Blogroll

Why is it called a terminal "emulator"?

How-To Geek - 1 hour 16 min ago

Once you start to dabble with Linux, you’ll encounter the phrase “terminal emulator” over and over again. You might be familiar with games emulators, but don’t be misled. This is very different.

Categories: IT General, Technology

20+ early Prime Day deals on MicroSDs, SSDs, and hard drives: Our favorite deals to beat RAMageddon

Mashable - 1 hour 33 min ago
The best early Prime Day MicroSD, portable SSD, and internal SSD deals: Best SSD deal Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 $389.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best Rugged SSD deal SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $269.97 (save $30.02) Get Deal Best Internal SSD deal Samsung Internal SSD 990 2TB NVMe $369.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best MicroSD deal SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card $129.99 (save $19.01) Get Deal Best Travel-Friendly SSD deal Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD $389.99 (save $160) Get Deal

Thanks to the global memory crisis known as "RAMageddon," prices on memory products like internal drives, external SSDs, and high-capacity flash storage have continued to climb. It’s been a relentless up, up, and up trajectory as enterprise demand squeezes consumer supply.

High-speed NVMe drives, rugged external SSDs, microSD cards, and hard drives are Prime Day staples that matter more than ever amid RAMageddon. We did some digging and found the best early Prime Day deals in the solid-state category right now. If you've been waiting to expand your PC build, give your PS5 some breathing room, or secure your off-site backups, now is the time to take advantage of these SSD offers from top-tier brands like Samsung, SanDisk, and more.

Best SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 $389.99 at Amazon
$639.99 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung 990 PRO delivers top-tier sequential speeds up to 7,450 MB/s, effectively maxing out what a PCIe 4.0 slot can process. That translates directly to faster boot times, near-instant game loading on PC or PS5, and smooth handling of large 4K video renders. It also runs more power-efficiently than its predecessor, so it stays stable under heavy continuous workloads. With a solid five-year warranty and a huge price drop, it’s one of the best value-for-money storage upgrades you can buy right now.

Best rugged SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $269.97 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $30.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Pocket-sized, ridiculously fast, and virtually indestructible, the SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD is engineered for harsh travel conditions that would destroy standard desktop drives. It nearly doubles the speed of previous generations, so you can back up thousands of photos in less than a minute, while offering full weather resistance to rain and spills, and hardware encryption to keep your private documents locked down tighter than a vault.

Best travel-friendly SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD $389.99
$549.99 Save $160   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung T7 is built for life on the move. Weighing under two ounces and barely larger than a credit card, it slips into a pocket or backpack pouch without taking up space in your carry-on. Its solid aluminum unibody design handles the bumps of travel with ease, featuring shock resistance that withstands drops from up to 6 feet. With transfer speeds up to 1,050 MB/s, you can offload massive 4K travel footage, photo backups, or offline media libraries in seconds. You can even plug it directly into an iPhone 15 Pro (or newer) to record high-res video straight to the drive while on location.

More SSD and hard drive deals

MicroSDs

Portable SSDs

Portable HDDs

Internal hard drives

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Android launcher turned my phone into the Windows 8 foldable Microsoft never made

How-To Geek - 1 hour 46 min ago

Pick up any Android device or iPhone, and the home screens all essentially look the same: a grid of static icons and some widgets. Most devices in general work like this, but it wasn't always like that. Microsoft experimented with dynamic Live Tiles that combined icons and widgets into one, which hit their peak during the Windows 8 era — and you can still enjoy some of that magic on your phone today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Movavi's new customizable templates let you rebuild a video, not just fill it in

How-To Geek - 1 hour 47 min ago

If you have ever opened a video template hoping to save time, only to find it works only if your footage fits its exact shape, you know the frustration. Most templates in editing software are rigid. You swap a photo here, a caption there, and then hope the rest of the sequence lines up with what you actually filmed. Movavi is trying a different approach with its 2027 release of Movavi Video Editor, built around a feature it calls Blocks.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meet the Kindle Click: The Kindle page-turner Ive been dreaming about for years

Mashable - 1 hour 47 min ago

Amazon is finally launching a Kindle remote.

On Tuesday morning, Amazon announced it was refreshing the entire Kindle e-reader lineup, and also introducing the Kindle Click, a new page-turning accessory, for $34.99. Mashable got to try the new page turner at a demo event, and we're excited to test it at home. The head of Kindle's design team said the goal was to bring a more tactile and convenient page-turning experience to those who want it.

After a page-turning remote became the must-use Kindle accessory among the BookTok community, plenty of brands jumped on the trend, making remotes of their own for the devices. The problem is that these remotes aren't native to Kindles and require a clip-on piece to tap the screen, and they can't navigate backward. Fellow e-reader brand Kobo introduced its own Kobo Remote last year. And now, Amazon is giving us seamless page turning with the Kindle Click.

The Kindle Click comes with a removable wrist lanyard, and it can even adjust brightness.

Credit: Amazon

The Kindle Click syncs via Bluetooth to Amazon's newly announced e-readers. It's also backward-compatible with Kindles from 2024 onward, making it an easy upgrade for existing users. It features two big haptic buttons for page turning and smaller side buttons to control brightness, truly maximizing the hands-free experience. It's the ultimate accessory for reading curled up on the couch or while exercising on a treadmill or elliptical.

Chris Green, Vice President of Design at Kindle, told Mashable that his team is keenly aware of the latest trends on BookTok (and among competitors in the e-reader space). Green said the new lineup of Kindles and accessories is meant to meet readers where they are, and to make the reading experience as comfortable and seamless as possible.

The Kindle Click is available for preorder at $34.99 and will be released on Oct. 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Click $34.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon launches all-new Kindle e-readers, introducing new designs and colors — and we got to try them

Mashable - 1 hour 47 min ago

The year 2027 will mark the 20th anniversary of the very first Kindle, and Amazon is already celebrating by launching a fully redesigned collection of e-readers.

Amazon announced the new 2026 lineup of Kindles today, and some are already available for preorder. The new devices include a basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Kids versions of each. The new Kindles are thinner and lighter than ever before and feature various design upgrades, including a more flush front display and new materials.

The new Kindle Colorsoft offers more paper-like color, Amazon told us. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Kindles got their last makeover in 2024 (Kindle Scribe devices were refreshed in 2025), and now the whole e-reader collection is getting a refresh. The Kindle team rebuilt the popular e-readers with new colors like ube purple and seaglass green. And, for the first time ever, we now have an aluminum option for the Kindle and a cover with haptic page-turn buttons, inspired by the beloved Kindle Oasis (RIP).

And for the passionate community of Kindle users on BookTok, just know that Amazon is listening. In response to the popularity of page-turners, Kindle is finally launching a wireless remote of its own, the Kindle Click.

Mashable was invited to a demo to try the new Kindles and accessories ahead of their release, where Kindle leaders insisted we're witnessing a "resurgence of reading." The company said that 2025 was the biggest year for Kindle device sales in a decade, and that in January 2026, the company recorded its busiest month of reading in its history.

Here's everything we learned about the new Kindles, our first impressions, and pricing and preorder details.

Meet the 2026 Kindles The new 6-inch Kindle comes in a new ube purple color. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Before we dive into all the details, a quick note on pricing. Amazon increased prices on the Kindle lineup in August, and the new devices will have the same prices as their predecessors. (Fingers crossed we'll see some discounts during the October Prime Big Deal Days sale.

  • The new Kindle — $149.99-$169.99

  • Kindle Paperwhite — $199.99-$219.99

  • Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition — $249.99

  • Kindle Colorsoft — $289.99

  • Kindle Kids — $179.99-$299.99

  • Kindle Click page turner — $34.99

The new Kindle The new Kindles introduce edge-to-edge color and a front-flush design. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

A 6-inch, pocket-friendly Kindle with a new flush-front display to match the rest of the line-up. It's now 30 percent faster, too. The new base Kindle is lighter and thinner, measuring just 6.8mm and weighing a mere 140 grams. Building off the love of the popular matcha color, the new Kindle comes in ube (a light purple) and graphite. The device will be available for preorder on Oct. 1.

The new Kindle is also available in an aluminum finish for the first time, at a price of $189.99. The device looks strikingly like an iPad Air, and Chris Green, Vice President of Design at Kindle, told Mashable the new design should feel familiar to readers used to metal smartphones and tablets.

Made from 80 percent recycled aluminum, this Kindle has a matte finish in alpine sky blue and seaglass green. The aluminum Kindle has 32GB of storage, no lockscreen ads, and a magnetic cover attachment. It's also available for purchase on Oct. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon All-new Kindle $149.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon All-new Kindle (aluminum) $189.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition The new Paperwhite in the Graphite color. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

The Paperwhite, Amazon's 7-inch e-reader, is also getting an upgrade while maintaining everything we love about it, including 12 weeks of battery life, adjustable warm light, and waterproofing. It's also just 6.8mm thick, weighs just 204 grams, and is available in the classic graphite color.

The Signature Edition ($249.99) adds aluminum in seaglass green (with the option to purchase a slim magnetic case), adaptive front lighting, 32GB of storage, and ad-free reading. These devices will be available for purchase on Oct. 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle paperwhite All-new Kindle Paperwhite $199.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $249.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Kindle Colorsoft — $289.99 Credit: Amazon

The new version of the Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle's color e-reader, delivers more paper-like color that’s easy on the eyes with a glare-free, flush-front display. Like the other new devices, it's also thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

The Signature Edition ($319.99) adds aluminum housing, 32GB, an auto-adjusting front light, double-tap to turn pages, and comes in the fig and graphite colors. It will be available for purchase on Oct. 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $289.99 at Amazon
  Learn More Kindle Kids — $179.99 to $299.99

All of the new Kindles also come in Kids versions. While the base design of each e-reader is the same, the Kindle Kids feature kid-friendly covers designed by real artists, 12 months of Amazon Kids+, and a 1-year warranty. Kindle Kids+ gives young readers and their parents access to thousands of books and audiobooks on demand, and new Kindle Kids accessories will be coming soon, according to Amazon.

The new Kindle Kids e-readers are available for purchase now, and the Kindle Kids Colorsoft is available for preorder in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, and Japan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon All-new Kindle Kids $179.99
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Kids Colorsoft $299.99 at Amazon
  Learn More Kindle Click and new accessories Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Alongside the new Kindles come a batch of new accessories. Finally, we're getting the Kindle Click, a wireless page-turning remote designed to work with the full Kindle collection. This follows up on the release of the Kobo Remote last year. Best of all, the Kindle Click will be backward compatible with existing Kindles (from 2024 or later) with Bluetooth support.

Plus, Amazon has listened to all the noise about page-turning buttons. While they're not bringing back page-turning buttons on the actual devices, a new magnetic folio cover for the Signature Editions does include haptic page-turn buttons.

Other accessories include a wireless charging dock and fabric, plant-based leather, and leather cases.

Our first impressions of the new Kindles Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

As Mashable's e-reader expert, I will admit I'm really excited about these new Kindles. I love that Amazon is embracing color in its e-readers and a more sleek design silhouette. So often companies feel disconnected from their users, but Amazon seems totally keyed into what Kindle users and readers really want.

As I'd hoped, I'm thrilled they've moved the pesky power button that used to live on the bottom of their devices. Plus, a wireless remote is going to be huge, especially as we head into cold fall and winter nights. But I think one of Amazon's smartest moves is the addition of a cover with page-turn buttons. Even though they're not adding buttons back to devices, they're still meeting customers halfway.

The new aluminum Kindles feature magnetic pins for connecting cases. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

What do the devices feel like in your hands? Our tech editor Timothy Werth got to go hands-on with the new devices, and he was impressed by the new aluminum models in particular. He did note that while the front-flush design is an improvement over the old "crumb catcher" design, as Kindle leaders called it, there is still a very thin plastic lip around the edge of the non-aluminum models, though that's not a bad thing. The aluminum Kindles feel very similar to the iPad Air, Werth noted.

"All of the new devices feel great in your hand, which isn't a surprise, and Amazon promises they offer 30 percent faster page turns," Werth said. "I just got a new Kindle Paperwhite last Christmas, so I probably won't upgrade, but I imagine a lot of people will be buying Kindles for the first time. I really liked the aluminum versions with magnetic cases. The Kindle design team clearly has a passion for paper, books, and reading in general, and I think that shows in the care taken to get the new devices just right."

Mashable will be testing the new Kindle lineup, so look out for full reviews once we spend more time with all of the new devices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

HP built a $699 MacBook Neo alternative with an OLED display and a 42-hour battery — where to buy

Mashable - 1 hour 47 min ago

TL;DR: HP announced the OmniBook 5, starting at $699.99 — positioning it as a direct Windows rival to Apple’s $699 MacBook Neo. Arriving in October 2026, the 14-inch AI laptop features a 2.5K OLED touch display, an Intel Core 7 chip, and a wild 42-hour battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 5 $699.99 at HP
  Learn More

Apple's budget MacBook Neo may finally have a serious Windows rival.

HP just announced the new OmniBook 5, a sleek 14-inch laptop starting at $699.99, clearly designed to go head-to-head with Apple's entry-level Mac. Rather than stripping away premium features to keep the price down, HP packed in high-end perks you rarely see on a budget laptop — most notably a gorgeous OLED screen and a battery built to last through days of work or entertainment.

Credit: HP

The real draw of the OmniBook 5 is its display. Instead of the dull, washed-out screens typically found on sub-$700 laptops, HP equipped this machine with a vibrant panel. It reaches up to 2.5K resolution with touch support, so colors look rich and punchy, blacks are deep, and streaming movies or editing photos look crisp from almost any angle. The display also reduces harmful blue light and is bright enough for comfortable use in well-lit rooms or near a window.

If you hate carrying charger cables everywhere you go, the OmniBook 5 delivers where it counts. HP promises up to 42 hours of local video playback on a single charge. While real-world battery life always depends on what apps you are running, that kind of efficiency lets you leave the wall adapter at home when heading to class, a coffee shop, or a long flight. When you finally do run low, the included compact charger can juice the battery back up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best battery-life laptops of 2026. This HP OmniBook shocked me.

Despite its big battery and high-resolution screen, the OmniBook 5 stays super easy to carry. It weighs just 2.56 pounds and measures under half an inch thick, slipping smoothly into any backpack or tote. Inside, it runs on Intel’s Core 7 processors with built-in AI chips to keep your daily multitasking workload running smoothly without draining extra power.

You also get practical built-in extras like dual full-function USB-C ports, an HDMI port so you do not need dongles, a sharp 1080p webcam for clear video calls, and speakers tuned by Poly Studio for clear sound.

The HP OmniBook 5 is scheduled to launch in October 2026 on HP's website and at Best Buy, starting at $699.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Carrie review: Does Mike Flanagans modern take on Stephen Kings classic novel work?

Mashable - 1 hour 47 min ago

How do you remake a story that's as well-known as Carrie?

Stephen King's first published novel has been a part of the horror canon for over half a century. It already has two film adaptations, a sequel, a miniseries adaptation, and even a Royal Shakespeare Company musical (yes, really). How can you possibly take a tale that's such a big part of popular culture and do something new with it?

Well, Mike Flanagan has had a good go. His Prime Video adaptation of the novel places King's story of a tormented telekinetic high-schooler in a modern day setting, filled with the horrors of school shooting drills and online bullying. It's an interesting idea that undoubtedly gives the story a new flavour. The question is, does it work?

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked What's Carrie about?

First, a recap. For anyone who hasn't read the novel or seen the previous adaptations, Carrie follows the titular main character (Summer H. Howell) as she starts high school. Carrie has lived a sheltered, paranoid existence with her religious mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan,) and conspiracy theorist father (Tahmot Penikett), but the sudden death of the latter throws her into a new and overwhelming teenage world.

Unsurprisingly, it's not easy. With her homemade clothes and complete naivety, Carrie stands out. She's soon picked out as a target by popular girl Chris (Alison Thornton), and what first seemed like it could be an escape from her domineering mother quickly because a fresh source of horror and anxiety.

What everybody doesn't know, though, is that Carrie has the gift of telekinesis. And as her anger at her own mistreatment grows, so do her powers.

The book's infamous "plug it up" scene is made even worse in the show by smartphones. Credit: Prime Carrie makes several key changes from the book

We already know Mike Flanagan makes high-quality TV shows. As a showrunner he typically brings recurring team members between projects, and as such you can normally expect the direction and scripts to be solid. Carrie is no exception. The bigger question is whether the story works. Is it for Stephen King fans, or people unfamiliar with the original story? Or both?

Flanagan’s show makes several key changes from the book. One works well, the other works brilliantly, and the last feels like it’ll divide. First, the 2026 setting. It's effective. The presence of social media and the internet adds a hellish new dimension to Carrie’s suffering, as almost every interaction she has in school is now captured on multiple smartphones. The book’s infamous "plug it up" scene in the girls’ changing room remains, but now it’s the seed for an anonymous Instagram account set up by Chris to bully fellow students and spread rumours about staff. Wherever they are, and whether they’re perpetrating the abuse or absorbing it, students’ faces are permanently bathed in the glow of their phone screens. It’s an element of the show that’s even more constant than Carrie’s telekinesis — a force that has just as much power to ruin lives. The presence of technology works well in Carrie, which is really more about bullying — and the consequences that bullying can have — than it is about psychic powers. It adds something new to the story and will likely introduce it to a fresh audience.

Another key change from the book that feels a little more divisive, however, comes in the first episode. The show is bookended by interviews with survivors of Carrie’s infamous prom night, but early on it’s made clear that Carrie "wasn’t the only one" there that night with powers. This, coupled with a storyline that has echoes of The Umbrella Academy, feels like world-building that risks falling into well-trodden territory and dividing fans. Personally I think the show gets away with it in the end, but I can see how it might put some people off.

Fortunately, it’s a small part of a chilling and effective story that’s been well adapted to fit an eight-episode series. Which brings us to our last point…

Alison Thornton does a brilliant job of making Chris Hargensen both vulnerable and terrifying. Credit: Robert Falconer/Prime Carrie does an excellent job of fleshing out its characters

Rather than giving it a feeling of being stretched, Flanagan’s team has added additional texture and shade to King’s novel. The characters are different because they have to be. They’re arguably more complex. King’s version of Margaret White is a strict religious nightmare with no redeeming features. The show keeps her core but makes her more subtle and manipulative. Carrie's teachers are given more to do, including their own storyline that ties in effectively — and unexpectedly — with that of the students. Chris’ home life is expanded to draw attention to why she’s a bully, with Thornton doing an excellent job of showing her character's repressed vulnerability, which you can almost see turning to anger on her face in real time.

Overall, this is a series that will be enjoyed by people unfamiliar with Carrie, while keeping and changing enough of the book to also appeal to Stephen King readers. It's not a perfect adaptation, but it is a visceral and engaging take on a story that looks set to keep its grip on horror fans for many more years to come.

Carrie is streaming on Prime Video from October 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Harry Potter Lego deal has a touch of magic — save on Luna Lovegoods House ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - 1 hour 48 min ago

SAVE OVER $6: As of Oct. 1, Harry Potter Lego Luna Lovegood's House is priced at $83.94 at Amazon. That's a saving of $6.05 from the regular list price of $89.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Harry Potter Lego Luna Lovegood's House $83.94 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $6.05   Get Deal

October Prime Day is almost here, which is good news for Lego fans seeking discounts. Because a little saving goes a long way when you're a Lego collector. The cost of those little Danish bricks can quickly rack up — especially if you're locked in with completing a range such as Harry Potter Lego, which regularly magicks up new fantastical sets.

You don't need to wait for the official launch of Prime Day, which runs Oct. 6-7, as there are lots of early deals already live. Those deals include a markdown on the Harry Potter Lego Luna Lovegood House.

As of Oct. 1, the Harry Potter Lego Luna Lovegood House is down to $83.94, saving you $6.05 on the regular price of $89.99.

OK, so it's just a few dollars off, but every little saving counts. And it's another typically great construction from Lego, combining the wonky house design with five minifigures — Harry, Luna, Luna's dad, Hermione, and a Death Eater. It also features a Light Brick, which gives this set a literal glow.

Grab the Harry Potter Lego Luna Lovegood House set for $83.94 ahead of Prime Day.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

The MacBook Pro is mighty, but so is this early Prime Day deal — save a massive $600

Mashable - 1 hour 52 min ago

SAVE $600: As of Oct. 1, the MacBook Pro 14-inch is available for $3,499 at Amazon. That's a 15% saving off the regular list price of $4,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch M5 Max $3,499 at Amazon
$4,099 Save $600   Get Deal

It's little wonder that Apple fans scour Amazon for Apple deals when the likes of October Prime Day roll around.

The tech giant's devices don't come cheap — especially if you're buying the highest-spec model, such as the MacBook Pro. Fortunately, early deals are already available — even though Prime Day doesn't officially run until Oct. 6-7 — including a major saving on the 2026 version of that mighty MacBook Pro.

As of Oct. 1, the MacBook Pro 14-inch is down to $3,499 on Amazon. That's 15% off the regular list price of $4,099 — a total saving of $600.

Anyone who knows anything about laptops knows that the MacBook Pro is pretty much the best of the best — particularly if you need a laptop for creatives tasks such as graphic design or picture and video editing.

This powerful machine is driven by Apple's M5 Max chip and comes equipped with an eye-popping Liquid Retina XDR Display, Apple Intelligence, WiFi 7 compatibility, and a massive 2TB of storage. That's why this MacBook is the most expensive model that Apple has to offer right now — it's also why a saving of $600 is a can't-miss opportunity for anyone looking to upgrade.

Get the MacBook Pro 14-inch and save $600 ahead of October Prime Day. Now available for $3,499.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

TV stands are the third option nobody talks about (and renters need to know)

How-To Geek - 2 hours 1 min ago

I used a TV stand. That's the third option. You can see it in the picture above. It's not a mystery. But wait! There really is more to it than that. Because until I started using a dedicated TV stand, I really didn't think there was a third option other than using the TV's built-in feet or wall-mounting.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Instead of buying a NAS, I turned an old laptop and external drive into home network storage

How-To Geek - 2 hours 46 min ago

Years ago, I built an arcade cabinet from scratch and powered it with a Dell laptop from 2010 running Windows 7. It played games like Halo, Dragon's Lair, and plenty of other classic games. I also used it as a jukebox in my man cave. It got a lot of use over the years, and it lasted a long time, but several months ago it started to feel underpowered for what I was using it for. After looking around on Facebook Marketplace, I found a great replacement. It was a Dell desktop unit that already had Windows 11 installed. Once the switch was made, my old laptop didn’t have much to do.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your old optical drives still have one storage trick SSDs can't quite replace

How-To Geek - 3 hours 16 min ago

You've probably heard that CDs, DVDs, and physical media in general are experiencing a resurgence. Makes sense. I have so many different subscriptions to various streaming services, I'm seriously considering ditching it all and just collecting DVDs again. At least they're mine for life, then.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sam’s Club just dropped massive tech deals ahead of Prime Day: We found rare deals on TVs, laptops, and more

Mashable - 3 hours 25 min ago
Sam's club early Prime Day savings lineup: Best smart home deal Night Owl Wired 4K Deterrence Security Camera (2-Pack) $149 (save $30) Get Deal Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 49-inch Curved Odyssey QHD Gaming Monitor $699 (save $200) Get Deal Best laptop deal Samsung Galaxy Book4 15.6-inch Laptop $749 (save $150) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 85-inch QN70FD Series 4K Neo QLED Smart TV $1,198 (save $500) Get Deal

October Prime Day is right around the corner, but you don't have to wait for Amazon to launch its fall sale to score huge tech discounts. Sam's Club is jumping the gun and dropping its own sale across TVs, security cameras, gaming monitors, and laptops.

If you are not already a member, you can snag an annual Sam's Club membership for 50% off right now, which pays for itself instantly once you see the savings on these setups.

Whether you are looking to upgrade your living room with an 85-inch screen, ditch monthly security camera subscription fees, or grab a powerful new laptop before the holidays, here are the absolute best early tech deals you can shop at Sam's Club right now.

Best smart home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Night Owl Night Owl Wired 4K Deterrence Security Cameras (2-Pack) $149 at Sam's Club
$179 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

With the Night Owl Wired 4K Deterrence Security Cameras, you get ultra-sharp 4K video with full-color night vision, plus built-in spotlights, loud sirens, and two-way audio so you can talk to guests or scare off unwanted visitors right from your phone. Smart AI detection means it only alerts you to people and cars, not passing stray animals, and all your footage stays privately stored on a local recorder rather than on a paid cloud server.

More smart home dealsBest gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Curved Odyssey QHD Gaming Monitor $699 at Sam's Club
$899 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

This monster 49-inch curved display gives you the screen space of two QHD monitors side by side, without a bezel blocking your view. An ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time keep rapid action smooth and lag-free, while the dramatic curve wraps your entire field of view straight into the game. Add in intense brightness and HDR color support, and it is a massive, immersive upgrade for both competitive gaming and multitasking.

More gaming monitor dealsBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book4 15.6-inch Laptop $749 at Sam's Club
$899 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is a sleek, everyday workhorse laptop that packs the Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of fast SSD storage. It easily handles multitasking, streaming, and heavy browsing without breaking a sweat. The thin, lightweight design makes it super portable, while the spacious 15.6-inch Full HD display gives you plenty of screen space for work or movies. You also get long-lasting battery life and a microSD slot that lets you instantly expand your storage up to 2TB if you ever run out of space.

More laptop dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-inch QN70FD Series 4K Neo QLED Smart TV $1,198 at Sam's Club
$1,698 Save $500   Get Deal Why we like it

A massive 85-inch screen for a little over a grand is already a sweet deal, but this Samsung TV brings real performance to back up that size. Its built-in AI processor automatically sharpens and brightens older, lower-resolution shows so they look crisp on a huge display, while deep contrast keeps blacks dark rather than washed-out gray. Gamers and sports fans will appreciate the buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate that cuts out annoying motion blur during fast action, and you get access to hundreds of free live TV channels right out of the box.

More TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

T-Mobile is giving away the Motorola Razr+ for free — how to claim now

Mashable - 3 hours 30 min ago

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr+ is available for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this deal, activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola T-Mobile: Get the Motorola Razr+ for free   Shop Now

We know that Apple just launched new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. We know that the whole tech world is still obsessed with everything dropped at the latest event, but we're pleading with you to look elsewhere. You can actually pick up Motorola's latest handset for absolutely nothing — we'll explain how.

The Motorola Razr+ is available for free with T-Mobile, and you don't even need to trade in anything to qualify. The process of claiming this offer is straightforward.

To claim the new Motorola Razr+ for free with T-Mobile, simply activate a new line on its Experience Beyond plan. The total cost is covered via 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the three-year mark, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price. You will need to pay taxes and a one-time $35 connection charge, but that's a small price to pay for a "damn fine phone."

We should probably point out that the new Apple iPhone 18 Pro is also available for free right now with T-Mobile. It's yours when you switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 2026 MacBook Air is $150 off ahead of Prime Day and comes with free bonuses

Mashable - 3 hours 31 min ago

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 1, the MacBook Air 13-inch is available for $1,449 at Amazon. That's a saving of $150 from the regular list price of $1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch M5 $1,449 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $150   Get Deal

If you're looking for Apple deals during Amazon's upcoming October Prime Day — and what keen Apple user isn't? — you don't have to wait until the event kicks off proper on Oct. 6. There are early deals already live on Amazon, including a nice saving on the latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

As of Oct. 1, the MacBook Air 13-inch is marked down to $1,449. Usually priced at $1,599, this laptop now offers a $150 savings. This deal also includes free access to Apple Arcade, Fitness+, and News+ for three months.

Released earlier this year, this MacBook Air is powered by the always impressive M5 chip and features Apple Intelligence, Touch ID, a stunning Liquid Retina display, WiFi 7 compatibility, and a generous 1TB of storage. And as with all Apple devices, it syncs brilliantly for a slick all-round user experience.

As part of the Air range, it's also lighter than regular MacBooks and highly portable — perfect for anyone who works on the go.

Get the MacBook Air 13-inch and save yourself $150 on the regular price of $1,599. Now available for just $1,449 ahead of October Prime Day.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 30+ best early Prime Day deals on trading cards: Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, and more

Mashable - 3 hours 37 min ago
The best early Prime Day trading card deals: Best Pokémon TCG deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $44.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best MTG deal Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night $89.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best One Piece deal One Piece Card Game Card Game Starter Deck (ST-23 Shanks) $44.99 (save $17) Get Deal Best Kpop Demon Hunters deal KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition (001-NA-Series 1-A) $45.99 (save $7.89) Get Deal Best Disney Lorcana deal Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG 2-player Starter Deck $19.99 (save $10) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day is now less than a week away, and the early trading card deals are still coming in fast.

We’re still seeing fresh discounts across Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana, and KPop Demon Hunters ahead of the Oct. 6-7 sale.

Several of our previous top picks have already sold out, so we’ve refreshed this roundup around the strongest deals still available, along with our dedicated selection of Pokémon deals. That includes an all-time low on Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night box, Perfect Order Booster Bundles below $45, and sizeable savings on One Piece starter decks and Disney Lorcana.

We’ll keep updating this page as Prime Day gets closer, but in the meantime, here are the best bargains you can score right now.

A record-low price for MTG's Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night box Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering | Marvel Super Heroes - Draft Night $89.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night box is down to $89.99 from $119.99, giving you a complete four-player draft setup for 25% less — and is the best price we've ever seen, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. Inside are 12 Play Boosters, one Collector Booster, 90 Basic Lands, and 10 double-sided tokens, so there’s very little else you need to get started. The Collector Booster also doubles as a ready-made prize for whoever wins the final round.

More Magic: The Gathering DealsPokemon TCG: Perfect Booster Bundles back under $45 Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15   Get Deal Why we like it

Perfect Order Booster Bundles are back below $45, with Amazon cutting the six-pack box to $44.99 from its $59.99 list price, after fluctuating around the $50 mark for a while. That works out to about $7.50 per booster, while giving you six chances to pull from the set’s 120-plus cards, including more Mega Evolved ex Pokémon. If you don't want to overly invest in the expansion with a huge 36-pack display box, this is one of the most straightforward ways to jump in.

More Pokémon TCG dealsOver $15 off a One Piece Card Game starter deck Opens in a new window Credit: BANDAI One Piece Card Game Card Game Starter Deck (ST-23 Shanks) $61.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

At $44.99 after a 27% discount, Shanks' ST-23 Starter Deck is now a solid, affordable way to get into the One Piece card game. Built to be approachable for newer players, you'll get a 51-card constructed deck, 10 DON! cards, a play sheet, and an OP-11 booster pack included. Five cards also feature new text, giving existing players a few fresh pieces to work into their current strategies

More One Piece dealsGet KPop Demon Hunters Energy Edition for just over $45 Opens in a new window Credit: Kayou KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition (001-NA-Series 1-A) $45.99 at Amazon
$53.88 Save $7.89   Get Deal Why we like it

The KPop Demon Hunters Energy Edition is down to $45.99 at Amazon, giving collectors 15% off the more premium of Kayou’s two main releases. What makes the Energy Edition a go-to is that it spans 130 card types and 11 rarity tiers, with higher-end cards including laser-etched SE cards individually numbered from 1 to 366.

What's more, BP cards are also exclusive to Energy Edition, giving this box more chase potential than the cheaper Classic line.

More KPop Demon Hunters deals Disney Lorcana's TCG Starter Deck Set's now under market price Opens in a new window Credit: Ravensburger Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG 2-Player Starter Deck $19.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon has the Wilds Unknown 2-Player Starter Set for $19.99, a full $10 below Ravensburger’s $29.99 retail price and around $2.38 under TCGplayer’s current $22.37 market price. You get two ready-to-play 60-card decks, four foil cards between them, damage tokens, lore trackers, and a rulebook. That makes it a fantastic low-cost way for two people to start playing without needing to buy decks or accessories separately.

More Disney Lorcana TCG deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Daily Show has a blunt reaction to the outcome of Trumps AI summit

Mashable - 3 hours 44 min ago

Trump held a summit recently with tech leaders on AI, and the two main outcomes seemed to be 1. A signed document where the leaders vaguely agreed to police themselves internally, and 2. Yet another push by Trump to rename artificial intelligence to "super intelligence".

So is the signed document legally binding in any way? In the Daily Show clip above, host Jordan Klepper plays a clip of Trump shrugging off the question, saying it's "morally binding".

"Morally binding, sure! We don't need laws! I'm sure we could trust these guys." responds Klepper. "You know I'm not saying this self-policing document they signed is bullshit that they barely bothered to read, but I will say they did misspell 'United States'."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tried every lazy way I could find to add data to Obsidian, these are the ones that worked

How-To Geek - 3 hours 46 min ago

Obsidian kind of makes getting data in feel like a project in itself. Manually typing metadata and deciding what folder it belongs to can get annoying. Obsidian is really good once your vault has stuff in it, but filling that vault tends to come with weird ideas. I went looking for a good solution and found a few that I think work well for different situations, where you don’t need to do much.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Osters new 2026 lineup takes on the 3 biggest blender problems — where to buy new range

Mashable - 3 hours 47 min ago
Oster Vortex blenders lineup: Oster Vortex Blender Series $49.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal Oster QuietPro Professional Blender $249.99 at Costco Shop Now Oster Titan Performance Blender $279.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

Oster is revamping its kitchen gear with three new blenders engineered to wipe out the most annoying parts of making a smoothie. The brand zeroed in on three specific everyday inconveniences — stubborn food jams, ear-splitting noise, and low-quality jars that stain and absorb old food smells.

The Oster Vortex Blender Series is designed to prevent ingredients from getting stuck above the blades. The setup uses a targeted pulling motion with a reversible motor that automatically spins the multi-point stainless steel blades in both directions through smart pre-set programs.

That back-and-forth action breaks up air pockets and pulls tough ice or frozen fruit straight down, keeping things moving without you having to pause, open the lid, or scrape down the sides with a spatula. It comes in glass and plastic jar configurations, plus four modern matte color options, including oatmilk, garnet, mussel, and licorice.

Credit: Oster

If your biggest issue with blending is waking up the entire house during an early morning routine, Oster solved that with the QuietPro Blender. According to Oster, it is the first blender on the market to earn Quiet Mark™ certification, pairing an ultra-quiet internal motor with an outer Noise Shield to cut operating volume down by up to 50% compared to standard models. Even with the sound dampened, it keeps plenty of muscle to crush frozen fruit and solid ice without stalling out. The QuietPro is available exclusively at Costco.

Credit: Oster

The Oster Titan Blender tackles durability and odor issues by bringing heavy-duty glass back to high-powered blending. Powered by a massive 2,200 peak watts, 3-horsepower motor, it features an 84-ounce Boroclass glass jar that can handle both boiling hot soups and ice-cold smoothies without cracking, clouding, or absorbing lingering odors from garlic and spices, giving you maximum blending power wrapped in an easy-to-clean glass design that lasts.

Oster built these specifically to stop you from fighting your blender, so pick your biggest kitchen pet peeve and upgrade accordingly.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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