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When people watched NASA's Artemis II mission return to Earth, they saw helicopter views of little orange-clad figures exiting the spacecraft onto a raft. 

But the U.S. space agency has since released a short closeup video of the Navy recovery team as it opened the hatch on Friday, April 10. The trained divers and medical officers entered the tiny 330 cubic-foot Orion capsule, greeted the four astronauts. 

SEE ALSO: A girl asks for Pluto to regain its planet status. NASA chief: We're looking into it.

From video cameras mounted on the recovery team's helmets, shown in the X post below, it's as if you're right there with them. The team cheers and claps, with shouts of "let's go!" followed by "four green" (a callout that the crew was OK). 

"Welcome home," the recovery team said to the Artemis II crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, the first humans to fly around the moon since 1972. 

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Up close, the spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by the crew, appeared battered and singed as it bobbed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California. The capsule had just plummeted through Earth's atmosphere, a fiery descent that put the crew through a 25,000 mph ride. 

During that intense and dangerous phase, the astronauts experienced nearly 4Gs, a pressure pushing against them equal to four times their bodyweight. Without proper training, those conditions, coupled with adrenaline overload, could cause a person to blackout. 

But as the recovery team soon discovered, not only was the returning crew healthy, they were in high spirits, smiling as they waited through the procedures to leave the spacecraft. At the end of the video, one of the recovery officials, referred to as "Vlad," said he had something for Wiseman. The clip ends before that "something" is revealed. 

"Jesse, Steve, Laddy, and Vlad….such an incredible feeling to welcome you aboard Integrity after a nearly 700,000 mile journey," Wiseman said in a post on X. "Forever thankful for your service to our crew and the nation."

Featured Video For You NASA's Artemis II mission concludes with a perfect splashdown in the Pacific

What is clear is that the people who welcomed Artemis II back to Earth seemed just as exhilarated as the astronauts themselves. Before climbing inside the crew's living quarters for the 10-day journey, the team almost forgot to place the seal cover over the bottom edge of the hatch in their haste to see their friends. 

Artemis II, which launched April 1, marked NASA's triumphant return of human-led space exploration. It planned the voyage as the critical shakeout cruise for the spacecraft before the agency attempts to land on the moon. During the flight, the Artemis II crew put Orion through its paces, testing everything from propulsion and communications to how well humans can live, work, and make scientific observations far from home.

The day after Artemis II's splashdown, Commander Reid Wiseman visits the Orion spacecraft in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls

Packed with cameras, sensors, and experiments, the mission turned the crew into both test pilots and test subjects, gathering data to shape future Artemis voyages. A successful journey vets the hardware and flight controllers for a moonwalk planned for 2028. 

NASA isn't just motivated to get back to the moon for the moon's sake but to practice keeping humans alive in another world for extended periods. That's crucial before sending astronauts on a months-long spaceflight to Mars, perhaps possible in the late 2030s. 

A new space race also sets the timeline for the Artemis campaign. The United States wants to land on the moon again before China, which is extremely close to achieving its first human moon landing. 

If you thought the splashdown meant Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen could finally relax, you'd be wrong. Just hours after landing, NASA tested the crew's mettle again with an obstacle course. 

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Generally, when the word "immersive" is used in headphones marketing, it means the headphones will have some form of spatial audio, and even more likely, active noise cancellation.

Sony is flipping the script on that idea with the release of the Sony Inzone H6 Air, a wired, open-back gaming headset that, by design, comes without any noise cancellation. The new headset is a part of a larger expansion of the Sony Inzone gaming lineup, announced Tuesday.

The headphones are available now for $199.99. Along with the H6 Air, Sony announced a new OLED gaming monitor optimized for first-person shooters, the Inzone M10S II. The monitor will be available for purchase later this year at a price of $1,099.99.

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In addition, Sony also announced cosmetic updates to existing Inzone products. We've got all the details you need, plus a first look at the new products.

Sony Inzone H6 Air headset: Price, release date, specs

The Sony Inzone H6 Air open-back headphones are available starting April 14 at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy, with a price of $199.99. Because of the open design, they're Sony's lightest gaming headset, and they have the same spring-hinge headband design found on the Inzone H9 II headset.

As an overview, here's what to expect, spec-wise:

• Style: Open-back wired gaming headset

• Weight: 199 grams (without microphone)

• Drivers: 40mm drivers based on Sony's MDR-MV1 studio headphones

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

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

• Micrphone: Detachable cardioid microphone

The new Sony Inzone H6 Air headphones. Credit: Sony SEE ALSO: The 7 best Sony headphones to buy in 2026, tested by audio experts

Sony has never before offered open-back headphones in their gaming line. However, the company has made premium open-back studio headphones — namely the aforementioned MDR-MV1, which at $419.99, are over double the price of H6 Air headphones.

Open-back headphones are not to be confused with open earbuds. The latter is designed to let sound from the environment in while balancing the streamed audio, essentially functioning as a transparency mode. Open-back headphones, on the other hand, are less about providing situational awareness and more about providing the most realistic spatial soundscape possible.

With an open back, the headphones' acoustics allow for the sound to have more physical space, allowing for a more natural spatial soundstage. (Anyone who's experienced subpar spatial audio features on noise-cancelling headphones knows how huge this feature is). The idea, as Sony explains in their press release, is to both accurately reproduce the sounds of a game, and make it sound as if it's coming from all around the player.

SEE ALSO: The most comfortable headphones we've ever tested will take care of your ears

One of our testers recently described the elite audio experience of open-back headphones while reviewing the Sennheiser HD 599. While open headphones are popular among audiophiles, open-back gaming headsets aren't particularly common in the gaming community, as evidenced by the limited offerings at Micro Center, a PC gaming and electronics store. Sony's pricing seems relatively competitive to the competition — Audio Technica's open-back gaming headphones go for $139.99, while ASUS ROG's go for $299.99.

Further bolstering the sound of these headphones is the equalizer settings, which can be accessed through the Sony Inzone hub. For these headphones, a new setting has been added specifically for role-playing and adventure games.

Mashable's tech editor has been testing the new H6 Air headset ahead of their launch, and so far, he's been impressed with the sound. The headphones are also noticeably lighter than most headphones, with a comfortable fit and a strong microphone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone H6 Air $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Sony Inzone M10S II monitor: Price and specs The Sony Inzone M10S II monitor comes with a dual mode refresh rate of QHD 540Hz and HD 720Hz. Credit: Sony

The Sony Inzone M10S II is the latest gaming monitor from the brand, though it won't be available to purchase until later this year. At this time, Sony puts the suggested retail price at $1,099.99 ($100 cheaper than the last generation Inzone M10S monitor). Here's what you'll get with the monitor:

• Display: OLED

• Size: 27-inch full display mode and 24.5-inch tournament mode display mode

• Refresh rate: Dual mode refresh rate with 540Hz QHD with rapid 0.02ms response time and 720Hz HD

• Tilt: Wide tilt range of -5 to 35 degrees

• Special features: Advanced motion blur reduction, Super Anti-Glare Film

• Warranty: Three-year warranty

This OLED gaming monitor was specifically designed for FPS gamers. It features a FPS Pro mode and FPS Pro+ mode, which optimize gameplay for the OLED experience

Sony collaborated with the esports organization Fnatic to help create a monitor optimized for competitive gamers. The refresh rates and price point certainly point to those players as the target audience — if you main farming sims, this isn't the monitor for you. Comparable dual-mode monitors include the ASUS ROG Swift, also priced at $1,099.99, and this LG UltraGear monitor, which clocks in at $999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone M10S II $1,099.99 at Sony
  Learn More More updates to Sony's Inzone line Esports org Fnatic collabed with Sony on the Mouse-A and gaming mats. Credit: Sony

Sony's Fnatic collab extended into their existing product line, with exclusive Fnatic editions of the Inzone Mouse-A ($169.99), Inzone Mat-F ($74.99), and Inzone Mat-D ($44.99). These products run about $10 to $20 more than the base item without an exclusive design.

Translucent purple joins the Sony Inzone buds lineup. Credit: Sony

Outside of the collaboration with Fnatic, Sony also added a third colorway to their Inzone Buds line: a transparent glass purple joins the existing black and white earbuds. Sony's gaming earbuds come with spatial audio, a 2.4GHz connection, and 12 hours of battery on a single charge. The translucent purple earbuds are available immediately at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy, retailing for the same price as the black and white colorways — $239.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone Buds $239.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

SAVE $14: As of April 14, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC is on sale at Amazon for just $75.99 instead of its usual $89.99. That's 16% in savings and its lowest price in months.

Opens in a new window Credit: 8BitDo 8BitDo Arcade Stick $75.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $14   Get Deal

If you're seeking a beginner-friendly fight stick to accompany your Nintendo Switch or PC gaming, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is calling your name. Not only is it an eye-catching NES-like nostalgic comfort, but it's fully customizable for just about any preference you may have. Plus, more importantly, it's on sale for its lowest price in months.

As of April 14, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is down to just $75.99 at Amazon instead of its usual $89.99. That's 16% in savings and the lowest price we've seen since January.

Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the Arcade Stick an Editors' Choice for budget joysticks. They called it a "capable wireless controller that’s ideal for playing classic arcade games on the PC or Switch," adding that it's a great entry-level fight stick that offers room to grow.

While the Arcade Stick doesn't actually pack high-grade arcade parts, the build quality is solid, the controls are responsive, and the joystick is "satisfyingly clicky." Plus, it's designed with modding in mind, so you can pop open the hood and replace the base parts with whatever you wish.

It can wirelessly connect to a Nintendo Switch or Windows PC through Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB receiver and offers between 30 and 40 hours of battery life depending on which you choose. Of course, you can also keep a wired connection if you want to minimize any input lag. Unfortunately, it's not compatible with Android or any other gaming consoles. Still, for a more arcade-like experience from the comfort of your own home, check out the 8BitDo Arcade Stick while it's on sale.

TL;DR: On April 14, visit your nearest Scoop Shop and grab a free cup or cone of your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor.

It's that special time of year when free ice cream becomes the norm. Hot on the heels of Dairy Queen announcing the date of its Free Cone Day, Ben & Jerry's has done the same.

Ben & Jerry's celebrates Free Cone Day around the globe every year, sharing the love with free cups and cones of your favorite flavors. There's no catch. Simply visit your nearest Scoop Shop and grab a scoop for free.

When is Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day?

Ben & Jerry's is giving away free ice cream at a host of locations between 12-8 p.m. on April 14. You can check participating locations here.

Ben & Jerry's is aiming to spread more joy than ever before. They served up 1 million scoops in 2023, but they're targeting more in 2026. And you can help out with that ambitious target, because unlike a lot of these free giveaways, there's no limit on the number of times you can score a free cone. Can't decide what flavor to order? Don't worry — try them all.

Mark your calendars. This is a date you don't want to forget.

The free Lego deals for mid-April Restaurants of the World: Mexico (40907) free at Lego with $180 purchase Get Deal Lego Star Wars TIE Advanced Mini-Build free at Lego with $40 Lego Star Wars purchase Get Deal

Aaand we're back with the latest free Lego deals for this month. The warmer weather must have Lego in a good mood, because two free options are up for grabs in mid-April: Spending $180 or more unlocks the Restaurants of the World: Mexico set (a $19.99 value) for Lego Insiders, while spending $40 on Lego Star Wars items gets anyone the TIE Advanced Mini-Build (an exclusive $4.99 value).

SEE ALSO: 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' review: Death is coming for us all

Lego Insiders is free to join and gives members multiple ways to score even more Lego deals: Earn redeemable loyalty points on each purchase, enjoy member-only discounts, limited time gifts, and early access to new drops. Through May 8, Insiders can enter a member-only sweepstakes to win eight Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets (zero loyalty points required to enter).

Free Lego with highest value Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Restaurants of the World: Mexico (40907) $0
$19.99 Save $19.99   Get Deal

Part of the collectible Restaurants of the World series, this taqueria building set features a colorful taco station (complete with an oversized taco on the roof), a cactus, and a minifigure wearing an apron.

As always, you don't need to track down a singular $180+ Lego set to meet the $180 minimum. You can get your cart to $180 through multiple purchases, including new arrivals like the Nike Air Max 95 x Lego set or Lego Pokémon Eevee, plus any preorders. The only model excluded from the promo is the Lego Jurassic World: Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler.

A cute May the 4th gift Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars TIE Advanced Mini-Build $0
$4.99 Save $4.99   Get Deal

May the 4th is less than a month away, and The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters less than a month after that. If Star Wars excitement is in the air for you, why not grab one of the newest Star Wars sets? You'll get a mini version of Darth Vader's TIE Advanced starfighter from A New Hope out of it. Lego Star Wars sets to grab include the Imperial Star Destroyer, Venator-Class Attack Cruiser, or Lego Smart Play sets, plus preorders for Grogu (Mandalorian Apprentice) or The Razor Crest. BTW, we saw the hallowed Gingerbread AT-AT Walker back in stock.

The gay dating app Sniffies has been relatively quiet since the App Store catastrophe (In case you missed it: The company launched an official iOS app that forced users into a censored "Vanilla Mode" to appease Apple's strict guidelines, only for the app to get pulled anyway — and there's still no word on whether it will return). But this month, the company is launching multiple new features designed to make connecting "faster and more intentional." Which is a super-smart move, IMO. Grindr is getting all kinds of heat right now for pushing paid features and gatekeeping basic functionality in the hopes that users will cough up some cash.

SEE ALSO: The best gay dating apps of 2026: Grindr is still king (even if we sometimes wish it wasn't)

"Sniffies is built for immediacy," Eli Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at Sniffies, said in a press release. "We're not trying to keep people scrolling or upsell basic functionality. We're focused on helping people connect quickly and clearly. That means building tools that make connection easier without putting it behind a paywall."

Here's a quick breakdown of the new features:

Cruiser Cards

"Cruiser Cards" make it way easier to see who's available without having to hunt them down. Instead of dragging your finger across the map, the site pulls nearby active cruisers and highlights them in a scrollable carousel, sorted by the exact time they were last active. It basically turns the map into a live feed of guys who are ready to meet up right now.

Credit: Sniffies Into Filter and Position Icons

If you're sick of clicking into a profile only to realize you're completely sexually incompatible, you'll love the new "Into Filter." It's a ridiculously easy way to distill the map down to guys who are looking for the exact same thing you are.

To make things even more obvious, the new "Position Icons" display a cruiser's preferences directly on their map avatar. You'll know right away whether they're a top (🍆), bottom (🍑), vers (↕️), or side (↔️). The emojis stack based on their profile (a vers top will show up as 🍆↕️, for example).

Credit: Sniffies Share a Spot and Share a Group

Coordinating a meetup is easier now, too. With "Share a Spot," you can drop a temporary map pin right into the chat to suggest a neutral meeting place. The location automatically expires for both of you after 60 minutes, so you don't have to stress about oversharing your exact whereabouts.

Meanwhile, "Share a Group" lets you send live group event details (like the time, activity, and attendee list) directly into a chat.

SAVE $202: As of April 14, the Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for an all-time low $297.99. That's 40% or over $200 off its current list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $297.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $202   Get Deal

It's currently one of the best times of year to buy a new TV. Not only are the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs about to kick off, but it's also prime season to score a 2025 TV model for a steal.

As of April 14, you can get the Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV for only $297.99 at Amazon (or just $2 more at Best Buy). That's 40% or over $200 off its current list price of $499.99 — its cheapest price ever.

If a TV upgrade is in order, but you don't want to spend a ton of money, the Hisense QD7 is an excellent value. Our pals at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the QD7 model the best budget TV, thanks to its full array local dimming (typically only found in more expensive TVs), enhanced contrast levels, and surprisingly high brightness. "The QD7 has the best price-to-performance ratio of any model I have ever reviewed. It is heartily recommended," writes TV expert Ty Pendlebury.

The QD7 also packs features like an AI upscaler, Filmmaker Mode, and a native 144Hz panel with Motion Rate 480, Game Mode Pro, and AMD FreeSync Premium. Whether you're gaming or streaming, you'll enjoy a smooth, lag-free experience. As a Fire TV, it has Alexa built in. That means you can press a button on the remote and ask for everything from content recommendations and sports scores to smart home lighting adjustments and a peek at who's at the front door.

Whether you're looking for a new screen to catch the postseason hockey action, every MLB game, or the new season of Euphoria, the Hisense QD7 is a solid choice at the best price you'll find.

We have bad news for Windows laptop shoppers.

Microsoft has become the latest company to raise prices because of the global memory shortage, announcing wide-ranging price increases for Microsoft Surface laptops.

As reported by Windows Central, Microsoft has increased prices up to $500, specifically citing "recent increases in memory and component costs" in a statement to the site. The new prices are live now at the online Microsoft Store, and retailers will likely update prices soon, too. Every laptop in the Surface lineup has increased in price by at least $100 compared to its 2025 pricetag, and some of these laptops have gone up by as much as $500 since 2024.

For example, the 13-inch Surface Pro was $999 in 2024. A year later, it started at $1,199, with some better specs. Now, in 2026, the same device is $1,499. In just two years, that one laptop has seen a $500 price hike, and it's not alone. Every laptop in the Surface lineup now starts for over $1,000, which wasn't true two years ago. As Windows Central pointed out, it only gets worse the more bells and whistles you attach to each laptop, as the highest-end Surface Laptop 15 is now $3,649.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 price, PS6 release could be impacted by memory shortage

These Surface laptops are the latest in a long and growing list of tech products experiencing price increases due to the global memory shortage. The hardware demands of AI data centers have led to shortages and higher prices for RAM memory components. Combined with the tariff-related price increases seen in 2025, the end result is another year of higher prices for shoppers.

In just the last couple of months, we've seen Sony suspend SD card sales and raise the price of the PS5 game console, and it's become increasingly difficult to buy a Steam Deck at any price due to stock shortages. One has to wonder how much longer the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for $450.

In the laptop market specifically, Apple recently raised prices on its MacBook devices as well; however, the company also introduced a new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, which has put even more pressure on the Windows laptop market.