IT General

These official NASA models are perfect weekend 3D printing projects (Jun 12-14)

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 17:30

Did you know that NASA has a stacked repository of 3D printing files that you can download and print for free? This includes some of the agency’s most iconic equipment, plus terrain maps and asteroids.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Where to score FIFA World Cup food deals this summer: Grubhub, Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonalds, and more

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 17:19

Nothing pairs better than food and football (er, soccer). So, now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, why not indulge in some tasty treats to celebrate? Restaurant chains across the country are getting in on the global tournament with special food and drink items and even some deals.

Whether you're a dedicated soccer fan, new to the sport, or just like delicious food deals, here are all the spots you can score some World Cup food specials this summer.

Auntie Anne's

Auntine Anne's launched a Pitch Pack built for game day. Through July 31, customers can match up any two Pretzel Nugget flavors or Mini Dogs, along with two dips. Plus, it comes in a cute soccer-themed snack box.

The chain is also dropping some limited-edition World Cup merch online, called the Nug Cup Collection. Loyalty members can get $3 off plushies and scarves with the code PRETZELFAN.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Sports and wings are built for each other, and Buffalo Wild Wings knows it. Thus, it's serving up a limited-time Matchday menu inspired by global flavors. The lineup includes six new dipping sauces with flavors from around the world: Peri Peri (South Africa), Yuzu Wasabi (Asia), Maple Sweet Chili (Canada), Sweet Curry (Europe), Smoky Elote (Mexico), and Creamy Chimichurri (South America). The chain is also introducing two new signature cocktails (Red Card Punch and Yellow Card Margarita) and Michelob Ultra Beer Towers.

Chipotle

Chipotle released a limited-edition soccer jersey (there are only 53 available) that reward members have a chance to win. You'll have to use 10 of your rewards points for an entry into the raffle between June 10 and 24.

Crumbl

Through June 13, Crumbl is offering new flavors inspired by the international World Cup teams, including: Blue Raspberry Sports Drink Cookie, American Brownie Sundae Cookie, Mexican Tangy Mango Cookie ft. Tajín, Canadian Nanaimo Bar Cookie, Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie, and Soccer Field Dubai-Style Cheesecake.

Grubhub

Grubhub is loaded with deals this summer in honor of the World Cup.

From June 29 through July 5, customers can take advantage of the following offers:

  • BOGO 2-piece Chicken Combo from KFC, $15 minimum

  • BOGO Whopper Jr. from Burger King, $15 minimum

  • Free Bacon Cheeseburger from Shake Shack, $25 minimum

  • $15 off orders over $50 from Primo Hoagies

From July 6 through 12, there's a new round of deals:

  • BOGO 4-piece Signature Chicken or Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes, $15 minimum

  • BOGO Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut, $35 minimum

  • Free 10-piece wings from Wingstop, $30 minimum

  • BOGO Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s, $20 minimum

Finally, from July 13 through 19, the offers switch to:

  • BOGO Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla from Taco Bell, $20 minimum

  • Free 6-inch Tuna, Turkey, Spicy Italian, or Sweet Onion Teriyaki sub from Subway, $20 minimum

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new Messi Legendary Burger, alongside Lionel Messi, which consists of two smashed patties topped with provolone, tomato, chorizo jam, pickles, and roasted pepper aioli. It's only available for a limited time during the World Cup.

Stop in the Rock Shop for special Hard Rock x World Cup merch as well, including jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and more.

Insomnia Cookies

In honor of the World Cup, Insomnia Cookies introduced the Goal Game Pack, which gives fans 16 classic cookies for the price of a dozen. The offer is only available through June 30 at participating bakeries nationwide.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is keeping the deals rolling after National Donut Day with a new offer for the World Cup. Meet the Matchday Dozen, available between June 11 and June 14 at participating U.S. locations. It includes:

  • Kickoff Donuts: unglazed, Cookies and Kreme-filled donut with green cookie dough icing, as well as soccer field lines and a soccer ball piece

  • Soccer Rainbow Donuts: Original Glazed donut with vanilla icing, dipped in rainbow sprinkles with a soccer ball piece

  • Fan favorites: Original Glazed and Iced Chocolate with sprinkles

Customers can also score a $2 Original Glazed dozen when they purchase another dozen or the 16-count Minis through June 14.

McDonald's

McDonald's launched a FIFA World Cup meal on June 4, which includes limited-edition collectible cups featuring Grimace or any of the following soccer stars: Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, and Santiago Gimenez. The meal costs between $10 and $12, depending on location, and customers can choose between a Big Mac and a 10-piece McNugget box for lunch/dinner or a Sausage Biscuit with egg or a Sausage McMuffin with egg for breakfast.

The chain is also letting kids get in on the action with a Happy Meal version. It includes 23 options of Squishmallow plushies, including World Cup mascots.

Subway

On the days the U.S. plays its Group Stage games (June 12, June 19, June 25), Subway is offering Sub Club members a 40% discount on any footlong if the U.S. wins. The offer will be added to Sub Club accounts the following day.

TGI Fridays

On the longest Friday of the year, June 19, TGI Fridays is offering Matchday Bites starting at $8.99, Matchday Platters starting at $14.99, Red and Yellow Card margaritas, $5 GOOOAL Shooters, $5 drafts, and $20 buckets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This is the Home Assistant dashboard I actually enjoy using every day

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 17:15

Look on any Home Assistant forum, and you're likely to find a ton of posts from people showing off their intricately detailed dashboards. While many of these dashboards look incredible, packed with controls and graphs, they're not something that I really want. There's only one dashboard that I enjoy using.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your USB-C cable is lying to you—and there's only one real solution

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 17:01

USB-C was supposed to be the last cable standard you'd ever need to think about, and the connector itself mostly delivered on that promise. However, what’s wired inside varies wildly from cable to cable, turning simple tasks like fast charging, high-speed data transfers, and video output into a frustrating guessing game.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Should you buy a robot vacuum before Prime Day? I test them for a living and found some early deals to eye.

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 16:43
A quick look at the best robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Day Best robot vacuum on sale overall Dreame L60 Ultra FE $849.99 at Amazon (save $250 at Amazon) Get Deal Best mid-range robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $529.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $329.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon) Get Deal

Don't ask ChatGPT which robot vacuum you should buy on Prime Day — ask the person who has tested nearly 40 robot vacuums in their own home. Most of the best robot vacuums of the past few years, including new 2026 models, will be on sale for Prime Day between June 23 and June 26. But if your floors need automated cleaning earlier than the end of the month, I found a handful of worthwhile robot vacuums on sale to buy ahead of Prime Day.

That doesn't just refer to the models with the biggest discounts. I've further whittled down the list to the robot vacuums with the best ratio of cleaning specs and smart features compared to their sale price.

SEE ALSO: HGTV hive, rise up: The best Shark robot vacuum and cordless stick vacuum just dropped in 4 earth tones

For example, the Roborock Saros 10R that I loved last year is $500 off, now back at its record-low price of $999.99. That sounds like a steal until I remind you that you can get significantly more suction power for $749.99 with the Dreame L60 Ultra FE. The self-emptying Shark Navigator for $246.95 sounds great until you realize that just $30 more can get you mopping and small obstacle avoidance with the Roborock Q10 S5+. (If you're shopping for a really high-end robot vacuum, I'd wait for the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete or Narwal Flow 2 to go on sale.)

So, here are the early Prime Day deals on robot vacuums that are worth your time so far:

Best Amazon robot vacuum deal ahead of Prime Day Dreame L60 Ultra FE $849.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $150   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Not to rope the Roborock Saros 10R back into it, but it really does make the Dreame L60 Ultra FE's value stand out. This model was just released at the end of April 2026, and its 30,000 Pa suction power isn't too far off from the 35,000 Pa of the most powerful Dreame robot vacuum. With accurate AI obstacle avoidance and heated self-washing mopping pads thrown in, this is a really solid vacuum for less than $800.

I can personally attest to the L60 Ultra FE's cleaning power for the price — it's currently sitting in my living room. I'm a sucker for the corner mopping of a spinning mopping pad, which still squeezes into 90-degree angles better than roller mop robot vacuums that can slide out to clean edges. This Dreame model has done a commendable job with cat litter, crumbs under the kitchen counter, and cat scratcher flecks stuck in the rug.

Deals on robot vacuum mop combos (+ self-washing mopping pads)Budget robot vacuum and mop deals

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop these early deals, but that will change come the official Prime Day kickoff on June 23.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 entertaining Prime Video shows to watch this weekend (June 12 - June 14)

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 16:30

While television boasts plenty of brilliantly entertaining shows to watch, comedies have a unique way of capturing the chaos of everyday life from wildly different angles. In addition to making them funny and entertaining, that quality of capturing everyday chaos is also what makes them relatable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nothing phones are coming to Best Buy—and they could shake up the market

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 16:28

You might not have heard of Nothing before, but you're about to see a lot more of it. Best Buy is now carrying Nothing phones, earbuds, and headphones in over 500 U.S. stores and online, giving the mobile startup its largest-ever American retail presence.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify adds editor videos to New Music Friday. We asked its curators why.

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 16:02

For years, Spotify's New Music Friday has been one of the app's most influential playlists, helping millions of listeners discover new releases every week. But starting today, the platform is making a subtle change to one of its biggest products: It's putting the actual people responsible for curating it front and center.

Listeners in the U.S. will now find short-form videos from Spotify's editorial team embedded directly within New Music Friday. The clips feature editors explaining why they're excited about certain releases, highlighting emerging artists, and sharing the stories behind songs they think listeners should know about.

SEE ALSO: Spotify's new Reserved feature could make concert ticketing less miserable

The new experience combines New Music Friday with The Drop Weekly, Spotify's editor-led video series that launched last year. According to the company, listeners have responded strongly to those more personal recommendations, generating more than double the engagement through saves and likes.

The move arrives at a moment when music discovery is increasingly shaped by algorithms. Streaming services like Spotify can instantly generate playlists based on listening habits, while AI tools promise increasingly personalized recommendations. According to Spotify's music editors, that's exactly why human perspectives matter more than ever.

"I would argue that they want that more and demand more of that," Alaysia Sierra, Spotify's head of R&B editorial, told Mashable when asked whether listeners still value hearing directly from human curators. "I think there's no better time to remind people that humans are here and still doing the work. Connection is something we're all deeply craving, and that's why humanizing recommendation and discovery feels especially important."

It may also be worth noting that human-curated playlists are less likely to surface AI-generated music, since editors tend to prioritize artists and stories they find meaningful and worth championing.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry

For Spotify's editorial team, the goal is bigger than simply recommending a song. It's providing the context that turns a casual listen into a lasting connection.

"We live in an era where anyone could listen to any song at any moment," said Cecilia Winter, editorial lead for Global Hits. "It's the act of both sifting through and actually finding the great stuff, but also moving into a space where we're sharing more context around it that's really going to create that stickier connection."

That idea came up repeatedly during Mashable's conversations with Spotify's editors. In their view, discovery isn't just about surfacing music; it's about helping listeners understand why a song matters. It's not so much about who you should be listening to but why. That's a role music media has traditionally filled. Publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork connect artists to larger cultural conversations and give audiences a framework for understanding what's worth paying attention to and why.

"The context is the discovery in a way," said Carla Turi, Spotify's senior editor for Folk & Indie. "Knowing that a song came out of a specific moment or that an artist was responding to something or someone in their lyrics, I think it completely changes how you experience music."

For Sierra, that work is especially important in R&B, a genre they describe as "cultural and rich and evolving" but one that can still be overlooked in broader music conversations. The challenge, they said, is identifying artists before everyone else catches on. While Spotify's editors have access to listener data and trend signals, Sierra often trusts a simpler metric: whether they can't stop replaying a song herself.

"If I keep going back to the song and wanting to replay it and it's making me feel this way, then I know that—or hope that—other people will feel the same way too," they said.

One of the biggest shifts they're watching right now is the globalization of R&B. Sierra pointed to a growing wave of artists emerging from the UK, including Cleo Sol, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Kwn, as evidence of the genre's continued evolution beyond traditional geographic boundaries.

"You just get these constant markers that something is obviously happening," they said. "All of these artists from this space are being loved and received and growing."

The new videos also pull back the curtain on a process most listeners never see. The New Music Friday playlist is assembled through a highly collaborative editorial process. Throughout the week, genre specialists and cultural experts from across Spotify meet to discuss upcoming releases, share songs they're excited about, and debate which should be included on the playlist.

Spotify isn't alone in this approach. Major streaming competitors, including Apple Music and Amazon Music, also employ editorial teams to curate playlists and shape music discovery. These videos offer a rare look at how that process works inside the world's largest music streaming service.

"When it comes to what makes it onto the list, there are many factors we balance," Winter said. "Obviously, we want to reflect the major news stories and moments that will be interesting to a broad audience. But we also want to showcase artists across genres that we’re especially excited about as editors and music experts."

That work extends well beyond listening sessions. Editors track audience behavior on Spotify, follow online communities, attend concerts, and maintain relationships with labels. They also regularly compare notes with colleagues around the world to identify emerging scenes before they reach the mainstream. The approach has more in common with traditional music journalism than the purely data-driven image often associated with streaming platforms.

Turi pointed to conversations with Spotify's international editorial teams as one example. A few years ago, editors in the Nordic region began highlighting a growing underground dream-pop and alt-pop scene emerging from Copenhagen. Before long, those sounds started spreading across markets and influencing artists elsewhere, and Spotify launched Cph+, its own dedicated playlist to the scene.

The example underscores how Spotify's editorial operation can function as more than a mirror of listener behavior. The company's biggest playlists—including New Music Friday, RapCaviar, mint, and Lorem—have become influential tastemakers in their own right, capable of introducing emerging artists to millions of listeners and helping shape what breaks into the mainstream.

Still, the editors insist there's no shortcut to discovering what's next.

"We're listening to music pretty much all day," Winter said. "There isn't really any shortcut to listening to music all day and identifying, OK, I'm starting to hear a lot of the same trend, or a lot of the same use of an instrument, or the same style in a way that I wasn't hearing six months ago."

The editors are also paying close attention to the next wave of sounds. Turi highlighted the post-hyperpop, alternative scene emerging around artists like 2hollis, MGNA Crrrta, and Ninajirachi, while Sierra said they're excited about the growing role music videos could play in music discovery on Spotify.

As for what they're listening to right now? Sierra recommends the rising artist nomi's "Sweet Talk"; Turi has Chanel Beads' "Song for the Messenger" on repeat; and Winter picked "L.U.C.K.Y" by New York duo Fcukers as one of her songs of the summer.

"It's a really nice song for walking around and feeling like the main character," Winter said.

Adding editor videos to New Music Friday won't fundamentally change how Spotify recommends music. But the feature speaks to something bigger.

More and more, platforms are realizing that people don't just follow recommendations; they follow people. It's why creators matter. It's why newsletters have become more personal. It's why publications increasingly ask reporters to step in front of the camera and build direct relationships with audiences, rather than hide behind the byline.

Spotify's editors aren't all that different. The recommendation itself still matters, but increasingly, so does knowing who's making it. The person behind the playlist becomes part of the discovery experience. And in the age of AI overviews and automated discovery, the value of a recommendation often comes down to the person making it.

As Sierra put it, it's a reminder that there are still humans behind the headphones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Home Assistant dashboard projects to try this weekend (Jun 12 - 14)

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 16:00

I'm not a huge fan of the usual Home Assistant dashboards. I don't see the benefit in being able to control your smart home from a wall-mounted panel if you have to walk over to it before you can use it. There are plenty of ways you can use Home Assistant dashboards to do other things.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Galaxy Watch is wasting battery on health tracking features you don't even use

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 15:45

Samsung assumes that most people want to do some level of health and fitness tracking on their Galaxy Watch. Even if that’s true for you, there are a few lesser-known health settings that could be unnecessarily draining your battery. If you’re not checking the data, it makes sense to disable them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I've 3D printed for 10 years—this is the only filament I refuse to work with

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 15:30

The first time I ever unboxed and set up a 3D printer was all the way back in 2015. My boss had bought one, but hadn't been brave enough to set it up. This was when 3D printers needed a significant amount of assembly out of the box, so the trepidation was understandable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dell’s 16-inch XPS revival is a return to form for the beleaguered US PC maker

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 15:24

Dell's revivified XPS 16 is a pricey, premium laptop for well-heeled shoppers. Its sleek chassis, peppy performance, and attractive extras (notably, an OLED touch screen) justify the expense if you're shopping for a high-end desktop replacement.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 full operating systems to install on your ESP32 this weekend (Jun 12-14

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 15:00

Did you know that the ESP32 microcontroller can run full operating systems? There are two relatively user-friendly options that include a graphical user interface (GUI) and installable applications, plus a few others that use command lines and emulation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Last House trailer traps Greta Lee and Wagner Moura in their home

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 15:00

Netflix loves a twisty sci-fi in which regular folks get suddenly trapped inside their home with no means of escape. Brick blew our minds, and now another mysterious sci-fi snare is set to to arrive in The Last House, with a tense new trailer out today.

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this thriller from director Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me), with the Past Lives and The Secret Agent stars playing couple Ann and Jason, who find themselves and their kids sealed inside their house. Like the Ultrahouse 3000 from The Simpsons, the house appears to have a mind of its own, pushing its inhabitants into survival mode within their own home.

Gabriel Barbosa, Emma Ho, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, and Riley Chung also star.

The Last House is streaming on Netflix on Aug. 7.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Daily Shows Desi Lydic has a brutal response to Trump seeing 22 medical specialists

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:39

Despite frequently bragging about his health, as Donald Trump nears his 80th birthday he certainly seems to be meeting with a lot of healthcare professionals — and Daily Show host Desi Lydic shared her thoughts on the matter.

"This weekend is his birthday, and he made it to 80 — with a little help," said Lydic during Thursday's show, before throwing to a Washington Post article about Trump reportedly being seen by 22 different medical specialists. "No wonder I can't get a doctor's appointment, half the medical profession is busy duct-taping together the world's healthiest man."

Ouch.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

3 criminally bingable Hulu shows to watch this weekend (June 12-14)

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:30

Hulu's slate of new shows for June has gotten off to a solid start, with Mindy Kaling's new Workplace/friends dramedy, Not Suitable for Work, making the rounds, and we still have the series finale of The Bear to look forward to closer to the end of the month.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Elon Musk seemingly found the cheat code for capitalism. The SpaceX IPO proves it.

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:26

Elon Musk, who has effectively admitted cheating at video games, may have found the ultimate cheat code that will turn him into the first trillionaire in the global game of capitalism.

That may well be the story of the SpaceX IPO, for which the company filed its SEC-mandated S1 form Thursday. The document was stuffed with eye-poppingly dubious claims about SpaceX's future as an AI company, as well as eye-wateringly embarrassing admissions about SpaceX, its new subsidiary xAI, and Grok.

And yet, none of these pokes in the eye seem to stop SpaceX from eyeing a record $1.75 trillion valuation.

SEE ALSO: Why SpaceX bought xAI: Data centers in space aren't the only reason What's in the SpaceX IPO? SpaceX's Starship at Orbital Launch Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, on May 21, 2026. Credit: Joe Marino / UPI / Shutterstock

To explain how bizarre the filing really is, and how deeply it might sink other offerings, let's first ignore the words Spacex xAI, Grok, Elon and Musk. Instead, just imagine you're telling your financial advisor you want shares in a new-to-market space launch company.

This company lost nearly $5 billion last year, on $18 billion of revenue. The revenue makes it look tiny, and its losses are increasing. But so is its revenue, so you have high hopes for its future.

OK, says your financial advisor, raising a quizzical eyebrow. A risky bet, but those can pay off big sometimes. What's the angle?

Well, you reply, the CEO is all in on AI. This space launch company is actually an AI company now, since it merged in a hurry earlier this year with one of the CEO's other companies, one he described as "the smallest" of the major AI players. The merger was a millstone, the cause of most of the combined company's losses.

Who's the creator you tell everyone to follow? Vote for them in Mashable's Fan Fav.

Still, AI's connection to the space launch business makes total sense. The CEO says he's going to launch AI data centers in space starting in 2028. And you totally believe that, despite this guy having a long history of making bold space-based predictions that don't come to pass.

Do space AI data centers even make sense? Who knows! "The conditions of space on such AI infrastructure have not been tested, by us or anyone else," notes the IPO. "Any component failures could result in permanent capacity loss" — since there are no IT guys up there to fix them.

But hey, what could make sensitive data center components fail in space? I mean, apart from the list in the company's S-1 filing: geomagnetic storms, solar flares, cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, orbital debris, as well as the vibration and thermal shock from launching them in the first place. Oh, and "the useful life of our satellites is inherently shorter than that of the information technology systems and infrastructure they host," the filing also says, but you're trying not to think about what that means in a data center business.

SEE ALSO: Why SpaceX bought xAI: Data centers in space aren't the only reason

Eh, regulatory filings can be such Debbie Downers! What matters is this guy really believes in his AI product, right? So much so that SpaceX's IPO claims a $26.5 trillion addressable AI market (compared to the space launch and Starlink connectivity market, for which it only claims a total potential of $2 trillion). That AI product, by the way, comes in "Unhinged Voice mode" and "Spicy Imagine mode." The IPO notes its "heightened risks" of "reputational harm," not to mention regulatory and legal harm, thanks to "potentially explicit content ... misinformation ... exploitative imagery, intellectual property infringement," or "harmful, harassing, abusive, or discriminatory" content.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, apart from the international investigations that have opened up into whether this company's product was used to make nonconsensual deepfakes of minors, as the IPO is also required to note. (You can almost hear the deep sighs of the lawyers who wrote this — but at least they didn't have to mention the whole MechaHitler thing.)

Speaking of legal harm, you also have no problem with the $3 billion in new data center gas turbine purchases revealed by the IPO, even though this is doubling down on harm for which the company already faces a huge lawsuit from environmental groups. After all, this guy has a history of winning most of his legal battles! Just pay no attention to the last one, where he flouted a court order by skipping off to China, and a jury found he had no right to bring the case in the first place.

Given all that information in the abstract, many financial advisors would advise you the company isn't worth the risk — if they don't advise you to get your head checked.

The cheat code at Tesla Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany. Credit: Joko / imageBROKER / Shutterstock

In the case of SpaceX, however, your financial advisor may be rushing to invest before you do. The IPO sets 30 percent of shares aside for so-called "retail investors," an unusually high percentage; arguably they're more likely to bet on a name, a personality, a legend, than a company's fundamentals.

The reason, essentially, amounts to five words: "never bet against Elon Musk." First uttered by fellow Paypal billionaire and friend Peter Thiel, then SpaceX investor Peter Diamandis, this rallying cry has been taken up by the CEOs of Morgan Stanley and Breyer Capital. It is an article of faith — literally, in articles that use it to wave away Musk's more baffling moves, from the design of the Cybertruck to the overpriced Twitter purchase. (Which, given that Musk turned Twitter into the less popular X, then folded it into xAI, and then folded that into SpaceX, may go down as the most buried sunk cost in business history.)

SEE ALSO: 'Sales suck monkey d*ck': Elon Musk's Tesla in 10 telling quotes

Musk long ago mastered the razzle-dazzle of business showmanship. He has learned to dance on ever-higher tightropes of promised futures. At a crucial moment in the early days of Tesla, he offered preorders for the Model S when its prototype didn't even exist yet. That lesson has come in handy in Tesla's Cybertruck era, when the company has been saddled with an odd looking, low-selling EV that is becoming ever more of a joke with every wheels-could-fall-off recall and watery misdirection, dogged by cheaper Chinese rivals, and boycotted by much of Europe.

In response, Musk simply squeezed billions more out of the company for the honor of having him stay, then pivoted Tesla towards another, bigger promised future. That future — one filled with humanoid robots and robotaxis — is about as airy, as unproven, and as full of pitfalls (literally, the Optimus robots fall over) as AI data centers in space. But at this stage, Musk can simply insist it's going to happen, then sit back and dare Tesla investors to bet against him.

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The Optimus robots, like the SpaceX data centers, "allow for near term demonstrations that look impressive but aren’t meaningfully revenue-generating, while allowing Musk to make long term projections of 'infinite' revenues that can be (nearly) infinitely postponed," noted Tim Farris, president of satellite and telecom industry research firm TMF Associates. The Rorschach test works for investors who want to believe in the "never bet against Musk" myth.

Never mind that "never bet against Musk" is far from literally true. In 2026, you can make money from short-selling (that is, betting against) Tesla stock, which is down just under 5 percent from where it was on Jan. 1. You could also have made a more than 30 percent return on the prediction markets in the past year, as one canny investor did, by predicting Musk's DOGE side quest would ultimately fail.

There are signs of cracks in Wall Street's wall of belief in Tesla. Last year was the company's first ever revenue decline on the books. Tesla investors are reportedly nervous that the SpaceX IPO is going to cost them — SpaceX, one major Tesla investor groused to Fortune, will become Musk's "new baby."

But Musk only has to dance ahead of the Tesla wave a little while longer. If all goes according to plan, and the AI bubble doesn't burst before he can bring his shiny new space AI baby to market next month, a Musk army of retail investors will help turn airy promises into a trillion dollars of net worth for their hero.

And then...we're boldly going where no economist has gone before. With access to that much capital and that much voting power — Musk will control 85 percent of the vote at SpaceX, making him virtually impossible to dislodge as CEO — there's no limit to the height of the tightrope he could dance on. It's not beyond the bounds of reason to imagine Musk folding a failing Tesla inside SpaceX, then dazzling investors by spinning ever more unproven plans for humanoid robots maintaining space data centers.

In the game of global capitalism, becoming a trillionaire may be the ultimate cheat code.

This article reflects the opinions of the author.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I turned my commute into a brainstorming session with one overlooked Android Auto feature

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:16

If you commute to work, that daily drive often uses up 30 to 60 minutes of your day. I've always found that I have a lot of compelling ideas while driving, but I can't really write them down—driving doesn't lend itself to busting out the notepad and pen.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Roommate Therapy with Sesame Streets Bert and Ernie

Mashable - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:11

Sunny day! Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie came to Mashable's Say More studio for a visit with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Together, they talked about the importance of compromise when it comes to being a good roommate and ordering a pizza that can make everyone happy.

In this segment, which we're calling "Roommate Therapy," Mashable's Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards and Senior Editor Shannon Connellan called in with questions for Bert and Ernie. They've been roommates for ages. So, who better to ask about how to handle sharing space and the best way to ensure some quiet time to yourself?

Bert and Ernie were happy to help, as you can see for yourself.

For more from Bert and Ernie and the whole Sesame Street family, check out Sesame Street: Volume 2, now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Beware of these 6 inconsistent Linux commands, especially if you use another OS

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:00

Any command you run in a Linux terminal will behave the same on all systems, right? Wrong. Although Linux commands are often highly portable, there can be exceptions.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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