Gadgets
Sony Electronics Intros HT-S2000 3.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Sony Middle East and Africa today announced its newest soundbar, the HT-S2000. This 3.1ch Dolby Atmos / DTS:X soundbar delivers cinematic surround sound by Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround. Thanks to a newly developed up mixer, this soundbar delivers a three-dimensional surround experience even when playing stereo content. The centre speaker ensures clear dialogue, while the built-in dual subwoofer delivers deep bass. This soundbar will also be the first compatible device for the new Sony | Home Entertainment Connect app.
With Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround, the HT-S2000 creates cinematic surround sound that lets consumers enjoy the thrill of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. With Sony’s virtual surround technology, the soundbar can position sound in vertical space. S-Force PRO virtually reproduces the surround sound field, with audio coming from both sides. Entertainment lovers can enjoy rich, cinematic surround sound without cluttering their living space.
With Sony’s newly developed up mixer, users can experience three-dimensional surround sound not only with surround sound format content but also with stereo content, like streaming video or music services. Analysing the track in real-time, Sony’s new algorithm extracts individual sound objects depending on their localisation and reallocates them, resulting in three-dimensional surround sound.
The powerful speakers include a dedicated centre speaker for clear dialogue and a built-in dual subwoofer for punchy bass. They work together to deliver clear and wide-ranging sound throughout the room. Sony’s X-balanced Speaker Unit is the key technology to achieve louder sound pressure with less distortion and greater vocal clarity.
Setting up and using the soundbar is easier than ever with the Sony | Home Entertainment Connect app1. It can guide the user through initial settings, assist with troubleshooting, and give full control of volume, sound fields and more right from their smartphone. It also offers the user useful information such as recommendations of features, new software updates and more.
The optional wireless subwoofer (SA-SW5 / SA-SW3) will add rich bass sound. For even more cinematic thrills, including sound directly behind, add Sony’s optional wireless rear speakers (SA-RS3S). Paired with a compatible BRAVIA XR TV, soundbar sound settings automatically appear on the BRAVIA Quick Settings menu for easy control.
The home audio products from Sony are designed not only for an excellent sound experience but also with the environment in mind. Sony is committed to using less plastic in its products and packaging. The HT-S2000 uses specially developed recycled plastic in several parts of the product, which enables Sony to reproduce superb acoustic performance with recycled plastics. Approximately 95% of the packaging is made from recycled paper and paper-based materials to minimise the use of plastics.

3D Printing
Bambu Lab Intros 3D-Printed Toys with Reusable Smart Electronics

Bambu Lab, through its MakerWorld brand, has launched an innovative toy system called CyberBrick on Kickstarter. This new initiative pairs reusable, programmable electronic components with a wide range of 3D-printable toy models, both official and community-designed. Having already surpassed its funding goal, the first CyberBrick kits are expected to ship in May 2025.
The initial CyberBrick launch features three official toy designs: a forklift, a truck, and a “soccer bot,” all controlled by a universal wireless controller. The starting kit, priced at $29.99, includes solderless electronic modules, wireless components, and instructions for printing and assembling these designs. Pre-printed kits are also available during the Kickstarter campaign but will be discontinued afterward.
The true potential of CyberBrick lies in its open ecosystem. Bambu Lab is encouraging community contributions and has already showcased several impressive user-created designs, including a lunar rover, a walking table, and a Tesla Cybertruck replica. Beyond toys, the system even includes components for a 3D printing timelapse kit. Notably, all CyberBrick components are fully programmable.
This isn’t Bambu Lab’s first venture into the world of 3D-printable gadgets under the MakerWorld brand, which already offers components for items like smart lights and mice. However, CyberBrick marks their first cohesive ecosystem bringing together electronics and printable models. Importantly, CyberBrick is compatible with various 3D printers, which should be welcome news to users concerned about Bambu Lab’s recent implementation of an authentication tool that restricts remote printing with third-party software.
Displays
OLED Rival? Sony Unveils Promising New RGB LED Technology

Sony has announced a promising new display technology dubbed “General RGB LED Backlight Technology.” This innovation replaces the standard blue LEDs in mini-LED TVs with RGB LEDs, allowing for more accurate color projection without relying on traditional color filters or quantum dots. The result is significantly richer colors and brighter images compared to conventional mini-LEDs, potentially rivaling OLED’s picture quality.
Currently, the top TV technologies are mini-LED LCD and OLED. Mini-LED excels in bright HDR highlights, while OLED offers superior contrast with individually controlled pixels but typically lower brightness. Sony’s RGB LED aims to bridge this gap.
While lacking the pixel-level control of OLED, RGB LEDs demonstrate remarkable color accuracy and exceptional brightness. Demonstrations have shown brightness levels exceeding 4,000 nits, surpassing even high-end models and approaching professional reference monitor standards. Furthermore, this technology significantly improves viewing angles, a long-standing weakness of mini-LED TVs, eliminating color saturation loss or green tints at wider angles.
Interestingly, this technology isn’t exclusive to Sony, with manufacturers like Hisense also displaying impressive TVs utilising RGB LEDs. The technology is also expected to scale well, potentially leading to more affordable large-screen TVs. While it might not immediately dethrone OLED, RGB LEDs offer a compelling combination of vibrant colors, stellar brightness, and wide viewing angles, occasionally even outperforming OLED in color richness. With further development, especially in improving response times for gaming, RGB LED technology could become the next dominant display technology, similar to how OLED once overtook plasma.
Gadgets
iPhone 17 Camera Design Revealed by Leaked Metal Molds

Leaked metal molds for the iPhone 17 lineup have surfaced, seemingly confirming earlier rumors of a significant camera redesign for most models. Veteran leaker Sonny Dickson shared photos of these molds, which showcase a supersized “camera bar” style on most models, separating the flash and sensor from the main camera lenses.
These molds, often used by case manufacturers for early design insights, align with previous CAD designs leaked by Dickson. While the accuracy of such molds (based on rumours rather than official Apple information) can vary, Dickson has a strong track record, having accurately revealed the iPhone 16 screen sizes months before their release.
The standard iPhone 17 is expected to maintain a traditional dual-camera setup with the flash on the left. However, the other three models are depicted with the new camera bar design. Notably, a thinner model, potentially named the iPhone 17e or Air, features a single, more pronounced “2-in-1” camera similar to the iPhone 16e, likely due to a rumored substantial thinning of the device’s body. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max molds show the familiar three camera lenses, but with the flash and sensors positioned separately on the right side within the new camera bar.
While there’s no official confirmation of the molds’ authenticity, Dickson’s past accuracy lends credibility to this latest leak, offering a potential early glimpse into the iPhone 17’s redesigned camera system.
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