Ford tests exoskeleton to ease strain on factory workers

Companies are starting to propose functioning exoskeletons for real applications, from soldier support to helping paraplegic patients walk. But they could also be customized to help everyday workers with their harder tasks, as Lowe’s lift-easing prototype demonstrated. Ford is taking a different tack by investing in the EksoVest, a new exoskeleton that supports factory employees’ upper bodies to ease strain when lifting and performing overhead tasks.

Certain Ford employees do these tasks up to 4,600 times per day and up to a million times per year, the automaker noted in a press release. The non-powered EksoVest, designed by Ekso Bionics in partnership with Ford, helps lift five to fifteen pounds, easing the strain on users’ upper bodies and preventing some fatigue. That assistance could help prevent workplace accidents resulting from tired muscles and minds. The EksoVest fits employees from 5-feet to 6-feet 4-inches tall and is designed for anyone in load-bearing work, from factories to construction sites to distribution centers.

“Collaboratively working with Ford enabled us to test and refine early prototypes of the EksoVest based on insights directly from their production line workers,” said Russ Angold, co-founder and chief technology officer of Ekso Bionics, in Ford’s press release. “The end result is a wearable tool that reduces the strain on a worker’s body, reducing the likelihood of injury, and helping them feel better at the end of the day – increasing both productivity and morale.”

Ford is currently testing the EksoVest in two US factories with plans to expand the pilot program to European and South American sites. The United Automobile Workers lent their support to the concept.

Via: CNET

Source: Ford

The Game Awards will stream live on December 7th

The Game Awards, created in 2014 and produced by Geoff Keighley, is like the gaming equivalent of the Emmys or Oscars. The show airs live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on December 7th, and you can stream it on more than 16 different gaming and digital platforms. Better yet, you’ll be able to vote for your favorite games in “select categories” using Facebook Messenger, Google Search and Twitter DM starting November 14th. Engadget is one of the voting publications this year, and we’ll have the livestream posted for you, too.

The Game Awards reached over 8.5 million viewers last year, honoring both triple-A and independent games alike, including Battlefield 1, Doom, Overwatch, Titanfall 2, Uncharted 4, Hyper Light Drifter and Firewatch. “The Game Awards unites the global gaming community, no matter who you are, where you live, or what type of video games you enjoy,” said Geoff Keighley in a statement. “This year we are excited to add even more partners to our distribution matrix, give fans new ways to interact with the show, and introduce several exciting new elements including The Game Awards Orchestra.” The latter is an all-star group of orchestral and rock musicians that will debut a performance of video game music.

The Game Awards is of global interest, with live streaming partners to include South Korea’s AfreecaTV, Facebook, GameSpot, KakaoTV in South Korea, IGN, NicoNico in Japan, Mixer, PlayStation Store, Steam, China’s Tencent, Twitch, Twitter, UOL Jogos in Brazil, Xbox Live and YouTube. You can also catch the highlights via a Snapchat Live Story. If you want to start paying attention early, Facebook will have a 5-week behind the scenes documentary series, “The Road to the Game Awards,” that will premier November 13th.

Source: The Game Awards

Apple Launches New ‘This Weekend Only’ App Store Deals Feature

As part of its newly updated App Store in iOS 11, Apple is introducing a new “This Weekend Only” feature for the “Today” section, which will see the company offering “new ways to save” with apps.

Apple will introduce an app with a special deal each Thursday, with discounts available through Sunday. To celebrate the launch of the feature, Apple this week is offering exclusive discounts within five apps.

You can find the discounts by opening the App Store on an iOS device and navigating to the “Today” view. It’s listed under “Introducing: This Weekend Only.” This weeks deals are listed below.

– HotelTonight: With the HotelTonight discount, customers booking a last minute hotel room can receive up to 40 percent off of the original room price.

– Glasses by Warby Parker: With Warby Parker’s new app, customers who place an order for glasses or sunglasses this weekend will receive a free geometric case, valued at $15.

– Under Armour: Purchases over $100 made within athletic apparel app Under Armour will be discounted by $20.

– Chipotle: When purchasing an entree at Chipotle, customers can get a free order of chips and queso.

– Shoptiques: Apparel and accessory app Shoptiques is providing 15 percent off all orders over $100.

Apple’s new “This Weekend Only” App Store section is just one of the ways the company is using the new design of the App Store to highlight apps. Each day, there’s an array of new content available in the Today section of the App Store, which is designed to surface a range of new apps and games.

Tag: App Store
Discuss this article in our forums

This star refuses to die, even after it explodes

Supernovae are some of the brightest and most energetic events in our galaxy. These occur when stars that have much greater mass than that of our sun explode; they become incredibly bright, and then slowly fade over the course of a few months as they lose energy. Under the terms of how we traditionally understand the life cycle of a star, a supernova inevitably means stellar death. Or does it? Astronomers working at Hawaii’s Keck Observatory have found a star that refuses to die.

The supernova, named iPTF14hls, has exploded multiple times over the last fifty years. Rather than giving into death in the cold wastes of space, this singular star is seemingly in a cycle of continually absorbing matter, collapsing and exploding. The team first took note of the star in 2014 because it had gone supernova and was starting to fade. But then, a few months later, the team noticed that the star was becoming brighter again.

When the astronomers looked at records, they noticed that a supernova had occurred at that same location in 1954. The star had not only somehow survived, but had gone on to explode again in 2014. “This supernova breaks everything we thought we knew about how they work. It’s the biggest puzzle I’ve encountered in almost a decade of studying stellar explosions,” Iair Arcavi, the lead author of the study (which was published in Nature) said in a press release.

It’s not clear why this star refuses to die, but it could have something to do with its size. It’s at least 50 times more massive than our own star. Our conventional rules about how stars work might not apply to something of that size. The star could also have antimatter at its core that fuels its cycle of explosions, a hypothesized result of its extreme mass and temperature. Regardless of the reason, we appreciate this star’s resilience

Source: Keck Observatory, Nature

‘South Park’ is ready to do battle on your phone

The Fractured But Whole isn’t the only South Park game arriving this fall: Ubisoft and RedLynx have released South Park: Phone Destroyer, the Android and iOS title teased back at E3. Think of it as Hearthstone meets Herbert Garrison: you’re duking it out in real-time solo or multiplayer battles using collectible cards that grant special abilities to the show’s many, many characters. And it’s not just banking on South Park’s usual sophomoric humor to reel you in. There’s a proper 60-mission single-player story and a rare team dynamic that lets you share cards with friends.

It’s a free-to-play title with in-app purchases, but Ubisoft swears that you won’t be forced to pay to see everything the game has to offer. With that said, don’t be surprised if you end up grinding to get a coveted item — the developers are clearly hoping you’ll shell out a few bucks to speed things up. The team element helps mitigate things, though, and this game will clearly scratch your itch if you have fond memories of AWESOM-O and ManBearPig. Just don’t be shocked if Phone Destroyer lives up to its name — we can’t imagine that a few hours of this will be kind to your battery.

Source: App Store, Google Play, South Park

The best LED flashlights for the trail, glovebox, or that general eureka moment

We all know the sheer convenience of flashlight apps in a quick pinch. While your iPhone’s native utility may prove itself worthy when you’re fumbling in the dark in search of light, they’re far from convenient when it comes to power and efficiency. Thankfully, dedicated LED (light-emitting diode) flashlights excel in terms of size, longevity, and overall brightness, serving as the perfect companion for hitting the trail or exploring the darkest corners of your basement.

Though they can be relatively expensive, most LED flashlights boast a shelf life of more than 25,000 hours, easily surpassing that of their conventional counterparts while producing less light pollution and using a mere 85 percent of the power. However, LED flashlights aren’t the most visually attractive — unless you want to drop a whopping $300 on something like the Orbita Lighthouse — but they will give you the most bang for your buck, whether you prefer a traditional cylindrical torch or a modern headlamp.

We’ve tested some gnarly flashlights over the years, including a halogen model powerful enough to literally fry an egg and start a fire, however, (all liabilities and general awesomeness aside) a real-world lightsaber isn’t all that practical for most situations. Nonetheless, here are our top picks for the best LED flashlights around. I guess it’s time to load up on those D cells.

We recently unveiled our 2017 Digital Trends Outdoor Awards highlighting the best outdoor cooking options, most innovative camping gear, and more.

The best overall — MAGLITE ML300LX ($49)

Per Maglite’s mission statement, the company uses the African proverb of the Lion and the Gazelle as a source of inspiration when designing its products. In essence, the proverb states that regardless of whether you’re a lion or a gazelle, it’s imperative that with the rising of the sun, you must run — and run faster than you did yesterday, or you will die.

“What does any of that have to do with flashlights?” you ask. Everything.

Maglite introduced its first flashlight in 1979 and over the next 40 years, the company has hung its hat on a durable lineup of LED flashlights. The ML300LX has five lighting settings (Momentary, Full Power, Low Power, ECO, and Strobe) to aptly handle the job at hand. At full power, the unit emits 625 lumens of light up to 1,300 feet (in optimal conditions) or as few as 58 lumens when just a little light is needed. With a sturdy aluminum build, the ML300LX is also one of the most rugged LED flashlights on the market — drop it, kick it, run it over, you’ll be hard-pressed to bust this beast. That said, at nearly two pounds, it isn’t the most portable or convenient option for certain tasks but this brute is handy if you need to bludgeon a bear on the fly.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

The best portable LED flashlight for your pack — Fenix PD35 TAC ($73)

Every ounce and sliver of space counts when you’re packing for an extended trip and while any handheld flashlight is technically “portable,” not all models stow and travel as easily as others. With these parameters in mind, the Fenix PD35 TAC LED Flashlight is our pick for best portable without sacrificing lumen output.

The PD35 TAC is equipped with two lighting modes: Tactical and Outdoor Operation. The Tactical setting is activated via the tail switch and allows you to emit up to 1,000 lumens of light. A double-tap of this button emits the same lumen output for one second for short powerful bursts when a quick glance will suffice. The Outdoor mode adds a little more versatility, offering six different lighting modes ranging from 1,000 to just eight lumens.

The exterior side-mounted clip is ideal for belts, pant pockets, and the semi-recessed tail switch minimizes the risk of the unit powering on even in a brimming overnight camping bag. This model boasts a waterproof IPX8 rating for added durability on soggier outdoor stints. Measuring in at just 5.5 inches in length and tipping the scales at a mere three ounces, the PD35 Tac is a powerful pint-sized tool for individuals looking to travel light.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

The best LED flashlight for versatility — Goal Zero Torch 250 ($80)

We all could use a device that lights our way with something other than D cell batteries. Thankfully, not only does the Goal Zero Torch 250 feature an internal lithium battery that’s rechargeable via an equipped USB port but it also touts a built-in hand crank and solar panel for charging the battery when conventional methods aren’t available. One minute of hand cranking even supplies you with 10 minutes of light, which is a better return than most investments in life.

Similarly, if you need a little extra juice on extended outings, we’ve also compiled roundups of some solid portable solar chargers and also backup battery packs.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

The best LED flashlight headlamp model — Ledlenser MH10 — ($80)

While many prefer a traditional, handheld LED flashlight, there are times when it’s convenient to have a hands-free option. That said, we recently tested a regular panoply of headlamps and the Ledlenser MH10 topped our list. The Adjustable Focus System allows you to easily switch between the Spot or Flood lighting settings with a twist of the bezel lens. The rechargeable MH10 is capable of dishing out up to 600 lumens of light on high, which is more than adequate for most situations.

For a little extra peace of mind, this headlamp also has a lock switch to prevent the model from inadvertently powering on in tow. When setting up camp or starting the fire for the evening, a headlamp is a great hands-free way to add a little light to the situation. This model certainly has use outside of camping trips and those who enjoy early morning or nighttime jogs and bike rides will appreciate the built-in taillight.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

The best budget LED flashlight — Coast HX5 — ($23)

Look, sometimes you don’t need hundreds of lumens or solar capability to get the job done. No, sometimes you simply need a solid LED option for the junk drawer or the glovebox. The compact Coast HX5 produces 130 lumens and the Pure Beam Focusing allows you to switch between Spot or Flood with one hand. At two ounces and just four inches in length, the HX5 fits easily in your pocket and the two-way clip conveniently fastens to your belt between uses. If you need a higher lumen output or a wide field of light when setting up the campsite, you’ll need to look elsewhere, however, when it comes to a powerful handheld option under $25, the HX5 fits the bill without breaking the bank.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

• The 5 best headlamps you can buy
• Get ready for the great outdoors with these 10 camping gear deals
• How to turn on the flashlight faster on an iPhone
• Be seen and not hurt with our picks for five of the best bicycle lights
• Save 50 percent or more on top-notch tech products this weekend

MantaDroid robot may one day join its inspiration in the depths of the ocean

“MantaDroid” may sound like the name of a villain from a ’90s-era Saturday morning cartoon like Street Sharks, but it’s actually the latest cutting-edge piece of robotics research from the National University of Singapore. A manta ray-inspired swimming robot, MantaDroid is able to “fly” smoothly and speedily through the water, while showing off an impressive level of agility in the process.

“Manta rays are known to be extremely efficient swimmers, cruising through the turbulent seas with ease as they flap their large pectoral fins effortlessly,” Professor Chew Chee-Meng, who helped lead the project, told Digital Trends. “We wanted to explore an alternative solution to traditional propeller-based thrusters that are used by most autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). We envisaged that a bio-inspired AUV, which emulates the manta ray’s swimming locomotion, could potentially operate for longer range than a conventional AUV.”

The MantaDroid robot is the size of a juvenile manta ray, giving it a wingspan of 63.4 cm and a body length of 35 cm. Its most unique feature is its passively flexible fin mechanism, which uses just one actuator for each pectoral fin to allow the fins to interact naturally with the fluid dynamics of the water.

National University of Singapore

“With the right combination of fin design, fin flexibility, and motion control, the MantaDroid is able to swim efficiently in the water,” Chee-Meng continued. “Our robot is capable of swimming at a speed of 2 body lengths per second, which is faster than the robot manta ray systems developed by other institutions.”

Another advantage of being modeled after a manta ray is that its flat, wide body gives the researchers behind MantaDroid more room to accommodate different sensors on its belly. At present, with the robot being tested only in swimming pools, its capability isn’t being tested to the maximum. Deployment in the real world would provide the ability for the robot to be equipped with whatever it needs for a particular mission — so long as the payload weighs less than two pounds.

“We see MantaDroid as a potential long-term continuous underwater surveying machine, which could be useful for maritime industries, environmental agencies, and search and rescue organizations,” Chee-Meng said. “For example, it can be used for underwater inspection tasks, as well as for collection of hydrographic data. With swarm intelligence, multiple MantaDroids [could] also be deployed to concurrently perform search operations, such as looking for lost divers or sunken objects in the sea.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Innovative suction robot is designed to hitchhike on the side of a shark
• New type of microscope can peer into the brain of a living, moving creature
• Energy from evaporating water could power 70 percent of the U.S.
• Fish-inspired missiles and eel-like subs? U.K. Navy explores those possibilities
• MIT’s origami robot transforms to become a boat, a glider, or a wheel

Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (late 2017) review

Research Center:
Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (2016)

Nestled between budget and premium notebooks is a near-premium class that provides many of the same features as more expensive machines, but without the design and build quality. Dell’s version is the Inspiron, which offers powerful hardware at a lower price than its XPS line. In our Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 review, we look at a newly redesigned 360-degree convertible that seeks to offer tablet versatility at a reasonable price.

Our review unit came equipped with a quad-core Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SATA solid-state drive (SSD), and a Full HD 13.3-inch display, currently available at Dell.com for $880.Spend $1,250, and you can step up to a Core i7-8550U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

Those prices place the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 squarely in between a budget notebook and a truly premium machine. The question is, has Dell managed to provide a more affordable machine that still makes the grade?

Near-premium design for a near-budget price

The Inspiron 13’s near-premium nature shows in its build quality. It sports a brushed aluminum chassis that feels solid in the hand. Press hard on the lid, the bottom, or the keyboard deck, however, and you’ll notice the tiniest bit of flexing. It’s not as rock solid as the more expensive Lenovo Yoga 920, but it’s still more than acceptable for an affordable machine.

The same is true for the hinge, which is firm enough to hold the display in place with minimal wobble, and allows for an easy transition from notebook to tablet modes. However, the lid does require both hands to open. That’s another marked difference from the Yoga 920, whose watchband hinge is significantly smoother, and can be opened with one finger.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

At the same time, the Inspiron 13 now enjoys significantly slimmer display bezels. That not only makes the notebook look more modern, but it also shaves off some size. The new model is now thinner at 0.61 inches (down from 0.76 inches), lighter at 3.2 pounds (down from 3.5 pounds), and slightly smaller in both width and depth.

Aesthetically, the Inspiron 13 can best be described as “handsome.” It’s unassuming in its gunmetal grey chassis, and it won’t stand out in a sea of similar notebooks. Even so, it fits in well as a junior member of the Dell family.

Solid connectivity that’s in touch with the present and the future

Because it’s slightly thicker than many more premium machines, the Inspiron 13 enjoys a more robust array of ports. It has two USB-A 3.1 connections (one of which can provide power), a USB-C 3.1 port, a full-size HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headset jack. Dell opted for a proprietary power connection rather than utilizing the USB-C port for charging.

Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (2016) Compared To

HP Spectre x360 15-bl075nr

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

Acer Spin 7

Samsung Notebook 7 spin

Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 (2016)

Acer Switch Alpha 12

HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx

Huawei Matebook

Vaio Z Flip

Dell XPS 15

Dell Inspiron 11 (2015)

Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Special…

HP Envy Spectre 360x – 13-4003dx

Toshiba Satellite Click 2 Pro

HP Spectre 13t x2

Wireless includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi to go with Bluetooth 4.2. All told, the Inspiron 13 is a well-connected machine.

Input options that border on mediocre

The Inspiron 13 has a rather typical — albeit spill-resistant — island keyboard that’s set directly into the chassis, and suffers minimal flexing. The black keys with white lettering are backlit, and technically there are two brightness levels; however, the levels are so close in brightness that we had a hard time telling them apart. The lighting was consistent, with little light bleed, and it made the keyboard quite useable in dark environments.

The Inspiron 13 has the usual responsive, accurate multitouch display and supports active pen as well

We found the keyboard’s minimal 1.1mm of travel too shallow. The overall feel was firm, and suffered from a harsh bottoming action. The HP Spectre x360 13’s keyboard, for example, is much snappier, and provides more feedback, enabling more accurate and comfortable typing. We rate the Inspiron 13’s keyboard as merely adequate.

The touchpad is a different story. While it’s a Microsoft Precision touchpad, and thus provided reliable Windows 10 gesture support, its plastic surface is curiously rough and unpleasant to use. We think Dell wanted to make sure there was plenty of grip to allow for confident swiping and gesturing, but it went a bit too far.

As a convertible 2-in-1, the Inspiron 13 has the usual multitouch display that was responsive and accurate. Dell also has support for its active pen, but one was not included with our review unit,so we were unable to test –it. You can pick one up for $35 at the Dell online store.

Finally, the Inspiron 13 uses infrared cameras mounted next to the webcam for facial recognition login through Windows 10 Hello. The system worked perfectly, and logged us in quickly every time.

Quite a colorful display for the price

Our review Inspiron 13 came equipped with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, which is a common option even among more expensive machines. Full HD is a good resolution for this size of machine, offering text that’s likely sharp enough for most people, and putting less strain on the battery than 4Kdisplays.

According to our colorimeter, Dell chose a high-quality panel for the price. The Inspiron 13’s display was quite colorful, supporting 75 percent of the AdobeRGB gamut and 99 percent of sRGB. Both scores are at the high end for productivity notebooks. Color accuracy was also good at 1.63 (where 1.0 and below is considered excellent), which is better than average for the Inspiron 13’s class.

Contrast was good, with a ratio of830:1 at 100 percent brightness. That’s competitive with more expensive notebooks like the Lenovo Yoga 920 and the Asus ZenBook Flip S. Note that the more budget-oriented Acer Swift 3 managed a poorer contrast ratio of only 530:1, while the similarly priced Lenovo Yoga 720 was also significantly worse at 580:1.

The Inspiron 13’s display achieved a brightness level of 281 nits, which is good, but slightly below our preferred 300 nits or higher. That’s in line with our comparison group. Gamma was perfect at 2.2, meaning images and video will appear neither too bright, ortoo dark.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Putting the test results aside, the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 offered an enjoyable viewing experience in everyday use. Movies and TV shows looked great, with plenty of color, and good detail in darker scenes. Viewing photos was fine, albeit without the dynamic colors provided by much more expensive machines. General productivity work was efficient, with black text that provided more than sufficient contrast with white backgrounds.

Loud, but not proud

Two speakers are located on the bottom of the Inspiron 13’s chassis, pointedtowards the front, and they can pump out respectable volume. Unfortunately, there’s a considerable drop-off in quality as volume increases, and music suffers from a lack of bass, and a muddied midrange. Movies and TV shows sound good enough for occasional use, but you’ll want to pull out your favorite headphones whenever possible.

Solid performance thanks to Intel 8th-gen processor

The Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 utilizes Intel’s new quad-core Core i5-8250U CPU. That promises improved performance over the previous generation’s dual-core variant,, particularly in applications that can make use of the additional cores.

In our testing the Inspiron 13 punched well above its weight class. In the Geekbench 4 benchmark, for example, the machine scored a very solid 4,277 on the single-core test, and 14,087 on the multi-core test. That’s significantly faster than machines using the previous generation of Intel CPU, and competes with machines using the faster Core i7-8550U.

The Inspiron 13 punched well above its weight class..

Stepping up to a more demanding task, we used Handbrake to encode a 420MB video file to H.265. Here, the Inspiron 13 was even more impressive. It managed to finish the task in 652 seconds, which competes with the 613 seconds required by the faster Yoga 920,and significantly outperformed the other machines in our comparison group. Naturally, it blew away older machines with seventh-generation Core hardware.

Simply put, the Inspiron 13 provides excellent performance across the board. In our real-life use, it was plenty quick, and handled everything we threw at it. You won’t find many productivity tasks that the notebook can’t tackle.

SATA SSD holds storage speeds back

One area where the Inspiron 13 showed off its less-than-premium status was in Dell’s choice of storage device. Our machine was equipped with a SanDisk X400 SATA SSD, which tends to be slower than the PCIe SSDs that are typically used in more expensive notebooks.

We weren’t surprised by our storage benchmark results. In the CrystalDiskMark test, the Inspiron 13 scored 537 megabytes per second (MB/s) in the read test and 500 MB/s in the write test. That’s significantly slower than the PCIe drives in our comparison group, but a bit faster than the same drive in the Asus ZenBook Flip S.

While these aren’t the fastest synthetic benchmark results, the Inspiron 13 was nevertheless plenty fast in our real-world testing. Apps opened quickly, and the machine booted fast enough that we didn’t hold storage speeds against it. If you’re working with very large files or performing high-end tasks like video editing, you might find the Inspiron 13 a little slower than you’d like. But for typical productivity tasks, it’s unlikely that you’ll notice the difference.

Lackluster gaming, as expected

The Inspiron 13 utilizes Intel’s UHD 620 integrated GPU, which is unchanged in performance from the previous generation. As such, we didn’t have the highest expectations of the machine’s ability to play today’s most popular games.

Unsurprisingly, the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark results were tepid. The Inspiron 13 scored a very typical 992 in this benchmark, roughly equivalent to every other comparison machine using the same integrated GPU.

To verify our benchmark results, we ran Civilization VI on the Inspiron 13 at Full HD, where it managed 11 frames per second (FPS) at medium detail, and 6 FPS at ultra detail. That’s within a frame per second of the other machines in our comparison group, and represents insufficient graphics power for running modern titles. You’ll want to stick to casual gaming on the Inspiron 13, and keep your hardcore gaming for another machine.

Portability is torpedoed by short battery life

Another area where Dell saves money is in battery capacity, with only 38 watt-hours packed inside a chassis that has room for significantly more. The eighth-generation Core i5-8250U CPU promises efficiency when it’s not being pushed too hard, but it tends to use some real power when its running more demanding tasks.

In our most stressful Basemark test, which is a browser benchmark that runs through a series of CPU- and GPU-heavy processes, the Inspiron 13 couldn’t quite make it to two hours before shutting down. That’s 40 minutes less than the Asus ZenBook Flip S, another notebook with similar sized battery, and almost an hour and a half behind the Lenovo Yoga 920, with its 70 watt-hours. Even the budget Acer Swift 3, which we dinged for its poor battery life, lasted just over three hours.

In our web macro test, whichloops through a set of popular web pages, the Inspiron lasted for four hours and 17 minutes. That’s almost two hours less than the ZenBook Flip S, and less than half as long as the Yoga 920 managed. The Yoga 720 13 stretched things to around six and a half hours.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Finally, in our least demanding video test that repeats an Avengers trailer until the battery gives out, the Inspiron 13 managed to last for seven hours and 42 minutes. That’s well below the minimum of 10 hours achieved by most of the other machines in our comparison group. The most recent Dell XPS 13 managed nine hours, but that was with a QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) display, which uses more power than a 1080p panel.

In short, the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 inspired little confidence in its ability to get work done away from a charger for anything near a full work day. While it’s reasonably light at 3.2 pounds, and fits nicely in a backpack, you’ll need to carry your power adapter along with you. That severely limits the machine’s portability.

Software

Like many near-budget notebooks, the Inspiron 13 is loaded down with extra software. Some is useful, like Dell’s SmartByte utility, whichoptimizes wireless network performance. Others, like Adobe and McAfee apps, are the usual bloatware. We’ll excuse the addition of the Dropbox app, given that Dell throws in 20GB of free storage space for a year.

Warranty

Dell provides a standard 1-year mail-in parts and service warranty with the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1. That’s typical, even for considerably more expensive machines. If you buy the highest-end Inspiron, you’ll enjoy Dell’s Premium Support Plus plan that adds in accidental damage coverage and onsite service for a year.

Our Take

The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a nicely refined machine that provides excellent performance, a very good display, and solid quality for the money. The touchpad is unpleasant to use, however, and the poor battery life is a real downer that reduces the machine’s value significantly.

Is there a better alternative?

The most directly competitive convertible 2-in-1 is the Lenovo Yoga 720 13, which is currently on sale for $780 (down from $980) for a seventh-generation Intel Core i5-7200U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The Yoga 720 is roughly as thin as the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1, but weighs less at 2.9 pounds, and provides better battery life. It’s slightly less expensive right now, but comes with the previous-generation Intel CPU. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth saving some money to step back a generation and gain some battery life.

If you can step up in price, then you could consider the Lenovo Yoga 920. It’s considerably more expensive at $1,330 for the same Core i7-8550U, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, but it provides even better performance and much better battery life. It’s also slightly thinner at 0.5 inches, and is more solidly built. It even includes an active pen that rivals the Microsoft Surface Pro’s pen in resolution.

If you’re more strapped for cash and don’t need a 2-in-1, then you could step down into true budget territory and pick up the Acer Swift 3 for $700 with a Core i5-7200U, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. You’ll get decent performance and better battery life, but you’ll have to settle for a mediocre display.

How long will it last?

The Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is well-built enough to evoke confidence that it will last through years of service. It’s also equipped with the latest and greatest Intel CPUs, and it’s adorned with enough connectivity to support both legacy peripherals and future USB-C devices.

Should you buy it?

Only if you can live with the battery life. You’ll enjoy the performance and quality build, but if you spend much time away from a desk you’ll want to think twice before buying.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Lenovo Yoga 920 review
• Dell XPS 13 Review
• Asus ZenBook Flip S review
• Asus ZenBook 3 Deluxe (Late 2017) review
• Asus VivoBook Pro N580 review

Motorola doubles up as U.S. smartphone shipments dip 2 percent overall

Strategy Analytics recently published its full report, revealing U.S. smartphone shipments fell 2 percent in the third quarter of 2017. But even with this decline, Motorola actually saw its own shipments double since last year as it captured 5 percent of market share.

Motorola saw its smartphone shipments soar from 1.1 million units in the U.S. during the third quarter of 2016 to 2.1 million during the same period this year. The company now ranks fifth after not ranking in the top five since 2015.

Motorala’s recovery in smartphone shipments can be attributed to all top U.S. carriers selling its latest models, including the Moto Z2 Play. We had some time to check out the device, and found that it had a solid performance and fun Moto Mods. Other models released this year include the Moto X, along with the Moto Z2 Force.

Another company that saw an increase in market share due to its expanded retail presence is LG. Even though it stayed in the third spot, LG jumped from 16 percent to 17 percent within a year after joining major carriers like Sprint and AT&T.

As for the rest of the results, Apple, with a market share of 30 percent, is estimated to have shipped about 12 million iPhones in the third-quarter. Last year, the company was at 13 million iPhones and 32 percent market share. Even with a decrease in phones shipped, Apple still holds the number one spot. The decrease could be due to low demand for both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, as customers may have delayed their purchase until the iPhone X was released.

Lighter demand for the new iPhone lineup may have played a role in the decrease in U.S. smartphone shipments  as well. The U.S. saw 40.1 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2016, while that figure fell to 39.5 million for the same period this year.

Samsung is up 1 percent since last year — trailing behind Apple with 9.9 million units shipped. Its flagship Samsung Galaxy S8 performed well in the category of high-tier smartphones, with the A5 model gaining popularity in the midtier.

While Motorola definitely took center stage when comparing annual improvement, ZTE was still one spot ahead, coming in at fourth place. With almost 12 percent market share, the company is up from 9 percent last year. The increase from 3.6 million units shipped during last year’s third quarter to 4.6 million units this year, can be attributed to its availability with Tracfone.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Dell and Apple are the big winners in second-quarter notebook sales
• The best smartphones you can buy
• The all-screen Apple iPhone X is here, and it’s the new iPhone you’ll want
• Motorola Moto Gamepad review
• HTC U11 Life review

Live-stream from almost any camera with a single cord and a little black YoloBox

Live-streaming is either smartphone-quality or pro-level complexity, but one Las Vegas startup is aiming to create a solution that meets in the middle. The YoloBox, by YoloLiv, is a smart encoder that creates high-end live-streams from any DSLR, camcorder, action camera or even drones.

The YoloBox is an encoder, monitor, control panel and switcher in one, which means users can go live with just the YoloBox, a single HDMI cord and their camera gear. With some Wi-Fi enabled gear, like GoPros, the Yolo can also live-stream wirelessly.

Integrating everything into one system makes going live easier, the company says. After connecting through HDMI or a wireless connection, videographers use the built-in touch-screen monitor and Android operating system to create an event, set up a name and time and select the platform.

Facebook, YouTube, and Periscope are all compatible, and the company says users can even stream to multiple platforms at the same time. Resolution is limited to 1080p, with no 4K option, however. The YoloBox sends video to the cloud for that live-stream using either Wi-Fi, Ethernet or 4G.

“Current live-stream solutions are either too complicated, expensive or not powerful enough for the average user,” YoloLiv Core team member Haixiang Chi said in a press release. “YoloBox is an easy-to-use, powerful and affordable solution to help all kinds of cameras live stream instantly.”

Despite integrating several devices in one, the YoloBox is about the size of a thicker iPhone, with a 5-inch screen. The built-in battery makes it possible to take the live-stream more places, with about three hours of use before needing a recharge.

The company is also launching an advanced YoloBox Plus, which will also allow users to switch between two different cameras during the live-stream using two different HDMI ports.

While several different products allow videographers to live-stream from DSLRs and video cameras, YoloLiv says its solution is simpler and more affordable than existing options.

YoloLiv is taking to Kickstarter to fund the YoloBox and it has already exceeded its $30,000 goal. The campaign remains open until December 18. If the project is successful, early backers can pick up a YoloBox for pledges starting at $359. The company expects the product to retail at $549 after delivering to backers around March.

Editors’ Recommendations

• DxO One review
• 10 digital camera deals for everyone from adventurers to aspiring professionals
• Wowza ClearCaster brings professional-quality broadcasts to Facebook Live
• Onkyo’s new TX-RZ920 network receiver is a multimedia monster for all audio fans
• Panasonic Lumix GH5 review