Learn together: مارس 2023

الجمعة، 31 مارس 2023

The 8 Best On-Ear Headphones for 2023: Beats, Jabra, Sennheiser and More

Full-size around-ear or over-ear headphones aren’t everyone’s thing, though they tend to deliver the best sound. It comes down to personal preference, but not everyone wants to walk around wearing bulky headphones with giant, squishy ear pads. On-ear models with smaller ear cups are more compact, travel-friendly and tend to cost less. These headphones have evolved to offer more models with active noise cancellation, noise isolation, a headphone amp and other advanced features that were once found only in larger over-ear models.

You can’t go wrong with a quality pair of headphones, whether they’re full-size or feature an on-ear design. Here’s a look at our current top picks for the best on-ear headphones, based on key factors such as how effective they are at noise cancellation and how good they sound. They’re all wireless headphone models except the Beats EP wired headphones. There isn’t a single earbud on this list, so if you’re looking for in-ear counterparts, check out our wireless earbud list to have music piped directly into your ear canal.

David Carnoy/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 22 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (Qualcomm cVc 8.0)

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

I was a fan of Creative’s original Sound Blaster Jam headphones that came out in 2015 and had a decidedly retro look and feel with good sound for the money. Now the headphone is available in a 2.0 version that has some key upgrades, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, improved call quality and multipoint Bluetooth pairing that allows you to pair it to two devices simultaneously. Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours.

I was able to pair the headphones with a Mac Mini and an iPhone and then switch audio between them. Often when pairing Bluetooth headphones with Mac and Windows PCs, one can encounter some issues, but once I got the headphones paired with both my PC and phone, they made a good pair of work-from-home headphones. Also, the price is right for parents looking for a decent set of kids’ headphones for remote learning and everyday use.

Comfortable for on-ear headphones, the Jam V2 are lightweight and have nicely balanced sound with good detail and bass that’s ample but not overpowering. Call quality was good in my tests with callers saying they could hear me well even on the noisy streets of New York. No carry pouch is included, but you do get an extra set of foam ear pads, which is good because they will wear out over time.

The headphones have physical buttons for controlling volume and playback and there’s aptX support for devices that support the wireless streaming codec.

Read our Creative Sound Blaster Jam review.

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 45h

Battery Life

Rated up to 50 hours

Noise Canceling

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Released in mid-2020, the Jabra Elite 45h was essentially billed as the best on-ear headphone for the money. While there’s nothing terribly fancy about it is one of the best on-ear headphone values right now, with good sound quality, a sturdy design and comfortable fit (for on-ear headphones, anyway). Additionally, this Bluetooth on-ear headphone performs well as a headset for making calls and includes a sidetone feature that allows you to hear your voice in the headphones so you don’t talk too loudly. Battery life is also good. Available in multiple color options, it lists for $100 but frequently gets discounted to $80 or less.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 40 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

The Solo Pro is the first Beats on-ear headphone to feature active noise cancellation and the first full-size Beats wireless headphone to charge via Lightning. It uses the company’s Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling (Pure ANC headphones), “derived from the over-ear Studio3 Wireless, with updated tuning to accommodate the on-ear form factor,” Beats says. With a tap of a button, you can turn off that noise cancellation to save battery life or hit the button a second time to enter an audio transparency mode that allows you to hear the outside world and ambient sound, not just the music you’re listening to.

Available in multiple color options, the noise-canceling headphone is equipped with six microphones, two of which are beamforming mics designed to hone in on your voice when you’re making calls or talking to your voice assistant (Apple’s H1 chip is on board for always-on Siri). The sound quality of these wireless earphones is smooth and well-balanced, with punchy bass that doesn’t make music sound boomy. It’s comfortable for an on-ear model and its more compact design travels better than some full-size models on this list. I just wish it cost a little less and came with a cable to plug in to in-flight entertainment systems. Alas, the Lightning-to-3.5mm is an optional Bluetooth headset accessory that costs $35, which is ridiculous.

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Sennheiser HD 250BT

Battery Life

Rated up to 25 hours

Noise Canceling

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

The last few years I’ve written up a fair number of new Sennheiser headphones, most of which have had more premium price tags. But now the company has released a new $70 on-ear wireless model, the 250BT, that should appeal to those on a tighter budget. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, its features seem pretty basic, but it does have 25-hour battery life, as well as support for the AAC and aptX audio codecs, and it also taps into Sennheiser’s Smart Control app, allowing you to customize the sound a bit.

Sennheiser describes the 250BT as having club-like sound, and that’s a fairly apt take. There’s lots of energy in the bass and some sparkle in the treble. This is what I like to call an exciting headphone — dynamic, fun. I can’t say it’s got premium build quality (it looks and feels like a more of a budget model). But it’s lightweight and comfortable for an on-ear model, though it lacks any padding on the inside of the headband so I occasionally had to make adjustments to relieve a little pressure on the crown of my head.

You can use the 250BT as a headset for making calls — it works reasonably well for that — but Sennheiser doesn’t really talk up the call quality, mentioning only that the headphones have a built-in microphone. The noise-isolating ear pads cut the background noise, giving you a better listening experience. This headphone is more about the sound and it did grow on me over time.

Amazon

Battery Life

Rated up to 12 hours

Noise Canceling

Multipoint

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Skullcandy’s Riff is the spiritual successor to the Grind Wireless, which I liked for the money. Available in multiple color options, it retails for around $50 and has puffy, pillowlike ear cups that make these comfortable headphones for an on-ear model. It also has great sound for its price, with open, detailed sound quality and plump bass that’s relatively well-defined. My only gripes about its ear cup design are that the top doesn’t feature a padded headband (at the crown of your head) and it feels a little cheap, with no metal parts. That said, it’s nice and light and has a dual-hinge that allows the headphone to fold up and fold flat. No carry pouch is included. Battery life is rated at only 12 hours, but a fast charge feature lets you get 2 hours of juice from a 10-minute charge (this has micro-USB charging not USB-C).

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

Noise Canceling

Multipoint

Headphone Type

On-ear wired headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Beats makes plenty of Bluetooth headphones with high price tags, but its entry-level EP wired headphones are a surprisingly good listening experience value. The list price is $100, but you can find it online for closer to $90 and sometimes less. The EP is an on-ear model that isn’t as swanky as Beats’ somewhat forgotten on-ear Mixr, as well as the over-ear Executive and Pro models. But thanks to its reinforced metal frame, it reminds me of low-frills versions of those headphones. By low-frills, I mean it isn’t incredibly flashy and it doesn’t fold up or fold flat for travel (it has no hinges).

I liked the way they sounded and so did Steve Guttenberg, who once wrote CNET’s Audiophiliac blog. These open back headphones exhibit the traits of a good headphone: They’re clean and open-sounding, particularly for an on-ear headphone, and there’s enough treble detail to give them some sparkle. (In other words: They’re not incredibly dynamic.)

The bass is a little accentuated — this is Beats after all — but it’s not bloated or boomy. There’s enough bass here to satisfy a low-end audiophile headphone lover but not so much to turn off someone who’s looking for a more balanced, neutral-sound quality in a headphone.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 15 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

AKG’s N60NC headphones have been out a while, but they’re still good on-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation and great audio quality. Samsung now owns Harman, which owns AKG, and Samsung doesn’t really know how to market this venerable Austrian audio audiophile headphone brand (AKG earbuds have been included with Samsung phones). Originally, $300, you can find these wireless earphones for much less. They’re certainly more enticing at that price.

Read AKG N60NC Wireless review.

Amazon

Battery Life

Rated up to 25 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (Adaptive)

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Toward the end of 2019, Bowers & Wilkins released its new noise-canceling headphones: The over-ear PX7 and on-ear PX5. Both are great Bluetooth headphones with slick designs, great sound and decent noise cancellation (it’s not as good as the Sony WH-1000XM4’s but it’s not far off). The PX7 has bigger drivers and bolder overall sound, but the PX5 is more compact, easier to travel with (it takes up less room in a bag) and can be had for much less than the PX7.

More headphone and listening picks

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8 ways your body tells you you have a vitamin deficiency

Vitamins and minerals are essential to keeping our bodies functioning properly, each playing a different role in our health. In the first place, we get it The nutrients we need From a balanced diet. Vitamin supplements can act as a safety net To fill in the gaps in our diet. However, it is still possible to experience a vitamin deficiency while taking a multivitamin. This is because everyone is different, and our bodies need different things. General multivitamins may not address significant deficiencies in some nutrients.

This is why it is important to know the symptoms of a vitamin deficiency so that you can spot them if they appear and adjust your diet accordingly.

What is a vitamin deficiency?

A vitamin deficiency is exactly as the name suggests: Your body is functioning without enough of a particular nutrient. It’s incredibly popular. It is estimated that 2 billion people around the world You have a vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin deficiency Divided into two categories – primary and secondary deficiencies. Primary vitamin deficiency means that you need to eat more foods that contain the vitamin. In this case, you can often adapt your diet to make sure these needs are met. Or take a supplement if you have dietary restrictions that prevent you from eating these foods, which is the case with food allergy.

Minor deficiencies occur when you have them The body does not absorb nutrients as it should. This can happen due to an underlying condition such as: Celiac disease or Cystic fibrosis. In addition, a secondary deficiency results from our bodies absorbing less nutrients as we age. Then malabsorption can worsen and cause other deficiencies, as is the case with calcium and Vitamin D. Older adults whose body has stopped making vitamin D can develop a calcium deficiency because of this Vitamin D is necessary for absorption of calcium.

8 common signs you may have a vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiencies are common. However, they do not always present with symptoms that may be associated with a vitamin deficiency. Here are the common signs of a vitamin deficiency that you may be ignoring.

exhaustion

One of the most widespread Symptoms of vitamin deficiency is fatigue or feeling Weak and tired. Many things can cause it, making it difficult to separate which symptoms stem from something else, such as: sleep deprivation. Chronic fatigue that does not go away, no matter how much you sleep or rest, may indicate a vitamin deficiency.

Fatigue indicates a deficiency:

Laura Olivas/Getty Images

2. Muscle weakness and pain

Another common sign of a vitamin deficiency is muscle weakness or cramps. Again, this type of nutrient is hard to pin down directly, since you may be sore or have joint pain for many reasons. Most known deficiency associated with Muscle weakness is vitamin D. However, several B vitamins and magnesium can also contribute to weakness.

Muscle and joint weakness can indicate a deficiency in:

Addressing your diet to find out what your vitamin deficiency is is the first step you can take to address a vitamin deficiency. It’s worth seeing your doctor if you don’t find obvious holes in your diet.

3. Severe hair loss

Hair loss can occur Several reasons such as geneticsMedical conditions, hair treatment and hormonal imbalances. Loss of key nutrients for hair growth may also be the cause. If your hair is thinning or not as healthy as it used to be, it may be because you are not getting enough of these nutrients:

It is important to note that unless your hair loss or damage is caused by a vitamin deficiency, taking a multivitamin will not make your hair grow back thicker. Researching the source of your hair loss is the only way to know how to treat it. hair growth vitamins It can help you keep your body healthy only if you have a deficiency, but it is not a magic pill. It is always better to focus on your diet Supports hair health.

4. Dry skin

Even if you use moisturizers and whatever you’re supposed to use, you still can Leave with dry skin or dandruff. Your diet may be to blame. It is essential to get enough of the right vitamins and minerals Healthy, moisturized skin and scalp. that it Not just dry skin Scaly patches, bumps, and dandruff all indicate a possible vitamin deficiency.

If you suffer from dry skin, you may be deficient in these vitamins:

svetikd/Getty Images

5. Slow wound healing and a weak immune system

Several vitamins are essential for the immune system: vitamins E, C, and K. Vitamin K is a nutrient It is required for the formation of clots. Without enough in your body, a normal wound can turn into a huge problem. This also applies to internal bleeding, which is difficult to determine without medical intervention.

Vitamin deficiencies not only determine the duration of bleeding; It also affects how long the wound takes to heal. Vitamin C acts as an anti-inflammatory properties that help Close wounds. Deficiency slows tissue repair.

Nutrient deficiencies in these vitamins can affect the immune system and the ability to heal wounds:

6. Mood changes

Vitamin deficiencies can also affect how you feel. Most people are familiar with Seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that occurs when there is too little sunlight to give us vitamin D. However, the mood changes and depression because of Vitamin D deficiency Not limited to the winter months. appreciate it 42% of Americans Not getting enough vitamin D.

Vitamin B6 deficiency has also been found to contribute to mental health conditions such as: Anxiety and depression. While more research is needed, several studies point to this Take vitamin B6 Supplements can help reduce symptoms because they produce a chemical Messengers dampen brain impulsesresulting in a file calming effect.

7. Changes in vision

In addition to the naturally occurring changes in our vision that occur with age, vitamin A deficiency can contribute to vision problems. Vitamin A plays a major role in vision By aiding in the production of retinal pigments. Without enough vitamin A, production stops, leading to night blindness or a poor ability to see in dim light and darkness.

Night blindness can occur independently From a vitamin A deficiency, so you shouldn’t start taking supplements unless you know the source. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it accumulates in the body’s fat stores. overflow It is called vitamin A toxicityIt is characterized by symptoms such as headache, joint pain, and nausea.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant This is essential for eye health. Deficiency can lead to vision loss over time.

8. Tingling in the fingers or toes

A lesser known and more worrisome sign that you might have a vitamin deficiency is tingling in your hands, legs, and feet. The main culprit in this Vitamin B12 deficiencywhich plays a role in our nervous system by producing myelin. Myelin is the protective layer that wraps around a nerve. A vitamin B12 deficiency means that your body will not produce enough myelin, and your nerves are vulnerable to damage. Then you feel tingling or pins and needles in your hands and feet.

Nutrients associated with tingling in the hands and feet:

Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Calcium and Magnesiumcopper

If you experience any persistent tingling or numbness, speak to your doctor immediately to find out the cause and develop a treatment plan.

Very long; Didn’t you read?

Anyone can You have a vitamin deficiency. It is often overlooked because of how common some of the symptoms are. However, symptoms, especially those affecting your ability to move, lift, and see, should not be ignored. Making lifestyle and diet changes is the best way to stop a deficiency. Although taken Supplements are also popular.

Talk to your doctor if you have persistent symptoms that are not related to anything else. They can perform blood tests for a definitive diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan.

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Best Lenovo laptop deals: The latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is more than half off

Lenovo has lowered the prices of many ThinkPad models so much that many are selling them for less than half the price. This list includes the flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, which is one of the best Windows mobile devices out there. The ThinkPad 14s Gen 3 is a slight step up from the X1 Carbon and is more affordable in its heftier opponent. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is a great value at its current sale price if you’re shopping for a convertible 2-in-1. Finally, gamers looking for a good deal should check out the Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 gaming laptop with RTX 3070 graphics that is on sale.

Run this iOS 16.4 setting before your next iPhone call

If you download files iOS 16.4 On your iPhone, the update brings Voice Isolation, handy confrontation time feature for phone calls. Apple introduced Sound Isolation and Wide Spectrum for FaceTime calls with the iOS 15 In 2021. However, sound isolation is only available for phone calls at this time.

When enabled, Voice Isolation suppresses distracting background noise that interrupts your phone call. This way, if you’re on a business call or catching up with friends, you won’t be interrupted by your dog barking or construction work outside your home.

To enable sound isolation, you must be on a phone call, and you won’t find the feature in Settings. But once I turn on sound isolation it will stay on for all subsequent phone calls until it is turned off.

Here’s how to activate and disable sound isolation for phone calls.

How to enable sound isolation

1. Initiate or answer a phone call.

2. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to access the Control Center.

Microphone status can be found in Control Center during a phone call.

Zack McAuliffe/CNET

3. Tap on the microphone position near the top-right corner of your screen.

4. Tap on Sound Isolation.

Pro tip: Instead of turning this feature on during a call with someone else, you can call yourself and enable sound isolation by following the steps above.

To disable sound isolation, follow the same steps above and tap Standard in Microphone mode. This will return your microphone to its default setting.

What is broad spectrum?

Besides microphone mode sound isolation, there is a wide spectrum. Unlike sound isolation—which mutes background sounds—Broad Spectrum amplifies background sounds without affecting your voice.

A message in microphone mode that there is no wide spectrum available for phone calls.

Zack McAuliffe/CNET

Broad spectrum is useful for calls with multiple people on a single phone line. This way, everyone’s voice can be heard, not just the person holding the phone.

Currently, only broad spectrum is available for FaceTime callsAnd no phone calls. But since the feature is still in microphone mode when accessed during a phone call, this feature may become available for phone calls in the future.

For more information, check out Other new features in iOS 16.4And How to turn on sound isolation in FaceTime calls And What might be coming to iOS 16.5.

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Google cracks down on scams and fake content on Google Maps

On Friday, Google outlined the steps it has taken to prevent fake information from reaching Google Maps.

Google Maps It is the go-to for directions, the way to find public transportation information and even offers Peek into the past Thanks to Street View. It also provides a wealth of information people contribute, including videos, reviews, ratings, and business information. However, some of this User Contributed Content may be inaccurate or fraudulent.

With the help of machine learning, the search giant has been removed Millions of clips of dummy content sent by users from Google Maps in 2022Ashish Gupta, Google’s director of engineering for user-generated content, said in a blog post. This included 115 million comments that violated the policy as well as 200 million photos and 7 million videos that were “blurry, low quality, or otherwise in violation of our content policies.” Gupta said Google also stopped 20 million attempts to create fake business profiles.

Google also shared some specific examples of attempts to scam people via Google Maps, including a scheme involving pictures with fake phone numbers for companies.

“The scammers began placing inaccurate phone numbers over the images that were contributed, hoping to trick unsuspecting victims into calling the scammer rather than actually doing the work,” Gupta explained.

The company said its machine learning technology was able to catch these fake photos, remove them from Google Maps faster and in many cases block them before they were posted.

For more information, check out How to blur your house on google maps And how Google Maps can help you find dinner.

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iOS 16.5 Beta 1: What’s coming to your iPhone soon

Less than a week after Apple released it iOS 16.4 To the public, the company has floated First beta of iOS 16.5. Bug fixes, security updates, and new features, such as New emoji And Sound isolation in calls, released with iOS 16.4. The first beta version of iOS 16.5, which was released on Thursday, contains some patches and some features as well.

New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary phone, just in case the new software causes problems. Apple also provides beta testers with an app called Feedback, which they can use to notify the company of any issues with the new software. In this way, problems can be addressed before the public release.

Here are the new features that beta testers can try now with iOS 16.5 beta 1.

Apple News is getting a Sports tab

the Apple news The app was launched in 2015, and the first iOS 16.5 beta brings a sports tab to the app for the first time. The tab can be found in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen when you open the app. Prior to this, the toolbar displayed tabs for Today, News Plus, Audio, Following, and Search. iOS 16.5 beta 1 gets rid of the Search tab to make room for the Sports tab.

Ask Siri to start recording your screen

With iOS 16.5 beta 1, you can ask Siri to start recording the screen for you. Before this beta, you had to go to Add a screen recording tool to your Control Center and then launch the tool manually. Now you can ask Siri. This may save you time, as you will not have to edit the beginning and end of your videos as you start and stop the recording.

There is no word on when iOS 16.5 will be released to the general public. There’s also no guarantee these beta features will be released with iOS 16.5, or that they will be the only features that will appear with the update.

For more information, check out What’s new on your iPhone with iOS 16.4 And How to become an Apple beta tester So you can experience new iOS features before others.

Running now: Watch this: iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed

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الخميس، 30 مارس 2023

Yes, you might be buying fake Parmesan. Here’s what you’re looking for

Parmesan cheese, as popular a choice as it may be here in the States, is also one of the most controversial. toroville lovers and chefs, cheese merchants Industry folks know the authentic stuff as Parmigiano-Reggiano. Anything else marketed and sold simply as “Parmesan” cheese is usually of a lower standard in the US and is rightfully derided and mocked.

But even real Parmigiano-Reggiano isn’t always what it seems. Fraudulent sales of the Italian export have reached such critical mass that they have forced the 900-year-old industry of Parmigiano-Reggiano to respond with a surprisingly modern solution.

Here’s everything you need to know about American Parmesan versus Parmigiano-Reggiano and how to make sure you’re right Get the good stuff.

What distinguishes Parmigiano-Reggiano?

In Italy, where this creamy, sharp and salty cheese originated from, the term “Parmesan” is tightly regulated, similar to Champagne in France, and any cheese designated and sold as such must meet high standards of production.

The word Parmesan is the English translation of Parmigiano-Reggiano, but in America, this is where the similarities end. Details surrounding the production of Parmesan differ greatly from Italy. In other words, it’s almost completely unregulated, and those $4 “Parmesan” or (mostly) packages of Parmesan powder you’re stuck in the dry goods, cheese, or dairy aisle pale in comparison to the real stuff. You might consider them a completely different cheese – and many do.

Although Parmesan can mean a cheese of widely varying quality, cheese sold labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano” in the United States must come from one of five regions in Italy—Parma, Modena, Bologna, Mantua, or Reggio Emilia—and that Adheres to strict standards as they relate to ingredients, production methods, and aging.

Making real Parmesan is a labor of love using practical and precise methods that date back many centuries.

Parmigiano-Reggiano Federation

Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is made using just three ingredients, one of which is milk from cows raised in the region and fed only on food grown in the region. Unlike other Parmesan cheeses made and sold in the United States, there is also a large list of foods that cannot be fed to livestock such as fermented grains. Parmigiano-Reggiano must be at least a year old, but most are two or three years old, and often longer, up to 100 months or more. Parmesan cheese made in the United States and elsewhere has no aging requirement.

Italy’s strict cheese laws for cheese and other foods DOP (Protected Designation of Origin, when translated into English) are the law of the land and were put in place to protect the integrity of sacred products as they grew in popularity and enjoyed export around the world. Other Italian DOP exports include Modena balsamic vinegar, San Marzano tomatoes, and Parma meat. If you know how to read labels, they work: spotting a DOP label ensures you’re getting an authentic food item made to austerely enforced standards.

How do you know you’re getting “real Parmesan” from Italy?

These dotted words affixed to the shell of each wheel will be authentic Parmigiano Reggiano.

David Watsky/CNET

To begin with, anything marketed as Parmesan in the United States is almost certainly not Parmigiano-Reggiano, also known as the good stuff. everyone Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano It’s marked with pin letters that say it all to you, quite literally. “Parmigiano-Reggiano” will be stamped into the rind of each wheel of cheese that comes from the region and meets DOP standards. Parmigiano Reggiano wheels also feature a unique alphanumeric tracking code. Dealers here will hack 70- to 80-pound wheels into smaller pieces, making the double-dotted characters hard to read, but the ID number should make its way onto the label or label. You’ll also want to look for the DOP label that should accompany every legitimate portion of cheese. Stores cannot legally sell it as Parmigiano Reggiano without these quality stamps.

There is so much fake cheese out there that they are little wheels

This label contains all of the stamps and markings typically found on genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Sam’s Club

All this analog authentication hasn’t stopped some from trying to beat the system with fake versions of the real stuff. In fact, the Parmigiano-Reggiano consortium has estimated nearly $2 billion in sales of counterfeit knockoffs annually, which is roughly equal to sales of the original article. To respond, I began silicon wafer slap p-Chips and QR code on cheese wheels are called in 2022 to better track product and detect charlatan products and counterfeit operations. The program is still in its infancy but the hope is that it will greatly reduce the chances of fake cheese hitting your cart.

Is Parmigiano-Reggiano better than Parmesan?

Forget the waffle. Authentic Italian Parmesan cheese is often eaten on its own.

David Watsky/CNET

While it’s made using a technique similar to the sanctioned stuff, Parmesan cheese in the United States can mean many things and is hard to define. Cheeses labeled Parmigiano-Reggiano are usually of higher quality (and price) than anything labeled “Parmesan.” Parmigiano Reggiano is easy to describe because it is all made in much the same way, using specific ingredients, tools, and production methods.

If you don’t buy Parmigiano-Reggiano, chances are you’re eating American-made Parmesan. There is nothing inherently wrong with that; Some are very good and come from quality producers. But try a bite of cheap, generic, non-DOP Parmesan, then grab some genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano, and you’ll see why it’s been referred to as the “King of Cheese.” Depending on the length of time, this semi-hard cheese produces crunchy clusters of amino acids (flavor crystals) and packs a complex umami punch with fruity, buttery, citrusy, and herbal notes that develop in the mouth.

The Other Men: Pecorina Romano and Grana Padano

Of course, all the work that goes into producing Parmigiano-Reggiano results in a product that is more expensive than other Parmesan-style cheeses, which has given rise to other hard Italian cheeses including Pecorino Romano and Grana Padano. Both are made in a similar style and have similar taste profiles, but are made to less stringent standards and can therefore be manufactured and sold at a much lower price. If you’re grating tons of cheese on top of your pasta every month and make sure to save a little bit of cheese A few bucks at the grocery storeBoth are good substitutes for Parmigiano-Reggiano.

But there is nothing quite like Parmigiano Reggiano, which stands up beautifully winefatty meats, ripe tomatoes, a good balsamic or other fruit. Here, many think of Parmesan as something casually grated on top of pasta or Caesar salad. In Italy and other distinct cheese circuits, you’ll find the stuff served on cheese boards with an apertivo eaten as is or served alongside fine meats and olives.

So, find yourself A big piece of real things (or complete wheel If you have three thousand lying.) It will last a very long time if Treat it carefullyAnd Parmigiano-Reggiano doesn’t even need to be refrigerated (!).

Long live the king.

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Microsoft reveals Diablo 4 Xbox Series X pre-order bundle

Microsoft and developer Blizzard Entertainment are teaming up for a special Xbox bundle ahead of the highly anticipated release of Diablo 4.

The Diablo 4 Xbox Series Bundle is available for pre-order starting Thursday Microsoft StoreAnd best buy Amazon And Goal, with a release date of June 6. Included in the package are Xbox Series X console with 1 TB storagea digital copy of Diablo 4, and in-game items for Diablo 3, World of Warcraft, and Diablo Immortal in addition to Diablo 4. At $560, the bundle saves $10 compared to buying a $500 console and $70 game separately.

Diablo 4the latest entry in the long-running dungeon crawler franchise Two practice tests in the last two weeksduring which the participants played Over 62 million hours of gameplay. The game makes some big changes to the franchise formula. Players will be able to freely explore the open world of Sanctuary as they fight against Lilith and her evil forces.

Microsoft is in progress complete its acquisition of Activision, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment. Xbox signed a $69 billion deal for the publisher, however It still has to get approval from US regulators. on monday, Japan Fair Trade Commission He said he would not be involved in the takeover.

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The best Dolby Atmos soundbar of 2023

When it comes to soundbars, there are a lot of features you’ll want to look for, but by far the most popular and requested by CNET readers are Dolby Atmos My voice. Likes DTS:XDolby Atmos differs from standard surround sound by adding height to your voice music and Movies for a more dynamic and immersive sound and better listening experience. The best Dolby Atmos speaker options are capable of delivering exceptional sound quality that will fill your room.

Dolby Atmos soundbars are now more affordable than ever, especially compared to A Traditional Atmos receiver and surround speakers. These speakers are also more compact and easier to set up than a coil home theater systemwith the trade-off being they cannot deliver the same level of performance.

the Vizio M512a It’s my favorite Dolby Atmos soundbar under $500 — it offers dedicated height channels, surround sound, and high-quality sound in the bargain. Some competitors in price – eg Sonos Beam Gen2 And Sony HT-G700 – You can only offer simulated height speakers, while you can hear the difference in height simulated speakers Soundbar Bose Smart 600 Make.

Although you can easily stop at the $500 mark, there are benefits to be gained from more expensive models: improved sound quality, music streaming and voice assistants like google assistant and Amazon Alexa. For example, $900 Sonos Arc It is an all-in-one speaker that delivers great sound, great build quality, and excellent multi-room capabilities.

If you want a soundbar with Dolby Atmos sound, read on. These are our favorite Atmos speaker options from $400 and up, and they’re updated periodically as we review new products. Be aware: some of these are currently in-order, so check back to see if a specific model is back in stock.

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The Vizio M512a gets better at it predecessor In almost every respect: it looks better, looks better, and is easier to use. While it maintains the ability of Bluetooth, it loses the ability to stream over Wi-Fi. If you are looking for the most cost-effective way to add Dolby Atmos to your TV, this is it.

Read our review of the Vizio M512a-H6.

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The Polk Signa S4 is the cheapest soundbar with Dolby Atmos onboard yet, but it doesn’t sacrifice performance to bring that price down. This is a 3.1.2 channel soundbar with a range of useful audio modes and Bluetooth streaming. Wireless tweeters and custom highs help isolate the Atmos soundtracks, and they sound great with music, too.

Read our Polk Signa S4 review.

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If you like a bit of “high tech” in your technology, look no further than the Vizio Elevate. This is a 5.1.4 speaker system that uses motorized drivers to switch between Atmos and normal surround sound. It’s not just a gimmick – it looks good too! Plus, Elevate includes everything you’d want from a modern soundbar, including multiple HDMI inputs and music streaming over Wi-Fi.

Read our review of the Vizio Elevate P514A-H6.

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Several companies have attempted to create affordable, compact speakers that can also run Atmos, but only one company has arguably succeeded so far. The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 delivers dedicated high-mids in a compact speakerphone, and its sound quality is top-notch. The soundbar also adds multiroom music and Alexa voice assistant as well.

Read our Bose Smart Soundbar 600 review.

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If you want the best Dolby Atmos sound from a single bar but don’t want to shell out $1,000 or more, the Sonos Arc is for you. This soundbar is a little weird, as you’ll need a 2019 or later 4K TV to get the most out of it, yet it still works better than most. The Arc offers a bunch of great features too, including a choice of voice assistant and Sonos’ excellent streaming architecture.

Read our Sonos Arc review.

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Want to experience an Atmos sound home theater system with just one box? It may be more Sony, but the Sennheiser Ambeo Max standalone speaker delivers the most immersive sound we’ve ever heard. It includes both built-in Google Chromecast and Bluetooth for streaming connectivity. The Ambeo can sound full without a subwoofer and that should be especially appealing to apartment dwellers.

Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.

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How do I test

At CNET, I test audio equipment from built-in speakers to surround speaker systems, but regardless of the device, my approach is pretty much the same. I always compare products to one or more reference devices that offer the best performance at a similar price.

When it comes to soundbars, I want to see how well the system performs with music as well as with movies, as most people will want to do both. I watch from a bunch of test scenes from a 4K Blu-ray or streamed from a 4K streaming service (Vudu, for example) and evaluate aspects like bass performance and dialogue clarity. I also use a file Number of demo tracks And rate any streaming features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It’s the systems that can perform well with both types of entertainment that inevitably score higher.

Other speakers I’ve tested

I tested the following speakers in the CNET Audio Lab against similarly priced models. Each bar if these headphones are worthy in their own way, but they’re not quite as recommended as our top picks.

Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($499) The package may only offer height simulation speakers, but it’s the best Atmos simulation I’ve heard to date. The Sonos Beam also offers plenty of features, while the Bose Soundbar 600 and Vizio M512a-H6 offer better Atmos performance for the same money. Read CNET’s review of the Sonos Beam Gen 2.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 ($899)This is a great Bose speaker, and it fits nicely in the company Quiet rest The headphones are for late night listening, but they are simply not as powerful Sonos Arc. Read CNET’s review of the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 LG QP5 Eclair ($599): A very nice and simple system that delivers real Dolby Atmos out of two boxes. However, I found its performance didn’t match its $500-$600 asking price with surprisingly bright sound. Read CNET’s first snapshot.Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 ($999): Premium speaker with HDMI connectivity and multi-room music streaming. While the music is where this soundbar shines, the system costs more than the Arc and the peripherals are quite pricey.Sennheiser Ambeo Plus ($1,500): A shortened version of the $2,500 Sennheiser Ambeo Max that offers many of the same features including built-in Chromecast and voice assistance. I found the sound was envelope and the music was more subtle than some of the cheaper bars. However, for the $1,500 retail price it’s not $600 better than the Sonos Arc, and the surround sound isn’t as compelling as the Max’s. Read CNET’s first take on the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus.

Check out my Subwoofer Buying Guide For more information on features and things to consider when looking for a new system.

questions and answers

Do I need HDMI 2.1 to listen to Atmos?

Dolby Atmos can be played over a normal HDMI ARC connection with streaming services that use the Dolby Digital Plus codec, and when it works it’s great. If you want the full Dolby Atmos experience, you may need to upgrade to a new TV with an HDMI 2.1 port, as it will enable higher quality Atmos streams from Blu-ray players and game consoles.

Is the Dolby Atmos soundbar worth paying extra for?

If you are a gamer or enjoy watching the latest blockbuster movies, then yes, the Dolby Atmos soundbar is worth paying more for. But you need to make sure you have a TV with an extension HDMI ARC Port (for Dolby Digital Plus) and Dolby Atmos-enabled source eg Xbox Xbox X or the latest Roku streaming devices.

What is the best connection for a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

The short answer is HDMI. The long answer is that there are two ways to get Atmos into one of these speakers – the first and best is to have a TV with an eARC (HDMI 2.1) port. This port is a feature of many new TVs and allows Atmos information to be fed from the TV (either via smart apps or another connected device) to an external amplifier. Regular HDMI ARC will work for some Streaming services that offer Dolby Atmos.

On the other hand, if you have an older TV and an Atmos source like a Blu-ray player, you’ll need a soundbar with more than one HDMI port. Vizio M512a enables you to directly connect external devices via HDMI.

More home entertainment recommendations

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Best foldable phones in 2023: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, and Moto Razr

Foldable phones have been with us for a good few years now. Although it has not reached the level of mainstream adoption, these foldable smartphones are seen as exciting and futuristic devices that stand out from the regular phones. Samsung dominates the foldable phone market Galaxy Z Fold 4 And Z Flip 4 Offer different foldable shapes to entice you to part with your money. But Samsung isn’t the only company in the game, as Motorola has launched an updated version of the Fold Razer flip phone.

Then there are the foldable phones from Honor and Oppo, which we really like, and while they are excellent options for those of you in Europe, there are no plans for either phone to officially go on sale in the US. And while there is no sign of a foldable iPhone, several leaks are pointing to it Google is working on a foldable Pixel phonewhich may be shown at Google I/O in May.

Our foldable phones come in two main types; Candy phones that open up to become larger, tablet-sized foldable devices (such as the Galaxy Z Fold 4) or candy phones that fold in half to become smaller and more pocketable (such as the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Moto Razr 2022). Given the still-new technology, all foldables are more expensive than their regular smartphone counterparts, but if you’re keen to turn heads when you pop out your foldable display and bend your phone in half, it’s worth investigating.

Here, then, are our picks for the best foldable phones available to buy right now:

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It’s usually $1,800 (yikes!) Galaxy Z Fold 4 It still costs a lot more than your average phone. But Samsung’s latest book-style foldable is full of small improvements that add up to a more enjoyable overall experience. The hinge is thinner, the device is lighter, and the cover screen is wider, making it more natural to use as a phone when closed. This is in addition to other routine upgrades like a better Galaxy S22-like camera and a new processor. Reviewer Patrick Holland called it his “favorite Android tablet”.

If you already have a Z Fold 3, it’s not worth upgrading. But if you’re willing to spend big (or can find a bargain) and you’re interested in a phone that can double as a tablet, the Z Fold 4 is the way to go.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review.

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With a candy bar shape that folds in on itself into a smaller square, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a much more compact footprint than the Z Fold 4. It makes it easy to slip into a tight pocket when not in use, but still folds to offer a large screen size. 6.7 inches when you need it.

Like the Z Fold 4, the Flip line has seen revisions over the years with improvements to the hinge system and less screen creases. It has a new camera system as well, along with a larger external screen that shows incoming notifications.

It’s definitely pricey, its battery life could be better but it’s a fun phone and we had fun using it.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review.

Motorola Razr (2022)

New update to the foldable hardtop

We reviewed the previous Motorola Razr in 2020 and we loved its great design and folding mechanism. The phone got a new update in 2022 with an updated internals, a new camera system, and a larger screen.

And while this phone was announced for the Chinese market, the 2022 Razr is also listed on the UK site, along with its £950 ($1,160) price tag, so it seems likely that the phone will get a wider release.

We haven’t gotten our hands on this phone yet, so we can’t say if the updates have made it worth your money yet, but it’s worth keeping in mind, especially if you’re considering buying the older model. We’ll update this list as more firm details are announced.

The Oppo Find N2 Flip’s standout feature is its huge external display, which at 3.26 inches dwarfs the cover displays on either the Galaxy Z Flip 4 or the Moto Razr. It offers plenty of space to properly see incoming notifications or other information, which means you don’t need to unlock your phone every time you want to check something.

Open it up though and its 6.8-inch screen is bright and sharp, with minimal creases that we found generally unobtrusive in day-to-day use. The dual rear cameras work well and the Mediatek phone’s processor is powerful enough for any of your daily needs.

It’s a powerful foldable phone and a great competitor to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but before you get too excited, keep in mind that it’s not available in the US. After the initial launch in China, the phone is now more widely available across Europe and the UK, but there are no plans to make it available in the US.

Read our Oppo Find N2 Flip hands-on.

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samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 It’s not the latest version, but the arrival of the Z Flip 4 means a discount on the Z Flip 3. Starting at $600, the Flip 3 knocks a huge chunk off its original $900 price. This 2021 model has features like 5G connectivity, a powerful processor, and an aluminum body that feels sturdy.

It’s not much cheaper than the current Z Flip 4, but if you’re looking for a foldable phone with a little spare change, it’s worth considering.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review.

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While the 2020 Moto Razr 5G may have been replaced by a new 2022 model (see above), the price of the current model has dropped to all-time lows. You can get it direct from Motorola for just $600, which is a huge saving on its original $1,400 price tag, and makes it the cheapest foldable phone you can buy right now.

And it’s still worth considering, despite its advances, if you’re determined to buy a foldable phone on a budget. We loved its design when we first got our hands on it and its 5G connectivity means it’s ready to take advantage of blazing-fast data speeds.

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