IT General

SAVE 90%: As of April 23, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Deluxe Edition) is on sale for just $4.99 at the PlayStation Store. That's $45 off of its usual price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Respawn Entertainment "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" (Deluxe Edition) for PS4 and PS5 $4.99 at PlayStation Store
$49.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

We're nearing the first anniversary of the release of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, but its 2019 predecessor is actually the game in the spotlight.

Fans who somehow didn't fall into the trance when Fallen Order first changed the game in 2019 have no excuse not to try it now — because it's $5. A hidden gem of the PlayStation Store's Spring Sale (as well as a likely anticipatory Star Wars Day deal), PS4 and PS5 owners can score the original Star Wars Jedi installation for 90% off of its usual $49.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: Tales of the Empire' trailer brings you over to the dark side

It's the Deluxe Version, too, which includes extras like assorted Crimson skins, a digital art book, and over 90 minutes of behind-the-screens footage from the making of the game.

Five years after what went down in The Revenge of the Sith, you'll be in the shoes of Ian from Shameless Cal Kestis, an Order 66 survivor on the run. As one of the few remaining Jedi Padawans, you have several jobs: master new Force abilities, fend off Vader-trained villains, and, you know, casually rebuild the entire Jedi Order. It's simultaneously a deeply personal story and a riveting challenge that come together to create one of the best games of 2019 — and one of the best Star Wars games ever.

SAVE $100: As of April 23, get a pair of refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for $149.99. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) on white background $149.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Summer's just about here. If you're planning on walking around, enjoying the warm weather and listening to your favorite songs or podcasts, you've got to have the right equipment. A great pair of earbuds should do the trick, and you can't go wrong with Apple AirPods Pro. Of course, those can be a bit pricey. Luckily, if you've got your eye on them and want a great pair of buds to enhance your summer listening, Best Buy has a deal right now that you won't want to miss.

As of April 23, you can get a pair of refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for just $149.99. That's $100 off their normal price of $249.99 and a discount of 43%. These are Geek Squad Certified Refurbished, meaning they've been tested and guaranteed by Best Buy, so you can trust that the buds work like new – and you can get a refund if not.

These earbuds are absolutely fantastic, and the best of Apple's lineup of audio products. They fit snugly in your ear and come with a variety of replaceable tips to get you the best fit possible. They have excellent noise cancellation to help you immerse yourself in your favorite tunes, so if you're trying to block out the world, they can help you achieve that. Plus, they're water-, sweat-, and dust-resistant. You can wear them while swimming, working out, or handling other physical activity without having to worry about them malfunctioning.

With a battery life of 30 hours, they'll be your constant companion just about everywhere you go. Add in spatial audio and adaptive audio support, and you've got a can't-miss package, especially at the $149.99 price point. If you need some earbuds this summer, don't miss this deal – the refurbished part won't mean a thing when you're grooving along this season.

SAVE 50%: As of April 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) for $349. That's a savings of $350.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) $349.00 at Best Buy
$699.00 Save $350.00 Get Deal

Ready to buy a laptop, but don't need anything too fancy? You might be able to get away with buying an older Chromebook. These machines may not be the souped-up powerhouses you'd expect from Apple's lineup or more expensive Windows laptops, but they're still useful for those with light workloads or just for surfing the web and checking email.

A cheap Chromebook is a more affordable option than a regular laptop for popping in your bag for "emergency" computer use on vacation or even a main internet machine for elderly users. No matter your use case, most older Chromebooks are perfect for casual usage. There's one especially great Chromebook you can get on sale today that should tick all the boxes.

As of April 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) for just $349 at Best Buy. That's a 50% discount and $350 off its normal price of $699.

This is an older model, as previously stated, so don't expect it to be the zippiest machine — it relies on an older Intel Core i3-10110U processor from August 2019. While the Chromebook will get 10 years of automatic updates from Google, it's important to understand that it will be quite slow in comparison to some of the more expensive Chromebooks on offer right now. But it's still very much capable of handling a variety of tasks if you're fine with remaining in the Google ecosystem.

This flame red Chromebook with touchscreen capabilities can handle smaller tasks with less bandwidth: browsing the internet, word processing, simple presentations, and streaming media. Just don't expect it to be super fast. It's still plenty viable to toss in your bag and go if you need something on hand to get work done, but be aware that you will need an internet connection to utilize it to its fullest.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: Our top pick iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best budget-friendly headphone deal Soundcore Anker Life Q20 (black) $39.98 at Amazon (save $20.01) Get Deal Best laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,241.33 at Amazon (save $558.66) Get Deal Best photo editing deal Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 $99.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best speaker deal Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker (black) $21.99 at Amazon (save $8) Get Deal

Once again, Amazon has delivered when it comes to great deals. Sure, today's deals aren't quite as plentiful as major shopping holidays like Black Friday or Prime Day, but Amazon still appreciates a random price drop on a Tuesday. We've found some noteworthy deals for today, April 23, that are worth checking out if you're in the market for some home upgrades or the latest tech.

Below, we've listed some of our favorite deals to shop at Amazon today. And if you missed our top Amazon deals from yesterday, April 22, some are still live and worth looking into.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal

If you've been meaning to hand off the task of vacuuming to someone else, Amazon has just the robot for the job. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is a do-it-all floor cleaning solution and now it can be yours for under $1,000. Mashable named the Roomba Combo j9+ as the very best Roomba in our review of the best robot vacuums and mops, noting it's a combination of some of Roomba's best functions like better suction power and a water tank that only needs refilling about once every 30 days.

One of the only negatives the review points out is the robot vacuum and mop's high price tag, which is significantly reduced thanks to the sale price of $999 at Amazon today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Anker Soundcore Anker Life Q20 (black) $39.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal

If you have upcoming travel plans, this deal is the one for you. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are on sale for just $39.98, marked down from the normal price of $59.99, which means you'll save $20.01.

Mashable named these the best budget pick for noise-canceling headphones that are ideal for flying. The Life Q20 don't have top-of-the-line noise cancellation, but they pack a punch for the price tag. Plus, they come with about 60 hours of battery life and memory foam cushioning, so they should be plenty comfortable for wherever your travels take you.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,241.33 at Amazon
$2,799.99 Save $558.66 Get Deal

With a 14.4-inch touchscreen display, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a great option for creative minds or anyone who wants a portable and durable laptop.

Mashable's East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon reviewed the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and noted its exceptional build. "If the Surface Laptop Studio 2 were a fictional character, it’d be Optimus Prime. It is one burly, brawny, sturdily built machine," she writes. She also notes artists will especially enjoy the model's easel-capable positioning.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 can also be great for traveling since it weighs just over four pounds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Whether you're brand new to photo editing or a seasoned professional, Adobe photo editing software is often the top choice. Thanks to today's deal, you can grab a code for digital access to both Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 for $99.99, which is a 33% discount from the normal bundle price of $149.99.

For those new to Adobe's editing suites, follow along with 88 editing guides that'll cover the ins and outs. You can also use templates for creating photo reels, video reels, and animated social media posts, and you have access to companion mobile apps for editing on the go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker (black) $21.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal

Summer is on its way, and if you're prepping for backyard hangs, the Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker could be perfect. Thanks to today's sale price on the black colorway, the portable speaker can be all yours for just $21.99, which is 27% off the normal price of $29.99.

With up to 24 hours of playtime on one charge, your summer gathering will never be without tunes. The wireless speaker can pair with Android or iOS devices for streaming through Bluetooth 5.0 which'll stay connected up to 66 feet away from the speaker. It's also waterproof, so you won't have to worry about bringing it along to the beach or for an afternoon spent poolside.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Finally, Xbox is getting into the VR game! Kind of.

Nestled into a larger blog post featuring multiple big announcements, Meta revealed on Monday that it is working with Microsoft on an Xbox-branded VR headset. To be more specific, it's a "limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox."

Ah, ok. So it's not actually a full-fledged Xbox VR headset. Instead, it seems like it'll just be a branded version of an existing Quest headset, ideally the Quest 3 since it's the newest one. It's not clear if it would have any unique hardware or software features, but I wouldn't count on it, personally.

SEE ALSO: A batch of updates from Meta puts AI front and center when you use its apps

That said, the partnership still makes sense. As pointed out in the blog post, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available on Meta Quest, so you can play Xbox games on a Quest right now. In an Instagram post, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed the new headset would come with Xbox controllers and access to Xbox Game Pass, both of which are prerequisites for using Xbox game streaming.

This news more or less leaves PlayStation as still the only one of the "big three" gaming hardware manufacturers to embrace VR. Nintendo is likely never going to do it (again), but Microsoft said in 2016 it had plans for an Xbox headset, only to back down on those plans two years later.

Bummer for the people who insisted VR was the future of gaming ten years ago, I guess.

SAVE UP TO 44%: As of April 23, several j Series Roombas have dropped to record low pricing at Amazon:

Best Roomba deals this week Most advanced Roomba iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.99) Get Deal Next best mopping Roomba iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699 at Amazon ($400.99) Get Deal Most powerful Roomba under $600 iRobot Roomba j9+ $599 at Amazon ($300.99) Get Deal Cheapest mopping Roomba with obstacle avoidance iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $449 at Amazon (save $350.99) Get Deal

Many robot vacuum deniers are of the mindset that you shouldn't have to babysit your robot vacuum. And we don't blame them — the need to tidy up any rogue personal items before sending your robot vacuum out to clean is definitely a case for going the cordless vacuum route altogether.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2024 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy

Amazon's current Roomba deals are your answer to that problem. As of April 23, four j Series Roombas with obstacle avoidance technology have dropped down to record-low pricing — one of them hitting this low for the first time ever. (This is all according to Amazon price tracker Camelcamelcamel.)

All of your options are less than $1,000, with the most affordable robovac dipping below $450. If you're on the fence about which one to buy, we're unpacking the differences between the Roomba Combo j9+, Roomba Combo j7+, Roomba j9+, or Roomba Combo j5+ below:

Most advanced Roomba Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal

Why is it such a big deal to be able to score the best Roomba under $1,000? Let's unpack. While the Combo j9+ keeps the best parts of the older Roomba Combo j7+ that we loved during hands-on testing, like the retractable mopping pad that never needs to be removed or the ability to avoid small, pesky obstacles like cords and socks, the Combo j9+ also solves several gripes that we had with the Combo j7+.

First, it's simply better at cleaning: its new four-stage cleaning system delivers 100% stronger suction than the i Series Roombas, while its mopping pad scrubs back and forth with pressure to eat away at stubborn stains. Besides stellar cleaning, we'd also be remiss not to mention the dock — it's a chic end table on the outside and a home for self-emptying rubbish and a self-refilling water tank on the inside. It's got function and style.

Next-best mopping Roomba Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699.00 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal

If you'd rather save yourself an extra $300, the Combo j7+ will still be a solid addition to most homes, especially ones that don't have a ton of carpeting that needs to be deep cleaned. With the OG true hybrid Roomba, you're still securing iRobot's two best features: the mop that knows to levitate when it senses carpet and the technology that knows to steer clear when it senses small obstacles that it would get stuck on.

(Admittedly, the record-low pricing on the Combo j7+ is $698.99, so feel free to wait until Black Friday if you want to save an extra cent.)

Most powerful Roomba under $600 Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j9+ $599.00 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $300.99 Get Deal

Or maybe your home does have more carpeting than hard floors that would need to be mopped. In that case, your best bet is the Roomba j9+. Like the Combo j9+, this one vacuums with iRobot's strongest suction power yet — unlike the Combo j9+, it skips the water tank and mopping pad system completely to save you several hundred dollars.

Cheapest mopping Roomba with obstacle avoidance Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $449.00 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $350.99 Get Deal

The most affordable j Series Roomba in our list also happens to be the one at a price we've never seen before. For the first time, you can bring home iRobot's obstacle avoidance and mopping for less than $450.

The main differences between the Combo j5+ and the other mopping Roombas we just mentioned are that the Combo j5+ is a Swap and Mop model that requires you to manually click a water tank on and off to differentiate between mopping mode and regular vacuuming mode. The obstacle avoidance technology here is also slightly less meticulous, though the big pests (cords and pet waste) are still in the clear.

We are announcing special workshops and trainings to celebrate our 15th anniversary. 

Coming up: A rare in-person session in LDN with IIB founder David McCandless (we do these once a year). A virtual workshop running on two half days and the regular full day session.

Learn how to turn numbers, ideas & data into beautiful charts, graphics & stories. This year we’re adding a new “data storytelling” element so you can begin to learn how to shape and present powerful data stories and narratives.

Next dates:

In-person
» Mon 8th July

In the leadup to Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, online stans did what they arguably do best: theorize. One Swiftie narrative about TTPD, partly fueled by Swift's "stages of heartbreak" playlists for Apple Music, speculated that her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn cheated on her. As Mashable's Elena Cavender summed up, Alwyn became the "bad guy" to Swift's "good guy," a common thread in her albums.

For months, fans dissected Swift's actions in videos that amassed thousands of views. They drummed up an unsubstantiated rumor that Alwyn cheated with his Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver based on…sex scenes in the show (this video has nearly one million views). The TikTok search "joe alwyn cheating theory" results in a flurry of videos.

SEE ALSO: The wildest lyrics on Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' from 'Grand Theft Auto' to Charlie Puth

The rumor that Alwyn cheated with Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver isn't only unfounded, but also turned out to be irrelevant to TTPD. The album is indeed about Swift's breakup with Alwyn (like that she still has his location), but it's arguably more about The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, with whom Swift reportedly had a brief post-breakup fling.

There are occasional mentions to cheating on the album ("My husband is cheating, I wanna kill him" on "Fortnight"; "They said I was a cheat, I guess it must be true" and "All my girls got their lace and their crimes / And your cheating husband disappeared" on "Florida!!!") — but it's not a central theme. Still, the frenzy around Alwyn and Oliver reached such a fever pitch that some Swifties continued to pester Oliver on Instagram after the album came out. Some Swift fans maintain that Alwyn did cheat.

The "cheating scandal" is pervasive in celebrity culture, and social media fuels the fire. From The Try Guys to Scandaval to these Swift-Alwyn rumors, online fans become furious at the thought of such betrayal. This is driven by our societal feelings towards cheating, yes, but also the nature of parasocial relationships.

This makes sense on several levels: Cheating is a transgression, one that usually involves a multitude of lies. Our culture is dominated by monogamy, and infidelity is considered one of the worst things one can do in a relationship. Even with non-mongamy on the rise (and one can still cheat even if a relationship is non-monogamous), cheating is considered heinous by society at large. And if you think your favorite celeb's partner cheated on them? It's the ultimate crime.

Did Joe Alwyn cheat on Taylor Swift?

As Mashable's Cavender and Chase DiBenedetto pointed out during Swift's Midnights era, the singer is known for her conspiratorial fans and album Easter eggs. Swift has "taught her fans that there are always hidden meanings in everything she does, and that means they're always theorizing," said Dr. Georgia Carroll, a sociology PhD who's studied Swift's fandom. 

When Swift announced TTPD, fans realized it would be a breakup album, Carroll continued, so theorizing about reveals was the obvious next step. While Swift didn't explicitly encourage speculation over why her and Alwyn's relationship ended, she let narratives develop based on clues she left — like song titles, lyric snippets, and the stages of grief playlist.

"More broadly, fans theorize because they — by the nature of being a fan — spend a lot of time thinking and talking about things they like, and eventually those discussions will spiral out into theories," Carroll said. "That's true whether you're talking about music, or a TV show, or even a sports team."

This all goes down on social media. Rather than being confined to a few fellow fans you know in your community, Swifties have a widespread community on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit. 

"There's the element of group agreement strengthening your willingness to believe in a theory," Carroll said, and even if they know their theories likely aren't true, they can revel in "clowning" or being "delulu." 

Carroll continued, "Social media also has the additional element of encouraging attention-seeking behavior, so people may be deliberately hyperbolic in the hopes of getting engagement, and this furthers the snowballing by creating a more widespread buzz."

The parasocial pull of cheating scandals

You don't need me to tell you cheating is wrong. It can even be considered a form of emotional abuse if it's done with the intent of harming one's partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Love is Respect. An example is if someone cheats on their partner then blames their partner for it; that's a form of emotional abuse.

People can cheat on their partners without rising to the level of abuse, however. It can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship, as cheating breaches trust. (Love is Respect has a relationship spectrum featuring behaviors of healthy vs. unhealthy vs. abusive relationships).

Infidelity isn't a crime under law, but to stans, it's evil — it's a reason to harass someone. In the lead-up of TTPD, Swifties "flooded" Alwyn with hate, and extended the hate to Oliver, the rumored "other woman."

SEE ALSO: How to track your partner's location like Taylor Swift in 'Black Dog'

"Cheating is obviously an act of betrayal, which to a fan committed to supporting someone becomes the ultimate sin and is almost taken on as a personal attack," Carroll said. A lot of fandom boils down to supporting your faves, and so when you spend time and effort supposing them, a defensiveness against mistreatment develops, she continued — even if the mistreatment is only perceived. 

"It becomes a 'how dare they' moment, despite not actually knowing the reality of the situation," she continued. Fans think that they know Swift — something she has encouraged over the years — so they feel betrayed on her behalf.

This is where the parasocial element comes in. Swifties don't know the singer and they don't know what really went down in her past relationship (from TTPD, it sounds like a sad breakup). So, they make up what they think might be true, and social media algorithms are the accelerant. The most outrageous possibility rises to the top.

Swift has songs that allude that she herself has cheated, with titles like "illicit affairs" (from Folklore) and "High Infidelity" (from Midnights), among others from her discography. "Guilty As Sin?" from TTPD is speculated to be about emotional infidelity. To be clear, fans have speculated about this too, but she doesn't receive the same vitriol fans throw to her exes. But of course she wouldn't, because it's not about the act itself: It's about the act against their favorite celebrity. And if that's not the ultimate crime, what is?

Our long national nightmare is over: iPads may be finally launching in two weeks.

In an invite image sent to press on Tuesday, Apple confirmed it will hold a livestreamed product announcement event on May 7 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. The event, titled "Let Loose," is advertised with an image of a hand holding an Apple Pencil, all but confirming that this will center around iPads.

SEE ALSO: How to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription from your desktop or your phone Yeah, this is for iPads, alright. Credit: Apple May 7 Apple event: What we're expecting

Of course, that's not terribly surprising. There have been rumors circulating about new iPad Pro and Air models for months. Currently, we expect to see four new iPads, two in each style. The big innovations we plan to see include big display upgrades on both ends. For instance, the new iPad Pro is said to have an OLED display for the first time in an iPad, while the new iPad Air has been upgraded to mini-LED, at least on the larger 12.9-inch variant.

Plus, there is scuttlebutt that Apple will be revealing a new Magic Keyboard and a new Apple Pencil.

The good news is we won't have to rely on iffy rumors for much longer.

As Mashable's Amanda Yeo wrote of Netflix sci-fi thriller Atlas: "If AI wrote propaganda, this is probably what it would look like."

Keep that in the back of your mind as you watch the second trailer for the film, with Jennifer Lopez out front as the titular Atlas Shepherd.

A data analyst and agent with a grudge against AI, Atlas finds herself on a mission to retrieve a rogue robot (Simu Liu), one she's met before. As the film progresses, it seems our protagonist might be coming around to the idea of AI when she finds herself lost on an inhospitable ice planet with only an AI for company in her gigantic robot power armor.

From Rampage and San Andreas director Brad Peyton, and written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite, this seemingly action packed film has a big cast alongside Lopez and Liu, with Sterling K. Brown, Lana Parrilla, Mark Strong, Abraham Popoola, and Gregory James Cohan.

Atlas premieres May 24 on Netflix.

SAVE $558.66: As of April 23, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is just $2,241.33 at Amazon. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,241.33 at Amazon
$2,799.99 Save $558.66 Get Deal

Ready to buy a new laptop, but looking to think outside the box a bit beyond a vanilla Windows computer or a MacBook? A Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is another choice that might fit the bill, especially if you're the creative type. For professional artists or anyone who wants multiple ways to interact with your computer, this accessible and convenient laptop has several modes of use, including normal clamshell functionality, tablet mode, and an easel-like option that you can use a stylus to sketch on. It's an intriguing form factor that you might want to opt for – and you can get it for less than usual today if you head over to Amazon.

As of April 23, you can get the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $2,241.33. That's $558.66 off its original price of $2,799.99, and a 20% discount.

This 14.4-inch convertible laptop boasts the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, making it perfect for a variety of graphic-intensive tasks, from sketching up mockups to 3D models and more. It comes preinstalled with Nvidia Studio drivers and other creative-centric tools to help you bring your ideas to life. With its gorgeous touchscreen and 120Hz refresh rate, you'll have plenty of power to create – or just kick back, relax, and check out your favorite shows and movies.

Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon took the laptop for a test drive and found that it's great for artists or anyone who could benefit from its convertible display as well as "differently abled users who could take full advantage of the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s adaptive touch trackpad feature." While Gedeon didn't find that it beats the MacBook across the board, the aforementioned situations make it a fine contender for many users.

If you want to take a Microsoft Surface for a test drive, this one is a great pick.

If you tried to use X this morning (April 23) and saw something wonky, you're not alone.

The social media platform formerly known as Twitter was acting up all morning. For some users, it showed reposts as the manual RTs of yore. Other users couldn't update their home screen or trending topics but could see updates in specific people's profiles.

Some of you might consider this to be great (healthy) or you might consider it to be horrible (not healthy) or you might not think about it at all (very healthy). But no matter what, you weren't alone: Down Detector showed that loads of users were complaining about "problems" with using the platform with outages spiking at 9:56 a.m. ET. (Down Detector is owned by ZiffDavis, Mashable's parent company.)

Not to worry — after about an hour, the site is back up and running. X didn't post about the short outage.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Mercedes-Benz is bringing Level 3 autonomous vehicles to the U.S. — the first automaker to do so.

While Tesla calls its driver assistance system "Full Self-Driving," with CEO Elon Musk promising, and then failing to deliver, Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy, it is actually Mercedes-Benz that officially achieved the feat of getting a Level 3 car on a U.S. road.

SEE ALSO: Tesla cuts FSD price, ditches Enhanced Autopilot

The "Level" figures refer to SAE International's levels of driving automation. Level 2 and below refer to various driver support features, which can perform certain functions such as steer, accelerate, and brake, but the driver must constantly supervise them and intervene as needed.

Level 3, 4, and 5, refer to fully automated driving, but the differences between them are vast. A vehicle that has Level 3 automation can drive itself, but it might require the driver to take over. It only works under limited conditions, and will not operate unless all required conditions are met. Level 4 and Level 5, ideally, should never ask the driver to take over, with the difference being that Level 4 also works under certain limited conditions, whereas Level 5 means the car can drive itself in all conditions.

...if all conditions are met, the driver can take their eyes off the road, and let go of the steering wheel without the car nagging.

Mercedes-Benz's take on Level 3, available through a set of features call Drive Pilot, only works in clear weather, during the day, on some specific freeways in California and Nevada, and only when the car is traveling less than 40 miles per hour. Finally, it's only available in Merc's EQS and S-Class sedans. All of that may not sound terribly exciting, but what makes this different from other, similar systems, is that if all conditions are met, the driver can take their eyes off the road, and let go of the steering wheel without the car nagging. Tesla's Autopilot and FSD systems require the driver to react and take over in all scenarios, meaning they officially fall into the Level 2 category.

Mercedes-Benz announced this system last September, and started selling Level 3-enabled cars in the U.S. in December (the company previously launched the same system in Germany). Now, as Fortune noticed, at least one of those cars has actually been sold to a customer in California.

Mercedes is not alone in this effort, though it is the first to do it in the United States. Last year, BMW announced it would launch a Level 3-enabled car in March 2024, but only in Germany.

Tweet may have been deleted

Musk recently announced a "Robotaxi" event, scheduled for August 2024. Despite not being able to perfect its FSD system to the point of it being fully autonomous, the Tesla CEO keeps betting on a dream of robotaxis, meaning cars that can autonomously ferry passengers around. Those do exist - for example, Alphabet's Waymo and GM's Cruise have been offering a self-driving taxi service in San Francisco, with mixed results — but Musk seems to want to sell such cars to customers. In order to do so, he'll first have to leap over Mercedes' latest effort; notably, Mercedes's own CTO Markus Schäfer thinks that private-owned Level 4 cars could be a thing "by the end of the decade."

Sonos has heard you, its users, and it made its mobile app better.

That, at least, is the company's promise as it unveiled its new mobile app, as well as an all-new web app, on Tuesday.

The upcoming app refresh does away with tabs on the bottom of the screen, instead providing access to Sonos system controls, your music library, recently played items, and the search bar, all on the Home screen.

No more tabs. Credit: Sonos

I haven't been able to try the new app myself yet, but I've seen demos and it does look a bit easier and faster to use. There was nothing tragically wrong with the old (current) Sonos app, but it does often take a few unnecessary taps to get to the bit you need. Furthermore, some parts of the old app can look a bit empty, such as the System tab when you only have one Sonos speaker in your system.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Move 2 Review: Fantastic sound and a price to match

The new app is also a lot more customizable. Your content, services, and other parts of the app are represented as rows on the (scrollable) Home screen, and you can pin, move, edit, and rearrange them as you please.

Search has also become more intuitive, with the ability to personalize the results by designating a preferred service for Sonos to fetch results from.

Finally, swiping up from the bottom of the Home screen brings you an overview of your entire system, including an overview of what's playing where — pretty useful for folks with large, multi-room systems.

SEE ALSO: Sonos is getting into headphones next year, report claims

The company also launched a new web app, allowing users to play music and manage their Sonos system on a larger, desktop display.

Want to manage your Sonos ecosystem and music library on a bigger screen? The company now has a web app, too. Credit: Sonos

The new Sonos mobile app will become available on May 7. The web app, which will go live on the same date, will be available at www.sonos.com/web-app.

Newsletter platform Ghost — a popular rival to the reigning Substack — has confirmed it is joining the fediverse later this year.

This means Ghost is joining the likes of Mastodon, Instagram Threads, Wordpress, Flipboard, and others, in the "federated universe", containing decentralized social networks. Ghost's founder John O’Nolan explained in a post on Threads that users have been requesting federation, and asked followers to give their input on how it would work.

Later, the company confirmed that it would federate on ActivityPub, a popular protocol to make open networks happen, in order "to become part of the world’s largest publishing network." In its announcement, Ghost said that users have had to participate in closed social networks — "at the mercy of algorithms" — and it is now time "to take back control" online.

SEE ALSO: What is the fediverse — and how might it affect creators?

"The open web is coming back, and with it returns diversity. You can both publish independently and grow faster than ever before with followers from all over the world and the web," reads the statement.

For these reasons, the fediverse has gained momentum in the past year, but it's not exactly commonplace yet. As Mashable's Christianna Silva explains, "The fediverse allows you to have an account on one service and post on other services." From Silva's report:

In less basic terms, it is a collection of interconnected servers, also called instances, that run software compatible with a set of open protocols. The primary goal of the fediverse is to allow users to communicate and interact with each other on different platforms and servers while retaining control over their data and identity because they aren't giving it all to one individual company.

Ghost said that readers and users will have more power when the platform is federated: they'll be able to like, follow and interact with people on other federated services, for example, and also follow publications and topics of interest from around the internet.

To put it more simply, the platform compared the power of open networks to that of email: "Email, the web’s original open protocol, is used by more people than any platform or social network that has been invented before or since; because it shares users rather than competing for them."

These efforts from Ghost may pay off in more ways than one: already, several Substack users have turned to Ghost as a result of the lack of moderation on the former. Some major publishers and creators are on Ghost, including Platformer, 404 Media, and Quillette. Now with federation, the reach and growth of publications on Ghost has the potential to be even greater, according to the platform.

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: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 23 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 23

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 23, 2024:

Across"How's it goin'?"

• The answer is sup.

Make a counterargument against

• The answer is rebut.

"The Magic Flute" or "The Marriage of Figaro"

• The answer is opera.

Hiked up on caffeine

• The answer is wired.

Logger's tool

• The answer is axe.

DownBrown pigment in vintage photos

The answer is sepia.

Rideshare option for a small group

• The answer is UberX.

High-speed blender button

• The answer is puree.

Column's crosser

• The answer is tad.

Wee bit

• The answer is row.

The Google Pixel 9 and Google Pixel 9 Pro are set to launch later this year, but the question is, how will they differ from the previous generation?

I don't know about you, but I want to see Google step it up with a new set of features that will blow competitors away. According to leaks and rumors, however, it appears that the Pixel 9 series will be playing "catch up" with some of the biggest players on the market.

I won't keep you in suspense for long, so here's the scuttlebutt we've been hearing about the Google Pixel 9 and Google Pixel 9 Pro.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 is rumored to steal this iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 feature Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro release date

If the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro follows Google's typical launch pattern, the next-generation devices will have a release date some time in October.

Google typically unveils its new-generation Pixel phones at its Made by Google event in the fall — and we doubt that will change with the Google Pixel 9 series.

For reference, here are the release dates for the previous device launches:

• Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro - Oct. 4, 2023

• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro - Oct. 6, 2023

• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro - Oct. 19, 2023

The only time Google did not launch in October was in 2020, the year when the pandemic shook up the tech hardware industry. (Even Apple didn't launch their iPhone until October that year, even though they typically unveil their new handsets in September.)

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro price

There aren't any credible rumors on pricing, however, Google already increased the price tags of both devices last year, bumping them by $100.

As such, we doubt that Google will instate yet another price hike for 2024. That being said, the expected price tags for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are the following:

• Pixel 9 - $699

• Pixel 9 Pro - $999

Interestingly, however, according to 91Mobiles, Google may consider bringing a third phone into the mix, offering a trio of devices similar to the Galaxy S24 series. The Pixel 9 Pro XL will reportedly be the most expensive tier of the Google Pixel 9 lineup.

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro — and a Pixel 9 Pro XL?

As mentioned, 91Mobiles claims that Google is launching a Pixel 9 Pro XL in addition to the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro.

This wouldn't be the first time the Google introduced an "XL" phone into the mix. The last time we saw an "XL" device was the Pixel 5 series — and we haven't seen it since.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL will reportedly have the following specs:

• 6.5-inch, QHD+, OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Triple-camera setup

Interestingly, if these specs are accurate, Pixel 9 Pro XL will feature a slight reduction from the Pixel 8 Pro's 6.7-inch display.

You may be wondering, "What does it look like?" Funny story. So popular leaker @Onleaks, also known as Steve H.McFly on X, revealed what they thought was the Pixel 9 Pro on Jan. 24.

Tweet may have been deleted

As it turns out, the Pixel 9 Pro renders are actually the Pixel 9 Pro XL, according to clarification from @Onleaks via 91mobiles.

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro design

Unlike the current generation, which has rounded edges, the Pixel 9 series will reportedly have flat edges, similar to the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 series.

Tweet may have been deleted

According to 91mobiles, here's what we know about the Pixel 9:

• 6.03-inch display

• 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm

• Comes in Black, similar to the rumored Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro, on the other hand, will sport the following:

• 6.1-inch display

• 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm

• Comes in Blue

Interestingly, according to a leak from Rozekted, the Pixel 9 Pro still sports a temperature sensor, a feature Mashable's Alex Perry found to be quite useless while reviewing the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro camera

Both phones will sport a hole-punch selfie camera, just like their predecessors.

The Pixel's distinctive camera visor design is getting a change, too, apparently. Instead of a rectangular-esque visor extending from edge to edge, the new visor will have more of a pill-shaped design.

Tweet may have been deleted

The Pixel 9 will have a dual-camera rear setup. The Pixel 9 Pro, alongside the Pixel 9 Pro XL, will reportedly have a triple-camera setup. At the time of writing, details on the shooters' specs are sparse.

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro specs

According to Rozetked and 91mobiles, you'll find the next-gen Tensor chip inside the Pixel 9 series, likely the Tensor G4 processor.

Per the former, the Pixel 9 Pro will sport 16GB of RAM, a step up from the Pixel 8 Pro's 12GB of memory. As more companies take deeper plunges into the world of AI, this isn't surprising. While running AI in the background, these devices are going to need all the memory they can get.

Other specs you'll reportedly find across the Pixel 9 series:

• New Qi2 charging technology, which increases wireless charging up to 15W and offers better alignment (similar to MagSafe)

• New "Adaptive Touch" feature, which lets you adjust the display's sensitivity based on your surroundings

• Satellite connectivity via a Samsung modem upgrade

The next big Google event is Google I/O, but don't expect the search-engine tech giant to reveal any of the Pixel 9 devices there.

Instead, keep an eye out for the Google Pixel 8a. As mentioned, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro (and perhaps a Pixel 9 Pro XL) are expected to drop some time in October.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 8 Pro $799.00 at Amazon
Get Deal

Donald Trump's trial has been the focus of many hours of coverage over the past week — including on the Daily Show — and Jon Stewart isn't happy about it. In the clip above he takes particular issue with the rolling news coverage, which has been focussed on everything from Trump's car making its way to the court house to analysing Trump's facial expressions in courtroom art.

"At some point in this trial, something important and revelatory is going to happen, but none of us are going to notice because of the hours spent on his speculative facial ticks," Stewart says. "If the media tries to make us feel like the most mundane bullshit is earth-shattering, we won't believe you when it's really interesting. It's your classic boy-who-cried-Wolf Blitzer."

You can watch Jon Stewart's other recent monologues here.

If you're looking to cancel your Netflix subscription and delete your account completely, you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find directions on how to delete your Netflix account on your desktop and on your phone.

How to delete your Netflix account on desktop Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Laptop or computer
• Netflix account

Step 1: Log in to your Netflix account.

You can do this through Netflix's website.

Step 2: Click on your profile icon, then click it again in the top right corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 3: Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

This will take you to your account page.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Mashable

Step 4: Once there, click "Cancel Membership."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 5: Click "Finish cancellation" to cancel your account.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Your account will be canceled at the end of the current billing period, and your information will be automatically deleted 10 months after the account has been canceled.

If you choose to restart your account within 10 months after cancellation, you will still be able to access your old profile and viewing preferences.

If you want to delete your account immediately, contact privacy@netflix.com from the email address used for your Netflix account.

How to delete your Netflix account on your phone

You cannot delete your Netflix account directly in the app, but you can delete it from your phone's browser.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• Netflix account

Step 1: Open the Netflix app and log into your account.

Step 2: Click on the menu in the top left corner of the screen.

It's the three horizontal lines.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 3: Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

This will take you to your account page.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Mashable

Step 4: Once there, scroll past your membership details and click "Cancel Membership."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Mashable

Step 5: Click "Finish cancellation" to cancel your account.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Mashable

As with canceling on desktop, your account will be canceled at the end of the current billing period, and your information will be automatically deleted 10 months after the account has been canceled.

And, if you choose to restart your account within 10 months after cancellation, you will still be able to access your old profile and viewing preferences.

However, if you want to delete your account immediately, contact privacy@netflix.com from the email address used for your Netflix account.

On a roll with canceling your streaming services? Here's how to cancel Apple TV+.

NASA hoped its Ingenuity helicopter would fly at least once. It took flight 72 times.

The historic craft — the first to ever make a powered, controlled flight on another planet — flew distances as far as 2,315 feet across Mars' Jezero Crater, a basin that once teemed with water, likely creating a lake some 22 miles wide. It served as a reliable scout to the space agency's Perseverance rover, as these robots sleuthed the best places to look for potential evidence of past microbial life on the Red Planet.

The new NASA video below (one-minute long) shows how Ingenuity buzzed over Mars, crossing over rugged and hilly terrain before arriving at its final landing spot months ago. On flight 72, the experimental chopper crashed in a dried-up river valley.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

"We never planned for such a long mission," Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity’s project manager, said at a media briefing. "We originally had a single logbook, hoping for one successful flight to be logged in that logbook. Eventually got to five [flights] and were extremely excited to proceed into our extended operations demonstration."

That smooth, sandy terrain was ultimately Ingenuity's demise. The helicopter navigated by using software to track the movement of objects, like rocks, below. But the sandy dunes were largely "featureless," NASA explained.

"The more featureless the terrain is, the harder it is for Ingenuity to successfully navigate across it," the space agency said in a statement. "The team believes that the relatively featureless terrain in this region was likely the root cause of the anomalous landing."

"We never planned for such a long mission."

A hard landing broke multiple rotors, which doomed any future flights. To take to the air, Ingenuity spun its four-foot rotor blades at a blazing 2,400 revolutions every minute. This was necessary to generate the lift needed for flight: The Martian atmosphere is quite thin, with a density about one percent of Earth's, so the rapid rotors must spin fast enough to move enough molecules under its rotors.

Tweet may have been deleted

NASA's Ingenuity flight was the beginning of the agency's aerial endeavors on other worlds. NASA is considering a Mars plane, and in four years will launch a "rotorcraft" — with eight spinning rotors — to Saturn's moon Titan, a world harboring tantalizing dunes and seas of methane.