Technology
Everything we know about Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
For most people, their introduction to the Fire Emblem series was a pair of weirdly out-of-place Smash Bros. characters wielding swords. Originally a Japan exclusive, the series got a slow start gaining popularity in the west, but by the time Fire Emblem: Three Houses hit the Nintendo Switch, the series had become one of the most popular tactics titles, with a dash of life sim, ever released. Most titles in this series are distinct from one another, not all that unlike the Final Fantasy series, but considering just how popular the setting and characters established in Fire Emblem: Three Houses were, a follow-up of sorts makes perfect sense.
Revealed during a massive Nintendo direct in February, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is looking to be the equivalent of what Hyrule Warriors was to the Zelda games, or perhaps more accurately, what Persona 5 Strikers was to Persona 5. For all the fans who only recently joined in on the main series and don’t know what the Warriors tag means for the series, or anyone who has been following the series for years and wants to know what’s in store with this next entry, we have an early look at the game and are excited to share everything we know about Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.
See more
- Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a good excuse to see old pals
- All Fire Emblem games, ranked from best to worst
- The best Nintendo Switch games for 2022
Release date
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is right on the horizon. Despite only just being revealed in February 2022, the game is already slated to be released on June 24, 2022. This has become somewhat of a trend for Nintendo to announce and release games in short order, and we appreciate not being forced to wait years for games we’re excited about.
Platforms
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, as with mainline every entry in this series, is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch. None of the mainline games have ever seen a release on any other platform, so don’t hold out hope of this game coming to PC or any other console, unfortunately.
Trailer
The announcement trailer opens with some imagery of armies marching and views of the world of Fodlan before we see our first familiar face, Byleth. We then get a flashy montage of sorts where we see a handful of characters in battle, including Edelgard, Dmitir, and Claude, using some special moves and mowing down dozens of enemies in typical Warriors fashion. Each character gives a few lines of dialogue we can’t really glean much from regarding the goings-on, but thankfully, other sources give more insight into the plot of the game.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will consist of four story paths that you, as Byleth, can progress down based on the choices you make. Despite taking place in the same place and with the same characters as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the events of that game won’t impact the story of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Based on the trailer, and the new antagonist that seems to be the main focus of conflict, some speculate that the three houses will team up against this new threat, even though we do see them engaged in combat in the trailer. How you choose to interact with the other houses might be some of the decisions that impact which story path you follow.
The Mysterious Mercenary Trailer showcases more of what appears to be the main antagonist of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes called the Ashen Demon. First, though, we are finally introduced to our main protagonist canonically named Shez (but both their name and gender can be changed). They are shown off most prominently wielding dual swords. This trailer also explicitly states that there will be three paths to choose from, each represented by one of the three houses you can align yourself with. Shez will go from an unlikely mercenary to a hero destined to take down this Ashen Demon. In a twist, the trailer ends with you having the ability to select the Ashen Demon’s form, either a male or female Byleth.
A whole new suite of footage of characters was revealed, starting with Scarlet Blaze, an ax-wielding knight aligned with the Adrestian Empire. Next is Azure Gleam, fighting with a lance, from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Golden Wildfire is a ranger riding a small drake from the Leicester Alliance.
The Kingdom of Faerghus trailer dropping also showed off additional characters from this kingdom we can play as. Dimitri, Dedue, Mercedes, Ashe, Felix, Annette, Sylvain, and Ingrid all join the roster.
Gameplay
Whether you’re a fan of it or not, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is following that tried-and-true Warriors-style gameplay for the most part. On the field, you can expect to take control of one, maybe multiple, characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses and travel through massive battlefields, completing objectives, leveling up, and cutting down hundreds upon hundreds of grunts in your path. You will have special moves that can deal damage in wide areas, long-range, over long distances, and more, unique to each character.
In each mission, you can swap between up to four characters at the tap of the D-pad or give instructions to the ones you’re not directly controlling to attack or defend different key areas on the map.
There will also be mounts, which is not a new addition to the formula, except that dragons will be rideable. This gives the character tons of mobility and presumably brand new moves as well. We also see some winged horses you can ride in battle, which we assume will function just like the dragons. Speaking of giant monsters, we also see a few massive beasts that you will need to contend with that look like the boss-style enemies seen in Hyrule Warriors for this game.
The trailer also showed a small glimpse at the battle map portion of the game. This shows the regions you have control over, areas you need to conquer, and some more details on them. One shown off in the trailer was called “Prepare for the Conquest of Garreg Mach,” which had an enemy level of 8, an objective of “clear a path for the conquest of Garreg Mach by defeating the Church of Seiros army,” and separate rewards for getting an S rank and a Capture reward.
We can also see merchants pop up on the map screen where you can trade gold for different items. These seem to be fixed areas on the map that you can visit once you’ve conquered that region.
Before a fight, you will be able to outfit your characters with equipment, which also shows all the stats of that weapon’s skills and abilities, and change their class. This system gets fairly deep and encourages a lot of party, skill, and class management between each mission. There is also a fully explorable camp area where you can train with your allies to gain new classes or just hang out and enjoy a meal with each other. The camp is full of different vendors that all can be upgraded overtime using resources. It is an addictive loop of investing and upgrading that offers a second level of progression to work toward.
On the field, like in past Warriors games, you can issue orders to characters you’re not controlling to send them toward different objectives while you tackle others or to meet up to join forces somewhere on the map. This will let you use Partner Special moves that combine the best of both characters’ moves.
In terms of playable characters, Warriors games often have a very extensive cast to pick from. For now, however, we only know of a select few that will be playable in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Based on the trailer, we know that Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, and Byleth are confirmed to be playable, but we also see different versions of each of them that might count as completely different characters. We also expect that Byleth will have both a male and female form to pick from as well. If the previous Fire Emblem Warriors’ initial roster is anything to go by, which had 25 at launch plus nine more added later, there’s still plenty of room for surprises on this roster.
Based on our hands-on preview, the cast is, once again, the star of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Not only did we enjoy reuniting with old favorites, but we also liked the opportunity to get to know other characters from Three Houses that we hadn’t had the time to before.
Multiplayer
While the trailer didn’t say, we can thank the game box for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes to confirm that it will allow for both one and two players. This is almost certainly a co-op mode, as has been common for just about every Warriors game that does include multiplayer, and would feel right at home on this Switch version. According to the details from retailers, multiplayer will be limited to local play only, meaning you can’t join or host online sessions with friends.
Pre-order
Pre-orders are up on most major retailers for physical and digital editions of the game. GameStop and Target both have them for your normal retail price of $60, though there is a Limited Edition floating around that, for now, looks exclusive to European markets. This edition includes the Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes game, an art book, tapestry map, five acrylic figurines, and a character postcard. Hopefully, we in the west get a chance to get our hands on this addition as well, but for now, only the basic version looks to be available. We’ll keep you updated should that change.
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The Apple Watch Series 7 continues Apple’s streak as the maker of one of the most versatile wearables on the market today, with both the flexibility of features and applications. In a market where aesthetics rule, the ability to swap bands with a diversity of designs and materials brings the Apple Watch firmly into fashion territory. While Apple provides a number of quality bands, the third-party world of Apple Watch bands stretches from budget bands to French fashion houses.
We picked a variety of bands and straps with different styles and prices to add some pizzazz to the Apple Watch on your wrist. Regardless of which generation of Apple Watch you own, these bands will fit your device because Apple made the band-to-watch connection backward-compatible. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new Apple Watch, you may find your old bands still work with the newer model.
For more Apple Watch information, check our curated list of the best Apple Watch screen protectors.
Our favorite official Apple Straps
Let’s start with the multitude of watch bands Apple markets for its own watch. This small sampling reveals the depth and variety of Apple’s watch accessories.
Apple Braided Solo Loop
Apple always seems to find a way to bring the stylish and the practical together. With the Apple Braided Solo Loop, you’ll be wearing a durable watchband made from stretchable recycled yarn, interwoven with silicone threads. What this translates into is an incredibly comfortable but durable band that fits comfortably without moving around your wrist. The Braided Solo Loop bands are compatible with Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, just make sure you measure your wrist correctly to get the right band. As the Solo bands have no buckle or any other way to reduce in size, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right fit.
Apple Sport Loop
We love the look and feel of the Apple Sport Loop band. The nylon material is soft, doesn’t get hot and sweaty, and the various colors are all a lot more dramatic and eye-catching in real life than in pictures. Rather than the pin-and-tuck system on the Sport band, the Sport Loop uses hook-and-eye for an infinitely adjustable fit that suits everyone. Great for the gym, office, and casual wear, it’s the Apple Watch band to choose when you first buy your watch.
Apple Midnight Modern Buckle
This is a very expensive band, but that’s for a very good reason. The Midnight Modern Buckle is made from supple and high-quality Granada leather that’s lightly milled and tumbled to create a material that’s soft on the skin but still durable. Apple has added a weave of Vectran for additional strength (so it should outlast your Apple Watch), the same material used by NASA to make landing airbags for the Mars rover. The buckle isn’t actually a buckle either, it’s a magnetically fastened two-piece design that’s easy to secure. A classic style with a futuristic design — the Midnight Modern Buckle lives up to its name.
Apple Milanese Loop
If metal is more your style, Apple has you covered. The company’s stunning Milanese Loop, a modern interpretation of a design developed in Milan at the end of the 19th century, touts a stainless-steel gold, silver, or graphite design, wraps around your wrist, and adjusts with the help of magnets. Apple’s Link Bracelet, meanwhile, features butterfly closure folds within the bracelet, allowing for a clean look. The onboard release button also makes it easy to add or remove links without special tools.
The Apple Watch Studio
The Apple Watch Studio is a buying plan introduced with the Series 5 Apple Watch, and it’s a great way to get the exact band and watch combination you want the first time. Instead of buying an off-the-shelf Apple Watch and strap combination, you choose each aspect yourself, including the case size and material and the strap. If you want a 44mm aluminum Apple Watch in silver with a Space Gray Milanese Loop strap, you can have it. It doesn’t cost any extra money to customize, and it’s easy and fun to create your own watch on Apple’s website.
Apple Watch Studio
Our favorite third-party bands
Despite the many gorgeous and specialty watch straps Apple offers for its watch, the company knows its customers and that their tastes are not confined to the company store. So Apple encouraged third-party vendors to get in on the action. Here are some favorites from independent vendors.
Nomad Modern Strap
There are a few Nomad straps on this list, and for good reason. They’re exceptionally high-quality and stylish. The Modern is a slimmer variant of its Modern Strap. This vegetable-tanned leather strap comes from Horween, a reputable tannery in Chicago, and it develops a gorgeous patina the longer it’s worn. Nomad uses stainless steel on the buckles and the adapter that connects to the Apple Watch. It’s delightfully lightweight and comfortable on the wrist, and the buckle design means it’s dead simple to put on in a jiffy. The catch? It’s only available for the smaller 40mm or 38mm Apple Watch sizes.
Kades Stainless Steel Band
The Kades Apple Watch band offers an affordable way to sport a stainless-steel band. Like most stainless-steel watchbands, it features a double clasp in a butterfly style and is easily adjustable via removable links. It comes in both silver-colored stainless steel and black.
Meridio Suede Band
Tired of the usual old leather bands and silicone straps for your Apple Watch? Take a look at Meridio’s suede watch bands, which are different than other bands out there yet still neatly fit in with casual and smart outfits. Meridio is an Italian brand with more than a decade of experience in fashion and leather goods. The suede band is soft to the touch, supple, and comfortable to wear. There is enough of a nap on the strap for it to catch the light, while the thickness tapers off toward the tip, making it more wearable.
Casetify Cats
Leather, metal, and braids are great, but what if you want something with a bit more personality? Casetify has a massive range of Apple Watch bands that deliver just that, and our current pick of the bunch is this Cats band. It’s made from vegan “Saffiano” leather, so it feels great on the skin, and is fully biodegradable too, so you don’t have to worry about your cruelty-free lifestyle polluting the planet after you’re gone. The design looks great too, with a bunch of cute cats adorning the band. Best paired with a matching colored Apple Watch casing, this might not be the choice for those who favor austere over audacious, but it’s sure to be someone’s favorite pick here. Not into cats? Check out the to see if they have one for you.
Nomad Sport Band
To accompany its Rugged Strap, Nomad offers the Sport Strap, a silicone band with built-in lugs that extend all the way across the watch’s body, a strong stud-and-hole fixing, and a design similar to that of Nike’s Apple Watch straps. Nomad’s offering is made of soft LSR silicone, which comes in a two-tone color scheme — either black and gray or black and green. It is hypoallergenic and sweat-resistant, and it feels cool underneath thanks to a channel for airflow. It’s well-suited for fitness aficionados and is quite a large, statement-making strap. It’s only available for the 42mm/44mm watch sizes.
Burkley Holo Strap
Burkley’s Holo Strap is perfect for weekends in your sports car with the top down, headed toward the coast — or, at the very least, those times when you’re imagining doing that. The strap’s classic styling makes it a beauty, while the soft, padded leather renders it both lightweight and comfortable. We love the little design touches, too, such as the Burkley logo, which is stamped directly on the strap loop. It comes in several color options.
Southern Straps Nato Strap
A textured nylon strap, the Southern Straps band features stitching running down each section, giving it a unique look. It feels very hard-wearing and has been double-bonded and heat-sealed to make sure it doesn’t fall apart under tough conditions. We love the khaki and red version, which comes with a choice of colors for the Apple Watch connectors in either 38mm/42mm or 42mm/44mm sizes. We were let down slightly by the strap loop, which sometimes pinches wearers who have wrist hair.
Nyloon Napier Watch Band
Nyloon’s nylon watchband feels like it will last a while and withstand some rough treatment, which is just what you need from this popular style. We’ve been wearing the Napier design, which comes in navy blue and red, and we find it comfortable and stylish. The shiny hardware is attractive, and the Apple Watch adapter pieces have spring-loaded bars, so you can swap out the strap for another 20mm or 22m version of your own choice.
Ullu Apple Watch Band
This beautiful leather Apple Watch band is handcrafted from high-quality stingray leather. Available in an assortment of colors, the Ullu stingray watch band pairs perfectly with the larger 42mm Apple Watch case.
The Strap Smith Baseball Glove Strap
Handcrafted from vintage baseball gloves, this band is perfect for the sports enthusiast. This band is not only stylish but durable as well. If you’re more of a football fan, the Strap Smith also makes a custom football band. Just be aware you have to pay an extra $25 if you want the necessary hardware fitted to attach the strap to the watch. Bonus: you can choose the color to match your choice of watch case.
Pad & Quill Lowry Leather Cuff
Renowned for its high-quality, great-looking leather Apple accessories, Pad & Quill makes three different straps for the Apple Watch, but we’ve singled out the Lowry Leather Cuff. Made from full-grain leather in black, chestnut, or tan, with hand-finished stitching and nickel buckles, the look is rugged yet classy. Suede on the underside of the strap makes it comfortable to wear. The one problem? It’s only for the 42mm/44mm Apple Watch.
Form Function Form Button Stud Band
If you’re angling for something a bit different, have a look at Form Function Form’s funky Button Stud strap, which does away with any type of buckle or clasp. Instead, it has a stainless steel stud that holds a long leather band in place. You can order the stud and adaptor in a color that suits your Apple Watch, including options like Veg Tan, Ultra-Thin Horse Front, Horween Chromexcel, and Latigo. Just make sure you check the length to ensure the overall fit is correct. The company even provides lifetime free size adjustments if you buy one.
Frequently asked questions
How will I know whether an Apple Watch band will fit my wrist?
Imagine, if you will: you’ve finally found the perfect Apple Watch band, ordered it, and now it’s here. Only — disaster! It’s too small for your wrist. How can you avoid that? Well, if you’re not able to head out to a physical store to take a look at your chosen Apple Watch bands, then the only way to really know for sure is to measure your wrist. Thankfully, we have a comprehensive guide on how to measure your wrist for an Apple Watch, and how to measure your wrist for Solo Loop Apple Watch bands too.
What are the best Apple Watch bands for sensitive skin?
The last thing you want is for your Apple Watch band to trigger any skin sensitivity issues you might have. While sensitivity issues with Apple Watch bands are most often related to sweating, friction, or nickel allergies, there can be such a wide range of other triggers that we can’t cover them all in great detail. However, there are some band material choices you can make which should hopefully reduce the chances of skin sensitivity triggers.
Leather is often a strong choice, because it looks good, feels great, and more often than not, is suitable for those with sensitive skin. Since it’s a natural material, it’s less likely to trigger any issues, and while it may not be vegan friendly, it’s a good choice if you want a good-looking band that’s kind to your skin. Metal bands are another good choice for the same reasons — just make sure to pick a stainless steel or titanium band to avoid any pesky nickel issues.
Finally, there are synthetic options. Sports bands are a good pick for those who sweat a lot, for obvious reasons. But if you’re not into the sporty look, maybe take a look at other bands made from silicone, as there are some high-quality silicone offerings that don’t look as if they’re designed only for Olympians.
How often should you change out your Apple Watch band?
As often as you like! There’s no hard and fast rule as to how often you should change out your band, the only real limitation is how often you want to go through the process of changing it. We have a guide on how to change your Apple Watch band, and it’s relatively straightforward, so you could feasibly change out your band every day. A more realistic option may be to have a classier strap for classy affairs and an everyday band for everything else, but it’s really up to you.
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Adding an app to every appliance in the house can get a little exhausting. While smart technologies like Matter will hopefully make things easier in the coming years, for now, all those apps can sometimes feel like unnecessary clutter. Not so with smart grills and smokers. If you don’t already rely on a smart meat probe, these grills benefit greatly from apps that allow you to monitor them from afar, get suggestions for cooking new meats perfectly, and much more.
If you’ve been looking for a grill upgrade, you’ll love these app-friendly picks. It’s no surprise we’re starting with a Traeger model, but we’ve included a variety of options for different budgets and summer plans.
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885
Smart grill with built-in meat probe
Jump to details
Memphis Grills Elite Smoker and Grill
Super hot grill with a spacious cooking area
Jump to details
Green Mountain Davy Crockett with Sense-Mate
Great grill for camping or tailgating
Jump to details
Masterbuilt Smoker MB20071117
A solid option for those new to smoking meats
Jump to details
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885
Smart grill with built-in meat probe
Pros
- Excellent pellet-based design
- Great smart controls via app
- Alexa support
Cons
- If you’re not familiar with wood pellet cooking, it make take some getting used to
Traeger adds plenty of smart features to its famed wood pellet grill and the results are excellent. Use the tech to handle grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and basic barbecue. The 885 square inches of grilling surface on this model make it suitable for even large backyard gatherings, too.
The smart platform WiFIRE takes the grill to another level. Using the Traeger app, you can control grill features from a distance, including monitoring the built-in meat probe so you know the exact temperatures of your meats at any time. You can also adjust temperature levels and set timers on the app (there’s a separate controller if you would rather not add an app to your phone). It even comes with Alexa, so you can call out commands to your grill while you are busy elsewhere.
The only real downside is that if you’ve never grilled or smoked with wood pellets before, it will take a little learning to deal with the new fuel, and it may be more expensive in your area than other fuel options.
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885
Smart grill with built-in meat probe
Memphis Grills Elite Smoker and Grill
Super hot grill with a spacious cooking area
Pros
- Extra-large cooking surface
- Convection fans
- Can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit
- Suitable for some professional work
If you want the best of the best, this wood pellet model can both grill and smoke, and comes with excellent digital controls and software for full control … if you’re willing to pay the price. It’s also especially large, with 1,252 square inches of cooking surface, making it suitable for anything from large family gatherings to some catering work (the 24-pound pellet hopper also ensures you can supply plenty of fuel). Direct and indirect cooking are both options thanks to the design.
Inside, you’ll find dual metal convection fans for even heat distribution, and the ability to precisely control the temperature from 180 degrees to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that if you don’t need to max out your grill space, you can downgrade to a smaller version to save some money.
Memphis Grills Elite Smoker and Grill
Super hot grill with a spacious cooking area
Green Mountain Davy Crockett with Sense-Mate
Great grill for camping or tailgating
Pros
- Affordable and portable
- Electric or wood pellet modes
- App compatibility
Cons
- Too small for some events
Looking for a more affordable grilling option that’s easier to take with you anywhere? You’ll love this electric/wood pellet grill that only weighs 68 pounds and comes with a foldable design that allows you to quickly store or transport it. Those features make the Davy Crockett a perfect accessory for tailgating, but the smart technology only improves your options.
Connect the grill to a Wi-Fi network and get updates on internal temperatures thanks to the built-in meat probe. That means you’re never caught off-guard. The ability to switch to electric cooking at 12V or 120AC also makes the grill one of the most versatile on our list.
Green Mountain Davy Crockett with Sense-Mate
Great grill for camping or tailgating
Weber Genesis SX-335
Best grill to up your grilling game
Pros
- Excellent gas grill design
- App makes recommends on cooking stages
- Large prep area
Cons
- The plentiful smart features may be too many for some grillers
Are you more comfortable with a gas grill? This three-burner Weber model doesn’t just run on gas, it’s also one of the smartest we’ve seen, using an app to give you alerts when food reaches a certain temperature and reminders to make important temperature or placement changes (including when to flip your burgers or serve your meats). It includes both a large searing surface and a large prep surface so you can do plenty of ingredient work right there at the grill.
Weber’s design also allows for a wide variety of accessories, if you’re willing to purchase them. You can fit in grillware that allows you to bake, steam, stir-fry, and more — essentially turning it into your own outdoor kitchen.
Weber Genesis SX-335
Best grill to up your grilling game
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575
Good for smaller spaces
Pros
- A more affordable Traeger model
- App and Alexa support
- Still has 575 square inches of grill space
Cons
- May not be large enough for every user
If you’re a big fan of Traegers but want to save some money, this smaller and much more affordable version still provides many of the same benefits. Smart features include app connectivity to monitor the grill and control temperatures, as well as Alexa integration for giving your grill voice commands.
As the name indicates, you have 575 square inches of grill space. That’s not as big as many of our picks, but it’s still plenty of space for managing meats for a party or a family gathering. The grill can reach up to 500 degrees max temperature, and a built-in probe is also included here.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575
Good for smaller spaces
Masterbuilt Smoker MB20071117
A solid option for those new to smoking meats
Pros
- Affordable smoker
- Large enough for two turkeys
- Wood chip side loader
Cons
- A good beginner model, but lacking in smart features
Primarily interested in smoking meats? This affordable smoker is an excellent place to get started. At 30 inches, it’s not the largest model but there’s still plenty of room to hold up to two turkeys, or four racks of ribs, etc. The electric features mean that temperature control can be very accurate, and the insulation keeps the heat in so you don’t have to worry about making spaces too hot (the smoker also has optional covers and leg extensions depending on your setup). There is also a side-loading system for adding wood chips without dissipating heat.
Masterbuilt Smoker MB20071117
A solid option for those new to smoking meats
Masterbuilt Smoker MB20074719
High-end smart smoker
Pros
- Bluetooth and app support
- Meat thermometer
- 40-inch design
Cons
- May be too expensive for beginners
If you’re more serious about your smoker, this model is a significant upgrade. It’s a 40-inch smoker that offers four chrome-coated racks to hold all kinds of meats. It also comes equipped with more smart features, including a meat probe thermometer and a Bluetooth connection that works with an app on your phone to help you monitor smoking conditions more accurately. Like our other Masterbuilt, it also has a side loader for wood chips.
Masterbuilt Smoker MB20074719
High-end smart smoker
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smart grill?
A smart grill is typically a grill that comes with more advanced digital features for monitoring and control, especially app compatibility or voice assistant compatibility.
How much is a smart grill?
You can find a smart for both well below and well above $1,000. A full-featured, large smart grill will probably be around $1,500.
What do Wi-Fi grills do?
The grill connects to a Wi-Fi network, which allows it to interact with apps on your mobile devices. You can use the apps to monitor temperatures and control the grill from a distance, as well as get alerts or timers. Some grills use Bluetooth connections instead of Wi-Fi, but the result is largely the same.
Which home grill is best?
The best grill for you really depends on your situation. We suggest you should start thinking about size (surface cooking area, how many people you cook for, etc.), and then what fuels you would prefer. Smart features can come later. Our reviews, like that of the Weber Genesis, can help you make decisions, too.
Would you like to learn more about the best grills? Check out our guide to outdoor grills, too.
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What’s happening
The JWST team has completed 10 of 17 “modes,” or checkpoints, on the road to booting up the telescope.
Why it matters
Successful testing means we’re still on the path to receiving the first JWST images this summer.
It’s almost time.
NASA is revving up to release its very first interstellar discoveries, courtesy of the groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope. Come July 12, we may begin seeing the universe through a vastly clearer lens.
And in preparation for the highly anticipated day, JWST researchers have been meticulously perfecting each of the scope’s trailblazing pieces of equipment — on that note, we have an update.
NASA scientists announced this week that they’ve successfully calibrated the eye of a JWST-mounted device called NIRSpec. This is a pretty big milestone because of the streamlined way NASA organized the road to regular Webb use. The agency basically has to get through 17 instrument “modes,” which you can think of as testing checkpoints, through analysis and observation before fully booting up JWST.
Thus, now counting NIRSpec achievements, the agency has officially passed the halfway point on the mode ledger — bringing the grand total to 10 out of 17 complete.
“The recent confirmation of NIRSpec target acquisition … primes the NIRSpec team for our last activities of commissioning,” the team said. “We cannot wait to see the first NIRSpec science observations coming this summer!”
In fact, “the team has started to take some of the first science data,” per the agency’s release.
A quick recap of the James Webb specs
There are four key components to JWST, each of which contributes to those 17 modes outlined by the agency. Of note, almost all these facets rely on some type of infrared light detection, which means they can study a part of the electromagnetic spectrum invisible to human eyes.
“Study of the intensity or brightness of light across the wavelengths can provide key diagnostic information about the nature of various objects across the universe,” the JWST team said. “From extrasolar planets around distant stars, to faint galaxies at the edge of the universe, and objects in our own solar system.”
A comparison of Hubble’s visible and infrared views of the Monkey Head Nebula. Though Hubble has some infrared capabilities, it’s nothing compared with Webb.
NASA and ESA
You can read about the science of infrared in more detail here — but returning to JWST’s technology army, here’s the breakdown.
Its alpha instrument is probably the Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam. NIRCam will essentially lead the charge in detecting and imaging the cosmos as it was when time began. “If NIRCam doesn’t work, the telescope doesn’t work,” Alison Nordt, space science and instrumentation director at aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, who’s been a part of the JWST since the beginning, simply puts it.
Lockheed Martin engineer Alison Nordt working on Webb’s NIRCam.
Lockheed Martin
Then, there’s the Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI, which has both a camera and spectrograph aimed at dissecting items illuminated by light in the mid-infrared electromagnetic region, and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph, or NIRISS, which is basically an exoplanet hunting machine.
Also aboard JWST, you’ll find a navigation system, aka the fine guidance sensor, which helps the scope, well, not get lost. And finally, the star of NASA’s latest update is the Near-Infrared Spectrograph, or NIRSpec.
You can see an image from all of Webb’s major instruments in this collage.
NASA/STScI
What is NIRSpec?
“The Near-Infrared Spectrograph is the instrument on the Webb telescope that observes spectra of astrophysical and planetary objects at near infrared wavelengths,” the JWST team said.
A simulation of the NIRSpec MSA-based target acquisition process, demonstrated on the NIRSpec sharpness check image. NIRSpec uses “reference Stars” that you can see here, observed through fixed slits in the device.
NASA, ESA and the NIRSpec Team
In other words, it works to examine space-borne phenomena that emanate light in the near infrared region, but rather than merely image those objects, it can study their chemical composition. That’s the intrigue of spectrography. You get more than a picture of a planet, you get details of what it would be like to stand on it.
An optimized high-resolution simulation of a star seen through a NIRSpec micro-shutter. For proper intensity estimation of NIRSpec science spectra, we need to accurately know the positioning of the targets to within one tenth of the shutter width.
NASA, ESA and the NIRSpec Team
And in terms of target acquisition, the JWST team says NIRSpec has an important mirror, which can place cosmic targets in their proper locations as the telescope explores. This is crucial because such information helps NIRSpec’s spectrograph know where to look.
There are two ways the mirror does this — the Wide Aperture Target Acquisition (WATA) and Micro-Shutter Assembly-based Target Acquisition (MSATA). During testing, the team said, WATA performed “excellently” and MSATA made solid progress, and lucky for us, both successes give us awesome cosmic pictures, like the one featured up top.
Further, with regard to MSATA, the JWST team says this method is quite difficult to nail down. It calls for a proper estimation of iNIRSpec science spectral intensity within one-tenth of the device’s shutter width. That’s incredibly precise. For context, it’s “the approximate size of a bumblebee, 1.5 centimeters, viewed from 150 kilometers away,” the team said.
Now that NASA has these successes down, just seven more modes to go before we hit July 12 — the day we’ve all been waiting for.
To the stars, JWST.
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