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AutoAdapt: Automated domain adaptation for large language models

Microsoft Research - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:25
At a glance
  • Problem: Adapting large language models to specialized, high-stakes domains is slow, expensive, and hard to reproduce. 
  • What we built: AutoAdapt automates planning, strategy selection (e.g., RAG vs. fine-tuning), and tuning under real deployment constraints. 
  • How it works:  A structured configuration graph maps the full scope of the adaptation process, an agentic planner selects and sequences the right steps, and a budget-aware optimization loop (AutoRefine) refines the process within defined constraints.  
  • Why it matters: The result is faster, automated, more reliable domain adaptation that turns weeks of manual iteration into repeatable pipelines. 

Deploying large language models (LLMs) in real-world, high-stakes settings is harder than it should be. In high-stakes settings like law, medicine, and cloud incident response, performance and reliability can quickly break down because adapting models to domain-specific requirements is a slow and manual process that is difficult to reproduce.

The core challenge is domain adaptation, which entails turning a general-purpose model into one that consistently follows domain rules, draws on the right knowledge, and meets constraints such as latency, privacy, and cost. Today, that process typically involves guesswork, choosing among approaches like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and fine-tuning, tuning hyperparameters, and iterating through evaluations with no clear path to a good outcome. An operations team responding to an outage can’t afford a model that drifts from domain requirements or a tuning process that takes weeks with no guarantee of a reproducible result.

To tackle this, we’re pleased to introduce AutoAdapt. In our paper, “AutoAdapt: An Automated Domain Adaptation Framework for Large Language Models,” we describe an end-to-end, constraint-aware framework for domain adaptation. Given a task objective, available domain data, and practical requirements like accuracy, latency, hardware, and budget, AutoAdapt plans a valid adaptation pipeline, selecting among approaches like RAG and multiple fine-tuning methods, and tunes key hyperparameters using a budget-aware refinement loop. The result is an executable, reproducible workflow for building domain-ready models more quickly and consistently, helping make LLMs dependable in real-world settings.

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AutoAdapt starts from a practical observation: teams don’t just need a better prompt or more data, they need a decision process that reliably maps a task, its domain data, and real constraints to an approach that works. To do this, AutoAdapt treats domain adaptation as a constrained planning problem. Given an objective provided in natural language, dataset size and format, and limits on latency, hardware, privacy, and cost, it provides an end-to-end pipeline that teams can execute and deploy.

Domain adaptation often feels like trial and error because the design space is large and complex. Teams must choose among approaches such as RAG, supervised fine-tuning, parameter-efficient methods (such as LoRA), and alignment steps, each with many hyperparameters. These choices interact in nonobvious ways, and not all combinations are valid, making it difficult to identify a reliable strategy. The problem is compounded by the high cost of LLM training, which limits how many configurations can be explored.

AutoAdapt addresses this with the Adaptation Configuration Graph (ACG), a structured representation of the system’s configuration space that enables efficient search while guaranteeing valid pipelines.

Building on the ACG, AutoAdapt uses a planning agent to make and justify decisions. It proposes strategies, evaluates them against user requirements, and iterates until the plan is feasible and well-grounded. Rather than optimizing in an unconstrained black box, AutoAdapt roots each decision in best practices and explicit constraints, producing an executable workflow with parameter ranges.

Finally, AutoAdapt introduces AutoRefine, a budget-aware refinement loop that optimizes hyperparameters by strategically selecting which experiments to run next, even under limited feedback. AutoRefine replaces weeks of manual tuning with a more disciplined, reproducible process that is easier to audit and compare across projects. In real-world systems such as healthcare documentation, legal workflows, or incident response, this level of rigor is essential. Figure 1 illustrates the end-to-end workflow.

Figure 1. The AutoAdapt workflow, showing how user inputs flow through planning and refinement to produce a deployable model. Evaluation

In experiments, AutoAdapt consistently identifies effective adaptation strategies and delivers improvements across a range of benchmark and real-world tasks, including reasoning, question answering, coding, classification, and cloud-incident diagnosis. It uses constraint-aware planning and budgeted refinement to find better-performing configurations with minimal added time and cost, making the process practical for production teams. Figures 2 and 3 show aggregate performance against competitive baselines.

Figure 2. Success rate (SR), normalized performance score (NPS), and cumulative score (CS) comparing AutoAdapt with baseline methods across datasets. Higher scores indicate better performance, with AutoAdapt outperforming state-of-the-art baselines. Figure 3. AutoAdapt achieves performance gains with minimal overhead, approximately 30 minutes of additional time and $4 in additional cost. Implications and looking forward

The broader significance of AutoAdapt is that domain adaptation can become an engineering discipline, not an ad hoc process. By making key choices explicit—what to adapt, how to adapt it, and which constraints the system must satisfy—AutoAdapt helps teams reach results faster, reproduce them more easily, and audit them more rigorously. This shift is especially important in domains where drift from pretrained knowledge is common and failures are costly. When LLMs are used to draft clinical notes, triage support incidents, or summarize regulatory language, organizations need a clear, repeatable path from data to models that behave predictably under latency, privacy, and budget requirements.

Because domain adaptation is a prerequisite for deploying LLMs in real-world settings, we’re making the AutoAdapt framework open source (opens in new tab) to give teams a concrete starting point. The README (opens in new tab) file provides installation and quick-start instructions.

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The post AutoAdapt: Automated domain adaptation for large language models appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Categories: Microsoft

Take to the skies with nearly half off the DJI Neo Fly More Combo

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:20

SAVE $90: As of April 22, get the DJI Neo Fly More Combo for $259 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349 with an on-page coupon. That's a discount of 26%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Neo Fly More Combo $259 at Amazon
$349 Save $90 Clip on-page coupon Get Deal

Whether you're looking to get into flying drones or just want to add another to your collection, DJI is the brand to shop. Despite news of DJI drones being banned in the United States, there are still ways to get around the ban if you look hard enough. You can still keep the drones you own, and you can still shop those on sale at retailers like Amazon. And we've got one that you can snap up right now for an excellent price.

As of April 22, get the DJI Neo Fly More Combo for $259 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $349 with an on-page coupon. That's $90 off and a discount of 26%.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is at a record-low price at Amazon — save $550 on this beginner-friendly drone

This bundle includes the DJI Neo drone, a remote controller, RC cable, flight battery, two-way charging hub, propeller guards, spare propellers, spare propeller screws, a screwdriver, gimbal protector, and a Type-C to Type-C cable.

The DJI Neo Fly More Combo is a lightweight and simple to fly option for users of any skill level. It's lighter than your phone, in fact, and small enough that you don't need to register with the FAA to fly it. You can use your phone to operate it, and it can take off from your hand with a single button push, so it's already simple to use right out of the box.

You can just fly the drone around, or you can take photos from a bird's eye point of view with smart subject tracking and quickshots that your drone can take all on its own. You can also control it via voice or RC depending on your preference.

With 4K ultra stabilized video, you can also stack plenty of crisp, high definition video while flying, all without complex setups that confuse and potentially frustrate.

if you're ready to get into drone photography or just want a chance to fly one without breaking the bank, this combo is well worth splurging on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Wallet now lets you track flights from your lock screen. How to try it.

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:19

Google just made life a tiny bit easier for Android users who love to travel.

9to5google spotted a new lock screen widget for Android 16 that gives you persistent progress updates on your flights. It's very simple and straightforward: It shows your departing airport, your destination airport, your estimated arrival time, and a progress bar measuring how deep into the flight you are.

As 9to5google noted, this is on top of some already-existing features for travelers who add their boarding passes to the Google Wallet app. Those include push notifications about flight changes, but the flight progress widget is brand-new, having been promised by Google last year.

SEE ALSO: Google could pay $135 million settlement to U.S. Android users. How to get your money.

If you want to try it, well, you'd better have a flight lined up first. Add the boarding pass to Google Wallet, and the widget should appear shortly before takeoff. In other words, you don't really have to do anything other than put your boarding pass in your phone.

This marks another step forward for Google Wallet, which replaced Google Pay in 2024 as the go-to destination for credit cards and other important kinds of digital documentation on Android devices. By all accounts, it's been a successful transition for Android users, and if Google keeps adding neat little conveniences like this flight tracker widget, it'll only get better.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 cult-classic shows that secretly launched Hollywood superstars

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:16

Ask any binge-watcher, and they'll be quick to rattle off the name of their favorite cult-classic show. In recent years, my go-to answer is The OA, a mysterious Netflix drama that ran for two seasons before its cancellation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Aura digital picture frames are up to $30 off at Amazon ahead of Mothers Day

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:13

SAVE UP TO $30: Aura digital picture frames are on sale at Amazon for up to $30 off depending on size. The 10-inch Aura Carver digital frame is on sale for $159, down from the normal price of $179 and the 12-inch Aura Aspen is on sale for $199, down from the standard price of $229.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aura 10-inch Aura Carver Mat digital picture frame $159 at Amazon
$179 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Aura 12-inch Aura Aspen digital picture frame $199 at Amazon
$229 Save $30   Get Deal

It's a struggle to land on the perfect Mother's Day gift. Moms have a tendency to either say they don't want anything (do not fall for this) or actually own pretty much everything you can think of gifting them. Instead of buying them another pair of pajamas, go big this year and get a digital photo frame. Some great options are on sale today at Amazon.

As of April 22, Aura digital picture frames are on sale at Amazon for up to $30 off depending on size. The 10-inch Aura Carver digital frame is on sale for $159, down from the normal price of $179 and the 12-inch Aura Aspen is on sale for $199, down from the standard price of $229. That's an 11% and 13% discount, respectively. The sale price on the 12-inch Aura Aspen matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Photo memories are always cherished, and opting for a digital picture frame means you can add thousands of images to the collection. Aura makes it simple to upload pictures to any frame from anywhere in the world. Multiple family members can have access to a single frame for uploads that mom will enjoy everyday.

SEE ALSO: Best Earth Day 2026 deals so far: Blueland cleaning products, Pela phone cases, electric composters

The Aura app is fantastic for mom to control her photo preference, set display times, and add her own favorites to the frame. Both the Aura Carver and the Aura Aspen have a built-in speaker, so you can even upload videos and voice notes to the frame for mom to enjoy.

Keep in mind the frame requires a WiFi connection and it needs to be plugged in to operate. If you're gifting the Aura frame, you can even upload photos, videos, and a gift message through the Aura app without opening the premium gift box the Aura frame comes in.

Before these sale prices disappear, gift mom an Aura frame for Mother's Day this year. It's a gift she'll be able to enjoy all day, everyday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android Auto isn't just for maps—here's 5 other things I do with it

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:00

Many of us rely on Google Maps (or your navigation app of choice) running through Android Auto to get from point A to point B. It makes sense—navigation is one of the most fundamental features any modern car can offer, and it's only made better by Android Auto because it ditches the clunky built-in systems in favor of something familiar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Thinking of a Toyota Crown? This top trim Honda offers similar luxury for less

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:45

The Toyota Crown has carved out a unique space in the sedan market by blending premium comfort, hybrid efficiency, and upscale styling without wearing a traditional luxury badge. For buyers who want near-luxury refinement with everyday practicality, it makes a strong case. But it isn’t the only option delivering that formula, and it may not be the best value.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta will track employee mouse movements and keystrokes for AI training, report says

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:44

Meta is about to ramp up surveillance of its employees, Reuters reports, but in a very 2026 twist, it's not meant to catch people slacking off.

Reuters reports that Meta is installing tracking software that can capture mouse movements and keystrokes on U.S.-based employees' computers. While this sort of surveillance isn't unheard of in corporate America, the motivation here is slightly novel: Meta is reportedly going to use the data to train AI agents, per a company memo seen by Reuters.

This will be done through a tool called Model Capability Initiative, or MCI.

SEE ALSO: Meta finally adds direct messages to the web version of Threads

Meta's memo said the idea is to help AI agents improve at tasks they currently struggle with, such as using keyboard shortcuts. And in a different memo reportedly sent to employees on Monday, CTO Andrew Bosworth said to expect more internal data collection in order to make agents better at replicating human work. The goal, per Bosworth, is for agents to do most of the work while humans sit back and monitor the situation.

“The vision we are building towards is ​one where our agents primarily do the work and our role is to direct, review and help them improve," Bosworth said, per Reuters.

While Meta did not explicitly say any of this was meant to replace human workers down the line, it's reasonable to wonder if that's where this is eventually going. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs because of AI last year, and Meta has already laid off a quadruple-digit number of people (though those were unrelated to AI) earlier this year, with more cuts coming later in May.

If, at some point in the future, Meta reduces its workforce with the aim of having AI agents do the work instead, it may have been those same Meta employees who trained the AI in the first place.

In the meantime, Reuters reports that Meta assured employees that the data will not be used in performance reviews.

Meta hasn't had a great year, privacy-wise, and we're only four months into 2026.

In March, the company was accused of sending Meta Ray-Ban user recordings, including intimate images, to offshore Meta workers, also for AI training. Earlier this month, we reported on the case of a former Meta employee under criminal investigation for downloading private Facebook photos. And after a report that Meta was planning to add facial recognition technology into its smart glasses, a group of 70 organizations, including the ACLU, signed a public letter urging Meta to reverse course.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I scored ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:35

SAVE $26: As of April 22, returning subscribers can score two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents per month with the code N8C27L. Usually $13.99 per month, that's $26 in savings. Just note that your mileage may vary.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium $0.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) with code N8C27L Get Deal

If you're looking to save some money on your streaming lineup, my number one recommendation is to cancel your subscriptions. While it doesn't work for every streamer, many will offer you a special discount to come back. Not to mention, you'll be eligible for any new deals that may appear that are marketed to "new and returning customers." Case in point: as of April 22, returning subscribers can get two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for just 99 cents per month.

I've tested this out myself, so I can vouch for it. When you navigate to Paramount+ and sign in to your existing account, you'll be prompted to pick a plan. Select the Paramount+ Premium monthly plan for $13.99 per month. On the "Welcome back!" page, scroll down to the box that says "Have a promo code?" and enter N8C27L. Once you hit "apply" the price should drop to just 99 cents per month.

Credit: Paramount+

That's all, folks. You can take advantage of two full months of ad-free Paramount+, Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS live TV, UFC fights, and more for less than two bucks. That's $26 total in savings.

Paramount+ has a surprisingly hefty library. Subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ Originals like Landman and RuPaul Drag Race All Stars, Showtime series like Dexter Resurrection and Yellowjackets, CBS hits like Survivor and NCIS, and nostalgic shows from Nickelodeon and MTV. Not to mention, there's a lineup of movies that'll keep you fully entertained for your two-month promotional period. Just be sure to cancel again before the second month is over if you want to avoid paying full cost. You can always sign up again when another deal arises. I know I will.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Browser password managers have a hidden vulnerability that puts all your accounts at risk

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:30

These days, you need a lot of different logins. That's a lot to remember, so most people look for the easiest way to handle it. For a long time, the easiest option was the password manager built right into your web browser. This feature lets you get into sites without typing long, complex logins. However, this widespread convenience has hidden a basic security problem in how web browsers work. The convenience you get day-to-day isn't worth the big, ongoing risk of someone taking your private data, which is why some people use BitWarden.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get Ankers 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $60 less at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:24

SAVE 15%: As of April 22, you can get the Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That's a 15% discount or $60 savings.

Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock $339.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $60   Get Deal at Amazon

Working off a laptop is great until you realize you only have two ports and need to plug something in. If you're hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you're pretty much out of luck on the rest. Not only that, but your previously uncluttered desk will most likely look like a Best Buy exploded (a rat's nest of cords isn't cute or helpful for anyone getting work done).

SEE ALSO: This cable simplifies your charging setup, and it’s on sale for just $22

If you literally hate mess and cords as much as I do, you need a docking station to hide all that chaos and protect your aesthetic. Right now, Anker’s Prime TB5 Docking Station is on sale for $339.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99. (That's a $60 price cut.)

Are you going to use all 14 ports at the exact same time? Probably not, but you'll never have to dig through your bag for a specific adapter again. You just plug a single cable into your laptop, and the dock handles the rest. It features a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, SD and TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, an audio jack, and your choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1. It's also fast enough to transfer a 150GB file in 25 seconds.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get some new wrist candy with the CMF Watch Pro 2 at its lowest price ever

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:19

SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That's a discount of 49% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro $39.99 at Amazon
$79 Save $39.01   Get Deal

There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you're in need of one. But if you're willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you'll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that'll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it's got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.

As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That's $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: I Ran 30 Miles and THIS Is the Most Accurate Smartwatch

This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.

It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.

With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You'll want to grab yours while it's still down to the lowest price we've seen.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My Home Assistant dashboard runs DOOM, and yours can too

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:15

You usually think of a modern smart home as a place for order and automations that feel like magic. However, under this surface of usefulness, there is an opportunity for play. For decades, the world has been driven by one obsessive question that acts as a test for any new hardware: can it run DOOM?

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:12

SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker $224 at Amazon
$299 Save $75   Get Deal

Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That's a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've seen at Amazon so far this year.

A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It's both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.

SEE ALSO: The Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station is back at a record-low price at Amazon — get ready for camping season

Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won't add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.

Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It's ready for any adventure you have planned.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I capped my frame rate and my aging GPU suddenly felt new again

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:00

As a PC gamer, I'm more than familiar with the "need more fps" mentality. The "higher number better" mentality. The constant feeling like 60 fps isn't enough, you need 144 fps, and when that's not enough, you need even more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:00

Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.

Titled "Using Technology with Intention," the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.

SEE ALSO: Survey: This is the most distracting app for teens

Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.

District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.

Featured Video For You Is U.S. TikTok censoring its users?

The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.

"We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best," board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday's meeting.

"This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time..."

Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.

"Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time," the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.

"There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apples excellent AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for just $200 — a $50 savings

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:57

SAVE $49.01: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are 20% at Amazon and Walmart as of April 22. Snag a pair for just $199.99 (normally $249).

Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart

Our very own Stan Schroeder is fresh off reviewing the new AirPods Max 2, Apple's updated over-ear headphones. While he thought their noise cancellation has improved since the last generation, they still can't block out sounds as well as the AirPods Pro 3: "Wearing them on a busy street makes the outside noise vanish in a spectacular fashion," he writes of the earbuds.

So, if you're an Apple user looking for best-in-class ANC, stick with the AirPods Pro 3. Right now, they happen to be on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon and Walmart — that's a savings of nearly $50 and one of their best deals to date. They briefly hit $184 on Amazon back in February, but never since. (And they were $219.99 everywhere last Black Friday.)

For comparison's sake, the AirPods Max 2 are up to $350 pricier depending on the color.

SEE ALSO: AirPods Pro 3 review: Without a doubt, one of the best products of 2025

The AirPods Pro 3 actually have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Max 2, so they support the same suite of smart features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. On top of that, they come with a built-in heart rate monitor that "worked perfectly," per Mashable contributor Adam Doud. (Read his full review.)

On their own, the AirPods Pro 3 will net you up to eight hours of battery life per charge with their ANC enabled. Their included charging case adds an extra 24 hours of use.

I can personally assure you that you won't find the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for anywhere cheaper — even if you go for a used pair. In new condition, they're $239.99 at B&H Photo and full price at Best Buy and Target. Then there's Best Buy's open-box AirPods Pro 3, which are are $204.99 in fair condition. Pass.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lowe’s and the NFL team up on a $32 Mini Toolbox—and they’re selling out fast

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:47

Are you an NFL fan patiently awaiting the start of the new season or getting amped about the NFL draft? Do you also love power tools? If so, you'll be happy to hear that Lowe's just dropped some awesome NFL-themed Kobalt Mini Toolboxes, but they're selling out fast.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Skip the Benchy, these are the first 6 things you should print with a new 3D printer

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:45

The humble Benchy is the go-to first print for many proud new 3D printer owners, a “torture test” benchmark in the form of a model boat that was designed to put the printers of the past through their paces.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 75-inch Hisense U8 Mini LED TV is officially the cheapest its ever been at 50% off

Mashable - Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:37

SAVE $1,250: As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for just $1,249.99. That's a savings of 50% from its original list price of $2,499.99 and its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $1,249.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,250.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $1,249.99 at Best Buy
$2,499.99 Save $1,250.00   Get Deal

If a new TV with a big screen, stunningly bright picture, and affordable tag is what you're after, the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is a great pick — especially now that it's at a record-low price.

As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is down to just $1,249.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy. Its original list price is $2,499.99, which means you'll save 50% or a full $1,250. That's officially the best price we've ever seen on this model. Previously, it dropped to $1,297.99 during Cyber Week, but this price beats that one by nearly $50.

CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called the 2025 U8 TV the brightest TV he's ever reviewed, but added that it "complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors." It's remarkably vibrant no matter the environment and no matter what you're watching. The ice during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs will be absolutely glistening on this TV, with its 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The 165Hz native refresh rate doesn't hurt either. It won't have any of the glitching and stuttering your old TV did.

It's not just great for watching sports, either. Those dim-lit scenes in your favorite shows and movies will actually pop with the U8's ultra-bright Mini LED panel. It's even IMAX-enhanced for cinema-like picture quality. The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface covering all the major streaming services, as well as Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant for hands-free control.

On a normal day, we'd say the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is too expensive for most folks, but as of April 22, it's finally down to a price that won't cause sticker shock.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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