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The way Android handles notifications and Quick Settings has long been a stand-out feature. For good reason, the core functionality hasn’t changed much over the years. Recently, however, there seems to be some growing discontent with this system. I’m not happy about it.

If you're like me, you might have a bunch of retired storage devices sitting around the house. HDDs, SATA SSDs, NVMes ... Putting them to work for actual storage and backup purposes is great, but the reality is that some older SSDs are better suited to other tasks.

After Amazon announced that older Kindle models, such as my ancient Kindle 4, would lose access to new Kindle Store downloads, I decided to jailbreak it. I added the KOReader reading app and set it up so that it could display my Home Assistant dashboard, but I wondered how else I could use it. It sounded crazy, but could it work as a portable monitor?

Who would've thought that a day would come when an AI could hear your voice and speak just like you. I've used speech AI tools before, such as ElevenLabs. While those are great for voice cloning, they come with a price.

SAVE $20: As of May 18, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. This is $20 off its list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20   Get Deal

Summer's streaming lineup is already looking very exciting. If you've been hoping to get a new streaming device to watch everything in crisp 4K Ultra HD picture quality this year, it's worth checking out the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. At the moment, it's even discounted at Amazon during its Memorial Day sale.

As of May 18, Amazon has dropped the price of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max to $39.99. Usually it's listed for $59.99, so this is a great opportunity to pick it up for $20 off. It's only on sale for a limited time, so don't wait too long to take advantage of this offer.

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With support for 4K Ultra HD picture quality, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max will help make shows like House of the Dragon or The Bear stand out with clear, colorful detail. That's not all, though. Picture gets a further boost with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, alongside support for Dolby Atmos that surrounds you in crisp sound quality. It also supports WiFi 6E, so what you're streaming will come through smoothly.

For those moments when you're not watching anything, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also comes with a cool feature called the Fire TV Ambient Experience. With this, you can put up pieces of art or photography on your TV, turning it into a fun display piece.

This offer may not last for long, so act fast to grab this excellent deal on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max at Amazon.

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

Sometimes, life is too short to sit down and watch a three-hour movie or a show with episodes that push an hour. If you've only got time for a quick Netflix fix, here are some great shows that have episodes of around half an hour or less.

As I write this, there are basically two types of CPU that matter: x86 and ARM. The former belongs to Intel and AMD, which each hold critical patents necessary to make modern PC chips. ARM belongs to, well, ARM, and you'll find that in MacBooks, phones, tablets, and more.

Louis Theroux, legendary documentary-maker and the man behind that viral "Jiggle Jiggle" song, has such a long career in TV that he's created more than a few catch-phrases that beg to be parodied.

Fortunately he's clearly a very good sport about it, even popping up at the end of the SNL UK clip above in which cast members Larry Dean and Al Nash, and guest host Ncuti Gatwa, all play a version of Theroux.

Cue a lot of "Is that fair to say?" and "Shall we get started?"

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For most of the time I've been using Windows, voice dictation has been pretty fairly clunky. It worked as an accessibility feature or an interesting experiment, but it made for a difficult replacement compared to a mouse and keyboard. However, with the rise of AI, that has changed significantly.

Samsung has won an injunction partially blocking a planned strike by its South Korean workers later this week. However, it may not completely prevent all industrial action, with up to 50,000 Samsung employees poised to walk off the job this Thursday. If it goes ahead, it will be the largest strike in the tech company's history.

The dispute fuelling the planned workers' action primarily concerns bonuses. As reported by Yonhap, South Korea's state news agency, the union has requested that Samsung set aside 15 percent of operating profits for performance-based bonuses, as well as remove the cap on such payouts and commit to a fixed formula for calculating them. Samsung has reportedly offered to allocate 10 percent of operating profits for bonuses instead, as well as issue a one-time special compensation package. 

Samsung Electronics Co. workers outside the company's semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Apr. 23, 2026. Credit: SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Initial talks collapsed last week after Samsung and the union were unable to reach an agreement, according to Reuters. Last-minute negotiations were resumed on Monday, which were facilitated by the South Korean government. Unless an agreement is reached, Samsung's unionised workers are set to go on an 18-day strike beginning on May 21.

However, a new injunction will restrict what the workers can do as part of the strike. As Yonhap reports, Suwon District Court ordered on Monday that Samsung's unionised workers cannot take over the company's facilities or disrupt other workers. Normal staffing levels must also be maintained where matters of safety and security are involved, the news agency reported, such as when maintenance work is required to prevent equipment damage.

It's currently unclear exactly how this will impact Samsung employees' strike plans. However, while the injunction may have tempered the threat of industrial action, it doesn't appear to have completely stopped it.

South Korean government works to prevent Samsung strike A Samsung union rally in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Apr. 23, 2026. Credit: SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Samsung strike is of significant concern to the South Korean government. Samsung accounted for over 13 percent of South Korea's GDP in 2024, according to the country's Edaily media group, and is its largest employer with over 125,000 employees. The planned industrial action is anticipated to involve over a third of this massive workforce, and could have a significant impact on South Korea's economy.

"Just one day of suspension at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor factory is expected ⁠to incur direct losses of as much as 1 trillion won [approximately $US667 million]," Prime Minister ‌Kim Min-seok said on Sunday, as reported by the South China Morning Post. "What is more concerning is that a temporary pause on semiconductor manufacturing ‌lines leads to months of inactivity."

Kim further stated that if Samsung and the union are unable to come to an agreement, the government will consider issuing an emergency arbitration order under South Korean law. Per The Korea Times, this enables the labor ministry to suspend any strike action for up to 30 days if it "it is deemed likely to seriously harm the national economy or disrupt the daily lives of citizens."

A Samsung union rally at the the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus on Apr. 23, 2026. Credit: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also addressed the issue, taking to social media on Monday.

"Workers must be able to receive fair compensation for their labor in return for providing their services, and shareholders who bear risks and losses through their investments share in the company's profits," Lee wrote on X, translated by the platform. He later added, "Under the current Constitution, the fundamental rights of all citizens are guaranteed, but they may be restricted within the scope that does not infringe on their essential content for the sake of public welfare and other reasons."

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Samsung recently announced that its operating profit for Q1 this year was ₩57.2 trillion (approximately $US38.1 billion), an "all-time high" driven by the boom in demand for AI chips. This is a significant increase compared to the same quarter last year, when Samsung reported an operating profit of ₩6.7 trillion (approximately $US4.4 billion).

When you install the Home Assistant companion app on your phone, you can allow Home Assistant to track your location. By default, you get a device tracker entity that will toggle between home and not_home based on the Home location that you set up. There are plenty of useful automations you can trigger using the location of your phone.

Most people use about 10% of Excel's actual capabilities, yet beginners often feel pressured to learn the other 90% immediately. That's a recipe for burnout. If you want to actually get work done, skip the noise, ignore the shiny distractions, and focus on the basics that make spreadsheets useful.

Googlebooks promise everything Android users have wanted for years: A laptop that seamlessly works with your phone. The problem? It's Google. And Google has a habit of killing the things you love. 

SAVE $30: As of May 18, Bose QuietComfort earbuds have dropped to $149 at Amazon. This is $30 off their list price of $179.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Earbuds $149 at Amazon
$179 Save $30   Get Deal

Amazon's kicked off its Memorial Day sale, and for those looking to scoop up new earbuds for summer, we've spotted some great deals already. This includes a discount on the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, which have dropped to $149.

This deal knocks $30 off the Bose QuietComfort's full price of $179, which is a pretty solid saving on this great mid-budget pick. Every color is down to this price right now, so you can pick out your favorite.

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If you've been searching for earbuds with solid sound quality and noise cancelling without the premium price tag, Bose QuietComfort earbuds are the answer. Ranked as our favorite mid-budget pick in our roundup of the best wireless earbuds, they're "an affordable answer to the brand’s line-up." They're also "reliable, have a long battery life, and are sure to please the pickiest of audiophiles."

When it comes to sound, Mashable's Bethany Allard said in her review that, "Right away, I was impressed by the sound quality of these earbuds. While I wouldn't consider myself the harshest audiophile in the world, I found that the lows, mids, and highs of songs came through balanced and clear, becoming only the tiniest bit muddled at higher volumes." And as for the noise-cancelling, Allard said it's "serviceable, especially for the price point, but it's certainly not at the same level as Bose's other headphones."

Treat yourself to some new earbuds this summer. Score $30 off the Bose QuietComfort earbuds right now at Amazon.

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Somehow we only have two episodes of Euphoria left — and there is still a lot to wrap up.

In the episode 7 preview above we see Maddy (Alexa Demie) confronting Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), Nate (Jacob Elordi) looking the worse for wear, and Rue (Zendaya) getting even deeper into a situation that's already nearly gotten her killed.

Lexie (Maude Apatow) probably summarises it best: "It's like you've all lost your f***ing minds."

New episodes of Euphoria Season 3 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Markiplier's feature film debut Iron Lung is about to hit home release on the creator's platform of choice: YouTube.

The 36-year-old creator and streamer also known as Mark Fischbach pivoted to filmmaking in the last few years, with his first feature-length horror movie released in cinemas in January to colossal success. Written, directed, edited, and starring Fischbach, and based on David Szymanski's 2022 post-apocalyptic horror game, Iron Lung made Sam Raimi's marooned horror Send Help sweat at the box office — and it even saw an extended theatrical release.

Now, Iron Lung will be available for to rent or buy on YouTube Movies on May 31, with a global rollout expected. The news was announced (of course) on YouTube by Markiplier on Sunday.

SEE ALSO: How content creators are redefining Hollywood's power structure

"I'm sorry it's later than I thought it'd be, but it's coming out May 31 in as many international territories as I can make work," the creator said in his characteristically candid announcement video (below).

"It's releasing exclusively on YouTube Movies, because I figured you guys are already here anyway. It made the most sense. They were the people that would talk to me, because I don't know how many other companies would have, or even given me a chance of doing something like this," he said.

"I don't know if it'll make much of a difference, but hey, at least I'll be in a position that I could do something about something, and that's a position that I wouldn't have been in if it wasn't for you guys. So, I am really grateful. I'm really excited to just focus on YouTube for a bit. That's something that I've been wanting for a long time."

"I figured you guys are already here anyway. It made the most sense."

The Google-owned platform makes total sense for Markiplier's movie. A YouTube gaming titan since 2012, Fischbach has amassed 38.6 million subscribers on the platform as of May 2026. He was included in Mashable's inaugural Mashable 101 list of the most influential creators in 2025.

Markiplier at the ‘Iron Lung’ premiere at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2025. Credit: Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Mark 'Markiplier' Fischbach

Building on his sprawling empire of followers on YouTube, Instagram, and X, Fischbach made the move into screen work of a more scripted nature, starring in and executive producing Prime Video's The Edge of Sleep in 2024.

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

Last year, Formula 1 brought in $3.9 billion in revenue, a 14 percent jump from 2024. Attendance is up, races are selling out, and the stands look different than they used to. Younger. Louder. More online. More American. More feminine. A lot of that starts with Drive to Survive on Netflix, but it doesn’t end there.

In this Trending Now episode, culture reporter Christianna Silva and producer Teodosia Dobriyanova explore how 2025 became F1's most successful year to date. And making fandom more accessible means that the motorsport could be democratized.

SAVE OVER $200: As of May 18, the Eufy C10 robot vacuum is on sale for $219.99 at Amazon. This is $260 off its list price of $479.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C10 Robot Vacuum $219.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $260   Get Deal

Summertime sale events are coming up fast, with Memorial Day sales kicking off at multiple retailers.

Amazon has already dropped some exciting deals, and if you've been looking for a robot vacuum, this is a great time to buy. One of our favorite budget models, the Eufy C10, is among the discounted picks. Sold by Eufy itself, this marks a return to the lowest-ever price the manufacturer has sold this model for at Amazon (although Amazon has sold its own stock for ever so slightly cheaper.)

As of May 18, the Eufy C10 robot vacuum has dropped to $219.99 at Amazon. That's a massive 54% discount from its full price of $479.99.

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Mashable's Leah Stodart ranked the Eufy C10 as the "best budget robot vacuum for small spaces" in our roundup of the best budget robot vacuums. Stodart notes: "For its price, it offers everything you need to keep floors clean without regular elbow grease, including self-emptying." Stodart continues: "It reminds us of older ultra-thin Eufy models, and we like its compact self-emptying station, which can hold 60 days of dust and debris."

The Eufy C10 has plenty to offer as a cleaner. It features 4,000 Pa suction that can grab any dirt, pet hair, or debris on your floors. It also has a helpful extendable side brush to help it reach into corners to clean. Plus, its 2.85-inch height is great for getting it underneath low furniture in your home.

If you don't want to spend too much on a robot vacuum, this deal on the Eufy C10 is well worth checking out at Amazon.

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TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best services for unblocking porn sites from Australia are ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Back in early 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub hit back by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation took place France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story we've seen before, with the same straightforward workaround.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Proton VPN Proton VPN (1-Month Plan) $10.81 only at Proton VPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. The situation may have changed before the free-trial period comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are the top choices for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in locations all around the world

• Easy-to-use apps available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policies so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Multiple simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantees

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN.