No one likes the feeling of insect repellent. I have vivid memories of being sprayed down with the stuff as a kid before venturing into the woods in northern Minnesota on family vacations and feeling like chemical warfare was being waged on all of my senses. I was willing to …
Read More »These Apps Help People With Disabilities Travel Smarter and Safer
Technology makes travel easier by allowing us to research and map out our travel plans. But for the disability community, technology can be the most valuable travel companion. The following apps and sites help people with disabilities make smart and safe choices so they can get out in the world …
Read More »High-End Fashion Dupes Are Soaring Where Knock-Offs Never Could
Earlier this month I complimented a friend on her new Bottega Jodie bag. She had recently got a promotion at work, and is now a senior manager at a respectable record label earning six figures. The bag was a celebratory gift, she told me, only it wasn’t Bottega—it was a …
Read More »How to Preorder the PS5 Pro (Before a Scalper Bot Does)
We’re barely done with the years-long period where it was almost impossible to get your hands on a PlayStation 5, and now Sony is launching the PlayStation 5 Pro. It has a more powerful graphics processor, better AI upscaling, and tons more storage, with a higher price to match. If …
Read More »Meta’s $300 Quest 3S Headset Significantly Lowers VR’s Buy-In Price
The Quest 3S, Meta’s newest mixed reality headset, will be out in the world soon. If you’re familiar with the features currently offered by Meta’s VR headsets, then the only surprising thing about the new hardware will be the price. But it’s reverse sticker shock: The new Meta Quest 3S …
Read More »Meta Teaches Its Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Some New AI Tricks
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the first real artificial-intelligence wearable success story. In fact, they are actually quite good. They’ve got that chic Ray-Ban styling, meaning they don’t look as goofy as some of the bulkier, heavier attempts at mixed-reality face computers. The onboard AI agent can answer questions and …
Read More »Is AI More Sustainable if You Generate It Underwater?
AI data centers are so hot right now. Each time generative AI services churn through their large language models to make a chatbot answer one of your questions, it takes a great deal of processing power to sift through all that data. Doing so can use massive amounts of energy, …
Read More »Google Is ‘Thinking Through’ How to Make the Pixel Watch Repairable
If you break the Google Pixel Watch—whether the first-generation smartwatch from 2022 or the latest model launched earlier this month—there is no way to repair it through official channels. Instead, if you successfully make a warranty claim, Google will send you a replacement unit instead of repairing your model. This …
Read More »Generative AI Hype Feels Inescapable. Tackle It Head On With Education
Arvind Narayanan, a computer science professor at Princeton University, is best known for calling out the hype surrounding artificial intelligence in his Substack, AI Snake Oil, written with PhD candidate Sayash Kapoor. The two authors recently released a book based on their popular newsletter about AI’s shortcomings. But don’t get …
Read More »Use Zoom’s AI Companion to Take Notes and Summarize Meetings
Click-clack, click-clack. That’s the sound of someone typing meeting notes during a Zoom call, and it’s super annoying. Like caffeinated chipmunks, people sometimes don’t realize they are clattering away on a keyboard. Yet, someone has to jot down action items and reminders. That “someone” doesn’t have to be a human, …
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