IT General

Isn’t it cool how your TV turns on when you enter the room? Okay, you probably don't have that, but TCL is hoping you will one day. The company is releasing the first Google TV to ship with Gemini, and it also has some crazy presence-sensing abilities.

A couple of months ago, we got an official preview of the Lenovo Legion 2 from a leak, which also predicted a September launch date. Well, it turns out that the leak was entirely correct because it’s currently September and Lenovo has fully announced its new Legion Go 2 at IFA 2025 in Berlin. 

The new Windows-based handheld gaming console looks impressive, and it offers upgrades such as an improved battery and a fancy new OLED display. Now for the bad news — it arrives with a $400 price increase over the original.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is available for pre-order now but won't be in players' hands until Oct. 31. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Legion Go 2 Gaming Handheld, AMD Ryzen Z2, 16GB, 1TB SSD $1,099.99 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here The Lenovo Legio Go 2: The specs and pricing explained

The Legion Go 2 retains the same general shape and overall design language of its predecessor, including the removable, Hall Effect joysticks of the prior model. The joysticks slide out along a hidden rail after you hit a button, which isn’t quite as elegant as the Nintendo Switch 2 and its magnetic controllers, but it's still appreciated. 

Under the hood, the Legion Go 2 comes with two sets of specs. The first is an AMD Ryzen Z2 with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD that gets you started for $1,099. This can be upgraded to the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD for $1,349. This is a sizable upgrade from the first generation, which had the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. However, the prices are quite a bit more than the prior model, which sold for $700 when it launched in 2023. 

Credit: Lenovo

While $1,099 is expensive for a handheld, it’s also hard to say how it compares to the competition. The long-awaited ROG Xbox Ally handheld launches Oct. 16, and we still don’t know how much that handheld will cost.

The new OLED display is definitely the most notable upgrade. The new Lenovo gaming handheld packs a beautiful 8.8-inch OLED display. The display features a 144Hz variable refresh rate (which can go up to a maximum of 240Hz) as well as HDR TrueBlack 1000 for deep blacks and brighter HDR colors. On the downside, Lenovo dialed back the resolution from 2,560 x 1,600 pixels to 1,920 x 1,200.

Credit: Lenovo

The increase in battery capacity is also appealing. The prior generation had a 49.2 WHr battery, which was good for around one to two hours of gaming at max power. Lenovo stuffed a 74 WHr battery into the Legion Go 2, nearly doubling the prior generation’s battery capacity. Of course, battery life won’t be known until the reviews come out, but a Lenovo press release promises a 50 percent increase in battery life.

In terms of ports, you get a headphone jack, two USB ports, and a microSD card reader for expanded storage. The handheld comes with three free months of Xbox's PC Game Pass. 

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is available for pre-order on Lenovo’s website and online retailers like Best Buy. The current release date is slated for Oct. 31, a couple of weeks after the ROG Xbox Ally. 

SAVE UP TO $120: As of Sept. 5, you can save up to $120 on a range of Sonos speakers and soundbars at Best Buy. Shop the Arc Ultra, Era 300, and more.

Best Sonos deals as of Sept. 5: Best subwoofer deal Sonos Sub 4 $679 (save $120) Get Deal Best soundbar deal Sonos Arc Ultra $899 (save $100) Get Deal Best smart speaker deal Sonos Era 300 $359 (save 490) Get Deal

It’s not often you see a major sale on Sonos gear, but Best Buy is offering up to $120 off a handful of products, including the Sonos Sub 4 wireless subwoofer. (If you prefer to shop direct, Sonos is running a similar promotion on its website.) The sale includes speakers, soundbars, and subwoofers (and the Sonos Ace headphones are on sale on the Sonos website).

Here’s a breakdown of the best deals.

Sonos Sub 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Sub 4 $679 at Best Buy
$799 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Sub 4 is on sale for $679 at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's a $120 price cut from the original $799 list price. Just be mindful of the end dates: the Best Buy deal ends on Sept. 7, while the Sonos deal ends a day earlier on Sept. 6.

The Sonos Sub 4 wireless subwoofer is designed to transform your living room into a home theater. You can pair it with a soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc, or Beam to get dramatically deeper bass. If you're more focused on music and spatial audio, you can pair it with speakers like the Sonos Five, Era 300, or Era 100.

Sonos Arc Ultra Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra $899 at Best Buy
$999 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Arc Ultra is on sale for $899, down from $999, at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's a $100 savings. You'll also get four months free of SiriusXM All Access and free Apple Music for up to three months with the Best Buy deal.

The big upgrade here (from the Arc) is Sonos's Sound Motion technology, which uses 14 internal drivers to create an immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio experience. It's designed to precisely place sounds around you while keeping dialogue ultra-clear so you never miss a word. Setup is simple; just plug it in and connect it to your TV with the included HDMI cable, and then open the Sonos app to complete your setup.

Sonos Era 300 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 300 $449 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Era 300 is on sale for $359 at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's $90 in savings and, like with the Arc Ultra deal above, Best Buy will give you four months of SiriusXM All Access and three months of Apple Music for free.

The Sonos Era 300 supports Dolby Atmos Music and has six drivers positioned around the front, sides, and top. You can stream music from just about any service or device, and when you pair two Era 300 speakers with a Sonos Arc or Beam (Gen 2) soundbar, you can get a concert-like feel right at home.

It’s no secret that Microsoft is ending official support for Windows 10 in October. The tech giant has been chomping at the bit to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, and even allows Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 for free.

However, some folks really want to stay on Windows 10, be it for upgrade compatibility reasons or just to avoid the increasingly AI-forward Windows 11. They may also be stuck running a laptop that doesn't meet the system requirements for Windows 11.

If you fall into that group, you have two ways to get another year’s worth of updates for Windows 10 for free via Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This will grant guaranteed security updates until October 2026, giving you another year to either upgrade to Windows 11 or buy yourself a new PC. 

SEE ALSO: The best Windows laptops for 2025 — tested and vetted

Microsoft initially planned to charge users $30 to enroll in this program, but backtracked on that idea after user backlash. So, take advantage of the offer while you can. 

But don't forget: If you want to stay on Windows 10 for free, you have to take action before Oct. 14.

How to find Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates

You may get a notification from Microsoft to enroll. If you don’t, here’s how to find the offer in your settings menu.

• Open your Settings.

• Navigate to Updates & Security and then Windows Update. 

• There, you should see a header stating that Windows 10 support is ending on October 14, 2025. 

• Underneath it is a link to “enroll now” in the ESU program. 

• A box should pop up with further instructions. 

If the ability to enroll is not available, make sure your PC is entirely up to date, reboot, and then try again. Microsoft launched this feature in August 2025, so it is fairly new to the menu, and people without the latest updates may not see it. 

How to get Windows 10 security updates for free

Once you access the ESU within Windows 10, you should be presented with three options to “pay” for the next year of updates.

• Cash in 1,000 Microsoft Reward points - This is the easiest option. You can learn more about how to accumulate points at the Microsoft website. 

• Sync your Windows Backup with OneDrive - Per our sister site PCMag, you can upgrade for free by syncing your Windows Backup with Microsoft OneDrive, though you will probably need to purchase additional cloud storage space.

Microsoft also allows users to pay $30 for the extended Windows 10 updates, as originally planned. So, if you want to keep this simple, just pay $30 and you’re set for another year. 

Once you access the ESU, you’ll be able to choose the one that works for you. Since you still have a month, attempting to accumulate the Microsoft Rewards points is arguably your best option. 

How long do the extended security updates last?

Exactly one year. Microsoft says that the updates will continue through October 13, 2026, and then Windows 10 users are entirely on their own. There are some additional rules to consider as well. The ESU updates will be only security updates, and therefore will not contain any new features or what Microsoft refers to as “customer-requested non-security updates.” Technical support will also be unavailable except for license activation and installation. 

So, in short, you’ll get the security updates and quite literally nothing else unless you upgrade to Windows 11, but at least you’ll have another year to make that choice.

Imagine this. You're in Austin, Texas, the one place where Tesla's autonomous robotaxi service is open to the public. You order a Tesla robotaxi in order to try the service out. After all, it's a self-driving car! You're living in the future.

And the Tesla robotaxi arrives with a human sitting in the driver's seat.

That's what's happening right now as Tesla seeks to operate its robotaxi under Texas's new driverless vehicle regulations.

In a post on Elon Musk's social media platform X, Elon Musk's robotaxi service replied to a user explaining how some robotaxis will now require a human "safety monitor" in the driver's seat on certain trips.

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"Safety monitors are only in the driver's seat for trips that involve highway driving, as a self-imposed cautious first step toward expanding to highways," the official Tesla Robotaxi account said.

Basically, human safety monitors are required to be present inside a Tesla robotaxi to supervise the driverless vehicle, make sure the software is performing as expected, and intervene if necessary. Typically, the safety monitor has been seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

However, under Texas's new regulations, if a customer requires the robotaxi to drive on the state's highways, the safety monitor must move to the driver's seat while the vehicle is in operation.

Texas SB 2807, which went into effect on Sept. 1, provides a robust regulatory framework for fully autonomous vehicles. Under this law, a human operator must be present within a driverless vehicle unless the state classifies it at a Level 4 or higher autonomy. 

As Gizmodo points out, the Society of Automotive Engineers defines Level 4 autonomy as a vehicle that can operate without a human "under specific conditions, such as within a geofenced area or on designated routes."

Despite Tesla calling its autonomous system "Full Self Driving," the state of Texas only classifies it at a Level 2, which means robotaxis are required to have human oversight at all times.

After Tesla's robotaxi launched in Austin in June, it only took about a week before occupants started sharing cautionary tales about the driverless service. Customers reported the robotaxis drove in the wrong lane, ran over a curb, and unexpectedly braked in the middle of a street for no reason.

Musk had touted a Tesla robotaxi service for at least a decade before it finally launched to the public in one single U.S. city this year. Regardless of the human safety monitor requirements and other issues, Musk recently claimed that he expects the robotaxi service to be available for roughly half the U.S. population by the end of 2025.

Philips has just announced a monster list of new products for its Hue lineup, part of an overhaul announced at the IFA conference in Berlin.

In recent years, the Philips Hue line has struggled, as cheaper smart lights (that don't require a complicated hub) entered the market.

The new products include smart light bulbs, the new Hue Bridge Pro, and not one, but seven new light strip products. Tucked in the announcement was a neat new feature called MotionAware, which will activate your lights when they sense motion. 

A press release states:

Built with a processor five times more powerful and a memory 15 times larger than the Philips Hue Bridge, the Hue Bridge Pro allows users to store over 500 custom lighting scenes and enjoy faster response times across the system. It’s powered by the new Hue Chip Pro and enables cutting-edge capabilities like Hue Motion Aware – an advanced smart feature that transforms Philips Hue lights into motion sensors which turn on the lights when motion is detected.

This new feature can be useful in a variety of ways, and the way it works is pretty neat, too. It works when using Zigbee by measuring fluctuations in the wireless signal strength that occur when a person walks through them. Once it measures this fluctuation, the lights will turn on all on their own without any voice or app commands. 

Credit: Philips Credit: Philips

The obvious use case for this feature would be having your lights turn on automatically when you get home from work or get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water. However, this can also be part of a home security system. Someone uninvited coming into your home won’t have the cover of darkness as an advantage anymore, as any room set up for MotionAware will light up like New Year’s Eve as they pass through it. 

Per Philips, MotionSense can be set up in any room that has enough lights to accurately measure the aforementioned fluctuations and can be customized so that they only work during certain times of the day. Philips also notes that this is for indoor use only and can’t be used with lights in different rooms. 

Credit: Philips

So, while it is a very cool feature, you’ll have to invest in a sizable number of Hue lights to make it work. In addition, you’ll need Philips’ new third-generation Hue Bridge Pro, a nearly $100 upgrade that will enable the feature on compatible lights automatically. The updated bridge also adds more features to Philips’ Zigbee bulbs, like lighting scenes and out-of-house controls. 

The good news is that Philips says that the “vast majority of Hue products support Huge MotionAware technology.” Philips has a helpful list that shows the products that do not support MotionAware, so if your lights aren’t on the list, they’ll work for it. A cursory glance over the list shows that very nearly all Philips Hue bulbs and light strips are compatible, including the newest ones. 

According to a press release, most of the new Philips Hue products will be available in North America starting in September, with some products to follow in November.

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: Content doesn’t have to be complicated to connect.

My name is Ty Cole, and as a content strategist, award-winning journalist, and creative producer, I'm often working on the fly with no production crew. Sometimes it’s just me, my phone, a ring light, and the kind of lighting that only God and golden hour can provide. I mean, y'all seen my skin in some of my content? Flawless – thank my parents.

My process is super intentional but never overwhelming. I use all I can with what I’ve got (shoutout to my Aries queen Mariah Carey). If you know, you know, and I make it work for me.

The gear

A good selfie stand? Game changer. I even recently added a phone holder that lets me play with angles, and honestly, it's chef’s kiss. I can film a whole segment solo, get multiple shots, and still make it to an event.

I aspire to create content that is clean, clear, and crisp, even when I don’t use my ring light. That’s the beauty of perfect natural lighting and knowing your angles. For me, perfect lighting usually means golden hour—right after sunrise or before sunset—when the sun is soft, warm, and super flattering. 

But if I’m not blessed with that magic hour, I make the most of what I’ve got. I face a window, avoid overhead lighting, and always check how the light hits on camera before I hit record. It’s all about working with the light you have and not being afraid to adjust on the fly.

When it comes to creating, sometimes it’s a script, sometimes it’s vibes. I might hop on a TikTok trend with a voiceover that’s too good to scroll past, or I’ll just share a random thought that popped in my head at 2AM and somehow makes perfect sense in the morning. 

In my feed, I showcase the access—the fun, the exclusive, the behind-the-scenes of Hollywood. I post photos with celebs and videos of us laughing, connecting, and having real moments. Nothing feels forced. Whether I’m at a premiere or a party, I’m making sure the content feels like you’re right there with me.

Sometimes I just throw music over the video, and sometimes it’s a voiceover. Either way, I want the visuals and captions to work together to tell a full story. Something fun, something real, something that makes you feel like you’re not just watching me—you’re with me.

It might look effortless, but that’s because I’ve mastered the art of making it feel that way. It’s low-lift, but high strategy. It’s giving DIY director, editor, and talent, all in one. And you best believe I’m going to give you a show every single time.

Lenovo loves to get a little freaky with laptop form factors, and its latest concept has a screen that can rotate.

Unveiled at the IFA trade show in Berlin a week after it leaked on X, the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept is a 14-inch Windows PC with a "rotation display system" that lets it swivel into portrait mode — it's the perfect laptop for people who really love TikTok.

From a design standpoint, it's similar to Samsung's Sero TVs, which also rotate from landscape to portrait. So far, the Sero has failed to move past its novelty act reputation.

SEE ALSO: The biggest announcements from IFA 2025: Smart home upgrades, a new robot vacuum, and a tennis partner

The ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept is still just a concept, as its name implies, so it's unclear whether it will ever come to market. At big trade shows like CES and IFA, companies sometimes debut vaporware — futuristic concept devices that will never actually hit the market.

Lenovo's laptop with a rolling display, the $3,499 ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, is a rare example of one such prototype that you can actually now buy.... two years after it was first introduced.

This also means we know very little about the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept beyond the fact that it has a cool party trick. In a press release, Lenovo notes that it has a 14-inch screen and a sleek design that measures 0.7 inches thin and 3.06 pounds, making it slightly thicker but a touch lighter than Apple's latest 15-inch MacBook Air.

When the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept is in vertical mode, Lenovo adds, users can pair it with Android smartphones using the Lenovo Smart Connect app "for transferring files and phone mirroring."

Computer, enhance! Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo provided one picture of the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept, which reveals an island-style keyboard, a large trackpad, a raised notch containing the webcam, and a port setup that includes HDMI, two Thunderbolt ports, and a microSD card slot on the left-hand side.

Otherwise, the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept's specs are a complete mystery. What kind of screen does it have? What sort of processor is hiding in there? How many rotation cycles can that system withstand? And how much will this thing cost?

We don't know, and we might not ever know — but at the very least, we now have confirmation that it exists in some form.

The 2025 NFL season is officially underway, and some fans have already identified a new TV commercial they never want to see again.

Thursday night's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles was, in many ways, an all-time goofy kickoff game. One of the Eagles' best players was ejected before the first play because he spit on the Cowboys quarterback, and then there was a lengthy lightning-related weather delay in the third quarter, which meant the game ended well after midnight on the East Coast.

However, some fans online were much more annoyed by an official NFL commercial celebrating the new season, which aired once during the game. (You can also watch the ad on the NFL YouTube channel.)

The "Ride the Float" commercial riled up some fans online (and, I can confirm, the people I watched the game with) because major parts of it really looked like they were made with generative AI. There are lots of real celebrity cameos, including Druski and The Rizzler, but there are also huge swaths of the ad that had all the hallmarks of AI videos.

A scene with a singing baby decked out in Raiders gear seemed particularly obvious, but there's also a shot of a CGI lion that really doesn't look right. In general, these parade float scenes had the glossy, uncanny valley look I associate with AI videos.

I can confirm that the ad was made with AI because the NFL put out an official press release on Thursday celebrating that fact. The press release also confirmed that it will be the first of a series of ads that air throughout the season as part of the "You Better Believe It" ad campaign.

Credit: NFL / YouTube SEE ALSO: NFL Bluesky is fantastic. Here's why and how to join in.

“Our fans are at the heart of this campaign – their joy, optimism and belief in what’s possible – and we embraced AI to bring them even closer to the game they love,” NFL chief marketing officer Tim Ellis said in the press release. “By combining technological innovation and human creativity, we had the opportunity to pay tribute to each of our 32 fanbases in one unified fantastical celebration and build a world as limitless and imaginative as they are.”

The ad features numerous parade floats that reference various in-jokes related to each of the league's 32 franchises. It was made in conjunction with a marketing firm called 72andsunny. The firm also worked with the NFL on an ad that aired during last year's playoffs.

As you can imagine, social media did not take especially kindly to the news that the NFL, a massive, money-printing machine, decided to use generative AI in creating a primetime ad.

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Unfortunately for anyone who disliked the commercial, yelling on social media might be all they can do about it. As the press release said, more ads like "Ride the Float" will be airing throughout the NFL season.

I've spent the last 15 years covering tech, and in that time have tested thousands of products to find what genuinely makes life better. My rule of thumb is if it doesn't pass the “mom of two in a hurry” test, it doesn't get my recommendation.

When I became a mom to my son Jordan, everything changed. I wasn’t just chasing cool gadgets anymore; I needed solutions. Technology became less about specs and more about how it fit into real life everyday moments. I needed tech that could help me stay organized, save time, and give me more moments with my family.

That's why I've made my lane all about how tech can be a part of everyday life. I'm always on the hunt for apps that can help calm the morning chaos at my house, devices for my family to stay connected on the go, and smart home systems that actually work for busy families. When done well, technology can help us live better, more present lives. The key is to understand how to use tech to our advantage, without it feeling like our tech is using us instead.

Technology shouldn’t be intimidating; it should be empowering. Say hello on Instagram and let me know how you're using gadgets and gear to power your family life as well.

A brand new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build is 26220.5790 now in the Dev Channel. The test build is coming with better dictation and a way to improve USB webcams. This could be great for everyone, but the catch is that you need a Copilot+ PC to take advantage of the new features.

Porsche is proving that going electric doesn’t mean leaving performance behind. This all-electric sedan blends the brand’s racing pedigree with cutting-edge EV technology, delivering a driving experience that’s thrilling from start to finish.

Between being the blueprint for cordless stick vacuums and for heated hair tools, it never felt right that Dyson couldn't figure out how to be relevant in the world of robot vacuums. But less than two years after its last failed attempt, Dyson is releasing another new robot vacuum — and it actually feels promising this time. The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai was announced on Sept. 4 and again in the Sept. 5 Dyson Unveiled event on YouTube.

Frankly, it wouldn't have taken much for Dyson to eclipse the (lack of) prestige of its 2024 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum. It wasn't a self-emptying, small obstacle-avoiding, or even mopping robot vacuum, but was confidently priced like one. The new Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum is all three of those things, complete with a few secret weapons that could help Dyson claim its stake in the saturated robot vacuum market.

Most exciting to me personally, the new Dyson robot vacuum has a laser. Dyson's technically calling it "green LED illumination," but the product images show it highlighting dust and debris just like the laser heads do on Dyson's stick vacuums.

My beloved Dyson laser is coming to the robot vacuum. Credit: Dyson You'll be able to see how well the new Dyson robot vacuum cleans your floors. Credit: Dyson

A few months ago, whilst ruminating on overly ambitious robot vacuum innovations like the Roborock Saros Z70's robotic arm, I was also brainstorming some dream new robot vacuum features that would actually be practical. And guess what I verbatim manifested in that story? For the next Dyson robot vacuum to have a green laser, that's what. I've been laser-or-bust since I first experienced it with my beloved Dyson V12 Detect Slim stick vacuum. The ability to so plainly see the status of dust and debris on the floor before and after the vacuum hits it is such undeniable proof of a thorough clean. Not even the best robot vacuums out there from Roborock or iRobot offer this yet.

Here's where the "AI" part comes in. The Spot+Scrub Ai assesses the cleaning path ahead of it in real time, using AI stain detection and an AI-powered camera to determine the best way to clean different types of messes. If a liquid stain on a hard floor is detected, before and after photos are taken of the area to ensure that the robot doesn't stop mopping until the stain is fully gone. The scrubbing is done with a wet roller instead of spinning or flat mopping pads. (Dreame also unveiled a flagship robot vacuum and mop combo with a wet roller mop in August, so this must be the new thing.)

Dyson noted that the roller mop rinses itself with fresh water as it rotates, but the tank refilling situation in the dock is still unclear. Dyson hasn't revealed numbers for the Spot+Scrub Ai's suction power, though it probably won't be in Pascals (Pa) to easily compare to other robot vacuums, anyway. The 360 Vis Nav was actually quite powerful during my testing, so I expect the Spot+Scub Ai to be a good robot vacuum for carpets.

So yes, it seems that Dyson has read the room and addressed the critical features missing from the 360 Vis Nav. But the ultimate test of self-awareness lies in price. We don't know how much the Spot+Scrub Ai will cost, but it would be bold of Dyson to pass the $1,500 threshold. The 360 Vis Nav debuted at $1,299 when it had no business in such a premium price range (though it conveniently dropped to $499.99 the same week as this announcement dropped). I hope that Dyson is more realistic this time around, ideally staying in line with similar flagship robot vacuums like the Roborock Saros 10R or new Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum and mop Sign up for preorder notifications Learn More

The Roku Sports interface now shows content you can watch on YouTube TV. The new feature, which is rolling out to all Roku devices in the U.S. starting today, will make it easier for fans to find games from YouTube TV, including all the NFL games that come with NFL Sunday Ticket.

Mozilla has announced that Firefox 144 will be the last release to support 32-bit x86 Linux. It’s another nail in the coffin for old 32-bit PCs, though Firefox’s Extended Support Release will keep them alive until September 2026.

If you’ve ever booted Windows or tested a Linux distro from USB, you know the routine: grab an ISO, run Rufus or Etcher, format, write, wait. A week later, want to try another distro? Back to square one. That cycle often made me put off exploring new distros.

College administrators think AI might be the solution to their political PR problems, as the Department of Education weaponizes long-standing civil rights law to control educational institutions under new Trump administration goals and university campuses crack down on student protest.

New York City's Columbia University, for example, is reportedly exploring a student debate platform, powered by AI, that encourages more "civil" conversations about "dangerous" topics, including abortion, immigration, trans identities, and the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, according to an exclusive from The Verge. The embattled institution has been testing the tool at Columbia’s Teachers College under new conflict resolution curriculum.

SEE ALSO: The White House and PragerU's new history exhibit features AI founding fathers

The tool in question is called Sway, a beta program designed by Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral researcher Nicholas DiBella. DiBella has tested the tool on 3,000 students from more than 30 colleges and universities, including debates on contentious topics like whether or not the 2020 election was legitimate. As an intended moderator between students with polar viewpoints, Sway encourages individuals to find a middle ground and for students to rephrase verbiage that may be "disrespectful." DiBella says that students often come away "less confident in their own views," but closer to their colleagues.

DiBella has received partial funding from the U.S. intelligence community to construct Sway as part of his doctoral work, and has said that it will "share anonymized data with the public and the intelligence community, but not transcripts or specifics." Columbia associate professor Joseph Howley told The Verge that Columbia is failing to appropriately handle student tension, with Sway providing yet another example. "What we have are approaches from the world of corporate crisis response, policing, and law enforcement being directed at disagreement and dissent as if they are problems to be solved rather than fundamental values to be cherished," said Howley.

Sway isn't the first tool Columbia has used to assuage student tension (or, allegedly, filter out student dissent). The university reportedly uses Khan Academy's Schoolhouse Dialogues system to pair prospective students in debate-style conversations, which are then ranked by "civility" and fed back to Columbia admissions officers.

In 2024, the university came under fire for its militarized treatment of student protesters who had bunkered down on university grounds to demand the school divest from its Israeli ties. Earlier this year, Columbia complied with immigration officials to arrest international students under pressure from President Trump, allowing and later disciplining student protesters with suspensions, degree revocations, and expulsions. Columbia settled with the federal government for $200 million in July, complying with demands to hand over student data in order to monitor protests and international students and foster "constructive dialogue."

The "poke" technically never went away, but Facebook is trying to make it a thing again.

In a nod to Y2K nostalgia, Facebook announced a few updates to the poke button, according to TechCrunch, which spotted the announcement. A fixture in the early Facebook days, no one was ever quite clear on what a poke meant. It could be used for flirting, passive aggression, a friendly hello, or an awkward combination of the three.

Now, the poke button is mounting a comeback, again.

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Facebook has tried to revive the poke in various forms a few different occasions, but this time with more effort.

The poke button now features prominently on a user's profile page, so you can poke someone directly from there. It appears on the mobile app, but we didn't see the button on the desktop site. There's also a dedicated page to keep track of your pokes on facebook.com/pokes, where users can see who's poked them and find friends to poke. Facebook also has a helpful FAQ for the poke ignorant.

The poke hub also tracks pokes between friends, which is reminiscent of the "streaks" feature on TikTok and Snapchat, which gamifies interactions on the apps by encouraging users to keep their daily streaks going.

Snapchat got in trouble for streaks and other features that regulators said were designed to make the platform addictive, a concern for teens and their mental health.

Once upon a time, Facebook was a cultural juggernaut among the youths. But over time, as other social media apps like Snapchat, Meta's own Instagram, and eventually TikTok rose to prominence, Facebook fell out of favor with younger generations.

In recent years, Facebook has gained a reputation for being overrun by political rants from baby boomers, earning the decidedly uncool nickname of "Boomerbook." Nowadays, you can add the proliferation of AI slop to the pile of user deterrents.

Last year, Facebook executives began strategizing on how to appeal to younger generations. Although, at the time, exactly how Facebook planned to stay relevant "remained nebulous," according to Mashable former reporter Elizabeth de Luna, who covered the press event.

Surprisingly, young users enjoy the poke. Facebook reported a 13x spike in pokes last year, and it's certainly capitalizing on the Y2K nostalgia trend, as low-rise jeans, micro mini skirts, graphic tees, and other Y2K-era staples are back, much to this millennial reporter's horror.

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 5, get a refurbished Meta Quest 3 for $379.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Meta Quest 3 (Refurbished) $379.99 at Woot
$449.99 Save $70 Get Deal

Virtual reality is still not perfect, but it's a fun prospect if you have the time and want to explore it. Meta has made it more affordable over the years to buy into, especially if you're interested in trying out a ton of fun games from shooters to rhythm titles and everything beyond. If you're ready to invest, this Woot deal is a great place to start.

As of Sept. 5, get a refurbished Meta Quest 3 for $379.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's $70 off and a discount of 15%. This model is grade A refurbished by Woot, which means that it's been inspected and guaranteed by the company to come with only "minimal cosmetic imperfections" that aren't immediately noticeable. It also has passed a diagnostic test to promise "like-new functionality" and has been stripped of info from the previous owner.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3S review: Best VR headset for new gamers, but seasoned players will notice flaws

This is the most powerful model of the Meta Quest yet, and requires no wires to operate. It has 4K visuals with its Infinite DIsplay, which offers a 30% increase in resolution from the Quest 2, and 3D audio with better sound, bass, and volume as well.

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Former Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon called the Quest 3 better than the prior model "in many ways", praising its access to SteamVR games, wireless connectivity, and its improved controllers that she found "more ergonomic than their predecessors."

If it's time to give VR a look, this is a great deal you won't want to pass up on.

I remember being glued to the first, game-changing season of Survivor in 2000. Since then, I’ve fallen for everything from the raw talent on So You Think You Can Dance to the glitzy drama of The Real Housewives of New York City (my East Coast roots showing). But now? Watching cloaked figures lie and manipulate each other for $250,000 in a Scottish castle is the kind of reality TV chaos that really speaks to me. 

Nothing has grabbed my attention lately like the U.S. version of The Traitors, a competition show centered entirely around deception and suspicion. In my view, The Traitors is ultimately a result of reality TV evolving into a genre where villains aren’t just tolerated — they’re often rewarded and celebrated for their dishonesty.

Each episode also permeates with a distinctly queer sensibility, and it’s not because of its players or its fabulous host, Alan Cumming (we’ll get to him later). It’s the secrecy and code-switching set against a glamorous backdrop that resonates with many queer viewers — me especially. 

As a queer person growing up, I felt the need to be two steps ahead of others' suspicions, a skill I believe would serve well as a Traitor. My history of pretending to be straight and drawing inspiration from manipulative TV characters has prepared me to anticipate every scenario, from roundtable banishments to breakfast revelations, to keep me two steps ahead of the Faithfuls. 

The Traitors gives me space to embrace the villain, to imagine slipping into that black cloak and playing the game as someone no one sees coming. 

That fantasy is harder to buy into when everyone on screen already has a brand. Which is why NBC’s recent announcement that civilians will be making a comeback for the U.S. edition instantly makes the game less predictable and a lot more interesting. Especially for those of us still waiting to see ourselves at that roundtable.

If Agatha Christie wrote a drag version of Clue, it would be The Traitors 

For the uninitiated, the premise of the Peacock show is this: Put two dozen competitors in a Scottish castle, assign them one of two roles (Faithful or Traitor), and watch what happens. I see it as an epically scaled version of the game Mafia, where players attempt to root out saboteurs while competing in challenges along the way, before voting to banish who they think is a Traitor.

The murder-mystery theme of the show will pique the interest of any fan of the genre, particularly someone like me who is a fanatic of the movie Clue and was raised by a mother who worshipped at the altar of Agatha Christie. I was immediately drawn to The Traitors in early 2023 when the first season dropped with a cast featuring a mix of civilians and reality TV stars. It was fascinating to see the dynamic play out between everyday people (Andie Vanacore, we say your name) competing alongside reality TV stars, including celebrated alums from Survivor (hi, Cirie!) and Real Housewives franchises (Brandi Glanville).

As Mashable's Shannon Connellan has outlined before, Cumming as the show's chic but cryptic host is reason enough to binge-watch the available seasons as we wait for the show to return. He’s a pitch-perfect facilitator, delivering delicious one-liners with the right amount of sass, styled in scene-stealing outfits.

However, that’s not entirely why this cutthroat competition has me hooked.

Come for the camp, stay for the sabotage 

Having watched three seasons of the US version and two of the UK version, I’ve concluded that the show is designed for Traitors. With no real clues to find early in the mystery game, there’s no reason to suspect anyone. All a player has to do is voice some doubts, and from there, we get to watch how quickly people become influenced and how herd mentality sets in. 

Watching them sneak around in their hooded cloaks in the castle’s turret every night is fun, but what hooks me is how easily I find myself rooting for the manipulators and how comfortably I imagine tapping into my inner Traitor. 

There’s an inherent thrill to being a villain; just look at how many contestants arrive ready to dig into their murderous roles. There’s something intoxicating about practicing the art of deception, without a care for who you backstab in order to be a winner. It’s kind of alluring.

Soapy queens and scheming dreams

My urge to star as a villain on The Traitors stems from watching one too many primetime soap reruns in my youth and being enthralled by the secretive and conniving vixens I admired on those shows. Knots Landing’s scheming Abby Cunningham (Donna Mills) could intimidate a lion with her wicked smile, while on Melrose Place, Marcia Cross’s Kimberly Shaw plotted against her enemies with relish. 

Then again, maybe I was attracted to the campiness with which these women executed their devious plans. As a gay man, I tend to respond favorably to camp, a style known for its ostentatious and theatrical qualities. Performative deception comes with the queer territory for me. Hiding my true self for years forced me to play a certain role and trick others into believing I was someone I wasn’t. And developing a sense for camp (knowing when to be “on” or “off”) may have trained me in keeping others further off my scent.

Buying the lie over and over again

The Traitors also resonates with me because it reiterates a lie reality TV has gradually fed me for years: Authenticity is everything. The American show clearly favors panache and polish over anything resembling realness. It relies less on people “being themselves” and more on established names and personalities to deliver a good episode.

Seventeen years ago, when I first entered the Real Housewives universe, I bought into those women living in luxurious leisure. But the more popular these shows became, the more famous these women became — and the more they seemed to become lucrative commodities. And because they were commodities, the more they – and perhaps the franchise – had to flaunt their wealth via shopping sprees, extravagant vacations, or catered events celebrating a pet’s birthday. That’s when I realized the authenticity felt performative. To me, it screamed, “Aspire to have this lifestyle!”

We’re living in an era in which the reality TV genre has evolved to the point where the line between performance and reality is at its blurriest. This has birthed a new type of “real people” who know how to work the camera, and the camera seems to keep focusing on them.

Now that NBC plans to bring civilian players back into the mix, I think it would make the game feel more grounded. I enjoy seeing regular people compete to win, not perform. There’s more of an authenticity factor at play with them, and I find that kind of endearing. Veteran reality TV players built their reputations on screen; viewers who know them are biased, expecting these personalities to clash with each other.

During her exit interviews, Big Brother’s Britney Haynes, who was the last Traitor standing in Season 3, reflected on how much players, especially reality TV vets, are always thinking about what makes for good TV. I have to ask then: Will future civilian players in the American production have the same know-how? What will casting directors be looking for this time? If we’ve become a nation of viewers that favors performative reality over watching actual, real people, could that dictate their selections?

Hiding in plain realness

As for the upcoming Season 4, it still leans heavily on familiar faces, but I can see how adding actor-comedians like Ron Funches and Michael Rapaport could inject some unpredictability into the mix of contestants. Even casting Monét X Change as the show’s next resident drag queen – following in the footsteps of past contestants Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint – could ensure some complementary camp next to Cumming. 

As Ira Madison III, former co-host of the podcast Keep It, shared earlier this year, “when you cast good people who aren’t seasoned reality TV people, they will deliver a good season.” I agree. I’m sure there are plenty of everyday Americans who have perfected the art of hiding their identity and could use The Traitors as a playground to demonstrate those skills, tapping into their inner villains by strategizing and deceiving their way to $250,000.

That's who I’d root for. 

The Traitors and all of its foreign counterparts are currently streaming on Peacock.