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A quick search on Amazon for a robotic lawn mower will net countless results, but will I buy one right now? The short answer is no. Continue reading for the long answer and why I’m leaning towards the ultimate robotic mulch and lawn mower from Airseekers. To understand why, we need to break down key components: vision, wheels, blades, and the AI brain powering the Airseekers.

Designer: Airseekers

Painful issues with modern-day robotic lawnmowers

One of the biggest issues I’ve experienced with other robotic lawnmowers is how the mower has to be set up with an antenna base station that requires a direct line of sight to satellites orbiting above our planet. It depends on the brand, so each implements different technologies, allowing the robotic lawn mower to track its position. This pain point is a showstopper for me. My yard isn’t massive, but it’s big enough, and the complications compound with any robotic mowers I’ve tested – it has to do with the thirty-three oak trees spanning across a corner lot.

AI and cameras together solve the unreliable navigation systems used by others

So, how has Yue Hu, the founder of Airseekers, solved this problem? By eliminating the need for an antenna altogether. The unit is truly autonomous to move about thanks to the 5-camera Air Vision. The navigation system consists of three panoramic lenses and dual depth-perception cameras.

The three panoramic cameras function similarly to how we use our eyes to see. The left and right cameras allow Airseekers to see both sides, similar to how we turn our heads left and right. The system as a whole works together in conjunction with the AI engine to determine the current position and identify obstacles, people, and pets, which it will automatically navigate to avoid hitting.

Moreover, the Air Vision system captures extensive visual data from various angles for precise, centimeter-level positioning. This reduces errors from weak satellite signals and continuously processes environmental data, even in areas with dense foliage or under eaves. Its stability is maintained on uneven terrain and is resilient to lens obstruction caused by dirt or camera movement.

Smooth operator

My robotic vacuum cleaner remembers the precise location where it stopped cleaning when the battery runs low, runs back to the base to charge up and then resumes cleaning at the very spot it was in previously. That’s exactly what Airseekers is capable of, using the navigation system and countless images that it takes and stores in the memory bank. Speaking of images, you can even submit pictures of you, your pet, and anyone else to the system via the app on your phone. This is a significant feature, in my opinion, due to theft prevention. If the system identifies a person it doesn’t recognize, it notifies you via the app and automatically shuts down and locks up. This same safety feature also kicks in when it’s removed from the invisible geofence you set up during your initial setup.

There’s also the option to use your cellular SIM card to track the positioning if you want peace of mind. Otherwise, if your wifi signal is strong enough, it should also do the job, according to Hu. Note that using your cellular sim card is only an option, not a requirement, since many of us don’t have an extra active sim card lying around.

The AI has been fed with countless images of everything that it could potentially encounter. So, circling back to the cameras, it can identify the edge of your yard, preventing itself from veering off course and slamming into the pavement. Hu assured me that there shouldn’t be any training required at all when you first use Airseekers, but if it makes you feel better, you can walk it around the edge of the yard, around trees and bushes once, and it’ll commit the pattern to memory.

Airseekers’ AI self-mapping technology streamlines lawn care by eliminating the need for perimeter wires, manual controls, and RTK base stations. Utilizing panoramic perception and Vslam technology, it generates a detailed 3D map of your yard. The intelligent app automatically defines lawn boundaries and cutting zones, simplifying mowing.

For added security measures, there’s a sensor or “bumper” located in the front to sense objects with which it comes in contact.

The Airseekers comes equipped with a motor powerful enough to allow it to climb hills up to a 65% slope and effortlessly traverse uneven terrain. This feature is essential for maintaining a lawn with varying elevation degrees. Its high-torque motors and the 30-degree inward design of its omnidirectional wheels facilitate smooth turns and confident movement in any terrain, so there’s no need to worry about the mower getting stuck – now I wish I could say the same for my robotic vacuum cleaner.

The Airseekers have a special feature called the FlowCut Mowing System. This system ensures your grass has neat edges. It does this by sucking the grass up straight, then cutting it inside a U-shaped chamber. This incredible Vacuum-Cut-Mulch system and double mowing power chops up the grass clippings into tiny pieces. These pieces then go into the ground and act as fertilizer. This process keeps your lawn looking tidy and also helps the soil by adding natural nutrients.

Other notable features include Automated Lawn Maintenance, Rainfall Auto-Detecting, and Real-Time Monitoring and alerts. The Automated Lawn Maintenance ensures your lawn is consistently taken care of, whereas the Rainfall Auto-Detecting feature prevents the mower from operating under unfavorable weather conditions. I wouldn’t say I like to mow the grass when it’s wet; I do it more to protect the grass blades. The Real-Time Monitoring and alerts inform you about the mower’s operational status.

Lastly, Hu shared with Yanko Design that in the next near final prototype, Airseekers should have a user-replaceable battery which is located in the bottom rear. For someone with a larger yard, being able to replace the battery immediately is priceless. However, if you’re like me and just too lazy and want the Airseekers to do all the work, it’s smart enough to know when to return to the base station and charge up before running out of juice. After sufficient charge, it resumes for another three hours of mowing away.

I’m impressed with the design elements and advanced technology, especially the custom-shaped blades that allow a clean cut. I can’t wait to have this impressive machine roaming my yard.

Designer: Airseekers Robotics

A quick search on Amazon for a robotic lawn mower will net countless results, but will I buy one right now? The short answer is no. Continue reading for the long answer and why I’m leaning towards the ultimate robotic mulch and lawn mower from Airseekers. To understand why, we need to break down key components: vision, wheels, blades, and the AI brain powering the Airseekers.

Designer: Airseekers

Painful issues with modern-day robotic lawnmowers

One of the biggest issues I’ve experienced with other robotic lawnmowers is how the mower has to be set up with an antenna base station that requires a direct line of sight to satellites orbiting above our planet. It depends on the brand, so each implements different technologies, allowing the robotic lawn mower to track its position. This pain point is a showstopper for me. My yard isn’t massive, but it’s big enough, and the complications compound with any robotic mowers I’ve tested – it has to do with the thirty-three oak trees spanning across a corner lot.

AI and cameras together solve the unreliable navigation systems used by others

So, how has Yue Hu, the founder of Airseekers, solved this problem? By eliminating the need for an antenna altogether. The unit is truly autonomous to move about thanks to the 5-camera Air Vision. The navigation system consists of three panoramic lenses and dual depth-perception cameras.

The three panoramic cameras function similarly to how we use our eyes to see. The left and right cameras allow Airseekers to see both sides, similar to how we turn our heads left and right. The system as a whole works together in conjunction with the AI engine to determine the current position and identify obstacles, people, and pets, which it will automatically navigate to avoid hitting.

Moreover, the Air Vision system captures extensive visual data from various angles for precise, centimeter-level positioning. This reduces errors from weak satellite signals and continuously processes environmental data, even in areas with dense foliage or under eaves. Its stability is maintained on uneven terrain and is resilient to lens obstruction caused by dirt or camera movement.

Smooth operator

My robotic vacuum cleaner remembers the precise location where it stopped cleaning when the battery runs low, runs back to the base to charge up and then resumes cleaning at the very spot it was in previously. That’s exactly what Airseekers is capable of, using the navigation system and countless images that it takes and stores in the memory bank. Speaking of images, you can even submit pictures of you, your pet, and anyone else to the system via the app on your phone. This is a significant feature, in my opinion, due to theft prevention. If the system identifies a person it doesn’t recognize, it notifies you via the app and automatically shuts down and locks up. This same safety feature also kicks in when it’s removed from the invisible geofence you set up during your initial setup.

There’s also the option to use your cellular SIM card to track the positioning if you want peace of mind. Otherwise, if your wifi signal is strong enough, it should also do the job, according to Hu. Note that using your cellular sim card is only an option, not a requirement, since many of us don’t have an extra active sim card lying around.

The AI has been fed with countless images of everything that it could potentially encounter. So, circling back to the cameras, it can identify the edge of your yard, preventing itself from veering off course and slamming into the pavement. Hu assured me that there shouldn’t be any training required at all when you first use Airseekers, but if it makes you feel better, you can walk it around the edge of the yard, around trees and bushes once, and it’ll commit the pattern to memory.

Airseekers’ AI self-mapping technology streamlines lawn care by eliminating the need for perimeter wires, manual controls, and RTK base stations. Utilizing panoramic perception and Vslam technology, it generates a detailed 3D map of your yard. The intelligent app automatically defines lawn boundaries and cutting zones, simplifying mowing.

For added security measures, there’s a sensor or “bumper” located in the front to sense objects with which it comes in contact.

The Airseekers comes equipped with a motor powerful enough to allow it to climb hills up to a 65% slope and effortlessly traverse uneven terrain. This feature is essential for maintaining a lawn with varying elevation degrees. Its high-torque motors and the 30-degree inward design of its omnidirectional wheels facilitate smooth turns and confident movement in any terrain, so there’s no need to worry about the mower getting stuck – now I wish I could say the same for my robotic vacuum cleaner.

The Airseekers have a special feature called the FlowCut Mowing System. This system ensures your grass has neat edges. It does this by sucking the grass up straight, then cutting it inside a U-shaped chamber. This incredible Vacuum-Cut-Mulch system and double mowing power chops up the grass clippings into tiny pieces. These pieces then go into the ground and act as fertilizer. This process keeps your lawn looking tidy and also helps the soil by adding natural nutrients.

Other notable features include Automated Lawn Maintenance, Rainfall Auto-Detecting, and Real-Time Monitoring and alerts. The Automated Lawn Maintenance ensures your lawn is consistently taken care of, whereas the Rainfall Auto-Detecting feature prevents the mower from operating under unfavorable weather conditions. I wouldn’t say I like to mow the grass when it’s wet; I do it more to protect the grass blades. The Real-Time Monitoring and alerts inform you about the mower’s operational status.

Lastly, Hu shared with Yanko Design that in the next near final prototype, Airseekers should have a user-replaceable battery which is located in the bottom rear. For someone with a larger yard, being able to replace the battery immediately is priceless. However, if you’re like me and just too lazy and want the Airseekers to do all the work, it’s smart enough to know when to return to the base station and charge up before running out of juice. After sufficient charge, it resumes for another three hours of mowing away.

I’m impressed with the design elements and advanced technology, especially the custom-shaped blades that allow a clean cut. I can’t wait to have this impressive machine roaming my yard.

Designer: Airseekers Robotics

Dubbed the Harudot Cafe, this unique-looking structure in the beachside town of Chonburi, Thailand is designed by local studio IDIN Architects. The building is highlighted by gabled forms clad in blackened wood which are curved, and subtly pulled apart, to form a “dynamic and memorable” space for the cafe brand Nana Coffee Roasters, and the owner of the property. The curving form of the cafe was inspired by the owner’s “particular interest in unique plants”.

Designer: IDIN Architects

The Harudot consists of three interconnected buildings which hold a meeting room, kitchen, and toilets. The various rooms have been arranged in a rectilinear form to the north, while the seating area is situated to the south. The southern structures hold circular areas of planting, wherein the gable roofs pull open, allowing natural light to stream in from above. This unique roof opening also allows a large baobab tree to grow!

“The building is separated into smaller masses to make it more human-scale, which established different zones such as the bar, coffee drinking zone, a lounge, a meeting room, and restrooms. The giant gable roof form of each mass is pulled apart at certain parts, allowing the tree to penetrate through a void to the sky creating a semi-outdoor space underneath. It appears as if the seed of the baobab has been planted long before and grew out through the architecture as time passes,” said IDIN Architects.

You are welcomed into the two curving structures via large triangular entrances that accommodate full-height glazing incorporating doors that connect the various external seating areas to the interiors, forming a well-connected and free-flowing space. Although the three forms are distinct and separate on the outside, internally they are connected via large arched openings. The stone floor is marked with flowing lines and embedded text, which builds a serene sense of continuity.

Harudot’s exterior is quite appealing, as it is clad in vertical blackened timber planks that accentuate the cafe’s curving form, which contrasts with the pale timber and black furniture and fittings. The entire identity of the cafe is inspired by Japanese design, which IDIN Architects describes as “humble simplicity with attention to details”.

Lithuanian kitchen maker Konga used the hefty supply of offcuts they had to create their own line of prefabricated tiny houses. They used the surplus material to build a good-looking and minimal non-towable home that can run both on or off-grid. The dwelling has a pretty low starting price point of US$59,000. The home isn’t built entirely from offcuts, but they have been used in the construction of the tiny home’s kitchen.

Designer: Konga

The tiny home is designed by the Danish architect Mette Fredskild, and it is finished in charred wood, giving it a rather unique and appealing look, while also providing protection against insects. It also helps to preserve the home, while accentuating its distinctive appearance. Generous glazing has been applied to the home, and most of it is operable. It is a well-insulated home that can deal with the cold weather and snow loads quite efficiently.

The interiors are well-designed and inviting. They measure 28 square meters, which is covered entirely on one floor, and feature a shared open-plan living space. The walls of the home have been clad in wooden oak veneer panels and teamed up with oak flooring. The cabin is filled with natural light, owing to the generous amount of glazing.

The kitchen is amped with a lot of features and amenities. It showcases a fridge, sink, and propane-powered gas stove, with loads of cabinetry and shelving. There is also a living room area with a sofa, a small dining table, as well a wood-burning stove to provide warmth. Two bedrooms have been positioned on either side of the kitchen. One of the bedrooms can be transformed into a home office, with sliding doors being installed to offer some privacy if need be. Both the toilet and the bathroom with shower are located in different rooms. The home also accommodates a small utility room, as well as a couple of storage nooks that have been nestled away throughout the house.

The cabin runs from an RV-style grid hookup, but buyers can opt for an optional rooftop solar panel setup and rainwater collection system. The wood-burning stove can be connected to a hot water system as well. The tiny home features a freezing toilet, instead of a composting toilet, and it basically freezes waste, ensuring the space stays odorless.

Although it might not be as prominent as Touch ID, the notch, or the more recent Dynamic Island, the physical mute switch has become one of the most loved features of the iPhone right from day one. It is one of those small features that proved just how attentive Apple was to the little details that significantly improved the lives of their customers. After more than a decade in service, that switch was eventually replaced by the Action button in the iPhone 15 Pro models this year, but of course, that isn’t the end of the story. According to sources, next year’s iPhones will have an even more talented Action Button and best of all, it will be available on all models right off the bat.

Designer: Apple (via MacRumors)

The physical mute switch delivered peace of mind by letting iPhone users switch from ring to silent mode and vice-versa with a literal flick of a switch, saving you from stress and embarrassment in times when your phone shouldn’t be audible. Presuming you know what the current sound mode is, you don’t even need to look at the switch’s position to push it. You can do it while your iPhone is still in your pocket, and no one will be the wiser.

There might be some fans who are sad to it go, but that switch has ascended to become a button. It can now do more than just switch to silent mode since it can be mapped to some actions, hence its name. Apple had some ambitious plans for the Action Button, but the lack of time meant it had to make do with a simple physical button and limit it to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. But now that the cat is out of the bag, it is free to push forward with its original plans.

Although nothing’s set in stone yet, Apple might change the Action Button from a mechanical button to a capacitive one with force sensitivity. This is similar to the technology used in the previous Touch ID home button as well as the Force Touch trackpad on MacBooks. This revamped Action Button would be able to distinguish between a simple press, a long press, and a hard press, so you’d be able to assign at least two actions to the same button (long press is set to switching between ring and silent by default).

The exact implementation details are, of course, still up in the air, but it would be a very big improvement over the current basic implementation. Even better, those same sources claim that this new Action Button will make its way to all iPhone 16 models, both the standard and Pro models, so there wouldn’t be a need for envious buyers. Again, all of these are still unofficial, so Apple could still pull the plug from the plan if it doesn’t deem the feature to be ready by the time it locks down the iPhone 16 features next year.

Webcams are to laptops what stereo systems were to cars in the past. No reputable automaker really gave a damn about how useful or functional their stereo players were, and they were almost always an afterthought to the car’s entire experience. However, with the dawn of the social age, these systems have now transformed into complex infotainment apparatuses that are sometimes the highlight of the car’s entire interior experience. I digress, but the point I’m trying to make is that up until very recently, webcams on laptops, for the lack of a more elegant term, have sucked turds. It’s barely been 2 years since companies (especially Apple) have been focusing more on just making better camera hardware for their laptops. Heck, Apple even introduced a Continuity Camera feature for their Macs that lets you use the iPhone’s main camera instead of the built-in webcam. While this movement towards building better laptop webcams is yet to gather critical mass, it’s spawned a pretty big product category in the form of external webcams, which all promise to be vastly better than the ones baked into your laptop’s hardware.

That’s where the Opal Tadpole Webcam enters the scene, promising to be a game changer. Now in its second iteration, the Tadpole promises great things with some impressive hardware specs combined with a little AI secret sauce.

Designer: Opal

Opal’s first product was launched at the height of the pandemic as the world transitioned to an online-only workplace. As people found themselves spending less time behind cubicles and more time behind crappy laptop webcams, Opal decided to debut the C1 – a promising webcam that fell short on delivering what it promised. To be honest, circumstances played a pretty big role in why the C1 wasn’t as great as it was hyped up to be. The raging pandemic was also causing a pretty ugly supply chain crisis and global chip shortage. Transportation was on a grinding halt, preventing Opal’s fledgling team from actually going to China to oversee production. However, the pandemic is now hopefully completely behind us and Opal’s grown in the time since then – not only in personally but also in how the company executes product development. In that regard, the Tadpole isn’t really the C1’s successor, given that it’s vastly better, packs new features, and is also touts a hefty $175 price tag.

First off, the Tadpole boasts a 4K Sony sensor. That’s right, 4K. In a world where most laptop webcams are stuck in the 720p dark ages, this is a significant leap forward. The video footage does get downsampled to 1080p to keep things light (a 4K stream on a Zoom call isn’t something most internet connections can handle), but Tadpole’s new machine-learning image signal processor promises “DSLR-rivaling quality.” In addition to the resolution, the Tadpole features a moderately wide 90-degree field of view. This wide angle is perfect for capturing more than just your face, helpful for those dynamic presentations, or when you want to show off more of your surroundings. Things, however, don’t stop there. The Tadpole comes equipped with an f/1.8 lens, which means it’s capable of performing admirably in low-light conditions. No more looking like you’re in a witness protection program during late-night video calls. Furthermore, the webcam includes a digital microphone array, designed to pick up your voice clearly while minimizing background noise.

Physically, the Tadpole is compact and elegantly designed. It’s practically the shape and size of a 3rd-Gen iPod Shuffle, with a minimalist design to match. It easily clips onto your laptop or monitor, adding minimal bulk, but doing away with the standard tripod mount that would allow you to attach the Tadpole on places other than a monitor. USB-C connectivity means it’s versatile and can be used with a range of devices, not just your laptop, and the Tadpole’s USB-C port even comes with a touch-sensitive Mute button, allowing you to easily mute yourself on calls without navigating any video-chat interfaces.

What’s more intriguing about the Tadpole is its compatibility. It’s not just a plug-and-play device; it takes advantage of its own software to enhance the user experience. This includes features like auto-framing and AI enhancements, ensuring that you’re always in focus and look your best, even if you just rolled out of bed.

All those features don’t come cheap at all. With an eye-watering $175 price tag, the Tadpole is sits at the higher end of the webcam market, which might be a deterrent for some. But for those who are tired of pixelated video calls and want a top-tier webcam experience, the Tadpole might just be worth the splurge. While it may not be for everyone’s wallet, it’s certainly a step in the right direction for anyone seeking clarity, quality, and a bit of style in their video calls. And who knows, maybe it’ll make those early morning Zoom meetings a tad more bearable. Or at least, you’ll look good while you’re half-asleep, sipping your coffee, pretending to pay attention.

It’s all but confirmed that Apple’s been working on a Max version of their HomePod speaker. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned earlier this year that Apple has internally developed their larger HomePod model, but has held back on releasing it – with a hopeful debut by or before 2024. Hinting at a possible 7-inch display (although there’s a fair chance 7 inches may fall short for the kinds of applications Kuo has mentioned), the analyst and credible rumor expert said: “The HomePod, which equips a panel, could enable tighter integration with Apple’s other hardware products, marking a significant shift in the company’s smart home strategy.”

While we await Apple’s Scary Fast event scheduled for October 30th, here’s a look at what this bigger HomePod could possibly look like. Apple did give the original HomePod a refresh this year, which means the HomePod Mini is due for a refresh too. The company hasn’t upgraded the AirPods Max in years either, so now seems like the best time to debut the new HomePod Max – a speaker that champions Apple’s product ecosystem while being an audiophile’s best friend and a truly versatile smart-home accessory.

Designer: Sarang Sheth

For a device with a $300 price tag, the HomePod has sure felt slightly disappointing – not in terms of audio, but rather in terms of that limited circular display on top. The circular display has served no purpose apart from visualizing Siri’s voice through gradients, and allowing users to toggle playback and control volume. A larger display on a larger speaker opens up a variety of possibilities. For starters, it opens up the possibility for a much more comprehensive interface that can alternate between playing music, providing a more visual Siri experience, serving as a smart Apple Home dashboard, and being the perfect device for Apple’s latest iOS trick – the Standby Mode.

The HomePod Max with Standby Mode

Current HomePods don’t really exploit their display to its full potential, but simply expanding that display wouldn’t necessarily work. Having an upward-facing screen is a usability issue because people need to walk up to it to really see what’s on it. Conversely, having a screen facing frontwards ends up compromising on the speaker’s front-firing capabilities. The optimal solution, is a tilted display that’s easy to view from a distance while still facing directly at you up close. It’s easy to tap on and interact with, and doesn’t impede the HomePod Max’s ability to disperse 360° audio all across your room.

HomePod Max in White

Other HomePod Max features include the kind you’d find on your iPhone or iPad. The device’s screen serves as a neat display for all sorts of actionable information. Apart from the Standby Mode, the HomePod Max also displays the weather, shows you a more intuitive chat UI with Siri, allows you to monitor aspects of your smart home, and even enables synchronization with Apple TV aside from Apple Music.

Weather on the HomePod Max

Siri on the HomePod Max

The HomePod Max seems like the only natural progression for Apple’s speaker range. Every product that Apple has launched a ‘Mini’ version of has seen a Max version too. The Mac Mini got a Mac Studio last year, the iPad Mini has had a larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the iPhone Mini series, although discontinued, has a rival in the ‘Plus’ variant of the phone. Similarly, the HomePod Max gives the HomePod and HomePod Mini a bigger sibling, while doubling down on a whole slew of features that the other HomePods don’t have.

Would this mean being able to pair multiple HomePods as a part of a 2.1 or 5.1 setup? Well, Apple’s a true master of Spatial Audio, and HomePods have been known to sync up rather well, so it’s entirely conceivable that the HomePod Max could serve as a thundering woofer while the smaller HomePods become tweeters to complete the experience. The entire experience is further enhanced by the fact that Apple’s speakers can calculate the size of the room and their relative position in it, optimizing sound in the process. Pair this with Apple TV, or even better, with the Vision Pro and you have perhaps the most immersive movie-watching experience money can buy!

A definitive launch date for Apple’s ‘bigger’ HomePod isn’t clear although Ming-Chi Kuo and other analysts have pretty much guaranteed that the company’s been working hard at a bigger HomePod and that it’s arriving sooner rather than later. Ming-Chi Kuo also has it on good authority that supplier Tianma will be developing the display panel for this HomePod Max. Until then, let’s see what Apple has in store for us come Monday, October the 3oth!

The idea of being an Apple or Android superfan made a lot of sense 10 years ago when there were substantial differences between the two brands. Today, the two operating systems share an entire host of similarities. Both have overlapping features that make them compelling alternatives to each other, and the only truly defining difference at this point is their individual ecosystems or walled gardens… that was until today when Google revealed their Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

While outwardly, the Pixel 8 series and the iPhone 15 series share a ton of pretty great features, it’s remarkable what Google’s managed to achieve with its AI-first approach. Both phones run on custom silicon (the iPhone on the A17 Bionic chip and the Pixel on the Tensor 3 chip), but Google’s strong AI background has resulted in a few surprising new features that set it in a class apart. These features are so game-changing that not only are they not available on any other Android phone, but you won’t find them even on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Temperature Sensor

The first on this list isn’t an AI-powered feature but rather a hardware one… and a pretty funky one to begin with. The Pixel 8 Pro is the first Pixel phone to come with its own temperature sensor that measures the temperature of anything you point it at. Almost working like an IR thermometer, this sensor lets you see if your drink’s chilled or if your barbecue grill or cast iron is ripping hot. You can measure the outer temperature of food items to know if they’re cooked properly or if your coffee is too hot for consumption. Google has even filed an application with the FDA to allow the sensor to monitor human temperature data, allowing you to check if you have a fever, and sync that data with your fitness device. The temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro is mirrored by a LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro, which performs 3D scanning rather than temperature gauging. Sure, they don’t compare given how wildly different they are, but one could argue that the ability to instantly measure the temperature of anything has much more of a real-world impact than the ability to 3D scan.

Best Take

Last year, Google unveiled some pretty impressive AI-powered editing features within its Photos app, like the ability to unblur photos, to erase objects you didn’t need, and to move certain elements within the photo for a better composition… but what do you do when you click a group photo at the wrong moment when someone’s eyes are closed, or a family photo with the kid making faces while everyone says cheese? Best Take is Google’s answer to that unique problem – if you’re unhappy with someone’s expression in a photo, Best Take simply changes their expression for you. The camera records facial expressions long before you hit the shutter button, giving you multiple options to choose from. The AI simply replaces the ‘bad’ face with a better one, resulting in a computationally altered photo that looks much more appealing. In Google’s words, it replaces the photo you just clicked with the photo you wish you clicked.

This feature, although highly impressive, has a lot of people up in arms because it destroys the very concept of a photograph. Most purists will argue that such a high level of editing pretty much takes away the true beauty of a photograph because it completely alters reality. There’s a significant difference between altering a photo’s white balance and flat-out changing someone’s face… but that vitriolic debate aside, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both tout this rather incredible feature that isn’t just missing on the iPhone, it’s probably against the very belief system of the people at Apple.

Audio Magic Eraser

If last year’s magic eraser for photos wasn’t good enough, Google debuted a new Audio Magic Eraser feature for video too! Sort of like noise canceling for videos, the new Audio Magic Eraser feature lets you edit the audio in the video files captured on your phone. Tensor’s powerful AI analyzes the audio and separates the waveforms into multiple categories that you can then either mute or reduce. Recording a vlog on a noisy road? The AI can eliminate the car and crowd noises and keep just your voice (without any fancy microphone or equipment). Trying to sing a song and your dog’s barking away in the background? You can mute your dog entirely in post by simply ‘erasing’ that sound from the overall video! The Audio Magic Eraser is a brilliant example of how far Google’s come with its AI endeavors, and is a major sign for Apple and other companies to jump aboard the AI train.

Video Boost and Night Sight Video

Google’s made some massive improvements to the Pixel’s video-shooting abilities too. The iPhone has somewhat been a bit of an undisputed champion in the video department, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s latest features fire direct shots at Apple. Video Boost is Google’s latest feature for enhancing videos AFTER you’ve shot them. Sort of like how photos get computationally enhanced after you click the shutter button, Google now extends this feature to videos too, processing every single frame individually to tweak the colors, highlight the skin tone, enhance HDRI, and make the output much more vibrant and beautiful than the original footage. Video Boost works retroactively, but only if you’ve got the feature enabled before you shoot your video. Once shot, the video is sent to Google’s cloud servers to process, and then the boosted video is sent back to your phone, available directly in the Photos library.

Enable Video Boost in a low-light environment and you instantly get access to Google’s new Night Sight Video feature. Night sight, whether on Android or iOS, has been limited to photos, but what Google proposes is literally mind-boggling. Just like Video Boost, Night Sight Video enhances every single frame of your low-light video file, enriching it and bringing out details that were previously hidden in the darkness. I imagine somewhere an Apple exec is furious at the fact that the Pixel 8 can now record low-light videos, because after its astrophotography mode, this is yet another significant win for Google over Apple!

Zoom Enhance

If you don’t have upwards of $1,099 to spend on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s tetraprism camera that shoots 5x optical zoom, this new feature for Pixel phones should impress you. Announced alongside the new Pixel 8 phones, Zoom Enhance is a feature within Google Photos that uses AI to upscale your photos for you. The feature, on its own, might not sound as revolutionary as the Audio Magic Eraser, but it’s the first time a smartphone’s had a generative AI upscaler built right into it. Just pinch to zoom into an existing photo and you’ve now got the option to enhance it using generative AI upscaling technology that felt like science fiction just a few years ago. What’s truly impressive is that the Zoom Enhance feature runs on-device and doesn’t need to use a massive cloud-based AI model. This on-device foundation model is specific to the Tensor 3 chip, and although the Zoom Enhance feature isn’t available immediately, Google promised to roll it out later this year.

Recorder Transcribe + Summarize

Another feature powered by the Pixel’s on-device foundational model is its ability to transcribe and summarize your recordings. Google did announce a Live Transcribe app over 5 years ago, but with the birth of LLMs, the new Recorder is a pretty potent tool that takes the effort out of transcribing all your recordings. It works off the bat, without needing a separate subscription to an AI service. Just hit the record button and the phone creates an audio recording while simultaneously transcribing every recording into an in-depth text file. A summarize button helps condense the entire transcription into actionable pointers. The service runs locally, is free, and makes a strong case for why anyone should choose a Pixel 8 over an iPhone 15.

Call Screen

The Pixel’s impressive AI model also helps sort robocalls from real ones with stunning accuracy. Hit the Call Screen button when your phone rings and the phone’s AI ‘chats’ with the caller to identify the purpose of their call. If it’s spam, the Pixel 8 automatically declines the call for you without you needing to answer, but if it’s important, you can either answer the call or get the AI to respond for you. Perfect for calls that just need small actions from you, the Call Screen feature lets you quickly go about your business instead of being on a call that takes minutes when it should have taken seconds. The Call Screen feature is touted to even work on the Pixel Watch when connected to a Pixel phone.

7 Years of Software Updates (Bonus)

Rick Osterloh also made a pretty surprising announcement at the end of the keynote, stating that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro would get a whopping 7 years of software updates to keep them running for longer. Most phones get 3 years of updates, the iPhone gets 5, but 7 years is pretty unprecedented for any smartphone. It shows that Google is (at least on paper) serious about what the Pixel means to them and that they want consumers to benefit from it for as long as possible. It also means people will hold onto their Pixel phones for longer, hopefully reducing e-waste and Google’s carbon footprint significantly. Sure, Apple’s got its Carbon Neutral program… but let me know when they offer software support for their iPhones for more than half a decade!

Dubbed by DJI as the “ultimate mini drone”, the DJI Mini 4 Pro gives you the greatest specs in the smallest package yet, with a compact folding design that weighs under 250 grams, making it narrowly avoid FAA guidelines that require you to register drones above 250 grams in weight. That small size, however, doesn’t take away from this drone’s mammoth capabilities – it packs a main camera with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of 4K/60fps HDR, a bunch of other cameras that give it situational awareness and advanced object avoidance, and the ability to record in both landscape as well as portrait modes. Borrowing from its flagship counterpart, the Mavic series, the Mini 4 Pro now also supports shooting in 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color profiles, and lets you set waypoints and activate cruise control while flying. With a starting price of $759, the Mini 4 Pro gives you flagship-grade features for less than half of the price.

Designer: DJI

Even by today’s standards, the Mini 3 Pro is quite a banger of a drone, but with the Mini 4 Pro, DJI just checks all the boxes to make sure there’s really no more room for improvement. The Mini 4 Pro arrives with a slew of upgrades, with a particular focus on its camera and processing capabilities. Notably, it now supports slow-motion recording at up to 4K@100fps, a substantial leap from the previous generation’s 1080p@120fps. If you’re looking for a higher dynamic range, the camera outputs HDR videos at 4k/60fps, giving your footage stunning crisp details with balanced yet vibrant colors. Want to switch from cinematic to social content? The camera flips 90° to record in true portrait mode, utilizing every pixel on its 1/1.3″ sensor instead of cropping the sides like most drones would.

“The Mini 4 Pro perfectly marries professional-grade capabilities while keeping its hallmark lightweight design, offering unmatched freedom and adaptability,” says Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “This drone emerges as the ultimate all-rounder, designed to elevate your creative toolkit.”

Low-light performance takes a significant step forward thanks to a new sensor equipped with dual native ISO, permitting the use of a secondary (higher) ISO setting to minimize noise. DJI has also incorporated an upgraded noise reduction algorithm within a Night Shots video mode, further enhancing the quality of footage captured in low-light conditions. Additionally, DJI has even introduced a wide-angle accessory lens, offering an expansive 100° field of view, available for separate purchase. This lens seamlessly attaches to the camera, akin to how Moment lenses enhance smartphone photography.

Range enthusiasts will appreciate the enhanced capabilities of the Mini 4 Pro, courtesy of the new O4 video transmission system, which now supports up to 1080p/60fps FHD at distances of a whopping 20 km. While keeping the drone within visual range remains essential, this upgrade fortifies signal strength against radio interference and unforeseen obstacles. On the software front, DJI has also introduced the Waypoints and Cruise Control features to the Mini 4 Pro, a welcome addition previously exclusive to the professional-grade Mavic line. This empowers users to program their drones to follow predefined paths or maintain a direct flight trajectory without constant manual input. You can save camera paths for later, or even draw camera paths with your finger directly on the app or the controller display, guiding the camera in the most intuitive way possible – with your fingertips.

The one area where the Mini 4 Pro somehow holds back is in the battery department. The drone ships with a standard battery that delivers 34 minutes of flight time, which can be upgraded to 45 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. This new battery, unfortunately, pushes the drone above the 250g mark, forcing you to register the drone with the FAA if you want to operate it legally. The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus also delivers 2 less minutes of flying on the Mini 4 Pro than the Mini 3 Pro, which could output 47 minutes.

For those considering the Mini 4 Pro, the base package retails at $759, which includes the DJI RC-N2 Remote Controller (requiring a smartphone), Intelligent Flight Battery, a pair of propellers, and the usual assortment of cables and accessories. An alternative package with the RC 2 controller is available for $959, offering the same contents. For the ultimate flight experience, the Fly More Combo (featuring the RC 2 controller) is priced at $1,099 and encompasses three batteries, three pairs of propellers, a DJI Mini Shoulder Bag, and a Two-Way Charging Hub. Enthusiasts seeking extended flight times can opt for the Fly More Combo Plus, which includes the upgraded batteries, priced at $1,159.

This year’s Nothing Phone (2) is an even bigger deal than last year’s grand launch. You see, it’s easy to launch a company or a product range, but it’s incredibly difficult to sustain the momentum and energy a year after its launch. Pei shows that he’s still got that mojo, and even more so considering Nothing is rumored to be announcing new products under their CMF sub-brand. It’s been a hot minute since Nothing unveiled the Phone (2) and let’s just say, even with strenuous use, I’ve charged this device probably once every 2-3 days. Sure, one could argue that loading it with multiple apps, media, etc. does have its own effect on battery life, but even for first impressions, this phone’s battery seems to be the biggest standout… especially considering how companies are experimenting with dual-screen folding phones, much to the detriment of the overall battery life.

Click Here to Visit the Nothing Website

About the Phone

The Phone (2) is an iterative exercise in Nothing’s grand scheme of making technology more transparent and more fun. Last year’s Nothing Phone (1) laid the groundwork for the range, and this year, the Phone (2) hopes to carry the baton further with a design that just comes with subtle improvements. After all, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, right?  The Phone (2) has better versions of everything, from the chipset and hardware to even the Glyph Interface and color (that grey color is just gorgeous to look at). It comes with a few unique accessories too, including a pretty neat-looking charging cable and a transparent SIM ejector tool. Moreover, this year’s Phone (2) also gets an improved Sustainability score over its predecessor thanks to the use of as many as 53 parts made from sustainable materials, including plastic-free packaging. The phone’s also designed to be repairable, using screws to assemble components rather than glue. All this comes at a price, though… and the Phone (2) sees a significant bump by $100, starting at $599 for the 128Gb model.

New and (Slightly) Improved Design

The Phone (2)’s design doesn’t see massive changes – in part because radically changing designs can be incredibly expensive with re-tooling and re-engineering costs really piling up, and also because the Phone (1) was already designed with a recognizable visual language. With the Phone (2), there are four stand-out differences. The first is the presence of a grey colorway over last year’s white. The grey arguably looks better because it provides the right amount of contrast between the transparent elements on the back. It doesn’t respond well to damage, however, as the grey paint scratches off the metal chassis pretty easily if you drop the phone. The second difference is the slightly curved back, which makes the phone look noticeably thinner, more premium, and easier to grip (even though that glass back is notoriously slippery). The third is a little less obvious, but it’s the central alignment of the front-facing camera, and the fourth… well, the fourth difference pretty much gets its own section in this article.

Glyph Interface Gets More Character

Last year’s Glyph Interface felt a bit like an unfinished project. This year’s Glyph Interface opens more avenues for functionality. Now with 11 different zones, the interface has the ability to ‘communicate more’ information, pretty much embodying the same logic of pixels. More pixels, more information. The 11 dedicated zones can be used in a multitude of ways, beyond just the flashy ringtone or camera light. You can assign glyph lights to apps, creating notification lights out of them so you know when you get a notification, and which app it’s from, even when the phone is face-down. The lowest glyph works as a status bar during charging, and now a glyph arc on the top right works as a countdown timer, with LEDs gradually turning off to make the light strip shorter as a visual indication of time. This feature, funnily, wouldn’t work unless the phone detected itself being kept face down. It required a bunch of tries, although when it worked, it worked flawlessly.

The NothingOS

The NothingOS 2.0 is by far the cleanest, most satisfyingly minimal launcher I’ve seen on any Android phone. It’s one of the things that doesn’t get mentioned often, but is perhaps the most important part of the phone’s entire experience. The Phone (2) comes with Nothing’s OS 2.0 bundled along with it, and the second you switch it on, you realize how unified it looks, how snappy it is, and how incredibly devoid of bloatware the phone is. In a world where smartphone companies still load their phone with apps you probably won’t ever use, the Phone (2) comes surprisingly light. It has JUST the essential apps, all with black-and-white icons, and widgets that fit beautifully into the phone’s home screen. While Nothing claims to make technology fun, the OS actually makes tech fun-ctional. There’s a fair amount of intent with which Nothing built out this OS, and I noticed a fair boost in my focus while using the app. I wasn’t distracted by tonnes of pixels and icons and colors. The OS made me feel rightfully clear-headed rather than distracted.

The Camera

Last year’s phone got a pass for having a fairly decent camera, but this year it seems that even though Nothing took notice, it wasn’t enough. Sure, as far as specs, go the Phone (2)’s camera measures up rather well, with the front camera now getting bumped up to 32 megapixels, and the rear cameras getting a few improvements with HDR, low-light photography, and blur removal. The camera still, however, saturates colors a little too much (sceneries look incredibly green and vivid to the point of looking a little artificial), and low-light photography doesn’t really hold a candle to Google, Samsung, or Apple’s tech. Optical stabilization is good during video, although it feels like the phone overcorrects a bit, and the Macro mode seems quite good at working with details up-close. On its own, the camera is decent, but it’s come a long way when compared to last year’s Phone (1) camera.

The Performance + Battery

If there’s a single area where the Phone (2) vastly exceeded its predecessor, it’s this. Last year’s smartphone had a pretty noticeable problem with heating up while charging or with heavy use, but this year the Phone (2) cruises through with no hiccups. Games work exceedingly well on the app and scrolling through sites is responsive and snappy. However, the one feature we were thoroughly impressed with was this year’s battery upgrade. With a 4700mAh battery, the Phone (2) lasts comfortably long with regular use, and even more on standby. With constant use, I managed to easily cruise through an entire day without needing to pull out the charger. In fact, I could go more than 24 hours without charging the phone. In idle mode, however, the phone comfortably lasted for half a week without needing a charge. If there’s one feature that thoroughly impressed me with this phone, it’s how reassuringly good the Phone (2)’s battery life was.

The Price

I want to say the price bump caught me by surprise but honestly, it didn’t. Ultimately, companies need to make money, and an affordable smartphone doesn’t pay for R&D. Last year’s $499 phone was purely priced to create a hype cycle, but this year’s $599 phone hopes to sustain Nothing’s growth. After all, Pei did the exact same thing with OnePlus, bumping up the price with each subsequent model before launching the OnePlus X (which was a low-range offering), which blossomed into the Nord series. It isn’t inconceivable that Nothing will probably launch a budget-friendly range of phones too, although that would most likely come under its CMF sub-brand. However, until then, the Phone (2) starts at $599 for the 128GB 8GB RAM variant, going up to $669 for the 256GB 12GB RAM model and a sizeably high $745 for the 512GB 12GB RAM variant.

The Verdict

The Phone (2) somewhat loses its title of being the flagship killer, because with an average price of $669, it’s pretty much in flagship territory. That being said, the Phone (2) somewhat makes a case for itself with its features and fundamentals. I don’t recommend it for content creators or people looking to own a phone with a measurably great camera… but for people looking to own a phone that’s exciting, has a great OS, works remarkably well, and stuns with its battery life, the Phone (2) is a solid pick. The Phone (2) stands out brilliantly against a sea of otherwise boring designs, and Nothing does a fairly good job on its promise of making technology fun.

Click Here to Visit the Nothing Website

Photo Credits: Pratik Dhamapurkar