VRMark will tell you if your PC is ready for Virtual Reality
Oculus and Valve’s own virtual reality compatibility tests will tell you if your PC is VR-ready, but how ready is a bit of a specification guessing game. Will you be able to run games at their maximum settings, or are you just going to scrape past virtual reality’s minimum requirements? Futuremark’s trying to make that question easier to answer with a new benchmarking suite designed specifically for virtual reality.
Think of it as a more comprehensive version of Valve and Oculus VR’s official compatibility tools — not only does VRMark check the system’s hardware against both the Vive and Rift’s minimum recommended specification requirements, but it also runs it through one of two live VR demos to make sure it stays above the target frame-rate. The VRMark ‘orange Room’ is the basic test most users will need to pass for a good VR experience, but the suite also has more advanced ‘blue room’ designed to simulate the highest fidelity VR experiences available today. Both tests will give users a straightforward score and several comparable metrics. A score of 5000 in in the orange test, for instance, meets the minmum requirements for a VR-ready PC. If your machine scores any lower, you risk having a sub-part (and potentially nauseating) VR experience.
If you already have a VR headset, you’ll be able to experience your PC’s performance first-hand, too. In addition to offering straight benchmarks, VRMark has an “experience” mode for each of its tests, allowing you to personally view a virtual reality museum of flying space ships and alien UFOs. Just make sure your PC is up to snuff with the benchmarks, first.
Via: UploadVR
Source: Futuremark
Fitbit Charge 2 review
Buy now from Amazon
Fitbit has gained massive success in the fitness tracking and wearable communities by offering quality products at affordable price points, and perhaps that’s why the Fitbit Charge HR was so successful. With a long-lasting battery, accurate activity tracking and an easy-to-use companion app, the Charge HR was much more than just a glorified pedometer. It wasn’t all that attractive, though, and still very much looked like a standard fitness tracker.
- Fitbit Charge 2 vs Charge HR
- The best fitness trackers
Now Fitbit is back with a follow-up to the super popular Charge HR. With an all-new design, a bigger screen and even more useful activity tracking features, does the Charge 2 have what it takes to become your next wearable? We find that out, and more, in our full Fitbit Charge 2 review.
Review notes: I’ve been using the Fitbit Charge 2 as my main fitness tracker for 17 days. The Nexus 6P has been my smartphone companion of choice for the duration of this review.
Design
Prior to 2016, Fitbit had a design problem. It wasn’t that the Charge HR, Surge or Flex looked ugly, per se, they just looked like every other fitness tracker out there. Then at the beginning of 2016, the company launched two new fashion-focused devices, the Alta and the Blaze, which marked somewhat of a turning point for the company. Fitbit started using more high-quality materials like stainless steel in its devices, and that’s especially true for its latest fitness tracker.
- Fitbit Alta review
- Fitbit Blaze review
The Charge 2, like the Alta before it, sports a stainless steel chassis and a big, tap-enabled display. You’ll find one button on the left side of the device which is used for cycling through different modes and functions. Tapping the button will allow you to cycle through the current time, heart rate, activity start, stopwatch, relaxation timer, and active silent alarms. You can remove any of these and reorder them all from within the Fitbit companion app. Alternatively, you can tap on the display to cycle through your daily stats, which include steps taken, heart rate, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed and active minutes.
A bigger display also means there’s more room for smartphone notifications
This new, larger display is certainly a welcome addition, as it not only allows for more information to be shown on one screen but also for more unique clock faces. There are quite a few to choose from – 7 to be exact – and they all offer a good mixture of style and functionality.
A bigger display also means there’s more room for smartphone notifications. While the Charge HR was only able to provide call notifications, the Charge 2 supports call, text and calendar events. The display isn’t actually that big, though, so notifications are sometimes difficult to read.
See also: The best smartwatches59
Something else worth noting – one of my main gripes with the Charge HR was that the display scratched pretty easily, and I’m happy to say that issue has been fixed this time around. I’ve been using the Charge 2 for a few weeks now, and we still have yet to see any scratches on this thing.
Another major design change you’ll notice with the Charge 2 is support for interchangeable bands. The Charge 2 is offered in Black, Blue, Plum and Teal color options, as well as Special Edition Lavender/Rose Gold and Black/Gunmetal colors. You can buy any of these bands separately from Fitbit’s website for $29.95 each. You can also opt for a fancier leather band in Brown, Blush Pink or Indigo if you don’t mind shelling out an extra $69.95.
Features and performance
As is par for the course of most fitness trackers in this price range, the Fitbit Charge 2 will track your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes and sleep. You’ll notice we didn’t mention swim tracking, though, and that’s because this device won’t survive in water. Yet again, Fitbit decided to forego proper waterproofing on its flagship fitness tracker, which we must say is a tad upsetting at this point. Fitbit has long been an innovator in the fitness tracking world, but the company is extremely behind in this area. Garmin, Withings, Misfit, Xiaomi, and most of Fitbit’s other direct competitors have managed to launch fitness trackers with decent waterproof ratings, so it’s a shame to see the Charge 2 sport a “splash proof” rating.
It should be noted that Fitbit did launch its very first waterproof fitness tracker, the Flex 2, at the same time as the Charge 2.
When comparing them against one another, we found that both the Charge 2 and Charge HR are basically on par with one another in terms of step tracking, with each one being just a handful of steps off from one another after a run or walk. We also took the Charge 2, Charge HR and Garmin vívoactive HR out on a walk for 500 steps, and all three came back within 4 steps of each other. Both the Charge 2 and Charge HR counted 506 steps, while the vívoactive HR counted 502.
See also: How to use your fitness tracker to actually get fit2
Floors climbed and active minutes metrics are pretty much spot on as well, but unfortunately, since the Charge 2 doesn’t have a GPS on board distance metrics won’t be all that accurate. It is compatible with Fitbit’s Connected GPS feature, which allows you to use your phone’s GPS to get more accurate distance tracking and pace results. That of course means you’ll have to carry your phone with you when you’re exercising, which isn’t all that convenient for most people.
Like most recent Fitbit devices, the Charge 2 comes with Fitbit’s PurePulse optical heart rate monitor, which will help you keep track of your active and resting heart rate. We’ve been very impressed with the Charge 2’s resting heart rate readings, though active readings, unsurprisingly, can be a little off at times. We tested the PurePulse heart rate monitor against the Wahoo TICKR X chest strap on multiple occasions, and much of the time, the PurePulse sensor came up short by about 5bpm or so.
Below you’ll find screenshots of the Wahoo TICKR X vs the Fitbit Charge 2 during the same run. Note the difference between the peak heart rate readings on the TICKR X (towards the end of the workout) and the Charge 2’s readings at the same point. The TICKR X recorded a peak reading of ~176bpm, while the Charge 2 was only recording ~130bpm at this point.
The Charge 2 will automatically track walking, running and biking, thanks to SmartTrack
One of the best things about using Fitbit devices is the company’s powerful automatic activity tracking software, or SmartTrack. The Fitbit Charge 2 is able to track walking, running, outdoor biking and elliptical workouts automatically, and will categorize each of those into groups – Sport (high-intensity movement activities like basketball and soccer) and Aerobic Workouts (Zumba, cardio-kickboxing, etc). SmartTrack is normally very impressive when it comes to recognizing which activities you’re doing, but we’d still recommend starting a workout manually if you can remember. Automatically-tracked workouts won’t track distance or pace, for instance.
In the screenshots below, you can see the screens labeled “Bike” are workouts where I started my activity manually from the tracker, and the screen labeled “Outdoor Bike” is the activity tracked by SmartTrack.
Speaking of automatic activity recognition, the Fitbit Charge 2 will automatically track your sleep every night. There’s no need to tap any sleep now button or anything before you hit the hay. Just make sure you fall asleep while you’re wearing your Fitbit, and it’ll have sleep stats waiting for you in the morning. The Charge 2 can record your total sleep time and sleep quality, which is measured by the amount of times you woke up and how many times you became restless throughout the night. Overall, we’ve found the Charge 2 to be quite accurate on the sleep tracking front, with no glaring errors as far as we can tell. The tracker also supports silent alarms, which is always nice to see on wrist-mounted fitness wearables.
Related: The best sleep trackers
Fitbit also introduced a few new features to the Charge 2 that should help users stay healthy and relaxed overtime. The first of these new features is a measurement of your Cardio Fitness Level. Found within the heart rate section of the Fitbit app, a personalized score based on an estimation of your VO2 Max (how well your body uses oxygen when you’re working out the hardest) will give you a rating on your overall cardiovascular fitness. Estimated VO2 Max is pretty much the gold standard for grading cardiovascular fitness. Basically, the higher your VO2 Max and Cardio Fitness Score, the better your cardiovascular fitness.
The higher your VO2 Max and Cardio Fitness Score, the better your cardiovascular fitness
While the Cardio Fitness Score will certainly help some folks make improvements to their workouts in the long run, the feature is kind of tucked away in the heart rate portion of the Fitbit app. You won’t find it on the home screen of the Fitbit app (aka Dashboard), and unless you were really exploring around the app you probably wouldn’t come across it. It’s just an odd place to put a big new feature, we suppose.
One other new feature present on the Charge 2 is on-device guided breathing. Fitbit calls this Relax. Once you navigate to Relax on your Charge 2, your device will begin walking you through 2- to 5-minute breathing exercises that should help you reduce stress, lessen anxiety and lower blood pressure. Each breathing session is powered by Fitbit’s PurePulse heart rate monitor, of course. It uses your real-time heart rate stats to measure your heart rate variability and determine the best breathing rate to suit your needs. Do we think this is a game-changing new feature? Not really, but the option is there if you need help calming down from time to time.
Fitbit claims the Charge 2 can last up to five days on a single change, and we’ve found that to be somewhat true. With moderate usage and the heart rate monitor set to automatic, we were only able to achieve a little over 4 days of battery life. It’s entirely possible to make it last an extra day with the heart rate monitor turned off, but you should expect less than that if you’re wanting to record your heart rate.
As far as charging is concerned, we much prefer this method over the Charge HR’s tiny charging cable. With the Charge 2, just clasp the charger around the device’s chassis, plug it into a USB outlet, and you’re all set. There’s even a little hole in the clasp to fit around the Charge 2’s physical button so you know which way to put it on.
| Display | 1.5-inch multi-line OLED Tap display |
Narrow OLED Tap display |
| Heart rate monitor | Yes, optical | Yes, optical |
| GPS | No, Connected GPS | No |
| Water resistant | No, splash proof | No, splash proof |
| Sleep tracking | Yes, automatic | Yes, automatic |
| Estimated VO2 max, guided breathing | Yes | No |
| Silent alarms | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Call, text and calendar alerts | Call |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days | Up to 5 days |
| Sensors | Optical heart rate monitor 3-axis accelerometer Altimeter Vibration motor |
Optical heart rate monitor 3-axis accelerometer Altimeter Vibration motor |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web |
| Interchangeable bands | Yes | No |
| Colors | Standard: Black, Blue, Plum, Teal Special edition: Lavender/Rose Gold, Black/Gunmetal |
Black, Blue, Plum, Tangerine, Teal |
| Dimensions | Small: 139.7mm – 170.2mm (21.3mm wide) Large: 170.2mm – 205.7mm (21.3mm wide) XL: 205.7mm – 236.2mm (21.3mm wide) |
Small: 137mm – 157.5mm (21mm wide) Large: 157.5mm – 193mm (21mm wide) |
| Price | Standard: $149.95 Special edition: $179.95 Additional classic bands: $29.95 Additional leather bands: $69.95 |
$129.99 |
Software
Here at Android Authority, we’re huge fans of Fitbit’s smartphone companion app. It’s well designed, easy to use, and gives you all your important stats on the main screen in an easy-to-digest layout. The main home screen, or the Dashboard, gives you quick access to your daily stats, including your steps taken, heart rate, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes, weight, sleep stats, food plan and water consumption. If you’d like to get detailed information on any of these stats, just tap on that category. You’ll then be taken to your weekly, monthly and yearly history for that metric.
If you’d like to change any of your tracker’s settings, click on the device name at the top of the Dashboard. Here is where you’ll be able to manage call and text notifications, move reminders, wrist placement, silent alarms and more.
- The best fitness apps for Android
There’s also a slide-out navigation menu on the left that allows you to access your Dashboard, daily challenges, friends and account settings. The Challenges section is home to plenty of daily and weekly goals that aim to help you go the extra mile (literally). You can also invite friends to take part in challenges with you. For instance, you and a friend can see who can take the most steps in 24 hours, or see who can take the most steps between Monday and Friday.
What’s more, you can also share data from the Fitbit app with a number of other services. Whether you’re using Lose It!, RunKeeper or MyFitnessPal, you’ll be able to share your data between applications.
Gallery
Should you buy it?
You can buy the Fitbit Charge 2 for just $149.95 on Amazon in Black, Blue, Plum and Teal color options. The Special Edition Charge 2 variant can be found on Fitbit’s website for $179.95, while extra leather bands are available for $69.95 each. So is it worth buying?
Yes, absolutely.
If you’re buying a fitness tracker in this price range, it’s hard not to consider the Charge 2. With a much improved design, bigger display, more smartphone notifications and a handful of new tracking features, the Charge 2 certainly offers a lot for its $150 price point. No, you don’t get a built-in GPS, the heart rate monitor could be much more accurate, and hardcore fitness buffs might find the feature set a little lacking. But despite its downfalls, the Charge 2 is a great option if you’re looking for a wearable to help keep track of your activity levels.
Want to pick one up for yourself? Head to the Amazon link below for more details.
Buy now from Amazon
What are your thoughts on the Fitbit Charge 2?
New MacBook Pros May Not be Compatible With Some Early Thunderbolt 3 Devices
Apple’s new MacBook Pros appear to be incompatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices that use controller chips from Texas Instruments, meaning some early Thunderbolt 3 products may not work with the new machines.
The incompatibility was discovered by Plugable (via 9to5), who found that their TBT3-DP2X and TBT3-HDMI2X graphics adapters were not compatible with Apple’s new MacBook Pros because they use a controller chip from Texas Instruments. As a result, Plugable will be postponing its upcoming Docking Station as it works on a compatibility solution.
Update 11/1/16: Apple has chosen to prevent Thunderbolt 3 devices using currently available controller chips from Texas Instruments from enumerating and functioning on the 2016 MacBook Pros. All current Thunderbolt 3 peripherals which use this controller chip are incompatible with the new 2016 Thunderbolt 3 MacBooks (To our knowledge, this includes all currently available Thunderbolt 3 devices including our TBT3-DP2X and TBT3-HDMI2X graphics adapters. Our Thunderbolt 3 cables do not require this chip, and therefore are compatible.)
Because of this, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our TBT3-UD1 Docking Station as we evaluate what is necessary to make this docking station MacBook-compatible. Our Flagship TBT3-UDV dock with Power Delivery/Charging is using the next generation controller chip from TI, and will be compatible with the 2016 Thunderbolt 3 MacBooks.
Because some existing or soon-to-be available Thunderbolt 3 accessories may not be compatible with the new MacBook Pro, customers who are looking to purchase docks, adapters, and other products should double check with manufacturers to ensure compatibility.
Many products on the horizon use Intel’s newer Thunderbolt 3 chipset and won’t be affected, and it’s also possible Apple could push a firmware update to add support for accessories with the older Texas Instruments controller.
Tags: Thunderbolt 3, Plugable
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Acer Chromebook R13 review
Acer made one of the first great Chromebooks with the C720. The R13 has what it takes to be the next great Chromebook.
The Acer Chromebook R13 is the latest in the new breed of Chromebooks designed with Android apps in mind.
Besides the things inside that better support Android apps (sensors and the like), the 13.3-inch screen flips a full 180-degrees for a tablet experience. Android and Google Play support is moving through the Chrome beta channel for the R13 and buyers can soon be using Android apps seamlessly alongside native Chrome apps. But plenty of other Chromebooks support, or will support, Google Play.
That means the R13 has to stand on its own merit as a product worth buying over other more inexpensive models. At $399 we’re entering the same territory as Windows laptops that aren’t frustrating to use. The R13 needs to be great if we’re going to spend that much money. And I think it is.
See at Amazon
The hardware
The R13 really looks like a Macbook Air. It’s a good look.
It’s a beautiful laptop. Solid aluminum, a full 180-degree reversible hinge on the screen that feels solid, and ample room for your wrists while using it are the first things you’ll see. It very much looks like an Apple MacBook Air, which surely wasn’t an accident. We think of names like Apple or Sony when it comes to the great functional design of the things we use every day because they have put in the work to create them. It makes sense to see others follow the lead.
When you go beyond how striking the R13 looks you notice other great features like a full-sized USB 3 port and a USB-C 3.1 port. A “real” USB-C 3.1 port that can be used to charge other things, acts as the charging port for the laptop itself and offers high-speed data transfer. Add in an HDMI port and SD card slot and you have everything you would want in a new laptop when it comes to connectivity. Here are the full specifications from Acer.
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Display | 13.3-inch 1920x1080Touchscreen |
| Processor | MediaTek M8173C Core Pilot quad-core |
| Storage | 16/32/64GB |
| Expandable | microSD card |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR3 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, BluetoothUSB-C 3.1, USB-A 3.0 |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours usage |
| Camera | HD FOV webcamHDR |
| Dimensions | 326 x 228 x 15.5 mm |
| Weight | 1.49 kg / 3.28 lb |
The MediaTek processor wasn’t as big of an issue as I was worried it would be — see the next section for all the details — and the multiple storage options up to 64GB are something we haven’t seen from many Chromebooks in the past. Even the battery life estimate isn’t that far away from reality — I was able to get a full 10.5 hours before charging while using the R13 the same way I use any other computer during a workday. There is a lot here to like.
There are also a couple of things I didn’t like as much.
A Glossy finish on a touchscreen makes a mess of fingerprints and smears. Keep a cleaning cloth handy.
The 13.3-inch touchscreen display isn’t bad. But I’d much rather be able to say it was great, and I can’t. The 1080p panel is adequately bright, colors aren’t too far off from my recently calibrated monitor and the viewing angles aren’t terrible. At this size, I would have liked to see a higher resolution, but understand how that would impact price and performance (especially battery life) so I’m OK. it’s a decent 1080p display with nothing to complain about. Except for the glossy finish.
Glossy finishes on a touchscreen never end well, and the R13 was not an exception. Fingerprints quickly turn into smears with that wonderful stardust effect as light and color try to move through whatever human-being skin oils are made of. If you buy the R13 with the expectation of mostly using it as a tablet with the keyboard folded back, this could be an issue. It was for me.
My second gripe is half entitled tech-reviewer whinging. The SD card slot is for a Micro-SD card and not a full sized card. SD cards are cheap. I have a basket full of full sized cards between 16GB and 64GB. Plenty of other people with digital cameras will, too. Not being able to use them was a let-down, but is easily fixed by a trip to Amazon. I did not take the R13 apart, so I will assume this was a result of squeezing everything into the slim body.
There is nothing really bad here. And there is a lot of things that are great.
Everything else was acceptable. The webcam is as good or better than any other laptop and the audio was what you would expect both through the onboard speakers and headphones. The keyboard/trackpad combination is good, though not quite the level we’ve seen from Apple’s MacBook series or Google’s Pixel Chromebooks. Few are.
To sum things up, you have a beautiful laptop with a strong hinge system for tablet use with a decent display. The trackpad and keyboard are acceptable — even for someone who writes for a living — but not incredible. Legacy and current USB port options are awesome and so is a full-sized HDMI port. A micro-SD card slot and glossy touch screen are not.
The experience
Chrome OS is Chrome OS, regardless of what Chromebook you buy. This is great. The software and the experience are unified across the entire field and you’ll have the same features regardless of which Chromebook you pick up. And once you’ve signed in with your Google account, it’s literally the same because of the way your account data syncs.
Unlike Android, Google keeps the companies making Chromebooks on a leash.
One exception right now is support for Google Play and Android apps. Android on Chromebooks is a slow and methodical rollout. Only Chromebooks that support enough Android requirements — location, orientation sensors and other things we never think about inside a laptop — will be able to run Android. Those that will all go through a long beta process to ensure the Chrome experience isn’t negatively affected. A large portion of Chromebook sales are to businesses and schools, so we understand why the original experience needs to remain unaffected.
The R13 was built with Android support in mind. All those requirements were accounted for and included. The R13 beta channel received support for Google Play in the middle of writing this review, and it really made a difference.
Make no mistake — Chrome runs really well on the R13. Browsing the web is a tier-one experience until you have more than 20 or so tabs open. This was an unexpected surprise based on experience with previous ARM CPU powered Chromebooks. The stutters and lag I expected at 10 tabs are not present and it’s clear that newer ARM chips are plenty more powerful than they used to be. 1080p video quality is only affected by the stream itself and not the CPU, which is nice and one of the areas where Intel Chromebooks used to outclass their ARM counterparts. ARM seems to have caught up or Chrome seems to be better able to support them. Likely, it’s a bit of each.
ARM Chromebooks have come a long way. It’s time to stop overlooking them.
The MediaTek CPU also means excellent battery life and great fanless performance without as much CPU throttling while under a heavy load. The benefits of an ARM CPU haven’t gone away, and now that the processor architecture better handles Chrome — or Chrome better handles the processor architecture — an ARM Chromebook is no longer something to immediately be concerned about. We see a similar experience from the ASUS Chromebook Flip, and now we know that wasn’t a fluke or a one-off.
Using the R13 for work made me appreciate the full-sized HDMI port and USB 3.0 port. I plugged it into a 1080p monitor while at my desk — things just worked with zero configuration — and was able to use a Logitech Unifying Receiver with a wireless mouse and keyboard. I was unable to try a Bluetooth keyboard, but a Bluetooth mouse connected without issue. I didn’t need to use the desktop peripherals, as the display, keyboard and trackpad were comfortable enough to use for long periods, but having the option and being able to have Netflix playing in one window while writing about Android things in another on a 27-inch monitor was quite nice.
I used the Acer R13 exclusively for a week and think I could use it every day without issue.
Another great thing about having a USB 3.0 port was being able to use an SD card adapter and not have slow file transfers while I waited for my micro SD card (and its adapter so it would fit in my camera) from Amazon.
The usual issues with Chrome OS apply. There is no Photoshop, though Polarr is a good replacement most of the time. There are no great video editing tools. I can’t use my normal tools to record our weekly podcast because there is no Chrome equivalent, and I haven’t had time to test and learn what’s available for Chrome yet. Chrome will work well for many people and a Chromebook is a good option for them. For others, it’s not there yet.
Android apps
Most of my time with the Acer R13 was without Android app support. Google Play isn’t available to the R13 unless you use the beta channel. I’m not going to base a review of a product while running beta software so I stuck to what’s consumer-ready. But for me, Android on Chrome OS makes a huge difference in usability.
Android and Google Play on a Chromebook changes the experience in a big way.
Most everything any of us need to do can be done on a Chromebook and Chrome apps. Companies like Slack and Microsoft have Chrome applications for their products, and they work. But they don’t always work exceptionally well and not nearly as well as a company’s Android version might.
Android apps on Chrome was Google’s way to fill the app gap. Chromebooks sell very well, but companies are yet keen on supporting yet another platform. Building Chrome apps is fairly easy. Building great Chrome apps is not. Companies tend to provide the easy version and Chrome users find ways to make it work if they need to use those services.
Adding Android app support changes this. Android is a major application platform and the dominant operating system from mobile devices. Everyone makes an Android app for their service and they tend to support all the features. By incorporating Android at the system level in Chrome, these apps also work on a Chromebook. And they work seamlessly.
Android support on the R13 is excellent and I expect it to move to the stable channel in short order.
Notifications from Android apps come the same way every other Chrome notification comes. Android apps use the same file system as Chrome and protected data files are secured with any sharing done the same way as it would be on an Android phone. If Android were running in a virtualized space, things wouldn’t be so seamless. Android is done so well on a Chromebook that the only issue is knowing where to go first when you need an app — Google Play or the Chrome Web Store.
Final thoughts
I’ve long wanted a true mid-range Chromebook. I’m OK with spending a little more (the R13 was $399 at the time this was written) for higher storage options and a nice durable build. Something like the R13 was exactly what I had in mind.
Acer’s built a 13-inch Chromebook that has excellent Android support. There are a few Android apps that won’t work on Chrome — launchers, widgets, live wallpapers and the like to name a few. The majority of what’s in Google Play works well, though. So far, everything I’ve needed and wanted works as good on the R13 as I had hoped. The recent beta version of Chrome on the R13 seems stable and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Android support move into production software with the next update.
I think the Acer Chromebook R13 is the best $399 computer you can buy.
The few negatives aren’t really negative. The display could be better, but it’s fine the way it is and I have no real complaints outside of the glossy surface. I’d love to have the same keyboard and trackpad experience on the R13 that the Chromebook Pixel gives me, but I wouldn’t expect it at this price.
See at Amazon
All things considered, the R13 is one of the nicest Chromebooks available and I recommend it without hesitation.
Chromebooks
- The best Chromebooks
- Should you buy a Chromebook?
- Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
- Acer Chromebook 14 review
- Join our Chromebook forums
Google Play brings new developer features for subscriptions, refunds and Early Access
Google Play has announced a series of new features for Google Play developers alongside their Playtime developer event going on today in San Francisco. Among the announcements today are new features that could mean great things for users looking for the newest apps and the best deals.
Even as [Chromebooks](./chromebooks] are beginning to enjoy Google Play apps, Google Play is preparing to expand with Daydream VR apps as well as Google Play for Wear, bringing standalone watch apps to Android Wear 2.0 next year.
Meanwhile, the Play Developer Console is bringing new subscription promos to an app near you, citing a 10x increase in subscription spending over the last three years. Introductory rates may help users take the plunge on an app or service after free trials that are already offered by many apps expire.
Two features we’ve already seen on Google Play are also starting to expand: pre-registration and Early Access. Pre-registration is a currently a limited program, but the feature drove over 30 million installs with apps and games like Clash Royale and Google Duo. Early Access has been a big hit with developers and users alike, offering users a chance to get into games early and letting developers get feedback and a core user base built before the official launch. Developers can now nominate their apps for Early Access.
Google Play also highlighted the success of the Indie Corner and its role in helping gamers discover great talent, and mentioned a new beta API for ‘ensuring fair play to everyone’, called the voidedPurchases API.
Our goal is always to do the right thing for both users and developers. As game economies have become more complex, developers are looking for more tools to ensure that all users play fairly to make gameplay fun for everyone. Today, we are announcing a new API (in beta) that helps developers identify users who have requested refunds so they can better manage their economies.
Do you think these changes will make the Play Store a better development environment? Let us know in the comments!
Android Central 313: Huawei Mate 9 and the return of the Big Phone
This week, Alex, Daniel and special guest, MrMobile himself, Michael Fisher, talk about Huawei’s massive-in-a-few-ways new flagship, the Mate 9.
How much will Huawei benefit from the Note 7’s absence in the market, and will the Mate 9 come to the U.S.? (A lot, and probably!)
Settle in, this is a podcast you don’t want to miss!
Thanks to this week’s sponsor:
- Harrys: Use promo code AC to save $5 off your first purchase — start shaving smarter.
Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral313.mp3
Huawei’s Mate 9 has basically no competition in Europe
With Samsung and LG out of the picture in Europe, there’s nothing at all with a big screen to challenge Huawei’s latest flagship.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle is good for everyone selling a high-end smartphone. The advantages of not having to compete with a phone as good as the Note 7 was, backed by Samsung’s enormous marketing budget, are obvious. It’s good for Apple, Google, and anyone else vying for consumer attention in a crowded market.
But the effect of the Note 7’s demise in Europe is even more pronounced. Not only is the major big-screened Android phone out of the picture, but LG also isn’t selling its V20 on European shores, nor are there any signs of that the situation will change anytime soon.
Nobody — literally nobody — is selling a current, high-end, mainstream Android phone in Europe with a screen bigger than 5.5 inches.
The result: Nobody — literally nobody — is selling a current, high-end, mainstream Android phone in Europe with a screen bigger than 5.5 inches. And if you’re Huawei, having just launched your Mate 9, you’ve got to be rubbing your hands in glee at that fact.
At launch, the Huawei Mate 9 has basically no competition in Europe. All its competitors land in the 5.5-inch category — phones like the Pixel XL, iPhone 7 Plus and Galaxy S7 edge. Thing is, though, those devices aren’t really direct rivals to the Mate 9. There’s a big difference between a 5.5-inch display and a 5.9-inch display, even when it’s surrounded by bezels as chunky as the iPhone 7 Plus’s. A 5.9-inch display may well be more tempting to Galaxy Note 4 upgraders — of whom there are a lot in Europe — looking to stick with a big phone.
From our preview of the new “phablet”-class offering from Huawei:
This is still a big phone. (A big Big Phone. Capital B, capital P.) But it’s nowhere near as comically oversized as a 5.9-inch handset could’ve been. Nor is using it one-handed a total impossibility, though you’ll need some manual dexterity to juggle it around. And while it may lack the head-turning quality of a Galaxy S7 edge, it’s an attractive phone that feels good in the hand, with just enough heft to not feel insubstantial.
The overall heft and size of the Mate 9 isn’t a world away from the Note 4, which uses a 5.7-inch display but with bigger bezels. For sure, the two-year-old Note is closer in size to the Mate 9 than a Galaxy S7 edge.
So not only does Huawei have a device to tempt Note upgraders away from Samsung’s smaller handset — the only non-explosive Samsung upgrade path available right now — it also has the only 5.7-inch-plus flagship Android phone you can buy in Europe. Considering the marketing energy Huawei seems to be putting behind the new Mate, and how it’s been able to forge strong relationships with all four of the big UK networks through the P9, this phone has considerable potential in the European market.
And that’s before you consider that the Mate 9, free from the Huawei software wonk of yore, actually looks like it’ll be a good phone in its own right.
More: Huawei Mate 9 hands-on preview
Huawei Mate 9
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- Huawei P9 specs
- The Porsche Design Mate 9 is a $1500 special edition you’ll want
- All Huawei Mate 9 news
- Join the discussion in the forums
Singapore is striving to be the world’s first ‘smart city’
There are few places better positioned to become a “smart city” than Singapore.
That’s an easy statement to justify. Singapore is an island city-state just 30 miles across that has been governed by the same party for decades. Putting the implied democratic flaws to one side, the geography and political stability of Singapore have aided the city in preparing for the future.
Two years ago, those preparations got a name: “Smart Nation,” an ambitious program to push the city, its residents and its government into the digital age. Or perhaps, even further. A fiber network already stretches the length and breadth of the island, bringing high-speed internet access to every home and office; there are already three mobile devices for every two of its citizens. This is about the next step.
The Smart Nation initiative looks to turn the island into a “living laboratory” — a kind of playground for testing smart solutions to urban issues. Part of that plan is a network of sensors placed across the island that officials hope can solve the fundamental issues of Singapore’s high-density living.
Speaking with Engadget, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-In-Charge of The Smart Nation Initiative, spelled out how he believes the program will transform Singapore.
“There is much political angst about inequality and middle class stagnation in developed economies,” he said. “This has been accompanied by loud, populist and ultimately futile arguments about yesterday’s ideology and politics … In Singapore, we know that new technology trumps politics as usual.”
What Dr. Balakrishnan is alluding to is that, rather than being about talk, Smart Nation is about action. It’s pushing forward with trials across many sectors, focusing on “areas with high impact on residents and citizens.” For now, that means housing, health and transport.
At home
When you think of public housing, your mind probably goes to the low-income tower blocks in generally deprived areas around North America and Europe. In Singapore, the scope of public housing is far more broad. Over 80 percent of residents (3.2 million people) live in affordable apartments maintained by the country’s Housing and Development Board (HDB). This huge pool of public housing provides an unparalleled testing ground for some of Smart Nation’s ideas.
In the Yuhua estate, one of the first neighborhoods to “go smart,” thousands of sensors have been installed to keep tabs on individual apartments. In partnership with private companies, authorities are able to measure energy draw, waste production and water usage in real time. The latter is a real issue for an island that, although making strides towards water independence, still imports tens of billions of gallons of water from neighboring Malaysia each year. As part of the pilot, Yuhua has also “gone green,” with a new vacuum waste management system, solar panels and water reclamation efforts.
Through smart applications, the sensors provide residents with feedback on their behavior, helping them to use less water, electricity and so on, driving down household costs. The government, in turn, is able to aggregate this data, using analytics and computer simulation to improve the planning, design and maintenance of public housing estates. And that pattern — programs benefiting both individuals and the country as a whole — repeats itself throughout Smart Nation’s myriad initiatives.
Health
Many developed nations are facing the same problems right now: an aging population and the increasing cost of caring for them. Those costs are not only related to medical expenses, though. Singapore is a nation with a culturally embedded sense of filial piety, and as the pool of elderly increases, so too will the amount of time family members spend caring for them, rather than working.
When it comes to healthcare, Smart Nation is centered on reducing that burden. For the past two years, Singapore has been trialling an ‘Elderly Monitoring System’ (EMS), a non-invasive program that uses sensors on doors and inside rooms to monitor movement. If there’s a lack of activity, or the system detects some other incident, the caregiver, be it a family member or a professional, is alerted instantly.
The scheme is opt-in and, as Dr. Balakrishnan explained, is meant to “ensure peace of mind for those with elderly family members.” As beneficial as it may be for families of at-risk people, the effort seems as much about reducing the cultural stigma of not “doing your familial duty” by constantly checking up on people.
The private sector is involved in the rollout of EMS. Where this partnership differs from the energy monitoring schemes is who will pick up the tab. During the trial period, the government is handling costs, but it’s expected that residents with the means to pay will do so when the service goes into full operation. Commercialization of initiatives is seen as key for driving Smart Nation forward — the government supplies the “laboratory” for businesses to flourish in.
Another healthcare pilot revolves around “Tele-health” — the idea that you don’t need to leave your house, or even see a doctor, to get medical treatment. A “tele-rehabilitation” trial began in late 2014, and is nearing completion. It aims to offer stroke patients the chance to rehabilitate without traveling to hospitals or health centers. “Tele-health allows you to receive treatment in the comfort of your home, to remain longer with your family and community without going to the hospital, or to provide greater peace of mind for your care-givers of loved ones while freeing up hospital beds for those who really need them,” Dr. Balakrishnan said.
In the trial, tablets guide patients through exercises. While they go through the motions, sensors and cameras capture footage for therapists to review remotely. Once a week, the tablets are used for face-to-face video conferences between doctors and patients. Just under a hundred citizens have taken part in the trial, which has a control group to compare the methods against traditional therapy. The results are expected to be published next year.
On the road
Transport is the obvious poster child for the “living laboratory” strategy. Singapore has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle testing, opening up its streets to self-driving cars and buses. Small-scale trials of shuttles began at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) three years ago, and more recently MIT spin-off nuTonomy started testing autonomous taxis on the city’s streets. But while these efforts continue — just last week a plan for a full-sized robotic bus serving NTU was announced — there are efforts beyond self-driving vehicles.
Sensors are at the heart of Smart Nation, and the government has been using them to track its bus fleets. By crunching data, it’s able to identify problem areas and formulate solutions to work around them. Dr. Balakrishnan said that, by identifying where more buses were needed, this initiative has already “resulted in a 90 percent reduction in crowdedness” and reduced wait times on popular services by three to five minutes. The next step is private transport.
Singapore has taxed cars using an electronic road toll collection system (ERP) for over a decade, but the next iteration of that scheme, due in 2020, will be much more comprehensive. It calls for a government-mandated satellite navigation system in all vehicles. The system will silently monitor where a car is at any given time, opening up a wealth of data for analysis. Authorities will be able to monitor traffic conditions nationwide, from volume to average speed, highlighting congestion and issues with road layout. This level of traffic monitoring — knowing exactly where every car on the road is at any given time — is unprecedented.
An infographic highlighting the new system’s benefits.
Again, this tech is being sold on its immediate benefits to citizens: “the next-generation ERP system can also provide value-added services that are beneficial to motorists,” Dr. Balakrishnan said. Roadside parking meters will be scrapped, as fees will be generated and paid automatically, just like road tolls. This ties into another government push, away from cash and towards electronic payments. The traffic system will also aggregate data to provide “timely and accurate traffic information to motorists.”
Virtual Singapore
Taken on their own, each of these initiatives is small, but the sensors all come together to form a platform called “Virtual Singapore.” Being built, again, through a public-private partnership, Virtual Singapore is a model of the island built not just to scale, but with fastidious detail. It contains the exact dimensions of every building, where the windows are located, and even what it’s built out of. Think of it like Google or Apple Maps’ 3D modes, but with the ability to enter every building and see its layout. On its own, the model will be impressive, but it’s when sensor data is fed in that things get interesting, offering an unparalleled view of the city.
Consider this for a moment. The data of an entire city, contained within a scale model. The movement of every car; the flow of water, electricity and waste, all in one place. Now add in the output of each security camera; air quality measurements (a pilot scheme has students wearing sensors to detect such environmental factors), crowd density views, noise levels and more. A living, breathing city. Or at least a to-scale model of one. It’s the sort of thing city planners dream of.
And it’ll be open to everyone — to an extent.
A screenshot from an early build of the Virtual Singapore platform.
Dassault Systèmes
Dr. Balakrishnan explained that Virtual Singapore is intended to be a “collaborative data platform where researchers, citizens and businesses may contribute.” It’ll help visualize all the data being collated, and allow for complex simulations. Plug the plans for a new building development in, and the model might reveal how it would affect airflow, telecommunications signals or plant life in the nearby areas. It could show where more buses are needed, or which transit stops are being underutilized. In healthcare, it could be used to predict how disease might propagate — Singapore has the third-highest population density of any city, and protecting against a pandemic is a high priority.
Some of this information is already available to the public; Singaporeans can access traffic and parking data, security cameras and other public data online. With Virtual Singapore, there will just be better data, and much more of it.
A smarter world
Singapore’s unique geopolitics are key to positioning itself as a living laboratory. All these ideas can be tested, and potentially commercialized, without the usual difficulties of regulatory approval. Rolling them out worldwide will be more difficult, for sure, but Dr. Balkarishnan believes that the initiatives can be “customized and applied to other cities around the world.”
While it’s difficult to see New York City putting satellite navigation devices into cars, there are ways similar data could be collected. The world is pushing rapidly towards autonomous vehicles; and within the coming decades it’s likely that the majority of cars will be collecting far more data on their environments and traffic conditions than they are now. It’s not impossible to see a future in which this data is anonymously aggregated and used to improve our road layouts and traffic flow.
Virtual Singapore can be used to run simulations.
The same logic can also be applied the home. Our apartments and houses are increasingly becoming smarter, with utility companies offering real-time updates on usage. By the will of the market alone, we will be in a position where troves of figures are being pooled by energy companies. If Singapore can prove that there are good uses for this data, then we may see it, again, aggregated and used in similar ways.
And that’s a side-goal for Smart Nation: To make the country the benchmark for how future cities should function. “If you visit Singapore,” Balakrishnan said, “you should be able to say ‘I have seen the future — and it works.’”
Trust and transparency
Whenever I’ve explained Smart Nation and Virtual Singapore to someone new, their reaction roughly falls into one of three camps: “That’s amazing,” “That’s creepy” or “That’s amazing and creepy.”
There are obvious privacy and security issues with almost every aspect of the initiative. To understand why people might have reservations, you need only look at the political landscape of the country itself: Singapore places 74th on the Democracy index, which lists it as “flawed”; the independent democracy watchdog Freedom House lists the country as only “partly free,” ranking it four out of seven (one is best) for freedom, civil liberties and political rights; and that’s not to mention the government’s broad-reaching online surveillance powers.
But despite its issues, only four countries’ governments are more trusted (according to Edelman’s “Trust Barometer) than the Singaporean authorities, and the country ranks exceptionally high in quality of life studies. There are a few nods to privacy and transparency in the Smart Nation plans. For example, Dr. Balakrishnan said that only “anonymized traffic data will be collected and aggregated” when cars are not on priced roads. (Given that there are many toll roads in Singapore, and the system will also record when cars are stopped in paid parking spots and public lots, though, there will still be a lot of location data on offer).
Dr. Balakrishnan also spoke of “open data” and building Singapore into “an ‘open-source’ society that’s “characterized by high levels of trust, transparency and openness.” Additionally, officials will “engage independent security consultants” to audit the system to ensure it’s “secured and trusted throughout its operation.”
Singapore can be a living laboratory for experimentation, for Smart City solutions to be tested, and eventually commercialized; and hopefully some of these can also be customized and applied to other cities around the world. If you visit Singapore, you should be able to say ‘I have seen the future – and it works’
Vivian Balakrishnan
But just how trusting are Singaporeans, knowing just how much data will be gathered? I spoke with people from the business world and the press to gauge their reaction to Smart Nation, and none took real issue with the plan. “The threat of letting our government have all this data is not significantly different from all the data we’re letting Google (as a private company) have,” one business owner speaking under anonymity said.
But it’s not just the government involved. A large part of the Smart Nation pitch is about bringing government, businesses and citizens together to find solutions. Citizens increasingly “demand higher quality public services” that “respond in real-time, preferably immediately,” said Dr. Balakrishnan. And the private sector is key to achieving that.
The government has committed to releasing more government data “in a machine readable format” while “streamlining approval processes” so that public and third-party devs can access the relevant APIs faster. This approval system will be key. Businesses will obviously be approaching the data with an eye on profits, and deciding which companies can access what data will require a firm understanding of all the industries involved.
“It’s likely that at some point the parties involved — government, private sector and hopefully citizens — need to have a dialog about defining the parameters of a win-win situation,” said a business owner. “[One] where private citizen data is used to create schemes that result in economic good as well as a proportional growth in the average citizen’s quality of life.”
For Singaporeans, it’s all a question of balance: How much private data do you want to hand over in the name of economic growth and convenience?
For now, the answer appears to be “a lot.”
YouTube gives creators more control over the comment section
YouTube comments have historically been a toxic cesspool, but Google’s video platform is finally making some changes to give creators and money-makers even more control over the conversations that take place below their videos. Today, YouTube announced a new set of commenting tools meant to help creators engage with and build their communities.
There are now six handy comment moderations tools in total, and the first half of them are more playful than administrative. YouTube now allows for pinned comments so creators can show off and promote their favorite zingers from the peanut gallery. Creators can also interact directly with commenters through “creator hearts” that stand out from the usual thumbs up/thumbs down system, and whenever a creator chimes in on their own channel, their comment will be highlighted with their username and “a pop of color” so viewers will know it came from the source. (Plus the all-important verified checkmark, of course.)
On a more mundane level, YouTube rolled out the ability to choose additional moderators, blacklist certain words and flag inappropriate comments for review earlier this year. Back in September, the company also unveiled a new YouTube Heroes program that allowed volunteers to moderate various aspects of the site. While that program riled some community members, the new tools should put a little more control back in the hands of creators themselves.
Source: YouTube Creator Blog
GoPro Karma review: A decent drone with stiff competition
When Karma was unveiled last month, there were two main takeaways. First was the lack of much-expected “follow me” features; second was the inclusion of a (not-expected) handheld stabilizer, turning Karma into a “kit.” GoPro CEO Nick Woodman would declare Karma to be “much more than a drone,” pitching it as a complete video stabilization system — one that can be worn, held and flown. The big question was, would that be enough for buyers to overlook what appeared to be a pared feature set on the drone itself?
At $799 (if you “bring your own camera”), and $999/$1,099 if you want to include a Hero5 Session or Black, Karma is priced aggressively, undercutting DJI’s Phantom 4 if you factor in the cost of the handheld stabilizer (DJI’s cheapest equivalent costs an extra $300). But then DJI revealed the Mavic Pro and set fire to GoPro’s plans. It’s smaller, similarly priced and bests GoPro across the spec sheet. The question now is: Will GoPro’s claim of being more than a drone be enough to lure casual film-makers away from DJI’s technologically superior product?
Hardware
What comes in the box depends on whether you need a GoPro. If you’re buying a bundle that includes a Hero5 camera, you’ll save $100 versus buying it and the Karma individually, which isn’t bad. All the bundles come with the following: a Karma drone, six propellers, a touchscreen controller, the handheld “Grip” stabilizer (also called a “gimbal”) and a backpack to hold it all. There’s also a charger with connectors for the batteries as well as USB Type-C, so you can simultaneously recharge the drone and the controller or Grip (or anything else powered by USB-C).
Karma’s party trick is the removable gimbal, which you can swap from the drone into the Grip for smooth videos shot both in the sky and on the ground. There’s also a clip that makes the Grip compatible with existing GoPro mounts. Therefore, if you have a selfie stick, or helmet mount for your camera, it’s theoretically compatible with the Karma Grip, which means you can stabilize your GoPro almost anywhere you can mount it (almost).
It won’t make sense to attach the Grip to everything — a headband mount would have it in your face, for example — but there are many creative ways to add it to your workflow and achieve interesting, stabilized video that previously wasn’t possible. While the drone is probably what you’re buying Karma for, the Grip adds a huge amount of functionality. And while the drone is where all the fun is, there’s a good chance you might end up using the Grip more.
GoPro refers to Karma as a “stabilization system.” It’s easy to see this as the company positioning Karma as a camera product, as opposed to a drone competing directly with the Phantom 4 or Mavic. I’ll revisit this point later on, but for now keep that thought in mind.
As quadcopters go, Karma is not bad looking. Folding arms and collapsible landing gear mean Karma packs down to a very low profile. Much lower than any Phantom, certainly, though Karma is considerably longer and wider than Mavic. Unfolding Karma takes seconds, and folding it back down is weirdly satisfying in the way it all neatly clicks together.
Karma’s body is mostly made of glossy white plastic, with a contrasting gray underbelly and a gray soft-touch section on top that complements the shiny lid. Whether you think it’s better looking than the Smurfy white curves of the Phantom or the masculine Mavic will be a matter of personal taste.
Karma’s controller looks and feels like a gadget in its own right. GoPro built in a 5-inch, 900-nit 720p display, which is kept safe from the elements by a clamshell design. Unlike many RC controllers (aka transmitters) that have metal knurled “sticks,” Karma’s has smooth sticks with a rubberized finish. The controller is weighty but comfortable to hold, and the lack of external antennas make it feel infinitely less geeky than a regular transmitter.
The Grip has a similar aesthetic as the controller, with a gunmetal color and flush buttons. Unlike most other handheld GoPro stabilizers, it features buttons that control the camera directly. There are buttons to turn the camera on and off, set highlight tags, start and stop recording, and change modes, as well as set the camera’s angle in the grip (you can also do this manually). No need to touch the GoPro at all.
Overall, everything is well made and carefully engineered. For example, the drone batteries have a spring-loaded handle on the rear that satisfyingly extends as you pull the battery out, and neatly tucks itself away as you slide it back in. Similarly, if you charge the Grip with the camera in it, you’ll charge both at the same time. Even the backpack has a few thoughtful details, such as a GoPro quick-release mount on the strap for mounting the Grip on (with the aforementioned adaptor). You need to keep the straps tight to stop it from flopping about, but it’s a nice touch.
Karma drone’s battery life is estimated at 20 minutes. In practice, it’s somewhere around 17 minutes, depending how you fly. Drone battery life is always something of a guessing game. DJI, for example, claims Mavic’s battery lasts 27 minutes, but in my experience, I never got much more than 20 minutes of flight time with it. That’s better, of course, but still less than advertised. In short, you’ll likely want extra batteries, which cost $99 a pop. That’s not chump change, but it’s on par with or even cheaper than the competition (Mavic/Phantom batteries cost $89 and $169, respectively).
So let’s quickly talk about what the Karma drone does not have. The most obvious omission is any sort of “follow me” feature, given GoPro’s association with self-filming. The basic tools are there — GPS in the drone and the controller — but GoPro claims current technology doesn’t provide a good enough experience. I’ve tried GPS-based solutions, and they’re prone to jerky motion, as the drone keeps calculating your location. Camera-based object tracking helps eliminate that, but as anyone with a smartphone with facial recognition knows, it’s prone to losing its target. There’s also a simpler argument as to why it was left out: It’s not that useful for most people. Also, it requires obstacle avoidance to be safe — another feature Karma lacks.
Karma also doesn’t have downward sensors for helping it keep position, especially indoors (though you can still fly inside). Downward-facing sensors have been around for years — the original Parrot AR Drone had one back in 2010. Even DJI wouldn’t introduce indoor positioning to the Phantom until as recently as last year, but these days it’s a feature most people expect on a drone at this price, and it’s not here. It’s not just for indoors; it helps keep the drone steady outside too. GoPro’s outdoorsy crowd might not miss indoor flying so much, but the extra stability would be nice.
Obstacle avoidance, however, is a newer technology, with the Phantom 4 being the first from DJI’s popular line to support it, and that only came out back in March (about six months before Karma). If GoPro had released Karma around the same time as the Phantom 4 as originally planned, the lack of these sensors wouldn’t have seemed so obvious, but ultimately it didn’t, and here we are.
It’s worth remembering that most drones, including Mavic and the Phantom 4, “only” have forward-facing obstacle avoidance — which is better than none of course — but there are still three directions you can crash them from. Similarly, the Phantom didn’t get basic follow features until a retroactive update for Phantom 3 at the end of last year. Either way, to GoPro’s detriment, six months is a long time in drone land, and Karma’s delay has accentuated its shortcomings.
Getting started
So what is Karma like to use? Let’s start with the controller, as that will likely be your first interaction with it. The first time you turn it on — it takes about 30 seconds to boot — you’ll see some basic setup screens. I connected the controller to my home’s WiFi network (for updates and downloading maps, etc.) and was soon given the option to learn to fly with the built-in simulator. If you’ve never flown before, this is a good way to have a few test runs, or sharpen your skills between flights.
The central power, start and land buttons are reachable with your thumbs, while the shoulder buttons for camera tilt, recording and mode selection/highlight tagging are all easy to access. Typical drone controllers are covered with buttons. DJI’s aren’t too bad, but others (like Yuneec’s) are littered with knobs, switches and dials that can be daunting to new pilots (not to mention, easy to press accidentally). Karma’s controller is refreshingly clean and simple, although it does mean fewer dedicated buttons.
The 5-inch screen is bright and clearly visible in direct sunlight. Though some controllers use your phone as a display (like the Phantom or the Mavic), I prefer not having to use a phone, at least not for basic flying. First of all, it always feels a bit kludgy. Then, ironically, you have to put your phone in airplane mode or risk receiving calls or alerts while you’re piloting. Plus it’s just one more drain on your phone battery.
I always found the controller for the Phantom 3 and 4 unwieldy, what with the phone balanced on top in a clip. The Mavic controller sandwiches the phone between two grips at the bottom, which is a better design but doesn’t look very elegant. Both scenarios also add to the setup process, as you have to make sure the USB port or WiFi is connected and the phone is securely in place (don’t forget to tap to focus, guys). With Karma’s controller you just switch it on and you’re set.
Much like the physical controls, Karma’s on-screen menus are simple and sparse. All the important info is on screen, though. Remaining flight time is shown via a big bar along the top that changes from green to red as it depletes (sadly all too quickly). On the right hand side are distance and height. Along the bottom, easily identifiable icons point you toward in-flight settings, camera modes and auto-shot paths.
Ready for take off
We’ve come all this way, and we haven’t even taken off yet. Let’s do that. Getting in the air is pretty simple. Karma will tell you when it’s ready to fly (literally — it has voice alerts). From there, hold the start button for a count of three. Then you can either tap the big on-screen “launch” button and Karma will take off by itself, or manually push upward on the left stick. By default, Karma will have “Easy” mode activated. This limits how high and far away you can fly, and also reduces its speed to help prevent over-ambitious maiden flights. Flying in Easy mode can still feel fairly quick, so you’d be smart to stick with that setting if you’re just starting out.
Once you’re feeling braver, you can turn off Easy mode. With a top speed of 35 miles per hour, Karma is no slouch. Again, the Mavic bests it with a top speed of 40MPH, but that’s not a huge difference, and also requires being in “Sport” mode, which disables the obstacle avoidance. For most people, then, Karma will feel plenty fast.
Thanks to the lack of downward sensors, even with GPS connected, Karma can gently drift when you let go of the controls (anyone who’s owned a Phantom 2 will be familiar with this). The Mavic, meanwhile, holds its position in the air with almost freakish accuracy. Karma only wanders a foot or two when hovering and you’ll quickly learn to make micro adjustments if needed. Even so, you should stick to wide open spaces at the beginning.
Once you’re moving, Karma feels nimble yet steady. The 720p video feed to the controller had the occasional glitch on screen, but no more than I’ve seen with other video links, including DJI. Importantly, there were no freezes or worse, complete losses of connection, even when flying far away. The uncluttered display is much appreciated when lining up your shots. Both DJI and Yuneec cram all sorts of data onto the screen and much of it feels unnecessary (motor rotation speed?), at least as a permanent fixture on the main screen.
Video and photo modes
Karma has four auto-shot modes that help you get pro-style clips without having to be a flying master. Again, most or even all of these are common on other camera-enabled drones, but given that GoPro is pitching Karma at outdoor amateur videographers, they’re especially important.
We only have ourselves to blame for the drone selfie mode, or “Dronie.” Fly Karma to a starting point, and Karma will slowly, steadily fly backward and upward until you’re barely a dot on the screen. It works well enough, but I’m not sure how many times I would use it in my own videos. Your level of proclivity for selfies may differ from mine.
“Cable cam” is much more useful, making Karma move between two locations as if on a cable. The start and end points can be at different heights, and you can rotate Karma or change speed while it’s moving, which can lead to some great looking panning shots. I tried this on an empty beach, and it’s perfect for complex shots, revealing different parts of the landscape over time (and in three dimensions).
“Orbit,” as the name suggests, has the Karma fly around a central point. Again, you can change the height and the camera angle as it goes, so you can get creative with it. This is one of my favorite moves, but it’s also hard to avoid catching yourself in shot, which isn’t always what you want. Also, having tried Mavic’s equivalent mode that can circle a moving target (which is perilous if there are trees or cables around, but very cool). I wish Karma could also do this.
Lastly, “Reveal” flies between two points starting with the camera facing directly down, slowly panning it upwards for the big, well, “reveal.” It’s another staple shot that’s great for intros. I also found that by lowering the camera tilt speed in settings, I could achieve pretty good “reveals” manually — a trick I found myself using more often.
Now is probably a good time to remind you of the Hero5’s “Linear” mode. It’s a setting that removes the fish-eye effect common to GoPros. At least know if you’re using Karma with a Hero5, Linear mode does away with this effect (the trade-off being, you can’t use Linear mode in 4K — only 2.7K and below).
Changing the camera modes from the controller can be done via the onscreen menu, or the “Highlight” shoulder button (when not recording). When recording, the display shows how much recording time has elapsed. Occasionally this number froze, and tapping the record button wouldn’t kick it back into gear. On landing, the camera was still recording, so no footage was lost. Still: frustrating. You can actually view all your recorded media via the controller at any time, though, and it works surprisingly fast.
A feature that got lost in the official announcement was the companion “Passenger” mobile app. With Passenger you hand over the control of the camera to someone else via their phone. It’s simple to set up — just connect the phone to the controller’s WiFi hotspot, grant it access and you’re good. I only got it working on iOS, though, as my Pixel couldn’t see the WiFi hotspot at all. I asked GoPro about this, and was told that Android 7.1 is currently still in testing.
What’s more exciting about Passenger is the potential it adds. Earlier I talked about the drawbacks of using a phone for controlling a drone. That’s still true when it’s required, but as an optional add-on, it can be useful. With Passenger, it could be a direct way to add livestreaming to Facebook or YouTube.
More than a drone
There’s no denying Karma doesn’t have the extensive feature set of other drones. But what happens when the battery runs out? With most quadcopters you either charge a battery, swap in a spare or maybe go sit down somewhere. With Karma, you can do all of those, or carry on filming with the handheld grip. You can buy a separate handheld stabilizer to go with your existing drone, but most good ones cost around $300. (The video below was shot using a mix of the drone and the Grip.)
Karma’s Grip is likely the main thing that will separate people into team GoPro or team DJI; it’s a solid value-add if you’re in the GoPro ecosystem. Even before Karma, a handheld gimbal is the first accessory I’d recommend. They are the single biggest upgrade you can give your GoPro videos. As with the drone you can also control the camera directly from the Grip (others you need to touch the camera). The Grip also charges your camera while you use it, and has a battery life of around two hours. While it’s a good all-rounder, it lacks a joystick for manual camera movement.
Grip is also rugged. It’s not waterproof, but it’s at least “weatherproof.” The option to attach it to existing GoPro accessories adds almost unlimited potential. I’m interested to see who comes up with the wildest use for it, but imagine silky smooth video from the cockpit of a toboggan, or from the mudguard of a dirt bike. These are all things you can do with Karma that you can’t with a drone.
Portability
During Karma’s launch, much was made about how portable the kit was, thanks to the included backpack. It’s comfortable to wear, and at around eight pounds, it’s not that heavy. But it’s not exactly compact either. Or at least, it’s not compared to the much smaller Mavic. When it was a toss-up between the Phantom 4 and the Karma, GoPro’s slimline offering was easily a more manageable choice (at least in terms of size). I’ve had the pleasure of lugging a Phantom across the Pacific, so I can say from experience that it’s doable, but not fun.
Wrap-up
If you’re interested in drones, and looking for a smart flying robot that also shoots video, it’s hard to recommend Karma over Mavic. But enthusiasts who are only looking for a drone already knew that and didn’t need to read this review. If you’ve gotten this far, it’s possible you’re into making videos, enjoy outdoors adventure or part of the big old “everyone else,” and aren’t sure which makes most sense for you.
GoPro’s Karma is simpler, easy to use and has a singular focus on video. Mavic is gadgety and full of advanced features — kind of like a gaming PC when you might just want to browse the internet. The flight range of 4.3 miles (compared to Karma’s 1.8) is reassuring, but does it affect real-world flying? Most aviation authorities including the FAA require that recreational users keep a visual line of sight when flying a drone — and both Karma and Mavic can fly beyond that without the video link dropping. Do you need to wizz around a bit faster? It’s fun, but so is recording smooth video on your mountain bike.
It’s harder to argue against more practical differences like battery life. GoPro’s isn’t bad — it’s just OK. Similarly obstacle avoidance isn’t a neat trick; it can save your drone and prevent accidents. Unlike “follow me” features (or lack thereof in Karma’s case) that will bum a few people out, but it still feels like something people expected, but didn’t necessarily need. But then there’s the basic practicality that Karma is fun to fly, flies well, has great auto-shot modes and the versatility of the handheld gimbal.
As for your wallet, Karma is a decent deal — a drone, a camera and a handheld stabilizer for the price of a Mavic. DJI will sell you a Mavic without a controller for $50 less than the Karma (without a camera), but you have to be willing to trade a lot of usability for that saving, and of course, still no handheld. It’s a much more limited proposition for enthusiastic video makers, albeit a better one for budding pilots. Let’s not forget, Karma is still a decent consumer drone. There are just better ones available. But if your focus is video, Karma has much more to offer.
AIVAnet 