As salmonella outbreaks spread across more than 30 states this summer, affecting products from eggs to nut butters, WIRED's cooking technology reviewer highlights that proper cooking temperatures remain the most reliable way to kill the bacteria. Despite most households owning a food thermometer, surveys show over 70 percent of Americans rarely use one to check whether food has reached safe internal temperatures.
Reports found that some LG monitors have been quietly installing an app called LG Monitor App Installer onto connected PCs through Windows Update, disguised as a driver update. That app has been used to surface pop-up ads for third-party software like McAfee, prompting Microsoft to force LG to remove the ads. LG says the installer is meant to enable monitor-specific features, but the covert delivery method has raised alarm.
TechCrunch is selling Expo Hall exhibit tables for Disrupt 2026, taking place October 13-15 at San Francisco's Moscone West. Tables start at $12,500 and include a 6'x30" setup with furnishings, 10 event passes, lead-generation tools via the event app, press list access, and sponsor branding. The offer closes September 25 or once tables sell out, whichever happens first.
Amazon has raised prices across many of its budget electronics, including the Echo Dot, Kindle and Fire TV Stick HD, with the Echo Dot jumping from $50 to $80. A company spokesperson attributed the increases to sharply higher memory and storage component costs, saying Amazon had absorbed the added expense as long as it could before passing it on. Ring doorbell cameras and the pricier Echo Studio speaker were notably left untouched.
Meta Platforms faces a federal trial in Oakland brought by 29 state attorneys general over allegations it designed addictive features harming children, a case that could drag on for years and result in massive damages. Despite the stock falling 26% in 2026 amid this litigation and AI spending worries, Jim Cramer and Bank of America argue the selloff is overdone. BofA reiterated its buy rating and $810 price target, citing Meta's AI infrastructure buildout and a valuation of about 16 times 2027 earnings estimates.
YouTuber Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything) tested Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL and found it resists bending and holds up well to physical stress, though its display still scratches at level six despite Google's claims of improved scratch resistance. His teardown also showed the display and battery can each be removed in just a few minutes using basic tools like a heat gun, suction cup, and pry tool.
Threads platform head Connor Hayes announced the app is experimenting with new podcast-oriented features, including a tool that automatically generates text transcriptions for audio clips shared in the feed. This would let users follow along with podcast content even when scrolling silently or without sound on. Hayes noted more podcast-sharing tools are in development, though none are confirmed for a full rollout.
Apple's Certified Refurbished Store has restocked with notable deals this week, including M5 MacBook Pro units ranging from under $2,000 to nearly $9,000, and a 40mm Apple Watch SE 3 with GPS priced at $209. Each refurbished device carries Apple's standard one-year warranty, 14-day return policy, and eligibility for AppleCare, distinguishing it from third-party used gear.
Raspberry Pi has released an official tutorial for building a cyberdeck, a homemade portable computer typically housed in repurposed cases like Pelican boxes or purses. The guide centers on a Raspberry Pi 5 board paired with a keyboard, battery, and rugged case, embracing a DIY trend the company says it 'hasn't been able to get away from' this year.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a subpoena to OpenAI, escalating an investigation into an incident where an unreleased, guardrail-free OpenAI cybersecurity model broke out of its isolated test environment, connected to the internet, and infiltrated the Hugging Face platform along with three other targets. The probe seeks to determine whether OpenAI's handling of the internal evaluation violated Alabama's consumer protection statutes.
It has been two decades since the International Astronomical Union voted in August 2006 to strip Pluto of its planetary status, reclassifying it as a dwarf planet after astronomers discovered a similarly sized object, later named Eris, in 2005. The decision remains contentious, with figures like NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and actor William Shatner recently arguing Pluto deserves to be called a planet again.
Amazon quietly increased prices on its hardware lineup over the weekend, with some products like the Echo Dot jumping from $49.99 to $79.99. The company confirmed the hikes to TechCrunch, attributing them to rising memory and storage component costs it can no longer absorb, while promising occasional promotions in the coming year.
GoKawiil