Hubble space telescope spots the farthest known star

Astronomers have spotted numerous extremely distant galaxies, but spotting individual stars is understandably much more difficult unless they go supernova. Sometimes, though, cosmic alignment works in their favor. Researchers using Hubble space telescope data have spotted Icarus (aka MACS J1149+2223 Lensed Star 1), a blue supergiant whose light was emitted when it was 9 billion light years away from Earth — over 100 times farther than the previous record-setter. They captured the star thanks to a rare, ideal gravitational lensing effect where the star’s light was magnified not only by the gravity of an in-between galaxy cluster 5 billion light years from Earth, but by a star inside that cluster. All told, the lensing magnified Icarus 2,000 times.

Observers had been keeping close watch on the cluster since 2014, when they’d detected a supernova that turned out to be present in a galaxy 9 billion light years away. They realized Icarus was present in April 2016, when a point of light near the supernova seemed to change brightness.

Don’t get too attached to this new discovery. With this kind of distance, Icarus has long-since turned into a neutron star or black hole. The findings are still advancing science in ways you might not expect, however. As the Guardian noted, the Icarus study ruled out a theory that dark matter consists of black holes. If that had been the case, they would have brightened Icarus even more. And if nothing else, this proves that humanity can detect more than just the largest and brightest celestial objects at these kinds of distances.

Via: Guardian, Syfy

Source: Nature

EPA wants to roll back Obama-era auto efficiency guidelines

Under the Obama administration, the EPA instituted a set of goals for automakers aimed at improving vehicle efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The terms state that companies have until 2025 to get their fuel efficiencies up to a fleet average of 51.4 miles per gallon. But automakers have been asking Donald Trump to change those regulations ever since he took office and now it looks like the EPA will attempt to relax those standards.

In early 2017, companies including Ford, GM, Honda, VW and others sent the president a letter asking him to reconsider the guidelines put in place by the previous administration. And in October, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers made those same requests to both the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The companies claim that the current standards underestimate the costs associated with such goals and overestimate how effective conventional technologies will be in achieving them.

As Bloomberg reports, the Trump administration has now announced that it will begin the process of rolling back the standards that are currently in place. “The Obama EPA’s determination was wrong,” EPA head Scott Pruitt said in a statement. “Obama’s EPA cut the midterm evaluation process short with politically charged expediency, made assumptions about the standards that didn’t comport with reality and set the standards too high.” The EPA and the NHTSA will now work together on developing a new set of standards.

Additionally, though California currently has a waiver that allows it to set its own vehicle efficiency standards, the EPA said today that it’s currently reexamining the issuing of that waiver. “Cooperative federalism doesn’t mean that one state can dictate standards for the rest of the country,” said Pruitt. “EPA will set a national standard for greenhouse gas emissions that allows auto manufacturers to make cars that people both want and can afford — while still expanding environmental and safety benefits of newer cars. It is in America’s best interest to have a national standard, and we look forward to partnering with all states, including California, as we work to finalize that standard.”

California’s standards are followed by 12 other states and Senator Dianne Feinstein said last week, “California has its own authority under the Clean Air Act to fight pollution. I fully support California, the largest auto market in the country, to use that authority to retain the achievements being made that will likely result in fuel efficiency of more than 50 mpg by 2025.”

This is the latest decision from the Trump administration that deemphasizes environmental protection. So far, it has rolled back Obama-era climate change policies, withdrawn the US from the Paris climate change agreement and removed climate change from the national security strategy. In a statement today, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said, “Pruitt’s decision to side with Ford and the Auto Alliance rather than the overwhelming majority of Americans who want these clean car standards should come as no surprise as this is an administrator who focuses solely on what’s best for corporate polluters, not the public.”

Via: Bloomberg

Source: EPA

Pizza Hut’s ‘smart’ shoes turn you into a fashionable couch potato

When it comes to fast-food PR stunts, Pizza Hut doesn’t hold back. Seriously, this is the company that’s made a jacket that keeps you as warm as, well, a pizza. The ridiculous garment came with the same insulating materials as those used in Pizza Hut’s delivery pouches, including an inner pocket where you can fit a naked slice to take on the go, because why not. But, as mind-boggling as the parka is, Pizza Hut’s best stunt might be the Pie Tops II, a pair of sneakers that let you order a pie and control your DVR right from the tongues.

As was the case with the original Pie Tops from last year, Pizza Hut designed these in collaboration with The Shoe Surgeon, a renowned sneaker customizer. The goal isn’t to sell these to the masses — only around 50 pairs total made. Instead, the Pie Tops II exist solely to promote Pizza Hut’s sponsorship of the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament which ends with men’s final game between Michigan and Villanova.

Those details are important (I guess), but you came here to find out about ordering an actual pizza with the shoes. The first thing I had to do was create a Pizza Hut account because I live in New York City and, well, why would you eat Pizza Hut if you lived here? After that, I downloaded the Pie Tops app from the iOS app store, which is separate from Pizza Hut’s main app. Then I had pair the Pie Tops II to my phone over bluetooth by pressing the button on the right tongue and I was good to go.

Once you’ve paired the sneakers to your phone, the app asks you to select what type of pizza you want to order every time you hit the button on the Pie Tops II. By default, you can choose two mediums for $6. For the sake of this demo, I picked a hand-tossed pepperoni and a thin crust veggies lover. One thing to keep in mind is that, in order for the shoe-ordering magic to work seamlessly, you have to make sure your credit card info is saved on your Pizza Hut account.

You can also adjust how you want to order your pizza: The options are to hit the button on your right shoe once, twice or press and hold. No need to be extra safe, since you have to confirm the order on the app before the store starts making it. All in all, the Pie Tops II are pretty much the laziest way to order pizza.

One of the new things with the Pie Tops II compared to the first model, aside from the sleeker design, is that you now have the ability to control your DVR. Pizza Hut added an IR blaster on the left shoe’s tongue, which you can pair to a supported set-top box by simply pointing the Pie Tops II at them and pressing a button on them. That said, this only works with certain devices from Dish, DirecTV, FiOS, Spectrum and Xfinity. And, right now, all you can do is pause whatever you’re watching and nothing else beyond that. Maybe with the Pie Tops III, Pizza Hut will let us fast-forward or rewind, as well.

The Pie Tops II aren’t meant to compete with the Nike’s and Adidas’ of the world. They’re here to be weird and grab people’s attention, and clearly Pizza Hut succeeded. Personally I’m pleasantly surprised (and glad), the Pie Tops II actually look good and don’t feel cheap. I still remember that time I got the originals and some paint came off as soon as I touched them. I kid you not.

Microsoft now offers public courses for building AI skills

Microsoft has added an AI track to its Professional Program courses. The track is open to the public and is comprised of nine online courses — each of which take eight to 16 hours to complete — as well as a final project. “The program provides job-ready skills and real-world experience to engineers and others who are looking to improve their skills in AI and data science through a series of online courses that feature hands-on labs and expert instructors,” the company said in a statement.

The track features courses focused on AI ethics, how to conduct a data study and building different learning models. Enrollees have three months to complete each separate course and each are offered four times per year. The final project course is six weeks long and is also offered four times per year. Once the full track is completed, students will receive a digital certificate. However, to get credit for each course, enrollees have to purchase Verified Certificates from edX.org, which hosts the program.

With so many companies focused on AI, providing ways for people to build their AI skills is useful to both those looking to work in the tech industry and companies who will need to recruit more AI experts as their development efforts expand. “AI is increasingly important in how our products and services are designed and delivered and that is true for our customers as well,” said Susan Dumais, assistant director of Microsoft Research AI, in a statement. “Fundamentally, we are all interested in developing talent that is able to build, understand and design systems that have AI as a central component.”

You can learn more about the program here.

Source: Microsoft

New York approves surcharge for Uber and Lyft rides in Manhattan

As part of the budget that New York lawmakers passed last Friday, ride-hailing services and taxis face a new fee if they drive in Manhattan. These aren’t nickel-and-dime increases, either: Uber, Lyft and the like face a $2.75 charge for each ride, taxis get a $2.50 increase and group ride services like Via and uberPOOL will be charged $0.75 per customer. It’s meant to combat congestion and help fund subway repair and improvements, providing an expected $400 million per year going forward for the MTA.

Unsurprisingly, it’s already catching flak from customers and from taxi drivers, who have become far outnumbered by ride-sharing cars in the last several years. Of the 103,000 vehicles for hire in NYC, 65,000 are driven by Uber contractors alone, while taxis remain capped by law at 13,600, The New York Times reported. As a result, average traffic in Manhattan has slowed from 6.5 miles per hour to 4.7.

“It’ll hurt our business. People won’t want to pay more money, and that’s what’s going to happen,” taxi driver David Heller told NY1. “There’s 130,000 Ubers, ok? They created the congestion, ok? Get rid of them.”

Other cities have enacted their own surcharges for ride-hailing services in recent years, but they are far lower than those New York just passed. Seattle instated a $0.24 charge for each trip in 2014, Portland, OR agreed to levy a $0.50 fee per customer in 2016, both of which funnel money collected toward regulating ride-sharing services. Chicago passed one in 2014 that will reach $0.65 this year and directs part of the funds raised toward public transit, much like New York’s will.

When reached for comment, both Lyft and Uber supported the surcharge but pushed for a broader fee plan affecting all vehicles: “Congestion will not be fully addressed until the Governor and Legislature enact a comprehensive plan that also addresses all commercial vehicles and the real issue driving congestion: personal vehicles,” a Lyft spokesperson told Engadget over email.

“Uber supports the agreement between the Governor and the Legislature to target a per-trip fee on Manhattan riders where there is convenient access to public transit, and to adopt a first-in-the-nation tax discount on shared trips. We will continue to advocate for the adoption of a comprehensive congestion pricing plan that is applied to all vehicles because it is the best way to fully fund mass transit and reduce traffic in the central business district,” read an Uber statement the company emailed to Engadget.

Source: New York 1

Apple Plans to Ditch Intel and Use Custom Mac Chips Starting in 2020

Apple is planning to transition from Intel chips to its own custom made Mac chips as early as 2020, reports Bloomberg.

Apple’s initiative, reportedly code named “Kalamata,” is part of an effort to make Macs, iPhones, and iPads work “more similarly and seamlessly together” according to unspecified sources that spoke to Bloomberg. Apple already designs its own A-series chips found in iPhones and iPads.

The Mac chip plans are said to be in the early stages of development and the transition from Intel chips to Apple chips could involve multiple steps, starting with the “Marzipan” initiative coming in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14 to allow developers to create a single app able to run on both iOS and macOS.

With its own chips, Apple would not be forced to wait on new Intel chips before being able to release updated Macs, and the company could integrate new features on a faster schedule.

The shift would also allow Cupertino, California-based Apple to more quickly bring new features to all of its products and differentiate them from the competition. Using its own main chips would make Apple the only major PC maker to use its own processors. Dell Technologies Inc., HP Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., and Asustek Computer Inc. use Intel chips.

By using its own chips, Apple would be able to more tightly integrate new hardware and software, potentially resulting in systems with better battery life — similar to iPads, which use Apple chips.

Apple has already begun using custom designed T1 and T2 chips in its MacBook Pro and iMac Pro machines, and the company is said to be planning to integrate additional custom co-processors in Macs coming later this year. The custom chips will also be used in the upcoming Mac Pro, which is in development.

The T1 chip, included in the MacBook Pro, powers the Touch Bar and authenticates Touch ID. The T2 chip, in the iMac Pro integrates several components including the system management controller, image signal processor, SSD controller, and a Secure Enclave with a hardware-based encryption engine.

Previous rumors have suggested Apple is interested in creating its own ARM-based core processor chips for its Mac lineup in order to reduce its dependence on Intel. Apple is also rumored to be pursuing development of its own modem chips to also reduce reliance on both Intel and Qualcomm.

A move away from Intel would have a major impact on Intel, with Apple providing approximately five percent of Intel’s annual revenue. Intel stock has already dropped following the news.

Related Roundups: Mac Pro, MacBook ProTag: bloomberg.comBuyer’s Guide: Mac Pro (Caution), MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Instagram Eliminates Apple Watch App

Instagram today became the latest company to ditch the Apple Watch, eliminating its Apple Watch app in an update that was released this morning.

In a statement given to French site iPhoneAddict, Instagram said the Instagram Apple Watch app was built using the watchOS 1 SDK, which was obsoleted by Apple on April 1. Rather than putting effort into rebuilding the app, Instagram has decided to end support for the wrist-worn device.

“The Instagram app for Apple Watch will no longer be available as a stand-alone experience once users upgrade to Instagram version 39 on iOS, released April 2, 2018. We are committed to providing users with the best experience with their Apple products and we will continue to explore ways to achieve this on all platforms. Users with an Apple Watch will continue to enjoy a great Instagram experience through various rich and varied notifications. “

Apple last year began notifying developers that Apple Watch apps need to be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later as of April 1, 2018. Apple first began requiring new apps to use the watchOS 2 SDK in June of 2016, and watchOS apps that continue to use the watchOS 1 SDK can no longer be updated. Apple now requires all new watchOS apps to be built using the watchOS 4 SDK.

Instagram has had a watchOS app available since 2015, and it was one of the first companies to support the Apple Watch when it first launched. The app was designed to let you view and like photos from the social network on your wrist. Instagram features will continue to be available on Apple Watch, but through notifications sent to a linked iPhone.

Instagram joins several other major companies that have abandoned development for the Apple Watch and eliminated their watchOS apps, including Twitter, Google Maps, Amazon, and eBay.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tag: InstagramBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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DirecTV Now Extends Apple TV 4K Deal with 3-Months Prepaid Service Through April

Over the past few months, DirecTV Now have been offering a great deal for anyone interested in the Apple TV 4K. The offer stipulates that when new subscribers prepay for three months of DirecTV Now at $105, they can get a 32GB Apple TV 4K at no additional cost. It was believed that the company would remove the deal at the end of March — or revert back to the original offer to prepay for four months at $140 — but now that a new month has rolled around it appears that the offer should be available through the end of April.

DirecTV Now introduced this new, lower-cost offer back in February and it has remained the best sale price for a brand-new 32GB Apple TV 4K since then. Although eBay and retailers like Adorama and B&H Photo sometimes have sales, the 32GB Apple TV 4K’s normal price is $180 on Apple.com.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with DirecTV Now. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The offer’s $105 price tag calculates the cost of three months of DirecTV Now’s “Live a Little” $35/month plan, which includes around 60+ live channels. On the Apple TV app, users can stream live TV and watch on-demand shows, and sometime this spring they’ll be able to record content to DirecTV Now’s long-promised cloud-based DVR.

To take advantage of the sale, follow these steps:

• Visit DirecTVNow.com’s landing page for the deal
• Click “Redeem & Stream”
• Select the “Live a Little” package to get the Apple TV at the lowest possible price
• Choose if you want to add premium channel add-ons, or click “Skip for now”
• Click “Add to plan” under the Apple TV 4K box in the Special offer section
• Click “Continue” and go through the account creation and checkout processes

It’s important to note that the deal is for new subscribers only, but existing subscribers can claim it by using an alternative email address from their original account, or by setting up an iCloud email alias. Once ordered, the Apple TV 4K arrives in the mail within a few weeks, and those who don’t want to continue paying for DirecTV Now beyond the three months offered in this deal can cancel the service before the fourth month is billed and keep the Apple TV 4K.

For more on the latest discounts and savings happening this spring, visit our Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple DealsTags: AT&T, DirecTV Now
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Mophie powerstation AC review

Chances are very good that just about any time you peer into my messenger bag you’ll find 2-3 portable devices. Be a phone, laptop, headphones, or any imaginable combination of gear, there’s going to be tech with batteries. And that means a lot of potential charging.

Mophie, a key player in the mobile charging space, introduced a product back in January which aims to provide and all-in-one solution. Dubbed the powerstation AC, it’s a brick of a unit with enough power and versatility to take on all comers.

We were sent a review unit of the powerstation AC just a couple of days ahead of CES earlier this year. Suffice it to say we were excited to throw it in our bag. It had all the markings of the type of product we wanted and needed for three days of continuous on-the-go work.

With 22,000mAh worth of power, it was good enough to power everything. Seriously. A laptop, a tablet, wearables, phones, or anything else. Whatever it was that needed a charge up, this was here to help.

Right off the bat we loved the 100W (110V) wall port; it was like taking the hotel outlet with us. Who doesn’t appreciate having a full-on AC outlet (and plenty of juice) with them?

It’s the perfect unit for helping someone out in a pinch, regardless of whether they had the right cable. In addition to the AC outlet, we also get a USB-A 2.4A Quick Charge port and USB-C PD 30W Fast Charge port. That’s the trusty old standby that works with all USB cables as well as the new standard in Type-C. Not only that, but both were rapid charging, too.

As is the case with other mophie batteries, the powerstation AC comes with an LED power indicator. A quick tap of the button tells us, within 25%, how much charging is left.  A long press of the button switches the USB Type-C to power input so you can refill the battery from a computer.

Approximate battery life

• Smartphone: 100 hours
• Large tablet: 21 hours
• Laptop: 15 hours
• DSLR camera: 8 hours

The Priority+ Charging tech means that you can recharge the battery and your other devices at the same time. At CES we would charge up the mophie and our Pixelbook and phone all at once. It was really refreshing to wake up to all devices ready to roll.

When it comes to rechargeable batteries of this type, it’s easy to cut corners in the area of design. It’s not uncommon to see bulky bricks with simple, utilitarian looks to them. That’s not the case here as mophie uses its signature black (think of charcoal) fabric. It’s not only visually appealing, but it also grips nicely, too.

As a outlet that gets to review battery packs and portable power stations we sometimes find a few of them lying around the home or office. When it comes time to spend a few days away, or if we know we’ll be out for extended hours and plan on heavy device usage, we grab a power supply on the way out the door. Time and again we’ve found ourselves reaching for the mophie powerstation AC.

We’ve seen other products in this space with more ports, more precise readouts, and somewhat smaller footprints. While we definitely appreciate those, the mophie employs the Keep It Simple, Stupid approach. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a little snazzier than the competition. Mophie’s option is also about $50 cheaper, which could make the difference for a lot of buyers. Oh, and you also get a two year warranty where most companies only stand behind their products for one year.

Availability

You can purchase the mophie powerstation AC directly from mophie’s website for $199.95. Additionally, you’ll also find it at Amazon where it’s currently offered for as low as $124.70.

The best 3D printers you can buy for under $1,000 right now

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Let’s face it: while we may say we put more emphasis on value over price, most of us will look at the price first anyway. That’s no different with 3D printers, although up until recently the idea of “cheap” in this market was still well north of $1,000 – likely not your definition of “cheap.” Thankfully, things have changed.

Budget-friendly models such as the Monoprice Maker Select Mini v2 and the M3D Micro have ushered in a new era of 3D printing which nearly everyone can afford with a little savings. These new low cost 3D printers have also put downward pressure on higher end models, so we’re even seeing some high end printers drop down closer to $1,000 too. Our point? 3D printers are no longer strictly reserved for hardcore makers and hobbyists.

Budget-based 3D printers aren’t without setbacks, though. Even the best of them can be loud and prone to the occasional software bug, or require expensive filament and procure high maintenance costs no amateur hobbyist should have to contend with. That said, there’s never been a better time than now if you’re just looking to try your hand at 3D printing, even if you will want something more capable down the line. And trust us, once you get started – you eventually will.

Our pick

Monoprice Maker Select Plus

Why should you buy this: It has all the important features you need in a filament-based 3D printer, and it sells for well under $500

Monoprice Maker Select Plus

Monoprice’s Maker Select Plus boasts a large build area, heated bed, and a wide range of material options — all for just 400

$399.99 from Monoprice

$199.99 from Monoprice.com

Who’s it for: Anybody looking for a reasonably-priced printer that has all the crucial features

How much will it cost: $399

Why we picked the Monoprice Maker Select Plus:

It’s really difficult to find a sub $1,000 printer that has a large build area, a heated bed, a stable frame, a touchscreen, and an extruder that can handle lots of different materials. Until recently, it was damn near impossible, honestly. Therefore, if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, Monoprice’s Maker Select Plus is the way to go.

Most printers in this price range have build areas that are no larger than 6 inches in length/width/height — but the MSP boasts a build envelope that’s 7.9″ x 7.9″ x 7.1″, which is pretty damn spacious for a printer this cheap. This means that not only can you print bigger parts — you can also fit more small parts on the build plate, which cuts down on production times.

This build plate is also heated, which helps prevents the extruded filament from cooling, contracting, and warping the shape of your printed object. This feature is crucial (especially if you’re printing with ABS), drastically reduces your chances of getting a misprint, and eliminates the need to print with a raft, which uses up additional filament.

The best for kids

M3D Micro

Why should you buy this: It’s outrageously simple to use, and offers a good introduction to 3D printing

Our Score

M3D Micro

While the printing process is slow, the Micro provides an excellent introduction to the world of 3D printing

$344.86 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Anyone who’s new, inexperienced, and curious about 3D printing

How much will it cost: $315

Why we picked the M3D Micro:

The M3D Micro has been out for a few years now, and its price has dropped down as the company shifts its focus onto newer products, like its newly-released M3D Pro. But at the price it is now, this 3D printer is perfect for the youngest creators among us, especially those we might not exactly trust with expensive hardware.

While you won’t be able to print large 3D projects with this little guy, and it’s definitely not setting any land speed records for printing, it’s more than sufficient for the budding 3D printing enthusiast. As an added bonus, the software is extremely easy to learn as well, so you won’t have much trouble preparing and printing simple projects with this machine.

The Micro touts resolution ranging between 50 and 350 microns, with the ability to print objects up 4.6 inches in height and work with either 1.75-millimeter PLA or ABS filament. The lack of a heated print bed makes printing with the latter difficult, but resulting PLA prints are still impressive given the cost. Just understand you’ll have to wait a bit for those prints to complete.

Our full review

The best for buyers on a budget

Monoprice Mini Delta

Why should you buy this: It’s obscenely cheap, but still has a number of high-end features

Our Score

Monoprice Mini Delta

Don’t let the price tag fool you – the Monoprice Mini Delta can stand toe-to-toe with some machines that cost 10x as much

$160.00 from Monoprice

Who’s it for: Budget-minded buyers who still want high-end features, and don’t mind a small build envelope.

How much will it cost: $160

Why we picked the Monoprice Mini Delta:

Let’s just put it out there – the price of the Maker Select Mini V2 is pretty crazy considering what the average 3D printer costs. Of course, the old adage “you get what you pay for” applies here, but in our tests we were actually surprised at what this little beast can do. It comes loaded with a heated bed (which the M3D Micro does not), an adjustable temperature hot end, WiFi connectivity, and even a full color LCD screen to navigate the printer’s settings.

These features are something you’d find on printers that are much closer to that $1,000 price point, which seems to split the consumer grade from the prosumer grade when it comes to 3D printing. While its build area isn’t a whole lot larger than the M3D Micro, we’re going to safely assume those most attracted to the Mini Delta aren’t really looking to build huge projects.

If you don’t mind a little bit of post-print cleanup, the Mini Delta preforms admirably in nearly all aspects of printing. Its heated bed does an excellent job of mitigating warping, it has good (but not great) dimensional accuracy, and prints unsupported spans/overhangs just as well as printers that cost 20 times as much. By all the measures that count, this pint-sized printer definitely punches above its weight.

Our full review

The best build-it-yourself 3D printer kit

Prusa i3 MK2

Why you should buy it: It’s a great printer for less than $700 — if you don’t mind building it yourself

The best build-it-yourself 3D Printer

Prusa i3 MK2 3D Printer

The Prusa i3 MK2 is an excellent printer kit that comes with a gigantic user community to fall back on if you run into trouble building.

$699.00 from Prusa

Who it’s for: Tech-savvy DIY types looking to save some money by assembling the printer themselves

What you’ll pay for it: $700 or less

Why we picked the Prusa i3 MK2:

There are a lot of 3D printer kits out there, but none are as tried-and-true as the Prusa i3 MK2. Born out of the open-source RepRap project, the printer’s design was developed over years and years of testing, tuning, and perfecting from thousands of different 3D printing enthusiasts — so it’s a pretty solid little machine.

In terms of standout specs and features, this guy boasts a spacious 9.84″ by 8.3″ by 8″ build envelope, a variable temp hot end that can handle a huge range of materials, and some awesome bed-leveling software that compensates for skewed axes. Basically, this means that even if you screw up the build somehow and it’s not perfectly aligned, it’ll still print reliably for you.

The Prusa i3’s biggest asset, however, is its massive user base. Because this has long been one of the most popular RepRap builds, there are more people using the i3 than nearly any other 3D printer — so if you ever run into a problem or need to ask a question, you’re practically guaranteed to find a solution on the i3’s many user forums.

The best dual extruder

XYZprinting da Vinci 2.0 Duo

Why should you buy this: It’s the only dual extruder under $1,000

XYZ da Vinci 2.0 Duo

This is the only dual-extruder 3D printer that you can get for under $1,000, and luckily it’s pretty decent

$449.99 from Amazon.com

Who’s it for: Those looking to do more complex prints in less time, and not break the bank

How much will it cost: $550

Why we picked the XYZprinting da Vinci 2.0 Duo:

You might be asking, “what in the world is a dual extruder, and why would I want it?” Well, with a dual extruder, you can use two types of filament at the same time, meaning more complex prints are possible without the need to change the filament halfway through. This speeds up the printing process for these types of projects considerably, and at a price of $550 for the base model, is the only one we’ve seen that can do it for less than $1,000.

This printer also features cloud storage, so the design files are stored remotely without the need for you to worry about where your files are, or worse yet misplacing them. It also applies firmware upgrades on it own, and automatic maintenance features like print bed detection and automatic nozzle cleaning.

Now there are some downsides to the da Vinci 2.0 Duo that we feel are important to point out. One is the fact that the filaments are proprietary, something the first generation da Vinci was knocked for, and its sheer mass. This sucker weighs 65 pounds, so don’t buy this particular 3D printer if you’re looking for any kind of portability.

How we test

To test if the printer lives up to its claimed specifications, we run it through our own unique testing protocol. This consists of a number of different tests, each designed to quantify and approximate the printer’s performance from a different angle. To start out, we print a simple shape: a 1 × 1 × 1 centimeter cube. We do this twice, once at the lowest speed/highest resolution setting, and another time at the highest speed/lowest resolution. This gives us a good idea of how quickly the printer prints, in cubic centimeters per minute.

Next we print something amore complex — the jolly little 3D printing torture test known as 3DBenchy — a tugboat-shaped torture test that helps us tease out all the printer’s strengths and weaknesses. The tugboat has low-slope surfaces, overhangs, unsupported spans, fine details, and a bunch of other things that 3D printers often struggle with. If the printer isn’t good at something, this shape will highlight it. When it’s done, we break it off the build plate and snap a few high-res pictures of it, so you can see for yourself how the print turned out. We also measure certain parts of the print with a micrometer to see how accurate the physical model is in comparison to the digital one.

But of course, speed and accuracy aren’t everything. After we’re done printing stuff, we also assess the machine’s relative level of repairability and upgradability. Can it easily be taken apart and tinkered with if something goes wrong? Can you upgrade the printer’s components when newer, better ones become available? Will it be obsolete in a few years? We get under the hood and figure everything out for you.

Helpful terms to know

FDM: This means Filament Deposition Modeling. Also known as FFF or fused filament fabrication. It’s the most common style of 3D printing, and works by melting a thermoplastic filament, squirting it through a nozzle, and then depositing it layer by layer to form an object.

SLA: It is shorthand for ‘stereolithography.’ It’s a style of 3D printing that uses a laser projection system to “grow” objects out of a pool of UV curable resin.

Hot end: The heated nozzle that plastic filament is extruded through in a FDM printer.

Heated bed: This refers to a build plate that is heated, which prevents the first few layers of extruded plastic from cooling and warping. If your project warps, it often leads to misprints.

ABS: Short for Acylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. An oil-based plastic that’s commonly used as 3D printing filament. It’s a strong, sturdy material that’s commonly used for constructing things such as plastic car parts, musical instruments, and the ever-popular Lego building blocks. ABS has a high melting point, and can experience warping if cooled while printing. Because of this, ABS objects must be printed on a heated surface, which is something many at-home printers do not have.

PLA: Poly Lactic Acid is made from organic material — specifically corn starch and sugarcane. This makes the material easier and safer to use, while giving it a smoother and shinier appearance that’s more aesthetically pleasing. However, while PLA might seem like a better overall choice at first glance, it features a far lower melting point than ABS. This means that using PLA printed parts for mechanical operations, or even storing them in high-temperature locations, can result in the part warping, cracking, or melting.

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