Sony’s upcoming Sound Bars and A/V receivers feature Google Cast functionality, launching this May

Hot on the heels of Sony’s 4K Ultra HDTV announcement, the manufacturer is following up with a few new details on their upcoming 2015 soundbars and A/V receivers. While not normally Android-related news, a couple of Sony’s new soundbars (along with both of their new A/V receivers) feature Google Cast technology built right in, meaning you can “cast” any audio streams from apps like Google Play Music straight to the speakers themselves.

Here are the new soundbars and A/V receivers launching in May and July:

Sony Sound Bars

• HT-ST9 (July) ,500 – Comes with a wireless subwoofer and features 800 watts and 7.1 channel surround sound from seven amplifiers and nine speakers and a wireless, front-firing subwoofer with passive radiator. There are 3 HDMI inputs along with Bluetooth reception and transmission so you can enjoy music/movies with your Bluetooth headphones. Sony’s LDAC technology provides enhanced wireless listening for all music with compatible products. Sound was tuned by Academy Award-winning Sony Pictures engineers and is Hi-Res capable. Also supports Google Cast and Spotify Connect.


• HT-NT3 (July) 0 – Hi-Res Sound Bar with 2.1 channel audio and wireless subwoofer with 450 watts of power. Also incorporates Sony LDAC technology, single HDMI connection with 3 HDMI inputs, and audio streaming with Bluetooth and NFC connections. Google Cast ready.


• HT-CT780 (May) 0 – 330 watt 2.1 Sound Bar with wireless subwoofer and wall-mount. Features 3 HDMI inputs with one supporting 4K with HDCP 2.2, HDMI TV connectivity with Audio Return Channel support.


• HT-CT380 (May) 0 – 300 watt 2.1 Sound Bar with wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth/NFC support. Like the CT780, it can also be mounted on the wall.

Sony A/V Receivers

• STR-DN860 (May) 0 – Hi-Res Wi-Fi Network A/V Receiver offers 7.2 channels and 165 watts of power per channel. Also comes with 4K resolution upscaling and pass-through, flexible connectivity with ten HD inputs, support for two separate powered zones, and hi-res audio compatibility. Wireless connectivity includes streaming of music with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth reception and transmission, along with support for Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect.


• STR-DN1060 (May) 0 – 7.2 channel Hi-Res Wi-Fi Network A/V Receiver offers 7.2 channels and 150 watts of power, Wi-Fi music streaming, Bluetooth reception and transmission, Google Cast for Audio and Apple AirPlay. Adjust settings, change inputs, and confirm volume levels on-screen using graphical user interface, refined remote control, or SongPal App.

In case you missed it, we wanted to remind you that of Sony’s 4 soundbars, only the HT-ST9 and HT-NT3 feature Google Cast functionality, as well as both of their new receivers. If home audio is your thing, Sony’s new products should be an interesting prospect.

[Press Release]

Samsung’s crazy egg-shaped speaker delivers radiant sound to every seat

What looks like an egg, could be found on The Jetsons, and produces pretty decent sound? The Samsung Radiant 360 speaker. This thing might look a little weird, but it’s actually a nifty device. Samsung unveiled the device back at CES and now they’ve announced it will go on sale later this month for 0.

The Radiant 360 has been designed to use Samsung’s “Ring Radiator” technology. It can deliver balanced audio within a 360-degree radius. You can set it up anywhere and it will deliver sound to every corner of the room. You don’t have to worry about where it sits or points. The odd shape of the speaker also helps evenly disperse the sound.

Since this is a Samsung product you can bet it works with tons of other Samsung devices. The Radiant 360 can integrate with other speakers, and with Samsung’s audio app you can wirelessly control the music and rooms. This device would also be perfect as something like the Amazon Echo. A centralized hub that can answer questions and perform basic tasks. Samsung hasn’t announced anything like that, but we could see it in the future.

What do you thin of this crazy-looking device?

[via Digital Trends]

Lollipop’s sound profiles were confusing, Android M’s are much clearer

Android VP of Engineering Dave Burke addressed criticisms surrounding the Lollipop’s awful sound profiles head-on while on stage at Google I/O. Along with “thousands” of bug fixes making their way to Android M, arguably one of the bigger bugs was Lollipop’s convoluted sound profiles which made sense to just about no one and didn’t really behave the way they had in previous versions of Android.

For Android M, Google’s making things a little bit simpler with new and improved controls. Currently, changing the volume in Lollipop brings up the volume slider along with the options to choose between no sounds at all (even alarms), priority notifications, or all notifications.

Android M has a similar UI, only now it spells things out more clearly with a first-time popup message explaining each option in plain language. There’s also a handy drop down when adjusting the volume to control audio output for notifications and alarms individually. Again, it’s not too drastically different from what we had in Lollipop, but it’s better and better is good.

Thanks, Hernan!

Deal: Get 50% off the Soundfreaq Sound Kick portable Bluetooth speaker

The sun is shining a little bit brighter, flowers are blooming, and the temperature is getting warmer. Summer is coming. When you’re outside by the pool or grilling burgers you’re going to need some tunes. A portable Bluetooth speaker is the perfect companion for summer cook-outs and pool parties.

There are tons of Bluetooth speakers to choose from, but many of them are very expensive. We’ve got a great deal on a speaker that usually retails for around 0. For the next 5 days you can grab the Soundfreaq Sound Kick speaker from AndroidArea.com for just . You get up to 7 hours of playtime with the built-in rechargeable battery, Bluetooth, and line-in connectivity. It can even charge your devices if you need some extra juice. Grab the deal while it lasts!