Really squeezing in these final last minute delays here to make 2022 as sparse as possible for new releases, and while this may not be the last, it’s one I definitely saw coming. Portkey Games and WB have announced that the Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy will be delayed until February 10, 2023, with a Switch version coming later than that.
Previously, it seemed rather worrisome that Hogwarts Legacy was one of the only major releases left in 2022 without a fixed premiere date, which was just listed as “December 2022” for most of this year. Reports all the way back in January of 2022 suggested this was having some development issues and would be pushed to 2023. But the 2022 window had been set for a while, and Hogwarts Legacy was already delayed out of 2021.
I wrote an article about this whole situation, and how a Hogwarts Legacy delay seemed inevitable, just a few days ago. The points I raised, in addition to the ones already mentioned were:
“First, the scale of the game seems incredibly ambitious from what we have seen so far, and even though technically it already slid from 2021 to 2022, it would not be unusual for a game this big to move even further back. Especially given how much is riding on this one for WB and the beleaguered Harry Potter brand.”
“Frankly, we have not seen all that much from the game. The biggest showcase was a State of Play feature back in March, but we are approaching six months after that and have not gotten anything of real significance from the game besides what was shown there. Kind of unusual for a game that should be starting to ramp up promotion for a holiday release.”
It’s a hugely ambitious game that we have not seen that much of, about to come out in a year full of more major delays than perhaps any in history. So no, suffice to say I am not shocked about how this played out.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy
WB
As for whether development is indeed “troubled,” I have no idea. Delays are beyond common with major releases, so there’s really nothing to gather one way or another from the fact it’s getting pushed back again. 2022 is a particularly rough year given that we have COVID production issues from the past two years before that now coming home to roost, which are leading to present day delays.
que was shown from Hogwarts Legacy did look pretty good, there just…wasn’t all that much of it, in the grand scheme, and we hadn’t seen anything significant for months, when it was supposed to be out just a few more months from now. I am guessing one aspect of this will be some new, larger showcase before this February date, but no word on that yet. Stay tuned.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the hero killer seriesand The Earthborn Trilogy.
I picture a scene from a heist movie. The bank boasts of its new, ultimate security force inside the locks, walls, and lasers. And the heist crew looks for ways to subvert that system. Can we slip one of our people into the defense force? Use bribes or threats to compromise a guard? Maybe just find a guard who’s sloppy?
While it’s a lot more technical, finding a technique to subvert the Early Launch Antimalware (ELAM) system in Windows, as described by Red Canary’s principal threat researcher Matt Graeber in his Black Hat briefing, it is similar to that scenario.
Graeber explained that an ELAM driver is secured against tampering, and it runs so early in the boot process that it can evaluate other boot-time drivers, with the potential to block any that are malicious. “To create this driver, you don’t have to implement any early launch code,” Graeber explained. “The only thing you need is a binary resource with rules that say which signers are allowed to run as Antimalware Light services. And you have to be a member of the rather exclusive Microsoft Virus Initiative program.”
“I had to investigate how the rules are implemented,” said Graeber. He then described just how he analyzed Microsoft Defender’s WdBoot.sys to determine the expected structure for these rules. In effect, each rule says that any program signed with a specific digital certificate is allowed to run as an Antimalware Light service, which affords it serious protections.
It’s not possible to swap in an unapproved driver, since each must be Microsoft-approved. And anti-tampering constraints mean it’s equally impossible to subvert an existing driver. “ELAM is an allowlist for Antimalware Light services,” Graber mused. “What if it’s overly permissive? Does there exist an ELAM driver that may be overly permissive?”
A Grueling Search
Graeber relied on many resources in his search for a lax driver, among them VirusTotal Intelligence. You may be familiar with VirusTotal’s free malware check, which lets you submit a file or a hash and have it checked by around 70 antivirus engines. VirusTotal Intelligence provides much broader access to detailed information about just about every file and program in existence.
“Hunting for ELAM drivers, I got 886 results from VirusTotal,” said Graeber. “I filtered the list to validate results and got it to 766. I identified many vendors with ELAM drivers, some of them odd.” Here, Graeber showed a list that included one blank vendor name and several that looked incomplete. “If some of the vendors are odd, maybe there’s one rule set that’s odd.”
In the end, he discovered five certificates from four security companies that, as he hoped, provided a way to subvert ELAM. Without going into detail about certificate chains, I have determined that any program with one of these in its certificate chain could run in the protected Antimalware Light mode. All he had to do was cross a list of such programs with VirusTotal’s list of malware to get a rogue’s gallery of malicious programs with the potential to run protected.
How to Weaponize This Weakness?
At this point, the talk stepped off the technical deep end. Graeber described searching the LOLbins for an abuseable executable, coming up with a suitable version of Microsoft Build, and getting past various obstacles to let him run arbitrary code. I’m sure the bright programmers in the audience were nodding along in admiration.
After a live demo, Graeber noted the possibility of various payloads. “Your own malware is protected, and you can kill other protected processes,” he said. “We effectively killed the Microsoft Defender engine in the demo.” The code is public, though Graeber mentioned that “I had to change some filenames to protect innocent vendors.”
How to Detect and Mitigate This Attack?
“This is abusing the features of ELAM, not a vulnerability,” said Graeber. “I can’t begin to speculate why any of those certificates would be allowed. Shame on Microsoft! Let’s hope for a robust fix in the future. Vendors, I’m not shaming any of you here. I don’t even blame vendors for the overly permissive drivers, since Microsoft allowed them. I encourage any vendor to audit the rule sets of your signed ELAM drivers. You wouldn’t want to be the one who ruined the entire ecosystem.”
Graeber does hold out hope for a fix. “I reported this to Microsoft in December of 2021,” he said. “They acknowledged the issue, and the Defender team really owned this. They’ve taken it very seriously and sent notification to Microsoft Virus Initiative members. If you’re a member, you already know.”
He concluded by offering resources for other researchers to duplicate his work. That might sound like he’s putting weapons in the hands of malware coders, but fear not. Graeber supplied the framework for further investigation, but anyone trying to use it will have to duplicate his search for a permissive driver and an abuseable payload.
Still, the picture of malicious software taking over the secure bunker that ELAM provides and killing off the defending programs is alarming. Let’s hope the security community, Microsoft in particular, comes up with a defense quickly.
World No.2 Cameron Smith kept his cool amid a growing storm about his potential defection to Saudi-backed LIV Golf and declared he was ready to “cop some heat” for pre-tournament denials.
The Telegraph this week reported Smith had inked $140 million (AUD) to join the Greg Norman-run league with fellow Aussie Marc Leishman.
Smith was pressed on the report ahead of the start of the FedEex Cup Playoffs and refused to be drawn on it.
“You know, my goal here is to win the FedExCup Playoffs,” Smith said.
“That’s all I’m here for. I’m a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it’ll be said by me.”
But after carding an opening round three-under at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the world No.2 said he understood the line of questioning.
“I’m ready to cop some heat. I understand that’s what I’ve said,” Smith told Sky Sports having declared any news on a move would come from him.
“I’m here to win the FedEx Cup playoffs, that’s my number one goal. Whatever happens after that will come from me.”
The comments will likely be interpreted by some as strengthening of the case that he has flawed to the rebel tour which has already signed up the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia.
But while Smith remains in focus Jason Day, who withdrew from last week’s PGA Tour event with illness, carded a bogey-free round of 65 to sit just off the pace in a share of fifth late in the opening round at the $21m St Jude Classic, three shots behind the leaders.
Only the top 70 finishers will progress to the next event and remain in the hunt for the biggest payday in golf, outside of signing a LIV deal.
Day, who hasn’t won since 2018 and has slipped to 147th on the world rankings, said he wasn’t getting lost in thinking too far ahead.
“You’re always just trying like to just blend everything together and hopefully it will click,” Day said.
“I’m not getting too excited about anything right now, just got to stay patient as much as I can because the more and more I start thinking about outcomes and being able to get into next week, it just does nothing for me, or at least anything positive for me.
Cameron Smith had an up-and-down round. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“It actually gives you more anxiety and a lot of other stuff that comes along with it.
“I feel pretty good about the opening round and looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Adam Scott was the next best Aussie at four-under, a score that could have been better if not for a double-bogey five on the par three 14th hole when his tee shot found the water.
Smith, who could assume the world No.1 ranking with a victory in Memphis, depending on where current world No.1 Scottie Scheffler finishes, carded an up-and-down opening round 67, which included an eagle and two bogeys, to be five off the lead.
Every Apex Legends season is distinct in its own way, but the game’s seasons always bring new content to the game in the form of battle passes, new legends, and map changes. However, new bugs often sneak in with major seasonal updates as well as new content. Most bugs are incredibly frustrating, but every once in a while, one appears that gives players an advantage (and a good deal of amusement), as is the case with a new bug that allows Newcastle players to go flying down hillsides at record speed while reviving a downed squadmate.
The bug–which, as one Redditor aptly noted, effectively turns the mobile defender into a full-blown ambulance–is the result of one of the recent buffs Newcastle received in the Season 14 update. The buff in question increased the speed at which Newcastle drags a downed teammate while utilizing his passive ability, Retrieve The Wounded.
While the game’s developers did aim to improve his passive ability, the intended effect was probably not meant to send Newcastle and his teammates bobsledding down slopes on their knockdown shields mid-revive. Previous unintended “features”–including one that allowed Caustic to stack barrels of Nox Gas on Gibraltar’s Gun Shield–have historically been resolved quickly. The super-speed revive bug will likely be patched in the future, so curious players should make the most of it before it’s removed from the game.
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NRL great Cameron Smith believes Raiders coach Ricky Stuart got off lightly after he received a one game ban for a post-match spray about Panthers playmaker Jaeman Salmon.
Stuart was also issued with a $25,000 fine after calling Salmon “a weak-gutted dog” after Canberra’s 26-6 to Penrith last Saturday.
The veteran coach will miss his side’s crunch match with St George on Sunday, as the Raiders look to keep their dwindling hopes of finals football alive.
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As reported by Fox Sports’ James Hooper, Stuart also can’t attend training sessions or contract anyone at the club for seven days from when the punishment was handed down.
speaking on The Captains Runformer Melbourne Storm captain Smith said that he was expecting Stuart to be issued with at least a two-game suspension for his spray.
“With the Salmon family situation, are they still seeking some legal advice on the situation? That’s always an option for them because without a doubt it’s defamation, every day of the week,” Smith said onSEN 1170 Radio.
“I was shocked Kempy (Denan Kemp), I was really shocked. I don’t know how you felt about it but I was extremely shocked when I heard the comments from Ricky.
“We’ve all seen him have his say in post-match press conferences and at times he has certainly pushed the boundaries as far as comments and remarks around officials and what happened on the game.
“That was just a clear crossing of the line. You just don’t go there in that forum.
“He said as much in the days post the comments that he made that it was the wrong thing to do. Now he’s coped a week for it.
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“I thought that it was quite light to be honest, one week. Fairly significantly fine involved, $25,000, it’s a lot of money.
“I actually thought it was going to be more around a minimum of two weeks suspension from the club.”
While Stuart has never been afraid to express how he’s feeling after a match, both Smith and co-host Denan Kemp agreed that a line had been crossed.
Kemp said that a one match suspension was still “reasonable” considering how the Raiders are placed on the ladder, but still felt that the comments had fallen into a “no go zone”.
“If I’m being honest, I used to enjoy his blow-ups. I really did. As a footy fan I thought it was great that we had this guy that sometimes crossed the line, but I think the key for me was always it was about the football with professionals,” Kemp said.
“Whether he’s having a crack at the refs or whoever it was, they’re professionals, they’re apart of the game, and he’s having his opinion on that situation. That’s where I can go ‘you know what, I kind of like the passion’.
“The line is when it’s not at football, and once you get across that line, it’s a no go zone.
Cleary backs NRL over Stuart suspension | 02:44
“The reason why I’m a bit surprised he only got one week was because he obviously has formed, he’s got I think it was $160,000 worth of fines now.
“I’m still happy with a week. His team is at a very crucial point in the season right now, they need to win every single game pretty much.
Canberra are still in with a chance of playing finals football this season as they continue the run home with four games left to be played.
They’re two competition points behind eighth-place Sydney Roosters, but have a significantly worse point’s differential which could work against them.
Smith thinks that they’ll overcome the loss of their coach to incredibly make the finals, as they have the “softest run” of any team currently in the mix.
The Hisense U8G was one of our favorite TVs of 2021 thanks to its fantastic picture quality and strong list of features for a reasonable price. Its successor, the Hisense U8H, is even more impressive, with wider color and higher contrast. It’s otherwise similar to the U8G, so you shouldn’t feel pressured to upgrade from last year’s model, but if you’re shopping for a new TV, the U8H is one of the best values available today. As far as cost, Hisense specifies both a suggested retail price of $1,399.99 and an “everyday” price of $999.99 for the 65-inch version of the U8H we tested to make it seem like the TV is perpetually on sale. Amazon is selling the TV for the higher suggested price at launch, but might drop to the “everyday” price over time as more units reach retail channels. Either way, the U8H is an excellent value, and worthy of our Editors’ Choice award.
Editors’ Note: this review is based on testing performed on the 65U8H, the 65-inch model in the series. Apart from the screen-size difference, the 55-inch 55U8H ($1,149.99 suggested retail price, $699.99 “everyday” price) is identical in features, and we expect similar performance.
A Simple, Familiar Design
The U8H uses an increasingly common TV design, in which a thin metallic band runs along the sides and across the top of the screen, while a wider, brushed metallic strip serves as the bottom bezel. It’s a simple, classy look that the Hisense U6H, the Vizio M50QXM-K01, and a variety of other TVs share. The bottom bezel sports a chrome Hisense logo in the middle, a trapezoidal protrusion for the infrared sensor, a power button, Google Assistant indicator lights, and a far-field microphone array complete with a mute switch. The TV stands on two long, thin metal feet and has standard VESA screw holes for wall mounting.
The power cable plugs into a port on the right side of the rear panel, but all other connections are situated on the left side. Four HDMI ports (one eARC, two 4K120), a USB-A port, a 3.5mm composite video input, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an antenna/cable connector face left, while an optical audio output, an Ethernet port, and a second USB-A port face directly back.
The included remote is the same one you get with the U6H. It’s a rectangular wand made of black plastic with a large circular navigation pad near the top. Power, input, settings, and Google Assistant buttons sit above the pad, along with a combination pinhole microphone/indicator LED. Home, back, and live TV buttons reside directly below the pad, as well as playback controls, a volume rocker, and a channel rocker. Farther down, dedicated service buttons offer instant access to Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, Peacock, Tubi, and YouTube.
Google TV, With AirPlay Support Coming Soon
Hisense opts for the Google TV smart TV platform on the U8H, which provides plenty of apps and features. All major video streaming services are present, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Sling TV, Twitch, and YouTube. This platform supports Google Cast for streaming content from your Android phone or Chrome tab. An update planned for October will add the same Apple AirPlay connectivity features the Hisense U6H has.
Google TV also unlocks access to Google Assistant, and the U8H has far-field microphones that enable hands-free use. Like with a smart display, you can simply say, “Hey, Google,” to summon the voice service. Google Assistant is useful for looking up content, controlling the TV and any compatible smart home devices on your network, and searching for general information like weather reports and sports scores.
High Contrast and Wide Colors
The Hisense U8H is a 4K LED-backlit LCD TV with a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and hybrid log gamma (HLG). It has an ATSC 3.0 tuner, too.
We test TVs with a Klein K-80 colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G signal generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman software. Out of the box, in Theater Day mode with an SDR signal, the U8H shows a peak brightness of 711 nits with a full-screen white field and 1,410 nits with an 18% field. With an HDR signal in the same mode, the TV shows a peak brightness of 842 nits with a full-screen field and 1,982 nits with an 18% field. In both cases, the black level is an excellent 0.01cd/m^2 for an effective contrast ratio of 198,226:1. That performance soundly beats the U8G (88.168:1). The U8H doesn’t, however, reach the levels of the Samsung QN90B. That model offers similar peak brightness (1,700 nits with an HDR signal and an 18% white field), but boasts OLED-challenging contrast with effectively perfect black levels because of its miniLED backlight.
The U8H also has an array backlight system and seems to turn off the lights completely for black sections, but it displays some light bloom whereas the QN90B shows little to none. Light bloom is one of the factors that has kept LED TVs from challenging OLEDs on black levels, though the trade-off for OLEDs is a far dimmer screen. For reference, our Editors’ Choice-winning OLED TV, the LG C2, has a peak brightness of just 570 nits with an HDR signal and an 18% white field.
Although we measured the best contrast numbers on the U8H with the Theater Day mode, we recommend the Filmmaker mode for watching movies. The latter has a dimmer peak brightness of 1,877 nits with an HDR signal and an 18% white field, but better preserves shadow details and highlights. It also displays slightly more accurate colors than the Theater Day mode, though the black levels between the two are identical.
The above charts show the U8H in Filmmaker mode with an SDR signal compared against Rec.709 broadcast standards, and with an HDR signal compared against DCI-P3 digital cinema standards. SDR colors are well balanced but a bit oversaturated past broadcast standards, though that isn’t a big deal because they’re still less intense than HDR colors and won’t hurt the viewing experience. HDR colors are impressive and exceed the DCI-P3 color space, though cyans and magentas start to drift a bit green and red, respectively. Fortunately, they aren’t significantly skewed, so colors still generally look accurate out of the box.
BBC’s Planet Earth II looks excellent on the U8H. The picture is bright and colorful. The TV shows well-saturated and natural greens and blues for plants and water, respectively. Fine details like fur and bark come through clearly both under direct sunlight and in shade.
The red of Deadpool’s costume in the overcast opening scenes of dead pool is vibrant and balanced; it doesn’t appear faded or purple at all. The yellows and oranges of the flames in the burning lab fight scene are bright and vibrant, with nicely varied highlights against fairly dark, though not inky, shadow details.
In the party scenes of The Great Gatsby, the cuts and textures of black suit jackets and dark hair come through without appearing washed out, while the whites of balloons and shirts in the same frames look quite bright. This film shows how the TV’s Filmmaker mode tamps down a bit on the backlight and produces better black levels at the expense of a slightly dimmer (but still quite bright) picture.
Colors fade slightly when you view the TV from an off-angle, but not to a significant degree. When you entertain a group of people, everyone should be able to see the screen just fine regardless of where they sit. The U8H doesn’t offer the perfect off-angle color retention of TVs like the LG C2, but it’s far better than more budget models.
Solid Gaming Chops
Gamers, especially AMD-based PC gamers, should like the U8H. Its 120Hz panel features variable refresh rate (VRR) and AMD FreeSync Premium.
The TV is also quite responsive. Using an HDFury Diva HDMI matrix, we measured an input lag of 8.1ms in Game mode. That falls under the 10ms threshold we use to determine if a TV is among the best for gaming. Predictably, with Game mode off, that input lag jumps to 86.5ms.
A Worthy Successor and an Excellent Value
The Hisense U8H is a fantastic TV for the price and a worthy successor to the U8G. It offers excellent contrast, wide and generally accurate colors, strong gaming features and performance, and hands-free Google Assistant with Google Cast support (and Apple AirPlay arriving soon). The TV is a strong value at its $1,399.99 suggested retail price and a truly impressive value at its “everyday” price of $999.99 for the 65-inch model, earning it our Editors’ Choice for midrange TVs. It stands alongside the similar TCL 6-Series 4K Google TV ($1,299.99 for the 65-inch version) as one of our top value picks, though the TCL isn’t as bright, and lacks AMD FreeSync for gaming and Apple AirPlay for casting.
If you want to save even more money, the Hisense U6H (effectively $549.99 for the 65-inch variant) features the same excellent Google TV interface. It’s not as vibrant, bright, or responsive, however. If you want to splurge, the LG C2 ($2,499.99 for the 65-inch model) remains our favorite OLED TV because of its incredible (though slightly dimmer) picture quality, while the Samsung QN90B ($2,599.99 for the 65-inch variant) pushes the limits of contrast performance for an LED TV.
Second, the All Blacks’ next move on their coaching setup – whether they keep Ian Foster or find a replacement for a job that has a hint of ‘poisoned chalice’ at this stage of the World Cup cycle.
It’s been hard to ignore the Wallabies’ injury woes this year, and it is certainly felt in New Zealand that the Chiefs under Rennie were frequently pushed to breaking point and beyond.
The Wallabies are obviously trying to find the sweet spot: being able to play a highly abrasive style of rugby while keeping their players on the field. It’s certainly extremely challenging to play against when the Wallabies get it right. They have some enormous athletes in Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota and Rob Valetini, who can subject opponents to 80 minutes of relentless ball-carrying.
At the moment, even their wings and centers have the same mentality: run hard and run often. Perhaps they lacked a bit of nuance in that last 15 minutes against England, but they went pretty close to winning that series by virtue of their out-and-out physicality alone.
If you attach Dan McKellar’s technical excellence to that hard-edged running, it creates a package that may not win any prizes aesthetically, but very much captures the zeitgeist for Test rugby in 2022.
The Wallabies, in fact, are probably close to assembling their own Bomb Squad to match the Springboks’ 6-2 split: Rennie could comfortably pick a second tight five on the bench and have Reece Hodge and Tate McDermott/Jake Gordon as his only backline reserve.
Quade Cooper dominates the headlines for Australia, but the Wallabies scored 31 of their 41 points last week after he was injured.Credit:Getty
At present, the Wallabies players seem to be largely at peace with this relentless style. It has unquestionably brought out the best in Folau Fainga’a, while Tupou looks a full 10-15 kilograms lighter than he was in Super Rugby. The question is: how long can they keep playing this way?
The All Blacks, by contrast, have not been playing with a clearly defined identity for a while. Their lapsed catch-pass skills mean they can’t play a fast-fast style, their pack does not generate enough turnover ball to create unstructured play, and the use of tactical substitutions and constant stoppages in Test rugby have removed fatigue as a factor.
They are, in fact, somewhat lost and that is why the Wallabies probably wish they were heading to New Zealand this week to secure the Bledisloe Cup. That window is open.
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A warning, though: it may not stay open. The work of new forwards coach Jason Ryan was evident in the All Blacks’ loss to the Springboks last weekend, and they suddenly looked more organised. Even if Foster keeps his job, Ryan’s positive influence is likely to grow.
If Foster loses his job, more changes will come. Scott Robertson – if he can be persuaded, and that’s a big if – Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland are all in the background, and all three have enjoyed a level of success that has eluded Foster.
The Bledisloe window could therefore be shut firmly on the Wallabies’ fingers, leaving them to regret the change in Rugby Championship scheduling that has worked against them.
Samsung and Google are big names in the Android world, and both also offer their own signature true wireless earbuds. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the latest in a line of many models and sit at the top of the Galaxy Buds family, while Google positions the Pixel Buds Pro as the ultimate Android buds. But which set of earbuds is right for you? We’ll cover what you need to know in this Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro comparison.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro: Design
Kris Carlon/Android Authority
When placed next to each other, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Google Pixel Buds Pro look somewhat similar. Both have small buds with ear tips that sit close to their bodies, and both models mirror some of the design aesthetics of Android phones from their respective brands.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro claim to be 15% smaller than their preceding models and to have better airflow. The Pixel Buds Pro, meanwhile, are close in look and size to the cheaper Pixel A series buds. However, their new case is now IPX2 rated, while the buds themselves are IPX4 rated. Samsung’s previous Galaxy Buds Pro were IPX7 rated, and the new models are too. That means you can immerse the Samsung buds for up to 30 minutes, and they should survive.
Overall, the two models are pretty similar when it comes to design.
Samsung’s buds are a bit more durable than Google’s offering.
Google claims the batteries in the Pixel Buds Pro last seven hours with active noise-cancelling (ANC) enabled, which our tests confirmed. You can also net up to 20 hours total with the charging case. Disabling ANC lets the buds go for up to 11 hours and 31 hours total with the charging case.
Samsung claims the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can go for up to five hours with noise-cancelling enabled. The charging case will take that to 18 hours total. We’ll have to test this to be sure. If you drop them into the charging case with ANC on, you reach a total of 18 hours of battery life, according to the manufacturer. Without ANC, that climbs to 29 hours.
Both USB-C and wireless charging are options for either model.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro: Features
Despite being Google’s signature offering, the Pixel Buds Pro only support the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, which is odd for Android-tailored buds. On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer AAC and SBC, and, if you use a Galaxy device, the Hi-Res Samsung Scalable Codec. The latter is better for latency reasons, but it’s only available if you buy into the larger ecosystem.
This is where the two models diverge further. The Pixel Buds Pro lets you connect to almost any Android device in a similar manner. If you use the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro on a non-Galaxy device, you will get most, but not all, of the same features. You won’t get automatic device switching and 360 audio, for instance. Although the Pixel Buds Pro do support Bluetooth multipoint, so you can connect to two devices simultaneously.
controls
Both the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Pixel Buds Pro feature multifunction controls. You can swipe back and forth on Google’s buds to change the volume and tap them in various ways to access some settings. However, with most of these functions baked in, you can’t customize their controls.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro let you use the Samsung Wearables app to remap controls and tweak things. This app works with all Android devices, but certain functions will only work with Galaxy phones.
Both sets of buds are made primarily for Android, but Samsung’s model is tailored for Galaxy phones.
The new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro feature SmartThings Find, which can alert you if you leave your buds behind. Google offers a Find My service, as well; you’ll have to enable it before losing your buds.
Either model of earbuds let you use voice commands to control functions, but they differ in their approach. Pixel Buds Pro use Google Assistant to interact with your voice, while the default voice assistant for Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is Bixby, but you can change to another voice assistant if you want.
Noise canceling
The Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s first set of earbuds with real ANC, and they do a decent job of it. Meanwhile, the first-generation Galaxy Buds Pro already managed to slightly edge out the ever-popular AirPods Pro when it comes to noise-cancelling.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro tout that they have an extra 3dB of attenuation when compared to their predecessor and “intelligent noise-cancelling.” It is unclear if Samsung means this across every frequency as an average or in a particular range.
Both of these models have three sizes of ear tips to choose from, so you can find a fit that delivers good isolation. However, in our experience, the ear tip fit test in the Google Pixel Buds Pro app seems to indicate that all of the tips are an ideal fit, which isn’t the case. Samsung’s ear tip fit test is usually a little more reliable in that regard.
Sound
The Google Pixel Buds Pro tend to emphasize both lows and highs a bit too much, which isn’t awful but might be noticeable to you depending on your listening habits. We’ve not had the chance to test the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro yet, but while their predecessor had a bass boost, overall, they did not amp up either end of the spectrum nearly as much.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit audio playback but only with Galaxy devices. The Pixel Buds Pro aren’t compatible with any Hi-Res audio standard.
Samsung’s buds also give you Dolby Atmos support, while Google doesn’t offer spatial audio support at the time of this writing. It is set to arrive with a future firmware update, however.
The Pixel Buds Pro don’t have a true equalizer. Instead, they rely on a volume EQ that doesn’t help all that much. Samsung gives you some EQ presets to use, which is a little better.
Price and colors
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Active noise canceling Google Assistant Real-time translations
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Improved fit and comfort Better ANC
The Google Pixel Buds Pro come in Charcoal, Fog, Coral, and Lemongrass and sell for $199.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were made available for pre-order from August 10 ahead of an official sale date of August 26, 2022. You can snag them in White, Graphite, or Bora Purple.
Specs
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Pixel Buds Pro
Dimensions
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Earbud: 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7mm Case: 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7mm
Pixel Buds Pro
Earbud: 23.7 x 22.3 x 22mm Case: 63.2 x 25 x 50mm
weights
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Earbud: 5.6g Case: 39.6g
Pixel Buds Pro
Earbud: 6.2g Case: 62.4g
Bluetooth-connectivity
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Bluetooth 5.3 SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec
Pixel Buds Pro
Bluetooth 5.0 SBC, AAC
water resistance
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
IPX7
Pixel Buds Pro
Earbuds: IPX4 Case: IPX2
listening time
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
5 hours with ANC, 8 hours without ANC With case: 18 hours with ANC, 29 hours without ANC
Pixel Buds Pro
7 hours with ANC, 11 hours without ANC With case: 20 hours with ANC, 31 hours without ANC
Charging
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
USB-C Wireless
Pixel Buds Pro
USB-C Wireless
Speakers and microphones
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
2-Way Woofer and Tweeter three microphones
Pixel Buds Pro
Custom-designed 11mm dynamic speaker driver three microphones
Device compatibility
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Android 7.0 or later 1.5GB of RAM or more iOS:Bluetooth only Windows 10: Galaxy Buds app TV: Samsung 2022 TVs and later
Pixel Buds Pro
Android 6.0 or later iOS:Bluetooth only Laptop/Desktop: Bluetooth only
Colors
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
White, Graphite, Bora Purple
Pixel Buds Pro
Charcoal, Fog, Coral, Lemongrass
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro: Which should you buy?
Kris Carlon/Android Authority
The choice between the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Pixel Buds Pro will likely come down to the phone you have (or want to buy).
Google’s offering is targeting all Android users. While they are missing some features at launch and lack a reliable low-latency Bluetooth codec, they will integrate nicely with the overall ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Samsung really tailors the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro to work best with Galaxy devices. They will also work well with other Android phones, but the experience won’t be quite as fully featured.
The Warriors may not be playing for much more than pride, but they’ve given a parochial home crowd plenty to cheer about with a thumping 42-18 win over the Bulldogs.
Last week’s defeat to the Rabbitohs was, for the most part, an uninterested showing in their old temporary home of the Sunshine Coast – but back in the friendly confines of Mt Smart Stadium, they fired on all cylinders.
Reece Walsh laid on a couple of tries with his ball playing, but the highlight was undeniably a Shaun Johnson just trying that sealed the result with five minutes left.
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The 31-year-old turned back the clock as he sent Kyle Flanagan the wrong way with a dummy, and then did likewise to fullback Jake Averillo with another, before diving underneath the posts.
Shaun Johnson dives over to score a wonderful solo try. (Getty)
Two more tries – to Ed Kosi and Addin Fonua-Blake – padded the scoreline in the final minutes, but it was a deserved win for the home team.
Canterbury were gifted both of their second half tries in a 40 minute period that was almost entirely played in their own half; the first off a Reece Walsh dropped ball, and the second via a 90 meter Josh Addo-Carr intercept.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on9Now
The Fox flew away to level the scores, but the Dogs would not score another point after that.
The Warriors have been a different beast since moving home, smashing the Tigers and hanging in gamely against a Storm side that beat them by 60 earlier this year.
They’ll get one more chance at home to end the year when they host the Titans in the final game of the season.
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Paul Green’s life in pictures: From Sharks prodigy to premiership-winning coach
Australian cyclist Jai Hindley will have a shot at creating history when he lines up in the final Grand Tour of the year, the Vuelta a España.
Key points:
Jai Hindley won his first Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia earlier this year
No Australian has ever won the Vuelta a España, with Cadel Evans and Jack Haig’s third places the best by any Australian
This year’s Vuelta starts with a team time trial in Utrecht in the Netherlands
Only 10 riders have ever won two Grand Tours in a single season, with the Giro-Vuelta double the equal-most elusive feat.
Just three riders have ever claimed the Giro-Vuelta double in a single season: Eddie Merckx (1973), Giovanni Battaglin (1981) and Alberto Contador (2008).
But that’s what 26-year-old Hindley will be aiming for after he was named as part of a strong Bora-Hansgrohe team that will line up for the race-opening team time trial in the Dutch city of Utrecht.
Hindley became the first Australian to win the Giro last May in what was just his fifth Grand Tour start.
He was just the second Australian to ever win a Grand Tour after Cadel Evans’s 2011 Tour de France win — and will be aiming to become the first Australian to ever win the Vuelta.
The West Australian’s only previous appearance in the Vuelta was in 2018, when he finished in 32nd place overall behind overall winner Simon Yates, who will this year lead Australian team Team BikeExchange-Jayco.
Hindley had two months off after his Giro victory but recently finished seventh overall at the recent five-stage Vuelta Ciclista a Burgos.
Jai Hindley will be hoping to use his ability in the mountains to challenge the other contenders for the red jersey. (Getty Images: Marco Alpozzi)
“The main goal is to be good for La Vuelta, and we still have a bit of time before that, so it’s all good,” Hindley told the Bora-Hansgrohe team after the race.
“After such a long time off from racing and then coming off the back of a hard altitude camp, it’s nice to be back at the pointy end of a race.
“I think Wilco [Kelderman] and Emu [Emanuel Buchmann] are similar and, hopefully, we will hit peak form at the right time.”
Three-time reigning champion Primož Roglič is expected to line up for Jumbo Visma, despite crashing out of the Tour de France with a shoulder injury.
If Roglič does start, he will be looking to become the first man to win four-consecutive Vuelta titles.
Australian Jack Haig — who also crashed out of this year’s Tour de France and is expected to be named to start for Bahrain Victorious — finished a surprise third in last year’s Vuelta, seven minutes and 40 seconds behind Roglič.
That equaled Evans’ third-placed finish in 2009 as the joint best finish by an Australian in the Spanish Grand Tour.
AG2R rider Ben O’Connor — another rider whose Tour prematurely ended after injury having finished fourth in 2021 — may also start.
Australian riders have stood on the podium in four of the last eight Grand Tour races.
The Vuelta gets underway with a 23.3km team time trial on Friday, September 19, opening three days of racing in the Netherlands before the race heads south to Spain.
That race will cover 3,280.5km in 21 stages, seven of which are classed as mountain stages.
