Apple’s been pretty busy with AirPods announcements this week. Along with the new fourth-generation AirPods (and ANC option) and the updated AirPods Max, it’s also been focusing on hearing with the AirPods Pro. It relies heavily on hearing loss prevention, with noise levels limited by default, and an app that measures how noisy the environment around you is. Apple notes that one in three people are regularly exposed to environments that can damage hearing, even with in-ear buds like the AirPods Pro and noise cancellation.
The company is now rolling out a clinically validated hearing test on your iPhone. The test is based on large-scale data studies that Apple used to develop its hearing loss features, and it only takes five minutes. When you hear a variety of sounds at different frequencies, it will prompt you to tap the screen. Your hearing profile will also be automatically applied to audio content in music, movies, and phone calls.
But Apple has taken it even further and developed an over-the-counter, professional-grade hearing aid feature. It will amplify the specific types of sounds you need help with. This is a big move from Apple, as current OTC hearing aids can cost between $1,000 and $1,500. By comparison, the second-generation AirPods Pro cost just $250.
As the world changes, so do console generations. The Nintendo Switch is over seven years old, so it needs a refresh. Rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 have been swirling for years, but now we’re getting some hints. The company officially revealed the sequel to its most successful home console ever in a brief trailer on January 16.
The Switch 2 looks functionally the same as the original system, though with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons, and a sleeker design. The company also confirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.
While the reveal confirmed some rumors and gave some interesting details for those who were paying attention, Nintendo is still keeping its cards close to its chest. We’ll have to wait until a special Nintendo Direct on April 2 for all the interesting details. Annoyingly, that date is a Wednesday and not a two-day affair.
The company hasn’t made any changes to the core form factor. It’s a portable console with detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 can be docked for big-screen gaming. However, there are some significant differences from the original console.
The most obvious difference is that the next-generation Joy-Cons will no longer slide into place mechanically. Instead, they will magnetically attach to the main unit. There’s a small connector that’s presumably used to charge the controllers and perhaps removes the need to pair them via Bluetooth. It’s unclear at this point whether the Joy-Cons from the original system will be compatible with the Switch 2.
Another big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. This will make it much easier to plug in accessories when the Switch 2 is docked. It’s great to see that Nintendo has retained the headphone jack as well. Let’s just hope that this time Bluetooth headphone support is live from the start and Nintendo doesn’t make everyone wait four years for this feature.
The kickstand is also getting an upgrade. Like the Switch OLED, it stretches the full length of the console. But, according to the trailer, it looks fully adjustable, so you can adjust the viewing angle to suit you.
However, there is still a lot unknown about the upcoming console. We don’t know its specifications yet, or what kind of display it uses. We also don’t know anything about battery life, UI, or launch games. We’ll know a lot more on April 2.