Amazon’s data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water last year
Amazon’s data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water last year

Just after Seattle enacted a one-year data center moratorium that some of Amazon’s own employees pushed for, Amazon shared how much water its data centers use, reportedly for the first time. With concerns about water consumption and energy use a focus of new AI data center construction debates, Amazon says its global data center operations […]

The bill that would let Jimmy Kimmel sue Brendan Carr is here
The bill that would let Jimmy Kimmel sue Brendan Carr is here

Under a new bipartisan bill, Americans could sue for damages if a government official illegally tries to coerce a social media, AI, or broadcasting company to remove their post – regardless of whether the platform actually does it. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the JAWBONE Act on […]

Here are the price-matching policies for Best Buy, GameStop, and others
Here are the price-matching policies for Best Buy, GameStop, and others

Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new pair of headphones, an OLED TV, or a laptop just to find out that you could have gotten it for cheaper somewhere else just a few days or weeks later. That’s why, in order to keep customers happy and prevent them from shopping elsewhere, some retailers offer […]

A warrantless wiretap law is about to expire — but surveillance networks aren’t actually ‘going dark’
A warrantless wiretap law is about to expire — but surveillance networks aren’t actually ‘going dark’

Congress has failed to pass a three-week extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), with the House voting 218-198 against reauthorizing the controversial warrantless wiretapping authority through July 2nd. After a short-term extension earlier this year, the spying program now appears set to lapse for at least a week. This is […]

I’ve found the Goldilocks of portable MIDI controllers
I’ve found the Goldilocks of portable MIDI controllers

I have tested more portable MIDI controllers than I can keep track of, and I will tell you right now: 37 keys is the ideal size. While Arturia’s 25-key MiniLab MK3 is a solid controller that easily fits in a backpack, it feels a bit claustrophobic. The new $149 MiniLab 37 adds another octave, giving […]

Elon Musk is encouraging race riots on the eve of SpaceX’s IPO
Elon Musk is encouraging race riots on the eve of SpaceX’s IPO

Elon Musk, on the verge of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, is whipping up anti-immigration tensions amid ongoing riots in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Following a knife attack in the city on Monday, Musk declared support for Restore Britain, a hard-right populist political party that advocates for large-scale migrant deportation in the UK. He reposted statements […]

The Weather Channel app now predicts bad allergy days
The Weather Channel app now predicts bad allergy days

The Weather Company announced an “enhanced allergy experience” now available through its The Weather Channel app designed to help allergy sufferers better understand when their symptoms might flare up, and what’s causing them. While the app already provides static pollen counts, its “Health & Wellness” section is being expanded to take into account other factors […]

With the World Cup looming, there’s still no clear replacement for sports Twitter
With the World Cup looming, there’s still no clear replacement for sports Twitter

Three years ago, when the women’s World Cup kicked off in Australia and New Zealand, my social feeds were in a strange place. Twitter had just transformed into X, newcomer Threads was seemingly ascendant, and places like Bluesky had yet to garner much momentum. It left me with an odd, and admittedly silly, dilemma: I […]

Cash App’s launching a phone service
Cash App’s launching a phone service

Cash App’s AT&T-based MVNO will offer an unlimited 5G data plan for $40 per month including taxes and fees. The new mobile service is powered by Gigs, the same firm behind the Klarna mobile service that launched last year with the same pricing and is “rolling out to select users, with broader availability planned in […]

I went to the woods to drink surprisingly great espresso
I went to the woods to drink surprisingly great espresso

With summer’s return, I’m again reminded of my limits as I head into the great outdoors: I can put up with a heavy, uncomfortable backpack, bug bites, mud, and even bland dehydrated food, but I will not forsake my morning brew. I’ve tried every imaginable coffee gadget in my half-century of camping. These range from […]