IT General

Trumps White House portrait looks a lot like his mugshot, and the internet has noticed

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 20:05

The White House website received a makeover as soon as Donald Trump was sworn in on Inauguration Day. In addition to an apparent fancam when one goes to the homepage, portraits of Trump and key members of his administration are displayed.

Credit: Screenshot: whitehouse.gov

Trump's official White House portrait is a straight-on angle. The president isn't smiling and has a furrowed brow — not unlike Trump's mugshot:

Credit: Fulton County Sherrif's Office

In the year and a half since the mugshot was taken, Trump's mugshot has been reclaimed by his fans, used on merchandise along with phrases like, "Never surrender," which Trump said after his assassination attempt in July. While Trump's new portrait doesn't appear to be the exact photo, it recreates it:

Credit: White House

The photo has brighter lighting and a different background, but the two look strikingly similar.

That similarity has not been lost on social media users, who called it out directly.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a free $20 Amazon credit when you spend $80 on P&G essentials

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 19:42

GET A FREE $20 AMAZON CREDIT: Spend $80 on P&G essentials like paper towels, toiletries, vitamins, and more at Amazon and get a free $20 credit to spend at Amazon by Aug. 30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proctor & Gamble Free $20 Amazon credit with purchase of $80+ on P&G products Get Deal

Now that we're well into 2025, you might be noticing your daily necessities are running a bit low. If you're in need of restocking household essentials soon, ordering from Amazon could be a great option thanks to today's deal.

As of Jan. 20, orders of $80 or more on P&G essentials qualifies shoppers for a $20 free Amazon credit. You'll need to redeem the free promotional Amazon credit before 11:59 p.m. PT on Aug. 30, 2025.

The list of eligible Proctor & Gamble products gets into the thousands. You'll be able to replenish your home's supply of laundry pods, dishwasher pods, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, diapers, and vitamins with this deal.

That's not to mention stocking up on facial skincare items from Olay and personal care products from Secret. With plentiful options, you'll have no issue reaching the $80 minimum order amount.

Keep in mind this deal to get $20 of free Amazon credit is only eligible to a single order per Amazon account. After your make your qualifying purchases, Amazon will add the $20 credit to your account once all items have shipped your way.

In a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive by the day, stocking up during a sale that gives you free Amazon credit is a no-brainer. And this way, you won't be in danger of running out of daily household essentials.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Before Accusing an Artist of Using AI, Read This

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 19:30

AI art has generated more than images. It's also provoked a major reaction among artists and art lovers alike, who are (to put it mildly) rather negative towards technology. Unfortunately, in their quest to root out AI art wherever it may be, some very human artists are being caught in the backlash.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a big discount on this LG 48-inch TV at Best Buy

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 19:15

GET $200 OFF: Jan. 20th, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is on sale for $599.99 at the Best Buy Four Day Sale, get $200 off and save 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV $599.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Wheel out the OLED. With 8.3 million self-lit pixels, this LG 48-inch TV delivers contemporary visuals with extreme resolution and quality.

Currently, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is on sale at Best Buy for 25% off, get it for $599.99 and save $200.

SEE ALSO: This Samsung soundbar is over 50% off for Best Buy's Four Day Sale

If you're in the market for a mid-price, apartment-sized TV, then don't sleep on this deal. Featuring an Alpha 8 AI processor the LG screen upscales and improves the image and sound of whatever you're watching, whether that's OG Star Wars or Arthur.

Designed for gaming, this TV features a 120Hz screen refresh time. It also has specific game-focused features, like Nvidia G-Sync.

Right now, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is available for $599.99 — get it now and save 25%, or $200 off.

With two built-in speakers and audio features like Dolby Atmos, this TV isn't just a screen, it's a home entertainment suite. With four HDMI inputs, LAN, optical audio, and 2 USB-A ports, it connects to everything in your home entertainment arsenal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shoppers delight: A $100 Macys gift card comes with a free $10 Best Buy gift card

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 19:03

GET A FREE $10 BEST BUY GIFT CARD: Purchase a $100 digital Macy's gift card and get a free $10 Best Buy gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Macy's / Best Buy $100 digital Macy's gift card + $10 Best Buy gift card $100.00 at Best Buy
$110.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Regardless of the savings, scoring something for free is exciting. Getting free credit at a store that sells almost every electronic available is especially exciting. If you happen to shop at Macy's and Best Buy, you'll want to check in on this deal.

As of Jan. 20, a $100 digital Macy's gift card purchased from Best Buy comes with a free $10 Best Buy gift card. To score this deal, you'll need to be logged into your Best Buy account, which is free to create.

For anyone who said department stores are gone hasn't been to Macy's lately. The retailer is a one-stop-shop for tons of essentials like clothing, shoes, furniture, linens, cosmetics, and more. Macy's also happens to hold some incredible sales throughout the year. You can use the $100 gift card either in store at any Macys location at Macy's online storefront. Plus, it never expires.

Once you purchase the Macy's gift card, Best Buy will send along the Best Buy e-gift card to the email address you indicated when placing the order. After that, you'll be able to cash in on a $10 savings on your next purchase at Best Buy.

Happy (free) shopping!

Categories: IT General, Technology

It Took My PS5 Blowing Up to Learn That the PS4 Is Still Great in 2025

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 19:00

Everyone, including Sony, is moving away from the PlayStation 4, and for good reason—it's old. But an "incident" with my PS5 caused me to revisit this last-gen console, and I discovered it has plenty of life left in 2025 and beyond.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kodi 21.2 Omega Has Arrived: Here’s What’s New

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 18:46

Kodi version 21.2, called Omega, has been released. This update mainly focuses on fixing bugs instead of adding new features. It addresses several problems in the media center app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Instagram Edits Wants to Be a TikTok and CapCut Alternative

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 18:40

Hours after TikTok was pulled in the United States, Meta seized the opportunity and unveiled a new Edits app. It's intended to be a replacement for CapCut, the editing app by TikTok owner ByteDance, as well as TikTok's built-in video editor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 77-inch Samsung dream TV just got a lot more attainable at Best Buys sale

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 18:40

GET $1,700 OFF: Jan. 20th, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is on sale for $1,599.99, saving you 52%, or $1,700 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV $1,599.99 at Best Buy
$3,299.99 Save $1,700.00 Get Deal

If you've long dreamed of bringing Hollywood to life in your own home, this dream screen is the TV to do it. A massive 77-inches gives you all the real estate you'll need to enjoy blockbusters in sparkling OLED, and video game action at blisteringly fast frame rates.

Currently, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is available from Best Buy's Four Day Sale for $1,599.99 — a savings of $1,700, or 52% off.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs under $500: Low-budget, high-quality TVs in every size

Pantone validated, this Samsung screen displays true-to-life color. Watch classics like In the Mood for Love from the Criterion Collection with color grading just how the director meant it to look.

Rich OLED 4K upscaling brings TV and classic movies into the contemporary resolution, with deep HDR blacks.

Right now, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is 52% off at Best Buy's Four Day Sale, get it for $1,599.99 and save $1,700.

In contemporary games, a screen refresh time can make all the difference. This Samsung 77-inch TV aces competitive gameplay with a 120Hz refresh rate and proprietary Motion Xcelerator Turbo technology.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Melania Trumps inauguration hat draws comparisons to Carmen Sandiego

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 18:33

Inauguration Day has begun, and so have the fashion critiques.

Melania Trump arrived at the ceremony on Monday wearing an outfit by American designer Adam Lippes, according to fashion website WWD — but what everyone is talking about is the incoming first lady's hat, the work of American designer Eric Javits.

Tweet may have been deleted

The wide-rimmed hat, a dark navy with a white ribbon, partially shields Trump's face, and immediately evoked a sharp reaction. Some users on X admired the look:

Tweet may have been deleted

Others, however, harkened it to fictional characters Zorro, a masked vigilante, and Carmen Sandiego, a criminal mastermind:

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There were also comparisons to the Babadook, the titular horror character of Jennifer Kent's 2014 film (combined with the Quaker Oat man...)

Melania looks like a combination of the Babadook and the Quaker Oats man

[image or embed]

— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Given that the hat obscured Trump's face, there was also speculation that the sartorial choice would fuel conspiracy theories about a "fake" Melania:

Tweet may have been deleted

As today goes on, the conversation is sure to steer away from fashion and towards whatever executive orders Donald Trump will sign on day one of his second term as president.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What's the Point of NVIDIA's Multi-Frame Generation?

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 18:15

With the announcement of the new NVIDIA 50-series of GPUs, we get a new feature known as "Multi-Frame Generation" or MFG which promises to increase framerates into the stratosphere. However, considering these additional frames are AI-generated, what's the real point of MFG?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rid your home of dog hair with the Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum for $130 off

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 17:46

SAVE $130: The Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum (Raspberry) is just $199.99 at Amazon, down from the list price at Shark of $329.99. That's a 39% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum (Raspberry) $199.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Some of us have incredibly talented pets. Dogs that can let us know exactly what treat they want or cats that pretty much reply when asked a question. Unfortunately, none of us own pets that have figured out how to vacuum up the fur they shed. Fortunately, another animal has come along to clean up pet hair — it's a Shark, and it's on a deep discount today.

As of Jan. 20, the Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum in the Raspberry colorway is on sale at Amazon for just $199.99. That's a 39% discount and a savings of $130 compared to the listed MSRP at Shark of $329.99. Keep in mind it may come with delayed shipping from Amazon.

Designed with a self-cleaning brush roll, the Shark Pet Plus uses powerful suction to rid your home of unwanted pet hair and dander. Suitable for both hard floors and carpet, the Shark's lightweight design is a huge plus when it comes to ease of use and maneuverability.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

This model uses an anti-allergen seal with HEPA filtration to keep the air in your home cleaner when using the vacuum, preventing dust and debris from getting tossed back into the air.

Not only is the vacuum lightweight, it can transform into a handheld model for cleaning window sills, tight spots behind furniture, or cleaning out the car in the garage. The stick also bends, making it easier to clean under furniture.

Overall, the Shark Pet Plus gets about 40 minutes of runtime before it'll need to recharge. The included extra large dust cup, however, might not need to be emptied after each use since it can hold up to 0.34 quarts.

With today's deal at Amazon, you can score a lightweight and efficient stick vacuum at an impressive discount. Instead of paying the list price of $329.99, the Raspberry colorway option of the Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199.99. For pet owners, that means you'll save $130 that can be spent on treating your pet like the royalty they are.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Samsung soundbar is over 50% off for Best Buys Four Day Sale

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 17:35

GET $210 OFF: Jan. 20th, get this Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar and subwoofer combo for $189.99 at Best Buy's Four Day Sale and save $210, or 53%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar $189.99 at Best Buy
$399.99 Save $210.00 Get Deal

After a good projector or TV screen, a solid soundbar or speaker set is the next most important piece of tech to add to your home theater. (Music nerds would argue that the sound comes first.) If you're looking to upgrade with a nice set of speakers, don't miss this Samsung soundbar deal.

Currently, the Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar is on sale for $189.99 at Best Buy's Four Day Sale — get it now and save 53%, or $210. The sale is in full swing, with eyebrow arching deal prices on a huge array of items.

SEE ALSO: Get $15 off Apple AirPods 4 with Best Buy's Deal of the Day

This soundbar combo features three channels, paired with a wirelessly connected bass subwoofer. The soundbar uses Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X technology to create the illusion of surround sound (vertical as well as horizontal), by smartly bouncing the sound around your room.

Virtual 3D sound isn't the only advanced processing this speaker set can carry out. The center speaker is built to make vocals as clear as possible. Use Voice Enhanced mode to make dialogue extra-crisp, improving clarity.

Right now, get the Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar Combo for $189.99 at Best Buy and save $210 (53%) while the Best Buy Four Day Sale continues.

When you want to add even more speakers, this soundbar is simple to pair with other Samsung speakers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Smart Speakers of 2025

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 17:30

Smart speakers offer much more than just a means to stream your favorite audio content. They can serve as smart home hubs and as a means to organize your daily schedule, making them an invaluable resource to tap into.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Avoided Digital Games for Years, Here's Why I Changed My Mind

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 17:00

Digital stores are one of modern gaming's greatest conveniences, but I've only recently started to buy digital games after actively avoiding them for years. Here's why I finally changed my mind.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Paul vs. Zverev online for free

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 16:31

TL;DR: Live stream Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter finals are where things get serious. Every remaining game is absolutely massive, including Paul vs. Zverev. A place in the semi finals is up for grabs for two players who have yet to win a Grand Slam.

If you want to watch Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Paul vs. Zverev for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Paul vs. Zverev.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open 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 Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Paul vs. Zverev without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OnePlus 13 review: A great option if youre sick of the usual flagships

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:32

While there's a robust global market of smartphone manufacturers, in the U.S., most people are probably rocking something made by Apple, Samsung, or Google. Those companies all make totally fine flagship phones, but if you want an alternative, OnePlus 13 might be the one for you.

The latest handset from OnePlus is, if nothing else, proof that the Chinese company can hang with the big boys. To be fair, plenty of previous OnePlus phones have more or less proven that too, but the case has never been more convincing than it is now. The $899 OnePlus 13 gives you nearly everything you'd want from a modern flagship, including excellent performance, a pretty display, some AI features if you're into that sort of thing, and one of the best smartphone batteries I've ever seen.

OnePlus 13: Specs

Starting at $899, here's what you get when you shell out for a OnePlus 13:

  • 6.8-inch display

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite processor

  • 12GB RAM

  • 256GB internal storage

  • 6,000mAh battery

Put simply, it's a big flagship phone with big flagship specs. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is top-of-the-line, and is making its U.S. debut with OnePlus 13. It is widely expected to also power the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25, so OnePlus technically beat Samsung to the punch here. For some extra cash you can bump the RAM up to 16GB or the storage up to 512GB, but unfortunately, there's no 1TB option for the true storage sickos out there.

While OnePlus uses a proprietary operating system called OxygenOS, it was originally based on Android, and thus will be familiar to anyone who regularly uses Android phones. The latest OxygenOS build is clean, lacking in some of the up-front bloatware that used to plague these phones.

OnePlus 13: Display It's a good display. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

One thing you'll notice immediately upon picking up a OnePlus 13 is that the display is very nice. Its 3168x1440 resolution is sharp as hell, and its 4,500 nits of peak brightness make it a pleasure to look at in direct sunlight. The refresh rate is dynamic, oscillating between 1 and 120Hz to provide peak smoothness while preserving battery where it can.

There's not much more to say about the display, really. It has everything you'd want from a flagship smartphone display. Considering my iPhone 16 is priced only $100 cheaper than OnePlus 13 and doesn't offer anywhere near as much in terms of resolution or refresh rate, I'd say OnePlus has settled onto a good value here.

OnePlus 13: Design

Design is one area where I find OnePlus 13 to be a little questionable.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the way it looks, though. While a 6.8-inch display means it's a very large phone and thus will not be great for anyone with smaller hands, it's at least stylish to the eye. It's got a big, cool-looking rear camera module designed by the Swedish company Hasselblad, which is no longer awkwardly attached to the side of the phone by a big clamp-looking thing like it was on the last couple of OnePlus devices. It's a free-floating camera module now, oriented to the left side of the phone, near the top of the rear end.

It looks cool, but I don't love the way it feels. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As for colors, your options are Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn, and Black Eclipse. In simpler terms: Dark blue, white, and black, respectively. OnePlus provided me with an Arctic Dawn model, and I do think it looks spiffy.

My issues with the phone's design are almost entirely to do with OnePlus's choice to use a microfiber vegan leather texture on the phone's rear side. I'll admit that this is a cool idea in theory. I've never used a phone that feels like this in the hands, and I'm sure plenty of people will like it. For me, though, it just feels kind of...greasy? There's no actual moisture, but the leathery texture always makes it feel like it's on the verge of slipping out of my hands, as if my fingers are sweaty, even when they're not.

OnePlus 13: Performance

Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor powering the OnePlus 13, I can't really think of anything negative to say about the phone's performance profile.

When it comes to daily use (which, for me, mostly manifests as social media and streaming music or videos), everything runs smoothly. Apps open and load quickly and I detected no amount of slowdown when trying to do a lot at once. I also appreciate that the phone never became warm on me, even while doing somewhat intensive battery testing.

If you want a more analytical approach to performance appraisal, the Geekbench 6 benchmarking software was also kind to OnePlus 13. Its multi-core CPU score was 9,092, which is more than 2,000 points higher than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which came in at 6,782. That Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is the real deal.

OnePlus 13: Battery life You won't need to use the charging port all that often. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Having said all of that, by far the most impressive thing about the OnePlus 13's performance is its battery life. It lasts so long that testing it for this review was actually more difficult than it usually is for smartphones.

I think you could easily start one day at 100 percent battery and make it well into the afternoon of the next day without plugging in if you wanted to. Evidence: I was able to do that. This thing simply refuses to die, unless you do what I did and loop an HD video in full screen until it dies. Using that method, I was able to wring 24 hours of continuous playback out of the OnePlus 13. Incredible.

If that's not enough, it also charges unbelievably fast, provided you use the included cable and wall adapter. Just half an hour of charging will probably get you through a full day.

OnePlus 13: AI features

Yes, the OnePlus 13 brings some AI features to the fold that weren't present in previous OnePlus devices. Full disclosure: I hate most of the things we call "AI" these days. I made it clear when I reviewed the Google Pixel 9 last year that "magic" text and photo editing tools that use generative AI actually cheapen the experiences of written communication and photography. Unfortunately, OnePlus packed in a handful of AI features that are more or less identical to what I was talking about back then.

For instance, you can have AI clean up or reformat text in your notes or text messages. Ho-hum. Every phone can do that now, plus you should really be able to write your own text messages if you're an adult. Circle to Search is also here, which is one of the few AI features that is actually useful and practical.

Left: Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Right: Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Most of the AI features are in the realm of photo editing. You can circle or highlight objects in photos to have objects erase them, just like on Pixel phones. This worked OK in my brief testing, though it inexplicably couldn't remove an object that should have been easily removable in one photo. "Magic Unblur" supposedly removes motion blur from photos, but I had a hard time getting it to make much of a difference.

The same goes for "AI Detail Boost," which is supposed to sharpen images and make them look better. When I tried this, the end results were nearly indistinguishable from the original photos. Your mileage may vary. I don't necessarily want to sound like a Luddite, but the increasing encroachment of these features that make everything look too perfect and fake doesn't make me feel good.

OnePlus 13: Cameras

The aforementioned Hasselblad camera array on the rear end of the OnePlus 13 includes a trio of lenses, in the wide, ultrawide, and telephoto variety. All three measure in at 50MP, which is nice and simple.

In practice, photos taken on the OnePlus 13 using default settings look fine. You'll have to excuse how grey and gloomy New York City was during the testing period. I found that shots generally looked sharp and pretty, if a little unnaturally vibrant compared to what my eyes were actually seeing at times.

It was nasty outside. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The zoom lens is able to produce impressive levels of clarity from far away, though I would point out that you can see the software fudging some details if you look closely enough.

Zoomed all the way in. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

One issue, which is consistent with my experiences using previous OnePlus phones, is that nighttime shots often look like they have studio lighting on them or something. They're simply too bright for my taste. Yes, you can see what's happening in them better than you could prior to software-enhanced nighttime photography, but it doesn't look anything like what I saw with my eyes.

Too bright IMO. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Still, aside from that, it's a good set of smartphone cameras. Macro photography allows you to get high amounts of detail on small objects, for instance.

Macro is cool. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

And, as always, portrait mode can create a nice bokeh effect when you need it.

Good boy. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable OnePlus 13: Final thoughts

By most of the metrics that matter, OnePlus 13 is an excellent smartphone. For $899, you get a vibrant display, AI features that at least have some parity with the competition, one of the best smartphone batteries ever, and top-level performance.

Personally, I wouldn't call the OnePlus 13 cameras a selling point on their own, even though they're perfectly fine. Beyond that, I don't love its vegan leather back texture, and I still have major qualms with all of the AI creep in our lives. But if you need a new Android (or Android-like) phone and want to get out of the Apple/Google/Samsung bubble, this is probably the way to do it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Robot Vacuum

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:30

Robot vacuums have come a long way, but they still seem to have trouble with lots of things around the house. Physical obstacles, pathing issues, and user error can all minimize the effectiveness of a robot vacuum, so here are some tips to combat those shortcomings.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple reportedly bringing more AI features to Mail on Macs

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:22

Apple is reportedly (and finally) set to bring the more buzzy Apple Intelligence features to its Mail app on Mac.

Though Apple's AI has been rolling out tools for iPhone and iPad users with the launch of iOS 18.2, not all Apple Intelligence features have been extended to Macs — though some were included with macOS Sequoia 15.2 launched in December.

Now, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is set to expand its AI capabilities to the Mail app in macOS 15.4 — that's the April-rumoured software update after macOS 15.3, which is expected to launch in late January, early February.

"The Mac will get the upgraded Mail app that uses AI to prioritize messages and sort content into different inboxes," Gurman wrote in his "Power On" newsletter on Sunday. "Right now, iPad and iPhone users are able to tap into the feature — which is terrific — but Mac customers have been left behind. That changes with macOS 15.4, I’m told."

SEE ALSO: MacOS Sequoia 15.2: New features you need to try

The most current version of Apple Intelligence lets users do a whole bunch of things in the Mail app including using Writing Tools to draft messages, composing email responses with Smart Reply, receive summaries of lengthy email threads, and more. Some of these were available with macOS Sequoia 15.2, but Gurman's report suggests the tools that prioritise messages and sort emails into inboxes will now be added — yes, Gmail's had that last one for years.

Featured Video For You iOS 18: 8 cool new features you can try right now, including Apple Intelligence

But it's not the only additional (and coveted) Apple Intelligence feature the company is reportedly bringing to Macs, with Gurman writing that Genmoji, Apple's AI-generated emoji, will be arriving soon, as well as the updated, more capable version of Siri.

"For the first time, Apple is bringing its Genmoji custom emoji to the Mac — following their debut on the iPhone and iPad," wrote Gurman. "The company will add more features by April with iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4. The big addition at that time will be the new Siri digital assistant, which will be able to better tap into personal information and use the App Intents technology to more precisely control apps."

The report comes a day after Apple pulled its AI-generated news summaries feature, following a series of blatantly false headlines.

Want to know what else you can do with Apple Intelligence on your Mac? Mashable's got you covered — but you might need to turn it on first.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Destructible Environments Are the Next Big Thing in Gaming

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:00

Destructible environments in games are nothing new, though their popularity has fluctuated over the years. Despite never becoming fully mainstream, they're finally making a comeback and transforming online multiplayer.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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