Minnesota is the birthplace of the supercomputer, developed for code cracking during World War II. Tech giants of their day, including Cray Research and Control Data Corporation, were based in the Twin Cities. And while Al Gore is infamously misquoted as “inventing the internet,” humble Minnesota actually can claim a role with the University of…
If your giftee is interested in growing their own mushrooms, they can grow just about anything they want in North Spore’s automated Boomr Bin monotub. The kit comprises a tub with a lid, filters, a hygrometer, a humidifier, and a fan to maintain airflow, though no instructions are provided. Because of this, it will take…
Compare Top 12 Budget Laptops Other Budget Laptops to Consider Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for $750: The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) checks a lot of boxes. It has a surprisingly premium feel for such an affordable machine, and the keyboard and trackpad are excellent for those…
CMF has multiple pairs of earbuds that are virtually indistinguishable—a surprising problem given how clever its parent company, Nothing, is at making a visual impression. Even so, the brand has a knack for creating slick buds that sound good on a budget, and the Buds Pro 2 are the best we’ve tried. Their Dirac-tuned sound…
Regular readers will recognize my affinity for America’s Test Kitchen and their recipe-refining process. Their “testing recipes 100 different ways to give you the best one” approach sets you up for kitchen success like nobody’s business. Yet some of their previous books that forayed into other cultures have felt stilted and distant. They took a…
I have personally owned LG-brand refrigerators for the past 15 years. When I bought my first refrigerator from LG (an acronym for “Life’s Good”), in 2011, the French door model was highly rated, and the combination of price and features was unmatched by other brands. In fact, I loved it so much I bought a…
He points out that Ikea is on the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) board, and has been actively contributing to the development of the Matter platform since its 2019-2021 Project CHIP days: “It’s just now that lately we’ve been able, as a company, to take a strategic position to switch altogether.” Last September, Ikea updated its…
So you’re hosting a holiday party. You’ve got the snacks and drinks, the music and the mood lighting, but how do you create a truly festive atmosphere? Aromatherapy, that’s how. When a guest walks in the front door, they assess the general vibe with multiple senses simultaneously. Mood lighting and jolly jingles in the back…
Oddly, given the branding of the device, this isn’t entirely Atari’s party. There’s also a trio of Pac-Man games (arcade classic, Atari 2600, and “Speed Up” flavors) and Balls of Steel, a mid-’90s pinball game broken out into its own section, with seven tables based on Atari games. Drifting further, there are 40 titles included…
Cabeau’s Evolution Earth neck pillow is covered in RPET, a super-soft, washable fabric made with recycled plastic bottles. The pillow offers excellent, high sides and a comfortable, firm fit. Like some other pillows in this guide, it can be tricky to use this pillow with over-ear headphones. The back is flat, so in theory it…
