Technology

Netflix now offers a dialogue-only subtitle option. Dialogue-only subtitles will first appear in the new season of YOU, available today, before appearing in other new Netflix originals.

Curious how the Switch 2 compares to the Switch 1? Tens of millions of gamers are asking the same question.

Nintendo opened the floodgates for Switch 2 preorders on Thursday. Whether or not you managed to get one before every retailer website crashed, you're probably wondering what makes it so different from the original Nintendo Switch console.

After the Nintendo Direct Switch 2 livestream ended a couple of weeks ago, I got to spend several hours playing with the Switch 2 and upcoming games like Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4. After nearly five hours of hands-on time, I came away very impressed with the Switch 2, but also concerned about a couple of key factors. Let's dig in.

On the surface, Switch 2 seems like a fairly iterative upgrade. Fortunately, that's not really the case.

Still trying to get your hands on the Switch 2? Check out our updated preorder guide, get ready to preorder via Nintendo, and study up on how to track Switch 2 restocks.

SEE ALSO: Updated Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Everything you need to know It's a much more premium-feeling device It looks much more professional than the Switch 1. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

First, I want to focus on the hardware and its new features rather than the software.

The first Switch was a godsend in terms of industrial design compared to the Wii U. However, over time, things like the Steam Deck started to make it feel a little bit like a toy. Personally, the Joy-Cons were always too small for me to use comfortably, rendering it a TV-and-Pro-Controller-only machine in my household. Admittedly, it proved to be a fantastic device for children, but I am not a child, at least not physically.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 specs unveiled: Bigger screen, better performance, and more

From the first second I got to hold a Switch 2 unit, I instantly liked the way it felt in my hands. The 7.9-inch 1080p display (which supports HDR and 120Hz refresh rate) is substantially nicer than the 6.2-inch 720p display on the predecessor console. In addition to a bigger screen, the Joy-Cons also have some added muscle. I still would rather use the new Pro Controller (which feels great, but is functionally very similar to the last one), but I played several games using Joy-Cons and didn't have any comfort-related problems for once.

Nintendo crucially maintained the same level of thinness from Switch 1 to Switch 2, so it's in that sweet spot of "just heavy enough to feel premium and just light enough to feel comfortable." I'd also like to shout out the magnetic Joy-Con attachment mechanism, which instantly shut down any skepticism I may have had about its reliability the second I tried it. It smartly requires you to pull a little release trigger on the back to detach Joy-Cons from the unit, so it seems nearly impossible to do unintentionally. Miraculously, though, inserting the Joy-Cons magnetically works like magic. Nintendo absolutely nailed this aspect of the device.

Featured Video For You Nintendo Switch 2: Hands On Switch 2 has more horsepower, and it shows The new Pro Controller feels great. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

It's no surprise that Switch 2 is more powerful than its predecessor, as that console was underpowered when it launched eight years ago. Nintendo didn't provide us with detailed tech specs at the event, so precise comparisons to other hardware will have to wait. However, I can confirm that Switch 2 is noticeably more powerful than the original Switch.

Doing a cross-country race across Mario Kart World's gorgeous open world without even a hint of loading between tracks is awesome. Seeing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom run at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second is very convincing in person. The Switch 2 can run Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 at levels that seemed at least acceptable from the brief glimpses I saw of them at the show. It's definitely not a handheld PS5, but Nintendo forcing what is functionally a tablet to run (some) games at 4K resolution or 120 frames per second (Metroid Prime 4 looks unbelievable that way) is a real sight to behold.

You can use a Joy-Con as a mouse The new Joy-Cons are very nice. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Nintendo confirmed during the Direct something that we all basically knew already: The Joy-Cons have a mode where they double as computer mice. I don't know if you can literally use one on a PC (not until someone hacks that together about five minutes after launch, anyway) but the primary experience I had with them was very PC-like. My main exposure to the Joy-Con mouse support was in a brief demo of Metroid Prime 4, where it...basically played like a PC first-person shooter.

The mouse controls are very responsive and feel right. I do think the Joy-Cons are a little weird to hold with one side facing down on a flat surface, as that definitely caused some accidental button presses at inopportune moments. I'm also not sold on this becoming a regular feature in games after the launch window, or even something I personally want to do, primarily because I don't usually keep a flat surface within arm's reach while I play games. But I can confirm that it works precisely as intended, and as an added bonus, you can just lift up the Joy-Con and resume playing Prime 4 with dual-analog stick controls seamlessly without even pausing the game.

Nintendo is going all in on social features The fabled "C" button. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The one major thing I didn't get to try at all due to the nature of the event itself was GameChat, a new voice chat feature activated by the new "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Allegedly, you can host Discord-like chats for small groups of friends, complete with very choppy-looking game streaming and even webcam support via a separately sold accessory. Nintendo is really going all-in on this with Mario Kart World, as seen in a more recent Direct dedicated to that game.

You can even pre-order a Piranha Plant webcam for your Switch 2.

SEE ALSO: Every Nintendo Switch 2 game you can preorder right now

To be honest, it was pretty silly seeing Nintendo spend like 10 minutes on the concept of voice chat in the Direct, something other consoles have had for literally 20 years. But late is better than never. The only part I'm not really sold on is that Nintendo really seems to want you to use an open mic on the console itself instead of a headset. The company alleges that it can cancel out unwanted background noise, but I didn't get to test that. We'll see. At the very least, Nintendo is acknowledging that people like playing video games with their friends online, something the company has not always done well, or at all.

The battery life is apparently worse vs Switch OLED

Here is the start of the bad news when comparing the Switch 2 and Switch 1.

More horsepower and a better display also mean more drain on battery, which was confirmed by Nintendo, via Kotaku. (Womp, womp.) It has an approximate battery life of 2 to 6.5 hours, depending on what you're playing on it. Compare that to the Switch OLED, which can range from 4.5 to 9 hours, and it's not looking so hot for the new console. Again, this is something that was impossible to test at the event, so we'll need to find out for sure when the console is actually out. But don't expect amazing battery life from Switch 2.

It's a much larger drain on your wallet It still comes with a dock, of course. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

This is the worst news about Switch 2: It costs $450 to start. There's also a $500 model bundled with Mario Kart World, which actually looks like the more enticing deal because Nintendo has gone wild with game prices this time around. Mario Kart World is a shocking $80 on its own and Donkey Kong: Bananza is $70. There's also a little minigame collection meant to be a tech demo for the console that is, for reasons I cannot fathom, a paid download. Combine all of that with the fact that upgraded "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" versions of old games will come with a price tag for the upgrade, and it feels like Nintendo is nickel-and-diming us a little bit.

I'll grant the company a little bit of grace because of the Trump administration's chaotic tariff policy, but customers who feel the weight of a $500 console purchase justifiably won't give Nintendo the same benefit of the doubt. Regardless of all the upgrades Switch 2 brings, it's $150 more expensive than Switch 1 was at launch. It's not ideal.

UPDATE: Apr. 24, 2025, 3:29 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional photos of the Switch 2 and its accessories, as well as new details about the console's social features and preorder launch in the United States.

The Humane AI Pin aimed to be a replacement for smartphones with no screen and the power of generative AI, but the company making it didn't last long, and all existing Pin devices have been cut off from the servers powering them. A new project is hoping to make them useful again.

If you don't like Siri on your iPhone, too bad—you're stuck with it. Even as Apple wants to sprinkle it up with Apple Intelligence, it's still very lacking compared to other assistants. Perplexity's Assistant is finally on iOS, and if you're willing to do some workarounds, it's pretty good.

Razer has released its first vertical mouse: the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition. This new model joins the standard Pro Click V2. While the standard Pro Click V2 has a more traditional ergonomic shape, the Vertical Edition takes a more radical approach, aiming to compete directly with well-known brands like Logitech in the vertical mouse space.

Google is currently in the midst of a major antitrust trial (make that two antitrust trials, actually), which may result in the company being forced to sell off its popular web browser, Google Chrome. However, the search giant made a major, unrelated Chrome announcement earlier this week:

Google is abandoning its plans to drop third-party cookies from Chrome.

Back in January 2020, Google made a big announcement that was welcomed by privacy advocates. The company said it planned to completely eliminate third-party cookies within its Chrome web browser over the next two years. Now, more than five years later, those plans have been scrapped entirely. Last year, Google hinted it might keep the cookies but make it easier for users to opt out, but now the company has even backtracked from this middle ground option.

"We’ve made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies," wrote Google Privacy Sandbox VP Anthony Chavez in a blog post on Tuesday. "Users can continue to choose the best option for themselves in Chrome’s Privacy and Security Settings."

The verdict is clear: third-party cookies are here to stay for most Chrome users.

What is an internet cookie?

An internet cookie is basically a small file that is saved to your computer when you visit a website. Cookies store relevant user information in order to enhance a users' experience. When a website remembers your login details or an e-commerce store already has your last shopping cart saved, that's thanks to the cookie stored in your web browser.

Third-party cookies, however, are internet cookies that share this user data with a party separate from the website the user is actually visiting. Third-party cookies are commonly used by advertisers. For example, when a user searches for a product online and then finds ads for that product on Instagram, that's due to a third-party cookie.

"Third-party cookies allow companies to build detailed profiles of your online activities, which can be used for targeted advertising or sold to the highest bidder," digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) explained in a post last year. "The consequences are far-reaching and deeply concerning. Your browsing history can reveal sensitive information, including your financial status, sexual orientation, and medical conditions. Data brokers collect and sell this information without your knowledge or consent."

Google already signaled it was heading in this direction in 2024. The company said that it would find a middle ground in its internet cookie strategy so as to avoid disrupting third-party advertising. And don't forget that Google itself is a massive advertising technology company. Too big, in fact, a judge recently ruled.

Back in 2024, Google said it would provide new features that would provide users with more transparency and the ability to make informed opt-out choices about third-party cookies.

Now, Google has scrapped those plans and will keep third-party cookies without any changes.

How does this affect the rest of the web?

Web browsers like Mozilla's Firefox and Apple's Safari already block third-party cookies by default, so Google Chrome would have just been playing catch-up. However, Chrome makes up a whopping 66 percent of the global web browser market share, so most internet users are still exposed to third-party cookies thanks to Google.

Previously, Google set up its Privacy Sandbox initiative specifically to offer alternative solutions to third-party cookies for developers and online advertisers. However, even this was met with criticism, as Google would continue to track users in Chrome for its own advertising purposes. (Just this week, Google was found to be "engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts" with its ad products.)

Google's decision to reverse course on third-party cookies will likely be welcomed by online advertising companies, though some have already been looking for alternatives.

"While we expect to see marketers continue to rely on third-party cookies indefinitely for reach, we also expect an increased emphasis on tools that can incorporate the third-party cookie alongside newer destinations and experiences," said Travis Clinger of data platform LiveRamp in a statement to Mashable. “Consumer preferences for privacy and personalization, and marketers’ demand for better performance, have already lessened the popularity of third-party cookies."

But Google clearly heard enough support for third-party cookies from the digital ad industry to change its mind.

"As we’ve engaged with the ecosystem, including publishers, developers, regulators, and the ads industry, it remains clear that there are divergent perspectives on making changes that could impact the availability of third-party cookies," Chavez said in the post announcing the decision.

So, it seems third-party cookies are here to stay in Google Chrome. That is, unless the judge in Google's antitrust trial decides Google must sell off Chrome. Then, a new potential owner (like, say, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI) could follow Firefox and Safari's lead and rid Chrome of third-party cookies once and for all.

Some games feel like they’ll never be released, while others feel like they’ll never be finished. The longer the wait, the more the anticipation grows, which can lead to some lofty expectations from long-time fans.

Anker sub-brand Nebula just debuted the X1 outdoor smart projector. Packed with unique technology and sold alongside a wireless speaker system, it's honestly the most exciting projector I've seen this year, but it costs $2,999.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been released, and the early reception to the game seems to be extremely positive. Early reviews came in from various outlets, leading to the aggregate review score reaching into the 90s on OpenCritic, with quite a bit of praise being pushed on social media. As of this writing, 97% of critics recommend the game to a majority of players. Let’s go over a bit of what everyone is saying so far about the game.

TL;DR: Live stream Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The semi finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup are here, with all eyes on the four remaining sides. At this late stage, each team will be dreaming of lifting the trophy.

There are plenty of stars on Inter Miami who are used to that feeling, including the likes of Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and of course, Lionel Messi. Standing in their way are the Vancouver Whitecaps, fresh from knocking out Pumas UNAM in the last round.

If you want to watch Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Vancouver vs. Inter Miami?

Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET on April 24. This fixture takes place at BC Place.

How to watch Vancouver vs. Inter Miami for free

Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

This free live stream is available in most locations around the world, but not in North or Central America. Fortunately, fans in these excluded territories can still access this free live stream with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK (or somewhere else with access), meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Vancouver vs. Inter Miami by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 (or somewhere else with access)

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream Vancouver vs. Inter Miami for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 watch Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Vancouver vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

One of the biggest hidden costs to buying a new car comes in the form of depreciation. It may not hit you right away, but when you’re ready to sell your car and move on, it can be a massive pain. If you shop cleverly, though, you can get a car that gets you a good chunk of your money back.

You've heard of AI models taking the bar exam, but this time, AI also helped write the questions.

The State Bar of California revealed on Monday that it used AI to develop a portion of its exam questions, according to the LA Times. The AI-generated exam questions were created by an independent psychometrician called ACS Ventures hired by the State Bar. The questions were "developed with the assistance of AI and subsequently reviewed by content validation panels and a subject matter expert in advance of the exam," announced the State Bar in a statement addressing technical glitches and question errors that test takers had previously complained about.

The LA Times reported that 23 out of the 171 multiple choice questions were made by ACS Ventures. The majority of the multiple choice questions were developed by Kaplan, and a "small subset" were taken from the First-Year Law Students' Exam. This past year, the bar was offered remotely to California-based test takers. Students and educators alike were already outraged about the remote test platform crashing and being riddled with bugs. But now, the discovery that some of the exam questions were created with AI has further fueled that outrage.

"I'm almost speechless. Having the questions drafted by non-lawyers using artificial intelligence is just unbelievable," Mary Basick, assistant dean of academic skills at UC Irvine School of Law told the Times. "It's a staggering admission," Katie Moran, an associate professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law told the outlet.

Moran also pointed out the fact that ACS Ventures, the firm used to craft the AI questions, was the same firm to approve the questions.

Alex Chan, who chairs the State Bar's Committee of Bar Examiners, told the outlet that the California Supreme Court had pressured the State Bar to look into "new technologies, such as artificial intelligence" as a means of improving reliability or cost-efficiency.

Automating tasks with AI has surged since the rise of generative AI — and not just simple tasks or low-stakes work, but critical work that has very real consequences. Some suspect that the formula used to calculate the Trump Administration's tariff rates was created by ChatGPT or something similar. In 2023, two New York lawyers were sanctioned for using ChatGPT in a legal brief, which cited fake cases. And academic journals are flooded with papers that include AI-generated text.

And those are just a few examples of the ones that got caught. Generative AI's ability to rapidly write, summarize, and source information has been an irresistible way for workers to save time and effort. But it has innate hallucination problems and poses ethical issues by outsourcing work to a bot — especially when it comes to law students whose entire career rests on passing the bar.

Photographing nature has traditionally been done with DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Smartphone cameras have come a long way, but quality images still depend on how you use them. From developing simple habits to adding equipment and third-party apps, stunning photos of nature are just a few taps away.

A generic cops-and-drug-dealers saga infused with occasional chaos, Gareth Evans' Havoc is a decent time, despite its plateauing excess. The long-delayed Tom Hardy vehicle — it completed production in 2021 — has just enough by way of visual panache to set it apart from the usual crop of forgettable, straight-to-streaming action.

With a story that's nothing to write home about, Evans relies on the action chops he brought to modern Indonesian martial arts classics The Raid and its sequel, The Raid 2: Berandal. However, he does so without even the semblance of soul that made those movies tick. At the center of Havoc is Tom Hardy's Walker, a gruff, grunting, down-on-his-luck American lunk — a delightful stock type in which the English actor specializes — an outcast cop in the pocket of a crooked politician.

The film gestures towards an inner life we never really see, rendering Walker a physical presence first and foremost. Then again, given how Hardy zigzags between a sad-sack lowlife and a Terminator-esque destroyer at the drop of a hat, the resultant performance is often delightful, despite containing little depth. It's also just functional enough to support the movie's sudden bursts of energy during its action set pieces — the thing Evans is best known for, and the element of Havoc that makes it watchable. 

What is Havoc about? Credit: Netflix

Using introductory voiceover from Hardy's Walker, Havoc attempts to frame itself as a film about choices and their consequences, albeit without elaborating on what the hell he's talking about. Walker is a homicide detective who once worked a drug beat, and he's now on the outs with his former squadmates, led by Timothy Olyphant's no-nonsense Vincent. Flashes of Walker's past clue us in on the fact that… something happened, and the brief image of a bloodied hoodlum hints that this “something” was violent in nature. However, the details and ripple effects of this incident don't come to light until well into the movie's 105-minute runtime.

Thankfully, this vague character introduction is swiftly interrupted by a high-octane truck chase in the dead of night, during which Vincent and his crew try to hunt down a troupe of drug dealers. The who's-who is, once again, only clarified in retrospect — a running theme throughout Havoc, making it hard to get invested — but it features a surprising amount of blood and violence for a straightforward car chase. If you've ever wondered what a washing machine could do to a human torso, well, wonder no more.

This high-speed pursuit dovetails into a larger inciting incident, when the absconding hoodlums — young couple Charlie (Justin Cornwell) and Mia (Quelin Sepulveda) — escape just in time to rendezvous with their Chinese Triad boss. However, a shootout ensues, leaving Charlie and Mia's employer dead, and sending the duo on the run as prime suspects.

It just so happens that Charlie is connected to a powerful mayoral candidate, Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker), who has some mysterious leverage over Walker and puts him to work to solve the case — extra-legally, if necessary — causing Walker  to seek the help of his straight-laced, rookie partner Ellie (Jessie Mei Li). Meanwhile, the aforementioned Triad Boss is laid to rest by his fearsome mother (Yeo Yann Yann) who flies in from China to cause chaos of her own. Her presence is commanding, though it's also meant to introduce subtext about difficult parenthood that never really goes anywhere. Walker is a careless father who leaves his Christmas shopping too late, but beyond a fleeting mention of his daughter, we're never really made privy to his family life. Similarly, Beaumont's status as a father is brought up numerous times as well, though none of these nominal connections yields anything resembling a thematic undercurrent.

If it sounds like these numerous spinning plates add up to a Hollywood crime drama pastiche, that may not be an accident. For better or worse, Havoc doesn't feel overly concerned with replicating reality as it truly exists. Rather, it unfolds within a specific and often stylized cinematic reality that features familiar genre hallmarks, forming a solid enough foundation for the action to ensue. 

Where exactly does Havoc take place? Credit: Netflix

From a distance, you'd be forgiven if you confused Havoc with a parody of a Hollywood procedural. The film was largely shot in Evans' native Wales, and features a number of British actors (starting with co-leads Li and Hardy) playing American cops with flimsy American accents. Then again, there's a lack of specificity as to where the movie is actually set.

It unfolds in what appears to be an archetypal American city — not unlike Batman's fictitious Gotham — where crime and law enforcement roam the streets in equal measure, and everyone talks like they've watched one too many gangster pictures from the 1940s. Hardy's usually unplaceable American accent is an oddly perfect fit for a story seemingly set in Generica. However, a major downside is that no one really has a sense of identity, or a relationship to the spaces around them. They enter scenes as if walking onto a set. They speak their lines, and exeunt.

However, this fictional metropolis is rendered in eye-popping style, despite its rote and familiar façade. It may be a stereotype of an American city, just real enough to be convincing, but Evans and cinematographer Matt Flannery render its shapes and shades akin to a toned-down Sin City. Much of the film unfolds in the dead of night, with dark surfaces interrupted by bright light sources that are visible, but which barely seem to illuminate anything but the characters themselves.

The constant downpour of rain enhances the movie's grainy texture, making it a treat to look at, even though it's a movie you can seldom connect with. This visual tapestry also helps enhance the action choreography, not only by disguising its contours but by giving it the feel of a moving comic book. 

The action in Havoc works, even if little else does.    Credit: Netflix

Havoc is not The Raid, nor is trying to be, so viewers shouldn't go in expecting lengthy hand-to-hand fight scenes. Instead, it's a film of comical gunfire (even pistols have the infinite rat-tat-tat of submachine guns),  copious blood squibs, and broken bones.

Rather than the dance-like choreography of The Raid, when Havoc does switch into action mode — albeit far too rarely — the fights often involve people wailing on each other, throwing things at each other, and turning enemies into Swiss cheese using endless streams of bullets.  Evans knows exactly when to (and when not to) cut away, so each lengthy action scene is meticulously carved and has a rhythmic flow. The camera charges in and out to capture lumbering bodies in motion and vehicles about to crash into one another. It's incredibly fun when it decides to be.  

Unfortunately, it's also a film with little sense of escalation. Once you've seen a handful of its action beats unfold, you may as well have seen them all. Not every genre movie needs to be inventive, but Havoc rarely feels born of the same cinematic mischief that gave us the jaw-dropping adrenaline spikes of The Raid and The Raid 2, films that started at an 11 and skyrocketed from there. In Havoc,  the explosive initial truck chase has the same energy as each subsequent, long-take fistfight. There’s a  lack of stylistic evolution, of rising physical and emotional stakes, and of increasingly testing  endurance thresholds — both the characters' and the audiences' — leading to a repetitive feeling, despite no two scenes being alike.

If some of the movie is purposefully generic, other parts are less intentionally so. This ensures that Havoc ends up in an experiential no-man's-land, where Hardy is the biggest reason to watch the movie, but even he feels short-changed by the material.  

Havoc premieres on Netflix April 25.

TL;DR: Until this weekend only, get a Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch Plus lifetime subscription for A$43 with code TAKE30 at checkout (reg. A$313).

Imagine you're setting up an outdoor movie night, projector humming, and snacks perfectly arranged. Just as you're about to hit play, you notice a dark cloud looming. Instead of packing up prematurely, you open a weather radar app — its future radar image reveals the storm will just miss you, meaning movie night can proceed without a hitch.

Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch Plus goes beyond basic forecasts, essentially becoming a personal meteorologist. Unlike your phone’s default weather app, this one has future-generated radar images and a customizable map. Be prepared for anything this summer and beyond with A$270 savings with code TAKE30 at checkout through April 27.

Feel like a weather psychic 

With this app in your back pocket, planning activities no longer requires gambling with the weather. Hoping to spend the day at the beach? Check the day’s forecast for rain or possible storms.

Before you take a dip in the ocean, the ‘water surface temperature’ overlay tells you if the water's warm enough. And if you're concerned about sudden summer storms, the severe weather alerts are a lifesaver. You can set up real-time weather alerts for your favorite picnic spot, and the app will notify you when precipitation is approaching, preventing soggy sandwiches.

Planning a hike? Air quality index information helps you choose the best time to go, avoiding days with high pollution. 

For those planning summer road trips, the app's ‘road weather’ overlay is a game-changer. Imagine driving to a national park; this feature displays potential hazards like fog, heavy rain, or even wind conditions along your route in real time. 

Get lifetime access to this storm tracking app for A$43 with code TAKE30 at checkout (reg. A$313) through April 27 at 11:59PM PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Maple Media Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch Plus: Lifetime Subscription AU$43
AU$313 Save AU$270 Get Deal

Google's AI Overviews sometimes acts like a lost man who won't ask for directions: It would rather confidently make a mistake than admit it doesn't know something.

We know this because folks online have noticed you can ask Google about any faux idiom — any random, nonsense saying you make up — and Google AI Overviews will often prescribe its meaning. That's not exactly surprising, as AI has shown a penchant for either hallucinating or inventing stuff in an effort to provide answers with insufficient data.

In the case of made-up idioms, it's kind of funny to see how Google's AI responds to idiotic sayings like "You can't lick a badger twice." On X, SEO expert Lily Ray dubbed the phenomenon "AI-splaining."

Someone on Threads noticed you can type any random sentence into Google, then add “meaning” afterwards, and you’ll get an AI explanation of a famous idiom or phrase you just made up. Here is mine

[image or embed]

— Greg Jenner (@gregjenner.bsky.social) April 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM

Fantastic technology, glad society spent a trillion dollars on this instead of sidewalks.

[image or embed]

— Dan Olson (@foldablehuman.bsky.social) April 21, 2025 at 12:01 AM

New game for you all: ask google what a made-up phrase means.

[image or embed]

— Crab Man (@crabman.bsky.social) April 18, 2025 at 1:40 AM

I tested the "make up an idiom" trend, too. One phrase — "don't give me homemade ketchup and tell me it's the good stuff" — got the response "AI Overview is not available for this search." However, my next made up phrase — "you can't shake hands with an old bear" — got a response. Apparently Google's AI thinks this phrase suggests the "old bear" is an untrustworthy person.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

In this instance, Google AI Overview's penchant for making stuff up is kind of funny. In other instances — say, getting the NFL's overtime rules wrong — it can be relatively harmless. And when it first launched, it was telling folks to eat rocks and put glue on pizza. Other examples of AI hallucinations are less amusing. Keep in mind that Google warns users that AI Overviews can get facts wrong, though it remains at the top of many search results.

So, as the old, time-honored idiom goes: Be wary of search with AI, what you see may be a lie.

UPDATE: Apr. 24, 2025, 12:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest on Nintendo Switch 2 preorder availability at major retailers, and some new info about deliveries for preorder places through the My Nintendo Store.

After a brief delay due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, Nintendo Switch 2 preorders went live online at several major retailers on April 24, predictably crashing their websites. As of mid-day Thursday, preorder listings for the $449.99 console at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart were all marked as "coming soon," "not available," or "out of stock." The same applied to listings for its $499.99 Mario Kart World bundle.

SEE ALSO: Preordering the Nintendo Switch 2? Here's where you can score the best trade-in deal.

Those lucky enough to snag a Switch 2 preorder will be able to pick up their new console in person at Best Buy and GameStop as soon as it launches on June 5: Both retailers are planning on opening their stores at midnight ET that day. Meanwhile, Walmart is promising to deliver preorders made before June 4 at 8 a.m. ET for free by 9 a.m. local time on June 5 (while supplies last). We've reached out to a Target rep to find out if it has any launch day plans and will update this story if we hear back.

Shoppers who struck out today might be able to catch a restock at some point down the road: There are several ways to track Switch 2 availability online, per Mashable's Alex Perry. You can also try nabbing a preorder directly through the My Nintendo Store next month. Nintendo's online storefront will send out preorder invites to interested shoppers in waves starting Thursday, May 8; those with a Nintendo Account can register for access ahead of time on Nintendo's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at the My Nintendo Store
Register for preorder access Learn More

According to the fine print, priority invites will go to "registrants who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2024." Shoppers will be notified via email when it's their turn to place a Switch 2 preorder and have 72 hours to do so. Preorders will be limited to one system per Nintendo Account.

Nintendo updated its preorder page Thursday to note that it's not guaranteeing release day deliveries "[due] to the very high demand," and that invites may arrive after June 5. (You'll receive a shipping date once you place your preorder.) The company encouraged shoppers to buy a Switch 2 from one of its retailer partners "[if] you wish to increase your opportunity of obtaining a Nintendo System 2 system at launch."

The next-gen hybrid console retails for $449.99, making it $150 pricier than the original Switch from 2017 and $100 more expensive than the 2021 OLED model. It's also being sold as part of a limited-time $499.99 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World, one of two exclusive launch titles.

The Switch 2 console will ship with the following accessories:

• Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)

• Joy-Con 2 Grip

• Joy-Con 2 Straps

• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock

• Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable

• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter

• USB-C Charging Cable

How we got here

After pulling back the curtain on its new console during an April 2 Direct, Nintendo originally announced that Switch 2 preorders would open at select retailers on April 9. But two days later, the company said in a press statement that preorders were indefinitely delayed amid the Trump administration's new tariff policies and "evolving market conditions."

Nintendo eventually set the Switch 2's new preorder date in a mid-April press release — and in doing so, it confirmed that the Switch 2 and its bundle would not see a tariff-related price increase. Pricing for two of its upcoming standalone games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, also remain unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.

We haven't gotten away scot-free, though: "Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions," Nintendo said. That includes the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con controllers, a set of two Joy-Con 2 Wheels, and a Switch 2 Camera. The company also left the door open for future price adjustments "of any Nintendo product" if market conditions change.

Below, we've listed the updated pricing for the Switch 2's accessories. Just over half of them are now available for preorder at major retailers alongside the console itself (linked when available):

• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — now $84.99, was $79.99

• Joy-Con 2 Pair — now $94.99, was $89.99

• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — now $39.99, was $34.99

• Joy-Con 2 Strap — now $13.99, was $12.99

• Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set — now $24.99, was $19.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera — now $54.99, was $49.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set — now $119.99, was $109.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector — now $39.99, was $34.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case — now $84.99, was $79.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter — now $34.99, was $29.99

THE HOME DEPOT SPRING DEALS UNDER $20: Shop The Home Depot Spring Deals event to score backyard, patio, and home goods on sale for under $20. Deals on plants, garden soil, pavers, garden tools, and backyard lighting are all included in the sale.

Best deals under $20 during The Home Depot Spring Deals event Best plant deal Rio Dipladenia annual plant 3 for $15 (save $5.94) Get Deal Best solar-powered light deal Hampton Bay Terrace Park 1 Outdoor Solar Path Lights (4 pack) $14.97 (save $3) Get Deal Best garden soil deal Miracle Gro Garden Soil (0.75 cubic feet) 5 for $10 (save $12.85) Get Deal Best lighting deal Hampton Bay Indoor/Outdoor Edison Bulb String Light (12-Light, 24 foot strand) $19.98 (save $14.99) Get Deal Best barbecue deal Kingsford Original BBQ Charcoal Grilling Briquettes (2-Pack, 16 pounds) $17.88 (save $2.10) Get Deal

Ahh springtime. As long as you're not allergic to pollen, spring weather means it's time to get outside and prep your backyard or patio for a great summer. From planting new annuals to building the tomato garden of your dreams, spring weekend are all about yard improvements.

Just in time, The Home Depot's Spring Deals sale is now live with plenty of great deals that come in at under $20. Just be sure to shop before the sale ends on May 7.

Even if you're not one to dig in the dirt, The Home Depot's discount on a four-pack of Hampton Bay Terrace Park 1 Outdoor Solar Path Lights is worth placing an order. The four typically cost $17.97, but they're on sale for just $14.97. You can also get a major discount on a 24-foot strand of Hampton Bay Indoor/Outdoor Edison Bulb String Lights. The normal price for the lights sits at $34.97, but The Home Depot is lighting up your yard this summer for just $19.98.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away an exclusive Mother's Day Flower for free — here’s how to get yours

With Mother's Day coming up on May 11, why not grab some plants she's sure to love. The Rio Dipladenia annual plants are included in the sale which means you can score three plants for just $15.

One of the best offers included in the Spring Deals is the deep discount on Holland River Red Concrete Pavers. Each paver usually sells for $0.68, but the sale brings them down to just a quarter each, or four for $1. That could work out to a major discount if you'll be snagging a few hundred to build out a new patio.

However you plan to revamp or improve your outdoor space this year, The Home Depot Spring Deals event has tons of items on sale for under $20 that are sure to fit your desires and your budget.

PREORDER NOW: As of April 24, preorder the Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $59.99 at Target.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera $59.99 at Target
Get Deal

Planning on hanging out with your friends in Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat? If you want to get the most out of it, you might want to secure a camera to use with it. This new feature lets up to 12 people join group chats while gaming with video features that you can use while playing and even streaming to your buddies.

It's facilitated by the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which you'll have to buy separately if you want to use it. But if you want something a little more fun, there's another option: the officially licensed Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera.

As of April 24, you can preorder the Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $59.99 at Target. It's also available at Best Buy right now, but it's out of stock at Walmart. It's $5 more than you'd spend on the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, so keep that in mind when budgeting for your Switch 2 setup.

This camera connects to your Switch 2 via USB and is compatible with TV mode, portable mode, and tabletop mode. It lets you video chat with friends or use the other camera-based features in the Switch 2 games coming to the system. Like the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, just plug it in and place it wherever you get the best angle. It's a bit larger than the Switch 2 Camera, but hey, it's also a Piranha Plant.

If you plan on using it with Switch 2's GameChat feature, you'll need to make sure you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. That's available as two different tiers: individuals can pay $19.99 per year for basic service, while the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack costs $49.99 a year. For family memberships, the basic tier costs $34.99, while the NSO + Expansion Pack option is $79.99.

There's more to the Switch 2's GameChat feature than just talking in-game and across games, though. Several games offer unique functionality with the camera, including Mario Kart World and Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV. And those are just to start, likely with several more games on the way with camera-based features.

If you're interested in getting the most out of GameChat (and your Switch 2), this is a fun addition to your Switch 2 (if you managed to get one). You don't have to splurge with the extra $5, but hey, it's a Piranha Plant.

President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Wednesday aimed at fostering AI education in K-12 schools and preparing students for an increasingly AI-centric workforce.

The new directive's overarching goal is to "ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution," according to the press release. The policy seeks to "promote AI literacy and proficiency of K-12 students" while also training educators so they can integrate AI education into their curriculums.

The move could be a response to recent developments in China. In March, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission announced that it would be making AI lessons mandatory for primary and secondary school students. Starting in September, Chinese students will be required to take eight hours of AI classes a year. And last week, Reuters reported that China's education ministry's plans to "integrate artificial intelligence (AI) applications into teaching efforts, textbooks and the school curriculum."

The president's executive order establishes an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force comprising members of various federal agencies, including the secretaries of Agriculture, Labor, Energy, Education, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto.

China's rapid advancements in AI have threatened the previously comfortable position of the U.S. at the top of the AI industry, largely due to the introduction of DeepSeek. The Chinese company produced an AI model with capabilities comparable to OpenAI's reasoning models, and reportedly trained its R1 model for a fraction of the cost. DeepSeek rattled U.S. tech stocks and prompted President Trump to say at the time, "the release of DeepSeek, AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win."

The executive order is broken down into four buckets: prioritizing the AI education of students, providing AI professional development for educators, growing and developing "AI-related Registered Apprenticeships" for relevant occupations and industries, and a "Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge."

The Challenge will highlight "student and educator achievements in AI" from a variety of age groups and across geographic regions. Keep an eye out for that within the next 90 days, as the executive order mandates.