Asus ZenBook Flip 14 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Notebook graphics keep getting better and better, and most recently this includes the thinnest and lightest machines. One example is the Asus ZenBook Flip 14, a convertible 2-in-1 that manages to be thin and light and yet pack in a Nvidia GeForce MX150 discrete GPU. Another example is Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 13, which isn’t quite so thin and light but manages to squeeze in a more robust Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050.

These two 2-in-1s take different approaches to offering flexibility and lower-end gaming chops in relatively small chassis. We pit the Asus ZenBook Flip 14 vs. the Microsoft Surface Book 2 13 to see which approach is the better one.

Asus ZenBook Flip 14

Surface Book 2 13

Dimensions
12.89 x 8.92 x 0.55 (in)
i5 version: 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.51-0.90 (in)
i7 version: 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.59-0.90 (in)

Weight
3.31 pounds
13.5-inch starts at 3.38 pounds

Keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard

Processor
Up to eighth-generation Intel Core i7
Up to eighth-generation Intel Core i7

RAM
8GB or 16GB RAM
8GB or 16GB

Graphics
Nvidia GeForce MX150
Intel UHD 620
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050

Display
14-inch IPS touch display
13.5-inch PixelSense touch display
15.0-inch PixelSense touch display

Resolution
Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 or 157 PPI)
3,000 x 2,000 (267 ppi)

Storage
Up to 512GB PCIe SSD
Up to 1TB PCIe SSE

Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1

Connectivity
USB-C 3.0, USB-A 3.0 (x2), HDMI, microSD card reader, 3.5mm combo jack
USB-A 3.0 (x2), USB-C 3.1, Surface Connect, SD card reader, 3.5mm combo jack
15-inch only: Xbox Wireless built-in

Windows Hello

Fingerprint scanner
Infrared camera

Operating System
Windows 10
Windows 10

Battery
57 watt-hours
70 watt-hours

Price
$900+

13.5-inch i5: $1,200
13.5-inch i7: $2,000+

Availability
Now
Now

Review
3.5 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Design

The ZenBook Flip 14 looks just about like every other ZenBook, with the iconic Asus concentric circle design on the hinge and a Slate Gray aesthetic that’s attractive but very conservative. As a fairly typical convertible 2-in-1, it uses a slightly stiff hinge that allows the display to swivel from clamshell through tent and presentation modes into a rather thick tablet form. Overall, it’s an all-aluminum design that doesn’t stand out in the 2-in-1 field.

Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 13 is a distinctly different animal. It’s significantly thicker at the rear, at 0.90 inches, but it’s only slightly heavier at 3.38 pounds thanks to a lightweight magnesium alloy. All of that extra girth, though, is due to an innovative design whereby the major PC components are all packed into the tear-away display connected via a unique fulcrum hinge to balance the extra weight. You can use that very thin and light tablet on its own, or insert it back into the base forwards or backwards to enable to usual 2-in-1 modes.

Not only is the Surface Book 2 a more modern design with a futuristic vibe, but it’s also more solid. Microsoft wins the design battle by a wide margin.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Performance

Asus chose its components well when configuring the ZenBook Flip 14. You can pick between eighth-generation Intel Core processors, specifically the i5-8250U for low cost, or the i7-8550U for higher performance. This makes it a very potent machine for productivity tasks, while also quite efficient when you’re not pushing the CPU so hard. Then, Asus packed in a low-end discrete GPU, the MX150 mentioned earlier, which is significantly faster than the integrated Intel graphics normally found in thin and light 2-in-1.s

The Surface Book 2 uses the fastest version of the same eighth-generation Intel Core processor, the i7-8650U, and so it promises performance that’s a hair better than the ZenBook. Microsoft stuck a more potent GPU, the GTX 1050, into the machine’s base, which makes it a much better entry-level gaming system, and able to churn through heavier creative tasks even more swiftly. An added bonus is that the tablet portion, with its integrated graphics, is fanless, so the machine is completely quiet unless you’re pushing the discrete GPU.

You’ll find both machines plenty speedy, but the Surface Book 2 13 has a bit more power overall.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Keyboard, mouse, and pen

As a convertible 2-in-1, the ZenBook Flip 14 has the usual diversity of input options — the only thing is they’re all distinctly average. The keyboard’s travel should be more than sufficient, but it has an abrupt bottoming action that makes it feel rather shallow. The expansive touchpad is better, with precise Microsoft Precision Touchpad support and clicky buttons. The active pen, though, is behind the curve with only 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the display has a sticky feel that makes inking less than comfortable. The fingerprint scanner does work well with Windows Hello for logging in without a password.

The Surface Book 2, on the other hand, excels when it comes to inputting information. The keyboard is excellent, with copious amounts of travel and a precise feel, and its generously sized Precision Touchpad is rivalled only by the MacBook Pro’s in precise gesture support. The Surface Pen is more accurate with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and some of the quickest response times around. Finally, an infrared camera scans your face almost instantly and logs you in via Windows Hello without asking you to lift a finger.

While the ZenBook Flip 14 is acceptable in keyboard, touchpad, and pen, the Surface Book 2 13 is excellent.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Connectivity

Asus opted to make sure the ZenBook Flip 14 met its users’ legacy needs in connectivity, offering two USB-A 3.0 ports, a single USB-C 3.1 port without Thunderbolt 3 support, a full-sized HDMI port, and a microSD card reader. Wi-Fi needs are met with 2×2 MU-MIMO 802.11ac, and the usual Bluetooth radio is on hand.

Microsoft’s approach with the Surface Book 2 is similar, also building in two USB-A 3.0 ports and a non-Thunderbolt 3 USB-C 3.1 port. That’s an improvement over previous Surface models that eschewed USB-C completely. Add in the usual Surface Connect port for charging and expansion, an SD card reader, 2×2 MU-MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and that’s the extent of the machine’s connectivity.

We’re disappointed with both machines’ lack of Thunderbolt 3 support, as that limits display support and makes connecting an external GPU chassis impossible. Asus does include an HDMI port, though, and so it narrowly wins this underwhelming category.

Winner: Asus ZenBook Flip 14

Display

The ZenBook Flip 14 has a  14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) display. It’s very average by objective measurements with contrast, color gamut, and accuracy all being run of the mill, and brightness actually being a little too low. That doesn’t make it a bad display, but it’s nothing special in a sea of 2-in-1s with similar quality. What’s most disappointing is the lack of a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) display option that would add a sharper image.

The Surface Book 2 13, on the other hand, continues Microsoft’s trend of selecting extremely high quality displays in the Surface line. This one is a 13.5-inch 3,000 x 2,000 resolution panel that’s incredibly sharp, and it’s in the productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio that’s a bit taller, to show more vertical information (while causing some video letterboxing). The color gamut is just average, but accuracy and gamma are good, so images are true to life. Contrast and brightness are excellent, lending depth to images, and rendering incredible black text on white backgrounds. It’s a productivity user’s dream.

Surface machines rarely lose in the display category, and the ZenBook Flip 14 isn’t about to change things in this shootout. Microsoft wins this category handily.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Portability and battery life

Asus managed to fit a decent amount of battery capacity into the ZenBook Flip 14, at 57 watt-hours. The 14-inch display is a little larger but relatively low-resolution, and the eighth-generation Intel Core CPU is powerful when pushed but efficient when it’s not working too hard. That results in a 2-in-1 that offers surprisingly good longevity when running productivity tasks. Oddly, though, the machine doesn’t last as long on the least-intensive tasks, namely looping a local video. It’s probably good for most of a working day, but might fall just a bit short.

Microsoft packs a whopping 70 watt-hours of battery into the Surface Book 2, divided between the tablet portion and the base. The machine also utilizes Intel’s efficient eighth-generation CPU, promising some serious efficiency. Combined, these factors provides the Surface Book 2 with some of the best battery life you’ll find in this class of notebook. No matter how you’re using it, you’re not likely to find many 14-inch or smaller notebooks that offer better all-day battery life.

The ZenBook Flip 14 is the thinner and slightly lighter option. But the Surface Book 2 isn’t so much larger that we find much fault with its size, and it lasts much longer on a single battery charge. It’s the clear winner here.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Availability and price

The ZenBook Flip 14 starts out at $900 for a Core i5-8250U, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe SSD, which is at the high end of the budget range and a very good deal. The configuration with a Core i7-8550U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD comes in at $1,300, which is firmly in premium territory and a decent — but not great — value. Those are the only configurations available, and as noted earlier we bemoan the lack of a 4K UHD option and think many users would be willing to pay for one.

The Surface Book 2 makes no pretense at fitting into the budget sphere. Its lowest-end configuration comes in at $1,200 and scores a seventh-generation Core i5-7300U, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. But, you give up the discrete GPU in that model and would enjoy less performance than you’ll get with the ZenBook Flip 14. If you want that GTX 1050 — and you do — then you’ll have to spend a minimum of $2,000, which brings a Core i7-8650U, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. If you want to max things out with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, then you’ll spend a whopping $3,000.

Clearly, the ZenBook Flip 14 is the more affordable machine. You get a lot of performance out of the Surface Book 2 13, but whether that equates to more value is a dubious proposition at Microsoft’s pricing.

Winner: ZenBook Flip 14

Microsoft’s innovative design equals a win

The Surface Book 2 13 is one of the most innovative notebooks on the market, and it simply outclasses other 2-in-1s with its tear-off tablet display and high-performance graphics built into the base. It offers a solid build, great input options, and unparalleled battery life, putting it at the top of its class. The ZenBook Flip 14 is a decent choice against other convertible 2-in-1s given its stealthy gaming chops, but it’s outclassed by Microsoft’s offering.

The biggest reservation when considering the Surface Book 2 13 is its price, which is somewhere in the stratosphere. It’s a premium machine, but we don’t hesitate to recommend it for anyone who wants to maximize their 2-in-1 flexibility and performance.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Dell XPS 13 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2 13
• Asus ZenBook 13 vs. HP Spectre 13
• LG Gram 15Z980 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2 15
• Asus Zenbook Flip 14 UX461UN review
• Samsung Notebook 9 Pen vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2 13

Zero DSR electric motorcycle review

Research Center:
Zero DSR electric motorcycle

What is the future of urban transportation? Electric cars are quickly gaining popularity as drivers catch on to the advantages of ditching gas, but what about electric motorcycles? For a decade now, e-motorbike maker Zero has been turning out increasingly capable two-wheelers to take on the urban sprawl — and even dirt roads. Its latest machine, the Zero DSR dual-sport claims to tackle both. But is keep up with it’s gas-powered cousins?

Is there any better way to slice through traffic in a crowded urban wasteland metropolis than on a motorcycle? Scooters are easier to ride, and bicycles are greener, but a thin-waisted, powerful and agile motorcycle is always the most fun.

But what if one machine really covered all the bases? After several weeks onboard the Zero DSR dual-sport electric motorcycle, we think we’ve found the true sweet spot for urban traffic warriors who like to get around on two wheels.

Adjusting to an electric motorcycle

Have no illusions: The Zero DSR is a real-deal, full-size motorcycle, but because it’s also fully electric, there are a few new things for riders of gas-powered bikes to get used to.

First off, it has no gears to change. A quiet and largely maintenance-free belt — not a chain — drives the rear wheel right off the central crank of the air-cooled 74-horsepower electric motor, so there’s no clutch or shift lever. Yep, just twist and go, like a scooter. But the DSR is definitely not a scooter, with its standard-sized 17-inch wheels shod in modern rubber, big ABS disc brakes, and its … well, heft. Did we mention it’s big?

The DSR will absolutely change your mind about what a motorcycle is, what it can do – and maybe even what it should be.

It’s set up better for the road than dirt, but it has a bit more suspension travel than a pure roadie, and comes shod in aggressively treaded Pirelli MT-series trail-capable tires. They aren’t hard-core DOT knobbies, but they do work well in light off-road challenges. They were also perfect for Portland’s crumbling and construction-dotted urban infrastructure, where potholes, wet pavement, gravel patches and unexpected obstacles reign.

You sit upright on the DSR like on any proper dual-sport, so the riding experience is very much like a “normal” dual-sport motorcycle, less the shifting and the typical accompanying sonic symphony. The hot and heavy metal lump of a motor between the frame rails has been replaced by a somewhat smaller and decidedly cooler (but still heavy) lithium-ion battery pack, which can range from 13-kilowatt hours to over 16KwH if you decide to option it up. Unlike a gas motor, it stays pretty quiet.

Riders can cycle through three ride modes using a button beside the right grip: Eco, Sport and Custom. Eco is the way to go for new riders or just tiptoeing through stuck traffic, which the DSR excels at. Cranking the throttle results in a smooth, unintimidating takeoff that will just outpace most Honda Civics, and the acceleration remains muted as the speed increases. It’s friendly, manageable, predictable, and also saves your juice.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Sport mode is just the opposite. Snap the throttle open and all the ponies and torques come out to play pretty much immediately. You’d better be holding the hell on. The front end can get light immediately and traffic quickly becomes something far, far behind you. Speed seems to pile on exponentially, and without exhaust howl or gear shifts to remind you of your impending jump to hyperspace, you can get yourself intro trouble right quick. So … be careful.

Between Eco and Sport, Custom lets you set your own rules on the Zero smartphone app. Yes, of course there’s an app. But Zero’s digital companion is a worthwhile partner, and it’s here you can set the performance parameters for Custom mode, including horsepower output, torque output, top speed and more. The app is also a diagnostic tool if something were to go amiss with the bike. You can also check charging status wirelessly via Bluetooth. It’s simple to use and fun to tinker with, though you don’t need it to ride. We dialed in power and torque somewhere between Eco and Sport, which yielded a perfect city mode. We just wish it let us store presets for other situations. Dirt mode? City mode? Tour mode? Yes, please.

A faux “gas tank” on the DSR conceals a very convenient storage space that’s too small for a helmet, but will hold the charger, folded-up rain gear, a second set of gloves, a tall energy drink can (or two), a sandwich (or two), several candy energy bars, a phone, and some other assorted bits. You lose this very handy storage spot if you opt for the biggest battery, so we say save your money and keep the bin.

Charging time varies by method and battery size, but count on eight hours or more for a full charge from a wall outlet. An optional quick charger system can juice things back up in less than three hours. In everyday use, it’s unusual to drain the pack so far down that it will require a “full” recharge – how often do you pull your car into the driveway running on fumes?

Overall, the DSR operates pretty much like a normal motorcycle (or a really big scooter) but with much more convenience. Warm up time? Choke? What are those things? Just get on, turn the key, wait a few seconds for the bike to silently boot up, and twist the grip. Off you go.

What it’s like to ride the DSR

Some EV evangelists like to claim that electric vehicles are “silent,” but that’s not true. Gone is the familiar rev-and-shift cadence of a gas-powered bike, replaced by the somewhat artless sound of the electric motor, which unobtrusively whirs up and down the rev range while riding.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Crank the DSR’s throttle, and the simple drivetrain emits a rather unromantic rasp that is soon drowned out by wind noise as velocity quickly builds. For bystanders, the sound is a mix of tire noise and a futuristic whirr as the DSR speeds by. If you ride motorcycles for the mechanical symphony, or to draw attention to yourself via exhaust clamor, this probably isn’t the bike for you.

There is little to no vibration while riding, which helps the DSR transmit road feel quite well through the fully adjustable suspension. The DSR’s handling was very neutral, confidence-inspiring and “normal” in pretty much every regard. Ride quality on pavement was composed and predictable. Out in the dirt it was a bit over-damped, but again, it’s adjustable.

What isn’t normal, however, is the acceleration. While the electric motor “only” makes over 70 horsepower, it flattens your eyeballs on launch with 116 foot-pounds of torque on tap from a standstill. Will it wheelie? Yes, yes it will. Used more judiciously, it will also put you at 60 miles an hour in about 4 seconds, according to my video-based calculations. And while top speed is regulated to just over 100mph, it gets there in a pretty big hurry as well. Is it fast enough for you? Put it this way: The vast majority of gas-powered cars can’t touch it and we dusted a few sport bike pilots in some impromptu spotlight races. But yes, most Teslas will still dust the DSR in a drag race.

Out on dirt and gravel roads, the DSR was plenty capable, and while it likely won’t be headed for any Long Way ‘Round type of adventures anytime soon, riders can feel confident traversing most dirt roads and most any crumbling urban environment. We certainly did.

And what happens when you run the battery down to zero in the LCD display? To my surprise, the DSR didn’t just suddenly shut off and go dark when the battery level display hit zip. Basically…. it just kept on going, like having that bit of “reserve” in the gas tank on an old-school gas motorcycle. Acceleration softened up first as the battery hit single digits, and then finally, miles later when the ticker hit zeros, it started to struggle to top 50mph. But still, in city riding, it just kept going for many more miles past the zero mark, so if you’re worried it’s going to just switch off when the meter runs out, don’t sweat it, it won’t.

We wanted to know what might happen when it essentially said it was out of e-gas, so mystery solved. But, we didn’t even run it totally out, to the point where it stopped moving. As the tripmeter closed in on 112 miles worth of mixed riding, it was still going so we just gave up, switched the DSR off and plugged it in for the night. The next morning it had a 100 percent charge and performed as normal. Repeatedly running a big li-ion battery down this way can diminish its capacity, so we wouldn’t recommend testing your own luck.

Warranty information

Bike: Varies, see details here

Battery 5 years/unlimited miles

Our Take

The Zero DSR is an urban scalpel with few equals, but that praise also hints at its primary shortcoming: Don’t count on mounting any long tours on it unless you’re really patient. While I squeezed over 100 miles out of a charge, the DSR will take several hours for a full charge, or a lunch break-length stop to top up to 80 percent with a fast charger. It can be done. But would you be willing to do it? For most riders, the answer today is still no.

And that, really, is my only real demerit for the Zero DSR. It’s fast, fun, comfortable, simple, and a joy to ride, especially in the city where that burst of torque and power just leaves all that traffic behind you in an instant. And while it’s expensive to buy up front, owners will save money for years down the road due to the simplicity of the drivetrain, no need to change the oil, replace a chain, tune an engine, or put gas in it. Ever. That’s a whole lot of coin when you add it up year over year.

So it really depends on how you are going to use the DSR. City riding? Can’t be beat. Off road? It’s capable as is, and can be tweaked to be even more so. Touring? Well…You’ll be a pioneer, just like those first drivers of gas-powered bikes and cars a century ago that were laughed at by riders on horseback or in rickety wagons.

And we all know who got the last laugh there.

Is there a better alternative?

Zero makes a range of bikes that cost less than the top-shelf DSR, so if you still want the electric experience but at a slightly lower cost, there are options – from Zero. Otherwise, the primary competition in the same price range, the Brammo Empulse, is now gone following the absorption (and at least temporary termination) by parent Polaris. Will there be a new Empulse? We hope so.

At present it seems only Alta is a price-point rival, but the Alta bikes have half the range. If you have deeper pockets, there are certainly much more expensive options from companies like Energica and Lightning. But on the horizon, a major competitor is lurking: Harley-Davidson’s Livewire, which is supposedly going to hit the market next year after a long developmental period. H-D has also just teamed up with Alta. Stay tuned.

How long will it last?

One great benefit of an all-electric drivetrain is simplicity, and that’s a big plus for the DSR. Tune-ups, oil changes and other ICE-engine chores are history. Eventually, the recharge cycles on the battery will degrade it and it will have to be replaced, but that could be 5 to 10 years down the line, depending on use. And since the battery is highly modular, dropping in a new one could likely be done at home if you have some basic skills. The way battery tech is advancing, you might even be able to go double or triple the distance on a single charge with an as-yet undetermined future power source. Otherwise, spooning on new tires, checking bearings now and again and changing an occasional headlight bulb may be about all there is to keeping the DSR in tip top shape.

Should you buy it?

If you’ve been wondering if an electric motorcycle is a viable option for urban travel, commuting and even some off-road shenanigans, the Zero DSR answers with a resounding yes.

If you have a traditional motorcycle now and want a second one for hyper-economical commuting and blasting around town or local dirt lanes, then absolutely get a DSR. You’ll thank yourself every time you pass a gas station. And besides the economic points, this is just a crazy fun smile machine.

If you are looking to start riding a motorcycle and things like clutches, gearshifts and maintenance concerns have put you off, then it’s another huge yes. It’ll help if you have a car (or access to a car) for longer trips, however.

If you think electric motorcycles are an abomination against nature (and internal combustion history), then it’s probably not the bike for you. But don’t take a ride on one, because it will absolutely change your mind about what a motorcycle is, what it can do – and maybe even what it should be.

Watch how Levi’s is using laser technology to make your next pair of jeans

While plenty of people are quick to trash a pair of jeans at the first sign of a bit of wear and tear, lots of fashionistas are after exactly that look and therefore more than happy to hand over cold hard cash for such “damaged” goods.

To create its own brand of so-called “distressed” jeans, Levi Strauss has for years been using “thousands of chemical formulations” and manual techniques to achieve a myriad of designs. But those days are coming to an end.

The company says it has developed a new operating model using lasers that “ushers denim finishing into the digital era.”

The system, called Project F.L.X. (future-led execution), reduces the number of steps needed to achieve the worn look from twenty to just three, and takes a fraction of the time used by traditional methods. It also cuts the number of chemical compounds to just a few dozen, helping the company toward its goal of eliminating all hazardous chemicals from its manufacturing process by 2020 as it seeks to minimize the environmental impact of its business.

Making the jeans

“There’s a lot of detail in a vintage jean, so our first step in the new process is to photograph the jean, and then we take that and illustrate it in a way that the laser can interpret,” Bart Sights, who leads Levi’s “Eureka” innovation lab, explains in a video (above). This includes using computer software to add the precise marks, creases, and rips that they want to appear on the final design.

“What used to happen traditionally in eight-to-twelve minutes with manual applications, we can now execute with the laser in 90 seconds or so,” Sights explains. In a speeded-up section of the video, we can see the lasers transforming the jeans before our eyes.

Sights then shows us eight pairs of finished jeans, all looking very different to each other but all created by laser from the same “base” pair.

The company says a number of employees have been retrained in software development and laser operations, adding that such retraining “will be a key tenet as this new model rolls out globally.”

To develop its system, Levi partnered with Spanish laser and eco technology specialists Jeanologia, described as a leader in eco-efficient solutions for fabric and garment finishing.

Sights says Levi’s has “always been passionate about sustainability,” adding that he’s certain the project “will push the industry to create a cleaner jean.” Even if it does look a touch shabby.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Ever wondered how lasers work? Here’s everything you need to know
• How Lamborghini brought the Urus to life with VR, robots, and even biology
• Want to save your favorite film? Here’s how to fix a scratched DVD or CD
• Stanford’s ‘diamond anvil’ technology could be a game-changer for chemistry
• How ‘Coco VR’ convinced Pixar to put its pixels (and pride) into virtual reality

Here’s what some employees told 911 after walking into Apple Park’s glass walls

Matthew Roberts

The general consensus is that Apple’s new “spaceship” headquarters in Cupertino, California, features a dazzling design, with the finished construction conveying the kind of attention to detail long employed by the company when creating its popular tech products.

So it was with great surprise that we recently learned about how some workers at the new site have been walking into the building’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls, in some cases incurring some pretty nasty injuries.

As Apple has so far declined to comment publicly on the reports, the San Francisco Chronicle decided to seek some — ahem — transparency on the issue.

Digging a little deeper into the story, the news outlet has just published a report claiming that Cupertino building official Albert Salvador visited the $5 billion campus shortly before it opened and warned that in some places it was hard to distinguish between the glass walls and glass doors. Seems like he was right.

Jeremy Kaplan/Digital Trends

Through a public-records request, the Chronicle has also gotten hold of several 911 calls made in response to some of the incidents, and over the weekend it published lengthy excerpts. They reveal that at least some of these accidental knocks are causing more than just a bruised forehead, with one of them suggesting stitches might be needed and another confirming a cut with “serious” bleeding when asked by the dispatcher.

Apple security made the first call listed in the excerpts, with the January 2 incident involving a man in his late 20s who “ran into a glass wall pane.”

The caller tells the dispatcher that the injured man has “a small cut on their head and they are bleeding, slightly disoriented.”

After the dispatcher confirms that the man is conscious and breathing, the caller is asked if there’s “any serious bleeding,” to which the caller replies, “Yes, from the head.”

The dispatcher then offers some advice on initial treatment and sends paramedics to Apple Park.

Apple

Call 2 was also made on January 2 and involved a middle-aged man who sustained a cut above the eyebrow after he “walked into a glass window, hitting his head.” Someone in the background at Apple Park can be heard saying that the wound “looks like it’s going to (require) stitches.” The dispatcher again sends help.

The third incident took place on January 4 and involved a guy who apparently felt a little embarrassed about what had just happened.

“Um, I walked into a glass door on the first floor of Apple Park when I was trying to go outside, which was very silly,” the man explains to the dispatcher. While he doesn’t report any bleeding or concussion, the dispatcher chooses to send a paramedic to have him checked out.

Solutions?

It’s not yet clear how Apple is dealing with the issue — if it is at all — though some workers have reportedly started to offer rudimentary solutions of their own, such as placing sticky notes on the panes to better show up the glass for the company’s 13,000 employees scuttling about the sprawling site. And with all the publicity the story has been getting recently, we’re assuming the staff will be treading far more carefully about Apple Park in a bid to prevent the onset of an irritating headache. Or worse.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Distracted employees are walking into glass walls in Apple’s new headquarters
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• Watch a drone lose control and crash onto Apple Park’s solar roof
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• It’s curtains for Nintendo’s ‘Miitomo’ less than two years after launch

Watch as this hydraulic press rips satisfyingly through packs of playing cards

YouTube is home to all kinds of videos featuring the wanton destruction of everyday objects, often shown in slow motion and with dramatic music to enhance the viewing pleasure for those who enjoy that kind of thing.

Among the most famous of these efforts is the Will It Blend? series where Blendtec founder and CEO Tom Dickson continues to drop all manner of newly launched gadgets into his machines to discover their blendability, or, more to the point, to show off the power of his blenders. This one stars the Apple Watch.

It’s a clever marketing routine, which, over the last 12 years, has earned Dickson’s channel more than 880,000 subscribers and 280 million views.

Other efforts, however, seem less concerned with marketing and are more focused on simply having a bit of fun with some heavy machinery.

Take the Hydraulic Press Channel, for example. The Finland-based effort has been up and running for the past couple of years and has built up a fan base of people who enjoy watching the channel’s hydraulic press — complete with a blade attached — destroy a wide variety of objects.

The latest effort landed on the site over the weekend. It shows the press tearing through 10 packs of playing cards, and the fact that it’s already picked up more than 400,000 views suggest many people are finding the card-splitting spectacle really rather pleasing.

Using a freshly sharpened tool positioned very precisely over the tightly packed cards, the operator speculates they have a 50 percent chance of destroying all of the playing cards in one go, with a high risk of some of them flying away unscathed as the blade descends.

Hitting the button to set the machine in motion, the press takes just seven seconds to do its business, sending 1,040 pieces of card all over the workshop with satisfying “clicks” as each card snaps in two.

Re-running it in slow motion and with an operatic soundtrack, the destruction becomes a piece of compelling cinematic art, though we don’t think it’s at the Oscar-nomination stage just yet.

Continue watching and you’ll be treated the intriguing sight of the press splitting apart a ball of colored rubber bands, and also the explosive response of a CO2 inflator when it’s pierced by the blade.

Check out the channel to see how the hydraulic press handles a bunch of other items, but, as its creator wisely advises, “do not try this at home … or anywhere else.” Just in case you happen to have a blade-equipped hydraulic press knocking around.

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Nest Hello — the ultimate teen sex talk tool?

Wait — what?

When it comes to video doorbells, package thieves and scary solicitors have been the go-to fodder for advertising. And, yeah, it makes sense. Those are two things a doorbell with a camera and mic and speaker definitely will help out with.

But on Sunday night during the Oscars telecast, Nest — a company that’s never really done too much in the way of advertising — took an emotional turn. And it was a particularly poignant turn given that the broadcast was full of emotional adverts.

That said, having the prom-night respect talk through a video doorbell is a pretty Dad™ thing to do. First, let’s maybe have that conversation before dude is literally on his way out the door. And besides, chauffeuring the ladies around in the minivan should help cut down on the swagger just a little bit anyway.

In any event, it was a nice, emotional spot for a product we’re definitely looking to get our hands on. When? Sometime in March, though Nest has yet to give a firm shipping date.

How Nest Hello can out-doorbell Ring

Should you get the Galaxy S9+ or Pixel 2 XL?

A tougher decision than you might think.

During MWC 2018 last week, one of the highlights of the show was Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 series — most notably, the Galaxy S9+. The regular S9 is still one heck of a phone, but the S9+ has a decent edge with a larger battery, 2GB of extra RAM, and a second rear camera.

There’s a whole lot to like about the Galaxy S9+, but it’s going to be faced with some stiff competition. The Google Pixel 2 XL is still one of the best Android phones money can buy, and when one of our forum members asked which of these two phones they should buy, these are a few of the responses they got.

Itsa_Me_Mario
03-03-2018 09:57 AM

“

I’d pick Pixel 2 XL over the S9 + 6 out of 7 days per week. But you’re in the S9 forum, so most people are about to say S9+.

Reply

ZayMoney
03-03-2018 10:57 AM

“

s9+ upgraded processor, better camera. pixel 2 xl does have stock android so thats huge

Reply

Rukbat
03-03-2018 01:09 PM

“

The Pixel camera is the one all others are being compared to – and its HDR+ mode still beats the S9+. (As a Samsung owner for years, I went with the Pixel.) You also get updates almost the day they’re released by Google (sometimes on that day) – Samsung is notorious for late updates, or waiting a few months to combine a few fixes into one update. (I got my Pixel in early February, turned it on…

Reply

Joshua Luther2
03-05-2018 06:44 AM

“

I had the same debate, but for me I had to prioritize the screen quality over timely and small incremental software updates. The camera is going to be excellent and as good as the Pixel 2. Also, it helped me a great deal by going into a Verizon store and actually holding both devices in hand. Albeit, I held a S8, but it’s pretty much the same feel in hand as the S9. Holding both devices sold me…

Reply

Now, we want to hear from you — Do you choose the Galaxy S9+ or Pixel 2 XL?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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The Morning After: Cheaper MacBook hopes and dreams

Hey, good morning!

Welcome back. MWC has wrapped up, but now Engadget is already preparing for what’s next: a trip from Spain to Switzerland for the Geneva Auto Show. Insert obligatory engine noises, then replace with the hum of far too many electric and hybrid machines.

Spoiler alert: Not all of them are phones.
These are a few of our favorite things (from MWC 2018)

What did you miss from the world’s biggest phone show. Here’s our esoteric picks that you may have missed.

Art by Samsung Galaxy S9’s AR Emoji.

LG’s interim ‘creators’ phone isn’t a huge leap forward, but it’s not without its charms.
Testing LG V30S ThinQ’s hit-or-miss camera tricks

The LG V30S ThinQ isn’t a completely new phone, but there are enough new goodies to warrant taking another look at its camera ahead of a deeper dive on the phone in its entirety. We’ve seen how the Galaxy S9 handles the nightlife of Barcelona, but how about LG’s newly introduced camera features? Are they worth having? Is the AI cam better than my own judgement? Can algorithms save blurry night shots? Mat froze his ass off one night to try it all out.

AgeID could be the de facto gatekeeper for porn in the country.
Pornhub’s owner reveals its age-verification tool for the UK

Pornhub owner Mindgeek has unveiled what might become the default gatekeeping tool for porn in the UK. AgeID will ask porn-site visitors to create an encrypted login that verifies their age across any compatible site, saving them from having to prove they’re 18 or older every time they want to view something a little racy. The system uses third-party age-verification companies, but Mindgeek promises that AgeID won’t store any personal info — it’ll only keep “standard technical data” to prevent fraud.

It would be the first drop below the thousand-dollar mark in years.
Apple might offer lower-cost MacBook Air in spring

Apple has left the MacBook Air mostly untouched for years, including its price. Ever since the 11-inch model disappeared in 2016, you’ve been looking at $999 or more for Apple’s starter laptop — a tough sell given the aging design. It might become better value before long, however. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a mostly solid track record for Apple leaks and rumors) has claimed that Apple is preparing a MacBook Air with a “lower price tag” for release this spring. This is still in the rumor camp for now, but we’re betting there are plenty out there angling for a modern, cheap MacBook of some kind.

But wait, there’s more…

• ‘StarCraft’ 20th anniversary brings freebies and a short film
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• VW’s Seat unveils the first fully electric touring-class race car

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t Subscribe.

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‘House of Cards’ teaser shows Claire Underwood taking charge

The sixth and final season of House of Cards doesn’t hit screens until the fall of this year, but Netflix is already building the hype. The streaming service has dropped the first teaser for the show’s last, eight-episode run, in which Robin Wright’s character of Claire Underwood takes center stage as the new president. Kevin Spacey won’t be reprising his role as disgraced former president Frank Underwood, of course. News that the sixth season would be the end of the political drama immediately followed an accusation by Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp that Spacey sexually assaulted him when he was just 14 years old. Production was suspended, and Netflix cut all ties with Spacey soon after, when several members of the crew also came forward with sexual harassment claims against the actor.

Netflix resumed production on House of Cards at the end of January, and it’ll be interesting to see how writers explain away Frank Underwood’s absence. That might not be a particularly tall order, though. At the end of season five, several key characters were either murdered, hospitalized or imprisoned by the Underwood machine. Frank resigned the presidency to his wife and VP Claire as his many, many wrongdoings began to catch up with him. The idea is that Claire will issue a presidential pardon, but the season ended with that very much in doubt. In short, the plot has already set up an easy way out for the writers.

Obviously we’ll see how it all shakes out when fall rolls around, but if you’re already dreading the end of one of Netflix’s best shows, remember it’s rumored there are already several spinoff ideas being discussed behind closed doors.

Source: Netflix (YouTube)

Apple’s Upcoming Over-Ear Wireless Headphones to Target High-End Noise-Canceling Market

As reported last month, Apple is said to be developing its own brand of high-end, over-ear wireless headphones with an “all-new” design. The new headphones are expected to debut in the fourth quarter of this year at the earliest, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and today Bloomberg weighed in to corroborate that rumor, along with an additional detail regarding Apple’s plans for the cans.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that rival headsets from market leaders like Bose and even the company’s own Beats by Dre brand, according to people familiar with the product’s development. The company plans to launch the headphones as early as the end of this year, but has faced development challenges that might push back the release, the people said.

Kuo’s earlier report specified Apple’s plan was to target the high-end market, but the focus on active noise-cancelation (ANC) features puts a new angle on the company’s intentions. Apple acquired Beats Music and Beats Electronics in 2014, and only five months ago, Beats launched its Studio3 wireless over-ear headphones featuring Apple’s W1 Bluetooth pairing chip – first used in AirPods – and Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling technology. Apart from blocking out ambient noise, Pure ANC also evaluates fit and adjusts for leakage caused by hair, glasses, different ear shapes and head movement.

Whether Apple’s own-brand ANC headphones will adopt the same set of technologies as Beats Studio3 cans remains unclear, although Bloomberg’s sources indicate Apple plans to include similar wireless pairing functionality to the AirPods. The paper’s sources also claim work on the headphones has been “on-and-off over the past year” and that it’s still possible Apple will redesign the headphones again before launch – or even scrap the project altogether.

Another detail that remains unclear is pricing. Beats, Bose, and Sony charge $350 for their high-end wireless ANC headphones, while Sennheiser prices can run all the way up to $500. Should Apple take the same pricing strategy as it did with HomePod, which is at least $100 higher than the closest rival product from Sonos, then customers can expect the rumored headphones to be a top-tier premium audio accessory with a price tag to match.

Along with over-ear headphones, Apple is also reportedly working on several upgrades to its wireless AirPods with a new version of the popular headphones set for release as soon as this year.

Tags: Bloomberg, AirPods
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