Could thermal imaging sensors help make self-driving cars safer?

FLIR Systems

Recently we published a story about the history of notable car accidents involving self-driving and semi-self-driving vehicles. While a significant number of these do involve human error, there are still multiple examples of crashes in which the vehicle was unable to properly read its surroundings. Thermal imaging company FLIR Systems thinks one way to make autonomous vehicles safer would be to give them the ability to use thermal reading tech to better deal with challenging lighting and weather conditions.

To help with adoption of these sensors, the company has made available an open-source dataset of 10,000 labelled infrared light images showcasing how pedestrians, animals, bicycles and other vehicles can be classified using the tech in difficult conditions, ranging from total darkness to fog and smoke to haze and glare from the sun. Using thermal cameras, combined with the dataset, it’s possible to recognize objects more than 200 meters away, the equivalent of 4 times the distance of typical car headlights.

“Navigation is limited by the perception accuracy provided by the vehicle sensor suite,” Mike Walters, vice president of micro-camera product management at FLIR Systems, told Digital Trends. “Visible cameras do not work well in a number of challenging lighting situations such as absolute darkness, driving into the sun, and in many types of fog — while thermal cameras, which principally see heat and not visible light, are unaffected by these adverse conditions. Therefore, thermal cameras provide more accurate situational awareness and perception under these conditions, which, in turn, improves safety and navigation.”

At present, thermal cameras are found in a number of luxury passenger cars. Some high-end automakers, such as Porsche and BMW, already fit vehicles with thermal imaging sensors made by FLIR. However, they are not part of the standard suite of sensors helping power today’s most prominent self-driving vehicles. That may sound like an obvious oversight, but current self-driving cars don’t rely on only one imaging system by which to see.

The self-driving cars being tested on the road right now figure out their surroundings using a combination of regular cameras, ultrasound, radar, lidar and more. Information from all of these sensors helps inform the decisions the car makes. In some cases, this array of sensors may lead to redundancy — but few people, either passengers or pedestrians, are ever going to complain about being too safe.

As a result of this, it’s difficult to calculate how much of an improvement using technology like FLIR’s thermal long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras could offer. Still, hopefully datasets such as the one newly released this week will give carmakers the opportunity to more easily build the algorithms that will let them find out.

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Take 20 percent off HP Omen gaming PCs and laptops for a limited time

Gaming isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life. But for those of us who aren’t professional gamers, there is rarely enough time in a day to dedicate to the titles we love. With work and other adult responsibilities often stopping us from honing our craft, having the right equipment becomes increasingly important — especially for online gaming. If your current setup has you struggling with lag and you find yourself having to turn the graphics settings all the way down, it may just be time to pick up something more powerful.

The HP Omen series has some pretty great options for gamers looking to, well, up their game. The Omen Desktop PC 880 — 125 SE was even used to power the Fortnite Pro-Am at E3 this year, making it an excellent option for professional and amateurs alike. Though a high-end gaming PC or laptop is normally quite expensive, HP has an awesome promotion going on right now that can save you up to 20 percent on a brand new setup. Take a look at some of our favorite deals, or dive right into the sale to check them out for yourself.

Omen Desktop PC and 25-inch Display Bundle

If you’re looking for the best deal this HP sale has to offer, look no further than this bundle. It comes with the Omen Desktop PC 880 — 125 SE as well as an Omen 25-inch display, making it the perfect bundle for anyone who wants to upgrade their entire setup. If you dream of going from average gamer to gaming legend, this may just be the quickest way to do so.

With this HP Omen sale going on right now, you can save over $400 on this bundle and start gaming like you’ve never gamed before.

See Bundle

Omen Desktop PC 880 — 160 SE

With an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, and a pretty sweet exterior, this desktop PC has everything you need to fulfill your gaming potential. It’s also packing a 1 TB hard drive, so it should be able to house a vast library of games without too much trouble.

If you’re looking to pick up a brand new gaming PC , this is definitely one to consider HP has to offer. With a price cut of $300, this is a deal you won’t want to miss.

See it

HP Omen Laptop — 15t Gaming

If a desktop PC doesn’t suit your fancy, HP also has some great gaming laptops for you to peruse. The HP Omen — 15t Gaming laptop also sports an Intel Core i7 processor as well as the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 graphics card, so it packs quite the punch. While it may not be as powerful as some of their desktop options, this Omen laptop is still a great piece of gaming equipment.

Whether you’re looking to take your gaming on the go or just prefer the laptop experience, this HP laptop should do the trick. You can save $100 for the duration of the sale or while supplies last.

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Omen X Compact Desktop PC

If you’re in need of something tiny and powerful, this compact PC is perfect for you. Equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card and an Intel i7 processor, this compact PC packs all of the power you need without the bulkiness of traditional desktops. You can play at your desk, on the couch, or get fully immersive with the optional virtual reality backpack. It’s unique docking station and rechargeable battery allows you to cut the cord like never before.

With the discount from the Omen sale, you can save $200 on this great compact option from HP.

See it

Looking for more great stuff? Find PC deals and more on our curated deals page, or follow us on Twitter for daily updates.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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PUBG for Android: News, rumors, updates, and tips for winning!

The best shooter on Android just gets better and better.

Player Unknown’s Battleground (or PUBG for short) is a battle royale-style game that pits you against 99 other players in a heart-pounding survival scenario where you must scavenge for loot, explore the map and stay in the safe zone while taking out your competition. It’s a highly competitive game that offers game modes for Solo play, pairing up in Duo mode, or playing as a squad of four, and every playthrough will be unique in its own way.

Originally released in China, the mobile version is now available in North America and elsewhere around the world and, in short, the hype is real. Keep reading to learn more about one of the biggest games released for Android in years.

Download: Player Unknown’s Battleground (Free)

Update June 19, 2018: Major update adds first-person mode, Battle Pass Season 1, and a host of other cool features

The latest update to PUBG Mobile has introduced a slew of features that have made the best shooter for Android even better. You can find the full list of new features in the “What’s New” section of its Google Play Store listing, but I’ll highlight the most significant improvements to the game:

• First-person perspective: Many players have been clamoring for the developers to add a proper first-person mode to the game and it’s finally here. To play in first-person, you’ll need to tap the new drop-down option on the main menu that says “TPP” (third-person perspective) and select “FPP” (first-person perspective). Rather than including FPP as a customization in your personal settings, the developers have basically made it a separate gameplay mode so that you’ll only be playing against others using the same playing perspective as you are.

• Royale Pass Season 1: Royale Pass is a new feature for PUBG Mobile which allows players to rank-up during each season to unlock rewards that include player profile and unlocks new crates for customizing your character. There’s a free Royale Pass available to all players and the option to upgrade to an Elite Royale Pass ($10 in-app purchase). It borrows heavily from the Battle Pass found in Fortnite, and is surely intended to try and keep pace with it’s top competition. There are more (and better) rewards available for Elite Royale Pass players so it may be a compelling option for some.

• New UI improvements: Once you’ve jumped into a game you’ll notice a few key improvements to the user interface. For starters, there’s a dedicated slot for pistols now, which means you won’t automatically drop a pistol if you come across a better weapon, and allowing you to carry three guns at once and preserve your primary weapon ammo as needed. The update also introduces emotes, which are located in a new menu near the top of the screen. Emotes let you react to other players with physical gestures and even dance — although the best emotes must be unlocked as Royale Pass rewards. Also another example of PUBG Mobile “borrowing” from a feature already found in Fortnite, but I’ll allow it because it’s fun.

What makes PUBG Mobile stand out on Android?

We’ve all played mobile ports of a favorite PC or console game that try to take the look and feel of the full game and then oversimplify it for mobile or bog things down with in-app currencies and energy meters to temper your ability to just play the game. PUBG for Android is essentially the full game that you could buy for Steam or Xbox One, simply scaled down for mobile devices.

Unlike other mobile adaptations that offer a simplified version of a popular PC game, PUBG Mobile is the real deal optimized to be played on the go!

This would have been a golden opportunity to make this game pay-to-win with in-app purchases available to let you start with a kick-ass gun, but that would have also clearly broken the scavenger aspects of the game. You also have full access to use vehicles scattered around the map. Pretty much, if you’ve seen a streamer pull off some ridiculous stunt on the PC version, you can do it on the mobile version, too. This includes voice chat, which lets you talk with teammates or other players in your immediate vicinity, however not too many people make use of this feature, and in my experience, most of those that do are kind of annoying.

The fact this game has been released for free is just the icing on the cake. In-app purchases have been introduced for clothing and accessories via loot crates, but fortunately, it only affects cosmetic upgrades to your character, so players can’t just pay to win.

The mobile version automates a few things for you, which is highly appreciated.

One of the biggest things holding back mobile ports of first- or third-person shooters would be complaints about touch controls, but big props to the developers here for spending the time to not only offer really functional touch controls but for also including a bevy of settings to tweak things exactly the way you want.

I’ve found the controls to be pretty stellar right from the start, but I love that you’re able to really finetune look and movement sensitivity, re-map button locations, and ultimately find the right configuration for touch controls that work best for your play style.

The game has streamlined some of the more finicky mechanics, so you will automatically pick up ammo and accessories for your equipped weapons along with any other upgraded equipment, and by default the game will auto-open doors as you approach them, although that can be turned off in settings if you’d like to preserve the element of surprise. Another clutch feature you’ll use a lot is auto-sprint, which allows you to keep running in one direction while using the look button to scan your surroundings for enemies.

Frankly, I feel like third-person shooters like PUBG are perfectly suited for mobile, as you’re able to quickly scan around your surroundings while still moving towards your next target as opposed to first-person shooters where your viewpoint is locked. While there’s no formal controller support, people have managed to find a way to play the game with a keyboard and mouse which looks awkward as all hell and could be considered cheating, however, I really don’t buy into the argument that it’s a huge advantage.

Can my phone run PUBG?

If you’ve got a newer device that allows you to play this game at the highest graphics setting, DO IT. I’ve been playing this on a Galaxy S8 and it plays like an absolute dream at the top settings compared to the medium settings recommended for my Pixel XL.

Reddit users have reported this game running fine on low settings on a Samsung Note 3, so you should be able to get this game to play on practically any Android phone — but it really shines the brightest on the max settings.

What game modes are available?

There are three main game styles to choose from in PUBG Mobile — Solo, Duo, and Squad. Solo is just you versus the world, Duo lets you team up with a friend or an auto-matched teammate, and Squad has you teaming up with three others to try and take down the other 24 teams scattered through the map. Once you’ve decided whether you want to squad up or go lone wolf, you can choose between Classic and Arcade modes.

Classic mode is the full PUBG experience, from jumping out of the plane, following the safe circles, and outlasting 99 opponents until you’re the last man standing. These games can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete and offers up the full island complete with all the available weapons and equipment scattered randomly throughout the buildings.

Arcade mode is a condensed version of the game that was specially created for mobile gamers who may be looking for a more bite-sized chicken dinner. In this mode, you’re air-dropped into safe zone circle that cuts off most of the map from play with about a quarter the number of players as a Classic match. Within Arcade mode, there are two additional variants to choose from: Quick Match and Sniper Training.

Play through an epic 30-minute battle in Classic mode, or opt for a bite-sized, 8-minute match in Arcade mode.

Quick Matches are typically around 8 minutes and feature a random variation. You may play a game with all weapons available to you, or a game featuring only shotguns, melee weapons, or pistols. This requires you to adapt your strategies depending on the drop location and the game variation. Alternatively, Sniper Training is a snipers-only mode that’s great if you want to brush up on your long-range skills.

Which game mode you choose ultimately depends on your level of time commitment — if you’re down for a marathon session you can play a single Classic match for close to an hour sometimes. If you want a quicker game, the Arcade modes offer a different style of challenge that’s significantly condensed.

Is there cross-platform support like Fortnite?

Fortnite is the biggest competitor to PUBG, and while it’s not yet available for Android it is coming and it seems to be setting itself to carry over your Fortnite profile across multiple platforms. PUBG Mobile is a wholly different game than PUBG for PC or console, and so it’s a more insular community that requires you to log in via your Twitter or Facebook account.

Tips for surviving until the end

• Pick a smart landing spot: You can set yourself up for success or failure before you even jump out of the plane by taking the time to pick a strategic place start your game. You’ll ideally want to try and pick a spot that’s not too far off the flight path with a landing spot that’s near some structures where you’ll find weapons and gear. Typically 20 or so players will immediately jump out as soon as the option appears, so you’re best off waiting a bit to avoid getting caught up in an early round gunfight before you’ve acquired proper gear for yourself.

• Learn to master the look feature: The best way to get kills and win in PUBG Mobile is by getting the jump on your opponents. If you can spot an opponent way off in the distance before they can spot you, you can get off the first few shots and maybe snipe them before they have a chance to spot you. That’s why you need to become best friends with the look mode, which is the eyeball icon on the right-hand side of the screen. You can set your character to sprint towards the safe zone while using the look feature to scan the horizon for enemies. Master this technique along with the intelligent use of the map noise notifications and you should be able to get the jump on enemies.

• Get down and take cover: If you start getting shot at out of nowhere and you can’t immediately tell where the shooter is, you need to assess the situation fast and find cover. If you’re running through a grassy section, often your best bet is to go prone and crawl while using the look icon to try and get a read on where the shots are coming from. Alternatively, if there’s a shelter nearby, make a beeline for it and heal yourself before engaging with the enemy.

• Vehicles are almost unstoppable: There’s a number of reasons why it’s a smart idea to make use of vehicles in PUBG Mobile. The most obvious reason is if you’re well outside the safe zone and the circle is closing in on you a vehicle is often your only chance of survival. But cars and trucks can also be used as an effective weapon against other players. There’s no point in sticking to the roads in a game like this, and it can be pretty easy to catch players running through an open field. Hit them going full speed and it’s usually a one-hit kill. Of course, if you miss they will have a prime opportunity to shoot back — so don’t miss.

Is it worth playing?

Emphatically yes. This game is the real deal. If you’ve played PUBG on another platform, or have seen Twitch streamers playing the game and wanted to check it out, you can play PUBG on your Android for free. If you’re in the game, add me, mousemachine, and let’s go win some squad matches!

Download: Player Unknown’s Battleground (Free)

Updated June 19, 2018: Added info on the new update and a section on tips for winning.

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Nuu Mobile G3 review: Sexy, with a side of substance

As we hit the middle of 2018, one of the most common words used to describe a phone is “premium”. But, what exactly does that mean, though? A few years back it was used to signal the difference between a plastic, polycarbonate phone from one that was built with a combination of glass and metal.

Replaceable batteries went the way of the dodo bird as phones closed up tightly and incorporated waterproof protection. Indeed, the high end devices of 2015 looked strikingly more beautiful and more put together than a budget phone.

Here we are today and everything smacks of ‘premium’. In other words, it’s not as easy to tell a top-tier flagship from an entry-level device. A $200 handset, at first blush, doesn’t look all that different from an $800 one.

For most people, a basic smartphone is all that they need for a daily driver. Sure, the specs from a brand new model are drool-worthy; that is, if you care about the internals. But, when it comes down to it, many consumers don’t know what’s going inside of a phone. They just want it to work and they want it to wow them with cool features every so often.

When it comes to the idea of a “budget phone”, we like to think that encompasses those which are $250 and below. It’s in this area where you find a lot of devices which feature the specifications from a generation or two back. Often you’ll get an older version of Android paired with hardware that’s similar to a flagship from about 18 months ago.

Does a budget phone mean you’ll sacrifice performance? For many that answer is no. When you think about your daily needs and usage, it’s not all that different today than it was a a few years ago. Are you really doing that much more with your device that you demand more from it? If so, you’ve likely become an early adopter or one who watches the space more closely.

A large amount of the people we know are content with buying something a little older in the name of saving a few bucks. This is probably why you see so many older Androids and iPhones running around. Not everyone is holding onto these phones for years and years; some are buying them a year after they come out. And why not? They hold up.

Nuu Mobile G3

This brings us to the Nuu Mobile G3. As a $200 smartphone, it’s an unlocked device that works with AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM carriers. On paper it has all the markings of a mid-range phone. In hand, it looks and feels like a Samsung Galaxy S8 clone.

Nuu Mobile has been in the game for more than a few years but we’ve never got the sense that it wanted to play outside of the budget arena. Not that it’s previous models felt cheap or generic; they just weren’t all that glamorous. The G3 is a departure to be sure.

Design & Build

We were immediately impressed with the design, starting with the blue color choice. Taking the phone out and looking it over, we already felt like this was a different Nuu Mobile. Thanks to its glass, curves, and shiny aesthetics, the handset could pass for a much pricier phone at a glance.

Peel the curtain back just a bit, though, and you’ll note that Nuu doesn’t use Corning Gorilla Glass or any sort of added protection. In other words, you’re likely one drop away from ruining that sexy design. The phone comes with a case, but it’s more for protection against scrapes and scratches, not outright drops.

After those first few minutes with the G3 we realized that it was a fingerprint and oil magnet. You can’t touch this thing without leaving some trace behind. That’s the problem when you use materials like glass; but, it’s no different with any other brands.

Display

The G3 offers up a 5.7-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio which is pretty much the standard for today’s mid and upper range of phones. The size no longer feels unwieldy thanks to thinner bezels and the more narrow approach. Don’t mistake the G3 as being bezel-free or bezel-less; there’s a little more here than what pricier competitors are doing. It’s certainly not bad, and we are happy to forgive based on price.

The volume buttons and power button are on the right side of the phone, with power having its own pattern printed. Easy to identify in a hurry, it also helps when grabbing to check notifications in the dark.

Around back you’ll see there’s a dual-camera system in place, with the LED flash off to the right. The fingerprint reader is just below the camera setup. You might want to keep an eye on the cameras for smudges or smears as you get familiar with the lay of the land. Those who have not used a rear fingerprint reader might take a couple of days to get acclimated.

On the bottom of the device are the speakers and USB Type C charging port. Noticeably absent here is the 3.5mm headphone jack. Included in the box, though, you get a USB C to 3.5mm adapter so you’re not completely out if you have a preferred pair of wired headphones. On the other hand, you’ll not be able to charge and listen to music at the same time.

Other Impressions

Given the phone has glass on the back we might have expected wireless charging. Most other device makers who opt for this material will include the nearly standard option. It’s interesting to us that Nuu decided to forgo the headphone jack and not go wireless for charging. One feels like an unnecessary “me too” move while the other would have made more sense.

For a $200 phone the G3 comes with rather impressive hardware specifications on paper. The 2.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor, paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage, are more than adequate for most users. Toss in the 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel rear camera setup and you’re looking at a great utilitarian experience.

Camera

The most popular trend in phones over the last year is probably the advent of dual-cameras. Not one on the front and one on the back, mind you, but two on the rear. Today’s mid-range and upper-end phones routinely come with a secondary sensor. That’s the case with the Nuu Mobile G3.

The primary lens on the back is 13-megapixels with the secondary shooter offering 5-megapixels of its own. The former does the heavy lifting while the latter helps to create bokeh effects and better portrait shots.

When you have excellent lighting or are outside the photos captured feature a good amount of detail with admirable color. Pictures are captured pretty quickly and write to the phone in a fairly snappy manner.

Get into lower lighting situations we found the camera experience suffered. With no image stabilization to be found, you’ll have to do your best to hold the phone still. Otherwise, you run the risk of blurry photos. This happened more times than we would have liked in our time with the phone.

The camera app itself is much better than we expected at this price point. It’s pretty easy to cut corners and go with a generic camera app on a budget phone. A lot of people like their own camera apps or filters and spend their time editing and tweaking. We were pleased at the array of options to choose from in the G3.

Among the choices available are Portrait Mode for better personal portraits and Beauty Filter for cleaning up imperfections and evening out skin tone.

It will probably take you a good day or two to figure out what the phone is capable of capturing and what it’s not. It’s a pretty fine line, though, and we wish it were more in the direction of capable.

Performance

In practice, however, you might start to notice the shortcomings. Admittedly, the drawbacks and differences we tend to find are often based on comparisons to other, more powerful daily usage phones.

With that said, we found the G3 to be good at multi-tasking and hopping around apps and games. We never had an overwhelming or outright powerful sensation, but we didn’t feel slighted.

The more time we spent with this phone the more we viewed it as good or moderately impressive. We didn’t quite get to “great”, but that’s likely because we spend most days with a Pixel 2 or something equivalent. We know great and we weren’t paying for it here.

The 3,000mAh battery gets us through a day’s worth of usage with some left over at night. With support for fast charging, it does come with a 5 watt charger. It’s not quite as fast as what’s available from other phone makers, but if you’re charging overnight, you won’t know that. Starting from zero, though, it takes a good two and a half hours to fully charge up.

Android

In terms of software, the Nuu Mobile G3 runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. We’re torn on how we feel about this as Android 8.0 has been out for some time now and Android P is already getting tested.

Nuu Mobile pitches this as a flagship device, not as a flagship killer. It doesn’t try to pass the phone off as something that would best your current handset or the next big thing. Instead, it represents the new look and feel, and direction, of the brand. It’s its own flagship experience; it happens to be at least one step behind in software.

As we do with other phones, we care that we get the most current version of Android available. If that’s not feasible, we want updates or promises that one will soon follow. Moreover, we want to know that security is a priority. Are bug fixes and patches coming? It’s hard to say what we should expect with the Nuu Mobile G3.

For what it’s worth, the G3 does ship with a pretty lean build of Android. There’s basically nothing added here save for a web browser that’s quite similar to Chrome. Another notably inclusion is the Face Lock feature which lets you unlock your device with a quick glance at the front-facing camera.

Conclusion

When viewing the G3 through the same lens as, say, a Blu phone of the same price point, it becomes tougher to poke the holes. What one might be guilty of, the other likely is, too. This means tempering expectations a little bit and trying to forget what your daily driver is like.

Knowing that phones can range anywhere from about $100 up to $900, you have to keep in mind what the cost of a device is when reviewing it. It’s completely unfair to compare it to something that costs twice, or three times as much.

With that in mind, we think the Nuu Mobile G3 is an excellent value proposition for the money. Sure, it’s got an older version of Android but that probably matters zero in the big scheme of things. Just because we know it’s outdated doesn’t mean that the typical user will. Moreover, the UI is largely the same, and we’re still pretty happy with it.

If you have a GSM carrier such as AT&T or T-Mobile, or are considering switching to one of them, the G3 will be compatible. You’ve also got quite a few prepaid carriers that will support the device as well.

For those of you who shop with budget in mind, and won’t be spreading the cost of a phone out over two years, this is a great starting point. You don’t have to get into $300-$500 phones to last you a couple of years. The G3 is proof that you can definitely get the job done cheaply and still look sharp doing it.

How to give your Google Home multiple commands at once

Last year, Google Home updated its voice command system with a fun bonus: You could give the Home two commands in one sentence, and it would execute both of them at once. This was handy if you had a couple different smart devices to control at the same time or wanted to compare two different bits of information.

Now the latest update to Home allows you to give three different commands at once, thanks to something called the Multiple Actions feature. This both increases the number of commands you can give and makes the process of interacting with your voice assistant smoother. But how do you give three commands to Google Home without confusing it? The secret is all in the phrasing, and we’ll show you how to do it.

Note: If it’s been a while since you’ve turned on and updated your Google Home, you should do this first. Google Homes are set to update automatically when they are turned on (you can tell by the spinning white LED light). This process generally takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 1: Know the commands you want to give

Think about the devices and queries you use with Google Home. It’s important to understand exactly what you want to do, and the right voice commands to do it—otherwise the multiple commands feature will not function.

Fortunately, Google’s support pages have a long list of potential voice commands for Google Home, divided by category. Check out the list, pick a few things that you would like to do, and make sure that you know the precise voice commands to get Home to cooperate. We suggest jotting down a few of the commands you know you’ll use and leaving them by Google Home as a reference until you have them memorized.

Step 2: Test it out by combining commands

It’s time to head back to grammar school and make some simple sentences! Pick three devices, pieces of information, or other commands that you want Google Home to activate all at once. Then simply start with “Hey Google” or “OK, Google,” and give the command as a list. We’re going to give you several different examples to show how it works, so you can use this capability effectively.

“Hey Google, what time is it in Tokyo, New York, and London?” This isn’t just useful for trivia—it also allows you check different cities to see what specific time zones they are in, which can be useful when planning a trip or a business communication.

“Hey Google, what’s the weather in Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles?” This sort of query is especially useful before take long trips or flights, so you can see what weather to expect in various destinations.

“Hey Google, turn on the coffeemaker, the kitchen light, and the Chromecast.” The three-step command can also be useful when directing various smart devices around your home (as long as they are connected to Google Home). Use this option to control multiple devices in short order.

“Hey Google, turn off the dining room light, turn on the living room lights, and play music by The Strokes.” Here’s an example of more inter-related smart device commands. This is basically a routine that you can make up on the fly: It’s useful if you don’t like programming routines, or if you want to test a routine out to see if it’s really worth teaching to Google Home.

“Hey Google, what’s my first meeting today, what’s my calendar for tomorrow, and list all events for July 20th.” You can see how this would be useful if you aren’t near a computer to check your calendar. The Home can provide a list of your events, so you can see when you have free time and if you need to reschedule a particular event.

Step 3: Know the limits

There are some limitations to this feature. If Google needs to ask for more information, then it won’t be able to complete the three-part command. For example, if you say, “Hey Google, set an alarm and turn on the porch lights and security alarm,” then Google will ignore everything else and ask you what time you want to set the alarm for.

Sometimes you can fix this by giving that information in your command, such as, “Hey Google, set an alarm for 6:30 a.m. tomorrow.” However, other commands may just be too complex.

Currently, the three-command ability is primarily available in English-speaking countries, although Google is working on rolling the feature out into other languages and regions soon.

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• Google Pixelbook review

Get all your pods in one place with Google’s streamlined Podcasts app

After introducing podcast support for Google Play Music back in 2016, Google has finally launched a stand-alone podcast app called — you guessed it — Google Podcasts.

As you might expect from a Google app, there’s a heavy emphasis on your personal algorithm, and you can expect to see the app recommend more and more podcasts as you get your teeth stuck in. With more than 2 million podcasts already available on launch day, you can expect there to be plenty to get into.

If you already used Google Play Music for podcasts, that data will carry straight over into Google Podcasts, and you’ll be able to continue where you left off in your most recent podcasts. Cross-device syncing is also available, and Google Podcasts will sync up whenever possible, so you can resume podcasts from the same point, regardless of which device you’re listening from.

It’s also fully integrated with Google Home, and you’ll be able to ask the Google Assistant to play episodes of a specific podcast, as well as use voice commands to pause and resume. If you’re feeling like a change, you can also ask Google Assistant to pick you a podcast within a certain genre with commands like “play me a funny podcast.”

Google’s also planning a bunch of extra features, including using its A.I. capabilities to add closed captions to podcasts — perfect for noisy areas — and eventual plans for real-time translations of podcasts in languages you don’t speak.

Google has already expressed an interest in expanding the world of podcasts, but it seems that it’s not just going to stop at launching a stand-alone app. Google wants to use its influence to increase the number of podcasters in the world, and has specifically shown an interest in increasing the number of female and colored podcast hosts. To that end, Google has set up an independent advisory board that aims to promote the production of podcasts outside of the usual areas of the U.S. What does that mean in real terms? Google doesn’t seem to be sure, but it seems that it’s more likely to be increased promotion, rather than direct financial contributions to individual podcasters.

The Google Podcasts app is currently only available on the Google Play Store, with apparently no intention of launching on iOS. If you’re stumped as to which podcast to start with, check out our very own podcast, Trends with Benefits.

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After 70 years, a working Dick Tracy two-way watch radio is finally available

Tech has certainly come a long way since 1946, but gosh darn it if some of us aren’t still hankering after comic detective Dick Tracy’s two-way wristwatch radio, the spy gadget introduced in the cartoon strip that year. Fortunately, almost three-quarters of a century later, an officially licensed working version of the iconic spy gadget is finally here. Well, almost here.

Created by Connecticut-based brothers Nick and Charlie Mathis, the Dick Tracy Watch not only looks like the timepiece featured in the early comics (note: Not the one with the TV screen embedded as featured in later stories) — it actually works, too. That is thanks to an integrated Bluetooth module, microphone, and speaker, allowing you to make and receive calls from a paired smartphone.

“Since we were kids, we’ve wanted the real Dick Tracy watch, but no one ever made it,” Nick Mathis, owner of the Ivory and Horn company behind the project, told Digital Trends. “Even during the excitement of the smartwatch boom, each new wearable was exciting and awesome, [but] also a bit of a letdown. So in 2015, I got to making my own Dick Tracy watch in my workshop — at the time, an apartment closet — using Fusion 360, a desktop CNC machine, and 3D printing through Shapeways. After posting pictures online, emails began to steadily flood my inbox asking to buy it. A person even offer $5,000 if I’d make him one!”

Stories like this helped convince the Mathis siblings that their crazy dream was not exclusive to them. In 2016, they decided to purchase an official license to make the two-way wrist radio a reality. Close to three years later, they finally achieved what they were hoping for.

As a watch, it’s very attractive, with a vintage-style stainless steel body, sapphire crystal face, mesh grill to cover the speakerphone components and oil-tanned leather strap. Of course, the look is only one part of the package. While this device won’t do things like track your steps or let you send Animojis, it does convincingly replicate the smart functionality of the gadget as it appeared on the page. In a nod to 2018, there is also a button designed to activate your phone’s voice assistant.

As ever, we offer our usual cautions about the risks inherent in crowdfunding campaigns. However, if you’re keen to go ahead and get involved, head over to the project’s Indiegogo page. A pledge of $324 should secure you a unit, with shipping set to take place in December. You better hurry, though — only 1,000 of these are being made!

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IBM’s new supercomputer doesn’t just take orders — it can argue back

Despite supercomputers like IBM’s Watson proving its smarts by winning Jeopardy and chess against human opponents, the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence to date is to have machines do our bidding, like telling Siri to turn off the lights or asking Google for weather information. IBM’s latest efforts into the world of A.I. supercomputing is changing this narrative through Project Debater, a supercomputer that uses artificial intelligence to win debates against humans.

In essence, Project Debater is ushering in an era where A.I. supercomputers will be able to talk back to their human overlords, but IBM researchers promise that it won’t lead to a dystopian future where robots rule the world. The purpose of Project Debater, IBM Research Almaden vice president Jeff Welser told The Verge, is to help us understand language. Wesler even joked that despite its oratory skills, Debater would make a bad lawyer, so at least some legal jobs will be safe for now.

At an event in San Francisco, IBM’s Project Debater supercomputer took on humans in arguing modern social issues such as the benefits of telemedicine and the government subsidization of space exploration, and the consensus among journalists in the audience was unanimous: IBM’s supercomputer held its own. Despite some momentary glitches in an environment that is more ambiguous and doesn’t have as many clear-cut rules as previous games like chess, publications like USA Today, CNET, and The Verge concluded that Project Debater did well.

The topics for debate were not revealed to either opponent in advance to create a level playing field, and Project Debate went first in all rounds. The most impressive part is that Debater was able to understand and rebut its opponent’s presentation in near real-time. Although human opponents generally edged ahead of Project Debater in presentation, the audience favored Debater’s knowledge of the topic, as it was able to reference more than 300 million scholarly articles stored and indexed on IBM Cloud.

“We believe that mastering language is a fundamental frontier that A.I. has to cross,” IBM Research director Arvind Krishna said during a presentation that was reported by USA Today. “There’s aspects like speech recognition, speech to text that A.I. already does and does quite well. But that is not the same as listening comprehension or constructing a speech that can either be spoken or written or understanding the nuances of claims, meaning what supports a proposition or what may be against a proposition.”

But it wasn’t all just facts and knowledge. Debater was able to throw in jokes and master the timing of the delivery, CNET reported. “I can’t say it makes my blood boil, because I have no blood, but it seems some people naturally suspect technology because it’s new,” Debater joked in a debate round favoring telemedicine.

For Project Debater, it’s not just about winning arguments. IBM researchers claim that the computer’s intelligence can be used by legislators, lawyers, and business executives weighing complex issues to make informed decisions. The technology could even be helpful in weeding out fake news.

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The best GIF-maker apps and websites

Needless to say, GIFs have become an emotional currency on the web, allowing people to react in ways words just don’t allow. But if you can’t find the perfect GIF for your current feeling, why not create one yourself? Whether you know the exact clip you want to lift from YouTube, or hope to act in one yourself, there are a variety of tools out there for creating these animated, silent loops. Here, we’ve rounded up the best apps and websites for doing so.

Websites and desktop software

GIFS.com

To get started, let’s look at the extremely clean and useful GIFs.com, a site that makes creating GIFs incredibly easy. To get started, paste the URL for the video you’d like to use as the basis for your GIF. The site currently supports YouTube, Instagram, and Vine — or rather, Vine archive (R.I.P.) — and users can also upload their own video files.

Once you’ve picked out your source material, you’ll come to a simple editor. Select the frames you’d like to convert into a GIF using the timeline located below the video. Then, add a caption, stickers, and a few effects, if desired. There’s even a one-clip “thug life” option, if you want to meme like it’s 2009.

Once you’re done tweaking things, you’re ready to share your GIF with the world. You can use the provided URL, or download the GIF for re-uploading to another site.

Find out more from:

GIFS.com

GIF Maker by Giphy

Giphy has long been the default search engine for GIFs, since its library is endless. Giphy’s own GIF Maker lets you simultaneously create and share your creations, and it’s really easy to use. Just pick your source material from YouTube, Vimeo, or Giphy Links, and you can select any portion of the video to turn into a GIF. You can also add captions, if you want.

The process doesn’t take long, and the resulting GIFs are instantly uploaded to Giphy. From there, you can share them, download them directly, or tweak them using a variety of tools. You can turn a collection of still images into a GIF, for instance, or edit any of the existing GIFs on the website. In all, this is a powerful tool for any GIF fan, and one worth checking out.

Find out more from:

Giphy

And then i was like …

The two aforementioned tools are great if you want to use existing material to create a GIF, but what if you intend to create original content? And then i was like… is just what you’re looking for. This simple website turns your computer’s webcam into a machine for creating GIFs, and it couldn’t be easier to use. Just head to the site, click “I want to make a GIF, ” and enable your webcam.

Then, simply pick which of your recorded frames you want to keep and you’re ready to share your GIF. You can then copy the provided URL provided, or download the GIF for your own use. Enjoy!

Find out more from:

and then i was like …

Screen To GIF

With Screen to GIF, you can select a portion of your screen and record anything that happens in that specific area — or at least that’s the idea. The software functions as a simple Windows application, one that makes GIF creation simple. Start the program and you’ll have a few options.

The first option, Recorder, lets us pick a region of the screen to record. The second, Webcam, lets you record GIFs using your computer’s camera. Board lets you record yourself drawing, and Editor lets you edit existing GIFs.

To get started, click Recorder. You’ll see a frame window, which you can resize to select your desired portion of the screen.

Fit this over a video you’d like to turn into a GIF, or into a region of the screen you’d like to record. Then, when you’re ready, hit the Record button. Hit stop when you’ve got what you want, and you’ll be taken to the editing screen.

From here, you can delete sections of your recording, and do things like add captions. A ribbon-based interface means fans of Microsoft Office will feel right at home.

Download it now for:

Screen to GIF

RecordIT

If you want an even simpler way to record a portion of your screen, RecordIT is what you’re looking for. This simple application lives in the tray or menu bar, and allows you to start recording with just a couple of clicks.

Once installed, click Record, and pick a region of the screen to record. When the recording is done, click the resulting notification to see the result online. From here, you can easily share your creation, or download it for future use.

Download it now for:

Mac Windows

The best GIF-maker apps and websites

Needless to say, GIFs have become an emotional currency on the web, allowing people to react in ways words just don’t allow. But if you can’t find the perfect GIF for your current feeling, why not create one yourself? Whether you know the exact clip you want to lift from YouTube, or hope to act in one yourself, there are a variety of tools out there for creating these animated, silent loops. Here, we’ve rounded up the best apps and websites for doing so.

Websites and desktop software

GIFS.com

To get started, let’s look at the extremely clean and useful GIFs.com, a site that makes creating GIFs incredibly easy. To get started, paste the URL for the video you’d like to use as the basis for your GIF. The site currently supports YouTube, Instagram, and Vine — or rather, Vine archive (R.I.P.) — and users can also upload their own video files.

Once you’ve picked out your source material, you’ll come to a simple editor. Select the frames you’d like to convert into a GIF using the timeline located below the video. Then, add a caption, stickers, and a few effects, if desired. There’s even a one-clip “thug life” option, if you want to meme like it’s 2009.

Once you’re done tweaking things, you’re ready to share your GIF with the world. You can use the provided URL, or download the GIF for re-uploading to another site.

Find out more from:

GIFS.com

GIF Maker by Giphy

Giphy has long been the default search engine for GIFs, since its library is endless. Giphy’s own GIF Maker lets you simultaneously create and share your creations, and it’s really easy to use. Just pick your source material from YouTube, Vimeo, or Giphy Links, and you can select any portion of the video to turn into a GIF. You can also add captions, if you want.

The process doesn’t take long, and the resulting GIFs are instantly uploaded to Giphy. From there, you can share them, download them directly, or tweak them using a variety of tools. You can turn a collection of still images into a GIF, for instance, or edit any of the existing GIFs on the website. In all, this is a powerful tool for any GIF fan, and one worth checking out.

Find out more from:

Giphy

And then i was like …

The two aforementioned tools are great if you want to use existing material to create a GIF, but what if you intend to create original content? And then i was like… is just what you’re looking for. This simple website turns your computer’s webcam into a machine for creating GIFs, and it couldn’t be easier to use. Just head to the site, click “I want to make a GIF, ” and enable your webcam.

Then, simply pick which of your recorded frames you want to keep and you’re ready to share your GIF. You can then copy the provided URL provided, or download the GIF for your own use. Enjoy!

Find out more from:

and then i was like …

Screen To GIF

With Screen to GIF, you can select a portion of your screen and record anything that happens in that specific area — or at least that’s the idea. The software functions as a simple Windows application, one that makes GIF creation simple. Start the program and you’ll have a few options.

The first option, Recorder, lets us pick a region of the screen to record. The second, Webcam, lets you record GIFs using your computer’s camera. Board lets you record yourself drawing, and Editor lets you edit existing GIFs.

To get started, click Recorder. You’ll see a frame window, which you can resize to select your desired portion of the screen.

Fit this over a video you’d like to turn into a GIF, or into a region of the screen you’d like to record. Then, when you’re ready, hit the Record button. Hit stop when you’ve got what you want, and you’ll be taken to the editing screen.

From here, you can delete sections of your recording, and do things like add captions. A ribbon-based interface means fans of Microsoft Office will feel right at home.

Download it now for:

Screen to GIF

RecordIT

If you want an even simpler way to record a portion of your screen, RecordIT is what you’re looking for. This simple application lives in the tray or menu bar, and allows you to start recording with just a couple of clicks.

Once installed, click Record, and pick a region of the screen to record. When the recording is done, click the resulting notification to see the result online. From here, you can easily share your creation, or download it for future use.

Download it now for:

Mac Windows