Mashable

Walking through BookCon was a sort of literary haven. As I approached the exhibition floor, a string ensemble filled the Javits Center as if we'd been dropped into an episode of Bridgerton. The show floor was packed with exhibits from the big five to indie publishers, as attendees hoped to get their hands on a sought-after advanced copy. Before the event even began, as I approached the convention center nearly two hours before its start, the line stretched around several city blocks.

Attendees were ready and waiting for the show floor to open right at 9 a.m. and the lines started early. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Yet on the show floor, despite the long lines, there was a sense of camaraderie among attendees. There was an immediate rush to the HarperCollins booth as the publisher was giving away tickets to author signings, but attendees were respectful, asking and answering each other's questions, and excitedly sharing which author's signing they were hoping to score. This is a convention for fans, celebrating the shared passion of reading, and it felt like people came ready to bask in that community.

BookCon's return to New York City comes after a six-year hiatus. From last BookCon, which took place in 2019, to 2026, the book industry has undergone seismic shifts, no doubt due to the effects of BookTok, which has helped revive print book sales. Romance and fantasy, the two most popular genres, have enthusiastic fandoms, and all of it came alive at BookCon.

In the past six months, books have been having a big moment, with the success and excitement around Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry following its HBO Max adaptation. It's hard not to compare it to the fervor of the Harry Potter fandom. At the opening panel of BookCon, Reid was joined by Jacob Tierney, the creator of the adaptation, for their first public conversation about the show, and the room was packed with 3,000 fans — you could have thought it was for a ComicCon panel for Marvel's Avengers. Reid put it best, saying that this level of fame for an author feels like an anomaly, and that "authors don't get recognized."

BookCon was a place for uninhibited, pure book joy. A place for fans to connect with other fans and be book nerds together — I even spotted authors fanning out over each other. There were hoards in every type of Heated Rivalry hockey jersey or T-shirt. If you weren't familiar with Connor Storie and Hudson Williams's faces before BookCon, you sure would be after. But in equal amounts, people were sporting gear to celebrate all their favorite authors, especially Andy Weir and Sarah J. Maas. Attendees came for the free books, too, rolling up with foldable shopping carts that they toted around with their loot.

The two-day event was a marathon, and even covering the event, I didn't feel like I could get to all of it. But with the first BookCon in six years in the rearview and next year's on the horizon, these are my takeaways.

Amazon noticeably absent

The most popular e-reader is by far Amazon's Kindle. Yet Amazon was mostly absent from the event, which is odd given that it is the largest bookseller in the United States. But at BookCon, other retailers were front and center, including Barnes and Noble and New York-based stores Greenlight Books and The Ripped Bodice. The main stage was presented by Thrift Books, and before each event, a reel of the event's sponsors rolled, including Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a non-profit that helps struggling independent bookstores. Having these businesses centered at the event felt like a statement against Amazon, which has a history of working against independent bookstores.

Amazon wasn't totally absent, though; it was represented by its subsidiary Audible, which hosted the "Audible Story House."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bea and Leah (@therippedbodice)

Print books still reign supreme Rakuten Kobo was the only e-reader maker at BookCon 2026, showing of its Kobo Clara and Kobo Remote. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As a reporter covering e-readers, I anticipated seeing them in attendees' hands and on display on the show floor. Rakuten Kobo was the only e-reader maker at BookCon 2026.

It turned out, BookCon was a surprisingly analog event. At any convention, you'll find attendees taking breaks along the long hallways, and when people were reading, it was always with a physical book. So while I may have gone into the event planning to ask what e-readers attendees brought, I ended up witnessing the joy of print being celebrated.

Fans have thoughts about the future of BookCon Reviews of BookCon 2026 are mixed across Instagram and Reddit. Credit: Mashable Photo Composite

While attending BookCon 2026 as a member of the press, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience, but as always, fans will let you know where things fell short. In the comments on BookCon's Instagram, fans are sharing disappointment about the long lines and not getting reservations for author signings. Crowds were packed at the event, which was a common complaint, though many noted that the crowds thinned out on Sunday for a more enjoyable experience.

Negative voices are often the loudest, and there has still been positive feedback about the event, which I spotted on the BookCon subreddit. It's unrealistic to expect a perfect event after a near-seven-year hiatus, and with next year's dates already on the books for April 10 and 11, 2027, BookCon's organizers, ReedPop, have a year to listen to attendees' feedback for an improved event.

Your next favorite rock star isn't an indie heartthrob or a heavy metal thrasher. He's a centuries-old French vampire with some serious baggage to unpack.

SEE ALSO: 'The Vampire Lestat' clip sees him find out about Louis' interview

That vampire is none other than Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), who's been a reliable scene-stealer throughout the first two seasons of AMC's rapturous Interview with the Vampire adaptation. However, we've never actually been seeing him, only his former lover Louis de Pointe du Lac's (Jacob Anderson) retelling of their turbulent relationship.

That's all about to change in The Vampire Lestat. Based on the second novel in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, The Vampire Lestat lets the Brat Prince take center stage — literally. He's moved out of the shadows and into the spotlight as a rock god. (Need proof? You can listen to his singles "Long Face" and "All Fall Down" now.)

Lestat has taken his newfound stardom as an opportunity to tell his side of the story Louis told journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). As he brings his act from city to city, he's haunted by "muses" from his troubled past. Here's hoping they don't ruin the tour.

SEE ALSO: The Vampire Lestat's fang-tastic single 'Long Face' is now streaming on major music platforms

While The Vampire Lestat is, naturally, focused on Lestat, that doesn't mean the series is turning away from Louis. He is highly present in The Vampire Lestat's trailer, alongside Daniel and Armand (Assad Zaman).

Also spotted in the trailer? Lestat bringing the house down at his rock shows, drenching himself in blood, and even sharing a passionate kiss with his mother Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle). It's a lot, but when has Lestat ever been anything less?

The Vampire Lestat premieres June 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

An anonymous group of Discord users says it hacked its way into accessing Claude Mythos Preview, the new AI model Anthropic claims is too powerful for a public release.

Anthropic says Claude Mythos "is capable of identifying and then exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in every major operating system and every major web browser," and has granted access to the model to a select group of partners via an initiative called Project Glasswing.

The AI company said this invite-only approach would let tech leaders "secure the world's most critical software." But it might need to pay more attention to its own software security.

As Bloomberg reports, the Discord users didn't gain access through a sophisticated hack, but by guessing the online location for the model based on past Anthropic naming conventions — as found in the recent data breach at Mercor, an AI startup, earlier this month.

SEE ALSO: Is Anthropic's Claude Mythos a big stunt, or a real security threat? What the experts say.

Once they identified where to access Claude Mythos, the group had to employ additional tactics. One member of the group already had privileged access as a worker at a third-party contractor for Anthropic, Bloomberg reports.

The group was part of a private Discord channel that focuses on hunting information about unreleased models.

A member of the group told Bloomberg that they were not using Claude Mythos for nefarious purposes, but for tasks like building simple websites. However, they also claimed to have access to even more unreleased Anthropic models.

The group provided enough evidence to convince Bloomberg they had indeed breached Anthropic's security. Anthropic confirmed in a statement to Bloomberg it was aware of the claim and investigating.

At this time, there is no indication that Claude Mythos has been breached by other unauthorized parties. Still, given that Anthropic described Claude Mythos as a paradigm-shifting security threat that could "reshape cybersecurity" as we know it, any unauthorized access is —to say the least — concerning.

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

Retailers always put Lego Star Wars sets on sale around May 4 (aka May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day) — and this year, Amazon is getting a head start. As of April 22, over a dozen Star Wars-themed Lego builds for kids and adults are marked down there by at least 20%, starting from just $15.98.

A quick look at Amazon's best deals on Star Wars Lego sets: Save 29% Lego Star Wars Home One Starcruiser (75405) $49.99 (save $20) Get Deal Save 23% Lego Star Wars Tantive IV (75376) $61.86 (save $18.13) Get Deal Save 20% Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75375) $67.99 (save $17) Get Deal Save 20% Lego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379) $79.99 (save $20) Get Deal Save 20% Lego Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack (75345) $15.98 (save $4.01) Get Deal

The very best deals are going to Home One Starcruiser and Tantive IV sets, which are 29% and 23% off, respectively. The other sets that are sitting at a flat 20% off include a 921-piece Millennium Falcon, a 1,050-piece R2-D2, and a 1,138-piece C-3PO that were released in 2024 for the 25th anniversary of Lego's Star Wars collection. (The first two are chilling at their lowest prices on record.) There are also a couple of bestselling battle packs for kids ages 6 and up.

SEE ALSO: Lego’s May the 4th Star Wars drop is here, and half the sets are under $50

Target and Walmart were matching most, but not all of Amazon's Lego Star Wars deals (I cross-checked everything), and none of them were available directly through Lego at the time of writing (if they were still in stock on its website — some are sold out or retired). Walmart only managed to beat Amazon's pricing on one kid-friendly build of Ahsoka's Jedi Interceptor... by two cents.

I haven't spotted any discounts on the new Star Wars sets Lego is releasing later this week, nor its Star Wars Smart Play sets, but that could change closer to May the 4th. In the meantime, read on to see what's up for grabs. Again, with everything on sale for at least 20% off, these are the deals you're looking for:

Deals on Lego Star Wars sets for adults Credit: Lego

• Lego Star Wars Acclamator-Class Assault Ship (75404) — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)

• Lego Star Wars Home One Starcruiser (75405) — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Lego Star Wars Tantive IV (75376) — $61.86 $79.99 (save $18.13)

• Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75375) — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Star Wars C-3PO (75398) — $116.99 $139.99 (save $23)

Deals on Lego Star Wars sets for kids Credit: Lego

• Lego Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack (75345) — $15.98 $19.99 (save $4.01)

• Lego Star Wars Death Trooper & Night Trooper Battle Pack (75412) — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)

• Lego Star Wars Clone Trooper & Battle Droid Battle Pack (75372) — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars Jedi Bob’s Starfighter (75388) — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Lego Star Wars 327th Star Corps Clone Troopers Battle Pack (75431) — $35.95 $44.99 (save $9.04)

• Lego Star Wars The Force Burner Snowspeeder (75414) — $43.95 $54.99 (save $11.04)

• Lego Star Wars TIE Bomber (75347) — $51.97 $64.99 (save $13.02)

• Lego Star Wars V-19 Torrent Starfighter (75432) — $51.99 $64.99 (save $13)

• Lego Star Wars ARC-170 Starfighter (75402) — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars Jango Fett's Starship (75433) — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Star Wars Rebel U-Wing Starfighter (75399) — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379) — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

Best Earth Day mattress deals Best mattress deal overall Purple Spring Savings Event Save on Queen mattresses and get up to 20% off mattress bundles. Shop Now Best organic mattress deal Essentia Beyond Organic Sleep Sale Get 20% off their full collection of certified organic mattresses. Shop Now Best luxury mattress deal Saatva Earth Day Sale Get 15% off any order of $1,000 or more. Shop Now Best bundle deal DreamCloud Bundle Sale Get up to 67% off the DreamCloud Premier Adjustable Bundle. Shop Now

Everyone says Presidents' Day and Memorial Day are the best times to buy a mattress, and they aren't wrong, but if you need a new bed right now, you don't have to suffer on a lumpy spring box for another month. I've been doing some digging, and it turns out there are a handful of Earth Day mattress sales happening right now that are totally worth your time.

SEE ALSO: Best Earth Day 2026 deals so far: Blueland cleaning products, Pela phone cases, electric composters

Here are the best mattress deals to shop right now, from my personal favorite (spoiler: It's Purple!) to organic options.

Best mattress deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Pruple Purple Spring Savings Event Save on Queen mattresses and get up to 20% off mattress bundles. Shop Now Why we like it

Purple is my all-time favorite mattress brand. I've had two Purple mattresses in my lifetime, and both were super comfy (heavy AF, but comfy nonetheless).

Right now, Purple is running a Spring Savings event with Queen mattresses starting at $999. The brand's also offering up to 20% off mattress bundles.

Pro tip: If you can hold off just a few more days, Purple's official Memorial Day Sale kicks off early on April 28, offering up to $700 off mattresses.

Best organic mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Essentia Essentia Beyond Organic Sleep Sale Get 20% off their full collection of certified organic mattresses. Shop Now Why we like it

Since it is Earth Day, it only makes sense to include Essentia. The brand is running its Beyond Organic Sleep Sale where you can take 20% off its full collection of certified organic mattresses.

Essentia's beds are crafted using a patented Beyond Latex organic foam, which is designed to support your body without the harsh toxins typically found in conventional mattresses. On top of the clean materials, every mattress comes with a generous 120-night sleep trial, a 20-year warranty, and free shipping straight to your door. (Plus, if you have an HSA or FSA account, you can use those funds toward your purchase!).

You have a little bit of time to decide on this one — the sale runs through May 11, 2026.

Best luxury mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Saatva Saatva Earth Day Sale Get 15% off any order of $1,000 or more. Shop Now Why we like it

If you want a premium, hotel-style sleep experience, Saatva is the way to go. Right now, you can get 15% off any order of $1,000 or more.

Saatva mattresses are made to order and assembled in the U.S. using globally sourced, high-quality materials. Because you're investing in a luxury build, the company treats you to a full 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty. You'll also get free delivery, setup, and mattress removal (which, if you've ever moved a mattress before, you know is a big deal).

But you'd better hurry: this Earth Day sale officially ends on April 23.

Best bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Bundle Sale Get up to 67% off the DreamCloud Premier Adjustable Bundle. Shop Now Why we like it

Bundling isn't always the best way to save, but at DreamCloud, the bundles are where you really get your money's worth. Right now, the brand's offering 67% off its Premier Adjustable Bundle.

For $1,398 (a $4,219 total value), you'll get a DreamCloud mattress of your choice, plus a high-tech adjustable base that features independent head and foot elevation, zero-gravity settings, under-bed LED lighting, USB charging ports, and a whisper-quiet massage mode (bougie).

The bundle also includes a luxury sheet set, pillows, a mattress protector, and 10 years of extra insurance. Like Saatva, DreamCloud also offers a full 365-night trial and free shipping and returns.

SAVE $90: As of April 22, get the DJI Neo Fly More Combo for $259 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349 with an on-page coupon. That's a discount of 26%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Neo Fly More Combo $259 at Amazon
$349 Save $90 Clip on-page coupon Get Deal

Whether you're looking to get into flying drones or just want to add another to your collection, DJI is the brand to shop. Despite news of DJI drones being banned in the United States, there are still ways to get around the ban if you look hard enough. You can still keep the drones you own, and you can still shop those on sale at retailers like Amazon. And we've got one that you can snap up right now for an excellent price.

As of April 22, get the DJI Neo Fly More Combo for $259 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349 with an on-page coupon. That's $90 off and a discount of 26%.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is at a record-low price at Amazon — save $550 on this beginner-friendly drone

This bundle includes the DJI Neo drone, a remote controller, RC cable, flight battery, two-way charging hub, propeller guards, spare propellers, spare propeller screws, a screwdriver, gimbal protector, and a Type-C to Type-C cable.

The DJI Neo Fly More Combo is a lightweight and simple to fly option for users of any skill level. It's lighter than your phone, in fact, and small enough that you don't need to register with the FAA to fly it. You can use your phone to operate it, and it can take off from your hand with a single button push, so it's already simple to use right out of the box.

You can just fly the drone around, or you can take photos from a bird's eye point of view with smart subject tracking and quickshots that your drone can take all on its own. You can also control it via voice or RC depending on your preference.

With 4K ultra stabilized video, you can also stack plenty of crisp, high definition video while flying, all without complex setups that confuse and potentially frustrate.

if you're ready to get into drone photography or just want a chance to fly one without breaking the bank, this combo is well worth splurging on.

Google just made life a tiny bit easier for Android users who love to travel.

9to5google spotted a new lock screen widget for Android 16 that gives you persistent progress updates on your flights. It's very simple and straightforward: It shows your departing airport, your destination airport, your estimated arrival time, and a progress bar measuring how deep into the flight you are.

As 9to5google noted, this is on top of some already-existing features for travelers who add their boarding passes to the Google Wallet app. Those include push notifications about flight changes, but the flight progress widget is brand-new, having been promised by Google last year.

SEE ALSO: Google could pay $135 million settlement to U.S. Android users. How to get your money.

If you want to try it, well, you'd better have a flight lined up first. Add the boarding pass to Google Wallet, and the widget should appear shortly before takeoff. In other words, you don't really have to do anything other than put your boarding pass in your phone.

This marks another step forward for Google Wallet, which replaced Google Pay in 2024 as the go-to destination for credit cards and other important kinds of digital documentation on Android devices. By all accounts, it's been a successful transition for Android users, and if Google keeps adding neat little conveniences like this flight tracker widget, it'll only get better.

SAVE UP TO $30: Aura digital picture frames are on sale at Amazon for up to $30 off depending on size. The 10-inch Aura Carver digital frame is on sale for $159, down from the normal price of $179 and the 12-inch Aura Aspen is on sale for $199, down from the standard price of $229.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aura 10-inch Aura Carver Mat digital picture frame $159 at Amazon
$179 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Aura 12-inch Aura Aspen digital picture frame $199 at Amazon
$229 Save $30   Get Deal

It's a struggle to land on the perfect Mother's Day gift. Moms have a tendency to either say they don't want anything (do not fall for this) or actually own pretty much everything you can think of gifting them. Instead of buying them another pair of pajamas, go big this year and get a digital photo frame. Some great options are on sale today at Amazon.

As of April 22, Aura digital picture frames are on sale at Amazon for up to $30 off depending on size. The 10-inch Aura Carver digital frame is on sale for $159, down from the normal price of $179 and the 12-inch Aura Aspen is on sale for $199, down from the standard price of $229. That's an 11% and 13% discount, respectively. The sale price on the 12-inch Aura Aspen matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Photo memories are always cherished, and opting for a digital picture frame means you can add thousands of images to the collection. Aura makes it simple to upload pictures to any frame from anywhere in the world. Multiple family members can have access to a single frame for uploads that mom will enjoy everyday.

SEE ALSO: Best Earth Day 2026 deals so far: Blueland cleaning products, Pela phone cases, electric composters

The Aura app is fantastic for mom to control her photo preference, set display times, and add her own favorites to the frame. Both the Aura Carver and the Aura Aspen have a built-in speaker, so you can even upload videos and voice notes to the frame for mom to enjoy.

Keep in mind the frame requires a WiFi connection and it needs to be plugged in to operate. If you're gifting the Aura frame, you can even upload photos, videos, and a gift message through the Aura app without opening the premium gift box the Aura frame comes in.

Before these sale prices disappear, gift mom an Aura frame for Mother's Day this year. It's a gift she'll be able to enjoy all day, everyday.

Meta is about to ramp up surveillance of its employees, Reuters reports, but in a very 2026 twist, it's not meant to catch people slacking off.

Reuters reports that Meta is installing tracking software that can capture mouse movements and keystrokes on U.S.-based employees' computers. While this sort of surveillance isn't unheard of in corporate America, the motivation here is slightly novel: Meta is reportedly going to use the data to train AI agents, per a company memo seen by Reuters.

This will be done through a tool called Model Capability Initiative, or MCI.

SEE ALSO: Meta finally adds direct messages to the web version of Threads

Meta's memo said the idea is to help AI agents improve at tasks they currently struggle with, such as using keyboard shortcuts. And in a different memo reportedly sent to employees on Monday, CTO Andrew Bosworth said to expect more internal data collection in order to make agents better at replicating human work. The goal, per Bosworth, is for agents to do most of the work while humans sit back and monitor the situation.

“The vision we are building towards is ​one where our agents primarily do the work and our role is to direct, review and help them improve," Bosworth said, per Reuters.

While Meta did not explicitly say any of this was meant to replace human workers down the line, it's reasonable to wonder if that's where this is eventually going. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs because of AI last year, and Meta has already laid off a quadruple-digit number of people (though those were unrelated to AI) earlier this year, with more cuts coming later in May.

If, at some point in the future, Meta reduces its workforce with the aim of having AI agents do the work instead, it may have been those same Meta employees who trained the AI in the first place.

In the meantime, Reuters reports that Meta assured employees that the data will not be used in performance reviews.

Meta hasn't had a great year, privacy-wise, and we're only four months into 2026.

In March, the company was accused of sending Meta Ray-Ban user recordings, including intimate images, to offshore Meta workers, also for AI training. Earlier this month, we reported on the case of a former Meta employee under criminal investigation for downloading private Facebook photos. And after a report that Meta was planning to add facial recognition technology into its smart glasses, a group of 70 organizations, including the ACLU, signed a public letter urging Meta to reverse course.

SAVE $26: As of April 22, returning subscribers can score two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents per month with the code N8C27L. Usually $13.99 per month, that's $26 in savings. Just note that your mileage may vary.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium $0.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) with code N8C27L Get Deal

If you're looking to save some money on your streaming lineup, my number one recommendation is to cancel your subscriptions. While it doesn't work for every streamer, many will offer you a special discount to come back. Not to mention, you'll be eligible for any new deals that may appear that are marketed to "new and returning customers." Case in point: as of April 22, returning subscribers can get two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for just 99 cents per month.

I've tested this out myself, so I can vouch for it. When you navigate to Paramount+ and sign in to your existing account, you'll be prompted to pick a plan. Select the Paramount+ Premium monthly plan for $13.99 per month. On the "Welcome back!" page, scroll down to the box that says "Have a promo code?" and enter N8C27L. Once you hit "apply" the price should drop to just 99 cents per month.

Credit: Paramount+

That's all, folks. You can take advantage of two full months of ad-free Paramount+, Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS live TV, UFC fights, and more for less than two bucks. That's $26 total in savings.

Paramount+ has a surprisingly hefty library. Subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ Originals like Landman and RuPaul Drag Race All Stars, Showtime series like Dexter Resurrection and Yellowjackets, CBS hits like Survivor and NCIS, and nostalgic shows from Nickelodeon and MTV. Not to mention, there's a lineup of movies that'll keep you fully entertained for your two-month promotional period. Just be sure to cancel again before the second month is over if you want to avoid paying full cost. You can always sign up again when another deal arises. I know I will.

SAVE 15%: As of April 22, you can get the Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That's a 15% discount or $60 savings.

Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock $339.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $60   Get Deal at Amazon

Working off a laptop is great until you realize you only have two ports and need to plug something in. If you're hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you're pretty much out of luck on the rest. Not only that, but your previously uncluttered desk will most likely look like a Best Buy exploded (a rat's nest of cords isn't cute or helpful for anyone getting work done).

SEE ALSO: This cable simplifies your charging setup, and it’s on sale for just $22

If you literally hate mess and cords as much as I do, you need a docking station to hide all that chaos and protect your aesthetic. Right now, Anker’s Prime TB5 Docking Station is on sale for $339.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99. (That's a $60 price cut.)

Are you going to use all 14 ports at the exact same time? Probably not, but you'll never have to dig through your bag for a specific adapter again. You just plug a single cable into your laptop, and the dock handles the rest. It features a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, SD and TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, an audio jack, and your choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1. It's also fast enough to transfer a 150GB file in 25 seconds.

SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That's a discount of 49% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro $39.99 at Amazon
$79 Save $39.01   Get Deal

There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you're in need of one. But if you're willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you'll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that'll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it's got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.

As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That's $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: I Ran 30 Miles and THIS Is the Most Accurate Smartwatch

This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.

It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.

With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You'll want to grab yours while it's still down to the lowest price we've seen.

SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker $224 at Amazon
$299 Save $75   Get Deal

Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That's a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've seen at Amazon so far this year.

A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It's both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.

SEE ALSO: The Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station is back at a record-low price at Amazon — get ready for camping season

Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won't add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.

Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It's ready for any adventure you have planned.

Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.

Titled "Using Technology with Intention," the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.

SEE ALSO: Survey: This is the most distracting app for teens

Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.

District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.

Featured Video For You Is U.S. TikTok censoring its users?

The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.

"We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best," board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday's meeting.

"This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time..."

Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.

"Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time," the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.

"There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation."

SAVE $49.01: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are 20% at Amazon and Walmart as of April 22. Snag a pair for just $199.99 (normally $249).

Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart

Our very own Stan Schroeder is fresh off reviewing the new AirPods Max 2, Apple's updated over-ear headphones. While he thought their noise cancellation has improved since the last generation, they still can't block out sounds as well as the AirPods Pro 3: "Wearing them on a busy street makes the outside noise vanish in a spectacular fashion," he writes of the earbuds.

So, if you're an Apple user looking for best-in-class ANC, stick with the AirPods Pro 3. Right now, they happen to be on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon and Walmart — that's a savings of nearly $50 and one of their best deals to date. They briefly hit $184 on Amazon back in February, but never since. (And they were $219.99 everywhere last Black Friday.)

For comparison's sake, the AirPods Max 2 are up to $350 pricier depending on the color.

SEE ALSO: AirPods Pro 3 review: Without a doubt, one of the best products of 2025

The AirPods Pro 3 actually have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Max 2, so they support the same suite of smart features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. On top of that, they come with a built-in heart rate monitor that "worked perfectly," per Mashable contributor Adam Doud. (Read his full review.)

On their own, the AirPods Pro 3 will net you up to eight hours of battery life per charge with their ANC enabled. Their included charging case adds an extra 24 hours of use.

I can personally assure you that you won't find the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for anywhere cheaper — even if you go for a used pair. In new condition, they're $239.99 at B&H Photo and full price at Best Buy and Target. Then there's Best Buy's open-box AirPods Pro 3, which are are $204.99 in fair condition. Pass.

SAVE $1,250: As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for just $1,249.99. That's a savings of 50% from its original list price of $2,499.99 and its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $1,249.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,250.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $1,249.99 at Best Buy
$2,499.99 Save $1,250.00   Get Deal

If a new TV with a big screen, stunningly bright picture, and affordable tag is what you're after, the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is a great pick — especially now that it's at a record-low price.

As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is down to just $1,249.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy. Its original list price is $2,499.99, which means you'll save 50% or a full $1,250. That's officially the best price we've ever seen on this model. Previously, it dropped to $1,297.99 during Cyber Week, but this price beats that one by nearly $50.

CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called the 2025 U8 TV the brightest TV he's ever reviewed, but added that it "complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors." It's remarkably vibrant no matter the environment and no matter what you're watching. The ice during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs will be absolutely glistening on this TV, with its 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The 165Hz native refresh rate doesn't hurt either. It won't have any of the glitching and stuttering your old TV did.

It's not just great for watching sports, either. Those dim-lit scenes in your favorite shows and movies will actually pop with the U8's ultra-bright Mini LED panel. It's even IMAX-enhanced for cinema-like picture quality. The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface covering all the major streaming services, as well as Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant for hands-free control.

On a normal day, we'd say the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is too expensive for most folks, but as of April 22, it's finally down to a price that won't cause sticker shock.

Earlier this month, journalist Christophe Haubursin published a YouTube video called "Something very weird is happening on Tinder." In the video, which has over 1.5 million views as of this publication, Haubursin described a way to workaround to Tinder's Face Check feature — the facial recognition that is now required for all U.S. users as of Oct. 2025.

What Haubursin and his interviewees discovered is a bunch of profiles that appeared normal, but the last photo on each profile was…off. It was usually a digitally-altered image of a different person in a weird scenario, like on a billboard or in a Victorian painting. And if someone matched with this person and asked about the image, they dodged the question. Instead, they asked to move the conversation to WhatsApp, where it became clear they were romance scammers.

SEE ALSO: Tinder wants more women users, CEO says

But how did they evade Face Check? Haubursin found that Tinder and Hinge, both owned by Match Group, only need one photo for the facial recognition software. So these people may be the actual person in that odd image, and able to pass the face scan. Then, they could grift images of other people from the internet to use for the bulk of their profile.

Tinder didn't respond to Haubursin's request for comment, but it did respond to Mashable's. 

"We're aware of the concerns raised about our Photo Verification and Face Check features. In recent weeks, we've taken action to strengthen our Photo Verification badging logic, including requiring greater consistency across profile photos and additional reviews to achieve higher confidence in cases that warrant extra scrutiny," a Tinder spokesperson told Mashable. "Face Check, our more recently launched verification system, builds on Photo Verification to help confirm accounts belong to real users. We are committed to continuously improving and investing in our systems to keep Tinder safe and authentic for our users."

Mashable also recently spoke with Hinge's Chief Product and Technology Officer, Ben Celebicic, about this, as Haubursin also replicated this on Hinge (which began implementing Face Check after Tinder). Celebicic hasn't seen Haubursin's video, but he did say that there's a constant battle between trust and safety teams and policy-violating actors. 

"They'll find new ways," he said. "We'll find ways to prevent them from accessing the platform."

There's not going to be a single product the team builds that will fully prevent people from bypassing our solution, Celebicic continued. He said they have a big team working on these issues, and they're in tune with new ways bad actors try to penetrate the platform and work to fix them.

Around one-third of Hinge's workforce is dedicated to trust and safety, the app told Mashable, and Match Group invests $125 million annually in this area.

Trust and safety is a major concern for dating apps. In Sept. 2025, two senators sent a letter to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff, urging him to do something about romance scammers on the platforms. In Dec., a class-action lawsuit against Match Group claimed that a serial rapist was allowed on Tinder and Hinge after several women reported him. 

Facial recognition scans have boomed recently thanks to the influx of age-verification laws, which require a robust method of proving someone's age in order to access certain content, usually explicit content. These methods include uploading a government ID to a platform, using a credit card, or in other cases, scanning your face. But, like with Face Check, people have found workarounds to evade the scan and see the content they want to see.

FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26: As of April 22, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 from Mint Mobile. Get $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 with a 12-month Unlimited plan signup (new customers only), plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mint Mobile Free Samsung Galaxy S26 $0 at Mint Mobile
$900 Save $900 $500 off Samsung Galaxy S26 with 12-month Unlimited plan signup, plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in. Get Deal

Ready to pick up a new smartphone? It can be a bit of a daunting process if you want to save some cash on a decent new model, especially if you're not sure which carrier to go with. We're in the business of making things easy for you, so we've got a proposition that you might appreciate. Consider Mint Mobile, which is offering a great deal on a Samsung phone right now if you plan on signing up for a new phone plan as well as bringing a new device home.

As of April 22, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 from Mint Mobile. Get $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 with a 12-month Unlimited plan signup (new customers only), plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's 'limited run' Galaxy Z TriFold is all sold out

This is the newest part of the Samsung Galaxy lineup, which just debuted only months ago. It boasts a zippy Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with a triple-camera array featuring a 50MP sensor, a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOELD 2x display, and support for Galaxy AI.

The phone starts at $900, which means you'll get the device for free if you sign up for the 12-month Mint Mobile Unlimited plan as a new customer. You'll get the immediate $500 discount, which knocks the phone down to just $400. Then, you can get up to $400 off by trading in your old eligible phone.

This deal applies to the entirety of the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup, so you aren't relegated to this model, but it is the one you'll want to go with if you want to bring home a completely free phone after signup. You won't owe any monthly payments on the device, which is a major plus. But the best part of the promotion is getting a much more affordable line than many of Mint's competition. Jump on the deal now if you're in need of a phone upgrade.

SAVE $90.01: The Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $188.99, down from the standard price of $279 listed at Jackery. That's a 32% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station $188.99 at Amazon
$279 Save $90.01   Get Deal

We're about one month away from Memorial Day weekend, which serves as the unofficial launch of summer. With just a few weeks left in the school year, we'll then be focused on summer camping trips, hikes, and days spent at the beach. If you tend to deal with a dead phone battery on these summer adventures, there's a great solution and as a bonus, it's on sale today.

As of April 22, the Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $188.99, marked down from the normal price of $279 listed at Jackery. That's a 32% discount that takes $90.01 off the price. It matches the record low price at Amazon.

Jackery makes a large lineup of portable power stations and the Explorer 300 is an ideal model for taking along on short camping trips or during day adventures. It has a 293Wh battery with a 300W output. That'll recharge a phone about 13 times or keep a laptop running for about 3.5 hours.

A major benefit of the Jackery Explorer 300 is its compact size, measuring just nine inches long, 7.8 inches tall, and six inches deep. Plus, it weighs just 7.1 pounds which makes it easy to pack along on the camping or hiking trip.

Jackery equipped this model with two AC outlets, one 100W USB-C, and dual USB-A. Recharging the Jackery Explorer 300 with standard AC wall power will take about two hours or you can connect it to a 100W solar panel to get recharged.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C300 DC power bank station is under $170 at Amazon — save $80

It's worth noting this is an older Jackery portable power station and it uses a lithium ion battery. New portable power stations these days use longer-lasting LiFePO4 (lithium ion phosphate) battery cells. There are a few main differences between these two battery chemistries, but the most relevant is likely the lifespan. Lithium ion batteries don't last as long as LiFePO4 batteries. Jackery says the Explorer 300 should maintain about 80% of its original battery capacity after 800 cycles. By contrast, most LiFePO4 power stations maintain about 80% after 3,000 to 4,000 cycles. However, given the affordable price of the Explorer 300, it could be a great model for many people.

If you have outdoor summer plans that'll take you off grid, upgrade the experience by packing along the Jackery Explorer 300. It's on sale at Amazon for only $188.99 which matches the lowest we've ever seen.

After seeing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (stinky! not good!), I could really use a more positive piece of media to associate with Yoshi right now. It's fortuitous timing, then, that Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is right around the corner.

Nintendo's next upcoming Switch 2-exclusive (and, at this point in time, one of the only announced Switch 2 games with a release date) is out May 21, and I got to play a couple of hours of it at a preview event in NYC. While I'm still not entirely sure that this eminently lightweight, kid-friendly adventure is what I want out of a Yoshi game, it's got a really neat take on creative sandbox experimentation and an absolutely gorgeous visual style.

To put it simply, if you like throwing things at other things just to see what will happen — or if you need a new game your young kids can play without getting frustrated — then Yoshi and the Mysterious Book should be on your radar.

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

SEE ALSO: 'Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream' is a hilarious little ant farm for Nintendo Switch. And I need that right now. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book just wants you to explore, dude

I will admit that before I got my hands on it, I had a bit of a hard time grasping the core concept of Yoshi's first starring adventure since 2019.

Mysterious Book simultaneously feels like it has a lot going on when you're flutter-jumping around one of its many vibrant, literary worlds. But on a macro level, it's really a game about just doing stuff until you don't feel like doing stuff anymore, without much in the way of time pressure (or any other kind of pressure) to stress the player out.

Its premise finds a group of colorful Yoshi dinosaurs hanging out with a, well, mysterious book called Mr. E. He's a cool, leatherbound encyclopedia with a mustache, but he also seems to have misplaced the contents of his pages, and it's up to Yoshi to jump inside the book and figure out as much information as possible about the fantastical creatures it documents.

Each chapter is a gorgeously illustrated tableau of various creatures hangin' out in their natural habitats, and zooming in on a creature will enter a level based around it.

Once you're in a level, the idea is to simply discover as many weird little systemic interactions between creatures and their environments as you can, primarily by either trying to eat them (as Yoshi is wont to do) or by stashing them on Yoshi's saddle and throwing them at different animals or objects. Discovering different types of interactions rewards the player with stars, which can be used to unlock more levels.

Mr. E is a cool dude. Credit: Nintendo

For example, the first level I played involved multi-colored flowers. When I tried to eat one, I got a star for discovering that you can convert them into eggs. When I carried one on my back and passed by a patch of grass, a field of flowers in the same color as the one I had on my back sprouted, giving me another star. The rest of the level mostly revolved around growing flowers in specific places to solve puzzles, and within a few minutes, I'd collected a bunch of stars and was able to leave whenever I wanted to.

Mysterious Book's flow sounds a bit basic and honestly boring when written out like that, but a couple of things keep it from feeling that way in practice.

For starters, simply moving Yoshi around these 2D side-scrolling sandboxes is a delight thanks to sharp platforming and egg-throwing mechanics that have worked for 30 years. Beyond that, Mysterious Book has a fairly jaw-dropping art style that evokes stop-motion animation in a 2D setting.

Some animations purposely have a lower frame rate to create that effect, and between that and the simply outstanding character and environmental art on display, Mysterious Book has one of the coolest looks for any Yoshi game ever.

You really need to see this in motion to understand how pretty it is. Credit: Nintendo

It also helps that the levels progressively get more involved as they go. One of my favorites involved a certain type of bug that, for lack of a better term, body-snatched various objects in the environment to menace Yoshi. The level happened to be full of watermelons, which the bug could inhabit to turn into a flying seed-spitting machine gun, but luckily, Yoshi could also rapid-fire seeds by eating one.

After a while, the main objective of the level was to quickly eat watermelons before the bugs could get to them, and if they did get to one, the game briefly turned into a fun little side-scrolling shootout between Yoshi and a flying watermelon.

Of course, there were also lots of other goofy things going on in the environment, so if I wanted to, I could ignore the watermelon bugs and just poke and prod at other things to collect discovery stars.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a very safe space

I'm very into the idea of little 2D sandboxes where everything can interact with everything else, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book seems to be thoroughly constructed around that idea. My one and only potential hangup with it after the demo I played is that, as a demo attendant told me, Yoshi cannot take damage or die in this game. When the watermelon bugs spit seeds at Yoshi, the worst thing that can happen is that the player just gets a little annoyed.

This looks like a great time! I wish I was doing this instead of typing words on a computer. Credit: Nintendo

I'm not dense enough to misunderstand the target audience for Mysterious Book — young gamers.

I think kids will enjoy this Yoshi title even more than I did

This upcoming title is overtly kid-forward in a way that not every Nintendo game does, and that's broadly a good thing. The uncomplicated gameplay is ideal for young button mashers who just want to run around and try stuff.

I think it kicks ass that Nintendo is producing high-quality software that can be enjoyed by players young and old, especially in a world where seemingly every other game marketed to kids is some kind of Roblox nightmare. Having said that, removing any sense of risk from Mysterious Book made portions of the demo feel a bit aimless and not super exciting.

However, I'm open to the possibility that over the course of the full game, I'll be able to settle into Yoshi and the Mysterious Book's distinctly and, at times, delightfully lackadaisical rhythm. We'll find out together next month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Yoshi and the Mysterious Book' $69.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on May 21. It's available for pre-order now at Nintendo and Amazon for $69.99.