The latest from Wired covers a wide range of topics, from serious geopolitical breaches to the quirks of modern tech and the evolution of human behavior. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways:
Tech & Gadgets: Kindle, TVs, and Alexa
- Kindle Accessories: The market for e-reader customization is thriving, with cases, page turners, and even charms available for personalization.
- TV Buying Guide: Navigating the world of 4K UHD, RGB LED, and port requirements remains a challenge for consumers.
- Alexa Integration: Amazon continues to expand its ecosystem, now allowing Kindle Scribe notebooks to sync directly with Echo devices.
The Dark Side of Tech: Crypto & Sanctions
- Crypto-Funded Human Trafficking: The use of cryptocurrency in human trafficking has surged, with deals openly occurring online. The anonymity of crypto is clearly a facilitator.
- X (Twitter) Sanctions Violations: Elon Musk’s X platform allegedly sold premium accounts to Iranian officials, despite public support for protesters in the country. Checkmarks were quietly removed from some accounts after media scrutiny. This highlights the hypocrisy of some tech platforms, which profit from regimes they publicly oppose.
Personal Tech Experiments: Taxes, Sleep & AI Gigs
- TurboTax Filing: Filing taxes with TurboTax remains a seasonal necessity, with varying levels of “free” or low-cost options.
- Zero Gravity Bed Test: A week-long experiment with an adjustable bed’s “zero gravity” setting proved undesirable.
- RentAHuman Scam: The gig economy platform RentAHuman is largely populated by bots seeking to inflate hype around AI startups. This points to the growing problem of automated labor and misleading marketing in the AI space.
Social & Scientific Trends
- Hockey’s LGBTQ+ Problem: Increased fandom in hockey, driven by media attention, clashes with the sport’s lack of support for LGBTQ+ players and fans.
- Meditation & Brain Activity: Scientific studies confirm that meditation alters brain activity, promoting focus, learning, and well-being. This reinforces the growing understanding of meditation as a dynamic mental practice, not simply “doing nothing.”
- Climate Rule Uncertainty: The EPA’s potential rollback of greenhouse gas regulations threatens business stability and will likely trigger protracted legal battles.
The overarching message is that technology’s impact is both banal and profoundly dangerous. From the trivial (accessorizing e-readers) to the critical (facilitating human trafficking and undermining sanctions), these stories showcase the dual nature of innovation.
