Blogroll

4 apps I always install on my Samsung Galaxy Watch—that nobody talks about

How-To Geek - 23 min 19 sec ago

The biggest perk of owning a proper Wear OS smartwatch is access to the Google Play Store. Now, as a Samsung Galaxy Watch user, you've probably already installed the usual suspects—Spotify, Google Keep, Google Maps, and the like. However, that's just scratching the surface—there are plenty of great apps waiting to be discovered. Here are four apps that rarely get talked about but are so good that I always install them on my Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A DAS with fast SSDs is better than a NAS for most people

How-To Geek - 1 hour 38 min ago

For years, the default storage recommendation has been to buy a NAS. Run out of space? Buy a NAS. Want better backups? Buy a NAS. Thinking about organizing your photos? Buy a NAS! Somewhere along the way, the idea that everyone needs a miniature storage server became accepted wisdom.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Keep your pool sparkling clean with 50% off the AIPER Scuba X1

Mashable - 1 hour 56 min ago

SAVE $750: As of August 4, get the AIPER Scuba X1 pool robot for $749.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1499.99. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon AIPER Scuba X1 pool robot $749.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $750   Get Deal

If you have a pool, you already know that its upkeep can be time-consuming and pricey. Why not have at least one of the pool-cleaning steps you've got to handle outsourced to a friendly robot? You can do just that while saving some serious cash thanks to this Amazon deal, which ensures you don't have to worry about cleaning out your pool ever again.

As of August 4, get the AIPER Scuba X1 pool robot for $749.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1499.99. That's $750 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: The FCC bans all robot vacuums made outside the U.S.

This pool robot is all about making your life easier. It uses powerful 6,600 GPH suction and dual jets, so as soon as you power it on, it's collecting sand, pebbles, and algae from your pool thanks to its effortless cleaning system. It also uses advanced multi-layer filtration to capture the tiniest of debris, so no matter what you've got lurking in your pool water, this pool robot can filter it out with an ultra-fine filter.

It uses WaveLine 2.0 technology to reach 2 inches above your pool's waterline and offers 60 sections of horizontal cleaning with each wave. And it stays up to date with over the air enhancements that are done automatically. That means all you really have to worry about is keeping it charged with its wireless charging dock and deploying it when you're ready to have a sparkling pool. It can handle the rest.

If you're ready to have a cleaner pool, now's the time to invest in one of these robots before summer starts to slip away.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Marshall’s new Stockwell III speaker is officially live: Order the 40-hour Bluetooth speaker now

Mashable - 2 hours 34 sec ago

TL;DR: Marshall's Stockwell III portable Bluetooth speaker has officially launched, priced at $249.99. It offers 40+ hours of playtime, true 360-degree Marshall sound, IP55 dust and water resistance, and doubles as a charging bank for other devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Stockwell III $249.99 at Marshall
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Marshall's Stockwell III officially launches on Aug. 4.

We first wrote about the announcement back in June, when Marshall confirmed it would keep the price at $249.99 despite adding solid upgrades over the previous generation. Now it's finally available at Marshall and Costco.

The main upgrade here is that the battery life has doubled — Marshall bumped it from 20 hours to 40+ hours, and it charges over USB-C, with a 30W PD charger getting you a full recharge in under 3 hours (or 7 hours of playtime from just a 20-minute quick charge). Water and dust resistance also improves, going from IPX4 on the previous model to IP55, so it can handle much more than the occasional splash.

SEE ALSO: Marshall’s new Billie Joe Armstrong amp is built for Green Day nostalgia: Price, release date, and more

Sound-wise, it keeps Marshall's True Stereophonic 360-degree audio, powered by a 3-inch woofer and two 1.75-inch wide-band drivers, and backed by a 65W amp for the woofer.

Bethany Allard, who covered the announcement back in June, pointed out that the previous Stockwell II earned praise from PCMag for its "rich bass and bright highs" — so the sound quality here was already solid, even before this upgrade.

Another cool detail: the battery is swappable — instead of tossing the speaker once the battery wears down, you can replace it yourself, along with the front and back grilles, silicone sleeve, and carrying strap. That's not something you see often with Bluetooth speakers, most of which are basically disposable once a part fails.

Credit: Marshall

It's got tactile, amp-inspired controls on top, including a new M-button for jumping straight to your saved presets, plus Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast support and multipoint connectivity for pairing with more than one device.

It's available now for $249.99 on Marshall and Costco.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Its National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day — score free cookies from DoubleTree, Insomnia Cookies, Crumbl, and more

Mashable - 2 hours 2 min ago

To those still burning off calories from National Ice Cream Day — bad news, or possibly great news depending on how you look at it: it's National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, and the free food streak isn't slowing down. Between this, French Fry Day, Hot Dog Day, and Ice Cream Day, it's like the calendar took one look at 2026 and decided everyone deserves free snacks — and who are we to argue?

The chocolate chips are calling, and DoubleTree, Insomnia Cookies, Crumbl, and a long list of others are already rolling out free cookies and steep discounts to celebrate. Clear some room on the counter — today's all about warm cookies.

These are our favorite National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day deals in 2026.

Chick-fil-A

Richmond-area guests can sign into the Chick-fil-A app to claim a free Chocolate Chunk Cookie reward.

Chip City

Make any regular cookie purchase of $5.50 at Chip City and get a free Chocolate Chip Chewie.

Chips Ahoy!

Enter the Mystery Cookie Sweepstakes daily by guessing the flavor of Chips Ahoy!'s new limited-edition cookie for a shot at $25,000, with 50 runners-up scoring cookies and branded merch.

Cookie Plug

Get 50% off a cookie at Cookie Plug when you buy any other item and enter promo code OG at checkout.

Crumbl Cookies

Head to Crumbl Cookies, download the app, and claim a voucher for a free Dirty Soda.

Dirty Dough

Rewards members get a free chocolate chip cookie with any purchase at Dirty Dough.

DoubleTree by Hilton

DoubleTree by Hilton's U.S. hotels are giving away a complimentary warm chocolate chip cookie (or the allergy-friendly version) to anyone who stops by.

Edible

Get a free Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie in stores at Edible, no purchase necessary.

Gopuff

Save 20% when you buy two packs of Crave Shoppe Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough at Gopuff.

Gregorys Coffee

Rewards members get a free chocolate chip cookie with any purchase.

Happy Joe's

Add a giant chocolate chip cookie to any regularly priced large pizza for $5.99 at participating Happy Joe's locations.

Insomnia Cookies

Buy one warm chocolate chunk cookie and get a second of equal or lesser value free at Insomnia Cookies, in-store or online.

Jacques Torres Chocolate

Save 25% on chocolate chip cookies, cookie mixes, and chocolate discs on Aug. 4.

Joy Supply

Save 20% on cookies with code TODAY20.

Maman

Enjoy buy-one-get-one-free classic cookies on weekdays from 2–6 p.m. through Sept. 2. Plus, get BOGO cookie boxes online with code DOUBLEDOUGH through Aug. 5.

Mightylicious

Save 15% on cookies throughout August with code CHOCOLATECHIP15.

My Better Batch

Get a free cookie mix with any $25 purchase using code COOKIECLASSIC.

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Rewards members earn 100 points when they buy a Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bundtlet at Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Papa Murphy's

Mix and match desserts, including chocolate chip cookies, for $6.99.

PJ's Coffee

Get a $1 cookie with any beverage purchase today.

Stater Bros. Markets

Mini chocolate chip cookies are 2 for $3 today.

Sweet Loren's

Get 20% off all cookie dough purchases online at Sweet Loren's with code SWEET20.

Tate's Bake Shop

Get 40% off all chocolate chip products at Tate's Bake Shop.

The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company

The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company is selling chocolate chip cookies for just $1, with 100% of proceeds going to charity.

Tiff's Treats

Sample four chocolate chip cookie flavors at Tiff's Treats and get a free cookie — plus vote for your favorite for a shot at free cookies for a year.

Toll House

Enter a social media giveaway by following @nestletollhouse on Instagram and commenting with #nestletollhouse and #sweepstakes for a shot at free cookie dough and morsels.

Wildgrain

Get $30 off site-wide orders, including chocolate chip cookies, with code TODAY30 — plus free croissants with every order.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your August streaming guide: 10 new and returning shows to watch

How-To Geek - 2 hours 8 min ago

While viewers will indeed have a handful of new offerings to explore this month, August is heaviest on returning fan-favorite shows with new seasons across Netflix, Paramount+, HBO Max, and more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hatch introduces new Sleep Clock, an alarm clock that tracks your sleep

Mashable - 2 hours 23 min ago

The Hatch Restore 3 smart alarm clock helped Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart regulate her bedtime routine. And as of Aug. 4, the brand has dropped a new device to improve sleep. The Hatch Sleep Clock isn't just another smart alarm clock; it's a contactless sleep tracker.

At launch, the Hatch Sleep Clock is exclusively available at hatch.co for $249.99, and will be available from other retailers, including Amazon, later this year.

Getting to know the Hatch Sleep Clock

Unlike a Whoop or Oura tracker, the Hatch Sleep Clock is obviously not a wearable. It sits on your nightstand and uses ultra-low-power radio signals to detect breathing and movement (no microphone required). It can track when you go to bed, fall asleep, and wake up throughout the night. According to a study, the tech behind the Sleep Clock is 97 percent accurate at sleep detection.

The Hatch Sleep Clock tracks sleep from your bedside table. Credit: Hatch

The Hatch Sleep Clock combines sleep insights with the other tech Hatch is known for: immersive light, sleep audio, and personalized routines. "We didn't set out to build another sleep tracker. We set out to help people sleep better," said Ann Crady Weiss, Co-Founder and CEO of Hatch, in a press release. "Rather than simply reporting what happened last night, Hatch Sleep Clock gets you to bed tonight."

Hatch Sleep Clock in action

I personally have a bedtime routine of realizing it's 10:30 p.m., thinking I should start getting ready, not actually getting ready for bed until 11ish, and then scrolling on my phone until midnight. I could definitely use some improvement.

With the Hatch Sleep Clock, you pick your ideal unwinding time, and the device gradually fills your room with calming light and ambient sound to ease you into a natural progression toward sleep. You can choose from Hatch's library of experiences, whether you want meditation, sleep stories, ASMR, or other sleep sounds. And you can pair those with lighting designed to help you fall and stay asleep.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 3 I'd buy, and the one I'd skip

When it's time to get up for the day, the Hatch Sleep Clock gradually brightens your room with light and sound for a more natural wakeup. You can ditch the blaring iPhone alarm sounds.

Rather than giving you a sleep score, Hatch provides actionable data, with suggestions like reducing screentime before bed or getting more natural sunlight in the morning. Sure, you'll get to see how long you spent in each sleep stage, but you'll also get insights to improve your sleep each night going forward.

In the Hatch app, you'll see how you slept, receive insights for improving your sleep, and access sleep routines. Credit: Hatch

The Sleep Clock comes loaded with sleep routines and experiences, but you can also add a Hatch+ subscription to access the full library for $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Sleep Clock $249.99 at Hatch
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Categories: IT General, Technology

Milwaukee's rising prices make Ryobi look like an even better deal (and it is)

How-To Geek - 2 hours 38 min ago

Cordless power tools are pretty expensive, especially from big-name brands like Milwaukee. But with retail prices steadily rising and premium job-site power tool lines (like Milwaukee's M18 FUEL series) increasing in cost, more people are looking for solid alternatives.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 AI tools actually change how you work

How-To Geek - 2 hours 53 min ago

Chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude get all the attention when it comes to the current generation of AI technology, but there are so many other genuinely useful applications of AI that involve more than telling a computer about how your day's been going.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your unpowered SSD is a ticking time bomb

How-To Geek - 3 hours 10 min ago

SSDs are great for a lot of things, but long-term cold storage is not one of them, and while many never fail, some do—taking some data with them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How much is Spotify Premium in the U.S.?

Mashable - 3 hours 17 min ago

Everything is better without ads ruining the vibe, and your perfect playlist deserves to play on uninterrupted. Don't believe us? As of August 2026, Spotify had 300 million Premium subscribers enjoying ad-free songs, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Here's how each of the platform's Premium plans break down.

What do I get with a free Spotify account?

You'll have access to Spotify's music library, but you'll have to listen to ads and won't be able to download music to your phone for times when you don't have W-Fi access (like on planes).

What do I get with a Spotify Premium plan?

If you want an ad-free and offline listening experience, Premium is the way to go. You'll get ad-free access to Spotify's entire music library, 15 hours of audiobook listening time, and the ability to download music and podcasts to your device. Plus, you'll get access to lossless audio, be able to play songs in any order, and listening queue options, none of which are available on Spotify's free plan.

In recent years, Spotify has added a huge amount of extra features to tempt free users to pay for Premium, including Page Match (to move between physical books and audiobooks), Running Mode, concert tickets sales, as well as an AI chatbot to unpack your music and listening history.

SEE ALSO: Spotify hits 300 million Premium subscribers What are Spotify's Premium plan options?
  • Premium Individual ($12.99/month): This plan is for one person and includes all the Premium features.

  • Premium Student ($6.99/month): Students at an accredited higher education institution can get 50 percent off all Premium features for up to four years, in addition to access to Hulu's ad-supported plan at no extra cost (a $1.99/ month value for students).

  • Premium Duo ($18.99/month): Two people can each get their own Premium account with Premium Duo. Spotify stipulates that these two people must be living together, but since there's no way for them to know that, you could probably split this plan with a bestie or sibling. You'll also get 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month, but only the "plan manager" (whoever set up the account) can use them.

  • Premium Family ($21.99/month): This plan offers a discounted rate for families of up to six, and each member gets their own account. One family member, the plan manager, pays for the plan, manages members, and can set explicit content filters for members.

    This plan is great for parents who want to ensure that their little ones aren't listening to explicit material, or parents who want to give their child their own account in the Spotify Kids app. On the Premium Family plan, only the plan managers get 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spotify Spotify Premium $12.99
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Categories: IT General, Technology

This PC dock gives you dual 4K 60Hz monitors without using Thunderbolt

How-To Geek - 3 hours 23 min ago

You usually need a Thunderbolt port to run more than one high-resolution monitor without software or other tricks, but it's now just a matter of plugging in a USB-C cable. Plugable has introduced a PC dock that allows dual 4K 60Hz monitors without drivers on Windows PCs and Chromebooks.

Categories: IT General, Technology

CMFs first pair of open earbuds are finally here and have the potential to be a category best this year

Mashable - 3 hours 23 min ago

I have tested many, many open earbuds new releases this year, but none have impressed me out of the gate as much as CMF's first-ever open earbuds.

Meet the CMF Clip Pro: a cuff-style open earbud that's available for just $99. That makes them a good deal cheaper than more premium options like the Bose Ultra Open earbuds ($299) and the Sony LinkBuds Clip ($229.99). As of Aug. 4, the CMF buds are available to purchase on Nothing's website.

SEE ALSO: Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they're popping up everywhere

I've been able to spend a couple of days with the latest CMF earbuds ahead of their launch, and so far, I have very few notes and quite a lot of praise. While that's subject to change as I put them through more testing scenarios, let's take a look at what the earbuds deliver out of the box and in the early days of wear.

CMF Clip Pro at a glance The three available colorways of the CMF Clip Pro. Credit: Nothing Price

As mentioned above, these earbuds are just $99. While it's not unheard of for open earbuds to be sub-$100, it is also pretty common for many of the highest performing models to be above $100. It's not surprising that CMF's earbuds are priced for the more affordably-minded, though: CMF is the budget-focused line of Nothing, and their entire current product range sits below $100.

Specs
  • Battery: 10 hours playback per charge, with 32.5 hours total playback with charging case

  • Quick charge: 10 minutes for four hours of listening

  • Driver: 10.8mm dual-magnet magnetic driver

  • Listening modes: Spatial audio, bass enhancement, anti-leakage mode

  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.4

  • Multipoint: Yes, dual connection available

  • Controls: Smart Dial case, physical on-ear controls, with options for customization

  • IP rating: IP54, dust- and water-resistant

  • Colors: Dark grey, light grey, coral

  • Weight: 5.9 grams per earbud

CMF Clip Pro first impressions The earbuds themselves are lightweight, with a titanium wire core that helps you find the best fit possible. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable The Smart Dial is a strong design feature of the charging case (even if the case itself attracts fingerprints). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Thoughtful design

CMF's parent company, Nothing, created my favorite on-ear controls in the Headphone (a), so I shouldn't be surprised they knocked it out of the park with these open earbuds. The earbuds themselves sit on the ear in a way that feels secure without pinching the front or back of my ear, and the physical button control on the back side of the earbud mimics that of the Bose Open Ultra — my favorite on-ear control I've experienced on any open earbuds. With the Nothing X app, you can customize how many presses designate commands like pausing, switching songs, or even listening modes.

The Smart Dial case may seem gimmicky on the surface, but I found myself using it to adjust the volume of my music a lot. Many on-ear controls, but especially those on open earbuds, can be awkward for adjusting volume (long pressing your earbuds for a small boost of volume simply isn't the move). The dial made it so I could quickly and easily change the volume, which came in handy for listening to music while I worked or stopped to chat with someone.

Sound quality

My audio testing has been limited to my personal playlists so far (featuring a lot of pop/rock and K-pop), so I can't speak to the sound quality comprehensively. That said, I appreciate the sheer amount of features packed into these buds: there's spatial audio, a two-level bass boost option, five equalizer presets, and a custom equalizer slot.

I've been impressed with the volume levels so far (open earbuds can skew lower) and don't notice any obvious muddying. Some equalizer settings aren't great for the music I listen to, dampening the overall sound, but from what I've experienced so far, the sound quality is promising.

Great battery life

The CMF Clip Pro sit on the higher end of battery life for open earbuds at 10 hours per charge, and 32.5 hours overall. For comparison, on our list of open earbuds recs, they're only second to the 12-hour battery life of Shokz OpenFit Pro (though these earbuds cost $249.95), and have the same battery life per charge as our overall pick, the Shokz OpenDots One (which cost $199.99).

Ultimately, for being a budget option, the CMF Clip Pro earbuds are impressively well-rounded. As I write this, the only real competitor that comes to mind is the EarFun Clip, which, though incredibly affordable, aren't as stylish or detail-oriented in their design as the CMF Clip Pro.

Early areas for improvement

While my early experience with the earbuds has been pretty stellar, I've noticed some minor issues off the bat, including:

  • Only three-band custom equalizer: The equalizer only features three bands, but it is worth considering that open earbuds are rarely designed to maximize sound quality.

  • Matte case problems: The dark grey case does attract fingerprints, which isn't the biggest deal, but is especially noticeable when the product encourages you to use the case for audio playback.

  • Interior of the case: The case is condensed well, which can be a challenge with larger open buds, but the vertical placement of the earbuds takes some getting used to — so much so that the app gives clear instructions on how to properly load the earbuds in. Still, I don't see this being a lasting issue after regular use.

  • No wear detection: These earbuds don't offer any wear detection, so music will continue to play when you take them out. Again, not the biggest flaw, but it can be a source of an accidentally run-down battery life.

Overall, these cons are minor. That said, I still have testing to do, including listening to more genres, running out the battery life, trying out the Clear Voice tech that CMF claims helps call quality, and using the earbuds during movement to make sure they make good on staying in place.

Where to buy the CMF Clip Pro

The CMF Clip Pro earbuds will be available for $99 at Nothing's website and select retailers. They're available for preorder now, with availability beginning Aug. 15. The buds have a preorder discount of $20 on Nothing's official site, bringing them to $79.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF Clip Pro $79 at Nothing
$99 Save $20   Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF Clip Pro $99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 cheap PCIe cards turn any PC into a Plex powerhouse

How-To Geek - 3 hours 38 min ago

If you've built a Plex server from an old desktop PC, chances are you're already squeezing as much performance from it as you can. Or, at least, you might think you are.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify hits 300 million Premium subscribers

Mashable - 3 hours 42 min ago

Spotify has 300 million Premium subscribers, according to the company's Q2 earnings report.

Announced on Tuesday, the company said it had hit "a milestone no audio streaming service has ever reached," with the total marking a nine percent increase from last year.

SEE ALSO: Spotify Smart Shuffle played a song I'd never heard before. It was AI generated.

Spotify indeed dominates the U.S. audio streaming market, topping competitors like Apple Music (estimated around 100 million paid subscribers) and YouTube Music (estimated around 125 million combined subscribers with YouTube Music and Premium), though these are industry estimates — streamers rarely publicly herald their paid subscriber numbers, so Spotify's announcement is a rarity.

Spotify's ad-free tier, which allows users to listen offline, enjoy lossless audio, and control queues, costs $12.99 per month. Over the last year, the company has gone hard on tempting free users to pay for Premium, adding a plethora of features, including Running Mode, Page Match, concert ticketing, and more, as well as rolling out an AI chatbot for your music and listening history.

It's not the only increase for Spotify either, with the platform reporting 777 million monthly active users (up 12 percent from last year) and total revenue up 14 percent — that's €4.8 billion.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry

Spotify co-CEO Gustav Söderström said in a press statement that Q2 2026 showed the company was building "better engineering, faster shipping, new products, and new ways for users to engage. We are still in the very early stages of what is possible and will continue to have a high bar for investments…Our job remains the same: understand the technology early and deeply, and turn it into something people love. Creating value for our stakeholders.”

Spotify did see layoffs in Q1, with three percent of staff fired in March 2026 from the company's podcast sector.

We asked you to predict what Apple will do next. See the results and find out how to get a shot at winning an Apple Watch!

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Depot is giving away free lithium-ion batteries — heres how to qualify

Mashable - 3 hours 45 min ago
Home Depot Free Battery Deals Best DeWalt Flexvolt free battery deal DeWalt Flexvolt 20V/60V MAX 9.0Ah Battery Free with the purchase of select DeWalt Flexvolt 60V tools Get Deal Best Milwaukee M18 free battery deal Milwaukee M18 5.0 Ah XC Battery Free with the purchase of select Milwaukee M18 tools Get Deal Best Ridgid free battery deal Ridgid 18V Output Battery Free with the purchase of select Ridgid 18V Nuke tools Get Deal

If you're eyeing a new tool from Ridgid, Milwaukee, or DeWalt, now's a good time to buy — Home Depot's running a free battery promo across all three brands. Pick up a qualifying tool, and a battery gets tossed in at no extra cost, whether that's Ridgid's 18V 4.0 Ah pack, Milwaukee's M18 5.0 Ah pack, or DeWalt's Flexvolt 9.0Ah battery. Here's a deeper look at the tools that can get you free batteries:

DeWalt Flexvolt 20V/60V MAX Battery Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt Flexvolt 20V/60V MAX 9.0Ah Battery Free with the purchase of select DeWalt Flexvolt 60V tools Get Deal

The DeWalt Flexvolt battery pack automatically changes voltage depending on which tool it's plugged into. It powers DeWalt's 60V MAX Brushless line and 120V MAX Brushless tools, and it's also backward compatible with 20V MAX tools and chargers, so it's not locked into just one tool category.

Get it free with:

Milwaukee M18 5.0 Ah XC Battery Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M18 5.0 Ah XC Battery Free with the purchase of select Milwaukee M18 tools Get Deal

The Milwaukee M18 5.0 Ah XC Battery is compatible with any M18 cordless power tool in Milwaukee's lineup, and it's rated to deliver 2 x more runtime than a standard lithium battery. It also recharges fully in 90 minutes or less, so you're not stuck waiting around if you're mid-project and need to swap in a fresh charge.

Some of the M18 tools that qualify for the deal are:

Ridgid 18V Output Battery Opens in a new window Credit: Ridgid Ridgid 18V Output Battery Free with the purchase of select Ridgid 18V Nuke tools Get Deal

The Ridgid 18V 4.0 Ah MAX Output battery gives you more power and runtime out of any Ridgid 18V Brushless tool — up to 3 x longer than Ridgid's older 1.5 Ah battery. It's also compact and light, so it won't wear out your arm over a long day. Register it within 90 days of buying, and you get free parts and service for life.

Get it free with:

Whichever brand you're loyal to, this is basically free money — grab your tool at Home Depot before the deal ends.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nobody says "Google it" anymore—here's what replaced it

How-To Geek - 3 hours 53 min ago

For the last 20 years, we've heard the term "Google it" end a conversation, answer a question, or back up a bold claim. At one point, it was so popular, so second nature, that it was officially added as a verb to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2006. But those days are over.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 10 best HTC Android phones of all time, ranked

How-To Geek - 4 hours 23 min ago

HTC is one of my all-time favorite smartphone brands. It was at the forefront of the market from the very beginning, making the very first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1. Between 2008 and 2017, HTC released a ton of marvelous Android phones—here's my selection of the 10 best the company ever made.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DJI launches Mic Mini 2S, but not in the U.S.

Mashable - 4 hours 23 min ago

DJI has launched the Mic Mini 2S, an upgraded version of its Mic Mini 2 released in April.

While it has a similar form factor to its predecessor, the Mic Mini 2S introduces a few handy new features that were previously only available in the Mic 3. Sadly, it won't be coming to the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

SEE ALSO: DJI Mic 3 review: Ease and versatility for semi-pro producers

The original DJI Mic Mini already established itself as a favourite among content creators, making it easy to capture good quality audio. The Mic Mini 2 added multicoloured swappable covers and new voice presets. Now the Mic Mini 2S adds even more functionality to DJI's Mic Mini series, offering 32-bit float internal recording as well as the ability to connect four transmitters to one receiver simultaneously.

We asked you to predict what Apple will do next. See the results and find out how to get a shot at winning an Apple Watch!

Each DJI Mic Mini 2S transmitter is capable of single-file 32-bit float internal recording (though records in 24-bit by default), and has approximately 14.5GB of internal storage — enough space for around 22 hours of audio at that setting. The 32-bit float file format offers a useful backup, capturing a wider dynamic range so users can recover audio that would otherwise hiss or clip due to being too quiet or loud. The Mic Mini 2S also has two levels of adaptive gain control to help prevent such issues from occurring in the first place, as well as two levels of AI noise cancelling.

Credit: DJI

In addition to this, the Mic Mini 2S receiver works with up to four transmitters at the same time, while the Mini 2 is restricted to two.

Last year's DJI Mic 3 does offer connectivity with up to four transmitters (as well as 32-bit float onboard recording). However, its receiver only works with Mic 3 transmitters, and is not cross compatible with DJI's Mini mics. 

Meanwhile, the DJI Mic Mini 2S receiver allows users to mix and match any of DJI's Mini mics, as it's backwards compatible with both Mic Mini and Mic Mini 2 transmitters. This makes it a great way to expand your setup if you've already invested in the Mic Mini or Mini 2 and want to use up to four of your transmitters simultaneously.

Even so, it's worth noting that the Mic Mini 2S receiver doesn't have cross compatibility with DJI's non-Mini mics such as the Mic 3. Users who have both Mini and non-Mini DJI mics can still use them in conjunction via DJI's mobile receiver, however it can only connect to two transmitters at a time rather than four.

Credit: DJI

Unfortunately, as is the case with all of DJI's products, the Mic Mini 2S isn't available in the U.S. at launch. The U.S. government's hostile stance toward DJI has prevented it from importing products to the country, with new releases such as Osmo Mobile 8 phone gimbal, Avata 360 drone, and Osmo Pocket 4 gimbal camera unavailable via the company's official website. As such, those in the U.S. who want to buy the DJI Mic Mini 2S will have to go through a third party to do so.

There is no official U.S. pricing for the DJI Mic Mini 2S. However, UK pricing starts at £79 (approximately $106) for either one transmitter with a receiver, or a transmitter, mobile receiver, and charging case. Those in the UK can also get two Mic Mini 2S transmitters, a receiver, and a dual charging case for £169 (approximately $227).

Categories: IT General, Technology

One of our favorite 2-in-1 robot vacuums just hit an irresistible $300 discount

Mashable - 4 hours 32 min ago

SAVE $300: As of Aug. 4, the Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop has been discounted to $499.99 at Amazon. That's a $300 price cut from its list price of $799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Amazon's a great place to look for solid discounts on robot vacuums, and the retailer has just dropped an excellent deal on one of our favorites: the Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop. For a limited time, you can snag this combo cleaner for $300 off.

Normally priced at $799.99, the Eufy C28 has been discounted to $499.99 at the retailer as of Aug. 4. That's a huge discount, and we certainly think it's a model well worth investing in.

SEE ALSO: Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 from Amazon and get a free $100 gift card

Mashable's Leah Stodart considers the Eufy C28 the best budget roller mop in our overall roundup of the best robot vacuums, noting that its "roller mop is targeted toward the cleanup of large liquid spills, easily making the C28 the best budget robot vacuum mop combo for fast-paced homes and in-the-moment cleanup." Stodart's review also adds that it did a "solid job of sopping up a variety of liquid spills, from wine and orange juice to ranch and conditioner that exploded on my bathroom floor."

While its mopping is a real highlight, its 15,000 Pa suction is also very helpful on carpets. Stodart's review mentions that it's "15,000 Pa was potent enough to clear a mess of spilled catnip and crushed potato chips from my tufted living room rug, leaving no visible crumbs behind." Plus, it features LiDAR navigation that helps it avoid obstacles as it cleans.

This offer is only available for a limited time, so be quick to save on the Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

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Categories: IT General, Technology
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