IT General

The most useful smart home sensors perform routine tasks like measuring temperature and humidity or detecting sudden movements. But there are a lot of weirder sensors that you might not have thought of that can make your home feel futuristic.

I grew up with cell phones that didn't really care if you dropped them several times a day, so I just never got the desire to put phones in cases. Early smartphones were very fragile, but times have changed, and getting a case for your flagship phone is now truly optional.

SAVE OVER $170: The Creality K1 Max 3D Printer is on sale for $548.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $719. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Comgrow Creality K1 Max 3D Printer $548.99 at Amazon
$719 Save $170.01   Get Deal

The 3D printer may be the printer of the future, but thanks to a heavy discount on the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer at Amazon, the future is very much now. This printer boasts speeds up to 12x faster than other 3D printers and uses AI technology to ensure you get the best-quality models with every print job.

As of Aug. 26, the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer is marked down to $548.99, a 24% saving off the regular list price of $719. Stock for this 3D printer is running low, so you might need to act fast.

SEE ALSO: The Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $300+

This printer is built with AI LiDAR, which scans the first layer of your model and detects any issues. It will then pause the printing job and alert you to any issues, which effectively prevents it from printing defective models. There's also an AI camera for spotting debris and obstructions, while giving you real-time monitoring and time-lapse filming.

In terms of speed, it prints at 600 millimeters per second, with an acceleration of 20,000 millimeters per second. It's packed with even more tech and features, making this a great deal for anyone looking for an advanced 3D printer.

Don’t miss the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer with 24% off — now priced at $548.99 for an overall saving of $170.01.

I've bought a lot of cordless power tools over the years that have come and gone, but one has remained: this trusty old blue Ryobi drill. It's a workhorse that I've owned for over 20 years, and here's why it outlasted everything else.

After a week of Grand Theft Auto VI leaks, Rockstar Games has finally addressed the Cyberleek situation, calling it "heartbreaking."

In a rare public statement posted to its X account, Rockstar acknowledged the leaks and confirmed that they do, in fact, show gameplay footage of GTA VI. Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, previously acknowledged this fact in a string of subpoenas filed to unmask the culprits. In the statement, Rockstar took an apologetic tone for how long it has taken not only for the game to come out, but for Rockstar to show the game, too.

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"It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time," the statement said. "We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know."

Unfortunately for Rockstar, the leaker known only as Cyberleek appears unfazed, releasing a fifteenth gameplay clip online shortly after Rockstar issued its statement on Wednesday morning.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what might be next

The statement went on to say that the company knows it needs to "exceed your expectations" with the big, official gameplay reveal on Netflix on Thursday. That is still happening as scheduled, and will hopefully show much more of the gameplay, plot, and characters than the Cyberleek videos, which have mostly depicted the protagonist Jason beating up NPCs and stealing cars.

And by Nov. 19, when the game comes out, hopefully none of this will have mattered.

Music icon Cyndi Lauper is this week's guest on Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware and honestly, it's a feast to remember.

In the foodie interview podcast released Wednesday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and forever New Yorker sat down with the Wares for her favourite meal of borscht, with fig and almond tart for dessert.

Between bites, Lauper unpacked everything from her Sicilian family upbringing, her major hits like "True Colors" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," the realities of making marinara, documentary Let The Canary Sing, the lawsuit with her band Blue Angel, her favourite New York restaurants (Le Veau d’Or, Lucien, Frankie's), and her charity which advocates for the rights and health of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people.

"The only time that I really felt and cried was at the first women's demonstration when everybody wore pink hats, and I saw these young girls with these signs, "Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights." And I used to get in trouble for talking about feminism!" says Lauper in the video above.

Honestly, my kingdom for a seat at this table.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

It's fair to say that streaming has completely revolutionized the way that many of us consume media. While streaming offers convenience, there are some key reasons why owning physical media is still superior.

If you have kids, you'll know how too much screen time can seem to affect your kids' mood and behavior. During the school year, limiting their screen time is fairly easy to do as they're not at home for most of the day. During the summer break, the kids are at home a lot more, so I built a chore tracker for my kids that rewards them with screen time.

TL;DR: Starting Sept. 5, DoorDash's Streaks program rewards college football fans for ordering on Saturdays: 1,000 fans who place four qualifying $20+ orders get $250 in DoorDash credit, one fan wins a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, and college students nationwide can get free Student DashPass through Oct. 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash Streaks   Learn More

Saturday college football and DoorDash orders already go hand in hand — now DoorDash is making sure you get something back for it.

The company's Streaks program is returning for the 2026 season, and starting Sept. 5, fans can score everything from game-day credit to free DashPass to a literal muscle car, just for doing what they were already going to do anyway: order food and watch the games.

How to score $250 for your watch party

1,000 fans who place four qualifying orders (each with a $20+ subtotal) will get $250 in DoorDash credit to cover a Saturday watch-party order for their crew. Basically, keep ordering through the season, and DoorDash foots the bill for one big one. One fan will also win a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat — the ultimate game-day ride upgrade.

DoorDash is also giving college students nationwide a free Student DashPass through Oct. 12, which helps reduce delivery costs for game-day orders all season long. If you're in school and ordering food most Saturdays anyway, this one's an easy way to save.

The real jackpot: $757,500 toward a house

Every month that fans hit their Streak milestone, they earn an entry toward the grand prize: $757,500 toward the house of their dreams, plus a new fridge stocked with a year's supply of Dr. Pepper. So the more consistently you're ordering on Saturdays, the more entries you're racking up toward that.

These September rewards are just the start. DoorDash says new deals and prizes will keep dropping throughout the season for fans who order on Saturdays, and October's next big prize is still on the way, so there's reason to keep ordering well past September.

Google Pixel phones are not exactly renowned for having a huge selection of features—the downside to minimalism. That’s why I was recently surprised to find a suite of diagnostic tools in the settings. These tools can be helpful for troubleshooting and determining the health of your device.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 US Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the French Open or Wimbledon, but you could feel the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. We missed his all-action style, his passion, and his rivalry with top seed Jannik Sinner. Fans will be desperately hoping he's back to defend his US Open title, and the good news is that he's officially on the entry list.

Barring any late injuries, we should finally get to see the Alcaraz vs. Sinner rivalry renewed at Flushing Meadows. Of course, that's not the only story. Sabalenka will be looking to defend her title against a host of talented players, including Americans like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Questions will also be asked of Zverev and Djokovic as they look to bridge the gap to the game's biggest stars.

If you want to watch the 2026 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the US Open?

The US Open Tennis Championships (or US Open) is a hardcourt tennis tournament held annually in Queens, New York. It is the fourth and final of the four Grand Slams, held after the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

The defending singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.

When is the 2026 US Open?

The 2026 US Open is the 146th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 13.

How to watch the 2026 US Open for free

The 2026 US Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 US Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 2026 US Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the US Open without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the entire tournament before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 US Open for free with ExpressVPN.

I stopped using portable applications for a long time. Between cloud storage, web apps, modern package managers, and the ever-growing number of regular apps you can download and install, they just didn't seem all that necessary. That changed when I ran into a situation with a friend's laptop where the operating system was so badly messed up that nothing would work correctly, including internet connectivity. All the cloud apps and installers in the world couldn't help. So, I went home and put together a toolkit to repair any PC I might encounter.

An over-the-air, or OTA, update is any software fix or feature update an automaker sends to a car wirelessly, through a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, the same way a phone downloads a new app or security patch. The car downloads the code, installs it while parked, and comes back online running something different than it did the night before, all without a trip to a dealership.

When it comes to multitasking, Liz Plank (@feministabulous) might just be the poster-child. She is a content creator, journalist (Vox), author (For the Love of Men), podcaster (Boy Problems), amongst too many titles to name. Liz Plank is a true queen of all trades.

Recently, Plank met up with Mashable's Executive Producer, Mark Stetson, in New York's Washington Square Park, her "favorite place." On a much too sunny park bench, the two delved into the nooks and crannies of content creation, why dating can be wildly different for men and women, and what it truly means to "win the career lottery."

"My favorite thing right now is my podcast!" Plank's latest venture is her podcast, Boy Problems, which soared into the 1% of Spotify podcasts and is still one of the most listened podcasts on Spotify. "I had to teach myself how to do a 3-camera setup in my own bedroom because that's what you have to do when you have zero budget. And in the end I think it made the show that much better. I love to connect, I am a connection slut. And so I loved that it felt like I was on the same level as the audience."

Plank opened up about the realities of modern content creation, from navigating burnout and the pressure to monetize, to building a genuine connection with your audience and maintaining authenticity. "If you're trying to be authentic, then you're already not. It was easier to be authentic earlier on because there was no model. And now there are so many models and influencer culture and so many people that you can imitate and use as role models. I think that role models are great, but be you. Don't try to be someone else."

Boy Problems is available anywhere you find your podcasts and on YouTube.

The PC market is a hot mess right now, with GPUs priced at up to $5,000 and 32GB of RAM going for, at minimum, $400 (DDR5). It's not a good time to buy ... well, basically anything, including SSDs and RAM (obviously). But this is when unexpected purchases start making more sense.

While I like messing around in Linux, it's not my daily-driver operating system. I tend to use it for specialized projects, or when I have no other choice, such as using a Linux Netbook in college, or with handheld gaming systems that work best with Linux for various reasons.

ChatGPT can now check your insurance, cancel flights, or reschedule deliveries for you, all seemingly without seeing your login details.

Announced by OpenAI on X, the AI assistant will be able to complete tasks for users that they'd usually have to open a new browser and log in with a username and password to do. (And please don't tell us you've been dropping your login details into AI chatbot conversations. Stop that now.)

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Available on mobile and web for Plus, Pro, and Business users, the update functions within the GPT‑5.6-powered ChatGPT Work, a task management agent within the chatbot that pulls workflows into one spot.

However, the tool is focused beyond boardrooms. According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Work can now do things like set up utilities for your home, book a passport or medical appointment, buy or cancel plane tickets, or rearrange a package's arrival, all without viewing your login details. This moves the chatbot beyond its current in-chat booking abilities into deeper, more serious purchasing waters.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT will let you book a table mid-chat

But how is ChatGPT actually blocked from seeing your username and password?

On OpenAI's help page, updated with the announcement, the company says ChatGPT Work functions through a cloud browser that can "read web pages, click buttons, enter information into forms, and carry out steps on supported public and signed-in websites." This means you're not putting your details directly into the Large Language Model (LLM) powering the chatbot, and again, it's unwise to drop these into your chats.

You'll need to start a task within ChatGPT, write your request as a prompt, and the chatbot will pause the conversation to generate a "secure form" for logging into a website through a remote browser. You might need to approve the website to ChatGPT and complete any two-factor authentication. According to OpenAI, "the username and password entered [in the secure form] are not visible to the model, and ChatGPT does not store those sign-in credentials."

The company adds that all sign-in requests are reviewed by an additional model for "signs of phishing or deception."

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

You can also control which websites ChatGPT has access to in Settings > Cloud browser, where you can select options to "Always ask," "Auto approve," or "Always allow." And some websites might restrict access from AI agents, so you might run into some that won't work with this automation.

Once you've done all the approvals and you're logged in, ChatGPT will unpause the conversation and move to complete requests. Notably, ChatGPT will ask you for confirmation in the chat "before actions that could be hard to reverse or create a financial, legal, account, or other real-world commitment, such as confirming a booking or making a payment." So, if you're about to drop cash on a flight, you'll have to give it the green light.

ChatGPT users can already connect their bank accounts and medical records to the platform, so this feels like just another step of handing the keys over to AI.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Cable management is not a fun task. I’m not talking about routing cables under your desk in a satisfying way; I mean literally organizing a box of loose cables. Rubber bands? Velcro straps? I’ve tried them both, but the best method I’ve found is an incredibly simple 3D print.

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ are available for free right now with T-Mobile. To qualify for the Motorola Razr, simply activate a new line on an Experience More plan. For the Motorola Razr+, activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola T-Mobile: Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ for free   Shop Now

The conversation around Apple's next event is getting louder. We're constantly inundated with new rumors, leaks, and genuine news about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that are likely to arrive this fall. That's exciting for Apple fanatics keen on owning the latest tech, but believe it or not, not everyone is obsessed with the iPhone.

No, there's actually a significant group out there who rep Samsung, Google, and Motorola. And if you're the latter, T-Mobile has got a real treat for you right now.

T-Mobile is giving away the new Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ for free, with no trade-in required:

• Motorola Razr — activate a new line on an Experience More plan

• Motorola Razr+ — activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan

The total cost is covered with up to 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the two-year mark, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price. You will also need to pay taxes and a one-time connection charge with this deal, but that's a small price to pay for the latest from Motorola.

Score the new Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ for free this week with T-Mobile.

As a writer, programmer, and Linux enthusiast, I often tend to make my workflow use the mouse as rarely as possible. Windows being my primary workstation, I've been trying to use the keyboard more and more, so I don't have to reach for the mouse.