“Alexa+ is significantly more capable than the original Alexa, so we’re working to make it available to as many customers as possible,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “We notified customers of the upcoming update, including how to return to the original version.” Amazon says it’s only upgrading Prime members with supported devices to Alexa+ Early Access…
Starbucks opened its first store in China in 1999, when drinking coffee in a Western-style café was still a novel idea to many locals. But in the years since, homegrown coffee and bubble tea brands like Luckin Coffee, Heytea, Chagee, and Mixue have gradually chipped away at Starbucks’ share of the Chinese market. Now, they…
I was not sure what to expect from Diadem’s new BluCore paddle, which is among a handful of new paddles that have replaced the standard honeycomb polymer core with closed-cell foam—they sent me a sample of the stuff, and it looks like you could make a gas station cooler out of it. That foam is…
Other Smart Scales Renpho MorphoScan Photograph: Chris Null Renpho MorphoScan for $150: The Renpho MorphoScan full-body scanner looks surprisingly similar to the Runstar FG2015, including a near-identical display attached to the handlebars. Well, spoiler alert, they are basically the same scale. They even use the same app to collect data (and you can even use…
In his case, the field of play is a compact New York apartment, and the equipment is a sophisticated blend of modern engineering and scrappy, real-world ingenuity. He doesn’t just study how people work; he brings those lessons home with him, navigating the same cramped spaces and long hours as the rest of us, but…
If you’ve been dreaming of getting into virtual reality but you’ve been holding out for a good deal, this may be your moment. I spotted a Meta Quest 3S bundle at Best Buy that not only knocks $50 off the normal price, but also includes Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and a $50 Best Buy…
As the pet tech writer here at WIRED, I know just how far we’ve come as a pet-obsessed society. From automatic litter boxes with built-in cameras to interactive pet cameras on wheels that shoot out treats, if a human has dreamed it, our pets have probably been subjected to it. For a while, pet influencers…
The bean just wants to knit. With their back to me, Poe, the name I gave the animated brown bean in the Focus Friend app, is stitching up a little storm that will eventually become socks—if I can leave them alone. Unfortunately, I need to check my texts. I cancel the timer after six minutes,…
Compare Our Picks Others Tested Photograph: Molly Higgins Tineco Go Pet Cordless Vacuum for $176: As when I tested the Tineco Go Mini ($130) for my handheld vacuums guide, I was a bit underwhelmed by this vacuum specifically for pets. It has a slot for easy brush removal if hair gets stuck around the bars,…
An engine is fully lubricated long before it reaches full operating temperature. When your car sits for an extended period of time, the oil drains down to the bottom of the oil pan. Once you start the engine, the oil pump quickly circulates the oil throughout the motor, lubricating all the necessary moving engine components….