/Top Stories/ Last Updated: Sun, Dec 22nd, 2024 @ 6:10am EST

Wired Top Stories

Matt Kamen

Cloud Gaming on the PlayStation Portal Isn’t the Exciting Step Forward We’d Hoped for

A software update was supposed to free up the PS Portal from its reliance on the PS5 and add a world of streamable games to its appeal. In practice, it does nothing of the sort.

BuzzFeed - Latest

Test Your Eyes With This "Find The Elf On The Shelf" Quiz That Gets Progressively Harder

I've never experienced the chaotic joy of owning an Elf on the Shelf, but I think I ought to change that!

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Mashable

How to watch Vikings vs. Seahawks online

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks on Sling TV or FuboTV.

NFL action continues with Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings are having a great season with a record of 12-2, which ties them with the Detroit Lions in their division, who are currently atop NFC North. The Seahawks are also tied in their division with the Los Angeles Rams, who are atop NFC West.

The Seahawks lost against the Green Bay Packers 30-13 on Sunday, Dec. 15 and the Vikings beat the...

Mashable

Amazons basic Kindle is the best e-reader on a budget

There are a lot of Kindles. At least more than you think. When someone mentions the Amazon Kindle, you might think they're referring to that one really great e-reader from Amazon. Until you log on and discover there are four different Kindles. We've raved plenty about the Kindle Paperwhite, but it's time to go back to basics and discuss Amazon's base model, the regular old Kindle.

It's hard to distinguish the standard Amazon Kindle from the pack since it doesn't get a fancy name like the...

Mashable

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is great but is it worth $200?

Kindle users might just be the most passionate sect of BookTok, coming up with hacks to maximize the device's potential — through page turners or Stuff Your Kindle Day events. And we get it, they're the best e-readers out there. In October of 2024, Amazon released a new line-up of Kindles that improved upon the previous generation that we already loved.

I've tested the Kindle Paperwhite, and spoiler alert, I do think it's a better value than the Signature Edition. However, the SE isn't...

Mashable

We found the perfect stocking stuffer. Give everyone this dual USB-C and USB-A flash drive.

TL;DR: For $47.99 through the end of the day, this 512GB dual-USB flash drive delivers fast transfer speeds and device compatibility with USB-C and USB-A connectors.

When you’ve got tons of files to manage — whether for work, school, or personal projects — a basic flash drive might not cut it. Enter this 512GB dual-USB storage drive that’s designed to handle hefty file transfers while being incredibly user-friendly. With both USB-C and USB-A connectors, it’s perfect for switching...

Mashable

You never have to take notes again with the Focais: Meet One AI recorder, now 32% off

TL;DR: The Focais: Meet One voice-to-text recorder gadget uses AI to transcribe and summarize meetings and lectures. Mashable readers can get it for 32% off with free shipping while supplies last.

Taking notes in a fast-paced meeting or class lecture is tough — and annoying. You try your hardest to stay engaged, but you’re stuck writing everything down, hoping nothing important slips by. By the end, all you have is an unhelpful transcript of the conversation.

Instead, this AI audio...

Mashable

This ultra-slim tracker is wallet-friendly in every way

TL;DR: The KeySmart SmartCard is a sleek, smart tracker that works with the Apple Find My network — get it for just $34.99 plus free shipping.

If you've ever had to dig through your couch cushions or retrace your steps in a panic because you lost your wallet — again — you might want to snatch up this product. The KeySmart SmartCard takes the stress out of keeping track of your essentials.

With cutting-edge technology that works seamlessly with the Apple Find My network, this ultra-slim...

Mashable

Last-minute gift alert — MS Office Professional Plus 2019 is just $33

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is on sale for just $32.97 (reg. $229) for a limited time.

Looking for a useful last-minute gift? Whether it’s for a colleague, a loved one, or even yourself, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 is a thoughtful, practical choice that can jumpstart productivity in the new year.

Available for just $32.97 (reg. $229), this one-time purchase offers lifetime access to Microsoft’s suite of tools, making it a budget-friendly...

Mashable

Why pay monthly? Mashable readers get lifetime access to MS Office apps by paying $60 once.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2021 at just $59.97 (reg. $219.99) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

For a limited time, Mashable readers can get a lifetime device license to MS Office 2021 for Windows. (An Apple version is also available, and also on sale.)

What's included with this Mashable Shop deal?

Lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 — pay once and access it forever

Includes must-have apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and...

Mashable

How to watch Eagles vs. Commanders online

TL;DR: Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

Get ready for a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders during NFL Week 16. The Eagles are winning big in the NFC East, with a 12-2 record that puts them way ahead in their division. The Commanders sit right below them with a 9-5 record, keeping them in the run in a competitive NFC East.

The Eagles have only lost two games this season. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday,...

Fast Company

The Conversation

3D-printed or ‘ghost’ guns are a growing global security threat

Arrests and seizures connected to 3D-printed guns are escalating quickly.

Police investigating the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, have announced that the suspected assailant had used a 3D-printed gun. Several high-profile crimes in recent years have involved this kind of homemade, or partially homemade, weapon.

Fast Company

The Conversation

How the first Christmas card was inspired by older British holiday traditions

While the Christmas card may have seemed like an entirely new invention to Victorian senders and receivers, the first Christmas card’s design was actually influenced by other, older British holiday traditions.

It’s a common seasonal refrain: “Christmas just isn’t like it used to be.”

Fast Company

The Conversation

Public-private partnerships are shifting to be more community-centered. Here are 4 lessons

Successful community-centered, public-private partnerships (CP3s) rely on the active involvement of a diverse range of partners.

Cities tackle a vast array of responsibilities—from building transit networks to running schools—and sometimes they can use a little help. That’s why local governments have long teamed up with businesses in so-called public-private partnerships. Historically, these arrangements have helped cities fund big infrastructure projects such as bridges and hospitals.

Fast Company

Pavithra Mohan

5 laws that could change how you work in 2025

It’s not yet clear what a second Trump administration could mean for workers’ rights. But across many states, workers can expect to see a number of benefits next year, including raises and expanded sick leave.

The new year—and the return of the Trump administration to the White House—could bring all kinds of changes to the workplace. The president-elect is likely to reverse some of the wins of the Biden administration, which included expanding legal immigration to embracing...

Fast Company

The Conversation

U.S. streamgages cover less than 1% of waterways. Expansion is key for faster flood warnings

Flood risk can be estimated in waterways without streamgages, but not as accurately.

Flooding is one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in the U.S., causing billions of dollars in damage each year. In 2024 alone, floods destroyed homes in over a dozen states and claimed more than 165 lives.

Fast Company

Eric Connors

Job search 2025: 3 key ways AI will make an impact on recruitment

Job seekers must figure out how to navigate a transforming landscape where AI shapes how we approach and think about the hiring system.  

Logging onto LinkedIn, your feed is likely full of “Open to Work” profiles and posts about the struggle of finding a job in today’s market. Your LinkedIn inbox is probably a lot quieter with fewer recruiters reaching out with job opportunities than at the height of the Great Resignation just two years ago. 

Wired Top Stories

Arik Kershenbaum

The Race to Translate Animal Sounds Into Human Language

With big cash prizes at stake—and AI supercharging research—interspecies translation is closer than ever. But what, if anything, would animals want to tell us?

BuzzFeed - Latest

35 Little Life Upgrades You Can Buy On The Cheap

This anti-acne bar soap is so good that maybe all bar soaps are about to make a comeback ????.

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BuzzFeed - Latest

33 Beauty Products You'll Wonder Why You Don't Already Own

Fortunately, it's never too late to discover the power of overnight sheet masks and Bum Bum Cream.

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