The Chinese spy balloon shows the downsides of spy balloons

PLUS: Apple’s HomePod Can Hear You. You Might Not Want To Hear It, and more [View this email in your browser]( | [Manage newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) [WIRED logo and a robot carrying a WIRED magazine]( [02.05.23](   [Apple HomePod in white and black on a black backdrop]( [PRODUCT REVIEW | 5-MINUTE READ]( [Apple’s HomePod Can Hear You. You Might Not Want To Hear It]( BY PARKER HALL [The revamped full-size Siri smart speaker has good mics, but it can’t compete on sound.](   [A poster of Tyre Nichols holding up his child, in front of a white curtain]( [DIGITAL CULTURE | 3-MINUTE READ]( [The Paradox of the Tyre Nichols Video]( BY JASON PARHAM [Social media has conditioned people to watch, react, and move on. But what is inherent in the Nichols video cannot be swept away with ease.](   [Silhouette of a judge's gavel on a blue background]( [CONTENT MODERATION | 4-MINUTE READ]( [Meta’s Gruesome Content Broke Him. Now He Wants It to Pay]( BY VITTORIA ELLIOTT [A Kenyan moderator sued the company for work-related PTSD. Next week, a new ruling on his case could signal a global reckoning for Big Tech outsourcing.](   [A high altitude balloon floats through the sky]( [BURST BUBBLES | 3-MINUTE READ]( [The Chinese Spy Balloon Shows the Downsides of Spy Balloons]( BY LILY HAY NEWMAN [A popular military tool during the Cold War, spy balloons have since fallen out of favor—for good reason.]( [GET WIRED]( [Get WIRED for just $29.99 $5. Includes unlimited access to wired.com plus free stickers!]([Subscribe now.](   [This image may contain Text]( [DEEP DIVE | 8-MINUTE READ]( [Blockchain: The Complete Guide]( BY WIRED STAFF [The idea of creating tamper-proof databases has captured the attention of everyone from anarchist techies to staid bankers.](   [Razer Viper Mini computer gaming mouse]( [GEAR ROUNDUP | 3-MINUTE READ]( [Razer’s Cage-Like Mouse Is a $280 Goth-Metal Jewel]( BY BOONE ASHWORTH [Plus: Twitter squeezes more money out of its users, AI ain’t stopping anytime soon, and Samsung hypes new phones in an era of decreasing sales.](   [Three people looking down at their smartphones]( [DIALED DOWN | 10-MINUTE READ]( [The Best Budget Phone Plans to Ditch the Big Carriers]( BY MATT JANCER [Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T could be overkill for your needs. Save money with a plan from one of these smaller providers.](   [The silhouette of Chris Hemworth as Thor holding a large hammer overhead and flying through an apocalyptic smokey orange sky ]( [MOVIES | 16-MINUTE READ]( [44 of the Best Movies on Disney+ Right Now]( BY WIRED STAFF [These are our favorite classic flicks, Marvel movies, and Star Wars sagas on the streaming platform.](   [iPhones showing iOS 16 Lock Screen options]( [SWEET SIXTEEN | 14-MINUTE READ]( [The Top New Features in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS 16]( BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU AND BRENDA STOLYAR [The latest versions for iPhones and iPads are now available, complete with a revamped lock screen, Freeform, and Safety Check.]( [(image) WIRED Logo]( [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( Have questions or comments? [Reply to this email](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=WIRED%20Newsletter%20Questions,%20Comments%20or%20Feedback). This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our email address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( or [Manage your newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.