Good news, wannabe supervillains! Mind control is possible with magnetism

Why it matters to you

This research coming out of the University at Buffalo will help scientists better understand how the brain computes information.

An international group of scientists has demonstrated that it is possible to use the power of magnetism to control the movement of mice. Using a technique called magneto-thermal stimulation, the researchers were able to stimulate the brains of the mice to prompt them to run, turn around, and temporarily halt all motion.

“We have developed an interface capable of sending signals to individual neurons deep inside the brain,” Arnd Pralle, professor of physics in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, told Digital Trends. “It requires sensitizing the target neuron to heat and attaching magnetic nanoparticles to these neurons. If an animal then enters an alternating magnetic field, the nanoparticles warm up, opening an ion-channel, and activating the neuron. After the initial delivery of the ion-channel and the nanoparticles — which is done through a needle about the size of a human hair — the method is noninvasive, meaning there are no wires or connectors going to the brain.”

It is this latter point that is most significant. Similar techniques have been previously demonstrated, using light instead of magnetism and heat to activate the brain cells. However, these approaches require the permanent presence of minute fiber optic cables in the brain. The use of magnetism instead allows neurons to be stimulated remotely.

Between this and other related projects — such as the various brainwave-reading technologies allowing people to control prosthetic limbs or drones with their mind — Pralle says that it’s an exciting time to be working in the field.

“We are living a decade of the brain distinctly different from the first decade of the brain, the 1990s,” Pralle said. “There are several tools, including the one developed by us, which enable researchers to map neurocircuitry with emotions and behaviors. Currently this permits scientists to being understanding how our brain compute information, and how responses are encoded by the circuits. We are just at the beginning of these discoveries, and it likely will take a least a decade or more to unravel brain circuitry. However, eventually magneto-thermal neurostimulation and silencing and similar techniques will provide direct brain interfaces for artificial senses; perturbation for deep depression and other mood disorders; and therapeutics for age-related or accident-caused neurodegenerative diseases.”

A paper describing the work was published in the open-source, peer-review journal e-Life.

Mirror, mirror on the wall: HiMirror helps you with your skin troubles

Why it matters to you

This may be the fairest mirror of them all, or at the very least, the smartest.

The “smart mirror” term has been thrown around a lot lately but rarely do those smarts ever reflect — pardon the pun — the actual use for a mirror. Until now, the smart mirror has, more often than not, been just another place to view general info like weather, calendar info, and notifications. In essence, it offers the same information you can already get on your phone, tablet, smart TV, watch, your car’s infotainment system, and so on. The HiMirror, on the other hand, actually uses its built-in smarts to tell you something different, like the condition of your skin, which can be used to build a daily skincare regimen, track results, and see improvement over time.

There are two versions of the smart appliance — there is the HiMirror Basic, which sells for $299, and the HiMirror Plus, which sells for $369. The latter promises a number of additional features, including smart ambient LED lights and increased memory capabilities to store up to six different users. So if you have a family full of preeners, the Plus may be for you.

By taking a makeup-free photo with the HiMirror’s integrated high-resolution camera, the device’s proprietary technology analyzes dark spots, red spots, dark eye circles, wrinkles, pores, fine lines, and other complexion elements. From these, it creates a personalized Skin Index Synthesis report, which reports on skin firmness, brightness, texture, clarity, and overall healthiness.

The mirror keeps an ongoing log of your skin to track your skincare goals. Skincare products can be scanned into the database by holding the barcode up to the camera, and the mirror will send you reminders about any approaching expiration dates. It also allows the user to provide feedback on the products in their routine right from the mirror.

The product is humidity-resistant, so it can be used even after a steamy shower and can be mounted on the wall or on an existing mirror, or wherever its 11-by-16.5-inch size can fit that is also next to a plug. For those freaked about having a camera in the bathroom, there is a cap you can use to put over the camera — something you will not want to forget to do with this Wi-Fi-enabled device.

HiMirror includes some of the standard smart mirror features, like displaying the local weather, syncing to your Google calendar or playing Spotify. It even includes facial and voice-recognition capabilities, which allows more than one family member to reap the benefits of automated skin analysis.

The HiMirror can be teamed up with the company’s Smart Body Scale, which you can buy for $99, and offers similar tracking capabilities for weight, body mass index, body fat, water level content, muscle mass, and more. Plus, it looks just like a sleek bathmat, so when you are not using it to keep tabs on your health stats, you can use it to dry your feet, too.

Update: The HiMirror family has expanded since CES 2017. 

Bigger isn’t always better: 5 of the smallest smartphones worth buying

With smartphones seemingly getting larger and larger with each year, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that the smallest smartphones out there can be just as good as the big boys on the block. Having a huge screen is great, but sometimes you just want something that you can easily use in one hand — and that’s why we’ve assembled this list of the greatest, smallest smartphones that’ll steal your heart, but sit easy in your palm.

Google Pixel

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Google Pixel is the absolute best way to experience Google’s vision for Android, and one of the best smartphones on the planet. Thanks to its 5-inch screen, it’s also more than capable of being used one-handed. The Google Pixel might come with a premium price tag, but it offers a premium design of glass and metal to match. It may lack some of the features that are rapidly becoming standard within the premium smartphone market — wireless charging and waterproofing being particularly notable — but it’s still a fantastic choice for a smaller smartphone.

While the design has had its detractors since day one — the larger bezels make it look dated next to the LG G6’s and Galaxy S8’s of this world — the Pixel has one of the best smartphone cameras ever seen. And thanks to stock Android, it’s one of the most consistently smooth experiences you can get from an Android phone.

It has its downsides. As already mentioned, there’s no waterproofing or wireless charging, the battery life isn’t great, and there are no stereo speakers. A slot for expandable storage is also conspicuously absent, and giving prospective buyers the heartbreaking choice between 32 GB and 128 GB internal storage options should be illegal. To balance this out, Pixel owners get unlimited space for their snaps on Google’s Drive service, and the rubbish battery life is countered by the exceptionally fast charging rate — from 30 percent to full in 15 minutes. You get one of the best experiences for modern Android, and benefit from software updates directly from Google itself, with Google committing to OS updates until October of 2018 (with Android O), and security updates until October 2019.

If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t necessarily care about frills like wireless charging and waterproofing (who takes their phone swimming anyway?), and don’t mind paying big bucks, then the Google Pixel is probably the small phone for you — check out our full Google Pixel review for more details!

Buy one now from:

Amazon

iPhone SE

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

If you’re an Apple fan with a penchant for smaller screens, then this entry isn’t for you. Why? Because you already own the iPhone SE and are reading these words in teeny-weeny-vision. The iPhone SE has the smallest screen size on this list, measuring in at a practically minuscule 4-inches. But if you long for the days when you could reach the top of phone screens with no issue, then the iPhone SE is the phone you’re looking for.

Don’t be fooled by the small screen — the iPhone SE is no tiny performer. Apple has used dark magic to cram the powerful guts of the iPhone 6S into the SE’s tiny shell, and it works beautifully. The design is reminiscent of the iPhone 5S because, er, it is the iPhone 5S — but that shouldn’t put you off, because 2013’s iPhone 5S is still something of a looker four years later, and the retro look the 5S’s body affords the SE only adds to the charm.

There are downsides to the iPhone SE, of course. While the camera on the back is the same solid 12-megapixel snapper we saw on the iPhone 6S, the front-facing camera is something of a let down, with a puny 1.2-megapixel eye staring back at you. If you take a lot of selfies, then the front camera is likely to be something of a disappointment. 3D Touch is also missing from this, despite making its debut in the iPhone 6S, and the overall battery life might well struggle to make it through the day unaided. As is par for the Apple course, storage is limited to what you get onboard, with 32 GB and 128 GB options available.

However, these downsides are fairly minor, and regular for Apple fans. Apple’s usual polish is present throughout, and the SE’s performance is as smooth as you expect from the Cupertino giant. The iPhone SE also currently runs the latest version of iOS, with regular and prompt updates continuing to be Apple’s strength over the Android masses — and since it’s Apple, the SE will likely continue to be supported for a few more years yet.

This tiny titan is definitely worth your time if you’re not opposed to picnicking in Apple’s walled garden — and you can check out our full iPhone SE review for more details on how well it handles. But if you’re not sold by the SE, it’s also definitely worth checking out the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 as another astonishingly good iPhone that fits the boundaries of the smallest smartphones.

Buy one now from:

Apple

Moto E4

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If you’re looking for something that won’t impact your bottom line as much as the first two entries, then you could do much worse than the Moto E4. It’s clearly a budget device, and the materials the Moto E4 is made from reflect this — as does the lack of NFC support. The 5-inch screen is decent, capable of outputting up to 720p — which is more than enough for most applications if you’re not squinting at the screen. The camera is similar budget stock, and pretty standard for the price-point. The battery is decent as well, and capable of making it through the day.

The real key with a budget device is getting enough bang for your buck, and it’s here that the Moto E4 really shines. In our review of the E4, we found the E4 to be a pleasant surprise, both smooth and responsive. The device is running the latest version of Android — Android 7.1.1, and the experience is as close to stock Android as you can get without going “full Google”, with a minimal amount of bloatware.

Yes, the Moto E4 has made compromises — but it’s nothing that you shouldn’t expect for such a budget device. We racked up the negatives in the early part of this entry, but it’s important to realize that it’s in spite of these limitations that the Moto E4 comes out as a great phone. If you can put up with a cheaper build, and not having top-of-the-line specs, the Moto E4 is a steal for its $130 price tag — and doubly so if you get it with an Amazon Prime Exclusive deal.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Xperia X Compact

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Sony is one of the few smartphone manufacturers still in the business of purposely creating for the “smallest smartphone” market, with its Xperia Compact range. The Xperia X Compact is Sony’s latest entry, and it’s good enough to warrant a high place on this list.

Just from looking at it, it’s obvious that the Xperia X Compact takes more than a few style tips from its brother, the Xperia XZ. The X Compact keeps the same hard lines that we’ve come to expect from Sony’s designers, and you’ll know if you like the look by now. However, it’s worth noting that the metal body of the XZ has been swapped out for a plastic build, the display is 720p instead of 1080p, and there’s no waterproofing. But if you don’t mind a few compromises in exchange for value, then the X Compact’s limitations shouldn’t bother you too much.

Impressively, the X Compact somehow manages to cram the 23-megapixel camera from the XZ into a much smaller device. Unfortunately, the front-facing camera isn’t as beefy, being a weaker 5-megapixel version of the 13-megapixel snapper on the XZ. But really, that shouldn’t be much of a sacrifice to all but the most ardent of selfie-takers. The X Compact also packs stereo speakers, NFC, an internal gyroscope, and other various bits of tech that you often see culled from a lot of the smallest smartphones. Again, it’s worth noting that the US-version does lack a fingerprint scanner, just like the XZ.

The 2,700 mAh should be good enough to last a day (thanks to that downsized resolution), and the phone is packing a USB-C port on the bottom. The Xperia X Compact comes with 32GB of onboard memory, but it is expandable, so if storage space is important to you, you’ll be able to get tons here.

The X Compact is also upgradeable up to the latest version of Android (Nougat 7.1.1, at time of writing), and is likely to be supported for some time yet — Sony’s update record not withstanding. If you’re looking for something on the smaller end of the size scale, while still within the mid-range of what’s currently available in power, then the Xperia X Compact could be the perfect phone for you — as long as you’re willing to overlook some of the minor issues it has. Check out our full thoughts in our hands-on review.

The Xperia X Compact was our pick for this list, being the latest in Sony’s Compact range — but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the Xperia range isn’t worth your time. The Xperia E5, the Xperia XA1, and — if you want that little bit of extra screen — the Xperia XZ all feature screens and bodies on the smaller end of the scale, and are definitely worth looking at.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Huawei P10

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

One of China’s biggest phone manufacturers, Huawei has become known in the west for strong entries against some of the biggest flagship phones on the market — throwing its impressive phones into the ring, and backing them up with the members of its sub-brand, Honor. While it hasn’t yet achieved the dominance of Apple or Samsung, Huawei is well on its way to establishing itself firmly into the Android marketplace.

The Huawei P10 has the largest screen on this list (with a whopping 5.1-inch display), but the comparatively large screen belies a slim and svelte body that won’t be hard to operate with a single hand. Only .4 of an inch taller than the Moto E4, but slimmer in every other dimension, Huawei has done an amazing job creating a device that gives you plenty of screen real estate in a form that doesn’t need a huge hand. Sure, it’s no Galaxy S8 or LG G6 with slim bezels, but it’s a great showing nonetheless. That great show extends to the design of the P10. It’s a sumptuously premium glass and aluminum affair, and if you’re an Apple fan you might notice that the P10 has more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone 6S — but this is not a bad thing, and there are enough differences that you’re unlikely to mistake one phone for the other.

As mentioned, the screen is a 5.1-inch LCD, capable of outputting up to 1080p. But where Huawei really slips up is the lack of an oleophobic layer on the screen itself. Why it chose to not include this is unknown — and baffling — but an additional screen protector can do wonders to stop your screen from accumulating the layer of grease that an oleophobic protector would have prevented.

As with all of Huawei’s phones, the P10 runs Huawei’s latest version of their proprietary EMUI operating system. Based on Android, criticism was leveled at earlier versions of EMUI for looking far too much like iOS. Thankfully, the latest version, EMUI 5, has addressed a lot of these concerns. However, if you’re coming from a predominantly Android background, you might still be put off by what looks like a totally different operating system, and the P10 is definitely not the phone for you if you want a “purer” Android experience. But it works, and it works well.

Most of the rest is all good; the camera is amazing, capable of taking wonderful shots, even in low light conditions. Huawei’s Kirin 960 processor means that the P10 is capable of beating the LG G6 in benchmark tests, and 4GB of RAM is more than enough. The 3,200 mAh battery is more than capable of a day’s work, with Huawei’s quick charging technology there to pick up the slack, just in case, and is capable of charging the P10 from zero to full in 90 minutes.

The only real gripe against the Huawei P10 is the fact that it’s not officially available in the US. And while getting an international model and importing from the EU is easy, the P10 is GSM-only, meaning it’s not the phone for Sprint or Verizon customers. T-Mobile and AT&T should have no problems though, and outside of this point (and it will be a deal breaker for a lot of people), the P10 is a fantastic phone, and one you should definitely consider. Check out our review of the Huawei P10 for the full break down.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Weekly Rewind: Tiny iPhones, injectable bandages, Bitcoin for dentists, and more

A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from our 2017 Outdoor Awards to a tiny iPhone  — it’s all here.

Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, making it easier to follow a winding hiking trail, helping us swing a baseball bat more accurately, and keeping us in touch with our friends even as we get away from it all. For the first annual Digital Trends Outdoor Awards, we aim to spotlight and reward the many companies embracing tech and spearheading this revolution.

To do this, we stepped out of the office and onto the mountains, rivers, forests, and trails of the Pacific Northwest to field test a variety of gear designed to not just alter your experience outdoors but to improve it. Be it a footwear company’s dedication to understanding exactly how the human body moves or a phone case brand’s commitment to designing the bear-proof cooler of the summer, outdoor innovation and technology doesn’t fit one definition but features a wealth of benefit.

Read: Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Luxury comes in many different shapes and sizes, but it’s never taken on a form like this. With the Bentayga, Bentley set out to create a new type of vehicle that takes the no-compromise strand of opulence it is famous for to the SUV segment. We spent a week living with the British company’s only high-riding model to evaluate what it brings to the market.

Diehard Bentley historians will enthusiastically dispute claims that the Bentayga is Bentley’s very first SUV. They’re completely right. Here’s a quick fun fact: in the early 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned Bentley to build approximately six examples of a Range Rover-esque 4×4 named Dominator. All six are gathering dust in his mind-blowing collection, and the model has never been seen in public. He’s not the cars and coffee type, apparently. It’s true that the Dominator is the original Bentley SUV, but the Bentayga is the first one designed and produced for motorists who do not preside over a microstate.

Read: 2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

A smart, stamp-sized “shape memory” bandage developed by engineers at the University of Toronto could help fix damaged organ tissue without the need for surgery. As its creators explain, it could help mend broken hearts — literally!

“Once engineered tissues are made in the lab, the only way for them to get into the human body is by a surgical approach, by opening the chest to place the tissues in,” biomedical engineering professor Milica Radisic told Digital Trends. “In this work, we were able to marry minimally invasive delivery with tissues engineering [to develop] shape memory polymer scaffolds that enable us to inject fully functional tissues into the body.”

Read: Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Just as when puppies do something unspeakable on your new carpet, it’s very easy for forgive the Soyes 7S for looking almost exactly like an Apple iPhone, because it’s just so damn cute. It’s cute because it’s tiny — no more than half the size of an iPhone 7 Plus, but perhaps twice as adorable. It’s not an iPhone challenger though, and the specification is slightly lacking in this unusual Chinese phone. Also, it doesn’t run iOS, obviously, but Google Android with a user interface to make it look something like an iPhone.

Soyes has a history of making small smartphones, which are sold through eBay and Chinese device importers, and a quick browse of its (outdated) website reveals in the past it has made phones the same size as a credit card. However, none are as visually interesting as the Soyes 7S, its miniature iPhone clone.

Read: We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Think that YouTube video you’re watching could be viral material? A new YouTube live viewer count could give viewers a glimpse at just how hot that video is. YouTube is now testing a feature that shows the number of viewers watching the video at a particular time, according to Android Police.

As a feature that’s only in testing phases, the live viewer counter is only showing up for a select number of users. The feature is being tested inside the mobile app as a counter that pops up under the video title, and is displayed as “# watching now.” The feature gives viewers an idea of how popular a video is by showing the number of other viewers tuning in at the same time.

Read: Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

Of all the technological leaps Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have enabled, arguably their biggest impact has been the creation and proliferation of blockchain technology. The blockchain has many manifestations, though, and a new one is looking to leverage it to create a new outlook for … the dental industry.

Yes, that’s right. It’s cryptocurrency for your teeth.

Called Dentacoin, it pitches itself as a way to improve dental health, cut out insurance companies as middle men, and foster cooperation between dentists and patients. But can a currency with so specific a role possibly hope to compete in a space with 700+ other crypto coins, including the granddaddy of them all, Bitcoin?

Read: Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Smartphones have allowed us to easily capture intimate and memorable moments, such as a baby’s first steps or a graduation ceremony. But too often we’re looking through the smartphone, rather than simply being present. Ubiquiti Labs‘ FrontRow is a wearable camera that wants to help by capturing and sharing the moment, so you can stay in the moment hands-free.

The FrontRow looks like a pocket watch, except instead of a watch face there’s a 2-inch circular display. There are two cameras, one on the back with the display, and one on the front. On the side, you’ll find a power button, and a media button that lets you start and stop recording.

Read: FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Want an Apple Watch? You may want to talk to Aetna. According to a report from CNBC, Apple and the insurance company held a number of “secret discussions” last week in order to make the wearable more widely accessible to Aetna customers. And with millions of individuals (23 million, to be exact) using Aetna’s services, that could mean a lot more Apple Watches for a lot more people.

Currently, Aetna already offers its 50,000 employees the smartwatch as part of its corporate wellness program. But while we may not all work for Aetna, even working with Aetna could pay off in the form of a wearable. Apparently, Aetna hopes to work with Apple to offer either a free or discounted Apple Watch as a perk to members.

Read: Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

The fictional Ethan Hunt may be able to consistently pull off the impossible, but the actor who plays him, Tom Cruise, is only human. The action star was shooting Mission: Impossible 6 this week when he suffered a broken ankle during an on-set accident. Production is on hold while he recovers — a process that could take between six weeks and three months, according to Variety sources.

Cruise was filming M:I 6 in London on Sunday when he injured himself. As a TMZ video showed  the actor trying to jump onto a building from some rigging but didn’t quite make it. He collided hard with the building, which evidently caused his broken ankle.

Read: Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

Weekly Rewind: Tiny iPhones, injectable bandages, Bitcoin for dentists, and more

A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from our 2017 Outdoor Awards to a tiny iPhone  — it’s all here.

Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, making it easier to follow a winding hiking trail, helping us swing a baseball bat more accurately, and keeping us in touch with our friends even as we get away from it all. For the first annual Digital Trends Outdoor Awards, we aim to spotlight and reward the many companies embracing tech and spearheading this revolution.

To do this, we stepped out of the office and onto the mountains, rivers, forests, and trails of the Pacific Northwest to field test a variety of gear designed to not just alter your experience outdoors but to improve it. Be it a footwear company’s dedication to understanding exactly how the human body moves or a phone case brand’s commitment to designing the bear-proof cooler of the summer, outdoor innovation and technology doesn’t fit one definition but features a wealth of benefit.

Read: Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Luxury comes in many different shapes and sizes, but it’s never taken on a form like this. With the Bentayga, Bentley set out to create a new type of vehicle that takes the no-compromise strand of opulence it is famous for to the SUV segment. We spent a week living with the British company’s only high-riding model to evaluate what it brings to the market.

Diehard Bentley historians will enthusiastically dispute claims that the Bentayga is Bentley’s very first SUV. They’re completely right. Here’s a quick fun fact: in the early 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned Bentley to build approximately six examples of a Range Rover-esque 4×4 named Dominator. All six are gathering dust in his mind-blowing collection, and the model has never been seen in public. He’s not the cars and coffee type, apparently. It’s true that the Dominator is the original Bentley SUV, but the Bentayga is the first one designed and produced for motorists who do not preside over a microstate.

Read: 2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

A smart, stamp-sized “shape memory” bandage developed by engineers at the University of Toronto could help fix damaged organ tissue without the need for surgery. As its creators explain, it could help mend broken hearts — literally!

“Once engineered tissues are made in the lab, the only way for them to get into the human body is by a surgical approach, by opening the chest to place the tissues in,” biomedical engineering professor Milica Radisic told Digital Trends. “In this work, we were able to marry minimally invasive delivery with tissues engineering [to develop] shape memory polymer scaffolds that enable us to inject fully functional tissues into the body.”

Read: Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Just as when puppies do something unspeakable on your new carpet, it’s very easy for forgive the Soyes 7S for looking almost exactly like an Apple iPhone, because it’s just so damn cute. It’s cute because it’s tiny — no more than half the size of an iPhone 7 Plus, but perhaps twice as adorable. It’s not an iPhone challenger though, and the specification is slightly lacking in this unusual Chinese phone. Also, it doesn’t run iOS, obviously, but Google Android with a user interface to make it look something like an iPhone.

Soyes has a history of making small smartphones, which are sold through eBay and Chinese device importers, and a quick browse of its (outdated) website reveals in the past it has made phones the same size as a credit card. However, none are as visually interesting as the Soyes 7S, its miniature iPhone clone.

Read: We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Think that YouTube video you’re watching could be viral material? A new YouTube live viewer count could give viewers a glimpse at just how hot that video is. YouTube is now testing a feature that shows the number of viewers watching the video at a particular time, according to Android Police.

As a feature that’s only in testing phases, the live viewer counter is only showing up for a select number of users. The feature is being tested inside the mobile app as a counter that pops up under the video title, and is displayed as “# watching now.” The feature gives viewers an idea of how popular a video is by showing the number of other viewers tuning in at the same time.

Read: Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

Of all the technological leaps Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have enabled, arguably their biggest impact has been the creation and proliferation of blockchain technology. The blockchain has many manifestations, though, and a new one is looking to leverage it to create a new outlook for … the dental industry.

Yes, that’s right. It’s cryptocurrency for your teeth.

Called Dentacoin, it pitches itself as a way to improve dental health, cut out insurance companies as middle men, and foster cooperation between dentists and patients. But can a currency with so specific a role possibly hope to compete in a space with 700+ other crypto coins, including the granddaddy of them all, Bitcoin?

Read: Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Smartphones have allowed us to easily capture intimate and memorable moments, such as a baby’s first steps or a graduation ceremony. But too often we’re looking through the smartphone, rather than simply being present. Ubiquiti Labs‘ FrontRow is a wearable camera that wants to help by capturing and sharing the moment, so you can stay in the moment hands-free.

The FrontRow looks like a pocket watch, except instead of a watch face there’s a 2-inch circular display. There are two cameras, one on the back with the display, and one on the front. On the side, you’ll find a power button, and a media button that lets you start and stop recording.

Read: FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Want an Apple Watch? You may want to talk to Aetna. According to a report from CNBC, Apple and the insurance company held a number of “secret discussions” last week in order to make the wearable more widely accessible to Aetna customers. And with millions of individuals (23 million, to be exact) using Aetna’s services, that could mean a lot more Apple Watches for a lot more people.

Currently, Aetna already offers its 50,000 employees the smartwatch as part of its corporate wellness program. But while we may not all work for Aetna, even working with Aetna could pay off in the form of a wearable. Apparently, Aetna hopes to work with Apple to offer either a free or discounted Apple Watch as a perk to members.

Read: Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

The fictional Ethan Hunt may be able to consistently pull off the impossible, but the actor who plays him, Tom Cruise, is only human. The action star was shooting Mission: Impossible 6 this week when he suffered a broken ankle during an on-set accident. Production is on hold while he recovers — a process that could take between six weeks and three months, according to Variety sources.

Cruise was filming M:I 6 in London on Sunday when he injured himself. As a TMZ video showed  the actor trying to jump onto a building from some rigging but didn’t quite make it. He collided hard with the building, which evidently caused his broken ankle.

Read: Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

Weekly Rewind: Tiny iPhones, injectable bandages, Bitcoin for dentists, and more

A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from our 2017 Outdoor Awards to a tiny iPhone  — it’s all here.

Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, making it easier to follow a winding hiking trail, helping us swing a baseball bat more accurately, and keeping us in touch with our friends even as we get away from it all. For the first annual Digital Trends Outdoor Awards, we aim to spotlight and reward the many companies embracing tech and spearheading this revolution.

To do this, we stepped out of the office and onto the mountains, rivers, forests, and trails of the Pacific Northwest to field test a variety of gear designed to not just alter your experience outdoors but to improve it. Be it a footwear company’s dedication to understanding exactly how the human body moves or a phone case brand’s commitment to designing the bear-proof cooler of the summer, outdoor innovation and technology doesn’t fit one definition but features a wealth of benefit.

Read: Digital Trends 2017 Outdoor Awards

2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Luxury comes in many different shapes and sizes, but it’s never taken on a form like this. With the Bentayga, Bentley set out to create a new type of vehicle that takes the no-compromise strand of opulence it is famous for to the SUV segment. We spent a week living with the British company’s only high-riding model to evaluate what it brings to the market.

Diehard Bentley historians will enthusiastically dispute claims that the Bentayga is Bentley’s very first SUV. They’re completely right. Here’s a quick fun fact: in the early 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned Bentley to build approximately six examples of a Range Rover-esque 4×4 named Dominator. All six are gathering dust in his mind-blowing collection, and the model has never been seen in public. He’s not the cars and coffee type, apparently. It’s true that the Dominator is the original Bentley SUV, but the Bentayga is the first one designed and produced for motorists who do not preside over a microstate.

Read: 2017 Bentley Bentayga review

Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

A smart, stamp-sized “shape memory” bandage developed by engineers at the University of Toronto could help fix damaged organ tissue without the need for surgery. As its creators explain, it could help mend broken hearts — literally!

“Once engineered tissues are made in the lab, the only way for them to get into the human body is by a surgical approach, by opening the chest to place the tissues in,” biomedical engineering professor Milica Radisic told Digital Trends. “In this work, we were able to marry minimally invasive delivery with tissues engineering [to develop] shape memory polymer scaffolds that enable us to inject fully functional tissues into the body.”

Read: Unfolding injectable bandage can patch up a damaged heart

We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Just as when puppies do something unspeakable on your new carpet, it’s very easy for forgive the Soyes 7S for looking almost exactly like an Apple iPhone, because it’s just so damn cute. It’s cute because it’s tiny — no more than half the size of an iPhone 7 Plus, but perhaps twice as adorable. It’s not an iPhone challenger though, and the specification is slightly lacking in this unusual Chinese phone. Also, it doesn’t run iOS, obviously, but Google Android with a user interface to make it look something like an iPhone.

Soyes has a history of making small smartphones, which are sold through eBay and Chinese device importers, and a quick browse of its (outdated) website reveals in the past it has made phones the same size as a credit card. However, none are as visually interesting as the Soyes 7S, its miniature iPhone clone.

Read: We now know what a tiny iPhone would look like, and it’s adorable

Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Think that YouTube video you’re watching could be viral material? A new YouTube live viewer count could give viewers a glimpse at just how hot that video is. YouTube is now testing a feature that shows the number of viewers watching the video at a particular time, according to Android Police.

As a feature that’s only in testing phases, the live viewer counter is only showing up for a select number of users. The feature is being tested inside the mobile app as a counter that pops up under the video title, and is displayed as “# watching now.” The feature gives viewers an idea of how popular a video is by showing the number of other viewers tuning in at the same time.

Read: Is that video about to go viral? YouTube tests live viewer count in app

Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

Of all the technological leaps Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have enabled, arguably their biggest impact has been the creation and proliferation of blockchain technology. The blockchain has many manifestations, though, and a new one is looking to leverage it to create a new outlook for … the dental industry.

Yes, that’s right. It’s cryptocurrency for your teeth.

Called Dentacoin, it pitches itself as a way to improve dental health, cut out insurance companies as middle men, and foster cooperation between dentists and patients. But can a currency with so specific a role possibly hope to compete in a space with 700+ other crypto coins, including the granddaddy of them all, Bitcoin?

Read: Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Smartphones have allowed us to easily capture intimate and memorable moments, such as a baby’s first steps or a graduation ceremony. But too often we’re looking through the smartphone, rather than simply being present. Ubiquiti Labs‘ FrontRow is a wearable camera that wants to help by capturing and sharing the moment, so you can stay in the moment hands-free.

The FrontRow looks like a pocket watch, except instead of a watch face there’s a 2-inch circular display. There are two cameras, one on the back with the display, and one on the front. On the side, you’ll find a power button, and a media button that lets you start and stop recording.

Read: FrontRow is a wearable camera that lets you live in the moment, and capture it

Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Want an Apple Watch? You may want to talk to Aetna. According to a report from CNBC, Apple and the insurance company held a number of “secret discussions” last week in order to make the wearable more widely accessible to Aetna customers. And with millions of individuals (23 million, to be exact) using Aetna’s services, that could mean a lot more Apple Watches for a lot more people.

Currently, Aetna already offers its 50,000 employees the smartwatch as part of its corporate wellness program. But while we may not all work for Aetna, even working with Aetna could pay off in the form of a wearable. Apparently, Aetna hopes to work with Apple to offer either a free or discounted Apple Watch as a perk to members.

Read: Are you an Aetna customer? There could be an Apple Watch in your future

Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

The fictional Ethan Hunt may be able to consistently pull off the impossible, but the actor who plays him, Tom Cruise, is only human. The action star was shooting Mission: Impossible 6 this week when he suffered a broken ankle during an on-set accident. Production is on hold while he recovers — a process that could take between six weeks and three months, according to Variety sources.

Cruise was filming M:I 6 in London on Sunday when he injured himself. As a TMZ video showed  the actor trying to jump onto a building from some rigging but didn’t quite make it. He collided hard with the building, which evidently caused his broken ankle.

Read: Tom Cruise’s on-set injury forces long ‘Mission: Impossible 6’ production delay

New ‘Robotarium’ lets you remote control a swarm of robots — with your own code

Why it matters to you

Georgia Tech’s Robotarium means anyone can try out their swarm robot code in a world-class research facility.

Access to a fully kitted-out swarm robotics lab is something that only a small number of researchers around the world can dream of having. The Georgia Institute of Technology is setting out to right that wrong with next week’s opening of a brand new “Robotarium” lab — a 725-square-foot facility that provides all the tools researchers need to carry out experiments with a swarm of real robots. These could include questions ranging from how to coordinate platoons of self-driving trucks on the interstate to how teams of rescue robots should best spread out to cover an area after a natural disaster.

All researchers need to do is to upload their code to the Robotarium website and watch it play out on a massive hockey rink-style arena, as filmed by motion capture cameras in the ceiling. Once an experiment has been carried out, researchers receive the video evidence and data they require, while the robot swarm autonomously returns to its charging points to await the next mission.

“The Robotarium is a remotely accessible swarm robotics lab populated with close to 100 robots: a mixture of wheeled ground robots and aerial drones,” Dr. Sean Wilson, a postdoctoral scholar overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility, told Digital Trends. “It is designed to support a large set of research questions about how one can coordinate the behaviors of large teams of robots so that, together, they can solve problems they could not solve by themselves.”

The Robotarium cost $2.5 million to develop and was funded through an endowment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Office of Naval Research. Georgia Tech opened a miniature prototype, scaled-down version of the lab with a maximum of 30 robots a little over a year ago, and has used the knowledge they gathered from it to develop this full-sized version. It will have its grand opening on Tuesday.

“This is exciting because it fundamentally changes how we think about research infrastructure,” Dr. Magnus Egerstedt, professor and executive director for the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech, told us. “No longer do you need to be an extremely well-funded research lab to get access to a world-class research facility. Also, we’re talking about swarms of robots — that’s super exciting in its own right! Who hasn’t looked at flocks of birds or schools of fish with awe? Well, now one can experience that with robots instead.”

Between this and the kinds of do-it-yourself home robotics projects we are starting to see hit the market, kids these days don’t know how lucky they are.

New ‘Robotarium’ lets you remote control a swarm of robots — with your own code

Why it matters to you

Georgia Tech’s Robotarium means anyone can try out their swarm robot code in a world-class research facility.

Access to a fully kitted-out swarm robotics lab is something that only a small number of researchers around the world can dream of having. The Georgia Institute of Technology is setting out to right that wrong with next week’s opening of a brand new “Robotarium” lab — a 725-square-foot facility that provides all the tools researchers need to carry out experiments with a swarm of real robots. These could include questions ranging from how to coordinate platoons of self-driving trucks on the interstate to how teams of rescue robots should best spread out to cover an area after a natural disaster.

All researchers need to do is to upload their code to the Robotarium website and watch it play out on a massive hockey rink-style arena, as filmed by motion capture cameras in the ceiling. Once an experiment has been carried out, researchers receive the video evidence and data they require, while the robot swarm autonomously returns to its charging points to await the next mission.

“The Robotarium is a remotely accessible swarm robotics lab populated with close to 100 robots: a mixture of wheeled ground robots and aerial drones,” Dr. Sean Wilson, a postdoctoral scholar overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility, told Digital Trends. “It is designed to support a large set of research questions about how one can coordinate the behaviors of large teams of robots so that, together, they can solve problems they could not solve by themselves.”

The Robotarium cost $2.5 million to develop and was funded through an endowment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Office of Naval Research. Georgia Tech opened a miniature prototype, scaled-down version of the lab with a maximum of 30 robots a little over a year ago, and has used the knowledge they gathered from it to develop this full-sized version. It will have its grand opening on Tuesday.

“This is exciting because it fundamentally changes how we think about research infrastructure,” Dr. Magnus Egerstedt, professor and executive director for the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech, told us. “No longer do you need to be an extremely well-funded research lab to get access to a world-class research facility. Also, we’re talking about swarms of robots — that’s super exciting in its own right! Who hasn’t looked at flocks of birds or schools of fish with awe? Well, now one can experience that with robots instead.”

Between this and the kinds of do-it-yourself home robotics projects we are starting to see hit the market, kids these days don’t know how lucky they are.

Where to buy the Essential Phone

It’s hot, it’s hyped, and it’s now on sale.

If you’re looking for a high-end phone, it’s hard to ignore the gravity of the Essential Phone right now. When a company run by Andy Rubin releases a phone, people take notice — and they’ll also have to take out their wallet, because the Essential Phone is a cool $699.

It’s available in the U.S. and Canada, with a variety of retailer options and a few good deals. Here are all of the details.

U.S.

The U.S. is obviously Essential’s dominant launch market, where you have multiple retail options.

Amazon

Amazon has both black moon and pure white colors available for pre-order, though it isn’t offering a time frame on the latter’s delivery. Pricing is set at $699 with free shipping for Prime members.

See at Amazon

Best Buy

Best Buy is listing both the black moon and pure white colors of the Essential Phone, but won’t actually let you place an order for the white model just yet. Pricing is set at $699, and you can finance that with Best Buy’s in-house financial services if you’d like.

You can also buy the phone via Best Buy to use on Sprint, if you want to get your phone and carrier setup all handled at once.

See at Best Buy

Sprint

Sprint has just the black moon color available, and the same pricing as elsewhere at $699.

For a limited time after launch, Sprint is offering 50% off a lease of the Essential Phone, knocking it down to just under $15 per month for 18 months. Sprint’s leases end with an option to continue payments another 6 months to buy the phone outright, or an option to return the phone for an upgrade on a new lease.

See at Sprint

Essential

It’s always great to see a phone sold unlocked directly by the company. Both black moon and pure white are color options, but only the black is available for immediate ordering. The price is of course $699, and you can choose whether you want the $99 two-year warranty on top of that. The phone will work with all major U.S. carriers.

Around launch for a limited time it’s offering a deal for its 360-degree camera accessory for just $50, which is $150 off, when you buy it at the same time as the phone — a great deal if you plan on buying it anyway.

See at Essential

Canada

Canada isn’t quite as lucky as the U.S., as Essential isn’t selling unlocked in the country but instead sticking to the exclusive deal with TELUS.

TELUS

Things are pretty simple here. Black moon is the only available color, and you’ll have to sign on to a two-year contract to get the phone. With a plan at $85 per month you can have the Essential Phone for $490, or if you opt for a more expensive $95+ plan you pay just $290. Phones ship by September 1.

See at TELUS

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

Amazon
Best Buy
Sprint
Telus

Best Cases for LG G6

What are the best cases for the LG G6?

Whether you have an LG G6 already or it’s on its way, you’ll probably want to have a good case around for those times when you can’t guarantee it’ll stay safe from bumps and scrapes. Now that we’re a few months removed from the G6 launch, there are tons of options available to fit your needs and budget.

Here’s our breakdown of some of the best cases you can find for the LG G6.

• Caseology Geometric
• Spigen Rugged Armor
• SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro
• Trianium Clarium Series Case
• Spigen Thin Fit
• UAG Plasma
• Incipio DualPro

Caseology Geometric

Caseology’s Geometric case is the perfect blend of protective and comfortable, offering two layers of protection — an inner silicone and outer TPU shell — that is covered, on the back, with a grippy geometric pattern.

While all the ports are easily accessible, including the G6’s rear fingerprint sensor, the case lips over the front of the phone, protecting it from the front and back. Available in three colors — black, red, and blue — at an affordable $13 price.

See at Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor

Spigen’s Rugged Armor cases are always a great option, offering good protection without adding too much bulk to your phone. It features a premium look with carbon fiber textures on the back, clear cutouts for your ports, camera and fingerprint scanner, as well as all the protective features that Spigen is known for — spiderweb shock absorption on the interior of the case along with Air Cushion Technology in all the corners.

For a case that offers great protection along with a sleek and stylish appearance, you can’t go wrong with the Spigen Rugged Armor case for your LG G6. It’ll only set you back about $12.

See at Amazon

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro

If you’re the klutzy type who’s constantly dropping your phone, you want this $17 rugged case from SUPCASE. This is a two-piece case that features a front plate with a built-in screen protector that, along with the LG G6’s waterproofing, will pretty much keep your phone in pristine condition. It features multi-layered protection that combines TPU and polycarbonate materials to create a shock absorbing core and impact resistant bumper.

It also comes with a belt clip holster that swivels 360-degrees, making it a great accessory for anyone who’s constantly on the go throughout the day and needs quick access to their phone at all times.

See at Amazon

Trianium Clarium Series Case

The thing about having a new phone is that you want to show it off, right? But not at the expense of leaving it open to damage. That’s where a great clear case come in.

Trianium’s Clarium Series cases are sleek and minimalist, so if those are important features in a case for you, you’ll definitely want to check it out. Your phone will get all around protection from this slim case that also perfectly preserves the look of your LG G6 for just $8.

See at Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit

If you absolutely hate the idea of using a case because of the added bulk, perhaps you should consider Thin Fit case from Spigen. While it won’t offer as much drop protection as the other cases on this list, it will prevent your phones from being scuffed or scratched while in your pocket.

All your ports and side buttons are left wide open, and the case is thin enough to guarantee NFC and wireless charging pass through without issue. Again, if you’re looking for a case that offers sound protection, your best to look at other options. But if you’re looking for a slim and lightweight case to offer the most basic protection from nicks and scratches, this is your best bet at $11.

See at Amazon

UAG Plasma

UAG is known for making some really great rugged cases for your smartphones. The UAG Plasma case offers a great balance between style and protection.

This composite case is feather-light and combines a translucent hard outer shell with a shock-absorbing soft inner core. With a raised rubber screen lip and rear skid pads, your phone will stay put when you put it down without ever coming into direct contact with anything that might scratch the LG G6’s big screen. If you’re concerned about the phone slipping out of your hand, this case features so many ridges and texture around the back to help with grip.

On top of all that, UAG has included oversized cutouts around the camera, fingerprint scanner, and ports, so that all your phone’s features are unencumbered by the case. All of those features will set you back $40, making it the most expensive case on this list, but chances are you know whether or not you’re the kind of person who needs that protection.

See at Amazon

Incipio DualPro

Rugged protection doesn’t have to look so utilitarian. Incipio’s DualPro case — at a hefty $30 — is a really stylish option that combines a shock absorbing TPE inner core with a sleek and lightweight polycarbonate outer shell that works in tandem to provide great shock protection and protect against scratches and scuffs. The power and volume buttons are covered with raised rubber that’s easy to press, and precise cutouts for the camera, charging port, fingerprint scanner, speaker, and headphone jack ensure you’re always able to get the most out of your new phone.

The DualPro offers everything you want from a case while keeping a slim and stylish profile, and is available in five different color options.

See at Amazon

Update August 2017: Refreshed with the latest pricing on our favorite cases, and removed the LK wallet case because it was no longer available.

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• LG G6 vs. Google Pixel: The two best cameras right now
• Everything you need to know about the G6’s cameras
• LG forums

Verizon
Sprint
T-Mobile
AT&T
B&H