Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, one of the first young technologists brought on to Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has returned to government shortly after resigning. “Edward Coristine joined the Social Security Administration this week as a special government employee,” Stephen McGraw, an SSA spokesperson, tells WIRED. “His work will be focused on…
Every audio system requires amplification. In a traditional hi-fi set-up, the loudspeakers are always “passive”—which is to say, they don’t produce their own power. Instead, they must receive an amplified audio signal from an external source, aptly called an amplifier, in order to do their thing. Even in a more modern, self-contained audio system (like…
There are many reasons you might lose power. Technical problems with your area’s electrical grid, for example, or excessive demand during periods of peak use. And then, of course, you could lose power from downed trees or power lines during a major storm. Right now, Erin—strengthening over the Atlantic—becomes the first hurricane of the season….
With certain gift cards that are widely accepted—think Visa, American Express, or Amazon—this might not be an issue because it’s easier to deplete balances. On the other hand, brand-specific gift cards, which limit consumers to a single establishment, can be a slippery slope to overspending. An annoyance to shoppers, it’s a beneficial outcome for merchants…
We ask our members about the products they own, and we use that data to make projections about how new models from a given brand will hold up over time. In a previous survey, CR members told us that they expect to use their blenders for about eight years, and 92 percent of all blenders…
Honorable Mentions There are so many good TVs available, we can’t add them all to our top list. Here are some great options that either missed the cut or got knocked off our top list by their replacements. Hisense U8QG: The U8QG is a great buy at its lowest price (around $1,000 for a 65-inch…
Here are a few shopping suggestions to keep in mind. • Make sure you can return or exchange the soundbar even if you listen to it in a store before buying it. Soundbars may sound very different in your home. • Determine how many channels of sound you want. To simply enhance your TV sound,…
When you buy a midsized or large suitcase—the kind of luggage you check before boarding—you want it to get you through dozens or even hundreds of excursions, by air, land, and sea. When we surveyed more than 20,000 of our members about their experiences with luggage brands, nearly half said they’d kept their most-used bag…
“We will never compromise on safety. When staffing constraints arise, the FAA will slow down air traffic at impacted airports to ensure operations remain safe,” FAA spokesperson Hannah Walden tells WIRED, adding that Transportation secretary Sean Duffy “said that air traffic controllers who report to work will be paid. Regarding reductions in force (RIFs), DOT…
Casper Small (26″ x 19″ x 6″), medium (33″ x 25″ x 6″), large (45″ x 35″ x 7″) Gray, blue, sand Yes CertiPur-US certified foam Free Free 1 year limited Bedsure XS (20″ x 20″ x 6″), small (23″ x 23″ x 8″), small plus (27″ x 27″ x 8″), medium (30″ x 30″…