IT General

Agentic AI. Claws. Vibe coding. AGI.

AI buzzwords come and go pretty quickly these days, and now there's a new AI trend to know: super apps.

What is a super app?

A super app puts a variety of AI tools into one agentic app. This means that AI chatbots (like ChatGPT) exist within the same space as AI agents, i.e. tools that execute multi-step requests with a degree of autonomy.

The idea is simple: Soon, you'll no longer be bouncing between your AI chatbot, coding assistant, and agentic tools. "Super apps" will centralize all of these tools within a single app. A super app, if you will.

Why are people talking about super apps?

In an earning call this week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that a new super app will be central to Microsoft's upcoming AI strategy.

"This quarter, we also introduced Autopilots, autonomous, long-running agents with full enterprise compliance, including an always-on personal agent powered by OpenClaw," Nadella said. "And this quarter we will bring these Copilot experiences together, including Code, in one 'super app' spanning both consumer and commercial experiences."

Nadella said that the super app would be released by the end of summer 2026.

Microsoft isn't leading the charge on super apps; they're just the latest company to hop on the trend. AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are also focusing efforts on super apps.

As reported by Reuters, OpenAI has already launched its super app to employees. Meanwhile, competitor Anthropic is also combining its agentic Cowork tool with its Claude chatbot, the company recently announced.

Super apps could also accomplish something else for AI companies. Because users can access apps like InstaCart, Uber, Zillow, and OpenTable directly within ChatGPT, these agentic super apps could absorb as much of your online activity as possible into a single company's app.

Elon Musk reportedly wants to turn X into an everything app as well, and with super apps, his biggest AI rivals appear to be moving in the same direction.

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

Toyota has spent decades building a reputation for vehicles that last. From dependable powertrains to strong resale values and low running costs, the brand has become one of the most trusted names for buyers who want a vehicle they can keep for years.

The Venn diagram of Spotify Premium users and runners is in for a treat. Running Mode is now available in the Spotify mobile app, matching song tempos to the different phases of a run.

Spotify's Fitness Hub rolled out in April of this year, partnering with Peloton and digital fitness instructors to put workouts directly in the app. Running Mode is now apart of the Fitness Mode, but a more self-guided experience.

The feature is available to Premium users on iOS in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. It lets you choose from 25 curated running presets or build a custom workout from scratch. You can tailor the playlist to match your run length, beats per minute, and preferred genre, and it generates a personalized playlist based on your selections. If you need a boost, Running Mode also has optional audio cues to provide a little motivation.

This is not Spotify’s first attempt to keep pace with runners. In 2015, the company introduced Spotify Running, which used a phone’s sensors to detect a runner’s tempo and select music that matched it. Spotify retired that feature in 2018. Unlike its predecessor, the new Running Mode does not detect when someone speeds up or slows down — runners choose their desired tempo and workout structure before taking off.

Running Mode builds on Spotify's existing AI feature, Prompted Playlist, which allows users to provide a playlist description that Spotify uses to curate music. As Spotify positions itself to be an a one-stop-shop where you can listen to music, watch podcasts, and even buy books, Running Mode is a natural next step.

Are you ready for some more fun projects to tackle with your Raspberry Pi this weekend? Well, you're in luck, and I actually have one project that's sure to bring you down the path of nostalgia before it's all over.

Tinder has paused an AI-powered Photo Enhance tool that some users said altered their appearance, NewsNation reported.

Former user Jenny Rubin told NewsNation that the tool edited her photo without her opting in. "It was extremely violating," she told NewsNation's Jesse Weber. "It felt pretty uncanny, to be honest. Those are not my teeth. That’s not what my mouth looks like." Tinder had apparently changed the photo of her from a toothless smile to one with teeth.

SEE ALSO: You can now find local events on Tinder — and match with other attendees

Rubin deleted the app and made a TikTok about it, and others told her the app did the same thing. Tinder users also told NBC News that the app changed facial features and even skin tone, and also added features that weren't previously there.

"Photo Enhance is a tool that helps improve the technical quality of your photos. It's designed to enhance overall photo quality — for example, making your profile photo clearer and better lit — not to make you look different," Tinder's page on Photo Enhance states. The feature is supposed to "sharpen blurry images, adjust brightness and exposure, and improve clarity," the page reads. "It’s not designed to add or remove people, objects, or backgrounds, apply cosmetic effects, or change facial features or skin tone appearance."

A Tinder spokesperson reiterated that the feature isn't designed to change someone's appearance. "We know that profiles with clear, well-lit first photos have a much better experience, so our goal was to help make that easier for people on Tinder. The feature is in a test phase in limited markets and is available to a subset of profiles that had a detectable technical issue on the first photo, and more than 90 percent of people who receive an enhanced photo keep it," the spokesperson told Mashable over email.

According to the page, the suggested enhancement can be disabled, and the photo can be reverted to its original.

Tinder introduced the feature in March, along with a ton of other AI-powered features, including a matchmaker called Chemistry. At the same time, Tinder launched Photo Insights, which uses AI to scan users' camera rolls to determine interests based on patterns. The app previously introduced Photo Selector, an AI tool to help pick the best photos for a user's profile, in 2024.

Photo Enhanced is now paused in the 13 U.S. states where it was available. Tinder told NBC News and Mashable that the unintended changes impacted a small number of users. "Feedback data shows less than 0.5 percent of enhanced photos were flagged as not looking like the user, though not all of that feedback reflects a change as visible as what's been reported," the spokesperson told Mashable. It's paused to investigate the causes and strengthen safeguards.

When you use CarPlay, you probably just start some music, enter a destination, and drive off. However, there is a lesser-known feature that can make your CarPlay experience a lot more personal and fun: setting a custom greeting or sound when it connects to your car.

SAVE $160: The Samsung internal SSD 990 with 2TB is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, down from the list price of $529.99. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung internal SSD 990 $369.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $160   Get Deal

According to the experts, the memory shortage is not letting up anytime soon. It's become a challenge to find affordable SSDs, and setting up a NAS at home or the office comes with a steep price tag these days. If you're in need of storage, consider this Amazon deal.

As of July 30, the Samsung internal SSD 990 with 2TB is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, down from the list price of $529.99. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

If your PC or laptop has been asking for more storage, this Samsung deal is one to hop on. The Samsung 990 SSD offers 2TB of storage and read speeds up to 7,250 MB/s. Write speeds reach up to 6,450MB per second. Those speeds will help with downloading games quickly, installing updates, and transferring high-resolution files without waiting around.

SEE ALSO: This week's best SSD deals include a World Cup edition Sandisk and a 2TB Lexar

For gamers who are used to long loading times or even need to delete old games, upgrading to an additional 2TB could be well worth the money. Since the Samsung internal SSD 990 with 2TB is on sale for the lowest we've ever seen and RAMageddon isn't gonna end soon, jump on this deal.

Walking through the aisles of a video store used to be half the fun of a movie night. You judged films by their cover art, stumbled across forgotten classics, and often left with something you never planned to watch.

A lot of my smart home automations feel a little bit like magic. When I saw a post on Reddit, however, I realized that I might be able to bring some genuine magic to Home Assistant. I bought an official Harry Potter wand and set it up to work as a magical smart home controller for my kids.

Dodge built the original Ram 1500 Rumble Bee for only two model years, 2004 and 2005, borrowing the namesake from the now-legendary Super Bee. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 sent 345 horsepower and 375 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels, in what is arguably the greatest configuration for a truck: a regular cab with a short bed.

For over three months, I have been running 12 speed tests per day every single day. It's added up to over 1,200 tests spanning over 100 days, using nearly 2.5TB of data. What did I learn from this endeavor? Actually, way more than I imagined I would.

Affordable hybrid SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, but most buyers still expect to pay a premium for one that delivers exceptional fuel economy. However, there is one small crossover that breaks that assumption, offering incredible efficiency without requiring a plug or a luxury-sized budget.

SAVE $151.99: Amazon has the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on sale for $248, down from the list price at Sony of $399.99. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal

When it comes to tech, it's not always necessary to have the newest model. Sometimes, the older generator has plenty of features that still hold up well, and buying the previous model can come with major savings. If you've been shopping for Sony headphones, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 30, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon, marked down from the list price at Sony of $399.99. That's a 38% discount that shaves $151.99 off the price.

When Sony launched the XM5 headphones, they earned a Mashable Choice Award for their sound quality, noise cancellation, and overall design. Mashable Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern wrote in her review, "As for comfort, the headphones’ ear cups and band are nice and cushiony. I didn’t feel any uncomfortable head squeezing or ear pressure."

SEE ALSO: Stay hydrated this summer with the Owala FreeSip Tumbler — get $10 off at Amazon

Last year, Sony launched the new XM6 headphones, which have slightly improved sound compared to the XM5 headphones and folding ear cups. Aside from that, there's "nothing too major over the past generation," according to Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard, who compared the Sony XM6 to the older Sony XM5.

Today's sale price of $248 at Amazon applies to the black, midnight blue, smoky pink, and silver colorways. They get up to 30 hours of battery life with a single charge, and a quick three-minute charge will earn you three hours of listening time. They also come with a protective carrying case.

The Sony XM5s have convenient features like speak-to-chat, which automatically pauses music when you speak. They also pause audio when you take them off and automatically restart when they're put back on.

If you're shopping for a pair of headphones for back-to-school season, consider today's sale price on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. You'll be saving over $150 while getting some of the best sound quality available and a major savings over the $459.99 price of the Sony XM6 headphones.

If you're anything like me, you're probably starting to get fed up with disorganization around your house and digital life. That's what this weekend's homelab projects will focus on—getting organized. From unifying your podcast listening setup to simplifying your 3D printing file management, here are three homelab projects to work on this weekend.

Have you ever explored around Google Earth and thought to yourself, "I wish there were some generative AI features in here?" No? Well, you're getting it anyway.

Google announced that it's integrating Nano Banana, the company's generative AI image creator, directly into Google Earth.

To be more specific, Google has added its latest AI image generation model, Nano Banana 2, to its mapping platform and has rolled out a number of ways that users can utilize AI in Google Earth as well. Nano Banana has proven to be very popular, and Google previously integrated the tool with Chrome, Photos, Search, Gemini Notebook (previously Notebook LM), and Google Messages.

According to Google, Nano Banana in Google Earth can be used for a variety of purposes. Users can ask Nano Banana to:

• Generate infographics based on specific locations or landmarks

• View what a location looked like during a certain historical period

• Generate real estate plans for a lot of land

• Visualize a project before any construction starts

• Give a location or even a specific building a makeover

However, our friends at ZDNet received early access to the feature before it launched today and found that the Nano Banana implementation in Google Earth isn't really all that useful. At least not yet.

For example, according to ZDNet, the Create Image button, which deploys Nano Banana in the Google Earth toolbar, isn't provided when in Street View. ZDNet found it was easier to just take a Street View screenshot and paste the image into Gemini for AI image generation.

Furthermore, one of Google's own recommended use cases, "Bring history to life," doesn't appear to be historically accurate. ZDNet had Nano Banana generate the area around Philadelphia's Independence Hall in different time periods. While Nano Banana generated an image with the general look and feel of the time, it didn't seem to pull from any data that would show which buildings were actually around Independence Hall at the time.

The Infographic suggested use case also didn't pan out in ZDNet's tests, either. Generated infographics changed the actual layout of a location in the image and included nonsensical, garbled AI text as well.

The real estate industry has been a fairly big adopter of generative AI imagery, as they can show prospective buyers visualizations of what can be done with a home or plot of land. Google clearly had this in mind for at least some of its suggested use cases. However, Nano Banana in Google Earth seems very much like an early experimental feature at this point.

(Disclosure: Mashable and ZDNet are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

Samsung has been using Android for over 15 years, but it’s always done things its own way. You know a Galaxy phone when you see one, and that includes the software. One UI doesn’t work quite the same as plain Android—sometimes that’s good, sometimes it’s very annoying.

Deciding which AI to use has always been a challenge. If a company releases a new model, by the time you've switched, the service you've just left has dropped an even better one of its own. Even more confusingly, some models are better at specific jobs than others. I wanted to see which of the big three AI chatbots could do the best job of summarizing a day's worth of emails.

Another major IMAX release, another online debate about aspect ratios. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is making waves for many reasons, but the one I care about is the idea that the tall, square IMAX presentation of the movie is the "real" version, the way the movie is intended to be seen.

Maika Monroe stars as Winifred Notty, "the sanest person she's ever met," in Victorian Psycho, a bloody horror-comedy that'll have you frankly terrified of the Longlegs and 100 Nights of Hero star.

Described by Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko in her review as "what if gothic horror were an eat-the-rich comedy?" the film follows the plot of a murderess governess (Monroe), appointed to teach the spoiled children of the aristocratic Pounds in late 19th century England.

Directed by Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) with a screenplay by Virginia Feito (on whose 2025 novel the film is based), Victorian Psycho has a brilliant and brutal trailer out today, all scored to Die Spitz's impeccable "Throw Yourself to the Sword."

The Pounds family — played by Jason Isaacs, Ruth Wilson, Wednesday's Evie Templeton, and Hamnet's Jacobi Jupe — have no idea what they're in for with the arrival of Miss Notty. But the trailer gives us a terrible idea.

Victorian Psycho hits cinemas Sept. 25.

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SAVE UP TO $200: The ABOK Ark3600 portable power station is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $1,299. The Ark3600 extra battery is on sale for $934.15, down from the normal price of $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: ABOK ABOK Ark3600 $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: ABOK ABOK Ark3600 + Extra Battery $934.15 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $164.85   Get Deal

We have portable power stations for almost every situation. Small models are great for short camping trips, while fridge-specific models like the Jackery FridgeGuard are great for keeping food from spoiling. But if you're looking for a beefy model with plenty of power, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 30, the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station is on sale for $1,099 on Amazon, down from the regular price of $1,299. For even more power, the Ark3600 extra battery is on sale for $934.15, down from the normal price of $1,099.

The ABOK Ark3600 portable power station comes packed with 15 outlets and a 3,840Wh LiFePO4 battery. That power capacity mixed with its design that includes a telescoping handle and durable wheels makes it a great model for longer camping trips, RV adventures, or for using at home when grid power fails.

With an uninterrupted power supply of under 10 milliseconds, you won't notice a lapse in power. That's great news for using with a refrigerator, desktop computer station, CPAP machine, or an aquarium. The Ark3600 can recharge with standard AC or up to 2,000W of solar input. In full sun with 2,000W solar, the Ark3600 can recharge in about two hours.

SEE ALSO: Wolfbox's new off-road air compressor just launched with a discount — save $70 at Amazon

In addition to the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station, the expansion battery is also on sale. The ABOK Ark3600 expansion battery connects to the main power station to provide an additional 3,840Wh, doubling the power. It has a similar physical design, with a handle and wheels for easy transport. The ABOK Ark3600 can pair with two expansion batteries for a total capacity of 11,520Wh.

Upgrade your camping trips and home power supply with the ABOK Ark3600 portable power station and expansion batteries, both on sale today at Amazon.