Apple’s Animojis may come to iPad and FaceTime this fall

Apple’s biggest software updates are always scheduled for a single fall release and today Bloomberg reports on some new features that we can look forward to later this year. First up, third-party apps will be able to work across iPhones, iPads and Mac computers — a feature we’ve heard talk of before and will involve both iOS 12 and macOS 10.14. Additionally, the iPhone X’s Animojis will be getting an upgrade, with new characters and a better menu reportedly on the way as well as the ability to use them in FaceTime. And they won’t be relegated to the iPhone X for much longer. Bloomberg says Apple is working on a new iPad that will have the Face ID camera, allowing iPad users to play with Animojis as well.

Some other updates include a redesigned Stocks app, more options in the Do Not Disturb setting and changes to the iPad’s photo import interface. We can also expect to see Siri become more integrated into the iPhone’s search function and a Digital Health tool that will let parents keep track of their children’s screen time.

Bloomberg reports that while Apple will continue to haul out its major updates during its annual fall release, the company is switching up how it handles updates internally. Rather than having its team focus on the upcoming fall update, Apple will now take a wider view and keep its eye on the next two years’ updates. That way, if certain features aren’t quite ready, they don’t have to be forced out prematurely. Bloomberg’s sources say that as Apple has grown, its update strategy has begun to fail, with features launching before they’re fully ready, leaving them unreliable and buggy. With this new strategy, Apple hopes that will happen less often.

Via: Bloomberg

Don’t even try to repair Apple’s HomePod

You may not like the thought of paying Apple a pretty penny to fix the HomePod, but you might have to — it definitely isn’t meant for DIY repairs. An iFixit teardown has revealed a clever design that makes good use of a tiny space, but is also nigh-on inaccessible. It appears that you can pull the fabric mesh off with a drawstring, but almost everything else requires tearing things apart. Many parts are glued on (including the top and bottom), and there’s one seam so thoroughly sealed that iFixit needed a hacksaw and ultrasonic cutter to get in. If there’s a non-destructive way to get in, it’s not obvious.

The upshot: there are plenty of interesting design decisions. Apple uses conductive screw posts to transfer power across the speaker instead of messy wires. And since it didn’t have room for a large-diameter cone in the woofer to help pump out bass, it relied on a deeper-travel voice coil with a large magnet. A microphone inside the speaker calibrates the woofer to prevent it from overpowering other frequencies.

There’s also a hidden proprietary port at the bottom, although that’s likely used to program the HomePod at the factory.

The findings are unfortunate news if you’re the sort who’s comfortable with repairing a speaker when it breaks. With that in mind, it’s clear that Apple doesn’t think you should have to. It’s a stationary device with no external moving parts, and iFixit adds that it’s “built like a tank.” It’s not going to rattle itself apart. If it does break, though, you effectively end up with a paperweight that may need to be replaced outright.

Source: iFixit

Technology as racial exploitation in ‘Black Gooey Universe’

Art is often about making you look at regular, day-to-day objects in ways you haven’t before. Artist and UNBAG co-founder American Artist has certainly done that with Black Gooey Universe, showing at Brooklyn’s HOUSING studio until February 16th. The exhibition features pieces like “Mother of All Demos,” named after the famous XeroxPARC GUI demo, and “No State,” a 12-by-12 grid of shattered iPhones. The idea with the exhibition and accompanying essay is to show how the evolution of such devices relates to the African American experience.

Early computers were developed by and for programmers to do a variety of specific tasks and featured black screens with white or green text. All of that changed following the “mother of all demos” that introduced the mouse and graphics user interface, aka the GUI or “gooey.” “Between the Xerox Alto and Apple Lisa, the negative space of the screen began to appear white, replacing the black command-line interface used on computers prior to that,” American Artist notes.

That tech was ultimately simplified and popularized by Apple, which introduced it to the world in 1979 with the world’s first “GUI” (graphical user interface) computer, the Apple Lisa. That idea has been carried forward, and highly refined, to the smartphones of today.

The skeuomorphic interface puts a friendly face on computing, but has the effect of obscuring the complex technology and history behind it. Its development has created a shorthand communication system between humans and machines, as conceived by the mostly straight and white males in Silicon Valley. That, the artist believes, has been problematic and serves as an analogy for the history for America’s history of race relations.

2018, all images courtesy American Artist and HOUSING

“Racial Slavery — which generated Blackness as a site of permanent extraction, gratuitous physical violence, and social death — provided the material and ideological basis for the United States,” writes American Artist. “Unsurprisingly, Silicon Valley advances this constitutive anti-blackness through its technological products and processes.”

As counter-programming, Black Gooey Universe mimics the GUI name, but presents “Blackness as counterpuntal and primordial to the whiteness of the screen,” the artist writes. “No State,” for instance, shows broken black iPhones presented as a if slabs in a cemetery, with the global trade for the devices symbolic of how African Americans were trafficked in the 1800s.

Other pieces play further on those themes, with “Mother of All Demos” showing a Panasonic monitor on cinder blocks and a crude keyboard oozing black fluid. That plays on the name of the famous demo, but adds a sober subtext, relating it to black mothers who bore the slave industry’s children that made industrialization, and subsequently modern technology, possible.

You can see all the pieces for yourself at HOUSING in Brooklyn, NY until February 16th. If you want to better understand the themes, the closing reception on Friday, February 16th at 7:00 PM will feature a conversation between writer and curator Eileen Isagon Skyers and American Artist.

Via: Hyperallergic

Source: Housing Art

MacBook Lineup Represented Estimated 1 in 10 Notebooks Shipped Worldwide Last Year

Apple’s lineup of MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models accounted for roughly one in ten notebooks shipped worldwide last year, according to data published today by research firm TrendForce.

TrendForce claims that Apple surpassed ASUS to become the world’s fourth largest notebook vendor, with an estimated 9.6 percent market share in 2017, up from 8.3 percent in 2016. ASUS saw its market share drop to an estimated 9.5 percent last year, down from a reported 10.3 percent in 2016.

The research firm says Apple releasing updated MacBook Pro models in June 2017 helped the company expand its shipments by 18 percent for the whole year—supposedly the highest growth rate among all notebook brands.

TrendForce estimates notebook shipments from all brands totaled 164.7 million units worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 2.1 percent. Windows PC makers HP, Lenovo, and Dell led the industry with estimated 24.3 percent, 20.2 percent, and 15.2 percent market shares respectively in 2017.

It’s important to note that Apple doesn’t break down its Mac sales on a model-by-model basis in its earnings reports, so TrendForce’s data is estimated, likely based in part on the average selling price of a Mac.

Another caveat is that PC makers like HP, Lenovo, and Dell sell a wide variety of notebooks at all different price points, while Apple primarily targets the high-end market, with its cheapest notebook being the outdated MacBook Air for $999 and up. Apple’s profit margins are also significantly higher.

Apple routinely flip-flops between fourth and fifth place in the notebook market, so these results aren’t overly surprising. The company is expected to remain the world’s fourth most popular notebook vendor in 2018.

What’s next for Apple’s notebook lineup? We haven’t heard much yet, but a recent report claimed that at least three new Mac models integrated with custom co-processors, including updated notebooks and a new desktop, are planned for release later this year. MacBook refreshes often occur between March and June.

Apple’s desktop lineup has actually received more attention than MacBooks recently. In addition to the all-new iMac Pro, Apple continues to work on a Mac Pro with an upgradeable design. The portable Mac mini has also gone well over three years without an update, and could certainly use a refresh.

For a history of release dates and the latest rumors about the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, be sure to visit our Mac Buyer’s Guide.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBookTag: TrendForceBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral), MacBook Pro (Caution), MacBook (Neutral)
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Apple Goes to Court With French Tax Activist Group That Paints Company as The Empire From Star Wars

Last month, Apple sued French tax activist group “Attac” for occupying its flagship Parisian store during a protest of what Attac called “wide-scale tax evasion.” Today, Apple has asked the court in Paris to ban the group from its French stores and prevent any further stunts from happening.

In response to the court filing, Attac today mobilized in front of the court in further protest, sporting a Star Wars theme that equates Apple to The Empire and Tim Cook to Emperor Palpatine (via The Guardian and MacGeneration).

Image via @attac_fr
The court will rule later in February on the case, and Apple is said to hope for a full ban to prevent any Attac members entering or being near its Apple retail locations. Apple said the group “vandalizes” its stores and potentially “endangers” staff and customers. One protest in November 2017 saw Attac write “Apple pay your taxes” on a window at Apple Aix-en-Provence. Following Apple’s claims, the group said its protests are “good natured.”

At the height of the Christmas shopping period last December, about 100 Attac volunteers arrived at Apple’s Paris store at Place de l’Opéra. Some danced the conga, others unfurled a huge banner saying “We’ll stop when Apple pays” and some brandished huge cardboard cheques in reference to the European commission ruling in August 2016 that the iPhone maker must reimburse the Irish state a record €13bn (£11.5bn) to make up for what it considered to be unpaid taxes over a number of years.

In the case filing, Apple said that it has “a long tradition of supporting individuals and groups that peacefully express their opinions,” but the company believes the vandalism of its stores and potential danger to its customers are steps too far. In addition to the ban, Apple France has asked the court to fine the activist group 150,000 EUR, and 3,000 EUR in commercial damages “if they break the ban.”

Images via @attac_fr and @Soltrumbo
An Attac spokesperson denied the vandalism reports from 2017 and said the group “simply went into Apple shops in a festive and good-natured way with music and theatre.”

Attac’s lawyer Julien Pignon told France Info: “These demands are totally out of proportion with regard to the superior principle of freedom of expression and freedom to demonstrate which is guaranteed by French law and the European convention on human rights.”

Attac’s ire is focused on tax avoidance claims lodged at Apple over the past few years. In August 2016, the European Commission ruled that Apple must repay 13 billion euros ($15.46 billion) in back taxes dating between 2003 and 2014, which it reportedly avoided with the help of sweetheart tax deals from Ireland. Now, Apple will begin paying the back taxes owed to Ireland around March, expected to continue through September.

The French court is expected to announce its decision on the case on Friday, February 23.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: France
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Verizon No Longer Plans to Sell Unlocked iPhones

Verizon plans to stop selling unlocked smartphones as a way to deter criminals from stealing the devices, the company told CNET.

As of today, Verizon devices will be locked to the Verizon network and unlocked as soon as a customer signs up for service and activates the phone. Later in the spring, though, smartphones will remain locked until unlocked by Verizon, and Verizon has not yet shared details on how long it will keep phones locked before offering to unlock them.

Verizon previously sold all of its smartphones, iPhones included, unlocked, which means they were not tied to the Verizon network and could be used with any carrier right after purchase.

Purchasing a Verizon iPhone has long been a way to get an unlocked device right away, as Apple often does not sell its own unlocked models until several weeks to several months after a new iPhone launches.

With the iPhone X, for example, all Verizon models sold in November were unlocked and were able to be used across different cellular networks.

Going forward, the smartphones that Verizon sells will be locked to the Verizon network. Smartphones locked this way will not be compatible with other carriers until unlocked by Verizon, which is similar to how other cellular carriers in the United States operate.

According to Verizon, the new policy is aimed at preventing criminals from stealing unlocked phones that can be resold or used overseas. “We’re taking steps to combat this theft and reduce fraud, Tami Erwin, executive vice president of wireless operations for Verizon told CNET in a statement. “These steps will make our phones exponentially less desirable to criminals.

Verizon has not yet shared details on how its unlocking policy will work, but if it’s like other carriers, such as AT&T, the company will offer to unlock a smartphone after a waiting period. AT&T requires customers to wait for 60 days, Sprint requires customers to wait for 50 days (and then automatically unlocks devices), and T-Mobile has a 40-day waiting period, but does offer temporary unlocking for customers who need to travel.

AT&T and Sprint require smartphones to be paid off before being unlocked, but CNET says Verizon will allow customers to unlock their devices regardless of whether or not they’re paid off once the waiting period has expired.

Tag: Verizon
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How To Play and Control Podcasts on HomePod With Siri

Siri on HomePod lets you listen to any show found in Apple’s Podcasts catalog with a few voice controls that are similar to those for Apple Music playback. In this guide, we’ve listed some of the most useful Siri controls for Podcasts, along with basic commands that will help you do things like pause and rewind parts of a Podcast you might have missed, subscribe to a podcast, change the volume, and more.

Podcast Commands

• “Hey Siri, play the Game Scoop podcast.”
• “Hey Siri, play the newest episode of Lore.”
• “Hey Siri, play the first episode of Anna Faris is Unqualified.”
• “Hey Siri, play my newest podcasts.”
• “Hey Siri, what podcast is this?”
• “Hey Siri, subscribe to this podcast.”
• “Hey Siri, subscribe to NPR News Now.”

Controls

• “Hey Siri, pause.”
• “Hey Siri, jump back 10 seconds.”
• “Hey Siri, skip forward one minute.”
• “Hey Siri, raise/lower the volume.”
• “Hey Siri, play it twice as fast.”

As with Apple Music, HomePod will source the Podcast data you ask for from the Podcasts app on iPhone or iPad, or the Podcasts section of iTunes. Using the app, you can listen to podcasts directly on your iOS device, browse deeper into your library, and look for new shows.

Related Roundup: HomePodBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
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Doogee Mix Review: What does $200 get you with this bezel-less option

 

Unless you were living under a rock, you probably noticed that many different OEM’s adopted the bezel-less display trend. These included the likes of LG, Samsung, HTC, Google, and even Apple.

However, the tale of bezel-less smartphones dates back further, with lesser-known devices being released with these types of displays in 2016. One such OEM was Doogee, who was practically unknown until the Doogee Mix was announced.

This device looked similar to Xiaomi Mi MIX which has a big chin, but almost no bezels around the rest of the device. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Doogee Mix and whether it’s really a device to be considered.

Before we get started, there’s a rather large disclaimer that needs to be shared regarding the Mix. Considering the fact that this device was never intended to launch in the US, the Mix lacks the necessary LTE bands and won’t even work with T-Mobile at all. Leaving AT&T’s 3G network as the only possible option if you wanted to pick up this phone.

Design

Now that we got the rough part out of the way already, let’s take a look at what the Doogee Mix has to offer in the specs department.

• 5.5-inch HD Display (1280 x 720)
• MediaTek Helio P25 SoC
• 4GB/6GB RAM
• 64GB/128GB of Expandable Storage
• 5MP Front Camera
• 16MP/8MP Rear Cameras
• 3,380mAh Battery
• Android 7.0 Nougat
• Fingerprint Scanner

On paper, you would think that the Doogee Mix should be in the hands of so many people as a true competitor to Motorola’s G5 Plus lineup. This is also true when it comes to the overall design of the Mix.

When you take the Mix out of the box, you’ll automatically notice the gorgeous display that you have at your fingertips. The gorgeous 5.5-inch display jumps right out at you, along with that rather bothersome chin which is home to the fingerprint scanner and the front-facing camera.

Holding the Mix, however, is such a pleasure. As with many devices nowadays, you have an aluminum frame sandwiched between two pieces of glass. This is another trend that Doogee jumped on, and for good reason – the Mix looks absolutely amazing.

Above that 5.5-inch display, you’ll find a very small earpiece which is obviously used for phone calls, while the fingerprint scanner rests on the aforementioned chin. In the bottom right-hand corner, you’ll find the 5MP selfie camera, which may take some getting used to when you start using it.

On the bottom, you’ll find our first disappointment – microUSB. Sure, Doogee isn’t Samsung or Xiaomi by any means, but microUSB charging is a thing of the past and is rather upsetting to see here on the Doogee Mix. Flanked on either side of the charging port are bottom-firing speakers and the microphone for calls.

Moving to the right side of the Mix, you have your volume rocker placed closer to the top of the phone, with the power button placed right below. When holding the Mix in your right hand, the power button rests perfectly where your thumb holds the phone. This could be an annoyance for some, but it was a welcome design decision for myself.

On the top of the Mix, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack – yes, you can use your trusty ole’ headphones with this one. Then on the left side, there aren’t any buttons to worry about here, but you will find the dual-SIM card slot, which can also be used to house your microSD card.

Finally, looking at the rear panel, you’ll see the Doogee logo placed directly in the middle, with the dual camera module placed in the top left-hand corner. This module includes a primary 16MP sensor and a random 8MP sensor that we’ll touch more on later. Placed to the right of these sensors is your LED flash to keep the subject bright when you need them to be.

Performance

Out of the box, the Doogee Mix is running Android 7.0 Nougat, and after a few updates, the Mix now includes the November Android security patch. This was something that I was pleasantly surprised about, considering the fact that other, larger, OEM’s can’t seem to get this update cycle right and leave their users vulnerable for months.

Since this phone comes out of China, you can expect to see a skin overlay on top of Android and that’s the case here. DoogeeOS version 2.0 is available on the Mix and offers a few different ways to customize your device, but thanks to issues with the Doogee Store, I haven’t really tinkered with this.

For reference, the version of the Mix that we’re taking a look at today is the 6GB/64GB model. When it comes to gaming, there have been very few stutters, even when playing graphics-intensive games such as Riptide GP. Other, less demanding games, perform perfectly, and you wouldn’t even be able to tell you’re dealing with a MediaTek processor.

In day-to-day usage, I also found little issues when performing various tasks, save for the occasional hiccup when trying to switch between apps at a rapid pace. Other than that, the Mix performed as well, if not better, than the Moto Z2 Play that I have hanging around my house.

The biggest complaint that I had about using the Mix and its interface was the fingerprint scanner. For some reason, there would be days where I would not register a single missed scan. However, there were other days where I had to try and try and try to get the scanner to read my fingerprints, to no avail. This device is no Pixel or Galaxy S8, and this is part of where you see the “budget” moniker come into play.

Battery

We would be remiss with mentioning something about the battery, but considering the fact that the Mix is stuck on AT&T‘s 3G network, there’s not much to brag about here. If you have no plans to use this phone for anything more than a portable gaming device or an iPod of sorts, then you’ll be more than satisfied.

The Doogee Mix was able to get me through a couple of days with usage, even with some extended gaming sessions. Of course, since the device was never looking for a network to join, this number has been admittedly skewed, and your mileage may vary if you intend to pop-in a SIM card.

Camera

Let’s just get this out of the way – the camera on the Doogee Mix is not very good. It seems as the secondary camera is there plainly for aesthetics and does not actually provide anything of substance.

When opening the camera application, you’ll notice a lot of different “features” and shooting modes. One of which is “Blur” which supposedly uses the secondary sensor to provide a portrait mode of sorts, but there was zero consistency and I often found the “blurred portion” to not make much sense.

We aren’t sure how much work the software is doing here, but I would have to say that it’s a fair bit. This assumption is in part due to how long it takes for the Mix to process an image taken with the “Blur” mode enabled.

When you aren’t trying to get fancy and just want to take a regular picture, the Mix performs just fine. There’s nothing ground-breaking here – just a budget camera that can take “ok” shots. But if you want to dive deeper, you’ll learn that you can take 4K videos, while also tinkering with the plethora of pre-installed shooting modes.

Speaking of shooting modes, there’s even a “Pro Mode” for those who want to be able to tweak every aspect of their pictures. If you’re well-versed in using the more in-depth settings, then you may actually be able to get some pretty good shots out of the Doogee Mix.

1 of 13

Conclusion

Looking past the lack of necessary LTE bands for those of us here in the States, then the Doogee Mix is actually something that I could see myself recommending. For less than $200, this is a steal, and that price is for a device that comes equipped with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage.

I can’t stress enough how much it hurts to not be able to use this device as my daily driver due to the lack of LTE. However, if I ever travel overseas, I’ll probably be throwing this in my bag to see how well it does.

All-in-all, we just can’t recommend the Doogee Mix for anything other than a portable media player or gaming device. If you’re always connected to Wi-Fi it will do great, but if you want to pop a SIM card in it, you’ll be limited to AT&T‘s 3G network. For those reasons, we’ll have to tell you to pass on this one.

DJI Mavic Pro review (Updated for 2018)

Research Center:
DJI Mavic Pro

Portability is all the rage in drones right now – pilots want quadcopters they can pack up and take anywhere. Unfortunately, a compact form factor usually translates to fewer features and abilities. But with DJI’s Mavic Pro, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In addition to being one of the most portable drones we’ve ever seen, the Mavic also happens to be one of the most feature-packed drones on the market.

But do portability and capability really coexist in the real world? We took it out for a solid week of hardcore flight tests to find out.

Features and specs

Without a doubt, the most standout feature of the Mavic is its portability. DJI went back to the drawing board with this drone, and it shows. Instead of a space-hogging fixed-arm hull, the Mavic features a set of folding arms and props that, thanks to their clever configuration, allow the drone to fold down into a neat little package that’s roughly the size of a standard brick (but not quite as heavy). This, along with the super compact controller, make the Mavic one of hte most portable drones we’ve ever encountered.

Up front, it’s also equipped with a 4K camera and super compact 3-axis gimbal. This allows the device to capture super stabilized video without the resolution cutbacks required for digital stabilization. Plus, behind the camera, the drone also has DJI’s ActiveTrack and Optical Flow software, which allow it to track objects and sense obstacles (respectively) using nothing but the camera and image analysis algorithms.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Flight and range specs are also pretty impressive. DJI equipped the Mavic with an all-new video transmission system called OcuSync, which stretches the Mavic’s max range to over 4 miles and also boosts its resistance to interference. At shorter ranges, this tech can even stream footage to you at 1080p resolution, allow photo and video downloads at 40Mb/s – which is absolutely nuts.

To round out the package, the Mavic Pro also sports all the same Intelligent Flight Modes that DJI’s Phantom 4 has — plus two new ones. In addition to the standard Follow mode, Point of Interest, Waypoints, and Course Lock, the Mavic also has DJI’s new Terrain Follow and Gesture modes. It’s absolutely stuffed with features.

Build quality and design

Build quality is off the charts. The Mavic Pro is a sturdy little beast with one of the toughest hulls we’ve ever encountered. We crashed it a handful of times and it didn’t even seem fazed. Sure, it’ll complain and tell you “Ouch, you crashed me!” in a series of annoying beeps — but after a quick reset it’ll forget the whole thing ever happened and get right back to flying like a champ. We wouldn’t trust it to survive a big plummet onto a hard surface, but 30 feet onto a patch of grass? No problem.

When it comes to portable drones, the Mavic Pro has no equal — at least not yet.

Same goes for design. DJI deserves a Red Dot Award for this one — it’s nothing short of brilliant. I mean, we’ve seen folding drones before, but this one takes it to a whole new level. Thanks to a very clever hinge system, the arms fold up into a neat little package just smaller than the dimensions of your average brick, which makes it a breeze to stuff in your backpack or messenger bag and lug along on your adventures. It might even fit in a purse.

Another design element that we’re totally in love with is the portable controller. It’s not a measly little smartphone app that forces you to use virtual joysticks, and it’s also not a gigantic ground station that takes up half your backpack — it’s a thoughtfully designed hybrid that gives you the best of both worlds. When it’s all folded up, it’s roughly the size of a walkie talkie — but flip out the antennas and pop in your smartphone, and suddenly it’s a full-fledged controller with tons of telemetry data, an intuitive layout, and fantastic range.

The only real flaw we could find on the machine was its 3-axis gimbal assembly. It’s impressively small and compact, but it’s also held in place with four small rubber bands that seem to be a bit fragile. If one of these bands snaps (which happened to our review unit while it was in the previous user’s possession), the camera will have trouble stabilizing itself, which ultimately means you’ll end up with shaky, “Jello-effect” video footage. That’s really the only design flaw we could find though — everything else on the Mavic is well-built and designed to last.

DJI Mavic Pro Compared To

Hover Camera Passport

DJI Mavic Air

Propel Star Wars Battle Drones

DJI Spark

DJI Inspire 2

Parrot Bebop 2 FPV

3DR Solo Drone

DJI Phantom 4 Pro

Yuneec Breeze

Parrot DISCO FPV

eHang Ghostdrone 2.0

Horizon Hobby Chroma

Yuneec Typhoon H drone

Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K

dji Phantom 2 Vision+

Battery life and recharge time

Despite its compact form factor, the Mavic Pro boasts impressive battery life, and actually has one of the longest flight times we’ve ever seen in a quadcopter. It’s a bit of an oddity though — the rotor system is optimized for forward flight, so the drone can actually stay aloft longer in motion than hovering. DJI claims it can maintain a hover for 24 minutes, but thanks to its aerodynamic design, it can allegedly stay airborne for 27 minutes if you “fly at the optimum speed for energy consumption.”

To put these claims to the test, we ran Mavic through our usual series of endurance tests. First up was a straight-up hover test, where we let the drone hover until it drains the battery and automatically lands itself. Our hover test lasted for exactly 23 minutes and 19 seconds — which isn’t very far off from DJI’s claimed 24 minutes.

Next, to get a sense of how long it’ll last during normal flight, we recorded the flight times from every other flight test we conducted and averaged them out. Over the course of 14 different flights that went from 100 percent battery to emergency low-battery automatic landing, the Mavic averaged a flight time of 25 minutes and 6 seconds. That’s not quite as long as DJI’s claimed 27 — but it’s worth mentioning that we did log a few flights that broke the 26 minute barrier, so we can confirm that flying the Mavic around does indeed boost your flight times — which is pretty cool.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

As for recharge times, a mostly-drained battery (around 10 percent remaining) will take about an hour to recharge. A fully drained battery (which isn’t normal, since the drone will auto-land before it reaches that point) takes roughly an hour and 15 minutes to juice back up to 100 percent. So generally speaking, you should expect a little over an hour for each recharge session — which honestly isn’t too bad for a battery that provides 25 minutes of flight time. Still, you’d be wise to pick up a spare if you plan on doing a lot of flying.

Flight performance, autonomy, and range

DJI has outdone itself with this drone. In terms of raw flight performance, the Mavic Pro is easily one of the best quads we’ve ever flown. Technically the motors aren’t quite as powerful as the ones you’ll find in the Phantom 4, but somehow the Mavic still manages to match — or in many cases even surpass — its big brother in a number of different respects.

The first of these are speed and agility. On paper, the Mavic tops out at 40 miles per hour — but our flight logs showed that we actually clocked speeds as high as 51 miles per hour under certain conditions. On a moderately breezy day, it cleared our 100-meter sprint test in 5.3 seconds, which suggests a top speed of about 42 miles per hour. Of course, your top speed will vary depending on the conditions you’re flying in, but as far as we can tell, the Mavic is every bit as quick and nimble as the Phantom 4 — if not more so.

The Mavic has all the same flight modes as DJI’s top-of-the-line Phantom, plus a couple extra. You can set the Mavic to orbit a point in space with Point of Interest Mode; repeat flights along a preset path with Waypoints; follow your movements via Follow Me mode, or even adjust the way it responds to joystick control with Course Lock and Home Lock. These modes are more or less the same in the Mavic as they are in the Phantom 4 — but Mavic has a few new tricks up its sleeve as well: Terrain Follow and Gesture modes.

In Terrain Follow, the drone uses its Downward Vision System to maintain a certain distance from the ground, which is fantastic for filming over terrain that varies in elevation. Gesture mode, on the other hand, allows you to set up and snap a selfie by doing nothing more than standing in front of the camera, waving your arms a bit, and then making a “picture frame” shape with your fingers. Basically, this makes it possible to take drone selfies without having your controller in the picture, which is pretty neat.

One of the Mavic’s standout features is definitely its range. It’s equipped with DJI’s new OcuSync video transmission technology, which stretches the drone’s maximum range and provides a live HD video feed from the camera from up to 4.3 miles away. The thing is, those numbers aren’t necessarily an accurate reflection of the distances you’ll be able to achieve in real-world conditions.

In our longest flight test, we took it out to 11,000 feet (roughly two miles) before our feed stuttered, anxiety got the best of us, and we turned back. We didn’t push the Mavic to the absolute limit, but there are videos online of people taking it out over 17,000 feet before it loses signal and automatically returns to home — so we’re pretty sure that in any case, the Mavic’s range will be enough to satisfy even the most demanding users.

Camera, accessories, and upgradability

The camera on the Mavic is pretty impressive. Despite being considerably smaller than the camera on the Phantom 4, it basically has the exact same specs. It shoots in cinematic 4K, snaps 12.7 megapixel stills, and also supports features like burst shooting and exposure bracketing. It even has a super-compact 3-axis gimbal to keep the camera stable while you fly — a feature that’s notably absent in other portable drones like the Yuneec Breeze and Hover Camera Passport. The only real difference between the Mavic’s camera and the Phantom’s is field of view. At 79 degrees, Mavic’s FOV is slightly narrower than the Phantom 4’s, which is 94 degrees.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

The camera is arguably just as important as the software behind it. Much like its big bro, the Mavic sports DJI’s object tracking technology (ActiveTrack), as well as its Optical Flow system, which uses image recognition to spot obstacles and track the drone’s position while flying indoors. As we mentioned before, it’s also equipped with gesture recognition software and adjustable focusing abilities — two features that the Phantom 4 doesn’t have.

As for accessories and upgrades, DJI doesn’t currently offer a particularly wide selection for the Mavic — but that will likely change in the coming months. The company recently unveiled its own FPV goggles, which will be compatible with the Mavic Pro when they’re released. Aside from that, all you can get right now is replacement parts, a carrying case, and a special hub that lets you charge up to four batteries at once.

Our Take

After flying it nonstop for a week, we’re convinced that the DJI Mavic Pro is one of the best drones you can get for $1,000. We wouldn’t even bother getting a Phantom 4 right now. In addition to being cheaper and faster, the Mavic also has more flight modes, a longer range, and a super portable design. So at the end of the day, it’s just more bang for your buck.

Are there better options available?

When it comes to portable drones, the Mavic Pro is definitely one of the best options on the market right now — but depending on what you’re looking for in a drone, there might be a better choice for you. DJI’s newly-released Mavic Air drone is smaller, lighter, and boasts superior obstacle avoidance. It’s also $200 cheaper.

As such, you should only go with the Mavic Pro if your main concerns are battery life and camera performance. The Pro outlasts the Mavic Air when it comes to airtime on a single charge, and its camera also performs slightly better in low light conditions. Check out our detailed comparison to get a fuller picture of the differences.

The DT Accessory Pack

Darkhorse Intelligent Flight battery charger

$70

DJI shoulder bag for Mavic Pro

$79.00

DJI Mavic folding propellers

$12

Other portable drones, like the Yuneec Breeze and Hover Camera Passport, offer similar levels of portability, and are also considerably cheaper than the Mavic ($500 and $600 respectively) — but they’re nowhere near as capable.

If you don’t care so much about portability, Yuneec’s Typhoon H is also a worthy contender. It boasts many of the same features, and has a 4K camera that swivels in 360 degrees. This, along with dual-pilot capabilities, would arguably make the Typhoon H a better choice for amateur filmmakers — but only if you don’t mind lugging your drone around in a giant backpack.

How long will it last?

Probably a few years or more. DJI constantly rolls out updates to its products, and we have no reason to think the Mavic Pro will be any different. Firmware updates come through on a regular basis, and DJI already has a suite of upgrades, attachments, and accessories in the works. So, assuming you don’t destroy it, the Mavic Pro should last you for quite some time.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. Regardless of what you’re looking for in a drone, the Mavic Pro is a fantastic choice.

10 Valentine’s Day tech gifts to warm hearts with cold silicon

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s almost Valentine’s Day again. But the most romantic holiday on the calendar can also be the most frantic, with lovers racing around to find that special gift for that special someone. Well, put down that pathetic teddy bear and box of chocolates, because we’ve got you covered with items that they’ll actually want. Check out these hand-picked tech gifts with a thoughtful twist.

Bonavita 1900TS coffee-maker

What better way to start Valentine’s Day than with a pot of rich, dark, fair-trade coffee? The Bonavita 1900TS is one of Digital Trends’ favorite coffee makers; the top pick, in fact. It’s a small machine that uses pre-infusion — wetting the coffee before brewing — to ensure even extraction. It’s a great gift for a significant other who enjoys coffee, and if you live together, it’s sort of a gift for you, too.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer Series 7200

Beards can look great, as long as they get the proper grooming, and great beard sculpting requires a great beard trimmer. But as the bewhiskered among you know, trimming can also be messy, leaving sinks and counters coated in hair. This Philips Norelco trimmer solves the problem (somewhat) with built-in vacuum that sucks up hairs as the trimmer mows them. While the vacuum isn’t always 100 percent successful, it does cut down on the mess.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Kate Spade Scallop smartwatch

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Smartwatches, once clunky, have started to resemble their classier, analog predecessors as big-name brands have gotten into the business. The Kate Spade Scallop is a gorgeous, fashion-forward smartwatch, with a scalloped bezel and slim casing. In addition to a mature appearance, the Scallop packs some nice software — it runs Android 2.0, offering Google Assistant and Bluetooth functionality, and you can even tailor the digital watch face to match your outfit.

Buy now from:

Kate Spade

Skagen Falster smartwatch

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Skagen’s watches exemplify the Scandinavian approach to fashion — svelte in form and minimalist in color — and the Falster fuses this aesthetic with smartwatch technology. An AMOLED screen gives the watch face deep blacks, and conserves battery life in the process, and a Snapdragon 2100 processor gives it enough muscle to handle any tasks you might need to accomplish.

Buy now from:

Skagen

RYU 2n1 running shorts

This Valentine’s Day, give your significant other the gift of better cardiovascular health with a pair of RYU running shorts. Made of lightweight fabric that allows for easy movement while also halting the growth of bacteria, these shorts will feel good on a run without reeking afterwards. These shorts made DT’s list of the best workout clothing, and come in both women’s and men’s sizes.

Buy now in:

Mens Womens

Sonos One

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Smart homes are the future, and you don’t want your significant other stuck in the past, do you? Imagine having guests over, only to watch as your partner fumbles with the remote trying to play some tunes. The shame! With the Sonos One, all the gadgets in your home will work with a mere voice command (provided they support Alexa). Suddenly your place will be the most happening, most futuristic home possible.

Watch now on:

Amazon

Sony MDR-1000x

Topping DT’s list of the best overall headphones, Sony’s MDR-1000x are simple in design, with muted colors and no aesthetic bells or whistles; but these headphones are all about functionality. Lightweight and easy to wear for hours, they also use active noise-canceling to provide an isolated listening experience, and the sound itself — full of clear highs and rich bass — is superb. If your significant other loves music and needs a pair of headphones for their daily commute, or just home listening, you would be hard-pressed to do better than the MDR-1000x.

Buy now from:

Amazon

PicoBrew C

Are you dating someone who likes beer? You could just pop over to the store and buy them a bottle of the finest imperial stout, but there’s a certain romantic quality to brewing one’s own concoction. Homebrewing is a difficult, labor-intensive process, but the PicoBrew C makes it a bit easier. The Pico C doesn’t eliminate the work, but it does streamline things for amateur brewers. Just make sure they keep it somewhere with thick walls or distant neighbors, as the machine can get quite loud.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Fujifilm Instax Share smartphone printer

Photos are a fun way to chronicle activities and events, but Instagram posts don’t have quite the aura of physical photos. If you want to help the shutterbug in your life take old-school photos with a smartphone, a printer like the Fujifilm Instax Share makes a great gift. Just shoot a picture with a smartphone, then use Fujifilm’s app to connect to the printer and make copies.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable

In an age of streaming and readily available digital albums, vinyl remains, for many, the hippest way to listen to music. If you happen to be dating a budding audiophile, a turntable is an impactful gift, and the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is one of DT’s favorite budget options. The Carbon’s tonearm and cartridge are engineered with sound quality in mind, and the sleek design makes it an attractive addition to any room. Grab a couple old LPs from the local record store and close out Valentine’s Day with an intimate listening party.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Teleflora flower delivery

amarosy/123RF

A bouquet is one of the oldest standbys in the annals of Valentine’s gifts, and while flowers may not be particularly modern, online delivery services like Teleflora are. The service has a large variety of bouquets available, and same-day delivery means you can secure one even if you wait until the last minute and find every florist in town picked cleaner than a Thanksgiving turkey. We’ve even rounded up some of our favorite places for ordering flowers online, just to make things a little easier for you.

Order now from:

Teleflora

Editors’ Recommendations

• These Valentine’s Day gifts are perfect for the tech addict in your life
• Show some love to your inner techie with the best Valentine’s Day deals
• Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas? Here are 8 great gifts for yourself
• Need a last-minute gift idea? Check out the hottest toys of 2017
• Best mobile gifts for the 2017 holiday season