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If you watch lots of PC-based content on platforms like YouTube or Instagram, you might have noticed that for all the rainbow-RGB that the modern PC aesthetic subjects our eyeballs to, there also seems to be these brown-and-beige components popping up everywhere.

SAVE $61.99: As of Aug. 3, the Sony WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones are on sale at Amazon for just $398, down from their full list price of $459.99. That's a savings of 13% and just $20 away from their lowest price on record.

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Had your eye on the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones? If I were you, I'd grab them now while they're back under $400.

As of Aug. 3, the wildly impressive Sony XM6 noise-cancelling headphones are down to $398 at Amazon. Yes, that's still expensive, but it sure beats paying the full cost of $459.99. You'll save about $62 or 13% and just $20 more than the all-time low Prime Day price.

For what it's worth, Mashable Tech Editor Tim Beck Werth writes in his review of the headphones that they "mostly justify the $450 price of admission," thanks to their top-tier sound quality, comfortable ft, and "phenomenal active noise cancellation." They're at the top of our list of the best headphones in 2026, as well as the best noise-cancellers. Of course, now that they're even cheaper, they're a much better value.

Other notable features include a 30-hour battery life, ideal for long haul flights, more microphones for improved call quality, support for LDAC high-res audio, a redesigned ANC button, and user-friendly touch controls. While mostly an iterative upgrade over the last-gen 1000XM5 headphones, we think they're worth grabbing for one major design improvement: they fold up for easy portability.

While they're now a year old, we still think the Sony XM6 headphones are some of the best money can buy. And it's kind of chic to grab them on sale.

Everybody's raving about Claude Code right now, but if you've tried it and felt like the results weren't living up to the hype, it's probably not you—it's the tooling, or lack thereof. Out of the box, Claude Code is a capable generalist with a fairly minimal feature set. You tell it to do something, and it takes a reasonable but generic stab at it. It performs dramatically better when it has specific skills and instructions for the job at hand, and that's exactly what plugins provide. Now, I've tested more than 100 Claude Code plugins and here are five that every vibe coder must install.

SAVE $6: The 24-ounce Owala FreeSip is on sale at Amazon for $23.99 in select colorways, down from the list price of $29.99. That's a 20% discount that matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip (24 ounce) $23.99 at Amazon
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Every day is a new struggle to stay hydrated. We all know we should stay hydrated for health, but for some reason, it's a challenge for most of us. While we can't help you physically chug down the ounces, we can recommend a Mashable-favorite water bottle that might make things a bit easier.

As of Aug. 3, the 24-ounce Owala FreeSip is on sale at Amazon for $23.99 in select colorways, marked down from the original price of $29.99. That's a 20% discount that matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino put the Owala FreeSip bottle to the test, and decided it's the best water bottle she's ever used. "The Owala FreeSip lives up to its promise of both a sippable and chuggable water bottle," she wrote in her review of the FreeSip. "The best part to me is that, unlike other bottles with a straw that I've used, the FreeSip has a cover for the spout. That way, when you're out and about in the world, it's safe from germs and bacteria."

SEE ALSO: Owala's Back-to-School Sale is live — 20% off bottles, bags, accessories, and more

Today's $23.99 deal applies to the 24-ounce version of the bottle, and you have a wide range of colorway options sitting at this low price. Mangino says the 24-ounce version is ideal if you're looking for something that'll fit in most cup holders. Owala mentions the FreeSip is capable of keeping drinks cool for up to 24 hours, and Mangino's testing proved this to be true.

The FreeSip is made of materials that don't contain BPA, lead, or phthalates. You're free to wash the lid and straw in the dishwasher, but Owala recommends hand-washing the bottle itself. But full disclosure, Mangino often tosses her bottle in the dishwasher and says the installation has weakened by doing so, but only slightly.

Since hydration is a key part of life, you might as well own a water bottle you love. Go with the Mashable staff favorite, the Owala FreeSip, while it's on sale for under $24.

If you’re craving a rush of pure adrenaline, we've got some selections that will deliver the kind of edge-of-your-seat intensity that refuses to let up. From dizzying, first-person chaos to globe-spanning, pulse-pounding survival stakes, you’ll find yourself thrown headfirst into high-risk, high-reward storytelling, with a bit of nostalgia and introspection included.

The MCU's Blade movie is dead. Mahershala Ali told GQ, "If they wanted to do it, we would've done it." But fret not. If you want Ali delivering hard-hitting action as an anti-hero, behold the trailer for Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

From writer-director Bassam Tariq, who was attached to helm the Blade movie back in 2021, comes this original film, part crime thriller and part family drama.

Ali stars as a hitman who strives to protect his Muslim community with his sword. But when his wife dies, his priorities shift as he becomes a single father to three children, including an infant in need of mother's milk. He's grappling with grief, struggling with his faith, and seeking to feed his children. And that's when he crosses paths with a Christian militia leader, played by John Cho.

Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Giancarlo Esposito, Adia, and Jahleel Kamara co-star.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening at select theaters on Sept. 25, and expanding everywhere in October.

For programmers, shell scripts offer a perfect combination of power and simplicity. With a simple script, you can run any program, pipe its output to another program, carry out basic logic, and store results in files. Most common tasks that you might ever repeat can be automated with ease.

TL;DR: The Shark BlastBoss packs three attachments — a precision nozzle, extension wand, and BlastBroom into one cordless tool with adjustable speeds up to 190 miles per hour, letting it handle everything from delicate indoor dusting to heavier outdoor debris cleanup. It's $149.99 right now at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark BlastBoss All-in-One Air Blasting System $149.99 at Amazon
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Cleaning has a way of turning into a multi-tool operation — a vacuum for the carpet, a duster for the electronics, a blower for outside, and you're still missing whatever's stuck behind the fridge. Shark's BlastBoss is built to collapse all of that into one cordless device, and the deeper you get into what it does, the more it feels like someone finally solved the multi-tool problem.

The headline feature here is the adjustable airflow, ranging from 0 to 190 miles per hour, controlled via a multi-speed trigger. That range matters more than it sounds — dusting a keyboard needs a light touch, while blasting leaves off a patio needs real force. BlastBoss moves between the two without needing a separate device for each job.

Clears a patio faster than you'd think

Mashable's Leah Stodart put the BlastBoss to the test on a porch and patio, using it to clear spiderwebs, blow leaves and clippings off cushions, and sweep a 15-foot patio in what she described as just a couple of minutes — notably faster than doing the same job with a regular broom. With the BlastBroom attachment on, she said it's "a bad day to be a pile of leaves in the yard."

SEE ALSO: The best Dyson vacuums actually make vacuuming fun: See my favorites for 2026 Getting into the spots you usually ignore

This might be the smartest part of the whole concept: instead of sucking debris up like a vacuum, it blasts air into tight, awkward spots such as under appliances, between electronics, and deep corners, to surface whatever's hiding, rather than requiring you to physically maneuver a vacuum head into a space it was never built to reach.

It comes with a precision nozzle for detail work, an extension wand for extra reach, and the BlastBroom attachment, which converts the blower into a sweeping tool — letting you loosen, lift, and sweep debris in one motion instead of blasting it around and chasing it down separately. Among the three, it can handle everything from fine-detail work to larger cleanup jobs without switching tools.

Since it's cordless, Shark built the trigger to be responsive rather than constantly running, conserving power between uses. Indoor mode is rated for up to 49 minutes of runtime, while the more power-hungry outdoor blast mode is rated for up to 7 minutes — a reasonable trade-off given how much more force that setting delivers.

In the Mashable review, Stodart's main critiques were that outdoor and boost modes can scatter debris rather than contain it, and that the boost mode gets noticeably loud. Even with those caveats, she still called it a Mashable Choice pick, saying it's worth the $149.99, given how many different situations it's useful in.

Your future clean home is one click away — grab the Shark BlastBoss at Amazon for $149.99.

I can't say I'm a big fan of Amazon, but it's hard to deny that Kindle eReaders are pretty great. Despite my feelings about the company, I have a Kindle Paperwhite. However, I don't buy any ebooks from Amazon—that's the line I draw. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to do.

Most phone automation apps want you to build routines around fixed schedules or simple triggers. That works fine, but a phone should feel a lot smarter by this point. What actually makes a phone feel smart is when it reads the situation instead of just the clock. MacroDroid can do that and other things, and there are automations that can be built around conditions that actually reflect how your day moves.

Google's Android operating system runs on 3 billion devices. So why does its own phone barely register? A decade after the Pixel first launched, I went looking for a real answer. I talked to industry experts: a wireless market analyst, two longtime tech journalists, and PCMag's own consumer electronics editor. They don't all agree.

I've been homelabbing for over five years now, and my homelab has taken many forms. In mid-2026, it's something entirely different than it was when I started in early 2021. Here's a tour of the hardware that makes my homelab possible, and why I use it.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Aug. 3, the Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker has hit its lowest-ever price of $179 at Amazon. That's $20.99 off its full price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker (75417) $179 at Amazon
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If the hot weather has you looking to stay cool indoors this summer, a Lego set can keep you busy.

This is an excellent hobby to get into, and while quite a few builds come with some hefty price tags, Amazon is a great spot to look for deals. Today, in particular, the retailer has some exciting discounts available, including the Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker.

As of Aug. 3, this Star Wars build is down to $179. Even better, this marks a new low price for this set, so what better time to grab it?

SEE ALSO: Lego and Olivia Rodrigo just kicked off a global vinyl hunt — how to find one of 333 hidden records

Adult Star Wars fans (as it's recommended for ages 18 and up) have quite a treat in store with this 1,513-piece set. These bricks assemble the Imperial walker on its two legs alongside a top hatch that opens and a two-person cockpit. In terms of posing it, the head can be rotated and the viewport shutters can be opened or closed. Even the laser cannons can be adjusted.

While it is recommended for adults, younger Lego fans can still try it out if they're interested. Just make sure they have a helping hand around to assist.

If the Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker has been on your radar, don't miss out on this great deal 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.

Take a closer look at DEEP's subsea habitat Vanguard, the first new subsea habitat for humans designed, built and deployed in the US in decades.

For most of the last few decades, RAM and storage have been the cheap part of building a homelab. It was the CPU or GPU that really added cost. The opposite is true today, and I've totally revamped how I run my homelab. One of the most important changes has been to swap out Ubuntu for something much more efficient.

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 7 was a bit of a rollercoaster for the dragon fans out there.

On the one hand we had that nasty dragon scrap that left Sheepstealer looking much the worse for wear, while on the other we had the triumphant return from Sunfyre, who came back from the dead to save his unworthy master Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney).

But how exactly did the dragon come back from the dead? Did it just finally rouse itself from a sort of dragon coma, or was there something else at play?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: How many dragons are left on each side?

Well, alongside the many people cheering Sunfyre's return, others had a theory that the dragon's comeback may have had something to do with the man Aegon killed in episode 5.

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"I’m going to laugh so fucking hard if Sunfyre comes back because Aegon accidentally did a blood magic," reads the post above, which is paired with side-by-side shots of Aegon in episode 7 holding one of Sunfyre's enormous, shimmering scales, and Aegon in episode 5 killing the leader of the dismal camp he stays in with Larys Strong (Matthew Needham).

So, is it possible? Did Aegon inadvertently cast some sort of spell that brought Sunfyre back from the dead by mixing human blood with the dragon's scale? If pushed, we'd say no. In episode 5, Aegon kills the camp leader who discovers his identity and tries to steal his crown (the same man who put Aegon to work in the camp latrines earlier in the season). Aegon uses a dagger, not Sunfyre's scale, to stab the rogue.

We'd say it's far more likely that Sunfyre was never really dead at all, but just in a sort of dragon coma after the Battle of Rook's Rest. Perhaps Aegon connecting with the fallen dragon in his resting place in Season 3, episode 4 started the process of Sunfyre's awakening — and remember, Aegon himself told Larys that Sunfyre was alive.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon's Fabien Frankel reveals a detail from Criston Cole's death that was years in the making

It is a truth universally acknowledged in Westeros, that a single ruler in possession of more dragons than their enemy, probably sits on the Iron Throne. However, as of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 7, exactly how many dragons do Team Black and Team Green both have on their side at this point?

With the return of a dragon thought dead and some ship-jumping afoot, let's do a quick check-in ahead of the season finale on whether Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) still has the numbers to win the war.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 7 brings a dragon back from the dead Team Black Caraxes and Daemon (Matt Smith) have fought side by side for an age. Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

Total confirmed dragons: 5 (not counting Joffrey Velaryon's baby dragon Tyraxes)

Syrax

Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen

Syrax and Rhaenyra have been through it together, united in grief, bonded for decades. During the confrontation in the Vale in episode 7, when Sheepstealer's rider was revealed as Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), daughter of Daemon (Matt Smith), things got violent. In an upsetting scene, Syrax attacked Sheepstealer, getting injured during the fight, but she's tough.

Caraxes

Rider: Damon Targaryen

Caraxes is one of the mightiest warriors in Team Black, Daemon's (Matt Smith) comrade in arms. At the end of the brutal dragon fight, Daemon ordered Caraxes to kill Sheepstealer, though both of them left the wild dragon to limp into the forests of the Vale, leaving Sheepstealer for dead (probably for the sake of his daugher, Rhaena).

Moondancer

Rider: Baela Targaryen

Baela's (Bethany Antonia) dragon Moondancer has been on the front line this season, fighting in the Battle of the Gullet and trying in vain to save Rhaenyra's son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) and his dragon Vermax from their fate.

Seasmoke chose Addam (Clinton Liberty) in Season 2. Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO Seasmoke

Rider: Addam of Hull / Addam Velaryon

Dragonseed Addam's (Clinton Liberty) gorgeous dragon picked him personally, so they're still deeply bonded. Seasmoke jumped in to assist Syrax's attack on Sheepstealer in the Vale, and seems unhurt.

Vermithor

Rider: Hugh the Hammer

Fellow dragonseed Hugh the Hammer (Kieran Bew) is loyal to Team Black with his enormous dragon Vermithor, however, his heartbreaking visit to Tumbleton saw a painful rejection from his long-lost wife (Ellora Torchia). Will this effect his allegiance?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments Team Green Sunfyre and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), reunited! Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

Total confirmed dragons: 3 (but it's complicated)

Sunfyre

The major reveal of Season 3, episode 7, Aegon II Targaryen's (Tom Glynn-Carney) dragon Sunfyre is alive! He knew it! This jaw-dropping reunion could give Aegon the edge he needs to claw his way back to King's Landing. However, it's not just Rhaenyra that wants to see Aegon dead — his brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) has already tried. Nonetheless, Aegon having a dragon again changes the odds for Team Green.

Dreamfyre

A potential ticking time bomb, Dreamfyre is the blue dragon ridden by Helaena (Phia Saban), a pacifist who refuses to ride her. Once ridden by Queen Rhaena Targaryen, Dreamfyre has become incredibly, but quietly important to House of the Dragon in Season 3. In episode 6, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) revealed five of Dreamfyre's eggs to Aemond, and in episode 7, Helaena had a dream of riding on an enormous dragon. Stay vigilant.

Tessarion

Known as the Blue Queen, Tessarion is the little cobalt dragon bonded with Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), ward of Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton), and the youngest son of Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and King Viserys (Paddy Considine). We've only seen Tessarion barbecue and eat a prisoner so far, so who knows how helpful this young dragon will be right now for Team Green.

The wild cards Where the hell is Vhagar? Credit: HBO Vhagar

Vhagar has been AWOL for most of Season 3, pissing off quickly after landing with Aemond at Harrenhall. We're not sure how the world's largest dragon is still off grid in the middle of a war across Westeros, but she's a crafty, stealthy queen despite her size. We know Aegon wants Aemond dead, so perhaps he can avoid such a fate with his dragon's return? Or will he seal it?

Sheepstealer

Justice for Sheepstealer, the wild dragon with absolutely no skin in the game, deemed a villain by rulers she barely knows. Rhaena's misunderstood dragon was attacked by Syrax, Seasmoke, and Caraxes in the Vale in episode 7, and left for dead, with Rhaena taken back to King's Landing. But is Sheepstealer actually dead?

Silverwing

What's this? Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) jumping ship from Team Black to Team Green? Looks like Rhaenyra should have maybe let her dragonseed knight go to the Flea Bottom pub, as he's seen in cahoots with Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) at the end of episode 7. Will he betray his queen or does he have a plan? We can't count Silverwing, Ulf's dragon, in Team Black's tally for sure.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

One day you're minding your own business in the mountains, maybe snacking on a sheep or two to pass the time. The next day you're dragged into an all-out war.

This is the fate of poor, sweet Sheepstealer in House of the Dragon Season 3, an innocent whose only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But what happens to the wild dragon claimed by Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) in episode 7? Is Sheepstealer still alive after that nasty dragon scuffle?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 7 brings a dragon back from the dead What happens with Sheepstealer in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 7?

Despite trying her best to hide out in a cave in the Vale, Rhaena and Sheepstealer are eventually spotted by Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Baela (Bethany Antonia) during one of their dragon hunts. Daemon (Matt Smith), worried that his plan to keep his daughter alive will be discovered, flies off to track Rhaena down. But midway through their conversation they're interrupted by Addam — and Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) herself.

Rhaenyra is furious with Daemon for lying to her about slaying Sheepstealer's rider, and even angrier with her stepdaughter Rhaena for her (albeit accidental) part in the death of her son Jace (Harry Collett) during the Battle of the Gullet. Tensions inevitably spill over. The dragons start scrapping in what is a truly uncomfortable scene to watch, and Daemon tells the others to leave so he and his dragon Caraxes can finish off Sheepstealer.

What actually happens is Daemon falls from his mount, Caraxes stops to check on him, and a very badly wounded Sheepstealer goes limping away. They watch him go, but don't follow, instead leaving him for dead in the Vale.

Is Sheepstealer still alive?

The short answer? Surely yes. If Sunfyre managed to come back from the literal dead, we'd be stunned if this is the end of the line for Sheepstealer. Caraxes and Daemon could have easily made sure Sheepstealer was dead, but left him to his fate. Perhaps Daemon's knowledge of his daughter's connection with her dragon, as a fellow rider, stayed his hand.

Dragons, in short, seem impressively durable. Sheepstealer's injuries, while bad, are nowhere near as bad as the terrible burns Sunfyre suffered at the mouth of Vhagar.

We bet this won't be the last we see of Rhaena's chaotic companion.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

When Microsoft intervened after LG was accused of using monitors to install adware, that was a wake-up call. Windows 11 is finally getting better after years of complaints, but PC and component makers aren't. And it's not just junk software that creates problems — it's shoddy designs that make Windows look bad, and disjointed customer support that pushes users to the breaking point.

The enthusiasm for dinosaurs never seems to get old, which feels like an ironic thing to say considering the dinos were gone long before our ancestors decided to stand up and walk on only two legs.