Technology

A smarter way to use AI is now just $79 for life

Mashable - 5 hours 5 min ago

TL;DR: Simplify working with AI thanks to this lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, on sale now for just $79 (reg. $619).

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79
$619 Save $540   Get Deal

Why guess which AI model is best when you could see dozens of models’ answers side-by-side? ChatPlayground AI gives you access to multiple models in one convenient window, so you can pick the most helpful answer to your prompt in seconds.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan is just $79 (reg. $619).

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

You no longer have to settle for your go-to AI model’s answer and hope for the best. ChatPlayground AI is a Chrome extension that lets you query dozens of models at once, in one space, without paying multiple subscription fees.

With ChatPlayground AI’s innovative setup, you can take advantage of the strengths of multiple models without having to keep them all straight yourself. Enter your prompt and check out answers from Perplexity, ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Llama, and over 20 more models side by side for easy comparison.

From creating images to generating code, ChatPlayground AI can field all your questions. Need help with your prompt? There are also prompt engineering available to help you build better ones and receive more accurate responses. If you want to save a little time, there’s also image and PDF chat features available.

An Unlimited Plan gives you access to unlimited monthly messaging, priority customer service, and priority access to new features and future models.

Work easier with AI forever thanks to this lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, now only $79 (reg. $619).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Subaru’s forgotten BRAT might be the answer to America’s truck problem

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 23:31

From 1978 to 1987, Subaru sold a fun little pickup truck that was quirky right down to its name, BRAT. And while the name may conjure up images of Bart Simpson or Dennis the Menace, it was just an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. Subaru marketed it as a “Fun in the Sun” vehicle with “On-Demand” 4WD and a pair of rear-facing jump seats in the bed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What to do when playing Wordle becomes addictive

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 23:29

Late last year, weeks into a winning streak, meditation teacher and mindfulness coach Tim Hwang noticed something had changed about his Wordle habit. 

The New York Times puzzle challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six tries. Simple enough in itself, but Hwang had become overly focused on his stats. Revealing the word in the fewest possible guesses is a badge of honor for players. Long streaks also afford bragging rights. And Hwang began to feel like he was clinging to his record.

"I started noticing that by day 40 of the streak that it just felt like an obligation to actually do the puzzle," Hwang told Mashable. "I didn't [enjoy] solving the problems. It was a relief just to complete it to keep my streak alive." 

Meanwhile, what had begun as a pleasurable text exchange with friends about their results had curdled for Hwang into painful comparisons over who'd solved the puzzle and in how many tries. 

The joy of playing had fizzled. He'd become competitive about Wordle, and arguably even addicted. Hwang decided to stop playing for months — and would only return to the game after identifying ways to apply the skills he'd learned as a meditation teacher. 

SEE ALSO: Why friction-maxxing could be good for your tech usage

Crucially, he didn't believe the mindfulness problem was with Wordle itself. "The games can be really fun…and you get this flow and meditative state," Hwang says. "There's no multitasking. You're just problem solving, and you're just trying to figure out a puzzle. That can be really, really gratifying."

Hwang returned to Wordle two months ago. Now he sets clear intentions for playing, focuses on connection instead of competition, treats losses with a sense of radical acceptance, and remains aware of and curious about the feeling that he's clinging to victory. 

In short, he'd figured out how to preserve the best elements of online word games without playing obsessively and mindlessly.

Reckoning with Wordle and Spelling Bee obsession

I'd reached out to Hwang to learn more about his bittersweet experience because earlier this year, I'd started playing Wordle and two other Times games, Spelling Bee and Crossplay. 

Solving low-stakes puzzles thrilled my brain; I love words and enjoy spelling. Spelling Bee gives the player seven letters, one of which must be used in each word spelled. Crossplay, which I play with my mom, is the Times' version of Scrabble, or Words with Friends. Time spent on the puzzles felt like an indulgence in a fast-paced life. 

But, like Hwang, I came to realize that playing the games sparked something less wholesome in me. When I accidentally lost a 28-day Wordle streak because I forgot to complete the puzzle, the sting of disappointment felt out of proportion to the loss. 

I would wake up and feel an urgency to finish my physical therapy and yoga routine in time to start making Wordle and Spelling Bee guesses before my kids got out of bed at 7 a.m. I felt unsettled if I hadn't reached the highest Spelling Bee level — genius — before the day's end. 

The games also drew my attention to my phone more frequently, and that in itself was a habit I'd been trying to pare back. So I decided to use a notebook for Spelling Bee, which I typically solve in chunks throughout the day. 

Now instead of staring at my phone, I write down the day's letters, along with the hints (don't judge me), and wait until I've guessed roughly half the possible words. Then I allow myself a break from work or parenting to put them in all at once. I sometimes use my laptop browser to play, which minimizes the types of distractions I often experience on my phone. 

I also learned a valuable lesson from the Global Day of Unplugging, during which I abandoned my phone, as much as I could, for 24 hours. That meant no Wordle, Spelling Bee, or Crossplay, and no streaks. I craved the games initially, but the discomfort eventually resolved, and I felt peaceful instead. Now days can pass when I don't play, and I genuinely don't mind breaking a streak. 

These strategies worked for me, but what about others? I decided to learn more from mindfulness experts about how to course correct when an online word game has become the object of obsession. 

Set your playing intentions

Tara Anderson, a producer for the mindfulness podcast 10% Happier with Dan Harris, had a New York Times online crossword streak of more than 1,000 puzzles. Then she missed a single day. 

Anderson, who has practiced meditation for more than 30 years, said the streak lapse put into stark relief just how invested she'd become in solving the puzzles. 

"It was like, 'Oh, maybe I've been clinging to this too much," she told Mashable. "It was this bubble popping, and I saw it didn't mean anything anyway. And then I did the crossword puzzle again the next day. I do it now because I really enjoy the challenge." 

Anderson, who also plays Wordle and Spelling Bee, now approaches her word games with a simple thought in mind, courtesy of a colleague: "Am I doing this on purpose or not on purpose?" That deceptively simple question helps clarify Anderson's game-playing intentions. 

Though she's not clinging to streaks, the games can feel like a distraction from uncomfortable feelings or situations — even if they seem a more virtuous distraction than, say, TikTok. If that's the case, she tries to mindfully notice what's happening beneath the surface of her interest in playing. 

Like me, Anderson believes Spelling Bee's special badges for solving specific words and reaching certain thresholds, like Genius, can feel like getting a gold star. Rewards can make games fun, but they also pose challenges for the player who wants to solve the puzzle for the sake of doing so. 

Focus on your goals

Toby Sola, founder of the meditation app Brightmind, says games are a rewarding way to engage the mind and connect with others. They can also support a meditation or mindfulness practice, building important skills such as noticing your feelings without judgement, and identifying positive and negative behaviors. 

SEE ALSO: A brief history of meditation video games

The trick, Sola says, is making sure the game remains aligned with your values, specifically your goals — sharpening your mind, say, or playing with a family member — and how you want to spend your time. 

"Emphasize the playfulness, emphasize the connection, emphasize the gaming functions to the extent that they align with your values, but then de-emphasize all the other stuff," Sola says.

Anderson, for example, spends time with her kids and husband solving Spelling Bee. She's also decided to disregard the in-game awards, even if she enjoys them at the moment.

"I really don't pay attention to the streaks anymore or badges. Sometimes it's cool when it pops up," she says, referencing a panagram award for guessing a word that uses all available letters, "but what does it actually mean?"

How Wordle is like a meditation practice 

Meditation teacher Tim Hwang acknowledges that some days the games deliver on the promise of that meditative or flow state. But sometimes the puzzle might frustrate him, exposing deeper feelings about perfectionism and shame. 

This dynamic, Hwang says, is no different than an actual meditation practice — in which some days are "amazing" and on others you feel thwarted, all depending on what's happening in your life and in the world around you. 

When negative feelings bleed into the gameplay, Hwang recommends observing them with curiosity and being introspective about the factors driving your emotions. 

"Now I only play when I feel like I want to play it, and not like it's something I have to do." - Tim Hwang, mindfulness coach and meditation teacher

Hwang also asks himself whether his game strategies are partly responsible. If he's trying to solve Wordle in the fewest guesses possible or is worried about his stats, his satisfaction in the game can plummet. 

"Am I putting a lot of pressure on myself or am I going to enjoy this as a leisure activity?" Hwang asks. "These are prompts you can ask yourself in real time and reflect on." 

Hwang also accepts loss as a reality and feels compassion for himself when he doesn't solve a puzzle or breaks a streak. 

Ultimately, Hwang feels like he's found his balance with Wordle. 

"Now I only play when I feel like I want to play it, and not like it's something I have to do," he says. "I don't hold it as an obligation anymore."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The people are yearning for classic Legend of Zelda. Heres how to join the fun.

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 22:31

Even without a new game on the immediate horizon, 2026 feels like a big year for Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise.

There's been a larger-than-normal amount of chatter on social media and other parts of the internet about Zelda lately. Nostalgia-filled gamers are reminiscing about their favorite titles, characters, and moments from the series, while speculating about what is coming next. Heck, even I've been bouncing back and forth between older games in the series this past week.

Let's dig into why classic Zelda is having such a moment, even in an off-year, and how you can get in on the action.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo confirms live-action 'Legend of Zelda' movie arrives in 2027 Why are people talking about The Legend of Zelda in 2026? 'Breath of the Wild' on Switch 2 is amazing. Credit: Nintendo

As I mentioned, Nintendo has not announced a new Zelda game for 2026, and it's very unlikely that we'll get one. Tears of the Kingdom launched in 2023 and Echoes of Wisdom followed in 2024, and given how long it takes to make these games, we can safely assume it'll be at least a couple of years before either of the teams behind those two titles have anything new to show.

So, why has Zelda been a trendy topic online in recent weeks?

The simplest explanation is that 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the original game's launch, so even without the appearance of a new game, a lot of us have Link on the brain. Then there's the fact that an official live-action Hollywood movie adaptation is currently being filmed with a tentative 2027 release date. Given the absurd financial success of Nintendo's recent Mario-fueled Hollywood forays, one has to imagine Nintendo foresees a similar fate for Zelda, a series that has sold exceptionally well over the past decade or so.

Beyond that, Nintendo has done a lot to keep Zelda in the discourse. Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild got serious upgrades for Nintendo Switch 2 when that console launched last year, making them almost feel like new games. Nintendo also gave Switch 2 owners the ability to play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, a GameCube classic, via Nintendo Switch Online on Switch 2 last year. I've been playing through that one on my own time, and I can confirm it's still absolutely incredible.

Artwork from the Nintendo 64 classic 'Ocarina of Time.' Credit: Nintendo

Fans are keeping older games alive, too. An extremely unofficial and not-at-all-sanctioned-by-Nintendo fan remake of Link's Awakening for Game Boy just hit the finish line, for example. PC fan ports and upgrades of older Zelda games are always happening, but especially so in the past year or two.

Having said all of that, easily the biggest reason why Zelda has been on people's minds in the last week or two is that a full-scale Switch 2 remake of the Nintendo 64 classic Ocarina of Time is rumored to launch during this holiday season. Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed this news, and we have no way of knowing if it's real, but that would be absolutely massive, if true. Ocarina is frequently cited as one of the greatest video games ever made, and a remake would put it in front of a whole new audience.

What's the best way to join the Zelda zeitgeist? Credit: Nintendo

Aside from just going on social media and yapping about how cool Zelda is, I would recommend firing up your Nintendo Switch 1 or 2 (provided you have a Switch Online) and just playing a bunch of classic Zelda titles until the cows come home.

Many of the classic 2D Zeldas are available via Switch Online, as are several of the later 3D titles. In fact, the only 3D Zelda you can't currently play on a Switch 2 is 2006's Twilight Princess, though one has to imagine that's coming at some point.

But seriously, every single game in the series is worth checking out on some level. The very first game, celebrating its 40th birthday this year, is far more open-ended than most games in the series. Zelda II is a fascinating, extremely difficult experiment. A Link to the Past is an all-time classic. Most of the handheld titles, such as Link's Awakening and Minish Cap, are also available on Switch, and are great in their own right.

You really can't go wrong. Whether you're a Zelda obsessive or someone with a more casual appreciation of the series, I highly recommend stepping into Link's shoes in the near future.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your NAS is dying in a closet—here's why (and how to stop it)

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 22:30

Network Attached Storage (NAS) has really changed how we handle storage. It's moved from being just a specialized tool for big businesses to a key part of a home that you can build from a laptop. However, a lot of people treat these advanced machines like any other appliance you just set up and then forget about. They tuck them away in closets or under desks without really thinking about the physics that make them operate. Since mechanical hard drives are high-precision instruments that work with tiny tolerances, how long they last completely depends on how stable their environment is and how specific their hardware setup is.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 captivating Prime Video shows to watch this weekend (April 3 - April 5)

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 22:00

This weekend on Prime Video, we’re diving into three shows that are flat-out alluring. Their deeply developed, relatable characters combine with engaging emotional storylines built around a unique premise, with unpredictable twists and strong, morally challenging worlds to foster something truly special and completely enticing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

California just launched the countrys largest public broadband network

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 21:49

California just launched the largest public broadband network in the country — and its serving Indigenous communities first.

On April 2, Governor Gavin Newsom officially "turned on" California’s new Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN), part of the state's Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative and Broadband for All pledge. One of several projects funded by the $3.2 billion initiative, California's Department of Technology (CDT) repurposed dormant fiber infrastructure in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain region and created a full-fledged, high-capacity broadband backbone for use by nearby rural communities. The effort joins other nationwide projects aimed at filling out the country's "missing miles" of internet by providing fiber-optic cables, a gap that predominantly affects rural and indigenous communities.

The state also unveiled its first customer: The Bishop Paiute Tribe, located at the base of the Sierra Nevada in Bishop, California.

"Today marks a historic first as a California tribal nation enthusiastically leads the way to provide increased access and reliability to their local community," said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari in a press release.

SEE ALSO: The Earth is glowing in new Artemis II pictures of home

Through the partnership, the Bishop Paiute Tribe will act as its own Internet Service Provider (ISP), independently managing and operating its broadband service, including setting pricing and service offerings for households on and off the reservation.

"A lot of work has gone into this project," Emma Williams, chairwoman of the Bishop Paiute Tribe. "We’re so happy to have this portion of the state’s middle-mile network turned on so the people in our community who desperately need a reliable and affordable internet connection can access everything from schoolwork to telehealth appointments."

It's especially significant that the state's first live project is connecting a federal tribe. Much like other rural areas across the country, Indigenous communities are still grossly underserved by ISPs, reporting lower broadband subscription rates, slower download speeds, and a higher reliance on smartphones for internet usage when compared to the general population. In early federal funding allotments for rural broadband projects, tribal lands and organizations made up less than 3 percent.

The Biden-Harris administration significantly ramped up investment in such projects, but connecting these areas takes time. To fill the gap, many tribal nations have funded their own community internet projects or turned to communication giants, like AT&T, to secure reliable internet connectivity.

While California has continued investing in projects to connect communities via last mile projects, the federal government has waned in its commitment to rural broadband connectivity under the Trump administration. Zeroing out rural broadband funding and rebranding the existing Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, the Trump administration has instead placed its focus on private satellite internet providers, including Elon Musk-owned Starlink.

"This is a meaningful step in the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, as it signifies the first active connection, but also the commitment to Tribal communities," Matthew Rantanen explained in a statement to Mashable. A connectivity veteran, Rantanen has consulted on California's Tribal Advisory Group, serves as director of technology at the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, and is the vice president of tribal relations for GoldenStateNet, the third-party administrator to CDT and MMBN. "It is particularly relevant for the Bishop Paiute Tribe, as it is a key ingredient to the success of their next phase, building fiber to the home and establishing their own ISP."

Speaking to Mashable last year, Rantanen explained that the Trump administration's new internet priorities could pose a risk to existing Middle Mile and tribal connectivity projects, many of which were already allocated federal dollars. State governments are filling in gaps, but many face additional pressure from Trump and his appointees, including FCC chair Brendan Carr.

Categories: IT General, Technology

New Samsung TVs just dropped: Meet the new (but not) The Frame Pro and a curiously Frame Pro-like OLED TV

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 21:47
A quick look at the April 2026 Samsung TV releases Samsung The Frame Pro TV (LS03HW) starting at $1,999.99 (65 through 85 inches) Shop Now Samsung S95H OLED TV starting at $2,499.99 (55 through 83 inches) Shop Now Samsung S90H OLED TV starting at $1,399.99 (42 through 83 inches) Shop Now Samsung S85H OLED TV starting at $1,199.99 (48 through 83 inches) Shop Now

We're finally getting some new Samsung TVs that aren't the $29,999.99 115-inch Micro RGB TV. At the end of March, Samsung announced the release of its new Neo QLED (mini LED) TVs. And on April 2, the TV tour continued as Samsung launched its full 2026 OLED TV lineup, plus a light refresh to The Frame Pro. But for all intents and purposes, it's safe to count the new flagship Samsung OLED as an honorary The Frame TV. You'll see why.

The 2026 Samsung OLED line and 2026 The Frame and The Frame Pro line are available for purchase at Samsung.com. Let's discuss the details.

SEE ALSO: How to get a free 55-inch Hisense Canvas TV: Preorder Hisense's cool new RGB TV Not much is new with the new The Frame Pro The 2026 Samsung Frame Pro. Credit: Samsung

The original Frame Pro just came out in April 2025, and Samsung didn't make a big deal about an update to the Frame lineup at CES — so we knew not to expect anything revolutionary on this front. The 2026 Frame Pro's only real technical update is a Micro HDMI port that supports eARC. Samsung also bumped The Frame Pro's smallest size to 55 inches, but it's not available to purchase yet.

Here's how much The Frame Pro 2026 will cost:

Upgraded non-Pro Frame models from 55 to 85 inches are also on the way. As a refresher, the main difference between the two frame models is that The Frame is LED and The Frame Pro is QLED.

The new Samsung OLEDs are more exciting — and artsy The Samsung S95H has a metal bezel and lays flush to the wall. Credit: Samsung The Samsung S90H has a 165Hz refresh rate. Credit: Samsung

Oddly enough, it's Samsung's latest flagship OLED TV that has gotten a creative overhaul. The new Samsung S95H isn't officially an OLED version of The Frame, but it certainly has Frame-like tendencies. First up: The S95H doesn't have the classic black TV frame. Its new steel-colored metal bezel mounts the TV flush to the wall for a "gallery-like" floating aesthetic — sound familiar?

The S95H (and the mid-range S90H) also marks the first time that the Samsung Art Store will be accessible on an OLED TV. Complete with Wireless One Connect Ready compatibility, gaming features like Motion Xcelerator 165Hz, and improved Glare Free technology, the Samsung S95H could quickly become the best Samsung TV you can buy right now.

SEE ALSO: Sony hands TV business to TCL. What it means for you.

The mid-range Samsung S90H steals several of the same impressive upgrades from the S95H, including upgraded reflection handling and the Ultimate Gaming Pack. Both the S95H and S90H see higher peak brightness, thanks to improved HDR formats (OLED HDR Pro and OLED HDR+, respectively). Brighter than last year's Samsung S95F, which was already possibly the brightest OLED TV on the market? This is huge news for anyone whose TV time is truly split between bright and dark rooms.

The entry-level Samsung S85H should easily make our "best 65-inch TVs" list as the best budget OLED TV. (Not that there are a ton of those to begin with, but still.) It's armed with the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor (the same as Samsung's mid-range QN80F Neo QLED TV from 2025), a 120 Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Atmos sound. It'll even be compatible with the upcoming 2026 Q-Series Soundbars and Music Studio speakers.

Here's how much the 2026 Samsung OLED lineup will cost:

Samsung S95HSamsung S90HSamsung S85H

Next on the docket: The smaller, more practically-priced Samsung Micro RGB TVs that we were promised at CES.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android Auto's most useful setting is hidden where you'd least expect it

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 21:30

Android Auto is essential if you want to access your phone from your car's infotainment system without ever having to glance at the screen. But as convenient as it is, all those notifications that keep popping up while you're driving are more than a little annoying—they can also be a dangerous distraction.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Turn paper hiking maps into real-time GPS guides with this app

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 21:15

Seeing your real-time location on a map isn’t very useful if the map doesn’t show you where to go. This is especially true when it comes to walking and hiking trails, which aren’t usually visible in Google Maps. Matchy Maps fixes this by bringing physical maps into the digital world.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Oscar-winning movies on Netflix to watch this weekend (April 3-5)

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 21:00

What's better than a fresh watch list for your upcoming long weekend? How about a watch list filled with Oscar-winning films across the years? I love finding new and old award-winning films, which has led me to niche winners that fly under the Big Five radar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Artemis II astronauts need remote help to fix Microsoft Outlook issue in space

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 20:57

In space, no one can hear you scream in frustration at your computer.

With Artemis II on its way to the moon for a historic lunar mission, many of us are glued to the ongoing NASA livestream of the mission to make sure everything is OK. So far, so good on the important moon mission side of things, but when it comes to email management, the crew ran into a bit of a snag on Thursday.

Bluesky user Niki Grayson noticed and clipped a short segment of the livestream involving the crew needing help to deal with Microsoft Outlook problems, just like us regular people back on Earth.

right now the astronauts are calling houston because the computer on the spaceship is running two instances of microsoft outlook and they can't figure out why. nasa is about to remote into the computer

[image or embed]

— niki grayson (@nikigrayson.com) April 2, 2026 at 2:06 AM SEE ALSO: The Earth is glowing in new Artemis II pictures of home

The hilariously mundane problem occurred because Commander Reid Wiseman somehow had two different instances of Outlook open on his personal computing device (or PCD), which in this case is a Microsoft Surface Pro, according to our colleagues at PCMag. That was on top of another problem that prompted Wiseman to request mission control in Houston to actually gain remote access to the device. After an hour or so, mission control had managed to get in, fix the problem, and get out.

Anyone who has ever had to navigate IT problems at work can certainly relate.

The astronaut's email problems aren't the only mishap experienced by the crew in the early days of the mission.

The crew's toilet malfunctioned while the crew was still orbiting the Earth, requiring an emergency fix.

SEE ALSO: What 'home' will look like for the Artemis 2 crew headed to the moon
Categories: IT General, Technology

More space, no spare: The Forester Wilderness Hybrid’s big trade-off

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 20:45

Subaru expanded its rugged lineup at the 2026 New York International Auto Show with the debut of the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid. This marks the first time Subaru’s rugged Wilderness treatment has been paired with a hybrid powertrain, offering a 25% boost in fuel economy without sacrificing the brand’s signature off-pavement performance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 impressive Linux apps to try this weekend (April 3 - 5)

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 20:30

The weekend is a good time to poke around your Linux setup without any real agenda—and that's exactly how I end up finding apps worth keeping. This week I have three picks that cover very different ground: there's a task manager with a surprisingly deep feature set, a network monitor that shows you exactly which servers your apps are talking to, and a system resource tool that looks like it was ripped straight out of Windows. None of these are brand new, but they're all genuinely impressive and criminally underrated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My flat Ethernet cable was silently cutting my speeds in half

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 20:30

Ethernet cables are about as simple as they get. They're the easiest, most reliable way to connect a desktop PC to the internet. In the vast majority of cases, you just have to plug the cable into your PC, and just like that, your computer is connected, no configuration necessary.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 things you can connect to that extra HDMI port

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 20:27

A lot of new graphics cards and monitors benefit from DP connections, leaving a vacant HDMI slot on many a motherboard. But it doesn't have to remain unused. There are tons of neat things you can connect to that HDMI slot, including projectors, VR headsets, and second displays.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I didn’t expect a compact SUV to feel this luxurious

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 19:46

By no means am I a betting man, but I’d wager most readers haven’t heard of Changan. The brand hails from China and has been making vehicles for 40 years.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Prime Video documentaries worth clearing your weekend for (April 3 - 5)

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 19:30

What makes a great documentary? Is it just an amalgam of facts and images? Or should they have to use those to pull you into worlds you didn't know existed or cared about? My favorite docs are the ones that make their topics an experience, bring in catharsis, pressure, sometimes anxiety, and joy. And it's all true.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ubuntu now requires more RAM than Windows 11

How-To Geek - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 19:13

While Linux has long been associated with lightweight performance and breathing life into aging machines, Canonical’s release notes for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS signal a clear evolution towards modern computing workloads. The company is quietly bumping its minimum memory requirements for the Linux distro—a widely-used open-source operating system and a beginner-friendly gateway into the Linux world.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Earth is glowing in new Artemis II pictures of home

Mashable - Fri, 04/03/2026 - 19:00

As Earth's 8 billion inhabitants beam well wishes up to the sky, the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is looking back at us with just as much hope.

The mission's Orion spacecraft sent back its first image of Earth yesterday, a beautiful shot of a crescent Earth peeking out through the dark expanse of space, and the crew has gifted us even more stunning high-quality images today.

This black-and-white picture of planet Earth was taken by an optical navigation sensor on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft. Credit: NASA

The new Artemis II images — coupled with initial shots of the spacecraft hurtling through Earth's orbit, surrounded by glittering, galactic ice — have rendered much of the public awestruck, feeds flooding over with an overwhelming sense of emotion as the astronauts look back at our home.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Artemis II just reached a point of no return. Next stop: The moon.

Artemis II's crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and pilot Victor Glover — includes the first woman and first Black astronaut to go to the moon. For many, the diverse team represents the best of what humanity has to offer, the pinnacle of human ingenuity and bravery.

"Trust us: You look amazing, you look beautiful, and from up here, you also look like one thing," Glover said during a broadcast on Flight Day 2. "We're all one people."

The historic, awe-inspiring mission to the moon will take them farther than any humans have gone in space. It will hopefully be the first of a series of efforts to get us back on the lunar surface — and back to the age of Apollo. And it's just getting started.

NASA is sharing images on its website, where you can check out more of the new Artemis II images:

Wave hello! Artemis II is watching us. Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

Well, there we all are. The blue marble. For those who need a little orientation: The large landmass you see in the center-left is Africa. The thin line of glowing green light on the top right and bottom left? The aurora borealis, hovering above us earthbound humans and lighting up our sky as Artemis II sails away.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

Take a look at this incredible shot of the Earth through the Orion capsule window, which NASA posted with a cheery "Good Morning" to the spacecraft's inhabitants and the mission's stateside teams.

Stay safe, Orion crew. That's all of us cheering you on.

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

Curious where the Artemis II mission is right now? Check out NASA's live mission tracker.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker