Technology

Rapidly rising SSD prices are bringing back products that were starting to fade into obscurity. SATA SSDs, pretty much obsolete, are finding some uses again. Similarly, the ongoing RAM shortage makes older versions of consumer RAM, such as DDR3, somewhat usable.

Google just gave Chrome a huge Gemini-powered upgrade that basically allows the AI assistant to complete tasks on the web for users.

In a blog post, Google announced that it was launching a new feature called "auto browse" powered by its most powerful new AI model, Gemini 3. The feature is only available for Chrome on desktop and is currently only rolling out to paying Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

What is auto browse? It's a feature that brings an agentic experience directly to Chrome via Gemini. Google's AI assistant Gemini will appear on a right-hand sidebar within Chrome, allowing users to chat and interact directly with websites within the web browser.

Gemini carries out tasks via Chrome's auto browse feature. Credit: Google

Using auto browse, Gemini can interact with any web page. Gemini can click, input text, and scroll through the page, all while carrying out the user-requested actions. All a user has to do is input in the Gemini sidebar what they would like the AI agent to carry out, and Gemini will reply, "Task started."

One example provided by Google involves the AI agent being asked to shop for supplies on Etsy for a themed party. The user inputs which website they want Gemini to search, which party to look for, and how much of a budget they have to spend. Gemini goes to Etsy, searches for supplies, adds the relevant ones to the cart, and then informs the user that the checkout cart is ready for them to look over.

Gemini will even look up and add discount codes and, if given permission, will access Google Password Manager to log in to the user's account on the website.

A task completed by the Gemini-powered auto browse feature in Chrome. Credit: Google

Furthermore, there is a "Take over task" button hovering at the top of the web browser window, allowing a user to intervene, just in case Gemini goes rogue.

Google continues to add AI features to its array of internet products. In addition to this announcement, Google also brought Nano Banana to Chrome. And earlier this week, Google added additional AI Mode integration into Google Search's own existing AI product, AI Overviews. And continuing the theme of rewarding users who pay for its AI products, auto browse is currently only available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

Are you ready for more Raspberry Pi projects to dive into? This weekend, I’m showing you how to track the ISS as it flys around the globe, modify a retro camera with new tech, and make plants scream at you with three more Raspberry Pi projects for you to do this weekend.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. This is $100 off their list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones are always worth investing in, no matter if you're often out and about traveling, or just listen to music and podcasts while you're at home. If you've been hoping to grab a new pair for the year ahead, Amazon has quite a few deals on select models to explore. At the moment, this includes the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro have dropped to $249.99 at Amazon. Normally they're listed for $349.99, so this great deal saves you $100. For a pair of headphones we said are "excellent on most of the levels that matter" in our review, this is a discount well worth your time.

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!

The Beats Studio Pro certainly check a lot of boxes. These headphones boast two noise-canceling modes — Active Noise Canceling and Transparency — which allow you to either block out sounds around you entirely or let a bit of noise in. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which makes the sound feel as if it's coming from all around you, rather than just the drivers positioned over your ears. And the excellent battery life can last up to 40 hours.

Returning to our review, Mashable's Alex Perry also said that they "sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform." So regardless of what smartphone or device you use, these headphones are compatible.

If they've caught your eye, now is your chance to save $100 on the Beats Studio Pro at Amazon.

TL;DR: Make your computer feel brand new for just $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

You can’t get much for $20 these days, so it’s pretty surprising that that’s all it takes to totally refresh your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. This suite of apps gives your computer seven helpful tools to help you get things done, and right now you can get them all for only $19.97 (reg. $229).

Whether you’ve been living without Microsoft Office tools for a while or you’re totally new to these incredible apps, this deal on a Windows license brings them to less than $3 each. And you’ll own all seven of them outright, so there are no subscription fees required.

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!

The Microsoft Office suite is geared to help you both personally and professionally. Curious which apps are included? You’ll get Word, the go-to app for drafting documents for decades, and PowerPoint, a great tool for creating presentations.

You can manage all your email communications in Outlook, build out a budget in Excel, and upgrade the way you take notes with OneNote. If you need to manage large databases, Access is a great tool, and if your work requires professional documents, Publisher has you covered.

This edition may seem to have an older year attached, but don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned and include enhanced features like new Excel analysis capabilities, new PowerPoint presentation tools, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

After purchase, you’ll receive an instant delivery and download so you can access the apps permanently and work offline as needed. There’s also free customer service available anytime.

Get this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license for $19.97 (reg. $229) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Welcome back, dearest readers. After nearly a two-year hiatus, Bridgerton season 4 returns to Netflix with four episodes. With charming romances, beautiful costumes, and riveting drama, Bridgerton remains an entertaining and delightful television show. Season 4 will undoubtedly climb to the top of Netflix's weekly Top 10 charts. If you've already watched the new season or want another period piece, Hulu has a satirical comedy that's arguably better than Bridgerton.

Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system is seriously impressive. It delivers confident, full-time traction whether you’re in bad weather or pushing performance limits.

Most smart home terminology is pretty self-explanatory, but there are plenty of terms that can catch out newbies who aren’t clued in on the lingo. So here’s a glossary of the most common smart home terms you might encounter, and what they mean.

The popular multi-system emulator MAME just received its first update for 2026. MAME 0.285 has arrived with better support for Apple's first graphical interface computer, the Lisa, along with more arcade emulation options and other changes.

Most of the time, you're locked into just one operating system, and if you switch to a different computer, you can't take your favorite programs with you. That limits what you can do, and if you experience a technical problem, you could be in trouble. One NVMe SSD and an inexpensive USB enclosure changed all of that for me.

Google has launched a new AI experiment called Project Genie, a tool that lets users build their own interactive virtual worlds. Project Genie comes from the Google DeepMind research lab and is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the United States (users must be over the age of 18).

If you're an AI Ultra subscriber — the AI subscription plan is priced at $249.99 — you can start building worlds right away by visiting Google Labs and navigating to Project Genie.

What does Project Genie do?

A video released along with Project Genie shows exactly how users can create custom virtual worlds. Crucially, Project Genie doesn't just create a virtual environment; it also allows the user to create a character to explore and interact with the world. Users can even use prompts to create their own mini-games, using their keyboard's arrow keys to control the character. (One reporter at The Verge quickly realized he could use Project Genie to make Zelda and Super Mario knockoffs.)

Google says Project Genie can generate worlds at 720p resolution and 24 frames per second.

Considering how much time and labor go into creating video games, it's remarkable that Project Genie can create such detailed, interactive environments using AI. That said, Project Genie is primarily a research project, and while it can be entertaining to play with, it doesn't really do anything. (Keep reading to learn about potential future applications.)

The created worlds have realistic physics, and objects in the world react as the user interacts with them. Users can also modify and remix their virtual worlds to their heart's content.

Left: Create a virtual world from scratch. Credit: Google / YouTube Right: Users can also modify the world as desired. Credit: Google / YouTube Project Genie is powered by an experimental 'world model.'

Project Genie is powered by Genie 3, which is a powerful "world model." (Google says that Nano Banana and Gemini are also used to generate worlds.) A world model is an AI program that can generate a virtual world from text, images, and other inputs. Google actually teased Genie 3 back in August 2025, calling it "a key stepping stone on the path to AGI."

The new landing page for Project Genie elaborates: "Genie 3 represents a major leap in capabilities – allowing agents to predict how a world evolves, and how their actions affect it. Genie 3 makes it possible to explore an unlimited range of realistic environments. This is a key stepping stone on the path to AGI – enabling AI agents capable of reasoning, problem solving, and real-world actions."

Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, is a term for a hypothetical AI tool that can perform most tasks as capably (or more so) than the average human. That means it could do your job with little or no monitoring. To achieve true AGI, AI companies need to build models that can make sense of the environment and understand how to interact with it.

Examples of virtual worlds created by Genie 3. Credit: Google

World models are an emerging frontier in AI research, and companies building video models have attracted significant investment over the past year. AI company WorldLabs recently raised $230 million in funding, while video model maker Luma AI raised $900 million.

Besides AGI, what are the practical uses for world models? As one example, car companies could build a world to safely test autonomous vehicles. There are also possible applications for education and video game development.

Again, AI Ultra subscribers in the United States can start using Project Genie right away.

A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube

New car prices are getting ridiculous, often creeping past $50,000. Smart buyers are skipping the showroom and looking for used options that still deliver style and reliability.

You can automate many tasks on your Windows 11 PC using batch files. I’ll explain what a batch file is, how you can create one, and show you some interesting and useful uses of these files.

I’ve had my homelab running for over five years, so it’s fair to assume that I’ve run into a lot of problems. However, many of the problems trace back to just three decisions I made (or didn’t make) early on in my journey.

Every room in your house can benefit from some smart switches and plugs, but some rooms are better-suited to more specialized accessories. Here are some accessories you might want to add to your bedroom, and the ways they can make your life a little easier.

Cryptocurrency is facing yet another big price plunge.

Bitcoin dropped to the $84,000 range on Thursday, the lowest price it's seen in 2026 so far. Other cryptocurrencies like Ether and Doge also experienced falling prices, with values being down as much as 6 percent.

Crypto analysts suggest that this is a crucial price point for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to maintain or its valuation may continue to drop.

As crypto outlets point out, the price drop of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies didn't happen in a vacuum. The stock market, especially tech stocks like Microsoft, took a huge dive on Thursday. Crypto-related stocks also took a big hit as well.

As investors sell off investments, crypto holdings traditionally take a big hit as one of the more riskier bets. According to Coindesk, investors have liquidated more than $650 million across all crypto assets during the Thursday selloff. 

Some analysts believe that Bitcoin could see its prices drop below $80,000 in the near future.

Your NAS is often home to your most important files. Whether you use it for backups or to host your own Plex server, it's crucial that your NAS is private, and stays that way. For many people, that means never exposing it to the internet. But those who do take their NAS online often neglect a crucial security-related step that can make it that much safer.

SAVE $1,150: As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's a discount of 58%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Solix F2000 $849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

We're in the middle of winter, and that means some particularly grisly weather. Much of the US just suffered a massive snowstorm with ice and power outages. If your area is prone to disaster or you lose power a lot, a portable power station might be the answer. You can get a great one right now for an excellent price if you'd like to stay prepared for the inevitable winter (or summer) storm that pops up in the future.

As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's $1,150 off and a discount of 58%.

SEE ALSO: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is down to a record-low price — save over $86 before the next storm hits

This massive power station packs 2,048Wh of power into a portable package. That's enough electricity to ensure most of your home's appliances, including your fridge or toaster, can stay alive while you wait for the power to come back on. And it can handle your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices too.

According to Anker, the Solix F2000 can actually keep your fridge up and running for up to 10 hours, so if you're concerned about losing all the food you just went out and bought ahead of the storm, you'll be able to keep it nice and cold.

All this, plus the power station is housed in a form factor that makes it easy to transport, with wheels and a handle so you can take it from place to place with ease. It couldn't be simpler to use, and it's up for grabs at a great price. Be sure and get yours before it goes out of stock, and before the next ice storm.

SAVE $100: The Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 265GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

A powerful and versatile tablet is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's perfect for times when you don't feel like hauling out the laptop but also have tasks that are too complex for a small phone screen. It can also be excellent for travel. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a 10% discount that shaves $100 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 processor earns the top spot as the ideal model for professionals. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors."

SEE ALSO: The noise-cancelling Apple AirPods 4 just got $60 cheaper

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth did a full review of the M5 iPad Pro last fall and wrote, " It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future." Some highlight features include its ultra-thin design, ultra-lightweight feel, and the fact that it gets up to 1,600 nits of brightness.

If you're seeking out a professional upgrade, consider the iPad Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for $899. The sale price applies to both the silver and black colorways.

Thermometers are some of the cheapest and most effective sensors you can add to your smart home. They can be used in automations to make your heating and cooling more effective and cheaper to run, and most have displays so they function as standalone devices.