IT General

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.

SAVE $54.95: As of July 30, the Nespresso Vertuo Next cofee and espresso maker is on sale for just $125 at Amazon. That's a 31% price drop from its usual cost of $179.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Next $125 at Amazon
$179.95 Save $54.95   Get Deal

You know what's even better than getting your beloved caffeine fix? Getting it on demand and at a discount.

As of July 30, the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker is on sale for just $125 at Amazon. That's 31% off, or $54.95 off compared to its usual list price of $179.95. While it's been cheaper before, that's still a pretty great deal.

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While many countertop espresso makers are large, clunky eyesores, the Vertuo Next is sleek and slim (just 5.5 inches wide) and won't take up much space on the countertop. The water tank is even removable to truly optimize your space, making it a particularly perfect pick for compact spaces like apartments, dorms, or even cubicles. It heats up in just 30 seconds and gives you on-demand coffee in various formats at the touch of a single button.

Choose from six different brewing styles: 5, 8, 12, and 18-ounce coffees, as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. Fill up the 37-ounce water tank, pop in a Nespresso Vertuo capsule, select your brew size, and let it do its thing. Vertuo machines are smart enough to read the barcode on each capsule and automatically adjust the settings to brew it perfectly each and every time.

If you want to take your single-serve coffee to new heights at home, Nespresso is where it's at. A piping hot shot of espresso any time you desire at the press of a button? Say no more. There's no telling how long the discounted $125 price tag will stick around, so snag the 31% savings while you can.

A few years ago, I built a custom external SSD by putting an NVMe drive into a single-bay USB enclosure. It actually performs exactly how I expected it to—the speeds are good and it fits into my pocket.

Wireless Android Auto is great, especially when you have a long drive or need navigation instructions. You jump in and go, and your phone instantly pairs with and takes over the infotainment display. But if you've ever wondered why it turns on your Wi-Fi, that's because Wireless Android Auto needs more than Bluetooth to work.

DJI has officially launched its Osmo Pocket 4P handheld gimbal camera across the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia, following its Asian launch earlier this year. It still isn't coming to the U.S., though.

Previously unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is an upgraded version of the Osmo Pocket 4 released earlier this year, which itself is a successor to 2023's Osmo Pocket 3. The Pocket 3 has become a favourite tool among content creators, with the 4 and 4P intended to build upon its legacy.

SEE ALSO: DJI just unveiled the dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P cinematic camera at Cannes

However, the Osmo Pocket 4P differentiates itself by having a more professional audience in mind. While it can still be used by creators who focus on making videos for social media, DJI has designed the Pocket 4P with features that specifically appeal to filmmakers and cinematographers.

The Osmo Pocket 4P's most obvious distinguishing feature is its dual lenses. Its main lens is a one-inch CMOS sensor which has 17 stops of dynamic range —  an increase from the 14 stops on the Pocket 4 — while the other is a 60-millimetre telephoto lens suitable for portrait shots. Boasting a maximum resolution of 4K at 240fps, the Pocket 4P also debuts DJI's new 10-bit D-log two-colour profile. The company states that this profile is capable of capturing over one billion colours, giving filmmakers more options and flexibility when it comes to colour grading in post-production.

The Pocket 4P is compatible with the Osmo FrameTap remote as well. Included in the 4P's Vlog Combo bundle, the FrameTap allows users to monitor and control the camera from a distance.

Credit: DJI

DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P will come in both Black and Pearl White colourways, with the latter to arrive at a later date. However, neither colour will be arriving in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

Sadly, the Osmo Pocket 4P doesn't have a U.S. release date, as DJI is still awaiting authorisation to launch from the U.S. government. DJI's U.S. business has been severely impeded by the government's hostility toward the company, which has prevented it from bringing its products to the country. The U.S. has therefore been left out of all of DJI's most recent global launches, including the Mic 3, Osmo Mobile 8 phone gimbal, and Avata 360 drone.

As such, there's no official U.S. pricing for the Osmo Pocket 4P. However, the official UK pricing places it at £529 (approximately $706) for the Standard Combo bundle, and £605 (approximately $807) for the Vlog Combo. In comparison, the Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo costs £445 (approximately $594), with the Vlog Combo priced at £548 (approximately $731).

Featured Video For You Girlbossification of AI

Microcontrollers like the ESP32 have helped to democratize hobby engineering, with cheap hardware and accessible projects. Some of these builds can feel quite out of reach, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop to admire them and maybe take inspiration for future ideas.

I've always loved how much freedom Linux gives you to customize your desktop. I've spent years ricing GNOME and KDE Plasma, but I've always avoided window managers (WM) like i3 and Hyprland. Without a graphical interface, customization feels more like programming than personalizing your desktop. I recently decided to give WMs a try, but building a polished setup would easily consume an entire Saturday for me. That's when I had an idea: what if I let Claude do the heavy lifting? The result wasn't just dramatically faster—it looked better than almost anything I'd built myself.

Oversharing on Google is almost a bit too easy. Google is designed for seamless collaboration, which means the system tends to default to settings that reduce the amount of friction you encounter when attempting to share. Unfortunately, that also means some of the default settings are overly permissive by default.

TL;DR: Lego is livestreaming a demo of its new Pokémon Smart Play sets on July 31 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT, just ahead of the collection's official Aug. 1 launch.

If you're the kind of person who still gets excited seeing Pikachu, Lego's new Pokémon Smart Play sets are about to make your day. Lego is livestreaming a demo of the collection, giving fans a first look at how these sets work before they officially launch Aug. 1.

The demo streams July 31 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT on Lego's site. If you're near a Lego Store, it's also worth stopping by during the stream — Lego says visitors can score extra rewards on that day.

What makes these sets so much fun

Mashable's Timothy Werth got hands-on with the sets ahead of launch, and by his own account, he came away completely won over — despite not even being a big Pokémon fan going in.

The sets are built around Lego's Smart Brick, a modified 2x4 piece packed with an accelerometer, microphones, speakers, LED lights, a gyroscope, and a color sensor. It responds to Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures included in the sets, meaning your Pokémon can "talk" to each other, and light up or make noises as you play with them.

According to Werth, some of the small details are what really sell it: Pikachu, Squirtle, Bidoof, Geodude, Charmander, and Eevee all make adorable noises, chattering when placed near each other, and the Pikachu Treehouse Set even hides a tiny Murphy bed where Pikachu can lie down and snore.

However, not every set includes a Smart Brick, so if you want the interactive features, you'll need at least one all-in-one set (starting at $69.99) — cheaper add-on sets start at $19.99. The full lineup launches Aug. 1, with a few sets already on Amazon and the rest up for preorder at Lego's online store.

Even a casual Pokémon fan will get something out of this — Aug. 1 is coming for your wallet either way.

Most people chasing better audio head straight for a DAC upgrade. It's the obvious move when your music sounds flat or cluttered, and the marketing around premium converters makes it easy to believe you're leaving quality on the table by using the chip built into your motherboard. The thing is, that chip is almost certainly not your problem, but your amplifier is a different story.

Six in 10 drivers say headlight glare is a problem after dark, and nearly three-quarters of those affected believe it has worsened over the past decade, according to a survey done by AAA in February 2026. Among those who experience glare, 92% identify oncoming headlights as the primary cause, and about one-third of respondents report being blinded by glare reflected in their rearview or side mirrors.

Seth Meyers had a lot of Donald Trump material to wade through during his "A Closer Look" Late Night segment on Wednesday, from the president having to sit through some awkward press awards at the White House Correspondents' Dinner to Trump's unusual remarks during the memorial of Senator Lindsey Graham.

Another area that he spent some time on? Trump being called a "pedophile protector" during a recent rally, due to his association with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — the president responded by calling the heckler a "communist".

"If someone calls you a 'pedophile protector', calling them a communist is not a great comeback. 'You're covering up for sex traffickers!' 'Oh yeah, well you want the workers to own the means of production, soooo ya burnt!" says Meyers in the clip above.

"Trump just can't get away from this Epstein thing. It's in his rallies, press conferences, Correspondents' Dinner...You know the new Trump coin they're releasing? He OK'd it before flipping it over and checking the other side," Meyers jokes, bringing up a photoshopped image of the coin engraved with one of the many photos of Trump and Epstein together.

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SAVE $10: As of July 30, select colors of the 40oz Owala FreeSip Tumbler are on sale for $34.98 at Amazon. That's $10.01 off their list price of $44.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip Tumbler Stainless Steel Water Bottle 40 oz $34.98 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $10.01   Get Deal

If you're spending a lot of time in the heat this summer, it's important to stay hydrated.

As of July 30, a selection of 40oz Owala FreeSip Tumblers are on sale for $34.98 at Amazon. That's just over $10 off their full price of $44.99. And as for what colors are on sale at this price, you can choose between strawberry fields, summer sweetness, foggy tide, daybreak, and iced breeze. Some are even at their lowest-ever price with this deal.

There's also a selection of colors on sale for $35.99, if your favorite color isn't on the maximum discount.

SEE ALSO: De'Longhi just launched a coffee machine that makes both hot and iced drinks — and it's yours for under $1,000

This durable stainless-steel tumbler is ready to join you on your summer adventures this year. Alongside its sturdy build, it has a versatile design. With its 2-in-1 FreeSip spout, you can either drink through a built-in straw or tilt it back to drink from the spout. Its push-button lid also helps keep the spout clean.

For keeping your drink cold, the Owala FreeSip Tumbler features double-wall insulation. This can keep it cool for up to 24 hours, which is great news if you're taking it along for longer periods in the day.

Some colors are marked as limited-time deals right now, so act fast to save on these 40oz Owala FreeSip Tumblers at Amazon.

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OpenBSD is known for its devotion to security, but can it work as a desktop? The BSDs are great alternatives to Linux distributions, but this OS is probably better suited to a router or homelab project, right?