Tech
Galaxy Buds Pro appear well-priced for the features they offer – SamMobile


The Galaxy Buds Pro are shaping up to be Samsung’s best truly wireless earphones ever. Their design and features have been leaked weeks ahead of their announcement, which is set to happen next month alongside the Galaxy S21. Now, their pricing for the US market has been leaked as well.
Samsung’s own marketing slide that compares the Galaxy Buds Pro’s specs with the Galaxy Buds+ and the Galaxy Buds Live has been leaked. According to the image, the Galaxy Buds Pro will be priced at $199, which is a $30 markup over the $169 Galaxy Buds Live. If this information is correct, the upcoming truly wireless earphones appear well-priced for what they offer, at least for the US market. European pricing of these earphones is a different story altogether.
The Galaxy Buds Pro use a dual-driver setup (11mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeter), similar to the Galaxy Buds+. There are three microphones on each earbud and an in-ear canal fit for improved active noise cancellation compared to the Galaxy Buds Live. They also feature improved Ambient Sound mode, Conversation Mode, adjustable ANC levels, and 3D spatial audio. There’s an IPX7 certification for sweat and water resistance, which is an improvement over the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Live’s IPX2 rating.
According to Samsung’s marketing material, the Galaxy Buds Pro should offer 8 hours of battery life with the earbuds alone and a total of 28 hours with the case. Talk time figures stand at 4.5 hours with the earbuds and up to 15 hours with the case. Other features include Bluetooth 5.1, multi-point connection, fast pairing, USB Type-C port, fast charging, and wireless charging.
Tech
2021 MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature More Ports: Here's a Look at What Previous Models Offered – MacRumors


Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today outlined his expectations for all-new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models later this year, including the return of the classic MagSafe charging connector, the removal of the Touch Bar, a new flat-edged design, and the return of more ports built into the notebooks for expanded connectivity.
One of the most controversial design changes to the MacBook Pro came in 2016, when Apple removed the majority of ports from the notebook, forcing users who still rely on I/O options like USB-A and HDMI to purchase adapters or docks. Apple used the removal of ports as an opportunity to tout its “thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro ever,” but the decision was criticized by many users and even prompted a “dongle hell” meme.
While current MacBook Pro models are equipped with only two to four Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, it wasn’t always this way. From 2012 to 2015, the 15-inch MacBook Pro offered a wider selection of I/O, including a MagSafe connector, two Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
2015 model of 15-inch MacBook Pro
In 2011, the 15-inch MacBook Pro offered even more connectivity options, including MagSafe, a Gigabit Ethernet port, FireWire 800, a Thunderbolt port, two USB-A ports, an SD card reader, separate audio in and audio out jacks, a CD/DVD drive, and a slot to connect a Kensington security lock. This model also had a small strip of LEDs built into the chassis that showed how much charge the battery had remaining with the push of a small button.
2011 model of 15-inch MacBook Pro
For now, it remains unclear what new ports will be added to the 2021 MacBook Pro, if the rumor proves to be accurate. In his research note, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said that the notebooks will be “equipped with more types of I/O, and most users may not need to purchase additional dongles,” but he did not share anything more specific.
Kuo expects the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models to launch in the third quarter of 2021, which begins in late June.
Tech
ICBC gets green light to slash car insurance by 15% starting in May – Chilliwack Progress


The BC Utilities Commission has approved ICBC’s request for a 15 per cent decrease on basic insurance, marking welcomed news to drivers in the province.
The new rates are set to kick in on May 1.
The province submitted the application last month. At the time, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth called the drop one of the largest rate reductions at ICBC in four decades, stemming from savings at the public insurer as it adopts a no-fault model. The new system prohibits a driver from suing for financial compensation, with a few exceptions.
RELATED: ICBC applies for 15% rate decrease as lawyers pushed out
Instead, crash victims will have access to up to $7.5 million in medical benefits. Currently, the cap on funds is $300,000.
The regulator has also approved ICBC to provide rebates to B.C. drivers, based on the difference between the driver’s current coverage and the new model. The province has said premiums will drop by as much as 20 per cent, an average of $400 a year.
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ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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Tech
Conversations That Matter: Does it make sense to focus on single-use plastics? – Vancouver Sun


Article content
Chris DeArmitt figures we’d be better off focusing on paper rather than plastic if we are worried about single-use items.
The leading plastics scientist has written “Phantom Plastics,” a book in which he aims to debunk prevailing thoughts about plastics. He note both the banks of Canada and England chose to print money on plastic rather than paper because it was better for the environment.
How can that be?
“Life cycle analysis is the answer,” DeArmitt says. “Plastic money has seven times the lifespan of paper money.” He says the total carbon footprint and environmental cost of paper money far exceeds that of plastic banknotes,
Even the extra weight of the paper adds up, he says. “The extra fuel required to transport paper over plastic is just one element in the life cycle analysis of money. And then add in the impact of harvesting trees, mashing them into pulp and paper and the limited life span and it all adds up to plastic being the best choice.”
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