How lidar technology is working to enhance trucking safety

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Traffic accidents on the freeway are a fact of life on both urban and rural interstates. The worst generally involve the largest vehicles, such as Class-A tractor-trailer rigs. With one, two, and even three trailers behind the cab, a fully loaded semi needs about 420 feet to stop from normal highway speeds. When they don’t get the time or space to stop safely, big rigs can tip over, jackknife, or just roll right on over anything in their path.

It’s important to note big rig operators are some of the most highly skilled drivers on our roads. It’s notable that these professionals cover millions of safe and trouble-free highway miles every day, and according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), fatalities due to accidents with big trucks are down significantly in comparison to previous decades. In 2016, there were 0.144 large truck or bus fatalities per 100 million motor vehicle miles traveled. Truck drivers are doing their jobs, but there are ways that technology is helping make trucking safer in much the same way that new cars are becoming safer.

“… Our technology can see 360 degrees virtually all the time for nearly 1,000 feet.”

“Even the best driver, and they are significantly better trained than normal automotive drivers, still wouldn’t be able to safely stop a rig of that size when cars are cutting in front of them,” said Andrew Nelson, North America commercial vehicles manager at Velodyne Lidar.

Digital Trends encountered Velodyne at the SEMICON West conference in San Francisco. Velodyne representatives were part of the show’s focus on disruptive technology emerging in the transportation sector.

Why lidar can help prevent big rig accidents

Most new passenger vehicles use some combination of cameras, radar, or lidar (laser radar) to look ahead and deliver forward collision warnings or automatic emergency braking. Some can detect pedestrians or animals in the roadway, while others are limited to vehicle-sized objects. The same technology enables speed-changing adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane changing assistance, and parking assistance.

By taking the same basic tech and applying it to large Class-A trucks, technology companies and truck manufacturers believe they can make highways safer for everyone.

“We are currently working with a significant number of companies,” Nelson told us. “There are significant applications for a Class-A trucking whether it is manned or un-manned. Even the best eyesight or camera can only see a specific field of view, whereas our technology can see 360 degrees virtually all the time for nearly 1,000 feet.”

Velodyne’s Lidar technology uses infrared lasers, which work at night or in low-light situations and can even see through fog and rain.

Because the lidar can measure physical distance, we have the opportunity to measure four, five, six cars ahead.

“We’ve made significant advances, and there’s always work to do, but we can see significantly better in snow, in rain, working with fog as well,” Nelson pointed out. “Many of Velodyne’s patents are around how we can amplify and apply laser power and be able to look through that. Unlike a camera, if there is stuff on the lens we can actually apply more power in real time to ensure that the light gets to the destination. If a camera is blocked or there are conditions where you can’t see, it’s like a human eye. You can’t focus it any better by applying more power.”

Applications in trucking

One of the biggest benefits of using lidar is that it’s much easier to measure speed, size, and distance than with a camera. With a Class-A truck, the ability to place the lidar high above surrounding traffic also helps paint a complete picture.

“Because the lidar can measure physical distance, we have the opportunity to measure four, five, six cars ahead,” Nelson said. “If the concern is stopping distance for an 80,000-pound Class-A semi, we can see and we can show a physical distance. With a camera, you are taking an image and then having to infer and use algorithms to determine how far something is away.”

The lidar system, like a radar unit, is always measuring the distance to any object making a reflection.

“Because we are using physical distance data, we don’t have to infer from brake lights or infer from a vehicle in front,” Nelson said. “We can see when a car five cars ahead is slowing down, and we can engage braking before the four cars in front of us. So, lidar mitigates stopping distances needed for a Class-A Semi, which is one of the top two reasons that they get into accidents.”

“We’ve made significant advancements and now have the ability to measure the height of a bridge overpass about 820 feet away.”

Nelson noted additional applications include managing bridges and tunnels, enabling effective blind spot detection, and looking far ahead of the truck.

“We’ve made significant advancements and now have the ability to measure the height of a bridge overpass about 820 feet away. We will have sensors for blind spot detection, high and low on the bumper. We have other sensors that can see for 650 feet and can see a vehicle 460 away. We have one that you can place up high that sees 980 feet away and effectively denotes a vehicle 820 yards away.”

Cost is an issue but not for long

One reason truck manufacturers and trucking companies haven’t implemented all this long ago is the cost of lidar systems. However, Velodyne has been working to bring costs down to mass-market levels and develop robust products that will last in the real world.

“Right now, the cost is not really as prohibitive as they may think, due to the fact that we’ve lowered a lot of our prices,” Nelson concluded. “We have some 16-channel lidar units that are available for $4,000. We were able to drive down the cost of this lidar and produce more. In trucking, they see where lidar is going and we believe that with continued decreases the cost will not be prohibitive due to the benefit that it provides. Prices will continue to come down.”

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Be a master of your own ever-changing ‘galaxy’ with this kinetic wall art

Looking for some kick-ass art for your home or office? Don’t want to settle for anything as boring as a flat, stationary two-dimensional print for the wall? If so – and if you’re also a bit of a science or tech geek with some cash to splash around — you may be the perfect candidate to enjoy an astonishing creation by former automotive engineer Robert Spillner.

Called the Art Machine, the Germany-based engineer’s stunning work of “kinetic art” is a constantly shifting image that looks like some continuously swirling galaxy or turbulent weather formation, as viewed through a 37-inch-diameter ship’s porthole.

“I wanted to invent a machine which can paint continuous images, but is not a video,” Spillner told Digital Trends. “I can’t say it shorter [than that]. The idea came up to use very small colored particles as picture elements and to set them in motion.”

The artwork employs an aerospace industry dye and some particles that result in a fluid that never completely mixes. The swirling fluid is rotated at frequent intervals by twin electric motors, which help stir up the striking patches of light and dark in the piece. “After a predetermined period of time, the rotational movement is interrupted so that the particles settle to the bottom and the movement of the dye subsides,” Spillner said. “[As a result], the previously introduced [formation] is dissolved. Then the Art Machine is restarted and the process starts again.”

We’ve covered a few kinetic art pieces here at Digital Trends, such as this amazing coffee table featuring a tiny robot making shapes in sand, and a robot-controlled table that lets viewers manipulate liquid rocket fuel with their face. While all three projects are very different in terms of content, Spillner’s creation certainly ranks up there with either in terms of its sheer “wow” factor.

All this comes with a price tag, however. According to this listing on Saatchi Art, would-be customers will have to pay some $6,250 to add the Art Machine to their collection. While that may be a bit too rich for some readers’ blood, we certainly don’t begrudge the person fortunate enough to add this to their collection.

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How to transfer your contacts between iPhone and Android devices

One of the most annoying aspects of changing phones is ensuring all your contacts are transferred over to your new device. In the “olden days,” this meant manually typing in countless names and phone numbers. Today, our smartphones can do most of the work for us. This guide will show you how to move contacts from iOS to Android and vice versa, so you can alternate between platforms without the hassle. Your best bets? Google Contacts and Apple’s iCloud.

Exporting contacts from iCloud

If you have enabled iCloud on your iPhone, backing up contacts is incredibly easy.

Sign into iCloud on your computer as you would normally and click Contacts. Once you get to the next screen, select All Contacts in the top-left corner and hit Command+A or CTRL+A to select all contacts. Now, click the gear icon at the bottom of the page and click Export vCard. Once the ensuing window opens, select all of your contacts again with Command+A and right-click on any contact. Choose Export vCard, name the vCard, and choose your desired save location.

Your contacts will download as a VCF file you can either email to yourself or directly import to Google. Once you activate your new phone — of any type — set up your email account and import the vCard from your email to upload all the contacts. We recommend saving the email containing the vCard, as it now serves as a cloud-based backup of all your contacts. It’s also a good idea to save them to your desktop, just in case your phone meets with an untimely accident.

Transferring with Google Contacts

First, you’re going to need a Google account, which will simplify moving contacts between platforms. If you don’t have a Google account, quickly sign up for one with Google — you’re going to need one for your Android smartphone anyway. Before you even touch your new Android phone, log into Google Contacts in your browser. Down on the left-hand side, you should see an Import contacts … option. Click on it, then click Choose file and navigate to the vCard that you saved from iCloud.

If you had a Google account prior to this process, you will notice your contacts list is now much larger and likely has some duplicates. If you see duplicate contacts, you may need to spend some time deleting or modifying them. It’s best to do this manually, but Google does offer a Merge contacts tool that is designed to do the same thing. Beware that it’s not always the most accurate.

If you want to give it a try, go to the More button outfitted with the downward arrow that’s located near the upper-left portion of the window while viewing your contacts page. The drop-down menu gives you the option to Find & merge duplicates. Selecting this option tells Google to automatically search your contacts for duplicates.

Transferring contacts to your new phone

Now that you have your contacts in Google organized exactly how you want them, it’s time to put them on your phone. If you haven’t powered up your new phone yet, the transfer will be easy. When you first boot up your new phone, it asks if you want to sync your phone to a Google account. Simply enter in your account information and your phone will automatically import all the contacts from your Google account — no manual upload necessary.

However, if you already turned on your Android phone and didn’t sync it with a Google account, head to the Settings menu and find the Accounts or Accounts & Sync option that shows you every account synced with your phone. At the bottom of the page, you will see a button labeled Add account, where you can now enter your Google login. Once you select your Google account, it will sync all your contacts to your phone, along with Calendar, Chrome, Gmail, and whatever other components you choose to sync.

If you’re switching from Android to iPhone, just hop on your new phone, and go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account > Google. Enter your Google login info and your iPhone will automatically sync the contacts housed within your Google account. If you want it to stay synced and include any new contacts you add, then you’ll also need to go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Contacts > Default Account and select your Google account.

Wasn’t that easy?

Given the current popularity of Google’s services, it’s a breeze to transfer contacts to any new phone. Not only does your Google account sync your contacts in Android, it does so on Windows Phone devices, too. We review phones all the time, and without Google, the process would be insanely painful. There might be other one-time use options that will get the job done, but if you are able to keep your Google contacts up to date, switching smartphones is a walk in the park.

Get an App

If you are in a pinch and need to transfer your contacts fast, there are plenty of apps that help make the transfer easy.

Our favorite of the bunch is My Contacts Backup for iOS and Android, an efficient and easy-to-use app. After downloading and installing the application, tap Backup to create a backup file of all your contacts. Once the backup completes, email the contact file to yourself. When you get your new phone, open the email and click on the VCF attachment, which allows your phone to import the contacts. Once you’re done, save the email in your inbox in case you decide to switch phones again. The app also gives you the ability to set up automatic backups of your contacts, which we recommend scheduling after the application downloads.

If you’re making the move from Android to iOS, then you might also consider Apple’s Move to iOS app. It’s designed to transfer contacts, message history, photos, videos, and more from an Android phone to a new iPhone during the setup process. Install it on your Android device, choose the data you want to transfer, and your new iPhone will create a private connection, protected by a security code, and start transferring the chosen data.

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Pricing and lack of content are still barriers against the adoption of VR

Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

A recent survey questioned 595 virtual and augmented reality professionals about their business growth in the consumer and enterprise markets. Conducted by VR Intelligence and SuperData, the survey shows that 24 percent of the respondents report strong sales in the enterprise market while only 18 percent show strong sales in the consumer market.

According to the report, the two main barriers VR needs to overcome are headset prices and a lack of content. Although first-generation headsets like the Oculus Rift ($400) and HTC Vive ($500) have fallen in price since their debut, they’re still a high-dollar investment. These headsets also require a decent desktop capable of rendering the experiences, which could be an additional high-cost expense.

Out of all the respondents, 52 percent believe a lack of content is the largest barrier, down from 62 percent in VR Intelligence’s 2017 survey. Also down is their opinion of HMD pricing, with 52 percent believing price is an issue versus the 60 percent vote in 2017. Meanwhile, motion sickness is the least of their concerns, with 25 percent believing motion sickness is a barrier in 2018, down from 28 percent in 2017.

“The change in opinion on pricing is most likely a reflection of the price drops from major headset manufacturers like HTC, Oculus, and Google; while developments in content creation are starting to alleviate this particular barrier to adoption,” the report states. “Additionally, stand-alone devices like Oculus Go and Lenovo Mirage have brought down the entry point price of high-quality VR as they do not require a console or powerful PC.”

The survey’s respondents believe AR will hit mainstream adoption before VR due to hardware and content. The survey points to Pokémon Go, Nintendo’s highly popular game for smartphones with an AR component. Night Sky will list all the known stars, planets and constellations with a point of a camera while Amazon’s app can place virtual furniture and other goods into your real-world surroundings.

The survey shows that 12 percent of the respondents believe AR will reach mainstream adoption within a year followed by 34 percent believing adoption will take place within two years. Yet 33 percent think adoption will go mainstream in three to four years while 21 percent believe mass adoption won’t take place for five years or more.

As for VR, the survey paints a different picture. Only 6 percent of the respondents believe VR will go mainstream within a year while 27 percent believe it will happen within two years. Other respondents weren’t quite a hopeful, with 42 percent believing VR won’t go mainstream for another three to four years while 26 percent believe VR won’t be mass-adopted for five or more years.

“The wait for consumer adoption has seen many VR and AR companies target enterprise as their source for shorter-term revenue and growth,” the report adds. “From automotive to architecture, retail to tourism, manufacturing to construction, immersive tech is impacting the way companies work, design, communicate and sell.”

For the enterprise, the biggest adoption of VR is within the education sector followed by architecture/engineering/construction, manufacturing, healthcare, automotive, banking and financing, and so on.

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Kids can now initiate a friend request on Messenger Kids by using a password

Facebook’s controversial Messenger Kids app now allows youth to initiate their own friend requests using a process that still requires a parent’s approval. The under-13 messaging app recently added an option that allows users to ask their parents to add a new friend to the platform by using a passphrase. The latest Messenger Kids update began rolling out on Monday, August 13.

The feature generates a unique passphrase for each child. The potential friend must enter that code in order to initiate a friend request. The parents of both kids need to approve the request before the two users are connected on the platform.

By generating a passcode, Facebook likely aims to prevent unwanted friend requests while still simplifying the process of adding friends on the platform. Since both parents need to approve the request, the update doesn’t alter the rules Messenger Kids already had in place.

What the update does is simplify friend requests, particularly in instances where the parents aren’t also friends. Before the update, parents had to invite other parents in order for the kids to connect on the kid-friendly app. (Messenger Kids also originally required the parents of both kids to be friends before connecting on the platform, a rule that changed earlier this year.) Messenger Kids still requires parents to have a Facebook account, but the update may help simplify friend requests.

The passcode friend request is an optional feature that defaults to off — which means if parents don’t go in and change the Messenger Kids settings, nothing has changed. Turning the feature on could lead to less pestering to add a friend and a shorter process.

The update follows changes earlier this year that allows parents to set a Sleep Mode, which locks kids out during certain times of the day or allows parents to limit how much time kids spend using the app.

Messenger Kids is designed to allow kids to interact under parental supervision while reaching users younger than Facebook’s minimum signup age of 13. Critics of the app cite the increasing time kids are spending on mobile devices, as well as features like the way the app indicates to approved friends who’s online and who’s not.

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An amazing new RWBY game is coming to Android!

My favorite animated stories of the modern era is expanding into another game.

One of the coolest animated series you can watch today, RWBY (pronounced Ruby) is expanding into a mobile game. Unlike the PC game from the folks at Rooster Teeth, RWBY: Amity Arena gives you a less scripted look into the larger world of Remnant.

And, best of all, if you pre-register the game on Google Play right now your character starts off with a 1,000 Lien bonus.

While the trailer for the game gives you brief snippets of gameplay featuring some of the iconic characters from the show, the app description in the Play Store paints a much clearer picture. You get to make your own character from one of the four nations from the series, and have control over what weapon and semblance your character has in the creation. As you play with your team, you can take on real-time opponents to increase your rank and participate in tournaments like the Vytal Festival.

The visuals for this game are clearly designed to bring you a little closer to the series itself. You play as though you are holding a Scroll, the phone-like device from the world, and the online gameplay is describes as being part of the CCTS from the show, which is cute.

RWBY: Amity Arena is slated for a full launch “this fall”

As for the actual gameplay, it looks like RWBY: Amity Arena is jumping into the all-too-popular Active Card Game system. These games are a little more interactive than passive card games like Valkyrie Connect and Age of Ishtaria, but still rely on cards for most of your attack and defense moves in the game. A good similarity, based on the description, would be Sword Art Online: Integral Factor. The cards introduce a level of randomness that can be compensated for in the heat of the moment with purchases. As the game will be free, micro-transactions will be plentiful but not likely to be the kind of thing you absolutely must do in order to remain competitive.

RWBY: Amity Arena is slated for a full launch “this fall” but the pre-registration right now on Android is the reason to care now. That extra in-game currency is likely to come in handy as you start out. And if none of this has made any sense at all because you’ve never seen the show, fix it! There’s a good chance you’ll really enjoy it.

Best Android apps for finding a new job

Job hunting has changed a lot in recent years. Now thanks to mobile technology, you can take your job search on the go, and apply for the positions that seem appealing to you anytime, anywhere.

The era of looking for job offers in the local newspaper is long gone, and today you’re most likely going to have to rely on that Android phone of yours if you want to get a new job.

So for the purpose of this article we’ve rounded up seven great job apps every one looking for a new position should know about.

LinkedIn

What it is:

The most popular social network for professionals. LinkedIn is for anybody and everybody who wants to take their professional life more seriously by looking for new opportunities to grow their careers.

Why we like it:

• Allows you to quickly create a profile/resume page.
• The app allows you to quickly discover and connect with people that matter in your industry.
• It’s a great way to search and apply for new jobs opportunities.
• Recruiters can easily find you and your profile and invite you to interviews.
• With LinkedIn, you can stay up to date with the latest business and industry news.

Install LinkedIn

Upwork

What it is:

Upwork gives you access to one of the largest databases of freelance/remote jobs.

Why we like it:

• Clean and intuitive interface, Upwork lets you search, view and apply to jobs quickly.
• Employees can also send you job invitations.
• Upwork offers its own in-app chat feature which allows you to send and receive screenshots and files.
• Easily get paid via PayPal.

Install Upwork

Indeed

What it is:

One of the most comprehensive jobs searching tools for mobile available. Let’s you find jobs in over 60 countries and in 28 languages.

Why we like it:

• The app features a huge database of jobs of over 16 million jobs.
• You can create an Indeed Resume (to apply for select jobs) or simply upload or import a resume from your computer.
• Gets you the newest jobs delivered to your inbox.
• Allows job seekers to see how companies rate, as reviewed by employees.

Install Indeed

Snag

What it is:

A job finding app that puts an emphasis on applying fast and finding you flexible positions.

Why we like it:

• Snag wants to make the job application process easier. You can apply with one click for some of the positions available in the database.
• The app offers localized job search.
• Perfect app for students and teens who are looking to work flexible hours or part-time jobs.
• Let’s you take Employee Personality Quizzes to show off your strengths to prospective employers.
• You can spice up your resume with a video showcasing your wonderful personality.

Install Snag

Glassdoor

What it is:

A job searching app backed-up by a comprehensive career community.

Why we like it:

• It’s super easy to start searching for a job. Just use a keyword and your location.
• Glassdoor offers access to in-depth info about companies, as well as salary reports by job title.
• App has a unique “Know Your Worth Tool” which shows you how your market value has trended over time and how it compares to typical workers in the same field.
• The app allows you to read opinions from current and former employees about specific companies.

Install Glassdoor

Trovit

What is it:

A job searching app that wants to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Why we like it:

• Trovit lets you look for jobs in 46 different countries and 19 languages.
• Use a relevant keyword to search for jobs, but also add filters to narrow down your search.
• Create personalized alerts, so when a new add that fits your criteria gets posted you’ll know.

Install Trovit

Good&Co

What it is:

Good&Co is not a traditional job searching app. Instead, its main goal is to help you discover yourself and to find the career best suited for your style.

Why we like it:

• Good&Co is a self-discovery tool based on science that will help you understand your personal strengths so you can fulfill your true potential.
• Provides a fun way to get to know yourself via various personality assignments.
• Discover the company culture that’s a match for your personality and see how you fit with companies that are after you.

Install Goo&Co

Extra

Free resume builder CV maker

What it is:

This app lets you easily create a custom CV that will make your application stand out.

Why we like it:

• Allows you to create a custom resume or cover letter.
• You can choose from various templates.
• Easily fill out information by categories including Personal Info, Education, Work Experience and more.
• Print the resume directly from the app or download it to your device as .PDF.

Install Free resume builder CV maker

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Stanford A.I. can realistically score computer animations just by watching them

In the early days of cinema, organists would add sound effects to silent movies by playing along to whatever was happening on screen. Jump forward to 2018, and a variation on this idea forms the basis of new work carried out by Stanford University computer scientists. They have developed an artificial intelligence system that’s able to synthesize realistic sounds for computer animation based entirely on the images it sees and its knowledge of the physical world. The results are synthesized sounds at the touch of a button.

“We’ve developed the first system for automatically synthesizing sounds to accompany physics-based computer animations,” Jui-Hsien Wang, a graduate student at Stanford’s Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME), told Digital Trends. “Our approach is general, [meaning that] it can compute realistic sound sources for a wide range of animated phenomena — such as solid bodies like a ceramic bowl or a flexible crash cymbal, as well as liquid being poured into a cup.”

The technology that makes the system work is pretty darn smart. It takes into account the varying position of the objects in the scene as assembled during the 3D modeling process. It identifies what these are, and then predicts how they will affect sounds being produced, whether it be to reflect, scatte,r or diffract them.

“A great thing about our approach is that no training data is required,” Wang continued. “It simulates sound from first physical principles.”

As well as helping more quickly add sound effects to animated movies, the technology could also one day be used to help designers work out how products are going to sound before they are physically produced.

There’s no word on when this tool might be made publicly available, but Wang said that the team is currently “exploring options for making the tool accessible.” Before it gets to that point, however, the researchers want to improve the system’s ability to model more complex objects, such as the lush reverberating tones of a Stradivarius violin.

The research is due to be presented as part of ACM SIGGRAPH 2018, the world’s leading conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques. Take a second to feel sorry for the poor Pixar foley artist at the back of the hall who just bought a new house!

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Apple iPhone X: Battle of the ultra-premium smartphones

Samsung has unveiled its latest and greatest flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The new device features a beautifully big display, top-tier specs, and should be at least as good as any other flagship from this year, if not a whole lot better.

But there’s one flagship phone that could still beat the Galaxy Note Note 9, and it’s not even from this year. This is a classic case of Android vs iOS. Can the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 beat out the iPhone X? We put the two phones head to head to find out.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Apple iPhone X

Size
161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.35 inches)
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches)

Weight
201 grams (7.09 ounces)
174 grams (6.14 ounces)

Screen Size
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display

Screen Resolution
2,960 x 1,440 (516 pixels-per-inch)
2,436 x 1,125 pixels (458 pixels-per-inch)

Operating System
Android 8.0 Oreo
iOS 11

Storage Space
128GB, 512GB
64GB, 256GB

MicroSD Card Slot
Yes
No

Tap To Pay Services
Google Pay
Apple Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
A11 Bionic

RAM
6GB, 8GB
3GB

Camera
Dual sensor 12MP rear, 8MP front
Dual sensor 12MP rear, 7MP front

Video
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 fps

Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Ports
USB-C, Headphone Jack
Lightning

Fingerprint sensor
Yes
No

Water resistance
IP68
IP67

Battery
4,000mAh
2,716mAh

App Marketplace
Google Play Store
Apple App Store

Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint

Colors
Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple
Space Gray, Silver

Price
$1,000
$1,000

Buy From
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Amazon, Samsung

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Apple

Review Score
Hands-on
4.5 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It’s always difficult to compare the performance of an Android phone with an iPhone, and that holds true here. The iPhone X features Apple’s A11 Bionic chip coupled with 3GB of RAM, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. It also features a special water-cooling system, which should help the phone push the Snapdragon 845 that little bit further. What really matters, however, is day-to-day use — and thankfully both of these phones will perform perfectly well for the vast majority of users. We’ll have to wait for benchmarks from the Galaxy Note 9 to see which phone is truly the more powerful one.

In terms of battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in with a 4,000mAh battery, which is far more than the iPhone X’s 2,716mAh battery. Still, considering the larger and more dense display, it’s possible the actual battery life could even out.

Both devices can be charged through the charging port, whether it be the Lightning or USB-C, and both also support wireless charging.

Winner: Tie

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple has always been at the forefront of great design in the tech industry, and the iPhone X represents the culmination of a decade of iPhone development. It’s really a great-looking phone with a beautiful edge-to-edge display and a stunning glass back. The device does feature the infamous notch, though many have gotten used to that now, and most users of the device argue that it’s not really a big deal in day-to-day use.

The Galaxy Note 9 is a stylish device too, but it’s a very different-looking phone. It features a big display with curved edges on each side, and a glass back. Also on the back is a dual-sensor camera, and a fingerprint sensor — which is one thing that the iPhone X doesn’t have to offer. It’s worth noting that the Note 9 is significantly taller, wider, thicker, and heavier than the iPhone X.

When it comes to durability, neither of the phones is particularly drop-proof considering the abundance of glass used in their construction. They do both feature water resistance, however, with the iPhone X’s rating coming in at IP67, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s rating coming in at IP68. The difference is that IP67 allows a phone to last up to 30 minutes in up to one meter of water, while IP68 means it can withstand 1.5 meters.

It’s hard to move past the beautiful design and edge-to-edge display of the iPhone X.

Winner: iPhone X

Display

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Apple has stepped things up with the display in the iPhone X, but Samsung has been putting top-tier displays in its phones for years now — and it shows here. While the iPhone X features an OLED display with a resolution of 2,436 x 1,125 pixels, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 boasts an OLED display with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. Not only that, but the Note 9’s display is also much bigger, coming in at 6.4 inches, over the iPhone X’s 5.8 inches.

No matter how you look at it, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 display is better in every way.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The camera is becoming increasingly important for smartphones, and both of these devices offer top-tier cameras. The iPhone is known for having a great camera, and while there has been increased competition in the past few years, the iPhone X still boasts an excellent camera that’s great at taking photos in a range of conditions. The camera on the iPhone X boasts a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, coupled with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture. Both lenses offer optical image stabilization, and the front-facing camera comes in at 7 megapixels, but it offers a range of extra features, like Face ID, Animoji, among others.

The camera in the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also set to be pretty spectacular, though we’ll have to wait and see just how well it performs. The camera is a dual 12-megapixel camera, and both sensors offer optical image stabilization. One of the sensors has an adjustable aperture of f/1.5 to f/2.4, while the second sensor has an aperture of f/2.4. The front-facing camera on the device comes in at 8 megapixels. The hardware looks very similar to the S9 Plus camera, which is particularly good in low light, but Samsung has added some A.I. smarts that could elevate it even further. However, it has very tough competition in the iPhone X.

Both devices clearly have nice cameras, but we’re going to have to wait and see how well the Galaxy Note 9 performs. Until then, this one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Software and updates

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When comparing an iPhone with an Android phone, software is always a point of debate. We’re not going to get into the whole Android vs. iOS debate here, but we can point out a few of the major differences between the two.

The iPhone’s iOS is known for being stylish and easy to use. Everything is pretty much where you expect it to be, and once you get used to how iOS works, you’ll be able to get around it very easily. There’s another big advantage to iOS: Apple controls both the software and the hardware of the iPhone, so that means that you’ll get updates as soon as they’re available, assuming your phone supports the update. That’s not true of Android, especially when it comes to non-Google smartphone manufacturers — like Samsung.

Still, there are some big advantages to Android, too. Android is generally a little more flexible. You can install apps from third-party sources if you want (though we don’t recommend it), and there are more settings and options to tweak. You can also customize where you want widgets to show up, and more. Samsung Experience user interface, which sits atop Android offers some handy extras, though it isn’t as slick as stock Android.

We’re not going to award a winner based on whether Android or iOS is better — but considering Samsung’s track record with updates, we are going to award one based on the fact that the iPhone X will get updates quicker. The iPhone X already has the latest version of iOS, whereas the Note 9 is launching with Android 8.0 Oreo, even though Android 9.0 Pie is out.

Winner: iPhone X

Special features

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Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and the iPhone X have a number of special features on offer, but they’re pretty different in many ways.

Let’s start with the iPhone X, which has a few special features. For starters, the iPhone X is the first iPhone to feature Face ID, Apple’s new facial recognition tech and the reason for the iPhone’s notch. Face ID essentially allows you to unlock your phone quickly and easily by simply looking at it. Then there’s 3D Touch, a way for users to interact with different aspects of their phone by pressing down on the display a little harder than they otherwise would.

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has its own fair share of special features. For starters, it supports Samsung’s DeX, which allows you to plug into a monitor and use the phone as a desktop computer replacement. The Note 9 also comes with Samsung’s S Pen, freshly equipped with Bluetooth, which can act as a remote control for the phone’s camera. We think the phone has a few more helpful special features than the iPhone X.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Price

Phones are getting increasingly more expensive, and these two devices represent some of the most expensive phones on the market. Both the iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 start at $1,000, which is no small amount. For the 256GB model of the iPhone X, you’ll need to shell out $1,150 — and for the 512GB Galaxy Note 9, you’ll pay $1,250. They’re widely available from all the major carriers and retailers so it’s worth shopping around for deals.

Overall winner: Apple iPhone X

Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and the Apple iPhone X are excellent phones, and you’ll be happy with either of them, but we think the iPhone X is going to suit more people than the productivity-focused Note 9. If you prefer Android to iOS, and you think you’ll use features like the S Pen, then the Note 9 is the one for you. If this is your first smartphone, then we recommend going for the iPhone — it’s just a little easier to use, and probably a better choice for the first-time smartphone user.

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No keyboard? No problem. Masterkey will project you a virtual one to type on

In most cases, the kind of swipe-based gestures available on mobile devices are analogous for the input devices we have available on traditional personal computers. For example, a stylus or finger can easily stand in for a computer mice and on-screen cursor. It’s not quite so easy when it comes to typing, however. Sure, mobile devices are getting better at recognizing our voices, but there are some times you really just need a keypad to tap away on.

That’s where an intriguing new Kickstarter campaign comes into play. Called Masterkey 4.0, it’s a wireless projector that connects to your smartphone and is capable of both projecting a functioning virtual keyboard onto your desk and a display onto a nearby wall. And a whole lot more, too.

“The laser keyboard has a built-in sensor and laser,” creator Adi Zabkar told Digital Trends. “The sensor picks up finger movements. An algorithm then converts the coordinates to identify characters. The detection rate is over 350 characters per minute. Typing might be a bit slower, but still acceptable.”

According to Masterkey’s creators, the projector is capable of giving you a virtual screen of up to 120 inches. Masterkey claims resolution is high enough that you can use it to enjoy projected movies on it.

There are two versions of the device promised. The first is a “home edition” that’s designed for offering cinema-on-the-go or basic laptop functionality. But the more interesting version is the so-called “business edition,” which also includes a built-in kinesthetic sensor and facial- and gesture-recognition technology.

“Imagine this situation: You have a presentation in front of up to six people,” Zabkar continued. “Masterkey will track people’s faces, and the software will give you answers on who is interested in your presentation, at what point they are interested, and who isn’t interested. As a result, it’s much easier for you to focus on what works best in a presentation and be more successful.”

If Masterkey can deliver on their idea, it sounds very exciting, although it’s certainly ambitious. As ever, we offer our usual warnings about the risk inherent in crowdfunding campaigns, which can fail to deliver on their promises or schedule. If you do want to get involved, however, head over to the project’s Kickstarter page to pledge your support. Prices start at 155 euros ($177 U.S.), with shipping planned for February 2019.

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