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Apple's big annual developers' conference kicks off next week. That has left plenty of time to speculate and entertain rumors about new announcements. We won't know for sure until the Worldwide Developers Conference actually gets going, but there are some likely, and unlikely, scenarios for new hardware and software.… Read more

When you think of killer robots, you probably imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger running around in a leather jacket and sunglasses, or even ED-209 from "Robocop" causing all kinds of damage. Those sorts of mechanical menaces from film are turning out to be the subject of some real concern in the actual world.

A month ago, Human Rights Watch launched a campaign aimed at stopping killer robots. "Urgent action is needed to preemptively ban lethal robot weapons that would be able to select and attack targets without any human intervention," the organization said in a release.

Now, Christof … Read more

I'm polishing up my "Battlestar Galactica" dog tags. I'm digging out my "Star Trek" insignia and IDIC necklace. I'm getting ready for Geek Pride Day on Saturday.

I'm not the only one getting into this. "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fans are pulling their favorite towels out of the dryer. Stormtroopers are spit-shining their armor. "Star Wars" cookie cutters are getting pressed into overtime duty. For me, every day is an exercise in geek pride, but I don't mind having a special day to get extra freaky with the geeky.… Read more

There isn't much we can say for certain about the next version of Android. We know that Google engineers are working on it, but that's about the extent of our definite knowledge. Rumors suggest it will be called "Key Lime Pie." It may also come out later this spring. As usual, take all those rumors with a few tasty grains of salt.

While we can't magically read the minds of Google's programmers, we do know they're likely very busy implementing some new features to make the new OS a cut above its predecessor, Jelly Bean. Let's imagine you're able to pin down a Key Lime Pie Googler and offer up a few suggestions. What features are you aching to see in the OS?… Read more

There's a newcomer hanging around town. It has 5 spacious inches of screen space. It flaunts a 13-megapixel camera. You can't deny the allure of its 2,600mAh battery. All those specs may put it one up on its competitors, at least on paper. But just because the Samsung Galaxy S4 wants to be top dog, doesn't mean the other guys aren't going to put up a fight.

The lead contenders to challenge the Galaxy S4 for the smartphone throne are the iPhone 5, the HTC One, and the BlackBerry Z10. They all have their claims … Read more

Google Glass information has been pouring out as the gadget gets closer to actually being delivered to developers. That means we've learned the high-tech specs sport 16GB of Flash memory and will be able to capture 5-megapixel images and 720p video. They are also meant for developer's eyes only.

Terms of service for Google Glass Explorer Edition includes restrictions on loaning or reselling the eyewear. Google retains the right to deactivate the gear if it detects a violation. The language in the terms is very clear: "You may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person."

Developers are also prohibited from placing ads on Google Glass or charging for users to download apps for it.… Read more

Stephen Hawking's mind is reaching out into the far depths of space as he contemplates the survival of humanity over the very long term. He doesn't hold out much hope for us here on Earth. Instead, the famous physicist is looking to the stars for an answer.

"We must continue to go into space for humanity. We won't survive another 1,000 years without escaping our fragile planet," Hawking said in a recent lecture, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The delicate nature of Earth and humanity's propensity for steamrolling over the environment both spell doom as far as Hawking is concerned. He has been talking about the need to colonize space for years, but his latest comments have ramped up the discussion.… Read more

Facebook is looking to get cozy with the home and lock screens of your Android device. The just-announced Facebook Home is a suite of apps that replaces your normal home and lock screens with social-media content. It puts Facebook in your face every time you power up your phone.

Users will get notifications from friends, plus photos, status updates, and link shares. It pretty much serves up all your Facebook information without you having to ask for it or open up a separate app.

Users will be able download Facebook Home from Google Play, like a regular app. It does require a special confirmation to install, since it makes such radical changes to the existing look of your screens.… Read more

The big cell carriers have had a pretty entrenched way of doing business for a long time. Offer a big phone discount, tie customers in for a two-year contract. T-Mobile made waves this past week by rolling out a no-contract approach to plans. On top of that news, the company announced it was bringing in the iPhone 5.

Suddenly, consumers have the prospect of buying a no-contract iPhone through one of the major carriers. This does come with some caveats. Pricing will be a bit different than we've all come to expect. There will be an up-front fee for … Read more