Technology

If you're the person everybody calls when their PC breaks down, I'm sure you can relate to all those times when somebody randomly asks you to fix their PC on the spot.

Google's answer to free streaming services like The Roku Channel and Tubi is now much more appealing if you like control over what you watch. Google TV Freeplay now has on-demand movies and TV shows as well as an expanded live channel lineup.

For years, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer had a pretty obvious problem: it looked and felt like a luxury SUV, but it asked luxury-SUV money for a Jeep badge. That made it tough to justify next to established names like Cadillac and Lincoln.

Back-to-school season brings a list of new costs for families with a teen driver in the house, from a parking permit to gas money to maybe a vehicle of their own. Car insurance is yet another cost that joins that seemingly endless list.

When you think of open-source OSes, you might think of Linux distros, but BSD-based systems have been around for a long time. Here are some of the best BSD systems that you can try that can give Linux distros a run for their money.

SAVE $549.01: The Anker Solix S2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the list price of $1,199. That's a 46% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix S2000 $649.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $549.01   Get Deal

When storms show up in the forecast, it's always smart to get prepared. That usually means making sure phones are charged, flashlights are available, and you have a few food options on hand. Speaking of food, if you're looking for a power source that'll take over keeping the refrigerator cool, check out this deal.

As of Aug. 11, the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the list price of $1,199. That's a 46% discount.

A portable power station can be useful in plenty of situations from camping to a power outage. Some models focus on portability while others are durable enough to leave out in the rain. If your main concern during a power outage is keeping the refrigerator on, the Anker Solix S2000 might be the perfect model.

Anker Solix designed the S2000 specifically for home use during a power outage. The design with AC ports on both the front and back means its great for setting on the counter and plugging the fridge into the back while keeping the front open for a lamp, the coffee maker, and recharging small gadgets.

SEE ALSO: I tried the Jackery FridgeGuard portable power station: It's both functional and pretty

With 2,010Wh of battery capacity, Anker says it can keep a fridge running for up to 35 hours. In part, that's thanks to Anker's low 6W power draw. With an under 10 millisecond uninterrupted power supply, you can keep the refrigerator plugged into the Solix and the Solix plugged into the wall on grid power. If the power cuts out, the Solix will take over in under 10 milliseconds.

If you're not looking forward to the upcoming storm season since that means worrying about food spoiling in the fridge during an outage, upgrade to the Solix S2000. It can keep foods cooling for over 24 hours and it's on sale for under $650.

Most people who switched away from Bixby didn’t leave because it was bad at what it was built to do. They left because something shinier showed up, and going back never crossed their mind. I was the same way. I moved from Bixby to Google Assistant to Gemini without really thinking about it, and I assumed Bixby had quietly died somewhere along the way because it was somehow bad. But it’s actually giving Gemini a run for its money.

The days of digging through your car's owner's manual might soon be over. Ford is now broadly rolling out an AI assistant that can answer questions about your car, including some that would normally involve thumbing through a book or talking to a service technician.

SAVE $50: As of August 11, get the DJI Mini 3 for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $549. That's a discount of 9%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 3 $499 at Amazon
$549 Save $50   Get Deal

If you're interested in flying a drone, creating drone-centric content, or just taking some cool pictures, DJI is a brand that has plenty of options for you to choose from. While it's been difficult to obtain a DJI drone with the FCC ban, there are still occasionally models that go back in stock at Amazon. There's one on sale right now you can get for a great price, and if you're interested in grabbing it, you'll want to do so before it once again becomes unavailable.

As of August 11, get the DJI Mini 3 for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $549. That's $50 off and a discount of 9%.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate travel vlogging setup: Save over $100 on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlog Bundle

This lightweight drone is just half a pound, which makes it an impressively small drone that's perfect for newbies. It can even fold up to become smaller, so if you want something compact and simple to use, this is the model to go after. But just because it's small, that doesn't mean it's bereft of features. It has 4K HDR video capabilities as well a gimbal design that allows it to shoot vertically with dynamic angles.

It offers about 38 minutes of flight time per battery charge, which you can extend up to 51 minutes if you pick up the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus as a separate purpose. Other than that, it also has built-in intelligent features of its own, like auto takeoff, precise hovering, and return to home capabilities so you don't have to do it all yourself.

If you're ready to try out drone flying, this is a great time to do so and a deal that's well worth starting with.

There are plenty of three-row SUVs that can haul a family, swallow a pile of luggage, and get everyone where they need to go. What’s harder to find is one that makes you feel like you spent considerably more than you actually did.

SAVE $200.99: As of Aug. 11, the Ecovacs Deebot X11S Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $799 instead of its usual $999.99. That's a savings of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X11S Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop $799 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $200.99   Get Deal

There's no denying that the robot vacuum market is severely oversaturated. With tons of brands, models, and features to navigate, we understand that choosing the right one isn't easy. This $200 discount on the Ecovacs Deebot X11s Pro Omni, however, might be the factor that finally helps you decide.

As of Aug. 11, the Ecovacs Deebot X11s Pro Omni robot vacuum mop combo is on sale at Amazon for only $799. It usually clocks in at $999.99, which means this deal saves you about 20% or $200.99. According to our favorite price-tracking tool, that's also its best price on record.

We have a few dealbreakers when it comes to buying a robot vacuum mop combo. The first is the lack of self-washing and drying the mop pads. Fortunately, the X11s Pro Omni tackles everything for you with its all-in-one Omni station. It handles all the maintenance, including heated high-pressure washing, auto-drying, auto dustbin emptying, water box auto-cleaning, and more.

Other dealbreakers include robot vacuums with less than 10,000 Pa suction power and the lack of obstacle avoidance and smart mapping on board. The Deebot X11s Pro Omni checks all the right boxes with up to 30,000 Pa suction power, advanced AI-powered navigation with smart obstacle avoidance, and smart control with YIKO voice assistance.

If you want a robot vacuum that will make your life a little easier and take both vacuuming and mopping off your hands, the Ecovacs Deebot X11s Pro Omni is a solid pick. And at 20% off, it's not too harsh on your wallet either.

Asus Gamer Days deals at a glance Best gaming laptop deal Asus ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i9, 32GB RAM, 1TB) $1,799.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best gaming desktop deal Asus ROG G700 (Intel Core 7 265F, 32GB RAM, 1TB) $1,649.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best gaming mini PC deal Asus ROG NUC 16 (Intel® Core Ultra 9, 64GB, 1TB) $2,999 (save $200) Get Deal

Tech prices continue to rise, especially as the memory shortage gets more intense. That's not great news for anyone who uses tech, but it can be espeically painful for gamers. Running games tends to require a machine with higher-end specs and more memory. But if you've been looking at an Asus gaming set-up, there's good news in store.

The Intel Asus Gaming Days event is underway through Sept. 13. With it comes deals on gaming laptops, desktops, and mini PC options. The best deals take $200 off and come with the benefit of getting two free games. Eligible purchases will email a unique master key to claim your free games by Oct. 31.

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i9, 32GB RAM, 1TB) $1,799.99 at Asus
$1,999.99 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

Built for speed, excellent visuals, and responsiveness, the Asus ROG Strix G16 is on sale for $1,799.99 for a $200 discount. This gaming laptop comes with the Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB memory, and 1TB SSD storage. In terms of display, you're in line for 165Hz FHD+ which is ideal for both gaming and streaming action content.

Asus also paid special attention to cooling with the ROG Strix G16, equipping it with an advanced cooling system that says quiet. Ports on the Strix G16 include an HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, 2.5G ethernet port, an audio jack, plus a few more.

Best gaming desktop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG G700 (Intel Core 7 265F, 32GB RAM, 1TB) $1,649.99 at Asus
$1,799.99 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

The 2025 Asus ROG G700 comes with the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060Ti graphics card. The 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD make for quick multitasking and loading games. There's also an included RGB keyboard and mouse to complete your new gaming setup.

In terms of cooling, the Asus has three fans for intake and a rear exhaust. Plus, there's an included dust filter. Pair it with an excellent gaming monitor and you're in for the best winter gaming season yet.

Best gaming mini PC deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG NUC 16 (Intel Core Ultra 9, 64GB, 1TB) $2,999 at Asus
$3,199 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for a mini PC, the Asus ROG NUC 16 is included in Asus Gaming Days deals, taking $200 off the base price. Asus says the ROG NUC 16 is meant for hardcore gamers looking for advanced features, combining a compact size with powerful performance. Stand it up or set it down horizontally, and you're in line for great performance with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. For even better graphics, Asus used the NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 and the NVIDIA Reflex for low latency.

Thumb screws give you easy access for adding memory or storage without the need to track down tools. There's also a dedicated heat sink that Asus says reduces operating temperature to a cool 59 degrees.

Many of the streaming media players on the market are built on Android—this includes Fire TV and, of course, Google TV. So, why can’t an Android phone be used as a streaming stick? They can, and that’s exactly what I did with an old Samsung Galaxy phone.

Image editors and desktop publishing tools keep getting better all the time. While I love a good dedicated publishing tool like Scribus, sometimes I need something quick to test layouts or make images/videos fast. There are plenty of image editing tools out there, but Canva and PenPot are two of the most powerful that I've used. So I decided to compare them and see how they both fit into my workflow.

SAVE $700.99: As of August 11, get the Ecovacs Goat A3000 Robotic Lawn Mower for $1,799 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,499.99. That's a discount of 28%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Goat A3000 robotic lawn mower $2,499.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal

If the idea of having to spend time mowing your lawn sounds like the worst time possible, it might be a good idea to invest in a robot to handle it for you. Robotic lawn mowers are a great way to keep a tidy lawn without actually having to do anything, and you can get one on sale for an excellent price right now.

As of August 11, get the Ecovacs Goat A3000 Robotic Lawn Mower for $1,799 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,499.99. That's $700.99 off and a discount of 28%.

SEE ALSO: The best robot lawn mowers in 2025

This robot vacuum requires no perimeter wire installation and lets you go wire-free thanks to the HoloScope 360 Dual-LiDAR navigation system and AI camera. It can handle itself while mapping your yard, up to 3/4 acre, and can remain accurate up to less than an inch even when dealing with less than optimal conditions.

It uses a TruEdge trimmer to keep borders around your lawn clean-looking, so you don't have overgrown grass and weeds around your flower beds, driveway, or other lawn decor. And with a massive 7,500 mAh battery that can be charged back up in just over an hour, it can get the job done without you having to sit and wait for it to juice back up for too long.

Though we're heading into fall, you're still going to have to contend with keeping your lawn fresh and clean. Make it easier on yourself with this robot and write off one more home task that you won't have to deal with.

Some tech projects generate a lot of information, and that information isn't always used as well as it could be. I have a Raspberry Pi project running bird detection software, and it's identified a large number of species. I decided to see if I could take the audio that it had captured and turn it into an educational game.

Sumerian Pictures' new trailer for Josephine is a tense experience, teasing a chilling mystery around one question: What did Josephine (newcomer Mason Reeves) see happen in the park? But the film, of course, digs even further.

This Sundance Grand Jury and Audience Award-winner from writer and director Beth de Araújo (Soft & Quiet) is based on her own life experiences. Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan lead the film as parents of eight-year-old Josephine, who witnesses a crime in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. How can her parents help her process it?

Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko called Josephine "easily the most buzzed-about title out of Sundance."

"Not a tear-jerker but a nuanced family drama that's ripe in emotional intelligence and thought-provoking sequences, Josephine is a hard watch and a must-see," she writes in her Sundance round-up.

The cast also includes Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, and Eleanore Pienta.

Josephine hits cinemas Nov. 20.

You might want to think carefully the next time you copy-paste text from an AI chatbot. Anthropic has confirmed that its Claude AI models now watermark generated text and files, making it easier to gauge the authenticity of material — with major ramifications for slop and privacy issues.

With Nvidia's RTX 50 Super a pipe dream, and GPU prices crazier than ever, now is not the time to get a new graphics card. Look, I wouldn't mind, but no. The prices are way too wild.

There's a secret lurking at the heart of Hellcat, a horror film soon to hit Shudder.

On the festival circuit, critics cheered writer/director Brock Bodell's feature film debut for its intensity and its surprising twist. To tantalize would-be viewers, Shudder has shared with Mashable an exclusive clip from Hellcat. And as someone who knows its secrets, I can assure you that this clip has some telling clues about the movie's secret subgenre.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

SEE ALSO: Best horror movies of 2026, and where to watch them now

Hellcat stars Dakota Gorman as Lena, a young woman who awakes to find herself in a mobile home that she's never seen before. The windows are covered, but she can tell she's speeding along down some road. But who put her here? And why is she locked inside? Soon, she'll learn her captor is a man named Clive (Todd Terry), who communicates with her from the cab of his tow truck through a PA system.

In the clip above, Lena's searching the trailer when she finds a mini-fridge, which, alongside some condiments, holds a rack of needles that she notes are filled with lorazepam (an anti-anxiety medication), along with a plate of bloody, raw meat.

Clive bellows, "Do not touch my medication!" but he won't explain more. But before Lena can demand answers, she's attracted to the bloody meat. And then, she hears a strange sound — a woman's whimper — coming from the back of the camper.

What's going on?! You'll have to watch Hellcat to find out.

Hellcat premieres on Shudder on Aug. 14.