Roger and Ben break down the big robot trend we’re seeing, in this giganto-size episode of The 3:59.
For our second day at CES 2017, we talk about all the robots at the tech show in Las Vegas , including LG’s small home-assistant called the Hub Robot. The company also created two bigger robots , which are designed to be greeters and vacuum cleaners at airports.
Plus, we discussed T-Mobile newest promotions to gain customers, the future of smart homes and Razer’s new gaming laptop that sports three screens .
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A former Valve developer recently shared some of the history behind the company’s interest in Linux for gaming. He notes on his blog how Linux attracted the attention of Microsoft developers who visited Valve to talk about the data shared in a post on the company’s blog back in 2012.
Rich Geldreich writes on his blog:
Gabe Newell himself wrote a lot of this post in front of me. From what I could tell, he seemed flabbergasted and annoyed that the team didn’t immediately blog this info once we were solidly running faster in OpenGL vs. D3D. (Of course we should have blogged it ourselves! One of our missions as a team inside of Valve was to build a supportive community around our efforts.) From his perspective, it was big news that we were running faster on Linux vs. Windows. I personally suspect his social network didn’t believe it was possible, and/or there was some deeper strategic business reason for blogging this info ASAP.
I stood behind Gabe and gave him all the data concerning GL vs. D3D performance while he typed the blog post in. I was (and still remain) extremely confident that our results were real. We conducted these tests as scientifically as we could, using two machines with the same hardware, configured in precisely the same way in the BIOS’s, etc. NVidia and AMD were able to reproduce our results independently. Also, I could have easily made L4D2 on Linux GL run even faster vs. Windows, but we had other priorities like getting more Source1 games working, and helping Intel with their open source GL driver. From what I understand, Linux has some inherent advantages at the kernel level vs. Windows that impact driver performance.
A few weeks after this post went out, some very senior developers from Microsoft came by for a discreet visit. They loved our post, because it lit a fire underneath Microsoft’s executives to get their act together and keep supporting Direct3D development. (Remember, at this point it was years since the last DirectX SDK release. The DirectX team was on life support.) Linux is obviously extremely influential.
It’s perhaps hard to believe, but the Steam Linux effort made a significant impact inside of multiple corporations. It was a surprisingly influential project. Valve being deeply involved with Linux also gives the company a «worse case scenario» hedge vs. Microsoft. It’s like a club held over MS’s heads. They just need to keep spending the resources to keep their in-house Linux expertise in a healthy state.
More at the Tech and Programmer Culture Blog
MX Linux is a distribution based on Debian Stable that tries to provide a comfortable, midweight desktop environment. The MX Linux site notes that it is a » cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS communities, using the best tools and talents from each distro».
A writer at DistroWatch did a full review of MX Linux 16 and found it to be suitable for users who already have some experience with Linux.
Jesse Smith reports for DistroWatch:
Taken as a whole, I like MX Linux 16. The distribution is fairly lightweight by modern standards and the project provides both 32-bit and 64-bit support, a characteristic which is increasingly rare. The desktop is light and responsive, but still provides a nice, modern look.
I like that while MX is light on resources, it provides a lot of popular software for us to use. We are treated to good multimedia support, a full featured productivity suite and web browser. The software included in MX is more modern than Debian Stable and we have access to a Backports repository if we want to access up to date applications.
I ran into just a few rough edges, like the theme changer asking me to restart Firefox and the update manager not refreshing its package information before downloading new updates. Earlier I mentioned some frustration with the many overlapping configuration tools, but I acknowledge what I see as clutter could be another person’s convenience.
All in all, MX Linux provided me with a good experience. The distribution walks a fine line between providing conveniences (like the welcome window and update notification) and staying out of the way. I think the developers have struck a good balance and I definitely see MX as a good option, especially for people running older computers. I’m not sure I would recommend MX Linux to first time Linux users, MX does expect more technical knowledge than some more mainstream distributions, but I think MX would make a fine second distribution for someone comfortable with Linux concepts, but who also wants performance and convenience.
More at DistroWatch
Apple’s Mac computers have seen a drop in market share recently, but Linux has actually improved its share of the PC market.
Gregg Keizer reports for Computerworld:
Apple’s Mac share of personal computers worldwide fell to a five-year low in December, mimicking the company’s own numbers that have portrayed a four-quarter sales slowdown.
As that slippage took hold, two rivals — Goliath Windows and David Linux — both benefited with increases of around a half percentage point during 2016. Linux, the open-source operating system whose users are even more passionate when defending their choice, climbed out of the under-2% cellar last year. Net Applications pegged Linux’s user share at 2.2% in December, slightly off the 2.3% peak of November.
Linux first cracked the 2% barrier in June.
More at Computerworld

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If you’re looking to buy a tablet , you might want to put away your money and check out our list of the most exciting new tablets coming later this year. We cover all the best new tablets for 2017, including the best new Windows tablets , best new Android tablets and best new iPads. Also see: Best new phones coming in 2017.
Also see: Best Tablet Deals
If you would rather buy a tablet today, check out our group tests of the best tablets , best Android tablets , best Windows tablets , best budget tablets and best kids tablets. Otherwise, read on >>
September is the time of year Amazon tends to focus on its Fire tablet updates, and in September 2016 we were treated to a new Amazon Fire HD 8 with longer battery life, twice as much storage, and an increased amount of RAM for faster performance.
But we’re still waiting for an update to the Fire 7 and Fire HD 10, which were announced alongside the HD 8 in September 2015. The former has been especially popular as one of the cheapest and yet still decent Android tablets money can buy, and has been a strong seller in the recent Black Friday sales and in the run up to Christmas.
In a new model we’d hope to see slightly faster performance and possibly more storage, and perhaps higher screen resolution. But these are likely to continue to be wallet-friendly budget tablets that will appeal to customers primarily for their value.
We’ll keep you posted with new Fire and Fire HD rumours as we hear them.
Having abandoned its traditional iPad launch event in October 2015, when we heard there would be an iPad announcement in March 2016 we were hoping to see a new iPad Air 3. In fact we got the smaller iPad Pro 9.7. The iPad Air 3 was also a no-show in Apple’s September and October 2016 events, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of an iPad Air 3 coming our way soon, and Apple has not confirmed the death of the Air line.
Our sister site Macworld UK predicts that we won’t see the new iPad Air 3 until March 2017, with the tablet going on sale around 10 days later with an estimated RRP of £399-plus.
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo there will indeed be a 9.7in iPad launch in March 2017, but it’s not yet clear what the tablet will be called. It’s expected to be powered by an Apple A9 processor, while the 12.9in and 10-10.5in iPad Pro tablets that launch alongside it should get the Apple A10X.
Some rumours circulating on a new iPad Air 3 suggest it will feature a Smart Connector on the left edge for connecting a Smart Keyboard, as well as Apple Pencil compatibility. Other changes might include a thinner 7000-series aluminium body (without reduced battery life) and faster performance with a processor upgrade. Expect it to come in silver, gold, space grey and rose gold, potentially with a new LED flash for the rear camera. Could we also finally see an increase to screen resolution, perhaps matching the 401ppi of the iPhone 7 Plus?
Read more iPad Air 3 rumours here.
We’re reasonably confident that Apple will unveil a new iPad at its next event, which should take place in March 2017. We’re getting to the stage now where it will need to announce a new iPad Air 3 (see the previous screen) and also overdue iPad mini 5 (last updated in September 2015), or confirm their death.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says there will be three iPad launches in March, but unfortunately for the iPad mini none will be compact models. We’re still holding out hope for Apple’s popular iPad mini, however, although we reckon it’s time for a refresh. Based on its previous iPad releases, something tells us the next iPad mini could be an iPad Pro mini.
The iPad mini’s design has stayed fairly constant throughout the generations, so we aren’t expecting any big changes here. We could see a new 7000-series aluminium chassis that is thinner but doesn’t adversely affect battery life — and probably with a new Rose Gold colour option. We’d be most impressed to see Apple make its mini iPad waterproof. The most likely change in the iPad mini 5 is a bump up in performance.
Read more iPad mini 5 rumours here.
We’ve seen various Android tablets from Google over the years, including the Nexus 9 , Nexus 10 and Pixel C , but none has proved so popular with consumers as the Nexus 7. Offering unparalleled value and a decent specification, you can still buy the Nexus 7 today.
We were teased with the idea that Google would finally put us out of our misery and unveil an update to its Nexus 7 in 2016, but what we actually saw was a move from Nexus to Pixel with the release of two new phones. Google has not confirmed the death of Nexus, but while we’re still hoping for a new Nexus 7 we may instead see a Pixel 7.
Huawei is thought to be the manufacturer of the new Nexus budget tablet, taking over from Asus which made the first- and second-gen Nexus 7 tablets. Inspiration is expected to come from the Pixel C, though, and it’s possible that as with that tablet Google will handle the manufacturing.
Rumoured specifications include a 7in Quad-HD display, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, 4GB of RAM, 4G support and a 3,000mAh battery. The new Nexus 7 could even feature a Force Touch similar to that found in Apple’s iPhones. It has to be said though, that’s an awesome — and slightly unbelieveable — spec for what is expected to remain a budget tablet.
Click here for more Nexus 7 (2017) rumours.
We’re now over a year from the launch of the Surface 3 , Microsoft’s cheaper alternative to the Surface Pro line-up, which means that if the Surface 3 is to be updated it will happen soon. Microsoft neglected to unveil either this tablet or a new Surface Pro 5 tablet during its October 2016 event, with the company expected to wait for the arrival of Kaby Lake and the Windows 10 Creators Update in early 2017.
Rumour has it there will be three new Surface hybrids coming in 2017, although it remains to be seen whether this will merely be Core i3, i5 and i7 versions of the Surface Pro 5, or whether it will include a new budget Surface model.
Leaks are very thin on the ground, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Surface 4 come with a slightly larger screen and smaller bezels, the removal of the physical Start button, a more easily adjustable kickstand and a magnet for storing the Surface Pen. USB-C will more than likely feature, as well as Windows Hello support.
Click here for more Surface 4 rumours and what we expect .
We’re not expecting to see a new Surface Pro Windows tablet until early 2017 following the launch of Intel’s new Kaby Lake Core processors (announced in January at CES 2017) and the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update, but when we do it will be one of the best Windows tablets money can buy (and it will cost a fair amount of money, most likely starting at around £749 — for a cheaper option see the Surface on the previous slide).
One of the changes we’re certain we’ll see is an upgraded Surface Pen, since Microsoft recently filed a patent for a stylus with a rechargeable battery that charges over a magnetic dock. The Surface Pro 5 is also likely to be fitted with a Kaby Lake processor for performance and battery life improvements, a USB-C connection, and a higher-resolution 4K display. The design will otherwise stay mostly the same when compared to the Surface Pro 4.
We’ll bring you more Surface Pro 5 rumours as we hear them.
Samsung’s premium Tab S line is among the very best tablets you can buy, and better than anything else we’ve seen in the Android world. We’re expecting great things from the next update to the line-up, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. According to Sammobile that should be in Q1 2017, and Samsung is rumoured to be holding an Unpacked event separate to MWC in March.
We’ll more than likely see two Tab S3 models, with a compact model measuring around 8in, and a larger-screened tablet around 9.7in. Rumours abound that we could see a Samsung Galaxy Tab S Edge, borrowing from the curved-edge design of the Galaxy S7 edge. However, while a glass-rear tablet would be interesting, sketches of the Tab S3 found at the FCC suggest the design will be remarkably similar to that of the Tab S2.
Whatever the Tab S3 is called, you can bet your last pound on the fact it will have a high-resolution display and way more power than anyone really needs. The Tab S3 is expected to feature a 1536×2048-pixel screen and Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Cameras are likely to be 8Mp at the back and 2Mp at the front. Following on from the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, we’d expect it to stick with a Micro-USB port for charging the internal battery, which is alleged to be 4,000mAh in the Tab S3 8in and 5870mAh in the Tab S3 9.7in.
We’ll bring you more Tab S3 rumours as we hear them.
There might be rumours flying around that Sony has killed off its Z-series family of phones and tablets with the introduction of the Xperia X and XA at MWC 2016, but Sony has never officially confirmed this is the case, instead taking the line “never say never”. And its tablet series is long overdue an update, having not been refreshed since the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet — and the compact version is even older, having not been updated since the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.
Whether it arrives as a Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet, Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet Compact or even Sony Xperia X Tablet, Sony’s new tablet is well overdue. We’d hope to see one announced at MWC 2017, which takes place at the end of February/early March.
Expect the tablet to be a premium model with a circa-£500 price tag if history is anything to go by. This being Sony, you can expect an IP68 waterproof build and a sleek design. Other features might include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, a Quad-HD display, 4GB+ of RAM and 32GB+ of storage with microSD support.
Read more Sony Xperia Tablet rumours here.
Also see: Best new phones coming in 2017 .
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Russia dismissed an intel report claiming that the Kremlin meddled with the U. S. presidential election, saying the accusations were «amateurishly emotional» and driving a «witch-hunt. «
«There was nothing in this report that deserved to be read in detail,» said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
The U. S. intel report, published on Friday, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of personally ordering a secret campaign meant to influence last year’s presidential election.
The effort, which attempted to boost Donald Trump over rival Hillary Clinton, included hacks from Russian cyberspies that stole sensitive files from Democratic figures and groups. The files were later leaked to the public.
However, the declassified version of Friday’s intel report revealed no new evidence or sources proving the Kremlin’s role in the election-related hacks.
The Kremlin’s spokesman criticized this lack of evidence. Moscow «is observing a serious fatigue with these accusations,» Peskov reportedly said. «The published part arouses nothing but disappointment. «
The Russian government has repeatedly denied any connection with the hacks. President-electTrump has also remained skeptical over claims that the Kremlin was involved.
On Friday, U. S. intelligence leaders briefed Trump over their findings, but he withheld any explicit endorsement agreeing that Russia was behind the hacks.
Instead, Trump focused on his view that no hacking effort – from any country – had managed to tamper with election’s outcome.
«Intelligence stated very strongly there was absolutely no evidence that hacking affected the election results,» he tweeted on Friday. «Voting machines not touched! «
Friday’s U. S. intel report didn’t assess whether the alleged Russian effort affected the election outcome. But the report did claim that Russian spies accessed elements of U. S. state and local electoral boards, although none of those involved vote tallying.
Coinciding with the U. S. intel report, the Department of Homeland Security on Friday decided to designate the country’s election systems as critical infrastructure.
The designation means the department can offer more federal help to protect the systems. However, the running of elections will remain in control of local and state governments, DHS said.
«Cyber attacks on this country are becoming more sophisticated,» DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement on Friday. «Bad cyberactors – ranging from nation states, cybercriminals, and hacktivists – are becoming more sophisticated and dangerous. «

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