IT General

Hundreds of users have taken to X to report issues they are having with the music streaming platform Spotify. On the same day that Spotify released a new feature to celebrate its 20th anniversary, music lovers worldwide are facing error screens left, right, and center.

For years, the default answer to “what used SUV should I buy?” has almost always pointed buyers toward Japan. Reliability has become so deeply tied to Toyota and Honda that a lot of shoppers overlook just how much Korean automakers have improved over the last decade. Quietly, some of the most dependable, budget-friendly crossovers on the road have started coming out of Seoul instead.

The Toyota Corolla Cross has quietly become one of the brand’s bigger success stories, with sales jumping from 56,666 units in 2022 to nearly 100,000 in 2024. Oddly enough, most buyers are still skipping the hybrid model, even though it improves on the standard SUV in almost every meaningful way.

Although I love new GPU releases just as much as the next PC enthusiast, I'm also not a proponent of the "upgrade every generation" mindset. It's not necessary. You might as well set your hard-earned dollars on fire, to be honest.

Lotus is moving away from EV-centric plans, but it's still betting that electrification will help it stand out in the performance car space. The company has unveiled a new Focus 2030 roadmap that includes a teaser for a hybrid V8 supercar, the Type 135.

eBay's board of directors has formally rejected GameStop's unsolicited bid to acquire the e-commerce company, bringing an unceremonious end to one of the stranger corporate stories of the year.

In a press release issued Tuesday morning, eBay's board called the proposal from GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen "neither credible nor attractive," citing concerns about GameStop's financing plan, the operational risks of a combined company, and questions about GameStop's own governance and executive incentives.

The rejection letter, signed by eBay board chairman Paul Pressler, was unambiguous. The board said it had considered eBay's standalone prospects and concluded that the company was better positioned on its own, with a clear strategy and management team already in place.

SEE ALSO: General Motors settles lawsuit over selling customer driving data

For anyone who has been following this saga, eBay's skepticism was entirely predictable.

GameStop, the mall-based video game retailer that became a legendary meme stock after a Reddit-fueled short squeeze in 2021, announced on May 3 that it was making a surprise bid to acquire eBay at $125 per share — a 46 percent premium over eBay's closing price on Feb. 4 — valuing the deal at approximately $55.5 billion.

GameStop's answer to acquiring a company worth nearly five times as much involved a combination of its $9.4 billion in cash and liquid assets, up to $20 billion in third-party financing from TD Securities, and GameStop common stock for the remaining balance. The company had also quietly accumulated a 5 percent stake in eBay in the months prior to the announcement.

The financing math left analysts unconvinced, and CEO Ryan Cohen did little to help matters. In a now-viral CNBC interview, Cohen was repeatedly pressed on how GameStop would get to $55 billion and repeatedly said he didn't understand the question.

When Mashable reached out to GameStop for clarification, the company responded by sending a link to Cohen's pinned post on X, in which he wrote, "selling stuff on eBay to pay for eBay." He subsequently posted that his personal eBay account had hit its $50,000 monthly listing limit and had been permanently suspended, at which point he announced on X that he was on the phone with customer support. It was, in the words of our own reporting, leaning into the spin.

As for what GameStop planned to do with eBay if it actually got it, the pitch centered on using GameStop's roughly 1,600 remaining retail locations as physical hubs for authentication, intake, and order fulfillment. Which is plain terms, means trying to compete with Amazon. A tactic eBay had already tried to do a decade prior. Part of the company's recent resurgence has been its shift back to being an online marketplace for buying collectibles and antiques.

eBay, for its part, had no prior contact with GameStop before receiving the unsolicited proposal and had indicated it would review whether the bid constituted an actionable offer. As of this morning, the board has made its answer clear.

Chromebooks have been the go-to cheap, basic computers for over 15 years, but it’s no secret that Google has been preparing for something new. We finally have the details on what the next generation looks like: Meet the Googlebook.

Android Auto arrived over 10 years ago, but it hasn’t had many major changes in that time. Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design rolled out to phones last year, and now it’s coming to Android Auto. That might not be the most exciting update, though.

The folks at Google said they no longer think of Android as an “operating system.” Instead, they see it as an “intelligence system.” That tells you everything you need to know about Google’s vision for Android 17 and beyond. Get ready to let your phone do a lot more for you—if you trust it.

Google I/O 2026 takes place on May 19, but today, Google hosted a livestreamed warm-up event called The Android Show: I/O Edition. As you might have guessed, it's mostly focused on Android news.

In the past, Google I/O was focused on new Android developments. Now, Google gets that stuff out of the way a week in advance, clearing the decks for Gemini and artificial intelligence to take center stage at I/O.

Much of what was shared at The Android Show was fairly small and incremental, but between a new Google laptop brand and some useful-sounding Gemini features, there's some meat to chew on here. So, let's dig into everything we learned at The Android Show.

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The Android Show: I/O Edition's biggest announcements

Here's what stood out the most from The Android Show.

Meet the Googlebook Here it is. Credit: Google

Certainly, the biggest announcement of the show was Googlebook, a new class of laptops from Google and its hardware partners, including Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer. We got only the briefest glimpse of the hardware itself, and Google opted not to share release windows or price points at The Android Show. At its core, Googlebook seems like Chromebook for the Gemini generation.

Google's big innovation with Googlebook is Magic Pointer, a new AI-powered mouse cursor. If you hover over something with Magic Pointer on a Googlebook, it'll suggest contextual AI actions for whatever you're pointing at. One example Google gave was the ability to hover over a date in an email and set up a meeting. You know, stuff you normally do with AI, but now built into your mouse cursor.

'Googlebook' rolls right off the tongue. Credit: Google Credit: Google SEE ALSO: Google announces the Googlebook, a new breed of built-for-Gemini laptops

Another neat feature is the ability to use apps installed on your Android phone right from the Googlebook itself. According to Google, this won't require any extra downloads or bad touchscreen controls, like Android apps on Chromebooks sometimes have in the past. That's nice.

Design-wise, the Googlebook will have a thin "Glowbar" on the back cover, which will light up with Google's logo colors.

Android Auto gets some improvements Looks good! Credit: Google

If you have a modern car that's Android Auto-compatible, Google has built some swanky improvements into the experience for you. For starters, the Material 3 Expressive design language from your Pixel phone can now carry over to Android Auto, bringing your personalized color scheme and font choices with it, if you so choose. Users can also set custom widgets on the display to check the weather or open the garage door.

Beyond that, Google has updated Google Maps within Android Auto to give it a more three-dimensional view of the area around you. It can even tell which lane you're in, which could be handy. Google has also added full HD, 60 frames per second video support via YouTube to supported vehicles. Like other cars with video functionality, this only works while parked. Videos will automatically transition to audio-only once the car is set to drive.

Lastly, Google has brought some helpful contextual Gemini features to Android Auto. You can use voice commands to order food through DoorDash, use the Magic Cue feature from recent Pixel phones to draw in relevant information when someone asks you a question via text message, and more.

Gemini Intelligence comes to Android

Over the course of the rest of 2026, Google will roll out some new "Gemini Intelligence" features, which are meant for "the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel" devices coming this summer. Other devices, like cars, watches, laptops, and smart glasses will also get these features as the year rolls on.

Gemini Intelligence features largely seem to streamline things you could already sort of do with AI, giving the AI even more power to automate multi-step tasks and understand context. For instance, you can use Gemini Intelligence to automatically find a good spot in an upcoming spin class or find a tour on Expedia based simply on a photo of a travel brochure you showed the AI agent.

Other nuggets include Rambler, a new speech-to-text tool that removes filler words like "um" and "like" from your prompt. Google says it can even handle switching languages mid-sentence. This should allow users to speak more conversationally when talking to Gemini. Another new feature is the ability to have Gemini automatically fill out long forms for the user on mobile.

Last but not least for Gemini Intelligence is the ability to build custom widgets using Create My Widget. Google claims you can use natural language voice prompts to have Gemini build a custom on-screen widget with the information you want. This will be fascinating to test out as new Pixel devices roll out this summer.

Chrome for Android gets a boost

Finally, Google is adding some more Gemini support to the Chrome app for Android mobile devices. This includes Nano Banana support built right into the browser for image generation, so if you're studying for an exam and you want to turn a page you're reading into a more visually appealing infographic, you can do that, at least in theory.

Google says you can also use SpotHero to automatically find a parking spot based on a ticket for a show you've bought, and use the Gemini icon in the upper right corner of a webpage to summarize the page.

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Welcome to the world, Googlebook. Google announced the new eponymous category of AI laptops at the Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday. Think of it as the lovechild of a Chromebook and a Copilot+ PC, Microsoft's term for AI-designed Windows laptops.

"Over 15 years ago, we introduced the Chromebook, a laptop built for a cloud-first world," Google Senior Director Alex Kuscher said in a blog post. "Now, as computing shifts from an operating system to an intelligence system, we see an opportunity to rethink laptops again."

When the first models are released in the fall, Googlebooks will run Android apps like Chromebooks, but they'll place a heavier emphasis on features powered by Gemini, Google's AI assistant. Kuscher said Googlebooks are "the first laptops designed from the ground up for Gemini Intelligence."

The Googlebook will let users create their own widgets with AI. Credit: Google SEE ALSO: Everything we learned at The Android Show: I/O Edition 2026

It also sounds like Googlebooks will have a different operating system, one that's not ChromeOS. Google hasn't specified which one, just that it'll be "a modern OS that’s designed for Intelligence," wrote Kuscher. He's almost certainly talking about Project Aluminum, Google's rumored ChromeOS x Android mashup.

Chromebooks have been gaining more integrated AI tools in recent years, so it makes sense that Google is finally going full-send on proper AI PCs. Whether consumers actually want them is another story.

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Googlebook features The Googlebook's 'Magic Pointer' in action. Credit: Google

Googlebooks will support a "Magic Pointer" cursor feature that uses Gemini to understand and act upon onscreen content. You can activate it just by wiggling your cursor. "Point at a date in an email to set up a meeting, or select two images — like your living room and a new couch — to instantly visualize them together," said Kuscher, describing two hypothetical use cases.

Googlebooks will also have a "Create your Widget" tool that lets the user make custom widgets with Gemini prompts.

Google said the new laptops will integrate seamlessly with Android phones. While they can run Android apps themselves, you can also cast apps onto them from mobile devices without needing to download anything. Additionally, a "Quick Access" feature lets you view and search files on your phone right from a Googlebook.

Stay tuned for Googlebook hardware deets A Touch ID-like key on an unreleased Googlebook laptop. Credit: Google

Google is just teasing Googlebooks for now, so we don't have any concrete spec details or launch dates. But we do know they'll have a characteristic "glowbar" lightstrip on their lids, and that the first models will be made by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, per the announcement blog post. Kuscher goes on to note that "Every Googlebook will be built with premium craftsmanship and materials, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes."

Credit: Google Credit: Google

Google's press materials also describe Googlebooks as having a "Featherweight Design" with "Heavyweight Power," so I'm thinking they'll be mid- to upper-range ultraportables.

Googlebooks will almost certainly be more expensive than most Chromebooks, which themselves have evolved from budget devices to more premium machines in recent years. The highest-end Chromebooks now sit between $750 and $1,000.

UPDATE: May. 12, 2026, 1:07 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional photos.

Days after releasing an update for older phones, Samsung is releasing the first One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26 owners. It will be available in the U.S., U.K., Germany, India, Poland, and South Korea this week if you've signed up through the Samsung Members app.

SAVE $50: As of May 12, the Shark TurboBlade bladeless tower fan is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20 percent drop from its usual $249.99, marking a new record-low sale price.

Shark TurboBlade Fan $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Think back to last summer: Did you have trouble sleeping, working from home, or simply existing because it was too damn hot? Don't wait for the next heat wave to find a solution. Just grab the beloved Shark TurboBlade tower fan while it's on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's its lowest sale price to date.

For what it's worth, we'd be recommending the TurboBlade even at full price — it didn't receive a Special Mention in Time's Best Inventions of 2025 award list for nothing. The TurboBlade fan doesn't just oscillate a few inches to the left and right like your average tower fan. Its claim to fame is the ability to swivel 180 degrees horizontally and vertically to customize the perfect airflow angle (perhaps you'd want it horizontal over your bed at night and vertical in a hot kitchen while you're cooking). Airflow from the vent at the end of each arm can also be adjusted independently of each other. Choose from 10 speeds and noise levels with the tiny magnetic remote that sticks on the fan itself.

SEE ALSO: Dyson just launched its first-ever portable fan for $99

Mashable contributor Lauren Allain got a ton of use out of the TurboBlade at home: "I hate a hot room when working out, but it’s not worth turning down the central heating for my 30-minute rowing session since that would cool the entire house. Instead, I carried the TurboBlade Cool + Heat with me, positioned it in front of the rower, and took off on my workout in cooling bliss.

Plus, the wind made my stationary rowing machine feel a lot more like I was actually out on the water and not stuck working out inside, thanks to December rain."

Note that the model on sale today is the TurboBlade fan without the heat setting that Lauren tested, though their physical designs are nearly identical. Skipping the heater part will save you $180 over the TurboBlade Cool + Heat, which is currently going for $379.99 at Amazon. You could also buy two Shark TurboBlades for the same price as Dyson's cheapest bladeless fan.

SAVE $34.99: Pre-order the Google Fitbit Air at Amazon for its list price of $99.99 and get the Active Band for free, which usually costs $34.99. The release date is set for May 26.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Fitbit Air + Active Band $99.99 at Amazon
$134.98 Save $34.99   Get Deal

Last week, Google introduced us to the Fitbit Air, the latest in the lineup of Fitbits. But this one focuses on being lightweight and unnoticeable to wear. It even has a screen-less design. The watch it set to release on May 26 and pre-orders at Amazon are in for a special treat.

As of May 12, pre-orders at Amazon for the Google Fitbit Air come with a free Active Band which usually sells for $34.99.

If you've been thinking about getting a new fitness tracker, consider getting the latest release from Fitbit. It's the brand's first screen-less tracker (think Whoop design) and it comes with plenty of great features. Maybe best of all, it's under $100, which is nearly unheard of in the world of fitness trackers.

SEE ALSO: Preorder the new Google Fitbit Air and get a free $35 credit at the Google Store

Thanks to Amazon's preorder offering, you can get the Fitbit Air with its included band and get a free silicone Active Band. This band will be ideal for workouts, swimming, or showering with the watch on since it's waterproof. Keep in mind this deal gives a free Active Band in a small size which is designed to fit wrists with a circumference of 130 to 175 mm.

If you'll need the larger size, consider pre-ordering from Google. You can buy the watch for the normal $99.99 price and Google will toss in a free $35 Google Store credit which you can use to purchase an additional band.

Before the watch launches on May 26, pre-order with the benefit of getting a free Active Band. It'll be a great start to life with a new fitness tracker.

SAVE $300: As of May 12, get the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 gaming laptop for $2,399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,699.99. That's a discount of 11%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 gaming laptop $2,399.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Building a gaming PC these days can be expensive. If you need an upgrade to enjoy some of the bigger titles coming out in the second half of 2026, you might want to turn to a gaming laptop instead. And we've found a fantastic option that's on sale right now if you're ready to dive in.

As of May 12, get the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 gaming laptop for $2,399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,699.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 11%.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best gaming laptops with Nvidia GPUs in 2025, so far

This laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, so it's primed and ready for you to jump in and play the latest games. It has 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB Gen 4 SSD, and an 18-inch screen that's large and in charge with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 240Hz G-Sync ability. In short, it's a bad boy that you'll be able to rely on to play new and old favorites.

These specs offer desktop-level performance in a compact package. It's AI-ready, and DLSS 4 compatible, with ray tracing support powered by the RTX 50 series. It supports Wi-Fi 6E so you can stay connected when it counts, and it has a customizable complete LED keyboard with a numpad to help make it feel like "yours".

This is a powerful laptop that's well worth picking up, even without the discount, so grab it while the deal is sweetened and you'll be ready to game all this summer and beyond.

A quick look at deals from Home Depot's Decor Days sale Mattress deals save up to 50% Get Deal Patio furniture and fire pit deals save up to 30% Shop Now Mirror and wall decor deals save up to 50% Shop Now Area rug deals save up to 50% Shop Now Outdoor power tools save up to 50% Get Deal

We must prioritize giving ourselves something to look forward to in Times Like These — even if that "something" is a squiggly wall mirror or desperately-needed new patio furniture. Home Depot's Decor Days sale is live through May 13 for your spring home refresh urges, offering up to 50% off in nearly every home category you can think of.

• Tableware and barware — up to 25% off

• Closet organizers — up to 30% off

• Patio furniture and outdoor fireplaces — up to 35% off

• Living room furniture — up to 40% off

• Area rugs, including washable rugs and outdoor rugs — up to 50% off

• Artificial plants — up to 50% off

• Bedding — up to 50% off

• Mattresses — up to 50% off

While not officially part of the Decor Days sale, there are a ton of deals on power tools live through the end of May 12.

SEE ALSO: There's a new final boss of frozen drink makers: The Ninja Slushi Twist can mix 2 flavors, still no ice needed

One thing that jumped out at us: If the Netflix documentary about microplastics freaked you out, there are a ton of non-toxic home swaps baked into these Home Depot deals. We found 100% cotton sheets and comforters, affordable natural fiber rugs, and a big stainless steel cookware set on sale.

We have a feeling you'll end up finding inspo for more rooms than originally planned, so good thing just about everything has free delivery.

SAVE $7: As of May 12, get the Acer Wireless Gaming Headset for $35.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $42.99. That's a discount of 16%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Acer Wireless Gaming Headset $35.99 at Amazon
$42.99 Save $7   Get Deal

If you play a lot of online games, a headset is essential. You'll want to make sure you're able to answer and chat with your teammates, no matter whether you're in a co-op adventure or a deathmatch. We found one that's not only affordable, but features great sound and microphones for chatting with the folks you're playing with from Acer.

As of May 12, get the Acer Wireless Gaming Headset for $35.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $42.99. That's $7 off and a discount of 16%.

SEE ALSO: The LG Ultragear WQHD OLED curved gaming monitor hits new record-low price at Amazon — save over $800

This gaming headset comes with 2.4GHz wireless connectivity for seamless, low-latency audio under 15ms. You'll get 3D stereo, precise sound field positioning, and more all in a modest package, all for under $50.

It features 50mm dynamic drivers for deep bass and satisfying sound with a 20Hz - 20kHz range, with immersive audio to make you feel like you're really inside of your favorite game. That can help you pinpoint audio from enemies or teammates who think they're flying under the radar.

Its noise-canceling microphone can cut out noise from wherever you are and whatever you have going on in the background, with a 270-degree adjustable boom and one-tap mute button. Plus, you can leave it on and keep gaming as long as you want with up to 100 hours of battery life, and a 10-minute charge offering a 3-hour top-up.

If you've been looking for an affordable new headset, this is an excellent option to go with. Be sure to grab yours while it's still on sale.

In today's age, it really feels like there are endless amounts of superhero content, but most of the time, it’s coming directly from Marvel or DC. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. There’s a reason those companies have been around for decades. Sometimes, we need a break from Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and all these heroes that we know.

Most of the time when you set up a router, the process only involves setting up a Wi-Fi name and password. If you stop there, you're missing out.

The price hike on the Nintendo Switch 2 we all anticipated was made official earlier this month. Customers in the U.S. will now pay $50 more for the console ($499.99 instead of $449.99) starting later this year. So, if you're already going to have to dish out more money, you might as well get a free game out of it, right?

Launching in early June, participating retailers will be offering a new Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle for $499.99 (the same price as the console alone will soon be). The bundle includes the Nintendo Switch 2 system along with a download code for your choice of one of these titles: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia. These games cost $79.99, $69.99, and $69.99 respectively.

Nintendo says you'll be saving up to $30 on these games by snagging the bundle, but after the price hike goes into effect, you'd essentially be getting a game of your choice for free. This could be the perfect way for you to finally play the Switch 2 game that you can't stop thinking about (it's Pokopia, isn't it?).

Folks on Reddit are calling the bundle a "smart move" by Nintendo to ease the blow of the price hike. And I can't say they're wrong.

"Offer start date and end date varies by retailer," Nintendo said in the press release. The only details we have are that the bundle will launch in early June and be available for a "limited time" from participating retailers. We'll certainly be keeping an eye out for it in the next few weeks.