Gear News and Events

The latest news and updates on gear, gadgets, and consumer tech. Plus, dispatches from the events that shape your world.

Spirit Guide

There’s a Completely New Type of Whisky. It’s French and Made in Concrete Eggs

The founders of Maison Lineti are, in a world first, making single malt whisky as if it were wine—and the spirit world is mighty impressed.

Jeremy White

Reality Check

I Did Push-Ups With Snap’s Chunky AR Glasses

Boone Ashworth

Crystal Clear

Liquid Glass Finally Makes Sense on the iPhone Duo

Craig Grannell

News and Events

The 2,000-Nit OLED in Apple’s New MacBook Is a Big Deal

The touchscreen in the new MacBook Pro is crazily bright with very deep blacks. Here’s why it’s unlike anything else you can currently buy.

Luke Larsen

The Inside Story of Why Apple Finally Brought a Touch Display to the Mac

An exclusive early look at Apple’s new touchscreen MacBook Pro—the computer Apple said would never happen.

Steven Levy

Sony Wants You to Forget About Discs With Its Gorgeous Transparent Controllers

Sony has new, spiffy see-through controllers and covers for its PlayStation 5 that let you see the hardware guts inside.

Boone Ashworth

Amazon Adds an Alexa Photo Frame and a Bedside Clock to Its Echo Family

The new Echo Studio also gets a camera, and the Echo Show 16 debuts an AI-generated Alexa interface.

Julian Chokkattu

Trends

Sauerkraut at Every Meal? These Fermentation Fanatics Tried That Long Before MAHA

The annual Portland Fermentation Festival took place last week in Oregon, at a time when sauerkraut, kimchi, and other funky foods are in the social and political spotlight.

Joe Ray

16 Products From Women Designers You Need to Know

From electric trucks to health trackers, women designers are guiding consumer tech to a better place.

Chris Haslam and Jeremy White

AI Use in the Job Market Is Creating an Infinite Doom Loop

Job seekers are trying to game the application process using AI. It’s not working, and not for the reasons you might think.

Jill Duffy

Influencers and Resellers Are Turning Empty Boxes Into Big Cash

As the appetite for “authenticity” grows online, content creators are buying up empty boxes for luxury goods—and resellers are cashing in for “crazy prices.”

Sophie Charara

How To and Advice

This App Brutally Shames You by Tracking How Many Hours You’ve Lost to Scrolling

The iOS app Oh My Hours takes a new approach to curbing screen time. It splits up your day into hour-long blocks, then shows which ones you wasted on Instagram and TikTok.

David Nield