Technology

If you're at all up to speed (or even care) about what's hot and not at the top of the Paramount+ movie charts, you'll have noticed that Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender has been parked at No. 1. But hanging out right behind it is a pack of idiots in a Vegas hotel suite with a tiger in the bathroom. That's quite the double feature for American subscribers.

About 10 years ago, a software update for your vehicle, as if it were your smartphone, was rare enough to make the news. Tesla owners were often the only ones who were aware of it and talking about it. In 2018, Consumer Reports tested a new Model 3 and clocked its stopping distance from 60 miles per hour at 152 feet, seven feet longer than a Ford F-150. Tesla responded with a wireless update to the anti-lock braking software, a fix that allowed the Model 3 to stop in 133 feet without a physical repair.

If you're heading to college and shopping for a new laptop or PC, get the best hardware you can afford—but when it comes to software, don't think you're locked into Windows. Linux has evolved a lot over the years, and modern distros are just as intuitive to use as Windows. More importantly, Linux is generally more efficient than Windows, so you can get more performance out of the same hardware. And as someone who went through college using a Linux PC, I can tell you that Linux has an impressive collection of apps to help you get through your day-to-day student life.

Your YouTube videos are about to get a lot more views. At least, that's what it'll appear like on the YouTube video view count.

On Monday, YouTube announced that it was changing how it counts video views on the platform. According to YouTube, starting on Aug. 24, the platform will start counting a view on a video from the moment it starts to play – or as YouTube puts it, "from the very first frame."

The company says the change will bring the way it counts views on long-form videos in line with its method for YouTube Shorts. Since March 2025, YouTube has counted a Shorts view from the moment the video begins playing. (YouTube Shorts are videos up to three minutes long that use a vertical or square format.)

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This is a big change from how YouTube previously counted a view on a long-form video. 

Until Aug. 24, a view on long-form content will be counted only if a viewer watches at least 30 seconds of the video. Viewers who watch less than that won't be included in the video's view counter. That threshold, however, has provided creators with useful data about how many people were actually watching their videos.

While the view count change will mean videos will look like they're receiving more views from before, YouTube appears to recognize that its previous metric remains useful to creators. The company announced it will continue counting the original view metric as "Engaged views" in creators' YouTube Analytics under Advanced Mode.

YouTube was the last of the major tech platforms to quantify video views as a viewer actually consuming a substantial amount of the content. Typically, platforms better known for short-form content like TikTok or Elon Musk's X all count views from the moment a video plays, even if the video autoplays and a user immediately scrolls past it or swipes to the next clip.

According to YouTube, this change won't affect the monetization requirements for creators' channels. YouTube just changed the YouTube Partner Program eligibility requirements for YouTubers earlier this month. Those changes will make it more difficult for creators to monetize their channels by requiring more watch hours or YouTube Shorts views than before.

In addition to the new view metric, YouTube says it will now refer to the "valid public Shorts views" and "valid public watch hours" monetization requirements as "qualified Shorts views" and "qualified watch hours," respectively. 

The most-watched movie on Netflix in the U.S. right now is about a family that's locked inside their house—which is either a stroke of marketing genius or a commentary on how a lot of Americans have spent August (or maybe a hint to get outside while the weather lasts).

Ryobi is one of the most popular and recognizable names in power tools, especially with the DIY crowd, but the tools themselves are only half the story. Sometimes, it's the accessories we use with our tools that make all the difference. And for me, that's a cheap DeWALT accessory I use constantly with my Ryobi drill and impact driver.

The Windows Settings app has gone through extensive overhaul and modernization. While that's a big win in many cases, including the UI, there are still so many things missing from it that rely on the Control Panel. Even in 2026, as of writing this, we still use the Windows Control Panel for a lot of advanced tinkering.

Last week, the King of Pop topped the list of new movies to watch on streaming as Michael hit Starz. This week, music plays a big part in the list, but this time, it's centered around a pop star played by Anne Hathaway.

Sonos' two-year quest to rescue its app now includes a feature that some speaker owners have been missing for much longer. The company has finally returned lock screen music playback controls to the iPhone, albeit in a different way.

Online AI services are a great way to search through and parse long documents, but they come with some drawbacks. Your data is held by someone else, you use up tokens or require a subscription to get access, and you need internet access for it to work. By switching to a local-only approach, I can ensure that no sensitive documents can be leaked accidentally, and I don't have to worry about whether my private data is being used to train cloud models.

The subcompact SUV segment is packed with affordable options, but most of them make some pretty obvious compromises to keep their prices down. One Japanese crossover takes a different approach, pairing a relatively attainable price with an upscale cabin, strong standard equipment, and driving dynamics that feel far more sophisticated than you'd expect from something this small. It isn't the roomiest choice in the class, but it makes a compelling case for buyers who care more about quality and driving enjoyment than sheer practicality.

Elon Musk-owned SpaceXAI is set to defend its artificial intelligence bot Grok in federal court, following a scandal that alleges the AI assistant was used to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

In March, three Tennessee teenagers filed a federal lawsuit against the company for its alleged role in producing millions of sexually explicit images of minors, claiming malicious actors used the AI tool to generate inappropriate images of them when they were children. Last month, the lawsuit expanded as two additional plaintiffs joined the case, detailing startling stories of online sexual abuse enabled by Grok's image-generating features.

The lawsuit also added a second defendant: Stability AI, the makers of the popular text-to-image model Stable Diffusion.

SEE ALSO: D23 2026: Every movie and series announced and shown at this year's fan event

"Limitless access to these tools is spreading so quickly. It is taking everyday life and turning it into child sexual abuse," said one of the two new plaintiffs. She is referred to in the case as Jane Doe 4.

Under U.S. law, companies are required to report suspected cases of child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In 2025, Meta, Amazon AI Services, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, X.AI, Grindr, and Roblox submitted a combined 17 million tips to NCMEC, which accounted for 80 percent of all tips. But, according to NCMEC, many of these reports left out key information, including disclosures regarding the presence of child sex abuse material (CSAM) in AI training data and specific details that could aid law enforcement in locating suspects.

According to information submitted as part of the expanded lawsuit, X sent in only one tip regarding Jane Doe 4's case and failed to provide additional information to law enforcement when asked. The perpetrator used Grok to produce more than 7,000 sexually explicit images and videos of Jane Dane 4 using a single childhood photo, police records show.

In addition to its alleged role in producing CSAM, the plaintiffs also argue SpaceXAI (formerly xAI) benefited from sex trafficking ventures via Grok's AI features. The case also argues the company has created a public nuisance through its "negligence" and "defective product design."

Annika Martin, the plaintiffs' attorney, told NPR that Grok is a "scourge on society."

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Despite what most tech companies will tell you, not everything needs to be smart, designed around an AI assistant, or turned into an app. Sometimes, the old bits of tech you have lurking in your closet are still the best choice.

Going on a vacation means switching off from the outside world, and in more ways than one. Your devices can be the biggest distractions when you are traveling and taking time off, especially if you are someone who drowns in a sea of notifications and alerts from your work or personal life.

SAVE $400: The Antigravity A1 360 drone bundle is on sale at Amazon for $1,199, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 25% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Antigravity Antigravity A1 360 drone standard bundle $1,199 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $400   Get Deal

For so many reasons, owning a top-tier drone and being proficient in flying it is a great skill. Checking out the neighborhood, getting real-estate footage, or content for TikTok are just a few of the reasons why someone would want a drone. If you've been shopping for a drone other than a DJI, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 17, the Antigravity A1 360 drone bundle is on sale at Amazon for $1,199, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 25% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

You know you're in good hands with an Antigravity drone since the brand is an offshoot of Insta360, one of the premier 360-degree camera companies. Adam Doud reviewed the Antigravity A1 drone for Mashable and noted the high price point as one of the only negatives. Otherwise, he wrote, "While most drones are cameras that you can fly, the Antigravity A1 is a 360-degree camera that you can fly."

Doud also mentions the immersive googles are a big benefit with this Antigravity model, as is the remote control. Unlike most drones, the Antigravity eliminates the need to both fly the drone and point the camera in the direction of the footage you'd like to capture. Since the Antigravity A1 films in 360-degrees, you get to pick your content later.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy is turning 60: Celebrate with massive weeklong deals on iPads, laptops, and TVs

On that note, Doud explained, "As a content creator, all you have to focus on is putting the drone near the event you want to capture, and it takes care of the rest."

Since it's sitting at the lowest price we've seen at Amazon, now might be a great time to upgrade to the Antigravity A1 360 drone bundle. There's still plenty of nice fall weather to spend becoming an expert on this drone.

SAVE 24%: As of Aug. 17, you can get the DJI Mini 3 for $319, down from $419, at Amazon. That's a 24% discount, or $100 in savings.

DJI Mini 3 $319 at Amazon
$419 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

Becoming a drone enthusiast is an admirable, albeit expensive, hobby. But that doesn't mean you should put your dream of piloting on the shelf. Sometimes, you can find a really good deal on drones at Amazon (granted, you have to be careful about who you buy from — beware of third-party sellers!).

SEE ALSO: The FCC banned foreign routers, drones, robots: What it means for you

Right now, DJI has its Mini 3 drone on sale for $319, down from $419, at Amazon. That's a 24% discount, or $100 in savings. It's not the lowest we've seen for this model, but we can't really expect holiday-level prices in August. So, this is the best deal you're going to get on this drone right now.

The DJI Mini 3 is ideal for first-time fliers. It's so light (under 249 grams) that you don't have to register it with the FAA or use a Remote ID if you're just flying it for recreational purposes. It also has a 3-axis gimbal, captures 4K HDR video, and offers 38 minutes of battery life. Add in its Level 5 wind resistance and up to 10km of HD video transmission, and this little guy is ready to go on just about any adventure you have planned.

Windows gets blamed a lot for high RAM usage, and sometimes that's fair. However, if you've ever watched Task Manager fill up with processes from Slack, Discord, and VS Code all running at the same time, the operating system isn't really the culprit. Those are Electron apps, and each one quietly loads an entire browser engine into memory just to run a chat window or a code editor and eats up RAM.

In the battle of the giant Halloween animatronics, Lowe's comes out on top this year.

The home improvement retailer's 2026 Halloween collection includes a new $429 Talking Lighted Skeleton Watcher hoisting its skull 15 feet in the air, complete with LED eyes, side-to-side movements, and spooky voice lines. It's the biggest Halloween prop on the market this season, standing even taller than "Skelly," the Home Depot's viral 12-foot skeleton. (The Home Depot previously sold a 15-foot Worricrow and Galli-Crow for $399 each, but didn't revive them for 2026.)

As of Aug. 17, the Lowe's full Halloween collection of animatronics, inflatables, and decorations is now live. A company rep told Mashable that most of the collection will be available both in stores and online. Each item's product page shows its availability based on the shopper's location, they said.

Shop Lowe's 2026 Halloween collection: Haunted Living 15-ft Talking Lighted Skeleton Watcher Motion Activated Animatronic $429 Shop Now Haunted Living 7-ft Lighted Reaper Band Singer Motion Activated Animatronic $299 Shop Now Haunted Living 6-ft Motion Activated Ice Scream Skeleton Animatronic $269 Shop Now Haunted Living 6-ft Motion Activated Talking Lighted Witch Animatronic $129 Shop Now Haunted Living 5.9-ft Lighted Motion Activated Rotton Candy Girl Halloween Animatronic $299 Shop Now Haunted Living 5.7-ft Motion Activated Bluetooth DJ Lighted Skeleton Animatronic $299 Shop Now Haunted Living 4-ft Motion Activated Howling Lighted Dragon Halloween Animatronic $199 Shop Now Disney 4-ft Motion Activated Minnie Mouse Mummy Halloween Animatronic $199 Shop Now Disney 3-ft The Haunted Mansion Big Jake Dog Blow Mold Tombstone $69.98 Shop Now Bluey 3-ft Lighted Bluey Witch Halloween Inflatable $34.98 Shop Now

Other additions to this year's Lowe's Halloween lineup include a Bluey Witch inflatable, a 5.7-foot skeleton DJ, a rockin'-out reaper band, a four-foot Howling Lighted Dragon, and several creepy clowns. There's also a new Disney collection featuring talking animatronics of movie characters, like Monsters, Inc.'s Mike Wazowski, plus replicas of tombstones from Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride. Prices start around $30.

Like the Home Depot's rivaling props, Lowe's Halloween offerings will probably sell out quickly. At the time of writing, only 111 Watchers were left in stock for shipping. One Haunted Mansion tombstone, a nine-foot Gaslight Ghoul animatronic, and a three-foot Growling Lighted Werewolf animatronic were already out of stock online.

For its part, Home Depot launched its own Halloween collection in mid-July. Summer Halloween drops might sound premature, but research shows that consumers have a healthy appetite for early shopping. According to the National Retail Federation's 2025 Halloween spending survey, almost half of Halloween shoppers began buying décor and costumes before October last year. Respondents cited their excitement for fall, love of the holiday, FOMO, and desire "to avoid the stress of last-minute shopping" as the reasons for their proactivity, said the NRF.

People aren’t exactly thrilled about Flock’s growing surveillance network. Communities are canceling contracts, protesters are taking down cameras in increasingly creative ways, and activists have built a crowdsourced map showing where the devices are hiding in plain sight. Even Flock has announced new privacy restrictions as the backlash grows.

Now, drivers can search some of those records for themselves.

A website called Have I Been Flocked? lets you enter your license plate number and check whether it appears in publicly released records of searches conducted through Flock Safety’s system. As of Aug. 17, the website had compiled nearly 242 million searches involving more than 4.6 million plates.

The need for that kind of transparency isn’t hypothetical. A recent Washington Post investigation found that at least 50 law enforcement officers had been charged with or accused of misusing license plate readers, including to stalk women without their knowledge or consent.

The concerns extend beyond individual officers. Public records reviewed by 404 Media documented more than 4,000 Flock searches conducted by local and state police at the request of federal officials, as informal favors, or for potentially immigration-related purposes. Flock says ICE cannot directly access its system, but the records show how local agencies can search the network on the federal government’s behalf.

Have I Been Flocked? won’t reveal everything Flock knows about your car, and finding a match doesn’t necessarily mean you were investigated. Nevertheless, here's how to run a search — and understand what the results actually mean.

How to check whether your license plate was searched

Go to HaveIBeenFlocked.com, enter your license plate number in the search box, and click “Search.”

If your plate appears in the database, the results may include when it was searched, the agency associated with the query, the person who conducted it, and the reason provided for looking up the plate. Some of that information may be incomplete or redacted.

The website is part of Footnote4a, an independent editorial project focused on mass surveillance and government contracts. Its database is built from Flock audit logs released by local governments through transparency portals or obtained through public records requests.

Those audit logs document searches made within Flock’s system. According to the website's FAQ, the license plate and stated reason shown in the results are information that a Flock operator manually entered.

What does it mean if your plate appears?

A match means a Flock user queried the company’s database for that license plate. It does not necessarily mean that your car was stopped, that you were suspected of committing a crime, or that you were formally investigated.

The person conducting the search may have been a police officer, but the website notes that not every Flock user is a member of law enforcement. Businesses, schools, homeowners associations, and other private organizations also use Flock’s technology.

The reason listed alongside a result may provide more context. An operator could say the search was related to a stolen vehicle, traffic stop, missing person, or another investigation. However, because users supply those explanations themselves, they should not be treated as an independent account of what happened.

The website also does not show whether the search produced a match inside Flock’s system or reveal exactly what the operator saw.

No result doesn’t mean you haven’t been searched

Have I Been Flocked? has collected hundreds of millions of records, but its database is still incomplete.

The project depends on public records released by individual government agencies, and relatively few make their complete Flock audit logs easily available. The records that are released can also be heavily redacted or out of date.

"There can be a significant delay — months or even years — between when a search occurs and when it appears on this website," the project explains on its site.

That means an empty result does not prove that nobody has ever searched for your plate; it only means the number does not appear in the website's current records.

Operator names can also be incomplete. Flock’s audit logs often shorten an operator’s name to a first initial and the first three letters of a surname — turning a name such as Kevin Zachary into "K. Zac" (an example provided by HaveIBeenFlocked.com). That can make it difficult to determine exactly who performed a search. The website compares these partial names with public police rosters and employment records to identify a likely match, but warns that the results are not definitive.

Have I Been Flocked? also attempts to match those partial names with public employment records, but warns that its identifications are probabilistic and should be independently verified.

If you find a search that concerns you, the project recommends filing a public records request with the agency linked to it. It also advises anyone who believes they were subjected to improper surveillance to speak with an attorney.

The plate lookup is only one part of the website — visitors can also browse searches by agency and explore reports involving immigration enforcement, First Amendment activity, low-level offenses, noncriminal activity, and searches apparently intended to "develop probable cause." After years of drivers being kept in the dark, the website makes at least some of Flock’s surveillance visible.

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Apps such as Apple's Find My and Google's Find Hub make it easy for friends and family to track your real-time location. The problem is that if you use these apps, your location is exposed every second of the day. I decided to ditch always-on location sharing and use NFC tags to share my location when I wanted to.