Gallery: All the Gear, Gadgets, and Goods We Loved This Month
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED01thingswelove-1
The best Bluetooth speaker we've tested over the past few years is the Ultimate Ears Boom. This month, UE released the [Boom 2](http://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/ueboom2) with a new, fully-waterproof design. You can shower with it or throw it in the ocean and never worry about it getting waterlogged. Everything else is the same, including the excellent battery life, killer sound, and very nice $200 price.—*Michael Calore*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED02thingswelove-2
The [Jaybird X2s](http://www.jaybirdsport.com/X2-bluetooth-headphones/) are a rare thing in wireless Bluetooth sports headphones: they sound good, and they stay put. Each set comes with nine fit options, too. So you fit them in your ears, wrap the adjustable cord around your head, crank the Tiesto, and get a full run in long before the battery dies.—*David Pierce*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED03thingswelove-3
The [DxO One](http://www.dxo.com/us/dxo-one) ($600) snaps into your iPhone's Lightning port and becomes the perfect compromise between lugging around a DSLR and settling for your phone's camera. Paired with its app, the DxO takes over photo duties, giving you a much more capable high-quality photo system that lets you do everything you can do with an honest-to-goodness camera. Except this one folds up and fits easily in the palm of your hand.—*Molly McHugh*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED04thingswelove-4
Brighten up your thank-you notes with these vibrant [Princeton Architectural Press notecards](http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781616894177) designed by Sigrid Calon ($17). Calon draws inspiration from embroidery stitches and the color constraints of the [Risograph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risograph) machine. Each notecard features a perforated edge, so if you're lazy about correspondence, you can still display the cards as art.—*Blanca Myers*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED05thingswelove-5
Unlike most action cams, the [360fly](https://360fly.com/) ($400) uses a single, skyward-facing lens to capture everything happening all around you, recording in a full 360 degrees at all times. Afterwards, you can strap on a VR viewer and watch the playback as you look all around you. You can also edit the video for non-VR playback to show just a piece of the action. We've got a full review of this camera coming in October, but it was one of the coolest pieces of gear we tested this month.—*Michael Calore*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED06thingswelove-6
Are you still paying for firewood? You may as well just warm your home by burning money. Invest some of that scratch in this [Stihl MS 251 Wood Boss chainsaw](http://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/homeowner-saws/ms251/) ($330) and start whipping up your own kindling. The design of this gas power tool is ergonomic and comfy; easily the most workable chainsaw I've ever held. It's also fairly light at 11 pounds, making it great for pruning and other light-duty tree and shrub work. Building a fire has never been this much fun.—*Michael Calore*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED07thingswelove-7
When we covered the Apple event earlier this month, we were too busy writing news to stop and make coffee. Instead, we sucked down a few bottles of [La Colombe Pure Black](http://www.lacolombe.com/collections/pure-black/products/pure-black-12-pack) cold-pressed coffee concentrate ($36 per 12-pack). Mix it with ice and milk and it's *so good*. Each bottle has 240mg of caffeine, so approach with caution. Dose it properly and it'll keep that cool buzz going all day.—*Michael Calore*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED08thingswelove-8
It's sweater weather right now, but crisp, puffy-jacket nights are just around the corner. I can recommend this [cold-weather jacket from Nau](http://www.nau.com/our-fabrics-recycled-down/m-blazing-recycled-down-jacket) which is stuffed with 650-fill recycled down feathers sourced from European duvets. Some Frenchman's loss is your gain. $395—*Michael Calore*
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED09thingswelove-9
Something for getting your freak on: Culture of Soul's *Brasileiro Treasure Box of Funk & Soul* contains seven 45-rpm singles of Brazilian funk and psychedelic soul from the early 1970s, which by my ears is pretty much the most bad-ass place and time for music ever. The artwork and the packaging are tops, and it's brimming with liner notes and info about all the artists. The set comes out October 23rd but you can [preorder it now](http://www.culturesofsoul.com/2015/08/16/pre-order-for-the-brasileiro-treasure-box-of-funk-and-soul/) for $50. Also check out the [sound clips](https://www.mixcloud.com/culturesofsoul/the-brasileiro-treasure-box-of-funk-and-soul-mix/).—*Michael Calore*
OpenAI’s Rogue AI Agent Hacked More Than Just Hugging Face
In a new disclosure, OpenAI says its agent used exposed logins to gain access to at least four “publicly available services” in its unhinged quest to solve a test.
Dell Cameron
A Typo Landed an Innocent Gamer in Prison for 18 Months
How much could a single underscore in a username really matter? Just ask Brandon Klayme, who served 18 months in prison before realizing how authorities arrested, charged, and convicted the wrong man.
Nate Anderson, Ars Technica
Ebay Has to Pay $55.7 Million in Settlement for Its Unhinged Harassment Campaign
For months on end, eBay employees and contractors made life hell for a couple that had criticized the company. Six years later, the company is finally paying up.
Lauren Goode
Laura Loomer’s Reversal on Ukraine Stirs Up the MAGA Civil War
Donald Trump’s base has been increasingly spilt. Laura Loomer’s sudden embrace of Ukraine has only widened that divide.
David Gilbert
Is the Electric Trike the Next Big Thing in Shared Micromobility?
Veo is launching accessibility-focused electric tricycles in Denver, with plans to put its e-trikes on the streets nationwide.
Boone Ashworth
What WIRED Writers Would Actually Give Their Moms
Your mom never gets you a thoughtless gift, so you shouldn’t get her one, either. Here’s every cool gift WIRED writers would give their mothers.
Nena Farrell
Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
Should you splurge on the new Series 11, or will the SE 3 do? Let us help you figure out which version to get (and which to avoid).
Boutayna Chokrane
12 Adventurous Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
Let them pick out their own hiking boots. Instead, try gifting a useful blade or a nature journal to delight your outdoorsy friend.
Scott Gilbertson
A Two-Person Startup Has Fixed One of the Most Hated Sounds in Modern Life
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Jeremy White
Can the New York Times Save Journalism From Our AI Overlords?
In 2023, the Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. They’ve since spent more than $20 million on the case, and publisher A.G. Sulzberger has no plans to stop fighting it.
Katie Drummond
Silicon Valley’s Next IPO Billionaires Are Coming. Nonprofits Are Ready for Them
Anthropic and OpenAI employees are expected to give generously after their companies go public. “It’s going to be a wild ride,” says one nonprofit leader.
Paresh Dave
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Can Do It All
Dyson’s new stick vacuum can vacuum and mop in a single cordless device—if you’re willing to really splurge.
Nena Farrell