IT General

Sony drops 2 new Bluetooth turntables for the first time in forever, days after pivoting away from TVs

Mashable - 16 hours 43 min ago

Sony has announced two new Bluetooth turntables after seven years of radio silence.

The original Sony PS-LX310BT developed a cult following in that time as one of the few worthwhile beginner-friendly Bluetooth record players (along with the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-USB). Now, instead of scouring Reddit for budget Bluetooth record player recommendations, those cautiously looking to replace their old Sony PS-LX310BT have two direct successors as an upgrade option: The $399.99 Sony PS-LX3BT (available to pre-order now) or the slightly more premium $499.99 Sony PS-LX5BT (coming this spring).

Unfortunately, the new record players come with a higher price than the original. For reference, the 2019 PS-LX310BT costs $448, but it was available for $199.99 for many years.

SEE ALSO: Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip open earbuds embrace pastel colors and a clip style design

The relatively random announcement came just days after Sony announced that it was handing its home entertainment business (TVs, home audio gear) to TCL. The news didn't sound overly promising for anyone holding on to hope that Sony would ever make a new turntable. False alarm — the best Sony headphones aren't the only way to appreciate Sony's hi-fi expertise in 2026. Here's what to expect.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PS-LX3BT Full Auto Playback Turntable with Bluetooth $399.99 at Sony
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PS-LX5BT Full Auto Playback Turntable with Bluetooth $499.99 at Sony
  Learn More What's different about the new Sony Bluetooth turntables

As well as the beloved PS-LX310BT has aged, the technology is still creeping up on a decade old. The upgraded playback tech in the 2026 models includes expanded support for Bluetooth codecs like aptX and aptX-Adaptive, minimizing the amount of crucial sound details that are lost over a standard wireless connection. Both support 33⅓ records and 45s and feature built-in phono preamps to connect directly to a speaker system.

The PS-LX3BT comes in a dark gray finish. Credit: Sony The PS-LX5BT comes in black. Credit: Sony

The PS-LX5BT features a Moving Magnet cartridge, more precise stylus pressure, and a gold-plated audio jack that's said to elevate wired connections. This is clearly the option geared more toward stricter audiophiles, while the PS-LX3BT would be a great record player for beginners.

What's not different about the new Sony Bluetooth turntables

What hasn't changed in either is the fact the PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT are still both fully automatic, belt-drive turntables. That might be a bummer for some vinyl purists — the lowering of the needle by hand and nostalgic pre-track crackling play just as much of a role in the overall turntable experience as the quality of the sound itself.

However, as analog media makes a comeback, there's definitely room in the market for simpler automatic record players, especially ones with Bluetooth features. With these Bluetooth record players, you can enjoy the classic sound of vinyl records beamed directly to your favorite wireless headphones. And if you already have Sony headphones, connecting should be even easier.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Learn big ideas in a tiny bit of time with this book summary app

Mashable - 16 hours 43 min ago

TL;DR: Finally get through your TBR stack with this lifetime subscription to book summary app Headway Premium, on sale now for just $39.99 with coupon code SUMMARY20 through Jan. 31, the best price online.

Opens in a new window Credit: Headway Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$299.95 Save $259.96   Get Deal

Got a long list of books you’d like to read, but life keeps getting in the way? It’s time to meet Headway Premium. This app gives you 15-minute summaries of the world’s best nonfiction books, which you can read or listen to in your spare time.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium can be yours for only $39.99 with code SUMMARY20 through Jan. 31.

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No matter how busy your schedule is, you probably have a free 15 minutes. Headway Premium can fill that time by learning the key concepts and ideas from some acclaimed nonfiction books. Choose from topics ranging from personal development and health and wellness to business strategies.

Headway offers two types of concise summaries — audio or written. You can either read or listen to professionally narrated audio. There are already over 2,000 summaries on the app, with new ones added each month.

Set goals and take advantage of the app’s gamified learning process, which tracks your progress and incentivizes continued learning. You can also test yourself with quizzes and trivia, and highlight and save your favorite insights and turn them into interactive flashcards.

Join more than 15 million people already learning with Headway. Though it doesn’t replace reading the entire book, it is a great way to learn about new topics and discover things you’d like to investigate further.

Get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just $39.99 with coupon code SUMMARY20 now through Jan. 31, the best price online.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Jovic online for free

Mashable - 16 hours 43 min ago

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

The 2026 Australian Open quarter finals are all about huge matchups between the world's best players. The good news for tennis fans is that most of the best players have made it through to this late stage.

Sabalenka vs. Jovic is the first quarter-final matchup. Sabalenka is the favorite in pretty much every game she plays, but 29th seed Iva Jovic will believe that she can pull off a shock. The 18-year-old is clearly talented, but this will be a seriously tough test for the teenager.

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

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Jovic for free

Sabalenka vs. Jovic in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

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 2026 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 2026 Australian 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 services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sabalenka vs. Jovic 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 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Jovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Travel smarter with these earbuds that translate over 50 languages in real time

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 23:40

TL;DR: Listen to music, take a call, or hear real-time AI translation of more than 50 languages with these Mymanu Orb Open-Ear AI Translation Earbuds, now on sale for just $139.99 (reg. $179.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: manu Mymanu Orb Open-Ear AI Translation Earbuds $139.99
$179.99 Save $40   Get Deal

We’re all multi-tasking the day away, so it’s only natural to expect more from our gear. If you’re looking for headphones that do more than just play music, it’s time to check out the Mymanu Orb Open-Ear AI Translation Earbuds. These earbuds combine comfort with numerous features — including real-time language translation — and they’re on sale for $139.99 (reg. $179.99).

When was the last time your earbuds wowed you? The Mymanu Orb was featured at CES 2026 thanks to its advanced AI-powered features, making it perfect for everyone, from professionals on their morning commute to travelers spending time abroad.

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The Mymanu Orb earbuds come packed with impressive AI that offers real-time translation in more than 50 languages — from German to Thai to Arabic. Instantly translate phone calls, audio content, or even in-person conversations, and know exactly what’s happening around you live.

If serving as your own personal translator weren’t enough, the Mymanu Orb also provides stunning sound in a comfortable open-ear design. That feature lets you enjoy your content while staying alert to your surroundings and remaining hands-free. They’re super lightweight, but offer a movement-friendly design so you can rest easy knowing they’ll stay put even on a run.

If you’d like to just listen to music or take a phone call, you can also use the Mymanu Orb without the translation feature. It’s there only when you need it.

Get these Mymanu Orb Open-Ear AI Translation Earbuds, on sale now for just $139.99 (reg. $179.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This AI-powered app lets you see exactly where your money is going

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 23:00

TL;DR: Get ahold of your spending with a lifetime subscription to Spendify’s Solo Plan, now for only $59.99 (reg. $324).

Opens in a new window Credit: Spendify Spendify: Lifetime Subscription (Solo Plan) $59.99
$324 Save $264.01   Get Deal

Need a little help in the personal finance department? There’s now an AI-powered app for that — Spendify. This handy tool automates expense tracking, so you can see exactly where your money is going and start taking control of your spending.

Right now, you can take advantage of this help forever when you secure a lifetime subscription to Spendify’s Solo Plan for just $59.99 (reg. $324).

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Tired of stressing over bills at the end of the month? With Spendify, you can make better decisions thanks to its AI-powered insights. They’ll check out your spending patterns and discover actionable ways you can support smarter financial goals.

Spendify lets you visualize your finances with clear charts and graphs, so you can see exactly where your money is going. Smart categorization automatically organizes your expenses. You’ll also get personalized insights based on how you spend money and what you’re saving for, as your financial health is scored and tracked over time.

With Spendify, you can discover subscriptions you’ve been paying for that you may have forgotten about and get AI-powered suggestions to help you reduce those costs. Curious what you’re spending at a certain place? Merchant intelligence even lets you deep dive into specific merchants and vendors. It also provides a payment calendar to help you stay on top of payments.

Aside from analyzing your money and helping you come up with budgets and plans, Spendify also uses the power of AI to help you generate professional invoices.

Rest easy knowing Spendify has enterprise-grade security, so your financial information is well protected. Your Solo Plan allows you to upload 100 statements, ask 10 queries to the AI financial advisor, and get 6 AI smart insights each month, plus many more perks.

Get a lifetime subscription to Spendify’s Solo Plan now for only $59.99 (reg. $324).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Zverev vs. Tien online for free

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 23:00

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

The 2026 Australian Open quarter finals are here, and just about all the biggest names have reached this late stage of the competition.

The first quarter final from the men's draw sees last year's finalist Zverev take on 25th seed Tien. The American has never made it this far in a Grand Slam. Can the 20-year-old progress to the next round? It's difficult to predict this matchup, but we're expecting an explosive matchup between two talented players.

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

How to watch Zverev vs. Tien for free

Zverev vs. Tien in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

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 2026 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 2026 Australian 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 services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Zverev vs. Tien 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 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Zverev vs. Tien in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Firefox is testing a split-screen mode and tab notes

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 22:56

Mozilla is starting to test a split view mode for Firefox, allowing you to have two pages open at the same time without two browser windows. The browser is also getting editable notes for your tabs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Super Bowl conspiracy theorists found the latest evidence the NFL rigged the script

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 22:34

It sucks to have your favorite NFL team get bounced before the Super Bowl — but it's an unfortunate fact of life for 30 fanbases. (Editor's note: Go Bills.) But in the vacuum that inevitably follows defeat, certain sects of NFL fans love to gin up a conspiracy theory that proves, actually, their favorite team was wronged rather than fairly beaten.

Such fans this week have latched onto a new version of the "script" meme — the idea that the NFL is rigged and, for some reason, doling out clues about its conspiracy — via an illustration that was posted by the league before the season began. If you zoom in on the image, you can see QBs Sam Darnold and Drake Maye at the very front of a group of players staring down the NFL's Lombardi Trophy, given to the winner of the Super Bowl.

Darnold and Maye play for the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, respectively, which are — you guessed it — the teams who'll face off in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. The odds of correctly guessing the teams that would appear in the Super Bowl are 0.39 percent, so it is quite the coincidence that those two players just happened to be placed together.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The illustration has gone viral since the Super Bowl matchup was decided over the past weekend. To be clear, lots of folks are joking about the "script" — it has become a meme after all — while a smaller number appear to genuinely believe this is evidence that the league is fixed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

So many people posted about the image that NFL VP of Communications Brian McCarthy responded, writing on X, "Re: the 'controversy' over this image - no."

Jokes and silly allegations of the NFL being rigged have been around for a while. The NFL itself has joked about fans claiming there's a "script," running an ad in 2023 where players do a table read of the next season. Despite the NFL itself making fun of the "script" theories, it's an idea that refuses to go away. Theorists, for instance, developed a whole hypothesis that the NFL was previewing the Super Bowl teams via the colors in each year's logo for the big game.

In 2024, meanwhile, people were convinced the NFL was rigging results for the Kansas City Chiefs because, of all things, Taylor Swift was dating Travis Kelce. As I wrote at the time, the NFL is not capable of pulling that off and, even if it were, would never risk its billions of dollars in profits for something so trivial. (Editor's note: Again, go Bills.)

So, no, that image from September is not evidence that the NFL is rigged. Hell, if you look at the image closely, Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield and New York's Malik Nabers both appear to be closer or just as close to the trophy. Neither of those teams even made the playoffs.

Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles — my favorite team — is the furthest away from the trophy, however, which is definitive proof that the NFL was rigging the season against Philly so they couldn't repeat as champions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 Netflix movies you're going to love this week (January 26-February 1)

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 22:00

The verdict is in: The Rip is a hit. People have been loving the cop thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The movie is still occupying the top spot on the streamer as we speak.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My biggest smart home regret is not doing this from the start

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 21:00

I only started creating a smart home last year, so nearly all of my devices communicate via Matter. For the most part, things have just worked. As I try out different smart home hubs and troubleshoot the occasional issue, there’s only one simple thing I wish I did from the beginning that would have saved me a lot of frustration—write down my Matter pairing codes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This could be our first look at Android 17's new glassy design

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:56

After more than a decade of flat, solid blocks of color, Android may be on the verge of yet another major design shift. According to a growing number of reports and leaks, a translucent, blurry look is coming with Android 17—and we have our first look at it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Things you can 3D print at home (but shouldn't)

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:30

Having a 3D printer is great! You can make just about anything you can imagine, as long as it's made from something that comes in the form of a filament. However, there are limits to what you should bring into the world from your imagination. For example, it's probably a bad idea to print any of these.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop buying 1TB SSDs: They are a rip-off in 2026

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:30

At a time when SSD prices are completely wild and almost guaranteed to get even worse, it's hard to shop for PC storage. There used to be a sweet spot for cost per terabyte, but that sweet spot is now long gone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The cheapest new luxury car you can get in 2026

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:00

Luxury cars used to feel off-limits—flashy badges, confusing options, and prices that climbed fast. In 2026, that idea feels outdated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The TikTok outage cause revealed

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 19:19

UPDATE: Jan. 26, 2026, 1:01 p.m. EST TikTok has shared more details about the cause of the outage that affected U.S. users over the past 24 hours.

TikTok has new U.S. owners (finally), but the app had a rough opening weekend, with many U.S. users unable to access the app, upload new videos, or refresh their feed. Now, TikTok has explained what went wrong.

According to TikTok, a power outage was the source of downtime on the app.

"Since yesterday we’ve been working to restore our services following a power outage at a U.S. data center impacting TikTok and other apps we operate," said an official statement from TikTok posted on X. "We're working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

TikTok appears to be working normally at the moment.

SEE ALSO: Why everyone on TikTok is using punch cards to hit their goals

Over the weekend, the social media app was hit with thousands of user outage reports, with Downdetector showing spikes in users reporting problems in accessing the platform. (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.)

Credit: Down Detector

It's worth noting that TikTok has had a very busy week, however. On Thursday, the Chinese-owned platform announced that it had reached a deal to continue operating in the U.S. after years of pressure from politicians, creating the catchily named, majority U.S.-owned TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. Following the announcement, U.S. users were greeted with a pop-up asking them to read and agree to the app's new Terms of Service, causing confusion and alarm among some users.

Is it possible that the transfer in ownership, and whatever that entails behind the scenes, led to the issues users experienced on Sunday? It's difficult to say without any official word from TikTok, but the timing certainly seems notable.

Matt Binder contributed additional reporting to this story.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi OS alternative DietPi just got a big update

How-To Geek - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 19:10

DietPi is a popular Linux distribution for Raspberry Pi computers and other single-board computers. There's a new major release out this week, though it comes with some bad news for systems that can't be updated to Debian 12 or later versions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are just $130, thanks to a refurbished deal at Woot

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 19:05

Save 63%: As of Jan. 26, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are available for $129.99 at Woot. These headphones are certified refurbished by Bose, and come with a one year manufacturer warranty. They also cost $229.01 less than QC headphones brand new, at full price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $129.99 at Woot
$359 Save $229.01   Get Deal

Despite what many recent flagship releases will have you believe, you actually don't have to pay $400+ to get some really great noise cancelling headphones.

In fact, you can spend as little as $129.99 for the Bose QuietComfort headphones at Woot as of Jan. 26. These headphones are certified refurbished, but according to Woot, have been restored by Bose's experts and are in "pristine condition." They also come with a one year manufacturer warranty. Oh, and they cost a good deal less than the $359 headphones at full price — $229.01 less, to be exact.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones may sit in the higher end of mid-range territory at full price, but there's a reason why they're one of Mashable's favorite pairs of Bose headphones. According to Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino, they rival both the comfort and noise cancellation ability of their much more expensive counterpart, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. She also appreciated how easy their on-ear controls were to use, as well as their all-day battery life.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2026 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

The main drawback of these headphones is that they don't come with spatial audio, but if that's not a feature you plan on using anyway, they're a much better value than the Ultra headphones. While it's not uncommon to see the new model on sale — they often drop down to $199.99, reaching an all time low of $159.99 over Black Friday — this $129.99 refurbished price is the lowest we've caught on the QuietComfort headphones.

This deal applies only to the black colorway of these headphones, and runs for the next five days, or until supplies last.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are just $130, thanks to a refurbished deal at Woot

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 19:05

Save 63%: As of Jan. 26, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are available for $129.99 at Woot. These headphones are certified refurbished by Bose, and come with a one year manufacturer warranty. They also cost $229.01 less than QC headphones brand new, at full price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $129.99 at Woot
$359 Save $229.01   Get Deal

Despite what many recent flagship releases will have you believe, you actually don't have to pay $400+ to get some really great noise cancelling headphones.

In fact, you can spend as little as $129.99 for the Bose QuietComfort headphones at Woot as of Jan. 26. These headphones are certified refurbished, but according to Woot, have been restored by Bose's experts and are in "pristine condition." They also come with a one year manufacturer warranty. Oh, and they cost a good deal less than the $359 headphones at full price — $229.01 less, to be exact.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones may sit in the higher end of mid-range territory at full price, but there's a reason why they're one of Mashable's favorite pairs of Bose headphones. According to Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino, they rival both the comfort and noise cancellation ability of their much more expensive counterpart, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. She also appreciated how easy their on-ear controls were to use, as well as their all-day battery life.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2026 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

The main drawback of these headphones is that they don't come with spatial audio, but if that's not a feature you plan on using anyway, they're a much better value than the Ultra headphones. While it's not uncommon to see the new model on sale — they often drop down to $199.99, reaching an all time low of $159.99 over Black Friday — this $129.99 refurbished price is the lowest we've caught on the QuietComfort headphones.

This deal applies only to the black colorway of these headphones, and runs for the next five days, or until supplies last.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Clawdbot is a viral AI assistant: What it is, how to try it

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:54

Interest in Clawdbot, an open-source AI personal assistant, has been building from a simmer to a roar. Over the weekend, online chatter about the tool reached viral status — at least, as viral as an open-source AI tool can be.

Clawdbot has developed a cult following in the early adopter community, and AI nerds in Silicon Valley are obsessively sharing best practices and showing off their DIY Clawdbot setups. The free, open-source AI assistant is commonly run on a dedicated Mac Mini (though other setups are possible), with users giving it access to their ChatGPT or Claude accounts, as well as email, calendars, and messaging apps.

Clawdbot has gone so viral on X that it's reached meme status, with developers sharing tongue-in-cheek memes about their Clawdbot setups.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

So, what is Clawdbot 🦞, how can you try it, and why is it suddenly the talk of the town in Silicon Valley?

Clawdbot is an AI personal assistant

As previously mentioned, Clawdbot is an open-source AI assistant that runs locally on your device. The tool was built by developer and entrepreneur Peter Steinberger, best known for creating and selling PSPDFKit. The tool is often associated with the lobster emoji, for reasons that should be obvious.

Clawdbot is an impressive example of agentic AI, meaning it's a tool that can act autonomously and complete multi-step actions on behalf of the user. The year 2025 was supposed to be the year of AI agents; instead, many high-profile agentic AI implementations failed to deliver results, and there's a growing sense that AI agents are hitting a wall.

However, Clawdbot users say that the tool delivers where previous assistants have failed. The personal AI assistant remembers everything you've ever told it, and users can also grant it access to their email, calendar, and docs. On top of that, Clawdbot can proactively take personalized action. So, not only does Clawdbot check your email, but it can send you a message the moment a high-priority email arrives.

Based on its viral success, I'd be shocked if Steinberger isn't being courted by AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Mashable reached out to Steinberger to ask about Clawdbot, and we'll update this post if we receive a response.

How to try Clawdbot

Steinberger has uploaded the source code for Clawdbot to Github, and you can download, install, and start experimenting with Clawdbot right away. (Find Clawdbot on Github.)

That said, downloading and setting up Clawdbot isn't as simple as downloading a typical app or piece of software. You'll need some technical know-how to get Clawdbot running on your device. There are also some serious security and privacy concerns to consider. More on that in a moment.

You can run Clawdbot on Mac, Windows, and Linux devices, and the Clawdbot website has installation instructions, system requirements, and tips.

Don't try Clawdbot without understanding the risks

Part of the reason that Clawdbot succeeds where other AI agents have failed is that it has full system access to your device. That means it can read and write files, run commands, execute scripts, and control your browser.

Steinberger is clear about the fact that running Clawdbot carries certain risks.

Running an AI agent with shell access on your machine is… spicy," an FAQ reads. "Clawdbot is both a product and an experiment: you’re wiring frontier-model behavior into real messaging surfaces and real tools. There is no 'perfectly secure' setup." (Emphasis in original.)

Users can access a security audit tool for Clawdbot on Github, and the Clawdbot FAQ also has a useful security section. A sub-section titled "The Threat Model" notes that bad actors could "Try to trick your AI into doing bad things" and "Social engineer access to your data."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Duolingo launches Bad Bunny 101 ahead of Super Bowl LX halftime show

Mashable - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:35

Tití me preguntó if we were ready for Super Bowl LX, and the answer is sí. With Bad Bunny set to take over the halftime show, the hype is already hitting reggaetón levels of excitement, and brands are racing to keep up.

Enter Duolingo. The language-learning app has launched a cheeky "Bad Bunny 101" campaign designed to help fans pick up just enough Spanish to keep up with the Puerto Rican rapper's lyrics. One prompt in the ads asks users to translate the title of his hit single "Tití me preguntó," while Duolingo's famously unhinged owl mascot gets a full Bad Bunny makeover — pava hat and all.

"Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the US, and it’s already part of how culture shows up," Duolingo chief marketing officer Manu Orssaud said in a statement via the San Francisco Chronicle, underscoring the app's pitch that learning the language isn't just practical, it's pop-cultural.

This isn't Duolingo’s first time tapping into Benito's orbit. Back in 2023, the brand published a blog post encouraging fans to discover the "lots of Spanish lessons hidden in Bad Bunny lyrics," positioning the artist’s catalog as both a vibe and a learning tool.

As part of the larger push for Bad Bunny 101, Duolingo's owl mascot has been doing what it does best: escalating. Over on X, Duo has been counting down the days until Super Bowl Sunday, reminding fans exactly how much time they have left to learn Spanish before Bad Bunny hits the stage. And in case anyone missed the point, the owl has also been spotted in the wild, recently turning up in New York City (sorry, NUEVAYoL) dressed as Benito himself.

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Not everyone, however, is ready to sing along. President Donald Trump has once again voiced complaints about the Super Bowl's musical lineup, taking aim at Bad Bunny's halftime slot and Green Day's pre-game performance alike.

The internet, unsurprisingly, seems far more on board. Estamos ready para bailar.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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