Technology

Plex is rolling out its redesigned app to Amazon Fire TV devices, including some important upgrades — as well as the remote streaming restrictions that have irked some people.

Kids today will never know the tyranny of the 1.44MB floppy disk. So traumatic was this format that today the "save" icon in our apps still looks like it, even though no one has actually used it for several decades.

NASA is set to send four astronauts on a mission around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, and viewers can watch the launch countdown live on April 1.

Artemis II is a test flight of the U.S. space agency's Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule. The mission follows Artemis I, the successful uncrewed inaugural voyage of the spacecraft in 2022. 

NASA will stream the launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on its website, social media, and its YouTube channel. Live coverage of filling the rocket's tanks with fuel is expected to begin at 7:45 a.m. ET Wednesday on Youtube. Viewers can watch the event on NASA+, the space agency's free streaming service, starting at 12:50 p.m. ET.

The broadcast will track the four-person crew — Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen — as they board Orion. The actual two-hour launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. ET.

SEE ALSO: What 'home' will look like for the Artemis 2 crew headed to the moon

This mission is designed as a roughly 10-day deep space excursion that will loop around Earth before slingshotting around the moon and returning home. If successful, it would mark a major step toward future missions that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface and establish a moon base there.

The flight also carries historic milestones. Koch is set to become the first woman to travel to the moon, and Glover the first Black astronaut to do so. Hansen, a Canadian astronaut, would be the first non-American assigned to a lunar mission. Their journey's estimated distance of 248,700 miles also could set a new record for farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. 

Watch the launch livestream here beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1.

NASA's live coverage typically includes real-time updates from the firing room, views from the launchpad, and commentary explaining each stage of the countdown. The agency will also provide rolling updates on its official Artemis blog.

The forecast so far shows an 80 percent chance of good weather conditions for launch day. Mission managers are mostly concerned about cloud coverage and high winds. 

If the launch attempt is called off for weather or technical issues, the agency could try again any day through April 6. There is one other launch opportunity at the end of this month on April 30. NASA has declined to provide future launch windows beyond April to the public.

Raspberry Pi has already hiked prices on its single board computers in December and this February in response to AI-related RAM price hikes, but now it's trying something new: a configuration built with the memory crisis in mind. The company has introduced a Raspberry Pi 4 model with 3GB of RAM for just under $84. No, it's not an April Fool's joke.

Music can be an incredibly powerful focus tool for many people, and it can be a good catalyst to improve productivity. With the advent of work and study playlists, apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music are flooded with focus music that aims to strip away distractions.

HBO achieved enormous success with Game of Thrones, a fantasy series based on the books of George R.R. Martin. Between its high viewership and significant cultural impact, Game of Thrones became a once-in-a-generation show. While GoT's spin-offs have been successful, they have failed to reach the unfathomable heights of their predecessor. HBO is clearly looking for its next Game of Thrones. Could that next landmark show be Harry Potter?

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a brand new malware threat called CrystalX RAT, which is making its way around private hacker group chats and forums.

What sets CrystalX RAT apart from other malware?

It's an all-in-one hacker tool that includes data stealing and spyware capabilities. Furthermore, perhaps just in time for April Fools' Day, CrystalX RAT also has unique "prankware" capabilities that can mock and troll its victims in real-time.

On April 1, researchers with cybersecurity firm Kaspersky's Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) published a new report on a new malware they recently discovered in March called CrystalX RAT. 

The team found evidence of this new malware dating back to January, and it was being offered within hacker communities as a MaaS, or Malware-as-a-Service, tool. This means that the developers of CrystalX RAT were offering the malware to less tech-savvy bad actors as a paid subscription service.

RAT stands for Remote Access Trojan and is a particularly dangerous type of malware that gives attackers complete remote access to the targeted computer or mobile device.

However, what caught Kaspersky researchers' eye about CrystalX RAT was its "extensive arsenal of capabilities" when compared to other similar types of malware.

Once a target downloads the CrystalX RAT malware to their device, they have unknowingly provided an attacker with a slew of data-stealing capabilities and spyware functionality. CrystalX RAT includes a stealer, which gathers system information and extracts private credentials from platforms like Telegram, Discord, Steam, and Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome. In addition, an attacker can remotely monitor and control the infected device.

CrystalX RAT also includes a keylogger, which records every key that the victim types, and a clipper, which modifies a victim's clipboard. A hacker can utilize a clipper in order to perform actions such as changing a crypto wallet address when a target goes to paste the address.

However, what truly sets CrystalX RAT apart from other malware is its prankware toolset, which can be used to mock and troll the victim from within their device.

According to Kaspersky, CrystalX RAT comes with a panel titled "Rofl," which includes different methods in which the attacker can remotely prank the target through their infected computer. 

Using CrystalX RAT, a hacker could remotely change a victim's desktop background to any image they like or rotate their computer screen's display, for example.

The attacker could also swap the victim's mouse buttons, disconnect computer peripherals like the monitor or keyboard, or hide desktop icons. CrystalX RAT also provides the capability to completely shutdown or restart an infected device remotely. Furthermore, a victim can receive custom notifications created by the attacker, who can even send messages in a pop-up chat dialog window.

While these may seem like silly pranks, as Kaspersky points out, they add a distressing psychological toll to the target, who is already a victim to an invasive cyberattack.

“Such a diverse feature set effectively enables a 360-degree compromise of the victim and a complete loss of privacy," said senior security researcher at Kaspersky Leonid Bezvershenko in a statement. "Beyond gaining access to account credentials, the stolen data could potentially be used for blackmail."

CrystalX RAT is just one of a number of sophisticated malware attacks to pop up over the past few months. Cybersecurity professionals urge users to be cautious when coming across unknown files online and to stick with downloads from official, trusted sources.

Volkswagen pulled the silk off the 2027 Atlas in the Big Apple during the 2026 New York International Auto Show, and it’s clear the brand has upscaled its three-row SUV, especially the interior. Among the highlights, an AI-powered voice assistant with ChatGPT that responds to driver prompts, whether it's adjusting the climate control or finding a nearby coffee shop or restaurant.

Apple brought the ban hammer down on an AI-powered iOS app.

The Information reported that Apple pulled an app called "Anything" from the App Store. For the unfamiliar, Anything is/was an app based around using "vibe coding," or the act of using natural language AI prompts to generate apps, often by people with no formal coding experience.

Apple has been either pulling vibe coding apps or blocking them from releasing updates since March, according to The Information, with other apps like Vibecode and Replit becoming victims.

SEE ALSO: Apple celebrates 50th birthday with homepage animation

In case you're wondering why Apple might take a hard line against vibe coding apps, it's not just based on vibes. The company told MacRumors that while there isn't a precise rule against vibe coding, these apps do violate App Store Guideline 2.5.2, which states:

Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user.

So, while there isn't exactly a rule against vibe coding apps, that guideline, as currently written, would make it pretty hard for any of them to exist on the App Store.

App developers have also reported delays in app store approvals this year, with some blaming vibe coding apps for creating a bottleneck. On Apple's end, fewer vibe-coded apps means fewer submissions to review.

But that also means you might need to learn how to code for real if you want to make an iOS app, so not everyone is a winner here.

SEE ALSO: You vibe-coded an app, now what?

The sex toy shop Bellesa Boutique said today that Instagram "permanently deleted" its account for using the word "clitoris."

Bellesa Boutique offers sex toys for any gender, from vibrators to cuffs. (Bellesa also has a sister site, hosting pornography marketed towards women.)

SEE ALSO: Shockingly low number of adults can identify the clitoris, sex toy shop finds

"Bellesa Boutique (@bellesaco) was just banned from Instagram," the shop posted from a new account, @bellesacensored, on March 31. The original Bellesa Instagram account had 700,000 followers and hosted over a decade's worth of content, the caption stated.

In a statement posted to X, the company provided this explanation: "Our violation? Using the word 'clitoris.'"

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In email screenshots Bellesa shared with Mashable, Meta stated that the account was disabled for "violating Meta's Community Standards due to sexually explicit language in organic content." (Organic means that Bellesa shared the content on its account rather than in an advertisement.)

The email goes on:

Examples of content that is not allowed include sexually explicit language that uses explicit or graphic detail about:

Genitals

States of sexual arousal (e.g., wetness or erection)

Sexual encounters

Credit: Screenshot: Bellesa

This is language lifted from Meta's Community Standards concerning Adult Sexual Solicitation and Sexually Explicit Language, where it states that the above language isn't allowed, but does not include "content shared in a humorous, satirical context or as sexual cursing."

Cofounder and CEO of Bellesa, Michelle Shnaidman, told Mashable that there wasn't any opportunity to appeal or review specific content before deletion, nor was the company given any warning. The Bellesa team was locked out of the account entirely on Saturday morning, and they were given a notice through the app.

The email also states that the company reviewed the case and determined the account violated its guidelines and can't be re-enabled.

"For over a decade, hundreds of thousands of people came to the @bellesaco community to learn about and celebrate their own bodies — a safe, shame-free space to discuss sexual wellness and pleasure. Instagram deleted it for 'sexually explicit language,' meaning discussing women's bodies in a health context is treated as inherently unacceptable," Shnaidman told Mashable over email.

The account deletion happened days after Meta was found guilty (along with YouTube) of negligent platform design that resulted in the harm of a young person's mental health. (Meta has said it will appeal the verdict.)

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

"Four days after losing a $375M lawsuit in court, Meta needed to look tough," the @bellesacensored post continues. "Instead of fixing what got them sued, they banned a women's sexual health community."

Shnaidman stated similarly that Bellesa wasn't the problem Meta was sued over. "But we're easier to ban than the content that actually got them into court," she said.

This isn't the first time Meta deleted content from a sex toy shop. In 2023, Meta reportedly rejected ads from another sex toy shop, Unbound, until it marketed to men. That same year, Meta seemed to reject period care ads for being "adult" or "political." (Meanwhile, explicit AI girlfriends were OK to advertise on Meta in 2024.) And for years, sex workers as well as LGBTQ content creators have told Mashable that they, too, have been banned or shadowbanned from Instagram.

In a 2025 study on the suppression of sexual and reproductive health on major platforms like Meta, the Center for Intimacy Justice found that of the groups studied, 63 percent had organic content removed from Meta platforms, and 84 percent of businesses and 76 percent of nonprofits had ads rejected by Meta.

The nonprofit Repro Uncensored, which monitors and tracks censorship, documented a wave of increased censorship in Nov. and Dec. 2025, its executive director, Martha Dimitratou, told Mashable.

Even in the last few days, they've seen a new wave of accounts taken down by Meta, including LGBTQ accounts and even accounts for nightclubs. Dimitratou couldn't pinpoint exactly why this is happening right now, but it could be a mix of AI content moderation, people reporting these accounts, or a big political or legal event — like the Meta trial.

Bellesa's Facebook account remains up, along with some Reels, though it has around 40,000 followers compared to Instagram's 700,000.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

"The ability to discuss sexual health online is how an entire generation of women learned what endometriosis is, what a cervical exam involves, that their experiences are normal," Shnaidman said. "Take that away and you're not protecting anyone — you're pushing these convos back into the dark."

I use a Samsung Galaxy phone plugged into a monitor with DeX mode as my primary computer. This means when I shop for a new phone, I'm also shopping for a PC. The details I pay attention to are different from most. If you're interested in this same setup, here's what to look out for.

Smart homes are supposed to make life easier, but you might know that’s not always the case if you’ve yelled at a speaker that misunderstood a simple command. Following last month’s major update to Gemini for Home, the company is rolling out Google Home v4.2, focusing on fixing these small but frustrating experiences, along with some improvements to smart home controls.

Are you looking for fun (or unique) pieces of software to expand your homelab with? I’ve been on the hunt for new software lately, and found 10 tools that everyone should try at least once. In no particular order, here are tools that have (or will) change how I run my homelab.

NASA is poised to return to the Moon over 53 years after Apollo 17, and this time you don't need a TV to follow along. The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1st as soon as 6:24PM ET—here's how to watch as astronauts make history.

You've likely been sitting on automation potential right in your pocket or attached to your keys. While Apple AirTags started out as a way to find lost luggage or misplaced wallets, they've quietly evolved into the coolest and most versatile Home Assistant accessory out there right now. They are devices that give you precise locations, but they can easily be used in a smart home. Location tracking doesn't have to be as simple as we make it. Using just a cheap tag, you add more features to your home without much effort.

Google first unveiled Gmail to the public on April 1, 2004. Now, 22 years later, Google is finally letting some Gmail users change their account's username while retaining everything else in their account.

The ability for Gmail users to change their username was first teased by Google late last year. And now, as of Tuesday, every Gmail user in the U.S. can officially change their username — that's the part that comes before the "@gmail.com" – to whatever they want, as long as the new username is available.

Aside from the username, everything else with the account remains the same. All emails and files associated with the old username will continue to exist in the account for the new username.

What happens to your old Gmail address? Google says it will retain that username for the user so that emails sent to that old address continue to arrive to the new username's inbox. 

So, are you ready to change that Gmail username you created while you were still in high school? Here's how to do it.

How to change your Gmail username

If you're a Gmail user in the U.S., the option to change your Gmail username while retaining the same account is now open to you.

To change your username, simply go to your Settings while signed into your Google account. Next, go to Personal info, followed by Email, and then Google Account email.

Eligible accounts will then see a button labeled "Change Google Account email" on this page. Tap that button and then pick a new username.

Please note, Gmail users can only change their username once every 12 months. So, once you pick a new username, you're stuck with it for at least a year. But that might sound like a pretty short timeframe if you were one of the unfortunate users stuck with your previous Gmail username for 22 years.

Subaru just pulled the wraps off its newest SUV, and it’s a pretty big deal for the brand. The all-electric 2027 Getaway is its first three-row model—and also its most powerful yet.

Free Lego deals this week at a glance Best holiday offering Lego Cute Easter Bunny free at Lego with $40 purchase (save $4.99) Get Deal Best Star Wars offering Lego Star Wars Kamino Training Facility free at Lego with $160 purchase (save $29.99) Get Deal

It's not easy to come by something for nothing in 2026, let alone something good. But Lego offers free deals fairly regularly, with purchase, of course. This week's free deals include something perfect for Easter and a fun build for Star Wars fans. Both of these free offerings expire on April 5, so hop to it.

Best holiday offering Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Cute Easter Bunny $0 at Lego
$4.99 Save $4.99 with $40+ purchase Get Deal Why we like it

Lego named this build "Cute Easter Bunny" and we agree on its cuteness. It's a mini-build designed for those ages 6 and up. It includes 66 pieces to build the bunny, carrot, and three colorful Easter eggs. Plus, the heart-shaped nose could not be cuter. The Lego Cute Easter Bunny build comes free with online purchase of $40 or more at Lego.

SEE ALSO: Spend $50 at Amazon on Easter candy, toys, and games to get $10 off Best Star Wars offering Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Kamino Training Facility $0 at Lego
$29.99 Save $29.99 with $160+ purchase Get Deal Why we like it

Even the best need training. The Lego Star War Kamino Training Facility is free with purchase of $160 or more online at Lego through April 5. It's a 190-piece build that includes three Clone Cadets from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. There's also the KE-8 Enforcer floating patrol vehicle with it's cockpit that opens. The Star Wars build is about 10 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide.

Building PCs is hardly anything new, but it's definitely an enthusiast thing, and that can create a lot of myths and misconceptions. You've probably heard myths, such as that liquid coolers are dangerous and can flood your entire PC, or that SSDs are less reliable than HDDs.