Lab-grown mini-brains will help us gain a better understanding of the real thing

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a rapid, cost-effective method to grow organoid “mini-brains” in a lab. These miniature brains, which replicate the architecture of brains but possess no level of consciousness, are created using stem cells. The researchers hope that these mini-brains will allow us to gain a better understanding of the real brains that they replicate.

“The brain is one of the most complex tissues in the body,” Alysson Muotri, director of the Stem Cell Program at UCSD School of Medicine, told Digital Trends. “While we have a good idea of anatomy and how the adult brain work, the understanding of human brain neurodevelopment is at a very mysterious stage. This is because the intact human embryonic brain grows in utero, and, thus, it is very inaccessible. There [is little information] about how the brain develops, [and] when it starts to function, yet there are many neurological disorders that starts in utero. It is [therefore] very important to learn how the brain develops, both in healthy and disease conditions.”

The mini-brains are created by growing human pluripotent stem cells and then inducing them to form neural progenitor cells. This is achieved using small molecules added to a culture medium. These neural progenitor cells are then prompted to grow in three dimensions and expand, forming a sphere with multiple layers. Finally, the progenitor cells are turned into neurons and a type of glia cell that is also present in the brain, which then matures into a full organoid.

Researchers have been optimizing protocols for creating brain cells in a dish for decades. However, it is only more recently that researchers have learned that it is possible to induce growth in 3D in a way that allows the cells to self-organize in a structure that resembles the early stages of the human embryonic brain. This opens up the possibility of studying the early stages of human neurodevelopment in the lab. Doing so may provide new information about genetic disorders, such as autism, or the different ways in which viruses affect the brain.

To make the process of developing these mini-brains easier, the UCSD researchers have developed a protocol that makes it faster to convert somatic cells into 3D-brain organoids. “Besides cost and time, the biggest advantage is on the throughput,” Muotri continued. “We can now create hundreds of different brain organoids, from different individuals, at the same time.”

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.

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Here are all the Apple Watches getting updated to WatchOS 5

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Arriving alongside the new Apple Watch Series 4, WatchOS 5 is the next huge step up for Apple’s thriving wearable ecosystem. This new version of Apple’s wearable OS is coming with a bunch of improvements, including better health and fitness tracking, a handy walkie-talkie mode, and a new feature for Siri that means she doesn’t need a trigger word to activate. WatchOS 5 has been available to developers since Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, and it will be released for everyone else on September 17.

But despite all those new features and improvements, some Apple Watch owners might not be celebrating when the update finally drops. It turns out not every Apple Watch is getting the update to WatchOS 5, and some will be left behind. Avoid an update-induced headache come WatchOS 5 release day, and find out now if your Apple Watch is getting updated.

How to identify your Apple Watch

But before we begin, what if you’re not sure which model your Apple Watch actually is? After all, each generation of the Apple Watch has looked more or less the same — if you bought the latest “Apple Watch” without thinking too much about the model then you’re certainly not alone.

Thankfully, this is a situation that Apple has foreseen, and there is a simple way to discover which Apple Watch is perched on your wrist.

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap the My Watch tab, then hit General > About.
Scroll to the Model field, then tap it to reveal a model number beginning with “A”.
Note down that model number and compare it to Apple’s database to find out which Apple Watch you have.

Now that’s you’re sure you know which Apple Watch you have, it’s time to find out if you’ll be getting an OS upgrade.

Apple Watches that will receive WatchOS 5

Device

Apple Watch Series 3 (2017)

Apple Watch Series 2 (2016)

Apple Watch Series 1 (2016)

There’s nothing hugely surprising here; if you’ve bought an Apple Watch fairly recently, then you would expect it to stay updated with the latest and greatest of Apple’s updates for now. Last year’s Apple Watch Series 3, the Apple Watch Series 2, and the Apple Watch Series 1 from 2016 are all watches that will be receiving WatchOS 5 when it launches.

We didn’t include the upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 in this list because that watch will launch with WatchOS 5 already installed — so it won’t be an update.

Apple Watches that will not receive WatchOS 5

Device

Apple Watch (first generation) (2015)

Bad news for anyone still hanging onto their first-generation Apple Watch — it won’t be receiving an upgrade to the latest WatchOS, which means you won’t be sampling the latest additions and improvements to the OS.

But why isn’t your watch getting updated with the rest? Unfortunately, every piece of technology has a shelf life, and there comes a day when it simply isn’t worth the company’s time to keep pushing updates to an outdated model. Apple is known for supporting its tech for longer than other companies — there are five-year-old iPhones receiving the upcoming iOS 12 update — but even Apple has its limits.

The first generation of Apple Watch is actually pretty young for an Apple product, so it’s a surprise to see it getting the boot so soon. Which leads us to suspect that the reason isn’t to do with its lifespan — it’s linked to the watch’s hardware itself. Sometimes an update is too much for older hardware to handle, and it’s not a good idea to shackle future innovation in order to stay tethered to older hardware. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way of the tech world.

Does this mean you need to ditch your Apple Watch and go shopping? Not necessarily. If you’re desperate for the new WatchOS 5 then you’re going to have to invest in a new model — but if your Apple Watch is chugging along just fine and you’re otherwise happy with your wrist-based companion, why not keep it around? If it’s still a solid performer and WatchOS 5 is your only grumble, maybe consider living with the still capable WatchOS 4. After all, it’s still a heck of a smartwatch.

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‘Crop-dusting’ drones drop biodegradable sensors instead of pesticides

From self-driving tractors to farming robots, there’s no doubt that agriculture is in the middle of a high tech shakeup. But a new proposal from researchers in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. could take things to the next level — by using drones to carry out a futuristic version of crop dusting; only they’ll be dispersing tiny sensors in place of crop protection products.

These 3D printed biodegradable sensors, called “PlantCopters,” are modeled after dandelion flower and maple seeds, which can float through the air in a manner similar to miniature helicopters. They will then get stuck on the leaves of crops, where they can keep track of plant growth, health, and surrounding microclimate. This data can then be transmitted via Bluetooth.

“Due to complexity and expense, [similar technology has previously been out of reach for many] farmers, especially in the developing countries where most of the farming takes place,” Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, a professor of electrical engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Digital Trends. “We are reducing both complexity and price to bring high tech to farming. This development, when widely deployed, will generate big data which can be used by artificial intelligence to make and use execute intelligent decisions using robotics. This is the first step toward that direction.”

At present, the work is still in its relatively early stages. Researchers on the project have created long-lasting, low-power sensors which they have shown can detect even tiny amounts of growth changes in plants and then transmit this data. They have also demonstrated that prototype PlantCopters can be successfully dropped from a height of 50 feet, although a mass airdrop has not yet been attempted.

However, the promise of such a project is immense. Alongside some of the other agricultural technologies we mentioned up top, this hints at a data-driven, autonomous future for farming. Not only will tools of this type give farmers more information about their crops, they could also hopefully free up some of their time, too.

A paper describing this project, titled “Compliant plant wearables for localized microclimate and plant growth monitoring,” was recently published in the journal npj Flexible Electronics.

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Xs Max? Xr? Apple’s new iPhone names are a confusing mess

Apple has lost its way. It has become confused, unsure of what to do for the best, and it all comes down to an odd lack of planning. A lack of foresight even. No, we’re not talking about the new iPhone models — which we’re excited about getting our hands on — but the new nomenclature Apple has chosen.

It is, by far, the worst collection of letters arranged in some semblance of order we’ve seen in a while.

Naming excess

This year’s iPhone model range is called the iPhone XR, the iPhone XS, and the iPhone XS Max. None of this makes much sense. The biggest problem is that according to Apple, the iPhone X was the iPhone 10 — it’s a Roman numeral, see — because it was released in the same year as the iPhone’s 10th anniversary. That anniversary has passed, so why are we still celebrating it?

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It was hard enough to keep from calling the damn thing the iPhone Eks before, and now we’ve got two new phones with names that when read by any normal person will be the iPhone Excess, and Excess Max. Not the iPhone 10 S. Ever. Why? Because there’s a big X in front of the S. If you want it to be called the 10, Apple, it needs to feature the number 10 in the name, exactly as you did with versions three-to-eight.

If a naming structure is going to be based on ascending numbers, let’s try to keep it in some kind of logical order, OK?

Now, we also have another point of confusion. Why Max instead of Plus? Plus has been the name-of-choice for the bigger iPhone since the iPhone 6. It’s well-established, people understand the difference between it and the regular phone, and it’s written properly instead of using a + sign. Why change it? Especially to a word that’s not only an informal abbreviation, and therefore cheaper sounding, but also less meaningful to the brand than Plus. What’s more, we’re all so indoctrinated that the bigger iPhone will inevitably be referred to as the iPhone XS Plus anyway.

We thought you cared about brand recognition and reputation, Apple?

What about nine, and two?

Yes, we get that Apple has previously followed up a new model with an S model revision a year later, and that the XS fits into this pattern. Except there is no pattern anymore. Did you like the iPhone 9? How about the iPhone 2? Apple forgot all about these phones, and has merrily skipped past them both. If a naming structure is going to be based on ascending numbers, let’s try to keep it in some kind of logical order, OK?

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The iPhone XR is even worse. Apple’s low-cost iPhone has always suffered with a stupid name anyway. The iPhone SE’s name is meaningless, so we’re glad it has gone away, but sadly it has been replaced by the iPhone XR, which bears no relation to the older iPhone 5C, and forgets all about the SE model it actually replaces entirely. Where did the R come from, all of a sudden?

Anyway, let’s recap. The new iPhone XS may be colloquially called both the iPhone 10S and the iPhone Excess, and iPhone XS Max may get referred to as the iPhone 10S Plus, or Excess Plus, or even Eks S Max, if we remember. Finally, the iPhone XR may actually stay safe, as it’s the only one without any history at all, except is it the 10R or the Eks R? Who knows, it’s all too confusing.

Apple can get it right

The main issue with the iPhone range’s names is that they’re too complicated. It’s not like Apple has some kind of decent-name-blindness either. Look at the Apple Watch. It’s simply called the Apple Watch, and the only way to know the difference is by series name. That’s how car manufacturers approach things. The BMW 3-Series, for example, has had the same basic name for decades.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Car geeks learn to differentiate models using the lesser known names; but to regular people, these don’t matter. It’s a 3-Series, just like it’s an Apple Watch. We don’t need an Apple Watch S, or an Apple Watch RS Max Turbo. We know what it is, everyone calls it the same thing, and everyone remembers the name without furrowing their brow trying to recall the right way to say it.

Does it matter?

Yes, names matter a lot, and Apple knows it. It understands names must be memorable, that’s why Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, a product to go along with the iMac, the iPod, and in later years the iPad. It’s also why the iPhone name is often used by marketing companies explaining how to name products. It’s product naming gold.

This marketing company singles it out in its advice on the subject, but Apple should have paid attention to the other tips the list contains, including making a name easy to spell, pronounce, and remember. Tech marketing company New Kind also advises against complicated names, and dissects how Tesla should move forward with its own, similar, naming issues.

What’s the solution?

Apple has teams of marketing professionals working on these names, and we have no doubt they know exactly what they’re doing, but this seems like a missed opportunity to start with a clean slate. The iPhone 8 and iPhone X should have signified the end of random numbers and letters being applied to the new iPhone models.

We already say the solution to all this in normal conversation anyway. When someone asks you, “What phone do you have,” the general reply is to say, “An iPhone,” without going into much further detail unless quizzed about it. Everything most people want to know is relayed here.

2018 should have introduced the iPhone, and the iPhone Plus (or Max, if it really has to be), along with the iPhone Lite, iPhone Minus, or iPhone Min. The cheap one is hard to name, so that’s where the marketers can earn their money. Note: Throwing letters and numbers at it is not the answer.

Apple should be exploiting to the power of the iPhone brand name to max (Plus?); rather than diluting it with pointless, illogical, and incomprehensible additional letters.

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Everything you need to know about the Apple iPhone Xr

Apple’s set of 2018 iPhones is finally here, and while the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max may get all the attention, not everyone has $1,000 to spend on a phone. Thankfully, however, those flagship phones aren’t the only new iPhones around — Apple has also launched a so-called “low-cost” iPhone Xr.

While a slight diversion from Apple’s usual naming scheme, the new iPhone Xr clearly has a lot to offer, and if you’re an iPhone user it may well be the best choice for your needs. Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s new iPhone Xr, and what makes it different from the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Plus.

Design

The first thing to note about the iPhone Xr is the fact that it features a modern iPhone design, with a notch at the top. The device seems to have slightly larger bezels than the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but it’s barely noticeable, and you probably won’t feel it unless you’re moving from an iPhone X to an iPhone Xr. That display comes in at 6.1 inches — which is right in between the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs and 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max. That display is an LCD display, and Apple calls it a Liquid Display. It has a resolution of 1,792 x 828, True Tone support, and more — though, unfortunately, it does not feature 3D Touch.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The back of the phone is perhaps the biggest diversion from the iPhone Xs and Xs Max — while the two more expensive devices feature dual-sensor cameras, the iPhone Xr instead offers a single-lens camera. We’ll go into the camera’s specs a little later. On top of that, the phone has an aluminum frame, which means that like other new iPhone models, it will support wireless charging. It also has IP67 water-resistance.

Another big point of difference between the iPhone Xr and iPhone Xs is the colors on offer. The iPhone Xs and Xs Max come in six different colors, including white, black, blue, coral, red, and yellow.

Specs

While the iPhone Xr does offer a slightly different design than the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, thankfully, the phone is relatively similar under the hood. The new device features Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor, which is the first 7nm processor, and should make for an ultra-powerful experience. The storage options are a little different than the iPhone Xs and Xs Max — storage starts at 64GB for all models, but while the iPhone Xs and Xs Max feature options for 256GB and 512GB, the iPhone Xr instead offers 128GB and then 256GB options. Still, that’s likely more than enough for the vast majority of users — especially when coupled with cloud storage.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The battery life on the iPhone, according to Apple, comes in at an hour and a half more than the iPhone 8 Plus — though Apple didn’t give a specific number of hours for the device.

Camera

As mentioned, perhaps the biggest difference between the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, and the iPhone Xr is the fact that the iPhone Xr only has a single-sensor camera — meaning the phone won’t offer features like Portrait Mode. The camera on the iPhone Xr comes in at 12-megapixels with an aperture of f/1.8, and has support for Portrait Mode through machine learning — not through the dual-sensor camera like on other iPhones. We’ll have to wait and see just how high quality that Portrait Mode is.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

On the front, the iPhone Xr features the same TrueDepth camera system as the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, meaning you get the same Face ID features as other new iPhone models.

Price and availability

The iPhone Xr will be available for pre-order starting on October 19, with a shipping date set for October 26. The device will come in at $749, making it the iPhone of choice for those that like the iPhone X design but aren’t a fan of the high price tag.

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Ex-Rolls-Royce engineer looks to conquer the tiny home market with the Conker

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Conker Living

Conker Living

Conker Living

Conker Living

Conker Living

How will we all live in the future? If some science fiction stories are to believed, it could be in shiny and spherical pod-style homes that resemble giant soccer balls on stilts. If the year 3000 can’t come around quick enough for you, former Rolls-Royce and Bentley engineer Jag Virdie has your back.

Virdie recently launched “The Conker,” a new type of spherical dwelling that can be installed in a single day, and brings with it the possibility of stylish off-the-grid living. It also has the added benefit of making your friends think some kind of luxury alien spacecraft has landed in your backyard.

“The aerodynamic shape of the Conker negates the need for guttering, and allows it to harvest water and be easily fitted with solar panels on the exterior,” Virdie told Digital Trends. “What we have created is [something] that allows people to create whatever environment they want — both inside and out. You can really make it bespoke, using whatever patterns or colors you want on the outside, and whatever furniture or colors you want on the inside.”

The full-size Conker is around 13-feet tall and 12.6-feet in diameter. Its shell is made from aluminum and recycled plastic, while the walls contain more than 200mm of insulation, which promises to make it heat efficient in both summer and winter. To gain access to the pod, you’ll use a hatch-like door and steps, similar to the kind of entrance you would find on an airplane. Inside, the surprisingly spacious Conker boasts wood floors and, on request, a wet room, toilet, kitchenette, and other essentials that truly turn a pod into a home.

It costs a shade over $45,000 “with all the bells and whistles,” although cheaper options are available if you don’t want all the extras. That relatively high price point puts it above some other micro homes, but there are no extra costs tacked on on top. For instance, it doesn’t need to be installed on a concrete base or any kind of foundation. And, heck, with the possibility of solar-powered off-the-grid living, you won’t even necessarily have energy costs to pay!

“There are several markets that we’re looking at,” Virdie said. “One is the ‘glamping’ market because they’ve really been the first to express their excitement. There has also been interest in having them as a garden room or office — which is how I use mine. There’s also potential for it as a building which can easily be assembled or dismantled to function as, for instance, a temporary bar for shows, music festivals, and other events. There’s a lot that the Conker can do.”

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MacOS Mojave officially launches on September 24

During Wednesday’s Apple event, the company announced that MacOS Mojave will be exiting its beta status on September 24. The operating system was announced earlier this year at the Worldwide Developers Conference and developers and consumers have been helping Apple test the OS since then in beta editions. At the time, Apple promised that Mojave would be available for all Mac users on a compatible system to download this fall, and now it looks like users will be able to experience Mojave later in September.

“MacOS Mojave will be available this fall as a free software update for Macs introduced in mid-2012 or later, plus 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards,” Apple announced.

MacOS Mojave delivers a number of notable upgrades to the Mac experience. It brings a new night mode, bringing a dark theme interface to the Mac. The new Mojave night mode is designed, as Apple highlighted during its WWDC keynote, to help reduce eye strain for night owls who prefer to get work done in the dark. Apple will also be revamping its MacOS App Store with a refreshed design, and the company promised that some iOS apps will be available on the Mac for the first time with Mojave. These include popular apps from the iPhone, like News, Home, and Voice Memos. The Home app will allow Mac users to control their smart home setup from the Mac.

Other features include enhancements to the Finder, desktop stacks, dynamic desktops, Quick Actions, and an easier way to mark-up screenshots.

Another big Mojave update — and one that likely isn’t as attention-grabbing as the night mode — is that the new operating system is designed with user privacy in mind. The Safari web browser on Mojave will be updated to make it harder for sites to track you on the internet. Data privacy is becoming a growing topic of interest with lawmakers. With the European Union passing stricter privacy regulations earlier this year and California following suit this summer, the topic is now part of the national conversation with Apple scheduled to testify before the Senate about its privacy practices later this month.

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Apple iPhone Xs vs. iPhone X: What difference does a year make?

The world of smartphones is constantly moving forward, with a never-ending parade of improvements and upgrades. A year on from Apple’s biggest overhaul of the iPhone range and we have a direct successor to the iPhone X. Clearly part of the same family, with a notched OLED screen and all the same design cues, we find the iPhone Xs vying for our affections.

Owners of an iPhone X will be weighing up whether the upgrade to an iPhone Xs is worth it. Others may be anticipating a price drop for the iPhone X and wondering if the iPhone Xs justifies the extra outlay. We have all the answers you need right here as we compare last year’s iPhone X with this year’s iPhone Xs.

Specs

Apple iPhone Xs
Apple iPhone X

Size
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches)
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches)

Weight
 177 grams (6.24 ounces)
174 grams (6.14 ounces)

Screen size
5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display
5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display

Screen resolution
2,436 x 1,125 pixels (458 ppi)
2,436 x 1,125 pixels (458 ppi)

Operating system
iOS 12
iOS 11

Storage space
64GB, 256GB, 512GB
64GB, 256GB

MicroSD card slot
No
No

Tap-to-pay services
Apple Pay
Apple Pay

Processor
A12 Bionic
A11 Bionic

RAM
TBC
3GB

Camera
Dual 12MP rear, 7MP FaceTime HD front
Dual 12MP rear, 7MP FaceTime HD front

Video
2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps
2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5
Bluetooth 5

Ports
Lightning
Lightning

Fingerprint sensor
No
No

Water resistance
IP68
IP67

Battery
TBC
2,716mAh

App marketplace
Apple App Store
Apple App Store

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

Colors
Gold, Silver, Space Gray
Space Gray, Silver

Price
$1,000
$1,000

Where to buy it
Apple

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Apple

Review score
Hands-on review
4.5 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

The most notable thing here is the upgrade to Apple’s latest A12 Bionic processor. This new chip is faster and more power-efficient than its predecessor, the A11, which you’ll find in the iPhone X. Apple suggests it’s 15 percent faster and 40 percent more power-efficient. There’s also an improved Neural Engine in the A12 Bionic, along with augmented reality and graphical improvements that should please gamers in particular.

We’re not sure how much the extra speed will be felt right now, since the iPhone X will comfortably handle anything you can throw at it, but as more demanding apps and games are released to take advantage of this jump in raw processing power, we will see a gap. Apple also suggests that apps will load up to 30 percent faster on the iPhone Xs.

We also expect to see significantly better battery life in the iPhone Xs, and Apple suggests it should last half an hour longer per day on average, though it didn’t reveal the capacity. You can fast charge the iPhone X if you snag a fast charger, but charging speeds, both slow and fast, are going to be similar for these phones. Both iPhones also support Qi wireless charging.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You’ll be hard-pressed to tell these phones apart. As is tradition with an S upgrade, the body of the iPhone Xs is identical to the iPhone X. We’ve got the same glass sandwich design with a notch cut into the top of the 5.8-inch OLED screen. However, while you can get both in space grey or silver, only the iPhone Xs comes in gold.

A case is going to be a necessity for either of these iPhones, so check out the best iPhone X cases and the best iPhone Xs cases for some ideas. The iPhone Xs is covered in tougher glass, so it may fare a little better in a fall. Water won’t be a major concern for iPhone X owners because it can be submerged in shallow water — up to a meter deep — for up to half an hour without damage. The iPhone Xs has a slightly higher IP68 rating that means it can handle depths of up to 2 meters for the same period.

Winner: Apple iPhone Xs

Display

There’s nothing to separate the iPhones here, because both sport the same 5.8-inch OLED screen with a 2,436 x 1,125-pixel resolution. They’re sharp, bright, and boast accurate colors. The aspect ratio is 19.5:9, so this is a wide screen, though that distinctive notch cuts out a portion of it. The screen-to-body ratio is still one of the highest around at 82.9 percent.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

We’ve been impressed by the dual-lens camera in the iPhone X and Apple stuck with the same setup in the iPhone XS. You’ve got two 12-megapixel lenses, both with optical image stabilization (OIS), but one has an f/1.8 aperture while the other has an f/2.4 aperture and supports 2x optical zoom. It’s capable of capturing great shots in a wide variety of different situations, though it doesn’t match some competitors when it comes to low-light photography. Something it is very good at is capturing great portrait shots with blurred backgrounds, and the iPhone Xs allows you to adjust the field of depth after taking a shot. Apple claims the sensor in the iPhone Xs is twice as fast, so we expect to see some improvements when we get to take it for a test drive.

The front-facing camera has the same TrueDepth support, which enables the FaceID to work so securely and also allows Animojis and Memojis to work so well. Apparently, the iPhone Xs has a faster Secure Enclave and an algorithm update, which means FaceID should work just a little faster in the newer phone.

Winner: Apple iPhone Xs

Software and updates

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

The Apple iPhone Xs launches with the latest iOS 12 on board, while the iPhone X launched with iOS 11, however the iPhone X can be updated to iOS 12 very easily. Apple rolls out updates regularly and both these iPhones will be easy to update over-the-air.

The software experience and update schedule should be identical for both these phones, but we’re going to give the newer iPhone the slightest of edges, because it will likely continue to get updates for slightly longer than its predecessor. If we look at iOS 12, for example, we find that the iPhone 5S is the cutoff line and the iPhone 5 won’t be getting it.

Winner: Apple iPhone Xs

Special features

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Perhaps the headline feature here is the TrueDepth front-facing camera, which is capable of scanning your face, even in the dark, to unlock your iPhone. Apple has employed the same technology to enable your facial expressions to animate fun creatures in the shape of Animojis or caricatures in the shape of Memojis. They add a little fun to your chats and work a lot more smoothly than similar features on other phones.

The iPhone Xs adds dual SIM support, which is great for international travelers, but there isn’t too much else to speak of here. These iPhones are great all-rounders that are focused on doing the essentials very well.

Winner: Apple iPhone Xs

Price

When Apple releases a new iPhone. last year’s model drops in price. The base model of the iPhone Xs with 64GB of storage is going to cost you $1,000 and it will be widely available

September 21, with pre-orders starting from September 14.

The iPhone Xs replaces the iPhone X on Apple’s website, but you should still be able to pick it up from major retailers or from any big carrier. We expect the price to drop a little in response to the release of the iPhone Xs, so watch out for deals.

Overall Winner: Apple iPhone Xs

It will come as no surprise that Apple has made improvements over the last year and the iPhone Xs is a slightly better phone than the iPhone X. It boasts better performance, longer battery life, and a few other tweaks to make it more appealing, but the difference isn’t massive. If you have an iPhone X already, we think you should hang to it on for at least another year. For those choosing between the X and the Xs, we’d definitely opt for the newer iPhone.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Here’s how to buy the brand-new Apple iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr

After months of rumors and speculation, Apple has finally taken the wraps off of the latest and greatest iPhones, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr. The three iPhones boast a ton of new features, including a more modern design on the lower-cost iPhone and improvements to the processing power of the phones.

Of course, you might be wondering just how to get your hands on the new iPhone models. That is why we put together this guide. Here’s how, when, and where to buy the new iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr.

Unlocked

As you might expect, you’ll be able to buy the new iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr directly from Apple unlocked, if you so choose. From Apple, the iPhone Xs and Xs Max will be available for pre-order starting on September 14, while shipping begins on September 21. Pricing for the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max can be found below.

• iPhone Xs 64GB: $999, or $49.91 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.
• iPhone Xs 256GB: $1,149, or $56.16 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.
• iPhone Xs 512GB: $1,349, or $64.50 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.
• iPhone Xs Max 64GB: $1,099, or $54.08 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.
• iPhone Xs Max 256GB: $1,249, or $60.33 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.
• iPhone Xs Max 512GB: $1,449, or $68.66 per month with the iPhone upgrade program.

In addition to the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, Apple also unveiled the new iPhone Xr, which does away with some of the features in the iPhone Xs, but comes at a lower price. The iPhone Xr, however, won’t be available at the same time as the iPhone Xs — it’ll be up for pre-order starting on October 19. Pricing for the iPhone Xr can be found below, though we’re not currently sure if the iPhone Xr will be available unlocked given the fact that there doesn’t seem to be an unlocked option on the Apple website — only carrier options. We’ll update this article with more information when we have it. If it is available unlocked, it will likely offer the same pricing as carriers, which can be found below.

• iPhone Xr 64GB: $749, or $37.41 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program.
• iPhone Xr 128GB: $799, or $39.50 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program.
• iPhone Xr 256GB: $899, or $43.66 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program.

Apple likely won’t be the only one to offer the new iPhones unlocked. It’s likely we’ll also see the new devices pop up at Amazon, Best Buy, and other places too.

Carriers

Perhaps you’d prefer to get the phones straight from your carrier . Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone’s pricing from your carrier.

AT&T

We have yet to hear AT&T’s pricing and availability for any of the new iPhones. We’ll update this article when we hear more.

Sprint

We have yet to hear Sprint’s pricing and availability for any of the new iPhones. We’ll update this article when we hear more.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile will be offering the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr, all at the same time as Apple. That’s to say, you’ll be able to pre-order the iPhone Xs and Xs Max from T-Mobile starting on September 14, with sales beginning on September 21. Pre-orders for the iPhone Xr will begin on October 19.

When it comes to special deals, T-Mobile says that it will offer customers up to $300 toward the purchase of a new iPhone with an eligible trade-in, and that credit will be applies to the users account in installments over 24 months.

Verizon

We have yet to hear Verizon’s pricing and availability for any of the new iPhones. We’ll update this article when we hear more.

Comcast Xfinity Mobile

Like other carriers, Xfinity Mobile will be offering the iPhone Xs and Xs Max for pre-order starting on September 14, with shipping beginning on September 21. The iPhone Xr will be up for pre-order on October 19.

As a special deal, Xfinity Mobile is offering new customers $300 if they purchase a new iPhone, activate a new line, and port over their number.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple iPhone Xs: News, release, specs, and more
• Apple iPhone Xs vs. iPhone X: What difference does a year make?
• Apple iPhone Xr vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6s: Which is best for you?
• Everything you need to know about the Apple iPhone Xr
• Live coverage: Apple’s September 12 event

NHL 19 is a faithful rendition of the real deal

Violent Sports On Ice.

NHL 19 is due out in a short couple of days. It’s EA’s hockey simulator that, although not quite as popular as their Madden and FIFA games, certainly has earned its scratch as a quality annual sports title. Here’s everything you need to know about NHL 19.

$60 at Amazon

What is NHL 19?

We’re not exactly sure when it happened, but EA found themselves the sole owners of a licensed annual hockey franchise. Like many of EA’s other sports titles under the direction of Peter Moore, the NHL games have gotten increasingly better as time goes on.

As is usual, EA’s focus is on combining the authenticity of the NHL license with rock-solid simulation-style gameplay and a wealth of modes and features to keep you busy.

A whole new feeling

The big trend for EA Sports games this year is Real Player Motion. This physics-based engine is designed to make the act of movement feel more natural and fluid. Although the floaty feeling of player movement in other sports games is typically referred to as ice skating and hockey is literally an ice skating game, Real Player Motion aims to eliminate that feeling.

On the ice, that means you’ll see an engine that takes weight, momentum, velocity, and overall player skill into account when determining how players can go, stop, and turn. You won’t be able to stop on a dime and instantly change directions at full speed. EA wants you to feel like you’re driving your skates into the ice and having to build up your speed as you race from one end of the sheet to the other. Players’ legs will churn and swing as they look to speed up on the ice, too.

Another thing EA likes to do with Real Player Motion is to incorporate the actual styles and characteristics of the hockey stars in the game. Wayne Gretzky will skate like Wayne Gretzky. Connor McDavid will feel more explosive than your average hockey player.

It doesn’t always sound like much on paper, but the Real Player Movement engine changes the entire feel of these sports games. NHL 19 will look familiar, but it’ll feel entirely new. That’s of no consequence to newcomers as they have no prior history to compare, but series veterans will surely notice the difference almost immediately.

The game’s collision engine is also beefed up. Hockey is a pretty violent sport, as evidenced by all those pads the players wear, and it’s always important for EA to improve this area of the game. There’ll be an infusion of new animations as well as dynamic physics to make each hit feel just right.

You’ll see different types of collisions that’ll be determined by skills and attributes, speed, weight, angles and positioning, and strength. Stamina will also play a part in your ability to take a check. If your player is tired, he is more likely to fall down from a collision and will take longer to get up. All of this builds on a Frostbite-based engine which has offered a satisfying time at the digital hockey rink for years now.

Go for gold

Another thing NHL is adopting from other EA Sports titles is a create-a-player mode which lets you build up your own hockey superstar from scratch to use him across a variety of game modes. It’s being called World of CHEL and is to be considered a direct extension of the Hockey League mode from years past. Here are all the different things you can get into:

• NHL ONES: You and two other competitors duke it out in a series of free-for-all showcases that displays individual skills and talent. Daily challenges let you climb the ladder and earn chances to compete in more prestigious outdoor environments, including The Lot, The Cove, The Docks, and The Ring.
• Pro-Am: Join a team with two other NHL stars of the past and present to take on an equally-skilled AI-controlled team in a series of challenges. The better you do, the more rewards you earn for your World of CHEL player.
• Hockey League: This is the big competitive play mode where you can take everything you’ve learned, practiced, and trained for into fierce cooperative head-to-head matches against online opponents.

World of CHEL offers you the opportunity to create the player you’ve always wanted, with 12 different skater classes and 3 of the goalie variety. Each class offers differing playstyles, advantages and disadvantages, and unique abilities. And you don’t just have to stick with one throughout your career thanks to a new Loadouts feature — just set up your classes and swap between them at the press of a button.

Beyond the competitive stuff, customizing your World of CHEL player’s cosmetics will be quite fun this year with over 900 player items to choose from. These range from your hardcore NHL-approved gear to parkas, hats, and all sorts of other cool winter gear you’ll be able to sport in several game modes.

When you’re less concerned about building up your own personal character, all the other modes will let you run the rink in more team-oriented settings. Franchise mode is back, of course, offering you the ability to run your hockey club and go for the Stanley Cup. And NHL Ultimate Team lets you collect your favorite stars from the past and present to compete against others.

Pre-order bonuses

Pre-ordering the standard edition of NHL 19 will get you hooked up with 5 Ultimate Team packs. You’ll also get loyalty rewards that net you goodies if you’ve owned any of the previous 3 NHL games. Those rewards include up to 3 World of CHEL Hockey Bags containing gear for your player, 2, 5, or 10 UItimate Team Packs, and you’ll also get as many as three different NHL Ultimate team players:

• NHL 16: Jonathan Toews
• NHL 17: Vladimir Tarasenko
• NHL 18: Connor McDavid

EA will automatically determine whether you’ve played those games and will issue your rewards accordingly.

$60 at Amazon

You’ll get all of the above if you pre-order the Legends Edition, plus access to the game 3 days early, 20 Ultimate Team packs (1 per week for 20 weeks), a rookie Ultimate Team player, a cover athlete Ultimate Team player, a legend Ultimate Team player, and a “Hockey Bag” containing World of CHEL items.

$80 at Amazon

Last but not least, the Ultimate Edition has everything the previous ones do, except you’ll get 40 Ultimate Team packs (2 per week for 20 weeks).

$100 at Amazon

When can you play it?

NHL 19 launches for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One worldwide on September 14, 2018. Those ordering premium editions of the game can enjoy it as soon as September 11, 2018.

And if you’re on Xbox One as an EA Access subscriber, you’ll get to try out a fully-featured trial of the game for 10 hours before you buy, as well as receive a discount of 10% on the game itself and all in-game purchases. Let us know if you’ll be skating to pick this one up once it arrives.

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