IT General

We hope you took advantage of that $499 MacBook Neo deal in the Apple Education Store, because if you're not actually a student or teacher, that discount is now closed off for you.

Apple's Education Store provides online discounts for students and educators. In the case of the already very competitively priced MacBook Neo, that discount was a whopping $100 off Apple's latest laptop. Previously, anyone could shop at the Apple Education Store, with Apple simply using an honor system with its users, allowing anyone to shop there with the assumption that they were a student or teacher.

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However, starting this week, Apple changed its Apple Education Store policy. Apple is now verifying that a consumer is actually connected to an educational institution before allowing them to make a purchase.

Many companies offer discounts for educators and students, first responders, and other groups, and these types of third-party verification tools are a common industry practice.

Apple is utilizing the services of a third-party company known as Unidays, which verifies that the user is eligible to buy from the Apple Education Store.

According to Apple, users who are allowed to make a purchase in the Education Store include "current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels."

When making a purchase, Unidays will verify that the buyer is connected to a specific educational institution. For example, a student will have to provide documentation that they are enrolled in a school in order to get verified and make a purchase from the Education Store. 

Unidays verification process is instant for most; however, some users may have to wait up to 24 hours for the company to complete its verification process.

Apple previously worked with Unidays in 2022 when it instituted a similar verification process for the Education Store. However, user complaints led Apple to drop the verification step until now.

Along with the verification change, Apple also added Apple Watch discounts to the Education Store for the first time last week. But, without the Education Store discount, many Apple users may find cheaper deals on Apple products from third parties like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H, and not directly from Apple.

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The prestigious Cannes Film Festival is underway in France, with high-profile stars from The Fast and the Furious franchise dominating headlines so far. However, the Chinese tech company DJI also took advantage of the opportunity to make its own debut — the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P camera.

Cannes may seem like a strange place for a drone and camera company, but the company wants to pivot from the creator space into Hollywood productions. Pictures of the Osmo Pocket 4P show two lenses, which would set it apart from other cameras in the Osmo Pocket line.

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DJI Osmo Pocket gimbal cameras already have a cult following among creators, and the company recently launched the Osmo Pocket 4. However, the Osmo Pocket 4P is designed specifically for cinematic productions, DJI said in a press release sent to Mashable.

"Following the global success of its predecessor, the Osmo Pocket 4P builds on a growing movement in which compact cameras are reshaping how stories are created and shared," reads the release. "Its Cannes debut highlights its potential to influence the future of cinematic vlogging, inspire a new generation of mobile-first filmmakers, and lead global trends in portrait-driven visual storytelling."

Gimbal cameras have long been used in Hollywood productions, and the Osmo Pocket brought the technology to video bloggers, influencers, and creators of all kinds.

DJI says the Osmo Pocket 4P will offer cinematic-quality HDR video and 10-bit D-Log2 color performance for professional color grading.

DJI didn't provide any details on a possible release date or pricing, but a company spokesperson said the camera would be available through DJI's online store and retail partners. As with other recent DJI releases, it may come late to the United States due to DJI's ongoing problems with the FCC and the U.S. drone ban.

Credit: DJI

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Brick just updated its app to highlight a feature that makes me love this little gadget even more.

Imagine this nightmare: You've done your evening skincare, brushed your teeth, and tucked yourself into bed only to realize you left on a lamp across the room. That's the horror I feel when I forget to Brick my phone before bed and have to get up, walk to the kitchen, and tap it against my Brick in another room.

But when this happened last night, I noticed a change in the Brick app. Now, the button on the home page of the Brick app says "Tap or hold to Brick." So, I held the button and my phone was Bricked — I didn't even need to get out of bed.

Brick, the screen-time device that uses a physical NFC tag to block apps on your phone, cut my screen time in half. Plus, multiple people can use it, meaning my wife and I can share one. The Brick has become so popular that "Bricking" is now a verb.

Hold to lock: What's changed with the Brick? Now, you have the choice Brick your phone remotely. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Previously, you had to tap your phone against the Brick to lock it. Now, you have a second option. You can still tap to lock, or you can just hold the button down within the app, and it will lock. This means when you're on the go and need to focus, you can remotely Brick your phone.

I reached out to Brick, and a spokesperson said that while this feature has always been available, the company updated the app to make this functionality more obvious to users. The change was necessary, I think. Several Mashable staffers are devoted Brick users, and we weren't aware of this feature previously.

Now you can Brick your phone without physically tapping it against a Brick. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

However, this doesn't change how you unlock your phone when it's Bricked. To Unbrick your phone, you still have to physically tap it against your Brick. Not surprising because the alternative would make Brick no different from any other screen time app out there.

So with this update, the only thing to be careful of is locking your phone when you're away from it and getting locked out of an important app. Luckily, you can always use one of your five emergency unbricks.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick phone blocker $59 at Brick
Mashable readers save 10% Get Deal

For a long time, buying a luxury SUV was pretty straightforward. If you wanted something powerful, refined, and packed with tech, you went German and accepted the hefty price tag that came with it.

When we last discussed new shows arriving on streaming, we spoke about The Bear spin-off episode along with the most recent adaptation of Lord of the Flies. While these shows have their moments, this week's crop of series has more star power and mainstream appeal for wide audiences.

Whole-home Ethernet sounds like the perfect home networking upgrade. In theory, having wired network access in every room seems like the best way to keep everything fast and stable. However, it’s often more effort and cost than most homes actually need, and in many cases, a single access point in the right location is all you really need.

Luxury SUVs have become incredibly expensive, with many premium hybrid crossovers now pushing well beyond the $60,000 mark before options. That rising cost has made mainstream alternatives far more appealing, especially as affordable brands continue improving interior quality, ride comfort, and in-car technology. Buyers no longer need a luxury badge to get features like leather upholstery, premium sound systems, massive digital displays, and a genuinely refined driving experience.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is in an odd spot in the streaming market; it's both very accessible and very restricted for a smart device. However, for many years, there has been a conflict between Amazon and its users. The issue is that it isn't transparent or free enough; its default interface hides important performance information and deliberately limits adding third-party apps. There is a hidden developer menu that lets you get more out of the device.

Google has offered 15GB of free storage with its accounts for years, but there can now be some strings attached to claiming the full amount. Users have noticed that some new account holders have to link their phone number to get the expected storage. Otherwise, they're capped at just 5GB.

Are you looking to buy some new cordless power tools for DIY projects this spring and summer? If so, we have some deals you don't want to miss. I'm talking about three RIDGID battery packs, all for only $100, or huge 10-tool combo kits at a massive 50% discount.

I’ve driven a lot of EVs lately, and many of them seem obsessed with feeling futuristic at all costs. Some are great tech showcases, but not all of them are particularly easy to live with day to day.

The cost of streaming service subscriptions continues to rise. Even services that used to offer free content are moving it behind paywalls. Here are some once-free streaming services that have added fees, removed free tiers, or just made free viewing harder, and some alternative options you can use instead.

The humble floppy disk in its various incarnations ruled the computer world for a long time. Too long, as it turns out. Eventually, the tiny capacity of floppy disks was a mismatch for growing hard drives and ballooning file sizes, so something new was needed.

Honda is responding to its collapsed EV plans by refocusing on hybrids, with 15 new models planned by March 2030. It's concentrating on North America, and previewed what are likely to be next-generation Civic and Acura RDX hybrids.

One annoying thing about installing apps from outside the Google Play Store is that they don't auto-update. It's a pain to download a new APK and reinstall it to get the updated version every time. Let me show you two ways to automatically update those apps.

SAVE $90: The DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $209 at Amazon with the on-page coupon, down from the list price of $299. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've seen from Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K drone $209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Airline prices are high, and if you're not planning to fly this summer, that's understandable. But there's a different option to take to the skies, and it probably costs much less than those domestic flights you were considering. Check out this drone deal at Amazon that'll be a fun summer hobby.

As of May 14, the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale at Amazon for $209 with the on-page coupon, down from the list price of $299. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've seen from Amazon.

The DJI Mini 4K drone is a great option for both beginners and expert drone pilots who are looking for something lightweight and exceptionally portable. The drone can easily fold up and fit into the palm of your hand and it weighs under 249 grams.

SEE ALSO: Take to the skies with the DJI Neo Three-Battery Combo Kit for the lowest price we've seen

Like the name indicates, this DJI model captures 4K UHD footage and it can fly for up to 31 minutes before needing to recharge. Video transmission is still possible from a distance of up to 10 kilometers away, or about six miles.

Since summer weather can be unpredictable, the DJI Mini 4K comes with a reassuring level 5 wind-resistance which measures out to winds up to about 24 miles per hour. DJI also mentions the brushless motors help with power and the drone can take off from altitudes as high as 4,000 meters which is over 13,000 feet.

For beginners, this DJI model has one-tap takeoff and landing, stable hovering, and a GPS-powered return-to-home command.

Before this on-page coupon at Amazon disappears, snag the DJI Mini 4K on sale for $209. Since this is the lowest we've seen, there's not much reason to wait.

When it comes to streaming services that I grew familiar with as I aged, one of them was Hulu. For years, I would visit this website to watch amazing dramas and interesting comedies and, most of the time, to catch up on the TV shows I had been watching throughout the week.

UniFi’s networking capabilities have no rival in the consumer or prosumer market. The system is relatively easy to use, extremely powerful and capable, and the platform has more fanboys than Marvel it seems. But, after setting up my home UniFi network, here are the four things I wish I knew before I got started.

Apple AirDrop enables users to quickly share photos, videos, and other files to nearby users. Android has Quick Share to provide similar functionality to its users.

Last year, Google announced during the Pixel 10 series launch that its latest Android smartphones would be able to work with AirDrop through Quick Share. This basically allowed users to take advantage of these file-sharing features cross-platform. Android phones, for example, could now share photos and videos to iPhones in the same way iPhones were able to share between each other via AirDrop.

Since then, Google has been slowly rolling out AirDrop through Quick Share to even more Android devices — even Android smartphones by third parties such as Samsung. And, just this week, Google launched the feature on a slew of new devices.

Here's the current list of every device that currently has AirDrop enabled.

Current AirDrop-enabled Android devices

• Google Pixel 10 

• Pixel 10 Pro 

• Pixel 10 Pro XL 

• Pixel 10 Pro Fold 

• Pixel 10a 

• Pixel 9 

• Pixel 9 Pro 

• Pixel 9 Pro XL 

• Pixel 9 Pro Fold

• Pixel 8a

• Samsung Galaxy S26 

• Galaxy S26+ 

• Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Oppo Find X9 series 

• Oppo Find N6 

• Vivo X300 Ultra

AirDrop coming soon to these Android devices

• Samsung Galaxy S25 

• Galaxy S25+ 

• Galaxy S25 Ultra 

• Galaxy S24 

• Galaxy S24+ 

• Galaxy S24 Ultra 

• Galaxy Z TriFold 

• Galaxy Z Fold 7 

• Galaxy Z Flip 7 

• Galaxy Z Fold 6 

• Galaxy Z Flip 6 

• Oppo Find X8 

• Oppo Find X8 Pro 

• OnePlus 15 

• Honor Magic V6 

• Honor Magic 8 Pro

It appears Google will continue to roll out AirDrop to even more devices in the future, so stay tuned for updates.

If you use Home Assistant, ESPHome, or any number of similar projects, you might have heard of the Open Home Foundation. What you might not realize is just how important this entity is to safeguarding the projects you depend on.