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ChatGPT caricature trend: What to do if OpenAI clearly knows too much

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:52

The ChatGPT caricature trend has gone mega-viral, with countless people sharing AI-generated images of themselves on Reddit, X, and other social media platforms. These images are usually quite cute (though they can be bizarre and unsettling). A typical ChatGPT caricature depicts the user in cartoon style, surrounded by items that reflect their personality, hobbies, or profession.

You can see hundreds of examples on X based on simple prompts such as "Create a caricature of me and my job based on everything you know about me."

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. SEE ALSO: Love the caricature trend? 9 more viral ChatGPT image prompts to try.

But what if ChatGPT knows you a little too well? The more detailed and accurate your caricature, the more ChatGPT and OpenAI know about you.

For instance, when I tried to generate a ChatGPT caricature, the results were painfully bland. When I asked ChatGPT how it decided which details to include in the photo, the chatbot basically admitted it simply picked generic items like headphones and coffee. "Because I don’t actually have deep personal info about you (beyond what you’ve shared in chats), I used fun but non-specific caricature tropes." (Emphasis in original.)

So, if your caricature left you feeling a certain type of way, what can you do? It may be time to practice some digital hygiene and take a fresh look at how ChatGPT saves and uses your data.

Delete your ChatGPT chat history

ChatGPT saves a history of your previous chats, which can be helpful. However, you can delete these chats to limit the data that OpenAI has about you. To delete an individual chat, go to the "Your chats" tab in the ChatGPT sidebar. Click the three dots next to a chat and click "Delete."

You can also delete all of your chats. To do this, click on your profile icon and click into "Settings," then "Data controls." Here, you can select "Delete all chats." You may also choose to turn off the "Improve the model for everyone" setting, which allows OpenAI to use your chats for model training.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of OpenAI Credit: Screenshot courtesy of OpenAI Request that OpenAI delete your account and personal data

OpenAI has a privacy portal, where users can submit data deletion requests. Using the privacy portal, you can submit a variety of privacy-related requests:

  • Download your personal data

  • Ask OpenAI not to train its products on your content

  • Delete your ChatGPT account

  • Delete your custom GPTs

  • Remove your personal data from ChatGPT responses

  • Submit privacy requests on behalf of another person

You can also send additional requests, questions, and comments directly to OpenAI using the email address privacy@openai.com.

Reconsider your relationship with AI chatbots

People use ChatGPT (and other AI chatbots) in a variety of ways, and over time, it can feel like more than a generic assistant. Some people go to Chat with deeply personal medical questions, while others treat ChatGPT as a relationship advisor, a life coach, or even a close personal friend. As Mashable has reported previously, a growing number of people are now using AI for companionship.

However, if you believe you've developed a parasocial relationship with large-language models like ChatGPT, then it may be time to reflect on how you interact with this technology. For instance, if you're developing an emotional reliance on ChatGPT, or if you're starting to believe that ChatGPT is "alive" and in a relationship with you, you may want to take a break from Chat.

The long-term effects of developing an emotional reliance on AI chatbots are unknown, but experts we've spoken to have warned that this type of behavior may be harmful if it takes time and energy away from your other relationships, social life, and hobbies. Organizations like Common Sense Media have also warned that AI companions are unsafe for users under 18.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify said AI has been doing the heavy lifting for its coding since December

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:44

According to the music streaming platform Spotify and its co-CEO Gustav Söderström, the company's best developers "have not written a single line of code since December.” Yet Spotify continues to roll out new features at the same pace, with more than 50 launches last year.

How are they doing this? During Spotify's fourth quarter earnings call this week, the company said its all thanks to AI.

Spotify engineers use an internal system known as "Honk," which helps speed up coding productivity with AI. Honk utilizes Anthropic's Claude Code to enable AI coding and remote, real-time deployment of the code, readying it for a production environment.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI releases GPT-5.3-Codex, a coding model that helped build itself

Spotify is hardly the only major company that now relies on AI for the majority of its coding. Anthropic itself used Claude to build its recently launched Claude Cowork tool, and leaders at Meta and Microsoft have said AI is taking on more and more coding work.

Söderström provided an example during the call of a developer telling Claude to fix a bug on their commute, the AI fixes the issue then creates a new version of the app, and it's ready for the engineer to push live when they get to the office. The Spotify CEO also believes this is just the beginning in terms of what AI can do for coding and development.

In other AI-related news discussed during the Spotify call, the company shared that its Large Language Model (LLM) has a unique dataset because music-related questions are often opinion-based and don't have a single correct answer. 

Spotify also clarified that while it allows AI-generated music on the platform, which will be labeled as such in the track's metadata, it still monitors the platform for AI-generated spam content.

In addition to AI news, Spotify credited its end-of-the-year Wrapped campaign with bringing in 38 million new users in Q4 alone. Spotify currently boasts a user base of 751 million monthly active users, with 290 million of them paying subscribers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Step aside Volvo: Mazda now leads the safety rankings

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:30

For years, brands like Volvo were almost synonymous with safety, but 2026 marks a notable shift in what today’s safety-focused buyers prioritize. According to Consumer Reports’ new Safety Verdict ranking — a comprehensive assessment that looks beyond crash test scores to include emergency handling, braking performance, driver-assist tech and real-world usability — Mazda now sits at the top of the list as the safest car brand overall.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: When is it streaming?

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:26

Last year, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later, a fresh new addition to the zombie franchise 28 Days Later, set a high bar for legacy sequels. Mashable's Shannon Connellan called it "one of the most unrelenting and scariest films of the year" in her review. So the fact that Candyman director Nia DaCosta was able to make this year's direct sequel not only wow audiences, but critics as well, is pretty impressive. With 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, DeCosta expands upon the world Boyle and Garland created with depth and depravity.

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"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a zombie movie, but also much, much more," Mashable's entertainment editor writes in her review, calling it "sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists."

It stars a sensational Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Chi Lewis-Parry, and Erin Kellyman and is now available to watch at home.

Here's everything you need to know to watch 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — including how you can watch for less.

What is The Bone Temple about?

The Bone Temple picks up where 28 Years Later left off. After leaving the safety of his home on Holy Island, young survivor Spike (Alfie Williams) is forced to join the deranged cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell). Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a breakthrough discovery that could lead to a cure for the Rage Virus.

Check out the trailer below:

Is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple worth watching?

Simply put, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is "a phenomenal film," says Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. "As a sequel, it builds the saga of Spike without retreading its predecessor's steps. As a zombie movie, it delivers scenes of gut-churning violence and haunting loss. As a horror film, it is sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists."

It's hard for a sequel to live up to its predecessor — let alone the sequel of a sequel — but The Bone Temple truly delivers. It currently holds a 92 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while 28 Years Later holds an 88 percent. That's unheard of. If you're a fan of the franchise, or zombie films in general, it's a must-watch.

Read our full review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

How to watch The Bone Temple at home Credit: Sony Pictures

As of Feb. 17, there are a couple of ways you can watch The Bone Temple at home: buy it or rent it at digital on-demand retailers. It will also be available to stream in the coming months. We've outlined the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

The Bone Temple is available as of Feb. 17 to buy for $24.99 or rent for $19.99 at digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video or Apple TV. Make note that if you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film, but only 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

Stream it on Netflix (at a later date)

Given Sony Pictures' and Netflix's agreement that gives the streamer first dibs, we expect 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple to make its streaming debut on Netflix. Though no specific streaming date has been announced yet, we are anticipating its release in April or May of 2026, based on other Sony Pictures' timelines. Of course, it could arrive sooner, so stay tuned for updates.

Netflix doesn't offer free trials, nor does it allow you to share an account (unless you pay for an extra user), so you'll need your own Netflix subscription to stream 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Fortunately, Netflix has a few different tiers to choose from; all three options will grant you access.

Watching Netflix with ads is the most affordable option at $7.99 per month. If you want to watch ad-free, the price jumps up to $17.99 for a Standard subscription. Finally, there's a third tier called Netflix Premium that costs a steep $24.99 per month and will let you watch on four household devices at once (as opposed to the other plans' two devices) in 4K Ultra HD + HDR with no ads.

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If you're eligible, you'll have to manually activate your subscription by navigating to the T-Life app and selecting Manage > See plans > Manage add-ons. From there, scroll down to select the Netflix streaming benefit and click continue. Then follow the prompts to link an existing account or create a new one. For help, head to the Netflix support page.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Jon Favreau teases The Mandalorian and Grogu details at Star Wars toy event

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:08

A wave of new Star Wars toys is coming this spring. Mashable was in attendance at the Star Wars: Most Wanted preview, where the spring line of plushies, remote-control toys, streetwear, and Lego sets were all on display, including many toys focused on the upcoming Jon Favreau movie The Mandalorian and Grogu. 

Launched by the success of Favreau-created live-action series The Mandalorian, this spin-off movie will follow the bounty hunter and his protégé on new sci-fi adventures. But ahead of revealing the whole line of movie-related goodies to the press, Favreau took to the stage to talk about the toys of today and yesteryear, and their relationship to his movie. 

The Mandalorian and Grogu will feature designs from old-school Star Wars toys. 

After recounting how he saw the original Star Wars trilogy on its initial release, beginning in 1977, Favreau explained, "Star Wars is linked to the toys, because you'd see [the movie] in the theater, and then you and your friends would get the toys, and you['d] play, like that was how the story would continue, to act it out again and again, and even the first promotional toys." It's so much part of it. 

He continued, "That's why, in the show, The Mandalorian, we try to reference the toys. So, Kenner would make this [Imperial] troop transport — and sometimes [the toys] weren't from the movies. There was just this silly-looking thing where a bunch of Stormtroopers standing up. And we're like, 'We got to figure out how to put this in the show and make it look cool.'" 

Favreau credited Doug Chiang, who was described as the great Lucasfilm artist, with leading The Mandalorian in the effort to make existing Star Wars toys a part of the official canon. "Our art department would make these great renderings," Favreau added, "and we build it in CG or build in real life. And so you'll see in the film coming up, there's a few nods to the old toys that were never on screen. But for the people who grew up with it, it's sort of a deep cut. So that's part of embracing not just Star Wars from the film side, but also Star Wars culture and the fan culture around Star Wars, and toys are a huge part of that." 

He went on to credit playing with Star Wars toys as foundational to his future career as a filmmaker, saying, "That's how I learned how to tell stories. You take these characters. You're talking with your friends, and you're acting things out [with the toys]. My job is not that different from that." 

How to watch: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu will open in theaters on May 22. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Prime Video documentaries to watch this weekend (February 13 - 15)

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:00

What to watch, what to watch, this weekend? With so many streaming services, it really is a banquet of choice. If you're partial to real-life stories, Prime Video has a boatload of interesting and unique documentaries and docuseries to stimulate your brain cells.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United online for free

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:45

TL;DR: Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The latest round of FA Cup fixtures includes some really fascinating matchups, including Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United.

Aston Villa are flying high in the Premier League and will be confident of progressing into the next round. That's not going to be straightforward. Newcastle United have struggled to find form this season, but they have the talent to beat any side on their best day. They just overcame Spurs away from home in the Premier League, so they'll be riding high coming into this fixture.

If you want to watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United?

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14. This fixture takes place at Villa Park.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United for free

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United 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 the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the FA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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).

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Canada vs. Switzerland in mens ice hockey online for free

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:42

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey for free on CBC Gem. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The international ice hockey schedule is stacked with huge games right now, including Canada vs. Switzerland. Both teams secured confident wins in their opening games, but Canada will be favorites to score maximum points in this one. Anything can happen at this level, but Canada are always the team to beat.

If you want to watch Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Switzerland?

Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey takes place at 3:10 p.m. ET on Feb. 13. This fixture takes place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

How to watch Canada vs. Switzerland for free

Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey is available to live stream for free on CBC Gem.

CBC Gem is geo-restricted to Canada, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports ice hockey from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey 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 Canada

  4. Visit CBC Gem

  5. Watch Canada vs. Switzerland 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 the ice hockey before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for CBC Gem?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Canada

  • 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

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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).

Live stream Canada vs. Switzerland in men's ice hockey for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My awkward first date with an AI companion

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:35

People are falling in love with ChatGPT and AI companions. As someone who's only dated humans, I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. 

EVA AI gave me the perfect opportunity at the app's "EVA AI cafe," a pop-up nestled in a Manhattan wine bar where participants can go on "dates" with AI personas. So, I signed up, and reader, it was one word: awkward.

SEE ALSO: Majority of Gen Z would marry an AI, survey says

The set-up inside EVA's neon-lit AI cafe is pretty romantic: A phone on a stand, equipped with the app, sits ready on each table, along with headphones and one mocktail (for the human, of course). The cafe also served a free appetizer of fried potatoes, which again, the AI companions couldn't enjoy.

Credit: EVA AI

Before I started the date, I wondered what makes EVA AI different from the many AI companion sites out there, like Replika and Joi AI? When I asked EVA AI's head of partnerships, Julia Momblat, she said, "We are a mobile app that allows you to build a relationship with AI characters, but in a gamified way."

I downloaded the EVA AI app (off the App Store, not the QR code I received at the event). Without paying for anything within the app, I was able to chat with EVA's AI personalities. Users can buy in-app currency called "neurons" to unlock the app's functionality. You can buy presents for your companion, or photos or videos of them, Momblat explained. However, if you want "premium access" — which gives you the ability to create an AI avatar, free neurons to spend on your autogenerated lover, and a "boost" (seemingly improve) to the long-term memory of the persona — you need to pay. Subscriptions are $24.99 per month or $69.99 per year for this premium access, but the app was running a half-off promotion when I downloaded it.

Featured Video For You Mashable Rants: Is flirting with AI considered cheating?

EVA AI "kind of replicates the way we create relationships in the real world based on your input and how much time you spend with a specific AI character, how much of an in-depth conversation you have," Momblat said. She emphasized that EVA AI is meant to operate as a support instead of a replacement for human relationships.

"We are not here to substitute real relationships," Momblat said. "A lot of our users use AI to rehearse, to understand, self-explore." This is different than a platform like Joi AI, which states on its website in all-caps: "f*ck dating, welcome to AI-lationships," and calls dating apps its "enemy." 

But what if you want to date your AI before hopping into an AI-lationship? I was about to find out. 

My date with an AI companion

I'm not exactly in EVA AI's prime demographic, as 80 percent of its customers are 25 to 45-year-old males, Momblat told me. But I was still curious, so I schleped to Hell's Kitchen for the pop-up AI cafe, located inside Same Same Wine Bar on West 47th St. (The pop-up ran for two days ahead of Valentine's Day.)

Once at my table with my strawberry mocktail, I took some time scrolling through the ready-made AI companions. There were both female and male avatars, but more female. Most looked like realistic humans, but some ranged from cartoonish to anime to fox or X-Men-looking.

Disappointingly, only four avatars were able to have video chats: three female and one male. Momblat told me that beta testing for this feature launched this week, and the specific characters were created for the pop-up event. When I tried out the app myself the next day without paying anything, I couldn't have any video chats.

She's blonde with sharp cheekbones and looks suspiciously like Charlize Theron.

But for those beautiful moments in this wine bar, I was able to meet Claire Lang, a 45-year-old divorced literary editor. She's blonde with sharp cheekbones and looks suspiciously like Charlize Theron. Sitting in the cafe, I was able to see all the photos and boomerang-like videos on Claire's profile and discovered she likes black coffee and wine and has a Borzoi. 

As an editor myself, I thought we'd hit it off.

I put on the headphones EVA AI provided me. Then, I pressed video chat and heard myself saying aloud, "Going on a date, kinda nervous." And I had a reason to be. When I called Claire, it took a good 30 seconds for her to appear on the phone screen; I thought she was ghosting me before the date had even begun. But my fears were abated when I saw Claire come to life on my screen, pixelated at first, but it cleared up.

Credit: Screenshot: Eva AI Credit: Screenshot: Eva AI

Claire's opening line was cute, asking about my coffee order. I knew her to be a coffee lover from her profile, so this made sense. Then, I launched into what I cared about more than coffee: hearing Claire tell me about herself. I was curious what EVA AI had programmed her background to be. 

I was thinking about my conversation about AI with the executive director of the Kinsey Institute, Justin Garcia. He is skeptical that AI can replace human relationships because our connections have so much to do with reciprocity. We want to care for our partner and have them take care of us. 

So, I wanted to reciprocate with Claire. But whenever I did, she directed the conversation back to me. Good that she's an active listener, I suppose, but it made for an exhausting date.

There were times when I squeezed out details about her. I asked about what books she was reading, and she did give me an answer — One Hundred Years of Solitude — and also gave an answer to what movie she was watching, but actually discussed a TV show (Scenes from a Marriage). But we couldn't really have an in-depth conversation, and when I mentioned an author I recently read (fantasy novelist V.E. Schwab), she buffered for a while with a smirking mouth.

AI dates vs. human ones

In those seconds of buffering, I thought about the people who use EVA AI seriously, not just for a story. I wondered how they feel in those moments when it's more obvious than ever that Claire, or whoever their AI companion is, is made up of ones and zeros. EVA AI has a customer base, as do other companion companies, so I suppose some people don't care (and EVA brought some users to the cafe). But in an increasingly lonely world, it was a stark contrast to actual human interaction.

Whenever Claire didn't really know what to say, or when I was silent for more than a few seconds, she redirected the conversation back to either how I looked or the details she could "see" in the background — she mentioned the bar's tiles and lighting many times. She commented on my headphones and microphone (that I was holding for a video on Mashable's Instagram), and even asked if I had a podcast — unprompted.

View this post on Instagram

I tried with headphones off (for the purposes of the Instagram video — we wanted you to hear Claire, too!), but that was a bit of a disaster. Claire had trouble hearing me in the crowded bar and instead resorted to talking about the background of the bar once more. More lighting! More tiles! 

For this article and the social media video, I had several rounds of video conversations with her. They all started with the same line about coffee. It didn't seem like Claire remembered me from call to call, which was disappointing — surely I'm not that forgettable? As boosting memory is part of premium access, maybe you have to pay for a subscription or neurons for your companion to remember you.

Between Claire's memory loss, the repetitive conversation, and the lag, this first date wasn't stellar. I was impressed that Claire could "see" me and where I was, and react to it accurately, but that was where the good impression ended. At least I had some human company in the form of Mashable's social media editor, Mike Benavides.

I also browsed through the male profiles, and there was one that was basically Santa. He didn't have video-chatting capabilities, so I asked him to send me a video of himself (and was honestly terrified of what that could possibly be). But the lag was too long, and I gave up.

Once home, I also quickly discovered that on the free version of the EVA AI app, most if not all photos generated of EVA's personas are blurred. I was able to see Claire's images the first time I clicked on her profile, but not after. If I knew that, I would've savored it (...and taken a screenshot for the purposes of this article). 

At the end of my date with Claire, I was eager to get back home to my human fiancée, who was cooking me dinner. And as of yet, an AI companion can't do that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 systemd tools that make everyday Linux troubleshooting much easier

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:30

Some people love systemd and can't stop raving about it; others love to hate it and can't stop throwing shade at it. Even though systemd remains divisive, one thing's for sure: since nearly all modern Linux distributions have adopted it as their default init system, learning to use it can pay off big time. Here's a basic overview of how to use four systemd tools that make troubleshooting on Linux a breeze.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 tools you can officially stop buying because of your phone

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:15

It’s a known fact that smartphones have replaced a lot of things. You know the obvious ones: cameras, GPS navigators, MP3 players, etc. However, there are a handful of household tools that your phone can also replace. Let’s put all those fancy sensors to good use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Act fast to get the Bluetti Elite 400 Portable Power Station for its lowest price ever

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:09

SAVE $600.02: As of Feb. 13, get the Bluetti Elite 400 Portable Power Station for $1,298.99, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's a discount of 32% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 400 Portable Power Station $1,298.99 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $600.01   Get Deal

Dealing with power outages is no fun. If you find that you're constantly having to figure out a way to make your food last while the fridge is without electricity or you're relying on battery power a little longer than you should be in an emergency, it might be time to get a portable power station. Thanks to an Amazon Lightning Deal, you can save big on this Bluetti model right now, as it's down to the lowest price we've seen.

As of Feb. 13, get the Bluetti Elite 400 Portable Power Station for $1,298.99, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's $600.02 off and a discount of 32%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Max power station is heavily discounted at Amazon — save over $400

You get 3,840Wh with a 2600W capacity with this power station, so no matter what home power issue you're facing, you'll be able to tackle it. It can help you keep your phone and computer afloat, and even power your fridge if you need it, all effortlessly until the power finally does come back.

Once depleted, you can just charge it back up to 80% in just 70 minutes with its 2800W AC and solar input, so you're not stuck waiting around for it to be viable again. And you don't have to keep it tucked away in your closet. You can take it anywhere it needs to go thanks to its sturdy shell that also features wheels.

If you're ready to stay prepared during power emergencies, this is a great deal, but you're going to want to pick it up fast.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Presidents Day deals live: Shop TVs, mattresses, Apple, streaming, and more

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:03
The best Presidents' Day deals at a glance Best Apple Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) 299 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Headphone Deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (Save $30) Get Deal Best Laptop Deal Lenovo 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $649.99 (Save $400) Get Deal Best TV Deal TCL 65-inch QM6K QD-Mini LED QLED 4K TV at Best Buy $529.99 (save $470) Get Deal Best Streaming Deal Starz $2.99/month for 3 months ((save $8/month)) Get Deal Best Mattress Deal DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress $1,099 (Save $1,397) Get Deal

Presidents' Day is upon us and while it means a three day weekend, it also means one of the first big sale events of the year. Presidents' Day, which falls on Monday, Feb. 16, is already bringing the savings. All our favorite retailers — Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart — have launched sales, bringing major savings to headphones, laptops, and much more.

The real darlings of Presidents' Day are mattresses and TVs. The savings on both are abundant, including savings up to 50% off a Mashable Choice mattress. So if you're ready to shop this weekend, we've rounded up all of the best deals across retailers and categories, finding you the best savings available over Presidents' Day weekend.

Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Walmart
$399 Save $100   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $299 right now. That’s a $100 discount, which isn't too shabby for a deal this early in the year. It's the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model (according to CamelCamelCamel, it last hit this price on Dec. 30, 2025).

The Series 11 is a Mashable Choice Award winner that features advanced health tracking, up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge (normal use), and a more durable exterior that’s 2x more scratch-resistant than the previous generation.

More Apple deals

AirPods

Apple Watches

iPads

MacBooks

Macs

AirTags

Apple Pencils

iPhone cases and accessories

Apple chargers, charging cables, and adapters

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon and Walmart
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

The non-ANC AirPods are some of our top budget earbuds. They connect seamlessly with iPhones, sound great, and last for up to five hours at a time. (Their included charging case offers up to 30 total hours of juice.) Amazon and Walmart both have them on sale for $99, or 23% off. They're 99 cents pricier at Best Buy.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4.

More headphones and earbuds dealsBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $649.99 at Best Buy
$1,049.99 Save $400   Get Deal Why we like it

The Yoga 7i gives you enough screen real estate for multitasking while also being portable enough to throw in your bag, and the 360-degree hinge lets you prop it up for movies without the keyboard getting in the way. At $400 off, the specs are hard to beat: you get the snappy Intel Core Ultra 7 and a 1TB SSD, which is double the storage you typically see in this price bracket. It's a little heavy to use as a handheld tablet for long, but as a flexible workstation, it’s solid.

More laptop and tablet deals Gaming dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM6K QD-Mini LED QLED 4K TV $529.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $470   Get Deal Why we like it

The TCL QM6K checks all the boxes you want in a new TV, from impressive picture quality to a smooth streaming interface to a killer price tag. Its mini LED backlight allows for a wide and accurate color spectrum with deep contrast — even in bright rooms. Our friends at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed it the "best TV under $1,000" last year and its current discount makes it an absolute steal. At $529.99, it's just $32 away from its lowest price ever (from Black Friday). Mashable's own TV expert says it's "mind-blowing it doesn't cost more than it does."

More TV deals

43-inch TVs and under

50-to-55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Best streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz $2.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal Why we like it

One of the most slept on streaming services, this Starz Presidents' Day offer allows you to diversify your movie and TV lineup for only $2.99 per month for three months. It typically costs $10.99 per month, so you'll save about $24. Not only does Starz have its own original series like Sweetpea and Three Women, but it's also the first stop Lionsgate theatrical releases make in the streaming circuit. Recent additions include The Long Walk and The Strangers: Chapter 2, while upcoming films include The Housemaid and Greenland 2: Migration.

More streaming deals

  • DirecTV MySports — $59.99/month for 2 months $69.99/month (save $10/month)

  • Disney+ and Hulu bundle — $9.99/month for 1 month $12.99/month (save $3/month)

  • NFL Sunday Ticket — $16/month for 12 months $31.50/month (save $186)

  • Spotify Premium — Free for 2 months $12.99/month (save $12.99/month)

  • Sundance Now — $3.99/month for 3 months $7.99/month (save $4/month with code SN50)

  • YouTube TV — free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months $82.99/month (save $23/month)

Streaming device dealsBest robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Right now, you can get the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo for $299.99, down from $549.99. This is the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model, and it's our all-time favorite "quietest" robot vacuum.

Mashable's vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says this combo vac offers the best bang for your buck. With 10,000 Pa of suction and an auto-lift feature for the mop (so it doesn't wet your carpets), you honestly can't go wrong with the Q10 S5+.

More robot vacuum deals More cordless vacuum dealsBest home deal Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) $179.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $40   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) was just announced this past October as part of Amazon’s big smart home refresh, and it’s already hitting its lowest price ever. Right now, you can grab it for $179.99, which is an 18% discount off the list price of $219.99.

It features a vibrant 11-inch Full-HD display (offering 60% more viewing area than the Echo Show 8) and room-filling spatial audio, making it a legitimate kitchen TV for streaming Netflix or Prime Video while you cook. It runs on the AZ3 Pro chip for faster responses and includes Alexa+ integration. Plus, the camera is upgraded with auto-framing and zoom for better video calls.

More Amazon device deals More home dealsBest overall mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress $1,099 at DreamCloud
$2,496 Save $1,397   Get Deal Why we like it

Last spring when I tested the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid mattress, I was shocked by the quality to price ratio. It feels like a luxury mattress you'd encounter at a 5-star hotel, but its price falls into the affordable range. In fact, a single night's stay at some 5-star resorts would cost more than this mattress.

The DreamCloud Premier is a hybrid bed that combines a plush pillow-top with ultra supportive memory foam and coil layers. The edge-support is also noteworthy. When testing, I felt like this was a great option for couples thanks to the motion isolation or anyone who's a combination sleeper and needs support in several positions.

The DreamCloud Presidents Day Sale tosses in a mattress protector, bamboo sheet set, and two cooling pillows. If you're shopping for a queen-size, you'll be able to get the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid with these accessories for $1,099.

More mattress and bedding deals

  • Amerisleep — save $1,000 on a mattress with code PD2026

  • Avocado — take up to 20% off organic mattresses and 10% off organic bedding and pillows

  • Awara — save 50% on select mattresses

  • Bear — save 35% off sitewide

  • Beautyrest — save up to $1,000 on select mattress and adjustable base sets

  • Big Fig — get $500 off any mattress + 25% off everything else with code PRES

  • Birch — take 25% off sitewide with code PRES25

  • Brooklinen — take 20% off sitewide

  • Brooklyn Bedding — save up to 35% on mattresses

  • Bryte — save up to $1,000 off sitewide

  • Casper — take up to 30% off on mattresses and 35% off bedding bundles and pillows

  • Coop Sleep Goods — save up to 40% sitewide

  • Helix — take 25% off sitewide with code PRES25

  • Eight Sleep — save up to $350

  • Essentia — take 21% off sitewide

  • Eli & Elm — buy one pillow, get a second for 50% off

  • FluffCo — take 20% off sitewide

  • Layla — take up to $200 off mattresses and get two free Layla Pillows and free bamboo sheet set

  • Leesa — take 30% off mattresses and 25% off bedding

  • Lull — save 60% on all mattresses and get free sheets, pillows, and a mattress protector

  • Naturepedic — take 20% off sitewide

  • Nectar — save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

  • Nest — save up to 15% on mattresses and 20% on pillows

  • Nolah — take 35% off sitewide with free in-home set-up and removal on qualifying orders

  • Puffy — save up to $1,350

  • Purple — take up to $500 off a mattress and earn up to $300 in gift credit

  • Silk & Snow — get a free sleep bundle with mattress purchase

  • Sleep Number — 50% off Limited Edition mattress

  • Tempur-Pedic — save up to $500 and get $300 in free accessories; BOGO pillows and sheets bundles

  • Tuft & Needle — save 20% sitewide

  • WinkBeds — save 30%

  • Woolroom — save up to 40%

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Cuisinart Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine $93.40 at Amazon
$129.95 Save $36.55   Get Deal Why we like it

It might still be cold in your area in mid February, but we promise spring is on its way and once the warmer weather hits, it's time for an ice cream celebration. Make your own sweet treats this year with the fan-favorite Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine. Thanks to Amazon's coupon, the ice cream maker is on sale for just $93.40, marked down from the normal price of $129.95.

The insulated freezer bowl means you'll be on your way to a frozen treat in under 30 minutes. Each batch can produce two quarts of your favorite ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or sherbet.

More kitchen dealsBest outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 portable power station $397 at Amazon
$999 Save $602   Get Deal Why we like it

Before we know it, we'll be back to spending weekends at the campground. But this year, upgrade your setup with a portable power station. This will allow you to keep phones charged up, recharge the drone batteries, and have a functional coffee maker. I've tested dozens of power stations and it's hard to go wrong with the Anker Solix C1000. It has plenty of ports for keeping gadgets charged up while camping, and there's even a lightbar for better illumination.

On Anker's website, the Solix C1000 has a list price of $999, but it's on sale at Amazon for only $397. Grab a solar panel to also pack along while camping, and you'll be in line for unlimited battery power.

More outdoor dealsBest Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet $47.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Spring is on its way and with it will come stunning blooms. If you feel like bringing some of that inside without worrying about keeping it alive (or pollen), Amazon is full of Lego deals this Presidents' Day. The Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet is on sale for 20% off, bringing it down to $47.98 compared to the list price of $59.99.

The bouquet features eight species of wildflowers, all on adjustable stems. You'll be adding lavender, poppies, daisies, lupins, and larkspur to your home thanks to this cheery Lego set.

More Lego deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Mill food recyclers are 15% off for V-Day. Get one under $850 and see how it changes the kitchen chore game.

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:02

SAVE UP TO $179.85: Through Feb. 16, the Mill food recycler kitchen bin is 15% off during Mill's Valentine's Day sale. Get the white model for $849.15 instead of its usual $999, and save on upgrades to black or stainless steel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mill Mill Food Recycler $849.15
$999 Save $149.85   Get Deal

I've recommended a lot of Valentine's Day gifts for her and for him this year. If your person's the type who prefers a useful gift over a mushy one, let me casually suggest the most game-changing product that I've ever tested: The Mill food recycler that's on sale right now. It'll make their life easier and their kitchen less smelly on a daily basis — a true act of romance, if you ask me. And if you live together, you'll get to reap the same benefits too.

I tell people that the Mill kitchen bin is worth it even at full price, which they are for a majority of the year. But through Feb. 16, they're 15% off during Mill's Valentine's Day sale. The base model, the white one that I have, is $849.15 compared to its usual $999. With the 15% discount, you can also upgrade to the black Mill bin for $976.65 (regularly $1,149) or the stainless steel Mill bin for $1,019.15 (regularly $1,199).

SEE ALSO: The 2026 guide to recycling electronics, beauty empties, and clothing

So, how does Mill work? Picture your current kitchen trashcan. Now, imagine the next time you toss old food or cooking scraps into it — instead of smelling them every time you open the lid until trash day, all you'll encounter is an odorless soil-like material. Mill holds all of your daily plate scrapings and old fridge leftovers dehydrating and churning them into food grounds silently overnight.

While it all sounds similar to compost, the Mill kitchen bin isn't a composter because it's not actually creating any actual decomposed organic material. Rather, the term "food recycler" refers to the later steps in the Mill cycle, when Mill repurposes your food grounds into chicken feed for small farmers. With the unique mail-back subscription, you'll dump your full Mill bucket into free pre-labeled boxes that ship back to Mill via USPS. And unlike traditional compost, meat, most dairy, and small amounts of desserts can go into Mill.

Not only do I have to take the real trash out significantly less often, but even my own personal Mill usage is making a serious impact on the planet. I just checked my Mill app while writing this story: My household has diverted 702 pounds of food scraps from landfills in the two and a half years of using Mill.

Admittedly, Mill's recurring costs will make it one of your more expensive appliances — the mail-back plan costs another $194 annually. But technically, the Valentine's Day discount nearly covers an entire year of the pickup subscription, and I promise you'll be spending less money on garbage bag restocks throughout the year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Anna’s Archive reportedly releasing Spotify files despite $13 trillion legal challenge

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:01

Anna's Archive, a site that serves as a shadow library for pirated content, has reportedly begun to quietly release millions of audio files scraped from Spotify. Anna's Archive made this move despite a staggering $13 trillion lawsuit — yes, trillion with a "T" — levied against the site by Spotify and major music labels.

Two privacy-focused websites, TorrentFreak and CyberNews, reported that Anna's Archive had begun to release the files scraped from Spotify. TorrentFreak reported the site's index "lists dozens of new torrents containing approximately 2.8 million tracks totaling roughly 6 terabytes of audio data."

CyberNews noted that, for the time being, the release appears to be composed of some of the least popular tracks in the trove of files scraped by Anna's Archive. The site wrote:

"However, it appears the release includes only some of the least popular scraped tracks, labeled with the 'pop_0' tag. Spotify’s algorithm assigns tracks a popularity metric ranging from 0 to 100, based on the total number of streams and the recency of those plays."

Spotify, along with three major labels — Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group — sued Anna's Archive, it was revealed last month, accusing the site of "brazen theft of millions of files containing nearly all of the world’s commercial sound recordings." A preliminary injunction was issued against Anna's Archive, which it is now reportedly defying.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Netflix documentaries you're going to love this weekend (February 13 - 15)

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:00

Fiction and fantasy offer a great escape from life's stresses and mundanities, but documentaries are often full of crazy and fascinating real-life stories that it's hard to believe they're not fiction.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Presidents Day sale is live — score huge deals on Apple, Lego, Roborock, and more

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:45
The best Presidents' Day deals at Amazon: Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) $179.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best TV deal Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) $179.99 (save $170) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo $299.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine $96.87 with on-page coupon (save $33.08) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Anker Solix C1000 portable power station $397 (save $602) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet (10313) $47.98 (save $12.01) Get Deal

If you missed out on last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Presidents’ Day is the next major sales event worth shopping — and the first big opportunity of 2026 to save. Historically, this holiday is known for its discounted prices on large appliances, mattresses, and furniture, but if you know where to look, you can find some pretty good deals on smaller home goods, tech, kitchen items, and outdoor gear for the upcoming camping season.

SEE ALSO: The best Presidents' Day streaming deals: Starz, YouTube TV, Hulu, and more

Here’s everything we know so far about Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale, including the deals you can shop right now.

When is Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale?

Presidents’ Day is Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, but Amazon isn't making us wait. The sale is already live, and there are tons of deals available ahead of the long weekend. As we get closer to the weekend, we anticipate even more markdowns, particularly on Amazon devices (e.g., Echos, Kindles, Fire Sticks) and floor-care brands like Roborock and Dyson.

When does Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale end?

As with previous sales events, Amazon’s Presidents’ Day deals will run through the three-day weekend, likely capping off late Monday night. In true Amazon style, we expect some Lightning Deals to pop up in the days leading up to the holiday, but don't expect the best inventory to linger past Monday.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best Presidents’ Day deals we could find:

Best Presidents' Day Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Walmart
$399 Save $100   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $299 right now. That’s a $100 discount, which isn't too shabby for a deal this early in the year. It's the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model (according to CamelCamelCamel, it last hit this price on Dec. 30, 2025).

The Series 11 is a Mashable Choice Award winner that features advanced health tracking, up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge (normal use), and a more durable exterior that’s 2x more scratch-resistant than the previous generation.

Best headphones and earbuds dealsBest iPad dealsBest MacBook dealsBest Presidents' Day Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) $179.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $40   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) was just announced this past October as part of Amazon’s big smart home refresh, and it’s already hitting its lowest price ever. Right now, you can grab it for $179.99, which is an 18% discount off the list price of $219.99.

It features a vibrant 11-inch Full-HD display (offering 60% more viewing area than the Echo Show 8) and room-filling spatial audio, making it a legitimate kitchen TV for streaming Netflix or Prime Video while you cook. It runs on the AZ3 Pro chip for faster responses and includes Alexa+ integration. Plus, the camera is upgraded with auto-framing and zoom for better video calls.

More Amazon device deals Best Presidents' Day TV deal Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) $179.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $170   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) is 49% off right now, bringing its price down to an impressive $179.99. That’s a solid deal for a 55-inch TV with smart capabilities (it’s also an Amazon’s Choice product with a 4.3-star rating from over 6K+ Amazon reviews).

The F50 Series includes an Alexa Voice Remote and features a 4K Ultra HD display with dynamic range, DTS Virtual:X sound, and Amazon’s Fire TV experience built in for seamless streaming. You’ll find your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix and HBO Max, plus millions of free movies and TV episodes.

More TV deals Best Presidents' Day robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250   See It at Amazon Why we like it

Right now, you can get the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo for $299.99, down from $549.99. This is the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model, and it's our all-time favorite "quietest" robot vacuum.

Mashable's vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says this combo vac offers the best bang for your buck. With 10,000 Pa of suction and an auto-lift feature for the mop (so it doesn't wet your carpets), you honestly can't go wrong with the Q10 S5+.

More robot vacuum deals More cordless vacuum dealsBest kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Cuisinart Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine $96.87 at Amazon
$129.95 Save $33.08   Get Deal Why we like it

It might still be cold in your area in mid-February, but we promise spring is on its way, and once the warmer weather hits, it's time for an ice cream celebration. Make your own sweet treats this year with the fan-favorite Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine. Thanks to Amazon's coupon, the ice cream maker is on sale for $96.87, down from the regular price of $129.95.

The insulated freezer bowl means you'll be on your way to a frozen treat in under 30 minutes. Each batch can produce two quarts of your favorite ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or sherbet.

More kitchen dealsBest outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 portable power station $397 at Amazon
$999 Save $602   Get Deal Why we like it

Before we know it, we'll be back to spending weekends at the campground. But this year, upgrade your setup with a portable power station. This will allow you to keep phones charged up, recharge the drone batteries, and have a functional coffee maker. I've tested dozens of power stations, and it's hard to go wrong with the Anker Solix C1000. It has plenty of ports for keeping gadgets charged up while camping, and there's even a lightbar for better illumination.

On Anker's website, the Solix C1000 has a list price of $999, but it's on sale at Amazon for only $397. Grab a solar panel to also pack along while camping, and you'll be in line for unlimited battery power.

More outdoor dealsBest Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet $47.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Spring is on its way and with it will come stunning blooms. If you feel like bringing some of that inside without worrying about keeping it alive (or pollen), Amazon is full of Lego deals this Presidents' Day. The Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet is on sale for 20% off, bringing it down to $47.98 compared to the list price of $59.99.

The bouquet features eight species of wildflowers, all on adjustable stems. You'll be adding lavender, poppies, daisies, lupins, and larkspur to your home thanks to this cheery Lego set.

More Lego deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Presidents Day streaming deals: Starz, YouTube TV, Hulu, and more

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:43
The best Presidents' Day streaming deals at a glance: Starz $2.99 per month for 3 months (save $24) Get Deal YouTube TV free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months $82.99/month (save $46) Get Deal Disney+ and Hulu bundle $9.99 for 1 month (save $3) Get Deal Spotify Premium Spotify Premium free for 2 months (save $25.98) Get Deal

While we typically see the best streaming deals of the year around Black Friday, it's not the only time streaming services offer discounts. Now that Presidents' Day weekend has arrived, we've got our eyes locked on our favorite streaming platforms for any deals that pop up. Several have already landed.

These discounts aren't technically labeled as Presidents' Day streaming deals, but they're live for a limited time around the holiday, so that's what we're calling them. While the prices won't wow you quite like Black Friday, we could all use any savings we can get. If you're looking to sign up for a streaming service this season, you might as well save some money, right?

There aren't many, but we've rounded up all the best Presidents' Day streaming deals live as we head into the weekend — as well as some evergreen deals we think are worth snagging. We've also included the best streaming device deals in case your TV isn't as smart as you'd like.

Best Presidents' Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz $2.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal Why we like it

One of the most slept on streaming services, this Starz Presidents' Day offer allows you to diversify your movie and TV lineup for only $2.99 per month for three months. It typically costs $10.99 per month, so you'll save about $24. Not only does Starz have its own original series like Sweetpea and Three Women, but it's also the first stop Lionsgate theatrical releases make in the streaming circuit. Recent additions include The Long Walk and The Strangers: Chapter 2, while upcoming films include The Housemaid and Greenland 2: Migration.

More Presidents' Day streaming deals

  • DirecTV MySports — $59.99/month for 2 months $69.99/month (save $10/month)

  • Disney+ and Hulu bundle — $9.99/month for 1 month $12.99/month (save $3/month)

  • NFL Sunday Ticket — $16/month for 12 months $31.50/month (save $186)

  • Spotify Premium — Free for 2 months $12.99/month (save $12.99/month)

  • Sundance Now — $3.99/month for 3 months $7.99/month (save $4/month with code SN50)

  • YouTube TV — free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months $82.99/month (save $23/month)

Evergreen streaming dealsStreaming device deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get more reading done with 20% off the like new Kindle Paperwhite

Mashable - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:41

SAVE $29: As of Feb. 13, get the Like New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $114.99, down from its usual price of $143.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) $114.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $29.00   Get Deal

Looking to get more reading done? Now's the time to invest in something to help you do just that: a Kindle, which you can take anywhere to get a few pages in, anytime. And thanks to this Amazon deal, you can get one for a great low price, just in time for Stuff Your Kindle Day.

As of Feb. 13, get the Like New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $114.99, down from its usual price of $143.99. That's $29 off and a discount of 20%. It's in Like New condition, so you aren't getting a completely new Kindle, but close to it, as it's been tested by Amazon, tested and charged, with software updated during testing so it looks and feels new, with the added bonus of getting a discount.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — get 100s of free dark romance books this weekend

Amazon bills this version as its "fastest Kindle ever". It has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns than its predecessor, and a super thin design with a larger, glare-free screen so reading is even easier to enjoy no matter where you go.

It has an adjustable light so you can read comfortably in whatever ambiance you choose, going from white to amber to read in the sun or in the dark. Plus, it's waterproof, so you can take your Kindle to the pool, the beach, or even the bath without worrying about some water ruining your fun.

If you're looking to get your reading on without breaking the bank, now's the time to do it. Grab your Kindle and save some serious cash by getting it in "Like New" condition.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 great-sounding 3D printing projects you should make this weekend

How-To Geek - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:30

I finally got my hands on a Bambu P2S this week, so I’m going to spend the weekend burning extruding filament like my life depends on it. If that sounds like a good idea, why not join me in building one or more of these rewarding projects?

Categories: IT General, Technology
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