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Mesh Wi-Fi networks can make using Wi-Fi in your home better, especially if you have a lot of devices that are a long way from the router. Your Wi-Fi devices can connect to the nearest mesh node instead of having to communicate directly with the router. If you have the right mesh network, you can even use your Echo smart speakers to extend your Wi-Fi.

There’s almost certainly a good open-source alternative for most apps and services you depend on. Not all of them are comparable to paid software, and some require significant setup or technical knowledge, but all are worth considering.

Changing your sudo implementation is about as interesting as changing your underpants, but switching to an entirely new operating system is far more exciting. While people debate the intricacies of sudo and setuid, one vendor leaves the door open to attackers—but it's not what you think.

Don't look now, but as of July 1, Walmart still has the Apple MacBook Neo in stock at its original launch price. Get the 256GB base model for $599 or the 512GB model with Touch ID for $699.

Once both configurations sell out at those prices, they'll be $100 more expensive in accordance with Apple's recent price hikes. At the time of writing, they were already out of stock in indigo and blush, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 at Walmart
$699 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699 at Walmart
$799 Save $100   Get Deal

ICYMI, Apple raised its prices on all MacBooks by at least $100 last week because of the global RAM shortage. ("RAMageddon" is making laptops and other consumer tech way more expensive to manufacture right now.) The changes first went into effect in the Apple Store on June 25, and third-party retailers followed suit in the days after.

At the time of writing, the Neo's newly higher prices were in effect at Best Buy, Target, B&H Photo, and Micro Center. It's sold out for the time being at Amazon and Costco, which were both selling it at a slight discount when news of the price increase broke.

SEE ALSO: Thank the AI industry for tech price increases: See the full list

Going forward, the Neo will only be able to college students, their parents, and teachers for $599 (via the Apple Store's education discount). Its new starting price of $699 is still very tempting, to be sure, but it's less of a steal than before. And it turns budget Windows laptops like the $699 Dell XPS 13 into tougher competition.

This is all to say that if flagging good laptop deals wasn't part of my job description, I'd be gatekeeping Walmart's $599 holdout Neo pricing.

Here's a quick rundown of the Neo's specs:

• CPU: Apple A18 Pro chip

• Memory: 8GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD (the latter adds Touch ID)

• Display: 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS display with 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness

• Webcam: 1080p FaceTime HD camera

• Ports: Two USB-C ports and a headphone jack

• Wireless connectivity: WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 6

• Magic Keyboard (no backlighting) and mechanical touchpad

SAVE $120: The Marshall Acton III speaker is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $299.99. That's a 40% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Acton III $179.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $120   Get Deal

Now that we're in July, it's time to make the playlist of summer. Get the feel-good sunny vibes going by compiling your favorites that you can listen to everyday. What better way to tune into your playlist than via a speaker that not only sounds great, but looks great, too? If that's appealing, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 1, the Marshall Acton III speaker is on sale at Amazon for $179.99, marked down from the normal price of $299.99. That's a 40% discount that takes $120 off. It's also the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

We have plenty of options when it comes to earbuds, headphones, and portable Bluetooth speakers for taking music on the go, but what about a home speaker that looks nice enough to have on display?

SEE ALSO: The Bose SoundLink Flex speaker is $50 off right now — get it for under $100 at Amazon

The Marshall Acton III Bluetooth speaker allow you to listen to your favorites via the 3.5mm input or through Bluetooth. Marshall says this particular speaker is great for those looking for sound that fills the room with an immersive feel.

On-speaker dial controls give you access to the volume, bass, and treble level. That's great news for those who don't feel like opening an app to make adjustments. There's also a power switch, source button, and the ability to play/pause, and skip tracks. However, you can use the Marshall app for controls if desired.

Going with a Marshall gives you reassurance your home speaker is coming from a reputable brand that cares about quality of sound and manufacturing. Plus, the speaker itself looks sleek.

While it's sitting at a new record-low, go with the Marshall Acton III speaker from Amazon for $179.99. It'll be the perfect home upgrade for summer.

Happy The Odyssey month! Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated adaptation of Homer's epic poem hits theaters in just two weeks, and to celebrate, its latest trailer gives audiences their best look yet at Zendaya as the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, Athena.

In the trailer, Athena comes to Odysseus (Matt Damon) while he lays, shipwrecked, bearded, and starving, on a rocky beach. She asks him what he recalls of his voyages, prompting flashbacks to the fiery sack of Troy and the storms he and his crew weathered in their attempts to return home to Ithaca. Spoiler alert: They were unsuccessful.

SEE ALSO: Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' trailer is absolute cinema

As Odysseus languishes at sea, fighting against monsters and vindictive gods, his family struggles back in Ithaca. Odysseus's wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) faces a horde of suitors, including the slimy Antinous (Robert Pattinson). He clashes with Odysseus and Penelope's son Telemachus (Tom Holland), who still believes his father will come home after over a decade away.

The rest of the trailer showcases The Odyssey's stacked cast, including John Leguizamo as Odysseus' friend Eumaeus, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and her twin sister Clytemnestra, and Elliot Page as Greek warrior Sinon. It all comes back to Zendaya's Athena, walking alongside Odysseus and reminding him of the gods' power. Odysseus's response? He'll defy the gods. Knowing Greek mythology, that'll never turn out well, but it could turn out to be an incredible Nolan movie.

The Odyssey also stars Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Will Yun Lee, Jimmy Gonzalez, and more.

The Odyssey hits theaters July 17.

SAVE OVER $100: As of July 1, get the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum for $99 at Amazon. That's down from its usual price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum $99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal

Looking for a quick and easy way to clean your home?

A stick vacuum is fast, reliable, and easy to tote around. We love robot vacuums for automating a cleaning schedule, but if you want to hoover up a mess immediately or just need some heavier suction, one of these models can do the trick just fine. And though we're past Prime Day now, we've found a great option that can save you some serious cash on sale now.

As of July 1, get the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum for $99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199.99. That's $100.99 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Shark PowerDetect Speed Luxe review: My favorite stick vacuum for cat hair comes in pretty colors now

This 2-in-1 stick and handheld vacuum is an all-purpose option that you can whip out for larger-scale cleaning jobs or smaller issues. It can be used in its full stick form or convert to a handheld vacuum whenever you need something lightweight and easy to maneuver.

It's perfect for both carpets and hard floors, with powerful suction that can go from deep pile carpeting to rugs and then to bare floors without any mess or fuss. Plus, it's just under 9 lbs, and it's built to tear through pet hair no matter where it may be hiding. Paired with advanced swivel steering and a low profile build, it's a great option to keep on hand no matter what kind of mess you're battling.

If you're ready to pick up a new corded vacuum without breaking the bank, this is one option you'll be thrilled with in terms of both cost and performance. Be sure to grab it before it goes out of stock.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC might wear a luxury badge, but for most owners, life looks a lot more like school runs, Costco trips, and weekends away than carving up a racetrack. Chances are it's carried more golf clubs and strollers than racing helmets.

SAVE 17%: The LG gram 15-inch Copilot+ (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale for $1,199.99 at Amazon. That's down from $1,449.99.

LG gram 15-inch Copilot+ (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,449.99 Save $350   Get Deal at Amazon

If your laptop is struggling to keep up, it might be time for an upgrade.

LG released the 15-inch Copilot+ gram laptop in 2025 (it made its big debut at CES), and it's built for portability. So, if you're someone who jumps from coffee shop to coffee shop (hi, it's me), this could be a good option to check out.

Right now, you can get the LG gram 15-inch Copilot+ (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,199.99 at Amazon, down from $1,449.99. That's a 17% discount or $250 savings; it's also just $100 more than its lowest price tracked to date. (Note: You may or may not be able to get this item shipped, depending on where you live. It's currently blocking shipments to my Carolina Beach address for no apparent reason, so you might have to play around with your delivery location.)

SEE ALSO: The best laptops of CES 2026

Assuming Amazon actually lets you buy it, the hardware is exactly what you need for working on the go.

The gram runs on Windows 11 Home and definitely lives up to its name, weighing just 2.84 pounds. It's super thin (0.67 inches), but it somehow passed seven military-grade durability standards — so it can handle being shoved in your favorite tote bag. You'll also get a 15.6-inch anti-glare touchscreen and a 72Wh battery that promises up to 22 hours of video playback.

TL;DR key takeaways:

• The 200-megapixel main sensor and F1.4 aperture capture sharper, brighter shots in the low-light conditions most phones struggle with after sunset. 

• The 50-megapixel telephoto features 5x optical and 10x optical-quality zoom, so performers stay in frame and in focus from anywhere in the crowd. 

• Super Steady[1] with Horizontal Lock keeps video stable and level even when you're being jostled in a packed pit. 

• Galaxy AI[2] tools like Photo Assist[3] and Creative Studio[4] let you clean up shots and turn them into shareable content straight from your device.

You're at a festival you’ve been eagerly anticipating for months; the lights are dramatic and the crowd is abuzz. You snap both photos and videos, hoping to chronicle this once-in-a-lifetime experience, but nothing adequately captures the energy of the scene. Before you know it, you’ve missed three of the headliner’s hits just trying to get a single usable clip.

If you’re in the market for a device upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is built to perform, so you can get back to the performance. The device pairs a 200-megapixel main sensor and wider F1.4 aperture with a stack of AI tools that handle the technicalities so you can stay present the whole weekend.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Upgrade your social media photos with this powerhouse smartphone camera Shop Now

Here's how the Galaxy S26 Ultra upstages the competition.

1. Steady your crowd-level clips with Super Steady and Horizontal Lock

On your old device, handheld footage from the thick of the crowd used to come out jittery when you were being nudged from every direction.

That’s not the case, however, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Features like Super Steady rely on the phone's internal gyroscope and accelerometer to counter movement in real time, and Horizontal Lock keeps the horizon line consistent even when your phone tilts to dodge a stranger's arm in the air.

To turn on Super Steady, launch the Camera app and swipe over to Video mode. The Super Steady control (a body-in-motion icon) sits in the top row of shortcuts next to the flash; tap it to select the feature from the middle menu, or opt for Horizontal Lock, one icon to the right.

2. Shoot after dark with Nightography and the F1.4 aperture

Tented raves or sunset sets are where most phone cameras just can’t hang. Nightography uses Galaxy AI to reduce noise and balance exposure, and on the Galaxy S26 Ultra it pairs with a wider F1.4 aperture that pulls in more light than the standard found on most flagships. That means when the fireworks go off over the main stage or the pyrotechnics kick in when the beat drops, you'll actually catch all the color and detail with vivid realism.

To use Nightography in Photo mode, find the yellow moon icon that appears automatically in low light. A simple tap pulls up exposure options. You can then manually select the number of seconds you’d like, or leave it on Auto to let the camera choose. In Video mode, Nightography runs automatically in low-light conditions as soon as you start recording.

3. Zoom from the back of the crowd with the 50-megapixel telephoto lens

Unless you’re willing to arrive hours before showtime to stake out a spot by the barrier, you’re probably not as close to the action on stage as you’d like to be. The Galaxy S26 Ultra's 50-megapixel telephoto offers 5x true optical zoom, 10x optical-quality zoom, and up to 100x Space Zoom for still photos. Tight shots of the lead singer mid-chorus will stay sharp even from somewhere near the sound desk.

4. Capture the full scene with the 200-megapixel wide camera

The main camera is what you'll shoot most of the weekend on. The Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200-megapixel sensor combined with the F1.4 aperture leaves plenty of room to crop, so a wide group shot from a few rows back can become a tight portrait of whoever's most photogenic once you're back at the tent.

5. Clean up your shots with Photo Assist

Festival photos rarely come out ready to post. Maybe the tall bloke in front of you is blocking the stage, or the stranger next to you used a flash that blew out the lighting. Photo Assist, the AI editing tool in Gallery, lets you remove elements, add new ones, or shift the time of day using text or voice prompts. Edits save as copies, so the originals stay intact.

To play around with the feature, open the Gallery app and select the photo you want to edit, then tap the Galaxy AI icon (a sparkle-style starburst) in the bottom toolbar. From there, you can circle, scribble over, or tap an object to select it — the phone identifies the edges automatically. Drag the selection to reposition it, pinch to resize, or tap Erase to remove it entirely and let the AI fill in the background. For prompt-based edits (say, adding a different sky or shifting a daytime shot to look like dusk), tap the prompt bar and type or dictate what you want. Edits render in just a few seconds.

6. Build shareable recap content with Creative Studio

Creative Studio, accessed via the Edge panel, turns your shots into custom stickers or invitations so you can keep the weekend vibes going a little longer.

To get started, pick a photo, describe what you want to create, choose a style, and hit Generate. You can use the results as a sticker pack for the group chat or an invite to the post-festival recovery brunch.

7. Scan tickets, maps, and schedules with Document Scan

For paper-based festival essentials like tickets, stage schedules posted by the entrance, or laminated campsite maps distributed by the responsible planner in your crew, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Document Scan feature can save you a scramble if you lose the originals. The feature (which is built into the Camera app and appears automatically when you frame up a document) captures and digitises such materials. This means you never waste time wayfinding around the grounds (and can easily add maps or setlists to your social media story or festival recap video).

Galaxy S26 camera features for your next festival

The Galaxy S26 line-up spans three phones, with the Ultra taking the headline slot on camera hardware. Here’s how the different devices compare.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is designed to perform when the lights drop and the action moves faster than you can focus, so your post-festival camera roll is full of brilliant memories instead of blurry messes.

Ready to pick up the only accessory you really need to prepare for festival season? See the full Galaxy S26 line-up at samsung.com.

[1] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.
[2] Samsung account login is required for certain AI features. Galaxy AI features are provided for free. Future releases may include additional advanced features that are offered as part of a paid subscription plan. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.
[3] Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.
[4] Requires network connection and Samsung account login. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

USB ports are pretty confusing by default, in the sense that they all look the same, but they are very far from the same. I already knew that, and yet, testing the ports on my PC case definitely gave me pause.

If your TikTok feed is not giving you Unsighted on the regular, you're missing out. The Mashable 101 honoree has been channeling his incredible energy and contagious glee into his music, transit karaoke, and, of course, white girl dancing.

The Toronto native has been bringing joy to fans online and in person as he's traveled near and far, ready to bust a move to bouncy pop songs. So when he came to Anaheim for VidCon 2026, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko was giddy to sit down with the poet himself to talk about his approach to content creation, meeting his fans IRL, and what it meant to him to be selected for Mash 101.

For more from our interview with Unsighted, look to Mashable's Creator Playbook and social channels. Because, of course, we celebrated the end of VidCon by white girl dancing with this Tiktok icon.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage or see more of this year’s Mashable 101 to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

The French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said that "perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” I wanted to see how close I could get to perfection with a minimal Linux desktop running just the Openbox window manager.

Nintendo is closing out the Switch 1 era in style.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been leisurely digging my way through Rhythm Heaven Groove. At the time of publication, it's the only announced upcoming first-party game for the original Nintendo Switch console, which could potentially give it a unique place in history. To be clear, I'm fairly confident that Nintendo will release at least a couple more games for the OG Switch before too long, but for now, Rhythm Heaven is all that's left.

And what a way for the Switch to go out, if this is indeed its swan song. The latest entry in one of Nintendo's most eclectic franchises is also one of the most eminently approachable games for the platform. All you need is a basic sense of rhythm and the ability to hit one, maybe two buttons now and then. Between that, its low $40 price, and its sublime sense of style, anyone who has yet to pick up a Switch 2 really ought to give Rhythm Heaven Groove a shot.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Fox' for Nintendo Switch 2 is a magnificent Hollywood take on a classic Rhythm Heaven Groove is a Switch game that practically anyone can play

If you've never played a Rhythm Heaven game (and I suspect there's a good chance that's true), they're made up of dozens of little unique musical minigames that each take only a couple of minutes to complete. Each one has its own premise, visual style, and music, but at the end of the day, you're doing the same thing in all of them: trying to adhere to a beat and press one or two buttons when the rhythm calls for it.

A big part of what makes Rhythm Heaven work, both in Groove and in the games before it, is that each minigame has an attractive, somewhat low-fi 2D visual style to it. Characters and backgrounds are all eminently endearing to the eye, and rather charmingly, no part of it looks like a mega-budget GTA VI-style production. Of course, the music is fantastic, too, with beats that are simple enough for even the non-musicians among us to keep up with, and melodies that'll stick in your head for at least a few minutes after you're done.

If you want to get a quick idea of what Rhythm Heaven's whole vibe is, I will direct you towards Monkey Watch, a minigame from Rhythm Heaven Fever for Wii. I promise the series has not changed much since then, to its benefit.

Look at these freaks! Credit: Nintendo

I also dig the structure here. Minigames are divided into groups of four, and once you've completed all four in a group, you're treated to a playable remix level that mashes all of them together into one song. These are generally the highlight of the experience, as it's fun to see (and hear) how four different musical minigames can come together into something that actually feels coherent.

Groove, of course, has a little more going for it than just a series of single-player minigames. One of the big side modes here is Beatspell, a rhythm-based RPG where you mash out little musical combos to cast spells in fights against monsters, complete with experience points and leveling up. I need to spend more time with this to make a proper judgment, but at the very least, this is a really cool thing to include alongside the main event.

Similarly, the multiplayer offerings here should be a good time for living room hangout sessions. I am particularly partial to the four-player game where each person tries to grab a slice of cake at just the right moment, and whoever comes closest to nailing the timing wins. It's a fun game, but I mostly love it because each character has a stupid color-coded pompadour haircut that grows longer each time they win a round. That's the kind of spirit that Rhythm Heaven has always had.

It also represents what made the Switch era so great

You should play Rhythm Heaven Groove because it's charming, cool, and, again, only $40. But beyond its quality as a game, I really like what it represents about the Switch era for Nintendo.

Namely, the past nine years have been great for exposing Nintendo fans to franchises beyond the safe confines of Mario and Zelda. The Switch era made me a fan of Fire Emblem, Xenoblade Chronicles, Luigi's Mansion, Tomodachi Life, and now Rhythm Heaven, and those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head right now. Heck, even Metroid got revived in both 2D and Prime form.

Yes, a handful of important (or important-to-me) series missed out on the OG Switch, with F-Zero probably topping that list. But for the most part, if you're the kind of person who maybe didn't spend as much time playing the DS or 3DS as they should have (subtweeting myself here), the Switch has been a great excuse to learn about a bunch of different, cool games that used to live primarily on handheld platforms.

Given that Rhythm Heaven fits that description perfectly, maybe it is the best way to close out the Switch era. For now, anyway.

All the main power tool brands make a ton of excellent tools and accessories, and you probably own several. And while each brand has its fair share of fans, they're all somewhat similar in their offerings. That said, the tool lineups are different, and what gives Milwaukee an advantage isn't what you think.

When foldable phones were first introduced, they felt both groundbreaking and nostalgic. However, the category has started to feel stale, with few truly groundbreaking upgrades in recent years. That is why I am waiting until 2027 to buy a foldable phone, as the competition appears likely to become much more intense by then.

Are you bored of 3D printing life hacks, Gridfinity bins, and other useful objects? Let your inner fool flourish with some of the most annoying 3D prints you can make, from loud and obnoxious to obtuse and irritating.

Much of the country is enduring what could become a historic heat wave as we approach the July 4th holiday weekend. Although many of us can escape the heat in our cars during our daily commute, not every luxury feature is helpful when the mercury soars.

Netflix's lineup of new movies in July includes entertaining sequels, riveting documentaries, and tons of star power. The streamer is releasing the third installment in its popular Enola Holmes franchise on July 1. The movie marks the return of Millie Bobby Brown as the youngest sleuth in an iconic literary family.

Being so famous you could send your friends a meme that's actually you is the ultimate flex, according to Mindy Kaling.

Interviewed by pal Amy Poehler on her podcast Good Hang, the star talks about her latest comedy Not Suitable for Work (with a guest question from the Hulu series' star Avantika), and the pair chat about their shared rise to fame through improv, interning on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, their love for Saturday Night Live, and not agreeing on a capella.

Best bit?

Kaling and Poehler really get into all things The Office, of which Kaling wrote more episodes of than any other writer, and was the only woman in the writers room. Kaling talks about how she ended up playing the iconic Kelly Kapoor, and as promised, they chat about the fact that they're both memes.

"I love being a meme. It makes me feel young," says Kaling.

"Are you kidding me? It's my dream," responds Pohler. "I've actually been like, can I send people my own memes?"

"Oh, do it. It's such a mic drop," says Kaling.

"It's such a weird...but there's no higher compliment," says Poehler.

"I send people memes of Kelly saying, 'This day is bananas,' all day long," says Kaling.

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