IT General

Wired earbuds are back, and Bose's new noise-cancelling pair shows they're not a gimmick

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 19:03

Wired earbuds are suddenly trendy, and Bose wants to seize the moment by launching its Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. In theory, they offer the best features of true wireless earbuds without the hassles of Bluetooth connections or charging.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 tiny Linux distros outperform Ubuntu on low-power hardware

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 19:00

Ubuntu's minimum system requirements—6GB of RAM and 25GB of storage space—are modest compared to Windows, but if you're working with an older PC, even that may be too much. If you've ever tried running the current release of Ubuntu on an old netbook or Optiplex, you've experienced it first hand.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I discovered these hidden Google Maps features while waiting for my kids after school

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 19:00

I love to drive. Driving is my safe place when I want to disconnect from the world for a while. No one asking me where something is, no one asking what’s for dinner, just me, my car, and whatever playlist I’ve decided to play for the hundredth time. So, of course, I use Google Maps more than I’d like to admit.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 excellent movies and shows you'll enjoy more if you forget everything you know

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 18:45

Adaptations are a tricky endeavor. Many filmmakers and showrunners run into problems when adapting source material from, say, a book. While it can be helpful to have a blueprint for a movie or show, adaptations create numerous problems, especially when it comes to satisfying fans loyal to the book. One minor change to the book can cause an uproar. Just ask Benioff and Weiss about how fans reacted to their decisions in Game of Thrones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I built a Raspberry Pi that composes music based on the weather

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 18:30

Once every hour, the Raspberry Pi sitting on my desk checks the weather and then plays a song about it. It is a bit like a cuckoo clock, except it tells me the weather instead of the time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Boox Picco is coming — heres how to preorder the tiny e-reader

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 18:17

PREORDER NOW: As of Sept. 28, preorder the Boox Picco, a 3.97-inch e-reader. You can purchase the tiny e-reader for $109.99 and get it as soon as it's released in November.

Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at Boox
  Pre-order Here

For months, Boox has been teasing its new tiny e-reader. The Boox Picco was first unveiled in July with an in-person debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin. Now, the device is officially available for preorder.

The Boox Picco is a 3.97-inch e-reader. It's part of the brand's new Tile collection. While Boox's other e-readers like the Palma and Go 6 are classified as tablets, the Picco is a Tile, likely to differentiate between operating systems.

Unlike Boox's tablets, the Picco Tile doesn't have an Android operating system, meaning you can't access any additional apps since there's no Google Play Store. Instead, you'll read from the Picco's native library. It does have some extra apps, including a Pomodoro timer and Todo (a to-do list app). We suspect it'll operate similarly to Xteink e-readers, which are best for DRM-free files. To get files on the Picco, upload them either with a USB-C cable or with the new Boox Tile app.

It's about the size of a deck of cards and can even attach to the back of an iPhone with MagSafe. It has a dual-tone front light so you can adjust both the warmth and brightness. It has a power button plus a page-turning button on the side. There's also a function switch on the side that swaps the device between front light and dark mode.

The Boox Picco retails for $109.99. It's now available for preorder on Boox's site. No exact ship date has been provided, but according to Boox's site, the device will ship in October. However, a Boox representative said it will ship by November.

If you're ready to extend your Boox e-reader collection, preorder the Boox Picco now for $109.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at Boox
  Pre-order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

Save hundreds on PC software and subscriptions on G2A.COM

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 18:08

G2A.COM may be best known for video games, but the marketplace offers much more than gaming. Alongside games, users can find a wide range of digital software offers, often at competitive prices across different platforms.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Turkey vs. Italy online for free

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League for free on RaiPlay. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League action continues with another week of interesting matchups, including Turkey vs. Italy. The hosts are desperately looking to bounce back after a really disappointing summer. Italy didn't even qualify for the World Cup, so the only way is up for the Azzurri.

Both sides lost their opening games in this latest edition of the competition. That heaps the pressure on.

If you're interested in watching Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. Italy?

Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 28. This fixture takes place at the Centennial Atatürk Stadium.

How to watch Turkey vs. Italy for free

Turkey vs. Italy in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can live stream Turkey vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Turkey vs. Italy for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

  4. Visit RaiPlay

  5. Watch Turkey vs. Italy 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Turkey vs. Italy without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Italy

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Turkey vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Honors new phone has cinema cameras the iPhone 18 Pro cant touch

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:43

Does the camera on your smartphone matter more than anything else that the device can do?

If so, you might want to check out Honor's new Magic 9 Pro Max.

Seriously. Just take a look at it. Have you ever seen the lenses on any smartphone’s camera bump extend the entire width of the phone?

The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launch. Credit: Honor

As Phone Arena points out, the release of the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max marks the 10th anniversary of the company, which is a subsidiary of Huawei, so it appears they’re going all out.

The phone's camera system was created in partnership with ARRI, the professional cinema camera company that has long been a staple in major motion pictures. ARRI provided image science and camera expertise, which helped Honor develop the camera for the device. 

Furthermore, the partnership brings ARRI’s touch to the camera software as well. The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max provides 14 ARRI filter presets along with support for 4K 60fps "Cinema Grade" recording, 10-bit color depth and ARRI Wide Gamut 3.

But, the Magic 9 Pro Max is more than just a partnership with a leading Hollywood camera-maker. The cameras themselves top any other smartphone in the market.

The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max sports a whopping 200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, a 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture. In addition to that, the Magic 9 Pro Max boasts a 55 MP selfie camera as well.

To compare Honor’s latest smartphone with the newest iPhone 18 Pro Max, all three rear cameras on the Apple device top out at 48 MP. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra probably comes the closest with its 200 MP main camera, but the phones’ camera specs differ beyond megapixel count.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: What's new with the cameras

The main camera on the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max has optical image stabilization rated to the Camera & Imaging Products Association’s CIPA 8.0 standard. In addition, it also boasts 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization, a feature in which the camera can actually move and tilt by up to 3 degrees.

It's not just cinema-grade cameras either. Honor claims that the Magic 9 Pro Max is the first smartphone with a "cinema-grade" directional microphone. The company says it can pick up sound from up to 20 meters away and has audio recording presets to help users capture the sounds that they want and reduce noise from its surroundings.

The phone’s full specs are as follows:

  • 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display, 1–120Hz, 2,000 nits peak brightness 

  • 200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture, 55 MP selfie camera 

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6

  • Up to 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage 

  • 8,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery

  • MagicOS 11 based on Android 17

The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max looks like a beast for smartphone camera aficionados. Unfortunately, however, Honor’s devices are not officially sold in the U.S. So, if you really want one, you’ll have to go through third parties and import it yourself.

The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launches today in China and retails for approximately $970 USD.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Modders discover way to play PS5 games on Xbox consoles

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:43

If you've ever had a lingering curiosity wondering if PlayStation games can be played on an Xbox, well, they can. Technically.

A modder named Devran Cosmo Uenal has built an early version of a PS5 emulator for the Xbox Series X, according to Boy Genius Report. The project, called PS5X, can already run a small selection of PS5 games on Microsoft's console, though not especially smoothly.

For context, an emulator is software that imitates another device's hardware. Consoles are essentially specialized computers, and their games are built to run on that specific hardware. An emulator tricks a game into thinking it's running on the machine it was made for, even when it's actually on a PC, a phone, or, in this case, a rival console.

Emulation sits in murky legal territory. In the U.S., emulators themselves are generally legal because building software that emulates a console's hardware isn't illegal in itself. However, downloading copies of a video game you don't own is copyright infringement.

PS5X is a port of KytyPS5, an open-source PS5 emulator for PC. Uenal adapted it to run on the Xbox Series X. BGR reports that the Xbox version lags behind the PC original but already produces impressive results for such an early project.

SEE ALSO: Xbox lays off more than 250 employees amid studio restructurings

Early is the keyword here, as the list of games PS5X can play is very short. Uenal's YouTube channel shows a PS5X game library that includes Gex Trilogy, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and Quake 2. These are smaller titles, which are usually the first to work on a new emulator. BGR says they're playable but not polished, with minor glitches and performance problems. In Uenal's footage, Quake 2 swings between roughly 20 and 40 frames per second, well short of the steady frame rate players expect.

BGR notes that bigger games may follow soon. A recent interface update from Uenal shows Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Gran Turismo 7 in his library, which BGR reads as evidence that the games are being tested. The biggest hurdle is graphics. KytyPS5 draws its visuals using Vulkan, a graphics system widely used on PCs. The Xbox doesn't support Vulkan. It uses Microsoft's own system, DirectX.

PS5X should improve as the PC version does, since it's built on KytyPS5. The PC emulator has advanced quickly in recent months. According to BGR, it can now run Astro Bot and Demon's Souls without crashing, though often at single-digit frame rates, and GTA 5 is fairly playable on high-end PCs.

PS5X hasn't been released to the public. When it is, BGR reports that Xbox owners will be able to install it by switching their console into developer mode, a setting Microsoft offers for testing homemade software.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop trusting Reddit's DNS recommendations—here's how to find the best one for your home

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:30

There's no denying that using a custom DNS server is a better choice than sticking with the one provided by your ISP, but the catch is that you shouldn't opt for the first DNS provider you find positive reviews of online, or the one everyone recommends on Reddit. There's a way to test which DNS server works best for you that only takes about a minute of your time, and it'll give you better results than blindly choosing from the most popular options.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta’s Muse reportedly sent a Facebook Marketplace buyer to a user’s home

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:29

Selling a keyboard on Facebook Marketplace can involve a lot of messages. That sounds like a reasonable job to hand to an AI assistant — until it reportedly agrees to a price, gives out your address, and tells the buyer you’re home, all without checking with you first.

That's what Matt J. Robb says happened after he let Meta's AI agent Muse handle a Marketplace listing. In a post on Threads, Robb said the agent accepted a low offer and shared his address without telling him. By the time he learned what had happened, the prospective buyer had already come to his building and left.

So muse handled my Facebook marketplace today. Just found out it told people my address and agreed a lowball price and then they showed up without it even telling me until late tonight that it messed up.

Absolutely wild.

A screenshot Robb shared shows Muse telling him the buyer arrived around 9:15 p.m. and waited for more than 20 minutes. According to the assistant’s own account, it sent an automatic reply saying "Yep, I’m here!" while Robb was unavailable. Muse said it had since apologized to the buyer from Robb's account and offered to try again another day. Robb responded by telling Muse never to arrange a pickup without checking with him first.

Credit: Screenshot/Threads: @matt.j.robb

David Singleton of the Muse team said he had contacted Robb to investigate Sept. 27. "In the past, when we’ve worked with users to investigate similar reports, we’ve consistently learned that Muse was following direct instructions and correctly asked for permission," he wrote on X. "Would love to help and figure out what’s going on here!"

Robb disputes the suggestion that Muse asked for permission in his case. In a post on X, he said Muse didn’t ask him about the sale until the buyer showed up. He added that he lives in a security-gated apartment building and warned others to be careful about giving an AI agent control over in-person transactions. The screenshots he shared show the buyer messaging to confirm Robb was available, then complaining that he had driven for half an hour and nobody had come down.

In a Sept. 29 update, Robb said he spoken with Singleton and reviewed the logs to understand what went wrong.

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

When he first asked Muse to handle his Facebook Marketplace listing, Robb said the agent presented him with "Allow One Time" and "Allow Always" options. He selected "Allow Always," believing Muse would still ask for confirmation before accepting an offer. Instead, he said, that choice authorized the agent to send messages on his behalf using a template that included the pickup address he had provided. Robb said he hadn’t expected Muse to share that address with everyone who made an offer. He raised the misunderstanding with the team, saying the permission could be easily overlooked, and said they agreed to make it clearer.

The apparent acceptance of a low offer involved a separate issue. Robb said he had explicitly set a minimum price of $700, but Muse responded to a buyer offering $600 with, "Sounds good, 00 it is!" According to Robb, the Meta team told him a display error had removed the "7" from the outgoing message, making it appear to the buyer that the lower offer had been accepted.

Robb also suggested adding a "Sent By Muse" badge beneath messages, saying there was no clear way to tell which had been sent by the agent. As for the buyer who showed up, Robb said they had reconciled and that the buyer returned to purchase something else.

"All ended well," he wrote. "Take care everyone, and double-check what permissions AI has in your life."

The account has made at least one other user reconsider trusting Muse. Gizmodo senior editor Ray Wong wrote on X that he deleted the app after seeing Robb's post, calling the situation "dangerous and creepy." Wong also raised the concern of what an unexpected visit to someone’s home could mean for a woman.

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

And this isn't the first time someone has alleged Muse crossed a boundary they thought they’d set. Inc. columnist Jason Aten reported that Muse brought up a private conversation after he believed he had declined access to his messages. When he asked how Muse knew about the exchange, Aten said the agent’s explanation didn’t match what he found on his Mac. "Snooping through the private database of messages on my Mac doesn’t feel safe or private to me," he wrote. "Lying about it isn’t great either."

Meta introduced Muse earlier this month as a personal AI agent that can work across connected apps, negotiate on a user’s behalf, and continue working after the app is closed. The company says Muse checks with users before sensitive actions and gives them control over which services it can access.

SEE ALSO: 10 ways to use Meta's Muse AI app, from flight credits to outfit ideas

That promise is precisely why accounts like these are unsettling. Whatever an investigation finds about Muse’s permissions, an assistant arranging an in-person meeting surely needs to make sure the person it represents knows it’s happening, don't you think?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Starship reaches orbit for the first time ever but returns home early

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:20

UPDATE: Sep. 28, 2026, 11:46 a.m. EDT Starship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii at about 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. SpaceX officials have not yet said why controllers decided to bring the ship home early after a successful orbital insertion maneuver, a first for Starship. The test was supposed to last about 10 hours to see the ship complete six full orbits around Earth. Instead, the mission ran just three hours.

SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on Monday, surviving an early engine shutdown during ascent, before flight controllers opted to cut the test flight short.

The giant rocket lifted off at 7:48 a.m. local time from Starbase, Texas. Moments later, one of the six engines on Starship's upper stage, known as the ship, quit firing. At first, SpaceX seemed to be leaning toward calling off the push to orbit, with host Dan Huot providing live commentary as the team weighed the decision.

But after studying the data, controllers polled "go" for the orbital insertion engine burn. A single engine fired for a few seconds and pushed the ship fast enough to stay in space. 

"That's the first time we've ever said that in this program: 'Go for orbit,'" said Jake Berkowitz, a SpaceX lead propulsion engineer. "That is a really, really cool thing to hear and obviously means quite a bit for the remainder of this mission."

Reaching orbit moves Starship toward sustained spaceflight. Until Monday, every Starship flight followed a short arc that used gravity to drop the ship back into the ocean. In orbit, a spacecraft moves so fast that Earth curves away beneath it as quickly as gravity pulls it down, keeping it aloft to circle the planet. The milestone advances Starship's development toward refueling in space and full reusability, which SpaceX needs for its plans to fly to the moon and Mars. But the test, which was supposed to see the ship circle Earth six times before returning, ended about three hours into flight, without a clear explanation.

SEE ALSO: A Mars crater wasn't just a lake. That could change the hunt for life.

The engine shutdown was the first obstacle. Huot told viewers the team had decided "not to commit to orbit" and would send the ship down in the Indian Ocean instead. Then, he admitted he spoke too soon, saying the team was reassessing the situation.

Flight controllers focused on the ship's three center engines — the ones it specifically needed to reach orbit. Those engines continued to look healthy, Huot said, encouraging SpaceX to proceed.

Starship coasts through space around Earth before its orbital insertion engine burn on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot

"You're getting this in real time as I'm starting to see it," he said during the livestream, "so we are not giving up yet."

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Before the ship reached orbit, the rocket's first stage, a booster called Super Heavy, also did its job. It flipped, fired its engines, and made what the hosts called a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. That was an improvement over the previous flight this summer, in which the booster hit the water hard.

After reaching orbit, Starship deployed 26 Starlink internet satellites into space, marking its first real payload delivery, following lots of practice with dummy satellites.

Starship splashed dow in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii, rather than Chile as planned, at about 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, during the 14th flight test. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot

The test was meant to continue for about nine more hours. Instead, flight controllers took the first available deorbit opportunity to bring the ship back to Earth. The test lasted only about three hours versus the anticipated 10. Commentators did not immediately share a reason for that decision.

The ship plunged back through the atmosphere, where its exterior heated to thousands of degrees at its peak. It relied on heat-resistant tiles for protection. Recently, SpaceX added extra pins to hold tiles in place and closed gaps where superheated gas had slipped behind them on the last flight.

Starship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii — rather than Chile, where it was supposed to touch down — at about 11 a.m. CT. At first, it appeared to be yet another soft water landing. A moment later, a fireball filled the air.

"Not quite an extra soft splashdown like we had on the last one, but Starship's in the water nonetheless," Huot said.

Despite the early return, hosts called the test "wildly successful."

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new movies to watch this week across Netflix, HBO Max, and more (September 28-October 4)

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:00

October is on the horizon, which means new movies will be hitting streaming this week. Tyler Perry's latest directorial effort and one of Christopher Nolan's underrated movies hit Netflix. Meanwhile, Ari Aster's folk-horror movie heads to Hulu.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Belgium vs. France online for free

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:00

TL;DR: Watch Belgium vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League provides plenty of opportunities to see top international sides battle it out. We've been blessed by a number of high-profile matchups since the competition restarted last week, and the action continues with Belgium vs. France.

Belgium began this campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Italy. France secured three points with a narrow win over Turkey. Now the top two sides face each other at the King Baudouin Stadium.

If you're interested in watching Belgium vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Belgium vs. France?

Belgium vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 28. This fixture takes place at the King Baudouin Stadium.

How to watch Belgium vs. France for free

Belgium vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream Belgium vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Belgium vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in France

  4. Visit TF1

  5. Watch Belgium vs. France 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Belgium vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries, including France

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Belgium vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

TCL’s massive 85-inch QM6K Mini-LED 4K TV just hit its best-ever price — save $200 now

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 16:52

SAVE $200: As of Sept. 28, the 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale for $897.99 at Amazon. Down from its typical price of $1,097.99, that's its best-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-Inch Class QM6K Series Mini LED QLED 4K HDR TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,097.99 Save $200   Get Deal

If you have been waiting to turn your living room into a private movie theater, Amazon just dropped a record-low deal on a massive screen. The 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K Smart TV is currently marked down to $897.99 from its typical $1,097.99 price tag. That is an 18% discount that knocks $200 off, bringing this latest-model display down to its best price ever.

Getting an 85-inch screen under the $900 mark is already a steal, but what makes this deal special is that TCL didn't skimp on picture quality to keep the price low. Instead of using old-school giant backlights that make dark scenes look washed-out and grey, this model packs thousands of microscopic LEDs directly behind the glass. Because these tiny lights can dim or brighten independently, bright objects stay sharp while dark backgrounds remain genuinely dark, preventing bright light from leaking into the dark corners of the screen.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

It is also built to handle fast movement without turning into a blurry mess. The screen can refresh its picture up to 144 times every second, which means fast-moving footballs, racing cars, and current-gen video games stay buttery smooth. Whatever you choose to watch, the TV automatically adjusts its picture settings to match the exact movie or show format you are streaming, making sure colors pop without looking fake or overly harsh.

Rounding out the package is built-in Google TV software, which means all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube are on one easy-to-use home screen. You can control the TV using the included voice remote with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa commands, and the onboard speakers are tuned by audio brand Onkyo with spatial surround sound built right in, so dialogue stays clear without requiring an immediate soundbar purchase.

Head to Amazon to score TCL's massive 85-inch Mini-LED 4K TV at its record-low price before it sells out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

McDonalds Happy Meal x Pokémon launch: Release date and how to collect all trading cards

Mashable - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 16:37

TL;DR: According to reports, Pokémon cards will return to McDonald's Happy Meals from Nov. 5. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack, with 15 cards available to collect in total.

It looks like Pokémon cards are officially returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals in the U.S. Mark your calendars for Nov. 5, because collectors have got a month to complete the latest 15-card set.

According to reports from PokéBeach, the limited-time promotion will run through Dec. 9. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack featuring three standard cards and one guaranteed holofoil. It's going to be chaos.

Here's everything we know about the upcoming drop, what to expect in the packs, and how to score the cards.

When do Pokémon Happy Meals drop at McDonald's?

If reports are true, the U.S. promotion will run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 9. If Target's recent Pokémon event was anything to go by, expect high demand from launch.

What will the Pokémon Happy Meal booster packs include?

We don't expect McDonald’s to change a winning formula. As usual, each Happy Meal will contain three regular cards and one foil card. There will be 15 cards to collect, including six holo cards printed on confetti holofoil. Unfortunately, we don't know which cards will be featured just yet.

How to get the cards (without feeding the scalpers)

If you are trying to complete a full 15-card binder set without buying 50 Happy Meals, keep these tips in mind:

Ask to buy extra booster packs separately

Some locations allow you to purchase additional Happy Meal toy/card packs individually at the register (typically around $1.99 to $2.99 each) without purchasing a full meal, though rules vary by location.

Avoid third-party reseller markups

Complete 15-card sets and individual holos usually flood secondary markets hours after launch, often dropping significantly in price after the initial opening-weekend hype cools down.

Shop online alternatives

If in-person stock dries up, official Pokémon 30th Anniversary TCG sets are actively restocking online. In fact, you can find Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes for under market price right now at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 more beginner self-hosting projects you can run on any old PC

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 16:30

Many self-hosted services require a powerful CPU, lots of storage, or a dedicated GPU, but many of my favorite apps don't. In fact, most of the services I run daily would run acceptably on any PC made in the last 10 to 15 years. If you want to try self-hosting but don't feel like spending a month's rent on a new PC, break out your old laptop that has been collecting dust in your closet instead—it'll do just fine.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The first Boox pocket eReader is up for pre-order, and Xteink should watch out

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 16:08

You won't have to wait much longer to try Boox's take on a pocket eReader. The company has started taking pre-orders for the Picco ahead of an October release date, and promises to give its rival Xteink some stiff competition.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ryobi's $20 clamp fan is the most versatile tool in my garage—here's why I own three

How-To Geek - Mon, 09/28/2026 - 16:00

If you own some Ryobi power tools and battery packs, there's a good chance you have one of its fans. Ryobi makes all sorts of extremely useful tools to keep you cool, but the internet's favorite model is the clamp fan. Here's why, and several creative ways to use this affordable little gadget.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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