Mashable

There's a new AI agent on the block for people who spend their waking hours inside spreadsheets.

Navigate to Shortcut AI's website, and you'll find a page that looks almost exactly like an empty Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The main difference is a sidebar chatbot that can be tasked with taking on the tedious legwork of building, say, complex financial models or competitive analyses.

Because Shortcut is agentic, meaning it can handle multi-step tasks on the user's behalf, the tool can do more than just generate Excel formulas or analyze spreadsheet data. In a demo on X, Nico Christie, founder and CEO of the Shortcut AI agent, showed how the tool swapped out the data from a Microsoft distributed cash flow analysis (DCF) for Google data by looking up Google's SEC filings and populating the data in the same template.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Shortcut launched on Monday with a rather ominous tagline: "Try Shortcut (before your boss does)." Christie also said on X that the Shortcut Excel agent "one-shots most knowledge work tasks on Excel."

In the launch video, Christie said that the company tested Shortcut's skills in private equity, banking, consulting, and product management tasks against first-year analysts from McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, and other firms.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

When scored by managers from the same firm, he said Shortcut "won" against the analysts 89.1 percent of the time, although details about how this "win rate" was scored is unspecified. Christie also claimed Shortcut beat ChatGPT Agent 90 percent of the time. Mashable cannot independently verify these claims, however.

The advent of agentic work tools like Shortcut calls to mind Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's prediction that AI could wipe out half of entry-level white collar jobs. Disruptive tech throughout history has often targeted manual labor and blue-collar jobs through automation and robotics. But today's advanced AI models promise to automate desk job grunt work and even complex office tasks. A recent study from SignalFire found a decrease in hiring for entry-level tech jobs, suggesting AI's impact on the job market is already in effect.

The optimistic view is that tools like Shortcut will work for workers by automating time-consuming tasks, and thus freeing up space for more creative and strategic work that AI isn't as a good at. The outcome may vary from company to company, but agentic AI already shaping the way employees approach their jobs.

Indeed, the Shortcut AI agent is marketed as a secret weapon for finance bros, consultants, and the like. You can edit existing Excel files in Shortcut and export it back to Excel. "No one would ever know that it was made in Shortcut," Christie said in the launch video.

And heavy spreadsheet users are already paying attention. "Looks like a massive part of finance workflow got automated by AI," said finance creator and writer @HighYieldHarry on X.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"This is a really big moment for the Finance industry! Exciting times we're in," posted Michael Yuan, cofounder of fintech company Waverly AI.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Yuan also pointed out some of Shortcuts current limitations: it's slow and has formatting issues. Christie himself also shared that it's "not perfect" and needs to be easier for users to review.

How to try Shortcut AI

Shortcut offers two plans: Shortcut Pro for $40 a month or Shortcut Max for $200 a month, which gets power users everything in the Pro subscription plus unlimited access to its more advanced model and other perks. There's also a 7-day free trial for either option.

You can learn more at tryshortcut.ai.

Note: The Shortcut AI Excel agent is unrelated to the iOS Shortcuts app, which Apple said would be getting an AI makeover during WWDC 2025. There is also an unrelated agentic AI company called Shortcut.

You’ve seen Labubu all over your social media feeds, but now it’s Crybaby’s time to shine. One of Pop Mart's cult-favorite characters, Crybaby is everything its name suggests: soft, sensitive, and unafraid to show it. With juicy teardrops streaming down its face and an aura of quiet vulnerability, Crybaby wears its emotions proudly.

It's tearfully chic. Just ask its celebrity fans: BLACKPINK’s Lisa, who was spotted toting the Love You Cherry Much plush on her Louis Vuitton bag, internet personality Bretman Rock, and (G)I-DLE's Minnie.

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

Now, the character is taking a sparkly, tutu-clad turn with the new Crybaby Shiny Shiny Series, a limited collection of plush accessories and collectibles that channels full balletcore energy. There are plush bag charms dressed in white tulle skirts and ballet buns, fuzzy dolls with pearl necklaces and floppy bunny ears, and glittering phone cases and cardholders that let you carry a little catharsis everywhere you go.

The collection dropped on July 24 in stores and online. And while some of the online stock quickly sold out, you don't want to miss out on future Crybaby drops.

Crybaby Shiny Shiny Plush Pendant Blister Pack ($24.99)

A ballet bag charm with a tear-streaked face and a tutu.

Wear your emotions on your bag. Credit: POP MART Crybaby Shiny Shiny Plush Doll ($43.99)

Ultra-textured and dreamy, with bunny ears and soft pastel details.

Your emotional support doll is draped in pearls and emotionally available. Credit: POP MART Crybaby Shiny Shiny Earphone Case ($20.99)

A sculptural pouch for your AirPods that’s equal parts cute and functional.

Even your earbuds deserve a safe space to cry. Credit: POP MART Crybaby Shiny Shiny Phone Case ($25.99)

Available for iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Max.

Text your ex with grace and glitter. Credit: POP MART Crybaby Shiny Shiny Card Holder Blind Box ($19.99)

There are six surprise designs (plus one secret edition).

A surprise with every tear. Credit: POP MART

Created by Thai artist Molly Yllom (Mod-Nisa Srikhumdee) after the death of her dog Somchun, Crybaby isn’t meant to be a person or even a baby, but a vessel for emotion. "Crying is a normal thing, is a normal feeling,” Yllom said in a Pop Mart video from 2024. "Maybe sometimes we feel like there should be someone telling me that it is OK to cry."

View this post on Instagram

That’s the core of Crybaby: not just a toy, but a tender little reminder that it’s OK to fall apart sometimes. And it’s resonated deeply. While the character first debuted in 2017, it became part of Pop Mart's official lineup in 2022 and quickly cultivated a global fandom.

SEE ALSO: Where can you buy Labubu online?

With the Shiny Shiny collection, Crybaby is stepping into its most glamorous form yet — still vulnerable, still tearful, but sparkling with new confidence. It’s not just cute; it's a wearable mood. And now your tech can be too.

Have you ever had an incredibly stupid conversation with someone on a dating app before?

TikTok creator Luke Holloway takes those conversations and turns them into very, very catchy little songs. You've probably heard some of the tunes before, as part of his series "Day X of turning terrible TINDER conversations into songs," but none more than the now-viral "I have one daughter" video. It goes like this:

Holloway, dressed in a white cable-knit sweater: "You have any kids?"

Holloway, dressed in a green blouse and a white wig: "Yes, I have one daughter. How about you?"

Holloway in the sweater: "How many baby daddies do you have? If you don't mind me asking."

Holloway in the wig: "... I have one daughter."

Holloway in the sweater: "I understand that, is she by the same father?"

Holloway in the wig: "I don't understand."

You get the gist. It's a goofy conversation in which one person does not comprehend a fairly easy-to-comprehend issue. Unless you're the plot of Mamma Mia, chances are if you have one baby, you also have one baby daddy.

But Holloway's song is devastatingly catchy. I've been singing it for weeks. "I have one daughter," I sing as I float around my apartment doing the dishes or cooking dinner. Because of its catchiness, the video has 1.2 million likes and over 14 million views. The audio itself has been used over 65,500 times on the app, with users putting text over it to describe frustrating conversations about selling books, having vitiligo, and being a parent.

Holloway didn't immediately respond to Mashable's request for an interview, but the trend doesn't seem to be slowing — likely because, as one user said in the comment section of his video, "This is beyond catchy."

Microsoft is killing off the password functionality in its popular Microsoft Authenticator app as the company moves toward a "password-less" future. That means your passwords will be deleted on Aug. 1 — this Friday — unless you act quickly.

We've covered the ongoing Microsoft password saga in detail, but now the key deadline is approaching. The long and short of it: Microsoft is migrating to using passkeys — a more secure credential that effectively rolls passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) into one step — which means removing passwords from Authenticator. You can still store passkeys with the app.

In lieu of traditional passwords, users will need to set up passkeys with Microsoft, which isn't too difficult. That's option one. Option two involves saving your existing passwords with Microsoft Edge.

So, if you've been procrastinating on migrating your passwords or setting up a passkey, you're almost out of time.

How to set up a passkey with Microsoft

It's easy to set up passkeys because, after all, Microsoft has planned for this change. In fact, if you use Microsoft Authenticator, then it should prompt you to switch to passkeys. From there, Microsoft should detect and determine the best method for you to set up a passkey — facial recognition, fingerprint, PIN, etc. — and then walk you through the steps.

You can also look for a "set up a passkey" button in the Authenticator app, which will allow you to... set up a passkey.

SEE ALSO: Don't forget: Microsoft is killing passwords. How to set up a Microsoft passkey before August deadline. How to save your passwords before Microsoft deletes them

Now, let's say you don't want to migrate to using passkeys. Well, first, your passwords have migrated to Microsoft Edge, the company's web browser. If you're using Edge on desktop, iOS, or Android, you can turn on the "autofill" function in settings to have your passwords automatically load.

If you're not an Edge user, you can also export your passwords and load them into a different password manager before Friday's deadline. You can find an "Export Passwords" tool in the settings of the Microsoft Authenticator app. From there, you can import that file into pretty much any new password manager tool. Should you wish to go that route, we can recommend a few password managers.

So, yes, you may lose your passwords in a few days — but it's pretty easy to prevent it.

OpenAI wants ChatGPT to be a pocket companion, friend, and now teacher, as the company launches Study Mode, a ChatGPT mode that turns the all-answers bot into a personal tutor.

In Study Mode, ChatGPT no longer provides direct answers to user queries. Instead, when toggled on, users are prompted to explain their goals and knowledge level before any information is given — for example, if you are new to the topic or if you already have a grasp of the material and just need a refresher — and the chatbot provides a personalized lesson in response.

SEE ALSO: Deepfake voice scams are more sophisticated than ever: How to keep your family safe

If a user, say a college freshman, needs help with a difficult physics problem, ChatGPT will skip over the introductory stuff and move right into a lesson module. If another only vaguely recalls learning a topic but they now need to answer a specific question, ChatGPT will backtrack. "Let’s learn by doing," ChatGPT responds. "Let’s work through this together.”

Credit: OpenAI

Earlier this month, users theorized that OpenAI was set to release a tutor bot after ChatGPT users spotted a new "Study Together" option in the product's settings, which allowed them to problem solve with the chatbot in a kind of Socratic dialogue. The move wasn't surprising to most, as OpenAI has made an aggressive push for AI applications in education, including offering free ChatGPT services to college students nationwide. With Study Mode, company has since confirmed that's exactly what's going on.

"We all know that learning requires friction, it takes effort, curiosity, and grappling with ideas," said Open AI head of education Leah Belsky in a call with press. "So the question on our minds as we built this product was, how can we guide students towards using AI in ways that encourage true, deeper learning?"

Credit: OpenAI

As OpenAI explained, the new mode is built on custom system instructions that prompt ChatGPT to mimic an educator, informed by input from pedagogy experts, teachers, and scientists. These include the aforementioned Socratic questioning method, as well as concepts like scaffolded responses and built-in knowledge checks to gauge a users' understanding. The hope is the feature will engage college students, in particular.

"We believe AI will transform the way the world learns," Belsky said.

Belsky explained that OpenAI's additional motivation to design a teacher-like bot was to address a growing problem with the tool's "average" user, who may find it difficult to fine-tune OpenAI's model into something manageable and intuitive to learning. "This is critical, because early research shows that how ChatGPT is used in learning makes a difference in the learning outcomes that it drives. When ChatGPT is prompted to teach or tutor, it can significantly improve academic performance. But when it's just used as an answer machine, it can hinder learning," she said.

OpenAI also announced it's exploring future updates to Study Mode that may include more advanced visualizations, goal-setting and progress tracking, and personalization based on skill and grade.

How to use ChatGPT's Study Mode

Users interested in trying out the chatbot's new Socratic-style can simply toggle on "in ChatGPT's "Tools" setting, located below the prompt window. Study Mode can also be turned on and off during a conversation.

Important to note: the feature is built only on new system instructions and not its own main model, which, the company explains, can result in inconsistent behavior and mistakes across conversations.

The feature is available on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team accounts, and will launch to ChatGPT Edu accounts in the coming weeks.

TL;DR: Take control of your documents with PDF Converter and Editor. Easily convert, edit, and manage PDFs with this lifetime license, now just A$36 with code SAVE20 through September 7.

Tired of the daily PDF struggle? With PDF Converter and Editor, you can easily switch between formats, edit text, and organize your documents like a pro. And right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription for only A$36 (reg. A$153) with code SAVE20 before September 7.

Conquer PDFs once and for all with this app

Stop jumping through hoops when it comes to PDFs. PDF Converter and Editor lets you tackle this pesky file format easily on one handy platform. Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, JPG, and more files — or turn other formats into PDFs with just a few clicks.

PDF Converter offers lightning-fast conversions without sacrificing quality. You'll enjoy high-quality output, so you can confidently convert files for any purpose. 

This app does more than convert PDFs — it’s packed with extra tools to make working with PDFs a breeze. Built-in OCR technology can extract text from image-based files. And merging, splitting, or compressing documents is equally straightforward. 

Need to fill out an existing PDF? It's easy to fill out forms with text, check boxes, shapes, and annotations all on PDF Converter. Want to just grab the images off a PDF file? That's just as simple — you can extract all JPGs and PNGs from a PDF with just one click. 

If you're dealing with sensitive data, PDF Converter lets you lock or unlock your files, add password protection, and even encrypt sensitive information for peace of mind.

Need to enhance your PDF? This app makes it easy to add customizable watermarks and shapes as needed. 

Manage, edit, and convert PDFs with PDF Converter and Editor for just A$36 using code SAVE20 through September 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License AU$36
AU$153 Save AU$117 Get Deal

SAVE $70: As of July 29, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is down to its lowest price ever of $209.99 at Amazon. That's just shy of 20% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Idea Tab Pro (with folio case and Lenovo Tab Pen Plus) $209.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $70 Get Deal

In a world flooded with iPads and Galaxy tablets, it's easy to forget there are other options. But Lenovo's Idea Tab Pro is definitely a worthy contender. Our pals at PCMag (also owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis), write that it "stands out by offering a bevy of high-end features at a midrange price."

As of July 29, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro (128GB) is on sale for only $209.99 instead of its usual $279.99 at Amazon. That's nearly 20% in savings and its best price to date. Similar to the higher-end Galaxy tablets, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro includes a professional stylus — the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus — instead of charging extra like the Apple Pencil. The low $209.99 price tag also includes a folio case.

Its minimalist design combines a spacious 12.7-inch display with solid specs and strong performance without a ton of extras. It doesn't have the brightest display or best cameras on the market, but that's not its main selling point. Instead, its biggest perks are its impressively smooth performance, expandable storage, speedy WiFi, and solid battery life (up to 11 hours). Its built for everyday use and productivity alike, making it a particularly great choice for students.

As far as affordable Android tablets go, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is at the top of the list. Slash $70 off for a limited time with this back to school deal at Amazon.

India is now the top exporter of smartphones to the U.S., overtaking China in the race, according to research firm Canalys.

The number of smartphones assembled in India and imported to the U.S. skyrocketed this year, accounting for 44 percent of phones imported to the U.S. in the second quarter of 2025. The total volume of smartphones made in India increased by 240 percent from last year.

Meanwhile, China's smartphone exports to the U.S. shrank from 61 percent last year to just 25 percent of total U.S. imports by June. This is lower than that of Vietnam, which is now responsible for 30 percent of phone imports to the country.

China's exports to the U.S. are slipping amid tariff concerns and "accelerated supply chain reorientation" after uncertain negotiations between the two countries, according to Canalys. Tech giants like Apple largely shifted their supply chain to India, while "still dependent on established manufacturing bases in China," said Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. Companies including Motorola and Samsung have also increased their share of U.S. supplies from India.

Exports from China have been under increasing threat since the U.S. imposed high tariffs on the country (tariffs that were heightened, paused in May, and generally left global markets in a state of uncertainty). The two countries have resumed trade talks in Stockholm this week. Meanwhile, a tariff simulator has just predicted that China-made exports to the U.S. could fall by $485 billion between now and 2027.

SEE ALSO: What to buy before tariffs take effect: Experts say laptops, smartphones, and even Christmas lights could soon cost more

President Donald Trump has been pushing tech companies to move manufacturing to the U.S., as his tariffs have swept through the global economy in recent months. In May, the President took to Truth Social to inform Apple's Tim Cook that he expects iPhones to be manufactured and built in the United States – "not India, or anyplace else."

SAVE $150: As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus for $599.99 at Best Buy. That's a discount of 20% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus $599.99 at Best Buy
$749.99 Save $150 Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to get work done on the go, you should consider picking up a new laptop. And if you like no-muss, no-fuss tech, a Chromebook laptop is even better. That's why you shouldn't miss this Samsung Chromebook, now down to the lowest price we've seen, at Best Buy.

As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus for $599.99, down from $749.99, at Best Buy. That's a discount of 20% and $150 off. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best laptops of 2025 (so far)

This iteration of Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook line comes with an Intel Core 3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a gorgeous Neptune Blue chassis. Samsung boasts that it's the thinnest, lightest Chromebook Plus ever as well, so it's made to tote around wherever you need to get things done. It also comes with 12 months of Google One AI Premium so you can put Google Gemini Advanced and Gemini to use throughout apps like Docs, Gmail, and more with 2TB of cloud storage.

The AMOLED display is super bright, and the 15.6-inch screen is large enough to give you more real estate to work with. It gives you 13 hours of battery per charge as well, with super-charging able to your Chromebook back up to speed in no time. And, if you need to, you can connect to your phone straight from your computer to make additional tasks (or catching up) a cinch.

If it's time you upgraded, consider grabbing one of these models before they go out of stock at this price.

A new lawsuit filed by two companies in the adult film industry claims that Meta has torrented copyrighted adult film content for years in order to train its AI models.

Strike 3 Holdings, a pornographic film holding company, along with Counterlife Media, filed the lawsuit in a US Court District in California on Friday, alleging that Meta "willfully and intentionally" infringed at least 2,396 copyrighted movies since 2018. The company is the most active copyright litigant in the U.S., according to TorrentFreak, and regularly targets BitTorrent pirates.

SEE ALSO: Judge in 'Kadrey v. Meta' AI copyright case rules for Meta, against authors

According to the suit, Meta downloaded adult film content "for purposes of acquiring content to train its Meta Movie Gen, Large Language Model ('LLaMA'), as well as various other Meta AI Models that rely on video training content." Meta is accused of downloading copyrighted works without permission and with the purpose of distribution "in order to accelerate its downloads of vast amounts of other content."

Popular torrenting networks don't just allow users to download media files. Torrenting is a form of peer-to-peer file sharing, in which users download pieces of files from other users. The suit alleges that not only did Meta download copyrighted adult works, but that it made these files available to others, and benefited from doing so. Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Strike 3 Holdings, which says its sites attract over 25 million monthly visitors, is now seeking extensive damages that could amount to $359 million. And, according to Ars Technica, the company is also asking for an injunction to permanently ban Meta from using its content again.

Meta has previously been sued over its AI model training, with a major copyright and fair use case filed against the tech giant by authors including Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Junot Diaz. Recently, Meta won a ruling against these authors, who claimed the company used their copyrighted works without permission. As Mashable's Cecily Mauran reported, "At the heart of these fights is a battle of values: the rights and livelihoods of artists versus technological innovation at all costs."

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SAVE 22%: The 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is on sale at Amazon for $359.99, down from the list price of $459.99. That's a savings of $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100 Get Deal

We're almost into fall TV season which means we have tons to look forward to. Plus, it happens to be getting close to major sports kickoffs. If you've been considering upgrading your TV, now is a great time. Amazon thinks so, too, and they're offering a sweet sale price on a solid model.

As of July 29, the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is just $359.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $459.99. That works out to a savings of $100 thanks to a 22% discount. It also matches the low we saw during Prime Day earlier this month.

Did you know season five of Only Murders in the Building is coming on Sept. 9? Now you do. We also have a new season of Wednesday dropping on Aug. 6, and plenty more that's worth tuning into. If you've been watching previous seasons of these shows on your tiny cellphone screen, consider today's sale your sign to upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Get this spooky Wednesday Addams Lego set ahead of the season 2 premiere

The 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series is a UHD TV that released in 2024. It's a great mix of quality with affordability, coming with a clear and crisp display. Plus, you get four HDMI ports to connect all your gaming and sound-system accessories.

The 55-inch size is perfect for a bedroom, a kids' room, or the garage. Like most Amazon TVs, this comes with the power of a Fire Streaming Stick already built in, so you won't need to add a streaming stick to your shopping cart.

In case you missed scoring a new TV during Prime Day, Amazon is here to save the day by offering the 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series for the same sale price of $359.99. Today's deal will put you in great shape for upcoming fall favorites.

SAVE $22: As of July 29, get the Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 at Amazon for $47, down from their usual price of $69. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 $47 at Amazon
$69 Save $22 Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of earbuds? The many budget earbuds available might make your head spin, but there's one brand you may not have considered while shopping: Nothing. And you can get a pair of the company's CMF Buds Pro 2 for a pittance while they're back at their Prime Day price.

As of July 29, get the Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 at Amazon for $22 off. That brings them down to $47 from the usual price of $69 for a discount of 32%.

SEE ALSO: The best wireless earbuds for every situation

These buds offer up to 50 dB of active noise cancellation with an expansive frequency range of up to 5000 Hz. They also boast a large 60 mAh battery so you can get 10 hours of music on each charge with 43 hours of additional playback thanks to the charging case. They also let you tweak their audio and EQ settings in the Nothing X app, where you can change everything from mid and high tones to bass and everything in between.

Beyond that, they offer spatial audio with 360-degree cinematic sound for Bluetooth connectivity, so no matter what you're doing in real life, you can be surrounded by sound. They include a customizable Smart Dial on the buds themselves to help you control them while on the go as well.

If you're ready to grab an advanced pair of earbuds, but don't want to spend too much cash, these make a great alternative to the many other options on the market.

SAVE $5: Heading to the cinema? Take $5 off any movie ticket on Wednesdays when you purchase through Fandango using Apple Pay. Just enter the code APPLEPAYWED at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango Fandango movie tickets Save $5 on Wednesdays using Apple Pay (code: APPLEPAYWED) Get Deal

Movie theaters are still struggling to return to their pre-pandemic glory, thanks in part to rising prices. If you're looking to spend more time at the cinema and less cash, Fandango is making things a little easier on wallets everywhere with Apple Pay Wednesdays.

When you purchase movie tickets on Wednesdays on the Fandango website or app using Apple Pay, you can get $5 off your ticket. This deal is valid for any movie on any day of the week — you just have to make the actual purchase on a Wednesday using Apple Pay with the code APPLEPAYWED.

There is a catch, of course. Only a limited quantity of code redemptions are allowed each Wednesday. So you'll want act quickly to secure your discounted ticket. If the code is showing up as invalid when you try to pay with Apple Pay (and it is, in fact, a Wednesday), it has probably already reached its maximum capacity. Pro tip: the earlier on Wednesday you can make your purchase, the better.

Be a part of the cinematic experience again while spending a little less on your tickets (we highly recommend starting with The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Oh, Hi!, which are both currently in theaters). It could be the first small step in the theater revival.

Google Nest users have a widespread complaint: that the verbal command "turn off the lights" isn't working.

A writer for Android Authority pointed out that the device didn't work for her, and several users on Reddit have reported the same issue. Some Google Home users say they can still control individual lights, but not groups of lights; others report individual bulbs won't turn on or off; and other times, the Google devices can't understand the difference between lights in separate bedrooms.

The issue seems to be contained to using Assistant voice commands, with most users saying that the controls work as they normally should within the Google Home app.

SEE ALSO: Is Google Home another victim of ensh*ttification? Redditors discuss, Google responds.

Google responded to several posts on r/googlehome, acknowledging the problem: "Hey all, We're aware of an issue with using voice commands to control some lights. We’ll share an update as soon as possible, thanks for your patience."

This onslaught of complaints follows criticism from Google Home users over the "enshittification" of Google Home smart speakers and hubs. Redditors have been complaining about glitches, delayed responses, and the deterioration of several basic features.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, responded to these complaints earlier in July, reassuring users that Google is "actively working on major improvements" and that the team would have more to share in coming months.

The crisis over Google Home gadgets may be getting worse. According to Tech Radar, US law firm Kaplan Gore has begun investigating a possible class action against Google for "failing to remedy increasing problems with its Google Home 'smart home' service." The law firm is asking Google users to share complaints over failing features, such as "unrecognized voice commands, automations and routines not functioning."

SAVE $180: The EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station is on sale at Amazon to Prime members for $519, down from the list price of $699. That's a 26% discount and a record-low price for Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station $519 at Amazon
$699 Save $180 Prime member exclusive sale Get Deal

Now that we're almost to August, end-of-summer and fall storms are starting to show up on the radar. If you live in an area that's prone to power outages, it's smart to have a portable power station on hand. If you don't have one of these wonders yet, Amazon has your back.

As of July 29, the EcoFlow Delta 3 portable power station is on sale to Prime members at Amazon for $519, marked down from the normal price of $699. That works out to a 26% discount that shaves $180 off the price. This deal is exclusive to Prime members who can now score the Delta 3 for a record-low price.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 gives you access to 1,024Wh of power with the impressive LiFePO4 battery technology which means this portable power station will last for at least 10 years. In real life terms, 1,024Wh of power gives you access to recharging your phone 89 times, keeping a fan on for 17 hours, or recharging your drone 12 times. When the power goes out, the Delta 3 can keep your refrigerator cooling for at least seven hours and the WiFi router powered on for almost 60 hours.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

You get plenty of charging versatility and options with the EcoFlow Delta 3 including six AC ports, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A. When it comes time to recharge the Delta 3 itself, you can go from zero back to 100% in under an hour. Plus, this model weighs under 30 pounds, so you can carry it from the garage into your home or around the campsite without much trouble.

Before the next storm hits, get prepared by snagging the EcoFlow Delta 3 from Amazon while it's at a record-low price. As long as you're a Prime member, the portable power station is on sale for just $519. Since it'll last well over 10 years, that works out to less than $52 per year for ensuring you can stay powered up when the storms hit.

It's been a year and half since HBO Max (then just Max) cancelled Our Flag Means Death, the queer pirate comedy created by David Jenkins and starring Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. While the show may be over, fans can now throw their pirate hats in the ring to own a piece of the series, as Heritage Auctions is auctioning off props and costumes from the show.

The auction is part of Heritage's HBO Mashup auction, which also features items from Barry, Big Little Lies, Curb Your Enthusiasm, White House Plumbers, and Perry Mason.

Our Flag Means Death lots include "Wanted" posters for Blackbeard (Waititi); pirate swords, daggers, and pistols; and the mermaid tail Stede Bonnet (Darby) wore during a pivotal Season 2 dream sequence. Several costume pieces are also up for grabs, including Stede's lavish coats and Blackbeard's leather battle ensembles.

SEE ALSO: Meet the real pirate queens behind 'Our Flag Means Death' hijinks

At the time of writing this, several lots are still at $1. Meanwhile, the most expensive item is currently the Stede and Blackbeard wedding toppers from Season 2, sitting at over $1,000. The auction ends Aug. 23.

Heritage Auctions isn't the only instance of an Our Flag Means Death auction. In Feb. and March of 2025, series fans organized the Our Flag Means Death craft fair, a 19-day fundraiser that brought in $105,000 for the Campaign for Southern Equality’s Trans Youth Emergency Project. Many of the pieces on sale were created by fans, ranging from embroidery pieces to jewelry. However, the Craft Fair auction also included donations from Our Flag Means Death's cast and crew. Jenkins donated an Our Flag Means Death teapot, along with a prop that Waititi doodled on during filming.

SPEND $50, GET A $15 GIFT CARD: Through Aug. 2, Target Circle Members get a free $15 gift card when they spend $50 on home essentials like laundry, kitchen, bathroom, or select lunch-packing supplies.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Free $15 Target gift card With $50 purchase of household essentials Get Deal

One thing about Target: It's going to pay you just for buying everyday essentials you'd be buying anyway. Yes, yet another free gift card promo is back, this time geared more toward end of summer shindigs and back-to-school: Get a $15 gift card when you spend $50 on household essentials like sandwich bags, Clorox wipes, Tide pens, Kleenex, Zevo bug traps, and more, plus the usual suspects like laundry, bathroom, and kitchen supplies.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both

The offer is available both in stores and online, but note that the gift card will be only be activated after your $50+ purchase — so you'll have to use it during a future shopping trip. That can be used on anything at Target, though, and just think about how many items are $15 or less at Target. Now, they're kind of free.

You do have to be a Target Circle member to unlock this promo. But unlike Amazon Prime, Target Circle is completely free to join. There is also a paid tier, Target 360, that involves perks like free 2-day shipping on everything and same-day delivery from Target and other local stores. But if you're happy to just have access to all of the free gift card events that Target does (which probably happens at least once a month), the free version of Target Circle is a clutch membership to have.

SAVE $60: As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back down to just $189.99 at Amazon. That's 24% off their list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60 Get Deal

If you have an iPhone, AirPods are a no brainer. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, it doesn't get much better than the Buds 3 Pro — especially when they're on sale.

As of July 29, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are back on sale for just $189.99 — down from the $249.99 list price and $9 cheaper than they were just yesterday. While that's not quite as impressive as their ultra-low Prime Day price, it's still 24% in savings for a truly great pair of earbuds.

Samsung took a page out of Apple's playbook for their third-generation premium earbuds, adopting the stem-style design for the first time. Aesthetic isn't the only upgrade, though; the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the brand's smartest earbuds to date. Not only can these babies adapt to your environment, filtering out noise when you prefer to focus and keeping you in touch with your surroundings when you need to be alert, but they can also auto-adjust your audio based on your fit. They also include an interpreter feature that can give you real-time translations of foreign languages in Listening Mode, whether you're on a phone call, watching a TV show, or asking for directions in another country.

Of course, all of these fancy features don't matter if the sound quality isn't up to par. Fortunately, according to our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis), the audio is "stunning and clear."

At full price, the Buds 3 Pro are a bit steep, but for under $190, we're much more inclined to recommend adding them to your cart.

In less than five months, DJI drones could be officially grounded here in the United States, amidst escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

By Dec. 23, all drones manufactured in China are required to undergo a national security risk assessment, and as of mid-July, Chinese drone maker DJI said it's received no indication this review has even begun.

And while DJI drones haven’t been officially banned in the United States, the company told Mashable it's having trouble importing its drones into the United States. The looming threat of a ban has already caused a frenzy. Retail supply is thinning out fast, resellers are cashing in, and DJI's entire product line is listed as "Out of stock" at the company's online store.

But does this signal the end of DJI’s presence in the U.S. drone market?

Not quite. At least, not yet.

SEE ALSO: Trump administration threatens to shut TikTok down if it can't make a deal with China Why are DJI drones so hard to find in stock?

In June, the Trump administration signed two executive orders aimed at boosting the domestic drone industry and curbing potential "malicious drone activity." But the orders stopped short of directly banning DJI or other China-based manufacturers.

The real threat to DJI's presence in the U.S. market lies in the fine print of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed in December 2024. The act mandates a formal national security review of Chinese-made drones. If the government fails to complete that review within one year, the provision could automatically trigger a ban on DJI drones by the end of 2025.

So, while DJI drones are still legal to sell in the U.S. — for now — the clock is ticking. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, DJI formally requested an audit of its operations and stated its full willingness to cooperate.

"DJI is confident that its products can withstand your strictest scrutiny," wrote Adam Welsh, the company’s Head of Global Policy. "We are confident not only because we have nothing to hide, but because independent firms and other US government agencies have repeatedly validated and confirmed that DJI’s products are secure."

However, in a July 16 blog post, the company stated, “Since the start of this year, there has been no formal indication that the mandated review process has started." The company also wrote, "there is a real risk that new DJI drones would be prevented from entering the U.S. market — not because of any proven risk, but simply due to compressed timelines or politically motivated decisions."

However, DJI may already be facing an unofficial ban.

DJI recently claimed to The Verge that CBP is "blocking many of its drones from entering the United States." And in a statement to Mashable, the company acknowledged it's having problems importing drones.

Mashable reached out multiple times — via calls and emails — to U.S. Customs and Border Protection press officers for comment but received no response.

In response to Mashable's questions, a DJI spokesperson provided this statement: "DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and making our products available to our U.S.-based customers. Current market conditions and policies have made it more challenging to stock and import drones. We are actively working to address and mitigate any influences and uncertainties, and to ensure products are accessible to our customers soon."

Calls to ban DJI drones in the U.S. go back to at least 2017, driven by data privacy concerns surrounding Chinese-made technology. Over the years, the federal government has floated various restrictions on DJI drones in particular, culminating in the Commerce Department adding DJI to its blacklist in 2020 during President Trump’s first term — a move that marked one of the earliest official efforts to curtail the company’s reach in the U.S. market.

Can you still buy and fly DJI drones?

Yes, as we stated previously, you can still purchase DJI drones — if you can get your hands on one. As of this writing, Amazon still has several popular DJI drones in stock, though only from third-party resellers. DJI's entire drone inventory remains out of stock at its official online store and most retailers.

Buying products from third-party resellers can be risky, and these sellers may charge a premium as supply dwindles.

Interestingly, DJI may have a plan B for the U.S. market. The Verge found a drone for sale at Amazon that's nearly identical in every way to a DJI drone. It even has a very similar app, though under a different name. Except for the yellow paint job, the Skyrover X1 drone clearly resembles a DJI product.

SAVE $275: As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's a discount of 19%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,144.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $275 Get Deal

If you've been looking for a reason to upgrade to a new smartphone these days, we found a deal you won't want to skip. You can save a significant amount on a powerhouse, AI-backed device from Samsung right now.

As of July 29, get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Samsung's latest and greatest phone) for $1,144.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,419.99. That's $275 off and a discount of 19%.

SEE ALSO: Verizon is giving customers a free Samsung Z Flip 7 — here's how to get yours

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution. It has 12GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and 512GB of storage. It also includes a built-in S Pen that you can use as a stylus for jotting down notes, doodling, or just navigating the phone.

This phone is built for AI support, and it has a wide variety of features that take advantage of that fact, like Now Brief that gives you a day's worth of information about what's happening in terms of news, weather, and more. There are also tons of photo and video editing options to help you clean up, remove static, and alter images for a more professional finish.

If you're ready for a new phone, make sure you don't miss the significant savings here. It's always good to get the top of the line device, and this one is no slouch.