How Electronic Arts Tries to Make Diverse Video Games

Tülay McNally, director of inclusive design at Electronic Arts, chooses her words carefully as we chat about creating diverse characters for video games. Raised in Germany, McNally is no stranger to the international video game industry. She worked at Square Enix, Sega, and Bioware before joining EA. McNally’s team at EA assists with the development… Continue reading How Electronic Arts Tries to Make Diverse Video Games

The Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog

AT WIRED, WE really love our dogs. We also love each other’s dogs, whether they’re adorable little nuggets in New York City apartments, pit mixes in the country, or loyal heelers that spend all day, every day, within 6 inches of my left foot. For the past few years, my colleagues and I have been… Continue reading The Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog

The January 6 Secret Service Text Scandal Turns Criminal

As the United States midterm elections near, lawmakers and law enforcement officials are on high alert about violent threats targeted at election officials across the country—domestic threats that have taken first billing over foreign influence operations and meddling as the primary concern for the 2022 elections. In another arena, though, Congress is making progress on… Continue reading The January 6 Secret Service Text Scandal Turns Criminal

Google Wallet Is Back, for Some Reason

Surprise, Google’s got a new app. OK, you’re probably not all that surprised. Google has always had an on-again, off-again relationship with the housemade apps that Android phones use to access its services. Specifically, Google often likes to make big changes to them, rebrand them, or just suddenly kill them dead with little explanation. The… Continue reading Google Wallet Is Back, for Some Reason

The Supreme Court Accidentally Spurred a Data Privacy Push

Hi, folks. The winner of the week is Reed Hastings, who lost a million subscribers but saw Netflix’s stock skyrocket because he didn’t lose more. What a showman! The Plain View I got an email from Google the other day. “Dear Steven,” went the text, “This is a reminder that any existing Location History data… Continue reading The Supreme Court Accidentally Spurred a Data Privacy Push

Google’s Pixel 6A Is Smart and Powerful, but the Camera Lags

Google Pixel phones have become synonymous with having excellent cameras—it’s in their DNA. Pixels have also long been some of the best devices for consistent software updates, from version upgrades and Pixel Drops that add new features to monthly security updates that keep the phones secure. So it’s disappointing when these pillars start to crack. … Continue reading Google’s Pixel 6A Is Smart and Powerful, but the Camera Lags

The 2022 US Midterm Elections’ Top Security Issue: Death Threats

In the lead-up to the 2018 midterm elections in the United States, law enforcement, intelligence, and election officials were on high alert for digital attacks and influence operations after Russia demonstrated the reality of these threats by targeting the presidential elections in 2016. Six years later, the threat of hacking and malign foreign influence remain,… Continue reading The 2022 US Midterm Elections’ Top Security Issue: Death Threats

Nuclear Power Plants Are Struggling to Stay Cool

From its humble start as a glacial trickle in the Swiss Alps, the Rhône River quickly transforms into one of the world’s most industrialized waterways. As it winds through the south of France toward the Mediterranean Sea, its chilly water is drawn into boilers, sucked through pipes as coolant, deviated for agriculture. Among its biggest… Continue reading Nuclear Power Plants Are Struggling to Stay Cool

10 Great Deals on Air Purifiers, Carpet Cleaners, and More

Cleaning our homes is the worst. Between dust, pet hair, and dishes from last night’s dinner, it just doesn’t end—and we are the only ones to blame. There’s nothing yet that will make it all go away (even robot vacuums have their flaws), but the right products can at least make these chores easier and… Continue reading 10 Great Deals on Air Purifiers, Carpet Cleaners, and More

Crypto Is Straining the Power Grid. Congress Wants to Rein It In

All of the companies included in the investigation were asked to explain “the impacts of your facilities on energy costs to local families and businesses,” but none could describe any existing estimates or models that tracked those impacts. Those who engaged with the question said this was because they didn’t expect to have a noticeable… Continue reading Crypto Is Straining the Power Grid. Congress Wants to Rein It In