Blogroll

I handed my Google Keep tasks to Gemini and got hours back

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 21:30

Google Keep is where I dump everything I need to remember. Grocery items, article ideas, errands, and random thoughts all end up in different notes. Finding anything later is a whole other problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple officially rolls out iOS 27.2. Heres whats new

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 21:19

Apple has a fresh new iOS update for everyone to check out.

Monday marked the official launch of iOS 27.2, which is now available as a software update on all compatible iPhones. To install it, simply open the Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update. No need to fiddle with beta software this time — this is the real deal.

As for what's new, iOS 27.2 isn't the most monumental update in the world, but there's plenty to mess around with. For starters, Siri AI is now available in several new languages: French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. It's also been updated for English-language users so it will now be able to recall past conversations you've had with Apple's chatbot. Additionally, the Messages app will offer context-sensitive suggestions to take quick actions in Calendar or Reminders based on what's being said in the text conversation.

SEE ALSO: Apple breaks silence on iPhone Duo cracking reports

Dual Capture now works on FaceTime group calls, meaning you can have both your front and rear cameras active at the same time while talking to more than one other person. For new iPhone Duo owners, iOS 27.2 also adds Apple Pencil support. Meanwhile, the Edge Light feature uses the iPhone Duo's display to light up your face during video calls in low light.

There are plenty of other small changes to check out, too, such as individual profiles in the Apple TV app and a reimagined Up Next view in the Podcasts app. Multiview will also let sports fans watch up to four events simultaneously, though the feature appears to be limited to sporting events on Apple TV.

In total, iOS 27.2 might not be the most seismic update in the world, but there's still a good amount to play with.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 captivating Paramount+ movies to watch this week (October 26-November 1)

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 21:16

Paramount has been one of the biggest names in the movie industry for a long time, and they have utilized that legacy to give us a strong streaming service with a pretty vast library. What I find so appealing about their platform is their catalog of movies, with hits from just about every era and genre ready to satisfy whatever craving I happen to have each week.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How Kali Linux's Zsh setup turned me into a terminal fan

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 21:00

After using Bash for years on Debian, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint, when I first came across Zsh on Kali Linux, it was like a new world just opened in front of me. Syntax highlighting, command suggestions, and all the gorgeous colors made me rethink my decision to ignore the command line. I had plenty of reasons to replace Bash with Zsh.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 quick 3D prints fixed the little annoyances I’d ignored around my house for years

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 20:30

3D printers are a fantastic tool for making basically anything you could want. This weekend, I wanted to make my house a little less annoying. So, I set out to find three things I could fix that would make my everyday life a little better, and it took me under an hour to complete.

Categories: IT General, Technology

KPop Demon Hunters reveals new HUNTR/X dance for TikTokkers to obsess over

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 20:02

Last year, KPop Demon Hunters had us fixated on every HUNTR/X song. By the time Halloween came around, there was a flood of costumed fans dressed as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey.

Now, Netflix has treated fans to the gift that keeps on giving. Need a casual cosplay that requires only a wig and some workout gear? Need a new reason to revisit the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack? Need a new TikTok dance to level up your viewership? Need another reason to look forward to the eventual KPop Demon Hunters 2?

Netflix has released a HUNTR/X dance rehearsal set to "How It’s Done." The new clip shows the K-pop icons working out a new dance routine.

But that's not all. Netflix will be releasing complete official choreography for HUNTR/X's "Golden" and "Takedown" as well as the Saja Boys' "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol."

The race is on to see which fan can nail the choreo first. Be like HUNTR/X and show them how it's done, done, done.

KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save $100 on this TP-Link router and banish buffering and dropped calls forever

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 20:00

There's nothing worse than a fluctuating network signal when you're trying to work or stream a movie. The solution is a powerful router like TP-Link's BE9700, which delivers wide coverage and fast speeds, so you won't deal with timeouts or buffering.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tried Samsung's Driving Report, and Google Maps is missing this

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 20:00

Driving is my stress-relief activity. I’m the kind of nerd who actually enjoys checking stats and reports, so naturally, I wanted to see what my driving looks like on paper.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple breaks silence on iPhone Duo cracking reports

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 19:56

After days of viral reports about the iPhone Duo's inner screen, Apple has publicly acknowledged the problem.

In a statement provided to Mashable, the company said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a "small number" of units.

"The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor,” Apple said. “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement."

The statement doesn’t say what’s causing the problem, how many units are affected, or whether Apple plans a broader fix. Apple appears to have sent the same statement to several other outlets covering the reports. Still, it’s the company’s first public acknowledgment of the problem.

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The Duo has drawn plenty of attention as Apple’s first foldable iPhone. It sold out almost immediately when pre-orders opened Oct. 16, with some delivery estimates stretching into January 2027. But early owners have found that it’s very much a first-generation device, and the display reports are just one of several complaints.

Beyond durability, users have flagged a few other issues, as reported by Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder. First, as JerryRigsEverything points out, the protective matte screen on the foldable dulls its color and vibrance, and it picks up heavy glare. The FaceTime camera, as Schroeder notes, is bad for photos, with Apple leaning heavily on AI processing that can leave selfies looking plasticky and smudged. Finally, many apps aren’t yet optimized for the Duo’s inner display, including Apple’s own App Store — though Schroeder reported that he expects app developers to catch up within the next month.

Durability concerns had been building before the display reports went viral. YouTuber Tim Pan ran the Duo through 10,000 folds in a folding machine, plus another 1,000 at -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Before-and-after images from the test spread online, appearing to show a much deeper crease.

Samsung seems to be enjoying this. While the Korean tech giant hasn’t taken any direct shots at the Duo, at least not officially, its Samsung Mobile US account has been playing reply guy under iPhone Duo posts on X. One reply simply read "mogged. respectfully."

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Cringe looks-maxxing speak aside, Samsung is getting plenty of free marketing out of the Duo’s rocky start. The company is now on its eighth-generation Galaxy Z Fold. Although its foldables went through their own early durability problems, Samsung has had years to refine the hinge, crease, and display that Apple is only attempting for the first time. Every viral post about a cracked Duo screen is, in effect, an ad for the competition.

If your Duo’s inner display is showing problems, Apple recommends contacting AppleCare for a replacement.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

I pitted the 32GB RTX Spark against a Snapdragon X2 laptop for local AI, and only one could actually run the model

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 19:30

NVIDIA wants the RTX Spark to be the laptop chip for running AI agents on your own machine, so I expected my $3,200 HP OmniBook Ultra 16 to run circles around a Snapdragon laptop. Instead, Hermes took one look at the 32GB RTX Spark and said every model I wanted was too big. The Zenbook A16, with 48GB of memory and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, loaded three of them in one click. It was slow, but for local AI agents, the cheaper laptop ended up actually getting the job done.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Netflix movies and shows I'm downloading on my kid's tablet before our next road trip

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 19:00

It may be a cliché, but my kids really do start asking if we're there yet about ten minutes into every road trip. One of the best ways to keep them quiet is to let them watch one of their favorite shows or movies on a tablet. Netflix has some great options that keep my kids entertained for hours.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sonys new XM4C headphones are some of the best Ive tested this year — theyre down to a new record low

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 18:55

Save $50: The Sony WH-1000XM4C are $50 off for the first time ever — and at a new record low price — thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon as of Oct. 26. This brings their price down to $248 from the list price of $299.99, saving you 16% off their total list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4C $248
$299.99 Save $51.99 save $50 with on-page coupon Get Deal

As a professional headphones reviewer, I've watched as consumer audio prices increased over the years. These days, it's standard for flagship headphones to cost $450.

That's why it's been a breath of fresh air to see more mid-range headphone releases, with Sony's update on the viral WH-1000XM4 being one of the most interesting. The result — the Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones — are some of the best-sounding $300 headphones you can get, and as of Oct. 26, you can pick them up for $248 at Amazon, thanks to an on-page coupon that slashes $50 off the price.

The XM4C are a return to form. Where Sony's newer flagships, the XM5 and XM6, opt for a more varied design, the XM4C stick to the extremely popular look of the XM4 — an unassuming, yet classic pair of headphones. That's not where the similarities between the two generations stop. The XM4C feature the same four microphones and QN1 processor for noise cancellation, meaning you'll get a similar performance to the 2020 release. That said, it holds up enough to be solid in today's headphone landscape. Sound-wise, Sony upgraded the equalizer from a five-band custom EQ on the XM4 to the 10-band EQ on the XM4C. I was impressed by how clear, yet well-rounded and balanced the sound came through.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best budget headphones we've tested under $100

I also recently tested these headphones directly against the other big mid-range release of the year: the second gen Bose QuietComfort headphones. Much as I appreciate the comfort and replaceable ear cushions on the Bose headphones, the better battery life, sound quality, and value on the Sonys (the Boses go for $359 at full price) make them the better buy for most folks. Especially at this price point, these headphones are over $100 cheaper than Bose's mid-range option. I'd be surprised to see a much better deal over Black Friday, so if you're looking to get your headphones shopping done early, the XM4Cs are definitely worth your consideration.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

I keep Microsoft Edge around for this offline browser game that beats Chrome's dinosaur game

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 18:31

Most of the time, I open Microsoft Edge to get something done, not to spend half an hour being chased by a giant sea monster. But the browser's built-in Surf game is an easy distraction to get hooked on. With several modes, power-ups, and a kraken on your tail, it offers more variety than Chrome's famous dinosaur game.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung TVs might use the mics of connected devices to listen to you, researcher says

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 18:01

If you own a Samsung TV without a built-in microphone, it might still be listening to you, according to a researcher who shared his findings this week.

On the social media platform X, cybersecurity researcher @log4j shared that an investigation into Samsung smart TVs found that televisions without a mic will scan for connected devices that are equipped with a microphone. The smart TV will then utilize the audio data collected from the soundbar or other connected Bluetooth devices.

"This is pretty evil and clever," @log4j said about their discovery.

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The researcher recently gained administrator root access to their own 2025 Samsung smart TV and has been sharing their findings in a series of posts on X.

Your smart TV is likely listening to you. At this point, that shouldn't be a surprise. Many televisions advertise this functionality, since your TV has to be listening to you to take voice commands and interact with other smart home devices.

However, other unadvertised and concerning privacy issues are arising from the device's ability to listen in.

For example, @log4j started looking into their TV after receiving oddly specific advertisements and found that their television was logging things like "dog barking" and "baby crying" under an event called EV201/SOUNDSENSOR_ON.

As NotebookCheck.net points out, while Samsung 2025 Vision AI TVs advertise that the devices detect barking dogs and crying babies and send alerts through the company's SmartThings app, Samsung does not advertise that this data is also sent back to the company.

Researcher @log4j also found that Samsung TVs track what happens inside specific apps. For example, the TV monitors what a user does in the YouTube app and even logs data such as the ads a user skips.

Mashable has reached out to Samsung for more information about the reports from @log4j and will update this piece when we hear back.

These privacy issues are not unique to Samsung TVs either. Last month, Mashable covered a report from YouTuber Gamers Nexus, which claimed to find that LG TVs were secretly recording users even when the televisions were turned off. LG later responded, denying some but not all the claims.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped paying for YouTube Premium after discovering Brave’s secret filters

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 18:00

Ads on content and streaming platforms are increasing daily, and YouTube is no exception. I've paid for YouTube Premium for years, mostly to avoid mid-roll ads and for background playback. But recently, the official YouTube app crossed a line. Between the endless grid of distracting Shorts, community polls, and autoplaying recommended feeds, the interface has become a mess.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows gets dangerous when you disable these 6 features

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 17:30

Windows has a habit of getting in your way just when you're trying to get something done. Whether it's an update at the wrong time or a driver that refuses to cooperate, you might be tempted to disable a security feature and call it a day. Before you do, though, there are six Windows features you should think twice about switching off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found over 15 earbuds deals worth shopping ahead of Black Friday: Nothing earbuds lead the way

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 17:25

Halloween is just around the corner this year, but frights have been going on all year thanks to raising tech prices.

Shopping Black Friday earbuds deals is a good way to mitigate the worst of the price raises, and though we're not quite in the depths of the sale season, you can already find some savings. It does take some digging, so I used my knowledge as a deals expert and one of Mashable's headphones and earbuds testers to find the best possible earbuds deals you can shop already.

SEE ALSO: 11 headphones and earbuds deals you can pick up ahead of Black Friday sales

The result: this list of 18 earbuds deals, live ahead of Black Friday. Check them out:

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Bose's QuietComfort earbuds may not be the newest release from the brand, but they do give you great cancellation and sound quality without the $200 or $300 price tag. Once you find the right positioning, the ear and wing tip combo provides a great seal on these buds, and the battery life is hard to run down quickly. They're a great pair of all around earbuds, and at $129, they're also at an impressively low price for the brand.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

More earbuds deals Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: CMF by Nothing CMF by Nothing Clip Pro $69 at Amazon
$99 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

I was wowed by CMF's Clip Pro open earbuds back when they launched over the summer, and they remain one of my favorite releases of the year. They feature the same on-ear tactile controls as Bose's $300 open earbuds, great sound quality, and impressive battery life at 10 hours per charge. They're a bargain at full price — for $30 off, they're an absolute steal.

More open earbuds deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Early Black Friday speaker deals are trickling in, but were still waiting for more notable price drops

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 17:22
Best early Black Friday speaker deals at a glance: Best speaker deal overall JBL Charge 6 $149.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget speaker deal Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go $22.99 (save $12) Get Deal

If you haven't noticed, we're covering Black Friday deals earlier than ever. Of course, it's way too early for Amazon to call any of these official Black Friday discounts. But we're already tracking potential price cuts and keeping tabs on MSRPs to spot inflated list prices, so you know you're getting the best bang for your buck.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals are here: Get Sony headphones for under $90

We aren't seeing October Prime Day-level prices on speakers just yet. That makes total sense considering we are still weeks out from the actual holiday. But since we're starting so early, we'll be here to catch those price drops the second they happen.

Prices are going to bounce around a lot between now and Nov. 27, so whether you want to hold out for a record low or you just want to get your holiday shopping out of the way right now, we'll be updating this list all month long to reflect the best current deals.

Best early Black Friday speaker deal so far Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $149.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

As of Oct. 26, the JBL Charge 6 is on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, down from $199.95. That's a 25% discount ($50 in savings) and the lowest price we've seen on this model to date.

We already named the Charge 6 our top-rated Bluetooth speaker for most people (which you can read all about in our official portable speaker guide), so seeing it hit a record low this early in the game is a pretty big deal. It's lightweight, has superior sound quality, and doubles as a power bank to charge your other devices while it plays music.

More early Black Friday speaker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Worried about iPhone Duo screen cracking? Watch a robot fold one until it breaks

Mashable - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 17:21

Whether you've gotten your hands on an iPhone Duo or not, the main thing on most people's minds regarding Apple's new foldable device is just how much stress it can withstand before breaking.

That's what our friends at CNET (Note: Mashable and CNET are both owned by Ziff Davis) are trying to find out from Monday until they know the answer. A YouTube livestream will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET, in which a specially built phone-folding robot will take the iPhone Duo to its limits and beyond. As of late Monday morning, the robot had already accomplished 55,000 folds before the cameras even started rolling. The idea is to see how many folds it takes before the screen buckles, if it ever does.

This stream serves a sort of scientific purpose, of course, but it'll also make for nice background noise as you try to soldier through another Monday. It's worth noting that some iPhone Duo owners have allegedly already experienced screen issues within just a few days of launch, so we'll see if the folding robot is able to recreate any of that.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why ESP32's secret low-power features make it better than Pi for battery projects

How-To Geek - Mon, 10/26/2026 - 17:00

The difference between a battery-powered sensor that runs for a few days and one that runs for a year comes down to what the board does when it's doing nothing. Most DIY projects, like weather stations, mailbox alerts, or plant monitors, spend 99% of their life idle. In those scenarios, idle draw matters far more than peak performance.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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