IT General

Windows has typically been the platform of choice for gaming, but Linux is becoming an increasingly useful option for playing games as well. With Ubuntu 25.04, you might be getting a cool feature that will squeeze more performance out of your computer.

Google Workspace is introducing a new feature for Google Docs that uses AI to summarize documents. This feature is built on Gemini AI technology and allows users to create summaries of their texts.

Uranus' accidental discovery 240 years ago greatly enhanced our understanding of the solar system, doubling the size of the solar system as we knew it at the time. Here's how a German astronomer stumbled upon the ice giant.

After over a week of the Chromecast (2nd Gen) and Chromecast Audio being completely nonfunctional, Google is finally rolling out a fix for the streaming devices.

It's bad enough that tech companies trained their AI models on content that doesn't belong to them. Now, however, it appears that at least one AI model is being used to remove watermarks from images so others can use content that doesn't belong to them, too.

Social media users have recently discovered that Google's new Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model can be used to remove watermarks from images.

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As reported by TechCrunch, this isn't completely new. Other AI image models have been able to remove watermarks. However, Gemini 2.0 Flash appears to be better than all other AI models at this particular task. 

Gemini 2.0 Flash doesn't just remove the watermark. It fills in the gaps in the image that are left from removing the watermark.

Based on what users on platforms like X and Reddit have shared, it appears that ​​Gemini 2.0 Flash does have some trouble removing certain types of watermarks, such as semi-transparent watermarks. As TechCrunch notes, Google has only made the model available via its developer tools platform, and the company has currently labeled Gemini 2.0 Flash’s image generation feature as “experimental” and “not for production use."

Reddit

However, for photographers and other artists, this is certainly a concerning use of the tool, at least until Google puts some guardrails on the AI image generation feature.

Photographers often depend on watermarks to identify their work as their own; when someone purchases the work, the watermark is removed for that person's use. But if any internet user can just run the image through an AI model to remove the watermark, artists will certainly experience problems getting paid. (Note, also, that in most cases removing a watermark without the permission of the creator is copyright infringement, and illegal under U.S. law.)

The future issues here likely won't be with Google's specific AI tool. The issue is that this is possible with an AI model to begin with. Even if Google adds guardrails to protect copyright holders from uses such as this, there will likely be other third-party AI tools that will replicate these features. In fact, as we previously mentioned, they already are. And soon, they'll probably be just as good as Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash model, too.

The new M4 MacBook Air might be a great upgrade in performance and pricing, but unfortunately, it’s still far from easy to repair. iFixit has released its teardown results for the latest MacBook, calling it “a mix of good intentions and frustrating limitations that continues to fall short of what consumers deserve in a premium laptop.”

Among Amazon's flagship devices like Kindles and Fire TVs, Echos are the star of the show. These multitasking smart home devices do a little bit of everything in nearly every room in the house. Whether you need a smart speaker, alarm clock, or hub for your other smart devices, there's an echo to help you out. Amazon's list of devices is ever-growing, so we've tested them to find the best Echo devices for your smart home.

Plus, with the announcement of Alexa+, Echo devices are now getting supercharged with extra AI features. Alexa+ will soon be available to Prime members on all Echo devices, making these smart home devices more capable than ever.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They're almost guaranteed to go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday. Last Prime Day, we saw discounts of up to 58% on devices including the Echo Pop, Dot, and Spot. So if you are going to buy an Amazon smart home device, it's worth holding out until the next sale.

Upcoming changes to Echo devices

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change is coming affecting user privacy. Recently Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa coming to Echo devices in March 2025. (Amazon provided only a loose timeframe for the launch, but Alexa+ early access will roll out to Echo Show devices first.) For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 a month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

There's a new Instagram feature that could prove to be revolutionary for three very specific communities:

• Guys who want to be the first to say "happy birthday"

• People who don't want to seem too eager but also don't want to forget to message a new friend

• Dudes who say "good morning, beautiful" but want to sleep in

That's right. You can schedule messages on Instagram DMs now — here's how:

SEE ALSO: New Instagram DM features allow you to translate, schedule, and pin messages Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• Phone
• Instagram app

Step 1: Type our your message

Type out the message you want to send, but don't press send immediately.

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

Step 2: Schedule the message.

Press and hold on the green send button until a time dial pops up. By moving the date and time on the clock, you can choose when you'd like your message to send. You can schedule up to three months in advance.

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

Step 3: Your message is scheduled

You know your message was properly scheduled if it says, "1 scheduled message," above where you'd type a message. If you'd like to unschedule your message, simply tap the line that says "1 scheduled message" to see the message and click either "edit," "copy," or "delete."

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

The feature was announced alongside many other new features, including translating directly within DMs and pinning messages to chats. Most of the features, including scheduling messages, are not available on desktop but are available on the Instagram Android and iOS apps.

If you know where to look, you can watch full-length, real-world movies inside video games. Whether it would be a good viewing experience is up for debate, but at least now you know that if you somehow lose access to all streaming services and Blu-rays, you can boot up these games for some cinematic entertainment.

Alexa devices will no longer offer a "do not send voice recordings" setting after March 28th. Future Alexa recordings must be sent to the Amazon cloud, though you can still ask Amazon to automatically delete voice requests after they're processed.

AI is all over social media. We have AI influencers, AI content, and AI accounts — and, now, it looks like we might get AI comments on Instagram posts, too. What are any of us doing this for anymore?

App researcher Jonah Manzano shared a post on Threads and a video on TikTok showing how some Instagram users now notice a pencil with a star icon in their comments field, allowing them to post AI-generated comments under posts and videos.

SEE ALSO: Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots

"Write with Meta AI," the tool says, with two subsections: "how to use this tool" and "how it works."

Under "how to use this tool," it says, "Get suggested captions based on the photo you're sharing. You can always edit the suggestions or try again."

And under "how it works," it claims, "Meta AI can analyse photos, including facial features, to help you write."

In the video on TikTok that Manzano shared, three comment options are: "Cute living room setup!" "love the casual vibe here," and "gray cap is so cool." Unfortunately, all three of these are clearly computer-generated slop and take an already shaky human interaction down a notch.

It's hard to know why you'd want to remove the human element from every aspect of social media, but Instagram seems to be going to try it anyway. Meta did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.

TL;DR: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro and unlock access to Copilot AI tools for only A$23 through 30 March — that’s a 92% discount.

If you thought AI would only be a fad, take a look at Microsoft. As we speak (or read?), they’re making computers infused with Microsoft Copilot, their latest AI technology. But something even cooler? You don’t have to get a new device to get Copilot — just upgrade to Windows 11.

And, if you’re going for it, go all the way and get the Pro version with the most features, like remote desktop access and hard drive encryption. We have a deal on Windows 11 Pro keys for only A$23 (reg. A$314), and each purchase comes with two keys for compatible PCs.

AI in Windows 11

We realize you can use AI chatbots, so what makes Windows Copilot special? For one, Copilot is built using a custom version of GPT-4, so it’s like getting the premium version of ChatGPT for free.

There are also many perks of having Copilot built into your PC:

• Ask it to change system settings instead of finding them yourself

• Summarize web pages without having to ‘copy and paste’

• Have it set reminders, schedule meetings, or draft emails

Pro-specific features

Already have Windows 11 Home, but curious about what Pro delivers? Remote desktop access becomes super handy in a pinch, as does BitLocker device encryption in case of device loss or theft. You’ll also get Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for other professional testing and tasks.

Get two keys to Windows 11 Pro for A$23 (reg. A$314) until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT at the Mashable Shop. No coupon is needed to get this discount.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (2 Keys) AU$23 at the Mashable Shop
AU$314 Save AU$291 Get Deal

Late last week, we learned that Google Assistant is on borrowed time and will soon get replaced by Gemini on Android phones. And while Google said it'll continue to invest in and improve Assistant, we recently learned that it'll slowly start losing several key features.

TL;DR: For a limited time, Mashable readers can pay just A$110 for lifetime access to FileJump's 2TB cloud storage plan.

Looking to optimize your storage? During this sale, you can get peace of mind with the FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just A$110 (reg. A$738).

Ideal for students, professionals, or anyone else who hates running out of storage space, FileJump offers an easy, secure, and affordable way to store files across devices.

Whether backing up family photos, collaborating on projects, or simply saving space on their devices, FileJump is the perfect solution. It comes with 2TB of storage, end-to-end encryption, and no recurring fees — no subscription needed.

With FileJump’s drag-and-drop interface, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to upload files, while the built-in media preview makes viewing photos, videos, and documents a breeze.

Sharing and collaborating are seamless, too. Share files via custom links or create free accounts for clients and team members to access shared folders. With AES 256-bit encryption, your files are not only accessible but also secure.

What really sets FileJump apart? There are no limits on download speeds or transfer rates, meaning you’ll never wait longer than necessary to access your data.

At A$110 for lifetime access to 2TB of storage, an 85% discount, FileJump delivers premium features at an incredible value. Competitors charge monthly fees for similar services, but with FileJump, you pay once and own it forever. This offer isn’t just practical and useful — it’s economical, too.

For a limited time, you’ll pay just A$110 (reg. A$738) for lifetime access to 2TB of FileJump storage.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription AU$110
AU$738 Save AU$628 Get Deal

SAVE $40: As of March 17, you can get the Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount and a savings of $40.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet $69.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $40 Get Deal

If you’ve got a tike at home who’s always begging to use your smartphone or tablet, you might want to consider getting them a kid-friendly device of their own.

As of March 17, you can get the Amazon Fire 7 Kids (newest model) for just $69.99. That’s 36% off and a savings of $40.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets for kids in 2025

This seven-inch tablet offers an ad-free, child-friendly experience right out of the box, with parental controls, a durable, kid-proof case, and a two-year worry-free guarantee in case your little one decides to put it through the wringer. With the Parent Dashboard, you can filter content based on your child's age and interests, set screen time limits, and customize their profile. It also has a 10-hour battery and 16GB of storage.

You’ll get an entire year of Amazon Kids+, which has thousands of books, games, videos, and educational apps for kids to explore. (It’s $5.99 per month after that, but you can always choose to cancel.)

TikTok is making it easier to personalize security settings in-app, introducing a new all-in-one security hub to better manage account access and data.

Called Security Checkup, the new dashboard provides a centralized place to turn on multi-level security options and monitor suspicious activity, as well as step-by-step guides to enhancing your account's security.

SEE ALSO: Bluesky proposes new privacy settings for its users

Users can add two factor authentication or passkeys to their log-ins, for example, as well as view and remove logged-in devices and see when TikTok flags unusual account activity. Access Security Checkup by going to "Security and Permissions" under your account's "Settings and privacy" menu.

Last week, TikTok announced new parental control features that allow caregivers to set stronger app restrictions and monitor their teens' accounts more closely.

Credit: TikTok

Data privacy is at the heart of TikTok's political contentiousness over the last year. In January, TikTok briefly left U.S. digital marketplaces following a years-long campaign to ban the app for U.S. users, but was restored to app stores by the Trump administration under the pretense of potential new ownership.

Prior to its ban, the Chinese-owned platform was accused of being under the influence of foreign government interests, with congressional members arguing its access to Americans' data presents a wide scale national security risk — civil rights groups, meanwhile, argued against the ban. Despite fielding several offers, the White House appears to be pushing ahead with a deal that could see American software company Oracle taking over the reigns, as the platform continues to update its user control options.

If you noticed Copilot is randomly unpinned from your taskbar and missing from your Windows machine, you're not alone. Microsoft's fancy new Copilot app is being "unintentionally uninstalled" on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices during this month's latest update.

Save 41%: As of March 17, the Beats Studio Buds + are at a record low price of $99.95. That price drop takes $70 off their $169.95 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds + $99.95 at Amazon
$169.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal

As someone who covers deals, I've learned that sometimes, the best price drops come at the most random times.

Take the Beats Studio Buds +. I've seen them drop in price to $129.95 enough times that that price stopped feeling like a deal worth reporting on. During shopping holidays, these earbuds might drop a bit lower to $119. Yet, it's during a random March day that I spot the Beats Studio Buds + are down to a new record low price of $99.95 at Amazon, slashing an impressive $70 off their list price (and putting them at the same sale price as the older and cheaper Beats Studio Buds).

Though these earbuds came to the scene in 2023, they're still an especially good choice for folks who want strong Apple integration in their earbuds, without paying Apple prices. (At the time of writing, the cheapest ANC you can get with AirPods is for $148.99, thanks to a sale price on the AirPods 4).

SEE ALSO: Ozlo Sleepbuds review: Can earbuds really improve your sleep?

When I tested them in 2024 for our best noise-cancelling earbuds roundup, I found they acted incredibly similar to AirPods in how they paired with my phone and in their battery life — like the AirPods Pro, they offer six hours per charge with ANC on. (Unlike the Pros, their case has 36 hours of battery to the Pros 30).

You will miss out on spatial audio with head tracking and the ANC isn't quite on par with the Pros, but you still get great sound quality that delivers plenty of bass, while still providing plenty of balance (which does help, considering there's no companion app with an adjustable equalizer).

In addition to their fun aesthetics, I found that the Beats also fit better in my ear than any pair of AirPods ever has, but they still favor button to touch controls on the earbuds themselves, which made the wear experience especially great. Obviously, everyone's ears are different, but if you've never been a fan of the fit of Apple earbuds, Beats might be worth checking out.

SAVE $200: The Philips 3300 fully automatic espresso machine with LatteGo milk system is on sale at Amazon for $599.99, down from the normal price of $799.99. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips 3300 fully automatic espresso machine $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200 Get Deal

Your morning coffee routine should be painless and come with a delicious reward. If that's not the case and you're struggling with an old machine or your drink isn't up to par, consider this great deal at Amazon.

As of March 17, the Philips 3300 fully automatic espresso machine with LatteGo milk system is $599.99 at Amazon, on sale from the standard price of $799.99. That's a 25% discount that works out to a savings of $200.

If you love a morning latte, an afternoon cappuccino, or an after-dinner espresso, the Philips 3300 is there to craft any of those drinks with just one touch. You're free to choose from one of the six hot and iced drink options on the Philips 3300 espresso machine. You can also customize your drinks further with the options to adjust the coffee's strength and volume.

This model also features the Philips LatteGo milk system which gives you that perfectly velvet foam to top drinks like lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos. Unlike many espresso machines with complicated milk systems that are a struggle to clean, the LatteGo has just two parts with no tubes, making it much simpler to clean.

The machine houses a ceramic grinder so you'll be using freshly ground coffee with each cup, and Philips mentions the 3300 model is 40% quieter than previous versions. Plus, the Philips HomeID app can guide your with easy instructions and recipe inspiration for making the best coffee-house drinks at home.

If you love trips to the coffee shop but don't love how the bill adds up, become a barista at home with the Philips 3300 fully automatic espresso machine. Since it's on sale at Amazon for $599.99, now's a great time to become a coffee drink expert.

SAVE $170.04: As of March 17, Beats Studio Pro headphones are down to $179.95. That saves $170.04 off of its usual $349.99 price tag. Shop at Amazon for 49% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro headphones $179.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $170.04 Get Deal

As a shopping reporter, I'm always checking out people's gear. Whether I'm at the gym or walking to the corner store, I always have my eyes peeled for what people are sporting, especially on their ears. I spend all day hunting for deals and testing products, but I like to see what headphones people are actually buying and wearing. And easily my most spotted headphones are the Beats Studio Pros.

And I get it, there's a reason we awarded them a Mashable Choice award. The Beats Studio Pro headphones deliver active noise cancellation and 40 hours of battery life. They deliver rich audio while blocking out loud noises whether that be city scapes or a busy office space. Like Apple's AirPods collection, Beats bring the same breezy connectivity. Just by turning on the headphones, they'll connect to your iOS devices seamlessly. But unlock AirPods, Beats offer great connectivity to Android devices too.

At their standard price tag of $349.99, the Beats Studio Pros are a little pricier for our liking, even if they are nearly half the price of the Apple AirPods Max. Luckily, as of March 17, you can find the Beats for just $179.95. That offers $170.04 in savings for 49% off. The lowest price we've ever seen the Beats Studio Pros dip down to is $159.99 so this isn't a bad deal, just $20 away from that price.