Facebook won’t release data on political ads to researchers
While many political scientists are itching to get their hands on data documenting how political ads on Facebook performed, the company says it won’t be releasing that information. Facebook says it doesn’t differentiate between political and commercial ads with this policy and that’s not likely to change any time soon.
Researchers want information on how much money candidates spent on ads, who saw them and how often they were clicked in order to assess how big of a role ads played in the election. And because online advertising allows for more specific demographic targeting than other methods, getting information on how ads changed across demographics is information that academics think would boost transparency.
“The holy grail, I think, of political analysis for the 2016 election is to figure out which communications from which entities had an effect on which jurisdictions in the United States,” Nathan Persily, a Stanford University professor, told Reuters.
But Facebook wants to keep their policies consistent, which means no exception will be made for political ads. Facebook’s deputy chief privacy officer Rob Sherman said that ads are often considered creative content and advertising strategies confidential information. Sherman added that Facebook was open to hearing research proposals, but changes weren’t likely to be made.
Source: Reuters
Lego collector uses artificial intelligence to sort pounds of bricks at a time
Why it matters to you
If you’ve ever spent too long looking for the one Lego brick you desperately need, you understand exactly why a machine this large and complex was completely worth the effort.
Anyone who grew up with Lego will remember buying and building individual sets, only to see their collection morph into an unruly, unsorted mass over time. Sorting through a vast array of bricks to find a particular piece has long been the bane of many a Lego enthusiast but now one canny constructor has developed a system that uses artificial intelligence to sort through large quantities automatically.
Jacques Mattheij observed that there was plenty of money to be made selling Lego on the second-hand market and plenty of eBay listings for bricks in bulk. With that in mind, he began prototyping a rather amazing machine that could classify Lego by shape and color.
Committing himself to the project, he bought enough Lego to fill his garage and set about putting together the hardware and software that would work together to sort through it.
The problem with bulk Lego lots is that they tend to contain lots of bricks that need to be weeded out before they can be sold, as noted in Mattheij’s blog post detailing his project. Any fake parts obviously need to go, as do any discolored, damaged, or otherwise dirty bricks.
In its current incarnation, the system loads bricks from a hopper onto a conveyor belt that runs them past a camera that is hooked up to a PC. Setting up the camera to recognize particular pieces presented all kinds of challenges. According to Mattheij’s count, there are 38,000 different shapes of Lego brick, which can be one of more than 100 stringently defined colors.
Mattheij tried various different methods, but eventually settled upon training a neural network to differentiate between different pieces. The finished system is apparently able to classify a brick in just 30ms, running on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPU.
While Mattheij concedes that his project is far from the finished product and could benefit from various revisions, its current iteration is good enough to accept kilos of Lego at a time and sort it with some accuracy. It would take a serious Lego collection to warrant an investment in this kind of hardware but there are certainly devotees out there would love to have access to Mattheij’s creation.
Lego collector uses artificial intelligence to sort pounds of bricks at a time
Why it matters to you
If you’ve ever spent too long looking for the one Lego brick you desperately need, you understand exactly why a machine this large and complex was completely worth the effort.
Anyone who grew up with Lego will remember buying and building individual sets, only to see their collection morph into an unruly, unsorted mass over time. Sorting through a vast array of bricks to find a particular piece has long been the bane of many a Lego enthusiast but now one canny constructor has developed a system that uses artificial intelligence to sort through large quantities automatically.
Jacques Mattheij observed that there was plenty of money to be made selling Lego on the second-hand market and plenty of eBay listings for bricks in bulk. With that in mind, he began prototyping a rather amazing machine that could classify Lego by shape and color.
Committing himself to the project, he bought enough Lego to fill his garage and set about putting together the hardware and software that would work together to sort through it.
The problem with bulk Lego lots is that they tend to contain lots of bricks that need to be weeded out before they can be sold, as noted in Mattheij’s blog post detailing his project. Any fake parts obviously need to go, as do any discolored, damaged, or otherwise dirty bricks.
In its current incarnation, the system loads bricks from a hopper onto a conveyor belt that runs them past a camera that is hooked up to a PC. Setting up the camera to recognize particular pieces presented all kinds of challenges. According to Mattheij’s count, there are 38,000 different shapes of Lego brick, which can be one of more than 100 stringently defined colors.
Mattheij tried various different methods, but eventually settled upon training a neural network to differentiate between different pieces. The finished system is apparently able to classify a brick in just 30ms, running on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPU.
While Mattheij concedes that his project is far from the finished product and could benefit from various revisions, its current iteration is good enough to accept kilos of Lego at a time and sort it with some accuracy. It would take a serious Lego collection to warrant an investment in this kind of hardware but there are certainly devotees out there would love to have access to Mattheij’s creation.
New My MakerBot platform makes 3D printing easier for students with Chromebooks
Why it matters to you
The new My MakerBot platform keeps teachers and students within the browser as they create, upload, and print their designs on any 3D printer on the network.
3D printing just got a lot easier for students and teachers who use Chromebooks, as MakerBot launched its new My MakerBot platform that crams everything they need into one in-browser tool. By using My MakerBot, users can now access all 3D printers on the network, all orders, support cases, and Thingiverse accounts. This new platform is complemented by the upcoming release of MakerBot’s guidebook for educators slated for the start of the 2017 school year.
For those not familiar with MakerBot, the company set out to create affordable, easily accessible 3D printing solutions in 2009, starting with the Cupcake CNC. MakerBot’s first Wi-Fi 3D printer didn’t arrive until MakerBot’s acquisition by Stratasys in 2013. However, MakerBot said earlier this year that it would put a heavier focus on the professional and education sectors, and the new My MakerBot platform is part of that move.
“It gives users the ability to upload and prepare files, print, then monitor their progress from any device, anywhere,” the company said. ”The new platform broadens student access to 3D printers in Chromebook classrooms and makes it easier for educators to manage their use.”
The new My MakerBot dashboard is split into two parts: the menu on the left and the main window. In the menu, users will see the Account section listing the dashboard home-screen link, selections for basic information, payment and shipping information, and a sign-out option. The menu’s Printers section is where the dashboard pulls up all 3D printers located on the network, such as those located in the library, math department, and so on.
MakerBot’s 3D printers aren’t exactly cheap. The company’s largest printer, the Replicator Z18, costs $6,500 and stands 18 inches high. Targeting the professional sector, the firm builds large industrial-grade products, models, and prototypes. The $2,500 Replicator+ is the next step down for professionals and educators, printing 11.6 x 7.6 x 6.3-inch objects. Meanwhile, the $1,300 Replicator Mini+ is a compact solution for printing 4.0 x 5.0 x 5.0 -inch objects.
In addition to the launch of its new My MakerBot platform, the company also said that it teamed up with Autodesk to support the popular K-12 design software Tinkercad on My MakerBot. This connectivity will enable students to stay within the browser environment to create their designs in Autodesk’s software, export them to My MakerBot, and print them on a networked 3D printer.
As for the MakerBot Educators Guidebook, this upcoming tool will include nine “teacher-tested” lesson plans along with a guidebook to the new My MakerBot platform, a crash course in 3D design and printing, a large 3D printing curriculum library, Thingiverse Education lesson plans, and more. The book’s first project, Cloud Types, can be downloaded for free right now here.
“We wrote the guidebook in collaboration with over eighty MakerBot educators, all dedicated leaders in STEM education, in order to deliver the ultimate resource for learning the basics, best practices, and for finding high quality lesson plans,” the company said.
To see our picks for the top five 3D printers you can purchase today, head here.
The ‘e-Mosquito’ is a wearable that sucks your blood … for your own good
Why it matters to you
This diabetes-monitoring wearable device could rescue diabetics from the need to do their own fingerprick blood samples.
When it comes to future mass-market wearable devices, an artificial blood-sucking device that’s permanently strapped to your wrist doesn’t sound like it has the makings of a “must-buy” product. But its initial sales pitch may be deceiving. In fact, a version of the so-called “e-Mosquito” could turn out to be the ultimate wearable for diabetes sufferers. And that takes its potential market from a few would-be vampire enthusiasts to the estimated 371 million people worldwide affected by the condition.
“The e-Mosquito is an unimposing, autonomous wearable device that can bite through the skin of a diabetic patient, [take a] capillary blood sample, analyze it for glucose, and report the result wirelessly to a smartphone, [the] internet, Health Watch, or the like,” Martin Mintchev, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Canada’s University of Calgary, told Digital Trends.
The project started way back in 2007 with a prototype that was roughly the size of a deck of cards. It’s now evolved into a smaller, more watch-like device, boasting a shape memory alloy (SMA)-based actuator. This has allowed the team to shrink the device, while at the same time remaining able to produce a greater penetrative force into the skin — although we’re assured it doesn’t hurt any more than an actual mosquito nip.
The new device packs a battery, LED display, actuator, and other components, while a disposable cartridge carries a needle and test strip. It can be programmed to take a sample at prearranged times, meaning that the wearer doesn’t even have to stop and think about pricking their finger for a blood sample.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, particularly if the e-Mosquito can eventually expand its use-cases to include other tests, such as genetic testing or cancer screening, as Mintchev hopes it will. For now, though, the plan is to continue working on this prototype in a way that will eventually make it saleable.
“At the moment we are working on the glucose-sensing mechanism integration, with the hope to commercialize the device as soon as possible,” Mintchev said.
Between this work, Apple’s (possible) research on diabetes-managing devices, and other tech initiatives like the University Hospital of Montpellier, France’s artificial pancreas project, things could be looking up for diabetes sufferers.
Evoke the magic of Harry Potter with ‘Cauldron Magical’ Kickstarter campaign
Why it matters to you
We’re not so far away from a magical world after all — at least not if we utilize the magic of the Internet of Things.
We may not have gotten into Hogwarts, but that doesn’t mean we can’t introduce a little magic into our lives. And thanks to the innovations of the 21st century, we’re pretty close to living, if not in a magical castle, then at the very least in Weasley’s Burrow. That’s because of a new Kickstarter project that’s designed to bring even more of that magic to life. Meet the Cauldron Magical Pub & Inn, a new crowdfunding project hoping to bring the magic of Harry Potter to life with technology and design.
The end goal of the project (which hopes to raise an ambitious $500,000), is to create a “physical location that straddles the line between the magical and non-magical worlds.” Meant as a watering hole for adult fans (and pint-sized ones, too), the team seeks to build an environment that adapts current technology made possible by the Internet of Things to accomplish many of the wonders described by J.K. Rowling in her hit series.
What’s on the roster? A number of ideas are on the table, including moving photos (which Apple has already made effectively possible), floating candles, and responsive lights. Indeed, many of the team’s ideas seem perfectly within the realm of reason, given the existing capabilities of connected devices and smart homes.
But perhaps one of the more unique aspects of this campaign lies in its uncertainty. As Matthew Cortland, a former reading teacher turned designer and entrepreneur, told Digital Trends, “The exact technology is to be determined, which is an intentional aspect of the crowdfunding project. We are crowdfunding the initial capital, but just as important is that we are crowdfunding input and ideas from a community of engaged fantasy fans. We want to know what type of magic people want to see and also how they think it is achievable.” That means that you, the supportive public, will ultimately decide what and how the technology is implemented.
That said, Cortland has a pretty good idea of how things will turn out. “I strongly expect the pub will use core technology like connected devices and sensors that respond to voice commands and wand touch,” he told us. “I love the idea of taking ordinary objects apart, bewitching (programming) them to behave in a certain way, and putting them back together. It’s the part of the magic of the wizarding world that I find most intriguing — that ordinary objects are somehow magical.”
OnePlus 5 vs. Google Pixel XL: Can the OnePlus workhorse defeat the Android darling?
The so-called “flagship killer” is back for 2017 — after months of rumors, OnePlus has finally unveiled the OnePlus 5. The Chinese manufacturer is known for offering flagship-tier phones at a reasonable price, and that trend continues with its latest addition. The OnePlus 5 boasts the latest processor, copious amounts of RAM, and a strong camera.
The OnePlus 5 may be one of the best Android phones on the market right now, but it’s not the only great device on the market. Google’s proprietary set of smartphones, the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, were widely praised, and the Pixel sits as our favorite Android smartphone at the moment. Can the OnePlus 5 take that crown? We put the two phones to the test to find out.
Specs
OnePlus 5
Google Pixel XL
Size
154.2 × 74.1 × 7.25 mm (6.07 × 2.92 × 0.28 in)
154.7 × 75.7 × 8.5 mm (6 × 2.9 × 0.3 in)
Weight
5.39 ounces (153 grams)
5.92 ounces (168 grams)
Screen
5.5-inch AMOLED
5.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution
1,920 × 1,080 pixels (401 pixels per inch)
2,560 × 1,440 pixels (534ppi)
OS
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 7.1.2 Nougat
Storage
64GB or 128GB
32GB or 128GB
SD Card Slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM
6GB or 8GB
4GB
Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE
GSM / HSPA / LTE / CDMA
Camera
Front 8MP, Rear Dual 16MP and 20MP
Front 8MP, Rear 12.3MP
Video
4K
4K
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, barometer, proximity sensor
Water Resistant
No
No
Battery
3,300mAh
3,450mAh
Charger
USB Type-C
USB Type-C
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
No
No
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, gray
Black, silver
Availability
Unlocked, OnePlus
Unlocked, AT&T, Verizon
Price
Starts at $480
Starts at $770
DT Review
4 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
There’s no point beating around the bush here — no matter how you look at it, the OnePlus 5 is a more powerful phone.
There are a few reasons for this. For starters, the OnePlus 5 makes use of Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Snapdragon 835. This is a top-tier chip that powers many of the flagship phones for the year, including the Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC U11, and — if the rumors prove true — Google’s successor to the Pixel. The Pixel XL, on the other hand, boasts last year’s processor, the Snapdragon 821. Now, the Snapdragon 821 is an excellent chip in its own right, but the fact remains that it just doesn’t beat the Snapdragon 835.
The onslaught doesn’t stop with the processor; the OnePlus 5 also boasts tons of RAM and storage. There are two variants of the OnePlus 5 — one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and one with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Compared to the Pixel’s 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 128GB of storage, the OnePlus 5 is the clear winner here.
Between the better processor and the ability to get up to double the amount of RAM as the Pixel, the OnePlus 5 scores the win here.
Winner: OnePlus 5
Design, display, and durability
The OnePlus 5 has been criticized as being an “iPhone copy,” and while that certainly looks to be the case, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a sleek look, one based on simplicity. The device features the OnePlus logo squarely on the back, along with a dual camera in the upper-left corner, which is raised slightly from the body. The front is also a little basic. Here, you’ll find the display, which sits in at 5.5-inches, as well as a home button on the bottom of the device. Some are likely to be disappointed that OnePlus hasn’t adopted a full-width display like that of the Galaxy S8, but the display is one of the primary ways in which OnePlus cuts costs, so it’s not all that surprising to see it stick with what it has.
The design of the Pixel XL is also somewhat basic, but a little different than the OnePlus 5. On the back, you’ll find the top half is made of glass, while the bottom half is metal. You’ll also find the fingerprint sensor toward the top of the back, whereas the OnePlus 5’s fingerprint sensor is built directly into the home button. The front of the Pixel does away with the home button in favor of software controls.
Design is subjective, but some aspects of design are not. For example, the OnePlus 5 is significantly thinner than the Pixel XL, coming in at just 7.25mm, whereas the Pixel XL comes in at 8.5mm. The Pixel XL excels in display — while both have the same 5.5-inch screen, the Pixel XL has a higher resolution. The OnePlus 5 offers a 5.5-inch display with a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution.
Durability is also an important thing to consider, though it’s a little harder to determine a winner in this category. Neither the Pixel or the OnePlus 5 are explicitly water-resistant, so you won’t want to use them near a pool or in the bath. That leaves only breakage — and considering the fact that half of the Pixel’s back is glass, we think the OnePlus 5 will probably prove to be more durable.
We’re giving the win here to the OnePlus 5 because it’s thinner and less fragile, but the Pixel XL has a higher resolution, and sharper screen. Keep in mind there’s also the $650 Pixel, which has a 5-inch screen with a 1,080 pixel resolution. If you prefer a higher resolution screen, and you like the look of the Pixel XL more — go for it.
Winner: OnePlus 5
Battery life and charging
While the Pixel XL has a bigger battery (3,450mAh) than the OnePlus 5 (3,300mAh), it also has a higher-resolution screen — that drains the battery faster. In our usage, we’ve found the OnePlus 5 to have better battery life. It’s likely also the work of the Snapdragon 835, which is a more battery-efficient processor.
The OnePlus 5 also boasts OnePlus’ proprietary fast-charging technology called Dash Charge, which is one of the best quick-charging methods available. The Pixel does feature fast-charging tech, but it’s not as fast as the OnePlus 5.
Winner: OnePlus 5
Camera
The camera has become one of the more important aspects to consider when buying a smartphone, likely because it allows us to leave our traditional point-and-shoot camera at home. Thankfully, the OnePlus 5 boasts an excellent camera, but it can’t quite match the Pixel XL.
The rear camera on the OnePlus 5 is a dual camera, one that features both a 16-megapixel main lens and 20-megapixel telephoto lens, which helps it impart photos with a “bokeh” or blur effect. The main lens also has an aperture of f/1.7, which is relatively large, and should help the camera in low-light situations. The front-facing camera is rated at 8 megapixels.
The Pixel, on the other hand, is slightly less technical. There’s only one 12.3 megapixel camera on the rear with an aperture of f/2.0. The front-facing camera sits at 8 megapixels, like the OnePlus 5. Based on our usage, the Pixel XL still reigns king as the best smartphone camera. It take snappy, incredible photos in varying environments. That doesn’t mean the OnePlus 5 is bad — you can still take some great shots, and you may find the portrait mode to be more useful than Lens Blur on the Pixel.
Winner: Pixel XL
Software
The software on these two phones is fairly similar, and for many, that’s a good thing. More and more customers are beginning to demand so-called “stock Android,” or plain Android as Google intended it. That’s largely what the Pixel offers — a plain yet easy-to-use Android experience. The OnePlus 5 offers a similar experience with OxygenOS. The Pixel XL runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat, while the OnePlus 5’s OS is based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
Using OxygenOS, you’ll find a few differences that you won’t find elsewhere. For example, the Oxygen Shelf feature is hidden to the left of the home screen where you would otherwise find Google Now, and it’s aimed at giving you bite-sized pieces of information when you need them. It can also be deactivated, if you so choose. OxygenOS also offers a ton more customization than the Pixel’s software, which gives it an edge.
But there’s another thing to consider here, and it’s updates. If you’re into quick and reliable updates, then the Pixel XL is the better option. As a Google-built device, it’ll get updates as soon as they’re available. OnePlus hasn’t been bad with software updates, but the OnePlus 5 won’t beat the Pixel in this regard. OnePlus seems to also cut off support for its older devices quicker than Google.
Winner: Pixel XL
Price and availability
OnePlus is known for offering top-tier specs at a reasonable price point, and this year is no different. While the 32GB and 128GB configurations of the Pixel sits in at $649 and $749, respectively, the OnePlus 5 undercuts both by a mile. A 128GB model of the OnePlus 5 with 8GB of RAM will only set you back $540, and there’s a cheaper version for $480, which comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
Now, the price makes the OnePlus a clear winner here, but there are a few caveats. For starters, the Pixel is available online, from both Best Buy and Verizon, and is compatible with all four major carriers in the United States. The OnePlus 5 is only available from the OnePlus website, and is not compatible with CMDA networks, which cuts out Verizon and Sprint.
Still, if you are willing to buy the phone outright, and are taking it to a GSM network, the OnePlus 5 is the clear winner here.
Winner: OnePlus 5
Overall winner: OnePlus 5
This one is pretty easy to judge — and that’s because one of these phones is a 2017 flagship, while the other is a 2016 flagship. It will be a harder decision when the Pixel’s successor enters the mix, but for now, the OnePlus 5 is the phone to get if you’re deciding between these two, especially if you’re on a GSM network.
LG gram 15Z970 15.6-Inch laptop review
Research Center:
LG Gram 15Z970-A.AAS7U1 Laptop
LG introduced its next generation of Gram-branded ultra-thin laptops in February of 2017. They aim to bring the thin-and-light form factor to the next level by offering LG’s lightest designs yet. The latest refresh spans six models in three screen sizes weighing between 2.07 pounds to 2.40 pounds. On top of that, the refresh promises high performance backed by a long battery life. Our LG Gram review unit, the 15Z970 model, packed a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-500U processor, 16GB of system memory (DDR4), a 512GB solid state drive, and a touch-enabled 15.6-inch display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. All of this is backed by a 60 Watt hour battery promising up to 12.5 hours of up-time. The price? A hefty $1,600, making it the most expensive and powerful LG Gram in the new 2017 batch.
Ultra-slim on an entirely new level
Let’s not beat around the bush here: the LG Gram is incredibly thin and light. It’s about as heavy as your typical ceramic dinner plate, with its weight equally distributed throughout the device, instead of the weight mostly residing in the battery area. Its overall dimensions are 14.1 x 9.0 x 0.6 inches, which is on par with the competition, but not remarkably svelte.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
While the laptop sports a clamshell form factor, the screen can bend back up to 150 degrees, enabling you to easily share the on-screen content. Adding to this factor is the use of a panel based on In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology that’s known for its rich colors and wide viewing angles.
The laptop boasts a dark silver magnesium alloy body. The lid is highly polished, while the bottom sports a fine metallic carbon-fiber-like finish, as does the keyboard area. The rounded hinge connecting the display to the laptop body measures roughly around 0.50 inches in diameter, which plays host to the built-in 1MP webcam and microphones. Yes, that means you’ll have to deal with the dreaded “up-the-nose” camera angle.
Of course, because this laptop is so thin and light, it may not be the ideal computing solution for students. It honestly feels like a toy, despite the fact it is built from durable materials. The LG Gram is ideal for controlled environments like the home office, airplane trips, business meetings, and so on, where having a super-thin and super-light device is necessary.
Packs plenty of ports despite a super-slim design
Despite its thinness, the LG Gram 15 provides several outputs for peripherals and video. On the left side, users will find the power connector, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, one HDMI port, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port, and two LEDs for power/battery and storage access.
Despite its thinness, the LG Gram 15 provides several outputs for peripherals and video.
One note about the power connection. It felt wobbly and frail, and during our testing the slightest movement of the laptop caused the plug to unseat and push the device onto battery power. We recall this same issue occurring with LG’s previous model of Gram. We’d like to see LG switch to a different connector, or just use USB Type-C.
On the right side of the laptop, users will find a Micro SD card slot, one headphone jack, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, and one USB 2.0 Type-A port. Notice that this laptop doesn’t include an Ethernet port for wired networking. That’s because LG is routing the connectivity through the Type-C port, and provides a Type-C to Ethernet adapter in the box. Unfortunately, this arrangement’s speed is capped at 100 megabits per second (Mbps), rather than the normal Ethernet maximum of one gigabit per second.
Those seeking a fast network connection will need to switch over to the laptop’s Wireless AC component, supporting wireless speeds of up to 867Mbps. That means it has two internal outgoing antennas and two incoming antennas (2×2), locking it to 867Mbps even if the laptop is connected to a 3×3 or 4×4 router. This component also supports MU-MIMO technology, and includes Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
The Gram 15Z970 will light up your life
As for manual input, the touchpad is just over four inches wide and under three inches deep. It features a glassy smooth surface and two seemingly invisible “mouse” buttons. It felt extremely precise in our testing, as the slightest touch gracefully moved the cursor across the screen. Unfortunately, there’s no indication that it’s Windows Precision Touchpad compatible, which means it lacks support for every multi-touch gesture available to Windows 10. Yet we have no complaints about its responsiveness, or a lack thereof.
Moving up, each squared keyboard key is lit with a white LED underneath. The backlighting is activated/deactivated by pressing FN + F8, which also provides two brightness levels. This backlighting provides just enough brightness to barely illuminate the fonts and key borders so they’re easier to find in any lighting condition. It’s not extraordinarily bright in normal office use, but does provide great illumination in low-light scenarios.
Each key, when touched and pressed, feels rather firm in its place. The keys are responsive, so it doesn’t take too firm press to input a letter. The keyboard layout itself feels wide enough to not cause any input issues unless you’re a professional wrestler.
The LG Gram 15Z970 also includes a touchscreen. Using Paint, we verified that it accurately tracks ten simultaneous inputs, making this laptop fun when drawing with fingers directly on the screen. Still, because the LG Gram is a clamshell laptop, this feature seems somewhat unnecessary, pushing users to reach across the keyboard rather than use the built-in touchpad.
The biggest selling point is the screen
The LG Gram comes with a 15.6-inch 1080p panel. While respectable, that resolution won’t turn heads in 2017. Of course, the quality also depends on the color spaces the panel supports, and how much. In the case of the LG Gram laptop, we discovered that the panel supports 81 percent of the sRGB color space and 60 percent of the Adobe RGB color space. It also has an average color accuracy of 1.58, making it slightly better than the HP EliteBook x360 G2, but nowhere near as accurate as the most recent MacBook Pro 15 with the cool touch bar.
Screen brightness came in at 302 nits, which is average for laptops with IPS screens. That means the screen is tolerable outside on an overcast day, but reading bright pages and documents may become visually annoying. In a normal office environment, the screen is extremely clear, with deep blacks and brilliant, rich colors. The screen has a contrast ratio of 830:1, which puts it between the latest MacBook Pro 15, and the Asus Zenbook UX330UA.
The screen doesn’t stand out in any one area, but it also lacks any serious weakness.
The display provides wide viewing angles, meaning no matter the position of your head relative to the screen, the image doesn’t wash out.
Despite its mundane resolution, we were pleased by the LG Gram’s overall display quality. Its solid color accuracy, good contrast, and reasonable maximum brightness meld together for a pleasant experience in movies and games. The screen doesn’t stand out in any one area, but it also lacks any serious weakness.
Thin laptop, thin speakers
Of course, with a great screen, you need great audio to fully enjoy your media. The laptop includes two one-watt speakers, which are mostly invisible. The quality of the sound is very treble-dependent, so you won’t hear high levels of bass.
Lots of horses under that super-thin hood
As previously stated, the meat of this new LG Gram laptop is the Intel Core i7-7500U processor. It’s a two-core chip with as base speed of 2.7GHzm and a boost speed of 3.5GHz. In a single-core test, the laptop scored 4,253 points in Geekbench 4, placing it just under the latest HP Spectre x360 15 laptop performance-wise, and slightly above the Surface Book with Performance Boost. Meanwhile, the LG scored 8,495 points in the multi-core test, showing that it outperforms the HP Spectre x360 15, and the recent Samsung Galaxy Book.
We also tested how fast the processor can convert a 4K movie trailer using the H.265 video codec. We did this using the open-source Handbrake software, and saw that the processor could transform the 420MB trailer in 1,017 seconds. By comparison, the Surface Book with Performance Boost converted the same trailer in 983 seconds whereas the Hp Spectre x360 15 did the same in 1,018 seconds.
Hard drive performance
Backing the laptop’s Core i7-7500U processor is the M.2-class Samsung MZNLN512HMJP solid state drive, connected via a SATA 3 interface. The specifications state that it has a sequential read speed of up to 540MB per second and a sequential write speed of up to 520MB per second. We saw that to some degree in our tests — an average of 520.3 megabytes per second (MB/s) in reading data, and an average of 513.4MB/s while writing.
Compared to the competition, LG’s laptop read speed lags the Lenovo Yoga 720 13 (2,060MB/s), the HP Spectre x360 15 (1,280MB/s), and the Surface Book with Performance Boost (1,003MB/s). The same goes for its write speeds, although it performs better than the Samsung Galaxy Book and Acer Spin 7.
Still, from pressing the power button to the Windows 10 login screen, the boot process takes under seven seconds at best, and around 10 seconds from the time you choose to shut down Windows 10 until the power LED goes out. The drive’s lackluster speed will only be a concern under heavy load, a situation this laptop is unlikely to see, anyway.
Graphics performance
The LG Gram’s graphics are powered by Intel’s integrated HD Graphics 620, which can produce a resolution of 4,096 x 2,304 through the HDMI port. This graphics component isn’t meant for high definition PC gaming, but it does crank out okay frame rates in games played at 1,366 x 768. For high resolution video, however, the HD Graphics 620 should work just fine.
To see the capabilities of the built-in graphics component, we put it through grueling 3DMark tests built to push graphics to their limits. In the Fire Strike test, the laptop scored 1,012 points, which is higher than what we saw with the Samsung Galaxy Book and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13.
The battery that seemingly lasts forever
A good laptop needs a great, long-lasting battery. LG promises up to 12.5 hours with its latest Gram refresh, and we saw nearly that when looping a 1080p video until the battery fully drained (12.31 hours). That’s impressive for a laptop measuring just 0.6 inches thick and weighing a mere 2.4 pounds, and will seem like the laptop will never die for customers moving from thicker, heavier laptops that only have three or four hours of battery uptime.
Overall, the LG Gram 15Z970 outperformed the Samsung Galaxy Book, the HP Spectre x360 15, and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13 in that specific battery test. Meanwhile, in our browser test, the LG Gram’s battery lasted for eight hours and four minutes. It outperformed the Surface Book with Performance Boost, the Samsung Galaxy Book, and the HP Spectre x360 15 laptops. Not bad.
Not much bloat
LG didn’t install tons of bloatware to bottleneck performance right out of the box. The Windows 10 apps already installed include Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Fallout Shelter, Asphalt 8: Airborne, March of Empires, Sling, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. On the software front, LG pre-installed four programs: LG Control Center, LG PC Help (Easy Guide, Troubleshooting), LG Power Manager, and LG Update Center.
One thing we’d like to note is that within the LG Control Center panel, users will find a toggle for instant booting. When switched on, this feature will automatically boot up the PC when users open the lid. It’s off by default, and merely eliminates the steps of opening the lid and pressing the power button.
Warranty
The LG Gram is covered by a one-year parts and labor warranty. That means if there’s something wrong with the device out of the box for exactly one year starting from the moment users make the purchase and register the product, LG will cover the repairs, including all shipment costs. The battery is a different story though, as LG will only cover it for six months.
LG Gram 15Z970-A.AAS7U1 Laptop Compared To
Lenovo Yoga 720 15-inch
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch
Alienware 15 R3 (2017)
Acer Aspire VX 5-591G 5652
Dell Precision 5520
Acer Predator 15
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA
Samsung Notebook 7 spin
Origin EON17-SLX
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (Late 2015)
Asus VivoBook V551LB-DB71T
Acer Aspire V7
Sony Vaio Pro 13
HP Spectre XT TouchSmart
Sony Vaio S Series
Our Take
The LG Gram 15Z970 is a crazy-thin, crazy-light laptop pushing the ultra-thin envelope without sacrificing performance. It feels like a toy playing host to powerful components, and a brilliant 15.6-inch screen. Based on our tests, it performs admirably, as it should for its hefty $1,600. We weren’t too thrilled with the power connector, though. Moreover, we would have preferred a wider color space and a solid-state drive that accessed the super-fast PCI Express interface rather than the traditional SATA storage interface.
Is there a better alternative?
We saw that the LG Gram 15Z970 outperform the HP Spectre x360 15, Samsung Galaxy Book, and the Surface Book with Performance Boost in multi-core testing. However, in our single-core tests, it fell behind the HP Spectre x360 15.
The same goes with the graphics performance, although to be fair, the Spectre x360 15 model we tested had a discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics chip, whereas the LG Gram 15Z970 relies in a slower Intel HD graphics component residing within the Core i7 CPU.
Customers searching for better display than what is offered on LG’s laptop may want to check out the the HP Spectre x360 15, the Surface Book with Performance Boost, and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13. Still, the LG Gram 15Z970’s screen isn’t bad.
How long will it last?
The LG Gram 15Z970 sports the latest components, so it should last for a couple of years before becoming obsolete. We’re concerned about the super-thin form factor, though, as it simply doesn’t feel sturdy enough for everyday travel and possible damage stemming from bumps and drops.
Should you buy it?
Honestly, $1,600 seems like a lot of money for this laptop. A similar stack of cash will buy a Dell XPS 15 or HP Spectre x360 15-inch. While neither is as thin or light, those systems otherwise compare favorably. The Dell offers quad-core processor options and fast graphics, while the HP provides 2-in-1 versatility in a robust chassis. LG’s incredibly light design is nice to have, but it’s not as compelling as faster hardware or a better display.
LG gram 15Z970 15.6-Inch laptop review
Research Center:
LG Gram 15Z970-A.AAS7U1 Laptop
LG introduced its next generation of Gram-branded ultra-thin laptops in February of 2017. They aim to bring the thin-and-light form factor to the next level by offering LG’s lightest designs yet. The latest refresh spans six models in three screen sizes weighing between 2.07 pounds to 2.40 pounds. On top of that, the refresh promises high performance backed by a long battery life. Our LG Gram review unit, the 15Z970 model, packed a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-500U processor, 16GB of system memory (DDR4), a 512GB solid state drive, and a touch-enabled 15.6-inch display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. All of this is backed by a 60 Watt hour battery promising up to 12.5 hours of up-time. The price? A hefty $1,600, making it the most expensive and powerful LG Gram in the new 2017 batch.
Ultra-slim on an entirely new level
Let’s not beat around the bush here: the LG Gram is incredibly thin and light. It’s about as heavy as your typical ceramic dinner plate, with its weight equally distributed throughout the device, instead of the weight mostly residing in the battery area. Its overall dimensions are 14.1 x 9.0 x 0.6 inches, which is on par with the competition, but not remarkably svelte.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
While the laptop sports a clamshell form factor, the screen can bend back up to 150 degrees, enabling you to easily share the on-screen content. Adding to this factor is the use of a panel based on In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology that’s known for its rich colors and wide viewing angles.
The laptop boasts a dark silver magnesium alloy body. The lid is highly polished, while the bottom sports a fine metallic carbon-fiber-like finish, as does the keyboard area. The rounded hinge connecting the display to the laptop body measures roughly around 0.50 inches in diameter, which plays host to the built-in 1MP webcam and microphones. Yes, that means you’ll have to deal with the dreaded “up-the-nose” camera angle.
Of course, because this laptop is so thin and light, it may not be the ideal computing solution for students. It honestly feels like a toy, despite the fact it is built from durable materials. The LG Gram is ideal for controlled environments like the home office, airplane trips, business meetings, and so on, where having a super-thin and super-light device is necessary.
Packs plenty of ports despite a super-slim design
Despite its thinness, the LG Gram 15 provides several outputs for peripherals and video. On the left side, users will find the power connector, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, one HDMI port, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port, and two LEDs for power/battery and storage access.
Despite its thinness, the LG Gram 15 provides several outputs for peripherals and video.
One note about the power connection. It felt wobbly and frail, and during our testing the slightest movement of the laptop caused the plug to unseat and push the device onto battery power. We recall this same issue occurring with LG’s previous model of Gram. We’d like to see LG switch to a different connector, or just use USB Type-C.
On the right side of the laptop, users will find a Micro SD card slot, one headphone jack, one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, and one USB 2.0 Type-A port. Notice that this laptop doesn’t include an Ethernet port for wired networking. That’s because LG is routing the connectivity through the Type-C port, and provides a Type-C to Ethernet adapter in the box. Unfortunately, this arrangement’s speed is capped at 100 megabits per second (Mbps), rather than the normal Ethernet maximum of one gigabit per second.
Those seeking a fast network connection will need to switch over to the laptop’s Wireless AC component, supporting wireless speeds of up to 867Mbps. That means it has two internal outgoing antennas and two incoming antennas (2×2), locking it to 867Mbps even if the laptop is connected to a 3×3 or 4×4 router. This component also supports MU-MIMO technology, and includes Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
The Gram 15Z970 will light up your life
As for manual input, the touchpad is just over four inches wide and under three inches deep. It features a glassy smooth surface and two seemingly invisible “mouse” buttons. It felt extremely precise in our testing, as the slightest touch gracefully moved the cursor across the screen. Unfortunately, there’s no indication that it’s Windows Precision Touchpad compatible, which means it lacks support for every multi-touch gesture available to Windows 10. Yet we have no complaints about its responsiveness, or a lack thereof.
Moving up, each squared keyboard key is lit with a white LED underneath. The backlighting is activated/deactivated by pressing FN + F8, which also provides two brightness levels. This backlighting provides just enough brightness to barely illuminate the fonts and key borders so they’re easier to find in any lighting condition. It’s not extraordinarily bright in normal office use, but does provide great illumination in low-light scenarios.
Each key, when touched and pressed, feels rather firm in its place. The keys are responsive, so it doesn’t take too firm press to input a letter. The keyboard layout itself feels wide enough to not cause any input issues unless you’re a professional wrestler.
The LG Gram 15Z970 also includes a touchscreen. Using Paint, we verified that it accurately tracks ten simultaneous inputs, making this laptop fun when drawing with fingers directly on the screen. Still, because the LG Gram is a clamshell laptop, this feature seems somewhat unnecessary, pushing users to reach across the keyboard rather than use the built-in touchpad.
The biggest selling point is the screen
The LG Gram comes with a 15.6-inch 1080p panel. While respectable, that resolution won’t turn heads in 2017. Of course, the quality also depends on the color spaces the panel supports, and how much. In the case of the LG Gram laptop, we discovered that the panel supports 81 percent of the sRGB color space and 60 percent of the Adobe RGB color space. It also has an average color accuracy of 1.58, making it slightly better than the HP EliteBook x360 G2, but nowhere near as accurate as the most recent MacBook Pro 15 with the cool touch bar.
Screen brightness came in at 302 nits, which is average for laptops with IPS screens. That means the screen is tolerable outside on an overcast day, but reading bright pages and documents may become visually annoying. In a normal office environment, the screen is extremely clear, with deep blacks and brilliant, rich colors. The screen has a contrast ratio of 830:1, which puts it between the latest MacBook Pro 15, and the Asus Zenbook UX330UA.
The screen doesn’t stand out in any one area, but it also lacks any serious weakness.
The display provides wide viewing angles, meaning no matter the position of your head relative to the screen, the image doesn’t wash out.
Despite its mundane resolution, we were pleased by the LG Gram’s overall display quality. Its solid color accuracy, good contrast, and reasonable maximum brightness meld together for a pleasant experience in movies and games. The screen doesn’t stand out in any one area, but it also lacks any serious weakness.
Thin laptop, thin speakers
Of course, with a great screen, you need great audio to fully enjoy your media. The laptop includes two one-watt speakers, which are mostly invisible. The quality of the sound is very treble-dependent, so you won’t hear high levels of bass.
Lots of horses under that super-thin hood
As previously stated, the meat of this new LG Gram laptop is the Intel Core i7-7500U processor. It’s a two-core chip with as base speed of 2.7GHzm and a boost speed of 3.5GHz. In a single-core test, the laptop scored 4,253 points in Geekbench 4, placing it just under the latest HP Spectre x360 15 laptop performance-wise, and slightly above the Surface Book with Performance Boost. Meanwhile, the LG scored 8,495 points in the multi-core test, showing that it outperforms the HP Spectre x360 15, and the recent Samsung Galaxy Book.
We also tested how fast the processor can convert a 4K movie trailer using the H.265 video codec. We did this using the open-source Handbrake software, and saw that the processor could transform the 420MB trailer in 1,017 seconds. By comparison, the Surface Book with Performance Boost converted the same trailer in 983 seconds whereas the Hp Spectre x360 15 did the same in 1,018 seconds.
Hard drive performance
Backing the laptop’s Core i7-7500U processor is the M.2-class Samsung MZNLN512HMJP solid state drive, connected via a SATA 3 interface. The specifications state that it has a sequential read speed of up to 540MB per second and a sequential write speed of up to 520MB per second. We saw that to some degree in our tests — an average of 520.3 megabytes per second (MB/s) in reading data, and an average of 513.4MB/s while writing.
Compared to the competition, LG’s laptop read speed lags the Lenovo Yoga 720 13 (2,060MB/s), the HP Spectre x360 15 (1,280MB/s), and the Surface Book with Performance Boost (1,003MB/s). The same goes for its write speeds, although it performs better than the Samsung Galaxy Book and Acer Spin 7.
Still, from pressing the power button to the Windows 10 login screen, the boot process takes under seven seconds at best, and around 10 seconds from the time you choose to shut down Windows 10 until the power LED goes out. The drive’s lackluster speed will only be a concern under heavy load, a situation this laptop is unlikely to see, anyway.
Graphics performance
The LG Gram’s graphics are powered by Intel’s integrated HD Graphics 620, which can produce a resolution of 4,096 x 2,304 through the HDMI port. This graphics component isn’t meant for high definition PC gaming, but it does crank out okay frame rates in games played at 1,366 x 768. For high resolution video, however, the HD Graphics 620 should work just fine.
To see the capabilities of the built-in graphics component, we put it through grueling 3DMark tests built to push graphics to their limits. In the Fire Strike test, the laptop scored 1,012 points, which is higher than what we saw with the Samsung Galaxy Book and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13.
The battery that seemingly lasts forever
A good laptop needs a great, long-lasting battery. LG promises up to 12.5 hours with its latest Gram refresh, and we saw nearly that when looping a 1080p video until the battery fully drained (12.31 hours). That’s impressive for a laptop measuring just 0.6 inches thick and weighing a mere 2.4 pounds, and will seem like the laptop will never die for customers moving from thicker, heavier laptops that only have three or four hours of battery uptime.
Overall, the LG Gram 15Z970 outperformed the Samsung Galaxy Book, the HP Spectre x360 15, and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13 in that specific battery test. Meanwhile, in our browser test, the LG Gram’s battery lasted for eight hours and four minutes. It outperformed the Surface Book with Performance Boost, the Samsung Galaxy Book, and the HP Spectre x360 15 laptops. Not bad.
Not much bloat
LG didn’t install tons of bloatware to bottleneck performance right out of the box. The Windows 10 apps already installed include Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Fallout Shelter, Asphalt 8: Airborne, March of Empires, Sling, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. On the software front, LG pre-installed four programs: LG Control Center, LG PC Help (Easy Guide, Troubleshooting), LG Power Manager, and LG Update Center.
One thing we’d like to note is that within the LG Control Center panel, users will find a toggle for instant booting. When switched on, this feature will automatically boot up the PC when users open the lid. It’s off by default, and merely eliminates the steps of opening the lid and pressing the power button.
Warranty
The LG Gram is covered by a one-year parts and labor warranty. That means if there’s something wrong with the device out of the box for exactly one year starting from the moment users make the purchase and register the product, LG will cover the repairs, including all shipment costs. The battery is a different story though, as LG will only cover it for six months.
LG Gram 15Z970-A.AAS7U1 Laptop Compared To
Lenovo Yoga 720 15-inch
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch
Alienware 15 R3 (2017)
Acer Aspire VX 5-591G 5652
Dell Precision 5520
Acer Predator 15
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA
Samsung Notebook 7 spin
Origin EON17-SLX
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (Late 2015)
Asus VivoBook V551LB-DB71T
Acer Aspire V7
Sony Vaio Pro 13
HP Spectre XT TouchSmart
Sony Vaio S Series
Our Take
The LG Gram 15Z970 is a crazy-thin, crazy-light laptop pushing the ultra-thin envelope without sacrificing performance. It feels like a toy playing host to powerful components, and a brilliant 15.6-inch screen. Based on our tests, it performs admirably, as it should for its hefty $1,600. We weren’t too thrilled with the power connector, though. Moreover, we would have preferred a wider color space and a solid-state drive that accessed the super-fast PCI Express interface rather than the traditional SATA storage interface.
Is there a better alternative?
We saw that the LG Gram 15Z970 outperform the HP Spectre x360 15, Samsung Galaxy Book, and the Surface Book with Performance Boost in multi-core testing. However, in our single-core tests, it fell behind the HP Spectre x360 15.
The same goes with the graphics performance, although to be fair, the Spectre x360 15 model we tested had a discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics chip, whereas the LG Gram 15Z970 relies in a slower Intel HD graphics component residing within the Core i7 CPU.
Customers searching for better display than what is offered on LG’s laptop may want to check out the the HP Spectre x360 15, the Surface Book with Performance Boost, and the Lenovo Yoga 720 13. Still, the LG Gram 15Z970’s screen isn’t bad.
How long will it last?
The LG Gram 15Z970 sports the latest components, so it should last for a couple of years before becoming obsolete. We’re concerned about the super-thin form factor, though, as it simply doesn’t feel sturdy enough for everyday travel and possible damage stemming from bumps and drops.
Should you buy it?
Honestly, $1,600 seems like a lot of money for this laptop. A similar stack of cash will buy a Dell XPS 15 or HP Spectre x360 15-inch. While neither is as thin or light, those systems otherwise compare favorably. The Dell offers quad-core processor options and fast graphics, while the HP provides 2-in-1 versatility in a robust chassis. LG’s incredibly light design is nice to have, but it’s not as compelling as faster hardware or a better display.
Facebook creators will soon have access to extra live tools through a new app
Why it matters to you
Facebook creators will soon gain more tools and analytics while users may start seeing custom stickers during live broadcasts.
Videos are expected to make up 74 percent of online traffic by the end of 2017 and Facebook is continuing to push the medium by launching a new app dedicated to creating videos. The app, which has yet to be named, was teased during VidCon, with Facebook sharing that the app is under development with a release expected before the end of the year.
The app is designed specifically for the creators behind Facebook videos and not as another viewing platform. The app is expected to include exclusive tools within Facebook Live, including the ability to add intros and ending outros. App users can also design custom frames and stickers, allowing viewers to use them during the live broadcast.
Along with expanding on features for actually creating the video, the upcoming app is also expected to include more analytical data that reveals more about who is watching the video and how. Facebook says the app will have a Community tab for connecting with followers.
The announcement is just one of the ways the social media platform is pushing video as the medium continues to grow. Along with focusing on adding features for live-streaming, Facebook has entered several agreements for original shows. Reports indicate that Facebook is testing new categories for the recent video tab in the app, while the platform is also reported to be testing the ability to download videos. Facebook also launched a video-focused app for Samsung smart TVs and Apple TV earlier this year.
The upcoming video app has several things in common with Facebook Mentions, a separate app for verified public profiles, including journalists and celebrities. Like Facebook Mentions, the upcoming video app is not designed for every Facebook user but geared toward the content creator with more analytics and features. Facebook originally launched live video capability inside the Mentions app before making the feature universally available.
Separating video creation tools into an entirely different app is an interesting move, but one that could gain traction with enough unique tools. Since Twitter launched the ability to go live without the Periscope app, users have questioned if Periscope would continue to stick around or become part of the Twitter app completely. With enough distinct features, the app could potentially encourage more — or perhaps better — videos on Facebook.
AIVAnet 