3 affordable alternatives to the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo

Samsung’s new Wireless Charger Duo is an elegant solution to an inelegant problem: having to charge multiple phones (or a phone and a watch) at the same time overnight. Rather than using two different chargers, you can buy this one big pad that has an angled stand on the left and a flat segment on the right. The problem is you pay for that simplicity: the Wireless Charger Duo is $115, which is more expensive than buying two separate chargers! You’d think you’d get a discount. Thankfully, there are alternatives out there.

Fast dual wireless charging

ZENS Dual Qi Pad 2X 15 Watt

You can charge up two Qi-compatible devices at once with this sleek pad from ZENS. There’s 15W output for both coils, which will charge phones incredibly quickly, and it’s even sleeker than Samsung’s version because it’s completely flat. It’s also much cheaper.

$80 at Amazon

Dual-wireless charging for even less

IBIS Wireless Dual Fast Charging Station

This dual wireless charger from IBIS doesn’t look particularly nice, but it will get the job done wirelessly charging two devices at once. It also has a USB-A port for wired charging of a third device. And best of all, it’s about one-third the price of Samsung’s dual charger.

$40 at Amazon

Or get two of these

AUKEY Qi-Enabled, Ultra Slim Wireless Charging Pad

The cheapest solution to this problem is to just buy two separate slim and small wireless chargers, like this one from Aukey. It’ll take some configuration (and maybe double-sided tape) to get them set just right, but the result is wirelessly charging two devices for just $26.

$13 each at Amazon

We don’t blame you for not wanting to pay big money for Samsung’s Wireless Charger Duo, so you can save by going with one of our picks instead. The ZENS dual wireless charger will give you the best and most Samsung-like experience for about $35 less, which is great savings. However, you can save even more by getting a less expensive dual charger, or just run your own by getting two small and inexpensive wireless chargers.

Echo, Echo, Dot, Dot, you just got a… [#acpodcast]

Daniel Bader takes a break from dirty diapers and sleepless nights to join Andrew Martonik and Jerry Hildenbrand for an in-depth look at the staggering number of devices Amazon unveiled at a recent event in Seattle. This is a serious shot across the bow of every smart home company. Amazon excels at automation — now they’re looking to Echo all the things into just about every facet of life imaginable.

What are your favorite voice assistant and smart home devices? Let us know in the comments!

Listen now

• Subscribe in iTunes: Audio
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• Download directly: Audio

Show Notes and Links:

• Here’s everything Amazon announced at its 2018 hardware event
• Amazon just asked Alexa to declare war on every smart home company
• Amazon Alexa does a whole bunch of new stuff
• Amazon announces upgraded Echo Dot with vastly improved sound quality
• The Amazon Echo Sub is a subwoofer for your Echo speakers
• Amazon’s new Echo Show has slimmer bezels and dual side-firing speakers
• Amazon Will Consider Opening Up to 3,000 Cashierless Stores by 2021
• Fire TV Recast sends local TV to your Echo Shows and Fire TVs
• Amazon offers its latest Echo devices in discounted bundles, so pre-order now

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• Lenovo Smart Display
• Techmeme Ride Home Podcast —New episodes every weekday covering all the top stories from techmeme.com! Just search your podcast app for “Ride Home” and subscribe today!

Nokia 5.1 Plus preview: Robust hardware backed by excellent software

Nokia brings its latest design language to a much more attractive price point.

HMD Global is starting to gain momentum in India following the launch of the Nokia 6.1 Plus. The phone introduced a notched design and improvements on the hardware front, but more than that it signaled HMD’s intent to become more aggressive in the Indian market. Retailing for just ₹15,999 ($220, the Nokia 6.1 Plus goes up against of the likes of the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the ZenFone Max Pro M1 in the country.

With the Nokia 5.1 Plus, HMD is continuing the same strategy. The phone shares most of the same design elements as the Nokia 6.1 Plus but is available at a lower ₹10,999 ($150) price point. To accommodate the price tag, HMD had to make a few changes on the hardware side of things, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Nokia 5.1 Plus is a fantastic budget phone.

Nokia rolled out its first device with a notch with the 6.1 Plus, and the company is fully embracing the cutout with all the Plus models. The Nokia 5.1 Plus has an even wider cutout at the top of the display, and it looks like the upcoming Nokia 7.1 Plus will follow suit.

At 5.86 inches, the Nokia 5.1 Plus is marginally taller than the 5.8-inch Nokia 6.1 Plus, but the screen resolution has been lowered to HD+ (1520×720). The overall design aesthetic is near-identical to that of the Nokia 6.1 Plus, with the only major change being the lack of chrome accents around the power and volume buttons and the camera sensor.

The power and volume buttons have a decent amount of tactile feedback, and it’s great to see HMD make the switch to USB-C charging. There’s also a 3.5mm jack located up top, and the hybrid SIM card tray lets you fit in a MicroSD card in the second SIM card slot.

Android manufacturers have done little to justify the presence of the notch, and the Nokia 5.1 Plus doesn’t fare any better. There’s a sizeable chin at the bottom of the display that includes the Nokia logo, and while Nokia is trying to free up some real estate by offering the cutout, in this particular instance it would have made more sense to go with a traditional 18:9 setup. It’s not even fully clear why the Nokia 5.1 Plus has a wide cutout, as it doesn’t look like the entire space is being utilized.

Both the front and glass feature 2.5D glass panels with a polycarbonate chassis sandwiched in between, and just like the Nokia 6.1 Plus the 5.1 Plus has excellent in-hand feel. While it isn’t as conducive to one-handed use, it is better than most other devices in this category.

When it comes to the hardware side of things, the Nokia 5.1 Plus has all the bells and whistles. There’s 3GB of RAM along with 32GB of storage, a MicroSD slot, 3.5mm jack, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, dual 13MP + 5MP cameras at the back, 8MP front shooter, and a 3060mAh battery. Interestingly, HMD has decided to go with MediaTek’s Helio P60 in lieu of Qualcomm hardware, and we’ll have to wait and see if that decision ends up hurting the phone when it comes to software updates.

HMD is pushing the Nokia 5.1 Plus as a gaming phone, and the Helio P60 is just as capable as the Snapdragon 636 in this area. The Helio P60 has two 2.0GHz Cortex A73 cores paired with two 2.0GHz Cortex A53 cores and a Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, so the device isn’t exactly lacking when it comes to power.

That’s evident in day-to-day usage — the Nokia 5.1 Plus doesn’t really slow down or lag during everyday tasks, and the 3060mAh battery is more than adequate to last an entire day with room to spare.

There is a 409MB day-one software update available for the device that offers a host of bug fixes and stability improvements, and the software experience is largely unchanged from what you get on other Android One phones. There’s zero bloat to be found, and while the phone comes with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, HMD says the device is ready for Pie, with an update planned in the coming months.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus will be available in India starting October 1, and you’ll be able to pick up the phone from Nokia’s website as well as Flipkart. The phone will be sold in a single 3GB/32GB option that will retail for ₹10,999 ($150), with Gloss Black and Gloss Midnight Blue color options available. For the price, the Nokia 5.1 Plus definitely looks like a great phone, and the design combined with HMD’s track record with updates should give it a leg up in this category.

The only unknown is the Helio P60 and if HMD will be able to deliver timely updates. If it manages to do so, the Nokia 5.1 Plus will have no issues taking market share away from Xiaomi and others in this space. I’ll have much more to share about the Nokia 5.1 Plus in the coming weeks, but what do you think of the device? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

See at Flipkart

Jaybird X4 vs. Bose SoundSport Wireless: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. An Android phone is only as good as the earbuds you have to accompany it, so let us help you find the best way to jam out to your favorite tunes.

Jaybird X4

Battery champ

$129 at Amazon

Pros

• Eight hours of battery.
• Fully waterproof.
• More compact.

Cons

• Proprietary charging clip.

The Jaybird X4s are the best wireless sports earbuds for most people. They’ve got excellent battery life, are fully waterproof, and offer really great sound for $20 less than the SoundSport Wireless.

Bose SoundSport Wireless

Superior sound

$149 at Amazon

Pros

• Top of the line sound.
• Bluetooth and NFC pairing.

Cons

• Expensive.

Although the battery life and water resistance rating isn’t as good as what’s offered with the X4, the Bose SoundSport Wireless are the best sports earbuds you can buy if sound quality is your top concern.

For most people, the Jaybird X4 earbuds offer the best overall experience while giving you a good value for your money. However, if you want the very best sound quality around, the SoundSport Wireless are tough to beat.

Which earbuds should I buy?

If you’ve narrowed your search for wireless sports earbuds down to the Jaybird X4 and Bose SoundSport Wireless, you’re in a great position. We’ve got a feeling you’ll be happy no matter which one you choose, but even so, the X4s will likely be the best fit for most people.

For starters, the Jaybird X4s offer fantastic battery life. Jaybird rates them for eight hours of use on a single charge, and in our testing, we saw closer to 10 hours. Whether you’re running a marathon or hitting up the treadmill at your gym, this kind of endurance is great to have. Bose’s SoundSport Wireless last an admirable six hours per charge, and while that’s good, you definitely get more juice in between top-ups with the X4s.

Another area where Jaybird takes the lead is with the X4s durability. The IPX7 rating means the X4 are fully waterproof and can be submerged in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. Comparatively, the IPX4 rating for the SoundSport Wireless only offers guaranteed protection against water sprays and splashes — not actual submersion.

Both earbuds come with a carrying pouch and customizable ear tips, but once again, Jaybird gets the upper-hand with a more compact design.

All of that may make the SoundSport Wireless sound like a pretty inferior product, but there’s one area where these puppies really shine — sound quality.

The Jaybird X4s sound really, really good, but like we’ve come to expect over the years, Bose is still one of the undisputed kings in these regards. The sound that comes out of the SoundSport Wireless is downright fantastic, and you’d be hard-pressed to not get a huge grin on your face when listening to them.

Jaybird X4

Battery champ

$129 at Amazon

The best choice for most people.

Jaybird’s X4 earbuds offer the best all-around package when it comes to wireless sports earbuds. With excellent battery, full waterproofing, solid sound quality, and a comfy design, it’s hard to go wrong.

Bose SoundSport Wireless

Superior sound

Awesome sound at the expense of other features.

$149 at Amazon

The Bose SoundSport Wireless aren’t quite as complete of a product as the Jaybird X4, but if you’re okay with worse battery and a lower IP rating for top-notch sound, these are for you.

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs. Apple Watch Series 4: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. Fitness tracking is our passion, and we base our recommendations for choosing the best accessory on hundreds of hours of research.

Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm)

Everything you need

$349 at Amazon

Pros

• Multiple days of battery life
• Always-on display
• Hundreds of watch faces to choose from
• Unique bezel navigation system

Cons

• Kind of big for what it is
• App selection is pretty basic

Samsung made a big watch that does a little bit of anything and runs on just about everything. Its most important feature is the battery, which can get 4+ days of us when set up correctly.

Apple Watch Series 4 (44mm)

Polished excellence

$429 at Apple

Pros

• Sleek, thin design
• Fitness tracking is excellent
• Impressive haptics
• Polished UI

Cons

• Battery is just okay
• No third party watch faces
• No always-on mode
• iOS Only

Apple’s latest wearable is polished, comfortable to wear, and can get you a little more than a day’s use if you’re not too active. Its biggest strength is the wealth of fitness apps at your disposal.

The price of longevity, the cost of elegance

Smartwatches strike an often clumsy balance between trying to look like a watch and act like a gadget. A lot of this is because there’s not one thing every person wants or needs from these watches. Some want a nice watch-shaped gadget which tells time and occasionally delivers information from your phone. Others want a standalone fitness accessory which allows you to leave your phone at home when you work out. And in this divide, Samsung and Apple exist at mostly cross purposes.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch looks and feels like a watch at all times, with an always-on display and plenty of watch faces for total personalization. Apple’s Watch looks and feels like an iPhone accessory, with a massive array of first and third-party fitness apps and health accessories but little opportunity to control individual features. The fitness features on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch can track quite a bit, but there’s very little outside of these Samsung-made options available to users.

The truth is these are both excellent watches, but the experience you’re going to get out of each will be very different. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to how you use your watch every day.

There’s a lot to like about both of these watches, both of which quite honestly stand as the best you can buy today. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch does a great job lasting multiple days, offering substantial health and fitness tracking features, and it actually looks like a watch on your wrist. But it’s also thicker and heavier than the Apple Watch by quite a bit, so much so that this watch doesn’t always fit comfortably under a nice shirt when you’d want it to.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch looks and feels like an elegant piece of machinery on your wrist. It’s not round, but it’s highly functional. And whether you’re trying to get a couple of extra eggs hatched in Pokemon Go or you’re training for a Century ride, there are highly focused apps on the watch for you to use to reach those goals. But those fitness features and slender design cost quite a bit in battery life, making it so you have to charge it every night if you want a full day of use tomorrow.

You can force the Apple Watch to last two days if you really try, and you can force your behaviors around the Samsung-only apps for tracking health and fitness, but it’s clear these experiences are for very specific kinds of users. Once you know which one you are, the choice between these two watches becomes quite clear.

Preparing for the future

While these two watches offer particularly similar feature footprints right now, it’s important to note Apple’s plans for the Series 4 Watch in the future plan to increase that feature set dramatically. While technically available right now, a new Walkie Talkie feature on the Apple Watch is extremely limited. In the future, Apple envisions users being able to quickly chat with friends over brief audio messages. This is a quality evolution over sending voice messages via iMessage, especially since it can be quickly started and used exclusively through the Watch. It requires everyone you know to have an Apple Watch, obviously, but that could easily become worth it if this feature gains in popularity.

The Apple Watch is a great smartwatch and an even better fitness tracker, but the Galaxy Watch has a nicer design and more intuitive controls.

Something that is not speculative is the soon to be active ECG feature on every Apple Watch Series 4. This feature allows users to create a basic ECG readout from your body, giving you a simple idea of how your heart is performing. This feature isn’t expected to replace actual ECGs in an actual doctor’s office, but like the heart-rate monitor can offer early detection of potentially serious medical issues. Apple’s efforts in capturing a total picture of your health and encouraging you to see a professional when your readings appear unusual is commendable, and as long as these features are treated as accessories to actual medical professionals these are quality features which benefit everyone who wears an Apple Watch.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch is very much an as-is product. Aside from software and security updates, Samsung is unlikely to add any features which radically alter how you use the Watch over time. It’s not impossible, but not particularly likely given Samsung’s history and the current state of the Tizen OS running on the Watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Everything you need

$349 at Amazon

A stylish watch with days of battery life and tons of clever features.

Samsung made a Watch it thinks offers a little something for everyone. And as long as you don’t mind large watches, that is true.

Apple Watch

Polished Excellence

The most health-focused Apple Watch ever designed.

$429 at Apple

Apple’s polished wearable has taken a firm turn toward health features and usability, and as long as you own an iPhone the experience is great. As long as you’re ok with a single day of battery, this is a great experience.

Save up to 35% on Anker’s popular Bluetooth headphones and speakers today

Hear the savings?!

As part of its daily deals, Amazon has some of Anker’s popular Bluetooth headphones and speakers on sale for up to 35% off. Today’s price drops bring them down to the lowest prices they’ve sold for. First up is Anker’s Soundcore Spirit in-ear sports earbuds which are down to $29.99, which is a $10 savings. They are fully sweat-proof, have a cable slip to keep the extra wiring off your neck while using them, and offer 8 hours of battery life per charge.

Next up is Anker’s Soundcore Vortex wireless on-ear headphones with 40mm drivers, up to 20 hours of battery per charge, and more. They are down to $44.99 and have sold for as much as $70 in the past. They fold up and can be easily transported in the included carrying case to prevent damages while on-the-go.

Finally, Anker’s Soundcore Flare Bluetooth speaker is down to $44.98 from its everyday price of $70. It has 360-degree sound, bass up technology to bring out the lows in your music, a beat-driven LED on the bottom that has various themes, and much more. It is waterproof, and if you buy two of them you can connect them as a stereo pair.

All of these prices are good for today only, so don’t miss out.

See at Amazon

UK Deal: Kick start your smart home with a £67 Philips Hue Starter Kit

Two different bulb fittings available.

Amazon UK has reduced the price of Philips Hue Mini Starter Kits to just £67.49 — a new all-time low. Just a couple of months ago, the going rate for these kits was £134.99 so this marks a significant reduction in price. Even in recent weeks, they have been average about £100.

Each starter kit includes 2 White and Colour Ambience bulbs as well as the Philips Hue Bridge. The Bridge itself usually sells for around £50, so getting two bulbs thrown in for less than £20 is a great deal, especially when you consider that each bulb is usually around £50, too!

Mini Starter Kits available:

• Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Mini Starter Kit, E27, 10 W
• Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Mini Starter Kit, B22, 10 W

If the bulbs on offer do not fit your current set up, you could always invest in some light fitting adapters to make it work for your home.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK, sign up for the UK newsletter and follow the team on Twitter.

See at Amazon UK

iPhone XS and XS Max Survive Liquid Dunk, but Shatter Immediately in Drop Test

Following new iPhone releases, the devices are always subjected to a range of durability tests, and the iPhone XS and XS Max are no exception. Over the weekend, warranty company SquareTrade conducted several tests on the two new smartphones, checking Apple’s claims of IP68 water resistance and more durable glass.

According to Apple, the iPhone XS and XS Max are using “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone” and have improved IP68 water resistance, meaning they can withstand water up to two meters deep for approximately 30 minutes.

In SquareTrade’s tests, the two iPhones stood up well to liquids, but the more durable glass didn’t prevent them from shattering when dropped.

It only took a single back down drop test from a six foot range onto a hard surface for the iPhone XS to shatter entirely, resulting in broken, loose glass across the back of the device. Like the iPhone X, the iPhone XS and XS Max feature glass on the front and back to enable wireless charging.

The result was the same for the iPhone XS Max, with back glass of the smartphone shattering after being dropped from a six-foot height. The stainless steel frames Apple uses for the iPhone XS and XS Max protected the two devices during a side drop test, but the face down drop test also resulted in breakage.

When dropped face down, the iPhone XS suffered a shattered and malfunctioning display, while the iPhone XS Max was impacted with hairline cracks and loose glass but still had a usable display.

After a 60 second tumble test, both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max were covered in hairline cracks, scratches, and featured loose glass after the damage, and in a pressure-based bend test, the iPhone XS cracked at 250 pounds and the screen failed entirely.

SquareTrade also tested the water resistance of the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max in a novel way, using a 5-foot 30 minute dunk test in a tank filled with 138 cans of beer. Beer was the liquid of choice for the test because Apple mentioned beer resistance during the keynote when the two devices were announced.

Both the iPhone XS and XS Max survived the extended beer bath and were entirely operational afterwards, confirming Apple’s water resistance claims.

SquareTrade assigned each iPhone a “Breakability Score” taking into account performance on each of the tests, as broken down in the image below. iPhone XS earned a Breakability Score of 86, classified as “high risk,” while iPhone XS Max earned a Breakability Score of 70, classified as “medium risk.”

All in all, SquareTrade believes the iPhone XS and XS Max are stronger than the iPhone X, but are still prone to breaking easily given that both devices shattered on the first drop during the drop test.

“We were super impressed with the iPhone XS Max, which is much stronger than its discontinued predecessor, the iPhone X. However, as with the iPhone X, our tests show the all-glass design of the iPhone XS and XS Max make them highly susceptible to cracking, particularly from drops, the most common cause of damage, said Jason Siciliano, vice president global creative director at SquareTrade.

“Repair costs for the new iPhones are expected to be around $399 to replace a front screen and $599 to replace a shattered back. Considering $599 was the cost of the most expensive version of the very first iPhone, repair costs are now something to consider when buying a new iPhone. They’re beautiful phones. Just hang on tight.”

As with the iPhone X, non-warranty repairs for Apple’s all-glass devices are expensive. Without AppleCare+, getting the screen replaced on the iPhone XS costs $279, while a screen repair for the iPhone XS Max costs $329.

Damage to the back of the device falls under the “Other repairs” category, which costs $549 for the iPhone XS and $599 for the iPhone XS Max, making AppleCare+ or a sturdy case a good idea.

Related Roundup: iPhone XS
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Report Claims Apple’s Original Programming Efforts Will Avoid Mature Content

Apple is unlikely to produce original content that contains gratuitous sex, violence, profanity, or risqué storylines, according to a report published over the weekend by the Wall Street Journal.

The article cites several sources familiar with Apple’s original programming plans who say Apple wants to avoid putting its name to anything that could risk tainting its wider brand image.

It also relates CEO Tim Cook’s alleged reaction to watching Apple’s first scripted drama, “Vital Signs,” a semi-autobiographical tale of hip hop artist Dr Dre.

According to the paper’s sources, Cook previewed the show and was “troubled” by scenes depicting drawn guns, sex and drug use, and reportedly told Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine that Apple couldn’t show it.

Across Hollywood and inside Apple, the show has become emblematic of the challenges faced by the technology giant as it pushes into entertainment. Apple earmarked $1 billion for Hollywood programming last year. But in the tone CEO Mr. Cook has set for it, whatever Apple produces mustn’t taint a pristine brand image that has helped the company collect 80% of the profits in the global smartphone market.

Apple’s entertainment team must walk a line few in Hollywood would consider. Since Mr. Cook spiked “Vital Signs,” Apple has made clear, say producers and agents, that it wants high-quality shows with stars and broad appeal, but it doesn’t want gratuitous sex, profanity or violence.

Apple’s approach is in direct contrast to that of other streaming platforms, which have found great success in producing edgy content like HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and Netflix’s “House of Cards.” However, Apple apparently feels it has more to lose if viewers are offended by its entertainment offering.

“As a consumer-product company, Apple is especially exposed if content strikes a sour note,” said Preston Beckman, a former NBC and Fox programming executive who spoke to WSJ. “For Netflix, the only risk is that people don’t subscribe. With Apple, you can say, ‘I’m going to punish them by not buying their phone or computer.’”

Apple has hired former Sony Pictures TV executives Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to head up the company’s broader push into original video programming. Erlicht and Van Amburg have helped produce shows like “Better Call Saul,” “The Crown,” “Sneaky Pete,” and more.

According to the report, Van Amburg and Erlicht have successfully pushed some edgier shows, including a series made by M. Night Shyamalan about a couple who lose a young child. However, Apple executives reportedly pushed for changes in the show because they didn’t want content to venture into religious subjects or politics.

Similar concerns over keeping content “safe” have reportedly contributed to delays in Apple’s original content streaming, which has been postponed twice and is now expected to launch in March 2019. However, one leading producer with projects at Apple expects the date to be pushed back yet further, according to the latest report.

Apple is known to have invested in at least 12 television shows so far. They include a new animated TV series called “Central Park” and an untitled morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. According to WSJ, however, the latter is delayed because of scheduling issues with Witherspoon.

Apple’s original TV shows are expected to be distributed through a new video streaming service, which could also be bundled with an Apple Music subscription and a digital magazine and news subscription.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

Robo-dogs: Roll over, SpotMini — here comes ALMA

Roll over, SpotMini — there’s a new robo-dog in the ‘hood and it’s snapping at your heels.

Created by Swiss-based Robotic Systems Lab, ALMA, which stands for articulated locomotion and manipulation, is a quadrupedal robot just like Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini. And, in another SpotMini similarity, comes with a mechanical arm capable of performing a range of “manipulation tasks,” Cnet reports.

A recently posted video shows autonomous ALMA opening a door with relative ease, a vital maneuver if the bots are ever going to rise up and cause havoc for us humans. Watch as ALMA’s slightly scary-looking extendable appendage, complete with its three-pronged “hand,” reaches up to the door handle, grips it, turns to open it, and walks on through.

The video also shows ALMA holding a glass of water without spilling it, and helping a human to lift a box.

The skill with which it handles these different tasks point to a number of possible applications. For example, placing ALMA at airport customs — together with a latex glove dangling from its middle prong and a sign saying “this won’t take a moment” — would surely be enough to discourage even the most determined of smugglers from bringing illegal items into the country.

Joking aside, it seems the team behind ALMA are keen to give it a friendly face, perhaps to encourage more people to take an interest in its four-legged robot. This is demonstrated in particular by the video clip showing ALMA helping to clear trash from around some small bushes. Hardly the harbinger of doom for those fearing the robot takeover, eh.

We see ALMA identifying a plastic bottle, picking it up with its robotic hand, and dropping it into a nearby trash can. With more development, the team hopes its creation can be used in disaster areas, surveying difficult-to-access areas, and carrying vital supplies to those in need. It could also be used in work settings to perform routine tasks, freeing up time for humans to focus on more important duties.

Boston Dynamics also has plans to commercialize its own very impressive SpotMini robo-dog, with the first ones set to go on sale in 2019. The cost, however, is yet to be revealed.

Fancy finding out more about robo-dogs? Then check out this awesome piece tracing the evolution of Boston Dynamcs’ four-legged robotic creations.

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