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A federal judge has preliminarily approved a $7.85 million settlement resolving claims that Sony Interactive Entertainment illegally squeezed out competition in the digital PlayStation games market — and millions of affected players should soon be able to collect without doing anything.

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that Sony cut off third-party retailers from selling game-specific download vouchers starting April 1, 2019, effectively funneling consumers to the PlayStation Store and driving up prices in violation of federal antitrust law. Sony has denied any wrongdoing.

SEE ALSO: The PlayStation 6 could ditch the built-in disc drive

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín granted preliminary approval to the deal on April 8, after previously rejecting two earlier versions of the settlement — first over concerns about service awards for plaintiffs who were no longer part of the class, and again over questions about whether PlayStation Store credits amounted to coupons under the law.

The settlement covers U.S. consumers who bought eligible PlayStation games through the PlayStation Store for which a retail voucher existed before April 1, 2019, and for which prices increased by at least 50 cents over a set period. More than 4.4 million people are covered under the deal.

How to collect

For most class members, getting paid requires no action at all. Those with active PlayStation Network accounts will automatically receive credits redeemable in the PlayStation Store. Players with deactivated accounts, however, must contact the settlement administrator to request a paper check — and that deadline is Aug. 27, 2026.

Anyone who wants to opt out of the settlement and preserve their right to sue separately must submit an exclusion request by July 2, 2026.

The court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on Oct. 15, 2026. Compensation won't be distributed until after that approval is granted and any appeals are resolved. Plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking up to one-third of the settlement fund in fees.

More information on eligible games and claim details can be found at PSNDigitalGamesSettlement.com.

SAVE $300: The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $999, down from the standard price of $1,299. That's a 33% discount and the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station $999 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $300   Get Deal

Summer fun is on the horizon. If you're ready to spend the weekend at the campground or power up the projector for a backyard movie night, you might want to consider the convenience of a portable power station. You'll be able to keep everything powered up while living the good life off-grid. If that's appealing, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 4, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station is $999 at Amazon, marked down from Jackery's list price of $1,299. That works out to a savings of $300 from a 33% discount. It's also the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon on this new Jackery model.

Batteries are not typically friends with water and dust. However, that's a contradiction to taking a portable power station on a camping adventure. Sure, we can check the weather, but summer storms tend to roll in quickly. Instead of worrying about a portable power station taking damage from an unexpected sprinkle or morning dew, head out with the new Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C2000 power station is half off at Amazon right now — save over $700

Unlike almost all portable power stations, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra carries an IP65 rating, which means it's both water-resistant and dustproof. Plus, it has protective flaps to cover the outlets. Both of these elements combined give you reassurance that the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is truly up for adventure.

Not only will it be great for camping, but it's also ideal for using in the yard or the workshop, which could be both damp and dusty. Jackery designed this portable power station with a cooling chamber in the bottom, rather than using side vents for the fan. That eliminates one of the most common routes water and dust take to enter a portable power station.

Since this is a record-low price at Amazon, hop on today's $999 sale price of the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra. It's a rare model that's durable enough for every task.

I was recently invited to Hyundai’s inaugural Metaplant Experience media program in Savannah, Georgia. The cuisine was outstanding, the accommodations were luxurious, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Yet, all of that was eclipsed by Hyundai’s breathtaking, nearly 3,000-acre state-of-the-art U.S. smart factory, part of a $12.6 billion investment in Georgia.

Save 48%: As of May 4, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for $17.99 when you use the code SAVEHD. This marks a $17 price reduction off its $34.99 list price, but be aware — this code might not work for everyone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00 save with code 'SAVEHD' Get Deal

Sometimes, inexplicably, new tech releases go on sale just weeks after their release. It may only be a small discount, but a deal is a deal.

Amazon, however, did something even more rare. Call it the power of Star Wars Day, pure luck, or Amazon simply having the funds to spare, but as of May 4, the retailer is offering a coupon code on its new Fire TV Stick HD that brings it down to just $17.99 from its list price of $34.99. That's a 48% savings — just don't forget to put in the code SAVEHD.

We do want to note that this coupon code might not work for everyone. While it worked for the majority of Mashable's deals team this morning, there was at least one editor who couldn't get the promised savings.

If it does work for you, you'll save on the streaming stick that Amazon just put up for preorder mid-April. Compared to the previous generation of the Fire TV Stick HD, this one has a 30 percent slimmer profile and no need for a wall adapter, thanks to the USB-C to USB-A cable that can be plugged in straight to your TV. Amazon also claims the device is 30 percent faster than the previous model, meaning navigating apps and shows should be an even smoother process.

A lot of people, at least in the pre-"vibe coding era," lament that they can't program because they're "not math people." I wasn't either. Here's how I got started building machine learning models in Python anyway.

SAVE $30: As of May 4, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale at Amazon for only $29.99 with the on-page code MAX4KFTV. That's $30 off its list price and its best price ever — a savings of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 with on-page code MAX4KFTV Get Deal

While pretty much all TVs are smart TVs these days, that doesn't always mean they're user-friendly or seamless for streaming. The built-in smart platforms on a lot of high-end brands can often be a bit clunky. That's where Amazon's Fire TV Sticks swoop in to save the day.

Not only are Fire Sticks easy to use, but they're also ultra-portable for travel and go on sale pretty regularly. In fact, as of May 4, the most advanced Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup is down to its best price ever if you use the on-page coupon code. Typically $59.99, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is just $29.99 with the code MAX4KFTV.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

We've seen the 4K Max drop to $34.99 quite a few times (most recently during the Amazon Big Spring Sale) and even $32.99 once (for Black Friday in 2024), but $29.99 is the lowest to date. There's just one catch: not everyone will see the on-page coupon code. We're unsure what Amazon's rhyme or reason is for this, but only some members of Mashable's shopping team are able to redeem the code. If you're eligible, the code will appear underneath the Prime logo and pricing details on the product page. Be sure to hit "redeem" to cash in on the savings.

Here's what the listing page looks like with the coupon code. Credit: Amazon

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs the most storage of any Fire TV Stick at 16GB, which helps it to not get bogged down by lots of apps. It also features a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor to help with faster app starts, WiFi 6E, support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, Dolby Atmos audio, Ambient Experience, and an enhanced Alexa voice remote. You can even turn your TV into a work of art a la The Frame, or play video games by streaming through Amazon Luna or Xbox Game Pass.

For years, Samsung and Apple have borrowed features from each other, often with each new generation of devices or software. However, not every feature makes the jump. One feature Samsung was first to offer has yet to arrive on the iPhone. With phone screens getting larger, it’s surprising Apple hasn’t adopted it sooner.

Save 15%: As of May 4, a limited quantity of $50 DoorDash gift cards is available at Amazon for $42.50, saving you $7.50 total.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash gift card $42.50 at Amazon
$50 Save $7.50   Get Deal

No DoorDash discount codes in your app today? No problem.

Amazon has got you covered with a DoorDash gift card deal that brings the price of a $50 gift card down to $42.50. That saves you $7.50 total, or 15%. You'll want to act quickly, though — at the time of writing, the product page has a "deal selling fast" badge, and nine percent of the available deals have already been claimed.

This deal applies to just the e-gift card, which means you'll get almost instantaneous delivery, whether you're sending it to yourself or a friend. (Consider dinner today sorted). After purchase, a code will be sent to your phone or email, which you can then use for your DoorDash account. The balance is yours to use, whether you're ordering from a restaurant, grocery, or convenience store.

While it's not the biggest chunk of change out there, it's $7.50 that you would otherwise be spending on your orders. Maybe that helps you justify a long-distance delivery fee for a craving, or maybe it covers those sneaky service fees. In either case, if you're already going to order in, you might as well save some cash.

SAVE $54.45: Sign up to get Grubhub+ for six months at 99 cents per month instead of the normal $9.99 per month. That works out to a 90% discount on the service.

Opens in a new window Credit: Grubhub Grubhub+ $0.99 at Grubhub
$9.99 Save $9   Get Deal

Summer is nearly here, and that means we're all busy. From taking advantage of the nice weather to wrapping up the school year and planning camping trips, there's not much time to make dinner. Instead of stressing, order in, thanks to this delivery deal.

As of May 4, Grubhub+ membership is on sale for 99 cents per month for six months, marked down from the normal price of $9.99 per month. Over those six months, the sale works out to be a savings of $54.45.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

It's no secret that ordering dinner for delivery or groceries to your doorstep is convenient. However, these services typically come with steep fees associated with the convince, such as delivery fees and service fees. Signing up for Grubhub+ means you'll be in for no delivery fees on eligible restaurant orders, free delivery on eligible grocery delivery orders over $35, and lower service fees.

If you feel like picking up a restaurant order on your way home, Grubhub+ members get a 5% Grubhub credit back after pickup. Keep in mind, Amazon Prime members are already eligible to get Grubhub+ for free with a Prime membership.

Grubhub contains a massive catalog of restaurants, grocery stores, and drug stores in its network. It's easy to browse the selection with Grubhub's tabs, or you can search by proximity and delivery times. Keep in mind the 99 cents per month deal is only valid for the first six months, and it'll auto-renew at the $9.99 per month price unless you cancel beforehand.

If you tend to order grocery and dinner delivery often, this a great deal to jump on. Doing so will give you access to free delivery on eligible restaurant and grocery delivery orders. Getting something for free right now feels like a major win.

When you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network, it's pretty simple to SSH into any device connected to the same network. But outside that same network, you cannot do that because your ISP doesn't assign a unique public IP to your home network. You might have heard that you need to set up "port forwarding" to get into your home servers when you're out. But it doesn't have to be so complicated. Here's an easy and safe way to SSH into your home network when you're away.

Samsung foldables just can't stop leaking before they're announced.

This time, it's the rumored follow-up to last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7. A report by Korean leaker Lanzuk included a few hints about what to expect from the device, which has so far been out of the spotlight a bit compared to the rumored Z Fold 8 and a new "Wide Fold" device.

According to this new leak, you can expect a Z Flip 8 that's a little bit wider than before, as well as one that has shed some weight, coming in at approximately 180 grams, compared to 188 grams a year ago.

SEE ALSO: Samsung warns memory shortage will be worse next year

On top of that, the report hints at a new hinge mechanism, though it doesn't go into any detail about what it might be. Perhaps most excitingly is the indication that the Z Flip 8 will have a true crease-free display. Highly visible creases were a big problem for foldables as they became a relevant market category, but over the years, that's become less and less of an issue. If the Z Flip 8 can make further improvements on that, then that's great.

Samsung is widely expected to announce the Z Flip 8, the Z Fold 8, and the Wide Fold at an event this summer, most likely in July.

We think the Z Fold 8 will look pretty similar to last year's model overall, while the Wide Fold will be another book-style foldable that's, well, wider than the Fold 8. It's expected to have a similar size and shape to the also-unannounced iPhone Fold, expected to launch later this year.

A strong value in local AI computing just left the market. Apple has quietly discontinued the base Mac mini with an M4 chip, effectively raising the price of its entry-level desktop from $599 to $799.

SAVE $39.01: As of May 4, the Apple AirPods Max 2 are down to $509.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 7% or $39.01 and their lowest price since launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max 2 $509.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Grabbing a new pair of over-ear headphones in this economy isn't for the faint of heart. Even on sale, the Apple AirPods Max 2 are pretty dang expensive. But this is their biggest discount to date, so it's worth calling out for you Apple fanatics out there.

As of May 4, the Apple AirPods Max 2 are down to $509.99 instead of $549 at Amazon. That's a savings of $39.01 or about 7% and their cheapest price since launching in March.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

The AirPods Max 2 are the first proper upgrade to the fruit company's first (and only) set of over-the-ear headphones. It only took six years. The latest release is eerily similar to the original — they look the same, come with the same case, have the same color options, and have the same battery life and price. What's different, you ask? The internal hardware. The AirPods Max 2 now have Apple's H2 chip inside (the same as the AirPods Pro 3), which unlocks better active noise cancellation as well as several smart features. You'll now be able to toggle on/off adaptive audio, conversation awareness, live translation, voice isolation, personalized volume, loud sound reduction, and Siri interactions as you see fit.

If you already have the OG AirPods Max, you definitely should not spend $500+ on the new ones, as they're virtually identical aside from a few new smart features. But if you're an Apple fan shopping for over-the-ear headphones for the first time and you've been saving up, we highly recommend grabbing the new AirPod Max 2 while they're down to their best price ever. Minor upgrade or not, we still think they're pretty great.

Most of the documentation I deal with now is digital, which means it can be copied and searched at will. Unfortunately, plenty of important things do require paper documentation—a major inconvenience compared to digital.

AI can do a lot of impressive things, and connecting an LLM to your smart home can make it much smarter. It can also make it pretty dumb, too, if you decide that you're going to use it to give a smart bulb a personality.

If you’ve tried using Claude to learn to code and walked away feeling like you just witnessed a magic trick rather than actually learned something, you’re not alone. Without structure, AI coding tools default to doing the work for you—you end up with hundreds of lines of code without understanding the algorithm or the logic behind it.

For the longest time, I used to ssh into my home servers and then use top or htop to check their resource usage. To keep an eye on my Docker containers, I would run Docker stats, I would run docker stats or docker ps. I'd use basic shell commands to check disk and network usage too. Or systemctl to view systemd services. It gets pretty annoying when you have all your services spread across multiple little servers. One of my co-workers told me about Beszel, and it has saved me from all that monitoring headache.

Andy Serkis isn't done with Middle-earth just yet.

The upcoming prequel film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum sees Serkis pulling double duty — more so than he already does in the dual part of Gollum/Sméagol. On top of reprising that iconic role, he's also stepping into the director's chair, making him the only person aside from Peter Jackson to helm a live-action Lord of the Rings movie.

SEE ALSO: Andy Serkis on 'Animal Farm,' George Orwell, and AI in Hollywood

Before The Hunt for Gollum's production gets underway in New Zealand, Serkis spoke with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards about what viewers could expect from the film.

"The joy of [The Hunt for Gollum] is that it's entirely its own story, but it fits perfectly into the lore, the tone, the feel of the Middle-earth films that were created by Peter Jackson 25 years ago," Serkis said.

According to Serkis, the film "sits between The Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings." It will follow Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Aragorn's (Jamie Dornan, replacing Viggo Mortensen) search for Gollum in the lead-up to the War of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about this hunt in The Fellowship of the Ring and the trilogy's Appendices, and Jackson's films briefly mention it.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'

The Hunt for Gollum is the latest step in Warner Bros. Pictures' expansion of their Middle-earth titles. 2025 saw the release of anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Then, on March 25, Warner Bros. announced The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past (working title), a Lord of the Rings sequel written by Philippa Boyens, Tolkien superfan Stephen Colbert, and his son Peter McGee.

The deluge of Lord of the Rings titles might raise alarm bells about the dilution of a beloved franchise. For Serkis' part, this isn't the case with The Hunt for Gollum.

"The story, and therefore how we see the story, is different and unique to this particular tale," Serkis said. "It's not just a nostalgia film. We're seeing plenty of those, and laying heavily into the nostalgia and the things that we loved about those movies of 25 and 30 years ago. [The Hunt for Gollum] adheres to that world, but it certainly has a freshness and a newness in terms of the actual story."

The newness also extends to the cast. The Hunt for Gollum features the return of several familiar faces: Serkis, McKellen, Elijah Wood, and Lee Pace reprise their roles from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. However, the film also invites several newcomers into Middle-earth. Kate Winslet and Leo Woodall play Marigol and Halvard, two characters who aren't named in Tolkien's original novels or films, while Jamie Dornan takes over the role of Aragorn from Viggo Mortensen.

"We're calling him Strider in our movie. He is at a different point in his journey, so he is slightly different to the Aragorn that we see later on," Serkis explained. "It's a version of himself that's been out in the wilderness as a Dúnedain Ranger. I'll leave it at that for the moment, but Jamie is perfect for this part of the journey of the character."

For more from Serkis, including his favorite Lord of the Rings meme and his reflections on Andor, check out the full Say More interview above.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters in 2027.

The first 1GB hard drive was released by IBM in 1980. The IBM 3380 Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) was enormous by today’s standards, weighing about 64lbs and costing ~$50,000. We then waited 27 years for the first 1TB hard drive, the Deskstar 7K1000 from Hitachi, which came out in 2007.

When a top role suddenly opens, organizations are forced to act fast. Stability becomes the priority, and appointing an interim leader often feels like the safest move. But without clear intent, that quick fix can trigger confusion and long-term value loss. Here’s how to approach the interim role with discipline from the start. Define the […]

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