IT General

Apple is adding four new watch faces with watchOS 26

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 17:11

It’s been a busy week at Apple with the drop of the latest iPhone 17 and the new Apple Watch 11. Amid the bustle of activity, Apple is also officially dropping watchOS 26. There are plenty of changes coming down the pipeline, and tucked in among all the other new features are four brand new watch faces.

Per Apple’s release notes when installing the update, the four new watch faces include nods to classic watches, and the incorporation of Apple's new Liquid Glass design language:

Exactograph is a modern re-imagination of a traditional regular watch which separates out hours, minutes, and seconds for more precise timekeeping. 

The new Exactograph watch face. Credit: Apple

Flow uses Liquid Glass numerals that refract a fluid orb of color that responds to your wrist movements. 

The Flow watch face, which incorporates Liquid Glass elements. Credit: Apple

Waypoint acts as a live compass that shows where you are in relation to saved locations in (Apple) Maps or points of interest (Available on the Apple Watch Ultra).

The Waypoint face, exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra. Credit: Apple

Hermès Faubourg Party features animated shorts that appear based on the time of day or your movements, with a series of characters (Available on Apple Watch Hermès).

An Apple Watch Hermès-exclusive face, featuring animated characters. Credit: Apple

As you may have surmised, the Waypoint watch face is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra while the Hermès Faubourg Party is exclusive to the Apple Watch Hermès. In addition to the new watch faces above, the Photos watch face has received a Liquid Glass makeover, so it’ll look new as well. 

The updated Photos watch face. Credit: Apple

All Apple Watch users who upgrade to watchOS 26 will get the Flow and Exactograph faces. According to Apple’s website, that will include all Apple Watches from the Series 6 onward and all three Apple Watch Ultra generations. The Apple Watch SE 2 is also invited to the party. 

The update will begin rolling out to the appropriate devices on Monday, September 15. Beta users should already have access to it now. 

WatchOS 26 was initially announced at WWDC, so most of the new features have been announced already. Apple Watch users will be treated to a new Liquid Glass design, the new AI-powered Workout Buddy, and the inclusion of Live Translation in addition to a number of improvements of things like the aforementioned Photos watch face and the addition of a Notes app. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab a pair of ANC headphones from Soundcore for under $50

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 17:09

SAVE UP TO 53%: As of Sept. 11, Soundcore headphones are marked down up to 53%. Find the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones for $23.49, knocking 53% off for $26.50 in savings.

Best Soundcore headphone deals Best open-ear headphone deal Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones $23.49 (Save $26.50) Get Deal Best headphone deal Soundcore Life Q20 headphones $29.99 (Save $30) Get Deal Best earbud deal Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 (Save $20.01) Get Deal

Dreaming of long fall walks? Wearing a sweater in the cool crisp air and listening to the new Taylor Swift album. If you're ready to upgrade your headphones for the new season, Soundcore has some great deals for you.

Soundcore is our go-to for budget-friendly headphones. They start under $100, but still deliver high-quality sound. And when they're on sale, you can score a pair of headphones or earbuds with active noise cancellation for under $50.

Soundcore's headphones are especially good for students who don't want to spend an entire paycheck on a pair of headphones but still want to be able to block out the noise while studying in the library.

Right now there are a ton of deals to be had on Soundcore headphones, offering savings up to 53% off. Here are all of the best deals now.

Best Soundcore deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones $23.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $26.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Headphone trends come and go, but right now sleep earbuds and open earbuds are the buzziest. Sleep earbuds provide comfort while blocking out noise, but open earbuds are a safe option that allows you to be aware of your surroundings while still listening to music.

Right now, you can find Soundcore's open-ear headphones for their lowest price ever. As of Sept. 11, the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones are down to $23.49, saving you $26.50 for 53% off. That's officially their lowest price ever, from its previous low of $24.99.

Open-ear headphones are ideal for working out. When you're on a run or on a bike, and want to listen to your pump-up playlist but still want to be aware of traffic, open-ear headphones allow for the best of both worlds. The Soundcore V20i, hook around the ears for a comfortable yet snug fit. Plus, you can take calls with the V20i, which have four mics in them.

Looking for a more traditional pair of headphones? Don't worry, there are still a ton more Soundcore deals to explore.

More Soundcore deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Outlook Lite App Is Shutting Down

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 17:00

Microsoft is shutting down its Outlook Lite app for Android, a lightweight version of its email client that was designed for low-end phones and slower networks. The app will be retired starting on October 6, 2025, and after that date, new installations will be blocked.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why do we keep making battle royale-style movies?

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 17:00

This episode of How It Hits breaks down The Long Walk and its place in a long tradition of deadly competition stories, from Battle Royale to The Hunger Games. Why do we keep coming back to these narratives—and why do they so often put kids in the arena?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get both the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Q20i headphones for under $270

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 16:54

SAVE $34: As of Sept. 11, you can get both the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Soundcore Q20i noise-cancelling headphones for just $265.98. That's $34 in total savings and $9 cheaper than buying each pair separately on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Q20i noise-cancelling headphones $265.98 at Amazon
$299.98 Save $34 Get Deal

Over-ear headphones and compact earbuds both have their time and place. But when it costs hundreds of dollars for each, you often have to make a tough decision. If you're torn between the two, we recommend checking out this bundle deal from Anker Soundcore. For under $270, you can get your hands on both.

As of Sept. 11, you can get the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Q20i noise-cancelling headphones bundled together for only $265.98. A $300 value, that saves you about $34 total. The Sleep A30 earbuds are $230 on their own, so this bundle deal essentially gets you the Q20i headphones for only $36.

We're huge fans of the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds. They're the only pair of sleep earbuds on the market that feature active noise cancellation and it works great. Mashable's Bethany Allard tested them for a few months and had mostly positive things to say. "They bring the best of what I would expect from a premium sleep earbud — active noise cancellation, solid battery life, and plenty of optimization for sound in comfort," she writes. One of their only pitfalls is the price tag — although, with this bundle deal, we can definitely look past that.

The Soundcore Q20i headphones are budget-friendly over-ears that go beyond the basics. They offer active noise cancellation, 40-hour battery life (with ANC on), transparency mode, customizable EQ, and multipoint connectivity. They're not the most advanced headphones on the market by any means, but they'll get the job done.

Not to rag on Apple, but for less than half the price of AirPods Max, you can get a solid pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones and premium sleep earbuds from Anker Soundcore. In this economy, that's a major win.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Things to Buy Instead of an iPhone 17, 17 Pro, or Air

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 16:30

The iPhone 17, fancier Pro version, and an all-new slim model are just slightly better iterations of the iPhone you already have in your pocket. While everyone loves an upgrade, not everyone needs an upgrade.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Let the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop tidy your home for its lowest price yet

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 16:26

SAVE $300: As of Sept. 11, get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 23% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Ready to stop spending so much of your time vacuuming and mopping manually? This fall, let the robots handle it with this fantastic deal on a robot vacuum from Amazon. Not only will it save you some serious money, but also the most precious commodity: time.

As of Sept. 11, get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's $300 off and a discount of 23%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

This premium robot vacuum and mop combo is a great pick for automating your entire cleaning routine. It boasts a self-cleaning, self-emptying docking station as well as AI navigation and 10,000Pa of strong suction so you don't have to worry about going over floors again to suck up every bit of debris.

This model really can do it all, from automatically switching from vacuuming to mopping to save you time, auto-emptying its dust bins, and using intelligent dirt detection to find where all the grime is lurking. It even handles heated air drying for mop messes, so you're good to go minutes after mopping the floor. No more gross puddles to have to worry about drying yourself.

If you're tired of handling all these tasks, this robot vacuum and mop combo can make things significantly easier on you. Just be sure you jump on the deal quickly as it's currently a Lightning Deal, which means it can disappear fast.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Christy trailer: Sydney Sweeneys buzzed about boxing transformation revealed

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 16:24

Throughout her career, Sydney Sweeney has proven herself to be an accomplished genre hopper, tackling teen dramas like Euphoria, rom-coms like Anyone But You, and horror films like Immaculate. But with Christy, she leaps into a new genre: the Oscar bait biopic.

Directed by David Michôd (The King, Animal Kingdom), Christy stars Sweeney as famed boxer Christy Martin, a pioneer for women in the sport. While the film follows Christy's boxing journey, it also examines her traumatic upbringing with her homophobic mother Joyce (Merritt Wever) and her relationship with her abusive husband and trainer Jim (Ben Foster).

The latter takes up the bulk of Christy's first trailer, with Jim even threatening to kill Christy should she ever leave him. Also on display in the trailer is Sweeney's muscular transformation into Martin, the kind of physical commitment that's catnip for Oscar voters. (See: Christian Bale in The Fighter or Charlize Theron in Monster.) But beyond its Oscar bait-y premise, how does the film actually stack up?

SEE ALSO: 'Christy' review: Sydney Sweeney's Oscar-bait swing is a big miss

Following its world premiere at 2025's Toronto International Film Festival, Christy garnered mixed reviews. Some critics praised Sweeney's performance while pointing out the film's flawed, even bland storytelling.

In her review out of TIFF, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko criticized Sweeney's performance along with the film as a whole, writing, "Despite the premiere buzz, Christy is not the Oscar contender that Sweeney, who also produced the film, seems to have swung for. Its script is a mess, creating clumsy archetypes and hitting on Lifetime movie cliches with no self-awareness."

Christy hits theaters Nov. 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I Created the Ultimate Rescue Drive for My PCs

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 15:30

Imagine this: you come home, turn on your PC or laptop, and it won’t boot. Now what? You had important work to do. Panic sets in, and you don’t know what to do next.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 VW ID.4 vs. Ioniq 5 vs. Kia EV6: Which Electric SUV Is the Best Deal?

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 15:00

The Tesla Model Y may still be the best-selling electric crossover in 2025, but cracks are starting to show. Sales have slipped hard over the past few months, and plenty of shoppers are eyeing other options.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to stop videos from autoplaying on X

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:52

X (formerly Twitter) seems to be dominated by videos when you open the app or access the site — and if the news of the day happens to be something violent or disturbing, it can be easy to stumble across content that you don't want to see automatically playing.

The safest way to avoid disturbing social media content is to avoid the apps altogether, but if you do want to access X on a day when unpleasant news is trending, there's a setting you can tweak that will at least stop videos from autoplaying in your feed.

SEE ALSO: Twitter lets you put content warnings on your tweets. Here's how to do it. How to stop videos autoplaying on X Total Time
  • 1 minute
What You Need
  • X on desktop or smartphone

Step 1: Navigate to "Settings and privacy"

This is under "More" if you're using desktop.

Credit: X

Step 2: Navigate to "Accessibility, display and languages"

Step 3: Click/tap on "Data Usage"

Credit: X

Step 4: Click/tap "Autoplay", then select "Never"

This will stop all videos from autoplaying when you're using X.

Credit: X

It's worth noting that while you can stop autoplaying videos, this won't remove videos from X altogether — and there's still a chance you may see disturbing images while browsing on the app.

If you've seen violent or disturbing content online, and need to talk to somebody, here are some resources:

Crisis Text Line / 988lifeline.org / Samaritans / Find a Helpline

To report harmful content go to the Safer Internet Centre.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Ultima Limited Edition preorders go live for PS5 and Xbox Series X

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:47
Pre-order 'Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition' on Amazon Pre-order for Xbox Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition $99.99 on Amazon Pre-Order Here Pre-order for PS5 Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition $99.99 on Amazon Pre-Order Here

When Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine launched in 2011, it stood apart from the cover-heavy shooters of its era. Where Gears of War and Mass Effect 3 had you crouched behind walls, Space Marine sent you charging into the fray with a chainsword in one hand and a bolt rifle in the other. It was messy, fast, and brutal in a way other shooters weren’t at the time.

The sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, keeps that same energy but scales it way up. Developed by Saber Interactive, best known for World War Z, it is a third-person action game where you carve through endless Tyranid swarms, swap between six classes in replayable three-player missions, and test your skills in 6v6 PvP. Think God of War’s close combat mixed with World War Z’s swarms, only here you are a genetically engineered supersoldier in bright blue power armor.

SEE ALSO: 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Mirror Edition' comes to PS5 and Xbox Series X: Release date and price info

Now Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition is due Nov. 18 with some physical goodies and all DLC and season pass content released so far.

What's inside the Ultima Limited Edition

The Ultima Limited Edition is the most complete version of the game available. It includes:

  • Base game with campaign, co-op missions, and PvP

  • SteelBook case with exclusive artwork

  • Macragge’s Chosen DLC with an Ultramarines cosmetic pack that adds a chainsword skin, bolt rifle skin, and Crux Terminatus shoulder piece, all usable in campaign, operations, and multiplayer

  • Season Pass 1 with a mix of cosmetic packs and champion packs:

    • Ultramarines Cosmetic Pack with over 30 items including heraldry decals, successor chapter markings like Novamarines and Praetors of Orpheus, unique helmets, and new paint colors

    • Dark Angels Chapter Pack with more than 40 items tied to the Dark Angels and their successors

    • Salamanders Champion Pack with a full-body power armor set for the Sniper class and a matching Bolt Sniper Rifle skin

    • Raven Guard Cosmetic Pack with heraldry and paint schemes

    • Imperial Fists Champion Pack with a Tactical class armor skin and weapon

    • Space Wolves Chapter Pack with successor heraldry and colors

    • Blood Angels Cosmetic Pack with heraldry and armor markings

    • White Scars Chapter Pack with chapter-specific decals and paint

  • Season Pass 2 with more customization and champion packs:

    • Black Templars Champion Pack with full armor for the Bulwark class and a Power Sword skin

    • Imperial Fists Cosmetic Pack with more than 40 cosmetics across Imperial Fist successors

    • Ultramarines Champion Pack, a class-specific full armor set, coming after launch

    • Additional packs and chapters to be announced

In short, Chapter Packs focus on modular cosmetics like decals, paint colors, helmets, and greave markings, while Champion Packs deliver complete armor sets for one class plus a matching weapon.

Is Space Marine 2 newcomer friendly?

Warhammer 40k is famous for having decades of lore, thousands of pages of novels, and a tabletop game that can be overwhelming if you are not already a fan. The good news is that Space Marine 2 is designed to be approachable even if you know nothing about the setting.

The story follows Captain Titus of the Ultramarines, a character from the first game, and throws him into a clear fight against a terrifying alien swarm. You do not need to know the full history of the Imperium, the Horus Heresy, or the countless Space Marine chapters to enjoy the campaign. The focus is on action, spectacle, and survival rather than deep lore.

Who are the Tyranids?

The main villains in Space Marine 2 are the Tyranids. They are an alien hive species that exists only to consume. Imagine the xenomorphs from Alien mixed with the endless Zerg from Starcraft, then dial the scale up until they devour whole planets. They are not individuals but part of a collective hive mind that overwhelms enemies with sheer numbers. For a newcomer, all you really need to know is that they are terrifying, they never stop coming, and killing them in huge swarms is the core of the game.

SEE ALSO: '007: First Light' could be the best James Bond video game since 'Goldeneye'

For players who want to learn more, the game includes nods and references for fans of the wider universe, but it never requires you to read outside material to understand what is happening. At its core, the story is simple: you are a genetically engineered soldier defending humanity against alien monsters. That makes it an easy entry point for anyone curious about Warhammer without the homework.

What comes after launch

The Ultima Edition and base game release worldwide on Nov. 18, 2025. Focus Entertainment has already confirmed more content will follow:

  • Ongoing Season Pass 2 drops with new Champion Packs and Chapter Packs

  • Season 3 and Season 4 are planned but details are not yet announced

  • Some packs may release on consoles first, with PC players getting them later

Should you preorder the Ultima Limited Edition?

If you only want to play the campaign, the standard edition will be enough. But if you plan to dive into co-op operations or PvP where customizing your Marine matters, the Ultima Edition is a strong value. It includes two full season passes and the Macragge’s Chosen DLC upfront, saving you from buying them separately later.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Ultima Limited Edition is available to preorder now for $99.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It launches worldwide on Nov. 18, 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Non-MCU Marvel Movies You Can Stream Right Now

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:30

While the brand has lost some of its luster in recent years, the average person still associates Marvel movies with the MCU, the cinematic universe that brought us everything from Iron Man to The Thunderbolts. But the MCU wasn’t born until 2008, and there were plenty of Marvel films created before that. And even after that, there have been more films made outside of the MCU umbrella than you can shake an Infinity Gauntlet at.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Went Back and Booted the First Linux Distro I Ever Tried

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:00

Nearly every Linux user seems to remember their first encounter with the OS. I decided to try booting up the first distro I ever tried, Knoppix, to see how well it held up since I first tried it over 20 years ago.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pornhub traffic dropped during Apple event — but not for Android users

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:40

Tuesday's Apple event was so "awe dropping" that people clicked away from Pornhub to watch it.

That is, if they're already fans of Apple. Last year, the event was enough to get iPhone users off the site, but not Android users. This year proved much of the same, according to insights from Pornhub. During big announcements for the AirPods Pro 3 and iPhone Air, traffic from Android users was actually nearly two percent higher than that of an average day. The sleek thinness of the iPhone Air was unsexy, apparently.

SEE ALSO: A new round of Apple Watches have arrived. Here's where to preorder.

The same can't be said for iPhone users, though. Once the event began yesterday, Pornhub traffic dipped 16.2 percent for those using the Apple product.

Credit: Screenshot: Pornhub Insights

Some people switched back to explicit content for the announcement of the AirPods Pro 3 — traffic was only 12.9 percent below average. Heart-rate monitoring from the earbuds wasn't enough to get their blood pumping.

Credit: Screenshot: Pornhub Insights

Apple Watch Series 11, however, was more titillating as traffic to Pornhub dipped further to 15.3 percent. Was it the extended battery life?

Credit: Screenshot: Pornhub Insights

What diverted people's eyeballs from porn the most was — unsurprisingly — the iPhone announcements. This is especially true of the iPhone 17 unveiling, when Pornhub saw a 16.6 percent decrease. The Air and the Pro announcements saw slightly lower dips (15.6 and 15.8, respectively), but still higher than the other products.

Credit: Screenshot: Pornhub Insights

Even minutes after the event's end, Pornhub traffic from iPhone users was below average. Guess everyone needed a smoke break.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong online for free

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:28

TL;DR: Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Asia Cup is off to a flying start, and we're expecting more of the same in the coming days. Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong is the next fixture on the schedule, with fans expecting a confident win from Bangladesh. Hong Kong lost their opening game by 94 runs against Afghanistan, so they'll simply be hoping to make this one a closer affair.

If you want to watch Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in the 2025 Asia Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong?

Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in the 2025 Asia Cup starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 11. This game takes place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

How to watch Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong for free

Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha.

Tamasha is geo-restricted to Pakistan, 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 Pakistan, meaning you can unblock Tamasha from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in the 2025 Asia Cup for free 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 Pakistan

  4. Visit Tamasha

  5. Live stream Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the 2025 Asia Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tamasha?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming on free sites like Tamasha, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Asia Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apples iPhone 16 is now only available with 128GB of storage

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:20

Immediately after launching the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone Air, Apple discontinued the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models. Perhaps the company is afraid of cannibalizing the new lineup too much?

Easier to miss, however, was the fact that Apple also greatly reduced the iPhone 16 lineup (via MacRumors). Yes, the iPhone 16 is still available over at Apple's online store for $699, but you can only have it with 128GB of storage.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: What are the differences?

If you need more storage, you'll have to opt for the larger iPhone 16 Plus, which can be bought for $799 with 128GB of storage, and for $899 with 256GB of storage.

Oops. Credit: Apple

It's a fairly small detail, but it will make a difference for people shopping for a new iPhone that need more storage than the puny 128GB. All of the new models, including iPhone 17, start with 256GB storage, but the price is, of course, higher.

There is another option in the middle, the iPhone 16e, which comes with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage (for $599, $699, and $899, respectively). But that one lags behind other models in the camera department.

It's fairly typical of Apple to nudge buyers into the direction of its new phones with details like this. Your best option — if you're interested in an older model — is to check inventories at other retailers, which still may hold the model your want.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The iPhone Plus Is Dead, Here's What You Should Buy Instead

How-To Geek - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:00

Lost among the fanfare about the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro’s chunky camera block is news of a fallen comrade: the Plus-sized base model iPhone. This is bad news for anyone who preferred a larger screen, but there are still some options available.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon TCG price watch: Destined Rivals bumps and cuts for September

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 12:59

Since launch, collectors and players have been watching Destined Rivals closely, and the market is already showing strong winners and losers. Illustration Rares, particularly the Rocket-era Special Illustration Rares, are pushing higher thanks to nostalgia and standout artwork. On the gameplay side, cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp and Ethan’s Ho-Oh are gaining traction for competitive use, lifting their values further.

But not everything is trending up. Several Hyper Rares and less-demanded Illustration Rares are cooling off as collectors redirect spending toward the most premium variants. The gap between SIRs and other rarities is widening with every week.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Meanwhile, sealed product from Destined Rivals has exploded in value just three months post-release. Booster boxes and Pokémon Center ETBs are already priced at premium collector levels, raising the question of whether it’s smarter to keep them sealed or crack them open.

Pokémon card bumps Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 231/182 (SIR) rose from $339.60 in August to $369.37 now, an 8.8% bump. Its current price is exactly aligned with its market price of $369.37, suggesting demand is strong enough to hold at this level. This card is already the chase of the set, and collectors are driving the surge. With premium art and solid gameplay utility, it’s easy to see why the SIR is overshadowing the Hyper Rare.

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – 232/182 (SIR) has made one of the biggest leaps, climbing from $193 in July to $249 now (+29%). The market price is slightly lower at $228.47, meaning some sellers may already be testing the limits of demand. Still, this card has both collector pull — Cynthia remains one of the most popular trainers — and competitive upside. That mix keeps it hot.

Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex – 230/182 (SIR) jumped from $144.95 in July to $198 now, a 36.6% increase. Its market price of $183.78 suggests it’s slightly overheated at the moment, but not by much. With a playable ability in Golden Flame and the legendary status of Ho-Oh, this is one of the safest climbs among the set.

Team Rocket’s Moltres ex – 229/182 (SIR) climbed from $132.04 to $169.09, a 28.1% gain. The market sits lower at $139.35, meaning the card may have run ahead of itself short term. That said, collectors love the dramatic artwork and the nostalgia of Rocket’s legendary birds. Even if it cools slightly, demand will stick around.

Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex – 233/182 (SIR) had a smaller rise, going from $99.59 to $107.91 (+8.3%). Its market price is almost identical at $107.41, meaning it’s holding steady with real transactions. Nidoking may not be as flashy as Mewtwo or Moltres, but the Rocket branding and poison-heavy mechanics make it appealing for niche collectors.

Pokémon card cuts Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 240/182 (Hyper Rare) slipped from $71.31 to $65.58, down 8%. Its market price of $66.85 shows it’s still moving, but buyers clearly prefer the SIR version. The correction here is more about collectors flocking to premium art than a weakness in the card itself.

Misty’s Psyduck – 193/182 (IR) has seen the harshest fall, crashing from $94.99 in May to $51 now, a 46.3% drop. Its market price of $56.25 is slightly higher than current, suggesting a small rebound could happen, but the bigger story is that the novelty has worn off. Cute factor alone can’t sustain a card without playability or enduring collector demand.

SEE ALSO: Save over $60 on the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Lucario and Tyranitar Collection with Sam’s Club’s restock

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – 241/182 (Hyper Rare) dropped from $57.86 in July to $44.09 now, down 23.8%. Its market price of $43.94 matches closely, signaling stability at this lower level. The SIR is dominating collector demand, leaving this variant struggling to hold interest.

Ethan’s Typhlosion – 190/182 (IR) edged down from $41.67 to $39.46, a modest 5.3% decline. Its market price of $34.19 shows the floor may be even lower than current listings suggest. Typhlosion just isn’t matching Ho-Oh’s appeal, and unless gameplay shifts, it could keep sliding.

Yanmega ex – 228/182 (SIR) fell from $38.18 to $33.74, a drop of 11.6%. The market price of $34.42 is close to its new level, suggesting the fall has stabilized. Yanmega’s niche ability wasn’t enough to compete with the bigger names in the set, leaving it underwhelming for both collectors and players.

Destined Rivaled sealed bumps and cuts Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Destined Rivals sealed is proving to be one of the strongest sealed performers in recent TCG memory. Since releasing in English on May 30, nearly every product has risen, with some doubling in just three months.

Booster Boxes have surged from $247.76 in July to $349 now, a 41% increase. With a market price of $362.63, demand is still pushing higher. These are already a premium buy, and investors who want long-term sealed value should move quickly before they become unreachable.

Pokémon Center ETBs are the standout performer, skyrocketing from $182.39 in July to $312.90 now, a massive 71.5% rise. The market price of $330.68 is even higher than current listings, showing that real buyers are paying above sticker. This is the premier sealed product for Destined Rivals investors.

SEE ALSO: Save 32% on the Pokémon TCG Slashing Legends Tin featuring Koraidon at TCGPlayer

Half Booster Boxes rose slightly, from $186.99 in July to $199.85 now (+6.9%). With a market of $192.85, these are steady but not explosive. More of a mid-range option for collectors.

Regular ETBs climbed from $83.99 to $99.96, a 19% gain. The market price of $99.72 suggests it’s holding firm. These are still the entry point for casual collectors and remain a safe pick-up.

Booster Bundles and Build & Battle Boxes have been mostly flat, with Bundles dipping slightly and Build & Battle holding around $40. These are practical for players who want packs to rip, but not strong sealed investments compared to boxes or ETBs.

Sleeved Boosters and Blisters are trending upward. Sleeved booster packs rose from $6.84 to $9.49, while regular boosters went from $6.31 to $8.71. The three-pack blisters tell a split story: Kangaskhan’s blister rose from $40.85 to $39.74 (steady, slight dip), while Zebstrika’s blister jumped from $23.31 to $30.99, showing stronger demand. For collectors, Zebstrika looks like the sleeper pick.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The DJI Mic 2 is down to its record-low price at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 12:32

SAVE 18%: The DJI Mic 2 is on sale at Amazon for $179, down from the standard price of $219. That's a savings of $40 and a record-low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 2 (one transmitter, one receiver) $179 at Amazon
$219 Save $40 Get Deal

DJI has been on a roll in 2025. The brand is pumping out new creator gear that's raved about, and it's not just drones. DJI has a new portable power station, e-bike, and even a robot vacuum cleaner. But amid tension with imports and tariffs and a potential ban in December, it's been a challenge to find DJI tech in stock. Those stock issues make today's deal on a creator-approved mic one to pounce on soon.

As of Sept. 9, the DJI Mic 2 is in stock and on sale at Amazon for $179, marked down from the usual price of $219. That shaves a respectable $40 off the price thanks to an 18% discount. Today's sale price marks a record-low at Amazon.

The DJI Mic 2 bundle that's on sale for $179 includes one transmitter, one receiver, one windscreen, a clip magnet, a carrying pouch, and a few other accessories. If you'd prefer to have two transmitters, check out the sale price on the DJI Mic Mini.

DJI considers the Mic 2 to come with "pro-level audio," thanks to many features. For one, it gets up to 18 hours of operating time and the transmitter weighs just 28 grams. Unlike some creator mics, the Mic 2 has a noise cancelling feature which means environmental noise will automatically be reduced.

SEE ALSO: DJI reveals the Mic 3, a follow-up to its cult-favorite pocket mic. But we have bad news too.

Overall, you get a 820-foot range with the DJI Mic 2 and it has 8GB of internal storage, which can safely keep up to 14 hours of uncompressed audio.

Before it goes out of stock once more, snag the DJI Mic 2 for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. You'll be getting a pro-level audio upgrade for recording vlogs, interviews, and more.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker