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Feeling the itch to make something but don’t have an entire workshop at your disposal? Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to flex your woodworking and upcycling skills without going into debt at the hardware store.

If you have a Meta Quest 2 or later, then you know that it has a USB-C port. After all, that's how you charge it! However, you might not know that this little port has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Pixel phones are always doing a lot in the background. Some things are obvious—like weather apps grabbing your location—but others aren’t as upfront. Even worse is when seemingly simple features have a bigger impact on battery life than we know.

If you have a modern 3D printer, most likely the "CoreXY" design that's become so popular, then you may have noticed a little rectangular hole on the back of the machine. Whenever the nozzle has to be purged of its current filament in exchange for a new one, a little filament "poop" comes out the back.

Google Drive used to make it easy to send photos and videos from folders on your PC straight to Google Photos. That changed when Google removed the feature from Drive for desktop. You can still back up PC folders to Google Photos, but you now have to select and manage that destination directly within the Drive for desktop app settings rather than having Drive and Photos sync automatically.

Although you can create a huge range of web page designs using just HTML and CSS, when it comes to interactivity, you’ll need to start writing JavaScript—right? Well, not necessarily.

Today's weekend Raspberry Pi projects will be coming from a bit of a different angle than normal. Instead of focusing on the traditional Raspberry Pi single-board computer, I'm going to show you three fun projects to do with a Pi Pico microcontroller.

As long as Windows and Linux exist, people will argue about which one is better than the other. Linux is a favorite of programmers, sysadmins, and other technical types, for good reason. Here are the things that are easiest for technical professionals to get their work done but are a pain in Windows.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced DIYer, there's a good chance you often overlook some cordless drill basics. From ignoring the torque clutch to tightening the chuck, here are four everyday mistakes to look out for and avoid.

I've been building PCs since I was in my early teens. Obviously, I had very limited funds, so I had to learn how to make the most of every dollar. As an adult, having an expendable income and overwhelming FOMO have pushed me toward more high-end builds, leaving the penny-pinching to broke college kids.

Samsung has a timely answer to soaring phone prices: a budget version of its latest flagship phones. As expected, the company has used its event to introduce a Galaxy S26 FE that is a mild upgrade over last year's S25 FE, but could be worth buying simply due to a relatively low price.

Performance sedans are increasingly becoming faster, more digital, and arguably less engaging, making this discontinued Italian model feel even more special in hindsight. With more than 500 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, razor-sharp handling, and a Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged V-6, it offered a driving experience that few rivals could match. It wasn't the quickest car in its class on paper, but behind the wheel, its character and communicative steering gave it an edge that spec sheets couldn't capture.

Samsung's mid-range Galaxy phone is back.

The Korean tech giant announced on Thursday that the Galaxy S26 FE will launch on Sept. 3 for a starting price of $699. That's $50 more than the Galaxy S25 FE was priced at a year ago, but such is the way of things these days. More importantly, it costs a lot less than the $1,099 base-model Galaxy S26 that launched earlier this year, despite coming with many of the same AI features.

I got to demo the new phone at a recent impressions, and my first impression is this: it's fine! The new phone feels solid in the hands and not like a cheap, budget phone. The display seems equally solid, but a lower peak brightness could be a problem, especially in sunlight. Finally, the colors are pretty boring to me.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 review: The perfect phone for cool teens — with generous parents The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: By the numbers

Here are the basic specs for the Galaxy S26 FE:

• Display: 6.7-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1,900 nits peak brightness

• Processor: Exynos 2500

• RAM: 8GB

• Storage: 128/256GB

• Battery: 4,900mAh

• Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto

• Front camera: 12MP

Three cameras. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Samsung obviously had to make a lot of compromises on the hardware front compared to the regular S26 to get the price down as low as it is. Peak brightness is one of them, as the S26's is 2,600 nits and the S26 FE's is only 1,900 nits. The S26 also had 12GB of RAM, compared to 8GB on the FE. Similarly, Samsung isn't offering a 512GB storage variant for the FE, even though it did on the regular S26.

The telephoto lens on the back has also been downgraded from 10MP to 8MP, though interestingly, the 4,900mAh battery cell in the FE is bigger than the 4,300mAh cell in the S26. The inferior Exynos 2500 chip in the FE might give it worse battery efficiency, though. We'll have to wait until it's in our hands to find that out for sure.

Despite all of the hardware downgrades, Samsung tells me that you can expect parity in terms of AI features, like Samsung's AI photo editing software or its suite of AI time-saving features. (The jury is out on whether the Exynos can handle these processes on device as well as the S26's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. If you can live without the brightest display, the most storage, or the best cameras, the S26 FE might be a good option for anyone in need of a new Android phone.

If you've been using a computer for a decade or more, you've probably settled into a set of default apps. At some point, you weighed your options, picked what seemed best, and never looked back. In the meantime, the software landscape has evolved quite a bit while you weren't looking. There's a decent chance you're paying for software—or putting up with limited free versions—while completely overlooking equally capable, if not more capable, open-source tools. Here are three such FOSS apps worth switching to.

Kareem Rahma's Subway Takes keeps our feeds aflame with scorching perspectives, and the latest episode of his popular web series asks straight-up questions of people making influencers and social media stars of their children.

In a video posted Wednesday, far from the New York Subway, the host took the London Tube with British content creator, podcaster, and presenter Shelen, who had strong words about parents who constantly feature their kids in TikTok videos.

SEE ALSO: Lucy Dacus' 'Subway Takes' episode has me staring at birds

"Forcing your child to do a TikTok is child labor," she said. "I'm not talking to parents who have a child and the child pops up in a vlog every now and again. I'm not talking to people who capture an organically, genuinely hilarious moment, post it on the internet, and we all laugh. I'm talking about the parents that make their child clock in, like they need to earn their keep."

"Content work is real work," agrees Rahma. "I do it. It's hard. It's hard work."

In a precise, no-nonsense argument, Shelen comprehensively unpacks the legal and ethical problems with parents making money from online videos featuring their kids, including the profits involved, risks of online child sexual exploitation, parents giving away the rights to their children's images, and the possibility of their likeness being manipulated by AI, which is a growing issue.

"People are thinking, Shelen, you know what? Posting my child is easy money. Yes, that tends to be the law behind child labor. Do you know what I'm saying? It doesn't make it OK," Shelen added.

Currently, there are no specific UK child labour laws regulating child influencers or creators. Children under 14 can work part-time in entertainment industries including TV and theatre, though they'll need a performance licence and parental consent and supervision, and they won't qualify for the National Minimum Wage until they're 16. Kids can only start full-time work, for up to 40 hours a week, after 16. None of this applies to influencers or content creators. The existing child labour laws weren't designed with influencers or content creation in mind, leaving a potential regulatory gap that could be exploited.

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In the U.S., the law varies by state. In 2023, Illinois become the first state in America to pass a law protecting child influencers, allowing kids under 16 "in an artistic or creative service" to sue if they're not paid for featuring in their parent or guardians' online content. California, Minnesota, and Utah have since followed suit with similar laws.

"I feel like one day laws will change, society will change, these kids will grow up, and they will sue their asses," said Shelen in her Subway Takes episode. "And I can't wait to watch."

Read more of Mashable's creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts.

TL;DR: Home Depot's 2026 holiday collection launches online Aug. 27, featuring a 10-foot polar bear, an 8-foot nutcracker with LCD "LifeEyes," an app-controlled Santa, and animated characters from Disney and Marvel, with apartment-friendly decor for smaller spaces.

The holidays might still be months away, but Home Depot isn't waiting around. Fresh off Home Depot's own Christmas in July sale, which brought back the viral 9-foot Grand Duchess tree and an even bigger version of the fan-favorite 8.5-foot Towering Santa, the retailer is following up with its full 2026 holiday collection.

It launches online Aug. 27, with new decor and a handful of tech upgrades to help shoppers turn their homes into a winter wonderland well before Thanksgiving even hits.

From giant animatronic Santas to nostalgic Disney and Marvel characters, this year's lineup is stacked with statement pieces. Home Depot says the collection has something for every space and budget, whether you've got a sprawling yard, a front porch, or a cozy apartment.

Credit: Home Depot

Here's what's landing:

• 8-foot Gold Nutcracker with LCD LifeEyes — a giant gold nutcracker with animated LCD eyes that actually move

• App-controlled Towering Santa — a towering, animated Santa you can control right from your phone

• 10-foot Giant Polar Bear — the collection's biggest showstopper

• 9-foot Santa's Sleigh with Reindeer and the 8-foot Vintage Nutcracker — two of the collection's holiday classics, supersized for maximum impact

• Disney's 3.5-foot Animated Pluto, 4-foot Interactive Mickey, and Minnie Mouse — fan-favorite characters, now animated and interactive

• Marvel's 3-foot Animated Groot — for anyone who wants a little Guardians of the Galaxy under the tree

Credit: Home Depot

With the giant showstoppers, there's plenty for smaller spaces too, like animated character sets sized for tight spots, LED reindeer, and jumbo ornaments to make it easy to bring some holiday cheer home, no matter your space or budget.

Shop the full 2026 holiday collection at Home Depot, launching Aug. 27.

On top of being a budget-friendly choice, Ryobi has a dizzying array of battery-powered gadgets. While most of these are power tools, a huge number fall into other categories.

SAVE $76: As of Aug. 26, the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is on sale for $683 at Amazon. That's a 10% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro $683 at Amazon
$759 Save $76   Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new drone, some of the latest changes around laws on foreign-made drones might have you confused. While there is a ban on future imports, products that have already made it through the supply chain and are sitting on shelves can still be bought and used as normal.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro hasn't suddenly disappeared from the market. In fact, this drone is on sale right now. And according to camelcamelcamel, it's at its lowest-ever price.

SEE ALSO: Capture action-packed aerial footage with 15% off the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX Drone

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a compact, foldable drone with a palm-sized design that slips easily into a pocket. Despite its size, it still offers 42GB of internal storage.

It has a 1-inch CMOS sensor that captures 4K/60 fps HDR video and a gimbal that supports true vertical filming and 225° roll rotation for more creative angles. The Intelligent Flight Battery also provides up to 36 minutes of flight time, with fast charging that allows three batteries to be charged in around 115 minutes.

With the drone, you'll also get a DJI RC-N3 remote controller, one battery, spare propellers, and more essentials needed to fly. Get this record-low deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $602: As of Aug. 27, the TCL 65-inch QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV is down to $897.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount off its usual $1,499.99 — the lowest price we've ever seen for this TV.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $602   Get Deal

Amazon just dropped the 65-inch TCL QM7L Mini-LED QLED Smart TV to $897.99, down from its usual $1,499.99. That's a 40% discount — $600 off — and the best price we've seen for this TV.

TCL's Mini-LED tech is the standout feature here, using thousands of tiny LEDs across over 2,100 independently controlled dimming zones — instead of one big backlight — to deliver deep, true blacks right next to bright highlights without either washing out the other. The color comes from a finer color filter than TCL typically uses, resulting in more accurate, true-to-life color rather than the oversaturated look you've probably seen before. Pair that with an anti-reflective panel, and you get a picture that still looks good even if your living room isn't pitch black.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Aug. 28, 2026)

There's an AI chip running in the background, constantly adjusting picture clarity, contrast, color, and motion based on whatever you're watching, so you're not manually tweaking settings for every movie or show. It also runs Google's Gemini AI, which makes voice commands and recommendations feel a lot more natural.

For gaming, you're getting smoother motion and lower input lag thanks to TCL's Game Accelerator and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro — useful if you're playing fast-paced games and don't want the screen lagging behind your controller. And for sound, this TV's built-in speakers are tuned by Bang & Olufsen, with the option to add a wireless subwoofer and satellite speakers later if you want a fuller home theater setup.

Grab the 65-inch TCL QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV at Amazon while it's at its best-ever price.

Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel and gave it away for free. Anyone can take it, change it, and do whatever they like with it, as long as the changes they make are also available for free to everyone else.