When do carriers start throttling you and what can you do about it?

Here’s what you need to know about carrier throttling of unlimited plans.

You’re probably already aware that all the major U.S. carriers offer an unlimited plan and that they have imposed a limit on it if you use too much data in a single billing period. If you’re not, we’re talking about wording like this in the carrier terms of service:

On all T-Mobile plans, during congestion, the small fraction of customers using >50GB/month may notice reduced speeds until next bill cycle due to data prioritization.

That’s T-Mobile’s, but every carrier has something similar in the contract terms that say the same thing — use too much and we can stop giving you that high-speed LTE data that you know and love and toss you back to those 2007 3G data speeds. Users call it throttling, carriers call it prioritization, but no matter what it’s called, it means the same thing: some users may get slowed down if they use too much data in a single month.

That has a lot of vague wording in it — some, may, a small fraction, etc. — so we’re going to spell it all out because your phone carrier is good at delivering you internet access and we’re good at writing. Everyone wins!

More: The best unlimited data plan

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What is throttling?

Network data speed (technically, bandwidth) throttling means the same thing as throttling anything else — purposefully choking or restricting a thing. That’s exactly what is happening here and the network gets slower because your ID (you sign into your carrier’s data network with a unique ID, but it’s usually done automatically) has been marked in a way that the servers which route the internet traffic know to only send you data at a certain speed.

When you have used enough data to be hit under your carrier’s data prioritization, those speeds are really slow. You’ll see people say you get sent back to 3G speeds (I did it above out of habit) but that’s not quite right because 3G speeds on AT&T or T-Mobile are waaayyyy faster than the 128Kbps (kilobits per second) average you’ll be stuck on if you get throttled. All you really need to remember is that it’s slow. Almost too slow to be usable with today’s internet for anything more than email.

The good news is that this is probably only going to be a temporary thing. The worst case is you’ll be throttled until the end of the billing period, but that is not always the case because of why and when a carrier throttles its users.

Why can I get throttled?

Easy answer: when you use too much data and the carrier is the only one that gets to decide how much is too much. That’s why your carrier can get away with dropping a single line about the whole thing into some agreement they hope you never read. But the way it actually works is kind of interesting; it’s just a bit too wordy to stick in the agreement blurb.

A cell phone tower (a cell) can only serve a limited number of people at once. For “regular” voice calls at 12Kbps, a rough estimate is about 90 users on a single 5MHz sector if they are all active at once. For VoIP or VoLTE calls, the number is drastically lower because the quality is drastically higher and uses more bandwidth (somewhere around 128Kbps on average). I used voice calls here to demonstrate how IP-based data can use so much more bandwidth than voice — IP calls use 10 times as much data as voice calls.

The equipment that powers your carrier’s network has limits.

That same single-sector 5 MHz cell can only deliver about 21 Mbps in total. Let’s say a small base station (the hardware that runs what we call a cell tower) that serves a single carrier has three sectors (a rough average) so it can handle 63 Mbps of data at any one time. A bigger station might serve two carriers and have eight sectors so that means 84 Mbps per carrier at once. And that’s counting data going two ways, both to a user and coming back from a user. If you can see network speeds of 50 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up, you have the potential to use most of the bandwidth a sector station is capable of delivering.

There are several ways the software that runs a base station can cope with this — they just don’t let any user have as much of the total capacity as possible, ever. Switching is one way of making sure it never happens — every user who is actively taking a portion of the bandwidth gets a slot with a specific amount of time they can use it and things are rapidly switched around to all the connected users. This is done fast enough so that your connection doesn’t get interrupted (packets are acknowledged before they timeout waiting for a response) so we never notice it.

Left unchecked, your phone could probably use all the bandwidth that a cell site has to offer.

A cell tower can only have so many connected users though, so the software also will switch users in and out of a connected state. If you’re not trying to use the network your turn in the queue is skipped and given to a user who is trying to use the network. This is a very simplified explanation of how a modern wide area wireless data network operates but it gives us a great idea of how users are managed when are requesting more data than can be served at any one time. It works great until there are more users who are using data at once than the equipment can handle. When that happens, we see slower speeds or dropped connections.

Nobody likes slow data speeds or things to stop working because the connection keeps dropping, and your carrier likes it even less than we do. It makes them look bad and can cause their software to flake out. So they take further steps, like cutting users who use too much data in a month back so that other users can get what they are paying for.

When will my carrier throttle me?

• AT&T says “After 22GB of data usage, AT&T may slow speeds.”
• Sprint says “Data deprioritization during congestion after 23GB/mo.”
• T-Mobile says “the small fraction of customers using >50GB/month may notice reduced speeds until next bill cycle due to data prioritization.”
• Verizon says “In times of congestion, your data speeds may be temporarily slower than other traffic” for its Go Unlimited plan and that “after 22 GB/Month, in times of congestion, your data speeds may be temporarily slower than other traffic” for its Beyond Unlimited plan.

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What’s important to know here is that you might not get throttled no matter how much data you’ve used in one month and that it might only be temporary if you do. Verizon spells this out in their terms and conditions pretty well, and the other three follow the same sort of policy even if they aren’t as clear.

A slow connection is still better than a “no” connection.

“Times of congestion” means there are more users who need data access than the cell site is able to effectively serve. If you work in a big city, you might see service worsen if you go out for lunch. A lot of others are out for lunch and the cell sites have trouble keeping up. Throttling speeds down to a crawl for users who are over the soft limit is a great way to ease that congestion because it allows someone else to get more bandwidth. And a slow connection is better than a connection that drops because nobody is being throttled and the cell site can’t switch and prioritize fast enough or efficiently enough.

From the carrier’s point of view, you’ve reached a point where you can take a backseat to another user who hasn’t used as much data. It isn’t doing this because it is looking out for a user who deserves to be able to use enough data to “get their share” or anything, they do it to keep the network running efficiently and to cut back on customer complaints. If you use 30GB of Verizon’s data in a month and complain about service at a particular time in a particular place, Verizon has an easy answer: you’ve used so much data that they need to slow you down in accordance with the agreement you made with them. If I only used 2GB they have a tougher time justifying why. It’s that simple.

A carrier has a responsibility to its customers, and all four major U.S. carriers feel throttling heavy users helps meet it for the rest.

Most people we’ve heard from who are self-admitted and proud data hogs will say they haven’t ever been throttled. Of the ones who have, almost all say it was only temporary and speeds returned when they were in a place with less network congestion. Our best guess is that it’s easy for a carrier to temporarily throttle you when they need to, and even easier to stop doing it when they don’t so you’ll be more satisfied with the service. In any case, being throttled is something you said was OK when you signed up for the plan.

If I get throttled, what can I do about it?

Not a lot. The reasons why you’ve been throttled are pretty clear, so unless you haven’t used the amount of data your carrier says is enough to get tagged, calling to complain is probably pointless. You might find a sympathetic ear that can “fix” it but more than likely you’ll just be told the policy and what’s in the agreement. If you haven’t used that much data you should definitely give your carrier a call and see what’s up.

Wi-Fi is the best option. Chances are if you’re somewhere that’s congested on a regular basis you’ll see open Wi-Fi networks available. A good VPN and open Wi-Fi probably won’t be as fast as your regular data connection but it will be a good bit faster than a throttled connection from your carrier. If you’re with a friend who also has an unlimited plan with tethering, they could set up a hotspot for you to use.

You could also put the phone down and take time to smell the flowers. Think about it.

You could also deal with it and set your expectations correctly. Something like your email or a simple messaging app would still work, but don’t expect to be streaming media or even seeing media attached to social network posts. You might still be able to upload media (some users say they are only throttled on the download side) but you won’t have that same rich internet experience you usually have.

If you’re using a pre-paid carrier that offers “unlimited” slower data once you’ve used your high-speed allowance for the month you can probably buy more high-speed data through an app or the company’s website. Chances are you can set things up in advance and a simple text message will get another GB added to your account in short order. You can also buy a second line with a separate SIM card if you know you’ll be throttled on a regular basis and can’t deal with slow speeds. Google Voice will let you use one number across multiple lines and you can switch SIM cards when you need to.

The very best thing you can do is prevent it from happening altogether. Using Wi-Fi at home or at work instead of your data will cut back on your total usage and leave more room for when you’re out and about.

Carriers

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• Join the Discussion

Basic Wi-Fi security: How to easily improve your home internet safety

Wireless routers seem scary, but they don’t have to be. Here are the basic security things you can fix yourself.

Attention, well-meaning family members: Nerds are not your holiday tech support. Sure, we twitch (more than) a little bit when we use operating systems that haven’t been updated in months, and firmware that’s just waiting for a patch. But we’re not home for that. No, we’re here for a little too much booze and to cast side eye at that one cousin who still won’t let go of that thing.

Ah, the holidays.

There is, however, one thing that we should help you out with. And let’s do one better. We’re going to help you learn to help yourself.

We’re going to venture into the deep, dark world of your wireless router. It’s scary, I know. But it’s important. And, actually, it just looks scary. It’s actually relatively easy to keep things up to date.

Let’s take a look at some high-level stuff here.

First: Wait? What? WHY!?!?!

Look, your router is important. It’s not just the thing that serves up the Wi-Fis. It’s also the thing that serves as your first (and for most folks, only) line of defense. You don’t want exploits wide open in this thing. Hear about the “KRACK” vulnerability that affects ALL Wi-Fi?

Yeah. It’s a big deal. So you need to make sure your stuff’s updated.

And while we’re at it, we’re going to look at a couple other best practices. It’s easy.

OK, now first: Get into your router

If you’re lucky, you’ve got a newer router that has some sort of software application makes your router easy to adjust. Apple’s AirPort routers can be controlled from a computer. Google Wifi works from an app on your phone. (I’ve used both, and they’re great.) The Netgear router I’m currently using has a desktop app as well as a mobile app.

So first, hunt around and see if there’s an app for your router.

If not, there’s a pretty easy way to get in. Start by typing this into your internet browser:

192.168.1.1

That’s it. Well, that’s probably it. For many routers, this is the default address to communicate with it. (If yours doesn’t return some sort of scary-looking router page, hit up Le Google for instructions on how to log in to yours.)

Now you should be challenged by a username and password. This will vary a bit by the manufacturer, but a lot of the time the username is “admin” and the password is blank. Or maybe it’s something else. It should be listed in the instruction manual, or just hunt around on the internet again.

Note that this is a username and password that just gets you into your router. It’s different than the name of your wireless network (that’s called an SSID), and the password you use to get online.

Once you’re in, you’ll be looking at something that basically is a web page, full of links and fields and buttons and stuff. Only instead of talking with a website, you’re communicating with your router’s settings. Got it?

Let’s assume you’ve managed all this. What to do now?

Update your router’s firmware

OK. Deep breath here. The most important thing you can do (of the several most important things you’ll want to do here) is to update the firmware on your router.

Too often this is hidden away on some “Advanced” page of your router’s settings. But maybe you’ve gotten lucky and there’s a button for it on the first page. (Or, ya know, crack open that instruction manual again, or just hit Google for where to find it.)

If you’re really lucky your router will have some sort of update mechanism. (And if you’re REALLY lucky it’ll do it automatically, or at least in an app.) Again, this varies wildly by manufacturer. Apple does it through the OS, Google Wifi does it automatically — you never have to touch a thing — and my Netgear router has a quick and easy button you can hit.

If you’re not among the chosen ones, you might have to download a file and then upload it to your router for the update to happen. It’s no worse than uploading a picture to Facebook, though.

You got this. Again, hit the instructions, and Google is your friend. But this one’s important.

Update your router.

Check your wireless network security

OK. Now it’s time to look at your wireless network settings. You’ll want something that talks about the SSID and password. (That’s the name of your network, and the password you use to connect to it.)

There’s a decent chance that you’ll still have the boring old ROUTER137BG 2.4GHz network name that came with your router. You don’t have to change it to something pithy like “FBI Surveillance Van” or “We can hear you through the walls,” but you probably should change it to something other than the default. Because that gives someone a clue as to your router’s default login username and password. (Again, that’s why you should change those things, too. The less identifiable the information, the better.)

But you absolutely must have a password on your network. That’s not negotiable — otherwise, anyone can just wander by and do anything they want with your internet. That’s not good.

This doesn’t have to be some awful password that you’ll never remember, or that’ll make someone cringe to type in if they come over. It just needs to be a basic front-door lock is all.

And you absolutely must be using WPA-2 security. You should see it as an option in the settings. And while chances are you’re using it if you’ve got a relatively new router, this is still something you should check, just in case. WPA2 – Good. WEP – BAD.

By the way: that username and password you used to log on to your router? Now would be a fine time to change them. Because if you don’t, pretty much any bored kid wondering within sight of your network can get into things and mess you up.

What about guest networks?

Look, guest networks in and of themselves are not evil. The idea is to have an easy way for visitors to get online, without giving them unfettered access to your full network, and all the things that are attached to it.

So by all means, hop into your settings and turn on a guest network if you’re having a party. Password, no password — your call.

But be sure to turn the guest network OFF once you’re done with it. Otherwise, it’s essentially like leaving a side door to your house cracked open all the time. Sure, it’s possible nobody will stumble in. But why take the chance?

You’re a hax0r now!

Congratulations. If you’ve made it through these basic things, you’ve accomplished what some of us do for fun. (Crazy, I know.)

But look at it like this: This is the most basic of network security. It’s a little complicated, yeah. But it’s something everyone should know.

And now you can show off to your nerd family members that you’re not quite as square as they think you are. (That’s something the kids still say, right?)

The FCC just approved the first over the air charging system

WattUp will allow your phone to charge without any cables, charging pads, or anything like that.

Thanks to things like Qualcomm Quick Charge, Dash Charge, and Qi wireless charging, topping up our phones has gotten a lot faster and more convenient over the years. However, even with the advancements that we’ve made, there’s no denying that charging our phones is still something we have to think about. Whether you’re plugging a cable into your device or laying it on top of a wireless charging pad, you still have to perform a specific action to start topping up.

The FCC recently approved a new wireless charging system called WattUp from Energous, and its goal is to make it so you never have to think about charging your phone ever again.

We’ve been dreaming about devices that would automatically charge themselves for years, and that’s kind of what Energous is setting out to do. WattUp is being marketed as the world’s first “over-the-air, power-at-a-distance” system, meaning that your phone will automatically start charging as long as it’s within close proximity of the WattUp Mid Field transmitter.

The transmitter sends radio frequency energy waves to devices that support WattUp, and at this time, supported tech will start charging as long as they’re within three feet of it.

Per Energous CEO Stephen R. Rizzone:

Older wireless charging technologies have received limited adoption over the past 15 years, and are confined to contact-based charging only. The FCC certification of Energous’ power-at-a-distance wireless charging transmitter is a major market milestone. It opens up options, outside of just contact-based charging, to Wireless Charging 2.0: an ecosystem where devices can be charged both, via pad and at a distance.

Energous says that WattUp will function similar to Wi-Fi in regards to its interoperability between various devices and manufacturers, and although we don’t have an ETA for when we’ll see this tech come to market, Energous will be demoing it at CES 2018 between January 9-12.

Android Oreo beta comes to Xiaomi Mi A1 with fast charging

Best fighting games for Android as of December 2017

Bring the classic arcade action you remember to your phone with these great fighting games!

Fighting games have kind of fallen to the wayside on the latest consoles, and the less said about the state of arcades the better.

But for a long while, fighting games reigned supreme in the video game world, and were often the battleground where gamers showed off their skills in arcade tournaments or huddled around a TV with your best pals. Fortunately, the genre is still well-represented on mobile devices, with a great mix of ports and original titles to satisfy fans of fisticuffs.

Here’s hoping we see more ports of classic fighting titles but until then, enjoy these great fighters.

• Shadow Fight 3
• King of Fighters ’97
• [Mortal Kombat X](#mortal
• Injustice 2: Gods Among Us
• Real Boxing 2: Rocky
• Pixel Punchers

Shadow Fight 3

The latest entry in the silky smooth fighting series for Android, Shadow Fight 3 is a huge step up in quality — and that’s saying something because Shadow Fight 2 was pretty incredible in its own right.

Where as the second game had a stylish 2D art style where you controlled a silhouette shadow fighter, Shadow Fight 3 delivers 3D-rendered arenas packed with a surprising amount of detail and your fighters have emerged from the shadows, so to speak, and look great.

Shadow Fight has always had buttery-smooth controls and animation and those return here. The physics are spot-on, too, as a well-timed heavy attack with a sword can make your enemy drop their sword and send them flying. There’s a full campaign to play through and a ton of weapons, armor, and special attacks to unlock and customize your fighter with. There’s no multiplayer here, but the focus on delivering outstanding graphics and smooth gameplay really paid off.

Best of all, this game is free, although there’s in-game currency that you’ll need to manage to buy new weapons and other upgrades, along with in-app purchases available if you need an influx of coins.

Download: Shadow Fight 3 (Free)

The King of Fighters ’97

Hardcore fans of fighting games already know the name King of Fighters. It’s up there alongside Street Fighter as one of those revered arcade fighting games that has stood the test of time.
This is a fairly complete port of the game from the Neo Geo home arcade console which — most important of all for a ported fighting game — has support for Bluetooth controllers. You can choose from 34 different characters from the original game and create your dream team of fighters to take on either an AI opponent or a friend via local multiplayer.

There’s a good amount of customization available for the controls and again and the gameplay is exactly what you’d want from a ported fighting game. I really can’t recommend playing this game without a bluetooth controller, though, because the on-screen touch controls are just too challenging when you’re battling the tough AI.

Download: The King of Fighters ’97 ($2.99)

Mortal Kombat X

Mortal Kombat X takes the gruesome action of the well-received console edition and scales it down and optimizes it for your Android phone. All your favorite Mortal Kombat characters are here, along with some new ones thrown into the mix. And if you love ultra-violence, you’ll love what this game has in store. To that point, this game is definitely not recommended for younger kids, as the mature rating would imply.

The game employs touch screen controls that don’t actually feel like they inhibit you at all from having full control over your characters. You predominately fight in 3 vs. 3 battles, so you can strategically tag in different fighters as needed. The graphics here are basically console-quality, but that comes at a price for your storage — this game takes up nearly 2GB of space. If you’re a huge fan of Mortal Kombat, I’m sure you’ll be able to make room on your phone for this glorious, gory game.

Download: Mortal Kombat X (Free w/IAPs)

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Injustice: Gods Among Us

Injustice: Gods Among Us is an award-winning fighting game that puts you in control of the most powerful and exciting characters the DC Universe has to offer. We’re talking Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Arrow and even villains such as the Joker.

The game uses touch screen controls which aren’t ideal, but work well enough here. You swipe and tap to attack and link combos together. If it sounds very similar to Mortal Kombat X, that’s because both games were developed by Warner Bros., so you basically get one great core game with different coats of paint to satisfy two different fan bases. We’re not saying that’s a bad thing at all, but considering the file sizes for both of these games, you’re probably best off picking your preferred franchise. If you’re a huge fan of comic book heroes, this game is for you!

Download: Injustice: Gods Among Us (Free w/IAPs)

Real Boxing 2 Rocky

Shadow Fight 2 is an absolutely gorgeous game with fighting animations that are smooth as butter. The game gets its name from the art style — you only see the fighters as a shadowy silhouettes, battling in front of beautiful backdrops.

This game mixes elements from the RPG and fighting genres to deliver fantastic replayability. There are tournaments and a story mode to play through, which helps you to unlock new weapons, armor, and martial arts skills to help you take down your next opponent. The animations are just outstanding here, with a great amount of diversity and good hit detection so that you can counter your opponent in mid air and send them flying.

The game also plays wonderfully on the NVIDIA Shield TV, especially with a controller in your hand. Why there isn’t Bluetooth controller support for the mobile version is a damned shame.

Download: Real Boxing 2 ROCKY (Free w/IAPs)

Pixel Punchers

Remember the game Punch Out for the NES? Remember how awesome that game was? Well Pixel Punchers is like an updated version of that retro classic that’s been perfectly optimized for Android.

The controls are spot-on — tap the gloves to punch and tap the arrows to dodge your opponent’s punches. In Career mode, you’ll lay waste to the lower level boxers as you work your way up to the fight against the champion. While you’re pretty much able to stand in one place and practise your combos in those earlier rounds, you’ll need to learn how to bob and weave effectively to move up the rankings.

Each match consists of four 30-second rounds, so you really gotta impress the judges or knock your opponent out if you want to collect the purse and advance to the next circuit. Do you have what it takes to be the world champ?

Download: Pixel Punchers (Free w/IAPs)

What’s your favorite fighter?

Did we miss your favorite game on our list? Was it Soul Calibur? Because it’s been removed from the Google Play Store for some reason! I know, I was bummed out to see that too. Either way, let us know what you think of our picks, or what we may have missed, in the comments.

Updated December 2017: Added Shadow Fight 3 and Pixel Punchers to our list!

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Lenovo Mirage Solo is a standalone Daydream VR headset

The Mirage Solo will allow you to experience high-quality VR without your phone.

Google first announced that it was working with Qualcomm, HTC, and Lenovo on standalone VR headsets that ran Daydream back at I/O 2017 this past May, but we’ve still yet to see anything come of this. However, thanks to FCC documents that have recently popped up, it looks like we should see one from Lenovo announced soon.

Google Daydream View

The headset is referred to as the Lenovo Mirage Solo, and it’ll run a full Daydream VR experience without having to use your phone. The FCC documents reveal that the Mirage Solo will come equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery and Bluetooth 5.0. but aside from that, there aren’t any other specs to drool over.

HTC already launched the Vive Focus in China and Oculus Go is scheduled for a launch in early 2018 for just $199. It’s possible that we could get an announcement of some sorts for the Mirage Solo at CES next month, and should that happen, we’ll be sure to report back here with all of the official details.

Until then, what would you like to see from a standalone Daydream headset?

Google Daydream

• Daydream View review
• The ultimate guide to Daydream
• These phones support Daydream VR
• Every Daydream app you can download
• Catch up with Daydream in the forums!

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Qualcomm appoints Cristiano R. Amon as its new president

Starting January 4, 2018, Cristiano R. Amon will take charge as the new president of Qualcomm.

This past year has been a pretty rough one for Qualcomm, and things likely won’t let up anytime soon going into 2018. However, as the company does head into the new year, it’ll be doing so under the leadership of a new president.

On December 27, 2017, Qualcomm announced that Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies and President of QCT, Cristiano R. Amon, will be promoted to President of Qualcomm Incorporated starting January 4, 2018. Amon will retain his spot as President of QCT with this new role, and he’ll be reporting directly to CEO Steve Mollenkopf.

When talking about Cristiano R. Amon, Mollenkopf said:

Cristiano’s unique mix of business, engineering and operational skills and experience make him ideally suited to continue driving Qualcomm’s technology and leadership positions across mobile, IoT, automotive, edge computing and networking – and lead the transition to 5G.

Amon has been working at Qualcomm since 1995 under many different titles. He’s spent the past five years involved with Qualcomm’s semiconductor operations, and as President of Qualcomm, Amon will create new strategies for the company that’ll allow it to grow its main business and establish new opportunities.

Qualcomm rejects Broadcom’s 11 nominees for its board of directors

Hyundai and Kia will offer AI assistants in 2019 cars

Hyundai and Kia both have reputations as early adopters of in-car tech, and that’s truer than ever now that voice assistants are becoming a practical reality on the road. The Korean automakers have revealed that they plan to include AI assistants in their new cars starting from 2019, with every vehicle being ‘connected’ by 2025. As Hyundai explained, they’ve been working with SoundHound to create an Intelligent Personal Agent (based on Houndify) that both makes proactive suggestions (such as reminding you of a meeting) and offers remote control of both your car and your home.

This sounds a whole lot like what other voice assistants do, but the car brands are counting on support for “multiple-command recognition” as the ace up their sleeve. If you tell your car to check the weather and turn on the lights at the same time, it’ll do both instead of scratching its head like so many other AI helpers.

You won’t have to wait until 2019 to see the technology in action. Hyundai will unveil Intelligent Personal Agent at CES 2018, and it’ll test a “simplified” take on the Agent in hydrogen fuel cell cars slated to drive on South Korean roads throughout the year. It’s hard to say if IPA will have an advantage over companies borrowing “off-the-shelf” AI like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, but it’s more the ubiquity that will be important — you won’t have to buy a premium-priced model to treat your car like a smart home hub.

Via: ETNews

Source: Hyundai

Green tech will be everywhere in 2018

In 2017, clean power gathered unprecedented momentum. Multiple automakers launched entire families of EVs, including the most exciting one yet, Tesla’s Model 3. The company also started pre-orders for the Solar Roof, a type of home photovoltaic panel that will make solar panel installations less ugly.

With climate change problems mounting, national and local governments are pushing for more renewable energy and an end to fossil-fueled cars — despite hostile moves in those areas by US President Donald Trump. Elected officials and the public want fewer gas-powered vehicles and coal plants, and more EVs, solar panels and wind turbines. That will ultimately benefit your health, wallet and environment, and you’ll be less reliant on large energy and oil corporations, to boot.

With the expectations of consumers, companies and governments all getting higher, 2018 has a lot to deliver. There are key deadlines, especially on Tesla’s part, and if companies miss them, green buyers could go from exuberant to depressed. Here’s what to expect on the consumer side for EVs, clean home power, battery storage backup, and more.

Politics is changing how you’ll drive and live

A car-free day in Paris, which will be banning fossil-fuel vehicles by 2030. Getty Images.

President Trump opted America out of the Paris climate agreement, and he and many of the Republicans who control Congress have pushed coal and oil instead of clean energy. This is despite increasing concern in the scientific community that atmospheric CO2 levels are reaching the point of no return.

The rest of the world, however, is moving forward. France, for one, created the “Make our Planet Great Again” initiative as counter-programming to Trump. That nation and the UK will also ban fossil-fueled cars completely by 2040. That’s admittedly pretty far in the future, but France’s notoriously polluted capital, Paris, has declared that gas- and diesel-burning cars will be banned much sooner, starting in 2030.

Elsewhere, China installed a record number of wind and solar energy projects in 2017 to curb its own smog issues, and has even bigger plans for 2018 and beyond. The nation wants 20 percent of its power to come from solar or wind by 2030, and to invest around $560 billion by 2020, creating 13 million jobs in the process. As China is now the world’s biggest polluter, this will not only mitigate global CO2 levels, but make green tech cheaper around the world.

These governmental actions aren’t just bluster — they’re already having a potential impact on your life. Many of the big car brands, including Mercedes, Honda, GM and Volkswagen, sell cars worldwide, and a lot of countries are forcing manufacturers to produce more efficient vehicles. That will have a big impact on how vehicles are built and sold in the US, regardless of who’s in power.

In 2018, then, you’ll have more choice than ever for green transportation as plug-in-hybrid choices expand and EVs become ever more mainstream. Whereas before Tesla was the only game in town for long-range electric transport (read: more than 150 miles), you can now choose a Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf or, if you’re in Europe, a Renault Zoe. Next year there will be even more choices as cars like the VW e-Golf and the Jaguar i-Pace arrive. More on those in a moment.

Meanwhile, home solar panels are getting cheaper as the technology gets incrementally better each year, pushed by the manufacture of gigawatt-size installations around the world. At the same time, the prices for home battery packs to back up said panels are also falling as they’re being manufactured on a large scale for both EVs and power backup systems like the one Tesla just finished in Australia.

What that means for you is that solar panel installations for your roof have dropped nearly a quarter in price over the past few years, and batteries are becoming a realistic option for more folks.

However, politics could again hamstring progress. The FTC may introduce new tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports, effectively raising prices across the industry. At the same time, the government is weighing whether to get rid of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit (at the moment, it looks safe), which would have a devastating impact on sales next year and beyond.

Electric, hydrogen and hybrid vehicles

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tesla started delivering the Model 3 in July 2017 to the nearly 400,000 people who ordered one. At that time, Elon Musk promised to build around 1,500 in September, 20,000 this month, and up to 10,000 a week later in 2018. Suffice to say, that didn’t happen — not even close. By the beginning of October, the company had produced just 260 cars, reportedly because of Gigafactory battery production issues and other problems.

Things have picked up since, with large numbers of Model 3s reportedly spotted at delivery centers. On top of that, suppliers recently reported that Tesla has increased its demand for parts for up to 5,000 vehicles per week. If Tesla holds to that, it will just be a month or two behind its original schedule. Still, last quarter it produced a record 25,336 vehicles over three months (mostly Model S and Model X EVs), so 20,000 Model 3s in a single month would be a big leap.

Lucky for us, other manufacturers will be selling other new or updated EVs next year, including Chevy, Nissan, Jaguar and Audi. Here’s the best of what you’ll be able to buy next year:

Chevy Bolt

Chevy wants to sell about 30,000 Bolts a year and, after some early stumbles, it’s getting on track. Last month it sold nearly 3,000, and that will likely build to more than 20,000 by the end of 2017. While it’s not the sexiest of EVs, Engadget and most other reviewers really, really like the Bolt. That’s because it’s a fun, sporty and spacious little car that can go farther than you’d expect on a charge (up to 238 miles, to be exact). For 2018, the vehicle will be largely unchanged, but it remains an excellent option.

Nissan Leaf

The 2018 Leaf may not have quite the range of a Bolt or a Tesla Model 3, but it’s cheaper and can still go around 150 miles, enough for a decent mid-range trip. And having launched the Leaf in 2010, Nissan knows how to build electric cars. For buyers next year, there’s a bonus: its Pro Pilot driver assist is now here.

BMW i3

If you have more cash to spend, BMW’s $48,300 i3 combines futuristic styling with the sporty fun you’d expect from the automaker. This year, a new range extender brought the maximum trip on a charge to 90 miles, enough for comfortable city driving or short trips. In 2018, it’s bringing a Sport version with quicker acceleration and, more importantly, the new TurboCord EV Charger, with faster charging if you hook it up to a 240-volt power supply.

Volkswagen e-Golf

VW has been talking a lot about its I.D. electric vehicles, including the Buzz and the Crozz, but those won’t be built until 2020 at the earliest. If you want a real, if somewhat boring, EV from VW in 2018, the e-Golf will be it. Next year’s model will reportedly have a realistic 186-mile range, making it a much more practical car than this year’s model, which goes around 125 miles.

Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar’s I-Pace

Jaguar might not top your list of affordable EVs, but if you’re well-off enough to be considering a Model X or S, the I-Pace will give you something to think about next year. It will have a 90kWh battery, a 400-horsepower motor and killer looks, judging by the concept. There’s no price yet, but knowing that it’s Jaguar, you can expect something in the six-figure region.

Audi E-Tron Quattro

Audi opened up pre-orders to the E-Tron Quattro this year, but there was a big caveat: You had to be living in Norway. Nevertheless, the automaker plans to start selling it in 2018, probably in Europe only, but it should introduce the vehicle in the US toward the beginning of 2019. With a 95kWh battery pack, it’ll reach up to 210 miles on a charge, giving Tesla — and, soon, Jaguar — a run for their money.

Solar power

The Tesla Solar Roof

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Tesla is also one of the most interesting consumer solar power companies for 2017. It launched its Solar Roof in late 2016, providing an option for homeowners who want solar-powered homes but not ugly solar panels. If you’re building a new home or replacing your roof anyway, the solar tiles compare favorably with pricey roofing options like slate or cedar shingles. Customer deliveries only recently started (delays with Tesla are obviously a thing), but by next year the company should be building enough to fulfill all of its orders.

Panasonic has reportedly also started building its high-efficiency, low-profile solar panels for Tesla at the Gigafactory 2, in Buffalo. Those will sell in limited numbers next year, but reportedly won’t reach peak capacity until 2019.

In a new wrinkle on the sharing economy, so-called blockchain microgrids could bring solar power to the masses. A company called LO3 Energy promises to let communities buy and sell solar power generated locally, using Bitcoin-like blockchain tech to track transactions. The system works on any size solar installation, from hundreds of homes to just two. If solar power could be shared among multiple homes or businesses, it would become a lot more affordable.

Sunpower is another company to watch. It launched a new type of panel that uses a technique called “shingling” to fit more photovoltaic cells into the same space. That could result in cheaper solar panel installations for both consumers and energy companies.

Batteries, hydrogen and infrastructure

Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Lithium-ion battery systems are having a good year outside of EVs, famously helping Australia and Hawaii save sun and wind energy for rainy (or calm) days. Tesla again gets the lion’s share of publicity for its Powerpack installations, which helped it win a $50 million bet with the South Australian government.

We also have to give a nod to Ikea, though, which has been selling inexpensive solar panels in the UK and other nations. It unveiled its own battery system in Britain (manufactured, again, by Panasonic). For £6,925 ($9,300), you can get a package with both solar panels and the battery, including installation.

As for what you can look forward to next year, let’s just say that battery tech is like Tesla itself at times — long on exciting news, but short on real, timely products.

Still, there are a few developments that could arrive to market as early as next year. The most promising is perhaps StoreDot’s batteries, which can be charged in as little as five minutes for both EVs and smartphones. The company has been vague about how it works, saying the tech uses nano-materials and organic compounds, but StoreDot has promised that it could arrive to market as soon as 2018. If batteries like those used by Tesla and Chevy could be charged in five minutes rather than an hour, it would obviously make EVs a lot more practical for long trips.

More realistically, Samsung was among the first of the big manufacturers to launch a faster-charging lithium-ion battery, the 21700 cell, at the beginning of the year. It can be fully charged in just 20 minutes, a significant improvement over the 30-minute-plus charging times of current cells. The only problem: While they’re already available for e-bikes and other smaller devices, Samsung reportedly won’t mass-produce them for cars until about 2021.

We’ve detailed hydrogen’s issues (efficiency and infrastructure) compared to pure EVs, but there are a few automakers still committed to the technology. Toyota and Honda are partnering with Japanese fuel firms to increase hydrogen infrastructure in Japan, eliminating one of the biggest impediments to the tech.

As for whether you’ll drive a hydrogen car in 2018, the answer is “not likely.” The cars are still far too expensive ($60,000 or so for the Toyota Mirai), and there are almost no filling stations in North America. Hydrogen needs economies of scale to kick in, and with EVs coming on strong, that seems increasingly unlikely.

Speaking of infrastructure, with more companies launching EVs, you’ll need more places to charge them besides your home. In Europe, the Ionity network will be launching more than 400 stations by 2020, including eighty 350kW ultra-fast chargers that can juice up future EVs in as little as five to 10 minutes.

In the US, there are now around 16,000 charging stations, with 13 percent of those offering fast charging. Tesla alone has 900 charging stations, with 6,000 supercharger stalls, and plans to have up to 18,000 superchargers by the end of 2018. Other manufacturers, including Nissan and BMW, have plans to install chargers in the US, often working with private companies like ChargePoint and evGo. California alone wants its power companies to have 20,000 charging stations by 2020.

The best-ever year for green energy

Tesla’s Powerpack batteries back up solar panels in Hawaii

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If 2018 fulfills the potential of 2017, green energy will become an unstoppable force. Any moves the Trump administration decides to make against it will only hurt the US in the short term, as green tech becomes an economic force around the world.

As The Economist points out in the video below, EVs next year could be cheaper than gasoline cars for the first time, considering overall cost of ownership.

Sales of EVs, including plug-in hybrids, could top 200,000 units in the US this year, according to Inside EVs, and surpass a million worldwide. Suffice to say that replacing a million gas-burning cars will have a big impact on atmospheric CO2 levels. Next year we could blow past that figure by July or August.

Even without big breakthroughs, battery tech keeps evolving and is bound to give us more capacity and faster charging times in 2018. Small tech and engineering gains will also make solar panels a bit better and a bit cheaper.

Beyond that, in 2019 and 2020, auto companies like Mercedes and VW will launch brand-new and formidable EV lineups like the EQ and I.D. series, respectively. By then, EVs with self-driving tech will be cheap, practical and mainstream. And with solar and wind starting to beat coal, nuclear and gas-powered plants in price, the power you use for your EV and home will be cleaner and cleaner. Will this save the planet from excess CO2 levels? Maybe not, but we have no choice but to try.

Check out all of Engadget’s year-in-review coverage right here.

Internet Archive gets $1 million donation from bitcoin fund

The cryptocurrency landscape has seen a flurry of activity lately as values have reached eye-watering figures and people scramble to get a piece of the digital pie — they’re even re-mortgaging their homes to get in on the action. But while many are in it for personal gain, there are those using bitcoin for more charitable causes. Namely the Pineapple Fund, a philanthropic fund set up by an anonymous bitcoin millionaire, which has just made a $1 million donation to The Internet Archive.

The Pineapple Fund was announced earlier this month, pledging some $86 million in bitcoin to a range of causes. The fund’s benefactor, known only as “Pine”, told Bitcoin Magazine that they saw the promise of decentralized money in the early days of bitcoin, and that the “expectation-shattering returns of bitcoin over many years has led to an amount far more than I can spend”. They also note that the Pineapple Fund is bigger than the entire market cap of bitcoin when they got in, and is one of the richest 250 bitcoin addresses today.

The fund’s latest recipient, The Internet Archive, has been documenting the evolution of the internet for more than 20 years, from MS-DOS games to video clips of Donald Trump. It makes for a fun trip down digital memory lane, but also serves a crucial purpose in documenting content published by governments and news organizations, which in the current political climate is more important than ever. In a blog post, The Internet Archive team wrote that “it is especially gratifying to see those who dreamed big about bitcoin using their wealth to support innovation across the world”.

Via: Venture Beat

Source: The Internet Archive

Kanye West bought Kim Netflix and Apple stock for Christmas

It’s Christmas morning in the Kardashian-West household. The family, possibly wearing Final Fantasy­-inspired pyjamas, gathers under an enormous blinged-out tree. “Can we listen to Christmas songs?” North might ask, with the hopeful glee of a small child during the holidays. “Maybe later,” says Yeezy, as he once again hits play on The Life of Pablo, which is definitely not streaming through Tidal. Kim chooses a gift from the mountains of presents piled up in their living room, and unwraps it to find a Disney toy, Apple headphones, Adidas socks and gift cards for Netflix and Amazon.

Now, for most people, this would be a decent festive haul, but Ye doesn’t do things by halves, so naturally the next box contains stock — yes, actual stock certificates — for each of these companies. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of stock. In fact, Kim’s Christmas morn Instagram story reveals she received 920 Walt Disney shares, which are worth around $100,000, plus 995 shares of Adidas stock, among others. A savvy move by Kanye, as each of these companies have reported significant growth over the last year. And this was just “one” of her presents from Kanye, according to her post, which she captioned “best husband alert”. When you already have so much stuff you end up buying stocks for your other half for Christmas, what else can there possibly be?

Via: CNBC

Source: Instagram