Apple’s new AR tech can insert and remove objects from a space in real-time

Why it matters to you

This patent application hints at what kind of AR functionality we might see in upcoming iterations of the iPhone.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has offered up a sneak peek of Apple’s plans for augmented reality. Earlier today, the organization published a patent application submitted by Apple that relates to inserting virtual objects into a real environment.

The application was submitted to grant an extension of an earlier patent on the technology, which was granted to German AR company Metaio in 2010. Apple acquired Metaio in May 2015, and was given ownership over the patent last year, according to a report from Apple Insider.

The patent protects methodology that can be used to accurately integrate a digital object into a real-world environment. One application described in the documentation allows users to place virtual furniture in their home for a preview of how it would look.

Apple isn’t the only company developing this kind of technology. A very similar implementation of AR was showcased by Facebook at the F8 conference earlier this week. The social media giant may have outpaced Apple, as its AR platform is already in the hands of developers.

However, Apple’s technology may be more advanced than the projects its rivals are pursuing. The patent describes an implementation of AR where real-world objects are digitally removed from the environment. The documentation suggests that this functionality could be used while driving to render parts of the car artificially invisible, giving the driver a more comprehensive view of the road.

Apple’s long-term ambition for AR seems to hinge upon implementing this kind of technology in a pair of glasses, which would be tethered to an iPhone. However, it’s previously been reported that the company will familiarize users with AR by introducing certain functionality in a future version of its flagship smartphone.

At this point, it’s unclear how long it will take for this technology to hit the market — but with other companies also making good progress, time is a finite resource.

Apple’s new AR tech can insert and remove objects from a space in real-time

Why it matters to you

This patent application hints at what kind of AR functionality we might see in upcoming iterations of the iPhone.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has offered up a sneak peek of Apple’s plans for augmented reality. Earlier today, the organization published a patent application submitted by Apple that relates to inserting virtual objects into a real environment.

The application was submitted to grant an extension of an earlier patent on the technology, which was granted to German AR company Metaio in 2010. Apple acquired Metaio in May 2015, and was given ownership over the patent last year, according to a report from Apple Insider.

The patent protects methodology that can be used to accurately integrate a digital object into a real-world environment. One application described in the documentation allows users to place virtual furniture in their home for a preview of how it would look.

Apple isn’t the only company developing this kind of technology. A very similar implementation of AR was showcased by Facebook at the F8 conference earlier this week. The social media giant may have outpaced Apple, as its AR platform is already in the hands of developers.

However, Apple’s technology may be more advanced than the projects its rivals are pursuing. The patent describes an implementation of AR where real-world objects are digitally removed from the environment. The documentation suggests that this functionality could be used while driving to render parts of the car artificially invisible, giving the driver a more comprehensive view of the road.

Apple’s long-term ambition for AR seems to hinge upon implementing this kind of technology in a pair of glasses, which would be tethered to an iPhone. However, it’s previously been reported that the company will familiarize users with AR by introducing certain functionality in a future version of its flagship smartphone.

At this point, it’s unclear how long it will take for this technology to hit the market — but with other companies also making good progress, time is a finite resource.

Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion

Pointillisted

Be an electronic Georges Seurat! The Pointillisted app generates pointillist artwork using images from the Photo Library, including those shared in iCloud.

Available on:

iOS

Remote Control

Turn your iPhone or iPad into the ultimate remote control for your Mac. Take full control over your Mac — use your iOS device as a trackpad and keyboard, or launch any app from anywhere within your home.

Available on:

iOS

50mm

Create charming 50mm photo-style photographs with real-time vintage effects. These effects work great on selfies and other portraits but also for many other subjects.

Available on:

iOS

Bokeh Photo Effects

Bokeh Photo Effects allows you to enjoy instant light bokeh effects, analog film, and real vintage filters.

Available on:

iOS

Wake Up with Motivation

Get your day started on the right foot, feel energized, and get motivated for success with this program from Rachael Meddows. Be productive and start your day with confidence.

Available on:

iOS

Extreme Week Calendar

This app gives you a 7-day week view and inline day view to add great features not found in the default calendar.

Available on:

iOS

Google Home can now recognize different voices and personalize interaction

Why it matters to you

Thanks to artificial intelligence, Google Home can now tell the difference between you, your family members, and anyone else linked to the speaker.

Google Home, Google’s voice-imbued home speaker, is pretty darn good at deciphering mumbled commands and garbled words. But what it hasn’t been able to do is differentiate between various people, which means it has only supported one account. If your significant other asked your Google Home for a list of upcoming appointments, for example, Home would diligently read out your agenda. But that’s changing.

On Thursday, Google announced multiuser support for Google Home. Thanks to a powerful machine-learning algorithm and upgraded smartphone app, Google Home can serve up information relevant to you — and not your roommate’s grocery list or your brother’s Madonna playlist.

It’s as simple as connecting your account (up to a total of six) to the Google Home app. Once you update to the latest version, you’ll see a card that says, “Multiuser Support is available.” Tap Link your account, and once that’s done, you’ll be asked to teach Google Home the sound of your voice by repeating phrases like, “OK Google” and “Hey Google.” A specialized form of artificial intelligence called a neural network analyzes your spoken phrases, and from that point on compares the sound of your voice to previous analyses. It all takes place in a matter of milliseconds.

It’s a fairly hands-off affair, from there. When you ask Google Home for your commute time, for example, you’ll get a response based on your saved work and home preferences. If another family member who’s gone through the setup process asks about their drive, they’ll get a different reply. The same goes for schedules, lists, music, and more.

Google has used neural networks to improve voice recognition before. In September 2016, the search giant rolled out a machine-learning update to Google Translate, a digital interpreter that supports more than 100 languages. In a test of linguistic precision, Translate’s old model achieved a score of 3.6 on a scale of 6; the neural network ranked 5.0, just below the average human’s score of 5.1.

Google Assistant, the computer intelligence behind Google Home’s friendly exterior, uses AI to personalize its replies. The Assistant learns about preferences like favorite apps and services, restaurants, frequently asked questions, and identity information including age, gender, and birth date. It gets better over time as the algorithms start to learn usage patterns and behaviors, Google said.

The introduction of AI-powered multiuser support for the Google Home could signal an expansion of those efforts. In an interview with Backchannel earlier this year, Fernando Pereira, Google’s lead natural language scientist, predicted that the Assistant’s machine learning would become “more fluent, more able to help you do what you want to do, understand more of the context of the conversation, [and] be more able to bring information from different sources.”

One thing’s for certain: Google Home’s competition has a long way to go. Amazon’s Alexa assistant, which launched in 2014, still lacks multiuser support. Microsoft’s Cortana doesn’t have it either, and neither does Apple’s Siri.

Multiuser support starts rolling out to Google Home users in the U.S. on Thursday, and will expand to the U.K. in the coming months.

Google Home can now recognize different voices and personalize interaction

Why it matters to you

Thanks to artificial intelligence, Google Home can now tell the difference between you, your family members, and anyone else linked to the speaker.

Google Home, Google’s voice-imbued home speaker, is pretty darn good at deciphering mumbled commands and garbled words. But what it hasn’t been able to do is differentiate between various people, which means it has only supported one account. If your significant other asked your Google Home for a list of upcoming appointments, for example, Home would diligently read out your agenda. But that’s changing.

On Thursday, Google announced multiuser support for Google Home. Thanks to a powerful machine-learning algorithm and upgraded smartphone app, Google Home can serve up information relevant to you — and not your roommate’s grocery list or your brother’s Madonna playlist.

It’s as simple as connecting your account (up to a total of six) to the Google Home app. Once you update to the latest version, you’ll see a card that says, “Multiuser Support is available.” Tap Link your account, and once that’s done, you’ll be asked to teach Google Home the sound of your voice by repeating phrases like, “OK Google” and “Hey Google.” A specialized form of artificial intelligence called a neural network analyzes your spoken phrases, and from that point on compares the sound of your voice to previous analyses. It all takes place in a matter of milliseconds.

It’s a fairly hands-off affair, from there. When you ask Google Home for your commute time, for example, you’ll get a response based on your saved work and home preferences. If another family member who’s gone through the setup process asks about their drive, they’ll get a different reply. The same goes for schedules, lists, music, and more.

Google has used neural networks to improve voice recognition before. In September 2016, the search giant rolled out a machine-learning update to Google Translate, a digital interpreter that supports more than 100 languages. In a test of linguistic precision, Translate’s old model achieved a score of 3.6 on a scale of 6; the neural network ranked 5.0, just below the average human’s score of 5.1.

Google Assistant, the computer intelligence behind Google Home’s friendly exterior, uses AI to personalize its replies. The Assistant learns about preferences like favorite apps and services, restaurants, frequently asked questions, and identity information including age, gender, and birth date. It gets better over time as the algorithms start to learn usage patterns and behaviors, Google said.

The introduction of AI-powered multiuser support for the Google Home could signal an expansion of those efforts. In an interview with Backchannel earlier this year, Fernando Pereira, Google’s lead natural language scientist, predicted that the Assistant’s machine learning would become “more fluent, more able to help you do what you want to do, understand more of the context of the conversation, [and] be more able to bring information from different sources.”

One thing’s for certain: Google Home’s competition has a long way to go. Amazon’s Alexa assistant, which launched in 2014, still lacks multiuser support. Microsoft’s Cortana doesn’t have it either, and neither does Apple’s Siri.

Multiuser support starts rolling out to Google Home users in the U.S. on Thursday, and will expand to the U.K. in the coming months.

Celebrate 4/20 with the dopest weed gadgets in the observable universe

The 20th of April is here, and you’re probably asking yourself one thing. “Where did I leave the eye drops?” Jokes aside, marijuana enthusiasts across the country — nay, across the world — spend the fourth month of each year planning extravagant cannabis-themed celebrations centered around the simple act of igniting that aromatic herb, and inhaling.

As the weed industry grows, so too does the demand for ingenious gadgets designed to enhance or simplify the smoking experience. At Digital Trends, we love all kinds of technology, so we thought it would be fun to put together a list of the coolest cannabis-related gadgets on the planet. Sit back, relax, and scroll on down to find out which weed gizmos we thought were the most dope — pun intended.

Pax 3

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The third iteration of Pax Labs’ eponymous handheld vaporizer is as sleek and subtle as ever, and it’s still effective for covert smoke sessions. What was dubbed by the New York Times as “the iPhone of vaporizers” lives up to its reputation, dealing out stealthy hits of THC — or CBD, if that’s your bag — in stylish fashion. The PAX 3, available in black, gold, rose gold, and silver, heats up in just about 20 seconds, and this time around it’s capable of vaping concentrates, not just flower.

The included half-pack oven means you don’t have to load huge bowls anymore, increasing the vape’s efficiency, and terpene profiles still come through extremely well. Multiple strength settings allow you to crank up the heat when a load has already been partially smoked, and the Vapor smartphone app allows you to do cool stuff like dim the lights (for maximum secrecy) or boost the heat.

The Solution

Vapor pens are all the rage. Chances are, if you don’t have one yourself, you’ve got a friend or family member with a pen that looks something like this. These pens combine the covert aesthetic of pocket vaporizers — like the PAX 3 — with the strength of concentrated oils, allowing users to get higher than ever, wherever they want. The Solution, from Portland-based Connoisseur Concentrates, aims to revolutionize the vapor pen game by flavoring these concentrates, creating a wholly new vaping experience.

Whether you prefer a particular terpene profile — Sour Diesel, maybe, or Pineapple Express — or a more traditional flavor like bubblegum, you can mix the Solution with existing concentrates to create a flavored oil.  Getting lit in public is stealthier when your vapor smells like pink lemonade, and not like, well, weed vapor. For now, you can only directly purchase The Solution in bulk (25 gram minimum), but it’s available in dispensaries across the West Coast, and the company is growing fast.

The Magical Butter Maker

Landlords and neighbors aren’t always enamored with the smell of weed. If you’re risking eviction or arrest by smoking in your house, it’s probably a good idea to explore some other methodologies. Enter the Magic Butter Maker, which “magically” turns your bud, trim, and shake into THC-infused butter, oil, or tincture. All you have to do is throw in some herb along with butter or oil — whatever you want to infuse — and, in less than a day, you’ll have cannabutter or tincture at the ready for use in cooking or other applications.

The best part? The MBM doesn’t emit the nasty smell that usually accompanies the cannabutter creation process. Plus, it’ll save you money by effectively turning low-grade trim into high-potency edibles. What’s not to like? Keep in mind: purchasing from Amazon won’t include a warranty (you’ll need to go through the official site for that), and the machine can get loud at times, so stash it in the garage while it’s working. We recommended decarboxylating your bud before throwing it in the machine.

PenSimple

Covert weed storage solutions are a dime a dozen, and you couldn’t be blamed for rolling your eyes at some of the goofy gizmos coming out of the industry. We assure you, though, PenSimple is no laughing matter.

This aircraft-grade aluminum shell houses a grinder and storage space for up to one gram of herb (three grams if you take out the grind teeth). The coolest part, though, is the mechanized dispensing system, which fills up your bowl (or your vape chamber, or your paper) with one quick button press. The “pen” charges via micro-USB, so if you’ve got an Android phone charger handy, you can power up your PenSimple.

Sure, $69 might seem a bit hefty, but this guy can simultaneously replace your grinder and provide you with a slick, secretive way to transport ganja.

LighterBro Pro

Are you familiar with the Swiss Army Knife? No, you say? Well, forget about the Swiss Army Knife! You didn’t need one anyway. Instead, buy a LighterBro! This stainless steel lighter sheath doesn’t just protect your treasured lighters from wear and tear. The original LighterBro has spring-action scissors, a micro screwdriver, a bottle opener, key-ring attachment, and a small (but sharp) knife for all your tiny cutting needs!

That’s just the beginning, as the LighterBro Pro is absolutely loaded with (occasionally) useful attachments. It has a ruler, hex drive sockets to turn screws both clockwise and counterclockwise, and nut grabber wrenches (this is how they’re described on the website, we swear) to loosen or tighten nuts or bolts. This is a great tool, with basically zero negative reviews. It even looks cool.

LEAF

Most of the gadgets on this list are fun little weed-related toys. The LEAF “plug-n-plant” grow system, though, is a bit more serious. For $3,000 you can start your very own grow operation in a 4-by-2 foot box. The automated LEAD box functions as a miniature grow house, where you can fit two plants to yield 4-5 ounces of bud. The box contains an autonomous climate control system and an automatic nutrient dosing system, so you don’t even have to tend to the plants yourself — just throw ’em in and wait.

The BIOS 200W LED system ensures that plants will receive the correct amount of “sunlight” each day, while a mounted HD camera allows you to view the plants’ progress at any point. There’s even a mobile app where you can source grow recipes from the community, in case you’d prefer a more hands-on approach. You don’t even have to use it for weed; this bad boy can grow tomatoes, wheatgrass, kale, or nearly any other crop that’ll fit in the box. It’s not exactly a cheap toy for 4/20, but it’s very, very cool.

BeWild Watch Grinder

What time is it? If you answered “I don’t know,” this is the perfect watch for you! Yes, it tells time, using standard Quartz tech. More importantly, though, it houses a secret grinder that you can use to store and shred your favorite herbs. Oregano? Sure! Coriander? You bet! Marijuana? Only if it’s been legalized for recreational use in your state!

At under $20, this guy is actually cheaper than most dedicated grinders out there. Yeah, the teeth will probably break after you use it three or four times. Who cares, though? It’s all about the novelty, and this is definitely worth a laugh and a toke, at the very least.

VapRwear Hoodie

In the unlikely event that you’re looking for a way to make your clothes smell like pot, we’ve found the perfect solution. The VapRwear hoodie — available only for women, strangely — allows for discreet vaping anytime, anywhere. The included DLo vape system connects directly to the hoses, which run out of the hood like normal drawstrings would on a hoodie. All you have to do is attach an O.penVAPE branded cartridge and battery to the hose, and you’re good to go.

We’re not sure how exactly you’re supposed to wash the vape hose, or why the official VapRwear website doesn’t appear to have anything except a landing page, but who cares! It’s like those hoodies with the hole designed for earbuds. Entirely unnecessary, yet somehow extremely cool.

GrowBuddy

Growing anything is a delicate undertaking that requires both dedication and careful planning, but growing marijuana is a next-level endeavor, with so many different strains and variables in play. If you’re an aspiring grower — or, hell, even if you’ve had a green thumb (again, pun intended) for years — the GrowBuddy mobile app, available for iOS and Android, can revolutionize your methodology and your results.

The app features a ton of tools dedicated to helping you catalog your grow schedules and plans, including a nutrient calculator and automatic data syncing between all your devices. The app also links to a huge marketplace where you can procure seeds, lights, pesticides, and anything else you might need to grow your dream strain. The GrowBuddy website even features a Q&A forum where enterprising botanists can link up with one another to discuss what works and what doesn’t work. With GrowBuddy, you can work smarter and harder.

The best herbal vaporizers you can buy

Smoking is out, and vaping is in. As we continue to prioritize the health of our lungs, herbal vaporizers have sprung onto the scene as a new way to get your fix without inhaling carcinogen-laden smoke. While tabletop vaporizers have long dominated this market, handheld vaporizers continue to get smaller, lighter, and more powerful.
For 2017, we’ve now had the opportunity to put several new herbal vaporizers through rigorous testing, and new entrants are giving market leaders like the Pax and Firefly a run for their money. In fact, one of these new entrants was good enough to knock the Pax 3 from the top spot it held in our previous list. Who came out on top this time? Read on and find out.

Our pick

Davinci IQ

Why should you buy this: Great performance and an impressively designed app.

The best

Davinci IQ

A best-in-class app and top tier vapor production makes the IQ well worth its high price.

$274.99 from Davinci

Who’s it for: Those looking for a well-built and reliable device

How much will it cost: $275

Why we picked the Davinci IQ:

When we received the Davinci IQ late last year to test, we were skeptical of its claims of superiority in performance and customizability. But the IQ performed time and time again on par if not exceeding the Pax 3 in terms of vapor production. Coming in roughly at the same price as the Pax 3, it just feels like you’re getting more.

One of the biggest downsides to the Pax 3 is its on-device UI – even though the Davinci IQ looks similarly basic, you have the capability to change and know what the temperature your vape’s at directly from the device without looking at the companion app, which the Pax is forced to rely on.

It might be a bit wider than the Pax, but it is similarly discreet and has a nice matte metallic finish. Heat up times are on par with most devices, although at higher temperatures it seemed to take a bit longer than average to get to temperature, but not by much.

What puts it over the top is the IQ app, which is by far best in class. You can use the company’s four preset heating patterns or create and store one of your own. The app is modern and bug-free, and even stores statistics on your sessions, such as average temperature, average session time, and even counts how many times you use a specific heat setting.

It matches Pax with a ten year warranty, and while it doesn’t do concentrates, it is one of the best when it comes to dry herb and flower. At least for now, we have a new top dog when it comes to portable vaporizers, for sure.

The best of both worlds (Flower and Concentrates)

Haze Dual V3

Why should you buy this: Two chambers allow you to store twice the material.

Best of both worlds

Haze Dual V3

The Haze Dual V3 not only has two independently heated chambers, but solid performance for both flower and concentrates.

$249.99 from Haze Technologies

Who’s it for: Those looking for a vaporizer that does both flower and concentrate well

How much will it cost: $250

Why we picked the Haze Dual V3:

Typically, portable vaporizers that try to do both flower and concentrate do one well and meh on the other. While the Haze Dual V3 is quite a bit wider than any vaporizer we’ve tested (we think it akin to the size of an overstuffed wallet), the bigger size allows for two independently heated chambers, and surprisingly solid performance for both.

Heating times from a cold start seemed to lag behind other devices we tested, however it heated flower well without burn at the two recommended lower settings, and concentrates were completely vaporized at the two recommend higher ones. The device did seem to noticeably slow down in heating with weak battery power, something we did not notice on either the Pax 3 or IQ.

Haze gives you a variety of options including conduction and convection screens (we found the conduction screens to work best), and canisters for concentrates and dry herb. You can even swap between a metal and glass mouthpiece which are included, but again we preferred one over the other – the glass seemed to result in better taste.

Worried about heat transfer between the two chambers? There is none – we can confirm that after repeated tests even at the highest temperatures on either chamber.

What prevents us from giving the Haze Dual V3 the win is the odd size, which isn’t necessarily portable. Other dual chamber devices have been able to do this in a much smaller package. Still, for $250 this is a hell of a device.

The best vaporizer for discreteness

Pax 3

Why should you buy this: It heats up fast, vapes great, and has a great design.

Our Score

Best vaporizer for discreteness

Pax 3

High vapor production and a ten-year warranty make Pax 3 a top choice.

$274.99 from Pax

$11.79 from Shopping.com

Who’s it for: Those looking for the best mix of value and function

How much will it cost: $275

Why we picked the Pax 3:

While the Davinci IQ may have knocked the Pax 3 out of the top spot, we still prefer the Pax 3 over any of our picks for discreetness – it’s even easier to conceal than the wider (but still small) IQ. It’s also got concentrate support too, although we found it performs way better with dry herb and flower instead. That said, it’s the same price as the Davinci IQ, so if you really need concentrate compatibility, this might be a better option.

The oven heats up in less than 20 seconds – half the time of the previous Pax – and it gets high marks for its solid vapor production. It also feels nice in the hand, and is easy to use even for the most novice of vapors – even though it might be a little tricky to load at first.

What really stands out to us is the device’s ten-year warranty, which should far outlast most owners use of the product. If you want to purchase something that will last you a long time right out of the gate, the Pax 3 is it.

Our full review: Pax 3 vaporizer review

The best vaporizer for budget buyers

Kandypens Miva

Why should you buy this: Kandypens’ Miva gives you Pax and Davinci IQ-like performance at a fraction of the price.

Best vaporizer for budget buyers

Kandypens MIVA

The Miva is the best choice for entry level consumers, with surprising performance for its relatively low price.

$199.95 from Kandypens

Who’s it for: Price conscious buyers who are still looking for quality

How much will it cost: $199

Why we picked the Miva:

We struggled to find a good budget vaporizer for under $200, but Kandypens sent us the Miva and we can now say this is it. While it’s still quite a bit of money for entry-level consumers, the fact this device works almost as well as our higher-priced picks is simply impressive, and worth it for you to spend the extra money on.

Worried about reliability? Kandypens gives you a lifetime warranty, meaning it will stand by its product as long as you own the device. That’s an attractive offer, and one of the better ones we’ve seen.

The Miva doesn’t heat up nearly as fast as higher priced devices, typically taking about 30 seconds or so. However once it does, the Miva has nearly as good vapor production – and actually has better heat insulation than some of its higher-priced competitors.

While the Pax, IQ, Haze Dual, and others got a bit hot to the touch after a minute or two, the Miva does not. That’s a big selling point for us, and possibly for most users too. There’s no bells and whistles, nor concentrate support, but for the best bang for your buck skip over any other sub-$200 portable vape and give the Miva a try. We weren’t disappointed, and you won’t be either.

The best vaporizer for concentrates

Kandypens Elite

Why should you buy this: If you don’t have a need for flower support, the Kandypens Elite is top notch.

Best vaporizer for concentrates

Kandypens Elite

Great battery life, and above average vapor production from a pen makes the Elite a top pick.

$139.95 from Kandypens

Who’s it for: Concentrate connoisseurs looking for discreteness and power.

How much will it cost: $140

Why we picked the Elite:

There are some of us who prefer concentrates and wax over flower and dry herb, but carrying around a rig is just way too obvious. Kandypens’ Elite takes the top spot for a concentrate pen for its overall solid performance and equally solid design and construction.

It also comes with two different coils, one ceramic-lined with a ceramic plate heater at the bottom, and the other one quartz-lined with dual quartz rods. Vapor production is superb, especially with the quartz atomizer, and four different heat settings make very efficient use of concentrate and wax.

We were also very pleased with battery life, which was above average when compared to other concentrate pens. While it is pricey for a vaporizer pen that does wax and concentrates only, if this is your preferred consumption method, you’d be foolish to not pick the Elite up.

The best vaporizer if price is no object

Firefly 2

Why should you buy this: It has the best vapor production and is concentrate compatible

Best vaporizer if price is no object

Firefly 2

Firefly 2’s option to choose between flower and concentrate is pretty alluring.

$329.95 from Firefly

Who’s it for: Those who don’t mind spending a little extra

How much will it cost: $330

Why we picked the Firefly 2:

While the Pax 3 was our top choice, we’d be remiss to not consider the Firefly 2 a worthy contender. The second generation model builds upon the original, and boasts an amazing heat up time of only five seconds. Out of charge? No fear there either: the Firefly 2 fully charges in just 45 minutes.

For those of us who prefer concentrates, we’d honestly recommend you choose the Firefly 2 over the Pax. The Firefly 2’s quick heat-up times make this possible, and also make it a more all-around versatile device. Keep in mind though that it is larger than the Pax 3, so if size and discreteness are an issue, you might want to look elsewhere.

For the more tech-savvy, the Firefly 2 also comes with an official app for both iOS and Android that allows you to change temperature and various settings with a touch of a finger.

How We Test

Features/Specs

For each vaporizer, we run down the specs and noteworthy features. No beating around the bush here — we get right to it and explain what makes a particular vape noteworthy from the competition. Does it have a unique design? Is it more modifiable than most? The standard specs/features we go over include:

• Size/dimensions
• Battery size / charging style
• Chamber/reservoir volume
• Heating element type
• Min/max temperature settings
• Connectivity options

Design and Vapor Quality

After the specs, we dive into an honest assessment of the device’s design. Can it fit in a pocket, or will you need to throw it in your bag? How does it feel in your hand? How does it feel in your mouth? Is it comfortable to hold and take a drag from? Is the button hard to find?

Then we turn to the good stuff: the vapor. What kind of temperature settings does the unit have? How accurate are they? Is the vapor smooth, or harsh? Weak, or flavorful? Does it just taste burnt? There’s no truly objective way to relay this information, so we’ve put together a special testing system that helps us land on a more rounded opinion.

Part one is a vapor comparison performed with a reference vaporizer. We puff on both devices interchangeably and take note of the differences. This side-by-side test helps us tease out the review vape’s strengths and weaknesses and gives us a base for comparison.

Part two is a visual test, where we take a good, long drag from the device in question, then exhale it in front of a plain background. We’ll put together a short, looping video of this, so you can see the thickness, color, and consistency of the exhaled vapor.

Battery Life, and Maintenance

Over the course of our testing process, we keep a close watch on how long the device’s battery lasts, and let you know how our findings align with the specs listed on the box. Nobody wants to charge their vape every day (that’s what the iPhone is for, right?), so we’ll be honest with you about how long you can puff before it dies.

For higher-end vapes, we’ll also provide some notes on repairability. No matter how nice your vape might be, there’s a good chance it’ll stop working properly for some reason or another after you’ve used it for long enough. If you’re using a cheaper vape it’s easier to buy a new one; if you spent over $100, DIY repairs will be a better option. So for the more expensive vapes we test, we’ll assess how difficult it is to clean or replace parts that are most likely to break/malfunction after prolonged use.

Verdict

Finally, we bring you a TL;DR blurb. We summarize the whole test experience and plainly state our opinion. Here’s what’s cool, here’s what sucks, and here’s why you should or shouldn’t buy it. In a nutshell: Is it perfect for puffing?

Helpful terms to know

Flower: short-hand term used to describe the part of the tobacco or marijuana that you actually smoke (or in this case, vape). It’s the most common method of consumption.

Concentrate: Like it sounds, this is the concentrated form of tobacco or marijuana. Manufacturers produce concentrate by extracting the resins from the flower. This results in a much higher potency, so it’s always a good idea to start small. There are several different types: we suggest you go here to learn more.

Vaporizer: This is the term given to consumption devices that heat flower or concentrate until they turn into vapor. It’s generally accepted that this method puts far fewer carcinogens into your body that traditional methods, although it doesn’t eliminate risk.

Conduction vs. Convection: Two ways to heat up the flower or concentrate within your vaporizer. Conduction heats the outside walls of the oven to begin to vaporize your material, while convection heats up inside the chamber much like your cooking oven. Conduction allows for simple to use devices that heat up quickly, but at the risk of combusting the material.
Convection negates the risk of combustion and allows for more accurate temperature control, but you’ll find these devices much more expensive and slow to heat up.

Unlimited data helps Verizon stem massive subscriber loss in first quarter

Why it matters to you

Verizon’s unlimited data plan was a play to remain competitive in a changing industry, and if its quarterly results are any indication, its work is not done yet.

Verizon just suffered one of its worst-ever financial quarters. And the losses would have been even greater, if not for the introduction of its unlimited data plan.

The wireless carrier reported its first quarter results today, and the news wasn’t encouraging. Verizon lost 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers during the period. That’s after the company unveiled its new plan in February, touching off a domino effect within the industry that forced AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint to go back to the drawing board and make their deals more competitive. Before that point, Verizon had lost an astonishing 398,000 subscribers through only the first half of the quarter.

After the initial slide, Verizon rebounded slightly thanks to unlimited data, clawing back about 109,000 subscribers. The company attributes the plan’s launch with “positively changing the trajectory of customer additions” in its earnings report.

Ultimately, Verizon posted $29.8 billion in total revenue — a decrease of roughly 7 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Keeping these losses in mind, its much easier to understand why Verizon unexpectedly doubled back on its attitude toward unlimited data several months ago. It also gives some context to CEO Lowell McAdam’s interview with Bloomberg earlier in the week, where he said he’d be open to merger talks with a number of media companies, including Comcast, Disney, and CBS.

“If [Comcast CEO] Brian [Roberts] came knocking on the door, I’d have a discussion with him about it,” McAdam told Bloomberg. “But I’d also tell you there isn’t much that I wouldn’t have a discussion around if somebody came and said ‘Here’s a compelling reason why we ought to put the businesses together.’”

At the same time, Verizon is still in the process of trying to complete its acquisition of Yahoo. It intends to fold both Yahoo and AOL, which it also owns, into a new media company called Oath.

Verizon finished second to T-Mobile in our assessment of the unlimited data plans currently on the market from the four major carriers. While Verizon’s offering is one of the industry’s more compelling, thanks to the company’s impressive infrastructure, it falls short of T-Mobile’s pricing and perks.

Apple aims to make all of its products from recycled materials and renewables

Why it matters to you

Apple just added another reason to buy its products: The company has pledged to eventually build them using only renewable resources or recycled material.

Apple, the Cupertino, California-based company behind the iPhone, Mac, and iPad, has pledged to reduce its reliance on finite resources and step up renewable resource efforts. That’s according to the company’s 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report, which was released Thursday and details the firm’s ongoing and future initiatives.

“Traditional supply chains are linear. Materials are mined, manufactured as products, and often end up in landfills after use,” the Apple report said. “We believe our goal should be a closed-loop supply chain, where products are built using only renewable resources or recycled material.”

Apple has already taken steps to achieve that goal. Apple now melts down some of the iPhone 6’s aluminum to make Mac mini computers, and tweaked the iPhone 7’s chemical formula to reduce the number of nonrecyclable components by 27 percent.

Earlier this year, the company moved to 100 percent recycled tin solder on the iPhone 6s main logic board, and has made improvements to the iPhone assembly process that cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent. And for the first time, Apple is protecting enough sustainably managed forests in the U.S. and in China to “cover all of the packaging [it] use[s] in [its] products.”

Apple is also doubling down on its existing recycling programs. It’s expanding the use of Liam, a robot that’s able to disassemble products and recover recyclable components. And it’s actively encouraging customers to participate in the Apple Renew recycling program.

Those efforts dovetail with the company’s sustainability efforts. Apple said that seven of its major suppliers will switch to renewable energy by the end of next year, and it said that its own facilities, which include Apple’s stores, corporate offices, and data centers, run on 96 percent renewable energy (up from 93 percent the year before). Apple added that it’s committed to bring 4 gigawatts of renewable power — enough to power about 2.8 million homes — online by 2020, which it said will help reduce its manufacturing footprint.

Separately, Apple has made inroads in reducing its reliance on conflict minerals — raw materials such as tungsten, tantalum, and gold that originate from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjacent countries. In March 2016, Apple announced that all 242 of the smelters and refiners that supply it with conflict minerals are a part of an auditing program conducted by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), a third-party association.

“We’re actually doing something we rarely do, which is announce a goal before we’ve completely figured out how to do it,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives and a former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, told Vice News. “We’re challenging ourselves to one day end our reliance on mining altogether.”

Apple aims to make all of its products from recycled materials and renewables

Why it matters to you

Apple just added another reason to buy its products: The company has pledged to eventually build them using only renewable resources or recycled material.

Apple, the Cupertino, California-based company behind the iPhone, Mac, and iPad, has pledged to reduce its reliance on finite resources and step up renewable resource efforts. That’s according to the company’s 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report, which was released Thursday and details the firm’s ongoing and future initiatives.

“Traditional supply chains are linear. Materials are mined, manufactured as products, and often end up in landfills after use,” the Apple report said. “We believe our goal should be a closed-loop supply chain, where products are built using only renewable resources or recycled material.”

Apple has already taken steps to achieve that goal. Apple now melts down some of the iPhone 6’s aluminum to make Mac mini computers, and tweaked the iPhone 7’s chemical formula to reduce the number of nonrecyclable components by 27 percent.

Earlier this year, the company moved to 100 percent recycled tin solder on the iPhone 6s main logic board, and has made improvements to the iPhone assembly process that cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent. And for the first time, Apple is protecting enough sustainably managed forests in the U.S. and in China to “cover all of the packaging [it] use[s] in [its] products.”

Apple is also doubling down on its existing recycling programs. It’s expanding the use of Liam, a robot that’s able to disassemble products and recover recyclable components. And it’s actively encouraging customers to participate in the Apple Renew recycling program.

Those efforts dovetail with the company’s sustainability efforts. Apple said that seven of its major suppliers will switch to renewable energy by the end of next year, and it said that its own facilities, which include Apple’s stores, corporate offices, and data centers, run on 96 percent renewable energy (up from 93 percent the year before). Apple added that it’s committed to bring 4 gigawatts of renewable power — enough to power about 2.8 million homes — online by 2020, which it said will help reduce its manufacturing footprint.

Separately, Apple has made inroads in reducing its reliance on conflict minerals — raw materials such as tungsten, tantalum, and gold that originate from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjacent countries. In March 2016, Apple announced that all 242 of the smelters and refiners that supply it with conflict minerals are a part of an auditing program conducted by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), a third-party association.

“We’re actually doing something we rarely do, which is announce a goal before we’ve completely figured out how to do it,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives and a former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, told Vice News. “We’re challenging ourselves to one day end our reliance on mining altogether.”