IT General

If you grew up in the 90s with a beige Windows PC, there’s a good chance you spent hours staring at a very specific pair of speakers. The Harman/Kardon HK195 speakers were ubiquitous in the early internet era, and artist @gwakproductions has brought them back in a massive way—literally.

There are many helpful sensors for your smart home, from humidity sensors to door and window sensors. But there's one sensor in particular that sounds a little crazy, but can actually be incredibly useful.

Saturday Night Live is making its way across the pond to the UK — and we finally have a few more key details about what to expect.

The big one? Sky's six-episode series has announced its 11-person cast, with Celeste Dring, Hammed Animashaun, Larry Dean, George Fouracres, Jack Shep, Ayoade Bamgboye, Al Nash, Paddy Young, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, and Emma Sidi making up the core troupe of players.

'Saturday Night Live UK' has its cast. Credit: Sky

Interestingly, the show isn't necessarily stacked with huge names: Some of the cast have appeared in popular shows like Taskmaster, Starstruck, Big Boys, This Country, and Black Ops, but most are aren't extremely well known in the UK beyond comedy circles. It's likely this spinoff version is following in the footsteps of the original in its recruitment of grassroots and up-and-coming comics.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best British TV shows of 2025 and where to stream them

“The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have, they’re bold, exciting and of course, incredibly funny," said lead producer James Longman in a press release sent to Mashable. "The chemistry between them is something special and we can’t wait to share this funny group of people with the world.”

Saturday Night Live UK will feature a different guest host and musical guest each week, and will feature an opening monologue, a take on Weekend Update, and familiar SNL-style sketches.

Saturday Night Live UK launches on March 21 on Sky and NOW, with new episodes live each Saturday. U.S. streaming details are TBC.

Featured Video For You Say More: Danny Boyle reveals the tech and origins of '28 Years Later's most shocking moments

Have you ever had a caricature of yourself made? You know those funny drawings you can get made at Disney World or at most boardwalk spots where the artist accentuates your features in an over-exaggerated cartoon-style portrait? 

Well, if you missed out on your last summer vacation, AI chatbots like ChatGPT are generating caricatures now and they're currently all the rage on social media.

Here are a few examples.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. ChatGPT caricature trend prompts to try

Looking to whip up an AI caricature of yourself? 

Just go to ChatGPT and upload a close-up image of yourself. From that point, there's a few ways to continue. The way most users are generating their caricature is by using this viral prompt: “Create a caricature of me and my job based on everything you know about me.”

However, in order to create an AI-generated caricature from that prompt, the user needs quite a bit of history with ChatGPT so that the chatbot can whip up an image with their relevant interests depicted. 

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT GPT-4o users are raging at OpenAI on Reddit right now

Don't have that kind of relationship with ChatGPT? That's not a problem. That just means you'll have to use a more detailed prompt, providing ChatGPT with a little bit about yourself. Some of the fun that users are having will be missed going this route as the chatbot can't exactly surprise you with the details it includes. But, you'll still get a caricature made nonetheless.

While ChatGPT seems to be most users' choice of chatbots for this, any generative image AI model should suffice in case you want to see what some of the alternatives whip up.

The wildly popular Lego Botanical collection just got a new addition and it might be my favorite. Meet the Lego Botanicals Flower Wall — a customizable floral masterpiece that's made for hanging.

Officially available to the public as of Feb. 4, the Lego Flower Wall features 879 pieces that build out to create a gorgeous modular flower trellis with several flower varieties: camellias, a clematis, a hydrangea, a ranunculus, a dark red rose, a cornflower and a mimosa flower. The set introduces several new flowers to the Lego world, as well as new shades of pink and purple.

Credit: Lego Credit: Lego

Not only is the trellis system itself customizable, but the flower elements are as well. Builders are encouraged to get creative and rearrange the flowers to suit their style and space. You can even mix and match Lego florals from other sets you may already own to change things up, giving those old bouquets entirely new life. Any Lego Botanicals set that allows you to remove the buds from the stems can be attached to the Flower Wall. You can also connect additional frames to create a bigger, more extravagant display. The design possibilities are virtually endless. Of course, you'll have to buy all of the extra flowers and frames separately.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Lego Flower Wall is officially available to purchase in Lego stores and at Lego.com for $89.99. I, for one, am actually surprised this highly customizable and stunning set is less than $100. Both a creative outlet and an elegant display piece, it's sure to be an instant fan-favorite.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Flower Wall $89.99 at Lego
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For ages, Alexa has been a staple of Amazon Echo devices, serving as the loyal voice assistant. But Amazon is upgrading Miss Alexa to Alexa+, an assistant that does far more than play music and answer your questions. Alexa+ is Amazon's AI assistant coming to all Echo devices for Prime members. Not a Prime member? Well, you can still chat with Alexa+, too. Here's everything to know about Alexa+, now free for Prime members.

What is Alexa+?

Alexa+ is Amazon's upgraded AI assistant. The program had been beta tested by millions of users since its announcement in early February 2025. Alexa+ combines the ease and convenience of the classic Alexa voice assistant with AI for an assistant that can perform more complicated tasks.

Where it differs from standard Alexa is that you don't actually need an Amazon smart home Echo device to use it. Now you can access Alexa+ on the web or through the Alexa app.

Prime members now get Alexa+ for free

So do you need to pay for Alexa+? Not if you're a Prime member. The AI assistant is now included as a Prime benefit. If you're not a Prime member, you can still use Alexa+'s chat function on Alexa.com for free, but that's it. If you want the full benefits of Alexa+ and you're not a Prime member, you can pay $19.99 a month for access. However, considering Prime membership is just $14.99 a month, just sign up for Prime, as you'll get additional benefits outside of Alexa+.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa+ takes Alexa to the next level. Alexa+ can be used anywhere with its web services and app, compared to Alexa, which is accessed through Echo devices. It has a chatbot feature where you can ask it all of life's questions. It also helps you stay more organized by planning meals, booking repairs, and managing calendars. It will also help you plan trips and date nights, write emails, craft workout schedules, and control your smart home devices.

In a series of Super Bowl LX ads released today, AI company Anthropic is taking shots at OpenAI and ChatGPT, its biggest rival.

As you may have heard, OpenAI is bringing advertisements to users' ChatGPT conversations, including in some paid plans. As recently as June 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described ads in ChatGPT as a "last resort."

But as the latest ChatGPT models fail to deliver the big leaps in performance many users were expecting, and as OpenAI faces fierce competition from Google, OpenAI is reportedly in "code red" mode. Hence, advertisements in ChatGPT. Now, Anthropic is rubbing salt in the wound.

Watch the Anthropic Super Bowl LX ads about ChatGPT

Anthropic uploaded four new videos to YouTube, which all follow a similar format. The videos have dramatic-sounding titles like "Betrayal" and "Deception." Per the Wall Street Journal, the ads were made for Super Bowl LX to promote the company's AI chatbot Claude.

In one video, a forlorn young man asks his therapist how he can communicate better with his mom. His therapist's answer sounds helpful at first, until she takes a hard pivot into sales mode.

“Or, if the relationship can’t be fixed, find emotional connection with other older women on Golden Encounters, the mature dating site that connects sensitive cubs with roaring cougars," the therapist says. "Would you like me to create your profile?”

In another, a scrawny 23-year-old asks for help building a workout plan, only for his personal trainer to pitch him on supportive insoles for "short kings."

All of the videos end with the same tagline: "Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude."

You get the idea.

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.

Amazon is now rolling out its upgraded Alexa virtual assistant to everyone in the United States. A free chat interface is available, but for full functionality, you need an Amazon Prime membership or Alexa+ subscription.

OneNote is a well-designed note-taking application, but after trusting my data to Microsoft and Google for years, I've decided to try and reclaim some privacy. This is how I switched to a privacy-focused, self-hosted note-taking app.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 4, get any size or color of the Samsung Galaxy Ring for $100 off at Best Buy. Discount is automatically applied at the checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Ring $100 off any size and color Get Deal

Looking for the right wearable for you? You might want to consider a smart ring. Like smartwatches, they're capable of tracking important fitness metrics that can help you meet your goals. And if you're interested in trying one from Samsung's stable, you can take advantage of a deal that makes it possible to save some significant cash now.

As of Feb. 4, get any size or color of the Samsung Galaxy Ring at Best Buy for $100 off. Discount is automatically applied. Best Buy also offers a sizing kit so you can choose the best fit.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

The Galaxy Ring is packed with smart features that don't require a subscription. It connects through Samsung Health, which means you'll need to be an Android user to utilize it. It analyzes a wide range of data about your heart rate, your sleep, and more to give youa daily Energy Score with Galaxy AI. This calculates your readiness for the day.

It'll also give you insights on your sleep and workouts in general so you're better equipped with data to tackle the day. Plus, it can hold a charge for up to seven days, meaning you don't have to juice it up nearly as often.

If you're ready to give a smart ring a try, this is a discount you won't want to pass up. Grab one from Best Buy that suits your tastes and enjoy that very flexible $100 discount.

Ready to ditch Windows and move to Linux? Has your research led you to Linux Mint and Zorin OS, leaving you unsure which one to choose? Well, here’s a quick overview of their core differences so you can pick the one that best suits your needs and workflow.

NEW COSTCO MEMBER BENEFIT: Through March 1, sign up for a new Costco Gold Star membership for $65 and get a free $20 Costco shop card. New Costco Executive memberships cost $130 and come with a free $40 Costco shop card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco Gold Star memberhip $65 at Costco
get a free $20 Costco shop card Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco Executive membership $130 at Costco
get a free $40 Costco shop card Get Deal

Costco is a playground for adults. It's perhaps the only place we can stock up on affordable toilet paper that'll last for a year, get a rotisserie chicken for dinner, buy a bag of potato chips large enough for a football game party, and fill up on the infamous $1.50 hot dog combo. But the only issue with Costco is that you have to pay to play. The warehouse requires a membership to enter the magical gates, but there's a great sale happening for new members.

Through March 1, new members can get a free $20 Costco shop card when signing up for the $65 per year Costco Gold Star membership. Those who sign up for the Costco Executive membership will get a free $40 Costco shop card for investing in the $130 per year membership.

To qualify for this deal, you'll need to be a new Costco member. Costco considers this to be anyone who hasn't had a membership in the last 18 months, including primary members or those part of a household membership.

The Costco Gold Star membership gains you access to shop in-store at the warehouse or online at Costco.com. The Executive membership comes with extra perks like getting into the warehouse an hour before Gold Star members, a $10 monthly credit on same-day delivery orders, and a 2% reward on eligible purchases. Both types of memberships give you access to two cards, so you can invite someone from your family or a friend to join in on your membership.

SEE ALSO: McDonald's is giving away free McNugget Caviar kits for Valentine's Day — here's how to get yours

If you've never had the delight of entering a Costco warehouse, you're in for a real shopping treat. The bulk retailer sells everything from Apple products to Ninja kitchen appliances to massive TVs. Of course, there's also the deli, bakery, plentiful clothing selection, mattresses, and so much bulk food. You've always wanted to own 100 tortillas, right?

On top of the massive selection, Costco often has unique sales that you won't be able to find at any other retailer. Gift cards, for example, are a great deal at Costco. Two $50 gift cards for Gap Inc. brands (Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, and Banana Republic) are selling for $79.99 instead of the standard $100. Or just in time for Valentine's Day, Costco has two See's Candies $25 gift cards for $38.99, instead of the standard $50 price.

If you've been considering signing up for a Costco membership, the free shop card offer means your membership fee is significantly reduced. The $65 per year Gold Star membership comes with a free $20 shop card, and the $130 per year Costco Executive membership earns you a free $40 Costco shop card. In either case, you're getting free money to spend on your next trip. Sign up before March 1 to get these savings.

SAVE 10%: As of Feb. 4, the 77-inch Sony Bravia XR8B OLED 4K Smart TV is on sale for $1,798 at Amazon, down from $1,998. That's a 10% discount, or $200 in savings.

77-inch Sony Bravia XR8B OLED 4K Smart TV (K-77XR8B) $1,798 at Walmart
  Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon

With the Winter Olympics kicking off this week, you arguably have the best excuse of the year to upgrade your TV setup. If you want a screen that does justice to the opening ceremony in Milan (and isn't $3,000), this Sony deal is worth a look.

As of Feb. 4, the 77-inch Sony Bravia XR8B OLED 4K Smart TV is on sale for $1,798 at Amazon, down from $1,998. That's a 10% discount, or $200 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics: streaming guide

For an extra $19.99, Amazon offers "Room of Choice Delivery." It doesn’t include installation, but it ensures the delivery team carries the box to the specific room you need it in, rather than just dropping a monster-sized box in your entryway. (If you want them to unbox it and take the trash with them, the unpack and haul away upgrade is $69.99.)

Because it’s an OLED, you’re getting over eight million self-lit pixels for infinite contrast. It also runs at a 120Hz refresh rate, which is exactly what you want for watching sports or playing on a PlayStation 5 (Bonus: it has exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping that automatically kick in when you connect your console).

I don't mean to startle anyone, but Pokémon is 30 years old this year, and you're going to hear about it during Super Bowl LX.

The Pokémon Company put out a quick little teaser video on its YouTube channel on Wednesday morning that doesn't say much on its own, but does tease something more in the near future. There will apparently be some kind of Pokémon 30th anniversary ad during Super Bowl LX on Sunday, and this video serves as a tease for that.

SEE ALSO: How to qualify for the new and exclusive Lego Mini Pokémon Center

Again, the video itself isn't much. It's just Jigglypuff being bored and antsy on a couch.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra Premium Collection is $80 off at Amazon

It's also not clear if what airs during the Super Bowl will feature any kind of news about upcoming video games, cards, toys, or TV shows, or if it'll just be a very expensive reminder that Pokémon exists and has existed for three decades.

If you're using a Google TV device, you might notice from time to time that your shows and movies tend to buffer a lot. That's when the program stops and starts as it waits for more data.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics curling for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Winter Olympics is showcasing so many incredible sports that we wouldn't usually get the opportunity to watch. We're circling our calendar for the Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, and Luge. In fact, we're making time to watch it all.

The busy schedule starts with curling. You know, that strategic sport where players gracefully slide granite stones towards a circular target. The battle for medals is going to be intense in this competition. In the men's event, Sweden are defending champions but Great Britain and Canada will be confident of taking gold. In the women's event, Great Britain will be looking to defend their crown against the likes of Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Korea.

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If you want to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics curling for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is the 2026 Winter Olympics curling?

Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for every day of the games, from Feb. 4-22. Curling is held at the Cortina Olympic Stadium in Cortina D’Ampezzo.

How to watch 2026 Winter Olympics curling for free

Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics is available to live stream for free on a number of services:

• Australia — 9Now

• Austria — ORF

• Canada — CBC Gem

• France — France TV

• Germany — ARD

• Ireland — RTÉ Player

• Italy — RAI

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics curling from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics curling 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 a location with free access

4. Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics curling 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 VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the curling plus the rest of the 2026 Winter Olympics before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics curling for free with ExpressVPN.

Are you still hanging on to an old Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, or the big Galaxy S21 Ultra? If so, it's finally time to let go, move on, and replace it with something newer. In a move that shouldn't come as a surprise, Samsung has officially discontinued software support for these phones, and they won't receive new updates or security patches moving forward.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, it's official: There's a Nintendo Direct livestream this week.

The Mario maker announced on social media channels on Wednesday morning that a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase stream will take place 24 hours after the announcement, at 6am PT/9am ET on Thursday, Feb. 5. You can watch the showcase live on Nintendo's YouTube channel. According to the company, it will be about 30 minutes long and will focus on games for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

SEE ALSO: I got to play the new Nintendo Switch Virtual Boy. It has the same problem it did in 1995. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

As for what to expect from the stream, Nintendo is usually pretty tight-lipped about those sorts of things ahead of time. However, the words "Partner Showcase" give us a hint. Like previous Nintendo Direct Partner Showcases, I would expect this one to focus almost entirely on third-party games rather than anything made internally at Nintendo. You might think that makes this Direct less exciting, but previous Partner Showcases have delivered the goods in the past. Just last year, Octopath Traveler 0 made its debut during one, and ended up being one of the best games of 2025, for example.

Even with the news that the Switch is the most successful Nintendo console ever this week, the company isn't stopping anytime soon.

SAVE $67: As of Feb. 4, the Amzmerit smart scale is on sale for only $49.99 at Amazon with the code TQXXS39F. That's an extra $50 off its sale price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amzmerit Amzmerit Smart Scale $49.99 at Amazon
$117 Save $67.01 with code TQXXS39F at checkout Get Deal

While regular old scales simply measure your weight, smart scales take things multiple steps further by providing you with loads of data to help you tailor your fitness journey appropriately. Typically with the help of an app, you'll get the full picture when it comes to your progress. It may sound expensive, but it doesn't have to be.

As of Feb. 4, you can grab the Amzmerit smart scale on sale for only $49.99 at Amazon when you use the code TQXXS39F at checkout. It's typically listed at $117 and is currently on sale for $99.99, but the code will knock an extra $50 off. Once you add it to your cart and head to checkout, select "use a gift card, voucher, or promo code" under your payment method options and copy/paste the code TQXXS39F into the box. You'll see the promotion applied to your order total before you officially checkout.

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The Amzmerit scale uses eight high-sensitivity electrodes to track 45 key health indicators, including weight, body fat, muscle mass, BMI, and bone mass. That data syncs with the A&P Health app, which is compatible with AppIe Health, Google Fit, and more. With historical body data and detailed charts, the app helps you track long-term metrics and get a glimpse at the bigger picture rather than focusing on daily fluctuations. You can even add data profiles for family members, including babies and pets.

Unlock the behind-the-scenes data of your health and fitness journey with the Amzmerit smart scale.

Browsers come packed with features that no one thinks twice about using, but one of the most important ones is the password manager. Access to your credit cards, bank accounts, and social media logins are all stored in one place. Rather than trusting them to my browser, I've opted to use BitWarden instead.