Gabe's Musings

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Pokémon Cards Are Surging. So Is Hate Toward Graders

The business of grading Pokémon cards can be lucrative, time-consuming, and rife with furious, virulent abuse.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iDE3a4
via Gabe's Musing's

The Biktrix Kutty X Is a Refined Fat-Tire Ebike That Folds

It's more than 60 pounds, but you get a powerful 750-watt motor, a variety of accessories, and a removable battery.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3xeEJXt
via Gabe's Musing's

What Makes Quantum Computing So Hard to Explain?

Before we can even begin to talk about these computers' potential applications, we need to understand the fundamental physics behind them.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vhEaKT
via Gabe's Musing's

The Best E3 Deals on Top Games and Gear

The biggest week in gaming news is here, and it comes bearing gifts.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3xiFIpz
via Gabe's Musing's

All the New Privacy Features Coming to iOS and macOS

Improvements designed to keep your email private, crack down on data stealing apps, and help you find lost devices are on their way.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TsS3bT
via Gabe's Musing's

Which Amazon Fire Tablet Is Best for You?

Whether you need a travel-friendly tablet or something affordable for the kids, we tested every model to find the right one for everybody.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3gtr47Z
via Gabe's Musing's

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Google Won't Kill the URL After All

Plus: A Colonial Pipeline update, inside details of the FBI's Anom caper, and more of the week's top security news.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TSarLA
via Gabe's Musing's

We Asked Giant Robot Experts to Critique Video Game Mecha

How realistic are Metal Gears and Titans anyway? WIRED asked industrial design and robotics pros how they'd operate.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wkMYB0
via Gabe's Musing's

What You Should Know About Voilá, the Latest Viral Selfie App

Before you use it to cartoonify your face, consider the risks to your data.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3gh49y3
via Gabe's Musing's

When the Bison Come Back, Will the Ecosystem Follow?

An effort to bring wild buffalo to the Great Plains aims to restore one of the world’s most endangered landscapes and increase climate resilience.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3cEiFO9
via Gabe's Musing's

Here's Why Gadgets Are So Hard to Get Right Now

Whether it's a graphics card or the PS5, delays and stock shortages seem to be the norm. The reasons involve the pandemic, politics, and ... crypto?

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wmfgLB
via Gabe's Musing's

Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now?

Picking the right phone has become increasingly difficult. This breakdown of Apple's lineup will help.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2F3A9F2
via Gabe's Musing's

The 17 Best Weekend Deals on Headphones, Webcams, and More

Beat the Prime Day rush with these early sales on the Fitbit Charge 4, AirPods Pro, and the GoPro Hero9, among others.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iIWGcq
via Gabe's Musing's

As Ransomware Demands Boom, Insurance Keeps Paying Out

While major carriers like AXA have backed away from covering ransoms, don't expect the industry at large to break the vicious cycle.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pKhqCl
via Gabe's Musing's

Friday, June 11, 2021

The FBI's Anom Stunt Rattles the Encryption Debate

The agency spent years running a secure phone network for criminals. So much for “going dark.”

from Wired https://ift.tt/3cCFe5F
via Gabe's Musing's

Why Do People Love UFOs So Much?

Sci-fi author F. Brett Cox loves stories with mysterious spacecraft but is a firm skeptic when it comes to actual alien visitors.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3gp6jKR
via Gabe's Musing's

To Fight Online Misinformation, Criminalize Voter Suppression

Congress should salvage a provision buried in the rubble of HR1 that would hold platforms liable for election misinformation.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vfmTlR
via Gabe's Musing's

The Best Mouse (and Mousepads) for Every Kind of Gamer

Whether you're into esports or casual fragging, these are the greatest gaming mice we’ve tested.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2KCBMKP
via Gabe's Musing's

A Mystery Malware Stole 26 Million Passwords From Windows PCs

The credentials were part of a trove containing 1.2 terabytes of sensitive data extracted between 2018 and 2020.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TpAqtS
via Gabe's Musing's

Loki and the Return of Appointment Television

Not since Game of Thrones have audiences really cared about watching something right when it airs. Thanks to a recent spate of streaming hits, that seems to be changing.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pV2fXb
via Gabe's Musing's

Jeff Bezos Risks It All for His Space Dream

Plus: The origins of Blue Origin, Apple's annoying error messages, and a Kardashian plot twist.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TpAj1q
via Gabe's Musing's

You're Probably Not Using the Web's Best Browser

With endless new customization options, like new email clients and a feed reader, Vivaldi 4.0 just got better.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vcejnB
via Gabe's Musing's

Amazon's Fire HD 10 Is Still the Best Cheap Tablet Around

The 10-inch tablet gets an optional keyboard and office apps, but it's still best as a cheap way to access all your Prime content.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wgH8k7
via Gabe's Musing's

MacOS Monterey Is When Apple Starts Leaving Intel Macs Behind

For the first time, some of Apple's own features will only be available on computers with the company's homegrown silicon.

from Wired https://ift.tt/356GEkS
via Gabe's Musing's

Apple Wants to Control Your Universe

This week, we talk about all things WWDC and Apple’s quest for worldwide gadget domination.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vkIHMY
via Gabe's Musing's

Games Are Reimagining the Road Trip for a Modern Era

Developers are using procedural generation, resource management, and dialog choices to create memorable and powerful journeys.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pQx5A8
via Gabe's Musing's

A New Way to Understand the Brain's Intricate Rhythm

Researchers have found evidence in humans that individual neurons time their firing to a deeper beat. But there’s a mystery: What does it mean?

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vcrsxe
via Gabe's Musing's

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Hackers Stole a Ton of EA Data—Including Valuable Source Code

The video game publisher confirmed the breach, which could be a boon to the shadowy world of cheat-makers.

from Wired https://ift.tt/35babK1
via Gabe's Musing's

How Risky Is It to Send Jeff Bezos to the Edge of Space?

Today's commercial spacecraft have a safety advantage, thanks to simpler designs and suborbital missions. But with rockets, nothing is certain.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wc1LhD
via Gabe's Musing's

Political and Urban-Rural Divides Prolong The Digital Divide

Democrats and Republicans alike need to be honest about how much broadband for all will cost. And they can make Big Tech help pay for it.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3ga5BCb
via Gabe's Musing's

The Joy and Misery of Hunting for Video Game Trophies

For some, relentlessly unlocking achievements is a lifestyle. For others, it's a headache.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3zfuT9u
via Gabe's Musing's

Remember When Multiplayer Gaming Needed Envelopes and Stamps?

The history of play-by-mail includes bribes, forgeries, and games that took years to finish.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wbfOnF
via Gabe's Musing's

How to Protect Species and Save the Planet—at Once

A major new report calls on humanity to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises simultaneously. Here's what that might look like.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TXGzh2
via Gabe's Musing's

Amazon's New Buds Make It Easier to Summon Alexa Than Ever

With good sound and excellent app integration, Amazon's latest wireless earbuds are an affordable AirPods Pro alternative.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vgX58Y
via Gabe's Musing's

How to Celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month—IRL or Online

With the ongoing pandemic, here are a variety of ways you can join in at home, or anywhere.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3zjqzG8
via Gabe's Musing's

VC Pledged to 'Do Better' on Diversity. It's Barely Changed

The Black Lives Matter protests drew sympathetic public statements from investors in 2020. One year later, signs of progress are harder to find.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3ga0DFt
via Gabe's Musing's

The Best Made-Up Worlds Are Made Up of Real Parts

Helene Wecker’s The Hidden Palace brings magic to 20th century Manhattan. Turns out that’s easier than putting the wrong stormtroopers into Star Wars Land.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3csKbOo
via Gabe's Musing's

They Role-Played Fascism in Roblox. Were They Fashies IRL?

Thousands of players flocked to a digital world filled with draconian rules, slavery, and anti-Semitism—and tested how far “just a game” can go.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pGDQ7f
via Gabe's Musing's

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Facial Verification Won't Fight Fraud

Unemployment fraud is a real problem, and biased software only makes it worse. States need privacy-preserving alternatives.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3g6chBt
via Gabe's Musing's

The Case for Putting Down the Video Game Controller

If gaming isn’t as fulfilling as it used to be, it’s OK to walk away and go do something else.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3v55Nac
via Gabe's Musing's

Help! How Do I Make Work Friends When Everyone's Remote?

Guest columnist Alan Henry offers advice for putting yourself out there online.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2T7Fa77
via Gabe's Musing's

Meowza! Spoil Your Kitty With Deals on Cat Gear

From comfy beds to water fountains, we found sales on cat supplies to kick off Adopt-a-Cat Month.

from Wired https://ift.tt/354SAmY
via Gabe's Musing's

What It Takes to Turn a Video Game Into a Tabletop One

How do developers take open worlds and condense them into a form that fits on your coffee table? It's not easy, but when it works, it's incredible.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iy04H9
via Gabe's Musing's

Want OLED and Speed for Under $1,000? Get This Asus Laptop

The AMD-powered ZenBook 13 is one of the best values we’ve seen in a long time.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3x7XfR5
via Gabe's Musing's

Watch Drones Fly Through a Fake Forest Without Crashing

Each copter doesn’t just track where the others are. It constantly predicts where they’ll go.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pMNcid
via Gabe's Musing's

The Pandemic Put an End to Rush Hour. What Happens Now?

Remote work generally reduces driving. But the travel behavior of telecommuters isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3w72JM7
via Gabe's Musing's

If You Want to Live in Apple World, Gather All Your iDevices

This week, Apple doubled down on its vision of a seamlessly integrated ecosystem of products, software, and services. The catch? You need to be all in on Apple.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pz2HKc
via Gabe's Musing's

Want to Write Better? Here Are Some Tools to Help You Improve

Whether you're drafting a memo or promoting a book, technology can make the task easier than ever.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2TTGE5p
via Gabe's Musing's

Crypto Isn’t About Money. It’s About Fandom

And that’s why we will fight about it forever.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2Tfijq5
via Gabe's Musing's

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Our Favorite Cheap Earbuds Are an Unbelievable $16 Right Now

These affordable wireless buds from JLab Audio have the same specs as the Apple AirPods and sound almost as good.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3x4pO1S
via Gabe's Musing's

How an Obscure Company Took Down Big Chunks of the Internet

You may not have heard of Fastly, but you felt its impact when sites didn’t load around the world Tuesday morning.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pwyYBP
via Gabe's Musing's

How to Turn Off Amazon Sidewalk

The company is enlisting your Echo and Ring devices into an internet-sharing mesh network starting Monday. It's not too late to opt out.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3ggkRfz
via Gabe's Musing's

Weber’s New Smoker Makes Some Mighty Tasty Meats

Weber’s second take on a pellet smoker delivers delicious results. Be prepared to clean your cooker more frequently, though.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3cqwmA8
via Gabe's Musing's

Could Brain Training Help Address Police Brutality?

New neuroscience-based technologies aim to improve decisionmaking under pressure. But solving systemic problems will take a lot more than that.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3v9hmNG
via Gabe's Musing's

Deathloop and the Radical Necessity of 2 Black Leads

Building games that reflect the diversity of the real world is nothing new to the team at Arkane Studios. But this project presented unique challenges.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3cqVmHi
via Gabe's Musing's

The Colorful, Costly World of Custom Keyboard Enthusiasts

Hobbyists spend hours building their own personalized rigs, while others drop thousands of dollars on a bespoke board. The hype is only getting bigger.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pzcfoQ
via Gabe's Musing's

Going Medieval Is a Great Entry Point Into Colony Sims

The game lets you build a new post-plague civilization in 14th-century England, and it’s been topping Steam charts—for good reason.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3pIKL05
via Gabe's Musing's

This Plastic Phone Case Could Biodegrade Within 2 Years

Most plastics take hundreds of years to decompose. This one, from case maker Pivet, harnesses the power of hungry microbes.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iuO1dF
via Gabe's Musing's

Your Clothes Spew Microfibers Before They’re Even Clothes

The clothing supply chain releases some 265 million pounds of microfibers that wash into the environment each year.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3zlqK42
via Gabe's Musing's

What Really Happened When Google Ousted Timnit Gebru

She was a star engineer who warned that messy AI can spread racism. Google brought her in. Then it forced her out. Can Big Tech take criticism from within?

from Wired https://ift.tt/3v3swTK
via Gabe's Musing's

Monday, June 7, 2021

All the Top Features Coming to Your iPhone This Fall

Apple just previewed iOS 15, the latest version of its mobile operating system. Here's what's new.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3puzwYM
via Gabe's Musing's

Everything Apple Announced Today: New iOS, Privacy Updates

The 2021 edition of WWDC began Monday with a keynote address. Apple used the occasion to show off a whole bunch of enhancements to its software and services.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iw50w2
via Gabe's Musing's

Ransomware Hit Another Pipeline Firm—and 70GB of Data Leaked

LineStar Integrity Services was hacked around the same time as Colonial Pipeline, but radical transparency activists have brought the attack to light.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3iozlgj
via Gabe's Musing's

The Incredible, Absurd World of Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

The update has been a long time coming, and if you haven't played, now's the time. We asked Robert Kurvitz, the game's designer, if he’s finally satisfied with it.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3x1AZIH
via Gabe's Musing's

The 15 Best Wireless Headphones for Everyone

Even if you’re on a budget, these wireless headphones sound like a million bucks.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2xejcRV
via Gabe's Musing's

China's Quiet Ecommerce Giant Thrives on Fresh Produce

Pinduoduo, which recently passed Alibaba as the shopping site with the most customers, connects 12 million farmers to more than 800 million users.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3cpAqjX
via Gabe's Musing's

A New Way to Shape Metal Nanoparticles—With a Magnetic Field

Making the tiny nanoparticles used in everything from electronics to paint isn't easy. But a new experiment creates order out of chaos.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3w2o7BX
via Gabe's Musing's

Why Are Writers Fleeing Substack for Ghost?

The publishing platform is gaining traction as a Substack substitute. But the comparison isn't so simple.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3giPqRM
via Gabe's Musing's

Google Hopes AI Can Turn Search Into a Conversation

The tech giant wants its core product to infer meaning from human language, answer multipart questions—and look more like Google Assistant sounds.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2RwV3Ug
via Gabe's Musing's

4 Tips to Send (and Receive) Better Texts

Sure, hitting send is easy. But these tips can help make sure everyone's messages are coming across loud and clear.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3fYzhC5
via Gabe's Musing's

Covid Brings Automation to the Workplace, Killing Some Jobs

Unable to find enough workers, employers are turning to technology to perform tasks—and women are likely to be the hardest hit.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3uXGHdf
via Gabe's Musing's

How to Watch Today's Apple WWDC Keynote

The annual event starts at 10 am Pacific with news about software updates coming to iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Here's how to tune in.

from Wired https://ift.tt/34Z8Rd2
via Gabe's Musing's

Sunday, June 6, 2021

China Has Triggered a Bitcoin Mining Exodus

The promise of a crackdown is sending the country's crypterati scrambling for the exit.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vXmrK2
via Gabe's Musing's

RevAir's Hair Dryer Is a One-Stop Blow Out Shop

This expensive hair vacuum quickly dries and smoothes kinks out of your hair. It's impressive, if you can afford to pay for it and can store it.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3fXjvYs
via Gabe's Musing's

10 Essential Accessories to Up Your Backyard Grilling Game

Up your outdoor cooking game with these tools for getting the perfect sear, smoke, roast—and even a pizza.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2GRrVOL
via Gabe's Musing's

Will a Volcanic Eruption Be a Burp or a Blast?

Scientists have begun to decipher the seismic signals that reveal how explosive a volcanic eruption is going to be.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3z8gLPe
via Gabe's Musing's

A Love Letter to Grand Theft Auto's Best Side Stories

The often-overlooked Liberty City and Vice City Stories have some of the best character development and the most cinematic moments in the franchise.

from Wired https://ift.tt/34SjTRr
via Gabe's Musing's

Google's $99 A-Series Earbuds Are AirPods for Android

The company's more affordable version of last year's Pixel Buds cut some perks for a much better price.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3vWgU6B
via Gabe's Musing's

Twitch Turns 10, and the Creator Economy Is in Its Debt

The livestreaming platform for gamers helped pioneer the patronage systems that prop up so much of the internet today.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3v0yVPI
via Gabe's Musing's

How to Protect Your Files From Ransomware

It's a growing threat for individual users and businesses alike—but there are ways to protect yourself.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2T1gNIn
via Gabe's Musing's

Saturday, June 5, 2021

The FBI’s Director Compares Ransomware Threat to 9/11

Plus, a Supreme Court decision on a controversial anti-hacking law, a WhatsApp walk-back, and more of the week’s top security news.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3wX3pDE
via Gabe's Musing's

The Safest Way to Store and Share Your Nudes

Listen, if you’re going to take them, follow these precautions so they don’t go anywhere you don’t intend them to.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3uPaaWx
via Gabe's Musing's

Trump's Failed Blog Proves He Was Just Howling Into the Void

Without the algorithmic boosts of Twitter and Facebook, there are few “active” internet users to be found.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2SbjIxW
via Gabe's Musing's

Black Barbecue Gets Its Due in an Inspiring New Cookbook

The first book from renowned pitmaster and chef Rodney Scott puts a long-neglected keystone of Black American culture on the table.

from Wired https://ift.tt/34O0Jwf
via Gabe's Musing's

The 9 Best TVs We've Tested (and Helpful Buying Tips)

From LCDs to fancy OLED models, these are our favorite televisions at every price point.

from Wired https://ift.tt/379Nypp
via Gabe's Musing's

Our Favorite Audiophile-Grade Gear for Serious Listening

Interested in getting insane audio quality? From speakers and headphones to streaming amps, here are our favorite tools for gold-plated listening.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3z3qXsd
via Gabe's Musing's

The Drought Is Making the Klamath River’s Baby Salmon Sick

Dry conditions are worsening a warm-water disease that’s sweeping through juvenile fish. Their deaths will create a future crisis for both fish and human populations.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3ijZ4q3
via Gabe's Musing's

This Kids Speaker Is Adorable, Screen-Free Fun

Like on game consoles of old, children can insert physical cards into this cute pixel-art cube to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and soundscapes.

from Wired https://ift.tt/3ckDq14
via Gabe's Musing's

14 Best Weekend Deals on Video Games, TVs, and Home Appliances

Keep cool in this heat with the best deals on portable air conditioners, and immerse yourself in a weekend movie with discounted soundbars.

from Wired https://ift.tt/2RnvHbc
via Gabe's Musing's

Why Are There So Few Women in Wargaming?

A combination of a high barrier to entry and outdated, misogynistic attitudes keep women out of a hobby where they could thrive.

from Wired https://ift.tt/353Pn7v
via Gabe's Musing's

Pages - HTML

Translate

Pages

Pages

Pages

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Friday, June 11, 2021

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Monday, June 7, 2021

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Friday, June 4, 2021