Sonos unveils streamlined Roam 2 portable speaker

Photo: Sonos

Sonos has refreshed its popular Roam portable speaker, making it even easier to enjoy Sonos sound on the go. The Sonos Roam 2 boasts the same rich audio experience as its predecessor but with some key improvements for a smoother user experience. Owners of the original Roam will appreciate the redesigned controls. The new design separates the power and Bluetooth buttons, addressing a common complaint about the multifunctional button on the first model. This eliminates confusion and accidental misfires.

Setup is also a breeze with the Roam 2. Unlike the previous model, which required a Wi-Fi setup before Bluetooth could be used, the Roam 2 lets you connect directly via Bluetooth for immediate use. This means you can grab the speaker and start jamming tunes at the beach or campsite without any Wi-Fi hassle. When you're back home, you can easily integrate it into your Sonos system through the Wi-Fi setup.

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Microsoft Surface Pro rebooted: Faster, AI-ready, and now Qualcomm-powered

Microsoft unveiled the all-new Surface Pro, ditching numbers in favour of a fresh start. It's one of the first in a new generation of what Microsoft calls Copilot Plus PCs. This flagship device boasts the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors (Elite and Plus versions), promising a significant performance leap—up to 90% faster than its predecessor.

The Pro embraces the future with optional 5G connectivity and a long-lasting battery—up to 14 hours of video playback (though not quite reaching the Surface Laptop's 20 hours). It remains incredibly thin and light, maintaining its familiar size despite the internal overhaul.

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Scarlett Johansson questions alleged voice mimicry in OpenAI's ChatGPT

Photo: Warner Bros

Actress Scarlett Johansson is locked in a dispute with OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. Johansson claims OpenAI used a voice in their system that sounds eerily similar to hers, despite her declining a request to be the official voice.

According to Johansson, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman contacted her in September 2023 to voice ChatGPT 4.0. She refused but says Altman persisted even days before the public demo. 

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OpenAI and Reddit strike up partnership

Photo: Voicebot.ai

OpenAI has secured a deal with Reddit for access to real-time content through their data API. This means discussions from Reddit can surface within ChatGPT and future OpenAI products. The financial terms haven't been disclosed, but it follows a similar arrangement Reddit made with Google earlier in 2024, reportedly worth US$60 million (around CA$82 million).

The partnership benefits both sides. OpenAI gains access to a massive archive of ongoing conversations, potentially improving the quality and relevance of responses in ChatGPT. Reddit, in turn, can leverage OpenAI's large language models to develop new AI-powered features for its users and moderators. OpenAI will also become a Reddit advertising partner.

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