Watch leading thinkers debate the risks and rewards of AI

The advent of artificial intelligence is as dreaded as it is lauded. Proponents believe it’s a technological advancement that will augment humans in unprecedented ways — think immortality and super-intelligence. But the critics often point out the dangerous repercussions of this revolution — autonomous weapon systems and self aware bots. Should we brace ourselves for a robotic apocalypse? Is that idea based on science fiction or reality? Does the fear of AI slow down the progress of a technology that could amplify human existence? Tune in tonight, March 9, at 7 PM ET for a riveting debate — “Artificial Intelligence: The Risks Could Outweigh the Rewards.”

Jaron Lanier, renowned computer scientist, virtual reality pioneer and author of bestsellers Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget will be highlighting the risks of AI, along with Andrew Keen, author of The Internet is Not the Answer.

While Martine Rothblatt, founder of United Therapeutics and Sirius Radio, who is a proponent of technological immortality and the creator of BINA48, a “sentient humanoid” modeled after her wife, will be focusing on the benefits of AI. As will James Hughes, executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future.

​The live event is organized by Intelligence Squared U.S. Debated, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that has hosted over 100 debates with leading thinkers and creators. The discussion, moderated by ABC News correspondent John Donvan, is being co-presented by 92Y, a center for arts and innovation in New York City since 1874.

Watch this space to hear some of the most prominent voices on both sides of the AI debate. Until then, you can cast your vote here.

Spigen is offering its Galaxy S7 and S7 edge cases for $5 at Amazon!

Spigen once is again offering its selection of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge cases for just $5 at Amazon with coupon codes. The company is offering eight options for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, so you can look for the one that will best meet your needs. From slim, clear cases, to more protective and rugged cases, Spigen has a solid offering of choices here.

Each case has its own code and you will want to act quickly as this deal is likely to sell out quick!

Update: We’ve removed links from cases that have sold out.

Samsung Galaxy S7

• Galaxy S7 case Wallet S Black – code WEY9CWCV
• Galaxy S7 case Ultra Hybrid Crystal Clear – code DRCNLRXI
• Galaxy S7 case Tough Armor Gunmetal – code QL3L2M8C
• Galaxy S7 case Thin Fit Black – code 3YPVSF7T
• Galaxy S7 case Rugged Armor Black – code GQ65VUTO
• Galaxy S7 case Neo Hybrid Satin Silver – code HN2UDJS6
• Galaxy S7 case Neo Hybrid Crystal Gunmetal – code RY9TZKQZ
• Galaxy S7 case Liquid Crystal Clear – code ET7B5FS9

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 Edge case Wallet S Black
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Ultra Hybrid Crystal Clear – code 24KST4FE
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Tough Armor Gunmetal
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Thin Fit Black – code UVJMON5J
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Rugged Armor Black – code R55PMK4Z
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Neo Hybrid Crystal Gunmetal
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Neo Hybrid Satin Silver
• Galaxy S7 Edge case Liquid Crystal Clear

Were you able to grab a case for your new phone? If so, let us know which one you ended up getting in the forums!

Discuss the sale in the forums

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Galaxy S7 edge with Exynos: A Canadian perspective
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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What I learned while using a 360 camera

Using a 360 camera is a surprisingly human experience, as long as you don’t have it on the end of a selfie stick.

For the most part, people tend to look at cameras like 360fly the same way they look at a GoPro. It’s a camera you bust out when you want to do something cool, and capture that cool thing in a unique perspective. These cameras are treated like they’re a way to make someone feel like they were there when the thing happened, and frequently nothing else. While the results often are incredible, I spent some time taking a 360fly with me everywhere to see how different it was to capture things this way.

It turns out there’s a lot to like about using a 360 camera the same way you think about using a regular camera. Here’s what I learned.

• People tend to be more relaxed — Pressing record and setting 360fly down on the table meant I was engaging in the conversation, and not holding my phone out in front of my face. This meant significantly fewer situations where people tense up and put on a fake smile or pose. The videos and photos tend to be a lot more human and authentic feeling.

• It’s a unique dash cam experience — Setting this camera up in the dash of my car meant I could see everything happening out in the world as well as my reactions to everything. (Well, after the fact. Don’t be doing that while driving.) I caught several instances where I immediately assumed the worst about a driver cutting me off, but when looking back through the camera my position frequently softened.

• Catching everyone’s reaction to something is amazing — a big part of that more-human experience is being able to look around when something happens to see everyone’s reactions. You can see who noticed something first, and watch as it spreads to the rest of the group. Our Fireside Chat Outtake video is a perfect example of this.

• Slower, more deliberate photos are often better — While each of these currently available 360 cameras has a photo mode in one form or another, they tend to be not nearly as high quality as Google’s Cardboard Camera or the Photosphere mode in your phone. Granted, these cameras can take the shot instantly and capture everything all at once, but the overall quality suffers with the current generation.

• They are also amazing action cameras — While pressing record and capturing group of friends playing a card game or running around in a park is great, it’s also incredible cool to know you can toss some of these cameras in a pool or suction cup them to the side of a vehicle to capture something truly amazing. Unlike a GoPro, however, these cameras feel like they are designed for both.

See at Best Buy

Setting up a HomeGroup in Windows 10 – CNET

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Microsoft makes sharing files — including photos, videos and music — and printer connections easier with its HomeGroup networking service.

A HomeGroup is a password-protected home networking service that lets you share your stuff with other PCs that are currently running and connected to your network. This is particularly nice if you have non-PC devices connected (such as an Xbox One), because you can set up your HomeGroup to let you stream files from your computer through your TV or gaming console.

You can create one HomeGroup per network. Here’s how to do it:

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Control Panel from the pop-up menu.

2. Click HomeGroup (you can also search for HomeGroup in the search bar).

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

3. Click Create a homegroup to create a new HomeGroup.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

4. A window will pop up. Click Next to get started. Choose the types of files you want to share with the other HomeGroup members — Pictures, Videos, Music, Documents and Printers & Devices. You can set different sharing levels for each type of file. Hit Next to continue.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

5. The next screen will display your new HomeGroup’s password. Any devices you want to add to your HomeGroup will require you to type in this password to gain access, so you’ll want to print or write down this password.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Your HomeGroup password is auto-generated by Windows, but you can change it to something more user-friendly in the HomeGroup settings menu. To do this, open the HomeGroup settings menu (Control Panel > HomeGroup) and click Change the password…

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

6. You can take HomeGroup sharing one step further by allowing other devices in your HomeGroup to play and stream your media files. To do this, open the HomeGroup settings menu (Control Panel >HomeGroup) and click Allow all devices on this network such as TVs and game consoles to play my shared content.

You’ll see a list of the devices on your local network, and you can check the boxes next to them to allow them to see and stream your media files (uncheck the boxes to block them).

Android N is now available as a Developer Preview

There’s no waiting for Google I/O this year, the Android N Developer Preview is available right now.

Google’s Developer Preview program has been a great way to get the important parts of the next version of Android out into the world early, so developers can prepare their apps for whatever Android does next. In the past, this new version of Android is announced — and early code released — at Google I/O alongside some sessions that make it easier for developers to hit the ground running. This year Google has decided to release the next Developer Preview before I/O, so developers are able to get familiar with the system before the conference.

You know what that means. Android N is here in Developer Preview form. It’s time to flash partially broken images to Nexus phones and tablets to see what we can expect when it is officially available to everyone.

There are a handful of interesting visual changes in this Developer Preview, but it’s important to remember that nothing is ever set in stone with these images. Google has added and removed features during this Developer Preview period in the past, and there’s no reason to think they won’t do so again. That having been said, it looks like a big focus in Android N is going to be further tweaking the notification system in Android. Bundled notifications will stop any one app from filling your tray with icons, and the tray itself has been adjusted so quick settings are available on the first swipe down instead of the second. This means faster access to things like Wifi and Do not disturb toggles, and a cleaner overall interface.

Anyone who was paying attention to the folks poking around the in Marshmallow Developer Preview last year shouldn’t be surprised to see one of the big features Google is rolling out in N will be multi-window support. Developers will have tools available to support this feature in their apps, and in doing so make it so you can run two apps side by side. The notes for this Developer Preview also mention a Picture-in-Picture mode where apps can live in smaller floating boxes, which also requires individual developer support in order to function.

Visual changes are fun, but it looks like Google’s pushing forward with improvements to performance and power management as well. Project Svelte enhancements ensure more low-end phones can update to Android N with no problem, and it looks like Doze is going to work a little differently throughout this new version of Android. Where currently Doze drops the phone into a low power mode when the phone is not connected to power and entirely stationary, it looks like some of the Doze features will now work when the display is off anywhere. This increases the control Google has on how certain apps behave in your pocket, which means better battery life overall for just about everything.

Eager to get your hands on Android N? You can find the Developer Preview images on Google’s Developer site as usual, there is also an Over-The-Air update mechanism that you can sign up for, which will install the Developer Preview without having to jump through any hoops. If you’re not sure you want to jump into this with your existing hardware, Google is offering a $150 discount on the Pixel C to anyone looking to jump onboard and help test. Google is clear in pointing out that these images are far from ready for use on daily driver machines, and should only be installed on developer equipment for now. Judging from our experiences with early versions of the Marshmallow Developer Preview, you probably don’t want to put this on a phone you’re actually relying on for important things. This Developer Preview is expected to have five updates before the final release to AOSP in Q3 this year, which means monthly updates will be happening while the software is being tested.

We’ll be diving into this to see what other goodies Google has tucked into Android N, so keep an eye out for all of our coverage. In the mean time, drop a comment below for what you think the tasty treat that starts with the letter N Google will choose this year!

First Android N Developer Preview factory images are now available

The first Android N factory images are now available for select Nexus devices. While the Developer Preview is not meant to be run on daily driver phones, that won’t stop people from trying it out on personal devices. Right now, you can download the factory images for some of the latest Nexus phones and tablets. Google has posted links for:

• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 9
• Nexus 9G
• Nexus Player
• Pixel C

If you own one of these, and are looking to install the Developer Preview, you can grab the files here. Google will also offer a way to install these over-the-air, but that is not yet available. Not sure how to update yourself? Be sure to check out our guide on how to manually update your Nexus device for more information.

Google offering developers 25% off a Pixel C tablet

Google’s Pixel C tablet wasn’t exactly the second coming of Android computing we’d all been hoping for. But it just got a little better — first with the release of the N Developer Preview, and now with Google offering developers 25 percent off its latest tablet.

Technically you’re supposed to be a developer to take advantage of this one — and Google says it’s one redemption per person, and it doesn’t apply to the keyboard.

In any event, this is gonna be one folks are going to want to take advantage of.

Discount codes are good for 25 percent off of either the 32- or 64-gigabyte models and must be redeemed by July 15.

Get the discounted Pixel C here

Pixel C

• Read our complete review
• Check out the latest Pixel C news
• First things to know about the Pixel C
• These are the Pixel C keyboards
• Google’s newest tablet: the Pixel C
• Pixel C specs
• Join our Pixel C forum

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Android 7.0 Nutella? Google’s ‘nut tellin’

With Google’s unexpected release of the Android N Developer Preview today, we’re getting a very early look at the next version of Android. Of course it’s just “Android N” for now — the company won’t reveal the actual name of what will presumably be Android 7.0 until it’s fully baked. But the company is already teasing the new version’s nickname.

Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer wrapped up a Medium post on Android N with this chocolatey, hazelnutty teaser:

So, the burning question that’s on everyone’s mind: what will the N release be named? We’re nut tellin’ you yet.

If Android N does launch as “Nutella,” it’d be the second corporate team-up, following 2013’s KitKat. However Google has a track record of throwing out misleading clues about future Android nicknames — at Google I/O 2015, Android Engineering VP Dave Burke flaunted a custom watch face with several M-themed desserts.

So we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, let us know what you think Android N will eventually be called.

What will the N version of Android be named?

Here’s the new Android N Wallpaper

If you’re anything like us, when new wallpapers hit from Google you like to share the love across your devices that don’t have the update yet. The Android N Developer Preview is no exception, and so while we’re busy taking a peek at all of the new features Google is playing with we figured you’d like to look through the wallpapers in the preview image. The bad news is there’s only one new wallpaper in the stack we found in this image. The good news is you can grab it for yourself right here.

Download the Android Wallpaper zip from the link below, and you’ll find all of the options made available in the Android N Developer Preview. From there you can grab yourself a look at stunning purple sunset, and enjoy it as your new wallpaper for a while. Of course, if you want to go all out and check out the whole N Developer Preview for yourself, you can flash the images yourself. Either way, there’s something fun in it for you.

Download: Android N Developer Preview Wallpapers

Inside the different Android Versions

The basic building blocks of Android come in many flavors, with each major release receiving a tasty nickname. This is your guide to the different Android versions over the years.

If you’ve heard of Android, chances are you’ve heard all about its various versions. Some call it fragmentation, some say it’s the nature of open-source, but in reality it’s both a curse and a blessing. Regardless, it’s good to have a little context about what all these version numbers and names mean when you see them posted on the Internet.

Each major version of Android has a dessert-based nickname, and they are all in alphabetical order. We like to think it’s because of the delicious things they each have offered, but the folks at Google are pretty tight-lipped about why they used the internal code names they did. They certainly have a good sense of humor, and seem to like tasty deserts.

This is your quick primer on the the different versions of Android that are still alive and kicking, from newest to oldest.

Android N

In March 2016 (March!!!), Google surprised pretty much everyone by releasing the N Developer Preview a full month and a half ahead of the yearly Google I/O developer conference. This gives app developers (and hard-core nerds) the opportunity to taste the next major flavor of Android before it’s actually released.

New in this iteration — so far — is the long-awaited native support for multi-window, so apps can live side by side. Google’s also adding in direct-reply notifications and bundled notifications. That’s just the start, of course. There will be more additions as we get closer to release.

Google also is giving developers (and, yes, civilians) the opportunity to get in on the preview action with over-the-air updates for the first time. So if you don’t know how to update manually by flashing factory images, you’re not left out in the cold.

Things are broken. Things are unfinished. This is very bleeding edge. It’s also very, very cool.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow (late 2015)

The next version of Android will be the “M” release. And on Aug. 17, 2015, we learned that it’ll be Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Along with the new version number and tasty dessert treat we of course will be getting a suite of new features. Android 6.0 gets better control over permissions, allowing you to control what parts of your data apps can access, rather than approve it by simply installing the app in the first place. That’s just the beginning, and features like app linking and the new Assist API will allow developers to build better and more powerful apps. We all love better and more powerful apps.

Google also implemented a developer preview program for Marshmallow, so we expect big things from the big names in Android apps when Marshmallow is released with new nexus phone(s) in the fall of 2015.

Android 5.0 Lollipop (late 2014)

Google released Android 5.0 Lollipop with the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, and it ushered in a new design language and support for 64-bit devices. It’s also the first time Google has provided developer beta previews of the software, so that the apps we all love can be ready when the new version drops.

There were big changes under the hood as well, and a plethora of new API changes in addition to forward-facing features like a new interface. Google has updated its own Nexus 5, Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 to Lollipop, and other companies like Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG have been relatively quick to follow.

But the Lollipop update hasn’t sat well with many folks out there, and even Google was plagued by performance issues both with the update and with the initial releases of Lollipop.

Android 4.4 KitKat (late 2013)

Google in September 2013 announced that that fall’s new version of Android would be named for their favorite confectioneries — Kit Kat bars. A couple months later we saw its release with the LG Nexus 5.

KitKat brought a lighter, flatter and far more colorful look to Android, but many more changes were under the hood. These were the foundation for things like the Google Now launcher, SMS integration with Hangouts, and easier and faster use all around. 

Of course, Google’s U.S. partner in the deal, Hershey, wasn’t quiet. They promised an update that really does taste as good as it looks, and offers adjustable orientation that works perfectly in portrait or landscape. If you enjoy a little tongue-in-cheek humor, have a look here and reminisce.

Android 4.1-4.3 Jelly Bean (mid-2012)

Jelly Bean arrived at Google IO 2012 with the release of the ASUS Nexus 7, followed by a quick update for unlocked Galaxy Nexus phones. Later in the year, the release of the Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 updated things from 4.1 to 4.2 and on to 4.3, but the version remained Jelly Bean. The release polished the UI design started in Ice Cream Sandwich, and brought several great new features to the table. 

Besides the new focus on responsiveness with Project Butter, Jelly Bean brings multi-user accounts, actionable notifications, lock screen widgets, quick-settings in the notification bar, Photosphere to the “stock” Android camera and Google Now. 

Jelly Bean is hailed by many as the turning point for Android, where all the great services and customization options finally meet great design guidelines. It’s certainly was very visually pleasing, and we’d argue that it was one of the nicest looking mobile operating systems available at the time.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (late 2011)

The follow-up to Honeycomb was announced at Google IO in May 2011 and released in December 2011. Dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich and finally designated Android 4.0, ICS brought many of the design elements of Honeycomb to smartphones, while refining the Honeycomb experience.

The first device to launch with ICS was the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The Motorola Xoom and the ASUS Transformer Prime were the first tablets to receive updates, while the Samsung Nexus S was the first smartphone to make the jump to Android 4.0.

Android 3.x Honeycomb (early 2011)

Android 3.0 Honeycomb came out in February 2011 with the Motorola Xoom. It’s the first (and only) version of Android specifically made for tablets, and it brought a lot of new UI elements to the table. Things like a new System bar at the bottom of the screen to replace the Status bar we see on phones, and a new recent applications button are a great addition for the screen real estate offered by Android tablets.

Some of the standard Google applications have also were updated for use with Honeycomb, including the Gmail app and the Talk app.  Both made great use of fragments, and the Talk app added video chat and calling support built in.  Under the hood, 3D rendering and hardware acceleration have been greatly improved.

We can’t talk about Honeycomb without mentioning that it also shows Google’s new distribution method, where manufacturers are given the source code and license to use it only after their hardware choices have been approved by Google. This dampens third party development, as the source code is no longer available for all to download and build. And, in fact, Google never released the Honeycomb source.

Improvements to Honeycomb were announced at Google IO in May 2011 as Android 3.1, and Android 3.2 followed thereafter. But Honeycomb basically is regarded as a forgotten version.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread (late 2010)

Android 2.3 Gingerbread came out of the oven in December 2010, and like Eclair had a new “Googlephone” to go along with — the Nexus S.  Gingerbread brings a few UI enhancements to Android, things like a more consistent feel across menus and dialogs, and a new black notification bar, but still looks and feels like the Android we’re used to, with the addition of a slew of new language support.

Gingerbread brings support for new technology as well.  NFC (Near Field Communication) is now supported, and SIP (Internet calling) support is now native on Android. Further optimizations for better battery life round out a nice upgrade.

Behind the scenes, the fellows at Mountain View spent time with more JIT (the Just-In-Time compiler) optimizations, and made great improvements to Androids garbage collection, which should stop any stuttering and improve UI smoothness.  Round that out with new a multi-media framework for better support of sound and video files.

Froyo, Eclair & Cupcake

Versions of Android older than 2.3, while still used on very a small number of devices, are considered “legacy” versions and are generally unsupported by Google, manufacturers and app developers.

Android 2.2 Froyo (mid-2010)

Android 2.2 Froyo was announced in May 2010 at the Google IO conference in San Francisco. The single largest change was the introduction of the Just-In-Time Compiler — or JIT — which significantly speeds up the phone’s processing power.

Along with the JIT, Android 2.2 also brings support for Adobe Flash 10.1. That means you can play your favorite Flash-based games in Android’s web browser. Take that, iPhone!

Froyo also brought native support for tethering, meaning you could use your Android smartphone’s data connection to provide Internet (wirelessly or with a USB cable) to just about any device you want. Sadly, most carriers will strip this native support in exchange for some sort of feature they can charge for. (Can’t really blame them, can you?)

Android 2.0-2.1 Eclair (late 2009)

Eclair was a pretty major step up over its predecessors. Introduced in late 2009, Android 2.0 first appeared on the Motorola Droid, bringing improvements in the browser, Google Maps, and a new user interface. Google Maps Navigation also was born in Android 2.0, quickly bringing the platform on par with other stand-along GPS navigation systems.

Android 2.0 quickly gave way to 2.0.1, which the Droid received in December 2009, mainly bringing bugfixes. And to date, the Droid remains the phone phone to have explicitly received Android 2.0.1.

The now-defunct Google Nexus One was the first device to receive Android 2.1 when it launched in January 2010, bringing a souped-up UI with cool 3D-style graphics. From there, the rollout of Android 2.1 has been relatively slow and painful. Manufacturers skipped Android 2.0 in favor of the latest version but needed time to tweak their customizations, such as Motorola’s Motoblur.

HTC’s Desire and Legend phones launched with Android 2.1 later in the year, touting a new and improved Sense user interface.

Android 1.6 Donut (late 2009)

Donut, released in September 2009, expanded on the features that came with Android 1.5. While not very rich in the eye-candy department, Android 1.6 made some major improvements behind the scenes, and provided the framework base for the amazing features to come.  To the end user, the two biggest changes would have to be the improvements to the Android Market, and universal search.

Behind the screen, Donut brought support for higher-resolution touchscreens, much improved camera and gallery support, and perhaps most importantly, native support for Verizon and Sprint phones. Without the technology in Android 1.6, there would be no Motorola Droid X or HTC EVO 4G — two major phones for those carriers.

The devices released with Android 1.6 cover a wide range of taste and features, including the Motorola Devour, the Garminphone, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

Android 1.5 Cupcake (mid-2009)

Cupcake was the first major overhaul of the Android OS.  The Android 1.5 SDK was released in April 2009 and brought along plenty of UI changes, the biggest probably being support for widgets and folders on the home screens. 

There were plenty of changes behind the scenes, too.  Cupcake brought features like improved Bluetooth support, camcorder functions, and new upload services like YouTube and Picasa.

Android 1.5 ushered in the era of the modern Android phone, and the explosion of devices included favorites like the HTC Hero and Eris, the Samsung Moment, and the Motorola Cliq.