



Lego has announced a brand new Mindstorms EV3 programming app for controlling the company’s robot construction set. It’s a simple, streamlined experience for Android and iOS that uses the most common commands of the platform without the need for a laptop or desktop to get things going.

While it’s extremely streamlined, that also means the app is a little constricting when you want to get into the more advanced features of the platform. The app only offers 11 of the most used command blocks, for instance, and while they can do a lot, if you want to go any further you’ll still need to open the software on a desktop.

However, having access to a simplified interface on the go is a useful tool on its own. It’s also extremely helpful for someone just getting their feet wet with Lego’s wide-open platform, so it’s certainly more novice friendly.

Unfortunately, Lego’s Mindstorms EV3 robots still retail for about $349, so you’ll need to shell out for that before taking advantage of the free mobile app.