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'Right to repair' legislation heading to California
'Right to repair' legislation heading to California
Californians may soon have more options for getting their electronic devices repaired beyond sending them back to the manufacturer.
Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman, a Democrat from Stockton, said Wednesday she plans to introduce legislation that would require manufacturers of electronics to make repair information, diagnostic tools and service parts available to device owners and independent repair shops.
"The Right to Repair Act will provide consumers with the freedom to have their electronic products and appliances fixed by a repair shop or service provider of their choice, a practice that was taken for granted a generation ago but is now becoming increasingly rare in a world of planned obsolescence," Eggman said in a statement.
Several states have introduced similar legislation in recent years to ease the process of repairing broken electronics. But many tech giants have opposed such efforts. To protect against intellectual property theft, they have created rigid rules that forbid fiddling with hardware or software.
Proponents say right to repair laws would benefit consumers and the environment alike by ensuring devices last longer, thus reducing electronic waste.
The high cost of manufacturer-based repair services often force people to prematurely replace devices such phones, TVs and other appliances, she said. The legislation will encourage a more efficient use of the scarce materials but also support local economies, she said.
With the legislation, California will become the 18th state to introduce a "right to repair" bill.
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Yes, you can fix a broken phone during the coronavirus lockdown. See 3 ways to repair it
Yes, you can fix a broken phone during the coronavirus lockdown. See 3 ways to repair it
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the
WHO
and
CDC
websites.
Accidents happen. Cracking your iPhone's ($500 at Best Buy) screen or breaking your Android phone's charging port is the last thing any of us wants to worry about right now. Especially with most of us under stay-at-home orders, practicing social distancing and wearing face masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic.
You may be spending more time at home, but chances are you're still texting, watching videos and making more calls than ever from your phone. So what happens if it takes a tumble onto the sidewalk when you're out for a social-distancing walk? What if it slides off the counter top when you're making dinner? What if it just starts acting buggy?
Normally you might pop into a retail store, but in an effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 disease, retail stores across the country have closed, including Apple Stores, and wireless carriers have closed the majority of their brick-and-mortar stores, too. So where do you go to get your phone repaired? You still have several options to get it fixed.
Apple support has a few different options for you.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Fixing a broken iPhone
If your iPhone isn't physically broken, and you're experiencing software or performance issues, use the Apple Support app to talk to an employee who can help troubleshoot your issue. The app allows the support representative to run diagnostic reports and guide you through any potential fixes.
For physical damage or an unresponsive device that needs to be fixed or replaced, you can find a list of authorized Apple service providers by visiting this support page and click on Schedule a Repair. You'll be asked to sign in to our Apple ID and select a device that's linked to your account, after which you can search for an open store.
Using an Apple-approved repair center will allow you to take advantage of lower repair fees if you have AppleCare Plus on your iPhone.
It's a good idea to call the store before you finalize your appointment, as some stores may have adjusted their hours or temporarily closed due to being nonessential services.
If you don't feel comfortable going out in public, or lack a nearby repair facility, you can also mail your phone to Apple in for service. Visit this support page and click on Send in for Repair the follow the prompts. Of course, this is a less than ideal solution, because you'll be without your phone for up to five days. You can use an old phone or buy a cheap backup phone to keep you connected while your device is in the shop.
uBreakiFix is still open and repairing broken devices.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android phone repairs
As a whole, Android owners don't have a central location, like an Apple Store, that they can go to for repairs. Don't let that stress you. For software and performance issues, contact your wireless carrier or your phone maker to troubleshoot. Most of the time, those types of issues can be resolved over the phone.
Best Buy has paused device repairs for the time being, leaving Android owners to find third-party repair businesses. One such reputable company is uBreakiFix, an official Samsung repair partner. uBreakiFix repairs all types of phones, tablets and even computers -- including Apple products.
In order to help keep customers and employees safe, uBreakiFix has rolled out curbside service and a mail-in option. In some areas, you can even have a tech come to your home and fix your device. Find the closest uBreakiFix location and the repair services offered using the company's availability tool.
Again, it's probably best to call any business directly to confirm they're open -- especially as more cities continue to shut down nonessential services -- and make sure they're taking appointments and have the parts in stock to complete your specific repair. It may be you need to mail in your device.
You can also repair your phone yourself.
iFixit
Fix it yourself
If you're out of warranty and feel comfortable attempting to repair your phone on your own, you can always order a repair kit from iFixit. There are kits that include everything you need -- including the tools -- to replace a broken iPhone screen, swap out an Android phone's battery or more.
iFixit has posted guides that go with each kit, walking you through the entire process. If your movement isn't restricted, it'll save you a trip out, and potentially save you some money in the process.
While we all try to do our part to stop the spread of coronavirus, there are some myths you should be aware of. And if you absolutely have to go out, use these best practices to keep yourself safe. Here's the current knowledge on coronavirus and your delivery packages.
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iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
When Apple's5GiPhone 12, or whatever it's called, gets announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, during the company's online-only launch event, industry watchers will be looking closely to see how Apple sells us on 5G wireless, its new chips and cameras, and whatever other new features it might pack in. (Here are all the final iPhone 12 rumors we've heard, and the latest major leak.)
But it's the design that may end up being its most important feature. The new iPhone is expected to shave the device's curved edges into squares, much like those on the current iPad Pro. After three years of the same design, the refresh will likely draw eyes from a lot of consumers eager for a shake up.
But it'll also draw the attention of repair experts around the world, who will rush to YouTube and Twitter once they get hold of the device to start dissecting it down to each seam, screw and cable inside to learn what's fixable and what isn't.
"Apple's the best at everything they do except serviceability," said Kyle Wiens, head of repair instruction and parts site iFixit, which typically rushes to perform online tear-downs of new Apple devices when they launch.
People like Wiens highlight an increasingly public debate within the tech industry over form and function. As gadgets from computers to phones get smaller and lighter, people around the tech world are wondering how far this push for slim design will go, and whether it'll take precedence over being easy to repair.
Repair advocates note, for example, that the batteries in Apple's popular AirPods wireless headphones can't be replaced without destroying them. "That's the difference between a product that can last 18 months and what can last 10 years," Wiens added. But at the same time, the AirPods' popularity stems in part from how lightweight, small and slick they are -- all aspects that would likely be altered by having compartments and connectors for replaceable batteries.
A mockup of what the iPhone 12 may look like, with straight edges on the sides.
Svetapple
Over the years, Apple's tipped further toward that consumable end of the spectrum. Its laptops, which once had easily replaceable batteries, are screwed shut with the batteries glued to the case. Pretty much all its computers other than its $5,999 Mac Pro desktop aren't designed to be easily opened by non-technical people either.
Apple has investigated taking those designs a step further, too. In a patent application published in August called "unitary housing for electronic device," the company described a way to build devices with their electronics encased in two pieces that are sealed with "one or more ultrasonic welds." The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, the company said.
"Even in the more eloquently designed electronic devices, outer housings are still typically formed from multiple parts, which tends to result in at least seams or other discontinuities, if not exposed screws, tabs or other component fasteners," Apple said in its application. "While many designs and techniques used to provide outer housings for electronic devices and components have generally worked well in the past, there is always a desire to provide alternative housing designs and techniques for new and aesthetically pleasing devices."
Sleek obsession
Apple's designs, under Jobs, led to a series of hits including the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.
CNET
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously micromanaged the look of the company's products, in and out. He obsessed over the smallest dot on the screen and the angle of the curves on its devices. The night before the first iPod music player was introduced in 2001, Jobs demanded engineers tear apart and remake the device to make that satisfying click-feeling you get when you plug in a cord.
"The back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys," Jobs quipped as he showed off the company's first iMac computer in 1998.
While that obsession with design has won Apple praise and loyal fans, it's also attracted criticism. As the company's Mac computers have gotten sleeker, easily removable or replaceable parts like the battery, memory and storage drives became largely inaccessible to people without technical skill.
In 2010, when Apple introduced the iPhone 4, Jobs focused on the device's stainless steel sides that doubled as cellular and Wi-Fi antennas. After its release, users quickly learned that holding the phone a certain way scrambled the device's reception.
Apple's "butterfly" keyboards were largely criticized by reviewers.
iFixit
In 2015, the company introduced a new "butterfly" keyboard for its laptops, which was 40% thinner than previous technologies while potentially offering better accuracy. The design became hated among reviewers as user complaints poured in about failing and mistyped keys.
"Perhaps the kindest thing we can say about the Apple MacBook butterfly keyboard is, 'Thank you for your service,'" CNET's computer reviewer Dan Ackerman wrote after the company finally ditched the technology starting last year. "So long and good riddance."
Whether Apple's newest devices use its seam-removing process is yet to be seen. The company's filed for similar patents in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Each time, the it's given more of a window into how it could use the technology. In 2015, it was for a process to house an "operational component" (think more compactly squeezing parts into a MacBook or iPhone). In 2016, it was for using these techniques in a laptop. Now, it's for a broadly described "electronic device."
Apple's also filed patents for "ultrasonic welding" techniques, indicating they could be used to join metal and plastic parts inside an iPad or iPhone. They could also create a laptop with "no apparent seams or other artifacts of manufacture on its outer surface," Apple's said.
Most people expect to see seams, screws and hinges since they've been visible on products for decades. To designers, those "artifacts" aren't so much a part of the design they created.
"When you look at a hinge you think, 'I get how that opens and closes.' But the more they make it just disappear, you get this magical mystery of 'How's it doing that?'" said Francois Nguyen, head of industrial design at consultancy Frog's North American studio.
Apple loved that manilla-envelope MacBook Air reveal so much it was featured in the device's ads too.
Apple
That kind of "ooh" and "ahh" doesn't happen much in the tech industry, but Apple under Jobs made it happen several times. He showed off the first MacBook Air in 2008 by hiding it in an interoffice envelope to show how thin it was. He pulled the first iPod Nano music player out of the small fifth pocket in his jeans in 2005. He showed off that first iMac's colorful translucent case in 1998 by turning down the stage lights while it sat on a bright pedestal.
"All those little moments and details that Apple focuses on really sets them apart from all these other tried and true processes that everyone else has at their disposal," Nguyen said.
There's only so much you can do to reinvent a sheet of glass on a metal body. Still, Nguyen -- who led design for the original "Beats by Dre" headphones, whose namesake company Apple bought for about $3.2 billion in 2014 -- said he expects new technologies, like additional and more advanced cameras, will continue to force design, ergonomic and other changes as Apple adjusts its devices to accommodate them.
"The technology could still be the size of a needle, you still have to hold this thing," he said.
Steps forward and back
Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a hard position against tech companies during her presidential campaign last year.
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple appears to at least understand that form over function is something the world is increasingly paying attention to.
When a member of the New York Times editorial board asked Apple for comment last year on upcoming legislation from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren pushing for national right to repair laws, it set off a flurry of emails within Apple's PR team.
"We're still not clear on our seemingly evolving position," Lori Lodes, a former director of corporate communications, said in one message.
"Right now we're talking out of both sides of our mouth and no one is clear on where we're headed," added Kristin Huguet, head of corporate communications.
The messages, published by the House Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust as part of an investigation of Apple and other tech giants, were among the first times Apple's internal struggles between form and function were made public.
So far, Apple has focused its efforts on expanding the servicing programs it has in place within its stores and through repair shops it certifies. Last year, the company began offering independent repair shops the same "genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics" that its authorized service providers have access to. In July, the company said it's working with more than 700 businesses across the US, including uBreakiFix.
"When a customer needs a repair, we want them to have a range of options that not only suits their needs but also guarantees safety and quality so their iPhone can be used for as long as possible," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a July statement.
That's why, come Apple's event on Oct. 13, some people will be eyeing the bottom of the new iPhone to see whether the two screws typically used to start opening the phone are still there, as well as any other indications of how more tightly sealed the device is.
"Sadly, it's part of the evolution of technology," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at market research firm Creative Strategies. The challenge, she said, is that whatever changes Apple makes will need to strike that right compromise between new design, features, and making sure the experience is worth it. Because after all, these phones will likely be used by hundreds of millions of people, all of whom will carry it around with them every day.
"Even if change is better, people just don't like change -- especially when it's with something you're dependent on," she said. "I'm glad it's not my job."
Updated Oct. 13 at 1:55 p.m. PT: To correct the spelling of Carolina Milanesi's last name. We regret the error.
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iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
When Apple's5GiPhone 12, or whatever it's called, gets announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, during the company's online-only launch event, industry watchers will be looking closely to see how Apple sells us on 5G wireless, its new chips and cameras, and whatever other new features it might pack in. (Here are all the final iPhone 12 rumors we've heard, and the latest major leak.)
But it's the design that may end up being its most important feature. The new iPhone is expected to shave the device's curved edges into squares, much like those on the current iPad Pro. After three years of the same design, the refresh will likely draw eyes from a lot of consumers eager for a shake up.
But it'll also draw the attention of repair experts around the world, who will rush to YouTube and Twitter once they get hold of the device to start dissecting it down to each seam, screw and cable inside to learn what's fixable and what isn't.
"Apple's the best at everything they do except serviceability," said Kyle Wiens, head of repair instruction and parts site iFixit, which typically rushes to perform online tear-downs of new Apple devices when they launch.
People like Wiens highlight an increasingly public debate within the tech industry over form and function. As gadgets from computers to phones get smaller and lighter, people around the tech world are wondering how far this push for slim design will go, and whether it'll take precedence over being easy to repair.
Repair advocates note, for example, that the batteries in Apple's popular AirPods wireless headphones can't be replaced without destroying them. "That's the difference between a product that can last 18 months and what can last 10 years," Wiens added. But at the same time, the AirPods' popularity stems in part from how lightweight, small and slick they are -- all aspects that would likely be altered by having compartments and connectors for replaceable batteries.
A mockup of what the iPhone 12 may look like, with straight edges on the sides.
Svetapple
Over the years, Apple's tipped further toward that consumable end of the spectrum. Its laptops, which once had easily replaceable batteries, are screwed shut with the batteries glued to the case. Pretty much all its computers other than its $5,999 Mac Pro desktop aren't designed to be easily opened by non-technical people either.
Apple has investigated taking those designs a step further, too. In a patent application published in August called "unitary housing for electronic device," the company described a way to build devices with their electronics encased in two pieces that are sealed with "one or more ultrasonic welds." The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, the company said.
"Even in the more eloquently designed electronic devices, outer housings are still typically formed from multiple parts, which tends to result in at least seams or other discontinuities, if not exposed screws, tabs or other component fasteners," Apple said in its application. "While many designs and techniques used to provide outer housings for electronic devices and components have generally worked well in the past, there is always a desire to provide alternative housing designs and techniques for new and aesthetically pleasing devices."
Sleek obsession
Apple's designs, under Jobs, led to a series of hits including the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.
CNET
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously micromanaged the look of the company's products, in and out. He obsessed over the smallest dot on the screen and the angle of the curves on its devices. The night before the first iPod music player was introduced in 2001, Jobs demanded engineers tear apart and remake the device to make that satisfying click-feeling you get when you plug in a cord.
"The back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys," Jobs quipped as he showed off the company's first iMac computer in 1998.
While that obsession with design has won Apple praise and loyal fans, it's also attracted criticism. As the company's Mac computers have gotten sleeker, easily removable or replaceable parts like the battery, memory and storage drives became largely inaccessible to people without technical skill.
In 2010, when Apple introduced the iPhone 4, Jobs focused on the device's stainless steel sides that doubled as cellular and Wi-Fi antennas. After its release, users quickly learned that holding the phone a certain way scrambled the device's reception.
Apple's "butterfly" keyboards were largely criticized by reviewers.
iFixit
In 2015, the company introduced a new "butterfly" keyboard for its laptops, which was 40% thinner than previous technologies while potentially offering better accuracy. The design became hated among reviewers as user complaints poured in about failing and mistyped keys.
"Perhaps the kindest thing we can say about the Apple MacBook butterfly keyboard is, 'Thank you for your service,'" CNET's computer reviewer Dan Ackerman wrote after the company finally ditched the technology starting last year. "So long and good riddance."
Whether Apple's newest devices use its seam-removing process is yet to be seen. The company's filed for similar patents in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Each time, the it's given more of a window into how it could use the technology. In 2015, it was for a process to house an "operational component" (think more compactly squeezing parts into a MacBook or iPhone). In 2016, it was for using these techniques in a laptop. Now, it's for a broadly described "electronic device."
Apple's also filed patents for "ultrasonic welding" techniques, indicating they could be used to join metal and plastic parts inside an iPad or iPhone. They could also create a laptop with "no apparent seams or other artifacts of manufacture on its outer surface," Apple's said.
Most people expect to see seams, screws and hinges since they've been visible on products for decades. To designers, those "artifacts" aren't so much a part of the design they created.
"When you look at a hinge you think, 'I get how that opens and closes.' But the more they make it just disappear, you get this magical mystery of 'How's it doing that?'" said Francois Nguyen, head of industrial design at consultancy Frog's North American studio.
Apple loved that manilla-envelope MacBook Air reveal so much it was featured in the device's ads too.
Apple
That kind of "ooh" and "ahh" doesn't happen much in the tech industry, but Apple under Jobs made it happen several times. He showed off the first MacBook Air in 2008 by hiding it in an interoffice envelope to show how thin it was. He pulled the first iPod Nano music player out of the small fifth pocket in his jeans in 2005. He showed off that first iMac's colorful translucent case in 1998 by turning down the stage lights while it sat on a bright pedestal.
"All those little moments and details that Apple focuses on really sets them apart from all these other tried and true processes that everyone else has at their disposal," Nguyen said.
There's only so much you can do to reinvent a sheet of glass on a metal body. Still, Nguyen -- who led design for the original "Beats by Dre" headphones, whose namesake company Apple bought for about $3.2 billion in 2014 -- said he expects new technologies, like additional and more advanced cameras, will continue to force design, ergonomic and other changes as Apple adjusts its devices to accommodate them.
"The technology could still be the size of a needle, you still have to hold this thing," he said.
Steps forward and back
Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a hard position against tech companies during her presidential campaign last year.
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple appears to at least understand that form over function is something the world is increasingly paying attention to.
When a member of the New York Times editorial board asked Apple for comment last year on upcoming legislation from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren pushing for national right to repair laws, it set off a flurry of emails within Apple's PR team.
"We're still not clear on our seemingly evolving position," Lori Lodes, a former director of corporate communications, said in one message.
"Right now we're talking out of both sides of our mouth and no one is clear on where we're headed," added Kristin Huguet, head of corporate communications.
The messages, published by the House Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust as part of an investigation of Apple and other tech giants, were among the first times Apple's internal struggles between form and function were made public.
So far, Apple has focused its efforts on expanding the servicing programs it has in place within its stores and through repair shops it certifies. Last year, the company began offering independent repair shops the same "genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics" that its authorized service providers have access to. In July, the company said it's working with more than 700 businesses across the US, including uBreakiFix.
"When a customer needs a repair, we want them to have a range of options that not only suits their needs but also guarantees safety and quality so their iPhone can be used for as long as possible," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a July statement.
That's why, come Apple's event on Oct. 13, some people will be eyeing the bottom of the new iPhone to see whether the two screws typically used to start opening the phone are still there, as well as any other indications of how more tightly sealed the device is.
"Sadly, it's part of the evolution of technology," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at market research firm Creative Strategies. The challenge, she said, is that whatever changes Apple makes will need to strike that right compromise between new design, features, and making sure the experience is worth it. Because after all, these phones will likely be used by hundreds of millions of people, all of whom will carry it around with them every day.
"Even if change is better, people just don't like change -- especially when it's with something you're dependent on," she said. "I'm glad it's not my job."
Updated Oct. 13 at 1:55 p.m. PT: To correct the spelling of Carolina Milanesi's last name. We regret the error.
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Five toy drones for beginners
Five toy drones for beginners
Many of us drool over powerful high-flying camera drones or superfast racing quads, but for adults or kids just starting out, a far cheaper toy drone is far more practical.
Made to zip around your living room or backyard for a few minutes at a time, toy drones are a good way to practice your piloting skills without worrying about watching something $500 or much, much more hit the ground or disappear into the trees. They're also a lot of fun to fly -- whether or not you're into RC toys. And, because the tech inside is getting smaller and cheaper, you can find them with more advanced features like GPS for safer, easier piloting and cameras for first-person-view flying (FPV).
There are plenty to choose from, which is great, but it can also be a bit overwhelming if you've never shopped for a drone before. You can start with our drone buying guide if you're not quite sure what you're looking for or familiarize yourself with some common terminology. Or, if you're just after some quick toy drone suggestions, just read on.
Keep in mind when you're shopping that flight times on toy drones are typically around 5 to 8 minutes, so if you want to keep flying without charging first, go with a model that uses removable rechargeable batteries. Also, if this is your first toy drone, we recommend going with one that has replacement parts readily available.
Aura Drone with Glove Controller
Josh Goldman/CNET
Absolutely perfect for any age or skill level, the Aura uses hand gestures to control it. Strap the "controller" onto your hand and you tilt your hand up and down to fly it away from you and back again. Tilt to the left to go left and to the right to go right. Press and hold a button under your thumb and the same movements let you raise and lower it or flip it left and right. Level out your hand and it will hover in place. Also, with the props are completely protected, so it just bounces off walls or whatever if you drift off course.
Currently available for $80 (AU$200 or £100), flying the Aura is a bit like playing with a flying yo-yo. It's so easy to learn, too, that I had my 6-year-old flying it on his own in less than a minute. Which is good because the battery only lasts about 5 minutes, though it is removable and extras are inexpensive.
Recommended for: If you want to fly a drone but get anxious at the thought of the sticks and buttons on a typical remote control.
Parrot Mambo FPV
Josh Goldman/CNET
Parrot's Mambo quadcopter has a set of pins on top that allow for attachments that include a small cannon, a grabber claw and now a 720p HD camera. The camera can record to a microSD card, but more importantly it lets you pilot by FPV or first-person view by streaming to your phone.
Parrot's minidrones are designed to make flight easy, especially when flying indoors. However, its autopilot technologies are not something you really want when racing. To that end, Parrot lets you change to a Drift mode that disables the drone's horizontal stabilization and a Racing mode that completely disconnects the autopilot for full manual flight. Plus, diving into the settings lets you adjust all of its directional speeds, so you can learn to FPV race at your own pace.
The $150 bundle (AU$230 or £125) includes the quad and attachable camera, Parrot's Flypad controller and Cockpitglasses 2 headset for use with a phone running the FreeFlight Mini app. Bonus: The minidrone supports Tynker and Swift Playgrounds coding platforms designed to teach STEM skills to kids.
Recommended for: Taking the sting (and expense) out of learning to fly a racing drone.
PowerUp FPV Paper Airplane
PowerUp
PowerUp has made several app-controlled paper airplane systems like its newest, the Dart, a powered paper airplane that does flips and rolls. The PowerUp FPV is its first to add a camera for live-streaming video to your phone, which you can place in a VR headset like Google Cardboard. Not only to you get a pilot's view from the plane, but you can control it just by tilting your head.
Because it's a plane, it can turn on a dime or start flying sideways like a quadcopter, so you're going to want a lot of space to fly this. But if you've here's your chance. It's $140 for the kit (AU$170 or £100) which includes everything you need except a phone, but right now you can get it for $100.
Recommended for: Anyone who ever dreamed of actually flying on a paper airplane or just wants something different that'll let you prove people wrong when they say, "There's no way that thing'll stay in the air."
Syma X5C
Sarah Tew/CNET
At around $40 (AU$50 or £35) the 5XC is one of the least expensive toy drones with a 720p camera. This thing feels pretty cheap and the camera is basically toy-quality, as you might expect for the price, but it flies surprisingly well and can take quite a lot of crashing. It won't hold its altitude on its own, but that makes it great for learning how to actually control the drone's throttle.
Battery life comes in at about 7 to 10 minutes, but extra batteries as well as replacement parts are easy to come by, and the manual even gives you an assembly breakdown. It's available at Amazon.
Recommend for: Learning how to pilot -- and repair -- a quadcopter. This is a simple, ready-to-fly toy with a camera that flies better than its price suggests.
Sky Viper V2450GPS
Josh Goldman/CNET
One of the technologies that makes pricier drones more stable and easier to fly is GPS. With it, a drone can use satellites to help it know where it is in space, so it can just stop and hover in place if you let go of the sticks. It can also allow the drone to return to where it took off from with the press of a button or if its battery starts to get too low. And that's exactly what you're getting with the Sky Viper V2450GPS.
The 720p HD camera drone sells for less than $150 ( AU$179 or £100) that can live stream to your phone, capture photos or video to a microSD card and gives you the stability and safety of GPS. Its battery will get you around 10 minutes in the air and extras are about $8 each.
Recommended for: Beginners or more advanced pilots who want the stability and convenience of GPS in a quick and nimble quadcopter with a camera at a rock-bottom price.
Trouble Sleeping? Your Diet Could Be Preventing Quality Rest
Trouble Sleeping? Your Diet Could Be Preventing Quality Rest
The food you eat impacts almost everything you do, which is one reason why it's so important to be conscious of what you put in your body. Good nutrition has tons of perks: It reduces the risk of diseases such as stroke, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, boosts your mood and makes you feel more energized. It can even improve how you sleep at night, another major aspect to having a healthy body and mind. A full night's sleep offers a lot of the same benefits as conscious eating. In fact, they go hand in hand.
Eating the wrong foods at the wrong time can be harmful to your sleep quality, which plays an important role in maintaining your physical and mental health. On the flip side of the same token, you have a higher chance of making poor food choices after a night of bad sleep. Below, learn how you can improve your food choices to get higher-quality rest, including the best foods for better sleep and what you need to avoid.
Read also:How to Stay Cool at Night Even When It's Hot Outside
How poor sleep affects your health
The recommended amount of sleep for adults is seven to nine hours each night. During that time, your brain cycles through the four stages of sleep: three stages of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and one stage of REM (rapid eye movement).
NREM sleep: The quiet sleep stages where your brain is working to retain memories and knowledge, in addition to repair, refresh, and restore your body.
REM sleep: The active sleep stage where your body is working to repair cells and muscle tissue, promote bone and muscle growth and helps strengthen the immune system.
If you're waking up often in the middle of the night or have trouble getting a full night's sleep, you prevent your body from running through its necessary processes that keep you healthy and productive. Continuous poor sleep puts you at risk for:
Heart disease
Stroke
Weight gain
High blood pressure
Bad memory
Weakened immune system
Unbalanced nutrition tends to be a common culprit for poor sleep, especially if you're eating certain foods too close to bedtime.
There's several foods you shouldn't eat too close to bedtime.
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Nutrition for quality sleep
There seems to be a clear link between nutrition and your quality of sleep. To find out more, I spoke to Stephanie Nelson, a registered dietitian who works as a nutrition expert at the tracking app MyFitnessPal. Nelson explained, "The relationship between sleep and nutrition is very complex and we don't know everything about all the associations between sleep and food. However, a good general summary is that any biological process, including sleep, is influenced by getting the right amount of nutrients. "
"For example, having high blood sugar impacts your energy in the moment, which can prevent you from sleep," Nelson continued. "Other nutrients impact neurotransmitters that make it easier to relax and turn your brain off for sleep."
While food affects sleep, the amount of quality sleep you get can also impact your eating habits. Nelson said, "Interestingly, the relationship goes both ways. There's research showing that poor sleep can negatively impact hormone balances that affect your hunger, and people who sleep less tend to eat more overall."
Making more conscious choices about food and when you're eating it can make a big difference in your sleep quality.
The do's and don'ts on eating for better sleep
Here are Nelson's tips on how to eat for better sleep.
Do's
1. Eat a balanced dinner
"The building blocks of a balanced dinner are a protein source, high-fiber carbohydrate source, and a vegetable. This might look like a grilled marinated chicken breast, some quinoa, and roasted veggies," said Nelson. "You could also get more creative with it, like a coconut curry made with tofu and sauteed veggies, served over brown rice, or tacos made with the protein of your choice, some beans, and cabbage and onions (and all your other favorite toppings)."
A balanced diet is critical to good sleep.
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2. Eat foods that promote serotonin production
Serotonin is required for your body to make melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. But Nelson also warns that toomuch serotonin is associated with poor sleep.
"In order for your body to produce the right amount of serotonin, you need to consume tryptophan, an amino acid you can find in most animal-based foods, oats, nuts, and seeds," Nelson explained. "You also need to have a carbohydrate source, which allows for tryptophan to be used for serotonin rather than other processes. Other nutrients like vitamin B6, present in sweet potatoes among other foods, are also needed for the right amount of serotonin production."
3. Eat around three hours before bedtime
You might have heard that you shouldn't eat right before bedtime if you want a good night's rest. But how soon, exactly, should you stop eating? "It's different for everyone," said Nelson. "Most experts recommend to eat three hours before bedtime for best sleep results, so start there, but definitely play with it. Some people can eat closer to bedtime and still have a good night's sleep," she said.
Don'ts
1. Avoid caffeine, sugary drinks and alcohol before bed
You probably know that caffeine isn't the best nighttime beverage, but what about alcohol or juices? Nelson says you should try to avoid those in the hours right before bed too.
"Being hydrated is key to a good night's sleep," she said. "Alcohol dehydrates you, so for the first step, reduce alcohol consumption near bedtime. High sugar drinks also can interfere with sleep, and anything with caffeine."
"If you're having trouble sleeping, definitely check when your most recent caffeinated beverages are consumed before bed," she noted.
2. Don't eat dessert close to bedtime
For individuals with a sweet tooth, don't eat foods like ice cream, cookies or chocolate before bedtime. Nelson explains that "low-fiber, high-sugar snacks before bed can cause a spike and then a drop in blood sugar." These irregular blood sugar levels can disrupt your sleep in multiple ways, making it hard for you get deep rest.
Try not to eat high-sugar snacks before bed.
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3. Don't overdo late-night indulgences
"Eating large amounts of any type of food too close to bedtime will probably affect your sleep, especially if it's high in sugar or fat. On the flip side, if you go to bed hungry that might also negatively impact your sleep," Nelson said
Life happens, and sometimes you need a midnight snack to avoid falling asleep with your stomach growling. Nelson advises eating something that's small, high in fiber and pairing it with protein "to keep your blood sugar from spiking and to keep you full until morning." She adds, "Try a banana with peanut butter or a handful of berries with yogurt."
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
