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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 4 min 53 sec ago

Save $10 on the pocket Insta360 Mic Air for crisp, clear audio

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:42

SAVE $10: As of May 19, get the Insta360 Mic Air Wireless Transmitter for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Insta360 Mic Air Wireless Transmitter $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10   Get Deal

Whether you're a content creator or just want to add some quality audio to your videos, a wireless mic is a no-brainer. Insta360 just revealed its new Mic Pro with a customizable E-Ink display, giving the popular viral pocket mic from DJI a bit of stark competition. But you don't have to wait to get your hands on that model to get a solid lapel mic right now, especially with this deal we unearthed at Amazon.

As of May 19, get the Insta360 Mic Air Wireless Transmitter for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's $10 off and a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: Insta360 reveals Mic Pro with customisable E-Ink display

This wireless mic doesn't need a receiver and can connect wirelessly to your Insta360 camera or one of a variety of others. It's the size of a coin, and it's ultralight, at just 7.9 grams. That keeps it out of sight and out of the way so you can focus on doing what you're doing.

Despite its small size, it offers 48kHz sampling for excellent sound recording, whether you're capturing an interview or taking some voiceover for a video. Plus, with advanced noise cancelling and a windshield, you can keep out unwanted audio to ensure a clean recording every time, even if you're outside.

If you want to save money while making great content with even better audio, now's the time to try this tiny mic out for yourself. It's a wonderful alternative to DJI, and it looks like there's going to be even better options from Insta360 from now on, so it's good to get acquainted with the company now if you haven't already.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Inflation has hit spicy content hard

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:30

The increasing cost of living isn't just hitting groceries; it's hitting explicit content, too.

The porn site Clips4Sale reviewed millions of clips this month to determine how much the price of a clip has changed over time, depending on the fetish. With the "Kink Consumer Index" or KCI, Clips4Sale developed average prices for newly uploaded clips, year-by-year, in major fetish categories.

SEE ALSO: You're wrong about OnlyFans star Lily Phillips

"Kink and fetish are impacted by the same economic forces that drive global markets: the cost of goods, supply and demand and shifting consumer trends," Clips4Sale's spokesperson, Avery Martin, said in a press release shared with Mashable.

Here's some good news: The overall price of fetish content has risen more slowly than the rate of inflation, according to Clips4Sale. The U.S. consumer price index (CPI), which measures the change in average costs of common foods, rose 25 percent between 2020 and the end of 2025, CNBC reported at the time, and given inflation due to the Iran War, that number is surely even higher now. The cost of the average fetish clip, meanwhile, has risen 12.3 percent since 2020.

Credit: Clips4Sale

But the increase in average clip cost for certain fetishes has exploded (higher than the CPI) in the last six years:

  • Boot Worship: +56 percent

  • Wrestling: +45 percent

  • BBW / SSBBW ("big beautiful woman" / "super-sized big beautiful woman"): +42 percent

  • Balloons +39 percent

  • High Heels: +34 percent

  • Dirty Feet: +36 percent

  • Foot Tickling: +33 percent

Several of these fall into the category of feet, which seems to be in high demand these days.

Credit: Clips4Sale

"Civilians and celebrities often think they can make big money selling feet pics, without understanding the fetish consumer. There's a stunning diversity of content in the foot economy," Martin continued. "Fetish creators should be recognized as the experts that they are, and valued accordingly."

Kink and fetish are specialized skill sets that carry value, Martin said. While more people are working as adult creators today than in 2020 — which has kept content prices low — the market is diverse, and not all content is equal, she said. "We developed the KCI to help us track prices for our creators so they can help meet market demand."

Categories: IT General, Technology

This deal may not last until Memorial Day: get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen earbuds for their lowest price ever

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:28

SAVE $50: As of May 19, get a pair of Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen earbuds for just $249. That saves you $50 and brings the earbuds back to their lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal

I'm exceptionally picky when it comes to earbuds, finding that most pairs fall out easily or cause ear fatigue. But you really can't find a better pair of earbuds then the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. They fit snuggly in ears but truly live up to their name, being truly comfortable. Bose just revamped their flagship earbuds, and the 2nd gen model is still exceptional, and ahead of Memorial Day, the earbuds just got a price drop.

As of May 19, the latest earbuds from Bose, the QuietComfort 2nd Gen earbuds have dropped back down to its lowest price ever. With a list price of $299, the earbuds are now $50 off, bringing them down to $249. That saves you 17% off.

Beyond the earbuds' comfort, the audio quality and ANC shouldn't be overlooked. The noise cancellation on these buds rival a pair of over ear headphones and the audio quality is crisp, bringing out all of the nuance and detail in your favorite songs whether they be live recordings or from the studio.

Now is the best time to shop the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd gen earbuds, which are back down to its lowest price ever. This deal might stick around through Memorial Day, but there's no guarantee, so act fast.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home: Streaming details revealed

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:17

Nintendo's venture from the gaming world into the cinema is going splendidly, as yet another hit film has broken major box office records. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the highest-grossing film in the U.S. for 2026 so far and while it's still floating around in theaters, you can now officially watch it at home.

The best ways to watch 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' at a glance: Buy or rent 'Hamnet' on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Buy or rent 'Hamnet' at Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Instacart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $99.99/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Walmart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $98/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

The film brings back 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie voice cast favorites, including Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Bowser (Jack Black). New characters join in on the action as well, including a tiny Bowser Jr. voiced by Benny Safdie, Princess Rosalina voiced by Brie Larson, Yoshi voiced by Donald Glover, and Fox McCloud voiced by Glen Powell.

If a love of Nintendo's longtime mascot isn't enough to reel you in, the star-studded cast surely will. Here are all the details you need to know to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home.

What is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie about?

Based on Nintendo's hit Super Mario Galaxy video game, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, along with their sidekicks, on a galactic adventure to rescue Princess Rosalina (Peach's long-lost sister) after she's kidnapped by Bowser Jr. Can they save her before her cosmic powers are drained and Bowser Jr. uses them to free his father?

Check out the official trailer below:

Is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie worth watching?

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's success at the box office is undeniable. It could realistically pass the $1 billion mark before all is said and done. But the reviews are mixed, to say the least. To put it simply: Audiences are loving it, but critics aren't convinced.

The ratings gap on Rotten Tomatoes paints quite the picture. Audiences have rated it an 88 percent on average, celebrating its "spirited cast" and "joyful wonder." But its measly 42 percent critic rating summarizes it as "frenetic" and "weightless."

"Like its predecessor, it may make tons of money," Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review. "But that won't make it good."

Read Mashable's full review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home Credit: Universal Pictures

As of May 19, there are a couple of different ways you can watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $24.99 or you can wait a little while to stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

After being delayed from it’s original digital release date, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie makes its digital debut on May 19, 2026. That means you can buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch forever.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

Stream it on Peacock (at a later date)

While we don't have an exact streaming release date yet for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, we do know that it will eventually make its debut on Peacock alongside other Universal Pictures films (including the Super Mario Bros. Movie). The theater-to-streaming trajectory for Universal movies is varied, but we can make an educated guess. Wicked: For Good, another high-performing Universal film, took about four months to land on Peacock after its theatrical debut. If the Galaxy Movie follows a similar path, we anticipate an August 2026 Peacock streaming release.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99, it unfortunately won't grant you access to theatrical releases. Instead, you'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save up to $33 on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

If you pay up front for a year of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus, you can save up to $33.89. Premium (with ads) costs $10.99 monthly, which adds up to $131.88. If you pay for the annual plan, however, it'll only cost you $109.99 — a savings of $21.89. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. The annual plan, on the other hand, costs just $169.99 — a savings of $33.89. You'll essentially be getting two months of streaming for free by opting for an annual subscription.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

If you're an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend logging into your account to see if you're eligible for free streaming on Peacock. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for young adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Both students and young adults can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age through SheerID and you'll receive a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, teachers, and military personnel can all secure Peacock Premium subscriptions (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying professional status through SheerID. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year. Prices are subject to change year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. You'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. If you time your trial to match up with the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on Peacock, you can watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount. We recommend setting a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get Deal

One of the best ways to score streaming services for free is by signing up for a Walmart+ membership. With a $98 Walmart+ subscription, you can choose either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Of course, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The giant 98-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV is back to a record-low price at Amazon — save over $6,000

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:05

SAVE $6,002: The 98-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $8,997.99, down from the list price at Samsung of $14,999.99. That's a huge 40% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 98-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV (98QN90F) $8,997.99 at Amazon
$14,999.99 Save $6,002   Get Deal

We have a big summer of sports and new TV shows on its way. From the World Cup matches to MLB games and a new season of The Bear on its way in July. Not to mention the summer sun has become somewhat unbearable. If you plan to spend time indoors watching your favorite movies, shows, and sporting events, you'll want to make sure your TV is up to the task. If not, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 19, the 98-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $8,997.99, down from the list price at Samsung of $14,999.99. That's a huge 40% discount that shaves $6,0002 off the price. It matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. It also comes with free professional wall-mounting service which usually costs $239.99.

SEE ALSO: The huge 100-inch Hisense U6 Pro Series TV is over $1,000 off at Amazon — save ahead of the World Cup

If your TV room can handle a 98-inch TV, is there a reason to not go big? With a glare-free design and a QLED display, the Samsung will do a great job when viewing in bright afternoon sun. Samsung also notes this model uses the brand's most advanced 4K AI processor for getting the best picture possible no matter what you're watching.

When it comes to watching sports or reading subtitles, the Samsung AI Motion Enhancer Pro is designed to smooth the motion of fast movements, reducing blue or any flickering that could cause issues. You also get Samsung's SolarCell Remote which recharged with a built-in solar panel or through USB-C if you're not getting enough sunlight.

Before this deal leaves Amazon, upgrade to the 98-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV. You'll be saving over $6,000 and getting free professional wall-mounting installation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save $100 on the excellent-sounding Sonos Move 2 portable speaker

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 16:53

SAVE $100: As of May 19, get the Sonos Move 2 for $399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sonos Move 2 $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100   Get Deal

The weather is heating up, and that means it's time to start thinking about heading out for some summer fun. If you've got some summer outings planned this year, why not liven things up with a portable speaker? Take all your favorite music and podcasts with you wherever you go and share them with your whole crew. And if you're not sure which model to choose, we've got a fantastic one to pick up right now that's on sale.

As of May 19, get the Sonos Move 2 for $399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499. That's $100 off and a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: The best speakers in 2025

The Sonos Move 2 brings bombastic sound to the table, with acoustic architecture that features two tweeters and deep bass thanks to its specially-tuned woofer. It uses automatic Trueplay tuning to optimize its sound for wherever you are to give you the best possible listening experience, which means up to 24 hours of playback on one charge.

Its casing is durable, shock absorbent, and rated IP56 to make sure you don't have to worry about accidental splashes or drops ruining the entire speaker. Its built-in handle also makes it easy to tote around if you want to take it with you on the go. Mashable's Stan Schroeder praised its as sounding "absolutely stellar" in his review, adding that it surpassed "most home speakers" he's heard.

If you're ready to take the plunge, be quick about it -- this speaker will likely go fast at this price, especially since it's prime portable speaker time with the gorgeous warm weather across the country.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What are romance scams and how can you avoid them?

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 16:39

"I fell in love with him and he also claimed to feel the same way for me," said a victim of a romance scam, who requested anonymity. They met a man called "Bob" on Facebook, who claimed to be in South Africa working for the military.

After talking for some time, Bob said he wanted to visit the victim, who lives in the United States. Sure enough, he started asking for money: "He told me he had some trouble with his bank card not working in South Africa and couldn’t get funds to pay for his flight," anonymous said. "He asked if I could send the money to pay for his [flight] and other things."

SEE ALSO: Romance scam red flags to look out for

The victim, like so many others, sent money to the grifter. Romance scams are a multimillion-dollar problem, and it appears to be only getting worse. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), people reportedly lost $547 million from romance scams in 2021, an 80 percent jump from the year prior. Then, in 2025, two senators urged the CEO of Match Group to act on romance scams, suggesting that the problem is only getting worse.

But what exactly are romance scams, and how can you avoid them?

What are romance scams?

Romance scams are also called confidence scams because they require the scammer to gain the victim's trust. They're a form of social manipulation where scammers often create fake profiles on dating or social media platforms to start talking to victims and get them emotionally attached, said trial lawyer and partner at The Clark Law Office, David Clark.

Scammers often target people who are vulnerable — say if they're elderly or recently divorced or widowed. However, "it's important to remember that these scams can happen to anyone, regardless of their level of financial knowledge," said Tommy Gallagher, a former investment banker and the founder of Top Mobile Banks, a site dedicated to digital banking.

Once they gain victims' trust, scammers will start asking for money. They'll come up with excuses like they have a medical emergency, or even that they want to visit the victim, just like Bob did. When the victim starts sending money, the scammer will demand more and more until they're financially drained, said Clark.

Unfortunately, that's what happened to the victim Mashable spoke to: "Every day, he [brought] up one issue or the other, demanding for more money that I ran out of money and went into debt," they said. "When he realized I had no money left, he stopped replying to my messages and stopped taking my calls." That's when it dawned on them that Bob was a scammer.

"It typically takes a significant loss of money before victims notice things to be wrong and resist."

"When it comes to matters of the heart, even the most rational of individuals can throw caution to the wind," said Gallagher.

People may fall for romance scams because grifters meet their emotional needs, commented licensed therapist and vice president of marketing at Divorce Answers, Lauren Cook-McKay. Scammers master what victims want to hear: promises of love, compliments, messages of empathy and compassion. 

"In fact, it typically takes a significant loss of money before victims notice things to be wrong and resist," Cook-McKay said. "This is because when our emotional needs are being met, we're willing to look past the negative in an attempt to preserve that source of emotional support."

There are multiple types of romance scams, according to Clark:

  • Military scam, when the scammer pretends to be a member of the military — like Bob.

  • Oil rig scam, when they pretend to work as an oil rigger. 

  • Exchanging intimate media, when the scammer gets the victim to send nude photo or video to use them for blackmail.

"But no matter what type of romance scam it is," Clark said, "the scammer will always make excuses to avoid their victim, such as they're too far away and can't meet with the victim or avoid video calls."

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps for serious relationships How can I avoid romance scams?

Be cautious when meeting online, and be skeptical of anyone who asks for personal information or money too soon, said Gallagher. Never give money to someone you haven't met in person, and never share details like bank account numbers or your Social Security number. 

Some dating apps, like Tinder, have verification features where users can prove they are who they say they are. Tinder and other Match Group dating apps have even started rolling out features to help people sniff out scammers. In the UK, Match and OurTime partnered up for a similar campaign with the City of London Police and reporting center Action Fraud.

If you're using a service without verification or your match is unverified, you can do a reverse image search. Clark recommends doing this on Google or a site called Social Catfish

You can also stop talking to someone who refuses to meet in-person or on video; it's a major red flag. 

Ask questions pertaining to their identity, or ask for proof. If they say they're in the military, for example, ask to see their military ID card. "They can also ask the person what their MOS [military occupation specialty code] is. The MOS identifies the person's job title," Clark said. "They can also ask questions about the military culture, such as basic training or their favorite MRE [Meal, Ready-to-Eat] treat."

There's new evidence suggesting scammers are increasingly posing as loved ones, so be diligent about that as well. Contact the friend, romantic partner, or whoever else to see if they're being impersonated.

If you've already given a scammer money, contact your bank and credit card companies and let them know what happened, Gallagher said. You can report them to the dating site you met them on, and report them to the FTC as well.

Beyond researching your matches and calling out scammers, Cook-McKay said to "stop falling in love with being in love." Learn how to meet your own emotional needs and validate yourself, so you don't turn to others; seek out the help of a mental health professional if needed.

Most importantly, Gallagher said, don't be ashamed to reach out to friends and family for support. You're not alone. "By being aware of the dangers and taking the necessary precautions," he said, "we can all protect ourselves and our loved ones from the heartless actions of these scammers."

This article was first published in 2023 and republished in 2026.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Romance scam red flags to look out for

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 16:36

It seems that scams are everywhere these days — in our texts, emails, and phone calls to start. And con artists continue to become more sophisticated in the age of AI, so much so that a recent survey suggested that they're increasingly imitating your loved ones.

Some also prey on people's vulnerability and loneliness, pretending to be potential love interests: Romance scammers. New research from online protection company McAfee found that two in five young adults (ages 18-24) encounter potential romance scams weekly, much more often than adults 65+ (one in 20).

SEE ALSO: The 12 most common internet scams to be aware of in 2025

Fifteen percent of Americans said they've lost money to an online dating or romance scam, McAfee reported. Men are more likely to report losses (21 percent) than women (10 percent). And while most losses are under $500 (especially among younger adults who are scammed), some can be in the thousands; only men have reported losses over $5,000.

And it's not just scammers joining the most popular dating apps who are out to scam. Tinder recently required all new U.S. users to scan their faces when signing up, with one reason being to prevent scams. (Hinge will soon be testing this, too.) But bad actors are also creating fake clones of these dating apps.

A third of adults surveyed by McAfee received a fake "exclusive" or "invite-only" dating app invitation, and 14 percent signed up and shared personal or payment information. And Tinder clones accounted for around half of all malicious app activity, McAfee found. Between Dec. 1, 2025 and Jan. 22, 2026, 78 percent of all detected fake dating app installations were fradulent versions of Plenty of Fish.

Visa Scam Disruption found similar results, according to Visa's chief risk and client services officer, Paul Fabara, in a blog post about romance scams leading up to Valentine's Day. The team found a romance scheme that was "an entire network of dating sites engineered to mimic affection and funnel unsuspecting people into recurring billing traps."

Romance scam red flags

Watch out for those "exclusive" dating app invitations. There are apps out there that let you apply for membership rather than just create a profile — like Raya — but those are few and far between. If you want to download a dating app, your best bet is going to your phone's app store.

Here are some other red flags to pay attention to:

Lovebombing

If someone says they're in love with you after a few messages, that's a red flag — even if they're not after your money. If a potential lover is rushing intimacy, it might be tempting to go along with it, especially if you're lonely, but it's not the norm. The old adage remains: If it seems "too good to be true," it probably is. Same goes with glowing dating app profiles of perfect (filtered?) photos and cutesy bios.

"Romance scams don't begin with money. They begin with trust," said McAfee's head of threat research, Abhishek Karnik. "Scammers blend into everyday dating and social platforms, take time to build emotional familiarity, and make the relationship feel real before the scam ever starts."

Urgent requests for money

Is someone you matched with on a dating app — or someone appearing to be your long-lost friend — saying they need money this instant? It's a sign they just want that from you: Money. And they might even threaten that the conversation will end, Fabara wrote, in an attempt to keep you hooked.

Asking for sensitive information

Are you asking to go out, and they're asking for your bank details first? Be cautious. Just like asking for money, begging for this sensitive data isn't what someone would want to do if they're just trying to get to know you. These people might just want to get to know your bank accounts.

Trying to get you off the app — but not IRL

If a match is sending you weird QR codes, links, or asking for a verification code? That's a bright, bursting red flag. Again, don't send money, and it's best practice not to click any strange links, either.

Especially worse is if someone you're talking to refuses to video chat or meet in person. "Consistent excuses to dodge face‑to‑face interactions signal they may be hiding their real identity," Fabara wrote.

As scams become trickier to navigate, we have to learn the clues. Stay safe.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a clever, gorgeous Switch 2 adventure for all ages

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:58

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book for Nintendo Switch 2 ultimately won me over and cemented itself as one of the more creative and original Switch 2 exclusives so far, but it definitely took some time to get there.

At first, I wasn't having a bad time while playing Yoshi's latest and most literary adventure, but it felt a little elementary. This game is eminently kid-forward (though not necessarily kid-focused), even more so than most Nintendo games, to the point where I found it more idly pleasant than truly engaging. But my patience with it was rewarded by about the halfway point, as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book does eventually unfurl into a smorgasbord of inventive and delightful ideas, the likes of which we're used to seeing from the best first-party Nintendo titles.

Its pacing is uneven and its structure is a bit odd, but Yoshi and the Mysterious Book leverages a toy box-like approach to game design and adorable visuals to create something that I think will be remembered reasonably fondly as an early Switch 2 exclusive years down the line.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo just announced a new Switch 2 bundle that lets you choose your own game Yoshi and the Mysterious Book's Mr. E is an instant icon Put this guy in Smash, please. Credit: Nintendo

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is not a narrative powerhouse, nor does it aspire to be, and that's OK.

Basically, a bunch of Yoshis find a cool, old leatherbound tome with a big mustache. This mysterious book is called Mr. E. The E stands for encyclopedia because, well, he's a living encyclopedia, with a bunch of worlds full of fantastical creatures hidden in his pages. Yoshi's job is to jump into those pages and study each creature; one creature equals one level, and discovering things about a creature rewards the player with stars, which accumulate to unlock more worlds. That light progression system most overtly game-y thing about Mysterious Book, but in my experience, it was almost impossible not to gather enough stars to move onto the next world. In other words, don't worry about it.

I should also mention that the player is given the option to name every creature after you finish its level, with a free text entry field that's bound by a censorship filter, of course. If you're not creative, though, you can just ask Mr. E, and he'll give the creature its canonical name.

Credit: Nintendo

When Yoshi hops into Mr. E's pages to document a creature (all of whom are cool, funky little freaks), Yoshi and the Mysterious Book very quickly becomes one of the most visually attractive video games of 2026 on any platform. Its illustrative backgrounds mesh well with character sprites that intentionally have fewer animation frames than you might expect, a la the Spider-Verse movies. Mysterious Book also smartly incorporates some 3D elements here and there, alongside a fun fictional font that appears in the background, making it feel like you really are inside a magical encyclopedia. As a nice bonus, no matter how chaotic some levels were, the game never faltered from a flawless 60 frames per second performance profile on my Switch 2.

Put another way, this game is just a firehose of color and personality at all times. Some of the later levels, in particular, really stand out visually thanks to enormous, bigger-than-the-screen creatures that look absolutely fantastic. Nintendo has a strong history of giving Yoshi games attractive art styles, and this one is one of my favorites. It's a shame, then, that the handful of cutscenes that take place outside Mr. E's confines are so plain and uninspiring to look at. It's not a huge deal, but it does stand out whenever you see it.

No two levels are alike

As I noted before, every creature gets its own level in Mysterious Book, and each level is essentially a tiny sandbox with one completely bespoke mechanic that you will (with limited exceptions) only encounter in that level. This is the magic of Mysterious Book: Each and every level reveals a new idea in its first few seconds, and almost all of the time, that idea is something that's fun to mess around with for anywhere between two and 10 minutes, with an emphasis on experimentation and discovery

For example, one early level involves stationary frogs with leaves on their heads. Try to eat one with Yoshi's signature long-ass tongue, and you'll earn a star for discovering that you can't. Jump on its head and you'll find out that each one sings a different note, earning you another star for discovering that. Bounce on several in a row without hitting the ground, and they'll belt out a recognizable melody, earning you a few more stars. If you're observant, you might notice one without a leaf on its head, and if you remedy that situation, you'll get some more stars.

Credit: Nintendo

Each level has one central objective to complete in order to mark it as finished, but for the most part, you're free to explore and mess around as much as you want. There's no fail state, Yoshi can't die, and there's almost never a time limit of any kind. Between all of that and the fact that these levels are often extremely short, Mysterious Book is lightweight, low-stakes, and incredibly digestible, perfect for a kid with insatiable curiosity or an adult without a lot of free time.

The most impressive thing about Mysterious Book is just how much mechanical variety it has to offer. Yoshi's moveset is limited to running, jumping, eating, carrying, and throwing, and the game gets so much more out of those basic actions than you'd expect. They managed to fit surfing, fishing, and a ton of other goofy little activities in here, again, each for the duration of one level and one level only. It's one of those games that gets more fun to play the more you realize that they probably had a lot of fun making it. I can't imagine many ideas were ever thrown out or dismissed entirely during development.

Just be patient with it This guy rocks. Credit: Nintendo

Like any game, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book has some foibles to contend with. For starters, not every level is good; I actually really did not like the fishing level because the minigame it's centered around is not even a little bit friendly to colorblind players. Puzzle solutions can occasionally be a little obtuse, and Mr. E's hints (available at the press of a button) aren't always the most helpful. There were a few too many occasions where I progressed simply by banging my head against a metaphorical wall for a few minutes.

More broadly, though, there are some structural issues to contend with here. I'll try to be as vague as possible about this, but there is a point where it really feels like Mysterious Book has reached its conclusion in a kind of limp and disappointing way, only to reveal that you're actually about halfway through the game. The good news is that almost everything after this point is totally killer. All of the best, most creative, and most out-there levels are beyond that threshold. The bad news is that the few hours prior to that sort of feel like one long tutorial, as the earlier levels can often feel pretty basic for an adult player.

But "basic" is not synonymous with "bad," nor should it be in this context. The early hours of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book are pleasing enough, and everything after that is absolutely worth being patient enough to see. Nintendo has crafted something that really grows on you over time, saving its best for last for adults and certainly being great fun for the little ones the whole way through.

Don't let the fact that Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is not a flagship 3D Mario or Zelda game turn you away from its charms. It's really one of the more fascinating Switch 2 exclusives yet, even with its shortcomings.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on May 21. You can pre-order the game now for $59.99 from Amazon, Nintendo, and other retailers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Insta360 reveals Mic Pro with customisable E-Ink display

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:00

Insta360 has unveiled the Mic Pro, a new lapel mic with a customisable E-Ink display. It seems that while other companies have been shrinking their transmitters, Insta360 is making its mics' size a feature instead. 

Lapel mics have become ubiquitous among content creators, frequently appearing in videos as they're difficult to conceal while in use. DJI recently announced swappable magnetic covers for its own Mic Mini 2 transmitters, allowing users to at least customise their transmitter with a variety of colours. However, these covers still retain the company's branding, and have a limited number of hues to choose from.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insta360 Insta360 Mic Pro $99.99 at Insta360
  Shop Now

The Insta360 Mic Pro's E-Ink display takes such customisation several steps further, giving users massive control over their lapel mic's look. Its customisable display enables you to completely remove the Insta360 logo and replace it with any image, from words and symbols to complex photographs. The Mic Pro does have outward-facing icons marking its power and record buttons, which seem unnecessary and disrupt users' chosen design. Fortunately, the vast majority of the transmitter's visible surface is still subject to your creative whims.

Credit: Mashable composite / Insta360

In terms of build, the Mic Pro transmitter is slightly larger than its predecessor the Mic Air, and over double the weight at 19.7 grams without its attachment clip. The clip can be slipped off in favour of a magnet, though Mashable found that it took a surprising amount of effort to do so in our first look. Even so, users will likely prefer the magnet, as the transmitter's weight noticeably drags down shirt collars when using the clip. Both Insta360 mics offer up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge; however, the Mic Pro's new fast-charging storage case makes it easier to top up on the go. 

Credit: Insta360

Like the DJI Mic 3, the Insta360 Mic Pro has 32GB of onboard memory and can range from standard 24-bit audio files to 32-bit float internal recording. Insta360 states that the Mic Pro can record up to 22.2 hours of 32-bit stereo audio or 60 hours of 24-bit mono, with a 48kHz sampling frequency. It also has USB-C ports on the transmitters themselves, a feature we missed on the Mic 3.

Still, the Insta360 Mic Pro's biggest appeal is by far its E-Ink display.

SEE ALSO: DJI launches the Mic Mini 2. But there's a catch. How to change the Insta360 Mic Pro's E-Ink display Credit: Mashable

Changing the Mic Pro's E-Ink display is very straightforward and easy. Simply connect the transmitter to the Insta360 mobile app, and you'll be presented with a screen showing its current display, as well as information such as its current battery percentage and storage capacity. From here, you can tap "Custom Wallpaper" to either select from a variety of preloaded images or upload your own. 

After uploading your image, you can reposition and zoom in on it to ensure the Mic Pro frames it exactly as you'd like. You must also choose between using a detailed, lightly pixelated rendition of your chosen image, or to apply a filter which simplifies it into blocks of colour, intended for images such as simple logos. Mashable's testing found the former option looked better, as the simplifying filter tended to apply colour palettes that didn't reflect the uploaded image.

Once you finalise your choices, you can apply the custom display to the Mic Pro's E-Ink display. It will briefly flash yellow and black to refresh the screen as it does so in order to get rid of any ghosting, and then you're set. The image will remain in the Mic Pro's display until you change it, even after you've turned the transmitter off. 

Credit: Insta360

Your customised wallpaper will also be saved in the Insta360 app, so you can easily swap it in and out or apply it to other Mic Pro transmitters. The app allows you to give your wallpapers a text label for easy organisation as well, which you can choose to show on the Mic Pro's E-Ink display.

The Insta360 Mic Pro is available now at $99.99 for a single transmitter, $199.99 to add a receiver, and $329.99 for two transmitters and a receiver in a charging case.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

I talked to Snooki about the Ninja SLUSHi Twist and made my Jersey boy dreams come true

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:38

They say don’t meet your heroes. I say do.

Last week, my brother came to visit me from New Jersey. He’d been to my old apartment, but where I’m at now is new territory. He was losing his mind over my office, a sunroom I’ve filled with plants that are, against all odds, still alive. I was more than happy to let him snoop. It’s a space I’m proud of. He picked up a framed photo I have sitting on my desk. It captures the iconic moment Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi writes “The Note” (if you know, you know) at an internet cafe in Miami alongside her best friend Jenni “JWoww” Farley. He asked one simple question:

“Why?”

Easy reply.

“Working from home gets lonely. Snooki is my coworker.”

It was just a few hours later when I got an email with the title, “Interview opp: Snooki available Friday." And I swear I’ve never opened an email faster.

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Snooki and JWoww have collaborated again, but this time, they aren’t roommates at an apartment in Jersey City. The two have partnered with Ninja to release a limited-edition SLUSHi Sundays kit. The first 100 customers who purchase the Ninja SLUSHi Twist on May 24 will receive Snooki and JWoww’s exclusive slushie recipes (plus some fun extra gifts like hats and cups) to keep your summer going the Jersey way. Perfect for moms on the go, party girls, slushie lovers, and dudes pushing 30 writing stories next to a framed photo of Snooki in their Chicago apartment.

As someone who grew up thinking Slurpees only existed at the 7-Eleven in Point Pleasant (and whose current drink of choice is the frozé at Sidetrack in Chicago), this was big news. I said yes to the interview, obviously.

Released on May 19, the Ninja SLUSHi Twist is a two-for-one, sort of like Snooki and JWoww in Seaside circa summer 2009. The machine has two 48-ounce vessels that can make around 10 or more drinks per batch. (Mashable reviewed the SLUSHi in 2024, rating it 4.6 out of 5 and giving it a Mashable Choice award.) This is great for kids and adults alike, because one side can be filled with Ron Ron Juice and the other with Ron Ron Juice sans vodka. Fun for the whole family. You can purchase this one for $399.99.

Ninja also has the Ninja SLUSHi XL, which is two times bigger and faster than the OG SLUSHi 2. It’s got a 128-ounce capacity that also makes ten or more drinks per batch. This one runs $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi Twist $399.99 at SharkNinja
  Shop Now Meet your heroes: Talking with Snooki about boozy slushies Credit: Ninja

The day after the premiere of the final season of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, I got on a call with my idol. I entered the Zoom sweaty at my underarms, tilted the camera up so Snooki couldn’t see, and waited. Then she entered. Sipping a slushie. Hungover. She’d had a viewing party the night before, so she and Jenni were, in her words, “dying today.” I asked her what was in her cup.

“Well, today we did pickles and mango with like, a million alcohols… it’s delicious. It’s a beautiful hangover drink.”

It’s not something my brain would have come up with, but I like the way hers works. (You can find the recipe for Snooki's Pickleback Twist on the Ninja website.) I pondered what boozy slushie I'd like, and all I could think was frozé, frozé, frozé, and realized I might have a serious problem. I asked her for some more ideas, and she told me lemonade and vodka, and separately, a fountain Diet Coke with vodka, because both are perfect for the boat. 

Kids drink first, though. Alcohol-free, so no mixing happens, she confirmed. Adults second. She says her kids are just as excited about the collab as she is.

When her kids came up, a light beamed through Snooki’s eyes. And through my pixelated laptop screen, which I realized I really needed to clean. She’s the mom of a teenager now, with her oldest having turned 13 last August. 

To that, she said, “Oh God, see this is why I’m really going to enjoy my SLUSHi machine.”

She told me that her husband grew up with a shore house but she didn’t have that luxury, opting instead for “gross, nasty hotels with roaches.” Something I understood to a T. I didn’t have a shore house either. But now she’s excited to give her kids memories she didn’t get. A shore house that’s packed with family. Cousins around all the time. Memories to be made that will last a lifetime. 

To that, I told her to lock her damn doors. In my older teenage years, my friends and I would sneak out and drive down the shore in the winter to throw parties in friends’ abandoned-for-the-season shore houses. And with a SLUSHi machine sitting in her shore house, there’s even more of an incentive to get down there. I felt my 17-year-old brain working on overdrive again. She’s not worried about that. She says it’s impossible.

“We have cameras everywhere. Once a door or window opens, an alarm goes off. They really can’t pull what I pulled.”

I wrapped up the call by inviting her to my 30th in Nutley, New Jersey, next month, and she can’t go. Which is a bummer. But Snooki is a busy lady. She has slushies to drink. And I get it. I have slushies to drink, too. She invited me to a future event somewhere in New Jersey, where we plan on making a slushy together. A weird one.

And when I showed her the framed photo of her on my desk, she had just one thing to say.

“Oh my God, we’re like coworkers!”

I thanked her for her time. I hung up. My brother was playing on his phone in my living room, legs kicked up on my coffee table.

“You’re sweating,” he said.

“I know.”

I changed my shirt. We put on our shoes and got Slurpees at 7-Eleven.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop is $350 off in Amazons Memorial Day sale — buy now for $549.99

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:33

SAVE OVER $300: As of May 19, the Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop has been discounted to $549.99 at Amazon. This is $350 off its list price of $899.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop $549.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping some great early Memorial Day deals, and that includes some solid price drops on robot vacuums. If you've been searching for a model to bring home for extra cleaning help ahead of the summer months, this offer on the Roborock Qrevo S5V robot vacuum and mop is well worth checking out.

As of May 19, the Roborock Qrevo S5V (in both black and white) is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon. Considering its full price is $899.99, this is a great opportunity to save $350 in Memorial Day sales. Amazon has it marked as a limited time deal right now, so this is the time to jump on it before the offer comes to an end.

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If you're dealing with pet hair scattered across your floors right now, dirt making its way inside, or food crumbs in the carpet, the Roborock Qrevo S5V features 12,000Pa suction to clear it all up. It even has a rubberized floating main brush and arc-shaped side brush that helps keep hair from getting tangled inside and slowing it down.

Pesky stains on harder surfaces in your home are handled thanks to the Roborock Qrevo S5V's dual spinning mops, which boast speeds of 200 rotations per minute. It even has an extendable mop arm that can reach into corners or around furniture legs. Plus, this robot vacuum also features obstacle avoidance technology that helps it navigate around any items in its way, from shoes to toys to cables and more.

If the Roborock Qrevo S5V has been on your radar, this is your chance to save at Amazon while Memorial Day sales are live.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

KPop Demon Hunters Trading Cards preorders are live on Amazon — score the 5-pack Energy Edition for $23

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:11

TL;DR: Amazon has the KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box available for preorder at $22.49. The box includes five individually wrapped packs, with eight cards per pack, working out to about $4.50 per pack before tax.

Opens in a new window Credit: KAYOU KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box (5 Packs) $22.49 at Amazon
Use the product page coupon for full discount. Get Deal

KPop Demon Hunters has already made the jump from Netflix hit to full-on collectibles craze, and now preorders for the official trading cards are starting to land at major retailers. 

As of May 19, Amazon has the KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition Collector Box available for preorder at $22.49. That gets you five individually wrapped Energy Edition packs, with eight cards in each one, giving fans 40 cards in total across 11 rarity levels for just under $23 — releasing on Aug. 31. 

That works out to roughly $4.50 per pack before tax, which is a budget-friendly way to get into the new KAYOU set, if you don’t want to jump straight to the bigger 12-pack Energy Edition box for $53.99 (out on July 14). 

Unlike the Classic Edition that’s made for general trading card lovers (with eight rarities and five cards per pack), the 11-rarity and eight-cards-per-pack Energy Edition is designed with collectors in mind — including several serialized rarities designed for superfans chasing the biggest pulls. 

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The standout cards are the SE cards, inspired by the song Golden, featuring premium laser-etched finishes and serialized birthday numbering from 1 to 366. There are also BP cards numbered from 1 to 999, capturing HUNTR/X in all-black stage outfits before the spotlight hits.

If you’re a trading card fan who’s been exploring other TCGs, try out Magic: The Gathering with the Final Fantasy Starter Kit for $20 — after a $5 price drop on Amazon. Pokémon fans can also score packs of the Perfect Order expansion for under $9. The Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is also available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Marshall introduces noise cancellation in a new pair of on-ear headphones

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:00

There are few tech brands with as iconically cool branding as Marshall, and even fewer still with headphones that work as effectively as a fashion accessory as the Major V headphones. Yet, the on-ear headphones were missing a crucial feature: active noise cancellation.

As of May 19, Marshall is changing that, releasing a new pair of on-ear headphones with ANC: the Milton A.N.C. The headphones are available today for $229.99 on Marshall's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Milton A.N.C. $229.99 at Marshall
  Shop Now Marshall Milton A.N.C.: What's new

Prior to the release of the Milton A.N.C., if you wanted a pair of noise-cancelling headphones from Marshall, you'd have to go for the more expensive Monitor IIIs, which clock in at $379.99 (though you can usually grab them on sale for under $300). While I found the Monitor IIIs to be a great pair of headphones, especially for a solid blend of style, portability, and impressive battery power, they do feature a slightly different design than Marshall's iconic on-ear headphones, and aren't quite as compact.

The Milton A.N.C. (center) compared to the Monitor III (left) and Major V (right). Credit: Marshall

That's where the Milton headphones aim to fill a gap. For starters, at $229.99, they're more firmly on the low end of mid-range headphones. According to Marshall, the ear cushions will be larger for better passive noise cancellation and made with softer memory foam for more comfortable periods of extended wear. As someone who's tried the Major V headphones, I'm curious to see how those changes stack up, as I certainly felt the on-ear difference (it wasn't the most positive experience). A huge advantage of the on-ear design is that they are smaller, so you'll get max portability.

SEE ALSO: The Marshall Major V headphones claim to have 100 hours of battery life, so I put them to the test

Of course, the hallmark feature here is the adaptive active noise cancellation that is designed to adjust to environmental noise in real time. Marshall also introduces a new driver system to enhance the bass and treble.

Welcome as a hold over from the existing Marshall headphones is an impressive battery life. Marshall estimates you'll get some 50 hours with ANC on, and 80 hours of playback with ANC turned off. For comparison, the Monitor IIIs boast 70 hours of battery with ANC, but seeing as those headphones have more physical space for the battery, it makes sense that the life of these is a bit less. On the high end is the Major V with 100 hours of battery life, but as those have no noise cancellation, the triple digits make sense.

The press release for the headphones also notes that the Milton A.N.C. are repairable with a replaceable battery, which, depending on its cost and efficacy, could provide huge value for the headphones over time.

Marshall Milton A.N.C.: Just the specs

As for what else to expect with the Milton A.N.C., here's the overview:

  • Battery: 50+ hours of playback with ANC, 80 hours without

  • Noise cancellation: Adaptive ANC

  • Microphones: 6 microphones for ANC and call quality

  • Spatial audio: Yes, soundstage spatial audio with Marshall app

  • On-ear controls: Customizable M button

  • Bluetooth connection: Bluetooth 6.0

  • Codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3, and LDAC

  • Colors: Black and gold

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons AI-generated Alexa+ podcasts are utter podslop

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:38

It's a podcast, but make it hosted by two AI-generated hosts talking to each other about the game last night.

Reader, I hate it.

Announced on Tuesday, Alexa Podcasts is Amazon's latest venture for Alexa+, the company's rebooted AI-powered virtual assistant. Described by the company as "AI-generated audio episodes on any topic," these on-demand offerings essentially replace an entire team of human podcast producers and presenters with artificial intelligence — "no documents or prep work needed."

SEE ALSO: AI audiobooks are invading Libby. Here’s how I avoid them.

It's essentially a Big Tech-backed pile of "podslop" or AI-generated podcasts, which are on the rise along with other AI audio formats. A recent analysis by The Podcast Index found that 39 percent of recently uploaded podcasts were probably created using AI, with companies like Inception Point AI churning out the episodes.

Now, Amazon's joining the surge with Alexa Podcasts. Users (anyone with a Prime membership) can ask the AI assistant to cover any topic from news roundups to sports results to the consensus of movie reviews, "and let you adjust the length and direction conversationally." That means you can pick both the AI assistant's personality — these are dubbed "Alexa, Brief, Sweet, Chill, and Sassy" — and its "conversation style" — "from concise and efficient to warm and conversational."

Then, Alexa will generate a short episode with two AI hosts, which will be sent to your Echo device and the Alexa app.

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Without a human research team, where is all this precious information coming from? According to Amazon, over 200 news publications have signed up as sources, including local U.S. newspapers as well as "Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, TIME, Forbes, Business Insider, Politico, USA Today, and and publications from Condé Nast, Hearst, and Vox." Cool cool cool.

Everything about this makes me want to throw my tech in the sea, especially when you listen to...the examples Amazon has provided on Soundcloud (on Soundcloud!). Why listen to painstakingly researched history podcasts like Greg Jenner's You're Dead to Me and Marc Fennell's Stuff The British Stole when you can have two AI voices regurgitating generic Ancient Roman facts at you? Who needs groundbreaking investigative journalism at a time of casual convenience like this? Why be educated by music historians like Cole Cuchna on Dissect when you can have AI tell you what's good? Why listen to actual athletes and sports commentators present their analysis of the game when you can hear it generated?

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

I listen to podcasts for the hosts, whose personalities and production teams cannot be replicated by Alexa's "Sassy conversational" or "Brief efficient" settings — Ira Glass, Trixie and Katya; Hrishikesh Hirway; Kid Fury and Crissle West; Monét X Change and Bob The Drag Queen; Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang; Kara Swisher; Taylor Lorenz; Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad; Keke Palmer; Amy Poehler; Jon Lovett; Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon; Richard Osman and Marina Hyde; Louis Virtel, and so many more, not to mention the enormous amount of human news teams providing daily news podcasts from the BBC to CNN, and my colleagues at Mashable pouring their creativity and energy into the craft.

It's enough platforms like Spotify and Libby are feeling the creep of AI-generated music and audiobooks, now podcasters are two AI chatbots talking to each other? I don't want to, as Amazon suggests, "turn your dinner table conversations into learning opportunities." What, are we gathering 'round the Alexa for an AI-generated podcast on the Apollo 11 mission? I'm out of here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google I/O 2026 keynote livestream: Watch live today

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:11

Google I/O 2026 kicks off today, and you won't need a ticket to catch any of it. The entire two-day event is livestreamed, and you can register to watch for free at io.google/2026.

The main Google keynote starts at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m ET on May 19. The focus will be big-picture announcements, product reveals, and whatever CEO Sundar Pichai wants the world to walk away talking about (mostly Gemini, Google's AI product). You can find an embed to the YouTube stream of the keynote below:

In addition, our sister site CNET will be hosting a Google I/O live viewing party, also on YouTube, with live updates from reporters on the ground in Mountain View, California and a pre- and post-show. You can also ask questions and participate in the live chat.

A developer-focused keynote follows the same day at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m ET, which tends to focus on APIs, tools, and what's actually coming for builders. From there, breakout sessions run through May 20, covering Google AI, Android, Chrome, and cloud infrastructure, including one billed around agent-first workflows.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2026 live updates: See the latest reveals, including Gemini, Android XR, more

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

Based on everything that's leaked and quietly rolled out in the days leading up to the show — new Gemini Live models, a mysterious video generation tool called Gemini Omni, expanded thinking controls, and fresh third-party app integrations — Gemini is going to be at the center of almost everything. The smart glasses situation should get some stage time, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel breaks down yet another bizarre Trump AI posting spree

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:02

This isn't the first time Jimmy Kimmel has offered a disturbing breakdown of Donald Trump's social media feed, and it probably won't be the last.

In the video above Kimmel recaps some of the president's recent AI slop posts, including a photo of himself walking with a handcuffed alien ("Why, we don't know," says Kimmel), a meme saying "President Trump ages in reverse" ("Wearing diapers does not mean you're ageing in revers," Kimmel quips), and another meme shared by the official White House account of Trump as James Bond ("I think 007 is his approval rating right now," Kimmel adds).

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The host's summary? "Imagine being a very unpopular president in the middle of a very unpopular war, and the cost of everything is sky rocketing, gas is very expensive, and you're spending your time posting online about how hot you are, about how you captured an alien and about how you should be the next James Bond."

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Bundle is under $50 at Amazon — now close to market price

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:51

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle available from $46.95 with free delivery. Since Amazon’s single Perfect Order booster pack is listed at $8.90, buying six individually would cost $53.40 — meaning the Booster Bundle saves you $6.45.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $46.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Perfect Order continues its reputation in the Pokémon TCG as the most affordable modern expansion going right now, and you can save even more right now with Booster Bundles.

As of May 19, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle available from $46.95, with free delivery expected around June 1. That’s only $4.52 above its market price on TCGplayer.

That $46.95 price works out to roughly $7.83 per booster pack before tax. By comparison, Amazon’s single Perfect Order booster pack listing is sitting at $8.90. Buying six separately would cost $53.40 altogether, so grabbing the Booster Bundle saves you $6.45 while getting the same number of packs in one sealed box. 

This isn’t the absolute cheapest Perfect Order listing online right now. Walmart currently has the same Booster Bundle for $42.95, which comes out to about $7.16 per pack. TCGplayer’s lowest unopened listing starts at $35.99, but with shipping added.

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The Perfect Order Booster Bundle includes six booster packs from the Mega Evolution Perfect Order expansion. Each booster pack contains 10 trading cards, one Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card.

The set is built around Mega Zygarde ex, with Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex also among the headliner cards. 

To secure even more boosters at a reasonable price, you can also pre-order the Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection for $70. For the hotly-anticipated Chaos Rising expansion, you can pre-order the Elite Trainer Box for just over $120. The Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Save over $20 on Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundles — get the best preorder price at Amazon

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:48

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle up for preorder from $60.98 with free delivery. Since Amazon’s single Chaos Rising sleeved booster pack is currently listed at $14.95, buying six separately would cost $89.70.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $60.98 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Chaos Rising is almost here, and if you’ve been eyeing individual packs on Amazon, the new Pokémon TCG Booster Bundle preorder is a much better way to stack up on Boosters without buying them one by one. 

As of May 19, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Bundle available for $60.98 with free delivery. If you’re the type of trading card collector who likes to stock up on as many boosters from Amazon as possible, Pokémon Booster Bundles are a great way to save by buying a bunch all at once. 

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Amazon also has the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Sleeved Booster Pack listed at $14.95. Since the Booster Bundle includes six Chaos Rising booster packs (with 10 cards per pack), buying the same number of sleeved boosters individually would bring the total to $89.70. At the Booster Bundle’s current $60.98 price, that knocks almost $30 off the total.

The set follows the latest Mega Evolution wave, with Mega Floette ex (that appeared in Pokémon Legends: Z-A) causing chaos in the city and Mega Greninja ex teaming with other Mega Evolution Pokémon ex like Mega Pyroar ex and Mega Dragalge ex to fight back. 

Walmart currently has the Chaos Rising Booster Bundle listed for $64.99 with free shipping, while TCGplayer has presale listings starting at $54.52 with shipping included and a market price of $54.64.

Also out on May 22, you can pre-order the Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection for only $70. For more from the new expansion, you can secure the new Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for around $120

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The new Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is already on sale at Amazon — save $200 with on-page coupon

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:40

SAVE $200: As of May 19, the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is down to $1,299.99 at Amazon with the help of an on-page coupon. That's $200 off its list price of $1,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Narwal Narwal Flow 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Memorial Day deals have already started dropping, and for those who have had their eyes on a robot vacuum, there's already quite a few great offers to check out.

Over at Amazon, the brand new Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop is currently sitting with a $200 discount courtesy of a coupon that can be clipped on its store page. The Narwal Flow 2 usually has a full price of $1,499.99, so this coupon drops its price down to $1,299.99. This is $200 in savings overall, which is a pretty sweet deal on a robot vacuum we loved in our review.

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Alongside 31,000Pa suction and a self-cleaning mop for keeping floors tidy around your house, the Narwal Flow 2 also features "The most insightful AI mess detection yet for a decent price," according to Mashable's Leah Stodart in her review.

Stodart found that, "The Narwal Flow 2 holds its own against pricier 2026 Dreame and Roborock competitors. It's the only mainstream roller mop vacuum that mops with heated water, and its AI cameras provide reliable snapshot proof of the messes and obstacles they're facing. For this value, I can ignore some finicky settings."

Its base also features a 2.4 liter dust bag that can hold up to 120 days worth of dirt, hair, and debris. That gives you plenty of time to focus on other things that matter around your house rather than needing to keep consistent focus on maintaining this robot vacuum.

Who knows how long this coupon will be live. If it's caught your eye, this is an excellent opportunity to save on the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

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