Image used with permission by copyright holderOne of the more irritating first-world problems that many audio engineers and music-lovers face on a daily basis – especially in the Pacific Northwest – has to be the dreaded over-ear headphone vs. hoodie quandary. Will you put your cans on first and hood up second, transforming your dome piece into a monstrously misshapen lump? Or will you take the road less traveled and wear the ‘phones on top, sacrificing that crystal-clear audio you shelled out $200-plus for? San Francisco-based Betabrand hopes to eliminate this annoyance by creating a special type of hoodie, made of a speaker-like fabric that allows the wearer to put over-ear ‘phones outside the hood without compromising audio quality. It calls its new sonically sound garb the Audio Engineer Hoodie.
The stylishly studio- and stage-ready Audio Engineer Hoodie features acoustically transparent hood panels made for “when you need a barrier between you and the world but you still need to mix.”Image used with permission by copyright holder
The Audio Engineer Hoodie is more than just a standard piece of clothing with acoustic hood panels. It’s designed as a sort of audio engineer version of a wizard’s cloak. The hoodie is comprised of a water-resistant polyester/cotton blend to resist the elements, and sports a cassette-themed interior lining. Additional features include twin kangaroo pockets with headphone pass-through holes, an external and internal chest pocket, a loop in the left pocket to clip your keys/flashlight/multi-tool/drum key, etc., and even an internal pull-out wiring diagram to aid engineers working in the field that run in to wiring quandaries.
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Currently this audio engineer’s wardrobe essential is gathering funds via Betabrand’s own crowdfunding/think tank community. The hoodie has already reached 162 percent of its original goal with 25 days left of funding, and you can pre-order your very own for about $140 (10 percent down from the eventual $160 price-point). The garment is slated to ship in late October.
Wait! Don’t update your Sonos app until you read this
As promised, Sonos has refreshed its app for mobile devices and has launched a web app that replaces native Mac and Windows apps. But before you update your older version of the Sonos app, you may want to hang back a bit -- especially if you use Sonos to play music from a personal library of digital albums and tracks.
The redesigned app feels like a breath of fresh air, with an interface that removes the bottom tabs for an all-in-one approach. The new Home screen has become a universal destination of sorts, with easy access to your preferred streaming services, a one-tap search option, and a pull-up (or pull-down) overlay that shows you all of your Sonos products at a glance. And you can rename your system, which is fun.
Best Samsung TV deals: Save on 4K TVs, QLED TVs, OLED TVs, 8K TVs
Sorting through some of the best TV brands is a great way to start a search for a new TV. Samsung comes in at the top of many people’s list, and the electronics giant has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a new TV for your living room, basement, or home theater setup. Samsung regularly kicks out some of the best TVs you can buy, and it offers some great value as well, as it regularly has models among the best TV deals. Currently you can find a number of Samsung TV deals out there. They include 4K and 8K TVs, as well as TVs utilizing a number of different picture technologies such as OLED and QLED. We’ve tracked down what we feel are the best Samsung TV deals to shop right now, including OLED TV deals and QLED TV deals. There is even one Samsung The Frame TV deal. Read onward for more details on how to save, and don’t be shy about making a purchase if you see a deal you like, as there’s no telling how long these deals will last.
Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED 4K Smart TV — $1,300, was $2,000
We find the QN85C to be sitting at just about the perfect price for a TV right now, while still maintaining the qualities and freshness of a much more quality TV. While it is 4K, it uses mini-LED tech, which allows for fine-tuned light control. Remember that the best QLED TVs are typically renowned more for their brightness than contrast; this tech can tip that need for contrast in the QN85C's favor. Other great features of this TV include audio with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound, 4K upscaling, and motion acceleration to keep fast moving content smooth.
Best Sling TV deals: Save 50% off your first month and more
A great way to save on one of the best live TV streaming services is by making Sling TV your provider of choice. Sling is popular among people who prefer to watch their TV with an internet connection, as its user interface closely resembles the familiarity of cable, and Sling TV channels also match much of what you’ll find if you’re coming from a cable or satellite provider. Sling TV offers several ways to save, and we’ve provided a list of the best Sling TV deals currently taking place below. So whether you want to kick back with your favorite movies or ensure you have access to anticipated sports games — such as the NBA playoffs — taking place this month, Sling TV offers several streaming deals to help you save.
Today’s best Sling TV deals
Sling TV is one of the more affordable ways to stream live TV online because it allows you to customize what kind of content you’re paying for. Basketball fans should make it a top consideration, as Sling currently has a package available that ensures you'll have access to all of the NBA playoffs. Sling offers two base subscription packages, Orange and Blue. Sling Orange is focused on sports and family entertainment, while Sling Blue is primarily focused on news and general entertainment. You can also buy a subscription to both Orange and Blue. Other packages are available that add channels not available through either base plan. Unfortunately there is no Sling TV free trial happening right now.
