Sony launches 2 premium, pricey Walkmans

Source: Sony

Sony has some new, very expensive MP3s for audiophiles. The company just launched a couple of high-end Walkman players, with the top-of-the-line model, the NW-WM1ZM2, retailing for a hefty US$3,700 (approx. CA$4,782). It has an S-Master HX digital amp with "fine-tuned" capacitors, 99.99% pure gold-plated, oxygen-free copper chassis, and a thick Kimber Kable (linking the amp to the headphone jack). This combination supposedly contributes to a "clear, expansive" output. Its reflow soldering also has gold that supposedly boosts sound localization and widens the sound stage.

This Android-based player has a 5-inch 720p display, a better upscaling algorithm for CD-quality (16-bit, 44/48kHz), and a larger power supply. This has 256GB of expandable storage, Wi-Fi streaming, 40 hours of battery life when playing 96kHz FLAC audio, and charging via USB-C. It supports up to 32-bit, 384kHz audio in formats like MQA and WAV.

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Samsung Galaxy Fit3 gets rumoured release date

Samsung hasn't updated its smart bands in a while. The last Galaxy Fit device was launched in September 2020 alongside the Galaxy Tab A7. But there was information on the Korean Samsung Community forum hinting at a follow-up. A user asked when the Galaxy Fit3 will arrive, and a community manager claims it'll come out in the second half of this year or the first half of 2023. The band will reportedly cost between KRW 49,000-50,000, which will be the same price as the Fit2 (KRW 49,500). So, if the rumour is true, you can expect similar pricing in other markets. 

We don't know what this new smart band can offer, and we're treating the response with a grain of salt. But as GSMArena pointed it, the timeline means it shouldn't come out alongside the Galaxy Watch5. For now, we just have to keep our eyes peeled for any updates.

Netflix confirms 'Squid Game' season 2

In an unsurprising move, Netflix has confirmed it will bring back its most popular show of all time for a second season. It's unclear when the second batch of Squid Game episodes will hit the streaming service. The award-winning South Korean horror survival show will have its protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) making a comeback. So will the villain, The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk promised they would reveal the "boyfriend" of Young-Hee, the giant animatronic doll that monitored competitors during the show's first deadly game, Red Light, Green Light.

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LG Display is reportedly prepping work for Apple's 2nd-gen mixed reality headset

Concept render based on purported leaked information (Ian Zelbo)

While Apple's first-generation mixed reality headset hasn't launched yet, LG Display is reportedly preparing to supply micro OLED display panels for the next-generation model. The company is believed to be ordering deposition equipment for micro-OLED displays from Sunic System. The company supposedly plans to use the equipment to produce the displays for the headset. 

It's believed to be part of the supply chain for the upcoming headset, but it's not expected to supply the main screen. Sony is reportedly supplying that. LG's rumoured to be providing the regular OLED display panels for the outer indicator screen. For the next-generation headset, LG is supposedly hoping to take the orders from Sony. It could be a wise move for Apple, given that Sony indirectly competes with Apple thanks to its PlayStation VR headsets.

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