Blogroll

Changing these Google Maps settings instantly improved my morning commute

How-To Geek - 54 min 47 sec ago

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get to work or an appointment on time and being slowed down by things out of your control—or are they? By making a few small changes in Google Maps, you can help make your morning commute less of a headache.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new movies worth watching this week across Netflix, Prime Video, and more (March 23-29)

How-To Geek - 1 hour 9 min ago

I don't know about you, but I love discovering a movie for the first time. There's something special about sitting down to watch a new film, knowing you only get one chance to experience that certain feeling. It's exciting.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Torrents, surveillance footage, and caches are filling your best SSD with garbage

How-To Geek - 1 hour 24 min ago

At a time when expensive SSDs are, well, ridiculously expensive, using your best NVMe drive for trivial tasks feels even worse than it ever did before. And yet, many of us clutter those ultra-fast drives with apps that are wasting space and resources.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop buying smart home buttons–these NFC tags do the same thing for less than $1

How-To Geek - 1 hour 39 min ago

Perfect automation is the ultimate goal for my smart home, but until I reach that point, there are times when I need to make things happen manually. I've used smart buttons in my home, but I often prefer NFC tags, which can do the job for a fraction of the price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop guessing what’s slowing down Linux. Do this instead

How-To Geek - 1 hour 54 min ago

With Linux, especially if you're new, it can be confusing when the operating system slows down—seemingly out of the blue. It can happen with any OS, but you might know how to pinpoint it on Windows, yet not Linux.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wikipedia has banned AI-generated text, with two exceptions

How-To Geek - 2 hours 57 sec ago

Wikipedia, the beloved online encyclopedia, has debated for a while on how to handle the use of large language models (LLMs) in articles. Now, the practice is officially banned, save for a few exceptions in editing and translation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best AirPods deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — save on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3

Mashable - 2 hours 6 min ago
A quick look at the best early Amazon Spring Sale AirPods deals: Best AirPods 4 Deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best AirPods Max deal AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal

It's official: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back and ready to deliver another batch of deals for shoppers. If you're itching to see what the retailer has available for this year's event, the good news is you don't have to wait for its start date (it runs from March 25 to 31). Already, we've spotted quite a few offers worth checking out, including some stellar deals on Apple AirPods.

The AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 (both with and without ANC), and first-gen AirPods Max are already on sale at Amazon. If you've been looking to score new earbuds or headphones to pair with your Apple tech this year, we've gathered up our favorite early AirPods deals below.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale — save on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks

Note that no AirPods have returned to their lowest prices on record yet, so there's always a chance they could get cheaper. We'll be sure to update this page if new deals go live once the sale starts.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

FYI: You don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to shop the sale, but members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not looking to drop a ton of cash on new earbuds, one of our favorite early deals is on the AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation. These AirPods have dropped to just $99 at Amazon, saving you $30 on list price. We think these are the best budget earbuds for Apple users.

If you had your eye on the AirPods 4 with ANC, the good news is those are also on sale right now. They are currently marked down to just $148.99 at Amazon, or about $30 off their original list price of $179. So no matter which option you choose, you can save some cash right now.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 are some of our favorite earbuds for Apple users, earning spots on both our lists of the best headphones and best earbuds. Our review had high praise for them, with writer Adam Doud calling them, "a remarkable upgrade in functionality over their predecessors, with better battery life and ANC, as well as a new heart rate sensor."

Boasting great sound quality and noise-cancelling features, alongside a hefty battery life that can last up to eight hours (with ANC) on a single charge, these AirPods are a nice upgrade indeed. Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, they're marked down to $199.99.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Best AirPods Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $99.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Premium noise-canceling headphones from brands like Sony and Bose are a much better value, but AirPods Max remain a popular pick nonetheless. (If nothing else, they're super stylish.) Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 with better ANC and smart features earlier this month, and now the first-gen models with USB-C charging are on sale on Amazon for $449.99. That's about $100 off their regular retail price of $549.

Read Mashable's full review of the first-generation Apple AirPods Max.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best iPad deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — score new iPads at all-time low prices

Mashable - 2 hours 12 min ago
Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple iPad deals: Best iPad deal overall Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $349 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4 $559 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just a few days away, running from March 25-31. This event typically sees of all kinds of products with heavy discounts, giving you an early-year treat before the major sales events get going later in the year.

The Amazon Spring Sale is a good time to pick up pricier buys, whether that’s a robot vacuum, a TV or an Apple product. And if you’ve been eyeing up an iPad, some models have already dropped in price ahead of next week’s sale. We’ve pulled together the best live deals to make things easier.

Best iPad deal overall Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $299 at Walmart
$349 Save $50   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

The 11-inch iPad packs a serious punch thanks to the A16 chip, Liquid Retina display, and fast Wi‑Fi, making it perfect for everything from streaming to editing. We've even ranked it as our favorite budget iPad for 2026. It has iPadOS, support for Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, and a 12MP Center Stage front camera, so it really is a perfect all rounder.

More iPad deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Short-stroking was the hard drive hack that actually worked—until SSDs made it pointless

How-To Geek - 2 hours 24 min ago

Back when SSDs were a distant future, and we were all using hard drives, there wasn't really much speed to choose other than 5400 rpm and 7200 rpm. So we had to rely on sloppy hacks and tricks to get our drives working faster. One common trick was short-stroking.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best MacBook deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - 2 hours 26 min ago
A quick look at Amazon's best MacBook deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale: Best MacBook Air deal (to grab now) Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal (that will probably get better soon) Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,799 (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Neo deal (that's barely a deal) Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal

Amazon is gearing up to host its third annual Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31. The event mainly revolves around seasonal essentials like cleaning supplies and outdoor gear, but in the past, it's also featured deals on tech — including flagship Apple products. Since the company just refreshed (and expanded) its MacBook lineup earlier this month, I'm thinking Amazon will put a big focus on clearing out its remaining inventory of last-gen laptops.

In the days leading up to the sale, I'm already seeing some pretty great deals on M4 MacBook Airs. Amazon's biggest discount thus far is going to a 15-inch model with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is now $300 off — its lowest price ever. (No other MacBook is more than $250 off right now.) That's one deal I would definitely grab ahead of time, before the Big Spring Sale officially starts, in case it sells out. Apple has discontinued the M4 MacBooks, so once third-party retailers' supplies dry up, they'll only be available on the refurbished market.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

Less exciting are Amazon's early Big Spring Sale deals on M4-era MacBook Pros. There's only one model left in stock at the moment, and it's on sale, but it's still a full $200 away from its lowest price on record. I wouldn't add it to my cart until the sale starts in case it gets cheaper then. (It only has 512GB of storage, anyway — its succesors now start with 1TB.)

The brand-new M5 MacBook Airs and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are all $50 off ahead of the Big Spring Sale, and that's probably going to be as cheap as they get for now. The then-new M4 models got the same discount during last year's sale. Look for better deals in a couple months around Amazon's summer Prime Day sale.

The same applies to the MacBook Neo, Apple's all-new budget laptop. The variant with 512GB of storage and Touch ID is $689.99 on Amazon right now (or $9 off), which is technically its lowest price there ever, but that's not worth pouncing on when the Apple Store's $100 education discount exists.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to a record-low price.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,299 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air may be a last-gen laptop, but it's still an incredibly capable ultraportable. In multitasking scenarios and heavier tasks like video editing, it's faster than nearly 80 percent of the models in our current testing database (including much pricier Windows laptops). It has the same 12MP Center Stage webcam, Liquid Retina display, and 18-hour battery life as its fresher M5 counterpart, which just offers slightly faster performance and newer wireless connectivity. This particular model is well future-proofed amid the ongoing RAM crunch — thanks, AI.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsMacBook Pro dealsMacBook Neo deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

These 6 browser extensions are winning the war against invasive websites

How-To Geek - 2 hours 53 min ago

The web began by empowering users, serving us with static content that could be repurposed and tailored to whichever device was in use. But, slowly, websites have wrestled back control, enforcing their own preferences for style and behavior.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Switching to Linux saves you money in more way than one

How-To Geek - 3 hours 3 min ago

While mobile devices are fine for chatting, reading, and watching, sometimes you need a real computer to get work done. But, it's become expensive to keep Windows PC up to date. Switching to Linux means you can keep using your old PC, and save money in other ways, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 trending Prime Video movies to watch this week (March 23 - March 29)

How-To Geek - 3 hours 9 min ago

Alas, spring has sprung, and as we roll through this last week of March, we’re doing so with some of the trending movies on Amazon Prime Video this week.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Check out some of the best Apple Watch deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale - Save on Series 11 and SE 3 models

Mashable - 3 hours 18 min ago
The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Series 11 Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299.00 (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219.00 (save $30) Get Deal

We're just a few days away from Amazon's Big Spring Sale — which kicks off on March 25 and runs all the way to March 31 — but quite a few deals have already begun to appear. For Apple users, this includes some very nice discounts on Apple Watches. If you've been hoping to pick up one of these sleek smartwatches, without dropping the full amount on them, both Series 11 and SE 3 models are on sale right now.

We've gathered up just a few of our favorite early Apple Watch deals available at Amazon right now, so you can save on the ones that catch your eye. As we get closer to the sale's official start, we'll update this with more deals and price adjustments as they happen, too.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best early Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a smartwatch we think very highly of, earning a spot on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best Apple Upgrade', and this $100 discount on the 42mm with GPS model is well worth taking advantage of. It marks its lowest-ever price point at the retailer, so what better time to grab it?

Mashable's Stan Schroeder, who reviewed it, said it's worth upgrading to for the battery life alone. He said, "Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night. With the new Sleep Score feature, this is more important than ever." Multiple versions of this smartwatch are on sale right now as well, which you can see below.

More Apple Watch Series 11 dealsBest early Apple Watch SE 3 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 at Amazon
$249 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a great choice for those who just want the basics of a smartwatch. It landed on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best for most people' because, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch — all for $150 less than the Series 11."

Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, its 40mm model has dropped down to $219. That saves you $30. It's not the only one on sale right now, though. Below we've included a few more versions of the SE 3 that have been discounted at the retailer, so you can scoop up your preferred model and save some cash.

More Apple Watch SE 3 deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I’m so glad I gave this unique Android launcher a second chance

How-To Geek - 3 hours 23 min ago

Niagara Launcher is famous for reinventing the Android home screen. I love the concept, but I’ve never been able to fully stick with it. Recently, I decided to install Niagara again, and this time it feels different for a few reasons.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale — save on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks

Mashable - 3 hours 29 min ago
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple deals at a glance: Best AirPods deal AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $735.49 (save $63.51) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 (save $250) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best AirTag deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has been confirmed for its third year, running from March 25-31. The retailer is set to roll out wide-ranging discounts across multiple categories, with prices dropping on items like robot vacuums, TVs, and even daily essentials. And while they didn't come right out and say it, if there's one thing we can all but guarantee, it's that the sale will feature plenty of discounts on top Apple products.

Apple has had a busy month, with the launch of its first-ever budget MacBook, upgraded MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, a new iPad Air, the iPhone 17e, and even AirPods Max 2. This means we could not only see first-time discounts on the new slate of products, but also new record-low prices on the previous generations during the Big Spring Sale. We'll be tracking prices leading up to and throughout the official event, so keep an eye on this page for the latest and greatest deals.

If you don’t want to wait, early discounts have already started to land. We’ve rounded up the best Apple deals you can shop right now ahead of the sale.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

We've always been fans of the AirPods Pro, but the third generation really takes them to new heights. Mashable's reviewer called them, "without a doubt, one of the best products of the year" in 2025. The latest premium buds feature outstanding noise cancellation (twice as good as the Pro 2s), a solid eight hours of battery life with ANC on, and new foam-infused tips that come in five sizes to find the perfect fit. Apple also brought the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite earbuds for working out) and Fitness app compatibility to the Pro 3s, and introduced a live translation feature.

While we've seen the buds drop as low as $184 in the past, this discount is still worth grabbing.

More AirPods dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $735.49 at Amazon
$799 Save $63.51   Get Deal Why we like it

Just launched earlier this month, the 13-inch M4 iPad Air is already on sale for $66 off. The base configuration with WiFi connectivity and 128GB of storage is now just $735.49 (normally $799). Mashable's tech editor took the M4 iPad Air for a spin and found it pretty impressive — too impressive for the average user, even. "It delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet," he writes in his review.

More iPad dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple released its new MacBook Air with the M5 chip this month, but honestly, they're not a whole lot different than the M4 Airs. The main differences are the upgraded processor and a new wireless chip. You can save some money by grabbing the M4 model with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage, which is currently down to just $949 at Amazon. We're keeping our eyes on this laptop, as we expect to see it drop further as the sale nears. But make note that since it is now an older model, it could sell out fast.

More MacBook dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 offers significant battery improvements over its predecessor. For that reason alone, it's worth the upgrade. It also features a tougher build with durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for quicker connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool that can flag chronic high blood pressure. It's not a major upgrade (is anything in 2026?), but as Mashable's reviewer put it: "Buy it for the battery life." Now $100 cheaper, it's an even better value.

More Apple Watch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I bought this oddball Ryobi tool on a whim, and now I use it all the time

How-To Geek - 3 hours 39 min ago

Power tool brands offer a wide range of tools and accessories, giving us more choices than ever these days. Big names like Ryobi and Milwaukee make all the common items, like drills and drivers, but they also make some tools you've probably never heard of. Earlier this year, I bought an oddball Ryobi "bucket top" tool on a whim, and now I wish I had one sooner.

Categories: IT General, Technology

SNL UK roasts Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during first ever Weekend Update

Mashable - 3 hours 53 min ago

SNL UK pulled out all the stops for its first ever episode, with Tina Fey as guest host (supported in her monologue by a few household names) and a cold open that somehow managed to get shared by Donald Trump.

In the first ever Weekend Update feature above, anchors Ania Magliano and Paddy Young run through a big headlines — with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor being an inevitable target.

"Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place for the past month, including the installation of Sky TV," says Magliano. "So, if you're watching Andrew: Hello! You're not going to like this next bit. Also, I'm older than I look."

Elsewhere there's also an entertainingly silly joke about helium.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget bare metal: Why a hypervisor is the only way to run a professional homelab

How-To Geek - 3 hours 54 min ago

Are you still running your servers with Linux installed bare metal? It’s time to upgrade and move to a hypervisor, especially if you want to start working toward a more professional homelab.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple AirTags deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — 4-pack hits new record low

Mashable - 4 hours 16 min ago
The best Apple AirTag deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best deal overall Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale isn’t officially underway until March 25, but we’re already seeing some pretty promising price drops across multiple categories. Of course, we’re holding out to see if Amazon’s going to gift us with additional Apple deals (we’re seeing $250 price cuts on MacBooks and $100 off Apple Watches, after all), but there’s no denying the Apple AirTag deals are worth jumping on.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) is still at full price ($29 each or $99 for a four-pack), but you can get a four-pack of 1st Gen AirTags for just $59.99 right now. This is a big deal because last year (during the actual sale), this bundle was $69.99. With the current discount, you'll be getting each tag for around $15 a pop.

These little trackers are total lifesavers for anyone who's always misplacing their keys or wants some peace of mind by stashing one in their checked luggage. (I use them to keep tabs on my dogs when I'm visiting my parents.) You can track your stuff directly in the Find My app, and if you’re nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to the exact cushion your wallet is hiding under.

The best Apple AirTag accessory dealsThe best Apple AirTag alternative deals
Categories: IT General, Technology
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