Technology

Compact SUVs have become more expensive than ever, especially as automakers push heavily toward electrification and higher-tech interiors. For many buyers, the Toyota RAV4 has traditionally been the default recommendation thanks to its efficiency and reputation for reliability. However, its latest redesign and hybrid-only approach have also pushed pricing noticeably higher, leaving room for rivals to make a strong case on value.

On the heels of what has (and still is!) been a pretty great month of May, which saw an exploding blood-bag-filled series finale of The Boys, a great new season of Citadel, John Krasinski returned to the role of Jack Ryan, and (still to come this week) Nicolas Cage is Spider Noir, Prime Video just released its lineup of June TV shows and movies to kick off the summer!

Volvo has spent decades building one of the most respected names in the automotive industry. The Volvo XC40, which arrived for the 2018 model year, brought that reputation into the compact SUV segment. Not surprisingly, it earned a loyal customer base on the strength of its Scandinavian roots, which are evident throughout the vehicle, from its interior design to its safety credentials.

When the concept of an "always-on" display was first introduced, many people were immediately turned off by the idea due to battery concerns. I was one of those people. However, after spending years without it, and now owning a phone with an AOD, I’ve realized the feature is far more useful than it initially appears.

YouTube is upgrading its AI labeling system, including a new automatic detection tool, as tech companies ramp up their investments in content provenance.

Previously, videos featuring photorealist AI had to be tagged by their creators or face a strike — once it was tagged as AI, a disclosure label would be added to the description. Now, that label is moving up to the top, more prominently displayed for all to see next to the video's title and in the bottom corner of YouTube Shorts.

SEE ALSO: What to do when your teen replaces you with a chatbot

In a first since the platform introduced labels in 2024, YouTube will also begin scanning content and automatically adding labels to any unmarked videos with significant AI use. "It’s important to note that a disclosure label alone does not change how a video is recommended or whether it’s eligible to earn money," the platform wrote in a recent blog post. "In a world where AI is changing what’s possible, our goal is simple: make it as easy as possible for creators and viewers to have the right information."

YouTube has faced criticism for an abundance of AI "slop" and AI-generated advertising, and the platform has removed millions of channels and videos in response. YouTube CEO Neil Mohan stated that curbing AI slop is a top priority.

Meanwhile, child safety advocates have recently called on the platform to address what they call a dangerous proliferation of AI-generated, animated content aimed at children. In an April letter sent to Mohan and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, a coalition of child advocacy groups urged the platform to ban AI-generated content on YouTube Kids, institute clear AI labels for all content, and implement new parental controls aimed at limiting AI videos.

At the time, YouTube told Mashable it was working on developing labels for YouTube Kids. The company also explained that its current labeling approach doesn't apply to YouTube Kids because of other safety policies, including a lack of descriptions on Kids content.

For now, the new labels only apply to the main YouTube website, not content found on YouTube Kids. In addition, the automatic labelling system will only scan for "photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated" content, a policy which so far has excluded animated or highly stylized video.

Whether you drive a Ford or a Ferrari, you want your car to look its best. I know I do. But the reality is that cars, trucks, and SUVs exist in the real world. They travel on highways where flying rocks and debris pose a constant threat. In parking lots, they're surrounded by vehicles owned by people who may not care as much about their cars as we do about ours.

Google users are flocking to the alternative search engine DuckDuckGo.

According to data provided to Mashable by DuckDuckGo, U.S. installs of the search engine's mobile app are up 18.1 percent week-over-week on average following Google's big I/O event, where the search giant introduced a slew of new AI features into its search product. DuckDuckGo app installs peaked at 33 percent growth on May 25.

Just looking at DuckDuckGo's iOS installs, the growth following Google I/O is even more astonishing, with 33 percent week-over-week growth and peaking at a whopping 69.9 percent on May 25.

According to DuckDuckGo, traffic also spiked to its AI-free search page, noai.duckduckgo.com. This DuckDuckGo search page has every AI featured turned off by default and saw an average of 22.7 week-over-week growth following Google I/O, with a peak of 27.7 percent on May 24.

DuckDuckGo said it wasn't only the timeframe that was relevant, either. The growth happened mainly in the U.S. following Google's "U.S. centric announcement" and does not indicate a coincidental global trend.

The alternative search engine said this growth held throughout the Memorial Day weekend, when traffic usually tends to drop as well.

Are you an Apple superfan? Enter Mashable’s Big Guessing Game to win prizes.

SEE ALSO: Ask Jeeves Returns, Gets a Facebook Page

"Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out," DuckDuckGo Founder and CEO Gabriel Weinberg said in a statement. "As result, their results are getting worse, not better. We want to be the place that puts users in charge and allows them to decide how much or how little AI they want. That's why we're seeing a spike in people coming to DuckDuckGo this week, it's as simple as that.” 

For years, DuckDuckGo has enticed privacy-seeking users to switch from Google to its alternative with a focus on a pro-privacy feature set. Now, it looks like DuckDuckGo has found a market among users tired of AI taking over the internet as well.

“Not only do we respect user choice, but also user privacy: everything you do in DuckDuckGo is private, we don’t collect search histories or chats and nothing is used for AI training," Weinberg said.

DuckDuckGo has previously launched AI features for its search engine. Search Assist, for example, is DuckDuckGo's version of Google's AI Overviews. The search engine also has a Duck.AI product, which is similar to Google's AI Mode.

However, DuckDuckGo has maintained that these AI features are optional and never forced on users. The company has also launched features that actively remove AI as well, such as AI Image Filter, which filters out AI images from DuckDuckGo's search results.

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USB-C feels like the sensible ending to a long story, and not all of that story made a whole lot of sense. USB took plenty of strange detours before getting there, and some ideas were genius, while others didn't stand the test of time.

Summer is kicking in with full force, and with the temperature rising, Netflix's summer slate of releases, too, picks up heat. It's time for your watch list to get a new look, whether you're looking forward to a cozy romance watch or an addictive new series.

If you’re shopping for an affordable luxury sports sedan, the usual answer has always been a compact Lexus. However, rising prices and a shrinking lineup have opened the door for a newer rival to steal the spotlight. In 2026, one Korean sedan stands out by offering sharper performance, a richer interior, and a lower starting price than its Japanese competitor.

Xreal is taking a swing at the budget end of the smart glasses market. The company announced the a01, a $299 pair of display glasses launching under a new sub-brand called X by Xreal (xbx) is arriving in the U.S. in July, according to a press release shared with Mashable.

As our colleagues at CNET noted, the more affordable AR glasses will compete with the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses, which significantly undercut Xreal when they launched at $299 earlier this year and introduced HDR10 support to the category.

Credit: Xreal

Like Xreal's other glasses, the a01 functions as a wearable USB-C tethered monitor. It does make some trade-offs to hit that price — the field of view is 50 degrees, slightly narrower than the pricier Xreal One Pro and 1S, and it drops the dimming lens and the chipset that locks a display in place.

Where the a01 makes up ground is brightness. The micro OLED panels push significantly higher nits than previous Xreal hardware and add HDR10 video support. The glasses go up to 1,600 nits and have 14 levels of adjustment. The whole frame comes in under 65 grams. A "anti-shake" mode also aims to smooth out video playback during movement.

The most interesting wrinkle, though, is aesthetic: the a01 comes with snap-on swappable faceplates, letting users swap between clear and sunglass lens styles on the fly. It's a small thing, but it's the kind of detail that makes a budget product feel considered rather than stripped down.

SEE ALSO: Project Aura: Everything to know about Xreal's Android XR glasses Credit: Xreal

The a01 hits China first, then the U.S. in July. An English-language website for the X by Xreal brand is live, but the "Shop" button links to a Chinese order page.

The xbx a01 AR glasses with the Xreal Beam Pro dock. Credit: Xreal

Google has set steep requirements for Android 17's marquee Gemini Intelligence feature. They rule out most existing phones, to the point where some of the company's own Pixel 9 devices might not support the agentic AI.

Your router is literally the gateway between the internet and every phone, laptop, camera, and smart device in your home. If you leave the default settings alone, everything else on your network is significantly less secure.

I've been a Gmail user for almost two decades. It took one app to change that—and honestly, I didn't see it coming. If your Gmail app feels like a chore, Spark is a serious upgrade. It's fast, smart, and earns your trust quickly—with a few privacy tradeoffs worth knowing upfront.

TL;DR: Live stream Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final for free on SRF or TRT1. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aston Villa secured an impressive victory in the Europa League final last week, and now the attention turns to the Conference League final. OK, most neutrals are probably looking further ahead to the resolution of the Champions League, but try telling that to fans of Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano. For this dedicated bunch, this is the one that really matters.

It's really difficult to pick a winner from this contest. Crystal Palace haven't enjoyed the most fruitful domestic campaign, but they've saved their best for this competition. Ray Vallecano finished in the top half of La Liga, and beat a strong Starsbourg team to make it to this showpiece event. It's going to be a real battle at the Red Bull Arena, and you can follow all the action without spending anything.

If you want to watch Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano?

Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 27. This fixture takes place at the Red Bull Arena.

How to watch Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano for free

Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final is available to live stream for free on SRF or TRT1.

SRF and TRT1 are geo-restricted to Switzerland and Turkey respectively, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Switzerland or Turkey, meaning you can unblock SRF and TRT1 to stream the Conference League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano 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 Switzerland or Turkey

4. Visit SRF or TRT1

5. Watch Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano 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 Conference League final without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SRF and TRT1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Switzerland and Turkey

• 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 Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $40: As of May 27, get the Google Pixel Watch 4 for $309.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349.99. That's a discount of 11%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel Watch 4 $309.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $40   Get Deal

There are plenty of smartwatches out there, but if you're ready to pick one out today, you can get a great deal on one that can pull double duty as a fitness tracker. The Google Pixel 4 is up for grabs at a significant discount, so it's a good time to go ahead and take the plunge, especially if you're a Pixel or Android phone user.

As of May 27, get the Google Pixel Watch 4 for $309.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349.99. That's a discount of 11%.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best smartwatches of 2025 include some surprises

This smartwatch has plenty of features, whether you're looking to track your runs, keep an eye on your sleep quality, or manage your day. It has a bright, large Actua 360 domed display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, and a comfortable band that's perfect for wearing while working out, going out, or just living your life.

It features over 40 exercise modes with real-time stats you can check at any time, heart rate tracking, SpO2 metrics, and much more. Plus, it offers 30 hours of battery life, or up to 48 hours on Battery Saver mode.

Mashable's Senior Culture Reporter and resident marathon runner Christianna Silva praised the Pixel Watch 4 for its brighter domed display than its predecessor, clearer speaker audio, smoother interface, and faster charging as well as its "serviceable design".

If you're ready to upgrade your current smartwatch or get one outright, now's the time to pick up a Pixel Watch 4. Be sure and grab it while it's discounted to save some serious cash.

Compact crossovers have basically become the default new car for Americans. They’re easier to live with than larger SUVs, cheaper to run, and now come packed with tech and comfort features that used to feel reserved for pricier vehicles.

It might be cold in Saskatchewan but now we have the Heated Rivalry fleece to keep us warm! We asked (begged, relentlessly) for a brand to make the Canada fleece we all fell in love with from the hit HBO/Crave show, and Canadian brand Province of Canada was listening. After months of waiting, we finally have pre-order information. Here's everything we know so far ahead of the launch on June 3.

View this post on Instagram How to score the limited-edition Heated Rivalry fleece jacket

Set your alarm, tell work you're busy, hire a sitter, because pre-orders go live at Province of Canada on June 3 at noon ET. Since the brand expects high demand, they're limiting pre-orders to one fleece per customer.

In June, Province of Canada met with Heated Rivalry costume designer Hanna Puley to design the fleece as a "collectible piece for fans of the series," according to the brand's press release. As of now, we don't have photos that depict the final fleece design. That information will become available on June 3.

It's worth mentioning that while pre-orders go live on June 3, the brand expects to ship all fleece jackets sometime between October 1 and 15. So we won't be wearing the fleece at the cottage this summer. Fall is a more appropriate time for a fleece anyway, right?

How much will the fleece cost with shipping to the U.S.?

So far, we don't have pricing information for the Heated Rivalry fleece. Province of Canada says that information will go live during pre-order launch on June 3. We do, however, have shipping information. Orders heading to the U.S will have a shipping fee of $25 CAD, which works out to about $18 USD with the exchange rate as of May 27.

Hoodies listed on Province of Canada's site sell for about $100 USD and some sweatshirts and fleece overshirts go up to about $150 USD. Since the fleece is limited edition, we wouldn't be surprised to see it selling for more than average.

Province of Canada is donating 10% of net profits from the fleece to support You Can Play, a nonprofit that works with LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. In addition, both the NHL and NHLPA are matching these donations up to $25,000 CAD each, for a potential total of an extra $50,000 CAD.

Sizing and return information

We're thrilled to see Province of Canada will be making the fleece in sizes that range from XS to 5XL. You can check out the size chat here to get an idea of which size will work best. Keep in mind, all sales on the fleece are considered final sale. Province of Canada says that, due to demand, the fleece won't be eligible for returns or exchanges.

How to order official Heated Rivalry merch before June 3

If you can't wait until June 3 to pre-order the fleece or for it to arrive in October, check out the official Heated Rivalry merch store. What was completely sold out for months is now stocked with t-shirts, hats, and accessories.

Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed, let the summer festivities begin. For many of you, that will include a vacation that might involve a plane ride. Some people love to sleep on planes, while others prefer to pull out a book and read. For me, I use my time on a plane to watch movies and TV shows. If I'm stuck on a plane for several hours, why not catch up on some shows I missed?

SAVE 30%: As of May 27, you can get the DJI Osmo Action 4 for $208.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 30% discount or $90.02 savings.

DJI Osmo Action 4 $208.98 at Amazon
$299 Save $90.02   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at B&H Photo Video

If you've ever tried to awkwardly hover your phone over a swimming pool or hang it out of a moving vehicle just to get a good vacation video, it's probably time to invest in an action camera.

As of May 27, you can get the DJI Osmo Action 4 for $208.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 30% discount or $90.02 savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked and a great price point for beginners who literally can't afford to put their phone in danger anymore.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a near-perfect portable power station for content creators

The Osmo Action 4 shoots 4K video at 120fps and features a 155-degree ultra-wide field of view. It also has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that handles low light well enough to keep your underwater and evening clips from getting grainy.