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Game Freak’s enduring legacy is being the developer of the Pokémon franchise alongside Nintendo. While that certainly has its perks like keeping the office lights on, it shouldn’t be surprising that Game Freak wants to branch out. It’s been done so over the years with smaller games like Giga Wrecker Alt, Little Town Hero, and Tembo the Badass Elephant.

Now, Game Freak is back with the action-adventure game Beast of Reincarnation. It’s the studio’s biggest game yet, but is it big enough to step out from Pokémon’s massive shadow?

The combat is sublime, along with its breathtaking art direction and intriguing open-world zones. However, Beast of Reincarnation is muzzled by its confusing story pacing and dull cast of characters.

Not Nier enough Credit: Game Freak / Screenshot by George Yang

Beast of Reincarnation follows a young girl named Emma as she travels through a post-apocalyptic Japan to stop the titular monster from rising again and spreading a corruption called Blight. Much like Stellar Blade, Beast of Reincarnation attempts to emulate the profound themes of existentialism, artificial intelligence, sentience, and humanity found in the excellent Nier: Automata. But they fail to understand what made Yoko Taro’s masterpiece so compelling: the characters.

Emma isn’t exactly a riveting character up until the last few moments of the story. At that point, there’s a giant exposition dump explaining about how the world came to be. Characters that you met halfway through the story suddenly come back towards the end, and they somehow have some crucial involvement. The jarring pacing doesn’t really allow for much personal development of the side characters, let alone Emma’s.

It also doesn’t help that the English voice acting isn’t the best. It’s understandable that Emma is supposed to be an emotionless individual, given that she was an outcast due to her sickness. But Emma, and the rest of the cast, for that matter, sound incredibly bored throughout the entire journey. How can I get immersed if the characters themselves sound like they don’t even want to be there?

The subtitles are also astronomically tiny, with no options to make them bigger. This made it harder to follow the story, especially if you chose the Japanese voice acting instead.

A beautiful apocalypse Credit: Game Freak

Despite the underwhelming story, I enjoyed my time traveling through post-apocalyptic Japan in between cutscenes. While Beast of Reincarnation isn’t a true open-world, there’s plenty of places to explore. There are 12 distinct zones that you can travel between, with different environments showing off rustic forests, giant craters, and flooded dilapidated city ruins.

But what impressed me more was Beast of Reincarnation’s verticality. Since Emma is immune to the Blight, she’s able to manifest her plant-like powers through her hair to reach towering heights. I had a lot of fun scaling tall structures and creating ledges over the top of enemies so I could take them out unaware, Assassin’s Creed-style.

Emma’s canine companion, Koo, can also sniff out items and collectibles as they pass by, marking them. While some players might see this as cheapening the exploration, I found it to be really convenient and respectful of my time. In particular, I appreciated Koo’s sleuthing when it came to finding Dragon Shrines all across the different maps. When you accumulate enough, Emma is rewarded with extra stims to heal herself during battle.

Credit: Game Freak / Screenshot by George Yang

The game’s visuals are gorgeous, too. The realistic art direction is a departure from the cartoony and cute creatures we’ve seen Game Freak create for Pokémon. Sure, humanity has died out, but the hostile golems and blight-inflicted malefacts consisting of giant bears, birds, and deer still make the world feel lively. The emphasis on plant life also makes the environments feel hopeful, like a Studio Ghibli movie, rather than the catastrophic dread of a game like The Last of Us.

However, I wish boss battles were more unique. Many of them are against giant creatures called Nushi, but they all have almost the same attack patterns and even designs. I got tired of fighting the nearly identical huge four-legged creatures after the third time.

More bite than bark Credit: Game Freak / Screenshot by George Yang

Thankfully, the combat gives Beast of Reincarnation the much-needed claws, sinking into you and keeping you entertained. Though it might initially feel like a Soulslike at first because of the sharp difficulty curve, the game eventually provides you with more skills, opening the combat up to feel more like a straightforward action game.

There’s a heavy emphasis on parrying, similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Every time Emma successfully parries, her Entanglement meter fills up, which allows her to unleash devastating attacks with her hair. And when breaking an enemy’s stamina, she can perform flashy finishers. The flow of battle feels very satisfying, fast-paced, and fun.

Upon successfully parrying attacks, you activate the special abilities of Emma’s various katanas. There’s one where she recovers a portion of her health for a few seconds upon a successful parry, which was immensely helpful, especially during boss fights. My personal favorite katana was a late-game one that dealt additional poison and electric damage. I loved watching the crackling purple lightning strikes crash down whenever I swung my sword.

Credit: Game Freak / Screenshot by George Yang

While Koo fights autonomously, you can pull up a menu that slows down time and issue direct commands to him to use his own special attacks, such as summoning vines to immobilize enemies for Emma to unleash fury on, or conjuring a flowerbed that gradually restores her HP. It’s very similar to Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy’s “Classic” combat mode. It’s a beneficial feature that lets you have more control over Koo’s actions, and thematically strengthens the camaraderie between them.

At $60, Beast of Reincarnation is a good value for a 25-30 hour experience. By thoroughly exploring the world, you can get even more mileage out of it. It’s also available on Xbox Game Pass via the Ultimate tier.

You can play the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Beast of Reincarnation (PS5 and Xbox Series X) $59.99 at Amazon
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Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. have a lot to look forward to right now. Zoe Saldaña is back running black ops in a new season of Taylor Sheridan's highly anticipated series Lioness, there are a handful of UFC bouts to tap out with, and 71 movies were added in its big August 1 dump alone.

TL;DR: Protect nine devices with one lifetime subscription when you get the AdGuard Family Plan on sale for $15.97 through August 9.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

Most ad blockers stop at the browser and quit the moment you leave it, so every other app on your phone stays wide open to pop-ups and trackers. The AdGuard Family Plan works system-wide instead, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99).

Ads aren’t just annoying; they slow down your browsing, eat up your data, and sometimes even carry malware. And if you’ve got kids online, you want to make sure they’re safe from inappropriate content. The AdGuard Family Plan does all that and more. With built-in parental controls, you can filter out harmful sites and ensure your family’s online experience is both secure and enjoyable.

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With up to nine devices covered, the AdGuard Family Plan is ideal for households where everyone’s connected. And because it’s a one-time payment for lifetime access, you’ll never have to worry about recurring fees or annoying subscription renewals.

AdGuard also hides your activity from the trackers and analytics scripts that follow you around the web, so the data those companies would normally collect never leaves your device. It also blocks known phishing and malware sites before they load, which stops a bad link from turning into a bad afternoon.

AdGuard runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, so whichever mix of phones, tablets, and laptops your household runs, one purchase covers all nine slots.

Get an AdGuard Family Plan while they’re on sale for $16. Sale ends Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I recently got to spend a couple of hours of my workday playing with the new Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets, and my inner 8-year-old is still screaming. So, I'll put this the way a child might: I love the new Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets so much I want to marry them.

Seriously, though: These sets totally rule.

And as of Aug. 1, you can finally order these sets for your own personal Lego collection, and they're without a doubt some of the best new Legos we've seen in a while, and not just for Pokémon fans. Even if you've been skeptical of the Lego Smart Play system, I highly recommend giving these brickified monsters a chance.

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play collection All-In-One SET Lego Smart Play Pokémon Training House with Pikachu $69.99 at Amazon Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Mewtwo's Lab Break set $69.99 at Amazon Shop Now All-In-One Set Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set $119.99 at Amazon Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play Trainer's Buggy Adventure with Squirtle $29.99 at Lego Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play Charmander and Geodude's Cavern Clash set $19.99 at Lego Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play Eevee and Lapras's Treasure Hunt set $59.99 at Lego Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof set $19.99 at Lego Shop Now Lego Pokémon Smart Play Cubone and Gengar's Spooky Showdown set $89.99 at Amazon Shop Now

I'll admit that I was underwhelmed by the Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets released earlier this year. So I was a bit skeptical when Mashable got the chance to demo the new Lego Pokémon sets ahead of their launch. However, my Pokémon-loving colleagues and I had an absolute blast playing and geeking out over these sets.

Lego Charizard and Mewtwo in Battle Mode. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

I'm excited to break down how they work, which sets are coming, and whether they're worth adding to your Lego collection.

You can also hear some of the adorable noises they make for yourself:

What are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play sets? Charizard in all its glory. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Mashable has been following the Lego Smart Play rollout closely. We were there for the Smart Brick's big debut at CES 2026 and on hand for the London launch event for the Pokémon Smart Play Sets this summer.

Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable The Smart Brick enables interacitivity with the Mewtwo's Lab Break set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Smart Play system is built around a new Smart Brick, a modified 2x4 Lego piece. Lego crammed a lot of hardware into this brick, which features an accelerometer, microphones and speakers, LED lights, magnetic field sensors, a gyroscope, and a color sensor. The Smart Brick responds to Smart Tags included with the Smart Play sets, as well as various Smart Minifigures. An included wireless charger provides extra juice when the battery runs out.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Lego sets of 2026 so far, from F1 to Monet and Pokémon The Lego Smart Brick looks like a regular 2x4 Lego brick. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable Recharge your Smart Bricks with the included charging pad. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The end result is a Lego set that responds to your play. Now, your Lego Mini Figures can talk to each other. They also light up or make noises based on your movements.

Here's the Lego Jolteon with a Smart Brick. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets take this even further. Once you add a Smart Brick to Pikachu, Jolteon, or Geodude, your favorite Pokémon will start to make adorable little noises and talk to each other. You can feed them, train them, and even enter them into a battle mode. Once you do, you can charge up special powers, level up your Pokémon, and pit them against each other.

The Smart Brick sits right in Charizard's tummy. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable The Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets make incredibly cute noises

The real secret sauce behind the new smart Lego Pokémon sets? Pikachu, Squirtle, Bidoof, Geodude, Charmander, and Eevee make adorable little noises. They squeak and chatter back and forth when you place them near each other. When you push Squirtle's buggy around, it makes little choo-choo engine noises.

Lego Smart Play Training House with Pikachu Set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

And the pièce de résistance? The Pikachu Treehouse Set contains a hidden Murphy Bed. Place Pikachu or one of its smart friends on the bed, and they fall asleep and snore.

Lego Smart Play Pikachu takes a nap in the Training House. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

It's enough to make you squeal at the cuteness overload, which is exactly what we did as we played with these little monsters at the Mashable office.

The aforementioned battle mode is also really cool. Some of the sets come with training stations, where you can level up Pokémon for a better chance at winning a match-up. You can power up your Pokémon's special power (shake too hard, and the move fizzles out), dodge attacks, and generally just have fun.

These are just some of the primary interactive elements, and a lot of the fun here will be trying out new things. You can add the Smart Tags and Smart Bricks to different creatures to explore new ways to play.

Squirtle comes with a buggy and barbecue set, obviously. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Again, I've never been a huge Pokémon guy (I'm an OG Harry Potter nerd), and even I had a blast playing with these cute little dudes.

Remember: You need at least one "All-In-One" set

There is one thing I don't love about the Lego Smart Play sets: they don't all come with a smart brick. That's not as big of a deal here as it was with the pricey Star Wars sets, but check the product details carefully. You'll need to buy at least one set with a smart brick and charger (look for "Smart Play All-In-One" on the upper-right corner of the box). From there, you can build your own collection. I appreciate that the add-on sets start at $19.99, and you can get all-in-one sets starting at $69.99. Lego's prices aren't always so friendly.

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The adorable Training House with Pikachu and the Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle sets are both all-in-one kits that include Smart Bricks.

Geodude rocks! Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

You can also buy interactive "Smart Play Compatible" sets, which include:

• Mewtwo's Lab Break

• Eevee and Lapras's Treasure Hunt

• Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof

• Trainer's Buggy Adventure with Squirtle

• Charmander and Geodude's Cavern Clash

• Cubone and Gengar's Spooky Showdown

At least three of the sets are available on Amazon, and the rest are available at the Lego online store. Presumably, more smart Pokémon sets will be coming in the future.

Are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets worth it?

Absolutely! We had a blast playing with these sets, and we appreciate that there are lots of sets available for under $75, and some for under $25. If you love Lego and Pokémon, we think this one will be fun for all ages.

You can purchase these sets at the Lego online store and through Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Smart Play Pokémon Training House with Pikachu $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle Set $119.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

On October 14th, 1947, U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager pushed the Bell X-1 past the speed of sound over the California desert, becoming the first pilot in history to fly faster than Mach 1. Less than two decades later, Lockheed's Skunk Works division answered with the SR-71, a reconnaissance plane built to cruise at more than three times the speed of sound.

August on Netflix has arrived, and with it comes the anticipation for a handful of marquee new original movies the streamer will be trotting out in the coming weeks, including a sci-fi horror starring Greta Lee (The Last House) and, late in the month, a chilling-looking murder thriller (The Whisper Man) starring Adam Scott and Robert de Niro.

Your work laptop might be sharing a network with everything else you own (provided you work from home sometimes, that is). That's convenient, but it also gives a computer controlled by someone else's IT department far more local access than it needs.

It is no secret that Google is trying to incorporate Gemini into all of its products and services—if an app doesn’t have it yet, it's safe to say it will. However, the company recently turned the tables on this. Instead of incorporating the AI assistant into apps, it's putting the apps into Gemini.

I was on the brink of having to spend $100 more per month for AI because I was running out of tokens faster than they were replenishing. Little did I know a single change in how I used AI would make my tokens (and money) go further.

RAMageddon made the Apple MacBook Air more expensive. Now, it's making it harder to buy.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the global memory chip shortage is affecting supplies of the MacBook Air, Apple's bestselling mid-range laptop. This comes roughly five weeks after Apple raised the MacBook Air's price by $200 because of the same circumstances.

SEE ALSO: Apple price increases arrive: How much MacBooks and iPads will cost you now

"Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall," Gurman writes in the Aug. 2 edition of his Power On newsletter. He later adds: "From what I’ve heard, the MacBook Air shortage is indeed tied to the ongoing memory crunch."

Evidence of a possible MacBook Air shortage is emerging in Apple's online storefront. As Gurman points out, all configurations of the current 13- and 15-inch M5 MacBook Air are backordered there to as late as early September — more than a month out. The more RAM, the longer the wait.

Estimated shipping dates for various configurations of the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air as of Aug. 3, 2026. The 32GB variant of the 15-inch model was also delayed until mid-September. Credit: Apple / Mashable composite

At the time of writing, third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy were advertising one- to seven-day shipping for all of their in-stock MacBook Airs (depending on the size, color, storage, and memory options). However, that could change as their inventories dwindle.

Bloomberg's Gurman further reports that Apple is pushing the $1,999 base M5 MacBook Pro in favor of the Air as part of its back-to-school offer, which was delayed this year from June to July. Moreover, some of the company's ads for the promotion reportedly include a "MacBook Air subject to availability" disclaimer. Mashable could not independently verify this, though a screenshot of the ad was posted on X.

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As Mashable previously reported, Apple raised its MacBook and iPad prices in late June due to increased component costs related to the global memory shortage (aka "RAMageddon"). A surge in AI data center construction has made RAM and SSD storage chips scarcer, thus making other laptops and consumer tech devices more expensive. In the company's Q3 earnings call last week, outgoing CEO Tim Cook likened the phenomenon to "a 100-year flood."

In addition to implementing price increases, Apple has removed some configurations of its mac Mini and Mac Studio desktops from its online store amid RAMageddon. The company is reportedly lobbying the Trump administration for approval to buy memory components from a blacklisted Chinese chipmaker as a means of some relief, per the Financial Times.

Yet so far, at least, RAMageddon hasn't decimated Apple's bottom line. On the same earnings call, Cook said Macs had their "best June quarter yet," with revenue for the category jumping 29 percent year-over-year. The new budget MacBook Neo "has been especially popular," Cook noted, though the MacBook Air remains "the world's most popular laptop," he said.

OpenAI’s first brand trip came with private cabins, monogrammed pajamas, gourmet outdoor dinners, and jars of honey stamped with the company’s logo. Online, the luxury getaway became a much less relaxing conversation about AI.

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Over the weekend, the company flew a group of creators to Wildflower Farms, a luxury resort in New York’s Hudson Valley that bills itself as a "meaningful encounter with nature." The creators posted luxurious room tours — rates run roughly $1,500 to $3,100 per night — exploring the picturesque grounds, chatted with fellow content creators and OpenAI execs, and shared awe-struck clips with their tens to hundreds of thousands of followers.

"I'm still processing how insanely EPIC the last 72 hours has been," AI creator Justyn Warner wrote on Instagram. Warner said OpenAI flew him to New York for its "first ever brand trip," where he was surrounded by "some of the best creators on the planet and some of the brightest minds in AI."

The guest list leaned heavily toward people whose content already overlaps with technology, work, and entrepreneurship. Attendees included tech and career creator Megan Lieu; career and business creators Grace McCarrick and Avni Barman; software and fashion creator Sreya Halder (who has partnered with OpenAI before), among many other recognizable faces in the tech sphere.

For some social media users, the combination of artificial intelligence and a luxury wilderness retreat landed strangely. As posts from the weekend spread, attendees’ comment sections filled with questions about the environmental cost of AI, its effect on creative work, and why creators had agreed to help promote it in the first place.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. AI summer camp meets AI's environmental footprint

OpenAI could hardly have chosen a more on-the-nose setting for the weekend. Wildflower Farms sits on 140 acres in Gardiner, New York, surrounded by meadows, woodlands, orchards, and views of the Shawangunk Ridge.

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The resort, as glamorous and serene as it is, is an awkward backdrop for a company facing mounting questions about the physical infrastructure supporting its products.

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AI may feel like something that lives entirely on a screen, but every ChatGPT request must be processed by servers in data centers, many of which are equipped with specialized computer chips. Those chips draw electricity and generate considerable heat. Keeping them from overheating requires additional electricity and, at many facilities, large amounts of water.

The International Energy Agency projects that global data-center electricity consumption will more than double between 2024 and 2030, with servers primarily used for AI driving nearly half of that growth. In the United States, data centers directly consumed an estimated 17 billion gallons of water in 2023.

"The concept of attending an AI brand trip surrounded by nature while it actively hurts the environment is an incredible bit," one X user wrote in response to a now-deleted post by tech influencer @meshtimes. In the r/NYCinfluencersnark Reddit thread about the brand trip, another commenter asked whether business influencer Nat Lucy was "gazing at where the new data center is gonna go," in her post. "Did they promise you fresh water when we run out?" another commenter wrote.

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Communities are increasingly pushing back. At least 75 proposed data centers worth approximately $130 billion were delayed or blocked during the first three months of 2026, while a June report identified 430 local Facebook groups with more than 525,000 combined members opposing the projects.

OpenAI's latest proposal appears designed to get ahead of those concerns. On July 22, it announced Project Camellia, a data-center campus planned for rural Georgia. OpenAI promised the facility would use "minimal" water and would not increase residents’ electricity bills.

"We believe showing up early is the right way to build trust," the company said, while acknowledging that significant details about the project remain unresolved.

That emphasis on trust helps explain the value of bringing creators into the room. As psychologist and researcher Dr. Anna Kallschmidt said in a video regarding OpenAI's latest "unsurprising" brand trip, "Without trust, you have nothing. That is why these companies...are bringing these people in because they know people don’t trust them, and they’re hoping by bringing in faces that you trust, that trust will build onto [OpenAI]."

Kallschmidt added she receives an email "every other day" from an AI company interested in a brand deal, suggesting that OpenAI is part of a larger effort to find recognizable people who can make AI products feel more accessible.

That was precisely what bothered some people online: they saw OpenAI borrowing credibility that creators had already established with their audiences.

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One Reddit commenter warned about "AI companies utilizing influencers who are more than willing to be talking heads for a company’s narrative that they probably know so little about." Another added, "Not all money is good money."

Creators are defending themselves

Once the backlash reached attendees’ comment sections, some began explaining why they had accepted OpenAI’s invitation. Career and business creator Grace McCarrick responded directly to people questioning her decision to attend:

"If I have the opportunity to be in the room and hear from people who are at the helm of change, I can do that," McCarrick said in one TikTok response. "It's actually well within my moral system."

McCarrick also called the backlash "shocking AI psychosis" in a longer LinkedIn post, and said she had no idea so many people felt this strongly about the technology. "It didn’t for one second occur to me that it could be controversial," McCarrick wrote.

The backlash also caught the attention of tech journalist Taylor Lorenz. "Influencers are getting cancelled for going on the OpenAI brand summer camp weekend trip, which is very interesting bc I have not seen similar criticism towards influencers who have been attending Anthropic events," she wrote on X.

In a follow-up, Lorenz noted that McCarrick already publicizes consulting work for Amazon, Uber, and DoorDash. Why, she seemed to ask, had this OpenAI retreat suddenly become the partnership that crossed the line?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. OpenAI is investing in influence

This brand trip did not appear out of nowhere.

In February, OpenAI hired Charles Porch, Instagram's longtime vice president of global partnerships, for the newly created position of vice president of global creative partnerships. Porch spent more than 15 years at Instagram, Facebook, and Meta cultivating relationships with the kinds of people who can introduce a new platform or product to a much larger audience.

His résumé includes helping Beyoncé release her self-titled album exclusively on Instagram in 2013, convincing Pope Francis to join the platform, organizing activations at the Met Gala and Vanity Fair's Oscar Party, and overseeing a program that offered bonuses to creators who began posting on Instagram Reels.

That experience matters to OpenAI. Porch spent years convincing influential people to join a new platform and then turning their participation into moments that attracted everyone else. Now, he is applying that playbook to ChatGPT.

"I’m going to be the person that’s talking to creative communities around the world to figure out how we build the best products to serve them," Porch told Vanity Fair when his hiring was announced.

Porch is only one piece of that effort. On April 2, OpenAI acquired TBPN, a daily technology talk show hosted by Jordi Hays and John Coogan, in a deal worth somewhere in the "low hundreds of millions of dollars."

Often described as "SportsCenter for Silicon Valley," TBPN streams for three hours every weekday, mixing friendly executive interviews, industry gossip, and enthusiastic celebrations of new products and funding rounds. Its audience is relatively small but influential, including founders, investors, and technology executives. Guests have included Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Mark Cuban, and Altman, who has called it his "favorite tech show."

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University of Washington professor Margaret O'Mara told NPR that the purchase appeared partly intended to influence how people in the industry talk about OpenAI. In the same report, tech scholar Sara Watson described the company as facing a larger "narrative change problem" as the public grows more skeptical of the industry’s promises.

The Wildflower Farms retreat brought that effort outside the Silicon Valley bubble. OpenAI is clearly aiming to surround its products with people who already know how to attract attention, explain new technology, and build loyal audiences.

The trip definitely succeeded in getting people to talk about OpenAI, though the company may have preferred a different conversation.

Except for a few stragglers that are still getting updates, the world of smartphones has effectively transitioned to USB-C. This is a good thing, don't get me wrong! But it does highlight an issue with the USB-C connector itself and how it's implemented. Every time you plug a new USB-C cable into your phone, you don't actually know how well it will work. Why? Isn't it all the same? Sadly, I have the privilege of pulling back the curtain for you.

So, for some inexplicable reason, cassette tape collecting is now also a thing alongside vinyl. This time there aren't even any arguments about analog sound quality, it just seems to be a vibe but, hey, you do you!

It's the first full week of August, and Netflix has released its lineup of new shows and movies arriving in the coming weeks. As for TV, the Pogues will say goodbye in the fifth and final season of Outer Banks on August 20. One of the more exciting movies on the slate is The Whisper Man, a crime thriller starring Robert De Niro that premieres on August 28.

For anyone who wants to de-Google their phone, or at least limit how much data Google can collect on them, Google Maps is often the hardest app to replace. It's so slick and powerful that it's difficult for its rivals to match it. But I took the plunge with Magic Earth, a privacy-centric navigation app, and haven't looked back.

Microsoft's remote meeting software will lose major functionality on mobile soon if you don't update your app.

In a support note on its website (via TechRadar), Microsoft said that people who use the iOS or Android apps for Microsoft Teams need to update to the latest version of the app by the beginning of October. Users who fail to do that will lose access to the app's Calendar functionality, which would obviously be a big hindrance to anyone trying to keep track of when their meetings are supposed to happen.

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!

It should be stated that nothing is changing in the browser or desktop versions of Teams. This only applies to the mobile app.

"This change helps maintain a reliable calendar experience on iOS and Android devices and ensures compatibility with ongoing Teams service updates," the note said.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft will straight up give you a free pair of Sony XM6 headphones right now

No reason was given for why this feature would be shut off for those who fail to update, but TechRadar speculated that it had to do with the upcoming end-of-life for Microsoft's Exchange Web Services system. Updating the mobile Teams app will presumably get around that, allowing for continued use of the Calendar feature.

Don't miss any meetings, folks.

In the usual GPU release cycle, we're long overdue for a refresh. Nvidia's not released any new graphics cards since the RTX 50-series finished rolling out. Normally, we'd have expected to see the Super refresh at CES 2026 with a launch soon after ... so, now nearly eight months ago.

The OBD II port might seem like a convenient place to power a dash cam, especially with adapters that promise an easy, tool-free installation. But while it can work in some cases, it's generally not the best option for long-term use.

Save 14%: As of Aug. 3, you can pick up the Sony LinkBuds Clip on sale for $198 at Amazon and Sony, saving you $31.99 off their $229.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony LinkBuds Clip $198 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $31.99   Get Deal

Open earbuds options have never been more abundant, but if you're in the market for a cuff-style pair, you've probably seen the Bose Ultra Open earbuds recommended over and over again.

Don't get me wrong, they're great earbuds. They're also a hefty investment, a couple of years old, and far from your only worthwhile pair to look at. One of my other favorite options, the Sony LinkBuds Clip, are on sale for $198 at Amazon and Sony, down from their usual price of $229.99.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best open earbuds stay put, sound great, and keep us aware of the world

Like the Bose buds, they wrap in a cuff around the ear, providing a comfortable all-day wear. In my direct comparison of the two earbuds, I found that while the Sony's tended to run a bit quieter, they excelled at offering more clarity and detail in the audio — a feat which isn't easy for open earbuds. The battery life is also great, offering nine hours of playback per charge and 37 hours with the case overall. The LinkBuds Clip are also IPX4 rated, meaning you're in the clear to take them to the gym without much worry.

At $229.99, they're a solid value. At $198, however, they're even more approachable. It's not quite the $178 low we saw over Prime Day, but if you've been looking for a reliable pair of earbuds to keep you aware of the world around you while providing a great audio experience, you don't need to look any further.

What do Olivia Rodrigo, Munchlax, classical art, and the X-Files have in common?

That's right, they're all inspirations behind the newest Lego sets, once again proving that if you're a fan of something, there's probably a Lego set to match.

SEE ALSO: Our 15 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

The result is that Lego has quite the extensive catalog, even if you're just looking at the new releases, and even if you're just looking at Legos for adults. With the start of the new month, I did my due diligence to round up the best new Lego sets available. All told, I found 10 of the best new Lego sets for August, from a Botanicals pothos build and Pokémon you can actually battle with to Olivia Rodrigo flowers and a Jaguar E-Type. Check them out below.

Lego Minecraft Chicken Jockey

It's not just a phrase yelled by hordes of children during screenings of A Minecraft Movie — it's a Lego set, too. Most child fans of Minecraft are likely to appreciate this set, but I'm betting adult fans of the sandbox game will be at least a little tickled by what Lego has concocted.

Pieces: 344 Recommended age: 9+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Minecraft Chicken Jockey $29.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Creator 3-in-1 Floral Decor Perfume Bottle Nothing hits like a little perfume bottle decor. Credit: Lego

The fragrance industry is having a bit of a moment, so naturally, Lego needs to get in on the fun. This set dropped in June, so while it's not brand new, it's certainly worth a mention due to its popularity — at the time of writing, the set is currently on backorder, but will ship out by Aug. 15.

Pieces: 286 Recommended age: 8+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3-in-1 Floral Decor Perfume Bottle $29.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Hanging Golden Pothos I promise you: this is a plant you can keep alive. Credit: Lego

Even for the least green of thumbs, a golden pothos is a near-unkillable plant, but if you really want a test run or the certainty that it will actually never die, this Lego is a good alternative. It's one of several recent Botanicals additions, and while it's hard to pick favorites, the hanging vines of this set are quite unique and impressively accurate in their appearance.

Pieces: 372 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Hanging Golden Pothos $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet This set + you = <3 Credit: Lego

Can't get enough of crying listening to Olivia Rodrigo's latest album? Same! To keep the good times going, you can now listen and re-listen to Rodrigo's musical articulation of the blossoming and dissolution of a relationship while building a Lego bouquet inspired by her. The recommended age for this set is nine years plus, while the recommended age for experiencing the gut punch of familiarity on the song "Less" is never. If the flowers aren't your jam (or you need more bricks to put together while you go through her discography), there are four more Rodrigo-themed sets to check out.

Pieces: 400 Recommended age: 9+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet $49.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Pokémon Munchlax A king upon his throne. Credit: Lego

We'll get to the Lego Pokémon Smart Play sets shortly, but Munchlax deserves a moment. Look at him! There is no, and will never be, a Pokémon more suited to a Lego makeover than Munchlax. Perfect execution, no notes.

Pieces: 757 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Munchlax $69.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial E.T. phone home? More like E.T. in your home. Credit: Lego

Maybe Elliot didn't get to keep E.T. close, but you certainly can. (Btw, does anyone else habitually watch Henry Thomas's E.T. audition at least a couple times a year?) The Lego E.T. isn't exactly true to size — he stands at nine-and-a-half inches tall, but Lego nailed the shape, the point, and made it so you can rotate his head 360 degrees. So the important bases are covered.

Pieces: 1,226 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial $139.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Jaguar E-Type That's class, baby. Credit: Lego

I used to drive a green Mini Cooper, so I will admit to some bias regarding green British cars. That said, this model is stunning, and a good deal cheaper than buying a real Jaguar E-Type. While (shockingly) you can't drive it around, like a real car, you can look under the hood, fold back the roof, and store an included five-piece building kit in the trunk.

Pieces: 1,673 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Jaguar E-Type $139.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas 'The X-Files' The real Gillian Anderson is not included (unfortunately). Credit: Lego

Lego's site already features the copy, "The bricks are out there," so there's not much I can add to this conversation. What I will say is that this set features an alien, Scully, Mulder, a UFO, a spooky forest, and if you order between Aug. 1 and 10, a free mini set of Scully's lab. What more could an X-Files fan need?

Pieces: 1,478 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas 'The X-Files' $199.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade A no brainer buy for DK fans. Credit: Lego

Nostalgia peaks on this Donkey Kong arcade set. From the iconic red lettering to the barrels found in the original arcade game, this is Lego and Donkey Kong working together in beautiful tandem. And yes, you can actually release barrels and use the joystick to move Jumpman.

Pieces: 1,371 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade $199.99 at Lego
  Get Deal Lego Art Gustav Klimt 'The Kiss' Oil on canvas? No. Brick on brick. Credit: Lego

Will they hang Lego Art pieces in museums one day? Maybe they should, because the more releases from this brand, the more they make the case that the sets themselves are legitimate works of art. The latest addition, Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, is no departure. At $299.99, it's certainly an investment, but for a 4,000-piece set you can hang on the wall, you're getting a legitimate piece of decor. Unlike the rest of the August-release sets on this list, this one isn't available until Aug. 4, but man, does it look worth the wait.

Pieces: 4,000 Recommended age: 18+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Art Gustav Klimt The Kiss $299.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Smart Play Pokémon And with this we are one step closer to society's dream of Pokémon IRL. Credit: Lego

The Smart Play series has found its footing with the Pokémon sets. Though the Star Wars sets were interesting, Pokémon has breathed new life into the interactive design. There are plenty of sets to choose from: the Training House with Pikachu and Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle sets are complete kits with Smart Bricks. There are six additional sets that are Smart Play compatible: Mewtwo's Lab Break, Eevee and Lapras's Treasure Hunt, Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof, Trainer's Buggy Adventure with Squirtle, Charmander and Geodude's Cavern Clash, and Cubone and Gengar's Spooky Showdown. Mashable's Timothy Werth broke down all the new tech and got in some hands-on experience with the sets, but in short, the Smart Brick tech means the Pokémon make their signature noises (adorable), train, and battle your Pokémon.

Pieces: 88 to 831 Recommended age: 6+ to 10+

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Smart Play Pokémon sets From $14.99 to $119.99 Shop Now