Technology

Home Assistant releases regular updates, with a major release of Home Assistant Core once a month, and Home Assistant Operating System (HAOS) every few months. While keeping Home Assistant updated is a good idea, giving you access to new features and security fixes, these days, I never update on the day of release.

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale book deals at a glance: Best overall book deal Theo of Golden $14.98 (save $5.02) Get Deal Best non-fiction book deal Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More $26 (save $2.99) Get Deal Best fiction book deal Reminders of Him $8.49 (save $8.50) Get Deal

Amazon sales are a great excuse to upgrade your tech. From Prime Day to Black Friday, these discount days see everything from robot vacuums to TVs slashed in price. But it's not just big ticket items that see major savings — for bookworms it's a wonderful opportunity to add some inspiration to your home library. And with Amazon’s Big Spring Sale just around the corner, now is a good time to score early book deals.

Whether you're looking for something completely fresh or there's a new bestseller you've had your eye on, these are some of the best early book deals we've spotted on Amazon.

Best overall book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Theo of Golden $14.98 at Amazon
$20 Save $5.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Released in October 2025, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is a New York Times bestseller. The novel follows Theo as he purchases pencil portraits from a local coffeehouse and returns them to their rightful owners.

Best non-fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More $26 at Amazon
$28.99 Save $2.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Despite only being released this month, this book by Nelson Dellis is already discounted at Amazon. This book helps you build practical cognitive skills, from memorising names and improving focus to faster learning and creative problem-solving. Drawing on his experience as a six-time USA Memory Champion, Dellis breaks down techniques that make sharper thinking accessible, offering methods to strengthen memory, boost concentration, and develop more effective ways of processing and using information.

More non-fiction book deals

• The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins — $15.68 $29.99 (save $14.31)

• You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir by Christina Applegate — $22.38 $32 (save $9.62)

Best fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Reminders of Him $8.49 at Amazon
$16.99 Save $8.50   Get Deal Why we like it

This is a great opportunity to grab this book at a lower price now that the movie has hit theaters. Reminders of Him follows Kenna Rowan, a young mother returning home after five years in prison, desperate to reconnect with her four-year-old daughter.

More fiction book deals

• Gliff by Ali Smith — $14.32 $28 (save $13.68)

• It's Not Her by Mary Kubica — $20.58 $30 (save $9.42)

• A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman — $21 $30 (save $9)

The Oscars wouldn't be the Oscars without the greatest annual red carpet tradition that is Guillermo — of Jimmy Kimmel Live! fame — pounding shots with various confused celebrities.

In the clip above he shares drinks with a variety of nominees, including a ping pong-shaped flask with Marty Supreme star Odessa A'zion. Then, he gifts a fan covered in Elle Fanning faces to Elle Fanning herself.

The clip has the perfect ending, too, with Guillermo offering a flask shaped like his own face for Jimmy Kimmel to take a swig from.

Have you tried building a second brain but ended up just building a pretty folder structure? Tried Zettelkasten, PARA, and every other note-taking framework—only to abandon them all? Me too. And here’s how Obsidian’s daily notes feature finally helped me build my second brain.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, March 17, 2026:

AcrossOne drawing X's and O's

• The answer is Coach.

Company whose market cap (~$4 trillion) exceeds the G.D.P. of most countries

• The answer is Apple.

"Chill!"

• The answer is Relax.

Do some rhythmic tapping

• The answer is Drum.

Back talk

• The answer is Sass.

DownWhat's the deal?

• The answer is Cards.

"The Phantom of the ___"

• The answer is Opera.

Excellent grade

• The answer is A plus.

Sandpipers dig for them in the sand

• The answer is Clams.

Evil spell

• The answer is Hex.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Apple's next big hit is here. The colorful new budget MacBook Neo debuted to rave reviews, and a couple configurations were already backordered weeks out the day after its March 11 launch. With a starting price of just $599 (or $499 for students), the Neo marks an exciting entry-level addition to Apple's lineup — not to mention brutal competition for cheap Windows laptops.

We've already stacked the Neo against the latest MacBook Air, which Apple just updated with a supercharged M5 chip. But how does the Neo compare to older MacBook Airs? Previous models with M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips are still somewhat readily available, mainly on the refurbished market, and they can be viable options for budget buyers, too. Let's dive right into the nitty-gritty details.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Specs The MacBook Neo is Apple's smallest laptop in seven years. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As a refresher, here's a brief M-series MacBook Air release timeline:

• M1 MacBook Air (13-inch) — November 2020

• M2 MacBook Air (13-inch) — July 2022; 15-inch version launched in June 2023

• M3 MacBook Air (13- and 15-inch) — March 2024

• M4 MacBook Air (13- and 15-inch) — March 2025

Unlike the MacBook Airs, which run on ARM-based laptop silicon, the MacBook Neo runs on an iPhone processor — the A18 Pro chip, specifically. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as you'll see later in the "Performance" section. Smartphone chips are crazy-overpowered nowadays.

The MacBook Neo's memory is fixed at 8GB. (This is probably its biggest drawback.) Most older MacBook Airs also start with 8GB of RAM, but users have the option to upgrade them. The M1 model can get bumped to 16GB of RAM, while the M2 and M3 models are configurable with up to 24GB of RAM. The M4 MacBook Air starts with 16GB of memory and maxes out with 32GB.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo: Great price, but you need to take a close look at those specs

With the MacBook Neo, you can take your pick from two storage options. It comes with 256GB of disk space for $599 or 512GB for $699. (The latter also adds a Touch ID sensor to its power button.) The older MacBook Airs have four storage variants: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.

The MacBook Neo and the M1 MacBook Air both come in one 13-inch size, but M1 Air is technically 13.3 inches on the diagonal, while the Neo measures 13 inches exactly. (It's Apple's smallest MacBook in seven years.) The M2, M3, and M4 MacBook Airs come in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch sizes.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Pricing and availability Apple sold the M1 MacBook Air through Walmart for around $699 until early 2026. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / mashable

Again, the MacBook Neo costs $599 or $699 depending on your storage and Touch ID preferences. College students, their parents, and school staff can save $100 on either configuration with the Apple Store's clutch education discount.

The older M-series MacBook Airs originally started at $999 to $1,299, minus $100 for education buyers. Third-party retailers were still selling the M4 model in new condition as of mid-March — Apple only just discontinued it — though its availability fluctuates, and it's usually full price or close to it. (Gone are the days of the $749 M4 MacBook Air deal.)

Refurbished M4 Airs aren't dramatically cheaper yet: At present, they range from $899 to $1,199 in limited configurations. Expect to see steeper price cuts in about a year or so.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo's real killer feature: Its $499 education pricing

M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Airs are pretty rare to find in stock brand-new these days. (Apple no longer sells the M1 through Walmart.) So if you want one of those models, you'll have to lean on the refurbished market. They tend to be much more tempting buys at $800 or less, but they tend to sell out much faster as a result.

For reference, here's how much Best Buy was charging for new-to-you base models at the time of writing. M2 and M3 variants with double the RAM were $50 extra:

• M1 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Certified Refurbished — $449.99

• M2 MacBook Air, 13-inch (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished — $639.99 $749 (save $109.01)

• M3 MacBook Air, 13-inch (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished — $769.99 $849 (save $79.01)

The Neo is still cheaper than most of your refurbished options, with or without Apple's education offer. But can it handle your daily workload? That's the real question.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Performance The M2 MacBook Air is roughly 14 percent faster in multi-core scenarios compared to the MacBook Neo. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

Here at Mashable dot com, we measure laptops' performance by having them run Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 CPU test. This industry-standard benchmark produces two kinds of scores: a single-core score, which tells us how snappy the laptop will feel in everyday tasks (like web browsing), and a multi-core score, which tells us how well it can plow through more intensive workloads (like video rendering). The higher the scores, the better.

Apple's overachieving A-series chips have been making iPhones as powerful as some laptops for years, so it's actually not that weird to see one fueling a MacBook.

The MacBook Neo offers M4-tier single-core performance and M1-level multi-core performance. Since it's geared toward users with basic needs, that single-core result is more important — and very impressive. It means the Neo will feel just as zippy as a pricier last-gen MacBook Air when you're sending emails or online shopping. It definitely punches above its budget price point in this regard.

That isn't to say the Neo won't be usable for some lighter multi-core work. (Our tech editor used one to edit a simple video in Final Cut Pro.) It just won't be nearly as good for running a bunch of heavier apps at the same time. You'll want an M3 or M4 MacBook Air for that, or possibly even a MacBook Pro.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Battery life The M3 MacBook Air offers about 21.5 hours of battery life. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Apple rated the MacBook Neo for up to 16 hours of video playback and all of the older MacBook Airs for up to 18 hours. We put those claims through our own video rundown test to see how they translate to real-world use.

Indeed, all of the MacBook Airs from the past six years outlast the MacBook Neo, which has an actual battery life of around 15 hours of video playback per charge. It should still get you through a full day of school or travel with some juice to spare.

For what it's worth, the Neo's 15-hour runtime beats our current battery life medians for Windows laptops and Chromebooks (14 hours and 10 hours, respectively).

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Design The M4 MacBook Air features an incredible 12MP Center Stage webcam. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The MacBook Neo has the same fully aluminum build as all of the older MacBook Airs. It's roughly the same size as the M1 MacBook Air, but its chassis is shaped more like the M2 to M4 MacBook Airs. Those three models have a flat "slab" design, while the M1 MacBook Air has a tapered "wedge" design. (Read more about the MacBook Air's 2022 makeover.)

The MacBook Neo weighs the same as a 13-inch M2, M3, or M4 MacBook Air, but it's slightly thicker. The M1 MacBook Air is both heavier and thicker than all of them.

SEE ALSO: Apple MacBook Neo is not only cheaper than other Macs, it's also easier to repair

Apple had to make some hardware sacrifices to make the MacBook Neo cheap from the jump, but it's nicer than the M1 MacBook Air in a few small ways:

• Display: The Neo's display lacks the Airs' True Tone feature for natural-looking colors, but it has the same 60Hz refresh rate and crisp Liquid Retina technology. It's just as bright as the M2 to M4 models' screens; the M1 Air is slightly dimmer.

• Keyboard: The Neo lacks keyboard backlighting and Touch ID (unless you pay $100 extra).

• Trackpad: The Neo's mechanical touchpad lacks haptic feedback.

• Webcam: The Neo's camera has same 1080p resolution as the M2 and M3 Airs' webcam. It's better than the M1 model's 720p camera but worse than the M4 model's 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support. It's housed in the upper bezel of the Neo's display (an M1 Air relic), not a notch.

• Speakers: The Neo has two fewer speakers than the 13-inch M2, M3, and M4 Airs. (Their 15-inch counterparts have two more speakers for a total of six.) The Neo does support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos like the M2 to M4 Airs, but it lacks their dynamic head tracking support with AirPods. The M1 Air has Dolby Atmos but no Spatial Audio.

• Mic array: The Neo has one fewer mic than the M-series Airs (two instead of three).

• Ports: The Neo lacks the Airs' speedy Thunderbolt ports. The M3 and M4 models can also drive an extra external display (two instead of one).

• Connectivity. The Neo has same WiFi 6E tech as the M3 and M4 Airs (the M1 and M2 models have WiFi 6). The Neo has newer Bluetooth 6 tech than all of the older Airs.

MacBook Neo vs. older MacBook Airs: Colors The MacBook Neo comes in four colors: citrus, indigo (both pictured), blush, and silver. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Airs come in neutrals. (Let's not pretend that "sky blue" is anything more than a cooler gray.) The Neo, in contrast, is available in a few wilder new colors:

• M1 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, and gold

• M2 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, starlight, and midnight

• M3 MacBook Air — silver, space gray, starlight, and midnight

• M4 MacBook Air — silver, starlight, midnight, and sky blue

• MacBook Neo — silver, indigo, blush, and citrus

"Wild" is relative, by the way. My kingdom for a (PRODUCT)RED MacBook.

Final thoughts: Should you get a MacBook Neo or an older MacBook Air? Neo or nah? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Your decision will come down to two factors: what you need your MacBook for and how much you want to spend on it.

The MacBook Neo is a basic starter PC with limited RAM and features, but an enticingly affordable price. It's technically not designed to compete with MacBook Airs, but I can see shoppers with ultra-strict budgets weighing it closely against a cheap base M1 MacBook Air. In this case, I'd go with the Neo for future-proofing and vastly better single-core performance. The fact that it's missing True Tone, backlighting, a haptic touchpad, and Thunderbolt support shouldn't be dealbreakers for students and casual users with light workloads.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo review: I think Apple's going to sell millions of these

If you already own an M1 MacBook Air, don't bother buying a Neo. It would be a lateral move, not an upgrade.

A MacBook Air with an M2 chip or newer is a better, more well-rounded laptop than the Neo in almost every way; I think creative professionals and multitasking-happy business users who rely on heavier apps will see plenty of merit in the price bump. Try to find a configuration with at least 16GB of RAM — and be prepared to maybe hunt around for a while, since retailers' inventories can be fickle. With the global RAM shortage driving up new laptop prices, and the M5 MacBook Air now starting at $1,099 — an excellent value, but still — I expect M2 to M4 Airs in new or good used condition to fly off shelves in the coming months.

Shop Apple MacBooks: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Shop Now Apple MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Certified Refurbished $449.99 Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished $639.99 (save $109.01) Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished $769.99 (save $79.01) Shop Now Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899 (save $100) Shop Now

TL;DR: Score a speedy Apple iPad with a larger Retina display for just $119.99 (reg. $229.99) with this 7th Gen model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 2019 (Refurbished) $119.99
$229.99 Save $110.00   Get Deal

From streaming your favorite shows to hopping on a work Zoom to sketching with an Apple Pencil, you can get a lot done on an iPad. Apple’s beloved tablet usually comes with a premium price tag, but right now, this 10.2-inch model can be yours for only $119.99 (reg. $229.99).

If you’re looking for an easier way to get things done, look no further than this 7th-generation iPad. This 10.2-inch tablet lets you tackle browsing, streaming, and note-taking on the sharp Retina display. An A10 Fusion Chip also makes multitasking, casual gaming, and stable performance possible.

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!

Take photos, FaceTime, or hop on video calls with the 8MP rear and 1.2MP front cameras. This iPad model also supports accessories like the Apple Pencil, which is great for taking notes and sketching, and the Smart Keyboard for comfortable, convenient typing.

A 10-hour battery life gets you through a full day, and the Touch ID feature lets you rest easy knowing you’ll enjoy secure unlocking and authentication for purchases.

Curious how you’re getting this iPad for just $120? It comes with a grade A refurbished rating, meaning it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no scuffing on the case.

Get this 7th Gen Apple iPad for only $119.99 (reg. $229.99) while supplies last.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Learn piano solo with some help from this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, on sale now for $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $127.49
$299.99 Save $172.50   Get Deal

Looking for a new hobby to unwind after a long day of work? Skoove Premium Piano Lessons brings the learning to your home, helping you master the piano or keyboard with an app on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. And right now, you can lock in a lifetime of lessons for only $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 through March 29.

When was the last time you learned a new skill? If mastering the piano has always been on your bucket list, it’s time to make it happen with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons. This AI-powered app lets you pick up piano in your spare time without ever leaving your house.

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!

All you need to get started with Skoove Premium Piano Lessons is a keyboard or piano and your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The app does the rest, as it can hear you play, recognize your notes, and give you real-time feedback so you get better as you go.

Whether you’re totally new to the instrument or you have some lessons under your belt, Skoove Premium Piano Lessons offers lesson options ranging from beginner to advanced. And it’s not like the boring old piano lessons from your past; you’ll get to pick up skills by playing your favorite music — from Adele to Beethoven.

Your lifetime subscription includes permanent access to more than 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, and you’ll never run out of content because new ones are added every month. There’s also one-on-one support available from real music instructors when you need it.

Get this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $127.49 (reg. $299.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

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Where to live stream 2026 March Madness online for free: 5-Day Free Trial DirectTV $84.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 5-Day Free Trial Fubo $55.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 3-Day Free Trial Hulu + Live TV $89.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 7-Day Free Trial Paramount+ $8.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now

While most of the world celebrates the month of March for the coming of spring and the impending summer, college basketball fans know better: The real reason to celebrate is March Madness, the NCAA Division I tournament to determine the college basketball national champion.

Yeah, the regular NBA is awesome. But March Madness delivers a different kind of buzz. There's something special about college basketball and the hype around the next generation of next-level players. It's like a completely different sport — and this much-anticipated single elimination tournament scores a slam dunk every year.

If you want to watch 2026 March Madness for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is March Madness?

March Madness is a tournament played in the United States to determine the college basketball national champion of Division I in the NCAA.

The tournament features 68 teams competing in seven rounds of a single-elimination bracket. Thirty-two teams automatically qualify for the tournament by winning their conference tournament, and thirty-six teams qualify by receiving an at-large bid based on their performance during the season. It concludes with the Final Four, an event that hosts the semi-final and championship games.

When is 2026 March Madness?

March Madness officially kicked off on March 15 with Selection Sunday. The tournament opens with First Four qualifier games on March 17. The First Round then begins on March 19 and the tournament runs through to the National Championship on April 6. The 2026 Final Four and championship game are held in Indianapolis.

How to watch 2026 March Madness for free

March Madness features 67 games televised across four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. It is possible to access these channels with a range of streaming services that offer free trials:

• DirectTV (five-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

• Fubo (five-day free trial) — CBS

• Hulu + Live TV (three-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

• Paramount+ (seven-day free trial) — CBS

By making the most of these free trials, you can watch select March Madness games without actually spending anything.

How to watch March Madness from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of March Madness from anywhere in the world.

Live stream 2026 March Madness from anywhere in the world 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 U.S.

4. Visit DirectTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or Paramount+

5. Live stream 2026 March Madness for free from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:

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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream March Madness 2026 for free from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps.

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Do you want to build a snowman? Go to space? Construct a workforce out of 110 kinds of robot? Accelerate the entire timeline of Artificial Intelligence? If so, there was plenty of sizzle on offer from Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, at the company's two hour-long GTC keynote event in San Jose Monday.

NVIDIA, the world's leading purveyor of AI-friendly GPU chips, has 4.4 trillion reasons to dazzle us with potential futures allegedly brought to you by ever-accelerating AI technology. In other words, Huang needs to protect NVIDIA's current $4.4 trillion market cap, double what it was two years ago, by proving it isn't a bubble.

Result: Huang peppered a presentation of impenetrable charts with dazzling visions of data centers in orbit, and awkwardly extra interactions with a robot version of Olaf from Frozen.

But beneath the future sizzle, the actual steak of present-day practical announcements — for consumers, at least — was limited to an AI gaming software update that got a thumbs down from gamers, plus NVIDIA muscling in on the OpenClaw AI agent action. Here's a summary of everything Huang had to say:

Next-generation AI gaming software

Huang's first reveal: NVIDIA DLSS 5, the next iteration of the company's DLSS AI upscaling software, coming this fall. NVIDIA describes it as a "breakthrough in visual fidelity" that "infuses pixels with photorealistic lighting and materials, bridging the gap between rendering and reality." Huang showed off before and after comparisons using Resident Evil: Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

Trouble is, Resident Evil: Requiem, released two weeks ago (here's our review), has already won the hearts of gamers for its graphics — so many took to social media, furious that NVIDIA was trying to fix what wasn't broken.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. AI is still accelerating?

So claims Huang, who showcased a chart highlighting AI developments of recent years. It began in 2023 with OpenAI's ChatGPT. It continued in 2024 with OpenAI's first reasoning model, o1, and in 2025 with Anthropic's coding assistant, Claude Code (which, Huang was proud to boast, is now used by 100% of his company). Now, in 2026, Huang sees NVIDIA and the entire AI industry reaching an "inflection point for inference."

What does that mean? Huang says the value of his chips isn't so much in training large language models any more. NVIDIA's customers have tipped over into deploying those AI models in more novel ways, growing the ecosystem for AI agents.

Speaking of which ...

NVIDIA doubles down on open-source AI agents

"Claude Code and OpenClaw have sparked the agent inflection point," Huang pronounced. (OpenClaw, formerly Clawdbot, is a popular AI assistant with some security issues.) NVIDIA adds a protective layer of security and stability that it's calling Nemo Claw; you can try it now, in a preview version.

Beyond that, it makes sense for NVIDIA to grow the entire agentic ecosystem as soon as possible, whether or not those agents are actually working reliably. So the company is offering an expansive new NVIDIA AI Agent Toolkit for companies that want to build their own models.

The company is also offering a complex reasoning AI model of its own, one with what is possibly the most grandiose sci-fi name in tech today: the Nemotron 3 omni-understanding model.

Space and the robot snowman

Huang accelerated his cosmic vision towards the end of the keynote. We're not talking NVIDIA Cosmos 3, another grandly-named AI model, but a vision of Vera Rubin Space-1 — which Huang says will be the first data center in space. There's no timeline for development, let alone launch, but NVIDIA apparently has a "lot of great engineers" working on it.

A lot of great Imagineers worked on Olaf the snowman from Frozen, too. And they could be forgiven for cringing a little when Huang closed the keynote having a conversation with Olaf the snowman robot — one of 110 AI-powered robots on display in San Jose, all from NVIDIA-partnered companies (in this case, Disney).

Olaf is pretty cool, and I wouldn't mind running into one in a Disney park in the future. But Huang repeatedly tripped over Olaf's lines, and the fact that our favorite feisty snowman didn't adjust to the conversational situation made him seem ... well, a little less than artificially intelligent.

At the two-hour mark, Huang exited to the bizarre accompaniment of AI-generated country music, apparently coming from his own avatar and a bunch of robots sitting around a campfire on screen. And the audience was left with two possible futures. In one, the AI agents NVIDIA is championing help launch the company into the stratosphere. In the other, AI agents act like a bunch of bumbling Olafs, and continue to deliver little ROI for companies — in which case NVIDIA's market position may melt like a snowman in spring.

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites from Australia is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub responded by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation hit France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story, with the same workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This quick and easy process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. There's a chance that the situation may have changed before the free trial comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $500: As of March 14, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

The ban on DJI imports it naturally causing stock to drop, but it's still possible to find popular models on Amazon (for now). And you can still find deals on some of the best drones from the brand, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. This bumper bundle has hit a record-low price on Amazon this weekend.

As of March 14, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price for a limited time.

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We have seen this low price before, but we don't know how long this sort of deal will stay live. Stock is going to dwindle at some stage. At that point, prices will surely jump. Until we reach that moment, we're going to take every opportunity we can get to shop.

This bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. You're getting everything you need to start flying and capturing footage in one convenient package.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro features a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can opt for 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming, and night flying is a possibility thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function.

It's a truly stellar option for content creators and anyone looking to capture epic footage.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.

Dyson had nowhere to go but up after its last robot vacuum. You don't even need to test the new Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai to already know that it completely dunks on the 2024 Dyson 360 Vis Nav any way you dice it.

Still, as the third Dyson robot vacuum attempt after two flop releases, there's a lot riding on the Spot+Scrub Ai's success. If it sells well, that means the 360 Vis Nav truly was just a fluke. But if the Spot+Scrub Ai can't compete with the best robot vacuums of 2026 from other brands, perhaps it's time to accept that we don't always need to force the "stick vacuum brand to robot vacuum brand" pipeline.

For the past few days, I've been trying the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai at home against top flagship Roborock and Dreame models. My first impressions are up and down so far, taking me from cheering to cursing in the span of a few minutes. Let's discuss.

Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai $1,199.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Dyson What's special about the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai? Dyson's iconic green laser makes cleaning so satisfying to watch. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I had been manifesting a robot vacuum with a laser since trying my first Dyson stick vacuum with a laser in 2022, so the dust-illuminating green light is easily the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai's biggest talking point. The green light works together with AI to help the Spot+Scrub Ai find hidden stains and microscopic debris, decipher between wet and dry messes, and then adjust cleaning accordingly. Unlike many other robot vacuums, which just make a set number of passes in the specified zone or room, the Spot+Scrub Ai double-checks each spot before moving on and goes back again if necessary.

The rest of the Spot+Scrub Ai's upgrades seem huge compared to the 360 Vis Nav, but were long overdue compared to the rest of the robot vacuum market. The Spot+Scrub Ai isn't just Dyson's first roller mop robot vacuum — it's the first Dyson robot vacuum that mops at all. In classic roller mop robot vacuum fashion, the roller gets rinsed in real time to ensure that every inch of floor is being scrubbed with a clean pad. It's much less common to find a robot vacuum and mop combo that actually mops with warm water for more efficient stain breakdown, but the Spot+Scrub Ai does. (Most only wash the mop with hot water, but clean with room temperature.)

It wouldn't be a Dyson without a bright color scheme. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Must the transparent dustbin publicly showcase your home's dirt? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Spot+Scrub Ai also finally adds a self-emptying dock (those have been ubiquitous for half a decade), and washes and dries the roller mop. An AI-powered HD camera brings small obstacle avoidance technology to the Spot+Scrub Ai's resume, but it doesn't send or record images (so no livestream pet camera).

For general vibe and decor purposes, I can't say that I'm thrilled with the look of the dock. The three canister situation is bulky (just like the robovac itself) and unnecessarily industrial. But if you think this design is loud, just wait until you hear the self-emptying noise. FWIW, I do appreciate the built-in detergent tank and bagless dustbin.

SEE ALSO: Shark's new scrubbing-centric robot vacuum finds stains with a UV light. I tested it against other top robot mops.

Despite so many new features, Dyson surprisingly didn't hike the price from the 360 Vis Nav. The Spot+Scrub Ai costs $1,199.99, matching the debut price of the 360 Vis Nav when it came out in 2024. I'm glad that Dyson realized that the 360 Vis Nav was comically overpriced, which is probably why it's not hard to find it on sale for more than 60 percent off.

Is the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai's cleaning really that smart?

The Spot+Scrub Ai started out by acing several of my standard litter box cleaning tests for all robot vacuums. I have an uncovered self-emptying litter box (crystal litter) in the bathroom and a Litter-Robot Evo (clumping grass seed litter) in the kitchen. Both areas get pretty covered in tracked litter after even a day, but I pour extra on the floor for the initial test. The Spot+Scrub Ai finished with about 98 percent debris and dust pickup of each litter type, spinning around to use the laser to check for lingering particles before officially marking the area as complete.

Though the Spot+Scrub Ai is round (not D-shaped like 360 Vis Nav), the roller mop doesn't shy away from wall edges. I watched it scoot right up against baseboards, the open laundry closet door, and the washing machine. It even hugged the toilet as well as I could hope for in such a tight area.

The roller mop extended to scrub closely around walls, doors, and the oven. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The first wet spill obstacle course included splatters of chunky salsa and a red wine spill on hardwood. The Spot+Scrub Ai bodied the salsa, picking up a surprising amount on the first pass. It turned around and came back the other way to grab the few chunks that were flicked out of the way at first. Overall, the Spot+Scrub Ai+ had to have made about five passes over the same spot of hardwood floor after I assume it noticed that some salsa, a piece of dry cat food, or a speck of litter was left behind. In the app, you can follow along on the map to see where a stain has been detected. That part had me cheering out loud.

When it's thorough, it's thorough. But when it's not...

But that level of precision was missing when the botvac approached the spilled red wine. It wasn't the actual roller mop that blundered this spill, but the two spinning side brushes that are typically associated with dry debris.

The Spot+Scrub Ai's whole ethos is using artificial intelligence to clean on its toes, right? There's been so much hype surrounding the joint slay of the AI camera and green light to make tweaks to cleaning in the moment — to the point that they straight up included it in the title of the vacuum. So I feel like it's valid to assume that the Spot+Scrub Ai is smart enough to not make a mess worse. If it sees a puddle in the path ahead, wouldn't it make sense to pause the spinning dry brushes so that they don't further slosh the spill around?

The original wine puddle was pretty far away from the rug. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The Spot+Scrub Ai+ managed to smear the wine around the rug flap (and ignore the powder). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Instead, I witnessed the Spot+Scrub Ai drive right over the spill with side brushes spinning full speed ahead, spattering wine in the vicinity on the floor as well as all over the underside of the vacuum. (Liquid seeping into the interior parts is a recipe for your robot vacuum to stop working.) Those side brushes, now soaked in wine and salsa, don't get washed in the dock like the actual roller mop does.

You can imagine my surprise when I heard the "cleaning complete" announcement, just to look down and see the abandoned puddle smeared to the corner of my kitchen Ruggable, plus a pile of spilled protein powder on the rug completely ignored. Dyson claims that the Spot+Scrub Ai relies on photographic evidence of mess removal before heading back to the dock. How was this missed? And what if the rug wasn't machine washable?

Other factors I'm keeping an eye on

Mopping fail aside, I have a few other concerns with the Spot+Scrub Ai. While I've accepted that roller mop robot vacuums are the tallest type of robot vacuum mop combo, the Spot+Scrub Ai is so thick and cumbersome that it limits the reach of the fancy AI cleaning features. It doesn't fit under the Litter-Robot step where a ton of litter gathers, whereas the ultra-slim Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete smoothly slides under with several inches to give. The Spot+Scrub Ai kept getting stuck under my kitchen cabinets, battling with this drawer for a minute straight. Similarly, the Spot+Scrub Ai ended up scraping some gross brown gunk off the bottom of the dishwasher because the squeeze was that tight.

The Spot+Scrub Ai is so tall that it literally dragged this drawer open. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I'm also wondering if the Spot+Scrub's weight contributes to its struggles to lift safely over rug corners.

The Spot+Scrub Ai has displayed mediocre rug and carpet performance so far. It did a satisfactory job with cat hair in the living room, but left behind more than a few sprinkles and tortilla chip crumbs on the same rug. Its 18,000 Pa suction power is a tad low for a $1,199.99 robot vacuum. I can't help but compare it to the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, my current favorite roller mop robot vacuum. It costs $999.99 (as low as $849.99 on sale) and has 20,000 Pa suction.

SEE ALSO: The new Eufy C28 is the most budget-friendly roller mop robot vacuum. I tried it against the top 2 in its class.

No, the Curv 2 Flow doesn't have the laser feature. If you're really sold on the laser and roller mop aspects, I have a better way for you to spend $1,199.99 on a vacuum setup: Spend $599.99 on the Eufy C28 robot vacuum (15,000 Pa) and $599.99 on the awesome Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones instead.

Dyson baked a lot of customizable settings into the Spot+Scrub Ai's app, so I'm open to the possibility of cleaning and navigation getting better as we both make adjustments over time. But for now, I'm not sure that the Spot+Scrub Ai is the comeback story that Dyson needed in this market.

But first, the elephant in the room

The lukewarm rivalry between Shark and iRobot heated up for a second in March 2025, when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the entire Roomba lineup outside of its usual release schedule. But the last-ditch effort to get people excited about Roombas again didn't work. Once iRobot's lack of acquisition interest dwindled down to zero potential buyers, iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025. Ownership of the brand was surrendered to its manufacturer, Picea.

Let's break down why Roombas were considered the best for so long, and where iRobot went wrong.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more variety

Shark's family of robot vacuums is definitely growing. But the variety in the Roomba lineup offers slightly more flexibility for mixing and matching staple features like smart mapping, mopping pads that automatically avoid carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and most importantly, small obstacle avoidance technology.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

For much of 2024 and 2025, there were more Roombas to choose from because iRobot released new robot vacuums more frequently than Shark. The Roomba range seriously widened when iRobot randomly overhauled the Roomba lineup with eight new models in March 2025. That was certainly an interesting move, considering new Roombas had typically been announced in August in years past. That turned out to be a last-ditch effort to save iRobot as we knew it from bankruptcy.

iRobot released a bleak financial report the same week it released that flood of Roombas. I still decided to test most of them at the time — I thought it'd be interesting to see if these new Roombas could make iRobot a competitive brand again.

The 2025 Roombas all have LiDAR towers — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Yes, you can still buy a Roomba online despite the bankruptcy filing. The newest Roombas released last March are all available and often discounted. The best options that I've tested include the Roomba 105 (a standalone model with smart mapping) that has permanently dropped to $149 and the Roomba Plus 505 Combo (self-washing and -drying mopping pads, small obstacle avoidance) for as low as $499 on sale.

iRobot thankfully diverted from the traditional flat mopping pad with its 2025 overhaul. Now, the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo use dual spinning mopping pads — a design that the majority of iRobot customers prefer, iRobot told me in a press briefing. The Roomba Max 705 Combo was actually one of the first mainstream roller mop robot vacuums, which debuted months before that became a major trend at CES 2026. Still, the Max 705 Combo wouldn't be a worthwhile purchase over better roller mop robot vacuums like the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow or the Eufy C28.

Not for nothing, iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and released a vacuum-only version of one of its more powerful models, the Roomba Max 705 Vac. A lot of people simply don't want to deal with tanks or anything soggy at all, but finding a vac-only robot vacuum typically means settling for a super basic model — all of the most advanced robot vacuums are automatically hybrids nowadays.

The Roomba Max 705 Combo has a paint roller-esque mop and a wooden dock. Credit: iRobot The new Roomba Plus 405 Combo has two spinning mopping pads — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

iRobot's mastery of small obstacle avoidance does provide some leverage over Shark — it's some of the best small obstacle avoidance I've experienced from any brand I've tested at home. The Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and both 705 models have the special small obstacle detection camera system, which helps to avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste. In short, it solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth. I first experienced it when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+ and could never go back to the habit of pre-tidying.

SEE ALSO: 'Why does my robot vacuum suck now?' Well, when's the last time you cleaned it? Where Roomba loses: No recent innovations, still too expensive

iRobot isn't the pioneer it once was.

The self-emptying, smart mapping Roomba S9+ was a huge deal when it came out in 2019, and the Roomba j7+'s small obstacle avoidance set a new standard for robot vacuum navigation in 2021. Its star power was so influential that "Roomba" became the colloquial generic term for any robot vacuum.

But somewhere down the line, iRobot stopped innovating in the ways that justified its steep price points. Roombas started costing way too much for the brainpower or cleaning performance they offered. I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away. iRobot tried to rectify its overpriced tendencies with the eight new Roombas in March 2025, but even those didn't sell well enough to save iRobot from bankruptcy.

Neither basic nor premium Roombas are super cost-efficient

So while I'll give credit to Roomba for getting more practical with its prices, Shark still does budget-friendly better. For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying, with suction power being less of a priority as long as it's sufficient for light daily upkeep. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99 at full price or $249.99 on sale. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for as low as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE.

Either way, there are definitely more powerful cheap robot vacuums than both of those out there. It's the same story on the premium end of the spectrum: The fanciest Roombas still cost too much given their skills. The Roomba Plus 505 Combo that I tested comes to mind. Its debut price of $999.99 was comically high, and I think its recent price cut in half to $499.99 shows iRobot coming to terms with its pricing still. It didn't have any glaring drawbacks, but it's certainly not the strongest robot vacuum you could find for 500 bucks.

SEE ALSO: What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? After testing, my cats and I chose 4 top picks for 2026 so far.

Most egregiously, even the most powerful Roomba doesn't stand a chance against the most powerful contenders from other brands. On its face, the Roomba Max 705 Combo sounds like a beast: It has "175 times the suction power of a 600 Series Roomba" and is coined as the most powerful 2-in-1 Roomba. But iRobot, which is quietly revealing Pa suction power measurements for the first time, has confirmed that the Roomba Max 705 Combo has 13,000 Pa suction power.

The Roomba Plus 505 Combo. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

That means that even the best Roomba for pet hair or carpet is significantly weaker than the other flagship robot vacuums out there — still a relevant point, even if it's not a direct comparison to Shark. 2026 flagship vacuums like the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete and the Roborock Saros 20 series both hit a new record of 35,000 Pa. It's not hard to find a robot vacuum with 15,000+ Pa with self-washing and drying mopping pads for less than $700. As a refresher, the Roomba Max 705 Combo costs $1,299.99 at full price or as low as $799.99 on sale.

Will my Roomba still work now that iRobot went bankrupt?

iRobot does not expect the company's restructuring to disrupt app functionality, customer programs, or ongoing product support. That's comforting news to people who already have a Roomba. But for those still deciding if they should buy a Roomba, that's not a worthwhile option right now.

Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning, affordability, and the UV light

Shark robot vacuums haven't exactly been known for their innovation. Historically, it felt like the Sharks were several months to a year late on premium features that all of the other brands had. So the genius packed into the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 that dropped in March 2026 was a pleasant surprise. The UV Reveal uses a real UV light to detect invisible stains on the floor that a robot vacuum using AI cameras or plain LEDs may not see.

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

One memorable moment from my testing is the UV Reveal finding and mopping up dried cat puke that another premium robot vacuum mop combo didn't thoroughly scrub the week before. It's a game-changing feature for mopping hardwood floors.

So yes, the Shark UV Reveal breathed life into an otherwise just OK lineup of Shark robovacs. But for everyone trying to spend less than $1,299.99 on a robot vacuum, are the other Shark robot vacuums worth it?

I've always found Shark to be in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at affordable price points, topped with a straightforward user experience that doesn't involve a million high-level app functions. It's a particularly enticing brand for first-time robot vacuum owners.

The Shark Matrix RV2310 is a reliable little vacuum. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though. Shark Matrix vacuums clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. According to Shark, Matrix mode dishes out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuums, a mop in Matrix mode vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that likely wouldn't budge from a single pass of a cheaper robot mop or a paper towel. Matrix mopping always comes in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door.

SEE ALSO: Shark CryoGlow mask review after 10 months: The only way I'll ever stop using this is if Shark releases a new one

Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to most of its super-affordable models, making any of the RV2310 or RV2300 models a solid choice for a budget robot vacuum. Shark's spot cleaning has been such a streamlined, reliable feature in every Shark robot vacuum I tried. My ultimate spot cleaning test is the area outside either of my cats' litter boxes — even the cheap Shark robot vacuums always got to the right spot and cleared the kitty litter before I walked in there with bare feet.

Every other big brand had at least one model with self-washing and -drying mopping pads far before the Shark PowerDetect Pro series hit the scene in September 2024. They originally cost between $999.99 and $1,199.99, which seemed reasonable (at the time) compared to the models that cost $1,599.99. Both Pro models can now be found on sale for around $699.99.

The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For good measure, the PowerDetect models are also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics put the PowerDetect robot vacuums in the small group of robot vacuums that have never gotten stuck on one of my rug corners or scrambled up my bath mats.

But there are smarter robot vacuums out there for that same $699.99 or less.

Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance and slow releases

Shark's biggest shortcoming is that it takes forever to release new robot vacuums, and that staggered schedule often leaves it playing catch-up with other brands. Brands like Roborock and Dreame seem to drop new crops of robot vacuums twice in the time period that Shark introduces a single new model.

Overall, Shark's lineup outside of the UV Reveal feels a little basic compared to its competitors. For instance, the original PowerDetect line was in desperate need of a successor for a while. When Shark did finally "revamp" the series in fall 2025, the upgrades were criminally underwhelming. The major difference is heated mop washing and drying for improved sanitation between mopping sessions, hence "ThermaCharged" in the title. That's not exactly a front-page headline when the vacuum is still so far behind other brands' models in the same price range.

The purple lights indicate "Dirt Detect" mode. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Another lesser-known late 2025 model, the Shark Stratos NeverTouch robot vacuum, is similarly bland. Its description mentions "ultra-powerful suction" and states that the Stratos delivers twice the suction power of the Roomba i5 Combo. A $799.99 robot vacuum is more powerful than an entry-level Roomba that came out in 2023? Yeah, I would hope so.

Shark is the lone major robot vacuum brand that hasn't really invested in small obstacle avoidance past its fanciest model. Multiple models feature Shark's NeverStuck technology to some degree, but the UV Reveal is the only one I've tested that actually felt like it was really perceiving items lying in front of it. Meanwhile, brands like Eufy, Roborock, and Dreame have prioritized small obstacle avoidance in robot vacuums at the $500 to $700 range.

The lack of agility around common items like cords, laundry, or pet toys seriously cramps the "premium" feel. This is such a staple feature in my life, as I'm sure it is for anyone whose floor might be cluttered lived in from time to time. In my testing, the Shark ThermaCharged was so inept at diverting obstacles (even large ones) that it gave up on cleaning missions instead of simply driving around a tote bag of groceries or a cordless Dyson vacuum attachment lying on the ground.

SEE ALSO: A tale of two robot vacuums with arms: How the Dreame Cyber 10 could beat the Roborock Saros Z70

In the same vein of too-basic navigation, only the most premium Shark robot vacuums automatically stop mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time with any of the 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. That's enough of a pain to make someone want to skip mopping altogether. Even the cheap Roomba 105 Combo can detect carpet — the first time in recent memory where a base-tier Roomba outshines a base-tier Shark.

Shark's sonic mopping system feels a bit outdated now

Shark also has yet to grow out of the D-shaped mopping pad, while every other major brand has graduated to dual rotating mops or roller mops. The sonic vibrations of the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro and PowerDetect ThermaCharged did a solid job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my apartment's hardwood, but they weren't able to scrub in corners and along edges as the Roomba 405 or 505 Combo's flexible spinning mops can.

I wrote the next two sentences in January 2026, highlighting one very specific objective for the next flagship Shark robot vacuum:

"If Shark doubles down on the D-shaped pad design in its next release, it should at least give the pad more mobility to scoot out past the circular body of the vacuum — similar to what Roborock did with the Saros 20 Sonic that it announced at CES 2026."

I called it. That's exactly the type of mopping system that Shark gave the UV Reveal, and I've personally witnessed the UV Reveal's extending mop pad scrub much closer to walls than other Sharks. Unfortunately, the UV Reveal's mopping is only geared toward scrubbing dry stains or sticky droplets, not spills. (The instructions specifically say to avoid sending it over liquid.) I'm still not 100 percent sold on the D-shaped design for that reason.

SEE ALSO: How do some robot vacuums clean and navigate better than others? They're probably using AI.

Shark doesn't do itself any favors by refusing to list its vacuums' suction power in Pascals (Pa). Almost every other major robot vacuum brand measures suction power in Pa (even iRobot now), which makes comparing options easy. Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree, or by making vague claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot."

Where iRobot and Shark both lose: Their apps suck

Ironically, two of the most longstanding names in the robot vacuum game have the two most outdated-feeling apps. The bare bones home maps in both the Roomba Home and Shark Clean apps are far less intricate than the color-coded maps that Roborock or Eufy offer. Pausing a clean or adding an extra room to the queue is similarly clunky on both.

Our winner: Shark

Neither Shark nor iRobot is in the running to be the best robot vacuum brand overall in 2026. But if you want to pit them against each other for old time's sake, Shark is the better robot vacuum brand.

When revisiting the Shark vs. Roomba debate in January of 2026, my answer was pretty much, "Uh, is there a third option?" It was hard to get enthusiastic when neither brand had released a memorable robot vacuum in years. That changed when Shark released a robot vacuum with UV stain detection in March. The Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 is far more innovative than the latest Roomba 405, 505, and 705 Combo models that we have to choose from. Since the rest of the Shark and iRobot lineups are a wash, I think it's safe to give Shark the top spot based on the UV Reveal 2-in-1 alone.

Now that iRobot has filed for bankruptcy, it's hard to say when we'll see a new Roomba at all. The fact that Shark isn't bankrupt is another bonus point by default, presumably putting it in a more cushioned financial position to keep putting out new products.

However, iRobot doesn't want consumers to write it off just yet — iRobot.com has a whole page dedicated to "the most exciting chapter of Roomba yet." One blurb notes its partnership with a world-leading robotics manufacturing partner (probably its new owner, Picea), vaguely teasing some sort of robotic floor care launch in the future.

There are other brands that deserve your attention

Overall, I still think that Dreame vs. Roborock is the new Shark vs. Roomba, and I highly recommend taking a look at all of the Dreame robot vacuums and Roborock robot vacuums within your budget. You're probably going to find an option that's smarter and more powerful than the Roomba and Shark vacuum cleaners in your cart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock robot vacuums   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame robot vacuums   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark robot vacuums   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba robot vacuums   Shop Now

An up-and-coming creator gets offered their first brand deal. It’s enough money to pay their rent, but not nearly enough to hire a lawyer to look over the contract, so they sign it. A few months later, they see their face on a billboard or in a commercial without their consent.

This isn’t a hypothetical, says lawyer Michelle May O’Neil, whom I met at SXSW in Austin, Texas, after her panel, “Who Owns Me? Legal War Over Identity in the Creator Economy.” O’Neil is a nationally recognized lawyer, litigation strategist, and expert on NIL (name, image, likeness) topics, and she’s warning creators to pay very close attention to contracts with brands.

However, it’s not just shady contracts and legalese that can strip creators of their likeness. In the AI era, creators are also facing AI clones and deepfakes that steal their voice and image.

During her panel, O’Neil explained how creators can lose control of their online identity, and some of her examples took me by surprise. She highlighted the case of Kat and Mike Stickler, the married TikTok influencers who ended up in a bitter feud over their shared social media accounts during a messy divorce.

“As a lawyer, we say fair is a four-letter word, so there's not really a fair concept in the law. There's just the law, and it applies,” O’Neil said. “The tech is moving so fast, and the world is moving so fast, that it's difficult because there's not a lot of law that protects you, but we want to do the best we can."

So, what do creators need to know about their name, image, and likeness, and how can they protect themselves?

Please note that the content of this article does not constitute legal advice. Consult your own lawyer before making any big decisions.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators shaping the internet in 2025 It’s not identity theft if you give it away. Avoid the perpetuity trap.

When signing contracts with brands or social media companies, O’Neil warns creators to look for specific contract language that companies might try to sneak into a contract:

• Perpetual / in perpetuity

• All media now known or later developed

• Derivative works

• Sublicensable

• Irrevocable

O’Neil says an offending clause might look like this: “Creator grants Brand a perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable right to use Creator's name, image, likeness and voice in all media now known or later developed.”

“If you sign a bad contract and you don't read it, and you kind of do what one of the girls at the bar the other night said [she did] to me. She said, ‘Well, I mean, I just signed the contract they gave me. Because who am I? Like, if I don't sign what they give me, I'm not going to get the brand deal.’ And I get that, but she signed away a lot of rights.”

I heard this same sentiment in a separate SXSW panel featuring YouTube icons Rhett and Link.

In a panel on the creator economy, Rhett McLaughlin said many young creators feel like they can’t say no to brand deals at first.

“If you're a brand, you might be dealing with a lot of people who are young and inexperienced, even if they might be working with somebody who's representing them,” Rhett McLaughlin said. “And then you've got, you know, people who are either working in another job and beginning doing some creating on the side, or they're just young, and $1,000 is like, ‘Oh shit, $1,000, yes! I'm just gonna say yes. Whatever you just asked me to do for $1,000, I'm gonna say yes to it.” And brands know, in a lot of situations, they can go out and just pay 40 different creators $1,000 to get a message out there.”

When I asked O’Neil what kind of recourse someone might have if they sign away rights to their likeness in perpetuity, she had a blunt response.

“If they sign it, they sign it,” O’Neil told me. "I think once you sign it, you're done. That’s why it’s important. And that's why the lawyers for those platforms, that's why they make the big bucks, right?”

Add language to contracts to protect yourself Lawyer Michelle May O’Neil speaks at SXSW 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

There are some important steps creators can take when negotiating contracts.

For instance, you could ask for a sunset clause. This way, you’re licensing your likeness for a specific period of time, not “in perpetuity.”

Creators can also ask for additional language rather than demanding brands delete specific clauses.

“Don't fight to delete the clause. Add a clause. So instead of taking out the all media clause, add an exclusion. Add a carve-out. Say, ‘Okay, you can say all media, but I want to say excluding AI-generated or synthetic representations of me.”

And speaking of AI...

Technology moves much faster than the law

We’re living in a world where deepfakes are commonplace. I reported on deepfakes in YouTube Ads depicting celebrities like Oprah and Hoda Kotb, despite all the moderation tech YouTube uses to filter bad ads. Using widely available tools, bad actors can now take a short video clip and create an AI clone of you that can do or say almost anything.

Creators need to be proactive in protecting their likeness from AI clones. Major actors and writers unions have been negotiating for AI protections in contracts with studios, but unfortunately, creators don’t have a union to rely on.

“You know, if you're gonna do an audiobook with Simon & Schuster and they don't want to agree to let you reserve your AI clone of your audio voice, maybe you shouldn't do that deal,” O’Neil said.

Again, you can also ask for specific clauses that carve out an exception for AI clones.

LLCs and trademark law

In addition to bad contracts, O’Neil warned about two other ways creators lose their identity. First, they fail to create a legal entity, such as an LLC, for conducting business. A business entity creates a wall between you and your business asset, aka your likeness and your content.

In addition, some creators fail to trademark their key franchises, trademarks, and ideas. And, crucially, they may also fail to defend their trademark, which can come back to haunt them if they ever do go to court.

Unfortunately, while there are laws in Western countries to protect a creator’s likeness or right of publicity, international protections can be much weaker — or nonexistent.

O’Neil raised the example of a recent AI deepfake video that showed Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt on a rooftop in a non-existent movie. She said Cruise was eventually able to get American companies to take down the video, but it remains online in many places.

And if Cruise, with all of his money and the protections of actors’ unions, can’t protect his likeness, small-time creators have almost no chance at all. 

Put the family Instagram account in the pre-nup

Finally, as in the famous divorce case of Kat and Mike Stickler, if you’re creating content with a partner, make sure you have a plan for the dissolution of that partnership. Even if you only appear occasionally in your partner’s content, make sure they don’t retain a right to your likeness in the event of a breakup or divorce. 

That might even mean putting your Instagram and TikTok accounts in a pre-nup.

AI is the problem, not the solution

Finally, AI might seem like both the problem and the solution for creators who can’t afford a lawyer. After all, plenty of actual attorneys are now using ChatGPT, even if they shouldn’t be. But O’Neil cautioned creators from relying on AI chatbots for legal advice.

Ultimately, ChatGPT is not a lawyer, and OpenAI has even been sued for practicing law without a license, most recently in March. Asking Claude, Gemini, or ChatGPT to review or redline a contract might be tempting, but ultimately, only an actual human lawyer can give you legal advice, as some people have learned the hard way.

We’re living in a brave new AI world, and the creator economy still lacks the regulations that protect businesses in other industries.

So, creators, protect yourself and your likeness, because no one else will.

Some of the quotes in this story have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

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

Astronomers have discovered the first clear example of a star made entirely of materials from one of the very first stars.

Researchers spotted the extremely ancient and chemically primitive star in Pictor II, a satellite of a satellite: Pictor II is a dwarf galaxy that orbits the Large Magellanic Cloud, which, itself, circles the Milky Way. The star's unusual makeup suggests it formed after a weak supernova of one of the original stars in the universe. 

The star, known as PicII-503, bolsters the idea that small early galaxies like Pictor II shaped the chemical evolution of larger galaxies, like our own, when the larger ones eventually absorbed those relics. The discovery reveals a stage of cosmic history astronomers can't directly see, even with powerful tools like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. 

Scientists say relatively close examples in space like PicII-503 can serve as time capsules, providing crucial insight into how the first stars seeded the universe with the heavier elements necessary to build planets and ultimately life. 

"What excites me the most is that we have observed an outcome of the very initial element production in a primordial galaxy, which is a fundamental observation," Anirudh Chiti, a Stanford University researcher who led the study, said in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Space-traveling microbes? An unusual experiment shocked skeptics.

In the beginning, the first stars formed when the universe was mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, the two lightest elements on The Periodic Table. When those first stars died in supernovas, they blasted out heavier elements, such as carbon, iron, and calcium. It was only after subsequent generations of stars that they began to incorporate these ingredients. 

The recently discovered star, roughly 600,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pictor, has remarkably low iron and calcium elements, much lower than practically any star known outside the Milky Way. By comparison, PicII-503 has less than 1-40,000th of the sun's iron. But it also contains a relatively high amount of carbon. 

PicII-503 is the first clear example of a star containing chemicals from one of the universe's first supernovas. Credit: CTIO / NOIRLab / DOE / NSF / AURA / T.A. Rector / M. Zamani / D. de Martin

This unusual mix suggests the star formed from gas polluted by just one very early — and very weak — star explosion. The idea is that a less powerful explosion would result in heavy elements like iron staying trapped in the dead star's collapsed core, with lighter elements like carbon blasting into space. That would explain stars with low iron content but lots of carbon. 

In the new study, published in Nature Astronomy, researchers believe PicII-503 is probably more than 10 to 12 billion years old. They discovered it with the U.S. Department of Energy's Dark Energy Camera, an instrument mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation's Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile. The facility is a program of the NSF NOIRLab.

"Discoveries like this are cosmic archaeology, uncovering rare stellar fossils that preserve the fingerprints of the Universe’s first stars," said Chris Davis, NSF program director for NOIRLab, in a statement.  

The finding hints where astronomers should look for other ancient stars, the researchers say. PicII-503 sits far from the center of its own galaxy. That may suggest the oldest and most chemically primitive stars reside in galaxy outskirts. 

DISNEY+ BUNDLES: Disney+ is offering bundle deals so you can stream the best of its library at a lower price.

The best Disney+ deals and bundles in March 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle $4.99/month for 3 months Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

Whether you're looking to jump into the latest superhero saga or journey to a galaxy far, far away, Disney+ is the streaming service for you.

Home to Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more, Disney+ offers a library that's stuffed-full of shows and films to keep both adults and kids entertained. With Disney+, you can watch The Muppet Show, the upcoming second season of Daredevil: Born Again, and much more.

If you've had this streaming service on your radar but you've been unsure which plan is the best fit for you, we've got you covered with a selection of Disney+ streaming deals. This includes a great deal at the moment on the Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which is offering the first three months for just $4.99 per month. This offer only runs until March 24, so now is the time to take advantage of this limited-time deal.

SEE ALSO: 'Wonder Man' review: All hail the MCU's latest bromance

Alongside that deal, there are a few more bundles to check out with Disney+ right now, including the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package. This is a great investment for those who already own the other two streaming services and are looking to cut down on costs. Considering Disney+ has recently increased its prices, now is as good a time as any to check out this bundle.

We've detailed all of the available bundle deals below, alongside basic information on Disney+ plans if you just want the House of Mouse's service on its own.

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get your first three months for $4.99 per month Get Deal Why we like it

For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, it's currently available with a limited-time offer. Until March 24, new and eligible returning subscribers can get the first three months of the plan for $4.99 per month. Usually it costs $12.99 per month, but you're under no pressure to continue at full price after the promotional period.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — Get three months for $4.99 per month, then $12.99 per month

Unfortunately, this deal does not apply to the Premium ad-free version of this plan, which is still available for $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is one of the best available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, you can have three excellent streaming services right in the palm of your hand. The $19.99 per month option is for the With Ads plan, but if you'd prefer to watch your favorite content without ads, the No Ads plan comes to $32.99 per month. Compared to what you'd pay for each of these on their own, you're saving 42% with the ad-supported plan and 41% with the ad-free plan.

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best ESPN bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

If you're a sports fan looking to add ESPN to your bundles, you're in luck: Disney offers bundles with both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+."

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Best Disney+ monthly plans

Disney+ offers two standard plans if you just want the service on its own. The Disney+ ad-supported plan comes to $11.99 per month while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan will set you back $18.99 per month or $189.99 per year if you'd rather pay annually.

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $11.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium (No Ads) — $18.99 per month, $189.99 per year

Disney+ has also created an "extra member" plan for people using your account that live outside of your household as they crack down on password sharing. If you're looking to add another person onto your account, you're only allowed one extra profile and can choose from the following add-on plans:

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $6.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium — $9.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle — $7.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $10.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $11.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $14.99 per month

There's a wealth of shows and films to check out on Disney+ after you sign up. If you want some help finding something to watch, check out our roundups of the 12 best TV shows for adults on Disney+ and the 20 best movies on Disney+ to start building out your watchlist.

A messy (but formative) part of girlhood is the reckless appropriation of various trends, traditions, and cultural elements in a haphazard attempt to build an identity. For some girls, this means trading one clique for another, or jumping from band geek to cheerleader. For others, it means dabbling in witchcraft. 

30 years ago, The Craft became iconic for a generation of '90s girls who dreamed of power, beauty, and boys. A coven of four teen girls could cast spells and hexes, and the only threat to their power was one another. Now arises Forbidden Fruits, a twisted teen comedy that feels like The Craft with a girly-pop aesthetic. 

Forget the goth gear and smudged eyeliner. These witches are "mall royalty" who proudly work at a chic clothing store, and when they're not eye-rolling over customers, they're doing racy rituals and swallowing sequins as if they're psychedelics. However, where The Craft became a coming-of-age story and cautionary tale about not being true to yourself, Forbidden Fruits is more interested in gnarly twists than any kind of PSA message. 

Forbidden Fruits is a tale of rotten sisterhood.  Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp play the Fruits in "Forbidden Fruits." Credit: Shudder

Helmer Meredith Alloway makes her feature film directorial debut with this screen adaptation of playwright Lily Houghton's Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die. Together they scripted the adapted screenplay, which switches a Free People store for the less lawsuit-inducing "Free Eden." There, a trio of intimidatingly cool girls — known as "the Fruits" — wear daring fashions and form a clique so tight, it's suffocating. 

The bubbly blonde who favors skimpy pink clothes and endlessly seeks external validation is Cherry (Victoria Pedretti). The chill astrophysics nerd, saving up for grad school and clad in dark purples and blacks, is Fig (Alexandra Shipp). And the Queen Bee of their coven is Apple (American Sweatshop's Lili Reinhart), who has a cold stare but a heart that yearns for a "mini-me" to be her protégé. 

As in Mean Girls or Clueless, the girls spot a diamond in the rough in the film's protagonist, Pumpkin (Lola Tung). Sure, she's dangling at the bottom of the social ladder, working as a free samples girl in the food court. But there's something about her that intrigues the trio. Before you can recite the long title of Houghton's play, Pumpkin is being initiated with a ritual that involves blood, dirty panties, a bitch slap, and some fresh tears. 

However, much like the heroine of Mean Girls, Pumpkin isn't just looking to be cool with killer clothes. She has a hidden agenda, which has her low-key stalking Fig and Cherry, seeking out dirt on Apple and gossip on the she-who-shall-not-be-named ex-bestie Pickle (Emma Chamberlain). Through all this, Forbidden Fruits veers from familiar teen comedy tropes into wobbly witchiness and then some outright horror movie violence to create a film that's a wild ride, though not a satisfying one. 

Forbidden Fruits is chaotic and superficial in its influences. 

Let's begin with the Bible. The title of Houghton's play, Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die, comes from a Bible verse, Ecclesiasticus 25:24, which essentially argues a woman's role is to be a good wife, or else she is wicked and worth only scorn. In the film's third act, Apple will wear this quote/title on a baby tee as she snarls at her coven mates. But the deeper meanings of this passage get lost amid a clash of pop culture references and shallow girl-boss talk. 

Apple's built her coven on a self-serving homespun feminism that demands they uplift other women, eliminate those who take pleasure in others' pain, and never talk to boys outside of emojis. Apple's preaching is constructed of buzzwords, while the coven's icons range from off-brand Barbie dolls to Taylor Swift, Marilyn Monroe, and Miranda Priestly. Rather than a rich tapestry, Apple's brand of witchcraft feels like a clumsy collage of ideas. Perhaps that's intentional, meant to reflect how teen girls might try on new identities like so many jeans at the mall. But it also makes it hard to get a beat on who these girls are beneath their constant posturing. 

Still, this dizzying barrage of allusions collides with an aggressively colorful world, and over-the-top performance styles push the horror comedy into a surreal space. In that setting, we, like Pumpkin, are encouraged to believe that Apple is more than an intimidating Head Bitch in Charge. She could well be a sorceress who can use magic to curse those who wrong her. Power to Forbidden Fruits — with all its style and strangeness, it is hard to predict. However, its abrupt genre shift makes for a wild climax that leads to an infuriating conclusion. 

Forbidden Fruits falls flat, protagonist first. 

Alloway and Houghton make a curious choice in centering their story on Pumpkin. Early on, it's revealed that she's spying on the Fruits, but not why. Who is it she's reporting to about their betrayals and insecurities? Her own Janis Ian? Her mom? A boy!?! 

Because we don't know, Pumpkin is presented at a distance that won't disappear until the film's third act. While Reinhart is a compelling villain, Tung is a tepid screen presence who suffers under the thin writing for Pumpkin. 

That makes Fig and Cherry, whose secrets are most swiftly exposed, more intriguing than the heroine. Shipp, who shines in movies stranger (Tragedy Girls) and more spectacular (X-Men: Apocalypse), is enchanting in Fig's kindness and nerdiness. Perretti, who went from sweet to scorchingly sadistic in You, is a deranged delight as the needy Cherry. Yet the film's third act disregards them with shocking brutality, leaving us to watch a showdown that's lost much of its flavor. Then, without spoilers, a mid-credit scene delivers a big reveal that punches a plot hole right through everything we thought we knew about Free Eden's fruity witches. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

While there's plenty of style in Forbidden Fruits, it's lacking in substance. Rather than digging into the toxic female friendships that can define then drain us, Alloway uses the idea as a lure for a mystery that's just not as interesting. Or maybe I'm missing something. That was the nagging feeling as I watched Forbidden Fruits. To her credit, Alloway's film, however scattershot in genre shifts and references, exudes a smirking confidence. Whether she's showcasing Apple's unique brand of mean girl power, exposing Cherry's love of cheap thrills in trendy fashion, or tearing her dolls to bits, there's an assurance in the vision, even if I can't see it. In the end, I wasn't satisfied, but got the sense that this is an inside joke I'm just not on the inside of. 

Forbidden Fruits was reviewed out of the 2026 SXSW Film Festival; it will open in theaters on March 20. 

Shark vacuums shine at spot cleaning, but have a big blind spot

Scheduled full-room cleanings are a huge part of the convenience of a robot vacuum. The other half has to do with unexpected messes that need to be dealt with right now, with as little clicking around in an app as possible.

In my at-home testing, Shark robot vacuums are extremely straightforward and reliable spot cleaners. Setting a zone for a one-time clean in the Shark app is as black and white as dragging a square in the designated spot cleaning tab. The Shark knows to shift itself into Matrix cleaning mode for any spot cleaning situations, and automatically goes over the spot multiple times from multiple angles. Many other budget robot vacuums won't take a second look unless you remember to toggle the number of cleaning passes from one to two. Matrix cleaning automatically covers one of my tips for making your robot vacuum work better.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuum and mop combos, including CES 2026 models. Here are the top 6 to buy.

Is dependable spot cleaning a Shark-only skill? Of course not. But Shark robot vacuums still get credit for doing it while staying firmly in the budget robot vacuum category, and they're on sale frequently.

On the other hand, Shark's one big blind spot (literally) is small obstacle avoidance technology. Shark only has one robot vacuum that can reliably steer clear of cords and small pieces of laundry, and it's the most expensive one. Meanwhile, brands like Roborock, Eufy, and Dreame have afforded that capability to a handful of their mid-range robovacs.

SEE ALSO: 'Why does my robot vacuum suck now?' Well, when's the last time you cleaned it? New robot vacuums announced at CES 2026

Shark didn't do CES 2026 in January, but it did finally release a new robot vacuum and mop combo in March 2026: The Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1. I'm directly testing it against the top CES vacuum releases like Roborock Saros 20 and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, and the Narwal Flow 2.