Sony’s massive new E Ink tablet aims to save the planet at your wallet’s expense

Why it matters to you

Looking to save the planet? You could start by cutting down your paper use, especially now that Sony has a new, enormous E Ink tablet on the market.

Replacing paper comes at a high cost — at least initially. Sony has been trying to get you off of tree pulp for quite some time now, but unless you have money to blow, you may not be so enticed by the latest epaper tablet. It’s called the DPT-RP1, and while it promises tons of high-tech features (and yes, the ability to help save the planet), it comes with a high price tag, too — $700.

In many ways, the new tablet is similar to Sony’s DPT-S1 reader, which was first introduced back in April of 2014. That device was Sony’s first foray into the E Ink space, which has been popularized by devices like the Kindle. But Sony allowed users to do much more than read off their original tablets — rather, this was a digital notebook with 4 GB of memory. But plenty has changed in the last three years, and Sony’s new product is capable of a lot more.

The E Ink tablet has a sizable screen to come with its sizable price. At 13.3 inches, you’re basically carrying around a laptop — even if it an extremely thin one. Moreover, the resolution of the tablet is much improved over the last tablet Sony released at 1650 x 2200 pixels (the last one was just 1200 x 1600). And because the screen of the DPT-RP1 is “non-slip,” you ought to be able to write more easily, or at least, more as you would on actual paper.

The tablet is about as thick as 30 sheets of paper, and it weighs less than an ounce. If you hold the new device horizontally, you’ll be able to see two pages side by side, and the tablet also comes with seven preset functions to help you format your note-taking. That means whether you prefer to write on college-ruled paper, in a daily planner, or on a spreadsheet grid, you’ll be able to do so all from one tablet.

Thanks to the stylus that comes with the DPT-RP1, you can seamlessly switch between writing, highlighting, and erasing. And you can write quite a bit — the tablet has an internal memory of 16 GB, which Sony says is the equivalent of up to 10,000 files. If you ever need to share your content (and you probably will), you can do so via a USB cable, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. Oh, and there’s also NFC functionality built into the tablet, which is to say you can unlock the device using your smartphone or any other NFC card.

The DPT-RP1 is expected to hit markets in Japan on June 5, and it’s available for pre-order in the U.S. from Amazon and B&H. It could be a game changer for students looking to cut down on the number of notebooks and binders they’re lugging around school. Because really, who needs folders and tabs when you can organize all your notes in a single digital tablet?

Article originally published in April 2017. Updated on 05-24-2017 by Kyle Wiggers: Added information about pre-order availability in the U.S.

Innovative tool teaches braille to students without instructors

Why it matters to you

If successfully funded, the Read Read could bring literacy to a multitude of visually impaired people.

Visually impaired students can now learn to read braille on their own thanks to a new educational tool. Developed by researchers at the Harvard Innovation Lab, the Read Read uses a combination of tactile and audio feedback to teach the braille alphabet topeople who don’t have access to teachers.

Over the last half century, the use of braille has seen a decrease due in part to limited resources, to the point that most blind students in the United States are illiterate. In fact, only about 8.5 percent of blind students get enough focused instruction to learn braille, according to experts. Realizing this, master’s student Alex Tavares looked for a new method and tool for teaching braille that would allow students to do so autonomously.

The Read Read is relatively simple and easy to use, featuring large tiles with braille letters, which students can arrange in slots to form words. When a student places a tile in a slot, an audio file plays the phonetic sound of the letter. When a word is formed, the audio files sound out the word.

A twelve-week trial was recently help at the Perkins School for the Blind where students were given the opportunity to test the device.

“Students were extremely engaged with the Read Read,” Tavares told Digital Trends. “One student, who is blind and on the Autism spectrum, had struggled to learn the first ten letters of the alphabet all year long. Being on the Autism spectrum meant that taking traditional direct instruction was extremely challenging, and left the student unable to learn braille. The immediate audio feedback and exploratory platform provided by the Read Read allowed the student to practice braille with minimal guidance, and learn the first ten letters of the alphabet after only two days, practicing less than twenty minutes each day.”

Tavares and his team are now seeking support and funding for the Read Read on Kickstarter. They hope to raise $273,000 to give the tool to 400 students. Individual devices can also be purchased for $495.

Drones and phones let scientists track — and hopefully save — big cats

Why it matters to you

With just a smartphone, you can help scientists protect some of the world’s most endangered animals.

Drones and smartphones are being used to monitor — and hopefully save — endangered species. Through a project called ConservationFIT, a team of wildlife conservationists from Duke University and the nonprofit WildTrack, are developing algorithms and utilizing drones to analyze footprints and monitor animal movements from the air.

“Species are disappearing at around one-thousand times background rates and if we are to avert a complete catastrophe we must do more to protect those that remain,” Zoe Jewell, told Digital Trends. “However, to do this we need data on the numbers of species — who they are and where they range.”

The FIT in ConservationFIT stands for footprint identification technique, and it enables researchers to identify individuals by their footprints, which have specific details much like a human fingerprint. From these prints, the researchers can discern things like age and sex, while non-invasively tracking and studying an individual over distances.

At launch ConservationFIT will be geared towards cheetahs in Africa, jaguars in the Americas, and snow leopards in Asia.

“These three species were chosen for their iconic status and wide geographical spread,” Jewell said. The team at WildTrack has already honed an algorithm to identify fifteen different species on five continents. “As we progress with algorithms for these species we will be extending the remit of ConservationFIT for other species.”

Though the software will be best utilized by field biologists, the WildTrack team hope to engage citizen scientists as well. “Armed with a smartphone it is possible for anyone who sees a footprint to collect an image of it and upload it to ConservationFIT,” Jewell said. They can do so at iNaturalist.

“Citizen scientists might be amateur naturalists, or tourists, or just ramblers on the weekend,” she added. “They will probably ‘stumble upon’ footprints and collect them opportunistically. This can lead to unexpected discoveries of species in places that biologists might not look. Trackers, on the other hand, are usually expert at finding and identifying footprints.”

Jewell and her team also have plans to use drones to monitor footprint trails from the air, which can offer insight into the movement and patterns of an individual animal. Although following a trail is relatively easy, it’s difficult to detect the exact species that left the print without having a high-resolution camera.

“At the moment we are using small off-the-shelf drones for local reconnaissance missions to detect trails,” she said. “Our aim is to partner with a drone company that can provide hardware capable of carrying high-resolution cameras to focus specifically on the identification of species from trails, and then individuals from footprints.”

Samsung patent application reveals plans for a camera-equipped smartwatch

Why it matters to you

Samsung’s next smartwatch could help you take selfies on the go.

Samsung’s next wearable might have a flexible display built into the wristband — and a camera. A new patent application filed by the Seoul, South Korea-based company shows a smartwatch with an edge-to-edge display that wraps around your wrist.

The patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this month, shows a prototypical watch design with wristband screen that shows shortcuts to the watch’s apps — there appear to be icons for an email client, a music player, a photo gallery, and settings.

SamMobile notes that it’s a little like the Edge feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S8, which uses smartphone screen’s curved edges to show notifications, shortcuts, and other content. If the proposed display’s anything like Edge, it would be highly customizable — presumably, you’d be able to swap between incoming messages, favorite contacts, widgets, recent apps, and more.

It’s a different tact than aftermarket accessories like the Rifft CT Band, which feature secondary displays built into the wristband. But the technology’s not unfeasible — Samsung’s Gear S has a curved screen, as does Microsoft’s discontinued Band 2.

Samsung’s prototypical smartwatch has another surprise: A camera. Like the company’s first-generation Gear smartwatch, which had a 2MP camera for wrist-level shots, Samsung’s proposed design features watchband-mounted sensor. But unlike the original Galaxy Gear, it’s described as sporting an optical zoom for higher-quality shots.

This month’s smartwatch patent follows on the heels of Samsung’s April design, which showed a smartwatch with a flexible secondary display on a rotary dial around the outer edge. It, like the wristband display, would show information like the current weather and recently played songs.

Samsung isn’t the only one exploring the idea of a camera-equipped smartwatch. In June, Apple filed a patent for watch with a camera “oriented to allow a users to capture images of nearby objects in the environment, such as a bar code or QR code.” And startup company Arrow’s proposed smartwatch featured a rotating bezel with an 8MP camera, replete with autofocus and HD video recording.

And Apple’s working on electronic watchbands of its own. Rumor has it that the Apple Watch Series 3 — expected to launch this fall — will feature interchangeable “smart bands” with sensors and other components.

But in curved-screen display tech, Samsung might have a leg up on the competition. In February, it filed a patent for a device with a mechanical hinge in the middle and a flexible screen that folds inwards. And at a conference last year in San Francisco the company demonstrated a flexible 5.7-inch, 1080p display that could roll up like a scroll.

Google swings its banhammer at hundreds of profit-seeking Pixel resellers

Why it matters to you

If you purchased or resold a Pixel device originally bought through Project Fi, this may explain some headaches.

Last year, Google banned the accounts of resellers who purchased the Pixel and Pixel XL through Project Fi and tried to flip their phones for a quick profit. Now, current owners of those devices are finding that their IMEIs are getting blacklisted, essentially rendering their phones useless.

A user by the name of Kyle from the site HardOCP shared his story this week, reporting that he woke up one morning to find his Pixel XL was showing no network connectivity and only the ability to make emergency calls. He reached out to his carrier, T-Mobile, which confirmed that his phone had been blacklisted and reported as stolen.

Kyle then got in touch with Swappa, the phone-trading website where he purchased the Pixel, to find out more. A representative responded that “a great number” of Pixel devices had been suffering from similar issues over the previous two days, and directed the customer to contact Google and work with the seller to get to the bottom of things.

So Kyle contacted Google, and while the first individual he chatted with disputed the fact that his Pixel had been blacklisted, he provided the second representative with a screenshot of Swappa’s IMEI check, which showed the device as lost or stolen.

The issue was escalated to the Project Fi team, where it was confirmed that his phone had originally been purchased through the carrier and later resold — but Google was not responsible for the blacklisting.

The IMEI is a phone’s unique identification number, and when a device is reported as lost or stolen to law enforcement, the wireless carrier has the ability to block it, preventing it from ever being used on any network again. At this point, it is still unclear who was responsible for the blacklisting, and whether or not this is related to Google’s attempts to punish resellers who broke its terms of service last fall.

Back in November, The Guardian reported a number of forum members took to money-saving website Dan’s Deals to complain about their Google accounts having been suspended. As such, anything linked to the accounts, such as documents, photos, and emails, became inaccessible. Some users noticed that they lost photos that were saved in Google Photos, with others locked out of other accounts linked to their now-suspended Gmail that have the password reset functionality.

The common thread is that all of these users bought the Pixel and Pixel XL through Project Fi, with the phones then shipped to a reseller in New Hampshire. The reseller paid the users a profit on each phone, with the phones then resold to others. Since there is no sales tax in New Hampshire, it made things that much more enticing.

Unfortunately for the customers, this practice runs afoul of Google’s terms of service, which states, “You may only purchase Devices for your personal use. You may not commercially resell any Device, but you may give the Device as a gift.”

According to Daniel Eleff, who runs Dan’s Deals and originally broke the story, the reseller has been doing this since the original Nexus was released, with this being the first time it has encountered a problem. Google sniffed out the issue and canceled around 500 orders, though other orders still made their way to the reseller.

Google did not respond to a request for comment, though the company sent Eleff a statement on the matter. In short, all of the suspended accounts were reactivated.

“We identified a scheme in which consumers were asked to purchase Pixel devices on behalf of a reseller, who then marked-up the cost of those devices in order to resell them to other customers,” the statement reads. “We prohibit the commercial resale of devices purchased through Project Fi or the Google Store so everyone has an equal opportunity to purchase devices at a fair price. Many of the accounts suspended were created for the sole purpose of this scheme.”

“After investigating the situation, we are restoring access to genuine accounts for customers who are locked out of many Google services the rely on.”

We’ll continue to update this story as more information becomes available, or if any other Pixel owners report similar problems.

Article originally published on 11-18-2016 by Williams Pelegrin. Updated on 05-25-2017 by Adam Ismail: Added new story about IMEI blacklisting.

Verizon’s SmartHub packs 4G LTE and support for smart home devices

Why it matters to you

Have trouble getting Verizon 4G LTE in your house? The carrier’s new SmartHub router might be able to help.

Verizon wants to manage your smart home devices, and it’s rolling out a new hub to seal the deal. On Wednesday, May 25, the carrier announced SmartHub, a new combination Wi-Fi hot spot and smart home controller designed for businesses, homes, and other private places.

Verizon’s cylindrical SmartHub, which comes with a backup battery and a touchscreen that shows data stats and Wi-Fi passwords, isn’t the most sophisticated router on the block, but it strengthens Verizon’s high-speed 4G LTE — including HD Voice and your existing Verizon phone numbers — in any room. And just like Samsung’s SmartThings and Wink, it lets you monitor, program, and control smart home devices from your phone, tablet, or compatible PC.

SmartHub can do more if you subscribe to Verizon Home, Verizon’s new home automation platform. Home customers can unlock internet-connected deadbolts, adjust the brightness and color of smart bulbs, view and record security camera footage, and switch on and off your home’s cooling system. And they can create routines using the SmartHub companion app — you could trigger a Nest thermostat when you’re heading home from work, for example, or have a Kwikset lock unlock the front door when you pull into the driveway.

Verizon’s SmartHub goes on sale on May 26 for $200, or $100 if you agree to a two-year contract. There’s no word on subscription pricing — we’ve reached out to Verizon for clarification, and we’ll update the post when we hear back.

The new hub and service are in some ways Verizon’s second attempt at home automation. Home Monitoring and Control, which Verizon retired in 2014, offered wireline FiOS customers security cameras, connected lighting, door locks, and thermostats for a $90 installation fee and $10 per month on top of their existing bills. Subscribers could use their FiOS TV remotes to control appliances, and set up automation from the Home Monitoring and Control app for smartphones.

But Verizon’s not the only carrier dipping a toe in smart home automation. AT&T’s Digital Life service, which starts at $30 a month, includes a suite of solutions for smartphones, wearables, tablets, computers, and more. Customers can add connected indoor and outdoor cameras, appliances and thermostats, automated locks, and garage door openers for a monthly fee.

And it’s certainly not the only internet provider offering home automation. Time Warner Cable — now Spectrum — offers a remote monitoring and control service in the form of IntelligentHome, which supports wireless door locks, smart lightbulbs, in-wall light switches, and more. Setup fees started at $100, and a monthly subscription cost $40 a month.

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 put paid apps on sale for 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. 

Math Pro

“Math Pro” will take you through high-school math and beyond. It is a powerful tool that is overflowing with the tutorials, examples, and solvers from the following applications: Algebra Pro, Geometry Pro, Probability Pro, Statistics Pro, Pre-calculus Pro, and Calculus Pro.

Available on:

iOS

PureBlock

Are you sick and tired of popup ads, unwanted page redirects and many more annoying advertisements on the internet? PureBlock is the perfect solution for you.

Available on:

iOS

Aura

These powerful and beautifully designed tools will help you add beautiful frames, filters, text, and so much more to your photos, in the most creative and playful way.

Available on:

iOS

Coyn

Coyn is all about efficiency. Simply swipe up to add expenses and swipe down to add income, and manage your expenses seamlessly.

Available on:

iOS

Who Was?

How well do you know historical figures and pop icons? Download today and put your knowledge to the test.

Available on:

iOS

Extreme Reminders

Extreme Reminders is the only reminder list you will need for your iOS Device. It contains powerful features and the added benefit of being able to upgrade to a full organizer with Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Lists at any time.

Available on:

iOS

Google needs to start selling the Daydream Controller by itself

It’s time to sell the Daydream Controller without its plushy headset.

If you want the Daydream experience, at least right now, you need to buy a Daydream View headset. With Daydream support coming to the Galaxy S8 this summer, that’s not going to be an ideal solution for some. Many Galaxy S8 owners already have a great VR headset that could easily be used for Daydream, and it came free with the phone. The only thing that headset is missing in order to complete the Daydream experience is Google’s motion controller.

The only way to get that controller right now is to buy a complete VR kit from Google, and with the volume of Gear VR headsets out in the world right now that needs to change.

There’s something of an unspoken secret with Google Daydream — the headset is actually just a plushie version of Google Cardboard. There’s no additional hardware in the headset, all of the Daydream magic is done in software thanks to Google’s rigid hardware requirements. The only piece of hardware that is actually mandatory for Daydream to function is the Bluetooth wand you get with Daydream View, the Daydream Controller. Google has made this controller a standard, and said any company can make Daydream headsets if this controller is included.

But with the Galaxy S8 adding support soon, the script needs to be flipped a little. While Google gets lots of points for making Daydream View ultra comfortable and crush-proof, Samsung’s Gear VR headset is a more immersive experience and it’s actually built for the Galaxy S8. It’s going to be a lot easier to convert Galaxy S8 owners to Daydream if it’s possible for those who already own a Gear VR to just add a Daydream Controller. If you offer a more compelling user experience with deeper integration with Google services, which Daydream absolutely does, this will be a win-win for a lot of would-be VR fans. It’s already possible to use the Gear VR to run Cardboard apps, so this really isn’t a leap.

This extends well beyond the existing Gear VR owners. Google Cardboard headsets are everywhere, in every kind of configuration and made out of every kind of material. Offering those people, even the ones with simple pieces of cardboard, a way to upgrade the experience with the right phone is a great way to continue growth.

Daydream View is still the best overall way to enjoy Daydream, and will likely continue to be the most common way users jump into this platform, but it shouldn’t be the only way. There are great alternatives, and Google’s support would go a long way towards fringe user adoption.

So come on, Google. Do the thing.

Amazon Fire 7 vs Fire HD 8: Which should you buy?

In the battle of Amazon’s all new tablets, which is the right one for you?

Amazon’s latest revisions to its 7 and 8-inch Fire tablets will go on sale in early June 2017. They will completely replace the older models, and while both are modest upgrades, they’re upgrades nonetheless.

And better still, while the hardware gets a little bit better, the price stays the same. So, once again Amazon has two affordable tablets that are actually worth buying. But which should you go for?

See at Amazon

Spec comparison

Here’s what makes up the two newest Fire tablets:

Which should you get?

The two Fire tablets are very much alike, but the Fire HD 8 has some important upgrades for that extra $30 asking price. For starters, there’s a higher resolution display, and though not a massive increase in PPI, it looks noticeably better than the 7-inch model. There’s also more RAM and more internal storage, along with a fairly significant boost in battery life over the smaller one.

For media lovers, the Fire HD 8 is also going to deliver better audio, with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support for an all-round better experience watching video content or listening to music.

Here’s the thing, though. The Fire 7 is a better choice for a tablet to give to your young ones. At 50 bucks it’s verging on impulse buy territory, and the new model has a better screen and dual-band WiFi support to boast over its predecessor. For someone looking for the cheapest tablet possible that isn’t garbage, the Fire 7 is still the one we recommend.

Both of these come in child-friendly Kids Editions, but if you’re looking for a decent, low-cost tablet to consume media, browse the web, check your email and even play some games on, the Fire HD 8 is the one to get. The $30 difference is small enough that the improvements you get are well worth the extra investment.

Both are still excellent low-cost tablets, though.

See at Amazon

Jaguar XE S: New supercharged V6 is pure S EX

One of the things that Jaguar does rather well, is lighting a fire under its cars. While there’s no of shortage of big diesel Jags eating up the miles on Blighty’s roads – as there are Audis, Mercs and Beemers – it’s always more fun with a supercharged V6 petrol under the bonnet.

Say hello then to the new Jaguar XE S, riding the same engine as the F-Type, offering sporty drivers a thrilling 380PS from its V6 petrol engine, and putting a little more purpose into your morning commute.

This is Jaguar’s answer to something like the Audi S5 Sportback, fusing luxury with power in a wonderfully apologetic way.

Pocket-lint

Jaguar XE S: Sporting lines redefined

Okay, so we’ll admit that this isn’t an entirely new car, as it’s the same design in and out as the 2015 Jaguar XE, the most compact of Jaguar’s saloons. This is really a car that’s designed around the driver, as the rear passengers will probably be complaining about the lack of leg room if they are over the age of 8.

That doesn’t matter though, because the biggest motivator for buying a Jaguar XE S is that you’ll be in the driving seat. As we’ve said before, there’s a lot we like about the interior design, especially the way the doors meet the dash. It’s more distinctive than the larger Jaguar XF, but there’s no escaping that there’s less space overall.

For the exterior then, the XE S gets itself a full sporty makeover, not unlike the R-Sport trim, but set off nicely here with the £650 Firenze Red paint job. The de rigueur red brake calipers peek through the 19-inch split spoke wheels, while the black sills and rear valance indicate this is something a little different, while carrying the twin tailpipes with distinction and poise.

Pocket-lint

We still think this is a great looking car, but it doesn’t quite have the same road presence as BMW’s M Sport 4-series Gran Coupe, which will likely turn heads a little sharper than the XE S. But there is some charm in that. While the sporty accolades may go to BMW, the Jaguar has subtlety that BMW swaps for brutality. It’s less boy, and more gentleman, racer.

Jaguar has some of those options though. If you want carbonfibre door mirrors or side vents, you can spec these options separately, but that will send the price soaring.

Our test drive model includes twin colours of interior leather, bringing a lift to the door linings and sports seats which we rather like, although this will be an acquired taste. It’s also included, so won’t cost you more, even if some basics, like powered folding door mirrors (£295) you’d expect to find included on a car that costs nearly £50k, aren’t.

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Jaguar XE S: Driving is all about dynamics

Thumb the start button and the V6 springs to life, cocking your mouth into half a smile. Your neighbours might resent that early-morning roaring of the V6, but that’s half the fun of owning a car like this. You could have a Ford Mustang GT after all, so your neighbours should be grateful that you took the luxury option, as it’s not the noisiest car around.

In many ways, this engine is actually remarkably well behaved. It’s fun to burble through the towns without being too crass, but put your foot down and you’ll see the needles quickly head toward the red as the noise rises. But that’s the experienced of a slightly tamed cat.

To really experience what this car is about you’ll need to depress the dial slightly and switch to sport mode. That’s not the only step, because even that doesn’t really let it out of the bag: you’ll also have to switch to dynamic.

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The dynamics are customisable on this model (an option on lower spec cars), allowing you to decide how you want the engine, gearbox, steering and suspension to behave. It’s here that you can move the Jag on from a slightly sedate throttle response into something that’s very twitchy and taut: once in dynamic mode, it will buck as soon as you touch the accelerator, a perfect recipe for spinning your rear wheels, while you jolt back into the loving caress of the leather sports seats.

So in this mode it’s not great for the sort of stop start driving that you get around town (there’s even auto start-stop to save you fuel in those conditions), but it does mean that once you’re under way, it feels much more like you’re driving a sports car. Jaguar isn’t alone in this, of course, but there’s something special about feeling the XE S come alive the way it does, something feels inherently right as you take this luxe machine and throw it around with dignified abandon.

This more powerful version of the 3-litre petrol engine gives you 380PS, routing through the sharp 8-speed automatic gearbox, taking you from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, which is pretty fast by any measure. It’s almost as fast as that big Ford we mentioned, with a 34mpg figure given for a combined cycle and emissions of 194g/km.

Pocket-lint

The soundtrack is sporty too, but you don’t quite get the full range of popping and echoing growls that you’ll find on slightly more powerful engines from the sports saloons in a tier above the XE S, but it does some completely authentic and fitting. At the same time, this is still a Jaguar that drives perfectly comfortably, cornering nicely, with great feel to the steering and enough flexibility in the sports suspension to keep you flat in the corners, but not breaking your spine on the rougher routes.

It’s driving pleasure, well managed and flexible, a wonderful combination of comfort meeting sporty thrills and few spills.

Jaguar XE S: Internal tech

One of the fun features of the latest generations of Jaguars is the InControl Touch system. This gives you an 8-inch central display, flanked by controls, but fully touch-enabled. It’s paired with a standard driver’s display, but you do get an upgraded Meridian sound system delivering 380W of excellent sound.

For £1090 you upgrade this to InControl Touch Pro, which swaps the central display for a larger 10-inch screen that loses the buttons for a cleaner look. Meanwhile those analogue dials are exchanged for a fully-digital driver’s display. This is all a little more futuristic, and can integrate features like navigation maps along with offering a range of customisations. Best of all, when you’re in dynamic mode, the display dials turn red, sticking the rev counter in the centre.

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This upgrade keeps the 380W system and also gives you 10GB internal storage where you could keep your favourite tunes, while your connected smartphone will let you make calls, play music, as well as powering Jaguar apps.

There’s no Android Auto of Apple CarPlay, however, which it a slight negative, but there’s no shortage of space-age fun to be had in the XE S’s interior.

First Impressions

There are plenty of rivals in the luxury sports saloon space and in many ways, the rivals are getting rather common. Sure, there’s the cheaper (both in price and in quality) Ford Mustang that’s rather more rare on the streets, but there’s no shortage of Audi S, BMW M Sport or Mercedes AMG on the roads.

So if you want something that’s a little more unique, but still packed full of quality and excitement, then look to this high spirited Jaguar.