Blogroll

St. Patrick’s Day 2026 deals: Score free food from Krispy Kreme, 7-Eleven, Burger King, and more

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:35

Following on from the wide range of Pi Day food deals that dropped last week, another batch of freebies and discounts are going live for St. Patrick's Day. And you don't need any luck to score these offers from restaurants across the country. We're seeing promotions on beer, doughnuts, smoothies, and so much more going live on March 17.

We've checked out everything on offer from the likes of Krispy Kreme, 7-Eleven, Burger King, and more. Check out our favorite deals below.

St. Patrick's Day 2026 food deals7-Eleven

7-Eleven is offering $17 off $30 orders with the promo code LUCKY7. This offer is available in the 7-Eleven app. You can also get a free small Slurpee with the purchase of any 7-Select Replenish beverage.

Applebee’s

Get $6 Emerald Escape, $6 Pricklycane, or $4 Parade Punch Mocktails on March 17.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Dine in on St. Patrick’s Day to get Irish nachos for $8.95 with a Guinness for just $3. You can also get all-day drink deals like $4 draft beers, $3 wine pours, $4 house margaritas, $5 Shaken Monday drinks, and $5 Bloody Marys.

Biggby Coffee

50% off any Irish Cream beverage on St. Patrick’s Day.

Burger King

Royal Perks members can get a large order of onion rings for $2.

California Tortilla

Get free small chips and queso, small chips and salsa, or just small chips with purchases at California Tortilla on March 17. If you are ordering in-store, say “Lucky Cheese” when you check out. For online or in-app orders, use the promo code LUCKYCHEESE at checkout.

Cinnabon

Cinnabon rewards members can get any size and flavor of Lemon-O’nade for $1 when they buy any baked good.

Dairy Queen

Order the new Mint OREO Blizzard Treat or the Mint Crunchin’ Cookie Dipped Cone on St. Patrick’s Day.

Del Taco

Rewards members can enjoy a buy one, get one free offer on Epic Fresh Guacamole Burritos when ordering online or through the app. There is a limit of one offer per guest.

Gopuff

Spend $40 or more on alcohol to get $10 off your order using the code LUCKY10. This code is valid through March 17.

Krispy Kreme

On March 17, visit a store and wear green to get a free Green O'riginal Glazed doughnut. You can also score a dozen Green Original Glazed Doughnuts for just $12.

Marco’s Pizza

Get $3 off any size Specialty Pizza with the code LUCKY.

McAlister’s Deli

Rewards members can get a $1 Lucky Lemonade with any entrée purchase.

Outback Steakhouse

Get a Bloomin’ Onion and a drink for $10 on St. Patrick’s Day. To qualify, mention the “$10 Bloom and Beverage” deal to your server at participating U.S. locations.

Paris Baguette

Get a free pastry when you buy any beverage on March 17.

Pollo Campero

Through March 19, Campero Rewards members can get a BOGO 3-piece deal in the Pollo Campero app.

White Castle

Craver Nation members can buy one combo, get one free through St. Patrick's Day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is the new Dell XPS an AI laptop?

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:32

You’ve probably seen a slew of “AI laptops” advertised over the last few months, and perhaps even years at this point. “AI” is the hot buzzword, and everyone wants to catch some of that hype. The problem is that not every laptop that calls itself an “AI” laptop is really what it claims to be. But what makes an AI laptop worthy of the name?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop using generic TTS voices in Home Assistant—this local setup sounds like my real family

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:30

I was using a generic Text-to-Speech (TTS) voice for spoken announcements in my smart home for ages. It allowed me to generate audio without having to use the default Alexa voice, but it's still fairly bland. Now my Echo announcements use far more interesting voices—those of my family and me.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Big Spring Sale deals at Amazon include record-low prices on portable power stations

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:25
Best early Amazon Big Spring Sale portable power stations deals at a glance Best overall deal Bluetti Elite 100 V2 $394.98 at Amazon (save $404.02) Get Deal Best bundle deal Anker Soloix F3800 Portable Power Station, BP3800 Expansion Battery, and 400W Solar Panel $4,098.99 at Amazon (save $3,298.01) Get Deal

A portable power station has become a must-have tech item. It's like your favorite noise-cancelling earbuds — no idea how we survived without them. A portable power station will be a savior during power outages, keeping the refrigerator running, phones charged up, and the WiFi router giving off a connection. A portable power station is also well worth packing along on upcoming camping trips. Think of movie nights under the stars thanks to a powered-up portable projector and with fresh popcorn.

The one snag here is that batteries aren't cheap, and that's especially true of high-tech and long-lasting batteries found in portable power stations. Because of this, shopping for a power station during major sales like the Amazon Big Spring Sale is a wise move. Here are some of our favorite models that are already seeing steep discounts before the sale officially begins.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 100 V2 $394.98 at Amazon
$799 Save $404.02   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're hoping to keep phones and small devices charged up during a power outage or while camping, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 comes with 1,024Wh of battery power. Bluetti mentions this battery power will recharge a phone about 52 times or keep the WiFi router on for nearly 50 hours. Its compact size and weight of about 25 pounds makes it especially easy to pack along on the camping trip or carry around the house during a power outage.

The early Amazon Big Spring Sale price brings the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 down to $394.98, which is a 51% discount compared to its list price of $799.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 essential Milwaukee tools for beginners

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:15

If you're a new homeowner getting ready to start a project, or finally ready to buy your first power tools, you'll notice all sorts of brands at your local hardware store. You have plenty of options, and Milwaukee is one of the most popular. The company has a vast selection perfect for beginners to pros, so once you get started, you'll have room to expand, learn, and grow.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon Pokopia: How to get the Suck ability to move water around

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:04

Pokémon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2 is officially the biggest game in the universe, or at least it feels like it if you look at social media. But not everyone is having a friction-free time navigating its Minecraft-inspired mechanics.

For example, some players online have gotten stuck when it comes to learning the Suck ability. This is one of the protagonist Ditto's powers it can learn over the course of the game's story, each of which is crucial to building the Pokémon island of your dreams. Progressing in Pokopia can occasionally be a little confusing, so allow us to help out. Here is how to learn Suck in Pokémon Pokopia.

SEE ALSO: 'Pokémon Pokopia' is the cozy escape the internet needed How suck up water in Pokopia

In case you aren't aware, Suck is an ability that allows Ditto to vacuum up water and displace it somewhere else. This can be useful for clearing flooded areas or creating creeks or ponds of your own, which can either be useful for aesthetic purposes or for summoning new Pokémon via habitats that require water.

If you really want to move water around but don't have Suck yet, don't fret. The solution, according to the internet, is to just keep playing through the story. Specifically, per Reddit, the first thing you need to do is progress far enough in the Rocky Ridges area to build the Pokémon center there. This will take some time, as building a Pokémon center is usually the culmination of lots of other smaller questlines in a given area.

Once that's done, you should be able to get a request from Piplup in the Bleak Beach area to create a waterfall. In order to create said waterfall, you'll need to get a Paldean Wooper to come help out. This can be done by creating a "marshy tall grass" habitat, which consists of four yellow tall grass tiles near a body of muddy water.

Put those components down, wait a bit, and eventually, Paldean Wooper should show up and kickstart the process of teaching Ditto how to use Suck.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Paradise Season 2: What is the message for Jane?

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 17:00

Whatever happened to baby Jane?

No, I'm not just naming Joan Crawford movies. I'm wondering what in the world is going on with Jane Driscoll (Nicole Brydon Bloom) in Paradise Season 2. Specifically, what was the deal with episode 6's cold open, focused on Jane's birth?

SEE ALSO: 'Paradise' Season 2: Who is Alex?

The episode, fittingly titled "Jane," flashes back to May 29, 1997, when Circuit City employee Don (Francois Battiste) receives a strange email from someone named AlexQ.

"A KILLER WILL BE BORN ON JUNE 6 AT 12:01," the message reads. "SHE CAN BE STOPPED WHEN IT MATTERS IF YOU DELIVER A MESSAGE TO HER."

AlexQ continues to send Don these messages over email, instant messenger, phone, and pager. Instead of ignoring them as bizarre messages, Don takes them seriously and heads over to the hospital in June. There, he accosts newborn Jane and her mother (Laura Campbell) on their way out, ranting that baby Jane will be a killer, and that he has a message that will stop her. (Side question: Did Don just ask every mother leaving the hospital about their baby's birth time? Or was he lucky on the first try?)

Do we ever find out what the message is? Unfortunately not. Don is too busy yelling that he has a message to actually deliver it. Nor do we see what the message is on any of the many, many emails and texts Don receives. Very tricky, Paradise! Still, the whole message debacle feeds into some of the biggest questions of the season.

Paradise has to be doing time travel, right?

Ever since the first batch of Season 2 episodes, I've been convinced that Paradise is pulling some time travel or multiversal shenanigans. Episode 6 basically confirms this, because how else would someone be able to tell Don Jane's exact birth date and time? How else would they know she would grow up to be a killer? And how else would they have figured out how to stop her?

SEE ALSO: Wait, is 'Paradise' Season 2 doing time travel?

It feels like something large will play out with Jane in the continuing episodes, and that whoever is present for that will somehow be able to message Don in the past.

Paradise Season 2, I ask again, who is Alex?

Who might that someone be? Based on the username, it will be someone by the name of AlexQ, which brings us right back to the biggest question of Season 2: Who in the world is Alex? So far, the only Alex we've met is the deceased wife (Gwen Holloway) of professor and Vestige Quantum owner Henry Miller (Patrick Fischler). However, in 1997, Alex would still be alive, so she would be able to send Don the information about Jane. (If so, maybe the Q in her username stands for Quantum?) Of course, the biggest question after that remains: How did she get the Jane intel in the first place?

Alex is also the name of someone (or something?) tied to the top-secret project Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) is working on. Maybe Sinatra, feeling threatened by Jane, sent the message back in time to stop Jane from eventually killing her?

While we're on the subject of worrying about who Alex is, we also need to ask, who is Don? I refuse to believe that Alex (whoever they are) would demand that just anyone tell a newborn baby that she's a killer. Don has to be linked to this scheme in some broader way, but it seems like Paradise will keep us begging for answers for at least another episode.

Paradise is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Monday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

When is Amazons Spring Sale in 2026? Amazon just announced official dates.

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:49
Best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals at a glance Best air purifier deal Shark NeverChange HEPA Air Purifier (650 sq. ft) $179.00 at Amazon (save $70.99) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy E28 Robot Vacuum and Roller Mop with portable carpet cleaner $649.99 (save $350) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas Matte QLED 4K TV with frame $693.99 at Best Buy (save $306.99) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Garmin vívoactive 6 $299.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Kitchen System $129.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station $394.98 (save $404.02) Get Deal

It's on the calendar in pen — the Amazon Big Spring Sale is set to take place from March 25 through March 31, 2026. Getting more specific, Amazon says the sale kicks off at 12:01 a.m. PT on Wed., March 25 and runs until 11:59 p.m. on Tues., March 31. These dates match perfectly with the 2025 Spring Sale.

SEE ALSO: Get 2 free months of unlimited listening when you sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited

However, Amazon loves to tease a big sale, and some early Big Spring Sale deals have already sprung up at Amazon, so you could start shopping today if you see something you fancy. Keep in mind, it's worth checking camelcamelcamel, our favorite Amazon price-checking tool to make sure you're actually getting a good deal.

What are the best deals at Amazon's Spring Sale?

Amazon's Spring Sale may not be quite as big as Prime Day in July or October, but it's still up there with Amazon's biggest sales of the year. Far more than spring-themed items are on sale, though outdoor equipment, fitness gear, mattresses and lightweight bedding, robot vacuums, and anything else that screams "spring reset" is a huge focus. You'll likely also find deals on tech like TVs, noise-cancelling headphones, and of course, Kindles and other Amazon devices.

In the spirit of the spring season, take a quick second to learn how to recycle Amazon packaging. It's easier than you think.

Do you need a Prime membership for Amazon's Spring Sale?

Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals are open to anyone, even if you don't have a Prime membership. However, Amazon said the sale will include some special Prime-member exclusive deals, which we often see with Prime Day events. Non-Prime members may still need to meet order minimums (often $35) to unlock free shipping, and it probably won't be as quick as Prime shipping. If you're interested, you could sign up for one month of Amazon Prime for $14.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Florida man uses ChatGPT to sell his home. This is a real headline.

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:43

Real estate agents may have more competition arriving on the block, as one Florida man — yes, we're still getting "Florida Man" headlines in 2026 — says he relied entirely on an AI chatbot to sell his home. The seller says he turned the listing around in less than a week, with the AI's help.

Robert Levine used OpenAI's ChatGPT to prep, list, and advise him on the sale of his home, reported Florida affiliate NBC 6. He even asked ChatGPT to create marketing materials, coordinate showings with prospective buyers, and eventually draft the contract of sale, although Levin says he had a human review it afterward.

SEE ALSO: Why you shouldn't use ChatGPT to do your taxes

Levine told NBC 6 that he received five offers in the first 72 hours after listing the property, which sold within five days. He explained he chose to use ChatGPT to save costs on human help, resulting in an estimated 3 percent in savings, Levine said.

It's just the kind of story that AI developers and tech evangelists drool over: One man and one bot, saving time and money with the help of the ever expanding multi modal LLMs offered by companies like OpenAI.

But for curious folk who may be getting grand real estate ideas from Levine's story: Tread carefully.

Users have understandably turned to chatbots to help navigate confusing bureaucratic processes and wade through complex information landscapes, and many experts say that AI chatbots can serve as really useful guides.

But privacy experts and industry professionals generally caution users against giving ChatGPT any personally identifiable information (PII), including full names, account details, and — in this case — home addresses. Data given to chatbots is still at risk from the same malicious attacks as any other site, and your personal chats are, at the end of the day, at the discretion of the AI's developers. Make sure to read through the bot's privacy policies and disable your chat history when possible.

As for legal documents, professionals say using chatbots is merely a first step in what should be a human-driven process, as bots are prone to hallucinations that have landed users and even lawyers in hot water.

AI may have the world at its fingertips, but it doesn't have access to years of experience and human nuance needed to truly be an expert in most fields — even if it can help sell your house.

Categories: IT General, Technology

John Oliver spends 28 minutes tearing into JD Vance

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:40

Most prominent politicians get the John Oliver treatment at least once or twice, and on Sunday it was the vice president's turn.

In the clip above, the Last Week Tonight host spends almost half an hour tearing into JD Vance, breaking down everything from the way he's completely reversed his position on Donald Trump to his views on immigration and people who don't have children.

"It is so important to remember who JD Vance actually is, because he'll present himself as an anti-elitist man of the people, but much of his career has been bankrolled by tech billionaires," says Oliver in the clip above. "He'll go to bat for Alex Jones, arguing we should show grace to those who are 40 percent right, but he'll happily co-sign on childless people being sociopaths and the left being un-humans. He'll offer empathy and understanding when it comes to non-conventional thinkers, but has no problem deriding immigrants as a net negative on society — and it's not hard to see what the difference between those two groups are.

"The point is, I know Vance is easy to write off as a charisma-less arsehole, but scratch even one inch under the surface, peel back the beard, and you'll find something far worse: His batshit views and his bare f***ing face."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Theres already lots of Apple deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:32
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple deals at a glance: Best AirPods deal AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $747 (save $52) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 (save $200) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal

It's official. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back for its third year and will run March 25 through 31. The mega retailer promises major savings across all categories, with deals starting at 40% off across fashion, beauty, electronics, and more. And while they didn't come right out and say it, if there's one thing we can all but guarantee, it's that the sale will feature plenty of discounts on top Apple products.

Apple has had a busy month, with the launch of its first-ever budget MacBook, upgraded MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, a new iPad Air, the iPhone 17e, and even AirPods Max 2. This means we could not only see first-time discounts on the new slate of products, but also new record-low prices on the previous generations during the Big Spring Sale. We'll be tracking prices leading up to and throughout the official event, so keep an eye on this page for the latest and greatest deals.

For now, if you're antsy to start shopping, we've rounded up the best Apple deals you can shop ahead of the sale.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

We've always been fans of the AirPods Pro, but the third generation really takes them to new heights. Mashable's reviewer called them, "without a doubt, one of the best products of the year" in 2025. The latest premium buds feature outstanding noise cancellation (twice as good as the Pro 2s), a solid eight hours of battery life with ANC on, and new foam-infused tips that come in five sizes to find the perfect fit. Apple also brought the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite earbuds for working out) and Fitness app compatibility to the Pro 3s, and introduced a live translation feature. While we've seen the buds drop as low as $184 in the past, this $39 discount is still worth grabbing.

More AirPods dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $747 at Amazon
$799 Save $52   Get Deal Why we like it

Just launched earlier this month, the 13-inch M4 iPad Air is already on sale for $52 off ($2 more than its launch price discount). The base configuration with WiFi connectivity and 128GB of storage is now just $747 (normally $799). Mashable's tech editor took the M4 iPad Air for a spin and found it pretty impressive — too impressive for the average user, even. "It delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet," he writes in his review.

More iPad dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple released its new MacBook Air with the M5 chip this month, but honestly, they're not a whole lot different than the M4 Airs. The main differences are the upgraded processor and a new wireless chip. You can save some money by grabbing the M4 model with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage, which is currently down to just $999 at Amazon. We're keeping our eyes on this laptop, as we expect to see it drop further as the sale nears. But make note that since it is now an older model, it could sell out fast.

More MacBook dealsBest Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 offers significant battery improvements over its predecessor. For that reason alone, it's worth the upgrade. It also features a tougher build with durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for quicker connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool that can flag chronic high blood pressure. It's not a major upgrade (is anything in 2026?), but as Mashable's reviewer put it: "Buy it for the battery life." Now $100 cheaper, it's an even better value.

More Apple Watch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop typing the same 4 commands: How a simple Python script saves me time every day

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:30

Every developer has a setup ritual before they start their day. Mine went unquestioned for almost two years – they were four terminal commands, typed in the same order every morning. It didn't feel like a problem until I recently measured it; the time, missed steps and debugging that followed all added up. So I wrote a python script to replace them, and it became the most useful thing in my development environment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Some Windows PCs can't see their C: drive, but it's not Microsoft's fault

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:27

Following the latest round of cumulative updates to Windows 11, some people lost the ability to open the C: drive on their PCs. This time, it's not actually Microsoft's fault—a Samsung app seems to be the cause of the problems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iOS 27 update: Liquid Glass haters should prepare for disappointment

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:18

Last year, Apple caused a stir on the internet by introducing Liquid Glass to iOS 26. According to a new report, nothing is going to change on that front in 2026.

In his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, prominent Apple reporter Mark Gurman said that Apple will not be dropping Liquid Glass with iOS 27, set to release later this year. According to Gurman, "the latest internal versions of iOS 27 and macOS 27 don’t reflect major design changes," so you shouldn't expect anything on that front in the coming months.

SEE ALSO: Apple launches AirPods Max 2 with improved noise cancelling and smart features

Apple isn't just doing this out of stubbornness or lack of regard for customer concerns, of course. Gurman said that going away from Liquid Glass isn't feasible right now considering how long it took to put together.

"The interface was the result of a multiyear effort that started with visionOS, which itself had been in development for several years before shipping in 2024," Gurman reported. "Because of the timelines involved, any major reversal away from Liquid Glass would likely take years to materialize."

While there are certainly plenty of Apple device owners out there who are either happy with Liquid Glass or are neutral about it, lots of folks were very vocal online about troubles with readability and icons looking indistinct from one another when the update launched last September. The company quickly provided a way to "tint" Liquid Glass, which helps a bit. Gurman also reported in his newsletter that Apple might add a Liquid Glass slider to control the intensity of the effect in iOS 27, which might help even more.

But it sounds like Liquid Glass is here to stay, in one form or another. Instead of another UI overhaul, you can look forward to Siri getting a bunch of AI enhancements in iOS 27.

Categories: IT General, Technology

IntelliJ IDEA, PhpStorm, and other IDEs are about to lose this feature

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:13

JetBrains has several integrated development environments (IDEs) for various programming languages, including IDEA for Java/Python, PhpStorm for PHP, PyCharm for Python, and others. Soon, they’re all going to lose ‘Code With Me,’ a feature that allowed collaborative editing in shared workspaces.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early robot vacuum deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:07
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals: Our top pick Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,699.99 (save) Get Deal Best budget pick Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 (save $250) Get Deal

It’s that time of year again! Amazon's Big Spring Sale is officially back, running from March 25 through March 31. And you just know the retail giant is going to discount a ton of robot vacuums for all of you spring cleaners out there. In fact, they've already started dropping prices on some of our favorite models ahead of the event.

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Our pick: Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

I’m starting this roundup with the best of the best because, why not? If you have the cash to burn and you’re looking for an investment piece, Mashable’s vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart says the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is a “well-rounded premium robot vacuum,” especially for pet owners. It has a livestream pet camera and can clean edges and corners with precision. (Stodart says this vacuum is so good at cleaning corners that it’s dethroned the Roborock Saros 10R for corner mopping.)

“Measuring just over three inches tall, it's also easily the best slim robot vacuum out there — ideal for homes with low-clearance furniture, or expectations for cleaning under cabinets,” she says.

As of March 15, you can get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.99, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount or $200 savings.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't Best budget pick: Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

Our actual favorite budget pick, the 3i G10+, isn’t on sale (yet!). But the Roborock Q10 S5+ offers a pretty good alternative for anyone who needs a combo vacuum but can’t stomach paying $400+ for one. Stodart ranks this vac as the “Quietest Robot Vacuum” in her roundup of the best robot vacuums for 2026, but she also notes that it’s a surprisingly affordable hybrid cleaner.

“It has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning,” she writes.

What’s even better is that it’s currently at a new record-low price of $299.99, down from $549.99. We’re not sure if this price will hold, but it’s a promising sign for what’s to come as we get closer to the official sale date.

More Amazon Big Spring Sale robot vacuum deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I tested 6 Google Maps alternatives—this is the one I'm sticking with

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:00

As good as Google Maps is, I've long found it cluttered and bloated, offering features that I never use. And since I'm also becoming increasingly aware of how much data Google has on me, I decided to find an alternative. After testing out six of the best, with hundreds of millions of downloads between them, there's one that I really recommend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I love my new Linux window manager

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 15:40

Bloat is the bane of modern computing. Have you ever uninstalled apps or disabled services just to put your system on a diet? i3 is like a desktop on a diet, a lean, simple, yet powerful system that improves my workflow efficiency dramatically—and it's not just for experts either.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to name Excel objects like a software dev

How-To Geek - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 15:30

In Excel, unnamed things work, though nobody knows why. But as soon as you give all elements of a workbook identifiable labels, you suddenly become a developer, not a mere user. Proper naming reduces mental load, keeps formulas tidy, and makes debugging 10 times faster. So, stop guessing and start coding.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Big Spring Sale kicks off on March 25 this year. Heres how were prepping for it.

Mashable - Mon, 03/16/2026 - 15:29
Best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals at a glancce eufy Robot Vacuum E28 $649.99 at Amazon (save $350) Get Deal Bissell PowerClean FurGuard cordless vacuum $199.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station $219 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal M4 MacBook Air, 15 inch (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Hisense 85-Inch CanvasTV $1,896.99 at Amazon (save $301) Get Deal Ninja Kitchen System $129.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Levoit top-fill humidifier $27.95 at Amazon (save $12.04) Get Deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Bosch 300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine $499 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal

With spring on the way, it's time to throw the windows open and get a fresh start. For the past two years, Amazon has launched its Big Spring Sale, a now annual event that brings major markdowns to warm-weather items ahead of the new season. This year, the Amazon Big Spring Sale is set for March 25 to 31.

Having covered Amazon's Big Spring Sale since it began two years ago, we're here to prep you on everything you need to know, including which deals will be available, early deals to shop today, and whether you need a Prime membership to shop the savings.

When is Amazon's Big Spring Sale?

Amazon's Big Spring Sale will span March 25 to 31 this year, which matches the same dates we saw last year. Amazon lists the sale as officially kicking off at 12:01 a.m. PT on March 25 and ending at 11:59 p.m. PT on March 31. But like all Amazon sales, you don't necessarily have to wait until the official start date. Amazon is already listing early Big Spring Sale deals on items like robot vacuums, Amazon devices, and Apple tech.

What deals will be available?

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is all about the transition from winter to spring. Last year, we saw deals up to 40% off across 35 different categories. The bulk of the deals focus on last-chance savings on cold-weather items, as well as early savings on warm-weather activities and spring-cleaning must-haves. However, deals span across other home and tech categories as well. This year, Amazon says we're in for savings of up to 35% off kitchen and up to 25% off home goods.

Last year, we saw savings across all of Amazon's device lineups: Echo, Fire TV, eero, and Kindle. In fact, the Kindle Colorsoft saw its first-ever sale last year. But will this sale beat Amazon's Black Friday pricing? That's still to be seen.

Do I need a Prime membership to shop Amazon's Big Spring Sale?

Prime Day, Amazon's flagship July sale, and Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon's holiday season kick-off sale, both require a Prime membership to shop all of the savings. Amazon's Big Spring Sale, on the other hand, doesn't require a membership to shop. That being said, in previous years, we've spotted Prime-exclusive savings, so being a Prime member is still your best bet to taking full advantage of the sale.

Will other retailers have spring sales?

When Amazon launches a sale, it kicks off a game of follow the leader. All the other big retailers — Best Buy, Target, and Walmart — have historically launched spring sales around the same time as Amazon's Big Spring Sale. No official sale announcements have come through yet, but we expect they'll come soon now that Amazon has announced official dates.

What are the best things to buy during Amazon's Big Spring sale?

An Amazon sale means some of the best savings will be on Amazon devices like Echos, Fire TVs, and Kindles, but the reach of its spring sale goes far beyond that. With the focus on the spring season, expect to see lots of savings on outdoor gear like furniture, grills, tents, and power stations. Plus, there will be plenty of classic big sale savings on TVs, laptops, headphones, and tablets.

How to sign up for Amazon Prime

Visit amazon.com/amazonprime to sign up for Amazon Prime. Those who haven't been a member within the past 12 months can take advantage of its free 30-day trial. Just remember to cancel your subscription before it renews at $14.99 per month or $139 per year.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker