IT General

Are you ready for some more fun projects to tackle with your Raspberry Pi this weekend? Well, you're in luck, and I actually have one project that's sure to bring you down the path of nostalgia before it's all over.

When you use CarPlay, you probably just start some music, enter a destination, and drive off. However, there is a lesser-known feature that can make your CarPlay experience a lot more personal and fun: setting a custom greeting or sound when it connects to your car.

Walking through the aisles of a video store used to be half the fun of a movie night. You judged films by their cover art, stumbled across forgotten classics, and often left with something you never planned to watch.

A lot of my smart home automations feel a little bit like magic. When I saw a post on Reddit, however, I realized that I might be able to bring some genuine magic to Home Assistant. I bought an official Harry Potter wand and set it up to work as a magical smart home controller for my kids.

Dodge built the original Ram 1500 Rumble Bee for only two model years, 2004 and 2005, borrowing the namesake from the now-legendary Super Bee. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 sent 345 horsepower and 375 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels, in what is arguably the greatest configuration for a truck: a regular cab with a short bed.

For over three months, I have been running 12 speed tests per day every single day. It's added up to over 1,200 tests spanning over 100 days, using nearly 2.5TB of data. What did I learn from this endeavor? Actually, way more than I imagined I would.

Affordable hybrid SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, but most buyers still expect to pay a premium for one that delivers exceptional fuel economy. However, there is one small crossover that breaks that assumption, offering incredible efficiency without requiring a plug or a luxury-sized budget.

SAVE $151.99: Amazon has the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on sale for $248, down from the list price at Sony of $399.99. That's a 38% discount.

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$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal

When it comes to tech, it's not always necessary to have the newest model. Sometimes, the older generator has plenty of features that still hold up well, and buying the previous model can come with major savings. If you've been shopping for Sony headphones, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 30, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon, marked down from the list price at Sony of $399.99. That's a 38% discount that shaves $151.99 off the price.

When Sony launched the XM5 headphones, they earned a Mashable Choice Award for their sound quality, noise cancellation, and overall design. Mashable Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern wrote in her review, "As for comfort, the headphones’ ear cups and band are nice and cushiony. I didn’t feel any uncomfortable head squeezing or ear pressure."

SEE ALSO: Stay hydrated this summer with the Owala FreeSip Tumbler — get $10 off at Amazon

Last year, Sony launched the new XM6 headphones, which have slightly improved sound compared to the XM5 headphones and folding ear cups. Aside from that, there's "nothing too major over the past generation," according to Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard, who compared the Sony XM6 to the older Sony XM5.

Today's sale price of $248 at Amazon applies to the black, midnight blue, smoky pink, and silver colorways. They get up to 30 hours of battery life with a single charge, and a quick three-minute charge will earn you three hours of listening time. They also come with a protective carrying case.

The Sony XM5s have convenient features like speak-to-chat, which automatically pauses music when you speak. They also pause audio when you take them off and automatically restart when they're put back on.

If you're shopping for a pair of headphones for back-to-school season, consider today's sale price on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. You'll be saving over $150 while getting some of the best sound quality available and a major savings over the $459.99 price of the Sony XM6 headphones.

If you're anything like me, you're probably starting to get fed up with disorganization around your house and digital life. That's what this weekend's homelab projects will focus on—getting organized. From unifying your podcast listening setup to simplifying your 3D printing file management, here are three homelab projects to work on this weekend.

It's already been a very busy year for Apple. Tim Cook announced he'll be stepping aside for John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Siri AI finally made its big debut at the WWDC 2026 keynote. The company released a new budget MacBook, and then raised prices just months later.

But, don't forget: We're still expecting the launch of the iPhone 18, the first folding iPhone, and a ton more Apple devices in the back half of the year.

So, Mashable and the rest of the CNET Group (ZDNET, PCMag, CNET, and Lifehacker) are hosting the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition to give our readers a chance to predict the biggest Apple news. Every correct answer earns you one chance to win the new Apple Watch announced in September. (Read the full content rules.) Ahead of the September iPhone launch event, we have our readers' answers from round two of the game.

Question 1: Will Apple announce that a foldable iPhone will be released in 2026?

The foldable iPhone — rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, or some variation thereof — is the biggest open secret in Silicon Valley right now, but Apple still hasn't confirmed its existence. However, 68 percent of respondents said they expect the phone to arrive this year, while just 32 percent answered in the negative.

Question 2: Will the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max include a black color option this year?

The lack of a black color option was a major disappointment for some Apple fans after the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro. (Scratchgate may have been the reason why.) Rumor has it we won't get a black phone this year either. The breakdown here was almost identical to question one, with 68 percent of you expecting that we will get a black iPhone.

Question 3: Will Apple announce a touchscreen MacBook in 2026?

Rumors of MacBook Pros with OLED screens and touchscreens have been spreading for awhile, and it's very possible these high-end laptops will launch in 2026.

But what do Mashable readers think? Our readers are split on this question, with 55 percent saying yes, and 45 percent saying no.

Question 4: Will Apple release new AirPods in 2026?

On this question, only 26 percent our respondents said no, with the majority (74 percent) answering in the affirmative.

Question 5: Will an M6 series chip be announced in 2026?

An M6 chip is expected to arrive this fall based on Apple's previous schedule of releases. When we posed this question to Mashable readers, 35% predicted we wouldn't see an M6 chip, while 65% believe that we will.

Don't forget to participate in the third and final round of the Big Guessing Game for another chance at winning a new Apple Watch. The last round will take place in the weeks before the iPhone launch event, which we believe will take place in mid-September.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules: https://www.mashable.com/article/mashable-big-guessing-game-apple-edition-official-contest-rules/. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Have you ever explored around Google Earth and thought to yourself, "I wish there were some generative AI features in here?" No? Well, you're getting it anyway.

Google announced that it's integrating Nano Banana, the company's generative AI image creator, directly into Google Earth.

To be more specific, Google has added its latest AI image generation model, Nano Banana 2, to its mapping platform and has rolled out a number of ways that users can utilize AI in Google Earth as well. Nano Banana has proven to be very popular, and Google previously integrated the tool with Chrome, Photos, Search, Gemini Notebook (previously Notebook LM), and Google Messages.

According to Google, Nano Banana in Google Earth can be used for a variety of purposes. Users can ask Nano Banana to:

• Generate infographics based on specific locations or landmarks

• View what a location looked like during a certain historical period

• Generate real estate plans for a lot of land

• Visualize a project before any construction starts

• Give a location or even a specific building a makeover

However, our friends at ZDNet received early access to the feature before it launched today and found that the Nano Banana implementation in Google Earth isn't really all that useful. At least not yet.

For example, according to ZDNet, the Create Image button, which deploys Nano Banana in the Google Earth toolbar, isn't provided when in Street View. ZDNet found it was easier to just take a Street View screenshot and paste the image into Gemini for AI image generation.

Furthermore, one of Google's own recommended use cases, "Bring history to life," doesn't appear to be historically accurate. ZDNet had Nano Banana generate the area around Philadelphia's Independence Hall in different time periods. While Nano Banana generated an image with the general look and feel of the time, it didn't seem to pull from any data that would show which buildings were actually around Independence Hall at the time.

The Infographic suggested use case also didn't pan out in ZDNet's tests, either. Generated infographics changed the actual layout of a location in the image and included nonsensical, garbled AI text as well.

The real estate industry has been a fairly big adopter of generative AI imagery, as they can show prospective buyers visualizations of what can be done with a home or plot of land. Google clearly had this in mind for at least some of its suggested use cases. However, Nano Banana in Google Earth seems very much like an early experimental feature at this point.

(Disclosure: Mashable and ZDNet are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

Samsung has been using Android for over 15 years, but it’s always done things its own way. You know a Galaxy phone when you see one, and that includes the software. One UI doesn’t work quite the same as plain Android—sometimes that’s good, sometimes it’s very annoying.

Deciding which AI to use has always been a challenge. If a company releases a new model, by the time you've switched, the service you've just left has dropped an even better one of its own. Even more confusingly, some models are better at specific jobs than others. I wanted to see which of the big three AI chatbots could do the best job of summarizing a day's worth of emails.

Another major IMAX release, another online debate about aspect ratios. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is making waves for many reasons, but the one I care about is the idea that the tall, square IMAX presentation of the movie is the "real" version, the way the movie is intended to be seen.

Maika Monroe stars as Winifred Notty, "the sanest person she's ever met," in Victorian Psycho, a bloody horror-comedy that'll have you frankly terrified of the Longlegs and 100 Nights of Hero star.

Described by Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko in her review as "what if gothic horror were an eat-the-rich comedy?" the film follows the plot of a murderess governess (Monroe), appointed to teach the spoiled children of the aristocratic Pounds in late 19th century England.

Directed by Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) with a screenplay by Virginia Feito (on whose 2025 novel the film is based), Victorian Psycho has a brilliant and brutal trailer out today, all scored to Die Spitz's impeccable "Throw Yourself to the Sword."

The Pounds family — played by Jason Isaacs, Ruth Wilson, Wednesday's Evie Templeton, and Hamnet's Jacobi Jupe — have no idea what they're in for with the arrival of Miss Notty. But the trailer gives us a terrible idea.

Victorian Psycho hits cinemas Sept. 25.

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SAVE UP TO $200: The ABOK Ark3600 portable power station is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $1,299. The Ark3600 extra battery is on sale for $934.15, down from the normal price of $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: ABOK ABOK Ark3600 $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: ABOK ABOK Ark3600 + Extra Battery $934.15 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $164.85   Get Deal

We have portable power stations for almost every situation. Small models are great for short camping trips, while fridge-specific models like the Jackery FridgeGuard are great for keeping food from spoiling. But if you're looking for a beefy model with plenty of power, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 30, the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station is on sale for $1,099 on Amazon, down from the regular price of $1,299. For even more power, the Ark3600 extra battery is on sale for $934.15, down from the normal price of $1,099.

The ABOK Ark3600 portable power station comes packed with 15 outlets and a 3,840Wh LiFePO4 battery. That power capacity mixed with its design that includes a telescoping handle and durable wheels makes it a great model for longer camping trips, RV adventures, or for using at home when grid power fails.

With an uninterrupted power supply of under 10 milliseconds, you won't notice a lapse in power. That's great news for using with a refrigerator, desktop computer station, CPAP machine, or an aquarium. The Ark3600 can recharge with standard AC or up to 2,000W of solar input. In full sun with 2,000W solar, the Ark3600 can recharge in about two hours.

SEE ALSO: Wolfbox's new off-road air compressor just launched with a discount — save $70 at Amazon

In addition to the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station, the expansion battery is also on sale. The ABOK Ark3600 expansion battery connects to the main power station to provide an additional 3,840Wh, doubling the power. It has a similar physical design, with a handle and wheels for easy transport. The ABOK Ark3600 can pair with two expansion batteries for a total capacity of 11,520Wh.

Upgrade your camping trips and home power supply with the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station and expansion batteries, both on sale today at Amazon.

SAVE $54.95: As of July 30, the Nespresso Vertuo Next cofee and espresso maker is on sale for just $125 at Amazon. That's a 31% price drop from its usual cost of $179.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Next $125 at Amazon
$179.95 Save $54.95   Get Deal

You know what's even better than getting your beloved caffeine fix? Getting it on demand and at a discount.

As of July 30, the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker is on sale for just $125 at Amazon. That's 31% off, or $54.95 off compared to its usual list price of $179.95. While it's been cheaper before, that's still a pretty great deal.

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While many countertop espresso makers are large, clunky eyesores, the Vertuo Next is sleek and slim (just 5.5 inches wide) and won't take up much space on the countertop. The water tank is even removable to truly optimize your space, making it a particularly perfect pick for compact spaces like apartments, dorms, or even cubicles. It heats up in just 30 seconds and gives you on-demand coffee in various formats at the touch of a single button.

Choose from six different brewing styles: 5, 8, 12, and 18-ounce coffees, as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. Fill up the 37-ounce water tank, pop in a Nespresso Vertuo capsule, select your brew size, and let it do its thing. Vertuo machines are smart enough to read the barcode on each capsule and automatically adjust the settings to brew it perfectly each and every time.

If you want to take your single-serve coffee to new heights at home, Nespresso is where it's at. A piping hot shot of espresso any time you desire at the press of a button? Say no more. There's no telling how long the discounted $125 price tag will stick around, so snag the 31% savings while you can.

A few years ago, I built a custom external SSD by putting an NVMe drive into a single-bay USB enclosure. It actually performs exactly how I expected it to—the speeds are good and it fits into my pocket.

Wireless Android Auto is great, especially when you have a long drive or need navigation instructions. You jump in and go, and your phone instantly pairs with and takes over the infotainment display. But if you've ever wondered why it turns on your Wi-Fi, that's because Wireless Android Auto needs more than Bluetooth to work.

DJI has officially launched its Osmo Pocket 4P handheld gimbal camera across the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia, following its Asian launch earlier this year. It still isn't coming to the U.S., though.

Previously unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is an upgraded version of the Osmo Pocket 4 released earlier this year, which itself is a successor to 2023's Osmo Pocket 3. The Pocket 3 has become a favourite tool among content creators, with the 4 and 4P intended to build upon its legacy.

SEE ALSO: DJI just unveiled the dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P cinematic camera at Cannes

However, the Osmo Pocket 4P differentiates itself by having a more professional audience in mind. While it can still be used by creators who focus on making videos for social media, DJI has designed the Pocket 4P with features that specifically appeal to filmmakers and cinematographers.

The Osmo Pocket 4P's most obvious distinguishing feature is its dual lenses. Its main lens is a one-inch CMOS sensor which has 17 stops of dynamic range —  an increase from the 14 stops on the Pocket 4 — while the other is a 60-millimetre telephoto lens suitable for portrait shots. Boasting a maximum resolution of 4K at 240fps, the Pocket 4P also debuts DJI's new 10-bit D-log two-colour profile. The company states that this profile is capable of capturing over one billion colours, giving filmmakers more options and flexibility when it comes to colour grading in post-production.

The Pocket 4P is compatible with the Osmo FrameTap remote as well. Included in the 4P's Vlog Combo bundle, the FrameTap allows users to monitor and control the camera from a distance.

Credit: DJI

DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P will come in both Black and Pearl White colourways, with the latter to arrive at a later date. However, neither colour will be arriving in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

Sadly, the Osmo Pocket 4P doesn't have a U.S. release date, as DJI is still awaiting authorisation to launch from the U.S. government. DJI's U.S. business has been severely impeded by the government's hostility toward the company, which has prevented it from bringing its products to the country. The U.S. has therefore been left out of all of DJI's most recent global launches, including the Mic 3, Osmo Mobile 8 phone gimbal, and Avata 360 drone.

As such, there's no official U.S. pricing for the Osmo Pocket 4P. However, the official UK pricing places it at £529 (approximately $706) for the Standard Combo bundle, and £605 (approximately $807) for the Vlog Combo. In comparison, the Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo costs £445 (approximately $594), with the Vlog Combo priced at £548 (approximately $731).

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