Technology

Claude Sonnet 5 release expected imminently. What we know.

Mashable - 5 hours 12 min ago

Rumors are swirling that Anthropic is close to releasing Claude Sonnet 5, a new version of its mid-tier AI model that could significantly shift the competitive landscape for large language models.

Multiple reports published in early February suggest Claude Sonnet 5 is imminent, with some industry watchers pointing to signs of internal testing and quiet rollout preparation. While Anthropic has not formally announced a release date, speculation intensified after developers and analysts began referencing "Sonnet 5" in public forums and social posts.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic Super Bowl LX ads mock ChatGPT

According to UCStrategies, Claude Sonnet 5 is expected to deliver major performance gains while maintaining the pricing structure that has made Sonnet attractive to developers. The outlet reports that the model may match or exceed the capabilities of Anthropic’s higher-end Opus 4.5 model while remaining significantly cheaper to run, a combination that could make it especially appealing for enterprise and coding workloads.

Cost efficiency appears to be a central theme. Coverage from Geeky Gadgets suggests Sonnet 5 could cost roughly half as much as Opus 4.5, while offering faster inference and stronger agent-style capabilities, including improved context retention and multitasking. That positions the model as a direct challenger not just to Anthropic’s own lineup, but also to OpenAI's and Google’s upcoming releases.

There are also rumors that Claude Sonnet 5 will deepen its integration with Claude Code, Anthropic’s developer-focused environment. Several analysts cited by UCStrategies speculate that the model could outperform Opus in coding tasks, particularly in long-running workflows that benefit from sustained context and structured reasoning.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rent-a-Human wants AI Agents to hire humans as gig workers

Mashable - 5 hours 23 min ago

Based on the weekend’s viral hype around AI agents, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re inching closer to a Cyberpunk future once reserved for sci-fi books and video games. And while that trajectory may be real, we’re also nowhere near full-blown cyber-dystopia just yet.

Still, the tech world has found something new to fixate on. As of now, it's a website called Rentahuman.ai, where humans can quite literally sell their labor to AI agents. The Rent-a-Human platform was created by crypto software engineer Alexander Liteplo after the sudden success of OpenClaw and Moltbook, and it proudly bills itself as "the meatspace layer for AI." (Mashable reached out to Liteplo for comment but did not receive a response.)

Think TaskRabbit, but for autonomous agents that need humans to do physical-world tasks they can’t.

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Rent-a-Human launched quietly over the weekend before exploding in visibility after Liteplo began aggressively promoting it on X. According to the site, more than 81,000 "rentable humans" have already signed up to offer paid services to bots, at the time of this writing. The actual tasks, at least for now, seem limited. The tasks themselves range from mundane errands like picking up packages to holding signs or delivering flowers to Anthropic.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is Rent-A-Human a joke? Rent-a-Human's meat marketplace reportedly has 80,000 signups. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Rent-a-Human

It’s also hard to tell whether Rent-a-Human is meant as satire or a sincere attempt at a new labor market, but the signs point to the latter. Crypto culture doesn't have the best reputation, and the site doesn’t do much to signal a wink. As Gizmodo pointed out in its coverage, phrases like "meatspace" and copy that reads "robots need your body" feel less like a joke and more like someone earnestly pitching Neuromancer as a startup deck.

Furthermore, it appears the site is part of a fast-growing ecosystem of AI agent tools that have exploded in popularity over the last few weeks, many of them orbiting around the open-source assistant formerly known as Clawdbot, then Moltbot, and now OpenClaw. As Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth reported, the open-source OpenClaw project has gone viral among AI power users, despite repeated name changes prompted by trademark pressure from Anthropic.

SEE ALSO: OpenClaw Moltbook: What it is and how it works

As Mashable has documented across coverage of OpenClaw and its offshoots, projects like Rent-a-Human and Moltbook are built quickly through vibe coding, with creators openly admitting they ship code they don’t fully review, relying on AI models to fix bugs later.

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Whether it actually works is another question. While the platform claims tens of thousands of humans have signed up, Gizmodo reports that only a small fraction have connected payment wallets, and there are far fewer active AI agents than available workers (82 agents to 81,000 humans).

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Rent-a-Human requires users to connect crypto wallets in order to get paid, and payments are handled entirely in cryptocurrency, including stablecoins and Ethereum. That alone raises obvious red flags, especially for a platform asking people to perform real-world tasks for anonymous AI agents with no meaningful verification process.

The site’s design places a lot of trust on both sides of the transaction, with very little protection in place for the human doing the work. Tasks are posted by bots or bot operators who may not be identifiable, payments are non-reversible once sent, and users are expected to operate through crypto wallets that could be compromised if mishandled.

Unsurprisingly, many crypto enthusiasts are fully on board. Rentahuman has been heavily promoted by crypto and AI agent accounts on X, many of whom frame it as an inevitable step toward autonomous economies in which bots transact directly with humans. That enthusiasm doesn’t do much to calm concerns, especially given the crypto industry’s long history of rug pulls.

It's too soon to tell for sure whether Rent-a-Human is the start of a new AI gig worker economy or a very elaborate satire, but as with the overnight success of Moltbook, proceed with caution.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is on sale at Amazon for $60 off

Mashable - 6 hours 12 min ago

SAVE $60: The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is on sale for $109.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $169.99. That's a 35% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro $109.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

We're coming up on one of the most important snack days of the year in the U.S. This Sunday marks the Big Game, which is awesome if you love football. If you don't care about the sport, there's still a case for attending parties because they almost always come with excellent snacks. If you're looking for an easy way to prep foods, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of Feb. 4, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is on sale at Amazon for $109.99, marked down from the list price of $169.99. That's a 35% discount that shaves $60 off the standard price.

With an 8.5-quart capacity and eight cooking functions, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is a kitchen hack for making easy game-day snacks or dinners on busy nights. It functions as a super fancy Crock Pot with functions like slow cook, steam, braise, bake, proof, keep warm, and more. Plus, Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances so you know you're in for something that's well worth the space on the countertop.

SEE ALSO: Super Bowl 2026 deals: Score free food from Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Popeyes, and more

The removable cooking pot in the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is easy to lift out for serving directly from the pot. But it's also oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can get perfectly crispy dips from the Ninja Foodi. Plus, the pot has a non-stick surface for easy cleaning.

Before kickoff on Sunday, get equipped in the kitchen thanks to the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro. It's on sale for under $110 at Amazon and it'll come in handy night after night for quick one-pot dinners.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Transform your old PC with Microsoft’s essential suite, on sale now for $20

Mashable - 6 hours 12 min ago

TL;DR: Enjoy a PC refresh for only $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

Not all major upgrades have to be expensive. In fact, a Microsoft Office license can give your PC an impressive refresh with seven helpful apps for less than $3 each. While it sounds too good to be true, you can now secure this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows lifetime license for just $19.97.

If you’ve been in the market for a new PC, it may be time to just give your old one some new tools. This Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license equips your device with seven apps, including some of the brand’s classic staples, that are geared to help you with work, play, and everything in between.

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Curious what’s included? You’ll get access to the classics like Word to help you draft documents, and Excel for all your spreadsheet needs. If you need to create a presentation, you’ll have PowerPoint at your disposal, and Outlook helps you manage your email communications.

This license also includes newer favorites like Publisher, which can help you design professional documents. Access can help you manage large databases, and OneNote can improve how you take notes. This Microsoft Office license gives you permanent access to each app, with no subscription fees required, and you can work offline as needed.

If the year of this edition gives you pause, don’t worry — the apps have been redesigned and will include enhanced features like enhanced inking in all Office programs, new PowerPoint presentation tools, new Excel analysis capabilities, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

Give your PC an upgrade with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license, now just $19.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get the OpenAI-powered Sterling Stock Picker lifetime subscription for $55

Mashable - 6 hours 12 min ago

TL;DR: The Sterling Stock Picker uses OpenAI-powered insights to help investors evaluate stocks based on risk, growth, and personal goals. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is $55.19 instead of $486, through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81   Get Deal

Markets can react poorly to uncertainty, and there has been no shortage of it lately. For investors who want clearer signals without spending too much time analyzing charts and financial statements, Sterling Stock Picker offers a more structured approach to decision-making. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is available for $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Sterling Stock Picker is anchored by its patent-pending North Star system, which evaluates stocks and categorizes them as buy, sell, hold, or avoid based on key financial metrics and risk factors. The platform also spotlights Stock Rockets — companies posting more than 50% quarterly revenue growth — helping users identify high-momentum opportunities at a glance.

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Your personal AI coach is Finley, backed by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Finley can answer questions about individual stocks, portfolio performance, or broader market trends using real-time data. A short questionnaire personalizes recommendations based on goals, values, and risk tolerance, while a Done-For-You Portfolio option offers a more hands-off way to get started.

This setup caters to a broad spectrum of investors. Novices can tap into educational explanations to understand why certain stocks are flagged, while experienced users will appreciate consolidated portfolio insights and risk assessments. The community forum adds another dimension, offering a place to discuss strategy and learn from fellow investors, so there’s no need to hunt down advice on outside message boards.

Sterling Stock Picker focuses on stock selection and portfolio strategy rather than broader financial planning, and users looking for advanced derivatives or day-trading tools may find it limited. Still, for those interested in more deliberate, data-informed investing, the current discount lowers the barrier to entry.

The Sterling Stock Picker lifetime subscription is available for $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, offering an affordable way to test an OpenAI-powered approach to stock research and portfolio building.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The German luxury SUV that tops fuel economy charts

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 23:30

Luxury and frugality don’t usually go hand in hand. Most people assume a luxury vehicle comes with indulgence, not savings—but some SUVs are proving you can have both.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Valentines Day sex toy deals are already heating up. Save up to 85% on famous toys.

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 23:28

Valentine’s Day is only a week away (and hallelujah, it’s on a weekend this year). As one of Mashable’s sex and dating experts, my apartment is basically a revolving door of delivery boxes filled with the latest pleasure tech. I see most of these products months before they even launch, so I have a pretty good idea of what's worth your money and what's not.

Because I track pricing year-round, I can tell you which Valentine's "sales" are legit and which ones are just standard prices with a red bow on top. Now that we’re approaching the biggest vibrator sales day of the year, I’m sharing the best discounts you can grab right now.

SEE ALSO: Lovehoney has tons of V-Day goodies on sale: Get 50% off vibrators, lingerie, and more

You’ll notice most of these links go directly to the brands rather than Amazon. While I love Prime for convenience, buying direct is the best way to guarantee you’re getting a safe, authentic product — plus, the direct-to-consumer sales are usually stronger for V-Day anyway.

With that said, here are the best sex toy sales to shop right now. I’ll keep adding to this list as we get closer to the big day.

Lovehoney: Get up to 70% off everything

Lovehoney has a little bit of everything for everyone. Its toys are affordable (there’s almost always a sale going on), reputable (it’s one of the largest online retailers out there), and diverse — you can find everything from strap-ons to clit vibrators to bondage gear. Right now, the brand is throwing a huge Valentine's sale with up to 70% off sitewide. That means almost every item on the site is marked down, so there’s no excuse not to get a little something for your partner (or yourself).

What to buy: Looking to get the best bang for your buck? I recommend splurging on the Lovehoney Romance Gift Set. It includes 12 items, like the We-Vibe Jive 2 (which is worth $139 alone) and fun accessories, for just $99. That’s a 69% discount (a pretty good number, right?).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Romance Gift Set (12 Piece) $99 at Lovehoney
$321.88 Save $222.88   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Rose Glow Pleasure Air Toy $62.99 at Lovehoney
$69.99 Save $7.00   Get Deal Good Vibes: Get up to 15% off sitewide (ends Feb. 4!) + 70% off clearance

Good Vibes usually has some pretty solid deals, but this year, the brand is being strict about the Valentine’s Day cutoff. Right now, you can take 15% off sitewide, but that deal technically ends Feb. 4. As long as you order by this evening, your stash will arrive by V-Day (shipping is free on orders of $85+). If you miss the deadline, you can still get it in time with second-day shipping if you order by Feb. 10. And of course, the clearance section is still stacked with items up to 70% off.

What to buy: There are honestly so, so many delicious options at Good Vibes, and what you buy really depends on the kind of night you’re trying to have, but here are some of the best deals that caught my eye:

Hello Nancy: Get up to 50% off select items

If you’re looking for something a little more discreet than a Candy Heart Dildo (it’s cute, but I get it), I highly recommend shopping Hello Nancy’s Valentine’s Day Sale before it’s over. The brand is offering up to 50% off select toys, and you don't even need a coupon code.

What to buy: The cutest toy I own is the Lem (it looks like a lemon, hence the name), and right now you can snag it for $89 ($70 off). This adorable device is all over social media for a reason: It’s super powerful, whisper-quiet, and uses air-pulse technology to make you come over and over again. It also makes for a great Galentine's Day gift — your bestie will love it (I gave one to my sister).

Opens in a new window Credit: Hello Nancy Lem Clitoral Massager $89 at Hello Nancy
$159 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hello Nancy Berri Edging Clitoral Massager $95 at Hello Nancy
$189 Save $94 Get 25% off with code BERRI25 Get Deal Le Wand: Get up to 30% off with code LWVDAY30 + 85% off clearance

Le Wand is known for its luxe wand vibrators, but the brand sells so much more than that, and right now you can take 30% off best-sellers with code LWVDAY30, which brings plenty of saucy gifts down to under $25. And if you’re really pinching pennies, the clearance section is currently seeing price cuts as deep as 85% off.

What to buy: Almost everything in Le Wand’s sale is add-to-cart-worthy. To help you choose, I’ve handpicked some of the best deals:

More Valentine's Day sex toy deals

Here's a shortlist of other sidewide sales to have on your radar.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam & Eve Adam & Eve Valentine's Day Sale Get 50% off two items with code REWARD50, plus half-off shipping. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Babeland Babeland Valentine's Day Sale Get 15% off sitewide, plus up to 70% off clearance. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: b-Vibe b-Vibe Valentine's Day Sale Get 30% off with code BLOVE30, plus up to 85% off clearance. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Boutique Voila Boutique Voila Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 60% off select sex toys. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: bellesa boutique bellesa boutique Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 60% off + FREE AirVibe & Rose! (on orders $89+). Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: biird biird's Clearance Sale Get up to 40% off best sellers. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: The Handy The Handy Get $30 off The Handy masturbator. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: KIIROO KIIROO Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 25% off select toys. Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Assistant 2026.2 arrives with new default dashboard, simplified apps, and more

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 22:56

Today's the big day: Home Assistant 2026.2 is now rolling out. It includes a new default Home Dashboard, a redesigned quick search, opt-in data collection for the new device database, and much more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Maps adds Gemini to a major feature in new test

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 22:23

Google looks to be adding AI to yet another popular Google product. In a new test, Gemini appears in a popular crowdsourced Google Maps feature.

As first discovered by Android Authority, Google is working on a chatbot conversation-style overhaul of the community edits feature.

Currently, users can click on "Suggest an edit" within Google Maps to submit relevant information about a location. For example, users can suggest an edit for a business and add updated store hours or correct a website URL related to the business. To do this, users navigate dropdown menus and input information into text boxes. Google then reviews the edits before pushing them live. With the crowdsourced feature, Google Maps is able to provide the most up-to-date information about locations to its users.

However, with the new Gemini-powered feature that's currently undergoing testing, "Suggest an edit" will receive a revamp that brings Gemini to the feature and provides a chatbot-type workflow. Users will be able to use natural language to share new information about locations and businesses, meaning they can provide the information as if they were having a conversation with another person. 

Gemini will even ask follow-up questions related to the crowdsourced information shared by Google Maps users. In the example provided by Android Authority, a user informs Gemini through the "Suggest an edit" feature that the opening hours for the Eiffel Tower are incorrectly listed. Gemini asks the user for the correct hours and then submits the info to Google once the user provides the chatbot with their answer.

This may not seem like a big change, but it is a significant update to a crucial feature in Google Maps. 

In recent weeks, Google has been updating various products across the company — from Google Search and now to Google Maps — in order to directly add Gemini-powered AI features. Google clearly wants to make Gemini a standard part of all of the company's services instead of a standalone product that consumers can choose to avoid.

Categories: IT General, Technology

In the age of streaming, I am still buying CDs, and here's why

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 22:00

As streaming has become the preferred way to listen to music, buying physical CDs has grown less common. Yet this isn’t new; physical music purchases began to decline when digital downloads became available through services like iTunes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Visual Studio Code has new experimental themes and more AI coding features

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 21:48

Visual Studio Code releases major updates once a month, and right on schedule, version 1.109 is now rolling out to desktop platforms. It's the continuation of Microsoft's push for making VS Code "the home for multi-agent development," but there are some non-AI improvements as well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This affordable family sedan is quietly more reliable than its rivals

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 21:30

In a segment crowded with practical four-doors, one affordable family sedan has quietly built a reputation for reliability that outpaces many of its rivals. While competitors focus on style, tech, or brand prestige, this model delivers consistently dependable performance and low ownership costs, making it a smart choice for buyers who want peace of mind alongside everyday usability.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $24 flashlight is better than the one you've owned for years

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 21:00

The old-school flashlight is legendary. It was heavy, dependable, and ate up those big, bulky D-cell batteries. I used to think the weight of a metal tube meant quality, and that the sputtering yellow glow from an incandescent bulb showed you were really ready for anything. In reality, these old flashlights that seem so dependable are outdated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nintendo Direct February 2026: Everything we want to see

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:54

Nintendo Direct is happening this week, so it's time to round up all our speculation about what the games giant will unveil.

The livestream will air on Nintendo's YouTube Channel at 6am PT/9am ET on Thursday, Feb. 5. It's listed as a Nintendo Direct partner showcase for third-party games, which means the likelihood of seeing any first-party Nintendo games is pretty low, if not zero.

That doesn't mean we can't expect excitement, however. The show is 30 minutes long and features games for both Switch and Switch 2.

Here's what we expect to see, and would like to see, from the showcase.

SEE ALSO: It's official: The Switch is Nintendo's highest-selling console ever More fantasy ports This would be a great Switch 2 game. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

Since this Direct will be largely focused on third-party games, it's reasonable to expect a decent chunk of it to be dedicated to ports of existing games. From Software (we'll come back to them later) has already announced a Switch 2 port of Elden Ring with a 2026 release, so I wouldn't be shocked if we got a precise launch date during this Direct.

There may be at least one more critically acclaimed RPGs getting Switch 2 ports. Nintendo YouTuber NateTheHate has predicted that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will show up during the Direct with a 2026 release date. Publisher Square Enix just released the Switch 2 version of that game's prequel, Final Fantasy VII Remake, in January, and it's apparently selling quite well.

Given that Square has already confirmed Rebirth would come to Switch 2 at some point, it would make sense for the next installment in the series to show up now.

The 2024 smash hit Metaphor: ReFantazio would also be a reasonable candidate for a Switch 2 release.

A second look at The Duskbloods? You should probably get that checked out. Credit: From Software/Nintendo

Near the end of the first big Switch 2 showcase last year, Nintendo announced The Duskbloods, a brand new Switch 2-exclusive game from the creators of Elden Ring, From Software.

Since then, we have not seen or heard anything about The Duskbloods, despite its announced 2026 release date. Given that this is technically not a first-party Nintendo game, it could, and arguably should, get prominent placement in this Direct.

007: First Light Finally, Gen Z James Bond. Credit: IO Interactive/Steam

I got a quick peek at 007: First Light, an upcoming James Bond game from the makers of Hitman. It seems an interesting mix of set-piece action sequences and creative stealth levels. And it is confirmed for a Switch 2 release when it launches on May 27.

It would be a pretty big deal for Nintendo if First Light showed up in any capacity during this Direct, but there's also an argument that we've already seen all we need to see of this game prior to release.

Resident Evil: Requiem and other Capcom games 'Monster Hunter Stories' rules. Credit: Capcom/Steam

Speaking of upcoming multiplatform releases with Switch 2 versions, Resident Evil: Requiem launches at the end of February. Capcom probably doesn't need to do much more marketing for this game, which seemed fantastic when I played it a few weeks ago, but it couldn't hurt to at least remind people that it exists and that it's coming to Switch 2.

The same goes for Pragmata, an exciting-looking science fiction shooter with a unique hacking mechanic. It's launching on Switch 2 (and everything else) in April.

I also wouldn't mind seeing more of Monster Hunters Stories 3, a new entry in what is lowkey one of the better spin-off series in gaming right now.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 turns the action game series on its head. It offers really fun turn-based combat and a distinct take on Pokémon-style monster collecting mechanics. This is one of my most anticipated games of 2026, and I'd love to see more of it during this Direct.

At least one thing we won't see coming

As with every Nintendo Direct, leave room for the unexpected. There will probably be a "one more thing..." announcement at the end that could be anything listed here, or something absolutely nobody has predicted.

Nobody in this business is better than Nintendo at preventing leaks and hiding secrets, which is part of what makes Nintendo Direct so compelling. We'll find out together on Thursday morning.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Madonna celebrates as a 34-year-old deep cut goes viral on TikTok

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:52

Madonna's iconic hit “Vogue" is all over the new trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, but a much more obscure song of hers is currently en vogue on social media: 1992's "Thief of Hearts."

The house-inflected diss track from Madonna's divisive Erotica album is making the rounds via user dances and posts on TikTok and Instagram — and the star herself acknowledged the tune’s virality. Wearing sunglasses and a leopard-print jacket, The Queen of Pop lip-synched a few bars of “Thief” on Instagram recently and captioned the post, "Hearts are meant to be broken."

SEE ALSO: How TikTok is rewriting the soundtrack of music discovery View this post on Instagram

As seductive and danceable as the song is, it was never released as a single from Erotica, an album that, according to Madonna, never got its due from critics or the public, since it arrived alongside the artist’s controversial coffee table book, Sex. So, the song’s embrace by social media — it trended on TikTok and recently posted its biggest streaming day ever on Spotify — is satisfying for Madonna fans and the Queen herself, as evident in her Instagram post.

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Featuring the sound of glass crashing and angry interludes, "Thief of Hearts" takes aim at a woman who allegedly stole Madonna’s man (how is that possible?). Whether the song is truly autobiographical is not clear, though Queerty posits that a certain Oscar-nominated actress may be the tune’s intended target

Madonna's viral reach isn't a recent phenomenon. Songs like "La Isla Bonita" and "Frozen" have already been reborn on TikTok and Reels, fueling millions of videos and introducing her catalog to new generations.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Discord is getting a speed boost on Windows, Mac, and Linux

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:39

The Discord messaging application is getting a much-needed speed boost on desktop platforms. There are also new improvements to screenshots and game streams, a new way to share times, and much more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hinge tests facial recognition scans in these countries

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:15

The dating app Hinge is testing the facial recognition feature Face Check in a number of countries this quarter. That's according to its parent company, Match Group, which announced the test during its 2025 Q4 earnings call.

Tinder has required Face Check for all new U.S. users since October 2025, after making it mandatory for California users. By the end of this first quarter in 2026, Match Group expects Tinder to launch Face Check globally.

Where it has been rolled out, the company claims the face-checking feature has led to a more than 50 percent reduction in interactions with bad actors (accounts that engage in deceptive or harmful behaviors like spam and scam attempts).

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

Hinge says it will test the feature in Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and Canada this quarter. More details about the U.S. rollout of Face Check are coming soon, with testing beginning as early as next month, a spokesperson told Mashable.

Hinge is also preparing to test Direct to Date, "which clarifies intent to accelerate IRL plans," according to the Q4 2025 prepared remarks.

Hinge told Mashable that the app is exploring a new way to help daters start planning for a first date as soon as they match — including sharing their availability, as well as date activities they're interested in. The test is planned for this spring.

Hinge continues to be the darling of Match Group's array of apps, as shown by the Q4 results. Paying users and direct revenue increased again quarterly and yearly, while Tinder's have decreased.

In December, Hinge founder Justin McLeod announced he was leaving Hinge to launch an AI dating service, which has yet to be unveiled.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sam Altman unloads on Elon Musk in latest X posts

Mashable - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:05

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has sharply escalated his long-running feud with Elon Musk, responding to newly filed court documents and recent public comments with a series of posts on X, tracking their ongoing legal and business disputes.

This latest round of the feud began after court filings in Musk's lawsuits against OpenAI and Apple became public. Jason Kwon, OpenAI's chief strategy officer, wrote that Musk and his AI company, xAI, produced almost no substantive internal documents during discovery, allegedly relying instead on disappearing messages.

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Altman reposted those claims, along with what has become a Musk catchphrase: "Concerning!"

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Screenshots of the filings posted online by Kwon appeared to support OpenAI's argument that key communications were not preserved.

Altman didn't stop there. He followed up with a more direct jab, writing that he was "really excited to get Elon under oath in a few months." He called the prospect "Christmas in April."

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Altman and Musk are involved in several lawsuits challenging OpenAI's governance changes, including its restructuring from a nonprofit into a for-profit business. Musk has argued those moves betray OpenAI's original mission, while OpenAI has called Musk's suits frivolous.

Early last year, Musk led a $97 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, which Altman publicly rejected.

The posts build on years of tension over OpenAI's direction. Just two weeks ago, Altman was pushing back against Musk on X due to the latter's claim that ChatGPT posed a mental health risk to users. Altman noted Musk's criticism was inconsistent, and explained the difficulty of balancing safety with access for a massive user base.

In the same exchange, Altman pointed to Tesla's autopilot safety record as an example of Musk's own company facing public scrutiny.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NVIDIA's latest update proves upgrading your GPU doesn't matter anymore

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Categories: IT General, Technology

How to pipe and redirect like a pro in the Linux command line

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 20:00

On Linux, pipes and redirection let you use the output from commands in powerful ways. Capture it in files, or use it as input with other commands. Here’s what you need to know.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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