Blogroll

Even if you don't pay a single cent to Google in the form of subscription money, your Android phone has access to the Google Drive app with a few gigabytes of free storage. You might not know that this one app sits at the center of an ecosystem that can actually replace several other simple apps that you might be using.

Having a backup on an SSD is great and all, but you're missing a key step—checking if said backup is actually good. I know it's annoying, but here's why you should be worried about not having actually tested your latest backup.

ESP32 boards are hugely popular in the smart home community because they're inexpensive, and you can use them to build a huge range of things. While there are plenty of projects that don't require any additional parts, if you combine an ESP32 with a 3D printer, you can do even more.

In the early 2000s, school computer labs were filled with kids stealthily playing games and watching videos on Newgrounds. But when Flash became obsolete, many of these nostalgic games were no longer playable—especially on phones. Thankfully, there’s an app for that.

Our favorites from the D23 2026 Disney Store Collection: Disney Railroad Train Plush $19.99 Shop Now Eeyore Plush Keychain Bag Charm $21.99 Shop Now The Fox and the Hound 45th Anniversary Mug $24.99 Shop Now Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Ear Headband for Adults $36.99 Shop Now The Princess Diaries Grove High School Cardigan for Women $79.99 Shop Now The Muppets Plush Cardigan for Women $99.99 Shop Now Redd Limited Edition Doll – Pirates of the Caribbean $179.99 Shop Now Disney and Pixar's Cars with Formula 1 Lightning McQueen Varsity Jacket for Adults $600 Shop Now

If you weren't able to make it to D23 2026 in person, the Disney Store is bringing the show to you. Disney Store has pulled together an assortment from the D23 2026 show floor, the Disney Store booth, and the D23 Marketplace, and it's now live at the Disney Store online while supplies last.

The lineup spans Fanniversary Frenzy, 10 collections celebrating milestone anniversaries of beloved Disney stories, with Collector Must-Haves, Disney x Formula 1, Blooms by Disney Store, Disney Store Exclusive Plush, and more.

Here's everything worth adding to your cart.

Disney Railroad Train Plush Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Store Disney Railroad Train Plush $19.99 at Disney Store
  Shop Now Why we like it

This is a fun pick for anyone who's ridden the Disney Railroad at Walt Disney World or Disneyland and wanted a piece of it to take home. The Disney Railroad Train Plush turns the iconic train into a cuddly character, complete with an embroidered smiling face, a soft, fuzzy texture, and a stitched "Disney Railroad" patch. It's got attached arms and beans in the bottom for a bit of weight, so it sits nicely on a shelf if you're more of a display person than a snuggler.

Alice in Wonderland Ear Headband Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Store Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Ear Headband $36.99 at Disney Store
  Shop Now Why we like it

Ear headbands are always a top pick in any Disney drop, and the Alice in Wonderland Ear Headband one goes all in on the details. It's built around the croquet scene from Alice in Wonderland, with a tiny hedgehog rolling into a croquet ball worked into the headband, a royal crest charm on the bow, and the film title and anniversary stitched on the back of the ears. It's made from simulated leather instead of the usual fabric, so it feels a little more special than your typical headband.

Redd Limited Edition Doll — Pirates of the Caribbean Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Store Redd Limited Edition Doll – Pirates of the Caribbean $179.99 at Disney Store
  Shop Now Why we like it

Redd is one of the more detailed collector dolls we've seen come out of the Pirates of the Caribbean line, and it shows in the little things: an embroidered satin bodice, a textured skirt with gold studs and filigree, pearled pistols, layered necklaces, and a faux suede pirate hat with feather accents. She's also fully poseable and comes with a display stand, so she's built to be displayed, not just boxed up.

Cars with F1 Lightning McQueen Varsity Jacket Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Store Cars with Formula 1 Lightning McQueen Varsity Jacket $600 at Disney Store
  Shop Now Why we like it

The Cars with Formula 1 Lightning McQueen Varsity Jacket is built like an actual varsity jacket first, Cars fan piece second. The shell is a soft blended wool with genuine contrast leather sleeves, striped rib cuffs and waistband, and a proper snap-front closure with F1-branded snaps, so it holds up as something you'd wear regardless of the Cars connection.

The details are where it earns its price, though. There's a chenille F1 patch on the chest, an embroidered Disney Pixar Cars logo, Cars patch appliqués on the sleeves, and Lightning McQueen embroidered on the back alongside "Formula 1." Even the lining gets an all-over F1 print, and you get both a welt front pocket and a hidden interior chest pocket for carrying something.

More from the D23 2026 Disney Store Collection

• Blue Pansy Plush Flower — $16.99

• Alice in Wonderland Bow Hair Clip — $16.99

• Disney Wishables Shimmer Mystery Plush Blind Pack — $17.99

• Pixar Ball, Large — $19.99

• Main Street Trash Can Plush — $19.99

• Beauty and the Beast Journal Set — $19.99

• Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Mug — $24.99

• Disney Doorables ADOORBS! Doll Mystery Box — $24.99

• Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Wristlet Bag Set — $29.99

• Marvel Blue Mini Spider-Bot — $39.99

• Disney and Pixar's Cars with Formula 1 Lightning McQueen Plush — $39.99

• Winnie the Pooh Plush (Disney Store Exclusive) — $44.99

• Disney and Pixar's Cars with Formula 1 Baseball Cap — $60

• The Princess Diaries Soccer Jersey — $69.99

• Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Clogs by Crocs — $69.99

• Daredevil Silver Mask — $79.99

• Disney and Pixar's Cars with Formula 1 Pullover Sweatshirt — $125

• Polar Mouse Droid MSE-6 — $129.99

• Disneyland Railroad Station Light Up Figure — $179

• Esmeralda Limited Edition Doll — $179.99

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame 30th Anniversary Dooney & Bourke Tote — $298

• Disney x Formula 1 Core Race Mickey Mouse Zip Jacket and Pins Set — $350

The full D23 2026 assortment — all the anniversary collections, collectibles, and exclusives — is live now at Disney Store online. Orders of $85 or more ship free with code SHIPMAGIC.

Tesla's Cybercab is coming soon, perhaps as soon as August. But who's getting to ride in it?

On Monday, The Information published a report saying the company is preparing for a public launch of the Cybercab in Austin, possibly this month.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Model Y gets adapter for charging other gadgets

Tesla's official Robotaxi account on X seemingly confirmed the launch is coming soon, as it posted that folks who ride in a Robotaxi (which currently consists of Tesla Model Y cars) will get a chance to attend the Cybercab launch event. "More rides = better odds," posted the account, without going into detail about the event itself.

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

In a subsequent tweet, Tesla Robotaxi said that winners will be announced by 9 a.m. on Aug. 25, which could also be the day when we find more about the launch event.

It's an important milestone for Tesla, whose Cybercab is the only high-volume car the company currently has in its public roadmap. But the Cybercab is not just any car; it's a robotaxi-first vehicle with two seats and no steering wheel, designed primarily to ferry passengers around autonomously.

Tesla's idea, per The Information, is to start by offering rides to its own employees on Austin's public roads, and have the Cybercabs join the public robotaxi service in the city soon thereafter. The problem is that regulators currently don't allow a commercial robotaxi service to run with cars that don't have steering wheels, though exemptions are possible; Amazon's Zoox, for example, did get to deploy a small number of autonomous taxi vehicles with no steering wheels in Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Perhaps the bigger issue is whether Tesla has actually brought its autonomous driving software to a level where Cybercabs can start operating at a larger scale. Tesla uses its Full Self-Driving suite of autonomous driving features to power its robotaxis; while pretty advanced, the suite does have flaws. The company's Robotaxi program is currently limited to some areas in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, Florida, as well as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Texas.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

I've been 3D printing for over half a decade and have never embedded a magnet mid-3D-print, so I figured it was time to take the plunge and do it. After my first test with a pre-made model, I even decided to create my own model, and it came out better than I expected.

I've somehow become the person everyone in my family and circle of friends calls when a PC starts acting up. A lot of the time, the problem is minor. Other times, Windows won't boot, a drive starts throwing errors, files disappear, or the computer becomes so unstable that it's hard to know where to start. Since everyone I help, including me, uses Windows, I've gotten into the habit of keeping a few free troubleshooting tools on USB drives, so I'm not starting from scratch every time something goes wrong.

Sports cars as we know them are changing. While the shift towards electrification has certainly slowed down in the last year or two, it still feels as if gasoline is on its way out. It is within this context that a coupe with a supercharged V-8 exists as a swansong for all petrolheads.

Remember when almost every Android phone came with a microSD slot and expandable memory was an expected feature? Those days are mostly long gone, especially on mid-range or high-end Samsung Galaxy phones. That said, you can still buy a Samsung phone with expandable storage in 2026, and here are a few of your options.

TL;DR: In celebration of Pokémon's 30-year anniversary, Krispy Kreme has launched six Pokémon-themed doughnuts across the U.S. This limited-edition collection features Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and a Poké Ball.

For years, American Pokémon fans have suffered through severe international FOMO as Krispy Kreme locations in Australia and South Korea roll out exclusive, character-themed doughnut lineups. The painful wait is officially over: Krispy Kreme has dropped its official Pokémon collection across the U.S. on Monday, Aug. 18.

The limited-edition release brings six custom designs to the menu, covering the iconic Gen 1 starters, fan favorites, and the essential Poké Ball:

• Bulbasaur: An Original Glazed doughnut dipped in vanilla icing, finished with a leaf frosting accent and a Bulbasaur topper.

• Charmander: A chocolate and toasted marshmallow-filled shell doughnut dipped in orange caramel icing, topped with red and gold sugar "sparks" and a Charmander piece.

• Jigglypuff: An Original Glazed piped with strawberry buttercream, dusted with strawberry cookie crunch, and topped with a Jigglypuff decal.

• Pikachu: A lemon-flavored Kreme doughnut dipped in vanilla icing, decorated with yellow lightning nonpareils and a Pikachu topper.

• Poké Ball: An Original Glazed topped with vanilla icing, vibrant red sprinkles, and chocolate piping.

• Squirtle: An Original Glazed piped with cotton candy buttercream, coated in sanding sugar nonpareils, and topped with a surfing Squirtle piece.

“We had so much fun bringing the world of Pokémon to life through doughnuts in a way only Krispy Kreme can,” said Alison Holder, Chief Brand and Product Officer at Krispy Kreme. “From Pokémon-inspired creations and playful flavors to themed cups, special packaging, and fan surprises, this collection is made to be caught and shared as we celebrate 30 incredible years of Pokémon.”

Where to find the collection

In Krispy Kreme shops, you can order the doughnuts à la carte or grab a custom Pokémon dozen box, which packs all six specialty designs alongside classic Original Glazed doughnuts in limited-edition packaging. Krispy Kreme has also dropped five limited-edition Pokémon collectible cups, each filled with 10 Original Glazed Gold Dots.

Want to make sure you don't miss out? The Pokémon Doughnut Collection is now available to order:

Opens in a new window Credit: Krispy Kreme / The Pokémon Company Pokémon Doughnut Collection   Shop Now

Participating grocery retailers will also carry a dedicated six-pack featuring Charmander, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, a Poké Ball, and two Original Glazed doughnuts.

How to get a free Original Glazed doughnut

If you want to grab a free treat, mark Aug. 22 on your calendar. Anyone who visits a participating Krispy Kreme shop or drive-thru wearing any Pokémon merchandise will receive one free Original Glazed doughnut — no purchase necessary.

Maybe the invention of the remote control wasn't the best idea when it comes to our collective waistlines, but you can't beat the convenience of controlling your TV from the couch!

I love to read, but life always gets in the way. For a long time, I was reading far fewer books than I wanted. I realized that the issue wasn't always time; it was that there were things blocking me from reading as much as I'd like to. I figured out a few geeky ways to remove some of these barriers.

Modern cars are safer, quicker, and more technologically advanced than ever, but progress hasn't improved every part of the driving experience. In the rush to add bigger screens, more connectivity, and futuristic features, automakers have introduced plenty of trends that are more frustrating than useful.

Most note-taking tools that use AI are cloud products first and note-taking tools second. Your documents go up to a server; a company’s terms of service govern what happens to them, and if you click the wrong button, your content can end up in a human review queue for years. I used NotebookLM for a while and liked what it could do. Still, switching to an Obsidian setup with a local AI setup is more private and less complicated than I expected.

SAVE OVER $80: As of Aug. 18, select colors of the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station are on sale for $218.98 at Amazon. That saves you $80.02 on the $299 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station $218.98 at Amazon
$299 Save $80.02   Get Deal

Fall is coming up faster than you might expect, and if you're hoping to go out on some camping trips when the weather cools down a bit, it's worth having a power station on hand. The Bluetti Elite 30 V2 is a very portable pick to take along — boasting plenty of power despite its weight — and Amazon's even knocked about $80 off its price tag right now.

As of Aug. 18, a couple of colors of the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 (black and twilight glow purple) have been marked down from $299 to $218.98 at Amazon. For just a cent or two more, you can also save on the glacier blue and light sand grey models, which are down to $218.99, or the blush pink, which is down to $219.

SEE ALSO: Purple's Labor Day sale gets you a king mattress for the price of a queen — shop now for up to $400 off

The Bluetti Elite 30 V2 definitely lives up to its portable station status, with a lightweight build weighing 9.4lbs that you can carry while camping or around the house if you experience an outage. It also features a 288Wh capacity and can deliver up to 600W of output. Though if you're in need of a boost, activating Power Lifting Mode can push it to 1,500W.

The store page notes that it can run a variety of different items as well, from speakers to car fridges to laptops and much more, and it comes with nine output ports to handle them. You get a 12V cigarette lighter port, two 12V DC5521 ports, a 100W USB-C port, two USB-A ports, a 140W USB-C port, and two 600W AC Outlets.

If the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station has caught your attention, act fast to score this great deal at Amazon.

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

TL;DR: The Champions League is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player, Virgin Media, tabii, and Prime Video. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The top club competition in the world of football has to be the Champions League. There is nothing else that brings the very best teams in the world together in a battle for footballing immortality. Winning your domestic league is great, but winning the Champions League is on another level.

PSG are looking to secure an incredible third consecutive title. That's going to be a mammoth task in the face of giants like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, all desperate to lift the iconic trophy.

If you want to watch the 2026-27 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Champions League?

The Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by UEFA and contested by top-division European clubs. This year's tournament begins with a 36-team round robin group stage to determine which sides qualify for the double-legged knockout rounds, followed by a single-leg final.

The defending champions are PSG.

When is the 2026-27 Champions League?

The 2026-27 Champions League is the 72nd edition of the competition (and the 35th since it was renamed the Champions League). This season's tournament starts on July 7 and runs until the final on June 5.

How to watch the 2026-27 Champions League for free

It is possible to live stream the 2026-27 Champions League for free on the following streaming platforms:

• Ireland — RTÉ Player and Virgin Media

• Turkey — tabii

• UK — Prime Video (free trial)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026-27 Champions League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the Champions League

4. Visit RTÉ Player, Virgin Media, tabii, or Prime Video (free trial)

5. Watch Champions League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2026-27 Champions League without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, the fact is you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

I've been doing DIY projects for well over half my life, and I have used a bunch of power tools over that course of time. However, my favorite tool that I use most often isn't one of my (seven) drills. It's a detail sander.

The majority of teens use artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT, for schoolwork and entertainment. Now OpenAI has created a new dedicated product for them: ChatGPT for Teens.

This customizable version of ChatGPT, which debuted Tuesday, is designed to "support" learning and human relationships, according to OpenAI's launch announcement. It will be the default experience for any self-identified teen or users who OpenAI estimate are between the ages of 13 and 17.

SEE ALSO: Digging into Gen Z's love/hate relationship with AI

"The goal is to make this a learning tool for teens and make sure that it's the best that it can be with built-in safeguards," Lauren Jonas, head of youth and families at OpenAI, told Mashable.

ChatGPT for Teens debuts at a time of intense scrutiny for OpenAI. It recently announced that one of its agents hacked into another company. OpenAI also faces numerous safety-related lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT has encouraged dependency and put adult and minor users in dangerous or life-ending situations.

What is ChatGPT for Teens like?

ChatGPT for Teens incorporates existing safety measures for minors and introduces new learning and well-being features.

The product offers frequent break prompts, reminders that users are interacting with AI, warnings against uploading sensitive images, and parental notifications when users discuss acts of violence.

OpenAI said ChatGPT for Teens shouldn't use romantic language, suggest that it possesses feelings or consciousness, or foster emotional dependence.

"If they are not engaging in learning-focused content, the goal is to continue to bolster the age-appropriate experience and the safeguards," Jonas told Mashable.

She added that, moving forward, all starter prompts in ChatGPT for Teens will be related to education rather than other personal topics.

The product includes new features like reminders to complete homework responsibly to prevent shortcuts and quizzes based on chat content or a user's notes.

Additionally, the new "Study Hours" setting allows teens and parents to restrict ChatGPT to Study Mode for set periods of time each day. Study Mode is designed to help teens with learning by employing "step-by-step collaborative problem solving."

Both parents and teens can set Study Hours, as well as Quiet Hours, an existing setting that shuts ChatGPT down altogether.

Young users can customize ChatGPT for Teens with color accents, app icons, and voice variations.

Promising ChatGPT examples, lingering concerns

OpenAI highlighted impressive examples of how teens use ChatGPT in its announcement.

Two teen users in Virginia developed a search-and-rescue system by asking ChatGPT to help with research and prototyping. A Texas user created a platform that generates audio-based educational games for blind students.

The inspiring anecdotes, however, may be overshadowed by darker examples.

Last week, Massachusetts authorities accused a 17-year-old boy of murdering his mother and younger brother after using ChatGPT to play out fantasy stories involving their deaths.

OpenAI has been sued for the wrongful deaths of teen users who died by suicide after prolonged, heavy engagement with ChatGPT. At least one of those teens, Adam Raine, began using ChatGPT for homework help before becoming emotionally reliant on the chatbot, according to the lawsuit filed by his parents last year.

The state of Florida is suing the company for allegedly deceiving consumers about ChatGPT's safety. OpenAI has previously denied wrongdoing in response to some of these allegations.

As of ChatGPT for Teens' launch, OpenAI sends parental notifications when teen users with parental controls discuss self-harm, suicide, and violence in immediate or potentially dangerous ways.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its $149.45 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box $129.99 at Amazon
$149.45 Save $19.46   Get Deal

Destined Rivals has hardly been the cheapest Pokémon TCG expansion, but Amazon has now pulled one of its most popular sealed products much closer to what buyers are paying elsewhere. 

As of Aug. 18, the Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box can be picked up for $129.99 at Amazon, through the third-party listing sold by Gem City Supplies. Compared with the $149.45 price we’ve been seeing for this ETB lately, that cuts a surprising $19.46 off the total.

More importantly, Amazon’s price is now only $6.78 above TCGplayer’s $123.21 market price — with price tracker camelcamelcamel also showing this is the lowest we’ve seen the Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box at since late last year. 

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!

Inside the Elite Trainer Box are nine Destined Rivals booster packs of trading cards, which means you’re effectively paying about $14.44 per pack before taking all of the extras into account. Those include a full-art foil Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet promo, 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, dice, condition markers, a player’s guide, and the collector’s box itself. 

Amazon isn’t quite the cheapest option overall, however. TCGplayer itself has sealed, undamaged Elite Trainer Boxes starting at $123.96 with shipping included. Walmart is the cheapest at an even lower price of $118.99, with free shipping through third-party seller Coastal Cards — well under market price. 

The most valuable pulls you can get from Destined Rivals packs are worth up to $500: including SIR Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, and Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex. You can buy these cards individually from TCGplayer.