Blogroll

I paid for gigabit internet and got 100Mbps—here's what was actually wrong

How-To Geek - 2 hours 45 min ago

Recently, I finally took the plunge and signed up for a shiny gigabit plan, fully expecting my downloads to finish before I could even blink. Reader, they did not. For weeks, I sat there glaring at speed tests topping out at a sad fraction of what I was paying for, convinced my ISP was pulling a fast one on me.

Categories: IT General, Technology

BMW's first iX5 EV will have the brand's largest-ever battery

How-To Geek - 2 hours 51 min ago

BMW is nearly finished with the redesigned X5 SUV, and it's promising its widest-ever selection of powertrains—including its record-setting first electric model, the iX5.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 ways to repurpose an old Android phone

How-To Geek - 3 hours 11 min ago

How many phones have you owned over the course of your life? I generally sell my old ones, but sometimes there’s one that’s either not worth much or isn’t in good condition. That doesn’t mean they need to sit around in a drawer. Here’s what you want to do with that old device.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows dark mode wasn't dark enough, so I did this instead

How-To Geek - 3 hours 45 min ago

Dark mode is supposed to make screens easier on your eyes, but it can feel a little dull over time. Dark mode lowers brightness on websites, but it doesn't strip things down. High contrast mode does something completely different. It's exactly what you need if you think dark mode isn't going far enough.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The three-row SUV nobody talks about that lasts 200,000 miles

How-To Geek - 4 hours 21 sec ago

Car ownership in the U.S. is changing fast, with vehicles now averaging a record age of around 13 years in 2026. The main reason is simple: new cars are expensive, with prices hovering near $50,000 and monthly payments that can easily stretch past $1,000 for a growing number of buyers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I switched DNS providers three times before I found the hidden setting breaking my internet

How-To Geek - 4 hours 15 min ago

I switched DNS providers more times than I care to admit, and it was never fun -- setting up custom DNS can be a real chore. Still, I was convinced there had to be a reason that certain websites kept failing to load properly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

LiberNovo has an ergonomic office chair solution for big and tall users

How-To Geek - 4 hours 15 min ago

If you're over six feet tall or have a larger frame, you've probably noticed that most office chairs weren't designed with you in mind. Seats and armrests that press into your legs and sides, and headrests that sit at shoulder height, aren't minor inconveniences. Over a full working day, they add discomfort.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tested Claude and ChatGPT on a simple task—both failed spectacularly

How-To Geek - 4 hours 45 min ago

AI chatbots are incredibly useful for my work. I use them for research, for proofreading and fact-checking, and for keeping track of articles and pitches. There's one job I had really hoped AI could take off my hands. Sadly, both Claude and ChatGPT failed dismally.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I didn't notice this Android Auto toggle for months, but now I use it all the time

How-To Geek - 5 hours 15 min ago

If there’s one thing that I’ve found to be consistently true, it’s that even the tiniest bit of friction can make something useless. That’s why I was so happy when I noticed a simple toggle appear on my Android Auto screen after a drive with Google Maps navigation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Fitbit trackers and Garmin smartwatches are down to their lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - 5 hours 21 min ago
Best early Prime Day fitness tracker deals Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 (Save $60) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Garmin Epix Pro (47mm) $499.99 (Save $500) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm) $299 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm) $289.99 (Save $90) Get Deal

Prime Day deals can be totally overwhelming with the sheer volume of products on sale, but the smartest way to shop is to go for what you really need. If you've been in the market for a new fitness tracker, just in time to hit your summer fitness goals, Prime Day is the best time to buy.

Right now there are a wealth of fitness trackers and smartwatches on sale. Find Fitbits, Garmin smartwatches, and Apple Watches all on sale for their lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day. That's some stellar savings a week before Prime Day has even kicked off.

Best early Prime Day fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00   Get Deal

Fitbits are one of the OG fitness trackers, helping people get on their feet and stay active. The Charge 6 displays your daily steps and heart rate. It automatically detects activity and can even link to compatible exercise machines to display your heart rate. And right now, the Fitbit Charge 6 is 38% off ahead of Prime Day.

Grab it for just $99.95 and save $60 off its $159.95 list price. This early Prime Day deal also brings the Charge 6 down to its lowest price ever.

More fitness tracker dealsBest early Prime Day smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Epix Pro (47mm) $499.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $500   Get Deal

Garmin smartwatches are a staple among runners who want elite GPS tracking alongside health monitoring. The Garmin Epix Pro is usually a big investment at $999.99, but ahead of Prime Day, it's been cut in half, down to just $499.99, saving you $500.

It has 1.3-inch always on AMOLED display with a built-in LED flashlight. It's for true endurance athletes, providing a hill score for big climbs and endurance scores as you train. For a complete picture of your health, it'll monitor your health 24/7, providing pulse ox and HRV status.

Grab it now ahead of Prime Day for its lowest price ever.

More smartwatch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

macOS 27 beta seemingly confirms touchscreen MacBook is on its way

Mashable - 5 hours 26 min ago

In 2007, Apple introduced a lot of folks to the idea of a cell phone with a touchscreen. Since then, a ton of laptops have shipped with touch support, but Apple has avoided doing the same with MacBooks. It seems like that trend will end soon.

Bloomberg's resident Apple guru Mark Gurman did some analysis of the latest batch of Apple software betas and found evidence of touchscreen support coming to at least one future MacBook model. Specifically, the developer beta for macOS 27 Golden Gate features things like support for pull-to-refresh (like how you refresh social media feeds on an iPhone), as well as a pill-shaped Siri interface that looks a lot like the iPhone's Dynamic Island feature.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iOS 27 will have three more unannounced features, report claims

These are small things, but they're part of a longer trend of evidence piling up for a touchscreen MacBook.

A recent leak out of China, for example, said it was definitely happening, while Gurman has also previously reported on the topic. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of specific info about this laptop, such as price, release date, or any other unique features it might have. But Gurman did call it a MacBook Pro in a previous report, so it might not be one of the cheaper models. (Remember: Apple is also rumored to be working on a high-end MacBook Ultra.)

Currently, the MacBook line includes the new MacBook Neo, the Air, and the Pro.

Categories: IT General, Technology

20+ trading card deals to shop before Prime Day — save on Pokémon TCG, Magic, One Piece, and more

Mashable - 5 hours 36 min ago

Amazon’s Prime Day sale is fast approaching, with deals on popular trading cards like MTG and Pokémon already live.

Mashable regularly tracks the best deals from Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon, plus other collectable cards like One Piece and KPop Demon Hunters. And this sale season is no different — we’re expecting more deals to go live as we get closer to Prime Day’s official launch date of June 23.

These are the best early Prime Day trading card deals we’ve found.

Best trading card deal Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box $73.70 at Amazon
$91.99 Save $18.29 Get Deal Why we like it

After becoming one of our highlighted deals earlier this week, Amazon's dropping Magic: The Gathering’s 24-pack Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box to only $73.70 (20% off its standard $91.86). It's still the very best trading card deal ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day sale today. 

Dropped to its lowest price ever on Amazon, confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel, this deal has been selling incredibly fast (68% claimed at the time of writing), but is still very much worth grabbing while you still can. 

Even going lower than the Avatar Jumpstart Box’s market price and listings on TCGplayer, this $18.16 saving means you’re only paying $3.07 per pack. With that, this is one of the most budget-friendly ways to enter into either this expansion or Magic: The Gathering altogether.

After all, the Jumpstart format makes Magic incredibly accessible and simple to start — having you ready to play just by opening two packs and shuffling them together. 

At the time of writing, any buyer can get delivery by Sunday, June 21, but Prime members can get theirs delivered as soon as tomorrow, June 17.

More early Prime Day trading card dealsMagic: The GatheringPokémon TCGOne PieceKPop Demon Hunters
Categories: IT General, Technology

USB-C was supposed to unify everything, but it's a mess of hidden incompatibilities

How-To Geek - 5 hours 40 min ago

I can't imagine my life without USB-C at this point. There's lots to love about this widespread connector standard. For the most part, I can plug any two things with USB ports or cables into each other, and something useful will happen.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Canopy introduces Sound Machine + Aroma, and its already helping me sleep better

Mashable - 5 hours 40 min ago

Canopy is best known for its stylish small home gadgets, including its iconic humidifiers. On June 16, the brand announced a new product offering: The Sound Machine + Aroma. It's a 3-in-1 sleep device that combines sleep sounds, a night light, and aromatherapy diffusion.

The Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma retails for $69 and comes in white, moonstruck, cream, lavender, and jade.

Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma specs and settings

  • Sleep sounds: 15, including white noise, brown noise, ocean waves, and rain

  • Volume levels: 10

  • Battery life: 15 hours

  • Night light colors: Red, white

  • Aroma levels: 2

  • Timers: 30, 60, 90 minutes

Choose red or white light to wind down for bed or keep the monsters away. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma first impressions

I live in New York City, so you'd think my sleep is interrupted by loud noises all night, but I actually have the opposite problem. My street is incredibly quiet overnight, which means any time there is a noise — like my upstairs neighbors' creaking floorboards — I'm super aware of it. I can't sleep in dead quiet, so I've used different sound machines for years (my Echo Spot, and more recently the Babelio sound machine).

I've only used the Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma for four nights, but I can already tell it's going to earn a permanent spot on my nightstand. I prefer brown noise to white noise, and the Canopy's brown noise setting is perfect. Some of the programmed sounds are definitely geared toward babies, like shushing and lullabies, and I don't see myself ever using those. But there are enough white noise and nature soundscapes that I will use to justify the device's price.

I have a Vitruvi essential oil diffuser, which I love, but it's not the quietest while running. So I've been enjoying the absolutely silent aromatherapy from Canopy. I just squeeze a few drops of my lavender and peppermint oils, and the scents are diffused throughout the night.

The front of the device houses controls for power, light, aroma diffusion, timer, settings lock, sound selection, and volume. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable Open the back of the device to access the aromatherapy diffuser. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

I'm not a night light gal, but I do like to wind down the evening with soft, dim lighting. The red and white built-in lights are soothing and not at all too bright. You are able to adjust the brightness as well.

The 15-hour battery life means I get two nights' worth of use out of the Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma before having to recharge. I can also leave it on the charger overnight to avoid a lapse in my precious brown noise.

It's only been a few nights, but so far, I'm impressed. The Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma is stylish, portable, and packed with great sleep tools. I would absolutely spend my own money on this.

Opens in a new window Credit: Canopy Canopy Sound Machine + Aroma $69 at Canopy
  Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget a hybrid SUV—this one gets 32 MPG without a battery

How-To Geek - 6 hours 21 sec ago

Summer road-trip season is almost here, and that usually means one thing: more time at the gas pump. For SUV buyers, finding something practical that won't drain your fuel budget has become more important than ever.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kitchen deals live at Amazon ahead of Prime Day: Save on air fryers, ice cream makers, espresso machines

Mashable - 6 hours 2 min ago
A quick look at the best Amazon kitchen deals ahead of Prime Day Best air fryer deal Oster Dual Air Fryer Oven (11-quart) $99.99 at Amazon (save $99.88) Get Deal Best ice cream maker deal Black+Decker Ice Cream Maker $129.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Best blender deal Ninja Kitchen System $129.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal

Warm weather has a way of inspiring us in the kitchen. Whether we're trying to recreate a delicious dish from vacation or recreate the vibes of an outdoor happy hour at home, summer is a great time to upgrade your kitchen gadget lineup. And Prime Day is a great time to buy the kitchen gadget you've been eyeing on sale.

SEE ALSO: Why did Amazon Prime Day shift to June? Here's what the company has said (and not said).

Prime Day 2026 will officially run from June 23 to 26, but kitchen deals from Ninja, Instant Pot, Nespresso, and more are already popping up at Amazon. We've gathered the best early deals on air fryers, blenders, coffee makers and more below, many of which match record-low pricing that we haven't seen since Amazon's spring sale.

Best Amazon kitchen deal overall Black+Decker Ice Cream Maker $129.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $90   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

We're pro Ninja frozen treat makers here at Mashable, but we're also pro dupes when we can find them. At its record-low price of $129.99, Black+Decker's ice cream maker is a solid Ninja Creami dupe to consider. It operates very similarly: Once liquid base ingredients have been mixed and frozen for 24 hours, the ice cream maker whips them into the perfect fluffy texture — regular ice cream, yogurt ice cream, and sorbet are all options. Follow the recipes in the included book or customize your own unique flavors around dietary restrictions or fun mix-ins.

More kitchen deals at AmazonDeals on frozen drink and ice cream makersDeals on blendersDeals on air fryers and pizza ovensDeals on multi-cookersDeals on coffee makersDeals on cookwareDeals on cleaning products
Categories: IT General, Technology

Threads now has 500 million monthly users

Mashable - 6 hours 10 min ago

When Elon Musk bought Twitter back in 2022, rebranded it to X, fired most of the staff, and significantly loosened moderation (leading to a reported increase in hate speech on the platform), it opened the door for new Twitter-like services, and Meta was one of the first to take it seriously with Threads.

The gamble appears to have paid off. On Tuesday, Meta announced that Threads now has 500 million monthly active users.

SEE ALSO: Threads is adding a Grok-like AI search feature

For context, X doesn't officially report the number of monthly active users it has, but estimates put it at around 560 million.

According to the company, one of the biggest growth drivers on Threads were Communities, which are groups of people engaging in conversations around certain topics. To celebrate the occasion, Meta said it's "graduating" Communities out of beta and launching several new features.

The new features include a Communities Hub, which resides in the app's main menu and makes it easier to find new communities, as well as switch between them. Communities have also gotten distinct icons, which makes them easier to recognize. Community Progress is a visual cue on how a certain topic is close to becoming a Community (topics need to reach a certain critical mass in popularity and engagement to become Communities).

This topic is close to becoming a Community. Credit: Meta

Also, more people who frequently contribute to communities are getting the community champion status. Finally, Meta is launching local Communities, starting with native language tags in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Meta also launched another new feature, called Your Algo, allowing you to (privately) control which conversations you see in your feed. It's a complement to Dear Algo, which tells Threads what you want to see more or less of, but a little more granular, as you can choose whether you want this request to last one, three, or seven days (there's no permanent option, so you'll have to keep tuning this every now and then if you want it to stick).

Notably, Meta recently introduced similar algorithm controls in Instagram.

Your Algo is rolling out today in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to generate random numbers, shuffle lists, and create test data in Excel

How-To Geek - 6 hours 15 min ago

Most people treat Excel as a rigid calculator, completely missing its capacity for chaos. Excel's built-in randomization tools can generate numbers, shuffle existing lists, and build mock timelines in seconds—yet almost no one takes advantage of them. Here's how they work in practice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Pokémon deals to grab before Prime Day — Chaos Rising booster bundles hit all-time low price

Mashable - 6 hours 27 min ago

Amazon’s latest Prime Day sale is almost here, steadily building up to several days of huge deals on appliances, gadgets, and, of course, offers on Pokémon cards, games, gifts, and more. 

While the actual four-day Prime Day sale doesn’t kick off until June 23, Amazon is doing its usual thing and revealing plenty of deals early on to start ramping up the anticipation. Whether you're shopping for booster packs on the latest trading card game expansion or hit games on Nintendo Switch, Mashable has scoured the site and cherry-picked the best deals live right now. 

Here are the best early Prime Day deals you can find on all things Pokémon.

Best Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15   Get Deal Why we like it

The Chaos Rising expansion has proved to be an exceptionally popular member of the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution set. The Chaos Rising Booster Bundle has just dropped to its lowest price yet ahead of Prime Day — now only $44.99 after a 25% price cut from its standard $59.99 list price. 

The Chaos Rising Booster Bundle usually falls to around $48-$49 at best Now, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price we’ve seen yet. 

At $44.99, this six-pack Booster Bundle means you’ll only be paying $7.49 per booster. What’s more, this is even lower than TCGplayer’s own market price of $45.29 — undercutting its best listing price of $45.98. It even beats Walmart’s price of $46.95. 

Amazon’s $44.98 Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is being sold by third-party seller Collectors Expedition, but Amazon itself is handling the shipping. Although the option for returns isn’t available, this is still the best price we’ve seen on this six-pack chance to pull valuable single Chaos Rising chase cards, like SIR Mega Greninja ex, Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex, Cinccino ex, SIR Mega Dragalge ex, and SIR Mega Floette ex. 

More early Prime Day Pokémon dealsPokémon TCGClothingDVDsFunko Pop! figuresGiftsVideo games
Categories: IT General, Technology

This Raspberry Pi project is more useful than my desktop PC

How-To Geek - 6 hours 30 min ago

VPNs aren't the most exciting things to self-host, but once I started using one on a Raspberry Pi, it quickly became indispensable. It is lightweight, efficient, and gives me reliable access to all of my self-hosted services.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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