Apple Announces New Space Gray Mac mini With 4-Core or 6-Core Intel Processor and Up to 64GB RAM, Starting at $799

Apple announced a brand new Mac mini with a space gray finish at its “There’s more in the making” media event held in Brooklyn, New York today.

The new space gray Mac mini comes with quad- and 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 4.6GHz, making it 5 times faster than the previous generation, and up to 64GB of 2,666MHz RAM.

Storage wise, all Mac minis now have all-flash storage up to 2 TB that’s 4 times faster than previous storage drives, while also coming with Intel UHD graphics, Apple’s new T2 security chip, a Gigabit Ethernet, 4x Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, and two USB-A ports, along with a 10Gb Ethernet option.

The new Mac mini can connect to high speed storage, 4K and 5K Thunderbolt displays, and output video in three formats. There’s also a new thermal system with double the airflow installed.

The T2 chip features an SSD controller with on-the-fly data encryption, so everything stored on the SSD is automatically encrypted. The Secure Enclave in T2 ensures that software loaded during the boot process has not been tampered with. T2 also features HEVC video transcoding that’s up to 30 times faster, enabling pro users to work more quickly with higher resolution video throughout their workflow.

For the new space gray finish, every new Mac mini enclosure uses an Apple-designed aluminum alloy made from 100 percent recycled aluminum for the first time, which has the same strength, durability, and finish as the aluminum in all Apple products.

“Mac mini is loved by customers for its ability to be used in incredibly diverse environments — from casual desktop use, to live professional performances, to multiple Mac mini computers powering through video renderings and compiling software code, to racks of thousands in giant app build farms — anywhere a small-but-mighty Mac is needed to get the job done,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

The Mac mini starts at $799 with the base level model offering 8GB of RAM, a 3.6GHz Intel quad-core Core i3 processor, and 128GB of storage. Orders for the new Mac mini start today, with availability from next week, November 7.

Related Roundup: Mac miniTag: October 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: Mac Mini (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Reveals New 11-Inch and 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Models With Slim Bezels and Face ID

Apple today revealed the all-new iPad Pro, with an edge-to-edge LCD “Liquid Retina” display, slimmer bezels, no Home Button, Face ID, and a magnetic attachment support for the new Apple Pencil. The new 11-inch iPad Pro has the same footprint as the previous 10.5-inch iPad Pro, but now with a bigger display thanks to the slimmer bezels. The 12.9-inch version is actually smaller than the previous 12.9-inch model but with the same screen size.

Apple put the same Liquid Retina display in the iPad Pro as the one found in the iPhone XR, using rounded corners that follow the curves of the iPad Pro’s unibody enclosure. Apple says the display is its brightest and most color accurate iPad display yet, with wide color support, True Tone, and anti-reflective coating that provides a natural and accurate viewing experience inside and outside.

Both models are 5.9mm thin — “the thinnest iPad design ever” — and the 12.9-inch version has seen a total 25 percent reduction in overall volume.

“The new iPad Pro is a huge step forward for powerful, creative, mobile computing; it has an all-new thinner design, speeds through projects with the super-fast A12X Bionic chip and unlocks with a glance using Face ID in any orientation — while you’re sitting or standing, with iPad Pro on your desk or lap, with the new Smart Keyboard Folio and new Apple Pencil,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“There has never been a mobile device anything like the new iPad Pro; it has a gorgeous edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display that curves into the corners, breakthrough performance that outperforms most laptops, Face ID, support for the new Smart Keyboard Folio and new Apple Pencil, advanced new cameras and sensors for the best AR experiences ever in any device, a high-speed USB-C connector, louder speakers, faster wireless and more, all packed into a thinner device that has all-day battery life and is 25 percent smaller in volume.”

Powering the iPad Pro is a new A12X Bionic chip, which Apple says is its smartest and most powerful tablet chip yet. A12X Bionic has eight total cores (four performance cores and four efficiency cores) that provide up to 35 percent faster single-core performance. There’s also a seven-core GPU to deliver up to twice the graphics performance, fueling new AR experiences and console-quality graphics. During the keynote, Apple compared gaming performance on the new iPad Pros to that of the Xbox One S.

iPad Pro comes with Apple’s next-generation Neural Engine for advanced machine learning in everything from photography, AR, and Face ID. This marks the first time that Face ID is available outside of an iPhone, and on iPad Pro it’s designed to work while holding the tablet in any position or even while seated and attached to the new Smart Keyboard Folio.

Like on iPhone X and newer, Face ID uses the TrueDepth camera system to map and recognize your face and securely unlock iPad Pro, pay with Apple Pay, access secure apps, and more. You’ll also now be able to create and interact with Animoji and Memoji on iPad Pro using the front-facing TrueDepth camera. Throughout all of these features and daily use cases, Apple says iPad Pro has a 10-hour battery life.

The tablets also have a new USB-C connector that is replacing the old Lightning connector, offering users the chance to charge an iPhone while on-the-go, transfer data between devices, and drive external displays up to 5K.

On the accessory side of things, the second generation Apple Pencil can magnetically attach to iPad Pro for pairing and wireless charging. The new Apple Pencil supports tap-based controls, so you can select a different brush tool in Photoshop, for example, by double tapping on Apple Pencil. Additionally, a new Smart Keyboard Folio protects the front and back of iPad Pro while providing a full-size keyboard

The 11-inch and 12.9-inch are available in Silver and Space Gray in 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, and a new 1TB option. 11-inch models start at $799 (Wi-Fi) and $949 (Wi-Fi + Cellular), while 12.9-inch models start at $999 (Wi-Fi) and $1,149 (Wi-Fi + Cellular). You can pre-order the new iPad Pro, Apple Pencil ($129), and Smart Keyboard Folio ($179 11-inch and $199 12.9-inch) today on Apple.com, and they will launch on Wednesday, November 7.

Apple is also launching a new Smart Folio for iPad Pro in a protective, polyurethane folio design that will be available in a variety of colors for $79 (11-inch) and $99 (12.9-inch).

Countries where the iPad Pro will be available at launch include: the U.S., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE and U.K.

Later this year, the new iPad Pro models will be available in Colombia, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, India, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Tag: October 2018 event
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Apple Announces New Magnetic Apple Pencil Featuring Tap Gestures and Wireless Charging

Apple announced a new Apple Pencil at its “There’s more in the making” media event held in Brooklyn, New York today.

Sold separately from Apple’s newly announced iPad Pro models, the next-generation Apple Pencil attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro, through which it pairs and charges wirelessly.

Tapping once on the iPad screen with the new Apple Pencil takes you straight to the Notes app, while you can tap the pencil twice to switch modes in various apps. For example, you can tap twice to switch from the current tool to the eraser in Notes.

More to follow…

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Apple Online Store Lists Blackmagic eGPU ‘Pro’, Available Late November for $1,199

Apple’s online store is now listing a new Blackmagic eGPU “Pro”, following several major product launches today.

The new Blackmagic eGPU Pro features a Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics processor with 8GB of HBM2 memory, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DisplayPort 1.4 port, allowing for 85W of power to charge a MacBook Pro at the same time.

The eGPU is compatible with any Thunderbolt 3–enabled Mac, including the new space gray Mac mini and new MacBook Air with Retina display.

The Blackmagic eGPU Pro costs $1,199 and will be available to order from the Apple online store from late November.

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Apple Launches New USB-C Accessories for USB-C iPad Pro Models

Following the launch of new iPad Pro models equipped with USB-C, Apple today debuted several new adapters designed to work with the USB-C interface.

There’s a new 1m USB-C Charge Cable, priced at $19, along with a USB-C to SD Card Reader priced at $39.

Apple has also introduced a $9 USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter to allow standard 3.5mm headphones to be connected to the tablet, which no longer features a headphone jack.

Last week, Apple introduced a 0.3m USB-C version of the Apple Watch charger, which will work with the new iPad Pro models. The iPad Pro with USB-C is able to charge an Apple Watch or an iPhone over a USB-C cable.

Apple has also debuted a new 61W MacBook Pro power adapter, but it’s not clear what’s different about it.

All of the new accessories are available for purchase starting today and will be delivered by the end of the week.

Related Roundup: iPad ProBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Latest Smart Gadgets for Your Kitchen

3 Latest Smart Gadgets for Your Kitchen

The evolution of technology has led to a world many people would have thought impossible a few years ago. For example, a mobile phone that can not only make calls but you can also play games, take pictures and watch videoes. This advancement in technology would have seemed more at home in science fiction years ago, but it is now a reality. In the home, technology has enabled us to not only shop from the comfort of our couch but to control almost anything within the house. Below are three of the smart gadgets that you can find in the kitchen that can make mealtimes a lot easier.

Smart Thermometer

If you were the sort of person that can’t tell whether something is undercooked or overcooked, then this first gadget might be just what you need! It is a smart thermometer that is inserted into the meat your cooking, whether it’s chicken, pork, fish, or beef. The idea is that this thermometer will tell you via an app on your phone when the meat has reached its optimum temperature. If you add the cut of meat and the desired finish, the app will give you an idea of how long you need before it’s cooked.

Smart Coffee Machines

If like many people, your day starts with a nice cup of coffee, then this next smart gadget might be something you could change your day! There are now many smart coffee machines on the market, but some are smarter than others. For example, there are particular types of coffee machine that have a dedicated app that you can use to wake it up when you need it. Some of them will even go as far as allowing you to select the strength of the coffee you want depending on what type of day you’ve had. By using specific apps, you can even use it to brew you a strong cup of coffee if your Fitbit has recorded a bad night’s sleep.

Smart Washing Machines

Washing machines have become a lot smarter in recent years, and that means not only do you get a better clean, but you also save energy and water. However, washing machines have become even smarter lately with the ability to connect to home hubs. It means that you can monitor your washing from your phone wherever you might be, you can also start, stop and pause the wash if you feel that you need to add things or you want to wait to wash something later. By far the most significant advance has been in the technology used for different settings, you can now have a setting for washing in cold water, certain types of fabric and even for shoes. Of course, it also means that you need to look after these machines as they do cost more than your regular washing machine, which means you need to have companies like Norwest Appliance Service keeping it in top condition.

Even though smart gadgets haven’t been around for very long, it’s getting to the point where we need them in our lives. Pretty soon, new devices will come along that will make our daily life even easier than before.

Live Coverage of Apple’s October 2018 iPad and Mac Event

Apple’s “There’s more in the making” event at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York, begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Pacific Time), and we’re expecting to see a number of iPad and Mac announcements today.

Later today will also see the release of iOS 12.1, bringing Group FaceTime, new emoji, live Depth Control in camera previews, and Dual SIM support for Apple’s latest iPhones. Additional updates in the form of macOS 10.14.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 are likely also coming today.

Apple is providing a live video stream on its website and via the Apple Events app on Apple TV.

In addition to Apple’s video stream, we will be updating this article with live blog coverage—no need to refresh—and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds.

Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today’s announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

Sign up for our newsletter to keep up with Apple news and rumors.

Apple’s online store is currently down in advance of the event. It should be accessible again shortly after the keynote.

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Tag: October 2018 event
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Apple Announces New MacBook Air With 13-Inch Retina Display and Touch ID

Apple in New York today announced an update to the MacBook Air, which includes a Retina Display, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and one headphone jack. Apple says every part of MacBook Air has been redesigned and reengineered for the new generation, centering around the new Retina Display.

The new MacBook Air has 50 percent smaller bezels, a 13-inch display, 4x the resolution with over four million pixels, and 48 percent more color. This version of the MacBook Air also includes a Touch ID sensor embedded in the keyboard.

More information to follow…

Tag: October 2018 event
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Computers will soon outsmart us. Does that make an A.I. rebellion inevitable?

The question, “Will Computers Revolt?” is really many different questions rolled into one. Will computers become the dominant intelligence on the planet and will they take our place? What does being “dominant” mean? Will computers and humans be in conflict? Will that conflict be violent? Will intelligent computers take jobs and resources from humans?

Will Computers Revolt? Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence By Charles J Simon

Most AI experts agree that computers will eventually exceed humans in thinking ability.  But then, even more questions arise. When will it happen? What would it be like to ‘exceed humans in thinking ability’? Will computer intelligence be just like human intelligence—only faster? Or will it be radically different?

Although today’s AI systems have remarkable abilities, they are not “thinking” in any general sense of the word.  Accordingly, we now use the terms AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), Strong AI, True AI, and others to differentiate the idea of true thinking from today’s AI systems which have tremendous capabilities but more limited scope.

With the coming of AGI, many new risks will emerge but before exploring these, let’s consider how far in the future this is likely to happen.

When Will AGI Happen?

Sooner than you think!  Why don’t we already have AGI? Two issues hold us back:

Creating the computational power needed for AGI
Knowing what software to write for AGI

AI experts have come up with differing estimates of the computational power of the human brain and predictions of increasing computational power of CPUs. The lines eventually cross at a “singularity” (coined by Ray Kurzweil) with CPUs exceeding brains in terms of brute-force computation in ten years, or twenty, or half a century, depending on the underlying assumptions.

But this may be the wrong question. We all know that lightning-fast searches on a properly-indexed database can produce results a million- or billion-fold faster than the brute-force approach. What portion of AGI will be amenable to this type of software efficiency?

A Double Standard?

As computers become the world’s dominant thinkers, we humans should heed these lessons and try not to be the cause of conflict. We won’t be a valuable food or energy source for the computers and (hopefully) we won’t be trophies. But what if the computers perceive that we are a serious risk to them? Or simply an inconvenience? This could be a result of human overpopulation, ongoing wars, global warming, pollution, dwindling fossil fuels—all the same problems which we can see we need to solve whether or not there is a risk of antagonizing our silicon counterparts.

Consider the steps taken to reduce the Chinese population. While many believe that the rules imposed by the Chinese government on its people were draconian, they were accepted by many as necessary at the time. If identical rules were imposed on the human race as a whole by a future race of thinking computers, they could well be considered equivalent to genocide.

Consider also the possibility of an acute energy crisis. If some future government makes energy rationing decisions which result in the deaths of many people, these would certainly be considered very “hard choices.” If thinking computers made identical choices, these could be considered acts of war—especially if thinking machines always arranged sufficient energy for themselves (just as a human government would).

I contend that it would be best for us to address these human problems ourselves rather than awaiting solutions from AGIs whose values may not coincide with our own. When faced with the prospect of solving these global problems ourselves or having machines implement solutions for us (potentially much more unpleasant solutions), we can only hope that the human race will rise to the occasion. In the event that concern about AGI drives us to solve these problems, we could think of them as having a positive impact on the planet.

Boston Dynamics’ robots already exhibit the fluid motion and coordination which we humans get from our cerebellum’s 56 billion neurons—65% of our brain’s computational capacity. And robots accomplish this with a few CPUs—not because the CPUs exceed the computational power of 56 billion neurons but because designers of robotic software know about physics, forces, and feedback and can write software more efficiently than the trial-and-error/learning approach used by your brain.

The nut of the argument is that brains aren’t very efficient computational devices—they get the job done but there are better/faster ways to approach AGI software which developers can use. We may already have computers with enough power for AGI but we don’t know it yet — which brings us to the second question.

Most people look at the limitations of today’s AI systems as evidence that AGI is a long way off.  I beg to differ. AI has most of AGI’s needed pieces already in play, they just don’t work together very well—yet. While the Jeopardy!-playing Watson is an amazing achievement, it is unrealistic to expect that it would ever manifest “understanding” or common sense at a human level. You understand coffee because you’ve seen it, poured it, spilled it, scalded yourself with it, and on and on. Watson has “read” about coffee. You and Watson could not have equivalent understanding of coffee (or anything else) because Watson hasn’t had an equivalent real-world experience. For true understanding, Watson-scale abilities need to be married to sensory and interactive robotic systems in order for common sense to emerge. We’ll need to incorporate object and knowledge representation, pattern-recognition, goal-oriented learning, and other aspects of AI in order to achieve AGI. These pieces already exist in various forms and AGI might all come together in as little as ten years—much sooner than most think.

With this shortened timeframe in mind, it’s time for serious thinking about what an AGI system might be like, what concerns we should have, and how we should prepare ourselves. We humans will necessarily lose our position as “biggest thinker” on the planet, but we have full control over the types of machines which will take over that position. We also have control over the process—be it peaceful or otherwise.

Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter compete against ‘Watson’

Scenario 1: The “Peaceful Coexistence” Scenario

This is the first of four possible scenarios considering the conflicts which might arise between computers and humans.  It is useful to consider the questions of “What causes conflicts amongst humans?” and “Will these causes of conflict also exist between computers and people?”

Thinking machines will be interested in their own energy sources, their own “reproductive” factories, and their own ability to progress in their own direction.

Most human conflicts are caused by instinctive human needs and concerns. If one “tribe” (country, clan, religion) is not getting the resources or expansion which it needs (deserves, wants, can get) it may be willing to go to war with its neighboring tribe to get them. Within the tribe each individual needs to establish a personal status in the “pecking order” and is willing to compete to establish a better position. We are all concerned about providing for ourselves, our mates and our families and are often willing to sacrifice short-term comfort for the long-term future of ourselves and our offspring, even if this creates conflict today.

These sources of conflict among humans seem inappropriate as sources of conflict with machines. Thinking machines won’t be interested in our food, our mates, or our standard of living. They will be interested in their own energy sources, their own “reproductive” factories, and their own ability to progress in their own direction. To the extent that resources or “pecking order” are sources of conflict, thinking machines are more likely to compete amongst each other than they are to compete against the human population.

Sophia, a robot created by Dr. David Hanson, founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics.

In the long term, following this scenario, mankind’s problems will be brought under control via computerized decisions. AGI computers will arrange solutions for overpopulation, famine, disease, and war, and these issues will become obsolete. Computers will help us initially because that will be their basic programming and later because they will see that it is in their own interest to have a stable, peaceful human population. Computers will manage all the technology, exploration, and advancement.

Scenario 2: The “Mad-Machine” Scenario

There is a popular science fiction scenario of a machine which becomes self-aware and attacks its creators when they threaten to disconnect it. This isn’t a realistic scenario for several reasons. Humans come into conflict because we are territorial, possessive, greedy and a host of other reasons which would not be valuable to an AGI.  Even our innate self-preservation instincts are not necessary for an AGI. We will strive to make AGIs which are pleasant, entertaining, agreeable, we won’t be able to sell them otherwise. And even when AGIs begin to program their own future AGI generations they will pass on these traits…just as we try to pass our own values to our children.

Universal Pictures

But let’s consider some conflicts between humans and other species. Gorillas are approaching extinction as they are hunted as trophies. Rhinos as an aphrodisiac. Wolves were hunted because they were “pests”. At the other end of the life-form size spectrum, the smallpox virus is virtually extinct (and we are proud of this accomplishment) because it was a serious risk to human life. We need to take steps to ensure that we aren’t trophies, pests, or parasites.

A Rogue Computer?

Couldn’t we Just Turn it Off?

The common fictional scenario is that we should “pull the plug” on some aberrant machine. Consider instead that the thinking part of a robot or other AGI isn’t on your desktop but is in the cloud. AGIs will be running in server farms in remote locations distributed across numerous servers. They will initially be built to take advantage of the existing server infrastructure and this infrastructure has be designed with reliability and redundancy in mind. Without a specific “Off” switch programmed in, it could be quite difficult to defeat all the safeguards which were designed keep our financial and other systems running through any calamity. While an “Off” switch seems like a good idea, we can only hope that it will be a programming priority.

Adapted from the book, Will Computers Revolt? Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence. By Charles J Simon, Available on Amazon, Oct 30, 2018.

But suppose there is a machine which misbehaves? Whether such a machine occurs by accident or by nefarious human intent (see below), such systems would be also dangerous to other AGIs. Accordingly, AGIs will be motivated to eliminate such systems. With the cooperation of the machine population, such individual machines can be weeded out of the environment and the prospect of such elimination would act as a deterrent against such behavior.

Would AGIs start a nuclear war? In this case, the interests of people and AGIs are the same—a full-scale war would be disastrous for all. To look for the really dangerous situations, we need to consider instances where the objectives of humans and AGIs diverge. Issues of disease, famine, and drought have a devastating impact on the human populations while AGIs might just not care.

If thinking machines begin building their own civilization, individual misbehaving machines will be a greater threat to their civilization than to ours. Just as we take steps to remove criminals from our society, future machines will likewise eliminate their own—and they will be able to do it faster and more effectively than any human vs. machine conflict would.

Scenario 3: The “Mad-Man” Scenario

What if the first owners of powerful AGI systems use them as tools to “take over the world”? What if an individual despot gets control of an AGI system?

This is a more dangerous scenario than the previous. We will be able to program the motivations of our AGIs but we can’t control the motivations of the people or corporations that initially create them. Will such systems be considered tools to create immense profits or to gain political control? While science fiction usually presents pictures of armed conflict, I believe that the greater threat comes from our computers’ ability to sway opinion or manipulate markets. We have already seen efforts to sway elections through social media and AGI systems will make this vastly more effective. We already have markets at the mercy of programmed trading—AGI will amplify this issue as well.

We will be able to program the motivations of our AGIs but we can’t control the motivations of the people or corporations that initially create them.

The good news is that the window of opportunity for such a concern is fairly short, only within the first few AGI generations. During that period, people will have direct control over AGIs and they will do our bidding. Once AGI advances beyond this phase, they will be measuring their actions against their own common good. When faced with demands from humans to perform some activity with a long-term downside, properly-programmed AGIs will simply refuse.

Scenario 4: The “Mad-Mankind” Scenario

Today, we humans are the dominant intelligence and many of us are not comfortable with the idea of that dominance slipping away. Will we rise up as a species and attempt to overthrow the machines? Will individual “freedom fighters” attack the machines? Perhaps.

Art from Simon Stålenhag’s Electric State Simon Stålenhag

Historically, leaders have been able to convince populations that their problems are caused by some other group—Jews, Blacks, Illegal immigrants, etc.—and convince the population to take steps to eliminate the “cause” of their problems. Such a process may take place with AGI and robots as well: “We’re losing jobs!” “They are taking over!” “I don’t want my daughter to marry one!” But the rising tide of technology will improve the lives of people too, and few of us would be willing to turn back the clock.

Will there be individuals who attempt to subvert computers? Of course—just as there are today with hackers and virus-writers. In the long term their efforts are troublesome but generally futile. The people who own or control the computers will respond (as those in power do today) and the computers themselves will be “inconvenienced”. Eventually, the rebels will move on to other targets and leave the indestructible computer intelligence alone.

Conclusion

So will computers revolt? Yes, in the sense that they will become the dominant intelligence on our planet—the technological juggernaut is already under way. It is also likely that if we do not solve our multiple pending calamities (overpopulation, pollution, global warming, dwindling resources), thinking machines will solve them for us with actions which could appear warlike but are actually the direct consequences of our own inaction. As in the quip from Neil deGrasse Tyson: “Time to behave, so when Artificial Intelligence becomes our overlord, we’ve reduced the reasons for it to exterminate us all.”

All the preceding scenarios are predicated on the implementation of appropriate safeguards. I expect groups such as the Future of Life Institute to be vocal and effective in directing AGI development into safer territory. I am not advocating that everything will be rosy, full speed ahead. But with an understanding of how AGI will work, we can predict future pitfalls and it will be possible to avoid them.

Editors’ Recommendations

• If A.I. doesn’t replace your job, it may make it much more pleasant
• Robots can peer pressure kids, but don’t think for a second that we’re immune
• Can Aibo replace Fido? I fostered Sony’s robot dog for a week to find out
• A.I. can do almost anything now, but here are 6 things machines still suck at
• Spirit animals: 9 revolutionary robots inspired by real-world creatures

Best lens covers for your Oculus Go

While the Oculus Go is a great device for entertainment and playing some games, it’s going to spend most of its time on a shelf or not in use. Lens covers protect your headset from dust, sun damage, and other issues that can arise from leaving it unprotected. These lens covers will keep your device looking its best and also help prevent scuffs and other damage.

Good Fit

Geekria Stretchable VR Lens Cover

This cover stretches to create a snug fit around your headset. It’s inexpensive and can also be purchased with a wall mount to make a complete storage solution. It’s also a generic cover with some wiggle room so you can use it for other headsets if you decide to get a different cover on this list for your Oculus Go in the future.

$8 at Amazon

Best Budget

Universal VR Headset Cover

This is just a simple cotton cover that slides over your headset. It’s the cheapest entry on this list and an easy way to protect your device without breaking the bank. It fits around the side of your device where the lenses are and looks better on the Oculus Go than many generic covers because it isn’t baggy when covering the device.

$5 at VRCover

Most decorative

Snakebyte Storage Stand

This storage stand will look great on a shelf and also cover your headset’s lenses. It’s a great way to spruce up a shelf or desk while also keeping your Oculus Go in good shape. If you want to add a touch of class to your office or create a professional look for your VR room, having a few of these stands for each of your headsets is a great choice.

$30 at Amazon

Make your own

3D-printable cover by Chimaera

This 3D-printable cover fits snuggly onto the inside of your headset and has a hook to keep your Oculus Go controller in place. It’s custom-designed to fit perfectly into the Oculus Go and has an attractive logo across it. The only downside is that you need to print it yourself, which costs extra.

Free at Thingiverse

Lens covers are the type of accessory that’s easy to forget about, but they make a difference when it comes to protecting your hardware. These options are an inexpensive way to protect your Oculus Go from esthetic damage and from sun damage.

While any of these lens covers will work for the Oculus Go, I recommend making your own using the plans on Thingiverse. You can get access to 3D printers at some libraries or pay to have people make models for you. The 3D printable lens cover is custom-built for the Oculus Go and also helps you keep track of your motion controller.