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It’s iPhone launch day, which means it’s finally time to see what the new models look and feel like outside of marketing materials. Can’t get down to your local Apple Store? Not to worry, I went down bright and early (Australia time) to grab a few photos and register some first impressions.

SAVE $200: The TCL A1 GTV projector is on sale at Amazon for $299.99, down from the list price of $499.99. That's a 40% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL A1 GTV projector $299.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $200 Get Deal

Some movies and shows deserve a massive screen. That's going to be true when you rewatch the Tron series before the new Tron: Ares releases in October. If you don't have a massive screen at home, there's a sweet deal at Amazon that will solve this problem.

As of Sept. 18, the TCL A1 GTV projector is on sale for only $299.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $499.99 at TCL. That's a significant $200 savings thanks to a 40% discount. That makes this the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

With a 1080p display and 360 lumens, your movie nights will look great projected onto a 120-inch display. TCL made this projector extra simple to use by incorporating built-in Google TV and Netflix. The versatile handle that doubles as a stand is also a great feature.

SEE ALSO: The Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector is back at a record-low price at Amazon

Many projectors come with a built-in speaker that is useless, but the TCL A1 uses Dolby Audio and a 16W speaker, which means you'll be in for great sound. You'll be able to stream your favorite movies or shows via Bluetooth, HDMI, or a USB stick. You can also log into your accounts via the Google TV function.

TCL added keystone correction, automatic focus, screen fit, and obstacle avoidance on this model, which makes set up a breeze. Keep in mind there's no onboard battery, so you'll need to plug it into the wall or use a portable power station.

While it's hanging out at a record-low price, upgrade your movie nights to the TCL A1 GTV projector. You'll be saving $200 while gaining the ability to watch your favorites on a 120-inch display. That will make for a seriously memorable Halloween night rewatching your favorite spooky movies.

You may love Mark Zuckerberg for everything he's built; you may loathe him with a passion for the same reason.

But just for a moment, when the Meta CEO stands on stage in his Meta Ray-Ban Displays and fails repeatedly to do the simplest possible task the AI-loaded glasses were designed to do — pick up a WhatsApp call — he's no longer Zuckerberg the great and powerful.

SEE ALSO: Watch the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses fail in Mark Zuckerberg's painful live demo

He's just a guy, standing in awkward silence in front of an audience of thousands, asking them to ignore a loud ongoing ringtone.

We've seen many of these tech fails in product demos over the years, the awkward moments that remind us we're seeing human beings struggle mightily in the arena of the demo gods. Sometimes they're sweet (Apple's Craig Federighi having to hang up on his mom while showing off a new OS), but mostly, they're awkward to the point of cringe.

Mostly, we're watching someone who wasn't the greatest presenter to begin with (what tech nerd is?) flailing when a flaw in cutting-edge tech upends a scene they've been practicing for as long as a high schooler practices a play. You'd be forgiven for feeling like a parent who wants to put the camera down at that point.

SEE ALSO: Fake tech demos, a brief history

So yes, Zuckerberg's demo enters the tech fail hall of fame (and given that Apple won't even do live tech demos during its keynotes anymore, he can at least be applauded for giving it a shot). But it's still a rookie mistake compared to these gems from the history of tech.

1. Steve Jobs begs the audience for more WiFi

What tech nerd was the greatest presenter? You'd get little argument from anyone in Silicon Valley: Steve Jobs, whose keynotes thrived on a sense of intimacy with the audience. (I saw that firsthand many times, including the legendary 2007 iPhone unveiling, which had its own array of interesting moments).

But even the mighty Jobs could flail, or get furious. In 2010, he threw a camera that failed to connect to an iMac at a stagehand. And in the iPhone 4 demo above, Jobs spends uncomfortable minutes actually not talking to the audience, a rarity, while he tries to load the New York Times on Safari.

Later in the keynote, being Jobs, he proceeds to bug not a stagehand, but the entire audience, many of whom are tech journalists carrying mobile hotspots. He comes with receipts: "There are 570 WiFI base stations operating in this room" — before demanding everyone close their laptops and shut down their hotspots so the demo can work.

"The WiFi" is still a go-to excuse for tech demos that go wrong; we saw that during Zuckerberg's keynote. But this Jobs keynote is one case in which we can say the WiFi was to blame.

2. Elon Musk smashes a Cybertruck window This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Funnier every time you watch it." That was Mashable's review of the 2019 demo when Tesla CEO Elon Musk went too far in trying to demonstrate just how tough the windows in his Cybertruck, then years away from production, would be.

Here's how it went down. The Cybertruck's lead designer dropped metal balls on plates of Tesla glass that didn't shatter. Then Musk insisted the designer throw the balls at the truck. Having put a hole in one window, he proceeds to double down, and the Cybertruck gets two bullet-like smash marks.

Which in retrospect, may be the first sign that the Cybertruck was destined to become a whole stainless steel bucket of fail — and it also seems an appropriate summary of how Musk has blundered his way through the years since then.

3. The Microsoft Surface freezes over

The infamous Windows "blue screen of death" may be no more, but its legacy lives on in Microsoft's best-known product fails. Most well-known: The time Bill Gates stood on stage next to a Windows 98 machine that crashed as it tried to daisy-chain too many USB devices.

But is that really a classic demo fail? Not at all; Gates had an out. "This must be why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet," he quipped.

To be truly legendary, a demo fail must fluster the demonstrator and mar the product's image in a very public way. And in the Microsoft annals, there's no greater example than Windows president Steven Sinofsky unveiling what the company hoped would be its iPad killer, the Surface tablet.

Sinofsky's problem was that he didn't get a blue screen of death; his Surface simply froze as he was attempting to "browse smoothly" on Internet Explorer. The next few seconds no doubt haunted his nightmares, and may haunt yours, as Sinofsky tried to brazen his way through the freeze by turning his tablet away from the audience. Yep, that'll work!

4. Google Gemini fails twice This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

When it comes to demo fails in the AI era, Zuckerberg has a long way to go if he wants to challenge Google for the crown.

The search giant demonstrated this at Google I/O 2025, where a live translation demo produced what was until now the year's most infamous smart glasses fail. But the true awkwardness of the moment was tempered by the fact that the demo was described as "very risky" beforehand, and shut down the second it stopped working.

For true classic cringe, you need a product failing twice at the supposedly easy task it's asked to do, ideally with a spinning wheel moment where its software just hangs. That's what happened at a "Made by Google" event in 2024, where senior director of product Dave Citron tries to show off how his Pixel can look at a Sabrina Carpenter concert poster and figure out if there's space in his calendar for him to get tickets.

Gemini, Google's AI, seems to turn up its nose at the very idea; Citron's request vanishes, not once but twice. Notably, Citron finally gets it to work after invoking "the demo gods."

Memo to all executives who want to avoid this list: The demo gods may be fictional deities, but calling for their assistance certainly doesn't hurt.

TL;DR: Sellful ERP Agency Plan Lifetime Subscription: $349.97 (reg. $1,497) through Oct. 5 — one platform for websites, CRM, invoicing, marketing, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sellful Sellful White Label Website Builder & Software: ERP Agency Plan (Lifetime) $349.97
$1,497 Save $1,147.03 Get Deal

Running a business shouldn’t feel like managing 12 different apps at once. That’s where Sellful ERP Agency Plan steps in—a true all-in-one AI-powered platform built to simplify and scale your business. For a one-time $349.97 (reg. $1,497) through Oct. 5, you can white-label it under your own brand and offer your clients everything they need in one place.

What You’ll Get with Sellful:

• Website and Funnel Builder — Generate stunning websites, landing pages, and online shops with AI.

• CRM and Marketing Tools — Track leads, send newsletters, automate outreach, and manage pipelines.

• Project and Team Management — Visual dashboards, team chat, task tracking, and client portals.

• Finance and Invoicing — Invoicing, payroll, accounting, and billing tools built right in.

• Memberships and Courses — Build online programs, subscriptions, and even community spaces.

• Point of Sale and HR — Sync offline and online stores, manage staff, and run payroll.

• White Label Everything — Sellful works under your branding, giving your agency a seamless edge.

From automating help desk tickets to running social media campaigns, Sellful is the business management suite designed to save time, cut costs, and scale revenue. Get a Sellful ERP Agency Plan Lifetime Subscription for the one-time payment of $349.97 (reg. $1,497) through Oct. 5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Composing an email or writing an article can require a lot of resources. You may have to switch between multiple tabs, reference multiple files, or use multiple apps to compile all of your information. Fortunately, Chromebooks include a little known feature called Quick Insert.

SAVE $24.01: As of Sept. 18, get the Apple AirTags (4-Pack) for $74.99, down from their usual price of $99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 24%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirTags (4-Pack) $74.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $24.01 Get Deal

How many times have you misplaced an important item like your keys or your wallet, only to be forced to hunt it down before you leave the house? It's never a fun task, especially since it can stress you out, make you late, and be a nuisance in general. That's where smart trackers like Apple's AirTags come in. Stop losing your things and save some money with this Amazon deal that nets you four of them at a discount.

As of Sept. 18, get the Apple AirTags (4-Pack) for $74.99, down from their usual price of $99 at Amazon. That's $24.01 off and a discount of 24%.

SEE ALSO: 6 Android Bluetooth trackers that work just as well as AirTags

AirTags are handy trackers that use Apple's Find My network to help you locate all your important belongings. Just take one, hold it near your phone to activate and name it, and place it wherever you want, whether that's in a backpack, your car, on your pet's collar, or even on a wallet-sized card.

It takes about a minute to set up, and once you've done so, you can locate your tracker, wherever you've put it, by sound with its built-in speaker, visually with Find My, or ask Siri to help locate it. You'll be given directions to find it, step by step.

Share an AirTag with up to five people, and you can literally just forget about it for up to a year as its battery life lasts about that long. When it runs out, just pop it open and replace it with a watch-style battery.

It's super easy to use, extremely accurate, and now even more affordable with this deal. Grab this four-pack and keep an eye on all your things while out and about in the fall weather.

Don't let the early trailers have you stressed. Sure, Now You See Me: Now You Don't has new talent coming to the heisting crew of magicians, including I Saw The TV Glow's Justice Smith, The Holdovers' Dominic Sessa, and Barbie's Ariana Greenblatt. But the latest trailer from Lionsgate assures fans of Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2 that the Four Horsemen will ride again.

In this much-anticipated third installment, J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), and Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson) reunite for more money, thefts, and thrills. They're back to save the world from the vicious Veronika Vanderberg (Saltburn's Rosamund Pike). Sure, at first glance, she seem your average sexy, utlra-rich heiress with an obscenely large heart-shaped diamond. But beneath this chic veneer, she's laundering money for arms dealers, traffickers, and warlords. She's basically a super villain. So, who better to bring her down than two generations of illusionists?

Could this magical franchise be conjuring up a leap to even more fantastical action? Hey, it worked for the Fast and Furious franchise. Realism's overrated. Give us fantasy, flare, and slight of hand with an attitude!

Ruben Fleischer, the director behind Venom and Zombieland, is at the helm of Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which means movie fans should expect some totally bonkers humor and eye-popping action.

Now You See Me: Now You Don't opens in theaters Nov. 14.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

The smart energy company and popular power station brand Jackery just launched one of its biggest devices, the HomePower 3600 Plus. It hopes you'll use it to keep the lights on during an emergency power outage and touts it as a capable whole-home backup solution.

Building a custom PC is fun. But, there are definitely some pitfalls that you could encounter when assembling your first PC. Having built numerous systems over the past decade, I’ve learned a lot of the mistakes that can be made, and now I want to tell you about them so you don’t make the same ones I did.

Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera lead The Lost Bus, a disaster film that delves into real events among the terror of the 2018 Camp Fire, California's deadliest wildfire.

Directed by Paul Greengrass (the Bourne series, Captain Phillips, United 93), the Apple TV+ film follows the true story of school bus driver Kevin McKay (McConaughey), teacher Mary Ludwig (Ferrera), and a class of 22 children, caught amid the deadly flames. Ashlie Atkinson, Yul Vazquez, and Spencer Watson also star.

As Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "What might have been a spectacle, channeling real-world heroism into the dynamic derring-do of an American action hero, instead becomes a rocky ride, taking turns into the maudlin one moment and the theatrically threatening the next. The result is a movie that is gripping, but only in gasps."

The Lost Bus will hit select cinemas on Sept. 19, before streaming on Apple TV+ Oct. 3.

The best streaming deals to watch 'How to Train Your Dragon' at a glance: Best non-streaming option Buy or rent 'How to Train Your Dragon' on Prime Video $9.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Best for most people Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal Best for students Peacock Premium for Students $2.99/month for 12 months (save $8/month) Get Deal Best for medical professionals Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal Best for military personnel Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal Best for teachers Peacock Premium for Teachers $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Best for Mastercard holders Peacock Premium or Premium Plus Get $3 or $5 cashback per month with World or World Elite Mastercard Get Deal Best for Walmart shoppers Walmart+ annual subscription (includes Peacock Premium) $98 per year (save $109.99 per year) Get Deal

Another beloved animated film has undergone the live-action treatment, but this time, we're pleased to say it's a gem. The tale of a boy and his adorably misunderstood beast, How to Train Your Dragon, dominated theaters this summer. Although it hasn't exactly reinvented the wheel, "the film manages to recreate the magic of the original through impeccable visual effects, faithful cinematography, and intricate production design."

Dean DeBlois is back in the writer and director's chair, and Gerard Butler reprises the role he voiced in the animated films as Viking chief Stoick the Vast. Meanwhile, Mason Thames stars as Hiccup, his awkward son.

If you missed it in theaters, the movie is officially available to watch at home, with a streaming debut on Oct. 10. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch How to Train Your Dragon (2025).

Is How to Train Your Dragon worth watching?

Unlike Disney's Snow White or The Little Mermaid, the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon actually manages to recapture what made the original film so delightful. Critics and audiences alike loved it, giving it a 76 and 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It earned $239 million domestically and $561 million worldwide, surpassing the original film's box office numbers.

Mashable's own reviewer raved about the visual effects, faithful adaptation, and strong performances. "Essentially, Toothless is magnificent in live-action. Every scale glimmers, every muscle moves, and the franchise's beloved dragon's signature expressiveness shines through every scene. Supported by a heartfelt performance from Thames, who is essentially working with a puppet, the Hiccup-Toothless friendship of all friendships is lovingly rendered," writes Mashable's Shannon Connellan.

Read our full review of How to Train Your Dragon.

How to watch How to Train Your Dragon at home Credit: Universal Pictures

It's time for audiences to revisit the Isle of Berk from their couches. There are a few different ways you can watch. You can buy it or rent it on digital for as low as $9.99, or you can stream it on Peacock. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

The film is available to buy for $19.99 or rent for $9.99 as of July 15. While saving a few bucks and opting for the rental option is tempting, just be aware that you'll only get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it instead, then it's yours to keep.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase How to Train Your Dragon:

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Google Play — buy for $9.99, rent for $9.99

Stream it on Peacock

As a Universal Pictures film, How to Train Your Dragon will make its streaming debut on Peacock, the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service, on Oct. 10, 2025.

Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for as low as $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without to prepare for live-action Toothless' streaming debut. But before you get ahead of yourself, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

When Peacock isn't running any sort of special (keep an eye out around Black Friday), the best Peacock deal for most people on any given day is its annual subscription. You'll save 17% by paying upfront for the year, essentially getting 12 months of streaming for the price of 10. A monthly subscription with ads usually costs $10.99 per month (which adds up to $131.88), but paying upfront drops that price to only $109.99 (which breaks down to $9.17 per month). If you go ad-free, you'll pay $169.99 per year (which breaks down to about $14.16 per month instead of $16.99) for Premium Plus.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

Are you an Xfinity customer? Be sure to check the eligibility details below, as you might be able to score a Peacock Premium subscription for free. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible for the deal or you can head to Xfinity.com for more details.

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students: Save $8/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $2.99 per month for one year (save $8/month) Get Deal

Students can sign up for a full year of Peacock Premium at a discounted rate of $2.99 per month instead of $10.99. That's a total of just $35.88 for the year, saving you $96. Just verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to unlock the savings. Just note that it can only be used once, and after the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price again.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $7/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $3.99 per month (save $7/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $3.99 per month (save $7/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all get a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) at a discounted rate of $3.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. Unlike the student deal, however, it's not limited to a year. If you continue to meet verification qualifications each year, you can renew your subscription at the discounted rate — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code.

Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

By signing up for Instacart+ for $99.99 per year, you'll unlock a free Peacock Premium subscription. That's on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. That's a $109.99 per year value tacked on to your Instacart+ subscription for free. Oh and here's a pro tip: if you're new to Instacart+, you'll get a free two-week trial to test the waters. If you wait until the streaming release of How to Train Your Dragon, you could even watch it for free during the trial period.

Best for Mastercard holders: Get up to $5 back per month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Mastercard Peacock Premium Get $3 or $5 cashback per month with World or World Elite Mastercard Get Deal

Through the end of 2025, when you sign up for Peacock using an eligible World or World Elite Mastercard, you'll automatically receive a monthly statement credit of $3 for Peacock Premium or $5 for Peacock Premium Plus. That ultimately drops the price of the Premium tier down to just $7.99 (its former price before the most recent price hike) and Premium Plus down to $11.99 per month. Learn more about eligibility requirements on the promotional page.

Best for Walmart shoppers: free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart+ Walmart+ subscription $98 per year (free Peacock Premium) Get Deal

Walmart+ members now have the option to choose Peacock Premium as a free perk with their subscription. Since a Walmart+ membership is just $98 per year, it's already $11.99 cheaper than paying for Peacock Premium on its own. Add in the other perks like free shipping (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's Black Friday sale and other major shopping events, and it's the full package. Amazon Prime, who?

UPDATE: Sep. 18, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming details for How to Train Your Dragon, as well as the latest pricing information for Peacock.

You may have heard that Meta announced some high-tech smart glasses this week. You also may have seen a viral demo video featuring Mark Zuckerberg where the product didn't work at all. Like, at all. The good news is that's apparently not always the case.

The two major differentiators between these glasses and the other Meta Ray-Ban specs is that there's now a built-in display, and it comes with a fancy, futuristic wristband that lets you use hand gestures to navigate around apps on said display. Some members of the tech press got hands-on sessions with the new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which retail for a whopping $799.

Spoiler alert: Apparently, these smart AR glasses are the real deal.

SEE ALSO: Watch the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses fail in Mark Zuckerberg's painful live demo Meta Ray-Ban Display: What hands-on testers had to say

Let's start with Mike Prospero of Tom's Guide. Prospero compared the Ray-Ban Display glasses to other competitors with built-in displays, and one of the bigger things that stood out to him was that the display required no tweaking or tinkering to make it look right.

"I've used smart glasses and goggles with built-in displays before, and they've all been so-so: You have to position the glasses just right, or make minute adjustments, or else you can't see anything," Prospero wrote. "Not so with the Ray-Ban Display: The screen was front and center from the moment I put the glasses on my face, no fussin' or mussin' needed."

Ray-Ban Display comes with a 600x600, 90Hz display in the right lens with a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, which should make it usable in most conditions. Michael L. Hicks of Android Central said the brightness was adequate, claiming he never had issues with readability or anything like that. Perhaps most importantly, Hicks also said other people can't see what you're doing from the outside looking in.

"With Meta Ray-Ban Display, I got up close to Meta's engineer wearing a second pair, looked from various angles, and couldn't see any light leakage," Hicks wrote. "That ensures privacy: you can glance at messages or videos without it being obvious (or rude) to people nearby."

Looking very cool, sir! Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images SEE ALSO: Xreal's futuristic AR glasses are finally available at Amazon and Best Buy

It sounds like these were very brief and cursory demo sessions lasting about 15 minutes, so there are lots of features and other aspects of the Ray-Ban Display that will have to wait until the device is out for further analysis. That said, the last thing everyone surely wants to know about is the Neural Band, a wrist-worn control mechanism for the glasses. It uses hand gestures for navigational control, which could be iffy if not done properly.

According to Gizmodo's James Pero, the controls feel "like a bit of magic" when they work, but it sounds like it's not perfect just yet.

"Personally, I still had some variability on inputs—you may have to try to input something once or twice before it registers—but I would say that it works well most of the time (at least much better than you’d expect for a literal first-of-its-kind device)," Pero wrote. "I suspect the experience will only get more fluid over time, though, and even better once you really train yourself to navigate the UI properly."

The last thing from these hands-on pieces that's worth mentioning here is live voice transcription for in-person conversations. According to Pero and others, this works well and could eventually be used for live translation across languages in the future. However, Pero had mixed results when it came to the glasses transcribing one person's speech while others were speaking nearby.

"While the transcription focused mostly on the person I was looking at, it still picked up stray words here and there," Pero wrote. "This feels like a bit of an inevitability in loud scenarios, but who knows? Maybe beamforming and AI can fill in the gaps."

Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses go on sale on Sept. 30 for $799.

Google launched the Nano Banana image generator in late August, and it's been building momentum through word of mouth ever since. The new model, officially dubbed Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, actually shot to the top of the LMArena AI leaderboard under its Nano Banana code name before Google officially rolled it out in its Gemini AI chatbot and app.

Users have been so excited to try Nano Banana that Gemini now tops the App Store charts, and it’s not far behind on Google Play. Why is there so much interest in this generative AI image model?

Nano Banana is a solid image maker (though not the best AI image generator, according to our tests); however, it really shines as an AI image editor. Using natural language commands, you can tell Gemini exactly how to edit your image. This isn’t exactly new, as Gemini has been able to do this for months, but Nano Banana adds additional functionality. For instance, you can upload multiple images and have Gemini combine them into a single image. You can also upload a photo of yourself, and using Nano Banana, have Gemini generate headshots, sports cards, or add new details to your original photo.

Left: Google provided this example when announcing Nano Banana. Credit: Google Right: Credit: Google Left: Our tech editor provided these before and after photos after giving Nano Banana a shot. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Right: Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

In any case, it's an impressive image editor (and generator), and here’s how you can use it. 

How to use Google Nano Banana

The easiest way for people on a computer to play with Nano Banana is to head to Google AI Studio.

Google AI Studio is the company's free playground for users who want to try its latest AI tools. (It's a great way to try AI tools before Google locks them behind a paywall.) To get started, simply log into (or create) your Google account and then opt in to Google AI Studio. If you're already signed up for Google AI Studio, you can go straight in and start uploading, generating, and editing images.

On mobile, it’s similarly simple. Download the Google Gemini app on Android or iOS. Once you've logged in, open the app and start a new chat. Look for the option to Create Image with a banana icon. Tap that and start entering prompts or upload an image of your own.

Please note: If you're having trouble accessing Nano Banana, then you may need to sign in to your Google account and/or sign up for Google AI Studio first.

Those are the two easiest methods if you want to try Nano Banana right now. Per Google, the free version has a limited number of uses “for testing purposes” before you have to sign up for a Google AI Pro membership (a free trial is available), so make your usage count. You can also access Nano Banana in the browser version of Gemini or test it against other models at LMAerna

How to generate an image with Nano Banana

Generating an image in Nano Banana is the same as generating an image on any other image generator. You type in your request and allow the AI to do its thing. Here's how to get started:

Google AI Studio Credit: Joe Hindy

• Go to Google AI Studio (or Gemini).

• Select the Try Nano Banana option. 

• In the given text box, type in your prompt. 

• Once done, hit Run. 

• After some time, Nano Banana will generate the image you requested. 

• Enter additional prompts to edit or alter the image.

Google Gemini app Look for the banana icon in the Gemini app. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

• Open the Google Gemini app

• On the first screen that loads, you should see the option to Create Image with a banana icon. Tap it or hit the + icon and upload an image of your own.

• In the text box, type your prompt. 

• Once done, hit the send button. 

• Again, Nano Banana will take some time and then generate the image you wanted. 

In testing, images tended to generate in about 10 to 15 seconds, depending on the prompt. If you're not getting the type of results you imagined, try altering your prompt.

How to edit images with Nano Banana

This is pretty much the same process, but with one extra step where you upload the media that you want Nano Banana to edit.

Google AI Studio

• Load into Nano Banana using the above instructions. 

• This time, tap the plus button on the right side of the text box.

• You can choose where to source your media from. Your options are Google Drive, uploading a file, taking a photo with your webcam, and using a piece of sample media. 

• Once you select your image, it will upload to Nano Banana. 

• From here, you can ask Nano Banana to edit or alter the image how you choose using the text box to type in your prompts. 

Google Gemini app Credit: Joe Hindy

Again, follow the above steps to open a chat to create images. 

• Hit the plus button in the bottom left corner. 

• You can choose where to source your media. Your options include your camera (taking a picture), the gallery, the file browser, and Google Drive. 

• Once you select your image(s), they will upload in the chat window. 

• Type what you want Nano Banana to do with your image(s) and the AI will do its best to comply. 

During testing, I found this process to be hit or miss. You have to be very specific about what you want it to do if you want to combine two images into one. 

How to get the best results with Nano Banana: Be specific Credit: Joe Hindy

For the most part, Nano Banana worked quite well. However, it does have its limitations. For example, I had it transpose my hand holding BBQ spice rub into a picture of a backyard bonfire. It did so with beautiful results. However, I asked it to darken my hand to match the lighting, and Nano Banana simply didn’t do it, showing me the same image again. So, if you give it a try, make sure to make your prompts as specific as possible to avoid mixups, and it’s otherwise a lot of fun to play with. 

Google also has documentation for making the most of Nano Banana.

To get the best results, Google also recommends being specific and descriptive: "Describe the scene, don't just list keywords. The model's core strength is its deep language understanding. A narrative, descriptive paragraph will almost always produce a better, more coherent image than a list of disconnected words."

For instance, if you're hoping to generate photorealistic images, then be sure to use lots of terms related to photography, such as specific camera angles, lens or film types, and lighting ideas.

The KDE Plasma version 6.5 just got released in beta, and it's bringing some exciting upgrades to the popular open source desktop environment for Linux and BSD operating systems. Dark mode switching, KRunner, and the clipboard manager are among the features seeing improvements.

Many of us mechanical keyboard enthusiasts have more than one keyboard—collecting comes with the hobby. As I was staring at my two mechanical keyboards the other day, an idea popped into my head: what would happen if I used both of them simultaneously?

AMD motherboards based on the AM5 socket are quite pricey on average. There are numerous models priced above $300, with many costing more than $400. On one hand, that’s somewhat understandable considering the features (PCIe 5.0, USB4, Wi-Fi 7), but on the other, AM5 boards sure are expensive.

Music industry titan Live Nation — and its subsidiary Ticketmaster — are facing the wrath of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with the government agency and seven states filing a lawsuit alleging the company engages in “illegal” ticket resale practices.

The filing accuses the company of failing to curb large-scale ticket resale operations, automatic bots, and purchase limits, "tacitly" working with scalpers to "unlawfully" turn tickets for a profit. Music fans have been complaining about this problem for years, but it's just the tip of an iceberg, concealing an underground economy of individual scalpers, reseller networks, and hackers.

The FTC says that Ticketmaster — which has been accused of holding a monopoly on digital ticket marketplaces through its parent Live Nation — has been “triple dipping” its profits by collecting fees from brokers on the primary market, brokers on the secondary market, and concert goers, CNBC reported. The complaint calculates that consumers have paid around $16 billion in fees because of this system, and have violated the 2016 Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act.

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"A senior Ticketmaster executive admitted in an internal email that copied Live Nation leadership, that the companies 'turn a blind eye as a matter of policy' to brokers’ violations of posted ticket limits," the FTC wrote in a statement. "For example, an internal review showed that just five brokers controlled 6,345 Ticketmaster accounts and possessed 246,407 concert tickets to 2,594 events." Ticketmaster uses a system for brokers, TradeDesk, that should monitor high volume ticket buyers and be able to track those who exceed purchase limits and hold numerous accounts.

In addition, the FTC says the company has been falsely advertising ticket costs by listing prices that were lower than the total after fees and markups, a violation of the FTC Act.

Over the last year, Live Nation has been under close scrutiny by entertainment leaders and federal regulators, including an anti-trust investigation by the U.S. Justice Department in 2024. Celebrities have also lashed out against the corporation, including Taylor Swift, as fans have dealt with fluctuating ticket prices (known as "dynamic pricing"), excessively long queues, and bots programmed by resellers to quickly snatch up available tickets. A Minnesota bill regulating online ticket sales and prohibiting bots went into effect earlier this year.

You have ads on your phone, your TV, your computer, and pretty much every electronic in your house. Now, Samsung wants to make your kitchen into free ad real estate, too.

With how popular portable battery packs are, when a bunch of packs suddenly start catching fire, it's a pretty big deal. In June, Anker announced a recall on over a million battery packs, then added five more models to the list a few weeks later "out of an abundance of caution." After further investigation, some of these certainly carry a risk, so this is your reminder to dispose of and replace any affected units.

Corsair makes a lot of different PC gaming hardware, light and heavy. This mouse that the company has just released is so light, it might actually be too light for many of you.