Quick Answer: Yes, AirPods work on planes and you can even use them during your flight. Airlines treat them no differently than wireless headphones. However, you should be aware of a few limitations.

True wireless earbuds like Apple AirPods are great for work, home, and working out. But what about travel? More specifically, do they work on a plane?

At first thought, it seems obvious. But sometimes, things aren’t as simple as ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ While AirPods might technically work on an airplane, rules can change.

For example, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) rules over device use on aircraft. So what’s the deal with using your AirPods and AirPods Pro on a plane?

So, will AirPods work on a plane?

Short answer: Yes

Yes, your AirPods will work on a plane, and yes, you can use them in the air. And, of course, you can use AirPods on in-flight TVs. Airlines treat them no differently than wireless headphones.

This functionality comes right out of the box available across all models includeing the second generation airpods, all the way to Apple AirPods Max.

However, you’ll have to enable your phone’s Airplane Mode to disable cellular radio. Then, turn Bluetooth back on. Thankfully, that’ll keep you inside the FAA’s rules.

READ MORE: AirFly connects your wireless headphones to in-flight entertainment systems

If your flight has onboard WiFi, you can connect that too. That’s all because, in 2013, the FAA relaxed its regulations on in-flight device use:

Can you use AirPods for phone calls on an airplane?

Sadly, no. The only thing you can’t do is make voice calls, even over WiFi, thanks to FCC regulations prohibiting airborne calls from using cell phones.

Do Apple AirPods 2nd generation work with in-flight entertainment?

Ah, in-flight entertainment. The best way to snooze through red-eye transatlantic flights. But there’s a problem.

Airlines don’t often give out headphones for free anymore. That’s okay; most of us have earbuds in our pockets, but do your AirPods work on a plane to watch movies?

The answer is yes, but you’ll need an adapter to connect things. We like Twelve South’s AirFly range, which works with in-flight entertainment systems or the TVs at your local gym.

If you don’t have a Bluetooth adapter, thankfully you can use AirPods or any other Bluetooth device for more than just watching movies on a plane. For instance, you can listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks via your laptop or smartphone.

Using AirPods on a plane without Wi-Fi

No worries if you don’t have a Bluetooth adapter! Thankfully, you can still use AirPods or other Bluetooth devices for more than just watching movies on a plane.

For instance, jam out to music, catch up on podcasts, or get lost in audiobooks via your laptop or smartphone, all without Wi-Fi.

AirPods connect to your device using Bluetooth, so you don’t need an internet connection. Just remember to set your device to airplane mode and enable Bluetooth while you’re in the sky.

Can you use AirPods on a plane?

Yup, AirPods work basically anywhere.

So the next time you fly, remember to use your Apple AirPods in the air, at the terminal, or anywhere gate-to-gate as long as your phone is in Airplane Mode.

And there you have it, folks, your comprehensive guide to using AirPods on a plane, all neatly packed in the table above.

It’s clear that whether you’re cruising at 30,000 feet with no Wi-Fi in sight or just want to tune out the world around you, AirPods have got your ears covered.

Where do you use your AirPods? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can Apple AirPods give you cancer?
• Can you use AirPods with non-Apple products?
• How to connect AirPods & AirPods Pro to Samsung TV?
• Study shows AirPods can be used as affordable hearing aids

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Can you use AirPods on a plane? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: Deepfake porn involves using AI to superimpose individuals’ faces onto pornographic content without their consent, raising serious ethical concerns.

What does the rise of deepfake pornography say about our society’s relationship with technology and consent?

Deepfake porn relies on advanced deep-learning algorithms that can analyze facial features and expressions in order to produce realistic face swapping in videos and images.

While the technology itself is neutral, its nonconsensual use to create involuntary pornographic deepfakes has become increasingly common.

The term “deepfakes” combines “deep learning” and “fake” to describe this content that depicts people, often celebrity deepfake porn, engaged in sexual acts that they never consented to.

Their faces are mapped onto the bodies of adult performers without permission, in essence creating a digitally falsified reality.

What is a deepfake?

Short Answer: Videos with faces swapped out onto bodies in videos, making it appear as if they’re in a porn video.

Deepfake porn videos are created using AI to swap faces onto bodies in videos, making it look like individuals are in explicit content.

In the world of adult content, it’s a disturbing practice where it looks like certain people are in these videos, even when they’re not.

Why is it an issue?

Critics have raised legal and ethical concerns over the spread of deepfake porn, seeing it as a form of exploitation and digital assault.

The subjects, predominantly women, have no control over these realistic but fabricated videos that appropriate their likeness and identity.

This takes away their ability to consent to the sexual acts seemingly depicted and robs them of autonomy over their own intimacy.

Additionally, deepfakes have been used as tools for harassment, manipulation, and even blackmail.

While deepfake technology itself is neutral, its nonconsensual use for pornography warrants examination. Shouldn’t people have a right to consent regarding their own depiction in sexual media?

Call for accountability

In light of these concerns, lawmakers and advocates have called for accountability around deepfake porn.

From a legal standpoint, questions have emerged around issues like copyright, the right to publicity, and defamation statutes.

Technologists have also highlighted the need for solutions like digital watermarking to authenticate media and detect involuntary deepfakes. Critics have called on companies creating synthetic media tools to consider building ethical safeguards.

There have also been demands for policies that prohibit nonconsensual deepfake porn, enforce takedowns of deepfake pornography, and allow for civil recourse.

This complex issue intersects technological capabilities with ethical norms around consent, calling for nuanced public debates on the way forward.

If you have thoughts on this issue, share them in the comments below. If you prefer, carry he conversation over to our Facebook and Twitter.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Did Bruce Willis sell his image rights to a deepfake company?
• Researchers reveal how they detect deepfake audio – here’s how
• This deepfake Tom Cruise is so real it will have you questioning reality
• Forget video deepfakes, audio-only deepfakes are now a very real threat

The post What is deepfake porn? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: Yup, you can absolutely create customer voices. With ElevenLabs, creating custom voices is not just a possibility; it’s the core functionality that sets the service apart.

Have you ever wondered if you could clone your voice digitally? Well, guess what? With the magic of AI, companies like ElevenLabs are making it possible to craft custom voices that sound eerily like you.

Imagine creating a digital twin of your voice for a variety of creative projects.

Whether you’re a YouTuber looking to add a personal touch to your videos or a game developer aiming to bring characters to life, the ability to generate lifelike voices almost feels like a must-have these days.

And it’s not just for the pros; even hobbyists can now design voices that resonate with their audience.

Stick around because you’re about to discover how to turn your unique voice into an AI-powered asset.

We’re talking about ElevenLabs’ custom voice clones that can transform your content and leave your audience impressed. Ready to find out how? Let’s dive in.

What is ElevenLabs?

For those of you who got this far without knowing who or what ElevenLabs does, we’ll break it down really quickly:

ElevenLabs is an AI startup that specializes in developing speech synthesis and voice cloning technology, making “human-quality AI voices available in every dialect.” Pretty cool, right?

ElevenLabs

5.0

ElevenLabs offers a platform for generating AI-powered synthetic voices with a multilingual reach, focusing on authentic speech synthesis for various digital uses.

What We Like:

• Emotive Enhancement: ElevenLabs' AI understands context, adjusting tone and inflection to deliver emotionally resonant speech, potentially transforming your audio content experience.
• Voice Cloning Capabilities: With quick voice cloning features, ElevenLabs promises unique flexibility in voice selection, allowing for a more personalized output.
• Ethical Approach: The company is proactively addressing ethical concerns, working on user-designed voices and considering fair compensation models for voice actors.
• Investor Confidence: Backed by major VC firms and having secured significant early funding, ElevenLabs has a strong foundation and shows promise for future advancements in the field.

Try It For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

What is voice customization?

Voice customization is the process of designing and altering digital voices to meet specific requirements. This arms you with the ability to tailor a voice’s gender, age, accent, and even the strength of the accent.

With ElevenLabs, the extent of customization is quite broad, letting you craft almost any kind of voice that you can imagine.

When you’re dialing in the details of your custom voice, you can assess a generated sample before adding it to your collection. This isn’t a one-shot deal, either.

You can tweak and refine until you get it just right, ensuring that the voice closely matches your intent or the personality of the character it’s meant to represent.

Benefits of voice customization

So why go through the trouble of customizing a voice? For starters, voice customization lets you add a unique and memorable element to your digital content.

Not only does this set you apart, but it also creates a distinct brand voice that can resonate with your audience on a deeper level.

In practical terms, flexibility is a significant advantage.

Whether you’re developing a game and need a host of diverse character voices or producing a podcast and want to introduce a special guest without wrangling schedules, custom voices make it manageable.

You’re no longer bound to generic options; the sound you envision can now become an audible reality.

Custom voices also contribute to inclusivity, allowing for a more authentic representation of different languages and dialects, which can be particularly impactful in global markets.

The ability to fine-tune clarity and stability further ensures that your message is not only heard but understood—crystal clear, without any misinterpretation due to poor audio quality or mismatched tonality.

So, can ElevenLabs create custom voices?

Short Answer: Absolutely, with ElevenLabs, creating custom voices is not just a possibility; it’s the core functionality that sets the service apart.

Let’s show you how you can make these voices your own.

• Start by uploading voice samples—your voice could even be the foundation for what comes next.
• Once uploaded, ElevenLabs employs AI to analyze the intricacies of your voice sample and crafts a digital voice that matches your desired settings.

Crafting a voice is not limited to mimicry. You have the power to adjust various characteristics, such as tone, pitch, and speaking style, to fit the specific needs of your content.

Whether you’re aiming for a comforting narrational tone for your YouTube videos or an energetic and dramatic flair for your game characters, ElevenLabs makes it achievable.

The process is straightforward and user-friendly, ensuring you spend less time grappling with technicalities and more time producing compelling audio content that stands out.

The process of creating custom voices – what happens behind the scenes

Data collection and analysis

When you’re setting out to create a custom voice using ElevenLabs, the first step is to collect a good amount of your original voice data.

You’re looking at uploading 30 minutes to 3 hours of high-quality voice samples. This wide range ensures that the AI has enough material to analyze and understand the distinct patterns of your voice.

Once uploaded, the software conducts a thorough analysis of your voice’s unique attributes, such as pitch, tone, and inflections.

This data lays the groundwork for the next stage – modeling your custom voice.

Voice modeling and training

With the analysis complete, ElevenLabs moves onto the modeling phase, wherein a dedicated AI model is designed to mimic your voice.

Here’s where the technology gets interesting: the software doesn’t just make a generic copy; it trains the model on your specific voice data.

This involves complex algorithms that dig through the intricacies of your voice to create a clone that’s not only close but nearly indistinguishable from your actual voice.

If you’re working with a common accent or tone, Instant Voice Cloning might suffice.

However, for more distinctive voices or specific needs, Professional Voice Cloning comes into play to ensure the highest accuracy.

Fine-tuning and testing

Once your voice model is trained, it isn’t just pushed out the door. It undergoes a meticulous fine-tuning process.

For example, you can adjust various characteristics like stability and clarity to meet the particular requirements of your project. Testing is an integral part of the procedure.

You’ll have the chance to listen to generated samples and make adjustments to the voice’s gender, age, and accent until it fulfills your vision.

After you’re satisfied, you can deploy your custom voice to create content that is both engaging and authentic to your personal or brand identity.

Examples of custom voices created by Elevenlabs

When diving into the realm of personalized speech, you’re not limited to just mimicking existing voices. ElevenLabs’ Voice Lab opens up a world where you can craft unique vocal identities from scratch.

Imagine engineering a voice with the warm timbre of a wise elder or the bright, upbeat tone of an enthusiastic youth. With tools to tweak gender, age, accent, and more, the options are truly vast.

Take, for instance, a voice that blends the authoritative tone of a seasoned newscaster with a hint of a British accent.

Or maybe a character voice modeled after a sci-fi alien species that you’ve dreamt up for your latest audio drama.

These are the sorts of custom voices other users like you have already created using ElevenLabs, bringing an impressive level of authenticity to their projects.

Users have welcomed the ability to design and assess voices before making them a part of their arsenal. Each creation, once added to your voice collection, can be fine-tuned even further.

You can adjust stability and clarity, ensuring the end result is just right for anything from a serious documentary narration to a whimsical podcast.

ElevenLabs’ bread and butter is creating custom voices

Your voice can be more than just a fleeting sound—it can be an asset, a digital clone, ready to echo across various platforms, bending to your creative will.

But remember this: your voice, with all its unique inflections and tones, can now be captured, cloned, and unleashed in ways that were once unimaginable.

With ElevenLabs, it seems the only limit to how we can use our voices is the boundary of our own creativity. So go ahead, make your voice heard—literally—in a whole new way.

FAQs

5.0

ElevenLabs offers a platform for generating AI-powered synthetic voices with a multilingual reach, focusing on authentic speech synthesis for various digital uses.

Try It For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

Do you plan on cloning your voice with Eleven Labs? Do you see yourself cloning someone else’s voice? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook. We try to answer every comment in a timely manner.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New York Times sues Microsoft and OpenAI over AI training data
• Is OpenAI mishandling your data? The FTC intends to find out
• This website lets you clone anyone’s voice in under 30 seconds
• The Best ChatGPT Mac Apps

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Can ElevenLabs create custom voices? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: While there’s no native functionality on the PS4 or the PlayStation Network (PSN) to gift games to others directly, there are some workarounds you can use.

If you’ve just finished playing a great game, it’s only natural to want to tell your friends about it.

If you bought the physical version, sending them their own copy is easy: just give them the disc, right?

But what if you bought the digital version of a game? Sure, you could Game Share, but maybe you’re uneasy about your account being signed in on a console that isn’t yours.

Thankfully, gaming platforms like Xbox and Steam allow you to gift games digitally.

But what if you want to gift someone a PlayStation 4 game? Sending it through the mail is too expensive, so there has to be another option.

So, can you gift games on PS4?

Short answer: No, but there’s a workaround.

In 2019, Sony stopped letting retailers sell digital download codes.

That meant you had to buy digital copies directly from the PlayStation Store, which doesn’t let you buy codes to gift games on the PS4.

Purchases in the PlayStation Store are immediately attached to your account. But you can still buy DLC, virtual currency, add-ons, and season pass’ from retailers in digital form, so gifting those is easy.

How to gift a game on PS4

While it would be ideal to purchase a digital game as a gift and send the game code to a friend, this functionality is currently not available directly through the PlayStation Store.

Alternatively, you can purchase a PlayStation Store gift card from authorized retailers both in-store and online.

Your friend can then redeem this gift card on their own PlayStation account to purchase games, downloadable content (DLC), subscriptions, and more

Can you gift physical PS4 games?

Yes, you can gift physical copies of games, but these would typically be purchased through retail outlets or online stores that sell physical goods, not the PlayStation Store.

Login to your account, search for the game you want to gift, and select it. Then click on the “Buy as gift” option and enter your friend’s email address and any additional information.

Once the purchase is complete, a game code will be sent to your friend’s email address. Your friend can then redeem the code on their PlayStation account and download the game.

Can you gift games on PS4?

Unfortunately, the PlayStation Store does not currently allow users to gift games on PlayStation 4.

However, there are alternative options, such as purchasing digital gift cards that can be used to buy games.

What do you think? Surprised that Sony doesn’t allow you to gift PS4 games? Let us know over on Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can the PlayStation 4 play games from earlier consoles?
• Are there any crossplay games that both PC and PlayStation 4 players can play?
• How to change your PSN name on PlayStation 4
• How to connect PS4 or Xbox controllers to the iPhone

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Does Sony let you gift games on PS4? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: ElevenLabs is owned by its founders, Piotr Dabkowski and Mati Staniszewski, with backing from investors.

Turns out the brains behind the sassy AI voices telling you the weather belong to two tech bros you’ve probably never heard of.

But the questionable origins of ElevenLabs will make you think twice about giving your smart speaker an upgrade.

ElevenLabs burst onto the scene quicker than your average viral TikTok dance, dazzling over a million users with its flagship speech synthesis tool.

For context, this little piece of software breathes uncanny emotional range into robotic voices, spitting out expressions as fast as Kanye spouts controversy.

ElevenLabs made waves with its viral voice cloning software, but who’s behind this increasingly controversial AI startup?

So, who owns ElevenLabs?

Apparently, the company’s two owners have some impressive notches on their belts. So what’s the history? Where were they before?

Short Answer: ElevenLabs is owned by its founders, former Google brainiac Piotr Dabkowski and Palantir strategist Mati Staniszewski.

What do a machine learning expert and corporate schemer make when they join forces? An AI startup so potentially problematic that even Mark Zuckerberg raised an eyebrow.

ElevenLabs ownership

Dabkowski and Staniszewski remain the key shareholders and decision-makers, but ElevenLabs now also counts influential VC firms like Andreessen Horowitz as major investors.

They have a unique approach to voice synthesis, using contextual clues from the text to determine the appropriate emotion and adjust things like tone and inflection.

This helps the AI deliver longer texts more naturally by preserving that context over time.

On the surface, ElevenLabs looks slick. The voice cloning tech impressed notoriously picky Silicon Valley investors into forking out $2 million pre-seed so the company could scale up.

They’re also working on user-designed voices and paying actors for clones, indicating an ethical approach to using human voices.

On the surface, ElevenLabs looks slick.

The voice cloning tech impressed notoriously picky Silicon Valley investors into forking out $2 million pre-seed so the company could scale up.

But now ethicists are wagging their fingers about the “Black Mirror-esque” implications. And to be fair, they’re certainly not wrong about that.

“It’s only a matter of time before this voice mimicry gets out of hand,” tweeted leading AI philosopher Susan Schneider. “Deepfakes are so 2020. The real victim in 2023 is truth itself.”

ElevenLabs may have built a better vocal mousetrap, but some experts worry we’ll all wind up getting snapped if the wrong people get their hands on it.

Still, the founders swear that world domination isn’t part of their grand plan.

“We just want to take voice tech to the next level,” Dabkowski innocently shrugged in an interview.

Is ElevenLabs a siren song luring us into ethical peril, or is the next startup primed to become a household name? The jury’s still out.

ElevenLabs

5.0

ElevenLabs offers a platform for generating AI-powered synthetic voices with a multilingual reach, focusing on authentic speech synthesis for various digital uses.

What We Like:

• Emotive Enhancement: ElevenLabs' AI understands context, adjusting tone and inflection to deliver emotionally resonant speech, potentially transforming your audio content experience.
• Voice Cloning Capabilities: With quick voice cloning features, ElevenLabs promises unique flexibility in voice selection, allowing for a more personalized output.
• Ethical Approach: The company is proactively addressing ethical concerns, working on user-designed voices and considering fair compensation models for voice actors.
• Investor Confidence: Backed by major VC firms and having secured significant early funding, ElevenLabs has a strong foundation and shows promise for future advancements in the field.

Try It For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• What is ElevenLabs?
• What is Figma?
• What is end-to-end encryption?
• What is a System on Chip (SoC)?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Who owns ElevenLabs? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: ElevenLabs is an AI startup that specializes in developing speech synthesis and voice cloning technology, making “human-quality AI voices available in every dialect.”

If you’ve been tracking the AI industry recently, you might have come across the name ElevenLabs.

This startup is causing quite a stir with the introduction of its advanced speech synthesis and voice cloning technology, ElevenMultilingual v2, which now supports 30 languages.

There’s a reason why ElevenLabs is getting all the hype: their tech is a game-changer in the field of AI speech technology, bringing an unprecedented level of realism and personalization to synthetic voices.

ElevenLabs

5.0

ElevenLabs offers a platform for generating AI-powered synthetic voices with a multilingual reach, focusing on authentic speech synthesis for various digital uses.

What We Like:

• Emotive Enhancement: ElevenLabs' AI understands context, adjusting tone and inflection to deliver emotionally resonant speech, potentially transforming your audio content experience.
• Voice Cloning Capabilities: With quick voice cloning features, ElevenLabs promises unique flexibility in voice selection, allowing for a more personalized output.
• Ethical Approach: The company is proactively addressing ethical concerns, working on user-designed voices and considering fair compensation models for voice actors.
• Investor Confidence: Backed by major VC firms and having secured significant early funding, ElevenLabs has a strong foundation and shows promise for future advancements in the field.

Try It For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

These breakthroughs comes packed with significant implications for various sectors. For instance,

• Independent authors can now produce audiobooks in multiple languages.
• Video game developers can translate game experiences for international audiences,
• Accessibility for those with visual or learning impairments can be increased.

The technology developed by ElevenLabs is not just about creating realistic voices. It’s about making AI voices that are accessible and useful to a wide range of users.s

What is ElevenLabs?

Now that we have a sense of the industry that ElevenLabs is in, what exaclty is ElevenLabs and what problem are they tring to solve?

Short Answer: ElevenLabs is an AI firm specializing in realistic, synthetic voice generation, capable of mimicking human speech in over 30 languages. 

The essence of ElevenLabs lies in its audacious goal: to serve up AI voices that are not just eerily lifelike but also as varied as humanity itself.

ElevenLabs isn’t just talking the talk; they’re walking it, too, with a platform that promises to bring a bespoke auditory dimension to content creators, gamers, and educators alike.

It’s a vision that’s less about the mechanical and more about the personal – a symphony of synthetic speech that feels as real as it gets.

How much does ElevenLabs cost?

ElevenLabs offers a free plan for hobbyists, allowing up to 10,000 characters per month with attribution required.

Paid plans range from $5 to $330 per month, depending on the number of characters, the number of custom voices, and the type of account.So, the more you use it, the more it will cost you, pretty much.

The pricing of ElevenLabs’ services reflects its enhanced features, including audio/video upload, automatic transcription, text editing, and time coding.

User reviews highlight high praise for the quality and variety of voices offered, though some criticism has been noted for limited support for numbers and dates.

Who’s behind Elevenlabs?

ElevenLabs was co-founded in 2022 by Piotr Dabkowsk, an ex-Google machine learning engineer, and Mati Staniszewski, an ex-Palantir deployment strategist.

Both co-founders grew up in Poland and apparently, the idea for starting ElevenLabs came to them while watching badly dubbed American movies.

Just one year post-launch in January 2023, ElevenLabs announced having collected an outstanding $2 million in pre-seed funding. But that’s not all.

The success train didn’t slow down there, By June 2023, the firm successfully drummed up a massive $19 million in a Series A funding round, which shot their valuation up to a jaw-dropping $100 million.

To date, ElevenLabs has been piloted by over 250 clients. High-profile clients such as Netflix, Spotify, The New York Times, and Audible have chosen ElevenLabs for its versatility.

ElevenLabs is an AI voice-tech company

As we now know, ElevenLabs offers advanced AI speech technology, enabling realistic and personalized voices across 30 languages. Features include audio/video upload, automatic transcription, text editing, and timecoding.

In the end, ElevenLabs isn’t just stepping up to the plate; it’s hitting a home run for anyone craving advanced AI speech technology.

So, if you’re looking for a way to revolutionize your audio content with realistic, customizable voices, ElevenLabs might be the investment that scores you the winning run.

ElevenLabs’ services can be accessed via their website. It is currently available directly from ElevenLabs.

ElevenLabs

5.0

ElevenLabs offers a platform for generating AI-powered synthetic voices with a multilingual reach, focusing on authentic speech synthesis for various digital uses.

What We Like:

• Emotive Enhancement: ElevenLabs' AI understands context, adjusting tone and inflection to deliver emotionally resonant speech, potentially transforming your audio content experience.
• Voice Cloning Capabilities: With quick voice cloning features, ElevenLabs promises unique flexibility in voice selection, allowing for a more personalized output.
• Ethical Approach: The company is proactively addressing ethical concerns, working on user-designed voices and considering fair compensation models for voice actors.
• Investor Confidence: Backed by major VC firms and having secured significant early funding, ElevenLabs has a strong foundation and shows promise for future advancements in the field.

Try It For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• What is Figma?
• What is end-to-end encryption?
• How much does a Netflix subscription cost?
• What is a My Best Buy Plus membership, and how do I sign up?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post What is ElevenLabs? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: There’s no confirmed data yet, but the Apple Watch is expected to come out sometime in September, usually the second week of the month.

Much like its flagship iPhones, Apple tends to release a new Apple Watch model every year. The company has released a new model every year since 2015 when the original Watch came out.

2024 seems to be no different, and it’s safe to assume that Apple will stick to its usual schedule with the next wearable.

After all, the company launched the Apple Watch Ultra last year. We’ll surely see some of the new features found in that model added to the Series 9 in 2024.

Apple Watch Series 9 release date

Short answer: The Apple Watch Series 9 was announced on September 12, 2023, and it became available in stores starting on September 22, 2023

Every single Apple Watch so far has been announced in September, except for the original, which saw its release in April 2015.

Apple has released the wearable alongside that year’s iPhone range, except for 2020, when the iPhone wasn’t announced until the month after.

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 is set to redefine smartwatches with its advanced features. It boasts a new optical heart rate sensor for enhanced health tracking, a faster and more efficient S9 processor for seamless performance, and a mini-LED display for a vibrant viewing experience.

See at Apple Check Best Buy

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

When do new Apple Watches come out?

As to when in September, we have a couple of reference dates to go by. Apple almost always has its iPhone and Apple Watch event on the second Tuesday of September. Sometimes, it has been on the second Wednesday.

So, if we had to put all the chips on the table, we would put our bet on the second week of September. But who knows, that could change, and it’s ultimately Apple’s decision.

Of course, this Series 10 release date may not be accurate. Delays are always possible, and even if the wearable is announced, we might have to wait to be able to order one.

READ MORE: How to share an Apple TV+ subscription with family & friends

Last year, there was a little over a week gap between the announcement and release. As long as there aren’t any supply issues, we expect about the same time between the announcement and the official release date.

What to expect from the Apple Watch Series 10

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to bring even more enhancements and features that take full advantage of the device’s capabilities.

Apple’s trend of introducing new features with every update gives us a hint of what to expect. With the Series 9, we saw brighter displays, easier ways to find misplaced iPhones, and redesigned apps that fully utilize the screen.

WatchOS 10 even brought in enhanced cycling metrics, improved hiking features, and tools for mental health.

When does the new Apple Watch come out?

As for the Series 10, we can likely look forward to further advancements in these areas, along with the introduction of new functionalities.

Developers and enterprises can also expect to see additional device management and communication features, providing even more value to Apple’s smartwatch ecosystem.

So, as we eagerly await the arrival of the Apple Watch Series 10, the best advice is to stay tuned for updates from Apple. The company is known for its surprises, and we’re likely in for some exciting developments as we approach the anticipated release date.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments, or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to add a business to Apple Maps
• Can Apple Watch measure blood pressure?
• Where is the ‘i’ icon on the Apple Watch and how do you use it?
• How to change your iPhone passcode

The post When is the new Apple Watch coming out? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: Figma is a browser-based tool that operates entirely in the cloud. This enables teams to collaborate and work on projects together in real time.

If you’ve spent any time on Twitter in the last few days, you’ve likely noticed all of the talk surrounding Adobe’s acquisition of Figma. The recent acquisition cost Adobe $20 billion, but what exactly is Figma?

Essentially, Figma is a collaborative digital design tool. It allows users to work together to create digital UI and UX designs for websites, apps, and other projects. And it’s cloud-based, making it accessible for both Windows and Mac users.

But most likely, Figma’s greatest asset is its collaboration ability. The tool is used by some big brands like Slack, Zoom, Twitter, and Walgreens, and collaboration makes Figma such an appealing tool for so many.

Figma: The Collaborative Interface Design Tool

4.5

Figma, a robust digital design tool, provides seamless collaboration for designers and teams. Its cloud-based platform enables real-time interaction, empowering you to create, prototype, and get feedback all in one place.

What We Like:

• Real-Time Collaboration: Figma's cloud-based platform enables multiple users to work together in real time, making it a powerful tool for teams.
• All-in-One Solution: From designing and prototyping to gathering feedback, Figma offers comprehensive features that cover the entire design process.
• Accessible Anywhere: Being cloud-based, Figma allows you to work from anywhere, providing flexibility and convenience.
• Integration Capabilities: Figma integrates with other tools like Slack and Zeplin, enhancing its utility and workflow efficiency.

Get Started For Free

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

So, what is Figma, and what exactly does it do?

Figma is a browser-based tool that exists entirely in the cloud. That allows teams to collaborate and work on projects together in real-time, including the Figma community too.

That’s what really stands out about Figma, as similar tools don’t have the same collaboration abilities. It can be great for small or large design teams for some of its larger customers.

Who does Figma compare to?

Figma is most comparable to other tools such as Sketch or Adobe XD. It features a large community of designers that continuously share plugins to help make design and development simpler and faster.

How much does FIgma cost?

When it comes to pricing, Figma software is available completely free for small teams of no more than two editors. That free version only allows three projects during a 30-day period, however.

For unlimited projects and FIgma designs, you can upgrade to the Professional plan for $15 per month per editor.

The $45 per month per editor Organization option gives you advanced security, private plugins, centralized teams, and more.

Figma: The Collaborative Interface Design Tool

4.5

Figma, a robust digital design tool, provides seamless collaboration for designers and teams. Its cloud-based platform enables real-time interaction, empowering you to create, prototype, and get feedback all in one place.

Get Started For Free Starting At $15 A Month

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Is the iPhone 14 worth buying? Here’s what the reviews say
• Adobe is now trialing a free, web-based version of Photoshop
• Adobe’s Acrobat extension now lets you edit PDFs directly in your browser
• Netflix is reportedly making a push to acquire Roku

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post What is Figma? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Put simply, end-to-end (E2EE) is the ironclad lockbox that keeps prying eyes away from your private information, specifically in things like messages, emails, and more.

It’s a security measure that ensures only the sender and intended recipient can access the encrypted data, preventing unauthorized access from third parties or prying eyes

I’ll explain the complexities of end-to-end encryption and highlight its crucial role in ensuring digital security.

Whether you’re sending a text, making a call, or sharing files, knowing how this technology works is key to protecting your digital footprint. So, let’s dive in and unravel the mystery of end-to-end encryption together.

What is end-to-end encryption?

Short answer: End-to-end encryption is a secret message that only the person you’re sending it to can understand. It keeps your information private and safe from anyone else who might try to see it.

In E2EE, the data is encrypted on the sender’s system, and only the recipient is able to decrypt and read it.

Whoever intercepts the data during transfer sees only scrambled, unintelligible text. This is paramount for preserving the privacy of digital communications.

How it works

E2EE operates on a process where only the communicating users hold the keys to unlock and read the messages. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the steps involved:

• The sender uses the recipient’s public key to encrypt the message.
• The encrypted message travels across the internet, safe from prying eyes.
• The recipient uses their private key to decrypt the message upon arrival.

This ensures that the message remains secure throughout its journey, and even if the message is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the corresponding private key.

Advantages of end-to-end encryption

E2EE offers numerous benefits, which I find significant in today’s digital landscape:

• Confidentiality: Only the sender and intended recipient can view the message contents.
• Data integrity: E2EE ensures that the content has not been tampered with, keeping the original message intact.
• Protection against eavesdropping: It thwarts any unauthorized parties who try to listen in on your conversations.
• Trust: Users can be confident that their communications are private and secured from vulnerabilities.

These advantages help users feel more secure when sharing sensitive information over the internet.

Common applications of end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption is super important because it’s used in loads of digital services that really care about keeping your stuff private and secure.

Messaging apps

E2EE has become synonymous with privacy. Apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram are flag bearers, encrypting messages in a way that only the sender and receiver can read them.

And now Meta, Facebook’s parent company is jumping on the end-to-end encryption train and now locking Messenger chats with E2EE by default.

The moment a message leaves my device, it’s wrapped in a secure blanket of encryption, traveling through servers as an indecipherable code until it safely arrives at the intended recipient’s device, where it can finally be deciphered.

This ensures that:

• My conversations remain confidential
• There’s a reduced risk of message interception
• Only the recipient and I have access to the content

Every text, photo, or call made through these apps is shielded, providing a strong layer of security against potential breaches.

Email services

Some email services, like ProtonMail and Tutanota, use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to keep your emails safe.

With E2EE, your email is encrypted on your device before it’s sent, so even if someone intercepts it, they won’t be able to read it unless they’re the intended recipient.

Some key benefits of end-to-end encrypted email services include:

• Protection from unauthorized access and cyber threats
• Ensuring that sensitive information stays hidden
• Peace of mind knowing that private conversations aren’t at risk

It’s vital to recognize that not all email providers offer E2EE by default. It’s my responsibility to choose a service that aligns with my security needs.

Cloud storage

The rise of cloud computing has resulted in more people and businesses using cloud storage services. Services such as iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox are incorporating end-to-end encryption to protect the stored files.

With E2EE, users’ documents and photos are encrypted on their own devices and stay encrypted until they are accessed again.

It’s essential for me to note that the level and implementation of E2EE can vary across cloud services. Some may require additional steps or configurations to fully secure my data with end-to-end encryption.

End-to-end encryption vs. regular encryption

Understanding the distinction between end-to-end encryption and regular encryption is crucial for recognizing the layer of security each one provides.

While they both aim to protect data, their approaches and strengths differ significantly.

Differences

Regular encryption secures data in transit but may leave it accessible at endpoints where service providers could access it. Key differences include:

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is more secure than regular encryption because only the sender and receiver can read the messages, and the decryption keys are kept exclusively with the end users.

Regular encryption is more vulnerable to data breaches since decryption keys might be accessed by third parties if they are stored on servers.

Whereas E2EE remains secure even if attackers gain access to servers since they cannot obtain the necessary keys to decrypt the messages.

Understanding these differences is important for informed decisions on data security and privacy.

However, it’s also important to understand that no system is infallible. User’s endpoints, like smartphones or computers, must be secure as well, since E2EE only protects data in transmission and not on the device itself.

High-profile cyber attacks have exploited endpoint vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond just secure transmission.

End to End Encryption – Wrapping it all up

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is like a secret code that keeps your online chats private. It’s an important step to protect your messages from being seen by anyone else.

With E2EE, it becomes difficult for curious people and snoops to access your conversations. In a world where data leaks are common, E2EE is a reliable way to keep your private information secure on the internet.

And let’s face it, with all this chat about data leaks popping up left and right, having E2EE feels less like a luxury and more like a trusty guardian for keeping private things private in our wild and wacky internet world.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Meta locks up Messenger chats with default end-to-end encryption
• How to update your iPhone to get end-to-end encryption
• How to enable end-to-end encryption on Messenger
• Facebook is finally testing default encryption in Messenger

The post What is end-to-end encryption? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Quick Answer: No, the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, making the smartphones impervious to dust and capable of surviving underwater up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes.

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are the latest Android smartphones from Google’s arsenal. If you want to experience the purest form of Android, these are the way to go. 

This year’s Pixel 8 series comes with a new sleeker design, new camera features, and AI enhancements that make your snaps and videos more stunning than ever. 

There’s also the new Tensor G3 processor responsible for the power behind Google’s latest Pixels. The new chipset has not only improved the phone’s performance but also the camera, which has always been the keystone of Pixel devices.

This time, the display is brighter than ever, and the battery is longer lasting, but all these come at a cost. Google has increased the prices of Pixel 8 and 8 Pro by $100, to $699 and $999, respectively. 

With all these advancements, a $100 price increase is reasonable. But for $700, you would want to know how durable your new Android smartphone is – especially if there’s a possibility of losing it after taking an accidental dunk in your bathtub.

So, is the Google Pixel 8 waterproof?

Short Answer: No, the Google Pixel 8 is not waterproof.

Yes, it’s true. The Google Pixel 8 isn’t waterproof, and the fact is that no smartphone truly is waterproof, even in 2023. 

However, the Pixel 8 is water-resistant and has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, the highest in the industry. 

It means the Google Pixel 8 will be able to survive total immersion in the water for a certain amount of time and to a certain depth, which is excellent news, and you don’t have to worry about your expensive smartphone if it falls into the tub accidentally. 

However, that doesn’t mean you can take your Pixel 8 when you go scuba diving. 

There are limits to Google Pixel 8’s mentioned IP68 rating. It means the device is only tested to be resistant to water down to 1.5 meters underwater and for just 30 minutes.

Further or extended immersion could be dangerous and lead to water ingress, which would be very bad for your phone.

These limitations also indicate that taking your Pixel 8 with you for swimming is not recommended, as accidents could happen anywhere at any time. 

Is the Google Pixel 8 Pro waterproof? 

Like the regular Pixel 8, the Google Pixel 8 Pro has an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating. It means protecting up to 1.5 meters of water submersion for up to 30 minutes.

So, all our previous warnings apply to the Pro model, too. 

What is an IP rating?

Is the IP68 rating on a Google Pixel 8 any good?

The IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, indicates how well the device or gadget can fend off dust and water. 

Ingress Protection rating (or just IP rating) is an international standard used to rate the degree of protection or sealing effectiveness in electrical enclosures against intrusion of objects, water, dust, or accidental contact.

The IP code always consists of the letters IP (Ingress Protection) followed by two digits.

The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, which is the highest in the industry. So, “IP” stands for “Ingress Protection” and the first number, six, is for dust, and the second number, eight, is for water.

Also, I would like to let you know that the Google Pixel 8 was tested in a controlled environment with clean, fresh water. So, your Pixel 8 may be less water-resistant against saltwater or chlorinated water.

Any water contaminants can damage the water-resistant seals on your Google Pixel 8. So, we do not recommend taking your Pixel 8 to the beach or even near your pool in your backyard, which may contain chlorine.

What to do if your Google Pixel 8 takes a dive?

Even with an IP68 rating, being safe and avoiding water damage to your Pixel 8 is crucial. However, it may not be always possible, and accidents happen, right?

So, if the phone gets soaked, power it off immediately and dab it dry with a clean cloth or tissue.

After that, do not try to charge it until it is fully dry. However, if you suspect there’s still liquid inside, swing by the nearest Google support center for a check-up.

Google Pixel 8 waterproofing – the bottom line

Even if Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are expensive flagship smartphones with state-of-the-art technology, they are still not waterproof.

On the positive side, the devices are equipped with an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating – the highest in the industry. It can handle a 1.5-meter-deep swim for up to 30 minutes.

However, you must never forget that the device is not waterproof, and you may want to be cautious to avoid permanent water damage. So, if you still plan to use your Pixel 8 near a body of water, be careful.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Google Assistant with Bard may first come to Pixel 8, Galaxy S24
• Pixel 8 users are getting bumps and ripples on their displays
• iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 8 Pro: Worthy of the Pro moniker?
• How to get free Xbox Live in 3 simple steps

The post Is the Google Pixel 8 waterproof? appeared first on KnowTechie.