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The smart home automation everyone sets up first is the one that breaks most often

How-To Geek - 3 hours 48 min ago

Motion-activated lighting is one of the first smart home automations that many people try. It's relatively simple to set up, only requires a couple of devices, and provides immediate results. The trouble is, it's an automation that's almost bound to fail.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Robot vacuum deals ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale: Our Dreame, Roborock, and Eufy favorites on sale

Mashable - 3 hours 58 min ago
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals: Best robot vacuum on sale overall Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best roller mop robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon (save $270) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 (save $250) Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale is officially making its comeback for the third year, running from March 25 through to March 31. During this sales event, the retail giant will be reducing thousands of items, from Apple products and TVs to Kindles and kitchen appliances. Robot vacuum deals are also at the heart of any Amazon sale, and the spring refresh vibes of it all make it feel like an extra correct time to vacuum shop.

Plus, this is the first big sale event for many of the best robot vacuum and mop combos of 2026 that were just released in February or early March. In fact, they've already started dropping prices on some of our favorite models ahead of the event. Here are the deals on robot vacuums that are worth your time so far:

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best robot vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

I’m starting this roundup with the best of the best because, why not? If you have the cash to burn and you’re looking for an investment piece, Mashable’s vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart says the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is a “well-rounded premium robot vacuum,” especially for pet owners. It has a livestream pet camera and can clean edges and corners with precision. (Stodart says this vacuum is so good at cleaning corners that it’s dethroned the Roborock Saros 10R for corner mopping.)

“Measuring just over three inches tall, it's also easily the best slim robot vacuum out there — ideal for homes with low-clearance furniture, or expectations for cleaning under cabinets,” she says.

As of March 15, you can get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.99, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount or $200 savings.

Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $279.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $270   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

Our actual favorite budget pick, the 3i G10+, isn’t on sale (yet!). But the Roborock Q10 S5+ offers a pretty good alternative for anyone who needs a combo vacuum but can’t stomach paying $400+ for one. Stodart ranks this vac as the “Quietest Robot Vacuum” in her roundup of the best robot vacuums for 2026, but she also notes that it’s a surprisingly affordable hybrid cleaner.

“It has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning,” she writes.

What’s even better is that it’s currently at a new record-low price of $299.99, down from $549.99. We’re not sure if this price will hold, but it’s a promising sign for what’s to come as we get closer to the official sale date.

SEE ALSO: Shark devices on sale ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Stick vacuums, stain removers, hair tools More Amazon Big Spring Sale robot vacuum dealsDeals on robot vacuum mop combos with self-washing mopping pads
Categories: IT General, Technology

9 myths about the Linux terminal you should stop believing

How-To Geek - 3 hours 58 min ago

Are you one of those people who breaks into a cold sweat at the thought of opening a Linux terminal? Do you picture yourself accidentally breaking your entire system with a single misplaced character? If so, you're not alone—but you're also buying into some seriously outdated myths.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 Docker containers are working overtime on my makeshift NAS

How-To Geek - 4 hours 3 min ago

I recently decided to turn my old laptop with a broken screen into a DIY NAS by adding a USB-C hub and a 6TB external drive—and it didn't take me long to realize that this boring storage hub could do a lot more than just store my files.

Categories: IT General, Technology

25+ Amazon device deals live ahead of the Big Spring Sale: Echo, Fire TV, and more

Mashable - 4 hours 6 min ago
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Amazon device deals at a glance: Best subscription deal Amazon Music Unlimited $0/month for 3 months (save up to $38.97) Get Deal Best Echo device deal Amazon Echo Studio $189.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Fire TV deal Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $279.99 (save $180) Get Deal Best Fire TV Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $169.99 (save $80) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is upon us. It officially kicks off on March 25 and runs through March 31 this year, but as always, many deals arrived early to the party. Specifically, some of Amazon's own devices already hit record lows that match Black Friday.

It only makes sense that Amazon would drop the biggest deals on its own devices, given that it's an Amazon sale, after all. While Echo devices, Fire TVs, and Blink cameras are already seeing steep discounts, Kindle, Fire tablet, and subscription deals are still semi scarce. We're excited to see what else the mega retailer has in store as the official sale launches.

We'll be tracking all of the best Amazon device deals throughout the Big Spring Sale 2026 below. Stay tuned for more to come.

Best Amazon subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited free for 3 months (save $11.99/month or 12.99/month) Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's major sales are always an excuse for the retailer to offer extended free trials or discounted prices for its membership subscriptions. While there may be a Kindle Unlimited and/or Audible trial deal during the Big Spring Sale, the only live subscription deal so far is on Amazon Music Unlimited. Through April 16, you can get three free months to test the waters. Beyond unlocking a massive music catalog that you can listen to on-demand and ad-free, you'll also get access to ad-free podcasts and one free audiobook per month. It auto-renews at $11.99 per month for Prime members and $12.99 per month for non-Prime members unless you cancel.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Studio $189.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon dropped four new Echo devices last fall specifically built for Alexa+, including the new super-powered Echo Studio smart speaker. This is technically the Studio's first update in six years, though it's a much different design than its predecessor. According to Amazon, you "can't find any smart speaker that sounds this amazing at this size." It packs Dolby Atmos and spatial audio into a Death Star-like orb that fits in the palm of your hand. It's even powerful enough to give your TV a boost. The speaker saw its first-ever discount during Black Friday, and that same discount is back for the Big Spring Sale.

More Echo dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale Fire TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $279.97 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $180.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's 4-Series Fire TVs aren't the most advanced in the brand's lineup, but they are the most popular. These TV models are for those who don't require a ton of bells and whistles. If you just want a decent looking TV that's great for streaming, the 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV is an excellent value — especially now that it's back down to its best price ever. It was redesigned in 2025 to sport an ultra-slim bezel, a new quad-core processor for speedy navigation, and Alexa+. It also packs 4K UHD picture quality with support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Sound, and Omnisense technology that wakes up the TV when you enter the room to show you artwork or your favorite comfort show.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Fire TV Stick deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon practically gave away the Fire TV Stick 4K Select during Black Friday season, so we're hoping to see a return of the $9.99 discount price during the Big Spring Sale. Even if we don't, its current discount price of $17.99 is still pretty dang great. It's the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and delivers 4K quality with HDR10+ support, the plug-and-play design you know and love, and a new operating system called Vega. It also offers support for Alexa+, Amazon Kids+, Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, and NordVPN.

More Fire TV dealsFire tablet dealsKindle deals

For more discounts on Kindle devices, check out our full list of Big Spring Sale Kindle deals.

Blink dealsEero deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

40+ home deals from Amazons Big Spring Sale for fresher air and cleaner floors

Mashable - 4 hours 10 min ago
Best Big Spring Sale home deals Best home tech deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best home air deal Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max $169 at Amazon (save $60.99) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal

It's time for another Amazon sale event. To celebrate the changing seasons, Amazon is hosting its Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31. The sale highlights warmer-weather products to get your home ready for spring and summer.

For your home, this means clean floors, clean air, and so much more. While the sale doesn't officially start until the 25th, early deals are aplenty, with special attention on Echo devices, air purifiers, and vacuums.

We rounded up the best deals from Amazon, Blueair, Dreo, Dyson, and more.

Best Big Spring Sale home tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

With the clocks springing forward, you may be feeling a little groggy. If you need a boost in your morning, consider upgrading what's on your nightstand. During the lead-up to Amazon's Big Spring Sale, we spotted early savings on the Amazon Echo Spot.

This smart alarm clock packs everything you love about an Amazon Echo into a bedside device. It wakes you up but also helps you wind down. You can program it to start your day with a weather report and your favorite music.

Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $49.99 and save $30 off its $79.99 list price.

More home tech dealsBest Big Spring Sale air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max $169 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $60.99   Get Deal

Warmer weather means you can put away your heavy winter coats and pull out the antihistamines because spring allergies are on their way. If you're already getting the pollen-induced sniffles, you can do one thing to protect your home air: get an air purifier.

Smoke, dust, and pet hair don't stand a chance against the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max. It cleans up to 1,858 square feet in just one hour, plus it does so quietly. For Amazon's Big Spring Sale, the air purifier is down to $169, saving you $60.99 off its $229.99 list price.

More air purifier dealsBest cooling dealsBest Amazon Big Spring sale vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

If you have the cash to burn and you’re looking for an investment piece, Mashable’s vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter, Leah Stodart, says the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is a “well-rounded premium robot vacuum,” especially for pet owners. It has a livestream pet camera and can clean edges and corners with precision. (Stodart says this vacuum is so good at cleaning corners that it’s dethroned the Roborock Saros 10R for corner mopping.)

“Measuring just over three inches tall, it's also easily the best slim robot vacuum out there — ideal for homes with low-clearance furniture, or expectations for cleaning under cabinets,” she says.

As of March 15, you can get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.99, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount or $200 savings.

More robot vacuum dealsMore vacuum dealsMore home deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Sheep Detectives trailer sees a flock of sheep avenge Hugh Jackmans murder. Yes, really.

Mashable - 4 hours 10 min ago

Move over, Sherlock Holmes. Quit twirling your mustache, Poirot. Hang up your hat, Miss Marple. There's a new flock of great fictional detectives in town, and they're not even human. They're... The Sheep Detectives.

Screenwriter Craig Mazin (The Last of Us) and director Kyle Balda (Minions) adapt Leonie Swann's novel Three Bags Full in this wooly criminal caper. Hugh Jackman stars as shepherd George, who loves nothing more than reading mystery novels to his sheep. What he doesn't know is that his sheep fully understand the tales he spins them, hanging onto every word of each whodunnit.

However, the flock soon finds themselves in a mystery of their own when their beloved shepherd is murdered. According to his lawyer (Emma Thompson), he left behind $30 million, a fortune that gives several people in his circle the motive to take him out.

Who will get justice for George? Surely not the bumbling local policeman (Nicholas Braun). Instead, George's flock takes it upon themselves to use their mystery novel know-how to pin down his killer. How tough can solving a real crime be?

The Sheep Detectives' latest trailer teases the chaos that awaits our ovine case-crackers, including a serious tendency to want to bash some cars in. Plus, it gives us a better look at the film's stacked cast, be they sheep or human. In addition to Jackman, Thompson, and Braun, The Sheep Detectives stars Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Rhys Darby.

The Sheep Detectives hits theaters May 8.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Claude can now keep working on your Mac while youre away

Mashable - 4 hours 18 min ago

The dream of someone else working instead of you while you enjoy the finer things in life has just become a bit more real.

Anthropic announced a new feature for Claude Cowork and Claude Code, enabling the smart assistant to use your computer on its own while you're away.

So, if Claude needs a certain tool to finish a task, it can point, click, and navigate on your screen to get what it needs, including opening files, using a browser, and running dev tools.

The feature, which requires no setup, is available in research preview for Claude Pro and Max subscribers, and only on Mac computers.

Anthropic pointed out that the tool works particularly well with Dispatch, a tool that lets you assign Claude (its desktop version, to be precise) tasks from your phone.

This sounds awfully close to the type of automation that's recently been on the rise with tools like OpenClaw becoming immensely popular, but it's far more restrictive than that. While OpenClaw is typically given full reign over a computer, Claude's version will prioritize using connectors to service such as Slack and Google Calendar, and when it decides it has to open an app directly, it will ask for permission before accessing a new app.

SEE ALSO: Claude AI discovered 22 Firefox flaws. Here's how many it figured out how to exploit.

Despite these safety measures, users should be very careful before handing Claude (or any smart assistant) full access to their computers. As Anthropic itself puts it, "Claude can make mistakes, and while we continue to improve our safeguards, threats are constantly evolving." For more detail on what Claude can and cannot do using this tool, go here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The $35 Raspberry Pi upgrade every 3D printer owner actually needs

How-To Geek - 4 hours 18 min ago

Many of the fancier 3D printers now run their own internal web server that you can log into from any browser on your LAN. This usually lets you control the printer, use its internal camera, if any, and pretty much manage your printer without having to stand around in vaporized plastic fumes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best headphones deals ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — Sony leads the pack

Mashable - 4 hours 26 min ago
Best early Big Spring Sale headphones and earbuds deals Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM6 $398 (save $61.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Sony WF-C710N $88 (save $41.99) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Sony LinkBuds Clip $198 (save $31.99) Get Deal

If you're in need of an audio upgrade, Amazon's Big Spring Sale has come at the right time. Alongside discounts on products like TVs and Apple products, this mammoth sales event will see a wide range of discounts on both headphones and earbuds.

This will be the third year Amazon hosts the sale, and while the mega-retailer puts emphasis on spring-appropriate deals (think outdoor gear, cleaning supplies, and robot vacuums), the prior two years of the sale show that some tech deals get thrown in the mix.

SEE ALSO: When is Amazon's Spring Sale in 2026? Amazon just announced official dates.

The weeklong sale doesn't officially kick off until March 25, but I've done my combing as one of Mashable's headphones experts to find over 20 deals that, while not necessarily officially tied to the sale, offer Spring Sale-worthy savings a bit earlier.

So far, the best savings are coming from Sony headphones, but you'll also find deals from brands including Sennheiser, Nothing, Samsung, Google, Marshall, and JBL. We'll be updating this post throughout the sale, and any deals no longer available with be marked with a strikeout.

Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM6 $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Sony's flagship headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM6, are still relatively new all things considered, meaning that catching them on sale isn't always a given. Granted, even though their sale price of $398 does net you a nice $61.99 price cut, they're still expensive headphones. (If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, we recommend the Sony WH-CH720N). That said, if you're looking for the best of the best, we think they offer some of the best sound, noise cancellation, and all-day wear available. Plus, unlike their predecessor, their ear cups actually fold. Grab them on sale in any of the available four colorways.

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM6.

More early headphones dealsBest earbuds deal Sony WF-C710N $88 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $41.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

As much as I love a good pair of premium earbuds, I'm less in love with the idea of paying over $200 for quality ANC and sound when you can get that for much, much cheaper. For day-to-day use, I often find myself reaching for the Sony WF-C710N earbuds. They have great battery life, a compact case for easy portability, really solid ANC, and a rounded sound profile worthy of the Sony name. Bracetti called them the best Sony earbuds you can get for under $100 (when they're on sale), and I'm comfortable saying they're some of the best earbuds under $100, period.

Check out our full review of the Sony WF-C710N.

More early earbuds deals Best open earbuds deal Sony LinkBuds Clip $198 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $31.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

People love the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, but the Sony LinkBuds Clip are just as comfortable, sound at least as good, and at their full price, cost about $70 cheaper than the Bose buds. On sale, they're over $100 cheaper than the Bose Ultra earbuds. Mashable contributor Simon Cohen deemed these earbuds a Mashable Selects winner, which means they're one of our favorite products we've tried. This sale price of $198 marks their biggest discount ever, and the first time they've ever gone below $200. For earbuds that just launched in January, that's not too shabby.

Check out our full review of the Sony LinkBuds Clip.

More early open earbuds deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple AirTags deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - 4 hours 39 min ago
The best Apple AirTag deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale isn’t officially underway until March 25, but we’re already seeing some pretty promising price drops across multiple categories. Of course, we’re holding out to see if Amazon’s going to gift us with additional Apple deals (we’re seeing $300 price cuts on MacBooks and $100 off Apple Watches, after all), but there’s no denying the Apple AirTag deals are worth jumping on.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 at Amazon
$29 Save $5   Get Deal Why we like it

The updated Apple AirTag 2 is still at full price ($29 each or $99 for a four-pack), but you can get a first-gen AirTag for just $24 right now.

These little trackers are total lifesavers for anyone who's always misplacing their keys or wants some peace of mind by stashing one in their checked luggage. (I use them to keep tabs on my dogs when I'm visiting my parents.) You can track your stuff directly in the Find My app, and if you’re nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to the exact cushion your wallet is hiding under.

The best Apple AirTag accessory dealsThe best Apple AirTag alternative deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

20+ best Amazon Big Spring sale outdoor deals: Owala, Solix, Ninja, and Solo Stoves at record lows

Mashable - 4 hours 47 min ago
Best early Amazon Big Spring Sale outdoor deals at a glance: Best outdoor speaker deal JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $489.99 at Amazon (save $309.01) Get Deal Best hydration deal Owala FreeSip (32 ounce, select colorways) $29.99 at Amazon (save $5) Get Deal Best camping deal Rumpl Original Puffy National Park Blanket (select colorways) $74.95 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Best cooler deal Ninja FrostVault Cooler (30 quart) $149.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best camping furniture deal Helinox Chair One $82.46 at Amazon (save $27.49) Get Deal Best backyard deal Solo Stove Bonfire $249.99 at Amazon (save $79.01) Get Deal Best watersports deal Bote 10-foot Breeze Aero Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board $499 at Amazon (save $280) Get Deal

Now that we're officially into spring, we're celebrating by snagging those elusive campsite reservations. Amazon has a different version of celebrating, but it's one that might be beneficial to your upcoming outdoor plans.

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is the perfect time to upgrade outdoor gear that deserves to retire. Amazon sales tend to bring significant discounts to some of our favorite outdoor items like Ninja coolers, portable power stations, Owala bottles, outdoor-worthy speakers, and plenty more.

While the Amazon sale if officially launching on March 25, we're already seeing nice deals across many outdoor categories. Grab a new tent, a better sleeping bag, some fun toys, and you'll be on your way to a fantastic camping season. Here are some of the best early Amazon Big Spring Sale outdoor deals to shop ahead of the event.

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $489.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $309.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C100 Gen 2 portable power station.

If your campsite could use some extra power, consider the major upgrade to a portable power station. The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is well worth inviting along on your weekend in the outdoors. It'll keep phones and tablets charged up, as well as giving you the ability to hang fairy lights and even pack along the air fryer.

Anker went super lightweight with this model and it comes in at just under 25 pounds, making it easy to pack and carry around the campsite. There's also the quick recharging capability. Just 49 minutes of AC wall charging will get the Solix C1000 Gen 2 up to 100% charged.

Best outdoor speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 (Squad) $159.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

Every camping adventure deserve some tunes. In Mashable's review of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Charge 6 earns top marks as the best for most people. Its IP68-rated water- and dust-proof rating makes it espeically worthy of adventure and the battery can give it up to 28 hours of playtime. JBL also added a study handle strap for easier transportation. Plus, the speaker doubles as a portable charger, so you can keep your phone from going dead while also hosting a dance party.

Best cooler deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja FrostVault Cooler (30 quart) $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances to use at home, but the brand is also a go-to for keeping food chilled at the campground. The 30-quart Ninja FrostVault Cooler can hold 26 cans while loaded up with 15 pounds of ice or 48 cans with no ice. The handles and lockable latch make this model espeically user-friendly. Ninja also added a dry-zone drawer to the design of the FrostVault which is the perfect place to store road-trip snacks with the assurance they won't end up getting squished or soggy.

More cooler dealsMore early Amazon Spring Sale outdoor deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Kindle isn't just for books—here's 5 extra features you can try today

How-To Geek - 4 hours 48 min ago

Kindles have low-power e-ink screens, which are perfect for reading books. However, that's not all they're perfect for. I've been tinkering with my Kindle for the past few months, and I figured out some neat things it can do.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the essential content creator tools for farmer and podcast host Jesse Frost

Mashable - 4 hours 50 min ago

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet the Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

Here’s the thing about farmers: They love to talk about farming.

As a flower farmer and vegetable gardener myself, it’s something I’ve experienced a lot. We love to swap stories about growing practices, compare notes about dahlia or potato storage, and wax poetic about our favorite varieties of heirloom tomatoes. But when I can’t connect with another grower face-to-face, I find myself turning to podcasts, Instagram, and YouTube channels to scratch that itch, especially as another season starts to come into focus. 

Enter: Jesse Frost of No-Till Growers. 

The 43-year-old Frost is author of The Living Soil Handbook and the man behind the No-Till Growers network, which includes a popular YouTube channel with more than 400K subscribers, a corresponding Instagram account, and the Growers Daily podcast. 

A no-till farm (or garden) is one where the soil is never plowed or turned over and is heavily mulched, like with wood chips or cover crops — a practice that can help with soil health and erosion control. It’s a big topic in the farming community as many growers strive to improve the quality of their soil and produce better yields, not to mention reduce the need for pesticides or other inorganic inputs.

Credit: Zooey Liao / Jesse Frost / Mashable

Based in Kentucky, Frost and his wife Hannah Crabtree run Rough Draft Farm, a small-scale vegetable farm that serves their local community. It’s also where Frost creates much of the content that appears across his channels, and where he applies the no-till farming practices he speaks of so often. 

Frost says that his biggest mission is to help others learn alongside him.

“We try to create and aggregate as much information about growing food ecologically as we can, and then disseminate that for free,” Frost says. “The entire idea is we believe organic, no-till farming is important work and the technical details about how to do it should not be behind a payway.”

We recently caught up with Frost about some of the essential tools he relies on every day, why content creation is so important, and the power of authenticity online.

Talk to me about how everything got started.

I originally launched the [Market Garden] podcast back in 2018 because I just felt like that was the information I needed and wanted the most and it just was not out there. I knew there were all these growers who were doing creative, low-till things, but the information on how was just not there. So I decided to call them and record it and share it. Seemed like a reasonable idea at the time, and now it's a huge part of my life.

I later stepped away to concentrate on farming, on video making (which is easier than podcasting because it can be done on your own and then edited in the morning, unlike podcast interviews, which are typically done during the day when I need to be farming). I also wanted to give my wife, who is a painter, a chance to do some of the stuff she wanted to do and had sacrificed so that I could make the podcast. 

Within the last couple of years you launched the Growers Daily podcast – talk to me about the shift into daily content. 

I started Growers Daily in September of 2024, the idea just being that I thought farmers and growers might enjoy a daily podcast to listen to. I love daily podcasts. I use them to motivate myself in the morning and then afternoons when I'm tired. Moreover, the daily was also something I could do early in the morning so it didn't require much, if anything, from the family or anyone else. I love daily podcasts, but most of them are sports or news-oriented. My idea was simple: why not farming? 

In My Bag Shure SM7B Microphone $439 Shop Now RØDE VideoMic Pro+ Shotgun Microphone $271 Shop Now RØDE DeadCat Windshield $49 Shop Now RØDE Wireless Go II $219.99 Shop Now Sony α7 IV Mirrorless Camera $2,598 Shop Now Glide Gear Teleprompter $199 Shop Now Stirrup Hoe $38.07 Shop Now Wheelbarrow $139 Shop Now

What are the products you can’t live without for content creation? 

On the podcast side, I use the Shure SM7B microphone and although I have not tried every microphone out there, the bang for the buck is huge and I like how well it fits my voice. Microphones are really high on my list of "can't live withouts" because I remember a time before I did live without good microphones and I don't really want to go back there. 

On the video side, I'm often using either the RØDE VideoMic Pro+ shotgun mic with the Deadcat windscreen (for in-the-field shots) or the Rode Wireless Go II for talking or doing interviews. I like to have the Omnidirectional lavaliers for those as well, but not a requisite. I just think sound really elevates video. 

Camera-wise, I'm a big fan of Sony. Originally, I just liked how long they would record (versus the 29:59 limit that Canons had). That comes in incredibly handy when filming farm presentations. I find that Sonys are user-friendly and relatively intuitive (this is an aspect I appreciate because I am not a big tech guy and have no time or space in my brain to learn all-new equipment). I also just like the video color and saturation better on Sony than other cameras I've tried. Specifically, right now I have a Sony A7IV for shooting outdoors (with a Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens). For the podcast, which I film at my desk, I use an older Sony A7C (with a Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens). 

I have a teleprompter that I can't live without for the podcast, but not because it's a great teleprompter, just because I use it a lot. It's an old Glide Gear, and it's fine but it's a little awkward to get in and out of every day (the podcast is daily). It's 7 years old and it does the job and if I have to take it to the field, I don't sweat it too much. 

Because I'm on a farm (and a budget), I try not to overdo it on the quality (read: price) of my equipment. I could buy better mics and cameras, but they will get dirty. For me it's about finding that balance of quality and price so I won't feel bad handling it with muddy fingers as I move it around the farm. 

Also shouts to my editor Mike, who now handles all of the backend stuff on the videos and podcasts — he's pretty hard to live without. 

How about when it comes to farming? 

I always say I could run my farm on a shovel, a wheelbarrow, a 7-inch stirrup hoe, and a rake if need be. No special brands or preferences there, but those would get me pretty dang far. The tech for shooting videos and recording podcasts is ever-evolving. In farming, there is new tech, too, obviously, but a lot of food can still be grown with very little in the way of tools, as it has been for thousands of years. 

You do a great job of showcasing your humor and personality within your content — is this something you actively think about and plan for? 

I wouldn't say I think about being funny very much or work on material really at all. Oftentimes, like I would imagine it is for many people, my humor comes up when I need to fill empty space, or when I feel awkward, or when I felt like something I said was boring and I'd like to bring the listener back in.

Humor is a great tool in that way. For instance, the subjects of my podcasts can often involve intricate details on, say, the planting distances of broccoli. If I don't make a joke or ten somewhere in there, people are gonna check out. Myself included, frankly. You ever fall asleep recording a video? It's not a great look. 

Where do you see your best engagement? 

I think I see my best engagement not based on platform or content-type but on sincerity. I think people respond most to honesty and vulnerability. I don't exploit that, I just notice it. People really love to see my mistakes. People really love to see me be human. And I love to show those things because I want people to walk away from my work still feeling good about their own work. 

Content creation has a unique power to make people feel less-than or unaccomplished, but as creators, we can make the choice to show them we screw up, too. I do it all the time. I am as good at screwing up as succeeding. I think it's helpful for people to see that. 

What makes a good farming account? 

I wish I knew! The somewhat embarrassing truth is that I don't watch a lot of farming content. Basically none. The reason for that is to keep generating new ideas and not keep feeding the old ones. I don't want what I'm sharing to be what everyone else is sharing, which is what tends to happen in the content creation. So I don't watch YouTube videos, I don't listen to farmer podcasts really, unless my friends are on it or some farm I'm interested in. I read research papers and talk to researchers and growers (on top of also farming full-time and gaining my own perspectives). 

The goal is just to always try to bring something new to the space. And I've also had to grow okay with just not knowing all the time what the new thing or tool or trick people are talking about is all the time. So No FOMO here — I know I'll find it eventually. And really, like I said, farming doesn't change that much. I've been doing this for almost 17 years. I've seen a lot of tools come and go in that time. The next big thing is still the shovel, wheelbarrow, hoe, and rake. 

Any noteworthy achievements you’d like us to mention? 

We've made 350+ episodes of the daily. We've done hundreds of videos. We have 400,000 subscribers on YouTube, millions of podcast downloads, but when I think about that question, I just think about the time I helped my kid through a hard thing, and didn't say anything stupid in the process to make it worse. Or how I had a difficult conversation with someone that actually made the situation great — better than I could have imagined. I don't know that numbers or classic achievements (awards, etc.) will ever satisfy me quite like a relationship achievement. Those are the best. 

What do you love about creating content? 

It's a fun, creative challenge every day. I've always said I have two parts of my brain that need a ton of attention — the physicality side (picking stuff up and moving it around) and the creative side. Farming fulfills the physical side, whereas content creation fulfills the creative. They work well together in that way. I also love how accessible it is. If you have a genuine desire to change something in the world (in my case, how the soil and earth are treated), content creation is a way you can start embarking on that mission today. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best laptop deals live ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale: Its a MacBook show so far

Mashable - 4 hours 55 min ago
A quick look at Amazon's best laptop deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Asus ROG Flow Z13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,069.99 at Amazon (save $330 + free code for "Crimson Desert") Get Deal

Amazon's third annual Big Spring Sale is happening from March 25-31. The event is themed around seasonal goodies like spring cleaning supplies, outdoor gear, and warm-weather apparel. But in the past, we've also seen it prompt some great deals on tech — including laptops.

So far, the bulk of Amazon's best pre-sale computer deals involve MacBooks, MacBooks, and more MacBooks. Almost every configuration from the past two years is on sale, if it's still in stock, with the biggest price cuts going to 2025's M4 MacBook Airs. They're all $200 to $300 off, making them significantly cheaper than their iterative M5 replacements, which Apple announced earlier this month. (Those are also on sale already, but only for about $50 off.) A couple of configurations are sitting at record-low prices.

Things are a little less exciting on the Windows laptop side. I managed to find a powerful Asus gaming convertible on sale for $330 off, which is its biggest discount ever; that's the only one I would add to my cart now. A handful of Microsoft Surface Laptop 7s are up to 26% off, but since all of them have been much cheaper before, I'd wait to see if their prices drop further once the sale starts next week.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

As a reminder, I don't endorse buying laptops from any third-party sellers on Amazon. (The bulk of its laptop listings comes from them.) They can have different customer service policies than Amazon itself, and they might be advertising misleading specs. This isn't to say they're all scammers doing something illegal, and Amazon has a guarantee that covers delivery or item condition issues. Still, I wouldn't take a chance on a big purchase like a new laptop. The Shipper/Seller should be "Amazon.com" (below the orange "Buy Now" button).

I would also recommend shopping around a bit at other retailers, especially Best Buy. It has a much better selection of Windows laptops than Amazon, and its pricing is competitive where their inventories overlap.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to a record-low price.

Best MacBook deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,299 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

The 2025 MacBook Air is basically identical to its successor, save for its wireless chip and processor. (You're not missing out on much there: In our performance tests, the M4 version was only about six percent slower than the M5 model in both single- and multi-core workloads — you won't feel that in practice.) It features a vibrant Liquid Retina display, a backlit keyboard, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 12MP webcam with Center Stage support. This 15-inch configuration is well future-proofed with plenty of RAM, and it's never been cheaper.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsMacBook Pro dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Flow Z13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $2,069.99 at Amazon
$2,399.99 Save $330 Includes free code for "Crimson Desert" Get Deal Why we like it

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a zippy gaming convertible with a detachable keyboard and a slick 180Hz display — GTA V's Ned Luke is a fan. This configuration is powered by a high-end AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip with integrated graphics that performed on par with an RTX 4060 GPU when we tested it in another Asus laptop. Amazon has it marked down to $2,069.99, which is 14% off its MSRP and its best deal to date. (Ignore Amazon's deflated list price; it actually retails for $2,399.99, according to Asus' website.) It also comes with a free PC download code for Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss' huge new fantasy-action adventure game.

This ROG Flow Z13 deal is price-matched at Best Buy, but it doesn't include the Crimson Desert code there.

More Windows laptop dealsGaming laptop deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

20+ fitness tracker deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - 4 hours 57 min ago
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best Garmin deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $174.28 (save $125.71) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel Watch 4 (WiFi, 41mm) $289.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best Nothing deal Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79 (save $20) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (Bluetooth, 46mm) $369.99 (save $130) Get Deal

Amazon's third annual Big Spring Sale kicks off March 25 (and runs through March 31), but early deals made an appearance as early as last week. Items like Apple products, robot vacuums, and speakers are heavily reduced, with more to follow. Even high-end fitness trackers got the discount treatment, with deals stamps to be found on many brands including Garmin, Google, and of course Apple Watches. So, if you've been looking for a fitness tracker to assist your routine, now is the perfect time to buy.

Deals started slow, but are starting to ramp up as the sale's official start approaches. The biggest discounts so far are on last-gen Garmin watches, but we'll be updating this list as new price drops appear. There are a couple of big names that seem to be waiting to drop deals until the official sale, like Whoop and Oura. So we'd hold off on buying those brands until the Big Spring Sale commences.

Here are all the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon leading up to and throughout the official Big Spring Sale 2026.

Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $174.28 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $125.71   Get Deal Why we like it

While it's since been replaced with the newer vívoactive 6, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is still an excellent choice. It's a perfect all-rounder for someone who wants a fitness tracker with plenty of smartwatch features. It can track everything from long runs and rides to stress, sleep, and body battery, has a bright and responsive AMOLED display, and boasts 11 days of battery power (Apple could literally never). I personally gifted this watch to my boyfriend (he loves it) after snagging an epic Black Friday discount, but it's now even cheaper. At $174.28, it's over 40% off and is down to the lowest price we've ever seen.

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a solid Apple Watch deal, this $100 price drop on the Series 11 makes it a pretty stellar value. It's been chilling at this price for awhile now, so we're hoping to see the Big Spring Sale drop it down even lower. But even if it doesn't, $299 for the newest Apple Watch ain't bad. It brings significant battery improvements over its predecessor, which alone makes it worth the upgrade. It also has a tougher design with more durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for seamless connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool for flagging high blood pressure.

More fitness tracker deals

Apple

Garmin

Google / Fitbit

Nothing

Samsung

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Google Wallet features I wish someone had told me about sooner

How-To Geek - 5 hours 33 min ago

Google Wallet is one of those apps that many of us use every day. It's so simple to set up that once you've added your payment card, you might never look at it again. Yet it has got several extra features that are incredibly helpful, but which you might never find if you don't know where to look. Here are the ones I find most useful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hands-on: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is perfect for a daily dose of laughs

Mashable - 5 hours 34 min ago

I've never really been able to get into The Sims, for a few reasons. For starters, I don't have the patience to meticulously recreate my friends or favorite celebrities in its highly detailed character creator. Beyond that, much of its gameplay by default revolves around managing meters to make sure your Sims stay happy and don't die. It's compelling to many and one of the most popular games of all time for a reason, but it doesn't really work for me.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, on the other hand, might be the kind of life-sim I can get into. I've played a few hours of Nintendo's quirky new island management simulator for Switch (as in the first one, though it'll also work on a Switch 2), and I really dig it so far. It's become a part of my daily routine, as every morning I boot it up, see what the goofy little Mii recreations of my friends and favorite fictional characters are getting up to, and then move on with the rest of my day.

It's hard to say yet whether Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will have real staying power like The Sims, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon Pokopia, but anyone looking for a low-key delivery mechanism for laughs on Switch or Switch 2 should give it some consideration.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream $59.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here SEE ALSO: Pokémon Pokopia: How to power up Rock Smash Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream gives a lot without asking for much from you I agree! Credit: Nintendo

For those who don't know, Living the Dream is the long-awaited follow-up to Tomodachi Life for Nintendo 3DS. The basic premise here is the same as it was more than a decade ago: You create a bunch of Mii characters (you know, like the guys you played as in Wii Sports) based on whoever you want to base them on, and they live together on an island. You can give them gifts, feed them food, nudge their personalities in different directions, and try to make them become friends or even lovers together. But for the most part, what they do and how they act is up to them, not you.

That means that, beyond the initial setup phase of making a Mii and crafting your island's appearance to your heart's content, Tomodachi Life isn't a game you play so much as it's a funny little virtual ant farm that you check in on every now and then. The biggest key to its success, in my eyes, is that the characters all speak out loud using extremely mechanical-sounding text-to-speech technology. You can modulate and pitch their voices to your liking, but at no point will their speech ever come close to sounding truly human, and that's part of the charm.

A typical Tomodachi Life session, at least for me, lasts about 45 minutes at most. I start by turning the game on and talking to any Miis who have issues that need resolving, which can range from "I want a new friend" to "I need a new outfit." The happier you make them, the more they level up, unlocking various bonuses that are better left unspoiled.

Again, they just kinda do this stuff on their own. Credit: Nintendo

The real charm of all of this is that it's naturally, effortlessly funny at almost every turn.

The voice synthesis is a big part of the humor, as just listening to your Miis talk is hilarious on its own, but Nintendo has also crafted a bunch of funny little comedy skits that play out naturally without much intervention from the player. Sometimes a Mii will ask you to go bowling with them, which means all of the island's residents will pose as bowling pins, and you have to knock them over. Other times, they'll ask you what you think about current trends, or if you want to help them foster friendships with other Miis.

This is also what my friends and I do on the weekends. Credit: Nintendo

There are a ton of different little vignettes to see, and there's no telling how much of Living the Dream one would have to play before seeing all of them. Admittedly, it's up to the player to make their own fun, to an extent. My main method of enjoying Living the Dream has been to create Miis who only sort of resemble fictional characters like Sonic the Hedgehog, Marge Simpson, and Eric Cartman, and watch them interact with each other. Your mileage may vary with this, as for other people, creating Miis of their real-life friends or family members will be the key to enjoyment.

To its credit, Mii creation is also deeper here than it's ever been before. Aside from new cosmetic options like hairstyles, Miis can now be non-binary and can use any pronouns, no matter what their gender is set to. They can also date and marry anyone of any gender, should you choose to set it that way. The last Tomodachi Life only supported heterosexual romances, so this is a huge improvement.

Character creation has gotten key upgrades. Credit: Nintendo

My only major concern for Living the Dream is that Nintendo has severely limited the ability to share screenshots and videos using the Switch's share button. You can still capture them, but getting them off your console and onto a computer or phone is much more difficult than it normally would be, presumably for content safety reasons. I get that in the abstract, but easily being able to share silly little moments on social would go a long way towards making Living the Dream part of my daily routine for months to come.

I'll have more to say when the time comes for a full review, but at least after the first several hours, I'm excited to play more Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches on Nintendo Switch on April 16. You can pre-order the game now for $59.99 at Amazon and the My Nintendo Store.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is under market price at Amazon

Mashable - 5 hours 43 min ago

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box on sale for $21.81, which is not only 38% off its $34.99 list price, but also about $3 below the current $24.84 market value.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $21.81 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $13.18 Get Deal

If you have been waiting for the Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar The Last Airbender expansion to get to the right price before jumping in, the latest deal on the Beginner Box is one of the best chances you’ll ever get.

As of March 24, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box listed for $21.81. Compared with its $34.99 list price, that is a savings of $13.18, and it also lands below the $24.84 TCGplayer market value. For a licensed starter set that is aimed at two players and packed with actual play pieces instead of just a small sampling of cards, that is a pretty easy deal to like.

Not only is $21.81 a rare low price for this beginner box, but it is also only 24 cents shy of its lowest-ever price — as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

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As well as a great crossover trading card game product, this starter bundle doubles as a way to deliberately walk beginners into the MTG trading card game. Along with guided battles between Aang and Zuko using two 20-card tutorial decks, you can use step-by-step learn-to-play guides included to help you through your first match. 

After that, the box opens up with eight additional 20-card Avatar-themed half-decks that you can combine into full 40-card decks, letting you mix and match different themes and strategies rather than getting stuck with just one static setup. Along with the included cards, you’ll get two playboards to help keep turns organized, two Spindown life counters for tracking totals, five double-sided tokens, and a rules reference booklet for quick check-ins as you play.

For more MTG deals, the Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn House of Horrors Play Booster Box is still $22 off at Walmart. Meanwhile, MTG’s Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box has been cut to under $120 at Amazon. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Assistant finally lets you clean the rooms that actually need it

How-To Geek - 5 hours 48 min ago

In the 2026.3 update, Home Assistant added a very useful new feature. It's now possible to match your robot vacuum's map to defined areas in your home. This makes it easy to get your robot vacuum to clean specific rooms.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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