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HBO Max's flagship releases for August—I’m looking at you, Lanterns, Mother Mary, and Conan O’Brien Must Go—are still a couple of weeks away, but U.S. subscribers to the prestige streaming service still have options. If you’re into reality TV, this week brings two brand-new series for you, as well as a recently launched comedy that's still rolling.

Android Auto makes it easier (and safer) to use your phone while driving—it also uses a lot of battery in the process. This is especially true for wireless Android Auto, but it can even cause the juice to drop while plugged in, too. One easy automation helps—and it makes a lot of sense.

Texas is putting a halt to data center projects that try to tap into public utilities under new regulations issued by Governor Greg Abbott.

The new order mandates the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) complete extensive audits of data center developers before they can connect to the state's utility grid. Notably, developers must provide information on "state and local tax incentives, grants, abatements, or other public financial assistance," prospective water and electricity use, and controlling interests in their projects.

SEE ALSO: How 3 very different people use AI chatbots

There are currently 1,800 projects awaiting ERCOT approval to join the state grid. Around 90 percent of them are for data centers, and the projects would cumulatively demand 474 gigawatts of electricity, according to the governor's office. The projected demand is more than five times the grid’s peak record, reported the Texas Tribune.

"Our top priority is to protect Texans’ safety and quality of life. Any project that fails to comply with the requirements set forth by the PUCT and ERCOT, and by state law, must be denied connection to the Texas grid. Simply put, Texans must come first," Abbott wrote in a press release issued Aug. 3.

Texas has been beset by power outages in recent years, including an infamous power crisis in 2021.

Texas is home to over 500 data center projects, according to the tracking website Data Center Map. Texas is second only to Virginia in the number of data centers, often referred to as the nation's "data center alley."

The proliferation of such centers in Texas has been linked to a regulatory permitting loophole that has allowed companies to build energy-intensive facilities without providing public notice, according to recent reporting by Wired. Many communities have said they feel blindsided by massive construction projects appearing in their backyards, and several coalitions have emerged calling for a statewide moratorium on all data center initiatives.

Recent crowdsourced data compiled by environmental advocate Erin Brockovich documented more than 1,300 residential complaints tied to utility usage and environmental health concerns from data centers — more than double the next highest state, Pennsylvania. Residents of Sulphur Springs, Texas, home to a controversial data center campus project led by MSB Global, have submitted nearly 400 complaints alone.

The state's new audit process will also require developers to provide plans to protect communities in surrounding areas, such as "noise mitigation, light controls, traffic improvements, and emergency response coordination," with the understanding that every community is "unique."

There are hundreds of Linux distros out there, and most of them are genuinely good—as long as they're used by the people they're designed for. The whole point of a Linux distro is to package the Linux kernel with a particular desktop environment, package manager, and system defaults fine-tuned for a specific type of user or workflow.

August just might be the hottest month on the calendar for HBO Max. House of the Dragon wraps one of its best seasons ever this coming weekend, Lanterns finally lights up mid-month with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, Anne Hathaway does something decidedly non-Devil Wears Prada-ish in Mother Mary, and Bob Odenkirk keeps his ass-kicking movie career going with Normal.

I run a NAS at home, and for a long time, I've been dragging and dropping files with almost zero wait time. So when my transfers started crawling for no obvious reason, I was pretty puzzled.

Google's teased notification LED for Pixel 11 phones might not be as transformative as you think. A leaked product image of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold indicates that the new feature, HiLight, will only have two functions.

Luxury badges no longer guarantee the best luxury experience. Over the past decade, mainstream automakers have dramatically improved the quality of their interiors, technology, and comfort, to the point where some family SUVs now rival premium brands while costing thousands less.

The internet moves fast. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend all day refreshing your browser to keep up with it.

Mashable push notifications deliver our latest news, trending stories, and hottest deals directly to your screen. Here’s how to turn them on in just a few clicks.

Google Chrome on Android

1. Open Chrome and visit Mashable.com.

2. Tap the three-dot menu to the right of the address bar.

3. Select Settings, followed by Site settings and Notifications.

4. Make sure notifications are enabled.

5. Return to Mashable. Tap the site information icon to the left of the address bar, select Permissions, and set Notifications to Allow.

Google Chrome on a PC or Mac

1. Visit Mashable.com.

2. Click the View site information icon to the left of the URL in your address bar.

3. Select Site settings from the menu.

4. Find Notifications and select Allow from the dropdown menu.

5. Return to Mashable and refresh the page.

That’s it. We’ll take it from here.

Safari on a Mac

1. Open Safari and visit Mashable.com.

2. When Safari asks whether you would like to receive notifications from Mashable, select Allow.

3. If the request doesn’t appear, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications. Find Mashable and select Allow. You should also make sure Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications is turned on.

Microsoft Edge

1. Visit Mashable.com.

2. Click the site information icon to the left of the URL.

3. Open Permissions for this site.

4. Find Notifications and select Allow.

5. Return to Mashable and refresh the page.

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1. Visit Mashable.com.

2. When Firefox asks whether Mashable can send notifications, select Allow.

3. If you don’t see the prompt, open the Firefox menu and go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll to Permissions, find Notifications, and click Settings. Locate Mashable, change its status to Allow, and save your changes.

Help! I signed up, but I’m not receiving notifications

If you followed the steps above but Mashable alerts remain suspiciously absent, don’t worry. A browser or device setting may be getting in the way.

1. Check your browser settings

Start by returning to Mashable.com and clicking the site information icon beside the URL. Make sure Notifications is set to Allow.

You can also check the notification permissions in your browser’s settings:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications

• Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications

• Safari: Settings > Websites > Notifications

• Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications

Find Mashable and confirm that notifications are allowed.

2. Check your device settings

Your browser may have permission to send alerts while your computer is quietly blocking them.

On a Mac, open System Settings > Notifications. Select the browser you used to sign up, turn on Allow notifications, and choose Banners or Alerts as the notification style. On older versions of macOS, you may find these controls under System Preferences.

On a Windows PC, open Settings > System > Notifications. Make sure notifications are turned on for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or whichever browser you used.

3. Make sure notifications aren’t silenced

Finally, check whether a focus setting has put your alerts on mute.

On a Mac, open Control Center > Focus and make sure Do Not Disturb is turned off.

On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Notifications and check that Do not disturb is disabled. If you’re using Windows 10, open Focus assist and make sure it is not set to Alarms only.

Once those settings are cleared, Mashable notifications should be free to make their grand entrance.

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Barbara Pavone contributed to this article.

One of the easiest ways to make an Excel report unreliable is to forget one tiny step: refreshing the PivotTables behind it. Microsoft recognized the problem and announced Auto Refresh a year ago, but the feature still hasn't reached my version of Excel.

If you've got an old Android tablet, and you don't know what to do with it, there are plenty of apps out there that can make it almost as useful as it was when it was fresh out of the box. All the apps featured below are free (or have free versions that retain most of the features of their paid counterparts), work on older versions of Android (every app supports at least Android 8.0 Oreo), and are very lightweight.

In the creator world, one of the biggest questions surrounding AI has been how creators should disclose to audiences that they're using AI. Platforms like YouTube rolled out AI labels. Companies built watermarking tools. Creators openly debated where ChatGPT fits into their workflow and when its use should be disclosed. The underlying assumption was that audiences wouldn't mind AI so long as they knew it was there.

SEE ALSO: Hank Green apologizes for relying too heavily on ChatGPT

Hank Green's recent apology suggests that assumption may no longer hold.

Although the longtime science creator said ChatGPT didn't write his scripts — and Complexly later clarified it wasn't used to write, edit, or fact-check the video that sparked the controversy — many of Green's viewers are still uncomfortable with the role AI played in his research process. The backlash wasn't really about whether Green disclosed his use of AI. It was that, for some viewers, any use of ChatGPT raised questions about the integrity of the creative process itself.

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Every era of the internet develops its own authenticity tests. At various points, creators have been accused of buying followers, secretly outsourcing content, overusing Photoshop, or faking candid moments for engagement. Generative AI has quickly become the latest measure by which audiences evaluate whether creative work feels "real."

Few internet creators seem better positioned to experiment with artificial intelligence than Green, whose career has been built on helping audiences understand emerging technologies without sensationalizing or dismissing them. If audiences should expect any creator to have firsthand experience with large language models before explaining their capabilities and limitations to millions of viewers, it would seem to be someone like him.

At the same time, Green's audience has always expected that the curiosity behind his work is entirely his own. His Reddit post suggests he believes that, too.

He described how using the chatbot had subtly changed the way he approached research. While AI helped him discover papers and resources more quickly, he wrote, it also prevented him from finding his "own ways into and around a topic."

It's an observation that feels increasingly familiar as generative AI becomes more deeply embedded in creative work. The concern isn't always that AI will fabricate information or replace human creativity altogether. It's that by making the early stages of the creative process frictionless — brainstorming, outlining, searching for sources — it may also change how ideas take shape in the first place.

View on Threads Creators aren't asking for permission to use AI

Despite controversies like this, AI adoption among creators continues to grow.

Adobe's 2026 Creators' Toolkit Report, which surveyed more than 16,000 creators across multiple countries, found that three-quarters of creators now describe AI as either integrated into or essential to their workflow. Nearly nine in 10 said AI had helped grow their business or audience. Yet the same report found that most creators also believe audience expectations around AI disclosure are increasing, underscoring the disconnect between how common these tools have become behind the scenes and how audiences feel about them.

The backlash Green received reflects that gap. Many of the comments in response to his apology didn't accuse him of deception. Instead, they questioned whether AI should have been involved in the research process at all. One Reddit user argued that if the pressure to produce a video meant turning to ChatGPT instead of a human researcher, "we don't need the video." Another described AI as creating the illusion of productivity while merely "pushing the food around on your plate."

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If trust is the currency of the creator economy, some viewers worry AI has the potential to devalue it. Green's comments didn't just prompt scrutiny of his own workflow; they also raised questions about creators more broadly. As one Bluesky user put it, "The thing about Hank Green using AI is not only that it mars his credibility forever, but it has now cast a large, looming shadow of doubt over all my favorite video essayists and their own usage of AI in their research and even writing process."

For years, the creator economy rewarded speed. Platforms favored consistency, algorithms rewarded frequent uploads, and creators often found themselves under pressure to produce more content than ever before. Generative AI arrived promising to make that pace sustainable by summarizing research, organizing ideas, drafting outlines, and handling repetitive tasks that once consumed hours.

Green's response suggests that promise comes with tradeoffs. In his Reddit post, he described the "dopamine" he was getting from interacting with large language models and from doing "more and more and more and more." The technology wasn't simply helping him work faster. It was encouraging him to work differently.

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Green's apology also arrives at a moment when audiences are becoming increasingly vigilant about AI's presence online, sometimes to the point of overcorrection.

Audiences are on alert for any sign of AI

Over the past year, creators, artists, authors, and even hobbyists have found themselves defending work accused of being AI-generated despite insisting it wasn't. On Archive of Our Own (AO3), fanfiction writers have been accused of using ChatGPT for everything from sentence structure to frequent em dashes, prompting moderators and readers to warn against turning AI detection into a form of online vigilantism. Digital artists have similarly found themselves pressured to prove paintings were created by hand after viewers mistook stylistic choices for AI artifacts.

At the same time, audiences have shown little hesitation in criticizing brands and creators that openly embrace generative AI. Coca-Cola's AI-assisted holiday campaign drew criticism for prioritizing technology over artists. Duolingo faced consumer backlash after announcing an "AI-first" strategy that many users interpreted as a move to replace human workers. In gaming, publishers have faced criticism for AI-generated marketing materials, while indie developers have seen games scrutinized for suspected AI-generated assets.

AI has become something of a reputational minefield. Use it, and audiences may question the authenticity of your work. Avoid it, and you may still find yourself defending against accusations that you used it anyway.

Rather than defend that workflow, Green announced he would slow down. He plans to publish fewer videos on @Hankschannel, pause development on two daily online word games, and spend more time creating videos where, as he put it, "the writing was the whole thing."

That decision feels notable, especially as creators across industries wrestle with the same pressures. AI companies often frame large language models as productivity tools, promising to eliminate busywork so people can focus on what matters most. Green's experience points to a more complicated reality. Sometimes the busywork — the rabbit holes, the dead ends, the unexpected paper you stumble across while looking for something else — is part of the creative process itself.

Whether audiences ultimately agree with Green's use of ChatGPT is almost beside the point. His apology illustrates how much the conversation around AI has changed in just a few years. The debate is no longer confined to disclosure or labeling. As generative AI becomes more common behind the scenes, audiences are paying closer attention to where it enters the creative process and where they believe the line should be drawn.

And for creators whose careers depend on trust, that distinction may become one of the defining challenges of the AI era.

Mini PCs are becoming the go-to solution for desktop computing in 2026. Unless you have a very specific need, a mini PC likely will serve you well. I recently found out that my mini PC could be powered over USB—something my full-size desktop never could dream of. Plus, five other overlooked things that I didn't realize a mini PC could do until recently.

A movie date can tell you a lot about a person. For some women who went to see The Odyssey, it may have told them too much.

Since Christopher Nolan's epic arrived in theaters, women have been sharing what happened when their dates encountered Odysseus, the Trojan Horse, and nearly 3 hours of Greek mythology.

The results have included questionable ticket purchases, confidently incorrect movie trivia, and at least one reaction to a plot development that has been public knowledge for roughly 2,700 years.

On Aug. 2, TikTok user @.finfan posted that her boyfriend "gasped when they came out of the Trojan Horse."

"Is he still your bf?" one asked. Another offered a correction: "*Ex boyfriend." Clearly, not all men are as obsessed with the Roman Empire as the internet led us to believe back in 2023.

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Some commenters diagnosed the moment as a prime example of an "intelligence ick," a loss of attraction triggered by something that makes a person question their partner's knowledge or critical thinking.

People don't necessarily mean IQ when they describe an intelligence gap in a relationship. As Vice explained, they’re often responding to differences in curiosity, communication style, emotional awareness, or whether they get each other's references. A 2023 study of more than 3,000 Finnish and Dutch twin-spouse pairs found that partners tended to have similar levels of education. The researchers concluded that educational background and shared social circles both influenced whom people chose as partners.

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Of course, knowing the story of the Trojan Horse is hardly a reliable measure of intelligence. It may simply come down to what someone learned in school or encountered growing up. But when a partner does not recognize something you assumed was common knowledge, that difference can suddenly feel much bigger.

The Trojan Horse was only the start of the ick conversation, though.

One woman said her date confidently told her The Odyssey was directed by James Cameron. Another discovered that her self-described "film bro" did not know what 70mm IMAX was.

Meanwhile, the man onscreen was making some real-life dates look worse. "I fear the bar has been risen when it comes to dating," one creator wrote, referring to Odysseus' (Matt Damon) determination to return to his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), after a decade apart.

SEE ALSO: Are all men obsessed with the Roman Empire? We investigate.

The specificity of these complaints is funny, but they are circulating at a time when many women already feel exhausted by dating.

A 2025 study found that 80 percent of women reported experiencing some level of dating-app burnout, compared with 74 percent of men. Respondents blamed the difficulty of finding a connection, disappointment, rejection, repetitive conversations, and endless swiping.

Still, one ick does not necessarily mean it is time to end the relationship. An awkward comment or missing piece of movie knowledge may be harmless, especially if everything else is going well. Nevertheless, the "ick can also save us a lot of time in simply giving small flags of general incompatibility," writer Kitty Winks wrote for Mashable back in 2023.

Icks can also be influenced by internet dealbreakers — kind of like these. A 2022 study found that 35 percent of respondents had been influenced by icks they encountered online. So before sending a date on his own odyssey home, it may be worth deciding whether the ick is yours or TikTok's.

After setting up my Bambu Lab P2S last week, I set about doing what anyone does with a new toy: thoroughly testing it out. After printing the usual poop-chutes and toolboxes, I recalled something I added to my printing list roughly six months ago. I had no idea it would print so well.

SAVE $49.01: As of August 4, get the 11-inch A16 Apple iPad for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449. That's a discount of 11%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $399.99 at Amazon
$449 Save $49.01   Get Deal

If you've been looking for a new tablet, an iPad is always a good idea, especially when you can get one for a low price. The 11-inch A16 iPad is back on sale again for an extremely palatable discount, so if you've been biding your time and waiting to get your hands on one, now's your opportunity to do so.

As of August 4, get the 11-inch A16 Apple iPad for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449. That's $49.01 off and a discount of 11%. This price applies to the Silver and Blue colorways only for right now, as the Pink and Yellow options are not similarly discounted.

SEE ALSO: Apple launching its first water-resistant iPad soon

This A16-powered iPad is a fast and responsive model that'll give you smooth, reliable performance. Whether you're gaming, taking photos, editing media, or browsing the internet, it can do all with gusto and zip. Thanks to its Liquid Retina display, it can give you a crisp, colorful picture that's both responsive and comfortable to use. Its 11-inch display gives you sharp detail, and True Tone technology will automatically adjust the screen based on your surroundings.

This model offers USB-C charging and connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, and a lengthy all-day battery life so you can keep using it while on the go. And if you want to give it even more purpose, you can use an Apple Pencil or Apple Magic Keyboard to turn it into a "laptop" of sorts to help you get more done on the go, or just give yourself a more comfortable user experience.

Whatever you decide to use it for, this affordable iPad is a great deal that you'll want to snap up before it's gone -- especially if you know someone with a birthday coming up or if you want to save it for a holiday gift.

Breaking into the top tier of the compact SUV segment has never been easy. Buyers in this class expect practicality, efficiency, modern technology, and strong value, which means even a complete redesign isn't always enough to shake up the established order. Any newcomer hoping to climb the rankings has to prove it can improve on a formula that's already been refined for years.

SAVE $700: The 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED GX9 curved gaming monitor (45GX900A-B) is on sale at Amazon for $999.99, down from the normal price of $1,699.99. That's a 41% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED GX9 curved gaming monitor (45GX900A-B) $999.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $700   Get Deal

We can often rationalize getting a little treat here and there. A nice iced coffee, a pastry, or a pizza on Friday night are all small ways to pat yourself on the back. But sometimes, we deserve a bigger treat. If you're a gamer who's in the mood for an excellent upgrade, check out this deal.

As of Aug. 4, the 45-inch LG Ultragear curved gaming monitor (45GX900A-B) is on sale at Amazon for $999.99, down from the normal price of $1,699.99. That's a 41% discount that takes a major $700 off.

There's something next level about using a curved gaming monitor that also happens to be massive. The LG Ultragear has an 800R curve that pairs well with its 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03 millisecond response time. Additionally, it can reach up to 1,300 nits of brightness on the crisp OLED display. LG mentions this is the Ultragear's brightest OLED.

The immersive experience is made even better thanks to the low glare and flicker-free display LG incorporated with this model. You can also use advanced gaming features like black stabilizer to brighten dark scenes and crosshair to enhance precision.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your study setup for under $100 with this rare Sony noise-canceling headphones deal

The multitasking hub is great for both gaming and replying to work emails. There's an HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and USB-C with a 65W power delivery.

Consider gifting yourself a huge treat for once while the 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED GX9 curved gaming monitor (45GX900A-B) is on sale at Amazon for $999.99.

Microsoft says the WiFi at your hotel might be compromised.

In a post on its Threat Intelligence website (via ABC News), Microsoft warned of a new hacking operation called "CaptiveCrunch," which the company claimed had some ties to Russia.

Starting in May, Microsoft said it had observed a "widespread compromise of Wi-Fi networks at hospitality-related organizations," including WiFi networks at hotels.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Teams users will lose Calendar access in weeks unless they update

The hacking operation works by tricking users to download malicious files via pop-ups that appear when connecting to a hotel WiFi network. Those who are doing this are able to get screenshots and keystrokes, and can even remotely hijack devices if necessary. There are also fake login screens that could give the hackers access to a user's personal email address.

According to Microsoft, the best way to avoid this is to use something more private when traveling, like a mobile hotspot. If that's not an option and you must use hotel WiFi, be on the lookout for any kind of pop-up window that appears after logging into the network. These can appear as Windows Update pop-ups or other kinds of update windows you might normally see on your device, but if they appear right as you've logged into hotel WiFi, they might be up to something.

In other words, if you aren't expecting any kind of update pop-up, maybe avoid any of them that appear.

A quick look at the best back-to-school sales Target Save on backpacks and lunchboxes, school supplies Shop Now Owala Save 20% sitewide Shop Now Best Buy Save up to 50% on Chromebooks and Windows laptops, dorm TVs, headphones, and more Shop Now Pottery Barn Teen Save up to 60% on bedding, organizers and shower caddies, decor, and more Shop Now

Back-to-school season is one of the calendar year's most reliable jump scares. While we grapple with how fast summer went by, back-to-school sales are here to get us excited about the fall.

These deals on school stuff don't just have to be for students heading back to class. Anyone can take advantage of pens and pencils, cute notebooks, nice water bottles, and laptops on sale for a productivity boost heading into the new season.

SEE ALSO: Tech keeps getting more expensive. That's why these 4 cheap laptops are so special.

We're tracking the best back-to-school sales in 2026 below. More retailers are sure to kick off their sales as we wade through August, so be sure to pop back to this list closer to your start date.

School supplies

• Amazon — save up to 50% on mechanical pencils, folders, Sharpies, glue, and more

• Staples — save up to 70% on pens and pencils, notebooks, erasers, pouches, and more, plus 25% off backpacks

• Target — save up to 60% on pencils, notebooks, folders, art supplies, and more

Water bottles and lunch supplies

• Owala — save 20% sitewide

• Target — save 20% on select lunch kits and water bottles

Laptops, tablets, and more tech

• Back Market — save an extra $50 on refurbished tech with code BACK2COOL

• Best Buy — save up to 50% on Chromebooks and Windows laptops, MacBooks, Galaxy tablets, AirPods, monitors, and more

• Lenovo — save up to 34% on laptops like the Yoga 7 or Chromebook Duet, plus up to 51% on wireless mice and keyboards

Dorm gear and organization tools

• Best Buy — save up to $500 on Windows PCs, Roku TVs, compact refrigerators, headphones, and more

• Buffy — save 20% on eco-friendly cooling comforters and sheet sets

• Pottery Barn Teen — save up to 60% on bedding, organizers and shower caddies, decor, and more

• Rugs Direct — save up to 70% sitewide, including washable area rugs

• Skylight — save $100 on the Skylight Calendar

• Target — save up to 40% on storage and organization bins

• Urban Outfitters — save 30% on comforters, decor, lamps, and more dorm essentials

• Walmart — save on small TVs, Keurigs, vacuums, and more

Clothes

• Adidas — save up to 40% on select sneakers and backpacks

• Nike — save 25% on select styles with code DAYONE

• Old Navy — save on all jeans plus get an extra 30% off your purchase with code EXTRA