Blogroll
8 beloved mobile games that quietly disappeared
New versions of Android and iOS come every year, making it hard for developers to keep mobile games up and running on that newer code—especially for titles that aren’t bringing in enough revenue to justify the expense. With that said, let's pour one out for these top-notch mobile games that couldn't survive the hustle and are no longer available on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Trump T1 smartphone re-emerges with new specs and higher price
President Donald Trump's signature smartphone has made its grand(-ish) re-entrance, this time with new specs and a bigger price tag.
In a new interview with The Verge, Trump Mobile executives Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas revealed new information about the device for the first time since last year. In the interview, Hendrickson and Thomas revealed that the phone's display will be about 6.8 inches in size with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 series chipset, 512GB of built-in storage (with expandable storage via SD cards), and a 5,000mAh battery. They also claimed the selfie camera and main rear shooter are both 50MP lenses, and The Verge speculated that it might also have an ultra-wide and telephoto lens on the back.
SEE ALSO: How would the Trump T1 phone compare to the iPhone 16?There's some good and bad news for anyone eager to get a T1 in their hands in the near future. The good news is that Hendrickson and Thomas claim it could start shipping to early buyers by springtime. The bad news is that the $499 listed price for the device is apparently only for early adopters, and later buyers will have to pay an undetermined higher price. Plus, despite early marketing claiming otherwise, the two executives confirmed in this interview that the phone will not be manufactured in the United States after all.
It should be noted that all of these details should be taken with some degree of skepticism, given historical precedent. The T1 was supposed to launch six months ago but has been largely radio silent since then, presumably because the phone shown to The Verge doesn't look anything like the one advertised on its website last year. Its design, specs, and price have all changed since its original launch date.
At any rate, we should get a better idea of whether or not any of the above is actually true in the next month or two.
How to spot a fake SSD before it corrupts your data
These days, with the rise of SSD prices, it might be tempting to go to a shady website and get yourself a cheap "SSD." Don't.
This Google Home alert has me asking: Could Home Assistant be dangerous?
You probably scoffed when you read the title above, and I don’t blame you. But the more I thought about it, the more I considered that the freedom offered by a platform like Home Assistant is something that many of us wield without a second thought.
Why The Pitt Feels More Real Than Any Other Medical Drama
Why does The Pitt feel more real than anything else on TV right now?
Last year, The Pitt exploded onto the scene and immediately became the breakout phenomenon of the year, winning Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Guest Actor and Best Casting. An extraordinary feat for a show in its very first season. What is it about The Pitt that draws us all in so completely?
The Pitt leans heavily into a style of filmmaking that has only gotten more and more popular, especially since The Office. It’s called: Documentary Realism. A style of filmmaking where narrative, scripted, stories are told using documentary techniques. Otherwise known as verite filmmaking. It takes the elements of documentary filmmaking that make scenes feel more real and in-the-moment. Increasing our emotional investment in the world and the characters. Comedies and sitcoms like The Office, Parks and Rec, Modern Family and Abbott Elementary all utilize this format.
In The Pitt, the hospital is not just the backdrop, it’s the whole world. We only learn enough about the characters personal lives to learn why they care about the patients. Other than that, all the drama and plot is focused on what is happening in the world of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Once we’re in the hospital, we never leave the hospital grounds. We never hear or see anything happening outside that tiny universe. They immerse us in this world of the highest intensity where nothing else in the world exists.
The Pitt Season 2 streams on on HBO Max, with new episodes each Thursday.
10 ridiculously reliable Japanese luxury cars to find used in 2026
Reliability is everything when buying a used car. A sweet deal can vanish fast if the drivetrain acts up, electronics act finicky, or warning lights start blinking, turning a bargain into a wallet-busting headache.
I've abandoned third-party antivirus and I'm never looking back
Times have changed, and third-party antivirus software is no longer a necessity. Here's why I only use Windows Security, plus some things I've learned about the free, built-in antivirus platform.
2026 is the year of PCIe Gen 6, but please don't buy it yet
PCIe Gen 5 still seems way too fast, but this might be the year of PCIe Gen 6—the next big thing. We might see the first Gen 6 SSDs this year.
I regret waiting so long to try out this overlooked AirPods Pro feature
I’ve had my AirPods Pro 3 since launch, but I’ve held off on testing one feature the whole time I’ve had them. It’s not like I haven’t had the opportunity; I just never took the plunge.
Before USB-C, Samsung went all in on a weird port (and it failed)
Whether it’s for charging or transferring files, USB-C is the standard that smartphones use today. But before USB-C went mainstream, micro-USB ruled the smartphone world. What many people forget is that there was a third connector Samsung tried to push—and it was somehow even uglier and bulkier than micro-USB.
20+ Valentines Day gifts your husband wont see coming
Love it or tolerate it, Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to right the gift-giving wrongs of the holidays. Were you sure your husband would love that faux-vintage turntable, only to find out later that what he really wanted was a weighted blanket? Did you misinterpret his months of hint-dropping about homebrewing, ponying up for the perfect craft beer kit, when he was actually talking about kombucha?
The best Valentine's Day gifts for husbands give you a second chance to get it right. Instead of opting for something cliché or overly trendy, spend some time reading between the lines of his interests and hobbies.
With that in mind, we’ve come up with a list of Valentine's Day gift ideas for over 20 different kinds of husbands. Some are luxe versions of everyday items, while others are special-occasion splurges. And if you're still stumped on ideas for your No. 1 guy, then dive deeper into our guides to unique gifts for men, romantic Valentine's Day gifts, and sexy Valentine's Day gifts.
4 uncomfortable truths about Amazon Alexa
Amazon's Alexa is one of the most popular smart home systems on the planet. The relatively cheap smart speakers and displays make it an affordable solution, and it's fairly simple to set up and use. There are some significant issues with using Alexa, however.
The new Home Assistant, a Plex app replacement, Google Home's automation upgrade, and more: News roundup
This was another busy week in tech, with major updates to Home Assistant, Visual Studio Code, LibreOffice, and Google Home. There was also big news for Raspberry Pi boards, the rumored folding iPhone, and much more—here are the biggest stories you might have missed.
This one change makes Android Auto wildly better
I've enjoyed Android Auto for years, but lately it feels like things are only getting worse. The user interface keeps changing, and not for the better, and notifications completely cover essential navigation directions. There are many ways Google could improve Android Auto, but one in particular would be my first choice.
Missing Peaky Blinders? Hulu's historical crime drama is the perfect replacement
It’s true—Hulu is home to a righteously gritty historical drama that’s so irresistibly good, it’s poised to become the next obsession and is the perfect replacement for Peaky Blinders fans, even though you have likely not heard about it. A Thousand Blows premiered in early 2025 with only 6 episodes and featured a mostly unknown cast. It was also overshadowed by shows like Dexter: Original Sin and Adolescence. Now, it boasts a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score and two Emmy and Golden Globe winners.
The new LibreOffice, Raspberry Pi price hikes, the Wayland IDE, and more: Linux news roundup
This was another busy week in Linux world, with a new major release of LibreOffice, Raspberry Pi raising prices and redesigning one model, JetBrains IDEs switching to Wayland, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.
How to watch England vs. Wales online for free
TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Wales in the 2026 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Six Nations is always unpredictable, but this year's tournament feels especially open.
France are probably favorites to win, but England and Ireland won't be far behind. And England are coming into this competition on the back of some promising wins in the Autumn Internationals. Borthwick's team secured big wins against Australia and New Zealand in November. They'll be looking to build on that success and start strongly against Wales.
If you want to watch England vs. Wales in the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is England vs. Wales?England vs. Wales in the 2026 Six Nations starts at 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7. This fixture takes place at Twickenham Stadium.
How to watch England vs. Wales for freeEngland vs. Wales in the 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX 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 ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Live stream England vs. Wales from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Live stream England vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world
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 England vs. Wales without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services to watch the Winter Olympics, the T20 World Cup, and more from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for the 2026 Six Nations?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 England vs. Wales in the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
Skip the mundane choice: This Italian SUV costs Corolla Cross money
If you’re shopping for a compact SUV around the price of a Toyota Corolla Cross but want something with more character, there’s a used Italian option that deserves your attention. While many mainstream crossovers feel bland and predictable, this SUV brings a distinctive blend of style, presence, and driving personality, and you can often find one for roughly the same money.
Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers
As the tech industry goes all-in on artificial intelligence, you might not be surprised to learn that some of the most in-demand U.S. jobs focus on AI engineering, consulting, and researching.
The spotlight has been on major tech companies like OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Google trying to achieve market dominance with the right talent. Still, smaller firms and startups, along with non-tech businesses, need high-quality AI professionals, too.
The search is also on for skilled individuals who can look beyond the initial adoption of AI and the first wave of integration and product launches.
SEE ALSO: 'No Other Choice' skewers the job market. Here's why Park Chan-wook made it.“Organizations are increasingly pairing technical AI roles with human-centered, governance, and operational titles,” Christina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code, told Mashable. Mancini said the shift reflects a move from organizations simply experimenting with AI to using it deliberately and responsibly.
That trend is evidenced by rapidly growing interest in hiring AI consultants and strategists. That role, along with four other tech titles, recently appeared on LinkedIn's annual roundup of the 25 fastest-growing roles in the country:
1. AI engineersThe fastest-growing role in the U.S., according to LinkedIn? AI engineer.
There are a wide variety of applications for artificial intelligence, from powering robotic systems to developing the complex algorithms that drive generative chatbots. An AI engineer can build models capable of performing tasks, along with the required production infrastructure.
AI engineers should expect to draw on extensive technical knowledge for building AI agents, optimizing large language model output, and neural network training. They should also have comprehensive mathematical and statistical skills, LinkedIn notes.
Coursera estimates the role's annual income at $145,080, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
2. AI consultants and strategistsThe second-fastest growing position in the U.S. focuses on organizational implementation of AI, according to LinkedIn. Consultants and strategists with key expertise in fields like computer science and artificial intelligence, plus business acumen, may succeed in these roles. Their job, according to LinkedIn, is to help businesses implement AI in ways that make them more efficient and strategic. This can involve project management, long-term planning, and developing ethical and responsible practices.
Self-employed consultants may charge by the hour (upwards of $300) or by project, according to LinkedIn. While salaries vary, LinkedIn estimates entry-level consultants can earn between $60,000 and $100,000. Those with much more experience may make more than $200,000 a year, according to LinkedIn.
3. Data annotatorsBuilding and training a machine learning model often requires data annotators, also known as content analysts. Ranked as the fourth top-growing job by LinkedIn, this role is in high demand as companies rely on data annotators to evaluate metadata or raw data with labels or tags. These annotations provide context for the articles, social media posts, customer reviews, images, and videos used to train AI models, allowing them to communicate more accurately.
While entry-level data annotators may earn $20 per hour, those with AI expertise or experience handling specialized content, like medical data, can earn $100 to $180 an hour, according to LinkedIn.
Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images 4. Artificial intelligence and machine learning researchersAlongside massive financial investments, private research roles have boomed as institutions expand internal teams dedicated to the progression of generative AI. Tasked with designing and testing new models, algorithms, and future applications of generative AI, these research positions take LinkedIn's fifth spot among the fastest growing roles in the U.S.
According to Apple, their AI/ML research team studies the technology, publishes their research, and hosts and attends conferences on deep learning. Google currently has more than 1,700 job listings for roles across its research teams, including research engineers and scientists dedicated to AI in security and privacy, advertising, search, and machine learning optimization.
According to LinkedIn's findings, the majority of these roles are offered in tech hubs: San Francisco, New York City, and now Boston. The gender divide is fairly stark, too: 74 percent of spots in this field are held by men, with an average of three years of prior experience. And the median salary is in the six figures, with Zip Recruiter putting it at $130,000 per year.
5. Data center techniciansIn 2025, $61 billion went toward the infrastructure of data centers operating around the world, according to a report by S&P Global. Due in part to the energy-intensive demands of generative AI, these data centers are funded by major tech companies and a precarious model of private equity debt, according to the S&P Global report — they are also supported bureaucratically by the federal government.
Hardware specialists, including technicians tasked with overseeing the new facilities and their server networks, are in demand. These positions require physical and technical skill — they have to install and maintain servers, organize cable patch plans, and constantly monitor the vast network they physically build for people around the world to utilize. According to LinkedIn's report, most employees in these roles were previously in IT or data center operations and career sites like Glassdoor put their median salaries around $68,000. A majority of roles are based in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Atlanta, and Columbus, Ohio — areas that overlap with growing data center hubs across the U.S.
4 built-in Windows features that make your PC feel faster (without "optimizers")
I’ve written plenty about squeezing the best performance out of a Windows computer, tuning startup apps, killing background junk, and making sure hardware isn’t getting in its own way. That kind of optimization matters, but it’s not the whole story. Lately, I’ve been thinking less about raw performance and more about how a computer feels to use. Not faster clocks or higher benchmark scores, but fewer interruptions, fewer repeated actions, and less time spent fighting the Windows UI.


