News
Noble Announces Launch Of FoKus Apollo ANC Headphones
The new model features the world’s first dynamic/planar hybrid driver arrangement, offers 80 hours of playtime, and has a removable boom mic.
Leading in-ear monitor specialist Noble has stepped into the highly competitive world of wireless over-ear headphones after announcing a new model, the FoKus Apollo.
The premium device is not just a first for Noble but also the world’s only headphone to use a dynamic driver and planar magnetic hybrid speaker arrangement. According to the press release, the unique setup offers audio quality like “no other wireless headphone that has come before, utilizing the accuracy and top-end clarity of planar with the power and body achieved by dynamic drivers”.
Premium Features & Build Quality
The FoKus Apollo features a premium anodized aluminum frame, along with an Alcantara headband and replaceable leather earpads for maximum comfort and sound isolation.
As well as a unique speaker setup, the headphones also feature an integrated ADI chip combined with 3 microphones on each side for noise cancellation of up to -35db. Support for LDAC and aptX HD codecs means that the FoKus Apollo also delivers the best possible wireless audio fidelity.
Users will enjoy up to 80 hours of playtime (or 60 hours with noise cancellation active) while the accompanying FoKus app offers personalized EQ adjustments.
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Finally, Noble has bundled a removable boom mic with the FoKus Apollo to turn the headphones into a high-end communication device, along with a 3.5mm audio cable to enable gamers, streamers, and podcasters to benefit from their premium sound.
Specifications
- Driver Configuration: 1 x 40mm Dynamic Driver, 1 x 14.5mm Planar Magnetic Driver
- Communication Format: Bluetooth 5.3
- Frequency Response: 10-40kHz
- Codecs Supported: LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, SBC, AAC
- Continuous Playback: ANC ON: 60 hours. ANC OFF: 80 hours
- Charging Time: <3 hours
- Battery Capacity: 1000mAh
- Accessories Included: EVA carrying case, 3.5mm auxiliary cable, USB-C cable, two-prong airline adapter, 1/4″ adapter, detachable boom mic.
The Noble FoKus Apollo will be available from September 3rd, priced at $649 / £599 / €699.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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