Samsung to roll out software fix for the Galaxy S8’s red-tinted screen

Samsung doesn’t want people to worry about getting a Galaxy S8 with a red-tinted display, so it’s issuing a software fix.

There’s been reports coming out of South Korea about people getting their new Galaxy S8 phones early, and some of those people have been posting pictures of their phone having a noticeably reddish screen. Samsung has acknowledged the issue and told media outlets that it has found no quality issues, and yet, according to The Korea Herald, it plans to roll out a software update that will fix the issue.

“Because there are some complaints about the red-tinted screens, we decided to upgrade the software next week for all Galaxy S8 clients,” a Samsung spokesperson told the newspaper. In another announcement, the company said: “There will be an additional update to make colour revisions more minutely at the end of April.” Samsung has also recommended people adjust their display settings.

• Galaxy Note 8 may be the first Samsung phone with a dual camera
• Best Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus cases: Protect your new phone
• How to get the S8 with the Samsung Upgrade Programme

However, some people have said that despite switching the red colour to the lowest setting, the tint issue didn’t go away for them. Perhaps that is why the company now plans to deliver software updates to fully address the issue. Keep in mind thse are the first smartphones to use “Deep Red” OLED technology, which is thought to be the reason why whites on the Galaxy S8’s screen appear more reddish.

Samsung’s new flagships officially launched on Friday. The upcoming software update will apply to all Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus models, and it will be done automatically. Check out our reviews of the phones:

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ review: The best Android phone, bar none
• Samsung Galaxy S8 preview: Small enough for everyone

Adidas will sell more shoes partially made with ocean trash

In honor of tomorrow’s Earth Day celebrations, Adidas is unveiling yet another collaboration with Parley, an organization that focuses on protecting oceans from being polluted. This includes three new models of its flagship running shoe, the original Ultra Boost, Ultra Boost Uncaged and Ultra Boost X, all of which feature a Primeknit upper made mostly (95 percent) from marine plastic debris. Adidas says about 11 bottles of plastic were used for each shoe, with the set being part of the company’s overall commitment to sustainability. All in all, Adidas plans to make at least one million more pairs like these by the end of 2017.

Additionally, the sportswear giant also announced that it has teamed up with Major League Soccer on team jerseys that were created out of Parley Ocean Plastic. Unfortunately, these won’t be available to the public. As for the new UltraBoost designs, they’re scheduled to hit Adidas stores and its site on May 10th for $200 each.

Source: Adidas (1), (2)

Duolingo has a premium subscription, but lessons are still free

The idea that learning another language should be free is the core idea behind Duolingo. Over the past few years, the app has strived to make learning a new tongue convenient, portable and fun. Now the company’s trying to turn its free language learning tools into a profitable business by introducing a premium service. Don’t worry, though — Duolingo Plus doesn’t take away your free language course, it just gets rid of its ads.

For $10 a month, subscribers to Duolingo Plus will get access to an ad-free version of the lessons they already use on the language platform, plus the ability to download those lessons for offline use. The company says it’s ideal for users who want to be able to practice during their commute or on plane flights — but stresses that it’s purely optional. Free lessons won’t be going away. Technically, a subscription model contradicts the company’s original promise for a service that both teaches language while simultaneously translating the web, but the firm says it’s an important step. According to a statement given to TechCrunch, if everything goes to plan, the company will finally be able to break even by the end of the year.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Duolingo

The best home weather stations you can buy

A home weather station is one of those gadgets that you didn’t know you need until you own one. While they have only recently become popular, these devices have been around forever — at least one company has been producing personal weather stations for the better part of three decades, and that’s Davis Instruments.

Things have changed. Within the last several years, new companies have sprung up and brought the cost of ownership down to a level where the average consumer — as well as the weather enthusiast — can afford. Not all weather stations are created equal, and accuracy is key.

We’ve gotten the opportunity to personally test many weather stations recently, and we’ve found the best of the best. Let’s find out which station could potentially become your own personal weatherman.

Our pick

Davis Vantage Vue

Why should you buy this: The granddaddy of weather station manufacturers has a version of its top-of-the-line weather station that doesn’t break the bank.

The best

Davis Vantage Vue

No one can beat Davis’ accuracy, even if internet connectivity is expensive and dated.

$302.51 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Weather watchers who need accuracy and long term reliability

How much will it cost: $300-$530

Why we picked the Davis Vantage Vue:

Davis Instruments dominates the personal weather station market merely because of its staying power: The company’s first digital personal weather stations were sold in the 1990s. But Davis’ weak point was always the price.

Enter the Vantage Vue. The station is Davis’ attempt at bringing the accuracy and reliability to a price point where it’s competitive with newer stations. While the Vantage Vue is still relatively expensive, it’s accuracy is unrivaled. All sensors are housed in a 5-in-1 unit, which measures temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed.

While all-in-one sensor units present some challenges — you’ll need to decide whether more accurate wind speed readings are more important than accurate temperature readings, and so on — our testers gave high marks to its accuracy and reliability.

The station has yet to give us a single issue through a full six months of testing, and required little if any maintenance. One area where we walked away a tad disappointed was its connectivity. This station uses software Davis has used for the past 15+ years, all but unchanged (no, we’re not kidding).

While it does offer a web-based page, even that is basic, and you’ll need to spend anywhere from $130-230 extra to get a dongle that connects the station console to your computer. Considering just about every other manufacturer includes this with their stations, it’s a bit disappointing. But for the accuracy alone, it’s hard to say no to the Vantage Vue.

The best home weather station for a connected home

Netatmo Weather Station

Why should you buy this: Netatmo Weather Station’s readings are accurate, and its connectivity options are top notch.

The best home weather station for a connected home

Netatmo Weather Station

Smart home connectivity and acceptable accuracy make the Netatmo a worthy Davis alternative.

$129.95 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Smart homeowners and those who need internet connectivity out of the box

How much will it cost: $130 – $285+

Why we picked the Netatmo Weather Station:

Of the recently released home weather stations on the market, there is only one that has managed to put a considerable dent in Davis’ dominance. Smart home device manufacturer Netatmo’s Weather Station has accuracy and connectivity options that no other weather station currently has.

Netatmo was tested for close to a year at our test site, even through an especially tough Northeastern winter in 2016. Through below-zero temperatures, sensors buried in feet of snow, and torrential downpours, the following spring not a single sensor malfunctioned and there were little signs of wear and tear. The CO2 measurements also give you an idea of the air quality inside your house.

The connectivity is also top-notch. The station connects to the internet during setup, and automatically reports data to the Weather Underground. Where it really gets good is the IFTTT support. Use Netatmo’s rain gauge to stop your Rachio sprinkler system when it rains. Tell Nest to turn on the heat if the temperature gets too cold outside. The possibilities are endless.

There are some negatives. In our tests, the humidity sensor stayed saturated in wet weather long after rain ends, and we noticed a tendency to under-measure rainfall. You can also end up shelling a lot of money — almost as much as the Vantage Vue — for the complete station as the wind and rain gauges are sold separately, and if you want to add up to three additional temperature sensors.

Regardless, over the long term — especially for those of us bought into smart home technologies — Netatmo seems the better option over Davis, even if it may lag behind in accuracy from time to time.

The best home weather station for expandability

My AcuRite Weather Station

Why should you buy this: AcuRite’s newest stations are internet connected with a best-in-class mobile and web-based app, with tons of sensors.

The best home weather station for expandability

My AcuRite Weather Station

A great web and mobile app, and tons of sensor options make My AcuRite the most expandable system we tested.

$89.97 from Amazon

Who’s it for: Those who want to monitor more than just basic weather conditions

How much will it cost: $90+ (depending on additional sensors)

Why we picked the My AcuRite Weather Station:

Much of AcuRite’s business comes in the form of partnerships with brick and mortar retailers: In fact, it’s the exclusive in-store weather instrument provider for Walmart and several other stores. Due to this, the company is often stereotyped as a “budget” brand, but may be unfair.

The My AcuRite platform is an example of this. While it still produces tons of low-cost models, My AcuRite is intended to be a competitively priced model to go up against the Vantage Vue in terms of feature set and capability.

Its sheer breadth of sensor options puts the Vantage Vue to shame (there, you can’t add any). You can add additional temperature and humidity sensors, indoor sensors, a water detector sensor, liquid and soil temperature sensors, and a ‘spot check’ temperature humidity sensor, none of which are more than $50, and are the cheapest of any of the major brands. AcuRite also sells a lightning sensor now, but unfortunately that’s not yet compatible with the My AcuRite system.

My AcuRite’s web and mobile apps set the bar for what a weather station app should be. Everything you’d possibly need. The device updates readings continuously, and you can set all the alerts you’d ever want. The app’s graphs are visually stunning, and the app is even better on a tablet.

There are a few quirks. Temperature readings during sunny days regularly read high, as did barometric pressure. The station also has an installation process that isn’t always smooth, and the directions sometimes led us astray. We’re told that most of these accuracy issues — and integrated lightning detection — will be addressed in the Atlas weather stations, AcuRite’s direct competitor to the Davis Vantage series. You’ll pay much more for the Atlas, though.

The best weather station for sky watchers

Bloomsky Sky2 + Storm

Why should you buy this: While you can get the Bloomsky Sky Camera alone, pairing it with the Storm turns it into a capable weather station.

The best home weather station for sky watchers

Bloomsky Sky2 + Storm

While Bloomsky’s Sky cam alone is a little weak on the feature set, the combination of the Sky and Storm works well.

$148.75 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Cloud watchers who aren’t satisfied with just weather conditions alone

How much will it cost: $300 for Camera, additional $140 for Storm

Why we picked the Bloomsky Sky2 + Storm:

Bloomsky is one of those gadgets we’re surprised that no one thought of before. On its own, it takes a photo of the sky every three to eight minutes, as well as a picture any time it’s built-in rain sensor detects rain. These pictures are taken from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and then automatically stitched together to create stunning time lapses. No power is needed: The Sky2 runs completely on solar power.

By itself, the camera only records temperature, humidity, and pressure continuously. You’ll want to spend the extra $140 to get the Storm add-on, which also runs on solar power and adds wind speed and direction, and UV exposure.

Imagery and data from your Bloomsky station is uploaded to the Bloomsky Map, where you can browse through the thousands of cameras already on the network. We generally had a good experience with our test unit (which is still active), and installation was easy, although the Wi-Fi connectivity was a bit weak.

We did experience some issues with temperature, especially in direct sunlight. Temperatures spiked more than 6-7 degrees above the actual temperature during these times, which means you’ll need to really think long and hard about where you’ll place the station. The Storm generally performs well, but is certainly nowhere near as accurate as top of the line stations.

Another negative is the price: At $300, it’s quite a bit for what some might consider a glorified webcam. Add the Storm in to complete it, and it’s the most expensive station in our list, but if you’re a sky watcher, the combination of a webcam and weather station is attractive.

The best weather station for the budget conscious

AcuRite 00589 3-in-1 Weather Station

Why should you buy this: While AcuRite is moving towards higher priced and more accurate weather stations, the sub-$100 00589 model is one budget standout

The best home weather station for the budget conscious

AcuRite 00589 3-in-1 Weather Station

While the accuracy is not as good, AcuRite’s 3-in-1 weather station is one of its better budget models.

$84.12 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Those on a tight budget, who don’t mind some accuracy loss.

How much will it cost: $85

Why we picked the AcuRite 00589 3-in-1 Weather Station:

AcuRite gets a second mention on our list for its svelte 3-in-1 Weather Station (Model 00589). At a price of only $85, you’re getting most — but not all — of the most important variables. The station measures temperature, humidity, and wind speed, along with barometric pressure and trend.

Neither wind direction nor rainfall measurements are provided, although it does have a nice forecasting feature which attempts to learn your local weather patterns to make its forecasts more accurate. It can also store daily, monthly, and all-time high and low records, but there is no way to transfer this information off the device because it has no internet connectivity.

Accuracy is generally okay, but noticeably poorer than its 5-in-1 sensor suite. Owners also report that placement is key with the sensors, and if they are anywhere in the sun, temperatures are off. Additionally, wind speed readings seem to run on the low side.

But as with anything, you get what you pay for. Buy this only if you’re looking for the most basic of functionality and more of a general idea of the weather outside. If you can spend just $50 more, get the My AcuRite system: If that’s not possible, then the 3-in-1 is a worthy alternative.

How We Test

Weather stations at Digital Trends go through a rigorous set of tests to even be considered for inclusion in our “best of” list. We first gauge construction of the station as we’re assembling it, looking for any possible weak points or questionable design decisions. As we’re installing the station, we’re also looking at the install process itself. Is it easy to put together? Are the instructions clear? Does everything work out of the box, or are we struggling to get it to work?

Once the station is installed at our test site, the real work begins. At this point we’re looking for accuracy. Weather station readings are worthless, and no better than that app, if inaccurate. We compare our readings with a nearby official National Weather Service station, and look for differences while accounting for normal variances in weather conditions. Few stations make it past this point, as our standards are high. In general, readings with more than 2 percent difference are deemed inaccurate.

Next, we look at reliability. These stations are up for several weeks — months, if possible — gathering data. We look for issues like data dropouts or failing sensors. Is the station holding up well? Do certain kinds of weather affect the station in negative ways? We make note of it so you know what you’re getting into, and what you might have to deal with down the road.

Finally, we look at connectivity and feature set. This is Digital Trends, and we’re all about tech. We want to see easy connections to put your weather data online (Weather Underground, etc.), a well-designed mobile or web app, and other ways to integrate its weather data into your digital life. On the feature side, does it have all the weather readings a good station should have? Does it have a standout feature that other weather stations don’t?

If a station can pass these qualifications successfully, only then is it considered for inclusion on our list.

Tips for Setting Up Your Home Weather Station

To get the best accuracy out of your home weather station, it’s not as simple as just placing it outside and turning it on. Even our best and most accurate stations will give inaccurate readings if the sensors are not placed correctly.

In this section, we’ll give you some tips on how to get the most accurate readings, so let’s get started.
Temperature and Humidity Sensors — World standards call for temperature sensors to be placed at “eye level:” Traditionally, five to six feet off the ground. In addition, the sensor should be located away from any radiative sources of heat like buildings, pavement, and macadam. A grassy location is the most preferable.

The sensor should also be located in an area that receives full shade. If this isn’t possible, and your temperature and humidity sensors have radiation shielding, then an area of partial shade — where the sensor isn’t continuously in the sun all day — is acceptable. Try and avoid placing a sensor in full sun if possible.

Wind Vane/Anemometer — Guidelines state that an anemometer (wind gauge) be placed at a height of 10 meters (33 feet) off the ground, and at least six feet above any nearby obstructions or objects. Obviously, this will be hard if not completely impossible to do. Instead, aim to place your anemometer as far away and above any obstructions as possible, and don’t forget a compass to calibrate the wind vane — remember that winds are measured from the direction it’s coming from!

Rain Gauge – Rain gauges just need to be placed in a spot where splash back will not enter the gauge itself, and placed in a spot far away from obstructions so that rainfall isn’t blocked from entering the gauge.

3D printing could help repair damaged knees with cartilage-mimicking hydrogel

Why it matters to you

Researchers have created a new type of 3D bioprinting material designed to form custom cartilage knee implants.

Wave a tentative goodbye to knee braces! Researchers from Duke University have created a new type of 3D bioprinting material they hope will one day be able to help form cartilage implants for patients with damaged knees.

“We’ve developed the first 3D-printable hydrogel that surpasses both the compression strength and elasticity of cartilage,” Feichen Yang, a researcher on the project, told Digital Trends. “This high strength makes it a good candidate for meniscus replacement.”

The work is described in a new paper published in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, which spells out how the cartilage-mimicking structures could be used to create customized implants on a patient-by-patient basis.

“The biggest challenge was to make the water-like precursors for the hydrogel 3D printable,” Yang continued. “To do this we added nanoclay to the gel precursors to make a solution that is shear-thinning. Shear-thinning means it flows easily when extruded through the nozzle, but after it exits the solution became so viscous it did not flow and could retain its printed shape.”

Another challenge was optimizing the mechanical strength of the gel, although after fine-tuning the finished gel matches the properties of bovine cartilage.

At present, the team members have demonstrated the feasibility of the 3D-printed material using a plastic knee model. In their demo, they scanned this model and then used their double-network hydrogel material to create a 3D model of the menisci. Impressively, the process took just one day to complete.

“One next step for this project could include using multi-materials 3D printers to 3D-print gels that have different elasticities in different positions, in order to better mimic the anisotropic nature of a natural meniscus,” Yang said. “Potentially in the future, an improved version of this material will [then] go through FDA testing procedures, and finally be used by medical surgeons.”

Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver S review

Research Center:
Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver S

There’s a serious limitation to the design of most gaming headsets: The connection. Whether wired or wireless, there are multiple connection formats available, including wired USB, wireless USB, 3.5mm jack, dual 3.5mm jacks, Bluetooth, and more. Most headsets only support one or two of these, limiting your ability to game across multiple platforms with just one headset.

Kingston’s HyperX Cloud Revolver S aims to solve this problem by including several different connection types, as well as forgoing the need for extra software requirements to tap into its digital features. Combine that with excellent sound and serious comfort, and Kingston’s Cloud Revolver S is one of the most versatile and feature-packed wired gaming headsets on the market.

Out of the box

The Cloud Revolver S arrives in a heavily padded box, towing a detachable mic and two extension cords that connect to the headset’s primary 3.5mm cable.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

One is a long wire with a USB dongle that boasts controls for features like virtual surround sound, EQ settings, and other controls. The other cable offers a dual 3.5mm connection to allow inputs for both the headset and the mic. Tucked between the front padding and the headset is a quick start guide and the warranty info.

Setup

Kingston’s setup guide is handy, but unless you’re unsure of which connection to use, you likely won’t need it — there’s no extra software to download, and the controls on the headset are extremely intuitive. That makes the Revolver S one of the simplest headsets to setup we’ve tested.

As mentioned, the headset is entirely devoid of any software requirements or driver downloads, making it truly plug-and-play, and the different connection types allow for multiple ways to play: The 3.5mm input is compatible with PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Switch, mobile devices, and PC, while the USB connection can be used with PC or PS4.

Features and design

The Cloud Revolver S’ exterior design is as fetching as it is sturdy. The headset features semi open-back earcups and a quick-fitting elastic headband built around a sturdy metal frame. The metal frame is robust, and we love the understated, brushed-metal look.

The plug-and-play virtual surround immediately provides a strong sense of place.

The white HyperX branding clashes a bit with the matte-black earcups, but the color scheme complements the silvery-white stitching along the band. Overall, the frame is a bit large, but the headset looks professional. In fact, thanks to the detachable mic, Cloud Revolver S can easily work as a good pair of wired headphones you could wear out and about without looking like there’s some sort of weird Transformer on your head.

The earcups are comfy and loaded with memory foam that begs you to indulge in those marathon gaming sessions. The pads do get a tad warm after a few hours, but never to the point of discomfort. The headband self-adjusts to your head, making for a balanced fit with no need for adjustments. Due to minimal clamping force, the headset sits a little looser than we’re used to, but it always stayed put during play.

Of course, Cloud Revolver S’ ace in the hole is its multiple connection types, and its minimalist, plug-and-play setup. A braided nylon cable easily connects to either a 3.5mm or USB extension cables for versatile connection, getting you up and running in no time.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The USB connection is the most important for serious gaming. In place of the software requirements of many of its rivals, the Cloud Revolver S includes a dongle for USB connection with an integrated sound card that allows for Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound and EQ presets. On the dongle are toggles for surround sound and mic control, an EQ switch, mic volume controls, and headset volume. These are well labeled and easy to use. We had to consult the quick start guide to pinpoint which of the three LEDs on the dongle correlated to which EQ setting, but that was the only question that came up while using it.

The final aspect of design, the mic, is rather standard. It’s detachable, and has a high level of articulation and malleability. It’s also noise-cancelling, which comes in handy if you’re playing in a crowded environment.

Performance

We tested the headset using a PC, PS4, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and an Android phone. (The headset is also compatible with iOS devices and Mac, though we didn’t get an opportunity to test it there). Kingston makes a point to roll out the long list of gaming devices the Cloud Revolver S supports, which raises one question: Is the sound quality consistent across all these devices? The short answer is: yes. This headset sounds pretty fantastic, no matter what you plug it into.

Straight out of the box, the Cloud Revolver S offers a powerful mix that favors the midrange, but bass is present, with a punch to explosions and gunfire in games like Overwatch that conveys serious impact. The overall mix is snug, but comfortable. Some of the higher frequencies were flattened a little when competing with the bass, especially while listening to music. But for gameplay, the Cloud Revolver S impresses with rich and detailed sound across the frequency range, regardless of which device you use.

USB connection

That being said, when connected by USB the entire suite of playback options become accessible, including Dolby 7.1 virtual surround and three EQ settings: Bass Boost, Flat, and Voice Priority. Throughout our testing, the Bass Boost remained our favorite EQ mode. It adds a bit more grit and gravitas to the already percussive low end. In contrast, the Flat setting was, well, flat, and didn’t help with gameplay or raise audio quality.

Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver S Compared To

Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition

Sony Platinum (PS4) wireless headset

Logitech G533

Razer ManO’War Wireless 7.1

PlayStation Gold

Turtle Beach Ear Force i30

Tritton Kunai

Razer Electra

Tritton Warhead 7.1

Turtle Beach Earforce X42

Turtle Beach Ear Force X32

Sennheiser X 320

Turtle Beach Ear Force X12

Turtle Beach PX3

Cooler Master Storm Sirus

Finally, the voice priority EQ, which is designed to favor voice chat, should only be used when you’re in serious online gaming sessions or the treble becomes sharp and washes out the lower register. This might sound like a net negative, but in general we’ve found that many headset EQs don’t make much of an audible difference, so the fact that the Cloud Revolver S has at least one that gave audible benefits to gameplay is noteworthy.

The Cloud Revolver S is also one of the few USB headsets with surround sound that is fully compatible with PS4. Sure, most USB headsets can work with PS4, but if they have surround sound that must be enabled by software, those features will be absent.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Since surround settings are built into the Cloud Revolver S’ USB dongle itself, PS4 users can take full advantage of the surround sound capabilities. We tested the 7.1 surround for both PC and PS4 with Dark Souls III, a game in which precision and attention are required to navigate perilous environments and survive brutally difficult boss fights. The benefit from 7.1 was nearly identical, immediately opening the soundstage for either system. The spaciousness and directionality give a strong sense of place, and the depth and distance helped with gameplay.  Admittedly, we did notice some loss in fidelity using surround, including a slight hiss in quieter moments, a mild loss of detail to the midrange, and some echo or splashy sound to the treble. However, the bass performed very well.

Turning off Dolby 7.1 pulls the mix back into its snug baseline while still offering great stereo positioning — you won’t get the sense of depth, but there’s still a good sense of basic directionality. That’s a good thing because, unfortunately, the EQ options and Dolby 7.1 features do not extend to the other connection types.

3.5mm connection

Systems without a USB connection, including Nintendo’s Wii U and Switch, Mobile devices, and Xbox One, can’t pull from all of that digital goodness loaded into the Cloud Revolver S. That said, the stereo mix is still good enough to enhance your gameplay experience.

The design is sturdy, sleek, and comfortable.

One of our favorite games we tested with the Cloud Revolver S in stereo was Nintendo’s incredible The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Switch. Breath of the Wild, for all its textured, layered musical compositions, is a quiet game. But the world of Hyrule was much more aurally complex when listening through the headset — wind rustling grass, chirping birds, the subtle tip-tap of Link’s footsteps, and clinking equipment were all much clearer. Sure, the added benefit of 7.1 virtual surround would have likely made the experience even better, but the baseline quality of the Cloud Revolver S makes every gaming experience something special. In fact, it’s quickly become our go-to headset for just about every console we use.

Mic

If there’s one point where our enthusiasm falters, it’s with the mic. While it ticks several boxes — it’s removable, highly articulate, and equipped with noise cancellation — the playback was flatter than other headsets at this price point. Don’t get us wrong, it performs its basic function well and will give you and your teammates the voice communication you need, but won’t be much good for anything beyond than that. This is not a mic we would recommend for serious Let’s Players or podcasters, unfortunately.

Our Take

We’re impressed with Kingston’s latest effort. By packing features normally relegated to software into the hardware itself, and including several connection types, the Cloud Revolver S is versatile, making its superb sound quality available for just about everyone.

Is there a better alternative?

The DT Accessory Pack

Dualshock 4

$48.75

Dark Souls 3 PS4

$28.99

In the realm of wired headsets, the Cloud Revolver S is our new favorite choice. The headset’s comfort, sublime sound quality, and versatile, true plug-and-play functionality make it a gamer’s dream. The mic lags behind some other similarly priced headsets, and the sound performance doesn’t quite deliver the bombast of, say, the Razer ManO’War 7.1, but that’s one of the few choices we’d consider in this class.

How long will it last?

The steel frame gives this headset serious durability. It should last as long as you need it to with proper care. However, its longevity is perhaps most apparent in the number of devices it’s compatible with, allowing you to mix and match as your heart desires.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If a wired headset is what you’re after, we heartily recommend the Cloud Revolver S. It feels great, sounds great, and works with just about everything.

Goodbye, copy/paste? Google tests ‘Copyless Paste’ in Chrome for Android

Why it matters to you

Copyless Paste could cut out yet another step in your workflow on your phone — and show up just when you need it to.

The humble copy/paste is a staple of modern technology (and essay-writing), but Google could be looking to cut out 50 percent of those steps. The company is testing a so-called “Copyless Paste” on Android, which allows users to paste text without having to copy it first.

But how does the phone know what to copy? Well, chances are your phone won’t totally cut out copy just yet — but it could intelligently figure out what you might want to copy, even in different apps.

“If you looked at a restaurant website and switched to the Maps app, the keyboard would offer the name of that restaurant as a suggestion to enter into the search bar,” says the code’s description in the Chrome for Android Canary build. Unfortunately, while there’s a flag in the Chrome Canary build, it doesn’t seem as though the feature properly works just yet.

In other words, the feature largely works based on context — which makes sense. A report from XDA-Developers notes that despite numerous attempts to visit restaurant websites, suggestions based on that have yet to pop up.

Copyless Paste was first reported on in March, though at the time the full extent of the feature was unknown. According to a report from VentureBeat, it appears as though Google first started working on the feature in February. It’s likely that Google will deploy the feature to Chrome 60 for Android, which will be launched at some point in the next few months.

The feature does have some restrictions. For example, it’s designed not to work if you’re using Incognito Mode on Chrome for Android. It also does not seem as though lower-end Android phones can currently take advantage of the feature.

It’s also possible that Copyless Paste will show up more widely in Android O once it’s officially released — Android in generally has continued to get more and more contextually aware, and that’s likely to continue.

A cut above the rest: The 5 best robotic lawn mowers

It’s no real secret at this point: In the future most of our precious jobs will be automated. While the pessimists routinely tout automation as the inevitable downfall of our entire economic structure, the optimist sees the other side of this same token. With no need to toil with mundane chores and archaic “jobs” mankind will be left with a life of leisure and abstract endeavor.

The average American spends nearly 70 hours a years on lawn care. Couldn’t this time be more fruitfully spent? Why toil in a static drudgery when we could master a new hobby, and sit back and enjoy the scent of robotically clipped blades of grass from afar? The machines are coming for our jobs, so we might as well let our future robo-overlords manicure our lawns before they inevitably send us out to pasture. Without further ado, here are five of our favorite robotic lawnmowers a greenback can buy.

Honda Miimo 3000 ($2,800)

It’s really no surprise that Honda — the company that brought us the bonafide robo-biped, Asimo — is now one of the pioneering robotic lawn-care manufacturers. Overall, the Miimo 3000 is one of our favorite offerings on the market.

While many robotic lawnmowers are limited to smaller yards, this model can mow up to an acre with ease. The Miimo 3000 can also handle angles up to 25-degrees, making this device ideal for yards with a few semi-steep slopes.

One of the real standout features with the Miimo series is the paired app. This allows you to adjust cutting height, start or stop the unit, and also manage a calendar, all from your smartphone.

Miimo uses a “continuous cutting system,” meaning the machine trims your lawn about by 1 inch multiple times a week. A fan on the underbelly sucks grass towards the blades for consistency and efficiency. This lawnmower is also one of the more intuitive models out there. Miimo will adjust cuts as grass growth increases or decreases seasonally, and also “detects” denser patches of grass.

Three panoramic sensors allows the unit to detect and avoid obstacles around the yard. If any of these sensors pinpoints a hindrance, the Miimo will immediately stop and then pivot in a different direction.

Buy now from:Honda

Worx Landroid ($1,000)

At a mere grand, the Worx Landroid is one of the more reasonably priced models out there. While you could certainly buy a top-of-the-line riding lawnmower for that price, the Landroid handles the entire chore for you. Emblazoned in the traditional Worx orange-and-black color scheme, the Landroid is appealing to the eye in a field brimming with exceedingly utilitarian competitors.

This robotic lawnmower uses a so-called “Artificial Intelligence Algorithm” to maneuver through narrow areas. This algorithm also allows the Landroid to mow in a seemingly haphazard pattern with minimal unnecessary overlap. A series of sensors enables the machine to avoid and mow around obstacles, so your onlooking yard gnomes should be just fine. If the Landroid detects rain, the unit will automatically disengage and return to its docking station to recharge until the weather has cleared.

This robotic lawnmower requires a security pin number, and there’s also a smartphone alert if the Landroid has left the designated perimeter, just in case the unit decides to make an escape or someone attempts to snatch your ‘droid. On the downside, the Landroid can only handle up to a quarter of an acre, meaning those looking to mow larger yards will need to consider another option.

Buy now from:Amazon

Husqvarna Automower 450X ($3,500)

There are cheaper versions of this model, however, the 450X can cover the most turf — up to 1.25 acres to be exact. While others models on this list incorporate softer lines and warmer, matte color schemes, the Automower 450X has more of a glossy, four-wheel RoboCop 2 build. This model looks outright menacing plowing over your patch of the planet, and we absolutely love it.

Like the other models, you’ll need to “fence” off the perimeter of your yard as well as garden patches before you can set this bad boy loose. And you can also adjust the map of your yard via the app to mark additional zones to avoid. This is necessary for ditches or more rugged areas where the mower might struggle for adequate traction.

You can schedule the mow times over the course of a given month, allowing the model to trim as regularly or minimally as desired. The more regular mowings will minimize clippings for a cleaner looking yard.

This model is also quiet. Graded at just 58 decibels, this lawnmower is about as loud as an air conditioning unit, or a “conversational in a restaurant,” meaning the 450X could even go for a moonlit mow without waking the neighbors.

Buy now from:Husqvarna

Virtual reality could help elderly people avoid potentially fatal falls

Why it matters to you

Accidental falls lead to the hospitalization and even death of thousands of elderly Americans each year. These researchers think virtual reality may be able to help.

With its ability to transport users to strange new worlds, or place them in the shoes of people whose lives they’d never otherwise get to experience, virtual reality is capable of some pretty amazing things.

But if you think that’s all that VR is able to do, you’re not thinking big enough.

At University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, researchers have been investigating whether the latest virtual reality tech could also be used to help prevent falls among the elderly and people with neurodegenerative conditions. With such falls leading to hospitalization and even death for thousands of elderly Americans each year, their idea is that VR could play a role in detecting balance impairments early — and maybe even helping to reverse them.

“We’ve implemented a virtual reality environment that allows us to perturb optical flow — i.e. the visual perception of how you are moving in your environment — in a way that simulates walking imbalance,” Jason Franz, assistant professor in the joint UNC/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, told Digital Trends. “Our ongoing work suggests that the use of this technique may help identify preclinical balance impairments that are not otherwise apparently during normal walking.”

In their study, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, the team’s novel VR system was used to create a sense of loss of balance as participants walked on a treadmill in front of a large, curved display, showing a moving hallway. They were filmed using 14 cameras, as well as various smart sensors and electrodes to measure participants’ responses — such as examining how their muscles responded to potential falls. By doing this, and learning more fine grain detail about participants’ movement than would otherwise be possible, the researchers think VR may be a useful tool in both diagnosing balance impairments and training people to improve their balance.

“It’s still early, but we see a lot of potential moving forward for the early detection and rehabilitation of people at risk of falls,” Franz continued. “This is especially exciting and timely given the advent of wearable and low cost virtual reality technology.”

Next, Franz said that the team plans to look at ways to move the experiment outside the lab. “This could include improving diagnostics in the clinic or improving balance control through training programs in retirement communities,” he concluded. “We always try to emphasize the translational relevance of our work.”

Lenovo Moto Z2 Play: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

Lenovo’s original Moto Z was a big hit last year, and the next version is shaping up to be just as good — if not better.

Lenovo’s Moto Z Play was one of the most popular midrange smartphones of last year, and for good reason — it stuffed reasonably high-end hardware into a compact, affordable package. But it’s getting a little long in the tooth. Luckily, rumors about its successor — reportedly dubbed the Moto Z2 Play — have begun to emerge, and they suggest that it’ll be just as compelling as the original.

Here’s everything we know about the Moto Z2 Play so far.

Design

One thing about the Moto Z2 Play that isn’t a mystery is its design. TechnoBuffalo managed to obtain an early rendering, and it looks a lot like last year’s model.

Perhaps the most obvious holdover from the earlier model is the 16-prong connector for Lenovo’s Moto Mods, the hardware add-ons that extend the phone’s functionality. Among the growing library of peripherals are high-end cameras, external batteries, speakers, projectors, and even physical keyboards.

The front-facing flash on last year’s Moto Z Play seems to have remained in place, as has the prominent circle-shaped rear camera hump.

But the Moto Z2 Play isn’t without appreciable design tweaks. According to TechnoBuffalo, the home button now doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and supports swiping gestures that can replace on-screen navigation keys (much like the Moto G5 and G5 Plus). And the overall frame is slightly thinner.

Specs

The Moto Z2 Play’s specs are currently a mystery, but last year’s model gives a good frame of reference.

The Moto Z Play sported a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080 pixels) screen shielded with Gorilla Glass 3, and a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor paired with 3GB of RAM. Rounding out those internals was 32GB of base internal storage (expandable via microSD), a fingerprint sensor, and a USB Type-C connector

If the new Moto Z2 Play is anything like the original, it’ll take great photos. Last year’s model packed an impressive pair of cameras: A front 5MP sensor with a f/2.2 aperture and 1.4 µm pixel size, and a rear 16MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture, phase detection and laser autofocus, and dual-LED flash.

It should also have fantastic battery life. The Moto Z Play boated a 3,510mAh battery that lasted about a day and a half on a charge. Better yet, it supported Motorola’s TurboPower fast-charging technology, which can deliver up to hours of battery in 15 minutes of charging.

Pricing and Availability

It’s unclear just when Motorola will take the wraps off the Moto Z2 Play, but if history is anything to go by, it won’t be long.

According to TechnoBuffalo, Lenovo could announce the Moto Z2 Play as soon as June 8.

That’s early. Last year, Motorola launched the Z Play at an event in August and began shipping it in September.