Amazon’s new and improved version of Alexa is here, and it’s called Alexa+. The next-gen upgrade is more conversational, can execute complex tasks, and is much more personalized. While the rollout starts next month on select Echo Show devices, Amazon claims it’ll eventually be available on every Alexa-powered device the company has shipped. It’ll cost…
If you’re planning a week of cooking pasta—or you like to take long showers—window condensation could turn your home into a steamy greenhouse. Once again, dish soap is your soldier. “Condensation on windows can lead to mold growth, dampness, and general discomfort in your home,” Brown says. “One effective but unusual remedy is using dish…
Nikon’s Z6 III brings most of the flagship features of Nikon’s far more expensive Z8 and Z9 to the Z6 line. The Z6 III (8/10, WIRED Recommends) features Nikon’s 24-megapixel partially stacked CMOS sensor, very fast and accurate 3D subject-tracking system, and ProRes encoding for video—making it one of the best hybrid, photo/video cameras on…
Built-in refrigerators are designed to blend in. They sit completely flush between other kitchen fixtures and, while they’re available with the ever-popular stainless steel finish, they allow you to install custom paneling to match your cabinetry. Taken together, these two traits provide a chameleon effect that may fool unsuspecting visitors. Freestanding refrigerators are just that:…
New research from a team at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics suggests that the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy neighboring the Milky Way, hosts a gravitational structure hundreds of thousands of times the mass of the sun: a potential supermassive black hole. The most widely accepted theory of galactic evolution holds that supermassive black…
Monica Retamosa was in the middle of changing the batteries of a tape recorder when she heard a bellbird for the first time. Standing on a forest floor, she looked up into the trees, scanning for the source of its metallic and powerful sound, searching for the bird for half an hour to no avail….
Vehicles recalled: BMW X3 SUVs manufactured between Aug. 11, 2021, and Aug. 27, 2024. The problem: These SUVs were built with rear seat door locking modules that may not fully conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard 206 Section 4.3.1. As such, rear passengers may be able to open the doors in a single motion…
Engine and transmission options are now simpler, too. The new A5 is powered by a 268-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the sportier S5 boasts a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 362 hp. The entry-level 201-hp engine is no longer available. Unlike the BMW 3-Series, there’s no plug-in hybrid version. Every A5 and S5 gets standard…
Ninety cases of measles have been reported in Texas in less than a month, marking the worst outbreak of the disease in the border state in more than 30 years. At least 16 people have been admitted to the hospital. Nine cases of measles have also been reported in the neighboring state of New Mexico….
If you aren’t feeling rested when your alarm goes off, the problem could be the alarm clock itself. Waking up to a sudden loud alarm isn’t exactly a fun way to start your day, and the disruptive jolt might not work to tell your body it’s time to rise. I’m a chronic snooze-button kind of…