Good news for anyone who’s sick of Zoom calls but also hates talking to people in real life: Google’s Project Starline is becoming more widely available. Google introduced Starline in 2021 with the goal of making video calls less weird and awkward. It’s essentially a very complicated video conferencing booth that uses cameras, depth sensors,… Continue reading Google’s Next-Gen Video Chat Tech Is Ready for the Real World
Author: Wired Magazine
23 Best STEM Toys for Kids (2022): Make Learning Fun
Anyone who has ever watched a toddler methodically take apart a Tupperware drawer should know that many children are natural-born engineers. Your only job as a parent is to nurture their creativity … and clean up the mess afterward. Between us, product reviewer Scott Gilbertson, editor Adrienne So, and I have seven kids. This, honestly,… Continue reading 23 Best STEM Toys for Kids (2022): Make Learning Fun
What If the Metaverse Is Better Without Virtual Reality?
Another part of the keynote was a scripted conversation between Meta’s vice president of metaverse, Vishal Shah, and his boss, chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth. After touting the variety of virtual environments people have created in Horizon Worlds, Shah rhapsodized about how great it will be when people can wander in via the web. The… Continue reading What If the Metaverse Is Better Without Virtual Reality?
Tern NBD S5i Review: Cruise It Out
There’s one big problem with electric bikes as an alternative eco-friendly mode of transportation: Most people who own one already have several bikes (guilty!). It isn’t really reducing carbon emissions if the person who buys an ebike was already riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter. Some companies have opted to appeal to non-bike-riders by making… Continue reading Tern NBD S5i Review: Cruise It Out
Netflix’s New Deal: Streaming Is Just TV Now
The Golden Age of streaming is over. To be clear, this isn’t a commentary on the quality of the shows and films on streaming service. Rather, it’s a collective sigh let out in response to the news today that Netflix is launching its long-rumored ad-supported service on November 1, a hasty move that will beat… Continue reading Netflix’s New Deal: Streaming Is Just TV Now
Recycled Battery Materials Can Work as Well as New Ones
The cathode is a marvel of molecular choreography. How much power a battery holds, and how long it lasts, depends on its lattice of metallic atoms—how well it can catch and release lithium ions. For decades, engineers have fiddled with designs that help this movement along. And they’ve gotten pretty good, if the electrical vehicles… Continue reading Recycled Battery Materials Can Work as Well as New Ones
Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Review: Even Better Value
That’s thanks to the new Tensor G2 chip powering these devices. It’s the second generation of Google’s custom processor. In terms of general, everyday performance, I’ve never seen a stutter or blip. It’s not the most powerful chip for gaming, but it handled Genshin Impact, one of the most demanding titles, pretty well with graphics… Continue reading Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Review: Even Better Value
19 Best Deals From Best Buy’s Flash Sale (2022): Headphones, TVs, Apple Devices
Amazon fired a salvo years back when it launched Prime Day, which has since expanded to multiple days—and, this year, two separate events. Best Buy is the latest to launch a lightning strike of its own with a flash sale to steal Prime Day’s thunder. But act quickly if you want new headphones, a new… Continue reading 19 Best Deals From Best Buy’s Flash Sale (2022): Headphones, TVs, Apple Devices
Meta Quest Pro VR Headset: Price, Specs, Details
Jenga was just one of many games and experiences I tried at Meta’s Reality Labs headquarters in Burlingame, California, last week. I stretched my face in ways that would put Jim Carrey to shame as I tested the eye-tracking and facial expression features. It was surreal seeing a green elfin character, my avatar, mimic these… Continue reading Meta Quest Pro VR Headset: Price, Specs, Details
The 7 Best Touchscreen Gloves (2022): Heated, Waterproof, Knitted
The obvious way to keep Jack Frost from nipping at your fingers is to slip on a pair of toasty gloves. People have been wearing gloves for centuries, with the shift from mittens to individually wrapped fingers the biggest upgrade in all that time. But traditional gloves don’t play nicely with our smartphones. Sure, you… Continue reading The 7 Best Touchscreen Gloves (2022): Heated, Waterproof, Knitted