Comcast is now considerably closer to making multigigabit cable internet a reality. The company has successfully tested the first 10G modem capable of multigigabit speeds. The Broadcom-built prototype used the full duplex DOCSIS 4.0 standard to provide download and upload bandwidth topping 4Gbps. For context, maintaining that performance would let you download all of Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s recommended install size for PC (61GB) in just over two minutes.

While this was a lab test, it’s still a significant step forward. The company previously reached those speeds using a virtualized system, and in October 2020 was ‘only’ managing 1.25Gbps with the new DOCSIS technology. The new format is notable for not only improving downstream speeds, but enabling symmetric uploads and reducing lag.

The telecom didn’t offer a timeline for when you might see customer-ready DOCSIS 4.0 multigigabit modems. You may have to be content with 2Gbps service for now. However, the larger question is whether or not you’ll get to make use of a 4Gbps-plus connection any time soon. You’ll need a speedy route across the internet, of course, but there’s also the question of Comcast’s data caps. While it wouldn’t be surprising if Comcast raised or even waived caps for multigigabit users, it might be difficult to take advantage of the larger data pipe if any caps discourage sustained use.

Source: Engadget – Comcast tests the first multigigabit cable modem

The release of the Galaxy Buds 2 last year showed Samsung’s prowess when it comes to making solid wireless earbuds. The $150 buds pack a lot of premium features into a relatively affordable price point, making them a good option for those with tight budgets. The Buds 2 are an even better buy when you can get them on sale for $100, which is what Woot has them for right now. That’s $50 off the normal rate and a return to a record low — but before you take the plunge, remember to check out Woot’s return policy since it does differ significantly from that of its parent company, Amazon.

Buy Galaxy Buds 2 at Woot – $100

Samsung made its smallest and most comfortable earbuds yet with the Galaxy Buds 2. They’re 15 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the Galaxy Buds+, which were already pretty comfy to begin with. You’ll get roughly five hours of use from the buds before they need more juice, which isn’t a battery life to write home about but it is on par with many competitors. The earbuds’ case holds an additional three full charges and it supports wireless charging as well.

ANC and the adjustable ambient sound mode are two of the buds’ biggest selling points. Samsung brought those features down from its higher-end earbuds and, while the ANC isn’t as strong as what you’ll find on something like the Galaxy Buds Pro, it still does a good job of blocking out environmental noises. That five-hour battery life mentioned above is with ANC turned on too, so you won’t have to sacrifice in that respect when you want a couple of solid hours with fewer distractions.

All of those features make a pair of wireless earbuds that provide a lot of value to Android users at a decent price. Make no mistake, the Galaxy Buds 2 are best when paired with an Android device — while it’s possible to use them with an iPhone, you’ll be stuck with the default settings.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Source: Engadget – Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 are back on sale for 0

Arturia has launched Brute Noir editions of its popular mid-tier monophonic synths, the MiniBrute 2 and MiniBrute 2S. It also launched a limited Brute Noir edition of its DrumBrute Impact analog drum machine. All the versions are all-black rather than grey, so they may appeal to musicians who want that aesthetic or the exclusivity of a limited edition model.

As a reminder, the MiniBrute 2 is a monophonic synth that’s semi-modular in that it has a decent-sized patchbay for rerouting the synth’s signal, but it can also make sounds right out of the box. Other features include a pair of VCOs, two LFOs and the 25-note, velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch and dual-oscillator Brute Voice. The MiniBrute 2s lacks the keyboard but offers a 64-step sequencer for “classic synth workflow and punchy Brute character.”

The DrumBrute Impact, meanwhile, is Arturia’s entry level 10-voice analog drum machine. It’s modernized with “gnarly FM,” Arturia says, along with polyrythmic sequencing and a built-in distortion circuit. Arturia didn’t reveal specific pricing for the Brute Noir editions ahead of publication, but the regular MiniBrute 2 and MiniBrute 2s models are $499, while the standard DrumBrute is $299 at Amazon. 

Source: Engadget – Arturia unveils ‘Noir’ editions of its popular MiniBrute synths

Leica first announced its M10 rangefinder camera back in January 2017, and the company has since released multiplevariants of the camera since. Most recently, the M10-R added a 40-megapixel sensor to the to the camera, a big step up over the 24-megapixel one found in the original M10. But today, Leica is ready to leave the M10 lineup behind and move to a totally new camera, the Leica M11.

Well, “totally new” might be a stretch. It’ll look familiar to anyone who has seen Leica’s famous lineup of rangefinder cameras before, and it still uses Leica’s M mount for lenses, but the company has put in enough new features to justify giving it a new name. First and foremost is a new 60-megapixel full-frame sensor, making this camera a huge upgrade for anyone who might have purchased the original M10 back in 2017. The so-called “triple resolution” sensor can shoot at either 60, 36 or 18 megapixels in DNG RAW or JPG. Notably, Leica says it’ll shoot using the full sensor area when shooting at a lower resolution, rather than cropping the image down. But these images might loose some sharpness because of pixel binning or line skipping that occurs when using the full sensor to shoot at a lower resolution. .

Shooting at lower resolution, though, will naturally save storage space and also offer extended burst shooting. The ISO on this camera ranges from 64 all the way to 50,000, a stop more than the 100-50,000 range offered on the M10 series. The ISO on this camera goes from 64 all the way to 50,000, a stop more than the 100-50,000 range offered on the M10 series.

Speaking of storage, the M11 has 64GB of onboard storage, which lets photographers storage images both on the internal memory as well as an SD memory card. Leica also redesigned the bottom plate of the camera to provide quicker access to the SD cart slot and battery. There’s also a USB-C port right in the bottom of the camera, which makes charging the battery and transferring pictures to a computer a bit easier. That’s a fairly common feature these days, but it’s still a welcome addition to the M11. Leica also says that the M11’s 1,800mAh battery stores 64 percent more power than the battery on older models

As with the M10 series, the M11 uses Leica’s optical rangefinder and manual focus only. But the 3-inch back screen, which you can also use as a viewfinder, has 2,332,800 pixels, more than double the 1,036,800 pixels on the M10. In another concession to modern technology, the M11 has both a mechanical and an electronic shutter. 

The standard mechanical option can shoot at speeds up to 1/4000th of a second, while the electronic shutter goes up to a whopping 1/16,000 of a second. Perhaps most significantly, the electronic shutter will be totally silent, something that street photographers should appreciate. The M10-R had an “extra silent” mechanical shutter, but you can’t beat a motionless electronic shutter if you need perfectly quiet operation.

Leica is offering two models: an all-black M11 and a black and silver option. The latter uses a brass top plate and as such weighs in at 640 grams, 100 grams more than the all-black models. To save weight, that camera has an aluminum top with a scratch-resistant coating. Regardless of which finish you prefer, the M11 is wildly expensive, in keeping with Leica tradition. It costs $8,995 without a lens, the same price as the M10-R. 

Given the numerous improvements here, it’s nice that Leica didn’t increase the price further, but — as we said when we checked out the M10-R — Leica rangefinders are as much a status symbol as they are a photography tool. We said the M10-R was the king of that category in 2020, but now it seems the M11 has taken the throne. The M11 is available to order now.

Source: Engadget – Leica’s M11 rangefinder camera features a 60-megapixel, full-frame sensor