Hello Kitty Expands Her Reign Into the Metaverse with MetaGaia Partnership

High-end Danish electronics brand Bang & Olufsen have unveiled their latest headphones, the Beoplay H100, which are crafted to take the luxurious legacy of the Beoplay H95 up a notch.

This new model showcases the full potential of Bang & Olufsen’s audio wearables. According to CEO Kristian Teär, “Beoplay H100 elevates what we have accomplished over the past ten decades and defines our future: an era where beautiful sound is built to last. It represents the true potential of what a Bang & Olufsen audio wearable can be.”

Build, Appearance, and Comfort

Put simply, the first thing you notice about the Beoplay H100 headphones is they look great. The headphones come in 3 classy colors: Sunset Apricot, Infinite Black and Hourglass Sand. We loved the elegant Hourglass Sand, but their range of colors suit all personalities and complement any outfit.

The detachable headband is finely crafted in leather and wrapped in a knitted textile, a detail which takes the headphones to the next level. Its ear cushions are made from plush lambskin – giving the headphones an elegant Italian vibe.

Sound and Call Quality

Clearly these headphones are not just intended to turn heads – with B&O, it’s all about the audio. B&O [Bang & Olufsen to be formal] have been pushing the limits of quality audio gear for nearly 100 years and are still at the forefront of the game.

The Beoplay H100 are, we think, simply the best, providing an immersive and crystal-clear audio experience that is second to none. To get technical, these headphones are optimized for Dolby Atmos an audio technology which gives a superlative immersive sound experience, whilst electro-dynamic titanium drivers work their magic on the sound waves.

This results in impressive noise cancelling features which meant this reviewer could listen to their favorite mumble rapper whilst squashed on the MTR during rush hour — and not miss a beat. We were impressed by the H100's "True Transparency" mode, which provides clear ambient sound when needed. Additionally, its "Quick Listen" feature allows users to quickly hear their surroundings by lifting an earcup or covering it with their palm.”

Like most of B&O’s products the Beoplay H100 can be controlled via the B&O app, allowing you to preset your musical preferences for the day. Feel you need to pump up the bass – no problem. It’s all done via a quick adjustment on the app.

For everyday listening, you can activate stopping and starting a track as easily as tapping the side of the ear cover, and simply twist its built-in dial forward to increase transparency or backward to increase Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). You will hear distinct sound feedback from your surroundings when you have reached the maximum transparency setting.

Battery Life

The H100's battery life takes the cake. We have often complained that great advances in tech have not been matched by longer battery life. So we immediately fell for the Beoplay H100’s fast charging feature. A quick charge of only 5 minutes will give you an impressive 5-hour playback (when using the specified USB cable) whilst a regular one-hour battery charge gives over 30 hours of playtime.

If you are in the habit of leaving your headphones lying about, you might also appreciate low-power mode which extends standby time to 90 days when the headphones are stored outside their case.

Make sure not to forget your accompanying chic leather pouch which offers the headphones stylish protection, provides space for charging cables, and even automatically puts them on standby mode. As soon as you take them out of the pouch, the headphones switch back on. Incredibly, when your headphones are left inside the leather pouch, the battery will last more than a year in deep sleep mode.

Sustainability

B&O’s commitment to durability is also worth a mention. Headphones get bashed around quite a bit, stuffed into bags and piled on various surfaces. Usually, a slight bit of damage leads to the whole product being sent to the bin.

Happily, the Beoplay H100 has been built with a modular design, so that individual parts can be easily replaced, including the battery, headband, cushions, and even the titanium drivers. An extended 5-year warranty is also on offer, which gives a little more reassurance that this premium product has been built to last. Also, when a new feature comes out, you can update and experience it right away.

Final Thoughts

The Beoplay H100 retail at a rather hefty HK$11,998, but its innovative features combined with pleasing aesthetic put these headphones in a different league and will be topping our Santa’s List this year!

The Beoplay H100 is available today at Bang & Olufsen stores. For more information, visit Bang & Olufsen on their website, or on Facebook and Instagram.

Samsung Electronics is set to showcase its latest advancements in mobile AI at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10, 2024. The highly anticipated event will introduce the Galaxy AI, integrated into the newest Galaxy Z series and the entire Galaxy ecosystem, offering users unprecedented possibilities in mobile technology.

The event will take place in Paris, a city renowned for its cultural and technological influence, and will be live-streamed at 9 PM HKT/MYT. Hong Kong viewers can watch the stream on the official Samsung Hong Kong website, while Kuala Lumpur viewers can tune in via Samsung Malaysia’s official platforms, including their website and Instagram.

Samsung Malaysia is also offering incentives for early registrants. By registering interest before July 9, 2024, participants can receive up to RM500 in Samsung e-vouchers for pre-orders and stand a chance to win daily mystery gifts worth up to RM27,000.

For more information and updates, visit the Samsung Newsroom.

Take professional and artistic photos with your iPhone through the Leica Camera AG’s latest app “Leica LUX.” This app brings the iconic Leica Look to iPhones, enabling users to immerse themselves in a different world of Leica aesthetics.

The app offers the “Leica Lenses,” where you can take pictures with a selection of classic Leica lenses like the Summilux-M 28 mm f/1.4 ASPH and the Noctilux-M 50 mm f/1.2 ASPH. It also has a top-notch image-processing engine that allows you to produce pictures with the signature look of their lenses.

With different color gradations and film presets compared to the native iPhone camera, you can enhance the image depth and character. And just like professional cameras, Leica LUX features automatic and manual modes where you can control the aperture, exposure, and shutter speeds – no need to bring heavy equipment, with your phone, you can take artistic photos whenever and wherever.

The app offers a “Freemium” model, the free version of the Leica LUX. With the free version, you can access the Automatic and Aperture modes, along with six lenses. For those who want full access to their signature looks and controls on exposure, focus, and white balance, they offer the Leica LUX Pro (HK$58/month).

After its successful launch in January this year, Samsung continues to expand its innovative Samsung Galaxy AI by including more languages and dialects in its latest update. The tech giant has announced the inclusion of three new languages and three new dialects on top of its already existing 13 languages.

Samsung users can now access the new languages and dialects through language pack downloads, which include Arabic, Indonesian, and Russian, and dialects including Australian English, Canadian French, and Cantonese, which Hong Kong users are looking forward to.

Changing the game of mobile AI, Samsung unlocks new possibilities with the new Galaxy AI, including real-time voice and text translation for call assist, interpreter, and chat assist, as well as context-aware suggestions.

It is also equipped to make AI-generated summaries with pre-formatted templates and cover pages, as well as transcribe, summarise, and translate voice recordings in the available language pack downloads.

Starting on April 26, Galaxy S24 Series, Galaxy S23 Series, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, and Galaxy Tab S9 Series users can access and download the new update to optimise and innovate their working and entertainment experiences.

Hong Kong has taken a significant step towards embracing cryptocurrencies as mainstream investment tools by conditionally approving its first spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Monday. This initiative follows the implementation of a regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers in the region last year.

This move positions the city to potentially become Asia's pioneer in recognizing cryptocurrencies as legitimate investment assets. Hong Kong, in competition with financial hubs like Singapore and Dubai, aims to establish itself as a leading centre for digital asset firms.

At least three offshore Chinese asset managers are set to launch virtual asset spot ETFs in the near future.

The Hong Kong units of Harvest Fund Management and Bosera Asset Management have both announced that they have received conditional approvals from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to introduce the ETFs. Additionally, OSL Digital Securities Ltd. stated that it would offer custodial services for Bitcoin and Ether products from China Asset Management and Harvest, among others.

According to Reuters, the SFC issues conditional authorization letters to ETF applications that generally meet its requirements, subject to fulfilling various conditions such as fee payments, document filings, and approval from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) for listing.

Bloomberg reported a positive market response to the news, with Bitcoin surging as much as 4.3% to approximately US$66,629, while Ether experienced a 6.1% increase to reach US$3,257. This demonstrates growing investor confidence and interest in cryptocurrencies as regulated investment options.

The conditional approval of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in Hong Kong marks a significant milestone in the integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial systems, potentially opening doors for broader adoption and investment opportunities in the region.

Get ready for an adventure like no other as CASETiFY teams up with the beloved cartoon robot cat Doraemon in their latest collection. Launching on March 27, the Doraemon x CASETiFY Collection is a playful nod to the beloved Japanese manga and animated series.

Fans can expect a range of specialty products and collectible accessories that showcase Doraemon and his famous secret gadgets starting at HK$279. Some of the highlights of the collection are the Anywhere Door Case (HK$549), a 3D silicone case replicating the iconic motif in the series, and the Doraemon Collectible AirPods (HK$749) which comes equipped with a detachable “Hopter” and exchangeable eyes to convey Doraemon’s many expressions.

CASETiFY's custom studio is getting a Doraemon makeover, giving fans the chance to personalize their accessories with specially designed fonts – from AirPods cases and Apple watch bands to iPad covers and laptop cases. To celebrate the launch, selected CASETiFY stores will be showcasing a life-sized "Anywhere Door Phone Case" and a Doraemon statue with different secret gadgets.

Mark your calendars and get ready to shop 'til you drop on March 27! For those who can’t wait until launch, you can sign up for priority access to shop the collection on the CASETiFY website.