Tesla temporarily paused Model 3 production in February

Tesla temporarily halted production of the Model 3 in order to fix crucial bottlenecks in the assembly process. According to Bloomberg, the line at the company’s Fremont plant was shut down between February 20th, through to the 24th. In a statement, Tesla said that its plans include pauses in production to “improve automation and systemically address bottlenecks.”

The Model 3 is a very special vehicle, since it is Tesla’s first attempt at building a truly mass-market electric vehicle. But the project has suffered a number of setbacks as the company struggles to grapple with the nuances of mass production. CEO Elon Musk has pledged that volumes will increase, several times over, claiming that Tesla would make 5,000 models a month by March.

In fact, the company has missed pretty much every goal that its CEO has set, and the target of producing 5,000 a month has now been pushed back to June. If these breaks can enable Tesla’s engineers to fix some of the more chronic issues with Tesla’s system, however, then things might just improve. Perhaps the team could also work to resolve some of the issues with build quality that critics are obsessed with highlighting.

Source: Bloomberg

Move over, lithium! Researchers create world’s first rechargeable proton battery

A team of researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have created the world’s first rechargeable proton battery. The current battery is simply a prototype, but the research team says that it is a step toward creating a more affordable and environmentally friendly energy sources. The team believes that within five to ten years, the proton battery could compete with commercially available lithium-ion batteries.

“Lithium-ion batteries are great but they rely on ultimately scarce and expensive resources,” lead researcher John Andrews told the Guardian. “Hydro is also a good technology but suitable sites are limited and the cost may be very high.”

In an RMIT University news story, Andrews said that the world’s energy needs were continuing to increase and he believes that proton batteries have the potential to supplement or even replace lithium batteries due how expensive and rare the materials used in lithium batteries are.

“The proton battery is one among many potential contributors towards meeting this enormous demand for energy storage,” Andrews said. “Powering batteries with protons has the potential to be more economical than using lithium ions, which are made from scare resources. Carbon, which is the primary resource used in our proton battery, is abundant and cheap compared to both metal hydrogen-storage alloys, and the lithium needed for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.”

Another benefit of this proton battery is the fact that, thanks to the way it produces energy, the carbon it produces is not burnt or released into the air as fumes. This makes it more environmentally friendly than standard lithium batteries.

Environmental and economic costs are important things to consider, but potential consumers maybe wondering how well the battery works. The current prototype, which has an active surface area of 5.5 square centimeters, is already capable of storing as much energy-per-mass as lithium batteries. Andrews and his team are currently working on ways to improve the battery now that they have a working prototype.

“Future work will now focus on further improving performance and energy density through use of atomically-thin layered carbon-based materials such as graphene, with the target of a proton battery that is truly competitive with lithium ion batteries firmly in sight,” Andrews said.

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Authentic HAL-9000 virtual assistant could actually open the pod bay doors

The sentient A.I. from Stanley Kubrick’s opus 2001: A Space Odyssey may soon find a place in your home reciting your favorite recipe or telling you about the weather. The malevolent HAL-9000, which recently topped our list of A.I. villains, has been recreated in loving detail by Master Replicas Group as a virtual assistant using Amazon’s Echo technology.

Master Replicas is not your typical tech startup. The original company produced a line of authentic but pricey sci-fi replica props from films such as Star Wars before closing its doors in 2008. The new company, comprised of several former employees, is launching with a line of officially licensed collectibles inspired by the 50th anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The HAL-9000 features a Fire HD tablet as its base, and it uses Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa. At present, the device only responds to wake-up calls with lines from the movie, but CEO Steve Dymszo told The Verge that they hope to get Amazon’s approval to have it answer inquiries with HAL’s voice. “It’s the first prop replica that can be updated,” he said.

No price has been revealed, but Master Replicas will begin taking pre-orders in April, and is also launching a Kickstarter campaign. A special numbered series will be featured, from 1 to 2001. Production has already begun, and the company hope to begin shipping the devices this fall.

More and more virtual assistants are entering the market, with each one appealing to a different customer base. The most well-known are Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and whatever Google Assistant’s name is, but Samsung has its own VA named Bixby, and Mycroft promises to protect your privacy at all costs.

At its website, Master Replicas Group also promises that a new line of Star Wars and Star Trek collectibles is in the works, but not in the first wave of products. It is also teasing some electronic devices that will “literally change the collecting world forever!”

The company also releases products through a license with the Smithsonian, such as replica landscapes of the moon and Mars.

Dymszo hopes the updated high-tech focus of the company will appeal to a new generation of collectors, while still maintaining the authenticity they’re famous for. “It’s a replica that acts as your assistant,” he said. You might not want to connect it to your garage doors just yet, though, until they’ve worked out some of the kinks.

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New ‘documentary’ shows SpotMinis trying to survive in a desolate wasteland

A herd of migrating SpotMinis is at the mercy of mother Nature in a Planet Earth parody from video artist NIXOLAS (a.k.a. Nicholas King). In the distant future, we find that the versatile critters created by Boston Dynamics became “apex predators” who once ruled the Earth, but now find themselves scavenging for scraps in a barren wasteland.

Using a program called Golaem, which lets artists create and manipulate realistic digital crowds, King teamed up with fellow artists Vojislav Milanovic, Ramtin Ahmadi, and Nawaz Ahmed to create a prescient parody of the David Attenborough series.

King said the entire video took about two or three weeks, and at his Instagram site, you can see some of the behind-the-scenes work, including animating the Boston Dynamics robo-dogs and the ragdoll physics of the creatures.

In the video, the sonorous English narrator implies that the robots themselves are responsible for the destruction of their environment. The video has drawn a lot of comparisons to Horizon Zero Dawn, but King mentioned in a comment he’s never played the game.

The creepily aggressive SpotMinis from Boston Dynamics made the rounds of the internets a few weeks back, with a video showing one of the creatures with a mechanical arm opening a door for his headless buddy.

In a follow-up video, ominously titled “Testing Robustness,” we saw a determined SpotMini fight his way through the door despite his human handler’s best attempts to stop him. Boston Dynamics has released few actual details about the robots themselves, instead letting us speculate as they unveil videos showcasing our new robot overlords.

The SpotMini was unleashed on the world in 2016 with a video showcasing its dance moves, which is truly some nightmare fuel. The Spot Mini weighs about 55 pounds (66 with the arm) and can carry 30 pounds. Using its sensors, it can climb stairs, open doors, and pick up objects.

It’s not really clear what Boston Dynamics’ robots are for, however. Its robot BigDog has been used by the defense department, and the company was briefly bought and then sold by Google. Now they seem content to just build a robot army with better and better capabilities. Isn’t that how Skynet started?

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NASA’s upcoming Parker Solar Probe might as well be walkin’ on the sun

The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled for launch this summer aboard a Delta-IV Heavy rocket, and its mission is to study a star closer than ever before. What’s more, NASA has invited the public along for the ride.

Named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, discoverer of what we now call the solar wind, the probe will actually touch the surface of the sun on a daring mission where temperatures will climb as high as 1400 degrees Celsius (about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit).

As detailed at Skymania, the probe will enter an elliptical orbit, coming closer and closer to the sun each time. After seven years, it will finally reduce its orbit enough that it can fly past the giant star without getting sucked into its gravitational pull.

About the size of a small car, the probe will fly into the corona, the uppermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, less than four million miles from the surface. That’s far inside the orbit of Mercury and as close as any manmade object has ever gotten to the star in the center of our solar system. For comparison, Mercury’s orbit is about 29 million miles from the sun.

Protecting the spacecraft is a 4.5-inch thick shield of composite carbon, which will keep the payload at room temperature.

The spacecraft will be really moving too, due to the gravitational pull of the sun. At its closest approach, Parker will be travelling at approximately 430,000 mph, or fast enough to circle the Earth in 3.3 seconds.

The probe will gather data that will help scientists unravel the mysteries of the sun, such as why the corona is so much hotter than the surface, and how solar winds are created. It may also give us some insight into dangerous massive solar flares, which could cause massive communication failures here on Earth and cause up to two trillion dollars in damages.

NASA will also include a memory card on the voyage containing the names of anyone who wants to add their name to the list. William Shatner, an avid fan of NASA, had his name added to the virtual passenger list for the InSight Lander, and he’s narrated a video inviting you to sign up for the ultimate “Hot Ticket.” If you’d like to send your name to the sun, you can sign up here before April 27.

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Here are the best (and least likely to explode) hoverboards you can buy

We know, we know. Technically, these boards don’t actually hover, but “hands-free scooter” just doesn’t sound as cool. It’s been a tough few years for the hoverboard industry. For a time, the damn things just wouldn’t stop catching fire. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, hoverboard-related fires between December 2015 and February 2016 were responsible for more than $2 million in property damages nationwide. Some college campuses and airlines have banned self-balancing scooters altogether, and the United Kingdom has completely outlawed their use in any public space.

With all this negative publicity, you might wonder, “why buy a hoverboard?” Uh, because they’re awesome. These motorized, self-balancing devices are easy to pick up and tons of fun to ride, and, honestly, the hardest thing about a hoverboard is trying to look cool while riding it. These puppies can actually be an effective mode of transportation, capable of reaching speeds close to 10 mph and “hovering” for nearly 20 miles on a single charge. Best of all, there are finally self-balancing scooters on the market that are guaranteed not to explode violently at your feet! Amazon even rescinded its February 2016 decision to cease hoverboard distribution.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the best — and least explode-y — hoverboards on the market.

Our pick

Razor Hovertrax 2.0

Why you should buy this: It’s compact, affordable, and simple to control.

The best

Razor Hovertrax 2.0

Razor’s Hovertrax 2.0 is a fantastic basic hoverboard at a decent price.

$348.00 from Amazon

Who it’s for: Anyone and everyone

How much will it cost: $400

Why we chose the Razor Hovertrax 2.0:

Remember Razor? Chances are, you’re familiar with the scooter that put them on the map around the turn of the millennium. They haven’t gone anywhere, and now that they’ve received their UL 2722 safety certification, they’re making moves to get into the hoverboard game. The Hovertrax 2.0 — so named because the first edition was pulled from stores after safety concerns arose — is a true rival for the Swagtron series, offering all the same bells and whistles, for the same price, with a more recognizable brand name.

The Hovertrax is also capable of supporting 220 pounds for about an hour of riding, and it features a battery pack that automatically shuts off once it reaches a full charge. Razor’s board doesn’t bring anything new to the table, sure, but it’s bringing competition to a market that didn’t have much, if any, which is only a good thing for the future of hoverboarding.

Razor also released an upgraded version, called the Hovertrax DLX 2.0, that includes some awesome new paint jobs and multi-color LED displays. Unfortunately, they’re currently only available from Brookstone for nearly $600.

Read more here

The safest hoverboard

Segway MiniPro

Why you should buy this: It’s attractive and unique, with superior battery life and easy-to-master gyroscopic controls.

Who it’s for: Those who prefer a little more support while riding

How much will it cost: $600

The safest hoverboard

Segway miniPRO

It’s not as funky, but Segway’s hoverboard is safe and easier to ride.

$299.95 from Amazon.com

Why we chose the Segway MiniPro:

Okay, so this guy isn’t exactly what you were expecting. The MiniPro blends the typical self-balancing scooter with the Segway flagship aesthetic to create a hands-free personal transportation device that’s truly one of a kind.

The MiniPro’s unique knee steering bar — adjustable from 20 inches up to 34 inches high — allows the rider to turn by simply leaning into the knee pads, and simultaneously provides a sense of stability and balance. The knee bar is detachable for storage and transportation purposes, but the board won’t function without it.

Capable of carrying up to 220 pounds and traveling around 14 miles on a full charge, the MiniPro offers a simpler, safer experience than your average hoverboard. The MiniPro also works in concert with a Bluetooth app that lets you customize the color and pattern of the scooter’s tail lights, as well as providing antitheft security and data for your most recent trip.

Oh, and you can control the scooter remotely from the app. The MiniPro is also UL 2272 certified, so you won’t need to worry about your personal scooter unexpectedly turning into a personal rocket launcher.

The best all-terrain hoverboard

Epikgo Classic

Why you should buy this: It’s rugged, reliable, and built to last.

The best all-terrain hoverboard

Epikgo Classic

The Epikgo Classic can take a beating and go anywhere.

$599.99 from Amazon.com

Who it’s for: Those looking to take their hoverboard off the beaten path.

How much will it cost: $600

Why we chose the Epikgo Classic:

The Classic self-balancing scooter, from Silicon Valley-based Epikgo, is the ultimate all-terrain hoverboard. High-tread tires ensure safe navigation across any ground cover, be it grass, dirt, or pavement, and the scooter’s sturdy design helps push it safely to a maximum speed of 10 mph. Riders can count on the Classic to last for about 10 miles on a single charge, and both the battery pack and the scooter itself have been certified safe under UL 2271 and 2272.

This water-resistant bad boy can climb at inclines of up to 15 degrees, and LED headlights will keep you from losing your footing while ‘boarding at night. The aluminum fender cover — advertised as “indestructible,” though we’re not certain of this — protects the wheels from harm, while the durable ABS chassis prevents the board’s inner workings from taking any damage.

Epikgo also offers a Sport Plus model, boasting a more powerful motor and a Bluetooth speaker, and a Premier model is in the works as well. The Classic isn’t as flashy as the other boards on our list, but it’s got a certain rugged je ne sais quoi that earns it a spot on our list.

Most Kid Friendly hoverboard

Halo Rover

Why you should buy this: Sturdy and reliable, you can trust this set of wheels more than it’s driver.

Who it’s for: Parents who are buying one for their kids.

How much will it cost: $997

Why we chose the Halo Rover:

With a top speed of 10 miles an hour, a range of 10 miles, a 2272 (non-exploding) certification, and speakers to boot, the Halo Rover is packed with just about everything you could want in a hoverboard. Certified front to back with safety features and three tiers of calibration for riders of different experience levels, this is the hoverboard to get if your kid is clamoring for a set of wheels.         -0

That’s not to say this machine is dumbed down or not suited for more experienced riders. The Halo Rover has a weight limit of up to 224 lbs, and can handle inclines of up 20 degrees, so hauling your groceries home or lugging your books to class should be no problem. It also comes in two flavors (regular and X) if you prefer a more edgy body design.

In the end, what makes the Halo Rover stand out isn’t any outlandish or over-the-top features, it’s simply that it’s a reliable, safe piece of hardware that you don’t have to worry about.

How we choose

We do not do on-site hoverboard testing at Digital Trends, but we compiled this list with a lot of research. The Razor Hovertrax 2.0 is a staple in our New York office, where members of the DT team can be seen whizzing from room to room and pulling donuts in the hallway, and it’s the best hoverboard we’ve used, all around. As far as we can tell, the most important trait for a self-balancing scooter is safety.

Your best bet is to make sure the hoverboard you’re buying is certified under UL 2722, and we are not recommending any boards that do not meet this safety standard. The labs put these toys through a rigorous series of inspections to make sure they’re safe; below is a list of tests that UL requires to certify a scooter under UL 2722 (Electrical Systems for Self-Balancing Scooters).

Note: This list was sourced from the “UL/Safety” tab from the SwagTron T3 Hoverboard site. These tests are strictly meant to ensure the safety of the device from an electrical and flame retardancy perspective. They do not evaluate for performance, reliability, or rider safety.

• Overcharge Test
• Short Circuit Test
• Over discharge Test
• Temperature Test (Determines the failure temperature of a product.)
• Imbalanced Charging Test
• Dielectric Voltage Test
• Isolation Resistance Test (Testing Isolation Transformer.)
• Vibration Test
• Shock Test
• Crash Test
• Drop Test
• Mold Stress Test
• Water Exposer Test
• Thermal Cycling Test (Testing the effects of extreme differential temperature change.)
• Label Performance Test (Comparing products against other leading brands.)
• Strain Relief Tests
• Motor Overload Test
• Motor Locked Rotor
• 20mm End Product Flame (Test that determines flame resistance.)

Alternative options

There are a few UL-certified boards that didn’t make the cut. The Kiwano KO-X made a big splash last year as an all-terrain option, but the Kiwano website appears to be experiencing some technical difficulties, and Amazon stock is running out fast. Swagtron, one of the most popular brands, has several board options that are certified safe, but the differences between the X1 and X2, as well as the T1, T3, and T5, are difficult to discern. A little transparency goes a long way when considering products with safety concerns.

Hoverzon’s XLS scooter has received UL 2272 certification, and it’s certainly a defensible choice. Target also offers the Jetson V6 hoverboard, which boasts a unique aesthetic design and a dedicated mobile app that allows you to change the maximum speed and steering sensitivity — essentially, a child lock system.

There are also several brands and different types of scooters out there that haven’t yet been certified under UL 2272. Beijing-based Ninebot — which acquired Segway in 2015 — has its own line of scooters called the Ninebot One, which look like some kind of cross between a unicycle and the rolling ‘droideka’ battle droids from Star Wars: Episode I. The Ninebot, priced between $450 and $1,300, figures to make an impact on the hoverboard market if it received UL certification.

We’re not sure what the next move is for companies like PhunkeeDuck and IO Hawk, who manufactured high-end (read: more expensive) hoverboards, of which they sold thousands when self-balancing scooters blew up in 2015 (literally and figuratively). PhunkeeDuck claims that their battery cells are UL certified, but it’s unclear whether the boards are altogether safe. IO Hawk has made no such claims.

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NHL’s first eSports tournament begins March 24th

Multiple pro sports leagues have already welcomed eSports with open arms, but what about the NHL? Where’s the official hockey tournament? Don’t worry, it’s almost here. The league is launching the NHL Gaming World Championship, a global tourney that pits players against each other in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of EA’s NHL 18. Register and you can compete in qualifiers that start March 24th, with the top eight players from each region competing in-person at events throughout May. The championship proper takes place at Esports Arena Las Vegas on June 19th, and the winner will take home “their share” of $100,000.

The regional competitions will stream live on Twitch and broadcast on national TV networks. Viasat will air the European event on May 6th, while Rogers’ Sportsnet will broadcast the Canadian event on May 11th; Americans have to wait until May 20th for their regional final, which will broadcast on NBCSN.

The relatively free-form structure of the Gaming World Championship contrasts sharply with parallel eSports organizations like the NBA 2K League, which revolve around teams of dedicated players. Nonetheless, the goal is the same — the NHL wants to have an official presence both to profit from the rise of eSports and to foster interest in real-world games.

Via: Polygon

Source: NHL, FaceIt

New Entry-Level Mac Notebook Expected to Adopt Retina Display, Likely Launch at WWDC in June

Earlier this month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is expected to introduce a cheaper MacBook Air sometime during the second quarter of the year, and a few days later a second report backed up Kuo’s claims with a claim of a price point starting at $799 or $899.

DigiTimes is now reporting that Apple is planning to launch a new 13.3-inch “entry-level MacBook” late in the second quarter of the year, which suggests an introduction at WWDC in June. While DigiTimes calls the notebook a “MacBook,” it is unclear whether it would be part of the MacBook or MacBook Air line, but the entry-level nature of the machine and the MacBook’s positioning at a similar 12-inch size suggests this new machine might be part of a refreshed MacBook Air family.

However the new entry-level machine is marketed, DigiTimes says the pricing will be the same as or slightly higher than the current MacBook Air, which starts at $999, and the machine will include a Retina display.

The 13.3-inch a-Si panels for the new notebook feature the same resolution as Apple’s 13.3-inch MacBook Pro at 2,560 by 1,600.

LG Display will begin supplying the panel in April with the new MacBook scheduled to enter mass production at the end of May or the beginning of June.

The report claims that Apple is targeting shipments of six million units of the new notebook through the end of the year, although DigiTimes analysts believe four million is a more likely figure considering the estimated pricing.

In addition to the new MacBook Air or MacBook, DigiTimes says Apple is also preparing updated entry-level iPad models for release in the second quarter and new iPad Pro models for the second half of the year.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iPadTag: digitimes.comBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Neutral), MacBook Air (Caution), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Neutral), MacBook (Caution), iPad (Don’t Buy)
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How to use AR emoji on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Apple and Samsung have been trading blows for years now. Each time one introduces a new feature to its smartphone lineup, the other is quick to respond. It should come as no surprise, then, that after Apple introduced “Animoji” (animated emoji that could replicate the movements of a user’s face), Samsung fired back with a similar feature called “AR Emoji.” Developed to work with the forthcoming Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, the feature gives users the ability to create digital, cartoon versions of themselves which they can then animate using their phone’s camera. Although the results aren’t always stellar, it’s a feature with a lot of potential for fun. So, how exactly does it work?

Step 1: Launch the Camera app, and make sure you’re using the front-facing camera. If you’re not, just tap the camera switch icon.

Step 2: At the top of the screen are a host of options — swipe to or tap AR Emoji.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Step 3: Tap the face symbol at the bottom of your screen, followed by Create Emoji.

Step 4: Center your head in the viewfinder. Then, remove your glasses if you’re wearing any, make sure you don’t have hair blocking your face, and smile with your lips closed.

Step 5: The app will then ask whether you are male or female. After you respond, it will create your AR avatar, and allow you to make a variety of tweaks. Among other things, you’ll be able to choose from two different face styles, adjust your skin or hair color, add glasses, and select one of several outfits. When finished, you’ll see your newly-minted emoji below the viewfinder in the Camera app.

Now that you’ve successfully created an AR Emoji, how do you use it? In the Samsung messaging app, tap the Sticker button. Your phone will have already used your AR Emoji to create GIFs expressing a variety of emotions — simply tap one to place it in a text.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

You can also go into the Camera app and tap the AR Emoji, then create pictures or videos. The emoji should mimic any facial expressions you make while facing your camera. If you find the cartoon version of yourself a bit too uncanny, you can always opt for one of several cartoon characters that Samsung includes by default.

The company also announced that it is partnering with Disney to create AR Emoji versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and various characters from The Incredibles. Now, let’s just hope Samsung brings beloved characters from the Marvel cinematic universe into the fold at some point.

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

DIRECTV NOW is offering new customers 3 months of service for just $30

New customers can score a sweet deal.

DIRECTV NOW is no stranger to offering promotions, but most of the time they involve prepaying for the service and getting some streaming hardware for free. If you aren’t looking to pick up a new streaming stick but want to check out the service, this is the deal for you.

Right now the company is offering 3 months of service for $30, which breaks down to just $10 a month. Normally, the base plan costs $35 a month, but when you enter coupon code YESNOW3 during checkout you can save $25 a month for the first three months.

It’s important to note that after the first three months, DIRECTV NOW will bill you the full $35 plan cost for each month that you continue the service. Getting signed up for the service is extremely easy, and should only take a few minutes of your time. If you decide that it doesn’t meet your needs or you just don’t want to continue the service, it’s super simple to cancel your account as well.

Don’t forget that DIRECTV NOW is also offering a free Amazon Fire TV 4K when you prepay for one month of service or a free Apple TV 4K when you prepay for 3 months of service.

See at DIRECTV NOW