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Are Subwoofers Worth It? Subwoofers are crucial to the home theater experience. When you go to a movie theater, you feel the sound emanating around you. Subwoofers are responsible for the deep bass that shakes you and hits you right in the gut. To get this experience at home, use a home theater receiver that provides outputs referred to as a Sub Out, Sub Pre-Out, or LFE (low-frequency effects). The best home subwoofers cost hundreds of dollars....

Stanford University researchers are developing technology for adding voice to the web that any virtual assistant can access. The scientists propose the creation of the World Wide Voice Web (WWvW), a new version of the web that people will be able to navigate entirely by voice. “Most personal computing tasks have up until now been based around a visual interface and typing input via keyboard or touchscreen,” Robin Spinks, the inclusive design and services manager of RNIB, a charity for people with sight loss, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Beyerdynamic revealed its latest set of earbuds on Thursday, showcasing what the company calls its most flexible pair yet. Designed to meet all your daily audio needs, the Blue Byrd is a fantastic set of earbuds that Beyerdynamic promises deliver a fantastic listening experience, whether you’re talking on the phone or jamming out to your favorite music. I’ve had a few days to test out the new Blue Byrd, and I’m happy to say Beyerdynamic’s top-notch audio quality continues to blend with accessible controls and sound personalization options, but it never feels truly ground-breaking....

MIT researchers claim to have solved the puzzle behind the interactions of two neurons, which will unlock a new class of speedy artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. It’s part of a growing branch of research in which studying the brain is helping create advanced new forms of AI. “Brain research aims to understand the communication between individual neurons or groups of neurons and can help us understand natural intelligence,” Rahul Panat, a professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, who was not involved in the MIT research, told Lifewire in an email interview....

What Is a CDR File? A file with the .CDR file extension is most likely a vector image created by CorelDRAW to hold text, images, effects, shapes, etc., usually for the purpose of creating letters, envelopes, web pages, banners, and other documents. Other files with this extension could be Macintosh DVD/CD Main files that hold folders and files in a single archive for the purpose of burning data to a disc, much like the ISO format you might be familiar within Windows....

The new book, “Fauxliage” investigates the wonderful and sometimes wacky ways that companies disguise the necessary towers to beam phone calls and data to phones. Photographer Annette LeMay Burke showcases cell towers that have been designed to blend into their surroundings, including airbrushed cacti and church crosses. “Cell phone towers were initially considered visual pollution,” Burke said in an email interview. “The first disguised tower, a pine tree, was created in Denver in 1992 to appease the NIMBYs [aka Not-in-My-Back-Yards]....

Overall Findings Think of a smartphone as a miniature computer that can place and receive calls. Most smartphones connect to a virtual store with thousands of apps that turn the phone into something much smarter than a regular cellphone. Smartphone apps include games, image editors, navigation maps, budgeting apps, word processors, and multiple web browser options. Some phones provide a built-in virtual assistant, such as Apple iPhone’s Siri, that responds to verbal instructions....

Social media has been ablaze with a #CancelNetflix brigade and new data shows a high rate of subscription cancellation for the streaming company. The asymmetrical conversation brought about by the film’s perceived content has become the latest in a long line of cultural hedge issues igniting conversations on cancel culture and the ability of social media to bend corporations to their will. “I wanted to make a film in the hope of starting a conversation about the sexualization of children,” auteur and Cuties director Maïmouna Doucouré wrote in an op-ed published in The Washington Post....

In a virtual event in February, Meta showcased a new neural model for digital assistants called Project CAIRaoke, which it claims will be capable of having much better contextual conversations. “The major issue with digital assistants is [they’re] supposed to adapt to user behavior and environment, but they work the other way round,” Vivek Khurana, Head of Engineering, Knot Offices, told Lifewire over email. “Project CAIRoke appears to be the right step in the direction of an assistant adapting to user behavior and conditions....

What Is a DRF File? A file with the DRF file extension is a VIZ render file, with DRF standing for Discreet Render Format. These types of files are created using the rendering application VIZ Render, which is bundled with older versions of AutoCAD Architectural software. Some files that use this extension are Dynojet Run files, which save information about a vehicle from a diagnostics test. This data may include temperature, pressure, model data, etc....

Clean the Camera Body Cleaning the body of a DSLR camera requires the same process as cleaning a point-and-shoot camera body. Use a soft, dry cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to clean the camera body gently of any grime, dust, or fingerprints. For persistent grime, slightly dampen the cloth with distilled water. Clean the Lens When you clean the lens, use a small blower bulb and a soft brush to remove dust or sand....

Most businesses need a scanner, copier, printer, and a fax, so all-in-one printers like the Epson Workforce WF-7720 are a great combination solution. Ideally, these printers do every task well without burdening tech-challenged employees with too much detail. Epson is one of the few printing companies that offer printing on 13” x 19” paper, so we wanted to see if the WF-7720 could function as the center of an office and give us quality prints in a wide format....

What Is Apple Music? Apple Music is a music service that provides four different ways for users to interact with music. Streaming Music The marquee feature of Apple Music is Apple’s Spotify-style streaming music service. During the rise of digital music, Apple focused on the sales of songs and albums through the iTunes Store. It was so successful that it became the largest music retailer in the world, online or offline....

Where You’ll Find HDMI Cable Connections Devices that may have HDMI connections include: TVs, video projectors, and PC monitors.DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD players.Cable/satellite boxes and DVRs.Home theater receivers.Media streamers.Game consoles.PCs and laptops.Select digital cameras, camcorders, and smartphones. HDMI Cable Types HDMI cables provide different capabilities depending on the signal transfer speed (bandwidth) and the HDMI version the cables are associated with. Here are the types of HDMI cables: Standard HDMI Cable: These cables are designed for common HDTV broadcast, cable, and satellite TV resolutions (up to 720p and 1080i) with a bandwidth capacity of up to 5 Gbps....

As you move through the levels, you’ll see more bouncy balls and a limited number of filler balls you can create. How Much Time You Can Waste With Filler Filler has the potential to waste a ton of your time! This game has over 100 levels, and since they get increasingly more difficult, you’ll use up lots of time trying to beat your friends. This time waster has the potential to be played for weeks or even months....

Battles look pretty good in actionLoads of stuff to doSome decent quality of life improvements What we don’t like The overworld art style isn’t greatTakes a while to get goingThe grind can be a major drag The Bottom Line: Pokemon Shining Pearl reminded me of how irritating these games can be, and why I still enjoy them. The original Pokemon Pearl has been my favorite game in the series ever since it came out in 2007, so of course, I was excited to find out we’d be getting a remake on the Switch....

Word is known for its ubiquitous desktop software that’s commonly purchased through a subscription plan, while Docs can be used from any web browser or phone and is 100% free. Overall Findings Personal preference will be the primary driver behind whether you use Word or Docs. Both have all the features most people need in a good word processor. Things like saving and sharing, general usability, and feature differences are what you should focus on when deciding which one to use....

Overall Findings The biggest difference between these streaming services is that Stadia lets you play on your computer, phone, or television, while xCloud only allows you to play on your phone. With support for such a wide variety of hardware, Stadia is positioned as a direct replacement for gaming consoles and computers, while xCloud is more of a supplement for gamers who already have an Xbox One or a gaming PC....

Consumer electronics manufacturers have eliminated several legacy connections from home theater components used for years or even decades, limiting the practical use of older, but still functioning, devices that use these connections exclusively. Here are examples of connections that are being, or have been, eliminated. S-Video Connections Most TVs, home theater receivers, and other video source components no longer have S-Video connections. Legacy devices that use this connection are S-VHS VCRs and camcorders, Hi8 camcorders, mini-DV camcorders, older DVD players, AV switchers, and most remaining LaserDisc players....

Getting reliable internet access in rural or marginalized communities has always been difficult, thanks to the increasing costs of laying new cable or fiber wire. Qualcomm’s new second-generation 5G Fixed Wireless Access platform aims to deliver fiber-capable speeds without the need to lay miles of wire. Experts believe this could help narrow the digital divide even more by giving additional users access to reliable and faster internet. “A lot of the attention around 5G has to do with cell phones,” Peter Holslin, a writer at HighSpeedInternet....