The nostalgic joy of playing ‘Pinball FX2’ in VR

I associate pinball with family, partly because my father convinced me it was cool when I was a kid, just like he did with The X-Files, Mystery Science Theater 3000, ping pong and a handful of other quasi-nerdy necessities from the ’80s and ’90s. Plus, one of my uncles had a room packed with pinball machines — yes, he had the Addams Family table — and as a pre-teen I’d revel in playing them late into the night every New Year’s Eve. Now that I’m an adult, it’s my turn to show these family members what’s cool (or simply how to use Gmail), and virtual reality is absolutely on that list.

I’m not saying VR will take off commercially or change the world, but it is definitely a cool thing. And now, there’s a clear way for me to introduce it to my dad, uncle or anyone with an affinity for those rapid-fire flippers: Pinball FX2 VR on the Oculus Rift.

Pinball FX2 VR launches for the Oculus Rift on March 28th and includes three tables, each controlled with the Xbox One controller: Epic Quest, Secrets of the Deep and Mars. All of these are housed in the VR version of a menu screen, which in this case is a beautiful beachside living room. It’s a large, circular space with windows on all sides and comfy-looking, retro-futuristic furniture — and three pinball tables, of course. Turn your head to locate each table and, as you select one, the room shifts into the appropriate theme.

Virtual reality is all about atmosphere and creating a believable sense of place. Pinball FX2 VR manages to do this within and around the tables themselves.

Epic Quest features the cartoonish knight, Max, who comments on the game while sitting astride his wooden horse next to the table. Tiny versions of Max crawl around Epic Quest’s ramps and bumpers as you flick the ball around their winding passageways with the Xbox One controller’s trigger buttons. The Mars option features an interstellar landscape outside of the room’s windows and a brilliant sun burning directly behind the table. As you play, comets hit the tile and tiny drones fly in and out, sometimes helping dislodge the silver ball as it flies around under the virtual glass. Selecting the Secrets of the Deep table fills the room with water and adds a great white shark.

Full disclosure: I’m terrified of sharks. In fact, I accidentally selected this table as I was messing around in the living room space, looking around the VR room willy-nilly. I nearly tore the Oculus Rift off of my face, but that probably would have broken my glasses. Instead, I turned my back on the vicious, man-eating monster floating in front of me and selected the Mars table. The dense vacuum of space was a welcome relief.

The two tables I actually played, Mars and Epic Quest, were satisfyingly solid in the VR world. Flipping the triggers on the Xbox One controller is an acceptable facsimile for a real-life pinball experience and the game’s physics have been honed over nearly 10 years of tweaking by creator Zen Studios.

Nothing will ever beat playing a real-life pinball machine in a dark, sticky-floored arcade, but Pinball FX2 VR is a close, gratifying second. It may not be the “killer app” needed to push sales of Oculus’ new headset, but it’s a welcome addition to the hardware. Plus, it’ll save you a ton of quarters — after you drop $600 on the Rift, at least.

MediaTek’s 10-core mobile chip hits the market next month

As a believer of the old “quality not quantity” saying, Qualcomm backed away from octa core in favor of just four custom-designed cores for its Snapdragon 820 chipset. MediaTek, being the pioneer of octa-core mobile CPU, simply shrugged and teased its upcoming 10-core, tri-cluster Helio X20 last May. So where is it now? Well, at today’s Shenzhen event, MediaTek co-COO and EVP Jeffrey Ju told Engadget that the first Helio X20 devices will finally be hitting the markets next month. To heat things up a little, MediaTek also announced the Helio X25 which is just a faster version of the Helio X20: 2.5GHz instead of 2.3GHz for the Cortex-A72 performance cluster, and 850MHz instead of 780MHz for the Mali-T880 MP4 GPU. This will also be getting to consumers’ hands soon after the Helio X20, according to the exec.

While MediaTek didn’t mention any device brands, Meizu president Bai Yongxiang took the liberty to announce that the Helio X25 will be exclusive to its next flagship smartphone, the Pro 6, for a few months. As to when this will arrive, we’ll just have to wait and see; the sooner the better, obviously.

MediaTek’s Helio X20 family is seen as a direct competitor of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820, and while the latter easily stands out with 14m process, 4K display output plus LTE Cat 12/13 radio, MediaTek’s high-end chips have the advantage of spreading across a wider range of price tiers. In the case of the earlier Helio X10, it’s featured on both the HTC One M9+ (initially about $770, now $550) and the Redmi Note 2 (about $125), so we can expect the same game plan for its successor. With its new tri-cluster design, the Helio X20 also claims to consume 30 percent less power than conventional dual-cluster CPUs, while offering 15 percent more computational power than the competition.

Other cool features on the Helio X20 series include SilkSwipe which boosts touchscreen response (as shown by the above comparison between a MediaTek prototype and the Mate 8 powered by Huawei’s very own Kirin 950 chipset), Imagiq ISP which supports both 3D camera sensors (including live Bokeh effect for video recording) and RWWB sensors (with greater light sensitivity than conventional RGB sensors), MiraVision CrystalView which delivers slick 120fps video for much better VR experience, and MiraVision Chameleon Display which adjusts the screen’s color temperature and brightness according to the phone’s surroundings (though a separate RGB light sensor is required). That’s quite a handful to look forward to.

Via: Engadget Chinese

Source: MediaTek

SanDisk’s 256GB Flash Storage is Possible Option for iPhone 7 Plus

Following a rumor that Apple may sell an iPhone 7 Plus with 256GB storage, Italian website HDblog has shared pictures of a SanDisk 256GB NAND flash memory chip that could be appropriate for the next-generation smartphone.

SanDisk’s 256GB NAND flash chip (top) and older 64GB chip (bottom)
Apple has used SanDisk flash memory chips in a number of previous iPhone models, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, while other models have used NAND flash chips from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Toshiba.

SanDisk has managed to reduce the size of its 256GB flash memory chip to be smaller than its 64GB counterpart, which makes it a viable option given rumors that the iPhone 7 lineup could be up to 1mm thinner with a larger 3,100 mAh battery.

It remains unclear if the iPhone 7 Plus will still have 16GB base storage, which has been a highly contested option in recent years, or if Apple will opt for larger storage sizes such as 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB at existing price points.

Other rumored iPhone 7 series changes include a faster TSMC-built A10 chip, Smart Connector, dual-lens camera, stereo speakers, Intel 7360 LTE modem, no 3.5mm headphone jack, waterproofing, wireless charging, relocated antenna bands, and more. iPhone 7 Plus models could have 3GB of RAM.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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AliveCor Announces Apple Watch ‘Kardia Band’ for Medical Grade EKG Analysis

Medical smartphone accessory company AliveCor today announced that it will bring “the first medical-grade EKG band” to the Apple Watch with the “Kardia Band,” in addition to a new smartphone app for users of its heart-rate reading devices. The company already sells a few “mobile EKG” products in its online store, including cases for the iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 5/5s that have users place their fingers on metallic plates to get sufficient heart-rate readings.

The Kardia Band for Apple Watch will function in a similar way, with a small, integrated metal sensor in the band communicating with the company’s new app to take wrist-worn EKG readings. All users will have to do is navigate to the Apple Watch-compatible Kardia app, start a reading, place their thumb on the sensor, and wait for the 30-second analysis to complete. During this time, users can also speak into the Apple Watch’s microphone to detail any palpitations, shortness of breath, or dietary habits that could be linked to heart-rate fluctuations.

Users can record a single-lead EKG by simply touching Kardia Band’s integrated sensor that communicates with the Watch app, Kardia by AliveCor™. The Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Detector then uses Kardia’s automated analysis process (algorithm) to instantly detect the presence of AF in an EKG, the most common cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cause of stroke.

Also included is the Normal Detector, which indicates whether your heart rate and rhythm are normal, and the Unreadable Detector, which tells you when to retake an EKG so physicians receive only the highest quality recordings.

The collected recordings are stored and can be viewed in the iPhone version of the Kardia app, and even sent to a patient’s preferred doctor if any suspicious activity is gathered during a reading. AliveCor said that the app can also connect to Apple’s stock Health app, so users can integrate their EKG readings into established fitness data like step count and calorie intake to further bolster an overall assessment of their well-being.

The Kardia Band is currently undergoing clearance approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and can’t be sold until it does so, but AliveCor believes the device will be available to purchase as soon as “late spring.” The updated Kardia by AliveCor app [Direct Link] can be downloaded today, however, and works with the company’s re-branded Kardia Mobile device as well as the line of iPhone cases.

AliveCor encourages those interested to sign up on its website to be the first to know when the Kardia Band will be for sale and at what price.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Waze Introduces ‘Planned Drives’ Scheduling Based on Live Traffic Conditions

Waze, the largest community-based traffic and navigation app on iPhone and iPad, has been updated today with a new “Planned Drives” feature that enables users to schedule an upcoming drive and receive a reminder to leave on time. Estimated drive times are updated based on live traffic conditions in the area.

Now you’ll always know when to go! Enter the time and date you need to arrive and Waze will recommend the best time to leave. You’ll also receive a reminder closer to your event with an updated departure time based upon real-time road conditions. Just set it and forget it.

“Planned Drives” can be accessed by entering a destination or tapping the Waze icon in the bottom-left corner of the app on version 4.3.0 or later. Users can then set a starting location, destination, and the time and day they plan to leave, and then tap “save” to confirm. Tap on the trip at any time to begin receiving directions.

The latest version of Waze also includes some smaller improvements:

* The Waze Traffic Bar now shows the reason for a jam (if one is known) like an accident or object on the road
* Waze now mutes automatically during an incoming or outgoing phone call
* Bugs and stability fixes

Waze is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

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Moto X Pure Edition down to $299 at B&H, includes free microSD card

If you missed out on Motorola’s Moto X Pure Edition promotion, fret not, as B&H is selling the 16GB model for $299, $100 off its retail price. You also get the retailer’s Photo Video Smartphone Photo Bundle for free, which is valued at $60.

The bundle includes a SanDisk Ultra 32GB class 10 UHS-1 microSD card, Xuma Mobile LED lights — consisting of 48 LED lights that put out 46 lumens of light, a Joby GripTight XL mount that can accommodate phones up to a width of 3.9 inches, Magnus MaxiGrip Flexible Tripod for long-exposure shots, and a microfibre cleaning cloth.

The deal is available on the black and white/bamboo variants of the phone, and is valid until 11:59PM, March 19. Interested? Head to the retailer from the link below to place your order.

See at B&H

MasterCard brings virtual reality, payments and wearables to the golf course

Just when you thought golf couldn’t get any more exciting, MasterCard has teamed up with this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill to showcase a new VR experience. Enlisting the help of professional golfers Graeme McDowell and Harris English, the experience will enable consumers to really feel like they’re there by standing on the 17th hole, and even purchase items within the virtual world.

Those rocking a MasterCard on the course will be able to take advantage of payment-enabled golf gloves, which is a result of a partnership with Callaway, part of their Commerce for Every Device program. The piece of clothing allows golfers to order refreshments without fetching for their wallet or even interrupting play. MasterCard Qkr! will also be present with support for both iOS and Android – all proceeds go to Amie’s Army.

Sony PlayStation VR game trailers: Sony reveals the PS4 gaming future for 2016

Sony will be releasing its PlayStation VR for the PS4 in October 2016 and with it a heap of games built for the virtual reality world.

Now Sony has begun showing off trailers of the immersive gaming worlds we can look forward to using the PlayStation VR.

The virtual realm of PlayStation VR is going to be home to all types of games. From driving games like DriveClub to VR specific thrillers like Golem, every title will be honed to make the virtual reality experience a part of the game.

Sony has begun unveiling what we can expect with a selection of trailers for these games. While viewing them on a 2D screen probably doesn’t do them justice they’re exciting enough to take a look at anyway.

RIGS Mechanized Combat League

Designed purely as a VR experience this battle-racer puts you inside a mech suit while you go to war with other similarly armed robo-fighters. The beauty here isn’t just total immersion, where you can see your suit around you, but the speed at which you’ll be able to lock on while moving thanks to head movement controlled aiming. This should make first person shooter gaming faster and more intense than ever.

Robinson: The Journey

Built on the Crytek engine this VR experience looks stunning. The trailer shows you appear to be stranded in the Jurassic age with dinosaurs that you have to dodge to survive, while following your flying robot butler, complete with Enligsh accent of course.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

This aptly named horror title should get your heart racing. The trailer doesn’t give much away but we imagine poking about in the dark with evil lurking will be on a whole new level when strapped into the PS VR. The makers say decisions affect the story but we doubt you’ll be thinking calmly enough to do much picking, more panicking we expect.

Battlezone

If Tron were converted, graphically at least, into a battle game it would likely look very much like this. The fact that it’s a virtual reality experience is just the sweetener. Use the PS4 controller for attacking and ship movements while you can get a full view by simply moving your head, this is what VR is meant to be all about.

PlayStation VR Worlds

This is your typical new hardware megamix of mini games to help you feel like you’re getting playable content with the kit. There’s Downhill Luge, Dangerball that’s like squash using your head as a racquet, Into The Deep where you go virtual diving in a cage, The London Heist where you live like a gangster, and Scavengers Odyssey for spaceflight alien destruction.

Golem

This trailer is almost a trailer for the virtual reality experience as a whole. It shows off the main female character who is in virtual control of a stone golem. This is one of many Golems she has access to, allowing her to traverse jaw-dropping landscapes moving heavy pillars as if they weighed nothing. That’s what you get to do as a VR user. Little else is revealed about the game’s content or story at this early stage.

Rez Infinite

This classic shooter has been reimagined for a virtual reality world. The results looks like a more immersive experience where targets expand beyond the usual field of view which should make for a heart-pounding experience.

Ace Combat 7

If there were ever a game that was perfect for virtual reality, it’s Ace Combat 7. Imagine darting about in the clouds while actually sighting enemy fighter planes just as a real pilot would, by looking around your cockpit. This one could end up being a real neck workout.

Eagle Flight

This game was developed by a division at Ubisoft Montreal to work on all VR experiences available. The game lets you take to the skies of Paris flying as an eagle. The result should be an immersive experience with some amazing views. The game is set 50 years after humans have left the city and nature is taking back the land. The game is single player or multiplayer with up to six others in flight. It’s unclear what the goals are in the game other than enjoying the views.

Job Simulator

This might sound like the most dull game ever. While there’s coffee and doughnuts in this virtual office you can’t eat or drink them. But the trailer makes it look more fun than it sounds. Firing off staples can activate buttons and move objects. Finished your coffee? Launch the mug at the rest of the office. It could be a fun way to feel liberated in an otherwise boring office environment. How this will become a full game experience is unclear.

The Modern Zombie Taxi Co.

The apocalypse has come about at the hands and teeth of the zombie hoards. But that doesn’t mean cab drivers will be out of a job, the walk-pace-only undead need to get about in a hurry sometimes. You control the taxi in a virtual world where running over the undead is a guilt-free experience. Launch bodies into football goals, fire guns off the car bonnet and supercharge the motor for racing – this looks like a fun, freeing VR experience.

READ: DriveClub on PlayStation VR preview: The future of driving games, full stop 

PlayStation VR: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

First announced in 2014, under the codename Project Morpheus, PlayStation VR is likely to be a hit this coming Christmas and could even be the definitive device in the explosion of virtual reality.

Sony’s virtual reality headset works with the PS4, which has an enormous global userbase, so has a heads up on its major competition, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. They both require serious gaming PC setups to run the best VR experiences, while you can power your PS VR from a standard console.

That makes it a very attractive prospect indeed. What’s more, the pricing structure seems very reasonable for the amount of tech crammed inside and we suspect it will sell out at the pre-order stage – maybe even prompt the same kind of queues we saw when the PlayStation 4 first launched.

Before you decide to put your money down though, we suggest you read our handy guide on the PlayStation VR headset. That way you’ll find out everything you need to know about the potential future of gaming.

READ: PlayStation VR preview: Affordable virtual reality for the gamers

What is PlayStation VR?

PlayStation VR is the, eventual, name given to Sony’s PS4-compatible virtual reality headset. It was formerly called Project Morpheus when touted around certain technology and videogames conventions, such as E3, Gamescom and CES.

It will plug into a conventional PlayStation 4 console via an adaptor box and play dedicated virtual reality software titles that we presume will be available through the PlayStation Store.

A PlayStation VR headset fits over and around your head, with a front “shoebox” style eyepiece that contains the display and sensor equipment. A separate pair of headphones are required to provide the audio, which are included in the box.

It also needs a PlayStation Camera and either a DualShock 4 controller – which comes with the PS4 – or PlayStation Move motion controllers to play different titles.

For an explanation of virtual reality, check out our handy guide here: What is VR? Virtual reality explained.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR release date

During its press conference at GDC 2016 in San Francisco, Sony announced that the PlayStation VR headset will be available from October 2016. It didn’t go into specifics about the actual launch day, but Amazon.co.uk has revealed it will ship from 1 October. It is clearly aimed at capitalising on the holiday season to come.

Previously, Sony said that PS VR would be available in the first half of 2016, but that has turned out not to be the case.

PlayStation VR price

PlayStation VR costs £349 in the UK. That gets you the headset, a processor unit, VR headset connection cable, HDMI cable, USB cable, stereo headphones, and a power cord and adaptor.

It doesn’t include the PlayStation Camera required to track the LED markers on the front and rear of the headset. That will set you back another £39. You will likely already have a DualShock 4 controller as that comes with the PS4, but if you don’t have PlayStation Move batons lying around from the PS3 days, you’ll probably want to shell out for a pair. They currently cost £24 apiece.

Of course, if you are investing in the whole package from scratch, you’ll also need a PlayStation 4. These days the console starts at around £285.

In the US, the PlayStation VR headset costs $399. It is 399 euros in Europe. And, in Sony’s homeland of Japan, the PS VR will set you back 44,980 yen.

PlayStation VR design

All virtual reality headsets share the same basic shape because they need to bung a load of tech into a “shoebox” style design that attaches to the top half of your face – you need to see the screen, after all.

However, the PlayStation VR looks more space-age than most, with Sony opting for a Samsung Gear VR-like white and black exterior and smooth curves. Indeed, we’d say that it looks the best of all the headsets for the people not actually wearing it.

That’s also partly down to the glowing LEDs situated around the visor and the rear of the device. Not only do they look cool – Tron-esque – but they are used to help track the headset, with a PlayStation Camera constantly picking up their location.

Like many if not all VR headsets, the PlayStation VR is able to be worn by people with or without glasses and is light enough to be comfortable. The headset weighs around 610g, not including the cable that must be attached. It measures approximately 187 x 185 x 277mm.

PlayStation VR display

With the PlayStation 4 only capable of 1080p video output, it comes as no surprise that Sony has opted for a 1080p 5.7-inch OLED display as the PS VR’s screen. That means the 1920 x 1080 resolution is split into 960 x 1080 per eye.

The display is also one panel rather than a separate display for each eye, as found on the Oculus Rift, for example.

The field of view is also truncated in comparison to some of the high-end rivals, with approximately 100-degrees listed by Sony.

Where the PS VR display is slightly more advanced over some rivals is that it has a refresh rate that is capable of reaching 120Hz (120 frames per second). It is also capable of 90Hz.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR hardware and specs

Other specifications listed for the PlayStation VR include the built-in sensors. There is Sony’s six-axis motion sensing system built into the headset, comprised of a three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer.

Latency is claimed to be 18ms.

The separate processing unit handles the 3D audio processing, Social Screen functionality – which splits the screen to the headset and a TV separately so others can see the user’s experience on a TV, and a Cinematic mode to watch movies and TV shows, even play conventional PS4 games bought from PlayStation on a virtual screen from within the headset. It has two HDMI outputs, to TV and PS VR, a HDMI input from PS4, USB and AUX sockets.

How do I control PlayStation VR games?

As previously mentioned, PlayStation VR games can be controlled by either a DualShock 4 controller or PlayStation Move motion controllers.

Importantly, some games will require the Move controllers and it is worth checking before purchasing a title. For example, The London Heist, which we’ve played at a couple of trade shows, has sections where you use a Move controller as a gun, reloading by touching two of the batons together.

PlayStation VR pre-order details

Pre-orders are now available at some retailers, including Amazon.co.uk, Game.co.uk, and GameStop.co.uk.

Strangely, even though Sony quotes the price at £349, both Game and Amazon list it at £349.99, while GameStop is three-pence cheaper. Game also offers a bundle that includes the necessary PlayStation Camera for £389.98.

We’ll expand this section as we find out about other retailers and locations you can pre-order the console.

Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation VR games

Sony has revealed that more than 230 developers and software publishers are working on games and entertainment titles for PlayStation VR. And there are more than 160 titles in development.

It also claims that over 50 of those games and experiences will be available before the end of 2016 – many of which on launch day.

They include Eagle Flight by Ubisoft, EVE: Valkyrie from CCP Games, Headmaster, Rez Infinite, Wayward Sky, RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and PlayStation VR World.

Even more exciting perhaps is that EA and Dice are working on a VR version of Star Wars Battlefront.

The Playroom VR, which we played at Paris Games Week last year, will be a free download with every PS VR purchase.

You can find out more about some of the games, and see trailers of them in action, in our handy round-up here: Sony PlayStation VR game trailers: Sony reveals the PS4 gaming future for 2016.

We will update this feature regularly with new content as more is discovered. If you are interested in the PlayStation VR headset, we recommend bookmarking this piece for future reference.

Tesla Motors: Everything you want to know about the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y and more

Tesla has taken more than its fair share of headlines over the past few years. The Californian company has been heralded by the tech and motoring presses for its innovation, stirring up fairly a traditional market and introducing electric cars with a distinct buzz about them.

Some of this has been driven by the excitement of the much talked about “Ludicrous” mode on some Tesla cars, some through the company’s determination to move away from fossil fuels. There’s been a good helping of savvy media handling by CEO Elon Musk, as well as endorsements from many excited customers.

But what’s does Tesla really offer, what’s coming in the future and how can you you join in the fun? Here’s everything you need to know about Tesla Motors.

What is Tesla Motors?

Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers, including CEO Elon Musk (who also happens to be the founder and CEO of SpaceX and co-founder of PayPal). The company, which is named after inventor Nikola Tesla, designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars, electric vehicle powertrain components, and battery products. It launched its first car, called Tesla Roadster, in 2008.

What Tesla models are available?

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is a full-sized, five-door, lift-back electric vehicle introduced in June 2012. It’s available in many different configurations, including multiple performance options as well as both exterior and interior design options.

If you want to buy a new Tesla Model S, Tesla offers the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model S 70: 70 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (230-mile range, 5.5 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model S 70D: 70 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (240-mile range, 5.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model S 90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (288-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model S P90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (270-mile range, 3.1 seconds 0-60 mph or 2.8 seconds 0-60 mph with Ludicrous Speed upgrade, 155 mph top speed)

If you want to buy a pre-owned Tesla Model S, you can find the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model S 60: 60 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (215-mile range, 5.9 seconds 0-60 mph, 120 mph top speed)
• Model S 85: 85 kWh battery, single-motor, rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 5.4 seconds 0-60 mph, 130 mph top speed)
• Model S P85: 85 kWh battery, single motor, rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 130 mph top speed)
• Model S P85+: 85 kWh battery, single-motor, performance rear-wheel drive (265-mile range, 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model S P85D: 85 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (249-mile range, 3.2 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X is a full-size crossover SUV you can reserve from Tesla right now, though the first deliveries of the electric vehicle began arriving for select customers in September 2015. Similar to the Model S, it’s available in many different configurations, including multiple performance options as well as both exterior and interior design options.

If you want to buy a new Tesla Model X, Tesla lets you reserve the following versions of the electric vehicle as of March 2016:

• Model X 70D: 70 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (220-mile range, 6.0 seconds 0-60 mph, 140 mph top speed)
• Model X 90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, all-wheel drive (257-mile range, 4.8 seconds 0-60 mph, 155 mph top speed)
• Model X P90D: 90 kWh battery, dual-motor, performance all-wheel drive (250-mile range, 3.8 seconds 0-60 mph or 3.2 seconds 0-60 mph with Ludicrous Speed upgrade, 155 mph top speed)

What happened to the Tesla Roadster?

The Tesla Roadster was a 2-door sports car produced from 2008 to 2012. Tesla only sold about 2,450 Roadsters in over 30 countries, before it announced in 2011 that it was discontinuing the Roadster – including direct sales – to focus on the Model S.

The car was sold with three different electric-motor powertrain options: 1.5 (2.0), 2.5 non-sport, and 2.5 sport. The standard model has a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph. It also has a range of 231 miles.

A new Tesla Roadster is coming however, and you’ll have to wait 3 years it. Musk confirmed in 2015 that it’s getting revived. After talking about Tesla’s new speed upgrades during a press conference, which you can read about here, the CEO said: “There is of course one speed faster than ludicrous, but that is reserved for the next generation Roadster in 4 years: maximum plaid.”

The Ludicrous mode and maximum plaid refrences are from the 1987 film Spaceballs (Musk is showing is true inner nerd here). All jokes aside, he later confirmed the upcoming Roadster would be an all-new car. So, expect a fresh Roadster that’ll be just as fast as the P85D.

What are the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y?

Tune in for the 3/31 unveiling on https://t.co/7Ol1Bw0ZaG #Model3 pic.twitter.com/P1PY0U8H4T

— Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) March 15, 2016

The Tesla Model 3 is an upcoming car that Tesla is expected to unveil during a press conference on 31 March. The Model 3 was previously called the Model E, as Musk wanted to name Tesla’s three main car models so that they’d spell out “SEX”. Now it’ll be “S3X” – because Ford’s lawyers have reminded Tesla that it owns the Model E trademark. Party poopers, much?

In October, Musk tweeted that the Model 3 would go into production in 2017. But he also posted a tweet confirming that the company was planning to roll out another vehicle called the Model Y, meaning Tesla’a lineup would eventually spell-out “S3XY”. Musk later deleted that tweet, which effectively drummed up publicity, even though JB Straubel, Tesla’s CTO, also teased in June 2014 that a crossover vehicle was coming.

There is not much known about the Model Y. It could have Falcon Wing doors, like the Model X. When Musk tweeted about the Model Y in October, for instance, he said that either the Model 3 or the Model Y would have Falcon doors. All we know for sure is that the Model 3 sedan will be smaller than the Model S. It’ll also offer a range of 200 miles per charge and be the most affordable Tesla car to date.

The current Model S starts at just over £55,000, going up to nearly £100,000 for the top-end model. This puts it out of the reach of many people wishing to go electric. However, the upcoming Model 3 line, which will represent “both sedan and crossover variants”, according to Tesla, includes a sedan priced at $35,000 (about £30,000 in the UK). Electrek’s Seth Weintraub said the Model 3 will show up alongside the Model Y in March.

Citing “second-hand sources”, he said Tesla has “at least two different versions” of the Model 3 planned for the unveiling event. The second car will presumably the Model Y crossover, while the other is the Model 3 sedan. Weintraub backed up his claims with a screenshot from a Tesla presentation that shows partially-wrapped cars.

Check out Pocket-lint’s Tesla Model 3 hub and Tesla Model Y for more details.

What is Tesla’s autopilot mode?

If you own a relatively-new Model S or are itching to get a Model X, you’ll be glad to know that after this week both cars are capable of enabling some of the fancy autopilot features that Tesla first showed off last last year.

When Tesla launched the Dual-motor Model S, it unveiled a $2,500 add-on hardware package coming to Tesla vehicles (the Model S and Model X) that would enable autopilot functionality. The hardware, which is not available as a retrofit, meaning you can only get it on new Teslas, works with software updates to deliver a range of autonomous-like features.

“Model S will be able to steer to stay within a lane, change lanes with the simple tap of a turn signal, and manage speed by reading road signs and using active, traffic aware cruise control,” announced Tesla. “Our goal with the introduction of this new hardware and software is not to enable driverless cars, which are still years away from becoming a reality.”

Tesla said its “autopilot” system isn’t fully autonomous but instead similar to systems that aircraft pilots use to increase safety when conditions are clear: “Tesla’s Autopilot is a way to relieve drivers of the most boring and potentially dangerous aspects of road travel – but the driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car,” Tesla said, while noting it still opens up long-term possibilities.

You can learn all about Tesla’s autopilot mode from here.

How can you buy a Tesla?

You can buy a Tesla car directly from Tesla’s website or a Tesla dealership.

• Go here to order a new Model S
• Go here to buy a pre-owned Model S
• Go here to reserve a Model X
• Go here to find a Tesla dealership

What are Tesla Superchargers?

Tesla

Supercharger stations are Tesla’s answer to the “range anxiety” problem. The idea is that a Supercharger will charge a Tesla car more quickly than a typical J1772 public charging station, which provides roughly 10 miles of range for every 30 minutes of charging. A standard outlet in a garage can provide 15 miles of range in 30 minutes. As for a Supercharger, it provides 200 miles of range in 30 minutes.

As of March 2016, there are 604 Supercharger stations across the world (with 3,542 Superchargers). Tesla announced in 2015 that Supercharger routes span the entire width of the US, and it claimed that by the end of 2016, 98 per cent of the country’s population would be within 100 miles of a Supercharger. The company also said it would expand the network in Europe and Asia.

Information about how Superchargers work and where they can be found are available on Tesla’s website

Does Tesla make anything else?

Powerwall

Tesla announced a home battery system in 2015 that took the energy-saving scene by storm, and then, in early 2016, the carmaker began to tease a “version two”. Powerwall is basically a home battery designed to be paired with rooftop solar systems. Within a month of debuting, Tesla had received 38,000 pre-orders, with some customers reserving more than one battery.

The original Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery that comes as a single unit or in multiples for those who need more power. It stores excess energy produced from your own solar generation (so that energy not used at the time will be available later) and can store power when electricity from the power grid is at its cheapest rate (off-peak), It’s also able to juice up everything in your house.

From a 0.2kWh fridge to a 2.3kWh washing machine, the 7kWh or 10kWh Powerwalls should be able to keep you running. For those who know their electricity consumption numbers, the Powerwall offers continuous power at 2kW with a peak power output of 3kW. You can read all about the original Powerwall from here, or you can read about the Powerwall 2 from here.

Gear

Tesla also sells apparel, charging accessories, and various driving-related goods, including iPhone cases crafted from automotive-grade leather from the interior of its vehicles, which it designs and manufacturers. You can browse through the different collections at its online shop.

Want to know more about Tesla?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Tesla hub for related news, reviews, and analysis on the company and its products.