As the pixels settle after Apple’s meticulously planned rollout of its Vision Pro headset, battle lines have solidified in the war for a new reality. Multiple tech powers—and some rising upstarts—are developing headsets and other gizmos to digitally augment or replace the world our raw senses perceive. But there’s a clear split in philosophy over… Continue reading Get Ready for the Battle of the Metaverses
Author: Wired Magazine
Satisfyer Pro 2 Gen 3 Review: Starter Pleasure
A good sex toy should feel like an extension of your body. When you’re using it, you shouldn’t have to think about where the buttons are or how you’re holding it. It should just feel natural, intuitive. When you have to think about the buttons—or even worse, actually stop using the toy to have a… Continue reading Satisfyer Pro 2 Gen 3 Review: Starter Pleasure
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Ultra, 2023) Review: The Mac Pro Killer
The Mac Studio is the perfect middle ground for power users. It’s far more powerful than the 24-inch iMac ($1,299) as well as the Mac Mini ($599), but it’s thousands of dollars less than the new Mac Pro ($6,999). It’s the Goldilocks Mac—just right. You have the choice to outfit it with the M2 Max… Continue reading Apple Mac Studio (M2 Ultra, 2023) Review: The Mac Pro Killer
Missing Sub Passengers Believed Dead After Debris Found From Likely Implosion
On Sunday, a 22-foot submersible called Titan went missing on a trip to explore the wreck of the Titanic. Five people were aboard. As the sub’s supply of oxygen dwindled, authorities launched a desperate search of the seafloor, covering an area the size of Massachusetts. Rescue ships pinged the ocean with sonar in the hopes… Continue reading Missing Sub Passengers Believed Dead After Debris Found From Likely Implosion
The Last AI Boom Didn’t Kill Jobs. Feel Better?
If ChatGPT and generative AI live up to even a tenth of the hype surrounding them, wide-scale job losses might seem inevitable. But new economic data shows that the last big leap in AI did not coincide with a reduction of jobs in affected industries—despite widespread fears of rapid replacement at the time. In a… Continue reading The Last AI Boom Didn’t Kill Jobs. Feel Better?
Bird Populations Are in Meltdown
Every night, Alice Cerutti falls asleep to the sound of birds singing on her rice farm in the middle of the Italian countryside. In the morning, the voice of the black-tailed godwit, a bird whose numbers are declining globally, wakes her from sleep—a little harshly. Cerutti imitates the bird’s piercing call over the phone and… Continue reading Bird Populations Are in Meltdown
‘Midjourney Magazine’ Is Here—and It’s Soulless
Midjourney Magazine has landed. The publication, a collection of thousands of AI-generated images as well as “interviews with Midjourney community members,” dropped its second issue this past week. It’s a $4, 114-page coffee-table-style periodical filled with luscious, outlandish images and little else. There’s an eight-page interview, conducted by a human, with Bob Bonniol, a creative… Continue reading ‘Midjourney Magazine’ Is Here—and It’s Soulless
12 Best Weighted Blankets (2023): Cooling, Throws, and Robes
As weighted blankets gain popularity, more and more companies pop up with options. Most of the ones we’ve tried are worth recommending, including all the ones here. Tranquility Cooling Weighted Blanket for $40-$50: A lot of budget weighted blankets are disappointing. This one, though, genuinely surprised me. Unfortunately, it’s nearly always out of stock. If… Continue reading 12 Best Weighted Blankets (2023): Cooling, Throws, and Robes
Luwu Dynamics XGO-Mini2 Review: Programmable Robotic Rover
I had to use the XGO-Mini command blocks to control my XGO-Lite, as the latter weren’t yet working when I tested it. In some cases I had to dispense with the blocks and just write the code myself, or add a few corrections to the generated code. However, these are expected teething problems. While not… Continue reading Luwu Dynamics XGO-Mini2 Review: Programmable Robotic Rover
5 Best High-End Compact Cameras: Fujifilm, Sony, Ricoh, Leica, and Canon
While smartphones ate the low-end camera world, camera manufacturers have been making some extraordinary strides in what an advanced compact camera can do. Sure, for day-to-day photography, a smartphone is convenient because it’s the camera that you always have with you. But image quality can be an issue in low light, and, if I’m honest,… Continue reading 5 Best High-End Compact Cameras: Fujifilm, Sony, Ricoh, Leica, and Canon