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Showing posts from February, 2024

Nintendo Sues Makers of the Wildly Popular Yuzu Emulator

The Switch-maker alleges that Tropic Haze is “facilitating piracy at a colossal scale.” https://www.wired.com/story/nintendo-yuzu-emulator-lawsuit-piracy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Tesla's Charging Network Is Now Open to Other EVs—and Ford Is First in Line

Starting today, Ford electric car drivers can plug into the Supercharger network. You can bet more makers will follow. https://www.wired.com/story/public-ev-charging-tesla-ford/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

US Cities Could Be Capturing Billions of Gallons of Rain a Day

With better infrastructure and “spongy” green spaces, urban areas have made progress but should be soaking up way more free stormwater. https://www.wired.com/story/us-cities-could-be-capturing-billions-of-gallons-of-rain-a-day/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Javier Bardem Is Menacing and Thrilling in 'Dune: Part Two'—and a Soulful Teddy Bear IRL

He’s known for playing fanatics and murderous psychopaths. In real life, the actor loves his wife (and Brad Pitt) and cries during E.T. https://www.wired.com/story/javier-bardem-dune-part-two/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A Pornhub Chatbot Stopped Millions From Searching for Child Abuse Videos

Every time someone in the UK searched for child abuse material on Pornhub, a chatbot appeared and told them how to get help. https://www.wired.com/story/pornhub-chatbot-csam-help/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Lots of People Make Money on Fanfic. Just Not the Authors

Next year, SenLinYu’s Harry Potter fic Manacled will disappear from Archive of Our Own. They don’t want to take it down, but it’s the only way to keep others from profiting off of the work. https://www.wired.com/story/pull-to-publish-fanfic-senlinyu-manacled-fanbinding/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Google Podcasts Is Going Away. Here's How to Transfer Your Subscriptions

Google’s Podcasts app is the latest addition to the company’s software graveyard. YouTube Music will replace it, and users have until July to migrate their shows. https://www.wired.com/story/google-podcasts-how-to-transfer-your-subscriptions/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meet the Disney Imagineer Building You a Real-Life Holodeck

If you’ve ever seen a lightsaber at a Disney park or marveled at BB-8, you’ve seen Lanny Smoot’s work. Now, the man with over 100 patents wants you to be able to walk in VR. https://www.wired.com/story/lanny-smoot-disney-imagineer-lightsaber-holodeck/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

RIP Apple Car. This Is Why It Died

Any tech company moving into the auto space needs a manufacturing partner. But Apple’s EV died as it lived: alone. https://www.wired.com/story/rip-apple-car-this-is-why-it-died/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A Major ‘Stardew Valley’ Update Is Coming in March

A massive update to the wildly popular farm life sim has an official release date. Here's when it'll arrive and what you can expect from it. https://www.wired.com/story/stardew-valley-update-march-2024/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack: BlackCat Hackers Quickly Returned After FBI Bust

Two months ago, the FBI “disrupted” the BlackCat ransomware group. They're already back—and their latest attack is causing delays at pharmacies across the US. https://www.wired.com/story/blackcat-ransomware-disruptions-comebacks/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The US Supreme Court Holds the Future of the Internet in Its Hands

If the court backs provocative laws from Texas and Florida that limit social platforms’ ability to moderate content online, life could become radically different. https://www.wired.com/story/supreme-court-future-of-the-internet/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Russia's Online Campaign to Destroy Yulia Navalnaya

Social media accounts, Kremlin-backed websites, and Telegram channels are all working in coordination to post false allegations about Alexei Navalny’s widow. https://www.wired.com/story/kremlin-backed-accounts-trying-to-destroy-yulia-navalnaya/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

All the Top New Gadgets at MWC 2024

A Barbie phone, a transparent laptop, a bendable bracelet smartphone, and a whole load of AI. Here’s all the best new gear announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. https://www.wired.com/story/all-the-top-new-gadgets-at-mwc-2024/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

NASA’s New PACE Observatory Searches for Clues to Humanity’s Future

They may be tiny, but phytoplankton and aerosols power pivotal Earth systems. Scientists are about to learn a whole lot more about them at a critical time. https://www.wired.com/story/nasas-pace-observatory-launch-spacex-aerosols-plankton/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Google Rebrands Its AI Chatbot as Gemini to Take On ChatGPT

Google is bringing its ChatGPT-style chatbot Bard and some other key AI features under the banner Gemini. A new, more powerful version of the chatbot, Gemini Advanced, is subscription-only. https://www.wired.com/story/google-rebrands-ai-chatbot-gemini/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

2054, Part IV: A Nation Divided

“The people are in the streets. We can’t ignore them any longer. Really, we have little choice. Either we heal together, or we tear ourselves apart.” An exclusive excerpt from 2054: A Novel. https://www.wired.com/story/2054-part-iv-a-nation-divided/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Amazon’s Cloud Boss Likens Generative AI Hype to the Dotcom Bubble

Adam Selipsky, CEO of Amazon’s dominant cloud platform AWS, says generative AI is valuable but that the excitement around some AI companies is similar to when dotcom darlings were “dramatically overhyped.” https://www.wired.com/story/amazons-cloud-boss-selipsky-generative-ai-hype/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Landline Phone Owners Are Protesting AT&T’s Plans to Drop Service

In California, AT&T is designated as the Carrier of Last Resort. The fight is on to keep it that way. https://www.wired.com/story/att-landline-california-complaints/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Russia Is Boosting Calls for 'Civil War' Over Texas Border Crisis

An all-encompassing Russian disinformation campaign is using everything from bots to lifestyle influencers to powerful state-run media to sow division in the United States. https://www.wired.com/story/russia-disinformation-campaign-civil-war-texas-border/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

How to Use Your Phone as a Bedside Alarm Clock With StandBy and Bedtime Modes

Here’s how to ditch that old alarm clock and use StandBy mode on iPhone and Bedtime mode on Android instead. https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-phone-as-bedside-clock/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Console Wars Are Over. Some Influencers Won’t Let Them Go

New rumors that Microsoft may turn its exclusive games into multiplatform titles have infuriated fans: “F Xbox.” https://www.wired.com/story/xbox-playstation-influencers-phil-spencer/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Polyamory Has Entered the Chat

Mainstream awareness of polyamorous relationships is becoming more widespread. On dating apps, making connections is about more than sex. https://www.wired.com/story/polyamory-popularity-dating-apps/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

WhatsApp Chats Will Soon Work With Other Encrypted Messaging Apps

New EU rules mean WhatsApp and Messenger must be interoperable with other chat apps. Here’s how that will work. https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-interoperability-messaging/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meta Will Crack Down on AI-Generated Fakes—but Leave Plenty Undetected

Some AI-generated images posted to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads will in future be labeled as artificial. But only if they are made using tools from companies willing to work with Meta. https://www.wired.com/story/meta-crack-down-ai-generated-fakes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

RFK Jr and the Golden Bachelor Used the Same Stylist, FEC Filings Show

“It was an amazing experience to style such an influential figure in American politics,” the stylist said on Instagram. https://www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr-golden-bachelor-stylist/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The 10 Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers of 2024

Forget about patchy internet connections and dead spots in the house. These WIRED-tested mesh systems will get you online in no time. https://www.wired.com/story/best-mesh-wifi-routers/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Tesla Has Lost Its Range Crown to a Chinese EV You’ve Never Heard Of

Tesla’s Model 3, the Polestar 2, Volkswagen ID.7, and Volvo C40 all missed their WLTP range claims by more than 100 miles when put to the test in arctic conditions. https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-hiphi-ev-range-crown/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

7 Best Valentine's Day Sex Toy Deals: Suction Toys, Vibrators, and Dildos

Ditch the cards and flowers. Gift yourself or your partner(s) something more buzz-worthy. https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-sex-toy-deals/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

14 Best Android Phones (2024): Unlocked, Cheap, Foldable

Shopping for a new phone can be an ordeal. Let us take some of the pain out of it with these WIRED-tested picks and tips. https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-android-phones/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Where to Stream 2024’s Best Picture Oscar Nominees

Oppenheimer, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon—most of this year’s Academy Award nominees are available to watch online. Here’s where to find them. https://www.wired.com/story/stream-2024-oscar-nominated-movies-best-picture/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

2054, Part I: Death of a President

“They had, quite swiftly, begun an algorithmic scrub of any narrative of the president suffering a health emergency, burying those stories.” An exclusive excerpt from 2054: A Novel. https://www.wired.com/story/2054-part-i-death-of-a-president/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

How to Guarantee the Safety of Autonomous Vehicles

As computer-driven cars and planes become more common, the key to preventing accidents, researchers show, is to know what you don’t know. https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-guarantee-the-safety-of-autonomous-vehicles-driverless-cars-ai-waymo-cruise-robotaxi-tesla/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Apple Vision Pro’s Killer App Is … Kitchen Timers

It’s meant to be the best mixed reality gear yet, so why are we again grading it on how well it helps us cook pasta? https://www.wired.com/story/apple-vision-pro-boils-down-to-kitchen-timers-and-thats-a-problem/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Top New Features in macOS Sonoma: How to Download, Compatible Macs

Apple has officially released macOS 14. Here’s a breakdown of all the new features, which Macs support it, and how to download it. https://www.wired.com/story/apple-macos-sonoma-features/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The US Has Big Plans for Wind Energy—but an Obscure 1920s Law Is Getting in the Way

The Biden administration aims to deploy offshore wind turbines capable of generating 30 gigawatts of power by 2030. With less than a decade to go, the country remains woefully behind target. https://www.wired.com/story/us-energy-offshore-wind-jones-act-biden-law/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

5 Best Water Bottles (2024): Owala, LifeStraw, Yeti

Stay hydrated in style and cut down on single-use plastic. https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-reusable-water-bottles/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

8 Best Valentine's Day Deals: Headphones, MacBooks, and a Lego Kit

Nintendo Switch consoles, our favorite MacBook, and more are on sale ahead of Valentine's Day. https://www.wired.com/story/valentines-day-deals-2024/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Apple Quadrupled Its Autonomous Driving Testing Miles Last Year

Government filings show the tech giant’s secretive auto division almost quadrupled its self-driving miles in 2023. https://www.wired.com/story/apple-ramped-up-autonomous-vehicle-testing-last-year/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Border Convoy Is Nearing Its Final Destination—With Vigilantes and Far-Right Extremists in Tow

Experts warn that planned protests this weekend could include a combustible mix of militias, far-right extremists, and even long-dormant vigilante groups. https://www.wired.com/story/take-our-border-back-convoy-militias-texas-weekend-protest/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Why Is Our Solar System Flat?

It started as a big old ball of dust, so how did it end up like a giant pancake? Our resident physicist tells the true story using fake forces. https://www.wired.com/story/why-the-solar-system-is-flat/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

What Meta’s Fediverse Plans Mean for Threads Users

We spoke with a product manager at Meta to learn how the company plans to bring interoperability to Threads in the coming months. It faces both technical and cultural challenges. https://www.wired.com/story/meta-threads-fediverse-interoperability-rachel-lambert-interview/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

9 Good Deals on Smartwatches, Robot Vacuums, and Video Games

Happy February! Welcome the leap month with these snazzy deals on tech and games. https://www.wired.com/story/midweek-deals-february-1-2024/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Taylor Swift Conspiracy Theorists Get Psyops All Wrong

Some prominent right-wing commentators say the relationship between Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a ploy to keep President Biden in power. Psyop experts think otherwise. https://www.wired.com/story/taylor-swift-psyop-conspiracy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A Decapitation May Have Roots in Far-Right Border and Immigrant Paranoia

A man charged with murdering his father and showing his decapitated head on YouTube spent years ranting about extremist conspiracies. https://www.wired.com/story/beheading-conspiracy-immigrants-texas-convoy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

'Palworld' Pokémon Modder Tests the Limits of Nintendo’s Legal Reach

YouTuber ToastedShoes had his Pokémon mod of Palworld taken down. Now he’s back with a new mod with “legally distinct” creatures—for as long as it lasts. https://www.wired.com/story/palworld-pokemon-mod-copyright/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Ford Is Giving Away Free Tesla Charger Converters That Will Unlock a New World of EV Power

Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning pickup owners can now reserve complimentary adapters—but the real win is access to one of the largest and most developed charging networks in the world. https://www.wired.com/story/ford-is-giving-away-free-tesla-ev-charger-converters/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger