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A Swiss weedkiller robot could curb our dependence on herbicides

It takes a lot of work to keep produce aisles stocked in grocery stores — there’s the planting, tending, picking, and shipping. And even though most of these tasks rely on human labor, farms are becoming increasingly automated.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a Roomba-like robot that can tend to crops autonomously. At Carnegie Mellon, they’re building a suite of A.I. and drones to take on some of agriculture’s most demanding tasks. And just last year, a team of automated machines farmed an acre and a half of barley, from planting to harvesting, without a single human setting foot on the field.

A Swiss company called ecoRobotix recently unveiled its contribution to automated agriculture — a robotic weed-killing machine. The four-wheeled robot doesn’t look like much more than a mobile table top, but Reuters reports that the unassuming machine may reshape the way we approach agriculture.

Some $26 billion is spent on herbicides each year. These chemicals are often indiscriminately sprayed over entire fields of crops that have been genetically modified to resist the chemical onslaught. And it’s agrochemical giants like Bayer, DowDuPont, and Syngenta that usually create both the genetically modified seeds and the chemicals that are sprayed on them.

The ecoRobotix weeder could undercut the agrochemical complex by spraying herbicides more precisely. Powered by a series of solar panels, the robot coasts across the field, using GPS to navigate. A camera extends up from the robot like a long neck, using computer vision sensors to search the ground ahead and distinguish weeds from crops. On its underside, two spider-like arms spray microdoses of herbicide wherever necessary.

At under 300 pounds, the machine has a much smaller footprint than typical farm equipment. It can run autonomously for 12 hours and be also be configured and controlled manually via a smartphone. The company claims a team of its machines can use up to 20 times less herbicide than conventional spraying systems.

The swiss company isn’t alone in its precision spraying approach. A Silicon Valley startup called Blue River develops a device that use sensors to identify weeds and apply efficient amount of herbicides as it’s pulled behind a tractor. The green and yellow farm equipment giant John Deere acquired Blue River last year for $305 million.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Cross a John Deere with a Roomba, and you get this crop-monitoring robot
• Move over pesticides! This new RNA vaccine could help keep crops safe
• Genetic engineering innovation makes plants more efficient at using water
• CRISPR gene-editing could help feed future generations
• You can control this robot as it trawls the Chicago River picking up trash

Best Screen Protectors for Samsung Galaxy S8

Keep it scratch-free — for good.

To protect or not to protect? That is the question many of us are asking as we debate whether or not to buy screen protectors and cases for the beautifully designed Samsung Galaxy S8

There’s no question that it’s harder to adhere a screen protector to the curved display of the Galaxy S8 and phones like it. There’s a lengthy forum discussion on that very topic, which you should read. But wherever you fall in that debate, we’ve rounded up some of the most highly-recommended screen protectors for the Galaxy S8!

• Whitestone Dome Glass
• i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Spigen NeoFlex Screen Protector (2-pack)
• IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)
• Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector
• Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Whitestone Dome Glass

The Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector was another option that was getting people talking in the forums. The big selling feature for this wet install screen protector is its unique curing process, which uses UV light.

It’s proven to be a very popular screen protector and is currently on sale for $45, down from $60. Check out this review and installation guide to get an idea of how this tempered glass screen protector uniquely adheres like no other screen protector you’ve seen before. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen. With a UV light packaged to complete the curing process, this is a pricier option than other screen protectors out there, but based on video review and reviews on Amazon it’s an early favorite. I guess time will tell how well the Whitestone Dome Glass holds up in real-life use.

See at Amazon

i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector

i-Blason makes a tempered glass screen protector that’s designed to conform to the Galaxy S8’s curve display. it’s also slightly shorter than the full height of the phone so that the edges won’t be lifted by a case.

This recommendation comes from the comments and is a great option if you also want to use a case to keep your phone protected. It features everything you’d want from a tempered glass screen protector and can be yours for just $10.

See at Amazon

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Spigen makes great cases for the Galaxy S8, so it only makes sense that they’d also offer a screen protector that’s compatible with cases.

This recommendation came from the AC community, and if you’re alright with settling for a film screen protector with a wet installation, you should be happy dropping $9 for a two-pack. Because it’s a flexible film, the NeoFlex can offer full protection for your screen without affecting the touch responsiveness. Paired with a case, your Galaxy S8 should be protected from drops and also save from scratches on the screen.

Spigen recommends installing the screen protector with a case already on — and if you haven’t bought a case yet, Spigen has a great selection of cases to choose from.

See at Amazon

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

IQShield offers a two-pack of plastic film screen protectors that have been updated to be completely compatible with even the most rugged cases. That’s in part due to these being PET film screen protectors rather than tempered glass.

This is a paper-thin screen protector that you will hardly notice after a clean installation. These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install. With over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can buy with confidence. Get your two-pack of case-friendly screen protectors from IQShield for just $8.

See at Amazon

Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector

Ringke makes some quality accessories and their screen protector for the Galaxy S8 stands out from the rest for the wings that wrap around the sides of your phone. Recommended by Sdot312 in the comments, there are a few benefits to this unique screen protector style. Since the film wraps around the edges, you have the button cutouts to help you achieve the perfect fit giving you the full protection you desire while also helping to prevent the edges from peeling up with a case installed too.

These screen protectors are made of crystal clear urethane material and can be yours for just $10. The kit includes everything you’ll need for a clean installation, along with an extra screen protector in case your first one takes a beating and needs to be replaced.

You can also get a two-pack for the Galaxy S8+, too, if you’re rocking the larger device.

See at Amazon

Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Made with a durable military-grade film, the Armorsuit MilitaryShield is a thin screen protector that offers edge-to-edge protection. It requires a wet installation, with all the required tools and wipes included in the box. Armorsuit claims that this protector is virtually scratch-proof, with self-healing technology that will help eliminate any minor scratches from keys or pocket sand. It’s available for just $8.

As with most wet install screen protectors, you need to let this thing sit and dry for a good long time (up to 12 hours) to ensure proper adhesion and get a nice clean fit. Attempt to put on a case too soon and you’ll have issues around the edges.

This was recommended by PJRed2008 in the forums, who admittedly had issues with their first screen protector and had to get new ones sent out made from an updated template. Since receiving the replacement, they’ve had no issues. If you ever have an issue with it, you’ll want to follow suit and contact Armorsuit’s customer service to take advantage of that lifetime replacement warranty.

See at Amazon

Where do you land on the screen protector debate?

Are screen protectors and cases a must-buy for any new phone you own or do you prefer the naked look and feel? Have you had hands-on experience with a screen protector that others should know about? Let us know in the comments!

Update May 2018: Added the i-Blason to our list

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

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ESPN+ will stream League of Legends competitions this summer

Add esports to the list of things the sports network’s streaming app does well.

ESPN and Riot games have entered into a multi-year agreement to stream esports competitions on the ESPN+ app.

It’ll start June 16 with the North American League of Legends Championship Series Summer Split. Ten teams will go against each other twice each season, with 18 matches for each, and one match per day. The matches will stream live on ESPN+ on Saturday and Sunday.

The finals will be Sept. 8-9 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.. Three teams will qualify for the League of Legends World Championship in South Korea. That competition will put 24 teams from 14 regional leagues up against each other later in the fall.

The LoL teams competing in the North American LCS are:

• 100 Thieves
• Cloud9
• Clutch Gaming
• Counter Logic Gaming
• Echo Fox
• FlyQuest
• Golden Guardians
• OpTic Gaming
• Team Liquid
• TSM

ESPN+ — which is $4.99 a month after a free seven-day trial — is available through on Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, on Android phones, tablets and Android TV, on the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, on Roku, and streamed through Chromecast.

More: How to watch live sports as a cord-cutter

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Lord High Commander of Cameras [#acpodcast]

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Russell Holly host the backdoor pilot for AC Foodcast as they talk about the GDPR Hall of Shame, OnePlus 6, and its $69 companion Bluetooth earbuds, Bullets Wireless.

Essential Phone 2 is reportedly canceled, and founder Andy Rubin is considering selling the company. Some people have gotten hands-on time with RED Hydrogen One, but release of the product is still a little ways off. In addition, BlackBerry is teasing the KEY2, which will have dual rear cameras. Rounding out the new phone chat, HTC U12+ is a beautiful device that can only be purchased directly from HTC — No carriers, no retailers.

Lastly, and most importantly: You put sweet on savory, NOT sweet on sweet.

Listen now

• Subscribe in iTunes: Audio
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• Download directly: Audio

Show Notes and Links:

• GDPR Hall of Shame
• OnePlus 6 review: The matter is settled
• OnePlus announces Bullets Wireless, its first wireless earbuds, coming in June for $69
• Essential Phone 2 reportedly canceled, Andy Rubin considering selling the company
• Hands-on with RED Hydrogen One, a wildly ambitious smartphone
• BlackBerry KEY2 shown off in teaser video with dual rear cameras
• HTC U12+ hands-on preview: Big, beautiful, unattainable

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