Technology

This storage tech was supposed to be the future—here is why it failed

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 22:48

A little over a decade ago, SSDs began to drop in price, making them a viable storage option for consumer PCs and offering significantly faster performance than traditional HDDs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Anne Rice's Immortal Universe: TV's most underrated shared universe, explained

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 22:00

Shared universe franchises have become so commonplace in Hollywood that the format has made its way to television, yet there is one underrated horror franchise that I feel doesn't receive the recognition it deserves. Not only have properties like Marvel and Star Wars successfully bridged the worlds of movie and television like never before, but franchises like The Boys and Star Trek prove that even television properties can become expansive multi-narrative hits. For better or worse, the concept of a shared universe has endured into the 2020s.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 compact cars get 35 MPG without a hybrid setup—and cost way less

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 21:45

Hybrid models have become the default recommendation for anyone looking to save money at the pump. Automakers continue to expand their electrified lineups, and many buyers assume that impressive fuel economy now requires some form of battery assistance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 5 best documentaries of June 2026—on Netflix, Prime, HBO Max, and more

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 21:31

Documentaries have quietly become one of the most reliable genres to watch on streaming. And whether they're delivering everything from tabloid-worthy court cases and gorgeous concert epics to soaring music biographies and a fish-out-of-water series that shouldn't be good but is, a good doc mixes the best parts of journalism, entertainment, and storytelling.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Linux storage feature feels like cheating once you understand it

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 21:00

Storage is one of those parts of Linux that most people only think about when something breaks. You pick a file system during install, trust it with your files, and then forget it exists. It sits under everything: your OS, your home folder, your logs, your downloads, your work, and all the small mistakes you make while changing things. For years, that mostly means one thing: when a file changes, the old data is overwritten by the new data, and you move on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Pixel Watch can do things no other Android smartwatch can—don't miss out

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 20:45

Not all Android smartwatches are created equal. The Pixel Watch has a few exclusive features that you won’t find on a Galaxy Watch or any other Wear OS device. If you have one on your wrist, you should be sure to know the benefits.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Australia is doubling max fines for social media ban violations

Mashable - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 20:27

Australia's teen social media ban has been in effect since December, and the government's verdict on how it's going is pretty clear: not well enough.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this week that Australia will double the maximum penalty for violating its social media minimum age law, raising the fine ceiling from $AUD49.5 million ($US33 million) to $AUD99 million ($US68.2 million). The government is also moving to expand the eSafety Commissioner's powers to compel platforms to hand over evidence of what they're actually doing to keep under-16s off their services.

SEE ALSO: The next social media ban? Austria looks to block kids under 14 from social media

The news comes roughly six months after Australia's Online Safety Amendment Act took effect, banning platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X, and YouTube from allowing users under 16 to hold accounts, as Mashable previously reported. More than five million accounts have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since Dec. 10 — but according to Albanese, that's not good enough.

"It is clear that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by," said Minister for Communications Anika Wells in the government's statement.

The eSafety Commissioner is currently investigating potential non-compliance across five platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

The new legislation would also extend the Commissioner's reach to third parties like age-verification and app-store providers — closing a loophole that let platforms point fingers elsewhere when their enforcement fell short.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 HBO Max superhero movies to stream after watching Supergirl

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 20:00

The DC Universe has a new hero, and her name is Kara Zor-El. Supergirl, the second movie in James Gunn's new DCU, is now in theaters nationwide. House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock plays the titular hero, who teams up with a young girl and embarks on a quest for vengeance. The reviews have been mixed, with Alcock garnering praise for her performance, while the story itself has been subject to criticism.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Unlock Hidden Phone Features with These Secret Codes

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 19:45

A few years ago, I went through a device upgrade for a family friend that required finding device information very quickly. My carrier sent me some information about finding the IMEI on my device. When I learned there were essentially secret codes on different Android models, of course, I wanted to test a few of them out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't buy a Toyota Tundra until you see GM’s new 2027 V8 trucks

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 19:00

The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra landed in quick succession in June 2026, both highlighted by a pair of sixth-generation Small Block V8 engines that include a 6.6-liter, the largest naturally aspirated V8 in the half-ton truck segment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch South Africa vs. Canada online for free

Mashable - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 19:00

TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup group games now in the history books, all eyes are on the knockout stages. First up is South Africa vs. Canada in the Round of 32.

It's been a hugely eventful tournament for Canada. They picked up their first-ever World Cup point with a draw in the opener, then scored their first-ever World Cup win when they defeated Qatar 6-0. As co-hosts, they have big momentum despite taking a loss to Switzerland in the final group game.

South Africa, on the other hand, seemed unlikely to reach this point after losing their opener and having two players red-carded. But a subsequent draw and a win have got them to the knockout rounds.

If you want to watch South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is South Africa vs. Canada?

South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at Los Angeles Stadium.

How to watch South Africa vs. Canada for free

South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream South Africa vs. Canada for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch South Africa vs. Canada for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream South Africa vs. Canada (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prosecutors use mans ChatGPT log in unsuccessful arson trial

Mashable - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:59

Earlier this year, we reported on the disturbing trend of AI chatbots actually helping individuals plan out violent attacks, and Florida prosecutors have already investigated ChatGPT for its purported role in a deadly shooting, but there's another, even more famous incident that might have been planned out with the help of AI: the Pacific Palisades fire of 2025.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT’s AI market share slips to a historic new low

According to California prosecutors, suspected arsonist Jonathan Rinderknecht "used ChatGPT like a diary," not only building up a fascination with fire but generating images of cities burning, reports the BBC. In one prompt pulled from Rinderknecht's ChatGPT history, he asked the AI whether he could be held responsible for a fire caused by his fallen cigarette, according to ABC News

Rinderknecht was arrested in October of 2025 and charged with one count of destruction of property and one count of arson, with prosecutors seeking up to 45 years of prison time for his alleged role in sparking the fire that destroyed over 6,000 buildings and claimed 12 lives. 

"The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire," alleged US attorney Bill Essayli on an X social post

But when the trial of the United States v. Jonathan Rinderknecht concluded last Thursday, jurors were not persuaded. After two days of deliberation, the jurors informed the judge that they were unable to reach a decision, and a mistrial was declared. "There’s just not enough proof," one juror told a CNN reporter. "A lot of holes."

The drama is far from over, however. The judge has already scheduled a retrial for October of this year, with Rinderknecht to remain in custody until then.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I finally tried the open-source Google Maps rival nobody talks about—here are 4 things it does better than Google

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:45

Google Maps is ubiquitous and the obvious default for Android users looking to find their way. But excellent alternatives are available, many of which are powered by the OpenStreetMap database.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Please stop using your monitor as a USB hub

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:41

Having USB ports built directly into your monitor is awesome. They’re in a convenient spot, making it easier to plug in things near the monitor, like light bars or frequently used USB devices such as controllers and flash drives. However, most people aren’t aware of the limitations of monitor USB ports and think they can use them like any other USB port.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your router has a hidden status page that explains why your Wi-Fi is down

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:30

When Wi-Fi goes down, the first instinct is usually to reboot the router and hope for the best. That's the first advice anyone will give you, and in all fairness, it does often work. But it doesn't always work, and it also wipes away some of the evidence you may have needed to help explain the problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My Echo Show was contacting Amazon's advertising service 105 times in two hours—I finally ditched it

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:28

When Amazon first introduced Alexa, I thought it might turn out to be the main way that I interacted with my smart home. The reality was something of a disappointment; Amazon's smart home ecosystem is heavily locked down and nowhere near as capable as alternatives such as Home Assistant. I'd already started to move away from Echo devices, but wanted to see what was going on at a network level.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't buy a new car until you've asked these 4 tech questions

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:16

A new car is already a big enough decision before you start thinking about apps, subscriptions, software updates, and trial features. I was reminded of that recently when my mother-in-law needed to replace her car. She had bought a hybrid a year earlier, and unfortunately, it gave her enough problems that she was ready to move on. So I was enlisted to help with the search.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your Matter devices keep failing—and the one setting that fixes it

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 18:00

Matter was supposed to be the protocol that saved the Internet of Things. Instead of smart home devices all communicating using different proprietary protocols, Matter was meant to make all devices interoperable so that devices from one brand would play nicely with devices from any other brand.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped paying for focus apps after building this Windows PowerShell script

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 17:45

Do you find yourself constantly getting distracted even with a deadline hanging over your head? You’re not alone. The modern digital world is designed to be as captivating as possible, which also makes it one of the most distracting environments to work in. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and build a PowerShell script to save myself from all these distractions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

That USB4 label is lying to you—here's what it should actually say

How-To Geek - Sun, 06/28/2026 - 17:30

USB4 sounds like it should be super simple to navigate (although, in all fairness, all USB standards are really confusing). You buy a USB4 dock, plug one cable into your PC or any device of your choice, and suddenly your monitors, storage, Ethernet connection, keyboard, mouse, and charger all work through one neat little box. If only things were really that simple.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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