Technology

If you're looking to curate your Netflix watch list, what better place to start than with the titles that swept the awards at their peak? From Oscar-winning movies to Emmy-winning shows, the platform has many decorated titles to choose from.

Tinder just announced several product updates at its inaugural event, Tinder Sparks — from its subtly teased AI matchmaker to safety upgrades and an astrology mode.

Up top, Tinder is "modernizing" its look with a Liquid Glass design (like Apple's) and full-screen photos and content. The app also wants to enhance onboarding new users by encouraging them to complete their profiles — from bios to multiple photos, instead of just uploading a selfie. Beyond that, here's a breakdown of all the newness coming to the dating app:

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered New Tinder AI features

Like other major dating apps, Bumble and Hinge, Tinder is leaning into the AI craze. This isn't new — they've rolled out AI-powered features before — but today's announcement continues the trend.

First, there's Chemistry, an AI-powered matchmaker that's already being tested in Australia and New Zealand, but rolls out in the U.S. and Canada today.

Chemistry is "Tinder's AI-powered way of cutting through dating fatigue," according to Tinder's press release. Chemistry will use a Q&A and scan your camera roll to "get a better sense" of who you are, and in return, Tinder users will receive a daily curated match recommendation.

Credit: Tinder

The camera roll scan is an opt-in feature within Chemistry that helps discover "Photo Insights" such as your interests based on patterns in your camera roll. This seems similar to Photo Selector, an AI feature Tinder rolled out in 2024, that helped you pick a profile pic.

Similar features in the pipeline are Visual Interests and the AI-powered Photo Enhanced, which will reportedly highlight individuals' favorite things and make photos clearer, respectively.

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In addition, Tinder's real-time recommendation system, "Learning Mode," aims to quickly understand what you're looking for and gather feedback to serve you better potential matches. Internal testing of Learning Mode suggests that, for women joining Tinder for the first time, it's associated with a higher likelihood of returning to the app within the first week.

New modes for music and astrology lovers

Tinder previously introduced College Mode and Double Date Mode, and now it's continuing the trend.

Music Mode launched in 2021 in collaboration with Spotify, but Tinder has now redesigned it. Music Mode will now prioritize profiles with shared tastes and promises a sleeker user interface. In early testing, one in 10 Tinder users under 22 adopted it.

Then there's the new Astrology Mode, likely building on the growing online interest in astrology and already influencing Tinder users. Now, users can add their birth data to "unlock" their Sun, Moon, and Rising signs and see compatibility insights with a potential match. Women with Astrology profiles sent 20 percent more Likes in early testing, according to Tinder.

Credit: Tinder

Both Music Mode and Astrology Mode are live globally.

Encouraging more IRL moments

Capitalizing on the IRL trend, Tinder is piloting an Events feature in Los Angeles that lists local IRL happenings, allowing users to signal their interest in attending. Tinder plans to partner with event hosts to offer opportunities to get off the app and into in-person flirting, say, at a pottery class or trivia night. Both Tinder and Bumble have thrown IRL events in the past, but this is new.

Credit: Tinder

If you'd rather stay home but still want to see a date's face, you may prefer the new video speed-dating feature (also testing in Los Angeles). If you're photo verified (and all new U.S. users need to scan their face to join the app as of October last year), you can join scheduled, three-minute-long speed dates. You can add more time if you'd like, or connect with multiple matches in real time. Very 2020 of Tinder!

Tinder safety upgrades

Tinder has long had twin features, "Are You Sure?" and "Does This Bother You?", which ask users whether they want to send a potentially harmful message and prompt them to report if a message is making them uncomfortable, respectively.

Credit: Tinder

Now, Tinder announces that these features are (unsurprisingly) getting an AI-powered upgrade. "Are You Sure?" is "being fine-tuned to more accurately detect harm," according to Tinder, while "Does This Bother You?" will soon auto-blur potentially disrespectful messages.

Duolingo and Beli...on Tinder?

Tinder's had Spotify integrations since 2016, and now the app is introducing more partnerships — with language-learning app Duolingo and restaurant review app Beli. Expect that to drop globally later this year.

"With more than half our users under 30, we're building alongside a generation that wants dating to feel more authentic, lower-pressure, and worth their time," Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff stated in the press release.

If you're looking to get into Tinder but don't know how it all works, read Mashable's guide to Tinder.

Apple surprised no one (and surprised us all at the same time) with the MacBook Neo announcement. This low-priced laptop is a showcase of modern tech prowess though, in ways you probably didn’t realize. The MacBook Neo is powered by the same processor in your iPhone 16 Pro.

We've already reviewed (and loved) the MacBook Neo, the newest member of Apple's laptop family. Its positive aspects include that $599 price point (or $499 with open-to-all education pricing), fun colors such as citrus, and a powerful A18 Pro chipset. And that sentiment is pretty much unanimous amongst tech reviewers.

Still, amongst all the adulation for Apple's most affordable laptop ever, there are drawbacks. These aren't necessarily flaws — Apple had to pick and choose what to include and what not to include in order to make its low-cost MacBook a reality. The positives outweigh the negatives, but it's still important for consumers to know what they're getting into. Here's why the Neo might not be your cup of tea.

Only 8GB of RAM

Most outlets, from Mashable to The Verge, have pointed out that the MacBook Neo only comes with 8GB of RAM. Regardless of which model you buy, there's no option to upgrade your MacBook Neo's memory nor is it possible to upgrade it at a later time. For most general use cases — writing documents, browsing the internet — 8GB will be more than enough. But if they need to multitask — or perform processor-hungry video editing, say — users will likely feel the need for a few more GB.

Few ports in a storm

The MacBook Neo is seriously lacking ports. As our review notes, the MacBook Neo doesn't have a Thunderbolt 4 port, meaning that it can only offer transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s. Compare that with 40Gb/s for the latest MacBook Air.

As for the Neo's two USB-C ports? Well, as Macworld writes, they aren't exactly equal. One is for 10Gb/s data transfer and displays, while the other one is only a 480Mbps port — which should be used mostly for charging purposes.

Single-core processes: Good. Multi-core processes? Ehh.

The MacBook Neo and its A18 Pro chip are surprisingly faster at many single-core processes than even the more powerful M Series chipsets. In 9to5Mac's benchmark tests, the Neo was faster than the M1, M2, and even M3 MacBook Air laptops when used for tasks like web browsing and basic photo editing. 

However, the MacBook Neo is significantly slower when it comes to more complex use cases like video exporting and AI processing  that require multi-cores. 9to5Mac found that the MacBook Neo was only slightly faster than the more than a 5-year-old M1 MacBook Air, and slower than the rest of the M Series chips.

Want slim? Consider the MacBook Air

Bloomberg, as well as our colleagues at CNET, make an interesting point. While the MacBook Neo is small thanks to its 13-inch display, it is still thicker than the MacBook Air. This makes sense — when you're paying the extra for an Air, you're paying for a slim build. But it means the Neo isn't quite as easy to tote around as you might think. (The Neo and the 13-inch MacBook Air both weigh the same, around 2.7 lbs.)

CNET also found that the MacBook Neo's battery life didn't last as long as some other MacBooks, including the MacBook Air.

MacBook Neo's base model may not be enough

As many reviewers noted, the $599 model only comes with 256GB of storage space and does not have Touch ID. In this day and age, 256GB of storage space isn't much. System data will take a chunk of that space off the bat; once you install apps, there might not be too much left for documents and downloads. Touch ID is really handy, meanwhile; it removes the need to type in most passwords.

Apple does provide an upgraded MacBook Neo model which doubles the storage space to 512GB, and includes Touch ID, for an extra $100. But that takes away the allure of the base model MacBook Neo's extremely low pricing.

As BGR points out, it seems Apple sent most early reviewers the 512GB model with Touch ID. That hints at which MacBook Neo model Apple considers standard. 

Bottom line: the MacBook Neo appears to be a powerful computer at an amazing price as long as you're using the device for basic, everyday tasks. In more advanced use cases, it may still fit your purposes — but we recommend taking a look at what else Apple has to offer, just to be sure you're buying the appropriate MacBook for your needs.

When I use Linux, I practically live in the terminal. As with any living space, I like to add my own touch when I move into a new place. Here are the apps I install on a new system to make it feel like home.

One of the biggest benefits of Zigbee devices is that many of them are battery-powered, allowing you to place them almost anywhere. The downside is that when the batteries die, so do your sensors, so it's important to keep track of battery levels. Here's how I manage it as a Home Assistant veteran with more devices than I can count.

For cinema lovers across the world, the most anticipated weekend of the year is finally here. This year's Academy Awards will celebrate the incredible films of 2025 and the talent behind them in a grand ceremony, cherishing filmmaking, acting, production, music, and more.

When I was but a wee young computer nerd, there was a mythical master among us who could make "crossover" Ethernet cables. This cable could connect two computers with no switch or router, and was perfect for two-player LAN gaming.

Saving files online was once a novelty. Now this is expected behavior. Yet I personally opt out of using cloud storage. There are other options that don't require me to store my data on someone else's PC.

It's no secret that the Milwaukee PACKOUT system is the king of modular rollable storage for all your tools. However, Harbor Freight just released an upgraded version of its budget-friendly alternative, and for only $70, it looks impressively rugged and packed with features.

Apple debuted its affordable MacBook Neo earlier this month. For more than a decade, the company's laptops have been difficult to repair due to glued-down batteries, soldered ports, and layers of adhesive tape. It turns out that the MacBook Neo is a very different story. A teardown video shared by Australian YouTuber repair channel Tech Re-Nu shows the entry-level notebook from the brand being completely disassembled in just six minutes.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge came out a decade ago. While the two have nothing on the brand-new Galaxy S26 family when it comes to computing power, hardware specs, or camera quality, there are still more than a few areas where the Galaxy S26 falls behind its ten-year-old cousin.

With most TikTok FYPs already brimming with podcast clips, it's clear the social media company is now trying to break into the genre.

On Friday, the company is launching the TikTok Podcast Network and a new platform called TikTok Radio. Both projects are working with iHeartMedia to help fill out the audio-first content. The idea behind TikTok Radio is, basically, an FYP for, well, radio and podcasts.

SEE ALSO: TikTok is using Charli XCX's 'House' better than "Wuthering Heights"

Wrote TikTok in a press release:

"TikTok Radio captures the speed and cultural momentum of the For You feed in real time, blending trending music with commentary from TikTok creators and established iHeartRadio personalities. The station will broadcast live for the first time on March 13 from SXSW, and will be available on the free iHeartRadio app and across 28 broadcast stations nationwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Miami, and more."

The TikTok Podcast Network, meanwhile, also launches on Friday with a lineup of creators enlisted to start pods. Among those creators were Lele Pons, Carter Gregory, and Caroline Vazzana. The idea is to give fans deeper insight into their favorite creators.

Here's a breakdown of the five long-form podcasts launching with the TikTok Podcast Network:

• The Set List: Hosted by media personality, music executive, host, and cultural tastemaker Carter Gregory (@thecarterb), The Set List takes listeners into the backstage spaces where culture is being created for intimate conversations with top artists and creatives, giving fans new insight into the creative DNA behind their work.

• Suite 305 with Lele Pons: Hosted by multihyphenate and social media star Lele Pons (@lelepons), listeners will step into the world’s most unfiltered slumber party. Suite 305 is where the people who shape culture finally get to be themselves.

• Caroline’s Closet: Hosted by fashion editor, author, and personality Caroline Vazzana(@cvazzana), Caroline is drawing back the curtain on the fashion industry and giving listeners a front row seat. 

• Sports Slice: Hosted by Tim Martin (@timbosliceoflife12), Sports Slice is where the biggest stories in sports get cut down and served with loud takes, real conversations, and absolutely no safe picks. 

• The Clifford Show: Hosted by former college football player turned viral sports creator Clifford Taylor IV (@clifford), The Clifford Show is your VIP pass to the hustle and grind of making it in sports and in media. 

"We couldn’t be more excited to launch TikTok Radio and introduce our inaugural slate of hosts for the TikTok Podcast Network," said Dan Page, global head of media and licensing partnerships at TikTok, in a statement.

"At TikTok, empowering creators to turn their passions into lasting careers is core to everything we do, and this partnership unlocks powerful new opportunities for them to expand their voices across radio, podcasts, and live moments, while connecting with fans in new ways."

Stay strong, the weekend is here—and that means more homelab projects! This weekend, you should get a Jellyfin server going, set up Syncthing for backups, and even deploy Speedtest Tracker—you’ll thank me later.

SAVE $15.09: Apple AirTags is on sale for $13.91 at Amazon, down from the list price of $29. That marks a new record-low price at Amazon. If they're sold out at Amazon, check Walmart which is also offering the $13.91 sale price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag $13.91
$29 Save $15.09   Get Deal

Sometimes it's the simple things that make life so much easier. Bluetooth trackers fall into the category of items we're not sure how we lived without. If you could use a few extra Apple AirTags, today's your lucky day because they've never been this affordable.

As of March 12, Amazon is selling single Apple AirTags for $13.91, marked down from the list price of $29. That works out to a massive 52% discount or a savings of $15.09 per tracker, which is the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. This deal has been coming in and out of stock, so if it's sold out at Amazon, check on stock at Walmart where they're also $13.91.

SEE ALSO: Attention Apple fans: The brand new M5 MacBook Air already has its first discount

In case you haven't heard, Apple has a new version of the AirTag. Sure, it comes with improved performance but the first generation saved us from losing luggage, pets, and car keys. Plus, the sale price of $13.91 makes for a damn compelling reason to stock up. Each 2nd Gen Apple AirTag is sitting at full price of $29, so today's deal on the previous model basically makes these buy one, get one free.

With spring break travel starting soon, this is great timing to grab some extra AirTags. Keep in mind stock has been fluctuating with this epic sale price, so check Amazon and Walmart to make sure you're scoring this new record-low price.

Running a NAS is becoming a popular pastime, and part of the appeal is that you can get out of paying for a cloud storage subscription for the rest of eternity. At least, that's the idea, but what about the reality?

SAVE $400: As of March 12, get the Growatt Helios portable power station for just $1,199. That's $400 off the power station's $1,599 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Growatt Growatt Helios Portable Power Station $1,199 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $400   Get Deal

Portable power stations are essential devices whether you spend most of your time indoors or outside. Not only can it serve as a back-up power source in the case of an emergency power outage, but it can also accompany you on all your adventures. If you're headed out on a camping or RV trip this summer, a power station might just be the companion you need for keeping your devices charged.

If you're looking for a great power station, let us steer you in the direction of the Growatt Helios portable power station. As of March 12, it's on sale at Amazon, saving you $400 on its $1,599 list price. That brings it down to $1,199 for 25% off. It's not quite the power station's lowest-ever price of $1,099, but it's close.

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The Growatt Helios portable power station with 3,600W output and 3.6kWh. Let us translate that. It can power heavy duty devices including air conditioners and refrigerators. When fully charged, the Growatt Helios generator can power your fridge for 24 to 72 hours. It supports USB, DC, and AC power so you can charge multiple devices at once. Plus, you can power it up fast with solar.

Get the Growatt Helios Portable Power Station at Amazon for $1,199.

For decades, PivotTables have been the undisputed king of data summarization in Excel. But as useful as they can be, they've always felt like an "app-within-an-app." They live in their own layer, have their own quirky menus, and don't always play nice with the rest of your formulas.

SAVE $49: As of March 12, the brand new Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for the first time in both the 13-inch and 15-inch models. Get the 13-inch for $1,049.99 (reg. $1,099) and the 15-inch for $1,249.99 (reg. $1,299).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,049.99 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $49.01   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,249.99 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $49.01   Get Deal

The brand new Apple M5 MacBook Air officially has its first discount. It made its formal debut just yesterday, March 11, and is already on sale in both the 13-inch and 15-inch varieties.

The starting price for the M5 MacBook Air is $1,099 for the 13-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model. Both base models feature 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. As of March 12, you can knock $49.01 off each laptop, bringing the starting price down to just $1,049.99 or $1,249.99. Sure, that's not a huge discount. But considering the base models are already technically $100 cheaper than their predecessors, that's pretty sweet value.

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So what's new about these laptops? Honestly, not a whole lot. Obviously, the M5 chip is a step up from the previous generation's M4 chip. They now have the same wildly fast processor as the 14-inch MacBook Pro from last fall. They also start with more base storage, are configurable with up to 4TB (up from 2TB) for the first time, and have added Apple's N1 wireless chip to bring support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Otherwise, the new M5 MacBook Air is largely the same as the M4 MacBook Air — same 60Hz Liquid Retina display, 12MP Center Stage webcam, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and 18-hour battery life. While that's not necessarily a bad thing (we loved the M4 Air), it certainly makes it a non-essential upgrade unless you're rocking a MacBook that's a few generations old. Still, there's no denying what a great value the laptop is, particularly now that it's $49 cheaper in both sizes.

Hybrid vehicles promise lower fuel costs and improved efficiency, but they often come with a higher purchase price than their gasoline-only counterparts. For many buyers, that raises a simple but important question: will the fuel savings eventually make up for the extra money spent upfront? The answer depends on several factors, including fuel prices, driving habits, and the efficiency gap between hybrid and non-hybrid models.