ONE built robot from Lego can solve a Rubik’s cube in about 3.2 seconds, but about 40 years after picking up the iconic puzzle for the first time, I have yet to solve it myself. I assumed that successfully deciphering a cube would remain forever on my bucket list, but a smart Rubik’s cube is finally teaching me the strategies for solving one.
If you have ever attended a Speedcubing competition where the puzzle masters rush to solve a Rubik’s cube in record time, you may have wondered how these geniuses can look at a scrambled cube and know the exact steps required to match all the colored pieces on all six sides. Competitors may appear to be spinning their cubes at random in a furious attempt at luck out and randomly combine one side, but in reality there is a wellestablished strategy they are following to solve the puzzle.
You can read the solution strategy step by step on the Rubik’s cube official website, which involves working with a series of smaller goals, such as first making a daisy with a yellow center, then a white cross and then solving all the corners, etc. It is a very specific process that, when followed correctly, guarantees a non-scrambled cube, but learning how to do it correctly is a challenge in itself. That is which I’m finding a lot easier with Rubik’s connected cube.
G / O Media can receive a commission
The Rubik connected cube is the official version of the Rubik brand of GoCube, an updated smart version of the puzzle that started life through a Kickstarter Campaign. In addition to the rounded corners that facilitate Speedcubing, Rubik’s Connected Cube looks and feels exactly like the original puzzle, even the multicolored stickers covering all of its individual pieces. But, unlike the original, which can be easily solved (relatively speaking) by peeling and reapplying all stickers, Rubik’s Connected Cube connects to a mobile app via Bluetooth that knows every move made with the cube in real time and its exact combination state, even if you continue to play with the cube after the app is closed.
I have some minor complaints with Rubik’s connected cube. It uses a proprietary charging cable that you’ll never want to lose, and for $ 60, I’d prefer more durable plastic tiles how some versions of the puzzle now use instead of multicolored stickers that can peel over time. It has a premium price without premium finish. BI am happy to ignore these concerns, because in just one week, I’m almost at the point where I can solve a Rubik’s cube by myself.
If you dream of becoming a competitive Speedcuber one day, the connected Rubik app includes features like timers, which only start when the cube starts to move and stop as soon as it is resolved, skill challenges and even the ability to qualify for official competitions. But for beginners like me, it is the interactive training tools that justify updates to this popular puzzle.
Through a series of interactive classes, you learn the process and strategies for solving a cube (professional tip: never rotate the intermediate sections) presented through text instructions, 3D animations and videos where handling techniques are demonstrated. Solving a Rubik’s Cube even has its own shorthand language for the side that you must rotate next. For example, F means to rotate the front display clockwise, F ‘to rotate counterclockwise and F2 or F’2 to do one or the other twice.
You can work on the solution steps using the guide on the Rubik website, but Rubik’s connected cube and the app monitor your progress along the way, warns you when you accidentally make a wrong move, and even provides immediate instructions on how to undo any mistakes you’ve made. It’s like having a Rubik’s Cube master looking over your shoulder all the time to make sure you’re doing the right things, and, at least for me, it means that an error does not leave me confused and frustrated with the process.
It takes about an hour to complete all the training on the app, and you will probably have to go over it a few more times to memorize the process. After about a week of diligent practiceand I’m not there yet, but I can also see specific muscle memories settling in, and Speedcubing no longer feels like a superhuman feat. I don’t think I’ll ever break world records, but I have no doubt that I’ll be able to solve a Rubik’s Cube on my own if I keep practicing.ing.
If you feel completely frustrated with the lessons and ready to give up, the app has another incredibly useful feature: an automatic cube solver that introduces youfor-follow the steps to clutter Rubik’s connected cube and look like he just came out of the box.
There is no sugar coating: Pbuying $ 60 for a smart version of a toy that can be purchased for $ 10 without app connectivity is a little ridiculous. I’m sure there are many aspiring Speedcubers that will do well reading a free tutorial connected. I am not one of them, and I will probably never return to a normal Rubik’s Cube again.