Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds might launch THIS YEAR! 😮
Previously, I reported that there were signs of the WF-1000XM6 that was spotted in the Sony Sound Connect app. Apparently there had been a few lines of code indicating both the name of the product and the product number YY2985. Well! Seems like all reference to the YY code and XM6 earbuds have been scrubbed from the app! It’s like it never existed. But now we have some indication that it could possibly launch this year, perhaps before the Christmas holidays.
An import filing reported by thewalkmanblog shows that at least one unit of the WF-1000XM6 in Black, otherwise known as YY2985, was shipped to Vietnam for testing on May 21st.
The filing describes it as ‘headphones without frame’. I mean, why couldn’t they just indicate it as ‘earbuds’ or ‘earphones’? ‘Headphones without frame’ just sounds weird. Could it be that Sony was trying to disguise the fact that these are earbuds? Something sneaky to mislead and avoid any more leaks? If so, they’re going to have to try harder than that. Sony, we’re watching…
As for when it might be launched, assuming that they’re only starting to get these tested and certified, the process could take months. And we can only wait for its FCC filing to have some indication of a launch date.
And even that will depend on their marketing plans. In my opinion, the best time to launch now would be before Black Friday in November. But if we don’t see an FCC Filing by then, it could very well be next year instead. I’m excited, and I know many of you are, so if you don’t want to miss out on more news and updates about the WF-1000XM6, like what are its new features and when it might launch.
Bluetooth security flaws found in Airoha Chipsets.
In other news, according to researchers, some Sony headphones and earbuds could be hacked. According to this German website, a German security company ERNW have found that wireless earbuds and headphones equipped with certain Airoha processors can be accessed remotely, and turned into eavesdropping devices, so hackers can listen to what the microphone’s hearing, read what the user’s playing, and read contact numbers and call history on Android devices.
Affected products seem to be of the older type, from the WH-1000XM4 to some of the budget models like the C510. Now, to be fair, it’s not just Sony, this affects products from other brands too like JBL and Marshall, but Sony seems to be overrepresented on this list, mostly their older products.
In the meantime, should you be worried? The same report says no, because only a portion of bluetooth devices use Airoha, and of this small portion, there needs to be certain steps before hackers can target a certain individual.
Things are even more complicated by the very short range of bluetooth, so the attacker has to be within 10 meters of the target device, which means if I’m being hacked and I find out, I’ll be close enough to bless them with my rising dragon fist!
Still, it’s a potential problem, let’s hope Sony, and other brands, roll out an update to plug this security gap… Soon.
