Blogroll

This Fire TV device is getting bricked, only one year after it was discontinued

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 20:00

Smart home devices being discontinued and turned into bricks is a common occurrence, but larger companies like Google and Amazon usually keep their devices running for a long time. That's not true for the Fire TV Blaster, which is getting killed only a year after Amazon stopped selling it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I wish I'd never discovered the power of Notion and n8n

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 20:00

I was very late to the party with Notion. I tried the all-in-one workspace app a couple of years ago and didn't really get the hype. I recently tried it again, and now that I know just how much you can do by combining Notion with the automation software n8n, I kind of wish I'd left it alone. It's awesome—and that's the problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The latest Windows 11 update is causing PCs to refuse to shut down

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 19:48

The latest Windows 11 security update from January 2026 is causing a frustrating bug that makes some PCs refuse to shut down or hibernate after installation. This issue stems from the monthly Patch Tuesday bundle, specifically update KB5073455, on devices running Windows 11, version 23H2.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to use the MAP function in Microsoft Excel

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 19:30

Excel's fill handle is fine for a few rows, but in a big dataset, it's an error waiting to happen. Why drag and drop when you can automate? The MAP function lets you write a single formula that spills logic across your whole sheet, keeping your data clean and your workflow streamlined.

Categories: IT General, Technology

X reportedly still allows Grok-created, sexualized images despite new ban

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 19:17

Elon Musk's X may still be permitting the posting of Grok-generated, sexualized images of real people, despite the company’s recent announcement that such content had been banned, according to reporting by The Guardian.

The British newspaper reported that its journalists were able to generate and upload videos depicting real women being undressed into bikinis, using images of fully clothed individuals.

SEE ALSO: Grok ban: The nations considering blocking AI chatbot over nonconsensual sexual content

In its reporting, The Guardian wrote:

"The Guardian was able to create short videos of people stripping to bikinis from photographs of fully clothed, real women. It was also possible to post this adult content on to X’s public platform without any sign of it being moderated, meaning the clip could be viewed within seconds by anyone with an account."

According to the newspaper, the sexualized images were created using the standalone Grok app and then successfully posted to X. Earlier this week, X said it had banned AI-generated, sexualized images of real people.

"We have implemented technological measures to prevent the [@]Grok account on X globally from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis," the X safety account wrote in an update. "This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers."

X has faced criticism in recent weeks over the circulation of sexualized, AI-generated images on the platform. Earlier this month, governments in multiple countries said they were investigating or moving to restrict Grok following reports that it had enabled the creation of sexualized images of minors. X's safety update also stated that the company maintains a "zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Recalbox turned my Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming monster

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 19:00

The Steam Deck is my go-to platform for retro gaming; I’ve even dedicated a 1TB microSD card to it. But it’s ill-suited to multiplayer sessions and non-portable use. Though I could invest in yet another USB hub, I’d rather make use of hardware I’ve already got, like my under-utilized Raspberry Pi.

Categories: IT General, Technology

LibreELEC transformed my Raspberry Pi into the ultimate Roku replacement

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 19:00

LibreELEC is a Linux-based operating system that’s designed purely with media consumption in mind. Pair it with an old (or new) Raspberry Pi and hide it behind the TV for an invisible and highly capable media center setup.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This American minivan challenges SUVs in off-roading performance

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:30

Minivans and off-road capability don’t usually belong in the same sentence, but one American people-mover concept is challenging that assumption. With a focus on rugged design, enhanced traction systems, and adventurous styling cues, it pushes the idea of what a family van can do, not just on pavement, but on unpaved backroads too. It turns heads not because it debuted at a major show, but because it signals a new direction in how minivans can be configured for modern lifestyles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Try Soundcores C30i open earbuds while theyre down to their best price ever

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:27

SAVE $35: As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount from their usual cost and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore C3i open earbuds $34.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Open earbuds are everywhere at the moment. Several new pairs debuted during CES 2026, but they've been on the market for awhile now (check out our roundup of the best ones). If you've been curious about these air conduction-based earbuds, but don't want to spend a fortune, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are majorly discounted at Amazon so you can give them a shot.

As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's 50% or $35 cheaper than usual and their lowest price on record.

Open earbuds are designed for folks who want to actually stay in tune with the world around them and/or find in-ear designs uncomfortable. Instead of sitting inside of your ear canal, they use air conduction to transmit sound to your ears. While they come in several different varieties, the Soundcore C30i feature a clip design (similar to the popular Bose Ultra Open earbuds). They attach to the outer edge of your ears like a cuff and stay in place with the help of attachable ear grips.

Since they don't sit in your ear canal, the C30is don't offer noise cancellation. So in order to boost sound, they offer a surround sound mode through the Soundcore app to make listening more immersive. If you're a runner, cyclist, commuter, or anyone who wants to stay in tune with the outside world, the Soundcore C30is are a low stakes way to see if open earbuds are right for you (without breaking the bank).

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a leg up on the competition with the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for its lowest price yet

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:23

SAVE $199.01: As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor $499.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $199.01   Get Deal

Now that we're at the start of a new year, we're facing down plenty of new games coming down the pipelines in 2026. Why not be ready with a monitor that can handle all the action with ease? You can do just that with this deal on one of our favorite gaming monitors right now, as it's available for its lowest price yet.

As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Odyssey G5 ultra-wide gaming monitor just dropped to under $300 at Amazon

This 34-inch curved OLED monitor is all about making you feel like you're right in the middle of your favorite games. It offers a gorgeous, crisp picure with sharp details, deep hues and contrasts, and two HDR modes to offer the best possible performance: HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000.

It boasts 1,000 nits of brightness with a 0.1ms respnse time as well as AMD FreeSync and VESA AdaptiveSync. It's perfect for twitchier games where you need to make sure you're as precise as possible, so if you need a bit of help improving your game, this very well may do it for you.

You can customize the look and feel of the monitor thanks to its RGB lighting, and adjust and tilt it to your liking when placed on a desk. All of these features come together to give you one of the most comprehensive suites possible in terms of gaming monitors, which almost certainly means you'll be seeing some true improvement with your games. Just be sure you grab it now before it's no longer on sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 Fedora-based Linux distributions that are better than Fedora

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:15

If you've been following me for a while, you know Fedora Linux is not one of my favorite distributions. There are many spin-off distributions though that base themselves on Fedora, though, that I would recommend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DJIs customer-fave smartphone stabilizer is under $90 right now

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:13

SAVE 18%: As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 $89 at Amazon
$109 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

Whether you're determined to become a TikTok star by year's end or you just genuinely like filming life, a gimbal (aka support so your videos don't look like they were filmed during an earthquake) could do you some good.

As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

SEE ALSO: DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: A phone gimbal for content creators on a budget

The Osmo Mobile 6 is super easy to use. Just unfold it, and it's ready to go. It uses ActiveTrack 6.0 to lock onto subjects, which is perfect for keeping up with energetic kids or pets. You can even use it to track yourself, making it much easier to film solo without needing someone else to hold the camera.

It features a built-in extension rod for better selfie angles or crowd shots, and it only weighs about 305g, so it’s easy to toss in a bag. And, if you have an Apple Watch, you can use it as a remote to view your camera feed and adjust the gimbal’s angle from your wrist.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score the 65-inch TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 off at Best Buy

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:04

SAVE $450: As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV $449.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $450   Get Deal

If you've been thinking about adding a new TV to your home entertainment setup, Best Buy has your number. A big display can do a lot for you when you want to add a new screen for your favorite shows and movies, and you can get one now for an excellent price.

As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's $450 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Level up your living room with $400 off this TCL 85-inch QLED TV

This 65-inch UHD QD-Mini LED TV boasts 4K resolution (2160p) with a crisp screen that brings you a crystal clear picture. It has up to LD500 precise dimming series with black levels of up to 500 with QLED hues and high HDR brightness as well to give you the most realistic image possible. Thanks to its AIPQ processor, it can even upscale content and control contrast, clarity, color, motion, and more all on its own.

It has an Onkyo 2.1 speaker system with subwoofer built in, and support for Dolby Atmos audio as well, so it's not just your eyes that get a treat. Gamers also get a leg up on the competition with Game Accelerator 144 with a 144 VRR, so games go lag-free.

What's more, all this comes with Google TV support, so you can watch and stream your favorite content directly from the display. That means no need for an additional streaming device or anything of the sort.

If you're ready for a new TV that ticks all the boxes for you while remaining budget-friendly, don't miss out on this Best Buy deal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 renter-friendly smart home upgrades that won’t violate your lease

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 18:00

A smart home might feel out of reach if you're renting. However, there are several smart home upgrades that you can make that don't involve changing fixtures, drilling holes, or messing with wiring. You may find that there's a lot you can do without violating the terms of your rental agreement, and you can easily take everything with you if you move.

Categories: IT General, Technology

No Other Choice skewers the job market. Heres why Park Chan-wook made it.

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:59

Boasting a corporate jargon title associated with evading responsibility, Park Chan-wook's anti-capitalist parable No Other Choice might feel too real to those burned by modern employment.

Based on Donald E. Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax and written by Park, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar, the film provides biting social commentary by asking the question: Is killing for the role you want a morally sound choice in this economy?

Mashable UK Editor Shannon Connellan sat down with Park and No Other Choice star Lee Byung-hun to discuss the film's skewering of the hyper competitive job market.

"We all live in the capitalist system, we all comply to it, and we're all trying very hard to survive in it as well. And we don't often question the system itself," Park told Mashable. "But when we do come upon the question of 'what if we could live in a different situation?' it leads to a very tricky state where you're considering ideas of getting rid of the system, or we're brainstorming ideas to take action to destroy the system. It's a very difficult state to be in.

"Regardless, in order to maintain the system, we still need to question the system as well. So in the film, I didn't want to make it too theoretical. I wanted to follow the individual and through that process, lead the audience to ask themselves their own questions about the system."

SEE ALSO: 'No Other Choice' review: Park Chan-wook's anti-capitalist parable skewers the job market

Said individual in No Other Choice is paper company employee Yoo Man-soo (Lee), who loses his job in a cruel company restructure. With his family to provide for, including his wife Mi-ri (Crash Landing on You's Son Ye-jin) and two kids, Man-soo scrambles to find work — and when an opportunity arises, he takes drastic measures.

Lee Byung-hun in "No Other Choice." Credit: BFI London Film Festival

"When [Park] approached me to say, 'let's tell the story together,' I really enjoyed the message [of the film] and the questioning. I found it very meaningful to tell as an actor," Lee told Mashable. "To play this very ordinary man, a family man who faces a very tragic reality, and is scrambling desperately to make things work, and eventually ends up making this very extreme decision."

Notably, the film makes a modern nightmare out of the job interview, as Man-soo faces the dreaded, often dehumanising process in his search for work.

"I guess I haven't gone on a lot of job interviews, personally, but I have been in many instances in which I have to evaluate actors for auditions, so I've seen how nervous people are when they are in the state of getting evaluated," said Park. "In addition, earlier in my career, I had a lot of meetings with producers to pitch my stories to them, which is also like an interview. So because I've been on both sides of a so-called interview, I know how difficult it is to be in that situation.

"Especially as an Asian, we are always taught to be humble, and humility is considered a very important trait in our lives. So to be in a situation where you have to sell yourself and hide your weakness while also being humble, it's even harder, which I think is especially harder for us in Eastern culture more than people in the West."

Watch the full interview above. No Other Choice is now in cinemas.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Watch every out-of-market NBA game the rest of the season for just $50

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:53

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 16, you can get NBA League Pass for only $49.99 for the rest of the season. That's about 55% off the usual cost of $109.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: NBA NBA League Pass $49.99
$109.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

With new broadcast partners for the first time since 2002, watching NBA games got a lot more complicated this season — but only if you want to watch your home team. For those looking to watch every out-of-market game, NBA League Pass has you covered. And as of Jan. 16, you can sign up for the rest of the season for only $49.99.

Typically, the NBA League Pass costs $16.99 per month or $109.99 per season, but since we're about half way through the regular season, the league has lowered the price by about 55%. The 82-game regular season wraps up April 12, 2026, so you'll still get access to about 12 weeks of games for just under $50. That's just over $4 per week. You can sign up via Prime Video or directly through NBA League Pass.

Similar to NFL's Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass gives fans access to live out-of-market games, as well as games from the NBA's archive, analysis, documentaries, highlights, and more. Local games on NBA TV, as well as nationally broadcast games, will be blacked out live. So, if you live in New York City, you'll be able to watch every team except the Knicks and Nets. You can tune into locally blacked-out games three days after the live broadcast and nationally broadcast games three hours after.

The basic League Pass allows you to watch on one device with commercials, but if you spend a bit more on League Pass Premium (which is discounted from $159.99 to $74.99 for the rest of the season), you'll get to watch on up to three devices with in-arena streams instead of commercials.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These affordable earbuds are the perfect AirPods alternative, and now theyre $30 off

Mashable - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:38

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 16, get the Soundcore P41i earbuds for just $49.99. That saves you $30, knocking 38% off its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore P41i earbuds $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Even as an iPhone user, I'm not the biggest fan of AirPods. Unless you go for the AirPods Pro, the standard AirPods have a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't work for me. As an alternative, I tried the Soundcore P41i earbuds, and think they're the perfect replacement. And they're even better when they're on sale for 38% off.

As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore P41i earbuds are just $49.99. That saves you $30 off its $79.99 list price, and the earbuds lowest price ever. Less than $50 is an extremely affordable price to pay for earbuds with active noise cancellation.

The Soundcore P41i earbuds are a compact earbud with up to 12 hours of battery life. With active noise cancellation, it blocks out sound and keeps you focused and in the zone. Once you connect them to your phone, they reconnect every time as soon as you put them in, just like AirPods. But the best part is its many different sizes of ear tips so you can make sure they have a secure, snug fit. Oh and did we mention the case can even charge your phone?

Grab the Soundcore P41i earbuds for just $49.99 and save $30 when you buy them at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This new premium Linux laptop has up to 128GB RAM and 16TB storage

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:32

Slimbook has sold PCs with desktop Linux for a while now, and today the company announced a premium Linux-powered laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and up to 128GB RAM. Say hello to the Slimbook Executive.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I canceled all my streaming services and rolled my own, here's how

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:30

If you're like me, you're tired of seeing the phrase "price hike" in headlines about the streaming services you're paying for. I got so tired I decided to use my movie collection to build what you might call a personal streaming service. Here's what it involved.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to turn your phone into a security camera for free

How-To Geek - Fri, 01/16/2026 - 17:30

If you're new to setting up security cameras from scratch, the task of home security can seem daunting. But luckily, you can have a trial run with free-to-use security camera apps that only require your phone and one spare device that you probably have on hand.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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