Blogroll

Your soundbar isn't bad, it's just missing this one component

How-To Geek - 45 min 10 sec ago

You can't deny soundbar tech has gotten pretty amazing. High-end units now give you impressive clarity, crisp dialogue, and a surprisingly good width from just one sleek box. Today's soundbars are packed with multiple dedicated amplifiers, custom-designed drivers, and really powerful digital signal processing, which makes you wonder why some audiophiles hate them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Out of M.2 slots? This $20 adapter unlocks hidden storage on your motherboard

How-To Geek - 1 hour 1 min ago

Depending on your computer and your motherboard, you might either have a lot of options for storage or you might not. The very best motherboards come with a ton of M.2 slots, but in others, you might be lucky to get two—and sometimes, you'll just have one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why 3D printing and laser engraving made me switch to the metric system

How-To Geek - 2 hours 1 min ago

I was working in my shop one day when a cut came out slightly off, but I couldn’t tell with the naked eye. I had to break out my calipers to find out what the problem was, and it was less than 0.05 of an inch—it was a millimeter. That’s when I realized it was time to ditch the imperial measurement system for something more accurate: metric.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Punch the monkeys new girlfriend

Mashable - 2 hours 19 min ago

Jon Stewart has been gleefully hating on Punch, the Ichikawa City Zoo monkey who found comfort in a stuffed toy after being abandoned, ever since the poor little guy first went viral.

In the Daily Show clip above, the host reacts to the news that Punch may have found himself a girlfriend, playing footage of the little monkey frolicking with a new companion before sharing his thoughts.

"Fantastic. It's really nice. Although, um...hey listen girl, straight talk. I know what you're thinking, but girl...you can't fix him," says Stewart, before addressing Punch with a whispered aside. "Punch, seriously, if you're watching, I am happy for you, but a little advice: Pre-nup."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Bundle preorders are under $59 at Amazon — save vs. Walmart

Mashable - 2 hours 22 min ago

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle available for preorder at $58.95, undercutting Walmart’s current $59.88 price. That gets you six booster packs from the new Perfect Order expansion for just under $10 per pack.

Pokémon TCG: Perfect Order Booster Bundle preorders Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $58.95 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Best Walmart Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $59.88 at Walmart Pre-Order Here

Perfect Order preorders have been especially rocky in the Pokémon TCG space, with prices on ETBs constantly fluctuating. So it's great to see Perfect Order Booster Bundles back in stock at a low price with Amazon.

As of March 24, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle listed for $58.95, while Walmart has the same preorder at $59.88. At Amazon’s current asking price, the six-pack bundle comes out to about $9.83 per booster pack, which is a much better deal compared to the $11.79 price for individual booster packs. Each Perfect Order booster pack contains 10 cards, one Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

An expansion with over 120 new cards, Perfect Order is another Pokémon trading card collection honing in on the Mega Evolutions that appear in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game — such as Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Clefable ex, and Mega Starmie ex. 

We predict prices will shoot up and consistently stay above $60 once Perfect Order is released on March 27, so we recommend pre-ordering at this low price before the release date.

For other in-demand Pokémon TCG releases, you can also get the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection (Series 1) for under $65. For more Pokémon TCG Perfect Order preorders, you can still preorder the Build and Battle Box for under $50.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You've heard wrong: Pop!_OS isn't the best beginner Linux distro

How-To Geek - 2 hours 31 min ago

Pop!_OS keeps getting recommended as the obvious beginner Linux distro, usually based on a few convenient defaults. It installs Nvidia drivers automatically, ships with a polished tiling workflow, and comes from System76, a company that also sells Linux laptops and desktops, which creates the impression of something closer to a vertically integrated stack.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

Mashable - 2 hours 47 min ago
The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $279.99 (save $270) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-CH720N $98 (save $81.99) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $897.96 (save $1,102.03) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station $489.99 (save $309.01) Get Deal

The sun is shining past 6 p.m., flowers are beginning to bloom, and pollen is in the air. This all means spring is finally here, and Amazon is ready to celebrate in their customary fashion: with deals.

On March 16, the retailer officially announced the third annual Amazon Big Spring Sale. Deals will be live for an entire week, from March 25-31, keeping in line with the schedule from last year's sale.

Also, as in years past, the deals featured in this sale will reflect the spirit of the season: Camping and yard care supplies, cleaning items from disinfectant wipes to robot vacuums, spring fashion, and other household essentials will be the major featured deals. While that does mean less of an emphasis on tech than Amazon's other sales like Prime Day and Black Friday, we still anticipate a selection of worthwhile savings on devices. Last year's spring sale brought savings on Amazon's devices like Kindles, Apple deals on MacBooks and iPads, and markdowns on headphones and TVs.

SEE ALSO: When is Amazon's Spring Sale in 2026? Amazon just announced official dates.

Already, we're starting to see early savings roll out on those exact product categories, from Fire sticks and Sony headphones to Roborock vacuums and Ninja kitchen appliances. Most deals are available whether or not you have a Prime membership — a major benefit of the Big Spring Sale is that, unlike Amazon's other Prime member-focused sales, a majority of the deals are available for anyone to purchase. That said, those with a Prime membership will be able to "unlock exclusive savings with Prime-exclusive Best Deals featuring the 'Prime Spring Deal' badge," according to Amazon.

Once it kicks off, the sale will also feature daily deal drops on categories from spring cleaning to beauty. In the meantime, Mashable's shopping team will be keeping an eye on the best deals live in the lead-up to Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Check out the best early finds below:

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

According to our review, Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are an "easy buy" if you've been looking for a new pair of AirPods. It's easy to see why: They have excellent ANC, eight hours of listening time per charge, a built-in heart rate monitor, and live translation features. While they hit a lower price of $184 back in February, this markdown is still worth checking out.

Check out Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

MacBook dealsAirPods dealsiPad dealsApple Watch dealsAirTag dealsBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5+ $279.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $270   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, deemed the Roborock Q10 S5+ the best quiet robot vacuum on the market, and ahead of the Big Spring Sale, it's down to a record-low price.

One of the major pros of this vacuum is that it frequently drops down in price to $379.99, but this price drop to under $280 is especially impressive. Stodart points to the LiDAR smart mapping performance, effective sonic mopping, small obstacle avoidance, and five-digit suction power as the standouts of this vacuum. While the vacuum itself isn't slim and the edge mopping isn't the best, this remains a killer deal.

More robot vacuum dealsBest Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup, the 4K Select, was one of Mashable reader's (and team's) favorite deals from Black Friday. We saw it drop to a wildly low price of $9.99 during that sale. While this current discount doesn't quite measure up to those savings, it's still a pretty epic value. Not only is this the newest Fire TV Stick, but it's also the first one with the Linux-based Vega operating system. It offers support for Alexa+, HDR10+, Amazon Kids+, Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, and NordVPN and it's already more than 50% off.

Fire TV dealsEcho device dealsKindle dealsBest outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station $489.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $309.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Weighing in at just under 25 pounds, Anker's Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station makes an excellent camping companion. The power station can keep your devices juiced up and even has enough oomph to power up some cute fairy lights or whip up a quick meal in the air fryer. It also can recharge in under 50 minutes, which can really come in handy when you're off the grid. Mashable's reviewer called it "the perfect model for taking on a weekend camping trip or keeping around the house for occasional power outages."

More outdoor dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $1,102.03   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense's 2025 U7 TV combines mini LED backlighting with a 165Hz refresh rate and Dolby Atmos to pack a major punch with a not-so-major price tag. At least, now that it's considered a last-generation model. The 2026 version of the same TV (just unveiled on March 6) will run you $1,999.99 for the 75-inch model. If you opt for last year's version instead, it'll only cost you $897.96. Not only is that over 50% off, but it's about $100 cheaper than it was just last month for President's Day.

More TV deals

43-inch TVs and under

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple WWDC 2026 is official, with iOS 27 and AI advancements on the menu

Mashable - 2 hours 58 min ago

Apple has officially announced the dates for its Worldwide Developers Conference: June 8 to 12, starting with a special event at Apple Park on Monday, June 8.

As is customary, Apple will talk about its software platforms, which most likely includes the next version of Apple's mobile platform, iOS 27, as well as new versions of macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS.

In a news post accompanying the announcement, Apple said it will spotlight "incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements."

While artificial intelligence is a ubiquitous topic for tech companies these days, it's a particularly important one for Apple, which has been very slow to launch an improved version of Siri.

In particular, Apple's revamped Siri (Siri 2.0, if you will) should come with onscreen awareness, personal context, and be more deeply integrated with apps. We might also see a version of Siri that has chatbot capabilities similar to the ones in OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude.

As for the rest of WWDC, Apple says the conference will have more than 100 video sessions and interactive group labs and appointments. Developers who would like to attend the event in person can apply here until March 30. Not everyone gets to go; instead, Apple will randomly select the winning tickets and notify the winners on April 2.

For a more comprehensive list of what we expect to see at this year's WWDC, go here.

SEE ALSO: Apple WWDC 2026: Everything we know so far

For those following from home, the conference will be streamed on Apple's Developer app, the company's website, and YouTube channel.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best deals this week, according to Mashables team of shopping experts

Mashable - 3 hours 8 min ago

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Build apps faster with Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for under $50

Mashable - 3 hours 11 min ago

TL;DR: Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is now $42.49 (reg. $499.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $42.50
$499.99 Save $457.49   Get Deal

If you’re still working with multiple tools just to build and test your code, there’s a better way. Instead of patching together separate editors, testing tools, and deployment setups this setup keeps everything under one roof. That can mean fewer slowdowns, fewer compatibility issues, and less time spent troubleshooting.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a fully featured IDE designed to streamline development workflows across languages and platforms, and for a limited time, it’s on sale for $42.49 (reg. $499.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Build, test, and ship all in one place

This 64-bit development environment is built to handle large, complex projects at full speed. You can build cross-platform mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create web interfaces using Blazor, and develop applications for Windows, Linux, and containers, all without switching tools.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Hot reload capabilities also let you apply code changes instantly across .NET and C++ apps, so you can iterate quickly without constantly restarting your environment. For developers working on larger or more dynamic projects, that kind of real-time feedback can make a noticeable difference in day-to-day productivity.

Native integrations with Azure and GitHub keep your development and deployment workflows seamlessly connected from start to finish.

Spend less time typing, more time coding

Built-in AI tools like IntelliCode analyze your coding patterns to suggest entire lines or blocks of code, helping reduce repetitive work. You’ll also get AI-assisted refactoring and real-time suggestions that can help cut down on bugs and cleanup later.

Features like CodeLens surface insights directly in your editor, including test results, commit history, and author info, so you’re not constantly switching between tabs.

This is a lifetime license for a single user, which means you pay once and keep access to the 2026 Professional version without ongoing fees. It’s a practical option for developers who prefer owning their tools rather than paying monthly subscription fees.

If you’re looking for a more streamlined way to build, test, and collaborate on your code, you can get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $42.49 (reg. $499.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 11-inch Apple iPad has never been cheaper at Amazon — save over $100 ahead of the Big Spring Sale

Mashable - 3 hours 13 min ago

SAVE OVER $140: As of March 24, the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) is on sale for $651.20 at Amazon. That's a 18% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $651.20 at Amazon
$799 Save $147.80   Get Deal

The Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) has dropped to its lowest-ever price at Amazon, before the retailer's Big Spring Sale offically starts. As of March 24, this model is down from $799 to $651.20, a saving of $147.80 on list price and its best-ever price. This deal is for the 512GB model and is only available in the color yellow.

This is a great all-rounder iPad thanks to its powerful performance from the A16 chip. Whether it's gaming, streaming, photo editing, or work tasks, it'll perform fast and efficiently. And it won't run out of battery either; this model boasts an all-day battery life.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

It has a Liquid Retina display with True Tone that is designed to adjust to ambient lighting to make the viewing experience comfortable no matter the lighting. Other features include a 12MP Center Stage front camera for video calls and a 12MP rear camera with True Tone flash for 4K video and document scanning.

Connectivity includes WiFi 6 and optional 5G, along with a USB-C port for charging and accessories. It also supports Apple accessories like the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Magic Keyboard Folio.

Get this iPad deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Hisense 85-inch QD7 TV is heavily discounted before Amazons Big Spring Sale — save over $500

Mashable - 3 hours 17 min ago

SAVE OVER $500: As of March 24, the Hisense 85-inch QD7 TV is on sale for $797.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch QD7 TV $797.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $502   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs from March 25-31, but if you're looking for an early discount on a great TV, we've found just the deal for you.

As of March 24, the Hisense 85-inch QD7 TV is over $500 off ($502), taking the price down from $1,299.99 to $797.99. This is only three cents off its best-ever price of $797.96, so this really is a strong early deal.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This price is for the 85-inch TV, but all sizes are heavily reduced, from 50-inch all the way to 100-inch. And with each size, you'll be getting the same impressive quality of Mini LED backlighting with up to 600 nits peak brightness. It also has full array local dimming to give you better contrast and deeper shadows, brighter highlights, and reduced halo effects.

It's a great option for gamers too, thanks to the native 144Hz panel with Motion Rate 480, 144Hz Game Mode Pro, and AMD FreeSync Premium. And on the inside, the TV runs on Fire TV. This means you'll get all your content and most used apps in one easy-to-navigate home screen. You'll also get Alexa voice control which makes searching for content much easier.

Get this impressive TV deal online at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Apple AirTag 4-pack has dropped to a new record-low price at Amazon — buy for under $60

Mashable - 3 hours 23 min ago

SAVE $39.01: As of March 24, the Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack $59.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale kicks off this week, which can only mean one thing: record-low prices on Apple products. And that's exactly what we're getting with the Apple AirTag four-pack, which is heavily discounted ahead of the sale. As of March 24, these trackers are down to just $59.99. That works out at around $14.99 per AirTag, and is the lowest-ever price for this popular bundle.

AirTags are the perfect product if you're often losing items like your passport, wallet, or keys. They're a compact tracker that works with the Find My app, so you can keep track of everyday items. The setup is easy — just a simple connection to an iPhone or iPad. You can also share an AirTag with up to five people so multiple users can track the same item.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

It includes a built-in speaker to play a sound when trying to find an item that's nearby but out of sight (i.e. down the side of the couch). It also has Precision Finding with Ultra Wideband technology to help guide you directly to it on supported iPhone models.

For items further away, it uses the Find My network of Apple devices to help locate it, and Lost Mode can notify you when an item is detected again. This is ideal for luggage when flying, and it even lets you share the location with third parties such as airlines. Also, every AirTag is powered by a replaceable battery that lasts over a year. When it runs out, just replace with a CR2032 coin cell battery to keep using the tracker.

This AirTag bundle has never been priced so low, so get this deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for March 24, 2026

Mashable - 3 hours 29 min ago

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, March 24, 2026:

AcrossApple computers

  • The answer is Macs.

Colorful parrot with a long tail

  • The answer is Macaw.

Enticing scent

  • The answer is Aroma.

___ song (dangerous lure)

  • The answer is Siren.

"Barbie" character whose job is "beach"

  • The answer is Ken.

DownSinging sister in the Osmond family

  • The answer is Marie.

Future oak tree, perhaps

  • The answer is Acorn.

Attended

  • The answer is Came.

___ song (farewell performance)

  • The answer is Swan.

Conceal

  • The answer is Mask.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The M4 MacBook Air has hit its best-ever price ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — save $300 right now

Mashable - 3 hours 32 min ago

SAVE $300: As of March 24, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air is on sale for $1,299 at Amazon. That's $300 off the list price and the best-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air M4 (512GB) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $300   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is still a day away, but the retailer has already dropped some impressive deals on Apple products, including the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M4.

As of March 24, this impressive laptop has dropped to $1,299 from $1,599. Not only is that a saving of $300 on list price, but it's the best-ever price for this model. This price is specific to the 512GB model in the color sky blue. The starlight option is also heavily reduced, and costs just 97 cents more.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

We crowned this MacBook the best for most people in 2026, so trust us when we say it's a great option if you're looking for an Apple computer that can do a bit of everything. The display is one of the best, giving you a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display that supports up to one billion colors. And it's built with the powerful M4 chip, so it will give you fast performance with every task, even if you're multitasking between heavy jobs like video editing. You'll also get up to 18 hours of battery life, no matter how heavy your workload is.

For video calls, enjoy the benefits of the 12MP Center Stage camera (a feature that keeps you centered in the frame), three microphones, and a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio support. And of course, with macOS, you'll be able to download a wide range of apps including Microsoft 365 Copilot and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Get this great MacBook deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon Pokopia: How to get the Suck ability to move water around

Mashable - 3 hours 36 min ago

Pokémon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2 is officially the biggest game in the universe, or at least it feels like it if you look at social media. But not everyone is having a friction-free time navigating its Minecraft-inspired mechanics.

For example, some players online have gotten stuck when it comes to learning the Suck ability. This is one of the protagonist Ditto's powers it can learn over the course of the game's story, each of which is crucial to building the Pokémon island of your dreams. Progressing in Pokopia can occasionally be a little confusing, so allow us to help out. Here is how to learn Suck in Pokémon Pokopia.

SEE ALSO: 'Pokémon Pokopia' is the cozy escape the internet needed How suck up water in Pokopia

In case you aren't aware, Suck is an ability that allows Ditto to vacuum up water and displace it somewhere else. This can be useful for clearing flooded areas or creating creeks or ponds of your own, which can either be useful for aesthetic purposes or for summoning new Pokémon via habitats that require water.

If you really want to move water around but don't have Suck yet, don't fret. The solution, according to the internet, is to just keep playing through the story. Specifically, per Reddit, the first thing you need to do is progress far enough in the Rocky Ridges area to build the Pokémon center there. This will take some time, as building a Pokémon center is usually the culmination of lots of other smaller questlines in a given area.

Once that's done, you should be able to get a request from Piplup in the Bleak Beach area to create a waterfall. In order to create said waterfall, you'll need to get a Paldean Wooper to come help out. This can be done by creating a "marshy tall grass" habitat, which consists of four yellow tall grass tiles near a body of muddy water.

Put those components down, wait a bit, and eventually, Paldean Wooper should show up and kickstart the process of teaching Ditto how to use Suck.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon Pokopia: How to make paper

Mashable - 3 hours 46 min ago

The key to making anything happen in Pokémon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2 is to get a little help from your friends.

Case in point: getting paper. No, I don't mean "get that paper" in the "making money" sense. I mean, literally, getting paper as an item in your inventory so you can complete requests or use it in construction projects. This can be done somewhat easily if you get far enough in Pokopia's story, but like a lot of other things in this adorable Pokémon life sim, it's not as straightforward as you'd think.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the coolest and weirdest 'Pokémon Pokopia' builds we've seen so far How to get paper in Pokémon Pokopia

If you've played a decent chunk of Pokopia, which I assume you have if you find yourself needing paper, then you probably know that certain materials can only be created by handing a prerequisite ingredient to a Pokémon who has a certain skill that can transmute what you gave it into something else. One early-game example is giving wood to Scyther, who processes it into lumber. Paper is the result of a similar process.

Specifically, you're going to need to befriend a Pokémon with the "Recycle" ability. There are a few in the game who can do this, including Porygon and Beldum, but probably the easiest one to get is Trubbish, who you can meet pretty early in the game's story in the Bleak Beach area. His habitat consists of a Sign, a Waste Bin, and some Garbage Bags, which can all be found in Bleak Beach. You can also wait until you meet Metang later in the game's story, as that Pokémon also has Recycle.

Once you have a Trubbish on hand, the next step is finding Wastepaper, an item that's not particularly useful on its own but can be turned into Paper by giving it to a Pokémon with the Recycle ability. This is where the process can get a little tedious if you're relying on a Trubbish at Bleak Beach, as wastepaper is much more commonly found in the Sparkling Skylands area later in the story.

However, Nintendo Life has a hot tip that you can use a Dragonite Doll to travel to a dream island that should have an abundance of Wastepaper for your needs, potentially even before you've unlocked Sparkling Skylands.

Hopefully, this piece has given you at least a cursory idea of how to get Paper in Pokémon Pokopia. Whatever you do with that paper is up to you, though.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 8 best Amazon Echo devices for 2026

Mashable - 3 hours 56 min ago

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next big sale.

The next sale happens to be right around the corner, too. Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 to 31. Like any Amazon sale, we expect some of the biggest discounts will be on Amazon's own devices, and that includes Echos. The sale hasn't even started, and we've spotted great savings on the Echo Show and Echo Spot. So if you're ready to buy, take advantage of these 40% discounts before the sale ends.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Alexa is a Mashable Readers' Choice Award winner New Echos in 2025

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted several new Echo devices. We've yet to test the new Amazon Echo Dot Max or the refreshed Echo Studio, however, once we've completed testing, we'll add them to this guide.

Changes to existing Echo devices in 2025

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change happened in 2025 that affects user privacy. Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28, 2025. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

  • Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

  • Read stories to kids

  • Plan a date night

  • Book restaurant reservations

  • Control your smart home technology from one central hub

  • Access your calendars and set reminders

  • Get answers to any question you can think of

  • Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

  • Get the latest weather and news

  • Follow recipes

  • Shop on Amazon

  • Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

  • Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple WWDC 2026: Everything we know so far

Mashable - 4 hours 1 min ago

Apple's annual developer conference is less than three months away, and the rumor mill is turning at full speed. Between several sources, most notably Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we've got a pretty clear picture of what to expect when Tim Cook takes the stage in June.

Of course, Apple is still capable of some surprises. (Last week's AirPods Max 2 launch came out of nowhere, for instance.) With that in mind, here's what we know about the annual iOS-focused event.

When is WWDC 2026?

Apple hasn't officially announced WWDC 2026 yet, but history is a reliable guide here. From past years, Apple typically announces the event in late March, and the conference itself lands in the first or second week of June — almost without fail. Based on that pattern, some sites like 9to5Mac expect WWDC 2026 to run from June 8–12, with the keynote kicking things off on Monday, June 8.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold may come later than we thought iOS 27

In November 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman broke the news that iOS 27 is being positioned internally as Apple's "Snow Leopard" moment — a callback to the 2009 Mac OS X release that famously ran a "no new features" marketing campaign that laid the groundwork for every update since.

As Gurman described it, Apple's engineering teams are "combing through Apple's operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality." The motivation isn't hard to understand. Since the release of iOS 26, users have reported a lengthy list of grievances, including device overheating and unexplained battery drain, as well as UI glitches, keyboard failures, and sluggish animations.

According to Gurman, iOS 27 is also meant to prepare Apple's software stack for its foldable iPhone. Other than that, expect to see new refreshes for watchOS, tvOS, macOS, visionOS, and iPadOS.

Siri is finally getting a real upgrade (no, really this time)

The long-promised overhaul to Siri — the one Apple has been teasing and delaying since the early Apple Intelligence announcements — is expected to be front and center at WWDC 2026. AppleInsider reported that the update, codenamed "Campo" internally, will give Siri an interface closer to what you'd expect from ChatGPT or Claude. It's a more conversational, chatbot-style experience that Apple has been quietly building toward.

According to AppleInsider, a deal struck earlier this year will see Apple incorporate Google's Gemini models into its Apple Foundation Models framework. It was a deal worth $1 billion per year, and its comparatively small change given Apple's existing $20 billion annual arrangement with Google for default search placement.

Beyond the Siri overhaul, Gurman reported that Apple is weaving AI into additional apps throughout iOS 27. The most intriguing addition: a health-focused AI agent tied to a Health+ subscription, expected to arrive next fall. There's also reportedly an expansion of Apple's AI-powered web search, which Apple is positioning as a direct competitor to both ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Gurman also revealed that Apple has been internally testing a full chatbot app called Veritas, which is described as a text-based proving ground for the re-architected Siri. Apple reportedly has no plans to release Veritas as a standalone product.

The Tim Cook situation

No WWDC preview would be complete without a word on Apple's leadership. A Financial Times report from November 2025 claimed Cook was poised to step down between late January and June 2026. That window has now passed without incident, and Gurman — who has been tracking Apple's succession planning closely — called the FT's specific timeline "simply false."

Gurman's broader read from his newsletter is that Cook "still loves the job," succession planning is ongoing with John Ternus (SVP of Hardware Engineering) as the leading internal candidate, but an imminent departure is not in the cards. When Cook does eventually step down, he's expected to remain as board chairman. So don't expect any dramatic announcements from the WWDC stage this June.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why friction-maxxing could be good for your tech usage

Mashable - 4 hours 1 min ago

Earlier this year, columnist and sociologist Kathryn Jezer-Morton coined the term "friction-maxxing." It was her attempt to describe the importance of doing hard things in order to reclaim our humanity from our algorithmic overlords. And it stuck.

Jezer-Morton had spent months contemplating the concept of escapism, and whether it still existed in a world where tech companies suggest life itself as an inconvenience to be avoided with their "frictionless" user experiences. In January, her friction-maxxing manifesto appeared in The Cut as a New Year's resolution.

Reading, talking, moving, leaving the house, thinking, interacting with strangers, risking an unexpected reaction, speaking at all — "these are all frictions we can now eliminate easily," the column noted. "And we do," she added, to our detriment.

The advice to friction-maxx wasn't really for herself.

"The way that I live, I think, is probably higher friction than average," says Jezer-Morton, who is also the author of the forthcoming book The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything. 

SEE ALSO: 'Not everything needs to be known': How one day with no phone changed my life

She confesses to being one of those "annoying" people who shops at the grocery store every day instead of ordering delivery online (it helps that she lives within walking distance of the store). Plenty of adult professionals have swapped at-home socializing for screen time, unconsciously or not. Jezer-Morton invites friends over for impromptu meals, no matter the state of her home.    

It's not that Jezer-Morton is entirely without digital crutches. She relishes periods of isolation and has a tendency to communicate with friends via "epic" voice memos, sent via text. 

"It's definitely the thing that I know I need to change about my life if I want to enact the things that I actually feel really strongly about," Jezer-Morton says. That's why she's trying to wean herself from voice memos.

Her progress so far? "We've gone from, like, zero to one." She's not motivated by any kind of perfect score, but has seen how her relationships and sense of belonging in the world improve whenever she talks on the phone with friends. 

So far, Jezer-Morton has resisted the tendency to turn friction-maxxing into a prescriptive checklist — which would be a very human tendency, she notes. "We just can't be stopped," she says. "We're going to metabolize information for the sake of optimization if it's the literal last thing we do."

Other experts, asked about the concept of friction-maxxing, say the approach could play a valuable role in reorienting yourself away from tech dependency and back toward embracing the effort that makes people feel genuinely alive and fulfilled. 

The pitfalls to avoid: Adding friction without thoughtful direction and purpose, and trying to optimize your life in the pursuit of a proverbial gold star. In other words, don't live and die by friction-maxxing streaks. 

Why friction leads to fulfillment

Dr. Gloria Mark, the Chancellor's Professor Emerita of Informatics at the University of California at University of California at Irvine, has studied human-computer interaction for decades. At first, industry's goal was to build easy-to-use hardware for widespread adoption. 

"I think we've been riding this wave of making tech easier and easier to use, and I just think we've gone too far," says Mark, who is also the author of Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity. 

It's not just that devices are designed for ease of use in themselves — it's that they're increasingly designed to make our lives easier. Mark doesn't believe in rejecting all conveniences this affords — after all, some of it is beneficial. Yet we've gotten to the point where people are so absorbed by their devices that it can be difficult for them to walk down a hallway without clutching a phone.

If friction-maxxing can be an antidote to that overcorrection, Mark is all for it, with caveats. The practice shouldn't be limited to routinely putting a device out of reach or rejecting its various conveniences, like food delivery and online shopping. That's just the first step. 

Mark recommends subsequently putting effort into activities that "deepen" you — like reading a book, spending time on a passion project, or using technology mindfully, in pursuit of a very specific goal. 

Each of these actions requires exerting yourself in ways that can feel unfamiliar after growing accustomed to a fast-and-easy lifestyle. A book demands your attention without an immediate payoff, unlike the short-form videos you may binge on at the end of a long day. It also involves absorbing ideas and interpreting meaning.

With a DIY project, you might be tempted to source a version of what you're constructing from an online shop that offers the product for half the price but none of the fulfillment. Taking the hard way can mean learning a new skill, eliciting the type of rewarding effort that you haven't felt in ages. 

Friction for a fast lifestyle

Mark says the point isn't just to friction-maxx for the sake of it, but to value the kind of effort that can deepen a person.

What you're aiming for is depth of processing, which can be gratifying in itself, Mark says. This concept describes the effort taken to understand something, effort that leads to better retention. 

Depth of processing doesn't only apply to sophisticated tasks. It also arises in an act as mundane as reading a map to learn how to get from one place to another. When you're not reliant on a maps app as a guide, the brain must create its own internal spatial map based on the environment, which might include objects like landmarks and natural features, according to Mark. 

"You can find yourself [being] the snake chasing its own tail." - Jay Vidyarthi, a meditation teacher and tech founder

If you're looking for a simple piece of friction that has the potential to boost your cognitive abilities, Mark recommends learning a route and developing an internal map of it. Then attempt walking or driving without GPS or a maps app. 

Mark isn't immune to tech-enabled distractions, either. She recently resolved to spend less time listening to audiobooks during outdoor walks. It may seem innocuous, but even the audio input can shift your attention from the present moment and onto the content playing in your ears, Mark says. You're likely to miss out on the benefits of an outdoor stroll when you don't focus on its restorative qualities, such as listening to birds chirp. 

Taking a walk without media introduces friction if it's something you don't do regularly. Devoting your undivided attention to that podcast or audiobook, perhaps at home in a quiet place, also counts as friction-maxxing. 

Using friction-maxxing with your kids 

Jay Vidyarthi, a meditation teacher and tech founder, is concerned about the zeal-of-the-convert factor. He believes people can overcorrect, once they grasp that friction is necessary for a fulfilling and happy life. They may intentionally make everything difficult for no other reason than avoiding the guilt they would feel if they went easy on themselves. 

"You can find yourself [being] the snake chasing its own tail," says Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind: Seven Strategies to Enjoy Tech Mindfully. He recommends approaching friction with mindfulness and curiosity, not "self-flagellation and self-judgment."

Vidyarthi has been exploring friction in his own life. He noted his tendency to check work email while playing with his young son. He needed friction to interrupt this pattern, so took that email app off his device and put a different app in the same spot on the screen — one of our top picks for meditation apps, Insight Timer. 

The swap helped him reflect on what motivates the desire to check email, whenever his thumb instinctually hovers the button. His conclusion? He's tied self-worth to productivity, which makes it hard to feel OK when not moving work forward.

Understanding this pattern has dramatically reduced his fixation on work email and messages, and increased his presence with his son, Vidyarthi says.

Be curious about friction as a tool

No doubt some people benefit from a formal practice in which they track their efforts for accountability and motivation. Yet that tracking should yield meaningful insights about where and how friction can benefit them, rather than becoming its own unstoppable cycle of heightened expectations. 

For a tech tool that helps with managing friction, consider an app blocker like Opal or Brick, which restrict select apps and can be programmed for specific times of day. One Mashable reviewer used Brick to cut their screen time in half.  

Jezer-Morton is allergic to tips and takeaways — they're too easy, she says, another example of friction removed. What she does offer is a little philosophical inspiration. 

"I don't really think about it in terms of practical ways of going about [friction-maxxing]," she says. "I think of it more like reaffirming your own relationship with your humanity." 

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker