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Mechanical keyboards end up becoming something of an obsession for some folks. Many end up going down the rabbit hole and building their own, but far fewer take on the task of 3D printing the whole thing.

Hybrid cars are having a real moment in the U.S., and it’s not hard to see why. EV tax credits have dried up, electric cars have gotten pricier, and gas prices aren’t exactly helping anyone lean toward bigger engines right now.

Microsoft has essentially allowed all Windows 11 users to dump Copilot, its Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) assistant. While average Windows 11 users have a surprisingly straightforward way to uninstall the AI-powered digital assistant, even those stuck using “managed” devices can get rid of Copilot.

Things are going pretty well for Netflix—it just wrapped a first quarter that pulled in $12.2 billion in revenue, and the company says its paid subscribership by the end of last year was somewhere in the vicinity of 325 million, globally (not to mention the $2.8 billion breakup fee it got for walking away from the Warner/Paramount thing.

Every day is the same story: your phone’s battery starts at 100%—hopefully—and by the afternoon, apps and services have chipped it down by half. That’s the simple part, but deciphering what’s actually using the battery is not as straightforward as you would think.

The Vim statusline is endlessly customizable, with a set of standard variables available, plus the ability to host almost anything using Vim script. But all this tweaking still takes effort; effort that others have already gone to, so you don’t have to.

Well, it’s time for some more fun homelab projects to try out this weekend! Today, I’m showing you how to replace Google Analytics with your own self-hosted tool, a better homelab dashboard, and even how to build out your own wiki (because your homelab really does need one).

I have spent the past year working almost exclusively from my Galaxy devices. During that time, I fell in love with Samsung hardware and One UI software, but as well as it's worked, I've decided to ditch it all. I now carry a Murena Fairphone 6 in my pocket instead. Why? Well, I've grown tired of Big Tech doing what Big Tech does.

Milwaukee is one of the most popular and recognizable names in power tools, and there's a reason you're also seeing Milwaukee's red products in almost every pro or DIYer's pocket lately: the brand makes excellent utility knives and multi-tools that are the perfect balance of rugged reliability and sleek everyday carry.

Computer architects have always struggled with the problem of keeping processors fed with data. If a CPU is waiting for data, it's wasting performance. But the high-speed memory (RAM) that can keep it fed is expensive and limited in size, while secondary storage is large and cheap, but orders of magnitude slower.

ESP32s are so hot right now. More people than ever are discovering just how versatile these tiny boards can be, and their rock-bottom price point makes them perfect for use in fun DIY projects.

Affordable transportation is no longer limited to small gas-powered sedans. As electric vehicles become cheaper to buy and easier to live with, some are starting to deliver genuine long-term savings without the premium pricing that once defined the segment. One American EV stands out by proving that going electric can be one of the smartest financial decisions a budget-conscious buyer can make.

If your weekend plans involve doing something interesting with your Linux setup, I've done some of the legwork for you. Instead of spending three hours reading Reddit threads only to install something mediocre, here are three apps worth actually trying. One fixes cross-device file sync without touching the cloud, one makes Markdown readable in your terminal, and one turns speech into text locally without phoning home.

SAVE $300: The Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV is on sale for $597.99 at Amazon. That's the best-ever price and includes Xbox GamePass for free.

Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV $597.99 at Amazon
$897.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon

We were thrilled to spot the Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV on sale at Amazon. We were even more pleased to see that is was down to its best-ever price, and we almost combusted when we noticed that one month of Xbox GamePass comes free with purchases.

We see a lot of deals, so almost erupting into flames is not regular occurrence. But then, this isn't a regular deal. The Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV is on sale for $597.99 at Amazon. That's $300 off the list price for a limited time, before you even consider the Xbox GamePass freebie.

To claim Xbox GamePass for free with your purchase, you need to follow these simple steps:

1. Add the Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV to your online cart.

2. When you're done shopping, select Go to Cart.

3. The offer will automatically be applied at checkout, if eligible.

It's that easy.

A number of TVs qualify for this promotion, but this Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV might offer the best value for money. The picture offers the sharp and accurate contrast of Neo QLED enabled by precision-controlled Mini LEDs. Users also get AI enhanced picture quality and optimized sound for superb performance in everything you watch.

Score the best-ever price on the Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED TV at Amazon.

Most of the time when AI features are shoehorned into software and services these days, it gets in the way more than being of any real use.

In 2024, I made a concerted effort to cut every paid subscription I could. I moved what I could to free and open source alternatives, including replacing my Microsoft 365 workflow and rethinking how I handled cloud storage. I also cleaned up the obvious redundancies, things like overlapping streaming services and subscriptions I was barely using. On paper, it worked. My monthly spend dropped, and I proved to myself that you can get surprisingly far without paying for software.

On April 12, I attended the PWHL game at TD Garden in Boston between the Boston Fleet and the Montreal Victoire. The Heated Rivalry effect was inescapable. It was an opportunity for hockey fans to turn out their favorite merch — someone in my row excitedly ran toward the crowd cameras to show off her 'I'm coming to the cottage' T-shirt. Heated Rivalry actor Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova was in the crowd, and the cheers that ensued when she appeared on the screen made you think one of the teams had scored a goal. And when the Heated Rivalry look-a-like contest winners shared a kiss on the jumbotron while t.A.T.u's "All the Things She Said" played, it caused the 17,000-person crowd to collectively lose their minds.

Since HBO Max's Heated Rivalry premiered in November 2025, actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, as well as their characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, have become household names. But so has Rachel Reid. The author of Heated Rivalry and the Game Changer series, of which it's a part, has always had a loyal fan base, but now that the show is a global hit, it reaches far beyond the scope of the show and books.

BookCon 2026 marked the first big event for Reid since the Heated Rivalry adaptation, and fans came ready to celebrate and meet their favorite author. I sat down with Reid to chat about fandom and maintaining a sense of normalcy amidst the phenomenon.

Rachel Reid kicked off BookCon 2026 with "Heated Rivalry" show creator, Jacob Tierney. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Samantha Mangino: What's it like meeting fans at BookCon?

Rachel Reid: It's been great. For the last few years, more and more people have been wanting to meet me at these kinds of events. Even before the show [HBO Max's Heated Rivalry], it was already pretty surreal and overwhelming, but in a really good way. Now with the show, it's really exploded. I mean, I'm doing a photo line. That kind of thing makes you feel like you're in a Marvel movie.

SM: You said during your panel yesterday that authors aren't supposed to be seen like this, so I imagine it feels unbelievable to have all the eyes on you.

RR: Getting recognized all over New York, too, is a pretty wild feeling as an author. I've been getting like drive-by, "I love you, Rachels," and people on the street recognizing me. As an author, that's very odd. I think even the biggest authors on earth don't get recognized that often. We're just not seen that often.

SM: I think it really speaks to the show's popularity.

RR: Yeah, with all the promo the show has gotten, and everybody who made the show has been fantastic about including me in that, and that's been the difference maker.

SM: How do you feel life has changed since the show came out?

RR: I have to be a little more aware that things I say might become headlines. I can't just make flippant jokes. Things I share tend to get shared, so maybe I don't post as often. I'm also aware that people could be photographing or video recording me at any time. So I'm a little more careful there, although not as careful as I should be. I'm still getting used to that.

Obviously, my career has leveled up many, many levels very quickly. I feel like I've skipped steps somewhere. I had a list of goals that I checked off all at once. So now it's about thinking ahead and rethinking my goals.

SM: Have you been online, kind of watching the fandom explode?

RR: Not that much. I try to stay out of fan spaces generally, and I did that before the show, too, but certainly since the show, and my new book was announced. I've stayed away from like Reddit. I'm not on Threads, I haven't been on Twitter in years. I haven't been on Goodreads in years. I just use Instagram. I think it creates a nice barrier. I do have friends, so if I see hints of things happening on Threads, I'll be like, "Can you explain this to me?" I'm not gonna look myself.

SM: Are there any other boundaries you've created online?

RR: Definitely, I don't want anybody giving me ideas for the book. That's a big one. Obviously, I don't read fan fiction because that would not be a good idea.

I try to make myself a little less accessible than I used to be, and sometimes I feel bad about it, but it's just necessary. I do have kids, and I'm trying to maintain our privacy as much as possible. It helps that I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, which is not a big or fancy place. So when I'm home, my life doesn't feel that different. When I travel for things like this [BookCon], I get to face it.

SM: What's it been like gaining so many new fans since the show aired?

RR: It's been wild to see how Ilya and Shane have become household names. My characters went from having a small but loyal fan base, which was lovely too, but now everybody I've ever known knows these characters and has opinions about them. It feels like I found a genie and wished for the world to be obsessed with everything I wrote.

Everyone is so into these characters, and I think it speaks to how amazing a job Jacob [Tierney] and everyone involved did making the show.

It's a beautiful show, and I'm not surprised that people like it as much as they do, but I certainly didn't think it would find such a wide audience. There's something about the timing of it, and I think what people are craving too, that just made it all click.

People have told me it has changed their relationships with coworkers, neighbors, and even some relatives, because they didn't think they could be open about who they are with these people. Still, then, because they're such big fans of the show, they thought maybe it would be OK if I told them a little more about myself. Places feel a little safer than they did before.

We've all been there. A friend comes over, asks for the Wi-Fi password, and you hand it over without a second thought. Then your new gaming rig joins the same network as your old laptop, your partner's work PC, and that mystery device from three apartments ago that somehow still remembers your SSID.

Cross the local bureaucratic comedy of Parks and Recreation with the small-town strangeness of Twin Peaks, and you'll get a sense of the singular tone of Apple TV's new genre gem Widow's Bay.

SEE ALSO: Everything coming to Apple TV in 2026

Created by Katie Dippold, herself a writer for Parks and Recreation, the series artfully blends horror and comedy to create an enthralling portrait of a town you'll want to get lost in... even if some of its locals would advise you to run the hell away.

What's Widow's Bay about? Matthew Rhys in "Widow's Bay." Credit: Apple TV

A charming island 40 miles off the coast of New England, Widow's Bay has a lot going for it. It boasts picturesque coastal views, invigorating ocean breezes, and atmospheric fog banks that have absolutely nothing hiding in them, do you hear me?

At least, that's what Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) has to say. He's trying to turn Widow's Bay into the next Martha's Vineyard, a quest that locals like former fisherman Wyck (Stephen Root) threaten to derail with their claims that Widow's Bay is cursed.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 24, 2026)

Tom initially brushes Wyck and his allies off in favor of bringing in tourists. It's a page straight from the playbook of Mayor Vaughn from Jaws, which Widow's Bay pays loving homage to throughout. However, when haunts start knocking at his door, Tom has to face the truth: There's something truly sinister at work on the island, and it's only getting worse.

Widow's Bay is a wonderfully frightening watch. Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root in "Widow's Bay." Credit: Apple TV

To pull off its many scares, Widow's Bay draws inspiration from a wide range of horror iconography. Stephen King's influence hangs over the series like the town's unshakeable mist, present in everything from the New England setting to the show's title font, a clear nod to the style of his earlier covers.

The aforementioned Jaws plays a huge role, too, and not just because of Tom's role as a skeptical, tourism-hungry mayor. (To Tom's credit, he's far less willing to put people in danger for the sake of money than Mayor Vaughn.) Root's salty veteran sailor Wyck bears shades of Jaws' Quint, and an episode devoted to a cursed ocean outing recalls Jaws' third act. But the biggest lesson Widow's Bay takes from Stephen Spielberg's horror classic is the fear of the unknown. Just as Jaws generates suspense by holding off on showing us its biggest threat until later in the runtime, so too does Widow's Bay keep its viewers in the dark about its many frights.

SEE ALSO: 'Hokum' review: I screamed myself hoarse at Adam Scott's new horror movie

And what darkness it is! Visually, Widow's Bay thrives in rich, inky black tones where you can crucially still make out every little detail, a rarity in TV nowadays and a testament to the show's production team and crew. Series directors Hiro Murai (Atlanta), Sam Donovan (Severance), Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), and Ti West (the X trilogy) weaponize this darkness — along with fog and ocean depths — to its fullest obscuring extent. That expert build-up of tension made the subsequent reveals hit all the harder, to the point that I couldn't get through an episode without screaming or cackling. (Or, most often, some mix of both.)

Widow's Bay nails the balance between scares and laughs. Kate O'Flynn in "Widow's Bay." Credit: Apple TV

Widow's Bay's scares pull from sailor superstitions, classic slashers, and more, but they never feel cheap. That's because the series roots them firmly in its characters' anxieties, like Tom's worries about tourism, or town hall staffer Patricia's (Kate O'Flynn) desperate need to be liked. (She's so desperate, in fact, that she may have falsely claimed to be the sole survivor of a serial killer who murdered some of her high school classmates.)

The latter produces a series highlight, an episode where a frantic Patricia attempts to host the perfect party. The social isolation she faces from her disdainful former classmates is just as wince-worthy as the uncanny events surrounding the event, resulting in a one-two punch of cringe comedy and horror.

Widow's Bay often operates in that sweet spot between horror and comedy, which tends more toward the dry and bizarre than Dippold's previous work on sitcoms like Parks and Recreation or comedy films like Ghostbusters (2016). Instead of cracking jokes at a mile per minute, Widow's Bay finds the funny in the eerie. Think historical wax figures, a cursed party game called "Teeth," and sight gags about cannibalism.

Widow's Bay's central trio of Rhys, Root, and O'Flynn play these occurrences as straight as they can, adding further to the show's brand of offbeat strangeness. Rhys and Root are tremendous foils as a skeptic and believer forced to work together. And O'Flynn proves an absolute scene stealer as Patricia, marrying her hilarious scorn for others with the genuine pain of being scorned right back.

The rest of Widow's Bay's ensemble, which includes Somebody Somewhere's Emmy-winning Jeff Hiller, Dale Dickey, and several surprising guest stars, further builds out the town of Widow's Bay. Their efforts, as well as the weatherbeaten production design by Steve Arnold (Midnight Mass, another superb cursed island series), turn Widow's Bay into a real town. You can almost taste the salt air (or hear the screams of cursed souls in the distance) just by watching.

In the end, the town of Widow's Bay is as deliciously odd as the show itself. What begins with a bit of a haunt-of-the-week structure soon evolves into a deeper unraveling of Widow's Bay's darkest secrets, as well as the choices that kept them in place. While I'd love for the show to return to its haunt-of-the-week mode occasionally, I also adore what it became. That it can pull off this transformation is proof of its sheer uniqueness. Forget being the next Martha's Vineyard: Widow's Bay sets a new, wonderfully weird course all by itself.

The first two episodes of Widow's Bay premiere April 29, with new episodes every Wednesday.

The build plate is the platform on which all of your 3D prints are created. But, just like filament and nozzles, build plates don’t last forever, and they eventually need replacing.