Electron-blasting milk treatment kills bad bacteria, leaves the good stuff

Why it matters to you

Technique could potentially serve as a healthier alternative to regular milk pasteurization.

Although pasteurization kills harmful pathogens in raw milk by briefly heating it to 161 degrees Fahrenheit, not everyone is convinced that it’s an entirely positive process. Along with the bad components eliminated through pasteurization, the process also diminishes some of the beneficial ingredients of raw milk, such as an assortment of enzymes and vitamins.

Who would have thought that particle physics could help? Well, evidently researchers from Texas A&M University, because they’ve developed a method for deactivating bacteria in raw milk using an electron beam. The technique reportedly achieves the same bacteria-killing effect as pasteurizing milk, but without actually having to heat it up and therefore getting rid of the white stuff’s good components.

Texas A&M’s proof-of-concept demonstration involved zapping milk with an almost light-speed quantity of electrons using the university’s Electron Beam Linear Accelerator. In previous studies, researchers have found that this process can kill the bad bacteria in milk by affecting it on a DNA level. What the researchers in this new study have shown, however, is that this doesn’t affect the nutritional content of milk like traditional pasteurization does.

After the milk was treated, the only notable decrease in nutrients the researchers found was with riboflavins, which fell by around 32 percent — although the remaining quantity was still enough to make the milk a good riboflavin source. In all other ways, the nutrients were similar to those that you would find in raw milk.

There is one catch, though. Some of the milk fat oxidizes in the process, which also resulted in the production of more than 20 volatile compounds. That sounds more sinister than it actually is — although it had the result of producing a smell that milk doesn’t usually possess. Right now, the team is carrying out further testing to make sure that these volatile components are completely safe.

If they are, and if the researchers can find someone interested in commercializing the technology, then electron beam-treated milk could possibly be hitting grocery store shelves before too long.

Any wagers as to what color bottle cap would denote milk treated by particle physics?

iPad Pro 10.5-inch review

Research Center:
Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro

Today, we have an iPad Pro review for you, but first let’s explain the growing confusion over the iPad lineup. In March, Apple unveiled a new iPad matching the size of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro — but it lacked “Pro” specifications and capabilities, such as support for the Apple Pencil. But there was still 2016’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro model and the original 13-inch iPad Pro.

Our iPad Pro review is for the new 10.5-inch Pro tablet, which replaces the 9.7-inch model.

That leaves us with a 9.7-inch regular iPad, a 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and a 12.9-inch iPad Pro — the latter saw a performance refresh matching its smaller brother. Oh, and don’t forget the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4, which did not get an update. There are four distinctive sizes in the iPad lineup. If you want to know exactly which one to buy, we have an easy, practical guide on How to choose an iPad.

So how does the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro fare? It’s the best tablet in the world, period. Admittedly, the tablet market is hardly what it once was just a few years ago – there isn’t real competition in this space, and that has allowed Apple to easily take the top spot, But the new iPad Pro exceeds expectations on all fronts. Let’s take a closer look.

A brilliantly-fast display, premium build

In Apple tradition, 10.5-inch iPad Pro hardly looks different from previous iPads.

The aluminum back is minimal, housing some antenna bands, the rear camera and flash, as well as the Apple logo. The volume rocker sits at the right (when holding the tablet in portrait mode), and a power button sits nearby on the top-right edge. You’ll find a Lightning charging port on the bottom center, and the quad-speaker set up means there are four speakers — two on the top, and two on the bottom, offering a surround sound experience. On the front, the camera sits at the top, and the home button on the bottom.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

But the spotlight here is the 10.5-inch size, and it’s fantastic. It’s big enough to comfortably enjoy watching movies and videos, but it’s still portable enough to carry around — the same can’t necessarily be said for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. If you’re familiar with the 9.7-inch iPad, Apple has only slightly altered the dimensions, but retained a larger display — that’s because the edges (or bezels) have been reduced by 40 percent. This all comes in the same 1.03 pound package, meaning it’s the same lightweight tablet as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Many of the Best iPad Pro 10.5-inch Cases we’ve picked out look similar to previous models, too.

As usual, the build quality is great, but the iPad Pro does seem to attract smudges and dirt marks easily on both the front and back — you may want to keep it in a case or a sleeve.

We have yet been able to push this tablet to its limit.

The display is another standout features with this tablet. While the 2,224 x 1,668 pixel resolution is a slight improvement over last year’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s 2,048 x 1,536 pixel resolution, Apple has introduced ProMotion technology, which bumps up the refresh rate of the display to 120Hz.

A screen’s refresh rate, which is measured by Hertz (Hz), is the number of frames shown per second. So if a display has a refresh rate of 120Hz, it means it has the capacity to show you 120 frames in a second. Most smartphone and tablet displays have a hard cap at 60Hz, but Apple has effectively doubled it. What does that mean? Everything on the screen should move far more smoothly — it’s easy to see the difference in person.

What happens on the screen fluidly follows the movements of my finger. Scrolling through websites especially shows the difference of 120Hz. It makes the iPad Pro feel buttery smooth — but constantly offering 120Hz would put a massive strain on the battery. It’s why ProMotion technology varies the refresh rate depending on what you’re seeing. If you’re looking at the static home screen, the refresh rate is 24Hz, which uses little power. If you open up a game, it will ratchet up the refresh rate to 120Hz to your game runs smoothly and doesn’t seem jittery. Developers will have to add support to make use of more varying refresh rates, but the iPad Pro will automatically provide the highest 120Hz to intensive apps and games that need it, like Affinity Photo.

This ProMotion technology certainly sets a high bar, and the screen itself is also a joy to use. It’s bright — 20 percent brighter than before, in fact — making it easy to view in direct sunlight; colors are vivid, and everything looks stunningly crisp.

iOS 10 is smooth, but iOS 11 offer more

The iPad Pro is powered by Apple’s latest A10X Fusion processor, which is faster and more powerful than the A10 Fusion processor on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. In our benchmark tests, the iPad Pro’s scores were impressive:

• AnTuTu: 219,599
• 3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme: 4,102

As a comparison, the iPhone 7 Plus’ AnTuTu score was 174,530. It’s safe to say the 10.5-inch iPad Pro outperforms the latest iPhone, and benchmarks aside — the performance improvement is easy to see. We have yet been able to push this tablet to its limit — at most, it got a little warm after playing games like Transformers: Forged to Fight, Crash of Cars, and Battle Bay, but we hardly ran into issues editing with Affinity Photo for an hour.

Alongside impressive performance, you get 64GB of internal storage for the base iPad Pro model, though you can also opt for 256GB or 512GB. It’s great that Apple has done away with the 32GB storage option for the Pro models. It just isn’t enough space to store a decent amount of apps and photos/documents. A 64GB model should last you for several years unless you are a super heavy duty user.

Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro Compared To

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Apple iPad 9.7

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (8-inch)

Apple iPad Air 2

Lenovo ThinkPad 10

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Microsoft Surface 2

Razer Edge Pro

Barnes & Noble Nook HD+

Dell Latitude 10

Dell XPS 10

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2

Acer Iconia Tab W700

Acer Iconia Tab A700

iOS 10, as seen on the iPhone 7, is even more impressive on a bigger screen — thanks to robust app support for the iPad. Unlike on Android, where you usually get the same smartphone-sized app on a tablet, the iPad offers a large number of apps with a specific user interface for a larger screen. This, along with the 10.5-inch size, the performance, and display improvements, makes iOS 10 a joy to use.

But iOS 11 is on the way, and Apple is introducing a host of features available only to the iPad. These include: Drag and drop, a new dock, the Files app, and a redesigned app switcher. All of these features help improve multi-tasking, making the iPad Pro even closer to a laptop replacement. We’ll update this review when the public beta for iOS 11 rolls around.

Best camera, speakers in a tablet

If the impressive display, great build quality, powerful performance, and tablet-supported apps weren’t enough, Apple has also included the same camera set up as the iPhone 7. The 12-megapixel rear camera will produce almost the same, if not better, photos than the latest iPhone. It’s overkill, for sure, but Apple says it can be useful it taking photos of high-resolution documents in the Notes app (in iOS 11). The 7-megapixel front-facing camera is great for video calls and quick selfies.

While there are some tablets with four speakers, Apple’s iPad Pro delivers unmatched sound for a tablet — the speakers are loud, filling up a room easily, and they sound great.

Great battery life

Apple promises up 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi, including watching videos or listening to music. We found that it lasted a lot longer — mostly because we weren’t using the iPad Pro continuously throughout the day like we use our phones. Using it for a few hours, watching videos, playing games, and browsing the web, we saw the battery drop to 70 percent.

The standby time is what excels here, as iOS uses very little battery when you’re not using the operating system. We left it on for two full days without use, and the iPad only dropped to 90 percent. Our only qualm? The lack of fast charging. Android smartphones and tablets have long-used some type of fast charging technology, but Apple has yet to adopt it. The iPad Pro takes some time to charge, which can be a little frustrating if you’re in a rush.

Can it replace your laptop?

The iPad Pro remains a fantastic tool for artists, especially if you purchase the compatible Apple Pencil as a companion. It’s fantastic for a lot of things, and is our favorite tablet stylus. Check out our list of top iPad Pro drawing apps for an idea of what you can do with the Pencil. The Apple Pencil hasn’t changed, but using it with the new iPad Pro is an even better experience — the ProMotion technology that allows for the 120Hz refresh rate means the Pencil has a lower 20ms latency, the amount of time from when you draw to when it appears on the screen – 20ms is nearly unnoticeable lag.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It’s just as fun, accurate, easy to use — and Apple’s palm rejection technology never ceases to impress us.

Apple’s Smart Keyboard, on the other hand, is not great. We like the design and how thin it is, but it does not have a comfortable texture when typing. More importantly, it’s not satisfying to type on at all. There’s hardly any feeling when you tap on a key. It’s also $160, which is expensive. Hopefully there will be some great iPad keyboards for the Pro soon.

Regardless, the answer to whether the iPad Pro can replace your laptop is mixed. Yes, it can perform powerful tasks like video and photo editing, you can use it to draw amazing art with the Apple Pencil, and it crushes everyday tasks like email and using Microsoft Word. Even compared to earlier iPads, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is far more suitable of a replacement — but it’s still not as comfortable as a laptop. I don’t find myself working as quickly as I do with my laptop. iOS 11 should help with this immensely with the new multitasking features, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Warranty information

Apple’s iPads come with a standard limited warranty that offers one year of hardware repair from the date of purchase. Apple’s numerous brick-and-mortar stores (You can find an Apple store here) also house the Genius Bar brimming with technical experts, meaning you can always head to one if you need support. If that’s not enough, you can buy AppleCare+, which will extend your warranty an extra year, but it will cost you $100. It also adds coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage.

Our Take

Apple’s latest iPad Pro is the best tablet you can buy because it excels in nearly every category.

Is there a better alternative?

If you’re looking for a tablet for entertainment and media consumption, you’re probably better off with the new iPad, which costs $330. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is a solid tablet for $80, but you get what you pay for.

The 64GB variant of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro costs $650 — you have the option of putting that money towards the new MacBook or Microsoft’s Surface Pro.

If you’re interested in more tablets, please check out our recommendations for the Best tablets you can buy (hint: this is the best), which has options for cheaper and smaller tablets as well. We also have a roundup of Best tablets for kids, and if you’re wavering between this and a full PC, our list of Best cheap laptops or Best Chromebooks may help you.

How long will it last?

Apple products have great build quality, so expect them to last for a few years. Better yet, iOS updates arrive instantly, and Apple usually supports older devices far longer than most Android manufacturers. Expect this device to last more than three to four years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. There’s no real reason to upgrade if you already have an iPad Pro, and look to the regular iPad or Android alternatives if you’re looking for a tablet for casual use. But if you’re a creative professional, the Apple Pencil is a great tool that complements the iPad Pro, and the wide variety of photo- and video-editing apps makes this device a much more robust package.

Glenn Close to star as a zombie in an Amazon pilot

Amazon has been hard at work beefing up its TV offerings lately, and there could soon be more reason to pay attention to the tech giant’s original content. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emmy-winning actress Glenn Close is set to star in Sea Oak, a half-hour comedy-drama pilot about an angry zombie who terrorizes her remaining living relatives. Close will play Aunt Bernie, a formerly meek woman who returns from the grave from “sheer force of dissatisfaction”.

Since her last television series Damages ended in 2012, Close has not appeared on the small screen, instead working on film and theater. Sea Oak would be her first TV project as a series regular in five years, which is a big score for Amazon. So far, the streaming company has only ordered a pilot episode of the show, which was written by novelist George Saunders. An air date has not been announced.

This is the latest in a series of big-name projects that Amazon has developed lately. In April, the company ordered two seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a series written and directed by Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. It also tapped Oscar-winning writer and Moonlight director Barry Jenkins for an adaptation of The Underground Railroad, and even earned an Emmy nomination for its behind-the-scenes NFL documentary series.

Via: TV Guide

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Canada expects hacktivists will target its 2019 elections

It’s Canada’s turn to freak out about election hacking. At a news conference held today, the country’s Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said it was likely that hackers would try to interfere with its 2019 elections.

But the problem, as of now, isn’t with Russia — it’s with hacktivists. CSE said they expect some well-planned attacks from hacktivists in the upcoming elections and will offer cyber security advice to both parliamentarians and political parties. But because federal elections in Canada are mostly paper-based, politicians are more at risk than elections themselves.

Election meddling has been a hot issue since the last US presidential election. Russia has been accused of hacking election systems in 39 US states as well as targeting German parliament. While running in the French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron’s campaign was hacked and CSE said the 2015 Canadian federal election was hit with some “low-sophistication cyber threat activity.”

For now CSE’s precautionary measures are limited to providing guidelines to politicians. But we all know that politicians are terrible when it comes to cyber security, so good luck with that.

Source: Reuters

France wants autonomous high-speed trains by 2023

According to reports from FranceInfo, the SNCF, France’s national state-owned railway company, announced on Friday that it is actively working to develop and deploy autonomous trains that will operate along its high-speed TGV lines by 2023. The so-called “drone trains” should begin initial trials some time in 2019.

The autonomous systems will be built into existing TGV trains and consist of external sensors that can initiate automated braking should they detect an obstacle on the tracks. The company is especially hopeful that the system can be used for the more tedious maneuvers, like ordering and hooking up all the various cars before a departure. All in all, the company figures it can run 25 percent more trains on the same lines using this technology, cutting the time between trains by over a minute from 180 seconds to 108 seconds.

The SNCF expects the service to being in 2023, running between Paris and destinations to the southeast. Conductors will continue to ride along for a while after the system is implemented to act as fail safes should something happen to go wrong. This is a marked difference from Paris’ subways which are automated and do not require such safeguards.

Although, “when you automate a subway, you can put grids along the platforms and then you’re in tunnels,” adjoint director of SNCF, Matthieu Chabanel, told FranceInfo. Subways don’t present the same pressing need for human oversight as when “we are in a completely open environment with trees, animals, people, who can enter the right-of-way,” Chabanel continued, “and so we need a driver to handle all the disturbed situations.”

The UK is also working to automate some of the functions of its rail service, though the island nation is at a much earlier stage of that development than its continental neighbor. This is in part because the country’s rail network relies on a number of different lineside signalling and operating systems, all of which demand a human touch — not to mention the same sorts of open-world variables that French train drivers face. “We’re at a very early stage of this technology,” railway industry observer, Rupert Brennan Brown, told Financial Times.

Any efforts to automate the UK’s trains (or even London’s subways) would also likely be met with immediate and severe blowback from the industry’s various trade unions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union in March strongly criticized the government’s plan to invest £9 million in UK companies developing autonomous technology, arguing that it would “compromise and dilute” the existing safety system.

Via: Verge

Source: SNCF (French)

YouTube’s heatmaps show where eyes linger in VR videos

YouTube’s growing library of VR content is a definite asset in Google’s struggle to dominate the virtual reality sphere. The video platform isn’t just improving the consumer experience either, as it did when it added shared virtual viewing rooms and live voice chat back in May. To help content creators figure out which parts of their 360-degree videos are working, YouTube has introduced heatmaps to show where — and when — people are looking in the freeform movie format.

YouTube will dole out a heatmap for any 360-degree video with over 1,000 views. The platform has a few early observations from its nascent catalogue of VR movies. For one, despite the freedom to look anywhere, viewers spend 75 percent of their time watching the front 90 degrees, so keep the action straight ahead. But 20 percent of views focus directly behind, so don’t abandon the format’s freeform possibilities. Lastly, VR platforms are not made equal: Mobile headset users, like those donning Google’s own Cardboard, take a few seconds to get situated in a vehicle (whereas viewers with desktop systems do not).

Knowing where folks choose to look isn’t just useful for content creators. Facebook has developed a few strategies to keep streaming video bitrates low and quality high, one of which includes using AI predictive modeling to intuit the most interesting parts of a video (where viewers will focus their attention) and render that in higher resolution than other parts.

On top of the heatmap announcement, Google is also announcing an upcoming training course for virtual reality content creators called the VR Creator Lab. Applicants chosen will start a three-month intensive course this August and get $30,000 to $40,000 to fund their dream project.

Source: YouTube

Girl Scouts can start earning cybersecurity badges in fall 2018

If your office in the future dodges a spearphishing attempt in the future, you might be thanking a Girl Scout. The organization partnered with Palo Alto Networks to release 18 new cybersecurity badges for members to earn over the next two years, with the first slated to come out in September 2018.

Have you heard the news? GSUSA is working with @PaloAltoNtwks to develop #cybersecurity badges for girls in K-12! https://t.co/d4c58nWREP pic.twitter.com/H6UkHNAyEd

— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) June 16, 2017

They won’t just be about minimizing hacking vectors: Younger Scouts will also learn about data privacy, cyberbullying and how to protect themselves online. Badges for older ones will focus on developing coding skills, learning about white hat hacking and creating firewalls. While preventative training has been erratically present in Scouting for some time — the Boy Scouts, for example, have had the Cyber Chip youth internet safety certification since 2012 — the Girl Scouts’ new set of badges looks to span a respectable breadth of online issues and opportunities.

If you’re surprised the Girl Scouts have a new badge teaching important tech literacy, you haven’t been paying attention. Back in 2011, the organization added ones for Computer Expert and Digital Movie Maker followed by an attempt in 2013 to introduce one for video games. Following the release of a badge dedicated to nurturing science, technology, engineering and math interests in 2015, the Girl Scouts partnered with Netflix last October to encourage young members to pursue STEM careers.

Via: CNN

Source: Palo Alto Networks, Girl Scouts of the United States of America

App Highlight: YouTubers Life – Gaming

The App

Developed by U-Play Online, YouTubers Life – Gaming is one of the best games on the Google Play Store. It is a relatively new app with only 10,000 installs, but this is already making a big impression.

What it does

Youtubers Life is a life simulation game where you act as a YouTuber and create content to try and become number one in the world with the most subscribers. You’ll need to record and edit your videos, collab with other YouTubers, and expand your empire.

Youtubers Life is the ultimate life simulation/tycoon videogame in which you can effortfully become the world’s greatest gaming video blogger in history by editing videos, expanding the amount of fans and turning yourself into a wealthy fellow. Create your character —customize it as you wish, there are thousands of hillarous combinations— and start making your first broadcasts in the cozy room at your parents’ where you have grown up since you were little. Record gameplay sessions, buy new and classic consoles, keep an eye on daily tasks, and socialize yourself to increase your popularity while you have to deal with fans, friends, family and time management!

Why we like it

I love simulation games and this is one of the best. It is vast, immersive, and keeps you hooked. The goal is clear, to become the number one YouTuber, but you’ll have to work to get there. It’s a little on the pricey side but you’ll certainly get your value out of it.

How to get it

YouTubers Life is available from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.

App Highlight: OK Golf

The App

Developed by Playdigious, OK Golf a golf game like no other that allows you to play a quick round of golf without the flashy animations. This is a relatively new app with only 10,000 installs and is being regularly updated, with the latest update bringing a new course and a number of fixes.

What it does

OK Golf is a golf game with a minimalist design that focuses on the core elements of the game. Despite the minimal design, it looks fantastic. You can also compete in multiplayer mode against your friends.

OK Golf is the essence of golf, refined to a tee. Play a quick round anywhere, anytime on stylish dioramas inspired by classic golfing destinations. Easy to play, hard to put down, perfect for all ages and handicaps!

SIMPLE
Just aim, drag and release to shoot the ball. No clubs, just you and the ball.

BEAUTIFUL
Inspired by beautiful and iconic locations, each course is a handcrafted miniature diorama.

RELAXING
Enjoy a moment of zen while you play a round of golf immersed in the calming sounds of nature.

REPLAYABLE
Unlock new courses and secret areas and challenge yourself with different game modes.

BUY ONCE
Pay once, get all futures courses free!

MULTIPLAYER
Compete online with golfers all over the world and face your neighborhood friends with the Pass & Play multiplayer feature.

Why we like it

Golf games tend to be filled with unnecessary animations and unrealistic physics. OK Golf looks great and focuses on the golf. Its simple mechanics means it’s a joy to play and will be sure to help you pass time. I would like to see a way to sync progress across multiple devices but otherwise this is definitely worth a download.

How to get it

OK Golf is available from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.

Withings Steel HR review

As an upgrade to the Withings Activité Steel, the Steel HR is a timepiece that features an analog watch with smart, fitness tracking capabilities. It’s one part “regular” watch, mixed one part “smart, activity tracker”. This goes for its physical look as well as its functions.

The Withings Steel HR is offered in 36mm ($180)  and 40mm ($200) case options with both sold in black; the smaller one is also available in white, too. The watch feels smaller than it sounds, even at the larger size. This was welcome to us, particularly as it’s designed to be worn during physical activities. The last thing you want to wear when out running or doing rigorous activities is a big wonky face or thick strap.

The watch face itself looks entirely analog at first blush. A second look, however, reveals the pair of complications. At the top you’ll find a digital circle sub-dial with an analog one below. The former delivers notifications while the latter represents your progress toward goals. The entire face is a stainless steel case which looks more business than casual.

The Steel HR is a very light watch that is also quite comfortable to wear. Thanks to the silicone straps, it’s something you’ll not mind having on you during a run. It breathes nicely and cleans up easily, too. Should you want to switch up to something more professional looking, the watch allows for that quite easily.

Our first overall impression of the watch was that it looked a little more “basic” or outdated than it appeared in press renders. Moreover, the monochrome complication initially seemed unimpressive and generic. After wearing the Steel HR a couple of days, we had completely warmed to it and didn’t mind at all.

The complications are a nice size and serve their respective purposes quite well. The upper one only displays your information for a few moments, but the 8-bit-like graphics are easy to glance at. You don’t have to worry about a strange font; a quick and simple glance is all it takes to see notifications.

Pressing the button on the side of the face lets you scroll through the various information to track or view, including the date, alarm, battery level, calories burned, steps taken, distance, and heart rate. There’s also a digital version of the clock should you need to check it in the middle of the night.

This was actually a pain point for us as the analog watch is essentially invisible when it gets dark out. Use it in dim environments or at night and you’ll have a hell of a time seeing the time, something we rely on watches for… a lot. We would have loved glowing tips on the hour and minute hands. Nevertheless, we press the button quite often come evenings.

As for dealing with notifications, though, it’s a mixed bag. To see who is calling, or look at a calendar notification requires reading through a scrolling message. Additionally, it’s somewhat of a limited experience in that notifications don’t work for Facebook Messenger, WhastApp, and a number of other apps. We’d like to see that rolled out in a software update, and think it is within the realm of possibility.

The Withings app gives users control over notifications for calls, calendar, and messages. Moreover, you can set up the various types of vibrations to know exactly what sort of notification you are receiving. If you want to track your weight (and you should), you can do that. Set goal, log activities manually, or get tips — whatever you imagine a typical activity tracker to do, this one does it.

Perhaps one of the best features in the Steel HR, and one that should be standard in wearables that run about $180 and above, is a heart rate monitor. This function alone opens up the door to deeper tracking.

The watch is able to discern when you’re out running, sleeping, or doing nearly ten other activities automatically. Among them are swimming, running, basketball, and tennis, however, you can also manually input your own activities.

Speaking of swimming, the Withings Steel HR is water resistant to 50 meters. This is far more than you’ll get in most wearables which tend to tap out around 3 meters. Just know that by swimming you’ll not get the accurate heart rate or calorie burning.

The battery is downright fantastic on the Withings Steel HR. We’re talking weeks off of one single charge. Withings calls for 25 days of usage, which looks to be just about right. We’ve used this one off and on for the last two weeks and aren’t yet ready to charge it up.

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind sleeping with a watch on, this one works nicely. It’s thin and light enough to not make you feel constricted; the watch can also help you wake up with a silent vibrating alarm during your lightest sleep.

In terms of accuracy, we noticed that it didn’t match up step for step with any other wearable. Whether it was literal steps or calories, it varied slightly as compared to the Fitbit Charge 2, Wear24, and a couple others. Generally speaking, though, it was nothing that concerned us. To us, variance is expected across the different types and brands in that space. On its own, though, we found it accurate, if not, perhaps more importantly, consistent.

Distance is one area where we think it could do better. Because it does not have a built-in GPS sensor and does not tie into your phone’s GPS, it’s not quite as accurate as it could be. Somehow, the Steel HR infers distance based on a variety of sensors and input. This is not a running watch so much as it is an “every man” activity tracker.

As for charging the Steel HR, it’s fairly easy if not a touch wonky. There’s a charging pad that you place the watch against, which takes some orienteering and playing around. Even though we didn’t need to charge our review unit, we were able to figure out the mechanics in a few tries. It’s a tad cumbersome and clumsy at first, but it’s easy enough to learn.