Apple bought Beats Electronics earlier this year in an acquisition said to be worth more than US$3 billion. It seems headphones are now, officially, a stand-alone product that fights on its own merits.
Ever since Dr Dre’s Beats appeared on the scene in 2008, headphones have been attributed with cool – mainstream cool. Before that, to go out in an oversize pair of external headphones you had to be seriously in touch with your inner style or deeply in love with your music.
Apple’s iPods had made music eminently portable, but its free ear buds had so little audio goodness it made Dr Dre and partners sit up and realise there was a major market waiting to happen.
In 2012, Beats had almost 70 per cent of the US headphone market, according to NPD Group.
This leaves everybody else playing catch-up – even the granddaddies of audio, people such as Sony and its new headphones called “Extra Bass”.
The headphones look good in block colours and are very comfortable to wear. The ear pads are deep and soft, although there is some sound leakage, which, as a signed-up member of the parent club, I hate.
The bass is cranked up high and can be further enhanced with a sliding vibration control at the bottom of the right-hand ear pad. These headphones are definitely set to fight Beats in their own backyard, although Sony has used the power of its corporation to produce a set of headphones that go head-to- head with its baddest rival, but at a fraction of the cost. The headphones can work wirelessly with the addition of a couple of AA batteries and the cable, should you eschew the batteries, is tangle-free.
If junior finds Santa has left a pair for him he may be disappointed he didn’t get some Beats – but that won’t be because of the Sony sound.
Q&A
So what is this vibration booster all about?
Well it’s said that it gives you that “in the club” feeling. It enhances, the already powerful, bass. So if you are listening to, let’s say, Cypress Hill then you may turn (slide) the slider to 11. However, should you feel The Carpenters are more your thing today, slide it down.
Karen Carpenter doesn’t do bass?
I’m not sure Richard or Karen knew what bass was.
Can I exercise wearing these headphones?
No, these bad boys are not for the active. I found that just wearing them while sitting down meant I had to give them a wipe once I’d listened to a whole album. The noise cancelling means they have to be snug as a bug-in-a-rug.
They look heavy.
They are not heavy in any way. Once I was wearing them, with batteries included, it felt totally natural – even though I looked like a cyberman.
Is Sony cool though?
These look and feel cool, but what do I know?
Where can I buy them from?
From all Jumbo Electronics stores for Dh399.
How does that compare to Beats by Dre?
Your cheapest pair of Beats will set you back Dh929, so if you want to stick to a budget this festive season you know what to go for.
ascott@thenational.ae
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
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The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
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Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
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Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
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2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BLACKBERRY
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
