Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 made their debut in India today, one day after the global announcement. The midrangers are already up for pre-order with 8GB RAM, and the official sales kick off on March 28.
Both variants have two price points, depending on the storage selection, and the good thing is the phones are available in their hero colors - Galaxy A54 in Violet and Galaxy A34 in gradient Silver.
Samsung Galaxy A54
People who pre-order the Galaxy A34 or Galaxy A54 from the Samsung India website between today and March 27 will receive a special discounted price on...
The Meizu 20 series is set to launch on March 30 in China and we now have some camera samples from the Meizu 20 Pro ahead of the big announcement. Meizu is a subsidiary of Geely Automotive and the Meizu 20 Pro is already in the hands of some Geely execs like its Senior Vice President Yang Xueliang who posted the sample shots on Weibo.
Meizu 20 Pro camera samples
The photos leave much to be desired in terms of color accuracy, vibrancy and detail. The unit used to snap these shots is probably using pre-production software so we should wait for official images from the retail...
The vivo Y77 series was extremely successful in China, and now it is time for a follow-up. The vivo V2271A, expected to arrive as vivo Y78+, appeared on TENAA's website alongside a handful of specs. The new smartphone will have a battery with 4,900mah minimal capacity, meaning it is likely inheriting the 5,000mAh typical capacity from its predecessor.
vivo V2771A on TENAA
This vivo phone is listed with three cameras and while there is no more official info, rumors are suggesting the phone will remain China-only, while a lighter version, likely called vivo Y78, will hit the...
The Rode NTH-100M is the microphone manufacturer’s first ever gaming headset. The new release takes the existing NTH-100 studio monitoring headphones and adds a compact 3.5mm microphone with the goal of high-end broadcast-quality gaming and streaming. Despite not being branded under the RodeX gaming and streaming line, that’s clearly the intention with this repackaged model.
The Rode NTH-100 are some of the best headphones available, as we gave them a five-star review. I’ve been equally impressed by them in my year of using them. The NTH-100M can’t be considered one of the best headsets for consoles because the 3.5mm jack splitter makes it difficult to use. It can still go down as one of the best wired headsets, however.
Price and Availability
The Rode NTH-100M was released in February 2023 and is available in countries the US and the UK and the brand’s native Australia. You can pick up the company’s debut gaming headset for $189 / £195 / AU$279 at big-box retailers or from Rode directly. You’re paying roughly $40 / £45 / $AU35 over the price of the NTH-100 headphones. Alternatively, if you own the Rode NTH-100 headphones, you can pick up the NTH-Mic headset attachment separately for $59 / £63 / AU$99.
Design and Features
(Image credit: Future)
Little separates the Rode NTH-100M from their headphone equivalents, except for the included NTH-Mic and the splitter cable. As a headset, the actual cups and construction are incredibly high quality and feature a plush band described by the brand as “CoolGel” foam for comfort over time. These were originally monitoring headphones, so they’re built to be worn over long periods with a lightweight frame to prevent discomfort.
The microphone is made from a molded plastic that’s rigid. There’s no flexibility in the 3.5mm NTH-Mic, as you may typically find from other companies' bendable nature of headset microphones. The small mic has a premium feel, though, as there’s no warping or bending when applying resistance. The mic screws into either the left or right aux port on the cups, and you can freely rotate it toward your mouth when needed.
The included two-way splitter is less impressive than the NTH-Mic, which takes the standard 3.5mm jack and gives you both a headphone and microphone slot. There’s no getting around the fact that it’s quite an outdated audio out, and it severely limits using the headphones and microphone simultaneously, as you need to free up both ports. I wish the company had opted for the more standardized USB-A or USB-C so that more devices could use the microphone, like the PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X, instead of limiting the headphones through the aux port.
Performance
(Image credit: Future)
The Rode NTH-100M performs well as a gaming headset, with the Rode-NTH mic sounding a cut above your everyday headset microphone. Given its small size and aux input, the overall sound quality is impressive, and I found myself sounding clear during audio playback and talking to friends. That said, there’s a noticeable difference to some of the best USB microphones made by the brand, including my Rode NT-USB model.
Compared to the microphone on the similarly expensive SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ and the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro, the Rode NTH-100M’s microphone does sound better. However, it’s not that much of a jump to justify those wireless and wired models' more limited connectivity. That all changes when you factor in how good audio playback comes through with this gaming headset.
The Rode NTH-100M supplies some of the best-sounding audio I’ve ever experienced when gaming, due to the flatter, softer sound profile, which carries across more muted than the dialed-up audio drivers generally seen in gaming headsets. That’s because the 40mm drivers here were built for musicians and broadcasters for maximum clarity, and that certainly comes across when enjoying high-octane gaming.
(Image credit: Future)
I enjoyed many hours of roaming around the frontier of Red Dead Redemption 2, taking in the nighttime ambiance of late-night horseback riding and the various predators that stalk their prey through the brush. The quiet was expertly juxtaposed with the thunderous roar of a sawed-off shotgun or repeater rifle finding its target in one of many hectic gunfights.
How Hotline Miami’s Darksynth soundtrack pulses through the violent haze is equally strong. It’s some of the most natural sounding balancing I have experienced in my years with headphones and headsets as both a musician and a gaming content creator.
Ultimately, the Rode NTH-100M represents missed potential for what a Rode gaming headset could be. Now that the company has launched its RodeX line aimed at gamers and streamers, I am hopeful that the next attempt is made from the ground up for a wider audience instead of being an extension of an existing product. It’s hard to completely right this gaming headset off because the foundations are so strong, but I can’t help but feel a lot more could have been done to make the first foray into headsets so much stronger.
Should I buy the Rode NTH-100M gaming headset?
Buy it if...
You want excellent audio quality
The Rode NTH-100M produces some of the highest-quality audio I’ve ever experienced from a gaming headset.
You want a high-end headset microphone
The included NTH-Mic is a cut above what’s normally seen from gaming headsets at this price point.
Don't buy it if...
You play on consoles
While you can get the full audio experience on Xbox Series X and PS5 through the controller, the outdated output from the mic means that you can’t get the best use out of the NTH-Mic.
You already own the NTH-100
If you’re thinking of turning your headphones into a headset, then you’re better off buying the standalone NTH-Mic separately instead of replacing it outright.
- Launches on Thursday, March 16
- All eight episodes drop on the same date
- Based on Leigh Bardugo's fantasy book series
- Created by Eric Heisserer
- Stars Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, and Archie Renaux among others
- Picks up two weeks after the season 1 finale
Minor spoilers follow for Shadow and Bone season 2.
Shadow and Bone seems perfectly placed to become Netflix’s new flagship fantasy TV series. With the diminishing popularity of The Witcher and the cancellation of fan-favorite shows like Warrior Nun, Netflix needs a new fantasy champion. Shadow and Bone, then, could be the savior it’s looking for.
Unfortunately, Shadow and Bone season 2 doesn’t do enough to suggest it’s on track to take on that mantle. Unlike Shadow and Bone’s first season, this isn’t a wholly faithful adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling books, with some baffling creative decisions cramping its style. There’s a lot to like about the show’s latest entry, but its positives are nullified in such a way that it’s not as spellbinding as it could be.
Light and shade
Alina and Mal are back for Shadow and Bone season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)
Shadow and Bone season 2 picks up two weeks after the first season’s finale. Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) and Mal Oretsov (Archie Renaux) continue their quest to locate more amplifiers to boost Alina’s Sun Summoning powers, destroy The Fold, and stop General Kirigan/The Darkling (Ben Barnes) for good. Meanwhile, Kirigan, who survived the Volcra’s attack in The Fold, tends to his wounds as he concocts a new plan to laud it over the Grishaverse.
After aiding Alina in the fight against Kirigan, The Crows – led by Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter) – return to Ketterdam. However, rival gang leader Pekka Rollins (Dean Lennox Kelly) has seized their establishments and framed them for crimes they didn’t commit. Add Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan), who seeks The Crows’ help in breaking her partner Matthias (Calahan Skogman) out of Hellgate prison, into the mix, and Brekker and company have plenty to deal with.
Like Shadow and Bone season 1, the show’s latest installment divides its time between two primary narratives. Well, initially at least. Alina and The Crows’ storylines are the main focus of Shadow and Bone season 2, but it’s the branching out into subplots, side quests, and other narrative offshoots that distinguish this season from what came before.
Wildly different personas collide with a satisfying regularity throughout
Broken into its constituent parts, the show’s second season centers on five storylines. That quintet comprises Alina and Mal’s journey, Matthias’ imprisonment in Hellgate, Kirigan’s burgeoning masterplan, and two concerning The Crows. Of the latter duo, the first is a chaotically-assembled, brand-new tale that sees Brekker and co take on Rollins’ criminal empire. The second Crows-centric plot – one that draws them back into Alina and Kirigan’s orbits – is a far more entertaining and suspenseful spectacle.
The Crows get two story arcs in the show's second season. (Image credit: Netflix)
Regardless, Shadow and Bone season 2 flits between its plots with a pleasing fluidity, competently expanding on the size and scope of season 1 through its examination of the Grishaverse’s history and useful lore, new locations, and character introductions (more on these later).
However, one of Shadow and Bone 2’s main problems is how much time it dedicates to each storyline. Understandably, it’s weighted in favor of Alina’s story – she’s the series’ main protagonist and its hero, so her journey takes precedence over The Crows’, Kirigan’s, and Matthias’. Even so, Kirigan’s season 2 story arc – outside of crossing over with Alina’s, initially in a dreamscape manner akin to the Force Dyad bond seen in Star Wars' sequel film trilogy – is thematically dense and captivating enough to deserve more screen time.
Matthias’ Hellgate-based story is even less developed and, in some respects, an unnecessary inclusion. Ironically, its plot starts to get interesting later in the season, when a certain individual is locked up alongside everyone’s favorite Fjerdan. But, while this story belatedly bubbles away with intrigue, events that follow only act as vexing teases for what’s to come in a potential third season.
It’s General Kirigan and Kaz Brekker’s individual character arcs that are examined most closely, and in tantalizing detail
Equally, the transition between some scenes occurs in a way that oversimplifies specific plot points, even if they help the season proceed at a satisfying pace. One example, which sees Mal and Alina separated in episode 4 for reasons I won’t spoil, leads to their reunion in episode 5 in baffling circumstances, with Mal explaining his absence with a reductive throwaway line. Moments like these detract from the drama and tension that Shadow and Bone 2 tries to tee up, serving as nothing more than eye-twitching irritations.
Season 2 should have leaned more into Kirigan and Alina's verbal dreamscape-style skirmishes. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)
Those issues are small fry, though, compared to the bewildering narrative deviations Shadow and Bone season 2 takes from its source material. Showrunner Eric Heisserer forewarned diehard fans that the show’s next installment would pull from three novels – Siege & Storm, Ruin & Rising, and Six of Crows – to tell its tales. Longtime fans, then, weren’t expecting season 2 to be a beat-for-beat retread of the book series’ storylines.
Even so, nothing prepared me for how radically different Shadow and Bone season 2 is from the novels. Again, this is a largely spoiler-free zone, but I was surprised – even frustrated at times – at the direction of certain narratives and plot points, including how season 2 ends. These big and arguably redundant changes are sure to irritate and even upset fans of Bardugo’s novels.
Given the outcry over The Witcher season 2’s narrative deviations, plus those rumored to appear in The Witcher season 3, I would have expected Netflix and Shadow and Bone’s creative team to approach things differently here. Okay, diverging from the books’ plot-beats gives long-time fans something new to engage with, and brings a sense of originality to proceedings, just like season 1 did. However, I can’t help but view these changes – especially in the season 2 finale, which drags its heels in how much it sets up for the show’s likely third season – as unwarranted alterations that many fans will take exception to.
Grisha growth and alluring additions
Nikolai Lantsov is a pleasing addition to Shadow and Bone's TV ranks. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)
Refreshingly, Shadow and Bone season 2’s predilection for thematic exploration and character development – for new and returning characters – blesses it with some truly engrossing content.
For one, Alina and Mal’s relationship runs the full gamut of emotions. Initially, there’s a tender awkwardness to the pair’s burgeoning romance, a sweet but sickly teenage-like love that’s unwavering no matter what’s thrown at them. Eventually, world-shattering challenges present themselves that put the duo’s bond to the ultimate test, which serves to exponentially ramp the tension up.
Vital as it is to explore Alina and Mal’s dynamic, it’s Kirigan and Brekker’s individual character arcs that are examined most closely, and in tantalizing detail.
In Kirigan’s case, Shadow and Bone 2 trains a lens on the physical and psychological pain inflicted upon him by Alina and company, as well as further examining the loneliness that pains him after centuries of existence. Despite the evident darkness within him, the sequel season’s exploration of his humanity is moving. His trauma, though largely self-inflicted, is similarly relatable, and speaks to the fallibility that every Shadow and Bone character is imbued with.
Kaz Brekker's PTSD and trauma is explored extensively in season 2. (Image credit: Timea Saghy/Netflix)
Speaking of trauma, Brekker’s mental and emotional anguish is explored through flashback sequences, which directly impact the errant decisions he makes – choices that inevitably drive a wedge between him as his closest confidants, Inej (Anita Suman) and Jesper (Kit Young). Brekker’s mix of anger and pride over his past creates a fascinating fraying of tensions between the trio and anyone else caught up in their escapades, particularly in the first of the Crows’ season 2 storylines. Plot-wise, The Crows versus Rollins’ gang is a messy affair. As a character study or wider examination of the fragility of relationships, though, it rises above its season 2 peers.
Another welcome aspect is the addition of fan-favorite characters from the books, who are given plenty of scenery to chew as the season progresses.
Nikolai Lantsov, the swashbuckling Ravkan Prince-turned-Privateer who becomes one of Alina and Mal’s most trusted allies, is portrayed with panache, charisma, and emotional intelligence by Patrick Gibson (Tolkien). Even in his introductory scene, where Lantsov – who also goes by the alias Sturmhond – is seemingly positioned as an antagonist, Gibson’s likeability makes it hard not to immediately warm to him.
Nothing prepared me for how radically different Shadow and Bone season 2 is from the novels
The inclusion of twins Tolya Yul-Bataar (Lewis Tan) and Tamar Kir-Bataar (Anna Leong Brophy), Lantsov’s lieutenants, also brings a fun-fuelled sibling rivalry and unique characterization to the table. Add the shy but no-less-charming demolition expert Wylan Hendriks (Jack Wolfe) – who joins The Crows and Nina – into the equation, and Shadow and Bone season 2 is emboldened by its new arrivals. The manner of their character introductions feels seamless, too, helping each to feel a natural part of the Grishaverse. As such, there’s no need for any MacGuffin-style storytelling to insert them into their respective plots.
Tolya and Tamar add humor, heart, and bad-assery in equal measure to proceedings. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)
With a potent new collection of supporting characters, plus the return of other favorites, such as Genya (Daisy Head), Zoya (Sujaya Dasgupta), David (Luke Pasqualino), and Baghra (Zoe Wanamaker), there's the potential for season 2 crafts new, interesting, and fun team-ups that'll pique viewers' curiosity.
Shadow and Bone season 2 emphatically delivers on that front. Wildly different personas collide with a satisfying regularity throughout, with each new relationship supplying humor, tenderness, and melodrama in spades. Each dynamic feels novel and unforced, regardless of how season 2’s multiple storylines weave in and out of one another. The culmination of these mash-ups is a thrilling, high-octane, and crowd-pleasing crescendo that unfolds in the season’s climactic battle – occurring in episode 7, not episode 8 – and pays dividends on the new relationships built across each episode. If nothing else, it makes up for the somewhat predictable nature of episode 7’s (and the season’s) multifaceted showdown – one that, like the other battles in season 2, is at once both enjoyable and trite.
My verdict
Shadow and Bone season 2 is a two-headed beast. On the one hand, it’s a gripping, spookier, and darker entry in the series, with its character studies and rich themes cementing its position as one of the best Netflix shows around. On the other, it’s a narratively inconsistent installment that, while absorbing and shocking in some areas, perplexingly substitutes elements of its source material for story beats that will only displease the fans of the novels. Contextually, the manner in which season 2 kicks off means that some viewers will be best served by rewatching the season 1 finale in order to reacquaint themselves with where the show left off.
More casual viewers will likely find Shadow and Bone season 2 to be an enjoyable experience. For me, though, it doesn’t quite stick the superpowered, magic, and Small Science-infused landing. I’m sure other members of Shadow and Bone’s ardent fanbase will perceive similar faults with its storytelling approach, or with other aspects of its eight-episode run. Fundamentally, these issues weigh Shadow and Bone 2 down and, unless it rectifies such glaring errors in future seasons, it will fall short of achieving the lofty position of the best Netflix fantasy series.
Shadow and Bone season 2 launches in full on Netflix on Thursday, March 16.
Oppo will introduce the Find X6 and Pad 2 devices on March 21, the company revealed on its own website. Posters stated users have five days to sign up for a notification when the event begins, which will be on Tuesday at 2 PM local time.
Oppo Find X6 and Pad 2 teasers
The Oppo Find X6 is pictured with a leather panel, circular camera island and a periscope lens, and we see a glimpse of the Hasselblad logo, as well as a small orange dot, trademark of the Swedish photography company. The tablet (or tablets) will have a thin bezel, a power key on the left side, and a volume rocker on...
TherapyNotes was born from the need of a psychology practice run by Dr. Debra Pliner with multiple psychologists. She had her spouse, Brad who ran an IT consulting firm work on software that could capture and store therapy notes from the patient sessions. The EMR software got refined by use, and launched in late 2010 with a version that was commercially available for practices to be able to use. Based in Pennsylvania, it is currently used by thousands of practices throughout the US.
TherapyNotes: Features
TherapyNotes offers plenty of features that clinicians have come to expect on an EMR platform. It starts with being able to import data from another EMR- at no cost.
We are also fans that the patient portal is included (see below), with the option to fully customize it for an outstanding and unified patient experience in all the plans, as some competitors charge extra for this important feature.
There is also no limit to the number of notes, and patients, and also unlimited file storage. Telehealth is also part of the package, with unlimited one-to-one sessions. There is also support for screen sharing, but did not find any support for online group sessions.
As it is cloud based, the backups are done seamlessly, and the hosting is done off site. The other advantage is that the software upgrades get done by the company, without the users having to do anything.
Patient Portal
TherapyNotes offers the TherapyPortal, which can be custom branded to the practice via logos and color schemes, and provide patients with a number of options to interact with the practice.
This starts with allowing clients to view appointment availability, and then both existing, as well as new clients can then make appointment requests- an important feature to minimize front office time on the phone. From there, the clients can then view appointments already made, and change them as needed.
Documents can also be shared between the practice and the client. This includes intake forms that can be electronically signed, as well as shared treatment plans.
Payments can be accepted via both debit and credit cards. Finally, the portal can be used to conduct increasingly popular telehealth sessions.
Mobile
A major shortcoming of the TherapyNotes app is the lack of smartphone apps. We did not find any indication of it on their website. We further confirmed this on both the iOS, and Google Play stores as neither had an app. This omission is likely to be of concern for clinicians that expect to be able to have convenient mobile access to patient records from anywhere. Furthermore, patients like a dedicated app to access the patient portal.
TherapyNotes: Support
Free and unlimited support is included. TherapyNotes can be contacted directly via phone, mail, fax, email or through an account login to upload a file. This is all the expected options except for chat.
There is also a ‘Help Center,’ available to find information and apply some self help to the problem. There is a searchable knowledge base, with articles grouped around common topic areas such as scheduling, insurance claims and payment processing. While there are plenty of articles, we did not find any videos, webinars, ebooks, whitepapers or other content.
TherapyNotes: Pricing
We can give kudos to TherapyNotes, as it has transparent, and upfront pricing with a choice of tiers to choose from, that are easy to understand. More than that, we also like the available 30-day free trial- with no credit card required.
The bottom plan is Solo, which is for a single clinician, with a cost of $49 per month. Moving up takes us to the Group plan, which costs $59 per month for the first clinician, and then $30 per month for each additional clinician, with an unlimited amount of clerical staff for no additional charge. At the top is the Enterprise plan, which has the same cost as Group, but it is designed for practices of 30 clinicians and more, and it includes a dedicated account manager for these larger practices.
All of the tiers have the same exact list of features, which is refreshing to see. After all, a solo practitioner should not have to upgrade to a higher tier of plan, that is really designed to accommodate more practitioners, just to get an essential feature or two back into the feature set.
We think the tiered pricing overall is plenty fair, and offers significant value to the mix. However, the “Optional Integrated Features,” can quickly eat into any practice’s bottom line. For example, to add e-prescribe, is an additional $65/month per prescriber, MIPS reporting is $359/clinician annually, and payment processing is $0.30 per transaction with an additional 2.9%. While there are included free email reminders, we suspect some practices would leave it at that with a text reminder costing $0.14 for each text, and electronic billing costs an additional $0.14 per electronic claim, and also $0.14 for an eligibility request. There is also an option for full service medical billing, with a TherapyNotes billing partner, for an undisclosed “Pricing varies” cost.
TherapyNotes: Final verdict
There is plenty going for TherapyNotes, with lots of useful features. These encompass the included patient portal with custom logos and colors, the telehealth aspect with screen sharing at no additional cost, and the upfront pricing with a decent feature set across the tiers.
What is holding this platform back is the lack of smartphone apps for both the Android and iOS platforms, the additional costs such as for e-prescribing, the limited self help content, and the focus that is limited only to behavioral health that limits broader appeal, such as to multi-specialty practices.
For those that can get past these issues, we think the 30 day trial is a nice option to decide how TherapyNotes can meet your practice’s needs.
Yesterday we saw some CAD-based renders of the Pixel 8 Pro getting leaked, and they gave us our first look at the upcoming flagship Google device that's expected to launch around October. Today, the same source is back with a bunch of raw CAD shots, comparing the Pixel 8 Pro's screen to that of its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro from last year, as well as the Pixel 8's to the Pixel 7's.
The Pixel 8 Pro's display will be much less curved on the edges, as you can see. On the other hand, it will come with corners that are much more rounded. This latter change could make for a handset that's...
Sony launches high-end Bluetooth headphones and earbuds around every two years, and it's now almost time for the WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds to replace the WF-1000XM4 from 2021. The new buds got certified by the FCC recently, and the images thus outed reveal that they're more compact than their predecessors - news that will undoubtedly be greeted with sighs of relief left and right, since size was one of the main issues with the M4s.
Inside the case, you can see that Sony's moved to two pins instead of three for charging the buds, while the case material seems to be matte plastic...
Sony launches high-end Bluetooth headphones and earbuds around every two years, and it's now almost time for the WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds to replace the WF-1000XM4 from 2021. The new buds got certified by the FCC recently, and the images thus outed reveal that they're more compact than their predecessors - news that will undoubtedly be greeted with sighs of relief left and right, since size was one of the main issues with the M4s.
Inside the case, you can see that Sony's moved to two pins instead of three for charging the buds, while the case material seems to be matte plastic...
