Starting today, the Uber app will remind you to put on your seatbelt shortly after your ride starts. Passengers’ tendency to not use a seat belt remains a significant concern, the ride-hailing service wrote in its announcement of the new safety feature, even though 50 percent of all vehicle crash deaths in the US in 2022 was caused by their non-usage. Now, your driver’s phone will issue an audio reminder when you hop on, telling you to “Please use your seat belt for your safety.” You’ll also get a push notification on your phone at the same time that says: “Even on a short ride and seated in the back, use a seat belt for safety.”
The company first started testing audio seat belt alerts in 2021 based on feedback from drivers. It said at the time that it believes the alerts will “increase seat belt use and help drivers ensure a safe environment while on a trip.” This rollout makes it widely available in the US, UK, Taiwan, Latin America, as well as several countries in Africa. Uber intends to bring it to more territories in the future.
The feature will only be enabled for your first five trips after the feature launches. Uber is likely hoping you’ll get used to putting your seat belt on after those first five times, though it will send you a notification every 10th trip thereafter. The company also recently launched a new safety preferences section where you can find and automate the service’s safety tools. From there, you can automatically switch on features like audio recording, PIN verification, RideCheck and Share My Trip.
Sony’s Extra Bass line of headphones has given listeners an added dose of low-end tone for years, and was generally cheaper than its high-end 1000X cans. The company is still keen on offering brain-rattling bass to those who want it, but the Extra Bass moniker and its confusing alpha-numeric product names are gone (more to come on that change). Today, Sony is introducing ULT Power Sound, a feature it’s calling the “ultimate step into the evolution” of its portable audio gear.
ULT Power Sound will also be available on Bluetooth speakers of various sizes, but the first headphones to feature the new audio direction are the ULT Wear ($200). A direct replacement for the WH-B910, the ULT Wear contains 40mm drivers that Sony says are specifically designed for deeper bass. If the stock tuning isn’t enough, there’s a ULT button for two more levels of low-end boost. Plus, the company crammed in some of its best features from more-expensive headphones: the V1 audio chip, 30-hour battery life, Quick Attention mode, 360 Reality Audio with head tracking and more.
Sony
Sony’s ULT Wear headphones are a better implementation of bass boost than previous models along with considerable updates to ANC, features and overall design.
The first thing I noticed about the ULT Wear is its design. These headphones don’t immediately strike me as less-than-premium cans. The matte white finish on my review unit helps mask the mostly plastic construction which looked cheap on previous products like the WH-CH720N. It’s definitely a more refined aesthetic than the WH-XB910 that’s being replaced. There are certainly some nods to the premium 1000X line in a few areas, like the curves of the ear cups and headband.
Sony decided on a mix of physical and touch controls for the ULT Wear, which is another way it’s bridging the gap between its most affordable and most expensive headphones. On the edge of the left ear cup is a power/pairing button and a control for cycling between active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient sound modes. Further up along the bottom is a third button for ULT bass boost. This item switches between off, ULT 1 (deep bass) and ULT 2 (more powerful sound with deep bass). Over on the right, the outside of the ear cup has a touch panel that you can tap and swipe on for playback controls, volume adjustments and calls.
As the ULT Wear sits in the middle of Sony’s headphone lineup, it has a few of the handy features from the 1000X line that the company’s cheaper options don’t employ. For example, placing your open hand over the right ear cup activates Quick Attention mode that lowers the volume so you can respond to a co-worker or grab your cortado without pausing your tunes. Adaptive Sound Control is here as well: Sony’s long-standing tool that automatically adjusts the headphone’s settings based on your activity or location. General niceties like multipoint Bluetooth and wear detection are present too. The convenient Speak-to-Chat function from more-recent 1000X headphones isn’t available though, which is a considerable omission in terms of overall utility.
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Bass reigns supreme for the ULT Wear’s tuning and you certainly get a heavy dose of it. Those new specifically tuned drivers muster a lot of low-end thump before you even start exploring the ULT boosts. The out-of-the-box level was good enough for me for most genres, although the overall sound can get muddy with more chaotic styles like metal and some synth-heavy electronic tracks. For the most part though, the stock bass provides depth and range that complements full mids and cutting highs.
On Bayside’s There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive, there’s a thundering kick drum to drive the punk-tinged indie rock tunes, but the texture of the crunchy distorted guitars stands out and vocals cut through clearly. Plus, you can add Sony’s DSEE upscaling through its app, a software trick that’s designed to recover sonic elements lost to compression. And if you have access to 360 Reality Audio content, the ULT Wear supports head-tracking so that sounds stay put when you move. This offers a more realistic experience since the immersive audio in this format would otherwise move with your head.
When you hop into the ULT boost modes, things are a mixed bag. Sony has done bass boost better than most other companies here, as songs are still actually listenable across musical styles rather than just becoming a muffled mess. ULT 1, the option for deeper bass, is the best in my opinion. You don’t lose much detail using it and things like kick drums are still punchy throughout. Hip-hop tracks are a better canvas, with songs like Killer Mike’s “Down By Law” blasting bombastic, yet finessed, amplified bass. His album Michael is one of the better-sounding selections I tested with ULT 1 enabled.
ULT 2, a setting for more powerful sound alongside even deeper bass, isn’t great. During my tests, I didn’t find a single track where I thought it sounded good across driving low-end styles like hip-hop and EDM. It sounds like you’re standing in front of the subwoofer at a concert where bass is most prominent and everything else gets drowned out. And while I’m sure some people enjoy that extent of brain rattling, it’s not what I’m looking for.
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Sony improved ANC from the WH-XB910 by installing its V1 audio processor from the 1000X series in the ULT Wear. The result is noticeably improved noise-canceling performance for a set of $200 headphones, but you shouldn’t expect distraction-blocking as robust as what the WH-1000XM5 offers. It’s good in most situations, but in some scenarios it simply dulls the roar. The ULT Wear does, however, do a decent job with human voices – much better than the Sennheiser Accentum Plus I recently reviewed.
The company didn’t go out of its way to discuss call quality on the ULT Wear, but the performance here is slightly above average. It’s not pristine, but it also doesn’t have the obvious speaker phone sound most headphones do. Low-to-mid-volume background noise is also dealt with nicely. Ambient sound mode on the ULT Wear is more natural that what most headphones offer, save for the AirPods Max. You can hear a good amount of your own voice, so you’re free to speak at a normal volume during calls. And any sounds from your surroundings come through clear, so you don’t have to worry about not hearing alerts or announcements.
Sony says you can expect up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on or up to 50 hours with it off. The company doesn’t specify if either of the ULT modes impact longevity, and I didn’t have them on long enough to tell. After 30 hours of use with ANC on, except for several instances of ambient sound for calls, Sony’s app was showing 18 percent battery left. Both audiomodes were used at around 50-60 percent volume, and trust me, that’s plenty loud here.
If you crave a deep bassy thump that most headphones haven’t been able to deliver, the ULT Wear does a much better job boosting low-end tone than Sony’s previous efforts. The sound out of the box is certainly boomy, but not at the cost of any detail, and the company gives you the option to add two more servings of bass when you crave it. These won’t be for everyone as a lot of people will prefer the more even-handed tuning of Sennheiser’s Accentum Plus in the $200 range. However, Sony has done well to dress up a more affordable set of headphones as a premium product, in terms of both looks and features.
The ULT Wear headphones are available in black, white and green color options for $200. Sony says they’ll start shipping sometime this spring.
1 / 8
Sony ULT Wear headphones
White headphones sitting on a wooden table from above with a red notebook and phone on the left and a black book with logos on the cover on the right/underneath.
Update April 11 2024, 5:00PM ET: This review has been updated to add more information about the battery rundown test.
Qualcomm has announced that it is currently developing a RISC-V based wearables solution intended for use with Wear OS by Google. This development is a testament to Qualcomm’s innovative spirit and its commitment to fostering collaborations that drive technological advancements. The company’s ongoing collaboration with Google is a strategic move to enable a broader range of products within the ecosystem to benefit from custom CPUs that are both low power and high performance.
Qualcomm’s venture into RISC-V based wearables does not mean it will abandon its successful Snapdragon Wear platforms. These platforms have been the leading smartwatch silicon provider for the Wear OS ecosystem, and Qualcomm plans to continue investing in them. The company’s decision to explore RISC-V based wearables while simultaneously nurturing its Snapdragon Wear platforms is indicative of its strategy to diversify and strengthen its product offerings.
Snapdragon Wear
“The Snapdragon Wear platforms are made to deliver low-power, high-impact performance for a wide range of wearables, including smartwatches, kids’ watches, smart trackers and more. Depend on our Snapdragon Wear platforms to build stylish, functional wearables that are designed to deliver super-fast performance, extended battery life, always-on experiences, and always-connected usage.”
In a recent development, both Qualcomm and Google have joined other industry leaders to launch the RISC-V Software Ecosystem (RISE). This move underscores their commitment to promoting open-source technologies and fostering a community of innovation and collaboration. RISE is expected to be a significant contributor to the advancement of RISC-V technology.
Moreover, Qualcomm is not limiting its investment in RISC-V technology to software alone. The company is also investing in a new venture to advance RISC-V hardware development. This investment is a clear signal of Qualcomm’s belief in the potential of RISC-V technology and its intention to be at the forefront of its evolution.
RISC-V, an open-source instruction set architecture (ISA), is a technology that allows any company to develop completely custom cores. This open-source nature of RISC-V encourages innovation and competition in the marketplace, leading to more robust and diverse product offerings. The freedom to customize cores can lead to the development of products that are tailored to specific needs and applications, potentially revolutionizing various sectors, including the wearables market.
As for the commercial product launch of the RISC-V wearable based solution, Qualcomm has stated that it will be announced at a later date. This announcement is eagerly anticipated by the industry, as it marks a significant milestone in the evolution of wearable technology.
Qualcomm’s venture into RISC-V based wearables represents a significant step forward in the wearable technology industry. By leveraging the open-source nature of RISC-V, Qualcomm is paving the way for more innovative, powerful, and efficient wearable devices. While the commercial product launch is yet to be announced, the industry is already abuzz with excitement about the potential of this new technology. Qualcomm’s commitment to investing in both its Snapdragon Wear platforms and RISC-V technology demonstrates its dedication to driving innovation and delivering superior product offerings to the Wear OS ecosystem.
Other articles we have written that you may find of interest on the subject of RISC-V :
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Dining out, whether it’s a romantic date night, a business dinner, or a special celebration, presents an opportunity to showcase your sense of style and make a lasting impression. In this guide, we’ll explore what men should wear to dinner.
1. The Velvet Dinner Jacket: A Statement Piece
Let’s begin with the star of the show: the velvet dinner jacket. Velvet exudes opulence and sophistication, making it a fantastic choice for upscale dining experiences. Opt for classic colors like black, midnight blue, or deep burgundy to maintain a refined and timeless look. The luxurious texture and rich hues of velvet make it an ideal choice for special occasions or when you want to stand out.
2. Tailored Dress Shirt
Underneath your velvet dinner jacket, a well-fitted dress shirt is essential. Crisp white or light blue shirts are classic options that pair exceptionally well with velvet blazers. Ensure the shirt is neatly pressed and the collar is sharp. Tuck it in for a polished appearance.
3. Elegant Neckwear
For a formal touch, consider adding a bowtie or necktie to your ensemble. Bowties, in particular, exude classic sophistication and are a staple at upscale restaurants. Choose a necktie or bowtie that complements the colour of your velvet dinner jacket and dress shirt. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can experiment with subtle patterns or textures.
4. Trousers: Dress Pants or Chinos
The choice of trousers largely depends on the formality of the dinner venue. For fine dining establishments or formal occasions, opt for well-tailored dress pants in a neutral colour like black or charcoal gray. Ensure they’re properly hemmed and fit well around your waist and legs. If you’re dining at a more relaxed venue, such as a stylish bistro or gastropub, consider pairing your velvet dinner jacket with well-fitted chinos in a complementary colour.
Your choice of footwear should be equally refined. Classic leather oxfords or derbies are excellent options for formal dinners. Make sure they’re polished and in good condition. If the dinner setting is more casual, clean and well-maintained loafers can work well, adding a touch of sophistication without being overly formal.
6. Accessories: Minimalistic Elegance
When it comes to accessories, less is often more. A classic watch, cufflinks, and a pocket square can complete your look with subtle elegance. Avoid excessive jewellery or loud accessories that may distract from the overall sophistication of your outfit.
7. Outerwear: Overcoats or Topcoats
Depending on the weather and the formality of the venue, consider adding an overcoat or topcoat to your ensemble. A well-tailored coat not only keeps you warm but also adds an extra layer of refinement to your look.
8. Grooming Matters
Lastly, don’t forget about grooming. Ensure your hair is neatly styled, your beard is trimmed (if applicable), and your nails are clean and well-maintained. Good grooming enhances your overall appearance and adds to the sense of sophistication.
In conclusion, choosing the perfect dinner attire for men involves a combination of classic pieces and thoughtful coordination. Incorporating a velvet dinner jacket into your outfit can instantly elevate your style, especially for special occasions or upscale dining experiences. Remember that the key to making a memorable impression is not just the clothes you wear, but how you carry yourself with confidence and grace. So, dress to impress, enjoy your meal, and make the evening a memorable one for all the right reasons.
