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These deepfake celebrity impressions are equally amazing and alarming

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The video speaks to Meskimen’s talent as an impressionist but also to the capability of deepfake software. It proves how well the tech is able to blur the line between what’s real and what isn’t. Though, it still takes a ton of work. According to Sham00k, the full video took just over 250 hours of work, 1,200 hours of footage, 300,000 images and close to one terabyte of data to create.

Tech companies and lawmakers have taken note. Researchers are developing tools to spot deepfakes, and Google released 3,000 deepfakes in an attempt to further those efforts. Facebook, MIT and Microsoft are working to fight the fakes. Reddit has banned AI-generated deepfake porn, and California now lets residents sue anyone who use the software to put their image in porn without consent. While everyone is up in arms over fake news, deepfakes are developing as the next frontier.

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The Pakt Coffee Kit is a nearly perfect pour-over solution for travel

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I typically brew coffee with a Chemex at home, and even if I’m making a single cup, pour-over is my preferred method. I use the Aeropress from time to time, but it’s not what I reach for every morning. If I really want a taste of home, I needed a compact pour-over solution that doesn’t take up much space and houses everything in a single container.

With its Coffee Kit, Pakt has leveraged a Russian Doll-like nesting design to make most of the brewing gear fit inside the water kettle. Yes, you read that correctly: This setup comes with its own way to heat water. No more messing with pots or having to buy something cheap from a nearby store for the week. The only things that don’t fit inside for storage are the kettle’s heating base, the collapsable dripper and the filters, but they all nestle together nicely to save space inside the zippered case. The whole thing weighs just under three pounds and takes up about as much room in a carry-on or suitcase as a pair of shoes. And it survived a flight in my checked bag just fine.

Pakt Coffee Kit

Nested inside the brew kettle you’ll find an insulated cup and lid that doubles as your brewing vessel. There’s also a smaller container for your pre-ground coffee. I typically grind my beans right before brewing, and I could easily pack a travel grinder separately, but having my preferred brew method is more important than having just-ground coffee. The only issue here is the lid doesn’t stay tight when your bag gets jostled around, a few stray grounds will escape. Not a huge mess, but it did require some cleanup. There’s an included scoop too, but no scale, and Pakt gives you some guidance on how much to use. I like my coffee a little stronger, so I adjusted for the second brew and was set for the rest of the trip.

Marks inside the water kettle show you how much water to put in. Again, it’s another aspect of the process where you’re not left guessing how far to fill it up. And because you don’t have a scale to know when you’ve run enough through the grounds, pre-measuring ensures you don’t use too much. Once the water is inside, just set the kettle on the heating base and turn it on. A light on the base will turn off and the unit will beep when the water is at 205 degrees — an ideal temperature for pour-over brewing. The kettle itself also turns off once the water is heated, so you’ll want to respond to those beeps promptly.

Pakt Coffee Kit

The spout on the kettle might seem like a small detail, but it’s important. When it comes to pour-over, you need complete control over the water you’re pouring. That’s why heating water in a cup or the coffee pot in your hotel room doesn’t work. You simply can’t our slowly with those things without making a mess. Pakt knew this, and it designed the kettle for slow pours — much like I get on my goose-neck kettle at home.

You can carry this on a plane, but the TSA wasn’t a huge fan of it when I took it to Berlin earlier this month. It was mostly because they couldn’t see what it was, so I had to open up my bag and do some explaining. I get it: it’s round, metal and has a bunch of wires. I put it in a checked back on the way home, but the security at Tegel also gave it a close look after going through the x-ray machine. All of that’s to say you’re fine to fly with this thing, but be prepared to answer some questions.

Pakt crowdfunded its first product, the Pakt One bag, and it’s doing the same for the Coffee Kit. In fact, this product has already amassed $290,592 on Kickstarter and an additional $36,250 on Indiegogo, where it’s currently available for pre-order. The Coffee Kit will ship in December for $189 if you wait and pay full retail price. If you want to snag one now, though, you can get it starting at $149.

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The best wireless mouse

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Why you should trust us

Over the past five years, Wirecutter has spent 150 hours researching around 260 wireless mice and testing more than 40. I’ve been reviewing wireless mice at Wirecutter since 2017, and I’ve lived with our previous top picks for the past two years. I’ve also read many studies about hand sizes and computer ergonomics and coordinated two in-person testing panels—one in Los Angeles and one in New York City—to get a better idea of what people are looking for when they’re looking for and buying a wireless mouse.

How we picked

Wireless mouse

All of the mice we chose fit comfortably in our hands and have a steady wireless signal, a good amount of battery life, and easy-to-use buttons. Photo: Sarah Kobos

These are the features you should look for in a wireless mouse, in rough order of importance:

  • Comfort: This can vary based on hand size, so we sought out average hand measurements for adults. Using hand anthropometric data collected by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (taken from studies conducted in 2002 and 2008), we combined men’s and women’s hand measurements to find that the average palm size is 4 inches and the average middle finger length is 2.95 inches. We also broke down a 1981 study of hand anthropometry commissioned by the US Army and found similar results: a 4-inch average from the base of the participants’ palm to the base of the middle finger and a 3.23-inch average from the base of the middle finger to the tip.
  • Connection: The wireless signal shouldn’t cut out during ordinary use across short distances. Some mice can connect only via a 2.4 GHz USB wireless receiver, aka a dongle; others connect via Bluetooth only, and some mice support both. As of 2019, Bluetooth is a requirement because all the dongles we tested were USB-A compatible, and many laptops are USB-C-only now (although you can always employ a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter); that said, wireless mice that support both Bluetooth and dongles are the most convenient because they’ll fit every situation. If your mouse uses a dongle to connect, it should be as unobtrusive as possible and your mouse should provide dongle storage.
  • Battery life: A great wireless mouse should last a couple of years on replaceable batteries or a couple of months on a charge, at the very least. Constantly replacing or recharging batteries is an inconvenience, and if you find that your mouse requires replacements on a regular basis, you should look into other options.
  • Buttons: Every wireless mouse should have the standard right-click and left-click buttons. We know many people use the back and forward buttons on the side of the mouse, too, so we looked for mice that have at least two side buttons for added functionality. We also noted the placement of the buttons and whether they were awkward to use.
  • Useful software: Oftentimes, wireless mice come with bundled software that allows you to track battery life and customize buttons, sensitivity, acceleration, scroll speed, and more. Many people don’t use the software that comes with their wireless mouse, but it’s a nice bonus.
  • Sensor: A mouse’s sensor should be able to register motion correctly and precisely; it shouldn’t stop or jump around the screen. It should also work on a variety of surfaces, primarily desks, hard and soft mouse pads, wood, and fabric. Since nearly every mouse we tested in 2019 tracked well on most surfaces, we no longer consider a mouse’s sensor to be a defining feature.

In 2019, we tested 14 new or updated wireless mice: Logitech’s M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Wireless Mouse, M585 Multi-Device Wireless Mouse, MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse, Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse, Marathon Mouse M705, Wireless Mouse M310, Performance Mouse MX, Wireless Mouse M510, and the M590 Multi-Device Wireless Mouse. Logitech dominates the category, but we also tested mice from other manufacturers: the AmazonBasics Ergonomic Wireless Mouse, the AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver, Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse, VicTsing 2.4G Wireless Mouse, and the VicTsing 2nd 2.4G Wireless Mouse.

How we tested

I tested each mouse for about a day’s work on a Windows and Mac laptop to evaluate its comfort, button placement, and software. I also used them on a variety of common mousing surfaces, including a desk, a hard mouse pad, a soft mouse pad, a wood floor, a large piece of fabric, glass, and mirrors. We used all three grips—palm, fingertip, and claw—with every mouse we tested to evaluate comfort.

In 2015, 2017, and 2019, we asked panel testers to use our wireless mice contenders and share which they liked and disliked after spending a few hours with each mouse. Each panel member measured their mousing hand from the base of the palm to the base of the middle finger, from the base of the middle finger to the tip, and from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie with the panelist’s hand spread wide. Though our panelists had a wide range of hand sizes, their average measurements align with the average hand measurements we found in other studies: 4 inches (palm), 3.3 inches (finger), and 7.7 inches (spread).

Our pick: Logitech M720 Triathlon

Wireless mouse

Photo: Sarah Kobos

The Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Wireless Mouse is the best wireless mouse for most people because it’s more comfortable to use than nearly every other mouse we tested, and it can pair with—and quickly switch between—three devices, whether connected through Bluetooth or its USB dongle. Logitech claims that the Triathlon’s battery can last for two years; we’ve been using the same mouse for about 15 months, and it has yet to die. It also has six programmable buttons you can customize using Logitech’s Options software and a scroll wheel that toggles between ratcheted and freewheel scrolling.

Wireless mouse

The Logitech Triathlon (left) is a little bigger than the Logitech M585 (right), with a high back arch that fit comfortably in most of our panel testers’ hands. Photo: Sarah Kobos

I’ve tested (and we’ve panel-tested) the Triathlon for the past three years, and we found that most hand sizes found it comfortable. People enjoyed its high back arch, which measures about 2 inches and slopes downwards towards the front of the mouse to fit easily into the palm of the hand. The Triathlon measures 2.9 inches wide and 4.5 inches long. It has a similar shape to the Logitech Marathon, which was our top pick for years before we made Bluetooth connectivity a requirement in wireless mice. The Triathlon’s buttons are accessible, with four buttons on its side and two up top. Plus, it’s coated in a grippy matte plastic that felt comfortable beneath the testers’ hands and didn’t make palms sweat.

The Triathlon comes with a 2.4 GHz wireless Unifying Receiver, and it can also pair with up to three devices via Bluetooth. Even better, you can toggle through those Bluetooth devices by pressing a button. By offering both dongle and Bluetooth support, the Triathlon works in pretty much every situation. You can also store its USB dongle in the bottom of the Triathlon when you’re not using it.

Logitech claims that the Triathlon’s battery will last for two years. We’ve personally used the Triathlon for more than a few months over the past two years, and the Options software said that the battery was still completely full.

Wireless mouse

The Logitech Triathlon’s buttons can be customized using Logitech Options software, and its left-click and right-click panels feel crisp when you click down on them. Photo: Sarah Kobos

It has eight buttons, including an application switcher button and the Bluetooth device toggle, and you can customize most of them using Logitech’s Options software. The Triathlon has crisp click panels and responsive, easy-to-reach side buttons, but it has a mushy application-switcher button on the bottom of its thumb grip.

The useful Options software tracks battery life and allows you to customize sensitivity, as well as pointer speed, scrolling speed, scroll direction, and smooth scrolling. Some mice we tested, like the AmazonBasics and the VicTsing mice, didn’t have additional software. The Triathlon still works as a plug-and-play (or pair-and-play) device if you don’t need the extra customization, though. (Without the software, the scroll-wheel tilt buttons don’t work, but all other buttons are functional.)

The Triathlon also supports Logitech’s Flow software, which allows you to move your cursor between multiple computers (on the same network) and even copy and paste between the two—even between Windows and Mac computers. Most people don’t work across multiple computers, but Wirecutter senior staff writer Joel Santo Domingo found it useful on both Windows PCs and Macs, and said he’s “saved countless minutes copying files and text from one laptop to the other and back.”

The Triathlon comes with a one-year limited hardware warranty, which is standard for a Logitech mouse; most defects covered by the warranty should present themselves within the first year of use, anyway.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Triathlon’s sensor tracked accurately in our tests, although it won’t operate on glass; if that’s a dealbreaker for you, check out the Logitech MX Master 2S or the Logitech Anywhere 2S.

Runner-up: Logitech M585 Multi-Device or Logitech M590 Silent Wireless Mouse

Wireless mouse

Photo: Sarah Kobos

If the Triathlon mouse is unavailable, we recommend the Logitech M585 Multi-Device Wireless Mouse. The M585 is a little smaller than the Triathlon but has a tall 1.6-inch-high back that most of our testers found to be as comfortable. Like the Triathlon, the M585 connects via USB dongle (that you can store in the bottom of the mouse) or Bluetooth, but it can only pair with up to two devices. Logitech claims that its battery will last for two years. It has one less button than the Triathlon, and you can customize any of its five buttons with Options.

If you prefer a quieter wireless mouse, we recommend the M585’s twin, the Logitech M590 Multi-Device Silent. The M590 is identical in every way except its buttons don’t make the same loud click noise as the M585. Although our testers really enjoyed using the M590’s silent buttons, the M585 is more affordable and widely available.

Wireless mouse

Although the Logitech M585 is smaller than the Triathlon, our testers found that it fit comfortably into their hands and that its matte plastic covering was easy to grip. Photo: Sarah Kobos

The M585 is smaller than the Triathlon and the MX Master 2S, but it’s still comfortable to hold. It has a 1.6-inch arch in its back, compared to the Triathlon’s 2-inch bump, that still offered enough palm support for extended use. It measured 2.5 inches wide and 4.1 inches long; the Triathlon, for comparison, is about 0.4 inches bigger in each direction. Like the Triathlon, we found the M585 fit nicely into our hands, and our panel-testers preferred it to the Logitech M510 and Logitech M310 as well as to old favorites like the Logitech Marathon and the Logitech Performance MX. It also has a matte plastic covering on the left and right sides that’s comfortable to hold and easy to grip, and the hard plastic on top didn’t make any hands sweat or stick.

Logitech claims the M585’s battery life will last for up to two years, and we’ve used it for about 6 months without needing to replace its single AA battery, which you can swap out yourself.

The M585 has five buttons that are responsive, comfortable to reach, and reprogrammable through the Logitech Options software. Like the Triathlon, you can use Logitech Options and Logitech Flow to reassign button functions and move easily between two computers on the same network, even doing things like copy and pasting between the two.

We had no issues with the M585’s sensor; it tracked well over most surfaces in our tests, but like the Triathlon, you won’t be able to use it on glass or mirror. The M585 comes with a one-year warranty.

Upgrade pick: Logitech MX Master 2S

Wireless mouse

Photo: Sarah Kobos

If you spend all day using a mouse, we recommend spending more for the Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse. Our panel found it comfortable for all grips and hand sizes—especially those with bigger hands—because of its larger size, nearly a half-inch wider and longer than the Triathlon. It’s more than twice as expensive, though. For its price, the MX Master 2S tracked the best of all in our testing, and it connects quickly and easily to your laptop through a dongle or Bluetooth. It can connect to up to three devices. The MX Master 2S also has a rechargeable battery that can last for about two months on a single charge. It has a second scroll wheel for your thumb, and the same amount of programmable buttons as our top pick—six—that can be customized with the Logitech Options software.

The new Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse has a few notable improvements over the 2S: Logitech has moved the buttons from next to the thumb scroll wheel to below it; it has a more up-to-date USB-C charging port; it has one additional programmable button; and it has a new scrolling mechanism that felt smoother and was quieter in our tests. But we don’t recommend spending much more for the Master 3S. If its price drops below $85, then it becomes the best mouse for people who spend all day using their mouse.

Wireless mouse

The Logitech MX Master 2S has a contoured shape—and a smooth thumb rest—that makes it a joy to use for long periods of time. Photo: Sarah Kobos

That said, the MX Master 2S’s contoured shape and thumb rest make it comfortable to use for long periods, and throughout the past couple of years, our panel testers have consistently liked its size, shape, and comfy soft-touch coating. The Master 2S is a bit bigger than the Triathlon: It measures 3.4 inches wide, 5 inches long, and 2 inches tall, compared to the Triathlon’s 2.9-inch width, 4.5-inch length, and 2-inch height, which made it particularly comfortable for panel testers with bigger hands.

Like the Triathlon, the MX Master 2S can pair with up to three devices via Bluetooth and lets you quickly switch between them (in this case, by pressing a button on the bottom of the mouse). If your computer doesn’t have Bluetooth, or if you prefer a dongle, the MX Master 2S can also connect via an included 2.4 GHz wireless Logitech Unifying Receiver. But be careful you don’t lose it: the Master 2S offers no place to store the dongle inside, unlike most wireless mice that have dongles. (We’re not happy about this, either.)

The MX Master 2S’s built-in battery doesn’t last as long as the Triathlon’s; although it’s rechargeable, Logitech claims the MX Master 2S should only last up to 70 days between charges. The battery recharges via the included Micro-USB–to–USB cable, and you can continue to use the mouse while it’s charging. We’ve used the MX Master 2S on and off for a few weeks at a time, and each time, it only consumed about a third of its battery life. We expect it to last for a full 70 days.

The MX Master 2S offers six programmable inputs, including a clickable scroll wheel, a button integrated into the thumb rest, and a second programmable scroll wheel on its side. (By default this side scroll wheel is set to horizontal scrolling, which is great for graphic designers or video editors, but we’ve found that configuring it to scroll between browser tabs is life-changing.)

“The scroll wheel on the left side has been incredibly useful for the large spreadsheets this job requires,” said staff writer Thorin Klosowski. “All the buttons still have a satisfying click, and it doesn’t seem to pick up as much gunk as other mice I’ve owned.”

Wireless mouse

Our larger-handed testers preferred the size and shape of the Logitech MX Master 2S (left) to the Logitech Performance Mouse MX, and our staff has found the MX Master 2S’s thumb scroll wheel to be particularly handy inside large spreadsheets. Photo: Sarah Kobos

The MX Master 2S’s primary scroll wheel feels crisp but lacks left and right tilt. You can switch it between ratcheted and infinite scrolling, and you can toggle between them using a remappable button just below the scroll wheel. The MX Master 2S’s back and forward buttons are stacked at a diagonal angle, though, which makes them somewhat awkward to use. And like the Triathlon, the MX Master 2S’s thumb-rest button is mushy and difficult to press.

Like our other picks, the MX Master 2S supports Logitech Options and Logitech Flow, which lets you move your cursor between multiple computers on the same network. You can also copy content and drag files from one computer to the other.

The MX Master 2S uses Logitech’s Darkfield sensor, and unlike the vast majority of mice we tested—including the Triathlon and the M585—the MX Master 2S worked well on every surface we tried, including glass and mirrors. The MX Master 2S has a one-year limited hardware warranty.

A smaller, portable option: Logitech MX Anywhere 2S

Wireless mouse

Photo: Sarah Kobos

If you need a mouse that you can easily place in a backpack and take to the office, a coffee shop, or out for a long plane ride, we recommend the Logitech Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse. The Anywhere 2S is smaller than most mice we tested—and its back arch was about a half-inch shorter than the Triathlon’s—but we found it really comfortable to use over long periods of time. Like all of our picks, it can connect via dongle or Bluetooth, and it can wirelessly connect with up to three devices. Like the Master MX 2S, the Anywhere 2S has a rechargeable battery that can last for around two months before you’ll need to recharge it. It has five programmable buttons, and it offers Options software for you to customize each button to your liking.

Wireless mouse

The Logitech Anywhere 2S (bottom left) is smaller and a little lighter than all of our other picks. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Even though the Anywhere 2S is smaller than our other picks—2.4 inches wide, 4 inches long, and 1.4 inches tall—most of our panel testers have loved using it over the past couple of years. By comparison, the Triathlon is about 0.5 inches bigger in every direction: 2.9 inches wide, 4.5 inches long, and 2 inches tall. The Anywhere 2S is also a little lighter, at 3.7 ounces, versus the Triathlon’s 5-ounce weight. Wirecutter associate staff writer Sarah Witman said she loved how small and lightweight the mouse was. She even noted that she liked how flat it was—if you don’t think you’ll appreciate the lifted back arch in our other picks, the Anywhere 2S may be the right choice for you.

Although the Anywhere 2S connects via a tiny Unifying dongle, it doesn’t offer any place to store it, which can be a pain point for a portable mouse—especially if you, like me, are prone to losing things.

The Logitech Anywhere 2S has a rechargeable battery that should last 70 days on a single charge. This is much shorter than the Triathlon, which should last for years without changing its battery. Although we haven’t used the Anywhere 2S for a full 70 days during our testing, we’ve used it for a couple of weeks and its battery still looks fully charged in Logitech Options. It comes with a Micro-USB cable for easy recharging.

It has five programmable buttons, one behind the scroll wheel—note that the scroll wheel itself does not click, unlike most of our picks—that you can remap using Logitech Options.

Like the MX Master 2S, the Anywhere 2S uses Logitech’s more advanced Darkfield sensor and worked well on every surface we used it on, including glass and mirrors. Like our other picks, the Anywhere 2S has a one-year warranty.

The competition

We still love the Logitech Marathon Mouse M705, which was our favorite wireless mouse for more than three years. The Marathon only connects via USB dongle, though, and we think it’s worth it for most people to spend a little extra money on a mouse like the Triathlon that can be connected via Bluetooth—especially considering many laptops nowadays lack USB-A ports. But the Marathon is supremely comfortable to use, its sensor tracks smoothly, and it has years of battery life. It also has a three-year warranty, longer than any of our current picks. If you’re confident that you don’t need Bluetooth, buy the Marathon.

Logitech’s dongle-only Wireless Mouse M310 and Wireless Mouse M510 were less comfortable than the Marathon, as were the dongle-only AmazonBasics Ergonomic Wireless Mouse, AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver, VicTsing 2.4G Wireless Mouse, and VicTsing 2nd 2.4G Wireless Mouse (which also had tracking issues). If you’re going to buy a wireless mouse that doesn’t offer a Bluetooth connection, we recommend the Marathon, instead.

We tested the Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse, and we appreciated its improvements over the Master 2S: Logitech has moved the forward/back buttons from next to the thumb scroll wheel to below it, which we found more comfortable; it offers a more up-to-date USB-C port; it has one more programmable button than the Master 2S; and it has a new scrolling mechanism that felt smoother and was quieter in our tests. Although we expect its price to drop in the coming months, we don’t recommend the Master 3S at its current price. If its price drops below $85, then it’s the best mouse for most people who spend all day using their mouse.

The Logitech Performance Mouse MX was previously chosen as a pick by panel-testers with bigger hands until the Logitech MX Master 2S dethroned it. The two mice are similarly priced, and we found that our larger-handed testers thought they were pretty evenly-matched in terms of comfort. The Performance Mouse MX can only be connected via USB dongle, though, and its software is outdated.

The Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse is about as expensive as the Logitech MX Master 2S, and although it was very comfortable, we’ve seen connection issues; some on our panel had the same problems. And since you can only connect it via Bluetooth and it doesn’t have dongle capabilities, you’re out of luck if you run into any issues. If you’re going to drop a lot of money on a wireless mouse, it shouldn’t have connection issues.

Our former upgrade pick, the Logitech MX Master, has been replaced by the Logitech MX Master 2S. Compared with the older version, the 2S supports Logitech Flow and has longer battery life—70 days, up from 40, according to Logitech. If you don’t care about longer battery life, or Logitech Flow support, the MX Master is still a great mouse.

Our 2017 panel described the unusually shaped Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse (aka Sculpt Ergo) as “surprisingly comfortable” and praised its great scroll wheel. Its unusual shape forces a very specific grip, however, and our testers didn’t like the glossy surface, the mushy side button, or the intrusive Windows button. Our smallest-handed tester said the Sculpt Ergo was too big, and our largest-handed tester said it was too small.

In three rounds of testing over the past four years, we’ve dismissed a good number of wireless mice for feeling mushy, cheap, too flat, too long, or just plain uncomfortable to hold. Our panel of testers have found issue with Tecknet’s Classic Wireless Mouse M002 and Pro 2.4G Ergonomic Wireless Mobile Optical Mouse; the VicTsing MM057 2.4G Wireless Portable Mobile Mouse; Microsoft’s Sculpt Comfort Mouse, Surface Arc Mouse, Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600, Designer Bluetooth, Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500, Wireless Mobile Mouse 1850; Apple’s Magic Mouse 2; the Kensington SureTrack Any Surface Wireless Bluetooth Mouse; and Logitech’s M535, MX Anywhere 2, and Wireless Mouse M525 for their size, shape, and level of comfort.

We’ve also dismissed Logitech M220 Silent, Logitech M330 Silent, HP X4000b Bluetooth Mouse, and the Microsoft Surface Mouse for their lack of buttons. The Logitech Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630 had trouble differentiating between one-finger and two-finger swipes, and to our panel’s dismay, it was unusable while charging.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commissions.

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Report details Google’s donations to climate change deniers

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The list of climate deniers Google supports with financial contributions isn’t limited to CEI either. The company’s beneficiaries include some of the organizations that are currently working the hardest to prevent any action on climate change. They include the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action. Google has also donated to a variety of Koch-adjacent groups and individuals. One such group is the American Conservative Union whose current chairman, Matt Schlapp, helped shaped Koch Industries’ anti-environmental policies.

The company declined to tell The Guardian how much it gives to these groups. On its website, however, Google describes some of the contributions as “substantial.” It’s important to point out Google also makes significant donations to progressive groups such as the Center for American Progress.

In its defense, a spokesperson for the company said Google’s “collaboration” with groups like CEI “does not mean we endorse the organizations’ entire agenda.” The spokesperson added, “We’re hardly alone among companies that contribute to organizations while disagreeing with them on climate policy.” We’ve also reached out to Google for comment on the story.

Indeed, both Amazon and Microsoft have faced employee scrutiny for donating to organizations like CEI. They’ve also similarly resisted pressure to stop supporting those groups. For instance, when Jeff Bezos announced Amazon’s new climate pledge in September, he didn’t say the company would outright stop working with climate deniers. He instead said Amazon would review its political contributions.

In a separate article, The Guardian suggests one of the reasons Google supports organizations like CEI is that they help maintain the legal status quo. In particular, it points to a law called the Communications Decency Act (CDA). Section 230 positions companies that publish information online from other sources as distributors. In effect, this law protects companies like Google — as well as Facebook and other tech giants — from libel suits.

The CDA has always been beneficial to tech companies. But it’s easy to see how Google may feel, due to the current political climate, its protections are needed now more than ever. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), for instance, is just one of the more notable Republicans who has said it’s time to revisit the law. For its part, CEI has defended Google against claims that its search engine has an anti-conservative bias.

CEI has also tried to defend the company against antitrust accusations. In a recent op-ed published in The Atlantic, Mario Loyola, a senior fellow at the organization, argued the recently launched antitrust investigation by 50 state attorneys general into Google wouldn’t do much good for the public.

One quote, in particular, succinctly captures Google’s likely motives. An anonymous source told The Guardian, “When it comes to regulation of technology, Google has to find friends wherever they can and I think it is wise that the company does not apply litmus tests to who they support.”

Make sure to read the full reports by visiting The Guardian website.

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Alexa’s streaming box grows up

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Since then, Amazon upgraded its Fire TV Cube software to support a wider array of voice commands, more streaming services and those aforementioned voice-messaging features. Along with that, it released an all-new Fire TV Cube, which promises to be faster and more powerful than before, and it now supports Dolby Vision and HDR+. It might look the same on the outside, but on the inside, it is a lot better. If you’re looking for an all-in-one Alexa-powered streaming box, the new Fire TV Cube is worthy of consideration.

Design-wise, the new Fire TV Cube is identical to its predecessor. It’s clad in a glossy black box that looks, well, like a cube. (Strictly speaking, it’s not a cube since its sides are different lengths.) It has a simple, minimalist look that should blend well with most home theaters — it looks decent enough on my TV stand anyway.

On the top are a few controls: two volume buttons, a microphone mute toggle plus a multi-function “action” button that you can use to activate Alexa. Surrounding the top of the Cube is a blue ring that lights up whenever Alexa is triggered. On the rear are an HDMI port, a port for an IR extender, a microUSB port that you can use to attach an ethernet adapter (comes included in the box) and, of course, the power port. Since the Fire TV Cube is meant to be used in the open, the IR extender is useful if you keep your entertainment components hidden inside a closed cabinet. (You’d keep the extender in the cabinet with them.)

Amazon Fire TV Cube

One note of warning: The Fire TV Cube needs to be placed at least one to two feet away from your speakers so that the microphones can pick up your voice better. This was mildly annoying for me as I was planning on having the Cube next to my TV because the rest of my shelves were full. But after some rearranging, it worked out alright.

What sets the 2019 Fire TV Cube apart from its predecessor is its new hexa-core processor. It enables Local Voice Control, an on-device processing feature that allows for quicker execution of frequent voice commands without Alexa having to access the cloud all the time. Amazon says that this means the new Fire TV Cube is nearly four times faster than its predecessor.

I wasn’t able to compare this year’s Fire TV Cube to last year’s model, but it does seem incredibly responsive during my time with it. Telling Alexa to “mute” or “go home” resulted in near instantaneous results. I was impressed at how fast it increased the TV volume and the quickness in which it fast forwarded or rewinded through videos. The only times Alexa lagged was when searching for TV shows and movies, and even then, I only encountered the occasional pause.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Another big update to the new Fire TV Cube is support for Dolby Vision and HDR+. (The previous version only had support for HDR.) That makes it compatible with a wide variety of modern TVs and would be a good fit in most home theaters. My TV is sadly behind the times so I couldn’t test this out, but I would still appreciate having the Fire TV Cube in the event I get a new one.

Like the original Fire TV Cube, the new model has eight far-field microphones and advanced beamforming technology designed to capture your voice from across the room, even when the TV is blaring at full volume. Amazon says that it combines the signals from microphones to suppress different noises such as competing speech as well as audio from the TV. From my experience, it does a really good job at responding to my commands when I’m yelling at it from across the room. I even successfully shouted at it from the front porch.

The Fire TV Cube comes with a remote, but you don’t have to use it most of the time (thanks to Alexa), especially as you can ask it to launch any of the different streaming apps, search for specific shows and even turn on extra hardware like sound bars. It acts as a universal remote, at least with devices that have IR receivers. Alexa also works great for navigating the Fire TV UX. You can say “scroll down” or “select number 4” when you see the corresponding search results. One of my favorite commands is asking Alexa to fast forward a few minutes so I can get through commercials faster.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Fire TV Cube runs on Fire OS, which has a similar interface to other Fire TV products. You not only have access to streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu but also live video through Twitch. You can, of course, buy or rent movies and TV shows through Amazon’s video service. Notably, Google finally agreed in the past few months to allow both YouTube and YouTube TV on Fire OS as well. That means Fire OS supports nearly every single streaming video app out there, which is a very good thing.

Most of the time, the Fire OS does a good job at bringing up movies and TV shows along with a list of how to watch them. It doesn’t necessarily give preferential treatment to Amazon’s own Prime service, either. When I asked Alexa for Ocean’s Twelve, for example, it immediately started playing it on Netflix instead of suggesting I rent or buy the version on Amazon.

That said, some apps do get preferential treatment. For example, when I searched for Steven Universe, the interface pushed me to watch them on Playstation Vue, which is an Amazon partner, rather than on a competing service like Hulu or YouTube TV. When I look up shows from HBO, Starz and Showtime, it tends to push me to get them through Prime Subscriptions instead of the individual apps.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Additionally, I can only change channels by voice on select live TV services such as Hulu Live and PS Vue, but not on YouTube TV. So if I were a Hulu subscriber and I said “Alexa, watch ESPN on Hulu” that would bring up the ESPN channel on Hulu. But saying “Alexa, watch ESPN on YouTube TV” doesn’t work the same way — instead, it’ll bring up an ESPN-related video on YouTube, not YouTube TV. That’s not entirely surprising due to YouTube TV’s recent arrival on Fire OS, but it was still disappointing.

Aside from a way to watch TV, the Fire TV Cube essentially turns your TV into a giant Echo Show. I can ask it to do all the usual Alexa functions like checking the weather, finding the latest sports scores, and playing tunes — Amazon Music song lyrics will even appear on the TV screen. It can also be used to check up on your Ring and Cloud Cam cameras. It’ll work with Alexa-compatible smart home devices too, like Hue lights and Ecobee thermostats. As mentioned earlier, the new Fire TV Cube also supports voice communications like calls, audio messages and intercom functions — you can communicate from the Fire TV Cube to other Amazon devices and use it to broadcast to the rest of the house that way.

If you already have an Echo, you might be better off getting a Fire TV Stick instead of the Cube. The Stick has Dolby Vision support, costs just $40 and has nearly all of the same features. There are a few Cube features you might miss though: the ability to navigate the UX with your voice, the control of the rest of your entertainment system and the faster response time.

But if you don’t have an Echo and you want an Alexa-powered streaming device, then the new Fire TV Cube is not a bad choice. While last year’s Amazon Fire TV Cube may have been disappointing due to the lack of features, the newer model beats it in almost every way. There are more robust video viewing voice commands, support for Dolby Vision and HDR+, and much faster response times. It also works pretty well as a substitute Alexa-powered smart display if you don’t already have one. For $120, that’s not a bad deal.

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The Apple Watch Series 4 just keeps getting cheaper

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The GPS model is currently listed at $330; that’s $100 less than its original price. The more expensive GPS + cellular Watch is on sale for $370, meaning you’ll save $160 off the original list price of $530. We’ve never seen Series 4 prices this low.

Apple has moved on to the Watch Series 5, but the Series 4 is still a great watch. The new Series 5 features are pretty subtle, and they’re things most people will be able to live without — like an always-on display and a Compass app. The Series 5 basic, no-cellular, GPS-only aluminum version starts at $399, and if you add cellular, that will bump the price to $499. So, if you’re looking for a solid watch but don’t want to pay full-price for a Series 5, these Amazon deals might be the way to go.

Buy Apple Watch Series 4 GPS – $330

Buy Apple Watch Series 4 Cellular – $370

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Howard University and Amazon want to diversify the entertainment industry

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The new program will send students to Los Angeles for two semesters, the second of which will include a fellowship in the industry. Students interested in all aspects of entertainment — project greenlighting, PR and marketing, entertainment law and finance — are encouraged to apply. The coursework will be taught by Howard University professors with support from Amazon Studios employees and other industry professionals invited by Amazon. Students will have to compete for spots, and credits will apply toward their graduation requirements.

The program will benefit students looking to get into the entertainment world, an industry in desperate need of diversity. But it will also benefit Amazon and its customers. “As we strive to delight our Prime Video customers, we’re ensuring there are diverse perspectives and experiences around the table to help us make the best decisions in all aspects of the business,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. The program is set to kick off in January 2020.

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Watch an Olympian run in a bubble full of hydrogen car emissions

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Hyundai España’s YouTube page has posted a commercial (spotted by Motor1) showing Olympic swimmer and brand ambassador Mireia Belmonte running on a treadmill inside a sealed bubble. The video clearly shows that a Nexo’s exhaust is connected to the structure. While Hyundai stressed that its vehicle only emits water and 99.9 percent filtered oxygen, it still worked with the Spanish National Centre on Hydrogen and a sports medical center to make sure the whole process was safe.

As Autoblog noted, the video works in tandem with the Hyundai Eco Road Show that’s now touring Spain to demo the automaker’s eco-friendly vehicles. You can check out the whole video below, though needless to be said, don’t try this at home.

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Inside Cirque du Soleil’s technology lab

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Cirque du Soleil is iconic: both a smooth corporate machine and pop culture staple. The company’s approach has been to launch its latest innovation lab called Nextasy. At the global headquarters in Montreal, the lab is playing with motion sensing to make a soundtrack respond to dancers’ actions, AI to spark new makeup ideas and augmented reality to overlay animations onto live performance. In our feature video, we visit Cirque du Soleil to see how it’s trying to create spectacle more than 200 years after the first circus, and how it harnesses technology for its own whimsical purposes.

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Writer and presenter: Chris Ip
Camera and editor: Brian Oh

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Apple adds five new Arcade games as its free trial draws to a close

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Inmost

Publisher Chucklefish is best known for Stardew Valley and Wargroove, but Inmost, from studio Hidden Layer Games, looks like a very different game again. With bleak pixel art wrapped around a 2D puzzle adventure, you’ll control three different characters, trying to defeat enemies and use traps to your advantage.

ShockRods

For something completely unlike Inmost, ShockRods is another racing game for Apple arcade, with multiplayer and gameplay modes including deathmatch and capture the flag. It looks like a destructive racer — so it’s probably completely different to Sonic Racers, then. The game will also be coming to Steam soon.

Stela

Apple Arcade already has no shortage of puzzle games (they’re good on phones, okay?), and Stela should offer a degree of cerebral challenge alongside platform traversing and exploration. Oh and a creepy soundtrack. Headphones in. You might recall Stela being revealed for the Xbox One — it’s still headed for the Microsoft console on October 17th and Steam early 2020.

Decoherence

Decoherence, a new RTS game involving armies of robots, combines PvP matches with a single-player campaign. Your character will join the fight as a pilot, and you’ll be able to customize your robots to tackle anything. Apparently “anything can happen” during matches. And, importantly, your character can be a penguin general.

Mind Symphony

Apple Arcade

Mind Symphony promises to “emotionally and mentally impact you”, but we don’t know much about this game, besides the fact that gameplay will sync with the music and play a little like a bullet-hell shoot-em-up. In Release Mode, enemy attacks synchronize with the soundtrack. Meanwhile, Calm Mode focuses more on the melody for timing your attacks — and presumably making things a little easier.

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