Tech news, analysis, culture, business, security, and more
Unless you’re some sort of Ginsu master, capable of slicing, dicing, and jullienning an entire meal together with a single blade, food prep is a whole lot easier when you use the right knife. Here are the five most essential, versatile cutting implements in a cook’s arsenal. Cleaver Meat cleavers are large, broad-faced knives employed…
This painfully reductive video obtained by Wired represents what the movie and recording industries want our kids to know about copyright. It does a really nice job of making “share” sound like a bad word. The video—which was designed for sixth graders—explains that illegally sharing copyrighted material puts working creative people out of work. Which…
HP recently announced a much more ergonomic solution to touchscreen desktops, and today we’ve got the first deal on it. Get the 23″ HP Envy Recline for about $200 off retail using code NEW15. [HP] I recently had to find a lunchbox for work, and after a silly amount of research decided I really liked…
Pilots and passengers landing in Taiwan this weekend had a very rough time as the Super Typhoon Usagi tried to make them crash. But, except for a few rough landings and go arounds, it wasn’t that bad. Just check these other scary landings out and judge for yourself. https://jalopnik.com/landing-a-plane-near-a-super-typhoon-is-absolutely-no-f-1372388244 https://gizmodo.com/dont-watch-this-if-you-are-scared-of-flying-5875760
It’s not the easiest time to be a consumer on the hunt for a wireless Bluetooth speaker. New models are flooding the market on a daily basis, and wading through the hundreds of choices can be mind-numbing. So here’s a quick cheat sheet for you: If you want something small, consider Jawbone’s new Mini Jambox,…
We love the Motorola Moto X’s well-designed approach to a near-stock Android experience. But one of the handset’s biggest weaknesses is its camera, which just doesn’t keep up with the best out there. https://gizmodo.com/moto-x-review-the-android-phone-for-everybody-1034784286 A fix is on the way, according to AnandTech. Right now, a firmware update is hitting T-Mobile Moto X handsets with…
Have you had trouble shaking that fear of snakes or dogs or spiders? Researchers from Northwestern University have developed a new technique to rechannel memories while subjects sleep—by blasting them with various odors. It’s like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in Smell-o-Vision. For the experiment, scientists conditioned patients to be afraid of a certain…
Steam is the most popular electronic desktop game distribution method in the planet. So popular that its developers think it will be a great idea to make a Steam Box, a custom gaming and media PC that will connect to your TV and compete with the Xbox One or the PS4. One of the steps…
It’s massive, it’s slow-moving, and it’s completely terrifying to imagine it being used in battle. But Secret Operation 610 is designed to spread knowledge, not mayhem. This mobile classroom looks like a cold war relic, but functions as an ultra-modern space for university research. Amsterdam-based creative office Rietveld Landscape was commissioned by the peace-loving folks…
After months—years, really—of speculation about buyers and shutdowns and sales, BlackBerry appears to have found salvation in the form of a $4.7 billion takeover. Whether the company lives on from there or is sold for scraps remains anyone’s guess. Under the proposed deal, which will close after due diligence and regulatory approvals, a group of…
After a forever-long countdown to a three-tiered announcement, Valve has rolled out phase one of its plan to take over your living room: SteamOS. What many thought was going to be a Steam Box console is for now in fact a Steam platform, one that will be available for hardware manufacturers to implement at will.…
Looking for a desk that’s impervious to spills, dents, and—apparently—the laws of gravity? Designer Paul Cocksedge seems to have defied everything we know about physics with his wonderful rolled steel Poise table, which looks like it’s perpetually ready to fall over. But thanks to some wonderful design and engineering, enough of the table’s 1,000 pound…
The first thing to notice about the actual Surface tablets is how similar they are both to each other and to last year’s models. Aside from the Surface 2’s eye-catching coat of white, the tablets both feel almost physically identical to their predecessors. That’s a good thing; the well-angled bezels and overall high-quality feeling of…
Creative ways to hide your sleeping space are as old at the first murphy bed, but this might be a first: The owners of this London apartment have found a way to maximize their living space without resorting to a bed that folds into a closet. If you’ve ever relied on natural light from a…
Deadspin says Ron Howard’s Rush is a, fortunately, a sports movie with no clichés: “no rooting interests, no inspirational speeches, no feel-good message about the triumph of the human spirit: Rush plays against conventions and is all the more rewarding for it.” Seems good. https://deadspin.com/off-putting-men-fast-cars-rush-reviewed-1341414392
A team of British scientists just took a major stride forward in the quest to develop a universal flu vaccine. Using data gathered after the 2009 swine flu outbreak, the team from the Imperial College London have a game plan to develop a vaccine that stands to save as many as half a million lives…
Beginning in October, travelers in Japan’s Kyushu region will be able to tour the countryside in a state of opulence not seen since the days of the Orient Express aboard the new Seven Stars super-luxury rail car. Designed by Eiji Mitooka and operated by JR Kyushu, the Seven Stars—named after both the island’s seven prefectures…
Taking inspiration from Porsche’s decision to break out into designing everything from sleds to cellphones, Audi’s decided that it now wants to apply its design chops to beautiful objects without four wheels. And the car maker’s first creation is a stunning see-through table clock that leaves its complex engine completely exposed and visible—not hidden beneath…
This week, as delegates descend on the United Nations for the 68th General Assembly, they just might be spending their free time in a brand-new lounge area. The renovation, officially opening on Wednesday, is an official gift from the Netherlands to the UN, so it’s only appropriate that it was masterminded by two of the…
Microsoft’s big Surface reveal today is packed with plenty of spec bumps, but its most important improvements might come from its accessories. Especially its new battery-packed Power Cover. Power Cover Battery life was a huge focus for Microsoft in general at today’s announcement, given that the previous generation hovered around three hours in the previous…
