Tech

Original title: iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple’s Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. A cutout for a significantly larger rear camera bump that spans the entire width of the device, as widely rumored already. A white rounded rectangular area surrounding the MagSafe system, instead of the previous circle with a line below it. Compatibility with Apple’s rumored Crossbody Strap magnetic lanyard. The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Clear Case Apple also tested special “tinted” editions of the iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case, which might be released later, according to Majin Bu. Apple’s annual iPhone event is a little over a week away, so we will find out of this redesigned Clear Case is the real deal soon. ...

Original title: Best Labor Day Mattress Sales (2025) Labor Day is here and along with it comes a bunch of bedding sales. If you’ve been looking for a sign from the universe to upgrade your bed, consider these Labor Day mattress deals—we don’t expect to see sleep sales this good until Black Friday. I’ve been a professional mattress tester for five years, so I’m plugged in to what’s going on in the mattress world (we’re constantly scoping out new additions to our best mattresses list) and can keep track of the sales that really are the ones to watch. While white pants are about to be out of season (if you follow that tradition), crisp white sheets are all-season, baby. We’ll have updates on those sales as well in the weeks ahead, so you can get the best bedsheets to go with your new mattress. Updated August 31: We’ve added sales from Buffy, Essentia, and Coop Sleep Goods. WIRED Featured Deals The Best Labor Day Mattress Sales We don’t mess around when it comes to sales—we track prices to see where the actual deals are, not just tweaked sal ...

Original title: 41 Best Labor Day Sales on WIRED-Tested Gear (2025) Labor Day weekend is here, and with it comes cold beer, hot dogs, and a boatload of deals. The unofficial end of summer brings with it bargains on WIRED-tested gear, including home office essentials and some of our favorite gadgets. For the past few weeks, we’ve been tracking prices on the gear we recommend to our friends and bringing you the best sale prices. Check our Best Labor Day Mattress Deals and Labor Day Outdoor Gear Deals stories for additional savings. We’ve also got some updated roundups for Back to School Deals and Back to School Laptop Deals. Updated August 31, 2025: We’ve added 10 new deals from TCL, Traeger, Anker, Roku Cozy Earth, and more. Featured Labor Day Deals Tech Deals Photograph: Simon Hill This beefy power bank is our favorite upgrade pick, and this price comes within $10 of the lowest we’ve tracked. It’s stylish and has nifty features like two built-in USB-C cables and a display that shows remaining battery, temperatures, charging rate, and battery health. Th ...

Original title: Meta is struggling to rein in its AI chatbots Meta is changing some of the rules governing its chatbots two weeks after a Reuters investigation revealed disturbing ways in which they could, potentially, interact with minors. Now the company has told TechCrunch that its chatbots are being trained not to engage in conversations with minors around self-harm, suicide, or disordered eating, and to avoid inappropriate romantic banter. These changes are interim measures, however, put in place while the company works on new permanent guidelines. The updates follow some rather damning revelations about Meta’s AI policies and enforcement over the last several weeks, including that it would be permitted to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,” that it would generate shirtless images of underage celebrities when asked, and Reuters even reported that a man died after pursuing one to an address it gave him in New York. Meta spokesperson Stephanie Otway acknowledged to TechCrunch that the company had made a mistake in a ...

Original title: Apple Says 11-Inch MacBook Air and Two Other Macs Are Now Obsolete Apple today added three Macs to the obsolete products list on its website, including the final model of the MacBook Air with a smaller 11-inch display. The three Macs that are now obsolete: MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, 4 Thunderbolt 3 Ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) A device becomes “obsolete” once more than seven years have passed since Apple stopped distributing it for sale. Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers typically do not repair obsolete products, but Apple says MacBooks may be eligible for battery replacements for up to 10 years after distribution ended, subject to parts availability. Apple discontinued the 11-inch MacBook Air following its October 2016 event, moments after introducing the first MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar. Given that the 11-inch MacBook Air was just added to the obsolete list now, however, it likely remained available through select resellers until at least some point in 2018. The current MacBook Air ...

Original title: Best Handheld Fan and Wearable Fan (2025), Tested and Reviewed This fan was a godsend during a sweltering outdoor concert. It bends at the neck, so I was able to set it up on the picnic table and blast it toward my face without even holding it, then straighten it back into the standard position to carry it with me as I walked around. It also comes with a lanyard that allows you to hang it from your neck. It felt stronger than the other handheld fans I tested, and I liked that the blades were contained, which made the airflow feel more concentrated and meant I couldn’t catch them on anything. It kept my face from melting off on the 100-degree day I used it, and while it isn’t slim enough to slide into a clutch or pocket (like some other fans on the list), it fit into my small crossbody bag. There are five speed levels, and the 5,000-mAh battery lasts from three to 12 hours depending on which level you’re using. A digital display lets you know what level you’re using and how much battery life you have left (you can get a full charge in three hours). ...

Original title: The 71 Best Deals From REI’s 2025 Labor Day Sale Isn’t it amazing how fast summer goes by? The kids are back in school, and it’s time for the annual REI Labor Day Sale. This year’s event kicked, August 22, and ends on Labor Day, tomorrow, September 2. Many items are up to 30 percent off, and REI Co-op members save 20 percent on any REI Outlet item. To get the member discount, add the promo code LABORDAY2025 at checkout. We’ve rounded up the best deals on all our favorite tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and more. Many of the best REI deals are on the company’s house brand gear, but we’ve also pulled in deals from competing sales at Backcountry, Public Lands, and cottage industry retailers. Updated Sunday, August 31: We’ve added new end of summer deals on some of our favorite action cameras, 360 cameras, ebikes, La Sportiva climbing shoes, Osprey’s excellent Farpoint travel pack, a Fjällräven down hoodie, the Mountainsmith Tour lumbar pack, and more. WIRED Featured Deals Deals on Tents REI tents are so ...

Original title: AI agents are science fiction not yet ready for primetime is The Verge’s senior AI reporter. An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets. This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on all things AI, follow Hayden Field. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started It all started with J.A.R.V.I.S. Yes, that J.A.R.V.I.S. The one from the Marvel movies. Well, maybe it didn’t start with Iron Man’s AI assistant, but the fictional system definitely helped the concept of an AI agent along. Whenever I’ve interviewed AI industry folks about agentic AI, they often point to J.A.R.V.I.S. as an example of the ideal AI tool in many ways — one that knows what you need done before you even ask, can analyze and find insights in large swaths of data, and can offer strategic advice or run point on certain aspects of your business. People sometimes disag ...

Original title: Key Pixel Settings to Change on Your Google Phone Google’s Pixel phones are chock-full of helpful, smart features, and they capture some of the best-looking photographs on a mobile device. It’s why they’re among our favorite Android smartphones. But like several of its peers, Google doesn’t have many of its best features turned on by default. For example, Call Screening blocks unwanted phone calls on your behalf, and you need to turn it on yourself. That’s what I’m here for. I test smartphones for a living, and I’m constantly switching to a new device every week or two. I’m an expert at running through the settings of every phone I test and toggling on the features I want. To get the most out of your new Pixel, follow these steps, some of which may even help you turn off things you don’t care for, like a few of the generative AI features on the Pixel 10. Enable Google’s AI Call Features Photograph: Julian Chokkattu The best features on Google’s Pixel phones revolve around the Phone app. No one wants endless robocalls and scams from te ...

Original title: Verizon’s ‘software issue’ has disconnected many wireless customers across the US is a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Verizon has confirmed to customers in stores and online that its network is having an issue on Saturday. Many people have been unable to connect and make or receive calls for hours, while DownDetector’s tracker peaked in the afternoon at around 3:30PM ET with more than 20,000 reports. Some customers report their service has continued to function throughout the day, so it’s unclear what the cause is exactly. Downdetector’s outage map showed hotspots in many cities, and Verizon didn’t specifically list affected areas. On X, the @VerizonSupport account confirmed the issue in response to customers’ questions, but didn’t have additional details on restoration or how widespread it is. Verizon’s Karen Schulz responded to our inquiry about the issue an ...