During Google's I/O conference this week, the search giant bombarded us with new AI features. Perhaps the best example was a particularly grabby demo of Google's "Project Astra" assistant helping someone fix their bike by searching through the bike manual, pulling up a YouTube video, and calling a bike shop to see if certain supplies were in stock.It was, of course, a highly polished promotional video, but it made Siri look generations behind."It has long been the case that the best way to bring products to the consumer market is via devices, and that seems truer than ever," wrote Ben Thompson, analyst and Stratechery author, in an I/O dispatch this week."Android is probably going to be the most important canvas for shipping a lot of these capabilities," he added.
Google's golden opportunityApple has done a good job of locking users into its ecosystem with iMessage blue bubbles, features like FaceTime, and peripherals like the Apple Watch that require an iPhone to use.Google's Pixel phone line, meanwhile, remains a rounding error when compared to global smartphone shipments. That's less of a problem when Google has huge partners like Samsung that bring all of its AI features to billions of Android users globally.While iPhone users will get some of these new features through Google's iOS apps, it's clear that the "universal assistant" the company is building will only see its full potential on Android. Perhaps this could finally get iOS users to make the switch."We're seeing diminishing returns on a hardware upgrade cycle, which means we're now really focused on the software upgrade cycle," Bernstein senior analyst Mark Shmulik told Business Insider.Without major changes by Apple, Shmulik said he sees the gap in capabilities between Android and iOS only widening."If it widens to the point where someone with an iPhone says, 'Well my phone can't do that,' does it finally cause that switching event from what everyone has always considered this incredible lock-in from Apple?" Shmulik said.Beyond smartphonesInternally, Google has been preparing for this moment.The company merged its Pixel, Chrome, and Android teams last year to capitalize on the AI opportunity."We are going to be very fast-moving to not miss this opportunity," Google's Android chief Sameer Samat told BI at last year's I/O. "It's a once-in-a-generation moment to reinvent what phones can do. We are going to seize that moment."A year on, Google appears to be doing just that. Much of what the company demoed this week is either rolling out to devices imminently or in the coming weeks.Google still faces the challenge that its relationships with partners like Samsung have come with the express promise that Google won't give its home-grown devices preferential treatment. So, if Google decides to double down on its Pixel phones at the expense of its partners, it could step into a business land mine.Of course, Google needs to think about more than smartphones. Its renewed bet on XR glasses is a bet on what might be the next-generation computing platform. Meta is already selling its own augmented reality glasses, and Apple is now doubling down on its efforts to get its own smart glasses out by the end of 2026, Bloomberg reported.Google this week demoed glasses that have a visual overlay to instantly provide information to wearers, which Meta's glasses lack and Apple's first version will reportedly also not have.The success of Meta's glasses so far is no doubt encouraging news for Google, as a new era of AI devices is ushered in. Now it's poised to get ahead by leveraging its AI chops, and Apple might give it the exact opening it's waited more than a decade for."I don't know about an open goal," said Shmulik of Apple, "but it does feel like they've earned themselves a penalty kick."Have something to share? Contact this reporter via email at hlangley@businessinsider.com or Signal at 628-228-1836. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.
#google #has #massive #mobile #opportunity

May 23, 20253 min readNew Contacts Let You See Infrared Light—Even with Your Eyes ClosedStraight out of science fiction, these contact lenses convert infrared light into visible light that humans can seeBy Elizabeth Gibney & Nature magazine People who tested a new type of designer contact lens could see flashing infrared signals from a light source. Yuqian Ma, Yunuo Chen, Hang ZhaoHumans have a new way of seeing infrared light, without the need for clunky night-vision goggles. Researchers have made the first contact lenses to convey infrared vision — and the devices work even when people have their eyes closed.The team behind the invention, led by scientists at the University of Science and Technology of Chinain Hefei, gave the lenses their power by infusing them with nanoparticles that convert near-infrared light in the 800–1,600-nanometre range into shorter-wavelength, visible light that humans can see, in the 400–700-nanometre range. The researchers estimate that the lenses cost around USper pair to make.The technology, which was detailed in Cell on 22 May, “is incredibly cool, just like something out of a science-fiction movie”, says Xiaomin Li, a chemist at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. It opens up “new possibilities for understanding the world around us”, he adds.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Pros and consNear-infrared light sits just outside the range of wavelengths that humans can normally detect. Some animals can sense infrared light, although probably not well enough to form images.Night-vision goggles enable humans to see infrared radiation, but they are bulky and require a power source to work. The new lenses avoid these limitations while also offering richer, multi-coloured infrared images that night-vision goggles, which operate on a monochrome green scale, typically do not.However, the lenses do have their own shortcomings. Because the embedded nanoparticles scatter light, the images the lenses create are blurry. The team partially corrected this by putting the technology into glasses with additional lenses that redirect the light. Moreover, unlike night-vision goggles, which amplify light to detect low-level infrared signals, the lenses allow users to see only intense infrared signals, such as those emitted by light-emitting diodes.For these reasons, some critics don’t think the lenses will prove useful. “I cannot think of any application that would not be fundamentally simpler with infrared goggles,” says Glen Jeffery, a neuroscientist at University College London who specializes in eye health. “Evolution has avoided this for a good reason.”Nevertheless, the authors think that their lenses can be further optimized and foresee several possible uses for the invention. For instance, wearers would be able to read anti-counterfeit marks that emit infrared wavelengths but are otherwise invisible to the human eye, says co-author Yuqian Ma, a neuroscientist at the USTC.Li, who was not involved in the work, offers another possibility: the lenses might be worn by doctors conducting near-infrared fluorescence surgery, to directly detect and remove cancerous lesions “without relying on bulky traditional equipment”.‘An exhilarating moment’To create the contact lenses, the scientists built on previous research in which they gave mice infrared vision by injecting nanoparticles into the animals’ retinas. This time, they took a less invasive approach and added nanoparticles made of rare-earth metals including ytterbium and erbium to a soup of polymer building blocks to form the soft lenses, and then tested them for safety.The main challenge, Ma says, was to pack enough nanoparticles into the lenses to convert sufficient infrared light into detectable visible light, while not otherwise altering the lenses’ optical properties, including their transparency.Tests in mice showed that animals wearing the lenses tended to choose a dark box that was considered ‘safe’ over one lit up by infrared light, whereas mice without the lenses showed no preference for either box. Humans wearing the lenses could see flickering infrared light from an LED well enough to both pick up Morse code signals and sense which direction the signals were coming from. The lenses’ performance even improved when participants closed their eyes, because near-infrared light easily penetrates the eyelids, whereas visible light, which could have interfered with image formation, does so to a lesser degree.“Witnessing people wearing contact lenses and successfully seeing infrared flashes was undoubtedly an exhilarating moment,” Ma says.The team now plans to find ways to cram more nanoparticles into the lenses and hopes to develop particles that can convert light with higher efficiency, to improve the technology’s sensitivity. “We have overcome the physiological limitations of human vision, as if opening a brand-new window onto the world,” Ma says.This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on May 22, 2025.
#new #infrared #contacts #let #you

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light. Unlike infrared night vision goggles, the contact lenses, described in the journal Cell, do not require a power source -- and they enable the wearer to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths. Because they're transparent, users can see both infrared and visible light simultaneously, though infrared vision was enhanced when participants had their eyes closed.The contact lens technology uses nanoparticles that absorb infrared light and convert it into wavelengths that are visible to mammalian eyes. The nanoparticles specifically enable the detection of "near-infrared light," which is infrared light in the 800-1600 nm range, just beyond what humans can already see.

The team previously showed that these nanoparticles enable infrared vision in mice when injected into the retina, but they wanted to design a less invasive option. To create the contact lenses, the team combined the nanoparticles with flexible, nontoxic polymers that are used in standard soft contact lenses. After showing that the contact lenses were nontoxic, they tested their function in both humans and mice. They found that contact lens-wearing mice displayed behaviors suggesting that they could see infrared wavelengths. For example, when the mice were given the choice of a dark box and an infrared-illuminated box, contact-wearing mice chose the dark box whereas contact-less mice showed no preference. The mice also showed physiological signals of infrared vision: the pupils of contact-wearing mice constricted in the presence of infrared light, and brain imaging revealed that infrared light caused their visual processing centers to light up. In humans, the infrared contact lenses enabled participants to accurately detect flashing morse code-like signals and to perceive the direction of incoming infrared light.

An additional tweak to the contact lenses allows users to differentiate between different spectra of infrared light by engineering the nanoparticles to color-code different infrared wavelengths. For example, infrared wavelengths of 980 nm were converted to blue light, wavelengths of 808 nm were converted to green light, and wavelengths of 1,532 nm were converted to red light. In addition to enabling wearers to perceive more detail within the infrared spectrum, these color-coding nanoparticles could be modified to help color-blind people see wavelengths that they would otherwise be unable to detect.Because the contact lenses have limited ability to capture fine details, the team also developed a wearable glass system using the same nanoparticle technology, which enabled participants to perceive higher-resolution infrared information. Currently, the contact lenses are only able to detect infrared radiation projected from an LED light source, but the researchers are working to increase the nanoparticles' sensitivity so that they can detect lower levels of infrared light.

of this story at Slashdot.
#infrared #contact #lenses #allow #people

Forward-looking: While night vision is typically associated with bulky goggles that display only monochromatic images, recent experiments suggest the technology could be miniaturized for everyday eyewear. New applications of thin, lightweight filters may allow humans to perceive both infrared and visible light simultaneously.
Contact lenses and eyeglasses could one day enable people to see beyond the natural visible light spectrum. Eyewear equipped with this special technology holds promise for enhancing visibility in challenging conditions and introducing new ways to convey information.
Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China are developing contact lenses that allow mice and humans to perceive infrared light in multiple colors.
Unlike traditional night vision goggles, these lenses don't require an external power source. Additionally, because they are transparent, they don't block visible light – allowing wearers to combine natural and infrared vision.

In the image above, the lenses change how letters appear under near-infrared lightcompared to visible light, in one case revealing a previously hidden letter. In another experiment, mirrors that appeared monochromatic in visible light became more colorful under near-infrared, while those showing color in visible light shifted hues under NIR.
The study, published in Cell, describes how upconversion nanoparticles convert light just outside the visible spectrum – known as near-infrared – into visible red, green, and blue light. Test subjects wearing the lenses were able to detect previously invisible colors and perceive near-infrared light beams.
// Related Stories

Although night vision is the most obvious application, the technology could also enhance visibility in foggy or dusty environments. Smart devices could use it to assist during emergencies, and wearers could receive information encoded in infrared light. The technology may also benefit individuals with color blindness.

Although the experimental lenses do not yet provide a sharp infrared image, specially designed eyeglasses incorporating this technology can enhance image quality, and nanoparticle development is ongoing. Interestingly, wearing the lenses allows near-infrared light to be seen even with closed eyes, as infrared light penetrates eyelids more effectively than visible light – making near-infrared information clearer.
The study parallels a paper published last year by Australian researchers, who used metasurface-based upconversion technology to demonstrate eyeglasses that merge infrared and visible light. Their goal: to create thinner, lighter, and more practical night vision gear. Continued research aims to expand access to more of the infrared spectrum.
#night #vision #contact #lenses #offer

ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazon Echo Framesare a natural way for glasses wearers to control their smart home, and they're available now for The latest model features a lighter build, longer battery life, improved speakers, and new controls that will take some getting used to.While Alexa in your ears is no ChatGPT voice assistant, it's capable enough to answer general questions and complete most smart home tasks. View now The headline for this article could've gone many ways -- I wore Amazon's Echo Frames at an airport, and the TSA didn't stop me or These smart glasses let me take calls hands-free -- but I settled with the comparison angle because one of the easiest ways to talk about smart glasses is by comparing them to the standard. With these being the company's third generation of Echo Frames, Amazon's made mostly iterative updates -- the build is lighter, the battery lasts longer, and there's supposedly more bass -- while staying true to the glasses' original purpose: Giving you a directcommunication path with Amazon's popular voice assistant, Alexa. And right now, Amazon is discounting the Echo Frames by reducing the price of these glasses to  Naturally, you can do other things with the glasses, too, as I'll detail in my two-week account of wearing the Echo Frames below.
details
View at QVC In the hierarchy of smart glasses, you can think of the Echo Frames as the entry-level pair, ideal for users who want something discrete but with just enough technology to scratch that consumer itch. I've worn a few too many pairs of smart glasses over the past year, and these from Amazon may be the most normal-looking of them all. That's a good thing, as I learned during my flight to CES in early January.Also: Google's upcoming AI smart glasses may finally convince me to switch to a pair full-timeWanting to test both the Echo Frames and the Meta Ray-Ban during my trip, I went through the usual security screenings and found myself stopped twice because my camera-equipped Meta glasses looked suspicious. No one questioned the Echo Frames, which, even from up close, look like a regular pair of plastic-made prescriptions.The Meta Ray-Banhas a built-in camera and is noticeably thicker and heavier than the Amazon Echo Frames. Kerry Wan/ZDNETTrue to Amazon's word, the Echo Frames feel very light on the face. Most of the weight is distributed to the sides of the frames, where the speakers, buttons, and other minuscule components are stored. The rubberized tips on the ends of the glasses certainly help with the fit, though I've found it harder to fold the glasses after adjusting them. While the glasses are easily stored in the included carrying case, if they're not folded properly, issues arise when you need to charge them. Because, unlike the Meta Ray-Ban's USB-C carrying case, there's a new separate charging dock for the Echo Frames, and aligning the wireless charging coils with the ones on the glasses can be quite the doozy. You either have to force the glasses into the gap -- which feels like something you wouldn't want to do with glasses -- or collapse and slot them in just right. Nine times out of 10, I'm doing option one.In terms of functionality, the Echo Frames don't have multimodal AI cameras built into them like the Meta Ray-Bans or project visual overlays like XR glasses. Instead, they can stream Bluetooth audio, take calls and send text messages, read notifications, and communicate with Alexa-supported smart home devices like how your phone or smart hub normally would. Again, entry-level glasses -- and that's not a bad thing.Also: Get a free pair of Meta Ray-Bans when you sign up for Verizon 5G home internetWhile my house is not as smart as my ZDNET colleague Maria Diaz's, I enjoyed using the Echo Frames to turn on and off various smart switches, which saved me from having to walk over to my phone and use an app when it's charging in the kitchen or on my nightstand. The scale of Alexa-compatible devices is large enough that I could make commands to secure my three-year-old August entry lock, too. The same "Alexa" wake word is used for commands. Kerry Wan/ZDNETBesides the smart features, I've also enjoyed listening to podcasts and making calls during my evening walks. Perhaps it's the ability to listen to my on-device audio while staying aware of my surroundings, or the fact that the speakers on the Echo Frames favor the mid and high frequencies more than the bassy, engulfing lows. It's probably a bit of both. The takeaway is that the glasses are great for vocal-only audio tracks and passable for anything multi-layered.Also: I tried Google's XR glasses and they already beat my Meta Ray-Bans in 3 waysLastly, I wish the button navigations weren't so complicated, but since I'm mainly using voice commands to get things done, the need to press the front or back button to accept and decline thingsdidn't bother me all that much. If you're coming from an older pair of Echo Frames, you'll have to retrain your muscle memory as the touch strip and swipe gestures are no more.ZDNET's buying adviceAt a list price of the Echo Framesaren't necessarily priced to compete. The list price is just less than Meta's more capable Ray-Ban smart glasses. However, Amazon's glasses have two big things going for them: Alexa integration and design. Smart home enthusiasts will absolutely reap the benefits of having a controller that they can use at all times, and first-time smart glasses shoppers will find these much less intimidating than the ones with mini projectors and cameras built in. Plus, you'll have a smaller chance of being stopped by the TSA. This article was originally published on January 26, 2024, and was updated on May 22, 2025.Featured reviews
#replaced #rayban #meta #with #these

Researchers have developed new contact lenses that enable vision in the near-infrared range, and they could restore color perception to people with color blindness.
#039supervision039 #contact #lenses #let #wearers

The new RØDE NTH-50 headphones have Sennheiser's evergreen HD25 Pro headphones in their sights. The ... More Sennheisers are a firm favourite with DJs and the NTH-50 could be popular thanks to their specs and build quality.RØDE
Australian mega microphone and audio brand RØDE has launched a new and affordable pair of on-ear headphones designed with DJs, podcasters and audio engineers in mind. The brand-new RØDE NTH-50 headphones join the company’s award-winning headphone lineup which includes the RØDE NTH-100.

These new headphones have an uncanny resemblance to the classic and much-loved Sennheiser HD25 Pro; a classic pair of headphones that has been a firm favorite with sound engineers and DJs over the years.

The RØDE NTH-50 headphones are aimed at audio professionals who need precision sound, a comfortable fit and a high level of passive noise isolation. The NTH-50’s lightweight design feels more durable than the HD25 Pro but is still light enough to wear while operating a news-gathering camera or DJing.

The new RØDE NTH-50 headphones have an uncanny resemblance to Sennheiser's HD25 Pro. RØDE
RØDE describes the sound quality produced by the NTH-50 as “Natural and balanced with ultra-low distortion and effective passive noise isolation.” It’s a sonic signature that’s been tailored for DJs, sound engineers and content creators who need premium sound as well as all-day comfort and rugged durability.

To create the new NTH-50, RØDE developed custom-matched 40mm drivers and then housed them in a resonant chamber that provides a deep and balanced bass while still keeping hold of a detailed midrange and clear treble. There’s very little coloration in the overall tone.
The innovative acoustic design serves up an accurate frequency response alongside ultra-low distortion. The frequency range encompasses an impressive 5Hz – 35KHz. The effective passive noise isolation of -21dB cuts out a lot of unwanted noise, almost as much as some headphones with Active Noise Cancelation on board.
The NTH-50 eschews the spilt headband of the Sennheiser HD25 Pro and instead offers a generously ... More padded headband and ear pads.RØDE
Unlike Sennheiser’s HD25 Pro, the new RØDE NTH-50 headphones don’t have the split headband. Instead, RØDE opted for a more durable single-contoured headband that reduces wearing fatigue, particularly during extended mixing and listening sessions.
Despite the robust build quality, which addresses some of the criticisms of early versions of RØDE’s NTH-100, these lightweight headphones have a contemporary look but they are solid enough to endure the kind of punishment studio headphones often receive.
The NTH-50’s cable is detachable and features a custom-lock fitting that can be slotted into either the left or right ear cup, depending on the user’s preference. The cable is partly straight and partially coiled, measuing 1.7m, which is long enough for working at a large mixing desk.
Designed and manufactured at RØDE’s factory in Sydney, Australia, the NTH-50 come with a lifetime warranty, which is a measure of the company’s confidence in its new headphones, especially for those of us who know how much abuse the average pair of cans suffer. The ear pads for the NTH-50 are fully wipeable, offering a more hygienic solution than velour material, an important factor where a single pair of headphones could be worn by many people and liable to pick up sweat, grease and makeup.The detachable cable of the RØDE NTH-50 can be plugged into the left or right ear-cup. There is also ... More color coding for easy orientation.RØDE
“At RØDE, we are committed to developing innovative audio solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of creators,” says Damien Wilson, RØDE’s CEO. “The NTH-50s embody this philosophy, offering a level of sonic accuracy, comfort and durability that marks a new gold standard for on-ear headphones.”
“Engineered from the ground up by our dedicated headphone innovation team in Germany, we’ve crafted a pair of premium headphones at an affordable price point that delivers an incredibly detailed and immersive listening experience in any environment. Once again, RØDE has over-achieved in the pursuit of delivering world-class monitoring technology.”
At the heart of the NTH-50s are the custom-engineered 40mm dynamic drivers which are housed inside an innovative resonant chamber. The chamber provides clarity and an accurate frequency response, ultra-low distortion and a balanced sound with a natural bass and detailed midrange while keeping crisp highs.Although the new RØDE NTH-50 headphones are designed for podcasting, mixing and other studio use, ... More they will appeal to DJs.RØDE
The RØDE NTH-50s come with a passive noise isolation rating of -21 dBA, enough to reduce external distractions and, more importantly, stop any sound from bleeding out during recording and being picked up by the microphone. The high SPL capabilities and sensitivity of the headphones make them particularly suitable for live performances and studio monitoring.
Anyone who uses a pair of studio headphones for more than a few minutes knows that comfort is every bit as important as the sound quality The RØDE NTH-50’s contoured headband, with its integrated fontanel recess, relieve pressure on the wearer’s skull, reducing fatigue during extended listening times in the studio, on stage or when recording on location.
Although they are lightweight and fully adjustable, the NTH-50s are designed to distribute pressure evenly no matter the size of the wearer’s head. The headphones also better accommodate glasses wearers.The RØDE NTH-50 feature detachable cables, replaceable ear pads and headband for a long service ... More life.RØDE
The on-ear design has ear pads lined with memory foam padding that conforms to the contours of the ears. The fit is snug but still breathable, promoting an airflow that reduces the chance of heat buildup while still providing high levels of passive noise dampening.
The NTH-50s are made from lightweight and durable materials including aluminum faceplates that can withstand daily punishment in the studio. The modular design has replaceable components such as the headband, ear cushions and cables for a longer service life. The ear cups are color-coded for left and right channels so users can quickly and easily orientate them in low light, a nice touch.
Finally, the headphones have a scratch-resistant and matte black coating. They ship with a 1.7m double coiled cable, storage pouch plus 3.5mm to ¼-inch adapter. RØDE has also included color-coded ID rings for simplified cable management and full compatibility with the existing accessories for RØDE’s NTH-100 headphones, including modular cable options. For greater versatility, RØDE’s optional NTHMic can turn the NTH-50 into a broadcast-quality headset that’s suitable for podcasting, streaming, sports commentary and content creation.
Pricing and Availability:
The new RØDE NTH-50 on-ear headphones will be available from RØDE distributors from May 20, 2025, priced at Tech Specs:

Transducer diameter: 40mm
Transducer type: Dynamic.
Operating principle: Closed.
Ear coupling: Supra-Aural/On-Ear.
Frequency response: 5Hz – 35KHz.
Impedance: 32Ω.
Sensitivity @1mW / 500Hz: 102dB SPL.
Sensitivity @1V/ 500Hz: 117dB SPL.
Total Harmonic Distortion @1mW: < 0.2 % @100Hz / < 0.03% @500Hz.
Total Harmonic Distortion @100Hz: 0.05% @100dB SPL / 0.5% @120dB SPL.
Short-term max input power: 100mW.
Long-term max input power: 50mW.
Max SPL: 124dB SPL.
Ambient Noise Attenuation: 21dBA.
Connection type: Dual TRRS cable attachments.
#rØde #unveils #new #nth50 #onear

Macworld
For many people, the Apple Watch is primarily a fitness tracker and an extension to the iPhone.
It conveniently mirrors iOS notifications, calls, and messages, letting users stay updated without taking their phones out.
What a lot of wearers don’t know, though, is how powerful and feature-packed watchOS really is, and how much your smartwatch can accomplish.

Below are ten Apple Watch perks you’re probably unfamiliar with.
Timely gate access
If you’re a watchOS user, chances are you’re already relying on Apple Pay to quickly make payments from your wrist.
Similarly, the Apple Watch automatically syncs compatible tickets whenever you add them to the Wallet app on iOS.
This lets you enter venues and board planes by double-clicking the side button and scanning the QR code on the smartwatch’s display.
But what if your favorite gym, cinema, or airline doesn’t officially offer Apple Wallet cards for purchased tickets or memberships?
Fortunately, you can manually create an Apple Watch card using any QR code.
Simply download the Wallet Creator app on your iPhone, create the card, and add it to the Wallet app on iOS.
In a few seconds, the newly created card should also appear on your Apple Watch when you double-click its side button.
This spares you from digging through your emails or third-party apps whenever you need to cross compatible gates.



Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Timeless texter
It’s no secret that cellular-enabled Apple Watches can independently make calls and send texts.
But did you know that regular Wi-Fi models can also do that, even when your iPhone is off or in a different location? As you’d expect, there are some requirements and limits, but it’s doable.
The first and main condition is having Wi-Fi access.
You can connect to any (unknown) network by inputting its password in the Settings app on watchOS.
Once connected, you can send and receive iMessages and make FaceTime audio calls right from your wrist.
This is especially helpful during emergencies if your iPhone dies or gets stolen.
Speaking of iMessage, you can also use the Digital Touch applet in the Messages app on watchOS to send your actual heartbeat to a contact.
Just place two fingers on the display, then swipe them down to send.
If the recipient is also a watchOS user, their Apple Watch’s haptic feedback will mimic your heartbeat to replicate your pulse.
It’s a cute, lesser-known way for couples to communicate.
Web browser in disguise
Another hidden Messages feature is the built-in web view that provides a basic Safari experience on watchOS.
All you have to do is iMessage yourself a link, then open it on your Apple Watch.
The feature also supports the Reader perk, which presents articles neatly and hides distracting items.

Reading articles on a smartwatch’s tiny display is unlikely to become a regular habit, but it could come in handy in certain situations.
Reincarnated iPod shuffle
You probably already use your Apple Watch’s native Now Playing app to control the music streaming on your iPhone.
However, many users miss out on watchOS’s native playback perk.
Simply pair AirPods or third-party Bluetooth headphones to your smartwatch, and stream directly from Apple Music if you have an internet connection.

For offline listening, both Apple Music and Spotify support downloading playlists to the wearable’s local storage, letting you leave your iPhone behind.
This makes it possible to run outdoors with just your Apple Watch and a pair of wireless earbuds.



Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
The TV remote you’ll never lose
watchOS also offers a native Remote app that lets you fully control your Apple TV.
Even on this miniature screen, the interface manages to fit all of the main buttons, letting you switch apps, go back, navigate, control the volume, and more.
It’s ideal for when you’re cooking or cleaning and don’t want to dirty the physical Siri Remote or your iPhone.
Or those times when neither of those items are conveniently to hand.
You can similarly control other smart home appliances that rely on the HomeKit infrastructure using the native Home app on watchOS.
I often use it to change the color of my light bulbs when Siri—in typical Siri fashion—fails to process my voice commands.



Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Radio check—do you copy?
Apart from FaceTime and iMessage, the Apple Watch offers an exclusive communication tool that seemingly very few people use.

Walkie-Talkie is a built-in app that lets you quickly contact other watchOS users using your voice.
Once you add a friend there, you can communicate verbally in real time using the FaceTime audio technology.
When you’re in a meeting or just don’t want to be reached, you can toggle off your availability.
While most users probably prefer regular audio messages or phone calls, the Walkie-Talkie app makes it easier to get quick answers for minor questions—like what brand of milk to get from the supermarket.
It mostly caters to best friends, family members, and partners, as having less intimate acquaintances reach you at any time would be too intrusive.



Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Nighttime iPhone locator
If you often misplace your iPhone, you’ve likely made use of the handy Ping toggle in the Apple Watch’s Control Center.
When you tap it, your iPhone produces a loud screech if it’s within Bluetooth range.
What you probably don’t know, though, is that pressing and holding on that toggle will also make your iPhone’s camera LED flash.
This makes it possible to locate your phone in a pitch-black environment.
It can tell the time!
Did you know that your Apple Watch can tell the time? Literally, I mean.
Once you enable the Speak Time toggle in Clock settings, you can have watchOS announce the current time audibly by holding two fingers on the watch face.
I sometimes use this feature when I wake up in the morning to identify the time without opening my heavy eyelids.
TickTock-friendly
If you’re living the solo life and often need to record videos or take photos of yourself, this one’s for you.
watchOS offers a built-in Camera Remote app that transforms your Apple Watch into a viewfinder for your iPhone’s Camera app.
This ensures you’re in frame and helps you fine-tune composition before shooting.

The app also offers handy shortcuts to some of the Camera app’s buttons, like the shutter, zoom, and flash.



Your Apple Watch can do a lot more than count steps and track activiity.Foundry
One more tip
For the last tip, your Apple Watch can actually calculate how much you need to tip at restaurants.
Just input the bill’s total in the native Calculator app and hit the Tip button.
You can then choose the percentage and optionally the number of people splitting it, et voilà!
Always on hand
The Apple Watch has come a long way.
What once used to be a dependent accessory can now perform most basic smartphone tasks on its own.
That’s even more practical for those with an active cellular plan.

It’s true that performing most of these tasks would be more practical using the wider iPhone screen.
But there are still instances when the Apple Watch makes more sense.
Sometimes your hands are occupied, other times your iPhone is out of charge—regardless of your reasons, it’s comforting to know that the wearable strapped to your wrist at all times can connect you to your loved ones, play your favorite tunes, unlock electric doors, control and find other devices, and much more.
Over and out.

Source: https://www.macworld.com/article/2774804/10-hidden-apple-watch-features-youve-probably-never-used-but-should.html">https://www.macworld.com/article/2774804/10-hidden-apple-watch-features-youve-probably-never-used-but-should.html">https://www.macworld.com/article/2774804/10-hidden-apple-watch-features-youve-probably-never-used-but-should.html
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