Technology

HBO Max doesn't let up when it comes to documentaries, and has had some serious standouts this year already, not least of which is Monsters of God, the ongoing saga of the illegal reptile trade that's 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

The new Google Pixel 11 was just unveiled this week. This usually prompts some consumers to question how Google's latest smartphone stacks up against Apple's current generation iPhone. 

However, this isn't really the most apt comparison. Because the phones run different operating systems, owners of either device may be reluctant to switch ecosystems in search of greener pastures.

The real head-to-head is between the Google Pixel 11 and its most direct Android rival: Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26. Let's put these two Android devices head-to-head.

Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Price

With the cost of technology rising amid global shortages of semiconductors, memory, and storage, price is likely front of mind for many consumers.

Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 start at $899 with 256GB and 12GB of memory.

Currently, the Google Pixel 11 is only available via pre-order and the Samsung Galaxy S26 has been out for a few months. Consumers are looking to purchase a new device immediately may therefore be able to find discounts on the Galaxy S26 right now. If they don't mind waiting, both smartphones will likely be priced similarly once the Pixel 11 is readily available in stores.

SEE ALSO: Tech editors react to the Made by Google event and new Pixel device features Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Specs

Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 offer some real processing power. These are the flagship smartphones from two of the leading Android device manufacturers, after all.

The Pixel 11 is powered by Google's latest custom chipset, the Tensor G6, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which has been optimized for Galaxy smartphones. With AI features being a major selling point for both devices, processing power is going to matter a lot.

So, which is more powerful? While the Tensor G6 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Tensor G5, experts have shared their disappointment in the chipset's capabilities. Don't get us wrong, Google has undoubtedly been able to optimize its own chipset specifically for the Pixel 11's Gemini-powered features. However, based on the performance benchmarks currently available, the Galaxy S26's Snapdragon 8 processor takes the clear lead in areas including CPU performance, gaming, and battery life.

Aside from the chipset powering each smartphone, the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 are quite similar specs-wise. Both devices run Android. Both have a 6.3-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, although the Pixel 11 has an OLED display and the Galaxy S26 sports an AMOLED display. Both smartphones are quite similar in size, although the Pixel 11 is 0.1 inches taller than the Galaxy S26. 

In addition, both models offer 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Perhaps the most noticeable differences are their batteries and weight. The Pixel 11 has a 4,985 mAh battery, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a 4,300 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is also nearly a full ounce lighter than the Pixel 11.

SEE ALSO: I tested iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Cameras

Smartphone cameras are a huge selling point, and both the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 deliver four of them: three rear-facing cameras and one selfie camera.

The Pixel 11 has a 48MP wide-angle camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 50MP camera. The Pixel 11's ultrawide camera is 13MP, while the Galaxy S26 sports a 12MP ultrawide camera. The Pixel 11 has a 10.8MP telephoto camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 10MP telephoto camera. The Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 have 10.5MP and 12MP selfie cameras, respectively.

As one can see, the camera specs on both devices are quite similar and the slight differences will be barely noticeable to most. The real comparison may come down to each phone's software features. The Pixel 11 has features such as Camera Looks and Magic Capture, while Galaxy AI offers its own photo-editing tools.

One notable difference, however, is video resolution. While the Samsung Galaxy S26 can record video in 8K, the Pixel 11 is limited to 4K recording.

The debate between Unraid and TrueNAS feels as strong as the debate between Plex and Jellyfin. The thing is, while Plex and Jellyfin solve a very similar problem, Unraid and TrueNAS aren't solving the same problem at all. In fact, they're very different at the core, so make sure you pick the right NAS OS for your specific use case.

Open-source software usually gets recognized for the big, obvious wins, like replacing a cloud storage subscription or a password manager. What gets less attention are the smaller, oddly specific problems that software can fix just as well. Mostly because it doesn't occur to us that an app exists for it.

Our top mobile and health tech editors from PCMag, CNET and ZDNET share their thoughts on Google's Made by Google Pixel event hosted by Trevor Noah. What were the coolest features on the new Pixel devices, and what felt like a dud? 

August has so far been a pretty solid month for Netflix in the U.S., and not necessarily because of any one massive hit—although I admit to getting reluctantly sucked in by more than a few episodes of Let's Marry Harry (I blame my wife), and now I'm obsessed with the new docuseries about Charles Manson.

Wi-Fi 7 is the latest and greatest Wi-Fi technology you can buy as I write this, but it's still an expensive upgrade. Particularly when you consider that Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 are perfectly serviceable in a world where Gigabit fiber has only recently become more common across the world.

Over the years, several Linux commands have been deprecated, either because they are no longer relevant, have security problems, or have ceased to be maintained. You might still be able to use these common commands, but you probably shouldn’t. Instead, try alternatives that are less prone to bugs and offer more features too.

There are weekends when I want something easy to watch without wasting time scrolling through Netflix. That's when I usually turn to movies that have already proven they are worth watching, especially older favorites that I haven't gotten around to revisiting.

Full-size SUVs are getting harder to justify as prices climb, but there are still compelling reasons to go big. If you need three rows of genuinely usable space, serious towing capability, and enough power to move a nearly 6,000-pound vehicle with ease, few SUVs can match the versatility of this American favorite. It also undercuts several of its closest rivals on price while offering an impressive amount of standard technology and comfort.

Have you noticed a tiny green dot lighting up in the upper-right corner of your Android phone from time to time? If you own a Pixel, you have probably noticed a blue dot as well. These dots don't appear randomly; they serve a useful purpose by notifying you the moment an app on your phone starts using your camera or microphone or accessing your location.

Unless you run a massive rack-mounted Xeon server, your networking gear probably doesn't draw a lot of power. I can't think of a situation where someone I know plugged their router into the wall and tripped a breaker or shorted out their home.

Buying a two-year-old hybrid crossover can be a smart way to get better value without taking on the uncertainty that can come with an older used vehicle. But if reliability is high on your list, one Japanese crossover stands out from the crowd.

Another day, another tariff on tech from President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Trump announced new tariffs specifically targeting drones made outside of the United States, as well as their components.

So, what drones are now subject to tariffs and what will the impact be?

Trump has now imposed a 100 percent "ad valorem" tariff on drones that are "particularly sensitive" to national security concerns. An ad valorem tariff basically means the the tariff is calculated as a percentage of an item’s customs value. Essentially, a 100 percent ad valorem tariff doubles the price of the drone.

SEE ALSO: Apple got a $2.2 billion tariff refund this quarter

Smaller drones that are considered to be "not particularly sensitive" to national security will face a 25 percent tariff.

Drones and components from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan will be subject to a 15 percent tariff. Drones from the United Kingdom will only face a 10 percent tariff.

The 100 percent tariff will go into effect in 21 days, while the tariffs on smaller drones will take effect in 180 days.

Based on the details and carve-outs, it seems pretty clear that these tariffs are specifically meant to target drones imported from China. Some of the biggest drone manufacturers in the world, such as DJI, have already been banned from releasing new products in the U.S. by the Trump administration. 

SEE ALSO: FCC to allow banned drones and routers to receive critical updates until 2029

These tariffs will further complicate things for those companies. These additional costs imposed on older, existing product lines that were already approved for sale in the U.S. will likely force companies to raise prices. As a result, older products could be sold to U.S. customers at higher prices than newer models cost outside the country.

Will these new drone tariffs stick? Trump has faced legal issues with his tariffs before. Recently, the Trump administration was forced to refund $100 billion in tariffs that the Supreme Court had struck down. However, those billions of dollars were refunded to the affected companies, not the consumers who had paid higher prices because of the tariffs.

So, regardless of what the future holds for Trump's drone tariffs, the biggest losers are the American people.

When I worked at a university in the area of educational technology, I was a major advocate for open-source software. I took every chance I got to evangelize Linux and open-source apps to the student body. Part of it had to do with helping cash-strapped college students eat less instant ramen, but the other part was philosophical.

Spotify has spent years trying to turn its app into a place where people watch podcasts. But its latest move sends one of its own video shows somewhere else.

The Ringer, a sports and podcasting website owned by Spotify, has started live-streaming Ringer Wise Guys, the newly renamed version of The Ringer Gambling Show, on Twitch. The sports betting show aired its first episode on Amazon-owned Twitch on Monday, Aug. 10, according to The Ankler, which first reported the move.

The show features "Cousin Sal" Iacono, Joe House, Raheem Palmer, Anthony Dabbundo, and Tate Frazier. Ringer founder Bill Simmons confirmed on X that every episode will stream live on Twitch while remaining available on podcast platforms.

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The move also revives a Ringer Twitch account that had been dormant for roughly eight years. The company briefly used the channel for staff gaming streams in 2018, before Spotify acquired The Ringer in 2020.

Importantly, Ringer Wise Guys is not abandoning YouTube. The Ringer's own show page says viewers can catch new episodes on Twitch, YouTube, and podcast feeds on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Twitch streams give the show another live distribution point rather than replacing Google's video giant.

SEE ALSO: Top Twitch streamers by follower count: See the list. Why bring a podcast to Twitch?

Twitch is not exactly overflowing with podcasts — its Talk Shows & Podcasts category currently accounts for less than 1 percent of the platform's live audience.

Still, Twitch offers a young audience and a viewing experience built around live participation. Nearly 70 percent of its viewers are between 18 and 34, making it a potentially useful match for a show centered on sports and gambling.

The format fits, too. A sports betting show can react to breaking news, debate picks, and take cues from viewers in the chat. Its four-day-a-week schedule gives The Ringer repeated opportunities to make the podcast feel like a live appointment instead of another full-length video dropped into a feed.

Noah Malale, Spotify's director of originals partnerships and new initiatives, told The Ankler that Spotify has always wanted to "meet fans where they are," adding that Simmons and The Ringer have long sought to stay at the forefront of new media.

The Ringer is not the first company to see Twitch as a home for talk programming. Twitch launched a Sports Accelerator Program in 2021 specifically for sports podcasts, talk shows, reaction streams, watch-alongs, and similar formats. Some ESPN radio affiliates also stream on the platform, actor Keke Palmer launched the live talk show Keke Live earlier this year, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made Twitch the interactive center of his recurring Talk With the People series. Mamdani's show is simulcast across several platforms, but audience questions come through Twitch chat.

These examples show what Twitch can offer podcasters: a place to record episodes live, interact with viewers in real time, and build a community of new fans before distributing the finished show across YouTube, Spotify, and traditional podcast feeds.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Twitch has been building beyond gaming

Twitch is still best known for gaming, but its recent product changes are designed to make a wider range of live content easier to find, watch, share, and monetize.

As Mashable previously reported last year, Twitch began developing vertical and dual-format streams to improve viewing on phones. The feature rolled out more broadly in June, allowing creators to broadcast horizontal and vertical versions simultaneously. Twitch says 70 percent of new viewers now arrive on mobile, and the system also produces both formats for clips and video-on-demand uploads.

The company's redesigned mobile app opens to a personalized feed of live streams and includes a separate feed for clips. Twitch has also introduced collaborative tools such as Stream Together and Shared Chat, which allow creators to combine broadcasts and their communities. Those features could be useful for multi-host podcasts, guest interviews, and live crossover episodes.

Twitch has been broadening its business tools at the same time. It has expanded access to subscriptions and Bits, worked on matching creators with sponsors, improved its clipping tools, and tested new ad formats, including ads that appear when a viewer pauses a stream. That gives a podcast several ways to earn beyond the ads inserted into its traditional audio feed.

The strategy is not limited to Twitch. Its parent company, Amazon, restructured Wondery last year to place greater emphasis on creator-led, video-integrated podcasts such as New Heights and Armchair Expert. Amazon moved Wondery's narrative shows to Audible and put its creator-focused operation into a new services group designed to help shows earn across multiple channels, Reuters reported.

That makes Twitch both a partner and a competitor for Spotify. It offers Spotify access to a live audience while sitting inside another tech giant's expanding podcast operation.

SEE ALSO: Spotify will now tell you when an artist isn’t real Spotify's podcast strategy has changed

Spotify arrived at this moment after its own podcast reset. Beginning in 2019, it spent heavily to acquire podcast companies including Gimlet Media, Anchor, and Parcast, followed by The Ringer in 2020. It also paid for major exclusives, with The Joe Rogan Experience being a prime example.

The company later began moving away from that expensive, tightly controlled approach. In 2023, Spotify eliminated roughly 200 podcast jobs and folded Gimlet and Parcast into Spotify Studios. In its announcement about the reorganization, Spotify said it would concentrate on creator partnerships, loyal audiences, "always-on" programming, advertising, and a higher-margin podcast business.

A year later, Spotify renewed its deal with Joe Rogan but ended the show's exclusivity, allowing full episodes to return to YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and other services. That was an early sign that Spotify could make money from a show without keeping every listener inside Spotify.

The Ringer has become central to the next version of that strategy. In Oct. 2025, Spotify launched its first free, ad-supported streaming television channel with Samsung TV Plus, offering Ringer video podcasts around the clock. That same month, Spotify and Netflix announced a distribution deal for shows including The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables, and several of The Ringer's sports podcasts.

The Netflix arrangement limits full YouTube distribution for some participating shows, while Ringer Wise Guys is still publishing on YouTube. In other words, Spotify is not following one rule for every podcast. It is testing different combinations of reach, exclusivity, licensing, advertising, and platform fit.

At the same time, Spotify continues to invest in making its own app a video destination. The company lowered the requirements for video podcasters to join its Partner Program, built tools that let creators replace and measure sponsorships, and introduced a Distribution API that lets publishers post and monetize video on Spotify without changing hosting providers. In May, Spotify said more than 500 million users had streamed a video podcast, an increase of nearly 50 percent year over year.

Spotify has been adding video tools on the music side as well, including direct uploads, editorial pitching, and charts for music videos, part of a broader effort Mashable recently examined. The app may have started with audio, but Spotify is now competing for more of the time people spend looking at a screen.

There are more players in this game

Watching a podcast has become nearly as common as listening to one. Edison Research found that 82 percent of weekly podcast consumers watched video podcasts in the third quarter of 2025, compared with 78 percent who listened to audio-only shows.

YouTube remains the enormous obstacle facing everyone else. The platform says podcast content attracts more than 1 billion monthly active viewers. Netflix has built out a growing podcast slate, while Disney+ and Hulu recently struck their own video podcast deal with iHeartMedia. Spotify, meanwhile, has tried to improve video inside its app and distribute its shows onto some of those same services.

Twitch is nowhere near YouTube's scale in podcasting, and one Ringer show hardly constitutes a sweeping Spotify rollout. Still, the experiment crystallizes several trends reshaping the industry: video replacing audio as the default format for many major shows, tech companies favoring creator-led programming over expensive narrative productions, and podcasts migrating to whatever platform offers the right audience or format.

For Ringer Wise Guys, that now means Spotify, YouTube, podcast apps, and Twitch. The podcast wars have officially escaped the podcast app.

I believe that physical media will always have the best quality compared to streaming from an online service, and that’s why I collected so many Blu-ray and DVD discs. Eventually, though, I switched to watching my media on Plex instead, and I won’t go back.

I love using tech to solve real-life problems. After getting parking tickets for staying too long in a parking lot, I decided to see if I could solve this problem using just my phone and a cheap NFC tag. The solution works even better than I expected.

Being a student is hard. You have to manage and organize piles of notes and study materials, somehow keep it all in your head, and on top of that juggle classes, assignments, and chores that never seem to let up. And so, to help you out, here are three brilliant free and open-source apps that can take some of that pressure off your shoulders and make student life a little easier.

Wake up to a message saying your iPhone may be a target for mercenary hackers? It may not have been as noisily in your face as other emergency alerts, but you still need to take it seriously.

The direct-to-device threat notification, which appears as a banner on your iPhone's lock screen and atop the home screen, is a recent expansion of Apple's existing threat detection features, designed to alert users of mercenary spyware attacks. The banner only appears on a device if Apple detects activity "consistent with a mercenary spyware attack," the company explains.

SEE ALSO: White House signing deals with private hackers to combat cybercrime

It reads: "Apple detected a mercenary spyware attack targeted at your iPhone. There are actions you can take now to protect your data and device."

What does the spyware alert mean?

Mercenary spyware attacks are highly resourced, individualized attempts to penetrate devices in order to install surveillance programs. Often associated with state-sanctioned espionage and enabled by private tech companies, these attacks typically target individuals with political affiliations, including journalists, activists, politicians, and diplomats.

Apple uses internal threat intelligence technology to detect activity associated with the intrusions.

If you get an alert, it doesn't necessarily mean spyware has successfully been installed on your device, but it does mean Apple has "high-confidence" you are a target. And that means you need to act fast to protect your information.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple confirmed it sent threat notifications to users in more than 110 countries late Thursday (Aug. 13) and more than 150 countries to date.

How can I verify the alert is real?

Apple's threat notifications will never include clickable links or ask users to open attachments, log into accounts, or install apps. If your alert includes any of these, it is fake.

In addition to on-screen alerts, iPhone users will receive a threat detection notification in their device's account settings, which appears under their Apple Account information. If your device is potentially being targeted, you will see a new menu option titled "Apple Threat Notifications." It should have a red notification badge next to it.

Credit: Apple Credit: Apple

Apple will also send a message with additional threat information to the email address associated with your account. If you feel like you can't trust an email, log into your account via a desktop computer or laptop. You should see an additional threat notification banner at the top of the page.

Got all three? You're the lucky spyware winner.

What do I do if I get a spyware alert?

Users should immediately take steps to lock down their accounts and protect their personally identifiable information, Apple advises. The company suggests soliciting help from experts and directs users to partner organization Access Now and its 24/7 helpline.

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Users can also switch their devices to Lockdown Mode, which walls off specific apps, websites, and other features that are susceptible to such attacks. When an iPhone is in Lockdown Mode, users can't access message attachments, click links, or continue sharing photo albums with contacts. Users can't FaceTime contacts that haven't been called within the last 30 days. Certain web browsing features and automatic WiFi joining are disabled. And other devices are automatically disconnected from your phone.