Upcoming puzzles

[Dan the Beginner]

The Gan 356 i3 is ready. 56mm, 78g, 63 USD (or 80 USD for a package including a powerbank), adjustable magnet strength (7 levels), updated core and all other specs, USB-C and more. It apparently has a fast processor, to be able to handle "10+ TPS" and also has less lag sync'ing with the gyroscope. Looks promising. I hope they have finally fixed all those problems in their previous smartcubes.

https://shop.gancube.com/product/gan356i3

 

[qwr]

The Gan 356 i3 is ready. 56mm, 78g, 63 USD (or 80 USD for a package including a powerbank), adjustable magnet strength (7 levels), updated core and all other specs, USB-C and more. It apparently has a fast processor, to be able to handle "10+ TPS" and also has less lag sync'ing with the gyroscope. Looks promising. I hope they have finally fixed all those problems in their previous smartcubes.

https://shop.gancube.com/product/gan356i3

maybe the cubing companies should fund one universal app instead of failing to make their own Chinese ones

 

[Dan the Beginner]

maybe the cubing companies should fund one universal app instead of failing to make their own Chinese ones

Great idea! A common platform for all brands is going to be fantastic. Having the same user interfaces, terminology, tables, and the same database. Yes. Pooling resources can also help in cost reduction as well as improved quality and features, timely updates, all of which are necessary for growing the market and IMO for an exciting future for cubing.

 

[qwr]

Great idea! A common platform for all brands is going to be fantastic. Having the same user interfaces, terminology, tables, and the same database. Yes. Pooling resources can also help in cost reduction as well as improved quality and features, timely updates, all of which are necessary for growing the market and IMO for an exciting future for cubing.

unfortunately that kind of thing requires cubing manufacturers to agree on a standard. if moyu or GAN doesn't want to help other companies then it won't cooperate

 

[Kaiju_cube]

The Gan 356 i3 is ready. 56mm, 78g, 63 USD (or 80 USD for a package including a powerbank), adjustable magnet strength (7 levels), updated core and all other specs, USB-C and more. It apparently has a fast processor, to be able to handle "10+ TPS" and also has less lag sync'ing with the gyroscope. Looks promising. I hope they have finally fixed all those problems in their previous smartcubes.

https://shop.gancube.com/product/gan356i3

I might be interested if I can use the charger I already have from the previous 356i

 

[Dan the Beginner]

I might be interested if I can use the charger I already have from the previous 356i

I don't like your chances, but I fully understand it, as I have 2 different smartcube chargers already.

I won't be buying this Gan unless the reviews are truly excellent. What I learnt, after the GoCube and Moyu AI Cube, the two best IMO, is that software is particular primitive at this stage, and that the cube makers are still stuck mostly at the old mechanical stage, or not serious enough, esp in QA and support for technology from the Chinese brands. I am surprised that even the second generation products are so unimpressive in the technology bits. I am also surprised at the general positive reviews these smartcubes received. That's one reason to come to user forums for more independent user reviews.

 

[Kaiju_cube]

I don't like your chances, but I fully understand it, as I have 2 different smartcube chargers already.

I won't be buying this Gan unless the reviews are truly excellent. What I learnt, after the GoCube and Moyu AI Cube, the two best IMO, is that software is particular primitive at this stage, and that the cube makers are still stuck mostly at the old mechanical stage, or not serious enough, esp in QA and support for technology from the Chinese brands. I am surprised that even the second generation products are so unimpressive in the technology bits. I am also surprised at the general positive reviews these smartcubes received. That's one reason to come to user forums for more independent user reviews.

Yeah. I have 3: Gan (plus the robot accessory), Rubiks and GoCube. None are exceptional, and the software is the problem. Of the 3 the Gan software is probably best.

The rubiks most time can't even detect the cube is solved so the timer keeps running.

The GoCube centers get stuck and don't rotate.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

Yeah. I have 3: Gan (plus the robot accessory), Rubiks and GoCube. None are exceptional, and the software is the problem. Of the 3 the Gan software is probably best.

The rubiks most time can't even detect the cube is solved so the timer keeps running.

The GoCube centers get stuck and don't rotate.

It's disappointing that big brands have such glaring problems in their products and sometimes those problems continue for more than one generation. GoPro comes to mind, with their otherwise nice cameras freezing in the cold for the last three generations.

 

[zslane]

Who writes the software for these companies?

 

[One Wheel]

Diansheng just announced a magnetic...


23x23!

And still no stickerless gigaminx.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

Who writes the software for these companies?

If your question is about the difficulty in software development or assignment of work among the different brands trying to get a common software, then I say - While there's a will, there's a way. Already there is some co-operation in this, as some of the Chinese brands look very similar, probably provided by the same contractors, while Rubik Connected also seemed to have some sharing in software with others. Again, some common standard setting body, set up with reps or members from various brands, would be nice and they can move projects like this common software starting from there. Software development and maintenance is costly.

 

[Kaiju_cube]

Rubik Connected also seemed to have some sharing in software with others.

Pretty sure the GoCube people made the Rubiks connected, they have the same app.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

Pretty sure the GoCube people made the Rubiks connected, they have the same app.

You are correct. It's the other way round. My mistake. Should have mentioned Gocube. Gocube has very stable software, compared to all others. And it's in English that we can understand easily.

 

[Manxkiwi]

It makes sense why Gan made the mini:

All they had to do was go in their CAD File of the 11 and reduce the dimensions


Minimal work, Maximum Profit. Gan.

You only refer to the CAD models. Making a complete new set of plastic injection mould tools of the different size would run to hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am a toolmaker..

 

[Dan the Beginner]

You only refer to the CAD models. Making a complete new set of plastic injection mould tools of the different size would run to hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am a toolmaker..

I don't mind Gan or whoever making a healthy profit if they deliver. We need to provide the incentive. Otherwise we will just get all the same products, complacency and probably very slow progress. Look at the original Rubik design. That did not change much for a very long time. Innovation, risk taking, experimentation, long-term development and attention to details and quality all involve costs.

I'm actually excited at this Gan mini Pro grade cube and am glad someone bothered to make such a flagship cube in a small size, though there's a risk in recovering costs if sales projections are not met.

Except for one reviewer's caution about the quality of the spring adjustment system, everything looks very nice IMO, based on the specs and on other early positive reviews in China. I am confident it will do well, since it's not a smartcube (and Gan really needs to repair it's reputation there).

It's a bold step, but not unreasonable given all those very young but great speedcubers, who had to until recently struggle with 56mm cubes, or settle for second tier cubes. I'm not surprised that with this release, there will be more young cubers rising to the top. 53mm, 54g, plus top design, specs and quality, improving even on the 11M Pro that it is based on, at a lower price. What's not to like?

It's good to have choices.

Dan

 

[Manxkiwi]

Yes I agree completely Dan, it is a great time to be a cuber. 6 years ago when I got back into 'modern' cubing, the hardware was much improved, but nothing like what's available today. Just when you thought things couldn't get much better, something new comes out. Not all new products are an improvement of course. But there is certainly a lot of good cubes out there these days. It's never been so good!

 

[povlhp]

Who writes the software for these companies?

The government. That is why it sideloads update instead of distributing thru App Store.
Then PRC can distribute code to your phone in case you are not government friendly.

PS: I work with computer security so I am either paranoid or right. Nobody knows. Not even myself.

 

[SH03L4C3]

Giiker gets their software from their parent company: Xaomi
Go and Rubiks connected gets it from their parent company, Particula (I think particula also worked with apple on the go cube)
i dont know about gan and moyu

 

[duckyisepic]

pretty excited about the weipo wrm 2021!

 

[qwr]

I think it's better for organization for each new puzzle to get its own thread like the old posts. What do you think @pjk