On Saturday NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore noticed some strange noises emanating from a speaker inside the Starliner spacecraft. “I’ve got a question about Starliner,” Wilmore radioed down to Mission Control, at Johnson Space Center in Houston. “There’s a strange noise coming through the speaker … I don’t know what’s making it.” Wilmore said he was…
We test 30- and 36-inch induction cooktops from such popular brands as Frigidaire, GE, Samsung, and Whirlpool. We also test pro-style induction cooktops from brands like Bosch, Monogram, and Thermador. Regardless of whether the cooktop is gas, electric smoothtop, or induction, each is tested at low and high heat. Just about any cooktop will fare…
In our 2022 survey, 69 percent of CR members sought to repair their dryer when it broke down. Of those who turned to professionals for repairs, 60 percent paid out of pocket, 27 percent were at least partly covered by an original manufacturer’s warranty, and 13 percent were at least partly covered by an extended…
Fortnite maker Epic Games publicly lashed out at Apple on Friday, after its latest proposal for a rival iOS App Store was rejected by the smartphone maker. The company said on X that this rejection was triggered after Apple argued the design of Epic’s app store too closely resembled its own. This decision follows Epic’s…
The recall: It involves all sizes and thicknesses of the NapQueen Sleep Victoria Cooling Gel and Pocket Coil Hybrid Mattresses manufactured prior to October 2023 (models NQ691011, NQ691015, NQ691021, NQ691031, NQ691041, NQ691211, NQ691215, NQ691221, NQ691231, NQ691241, NQ69811, NQ69815, NQ69821, NQ69831, and NQ69841). The single-sided mattresses have a white knit top panel quilted in wavy diamonds…
In addition to cataloging all of that—and much more—CR’s test engineers launder swatches of fabric stained with red wine and cocoa, among other things, to see how well each machine cleans. We test top-loaders with agitators, high-efficiency (HE) top-loaders (the type without a vertical spindle), and front-loaders, including compact front-loaders. We also test all-in-one washer-dryers,…
I used to love Samsung’s wireless earbuds. They came in all types of magical shapes and sizes, with designs that genuinely seemed to embrace the new frontier that totally portable listening devices offered. Why on earth the brand shifted course and began imitating Apple (badly) for its third generation of wireless buds, I honestly can’t…
Once you decide to get rid of something, there are three ways to say goodbye: sell, donate, or dispose. Don’t underestimate the things you can sell. No matter how used an appliance or furniture might be, someone is likely to be willing to buy it. Take it from my friend, who was able to sell…
Your dad probably isn’t going to complain about any gift you give him. For better or worse, most modern dads don’t get hung up on presents. You know the meme of the older, bearded gentleman with a goofy smile opening a shirt just like the one he has on? There’s a lot of truth to…
You’ve seen the bikes around your neighborhood. They look like so much fun! You want one! But ebikes have so many different specs and price points. Here’s what I would consider, in your position. Can I build my own bike? Many affordable bikes now come direct-to-consumer—meaning that they are pre-tuned or partially assembled in a…