The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2025 - Issue 37

Bowers & Wilkins Release The Award- winning Pi8 McLaren Edition Earbuds bitegadgets T he Pi8 McLaren Edition, a new version of the award-winning Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 wireless earbuds, celebrates the brand’s tenth anniversary as a McLaren Auto- motive Partner. Developed in collabo- ration with McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula 1 Team, the new earbuds build on the success of the Pi8, integrating the famous McLaren papaya orange and galvanic grey into the design, while offering the high-performance sound quality synonymous with Bowers & Wilkins. It combines reference-stand- ard hi-res audio performance, elegant design, premium materials, exceptional comfort and fit, as well as enhanced con- nectivity and features, including Wireless Audio Retransmission. Since 2015, Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren Automotive have partnered to develop the high-performance audio systems found in McLaren’s supercars. The relationship is built on firm technical foundations and rooted in the brands’ shared values of delivering the highest levels of performance. More recently, the strategic long-term multi-year partner- ship was extended to Bowers & Wilkins, becoming McLaren’s Official Audio Partner across McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula 1 Team. Bowers & Wilkins’ pursuit of perfection, inspired by founder John Bowers, mirrors the unyielding precision and performance demanded in Formula 1 racing. The audio brand’s engineering team worked closely with their counterparts at McLaren Auto- motive to create and optimise the audio system found in the McLaren W1, the company’s new high-performance super- car. The W1 features the latest advanced speaker technologies developed at Bowers & Wilkins’ Southwater research and de- velopment centre, including the Continu- um Cone, as found in the brand’s flagship 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers. The Pi8 McLaren Edition is available for purchase in Europe and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region on the website. www.bowerswilkins.com Garmin Releases quatix 8, Its Most Advanced Purpose-built Smartwatch For Mariners I nnovative marine electronics manufacturer Garmin an- nounced the quatix 8, the ultimate nautical smartwatch, purpose-built for life on and off the water. With a new built- in speaker and microphone, it’s easier to control the helm or answer a phone call while staying focused on the water. Available in 47 mm and 51 mm, the model features a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, and a tough titanium bezel. New leakproof metal buttons and a sensor guard protect the watch from the elements. The nautical smartwatch boasts incredible battery life, with up to 16 days on the 47 mm model and 29 days on the 51 mm mod- el. Built to withstand the most challenging conditions without sacrificing style, it has been tested to U.S. military standards for thermal and shock resistance. It features a new ambient light sen- sor, ensuring the screen is easily readable in harsh sunlight. The built-in LED flashlight provides convenient illumination on the boat or at home with multiple light modes and a red safety light to help preserve night vision. For those looking to take their adventure below the surface, quatix 8 is dive-rated up to 40 metres. It confidently navigates the water, adds waypoints for fishing spots, and controls other Garmin chartplotter functions with wrist-based voice commands via Bluetooth. When paired with a compatible smartphone, mar- iners can make and take calls from the watch and use the phone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages verbally. With a few taps, the nautical smartwatch functions as a remote for compatible Garmin trolling motors, Fusion entertainment systems, and other applications, while keeping users updated on conditions such as water depth, speed, heading, and wind. In conjunction with preloaded boating and sailing apps, it makes it easier to stay aware and track time on the water with tide change and anchor drag alerts, tack assist, race start guidance and regatta timer. Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised life for anglers, sailors, mariners, and boat enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing the most inno- vative, highest-quality, and easiest-to-use marine electronics the industry has ever known, Garmin believes every day is an oppor- tunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. For the tenth consecutive year, Garmin was named the Manufacturer of the Year by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/1908596 Images courtesy of McLaren