What happens when robots have opposing tasks? Teach them to cooperate

Why it matters to you

AI are going to control more of our lives in the future, so making sure they work together is of great importance.

What happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force? That is an age-old conundrum Google is trying to solve, as when you have two artificial intelligence systems that are programmed to complete conflicting tasks, how do you stop them from fighting about it? To that end, Google is using its DeepMind subsidiary to figure out how to have AIs play nicely together.

DeepMind is running experiments on robotic “social dilemmas” and published the results in a new report, The Verge reported. The idea was to see how AIs interacted with one another when their tasks might interfere with that of another AI. Would they push through and achieve their goal regardless or do they need specialized programming to make them cooperate?

Cooperation is the key here. While Google’s experiment might seem silly (or at the very least fun to watch) as AI become smarter and take control of more facets of our lives and societal structure, we need them to work together. It’s no good if the AI powering your car decides it is more important than the AI controlling the traffic lights.

More: Give a 3D printer artificial intelligence, and this is what you’ll get

To figure out how AI might function in these environments and to try and understand the methods of improving the rate of cooperation, rather than antagonistic selfishness, Google ran some AI through a couple of games.

In “gathering,” the AI earn points for collecting apples (the green squares) but have the ability to freeze their opponent. In that context, if there are plenty of apples, the AI cooperated without much interference but when there was a scarcity of apples, they would zap each other much more often.

In the “wolfpack” game, two AI must work together to corral a third, cooperation was much more apparent because they had a common goal and because points were shared, rather than awarded for selfish actions.

This might all seem obvious to us, because that is similar to how the human brain responds to such stimuli. To be able to see AI making similar choices though, gives us a much better understanding of how AI might react to conflict in the future. That, in turn, makes it easier for us to program around it.

It’s just a case of encouraging cooperation through programming and not rewarding selfish behaviour as much. Perhaps programming AIs to believe they are all part of the same system, working toward a common goal. That sounds an awful lot like some sort of Super Matrix.

Samsung Civil War: Which is better, the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge?

Samsung’s two flagships have much in common, but there are some key differences. You can read our full reviews for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge to learn which one you want, but we thought a head-to-head comparison might make your decision a little easier.

More: Don’t be afraid of using your Galaxy S7: Samsung says it’s just fine

On the surface, Galaxy S7 Edge boasts a bigger screen and two edges. The standard S7, on the other hand, has a traditional design and a more petite frame. Both are excellent phones that are more than worthy of filling your pocket, but which one is right for you? Below are key differences between the two Galaxies.

Specs and camera

Galaxy S7

Galaxy S7 Edge

Size
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in)
149 x 72 x 7.62 mm (5.85 x 2.85 x 0.30 in)
Weight
5.36 ounces
5.54 ounces
Screen
5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED
Dual-edge, 5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED
Resolution
2,560 x 1,440 pixels
2,560×1,440 pixels
OS
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
32/64GB
32/64GB
SD Card Slot
Yes
Yes
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm MSM8996, Snapdragon 820 (U.S. Models),
Exynos 8890 Octa (International Models)
Qualcomm MSM8996, Snapdragon 820 (U.S. Models),
Exynos 8890 Octa (International Models)
RAM
4GB
4GB
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+
Camera
Front 5MP, Rear 12MP
Front 5MP, Rear 12MP
Video
2,160p 4K UHD
2,160p 4K UHD
Bluetooth
Yes, version 4.2
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Battery
3,000mAh
3,600mAh
Charger
Micro USB
Micro USB
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
Yes, Qi and PMA
Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, white, gold, silver
Black, white, gold, silver
Availability

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

DT Review
4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to specs, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are evenly matched. Both U.S. models rock Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors and 4GB of RAM, which result in super speedy performance. The European counterparts for the S7 and S7 Edge have Samsung’s Exynos octa-core onboard, which is said to be weaker than the Qualcomm chips, but not noticeably so. The two Galaxies also have special water cooling systems inside to keep the heat down while gaming or taking on processor-heavy tasks, though both do get warm in your hand. In terms of performance, these two are completely tied.

More: Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Which 5-inch flagship is right for you?

Both phones start at 32GB of storage and support expandable storage via MicroSD cards up to 200GB, so there’s no difference there, either. The 12-megapixel, dual-pixel back cameras on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are among the best smartphone cameras you can find. The f/1.7 aperture and the 1.4µm dual-pixels allow more light to enter the sensor and result in stunning photos in an array of lighting conditions.

As usual, Samsung’s camera app is fast and capable, and the new dual-pixel tech boosts low-light performance to entirely new levels. Although it can occasionally blow out night time shots, the camera typically takes great shots with very little light. Sometimes the resulting pictures are even better than ones taken with the iPhone 6S Plus, which is a fantastic feat. The front-facing 5-megapixel cameras are equally matched and take decent selfies.

Spec-wise, these two are tied.

Specs winner: Tie

A smartphone stabilizer that is smaller than a smartphone? Now that’s Fancy

Why it matters to you

Fancy’s small size may mean it’s more likely to be on-hand when you need it.

Smartphone stabilizers are more pocketable alternatives to tripods, but one company is taking pocketable to the extreme. The Fancy Stabilizer is an electronic smartphone gimbal but it actually takes up less space than that smartphone.

The Fancy Stabilizer comes from Wewow, a China-based company with five gimbals currently on the market ranging from GoPro to DSLR stabilizers. Launching on Indiegogo on Friday, the Fancy Stabilizer is the smallest and lightest smartphone gimbal on the market, according to Wewow.

More: Can’t decide between electronic or mechanical gimbals? Steadicam Volt is both

When not in use, Fancy is just 1.7 inches wide, about 4.4 inches tall and less than an inch thick. That compact body still holds an electronic stabilization system and an adjustable phone clip that pulls out to adapt to any smartphone, Wewow says. The Fancy weighs in at just over six ounces. While the body of the stabilizer can be used handheld, a standard tripod screw allows the stabilizer to be used with a selfie stick for a better grip.

Fancy also includes a built-in LED to add light to the shots, though that is positioned underneath the smartphone on the front of the gimbal and not above the lens like a traditional camera flash.

The built-in battery can power the stabilization for up to eight hours, or charge your smartphone in a pinch.

Wewow aims to help Fancy live up to its name in style too — the stabilizer comes in five different colors with a metallic finish. For the selfie lovers, there is a small mirror on the back.

Wewow says the stabilizer is fully developed and tested, with the crowdfunding campaign raising the manufacturing costs. The company aims to raise $5,000 and is already nearly a third of the way there. If the Indiegogo campaign and manufacturing process is successful, the earliest backers can pick up the Fancy Stabilizer for $89. The company expects the retail price to sit at $128.

How to fix drift problems with Daydream View

Having your controller drift off while you’re in the middle of a game can be frustrating, but it is fixable.

Google Daydream offers a new way to interact with your world while in VR. With the use of the remote you are given are a greater degree of ability to easily zip from one menu to another with aplomb and ease. At least, when the remote is working properly that how it seems. While controller drift during a video can be distracting, if it crops up during a game it can seriously throw you off of your stride.

Thankfully, there are a few different ways to troubleshoot this problem so that it doesn’t ruin your VR gaming experience.

Read more at VR Heads!

What color LG Watch Sport should I buy?

What LG Watch Sport Model should you buy? That depends…

The LG Watch Sport is a big watch for thick wrists, or at least people who are willing to carry 89.4 grams and 14mm of stainless steel goodness.

And while the rounded aesthetic may be the most universally appealing shape for watches these days — practically every Android Wear watch released in the past 18 months has been round — color also matters, and that’s where things can get a bit tricky.

Unlike the LG Watch Style, which is, well, stylish in three colors, including rose gold, the Watch Sport is a bit more sedate in its palette options, offering just two: Titanium (black) and Dark Blue. In reality, as different as those depictions sound, the two colors are very similar — almost to a fault. Let’s explore them, and which one you may want to buy.

Note: The Dark Blue version is currently a Google Play exclusive in the U.S., and like the lighter blue Pixel at its launch, it may be a little hard to come by for a while.

Titanium (black)

This is the standard model, the one that you will likely see sold in stores and on wrists, and the one that Google, LG and its carrier partners will push — hard. That’s OK, because it’s extremely attractive, with a lovely brushed stainless steel chassis and dark grey band to match. The dual tone is lovely, complementing one another, and that’s a great thing, because the bands are not user-replaceable.

Dark Blue

As noted above, this is currently a Google Store exclusive in the U.S. so it may be hard to come by for a while — and it may never come to other regions. That’s OK, too, because it looks very similar to the Titanium model, and may even be confused for the more ubiquitous version in some lighting conditions. The brushed stainless steel has a blue tinge, and the rubberized band is slightly darker than its Titanium counterpart, but otherwise the two models have considerable similarities.

Which should you get?

The quick answer is that you should probably get the Titanium model. It’s going to be much easier to find, and combines the simple elegance of a dark silver bezel with a dark grey watch band, making it appropriate for almost any situation.

If you’re more adventurous, or covet the things that few people are allowed to have, the Dark Blue model is going to be up your alley. The way its subtle cobalt hue glimmers in the right light helps it stand out from its more familiar counterpart, but at the end of the day there is very little between it and the Titanium Watch Sport.

Where to buy the LG Watch Sport

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Muzei is once again the best way to find awesome wallpapers on Android

The best wallpaper app has gotten better, again.

Muzei, the wallpaper app that’ll give you a new wall as frequently or infrequently as you like, from tons of different sources and with a cornucopia of options, has released Muzei 2.3, the largest update in a while, and it brings new features to your phone and your wrist with its Android Wear 2.0 features. There’s a whole lot in here to enjoy, so let’s get to it:

• Permissions and My Photos: Muzei only had one ‘dangerous’ permission it required, the storage permissions for My Photos, and now it is completely optional. My Photos itself has also gotten a huge overhaul both over and under the hood.
• Direct Boot: Many live wallpaper apps won’t run until a device is unlocked after a reboot, but Muzei isn’t one of them thanks to Direct Boot, which will let you see your custom wallpaper immediately after a reboot.
• Quick Settings and App Shortcuts: In Nougat developers have the ability to create tiles for users to add to their Quick Settings, and Muzei has chosen to implement a Quick Settings tile to help you quickly get to a new image. Additional, Muzei now has Android 7.1 App Shortcuts to quickly get you info about your current wallpaper.
• Individual photo changes: No longer do you have to import every photo you add to My Photos and keep two copies on your phone. Thanks to the Storage Access Framework and ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, Muzei gets persistent access to photos, be they local or cloud-based. This is contingent on the source app supporting ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, which many apps including Google Photos do not. These photos will still have to be imported.
• Folder support: You can now add entire folders to Musei rather than just individual folders, complete with automatic updates to pull in new photos added to a folder. This relies on another Storage Access Freamwoork action, one that is less prevalently used than ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT.
• Find older artwork more easily: Muzei’s Document Provider now allows you to browse past artwork by date or source so that you can find your favorite Muzei walls.
• Android Wear 2.0: Muzei is taking advantage of complications and offering Muzei background images and artwork info to other Wear 2.0 faces, meaning your Muzei wallpaper can come to any compatible 2.0 watch face.
• Reliability improvements: Muzei updated the minimum API level in Muzei 2.3 so that it could switch from a Support Library to a framework version of ScriptIntrinsicBlur, letting devices that consistently crashed before to now enjoy Muzei stably. Reliability loading new wallpapers, especially on poor data connections, is still in the works, but the MuzeiArtSource API is being rebuilt for compatibility with Doze, AppStandby, and other background optimizations.

Download Muzei (free)

Best Android Wear 2.0 Apps

You’re going to want to install these.

It’s a new day for Android Wear. Apps are no longer sidecar-style programs that share data back and forth from your phone. Instead, the apps are installed directly on the watch and run completely independently of the phone. This means apps need to be able to do everything on the watch, so design and functionality matter more than ever. Here’s a look at the Android Wear apps that work best in this new 2.0 world!

More: The definitive Android Wear 2.0 review!

Note: This list will be constantly updated with new great Android Wear 2.0 apps when they’re made available!

Google Fit

Google Fit has received a substantial update with Android Wear 2.0, and it’s great for everything from basic daily step tracking up to runs and gym workouts. The interface is very well situated to show you snippets of information on the small watch, then give you deeper looks at everything in the Fit app on your phone.

After using the new Fit it’s clear to see why Google is so proud to promote it in Android Wear 2.0.

Find on Google Play

Recordr

It doesn’t matter if you need to take a quick note for yourself or you’d like to document something discretely, the ability to use the microphone on your wrist can be powerful.

The Recordr app makes it super easy to grab audio, and when it’s recorded you can keep it on the phone or quickly transfer it to the watch in case you need to share or push to Drive.

Find on Google Play

Google Keep

The ability to quickly check off boxes in Keep is not only great for feeling productive, it’s a solid reminder system that doesn’t require a calendar.

As great as Keep can be on the phone, on the wrist you get a quick glance at lists when the Always-On display is enabled and plenty of space to check off boxes when you’re mobile.

Find on Google Play

Facebook Messenger

This app is one of the few set up to act as an advanced receiver instead of a smaller version of the app. Instead of the full Facebook Messenger experience, this watch app shows up as a normal notification but gives you more options when responding to people hitting you up on Facebook.

The only downside here is you get a Messenger icon taking up space in your drawer that doesn’t actually do anything, but that’s a small price to pay for more Messenger features.

Find on Google Play

Find my Parked Car

Finding your car in a big parking lot has never been easier with GPS on your phone, and the only way that can happen faster or more conveniently is from your watch!

This setup is simple, and leaves little to the imagination. Drop a pin to mark your parked car, and if you’re far enough away that you need GPS there’s a button to throw you immediately into Google Maps for navigation.

Find on Google Play

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Make sure you watch our LG Watch Style video review!

When it comes to Android Wear 2.0, the LG Watch Sport isn’t the only game in town. Its leaner cousin, the Watch Style, is one of the sleekest, slimmest Android watches to date. And it serves as an alternative to the hefty Watch Sport for buyers wanting the basic Android Wear 2.0 experience without the LTE and NFC baggage of the Sport. (And the extra bulk that’s required due to extra antennae and bigger batteries.)

As the name suggests, the Watch Style is supposed to be about looking good first and foremost. (A failing of many, many current smartwatches, whatever operating system they’re running.) However as our own Florence Ion discovered in her review, the watch’s aesthetics aren’t quite enough to make up for the reduced feature set — in particular, the lack of Android Pay stands out as a weakness. Still, it’s important to underscore how big a deal it is for there to finally be an Android Wear option that doesn’t look like a dinner plate sitting on your wrist. And the new rotating crown button, though problematic when the watch is worn loose, is a great way to navigate through lists in Wear 2.0. For wearable fans with smaller wrists, this thing is likely to become the default choice. And it’s also a good deal cheaper than its sporty cohort, selling for $249.

There’s much more on the LG Watch Style from Flo in our video review above — and be sure to check out her written review for a full lowdown of the most wearable Android wearable yet.

• Android Central on YouTube
• LG Watch Style full review
• LG Watch Sport review
• Android Wear 2.0 review
• Where to buy the LG Watch Style

How to install LibreElec [OS for Kodi] on Chromebox

Get Kodi on your Chromebox in a flash using LibreElec!

A Chromebox is a pretty cool and inexpensive way to get yourself (or your kids!) online with Chrome OS. They’re easy to use and keep you safer than most computers while you work or play around. But they’re also just a regular compact-form PC when it comes to the hardware.

That means it’s easy to slap another operating system on one if you take a little time to find the right directions. That’s what we’re going to talk about right here and get you started with installing LibreElec on your Chromebox.

What is LibreElec?

According to the official site, LibreELEC is “Just enough OS” for Kodi; it’s a Linux distribution built to run Kodi on current and popular media center hardware — like a Chromebox.

It’s a very slim Linux OS that’s built for running Kodi without any extra overhead so everything runs as well as possible on low-powered hardware. That means you can use less hardware to do everything or you can get better performance out of the type of hardware that’s inside a Chromebox.

In other words, everything will be really fast when you’re moving through the menus and looking for something to listen to or watch.

More: All about Kodi

Setting up the hardware

There is a LibreElec installation file for every Chromebox that’s been made so far. Since we can’t cover them all, we’re going to focus on the ASUS Chromebox M004U. It’s probably the most popular Chromebox and one of the cheapest. If you are using a different Chromebox, the instructions are very similar but not exactly that same. Don’t use these directions on anything besides an ASUS Chromebox M004U (either the 2GB or 4GB version)!

See the Chromebox M004U on Amazon

You’ll need to prepare your Chromebox and get it into developer mode and (optionally) disable the write-correct on the hardware to swap out the OS. It’s not difficult but usually involves opening the case. To get into developer mode (this erases all the existing data!):

• Insert a paperclip into the small home icon next to the SD card slot to press the recovery button.
• Turn on the Chromebox and then remove the paperclip.
• At the recovery screen press Ctrl + D to enter Developer Mode.
• Press the recovery button again to confirm.

Give it a few minutes and you’ll see the developer mode boot screen. When everything is finished booting, shut it all off.

Image: Kodi Wiki

Disabling the firmware write-protect involves opening the case and removing a screw on the mainboard. We’re going to replace Chrome with LibreElec so this is a necessary step. Don’t worry! It’s not hard and the official Kodi Wiki has complete instructions for every Chromebox along with photos. Take a minute to gather up a screwdriver and have a look.

Installing the software

You’ll need two USB thumb drives to backup Chrome OS and get your installation media during this step. Any thumb drive that’s 8GB or larger will work here, and you need to know that you will lose any data on it once we get started. We’re using the Chromebox EZ-Script to do this the easy way.

• Make sure you are connected to the internet and boot to Chrome OS, but don’t log in.
• Press Ctrl + Alt + F2 to open a command line.
• Log in as chronos with no password.
• Download the Chromebox EZ-Script using this command:

curl -L -O http://mrchromebox.tech/setup-kodi.sh

• Run the script with this command:

sudo bash setup-kodi.sh

The installer

• Press 5 to start a Standalone Setup. This updates and overwrites the coreboot firmware so we can replace Chrome. Don’t use this file if you do not have an ASUS Chromebox M004U!
• Insert one of your thumb drives when prompted to back up the factory software.
• When prompted again, remove that thumb drive. Label it Chrome OS and store it somewhere. Then insert the second thumb drive to build the LibreElec installer.
• Reboot with the thumb drive inserted.

When you get to the boot menu, press the Escape key and choose the thumb drive as the boot device. Pressing Escape a second time will skip the boot menu and force your Chromebox to try and boot from the hard drive.

• Select Run Installer.
• Choose Quick Install.

Follow the easy wizard to install LibreElec to the Chromebox storage. Here are the recommended settings for the ASUS M004U using the default skin (called Confluence):

• System > OpenELEC > System: Automatic Updates: Auto
• System > OpenELEC > Services: Enable Bluetooth: Selected if you’re using Bluetooth. Unselected if not.
• System > Settings > System: Settings Level: Expert (Don’t worry, expert in this case only means you can see all the settings)
• System > Settings > System > Video Output: Vertical blank sync: Enabled during video playback
• System > Settings > System > Power Saving: Shutdown function: Suspend (This sets IR “switch” to suspend/resume instead of on/off)
• System > Settings > Videos > Acceleration: Use VC-1 VAAPI: Selected
• System > Settings > Videos > Acceleration: Use SW Filter for VAAPI: Selected

When you’re done, reboot one last time. You’ll start up running LibreElec and Kodi will be front and center, waiting for you to grab some add-ons and fine tune your new media center!

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Scientists make battery that runs on air and carbon dioxide

Researchers at Penn State University have potentially come up with yet another way we could create energy from all that nasty carbon dioxide we pump into the atmosphere. They’ve developed an inexpensive flow cell battery that uses mostly water solutions containing either dissolved CO2 or dissolved normal air — the technical name for the dissolving process is called sparging, just FYI. Because the liquids contain different concentrations of CO2, they have different pH levels, and it’s this imbalance that generates electricity.

In a flow cell battery, two liquids are separated by a membrane that doesn’t allow them to mix, but does permit the flow of ions. As ions are exchanged between the denser CO2 solution and normal air solution, the voltage changes at the manganese oxide electrodes in either tank. This stimulates the flow of electrons between the two connected electrodes and voilà: electricity. When the ion concentrations have normalized, you can effectively recharge the battery by refilling each tank with the opposite solution, reversing the flow of electrons. The Penn State scientists were able to do this over 50 times before seeing a drop in performance.

Using CO2 in a flow cell battery isn’t an entirely new idea, but this version has an average power density of 0.82 W/m2 — nearly 200 times higher than anything developed previously, according to the researchers. Other CO2-based fuel cell systems are capable of much more, but they are also much more complicated, using other energy dense fuels and requiring high temperatures to operate.

Penn State’s battery, on the other hand, works at room temperature and uses inexpensive materials and processes. Even so, the team admit it may not be economically viable to make use of their research on a large scale just yet. The dream, though, would be to integrate these batteries into fossil fuel power stations, repurposing their CO2 emissions to make even more energy. While more work needs to be done to improve performance and viability, anything that can make light of a bad (and worsening) situation can only be a good thing.

Via: Phys.org

Source: Environmental Science & Technology Letters