Technology

In a world that so often encourages the suppression of emotions and the continuation of rapidly moving forward, cathartic movies remind us of the power of sitting with our own feelings. Sometimes, the most meaningful stories are the ones that break us open then gently piece us back together with hope and resilience, and that’s the focus of this week’s recommendations.

Who doesn't like a creative Wi-Fi network name? You'll always run into someone with a network called "FBI_VAN" or a snarky message to the people in the apartment upstairs. But as much fun as it can be to make up silly Wi-Fi SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers), there are actually a few good reasons why you want to avoid it.

If you're like me, you have multiple devices running different Linux distributions, and are frequently installing new instances too. They all need software, and I've found sometimes it's easier to just have some ready to go, conveniently stored on a USB stick.

SAVE $75: The Dreame FP10 air purifier is on sale at Amazon for $424.99, down from the list price of $499.99. That's a 15% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame FP10 air purifier $424.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $75   Get Deal

If you have pets at home, you understand the struggle of dealing with pet dander and fur. Many of us rely on air purifiers to keep indoor air as clean as possible, cutting down on odors and potential allergens. There's a new air purifier on the market that comes with excellent features for pet owners. Maybe best of all, it's already on sale.

As of May 4, the Dreame FP10 air purifier is on sale at Amazon for $424.99, marked down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a 15% discount that shaves $75 off the price. It's also the lowest we've seen at Amazon on this new Dreame model.

The design of the Dreame FP10 air purifier is unique in a few ways. For one, the built-in LED strip makes for excellent room lighting. But it also excels in performance when dealing with pets. Unlike most air purifiers that require us to manually clean outer filters from time to time, the Dreame has an automatic roller that prevents hair from building up on the rotating HEPA filter.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's newest Fire Stick just got its first price cut ever — and it's nearly 50% off

Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodard reviewed the Dreame FP10 air purifier in her home with cats and found its performance and overall look to be impressive, with the Furcatch roller being a major advantage over other models. Dreame also designed this model to be cat-friendly. The flat canvas top can support up to 33 pounds, and the bottom-heavy design means it won't topple over easily.

While it's sitting at a record low, upgrade your home with the Dreame FP10 air purifier. It's a new Mashable Choice Award winner for air purifiers, and it's perfect for homes with pets.

A quick look at the best May the 4th deals, freebies, and merch: Best Amazon deal Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and The Mandalorian Helmet Stand $79.98 (save $20) Get Deal Best Lego deal C-3PO Lego model $111.99 (save $28 with Insider membership) Get Deal Best Casetify deal Darth Vader 3D AirPods Case: Collector's Edition $98 (save $40) Get Deal

I’ll level with you: I'm not a Star Wars fan. (Cue collective gasps.) I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Sith and a Jedi, and my knowledge of the franchise basically begins and ends with Baby Yoda memes. But if there is one thing I do love, it’s finding a good deal.

Every year on Star Wars Day (aka “May the Fourth”), brands use the unofficial holiday as an excuse to drop new products, hand out gifts, and discount their inventory. So, while I won't be having a movie marathon today, I have spent the morning scouring the internet for the best sales.

Below is a running list of all the May the 4th deals, new releases, and freebies going on right now.

Celebrate Star Wars Day with Lego

Lego has always had some pretty cool Star Wars sets (and I say that as a non-fan), but this year, the brand's going all out with freebies (you'll get a free Razor Crest Mini if you spend $40+, or Darksaber if you spend $160+), new product drops (including the Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter which comes with a Mandalorian and Grogu Display set), quadruple the points, and exclusive rewards for Insiders.

Insiders also get access to the following deals:

• Brick-Built Star Wars Logo — $47.99 $59.99 (save $12)

• C-3PO — $111.99 $139.99 (save $28)

• The Mandalorian Helmet — $55.99 $69.99 (save $13.91)

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Store Star Wars Day Sale   Shop Now Shop limited-edition Star Wars Echo Dot stands at Amazon

Amazon usually celebrates May 4th by releasing a new Star Wars-themed Echo Dot stand. This year, the company released two: The Mandalorian Helmet and Grogu. Both bundles are available for $79.96 and $71.98, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and The Mandalorian Helmet Stand $79.98 at Amazon
$99.98 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and Grogu Stand $71.98 at Amazon
$89.98 Save $18   Get Deal Get your pups a Star Wars-themed toy at Bark (by the creators of Bark Box)

Bark just dropped two $100 Star Wars-themed enrichment toys inspired by The Mandalorian: The Mythosaur Plush XXXL Multi-Part and Enrichment Dog Toy and the Krayt Dragon Plush XXXL Multi-Part and Enrichment Dog Toy.

They're huge, so if you have a big dog and you're a Star Wars fan, this might be a good collectible (if they don't destroy it, that is). If you have smaller pups, like I do, you may want to check out Bark's other Star Wars toys:

• Light Side Star Wars Plush Bundle 2-in-1 + Tug Dog Toy — $17.99 $20 (save $2.01)

• Dark Side Star Wars Plush Bundle Tug + Multi-Part Dog Toy — $17.99 $20 (save $2.01)

• Light Side Star Wars Super Chewer Durable Bundle Fetch + Gnaw Dog Toy — $23.99 $28 (save $4.01)

• Dark Side Star Wars Super Chewer Durable Bundle 2-in-1 + Fetch Dog Toy — $23.99 $28 (save $4.01)

PetSmart also has a collection of Star Wars-themed toys, but they're not on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bark Bark Star Wars Day Sale   Shop Now Preorder John Williams' newest Tiny Vinyl releases: 'The Imperial March' and 'Finale'

Tiny Vinyl makes literal four-inch records, and the company just dropped a Target-exclusive Star Wars edition.

You can finally preorder John Williams' "The Imperial March" (from The Empire Strikes Back) and "Finale" (from Return Of The Jedi) for $14.99 at Target. The miniature record company first teased the release on its Instagram back on March 17, but it's finally available to add to your cart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tiny Vinyl John Williams Tiny Vinyl Edition - The Imperial March / Finale $14.99 at Target
  Shop Now

Target also has a ton of other Star Wars items on sale, including:

• Hasbro Star Wars Darth Vader Dark Side Set — $17.49 $24.99 (save $7.50)

• Star Wars The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Bundle, Darksaber, Mask & Action Figure — $17.49 $24.99 (save $7.50)

• Star Wars The Black Series Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper Action Figure — $19.59 $27.99 (save $8.40)

• Star Wars Epic World of Action Force Masters Pack — $26.59 $37.99 (save $11.40)

• Lego Star Wars Cobb Vanth’s Speeder Kids Toy (75437) — $27.99 $34.99 (save $7)

Protect your phone from the Dark Side (and general clumsiness) with Casetify

If you're looking for a new phone case and want to sport your love for Star Wars, Casetify has tons of options, including a Darth Vader Chest Plate Case, a C-3PO Case, and a classic R2D2 Case. The standard iPhone 17 Pro Max cases will run you $64.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify C-3PO Case $64 at Casetify
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Darth Vader™ 3D AirPods Case: Collector's Edition $98 at Casetify
$138 Save $40   Get Deal Grab new Baby Yoda (aka Grogu) merch directly from the Disney Store

Unsurprisingly, the Disney Store is packed with new Star Wars merchandise today, including a handful of exclusive new items. You can grab a Grogu Crossbody Bag for $34.99, a Mandalorian Voice-Changing Helmet for $119.99, and a Mandalorian and Grogu Squishmallows Plush Set for $34.99. (Note: When you enter the site, you'll be prompted to enter a code, and then you'll be put into a queue. It only takes a couple of seconds, though!)

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney The Mandalorian Voice-Changing Helmet for Adults $119 at Disney
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Mandalorian and Grogu Squishmallows Plush Set $34.99 at Disney
  Shop Now Get early access to Bath & Body Works' new Mandalorian collection

Bath & Body Works is offering a limited, online-only early drop for its upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu collection. The catch? You have to be a signed-in member to buy anything today. The full collection doesn't officially launch until May 11, so this is your only chance to grab these items before the general public.

• Ice Planet 3-Wick Candle — $29.95

• This is the Way Dopp Kit — $24.95

• Snack Time Collectible Tin — $24.95

• Grogu PocketBac Holder — $10.95

• Mythosaur Messenger Bag — $59.95

Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works Snack Time Collectible Tin $24.95 at Bath & Body Works
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works Mythosaur Messenger Bag $59.95 at Bath & Body Works
  Shop Now Show your love for the franchise with a Star Wars-themed rug

Ruggable, our fave washable rug brand, has a variety (33 options) of Star Wars-themed rugs, including the oh-so-popular The Rebellion Rug and the Dark Side Damask Delft Blue Rug.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable The Rebellion Rug $549 at Ruggable
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Dark Side Damask Delft Blue Rug $549 at Ruggable
  Shop Now

ShinyHunters have struck once again. This time, the hacker group says it has breached systems belonging to one of the biggest educational tech companies.

Edtech giant Instructure, the company behind the popular Learning Management System (LMS) Canvas, announced that it was experiencing a service disruption on April 30. 

The next day, on May 1, the company confirmed that it experienced a "cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor." 

Instructure largely addressed the issues by May 2 and shared that it would continue to monitor its platforms and investigate how the cyberattack occurred. The company said it patched its security system, revoked certain credentials and access tokens, and rotated API keys "out of an abundance of caution."

ShinyHunters, the now-infamous hacking collective known for social engineering and ransomware, claimed responsibility and uploaded 3.65 terabytes of related stolen data to its website on May 3, as reported by SecurityWeek.

What data was stolen?

Instructure says that passwords and other private credentials were not stolen in the breach. 

However, the affected data reportedly includes users' names, email addresses, student IDs, and private messages exchanged on the platform.

According to ShinyHunters, the stolen data is associated with 275 million users at nearly 9,000 schools around the world. These users include students, teachers, and staff.

ShinyHunters also claimed that billions of private messages between users, including students and teachers, were stolen as well, according to Bleeping Computer. The group says Instructure's Salesforce instance was also breached, and related data was stolen.

ShinyHunters have been involved with several high-profile data breaches recently. Companies ranging from the bakery chain Panera Bread to the security firm ADT have all experienced data breaches tied to the group. Anime streaming service Crunchyroll and the dating app Bumble have been breached by ShinyHunters as well.

Last month, ShinyHunters were also behind the breach into Rockstar Games, the video game developer behind the GTA series, including the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI.

All of these ShinyHunters data breaches have occurred since the beginning of the year.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The first weekend in May marks the start of the summer movie season in Hollywood. Over the next few months, studios will be releasing a slew of movies that could be financial juggernauts. In other words, the blockbusters are hitting theaters—The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, and more.

That HDMI port on the back of your NAS has probably been sitting unused since the day you set it up. Most NAS owners ignore it—not because it’s useless, but because it’s rarely explained. Here are three things you can do with your NAS’s HDMI port, ranging from simple convenience to genuinely useful.

A federal judge has preliminarily approved a $7.85 million settlement resolving claims that Sony Interactive Entertainment illegally squeezed out competition in the digital PlayStation games market — and millions of affected players should soon be able to collect without doing anything.

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that Sony cut off third-party retailers from selling game-specific download vouchers starting April 1, 2019, effectively funneling consumers to the PlayStation Store and driving up prices in violation of federal antitrust law. Sony has denied any wrongdoing.

SEE ALSO: The PlayStation 6 could ditch the built-in disc drive

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín granted preliminary approval to the deal on April 8, after previously rejecting two earlier versions of the settlement — first over concerns about service awards for plaintiffs who were no longer part of the class, and again over questions about whether PlayStation Store credits amounted to coupons under the law.

The settlement covers U.S. consumers who bought eligible PlayStation games through the PlayStation Store for which a retail voucher existed before April 1, 2019, and for which prices increased by at least 50 cents over a set period. More than 4.4 million people are covered under the deal.

How to collect

For most class members, getting paid requires no action at all. Those with active PlayStation Network accounts will automatically receive credits redeemable in the PlayStation Store. Players with deactivated accounts, however, must contact the settlement administrator to request a paper check — and that deadline is Aug. 27, 2026.

Anyone who wants to opt out of the settlement and preserve their right to sue separately must submit an exclusion request by July 2, 2026.

The court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on Oct. 15, 2026. Compensation won't be distributed until after that approval is granted and any appeals are resolved. Plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking up to one-third of the settlement fund in fees.

More information on eligible games and claim details can be found at PSNDigitalGamesSettlement.com.

SAVE $300: The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $999, down from the standard price of $1,299. That's a 33% discount and the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station $999 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $300   Get Deal

Summer fun is on the horizon. If you're ready to spend the weekend at the campground or power up the projector for a backyard movie night, you might want to consider the convenience of a portable power station. You'll be able to keep everything powered up while living the good life off-grid. If that's appealing, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 4, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station is $999 at Amazon, marked down from Jackery's list price of $1,299. That works out to a savings of $300 from a 33% discount. It's also the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon on this new Jackery model.

Batteries are not typically friends with water and dust. However, that's a contradiction to taking a portable power station on a camping adventure. Sure, we can check the weather, but summer storms tend to roll in quickly. Instead of worrying about a portable power station taking damage from an unexpected sprinkle or morning dew, head out with the new Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C2000 power station is half off at Amazon right now — save over $700

Unlike almost all portable power stations, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra carries an IP65 rating, which means it's both water-resistant and dustproof. Plus, it has protective flaps to cover the outlets. Both of these elements combined give you reassurance that the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is truly up for adventure.

Not only will it be great for camping, but it's also ideal for using in the yard or the workshop, which could be both damp and dusty. Jackery designed this portable power station with a cooling chamber in the bottom, rather than using side vents for the fan. That eliminates one of the most common routes water and dust take to enter a portable power station.

Since this is a record-low price at Amazon, hop on today's $999 sale price of the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra. It's a rare model that's durable enough for every task.

I was recently invited to Hyundai’s inaugural Metaplant Experience media program in Savannah, Georgia. The cuisine was outstanding, the accommodations were luxurious, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Yet, all of that was eclipsed by Hyundai’s breathtaking, nearly 3,000-acre state-of-the-art U.S. smart factory, part of a $12.6 billion investment in Georgia.

Save 48%: As of May 4, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for $17.99 when you use the code SAVEHD. This marks a $17 price reduction off its $34.99 list price, but be aware — this code might not work for everyone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00 save with code 'SAVEHD' Get Deal

Sometimes, inexplicably, new tech releases go on sale just weeks after their release. It may only be a small discount, but a deal is a deal.

Amazon, however, did something even more rare. Call it the power of Star Wars Day, pure luck, or Amazon simply having the funds to spare, but as of May 4, the retailer is offering a coupon code on its new Fire TV Stick HD that brings it down to just $17.99 from its list price of $34.99. That's a 48% savings — just don't forget to put in the code SAVEHD.

We do want to note that this coupon code might not work for everyone. While it worked for the majority of Mashable's deals team this morning, there was at least one editor who couldn't get the promised savings.

If it does work for you, you'll save on the streaming stick that Amazon just put up for preorder mid-April. Compared to the previous generation of the Fire TV Stick HD, this one has a 30 percent slimmer profile and no need for a wall adapter, thanks to the USB-C to USB-A cable that can be plugged in straight to your TV. Amazon also claims the device is 30 percent faster than the previous model, meaning navigating apps and shows should be an even smoother process.

A lot of people, at least in the pre-"vibe coding era," lament that they can't program because they're "not math people." I wasn't either. Here's how I got started building machine learning models in Python anyway.

SAVE $30: As of May 4, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale at Amazon for only $29.99 with the on-page code MAX4KFTV. That's $30 off its list price and its best price ever — a savings of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 with on-page code MAX4KFTV Get Deal

While pretty much all TVs are smart TVs these days, that doesn't always mean they're user-friendly or seamless for streaming. The built-in smart platforms on a lot of high-end brands can often be a bit clunky. That's where Amazon's Fire TV Sticks swoop in to save the day.

Not only are Fire Sticks easy to use, but they're also ultra-portable for travel and go on sale pretty regularly. In fact, as of May 4, the most advanced Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup is down to its best price ever if you use the on-page coupon code. Typically $59.99, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is just $29.99 with the code MAX4KFTV.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

We've seen the 4K Max drop to $34.99 quite a few times (most recently during the Amazon Big Spring Sale) and even $32.99 once (for Black Friday in 2024), but $29.99 is the lowest to date. There's just one catch: not everyone will see the on-page coupon code. We're unsure what Amazon's rhyme or reason is for this, but only some members of Mashable's shopping team are able to redeem the code. If you're eligible, the code will appear underneath the Prime logo and pricing details on the product page. Be sure to hit "redeem" to cash in on the savings.

Here's what the listing page looks like with the coupon code. Credit: Amazon

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs the most storage of any Fire TV Stick at 16GB, which helps it to not get bogged down by lots of apps. It also features a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor to help with faster app starts, WiFi 6E, support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, Dolby Atmos audio, Ambient Experience, and an enhanced Alexa voice remote. You can even turn your TV into a work of art a la The Frame, or play video games by streaming through Amazon Luna or Xbox Game Pass.

For years, Samsung and Apple have borrowed features from each other, often with each new generation of devices or software. However, not every feature makes the jump. One feature Samsung was first to offer has yet to arrive on the iPhone. With phone screens getting larger, it’s surprising Apple hasn’t adopted it sooner.

Save 15%: As of May 4, a limited quantity of $50 DoorDash gift cards is available at Amazon for $42.50, saving you $7.50 total.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash gift card $42.50 at Amazon
$50 Save $7.50   Get Deal

No DoorDash discount codes in your app today? No problem.

Amazon has got you covered with a DoorDash gift card deal that brings the price of a $50 gift card down to $42.50. That saves you $7.50 total, or 15%. You'll want to act quickly, though — at the time of writing, the product page has a "deal selling fast" badge, and nine percent of the available deals have already been claimed.

This deal applies to just the e-gift card, which means you'll get almost instantaneous delivery, whether you're sending it to yourself or a friend. (Consider dinner today sorted). After purchase, a code will be sent to your phone or email, which you can then use for your DoorDash account. The balance is yours to use, whether you're ordering from a restaurant, grocery, or convenience store.

While it's not the biggest chunk of change out there, it's $7.50 that you would otherwise be spending on your orders. Maybe that helps you justify a long-distance delivery fee for a craving, or maybe it covers those sneaky service fees. In either case, if you're already going to order in, you might as well save some cash.

SAVE $54.45: Sign up to get Grubhub+ for six months at 99 cents per month instead of the normal $9.99 per month. That works out to a 90% discount on the service.

Opens in a new window Credit: Grubhub Grubhub+ $0.99 at Grubhub
$9.99 Save $9   Get Deal

Summer is nearly here, and that means we're all busy. From taking advantage of the nice weather to wrapping up the school year and planning camping trips, there's not much time to make dinner. Instead of stressing, order in, thanks to this delivery deal.

As of May 4, Grubhub+ membership is on sale for 99 cents per month for six months, marked down from the normal price of $9.99 per month. Over those six months, the sale works out to be a savings of $54.45.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

It's no secret that ordering dinner for delivery or groceries to your doorstep is convenient. However, these services typically come with steep fees associated with the convince, such as delivery fees and service fees. Signing up for Grubhub+ means you'll be in for no delivery fees on eligible restaurant orders, free delivery on eligible grocery delivery orders over $35, and lower service fees.

If you feel like picking up a restaurant order on your way home, Grubhub+ members get a 5% Grubhub credit back after pickup. Keep in mind, Amazon Prime members are already eligible to get Grubhub+ for free with a Prime membership.

Grubhub contains a massive catalog of restaurants, grocery stores, and drug stores in its network. It's easy to browse the selection with Grubhub's tabs, or you can search by proximity and delivery times. Keep in mind the 99 cents per month deal is only valid for the first six months, and it'll auto-renew at the $9.99 per month price unless you cancel beforehand.

If you tend to order grocery and dinner delivery often, this a great deal to jump on. Doing so will give you access to free delivery on eligible restaurant and grocery delivery orders. Getting something for free right now feels like a major win.

When you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network, it's pretty simple to SSH into any device connected to the same network. But outside that same network, you cannot do that because your ISP doesn't assign a unique public IP to your home network. You might have heard that you need to set up "port forwarding" to get into your home servers when you're out. But it doesn't have to be so complicated. Here's an easy and safe way to SSH into your home network when you're away.

Samsung foldables just can't stop leaking before they're announced.

This time, it's the rumored follow-up to last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7. A report by Korean leaker Lanzuk included a few hints about what to expect from the device, which has so far been out of the spotlight a bit compared to the rumored Z Fold 8 and a new "Wide Fold" device.

According to this new leak, you can expect a Z Flip 8 that's a little bit wider than before, as well as one that has shed some weight, coming in at approximately 180 grams, compared to 188 grams a year ago.

SEE ALSO: Samsung warns memory shortage will be worse next year

On top of that, the report hints at a new hinge mechanism, though it doesn't go into any detail about what it might be. Perhaps most excitingly is the indication that the Z Flip 8 will have a true crease-free display. Highly visible creases were a big problem for foldables as they became a relevant market category, but over the years, that's become less and less of an issue. If the Z Flip 8 can make further improvements on that, then that's great.

Samsung is widely expected to announce the Z Flip 8, the Z Fold 8, and the Wide Fold at an event this summer, most likely in July.

We think the Z Fold 8 will look pretty similar to last year's model overall, while the Wide Fold will be another book-style foldable that's, well, wider than the Fold 8. It's expected to have a similar size and shape to the also-unannounced iPhone Fold, expected to launch later this year.

A strong value in local AI computing just left the market. Apple has quietly discontinued the base Mac mini with an M4 chip, effectively raising the price of its entry-level desktop from $599 to $799.