IT General

Google Maps is one of the best smartphone apps. Its navigation features, live traffic information, and ability to help you find places to go make it incredibly useful. But if you haven't checked its privacy settings recently, it might be tracking you a lot more than you thought. Fortunately, there are some quick settings you can change to bring it back under control.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 may not get as many upgrades as users are expecting, if a new leaks turns out to be true.

Alleged spec leaks suggest that the new entry into Samsung's Razr-style flip phone line won't be reinventing the battery, according to the blog GalaxyClub. The leak links two EB-BF776 and EB-BF777 batteries to the Z Flip 8 model, which Android Authority explains have a total rated capacity of 4,174mAh — the same capacity as the previous Galaxy Z Flip 7.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold will let you run apps side by side, report claims

Other Android phones have upgraded their battery set ups with silicon-carbon batteries, but the Z Flip has remained on a more standard 4,300mAh capacity battery, around 100 mAh smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Still, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 scored high marks in Mashable's initial review, including the AI phone's seamless cover screen, solid processing power, and all day battery life. "I wouldn't call this a multi-day phone, but it's very not bad, and you'll get a lot more mileage out of it if you use the cover screen as often as possible," wrote our reviewer Adam Doud.

If you watch new Linux users and their struggles with the system, you might notice some consistent patterns in their behavior. Here are a few common pitfalls Linux newbies fall into.

TL;DR: Live stream the NBA for free with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. Live stream the NBA for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is a unique sport. There's nothing else in which incredibly tall athletes can be made to look absolutely tiny by aliens who can dunk without leaving the ground. And almost all of these shockingly tall athletes display a skillset that mere mortals can't even fathom.

The NBA could make a legitimate argument that it hosts the very best athletes in the world. Sure, the NFL might disagree. And rugby definitely attracts some special specimens. But the NBA has a bunch of seven footers dunking on each other. That's tough to beat.

If you are interested in watching the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America made up of 30 teams (29 from the United States and one from Canada). The defending champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When is the NBA?

The 2025–26 NBA season is the 80th edition of the competition. The regular season runs from Oct. 21 to April 12. The play-in tournament is scheduled to be played on April 14-17, followed by the playoffs on the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals from June 4 to June 21.

The in-season NBA Cup will take place from Oct. 31 to Dec. 16.

How to watch the NBA for free

Select NBA games are available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

86 regular-season games, the Emirates Cup Championship, the play-in tournament, one third of first and second round games of the Playoffs, a Conference Finals series, and the NBA Finals are available to Prime members in the UK. The full schedule can be found here.

These free live streams are geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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 they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select NBA games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S. and UK

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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).

Watch the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

UPDATE: Mar. 13, 2026, 10:30 a.m. EDT The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum costs $1,199.99 and is officially available to buy as of March 12. This story was originally written when the Spot+Scrub Ai was announced in September.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum and mop combo $1,199.99 at Dyson
  Shop Now

Between being the blueprint for cordless stick vacuums and for heated hair tools, it never felt right that Dyson couldn't figure out how to be relevant in the world of robot vacuums. But less than two years after its last failed attempt, Dyson is releasing another new robot vacuum — and it actually feels promising this time. The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai was announced on Sept. 4 and again in the Sept. 5 Dyson Unveiled event on YouTube.

SEE ALSO: I tried Dyson's new PencilVac, a stick vacuum with half the weight, double the lasers. No, I will not 'chill.'

Frankly, it wouldn't have taken much for Dyson to eclipse the (lack of) prestige of its 2024 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum. It wasn't a self-emptying, small obstacle-avoiding, or even mopping robot vacuum, but was confidently priced like one. The new Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum is all three of those things, complete with a few secret weapons that could help Dyson claim its stake in the saturated robot vacuum market. Yet, Dyson isn't charging extra — the Spot+Scrub Ai costs the same $1,199.99 that the 360 Vis Nav originally did.

Most exciting to me personally, the new Dyson robot vacuum has a laser. Dyson's technically calling it "green LED illumination," but the product images show it highlighting dust and debris just like the laser heads do on Dyson's stick vacuums.

My beloved Dyson laser, now in a robot vacuum. Credit: Dyson You can see how well the new Dyson robot vacuum cleans your floors. Credit: Dyson

A few months ago, whilst ruminating on overly ambitious robot vacuum innovations like the Roborock Saros Z70's robotic arm, I was also brainstorming some dream new robot vacuum features that would actually be practical. And guess what I verbatim manifested in that story? For the next Dyson robot vacuum to have a green laser, that's what. I've been laser-or-bust since I first experienced it with my beloved Dyson V12 Detect Slim stick vacuum. The ability to so plainly see the status of dust and debris on the floor before and after the vacuum hits it is such undeniable proof of a thorough clean. Not even the best robot vacuums from Roborock or Dreame offer that yet. The Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1's UV light is the only feature that comes close.

Here's where the "AI" part comes in. The Spot+Scrub Ai assesses the cleaning path ahead of it in real time, using AI stain detection and an AI-powered camera to determine the best way to clean different types of messes. If a liquid stain on a hard floor is detected, before and after photos are taken of the area to ensure that the robot doesn't stop mopping until the stain is fully gone. The scrubbing is done with a wet roller instead of spinning or flat mopping pads. (The new Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete and Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow use AI cameras in similar ways, but don't take photos for proof.)

SEE ALSO: 'Why does my robot vacuum suck now?' Well, when's the last time you cleaned it?

Dyson noted that the roller mop rinses itself with fresh water as it rotates, but the tank refilling situation in the dock is still unclear. Dyson hasn't revealed numbers for the Spot+Scrub Ai's suction power, though it probably won't be in Pascals (Pa) to easily compare to other robot vacuums, anyway. The 360 Vis Nav was actually quite powerful during my testing, so I expect the Spot+Scub Ai to be a good robot vacuum for carpets.

So yes, it seems that Dyson has read the room and addressed the critical features missing from the 360 Vis Nav. But the ultimate test of self-awareness lies in price. We don't know how much the Spot+Scrub Ai will cost, but it would be bold of Dyson to pass the $1,500 threshold. The 360 Vis Nav debuted at $1,199.99 when it had no business in such a premium price range (though it conveniently dropped to $499.99 the same week as this announcement dropped).

If you’ve ever done any research before buying an SSD, or scoured tech forums or Reddit, you’ve probably noticed that pretty much no one is a fan of QLC SSDs. While they do fall behind SSDs that use SLC, MLC, and TLC NAND flash, they aren't that bad. Here's why.

The ESP32 microcontroller is a low-cost system on a chip (SoC) that has become hugely popular in the DIY electronics world. They're cheap, versatile, and thanks to ESPHome, they're relatively easy to use with Home Assistant. Here are three ESP32-based Home Assistant projects you can try this weekend.

TL;DR: On March 13, dine in at Chipotle from 3-4 p.m. local time and show off your tattoo to qualify for a special BOGO deal.

We do our best to track all the those free food deals that pop up from time to time, and the going has been pretty good recently. Dairy Queen announced the date of its Free Cone Day, Ben & Jerry's did the same, and there's a load of Pi Day deals going live this weekend. With all this competition for your business, how can the likes of Chipotle stand out from the crowd?

By offering free food to anyone with a tattoo, that's how.

Yes, that's right. Your tattoo can get you a special deal at Chipotle on March 13. And you don't even need a real tattoo. Visit Chipotle with any temporary tattoo or drawn-on tattoo from 3-4 p.m. local time to qualify for a BOGO deal on entrées.

The BOGO promotion is limited to five free menu items per order, and each free item must be matched by a purchased item of equal or greater value. The catch is that each free item needs to be collected by someone with a tattoo. That means an order with five free items needs to be picked up by five people with tattoos.

You know what to do. Gather all your inked pals and head to Chipotle today for a feast.

A 3D printer unlocks a world of custom smart home upgrades. These range from downloadable tweaks for popular devices right through to bizarre models that you’ll need to design yourself. Here are seven ideas to get you started.

System diagrams are designed to create shared understanding among developers before writing a single line of code, but they often end up confusing the stakeholders they are meant to inform. Sometimes, this isn't a too much information problem, it's that they contain information, presented in ways that violate how we process visual hierarchies and relationships. In the long run, these poorly built diagrams increase the risk of design flaws. If your team faces this issue, you can fix them with this four rules.

No matter who you are or what sort of things you do in life, there's a pretty good chance you have to deal with PDF files from time to time. This document format has had its day, and it causes numerous problems on modern screens, yet it just doesn't show any signs of going away.

TL;DR: Live stream St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really interesting NHL games taking place this weekend, but St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers might be the best of the bunch. The Enterprise Center is going to be electric as the likes of Connor McDavid and Robert Thomas battle it out on the ice.

If you want to watch St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers?

St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL starts at 8 p.m. ET on March 13. This fixture takes place at the Enterprise Center.

How to watch St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers for free

St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now to live stream the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% 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).

Watch St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

Most people see USB flash drives as simple tools designed for basic tasks like moving files between computers, flashing new BIOS updates, and installing operating systems. Much to the horror and dismay of my colleagues, I use my flash drives to back up my most important files. While it might not be the best solution, I still refuse to listen.

Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung. These smart home brands get most of the attention, but there's another one out there making cool stuff that, at least here in the US, is easy to overlook.

SAVE $200: As of March 13, Prime members can exclusively score the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete robot vacuum and mop on sale for $1,499.99. That's $200 off its list price of $1,699.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $200   Get Deal

The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete robot vacuum and mop has earned high praise from our experts, securing top spot as the best robot vacuum of 2026 in our roundup of the best robot vacuums. If you've been looking to splash out on a fancy combo cleaner like this ahead of spring, Prime members can grab this model on sale for $1,499.99.

This offer saves you $200 on the original list price of $1,699.99. This is an exclusive deal for Prime members only right now. If you're a subscriber, this is a great opportunity to save on a sleek and powerful cleaner. If you're not a member, perhaps it's time to sign up for a 30-day free trial?

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

So what is it about the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete that makes it stand out? According to Mashable's Leah Stodart in our roundup of the best robot vacuums, "The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is an incredibly well-rounded premium robot vacuum that would excel in a variety of homes."

Stodart continues on to say that, "Its market-leading 35,000 suction power and livestream pet camera make it the top contender for homes with pets. Its dual spinning mopping pads are more precise around edges than a flat mop or a roller mop, speaking to anyone who'd cringe watching a robot vacuum completely ignore a corner or wall edge." Plus, it has a very slim 3.13-inch size, so it can easily scoot under furniture.

If you're a Prime member, this is an excellent opportunity to save on the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

As an avid user of AI tools, I was instantly intrigued when I overheard a conversation about AI assistants that Linux users could access and use via a desktop app. The discussion aroused my curiosity because it made me realize that, although I use Copilot on Windows, I don't usually use an AI companion on Linux primarily because, unlike Windows, Linux distributions usually don't have built-in AI companions.

If you’ve ever considered buying a 3D printer, you’ve probably come across Prusa Research and its signature black and orange 3D printers. The brand has a fierce following among enthusiasts thanks to its open-source philosophy and unique manufacturing processes.

Apple's MacBook Neo is the company's cheapest laptop by far, but according to a new report, it may also be both easier and cheaper to repair than other Macs.

Ars Technica dug into Apple's official Neo repair documentation, and came away with good news: The MacBook Neo is more modular, and easier to repair than other modern MacBooks.

For example, the battery should be easy to replace, with just some shielding and cables in the way. The keyboard is a separate component, meaning it should be possible to replace it independently.

In contrast, a new MacBook Air has the keyboard integrated into the top part of the laptop, making it near-impossible to replace independently. As a result, fixing the keyboard on a MacBook Air or a Pro will likely be far more expensive than on a MacBook Neo.

Ars Technica's findings are supported by actual teardowns of the MacBook Neo. YouTube channel Tech Re-Nu has disassembled the MacBook Neo and found that it has an extremely simple internal design with a removable battery and lots of modular parts, including the USB-C ports, speakers, and headphone jack.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo: Here's everything reviewers didn’t like

This is great news for MacBook Neo customers, who are likely to be very cost-sensitive when it comes to repairs. If you purchase a laptop for $599, you definitely don't want to spend half the amount or more to fix its keyboard.

For 13 years, Peaky Blinders has been quietly building a massive fandom. It's one of the best shows you've probably never seen. As Proma Khosla put it in her Mashable article, "Everyone I’ve ever talked to about the BBC period drama has either never even heard the name, or is obsessed with it."

Even the creator of the show, Steven Knight, is astonished at the "Peaky Blinders" fandom. When Knight visited our Say More studio to speak with Executive Producer Mark Stetson about the new film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, he told stories of rap stars Snoop Dogg and A$AP Rocky demanding to meet him to tell them how much they loved the show. His meeting with A$AP Rocky ended up leading to a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas dinner at Knight's house!

Bringing an epic and beloved story like Peaky Blinders to a close had to be done in a manner that not only honored the characters but also the loyal audience. Luckily, Knight knew from the very beginning how this story would end: "I always wanted to finish this part of the 'Peaky' story with a film in the Second World War." He wanted the full story to span from post-World War 1 to World War 2 to show how those wars affected the often forgotten working class in England.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy) is the head of the Peaky Blinders, the pivotal character of the series with a fashion sense rivaled only by the American gangsters of the 1900s. We find him at the start of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man having separated himself from the family and the life he once knew. In the conversation with Stetson, Murphy, Knight and co-star Barry Keoghan talk about the incredible moment in the film where Tommy dusts off his legendary suit and becomes the superhero we all remember from the first six seasons of the series.

"He's like Batman," Knight exclaimed.

"Even I was cheering, and you were coming to get me," said Keoghan.

Murphy talks about figuring out the right moment to get Tommy back into his Peaky Blinders kit: "It's like drawing back the bow, and how long do you keep it taut before you let it go? And then when we let it off, the audience loved it."

(Watch the full Steven Knight interview on Mashable's YouTube channel.)

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will stream on Netflix starting March 20.

Oh, weekend, weekend, what to watch? If you're a Paramount+ subscriber like me, that's probably a little rhyme you sing to yourself, too. The good news is, the service is actually pretty good when you want something new or new-ish or something that doesn't require a tin of mental prep.