Technology

Years before I started buying Samsung phones, you could unlock your phone by scanning your eyes. This went away with the release of the Galaxy S21. Now iris scanning is back, not on the latest Galaxy phone, but on a device where it inherently makes sense.

The first major release of Windows 11 for 2026 has arrived, as Windows 26H1. However, it won't be rolled out to any existing PCs, and it will only exist as a starting point for specific new PCs.

There aren't many mainstream sedans that come to mind when you think luxury, but one affordable midsize four-door delivers comfort, refinement, and premium features once reserved for upscale brands, without the luxury-brand price tag. While many shoppers settle for basic transportation in this segment, this model’s higher trims bring near-luxury appointments and thoughtful touches that feel a level above the mainstream.

3D printing gives you a way out of boring mass-market limitations, letting you create custom solutions and enjoy being completely self-sufficient. Unfortunately, that enthusiasm often means people rush into neat projects that everyone sees circulating online, without thinking about how usable the end result really is.

Android phone in a bit of a lull? Before you give it a kick and toss, a small change here and some optimization over there can dramatically improve the speed, performance, and efficiency of your smartphone.

CrossOver, the Windows app compatibility layer for Linux and Mac, just got a massive upgrade. The latest update is now based on Wine 11, allowing Borderlands 4, Helldivers 2, Starfield, and other games to finally work on Mac.

NVMe SSDs are all the rage because they're small, cost-effective, and blazing fast. Unfortunately, if you've built or purchased a PC in recent years, you may have noticed that there aren't nearly as many M.2 NVMe slots on your motherboards as you might like. That is where PCIe bifurcation comes in.

If you want a glimpse at how far AI video generation has come since 2023, look no further than the "Will Smith eating spaghetti" test, which has basically become the Hello World of generative AI.

In a video from a Reddit user on the r/OpenAI subreddit, the post shows the evolution of the test — from its humble beginnings as a monstrous, pixelated mess to something far more cinematic, even if you can still tell it’s AI. This version was made using the Kling 3.0 video generator, developed by Chinese tech company Kuaishou Technology. In it, Will Smith is seen at a dinner table not just eating spaghetti, but actually talking with a younger man seated across from him.

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They discuss the capabilities of Kling AI to create videos like the one you’re watching, making it pretty clear that this is an ad. Still, it offers a striking look at just how much generative video has matured in a remarkably short period of time. Three years isn’t that long — though, in AI terms, it kind of is.

SEE ALSO: 9 ways to spot an AI-generated viral video

If you recall, the very first version of AI Will Smith eating spaghetti was made with ModelScope and could barely keep the actor’s face consistent from one frame to the next. By the following year, the video — and countless variations of it — had taken off as a meme, to the point that Smith himself poked fun at it, before later being caught using generative AI for a TikTok video of his own. Here's an example of the test in Veo 3.1 from last year.

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Among today’s major players in video generation, like Grok and OpenAI, passing the spaghetti test has become much harder. These companies have put extremely strict guardrails in place around third-party likenesses and copyrighted material, especially as Hollywood continues to crack down on AI models trained on its IP.

Mashable attempted to recreate the test using OpenAI’s Sora and Google Gemini’s Veo 3.1, but both attempts were denied on copyright grounds. For now, it seems that as more AI generators — particularly U.S.-based ones — pull back on the use of third-party likenesses, the spaghetti test may finally be nearing the end of the line.

BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF: Through Feb. 14, Target is running a sale where Circle members can buy one book and get another for half price, including new releases and bestsellers. The sale also applies to select games and movies.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target / Mashable Photo Composite BOGO 50% off books, movies, and games at Target   Get Deal

I'm a huge supporter of audiobooks, but nothing beats the feeling of physically turning pages. If you also love the dopamine hit given by physical books, Target's latest book, movie, and game sale can help you put paperbacks and hardcovers in your hands for less.

Through Feb. 14, Target is running a buy one, get one 50% off sale on select books, games, and movies exclusively for Target Circle members. And that's on top of most books already being discounted. If you're not already a Circle member, joining is as easy as filing out your name, email, and phone number.

As far as books go, there are tons of popular titles included in the sale, like People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, My Friends by Fredrik Backman, Dear Debbie and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and the soon-to-be motion picture Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!). Many of the eligible books are also already on sale, so you can definitely do some damage. For instance, Dear Debbie and Heated Rivalry are both on sale for $13.13 (reg. $17.99) and $15.19 (reg. $18.99), respectively. During the sale, you could grab both for $21.76 instead of $36.98 (a total savings of $15.22). With how expensive physical books are, this is a great way to pad your TBR list for less.

As far as games go, you can grab Twister, Battleship, Scrabble, plenty of versions of Monopoly and much more. Meanwhile, you can build your movie collection with Blu-ray and 4K versions of new movies like Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Sinners, and F1.

There are hundreds of thousands of eligible books, movies, and games to choose from in the sale — and you're free to mix and match. Just be sure to shop before the sale ends on Feb. 14 if you want to secure some deals.

Most of us think of YouTube as a place where the content is made by regular people, rather than professional outfits. For the most part, this is still true, but fundamentally, YouTube is technically no different from any streaming service. Which is why you'll also find honest-to-goodness movies on YouTube that are both legal and free to watch.

TikTok loves labeling food. Remember Girl Dinner, which was basically a snacky meal? Or Slop Bowls, which effectively amount to the offerings at places like Cava or Sweetgreen? Well, guess what? Now we have Boy Kibble.

Yes, it is another silly name for relatively normal food. If there's anything TikTok loves, it's branding.

What is Boy Kibble?

In short: Boy Kibble is mostly ground beef over rice. Typically speaking, a kibble recipe involves lean ground beef over white rice. And, to be fair to the name, that pretty much is kibble. It's basic, lean protein and some carbs, as simple as could be, but effective. Naturally, folks mix in veggies or other nutritious additions — others go really wild and substitute chicken or turkey for beef — but the idea is to create a simple, easily repeatable, healthy meal. It should feel as easy as pouring kibble into your dog's bowl.

To be clear, Boy Kibble isn't just for men, just as Girl Dinner wasn't only for women. It's really just a clever branding for a meal that Gym People have been eating for ages. It's a simple meal with very little cooking experience needed. Though even an accomplished chef like Matty Matheson made his version of kibble.

So that's it, really: Boy Kibble or Human Kibble is just a protein-filled, no-fuss meal. It's diet food for gym-goers. But hey, there far worse meals than beef, veggies, and rice.

SAVE $45: As of Feb. 10, get the Anker Prime Power Bank for $134.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179.99. That's a discount of 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime Power Bank $134.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $45   Get Deal

How often have you been out and about somewhere and found yourself dealing with a dead phone? A dead tablet? It's frustrating to be sure, but nothing you can't overcome with a great power bank. And if you don't have one, now's a good time to invest with an excellent deal that'll get you a power bank that lasts and lasts.

As of Feb. 10, get the Anker Prime Power Bank for $134.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179.99. That's a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C1000 power station is on sale for its best-ever price at Amazon — save over $400

This compact power bank is no slouch in terms of ability. It packs 20,100mAh into this small package, which is enough to power up your phone, tablet, or other small devices in a pinch. It has three ports for multiple items to be charged up simultaneously, and it can even handle your laptop if needed. With 140W fast charging, it can do it all in the blink of an eye, too, so you don't have to sit around and wait long.

You can recharge the device after it's depleted back up to 50% in just 25 minutes as well, and you can charge something like a 16-inch MacBook Pro (yes, a behemoth like that) to 50% in just 28 minutes. It's all about speed, and a lot of it, in a short amount of time.

So if you're someone who finds themselves needing a charge desperately here and there, be sure not to miss this power bank while it's still up for grabs at this price. It'll come in handy more than once.

You can run pretty much any popular Linux distribution on your Android phone in a few simple steps. With the right scripts, you can even install a fully-featured GUI distro with the desktop environment and window manager of your choice. Let me show you how.

SAVE 64%: The Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T10i) is on sale at Woot for $179.99, down from the list price of $499.99. That's a savings of $320.

Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T10i) $179.99 at Woot
$499.99 Save $320   Get Deal

The calendar says February, but for those of us who live in spring pollen areas, we know that things can get intense any day now. Before the allergies take hold this year, equip your home and gift your sinuses an air purifier that'll cut down on the pollen count. One of Mashable's favorite models is on sale today.

As of Feb. 10, the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T10i) is on sale for $179.99 at Woot, marked down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a massive 64% discount that works out to a savings of $320.

SEE ALSO: The Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier does it all: Heating, cooling, and purifying

When testing the best air purifiers for wildfire smoke, I loved the features on the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1. Like the name suggests, it can tackle several jobs at the same time. You can use the ComfortPure as a space heater, fan, and air purifier. That means there's a use for it all year long, and you'll never need to stash it away in a closet. Plus, the heating and cooling function are perfect for spring weather when it's 70 degrees one day and 40 the next.

Equipped with a HEPA filter, the Blueair will help rid your indoor air from pet dander, dust, pollen, and even some viruses. Those all give you an immediate level-up in terms of health. This model is designed to filter smaller areas, and it'll clean the air in an 840-square-foot room in 60 minutes.

Since this is a deal of the day at Woot, it could sell out at any moment, so if this model looks appealing, it's best to check out as soon as possible. Keep in mind Prime members get free shipping at Woot so long as you sign in.

Before it disappears, grab the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T10i) from Woot and be sure you're ready for the upcoming pollen deluge.

During Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, millions of viewers experienced the performance together — cheering in living rooms, filming on their phones, and reacting in real time. But for those of Latin American descent, hearing their home countries named out loud during Benito's grand finale made the moment especially meaningful.

In his closing act, Bad Bunny transformed the stage into a celebration of the Americas. Dancers carried flags from countries across North, Central, and South America, while a massive screen behind him flashed messages like "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." He capped the roll call of nations with a declaration that "together, we are America," framing the finale as a moment of shared identity and joy.

SEE ALSO: Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Easter eggs: 15 things you might have missed

For those watching at home, the emotion didn't end when the music stopped. Viewers immediately took to social media to document their reactions, sharing clips of their friends and families cheering, hugging, and erupting with pride when their countries were named — turning a televised performance into a collective celebration.

Together, these clips formed a digital mosaic of diaspora, stitched from small, intimate moments across phone screens and time zones. Each video captured the same feeling: that for a few minutes, home — wherever it was — didn't feel so far away.

A quick look at our favorite Valentine's Day delivery deals The Bouqs Co. Save 25% with code LASTCHANCE Shop Now 1-800-Flowers Save up to 50% on top Valentine's Day picks Shop Now Urban Stems Save 25% sitewide with code LOVE25 Shop Now

Unless your recipient has explicitly expressed their disdain for receiving flowers (we all know at least one hater), you really can't go wrong with surprising someone with fresh blooms for Valentine's Day. Not when there are so many opportunities to pick out a truly unique bouquet that fits his or her tastes: Most of the best flower delivery services are offering great last-minute Valentine's Day deals on flower deliveries, saving you 25% to 50% on a gift for the upcoming romantic weekend.

SEE ALSO: 21 last-minute Valentine's Day gifts for procrastinators in love: Thoughtful gifts that won't feel rushed

1-800-Flowers is your go-to spot for a classic bouquet of roses on a budget, while The Bouqs Co. and Urban Stems have elevated takes on traditional arrangements that aren't like anything you'd walk past in the grocery store. A majority of bouquets on sale can be delivered by Saturday, Feb. 14 (check the earliest possible delivery date for each). Either way, you're bound to find some pretty stems that scream "them" — so while the timing itself is rushed, the flowers they receive don't have to feel like an afterthought.

Opens in a new window Credit: Urban Stems Urban Stems Save 25% sitewide with code LOVE25 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: The Bouqs Co. The Bouqs Co. Save 25% with code LASTCHANCE Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: From You Flowers From You Flowers Save 20% sitewide with code 1127 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: 1-800-Flowers 1-800-Flowers Save up to 50% on Valentine's Day top picks Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: FTD FTD Save $10 on all items, plus other savings sitewide Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Bouquet of Roses $49.99
$59.99 Save $10 Save $10 at Amazon Shop Now

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30   Get Deal

Mashable's shopping team has spent quite a bit of time with Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers and we're big fans. We love the Hyperboom and Epicboom, but the itty bitty Wonderboom is one of our absolute favorites. If you're in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend this tiny powerhouse — especially when it's on sale.

As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is down to just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99 and just 10 bucks shy of its best-ever price from Black Friday.

Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Wonderboom 4 fits in the palm of your hand but offers surprisingly balanced and powerful sound. As Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard noted in our roundup, "the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud."

It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We do wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound profile, but for a ultra-portable no-frills speaker, it's an excellent value.

Home Assistant Analytics shows that the MQTT integration is used in nearly half of all active Home Assistant installations. This places it eleventh on the list of the most installed integrations for users of the smart home software. What is it that makes this integration quite so popular?

Before there was Apple Silicon, before there were Intel-powered Mac computers, there were PowerPC Mac computers. If you still have a PowerPC G4 or G5 Mac, it could potentially use the modern web again, thanks to the PowerFox project.

If you're in the market for a new pair of expensive earbuds, Sony may have some good news for you.

A new leak published by Dealabs (courtesy of Android Authority) revealed some alleged details of Sony's upcoming XM6 earbuds, which are supposed to get the grand rollout this week. Following a retailer leak that provided the first images of the headphones, this new leak gives us an idea of what the specs and price will look like.

We'll start with the latter: These headphones will reportedly cost $329.99 in the United States. That's a lot of money, but the specs might help justify it.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Sony ULT Wear headphones are over $100 off at Amazon — score these stellar headphones for under $150

For instance, the new QN3e processor is said to be three times faster than the previous WF-1000XM5 model, released almost three years ago. The speaker and amplifier have also gotten upgrades, while Sony has added two more adaptive microphones for a total of eight. On top of that, 360-degree audio with head tracking, better air flow, and more equalizer bands are also said to be part of the deal.

Sony has been on a little bit of a hot streak with headphones lately, as our reviewer Tim Werth really dug the XM6 over-ear headphones last year. Mashable reviewers have also been impressed by the newly launched Sony LinkBuds Clip open earbuds. Here's hoping the XM6 earbuds reach the same level of quality.