Technology

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

The Champions League is back with another round of exciting fixtures, but Barcelona vs. PSG has got to be the standout matchup. It's the defending champions against the five-time winners Barcelona. It doesn't get much bigger than this.

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

When is Barcelona vs. PSG?

Barcelona vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

How to watch Barcelona vs. PSG for free

Barcelona vs. PSG 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 Barcelona vs. PSG 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 Barcelona vs. PSG 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Barcelona vs. PSG (plus more 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Barcelona vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with the second round of group stage fixtures. Newcastle battled hard against Barcelona in their first matchup, only to come away second best. They'll be looking to come back strong against Union Saint-Gilloise, a team that shocked everyone with a 3-1 victory over PSV in their opening game.

If you want to watch Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle?

Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

How to watch Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle for free

Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle 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 Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle 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 Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle (plus more 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

What does an array of seemingly random items — a coffee cup, a tennis ball, a fire extinguisher — have in common? What might such objects, if they could speak, or even sing, have to say?

A tech demo with an unusual twist by Axis Communications, a Swedish company best known as a global industry leader within video surveillance, offers one answer to this curious question. To show off its AI-powered cameras and analytics software — which can be trained to recognise almost any object and trigger instant responses — the company arranged a stunt to turn mundane objects into musical cues.

The Object Detection Orchestra shows off Axis' AI-powered cameras and analytics software. Credit: Axis Communications

The resulting performance is a stirring rendition of Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, the same poignant piece that accompanied the dawn of humankind in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a fitting score for our new era of intelligent technology.

The project, dubbed the Object Detection Orchestra, blends cutting-edge surveillance tech with creative expression. It’s a bold way of showing that modern cameras can do far more than passively record; they can interpret, react, and, yes, even play.

Turning cameras into playable musical instruments

In the experiment, lenses became instruments and everyday objects became notes. To turn cameras into “playable” instruments, each device’s field of view was divided into “zones” tied to a specific musical note. When the AI detected an object — say, a tennis ball moving into the right square — the system sent an MQTT signal to a MIDI controller, which then triggered the corresponding sound.

Multiply that setup across four cameras manned by performers, add a live mixer, and voilà: you have a fully functional, sensor-based orchestra.

Any household item could join the scale of the Object Detection Orchestra. Credit: Axis Communications

To arrange the unconventional ensemble, Axis brought in Swedish music producer Jonas Quant, whose credits include Kylie Minogue and No Doubt. To master the mechanics of the performance, musicians had to “play” invisible instruments in mid-air; they carefully moved objects through the camera zones to cue notes with split-second timing.

From Strauss to smart cities

For decades, cameras have been mostly reactive — tools for watching and recording. But Axis’s experiment points to a bigger shift: surveillance devices are evolving into intelligent sensors. The Object Detection Orchestra demonstrates that the same AI-driven capabilities behind the performance could just as easily power a smart city system or automate processes in a factory.

Think of a city intersection where cameras don’t just record traffic but automatically detect congestion and adjust signals. Or, a retail environment where cameras double as operational tools, identifying empty shelves or long checkout lines and triggering alerts.

Axis' technology supports exactly these kinds of integrations. The same real-time MQTT signalling that turned tennis balls into timbres could just as easily trigger an automated door or redirect a delivery drone. It’s a leap from observing what has already happened, to actively shaping what happens next.

Axis' camera technology can be integrated across many industries. Credit: Axis Communications

Axis envisions applications for its camera technology across a wide swath of industries, including:

• Urban infrastructure and smart cities: Cameras that automatically manage traffic flow, detect hazards, or coordinate with public safety systems.

• Manufacturing and logistics: Real-time monitoring of assembly lines or warehouses, with cameras flagging bottlenecks before they become costly delays.

• Healthcare: Intelligent detection that helps ensure patient safety or streamline facility operations.

• Retail: Cameras that don’t just prevent theft but also track customer flow and improve shoppers’ experiences.

Axis’s Object Detection Orchestra is an apt metaphor for what’s possible when AI and advanced hardware join forces. Cameras that once sat quietly in the corner are now interactive, programmable, and capable of transforming raw video into actionable intelligence.

Of course, the AI-infused orchestra is unlikely to replace your local symphony anytime soon. But the idea that a coffee cup can cue a trumpet blast — and that the same system could one day help manage a city block — points to a bigger truth: our tools are only as limited as our imagination.

To learn more about Axis Communications' Object Detection Orchestra, head to the website.

TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with another batch of high-profile fixtures involving Europe's elite. Arsenal vs. Olympiacos is a particularly interesting matchup, with both sides taking points from their opening games. Arsenal will be expected to win this one, but anything is possible in this competition.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Olympiacos?

Arsenal vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Olympiacos for free

Arsenal vs. Olympiacos is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ 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 RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Arsenal vs. Olympiacos 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 RTÉ Player

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Olympiacos 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Arsenal vs. Olympiacos (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Arsenal vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

It's always bad when we're affected by security breaches. It's even worse when our sensitive information is exposed as a result. This is exactly what's happening to a number of WestJet users. Yikes.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To result.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ENSUE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To pretend.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BLUFF

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A medical attendant.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PASTE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A sheen, often found on a donut.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TIMER

Final Hurdle hint

A messenger.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOUNT

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

VPNs are a popular tool that aim to help improve your online security and keep you anonymous while you browse. But they're not quite the click-once-for-privacy tool many think they are. VPNs do have some limitations, and poor privacy practices elsewhere can make them almost useless. Here's what you need to know.

Our day-to-day lives have come to depend on the internet and being proactive about your cybersecurity has never been more important. Everything from your browser to the server you connect to could be the weak link that lands you in trouble. Here is what you need to know about incognito mode and VPNs, so you know how each tool affects your security.

So you've been putting off finally buying an air fryer — and then kicking yourself every time your food is taking forever in the oven. Amazon's October Prime Day is as good a time as any to find an air fryer on sale, especially if you're a connoisseur of fried snacks during football games. That'll give you several extra weekends to squeeze in new halftime recipes compared to waiting until Black Friday.

The best early deals on air fryers ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Best basket air fryer deal Instant Pot Vortex Plus (4-quart) $64.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best air fryer oven deal Ninja Prestige 10-in-1 XL $229.99 (save $120) Get Deal

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days' start on Oct. 7, almost all of the good air fryer deals we saw at Amazon during July's Prime Day are already live again. Instant Pot, Nuwave, and Ninja deals are all in the mix, with options from mini two-quart basket designs to XL convection oven combos for the countertop. We're tracking the best air fryer deals at Amazon through the end of October Prime Day on Oct. 8 and will be updating the list as more pop up (or sell out).

SEE ALSO: Target announced dates for its fall Target Circle Week. Duh, it's during Prime Day. Best air fryer deal ahead of October Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Instant Pot Vortex Plus (4-quart) $229.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it

Out of all of the Ninja air fryer deals that have sprouted, this one's the biggest — both discount-wise (34% off) and capacity-wise (20 quarts). It's even $20 cheaper than its $249.99 Prime Day sale price in July.

The 10-in-1 Ninja Prestige convection oven has such robust possibilities that you might just forget how to preheat your oven. It can bake up to 20 cookies or roast a 12-pound turkey, with an optional middle rack included to air fry two different 9x9-inch trays of snacks at once.

More air fryers on saleBasket air fryers

• Chefman Mini Air Fryer (2-quart) — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• Instant Pot Vortex Plus (4-quart) — $64.99 $129.99 (save $65)

• Chefman TurboFry Touch (8-quart) — $74.99 $119.99 (save $45)

• Ninja Pro (5-quart) — $79.99 $129.99 (save $50)

• Instant Pot Vortex Plus (6-quart) — $89.99 $159.99 (save $70)

• Nuwave Brio Plus (8-quart) — $111.98 $159.99 (save $48.01)

• Ninja Foodi DualZone Smart XL — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)

Air fryer ovens and glass cooking systems

• Nuwave Bravo Pro (21-quart) — $139.98 $199.99 (save $60.01)

• Nuwave Brio (15.5-quart) — $146.99 $209.99 (save $63)

• Ninja Flip toaster oven and air fryer — $149.94 $219.99 (save $70.05)

• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer — $151.99 $179.99 (save $28)

Array constants in Microsoft Excel are powerful tools for performing multiple calculations with a single formula. Using array constants in your Excel worksheets avoids the need for lengthy or repeated formulas and eliminates the risk of accidental data changes.

The best October Prime Day streaming deals at a glance: BEST Overall Starz annual subscription $11.99/year for your first year (save $58) Get Deal Best for movie lovers The Criterion Channel annual subscription $79.99/year for your first year (save $20) Get Deal Best Prime Video add-on deal AMC+ and MGM+ ad-free bundle $5.99/month for two months (save $12) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day events are no longer just a time to score TVs and laptops at a discount. Back in July, Amazon also dropped a ton of streaming deals. Now, ahead of October Prime Day — formally dubbed Prime Big Deal Days — we're seeing some sweet discounts on streaming services once again. So it's safe to say that Prime events are now a good time to diversify your streaming lineup.

There's a bit of fine print, however, when it comes to Prime Day streaming deals. Typically, most of the deals you'll find during these shopping events are in the form of Prime Video add-ons. In other words, you need to be a Prime member or a Prime Video subscriber to take advantage of them. (Not a member? Sign up here.) Add-ons still give you full access to the streaming service you choose; they just happen to live inside the Prime Video app, keeping all of your content under one roof.

Lucky for us, some other streaming services outside of the Prime Video umbrella have also tossed their hats in the ring for October Prime Day, which officially runs Oct. 7 and 8. While we're not expecting Black Friday-level streaming deals, we'll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled for anything that pops up in the coming week.

Below, we've rounded up all the best options so far, but stay tuned as we get closer to the official shopping event.

Best early October Prime Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz annual subscription $11.99/year for your first year (save $58) Get Deal Why we like it

While it may not be the most popular streaming service, Starz is still stacked with some excellent content, including originals like the female serial killer story Sweetpea, the historical drama Outlander, and the Lisa Taddeo book adaptation Three Women. It's also where you'll find Lionsgate films like From the World of John Wick: Ballerina and Americana right out of the theater. For an unspecified limited time, you can sign up for an entire year of the streamer for $1 per month. That's an outrageous 83% in savings — easily the best streaming deal this season. FWIW, that's less than a single month of ad-free streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, or HBO Max.

Best streaming deal for movie lovers Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Channel The Criterion Channel annual subscription $79.99/year for your first year (save $20) Get Deal Why we like it

The best streaming subscription for movie buffs, a Criterion Channel annual plan gives you access to the films in the Criterion Collection and Janus Films' library of more than 1,500 films. Instead of a fixed library with algorithmic programming, it hosts constantly rotating thematic programming, which ranges from mass-market to niche indie films. Subscribers can also enjoy over 500 shorts and 5,000 supplementary features, like trailers, introductions, behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews, commentary, and rare archival footage. It's a cinephile's paradise, and it's typically just $100 for a full year. Through Oct. 5, however, you can sign up for your first year for just $79.99, saving you 20%.

Best Prime Video add-on streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: AMC+ / MGM+ MGM+ and AMC+ ad-free bundle (Prime Video add-on) $5.99/month for 2 months (save $12) Get Deal Why we like it

Two streaming services for less than the price of one? That's unheard of in the streaming world, but that's exactly what Amazon is offering with this Prime Video add-on deal. For a limited time (likely through the end of Prime Big Deal Days), you can sign up for two months of ad-free MGM+ and AMC+ for just $5.99 per month. That's a grand total of $11.98 for two months of streaming on two different platforms. Actually, since AMC+ includes the Shudder library, it's technically three streaming services.

MGM+ is home to lots of movies we love, like Challengers, Better Man, Blink Twice, and Nickel Boys, as well as its own original series, like Godfather of Harlem, From, and Hotel Cocaine. Meanwhile, AMC+ is home to The Walking Dead universe, as well as Mad Men, Killing Eve, and Portlandia. It also includes full access to the entire Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films catalogs as well, making it a must-have for horror fanatics this fall.

More streaming deals

• A&E Crime Central (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $6)

• A&E Crime Central and Lifetime Movie Club bundle (Prime Video add-on) — $2.50/month for 2 months $6.99/month (save $8.98)

• AMC+ annual plan — $95.88/year $119.88/year (save $24 with code PLUS20)

• aspireTV+ (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $6)

• BET+ Essential (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 3 months $5.99/month (save $12)

• BET+ Premium (Prime Video add-on) — $3.99/month for 3 months $10.99/month (save $21)

• Criterion Channel — $79.99/year $99.99/year (save $20)

• Curiosity Stream (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $6)

• Daily Burn (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $14.95/month (save $25.92)

• France Channel (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $12)

• Kino Film Collection (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $5.99/month (save $8)

• KOCOWA (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $6.99/month (save $10)

• Marquee TV (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $14)

• MGM+ and AMC+ ad-free bundle (Prime Video add-on) — $5.99/month for 2 months $11.99/month (save $12)

• MUBI (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $14.99/month (save $26)

• MyOutdoorTV (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $9.99/month (save $16)

• NBA League Pass (Prime Video add-on) — $12.74/month for 2 months $16.99/month (save $8.50)

• NBA League Pass Premium (Prime Video add-on) — $18.74/month for 2 months $24.99/month (save $12.50)

• Qello Concerts (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $12)

• Screambox (Prime Video add-on) — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $6)

• Starz (Prime Video add-on) — $2.99/month for 3 months $10.99/month (save $24)

• Starz annual plan — $11.99/year $69.99/year (save $58)

Digital movie deals

• Buy 2 horror films, get a $5 Prime Video credit

• A Complete Unknown — $7.99 $19.99 (save $12)

• Captain America: Brave New World — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) — $13.99 $24.99 (save $11)

• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• The Materialists — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• Sinners — $7.99 $19.99 (save $12)

• Smurfs (2025) — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• Sorry, Baby — $11.99 $19.99 (save $8)

After purchasing ATI, AMD became the primary competition for both Intel and NVIDIA, and honestly the relatively small company has held its own against these juggernauts admirably by carving out niches that neither of them can seem to challenge.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both The new 2025 Roombas shifted the tides

This comparison guide would have been a very different article to read had you clicked on it any time before March 2025. Before that, iRobot and Shark were both kind of plateauing in terms of the variety of their respective lineups. It was like a competition to see who could be the most mid.

But the lukewarm rivalry got interesting when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the whole Roomba fleet outside of its typical late summer schedule. The newest batch consists of eight new Roombas falling under four different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in price from $299 to $999. The move may or may not have been a last-ditch effort to save the company from a reportedly bleak financial situation.

iRobot seems to have patched up many of its weak spots and prioritized budget friendliness without skimping on features that consumers really care about, like including smart mapping in even the cheapest models.

The 2025 Roombas all have LiDAR towers — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more models to fit more needs

iRobot simply has more robot vacuums than Shark, and that variety alone will make it a more palatable brand to more people. More models to choose from means more opportunities to customize the features and budget to a shopper's main goals for automated cleaning.

Let's say you're willing to pay a little extra for a premium robot vacuum that achieves the most hands-off experience possible. Between Shark and iRobot, iRobot has more options with features that make a robot vacuum self-sufficient, including mopping pads that automatically lift when going over carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and small obstacle avoidance cameras.

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

The coolest part about the Roomba lineup is that you can mix and match several of these features to stay within a certain budget. You can skip all of the other fancy features while still bringing home small obstacle avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or try out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or without mopping for under $500. Even the cheapest 2025 Roombas guarantee LiDAR-powered smart mapping and 70 times (read that again) the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, which were the super popular cheap Roombas a few years ago.

The most significant expansion to the Roomba family has been to the self-sufficient mopping Roombas — great news for folks who have been avoiding robot vacuums with mops because they don't want to manually handle the soggy pads. While Shark only has one robot vacuum that maintains its own mopping pad, several Roombas do so at varying price points:

• Roomba Plus 405 Combo for as low as $399.99 on sale (no small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Plus 505 Combo for as low as $599 on sale (has small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Combo 10 Max for as low as $599.99 on sale (stronger suction power and small obstacle avoidance)

• Roomba Max 705 Combo for $1,299.99 (roller mop, stronger suction power, and small obstacle avoidance)

If your home's hard floors are perpetually covered in a layer of hair from various pets, self-rinsing mopping pads are a hallmark feature of the best robot vacuums and mops for pet hair. Otherwise, all of that fur will be clinging to the wet mopping pad until the next time you wash it by hand.

iRobot also 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 upgrades even further to a roller mop, making it close competition to other new high-end releases like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller.

But here's the thing with robot vacuum and mop combos: Not everyone is pro-combo. 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. iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and released a vacuum-only version of one of the most powerful Roombas, the Max 705 Vac.

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 gives it serious leverage over Shark — it's actually the best small obstacle avoidance I've experienced from any brand I've tested at home. All j-series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and both 705s 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.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

I first experienced this sense of relief when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was never easy to get back into the habit of pre-tidying when trying another robot vacuum that didn't have small obstacle avoidance. I'd easily sacrifice more intense cleaning for a robot vacuum to have the brain cells to do that.

Where Roomba loses: Cutting corners at the ultra-cheap and premium ends of the spectrum

Plummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the entire Roomba line the next month — if we're trying to read between the lines, I'd say it became glaringly obvious that people were getting sick of Roombas costing a lot but not doing enough.

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 around $299.99 on sale. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for as low as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE. And there are definitely more powerful cheap robot vacuums than both of them, namely from Roborock.

SEE ALSO: I found the most impressive robot vacuum under $500. You've never heard of it.

At the absolute most affordable end of the spectrum, iRobot's $150 to $250 assortment is comically Not Worth It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging opportunity to fix the cheap Roomba situation by releasing even more cheap Roombas without smart mapping. I wouldn't recommend the Roomba Essential line to anyone — smart mapping is a feature I feel is ~Essential~ in any robot vacuum.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential was more of a pain than a help in my apartment. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In my experience, just hitting "go" and letting a robot vacuum clean aimlessly is a recipe for coming home to a robot vacuum lost under the bed. The zigzag pattern feels like a hit-or-miss guessing game made more annoying by getting stuck and missing spots on the floor that I'd rather just hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway.

Sure, all of these base-tier Roombas do go on sale often. You could technically score the absolute cheapest Roomba for around $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. But settling for no specific room cleaning just isn't worth it, especially when a similar wad of cash could get you way further if you were buying a Shark.

There's also some skimping afoot on the fancy end of the iRobot spectrum — 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, who 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. That means that even the best Roomba for pet hair or carpet is significantly weaker than the other flagship robot vacuums out there: the Narwal Freo Z Ultra has 18,000 Pa, the Roborock Saros 10 and Z70 have 22,000 Pa, and the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller has 30,000 Pa. That's not a direct comparison to Shark, but definitely still relevant.

Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The curb appeal of the new self-emptying Roomba Combo models is lacking. The plasticky exposed water tank look doesn't exactly flow in an otherwise cozy, well-decorated home — this feels like the physical embodiment of cutting corners to keep prices down. I'm much more keen on the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro's sleek self-emptying dock.

Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning and affordability

Shark has historically been 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 lower prices than its Roomba counterparts — a level of cost-effectiveness that should be particularly enticing to strict budget shoppers or 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.

While the brands themselves make it difficult to directly compare suction power on paper, in my experience, I found the low and mid-range Shark models to be less likely to leave a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than a majority of budget Roombas.

SEE ALSO: After 3 months and visible results, the Shark LED mask is a staple in my skincare routine

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. I experienced no noteworthy navigational issues when sending either of those models to sweep specific spots in my apartment. Though the suction power is expectedly just OK, it was enough for surface-level daily upkeep of the big, visible debris. These two Sharks are also some of the most compact self-emptying robot vacuums I've seen — huge news for small spaces that don't have room for a huge dock.

Shark robot vacuums particularly shine when it comes to messes that need to be taken care of right now. Shark's spot cleaning has been such a straightforward, 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.

In September 2024, Shark finally caught on to the whole "self-sustaining mopping pads" thing with the release of the Shark PowerDetect line. Even those premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — far less than the asking price for flagship hybrids from other brands.

The Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum with NeverTouch Pro dock. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This is the first mopping Shark that knows to stop mopping on carpeted areas without you having to specifically designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect is also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics also helped the PowerDetect to be one of the only robot vacs I've tested that's never gotten stuck on a rug corner or scrambled up my bath mats.

Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance and variety

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. The existing mid-tier Shark models are also a little more basic than the Roombas in the same price range.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's summer vacuum launch is the biggest vacuum drop of 2025 so far

Shark will also be at a huge disadvantage until its robot vacs can avoid cords and pet waste — it's the lone major robot vacuum brand that hasn't really invested in small obstacle avoidance. 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.

Though I was satisfied with the floor coverage, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the Shark Detect Pro, it seems overpriced for the negligible differences between it and a regular old self-emptying Shark. "Detect" sounds like it should refer to the capability to detect phone chargers or socks, but alas, it's actually talking about a feature that increases suction when an edge, corner, or extra dirty spot is detected.

The Shark Detect Pro is fine. Just fine. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Similarly, only one mopping Shark automatically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time in the other 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a solid feature, it's a bummer that its usage is so dependent on human intervention.

Even the best Shark robot vacuum still only has a flat D-shaped mopping pad. It does press downward and vibrate for more tenacious scrubbing action than the lazy mopping done by cheap mopping robots, but the robot vacuum is kind of past that singular design now. Most people, myself included, seem to prefer dual spinning mopping pads, and now roller mops reminiscent of a paint roller are popping up — both mopping designs that iRobot offers. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro did a solid job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my apartment's hardwood, but it wasn't able to scrub in corners and along edges like iRobot's flexible spinning mops can.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 10R aces one thing that most other robot vacuums can't

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. Shark has also been known to make claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot." Whatever that means.

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.

In the early days of PC SSDs, skepticism was sky-high, and not completely unfounded. When reviewers deliberately tried to kill these drives, it often didn't take much.

Remember the Apple Vision Pro? Apple's AR/VR headset launched more than a year and a half ago in early 2024 to much fanfare. Since then, however, there appears to be waning interest in the Apple Vision Pro as sales have plunged for the $3,499 device.

However, Apple isn't giving up on the Apple Vision Pro quite yet.

In fact, the company has been hard at work on a new version of the AR/VR set, tentatively titled the Apple Vision Pro 2.

There are conflicting reports from two separate trustworthy sources regarding Apple's upgraded AR/VR headset. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new Vision Pro 2 would be powered by Apple's upcoming M5 chipset. However, Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman has previously reported that the upgraded Vision Pro 2 would use Apple's most current chipset, the M4. Either way, though, it will seemingly be a big upgrade from the M2 chip that powers the current Vision Pro model alongside the R1 chip.

In addition to the upgraded processor, Gurman reports that Apple is working on increasing the 16 cores in the neural engine of the current Vision Pro, which would make the Vision Pro 2 even more powerful at completing AI related tasks.

Another big upgrade to the Vision Pro 2 is a more practical one: The headstrap. Even the Vision Pro owners who like the headset have complained about how heavy the device is, especially when using it for a prolonged period of time. 

According to a report from Bloomberg's Gurman from over the summer, Apple is working on a new headstrap that will enable users to more easily wear the 1.4 pound device for longer time periods. The report says the new strap for the Vision Pro 2 would focus on reducing neck strain and head pain.

Apple appears to be aiming for a Vision Pro 2 release by Spring 2026 before moving towards a cheaper, lighter AR/VR headset to be released sometime in 2027 or later.

DoorDash just unveiled new delivery service offerings, the most notable of which is an AI-powered anthropomorphic robot named Dot.

Dot is touted as both agile and fast — traveling up to 20 m.p.h. — and is already deployed in the greater Phoenix area. (Meanwhile, in L.A., a non-DoorDash delivery robot recently crashed into a disabled person in a wheelchair.) The robot is electric and one-tenth the size of a car, and DoorDash touts it as an environmentally friendly alternative to car-based deliveries. Dot's deftness means it can travel to the front doors of many homes, apartments, and office buildings, according to the company.

"You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers," Stanley Tang, cofounder and head of DoorDash Labs, said in a statement. "The breakthrough wasn't just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers ... It is small enough to navigate doorways and driveways, fast enough to maintain food quality, and smart enough to optimize the best routes for delivery."

Dot can carry up to 30 lbs. of cargo or six large pizza boxes. The robots are also designed with "eyes" that react to sounds and glance toward someone speaking or honking at them. When opened by customers, the robots (oddly) make a yawning sound.

Along with Dot, DoorDash also announced its new Autonomous Delivery Platform, an AI-powered dispatcher that determines the best way to deliver products to a customer — whether it's by Dot, drone, or driver.

Visual Studio is probably one of the best IDEs out there, especially when it comes to Windows apps. Now, it just got a lot better with a new set of features—including a lot of AI stuff that should make your development experience a lot more pleasant.

Hop on any of the major streaming services today, and you'll be greeted by a selection of content that's not from the USA, not from North America, and not from the global Anglosphere. It's never been easier to access and enjoy content from all over the world, but why exactly is there so much "foreign" content on streaming services?

Jellyfin for iOS version 1.7.0 is finally here, and the big news is that it finally brings long-awaited download support to the app. This means you can finally grab your media and watch it offline, working just like it does in the Jellyfin web client and the Android app.

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 3:45 p.m. EDT Since the initial writing of this story, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd Gen) have gone up in price to $279.99. This is still a savings of $20. Our original story follows.

Save $41.64: As of Sept. 30, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) are on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, marking their first-ever price cut just weeks after their release. Usually $299, this deal saves you 14% off the total price.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $257.36 at Amazon
$299 Save $41.64 Get Deal

The only thing better than a new product release is a new product release on sale.

That's exactly the case with the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which just became available on Sept. 10, and are now on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, slashing $41.64 off their $299 price point. Admittedly, it's not the biggest price cut ever, but it is notable that these earbuds are getting any discount at all so shortly after their release. At the time of writing, the deal is only available on the black colorway.

I spent a couple of weeks testing out the earbuds, and was impressed by how well their noise cancellation performs — it's easily on par with over-ear models. As someone who doesn't love the sensation of wearing earbuds for longer periods of time, I found these comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time without any irritation. The sound quality is also well-rounded and full, and I appreciated the mic enhancements that made my voice much clearer on calls over the previous gen.

Honestly, the biggest flaws on these earbuds was that they aren't that different from the previous generation — there are some minor improvements in ANC and sound, with other upgrades in the form of wireless charging and an ear wax guard on the ear tips, but nothing that would make them a must-upgrade for first-gen users, even on sale.

However, if you don't already own premium ANC earbuds and have been looking for some of the best money can get, this discount makes them especially intriguing to check out. If you're willing to wait (and possibly miss out on savings — we don't know how long these deals will last) Amazon has teased that Bose products will be going on sale next week for October Prime Day.