IT General

FX's Alien: Earth quickly became one of the most obsession-worthy shows of the summer

Over the course of eight episodes, Noah Hawley's Alien prequel series gifted viewers with bold new tech, a host of terrifying creatures, and a downright nausea-inducing mini Alien movie. With the show's Season 1 finale looming, can fans expect more Alien: Earth in a Season 2?

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 was its own 'Alien' movie. Here's how they made it. Will there be an Alien: Earth Season 2?

FX has yet to confirm whether Alien: Earth has been renewed for a second season. However, Hawley and FX Chairman John Landgraf have each previously expressed their desire to continue the show.

In 2024, Landgraf told Variety, "We’re pretty bullish on Alien: Earth and we’ve told [Hawley] that assuming, as we hope, Alien: Earth is a returning television series, we want him to focus on on at least writing two seasons of it before returning to a possible sixth season of Fargo."

SEE ALSO: Did 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 freak you out? Us too.

Meanwhile, in a 2025 interview with Variety, Hawley mentioned his hopes for further seasons. "Season 1 is the proof of concept," Hawley said. "And if it works commercially, then Season 2 is about building a model upon which we can envision making a Season 3, 4, 5."

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Hawley is also already thinking about the wait time between seasons, telling Evolution of Horror that he has "a destination in mind, story-wise" and that his main question going forward is, "How streamlined can we make the process so that you're not waiting for three or four or five years for more?"

When would Alien: Earth Season 2 air?

If Alien: Earth does get renewed for a Season 2, when would it air? Obviously, there are no guarantees, but we can make an educated guess based on the turnaround time on Season 1.

Alien: Earth entered production in July of 2023, although it began filming without its American SAG-AFTRA members due to the Hollywood strikes. (British cast members were able to film as they were not part of SAG-AFTRA.) Production paused later due to the strike, before resuming in April of 2024 and then wrapping in July of 2024. The show premiered in Aug. of 2025, making for a two-year turnaround. However, production on an Alien: Earth Season 2 would not have to contend with the SAG-AFTRA strike, meaning it could take less time for Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and her Xenomorph to grace our screens again.

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Streaming services increasing their prices is nothing new. It's quite common, actually. Now, all Disney-owned streaming services are seeing a price hike, and it's awful.

SAVE $550: The 75-inch TCL QM6K QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $749.99, down from the list price of $1,299.99 at TCL. That's a 42% discount that matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL 75-inch TCL QM6K QLED TV $749.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $550 Get Deal

We're in a magical time for sports fans. Football season has begun, baseball season is still going strong, and we have several more weeks of soccer season. All of that spells the need for a great TV that can keep up with the action. If your current TV is falling flat on its job, check out this deal from Amazon.

As of Sept. 23, the 75-inch TCL QM6K QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $749.99, down from the list price of $1,299.99 at TCL. That's a 42% discount that matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

With an ample 75-inch screen and a native refresh rate of 144Hz, the TCL QM6K is great for watching sports, tuning into new fall shows, and gaming. PC Mag, Mashable's sister site which is also owned by publisher Ziff Davis, gave the TCL QM6K an "excellent" rating in their review. The review summarized the TV by concluding, "The TCL QM6K is a very good value and a strong performer for the price. While it isn’t the brightest TV available, its mini-LED backlight enables deep black levels for excellent contrast, its colors are wide and accurate, and it's packed with features for streaming and gaming."

SEE ALSO: Score a $1,000 discount on the 85-inch Hisense Class U8 Mini-LED TV right now at Amazon

Thanks to today's sale price that takes 42% off, the value is even more significant. The TCL is also made with an ultra-slim design which gives it a modern look, especially if you'll be mounting it to the wall.

While it's sitting at the lowest price on record at Amazon, upgrade to the 75-inch TCL QM6K QLED TV for under $750. Your winter streaming and gaming sessions will be that much more enjoyable.

TL;DR: The memoryOS app trains your brain’s recall with gamified lessons and proven methods — get five years of recall-boosting tools for $249.99 (reg. $749.95).

Opens in a new window Credit: memoryOS memoryOS Expert Plan (5-Year Subscription) $249.99
$749.95 Save $499.96 Get Deal

If your memory isn’t quite as sharp as you’d like — and blueberries, crosswords, or sticky notes aren’t cutting it — there’s a smarter way to get an upgrade. Meet memoryOS, the app designed to train your brain and make quick recall second nature. And right now, you can lock in five years of access for just $249.99 (reg. $749.95).

You can think of memoryOS like a gym for your brain. Instead of lifting weights, you’re building neural pathways through bite-sized gamified lessons, scientifically proven techniques, and the legendary Mind Palace method (a memory hack used since ancient Greece).

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

In fact, over 100,000 users have already trained with memoryOS and reported an average 70 percent boost in memory recall. Whether you want to remember client names, ace an exam, give a killer presentation without notes, or simply cut down on “where did I put my keys?” moments, this app delivers.

How memoryOS stands out:

• Mnemonics and Spaced Repetition: Tried-and-true methods digitized for everyday learning.

• Virtual Mind Palaces: Build mental storage spaces for info that sticks.

• World Champion Guidance: Learn directly from memory experts and pros.

• Engaging and Fun: Gamified micro-lessons keep training short and motivating.

• Cross-Use: Perfect for professionals, students, kids, or anyone who hates forgetting.

Think of it as investing in your brain’s long-term performance. With years of unlimited training, memoryOS gives you the tools to unlock sharper recall, better focus, and a serious edge in both work and life.

Get five years of the memoryOS Expert Plan for just $249.99 (reg. $749.95).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It's been a big month for action camera companies. Insta360 announced a tiny new action camera at the end of August. DJI just announced its competitor to that camera today. And now GoPro has responded with not just one, but two new action camera announcements.

However, GoPro had more to announce than just an action camera. The company also introduced a brand new device to its product lineup, an AI tracking gimbal called the Fluid Pro AI.

Launching in stores on October 21, the Fluid Pro AI will use AI technology in order to lock on to a subject's face or body to automatically track the individual to make sure they are always in frame. 

The 3-axis gimbal can be utilized by the user to track both forward or rear-facing subjects, meaning the gimbal can be used for selfie videos as well. The Fluid Pro AI can also pan and rotate a full 360 degrees as well as tilt upward up to 320 degrees. There's also an integrated fill light built into the device.

However, what's most interesting here is that GoPro has decided to make its handheld camera stabilizer accessible to those who don't even have a GoPro. While GoPro owners can use their action camera with the Fluid Pro AI, it also works with most any device up to 400 grams. This includes smartphones like the iPhone and point-and-shoot cameras. This means that the Fluid Pro AI can be used with popular vlogger cameras like the Sony ZV-1. That sets it apart from similar gimbals from DJI or Insta360, which are made primarily for phones.

According to GoPro, the Fluid Pro AI can be used for up to 18 hours of runtime and can also be used as an external power bank for the device that it's holding. 

The Fluid Pro AI will be available next month for $229.99. While this price point makes it more expensive than most competitors, it's also packed with a lot more features, has a much longer battery life, and can be used with multiple camera types. And, of course, the precision of its AI tracking technology will be a major factor in deciding if it's worthy of the higher price.

SAVE $300: The De'Longhi Magnifica Start espresso machine (silver) is on sale at Amazon for $499.95, down from the list price of $799.95. That's a 38% discount, matching the record-low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Start espresso machine (silver) $499.95 at Amazon
$799.95 Save $300.00 Get Deal

We have about one month left before the clocks roll back one hour. An extra hour of sleep is always welcomed, but that means soon we'll be waking up when it's dark outside. If that causes you to hit snooze, you need a solid reason to get up (on time) in the morning. Thankfully, Amazon has given us that reason.

As of Sept. 23, the De'Longhi Magnifica Start espresso machine (silver) is on sale for $499.95 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $799.95. That works out to a savings of $300 from a 38% discount, matching the record-low at Amazon.

De'Longhi makes some of the best and most intuitive espresso machines that are great for both beginners and those who are super picky about their coffee. The Magnifica Start automatic espresso machine asks users for just one touch and then it'll take off on the espresso-shot pulling task. With one touch, the Magnifica can make a latte macchiato, cappuccino, espresso, coffee, or dispense hot water.

SEE ALSO: The coolest kitchen gear and gadgets we'll always recommend

The Magnifica can grind whole beans with the built-in grinder or use pre-ground coffee setting. The LatteCrema system foams both milk and milk alternatives into silky microfoam for the perfect coffeehouse treat. The milk carafe easily detaches for storage in the fridge between uses.

Before we sink into the darkness of winter mornings, upgrade your wake-up routine to include the De'Longhi Magnifica Start. It's on sale at Amazon for $300 off which matches the best price we've ever seen. You'll be thankful for its convenience every single morning after it arrives in your doorstep.

TL;DR: Learn piano at your own pace with Skoove, now $109.97 (reg. $299.99). It gives you access to 400+ interactive lessons that use real songs, offer real-time feedback, and work across devices. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $109.97
$299.99 Save $190.02 Get Deal

Picking up a new instrument doesn’t have to mean committing to expensive weekly lessons or awkward video calls. If piano’s been on your bucket list—or you’ve been meaning to brush up on your skills — this could be the right time to start.

Skoove, an online piano learning platform, is offering a lifetime Premium subscription for $109.97. That’s 63% off the usual $299.99 price, and it gets you unlimited access to more than 400 interactive lessons designed for beginners through advanced players.

SEE ALSO: Master the conversations that matter in 14 languages with Babbel

Skoove’s lessons are built around real songs (think: The Beatles, Adele, Bach) and focus on building technique, rhythm, and improvisation in a gradual, learn-by-doing format. The platform gives real-time feedback as you play — whether you’re using a digital keyboard, acoustic piano, or even your laptop’s mic to pick up the sound.

Because it’s self-paced and available across devices, it’s easier to stick with than traditional lessons. You can pick it up during a lunch break, squeeze in a session after work or class, or run through a few warmups on your iPad before bed.

Also included in the Premium tier: sheet music for hundreds of songs, one-on-one support from music instructors if you get stuck, and new lessons added regularly. There’s no subscription to keep track of and no renewal reminders — once you pay, it’s yours to use forever.

To be clear, this isn’t a professional conservatory replacement. But if you’re looking for a flexible way to learn or re-learn piano basics, it offers serious value—especially at this price point.

Normally $299.99, the lifetime Skoove Premium plan is on sale for $109.97 for a limited time. No monthly fees, no recurring costs, and you get to learn at your own pace — without getting side-eyed by a piano teacher for not practicing enough.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google announced Tuesday that all Android users can now use Gemini AI for "conversational photo editing" — a perk that was previously exclusive to the Pixel 10, which launched in August.

The tool is straightforward: open the editor, hit “Help me edit,” and describe what you want Gemini to do. It can handle the basics — lighting tweaks, object removal, restoring old shots — or, if you’re feeling bold, it can whip up more whimsical, fantastical edits (like, say, adding a pod of dolphins to your photo). Don’t like the first attempt? Just reply with “make it better” (or something close) and Gemini will take another pass.

While Google's announcement doesn't say exactly how Gemini edits your photos (a Google blog post credits only "advanced Gemini capabilities"), this looks to us like the work of Nano Banana, Google’s other viral hit.

Left: Conversational photo editing in action. Credit: Google Right: Credit: Google SEE ALSO: How to try Nano Banana, Google’s hot new AI image editor

Nano Banana, aka Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is an advanced AI image model that just so happens to excel at image editing. Ever since Nano Banana rolled out, Gemini has been dominating app store charts.

Conversational Photo Editing is just one of the many AI tricks Google is baking into its phones. For instance, the company recently showed off its new Camera Coach feature during the Made by Google event — roping in Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper and none other than Jimmy Fallon as guinea pigs. Camera Coach walks you step by step through snapping the perfect shot — then lets Gemini swoop in afterward for the edits. (Camera Coach is still a Pixel 10 exclusive, however.)

For now, the conversational editing tool is only available in English and limited to U.S. users 18 and up. If you're on an Android device, you can start using it right away. Simply go to edit a photo on your device and look for the "Help me edit" option.

If you thought you'd seen the last of It's creepy clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), you were sorely mistaken. Sorry to burst your floating red balloon, but the iconic horror figure is back to haunt our screens in HBO's upcoming horror series It: Welcome to Derry.

SEE ALSO: Fall TV preview: 25 TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Developed by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti (It, It: Chapter Two) and inspired by the Mike Hanlon interludes in Stephen King's novel, It: Welcome to Derry transports viewers to Derry, Maine, in 1962. The show's trailer introduces newcomers to town, the young couple Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon (Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige). It fans will recognize Leroy as Mike's grandfather.

While the Hanlons are hoping for some normalcy after living on an Army base for eight years, they instead encounter ugly racism at the hands of their fellow Derry citizens, something the It: Welcome to Derry trailer hints at in chilling fashion.

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That isn't the only horror they'll face, though. The evil entity we know as Pennywise is about to make his return, guaranteeing town-wide terror and children's disappearances.

It: Welcome to Derry's trailer hints at the horrors we can expect from Pennywise in the show, including some seriously bloody visions. But the trailer also features some major King Easter eggs, including a reference to the Shawshank State Prison. The series also stars Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, who appears in King's It but is more well-known for his key roles in The Shining and Doctor Sleep.

What other King works will It: Welcome to Derry pull from, and more importantly, will I be able to sleep after watching Pennywise's return?

It: Welcome to Derry also stars James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso.

It: Welcome to Derry premieres Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Jackery just launched another portable power station for those looking for on-the-go power, only this one is more of a large power bank in an ultra-compact form factor. The all-new Jackery Explorer 240D is a 200W (256Wh) designed to go wherever life takes you.

When Ethan Hawke made a surprise guest appearance in the penultimate episode of Reservation Dogs, it wound up being one of my favorite TV episodes of all time.

SEE ALSO: Fall TV preview: 25 TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Co-written by Reservation Dogs co-creator Sterlin Harjo and star Devery Jacobs, "Elora's Dad" saw Elora Danan (Jacobs) meet her estranged father (Hawke) for the very first time. He introduces her to her half-siblings, and she catches him up on her life, including her plans to go to college. The episode proved intimate and quietly electrifying, one of the best entries in one of the best shows of recent years. And at its heart were two beautifully grounded performances from Jacobs and Hawke.

So imagine my delight when Harjo and Hawke teamed back up for Harjo's new FX series, The Lowdown. Then imagine my downright joy when The Lowdown turned out to be some of the most fun I've had watching TV this year.

What's The Lowdown about? Kyle MacLachlan and Ethan Hawke in "The Lowdown." Credit: Shane Brown / FX

Described as a "Tulsa noir," The Lowdown stars Hawke as Lee Raybon, a rare bookstore owner, citizen journalist, and so-called "truthstorian" determined to lay bare the rot at the heart of Tulsa's most corrupt power players. (Lee is based on the late journalist and public historian Lee Roy Chapman, whom Harjo worked with previously.)

Among Lee's targets is the Washberg family, headed up by slimy gubernatorial candidate Donald (Kyle MacLachlan). Lee uncovers the family's connections to white supremacists in a major exposé, and just days after its publication, Washberg family black sheep Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) dies under mysterious circumstances. For Lee, that can only mean one thing: He's onto something major. So off he goes into Tulsa's criminal underbelly, a journey that could lead to a major bombshell (or more likely, to severe bodily harm).

SEE ALSO: TIFF 2025 preview: 20 films you'll want to see for yourself (and how) The Lowdown is part neo-noir, part hangout comedy, and all delightful. Ethan Hawke and Ryan Kiera Armstrong in "The Lowdown." Credit: Shane Brown / FX

Lee's investigation prompts Harjo to have some neo-noir fun, drawing inspiration from '70s films like The Long Goodbye and Night Moves. Smoke-veiled conversations abound, along with clandestine meetings with Dale's wife, Betty Joe (Jeanne Tripplehorn), and PI Marty (Keith David).

The Lowdown's madcap mystery provides a change of pace from Reservation Dogs, as does its city setting. Here, danger lurks around every corner, often in the form of skinheads who are angry at Lee for... publicly writing that they're skinheads.

Yet even with its moody noir atmosphere, The Lowdown also preserves the hangout feel that made Reservation Dogs so special, especially in scenes Lee shares with his daughter, Francis (Ryan Keira Armstrong). Francis spends most of her time with her mother, Samantha (Reservation Dogs' own Deer Lady, Kaniehtiio Horn), but when she shows interest in helping Lee with the Washberg case, who is he to say no?

SEE ALSO: 'The Paper' review: How does 'The Office' spinoff measure up?

Lee and Francis' sweet dynamic bears shades of that of Elora and her father's: tentative bonding attempts, even as Francis wonders whether Lee is a full-on deadbeat. However, it's also a perfect showcase for The Lowdown's ability to blend its noir mystery with character-driven hangouts. Case in point: A father-daughter trip to a lake that doubles as a mission to find key evidence.

In a similar vein, The Lowdown somehow manages to capture the wide range of human emotion, all within its mystery framework. In Lee's nightcap with a potential suspect, what starts as a drunken hook-up morphs from an investigation to a fight to a soul-baring discussion... then back to a hook-up. Elsewhere, Lee's reunion with frenemy Randall (Peter Dinklage) kicks off an investigation and a soul-searching tribute to an old friend.

So as much as The Lowdown is driven by the central mystery of Dale's death and his family's shady dealings, it's also fueled by the poetry of who we cross paths with. Like in Reservation Dogs, The Lowdown builds out a community of fascinating characters who add oodles of texture to the show's version of Tulsa, from antique dealer Ray (Michael Hitchcock) to The Tulsa Beat editor Cyrus (Killer Mike).

Ethan Hawke is a hilarious wild card in The Lowdown. Ethan Hawke in "The Lowdown." Credit: Shane Brown / FX

At the center of these characters is, of course, Lee. And my goodness, is Hawke having the time of his life in the role.

Hawke plays his amateur sleuth like a total wild card. In some moments, Lee is effortlessly cool, rolling into investigations like suave is his middle name. In others, he's almost pathetic, running for his life after getting himself in too deep. Hawke's maniacal laughter after Lee's escapes or major discoveries is a forever reminder of what I love about the show: its ability to make me laugh my head off, even after watching a man get his head shot clean off.

Of course, between Lee's extremes lies a wealth of complexities that The Lowdown takes great pleasure in unspooling. He loves writing so much that he'll critique the prose in a murdered man's diaries. He adores Francis more than anything but occasionally puts his investigation before her. He's got an ironic Confederate flag tattoo.

All these details add up to create a fascinatingly layered new TV detective, one whose adventures we've only just begun to explore. Here's hoping that viewers can follow in Lee's footsteps and dive further still into the truths at the heart of Lee himself, and of his beloved community in Tulsa.

The Lowdown was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It premieres Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET on FX. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.

MrBeast is, famously, super rich — that's a big part of his appeal. His YouTube videos are infamous for doling out huge sums of cash to average folks. But, surprisingly, MrBeast's production company is reportedly "hemorrhaging money."

A Bloomberg profile of the 27-year-old YouTube star — real name James "Jimmy" Donaldson — reports that his videos are wildly expensive to make and contribute heavily to his company's overall losses. The company, Beast Industries, has reportedly "had three years of losses, including more than $110 million in 2024," according to Bloomberg, which says Donaldson spends $3 million and $4 million on each YouTube video. So, despite his channel being the most popular in the world, Bloomberg says that means many of MrBeast's YouTube videos lose money.

That's not to say everything MrBeast does loses money. His food brand, Feastables, does very well by selling its popular chocolates. Bloomberg reports that it accounted for about half of Beast Industries' $450 million in sales last year. In fact, we've seen previous reports that the YouTuber's chocolate business far outpaces the MrBeast media empire when it comes to profits.

And even if his company loses money, Donaldson is worth a ton. In February, Fortune reported that Donaldson formed a holding company to manage his businesses, which was valued at more than $5 billion in a funding round.

While Donaldson is often called a "self-made billionaire," he also said earlier this summer that he reinvests most of his money on video production. In a June X post, he estimated that he will spend "a quarter of a billion" making videos this year alone.

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Donaldson does seem to want to perpetually expand his businesses. Just this month, it surfaced that he could be planning to launch a mobile phone service.

DJI announced on Tuesday the Osmo Nano, the brand’s latest action camera. Its claim to fame is that it’s quite small, easily clipping to a baseball cap or a shirt collar for on-the-go action footage.

At just 52 grams, you may even forget it’s there. For reference, the U.S. nickel weighs about five grams, so this little guy weighs about as much as 10 nickels. And when we say small, we mean really small. It measures at 57 x 29 x 28 mm, which means it’s a few millimeters wider than two U.S. quarters next to each other. That makes it as portable as a camera gets. You can clip this to virtually anything, especially considering it comes with a magnetic clip to make attaching it to things easier. 

In addition to being generally light and easy to use, DJI has included a number of features to give creators more control. For example, the camera can save footage from shortly before the record button is hit, and can be activated with gestures such as a nod of a person’s head. 

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Let’s get into the nitty gritty of the specs. The camera features a 1/1.3-inch sensor that can capture video in 4K/60fps or 4K/120fps slow motion at a 143-degree field of view. DJI boasts 90 minutes of runtime at 1080p and around 60 minutes of runtime at 4K/60fps, giving you a fairly decent battery for such a small size. Users can shoot video in horizontal and vertical orientation, giving you a camera that works for YouTube or TikTok. 

The device itself can be submerged in up to 10 meters of water. This reduces to IPX4 splash resistance when paired with the Multifunctional Vision Dock. 

From there, you can capture video with a range of filters and editing options via the DJI Mimo app. DJI also boasts a night mode, stereo audio recording for videos, and the ability to connect microphones if you want to go that route. It can also capture 10-bit video and uses D-Log M, which makes the files easier to color grade in post production. 

DJI is selling the Osmo Nano for $309, and it should be available starting Tuesday in some areas. It was not immediately available in the U.S., however.

YouTube is reinstating the accounts of conservative creators previously banned from the platform for spreading misinformation, after facing a months-long investigation by the House Judiciary Committee.

In a five-page letter sent to the committee's chair Jim Jordan, YouTube's parent company Alphabet said the platform had removed said accounts due to pressure from Biden administration officials in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it would now commit further to promoting political debate on the site.

SEE ALSO: Open AI, Google, and Anthropic all offer AI tutors for students. Do they work?

Many accounts ran by conservative figures were banned for violating platform policies on misinformation, including those of Sebastian Gorka, Dan Bongino, Steve Bannon, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nonprofit Children's Health Defense. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the current head of the Department of Health and Human Services, has most recently come under fire for promoting unfounded claims on the cause of autism and undermining vaccine science. Bannon, former chief strategist for the Trump campaign and current ally, recently pled guilty to defrauding donors in a campaign to build a border wall. Bongino is now the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while Gorka is the White House counterterrorism chief.

The letter seems to claim the Biden administration "created a political atmosphere" that forced the platform to remove content and accounts that they wouldn't have otherwise removed under existing content moderation policies, even though YouTube had revised its policies in response to a wave of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and anti-vaccination sentiment at the time — many other platforms joined their efforts. In a press release issued shortly after, the House Judiciary Committee equated this to an admittance of political censorship. In 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made similar claims against the administration after facing intense criticism for Facebook's handling of medical misinformation.

"The company is committed to doing its part to continue to keep the digital ecosystem safe, reliable, and open to free expression," wrote Alphabet. "It is unacceptable and wrong when any government, including the Biden administration, attempts to dictate how [Alphabet] moderates content."

Many tech companies, including Meta, X, and Google-owned YouTube, have eagerly acquiesced to the Trump administration's free speech demands, including axing human content moderation teams, revising hateful conduct policies, and reinstating formerly banned accounts. For years, YouTube and Meta have come under fire for their platforms' roles in spreading misinformation, and while many changes had been implemented to curb such content, recent political decisions have seen them rolling back much of that progress.

It can be tricky to decide which VPN service is best for you and your needs. Whether you need to keep your connection private, make your online gaming more stable, or access Netflix from another country, we have the best VPN for you.

UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2025, 6:30 p.m. EDT The original version of this story acted as a guide on how to download Kindle books ahead of Amazon taking away the feature. It has been updated now that users can no longer download Kindle files outside of the Kindle app.

In terms of e-readers, Kindles are easily the most popular. They're speedy, well-designed machines that put an entire library in your pocket. But as of Feb. 26, 2025, Amazon took away its users' ability to download Kindle books to computers. You'll still be able to send books to your digital library, but only on WiFi-enabled devices. So what's the big deal?

SEE ALSO: How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

Kindle books are all in Amazon's proprietary e-book format of .AZW3 files. These files can only be read on Kindle devices or through the Kindle app. It's a real pain if you want to try to read your books on another e-reader, considering the files have digital rights management encryption on them to prevent you from converting them.

If you wanted to read a book purchased in the Kindle Store on another device, you'd need to download the book, unencrypt the file, and then convert it to a different format, using a free program like Calibre. However, since Amazon no longer allows you to download books via USB, this is no longer an option — presumably as an extra layer of protection on Amazon's part, to keep you reading on its devices.

Even if you are reading Kindle e-books on a Kindle device, this change can pose an issue. Some users like to keep their device in airplane mode to avoid ads, so getting Kindle e-books onto the device required downloading the book and uploading it via USB. Now that Feb. 26, 2025, has passed, you can no longer do that, so you're either forced to WiFi-enable the device or exclusively read ePUB files not purchased in the Kindle store.

How to download Kindle books to your computer

Note: Please note that after Feb. 26, 2025, you are no longer able to execute this action.

The first step to downloading your Kindle books is logging in to your Amazon account. Under the Account & Lists tab, select your Content Library.

Select Content Library under Account & Lists to access your Kindle books. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable composite

In Content Library, select Books, which will take you to your entire Kindle library. This will include your Kindle book purchases as well as e-book loans from Kindle Unlimited or Libby. You can only download your purchased books as well as library loans that are still active.

There is no bulk download option, so each book must be downloaded individually. To do so, click the More Actions button and select the Download & transfer via USB option.

Click download and transfer via USB to start the process of downloading your Kindle books. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable composite

The next screen will ask you to select a device and then hit download.

Select a device, and then you'll be able to download your Kindle file. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Your files will then be downloaded to your device. Now you can plug in your Kindle and upload the files without doing so over WiFi. Now, what about if you want to convert the files?

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better? How to convert Kindle books

Converting Kindle .AZW3 files is harder than it should be, thanks to DRM, aka digital rights management, which encrypts e-books. If you use a converter service like CloudConvert, when you upload your Kindle book file and try to convert it, you'll receive a message that the book is DRM-encrypted.

Amazon has added DRM encryption to all of its Kindle book files, making it even harder to convert its files so you can only read your Kindle purchases on a Kindle. So if you want to convert Kindle files, you'll need to remove the encryption.

The best software for converting and removing encryption is Calibre. Most converting software, including Calibre, doesn't include the encryption removal, so you'll need to add it as a plugin. These aren't native to conversion software, so be cautious before downloading. However, if you're committed to getting your Kindle books converted, passionate Reddit users have detailed instructions on how to do so using Calibre.

Smart homes are supposed to be about convenience, but that doesn’t work if you can only control things from specific devices. You've got the app on your phone, maybe a smart display or speaker, but what about when you're sitting at your computer and just want to quickly turn a light on or off? Google is finally making this possible.

If I had to buy every book I read, I wouldn't be able to pay rent. Reading for free isn't hard; I'm always exchanging books with friends, scouring my neighborhood's little free libraries, shopping Stuff Your Kindle Day, and of course, I love my local library. However, as an e-reader expert and enthusiast, I'm almost always using a device for reading. But as I use and test e-readers, I still need to be able to use my library card and read for free. That's where Libby comes in.

Libby is the best app on my phone. It connects you with library networks (of which you're a card-carrying member) so you can borrow and read e-books on the Libby app or an e-reader, like Kindle. Having used Libby for several years, it's a crucial part of my content diet and an invaluable resource for staying well-read.

How does Libby work? Felt like hitting the jackpot to find Emily Henry's "Great Big Beautiful Life" as ready to borrow. Credit: Screenshot: Libby After several weeks, my copy of "Stag Dance" by Torrey Peters was finally ready to borrow and be added to my library. Credit: Screenshot: Libby

Libby, which is part of the OverDrive system, connects you with your library's digital collection. To use Libby, sign in using your library card information. Have multiple library cards? You can attach as many cards to your account as possible. Once logged in, you can browse your library's digital collection. Some books will be ready to borrow right away, which you can check out and will automatically be added to your library.

Other books will require you to place a hold. New and popular books will often require long waits, but a pro tip: Having multiple library cards allows you to compare wait times at different libraries, so you can get in the shortest line.

Once a hold is ready to borrow, it will appear in your library, allowing you to check it out. Libby lets you borrow books for two weeks. Some books can be renewed, while others that have people waiting to borrow them can't be renewed.

A major 2025 Libby update View this post on Instagram

On Sept. 18, 2025, Libby made a major change to its hold system that upset some users. Now, instead of being able to delay holds for a certain amount of time, users will need to suspend holds until they're ready to receive them.

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Users complained about the change, saying they won't remember to unsuspend their holds. In response, Libby explained via Instagram that the new system: "helps libraries serve more readers by keeping books moving and reducing expired holds."

Where can you read books with Libby? When you borrow a book on Libby, it'll give you multiple options on how to read. Credit: Screenshot: Libby

You have a couple of options on how to read your Libby books. You can do it within the Libby app on a smartphone or tablet. You can also read on a browser through the Libby website. The best part about using the Libby app or website is that it syncs your progress across all devices. That way, if you leave your iPad at home, you can read on your iPhone and pick up right where you left off.

Libby also allows you to read its books as ePUB files. The best way to do so is by using Adobe Digital Editions, so if you have a device with Adobe access but not Libby access, like Boox e-readers, you can still access your borrowed books.

To read on an e-reader, you can also send your books directly to a Kobo or Kindle device. Kobo has the smoothest Libby integration. You can log in via Overdrive (Libby's parent company) on your device, and when you borrow books, they'll auto-populate in your library.

For Kindle users, there are a couple of extra steps in the process.

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better? How to read Libby books on Kindle To read Libby books with Kindle, you'll have to manually send it to your Kindle library. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon Once you send your Libby loan to the Kindle, it will automatically populate to your library. However, you still need to download it to your device. Credit: Screenshot: Kindle

To read Libby books on a Kindle, select the "Read With Kindle" option within the Libby app. That'll take you to Amazon, where you'll click the "Get Library Book" button. The book will then automatically appear in the library of your Kindle app and devices. Just remember, once the book is in your library, you'll need to download it on your Kindle to start reading.

What's the best e-reader for Libby? The Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Colour are easily the best e-readers for Libby. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best e-readers for Libby are either the Kobo Libra Colour or the Kindle Paperwhite. Which one you go for depends on how you use Libby. If you just have one library card, the Kobo is the best e-reader for Libby. All of your borrowed Libby books automatically populate on the device without needing to press any extra buttons. The downside is that you can only have one Libby account attached to your Kobo at a time.

If you have multiple library cards, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader for Libby. While it requires one extra step to get your books on the device, you can borrow with multiple cards simultaneously.

If you don't want to buy an e-reader, you can get started with Libby immediately by reading on a smartphone or tablet that you already own. If you're going to read on a tablet, I recommend the iPad mini, which is smaller than other models, preventing wrist strain while holding the device. The screen of an iPad is sometimes too glossy for reading, and if that hurts your eyes, you can add a paper-like screen cover.

Avoid the Barnes & Noble Nook and Boox e-readers for reading with Libby, as both require tedious steps to get your library books on the devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kobo Kobo Libra Colour $229.99 at Rakuten
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $159.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Downsides to Libby

There aren't many downsides to Libby — I'd argue there technically are none. But as a word of warning, I think it's important to view Libby as the library that it is and not as an e-book store. With an e-book store, you can buy nearly any title you want, but with a library, sometimes books aren't available.

This can sometimes be because libraries have limited copies, so you have to wait weeks or even months for a book to become available to borrow. The change to the Libby hold system will hopefully cut back on long wait times.

Sometimes your library just won't have a book in its collection at all. The best way to avoid this issue is to get multiple library cards since different networks have varying catalogs.

One of Apple’s touted big improvements in the AirPods Pro 3 is the inclusion of a foam layer in the ear tips, but this technology is nothing new. Foam ear tips have been available for years, and some people swear by them.

Right now, the HP Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop is available for a massive $450 discount, dropping the price to just $600 at Walmart from its usual price of $1,050. This is an excellent value for a gaming laptop that is perfect for PC gamers who also have work or school in mind.