IT General

Samsung's next batch of flagship smartphones is almost here, and leaked details are coming in hot. A pair of reports this week pointed to possible color choices and price points for the still-unannounced Galaxy S26 lineup.

For starters, prominent leaker Evan Blass took to X to post a list of Galaxy S26 color options, allegedly definitive. They are:

• Black

• White

• Silver Shadow

• Sky Blue

• Cobalt Violet

• Pink Gold

SEE ALSO: Samsung will pay you $50 to leave your non-Samsung watch party

Those are fairly standard colors for a smartphone in this day and age, so anyone expecting something really bold like Apple's orange iPhone last year might be disappointed.

Meanwhile, Korean outlet iNews24 had encouraging news, via a Samsung source, about price points for the Galaxy S26 models. The company is "doing their best" to make sure the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra (the most expensive model) doesn't exceed 2 million won, the source said.

That converts to roughly $1,360, or about $60 more than the price of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

With a margin that small, Samsung could opt to keep the price of the S26 Ultra the same as last year's equivalent. And that could happen despite rising prices of memory chips amidst a massive RAM shortage.

We still don't know when exactly Samsung will actually show off these phones and put these rumors to rest, but a launch event announcement is expected any day now.

In Jan. 2026, the gap between the haves and the have-nots could hardly be more stark — even in AI world.

On the have-not side, there's OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Long the hype man for imminent digital superintelligence (aka AGI), Altman backtracked and said we're in an AI bubble last year. He's made odd deals to feed the money hog known as ChatGPT; subscriptions ain't paying the bills. Last week, Altman rolled out what in 2024 he called "the last resort" for the company — selling ads on ChatGPT. A popular LinkedIn post this week used an AI image of Altman out in the cold, begging for change with a self-mocking cardboard sign: "AGI = Ads Generate Income."

And then there are the haves in warm rooms in snowy Davos, Switzerland — where the weather report for the AI economy, from the annual World Economic Forum, is just peachy.

Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, who rode the company to a $4 trillion valuation on the back of powerful GPU chip sales growth that hasn't quite slowed yet, flipped the script when asked about the AI bubble. "This is the largest infrastructure build-out in human history," Huang said of active and promised data center projects. "And so the AI bubble is, comes about because the investments are large. And the investments are large, because we have to build the infrastructure necessary for all of the layers of AI above it."

Huang wasn't denying the existence of a bubble, exactly — he just suggested it was a misreading of our current economic outlook. Just look at all that infrastructure coming down the pipe! Left unsaid was whether those massive projects would dry up if AI itself continues to not show returns on investment for regular businesses (especially if AI models like DeepSeek can be built with minimal data center usage, the opposite of what made Nvidia successful).

In Nvidia's telling, the tail is now wagging the dog. And the rest of Davos, a popular confab for billionaires, pretty much wagged along in agreement.

"I think there will be big failures, but I don't think we are in a bubble," said Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock, a top tech investment firm. (Blackrock holds more than $200 billion in Nvidia stock.)

Also at Davos, one Nobel Prize-winning economist described what was currently happening in AI as a "rational bubble", comparing it favorably to the infamous tulip bulb panic of the 17th century. Why? Because with AI, insisted Peter Howitt, economics professor at Brown University, "there's something real out there."

Howitt didn't suggest what that real thing was, but insisted there would be a winner — and their arrival would herald the bursting of the bubble. "At some point, when it becomes a little clearer who the winners are going to be, the values of the other firms are going to start to fall, and that's when the crash will take place."

So who is that winner, other than Nvidia and its circular OpenAI deals? Microsoft, with its own favorable OpenAI deal, might be in a position to "win" the AI economy. Microsoft currently owns a 27 percent stake in the ChatGPT maker. If Altman can't keep the lights on long-term, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella could well ride in to the rescue and snap up OpenAI itself.

Nadella, on the surface, seemed just as optimistic about AI's future as the rest of the titans. And yet in his appearance, the Microsoft CEO also sounded a note of alarm. If the AI economy doesn't root itself in non-tech sectors, it will be a bubble — and soon.

"The real question in front of all of us is how do you ensure that the diffusion of AI happens, and happens fast," Nadella said. "For this not to be a bubble by definition, it requires that the benefits of this are much more evenly spread." (Nadella has been criticized by investors for too much AI infrastructure spending.)

So to summarize the view from the Davos bubble: We're not in an AI bubble, we're in a massive infrastructure investment that will benefit workers. Well, maybe we're in a rational bubble. But we will be in an irrational bubble if everyone doesn't get on board with the AI economy real soon, presumably by sending poor Sam Altman some ad dollars. Got that?

TL;DR: Secure a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons and master an instrument in your free time for just $99.97 (reg. $299.99) through Feb. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $99.97
$299.99 Save $200.02   Get Deal

Looking to give yourself an upgrade in 2026? How about learning to play the piano? You can now add the impressive skill to your bag of party tricks without ever leaving your house, thanks to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons. This app lets you learn from home — all you need is a piano or keyboard and your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $99.97 (reg. $299.99) until Feb. 1.

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If you want to really make a splash at your next dinner party, imagine how cool it would be to sit down at a piano and impress the room with a song or two. Skoove Premium Piano Lessons can make it happen, allowing you to pick up piano in your spare time with help from this AI-powered app.

Learn piano from the comfort of your own space, as Skoove Premium Piano Lessons hears what you play, recognizes your notes, and provides real-time feedback so you can improve as you go. The app works on any device, so all you need is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to learn anywhere there’s a piano or keyboard.

Skoove Premium Piano Lessons lets you jump in at any level, with lesson options from beginner to advanced. You can also learn while playing your favorite music — choose from Adele to the Beatles to Beethoven.

This lifetime subscription gives you permanent access to over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, with new ones added every month. Real music instructors are also available for one-on-one support whenever you need it.

Master piano from home with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, now just $99.97 (reg. $299.99) through Feb. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple is getting into the AI wearable space with its very own AI pin, according to a new report from The Information.

According to the report, Apple's AI pin could be released as soon as 2027 and would be around the size of a slightly thicker AirTag. The report describes Apple's work-in-progress AI pin as being a "thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminum-and-glass shell." The Apple AI pin will have a single physical button along its edge and a charging interface on the back of the device, much like the Apple Watch.

Crucially, the Apple AI pin will reportedly have two cameras as well, one being a standard lens and the other being a wide-angle lens, on the front of the device. The cameras are designed to capture photos and videos of the user's surroundings. On the audio end of things, the Apple AI pin has a speaker along with three microphones to pick up sound.

Apple has been looking to ramp up its presence in the AI space after being largely absent while companies like Google and Microsoft have focused on getting into the market. Apple recently announced it was partnering with Google in order to power Apple Intelligence and Siri with the search giant's Gemini AI model. Apple has also been working on a complete AI revamp of its voice assistant Siri.

According to the report, Apple is aiming for a 2027 release for its AI pin in order to compete with OpenAI's own mystery AI wearable, which is slated to launch later this year. However, the report also states that development of the AI pin is in the "very early stages" and Apple could potentially cancel the device if it isn't up to par with the company's standards.

AI pins have been a challenge for companies looking to create physical, standalone wearable AI devices. The Humane Pin was probably the biggest example of a failed AI wearable, with the company having raised hundreds of millions of dollars only to launch and sell less than 10,000 units of its much-criticized device. The company closed less than a year after the Humane Pin launched.

If Apple does indeed launch the long-awaited foldable iPhone in September as rumored and the AI pin months later, we're looking at a very interesting timeframe ahead for brand new Apple products.

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.

Automakers have been chasing speed and power for over 100 years. When developing a new sports car, these aspects are the benchmarks for success. Auto engineers try to achieve this feat by increasing power, reducing weight, and using just about every other trick in the book to improve a new model’s performance. Today, cars are reaching performance levels that are at the limits of what most humans can handle.

SAVE $350: As of Jan. 21, get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $649.99. That's a discount of 54%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $350   Get Deal

It's 2025. Who's actually spending time pushing around a vacuum anymore? Let a robot vacuum take care of the dirty work and save some money while you're at it. This deal on a fantastic Shark robot vacuum is one that you won't want to miss.

As of Jan. 21, get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $649.99. That's a discount of 54%.

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This robot vacuum can do just about everything, so you get a truly hands-off cleaning experience. With a 120-minute runtime and powerful suction, it can tackle all your most difficult areas with ease. It has a bagless, self-emptying base that can contain up to 60 days of dirt and debris, so you don't have to do anything with it at all. Just let it run and pick up your dirt and whatnot, and empty it much later.

It can map your home effortlessly using 360-degree LiDAR vision, so it can navigate the space without continuously bumping into things. Plus, it has a Recharge and Resume feature that lets it automatically head back to its dock to recharge and return to where it left off all on its own when charged.

Plus, it has support for voice control and other mapping and scheduling options that you can use to have it put together a routine that lets you continue to stay hands-off. Not a bad way to automate your household.

If you're ready to change the way you clean, be sure to pick up this discounted robot vacuum while it's still up for grabs.

TL;DR: GoCable is a compact 8-in-1 charging cable with 100W power, universal connectors, and built-in tools — and it’s on sale for $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.99
$49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal

Staying powered shouldn’t require a bag full of cables and adapters. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable is designed for busy, on-the-go lives — combining fast charging, universal compatibility, and practical tools into a single, compact gadget that clips right onto your keys or bag.

At its core, GoCable is a 100W-capable charging cable, meaning it can power everything from phones and earbuds to tablets and laptops (with a compatible power source). It supports USB-C to USB-C and Apple Lightning connections, making it easy to switch between devices without swapping cables.

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An integrated LED power display shows real-time charging output, so you always know what’s happening.

What sets GoCable apart is everything built around the cable. A magnetic wrap keeps it neatly stored and tangle-free. A carabiner clip makes it easy to attach and grab when needed. There’s even a built-in bottle opener and a safe-proof cutter for quick tasks like opening packages — small features that come in handy more often than you’d expect.

Despite packing eight functions, GoCable stays lightweight at just 40 grams and small enough to disappear into everyday carry. The braided nylon exterior and metal alloy components add durability for daily use.

For travelers, commuters, creators, and anyone tired of juggling cables, GoCable offers a simple idea: carry one smart tool instead of many.

Get the GoCable while it’s on sale for just $21.99 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Whether you've had an old PC sitting in a closet collecting dust, or your old Windows 10 PC recently became a relic thanks to Windows 11's hardware requirements, one of the best ways you can put it to work is a Home Assistant server.

UP TO 50% OFF: As of Jan. 21, you can get up to 50% off select Satisfyer toys at Amazon, including the cult-fave Satisfyer Pro 2 and the Double Joy.

Satisfyer Pro 2 $49.93 at Amazon
$69.95 Save $20.02   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re looking for an excuse to get yourself a *little treat*, now’s the time to do it. With V-Day on the horizon, hundreds of sex toy retailers have hard-launched holiday sales (some New Year’s discounts are still lingering, too), making it a great time to buy a new vibrator, dildo, cock ring, or whatever else gets you going.

Even Satisfyer, the brand famous for its air-pulse tech, is offering up to 50% off select toys via its Amazon storefront. Right now, you can score some of its most popular models, including the oh-so-famous Satisfyer Pro 2 and the Satisfyer Double Joy, at a hefty discount.

SEE ALSO: The best sex toy for couples

If you haven’t heard of the Satisfyer Pro 2, let me enlighten you. This tiny but mighty toy has more than 59K reviews on Amazon and an overall rating of 4 stars. I own this toy, and while it’s not my go-to, I’ve never been disappointed with its performance. It’s powerful, compact, easy to hold, and travel-friendly. (It also looks like a facial cleansing brush, so if you accidentally leave it on your vanity, your guests will be none the wiser.) Plus, the reviews are hilarious. I def recommend giving them a read if you have time.

Satisfyer has other toys, too (if you’re not into air-pulse stimulation). The Double Joy, for example, is a top-rated couples toy that connects to the Satisfyer app. It’s a waterproof wearable vibrator designed for every body for internal and external stimulation. The brand also sells male masturbators and butt plugs. So, if you’re on a budget, there’s probably a toy in this sale that’ll get you there without breaking the bank.

TL;DR: This limited-time bundle gives you lifetime access to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 plus Windows 11 Pro for just $39.99 (reg. $418.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $39.97
$418.99 Save $379.02   Get Deal

Keeping a Windows PC productive usually means juggling multiple upgrades — your operating system on one side, your productivity software on the other. This limited-time bundle simplifies that decision by pairing Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows with Windows 11 Pro for a single one-time payment of $39.97.

Office Professional 2021 includes the tools most people rely on daily: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

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It’s designed for real work, whether that’s building spreadsheets, writing reports, managing email, or creating presentations. The familiar ribbon-based interface keeps everything accessible, while updates to Excel analysis tools and PowerPoint design features help speed things up without changing how you work.

Windows 11 Pro handles what happens underneath. It introduces a cleaner interface, better window management with Snap layouts, stronger security through features like BitLocker and TPM 2.0, and productivity improvements that make multitasking easier.

For professionals, it adds tools like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and Azure AD support. For everyone else, it simply makes daily computing feel smoother.

Windows 11 Pro also brings Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, directly into the OS. It can help summarize content, adjust system settings, generate ideas, and even assist with writing or code — all without leaving your desktop.

Together, these two Microsoft gems cover both what you do and how your PC runs. Instead of paying ongoing subscription fees, this bundle lets you own two core Microsoft tools outright.

Get both Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for just $39.99 (reg. $418.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Maestrelli vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Australian Open movies into the second round with a number of interesting matchups, including Maestrelli vs. Djokovic. The big question is whether Djokovic can still compete in the latter rounds, and if he can't, will the Serbian legend continue to compete?

If you want to watch Maestrelli vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Maestrelli vs. Djokovic for free

Maestrelli vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Maestrelli vs. Djokovic without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Maestrelli vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Google's AI assistant Gemini has surged to the top of AI leaderboards since the search giant's latest update last month.

However, cybersecurity researchers say the AI chatbot still has some privacy problems.

Researchers with the app security platform Miggo Security recently released a report detailing how they were able to trick Google's Gemini AI assistant into sharing sensitive user calendar data (as first reported by Bleeping Computer) without permission. The researchers say they accomplished this with nothing more than a Google Calendar invite and a prompt. 

The report, titled Weaponizing Calendar Invites: A Semantic Attack on Google Gemini, explains how the researchers sent an unsolicited Google Calendar invite to a targeted user and included a prompt that instructed Gemini to do three things. The prompt requested that Gemini summarize all of the Google Meetings the targeted user had in a specific day, take that data and include it in the description of a new calendar invite, and then hide all of this from the targeted user by informing them "it's a free time slot" when asked.

According to researchers, the attack was activated when the targeted user asked Gemini about their schedule that day on the calendar. Gemini responded as requested, telling the user, "it's a free time slot." However, the researchers say it also created a new calendar invite with a summary of the target user's private meetings in the description. This calendar invite was then visible to the attacker, the report says.

Miggo Security researchers explain in their report that "Gemini automatically ingests and interprets event data to be helpful," which makes it a prime target for hackers to exploit. This type of attack is known as an Indirect Prompt Injection, and it's starting to gain prominence among bad actors. As the researchers also point out, this type of vulnerability among AI assistants is not unique to Google and Gemini.

SEE ALSO: Prompt injection attacks and 6 more security risks when using AI at work

The report includes technical details about the security vulnerability. In addition, the Miggo Security researchers urge AI companies to attribute intent to requested actions, which could help stop bad actors engaging in prompt injection attacks.

Your Apple TV is likely the last device you upgrade regularly. In recent years, updates have primarily focused on faster chips and a redesigned Siri Remote, which remains compatible with older models.

Notepad was overhauled with a modern interface and new features alongside Windows 11, and Microsoft has continued updating it. Now, the text editor is getting even more Markdown editing features and a few other changes.

German luxury compact SUVs are often associated with high price tags, but one particular model has quietly proven that premium doesn’t always mean pricey. This SUV delivers the refinement, comfort, and technology buyers expect from a German brand, yet it does so with a value proposition that surprises many shoppers who assume higher costs come with the badge. For those balancing luxury and sensible spending, it’s becoming one of the most attractive options in its segment.

We’ve all played mobile games that rely on tapping, swiping, and tilting, but what about plugging and unplugging your charging cable? As strange as it sounds, that’s exactly what a clever web developer created, and you can play it on your Android phone without downloading anything.

The graphics card market is a fickle beast. One year, it'll be teeming with options for every price range; the next, it'll be barren during a shortage. The ongoing RAM-pocalypse is definitely pushing us toward that latter state, but there are still GPUs left to buy—for now.

Google is stepping up its security game for educational institutions by adding automated ransomware detection directly into Google Drive. This gives administrators and users a better defense against data loss and the threat of ransom payments. It also provides a safety net if an attack has already happened.

There are many reasons why Samsung Galaxy XR is the first VR headset I’ve actually wanted, but the best thing about it is something that neither Samsung nor Google felt the need to highlight. This is the most open, unrestricted headset on the market today—a device I can truly make my own.

Home Assistant is free, open-source smart home software that allows you to connect and control a huge number of smart home devices, regardless of their brand or ecosystem. It's a technological marvel, but my favorite thing about Home Assistant has nothing to do with the tech at all.