B&O has shrunk its high-end Beolab speakers into a stylish compact design
Bang & Olufsen has shrunk its high-end Beolab speakers into a stylish compact design, the latest addition to its impressive range of audio and home theater products. Using luxury materials and attention to detail has long been a hallmark of the Danish brand’s approach to audio, with anodized aluminum, fine wood and supple fabric making up its loudspeaker and electronics designs for decades.
The new Beolab 28 is a small, elegant loudspeaker that’s intended to be used as part of a surround sound system or simply as a stereo speaker. The design is sleek, svelte and elegant, with a minimalist aesthetic that takes advantage of the natural acoustic performance of its materials. Its keel-like aluminium base, which is shaped to look like a sailboat and can be covered with either oak lamella or soft fabric, makes the Beolab 28 look almost weightless when it’s sitting on a stand or placed in a room.
Despite its size, the Beolab 28 is capable of producing a rich, bold sound that B&O says is unmatched in this price range. Inside the diminutive exterior, a 5.2-inch woofer and two 3 1/2-inch midrange drivers are powered by class D ICEpower amplifiers. Its mid and treble drivers use audio lens technology developed by Sausalito Audio’s Manny LaCarrubba, which spreads the sound field over a wider area to overcome the directional limitations of typical midrange and treble speakers and prevents floor and ceiling reflections from overwhelming the sound.
Beolab 28 also features numerous smart audio technologies to boost the sonic quality of a user’s listening experience. Its beam width control can direct the sound output towards a specific listener, or it can be set to spread sound evenly across a room for a more spacious and immersive feel. B&O’s “tonmeisters” tuned the Beolab 28’s audio to incorporate a wide-band frequency response for superior low-frequency reproduction, and its adaptive room compensation can adjust bass output depending on how the Beolab 28 is positioned within a space.
A Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connection is supported by a built-in microphone that can automatically detect the location of the speaker and calibrate itself for optimal performance. It also supports multi-room audio with a Beosound Theatre receiver or other compatible devices. Other smart features include a remote app, an HDMI input and support for a wide variety of streaming audio formats, including Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Neural Surround.
The Beolab 28 will be available this summer with a starting price of £2,199 / $2,749 / €2,499. Pricing for the Beolab 5 will be announced later in the year. For more information, visit the Beolab website.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game announced as latest entry into the off-roading series
Saber Interactive, the developer behind the MudRunner and SnowRunner series of off-road simulation driving games, is back with a new entry into the fold. It’s called Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and a trailer was unveiled as part of Gamescom’s opening night live event. The latest entry in the series puts you in charge of leading scientific expeditions into natural environments, with a big emphasis on high-tech tools like scouting drones, metal detectors and echo sounders to scour terrain for clues. You’ll also manage your camp, building research structures and hiring experts to unlock new abilities and possibilities for your vehicle on your travels.
The trailer for the new game hints at some significant gameplay changes compared to its predecessors. For one thing, the winch system is getting a huge upgrade, allowing you to anchor your truck into rock rather than just latch onto trees. This should help you tackle a variety of extreme landscapes, from steep cliffs to frozen lakes and more. There are other tweaks, too, but the general flow seems to be a mix of scouting the landscape with drones and light vehicles, then using your bigger trucks to haul in any materials you find at mission objectives.
Of course, the main draw is still the ability to drive your big truck around a variety of challenging off-road terrains. As with previous entries in the series, that means a lot of careful clutch control and careful study of each new environment to figure out how to tackle it. Steep cliffs might demand delicate clutch control and the use of cable and wench, while frozen lakes will call for a more precise touch to get your truck over them.
It’s hard to put into words the satisfying feeling of successfully dragging a jeep out of a muddy hole with some careful winch use, but it’s definitely something that will make Expeditions: A MudRunner Game worth checking out for those who enjoy this kind of physics-based carnage. The game is set to release in 2024 for PS5, PS4 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
More details on the game will be revealed as we get closer to its launch. Check out the full Gamescom announcement for more info on Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, or follow its development progress on Twitter. You can also keep up with all the latest from Gamescom by following our dedicated hub here.
The Elder Scrolls 6 release date prediction and news
Skyrim was an incredible game, a massive open world that broke new ground and was so good that it has been re-released across multiple console generations. Its success has lead to enormous expectations for a sequel, which Bethesda Softworks has yet to deliver on. Sadly, it looks like it will be 2028 at the earliest before we see The Elder Scrolls 6.
This is because the company has been extremely busy on Starfield, an ambitious space-faring RPG that has taken years to develop. It’s the main focus of the company, and it’s probably going to take all of its resources before The Elder Scrolls 6 can get off the ground.
It’s also worth remembering that the company was acquired by Microsoft in 2021, and it will be a part of the Xbox family from now on. It’s not clear how this will affect the development of the next game, but it’s safe to assume that Microsoft will be keen to make a big splash with the first game to come out under its ownership.
If that’s the case, we can expect it to be an Xbox Series X and PC exclusive for some time, but it might launch on the upcoming generation of consoles too. Microsoft has a history of leveraging its power and influence to secure exclusivity deals with games studios, and we’re expecting them to make The Elder Scrolls 6 their priority.
However, it’s not going to be easy to push back the release of Starfield in order to give a green light to TES 6. Even if they managed it, they would risk repeating the mistakes that they made with Fallout 76 and alienating fans.
In addition, the current consoles from Microsoft and Sony are a long way from being capable of running such a massive game. They’re both aging, and we’re not going to see a major hardware upgrade before 2025. This means that the only way to play a brand-new The Elder Scrolls is on the upcoming generation of consoles.
If that’s the case, we can probably expect a day-one Game Pass offer with the game, but it won’t be available on PS5 in the meantime. That’s a shame, but it’s probably the best way to ensure that a Bethesda game gets as wide an audience as possible. The game is likely to be an incredible achievement, and if it’s an exclusive for the new systems it will be well worth the wait.
Best Roblox games: top creations to play right now
Roblox is home to hundreds of awesome user-created games that can provide hours of entertainment. Whether you’re into collecting pets in Pet Simulator X or exploring Antarctica with Expedition Antarctica, there are plenty of great options to choose from. Despite being around for almost 18 years, Roblox remains a strong contender in the gaming scene thanks to its community and huge collabs. Here’s a look at some of the best creations to play right now.
A blocky version of Fortnite, Island Royale is one of the most popular battle royales to date and it’s easy to see why. The cartoonish graphics and building mechanics make it a fun game to play with friends. It also comes with plenty of updates to keep the experience fresh.
It may not be as polished as other modern titles, but the simplicity and addictiveness of Jetpack Jumpers makes it one of the most satisfying Roblox games to play. It’s the kind of game that you can come back to again and again, racking up achievements and climbing new heights as you go.
With its town hopping and job-based gameplay, Welcome to Bloxburg offers players the chance to live in a vibrant city alongside their friends. The game is full of different jobs to take up and the ability to customise your house to fit your personality. There are also a host of different activities to take part in and it’s a great place to spend time with your buddies online.
RooM is the best Roblox game to play if you’re looking for an action-packed adventure. It’s the game that feels most like a DOOM-inspired experience and even features an impressive soundtrack. Although the game faced some copyright issues, it’s still an enjoyable experience.
Jailbreak is another massively popular game that’s a lot of fun to play with your friends. It takes the classic cops vs robbers concept and gives it a whole lot of depth, adding in heist mechanics, a variety of vehicles and even trading as you play. It’s a highly robust game that’s continually updated and it’s the best of its kind on the platform.
While Adopt Me is a more traditional animal simulator, it’s a great option for animal lovers and kids. This is a wildly popular game that’s updated regularly and offers a whole host of cute animals to adopt. The game allows you to build a home for your pets and even roleplay with other pet owners.
Anime Fighters Simulator is the only title on this list that doesn’t let you play as a human hero, but it makes up for this with its fun battle system. The game puts you in charge of a squad of anime heroes and it’s up to you to micromanage their skills in order to dispatch enemies. The environments are inspired by popular anime shows and the gameplay is smooth and fun to play.
Ransomware gang is exploiting flaws in backup software to attack infrastructure
More than 130 healthcare institutions and other organizations were impacted by a ransomware attack targeting the file transfer utility GoAnywhere MFT in February 2023. This attack, linked to the Clop ransomware gang by Microsoft, exploited a zero-day vulnerability that had just been added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities public catalog.
This is just the latest ransomware attack leveraging flaws in backup software to target critical infrastructure and other important systems. In the past, attacks have targeted backup servers and other critical applications including Pulse SecureVPN, Citrix, and Fortinet.
The FBI and CISA advise critical infrastructure companies not to pay ransoms, because payment does not guarantee that files will be restored and may embolden adversaries to continue attacking other organizations. Instead, they recommend sharing boundary logs showing communication with CLOP group actors, a sample of the ransom note, Bitcoin wallet information, decryptor files, and/or a benign sample of an encrypted file.
In the last year, attackers have been using flaws in backup and other software to gain access to victim networks. The BianLian gang, for example, gained access to critical infrastructure organizations in the US and private entities in Australia by using stolen remote desktop protocol (RDP) credentials acquired through initial access brokers or phishing attacks. Once inside the network, the gang deployed file-encrypting ransomware to target systems.
After encrypting data, the gang has also been seen exfiltrating files from victim networks and using file-sharing services. It has been suggested that the Cuba gang is Russian based on linguistic clues, the exclusion of computers that use a Russian keyboard layout from infections, Russian 404 pages in parts of its infrastructure and the targeted targeting of Western entities.
Threatpost recently published an article on how the Clop gang is exploiting flaws in backup and other software to target critical infrastructure and other important systems. The article noted that the gang has been exploiting flaws in Veeam Backup and Replication to infiltrate victim networks, and also leveraging a host-based exploit tool called XCodec, which targets a variety of popular software applications including Adobe products.
This is the second time in 2023 that a flaw in backup and recovery software has been used to launch ransomware attacks. The first was the Dish breach, where attackers accessed the network and attacked VMware ESXi servers and backups using a vulnerability in Veritas NetBackup.
The 2023 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index found that the share of cyber incidents involving ransomware has declined by 4 percent, likely because defenders are getting better at detecting and blocking these attacks. However, the overall number of attacks has remained constant over that same period, meaning that threat actors are still succeeding in hitting organizations and stealing their valuable data. In order to mitigate these risks, enterprises should assess their security posture against the top 5 cybersecurity threats of 2023. They should also consider implementing backup best practices that can help protect against these attacks. In addition, they should explore the many alternatives to Windows for critical infrastructure and consider a more resilient platform that supports multiple operating systems.
Apple could be testing a new M3 Mac mini – and I’m hyped
Apple is expected to introduce its first M3 Mac processors this year. The chips are said to be a grown-up version of the M1 chip that currently powers the iPhone, and the company believes they will offer significant performance improvements. This is because they are built on a 3nm process, which will allow them to have more cores than the current chip. The M3 chips are expected to have as many as four cores, which would be a significant improvement over the two that the current chip has. This is due to the fact that more cores mean faster processing of tasks. The company is also expecting the M3 processors to offer a 50% boost in Photoshop performance, which is something that will be a big selling point for many people.
According to Mark Gurman, who writes the Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple is testing a new Mac mini with an M3 processor. Gurman says that the device is undergoing testing on its campus, and it’s rumored to have eight CPU cores (made up of four efficiency cores and four performance cores), 10 GPU cores, and 24GB of system memory. Gurman claims the pint-sized computer is internally codenamed Mac 15,12, and he thinks it’s a replacement for the current generation of Mac mini.
He believes that the new Mac mini will be joined by a number of other laptops, including updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs as well as 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. He also expects that a new M3-powered iMac will be released, replacing the current generation of 24-inch models. Gurman doesn’t expect the refreshed Mac Studio and Mac Pro to get M3 processors, which makes sense because those computers only received M2 upgrades this year.
It’s not clear when Apple will release the Mac mini that has an M3 chip, but it’s possible that it could make an appearance at a spring event or WWDC 2024. It will likely take around 15 months to see an M3-powered MacBook Pro, but Gurman predicts that Apple will only have the Pro and Max iterations of the chip at launch.
Obviously, the Mac mini won’t be the only Mac that will use the new processors, but it will probably be the first one to get them. It’s also unlikely that Apple will add M3 processors to the Mac Pro and Mac Studio because those machines are more integrated. However, if the Pro and Max versions of those Macs do come out with the M3 chip, it will no doubt be an exciting day for Mac users.
AMD’s Radeon RX 7800 and 7700 could be launching any day now – here’s why I’m excited
With the RX 7900 XT and XTX already in the market, AMD has a big gap in its mainstream Radeon lineup. The company could be ready to fill it with the new Radeon RX 7800 and 7700 graphics cards, based on Navi 32 silicon.
According to YouTube channel Moore’s Law Is Dead, the new cards are set to launch this September. They will come in two variants, a full-size Navi 32 chip with 60 Compute Units and a cut-down version with either 48 or 54 CUs and 16GB of VRAM. The full-size chip is likely to be called the RX 7800 XT, while the cut-down chip will probably get the RX 7700 XT name.
The performance-mainstream cards are expected to perform better than the current RX 6800 and 6700 XT, delivering a gen-over-gen upgrade of around 16%. Renowned hardware leaker All The Watts!! posted a 3DMark Time Spy benchmark score of 18,957 points, which is very close to Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060Ti (18,800).
While the prices and performance numbers have yet to be confirmed by AMD itself, the rumours seem fairly legitimate. The upcoming cards are said to be based on the same GPU architecture as the RX 7900 XT and 7900 XTX, but with lower clock speeds.
Aside from that, the 7700 and 7800 will be using a more power efficient memory configuration. They will also be using smaller GDDR6 memory chips, which should allow them to fit within the $269 and $549 price brackets of the current RX 7000 series lineup respectively.
What isn’t clear, though, is whether the non-XT versions of the cards will be released before the XT models. The RX 7900 XT is supposed to be harvesting the unused dies from the 7900 XTX and XTXX, so it’s not too hard to imagine that a vanilla version of the card would use some of those chips as well.
Considering the current state of the GPU industry, it’s quite likely that AMD will release the new RX 7800 and 7700 before the end of the year. It will be a nice boost for consumers who want to enjoy high-resolution gaming on their PCs without having to spend a fortune on the latest GPUs. Of course, if you can’t wait for the new cards to arrive and don’t feel like dropping over $700 on a graphics card, there are plenty of RX 6700 and 6800 XT alternatives out there that offer comparable performance for a much lower price. You can check out some of the best options in our list of the Best Graphics Cards to Buy.
New Sony Xperia 5 V leaks suggests the phone will bizarrely lose its telephoto lens
Sony has a habit of taking its time with revealing its midrange phones, but one of its latest unveilings has been leaked well ahead of schedule. A promotional video has appeared on Reddit, from a user by the name of JB2unique, showing off what appears to be the next Xperia 5 V. The video shows the smartphone from both the front and back, revealing some interesting details.
The most notable change comes from the rear of the phone, where the Xperia 5 V will lose its telephoto lens. Instead, it will feature a dual camera setup with a wide and ultra-wide lens. This would be a significant downgrade from the Xperia 1 V and 10 V, which both have three lenses on the back. However, the Xperia 5 V’s cameras do still appear to feature ZEISS branding, so the quality should remain unchanged.
Aside from the cameras, the rest of the design looks fairly similar to the Xperia 5 IV that it will replace. The front will have a large bezel at the top with a selfie camera underneath. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is good news for those who still prefer this type of port. In terms of color, the Xperia 5 V will come in black and white at launch, while a blue variant may be released later on.
On the inside, it’s likely that the Xperia 5 V will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, paired with either 16GB or 12GB of RAM. This is an improvement over the Xperia 5 IV, as the older model had only 8GB of RAM. TechRadar suggests that Sony may be trying to keep the price of the Xperia 5 V as low as possible, which would explain the decision to downgrade some of its hardware specs.
While we don’t know when the Xperia 5 V will actually be launched, it’s expected to arrive sometime this September. The alleged marketing video that was posted on Reddit suggests that the company will release the phone much earlier than normal, and this early leak has been pretty accurate in the past.
The Xperia 5 V will be the first smartphone from the Japanese electronics giant to feature a 6.2-inch display with an FHD+ resolution. It’ll be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which will include support for the latest LPDDR5X memory.
The Xperia 5 V will be available in black and white at launch, while rumors suggest a third color option will be available later on. As for pricing, the Xperia 5 V is expected to be priced in line with other smartphones of its kind. A starting price of around $400 is a possibility, and this could be the lowest-priced smartphone from Sony to date. The company is reportedly working on an even cheaper version of the Xperia 5 V that will have some of the same features but without a telephoto camera. For more information, check out our Sony Xperia 5 V preview.
Samsung Unpacked 2023: foldable phones and everything we expect to see
Samsung usually hosts two Unpacked events a year: one for its flagship S series phones and another for the Galaxy Z series. The company’s latest Galaxy foldable phones are likely to be the main attraction at the next event in July. The exact date of the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event has yet to be confirmed by Samsung but based on historical release patterns, it’s safe to assume it will take place in mid-July.
Samsung Unpacked has been held in a number of major cities around the world including New York, London, and Barcelona but this will be the first time that it’s hosted in Seoul, South Korea. The country’s capital is known for its dynamic culture and innovation and Samsung says that hosting the event in Seoul “embodies the spirit of Unpacked by highlighting the next generation of mobile experiences.”
The last time that Samsung hosted an Unpacked event was in October and it introduced the Galaxy Tab S9, Watch6, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro during the show. The Galaxy Fold and Flip 5 were expected to be the focus of this July’s event but based on leaks, we could see some other exciting gadgets announced as well.
In terms of the Galaxy Fold and Flip 5, we’re expecting to see a few big improvements over their predecessors. For starters, both devices are rumored to have bigger cover displays that will give them a leg up over competing models like the Pixel Fold and Moto Razr Ultra 40. We’re also expecting to see more durable materials for long-term use, better camera hardware, and faster processor chips.
If you’re interested in watching the Samsung Unpacked 2023 event live, you can do so by following this link to Samsung’s official YouTube channel. The live stream will begin at 7 a.m. ET on July 26.
If you’re eager to try out the Galaxy Fold or Flip 5 before they hit shelves, you can pre-order the devices starting today. You’ll need to pay a deposit and then you’ll be able to choose from the various payment plans available depending on your preferred financing option. You can get more details by visiting Samsung’s website. The pre-order window closes on July 26 so if you’re interested, be sure to act quickly.