IT General

From the widely memed "Labubu Matcha Dubai Chocolate" slang overload to viral brands that everybody on your timeline seems to go crazy about, the ripple of social media influence can be widely felt in every app you use.

The AI wars roll on — this time with Anthropic stepping right in behind OpenAI by offering its Claude chatbot to the federal government for the bargain price of just $1 a year.

The San Francisco–based company becomes the latest AI player to pitch its flagship LLM to Washington, a move widely seen as a bid to win favor with President Donald Trump’s administration. The announcement on Tuesday comes less than a week after OpenAI revealed a nearly identical deal, making ChatGPT available to the General Services Administration for the same token fee.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic reportedly cut OpenAI access to Claude

According to the Financial Times, the Claude agreement clearly states that federal agencies aren’t obligated to use the chatbot at all. Even if they do, Claude’s use will be limited to sensitive but unclassified work.

Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have only recently been cleared to supply their chatbots to the US government. According to the Financial Times, Google is already working on a similar arrangement to offer its Gemini AI to federal agencies at a steeply discounted rate.

Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service — which oversees procurement for US agencies — told the FT that the goal is simple: “get widespread adoption [of AI tools] in the federal government.”

So far, multiple federal agencies have already begun experimenting with AI tools. The Pentagon has awarded $200 million in contracts to Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and xAI. Wired has also reported on AI being used inside agencies like the GSA and HUD to identify redundant federal regulations, though according to their reporting, the results have been, at best, mixed.

Gruenbaum told the Financial Times that the government has no official preference for one AI provider over another. Still, it’s worth noting that President Trump has made it clear the White House will refuse to do business with what it calls "woke AI" — a label applied to any chatbot it deems to be pushing "partisan bias or ideological agendas."

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

National Public Data — the online background check and fraud prevention service targeted by hackers in what became one of the biggest social security breaches ever — is back. It may still pose a security threat.

SEE ALSO: AOL will pull the plug on dial-up internet, '90s nostalgia ensues

In 2024, the private company announced a malicious actor had gained access to its systems in a Dec. 2023 breach, leaking information for several months to the web's black market. It took National Public Data even longer to disclose details of the breach to the public, which exposed nearly three decades of Social Security records — it was estimated that the hackers accessed hundreds of millions of records. Data included Social Security numbers, full names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers, prompting many to freeze their credit and go on the defense against identity theft.

The site shut down last year following the scandal, but now it appears that National Public Data is back in the personal information game. PC Mag reports that the domain is once again active and running with a new, unnamed owner. The site, which is operating as a people search engine, appears to still store personal data pulled from publicly available sources, including federal databases.

At the bottom of the homepage, the new National Public Data links to a statement on the 2023 breach. "The security of our users’ data is the most important factor for us. That’s why we protect it by implementing robust encryption protocols, regularly updating our security systems, and complying with all relevant data protection regulations," the site's FAQ reads.

How to opt out of National Public Data's search

Like other people search engines, individuals must request their personal information not be displayed on the site. To do so, users have to fill out the company's Opt Out Form. Individuals will need to first find and copy the link to their personal data profile on the site itself.

Individuals can also use a personal data removal service to scrub their information from multiple sites at once or manually remove their information from search sites like Google.

Elon Musk, as is his way, fired off an accusatory tweet Monday night. The target of his ire? Apple.

He posted on X: "Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action."

Unfortunately for Musk, his own social media site quickly fact-checked his statement. Community notes on his post noted that both Deepseek and Perplexity had hit the top of the App Store charts, even after Apple and OpenAI announced a partnership in 2024.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Still, Musk kept posting about Apple and his belief that it was tamping down on the popularity of xAI and its signature AI chatbot, Grok.

"Unfortunately, what choice do we have?" he posted on X. "Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body!"

Musk has not yet provided evidence that Apple has suppressed his apps. As of this writing, ChatGPT is the top app on the Apple App Store charts; Grok is in the fifth spot, lagging behind Threads.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman didn't take the accusation kindly. He quote-tweeted Musk's post and wrote, "This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The conflict this week between Musk, Altman, and Apple is yet another example of the billionaire men running the world getting into petty, public spats. Remember the Musk, Trump feud? Or Zuck and Musk? Or previous Altman vs. Musk fights?

Still, that's not to say there haven't been controversies and troubles on Apple's end regarding its App Store. Epic Games, for instance, has been locked in a years-long legal battle with Apple over listing its popular game Fortnite in the App Store. The judge in the case actually found in May that Apple violated a court order prohibiting the company from engaging in anti-competitive behavior.

It's not clear if Musk will actually take legal action, but it's interesting to see the tech giants going at one another in a public space.

AOL is officially ending its dial-up service after 34 years. How much were users paying for the internet via phone line service with the iconic beep-boop-screeching sound?

According to an announcement last Friday, AOL said it its dial-up service would be discontinued on Sept. 30. For those curious about how much it cost for a paltry 0.056 megabits per second (compared to today's standard of 500 Mbps) we looked into the cost of AOL dial-up.

How much are AOL users paying for dial-up?

At this point, even signing up for AOL dial-up is tricky, and there's not much information about how to get it. According to AOL's dial-up page, the necessary software for their dial-up service to function is only available for Windows Desktop. For an "optimal browsing experience," AOL recommends installing the AOL Dialer, which connects the AOL network and your computer, and the AOL Shield Browser, which is optimized for older operating systems.

The AOL Dialer requires users to purchase an AOL Advantage Plan. Trying to find the cost of the Advantage Plan on the AOL website is a fruitless series of rabbit holes that eventually takes you to a page offering various bundles for customer support and identity theft services, ranging from $11.99 to $16.99 a month.

However, internet comparison site Allconnect says the AOL Advantage Plan costs $9.99 a month. An old CNET article from 2006 (via the Wayback Machine) said AOL increased the cost of its dial-up plan to $25.90 per month in a effort to push customers to its DSL plan, which cost the same at that time. So it looks like the cost came way down as dial-up customers dwindled. According to 2022 US Census data (via Ars Technica) around 175,000 households in the U.S. still used dial-up.

AOL dial-up is dead, but dial-up lives on elsewhere

AOL dial-up might be dead, but there are still providers offering internet through phone lines. For some people in the rural U.S., dial up or WiFi hotspots are the most viable options because of the high cost of an internet subscription or connectivity dead zones. The same Allconnect story lists the pricing for several different dial-up providers. NetZero offers 10 free monthly hours of dial-up, and then charges $11.95 per month. Earthlink's dial-up plan is $9.95 a month for the first three months then $24.95 a month after that.

Compared to the current costs of fiber optic internet plans which range from $50 to $250 a month, these prices are a steal. But you pay for what you get. So the real cost is a frustratingly slow browsing experience.

After a very Hollywood-heavy fourth season, Only Murders in the Building returns firmly to New York in Season 5. And this season, it looks like the podcasting trio of Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) are taking on their most New York foes yet: the literal mob.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 ending explained: Who killed Sazz and why?

According to Season 5's first trailer, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel believe that the mob may have had something to do with the murder of the Arconia's doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) in the Season 4 finale. The mob angle would certainly make sense, given that the Season 4 finale also introduced new player Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), whose missing husband Nicky — "the dry cleaning king of Brooklyn" — reportedly had ties to the Caputo crime family.

But the crime families of New York aren't the only suspects on display in the trailer. Only Murders in the Building also introduces a trio of billionaires — played by new guest stars Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, and Logan Lerman — who keep sniffing around crime scenes. According to Oliver, they're "the new mob of New York." How are they connected to the "old mob," or to Lester?

Waltz, Zellweger, and Lerman are just a few of the new additions to Only Murders in the Building's star-studded list of guest stars. Bobby Cannavale, Beanie Feldstein, Jermaine Fowler, Keegan-Michael Key, and Dianne Wiest are also joining up. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep returns, alongside Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, and Michael Cyril Creighton.

Will the Only Murders in the Building crew solve yet another murder and avenge poor Lester? And how does Nicky Caccimelio's disappearance tie into Lester's demise? We'll just have to wait until Season 5 to find out.

Only Murders in the Building premieres Sept. 9 on Hulu.

Your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and gaming handhelds don’t need power to function, but the same can’t be said about your internet connection. In the event of a power outage, being able to get your network back up quickly can allow you to resume work or play while the issue gets fixed.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 at just A$76 (reg. A$338) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows at just A$76 (reg. A$338) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

What you get with your purchase

• One-time purchase, lifetime access — no monthly fees, just essential Office apps

• Includes must-have tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Designed for Windows users — perfect for work, school, and personal projects

• Boost productivity with reliable tools for documents, data management, and communication

• Quick and easy setup that allows you to download it instantly and activate with your product key

• No hidden fees — pay once and use Microsoft Office Professional 2021 forever

Skip the subscription headache — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for A$76.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License AU$76
AU$338 Save AU$262 Get Deal

Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album Tuesday in a clip from a coming episode of Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, revealing its blurred-out cover art and a title: The Life of a Showgirl. The full episode will drop late Wednesday, marking Swift's first major interview in nearly two years. Long story short, we're so back.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

As a pop music junkie, the clip had me bracing myself for a new, orange-drenched era of lore and easter eggs. (For the non-Swifties, Taylor uses a different color to represent each of her albums; this one got a bright tangerine hue.) But as a shopping reporter who covers tech gadgets, I was also on my detective shit. I couldn't help but wonder: Which wired headphones is Taylor wearing in her New Heights appearance?

A quick reverse Google Images search led me to the $109.99 Sony MDR-7506s, and a rep for Sony confirmed that they're a match. Coincidentally, Amazon currently has them on sale for $10 off. (That's Tayvoodoo in action.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony MDR-7506 Professional Stereo Monitor Headphones $99.95
$109.99 Save $10.04 Shop Now

It's worth pointing out that there's a good chance these headphones were provided to Taylor by the podcast or studio where she recorded, and they're not a pair she owns herself. That said, they are different from the ones Travis and his brother/co-host Jason are wearing in the clip.

In any case, the MDR-7506s feature a foldable, closed-ear design with 40mm drivers. Mashable's headphones expert Bethany Allard, who dabbles in podcasting in her free time, hasn't tried them herself but tells me they're quite popular in the audio world.

"They have great sound quality for editing, are comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, and aren't super expensive," Allard said, "so they're accessible to people at all levels of audio." She pointed out that they're mentioned in a 2024 gear guide compiled by Transom, an audio storytelling nonprofit. They've also been name-dropped by one of NPR's former Tiny Desk engineers.

Taylor's full New Heights episode will be available at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 13. While The Life of a Showgirl doesn't have an official release date yet, her online store notes that it will ship on vinyl before Monday, October 13.

You can watch Swift's New Heights appearance on YouTube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Pandora, Spotify, and Wondery.

UPDATE: Aug. 13, 2025, 12:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to note that the Sony MDR-7506s are now discounted on Amazon.

SAVE 24%: The Bluetti Apex 300 power station bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries is on sale at Amazon for $4,699, down from the list price of $6,199. That's a savings of $1,500 and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 power station bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries (B300K) $4,699 at Amazon
$6,199 Save $1,500 Get Deal

Power outages are no one's idea of a good time. From worrying about your phone going dead to finishing that work project before the deadline, a power outage can really throw life out of whack. If you live in an area that's prone to storms, or you live off-grid, Bluetti has a power solution in mind. Freshly launched at the beginning of August, Amazon already has the latest Bluetti in a massive bundle on sale for a great price.

As of Aug. 12, the Bluetti Apex 300 bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries (B300K) is on sale at Amazon for $4,699, down from the list price of $6,199. That's a savings of $1,500 and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

A portable power station is truly awesome for a weekend at the campground, but the Bluetti Apex 300 goes so far above what most power stations can achieve. This beast can power up your entire home, off-grid living set-up, or your RV. We're taking powering your refrigerator, the A/C unit, clothes dryer, water heater, or even recharging your electric car.

SEE ALSO: The Anker 521 Portable Power Station is back at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

Come fall and winter storms, the Bluetti Apex 300 bundle ensures your home can stay functioning, from the coffee maker to your CPAP to the kids' school laptops. Plus, the Bluetti can be recharged via the included solar panels, standard wall power, or a gas generator. If you typically get through power outages with a loud gas generator, the Bluetti Apex 300 will relieve you from that annoying generator hum.

If you're looking for big-time power backup, the Bluetti Apex 300 with expandable batteries and solar panels is a great bet. Be sure to snag this bundle while it's on sale for the best price we've ever seen at Amazon and before the storm actually hits.

SAVE $21: Through Aug. 21, a Starz streaming subscription is just $3.99 per month for three months as an add-on through Prime Video. Typically $10.99 per month, you'll save $7 per month, or $21 total.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz monthly plan (Prime Video add-on) $11.97
$32.97 Save $21 $3.99/month for 3 months (save $7/month) Get Deal

Diversifying your streaming lineup can get really expensive. But this Starz streaming deal will only cost you $12 for three months.

Through Aug. 21, a Starz streaming subscription is only $3.99 per month for three months as an add-on on through Prime Video. Typically $10.99 per month, that saves you $7 per month, or $21 total. If you don't have Prime Video, you can still sign up for Starz at a discount, but it'll cost you $4.99 per month for three months instead.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Starz isn't exactly the most popular streaming service, but it is packed with plenty of content worth watching, with originals like the historical drama Outlander and the female serial killer tale Sweetpea, as well as recent flicks like Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The Strangers: Chapter 1, and The Exorcist: Believer. In the coming months, new theatrical releases will be making their way to the streamer as well, including From the World of John Wick: Ballerina and The Unbreakable Boy.

If you're looking for something a little different, and you're getting sick of the Netflix and Hulu lineups, adding more to your entertainment lineup doesn't have to cost a fortune. Add Starz on to your Prime Video subscription for the next few months for only $12 total. For what it's worth, that's less than a single month of Netflix without ads.

SAVE $40: As of Aug. 12, get the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's a discount of 22%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sonos Roam 2 $139 at Amazon
$179 Save $40 Get Deal

A portable speaker is a fun addition to just about anyone's audio arsenal. You can take entire albums with you and play them with your friends, liven up an event, and more. And you don't have to spend an entire paycheck on one to get audio that not only sounds good, but lasts and lasts. Case in point: the Sonos Roam 2 speaker, which is on sale for a great price right now.

As of Aug. 12, get the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's 40 off and a discount of 22%.

SEE ALSO: Bring the boom wherever you go with $50 off the Soundcore Boom 2 speaker

This rugged speaker is built to go with you, no matter where it is you, well, roam, as the name implies. It's compact, lightweight, and fits into your bag or backpack to come along on whatever journey you take. Beyond that, it's waterproof and dustproof, plus rated IP67, so it's good for beach trips, camping, or whatever else you find yourself doing that requires a soundtrack.

The rechargeable battery nets you up to 10 hours of listening time per charge, so you won't be caught having to juice it back up while the party is still going. Plus, it offers Sonos Voice Control and Alexa support so you can control it without the need of a companion app. That means you just have to worry about what kind of music you're about to DJ instead.

If you're ready to soak up the last few weeks of summer listening to your favorite music anywhere you go, this excellent-sounding speaker is one surefire way to get a good bang for your buck.

Shark just released a new multi-styler that can be used to style wet and dry hair, and if you're thinking to yourself, "Didn't they do that about 10 months ago?" then you'd be 100 percent correct.

Shark announced the new tool, the Shark Glam, in a press release on Aug. 11, calling it "the first multi-styler that has the versatility of air styling and ceramic hot tool styling for salon-quality results that you can do yourself." Which, again, if you have memory of — or purchased — the Shark FlexFusion, that statement might confuse you.

The Glam was available exclusively on the Sephora app on Aug. 11, but is available to the general public as of Aug. 12 for $449 at Sephora and Shark's website.

A quick glance at the product listings of the Glam and the FlexFusion on Sephora's site confirmed to me that I was correct in sensing some similarities:

Left: The Shark FlexFusion. Credit: Shark Right: The Shark Glam. Credit: Shark

I've tested the Shark beauty lineup, and I was impressed with the innovation behind tools like the FlexStyle and the FlexFusion, so I was surprised by the marketing for the new Glam tool. Shark's Instagram tease makes it seem like this multi-styler is entirely unique. To get some clarity, I asked Shark about the differences between the Shark Glam and the Shark FlexFusion.

How is the Shark Glam different from the Shark FlexFusion?

Shark's team told me there were three main differences between the Glam and the FlexFusion:

1. The Shark Glam attachments use a new Heat Sense technology that distributes heat better for improved styling and temperature control.

2. The Shark Glam's Silki straightener is "slimmer and lighter" than the Shark FlexFusion Wet-or-Dry air straightener. It also includes a sensor for automatically turning down airflow when it's not being used for styling.

3. The power cord is lighter, making the overall styler lighter.

While I can't personally speak to the lighter power cord or new heat sense tech just yet (the Glam is still on the way to me to be tested), the straightener attachment does appear to be more compact overall in the photos of the multi-stylers side by side.

Like the FlexFusion (and other Dyson AirWrap alternatives), the Shark Glam comes in a couple of different configurations. The starting cost for the styler is $449 for five distinct attachments, making it the most expensive starting price of any Shark multi-styler. That said, it does have the best attachment variety from any Shark base model.

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion build-your-own models start at $349.99 (for the straightener, plus two attachments) or $399.99 for versions with the straightener, plus three more distinct attachments. (Note: a version of the FlexFusion without the straightener attachment exists and starts at $349.99 for four attachments.)

SEE ALSO: 6 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype The Shark Glam attachments

The Shark Glam is available in two models: straight & wavy and curly & coily. However, as of this writing, we could only find one Shark Glam model available for sale online.

Here's the breakdown for each:

Straight & Wavy

• Shark Glossi: a ceramic round brush that uses both heat and air for styling

• Shark Silki: an air straightener with ceramic hot plates for styling the hair with air, heat, or both

• 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers: curlers that "grab" the hair for air styling, found also on the Shark FlexFusion and FlexStyle

• FrizzFighter: a tool that uses Coanda air to grab and smooth flyaways

• Concentrator: a standard blow dryer attachment for focusing airflow while drying

The full attachment lineup for the Shark Glam. Credit: Shark

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion does have a model with a near identical product lineup that costs $429.99. However, you won't get the slimmer straightener, lighter cord, or improved heat tech.

Curly & Coily

The curly & coily adds one additional attachment (starred below) over the curly & coily FlexFusion. The lineup in full is:

• Shark Glossi

• Shark Silki

• 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers

• Curl Defining Diffuser

• Wide tooth comb*

The wide tooth comb is technically available on the FlexFusion, but only as part of the build-your-own sets or for purchase separately.

It is worth noting that Shark's improvements toward the heat tech seem to be targeted for folks with type three and four hair. According to the press release, Shark Beauty CMO Kleona Mack said, “Shark Glam was designed to address an unmet need – especially with textured hair. Hair types 3 and 4 have long been underserved in the styling tool category and we knew that it was time to raise the bar."

If you're most intrigued by the new attachments on both models, the individual attachments will be available for purchase and will work on the main unit of the Fusion. But, you would still miss out on the heat and airflow tech, which is housed in the main unit of the Glam itself, according to a Shark spokesperson.

Where to buy the Shark Glam Shark Shark Glam $449.99 Shop Now Sephora Shark Glam $449.99 Shop Now

GET A FREE $10 GIFT CARD: Pre-order Madden 26 for PS5, Xbox, or Switch 2 for $69.99 before its Aug. 14 release date and get a free $10 Best Buy gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: EA Sports Pre-order 'Madden 26' at Best Buy $69.99 at Best Buy
Get a free $10 gift card before Aug. 14 Pre-order Here

The new Madden game has the chance to be the best football-related video game of the past year. After Madden 25 turned out to be just another Madden game — and now that College Football 26 is turning out to be similarly just fine — Madden 26's odds of taking the trophy are good.

If you've been considering buying it, let Best Buy's preorder promo convince you: Get a free $10 Best Buy gift card just for pre-ordering Madden 26 at Best Buy before it comes out on Aug. 14.

You'll get a few weeks of believable in-game action before the first NFL game of the 2025 season kicks off between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 4. Coincidentally, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley graces the cover of Madden 26.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

Madden 26 is available for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2, all three going for $69.99. The gift card can't be applied directly to this purchase, but will be sent via email to be used on a later buy. Expected upgrades from the last game include more fluid gameplay, improved Franchise mode, and "Wear and Tear" to track player fatigue.

Having the latest Madden game at your fingertips is the obvious next step for superfans who can't get enough NFL, even if they're watching every game — including all of the out-of-market ones every Sunday. There's an NFL Sunday Ticket deal for that, too: New users can secure NFL Sunday Ticket for the full upcoming season for $276, which is over $100 less than the price for returning users. You could also switch to a Verizon phone or home internet plan and get NFL Sunday Ticket for free.

SAVE $13: As of Aug. 12, get the Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale at Amazon for 25% off. It's just $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $52.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale $39.99 at Amazon
$52.99 Save $13 Get Deal

When you're working on improving your overall fitness, there's a complete picture you should keep an eye on, not just the numbers on your scale. That's where a smart scale can come in. It can help you track a wide number of health metrics to give you more data about your body. They're surprisingly affordable too, especially if you can catch one on sale like this Renpho model.

As of Aug. 12, get the Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $52.99. That's $13 off and a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: For a limited time, Amazon has the Renpho Elis 1 smart scale on sale for under $20

This scale is already set apart from its peers in one interesting way: it features a spectrum of colors that you can set through the accompanying Renpho Health app. From there, you can track the data you measure every time you step on the scale and change the lighting to match your room, mood, or even specific profiles.

It tracks 13 different metrics, including body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, muscle mass, fat-free body weight, visceral fat, and much more. All of it will sync to your phone automatically, and you can import health data via fitness trackers and apps. It displays all of this info with a large LED screen and uses high-accuracy pressure sensors to deliver information.

There's a ton you can glean from this smart scale that can help you either tailor your workouts or figure out how you want to approach your fitness goals, and at this sale price, it's well worth investing in.

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 12, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is down to just $299.99 in most sizes and colors at Amazon. That's 25% off its usual list price of $399.99 and matches its Prime Day price for some size and color varieties.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Ring $299.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100 Get Deal

We're huge fans of the Samsung Galaxy Ring — we even like it better than the popular Oura Ring for Samsung phone users. Our reviewer Kim Gedeon gave it a near-perfect rating and claimed, "If you have a Samsung Galaxy device, particularly one that supports Galaxy AI, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not having a Galaxy Ring." Besides only being compatible with Android phones, our only qualm with this wearable is that it rarely gets steep discounts like its smart cousin the Galaxy Watch. So when we see one, it's worth shouting about.

As of Aug. 12, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is on sale for just $299.99 in most sizes and colors at Amazon. That's 25% or $100 off its list price and even matches its Prime Day price in some size and color varieties.

Standout features of the Galaxy Ring include a six-day battery life, a comfortable and water-resistant design, impressive (creepily accurate, TBH) health tracking and stress monitoring, and — unlike the Oura Ring — no subscription fees. It also has a clever curved surface, which helps to prevent scratches and keep it looking shiny and new. If it weren't for its lack of cross-platform compatibility, it might even top the list as our favorite smart ring.

Even at full cost, we think the Galaxy Ring is a worthy purchase for Android users. At $100 off, it's practically a no-brainer. Choose from gold, black, or silver in sizes 5 through 15. Most sizes and colors are down to the $299.99 sale price, but — as they rarely go on sale — some are already sold out. In other words, add it to your cart ASAP to secure the deal.

SAVE $20: The Kobo Clara Colour e-reader is on sale at Amazon for $139.99, down from the list price at Rakuten Kobo of $159.99. That's a 12% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kobo Kobo Clara Colour e-reader $139.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Have you ever tried to pack several books in your luggage before heading off on vacation? It's not easy. Even if you absolutely love the feel of a physical book, it's undeniable that packing a single e-reader with thousands of books preloaded is way more convenient than packing those physical titles. If you're in the market for an e-reader, check out today's deal at Amazon.

As of Aug. 12, the Kobo Clara Colour e-reader is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon, down from the list price at Rakuten Kobo of $159.99. That's a 12% discount that takes $20 off the list price. While that's not a huge discount, scoring the Kobo Clara Colour while it's on sale is super rare, so we're delighted about any discount.

Shocking as it might be, Mashable's favorite e-reader is not a Kindle. It's the Kobo Clara Colour. Kindles are great, but the Kobo Clara Colour won over Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino thanks to its smaller size, color display, lack of ads, and waterproof materials. "The Kobo Clara Colour is the Goldilocks of e-readers," wrote Mangino. "If you're just diving into the world of e-readers, and not particularly thrilled about Kindles and their Amazon ties, then the Kobo Clara is the right answer. It offers a color display for those who enjoy manga and graphic novels, but it remains speedy with fast processing when turning pages or swapping between books."

SEE ALSO: Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which e-reader is better?

One of the standout features of the Kobo Clara Colour it its friendliness with the Libby app, which gives readers access to millions of book titles for free, so long as you hold a library card. In testing, Mashable's reviewer also enjoyed the larger Kobo Libra Colour, even though it's a bit higher priced than baseline Kindles ($229.99), but thanks to today's sale price, the Kobo Clara Colour comes in at a much more affordable price. That makes it an excellent choice for students or those new to the wonderful world of e-readers.

With the Kobo Clara Colour, expect to get weeks of battery life before you'll need to recharge. It has a less impressive battery life than Mashable found when testing Kindles, but we're willing to make that sacrifice for the price. Mangino explained, "For the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Clara offers color displays, something you can't get in the Kindle lineup unless you're willing to spend $280. The colors aren't as bright as you'd experience in a physical book, but they're still vivid enough to enjoy a graphic novel."

The 16GB of internal storage can hold up to 12,000 downloaded e-books, which makes the e-reader infinitely easier to carry in your bag. Plus, the Kobo Clara Colour allows you to listen to Kobo Audiobooks with built-in Bluetooth technology.

Since we hardly ever see Kobo e-readers go on sale, now is your time to shine by snagging the Kobo Clara Colour while it's discounted to $139.99 at Amazon. Note that this sale price comes from a third-party seller, BlueProton. Mashable typically discourages buying from third-party sellers at Amazon, but the seller has a solid track record. If you'd prefer, the $139.99 sale price is also available at Rakuten Kobo, which also comes with free shipping.

Did you know that GitHub has a Student Developer Pack that’s chock-full of great deals? Well, they do. All you have to do is prove you’re a student and there are several hundred dollars worth of discounts waiting for you to cash in on. Here’s what you need to know.

Stand aside, "Reflection." Say goodbye, "Daybreak." Here comes the new class of Apple ringtones — and they're really good.

SEE ALSO: Reddit is blocking Wayback Machine from archiving users' posts

Last month, early software testers spotted that the iPhone's default ringtone (the less-than-serene "Reflection") had gotten a more mellow, true to its name upgrade. Now, as the official iOS 26 beta rolls out, it appears that Apple took a page out of the music industry's book and, instead of nixing what was surely the most recognizable iPhone melody, is now offering a veritable EP of "Reflection" remixes.

For those with the iOS 26 beta installed, the new ringtones appear as options underneath the device's default selection. They include "Bouyant" (heavy on the steel drums); "Pond" (a must for fans of woodwinds); "Pop" (which sounds like the score to a sci-fi detective show); "Reflected" (the hand bell jam we didn't know we needed); and "Surge" (a bass-laden club remix that totally fits in at an H&M).

But early fan favorite is "Dreamer," a lo-fi banger that some users compared to 2000s trance music. There's also a brand new ringtone incorporating a catchy little whistle, aptly named "Little Bird."

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.

In addition to a new generation of ringtones, the company's upcoming iOS 26 boasts a plethora of quiet upgrades, including new emojis, privacy features, and the buzzy new Liquid Glass display.

Try the iOS 26 beta now.

You can now try out Linux Mint 22.2 "Zara" right now, since the beta version has officially been released for public testing. This is a long-term support release, which means it will get security updates until 2029. The new version is built on an Ubuntu Noble package base with a Linux kernel 6.14.