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The Rise and Feel of VR Pornography
The porn industry may have changed a lot in the digital age, but some things still live up to the stereotype. Like, say, this house in the San Fernando Valley, which is the nation’s capital of adult film production. From the outside, it doesn’t look all that different from the other million-dollar properties in this Los Angeles suburb. Inside, it’s just another day at the office—if your business happens to be making adult films. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

'Rampage': 14 Unanswered Questions About the Rock’s New Movie
Did you guys see? The Rock has a new movie out. It’s called Rampage. It’s based on an mid-’80s arcade game—though you’d never know that—and, like most Dwayne Johnson movies, it involves The Rock wearing an impossibly tight T-shirt over his muscle-wall frame. Things blow up; the ones that don't get smashed to pieces. Tactical gear figures prominently in it. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Best Weekend Tech Deals: LG OLED, Kindle, Alienware, Megaboom
Who woulda thunk it? Even though we've just survived another Friday the 13th, the bad luck hasn't impacted the number of tech deals. There's still a huge sale on Amazon devices like the Kindle and Fire tablets. That sale ends April 16, but we also put up some tech deals earlier this week that are still relevant. Check out TechBargains for more great deals. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Runtopia Reach Smart Running Shoes: Stride Right
If you’ve never had a running coach, let me describe the experience: your coach doesn’t just plan your workouts and critique your form. They also make sure you’re eating the right food and wearing supportive shoes. He or she might even make you do sit-ups when you start slouching like a 90-year-old grandma from the Planet Slow. The best coaches are a combination of ruthless drill sergeant, physical therapist, and older sibling. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Catching up With Pepper, the Surprisingly Helpful Humanoid Robot
Listen, humans are great and all, but sometimes they’re horrible. That’s especially true if you’ve just spent 12 hours stuck in a flying aluminum tube with a few hundred of them. Now all you want to do is lock yourself in a hotel room, and for the love of all that is holy get away from humans. Ah, but wait. The cursed fates dictate that someone’s gotta check you into your hotel. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Ridge Merino Heist Hoodie Review: Wonderful Wool
Every spring, I look forward to a beloved Pacific Northwestern seasonal ritual. I’m out tromping somewhere in boots, hood pulled over my head, and squint upward towards the sky. “Wait a second,” I think. “Is it sunny...and hailing? At the same time?” Yes, warm weather will be here soon, but it’s not time to set aside those wool base layers just yet. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Race to Find the Next Pandemic—Before It Finds Us
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How to Share Songs on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Google Play Music
When the music-focused social network Cymbal launched in 2016, the service promised to be a hub for music junkies to share their favorite artists and flaunt their great taste. Once you logged in, you'd see a stream of songs titles shared by whoever you were following, often accompanied by some sort of commentary or mini review. The goal was to create a feed that acted as a playlist, with everything curated by all the people who matter to you. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Best Nintendo Switch Deals and Console Bundles (2018)
We're incredibly optimistic about the Switch's future and believe it sets a new standard for game systems. But since it's so new, there aren't a ton of killer deals yet. But at $300, it's still roughly as cheap as a PS4 or Xbox One, and a lot more portable. If you don't own one yet, we've got your back. Below are all the current Nintendo Switch deals and bundles we could find. We've also added some games you should consider and essential accessories you'll need. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Trew Gear LTD Powfish Jacket Review: Slope and Street Smart
It may be a little late in the season to shop for snow gear, but try telling that to all the revelers playing in the late spring powder on Oregon’s Mount Hood. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re still enjoying plenty of fresh snow, enough for me to pack a few sandwiches and take out Trew Gear’s new LTD Powfish jacket for a spin. At WIRED, we love Trew Gear. Their lightweight and stylish ski apparel works on both sunny days and in the wettest weather. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' and the False Hope of Really Great Trailers
Good day, rogues; a new Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer dropped last night. It looks really incredible. Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian drips swagger. Emilia Clarke is in High Society Khaleesi mode, minus the dragon white hair. There’s even a few seconds of Thandie Newton for folks who can’t wait for Westworld to come back. Chewie is 190 years old and he looks great! It’s easy to have a really good feeling about this. But that’s what trailers are supposed to do. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

4 Best Smartphones of 2018: Guide to Android, Samsung Galaxy, iPhone
It's a great year to buy a smartphone. These days, even mid-range phones are at least OK, so it’s hard to go horribly awry if you’re browsing devices at your local retailer. Especially if you're looking at devices over $500, you're almost guaranteed to find passable cameras, fast processors, and gorgeous screens. Many phones are trying so hard to imitate the biggest and best smartphones, (Samsung Galaxy devices and iPhones are still the trend setters) that they tend to blur together. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

8 Great Weekend Tech Deals: Nintendo, Apple, Tile, Eufy, Vive Pro
If we keep talking about it, that’s because we’re excited: This week, the HTC Vive Pro headset is out! For a cool $800, you too can roam around an enormous VR display that is a mindboggling 10 x 10 meters wide, enjoying your integrated headphones, clearer display, and sweet, sweet wireless-ness. However, we’d be remiss not to mention that you will also need to shell out a couple hundred bucks for a few base stations and controllers. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset Review (2018): Finally Golden
Have you ever tried using Sony’s pitiful little mono headset that comes with every PlayStation 4? It’s a chintzy freebie at best, and a no-good, annoying, keeps-coming-unclipped-from-your-collar, hanging hellion the rest of the time. Sony’s 2014 Gold Wireless Headset also angered gamers due to a fragile, crack-prone headband. With this track record, you'd be forgiven for ignoring Sony’s new 2018 Gold Wireless Headset. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How To Build a PC
Back in the days of dial-up internet, it was commonplace to build your own computer. Instead of walking into a Best Buy or logging onto Dell's website to shop for a complete unit, you'd assemble a desktop PC yourself using standardized, commodity parts purchased either online or at a store specializing in computer components. These days, most consumers have only ever bought pre-fab systems, no assembly required. However, many gamers and computer hobbyists still prefer to roll their own boxes. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Spectra S9 Plus: A Breast Pump You Can Fit In Your Pocket
When I entered the restroom at the ski lodge, a sulky snowboarder teenager was already occupying its one bench. She sprawled across it, texting furiously, and looked up when I stood in front of her. "Excuse me," I said. "I need to sit here." "Why?" she said, confused. To all appearances, I was just another snowboarder, carrying a zip pouch the size of a sandwich bag. "I need to pump breast milk and I don’t want to put all my stuff on this trash can," I said. "We can share, if you want. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Vizio SmartCast Soundbar and Surround Speaker Review: Instant Surround Sound
It seems like a sick joke, at first. You just spent hundreds, possibly a thousand bucks on that brand-new 4K TV in your living room, and your home theater-nerd friends are already telling you that you need to spend a more on a soundbar and subwoofer? Need is a strong word, but your friends are right—you really should buy a soundbar. Your TV has tiny, tinny speakers and you’ll notice the difference immediately. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Cheap PS4 and PS4 Pro Bundles and Deals (2018)
Nintendo's Switch may be the popular console on the playground, but make no mistake, Sony's PlayStation 4 is the most popular console in the world—and nothing else even comes close. If you're thinking of buying a new system, PS4 is a great choice. If your friends own any console, it's likely the PS4, and it's home to most of the top games in the last five years. Below are the best bundle deals and cheap prices we could find on the PS4, PS4 Pro (an upgraded PS4 for 4K TVs), and PlayStation VR. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A Nighttime Underwater Spectacle Off the Coast of the Philippines
Billions of animals live far away from the sun’s rays in the dark depths of the oceans. But at night, they ascend toward the surface for food, an awesome dance that makes up the largest migration on the planet. Scott Tuason is often right there, his camera poised to capture the incredible plankton and pelagic creatures that float before the lens: an octopus riding a jellyfish, a trevally surfing a mangrove leaf, a pair of translucent sea butterflies mating. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

6 Speaker Deals: Sony, JBL, Ultimate Ears, Insignia
Smart speakers are fun to have around. You can tell them what songs to play, ask 'em for the weather, or have them control any smart appliances you have around the house. Unfortunately, they're often pricey. This week, we spotted a few speakers bucking the trend. Best Buy, Jet, and Amazon are holding a few sales on some of the better Bluetooth speakers and smart speakers on the market at some deep discounts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Indie Title 'Small Talk' Is the Cartoony Party Game of My Dreams
Very few games have an art style that feels personal. Most major games strive for "realism"—the closest consoles and gaming computers can come at any given time to producing a digital landscape that looks the way we imagine the real world looks. But precious few attempt to approach the way the world feels. Small Talk, my favorite game that appeared at last month's Game Developers Conference, is one of those few. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How to Stop Eye Strain: Tips, Tricks, and Apps
Staring at the computer all day is horrible for your eyes. All those brightly colored pixels clashing with the lighting around you while you stare at your screen for hours on end—it's a recipe for eye fatigue, muscle strain, and headaches. By adhering to a few simple guidelines and by making some physical adjustments to your workspace, you can avoid putting too much strain on your eyes. Here are some tips to make your workday healthier. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

20 Easter Tech Sales (2018): Nintendo, Apple, Dyson, Lenovo
Easter weekend is a holiday filled with church activities, egg painting, and a lot of bunnies and candy. It's also a great time to pick up a few tech and gaming items for the spring. Several sales and deals are happening this weekend. We've picked out 20 of our favorites, with a little help from our friends at TechBargains. The Moto G5 Plus is our WIRED pick for best phone under $300, and it's a little cheaper than usual right now. Buy the Moto G5 for $250 - $50 off. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Tech Tools to Help With Hand and Arm Injuries
Sometimes, through no fault of your own—or possibly because you were doing something stupid—fate dictates that you should lose the use of your "good hand." Hopefully this is just a temporary situation, like an injury that puts your arm in a sling. Of course, many are not as lucky and suffer a permanent loss. In either case, we must adapt and teach ourselves to go about our lives using our non-dominant hand. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Best Unlimited Data Plans: T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon
It’s an interesting moment for wireless carriers. For the first time in years, unlimited data plans are available on all four major U.S. carriers (T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T), and provide shoppers with a lot of choice. Lead by T-Mobile, many of the new plans include new perks, like international roaming or access to streaming content gratis. But that newfound freedom comes with a bevy of gotchas. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Xbox Spring Sale 2018: Life is Strange, Tomb Raider, Bioshock and More
Microsoft is having a massive Xbox One Spring Sale on games right now. So massive, in fact, that we spent hours sifting through it to pick out our favorite game deals in a list that feels like it contains just about every noteworthy Xbox game available. The sale ends April 9, and if you're an Xbox Live Gold member, you can get some extra discounts through April 2. Below are our favorite deals in the bunch. All of these titles have good reviews and some of the larger discounts in the sale. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You Can Model China’s Tiangong-1 Space Station Crash
At some point this week, the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is going to crash down to Earth. When and where? We can't know for sure. And for that, we have physics to blame. Tiangong-1 is in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of about 138 miles. At first approximation, there is only one force acting on the space station—the gravitational pull from the Earth. This gravitational force pulls the space station towards the center of the Earth so that it moves in a mostly circular orbit. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With ‘Sniffs’ and ‘Licks,’ Petzbe Makes Social Media Nice Again
The CEO of Petzbe, a social networking platform that launched on the App Store last week, is a Brussels Griffon named Angus. Angus can often be found adorned in a stylish jean vest gazing stoically into the distance or, at times, yawning. According to his Petzbe bio, Angus is a “lover of the finer things in life. Peculiar in looks and personality. Extremely loving but with a healthy understanding of [his] human’s shortcomings. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Middle School Relationships in the Age of the iPhone
Nervous looks. Passing notes. Gossip around the lunch table. The middle school relationship is an iconic coming-of-age staple that has remained unchanged for decades. But smartphones and apps have fundamentally transformed how kids, you know, “like-like” each other. The youths of Gen Z are communicating more than any generation before them, while simultaneously cutting off human connection at the thumbs. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Seniors Get a Wii Bowling League of Their Own
When Dennis Berkholtz’s parents moved to a retirement home in 2004, he worried they’d get bored. “People were just playing bingo,” he recalls. But a couple of years later, Nintendo released the Wii, and Berkholtz—a former Olympic handball player and coach—saw an opportunity. With $120,000 from investors, he launched the National Senior League for Wii Bowling. Today, some 1,400 players on 280 teams compete against rivals in contests nationwide. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

8 Hot Tech Deals: Dell, Amazon Echo, HTC Vive, August Smart Lock
March is in like a lion, out like a lamb. But there’s nothing like great prices on desktops, smart locks, and Segways to help you keep dreaming of sunnier times. With the help of our friends at TechBargains, we’ve pulled together some of the best deals from around the web to chase off the very last dregs of the winter doldrums. Dell’s Inspiron 3650 desktops are a popular pick, and for good reason. With code INS599, you can pay $599, over $600 off the original list price of $1212. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

March For Our Lives: One High School Student's Experience
As I followed the masses of people on Saturday morning toward the Center for Civil Rights, where the march was to kick off, the streets of Downtown Atlanta bigger than I'd ever seen them. Hundreds of people flooded toward the museum, filling any open space accessible. Standing there waiting, surrounded by people, I realized all of this seemed very familiar to me: This was how it felt last January at the Atlanta Women’s March taking the same route through downtown to the capitol. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10 Tech and Gaming Deals: Sea of Thieves, Star Wars, Alienware, Netgear
If you're in the mood to shop tech, we found 10 fresh deals for you this week, with a little help from our friends at TechBargains. We've tested some of these products, and the rest look like a good springtime bargain. Xbox One X 1TB with Sea of Thieves for $59 off ($500): We have a big list of fantastic Xbox One bundle deals. This one is the standard price for the One X, but comes with the new Rareware game Sea of Thieves that lets you live life as a pirate. (Watch some gameplay. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Best Travel Gear: Mophie, Amazon Kindle, Allbirds, Lululemon, Hex
Fit everything for your trip into a bag that slides under the seat in front of you. 1. Lululemon City Trek Trouser II Minimize the load in your carry-on bag by bringing only one pair of pants. The moisture-wicking, extra-stretchy fabric in these trousers is designed for extended wrinkle-free wear. Slip them on for your evening flight, then wear them to your morning meeting the next day. $128 2. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Trump's Call to Start a Space Force Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup
People look for inspiration and happiness in a vast array of places. Some see school kids walking out of class across America to take a stand for gun control and find hope. Others note that 7-Eleven now has customizable tater tots and are filled with joy. What do they get when they look at the internet? All that and a lot of bickering and tweets about calzones. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Best Travel Apps: Signal, Sitata, Haven, SaferVPN, Mobile Passport, FoneTrac
Floods. Thieves. Hackers. Tackle any situation abroad with these mobile assistants. Place calls and send texts with end-to-end encryption over Wi-Fi or your data connection using this favorite of security professionals. You can also make your chat history disappear before customs agents (or other snoops) get their hands on your phone. Free You just fell down the stairs of your Barcelona Airbnb, and it feels like you broke something. No need to panic if you have this app. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

LG Hom-Bot Turbo+ Review: Beautiful Mediocrity
In a crowded botvac market, it can be hard to stand out. LG’s latest vacuum, the Hom-Bot Turbo+, tries to fulfill several functions, above and beyond what you might expect of a humble home appliance. For example: it includes a home security camera! And while most robot vacuums are boring black disks, the Hom-Bot is striking and gorgeous, a low-profile vacuum in brilliant colors made in the shape of a rounded square. It’s especially attractive in the champagne hue of my test model. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Tesla Model 3 Review: The Best Electric Car You Can't Buy
The Model 3 is supposed to be Tesla’s humdrum car, the everyday, cut-price offering to the masses. Not the sort of thing that impresses Angelenos, so blasé about celebrities and rich kids valeting their supercars at restaurants. In LA, it takes a special vehicle to stand out. Yet, as I’m driving around town in a (bright red) Model 3, I feel unusually conspicuous, attracting the eyes of passers-by, some of them walking into traffic for a closer look. Friends want a ride. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How to Block Calls and Texts on iPhone in iOS 11
It’s been a good five years since Apple came out with the iOS 7 operating system that allowed millions of iPhone owners to block annoying callers (and worse offenders) for the first time. Since then, the art of blocking hasn’t changed much, but there are a few new and improved tweaks available on iOS 11 to help weed out users’ unwanted incoming calls and messages. And if the iPhone's built-in tools aren't enough, there are some apps you can employ to do the blocking too. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Sennheiser HD 4.4 BT Review: Bargain Bass
It’s hard to make a headphone more ordinary-looking than Bose, the king of rounded black plastic, but Sennheiser is giving it a shot. The company’s latest wireless headphones make even conservative cans seem gaudy and overstyled. They’re about as black, matte, and plastic as you can find. Even the name "HD 4.4 BT" is all function, no flash. It stands for HD sound and Bluetooth 4.4. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dell XPS 13 (2018) Review: Great Update, With a Few Quirks
Dell's XPS line has been part of the 13-inch ultrabook world since its introduction at CES 2012. In the six years that have passed since then, the line has seen a steady series of upgrades, largely just to keep up with the march of technology. However, the latest revision is arguably the biggest one the XPS has seen since its introduction. That said, Dell hasn't exactly redrawn the blueprints. The machine is still designed with portability at top of mind. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

HTC Vive Gets $100 Price Cut, Vive Pro Launches For $799
HTC's Vive pioneered room-scale virtual reality, and brought it to the homes of enthusiasts. That innovation came at a price—it launched at $800, costing hundreds more than its closest competitor, the Oculus Rift. As of March 19, 2018, it finally has a price tag of $500. You can now buy the standard Vive for $500 (give or take a dollar), which comes with a copy of Fallout 4 VR, the headset, two motion controllers, and two sensor Base Stations that you place around your room. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Tecnica Forge GTX Review: A Form-Fitting Custom Hiking Boot
At Outdoor Retailer in January, surrounded by the hubbub of thousands of people and products, I sat perfectly still. I couldn’t move. My feet were strapped into Tecnica’s custom heat-molding machine as I endured being fitted for a test pair of the Tecnica Forge GTX hiking boots. First, Tecnica product manager Federico Sbrissa heated the boot’s insoles to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. When I stepped onto them with socks on, they felt comfortably warm, not hot. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

An Aerial Spectacle in the Wright Brothers' Backyard
The Wright Brothers flew the first practical aircraft through the skies just outside Dayton, Ohio in 1905. Today, that same air space sees wonders Orville and Wilbur could only dream of: fighter jets, bombers, and other aircraft flying upside down, soaring in formations, writing words with smoke. It’s all part of the Dayton Air Show, an aerial spectacle that draws more than 40,000 people to the birthplace of aviation each June. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Best Amazon Echo Speaker (2018)
Amazon's popular Echo family of devices keeps growing. From the first can-shaped Echo, to the big-screen Echo Show, and even the cute Echo Dot, you can get Alexa into your home any number of ways. These Echo products can answer your questions, help you order essentials for your home, play all sorts of audio content, and even function as the control hub for your burgeoning smart home. These are our favorite Amazon Echos for every home and every budget. The Echo Plus is the best-sounding Echo. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Samsung Powerbot R7065 Review: Eager to Please
After you’ve tried more than three or four robot vacuums (which I have), you become acutely aware of how hard it is to innovate within such a limited set of constraints. Robot vacuums all tend to be around the same size and shape. The dust bin and the ports are usually in the same place. Maybe the app looks a little different, maybe one has better mapping capabilities. Maybe one has sacrificed a little suction power to have longer battery life. Not so with the Powerbot R7065. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Yeti Camino Carryall Review: Totes Your Damp, Smelly Stuff
While many companies have made it their raison d'etre to turn ordinary outdoor gear into coveted status symbols, few have done with as much success as Austin, Texas-based Yeti. The contrast between the plain, utilitarian objects and the extensive Yeti re-engineering of them is so extreme that it almost verges on parody. It's hard to imagine paying $350 for a cooler when my Igloo has lasted for almost fifteen years. Yeti also sells a high-end bucket. Now, listen, I have many buckets. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Pi Day PC Deals: Microsoft, HP, Dell, Lenovo
Need a new laptop or desktop? Microsoft's store has great discounts in honor of March 14, aka 3/14, aka Pi Day. That's why you'll save as much as 31.4 percent off some high-quality PCs from Lenovo, Dell, HP, and other manufacturers. Here are our favorite PCs that are on deep discount today. And, since they're direct from Microsoft, these PCs are all optimized to run their best without pesky bloatware. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Sam Nunberg's Media Tour Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup
Clocks move forward this weekend, which can only mean it’s time for the East Coast to struggle under feet of snow once again. Well, that or it's time for Barack and Michelle Obama to team up with Netflix to produce shows to guide humanity into the future. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How To Delete Your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat
Social Networks walk a fine line between being a useful tool and a crippling addiction. Whether you want your free time back, or don’t like your information scattered about on the internet, you may be considering deactivating some accounts. Wanting to delete your account is one thing, but actually being able to hit the delete button is another story. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices