Wired

May the 4th might only happen once a year, but it’s always a celebration of Star Wars on Disney+. With its ownership of the Lucasfilm brand and all Marvel titles, the streaming service isn’t just for kids. It offers plenty of grown-up content in its bid to compete with Netflix and Amazon—and we’re not just talking movies. Since launching the service, Disney has used the name recognition of Star Wars and Marvel to launch scores of TV shows, from The Mandalorian to...

about 4 hours ago

Wired

A database containing sensitive, sometimes personal information from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women was openly accessible on the internet, revealing more than 115,000 files related to organizations that partner with or receive funding from UN Women. The documents range from staffing information and contracts to letters and even detailed financial audits about organizations working with vulnerable communities around the world, including under repressive regimes.Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered the database, which was not password protected...

about 5 hours ago

Wired

But then, too, there was the assurance, the confidence, in the accounts of the biologists as remedy to allay suspicion. Because Sergeant Rocker, too, had then taken to the waters and disappeared, the biologists using their tracking equipment to make sure they could follow the alligators in their new lives.The Tyrant kept to herself, while the others remained in close proximity, for a while. None, at least overnight, seemed inclined to leave the area, and by the fourth day, Team...

about 7 hours ago

Wired

If you’re willing to spend more than $100, great headphones abound. Once Apple breached the wireless earbud dam with its initial AirPod model, excellent-sounding buds with noise-canceling, great mics, and high-fidelity sound have flooded the market. Put a list of name brands on a board, throw a dart, and buy the pair it makes that’s closest to $150. You’ll probably find something that’s reasonably good.That’s why I’m so impressed with a new pair of headphones from relative newcomer Soundpeats, the...

about 8 hours ago

Wired

Demos of AI agents can seem stunning but getting the technology to perform reliably and without annoying, or costly, errors in real life can be a challenge. Current models can answer questions and converse with almost human-like skill and are the backbone of chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. They can also perform tasks on computers when given a simple command by accessing the computer screen as well as input devices like a keyboard and trackpad or through...

about 8 hours ago

Wired

The fundraising drives are organized on Discord, Signal, and Telegram—but not on X, the platform that the NAFO movement has thrived on for years.“People are being forced away from X, just because Russia basically bought the platform,” the UK-based fella tells WIRED, citing the prevalence of Russian bots and pro-Kremlin accounts allowed on the platform under Musk’s stewardship. X did not respond to a request for comment.One of the most successful and prolific NAFO fundraisers has been Ragnar Sass, who...

about 8 hours ago

Wired

When my husband first saw me vacuuming with the Shark stick vacuum, he asked me dubiously, “Is that a Dyson?” The British company has become so synonymous with cordless stick vacuums that it just didn’t seem possible that we wouldn’t have one. It’s like buying the generic brand Q-Tips. Who does that? Even the Shark’s color scheme deliberately echoes Dyson’s.I’ve been testing Shark’s latest cordless stick vacuum for a month in order to answer my husband’s, and also your, question:...

about 8 hours ago

Wired

We test mattresses over a number of weeks for a reason. Rarely is the break-in period as pronounced as it was with the Nolah Evolution 15 in the “Luxury Firm” option. This thick and tightly structured hybrid felt like an overstuffed balloon out of the box and took two full weeks to break in. By the end of the month, I was sad to send it away.The Nolah Evolution has seven layers, notably a full inch of high-density foam and...

about 9 hours ago

Wired

The iPad Mini has always felt like an outlier in Apple's iPad lineup. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the iPad Pro, it's not the cheapest iPad, and unlike the iPad Air, it's a little too small to use for work. That size is its biggest strength though—if you really want a tiny tablet to tote around everywhere, the iPad Mini doesn't have strong competition and remains the best. The latest iteration maintains that ethos and brings...

about 10 hours ago

Wired

When I arrived at Hotel Rangá in Iceland, I was most excited to see the button on the phone in my room that said, “Aurora Wake-Up.” The tiny, black button seemed insignificant based on its size but, in my opinion, it was one of the most important features at the hotel.Each day, I clicked the button and received an automated message letting me know I had been added to the Aurora Wake-Up call list. And each evening I went to...

about 10 hours ago

Wired

When Canadian developer Peter Todd found out that a new HBO documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, was set to identify him as Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, he was mostly just pissed. “This was clearly going to be a circus,” Todd told WIRED in an email.The identity of the person—or people—who created Bitcoin has been the subject of speculation since December 2010, when they disappeared from public view. The mystery has proved all the more irresistible for the...

about 11 hours ago

Wired

If you’re a man, you are more likely to suffer a health condition that kills you. But if you’re a woman, you are more likely to live in ill health. Women spend 25 percent more of their lives in ill health compared to men. This, in a nutshell, is the gender health gap.When a woman walks into a hospital, she’s less likely than a man to have her pain levels assessed, and if she is treated for pain, she will...

about 12 hours ago

Wired

We know surprisingly little about the impact of smartphone bans in schools, says Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics who studies how digital technologies affect young people. There are relatively few good studies in this area, and those studies that have been done often point in contradictory directions. There is just about enough evidence to suggest that preventing children from accessing their phones improves concentration, says Livingstone, but it’s much harder to say that banning phones...

about 15 hours ago

Wired

VistaPrint specializes in custom physical and digital marketing products for small businesses, like marketing materials and promotional products, along with personal products like invitations and posters to meet any print and online personalization needs you may have. Whether you need products for your small biz or want personalized gag gifts, use coupon code for $15 off orders of $100 or more with code TAKE15 at VistaPrint (offer ends September 30 and cannot be combined with other offers. Whether you need...

about 17 hours ago

Wired

Around here, we have a saying: mattresses are always on sale, but they’re not always the same price. The explosion of the bed-in-a-box business has led to a never-ending price war where you, the consumer, can be the wartime profiteer if you play your cards right. From now through the end of the year, you can get 40% off a Nectar mattress (using a link above) by using the code NECTAR40 or you can score savings on the Nectar site’s...

about 17 hours ago

Wired

A new lawsuit brought against the startup Perplexity argues that, in addition to violating copyright law, it’s breaking trademark law by making up fake sections of news stories and falsely attributing the words to publishers.Dow Jones (the publisher of the Wall Street Journal) and the New York Post—both owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp—brought the copyright infringement lawsuit against Perplexity today in the US Southern District of New York.This is not the first time Perplexity has run afoul of news...

1 day ago

Wired

The Elon Musk-backed America PAC has spent thousands of dollars advertising on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform X to support former president Donald Trump’s campaign. According to X’s political ad disclosure data, between July 8 and October 1 the America PAC ran 59 ads, costing more than $166,000 and yielding, per X’s metrics, 32,058,424 impressions. All of the ads targeted swing states–Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Wisconsin.Musk first endorsed Trump immediately following the attempted assassination against him in...

1 day ago

Wired

A $2 million contract that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed with Israeli commercial spyware vendor Paragon Solutions has been paused and placed under compliance review, WIRED has learned.The White House’s scrutiny of the contract marks the first test of the Biden administration’s executive order restricting the government’s use of spyware.The one-year contract between Paragon’s US subsidiary in Chantilly, Virginia, and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Division 3, was signed on September 27 and first reported by WIRED on...

1 day ago

Wired

The claims, however, didn’t go viral until last week and the release of the deepfake video.Darren Linvill, codirector at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, tells WIRED that he immediately recognized this tactic as part of Russia’s well-established disinformation playbook.“There is little doubt this is Storm-1516,” Linvill, whose team uncovered the network last fall, tells WIRED.Linvill says the account that first shared the AI-altered video bears all the hallmarks of previous Storm-1516 campaigns. “It is standard for them to create an...

1 day ago

Wired

We loved the first generation of the Tribit StormBox Micro for its easy-to-use silicone strap, which firmly held it against bicycle handlebars. In this update, Tribit has maintained the rugged IP67 rating against water and dust, and given us more battery life (around 12 hours) and better bass. Also, new Bluetooth 5.2 tech allows it to cast a wider signal than its predecessor, for when you're wandering around the yard or house. ★ Also handlebar-ready: Bose also makes a great speaker...

1 day ago

Wired

Skip to main contentOct 21, 2024 10:02 AMYou see them every single day (almost). Our curated guide features personalized gifts for every office personality, from the foodies to the minimalists.Photograph: Amazon; Getty ImagesIf you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.Every office is a microcosm of personalities, making the quest for the perfect gifts for coworkers both exciting and baffling. You’ve got the snack lover, whose bottomless drawer of treats resembles a mini...

1 day ago

Wired

Unlike in most three-row SUVs, sitting at the back of the Buzz was a comfortable experience for my 6-foot-3 body. We also piled four WIRED colleagues into the van for a long loop around the neighborhood, and everyone had plenty of room.With all the seats in use, the cargo space behind the third row is 18.6 cubic feet. That’s enough for a large grocery haul or several peoples’ luggage. The third row of seats can be folded down to make...

1 day ago

Wired

As with any medical condition, you may not want every person you meet to know that you experience hearing loss. Unfortunately, quality hearing aids are as subtle as a pair of antlers. That’s where in-the-ear (ITE), also referred to as in-the-canal (ITC), hearing aids like the Sony CRE-C10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) come in handy. Developed in conjunction with WS Audiology, the C10s are virtually invisible when worn, with just a short retrieval wire hanging out that is only noticeable to...

1 day ago

Wired

Now, the whole point of Matter is that you shouldn't need separate apps to manage all of your devices. Kwikset still requires you to start with its app for the initial setup, but then you'll head into the Lock Settings and tap on the section labeled Matter, where you can easily switch over control to your smart-home ecosystem of choice. The app will prompt you to choose Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home, or Samsung SmartThings when you switch over...

1 day ago

Wired

You can make some of these adjustments by manipulating the stems of the earbuds, which now have even more functions to master. These hardware operations can be finicky, and in almost every situation, the app is a lot more foolproof and easier to use.One of the key touted features is the new Media Assist mode, which applies your hearing aid settings to streamed music, video, and phone calls. It makes a big difference and solidifies why these wireless earbuds are...

1 day ago

Wired

In both cases, Biofuel claims, the firms shipped equipment from China to its hosting facility in Eastern Kentucky, then walked away with the bitcoin produced, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid energy bills and hosting fees.Biofuel reached a settlement with Touzi in early 2022 for $60,000, but despite having handed back the mining equipment, it claims not to have received the sum it is owed under the agreement.In the still-unresolved spat with VCV, Biofuel received permission from...

1 day ago

Wired

The reporting requirements are essential for alerting the government to potentially dangerous new capabilities in increasingly powerful AI models, says a US government official who works on AI issues. The official, who requested anonymity to speak freely, points to OpenAI’s admission about its latest model’s “inconsistent refusal of requests to synthesize nerve agents.”The official says the reporting requirement isn’t overly burdensome. They argue that, unlike AI regulations in the European Union and China, Biden’s EO reflects “a very broad, light-touch...

1 day ago

Wired

Analysts at the US Department of Homeland Security shared an internal report to local agencies in August, warning them about the economic risks of using Chinese utility storage batteries. It warns that the dependence on Chinese batteries could hurt developing a secure supply chain in the US.The document, first obtained by national security transparency nonprofit Property of the People and seen by WIRED, accuses Chinese companies of “using People’s Republic of China state support to quickly and cheaply enter the...

1 day ago

Wired

GoPro has a few tricks here and there worth mentioning, though. As someone who likes to handle color grading in postproduction software, the new, improved Log video support is very welcome. I would go so far as to say this is the best Log profile I've seen in an action camera. The Hero 13 Black also has a new slow-motion burst mode which can record 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. It pulls that off for only five seconds,...

2 days ago

Wired

Klipsch’s numbered series of powered speakers stretches from the pint-sized in The Fives to the gigantic in The Nines. The Sevens (8/10, WIRED Recommends) split the difference brilliantly. Their towering cabinets just fit on most speaker stands, helping them dispense clear, brash, and powerful sound. I love them best for TV where they spice up movies with thunderous bass and vivid stereo imaging, but their warm and detailed sound is great for music too.A stylish input wheel on the right...

2 days ago

Wired

It tends to really be used only by developers, but the address bar and search box up at the top of the Google Chrome interface has an official name: the omnibox. It reflects the multipurpose capabilities of this little text field, as it's able to do much more than look up web addresses and run searches on Google.When you know about everything the omnibox can do, you can save time jumping between different apps and sites, and get things done...

2 days ago

Wired

It shouldn’t be this cheap to thoroughly enjoy the sound of John Wick as he breaks a real-life NBA player’s neck with a book. Yet for around $200 (a penny less if on sale), you can get a 5.1 soundbar system from Vizio that lets you hear the subtle crack of his vertebrae as a mildly stabbed Keanu Reeves twists his leather-bound enemy just so, in the intro to the franchise’s third installment.This kind of immersion used to cost you...

2 days ago

Wired

Wade Logan Birglinde 100 Percent Blackout CurtainsThese 50- by 84-inch curtains have a woven, linen-style texture, are thick, and feel durable. They have a two-way hang design with a rod pocket or can be used with clip rings (they come with 20 optional metal rings). Although I hung them directly on the rod for greater blackout coverage on the window, the curtains have a pinch-pleat design that helps them appear fuller and a bit more elegant when they’re on the...

2 days ago

Wired

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.The bottom of the ocean is cold, dark, and under extreme pressure. It is not a place suited to the physiology of us surface dwellers: At the deepest point, the pressure of 36,200 feet of seawater is greater than the weight of an elephant on every square inch of your body. Yet Earth’s deepest places are home to life uniquely suited to these challenging conditions. Scientists have studied how the bodies...

2 days ago

Wired

Last summer, when Krystal White was visiting Houston for a National Federation of the Blind convention, she claims she had to hide her guide dog named Gage in order to get an Uber from the airport.This is a frequent problem, she explains.“I've had them drive right past me, and I've had neighbors go, ‘I think that was your Uber driver,’” White says. “And I'm like, ‘oh great.’ So I've missed appointments, I've missed my daughter's play at school.“It makes you...

3 days ago

Wired

Dark Matter Arcade Fighting StickA common weakness with retro game consoles is the controllers. Mushy D-pads, drifting joysticks, and short cables can all cause problems. Blistered thumbs may be an authentic part of the original experience, but they are not something I want to relive. It is pricey, bulky, and heavy, but the Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick boasts a Sanwa Denshi ball-top arcade joystick and eight Vewlix-style buttons. It has that familiar arcade feel and seems to be virtually indestructible....

3 days ago

Wired

“OK, Pia,” I (Adrienne) say. "The Rumpl is nice, but what if you had a blanket you could wear?”I have tested several different versions of this wearable down poncho. My spouse likes the pocket on Thermarest's version, which is cheaper; I like the patterns on Poler's version, but it's too thin when temperatures drop below 40 degrees.Cleverhood's snow cape is amazingly warm and roomy. I look like a mushroom when I'm buried in it next to an outdoor fire pit...

3 days ago

Wired

I'm here to make friends, bask in the kind, accepting glow of internet comments, and speak the dark truth you've all long known to be true: The N64 controller, Nintendo's infamous trident joypad for its third home console, is, and always was, awful.You may think you like it. If you're of a “certain age,” there's a fair chance you have fond memories of being huddled around a TV screen, screeching with fury as you got hit by a blue shell...

3 days ago

Wired

Skip to main contentFrom extra game storage to a fancy new 120-Hz TV, here are our favorite WIRED-tested complements to your PS5.It's not as hard to buy a new PlayStation 5 as it used to be, but its capabilities are still impressive. The cybernetic clamshell tower of a console is packed to the gills with killer hardware. It can run games in native 4K, hit frame rates in excess of 120 frames per second, and output video at 120 hertz...

3 days ago

Wired

As a UK resident currently without the certificate, I had to be quite careful where I flew the Air 3S. Living on the coast at least meant I was able to fly it out over the sea, where it could easily be kept the requisite distance from people, buildings, parks, and beaches. If I lived in the middle of a large town or city here, however, I’d find the restrictions too frustrating to deal with and opt for an ultra-lightweight,...

3 days ago

Wired

THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.Bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay in Florida and Barataria Bay in Louisiana are exhaling microplastic fibers, according to our new research published in the journal PLOS One.Tiny plastic pieces have spread all over the planet—on land, in the air, and even in clouds. An estimated 170 trillion bits of microplastic are estimated to be in the oceans. Across the globe, research has found that people and wildlife are exposed...

3 days ago

Wired

As I leave my house on an overcast Tuesday morning to walk the dog, I’m accosted by a neighbor who cheerily calls down the street: “I hear you have an OnlyFans now!” I start to wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake.OnlyFans has—how shall I put it—a reputation. Like many online platforms, it matches content creators with their audience. But OnlyFans is primarily known for one type of content: sex.When friends and acquaintances hear I—a 43-year-old father of two—have set...

3 days ago

Wired

It's easy to see the influences—Wednesday is equal parts Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, and Smallville (no surprise, given it's created by the latter's Alfred Gough and Miles Millar)—but it's all elevated by Jenna Ortega's brilliantly macabre and deliciously deadpan performance as Wednesday herself, not to mention the visual sensibilities of director Tim Burton. With a phenomenal supporting cast, including Catharine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán as Morticia and Gomez Addams; Fred Armisen as deranged Uncle Fester; Gwendoline Christie as Nevermore's Principal Weems;...

3 days ago

Wired

The streaming service has plenty of offerings, but sometimes finding the best movies on Netflix can be a real mixed bag. Sometimes finding the right film at the right time can seem like an impossible task. Fret not, we’re here to help. Below is a list of some of our favorite movies currently on the streaming service—from dramas to comedies to thrillers.If you decide you're in more of a TV mood, head over to our collection of the best TV...

3 days ago

Wired

This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.Three years ago, Erin Primer had an idea for a new summer program for her school district: She wanted students to learn about where their food comes from. Primer, who has worked in student nutrition within California’s public school system for 10 years, applied for grant funding from the state to kick off the curriculum, and got it. Students planted cilantro in a garden tower, met a...

3 days ago

Wired

And that’s not all. Each week, we round up the security and privacy news we didn’t cover in depth ourselves. Click the headlines to read the full stories. And stay safe out there.If you use uBlock Origin’s Chrome extension to filter out online ads, expect to get mildly annoyed in the near future. Google has begun implementing new Chrome extension standards, called Manifest V3, that will disable the legacy version of uBlock Origin’s extension that most users likely have installed....

4 days ago

Wired

Samsung makes everything from gaming monitors to dishwashers. WIRED often reviews the South Korean company’s products—especially Samsung’s vast lineup of Galaxy smartphones. WIRED is also always looking for a sale, finding the best promo codes and coupons to help you save big on your most important tech purchases.Refer a friend and get $100Sign up for Promo Codes and DiscountsRight now, one of the hottest Samsung promo codes is a whopping 30% discount for government employees and educators. Samsung also has...

4 days ago

Wired

Students, it’s the worst time of your life, you might as well save a little money. Just kidding, life only gets harder from here. Kidding. Again. Maybe. What is not a joke is this deal. Dell is giving students a 10% discount on things students need like Dell XPS laptops and Alienware gaming rigs. Don’t call them that when you tell your parents you need one. Just say it’s a Dell 32-inch 4K OLED Monitor, no need to say anything...

4 days ago

Wired

Dyson's vacuums are top-tier for various reasons. They're powerful, easy to maneuver, bagless, lightweight, and more. But a majority of these vacs are also very expensive. If you've been waiting for one to go on sale, you're in luck. Right now (until December 31), you can get up to $200 off of one of its cordless models on the Dyson website—a majority of which are listed as our top picks in our guide to The Best Dyson Vacuums.How To Use...

4 days ago

Wired

After living in big cities like San Francisco and New York, when I returned to the Midwest and set foot in Wally World, I heard angels sing. Rows and rows of fluorescent lights highlighted any and every product you'd ever need want, from hearing aids to video games, in one place. Sorry to the mom-and-pop bodegas—I missed this level of convenience. If by chance they don’t have what you need in-store at Walmart, there’s even more online, with pickup and...

4 days ago

Wired

A TikTok video of actor Brian Baumgartner, from the American version of The Office, calling for the overthrow of the president of a small European country was an early sign that this would be no ordinary election.Late last year, Baumgartner appeared among a lineup of American celebrities addressing Maia Sandu, the current, pro-European president of Moldova and proclaiming in bad Russian: “We, Hollywood stars, support the people of Moldova in their desire to overthrow you, Sandu.” These weren’t deepfakes. Instead...

4 days ago

Wired

Twenty years ago, MySpace and Facebook ushered in an inspired age of social media. Today, the sticky parables of online life are inescapable: Connection is a convenience as much as it is a curse. A lot’s changed since those early years. In June, the US surgeon general, Vivek H. Murthy, called for a warning label on social platforms that have contributed to the mental health crisis among young people, of which “social media has emerged as an important contributor.” The...

4 days ago

Wired

People with fast street cars like to put them through their paces at the quarter-mile track. One way to get your quarter-mile time is to just buckle up and put the pedal to the metal. But if your car's design is suboptimal, you won't be taking home the bragging rights.So here's this week's question: Can automotive engineers predict a car's quarter-mile time using physics? And could the physics suggest some tricks to make a car faster? Yes and yes! Let's...

4 days ago

Wired

Unless you're a keyboard enthusiast or a gamer, with custom builds for specific tasks, it's highly likely you're currently using whatever keyboard you saw first on a shelf at Best Buy. You probably know nothing about it, other than the fact that it works and it gets you through the day. But a company called Nuio, co-founded by brothers Tom and Greg Wilson, want to up the ante on ordinary keyboards, starting with the Flow Keyboard—a premium, fully wireless, ergonomic,...

4 days ago

Wired

We think the screens above are better buys, but these are two other good models that do the job just fine.BenQ 27-Inch IPS Monitor for $160: WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu bought and paired this monitor with his MacBook and says it works really well with nice colors. The large 27-inch screen paired with the 1080-pixel resolution means things can look a little fuzzy if you sit too close to the monitor, but it's fine at normal viewing distances. It supports...

4 days ago

Wired

I held Earth in the palm of my hand. Universe Sandbox, a celestial body simulator, isn’t available on the PlayStation 5, yet I was running it inside the PlayStation VR2 with the help of the relatively new PC adapter. It was thrilling to access a whole new library for Sony’s virtual reality headset. Until it stopped working.The PS VR2 has been struggling since its launch early last year. The hardware is impeccable—I rated it an 8/10 in my review largely...

4 days ago

Wired

My first encounter with Elehear, an over-the-counter hearing aid brand, earlier this year was positive. The company’s Alpha Pro hearing aids are traditional behind-the-ear devices designed for users with mild hearing loss. They come with an online audiologist session to help new users get up to speed and a “remote sound” feature that lets you drop your phone in front of an audio source and have it piped directly to the hearing aids. At $459, they’re solidly priced and were...

4 days ago

Wired

Typically it is the celebrity reaching out to demand their likeness be removed from a product. In 2021, the New York Times documented the litany of products, from electric razors to ponchos, and even face paint, with images of B.J. Novak advertising the goods—but the actor said on social media that he was “too amused” to take any action.Details about TheBestWatchesonEarth are scant. The company was registered in late July, roughly three months before it began to advertise the watches,...

4 days ago

Wired

John Graham-Cumming doesn’t ping me often, but when he does I pay attention. His day job is the CTO of the security giant CloudFlare, but he is also a lay historian of technology, guided by a righteous compass. He might be best known for successfully leading a campaign to force the UK government to apologize to the legendary computer scientist Alan Turing for prosecuting him for homosexuality and essentially harassing him to death. So when he DM’d me to say...

4 days ago

Wired

Look, you’re probably here because you recently received an iPhone notification that the battery for your AirTag is running low. Or, maybe you purchased a refurbished version of Apple’s tracking device and want to make sure it has plenty of juice to last for a while. Either way, I’m here to assure you that replacing an AirTag battery is simple. The whole process should take only a couple of minutes.How often do you need to replace it? After activating a...

4 days ago

Wired

A sleek, gold car pulls up to a bustling corner market, and a middle-aged couple alights. A woman eases a suitcase into the same vehicle’s spacious trunk. Later, a doodle and its master watch rocket videos in the front seat as the car eases around the neighborhood. No driver, no steering wheel, no pedals, no waiting, no traffic, no worries: This Tesla Cybercab drives itself.That’s the vision shown off by Tesla CEO Elon Musk last week during a presentation broadcast...

4 days ago

Wired

Neither will walking away from the speaker with your phone, a classic party foul in the Bluetooth era. With its up to 150 feet in line-of-sight range and plenty of distance even with obstructions like walls or windows, you’ll have to wander pretty far to cause annoying hiccups.The UE app adds more options, including a multiband EQ, the ability to pair the speaker with up to 150 other Ultimate Ears speakers (if you’re running some sort of outdoor rave), and...

4 days ago

Wired

Across nearly 30 videos, TikTokker @kiera.ln has gotten tens of millions of views. They started rolling in when she posted a clip of herself—in a silk robe, wearing sunglasses in bed—lip-syncing Donald Trump’s almost-infamous comments about Florida governor Ron DeSantis (whom he calls “Ron DeSanctimonious”) needing “a personality transplant.” That was in late September. The latest, posted Wednesday, is a lip sync of Trump on Fox News saying he would give himself “an A+.”That most recent video felt like a...

4 days ago

Wired

No Reception Club Hideaway DuffelIn some ways, traveling when your baby is little is the easier than wrangling them during the toddler years (less need for entertaining!).For those parents who you know love to travel, or can't avoid plane trips even though they've got a little one, No Reception Club's duffel bag is supremely handy. It has an included organizing insert, multiple ways to carry it, and several pockets to keep everything—including, perhaps most importantly, an insulated pocket in the...

4 days ago

Wired

Then there’s the matter of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), the Army’s futuristic “smart” goggles. Currently based on a ruggedized version of the Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset, the IVAS is both night vision goggles and futuristic heads-up display, capable of feeding sensor inputs into a soldier’s line of sight. The Army has long experimented with helmet-mounted displays for decades as part of various “future warrior” programs, and the IVAS hasn’t been immune to the pitfalls of previous...

5 days ago

Wired

Late in his team’s game against the Green Bay Packers on September 15, Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson caught a short pass over the middle of the field, charged forward, and lowered his body to brace for contact. The side of his helmet smacked the face mask of linebacker Quay Walker, and the back of it whacked the ground as Walker wrestled him down. Rising to his feet after the 9-yard gain, Granson tossed the football to an official...

5 days ago

Wired

While the biometric-scanning Orb and the World network have their roots in crypto tokens, “crypto” wasn’t an oft-mentioned word during the event. Instead, Altman and Blania emphasized World’s blockchain service, digital asset management, and virtual communication tools.Blania claimed during the press briefing that in the future World hopes to build the “largest finance network” on the planet.In a separate interview with WIRED, Blania said that during regular Sunday meetings at Atlman’s house, the pair were inspired by the rise of...

5 days ago

Wired

When it comes to originals, Netflix and Amazon have the deepest libraries of prestige movies. But ever since CODA won the Best Picture Oscar, it's become clear that some of the best movies are on Apple TV+. Granted, as with any streaming service, not every film on the roster is a winner, but from Billie Eilish documentaries to Sundance darlings, Apple’s streaming service is building up a strong catalog to run alongside its growing slate of beloved TV shows.Below are WIRED’s picks for flicks you should prioritize...

5 days ago

Wired

“You have to learn the fundamentals,” he says. “Technology will change, but storytelling won’t.”To make his short, “Mnemonade,” really sing, Meta Puppet says he focused on giving the story some emotional heft. “I don’t think AI films will go fully mainstream until we get emotional dialog,” he says. He played all the roles in his short, about the poignance of sense memory and an elderly woman’s loss of memory, using AI from Silicon Valley “unicorn” ElevenLabs to shift his vocal...

5 days ago

Wired

On Wednesday, a WIRED exclusive revealed that one of J.D. Vance’s financial policy advisers has posted a lot on Reddit about illicit substances. Given Vance’s hard stance on drugs, WIRED’s Tim Marchman and Makena Kelly join Leah to discuss why it matters that a member of his staff seems to have been using them.Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Makena Kelly is @kellymakena. Tim Marchman is @timmarchman. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter...

5 days ago

Wired

SpaceX is seeking approval for changes to Starlink that the company says will enable gigabit-per-second broadband service. In an application submitted to the US Federal Communications Commission on October 11, SpaceX claims the requested "modification and its companion amendment will enable the Gen2 system to deliver gigabit-speed, truly low-latency broadband and ubiquitous mobile connectivity to all Americans and the billions of people globally who still lack access to adequate broadband."SpaceX said it is seeking "several small-but-meaningful updates to the orbital...

5 days ago

Wired

United States intelligence officials have been quietly issuing warnings to government agencies all summer about a rising threat of extremist violence tied to the 2024 presidential election, including plots to destroy bins full of paper ballots and promote "lone wolf" attacks against election facilities throughout the country.In a series of reports between July and September, analysts at the Department of Homeland Security warned of a “heightened risk” of extremists carrying out attacks in response to the race. Copies of the...

5 days ago

Wired

Google just added a new customization tool for the viral AI podcasts in its NotebookLM software. I got early access and tested it out using Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis as the source material, spending a few hours generating podcasts about the seminal novella—some of them more unhinged than others.Released by Google Labs in 2023 as an experimental, AI-focused writing tool, NotebookLM has been enjoying a resurgence in user interest since early September, when the developers added an option to generate...

5 days ago

Wired

Skip to main contentOct 17, 2024 11:02 AMSearching for thoughtful gifts for travelers? Our guide has top picks for all the essentials that frequent fliers will actually use.Photograph: Amazon; Getty ImagesIf you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.Let's be real: even the most seasoned globe-trotter can find traveling to be stressful. Gifts for travelers should be all about ease. Between the packing, weaving through overcrowded terminals, and living out of a suitcase,...

5 days ago

Wired

Apple iPad Air (2022, 5th Gen)Do you really need a cheap laptop? Could you get by with a tablet? The 2022 Apple iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will be the perfect laptop replacement for some people. If you want great battery life and something that doubles as a way to browse the web from the couch, watch movies in bed, and still get a bit of work done during the day, the iPad Air fits the bill. If you don't...

5 days ago

Wired

Thanks to the included pen, you can now write on your Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends)! There's no lag, and the outcome looks very similar to your handwriting. It's already pricey at $340, but you can spend an additional $30 for the premium pen that includes an eraser on the opposite end. You can't write directly on most books, which is frustrating—you have to instead use sticky notes. There are now some options available with that functionality, but it's mostly crosswords...

5 days ago

Wired

Drum Rack has its limitations, too. Pads have to use the new Drum Sampler, instead of Simpler, and they can’t have individual effects chains. Instead any effects need to apply to the entire Drum Rack.Your effect selection is pretty decent. There are eight in total: reverb, delay, saturator, redux, chorus-ensemble, phaser-flanger, channel EQ and dynamics (combo EQ and compressor). Each track can have two effects, plus there are two master effectsConnectivity is limited, but not overly so. There’s 3.5-mm audio...

5 days ago

Wired

I’ve used a lot of gaming controllers over the years. From the original PlayStation to the latest Xbox, I’ve likely used every mainstream console's controller at least once. What has been true, until recently, was that the official controller was going to be the best. They would beat out the third-party options in ergonomics, responsiveness, connectivity, and battery life most of the time.However, this has slowly shifted over the years: First-party controllers have started to have more issues, while the...

5 days ago

Wired

And the wheels, attached to a piece that acts as a lever and tilts the coop at an angle, allow for chicken tenders like me to ask my husband to easily reposition the henhouse at any time—which is likely welcome news for those who free-range their flock on grass and regularly need fresh pasture for the girls to scratch. The wheels make moving the coop easy in comparison to coops without wheels; I just couldn’t muscle it myself.At the time...

5 days ago

Wired

But, aside from those e-turbos, Ferrari mastered all this stuff years ago. It’s the hybrid elements and software engineering that demonstrates what a rapid trajectory these guys are now on. Rather than relying on external suppliers, Ferrari is taking charge, having recently opened the new ‘E’ building. Its first fully electric car is due to appear this time next year, but the hardware is already in production in this expansive Mario Cucinella-designed space.The electric motors used on the F80 are...

5 days ago

Wired

Everybody wants to talk to their pet. Or to try to get them to listen, anyway. So it’s no wonder that some startups think the way to break through the communication barrier between you and your pooch is with a nice big helping of technology. Welcome to a world with AI-enabled dog and cat collars that try to interpret a pet’s needs and then share those wishes with their human. The only problem with these devices is that the pet...

5 days ago

Wired

This all gets back to Kofsky. If people are taking Vance’s and Trump’s thoughts on crypto into account when it comes to their November vote, then someone like Kofsky could make a big difference. With Kofsky so integral to Vance’s financial policy, a close look at his online behaviors is telling; and at minimum, when paired with Vance’s and Trump’s anti-drug policies, It’s hypocritical to say the least.The ChatroomOn a lighter note, one of the things I’ve been thinking a...

5 days ago

Wired

From the ground, northeastern Norway might look like fjord country, peppered with neat red houses and dissected by snowmobile tours through the winter. But for pilots flying above, the region has become a danger zone for GPS jamming.The jamming in the region of Finnmark is so constant, Norwegian authorities decided last month they would no longer log when and where it happens—accepting these disturbance signals as the new normal.Nicolai Gerrard, senior engineer at NKOM, the country’s communications authority, says his...

5 days ago

Wired

The researchers say that if the attack were carried out in the real world, people could be socially engineered into believing the unintelligible prompt might do something useful, such as improve their CV. The researchers point to numerous websites that provide people with prompts they can use. They tested the attack by uploading a CV to conversations with chatbots, and it was able to return the personal information contained within the file.Earlence Fernandes, an assistant professor at UCSD who was...

6 days ago

Wired

Marissa Mayer didn’t say AI is Death, destroyer of worlds or even AI needs ethical guardrails.Instead, she said it’s the sun—life-giving, bright, shiny, endlessly giving. Thus, the former Google engineer and CEO of Yahoo, who has worked on artificial intelligence for 25 years, christened her startup Sunshine. It’s devoted to AI-empowering family and social life with photo sharing, contact managing, and event planning.As I spoke with Mayer in Sunshine’s candy-colored digs in Palo Alto, I was so stunned by her...

6 days ago

Wired

KitchenAid’s strategy is one that maybe we should all live by—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Remaining nearly unchanged since its introduction in 1914, KitchenAid’s stand mixer has become such a legendary kitchen staple that we called it an “everlasting” kitchen must-have and put it on our Buy It For Life guide. Right now (until October 1st), you can get 15% off major appliances such as dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, cooktops, refrigeration, and ventilation systems on the KitchenAid website using...

6 days ago

Wired

A virtual private network (VPN) is like a protective tunnel, keeping your data safe from prying eyes. Whether you're worried about the open network at your local coffee shop or want to get around geo-restrictions when you're traveling, NordVPN can help. VPNs aren’t perfect protection (you need to trust your VPN provider), but they’re always going to be better than nothing when you’re using a public hotspot. They also make it easy to continue to watch your favorite shows even...

6 days ago

Wired

According to filings released by the US Federal Election Commission on Tuesday night, Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and owner of X, is now one of the biggest donors to Donald Trump’s campaign. Since publicly endorsing Trump on the heels of the July assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, Musk has donated close to $75 million to the his own political action committee, America PAC, which is aggressively campaigning on the ground in swing states for the Trump campaign.Musk...

6 days ago

Wired

Apple Pencil (First Gen, USB-C, Second Gen)The Apple Pencil is a must-have for any iPad owner who takes a lot of notes or likes to draw. (You can even use it to sign documents.) iPadOS also has handwriting support within certain search fields and apps (like Notes), so you don't need to switch to the keyboard every time you want to type. Apple recently debuted a new Pencil, so now there are three to choose from. Here are the differences:Apple...

6 days ago

Wired

“We will continue targeting ChatGPT until the genocide supporter, Tal Broda, is fired and ChatGPT stops having dehumanizing views of Palestinians," Anonymous Sudan responded in a Telegram post explaining its attacks on OpenAI.Still, Anonymous Sudan's true goals haven't always seemed entirely ideological, Akamai's Seaman says. The group has also offered to sell access to its DDoS infrastructure to other hackers: Telegram posts from the group as recently as March offered the use of its DDoS service, known as Godzilla or...

6 days ago

Wired

After Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in western Florida last week, some residents who evacuated the area are now returning to discover water damage in their homes. And they may soon find something else: mold.Mold can begin to grow as soon as 24 to 48 hours after moisture exposure. And Florida’s subtropical climate, which remains hot and humid in October, makes it a perfect breeding ground. Even worse, mold will continue to grow until the source of...

6 days ago

Wired

Last month, OpenAI unveiled an ambitious new language model capable of working through challenging problems with a simulated kind of step-by-step reasoning. OpenAI says the approach could be crucial for building more capable AI systems in the future.In the meantime, perhaps a more modest version of this technology could help make AI girlfriends and boyfriends a bit more spontaneous and alluring.That’s what Dippy, a startup that offers “uncensored” AI companions is betting. The company recently launched a feature that lets...

6 days ago

Wired

“Like millions of Americans,” the statement reads, “I’ve struggled with drug use, which in my case was mostly an attempt to self medicate against the effects of epilepsy and epilepsy medication. I deeply regret posting these comments. I’m not proud of this and I’m embarrassed it’s being publicized in this way, but I am thankful to say that part of my life is behind me.”For the past 11 years, PsychoticMammal has used Reddit to document their use of a variety...

6 days ago

Wired

This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian."We are witnessing the beginning of a new Era, as the Internet was in the 1980s. Today, access to space is still something for the few, but, just as in computing, in a few years prices will come down. Everyone should indulge in the beauty of an adventure." So said Lorenzo Bertelli, chief marketing officer of Prada, today at the International Astronautical Congress 2024 in Milan, Italy. Yes,...

6 days ago

Wired

By far the most affordable smart shade option, Ikea’s Fyrtur shades come in a choice of eight sizes, from 23 x 76.75 inches up to 48 x 76.75 inches. Unlike the other shades in our guide, there is no made-to-measure option, and these shades are not designed to be cut (it is technically possible according to some online guides, but it doesn’t look easy). If you’re lucky enough to have a window that matches one of the sizes, this is...

6 days ago

Wired

This book changed the way I, and my kids, look at the world. I originally bought because I thought my kids might like it (which they did), but then I stole it, read it cover to cover, bought a sketchbook, and, following along with the book, started to see the world in much more detail than I ever had before. Don't worry if your giftee is not an artist. I am the opposite of skilled when it comes to drawing,...

6 days ago

Wired

Chromebooks can come with a lot of different hardware inside, so it can be hard to figure out exactly what you need. Fortunately, the Chromebook Plus program has made the jumble of specs easier to parse. ChromeOS is also light enough that it doesn’t require incredibly beefy specs to get a good experience. Here are some general tips on what to look out for.Processor: For the best experience, you should avoid older Chromebooks with Intel Celeron processors. The Chromebook Plus...

6 days ago

Wired

That’s not all though: The Galaxy Chromebook Plus is the first laptop to include Google’s new Quick Insert Key, a physical key that occupies the space that used to hold the launcher key. Pressing it gives you immediate access to shortcuts for emoji, GIFs, the clipboard, and recent links and documents. It’s also integrated with Google Drive to let you search for anything, and you can ask Gemini AI to help you write directly from the pop-up menu.It’s an excellent...

6 days ago

Wired

The Trump family’s new crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, is off to an inauspicious start after website crashes limited the ability for investors to participate in an inaugural token sale event.The crypto token, WLFI, went on sale at around 9 am Eastern time on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the website continues to be plagued by reliability issues, pushing some visitors to an error page. “We can’t connect to the server for this app or website at this time,”...

6 days ago

Wired

A coalition of human rights groups have today launched legal action against the French government over its use of algorithms to detect miscalculated welfare payments, alleging they discriminate against disabled people and single mothers.The algorithm, used since the 2010s, violates both European privacy rules and French anti-discrimination laws, argue the 15 groups involved in the case, including digital rights group La Quadrature du Net, Amnesty International, and Collectif Changer de Cap, a French group that campaigns against inequality.“This is the...

6 days ago