ic Angry Nerd - Why "50 Shades of Grey" Matters to Fanfic By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:30:00 +0000 Honestly, Angry Nerd probably won’t see Fifty Shades of Grey. But he gets it. He does. Because poorly-written “romance” novels are right in geek culture’s wheelhouse. “Fifty Shades” is just fan-fiction—erotic and “Twilight”-derived and not in space, but fanfic nonetheless. Nerd’s built fan fiction from the ground up, and fan-fiction is what’s behind today’s biggest blockbusters. Full Article
ic 3D-Printing a Custom Battle Damage Drop-O-Matic By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:00:00 +0000 Go inside Erik’s workshop to find out how he created a drop-o-matic device for the iPhone Battle Royale challenge using a 3D printer and a whole lot of creativity. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - What $500 Can Get You on Magic (Silicon Valley’s Newest Texting-Based Delivery Service) By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:00:00 +0000 We gave tech writer Brent Rose $500 to stress-test Silicon Valley’s overnight sensation, Magic. From meatballs to medicinal cannabis to Mexican wrestling, see what unfolds when he pushes the new text message-based delivery service. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Fitness Trackers vs. Smartphones: Why Wearables Win By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:00:00 +0000 Tech writer Brent Rose debunks a study claiming smartphones are as good as wearables at tracking activity. From the Fitbit Charge HR to the iPhone 6, Brent's stress tests uncover compelling results that demonstrate why wearables with heart rate monitors win. Full Article
ic Angry Nerd - Clicking Dislike on the Cyber-Horror Film "Unfriended" By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000 The new horror movie “Unfriended” uses a screen-capture format to shape the film’s narrative. But guess what? Using Facebook messages, Skype calls, and Gchats to tell a story isn’t innovative, it’s LAZY! Angry Nerd explains why the cyber-horror flick deserves an IRL “dislike." Full Article
ic Data Attack - How Tech Companies Avoid Taxes Explained with Magic By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Publicly traded U.S. tech companies have stashed as much as $530 billion in offshore tax havens. How’d they do it? Find out what magic tricks companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have up their sleeves. Full Article
ic Split Screen - Silicon Valley's Gender Gap By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 10:30:00 +0000 Peter and Kelli Rubin love TV, movies, and games but don’t always see eye to eye—and the return of Mike Judge's HBO satire is no exception. Full Article
ic Angry Nerd - The Avengers Get Voice Acting Wrong By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Computer-generated characters are looking better every year, but there’s one thing that’s not up to technological snuff: the voices. The new Avengers film is no exception—Angry Nerd explains the problem with having Ultron sound exactly like James Spader instead of an evil robot. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Tesla’s Powerwall Home Battery: The Stuff Worth Knowing By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 21:55:00 +0000 Elon Musk recently unveiled Tesla Energy and the Powerwall home battery. I'll attempt to cut through the hype and break down the basics. NOTE: One of the most important things we neglected to mention in the video is that a big part of the appeal for this system is not economical, but environmental. It may not be easier on the wallet (at least not yet) but you're powering your home with green energy instead of fossil fuels, and there's a lot to be said for that. -Brent Full Article
ic Talking Pictures: Skyglow By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2015 19:30:00 +0000 Filmmakers Harun Mehmedinovic and Gavin Heffernan discuss how their quest for dark night skies for time-lapses led to a project imagining what bright cities like Los Angeles could be with visible stars. Full Article
ic Unnecessarily Rushed Explanations - Best Music Game of All Time: Elite Beat Agents By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Elite Beat Agents is based off a Japanese video game for Nintendo DS. But instead of male cheerleaders and Japanese pop songs, the U.S. version relies on “Men In Black”-like agents and good ol’ fashioned American hits from the Jackson 5 and Madonna. Chris Kohler explains why the stateside edition is the best music game of all time. Full Article
ic WIRED Business Conference - The Best Pieces of Fan Art Dedicated to Breakout Wattpad Writer Anna Todd By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 15 May 2015 17:20:00 +0000 At the 2015 Wired Business conference, WIRED editor-at-large Jason Tanz interviews breakout fanfic author Anna Todd, who writes novels entirely on her smartphone then uploads them to Wattpad, a wildly popular digital publishing platform and writers community. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Fun With Powdered Alcohol: You Can Stop Being Scared Now By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 20 May 2015 11:00:00 +0000 People are freaking out about powdered alcohol, but I wasn’t convinced they understood the science behind it. So I tested their concerns. Will it get you crazy drunk? Will people snort it? Watch & see! -Brent Full Article
ic Design FX - Tomorrowland: Behind the FX of the Futuristic World By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 23 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000 See how Industrial Light & Magic created the futuristic tech and magical world in Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland. Full Article
ic WIRED Issue Preview June 2015 - Inside the Magic Factory By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 17:20:00 +0000 This year, Industrial Light & Magic celebrates 40 years of creating the impossible. In WIRED's June issue, we present an oral history of ILM, and look at how George Lucas’ little DIY effects shop changed movies forever. Also this month: Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht's journey from drug kingpin to convicted criminal, Senator Cory Booker's attempt to drag the Senate into the 21st century, the global battle over one of Earth’s most plentiful resources, and much more. #WIRED2306 #WIRED Full Article
ic I Made an Untraceable AR-15 'Ghost Gun' In My Office By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 03 Jun 2015 10:30:00 +0000 WIRED senior writer Andy Greenberg puts new homemade gunsmithing tools to the test as he tries three ways of building an untraceable AR-15 semi-automatic rifle---a so-called "ghost gun"---while skirting all gun control laws. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Best & Worst Foods for California’s Drought By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 04 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000 California is in an unprecedented drought, but you gotta eat, right? Well, some foods use way more water than others. We chewed through a ton of data to make this bite-sized video. For you! -Brent Full Article
ic Three Things to Know About Apple Music By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 00:12:31 +0000 WIRED senior writer David Pierce explains how Apple, the most powerful company in music, is shaking up listening again with its new Music platform which combines streaming audio, worldwide human-curated radio and a social network of artists and fans. Full Article
ic The Coldest Place on Earth | Talking Pictures By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:30:00 +0000 New Zealand based photographer Amos Chapple traveled to Siberia, to make images of life in Oymakon, Russia, said be the coldest place on earth. There hardy residents endure winters with 21 hours of darkness and temperatures can plunge to –90 Fahrenheit. Full Article
ic Unnecessarily Rushed Explanations - The Most Difficult Video Game of All Time: Super Hexagon By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Super Hexagon is not a video game for the easily discouraged. You die early and often until eventually (hopefully) you get into the swing of things. WIRED editor Chris Kohler explains why it’s the most difficult video game of all time. Full Article
ic Creating Jurassic World’s New Genetically Modified Dinosaur By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:45:26 +0000 Legendary paleontologist Jack Horner—the real-life inspiration behind original “Jurassic Park” protagonist Alan Grant—explains how they conceived the genetically modified dino, Indominus rex, in the new film “Jurassic World." Full Article
ic The Director of ‘Jurassic World’ on Tackling the Beloved Franchise By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 22:35:00 +0000 When Colin Trevorrow saw Jurassic Park as a teenager it sparked his interest in the power of film. He spoke with WIRED about taking on the franchise and getting the audience to cheer for their favorite dinosaurs. Full Article
ic Would Jurassic World’s New Dinosaur Win in an Epic Showdown? By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 13 Jun 2015 11:00:00 +0000 Who would win in a battle of the dinos? “Jurassic World” consultant and renowned paleontologist Jack Horner gives us his picks, if the new “Jurassic World” dinosaur Indominus rex came face-to-face with a Tyrannosaurus rex and a velociraptor. Full Article
ic Design FX - Jurassic World: Using Motion-Capture to Create Realistic Dinosaurs By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000 “Jurassic World” debuted with a record-shattering opening weekend, netting nearly half a billion dollars. See how Industrial Light & Magic used motion capture to help design the complex dinosaurs, including the genetically modified Indominus rex. Full Article
ic Mission to Pluto: The Story Behind the Historic Trip By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000 It’s taken nine years to get there, but on July 14, 2015 the New Horizons spacecraft will finally fly by its destination: Pluto. Find out how the historic mission to Pluto happened from the people who helped launch it. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Mini GoPro! Hero4 Session: Full Review, Tests, Comparison Footage By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 06 Jul 2015 14:23:00 +0000 If you hate GoPro's rectangular shape, your prayers have been answered! Sort of. We took the new Hero4 Session into rivers, lakes, and surf, off cliffs and platforms, through trees and go kart courses. Our full review will tell you everything you need to know. Full Article
ic Darth Vader Chokes Comic Con By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:04:06 +0000 Few could resist the asphyxiating grip of the Dark Side when Dupree Jones, who cosplays as Darth Vader, tried out the Sith lord's famous Force choke on the rebel scum of San Diego Comic Con 2015. Full Article
ic Behind the Mask: Darth Vader at Comic Con By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Jul 2015 19:23:58 +0000 You saw him choke Comic Con goers at this year's SDCC. Get to know cosplayer Dupree Jones as he shows us what it takes to transform into Darth Vader. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Rideables Are So Hot Right Now. We Put Them to the Test By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:00:00 +0000 Electric personal transportation devices (aka “rideables”) are everywhere. We’re seeing them under everyone from Justin Bieber to J.R. Smith to Casey Neistat, but are any of them worth a damn? We put four of the most promising rideables to the test and I’ve got the scars to prove it. -Brent Full Article
ic Talking Pictures: Sam’s Cure By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:30:00 +0000 Writer Fred Vogelstein describes the moving images photographer Elinor Carucci made of his family as they seek a cannabis derived treatment for his son Sam’s epilepsy. Full Article
ic Booze Science | Ice By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 10:30:00 +0000 Booze Science is better drinking through chemistry. WIRED articles editor Adam Rogers explores the scientific ways ice can influence a cocktail with Jennifer Colliau, beverage director at San Francisco's innovative bar The Interval at The Long Now. Full Article
ic Simply Perfect - Vsauce3 on Comic-Con Cosplay, Doctor Who & Artists Alley | Sponsored by Patrón Tequila By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Wonder what it’s like to attend Comic-Con? Jake Roper of the YouTube channel Vsauce3 offers an insider’s look at the people who bring the event to life, from the designers who create fan art on Artists Alley to the Doctor Who-obsessed cosplayers. Sponsored by Patrón Tequila Full Article
ic Talking Pictures | The Many Contradictions of Gitmo By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:00:00 +0000 Photographer Debi Cornwall made numerous trips to Guantánamo Bay Naval Base to make startlingly banal images of detainee and military personnel life. Children's jungle gyms, tiki bars and the overstuffed chair and shackles of the "Compliant Detainee Media Room." Full Article
ic Think Like a Tree - Using Live Oak Trees as a Blueprint for Surviving Hurricanes By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:00:00 +0000 With sturdy, spiral trunks and deep roots that intertwine with neighboring trees, a live oak is a force to be reckoned with. Find out how architects and engineers are starting to think like a tree when designing safe and resilient structures. Full Article
ic Predicting Hurricanes in High Definition By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:00:00 +0000 In the decade since Hurricane Katrina, tools for tracking and modeling powerful storms have grown in sophistication and detail. Full Article
ic The Ludicrously Fast Tesla Model S P90D | Zero to 60 at Supercar Speeds By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 10:15:00 +0000 The Tesla P90D is the fastest Tesla on the market. WIRED associate editor Alex Davies gets behind the wheel to test out "ludicrous mode" which uses both of the car's electric motors for acceleration speeds normally only experienced in supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Full Article
ic Talking Pictures | The Icy Surf Photography of Chris Burkard By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:30:00 +0000 Photographer Chris Burkard doesn't make the usual images of surfers. He and his crew don thick wetsuits and head for the poles to make photos of surfers paddling out in slushy cold waters off of Norway, Iceland and Chile. Full Article
ic XtraCycle EdgeRunner: The Pickup Truck of Electric Bikes By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:15:00 +0000 The EdgeRunner by XtraCycle is a load hauling behemoth of a bike that makes pedaling that much easier with a robust electric motor assist. WIRED senior writer David Pierce puts the bike through its paces with various cargo loads. Full Article
ic Design FX - Maze Runner: Scorch Trials—Building a Post-Apocalyptic City By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 16:11:45 +0000 The second installment of “The Maze Runner” takes place in a mythical post-apocalyptic city. Find out how Weta Digital took an unusual approach to creating the vast, ruined landscape by building the entire city first, then destroying it. Full Article
ic Electro Musician Robert DeLong Shows Off His Tricked-Out Rig By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:00:00 +0000 It's equal parts D.I.Y. and high-tech; electronic musician Robert DeLong shows us his awesome rig, which includes a mix of video game controllers, a cutlery tray from Ikea, two Mac minis, and more. See how it all comes together as he performs “Don’t Wait Up” from his new album "In the Cards," out Friday, September 18 on Glassnote Records. Full Article
ic Out of Office with Brent Rose - Teched-Out Van By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Brent Rose has just taken “Out of Office” to the next level. In this episode, he shows off the teched-out van he will be living in during his nascent year-long road trip across the United States. Brent gives us a fun tour of his supremely techy mobile home, including the roof-mounted solar panels, cutting edge lithium ion batteries, GPS-enabled, smartphone-connected alarm system, fingerprint-secured safe, and cutting edge stereo system. Full Article
ic Eli Roth Explains “The Green Inferno”—His New Cannibalistic Horror Film By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Following Cabin Fever and Hostel, The Green Inferno is the latest film in Eli Roth’s travel trilogy. The director explains what inspired his new cannibalistic horror movie, and how he achieved a realistic look and feel while shooting on set in the Amazon. Full Article
ic Flying in the Folding ICON A5 Airplane By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 10:15:00 +0000 For years we've been promised flying cars and for years we've been disappointed. The ICON A5, with its folding wings, may be the closest thing yet, and it's a boat, too! WIRED writer Tim Moynihan goes for a ride in the A5 over New York City. Full Article
ic How to Make Your Facebook Profile Picture Into A Looping Video By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Oct 2015 23:59:27 +0000 Facebook has a new feature for some users that lets them turn their profile picture into a GIF-like video. WIRED's Dellea Chew demonstrates how she made a clip of her dog Dude into her Facebook looping video. Full Article
ic Data Attack - Are You the Most Average Person in America? By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Oct 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Do you get 8.7 hours of sleep every night? Spend a daily total of 30 minutes in the bathroom? Use Facebook for 40 minutes (and Tinder for 77 minutes) each day? If so, you just might be the most average person in the U.S. Full Article
ic Guillermo del Toro Explains Why “Crimson Peak” is Not a Horror Flick By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Don’t call Guillermo del Toro’s new film “Crimson Peak” a horror film. The director explains why his new movie classifies as a gothic romance, and he talks about how they built a real version of the castle that’s featured in the flick. Full Article
ic Director Danny Boyle on Why “Steve Jobs” Is Not a Biopic By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:44:25 +0000 “Steve Jobs” is more than just a biopic. Director Danny Boyle explains the unique approach he took by shooting the movie in three different film formats to capture the life and achievements of the Apple co-founder. Full Article
ic Inside the Making of the Apatosaurus from ‘Jurassic World’ By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Oct 2015 11:00:00 +0000 In this behind-the-scenes video from the making of ‘Jurassic World,’ director Colin Trevorrow explains why he needed an animatronic dinosaur for one key scene. Full Article
ic Microsoft's Surface Pro 4: A Hybrid on Its Way to Greatness By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 13:00:00 +0000 The laptop-tablet hybrid is clearly the future of Windows mobility, so it makes sense that Microsoft is trying to corner the market. Full Article
ic Talking Pictures | The Longest Night By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 02:46:30 +0000 Photographer Philip Montgomery narrates a selection of images from "The Longest Night" his project documenting protests in Ferguson, Missouri and the interaction between police and communities of color. Full Article