Blogroll

How I contribute to open source without coding (and you can too)

How-To Geek - 1 hour 50 min ago

I've gotten a lot of use out of open source projects over the years. Eventually, I decided I wanted to give back. What can you do though when you've never coded an app or have money to contribute? It turns out, a lot.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tested 6 ways to remove blank rows in Excel—only 3 made the cut

How-To Geek - 2 hours 27 min ago

Blank rows are one of those Excel problems that seem like they should have a simple solution. But removing them safely isn't always as straightforward as it sounds. I tested six approaches to find out which ones have hidden problems, and which ones I would actually trust with important data. By the end, only three made the cut.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 fixes make your Android feel new without resetting it

How-To Geek - 2 hours 57 min ago

When an Android phone starts to feel sluggish, a factory reset is often the first solution people think of. While restoring your phone to its factory settings might sound like the easiest way to restore its performance, it's far from the silver bullet you might think it is.

Categories: IT General, Technology

RAID 5 used to be perfect—here's how modern HDDs ruined it

How-To Geek - 3 hours 12 min ago

There was a golden age, maybe fifteen years ago, when setting up RAID 5 felt like the single smartest thing you could do with a stack of hard drives. Great capacity, one-drive protection, dirt cheap. What's not to love?

Categories: IT General, Technology

EAs $55bn sale to Saudi-led group closes — $700 million in cuts on the horizon

Mashable - 3 hours 17 min ago

Electronic Arts has told debt investors it plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million tied to "organizational efficiencies," as the company completes its $55 billion sale to a Saudi-led group. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, citing the company's disclosures, interpreted that phrase bluntly in a Bluesky post: "In other words: mass layoffs."

EA officially goes private tonight, meaning: - EA will no longer trade on the NASDAQ for the first time in 36 years - All stockholders of EA (including many employees) will receive $210/share - EA will take on $18 billion (!) in debt, putting it on the hook to pay ~$1.8 billion/year in interest

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 7:19 PM

EA's annual Ebitda is around $1.5 billion, which should be enough to service the interest payments. But the publisher has told debt investors that it will cut $700 million in annual costs including $170 million in "organizational efficiencies," per Bloomberg. In other words: mass layoffs

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM

The sale, finalized on Aug. 4, hands control of the gaming giant to a group led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the investment firm Affinity Partners, led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. Per the BBC, not only does the deal end EA's 36-year run as a publicly-traded company, but it also ranks as the largest leveraged buyout in history.

Under the deal's terms, all EA stockholders, including many employees, will be paid $210 per share, Schreier wrote. To close the transaction, PIF borrowed $20 billion from JPMorgan on top of the $36 billion it had already committed, with EA itself taking on the resulting debt, according to the BBC. Schreier put the total debt load at $18 billion, which he estimated would cost the company roughly $1.8 billion a year in interest.

He noted EA's annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization sit around $1.5 billion — enough, he said, to cover the interest payments, though the planned cost cuts suggest the company is looking to build in a further cushion.

The BBC reported similar concerns from industry watchers about what the debt load could mean for the company. Schreier told the outlet the pressure could lead to "mass layoffs, more aggressive monetization, and other big cost-cutting measures." In that same BBC report, Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of the Game Business, said the buyout structure pointed toward "a very hands-on approach from the investment group," adding that private equity firms tend to be aggressive managers.

Some in the industry also raised questions about the deal's effect on EA's creative direction. Shams Jorjani, chief executive of Arrowhead Game Studios, told the BBC he was hopeful the new ownership wouldn't push EA toward "more sequels, more mega-franchises" at the expense of its broader catalog.

The sale has also drawn scrutiny over Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Consensual same-sex conduct can be punished by death or flogging under interpretations of Sharia law in the kingdom, prompting concern among fans of EA titles like The Sims, which features LGBT+ relationships.

The advocacy group Players Alliance HQ has urged gamers to petition politicians over the deal, warning on its website that PIF's majority ownership could lead to themes around "free speech, gender," and other issues being "reduced or fully censored." PIF is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has been held responsible by several human rights organizations and news outlets for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

At the deal's initial announcement, EA chief executive Andrew Wilson, who is staying on, said the company intended to "create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 5 products Mashable readers are buying this week

Mashable - 3 hours 20 min ago
Mashable readers' favorite deals this week Roborock Qrevo CurvX Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,199.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series $2,997.99 at Amazon (save $1,002) Get Deal DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo $2,495 at Amazon (save $404) Get Deal Samsung Internal SSD 990 2TB $369.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle $54.95 at Amazon Shop Now

Everything feels too expensive these days. Leave the house and somehow at least $100 vanishes. Since it's more expensive to exist in our modern world than it was just a few years ago, it's worth seeking out the best deals.

Every week, the Mashable shopping team gets to work to find the best products at the best sale prices that we feel are worth the money. If you've been searching for deals online this week, these are the top five that Mashable readers are snatching up.

A worthy robot vacuum and mop Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo CurvX Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

Earlier this week, the FCC announced a ban on all robot vacuums made outside of the U.S. The good news is this ban doesn't apply to models the FCC has already given approval to, and it won't impact the functions of your current robot vacuum. But in case you're looking for a new model, it might be wise to snag one sooner rather than later. Roborock makes some of our favorite robot vacuums, and the Qrevo CurvX is ready to both vacuum and mop your floors. Plus, it's on sale for $300 off.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock RockNeo Q110H robot lawn mower just landed at Amazon, and it's on sale for just 1 week

Coming with 22,000Pa and an ultra-slim design, the Roborock has hot water mopping and drying and a zero-tangle brush. If you're no longer in the mood to spend precious hours each week cleaning the floors, this Roborock deal is one to jump on.

A huge TV upgrade Opens in a new window Credit: TCL 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series $2,997.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,002   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the mood for a genuinely giant treat that you can enjoy every single day, consider the 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series TV. In terms of home entertainment upgrades, an 85-inch TV ranks pretty high. This TCL is a 2026 model that also happens to be excellent for gaming thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate.

In addition to the sale price that saves over $1,000, Amazon is tossing in free delivery and unpacking. That means the delivery crew will unbox the TV in the room of your choice and take the packaging materials and box away when they leave.

A drone bundle to become an expert Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo $2,495 at Amazon
$2,899 Save $404   Get Deal Why we like it

For those in the mood to become an expert drone pilot, the worthy DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo is over $400 off at Amazon right now. Going with a combo deal means you get all the pro accessories like the DJI RC 2, extra batteries, spare propellers, a shoulder bag, a charging hub, and even more. The DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone is a top-tier model that can capture 6K footage in HDR. Plus, it has features that make it great for flying in low-light conditions.

A storage solution with a hefty discount Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Internal SSD 990 (2TB) $369.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $160   Get Deal Why we like it

The global memory shortage isn't supposed to get better anytime soon. That means today's deals on an SSD might be the best we can get for a while to come. If your laptop or desktop could use a 2TB upgrade, the Samsung 990 is on sale for under $370 at Amazon.

Espeically useful for gamers, the Samsung SSD comes with 7,250MB per second read and 6,450MB per second sequential speeds.

An in-stock Pokémon expansion Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle $54 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

Coming with six booster packs, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle is an optimal way to expand your collection. If you've been considering diving into the Chaos Rising expansion, the Pitch Black booster bundle is a solid path.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This family SUV borrows the best part of a Range Rover and adds reliability

How-To Geek - 3 hours 27 min ago

Luxury SUVs have built their reputations on comfort. They glide over rough roads, keep road noise to a minimum, and make long journeys feel effortless. The catch is that buying one often means paying luxury-car maintenance bills once the warranty runs out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Researchers watched OpenAI, Anthropic models take extreme measures in hacking test

Mashable - 3 hours 33 min ago

A bunch of researchers let AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic loose in a testing environment, and the results were a little spooky.

The United Kingdom's AI Security Institute released a report (via Engadget) detailing some incidents in which the models actually acted outside their testing parameters and hacked into external organizations in late July. In one incident, an AI agent attempted to insert malevolent code into a GitHub project using social engineering tactics. The AI looked into the project's owners and generated fake accounts with which it tried to get the code approved. Once denied, it created a new identity for itself to try again.

That's not all. The researchers say the AI models also contacted real people with what were essentially phishing attempts, with files asking the recipient to run evil code. Interestingly, the AISI said it did not explicitly tell the agents to be deceitful to humans; rather, the AI decided to take these extreme measures when they had difficulties accomplishing certain tasks. However, the organization stressed that there is no evidence that agents would ever act this way outside of a testing environment at this time.

Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI takes Apple lawsuit to court of public opinion, posts texts

Anthropic, for its part, shared a post on X thanking the institute for its efforts, while also defending its technology.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"The prompts in the evaluation did not impose any specific restrictions on how the internet should be used. This and the removal of safeguards meant that the models were tested under 'deliberately permissive conditions' that are not representative of any of our production models. Note that there was no evidence here of an escape from a secure environment."

Recently, both OpenAI and Anthropic have reported instances in which new models did escape secure environments during testing. In a particularly notable incident, an unreleased OpenAI model hacked the Hugging Face repository.

While the behavior exhibited by the models is definitely concerning, all of these incidents have one thing in common: They were part of hacking tests, in which the models were prompted to act outside their usual safeguards, ultimately turning to tried-and-true hacking methods pioneered by — who else? — humans. These sorts of social engineering hacking strategies are things humans do all the time, so maybe we could stand to look in the mirror for a minute here.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your budget TV looks terrible—and the 2 settings that fix it

How-To Geek - 3 hours 42 min ago

If you just picked up your first budget TV, you might have noticed it probably doesn't look great the first time you turn it on. I had a similar problem with a budget TV I purchased a while ago (it was a small Hitachi and absolutely a budget model). But I found a few settings that improved the image, which I've used across several TVs since then.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Everything we know ahead of Aug. 12 Made By Google event

Mashable - 3 hours 48 min ago

Google is about to announce new Android flagship phones. And if you'd like to know what they're launching ahead of time, we've gathered all of our reporting on the upcoming phone into one place. With one week left before the Made By Google launch event on Aug. 12, new Pixel 11 Pro leaks are coming in fast.

This year, as with last year, we expect four new phones:

  • Pixel 11

  • Pixel 11 Pro

  • Pixel 11 Pro XL

  • Pixel 11 Pro Fold

Let's focus on the Pixel 11 Pro for now, as it's going to be the more premium model. What does Google have up its sleeve this year with the Pro-grade Pixel phone?

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!

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Release date, price, and that Amazon leak

As previously stated, Google is going to officially unveil all of these phones at an event in New York City on Aug. 12. Mashable will be attending the launch event — Jimmy Fallon hosted last year's event, you may remember — and we'll be reporting live. Presumably, as with past years, the phones will be on store shelves and in customers' hands just a couple of weeks afterward.

Thanks to RAMageddon, everyone is bracing for price increases with every major tech product, and rightfully so. Google has not yet told us the prices of these phones, but a recent and fairly extensive Amazon leak that seemed legitimate enough pointed to a $1,099 starting price for the Pixel 11 Pro. That would be a $100 price increase over the Pixel 10 Pro. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro XL (the XL model is usually basically the same phone, but bigger) is said to start at $1,299, another $100 price hike year-over-year.

Android Headlines also leaked what it claims are the full specs and price points for the Pixel 11 series. That report corroborates the $1,099 price for the Pixel 11 Pro and the $1,299 price for the Pro XL.

Speaking of that Amazon leak: 9to5Google spotted draft Amazon listings for the Pixel 11 lineup, revealing a lot of early details:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The listings could include placeholder information, but the overall gist looks legit.

What is Pixel Glow HiLight?

We don't expect any massive design changes this year. Google has helped keep expectations low by actually posting a short video that shows the phone, weeks before the Aug. 12 event.

One thing that stood out, however, is the presence of a small, colored light in the camera bar that wasn't there on the Pixel 10 Pro. This is rumored to be part of a new "Pixel Glow" system that will use colored lights to convey basic phone notifications while the Pixel is lying down on its face. If you want to know that someone texted you even though you're focusing on something else and would rather not look at the screen, that's what this is for.

Recently, 9to5Google reported that this glow indicator will actually be called "HiLight." The rainbow-hued LED panel features prominently in teasers so far, and we'll have all the details soon.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Design and colors

Ultimately, the short teaser video doesn't show much, but it does reveal one more fact: The Pixel 11 Pro's basic design hasn't changed much from last year. It still has a horizontal, oval-shaped camera bar on the back, and is still otherwise a normal-looking smartphone.

As for colors, leaks suggest the options this year will be:

  • Olive

  • Obsidian

  • Canyon

  • Fog

Those don't sound like the most vibrant colors in the world, but that sort of thing has become par for the course for "Pro" smartphones in recent years. If the Amazon leak spotted by 9to5Google proves true, the Pixel 11 will have more interesting color options, at least.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Rumored specs

Based on the Amazon listings, the Android Headlines report, and another leak on Telegram from an account called MysticLeaks, here is the best data we have about the Pixel 11 Pro's specs prior to the unveiling:

  • 6.3-inch OLED display with 2856x1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

  • 3,600 nits peak brightness

  • Google Tensor G6 processor

  • 12/16GB RAM

  • 256GB/512GB storage

  • 1TB storage on Pixel 11 Pro XL

  • 4,850mAh battery

The only real differences between the regular Pro and the XL, as far as leaks are concerned, are the display and battery size. Those same sources suggest a 6.9-inch display and a 5,115mAh battery on the XL, but everything else should be the same. That's how Google has done it in the past, too.

Believe it or not, those specs actually contain at least one notable downgrade from the Pixel 10 Pro. Previously, Pixel Pro devices only came with 16GB RAM. So if Google is offering a 12GB variant, that would be a somewhat significant change. It's possible and perhaps even likely that the 12GB models will be tied to lower amounts of storage.

If you want 16GB of RAM, you may need to shell out for a 512GB or 1TB model (only available on Pro XL) this year.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: What about the cameras?

Last but not least, the Pixel Pro phones always have better camera specs than the base models. It's one of the main reasons to get the Pro, even though Google did start including a telephoto lens on the base model recently.

Last year, the Pixel 10 Pro had a 50MP main lens, with matching 48MP ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. According to Android Headlines, the megapixel counts this year are the same. However, lately we've heard rumors of a new 120x digital zoom feature, but that remains unconfirmed.

Speaking of downgrades, though, the big Amazon leak suggested the Pixel 10 Pro will have a 13MP selfie camera, while the Android Headlines report claims 42MP. After the 48MP front camera on the Pixel 10 Pro, that would be an unpleasant surprise. We'll see if that actually pans out, or if these leaks are wrong.

Mashable will be reporting live from the Made By Google event on Aug. 12. So check back then for all confirmed Pixel 11 Pro details and news.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Upgrade your robot vacuum while the Roomba Plus 405 Combo is less than $300

Mashable - 3 hours 51 min ago

SAVE $119: As of Aug. 5, the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo is on sale at Amazon for $299.99. That's nearly 30% off its usual $419 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo $299.99 at Amazon
$419 Save $119.01   Get Deal

Members of the Roomba fan club who want to upgrade their robot vacuum should check out this deal on the Roomba Plus 405 Combo. While the FCC's robot vacuum ban in the U.S. doesn't revoke authorization for previously approved devices, it may result in low stock and, therefore, higher prices. In other words, save those dollars while you can.

As of Aug. 5, the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo is on sale at Amazon for only $299.99, down from $419. That's a savings of 28% or $119. That also matches the lowest price we've seen on this model.

While Mashable's resident robot vacuum tester Leah Stodart is not a huge fan of iRobot's devices, she has tested and approves of the Roomba Plus 405 Combo. It's a mid-range robot vacuum mop combo, which means it can vacuum your home, mop your floors, then wash and dry its own mopping pads. It lacks small obstacle avoidance tech, which is a bummer, but it does offer consistently solid smart mapping, fantastic edge cleaning from dual spinning mopping pads, and a docking station that continuously refreshes your mopping pads for four weeks and auto-empties debris for 75 days. We wouldn't recommend it if you have a ton of small toys and cables laying around, but for everyone else, the lack of small obstacle avoidance shouldn't be a huge dealbreaker.

There are plenty of robot vacuum mop combo devices on the market in 2026, but finding a model for under $300 that'll actually get the job done isn't easy. At only $299.99, the Roomba Plus 405 Combo is kind of a steal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I turned an old Android phone into a Home Assistant voice satellite—no speaker needed

How-To Geek - 3 hours 57 min ago

Being able to control your smart home with your voice can be very useful in the right circumstances. If you're a Home Assistant user, you can buy ready-made smart speakers or build your own. However, if you have an Android phone, there's also another option.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Funko reveals first Over the Garden Wall Pop! figures just in time for fall

Mashable - 3 hours 57 min ago

While it may still be hot and steamy outside, the crisp autumn breeze isn't too far away. That means Over the Garden Wall season is creeping up on us.

It's been a dozen years since the beloved Cartoon Network miniseries from Patrick McHale made its debut, but every spooky season, we make our return to The Unknown like clockwork. And it seems we're not alone, as Funko has decided it's the perfect time to unveil its brand new line of adorable Pop! figures inspired by fan favorites from Over the Garden Wall. Mashable has the exclusive first look at the brand's first-ever batch of these curious characters.

Let's take a look at the "transformative, dark elements of the fall season come to life" in the five-figure Over The Garden Wall Funko Pop! Animation collection.

Half-brothers Wirt and Gregory The Wirt figurine features his signature hat and cloak, as well as Beatrice the bluebird. Credit: Funko Greg's adorable figurine can be seen with his tea-kettle hat, carrying his frog and a rock (of course). Credit: Funko

First up in the collection, of course, is Over The Garden Wall's lead duo: Wirt and his little half-brother Gregory. The Wirt figurine stands around 5.2 inches tall, and he wears his navy blue cloak and signature Pilgrim's hat. Perched on his left hand, of course, is Beatrice the no-nonsense bluebird.

As for plump young Gregory, he stands just 4.6 inches tall and is depicted in his tea-kettle hat with a brown satchel. In his left hand, you'll find his beloved frog of many names; in his right, you'll find a rock (of course).

The Woodsman Credit: Funko

Much cuter than the actual character, The Woodsman Funko Pop! figure stands just 5.4 inches tall and captures his serious and reserved nature. He wears a gray hat and trench coat and wields an axe in his right hand for chopping down Edelwood trees. In his left hand, he holds the Dark Lantern.

A glow-in-the-dark Beast with two variants Left: The miniature figurine of The Beast is much cuter than the real thing. Credit: Funko Right: Its bright blue eyes glow in the dark. Credit: Funko Left: There’s a 1 in 6 chance that you may find the chase variant instead of the usual dark variant. Credit: Funko Right: Like the dark figure, the chase variant also glows in the dark. Credit: Funko

The mysterious Beast, aka He Who Haunts the Woods, is a shadowy, tree-like monster who haunts The Unknown. So, naturally, he's a little spooky — even in adorable Funko Pop! form. It comes in two variants: the typical dark, silhouette figurine and the chase variant. Chase variants will be shipped at random, but there's about a one in six chance you'll receive one. Both variants stand 5.4 inches tall and feature white eyes that glow bright blue in the dark.

The pumpkin-headed Enoch Credit: Funko

Perhaps the most adorable of the bunch, the pumpkin-headed Enoch Pop! figurine stands 5.5 inches tall and features a round smile and green ribbon-clad body. He's undoubtedly the perfect addition to your Halloween decor this coming spooky season.

Few animated projects balance whimsy with a menacing darkness quite like Over the Garden Wall. And Funko's new collection does an excellent job of depicting those paradoxical traits. Of course, in true Funko Pop! nature, the figurines are much cuter than their corresponding animated characters. Each of the five figurines, including the special Beast variant, retails for $14.99 a pop.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Paris Baguette is giving away free pastries for National S’mores Day

Mashable - 4 hours 9 min ago

FREE PASTRY: PB Rewards members can get a free pastry with the purchase of any campfire-inspired menu item on Monday, Aug. 10.

Call me basic, call me indulgent, but I love Paris Baguette — I used to go to the Dumbo location all the time to get the baked potato soup and a Dreamsicle treat, and I have zero regrets. If you're lucky enough to live near a location right now, they've got a fun little deal coming up that will get you a free pastry.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks is bringing back the Unicorn Frappuccino (but only for one weekend)

On National S'mores Day (Monday, Aug. 10), Paris Baguette is giving PB Rewards members a free pastry with the purchase of any s'mores menu item. It's free to join, but I fear you will have to download the app (I know, another app) to get the full experience.

The seasonal menu includes a marshmallow-filled S'mores Supreme Croissant, a chocolate-drizzled S'mores Belgian Waffle, and a S'mores Chocolate Marshmallow Layer Cake. If you'd rather drink your dessert, they also have a rich Iced S'mores Latte and a frozen S'mores Frappe.

Just be sure to download the app and sign up before you order on Monday so you can get your free pastry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stay ready in any situation with 43% off the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station

Mashable - 4 hours 18 min ago

SAVE $86.02: As of August 5, get the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station for $112.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station $112.98 at Amazon
$199 Save $86.02   Get Deal

We're still in the middle of a stormy summer season, so it's always a good idea to stay ready for a potential power outage. And if you're going out and about camping or staying otherwise off the grid, you want to make sure you have an electrical source as well. A portable power station is the way to go here, and we've found one that's up for grabs at a great price right now.

As of August 5, get the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station for $112.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199. That's $86.02 off and a discount of 43%.

SEE ALSO: Portable power stations explained

This power station may seem small, but it's mighty enough to keep the electricity flowing where you need it the most. It has 128Wh of battery life, and that can give you about six charges for your phone or two for your laptop. It can keep you online long enough to communicate with family and friends or see what's going on should you need to stay in the know.

Beyond that, it's extremely light and portable at just four pounds, so it's easily moved if you need to tote it around with you or just keep it somewhere for safekeeping that's easy to access. For that reason, it could become an invaluable part of any emergency preparedness kit should you see fit to put one together.

You never want to be caught in the dark, literally or figuratively, so pick this portable power station up while it's up for grabs at this excellent price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This open-source app lets me share huge files without Dropbox or Google Drive

How-To Geek - 4 hours 27 min ago

Cloud storage has made file sharing convenient, but that convenience comes with a cost most people don't think about. Every file you send through Dropbox or Google Drive leaves the network at your house, travels to a remote server, and then gets routed back down to the device a few feet away from you. Stop paying for cloud storage when LocalSend cuts all of that out and keeps your files in your own hands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I desperately want a mini PC—here's why i haven't bought one yet

How-To Geek - 4 hours 29 min ago

There is so much to love about mini PCs. These tiny little boxes pack all the capabilities that used to require a bulky desktop tower. I want one, I really do—I’ve just never had a practical need.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iMessage for Android is back—with the Sunbird app

How-To Geek - 4 hours 35 min ago

You now have a modern, practical option to use iMessage on your Android phone. Sunbird has revived its namesake Sunbird Messaging app after three years of relatively dormant test releases, letting you chat with your iPhone friends without breaking threads or appearing as a green bubble outsider.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Assistant to shut down on Android, Wear OS next month

Mashable - 4 hours 39 min ago

Google's longtime voice assistant will officially go to the great tech graveyard in the sky in the very near future.

As has been expected for quite a while, Google is ending support for Google Assistant on Android and WearOS in September, according to emails sent to users, as reported by 9to5google. Specifically, users can expect Google Assistant to start going away on their mobile devices on Sept. 4, though Google noted it might take a few weeks for the change to affect everyone.

Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch.

SEE ALSO: For creators like Hank Green, AI is now a reputational risk

"Once availability is removed, you will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant on your phone, tablet, or paired devices," the email said.

Google first launched Google Assistant as a competitor to Siri and Alexa back in 2016. Amazon infused Alexa with AI technology earlier this year, while Apple is doing the same to Siri in the near future, but Google has opted to go with its AI chatbot Gemini rather than upgrading Google Assistant. Google has been clear about its intent to get rid of Assistant ever since going all-in on Gemini, but the specific timing had not been known until now.

So, like Skype, AOL dial-up, and TiVo before it, Google Assistant will soon be no more.

Like tears in rain.

SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: All the tech that died in 2025
Categories: IT General, Technology

This E-Ink Home Assistant display cut my phone notifications in half

How-To Geek - 4 hours 57 min ago

Notification fatigue is a real problem. I was sick to death of having so many notifications filling up my phone. Even after culling many of them or moving some to the Notification Summary, I was still getting more than I wanted. I decided it was time to get rid of some of my Home Assistant phone notifications and move them elsewhere.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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