The next major Windows 11 update, version 22H2, is ready to go live in just over a month, according to new gossip from various sources.
Zac Bowden from Windows Central (opens in new tab)a trusted leak provider for all things Microsoft, claims that September 20th is when Windows 11 22H2 should be released to the general computing public, with the caveat that that date could still change – but that’s the goal current from Microsoft.
On the edge (opens in new tab) it also informs us that its sources consider this date to be correct.
What we’ll get as the release version of 22H2 is build 22621, notes Bowden, and there will be an additional update in late 2022 for Windows 11, the first of Microsoft’s so-called “moments” (we’ll get back to that in a, well, time).
Windows 11 22H2 comes with a good number of interface changes and tweaks – including the long-awaited return of drag-and-drop ability to the taskbar – and several core Windows apps, as well as advancements on the accessibility front such as Voice. Access (which basically represents the integration of Nuance’s Dragon speech recognition software into Windows 11).
Analysis: Magic moment to follow right after 22H2?
With two different technology sites getting information from separate sources, this adds more weight to the claim that September 20 is the date Microsoft has in its journal. Although, as noted, that timeframe could still be subject to slippage – as always, if a last minute bug pops up, and it has in the past (in fact, with Windows 10 we had a terrible glitch after launch as you should to remember).
While the changes in terms of major feature additions might seem a bit light with 22H2, there’s more in the pipeline ahead of the year’s end with the aforementioned “momentum” update. This is essentially a minor feature update applied outside of major updates like 22H2.
This first moment will supposedly usher in tabs for File Explorer, a major reality shift, and more. So even after September – assuming Microsoft hits its target date – we can expect more goodies for Windows 11 soon afterward, probably.
Gentle city builder Townscaper is coming to Oculus Quest 2 later this year in a new VR port.
Townscaper received a warm welcome when it launched on PC in 2021, and we think it’s one of the best Android games right now. But the indie gem is about to get a lot more immersive, coming to the Oculus Quest 2 and Pico headphones on October 6th.
The port will directly translate Townscaper to VR systems. No more mouse clicks or screen taps, you will be extending toy-like buildings, extending roads and painting cities using your hands.
Watch the announcement trailer below.
Toyscaper
Not so much a game as a creative sandbox, Townscaper lets you build picturesque dioramas of the city. Each building you place will automatically merge and adapt to those around it, as stairs, courtyards, and roads organically emerge in reaction to your city’s architectural developments.
It’s all very peaceful. With no objectives to complete, citizen requests to fulfill, or traffic to manage, Townscaper is a city builder in the most literal sense. It’s pretty intuitive too. You can prepare a small floating village in a matter of seconds, or spend hours poring over a flying metropolis, carefully repairing every steeple and alleyway to make it look exactly like this.
Developer Oskar Stålberg teased the port in March of this year, sharing a clip of an early VR build on twitter. In the accompanying thread, Stålberg described some of the difficulties he was facing in bringing the strategy game to VR systems, while also making it feel tactile and instinctive.
Looking at the basic VR design. The current idea is to use a dot on a stick for interaction (instead of a raycast) so you can build in the air. These points also serve as grapple points for grapple navigation. It feels tactile. pic.twitter.com/QvqoJzkn9yMarch 3, 2022
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Townscaper will make a change from the other best VR games currently available. But if you’re thinking about switching to VR, you might want to wait. There has never been a worse time to buy an Oculus Quest 2.
The MMORPG Guild Wars 2 is finally releasing on Steam, a decade after the classic fantasy title was originally released.
While we consider the free-to-play RPG to be one of the best MMO games right now, it’s only been available for download through NCSoft’s own platform so far. It will be available on Steam starting August 23, with players on Steam and the original game client able to play together on the same servers.
The game will launch on Valve’s store alongside a paid DLC pack containing the first 10 years of Guild Wars 2 content, including the game’s five seasons and three main expansions – Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, and End of Dragons.
Watch the announcement trailer below.
platform wars
Guild Wars 2 garnered attention at launch for its strong emphasis on player-versus-player combat, which spanned small-scale arena fights to worldwide competitive modes. The game has seen many changes since its original release, with each season expanding on its ongoing story and developing world.
Unlike World of Warcraft and its other MMORPG companions, Guild Wars 2 stood out for its subscription-free payment system. You only needed to buy the base game once to access its full content, with more DLC and expansions available at cost price. ArenaNet transitioned Guild Wars 2 to a free-to-play model in 2015
“By launching on Steam, an entirely new audience of gamers who’ve never had the chance to adventure with us will be able to experience one of gaming’s greatest fantasy worlds,” said Kendall Boyd, Senior Vice President of Marketing at NCSOFT, in a press release. press. “Everyone at NCSOFT and ArenaNet is excited to welcome you to our amazing community.”
To coincide with the game’s launch on Steam, ArenaNet will be running a Twitch launch program to promote the game. From August 23-28, you can earn free in-game rewards and cosmetics by watching streamers play Guild Wars 2 on the live streaming platform. Blizzard ran a similar scheme for Overwatch 2 earlier this year, which spurred the hero shooter to become the most watched category on Twitch shortly.
O Guild Wars 2 Steam Page (opens in new tab) is now available, and we suspect it will introduce a recent change that has excited many PC gamers.
Welcome to ‘s guide to the best wireless and Bluetooth headphones you can buy in India in 2022.
The need for a good pair of wireless headphones started a few months ago when all of us started working from home due to the lockdown and finding it hard to concentrate on the work. A good pair of headphones comes with a noise-cancelling feature with a long battery life which is also comfortable for travelling.
Even though the market before also had some good wireless headphones, most people always preferred traditional wired headphones. Wireless headphones became a mainstream product a few years back and since then we’ve seen a lot of brands offering a variety of headphones that can match the wired headphone quality with less hassle to manage. Additionally, our list of best headphones also comes with noise-cancelling features. These are also significantly larger and provide better sound output, noise isolation and battery backup.
In this list of best wireless headphones in India, we have listed down the ten best headphones with the pros and cons of each product. These include headphones from top brands like Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, and more. Also, we have added one affordable headphone to the list for people who are looking for a cheaper one without noise cancellation.
Ditch the wire
So how do you determine the best wireless headphones from a whole bunch of wannabes?
Easy. You try dozens of wireless headphones and stack them against one another, mano a mano. (Well, stereo a stereo in this case.)
While these headphones are great for anyone looking to go wireless, they’re especially practical when you consider the growing number of phones launching without headphone jacks.
Looking to finally ditch the cord? Here are the top 10 best wireless headphones in India in descending order of price:
(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Drivers: 40mm
Driver type: Dome
Battery life: 30 hours with ANC
NFC: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Outstanding noise cancellation and sound
+
Wear detection
+
Legit audio upscaling
+
Smart features that are unique
Reasons to avoid
–
Only minor design changes
–
No real water-resistance
–
Not great for calls
Sony WH-1000XM4 is the best of the best, no contest. You won’t get a better pair of headphones in India.
It comes with one of the best noise cancelling in headphones yet, and it comes with one of the best sound outputs you’d find in a pair of wireless headphones. These Sony headphones come with a warm and balanced sound profile with a wide soundstage and great detailing. It comes with dual Noise sensor tech, using two mics for maximum noise cancellation. And there is also a QN1 processor for noise cancellation.
The headphones come with support for DSEE Extreme, which can restore the details from lossy formats. It supports various audio codecs like SBC, AAC, AptX, AptX HD and LDAC.
These headphones come with a 30-hour battery life with noise cancellation on and 38 hours with it off. And it comes with Quick Charging support with 5 hours of playback in 10 minutes of charging.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review
(Image credit: Future)
Specifications
Acoustic design : Closed
Weight: 304g
Cable length: N/A
Frequency response: 6Hz – 22KHz
Drivers: 42 mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: N/A
Impedance: N/A
Battery life: 17 hours
Wireless range: 10m (33ft.)
ANC: Yes
Interface: Bluetooth 5, Type-C
NFC: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Brilliant audio quality
+
Customizable settings
Reasons to avoid
–
Battery life isn’t great
–
More expensive than rivals
One of the best-designed headphones on the list, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 offers fantastic sound and is easily customizable thanks to the companion app. However, they’re let down by measly 17-hour battery life and their high price.
In terms of sheer sound quality, the headphones sound brilliant, with high levels of detail, warm bass, and natural-sounding highs. The customizable noise cancellation is good, but it doesn’t quite reach the class-leading standards set by the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless headphones.
Read our Sennheiser Momentum 3 review
(Image credit: Bose)
Specifications
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.0
Battery : Up to 20 hours
Voice Assistant support : Yes
NFC: Yes
Controls: Touch
Reasons to buy
+
Outstanding noise cancellation
+
Fun, lively sound
+
Stunning design
Reasons to avoid
–
Battery life could be better
–
More expensive than the Sony
Bose has been the leader of active noise cancelling headphones for a long time. Even though Sony has taken the number one spot in Noise cancelling headphones with its XM series of headphones, Bose is still up there with Sony, and this is a new series of headphones from Bose in addition to Bose’s Quiet Comfort series.
It comes with outstanding Noise cancelling, and it is one of the best in the market. It also supports noise cancelling on calls, making it one of the best ANC headphones to use for calls.
It’s not all about Noise cancellation. These headphones sound fantastic, with a vibrant lively character and well-balanced soundstage. The soundstage is pretty wide too.
What do you get when you take the QC35 and add a dedicated button to activate Google Assistant? You get the QC35 II, of course. You get the standard Bose fare with the QC35 II – good sound quality, comfort and not to forget, the class-leading noise cancellation technology. To round it all up, the battery life is great, too.
If you’re looking to save some money, however, consider the original Bose QuietComfort 35 (opens in new tab). They can also be found for far cheaper these days, and if you’re not fussed about having Google Assistant built into your headphones then you can save yourself some money while you save up for QC35 II.
Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II
(Image credit: Headphonezone)
5. V-Moda Crossfade 2 Codex Edition
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 309g
Cable length: N/A
Frequency response: 5Hz – 40,000Hz
Drivers: 50 mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: 100 DB @ 1kHz 1mW
Impedance: 32 ohms
Battery life: 14 hours
Wireless range: 10m (33ft.)
ANC: Yes
Interface: Bluetooth 4.1
NFC: No
Reasons to buy
+
Incredible sound quality
+
Solid build
If you don’t want the active noise cancellation function and just want a really good pair of headphones that sound awesome, you can go with V-Moda Crossfade Wireless 2
V-Moda has a history of building exceptional sounding headphones, and these are no exception. These headphones are fun-sounding headphones with slightly elevated bass responses. It makes the sound warm and punch, and not bass-heavy.
If you don’t want the active noise cancellation function and just want a really good pair of headphones that sound awesome, you can go with V-Moda Crossfade Wireless 2. It is just a wireless version of a really good wired headphone, the V-Moda Crossfade 2. It is named Codex edition because this one supports AptX and AAC codecs.
(Image credit: Lewis Leong)
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 309g
Cable length: N/A
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Drivers: 40 mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: 105 dB @ 1 KHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Battery life: 24 hours
Wireless range: 10m (33ft.)
ANC: Yes
Interface: Bluetooth 5, Type-C
NFC: No
Reasons to buy
+
Incredibly impactful bass
+
Big, easy-to-use buttons
Reasons to avoid
–
Mediocre and noisy ANC
–
Plastic build
With the Crusher ANC, Skullcandy tries to take the bass to the next level. The Crusher ANC is the successor to the Crusher 360 and adds Active Noise Cancellation to the mix. Also, Skullcandy brings the ability to personalize sound using the app while still delivering the bone-rattling bass.
The bass on the Crusher ANC is like a double-edged sword, it struggles at higher volumes, and the plastic build doesn’t feel as premium compared to the Crusher 360 which came with a metal build. On the positive side, the Crusher ANC offers 24 hours of battery life with quick charge support.
One unique design feature is the integrated Tile tracker, which is handy if you often misplace your headphones.
Read our Skullcandy Crusher ANC review
7. Sony WH-1000XM3
Wireless noise-cancelling headphones that sound better than Bose
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 275 grams
Frequency response: 4Hz – 40kHz
Drivers: 40mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: 103dB
Impedance: 46 Ohms
Battery life: 20 hours
Wireless range: 30 feet
NFC: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Superb noise-cancelling
+
Great-sounding audio
+
Quick Charge support with 30-hour battery life
Sony’s 1000X series of headphones have been our favourite for years now. Thanks to a combination of aptX and LDAC wireless codecs, in conjunction with Sony’s noise cancellation techniques, we’ve come to love Sony’s 1000X range of headphones.
Whether you travel a lot or want to shut the outside world off, the 1000X series offers just what you need. The M2 could suffice your needs, but the M3 throws in improved noise cancellation algorithms and a touch of style to make the upgrade worth it.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM3 review
Jabra Elite 85h (Image credit: Mikael Hansen)
8. Jabra Elite 85h
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 296 grams
Cable length: N/A
Frequency response: 10-20kHz
Drivers: 40mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: N/A
Impedance: N/A
Battery life: 36 hours
Wireless range: 10m (33ft.)
NFC: N/A
Reasons to buy
+
Class-leading battery life
+
Excellent ANC performance
+
Stylish and comfortable
Reasons to avoid
–
Lacks support for high-end codecs
Want something that offers great battery life, style and a lot of customization options? The Jabra Elite 85h has answers for all your needs. That said, purists will bemoan the lack of high-end codec support and there are punchier headphones on the market at this price point.
However, when you consider that Jabra’s Elite 85h headphones are Bose’s first attempt at premium wireless ANC headphones, the result is quite commendable. We can’t wait to see what the company’s next premium ANC headphones will accomplish.
If you want an alternative to Sony’s WH-1000XM3, this is it.
If you are looking for a pair of wireless headphones that don’t burn through your pocket, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC headphones could be what you’re looking for. They offer decent noise cancellation that justifies the price. They may not be as powerful as the Sony WH-1000XM3 or sound as great as the Amiron, but these Sennheiser headphones offer good value for money.
Read our Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC review
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
10. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 310g
Cable length: 1.2 m, detachable
Frequency response: 15 – 28,000 Hz
Drivers: 45mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: 99dB At 1KHz
Impedance: 38 ohms
Battery life: 40 hours
Wireless range: 10 meters (30+ feet)
NFC: N/A
Reasons to buy
+
Great sound quality
+
Comfortable
+
Great price
Audio-Technica has a rich history when it comes to class-leading high-end audio products. The ATH-M50xBT carry that legacy forward while cutting the cord, delivering studio-quality audio experience sans the wires.
The ATH-M50xBTs are designed for really high-end audio performance, with 45mm drivers and a frequency response range of 15-28,00 Hz, and it shows – we were very impressed with the warm, well-rounded sound.
The ATH-M50xBT headphones also performed well in terms of battery life and Bluetooth connectivity. The one area where they aren’t up to snuff is the microphone – it is not strong enough and you may end up struggling to make phone calls with them. That said, these are studio-grade headphones and you’d probably not buy them for phone calls, so they are still great when it comes to their primary task.
Read our Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT review
(Image credit: Future)
11. Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
Specifications
Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 289g
Cable length: N/A
Frequency response: N/A
Drivers: 40mm
Driver type: Dynamic
Sensitivity: N/A
Impedance: N/A
Battery life: 24 hours
Wireless range: 100 meters (330 feet)
NFC: No
Reasons to buy
+
Impressive 24 hours battery life
+
Noise-cancellation for cheap
If you travel a lot and want something that can last really long and block out all the external noise, then let us introduce you to the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. These headphones are one of the few ones on the market that can do all of the above and still cost a fraction of what headphones from big players like Sony, Bose and Beats cost.
To maximise battery life, Plantronics has added a special feature that turns these headphones off when you are not wearing them.
To make it simple, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 offer great battery life, sounds good, has great noise cancellation on offer and carries an affordable price tag.
Read our Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 review
(Image credit: Future)
12. Sony WH-CH710N
Specifications
Acoustic design : Closed
Weight: 223g
Cable length: 1m
Frequency response: 7Hz – 20KHz
Drivers: 30 mm
Driver type: N/A
Sensitivity: 94 dB/mW
Impedance: 72 ohms
Battery life: 35 hours
Wireless range: 10m (33ft.)
ANC: No, AINC
Interface: Bluetooth 5, Type-C
NFC: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Noise cancellation
+
Battery life
+
Pure sound
Reasons to avoid
–
No Hi-Res audio
–
Plastic build
–
Charging takes too long
One of the most affordable noise-cancelling headphones on the market. The Sony WH-CH710N is priced under Rs 10,000. Instead of the conventional active noise cancelling technique, these offer noise cancellation using Artificial Intelligent (AINC).
Sony claims 35-hour battery life with noise cancellation but, in our testing, we could get even more. It also offers a quick charge via a Type-C port. For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 5.0 and also NFC.
The mids and lows are on the lower frequencies. Overall, I felt that they sounded flat more often than not. However, the loud music makes it up in many cases. The dual-microphone does a pretty decent job here. These are worth considering if you’re looking for a headphone with noise cancellation under Rs 10,000.
Read our Sony WH-CH710N review
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Soon, Realme TechLife will also expand its product portfolio to audio products. The sub-brand that works closely with up-and-coming companies will launch the Realme TechLife Buds T100 tomorrow.
The first audio product under the Realme TechLife brand, the Buds T100 is expected to be a budget TWS headset. The company has already revealed some details about the TWS headphones and their features. The Realme TechLife Buds T100 product page gives us a glimpse of the headphones themselves and we must say they look impressive. TWS headphones will be released along with the really 9i.
The Realme TechLife Buds T100 TWS headphones can come with a matte finish body. When it comes to the headphones stem, we can see a flat profile on the outside while the inside is more ergonomic and curved. This may be where the touch sensors will be located. The TWS headphones charging case comes in two-tone color options. The black color variant comes with the Realme Yellow signature, while the white color variant comes with a light gray color tone inside.
Let the rhythmic tones complete your weekend with the #realmeTechLifeBudsT100’s two-tone color design. Choose your perfect fit! 💯#ListenInFullColourLaunch at 11:30am, August 18. Learn more: pic.twitter.com/xLZOEepkOXAugust 14, 2022
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Realme has revealed some details about the expected battery life, charging times and information about the audio drivers. However, we’ll have to wait until August 18 for more details to arrive in the full spec sheet.
The Realme TechLife Buds T100 TWS headphones will feature AI Environmental Noise Canceling (ENC). This will improve voice calls by reducing background noise. This feature is now coming to many other TWS headphones this year. The company has yet to reveal the technical specifications of the audio driver on the webpage. However, we do know that the company is using Polyetherketones (PEEK) and TPU plastic in the dynamic diaphragm to improve audio performance.
In terms of battery life, the Realme TechLife Buds T100 TWS headphones come with 6 hours of listening time. In total, with the charging case, you get 28 hours of playback. A 10-minute quick charge provides 120 minutes of listening time.
Realme TechLife helps local businesses
Many of Realme’s TechLife sub-brand products are products made by local companies. The company’s project has been driving the growth of these businesses, helping them in the research and development of their products. It also helps them leverage the large supply chain on Realme’s existing infrastructure.
Realme has expanded its product portfolio through the TechLife program, introducing refrigerators, air conditioners and even IoT smart home devices.
Walmart and Paramount are teaming up to bring you a subscription service that could rival Amazon Prime.
Soon, Walmart Plus subscribers will receive a subscription to Paramount Plus Essential at no additional cost. In addition, Walmart Plus currently costs $98 a year and, according to the Press release (opens in new tab) the price will not change after Paramount Plus is added to the package.
The move will likely help Walmart position Walmart Plus as a worthy alternative to Amazon Prime, which attracts subscribers not just with Prime’s free delivery perk, but with Prime Video’s suite of shows and movies, among other benefits.
Halo is just one of the shows you can watch on Paramount Plus (Image credit: Paramount Plus)
The Essential level of Paramount Plus usually costs $49.99 per year (after a week-long trial) and includes access to shows like the Halo TV series, Star Trek: Picard and iCarly, NFL matches via CBS live, live football matches including the Champions League and access to 24/7 CBSN news coverage. However, it does come with ads and you can’t download shows to watch them offline later – for these benefits you’ll need to upgrade to Paramount Plus Premium.
In addition to accessing Paramount Plus streaming content, Walmart Plus offers subscribers a few other benefits. You can get free next-day or two-day delivery on Walmart.com orders with no minimum spending limits, plus you can get free grocery deliveries if you spend $35 or more — although there may be some restrictions based on where you live. . You’ll also get 10 cents off every gallon of fuel you buy at over 14,000 gas stations across the US.
While it’s not as feature-packed as Amazon Prime – which doesn’t offer discounts on fuel but does offer a year of GrubHub Plus, access to Amazon Music, Prime Reading and unlimited photo storage through Amazon Photos – Walmart Plus is cheaper. . A year of Amazon Prime will cost an extra $41, coming in at $139 compared to $98 for Walmart Plus.
Fortunately, Walmart will find other ways to make its subscription service even more attractive to subscribers – and as long as the price doesn’t go up, we won’t be complaining about more benefits anytime soon.
Google is warning owners of recent Pixel smartphones that upgrading to Android 13 will be permanent – there will be no way for them to revert back to Android 12 or an earlier OS.
Specifically, if you own a Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, or the new Google Pixel 6a and you upgrade to the latest operating system, you will not be able to revert to a previous version. So while Android 13 is now available to install, you might want to think twice if you want to downgrade to earlier Android operating systems.
The warning appeared on Google Factory images page – a font that allows older versions of Android to be quickly installed on Google smartphones. In the notice, Google says that “the Android 13 update for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6a contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version. Once you flash a version of Android 13 on these devices, you will not be able to flash older versions of Android 12.”
Blinking here is effectively another word for update, so you might read the last part saying that once you update your smartphone to Android 13, you can’t go back.
Currently, only Google’s Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6a phones are affected. (Image credit: Future)
Unless you have a specific reason to downgrade, there’s usually no need to revert to an older OS on any device – especially if you’re concerned about your digital security and want your apps to work. But with Google’s new change to how its updates work, Pixel owners might want to take a little care before updating their operating system.
While this Android 13 release should be stable – with the issues resolved thanks to months of beta testing – issues with operating systems are not uncommon. Just look at Microsoft’s Windows 11 – this operating system has faced endless issues that often make users choose to downgrade to older versions of Windows.
That said, if you’ve already updated to Android 13, don’t panic. Going forward, you might want to wait a few days before downloading a new Android OS, to make sure there aren’t any major bugs that you’re stuck with until Google fixes them.
It’s unclear why the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a are unique among Google’s phones in not allowing Android 13 to be downgraded, and it’s unclear if this limitation will affect other Android 13-compatible devices. with Google to learn more and we will update this article if we receive a response.
If you have Android 13 installed, check out this fun easter egg that will fill your screen with cats.
Raleigh today announced its new lightweight Trace electric bike, a super lightweight e-bike with a hidden motor and slim design, weighing in at just 16.5kg.
This slender urban cycle is Raleigh’s lightest and one of its best electric bike models to date, with a 250W Ebikemotion X35 battery that allows approximately 50 miles of riding on a single four-hour charge. All electric assistance is hidden inside the frame using the iWoc Ebikemotion controller hidden at the top of the frame, just like other e-bike manufacturers like Ribble use.
However, the slim frame design makes the Trace look to the untrained eye almost exactly like a traditional analog bike. It has a nine-speed shifting system for a powertrain and hardly any, er, vestige of the usual thick battery bulges that other e-bikes are saddled with. In fact, it wouldn’t even register as a motor vehicle if someone didn’t know how to look for the iWoc controller.
At 16.5kgs, it’s easy to walk up a flight of stairs and store in the hallway or balcony of an apartment, or on and off a train, which is remarkable for a board that incorporates electronics. While in-frame electronics and lightweight e-bikes are nothing new, an impressive 50-mile range at less than 17kg, in a frame that doesn’t even look like an e-bike, is a neat little package.
(Image credit: Raleigh)
It is sold in £2,199.00 in the UK (opens in new tab) As of today, and while there are currently no details on future pricing in the US and Australia, we want to see more e-bikes from these regions adopting this minimalist design philosophy.
Because? Because while it’s on the lower end of the power scale, a thin and light e-bike at a reasonable price opens the door for more people to buy and use one. E-bikes are set to become much more popular commuting tools as people move away from fossil fuels and expensive cars, but they are still in the ‘first-timer’ stages in many places.
Most e-bikes sacrifice range and power for weight or opt for a bulky, powerful build that looks like the motorized vehicles they are – which can often end up looking pretty ugly.
A slim e-commuter model with a 50-mile range is a good starting point for downplaying tech: after all, the dream is something with a 100-mile range that still feels indistinguishable from a push bike. Is it really that far-fetched, when you consider how quickly smartphones evolved in the mid-2000s?
Creating cheaper, lighter and more attractive versions of e-bikes will increase the rate of adoption everywhere, leading to more infrastructure and better bikes being produced at more affordable prices. If you’re looking for an alternative traveler to this Raleigh light right now, you can always check out the best folding e-bikes.
With each new generation of iPhone, Apple often also uses its launch event to showcase a new iPad as well; leveraging everyone’s attention to showcase the updated entry-level offering on its tablet family, however this may not be the case in 2022.
That’s because a new report believes the iPhone 14 launch event, which we expect to take place in mid-September, will not introduce new tablets. Rumors previously pointed to a new low-end iPad as well as the anticipated iPad Pro 2022, but apparently, they’re wrong.
This report comes from the reputable leaker yeux1122 who operates on the Korean blog site naver (opens in new tab). As per the information, the new iPads have not been canceled – instead, they will be released in a follow-up event in late October.
Some extra information about the new entry-level iPad is provided, although it’s nothing we haven’t heard before. Apparently, the slate will get a USB-C port for charging, a redesign to look more like the iPad Mini, Air and Pro, with a slimmer bezel and flatter design, no headphone jack and a 5G connection.
Analysis: what about watches?
Note the use of the word ‘generally’ in the first paragraph of this story – sometimes there are exceptions to the rule.
One of the main ones was in 2020, which was likely the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, a month before the iPhone was released, Apple hosted an event for several other devices, including several Apple Watches and the iPad Air 4.
Yeux1122 didn’t mention the Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch 8 Rugged Edition or Apple Watch SE 2: three company wearables that leakers think are coming.
So we don’t know for now if these devices will appear alongside iPhones or iPads or in a third event.
The middle option seems more likely, however, to mimic the way shows were organized in 2020 and to prevent fans from losing interest in three different live streams. Apple could show off the two new iPads and three Apple Watches at a major lifestyle-focused event, perhaps with some of its other services like Fitness Plus and Arcade as well.
However, this is just speculation, and we’ll have to wait to find out which products are appearing at the iPhone launch – there’s a real possibility we’ll only know when the event is over with or without the iPads showing.
Windows 11 the latest cumulative update is failing to install for some users with no explanation as to why.
This problem with Microsoft’s August patch round (KB5016629), which was deployed last week, is that, with a few installation attempts, it’s stalling with one of the normally uninformative error messages we’re unfortunately used to seeing (and sighing, no doubt).
As latest windows (opens in new tab) In reports, the installation error quotes a nonsensical code ‘0x80073701’, with several users complaining that the update will not trigger on Microsoft’s Feedback Hub.
A message says, “It takes a long time to download and then this error pops up – no other info – someone at Microsoft must know what the error code means and how to fix it.”
This issue was also raised in Microsoft’s official Answers.com (opens in new tab) help forum. The suggestions made here – take them with caution as this is not official advice as such – include uninstalling malwarebytes (or at least temporarily disabling real-time protection) and also disabling the .NET Framework 3.5.
So far, Microsoft hasn’t acknowledged this issue, so if the company is investigating, it’s doing so quietly.
There are, however, some known issues that the software giant flagged with KB5016629, related to XPS Viewer and Edge browser (specifically with IE mode tabs in the latter case); so watch out for that too.
Another thing to note here is that in addition to applying various security fixes, this patch addresses a serious issue with the Start menu – that is, that some users cannot open it. So if you’ve been affected by this glitch, as well as the install failure bug above, then this is going to be a frustrating combination of factors working against you. That said, this overlap will likely just be a very small niche of particularly unlucky people, no doubt.
We hope to hear an official word from Microsoft about this bug soon, and maybe we’ll see a fix implemented quickly. In the meantime, you could at least try to temporarily turn off your antivirus as suggested above to see if that helps.