What is ANC and how does it improve your headphones?

April 7, 2022

It’s been nearly six years since Apple ditched the headphone jack, and as we all know, Bluetooth is now the norm. It’s a frustrating situation that has just one clear benefit—because wireless earbuds and headphones are battery-powered, they have enough juice to run ANC.

You probably have a passing familiarity with ANC. But this technology doesn’t just block environmental noise; it uses the laws of physics to destroy unwanted sounds. Check out our cover story to learn all about ANC, its benefits, and of course, its flaws.

Other Highlights:

• Sarah took a look at the RedMagic 7 gaming phone, and it’s stunning.
• Dude, you’re getting a Dell Xbox Series X easily now! (If only the price was this easy.)
• Bad news for Amazon Prime members who also subscribe to Amazon Music.
• … and more!

-Andrew

Headphones and earbuds used to be pretty simple. They had just one task—playing music. But a relatively new feature called ANC or “active noise cancelation” has turned everything on its head. It’s now impossible to shop for headphones without running into this feature, which claims to cut background noise in any environment. And let me tell you, ANC is awesome. Read More »

Previously known as “Square” and now going by Block, the company shared this information with the SEC, although we only have a few details thus far. The data breach took place back in December of 2021, and it looks like the breach included a host of personal information, but specific credentials were unaffected. Read More »

Getting into the world of 3D printing often means buying a ton of replacement parts and add-on accessories. And even then, you may still wait a full day for projects to finish printing. Anker aims to solve these problems with its first 3D printer, the speedy and intuitive AnkerMake M5. Read More »

Last year, the popular new American auto manufacturer Rivian finally released its R1T electric truck. And while production has been extremely slow, we’ve learned that Rivian produced 2,553 EVs in Q1 of 2022 and delivered 1,227 to customers. Read More »

In an effort to make web privacy easier and more intuitive, Google is rolling out a new “Privacy Guide” for Chrome. This feature, which will slowly roll out to Chrome version M100 users, lets you quickly review all of your privacy and security controls (and learn how they work) without a bunch of scrolling. Read More »

Risers are one of our favorite office accessories, as they raise our laptops and monitors to a more comfortable (and ergonomic) level, and they offer up a little more space on our desk. If you’re looking to pick one up for your home office, this simple metal riser stand is a great and affordable way to go. It measures 20.25 x 11.5 x 5.8 inches, so it’s big enough for most laptops as well as smaller monitors and printers. It also features a built-in sliding drawer for holding files and letters and two side storage pockets for sticky notes, pencils, and other supplies. It comes in black or silver, too.

Get it at Amazon →

Amazon Music Unlimited’s pricing just got a lot less compelling, at least for Prime members. Starting May 5th, Prime subscribers will pay $9 a month (up from $8) or $89 a year (up from $79) for Music Unlimited. That means Prime subscribers only get a dollar discount on Music Unlimited, as non-Prime users still pay $10 for the same service. Read More »

It’s pretty wild when you think about it, but here we are nearly a year and a half since its release, and you can finally buy an Xbox with ease. Hopefully, the Xbox Series X shortage is coming to an end, as it’s readily available from several retailers. Read More »

When there’s a few hours of your day left empty, mobile games are a great way to fill them. But so many titles ask tens, or even hundreds of hours out of you to fully enjoy them, so let’s give a spotlight to the titles that respect your time more. Read More »

The term “gaming phone” sounds cheesy because, honestly, it is. But really, it just means the device has steller internal components that’ll let you carry out any activity with speed and smoothness. The RedMagic 7 is a gaming phone, yes, but it’s also just a really awesome smartphone for the everyday user. Read More »

Modern phones have mostly converged into basic shapes with common materials. It hasn’t always been this way, though. There have been some truly strange design and function decisions over the years. Let’s take a look at some of the weirdest. Read More »

The worst part about traveling is almost always the travel part itself. Long-haul flights are only slightly more enjoyable if you can afford a seat in first class, but most of us can’t. If you’ve got a long flight coming up this year, here are a few things that can make it far more bearable. Read More »

Smart light switches are a great way to control multiple lights in your home with voice assistants and apps—without needing to replace your bulbs. We’ve found the best ones to suit your needs. Read More »

Spring is here, and for many across the country, that also means an uptick in the number of severe thunderstorms and the potential for tornados. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could be alerted about impending bad weather even if you’re not watching or listening to a local station? Read More »