Tesla batteries will live longer than expected, survey finds

Tesla batteries retain over 90 percent of their charging power after 160,000 miles, according to data gathered by a Dutch-Belgium Tesla owners group. According to its survey of over 350 owners, the EVs dropped about 5 percent of their capacity after 50,000 miles, but lose it at a much slower rate after that. If the trend holds, most Tesla vehicles will still have 90 percent capacity after around 300,000 km (185,000 miles), and 80 percent capacity after a whopping 800,000 km (500,000 miles).

Tesla has no battery degradation warranty on its Model S and X luxury EVs, but guarantees that the Model 3 will retain 70 percent battery capacity after 120,000 miles (long-range battery) and 100,000 miles (shorter-range battery). That’s a bit more generous than the one Nissan offers on the Leaf (66 percent over 100,000 miles) for instance. According to the survey data, Tesla will easily be able to meet this mark.

Lost battery capacity over time is one of the biggest concerns for EV buyers, so this new data, based on real-world usage, should be reassuring. There are some outlier EVs that lost capacity more quickly than others, for reasons that aren’t clear, though. As such, while the data looks promising, it might be best to reserve judgement pending larger scale surveys with higher-mileage EVs.

Via: Electrek

Source: Tesla Motors club

Sony announces Xperia XZ2 Premium with 5.8-inch 4K HDR display, dual cameras, spec bumps

Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact

The new high-end model forms a triumvirate trying to save Sony’s smartphone business in 2018.

We’re over a month removed from the announcement of the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact, which have just gone on sale in the U.S., but Sony has a third member of the lineup to launch now: the Xperia XZ2 Premium. The XZ2 Premium is mostly the same as the standard XZ2, aside from a handful of notable internal changes: the display is 4K resolution, HDR capable and moderately larger at 5.8 inches; and it has dual cameras on the back with a new sensor that has the highest ISO sensitivity of any mobile camera.

Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact specs

Sony’s latest 4K HDR smartphone display tech is 30% brighter than the last version, which is a welcomed addition, though the situation of finding native 4K HDR content to play on your phone hasn’t really improved. Of course you can shoot your own with the XZ2 Premium, and the software can up-scale other content, but how much better it looks and how great it is to warrant the battery hit of playing it back is still questionable.

Sony keeps improving its camera setup, but still won’t add OIS.

The pair of cameras consists of a standard color sensor and a separate black-and-white sensor, which Sony says are both used to collect data and process into a single image. You can of course shoot with just the black-and-white sensor for striking greyscale shots, or use both cameras at once for an enhanced bokeh depth-of-field effect like so many other cameras offer today. Sony is also touting some pretty crazy ISO ratings for this camera pair, with up to ISO12800 for video and a bonkers ISO51200 for photos.

Now from Sony’s announcement it isn’t clear how it’s deriving this number … because it references using both cameras for real-time processing to achieve them, I’m skeptical as to whether each sensor is capable of that high ISO rating or it’s the combination of the pair that do it. In either case, mobile camera sensors typically struggle at any sort of high ISO rating, and being that sensitive should improve low-light performance — and it better, because per Sony’s release this phone still doesn’t have OIS.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact review: The new standard for small

A nice set of spec bumps, but that also comes with a jump in price.

Sony’s continuing the camera story with a different front-facing camera, a new 13MP (1/3.06″ in size) sensor that promises better low-light shots than the 5MP unit on the other models. The slightly larger device also has a bump in battery capacity to 3540mAh, up over the XZ2’s 3180mAh — we don’t yet know what, if any, increased thickness is involved with that. It also has 6GB of RAM, which is expected on this expensive of a phone but not present on the regular XZ2.

The XZ2 Premium will come in just two colors, Chrome Black and Chrome Silver, which are both exclusive to the top-end model. Unfortunately at the time of writing, Sony hasn’t even revealed photos of the XZ2 Premium.

You may be asking why Sony chose to wait this long to announce the third member of the XZ2 lineup, and it seems the answer is that it’s not ready to ship. Sony is giving a loose launch time frame of “summer 2018,” and isn’t providing a price. The phone’s predecessor, the XZ Premium, launched in late June last year for $799 … though this year that’s the price of the regular XZ2. We can expect the XZ2 Premium to reach or exceed $899, which is a whole lot to ask for relatively minimal upgrades over the standard XZ2.

Press release:

Sony’s New Xperia XZ2 Premium takes a bold step forward with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera, 4K HDR display and movie recording

• World’s highest ISO sensitivity video recording in a smartphone, 12800 for video and 51200 for photos with bright live view-finder
• 4K HDR display and the world’s first 4K HDR movie recording so you can capture stunning 4K HDR movies and play them back directly in the palm of your hand

San Mateo, California, April 16, 2018 – Sony Mobile continues to push the boundaries of innovation with the new Xperia XZ2 Premium, featuring one of the most remarkable cameras ever made in a smartphone. Xperia XZ2 Premium boasts the world’s highest ISO 12800 sensitivity for video recording in a smartphone, as well as ultra-high sensitivity 51200 for photos, enabling ultra- low-light capture previously only seen in interchangeable lens cameras. The advanced camera technology on Xperia XZ2 Premium is thanks to the new dual sensor system in the Motion Eye Dual camera and AUBE fusion image signal processor that captures more than the human eye can see. With XZ2 Premium, you can also film like a pro using 4K HDR Movie recording and play it back in the palm of your hand on the 4K HDR display, showcasing your favorite moments in crystal-clear detail and eye-popping color and contrast. It’s the only smartphone to bring you true professional camera quality plus a premium entertainment experience, all powered by the ultimate in processing power with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon 845.

Unprecedented camera capabilities

Xperia XZ2 Premium is the first-ever smartphone to feature the new Motion Eye Dual camera, consisting of a black-and-white sensor for capturing clear contrast and the color image sensor for accurate color. Details from both sensors are then processed by the AUBE fusion image signal processor in real time, enabling video recording with the highest ISO12800 sensitivity ever in a smartphone (as well as an ultra sensitive ISO51200 for photos). The camera’s ultra sensitivity with clean, noiseless images was previously only possible with interchangeable lens cameras. With this new addition to the flagship family, Xperia brings this highly advanced technology to the palm of your hand.
With the Motion Eye Dual camera you can also express your artistic side. Select Bokeh and see your subject stand out from a defocused background, and take timeless photos in monochrome with a smooth gradation between black and white. The camera’s low-light capability – as well as its artistic effects – are available for viewing with the live view-finder for an accurate representation of your subject.
The Motion Eye Dual camera also features more professional features, such as 4K HDR Movie recording, so you can capture reality in incredible detail and true- to-life color. Plus, you can record 960fps Super slow motion in HD or Full HD to make highly dramatic videos. Xperia XZ2 Premium also offers one of the best front-facing cameras on a smartphone with its 13MP, 1/3.06″ low-light sensor and display flash – for outstanding selfies in any light.

Immersive viewing

Xperia XZ2 Premium has the ultimate display with a huge 5.8″ 4K HDR (that’s 11% larger and 30% brighter than our previous 4K HDR display), so you can immerse yourself in your favorite movies and content in crystal-clear detail and eye-popping color. Thanks to this display you can enjoy your own 4K HDR content (since this is the only smartphone capable of both creating and viewing 4K HDR). Plus, whether you’re watching a blockbuster or a video on YouTube, Xperia XZ2 Premium uses Sony’s BRAVIA® TV technology, X-Reality for mobile, to up- convert content to near High Dynamic Range (HDR) for more cinematic contrast, color, and clarity.

Not only can you see your movies with powerful realism, but you can even feel them thanks to Sony’s brand new Dynamic Vibration System that analyzes audio data and lets you feel the action in your hands, bringing your movies, games, and videos to life. Xperia XZ2 Premium creates a cinema-like audio quality when you’re sharing your favorite videos with your friends thanks to its powerful front-facing stereo speakers. Featuring S-Force Front Surround, they’re our loudest Xperia speakers ever. Sony’s audio expertise also enables sound enhancing technologies for Xperia, such Hi-res Audio, DSHEE HX, and LDAC.

Sophisticated design

Xperia XZ2 Premium’s cutting-edge technology is packed into a fluid and elegant design. It has a 3D glass surface that surrounds the exterior to create a seamless finish that’s comfortable to hold and easy to carry. With an exclusive glass and metal finish, this smartphone not only looks beautiful with a premium feel but is also designed to be durable thanks to Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on both sides. Xperia XZ2 Premium is IP65/IP68 certified to withstand splashes and spills. It will be available in two contemporary colors: Chrome Black and Chrome Silver.

Ultimate Performance to the Extreme

Enjoy industry-leading performance with the cutting-edge Qualcomm® Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with X20 LTE. You will get immersive user experiences at lightning-fast connection speeds (up to 1.2Gbps) with the second generation Gigabit LTE solution. XZ2 Premium has 6GB RAM for additional speed and efficiency.

Xperia XZ2 Premium is built to keep you going all day with its high-capacity 3540mAh battery and Xperia’s useful battery features, including Smart Stamina and STAMINA mode. Battery Care and Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology help the battery stay healthy to give you a longer battery lifespan. Qi charging is enabled to power up effortlessly and works with the new wireless charging dock (WCH20) and other compatible Qi chargers.

Availability

Xperia XZ2 Premium is available globally from Summer 2018 and will ship with Android 8.0 Oreo.

Sony’s dual camera Xperia XZ2 Premium takes ultra-low-light photos

Sony’s regular Xperia XZ2 is, to put it mildly, underwhelming — as capable as it is, there’s little to recommend it over its rivals. You can’t say that about the just-announced Xperia XZ2 Premium, though. The new handset preserves the 4K HDR visuals of its predecessor (this time on a 5.8-inch screen that’s 30 percent brighter), but the real centerpiece is the photography. Sony is hopping on the dual rear camera bandwagon with a focus on low light performance: it melds the input from a monochrome sensor (for contrast; 12MP, 1/2.3-inch, 1.55um) and a regular color sensor (19MP, 1/2.3-inch, 1.22um) to capture video at ISO 12,800 sensitivity, and photos at a whopping ISO 51,200. (Huawei’s P20 Pro is also claiming similarly crazy high-level ISO options in a forthcoming software update — we yet haven’t tested that either.) We’d be skeptical of Sony’s claim that the performance rivals pro cameras, but this might help you shoot with confidence in truly dark environments.

The dual cams also enable the obligatory portrait mode (here called Bokeh) with soft-focus backgrounds, and you can snap shots with just the monochrome sensor if you’re going for the classic look. Sony is also promising a better front camera — you’re now looking at a 13MP, 1/3.06-inch sensor that Sony says can take quality low-light selfies.

Most of the other features are carryovers from the standard XZ2, although that’s not entirely a bad thing. That means 4K HDR video recording (still a relative novelty), 960 FPS slow-motion video capture at 1080p, stereo speakers and a Dynamic Vibration System that promises more than the usual buzzes from haptic feedback. The Premium is still running a Snapdragon 845 processor, but there’s now 6GB of RAM (up from 4GB) to help with the extra performance demands.

When compared to the XZ Premium, we couldn’t help but notice that the XZ2 Premium comes in at a whopping 236g, which is a notable jump from its already-bulky predecessor’s 191g. You do get an extra 310 mAh worth of battery juice (not to mention the secondary rear camera), but that’s hardly a convincing justification for such a weight gain.

Sony ships the new handset “globally” in the summer. There’s no word on a US launch or pricing, although it’s bound to be expensive when the garden variety XZ2 goes for $800 in the US (£699 in the UK). With that in mind, this could be the XZ2 variant to get. Its camera implementation and 4K HDR display help it stand out at a time when differences between phones are becoming indistinguishable.

Source: Sony Mobile

How to set up and start using gestures in MIUI

Full-screen gestures will transform the way you use MIUI.

Xiaomi rolled out the MIUI 9.5 update last month, introducing a slate of new features, including support for gestures. The goal with gestures is to maximize screen real estate by eliminating the navigation bar at the bottom of the display, and offering an easier way to navigate the interface.

For instance, the default gesture to go back in an app or exit to the home screen is a swipe left or right from either edge of the screen. Gesture-based navigation isn’t new — but the current implementation is akin to what you get on the iPhone X. OnePlus also introduced similar gestures in OxygenOS a few months ago, so it looks like more and more manufacturers will be looking to go down this route.

Getting started with gestures definitely takes a few days, but if you’re interested in taking a look, here’s how you can start using gestures on MIUI. As stated previously, the feature made its debut in MIUI 9.5, so if you’re on an earlier build of the ROM, you won’t see it.

How to set up and start using gestures in MIUI

Open the Settings app from the app drawer or home screen.
Scroll down to the System & Device sub-category.

Tap Full screen display.

Select the Full screen gestures option.
You’ll see a dialog box with a tutorial for learning the gestures. Hit Learn.

The guide will highlight the actions possible with gestures. Tap Learn to initiate the tutorial.

Swipe from the bottom of the display to go to the home screen.
Swipe from the bottom and pause to show the multitasking pane.

Swipe right from the edge to go back

Swipe left from the right edge also lets you go back in an app.
Tap I’m done to end the tutorial.

You’ll find that the nav bar is no longer present. You’ll be able to demo the feature again from the same page if you need a refresher.

That’s all there is to it. It took me three days to get acclimated to the gesture-based navigation, but I haven’t looked back after making the switch. What are your thoughts on the new gestures feature in MIUI 9.5? Let me know in the comments.

Zillow will flip houses on its own internet marketplace

Zillow is no longer just a real estate marketplace that can help find your next home — the company has decided to become an active participant in the field. In an announcement today, Zillow has revealed that it’ll flip houses in Phoenix and Las Vegas starting this spring. The company has teamed up with local brokerages in those areas to offer sellers money for their homes. If they accept, Zillow will make repairs and then list those houses on its own marketplace as quickly as possible.

By choosing to buy and sell houses, Zillow is now officially an OpenDoor competitor. “We are genuinely excited, having invented this new category in 2014,” OpenDoor chief Eric Wu told TechCrunch, “and it’s invigorating to see a host of others in the industry recognize the importance of removing hassle and time from the transaction.”

It doesn’t sound like everybody’s happy that Zillow has launched a new business model, though. As TechCrunch noted, its shares fell 7 percent after the revelation, probably because flipping houses has a whole other list of risks a simple real estate marketplace won’t have to face. In fact, Zillow chief Spencer Rascoff has admitted that it’s taking on debt to fund its new venture.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Zillow

‘Terraria’ developer cancels the sandbox adventure’s sequel

Terraria made quite a splash when it launched in 2011, that its creators ended up releasing it on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Wii U and even on mobile platforms. The 2D sandbox action-adventure title was so warmly received that indie developer Re-Logic announced that it’s working on a sequel three years ago. Sadly, you’ll have to make do with the original game, because Re-Logic has decided to cancel Terraria: Otherworld’s development.

In an announcement post, Re-Logic explained that after a “very thorough status review of the game” with partner developer 505/Pipeworks, they realized that they’re much too far from the finish line than they thought. There’s still apparently a massive amount of work to be done, and finishing it would take too much time, enough to interfere with Re-Logic’s other projects. The developers decided not to even try, explaining that they’re not one to “compromise game quality for speed to market.”

Re-Logic said that one of the things it learned from the experience is that it shouldn’t have outsourced development for such a critical title. But if anything good came out of this is that the developer now has a ton of unreleased designs, artwork and sounds, as well as ideas that didn’t make it into a full game, which it plans to use for future titles. Don’t worry, though, the original Terraria isn’t going away, and version 1.3.6 of the game is still very much in development.

Source: Terraria

AI creates ‘Flintstones’ cartoons from text descriptions

It can a long time to animate cartoons — just ask the Rick and Morty team. But what if you could ask computers to do some of the lifting? They just might. Researchers have produced an AI system, Craft, that automatically produces The Flintstones scenes based on text descriptions. The team trained Craft to recognize elements from the classic cartoon by feeding it more than 25,000 three-second clips, each of which included descriptions of who was in the scene and what was happening. From there, the AI only needed a line or two referencing a scene to stitch together characters, backgrounds and props.

To call the current results crude would be an understatement. While the AI usually gets things right, it sometimes mangles the output. Also, The Flintstones is a relatively easy target. Hanna-Barbera’s signature animation style frequently involved limited animation on top of static backgrounds. This would be much harder with a more dynamic art style.

All the same, Craft hints at how AI could be used for animation going forward. A refined system with larger, more complex training samples could theoretically animate the routine parts of a cartoon, like back-and-forth conversations or walking through a room. Whether or not that’s a positive depends on who you ask. It could lead to job cuts and a drop in creativity, but it could alternately lead to animators focusing more on unique scenes or putting out more content. You might spend less time waiting for animated shows to return and more time enjoying them.

Via: Gizmodo, TNW

Source: ArXiv.org, Allen Institute for AI (YouTube)

SpaceX will try ‘giant party balloon’ to recover upper rocket stages

SpaceX ultimately wants to recover every stage of a rocket, not just the first, and it may resort to some unusual tactics to make that happen. Elon Musk has claimed that his company will try to take rocket upper stages out of orbital velocity using a “giant party balloon” — yes, he knows it sounds “crazy.” He hasn’t shed more light on the subject as we write this, but we’ve reached out to SpaceX to see if it can elaborate.

If such a system works out, it could provide more than a few benefits to SpaceX. As of 2018, SpaceX estimates a cost of $62 million to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with a first stage landing factored in. If it can reliably recover the upper stage with a relatively low-cost method like a balloon, it can both reduce its own expenses and make launches more attractive to customers. Throw in the eco-friendliness (there’s no dead stage plummeting to Earth) and it could easily be worth attempting to use a balloon, however ludicrous the idea might sound at first blush.

SpaceX will try to bring rocket upper stage back from orbital velocity using a giant party balloon

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2018

Source: Elon Musk (Twitter)

Fitbit Versa vs. Apple Watch Series 3: Which should you wear?

Fitbit is well-known in the fitness-tracking industry for its long (and impressive) line of wearables and sensors — however, it first tested the smartwatch waters with last year’s release of the Ionic. Now, Fitbit will soon be releasing the Versa, serving to rival Apple with upgraded smart features and an improved design. Fitbit’s newest product is especially appealing to the women demographic, both in appearance and function.

The Versa is smaller and cheaper than the Ionic but how does it stack up against the world-beating Apple Watch? Not only is it the world’s best selling watch but the Series 3 was touted as being able to potentially replace your smartphone entirely — although it’s not quite there yet. In our own review of the Versa, we were impressed but how does it stack up alongside the popular Apple Watch Series 3? We put the two in a head-to-head spec showdown to find out.

Specs

Though the Fitbit Versa’s internal specifications are still relatively unknown, our first look did reveal speedy load times — and just a bit of jittery lag when scrolling at times, too. In the Series 3, Apple debuted the S3 processor which promises a 70 percent performance increase over the S2 processor found in the previous iteration.

Like the Series 2, however, the Apple Watch Series 3 features a built-in GPS, so you’re still able to log workouts even when out of service range. The Versa allows users to leave their phone at home, as well but without the built-in GPS, the accuracy of its distance-tracking suffers. To a further extent, to get the full Versa experience, carrying a smartphone is recommended — though, we found it to still perform well whenever we decided to leave our phone at home.

The Apple Series 3 smartwatch also comes with optional SIM card compatibility and LTE cellular connectivity — something the Versa lacks entirely. Although you have to pay extra to utilize the phone’s cellular connectivity — and it’s currently only supported by EE — in the future, the Apple Watch Series 3 could be able to replace your smartphone entirely with the capacity to make and receive calls, send messages, and stream music without being tethered to an iPhone via Bluetooth.

Apple’s decision to include a built-in GPS sensor gives its watch a massive advantage.

Since it debuted, the Apple Watch’s Watch OS4 has put a big emphasis on fitness tracking. To Fitbit’s credit, it’s probably the most well-known and synonymous brand in the fitness tracking industry, so it comes as no surprise that Fitbit OS 2.0 is chockfull of fitness data and capability. In terms of smartwatch functionality, the Versa allows you to view alerts from your smartphone including text messages, app notifications, phone calls, and calendar events — much of which the Apple Watch also offers.

However, the one aspect of the Versa we weren’t terribly fond of was the fact only Android users have the ability to send replies to text messages and messenger apps. As of now, iPhone users aren’t currently able to do the same — although developers are working to address this issue.

Considering the fact Fitbit only recently made the Versa available for pre-order, it’s not surprising that its feature set lacks in comparison to the Apple Watch. Though, despite this, Apple’s decision to include a built-in GPS sensor gives its watch a massive advantage.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 3 

Design

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Fitbit thankfully made a few much-needed improvements to the formerly blocky, masculine shape of the Ionic. The Versa features curved edges and more aggressive corners, designed specifically to look better on those with slimmer wrists — something women will especially appreciate. As we mentioned in our review, from a distance, it’s easy to mistake the Versa for the Apple Watch. With regards to its weight, Fitbit claims it as the lightest metal smartwatch in the United States to date — even with its larger size.

Fitbit thankfully made a few much-needed improvements to the formerly blocky, masculine shape of the Ionic.

Though it’s currently only available in light silver or pink, Fitbit does offer plenty of different bands to accessorize it as you see fit including silicone, metal, and Horween leather options. There’s even a bonus special edition of the watch which comes with its own woven material straps in addition to the standard plastic strap, making it easy to swap when you exercise.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is identical in shape to its predecessors, with the exception of the 4G LTE colored dot on the Digital Crown. It’s a touch thicker than previous models but while wearing it, you’ll hardly notice. The Apple Watch Series 3 is available in gold, silver, space gray aluminum, and space black stainless steel cases. There is also a gray ceramic Apple Watch edition, as well as a new Sport Loop with a wraparound band.

In terms of the display, both the Fitbit Versa and the Series 3 feature a screen with 1000 nits of brightness, making for easy outdoor viewing and vibrant colors. The Apple Watch Series 3 has a slight edge over the Versa in terms of pixel density but it’s so slight you’ll hardly notice. In terms of buttons, the Versa features three hardware buttons alongside its touchscreen while the Apple Watch Series 3 has a more elegant rotating Digital Crown. Both the Versa and the Apple Watch Series 3 are water resistant to 50 meters.

While Fitbit definitely made the greatest improvements of the two companies, the Apple Watch Series 3 slightly edges out Fitbit thanks to its advantage in pixel density and its more elegant bezel design.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 3

Battery life

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

While it’s been nearly neck and neck in terms of specs and design, when it comes to battery life, the Versa dominates. Fitbit included a 145mAh battery which provides for more than four days of battery life, which is nearly double what the Apple Watch Series 3 can offer. On paper, the Apple Watch Series 3 is said to last up to 18 hours but Apple provided information involving more detailed scenarios. The Apple Watch Series 3 LTE model gets roughly three hours of talk time when paired with an iPhone, lasts around ten hours during indoor workouts, and streams music for ten hours when paired with an iPhone via Bluetooth.

Although the Versa doesn’t offer built-in GPS or cellular connectivity, in terms of sheer battery life, it’s clearly superior. It’s especially useful for outdoor enthusiasts, for example, if you want to track your fitness on a weekend backpacking trip and don’t want to bring along a charger.

Winner: Fitbit Versa

Pricing and availability

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

The Fitbit Versa is currently available for pre-order for $200 while the Fitbit Versa Special Edition — including Fitbit Pay compatibility — will be priced at $230 on the company’s website, with global availability starting in April. The Apple Watch Series 3 base model with GPS costs $330 which is a whopping $100 more than Fitbit’s Versa Special Edition. The Apple Watch with GPS and cellular costs $400 and is available on Apple’s website or through various retailers. Although the Apple Watch boasts added features, built-in GPS, and cellular functionality, the feature-rich and impressive Fitbit Versa’s cheaper price tag is hard to ignore.

Winner: Fitbit Versa

Overall winner: Apple Watch Series 3

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While we’ve only just scratched the surface in terms of what Fitbit’s Versa is capable of, our first impressions show that the company crafted a powerful product with smart features and a design which clearly rivals the Apple Watch Series 3. Its battery life and affordable price tag serve as icing on the cake — but we can’t get past the lack of built-in GPS.

In terms of fitness features, we see comparable similarities between the two models, highlighted by the fact both offer an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and altimeter. The Fitbit Versa made an additional point to appeal to women with unique female health tracking, which allows females to track their menstrual cycles. However, the Apple Watch Series 3 provides for many of the same features, lacking only an official sleep tracker.

Where the Apple Watch Series 3 truly stands out concerns its apps and functionality. Apple has had more time to build a library of apps while the Fitbit Versa only has a limited selection currently available. Apple apps range from productivity to games and shopping, all accessible right on your wrist. With time this is bound to change but for now, Apple boasts a wider smartwatch functionality, allowing it to just barely edge out the Versa.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here is everything you need to know about the Fitbit Versa
• Wear OS vs. Apple Watch: Which one will ‘wow’ your wrist?
• The time is right to take advantage of these Apple Watch deals for April 2018
• Fitbit Ionic: Adidas edition will be available on March 19
• Fitbit Versa review

Space Nation Navigator will help guide you to become an astronaut

App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every Sunday for the latest.

Accomplishing the dream of becoming an astronaut always sounds realistic as a kid — until you grow up. But this week, we have an app that could possibly bring you one step closer to space, even as an adult.

Space Nation Navigator — currently available on Android with an iOS version coming soon — is an astronaut training app filled with a wide range of activities from mind games to physical fitness. In collaboration with NASA, Finnish startup Space Nation hopes to give users insight into what it takes to be an astronaut through a fun mobile app.

The app itself is separated into four sections — Base, Missions, Profile, and Shop — which you can switch back and forth between. Under Base, you’ll find space related content you can read through or listening too, ranging from articles to podcasts. It’s also where you’ll see your own score such as weekly rank, weekly points, and level of training. Below your own score, there’s a leaderboard you can reference to see the top ranked players of the week along with the all time highest scores. Each week your score gets cleared in order to give you the opportunity to score even higher next time around.

If you’re wondering why scores are so important, it’s what defines the prize you could potentially win. After three 12-week cycles, you could be one out of 100 trainees chosen to participate in a training camp. Out of those 100, 12 will then be chosen to experience a 10-week astronaut training camp located in Iceland, where one winner will then receive an expenses-paid trip to space.

The fun begins under the Missions section, where you can play all different types of games to help boost your score. At the top, there’s a “Weekly Adventure,” which brings you through a series of different games and activities to complete. These are meant to cover a full range of abilities whether it’s a challenge for your brain or your body. You can also choose to do separate missions one by one if you want to jump between different skills to test out. In order to complete the weekly adventure, you have to beat each mission.

At first, I thought the games would be extremely easy to get through but I was definitely mistaken — they’re tough. While I didn’t have the opportunity to test out the workout activities, I did try all of the mind missions which made my brain feel like I was attempting to solve Sudoku puzzles on repeat. Along the way, it definitely gets easier as you continue to become accustomed to how each game works.

The one I found the most challenging along the way is called “Repair the Wayfarer,” where you have to save your ship after it was struck. This involves multi-tasking super quickly as you designate the right people to fix each part of it based on their expertise, before time runs out. It might be tough to narrow in on your strategy at first, but after playing a few more times I managed to move on from that level without — barely — breaking a sweat.

To actually break a sweat, you can participate in body missions that you’ll also be able to simply incorporate into your daily exercise. For example, one mission requires you to run as the app alerts you when you’ve reached a specific checkpoint. It also uses GPS to track your runs along the way.

One game that definitely gave me a glimpse into what it must be like trying to exist as normally as possible in space was called “Lunch Anyone.” This is where you have to cook meals from solids, pastes, and liquids without contaminating them. On the side of the screen, you’ll have different recipes to follow and put together. While that sounds simple, it’s tough to do with zero gravity as all your ingredients float around.

There’s also quizzes you can take — I specifically took one that tests your language skills and another for cultural understanding. There were questions that tested my knowledge of space terms but also how I should act if I were aboard a space ship with other astronauts. As you answer each one, you’ll receive a brief fact or explanation underneath to help you learn as you go. That way, even if you don’t pass the first time, you’ll know the correct answer for next time.

To keep track of all your progress, there’s a designated Profile section you can reference periodically. It’ll list your weekly points, weekly rank, and all time rank. It’s also where you can keep track of all the different badges you’ve unlocked as you explore 13 training topics.

Space Nation Navigator is free to play, but there are microtransactions included — and advertisements that pop up every once in a while. It’s important to take into account that if you decide to re-try the missions, you’ll have to spend the coins you collect throughout the game. You can purchase more through the Shop section, which — depending on how many you purchase — can range from $1 to $170.

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