A cut above the rest: Here are the 5 best robotic lawn mowers

It’s no real secret at this point — in the future many of our least favorite jobs will be automated. While the pessimists routinely tout automation as the inevitable downfall of our entire economic structure, the optimists see the other side of this same coin. With no need to toil with mundane chores and archaic work, mankind will be left with a life of leisure and more abstract endeavor.

The average American spends nearly 70 hours a year dealing with lawn care. Couldn’t this time be more fruitfully spent? Why toil in static drudgery when we could master a new hobby, and sit back and enjoy the scent of robotically clipped blades of grass from afar? The machines are coming for our jobs, so we might as well let our future robo-overlords manicure our lawns before they inevitably send us out to pasture. Without further ado, here are five of our favorite robotic lawnmowers greenbacks can buy.

Honda Miimo 3000 ($2,800)

It’s really no surprise that Honda — the company that brought us the bona fide robo-biped, Asimo — was one of the pioneering robotic lawn-care manufacturers. Overall, the Miimo 3000 is one of our favorite offerings on the market.

While many robotic lawnmowers are limited to smaller yards, this model can mow up to an acre with ease. The Miimo 3000 can also handle angles up to 25 degrees, making this device ideal for yards with a few semi-steep slopes.

One of the real standout features with the Miimo series is the paired app. This allows you to adjust cutting height, start or stop the unit, and also manage a calendar, all from your smartphone.

Miimo uses a “continuous cutting system,” meaning the machine trims your lawn about by 1 inch multiple times a week. A fan on the underbelly sucks grass toward the blades for consistency and efficiency. This lawnmower is also one of the more intuitive models out there. Miimo will adjust cuts as grass growth increases or decreases seasonally, and also “detects” denser patches of grass.

Three panoramic sensors allows the unit to detect and avoid obstacles around the yard. If any of these sensors pinpoints a hindrance, the Miimo will immediately stop and then pivot in a different direction.

Buy now from:
Honda

Worx Landroid ($910)

The Worx Landroid is one of the more reasonably priced models on the market, making it one of the first devices that those new to automated mowing should consider. While you could certainly buy a top-of-the-line riding lawnmower for that price, the Landroid handles the entire chore for you. Emblazoned in the traditional Worx orange-and-black color scheme, the Landroid is appealing to the eye in a field brimming with exceedingly utilitarian competitors.

This robotic lawnmower uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to maneuver through narrow areas, and the same intelligence also allows the Landroid to mow in a seemingly haphazard pattern with minimal unnecessary overlap. A series of sensors helps the machine to avoid and mow around obstacles, so your onlooking yard gnomes should be just fine. The robotic lawnmower doesn’t like inclement weather, but if the Landroid detects rain, the unit will automatically disengage and return to its docking station to recharge until the weather has cleared.

In terms of security, this robotic lawnmower requires a security pin number, and there’s also a smartphone alert if the Landroid has left the designated perimeter, just in case the unit decides to make an escape — or someone attempts to snatch your ‘droid.

On the downside, the Landroid can only handle up to a quarter of an acre, meaning those looking to mow larger yards will need to consider another option.

Buy now from:
Amazon

Husqvarna Automower 450X ($3500)

Though there are cheaper robotic lawnmowers on the market, the 450X can cover the most turf — up to 1.25 acres. While others models on this list incorporate softer lines and warmer, matte color schemes, the Automower 450X has more of a glossy, RoboCop 2 build. This model looks downright menacing plowing over your patch of the planet, and we absolutely love it.

Like the other models, you’ll need to “fence” off the perimeter of your yard as well as garden patches before you can set this bad boy loose. That said, you can also adjust the map of your yard via the app to mark additional zones to avoid. This is necessary for ditches or more rugged areas where the mower might struggle for adequate traction.

You can schedule the mow times over the course of a given month, allowing the model to trim as regularly or minimally as desired. The more regular mowings will minimize clippings for a cleaner-looking yard.

One major upside to this model is how quiet it runs. Graded at just 58 decibels, this lawnmower is about as loud as an air conditioning unit, or a “conversation in a restaurant,” meaning the 450X could even go for a moonlit mow without waking the neighbors.

Buy now from:
Husqvarna

Study: Vanilla, cinnamon, and butter e-cig flavors are more harmful than others

The jury is still out on what the exact health impact of smoking e-cigarettes might be. However, a new study led by researchers the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that one of the big negatives of vaping may not be related directly to the e-cigs themselves, but rather to some of the commonly used chemicals and liquids used to add flavoring. Specifically, they found that cinnamon, vanilla, and butter e-cig flavors rank among the worst in terms of toxicity, and that mixing multiple e-cigarette flavors has a much worse effect than exposure to only one.

The use of e-cigarettes has dramatically increased over the past decade, with almost 8,000 uniquely flavored “e-juices” currently available to consumers. When these liquids are heated and inhaled, the flavoring chemicals enter the lungs. In the University of Rochester’s study, researchers compared the health effects of vaping nicotine-free flavored e-liquids with smoking regular cigarettes. They concluded that these flavoring chemicals affect immune cells in the body, specifically a type of white blood cell called monocytes.

The study’s author Dr. Thivanka Muthumalage suggests that, although such flavorings are considered safe for ingesting, they can prove damaging when inhaled. “Cinnamon, vanilla, and butter flavoring chemicals were the most toxic, but our research showed that mixing flavors of e-liquids caused by far the most toxicity to white blood cells,” Muthumalage said in a press release.

Since this is still a new area of research, more investigation needs to be carried out. The researchers next plan to do experiments to simulate the effects of live, and call for a long-term human study to investigate the health effects. For now, though, they suggest that e-cigarette flavors should be regulated and e-juice bottles made by law to include a descriptive listing of all the ingredients they contain. This is particularly important when the flavorings are ones which are named to attract younger vapers, such as candy, cake, cinnamon roll and mystery mix.

A study describing the work, “Inflammatory and Oxidative Responses Induced by Exposure to Commonly Used e-Cigarette Flavoring Chemicals and Flavored e-Liquids without Nicotine,” was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.

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Color correct and protect the DJI Mavic Air with new accessories from PolarPro

Drone giant DJI has shrunk the backpack-sized Mavic Pro down even further with the Mavic Air — and soon owners of the new drone can have a small set of accessories to match. On Tuesday, January 30, PolarPro launched pre-orders for a new line of accessories designed for the DJI Mavic Air, including filters, cases, and platforms for handheld shooting.

Continuing on its earlier line of drone filters, the PolarPro Mavic Air lens filters are designed to fit the camera on the smaller drone. The set includes the most commonly used filters for digital cameras, including polarizing filters to enhance color quality. Neutral density filters give aerial videographers and photographers more control over their shutter speed while the UV filters cut back on haze and glare, PolarPro says.

Weight is always a consideration since adding gear onto a drone will reduce the flight time, but the PolarPro lenses for the Mavic Air weigh in at 0.59 grams, thanks in part to the aluminum frame. The manufacturer also says that the filters won’t hinder the performance of the Mavic Air’s three-axis gimbal. The filters sell as sets beginning at $80.

While DJI has designed the Mavic Air to fit inside a coat pocket, PolarPro is offering options for pilots that don’t want to tuck the drone away unprotected. The Minimalist Edition case is a soft-shell designed to slide into another bag. Custom-moulded to the Mavic Air’s shape, the bag fits the drone (when folded), four batteries, remote, and other accessories including filters and cables. The soft case retails for $30.

PolarPro’s Rugged case fits the same amount of gear but inside a hard-shelled case. The case is also waterproof and uses a foam insert to offer more protection for the drone. The hard case lists for $50.

PolarPro is also working to help pilots use their drone for recording on the ground. The Katana Mavic Air Tray and the Pro version of the same tray allow the Mavic Air’s camera and gimbal to be used handheld. The tray gives the drone a grip that makes the camera easier to use for handheld shots in no-fly zones, or for keeping ground-based footage consistent with aerial footage for the same project by using the same camera. The basic version will sell for $50 and the Pro for $80.

Pre-orders for all the accessories are available from PolarPro’s website, while the company expects the accessories to begin shipping in February.

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Ditch the backpack and ride with 686’s Hydrastash jacket to stay hydrated on the slopes

For this winter’s Outdoor Retailer show in Denver, Digital Trends teamed up with The Manual to crown the greatest outdoor gear as our Best Of Show winners, along with four awards going to the most innovative products. Head on over to The Manual to see the complete Outdoor Retailer Awards.

Staying hydrated while skiing or snowboarding is important, but the dilemma of where to stash a water bottle or bladder remains a constant issue. Backpacks tend to be cumbersome, and riding a chairlift with one is even less comfortable. Plus, the lines in hydration bladder backpacks tend to freeze, leaving you with a solid chunk of undrinkable ice. This is exactly where the built-in hydration sleeve in 686’s Hydrastash Jacket would come in handy, and why we crowned it a Digital Trends Innovation Award winner.

The Hydrastash is a clever new micro-hydration system that fits around your waist rather than on your back, freeing up space on the chairlift and allowing you to ski or snowboard completely backpack-free. And because it hugs your body inside a coat, the tube won’t freeze — even in the coldest of conditions.

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The hands-free system, which launched at this year’s show after four years of research and development, is currently built into 686’s GLCR Reservoir jacket. The system integrates with the jacket’s powder skirt to provide 25 ounces of available hydration — the equivalent of about a mid-sized water bottle. When you snap your skirt up, the hydration pack shifts onto your waist, maintaining an even center of gravity and moving along with you as you ride.

Anti-slosh dams within the bladder help prevent motion when fluid is low, and lifts any noticeable weight, resulting in a ride down the mountain that feels free and unencumbered by bulky packs. The reservoir itself is constructed with material so strong it can be run over by a small car without bursting, so you don’t have to worry about hard falls breaking the bladder, and the tube has a self-sealing Microbite valve with a steady, strong flow rate.

The jacket itself is built with waterproof infiDRY 20K stretch fabric, fully taped Bemis seams, and 80g ultra-warm polyfill in the body. For now, Hydrastash is only available in the GLCR Reservoir, however, the company may integrate the patent-pending technology with other products down the line.

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A 3D-printed single sidewall give Capita’s Spring Break snowboards an edge

For this winter’s Outdoor Retailer show in Denver, Digital Trends teamed up with The Manual to crown the greatest outdoor gear as our Best Of Show winners, along with four awards going to the most innovative products. Head on over to The Manual to see the complete Outdoor Retailer Awards.

Who said 3D printing was just for prototypes?

Snowboard manufacturer Capita is using a 3D printing approach called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) to craft snowboard sidewalls that are stronger and less wasteful than the old approach. The process allows the snowboard manufacturer to essentially cut a single piece of sidewall with a custom machine and connect it to the board’s wooden core. Capita’s new core tech — which will first appear in its Spring Break line of snowboards — could represent a major shift in the company’s construction philosophy. And one that nabbed a Digital Trends Innovation Award.

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The technology is a significant detour away from long-standing techniques which required milling a wood core and attaching four separate pieces of ABS plastic — a process that takes time and creates a large amount of waste. Although a few companies have attempted to address the issue via urethane resin sidewalls (which indeed streamline the process), the durability of the cores was typically sacrificed using this method.

Capita’s new patented technology — dubbed “FUS3D” — uses an exceptionally strong recyclable thermoplastic sidewall that increases the board’s durability when connected to the wooden core. Additionally, the tech makes the core more flexible and responsive, giving it performance benefits on top of extending the life of the board. For riders who log 80 or more days on the mountain in the winter, this aspect is critical.

Look for FUS3D sidewalls in Capita’s uber-popular Spring Break powder series this year, and all of them next season. And exxpect other snowboard companies to adopt a similar 3D-printed approach to sidewall construction in the wake of Capita’s success.

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Deal: HTC U11 available for $549 ($100 off) February 1 to 15

You can also get the UA HealthBox for just $99 when buying a U11 or U11 Life.

HTC often runs some sort of sale with each major holiday, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, the company has announced its latest promotion.

There are two deals to keep an eye on this time around, and the most notable of the two is a $100 discount on the HTC U11. This brings the U11’s price down to just $549, and while that’s still not technically cheap, it’s a more than fair price for one of 2017’s most underrated phones. The deal is available on all models of the U11 (including the striking Solar Red option), and if you purchase it through HTC Financing, you’ll pay just $23/month for 24 months with a 0% APR.

If you decide to pick up the U11, HTC will also let you buy the Under Armour HealthBox for $99.

The UA HealthBox may not be the newest fitness tracking system on the market, but it includes a fitness tracker, smart scale, and chest-mounted heart-rate monitor. All of the data that these devices collect is synced to the Under Armour Record app, and while the HealthBox was a large pill to swallow at its original price of $399, it’s a steal for $99. In addition to the U11, you can also buy it at this price if you also purchase the more affordable U11 Life.

HTC’s Valentine’s Day sale begins on February 1 at 12:01 AM EST and ends February 15 at 11:59 PM PST.

See at HTC

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Audio controls for PlayStation 4: What you need to know

Trying to figure out how to adjust your audio settings on PS4? We have you covered.

We are living in a post manual world. Long gone are the days where you would pull a phone book sized document out of the packaging of your new piece of technology and read it in its entirety before you even thought about plugging in your device. If you’re anything like me, if there is a manual it gets immediately tossed aside in favor of playing around with your new toy until you have all of its functions sorted. If you’re anything like my father, then you call me and ask me questions about your Blu-ray player until I am completely exasperated and dumbfounded that you can’t recognize the international symbol for pause even though it’s been around since the 60’s!

Pardon me. This isn’t a letter to my father. This is an article about how to adjust the audio settings of your PlayStation 4. There are quite a few audio settings for the PS4 which are not entirely obvious when you first take it out of the box. Getting your audio settings just the way you like them can make your gaming experience just that much better.

Let’s get started!

Adjusting your headphone volume

Adjusting the volume on your TV is simple but setting the volume on your headphones takes a little navigation. Here’s how to do it.

From the main menu, go to Settings

Select Devices

Go to Audio Devices

Scroll down to Volume Control (Headphones). From here you can set your volume until it’s just right.

Adjusting your microphone volume on your headset

You will go to the same menu as you did to adjust your volume.
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices

From the Audio Devices menu, select Adjust Microphone Level.

Adjust the volume slider until your Input Volume is in the Good range.

Choose what you hear in your headphones

Perhaps you only want to hear the in-game chat in your headphones and you want all other audio to go through your speakers. Here’s how to do that.

You will go to the same menu as for the last two entries.
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices

Choose Output to Headphones

You can now choose to send All audio to your headphones or only the Chat Audio.

Disable automatic output switching.

Out of the box, when you plug in a pair of headphones, the audio will automatically switch to output to your headphones. If you want to disable this function, here’s how you do it.

Yet again, you will go to the previously mentioned menu
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices

From the Audio Devices menu, move down to Switch Output Device Automatically and uncheck the box.

Disabling system music

I have had mine turned off for so long that I forgot about the music that plays in the background in all the PS4 menus. If you find that music as annoying as I did, here’s how to turn it off.

From the settings menu, go to Sound and Screen

Scroll down to System Music and uncheck the box.

Hopefully, this should make your PS4 audio experience just a little bit better.

Is there another audio setting you’re looking for that you can’t find? Let us know!

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9: The top 5 features we want to see

We’re in the middle of Galaxy S9 hype season right now — and that’s all well and good — both the S9 and S9 Plus look pretty great so far.

But we’ll have to wait a few more months for the most interesting Samsung phone of 2018 — the Galaxy Note 9.

That’s because the Note line could experience something of an existential crisis this year, as Samsung once again tries to figure out what makes a Note worth the money in a world that also contains a “plus” model Galaxy S.

We did this same dance back in 2017 and the answer was: Well, the Note gives you an S Pen, some subtle spec upgrades and a second camera…. and not a whole lot else. Samsung could do the same in 2018 and it’d probably be fine in the short term. Add a couple extra gigs of RAM, maybe three cameras instead of two…

But in the long term Samsung needs a more radical approach, which is what I want to see with the next in the Note series. Check out our video for the top five Note 9 features to look for later this year.

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Every PlayStation 4 game coming out in February 2018

What PlayStation 4 games are coming out in February?

There are some pretty amazing titles for the PlayStation 4, and we’re here to keep you updated on all the new ones! Be sure to check in with us once a month to see what new titles you should be expecting or excited for!

Notable release this month

Here’s what we’ve found so far!

Shadow of the Colosuss

We all remember playing the original release of this game on our PlayStation 2’s back in the winter of 2005. Now you get to relive those memories of hot chocolate and breathtaking views as you immerse yourself back into the magical world Shadow of the Colosuss has to offer. The game will be dropping very soon on February 6th, so get your pre-orders in and prepare for battle. Bluepoint Games and JAPAN Studio have remade this experience by every pixel not only to bring you better visuals, but better performance on the PlayStation 4.

See at Amazon

Rad Rodgers

Interceptor Entertainment, 3D Realms, THQ Nordic are bringing us a new platform game. The trailers are taking me back to Rayman, which makes sense considering their inspirations were titles such as Commander Keen and Conker. Rad Rodgers will be released on February 21st to the PlayStation 4, so get ready for a vibrant adventure with your new sass-mouthed robot friend.

See at Amazon

More PlayStation 4 releases

We’ve collected a list of upcoming PlayStation 4 games below. No worries, if any surprise titles pop up we’ll be sure to add it to the list!

• EA Sports UFC 3 (February 2)
• Past Cure (February 2)
• Dragon’s Crown Pro (February 8)
• The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia (February 9)
• Under Night In-Birth Exe:Latest (February 9)
• Crossing Souls (February 13)
• South Park: The Stick of Truth (February 13)
• Dynasty Warriors 9 (February 13)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance (February 13)
• Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame (February 13)
• Owlboy ( February 13)
• Secret of Mana (February 15)
• Fe (February 16)
• Metal Gear Survive (February 20 )
• The Station (February 20 )
• Symmetry (February 20 )
• Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (February 23 )
• Immortal Redneck (February 27 )
• Gravel (February 27 )
• Shiny (February 27 )
• For Honor Season 5 – Age of Wolves (February 15 )

Upcoming Downloadable Content

• Discovery Tour by Assassin’s Creed: Ancient Egypt FREE for Assassin’s Creed Origins (February 20 )

What are you playing?

Which PlayStation 4 game are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments section!

Updated February, 2017: We will continue to refresh this list at the beginning of a new month to ensure you’re in the know when it comes to the PlayStation games being released soon!

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Comcast adds Super Bowl-specific voice cues to Xfinity X1 service

Comcast has been expanding entertainment options Xfinity X1 platform, from fantasy football to Jackbox games on its cable boxes. But in anticipation of Americans’ most entertaining weekend, the company has added new voice commands to help fans catch up on news before — and during — the Super Bowl.

Speaking the words “The Big Game” or “Super Bowl” into the X1 voice remote will bring up a page with postseason news and analysis, comparisons between the Eagles and Patriots teams and highlights from the AFC and NFC championship games. You can even request Super Bowl replays or ask for specific facts (in commands like “Tom Brady vs. Nick Foles”) to bring up comparative info sheets. And if they really want to, fans can use the app mid-game to replay any commercials immediately after they air.

Source: Comcast | Xfinity