DJI is known for, among other things like drones and cameras, making high-quality microphone kits. The original DJI Mic was an industry-standard choice for capturing mobile audio through multiple wireless microphone receivers. Now, the company has released a new DJI Mic 2 with — you guessed it — artificial intelligence features. Aside from equipping the microphone with AI, there are also a few other quality-of-life improvements. The biggest one is the ability to pair directly with a smartphone, which is a neat addition. DJI added a bigger touchscreen, enhanced internal recording quality, and made the device easier to control.
As soon as you take a look at the DJI Mic 2, you’ll be captivated by the new transparent colorway. The Pearl White color option is a sleek and simple white color, but the Shadow Black one is transparent. The front of the Shadow Black transmitter is just clear enough to reveal some of the chips and the board inside the Mic 2. Aside from that, each transmitter is similar to the original, although the footprint has been shrunk a bit. They can be used as wireless lavalier mics, with a built-in clip and magnetic mount option.
Looks are far from all that’s new in the DJI Mic 2. The buttons are shifted around and are now all circular. On the left side of each transmitter, you’ll find the record button and a USB-C port. The right side features a power button, link button, and LED status light. This is a big deal since the first edition had the light on the front, where it could be seen in video shots. Each transmitter has a longer battery life, too. The transmitters last up to six hours on a single charge and can be extended to up to 18 hours with the charging case.
DJI’s Mic 2 kit and new AI features
The two transmitters are just parts of the DJI Mic 2 kit. The included receiver has a 1.1-inch OLED screen and a digital scroll wheel for making tweaks. It’s designed for connecting the receivers to a camera or other device, but some users won’t need it. That’s because DJI has now made it possible to connect Mic 2 receivers straight to a smartphone with Bluetooth. You can still connect the receiver to your phone if you have the full set, though. This new functionality allows users to only buy the parts they need, for example, the $99 transmitter microphone instead of the $349 set.
Sound quality is improved on Mic 2, starting with 32-bit float internal recording. It can pick up sounds at various decibel levels, at a range of up to 250 meters away. An AI-based noise-cancelation feature reduces environmental sound in noisy environments, too, a great feature for recording in loud places.
The DJI Mic 2 kit, as well as the individual microphones and accessories, is available for purchase now. The full set costs $349, the transmitter costs $99, and the Lavalier microphone costs $39.
With the Galaxy S24 series now official, Otterbox is one of the many different case and accessory companies that have geared up to protect your new device. And if you’re looking to protect your phone from drops, dings, scratches, and other instances that life can throw at you, Otterbox should at least be one of the brands you consider.
Otterbox built its name and reputation on device protection. And that level of product defense has carried through years of different device releases. With the Galaxy S24 series Otterbox is launching four new cases and a screen protector. So your phone ends up with total body coverage. While you might hate screen protectors based on those flimsy ones from the past, this new one from Otterbox is nothing like that. The ‘PolyArmor’ screen protector is made of a special material that was designed to provide shock absorption. It’s not glass though, so it won’t shatter if the phone happens to fall face down.
Otterbox says that it also delivers long-lasting scratch protection. Additionally, it was designed to prevent fingerprints and smudges. So you end up with a clean phone screen that looks just as good even with the PolyArmor on. It’s also made from 60% recycled materials, and that’s always a nice touch since it helps cut down on waste. These will retail for $34.95 to $44.95 depending on the phone you buy them for. However, they aren’t available yet and Otterbox doesn’t mention a launch date.
Otterbox offers four new cases for the Galaxy S24 series
The first thing to know is that each of these cases is available for every model. So whether you go for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, or Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can find these case options. Also worth noting is that not all of them provide the same level of protection. For example, if you want the best protection possible, then you want to go with the Defender XT case. It’s a little more expensive at $69.95. But if you just bought a Galaxy S24 Ultra, you want all the protection you can get.
Otterbox will also offer the Defender Series XT Holster for $14.95 so you can slide the phone in face-first. It clips in nice and snug and it’s great for attaching your phone to a bag’s shoulder strap on runs or bike rides. If you want something less expensive, something like the Symmetry Series case might be more your speed. This one even comes in two limited edition designs, one of which has a bunch of cute dogs all over it.
The last two cases are the Defender and Defender Pro, and the Commuter series. These will be priced at $64.95 and $39.95 respectively. All of the cases should be available for purchase from today and it looks like most of them are shipping immediately. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a case ready to go when your phone shows up. And if you haven’t pre-ordered yet, you can place your pre-order for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra starting today.
The tech industry has been in pretty bad shape since the pandemic. And it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, especially with the recent surge in tech industry layoffs. Just two weeks into 2024, about 50 tech companies, along with more than 7,500 employees, have already been laid off. It’s not a great situation.
Tech industry layoffs peaked in 2023
In 2023, layoffs reached a staggering figure. Layoffs.fyi, a tech layoff tracking website, reported a total of 262,582 employees losing their jobs till January 17. It also marked an alarming increase of over 160% compared to the previous year, with 2022 witnessing significantly fewer layoffs.
Tech industry layoffs in 2023 significantly impacted major players, including Google, letting go of about 6% of its total staff, around 12,000 employees—one of the largest tech layoffs since the pandemic took place. Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce also experienced significant layoffs.
Two weeks into the new year, more than 7,500 have already lost jobs
Big tech giants, including Google, are also facing problems. Google recently let go of 1,000 workers and might cut more jobs in their ad and sales teams. Other well-known companies like Discord, Instagram, Amazon, Twitch, Humane, and Unity are also experiencing difficulties, showing that the impact is widespread.
Even strong platforms like The Messenger are dealing with the aftermath of job cuts, and some, like Artifact, have had to stop their operations completely. These tech industry layoffs are affecting many people, leaving them without jobs in these tough times. Meanwhile, Apple largely avoided layoffs in 2023. But signs indicate potential layoffs if an AI-focused team doesn’t relocate.
While some experts suggest not worrying too much about a recession, the impact of tech industry layoffs is evident. Companies are responding by continuously trimming their staff and prioritizing efficiency over growth. Despite differing opinions, certain experts anticipate that 2024 may bring a combination of positive and challenging circumstances.
As we bid farewell to 2023, reflecting on the performance and value retention of flagship smartphones becomes imperative. According to a report by price comparison site SellCell, Apple exhibited its ability to retain the iPhone 15 series’ value much better compared to many of its Android counterparts. In the Android realm, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series emerged as a resilient option.
The iPhone 15 lost only 27.9% three months post-release. Putting it into comparison, this figure is 27.1% less than the average depreciation seen in other flagship Android devices. The iPhone 15 series, particularly the 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max, stood out, depreciating by a mere 18.2% during the initial three months.
Coming to Android, the Galaxy S23 experienced 32.8% less depreciation compared to other Android flagships in the same timeframe. Despite an initial loss of 43.5% in the first two months, the Galaxy S23 held its ground, with the 256GB Galaxy S23 Plus showcasing exceptional value retention, losing only 35.3% after three months.
However, unlike the Galaxy S23, some Android flagships depreciated considerably
However, not all Samsung models fared equally well. The Galaxy S23 FE took the unfortunate title of the worst-depreciating model, with an astonishing 68.4% loss in value within three months of release. The Galaxy S22, its predecessor, had depreciated by 46.8% in the initial two months.
Interestingly, the Google Pixel 8 faced a significant drop in value, plummeting by 61.2% in the first three months. Surprisingly, its predecessor, the Pixel 7a, outperformed it by losing 52.5% of its value in a comparable period.
OnePlus entered the scene with the OnePlus 11, experiencing a depreciation of 48.5% in the initial three months. While this performance landed it on the list of worst-depreciating phones in 2023, it still outshone the Google Pixel 8. Some Galaxy S23 models are also featured on this list, potentially impacted by discounts offered by Samsung and third-party retailers. It influenced their resale values.
In summary of the smartphone value retention study, Apple’s iPhone 15 and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 fared the best in terms of value retention. The Galaxy S23 FE and Google’s Pixel 8 faced some significant value depreciation.
So, you bit off more than you can chew; you joined an Instagram Broadcast channel, and you’re regretting it. The account decides to post literally every 20 minutes, and you can’t take it anymore. It’s about time to move on from that channel for the sake of your sanity. That’s just what this piece is about. Here’s how to leave that annoying Instagram Broadcast channel.
Before we get started, if you’re looking to get more out of Instagram, then you might want to consider Meta Verified. This is a subscription plan starting at $8/month, and it encompasses both Facebook and Instagram. At the time of writing this, the company is still working on bringing WhatsApp into the service.
There are several perks to getting Meta Verified like an algorithmic boost, a verification badge, better customer service, proactive account monitoring, and more. Here’s Everything you need to know about Meta Verified in case you have some questions. It might be the thing to help you get your account off of the ground.
How to leave an Instagram Broadcast channel
Leaving that annoying channel is really simple to do. First, navigate to your messages. You’ll see all of the channels you follow along with your DMs. Channels will look like other chat conversations, but they’ll all be at the top of the feed.
Hold your finger down on the channel that you want to leave. You’ll see a little panel pop up from the bottom of the screen. Tap on the Leave option at the bottom. When you do that, you’ll see a popup appear on the screen asking you if you’re sure you want to leave. If you’re serious about leaving that group, tap on the Delete option.
Once you leave the channel, you won’t see any more messages. Also, you won’t see the channel in your chat feed. You’ll be completely cut off from that channel. So, do a sigh of relief.
How to rejoin a channel
If you have a change of heart, and you want to return to that channel, the process is also pretty simple. First, you’ll need to find the account that hosts the channel. You’ll be able to find it by looking through your Following list or by searching for it. Go to that account’s profile.
Right under the account’s profile bio, you will see a little chat bubble icon with the name of the channel next to it. Tap on the name of the channel and confirm that you want to rejoin it.
You might want to consider just muting a channel
If, instead, you just need a little break from the channel in question, then you may just want to mute it. This will block the channel from sending messages to you for a temporary period of time. To do this, you will need to go back to your messages and find the channel.
Hold your finger down until the panel pops up. Then, tap on the Mute button. When you do that, the app will give you four options. You can mute the messages for 1, 8, and 24 hours. There’s also the option to mute them indefinitely. Just tap on the Until I change it option.
How to create your own Broadcast channel
So, you’re tired of seeing other people’s channels, and you want a piece of the action. Well, you have the ability to make your own Broadcast channel. The process is easy, though it’s not quite as intuitive as you may think.
Firstly, you’ll need to go to your messages. Tap on the Compose message button at the top of your screen. On the resulting page, look for the option to create your channel. Once you do, you’ll have the options needed to customize your channel. Choose a profile picture for the channel, then choose a name for it. You’ll want to make sure that people know what your channel is about with the name and picture.
You have the option of making your channel open to everyone or exclusive to subscribers. Next, choose whether you want your channel to be visible on your profile. If you don’t make it visible on your profile, then people might not be able to rejoin after leaving.
If you want to keep an eye on who joins your channel, you can hold all new members for review. Before they can join your channel, you’ll need to approve their request.
Invites
After you’ve created your shiny new channel, you’ll want to gather some people to populate it. This is where sending out invites comes in. You’re able to send a mass invite to other users across Instagram to possibly join your channel. When you invite a person, they’ll get a one-time message in their inbox with a link to your channel. Once they tap on the Join button, they’ll be in your channel.
What you can post
If you’re curious about what kind of content you can post, the sky’s the limit. This is basically a one-way chat between you and the audience, so you can post anything that you’d post in a DM. Feel free to post text-based messages to the group. You can also post pictures and videos. If you want to know your audience’s opinion on something, then why not post a poll?
Why make a channel?
Broadcast Channels are for what their name implies; they’re for you to broadcast to your audience. They’re a way for you to share your work with your fans. Along with sharing your work, you can also use your channel to keep your fans in the loop about what’s going on. If you’re a musician, then you can use the channels to update your audience about future tour dates or releases. That’s only one example of what you can do.
“AI AI AI!” This has been on the tips of everyone’s tongues for the past year, and many tech companies are pivoting hard towards the technology. During today’s Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled a slew of new AI features that are coming to its new Galaxy S24 phones. The company really leaned hard on AI technology this year, and it brought forth some interesting features.
There was a lot announced today, so it’s very easy to miss some of what the company introduced. However, fear not! Here’s a rundown of all of the AI features that were announced during the Samsung Unpacked event.
Before digging in, if you want to know more about the Galaxy S24 series phones, be sure to check out our coverage of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It has all the information you need to know about this phone including its specs, price, and more information. We also have information on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+.
Here are all of the AI features that Samsung announced during Galaxy Unpacked
What’s neat about these features is that most of them will not be confined to the Ultra model. The majority of the features will be available across all three phones. So, there’s no forced exclusivity like we’re seeing with the Pixel 8 Pro.
Translation
Starting off, Samsung phones now have an on-device way of breaking down language barriers. There are now different ways for you to translate text and voices. For starters, if you’re having a text message conversation with someone, and you want to send text in a different language, you simply have to type your message, and then press the Galaxy AI button on the top of the keyboard. When you do that, you will see the Chat Translation button pop up. This will give you the option to instantly translate the text you’ve written into a selection of different languages.
You’ll also be able to Live Translate phone calls. So, when you are on a call with a person, you will hear a translated version of their voice in real time. In order to use this feature, you will need to use the Samsung Dialer app and be signed into your Samsung account.
If you’re having a face-to-face conversation with a person who speaks another language, Samsung has a neat AI tool for you. With Interpreter, you’ll be able to easily have a two-way conversation with another person from a different language. The app will open in a split-screen view with two microphone icons. One person will tap on the microphone icon and say what they want to say in their language. The tool will then translate what they say, and you will hear a virtual voice say it in the translated language. This way, you can have a back-and-forth conversation with another person.
Chat Assist
If you need help with perfecting your next text message, then Chat Assist is here for you. All you have to do is type your message and tap on the Galaxy AI button. After choosing the Writing Style option, the keyboard will analyze the message you just typed. Then, using generative AI, the phone will offer you some AI-generated versions of that message that all have different tones.
If you want your message to have a more casual tone, you can select that option. The same goes for if you want your message to have a more formal tone. Also, if you want to turn your message into a social media post, the phone will actually give you an example complete with hashtags and emojis.
Android Auto
When you’re driving, the last thing you want (or NEED) to do is stare at your phone to read a text message. Simply waiting until you get home before reading your text messages is the best option. However, if you really must read your text messages, then you should let Samsung do it for you.
A new feature will allow Android Auto to summarize incoming text messages for you. So, you’ll be able to have an idea of what the person is talking about without you having to take your eyes off of the road. Along with this, the feature will suggest replies for you to send. All of this is done through voice, so you won’t have to worry about distracting yourself to reply.
This is a much safer option than driving one-handed or taking your eyes off of the road.
Note Assist
If you’re a person who uses Samsung Notes, then you will definitely love this feature. Note Assist will use generative AI to organize your notes, summarize them, create note templates, and automatically create covers for them. This AI tool makes it much easier to keep your notes all organized and easy to manage.
If you’re taking voice notes in the app, then you will love the Transcript Assist feature. This will use AI speech-to-text technology to transcribe, summarize, and even translate recordings. Also, the AI technology will be able to differentiate between different speakers.
Circle To Search
This is one of the AI features that actually don’t use on-device AI. Rather, Samsung and Google are working in tandem to bring this feature to life. Called Circle To Search, this allows you to quickly do a Google Lens search on a particular item in a picture by simply circling it.
If you’re viewing the picture, summon the Google Assistant. Then, simply draw a circle around the item in the picture that you want to search. Google will work its magic and identify what’s in the image. From that point, it will give you search results based on what you circled.
This feature is not only useful, but it is also very fast. Depending on what items you circle, you will get your results within a fraction of a second.
AI camera features
Samsung always brings some amazing camera improvements with its new phones, and this year is no different. This year, the company introduced the ProVisual Engine. This is a suite of AI power tools that transform the camera’s image-capturing abilities.
After you’ve captured your image, Samsung has a set of tools such as Galaxy AI Editing, Edit Suggestion, and Generative Edit. These are all tools that use generative AI to help you edit your shots to make them the best that they can possibly be. They will tweak and do deep edits to your images which would usually require multi-hundred-dollar photo editing software.
One thing to note is that these AI camera features are exclusive to the Ultra model of the Galaxy S24. All of the other features, however, will be available on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+.
Check out the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event below to view these new AI features:
With Samsung‘s Galaxy S24 series now official, accessory maker Casetify is here with an extensive collection of protective cases for the new phones. The firm has launched four covers and a magnetic ring for the lineup. The accessories are available on its official website as well as on Amazon.
Casetify launches protective cases for the Galaxy S24 series
Casetify’s offerings for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are headed by the Impact Ring Stand Case. It is a sturdy cover with a 3x MIL-STD-810G military-grade durability standard. The case features a raised camera ring that doubles up as a kickstand for the phones. The stand rotates up to 150 degrees, allowing you to prop up the device horizontally at various angles.
The cover has multiple layers of Casetify’s proprietary EcoShock shock-absorbing technology, making it strong enough to withstand single drops of 2 meters or 6.6 feet. It is compatible with a magnetic ring and wireless charging. The Impact Ring Stand Case will cost you $80.
The regular Impact Case, which lacks a kickstand, lowers the price to $70 while upgrading the durability to the 4x MIL-STD-810G standard. It has raised bezels for screen protection and is drop-resistant up to 2.4 meters or 8.2 feet. Despite the toughness, the case doesn’t block the wireless charging capabilities of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is available in Clear/Black, Matte Black, and Deep Purple colors.
Next up, we have a $75 priced Clear Case from Casetify. It boasts shock-absorption technology and 1x MIL-STD-810G standard for 2m/6.6ft drop protection. Thanks to UV Defender technology, the case doesn’t discolor quickly and remains crystal clear for a long time. It is also scratch-resistant and supports magnetic accessories and wireless charging.
Casetify’s Mirror Case for the Galaxy S24 lineup has the specialty its name suggests. Its rear surface doubles up as a mirror. The case also gives you 1.5m/4.9ft drop protection, raised bezels, and a strap hole to attach phone charms. This electroplate-coated polycarbonate dual-purpose accessory is compatible with wireless charging and magnetic accessories and can be yours at $70.
Casetify’s magnetic ring adds support for magnetic accessories
Along with the four covers, Casetify made a magnetic ring for the Galaxy S24 series. It adds magnetic capabilities to non-magnetic cases, allowing you to attach magnetic accessories. Priced at $15, the ring measures just 1.2mm in thickness and offers a strong magnetic attachment. The firm gives you an easy-to-use two-step applicator so the ring sits perfectly on the back of the phone.
Back in April 2017, Google Assistant, Siri, and Amazon Alexa got a new friend named Samsung Bixby. This is the voice assistant that’s exclusive to Samsung’s Galaxy devices. It had a pretty rocky start, but it’s up and running now. With all the buzz around generative AI, we’ve all wondered what plans Samsung has for its voice Assistant. However, the company stated that Bixby is sticking around.
Samsung didn’t really hint that Bixby was going away, in all honesty. But, the introduction of generative AI really took the tech world by storm, and it’s causing some companies to rethink their entire business strategies. New AI products are coming out with new names, and we’re wondering what’s going to happen with the voice assistance of the past.
For example, Google introduced Bard last year. Bard is the company’s AI-powered chatbot, and this made us wonder about the fate of Google Assistant. Is Google going to have two concurrent AI-powered assistants, or will Bard cannibalize Assistant? That remains to be seen, but it’s a valid concern.
Samsung just announced the Galaxy S24 series of phones today, and the prime focus was on AI. Sure, these phones are going to come with updated processors, but most of the changes will have to do with the brains of the phone. Since AI has been the driving force of the tech world since November 2022, companies are making a hard pivot to AI technology.
In the case of Samsung, the company touted a myriad of on-device AI tools. With so many on-device tools, having an internet-connected voice assistant might seem a bit extraneous. So, it puts into question just what the company is going to do with Bixby. Thankfully, for fans of the voice assistant, Bixby is sticking around. Samsung is not going to do away with its child only 6 years after its introduction.
Rather, the company plans on adding new changes and features to Bixby in order to boost the experience. So, what exciting goodies does Samsung have in store for Bixby? That remains to be seen.
Samsung just pulled the wraps off of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and, Galaxy S24 Ultra and we got a peek at what AI features these phones will offer. While AI features usually require a connection to the cloud, the S24 phones will take a different path. Many of the Galaxy S24’s AI features will use on-device AI.
Just today, Samsung announced that Galaxy AI is powered by Google’s Gemini Nano. This is a powerful AI model that can exist on a smartphone chip. That means that a device will be able to perform powerful AI tasks without needing to connect to the internet. This also opens the door for phones to better integrate AI with core system functions.
These Galaxy AI functions are performed on-device
Samsung announced quite a handful of new AI features during the event, and most of them are done on-device.
Firstly, the company announced a collection of features that all center around translating speech and text for people. While you’re texting someone, you’re able to easily translate what you’re typing using the Galaxy AI button on the Samsung Keyboard. Just type the message, and tap on the Chat Translation button. this will let you translate your message into one of several languages.
The Interpret tool will translate a face-to-face conversation between you and another person. The app will open in a split-screen view with a microphone icon on each side. This will allow both people to speak into the phone and translate everything they’re saying for the other person.
If you want to have a live conversation with a person who speaks another language, you’ll be able to do that over the phone. Galaxy AI will be able to translate phone conversations between people in real-time.
Other AI features
Samsung Notes also received a boost with on-device AI. The app will use AI to organize, summarize, and create templates for your notes. Also, it will create AI-generated covers for your notes so that you can identify them more easily.
Here’s another useful feature to help you with your messaging. Chat Assist will use generative AI to give your messages a different tone. After you type a message, Chat Assist will analyze what you wrote and offer alternatives. If you want it to sound more formal, you can choose the formal tone. If you want it to sound more casual, you can choose that option.
Place your order!
If you’re looking forward to getting your hands on one of these phones, you should put in your pre-order. Using the links below will get you a $50 discount.
Samsung just announced this new Galaxy S24 phones, and they bring a slew of AI-centric upgrades over the previous iteration. Along with these, we also got the typical hardware upgrades like a new processor. However, one bit of new hardware seems to be missing, as Samsung, apparently, does not think that Qi2 wireless charging is necessary.
Right now, we’re at the cusp of the new standard in wireless charging technology. Qi2 wireless charging brings improvement over standard Qi wireless charging standard. We’ve seen a few Qi2-enabled devices showcased during CES 2024. Notably, the iPhone 15 is compatible with Qi2 wireless charging. With upgrades to charging speeds and efficiency, most new products should come out with this enabled.
However, it seems that Samsung does not consider Qi2 wireless charging necessary
Samsung is a leader in the tech industry. However, when it comes to charging technology, the Korean tech giant sometimes stays behind the curve. We saw this when the Galaxy S7 used a micro USB port when most of the tech world had already transitioned to USB-C. Also, Samsung isn’t a leader when it comes to charging speeds for its phones. So, it definitely tracks that Samsung is behind the times with Qi2 wireless charging.
When asked about whether it implemented Qi2, into its Galaxy S24 phones, the company said that people aren’t asking for it. So, it appears that Samsung simply skipped it this year. Instead, the company wants to focus on just offering faster charging without upgrading to a newer standard.
While this would be disappointing to some people, we don’t fear that there will be a large public outcry regarding is news. The people using Samsung’s phones aren’t really used to extremely fast charging anyway, so this doesn’t seem like much of a big deal.
In any case, the Galaxy S24 phones are now official. Be sure to check out Android Headlines for more coverage on these devices and to see if these are the phones for you.
