Wired Top Stories

In Defense of Google, Or Why Consumer Watchdog is Full of It

Ryan Singel — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:52:00 GMT

While there’s plenty of reasons to keep a critical eye focused on Google, Consumer Watchdog’s ad is a dishonest, factually inaccurate joke that shamefully got plenty of uncritical media attention. In the simplest terms possible, Consumer Watchdog is just wrong.

NASA Footage Sets Scene for Quantum Quest Movie

Hugh Hart — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:15:00 GMT

Footage from seven ongoing NASA space missions provide hyper-realistic scenery for the 3-D animated film, while the voices of multiple Captain Kirks and Darth Vaders play the parts of space explorers.

'Earth-like' Exoplanet Could Have a Comet's Tail

Lisa Grossman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:15:00 GMT

When the super-Earth COROT-7b was discovered in 2009, it was heralded as the rockiest, most truly Earth-like exoplanet yet. But a new study suggests it's more like a comet.

Duke Nukem Forever Lives Again at PAX

Chris Kohler — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:31:00 GMT

The presumed-dead videogame makes a splash appearance at Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle.

Hands-On With HDR Photos in the Next iPhone Update

Brian X. Chen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:13:00 GMT

A first look at iOS 4.1 Gold Master, the latest release of Apple's mobile operating system due out next week. A developer sent me a copy and I have it installed on my iPhone 4. Major new features are the HDR photo mode and Game Center.

Very Few Bones to Pick With Samsung's Big, Beautiful Phone

Christopher Null — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Just say "no" to be being an iClone. Get a device with an open OS, lightning-fast data connectivity and a network that won't drop calls every five minutes.

Smart Gear for the School Year

Wired Product Reviews — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Don't hit the books without getting the right gear. We've got all the kit you need from taking scrupulous notes, to working off campus, to being the most popular kid in your dorm.

Hot Helping of Rapid Wi-Fi Anywhere You Go? Yes, Please

Dan Havlik — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

If you're even thinking of working off-campus without taking this Wi-Fi-spewing wonder card, you'll need to be fitted for a straight jacket.

Glint of Starlight Could Reveal Liquid Oceans on Exoplanets

Lisa Grossman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

The sparkle of starlight off water could be the clincher for finding oceans on extrasolar planets. And it could be observable with the tech that will be deployed in the next generation of space telescopes.

Digital Pen Gives Boring Note-Taking a Modern Kick

Bryan Gardiner — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Don't you wish there was a way to take notes with a pen and upload them to your computer? And don't you wish that pen had an infrared camera, a built-in speaker and mic? There is such a thing, and it's called the Livescribe Echo Smartpen.

Cruising Across Campus? Get This Cozy Commuter

Steven Leckart — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Unless you're majoring in spandex and minoring in too-cool-for-school at Steephill State, you may not need a road, fixed-gear or a mountain bike. Consider REI's Novara Fusion commuter. Sure this hybrid 8-speed won't get you anywhere in a mega-hurry, but you'll likely enjoy getting there.

Behind the Scenes at IndyCar

Darryl Siry — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

As we go backstage at the IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma, we ponder what's more important to fans -- the drivers' skill, or the cars' technology?

By Losing Weight, Tennis Pro Quickly Gains Ground

Jeremy Repanich — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:35:00 GMT

By losing 30 pounds in less than a year, tennis pro Mardy Fish has quickly become one of the top Americans to advance at this year’s US Open in New York. Fish opens up on how he pulled it off and revitalized his career.

Steve Jobs: iTunes 10 Icon Does Not 'Suck'

Brian X. Chen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

While winding down from Wednesday’s iPod announcements, Apple CEO Steve Jobs appears to have taken some time to respond to an e-mail criticizing the new look of the iTunes icon.

Video: Monster Truck Makes Monster Crash

Chuck Squatriglia — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Joe Sylvester wants to set a new record for longest jump by a monster truck. Clearly he's still got some work to do.

Travelling Around the World in a Gadget-Filled Ford Fiesta

Jeremy Hart — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Wired.com contributor Jeremy Hart is driving around the world in a Ford Fiesta. Along the way, he'll be testing gadgets from some of the most extreme — and amazing — locations.

NASA Flies First Drone Over Hurricane

Jason Paur — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 GMT

In addition to the usual cadre of satellites, NASA is using a small fleet of unmanned aircraft into, over and around the hurricane as it tracks north from the Caribbean. While flying into a hurricane is nothing new, Earl is the first hurricane that NASA has observed using their unmanned Global Hawk observation aircraft.

EA Simulates 2010 NFL Season, Predicts Super Bowl Champs

Erik Malinowski — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:06:00 GMT

EA Sports, publisher of the Madden NFL videogame franchise, has taken its latest game iteration, Madden NFL 11, and run through the upcoming 2010 NFL season, offering at least a simulated insight into who’ll be celebrating in Arlington, Texas, after Super Bowl XLV.

Six Apart Shuts Down Vox

Scott Gilbertson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:01:00 GMT

Six Apart is shutting down its Vox blogging service. Users have until Sept. 30 to export their data to another free blog publishing service like Six Apart's TypePad. After that, Vox will be gone.

Gadget Lab Podcast: iPods, Apple TV and Samsung's Galaxy Tab

Brian X. Chen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 GMT

This week's episode of the Gadget Lab podcast is heavy on fruits. High on vitamin A, Dylan Tweney gushes over the pluot, a plum-apricot hybrid, while Brian X. Chen dishes out this week's announcements of brand new Apple gear. They also share our impressions of Samsung's iPad rival, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab.

Baby Lion Cam Launches

Jess McNally — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 GMT

This morning, the Smithsonian National Zoo launched a live webcam of the zoo's four new baby African lion cubs and their mother. The cubs were born during the late evening and early morning between Aug. 30 and 31 and will remain inside until late fall.

How Sheep Determined the Size of Your Gadgets

Tim Carmody — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:34:00 GMT

It's easy to figure out why e-readers and tablets are the size that they are: They're all about the size of paperback books. But why are paperbacks that size? It all has to do with the sheep.

Feds Push 'Active Transportation' to Build Healthier Communities

Jason Kambitsis — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on a mission to promote walking, cycling and mass transit in an effort to build healthier communities.

From Washington to Mexico on 12.4 Gallons of Diesel

Jalopnik — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Craig Henderson achieved 119.1 mpg in a car he designed in 1984.

Best Exploitation Flicks: 'Machete' and Its Over-the-Top Ancestors

Hugh Hart — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

From bad girls and zombies to circus freaks and killer cars, the shock-and-awful recipe for grindhouse movies' tasty cinematic sausage never fails to satisfy. As Robert Rodriguez's timely homage hits screens, we look back at several decades of surprisingly influential B movies.

Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 Lands on Mars

Jason B. Jones — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Viking 2, the second mission to Mars, lands on the planet and begins transmitting pictures and soil analyses.

Jargon Watch: Synthia, Teabonics, Flash Crash

Jonathon Keats — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Learn the nickname for the first synthetic organism and a derisive term for ungrammatical Tea Party signs.

Alt Text: Make a Nasty World Nice With Virtual Rewards

Lore Sjöberg — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Using Foursquare to stamp out sexually transmitted diseases is just the beginning of a brave new war on bothersome reality. Just think of all the amazing problems we can solve with the proper mix of badges, exclusive offers and unbridled optimism.

'Impossible' Soccer Kick Leads to New Physics Equation

Alasdair Wilkins — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT

A group of French scientists have come up with a new physics equation to help explain how Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos scored his "impossible" kick in 1998.

New Circuit Unveiled for U.S. Grand Prix

Jason Paur — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

With long straights, fast turns and tight chicanes, it looks like an exciting track. Now they've just gotta build it.