The Truth vs. Censorship Trap

There recently has been a lot of rumbling about Twitter deciding not to take political ads, and Facebook deciding that it would run political ads even if untrue. I'm becoming convinced that Zuckerberg is trying to put Facebook out of business. There are some real differences between the firms. Facebook does far more political advertising than Twitter, so it would have been more painful to cut the ads. Still, effectively admitting that it intends to support voter manipulation at a national scale isn't going to sit well with regulators.

Evidence of War Crimes Vanishing From Social Media

A controversy has erupted over YouTube's practice of taking down graphically violent videos that may be evidence of recent war crimes. YouTube's policy -- similar to other social media platforms -- has been to remove content that contains hate speech, disinformation or disturbing images. In the past, Facebook and other services have been called out for failing to do enough to stop the live streaming of criminal and violent acts. Many user-generated content services have stepped up efforts to remove problematic videos as quickly as possible.

Master & Dynamic MW07 Go Review: Best in Class Earbuds

They're not cheap, but these wireless workout earbuds really are amazing.

13 Great Tech Deals on TVs, Games, Apple Watch and more

Whether you need a smartwatch or an air fryer, these are the best things worth buying this weekend.

Russia internet: Law introducing new controls comes into force

Critics fear the government may use the new "sovereign internet" law to silence opposition.

Twitter to ban all political advertising

CEO Jack Dorsey says the reach of political messages "should be earned, not bought".

Active Noise Cancellation a Big Draw in New Apple AirPods

Active Noise Cancellation is just one of the hot new features in the latest generation of Apple's AirPods. The new AirPods Pro, which go on sale Wednesday for $249, combine earbud microphones with software to remove background noise and improve a user's listening experience. An outward-facing mic on the bud collects environmental sound for analysis. That analysis allows the bud to create a sound that can cancel out noise before it reaches a listener's ear. Meanwhile, an inward-facing mic listens toward the ear.

Indian grandpa cooks his way to YouTube glory

The 60-year-old rose to social media fame because of his unusual cooking videos.

Why do gay apps struggle to stop catfish?

Gay dating app Hornet says it will use algorithms to tackle fake profiles and fraudsters.

EA Rewards Battlefield V Fans With Expansive Pacific Chapter

There's a new trailer for Battlefield V, the World War II first-person shooter Electronic Arts released last year, highlighting the game's Chapter 5: War in the Pacific. The trailer previews team-based gameplay in settings ranging from Europe to the South Pacific. War in the Pacific is a free download that will be available on Oct. 31. New maps will include familiar stomping grounds such as Wake Island and Iwo Jima, and add American and Japanese factions to the game, along with a slew of new weapons and vehicles.

10 Best Cheap Headphones & Earbuds for $100 or Less (2019)

We’ve picked the best affordable in-ear, over-ear, on-ear, wireless, and corded headphones in every price bracket.

Mobile giants unveil plan to end rural 'not-spots'

The proposed deal with the government aims to get 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by 2025.

Amazon Echo Dot Deal: It's on Sale for Just $9

This is a ridiculously good price for Amazon's popular 3rd-Generation Echo Dot—but there is one tiny caveat.

GoPro Max 360 Wins Reviewers' Plaudits

GoPro has begun taking preorders for its $500 360-degree camera, the Max 360. It has two 180-degree lenses that can capture 360-degree stills at 16.6 megapixels, single lens shots with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 5.5 megapixels, and arresting 270-degree "PowerPanos" at 6.2 megapixels. For video, it can capture 1440p at 60 frames-per-second with a single lens and 5.6k spherical clips at 30 fps. There are microphones on all sides of the camera, save one, and it supports all current GoPro accessories.

3 Coming Tech Advances That Could Boost Our Safety and Smarts

I was moved by the recent news about a woman being shot in her home by a police officer. Once again, I found it frustrating that people immediately jumped to apply blame before all the facts were in. Three mistakes contributed to the incident. The first was by the neighbor, who should have called the homeowner before calling the police. The second was by the police, who should have called the woman before going to the front door. Finally, the woman made the final mistake by picking up a gun without being ready to use it.

How to Pick the Best Roku: A Guide to Each Model (2019)

There are 7 Rokus for sale, and the differences between them are confusing. We break down exactly which Roku is best for your TV.

Masterbuilt 330G Propane Smoker Review: As Good as Wood

Some pit masters may look down on smoking with propane, but this smoker could convert them.

Adopt a Maintenance Mindset: Protect IT

As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the National Cyber Security Alliance is advising all computer users to "Protect IT" by taking precautions such as updating to the latest security software, Web browser and operating system. The nonprofit public-private partnership, which works with DHS as well as private sector sponsors, advised computer users on ways to protect their personal data and how to use WiFi safely. Protect IT is the third pillar of the NCSA's overarching message around this month's awareness program.

4 College Admissions Essay Editing Services Reviewed: Scribendi, Wordvice, Elite Editing, Scribbr

College applicants seeking an edge can turn to online services which, for as little as $14, will spruce up their admissions essays.

Vatican launches new 'eRosary' bracelet

The gadget aims to help young Catholics pray for world peace and contemplate the gospel.

Germany will not bar Huawei from its 5G networks

The ruling is welcomed by the Chinese company, which warned against "politicising security".

Safari's Safe Browsing Option Raises Privacy Concerns

An option in Apple's Safari browser that's supposed to protect Web surfers from malicious sites has raised privacy concerns in some quarters. The option, called "safe browsing," is turned on by default. Depending on where an Apple device is registered, the browser could be sending IP information to Tencent, a conglomerate with close ties to China's government. "Safe browsing should not only mean you're protected from visiting websites that are dangerous, but that your privacy is safe, too," said law professor Joel R. Reidenberg.

Setting Up Roadblocks to Social Engineering

Since the dawn of the Internet age, criminals have looked for ways to profit on unsuspecting people while they browse the Web. Viruses, malware and other schemes were invented to infect and infiltrate systems, both at the enterprise and consumer levels. One of the most successful forms of cybercrime is social engineering, also known as the con man of the Internet. Social engineering actually covers a wide range of security threats, not just those in a digital context, but it's usually associated with attacks like phishing.

Google's Pixel 3A Is On Sale at Amazon Right Now

Google's Pixel 3A is already a bargain, and it's $50 cheaper than usual.

Payments giants abandon Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency

Mastercard, Visa, eBay and Stripe join PayPal in no longer supporting Facebook's effort to launch a currency.

USB-C Has Finally Come Into Its Own

“The port of the future” has become the port of right now—with one big exception.

26 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories (WIRED's Top 2019 Picks)

Own Nintendo's two-in-one console? These are our picks for the best gaming headsets, chargers, screen protectors, cases, stands, controllers, adapters, and more.

The Big Lure of Tiny Keyboards

Minimalists intent on freeing up desk space are shrinking their keyboards.

How to Donate or Recycle Your Lego Bricks

The toy company has partnered with a logistics company to collect, wash, and redistribute used Lego pieces as part of its sustainability goal.

YouTube terminates Addy A-Game and Street Attraction channels

Hundreds of online videos are removed for breaking rules on nudity and sexual conduct after a BBC investigation.

Get Serious About Cybersecurity: Take Ownership of Your Personal Data

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and one of the prongs in the three-part theme is for all computer users to "Own IT." This means staying safe on social media, updating privacy settings, and keeping tabs on apps. Simply put, users need to take better ownership of their data and their online presence as part of daily safe cyber practices. It is all too easy simply to click the wrong link, share the wrong thing on social media, or download the wrong app. One of the biggest risks today is ransomware.

HP Omen X 2S Review: A Secondary Screen Doubles Your Gaming Pleasure

This brawny gaming laptop has a secondary display embedded above the keyboard.

GoPro Hero 7 Black Deal: $70 Off Right Now

The Hero 7 is still a great deal at $329, with superb image stabilization and awesome time-lapse video.

New Surface Line Makes the Earth Move for Microsoft Fans

Microsoft has launched a slew of new devices designed to reshape the world: the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X, Surface Earbuds, and the upcoming Surface Neo and Surface Duo. "The next decade will be about creation, and amplifying what we can do as humans," said CEO Satya Nadella. "It's that ambition that ... underlies the approach to Surface and everything we do today." The Surface Laptop 3, Pro 7 and Pro X are available for preorder in select markets. The dual-screen Surface Neo and Duo will be available next year.

US hospitals turn away patients as ransomware strikes

Three hospitals in Alabama were forced to close their doors to all but the most critical new patients.

A Peek at Our Wireless Future

Last week I attended a Qualcomm event that took me through the coming wave of both 5G and WiFi 6 products, touched on the millimeter wave, and at least spoke to 6G. From this I think I can begin to picture the world as it will exist by the middle of the next decade, and it is kind of fascinating. Qualcomm has spent nearly $50B -- yes billion -- advancing its wireless initiatives. Its current leading efforts are 5G, WiFi 6, and Millimeter Wave. If you are in the U.S., you'll likely have access to all three technologies.

Best Dog Tech & Accessories: 10 Essentials for Your Pup

WIRED's favorite dog gear, including a pet camera, fitness tracker, geofencing collar, camping bed, and leash.

Spoofing emails: The trickery costing businesses billions

Company executives are being targeted by spoof emails requesting them to send vast sums of money.

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Review: A Go-Anywhere Headset

The latest SteelSeries Arctis headset is wireless, works with every game system, and doubles as a great pair of music headphones.

Facebook to create VR world called Horizon

Inhabitants of the virtual space will be able to play games, chat and shape the world, says Facebook.

Little Talk of Sustainability at Amazon's Big Hardware Event

But CEO Jeff Bezos says he considers Amazon’s hardware strategy to be a part of the company’s efforts to reduce its overall carbon footprint.

WeWork's Adam Neumann quits as chief executive

The boss of the trendy office rental firm says stepping aside is "in the best interests of the firm".

Art Project Uncovers Bias in AI Training Models

A website created to gather faces for an art project has created a controversy over the use of AI to classify human beings. The faces collected at the ImageNet Roulette site are being incorporated into a work of art in Milan, but that is only one reason American artist Trevor Paglen and Microsoft researcher Kate Crawford created the site. "ImageNet Roulette was launched ... to draw attention to the things that can -- and regularly do -- go wrong when artificial intelligence models are trained on problematic training data," the creators wrote.

Kodak Smile Classic Review: The Best Zink Instant Camera

Kodak's latest instant camera offers bigger, better prints with its eye-catching camera-printer combo.

What3words: 'Life-saving app' divides opinion

First responders have been singing the praises of what3words but some have reservations about the tech.

It's a Great Time to Buy a Kindle (and 10 More Tech Deals)

Amazon is clearing out Kindles, and there are some deep discounts on some iPhone alternatives this weekend.

Fitness: The Sweet Spot for Smartwatches

Smartwatches outsold traditional watches in the fourth quarter of 2018. The category saw a 51 percent increase in dollar sales for last year, along with a 61 percent increase in unit sales, according to recent data from NPD Group. One in four Americans aged 18 to 34 now own a smartwatch, and that is likely to increase. Traditional watches did regain the majority of the market in Q1 2019, suggesting that not all consumers are ready to have a mini-computer on their wrists just yet.

Huawei: Microsoft president seeks resolution to tech ban

The US company's president warns of a "digital iron curtain down the Pacific Ocean".

iPhone 11: To Upgrade or Not, That's the Question

Early reviews on the new iPhone models are appearing, and for owners of older versions of Apple's flagship mobile, an upgrade may be in order. Reviewers had plenty of praise for Apple's more expensive iPhone models -- the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. However, it was the baseline iPhone 11 that came out the clear winner in the kudos game. Although the iPhone 11 is the lowest-priced of the three new models, Apple didn't skimp on the device. Reviewers found the 11's camera to be a solid performer. They also praised the iPhone 11 line's video prowess.

Wi-Fi 6 Is Ready for Prime Time

The Wi-Fi Alliance has released certification standards for Wi-Fi 6 devices, signaling that the technology is ready for prime time. The certification program assures buyers that products carrying the Wi-Fi Certified 6 label will deliver the best user experience with devices supporting IEEE 802.11ax. Wi-Fi 6 includes innovations to create faster network performance and to decrease the latency that can result from adding devices to a network. "Wi-Fi Certified 6 is ushering in a new era of WiFi," said Wi-Fi Alliance CEO Edgar Figueroa.