Gadgets

The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots kicked off its protest against self-powered military machines earlier this week.

CNET caught up with the campaign organizers to hear why they want killer 'bots banned -- play the video above to hear their reasoning and to witness the kinds of death-dealing devices the organization is trying to stop.

One thing I wanted to know is why the campaign is so averse to autonomous robots. As Noel Sharkey, expert roboticist and professor, told me, however, this movement is only about putting the brakes on autonomous killing machines. … Read more

In a press conference held today in New York's Times Square subway, the MTA announced that 36 train stations now can access wireless data. This newest update is the latest installment in the organization's project to bring wireless networking to the complete transit system. The actual wireless hardware, however, is supplied by Transit Wireless, a subsidiary of Broadcast Australia. … Read more

For a while now I've been wanting to test-drive FreedomPop, the wireless Internet provider that offers, among other things, 500MB of free mobile data per month.

Alas, because it's a 4G-only service based on Clearwire's WiMAX network, there's no coverage in my area.

That changes today with the introduction of FreedomPop's new Overdrive Pro mobile hot spot, which offers both 4G and 3G coverage via Sprint.

In other words, now I can get in on the free-data action. The Overdrive Pro costs $39.99 and allows for up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect at … Read more

Continuing my series of life with four different activity trackers, it's time to talk about the Fitbit One.

In what will likely disappoint several of my Fitbit-loving friends, it's my least favorite of the tracking devices I'm using because I do so many "non-step" activities. But the Fitbit does have a lot to offer, and I have high hopes for the forthcoming Fitbit Flex wristband.

For now...my life with the One.

Fitbit currently sells two trackers. The basic Fitbit Zip ($60) tracks steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled. The Fitbit One that I've been using ($100) adds tracking of stairs climbed, hours of sleep, and sleep quality. A wristband version, the Fitbit Flex, will be out in the coming weeks. I'll be looking at that in the near future.… Read more

Looks can be deceiving. The basic simplicity found in a tortilla in no way conveys its potential. Not until ingredients have been added does the humble tortilla reveal its genius. Whether they are folded or wrapped up, corn and flour tortillas can transform anything and everything into delicious tacos and burritos. Yet despite all this versatility, tortillas can do even more; it just takes a little prodding.

Coaxing new forms out of ingredients is nothing new, nor is it even new for tortillas. The Nostalgia Electrics TSM100 Tortilla Bowl Maker ($19.99) says that it lets you "make perfect … Read more

T-Mobile apparently just confirmed an April 24 availability date for the HTC One smartphone. Rather than through a formal press release, the carrier confirmed when HTC's hot flagship handset will grace its shelves via a short and sweet Twitter update.

According to T-Mobile watcher TmoNews, the wireless company tweeted the info tidbit through its T-Mobile USA account. The announcement specifically calls out the LTE version of the HTC One, which should come as no surprise since it was one of the devices highlighted at the carrier's recent LTE unveiling in New York.

There's been a lot of … Read more

At last, Samsung has introduced the world to the Galaxy S4 smartphone, holding its 5-inch toy aloft like a little electronic Simba. While the South Korean tech giant's latest effort is shaping up to be a dynamite little mobile, however, it didn't emerge from Samsung's forge fully formed.

Instead, the S4 is the result of years spent crafting and refining mobile tech, in an effort to build the best Android phone ever devised.

In the video above we don our big bushy Darwin beards and take a look back at the origins of Samsung's Galaxy S … Read more

If you're in the market for a new smartphone this year, chances are good you're seriously considering the two best Android handsets: the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.

Both offer tempting helpings of powerful components, advanced features, and cutting-edge software.

So which device should you go with? It's a tough choice. But fear not: CNET is here to help. Sit back as we stack up all the abilities these excellent phones have in common and the key differences that separate the two. … Read more

The beer drinking experience is already fairly interactive. You open bottles, clink them against your friends' bottles, and dress them up in little cozies to keep them cold. Apparently, all that wasn't enough for Heineken, which unveiled a prototype of its new Heineken Ignite bottle last week at Milan Design Week.

The bottles incorporate LEDs, micro-sensors, and wireless networking. The technology can detect when the bottle is just sitting there, when a person is drinking, and when it's used for cheering. Various actions are set to trigger the light effects, or it can be remotely activated to flash in time with music.… Read more