9 great reads from CNET this week: Amazon Astro, James Bond, robocalls and more
We wrestle with the future that Amazon's Astro is pointing toward, take the measure of 007 blockbuster No Time to Die, get insights into the FCC's efforts on robocalls and the digital divide, and much much more.
Hands down, the attention-grabbing tech of the week was Amazon's Astro, a diminutive rolling robot with cartoon eyes, a camera on a periscope and a mission to follow strangers in the household. The $1,000 smart home gadget will be available at first to just a small coterie of invite-only buyers, but it's already occupying brain space far and wide.
There are lots of ways to think about Astro. It's a convenience and a cool little plaything. It's a privacy and surveillance nightmare waiting to happen. It's Amazon's Trojan horse for getting more and more of its products into your home. Soon enough we'll know if it's a keeper like the Roomba or a flash in the pan like Sony's Aibo.
Our stories on Astro and everything else Amazon announced are among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss:
Amazon's Astro is the ultimate test for whether we really need home robots
Following Amazon's scene-stealing home robot unveiling, the big question is whether it can succeed where others have failed.
Criticizing Amazon might be a losing battle, but it's one worth fighting
Commentary: Amazon understands that it's more important to be popular than to be good. The Astro robot proves it.
No Time To Die review: Daniel Craig's James Bond goes out with a bang
James Bond finally gets a life in this epic, explosive and emotional farewell to the longest-serving 007.
FCC is laser-focused on erasing the digital divide and crushing robocalls
Acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel tells CNET she's hopeful that the FCC can solve these big problems.
Trucking in America: 5 fascinating truths about how your stuff gets to you
Being a trucker is dangerous, difficult and in demand as e-commerce continues to surge. Trucking is also undergoing major technological changes.
Suicide and self-harm content is scarily easy to find on social media
Instagram and other social media sites are accused of not doing enough to protect the mental health of teens and young adults.
Horn in the USA: Building better brass instruments, one part at a time
At S.E. Shires, craftspeople work hard to create horns that fit their players exactly right.
One pair of jeans, 365 days: Why I've worn the same pair of pants for a year straight
The Indigo Invitational elevated me from a denim fan into a full-time "fader" and connected me to my past -- and the world.
COP26: The biggest climate change conference in the world and why it matters
Over 190 nations will come together in Glasgow this November to address the climate crisis.
