August 2025

There were 1,614 posts published in August 2025 (this is page 21 of 162).

Microsoft Is Finally Improving Bluetooth Audio Quality During Calls

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Has this ever happened to you? You’re playing a game on your PC with Bluetooth headphones, when a friend wants to start a voice chat. But when you jump on the call, all of a sudden your game’s audio plummets in quality, sounding muffled and monotone. What gives?

The issue, as Microsoft’s Mike Ajax explains, is due to how Bluetooth has traditionally balanced microphone inputs with audio outputs. When you’re just listening to something on your PC, and it sounds great, you’re likely hearing it through the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), as this profile doesn’t allow the microphone to be engaged. However, when you need your mic, your Bluetooth device switches to the Hands-Free Profile (HFP). This profile supports microphone usage, but drops the audio quality and downgrades it to mono. You don’t need to be an audiophile to tell the difference between high quality, stereo audio, and low fidelity mono: It’s night and day, and it makes audio designed for stereo experiences, like games, movies, and music, sound awful.

Windows 11 is getting a Bluetooth upgrade

That’s changing on Windows 11. In same the post, Ajax announced that Microsoft is bringing an upgraded audio standard to PCs with LE Audio architecture: super wideband stereo. LE Audio is built on top of Bluetooth Low Energy technology, and introduces two improved audio profiles for Bluetooth devices. Instead of A2DP and HFP, there’s Telephony and Media Profile (TMAP) and Hearing Access Profile (HAP). Both profiles support media playback and microphone usage, but TMAP is for Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, while HAP is for hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Ajax says that TMAP requires Bluetooth audio devices to support “super wideband” audio fidelity at a 32kHz sample rate while the microphone is engaged. But the big change is Windows can now take advantage of that whether or not you’re using the microphone: The new upgrades support stereo sound when the microphone is engaged, when previously LE Audio on Windows only allowed for mono. Not only should the audio itself sound better, but you should pick up on directional details you wouldn’t get otherwise.

That means if your Bluetooth headset is an LE Audio device, and your PC supports wideband stereo, jumping into game chat during a game won’t kill your audio quality. You can hear an example of the difference in Ajax’s post, which goes from muffled mono to a much higher quality stereo sound.

Even if you’re not a gamer, you should notice a difference during voice calls on Bluetooth headphone and earbuds. In apps like Teams, you’ll be able to use Spatial Audio with wireless headphones for the first time. (Previously, Teams Spatial Audio was exclusive to wired headsets and when stereo audio was available.) Spatial Audio on video calls makes it sound like voices are coming from where those people’s positions are on your screen, to make the experience feel a bit more natural. If you have the right equipment, this should be available via a Spatial Audio toggle in Team’s audio settings.

Hardware requirements

You may already have devices that support this new Bluetooth architecture: What you need is a Bluetooth audio device that supports Bluetooth LE Audio, and a Windows 11 PC that also support LE Audio. Ajax says that many new PCs and Bluetooth audio devices support LE Audio, but watch out for PCs that just support Bluetooth LE tech, because not all support LE Audio as well.

You’ll also need to update your PC to Windows 11 versions 24H2, the latest version of Windows 11 as of this article, and an updated Bluetooth audio driver from the manufacturer of your PC. If your PC doesn’t have these drivers yet, they should release later this year. Microsoft also expects most mobile PCs that come out later this year will support these drivers out of the box.

Two Suns minority owners sue team, focused on owner Mat Ishbia, over transparency

When Mat Ishbia purchased a controlling interest in the Phoenix Suns, he offered to buy out any of the team’s 16 minority owners (using the $4 billion valuation of the team to set the price). Fourteen of those owners took him up on the offer.

The two that did not — Kisco WC Sports and Kent Circle Investments – have taken the Suns to court in Delaware over frustrations about transparency and access to information, NBC Sports has confirmed.

“Our clients sued to obtain records to which they are entitled as minority owners of the Suns,” said attorneys Michael Carlinsky and Michael Barlow of Quinn Emanuel, who are representing the minority owners. “They are concerned by the manager’s [Ishbia’s] approach towards minority owners, and want more information about certain spending and capital raises in which the manager has engaged. Transparency with minority owners is not optional, and our clients think it is critical to the success of the Suns.”

In the court papers, Kisco and Kent Circle claim they have not had access to view basic information about the franchise, including how it has been run and some of the investments that Ishbia and the Suns have made, such as a new practice facility. With that, the minority owners don’t believe they have an understanding of what their shares are worth. They are asking the court to allow them to investigate what they perceive as potential violations of the limited liability company agreement, as well as conflicts of interest.

There are somewhat conflicting reports that one or both of the minority owners are looking to sell their shares and get out (it is known that Kisco and Ishbia discussed a buyout at one point). If true, this suit could be in part an effort to gain leverage in those talks. Suns Capital Group LLC sent a letter to the minority owners stating that it does not have a problem with the two groups selling their shares to outside groups, but the owners cannot demand that Ishbia and the Suns LLC buy them out at a higher valuation than the team was purchased for, reports Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.

For Suns fans, this will have no impact on the court or on how the fans experience their favorite team. For fans with questions about Ishbia’s ownership, it’s simply something to note for now.

Yankees launch six homers, use nine-run third inning to rout Nationals and secure sweep

The Yankees tromped the Washington Nationals 11-2 on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx. 

New York secured the three-game series sweep and has now won four in a row. 

Here are some takeaways…

– The Yankees took full advantage of this three-game set with the lowly Nationals pitching staff, getting their bats back into a groove. They outplayed them from beginning to end, putting up double-digit runs twice, including in Wednesday afternoon’s blowout series finale. 

– Trent Grisham‘s leadoff homer set the tone in what ended up being a complete shellacking in the Bronx. Grisham turned on a third pitch fastball from Cade Cavalli and lifted it over the short porch to build on his new career-high of 26 long balls on the season.

– The biggest blow, though, came in a monster third inning that lasted a total of 45 minutes. Aaron Judge (two-run) and Cody Bellinger (solo) went back-to-back to get things started, Jasson Dominguez had a pair of run-scoring hits (double, single), Ryan McMahon lifted a three-run shot, and Ben Rice a solo blast.

Rice finished the day 3-for-4 with the homer and two singles, continuing his red hot month of August. 

Judge (41), Grisham (26), and Bellinger (25) are just the second Yankee outfield trio with 25+ HR in a season.

– Austin Wells got in on the fun as well, lifting New York’s sixth home run of the game leading off the bottom of the fourth. While the other four were good to see as well, it was certainly encouraging for him and McMahon to be able to snap out of their funks at the plate. 

– After being handed the early cushion, Max Fried was able to build off his success from his last time out facing a familiar opponent. He was extremely efficient, retiring the first 11 Nationals hitters he faced before issuing a two out walk to Riley Adams in the top of the fourth.  

Fried worked around another walk in the fifth, before allowing his first hit of the game in the sixth. Three straight singles from Washington broke up the no-hitter and shutout, but the lefty escaped without further damage thanks to a strikeout and double play. 

Josh Bell lofted a two out single to right, but Fried struck out Brady House looking to end his day on a positive note and close his final line with just the one run allowed on four hits and two walks while punching out six. 

– Paul Blackburn put the finishing touches on this one, only giving up a double and solo homer over the final two innings.

– Anthony Volpe continues to struggle mightily at the plate. His well-struck lineout stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. He then made two of the team’s three outs in the nine-run third, lining out again with a man in scoring position, and later striking out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The youngster grounded out to short in the fifth, and struck out swinging in the eighth to finish 0-for-4.

Volpe was the only Yankee who didn’t reach base on the afternoon, stranding seven men. He is now an ugly 1-for-38 over his last 11 games, bring his average down to .204 on the season to go along with a .662 OPS. 

Game MVP: The third inning

I know, I know that isn’t a player. 

This was a complete shellacking from the Yanks offense from top-to-bottom, and they put it away for good with the nine-run marathon frame. 

Highlights

What’s next

The Yanks start a seven-game road trip with a meeting with the White Sox on Thursday at 7:40 p.m.

Will Warren (7-6, 4.47 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Bombers, and Chicago hasn’t announced a starter. 

LeBron James’ options for his future and selecting All-Century teams with Jared Greenberg

On this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, Vincent Goodwill and Jared Greenberg of NBA TV and Turner Sports discuss the NBA offseason being eerily quiet. Is there a big move on the horizon?

Next, Vince and Jared play a game of “Better Odds.” Are there better odds that LeBron James will own an NBA team within 3 years or he’ll still actively be playing? Are there better odds Luka Doncic will make an all-defensive team or become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?

Later, Vince and Jared make their choices for the All-Century team and debate if the current team could compete with the previous team. All that and much more on Good Word with Goodwill!

(1:50) Quiet NBA offseason

(6:11) Better Odds: LeBron is an owner or still playing in 3 years

(23:51) Better Odds: Steph Curry plays for another team or wins a 5th ring

(34:43) Better Odds: Luka makes all-defensive team or becomes all-time leading scorer

(41:56) All-Century NBA teams

(49:27) Would this All-Century team defeat the past one?

Is there a better chance that LeBron James will own an NBA team in three years or still actively be playing? (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

LeBron James’ options for his future and selecting All-Century teams with Jared Greenberg

On this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, Vincent Goodwill and Jared Greenberg of NBA TV and Turner Sports discuss the NBA offseason being eerily quiet. Is there a big move on the horizon?

Next, Vince and Jared play a game of “Better Odds.” Are there better odds that LeBron James will own an NBA team within 3 years or he’ll still actively be playing? Are there better odds Luka Doncic will make an all-defensive team or become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?

Later, Vince and Jared make their choices for the All-Century team and debate if the current team could compete with the previous team. All that and much more on Good Word with Goodwill!

(1:50) Quiet NBA offseason

(6:11) Better Odds: LeBron is an owner or still playing in 3 years

(23:51) Better Odds: Steph Curry plays for another team or wins a 5th ring

(34:43) Better Odds: Luka makes all-defensive team or becomes all-time leading scorer

(41:56) All-Century NBA teams

(49:27) Would this All-Century team defeat the past one?

Is there a better chance that LeBron James will own an NBA team in three years or still actively be playing? (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts