Pokemon Go Gyms closing, but will return soon

Niantic Labs, the company behind Pokemon Go, has confirmed that it will be temporarily closing gyms in the game from the 19 June. In a statement by the company, the developers of the smash hit AR game stated:

“Gyms will temporarily close starting Monday, June 19. Any Pokémon you’ve assigned to Gyms will be returned to you at that time.”

The move, the developers state, is ahead of a new update that was announced earlier in June.

“To kick things off, we will be hosting the Solstice Event starting on June 13, 2017. This in-game event will feature Fire-type and Ice-type Pokémon, huge XP bonuses for throwing Poké Balls accurately, and discounted Lucky Eggs in the in-game shop. Soon thereafter, you can look forward to a new update focused on collaborative group gameplay features that will get you playing Pokémon GO in fun new ways,” explained Niantic Labs on the 8 June. “In preparation for these exciting features, we’ll be temporarily disabling Gyms for a short period of time.”

The company has not said how long the Gyms will be offline for, or what the new features will be when they return, although it’s rumored the company wants to overhaul gyms to help fight cheating. It might also introduce raids, allowing players to team up or play against one another in the gyms.

• Pokemon Go Gym tips: How to battle, train and win

A spokesperson for Niantic confirmed on Reddit that the move is so Trainers can collect their Defender bonus points:

“As we get ready to update Pokémon GO, we want to ensure that Trainers have a sufficient heads up that Gyms will soon be disabled so that they can collect their Defender bonus. We will provide updates on our social channels in advance of Gyms closing in-game.”

We will keep you posted. 

Insomniac’s ‘Spider-Man’ gets what it means to be Peter Parker

When Sony revealed that Insomniac games was working on a PlayStation 4 exclusive Spider-Man game set in an original universe, the specter of another game hung over the announcement — 2004’s Spider-Man 2. This movie tie in is widely regarded as the game that perfected web-swinging, as well as the title that no subsequent Spider-Man game ever lived up to. Creative director Bryan Intihar is aware of the stigma, but he doesn’t seem worried.He’s confident his game will make players feel like Spider-Man. His goal is more complicated. He wants players to feel like Peter Parker.

“I think you can’t do a Spider-Man experience the right way if you don’t tap into everything that Peter offers to the player or viewer,” he told Engadget at E3. Intihar had just finished running a room of reporters through the game’s tradeshow demo — a live, but hands-off gameplay session piloted by a member of his team.

The preview was all spectacle. Spider-Man leaping across a construction site on top of a skyscraper. Spider-Man stealthily taking out enemies as he investigates a crime scene. Spider-Man chasing a helicopter through downtown manhattan. It looks fun, but the experience doesn’t feel real until that helicopter starts to plummet toward a crowd below. The third-person camera zooms in and settles behind Spider-man’s mask, and his heroic confidence fades away as we hear Peter Parker plead with himself in a panicked voice. “Please don’t screw this up.”

It’s a small moment, but one informed by Intihar’s years of spider-fandom. Insomniac’s Spider-Man won’t retread the hero’s origin story, but its version of Peter Parker still driven by the guilt and self-doubt of his past. “There’s a sense of reliability and vulnerability that he has in comparison to other heroes,” Intihar explains. “He’s not a god, like Thor. He’s not rich and so polished as Tony Stark, and he’s not driven like Steve Rogers.” It’s not that he isn’t confident, it’s just that he’s extremely aware of the consequences of his failures. “I know that if I screw this up,” Intihar speaks for Parker, “someone’s going to die.”

That self-doubt has stuck with the character since his conception. Insomniac’s story takes place several years after Peter Parker put on the cowl. He’s been Spider-Man for years, and has just graduated college. He’s starting his career as a young scientist and coming into his own as an adult. “I think what makes Marvel’s world so interesting is, it’s not a great character with super powers, but it’s the narrative.” Intiher fondly describes classic Spider-Man comics as being kind of like a soap opera. “I think you want some of that in there, and we have that.”

Even so, he wouldn’t touch on how that drama plays out. “Peter Parker is integral to the experience of this game,” Intiher said, stopping just short of confirming if one could play as Parker outside of his tights. When asked if the character’s career as a photographer might contribute to an in-game photo mode, the creative director flatly said he couldn’t talk about it. When asked if the trailer’s cameo of Miles Morales, the Marvel comics universe’s other contemporary Spider-Man, was a hint that there may be more than one playable character, he kept it simple. “I will say that it’s Peter’s journey.”

Mum’s the word for now, but Intiher’s passion for Spider-Man lore and character driven storytelling shows through — and the tangents our conversation took toward obscure character traits, old comic book storytelling and pedantic debate over the highs and lows of Spider-Man 2’s best-in-class web-swinging left me feeling confident Peter Parker’s PS4 exclusive adventure. It’s hard to tell without playing it myself, but if Intiher’s confidence reflects the final version of the game, 2018 will be a great year for Spider-fans.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Verizon’s first LTE-only handset is an LG flip phone

When Verizon finished rolling out its LTE network for calls, it became apparent that it also plans to drop its CDMA phone service altogether. Now, the carrier has begun offering its first LTE-only handset to subscribers, and it’s obviously an attempt to lure people who prefer basic feature phones over smartphones away from the legacy network. The LG Exalt LTE is a flip feature phone, and even though it looks much nicer and sturdier than its plasticky counterparts, it’s still far removed from the advanced devices we’re used to today.

Its specs underline that it’s definitely not something for those expecting everything an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy S8 can offer. The Exalt has an unnamed 1.1 GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3-inch WQVGA screen, a 5-megapixel camera, text-to-speech function, up to six hours of battery life, 8GB of storage and support for microSD cards up to 32GB. For people who just want a phone that makes clear voice calls, though, it could be more than enough. Since its calls go through Verizon’s LTE network, it takes advantage of the carrier’s HD Voice feature that delivers high-resolution sound.

LG’s Exalt LTE is available from Verizon’s website right now for $7 a month for two years or $168 up front. If it successfully entices feature phone lovers into upgrading, then the carrier can finally dedicate its CDMA network to powering internet of things devices.

Source: LG

In ‘Fortnite,’ building is just as important as fighting monsters

Epic Games’ Fortnite, once described by company founder Tim Sweeney as Minecraft meets Left 4 Dead, has been six years in the making. That’s a long time to keep someone excited about a game, but you can’t fault Epic for not wanting to rush its latest Unreal Engine 4 project. And based on my first experience with Fortnite, it has the potential to be a solid survival game. Not everything here is about fighting or killing monsters, though, as your success in the Fortnite world will also largely depend on your building and exploring skills.

Throughout the game, your main character is guided by a cute robot (which resembles Fallout 4’s Codsworth) that uses its voice to help you find the right weapon to use for particular tasks, like getting an axe to destroy rocks blocking a doorway. And if you’re struggling to find the next move in a mission, the robot also uses its voice to assist you with that. Since the game is so complex, Epic Games says it wanted to make it easier for the player to understand it, so it needed to make sure there was a solid tutorial system in place before launch.

When it comes to building forts to protect yourself from the incoming wave of monsters, including some ugly ones that wear baseball uniforms and use pitching balls as a weapon, you’ll need resources. That’s where exploring comes in. All around the environment, you’ll find the items you need to build walls, doors, ceilings, weapons and traps, which you can loot simply by axing down trees if you need wood or hammering down an old car to get steel. If the monsters manage to destroy any of your property, all you have to do is keep looting to build more reinforcements.

Fortnite lets you pick pick between four types of heroes: soldiers, constructors, outlanders and ninjas, with each one offering a different set of skills. Ninjas, for instance, are great for melee fights (and yes, they throw stars), while constructors are quick and efficient and building traps in the middle of a monster battle. All in All, I had a blast playing Fortnite, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. But just know that you’ll have to be really committed to it if you want to have a good experience, particularly because of all the time you’ll have to spend exploring, looting and building. The fighting is the easy part.

Epic Games is releasing the game on July 25th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows and Mac. On the PC side, Fortnite won’t be available on Steam, but rather through Epic’s own launcher.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

The evolution of women in video games continues at E3 2017

Feminist Frequency founder Anita Sarkeesian tries to make it clear her yearly, gender-focused analysis of the video games announced at E3 isn’t founded in malice — it’s simply reality. Even in 2017, video games overwhelmingly feature male protagonists, rather than female leads. According to Feminist Frequency, 109 games debuted at E3 this year, and just eight of them (or 7 percent) star female characters, compared with 29 titles (26 percent) featuring male protagonists. Fifty-two percent of newly announced games utilize a system that lets players select specific characters or genders. On their own, these statistics aren’t bad or good; they’re simply facts.

“We’re not trying to be bummers,” Sarkeesian said on the Engadget stage at E3. “But it’s like, let’s look at the actual numbers so we can actually improve for real.”

Sarkeesian and Feminist Frequency’s Managing Editor Carolyn Petit have been compiling data on the gender of protagonists in video games announced at E3 since 2015, which plenty of people in the industry dubbed the “year of the woman.” Sarkeesian and Petit weren’t convinced, so they decided to dive into the actual numbers and break down the number of games announced at E3 that actually starred female characters.

“There was this sense in the air of, things are changing and there are more games starring women announced, etcetera, etcetera,” Sarkeesian said. “But we were like, OK, but we might be getting ahead of ourselves. So we just started counting. And we came up with numbers and we decided to track them over the years, which would create a really interesting data set moving forward in terms of judging how the industry presents itself and how it’s changing over time.”

As it turned out, at E3 2015, just 9 percent of new games starred women, while 32 percent had men in the leading role. In 2016, the gap grew — only 3 percent of newly revealed games featured female protagonists, while 41 percent starred men. This escalation made Sarkeesian and Petit nervous about the figures this year, but things are actually closer to 2015 — the so-called “year of the woman” — than 2016.

“The important thing, I think, is that we don’t rest on our laurels,” Petit said. “We don’t say, ‘Oh, hey, equality achieved!’ or whatever when, actually, the reality is that there’s still a lot of work to be done. These trends are encouraging and great, but they’re not, hopefully, the end of anything.”

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Looking for a cheap phone plan? Here are the best MVNOs out there

The phone plan as we know it is changing. Gone are the days when you were stuck with one of four carriers that charged a little over-the-top for their service. Nowadays, you have a ton of companies at your disposal when choosing a carrier in the United States.

Perhaps the most interesting new options are MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators. These companies use the networks and towers owned by the major four carriers — AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile — but buy access to that service in bulk at wholesale value, then sell it back to customers. The result? A slew of interesting and inexpensive options for those unwilling to go with the big four.

Pros and cons of MVNOs

There are some great things about going with an MVNO, but there are also some downsides to consider. The main selling point of going for an MVNO is that they can get quite a lot cheaper — but considering the fact that the infrastructure is owned by competitors, there are some limitations.

For example, MVNOs often have monthly data caps, and their network speeds may not be quite as fast as one of the big four carriers.

Another important thing to consider is the handset you want to go for. MVNOs sometimes require that you buy a phone directly through them — and not all MVNOs have a good list of phones at their disposal. Alternatively, sometimes you can bring an unlocked phone to the company, though you’ll have to make sure that your phone is compatible with the MVNO you’ve chosen.

Still, while there are some downsides, the financial benefits are hard to ignore. After all, MVNOs are often far cheaper than what’s offered through the major carriers.

Best for unlimited data — Boost Mobile

• Uses Sprint’s network
• Prices range from $35 to $50 for single-line plans
• Unlimited data plan available
• You can bring your own compatible phone

Boost Mobile is owned by Sprint, and it offers some pretty great single-line plans. In fact, it offers the cheapest unlimited data plan we’ve seen yet. The MVNO uses Sprint’s network, and while you can bring your own phone to the company, only a few select Sprint phones are compatible, so keep that in mind. Having said that, if you’re willing to buy a new phone, Cricket does have a nice selection of phones to choose from.

The company doesn’t necessarily offer all that many plans, however. For a single-line plan, you’ll have the option of either a $35 plan, which gets you unlimited talk, text, and data with 3GB of that data being on LTE speeds, or a $50 plan, which gets you unlimited talk, text, and LTE data. That’s $5 cheaper than the Cricket Wireless option. There are also family plans, however, they’re the same price as the single-line plans for the first line, after which you’ll pay $30 per line.

Best for lots of coverage — Straight Talk

• Uses Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint networks
• Prices range from $30 to $60 a month
• No unlimited data plan
• You can bring your own compatible phone

Straight Talk is a relatively well-known MVNO, largely because it’s the result of a partnership with TracFone and Walmart. Such being the case, you’ll see Straight Talk stalls in Walmart stores all around the country. It’s a great option for those who want wide coverage, as it makes use of the four major carriers in the United States.

The monthly plans at Straight Talk range from $30 a month, which will get you unlimited texts, 1,500 minutes of talk, and 100MB of data, to $55 per month, which will get you unlimited talk and text, and 12GB of 4G data, after which your data speed will be throttled to 2G. There’s also a $60 plan, which offers unlimited international calling and 8GB of 4G speeds, after which the speed will go down to 2G.

It’s really not a bad offering, and while it can get a little pricey, there are some clear advantages, like the huge coverage area.

Google Project Fi

• Uses Sprint and T-Mobile networks
• Prices range up from $20
• No set unlimited data plan, but you can use as much as you want if you pay for it
• You can bring your own phone, but choices are limited to Google Pixel and Nexus 6P

Google Project Fi is another MVNO that uses Wi-Fi to handle calls and texts when it’s available, but Google also has another trick up its sleeve: It refunds customers for any data they don’t use. You’ll start by paying a $20 base fee, which will get you unlimited talk and text, after which you’ll pay $10 for each 1GB of data. Then, however, you’ll be refunded for any data you don’t use, which can be used toward your next bill.

For example, let’s say you pay $40 for 2GB of data, but during the month, you only use 1.5GB of data. You’ll then be refunded $5, which can be used toward your next bill. It’s really a neat idea, and means that you’ll only spend money on what you use. You can also add more data during the month, if you happen to go over your pre-paid amount.

There is a major downside to Project Fi, however, and that’s that you can only use a few phones with it. Those phones include the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, and the Nexus 6P. If you’re fine with that, however, we would argue that Project Fi is the best choice on this list.

Cricket Wireless

• Uses AT&T network
• Prices range from $30 to $60 a month
• Unlimited data plan available
• You can bring your own compatible phone

Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T, and as such, it uses the AT&T network. While you can bring your phone to Cricket Wireless, the company also has a number of phones on offer — and some of them are offered for free to those that port their old phone number over to the network.

Like some of the other MVNOs on our list, Cricket Wireless also offers unlimited data, but what you’ll be paying for is a certain amount of high-speed data. Plans start at $30 for unlimited talk and text with 1GB of data, and go up to $55 for unlimited talk, text, and data. That’s not a bad price at all.

Virgin Mobile

• Uses Sprint’s network
• Prices range from $35 to $60
• Unlimited data plan available
• You can bring your own compatible phone

Virgin Mobile has been around for some time now, and operates in countries all around the world. In the United States, it’s a pretty solid option, though not necessarily better than some of the others on our list.

There are three main single-line plans on Virgin Mobile, and they all include unlimited talk, text, and data. The first costs $35, and will get you 5GB of LTE data. The second comes at $45, and will get you 10GB of LTE data. The third and final offers unlimited LTE data.

Republic Wireless

• Uses Sprint and T-Mobile networks
• Prices range from $15 to $90 a month
• No unlimited data
• You can bring your own compatible phone

Republic Wireless has gained a lot of notoriety over the past few years, and for good reason. It was among the first companies to offer calling over Wi-Fi, which essentially means that customers can do away with having to buy minutes in favor of only using data.

Still, there will be times when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, and Republic Wireless has a number of plans to help with that. The cheapest plan is $15, and allows for unlimited talk and text, but no data. Don’t be fooled by Republic Wireless’ claim to offer “unlimited Wi-Fi data” — the company has no control over how much you’re allowed to use over Wi-Fi. The first plan with cellular data comes at $20, and you’ll get 1GB of data. Plans go up to $90 a month, and for that, you’ll get 10GB of data.

FreedomPop

• Uses Sprint and AT&T networks
• Prices range from free to $35
• No unlimited data plan
• You can bring your own compatible phone

FreedomPop is an MVNO known for offering a basic free plan to those who want it. That plan, however, isn’t really enough for most people — you’ll get 500 texts, 200 minutes, and 500MB of data a month using it. Still, most customers will want to upgrade to FreedomPop’s paid plans, which start at $11 a month for unlimited talk and text, plus 500MB of data. These range up to $35 a month for unlimited talk and text, plus 4GB of data. That’s not too shabby.

FreedomPop also offers family plans, which could be a great option for more than one person. Through the family plan, you can get 1GB of shared data for free, or anywhere up to 25GB of shared data for $160 a month.

PagePlus

• Uses Verizon network
• Prices range from $10 to $80
• Unlimited data plans offered
• You can bring your own compatible phone

PagePlus is one of the few MVNOs that uses the Verizon network, which means you’ll get pretty good coverage around the country. Not only that, but it’s also one of the few to offer unlimited data. The company offers two different types of plans. For starters, you can get a no contract monthly plan, which starts at $12 a month and gets you 250 minutes, 250 texts, and 10MB of data, and ranges up to $70 for unlimited talk, text, and data. However, only 10GB of that data will be on 4G LTE speeds — after that, you’ll be throttled to 2G.

PagePlus also offers a pay-as-you-go calling plan, and prices for that start at $10 for 100 minutes, and range up to $80 for 2,000 minutes. PagePlus has a decent selection of phones, too, including recent devices such as the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S8. You can also bring your own, if you prefer to do that instead.

Tello

• Uses Sprint network
• Prices range from $2 to $63 a month
• No unlimited data
• You can bring your own CDMA-compatible phone

Tello, which uses the Sprint network, is arguably the cheapest MVNO out there, and it prides itself on being totally customizable. You can buy minutes, text, and data in chunks, meaning that you can technically get a 200-text plan for as cheap as $2. There are also plans that allow for unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 5GB of data, but those will set you back $63 a month.

Tello also has a number of pre-built plans you can go for — like its “Economy” plan, which costs $13 and nets you 100 minutes, 200 texts, and 500MB. There’s also a “Delta Savvy” plan, which costs $52, and gets you 200 minutes, 200 texts, and 5GB of storage.

AirVoice

• Uses AT&T’s network
• Prices range from $5 to $50
• No unlimited data plan
• You can bring your own compatible phone

AirVoice is relatively standard as an MVNO, and makes use of AT&T’s network. The plans range from $5, which will get you unlimited talk, text, and 25MB of data for five days, to $50 a month, which will get you unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data. The company also offers unlimited international texts in all of its plans, which might be a big advantage for some people.

Your wallet can be a statement piece if it’s made of carbon fiber by Pitaka

Why it matters to you

You can access the contents of this wallet with just one hand with enough practice.

Most slim wallets are just variations on the same design and the same material. But if you’re looking to stand out and make a statement with what’s in your pocket, the Pitaka may be the wallet for you.

Made of carbon fiber, the Pitaka wallet may be among the most minimalist and lightest wallets out there. It boasts a modular design, which means that you can decide just how thick you really need your wallet to be. The Pitaka wallet depends upon a number of layers that you can customize according to your needs. The layers are held together using powerful magnets, and when you need to access something, you fan the layers out, rather unfolding as you would a traditional wallet.

The top and bottom layers of any Pitaka wallet each have a recess capable of holding one card. The middle layers have two recesses (one per side) capable of holding two cards. And then there are additional layers that can be used to store other things that you might not be able to put in a traditional wallet, like keys, a bottle opener, and more. There’s even an optional tool card layer you can include in your wallet.

Once you master the art of sliding this wallet open, you ought to be able to do it with just your thumb, making it convenient (and pretty snazzy to watch, too). And because the wallet is made of carbon fiber, it’s not only lighter and more durable, but also features natural RFID blocking so no one is surreptitiously stealing your information.

We should point out that there is one very obvious drawback to the Pitaka. Because it depends heavily upon magnets, the magnetized strip of your credit cards could fall victim to the design. However, as we turn increasingly to chip technology, this may soon be a non-issue. Nevertheless, if you find that a lot of stores you frequent still require you to swipe instead of insert your card, you may want to be careful with using this wallet. 

You can grab the Pitaka Carbon Fiber Wallet from the company website, starting at $80.

Uber wants its New York City-based passengers to know how sorry it is

Why it matters to you

It’s been a very difficult six months for Uber, and now, the company is doing all it can to save face.

To say that Uber has had a rough 2017 would be the understatement of the year, and we’re only halfway through the calendar. From the departure of its embattled CEO to sexist comments from its board members, the transportation giant, once a Silicon Valley darling, is now the black sheep of the tech industry — a cautionary tale on what not to do. So in an effort to improve its suffering image, Uber sent out an email to its users based in New York City, only not all of us got the apology.

The email, which was sent Friday to a number of NYC-based passengers, noted that it “failed to prioritize” some of its key stakeholders. “In expanding so quickly, we failed to prioritize the people that helped get us here,” the email read, according to Business Insider. “Ultimately, the measure of our success is the satisfaction of our riders, drivers, and employees — and we realize that we have fallen short.”

Apparently, the message was sent to users in “several of [Uber’s] markets who hadn’t taken rides recently,” according to Business Insider’s source. But it’s unclear as to what “recently” entailed, as this writer received no such email despite a lengthy lapse in Uber patronage.

It’s unclear how meaningful the email will ultimately prove, as it seems that in many cases the damage is already done. The #DeleteUber movement of earlier this year saw the company lose more than 200,000 customers, and the company’s track record since then has been one public relations nightmare after another.

But apparently, Uber is getting ready to change. The company’s board asked former United States Attorney General Eric Holder and experts from the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct a thorough investigation of the company’s culture, and you can check out the results here.

“Today, we are ready to embrace radical change,” Uber said in its email. “Uber’s board has unanimously accepted all 47 recommendations from the Covington Report and has begun to put them and others into action.” The company is promising to increase accountability, change leadership, focus on collaboration and empathy, and empower diverse perspectives.

“The past several months have compelled us to redefine who we are and who we want to be as a company,” Uber concluded. “There is still more work to be done, but we are confident that we are taking the first steps to becoming the company you deserve.”

The best electric bike you can buy

As our thoroughfares become increasingly crowded with automotive traffic, more cities are making biking around town safer and more accessible to citizens. Needless to say, these massive city planning efforts are showing plenty of return on investment. From 2000 to 2010, the number of bicycle commuters increased by 40 percent across the United States, and these numbers were as high as 77 percent in some cities, according to Forbes.

The biking industry has boomed in recent years as manufacturers look to capitalize with increasingly nuanced styles. That said, the electric bike movement has taken the biking industry by storm, as individuals look to add little pedal-assistance to their daily commutes and casual weekend outings. An ebike is certainly quite the initial economic investment, however, when considered alongside the annual costs of fueling, insuring, and maintaining an automobile, an ebike literally pays for itself over time. Here are five of our favorite ebikes on the market.

Our pick

Specialized Turbo Vado

Why should you buy this? The Turbo Vado is one of the most capable ebikes we’ve tested.

The best

Turbo Vado 5.0 (Men’s)

The Turbo Vado is a versatile ebike without the bulk of most other electric builds.

$4,600.00 from Specialized

Who it’s for? Anyone looking for more than a casual commuter.

How much will it cost? $4,600

Why we chose the Specialized Turbo Vado:

We had the opportunity to take the Specialized Turbo Vado for a spin in Palo Alto earlier this year and the model is still our pick for top ebike on the market. Utilizing a 350-watt motor and 604-watt-hour lithium-ion battery, the Turbo Vado is capable of traveling up to 80 miles on a single charge, which should be more than enough for your daily commute and then some.

A couple of pedals activates the motor to Turbo (the highest pedal-assist mode) and subsequently shuts off once the bike reaches speeds in excess of 28 miles per hour. The Turbo Vado has a built-in LED readout on the handlebar so you can better gauge your speed while you’re out and about.

We ran the Vado through the gauntlet — including some of the steepest hills in Palo Alto — and the bike easily handled even the most daunting of ascents at about 20 mph. It’s important to note that the Vado is custom-tuned for city riding. That said, if you’re looking for an ebike for more difficult terrain, there are other options on this list to fit the bill. Read more about the Specialized Turbo Vado here.

The best fattie electric bike

Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie

Why should you buy this?  This is the best power-assisted fat boy we’ve seen.

The best fattie electric bike

Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie

The Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie is ideal for even the most rugged treks.

$4,500.00 from Specialized

Who it’s for? Year-round mountain bike enthusiasts.

How much will it cost? $4,500

Why we chose the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie:

The fat boy style bike isn’t for everyone, however, there certainly exists an avid fan base for the bulky build. While slimmer tires are more nimble and efficient for urban commuting, fat tires offer better traction and also allow you to chew up terrain year-round. With these parameters in mind, the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie is a solid power-assisted model for fat boy fans.

The Turbo Levo line of ebikes each includes a beast of a motor with up to 530 watts of power. And unlike some pedal-assistance models, the Turbo Levo system intuitively reacts to your pedaling rather than simply adding a jolt of power here and there. A backend algorithm senses your torque, speed, and cadence and then amplifies this sequence. This gives the Levo power-assistance a more natural feel than other more rudimentary designs.

The system easily connects to your smartphone via the Mission Control app where you can tweak motor dynamics such as acceleration response and turbo preferences. This app also monitors and records the metrics of your ride for added post-ride feedback.

The Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie is unapologetically one of the heftier ebikes on the market and those seeking a sleeker, more agile bike for commuting around town will need to look elsewhere. However, fat boy enthusiasts will certainly enjoy this big-boned beast.

The best commuter electric bike

Stromer ST2 S

Why should you buy this? Loaded with bells and whistles, the Stromer ST2 S is one of the most advanced ebikes on the market.

Our Score

The best commuter electric bike

Stromer ST2 S

You’ll be able to travel from home to the office and then some in style with the Stromer ST2 S.

$9,999.00 from Stromer

Who it’s for? Inner city commuters.

How much will it cost? $10,000

Why we chose the Stromer ST2 S:

The Stromer St2 S is one of the more expensive ebikes on the market and for good reason — the unit is loaded with features you won’t find anywhere else. The 983 watt-hour battery (one of the largest on the market) is capable of fueling the 500-watt motor for more than 100 miles on a single charge. Of course, this maximum capacity varies depending on your weight and power settings.

This ebike features a slew of settings to meet the needs of your commute. While in pedal-assist mode, the ST2 S has a top speed of 28mph, which is more than adequate for most inner city thoroughfares. There are multiple stock presets but you can also create custom settings in the paired Stromer app for further versatility.

This model also uses a basic throttle, allowing you to simply sit back and relax while the ST2 S chauffeurs you along at a modest (albeit enjoyable) 12 mph. The Walk mode power-assistance makes towing the 65 pound unit around town significantly less taxing.

The ST2 S has a slew of safety and security features to boot. A powerful Supernova 1,600-lumen headlight functions more like a floodlight than a traditional bike light, though if this vivid beam isn’t enough to light up the night, there are also a series of running LED lights along the bike to increase visibility. Once you “park” the bike in the app, the ST2 S alerts you if the bike moves more than 50 feet. If someone is brazen enough to attempt to snag your Stromer, the bike sends you text alerts, allowing you to track the bike in the app via GPS.

There certainly are cheaper electric grocery-getters on the market, but those looking for one of the most advanced commuter ebikes will be more than pleased with the Stromer ST2 S. Read more about the Stromer ST2 S here.

The best electric road bike

Giant Road E+

Why should you buy this? The Road E+ is an elegant touring option.

The best electric road bike

Giant Road E+

The Giant Road E+ is one of the sleekest electric road bikes on the market.

$4,000.00 from Giant

Who it’s for? Road bike enthusiasts.

How much will it cost? $4,000

Why we chose the Giant Road E+:

While the idea of a pedal-assisted road bike may seem counterintuitive, during lengthier training sessions, a little added power can help prevent overall muscle fatigue and injury. Similarly, individuals looking to enjoy longer scenic routes will appreciate the general boost.

With a top speed of 28 mph, the Road E+ uses three power modes to give you ultimate control over your ride and assistance level. A four-point sensory system monitors the pedaling force allowing the motor to amplify your movements seamlessly.

One of our favorite features with the Road E+ is the ergonomic Ride Control EVO command station. Unlike other control centers, this display is mounted onto the handlebars front-and-center keeping the controls quite literally at your fingertips. At higher speeds, balance is key, and this module enables control over the system and the fork at all times.

The frame itself incorporates a series of mounts allowing you to easily trick-out the Road E+ with a rack, fenders, or panniers to more aptly meet your touring requirements. Again, most touring purists will certainly scoff at the mere notion of pedal-assistance, however, individuals looking for more of a guided tour and less of a tour de force will swoon over the Road E+.

The best budget option electric bike

Espin Sport Black

Why should you buy this? The Espin Sport is a solid economic ebike option.

The best budget option electric bike

Espin Sport Black

The Espin Sport is an exceptionally practical ebike priced under $2,000.

$1,888.00 from Espin

Who it’s for? Those looking to test the ebike waters without breaking the bank.

How much will it cost? $1,880

Why we chose the Espin Sport Black:

Purchasing an ebike can be a rather hefty initial investment, and there are dozens of worthy makes and models to choose from. That said, some individuals may desire a solid pedal-assistance model without a bevy of extra frills and the Espin Sport is our top budget-specific pick.

Overall, the Epsin has a no-nonsense blue-collar build we absolutely love. It utilizes a 20-inch diamond frame that looks and feels like a traditional road bike. A sturdy, rear-mounted luggage rack stows up to 55 pounds of cargo, which should be more than plenty for a trip to the store, commute to the office, or a short day trip.

The Espin is powered by a 350-watt motor that’s rated for trips up to 50 miles (depending on the terrain and assist level). Once depleted, the battery fully charges in roughly five hours. Thankfully, Espin allows for removal of the battery, allowing you to quickly recharge it at home or in the office between trips. A backlit LCD control hub displays your basic metrics and battery life while in transit and LED headlights add a touch of light when needed.

The Espin Sport isn’t going to tow you around for a 60-mile round-trip endeavor but those seeking their first ebike will get plenty of bang for their buck with this model. Read more about the Espin Sport here.

Xsens body suits are getting even better at motion capture

Motion capturing is becoming more important for games and movies alike, but unless you’re ready to shell out for a complicated rig and dedicated studio space, it’s incredibly difficult. Xsens has been working to solve that problem for the last decade with its custom body suits, which handle all of the motion capturing work without the need for any external sensors. The one problem with the company’s suits so far? Metal — or anything that can disrupt its embedded magnetometers. But at E3 this week, Xsens showed off the latest version of its software, which no longer gets disrupted by metallic objects.

Now, the company claims its suits can track your movement just about anywhere — even while driving in a car, or skydiving. The suits can run for 10-12 hours, and setting them up should take only a few minutes. Xsens says just about every major game company is already using its suits, but they’ll likely be even more in demand as more developers move to VR. They can even detect when people lie, scientists found. While the Xsens suits cost between $12,500 and $30,000, the company says that’s still significantly less expensive than a typical mo-cap rig.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!