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SUVs have basically taken over, and for years the usual names have run the show. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Toyota built the blueprint, and models like the X5 became the default pick if you wanted something sporty but still upscale.

Not a fan of AI? Tired of every app and device adding some sort of AI functionality?

Then Firefox has some good news for you. The popular web browser, which is run by the non-profit-owned tech company Mozilla, has just rolled out a new update that comes with an AI killswitch.

That's right. With the toggle of a simple setting in the Firefox web browser, users can remove any and all AI integrations or features built into the app.

To turn off AI features in Firefox, simply download the latest update, Firefox 148, which was just released today. Once Firefox is updated, go to Settings and then AI Controls. On the AI Controls menu, click the toggle on "Block AI Enhancements." This turns off all AI features in Firefox, including ChatGPT and other chatbots that are normally in the sidebar, AI-powered link reviews, and smart tab group suggestions, just to name a few. 

Look for the "AI kill switch" in the Settings menu. Credit: Mozilla

Previously, Mozilla kept Firefox away from AI features for the most part, until this last December, when the organization's new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, announced the inevitable: AI was coming to Firefox.

The blowback from Firefox's user base was intense enough that Mozilla later announced its intention to create an "AI off-switch" that would give users full control over whether to use AI features in the web browser or have them removed completely.

And after today's update, it appears Mozilla has followed through on its promise to offer an AI-free version of its web browser.

Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox, spoke to Mashable about the news when the product was first announced, framing it as an issue of user choice.

"At a time when much of the industry is moving toward closed, AI-driven ecosystems, we’re taking a different path, one that puts people, not platforms, in charge," Varma said in an email statement. "We’ve heard clearly from our users: some who don’t want AI, while others want the ability to decide exactly how and when it shows up in their browser. AI controls are how we deliver on that commitment."

FREE $20 GIFT CARD: As of Feb. 26, pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon and you'll get a free $20 gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 (2026) $179.99 at Amazon
+ free $20 Amazon gift card Pre-order Here

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 delivered new phones, re-designed earbuds, and brave new features that could inspire a lot of shoppers to make the switch to Android. Of course, there are also a number of new deals to consider in the wake of this huge event, and Amazon is very much in the mix.

If you choose to pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon, you'll get a free $20 Amazon gift card. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 are listed for $179.99 on Amazon. The gift card offer is valid until March 10, the day before the release of these new earbuds. If you were already lining up these brand-new earbuds, why wouldn't you make the most of this free credit?

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 offer five hours of battery life per charge and six with ANC off. They feature 11mm dynamic speakers, 360-degree audio, adaptive equalizers and noise control, adaptive ANC, three digital microphones, and IP54 water- and sweat-resistance. They also work seamlessly with the Galaxy S26 Series to give you AI assistance, completely hands-free. Get quick answers and real-time translations delivered directly to your ears.

Score a free $20 gift card with preorders of the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon.

At a glance

• Today’s AI agent benchmarks test one task at a time, while real workplace productivity requires managing dozens of interdependent tasks at once. To reflect this, we created a setting called Multi-Horizon Task Environments (MHTEs).
• Under multi-task loads, leading computer-using agents degrade sharply, with completion rates dropping from 16.7% to 8.7%.
• CORPGEN introduces digital employees, with hierarchical planning, memory isolation, and experiential learning, delivering up to 3.5 times higher completion rates than baselines across three independent agent backends.
• Because CORPGEN is architecture-agnostic and modular, its gains come from system design rather than any single base model, and it benefits directly as underlying models improve.

By mid-morning, a typical knowledge worker is already juggling a client report, a budget spreadsheet, a slide deck, and an email backlog, all interdependent and all demanding attention at once. For AI agents to be genuinely useful in that environment, they will need to operate the same way, but today’s best models are evaluated one task at a time, not dozens at once.

In our paper, “CORPGEN: Simulating Corporate Environments with Autonomous Digital Employees in Multi-Horizon Task Environments,” we propose an agent framework that equips AI with the memory, planning, and learning capabilities to close that gap.

Introducing Multi-Horizon Task Environments

Replicating the reality of workplace multitasking requires a new kind of evaluation environment. In response, we developed Multi-Horizon Task Environments (MHTEs), settings where an agent must manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously. Each task requires 10 to 30 dependent steps within a single session spanning five hours.

To determine what a benchmark would need to test, we ran MHTEs at scale on some of today’s leading AI agents, exposing four weaknesses. First, memory fills up. An agent cannot hold details for multiple active tasks at once. Second, information from one task interferes with reasoning about another. Third, tasks don’t depend on each other in simple sequences. They form complex webs where an agent must constantly check whether upstream work is finished before it can move forward on anything downstream. Fourth, every action cycle requires reprioritizing across all active tasks, not simply resuming where the agent left off.

We also tested three independent agent systems under increasing loads. As the number of concurrent tasks rose from 12 to 46, completion rates fell from 16.7% to 8.7% across all systems.

CORPGEN’s architecture

CORPGEN introduces digital employees: LLM-powered AI agents with persistent identities, role-specific expertise, and realistic work schedules. They operate Microsoft Office applications through GUI automation and perform consistently within MHTEs over hours of continuous activity. Figure 1 illustrates how a digital employee moves through a full workday.

Figure 1. Each day begins with a structured plan and memory loaded from previous sessions. The agent then works through overlapping tasks in repeated cycles, storing key outcomes at day’s end to inform the next session.

CORPGEN addresses each of the four weaknesses of concurrent task execution—memory overload, cross-task interference, dependency complexity, and reprioritization—in a targeted way. Hierarchical planning breaks objectives into daily goals and then into moment-to-moment decisions, allowing the agent to act from a structured plan instead of reviewing all available tasks before each step.

Subagents perform complex operations like web research in isolated contexts, preventing cross-task contamination. A tiered memory system enables selective recall of task-related information rather than retaining everything in active context. Adaptive summarization compresses routine observations while preserving critical information, keeping memory growth controlled.

Because these mechanisms are not tied to a specific base model, we tested CORPGEN across three different agents. In each case, we observed consistent gains. The improvements came from the architecture, not from the strength of any particular model. Figure 2 shows how they fit together within CORPGEN’s architecture.

Figure 2. Four mechanisms support concurrent task execution in CORPGEN: hierarchical planning, isolated subagents, tiered memory, and adaptive summarization. How digital employees collaborate

When multiple digital employees operate in the same environment, collaboration takes shape through standard communication channels, without predefined coordination rules. One employee sends an email requesting data; another picks it up in the next cycle, uses its memory to process it, and responds. This exchange mirrors real workplace communication.

There is no shared internal state between agents. Coordination occurs entirely through email and Microsoft Teams, the same channels many workers use. Over time, these independent exchanges form recognizable organizational patterns. Some agents take on leadership roles; others provide support; shared documents become the connective tissue.

When a communication path breaks, such as an email delivery error, agents reroute messages through alternate channels to keep work moving. The result is a virtual organization that behaves like a real one without being explicitly programmed to do so.

Evaluating CORPGEN

We evaluated CORPGEN on a multi-task benchmark that combined up to 46 tasks into a single six-hour session. Three findings stood out.

Baselines degrade as load increases; CORPGEN does not. All three baseline agent systems showed steady performance declines as task load rose. CORPGEN, by contrast, maintained or improved its completion rates at higher loads. At 46 tasks, CORPGEN completed 15.2% of tasks, compared with 4.3% for the baselines, roughly 3.5 times more.

Experiential learning drives the largest gains. We introduced CORPGEN’s components sequentially: first the orchestration layer, then cognitive tools, and finally experiential learning. The first two produced moderate improvements. Experiential learning, in which agents store records of completed tasks and reuse them when they encounter structurally similar work, produced the largest increase, raising completion rates from 8.7% to 15.2%.

Evaluation methodology changes the picture. When we inspected the actual output files produced by agents, the results agreed with human judgements roughly 90% of the time. Evaluation based on screenshots and action logs agreed only about 40% of the time. This gap suggests that common evaluation approaches may underestimate what agents actually accomplish in practice.

Azure AI Foundry Labs

Get a glimpse of potential future directions for AI, with these experimental technologies from Microsoft Research.

Azure AI Foundry Opens in a new tab Implications and looking forward

The results suggest that memory and retrieval, not just raw model capability, may be a key bottleneck in getting agents to work in the real world. The largest gains came from experiential learning. Agents that learn from prior successes and apply those patterns to structurally similar tasks build an advantage over systems that respond to each task in isolation.

CORPGEN also opens a new lens on how AI agents collaborate. Next steps include testing whether agents can maintain memory across multiple workdays and how they coordinate when working in teams. We are also exploring ways to make agents faster and more reliable by combining different methods of interacting with software.

Acknowledgments

This work is a result of a collaboration between the Office of the CTO at Microsoft and the Microsoft AI Development Accelerator Program (MAIDAP). We would like to thank the Microsoft Security Research team for providing resources that supported this research. We also thank the members of the Microsoft UFO2 (opens in new tab) team and the Mem0 (opens in new tab) project for their open-source contributions, which enabled key components of the CORPGEN architecture, and the OSWorld team for the benchmark that served as the foundation for our multi-task evaluation.

Finally, we thank the many contributors to this research: Anjel Shaileshbhai Patel, Dayquan Julienne, Charlotte Siska, Manuel Raúl Meléndez Luján, Anthony Twum-Barimah, Mauricio Velazco, and Tianwei Chen.

Opens in a new tab

The post CORPGEN advances AI agents for real work appeared first on Microsoft Research.

A new generation of Samsung Galaxy is here. The Samsung Galaxy S26 made its debut during Samsung Unpacked on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and preorders start today ahead of its March 11 release.

While there are very few differences between the new S26 Samsung Galaxy phones and previous generations, there are some noteworthy changes.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Comparing price, specs, and features

Now, Samsung has combined its AI photo and video studio into the Creative Studio. What's creating the bigger buzz is the inclusion of a new Privacy Display. The new feature means that you can only view the screen head-on, meaning passersby can't catch a glimpse of your texts or any other very important business you're up to.

Physically, the Samsung Galaxy S26 will look similar to the S25 line-up, but it will have a more prominent camera bump. For those upgrading, this means one certainty — you'll need a new phone case.

Luckily, new cases are already available for the Samsung Galaxy S26. They're available to shop now, so by the time your new Samsung Galaxy S26 arrives, your case will be there too.

Samsung

Of course, Samsung is one of the first to outfit its new phones. Along with the Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder drop is a collection of new phone cases. Samsung launched a clear magnetic case, an ultra slim case, a silicone magnetic case, and a rugged case, all available to fit S26 phones, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. According to Samsung's website, these cases will ship before the phones and arrive by March 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases   Shop Now Casetify

If you want your phone case to have some real personality, Casetify is always the answer. With thousands of options to choose from, your new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone can be delightfully unique to you. Casetify is particularly good at spotting the trends with bowcore, chrome, and floral prints available. Samsung Galaxy S26 cases from Casetify start at $64.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases $64 at Casetify
  Shop Now Belkin

Belkin launched two new phone cases for the new Samsung Galaxy phones, which includes the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. The SheerForce Clear series case has a translucent design and is made to prevent yellowing — a common curse of clear cases. If you prefer a solid case, the SheerForce collection also includes the Protect series, which comes in three colors: black, lavender, and navy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Belkin Belkin Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $49.99 at Belkin
  Shop Now ESR

ESR has already launched its Samsung Galaxy S26 cases, with a new clear case. There's a model available for every size of the S26, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. The thin, clear case features military-grade drop protection and magnetic charging compatibility. Around the camera is a built-in phone stand so you can watch horizontal video anywhere.

Opens in a new window Credit: ESR ESR Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $35.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Burga

A case is more than just crucial protections; it's also a way to show personality. Burga makes cases with chic and trendy prints, including polka dots, stripes, ombre, and motivational messages. Before Samsung Unpacked even launched, Burga had Samsung Galaxy S26 cases available, which you can start shopping for now. Plus, they're running a deal, and when you buy four cases, you only pay for two.

Opens in a new window Credit: Burga Burga Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases Buy four phone cases at Burga and pay for just two. Get Deal Careborne

An extremely thin phone case doesn't mean a flimsy phone case. CaseBorne's Thinborne cases are made from Aerospace-grade aramid fiber, which is extremely thin and durable. It's meant to show off your phone rather than distract it with a flashy design. Caseborne's Galaxy S26 case is already live and will arrive by Monday, March 2, a full nine days before the S26 is released.

Opens in a new window Credit: CaseBorne CaseBorn Thinborn Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Spidercase

For a slim but extremely functional case, look to the Spidercase, which comes in transparent designs so you can actually see your phone. It's a thin case that's shockproof without being bulky. Plus, it comes with a built-in stand and MagSafe compatibility. The Spidercase is available to shop on Amazon and will ship out on Monday, March 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spidercase Spidercase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $17.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Snakehive

Looking for a leather case? Snakehive is joining the crowd of new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases. The brand's leather case has a slim profile and comes in four different shades: rich tan, jet black, hunter green, and oxford blue. Despite the leather material, it's still MagSafe-friendly for all your wireless charging needs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Snakehive Snakehive Samsung Galaxy S26 Phone Case $39.99
  Shop Now Pitaka

Pitaka joins the crowd of aramid fiber phone cases. The woven design makes it extremely durable without being too thick. Pitaka's case for the Samsung Galaxy S26 is already live, available in two colors: black and moonrise. It has a raised camera edge to protect the lens and is MagSafe-friendly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka Moonrise Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Exoticase

A protective but minimalist phone case for the new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone comes from Exoticase. The design of the case is simple with a matte, transparent backing paired with an accent color like soothing green or flashy red. The case has protection in mind with raised edges around the camera and screen edges to protect against drops and falls.

Opens in a new window Credit: Exoticase Exoticase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $24.95 at Exoticase
  Get Deal UAG

In need of a heavy-duty case? UAG, Urban Armor Gear, launched cases fit for the new Samsung Galaxy 26 phones. The collection includes a basic, clear option, a dotted pattern, and a rugged model for heavy-duty adventures.

Opens in a new window Credit: UAG UAG Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases   Shop Now

Google dropped a surprise announcement for Gemini users today: Nano Banana 2 is here.

The company announced the immediate launch of Nano Banana 2 in a blog post, and the AI image model is already rolling out to Google and Gemini AI tools. The model's official name is Gemini 3.1 Flash Image.

Google says that Nano Banana 2 has more advanced world knowledge, a description that also calls to mind Google's recent world model Project Genie. "The model pulls from Gemini’s real-world knowledge base, and is powered by real-time information and images from web search to more accurately render specific subjects. This deep understanding also helps you create infographics, turn notes into diagrams and generate data visualizations."

AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google

In addition, Google says that Nano Banana 2 will provide more accurate text rendering and translation.

What is Nano Banana 2? AI-generated Images Credit: Google

Simply put, Nano Banana 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular AI image model Nano Banana.

In August 2025, a mysterious new AI image editor called Nano Banana started tearing up the AI leaderboards. Google soon revealed it was the code name for a new image model officially called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image; however, the name "Nano Banana" stuck like glue.

Ever since, Google has had a runaway hit on its digital hands. Nano Banana has proven to be an extremely capable AI image generator, and it excels at editing images in particular. As Nano Banana went viral, Google started integrating it into a wide variety of tools, from Google Messages to Chrome.

SEE ALSO: 5 popular Nano Banana prompts to try in 2026

Not only does Nano Banana make it possible for virtually anyone to edit photographs — in ways that used to require years of Photoshop experience — but it also offers high consistency. That means the same character or product can appear repeatedly across multiple prompts.

To promote Nano Banana 2, Google released some example photos showing off its capabilities.

Could you tell this is an AI-generated image? Credit: Google AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google How to try Nano Banana 2

Google says that Nano Banana 2 is rolling out as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image immediately. Free users will have limited generations, with paid and enterprise users getting wider access. It's available in the Gemini app as well as other Google products, including:

• Google Search

• AI Studio

• Gemini API

• Google Antigravity

• Google Cloud

• Google Flow

• Google Ads

You can learn more about Nano Banana 2 at Google DeepMind, and you can start testing the model with AI image prompts right away.

SAVE $1,099.99: Verizon customers can get the new Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free when they change their mobile plan to either the Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26+ (Verizon, 256GB) $0 at Verizon
$1,099.99 Save $1,099.99 free with any new Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus mobile plan Pre-order Here

With most "free" phone deals from mobile carriers, you're required to ship your old phone back to them in a trade-in situation. But Verizon is offering a preorder deal that requires much less effort on your part. You'll get the Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free just by switching your mobile plan to the new Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plan.

Just announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026, Samsung's new lineup of flagship phones is scheduled to launch on March 11. All three phones — the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra — are officially up for preorder. You can choose your own adventure re: preordering, with deals at Amazon, Best Buy, and mobile carriers, but Verizon's preorder deal is the only way to get the S26+ for free.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED Q8F 4K UHD TV is down to $1,399.99 at Amazon — save over $200

The offer is available to both new and existing Verizon customers who switch their mobile plan to the Unlimited Ultimate (starting at $40 per month) or Unlimited Plus (starting at $50 per month) plans. Verizon's three-year price lock guarantee also ensures you'll keep your plan pricing even if costs go up.

The S26+ is the mid-tier model in Samsung's new Galaxy phone lineup. It's a minor upgrade over the S25+, but an upgrade nonetheless. It packs the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, the same camera setup, a meaningful battery bump, and new AI features.

If you prefer the best Galaxy phone in the lineup, you can also score the Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) for free, but you'll need to coordinate a qualifying device trade-in and add a new line to any Unlimited Ultimate plan. We'll leave that up to you to decide. Either way, getting a brand new Galaxy device for free almost feels like a crime.

Apple recently announced that it's hosting a "special experience" on March 4, and now Apple CEO Tim Cook is hyping up the event with a mysterious X post. The post includes a short video and the message, "A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch"

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

So, what does it all mean?

First, Apple prognosticators like Mark Gurman at Bloomberg have predicted that Apple will make several announcements in the days leading up to March 4, and Cook has now seemingly confirmed these rumors. All eyes will be on Apple come Monday, March 2.

SEE ALSO: 5 Apple products that could be unveiled on March 4

Instead of hosting a launch event at its Apple Park headquarters in Silicon Valley, the March 4 event will involve experiences in London, New York, and Shanghai.

As is typical, Apple hasn't officially confirmed what products will be released at the event, but rumors point to three very specific possibilities: an iPhone 17e, a new iPad Air, and new MacBooks. For the MacBooks, rumor has it Apple will be releasing a souped-up MacBook Pro with a new M5 Pro chip, a budget MacBook with a touchscreen display, or both, or neither. A more affordable MacBook could completely tip the balance of the budget laptop market in Apple's favor, and if I made Windows laptops, I'd be worried right now.

I could definitely be reading too much into a six-second social video, but Cook's X post looks to me like the back of a MacBook. The video also shows a person manipulating the Apple logo with their fingers, which, to me, screams "touchscreen."

For now, Apple isn't saying much, and it's possible I'm overthinking the crumbs they've given us.

To find out for sure, check back next week as Mashable reports on the Apple "special experience." In the meantime, you can join the rampant speculation that's going down on social media.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 T20 World Cup semi finals are fast approaching. England didn't look particularly impressive in the first group stage, but they've bounced back with wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka to top their group. New Zealand are still unbeaten in this group but their match with Pakistan was abandoned due to rain — that could prove crucial as we approach the last round of fixtures.

England face New Zealand in their final group game before the semi finals. England have already secured their spot in the semi-final stage, but New Zealand have work to do.

If you want to watch England vs. New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. New Zealand?

England vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 27. This game takes place at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium.

How to watch England vs. New Zealand for free

England vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. New Zealand in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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 with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

"No one's normal. It just looks that way from across the street."

You'll hear that phrase a few times throughout DTF St. Louis, a darkly comedic miniseries from HBO and creator Steven Conrad (Patriot). The show examines the intertwined lives of three friends, diving beneath their seemingly normal exteriors to prod at the desires and fantasies they hope will drive away their middle-age malaise. Along the way, there's an affair, a murder, and a wildly named hookup app called DTF St. Louis.

SEE ALSO: It was tough, but we found the best movies on HBO Max

With these elements, DTF St. Louis looks anything but normal from across the street. But in a disappointing reversal of the show's oft-repeated mantra, the closer you get, the more frustratingly conventional it becomes.

What's DTF St. Louis about? David Harbour in "DTF St. Louis." Credit: Tina Rowden / HBO

Like many hit HBO dramas, including Big Little Lies and The White Lotus, DTF St. Louis' first episode reveals that there's been a murder. The victim? ASL interpreter Floyd Smernitch (David Harbour).

In the months leading up to his death, we learn that Floyd became close friends with his coworker, local weatherman Clark Forrest (Jason Bateman). As the pair bond during jogging workouts and cornhole parties, they commiserate over their now-sexless marriages. Enter DTF St. Louis, an app for married people looking to "spice it" as Clark puts it. He pushes the app on Floyd, and mere weeks later, Floyd is dead.

SEE ALSO: 'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' review: Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe are a match made in comedy heaven

The above plays out in fragmented fashion during DTF St. Louis' first episode. Time jumps abound, leaving awkward gaps in Floyd and Clark's relationship. These gaps serve less as proof of the passage of time and more as the show hiding its juiciest developments for later.

Those developments truly come into play as Detective Donoghue Homer (Richard Jenkins) and Special Crimes Officer Jodie Plumb (Joy Sunday) begin their investigation. Their biggest discovery? That Clark was having an affair with Floyd's wife, Carol Love-Smernitch (Linda Cardellini).

DTF St. Louis' love triangle is intriguing, but underdeveloped. Jason Bateman in "DTF St. Louis." Credit: Tina Rowden / HBO

As Homer and Plumb learn, Clark and Carol would play out their sexual fantasies with each other, be that trying new positions or role-playing as a sexbot and his new owner. Each is a way for them to get what they're missing in their home life: Clark gets to give up control, while Carol gets to take it.

The sex scenes are lightly humorous, with Bateman and Cardellini fully committing to their characters' desires and their seeming belief that living out these dreams will fix their mid-life crises. (A particularly telling fantasy? Clark role-playing as a pool boy in his 20s.)

SEE ALSO: 'Paradise' Season 2 review: Great things lie beyond the bunker

As Clark and Carol's affair progresses, DTF St. Louis begins to lionize Floyd, highlighting his kindheartedness and his understanding relationship with his stepson Richard (Arlan Ruf). It's as if the show forgets that he, too, is actively trying to cheat, reducing him instead to a virtuous teddy bear in death. Clark and Carol risk being flattened as well, turned into nothing more than streaks of blithe idiocy and cold manipulation.

Bateman, Harbour, and Cardellini are formidable, though. Bateman's typical dry humor is perfect for Clark's understated scumminess, and Harbour is wonderfully warm. I wish Cardellini got more to do (which she might in the last three episodes). For now, Carol toggles between Clark's view of her as his fantasy woman and Floyd's view of her as a sexless nag. Somehow, Cardellini finds a middle ground that helps Carol feel more her own person, but in the scheme of the whole love triangle, Carol remains the most unknown of the points.

DTF St. Louis' structure is infuriating. Linda Cardellini in "DTF St. Louis." Credit: Tina Rowden / HBO

To be fair, much of that is by design. DTF St. Louis wants to keep viewers in the dark about its central investigation throughout its run. Unfortunately, that means dragging the mystery out, especially when it comes down to Homer and Plumb's investigation.

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While Jenkins and Sunday make for a fun old blood-new guard duo, their findings rarely reveal something that flashbacks haven't already made abundantly clear. The flashbacks themselves are primarily motivated through an interrogation of Clark, who does himself — and the audience! — no favors by staying awkwardly silent at inopportune moments. Are you trying your best to look guilty, Clark, or is DTF St. Louis just withholding information so it can justify its murder hook for another few episodes?

In addition to stringing viewers along, DTF St. Louis seems not to trust them either. The show reiterates evidence time and time again. Even worse, it repeats a key discussion almost word for word in two different episodes, to the point that I felt I was hallucinating.

It's a shame, because DTF St. Louis is full of some genuinely funny moments, from a suspicious smoothie rendezvous to a whispered discussion at the Outback Steakhouse urinals about using DTF St. Louis. Peak loser behavior! I wish DTF St. Louis leaned further into that angle, but in the end, its underwhelming, nonchronological mystery approach wins out.

DTF St. Louis premieres March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

The dating app Bumble is rolling out two new product features today, both AI-focused: AI-suggested Profile Guidance and AI Photo Feedback.

Profile Guidance, now rolling out globally, gives real-time, personalized feedback on users' bios, according to information Bumble sent to Mashable. The second, photo feedback, is U.S.-only for now, but it helps pick users' best shots for their profile.

SEE ALSO: All your Bumble questions, answered

These features are similar to other AI-driven dating app features; in the last few years, as AI has taken over the tech space, it's also taken over The Apps. Hinge's Prompt Feedback, for instance, uses AI to encourage members to beef up their profiles, while Tinder's Photo Selector uses it to optimize one's photos, similar to Bumble's new AI Photo Feedback.

Bumble has also introduced AI features previously, such as an AI tool to detect scams and fake profiles.

Additionally, in Canada, Bumble is testing Suggest a Date, a low-pressure way to signal that you're ready to take things off the app.

"We are focused on building products that address member pain points. Profile Guidance empowers our community to show up more authentically and completely, helping them start connections from a stronger foundation," Bumble's chief product and technology officer, Vivek Sagi, stated in the product announcements.

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"With Suggest a Date, we're creating a clear expression of intent and giving members a way to bypass the traditional back-and-forth to move toward meeting in real life," Sagi continued. "When we reduce friction at the moments that matter most, we help people connect with clarity and confidence, and increase the likelihood of meaningful relationships forming offline."

The announcements come shortly after a new class-action lawsuit was filed against Bumble over the January data breach. It's also after Bumble announced it's sunsetting the Opening Moves feature in Mexico and Australia. Opening Moves is a feature meant to move Bumble away from its "women making the first move" ethos by allowing men to message women first.

FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26 ULTRA: Sign up for any T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan for 24 months and get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB), usually selling for $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan   Shop Now

We waited extra long this year for the annual Samsung Unpacked event. Like always, we have fresh new Samsung Galaxy phones to drool over, or simply consider if your current Android phone is in need of an upgrade.

Samsung didn't increase the prices with the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra phone, compared to the Ultra S25, but that doesn't mean it comes cheap. At full price, the 256GB model of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a price tag of $1,299.99. If you'd rather get it for free, you have options. One of the best offerings is this free deal at T-Mobile.

Sign up for or add a line to any T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan and get the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) for free with no trade-in required. You'll need to be cool with signing up to 24 months of service to cash in on the "free" aspect. T-Mobile will charge taxes and a $35 device connection fee. In total, you'll be saving $1,299.99 by getting the phone for free. If you want to go with the larger 512GB Galaxy S26 Ultra, you can still get a deal on the phone since T-Mobile will charge a monthly fee of $8.33.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases: Where to get fun ones right now

The upgrades Samsung introduced with the Galaxy S26 Ultra aren't massive, but they're noticeable. That means if you've been carrying an old Android phone around, recharging every six hours, it might be time to jump on this upgrade. Samsung considers the new Galaxy S26 lineup to be the "most intuitive, proactive, and adaptive Galaxy AI" phones to date. It's also lighter and slimmer than its S25 Ultra predecessor.

One of the biggest additions to the Galaxy S26 lineup is Samsung's Privacy Display feature. This advancement dims the screen to anyone looking at the phone from an angle. It's highly customizable, so you can pick which apps you'd like this to work on.

Get the new 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra for free when signing up for T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plans.

TL:DR: Walmart is dropping exclusive Pokémon TCG collectibles over four consecutive days before Pokémon Day 2026. New products drop at 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 23-26 for Walmart+ members.

Pokémon Day is an annual celebration of all things Pokémon. It is held every year on Feb. 27 to mark the release of the original game in Japan. You can expect a lot of exciting announcements and product launches to go live on the big day, but there's actually no need to wait.

Walmart is dropping exclusive Pokémon TCG collectibles over four consecutive days before Pokémon Day 2026. These new products will drop at 10 a.m. ET on each day:

• Feb. 23 — Ascended Heroes ETB

• Feb. 24 — Ascended Heroes Mini Tin Displays

• Feb. 25 — Journey Together Booster Bundle

• Feb. 26 — Destined Rivals Booster Bundle

The first drop on Feb. 23 featured Ascended Heroes ETBs. Walmart+ members could score these boxes for $59.99 — way below the $120 price point on TCGplayer. Next came Ascended Heroes Mini Tin Displays for under $130 and Journey Together Booster Bundles for under $35. Finally, Pokémon fans got discounted Destined Rivals Booster Bundles on the final day of this promotion.

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You do need to be a Walmart+ member to shop these exclusive drops — it's easy to sign up and this should hopefully limit the impact of bots and scalpers. These products will likely sell fast, so if you're interested in shopping, we recommend signing up well before the next drop. You don't want to be going through the sign-up process when stock is disappearing before your eyes.

Make sure your Walmart+ subscription is live, clear your schedule, and stock up ahead of Pokémon Day 2026.

TL;DR: Walmart dropped discounted Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Destined Rivals Booster Bundles at 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 26. You need to be signed up to Walmart+ to shop this exclusive deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Destined Rivals Booster Bundle Shop Now

This week has been predictably tough on Pokémon TCG collectors. Walmart has been dropping exclusive Pokémon TCG collectibles all week in the lead up to Pokémon Day, but securing orders on these heavily discounted items has been tricky. It's what we expected, but it's still disappointing to see.

There's one day left to secure a significant saving on a best-selling Pokémon TCG collectible. We know it's been a tough week, but this could be your moment. We still believe.

At 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 26, Walmart dropped discounted Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Destined Rivals Booster Bundles. This deal comes after Ascended Heroes ETBs, Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mini Tin Displays, and Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Booster Bundles have all been slashed this week on Walmart.

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The catch is that you need to be signed up to Walmart+ to shop these exclusive deals. Well, the real catch is that a Walmart+ membership doesn't actually guarantee that you'll be able to make a purchase. All you can do is make sure your membership is active before the next deal goes live, and keep refreshing the page if you don't see the product listing go live right away. Good luck out there, you might need it.

Score the best Pokémon Day deals at Walmart.

FREE $100 GIFT CARD: As of Feb. 26, you can get a free $100 gift card and double the storage (512GB) when you pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S26 at Amazon. The offer ends on March 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S26 (Unlocked, 512GB) $899.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $300 + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-order Here

There's several new Samsung Galaxy phones in town, as announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026. The Galaxy S26 lineup — including the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra — are now up for preorder, with an official launch date of March 11.

The cheapest of the bunch if the Samsung Galaxy S26 base model, which bumps last year's S25 starting price by $100. But lucky for you, if you preorder it at Amazon, you'll not only get a free $100 Amazon gift card to make up for that price hike, but also a free storage upgrade. That means you'll get an unlocked Galaxy S26 with 512GB of storage and a $100 Amazon gift card all for $899.99. The offer ends on March 10, just one day before the official launch date. Just note your gift card may ship separately from the phone itself, so be on the lookout.

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You have plenty of options for reserving the new phones, but pre-ordering at Amazon means you don't have to worry about coordinating a trade-in or data plan at a specific carrier. Your new S26 will be unlocked, so you can figure out the details later.

Compared to the S25, the new S26 base model features a marginally bigger screen with the same smooth scrolling, a generational bump to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a similar camera setup (a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP selfie camera), a meaningful battery improvement, and of course, new AI features. If you're rocking an old handset and want to upgrade without excessively splurging, preordering the Samsung Galaxy S26 at Amazon is the move. You'll even get a free $100 gift card to spend on whatever else you need (a new case perhaps).

It has been such a busy start to the year for Pokémon. We've been inundated with new Pokémon TCG releases, we've seen the launch of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets, and we've prepared for nostalgic Pokémon games to make a return. Has Pokémon got anything left to give us? There's only one way to find out.

The Pokémon Presents video presentation is set to take place on Pokémon Day, providing all the latest Pokémon news. These presentations tend to provide updates on upcoming video games, spinoffs, mobile games, Pokémon TCG collectibles, and animated productions. We don't know what's in store from this latest edition, but we expect Pokémon to go big for its 30th anniversary.

When is Pokémon Presents 2026?

The first Pokémon Presents of 2026 will take place on Feb. 27 (Pokémon Day) at 2 p.m. UTC. Here's the breakdown of start time by timezone:

• PST — 6 a.m.

• EST — 9 a.m.

• BRT — 11 a.m. 

• GMT — 2 p.m.

• CET — 3 p.m. 

• IST — 7 p.m. 

• CST — 10 p.m. 

• JST — 11 p.m. 

• AEDT — 1 a.m. (Feb. 28) 

• NZDT — 3 a.m. (Feb. 28) 

Make a note of the time the livestream starts in your location. We wouldn't want you to miss out on any important announcements.

How to watch Pokémon Presents 2026

Pokémon fans can watch Pokémon Presents February 2026 via a wide range of streaming services. The popular entire event will be live streamed on The Pokémon Company's official YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok channels. This year's livestream is expected to run for 25 minutes.

Alternatively, you can watch everything right here. We'll be hosting the livestream on this page as soon as it's available.

The idea of an Android phone as the brains inside a desktop PC-like setup didn’t catch on over a decade ago, but there’s much more promise this time around. In fact, there’s a good chance the phone you already own has a “desktop mode” just waiting to be unlocked. Here’s how to use it.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 26. Sapphic Shelf Explosion, hosted by Year of Queer Lit, is offering free sapphic books for your e-reader.

Stop what you're doing. Another Stuff Your Kindle Day just went live.

This has been a glorious year for bookworms. The quantity and quality of Stuff Your Kindle Days has been unprecedented, and the schedule is showing no signs of slowing down. We've got two events on the calendar for this week, but for now, the focus is firmly on the Sapphic Shelf Explosion.

This 24-hour giveaway, hosted by Year of Queer Lit, offers participants the chance to download 100s of sapphic books for free or just $0.99 (check the price befoe you buy to avoid disappointment). And better yet, everything that you download is yours to keep forever.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Sapphic Shelf Explosion takes place on Feb. 26.

Stuff Your Kindle Days tend to fall into one of two categories. Some events are live for a number of days, offering you the chance to take stock of your options and download at your leisure. Others are live for 24 hours, which adds a layer of intensity to the experience. The Sapphic Shelf Explosion falls into the latter category, but there's no need to panic. You've still got plenty of time to check everything out, make a plan of priorities, and stock up. It's not like you're going to be spending big anyway.

Which ebooks are free?

The Sapphic Shelf Explosion is offering free or heavily discounted sapphic books that fall into these sub-genres:

• Romance

• Fantasy

• Historical Fiction

• Mystery

• Erotica

• Contemporary

• Horror/Psychological/Thriller

• Sci-Fi/Paranormal

• Young Adult

Anyone can participate in Stuff Your Kindle Day. Kindle and Kobo readers can download these sapphic for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase. Now that's a sweet bonus for bookworms.

Affordable luxury SUVs are supposed to balance comfort, technology, and price, but many end up excelling in only one of those areas. In 2026, however, one compact luxury SUV manages to bring all three together more convincingly than its rivals. The Volvo XC40 delivers premium design, advanced safety tech, and everyday usability at a price point that undercuts much of the luxury competition, making it one of the smartest buys in the segment.

Desktop Linux is doing better than it ever has before, partly because of missteps by Microsoft in the development of Windows and partly because of the work in the Linux community over the years to turn it into a serious competitor for everyday computer users.