IT General

The end of Yellowstone left a gaping hole in the hearts of viewers everywhere. As that hole has grown, so, too, has the search for the perfect series to fill the void. Luckily, I’ve got that answer—and no, it’s not Longmire. Instead, we're going completely unorthodox and trading horses for Harleys and cowboys for outlaw bikers.

Finding a performance sedan that’s thrilling on the road and dependable enough to handle hundreds of thousands of miles is rare, but one model manages both with surprising ease. While many sporty four-doors sacrifice reliability for speed or focus on short-term thrills, this performance-oriented sedan combines engaging driving dynamics with real-world durability you can count on year after year. For drivers who want the best of both worlds, excitement and long-term usability, it stands out in a crowded segment.

RAM prices have skyrocketed over the past few months, and it doesn’t look like they’re coming down anytime soon. With upgrades threatening to hurt your wallet more than ever, maybe it’s time to take a different approach: making smarter use of the RAM you already have.

Microsoft's PowerToys software adds many utilities and additional features to Windows, and it just received another major update. PowerToys 0.97 has arrived with a more customizable Command Palette, a new mouse utility, and other improvements.

It's easy to look back on the past with rose-colored glasses and remember everything as being better than it actually was. It's hard to deny, however, that a lot of apps and services are getting demonstrably worse. The Home Assistant smart home software is thankfully a clear exception to this rule.

Sony is effectively stepping back from the day-to-day business of making TVs, and handing the reins to TCL. The two companies announced they’ve signed a memorandum of understanding to form a new joint venture that will take over Sony’s home entertainment business, including televisions and home audio gear.

SEE ALSO: Sony's Afeela electric vehicle will offer digital license plates

Under the plan, TCL will hold a controlling 51 percent stake, while Sony retains 49 percent. The new company will handle everything from product development and manufacturing to sales, logistics, and customer support on a global scale. If all regulatory approvals go through, operations are expected to begin in April 2027.

On paper, Sony is framing this as a best-of-both-worlds scenario. The company says it will contribute its picture processing, audio technology, and brand power, while TCL brings its massive display manufacturing operation, supply chain efficiency, and cost advantages. Sony president and CEO Kimio Maki said the partnership is meant to deliver "even more captivating audio and visual experiences" by combining both companies’ strengths.

For consumers, the most important detail is that future TVs will still carry the Sony and BRAVIA branding. But behind the scenes, TCL will be calling more of the shots, especially on how these TVs are built and priced.

That could be a good thing if it means Sony TVs become more competitive on price without sacrificing image quality. It could also mean a subtle shift in what "Sony TV" actually represents over time.

January hasn't been great for Spotify due to price changes and the scourge of AI-generated music, but the music streaming service might have at least one neat new feature in the works.

Android Authority reported, based on some strings of code in the Spotify app, that a new audiobook feature called Page Match is in the works. The idea is simple and seemingly very intuitive: You just use your phone camera to scan a page in a physical copy of a book, and Spotify then syncs the audiobook in its app to that page. This works using optical character recognition (or OCR) technology to scan the text of the page and find the corresponding timestamp in the audiobook. Unfortunately, there's no word on when or if this feature will roll out to users.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is raising prices yet again. Here's how much and when.

That sounds great, but where things get even more useful is that it apparently works in reverse, too. You'll apparently be able to use Page Match to find the page in the physical copy that corresponds to what you're hearing in an audiobook. In other words, you'll be able to go back and forth between a physical book and an audiobook as you see fit, provided you actually own (or have otherwise acquired) a physical copy and have access to the audiobook on Spotify.

As Android Authority pointed out, this would be pretty novel (pun intended) in the world of audiobook streaming. Amazon offers a sync service that only works between Audible and Kindle copies of books, but Spotify's Page Match feature sounds like it works with just any physical book you've got lying around. Again, we don't know exactly when, or if, this is coming, but given that references to it are already appearing in Spotify code, hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

In January 2026, Charlie Brooker confirmed that Black Mirror is returning for an eighth season on Netflix. The first seven seasons offer a near-future fiction thriller that leaves you looking over your shoulder. However, looking back, it's more of an eerie user manual for today's tech reality.

I've been an avid aquarist for more than a decade, but after my last cross-country move I haven't gotten around to establishing a new tank for a few years. Looking at what's going on in the aquarium hobby these days, I've been blown away by the tech on offer. When I'm ready to install my next tank, these gadgets might very well be on my wish list.

Nova Launcher is back, but it's not all good news. Late last year, one of Android’s most iconic home screen launchers confirmed its eventual death, only to receive one final update. Then, after a few random updates in November, today we learned that Nova Launcher was acquired by the Swedish company Instabridge, and now it has ads.

With Apple's big September iPhone event just 8 months away, rumors have been swirling about what Apple has in store for the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone. In the past few days, Apple fans have been talking about one leak in particular, which suggested big changes were coming to the controversial Dynamic Island.

Specifically, rumor had it that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would feature an under-display Face ID that would eliminate the need for the pill-shaped Dynamic Island, with the selfie camera housed in a smaller "hole-punch" cutout.

However, it now appears that those leaks were lost in translation. 

Instant Digital, a leaker on the China-based social media app Weibo, explained that the leak from last week (from another Weibo-based leaker known as Digital Chat Station) was mistranslated when Western outlets reported on the news.

Instant Digital claims that while Apple is relocating an infrared Face ID component under the display, this would not affect the overall design of the display itself.

It seems early reports from Chinese and Korean sources about the Face ID components were somehow mistranslated in some English-language coverage as a front hole-punch camera on the left side of the device.

As MacRumors points out, another Apple leaker on X known as ShrimpApplePro has also corroborated Instant Digital's explanation by leaking an alleged photo of the new Face ID and selfie camera assembly.

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In short, reports of the Dynamic Island's death have been greatly exaggerated. It seems that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will still have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island after all, even if it is slightly smaller in the new generation.

Last year, OpenAI announced that it was partnering with legendary iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive to release an AI wearable device, and a company leader recently confirmed the mystery device is on track to "unveiled" by the end of the year.

Speaking at an Axios-hosted panel at the annual Davos conference, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed the device would be announced in 2026. Frustratingly for OpenAI fans, Lehan didn't share any concrete details on what the device will be or do.

So far, OpenAI has been tight-lipped about its AI wearable, and it's been described vaguely as a screen-free AI companion. With no confirmed details, rumors are spreading in foreign publications and on social media that the company is planning to release AI-powered wireless earbuds with an eye on tackling the AirPods market.

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The rumors come from Chinese publications and a leaker known as Smart Pikachu, who claims that the manufacturer Foxconn will build the device. The rumors say that Foxconn is working on a secretive earbuds project code-named "Sweet Pea" for a mystery client called "Gum Drop." The device would be similar to open-style earbuds with a charging case and a powerful internal processor to power AI features.

Per Smart Pickachu, the AI earbuds would be hidden behind the ear, a design more like hearing aids than typical earbuds.

Of course, all of these leaks are unconfirmed, and "Sweet Pea" could be totally unrelated to OpenAI — or even non-existent.

Still, the rumors are growing louder.

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Previous attempts to launch AI wearable devices have not been successful, with devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin failing to build a customer base. However, ChatGPT is the most popular AI chatbot, and OpenAI would be uniquely positioned to grow this market — especially with the involvement of a heavyweight designer like Ive.

A raft of startups are also bringing new AI wearables to market, with a variety of form factors — smart glasses, AI rings and bracelets, and necklace or pendant-style AI devices with cameras and microphones.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SHOP EARLY AND SAVE $150: As of Jan. 20, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is officially available for purchase (not just pre-order). For a limited time, score it for $849.99 instead of its $999.99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop $849.99 at Roborock
$999.99 Save $150   Get Deal

The first of Roborock's CES robot vacuums is officially out. Here to help kick off the great roller mop robot vacuum flood of 2026 is the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow — not only available to buy right now, but on sale. Early shoppers can save $150 and bring it home for $849.99. That's probably the cheapest CES robot vacuum you'll come across this year.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: All of the big robot vacuum announcements, from new suction power records to... another arm

The $849.99 price tag looks extra sweet compared to the other new roller mop robot vacuum that just came out this week: The $1,599.99 Eufy Omni S2. That's similar to what I expect the Narwal Flow 2 roller mop model to cost when it drops in April, as the first Narwal Flow debuted at $1,499.99.

The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow stops mopping on carpet and rugs. Credit: Roborock The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow mop adapts to corners and walls automatically. Credit: Roborock

Granted, those Eufy and Narwal models have 30,000 Pa of suction power compared to the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's 20,000 Pa, but the $500+ difference isn't pocket change. Plus, Roborock was charging $1,599.99 for its big bad flagship robot vacuums with 20,000 Pa suction power last year. So you're still getting quite a high-octane robot vacuum for carpet. The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's livestream camera — hands down my favorite extra feature if you live with pets — sets it apart from the Eufy E28, a more affordable Eufy roller mop vacuum.

The Qrevo Curv Flow 2's most noteworthy feature is mopping, of course. The roller mop rinses itself in real time as it's mopping, making it much less likely to drag residue around and leave the floor stickier than it was before. Personally, I appreciate that Roborock gave special attention to the Curv Flow 2's ability to clean along edges. When a corner or wall is sensed, the roller mop extends out from the vacuum's circularly body to scrub right up against the flat part — something that the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller wasn't very good at.

I use VS Code almost every day. One thing that sticks with me about it is that it can do so much heavy lifting for you. Doing repetitive edits? Searching for files in the sidebar? Retyping the same boilerplate for the hundredth time? VS Code can ease all these for you. Let's dive in to see how.

Unraid is a popular option for building your own NAS system, though it has always had one annoying limitation: you need an external USB drive to boot the operating system. That's finally changing.

I had a horrible habit that I've worked really hard to get rid of. I used my "Downloads" storage as a disorganized bin of important and non-important files—and it bit me in the rear when I mistakenly deleted some very important files when I tried flushing the several-gigabyte-sized folder.

TL;DR: Live stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're fast approaching the end of the Champions League group stage. Bodo/Glimt are yet to win a game, but they can still squeeze into the playoff picture with a strong finish. Unfortunately, they end the group stage with Man City and Atlético Madrid. It doesn't get much tougher than that.

Man City are looking good to finish in the top eight and avoid the playoffs altogether. A win over Bodo/Glimt would almost guarantee automatic qualification. They end the group stage with a tougher fixture against Galatasaray, so Pep will be keen to secure three points in Norway.

If you want to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City?

Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 20. This fixture takes place at the Aspmyra Stadion.

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City for free

Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Man City in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

GitHub is my home for open-source utilities, developer tools, and niche apps that you won’t find in app stores. Many of these projects are genuinely useful. But some are poorly maintained, insecure, or outright malicious. Here's how I differentiate the good from bad ones.

Considering dual booting but overwhelmed by hundreds of Linux distros? Want to avoid the common trap of ending up with two operating systems where one just sits there unused? Here are my top three distro picks—chosen based on why you’re dual booting in the first place.

TL;DR: Lego Insiders can exchange Insiders points for the Mini Pokémon Center. Points are available to redeem from Feb. 27, while stocks last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Mini Pokémon Center Only available as a Lego Insiders Reward Learn More

The release of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets has naturally caused a stir. Whether or not you like what you see, you just know that these sets are going to sell like mad. We regularly see huge interest in anything released by Lego and Pokémon, so any sort of collaboration between these two brands was always going to send the world into a frenzy.

There are three main sets in this initial launch, featuring fan-favorites Pikachu, Eevee, Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise in Lego brick form. That's where most of the focus has been directed since preorders went live on Jan. 12, but there's more for fans to consider if you cast your net a little wider.

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From Feb. 27, Lego Insiders can redeem 2,500 Lego Insiders points for the brand-new Mini Pokémon Center. This member-exclusive build is filled with mini-scale details inspired by all the different versions of the Pokémon Center from the Pokémon games, including sliding doors that open and close using lever functions, a healing station, seating area, and PC. It's recommended for ages 18+ and contains 233 pieces.

Not already a Lego Insider? Don't panic, you can sign up here for free.

This set is available in select markets, while stocks last. Members will get a code to add to their next order. The code is valid for 60 days and must be entered during checkout in the field labelled "enter promo code."