IT General

The content creators with the most TikTok followers - see the top 10.

Mashable - 10 hours 37 min ago

With billions of users worldwide, TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. Viral trends, trending sounds, and popular dances, there's no limit to what can kick off on TikTok.

TikTok has been with us through a lot, from the lockdown dance days to the recent threats of a ban. But throughout all the ups and downs, some creators have managed to rack up millions of loyal followers. Check out our list of the top TikTok content creators with the most followers, according to Social Blade.

1. Khaby Lame – 160.3 million followers

TikTok's most followed account is none other than the king of the deadpan facial expression, Khaby Lame. His video content primarily involves duets and stitches to over-complicated life "hacks."

2. Charli D'Amelio – 156.3 million followers

Charli D’Amelio rose to TikTok fame during lockdown for her viral dance videos. She very quickly became one of the platform’s most-followed creators and is still holding strong today.

3. MrBeast – 124.7 million followers

Also one of the most subscribed YouTube accounts, MrBeast holds the number three position for TikTok. His content is full of crazy challenges and huge giveaways. His over-the-top generosity has amassed him millions of followers. He also recently went viral for offering to buy TikTok amid the recent ban in America.

5. TikTok – 93.3 million followers

Taking the 5th spot on the most followed accounts is TikTok's own account. It posts celeb interviews and tips and tricks videos.

5. Bella Poarch – 92.6 million followers

Bella Poarch skyrocketed to TikTok fame during the 2020 lockdown when her lip-sync video to M to the B became the platform’s most-liked video. Since then, she has remained popular on the app, even releasing her own single in 2021, Build A B****.

6. Addison Rae – 88.2 million followers

Addison Rae is another TikToker who blew up during the 2020 lockdown. Her viral dance videos made her one of the platform's biggest stars, a position she still holds strong today. She's now better known for her hit songs, releasing her debut single, Obsessed, in 2021.

7. Willie Salim - 85.3 million followers

Willie Salim is an Indonesian TikToker known for his large-scale giveaways and viral challenges. He often shares videos highlighting acts of generosity.

8. Zach King – 84.4 million followers

Zach King's content is a must-watch if you love magic tricks, optical illusions and clever editing. One of his videos even became the most viewed. The video made it appear as if he was flying on a broomstick. It became the most-viewed TikTok video in 2019.

9. Kimberly Loaiza – 83.7 million followers

Kimberly Loaiza is a popular Mexican influencer with tens of millions of followers across not just TikTok, but also YouTube and Instagram. Loaiza has also branched out into music, releasing multiple singles and touring.

10. domelipa - 75.9 million followers

Number 10 on the list of most-followed content creators is domelipa. She mostly shares content of choreographed dances, lip-sync videos, and other snippets of her lifestyle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Netflix drops BTS documentary trailer and its one for the fans

Mashable - 10 hours 39 min ago

ARMY, this one's for you.

Netflix has released the trailer for documentary BTS: The Return, which will go behind the scenes of the K-pop icons' reformation in Los Angeles, the recording of their upcoming fifth album ARIRANG, and the pressure they're under to "return."

One of the biggest pop groups in the world, BTS announced a hiatus in June 2022 in order for members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook to fulfil South Korea's mandatory military service (which they all completed by June 2025), as well as spending time on solo projects.

Directed by Bao Nguyen (The Greatest Night in Pop) and produced by BTS' label HYBE, Martha, and Karol G, the documentary links up with BTS ahead of the release of ARIRANG and the monster world tour they're about to embark on. It's an emotional, uplifting trailer, and fans longtime and new will delight at seeing the Bangtan Boys back together.

And it's not the only BTS-Netflix collab up ahead...

BTS: The Return is streaming on Netflix March 27.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best robot vacuum deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale: Dreame, Shark, and Eufy

Mashable - 10 hours 39 min ago
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals: Best Robot Vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Budget Robot Vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 (save $250) Get Deal

It’s that time of year again! Amazon's Big Spring Sale is officially back, running from March 25 through March 31. And you just know the retail giant is going to discount a ton of robot vacuums for all of you spring cleaners out there. In fact, they've already started dropping prices on some of our favorite models ahead of the event.

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best robot vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

I’m starting this roundup with the best of the best because, why not? If you have the cash to burn and you’re looking for an investment piece, Mashable’s vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart says the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is a “well-rounded premium robot vacuum,” especially for pet owners. It has a livestream pet camera and can clean edges and corners with precision. (Stodart says this vacuum is so good at cleaning corners that it’s dethroned the Roborock Saros 10R for corner mopping.)

“Measuring just over three inches tall, it's also easily the best slim robot vacuum out there — ideal for homes with low-clearance furniture, or expectations for cleaning under cabinets,” she says.

As of March 15, you can get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.99, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount or $200 savings.

Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

Our actual favorite budget pick, the 3i G10+, isn’t on sale (yet!). But the Roborock Q10 S5+ offers a pretty good alternative for anyone who needs a combo vacuum but can’t stomach paying $400+ for one. Stodart ranks this vac as the “Quietest Robot Vacuum” in her roundup of the best robot vacuums for 2026, but she also notes that it’s a surprisingly affordable hybrid cleaner.

“It has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning,” she writes.

What’s even better is that it’s currently at a new record-low price of $299.99, down from $549.99. We’re not sure if this price will hold, but it’s a promising sign for what’s to come as we get closer to the official sale date.

More Amazon Big Spring Sale robot vacuum deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on March 17

Mashable - 10 hours 40 min ago

We're getting closer to the New Moon part of the lunar cycle, which is why it appears hardly visible tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, March 17, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 4% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

There’s barely any of the Moon lit up tonight, so you won’t be able to see any surface features.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight different phases. We always see the same side, but the Sun lights up different portions as it moves, which is why it can look full, half, or just a thin sliver. These changing shapes are called the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 ways to recover "lost" work in Microsoft Excel

How-To Geek - 10 hours 44 min ago

Don't panic! That "lost your Excel file" moment is scary, but your work is probably still hiding somewhere. From temporary files to hidden recovery folders, Excel and Windows both have safety nets—you just need to know where to look.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

Mashable - 10 hours 46 min ago
The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals : Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-CH720N $98 (save $81.99) Get Deal

The sun is shining past 6 p.m., which means spring is nearly here, and Amazon is ready to celebrate.

On March 16, the retailer officially announced the third annual Amazon Big Spring Sale. Deals will be live for an entire week, from March 25-31, keeping in line with the schedule from last year's sale.

Also, as in years past, the deals featured in this sale will reflect the spirit of the season: Camping and yard care supplies, cleaning items from disinfectant wipes to robot vacuums, spring fashion, and other household essentials will be the major featured deals. While that does mean less of an emphasis on tech than Amazon's other sales like Prime Day and Black Friday, we still anticipate a selection of worthwhile savings on devices. Last year's spring sale brought savings on Amazon's devices like Kindles, Apple deals on MacBooks and iPads, and markdowns on headphones and TVs.

SEE ALSO: When is Amazon's Spring Sale in 2026? Amazon just announced official dates.

Already, we're starting to see early savings roll out on those exact product categories, from Fire sticks and Sony headphones to Roborock vacuums and Ninja kitchen appliances. Most deals are available whether or not you have a Prime membership — a major benefit of the Big Spring Sale is that, unlike Amazon's other Prime member-focused sales, a majority of the deals are available for anyone to purchase. That said, those with a Prime membership will be able to "unlock exclusive savings with Prime-exclusive Best Deals featuring the 'Prime Spring Deal' badge," according to Amazon.

Once it kicks off, the sale will also feature daily deal drops on categories from spring cleaning to beauty. In the meantime, Mashable's shopping team will be keeping an eye on the best deals live in the lead-up to Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Check out our early finds below:

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

According to our review, Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are an "easy buy" if you've been looking for a new pair of AirPods. It's easy to see why: They have excellent ANC, eight hours of listening time per charge, a built-in heart rate monitor, and live translation features. While they hit a lower price of $184 back in February, this $39 markdown is still worth checking out.

Check out Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

MacBook dealsAirPods dealsiPad dealsApple Watch dealsBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, deemed the Roborock Q10 S5+ the best quiet robot vacuum on the market, and ahead of the Big Spring Sale, it's down to a record-low price.

One of the major pros of this vacuum is that it frequently drops down in price to $379.99, but this price drop to $300 is especially impressive. Stodart points to the LiDAR smart mapping performance, effective sonic mopping, small obstacle avoidance, and five-digit suction power as the standouts of this vacuum. While the vacuum itself isn't slim and the edge mopping isn't the best, this remains a killer deal.

More robot vacuum dealsBest Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon never misses a chance to mark down its devices during sales, and it's starting off strong with this 50% deal on an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. It last hit $24.99 back in December, making this an especially affordable moment to pick up the streaming device. Once plugged into your TV's HDMI port, you'll have access to 4K streaming, WiFi 6 support for seamless streaming, access to all the major smart TV apps, and Xbox games (with no console required).

Fire Stick dealsEcho device dealsMore deals live ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early iPad deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — score new iPads at all-time low prices

Mashable - 10 hours 54 min ago
The best Apple iPad deals to shop ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best overall iPad deal Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Air Deal Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) $559 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale officially kicks off next week, March 25, and will run for a whole week. This event typically sees of all kinds of products with heavy discounts, giving you an early-year treat before the major sales events get going later in the year.

The Amazon Spring Sale is a great excuse to splurge on big-ticket items like robot vacuums, TVs, or any Apple products you've had your eye on. And if you've been shopping around for an iPad, you'll be pleased to know that several models are already discounted ahead of next week's event. To assist your deal hunting, we've picked out some of the best iPad deals already live.

Best overall iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

The 11-inch iPad packs a serious punch thanks to the A16 chip, Liquid Retina display, and fast Wi‑Fi, making it perfect for everything from streaming to editing. We've even ranked it as our favorite budget iPad for 2026. It has iPadOS, support for Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, and a 12MP Center Stage front camera, so it really is a perfect all rounder.

More iPad deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Bluetooth speaker deals ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — save on Bose, Sonos, and Anker

Mashable - 11 hours 4 min ago
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale Bluetooth speaker deals: Best overall Bluetooth speaker Deal JBL Flip 7 $109.95 (save $40) Get Deal Best budget Bluetooth speaker deal Anker Soundcore Upgraded Bluetooth Speaker $24.99 (save $11) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is returning, and with just over a week until the official event gets underway, early deals are already going live.

From robot vacuums to TVs, now is a great time to upgrade your tech. And that range of discounted items includes Bluetooth speakers, with heavy discounts on top brands like Bose and Sonos. Here are a few of the best early deals we've spotted.

Best overall Bluetooth speaker Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Flip 7 $109.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $40.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The JBL Flip 7 packs some serious audio punch in a compact, rugged design. Its 35W 2-way system and AI Sound Boost make music feel bigger and clearer, while the water and dust proof design can handle drops up to 3.3 feet. And not to mention, this discount brings it down to its lowest-ever price.

Best budget Bluetooth speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Upgraded Bluetooth Speaker $24.99 at Amazon
$35.99 Save $11.00   Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to great sound quality, you can't go wrong with Anker (especially at a price like this). For under $25, you're getting incredible sound thanks to its dual high-sensitivity drivers. It's portable and lightweight but also robust, thanks to its drop-proof materials.

More Bluetooth speaker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped fearing Home Assistant updates once I started following this one simple rule

How-To Geek - 11 hours 14 min ago

Home Assistant releases regular updates, with a major release of Home Assistant Core once a month, and Home Assistant Operating System (HAOS) every few months. While keeping Home Assistant updated is a good idea, giving you access to new features and security fixes, these days, I never update on the day of release.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Book deals are already live ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — save on best-sellers

Mashable - 11 hours 15 min ago
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale book deals at a glance: Best overall book deal Theo of Golden $14.98 (save $5.02) Get Deal Best non-fiction book deal Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More $26 (save $2.99) Get Deal Best fiction book deal Reminders of Him $8.49 (save $8.50) Get Deal

Amazon sales are a great excuse to upgrade your tech. From Prime Day to Black Friday, these discount days see everything from robot vacuums to TVs slashed in price. But it's not just big ticket items that see major savings — for bookworms it's a wonderful opportunity to add some inspiration to your home library. And with Amazon’s Big Spring Sale just around the corner, now is a good time to score early book deals.

Whether you're looking for something completely fresh or there's a new bestseller you've had your eye on, these are some of the best early book deals we've spotted on Amazon.

Best overall book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Theo of Golden $14.98 at Amazon
$20 Save $5.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Released in October 2025, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is a New York Times bestseller. The novel follows Theo as he purchases pencil portraits from a local coffeehouse and returns them to their rightful owners.

Best non-fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More $26 at Amazon
$28.99 Save $2.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Despite only being released this month, this book by Nelson Dellis is already discounted at Amazon. This book helps you build practical cognitive skills, from memorising names and improving focus to faster learning and creative problem-solving. Drawing on his experience as a six-time USA Memory Champion, Dellis breaks down techniques that make sharper thinking accessible, offering methods to strengthen memory, boost concentration, and develop more effective ways of processing and using information.

More non-fiction book dealsBest fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Reminders of Him $8.49 at Amazon
$16.99 Save $8.50   Get Deal Why we like it

This is a great opportunity to grab this book at a lower price now that the movie has hit theaters. Reminders of Him follows Kenna Rowan, a young mother returning home after five years in prison, desperate to reconnect with her four-year-old daughter.

More fiction book deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Guillermo pounding tequila with celebrities at the 2026 Oscars is a fun time

Mashable - 11 hours 38 min ago

The Oscars wouldn't be the Oscars without the greatest annual red carpet tradition that is Guillermo — of Jimmy Kimmel Live! fame — pounding shots with various confused celebrities.

In the clip above he shares drinks with a variety of nominees, including a ping pong-shaped flask with Marty Supreme star Odessa A'zion. Then, he gifts a fan covered in Elle Fanning faces to Elle Fanning herself.

The clip has the perfect ending, too, with Guillermo offering a flask shaped like his own face for Jimmy Kimmel to take a swig from.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why Obsidian’s daily notes feature is the best starting point for your second brain

How-To Geek - 11 hours 44 min ago

Have you tried building a second brain but ended up just building a pretty folder structure? Tried Zettelkasten, PARA, and every other note-taking framework—only to abandon them all? Me too. And here’s how Obsidian’s daily notes feature finally helped me build my second brain.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for March 17, 2026

Mashable - 11 hours 58 min ago

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, March 17, 2026:

AcrossOne drawing X's and O's

  • The answer is Coach.

Company whose market cap (~$4 trillion) exceeds the G.D.P. of most countries

  • The answer is Apple.

"Chill!"

  • The answer is Relax.

Do some rhythmic tapping

  • The answer is Drum.

Back talk

  • The answer is Sass.

DownWhat's the deal?

  • The answer is Cards.

"The Phantom of the ___"

  • The answer is Opera.

Excellent grade

  • The answer is A plus.

Sandpipers dig for them in the sand

  • The answer is Clams.

Evil spell

  • The answer is Hex.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Heres how the MacBook Neo compares to older MacBook Airs

Mashable - 12 hours 12 min ago

Apple's next big hit is here. The colorful new budget MacBook Neo debuted to rave reviews, and a couple configurations were already backordered weeks out the day after its March 11 launch. With a starting price of just $599 (or $499 for students), the Neo marks an exciting entry-level addition to Apple's lineup — not to mention brutal competition for cheap Windows laptops.

We've already stacked the Neo against the latest MacBook Air, which Apple just updated with a supercharged M5 chip. But how does the Neo compare to older MacBook Airs? Previous models with M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips are still somewhat readily available, mainly on the refurbished market, and they can be viable options for budget buyers, too. Let's dive right into the nitty-gritty details.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Specs The MacBook Neo is Apple's smallest laptop in seven years. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As a refresher, here's a brief M-series MacBook Air release timeline:

Unlike the MacBook Airs, which run on ARM-based laptop silicon, the MacBook Neo runs on an iPhone processor — the A18 Pro chip, specifically. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as you'll see later in the "Performance" section. Smartphone chips are crazy-overpowered nowadays.

The MacBook Neo's memory is fixed at 8GB. (This is probably its biggest drawback.) Most older MacBook Airs also start with 8GB of RAM, but users have the option to upgrade them. The M1 model can get bumped to 16GB of RAM, while the M2 and M3 models are configurable with up to 24GB of RAM. The M4 MacBook Air starts with 16GB of memory and maxes out with 32GB.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo: Great price, but you need to take a close look at those specs

With the MacBook Neo, you can take your pick from two storage options. It comes with 256GB of disk space for $599 or 512GB for $699. (The latter also adds a Touch ID sensor to its power button.) The older MacBook Airs have four storage variants: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.

The MacBook Neo and the M1 MacBook Air both come in one 13-inch size, but M1 Air is technically 13.3 inches on the diagonal, while the Neo measures 13 inches exactly. (It's Apple's smallest MacBook in seven years.) The M2, M3, and M4 MacBook Airs come in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch sizes.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Pricing and availability Apple sold the M1 MacBook Air through Walmart for around $699 until early 2026. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / mashable

Again, the MacBook Neo costs $599 or $699 depending on your storage and Touch ID preferences. College students, their parents, and school staff can save $100 on either configuration with the Apple Store's clutch education discount.

The older M-series MacBook Airs originally started at $999 to $1,299, minus $100 for education buyers. Third-party retailers were still selling the M4 model in new condition as of mid-March — Apple only just discontinued it — though its availability fluctuates, and it's usually full price or close to it. (Gone are the days of the $749 M4 MacBook Air deal.)

Refurbished M4 Airs aren't dramatically cheaper yet: At present, they range from $899 to $1,199 in limited configurations. Expect to see steeper price cuts in about a year or so.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo's real killer feature: Its $499 education pricing

M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Airs are pretty rare to find in stock brand-new these days. (Apple no longer sells the M1 through Walmart.) So if you want one of those models, you'll have to lean on the refurbished market. They tend to be much more tempting buys at $800 or less, but they tend to sell out much faster as a result.

For reference, here's how much Best Buy was charging for new-to-you base models at the time of writing. M2 and M3 variants with double the RAM were $50 extra:

The Neo is still cheaper than most of your refurbished options, with or without Apple's education offer. But can it handle your daily workload? That's the real question.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Performance The M2 MacBook Air is roughly 14 percent faster in multi-core scenarios compared to the MacBook Neo. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

Here at Mashable dot com, we measure laptops' performance by having them run Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 CPU test. This industry-standard benchmark produces two kinds of scores: a single-core score, which tells us how snappy the laptop will feel in everyday tasks (like web browsing), and a multi-core score, which tells us how well it can plow through more intensive workloads (like video rendering). The higher the scores, the better.

Apple's overachieving A-series chips have been making iPhones as powerful as some laptops for years, so it's actually not that weird to see one fueling a MacBook.

The MacBook Neo offers M4-tier single-core performance and M1-level multi-core performance. Since it's geared toward users with basic needs, that single-core result is more important — and very impressive. It means the Neo will feel just as zippy as a pricier last-gen MacBook Air when you're sending emails or online shopping. It definitely punches above its budget price point in this regard.

That isn't to say the Neo won't be usable for some lighter multi-core work. (Our tech editor used one to edit a simple video in Final Cut Pro.) It just won't be nearly as good for running a bunch of heavier apps at the same time. You'll want an M3 or M4 MacBook Air for that, or possibly even a MacBook Pro.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Battery life The M3 MacBook Air offers about 21.5 hours of battery life. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Apple rated the MacBook Neo for up to 16 hours of video playback and all of the older MacBook Airs for up to 18 hours. We put those claims through our own video rundown test to see how they translate to real-world use.

Indeed, all of the MacBook Airs from the past six years outlast the MacBook Neo, which has an actual battery life of around 15 hours of video playback per charge. It should still get you through a full day of school or travel with some juice to spare.

For what it's worth, the Neo's 15-hour runtime beats our current battery life medians for Windows laptops and Chromebooks (14 hours and 10 hours, respectively).

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Design The M4 MacBook Air features an incredible 12MP Center Stage webcam. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The MacBook Neo has the same fully aluminum build as all of the older MacBook Airs. It's roughly the same size as the M1 MacBook Air, but its chassis is shaped more like the M2 to M4 MacBook Airs. Those three models have a flat "slab" design, while the M1 MacBook Air has a tapered "wedge" design. (Read more about the MacBook Air's 2022 makeover.)

The MacBook Neo weighs the same as a 13-inch M2, M3, or M4 MacBook Air, but it's slightly thicker. The M1 MacBook Air is both heavier and thicker than all of them.

SEE ALSO: Apple MacBook Neo is not only cheaper than other Macs, it's also easier to repair

Apple had to make some hardware sacrifices to make the MacBook Neo cheap from the jump, but it's nicer than the M1 MacBook Air in a few small ways:

  • Display: The Neo's display lacks the Airs' True Tone feature for natural-looking colors, but it has the same 60Hz refresh rate and crisp Liquid Retina technology. It's just as bright as the M2 to M4 models' screens; the M1 Air is slightly dimmer.

  • Keyboard: The Neo lacks keyboard backlighting and Touch ID (unless you pay $100 extra).

  • Trackpad: The Neo's mechanical touchpad lacks haptic feedback.

  • Webcam: The Neo's camera has same 1080p resolution as the M2 and M3 Airs' webcam. It's better than the M1 model's 720p camera but worse than the M4 model's 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support. It's housed in the upper bezel of the Neo's display (an M1 Air relic), not a notch.

  • Speakers: The Neo has two fewer speakers than the 13-inch M2, M3, and M4 Airs. (Their 15-inch counterparts have two more speakers for a total of six.) The Neo does support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos like the M2 to M4 Airs, but it lacks their dynamic head tracking support with AirPods. The M1 Air has Dolby Atmos but no Spatial Audio.

  • Mic array: The Neo has one fewer mic than the M-series Airs (two instead of three).

  • Ports: The Neo lacks the Airs' speedy Thunderbolt ports. The M3 and M4 models can also drive an extra external display (two instead of one).

  • Connectivity. The Neo has same WiFi 6E tech as the M3 and M4 Airs (the M1 and M2 models have WiFi 6). The Neo has newer Bluetooth 6 tech than all of the older Airs.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Colors The MacBook Neo comes in four colors: citrus, indigo (both pictured), blush, and silver. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Airs come in neutrals. (Let's not pretend that "sky blue" is anything more than a cooler gray.) The Neo, in contrast, is available in a few wilder new colors:

  • M1 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, and gold

  • M2 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, starlight, and midnight

  • M3 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, starlight, and midnight

  • M4 MacBook Air — silver, starlight, midnight, and sky blue

  • MacBook Neo — silver, indigo, blush, and citrus

"Wild" is relative, by the way. My kingdom for a (PRODUCT)RED MacBook.

Final thoughts: Should you get a MacBook Neo or an older MacBook Air? Neo or nah? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Your decision will come down to two factors: what you need your MacBook for and how much you want to spend on it.

The MacBook Neo is a basic starter PC with limited RAM and features, but an enticingly affordable price. It's technically not designed to compete with MacBook Airs, but I can see shoppers with ultra-strict budgets weighing it closely against a cheap base M1 MacBook Air. In this case, I'd go with the Neo for future-proofing and vastly better single-core performance. The fact that it's missing True Tone, backlighting, a haptic touchpad, and Thunderbolt support shouldn't be dealbreakers for students and casual users with light workloads.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo review: I think Apple's going to sell millions of these

If you already own an M1 MacBook Air, don't bother buying a Neo. It would be a lateral move, not an upgrade.

A MacBook Air with an M2 chip or newer is a better, more well-rounded laptop than the Neo in almost every way; I think creative professionals and multitasking-happy business users who rely on heavier apps will see plenty of merit in the price bump. Try to find a configuration with at least 16GB of RAM — and be prepared to maybe hunt around for a while, since retailers' inventories can be fickle. With the global RAM shortage driving up new laptop prices, and the M5 MacBook Air now starting at $1,099 — an excellent value, but still — I expect M2 to M4 Airs in new or good used condition to fly off shelves in the coming months.

Shop Apple MacBooks: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Shop Now Apple MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Certified Refurbished $449.99 Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished $639.99 (save $109.01) Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished $769.99 (save $79.01) Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899 (save $100) Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

Tackle all your tasks on this $120 iPad

Mashable - 12 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Score a speedy Apple iPad with a larger Retina display for just $119.99 (reg. $229.99) with this 7th Gen model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 2019 (Refurbished) $119.99
$229.99 Save $110.00   Get Deal

From streaming your favorite shows to hopping on a work Zoom to sketching with an Apple Pencil, you can get a lot done on an iPad. Apple’s beloved tablet usually comes with a premium price tag, but right now, this 10.2-inch model can be yours for only $119.99 (reg. $229.99).

If you’re looking for an easier way to get things done, look no further than this 7th-generation iPad. This 10.2-inch tablet lets you tackle browsing, streaming, and note-taking on the sharp Retina display. An A10 Fusion Chip also makes multitasking, casual gaming, and stable performance possible.

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Take photos, FaceTime, or hop on video calls with the 8MP rear and 1.2MP front cameras. This iPad model also supports accessories like the Apple Pencil, which is great for taking notes and sketching, and the Smart Keyboard for comfortable, convenient typing.

A 10-hour battery life gets you through a full day, and the Touch ID feature lets you rest easy knowing you’ll enjoy secure unlocking and authentication for purchases.

Curious how you’re getting this iPad for just $120? It comes with a grade A refurbished rating, meaning it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no scuffing on the case.

Get this 7th Gen Apple iPad for only $119.99 (reg. $229.99) while supplies last.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This AI-powered app listens as you play to help you learn piano

Mashable - 12 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Learn piano solo with some help from this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, on sale now for $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $127.49
$299.99 Save $172.50   Get Deal

Looking for a new hobby to unwind after a long day of work? Skoove Premium Piano Lessons brings the learning to your home, helping you master the piano or keyboard with an app on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. And right now, you can lock in a lifetime of lessons for only $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 through March 29.

When was the last time you learned a new skill? If mastering the piano has always been on your bucket list, it’s time to make it happen with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons. This AI-powered app lets you pick up piano in your spare time without ever leaving your house.

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All you need to get started with Skoove Premium Piano Lessons is a keyboard or piano and your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The app does the rest, as it can hear you play, recognize your notes, and give you real-time feedback so you get better as you go.

Whether you’re totally new to the instrument or you have some lessons under your belt, Skoove Premium Piano Lessons offers lesson options ranging from beginner to advanced. And it’s not like the boring old piano lessons from your past; you’ll get to pick up skills by playing your favorite music — from Adele to Beethoven.

Your lifetime subscription includes permanent access to more than 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, and you’ll never run out of content because new ones are added every month. There’s also one-on-one support available from real music instructors when you need it.

Get this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch 2026 March Madness online for free

Mashable - 12 hours 16 min ago
Where to live stream 2026 March Madness online for free: 5-Day Free Trial DirectTV $84.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 5-Day Free Trial Fubo $55.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 3-Day Free Trial Hulu + Live TV $89.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 7-Day Free Trial Paramount+ $8.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now

While most of the world celebrates the month of March for the coming of spring and the impending summer, college basketball fans know better: The real reason to celebrate is March Madness, the NCAA Division I tournament to determine the college basketball national champion.

Yeah, the regular NBA is awesome. But March Madness delivers a different kind of buzz. There's something special about college basketball and the hype around the next generation of next-level players. It's like a completely different sport — and this much-anticipated single elimination tournament scores a slam dunk every year.

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

What is March Madness?

March Madness is a tournament played in the United States to determine the college basketball national champion of Division I in the NCAA.

The tournament features 68 teams competing in seven rounds of a single-elimination bracket. Thirty-two teams automatically qualify for the tournament by winning their conference tournament, and thirty-six teams qualify by receiving an at-large bid based on their performance during the season. It concludes with the Final Four, an event that hosts the semi-final and championship games.

When is 2026 March Madness?

March Madness officially kicked off on March 15 with Selection Sunday. The tournament opens with First Four qualifier games on March 17. The First Round then begins on March 19 and the tournament runs through to the National Championship on April 6. The 2026 Final Four and championship game are held in Indianapolis.

How to watch 2026 March Madness for free

March Madness features 67 games televised across four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. It is possible to access these channels with a range of streaming services that offer free trials:

  • DirectTV (five-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

  • Fubo (five-day free trial) — CBS

  • Hulu + Live TV (three-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

  • Paramount+ (seven-day free trial) — CBS

By making the most of these free trials, you can watch select March Madness games without actually spending anything.

How to watch March Madness from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of March Madness from anywhere in the world.

Live stream 2026 March Madness from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

  4. Visit DirectTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or Paramount+

  5. Live stream 2026 March Madness for free from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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

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

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 money-back guarantee).

Live stream March Madness 2026 for free from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

NVIDIA GTC keynote: Everything Jensen Huang announced from AI gaming to space data centers

Mashable - 12 hours 28 min ago

Do you want to build a snowman? Go to space? Construct a workforce out of 110 kinds of robot? Accelerate the entire timeline of Artificial Intelligence? If so, there was plenty of sizzle on offer from Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, at the company's two hour-long GTC keynote event in San Jose Monday.

NVIDIA, the world's leading purveyor of AI-friendly GPU chips, has 4.4 trillion reasons to dazzle us with potential futures allegedly brought to you by ever-accelerating AI technology. In other words, Huang needs to protect NVIDIA's current $4.4 trillion market cap, double what it was two years ago, by proving it isn't a bubble.

Result: Huang peppered a presentation of impenetrable charts with dazzling visions of data centers in orbit, and awkwardly extra interactions with a robot version of Olaf from Frozen.

But beneath the future sizzle, the actual steak of present-day practical announcements — for consumers, at least — was limited to an AI gaming software update that got a thumbs down from gamers, plus NVIDIA muscling in on the OpenClaw AI agent action. Here's a summary of everything Huang had to say:

Next-generation AI gaming software

Huang's first reveal: NVIDIA DLSS 5, the next iteration of the company's DLSS AI upscaling software, coming this fall. NVIDIA describes it as a "breakthrough in visual fidelity" that "infuses pixels with photorealistic lighting and materials, bridging the gap between rendering and reality." Huang showed off before and after comparisons using Resident Evil: Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

Trouble is, Resident Evil: Requiem, released two weeks ago (here's our review), has already won the hearts of gamers for its graphics — so many took to social media, furious that NVIDIA was trying to fix what wasn't broken.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. AI is still accelerating?

So claims Huang, who showcased a chart highlighting AI developments of recent years. It began in 2023 with OpenAI's ChatGPT. It continued in 2024 with OpenAI's first reasoning model, o1, and in 2025 with Anthropic's coding assistant, Claude Code (which, Huang was proud to boast, is now used by 100% of his company). Now, in 2026, Huang sees NVIDIA and the entire AI industry reaching an "inflection point for inference."

What does that mean? Huang says the value of his chips isn't so much in training large language models any more. NVIDIA's customers have tipped over into deploying those AI models in more novel ways, growing the ecosystem for AI agents.

Speaking of which ...

NVIDIA doubles down on open-source AI agents

"Claude Code and OpenClaw have sparked the agent inflection point," Huang pronounced. (OpenClaw, formerly Clawdbot, is a popular AI assistant with some security issues.) NVIDIA adds a protective layer of security and stability that it's calling Nemo Claw; you can try it now, in a preview version.

Beyond that, it makes sense for NVIDIA to grow the entire agentic ecosystem as soon as possible, whether or not those agents are actually working reliably. So the company is offering an expansive new NVIDIA AI Agent Toolkit for companies that want to build their own models.

The company is also offering a complex reasoning AI model of its own, one with what is possibly the most grandiose sci-fi name in tech today: the Nemotron 3 omni-understanding model.

Space and the robot snowman

Huang accelerated his cosmic vision towards the end of the keynote. We're not talking NVIDIA Cosmos 3, another grandly-named AI model, but a vision of Vera Rubin Space-1 — which Huang says will be the first data center in space. There's no timeline for development, let alone launch, but NVIDIA apparently has a "lot of great engineers" working on it.

A lot of great Imagineers worked on Olaf the snowman from Frozen, too. And they could be forgiven for cringing a little when Huang closed the keynote having a conversation with Olaf the snowman robot — one of 110 AI-powered robots on display in San Jose, all from NVIDIA-partnered companies (in this case, Disney).

Olaf is pretty cool, and I wouldn't mind running into one in a Disney park in the future. But Huang repeatedly tripped over Olaf's lines, and the fact that our favorite feisty snowman didn't adjust to the conversational situation made him seem ... well, a little less than artificially intelligent.

At the two-hour mark, Huang exited to the bizarre accompaniment of AI-generated country music, apparently coming from his own avatar and a bunch of robots sitting around a campfire on screen. And the audience was left with two possible futures. In one, the AI agents NVIDIA is championing help launch the company into the stratosphere. In the other, AI agents act like a bunch of bumbling Olafs, and continue to deliver little ROI for companies — in which case NVIDIA's market position may melt like a snowman in spring.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best deals this week, according to Mashables team of shopping experts

Mashable - 12 hours 28 min ago

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Venezuela vs. USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final online for free

Mashable - 12 hours 55 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Venezuela vs. USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final for free on Tele Rebelde or Venevision. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic has been everything we wanted it to be. The wait for the new MLB season to start can be painful, but this tournament has provided some much-needed relief. We've had heroic individual performances, shocking results, and moments of real controversy. And now the stage is set for the final.

USA take on Venezuela for the title. USA lost in the 2023 final to Japan, so this is an opportunity to forget all about Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout for the victory. This is a chance to make history in front of an expectant crowd at the LoanDepot Park. Of course, Venezuela are not going to make it easy. They've been building momentum throughout this tournament, and will come into this final with a lot of belief.

If you want to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Venezuela vs. USA?

Venezuela vs. USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starts at 8 p.m. ET on March 17. This fixture will take place at LoanDepot Park.

How to watch Venezuela vs. USA for free

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Venezuela vs. USA in the World Baseball Classic 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 a location with access

  4. Visit Tele Rebelde or Venevision

  5. Live stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic final 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 without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 World Baseball Classic before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, 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 live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 — 81% 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 money-back guarantee).

Watch Venezuela vs. USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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