Huawei's MateBook will draw the inevitable copycat comments from fans of both the Microsoft Surface Pro and the iPad Pro.

But really, who copied who? Everyone copied Microsoft. The original Surface, as big a flop as it was, had the new portable-PC concept right from the start.

The idea then and today remains the same: a tablet that transforms into a laptop with a detachable keyboard. Tablets — iPads in particular — are great for many people, but when it comes to getting "real" work done, a device with a proper keyboard (and for some, a stylus) is a must.

Apple caved to this vision and released the iPad Pro, complete with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, in late 2015. While it may validate Microsoft's mobile tablet-PC vision, it's nowhere near as versatile as a Surface Pro 4 since it runs iOS and not OS X (soon to be called macOS).

Cheaper than Surface Pro 4

The MateBook has more in common with the Surface Pro 4 than an iPad Pro. It runs Windows 10, and its entry-level specs are the same as Microsoft's tablet. Starting at $700, it's $200 less than what the Surface Pro 4 starts at, too.

On the baseline, you get a dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal SSD storage. 

I tested the more powerful $850 MateBook with an Intel Core m5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD and based on how it performed, I don't think anyone should buy the Core m3 model.

A 'real' computer for work

At first glance, the large 12-inch screen looks sharp and capable. Its 2,160 x 1,440 resolution may not be as high-res as the iPad Pro's 2,732 x 2,048 display or the Surface Pro 4's 2,736 x 1,824, but it's at least on par with Samsung's TabPro S's screen. 

Huawei kept the bezels around the display nice and slim. Photos and videos look great at first glance, and the screen looks perfectly fine in well-lit situations like the office. But I found its brightness insufficient and the viewing angles too weak when I used it at home in my dimly lit bedroom.

With Windows 10, the Huawei MateBook is immediately a more useful computer for me than the iPad Pro. For work, I need full-featured Chrome, with extensions, to get anything done. That's impossible with an iPad Pro. 

The Core m5 processor provides good-enough performance for the usual web browsing, video and music streaming, and document editing. But if you're looking for a mobile video editing or gaming machine, you should look elsewhere.

Windows 10 has really grown on me over the last six months and while I could juggle a dozen open Chrome tabs fine, the 4GB of RAM quickly bottlenecks when you do more resource-intensive things like streaming video while multiple apps and tabs are open. One night, the MateBook struggled to stream a 480p video clip on YouTube without dropping frames. 

The MateBook even supports login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor between the volume buttons (which are too flat in my opinion). Once configured, unlocking the MateBook is as easy as touching the sensor with a registered fingerprint. The best part is there's no silly swiping required. It works just like the sensors on many flagship smartphones and is a much better login alternative to typing in a password. 

Unfortunately, the 5-megapixel camera on the front doesn't support Windows Hello's facial recognition.

The MateBook supports fingerprint login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor.

The MateBook, like virtually all tablet hybrids, doesn't actually come with its accompanying keyboard in the box — you have to buy it separately. Samsung seems to be the only company with the sense to bundle the keyboard in with its TabPro S.

Huawei sells a "Portfolio Keyboard" for $130. It attaches securely to the MateBook via a seven-pin port using magnets. The back of the keyboard, which is also a protective folio-style case, can be positioned at two angles via magnets in the back. It's OK, but not nearly as versatile as the Surface Pro 4's hinge when it comes to "lapability." Still better than the iPad Pro, though.

The keyboard itself is... not the best. The keys are large, but they're too close to each other, which made it really easy to hit the wrong keys during a rapid-fire typing session. 

The trackpad works, but out of the box there's a slight lag to the pointer. But again, at least it has a trackpad unlike the iPad Pro.

The MateBook's screen supports multi-touch with up to 10 fingers and the responsiveness is spot-on. Huawei also sells a stylus for $60. I'm not a fan of styli because they're easy to lose and there's usually no way to keep them attached to the tablet. In comparison, the Surface Pro 4's stylus attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.

It's a good stylus that's responsive and I like the two buttons (one for ink and one for an eraser) and how the other end is a laser pointer. It's also pressure-sensitive, which means the harder you press, the thicker the digital ink will be.

Additionally, you can buy a $90 dock which includes two USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port, HDMI and VGA ports, and an Ethernet port and plugs into the MateBook's single USB-C port. Yet another added cost to get more out of the MateBook.

Boo for battery life

Battery life is the MateBook's weakness. Huawei advertises battery life as up to 9 hours, but I didn't get anywhere close to that.

I got around 3 to 4 hours using it as my work machine at work, at home and even during my commute. 

You will see longer battery life if you turn all the usual settings down or off (i.e. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, audio, etc.), but that's not how most people are going to use the MateBook. 

If you're considering the MateBook, you're looking at it as a laptop replacement, not just a tablet alternative. Battery life needs to be a lot longer.

Room for improvement next time

I can, without hesitation, tell you the MateBook is a beautiful tablet. The aluminum build quality is top-notch, it's super thin, and the specs sound solid on paper. It's even $200 cheaper than the entry-level Surface Pro 4.

But Huawei dropped the ball on bringing the hardware and software together. The MateBook has weak battery life and stutters when you throw a handful of apps at it. Not to mention the entire device gets hot even you're not doing anything intensive (like typing this in a Chrome tab).

The MateBook is a good first try, but I'll wait for the next-gen model.

Like so many rising Chinese tech companies, Huawei's goal is to topple the existing top tech players. The company's made tremendous strides in the last few years to establish itself as a quality hardware maker (i.e: Nexus 6P and P9 and P9 Plus smartphones), but that's not enough.

As the smartphone scene has taught us, any company, big or small, can build premium devices with the latest processors and storage. But few can optimize software to work seamlessly and powerfully while maintaining solid battery life.

The Surface Pro 4 is still the gold standard when it comes to 2-in-1 devices. The iPad Pro is a good alternative if Windows 10 isn't your thing, but you won't get the same kind of productivity from iOS the way you would with OS X (soon to be called macOS) on a MacBook.

Huawei's here for the long haul. The MateBook is a good first try, but I'd recommend waiting for the next-gen model, which will hopefully deliver more juice.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Huawei's MateBook will draw the inevitable copycat comments from fans of both the Microsoft Surface Pro and the iPad Pro.

But really, who copied who? Everyone copied Microsoft. The original Surface, as big a flop as it was, had the new portable-PC concept right from the start.

The idea then and today remains the same: a tablet that transforms into a laptop with a detachable keyboard. Tablets — iPads in particular — are great for many people, but when it comes to getting "real" work done, a device with a proper keyboard (and for some, a stylus) is a must.

Apple caved to this vision and released the iPad Pro, complete with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, in late 2015. While it may validate Microsoft's mobile tablet-PC vision, it's nowhere near as versatile as a Surface Pro 4 since it runs iOS and not OS X (soon to be called macOS).

Cheaper than Surface Pro 4

The MateBook has more in common with the Surface Pro 4 than an iPad Pro. It runs Windows 10, and its entry-level specs are the same as Microsoft's tablet. Starting at $700, it's $200 less than what the Surface Pro 4 starts at, too.

On the baseline, you get a dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal SSD storage. 

I tested the more powerful $850 MateBook with an Intel Core m5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD and based on how it performed, I don't think anyone should buy the Core m3 model.

A 'real' computer for work

At first glance, the large 12-inch screen looks sharp and capable. Its 2,160 x 1,440 resolution may not be as high-res as the iPad Pro's 2,732 x 2,048 display or the Surface Pro 4's 2,736 x 1,824, but it's at least on par with Samsung's TabPro S's screen. 

Huawei kept the bezels around the display nice and slim. Photos and videos look great at first glance, and the screen looks perfectly fine in well-lit situations like the office. But I found its brightness insufficient and the viewing angles too weak when I used it at home in my dimly lit bedroom.

With Windows 10, the Huawei MateBook is immediately a more useful computer for me than the iPad Pro. For work, I need full-featured Chrome, with extensions, to get anything done. That's impossible with an iPad Pro. 

The Core m5 processor provides good-enough performance for the usual web browsing, video and music streaming, and document editing. But if you're looking for a mobile video editing or gaming machine, you should look elsewhere.

Windows 10 has really grown on me over the last six months and while I could juggle a dozen open Chrome tabs fine, the 4GB of RAM quickly bottlenecks when you do more resource-intensive things like streaming video while multiple apps and tabs are open. One night, the MateBook struggled to stream a 480p video clip on YouTube without dropping frames. 

The MateBook even supports login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor between the volume buttons (which are too flat in my opinion). Once configured, unlocking the MateBook is as easy as touching the sensor with a registered fingerprint. The best part is there's no silly swiping required. It works just like the sensors on many flagship smartphones and is a much better login alternative to typing in a password. 

Unfortunately, the 5-megapixel camera on the front doesn't support Windows Hello's facial recognition.

The MateBook supports fingerprint login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor.

The MateBook, like virtually all tablet hybrids, doesn't actually come with its accompanying keyboard in the box — you have to buy it separately. Samsung seems to be the only company with the sense to bundle the keyboard in with its TabPro S.

Huawei sells a "Portfolio Keyboard" for $130. It attaches securely to the MateBook via a seven-pin port using magnets. The back of the keyboard, which is also a protective folio-style case, can be positioned at two angles via magnets in the back. It's OK, but not nearly as versatile as the Surface Pro 4's hinge when it comes to "lapability." Still better than the iPad Pro, though.

The keyboard itself is... not the best. The keys are large, but they're too close to each other, which made it really easy to hit the wrong keys during a rapid-fire typing session. 

The trackpad works, but out of the box there's a slight lag to the pointer. But again, at least it has a trackpad unlike the iPad Pro.

The MateBook's screen supports multi-touch with up to 10 fingers and the responsiveness is spot-on. Huawei also sells a stylus for $60. I'm not a fan of styli because they're easy to lose and there's usually no way to keep them attached to the tablet. In comparison, the Surface Pro 4's stylus attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.

It's a good stylus that's responsive and I like the two buttons (one for ink and one for an eraser) and how the other end is a laser pointer. It's also pressure-sensitive, which means the harder you press, the thicker the digital ink will be.

Additionally, you can buy a $90 dock which includes two USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port, HDMI and VGA ports, and an Ethernet port and plugs into the MateBook's single USB-C port. Yet another added cost to get more out of the MateBook.

Boo for battery life

Battery life is the MateBook's weakness. Huawei advertises battery life as up to 9 hours, but I didn't get anywhere close to that.

I got around 3 to 4 hours using it as my work machine at work, at home and even during my commute. 

You will see longer battery life if you turn all the usual settings down or off (i.e. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, audio, etc.), but that's not how most people are going to use the MateBook. 

If you're considering the MateBook, you're looking at it as a laptop replacement, not just a tablet alternative. Battery life needs to be a lot longer.

Room for improvement next time

I can, without hesitation, tell you the MateBook is a beautiful tablet. The aluminum build quality is top-notch, it's super thin, and the specs sound solid on paper. It's even $200 cheaper than the entry-level Surface Pro 4.

But Huawei dropped the ball on bringing the hardware and software together. The MateBook has weak battery life and stutters when you throw a handful of apps at it. Not to mention the entire device gets hot even you're not doing anything intensive (like typing this in a Chrome tab).

The MateBook is a good first try, but I'll wait for the next-gen model.

Like so many rising Chinese tech companies, Huawei's goal is to topple the existing top tech players. The company's made tremendous strides in the last few years to establish itself as a quality hardware maker (i.e: Nexus 6P and P9 and P9 Plus smartphones), but that's not enough.

As the smartphone scene has taught us, any company, big or small, can build premium devices with the latest processors and storage. But few can optimize software to work seamlessly and powerfully while maintaining solid battery life.

The Surface Pro 4 is still the gold standard when it comes to 2-in-1 devices. The iPad Pro is a good alternative if Windows 10 isn't your thing, but you won't get the same kind of productivity from iOS the way you would with OS X (soon to be called macOS) on a MacBook.

Huawei's here for the long haul. The MateBook is a good first try, but I'd recommend waiting for the next-gen model, which will hopefully deliver more juice.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

With Facebook changing its news feed again and Google's new feature that lets you see your entire Google life, you may have missed this week's app news.

Each weekend, we round up a few of our favorite new and updated apps. This week's list includes an app that lets you see and share street art, a pet-rating app and a LEGO Star Wars game.

Check out the gallery below to see our top picks. If you're looking for more items to fill up your phone, take a look at our last roundup of can't-miss apps.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Huawei's MateBook will draw the inevitable copycat comments from fans of both the Microsoft Surface Pro and the iPad Pro.

But really, who copied who? Everyone copied Microsoft. The original Surface, as big a flop as it was, had the new portable-PC concept right from the start.

The idea then and today remains the same: a tablet that transforms into a laptop with a detachable keyboard. Tablets — iPads in particular — are great for many people, but when it comes to getting "real" work done, a device with a proper keyboard (and for some, a stylus) is a must.

Apple caved to this vision and released the iPad Pro, complete with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, in late 2015. While it may validate Microsoft's mobile tablet-PC vision, it's nowhere near as versatile as a Surface Pro 4 since it runs iOS and not OS X (soon to be called macOS).

Cheaper than Surface Pro 4

The MateBook has more in common with the Surface Pro 4 than an iPad Pro. It runs Windows 10, and its entry-level specs are the same as Microsoft's tablet. Starting at $700, it's $200 less than what the Surface Pro 4 starts at, too.

On the baseline, you get a dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal SSD storage. 

I tested the more powerful $850 MateBook with an Intel Core m5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD and based on how it performed, I don't think anyone should buy the Core m3 model.

A 'real' computer for work

At first glance, the large 12-inch screen looks sharp and capable. Its 2,160 x 1,440 resolution may not be as high-res as the iPad Pro's 2,732 x 2,048 display or the Surface Pro 4's 2,736 x 1,824, but it's at least on par with Samsung's TabPro S's screen. 

Huawei kept the bezels around the display nice and slim. Photos and videos look great at first glance, and the screen looks perfectly fine in well-lit situations like the office. But I found its brightness insufficient and the viewing angles too weak when I used it at home in my dimly lit bedroom.

With Windows 10, the Huawei MateBook is immediately a more useful computer for me than the iPad Pro. For work, I need full-featured Chrome, with extensions, to get anything done. That's impossible with an iPad Pro. 

The Core m5 processor provides good-enough performance for the usual web browsing, video and music streaming, and document editing. But if you're looking for a mobile video editing or gaming machine, you should look elsewhere.

Windows 10 has really grown on me over the last six months and while I could juggle a dozen open Chrome tabs fine, the 4GB of RAM quickly bottlenecks when you do more resource-intensive things like streaming video while multiple apps and tabs are open. One night, the MateBook struggled to stream a 480p video clip on YouTube without dropping frames. 

The MateBook even supports login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor between the volume buttons (which are too flat in my opinion). Once configured, unlocking the MateBook is as easy as touching the sensor with a registered fingerprint. The best part is there's no silly swiping required. It works just like the sensors on many flagship smartphones and is a much better login alternative to typing in a password. 

Unfortunately, the 5-megapixel camera on the front doesn't support Windows Hello's facial recognition.

The MateBook supports fingerprint login with Windows Hello via its fingerprint sensor.

The MateBook, like virtually all tablet hybrids, doesn't actually come with its accompanying keyboard in the box — you have to buy it separately. Samsung seems to be the only company with the sense to bundle the keyboard in with its TabPro S.

Huawei sells a "Portfolio Keyboard" for $130. It attaches securely to the MateBook via a seven-pin port using magnets. The back of the keyboard, which is also a protective folio-style case, can be positioned at two angles via magnets in the back. It's OK, but not nearly as versatile as the Surface Pro 4's hinge when it comes to "lapability." Still better than the iPad Pro, though.

The keyboard itself is... not the best. The keys are large, but they're too close to each other, which made it really easy to hit the wrong keys during a rapid-fire typing session. 

The trackpad works, but out of the box there's a slight lag to the pointer. But again, at least it has a trackpad unlike the iPad Pro.

The MateBook's screen supports multi-touch with up to 10 fingers and the responsiveness is spot-on. Huawei also sells a stylus for $60. I'm not a fan of styli because they're easy to lose and there's usually no way to keep them attached to the tablet. In comparison, the Surface Pro 4's stylus attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.

It's a good stylus that's responsive and I like the two buttons (one for ink and one for an eraser) and how the other end is a laser pointer. It's also pressure-sensitive, which means the harder you press, the thicker the digital ink will be.

Additionally, you can buy a $90 dock which includes two USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port, HDMI and VGA ports, and an Ethernet port and plugs into the MateBook's single USB-C port. Yet another added cost to get more out of the MateBook.

Boo for battery life

Battery life is the MateBook's weakness. Huawei advertises battery life as up to 9 hours, but I didn't get anywhere close to that.

I got around 3 to 4 hours using it as my work machine at work, at home and even during my commute. 

You will see longer battery life if you turn all the usual settings down or off (i.e. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, audio, etc.), but that's not how most people are going to use the MateBook. 

If you're considering the MateBook, you're looking at it as a laptop replacement, not just a tablet alternative. Battery life needs to be a lot longer.

Room for improvement next time

I can, without hesitation, tell you the MateBook is a beautiful tablet. The aluminum build quality is top-notch, it's super thin, and the specs sound solid on paper. It's even $200 cheaper than the entry-level Surface Pro 4.

But Huawei dropped the ball on bringing the hardware and software together. The MateBook has weak battery life and stutters when you throw a handful of apps at it. Not to mention the entire device gets hot even you're not doing anything intensive (like typing this in a Chrome tab).

The MateBook is a good first try, but I'll wait for the next-gen model.

Like so many rising Chinese tech companies, Huawei's goal is to topple the existing top tech players. The company's made tremendous strides in the last few years to establish itself as a quality hardware maker (i.e: Nexus 6P and P9 and P9 Plus smartphones), but that's not enough.

As the smartphone scene has taught us, any company, big or small, can build premium devices with the latest processors and storage. But few can optimize software to work seamlessly and powerfully while maintaining solid battery life.

The Surface Pro 4 is still the gold standard when it comes to 2-in-1 devices. The iPad Pro is a good alternative if Windows 10 isn't your thing, but you won't get the same kind of productivity from iOS the way you would with OS X (soon to be called macOS) on a MacBook.

Huawei's here for the long haul. The MateBook is a good first try, but I'd recommend waiting for the next-gen model, which will hopefully deliver more juice.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Who out there is excited for a new Windows 10 Mobile phone? Did your eyes just light up and your heart skip a beat? You're in the very small minority that cares about Windows 10 Mobile then.

For some reason, the Japanese company NuAns is kickstarting a Windows 10 Mobile phone. It would be a great idea if Windows 10 Mobile was relevant at all, but it's not. With only 0.7% of the worldwide smartphone marketshare as of Q1 2016 (that's worse than the 1.7% ending Q3 2015), according to Gartner, the mobile platform is as a good as dead.

Even Microsoft knows it, which is why we're seeing the company pivot towards providing its excellent apps and services on iOS and Android instead.

With so little marketshare and more importantly, such a puny selection of apps, you have to wonder who will buy this phone.

The dream of carrying just your Windows 10 phone and using Continuum and a dock to transform it into a desktop PC was an idealistic pursuit, but ultimately one nobody cared for. Each of us is a multiple device person with each device serving a different purpose. 

With so little marketshare, and more importantly, such a puny selection of apps, you have to wonder what NuAns is thinking with its campaign for the NEO phone. The company's asking for $725,000 to produce its phone, but who the heck is going to buy it?

The niche guy you say! Well, of course, Windows 10 Mobile is a niche — not by choice, but by Microsoft's own failure.

Like a thick old Nokia Lumia smartphone, the NEO isn't competing with the ultra-thin flagship iPhones and Android phones on the market.

As a phone, the NEO is decidedly midrange. It has a 5-inch HD display (1,280 x 720), Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD card), and a 3,350 mAh battery. On the back is a 13-megapixel f/2.0 aperture camera and on the front is a 5-megapixel f/2.4 aperture camera. Yeah...not exciting. But at least it has a reversible USB-C port!

Instead of performance, NuAns is banking on customizability. The NEO has two back cover panels that are interchangeable and the company hopes to sell a variety of different materials for each cover (i.e. wood, plastic, leather, etc.). There's even a cover with a slot for storing cash or credit cards.

Don't want to buy their cover panels? No problem. The company's planning to make the designs available for users to 3D print for themselves.

Not to totally poo-poo over NuAns — I applaud them for taking this risk — but they are almost certainly destined for failure. 

Windows 10 doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of gaining popularity and catching up to iOS and Android.

The NEO phone is something Windows phone fans needed years ago. And even if it had launched then, it's questionable if it would have found any success at all seeing as Windows Phone 7 and 8 were flops as well.

To NuAns, I say good luck. There are still 38 days left to the NEO phone's campaign and the company's already received more than $37,000 in crowdfunding at the time of this writing. 

Who knows, maybe the phone will get funded and the few people who backed it for $399.99 (early bird special) will be able to enjoy a device that has swappable panels.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the first known fatality involved with a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged was the same man who posted a video to YouTube back in early April showing what he described as the semi-autonomous driving system avoiding a collision.

Joshua Brown, the man the Florida Highway Patrol identified as the victim of the fatal Tesla Model S crash on Wednesday, had previously posted a video of his Model S narrowly being sideswiped by a truck. At the time, his car had Autopilot engaged. Brown alleged that the system saved the car, since he "wasn't watching that direction."

Here's Brown's full description of the incident:

Tesla Model S autopilot saved the car autonomously from a side collision from a boom lift truck. I was driving down the interstate and you can see the boom lift truck in question on the left side of the screen on a joining interstate road. Once the roads merged, the truck tried to get to the exit ramp on the right and never saw my Tesla. I actually wasn't watching that direction and Tessy (the name of my car) was on duty with autopilot engaged. I became aware of the danger when Tessy alerted me with the "immediately take over" warning chime and the car swerving to the right to avoid the side collision. 

You can see where I took over when there's a little bit of blip in the steering. Tessy had already moved to the right to avoid the collision. I was not able to slow down even more due to the heavy traffic (cars were behind me). Once I got behind him I slowly added more room between us until he exited. I was not tail gating after the incident.

It was a mistake on the other driver's part. He did not even know I was there until I honked my horn. There was a group of women in the black sedan to my left and they went nuts about the guy and what he did (all kinds of gesturing in their car). Once I was beside the truck as it slowed down on the ramp, the guy gestured a "sorry!" I gave him, "it's okay" wave.

Intriguingly, although Brown uploaded 24 Tesla videos to his YouTube channel, the one avoiding the side collision was the last.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

We are all full of good ideas — and sometimes those good ideas can change the world.

Whether it's an innovative take on an existing invention or a brand-new way to tackle a tough problem, inventors aren't shy when it comes to setting their impactful ideas into motion.

From a re-engineered condom to solar-powered charging stations for refugees, here are 12 innovations that caught our attention in June.

1. A prosthetic that is custom-molded in two hours

Startup AMPARO creates alternatives to traditional prosthetics, simplifying the process of custom-fitting an artificial limb. Traditionally, even the quickest turnaround for a custom prosthetic would be at least several weeks. The woman in the video above, however, was fitted for her AMPARO prosthetic in just two hours.

An AMPARO prosthetic's socket is also re-moldable, able to adjust to big or small changes in limb size for more comfort, and at no cost for replacements. With 80% of amputees worldwide lacking access to modern prosthetics, AMPARO hopes its innovation will help simplify the main barriers in access: manufacturing and customization.

The AMPARO prosthetic was one of three winners at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Innovation Showcase in June.

2. The condom that refuses to rip

LELO HEX condoms are stronger, more durable condoms that decrease the chance of tears. The design, which has been seven years in the making, uses a hexagonal pattern to mold to the wearer, proving to be more forgiving of stress and friction than traditional condoms.

The inventors behind LELO HEX hope the condoms will reduce unintended pregnancies and STI transmissions by providing a more secure, more pleasurable type of protection.

The condom was released on June 13, with the company currently running an Indiegogo campaign to distribute the product to consumers.

3. Solar power stations that allow refugees to charge their phones

Smartphones are an essential lifeline for refugees, granting access to maps and information that aid in their journeys. Mobile devices also house messaging applications, allowing refugees to connect with families back home without high charges.

These features are crucial, but charging phones in overcrowded camps, where electricity is scarce, can be difficult.

That's why a team of students from Edinburgh University developed sun-powered charging stations for mobile phones, allowing refugees to power-up their devices. The students have installed two units in refugee camps in Greece, with each unit able to fully charge up to 240 devices each day.

4. The app that matches Seattle's homeless with donations

When you donate something, you want to make sure it goes where it's needed most. A new app is helping people do just that, connecting unwanted items to homeless populations in Seattle.

WeCount matches those in need with everything from sleeping bags to personal hygiene items. Once a person in need claims a donation via the website, the app provides both parties with directions to a safe and secure public drop-off site. The app also gives donors and recipients the option to keep in touch.

Though the app just launched in Seattle last month, reps say there are plans to expand to cities like San Francisco and Oakland soon.

5. 3D-printed weather stations bringing accurate forecasts to Zambia

Farmers in rural Zambia often don't have access to accurate weather forecasts, and weather stations are a rarity in these locations. But knowing the expected weather is crucial for any farmer, especially those in developing regions. Their crops — and ultimately their livelihoods — depend on it.

Researchers at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research have spent the past three years developing a cheaper alternative to costly weather stations, using 3D printing to install weather stations in previously uncovered parts of the region. The 3D-printed stations cost a mere $300 — far less than the $10,000 to $20,000 a traditional setup runs. And maintenance costs are low as well, because replacement parts are easily printed.

The project is now in testing phases, with five pilot structures in Zambia. The researchers plan to hand off the entire project, including 3D-printers, to Zambian partners once their prototype phase is completed.

6. Edible toothpaste pods that replace wasteful tubes

Tubes of toothpaste are often overlooked as a major source of waste. Once you toss a plastic toothpaste tube, it can sit in a landfill for more than 500 years before decomposing, according to new startup Poppits.

So the company made tiny pods of toothpaste that generate little waste. The pod itself is made of an entirely edible film, and the packaging is biodegradable.

The eco-friendly toothpaste startup ran a lucrative Kickstarter campaign in June to help fund its innovate take on this common household necessity.

7. Birdhouses that reward clean air with free Wi-Fi

Amsterdam's pollution problem has long been criticized by officials and activists, breaking European Union standards and subjecting the region to fines. But a new initiative is showing residents just how bad the problem is — and incentivizing them to do something about it.

TreeWiFi tackles the pollution problem — with unsuspecting little birdhouses equipped with light-up roofs. If the air quality is low, the roof lights up red. If the air quality improves, the roof lights up green — and free Wi-Fi becomes available to residents.

TreeWiFi began prototype phases in June, with an official rollout expected throughout Amsterdam in September.

8. A robot that separates your recycling for you

Recycling is essential, but humans are extremely bad at it. We either don't properly sort our garbage, or don't even bother trying. That's where Trashbot comes in.

Created by startup CleanRobotics, Trashbot uses cameras, sensors, metal detectors and motors to sort discarded items into the right locations, cutting out human error or laziness.

A Trashbot prototype demonstration took place at the HAX8 conference in Shenzhen, China, in early June. The innovation will soon be beta-tested in Pittsburgh, at the city's airport and Google's local office.

9. Zero-electricity air conditioner made with plastic bottles

This Bangladeshi invention, dubbed the Eco-Cooler, is a zero-electricity air conditioner that uses repurposed plastic bottles to draw cool air into tin huts. The simple invention consists of halved plastic bottles placed on a board, which is then placed on the wall of a hut.

The bottles' necks compress hot air and cools it down, dropping temperatures inside a hut by as much as 5 degrees. The simple design has already been installed in more than 25,000 homes across Bangladesh, helping to make the unbearable summer heat a bit more manageable.

10. A game that teaches kids how to tackle climate change

Tackling climate change is no small undertaking — and even video games are gearing up to help. 

A new video game called Eco is inspiring middle schoolers to become invested in their environment. The game, developed by Strange Loop Games, allows students to build a virtual civilization with sustainability in mind.

Gamers need to protect their own virtual ecosystems through a series of tasks. They even have the ability to become climate activists within Eco, proposing and lobbying for laws — but only if they are backed by scientific data.

The game is currently in prototype phases, but won the 2016 Games for Change "Climate Challenge" in June.

11. A device that cleans coastlines by gathering debris

Ocean pollution is a big problem — and efforts to curb it need big solutions. Boyan Slat, a Dutch entrepreneur, was only 17 years old when he first proposed his concept for a massive ocean cleanup machine. It's an innovation years in the making that got its sea legs this month — thanks to more than $10 million in funding.

The unnamed device floats along the coast, creating an artificial coastline to gather debris on the surface of the ocean. A conveyer system then lifts the debris into a central tower, where it is sorted for disposal.

A prototype of the garbage-collecting device launched this month off the Dutch coast.

12. The high-tech toy designed to help autistic children socialize

Every child needs a friend, and Leka is a friend that can make a major difference — especially for autistic children.

An "interactive and multi-sensory smart toy," Leka encourages autistic children to play independently, helping them develop autonomy. The adorable smart toy is equipped with games that motivate social interactions, and also enhance motor, cognitive and emotional skills.

Leka plays sounds and music, speaks, lights up, and vibrates to engage a child in multi-sensory play. But the toy is also completely customizable, and can be tailored to a child's needs and comfort.

Leka completed a successful campaign on Indiegogo in June, raising more than 152% of its goal.

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