Mashable

Like it or not, Google is doubling down on AI-generated search.

On Wednesday, the tech giant announced that it's expanding AI overviews to more Google Search queries, starting with advanced math, coding, and multimodal searches. That's made possible due to Google's more advanced model, Gemini 2.0,, which now powers AI overviews.

AI Overviews is also expanding access to more users outside of the U.S. by allowing people who aren't logged in to see the AI-generated summaries, including teens. 

Last but not least, Google is experimenting with a dedicated AI search chatbot, akin to ChatGPT search mode and Perplexity. It's like Gemini but combines Google's real-time search capabilities for the most up-to-date responses. The new feature, AI Mode, is currently available in Google's testing ground called Labs. But it's an indication that Google Search might soon have only AI-generated search results. 

AI Mode is an experiment that uses Gemini for AI-generated search results. Credit: Google

Recommendations to put glue on pizza and eat rocks be damned, Google has signaled that injecting AI into all of its apps and services is the driving force of its business strategy. In the announcement, Google's VP of Search Robby Stein said, "People are using Google Search more than ever as they get help with new and more complex questions." But that obscures the fact that AI Overviews can't be turned off and it doesn't address the hallucinations that still plague the model and might never go away. 

Former Mashable editor Mike Pearl did an audit on the first six months of AI Overviews and found that while it's fine for simple queries, it still hallucinates on more "uncommon queries" by misinterpreting what's found on the web. It also erroneously builds on faulty queries like using baking soda to thicken soup (which you definitely shouldn't do.) 

"If the basis for a search is wrong or flawed, and the AI Overview doesn't catch the problem, then it stands to reason the user won't notice it either," said Pearl. That's to say, at best, it could weaken Google's reliability as a search engine, and at worst, it could reinforce misinformation. 

Despite persistent inaccuracies that have become something of a running joke (seriously, just Google "Google AI search fails"), the company is barreling ahead with new experiments. 

we should give this $100 trillion more dollars!

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— Themperor Kennedy🐸🏳️‍🌈 (@kennedytcooper.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM

AI Mode is clearly an effort to compete with AI-powered search engines like Perplexity and ChatGPT search mode. These tools have capitalized on users leaning more into chatbots as a source of information, which threatens Google's core product. 

In Labs, screenshots display AI Mode as a tab at the top of the Google Search app next to prominent filters like All, Places, Maps, and Images. According to the description page, the underlying model is Gemini 2.0, which has reasoning capabilities, meaning it breaks down queries into step-by-step instructions to search and verify. 

This approach purportedly reduces hallucinations since it allows the model to check its work rather than spewing out the probabilistic next word. 

Google One AI Premium subscribers who pay $20 a month get access first, and those enrolled in Labs can sign up for the waitlist.

SAVE $26.50: As of March 6, get the Anker Prime Charging Station for $59.49 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $85.99. That's a discount of 31%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime Charging Station $59.49 at Amazon
$85.99 Save $26.50 Get Deal

Are you the type of person who lets your tech gadgets languish and then forgets to charge them? It can be frustrating to have to find the right charger, the right cable, and then plug everything in after finding an outlet. Anker has a ton of different options to help mitigate these problems, and there's one on sale today that should work fantastically the next time you find yourself in this situation.

As of March 6, get the Anker Prime Charging Station for $59.49 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $85.99. That's a 31% discount.

This 200W charger has six USB ports so you can charge six devices all at the same time. That includes two MacBook Pros that you can juice back up to 50% in 28 minutes, which is admittedly a very fast charge. Each USB-C port gives you up to 100W max, and when you use them at the same time, they can still offer that massive boost in power.

Plus, Anker's MultiProtect and ActiveShield systems monitor charging temperatures so if things get too hot, you don't have to worry about damaging your phones, laptops, tablets, or other components. This charger also comes with a 5 ft power cord so you don't have to worry about providing that like with some devices.

If you're in need of a new charger, you can't go wrong with one that offers this kind of convenience, so better snag it while you can at a discount.

A new immigration policy could mandate prospective citizens give up their social media profiles for review, adding to President Donald Trump's push for stronger border policy and a bottleneck on legal migrant entry.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has opened a 60-day comment period on the proposed change, which would add a request for social media handles to immigration benefit applications for those already residing in the U.S. The requirement would affect those applying for green cards and naturalization, asylum-seekers, refugees, and the relatives of people who have been granted asylum or refugee status, the Verge reported. According to the USCIS, the change would affect approximately 3.5 million people.

SEE ALSO: Report: Thousands of harmful AI chatbots threaten minor safety

The State Department already has a policy in place that requires the disclosure of five years of social media history for foreign nationals applying for visas before they enter the U.S., but the new policy would apply to current U.S. residents who are only seeking to update or change their status.

"These are people who could have been residing in the U.S. for 30, 40 years, as a Green Card holder who are seeking citizenship, or people who are residing on other types of visas who are seeking a Green Card," Saira Hussain, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Newsweek. "It really creates a massive chilling effect about people who could be vetted for their online speech, who have every right to be here in this country and could be chilled from sharing their opinions because they are concerned they are going to be vetted and denied immigration benefits such as naturalization."

The federal agency argues the collection of such data would support more "rigorous" vetting of citizen applicants and modernize the immigration system: "In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, USCIS identified the need to collect social media identifiers ('handles') and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections," the policy filing reads.

SEE ALSO: Immigration red cards: The internet rallies to protect undocumented community

The proposal also invokes a recent Trump administration Executive Order titled, "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats" — a mandate to amp up scrutiny (and rejections) during the visa-issuance process. At large, the administration has committed to an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy, including mass deportations, an expedited ban on asylum entries at the southern border, and the disempowering of sanctuary cities.

The proposed USCIS policy change will remain open for public comment until May 5. Comments can be submitted on the Federal eRulemaking Portal website, and can be found by inputting the e-Docket ID number: USCIS-2025-0003

SAVE UP TO $50: As of March 6, preorder the new iPad 11th generation and iPad Air with M3 chip at Walmart and save up to $50. You can get the iPad Air with M3 chip with 512GB for just $849, saving $50, or the iPad 11th generation with 512GB for $614, saving $35.

iPad preorder deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 11th generation (A16 chip, WiFi, 128GB) $329 at Walmart (Save $20) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (M3 chip, WiFi, 128GB) $559 at Walmart (Save $40) Get Deal

Less than a year after the debut of the iPad Air with M2 chip, Apple is revamping the tablet. As announced on March 4, a new iPad Air is coming this month, and it's loaded with the M3 chip. It's upgraded to support Apple Intelligence, preloaded with access to ChatGPT that can be pulled up within apps rather than in a separate window.

Plus, the base iPad model is finally getting an upgrade after three years. The Apple iPad 11th generation now comes with the A16 chip, and is the most affordable model in the line-up.

Both new iPads are available for preorder now and will ship out on March 12. However, Walmart is offering the best preorder deal that we've seen on these new iPad models.

Right now, the latest tablets from Apple are up to $50 off. The 11th generation iPad, which starts at $349 for the 128GB model, is listed for $329 at Walmart. That saves you $20 for about 6% off. However if you upgrade to the 512GB model, the dollar savings get even bigger. Normally $649, the 512GB model is $35 off, down to $614.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11th generation (A16 chip, WiFi, 128GB) $329 at Walmart
$349 Save $20 Get Deal

The savings on the iPad Air are a little bit sweeter. The 11-inch and 128GB model is usually priced at $599, but at Walmart it's $40 off, bringing it down to $559. That provides savings of a little less than 7%. If you want to splurge on the 512GB model of the iPad Air, you can save $50. Normally $899, it's down to $849 for about 6% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (M3 chip, WiFi, 128GB) $559 at Walmart
$599 Save $40 Get Deal

Shop both models at Walmart now and get the latest iPads from Apple when they ship out on March 12.

Gambling content is seemingly everywhere on the internet today. Even viral videos completely unrelated to betting or casinos now sport advertisements for gambling websites. YouTube is now cracking down on some of that gambling content.

In an update to YouTube policies this week, the video giant announced that it is "strengthening our existing policies related to online gambling content" in order to "protect viewers from potentially harmful content."

The biggest change to YouTube's policies regarding gambling includes a new age restriction. YouTube's new policy states that online gambling content will not be viewable by signed-out viewers or signed-in users under the age of 18. YouTube has carved out two exceptions to this rule, stating that online sports betting content and content depicting in-person gambling will not be subject to the policy.

SEE ALSO: Legal gambling has kind of ruined sports

Gambling videos on the platform were already unable to promote gambling websites or apps unless those third-party gambling sites had been certified by Google. Online gambling platforms that are certified by Google have been required to meet local legal requirements to ensure that they comply with the law. 

According to YouTube, that rule is now being expanded to ban creators from sending viewers to gambling-related "URLs, links embedded in images or text, visual displays (incl. logos) or verbal references" unless they have been certified by Google.

Additionally, any gambling content that promises viewers "guaranteed returns" may be removed by the company, even if the gambling platform being promoted has been certified by Google.

As online gambling continues to grow, so does online gambling content from creators looking to cash in on sponsorships and affiliate programs. With these new updated rules, YouTube appears to be trying to force creators and itself to be at least a little bit more responsible with what they promote to their viewers.

These new gambling content rules go into effect on YouTube as of March 19.

SAVE $50: As of March 6, get $50 off the Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) at Best Buy as a paid My Best Buy Member. Both Plus and Total members are eligible for this discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149 at Best Buy
$1,199 Save $50 Get Deal

If you're ready to upgrade to the new M4 MacBook Air that's set to debut next week, you're going to want to shop at Best Buy. You can save some cash on the model that isn't even out yet, which isn't something you want to pass up on when the laptop is already quite pricey in its own right. And if you're a part of a paid My Best Buy rewards program, you're entitled to the discount before the Macs even hit store shelves.

As of March 6, get $50 off the Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) at Best Buy. You must be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to get this discount. That brings the price down from $1,199 to $1,149 after your $50 in savings. To use this discount, just make sure you're logged in to your account and add the MacBook to your cart, as it will automatically be applied.

SEE ALSO: Here's what you need to know about preordering the new M4 Apple MacBook Air

This new M4 MacBook Air is a significantly zippier option than its predecessors, with 16GB of RAM under the hood and a 512GB SSD to make sure you've got plenty of space for your files and everything else. Plus, it's brand spanking new, and it comes in four different colors: Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, and Midnight.

If you've been planning on grabbing the new MacBook, this is a great excuse to go ahead and lock in your preorder.

SAVE $110.04: As of March 6, get the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill for $169.95 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 39%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill $169.95 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $110.04 Get Deal

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you're likely more than aware of how much prep work you might have to do for a particular dish. And beyond that, how many gadgets you have to use to make it a reality. Space is at a premium for many of us when it comes to the kitchen as it is, so having an all-in-one option that can handle everything you need at once can be super useful.

As of March 6, get the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill for $169.95 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 39%.

This 6-in-1 grill lets you air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. It also comes with a special temperature probe so you can make sure everything is cooked to your specifications and that any meats you're heating up get to a safe temperature. It has 4 protein settings and 9 doneness levels you can set so it doesn't matter if you like your burgers medium rare or cooked to a crisp, you can enjoy a tasty meal.

The grill also has a smoke control system, grill grate, splatter shield, and a ceramic-coated exterior that you can remove for easier cleaning. It's all conducive to making cooking easier and quicker, and at this price, it's a no-brainer if you enjoy making homemade meals.

SAVE $160: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker is on sale for just $139.99, down from the usual price of $299.99. That's a 53% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker $139.99 at Woot
$299.99 Save $160 Get Deal

We have an overwhelming number of options when it comes to choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker. For most of us, we're shopping for a speaker that offers solid sound quality, doesn't come with an eye-watering price tag, and won't quit working if it gets splashed at the pool. If you're in this camp too, check out this impressive deal.

As of March 6, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker is on sale at Woot for just $139.99, marked down from the usual price of $299.99. That means you'll save $160 with the 53% discount.

SEE ALSO: Listen up! Grab Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for $80 off at Amazon.

It's a rare sight to see a 53% discount on a premium Bang & Olufsen product. The brand designed the portable Beosound A1 with the Bang & Olufsen signature sound but in a compact Bluetooth speaker that's ready for any adventure.

It's waterproof and dust-resistant, which means the Beosound is prepared to head to the pool, beach, the lake, or the shower. With a full charge, the speaker can get up to 18 hours of playtime, making it extra friendly for adventures.

In the Bang & Olufsen app, you'll be able to have full control of the sound by customizing your preferences with Beosonic Tuning.

Before spring and summer weather lead us outside, snag a worthy Bluetooth speaker at Woot thanks to this awesome deal. At 53% off, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 can be your summer bestie, keeping you entertained with the best playlists, audiobooks, and podcasts. Since Woot sales tend to sell out, it's worth jumping on this one quickly.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of March 6: OUR TOP PICK Apple iPad, 10th (64GB, WiFi) $269 (save $80) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Bose TV Speaker $219 (save $60) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY TECH DEAL Shark FlexStyle $249.99 (save $70) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL Samsung 32-inch M8 smart monitor $399.99 (save $300) Get Deal

It may just be a random Thursday in March, but that doesn't mean you can't find good deals. You just have to do a little bit more digging. On March 6, we've got our eyes on a few standout deals from Apple, Bose, Shark, and Samsung.

If you're looking to do a little bit of sale shopping, here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our picks from March 4 and March 5. Many of those are still live, including an Apple M4 iPad Pro at its best price ever and an Anker Zolo power bank for half price.

Our top pick: Apple iPad (10th gen) Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 10th generation (64GB, WiFi) $269 at Amazon
$349 Save $80 Get Deal

Now that a brand-new iPad has dropped (available for preorder), it's no surprise we're seeing deals on the previous 10th generation model. As of March 6, the 64GB, WiFi version is down to just $269 at Amazon after chilling at $279 for a couple weeks. While not its lowest price ever, that's 23% in savings and the lowest price so far this year. Still a great entry-level iPad, it packs the A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, a landscape camera layout that makes video calls look better, and upgraded stereo speakers for sound quality improvement. Mashable Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino writes, "It's perfect for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop but don't want to spend a ton of money."

Bose TV Speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV Speaker $219 at Amazon
$279 Save $60 Get Deal

Built-in TV speakers are hardly something to write home about. If you're looking to make your sound match your picture quality, we highly recommend adding a soundbar. The Bose TV Speaker is a great introductory option that adds serious sound in a small, but mighty package. It delivers a balanced and natural-sounding spatial audio experience while enhancing dialogue for clarity. Better yet, you can get it set up in minutes with a simple plug-and-play design. Usually $279, it's on sale at Amazon for just $219 as of March 6. That's 22% in savings.

Shark FlexStyle Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $249.99 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $70 Get Deal

The Shark FlexStyle isn't just our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe; we actually prefer it to the outrageously expensive hot air multistyler. As of March 6, you can get the FlexStyle for all hair types for just $249.99 instead of $319.99. That's 22% in savings. It includes six attachments: two auto-wrap curlers, oval brush, paddle brush, curl-defining diffuser, and styling concentrator. If you're looking for the best damage-free drying and styling system on the market, the FlexStyle is the way to go — especially while it's on sale.

Samsung 32-inch M8 smart monitor Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch M8 smart monitor $399.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300 Get Deal

So long as you have a sturdy internet connection, Samsung's M8 smart monitor can work double duty as a brilliant 32-inch TV. It features built-in streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube, allows you to browse the internet sans computer, and even work on documents. The M8 is a step up from the M7, which we tested and loved, boasting a brighter screen, optimized text clarity, and a removable webcam. We don't love its retail price of $699.99, but as of March 6, it's down to just $399.99. That's 43% in savings and just $20 shy of its best price ever.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

GET A FREE YETI YONDER WATER BOTTLE WITH $100 PURCHASE: To celebrate Member Month, REI is offering members a free 25-ounce Yeti Yonder water bottle ($25 value) to those who spend $100 or more in-store on Sunday, March 9, while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Yonder water bottle (25 ounces) $0 at REI
$25 Save $25 Free for REI members when spending $100+ in-store on March 9 Get Deal

We have plenty of memberships these days. There's Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO Max, Instacart, the gym, and an overwhelming number of others. These all come with a monthly or yearly fee, and those prices seem to rise far too often. However, one membership we like comes with a single fee that gets you a lifelong membership, and it comes with plenty of perks. Below is a solid case in point of why it pays to be part of the REI Co-op.

REI is gearing up to celebrate Member Month and on offer is a free 25-ounce Yeti Yonder water bottle to all members who spend $100 or more in-store on Sunday, March 9. The Yeti water bottle typically costs $25, but it'll be free while supplies last. Of course, you'll need to be an REI Co-op member to cash in on this deal, which costs $30 for a lifetime membership.

Hydration is a key to success, but keeping up with water consumption can seem like a never-ending task. Yeti makes it a bit more fun, and the Yonder bottle comes with a nice 25-ounce capacity. The shatter-resistant Tritan plastic means this puppy is durable and won't mind getting dropped. Of course, it's a BPA-free material. The lid is also leakproof, so this water bottle is a great option for tossing in your carry-on bag, the gym bag, or a tote for the office.

SEE ALSO: Take up to 40% off on bicycles at REI and prep for summer rides

Since the REI membership costs $30 and the Yeti Yonder water bottle comes in at $25, signing up for a membership now and cashing in on the free bottle makes the membership close to free. Of course, you'll need to spend $100 in-store on Sunday to get this deal, but we don't think that'll be an issue once you step inside the outdoor-adventure wonderland that is REI.

Rearrange your weekend plans to include a trip to REI on Sunday, March 9 when members can snag a free Yeti Yonder water bottle when spending $100 or more on an in-store purchase. Supplies could run out, so this might be best as a Sunday morning adventure.

Love playing armchair detective and theorizing about TV shows? Then brace yourself for the upcoming interactive series Dreamcrusher, which will give one viewer a $100,000 reward for solving the show's central mystery.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Created and directed by Gavin Michael Booth (Blumhouse short Fifteen, Last Call), Dreamcrusher invites viewers into the final hours of rising pop star Gwyn (Brittany Charlotte Smith), who's about to release her latest album, Dreamcrusher. But what should be a major career milestone takes a bloody turn when Gwyn is found dead on the day of Dreamcrusher's release. Now, it's up to detectives — and that includes the viewers! — to solve the murder and get justice for Gwyn. For the audience, that means pairing clues hidden within each episode with bonus clues planted in the real world. If you crack the case, you could win the $100,000 reward. The prize will go to the viewer who correctly guesses the killer and racks up the most points by the end of the season. If there is a tie, viewers will be entered for a draw.

Dreamcrusher is the first scripted series on free streaming service Reveel. It is also the first in the Reward anthology, which promises viewers prizes for solving on-screen mysteries. Viewers can sign up to be investigators on the Reward website.

"As someone who loves murder mystery series and true crime podcasts, it was a thrill to build the world of Dreamcrusher," Booth told Mashable in a statement. "Creating Reward meant constantly thinking outside of the box, which is where I feel most alive as a storyteller, and I believe our cast and crew have created something truly unique for a streaming audience. I'm equally thrilled that the series' release is finally around the corner and we get to share Dreamcrusher with the world!"

Check out the trailer above to learn more about what to expect from Dreamcrusher.

Dreamcrusher premieres March 18 on Reveel.

UPDATE: Mar. 6, 2025, 5:39 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the win conditions of "Dreamcrusher."

While most existing 'flying cars' resemble helicopters, U.S. company Alef Aeronautics’ flying prototype is designed to look like a real car. It's an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, which means that, similarly to a drone or a helicopter, the car can launch vertically using electric power, as opposed to an airplane, which needs a long runway to take off.

The company claims that the vehicle, whose current model only fits one passenger, can fly in all directions. The car has undergone a number of tests so far, one of which was witnessed by NBC News, though the news outlet notes that those present didn’t see a driver enter or exit the vehicle. The flying car can also be driven on roads, though it is classified as a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) and it only goes as fast as 25 miles per hour.

According to Alef, there have been over 3,200 preorders of the $299,999 car so far,  and the company expects to enter mass production within the next year. We’re yet to see if Alef will manage to turn science fiction into reality, and what flying car regulations will look like in the near future.

UPDATE: Mar. 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. EST This story has been updated with additional preorder listings at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

Everywhere you can preorder the new M4 Apple MacBook Air: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Air (M4) Starting at $999 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Air (M4) Starting at $999 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Air (M4) Starting at $999 (save $50 with a paid My Best Buy membership) Pre-Order Here B&H Photo Apple MacBook Air (M4) Starting at $999 Pre-Order Here

Apple continued its "Air" week with the announcement of the M4-powered MacBook Air Wednesday. The latest iteration of the popular notebook comes in a new sky blue finish — but most notably, it starts at $999 and $1,199 in 13- and 15-inch sizes, respectively, making it $100 less than the previous M3 model.

The M4 MacBook Air is now available for preorder through Amazon, the Apple Store, Best Buy, and B&H Photo ahead of its formal launch on Wednesday, March 12. Paid members of the My Best Buy program (Plus and Total tiers) save $50 when they preorder any configuration.

That M4 chip has a 10-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and support for up to 32GB of RAM (compared to an 8-core CPU and up to 24GB of RAM for its M3 counterpart). In its press release, Apple said this makes its refreshed MacBook Air up to two times faster than the M1 model from 2020 and up to 23 times faster than its bygone Intel-based models, making a clear appeal to longtime upgrade holdouts.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces MacBook Air with M4 chip for less than $1,000

The new MacBook Air has the same 18-hour battery life as the M3 model and a virtually identical design, save for the addition of a new 12MP Center Stage webcam and support for up to two 6K external displays with its lid open. Besides the new sky blue colorway, it still comes in midnight, starlight, and silver, but no longer space gray.

Its price is really the big story here. By selling the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air at $999 to start, Apple is matching the last selling price of the M2 model from 2022 and beating the final MSRP of 2024's M3 model by $100. (Both older MacBook Airs are no longer available in the Apple Store following the M4 announcement, for what it's worth.)

At a time when a lot of tech is getting more expensive, not less, a $999 price tag for a brand-new MacBook Air is both a pleasant surprise and extremely competitive.

UPDATE: Mar. 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. EST This story has been updated with new preorder listings from Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

PREORDER NOW: On March 4, Apple dropped the new Apple iPad Air with M3 chip as well as the updated Apple iPad, now with an A16 chip. Both models are available for preorder at The Apple Store, Amazon, and more, and will ship on March 12.

Where to preorder the new iPad and iPad Air: The Apple Store Apple iPad Air 2025 Starting at $599 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple iPad 2025 Starting at $349 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air $269 Shop Now Amazon Apple iPad Air 2025 Starting at $599 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple iPad 2025 Starting at $349 Pre-Order Here Walmart Apple iPad Air 2025 Starting at $559 Pre-Order Here Walmart Apple iPad 2025 Starting at $329 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple iPad Air 2025 Starting at $599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple iPad 2025 Starting at $349 Pre-Order Here

It's been less than a year since Apple debuted its 2024 iPad Air with M2 chip, and yet, they're already back with an upgraded model. On March 4, Apple introduced its latest model, the iPad Air with M3 chip. Apple CEO Tim Cook teased that a new product was coming earlier this week, and at Mashable we suspected it was the launch of the MacBook Air with M4 chip. However, it turns out we'll be waiting a little longer for that device.

However, this drop is more than just the iPad Air. The base iPad model, which hadn't seen an update since 2022, is finally getting a chip and storage upgrade, too. Both iPads are available now for preorder at The Apple Store, with plans to ship as soon as March 12.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces the M3 iPad Air with Apple Intelligence and a new Magic Keyboard

The new iPad Air with M3 chip is a prime example of Apple doubling down on AI. With the upgraded chip, Apple Intelligence is being incorporated into every element of the tablet. In photos, users can now clean up unwanted distractions in the background. Plus, ChatGPT is built into Writing Tools and Siri, so users don't have to watch between applications. Apple seems to be getting around users' privacy concerns with OpenAI. Users can use ChatGPT free and without an account, plus IP addresses are secured.

With all these new capabilities, the iPad Air might as well be a laptop. Apple thought of that and also delivered a new Magic Keyboard for both the 11- and 13-inch iPad Air models.

In addition to getting a new chip, the base Apple iPad, the most affordable model in the line-up, is also starting with double the storage. Now with an A16 chip, iPad users will notice a powerful boost in performance from the previous model's A14 chip. The 2022 model started at 64GB of storage, but the 2025 model now starts at 128GB of storage. However, it remains a great value, still starting at just $349.

Both the iPad and iPad Air are available for preorder now at a variety of retailers including Apple and Amazon, and will be released on March 12.

Apple iPad 2025: Price and preorder details Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air 2025 $599 at Apple
2025 iPad Air models starts at $599 Pre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 2025 $349 at Apple
2025 iPad models starts at $349. Pre-Order Here

Check out our sibling sites CNET, PCMag, and ZDNET for more analysis.

A Houston-based space company just released a tantalizing sneak preview — an image sequence of its robotic spacecraft flying over the moon's south pole, near its planned landing site.

The destination is Mons Mouton, one of NASA's potential landing locations for its Artemis astronauts. Intuitive Machines' Athena moon lander began circling the moon on March 3, just one day after a competitor, Firefly Aerospace, landed on the lunar surface without a hitch. 

This marks Intuitive Machines' second journey to the moon, following its success last year in becoming the first business — rather than a government space program — to touch down on the surface without crashing so badly it ended the mission. But telling the flight controllers to "break a leg" might not be the good-luck wish they want to hear ahead of Athena's descent: Even though its uncrewed Odysseus lander was able to send back some data in 2024, it damaged one of its struts and ended up on its side. 

The latest mission, referred to as IM-2 or PRIME-1, is slated for a moon landing at 11:32 a.m. CT on March 6. Intuitive Machines and NASA will provide live event coverage, starting at 10:30 a.m. CT. 

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: A company is returning to the moon. Here's how it will avoid tipping again

In the video above, the Athena lander can be seen flying over the lunar south pole near its intended landing site.

If it succeeds in getting to the surface, the company's mission will be among the first onsite demonstrations of resource detection on the moon. A drill and mass spectrometer, a device that identifies the kinds of elements or particles in a substance, will measure the potential presence of gasses in the lunar soil. A Laser Retroreflector Array on the top deck of the lander also will bounce laser light back at any orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give future missions a permanent reference point on the moon. Other instruments will test a surface communications system and deploy a drone that can hop along the lunar surface.

Athena is the second Commercial Lunar Payload Services-supported lander of the year. The NASA program has invested $2.6 billion in contracts with private-sector vendors to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data. 

Athena flies over the mid-latitudes of the moon in the above image sequence.

But landing on the moon remains onerous. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot.

A combination of gravity and inertia factors seemed to stymie Intuitive Machines' previous landing. Everything on the moon is "six times tippier," said Phil Metzger, a planetary scientist at the University of Florida, then in a post on X. The Japanese moon lander SLIM, short for Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, experienced a similar outcome.

"Why did we end up at a 30 degree angle? We know exactly why we did," Trent Martin, senior vice president of Intuitive Machines' space systems, told reporters during a news conference. "There was an issue with the laser altimeter that we used during the final operation just before landing that would have told us exactly how close we were to the surface."

When Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander touched down on the moon in 2024, landing gear had broken off from one of the robotic spacecraft's six struts. Credit: Intuitive Machines

Instead of using the laser altimeter, flight controllers actually were using the camera systems on board the spacecraft, which were less accurate, ultimately resulting in a harder landing than planned. Martin said an investigation into the spacecraft data resulted in 85 upgrades, including contingencies that should allow Athena to land up to 10 degrees off in any direction — perhaps more — and still complete the mission objectives. 

Meanwhile, NASA is trying to troubleshoot problems with another spacecraft that shared a rocket with Athena. Engineers were able to establish communication with NASA's Lunar Trailblazer in space the day of its launch, only to lose it the next morning, Feb. 27.

"The mission operations team for NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer at Caltech’s IPAC is continuing efforts to re-establish communications with the small satellite," the space agency said on March 4.

TL;DR: Live stream Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Manchester United are really struggling in the Premier League, and they are no longer in contention to win the FA Cup after losing to Fulham on penalties. So what now? They can still find success in the Europa League, but it's not going to be easy.

Real Sociedad will be confident of progressing into the quarter finals, and they'll be looking to start strongly at home against Rubem Amorim's side.

If you want to watch Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United?

Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on March 6. This fixture takes place at the Anoeta Stadium.

How to watch Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United for free

Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, 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 Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV 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 Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United in the Europa League for free

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

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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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $100: As of March 6, the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale at Best Buy for $399. That's 20% off its list price of $499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro Chip) $399 at Best Buy
$499 Save $100 Get Deal

A new iPad and iPad Air may be coming down the pipeline later this year, but if you've had your eyes set on the iPad mini, we've got good news. The tiny but mighty tablet is on sale right now at Best Buy, so you can scoop it up for $100 off its list price.

This has dropped the price of the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) from $499 to $399. On top of that nice little discount, your purchase also comes with bonus offers to kickstart your journey with this new tablet: Apple Fitness+ for free for three months if you're a new subscriber, up to three months of Apple Music for free if you're a new or returning subscriber, up to three months of Apple Arcade for free if you're a new or returning subscriber, and Apple TV+ for free for two months if you're a new or qualified returning subscriber.

SEE ALSO: Here's what you need to know about preordering the new M4 Apple MacBook Air

Alongside its smaller 8.3-inch size that's perfect for taking on the go, the iPad mini boasts a vibrant Liquid Retina display and powerful performance with the A17 Pro chip. In our review, Mashable's Stan Schroeder says that, "If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice."

We also consider it the best iPad for reading in our roundup of the best iPads, noting "The iPad Mini got a 2024 upgrade, and is now equipped with the A17 chip but with the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. Along with the chip upgrade comes Apple Intelligence, an especially helpful feature if you plan to use it for reading as it can summarize articles."

This deal is worth taking advantage of while it's still live. Don't miss out on $100 off the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) at Best Buy.

There are a few more Apple deals floating around right now that are also worth a look. The Apple Magic Keyboard is currently enjoying over $80 off at Amazon and the AirPods Pro 2 are $50 off there as well.

A new working paper from various university researchers suggests that age-verification laws aren't effective.

Age-verification laws differ by state, but typically require visitors of websites with over a third of explicit content to submit ID as proof of age. Forms of ID can range from a digital ID to facial recognition. Since 2022, 19 states have passed age-verification laws, all of which are in effect except Georgia's, which will be in effect as of July 1.

SEE ALSO: All the states Pornhub is blocked in as of January 1

In January, the Supreme Court heard a case about age verification, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton. Its decision, which will likely come this summer, will impact current and future age-verification laws.

Free speech and digital privacy experts agree that children shouldn't have access to porn, but have told Mashable since 2023 that age-verification laws won't work for that aim. Among other reasons, some porn sites that are not U.S.-based may not feel the need to comply with the law, and people can use VPNs to pretend like they're in another location.

Now, researchers from New York University's Center for Social Media & Politics and several other universities looking into whether these laws impact search behavior have found the same thing.

Research suggests age-verification laws don't work

Through analyzing Google Trends data, researchers found a 46.6 percent traffic reduction of searches to Pornhub, the biggest platform compliant with the laws. Pornhub has blocked most states with age-verification laws because of the burden of complying to the laws. In Louisiana, where Pornhub still operates while complying, traffic has dropped 80 percent, its parent company Aylo confirmed to Mashable. (Pornhub continues to operate in Louisana because the state has a digital ID that is fairly commonly used, called LA Wallet.)

While searches for Pornhub dropped in these states, researchers saw a 48.1 percent increase in searches for a large non-compliant platform, XVideos (which didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment), and a 23.6 percent increase in searches for VPNs. This occurred in the states with age-verification laws on a rolling timeline based on when the laws were enacted.

This shows that when it comes to internet regulation that primarily tries to impact access, there are unintended consequences, said Zeve Sanderson, co-author and executive director of the NYU Center for Social Media & Politics, in an interview with Mashable. One is the substitution effect, which undermines the potential efficacy of the policies. This is seen here with explicit websites, but was also evidenced by TikTokkers flocking to RedNote when TikTok users thought the ban was imminent.

"In Louisiana last year, Pornhub was one of the few sites to comply with the new law. Since then, our traffic in Louisiana dropped approximately 80 percent. These people did not stop looking for porn," Aylo told Mashable in an emailed statement. "They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children."

Aylo stated that it has publicly supported age verification, but the way many jurisdictions have chosen to implement it is "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous." It pointed to the safety and privacy risk of requiring websites to collect a large amount of highly sensitive personal information (from people's names to the content they consume). Like free speech advocates Mashable has previously spoken to, Aylo stated the best solution to prevent children from seeing explicit content is device-level filters.

Studying search trends for porn sites

Researchers used a method called synthetic control to analyze the Trends results. Basically, they created a "digital twin," or synthetic version of the state to show what could've happened if the state had not passed these laws. To make sure their results were robust, they also used a multiverse analysis and adjusted the dates they used. Their results held.

As the authors explain in the paper, though, there are some limitations to using Google Trends to measure policy efficacy. For one, Google Trends data doesn't measure website visits or actual web traffic. It also can't account for actions like typing in a URL on a browser and going to a website directly.

Researchers were also unable to differentiate search results by age, which is the main component of these laws. The question of whether these laws are impacting minors' behavior is probably unanswerable, however, because of ethical and legal concerns of exposing minors to explicit content.

Google Trends does measure search behavior, and previous research cited in the paper confirms that it is reliable for tracking population-level behavioral patterns. These researchers also conducted a correlation analysis and found a strong correlation between Google Trends volume and actual Pornhub and XVideos traffic data from SimilarWeb.

The study has yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a journal, but the authors wanted to publish it as a working paper now because the Supreme Court decision still hasn't come down and because states continue to debate this topic, Sanderson said.

"Given how quickly this regulatory space is moving, we wanted to be able to contribute to it when it was most meaningful, not on the timeline of journal publication," he continued. The results will be updated once SCOTUS makes its ruling.

For now, however, these initial findings propose that, as experts warned, age-verification laws don't achieve their intended purpose.

This "first large-scale empirical analysis of these of these laws suggests that they're likely not reaching their stated goals," Sanderson said, "and if anything, could be incentivizing riskier behavior."

SAVE $160: As of March 6, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch is on sale at Best Buy for $489.99. That's 24% off its list price of $649.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $489.99 at Best Buy
$649.99 Save $160 Get Deal

If you're not an Apple user and looking for a smartwatch that can keep up with your active lifestyle, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the one to go for. This smartwatch is built for the ultimate outdoor adventurers, boasting a rugged build and plenty of features to keep you on top of your goals. While it normally retails for $649.99, you can actually score a nice discount on it right now at Best Buy.

The retailer has dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra down to $489.99, saving you $160 overall. All available colors are discounted as well, so you can save on the titanium silver model with a dark gray marine band, the titanium gray model with a orange marine band, the titanium white model with a white marine band, and the titanium gray model with a dark gray marine band.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wrist

Alongside a durable design that's built to withstand any adventure you embark on, this smartwatch offers plenty of health and fitness features to keep you updated. This includes an Energy Score that shows you how ready you are to take on the day based on insights from the day before. Our hands-on review also notes that, "It can reportedly handle temperatures between -4 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can tolerate deep-sea diving and other challenging environments."

In our comparison of Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra, Mashable's Stan Schroeder also says that, "When it comes to fitness tracking, Samsung's new watch offers Heart Rate Zones, allowing you to keep precise track of whether your workout has crossed that anaerobic threshold. The Race feature lets you compete against yourself. Cyclers will appreciate the new Functional Threshold Power Test, which helps you figure out your max power on the bike."

If you've been on the hunt for a smartwatch upgrade, this deal on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is something to carefully consider.

If you'd prefer to see what Apple has going on right now instead, some of their smartwatches are discounted as well. The Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off at Amazon and the Apple Watch SE 2 is $50 off at Amazon.

If you want to feel very old, just watch this clip of Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt talking about '90s technology.

To promote their upcoming Netflix film The Electric State, the video sees Pratt explaining everything from a tape recorder to an answering machine to a mildly baffled Brown, whose reactions fall somewhere between confused ("You can't see yourself?" she says about a Polaroid camera) and appalled ("You can't send a text on that!").

She is a fan of the classic Walkman, though.