Kaila Hale-Stern, Author at Gizmodo

Update Your Facebook iOS App To Save Your Phone’s Battery

iOS users have been complaining about the Facebook app’s big battery drain. Today Facebook admitted it had a problem–and pushed an update that should help. In a Facebook post, Facebook Engineering Manager Ari Grant wrote that the company had identified “a few key issues” that the update seeks to fix: The first issue we found…

Social Media Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 23

Google Made a Live Map of the Most Popular Halloween Costumes In Your Town

You don’t want to be caught wearing the same Harley Quinn costume as the rest of America–and thankfully, Google is using Big Data to help you avoid it. Google’s Frightgeist map ranks costume popularity based on searches and by location. You can scroll around the interactive map, landing on the info that the top costume…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 23

Watch These Parachuting Beavers Spread Across Idaho

The footage, once believed lost, will brighten your day as only a beaver can. In the 1940s and ‘50s, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game was overrun with beavers in certain regions of the state. In order to confront the overpopulation problem—and because beavers can do so much good—a pretty wild scheme was enacted:…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 22

The Annual Love and Sex With Robots Conference Has Been Canceled

The Congress on Love and Sex with Robots was set to discuss everything human/robot from ethics to teledildonics. Then Malaysian authorities shut it down. The Congress on Love and Sex with Robots is the brainchild of David Levy (author of Love and Sex with Robots), who specializes in robotics software, and Professor Adrian David Cheok,…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 22

What Should We Reboot Next?

Everything old is new again, and it seems like a reboot is announced near-daily out of Hollywood. Do you have a favorite property that deserves to come back from the dead? Two of my favorite television shows, Twin Peaks and The X-Files, are slated to return. A new Star Wars is on the horizon. Even…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 21

On Blindspot, A Dirty Bomb In An Urn Is The Least of Our Problems

This week on Blindspot, Jane and the team thwarted some terrorists with a graveyard shoot-out in Queens, ran afoul of the CIA, and also I rolled my eyes so many times that they got stuck that way. Spoilers for Blindspot episode 5, “Split the Law,” which is an anagram for “Will the Past,” which might…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 20

Tell Us Your Stories About Your Worst IT Job Ever

SunTrust Banks recently laid off 100 IT workers, yet required them to “provide help if needed” for two years as part of their severance agreement. Does this not even surprise you? Computerworld reports on SunTrust’s wacko severance deal, which saw an estimated 100 experienced IT professionals lose their jobs. On top of having to train…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 20

The Vampire Diaries Is Having Grown-Up, Scary Fun Without Elena

I know some of us gave up on this show a while ago, but The Vampire Diaries is back in fighting form this season. This week’s episode is proof of that. Spoilers for The Vampire Diaries episode “Never Let Me Go” ahead. I may pick on Elena Gilbert, but I want to be clear I…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 16

This College Student Created An App To Help Veterans Combat Night Terrors

Tyler Skluzacek was inspired by the experiences of his father, an Iraq war veteran, to design the myBivy app. myBivy—the name is drawn from bivouac, a camp where soldiers can rest—tracks heartbeat and movement while asleep. Over time, the app gets to know its user’s sleep habits, and can prevent the onset of panic attacks…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 16

What Precious Items Have You Collected?

Your friendly Gizmodo staff has ranged from collecting soda memorabilia to pogs to 1994 X-Men Fleer trading cards. Some of us still have active collections. What about you? I’ve gone through collections in fits and starts, getting really psyched for something, like say state quarters, then having my enthusiasm wane and my collection pile up…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 15

Standing Desks Are Mostly Bullshit

A new study says that standing up at your desk doesn’t actually decrease your risk of death-by-office, unless you’re physically active otherwise. After several studies asserted that sitting at work all day is slowly killing us, researchers at the University of Exeter and University College London took another look at the claims. The Washington Post…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 14

Who Is Your STEM Hero?

Today is Ada Lovelace Day, and people have been celebrating pioneers in STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math). Which got me thinking: who is your favorite innovator? My current favorites are Margaret Hamilton, who helped the navigational software for the Apollo mission, got Apollo 11 to land on the moon, and coined the term “software…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 13

On Blindspot, the Mystery Is an Enigma Wrapped Inside Weaponized Typhoid

Who am I? Where am I? Is it… an actually compelling ‘A’ plot on this week’s Blindspot? Spoilers for Blindspot episode 4, “Bone May Rot,” and since a commenter pointed out that all the titles are anagrams, let’s revisit ‘em: Woe Has Joined -> Who Is Jane Doe A Stray Howl -> Taylor Shaw Three…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 13

This Documentary About Sleep Paralysis Looks Absolutely Terrifying

The Nightmare takes on an issue that afflicts about 10% of the population, wherein night terrors feel very real. Humanity is afflicted by a myriad of sleep disorders. Conditions like narcolepsy and insomnia are commonly known, and have treatment options. Sleep paralysis is a much less talked about problem. Those with this condition can feel…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 12

Your Nightmare Stories of Working For a Tech Giant

We asked for your worst stories about working in a massive tech bureaucracy. From inept management to insane rules to meetings that lead to more meetings, you’ve been through a lot. Let’s clock in. OB1 wrote: Your company ID badge was also your attendance keeper. That’s right, if you were on a set 9-5pm schedule…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 12

We Saw the First Episode of Ash vs. Evil Dead and It Blew Us Away

The first episode of Ash vs. Evil Dead was everything an Evil Dead fan could hope for—and more. Start your chainsaws, because this is going to be a very groovy ride. The Ash vs. Evil dead panel was hands-down the best thing I experienced at NY Comic Con. I’d spent the morning interviewing cast and…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 12

On The Vampire Diaries, Mystic Falls Is More of a Hellhole Than Ever

On the season premiere of TVD, Elena’s gone—but the town of Mystic Falls is still screwed. New friendships, romances and villains abound, hearts are ripped out, and much is set on fire. The more things change… Previously on The Vampire Diaries: Yeesh, what didn’t happen last season? In the finale, evil-yet-awesome Kai bound Elena’s life…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 9

Adventure Time is Finally Telling The Whole Story of Marceline the Vampire Queen

Marceline the Vampire Queen has long been one of the most fascinating characters on Adventure Time. And now, it looks like we’re going to be getting our most in-depth look at her backstory yet, with a new miniseries. We caught our first glimpse at New York Comic Con. Season seven of Adventure Time returns November…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 9

Cassandra Railly Becomes a Total Futuristic “Badass” in 12 Monkeys Season 2

12 Monkeys’ first season ended with a hell of a time-traveling cliffhanger. So how is the show going to resolve it? We got our first hints at the New York Comic-Con panel for the show, featuring a first glimpse of the new season and a ton of spoilers from the cast. Spoilers ahead… Season 2…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 8

Trust No One On Blindspot

We’re no closer to the truth about Jane Doe’s past on Blindspot but we’re now intimate with betrayal. How could you do this to me, Blindspot? How could you do this to Mystery Beard? Spoilers for Blindspot episode 3, “Eight Slim Grins,” whatever the hell that means. No, I whispered to myself five minutes into…

io9 Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 6

Kaila Hale-Stern

Update Your Facebook iOS App To Save Your Phone’s Battery

Google Made a Live Map of the Most Popular Halloween Costumes In Your Town

Watch These Parachuting Beavers Spread Across Idaho

The Annual Love and Sex With Robots Conference Has Been Canceled

What Should We Reboot Next?

On Blindspot, A Dirty Bomb In An Urn Is The Least of Our Problems

Tell Us Your Stories About Your Worst IT Job Ever

The Vampire Diaries Is Having Grown-Up, Scary Fun Without Elena

This College Student Created An App To Help Veterans Combat Night Terrors

What Precious Items Have You Collected?

Standing Desks Are Mostly Bullshit

Who Is Your STEM Hero?

On Blindspot, the Mystery Is an Enigma Wrapped Inside Weaponized Typhoid

This Documentary About Sleep Paralysis Looks Absolutely Terrifying

Your Nightmare Stories of Working For a Tech Giant

We Saw the First Episode of Ash vs. Evil Dead and It Blew Us Away

On The Vampire Diaries, Mystic Falls Is More of a Hellhole Than Ever

Adventure Time is Finally Telling The Whole Story of Marceline the Vampire Queen

Cassandra Railly Becomes a Total Futuristic “Badass” in 12 Monkeys Season 2

Trust No One On Blindspot

Scientists Are Recycling Centuries-Old Bullets for a Badly Needed Toxic Compound

Amazon Drops Kasa Smart Light LED Bulbs (4-Pack) to Around $6 Each as Stock Clears Out

You Can Buy ‘Dune: Part Three’ IMAX Tickets Right Now

LA Has a Big Flea Problem. Typhus Cases Reached Record High Last Year

Samsung’s Tablet Deals Just Got Bigger, Galaxy Tab S10 Lite Hits Its Lowest Price With S-Pen on Amazon

Beats Solo 4 Headphones Are Back at Black Friday Pricing and Over 4x Cheaper Than AirPods Max

‘The Testaments’ Cast on How Their Show Mirrors Our Real-Life Dystopia

Meta to Smart Glasses Owners: Stop Hitting Yourself

Gaming Handhelds Are Getting Really Funky—and We’re Here for It

This 44% Off Portable Monitor Makes Adding a Second Screen Surprisingly Affordable

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound