Technologies

Bye Bye, Booms: Jabra’s New Evolve3 Headsets Drop the Mic

In an effort to make its professional-grade Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 more consumer-friendly, Jabra has designed them to look like standard headphones.

In the past, Jabra marketed its Evolve headsets more toward businesses rather than consumers. But as more people have shifted to hybrid or work-from-home environments, the professional-grade headset market’s dynamics have shifted to the point where the Danish brand made a major design decision for its new Evolve3 85 ($649) and Evolve3 75 ($463) headsets: it left off the boom microphone and designed the new models to look like your typical premium over-ear and on-ear headphones.

Scheduled to ship on March 1, the two models offer nearly identical specs and performance, but the Evolve3 85 has larger ear cups and is an over-ear model, while the Evolve 3 75 is an on-ear model (the Evolve3 85 also has slightly better battery life).

While there’s no flexible boom microphone to bring the mic close to your mouth, according to Jabra, the new models are able to pick up your voice clearly while dramatically reducing background noise thanks to its ClearVoice system that combines «deep neural network technology and Jabra’s multi-mic algorithms.»

Along with streamlined designs and comfortable fits, Jabra promises that the headsets are good for everyday use as headphones that sound good for music listening and movie watching. They feature active noise canceling and come with either a USB-C or USB-A Bluetooth dongle for computer use.

Battery life seems impressively strong, and Jabra is touting the ability to replace the headsets’ batteries and ear pads to extend the headsets’ lifespans. That’s a plus considering both headsets are rather expensive, exceeding the price points of such premium noise-canceling headphones as the Sony WH-1000XM6 and second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

I’ll have full hands-on reviews of the headsets closer to their March 1 availability date. For now, here’s a quick look at some of their key specs.

Jabra Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 key features:

Boomless design with Jabra ClearVoice, powered by DNN technology for professional-grade voice clarity
Adaptive active noise cancellation that adjusts in real-time to the environment
Spatial Sound for more natural and less fatiguing call experiences
Fast-charge support that delivers up to 10 hours of power in just 10 minutes by cable
Wireless charging
Voice input for accurate access to AI workflows and tools
Tuned for high-fidelity music with the LC3 audio codec (SBC and AAC codecs are also supported)
Certified for leading virtual meeting platforms (UC-certified variants)
Secure Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity with prepaired adapter included
Centralized device management through Jabra Plus Management (for enterprises)
Customization and control via the Jabra Plus mobile and desktop app (later in 2026)
Replaceable batteries to extend product life
Jabra Evolve3 85 battery life: Up to 25 hours of call time or 120 hours of listening to entertainment (with ANC/busylight off) and 10-minute fast charge for 10 hours of use
Jabra Evolve3 75 battery life: Up to 22 hours of call time or 110 hours of listening to entertainment (with ANC/busylight off) and a 10-minute fast charge for 10 hours of use
Price: Evolve3 85 $649; Evolve3 75 $463
Availability: Black versions of both headsets will be available from March 1, while the warm gray color will be available from April

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, April 8

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 8.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Hint: It uses a lot of the letter Z for some reason. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: ___-Carlton (hotel chain)
Answer: RITZ

5A clue: Span of the alphabet
Answer: ATOZ

6A clue: Cable channel with an out-of-this-world name
Answer: STARZ

7A clue: Takes care of, as a squeaky wheel
Answer: OILS

8A clue: Toy on a string
Answer: YOYO

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: When a post receives far more negative comments than likes, in social media slang
Answer: RATIO

2D clue: World’s leading wine producer
Answer: ITALY

3D clue: Middle of the human body
Answer: TORSO

4D clue: Sleeping sound
Answer: ZZZ

6D clue: Tofu base
Answer: SOY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 8, #562

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 8 No. 562.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Working out.

Green group hint: Cover your face.

Blue group hint: NFL players.

Purple group hint: Leap.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Exercises in singular form.

Green group: Sporting jobs that require masks.

Blue group: Hall of Fame defensive ends.

Purple group: ____ jump.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is exercises in singular form. The four answers are crunch, plank, situp and squat.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is sporting jobs that require masks. The four answers are catcher, fencer, football player and goaltender.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame defensive ends. The four answers are Dent, Peppers, Strahan and Youngblood.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ jump. The four answers are broad, high, long and triple.

Technologies

The $135M Google Data Settlement Site Is Live — See If You’re Eligible

Use the settlement website to select your preferred payment method, and you may end up $100 richer.

You can now file a claim in the $135 million Google data settlement. The case centers on claims that Android devices transmitted user data without consent. Specifically, the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC contends that Google’s Android devices passively transferred cellular data to Google without user permission, even when the devices were idle. While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in January, agreeing to pay $135 million to about 100 million US Android phone users.

The official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live. The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will consider whether Google’s settlement is fair and listen to objections. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much will I get paid?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.