IT General

If you only want your Home Assistant automations to run at certain times or on certain days, you can use a time condition. Hard-coding your schedule this way is simple to do, but there is a better way.

In movies, you'll sometimes see characters grapple with a "dead man switch." If someone doesn't push a button or enter a password every few hours (or days), it triggers a self-destruct sequence or sends out a secret message. I've always found that concept really cool, so I built one with an app on my Android phone.

Apple's big week continues as the company dropped a slew of new products on Tuesday. 

The biggest release? A new MacBook Pro with Apple's newest and most powerful chipsets, the M5 Pro and M5 Max.

The MacBook Pro with the M5 chip came out back in October, so the release of the M5 Pro and M5 Max was long overdue based on Apple's previous release cycles with its in-house Silicon chipset. Mashable gave the MacBook Pro M5 a stellar review, and these long-awaited MacBook Pros with the M5 Pro and M5 Max are basically just more powerful versions of that device for professional users with advanced computing needs.

MacBooks are getting more expensive

Before getting into the specs of these premium laptops, the first thing we should mention is that Apple has surprisingly raised MacBook Pro prices across the board. We're not just talking about the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips being more expensive than their predecessors with equivalent silicon. Today, Apple has also effectively raised the starting price of the MacBook Pro M5 that was released in October.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 previously had a starting price of $1,599. Apple has raised the price by $100, bringing the new starting price to $1,699. Thankfully, Apple isn't asking consumers to just pay more for the same device. Apple has done away with the 512GB of storage option, making 1TB of storage the new base model. So, while Apple fans have to pay $100 more for a MacBook Pro, they're now getting double the storage.

Now, as for the newest members of the MacBook Pro family, the 14-inch M5 Pro starts at $2,199, which is $200 more than its M4 Pro predecessor, and comes with a 15-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. The 16-inch M5 Pro starts at $2,699, also $200 more than its M4 Pro predecessor, and comes with an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Pros come with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage in their base models.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks you can buy in 2026, tested by experts

By far the most expensive models are the ultra-powerful MacBook Pros with the M5 Max chipset. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max starts at $3,599, and the 16-inch M5 Max starts at a whopping $3,899. Both base models come with an 18-core CPU and a 32-core GPU and include 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.

MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max: Specs and performance upgrades Credit: Apple

According to Apple, the new MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max altogether provide up to four times the AI performance compared to the equivalent M4 chipsets and up to eight times the AI performance when compared to the M1 chips, Apple's first Silicon chipset, which came out in 2020.

The new MacBook Pros also include Apple's wireless networking chip called N1, which brings improved performance and reliability for wireless connections over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Apple says that the new MacBook Pros also boast two times faster SSD performance and up to 24 hours of battery life.

Now, as for the M5 Pro and M5 Max specific upgrades, users will see huge performance boosts in AI processing, video editing, 3D modeling, gaming, and more.

Apple says 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M5 Pro will see:

• Up to 7.8x faster AI image generation performance when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and up to 3.7x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. 

• Up to 6.9x faster LLM prompt processing when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and up to 3.9x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. 

• Up to 5.2x faster 3D rendering in Maxon Redshift when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and up to 1.4x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. 

• Up to 1.6x faster gaming performance with ray tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition when compared to MacBook Pro with M4 Pro.

As for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with the M5 Max chip, Apple says that users will see:

• Up to 8x faster AI image generation performance when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max and up to 3.8x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max. 

• Up to 6.7x faster LLM prompt processing when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max and up to 4x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max. 

• Up to 5.4x faster video effects rendering performance in Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Studio when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max and up to 3x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max. 

• Up to 3.5x faster AI video-enhancing performance in Topaz Video when compared to MacBook Pro with M4 Max.

Along with Tuesday's MacBook Pro announcements, Apple also unveiled a new MacBook Air with the M5 chipset and a new Apple Studio Display.

PREORDER NOW: As of March 3, preorder the Google Pixel 10a at Amazon for $499 and get a free $100 Amazon gift card with your purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 10a and $100 Amazon Gift Card $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Pre-order Here

Looking to pick up a new phone? You've got plenty of options already on the market, but if you want something hot off the presses, you've still got time to preorder the Google Pixel 10a. It's releasing on March 5, so you've still got a couple of days to lock in your preorder. If you want a little bonus for doing so, you're going to want to head to Amazon.

As of March 3, preorder the Google Pixel 10a at Amazon for $499 and get a free $100 Amazon gift card with your purchase. The gift card is part of a bundle that contains both the Google Pixel 10a and a physical Amazon gift card shipped in a mini envelope.

You'll have to wait to receive both items in the mail together, so this isn't a digital purchase, and they may ship separately. Keep that in mind before making the purchase if you're more interested in a digital gift card.

SEE ALSO: How to preorder the iPhone 17e, Apple's new budget phone

The Google Pixel 10a is Google's latest addition to its affordable smartphone selection. The budget handset has a completely flat back as opposed to many smartphones, and comes in four different colors: Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian.

It boasts a 6.3-inch display with 1080 x 2424 resolution and a 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. Powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor, it's a zippy phone with a 5,100mAh battery, 8GB of RAM, and 128 or 256GB of storage depending on your configuration. Plus, it has a rear camera array with 48MP and 13MP options as well as a 13MP selfie camera.

If you're planning on grabbing a new phone already and this budget model looks like your style, best to grab it at Amazon where you can sweeten the deal with a gift card. You'l have to get it quickly if you want to lock in the deal, since the phone preorder window is rapidly closing.

Even the most seasoned senior developers, armed with years of experience, routinely stumble over traps in Python. It's not hard and doesn't stem from a lack of technical skill, but from an ingrained reliance on programming intuitions that simply do not hold true in the Python ecosystem.

Plex is the go-to app for most users with a large home media library. But not everyone actually needs it. If you just want to watch shows or movies on the big screen, your TV might already have the tools you need.

If you're a Ryobi owner, you probably have a good collection of its lime-green 18V ONE+ power tools. With more than 350 products that run on the same battery, it's often all you need. But when you're battling weeds, fighting an overgrown lawn, or trying to finish jobs quickly while outside in the heat, Ryobi's 40V platform is the better choice.

Apple continued its "big week" of product launches on Tuesday by announcing new M5 MacBook Air laptops alongside upgraded MacBook Pros. They're set for release on Wednesday, March 11, and preorders open March 4.

The new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs have the same speedy M5 processor as last fall's 14-inch MacBook Pro. They now start with 512GB of storage, and they're configurable with up to 4TB for the first time.

Credit: Apple

The 512GB base models will retail for $1,099 and $1,299, respectively, which is the biggest news here. Those prices represent $100 discounts compared to the M4 MacBook Airs with the same amount of storage. They started with 256GB at $999; that configuration option is no longer available.

The M5 MacBook Airs have also added Apple's N1 wireless chip, which brings support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Beyond that, this is a very iterative update. The M5 MacBook Airs have the same designs as their predecessors, retaining their aluminum builds, 60Hz Liquid Retina displays, 12MP Center Stage webcams, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and 18-hour battery life ratings. They still come in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver.

SEE ALSO: Apple expects high demand from its March 4 releases

The $1,099 starting price leaves plenty of room for Apple's rumored budget MacBook, which the company is expected to announce during its "special experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai tomorrow. For months, Apple forecasters have been predicting a low-cost MacBook that could compete with cheap Windows laptops.

Apple kicked off the week by announcing the iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air on Monday. The new MacBook Pros it unveiled Tuesday alongside the Airs have upgraded M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

Apple M5 MacBook Air: The specs Credit: Apple

• Sizes: 13- and 15-inch models

• Starting prices: $1,099 and $1,299, respectively

• Processor: M5 with 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina display with 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness

• RAM: 16GB

• Storage: 512GB to 4TB

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 18 hours

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, headphone jack

• Colors: Sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver

Apple AirTags have changed the game for anyone who constantly misplaces their keys or wallets. Almost every major brand now offers its own alternative, from the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 to the Motorola Moto Tag.

TL;DR: Live stream Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia for free on Mediaset Infinity. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Domestic cup competitions are approaching their conclusions across Europe this week. We've got semi finals in the Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal, and Coppa Italia. And better yet, fans can live stream select fixtures without spending anything.

One such game is Como vs. Internazionale. This exciting first-leg matchup sees fifth place take on first place from Serie A. We're expecting a tense clash between two organized and intriguing sides. Can Cesc Fàbregas lead his talented side into the final? Como will need to be at their best to advance.

If you want to watch Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Como vs. Internazionale?

Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on March 3. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

How to watch Como vs. Internazionale for free

Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia is available to live stream for free on Mediaset Infinity.

Mediaset Infinity is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can access this free streaming platform 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 unblock Mediaset Infinity to live stream the Coppa Italia for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit Mediaset Infinity

5. Watch Como vs. Internazionale for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Coppa Italia without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Mediaset Infinity?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Mediaset Infinity, 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Como vs. Internazionale in the Coppa Italia for free with ExpressVPN.

Apple recently released the latest phone in its "e" series, the iPhone 17e. Unlike the "SE" line that came before it, this one seems to be on track for annual updates. However, for a variety of reasons, the "e" series is far less compelling—and it shouldn't exist.

There would be many more programmers in the world if not for the fact that programming is hard, and you need to spend a lot of time learning, practicing, and testing your code.

New models of smartphones get released on a constant churn, and even if you don't upgrade every year, it's a safe bet that your current phone is not your first. The chances are that you have some old phones lying around your home. The same is probably true of other devices such as tablets and e-readers.

SAVE $500: As of Feb. 28, Amazon has the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone camera on sale for 30% off at $1,099, down from its list price of $1,599. 

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your aerial photography setup, this weekend might be a great chance to do so. Amazon has DJI’s Mini 5 Pro on sale for almost a third off its list price, which is a pretty good deal. The Mini 5 Pro is an excellent sidekick for outdoor adventurers, aerial photography hobbyists, and professionals who want a compact, portable device.

The drone is palm-sized when folded and fits easily into a pocket. This model comes replete with 42GB of internal storage, so you can film your adventure or venture entirely uninterrupted. Its portability and compactness do not compromise its ability to capture high-quality video, either. As previously mentioned, the drone records 4k footage with a 60fps (frames per second) frame rate. DJI claims this drone will render your content in crisp, clear, highly defined detail.

The drone also comes with the DJI RC 2 (the remote control) that has a large screen in the center to see what you’re filming in real time. 

You might have heard the idiom about the guy with his feet in a freezer and his head in an oven: on average, he's perfectly comfortable. In Excel, we do this with our data every day. Averages are great summaries, but they can quietly sabotage your decisions.

TL;DR: Live stream Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal for free on RTP Play. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The top two teams from the Liga Portugal are meeting in the semi-final stage of the Taça de Portugal. Sporting CP vs. Porto is one of the biggest games in Portuguese football every season, but this year feels extra special. Both teams are gunning for a domestic double, so there's an added element of pressure to this all-important clash.

The good news for fans is that it's possible to watch select fixtures from the Taça de Portugal without spending anything, including this first leg matchup. So sit back, relax, and watch these talented sides battle it out for a place in the final.

If you want to watch Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sporting CP vs. Porto?

Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 3. This fixture takes place at the José Alvalade Stadium.

How to watch Sporting CP vs. Porto for free

Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal is available to live stream for free on RTP Play.

RTP Play is geo-restricted to Portugal, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Portugal, meaning you can unblock RTP Play to live stream the Taça de Portugal for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit RTP Play

5. Watch Sporting CP vs. Porto for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Taça de Portugal without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTP Play?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Portugal

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

Live stream Sporting CP vs. Porto in the Taça de Portugal for free with ExpressVPN.

For years, I used a gas generator as backup power during outages, whether they were expected or unexpected blackouts. I recently replaced the gas generator with a battery-powered one. While both serve the same purpose, the battery-powered generator proved to be a true upgrade.

Ignoring the Applied Steps pane in the Power Query editor means you're stuck in a loop of trial and error. That's how you end up with a bloated workflow that turns a five-minute cleanup into an afternoon chore. You don't need to learn any code to fix this—you just need to learn how to manipulate your existing steps.

Luxury buyers usually expect a calm, cushy ride as part of the deal. For years, European SUVs have set the benchmark, leaning on sophisticated suspension setups to deliver that smooth, planted feel.

Bridgerton star Luke Thompson, despite getting his words wrong occasionally in the show, has no issues moving his feet.

In The Tonight Show clip above he pulls Jimmy Fallon out from behind his desk for an impromptu dance lesson, resulting in much giggling and some impressively quick learning from Fallon.

All they need is a trademark Bridgerton string cover and it'd be like something straight out of the show.