Technology

TL;DR: Fully upgrade a computer with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle, now only $104.99 (reg. $448.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $104.99
$448.99 Save $344   Get Deal

When you have to make a big purchase for your computer, it can be tough on the wallet. That’s what this bundle sets out to change — offering two pricey items, a Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business license for PC or Mac and a Windows 11 Pro license bundled for one low price.

Though these two items would regularly set you back $448.99, you can get them together in this bundle for just $104.99.

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

You don’t need to shell out for a brand new computer. This Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle gives you everything you need to make an old device feel refreshed with a suite of helpful apps and a brand-new operating system.

First up in this bundle? A Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business license that works on both Mac and PC devices. Give your computer classic staples like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, then upgrade your note-taking with the newer favorite OneNote.

This version improves upon older editions thanks to AI integration, bringing new capabilities to the tools with features like intelligent suggestions for text, formatting, and design elements.

Once you have your new apps installed, change up your operating system with Windows 11 Pro. This OS was designed with modern professionals in mind, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll enjoy an improved workflow. It also gives you access to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, available on the taskbar and via pressing the Windows logo key + C.

Get this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle for just $104.99 (reg. $448.99) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

After weeks of teasing, Nissan has formally unveiled the U.S.-bound Rogue Hybrid e-POWER in a bid to unseat the current champions in the compact SUV market, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Porsche has just pulled the wraps off the 2027 911 GT3 S/C, or Sport Convertible.

If you thought Motorola was only making one foldable phone in 2026, you're about to feel real silly.

Motorola's book-style foldable, the Razr Fold, made its grand debut at CES in January, and it's still on track for release this year. However, the next phone in Motorola's regular flip-style Razr lineup may have just leaked, courtesy of some renders shared by Evan Blass on X.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Motorola's Moto G budget phone prices spike up to 50 percent

No specs or features were shared, but the renders Blass posted had four distinct colors with some interesting texture work going on. No surprise, but they look a lot like Motorola's recent Razr phones from 2025. Take a peek for yourselves.

On the other end of the Motorola foldable spectrum, Notebook Check previously reported that the Razr Fold would launch in Europe in April. As of this writing, it's now available for pre-order in the UK, meaning it's now a real device that people can purchase, and not just something that we tried out at CES.

The Motorola Fold is the company's first book-style foldable. Credit: Motorola

The device is priced at €1,999 in Europe and £1,799.99 in the UK, so it'll probably cost a pretty penny in U.S. dollars, too. Unfortunately, we still don't know when it's coming to the U.S. or other markets, but we'll keep an eye out for that information. In the meantime, U.S. shoppers can register to buy the device.

Foldable handsets have become a real and viable market segment in recent years. Samsung has a thriving foldable lineup that's set to expand this year with the introduction of a new "Wide Fold" phone alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

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

SEE ALSO: Every foldable phone planned or rumored for 2026

Apple, on the other hand, has been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone for years, and most expect the long-awaited iPhone Fold to launch before the end of the year. That'll be exciting.

While it might seem embarrassing that Motorola has beaten Apple to the punch in the foldable space, remember that Apple often lets other brands take the lead before eventually dominating the market, as it did with the iPhone and iPod.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Making the switch to fiber is a major upgrade, and it's often marketed as the ultimate internet experience. The fix-it for every connection problem you've ever heard of. The gateway to fast streaming in 4K, gaming, and whatever else you could come up with.

Looking for something new to watch on HBO Max this week? The O.G. premium TV service is still one of the best places to go to find seriously great series and movies, and its 131 million global subscribers tells us that people are still really interested in finding it.

The cover of the Future Issue of The New Yorker, dated April 13, 2026, depicts terrifying days ahead.

Created by artist Christoph Niemann, "New Horizon" features a red sky and giant AI bots menacing a clueless human; the bots' eyes pointedly match the bloody-hued background. New Yorker covers can certainly get dark, but "New Horizon" looks like a horror-movie poster, symbolizing the prevailing view among creators about the advent of artificial intelligence.

We asked Niemann, a celebrated artist and recurring New Yorker illustrator, about the impetus of the cover and his feelings on technology. Niemann is no Luddite — he created the New Yorker's first Augmented Reality Cover back in 2016 — but he clearly has reservations about AI's growing role in art and media.

Credit: Image by Christoph Niemann, courtesy "The New Yorker" Hi, Christoph. Did you receive much direction for creating this cover image?

Niemann: As usual, I come up with the topic and the concept, but then I discuss everything with Françoise Mouly (the art editor for the covers). As a teacher of mine once said: It takes a day to come up with a good idea, and then 10 days to make it look like it was done in an hour.

When creating the image, were you thinking more of AI as a menacing figure/figures, or rather technology in general?

For this one, I was clearly thinking about AI.

SEE ALSO: Parents are turning their teens' texts into AI emo songs Tell us about the title of "New Horizons" and why you chose it.

I love the title, but it actually came from the editors. I think it’s rather self-explanatory, given the image with the double pun of the metaphorical and literal horizon.

The human user in "New Horizons" seems happy and, possibly, naïve. What message did you want to send about how people are handling technology's ascendance?

Even when using AI professionally, it always feels benign to me. The simple, clean design of the chatbot sites I’m familiar with. The obedient, relaxed tone of the conversation. It’s designed to feel harmless and fun.

How is it operating as an artist in 2026 when technology and AI have become, to many, a threat? Is there any reason for optimism on the future of human-derived art and media?

I’m not so sure. The economic impact on the art community is huge. Photography fundamentally disrupted the world of painting. But photography was not built to plagiarize painting for profit.

My biggest hope is that people will still care about human-made art. I wouldn’t go to a concert to see a robot play the piano, even if he manages to do so at five times the speed and accuracy of a human.

In a crowded streaming ecosystem, Netflix is still far and away the most popular service on the market. It remains the biggest streaming service at over 325 million worldwide paid subscribers, with 67 million coming from the U.S. Content curation is Netflix's biggest strength, as the streamer's library features over 10,000 titles—movies, TV shows, documentaries, and specials.

Parents have long turned to social media to unload about the tiny indignities of raising teenagers. The difference now is that they can feed those texts into AI and turn them into pop-punk songs that sound like they were ripped from a 2007 Warped Tour compilation.

Across TikTok and Instagram, parents are using AI music tools like Suno to transform everyday texts from their kids into emo anthems. (Whether all of these creators are actually parents of teenagers is another question.) One moment, it's a daughter demanding Starbucks after school. The next is a full-blown post-hardcore song about forgetting gym shorts, insisting they are literally starving, or begging for a ride home.

The more you watch these videos, the more small details start to come into focus: the sheer amount of Starbucks American teens seem to consume, the way every minor inconvenience becomes a five-alarm emergency, or the casual use of "bro" and "bruh" when talking to parents. In song form, those habits become even funnier, turning ordinary teenage shorthand into lyrics that sound weirdly revealing about the way kids talk now.

There is also something very millennial about the trend. Many of the parents making these videos grew up on emo, pop-punk, and Warped Tour bands, which makes the songs feel a little less like random AI creations and more like affectionate parodies of the music they loved as teenagers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikkie Rogers (@nikkiierogers)

Of course, as with anything involving AI, it's important you know the risks before partaking in the trend. Feeding private family texts into AI tools means handing over personal conversations — sometimes involving minors — to third-party platforms that may store that data, use it to improve their models, or keep copies of the generated songs.

Privacy experts have repeatedly warned that people often treat AI prompts as more private than they actually are, even though many companies reserve broad rights over what users upload. You may not think it matters much when the text is "pick me up from soccer practice," but it is worth thinking about before turning the family group chat into content.

And like so many AI trends right now, the actual technology almost feels secondary to the joke. What people are really sharing is not the amazement that AI can make music. It is the strangely universal realization that "Can we get Starbucks?” already sounds like the kind of lyric that would have shown up in a song about suburban teenage angst.

With new car prices still sitting high, plenty of buyers are getting more creative about how they spend their money. One of the simplest moves is picking up a previous model year, which often means paying less for something that still feels current and well-equipped.

An eGPU (external GPU) is exactly what the name suggests—a GPU that sits outside a computer and uses some sort of external connection to send and receive data.

If you’re looking for fun and simple projects that you can do on your Raspberry Pi, these are perfect for you. Each should take under an hour to complete, and they all offer quite a bit of functionality for anyone wanting to learn more about their Pi.

Samsung has released its 2026 Micro RGB TVs in the U.S., and they promise to make the cutting-edge display technology more affordable — while putting pressure on Sony to deliver with its True RGB line.

The smart home promises automatic convenience, but setting up a system that works well often involves unexpected difficulties. You can find the main components like sensors, hubs, and voice assistants easily, but the parts you need to upgrade your setup are often expensive, poorly made, or impossible to find.

Raspberry Pi OS has received a new update today, and there will now be a password needed by default to run sudo commands. This is the most significant change in Raspberry Pi OS version 6.2 amid the bug fixes.

Mercedes' EQS electric sedan is already a driving range champion, but now the company plans to cement its lead. The German badge has introduced a refreshed 2027 EQS that it claims has a range of 575 miles on the WLTP testing cycle, which would make it the longest-range EV on the market.

Routers are much like graphics cards in the sense that once you buy one, you likely won't have to replace it for years. A third-party router, once bought, may follow you from home to home, from ISP to ISP, and be no worse off.

Google has made some controversial decisions related to its flagship search engine in recent years, but this one will probably be pretty popular.

The company announced in a developer note (via 9to5google) that it will start punishing websites that hijack users' back buttons in their web browsers.

In case you're not familiar with this phenomenon, sometimes you'll click a link on Google and realize it's not what you wanted. When you click the back button, instead of being taken back to Google, you'll be taken to some other part of the website, or an ad, or something else you didn't want to see. This practice is also known as "history manipulation," according to our colleagues at Lifehacker.

"We believe that the user experience comes first. Back button hijacking interferes with the browser's functionality, breaks the expected user journey, and results in user frustration," Google wrote in an update to its spam policy explaining the decision.

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

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome now has vertical tabs, and you should give them a try

I have definitely encountered this phenomenon over the years, and clearly so have others, given that Google is doing something about it.

Anyway, as it is wont to do, Google will penalize sites that engage in this practice by limiting their visibility in search rankings beginning on June 15. It is now officially categorized as a "malicious practice" by the company.

"Pages that are engaging in back button hijacking may be subject to manual spam actions or automated demotions, which can impact the site's performance in Google Search results. To give site owners time to make any needed changes, we're publishing this policy two months in advance of enforcement on June 15, 2026," Google wrote.

A malicious practice is something that "[creates] a mismatch between user expectations and the actual outcome, leading to a negative and deceptive user experience, or compromised user security or privacy." As someone who has experienced back button hijacking, I would say it definitely fits the bill.

Google also had some blunt advice for sites and developers that use this practice: "You are expected to remove or disable it."

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League quarter finals were electric last week, but places in the semi-final stage are not yet decided. Atletico Madrid are 2-0 up against Barcelona and will be confident of getting a result in front of their fans at the Metropolitano Stadium, but Barcelona possess the talent to overturn that deficit.

If Barcelona are going to produce something special, they'll need the likes of Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford to deliver strong performances in front of goal.

If you want to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 14. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona for free 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

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 streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 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).

Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Sony expanded its Inzone gaming lineup on Tuesday with a new headset, an OLED gaming monitor, and other new releases, but the new H6 Air headset is by far the most interesting of the bunch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Most new headphones prioritize wireless connectivity and active noise-cancellation, but Sony is offering an alternative to ANC headphones that might really appeal to some gamers.

Open-back headphones do have some big advantages, as I learned while testing the Inzone H6 Air ahead of its official release today.

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

This headset sounds more expensive than it is. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I'm still in the process of testing the new headset, but read on for my first impressions, as well as my thoughts on why gamers should consider open headsets in the first place.

Why would gamers want open-back headsets?

Open-back headphones have several benefits, but the most important is a more natural soundscape. Because the drivers aren't targeting soundwaves directly at your ear, they can create a wider, more natural soundscape that lets you hear spatial audio much more clearly. So, for gamers who like 360-degree sounds — and esports players who need to be able to pinpoint footsteps and other sound effects — open-back headsets have some big perks.

Combine that with the wired connection, and the H6 Air open-back gaming headset offers fidelity you won't get in most other headsets — or even noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones.

The open design lets you hear spatial audio more clearly. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I've wondered before if headphone technology is plateauing. New releases from Bose, Sony, and Apple make only very marginal improvements over headphones released three or four years ago.

Instead, audio brands seem to be segmenting the audience, offering niche products for every type of consumer. It's the breakfast cerealization of the audio category. You can now choose from wired earbuds, noise-cancelling headphones, bone conduction products, open earbuds, sleep earbuds, and now, open-back headphones.

Open headphones have been around for decades, primarily in HiFi studio monitors. And the Sony Inzone H6 Air are based on Sony studio monitors. The H6 Air features a custom version of the drivers in the Sony MDR-MV1 open-back monitors, which cost $419.99.

Thanks to those studio monitor drivers, this lightweight gaming headset sounds like a pair of $400 headphones — but without the ANC.

First impressions: The H6 Air headset put a smile on my face The H6 Air feature a detachable 3.5mm cable and microphone. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

My favorite headphones in 2026, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, are heavy, and weighing in at just 199 grams (without the microphone), the H6 Air is noticeably lighter. And because of the open-back design, they also have an airy feel (you can literally see the drivers through the back of the headset.

The Inzone H6 Air features the same spring-based adjustable headband as the Sony Inzone H9 II headset, which Sony launched in 2025. This system feels a bit flimsy, but it's a fine tradeoff for a lighter weight. They fit comfortably on my head, even with big hair and glasses.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Sony H6 Air: How do they sound?

As much as I love a slick design, audio is always the most important factor when testing headphones. And the Sony H6 Air sounds much better than I expected.

That's likely because of the wired connection and the MDR-MV1 drivers inside the headset. Sony packed its new gaming headset with drivers from $420 studio monitors, and you can really tell.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Whether playing Cyberpunk: 2077 or listening to Radiohead's "National Anthem," the sound was excellent. And, as promised, the sound felt bigger than usual. I did notice some odd audio distortions. When making phone calls in Cyberpunk, V's voice sounded strange and faraway.

So far, I've also been impressed with the microphone quality, though I don't have much else to say about it yet. The lack of noise cancellation could definitely be an issue with the microphone.

Where to buy the Sony Inzone H6 Air gaming headset

You can buy Sony's new open-back gaming headset at the Sony online store and Amazon. The headset is priced at $199.99

Where to buy Sony H6 Air headset AMAZON Sony H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 Shop Now SONY Sony H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 Shop Now

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Sony Inzone H6 Air headset: By the numbers Unboxing the Sony Inzone H6 Air. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Here's the official specs list for the new Sony Inzone gaming headset:

• Style: Open-back wired gaming headset

• Weight: 199 grams (without microphone)

• Drivers: Precision-tuned drivers based on Sony MDR-MV1 studio monitors

• Software support: Access to PC Inzone Hub with USB-C Audio Box

• Audio: 7.1 channel surround sound with 360-degree spatial audio

• Micrphone: Detachable microphone

• Connectivity: 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C adapter