Good morning and happy Thursday. Yesterday the International Tennis Federation announced that it would ban court star Maria Sharipova for two years over her positive doping test. Doping is a constant problem in the wide world of sports — we’ve covered the subject in regards to Russia’s eligibility for Olympic competition, but also as it pertains to “mechanical doping” in pro cycling, which is explained in detail here. Maybe we humans have hit our collective physical peak and need a little push; maybe athletes are obligated to go au naturale. Maybe you should look into what’s good in gear: a new slim soundbar, a new Tennessee whisky, a new adventure watch and much more.
And here are some fresh stories to start the day.
SmartCast 45-Inch 5.1 Slim Soundbar System by VIZIO
This two-inch-tall and two-inch-deep bar proves, like those dried-out sponge toys kids love, that big things come in slender packages. Two additional speakers and a svelte subwoofer are included, so you can make that #surroundsound dream a reality. A dedicated center channel handles spoken dialogue, while custom drivers deliver the rest of the aural goodness. But the bigger news is that Vizio is taking on other similar setups with their iOS and Android apps, which can stream music from all your other favorite apps; a built-in wi-fi connection means you can also stream directly to your sound bar setup.
