Tech News

The Greenest Skyscraper in NYC Is Actually a Total Energy Hog

The Bank of America tower boasts all sorts of green details: An automatized system to dim lights in daylight. A grey water collection system. A foundation partially made from waste materials. Must be a pretty energy-efficient building, eh? According to one analyst, nope! In a fascinating look at the pitfalls of green certification systems, The…

Tech News Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan

Our Favorite Laptops, Cameras, Light Bulbs, and More

T.S. Eliot didn’t know what the hell he was talking about—August is unquestionably the cruelest month. With only four more sweet weeks of summer left, every day that passes is just another reminder that we’re about to be back in the lifeless dregs of fall. And what do we do when something upsets us? That’s…

Tech News Ashley Feinberg

North Korea’s Android Tablet Is a Strange, Neutered Monster

North Korea and the Internet are just starting to get along, and the relationship is a little bit tense. DPRK does have Android tablets though! And rest assured, they are very strange. A tourist known only as “Michael” picked up the tablet—a Samjiyon—when he was visiting the country, and spilled all the strange details to…

Tech News Eric Limer

Teacher Takes Student’s Phone, Sets Passcode as Math Problem Answer

This is what you want from a math teacher. The word problem you see here is what happened after a Redditor’s “friend” was caught using his phone during math class. The teacher confiscated the phone, and set the passcode to a certain number, found by answering the problem. It reads: A car dealer offers Lachlan…

Tech News Kyle Wagner

Microsoft Just Improved the Xbox One’s Graphics Powers

Well, Microsoft does seem to be listening to people. A sticking point for a lot of fans on the next-generation console has been that it’s less powerful than Sony’s PlayStation 4. In a podcast today, though, Major Nelson talked with Xbox’s Marc Whitten about some changes to the Xbox One that will let it crank…

Tech News Kyle Wagner

The 10 Dumbest ATM PINs Are Even Dumber Than You’d Think

In an age of mandatory password complexity and burgeoning biosensory protection, the idea of a four-number PIN for the ATM seems almost quaint. That doesn’t excuse the fact that the most popular PIN is still, yes, 1234. Come on, people. The following list of most-used ATM PINs comes compliments of a company called DataGenetics, and…

Privacy & Security Brian Barrett

Gamer forgets he’s in his room during 5-hour Virtual Reality session

Kotaku’s Richard Eisenbeis says that “at times [he] literally forgot [he] was really sitting in my living room” while playing with the Oculus Rift—a new virtual reality gaming eyeglasses system—for five hours straight. He really means it. His description of the surreal experience is incredible. When Alyx jumped into my arms at the start of…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

20 Most Inspiring Entries in Red Bull’s Epic Photo Contest

It’s back! Can you believe it’s already been three years since we wrote about Red Bull Illume, the world’s biggest photography contest for action and adventure sports? (Remember the incredible winners?) Beginning in June, Red Bull has been slowly leaking its top 250 finalists, and today, we’re happy to announce that the gallery has been…

Tech News Alice Yoo - My Modern Metropolis

How Much Caffeine Are You Actually Getting in That Cup of Coffee?

Confession: I don’t drink coffee. I know next to nothing about what makes a good cup of brown flavored water other than it involving sniper precision measurements, calculus-level math, tools that are fit for a serial killer, forearms that would make Popeye jealous and a full beard. What I DO know is that more is…

Tech News Casey Chan

The Weirdest Thing on the Internet Tonight: Buffalo Rider

Enjoy the heartwarming tale of a man, conveniently named Buffalo Jones, and his buffallo, named Buffalo. No wait. Its name is Samson, because that’s so much more original. Whatever you call them, the two chum around the American frontier, saving babies and stuff for an hour and a half (even though the script was apparently…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola

Have You Gotten in Trouble with Work Because of Your Computer Habits?

If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that being at work is different than from being at home. Well, unless you work at home or live at work, which, um, maybe we can’t agree on anything. But! The things you do on the computer at work should probably be different from…

Tech News Casey Chan

What Happens to Your Poop After You Flush It?

Though we may think we pump out roses when it’s go time on the ivory throne, nobody in their right mind would actually want to keep those roses around. So flush them away and down the magical toilet they go! But where do they go? To the vague destination of the sewers. And then where?…

Tech News Casey Chan

The FBI Can Remotely Activate Microphones in Android Phones to Record Conversations

The WSJ is reporting that the FBI uses super slick hacker tactics and tools to spy on people. It can get pretty dirty. Like, according to a former US official, the ability to “remotely activate the microphones in phones running Google’s Android software to record conversations” dirty. On top of the ability to record conversations…

Privacy & Security Casey Chan

A Plane Getting Struck By a Lightning Bolt is Always Scary

Though most of us know that lightning bolts striking planes aren’t too much to worry about these days, seeing the actual bolt go through the plane is always a frightening sight. There are hundreds of people in that flying tube! And they’re getting zapped by lightning! Of course, there probably unaware of it and it’s…

Tech News Casey Chan

Man selling bed of lies for $150

Gizmodo’s Kyle Wagner argues that this is the saddest Craigslist ad of the week. It’s pretty hilarious too, in the darkest possible way. https://gizmodo.com/yep-thats-the-saddest-craigslist-ad-of-the-week-993836024

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Rich People Are Full of Different Chemicals Than Poor People

This may not come as a huge surprise, but life is different for the rich and the poor. Rich people relax by eating oysters. Poor people relax by smoking cigarettes. At least that’s what we’re led to believe based on a new study about how the presence of certain chemicals can indicate how rich or…

Tech News Adam Clark Estes

Princeton ladies join gross drunken frat guy club because it’s fun

Women continue to behave in ways that horrify parents, journalists, men and especially other women. The latest comes from Princeton, an elitist university, where female students are lining up to join the grossest frat-bro social club of all. How gross? Penis air guitar competition is the standard dinner show. https://jezebel.com/college-party-girls-are-too-busy-slutting-it-up-to-need-990270412

Sploid Ken Layne

Read the Queen’s speech in case of global thermonuclear war

World War III never happened—we still have time!—but that doesn’t mean our (lizard?) leaders aren’t ready for it. This is how Queen Elizabeth II planned to comfort her obliterated country after the missile storm. https://gizmodo.com/what-queen-elizabeth-iis-speech-would-have-been-if-wwii-990920023

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Koch Brothers’ death cloud hangs over ruined Detroit

The Koch Brothers made their money the old fashioned way: They were born rich, raped every corner of the Earth, hauled away the natural resources that supposedly belong to everyone, and then dumped the waste on cities like Detroit—which was having a bad enough year without this Kochian toxic black death cloud. https://jalopnik.com/watch-a-massive-petroleum-coke-cloud-blanket-the-detroi-992400340

Sploid Ken Layne

Salt Meter Tells You If Your Dinner Is Going To Slowly Kill You

By now we all know that too much salt is bad for you. Excess salt intake leads to high blood pressure, which leads to all kinds of terrible things. But salt is in pretty much every processed food out there, and even the most ardent label reader can’t divine how much sodium chloride is in…

Tech News Bob Sorokanich

The Greenest Skyscraper in NYC Is Actually a Total Energy Hog

Our Favorite Laptops, Cameras, Light Bulbs, and More

North Korea’s Android Tablet Is a Strange, Neutered Monster

Teacher Takes Student’s Phone, Sets Passcode as Math Problem Answer

Microsoft Just Improved the Xbox One’s Graphics Powers

The 10 Dumbest ATM PINs Are Even Dumber Than You’d Think

Gamer forgets he’s in his room during 5-hour Virtual Reality session

20 Most Inspiring Entries in Red Bull’s Epic Photo Contest

How Much Caffeine Are You Actually Getting in That Cup of Coffee?

The Weirdest Thing on the Internet Tonight: Buffalo Rider

Have You Gotten in Trouble with Work Because of Your Computer Habits?

What Happens to Your Poop After You Flush It?

The FBI Can Remotely Activate Microphones in Android Phones to Record Conversations

A Plane Getting Struck By a Lightning Bolt is Always Scary

Man selling bed of lies for $150

Rich People Are Full of Different Chemicals Than Poor People

Princeton ladies join gross drunken frat guy club because it’s fun

Read the Queen’s speech in case of global thermonuclear war

Koch Brothers’ death cloud hangs over ruined Detroit

Salt Meter Tells You If Your Dinner Is Going To Slowly Kill You

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

AMC Puts a Stake in ‘Talamasca’ After One Season

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

2027 Is Shaping Up to Be a Great Year for Big Sci-Fi RPGs

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

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Tech News

The Greenest Skyscraper in NYC Is Actually a Total Energy Hog

Our Favorite Laptops, Cameras, Light Bulbs, and More

North Korea’s Android Tablet Is a Strange, Neutered Monster

Teacher Takes Student’s Phone, Sets Passcode as Math Problem Answer

Microsoft Just Improved the Xbox One’s Graphics Powers

The 10 Dumbest ATM PINs Are Even Dumber Than You’d Think

Gamer forgets he’s in his room during 5-hour Virtual Reality session

20 Most Inspiring Entries in Red Bull’s Epic Photo Contest

How Much Caffeine Are You Actually Getting in That Cup of Coffee?

The Weirdest Thing on the Internet Tonight: Buffalo Rider

Have You Gotten in Trouble with Work Because of Your Computer Habits?

What Happens to Your Poop After You Flush It?

The FBI Can Remotely Activate Microphones in Android Phones to Record Conversations

A Plane Getting Struck By a Lightning Bolt is Always Scary

Man selling bed of lies for $150

Rich People Are Full of Different Chemicals Than Poor People

Princeton ladies join gross drunken frat guy club because it’s fun

Read the Queen’s speech in case of global thermonuclear war

Koch Brothers’ death cloud hangs over ruined Detroit

Salt Meter Tells You If Your Dinner Is Going To Slowly Kill You

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor *And* an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

AMC Puts a Stake in ‘Talamasca’ After One Season

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

2027 Is Shaping Up to Be a Great Year for Big Sci-Fi RPGs

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

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!