Late summer is when our thoughts typically turn to pastoral pursuits. Long drives along the coast. Wine tastings. County fairs. Smartphone launch events. Wait, smartphone launch events? Those usually happen in late September and early October. Yet here we are talking about new phones and mobile gadgets in mid-August, on the …
Read More »The Sonos ‘Ultimate’ Home Theater System Needs a Lot of Elbow Grease
Just like no one wants to hear a restaurant reviewer complain about eating at high-end restaurants with his friends every night, no one really wants to listen to a gadget reviewer who can’t get a high-end home theater system to work. When I was assigned this piece, I could not …
Read More »As Skies Fill With Space Junk, Nonprofit Urges US to Pause StarLink Launches
A new report by a consumer advocacy group calls for a renewed push to review the environmental effects of low-Earth-orbit satellites like the ones operated by StarLink. These are satellites that scoot around in orbit, somewhere between 300 and 1,200 miles from Earth’s surface. For most of humanity’s ventures into …
Read More »Google’s Iconic Chromecast and Nest Learning Thermostat Are Getting Long-Awaited Upgrades
Nine years have passed since Google introduced the third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, but the wait for the fourth-generation model is finally over. Today, the company unveiled its latest smart thermostat. It arrives on the same day as a next-gen version of Google's iconic Chromecast streaming dongle—now called the Google TV …
Read More »Nothing’s New AI Widget Is Trying to Make Its CFO a News Star
Nothing has a new smartphone—the Phone (2a) Plus—nearly identical to the Phone (2a) it released earlier this year, but with slightly beefed-up specs. It costs $399 and is available in the US through the same beta program. But it isn't the new Android handset we find most interesting, it's the …
Read More »Lime’s New Rideshare Ebikes Are More Approachable—Throttle and All
Ebike and escooter rideshare company Lime had a record year in 2023, with about five trips booked every second, totaling around 156 million trips globally. Now, it's trying to boost those numbers by expanding the accessibility of its vehicles. Two new ebikes are entering a pilot program and may be …
Read More »Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck
Avi Schiffmann shows up to the WIRED office with a Friend hanging around his neck. It dangles there like a pendant on a necklace. It’s about the size and shape of an AirTag—a soft, round little puck that rests right next to Schiffmann’s heart, just atop the Dark Side of …
Read More »A Self-Healing Pole Vault Pole Is One Great Leap for Sports Tech
Pole vaulting is one of the more outlandish Olympic events. The primary instruments of the sport are curious creations—big sticks, between 10 and 17 feet in length, that certain track & field Olympians hold while sprinting, then jab into the ground and hang on to as they hurl themselves through …
Read More »Sonos Admits Its Recent App Update Was a Colossal Mistake
When setting up my Sonos home theater system, I had a persistent problem. I was trying to add a Sonos wireless subwoofer to my network, but according to Sonos' mobile app, the Sub was nowhere to be found. The app would throw a “Could not connect” message, or—even weirder—show me …
Read More »Why Paris 2024 Olympic Athletes Are Sleeping on Cardboard Beds
This story originally appeared in WIRED Italia. It has been translated from Italian. Yes, the athletes' beds at the Paris 2024 Olympics are indeed made of cardboard. The paper-based berth news, which has aroused curiosity and some skepticism after some videos of athletes circulated online, was confirmed by the organizers …
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