Blogroll

This new Android feature helped me finally fix my worst organizational habit

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:30

Once I put something important away in a nice, secure spot, my brain almost immediately forgets where I hid it. It's great for keeping things hidden and secure, but not so great when it's time to find what you've stashed. My solution has been to leave everything out and accessible, which is obviously an incredibly flawed system and one that needs a more permanent, organized solution.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft just invented the ultimate laptop USB-C port

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:25

Microsoft's long-expected Surface Laptop Ultra release came with a surprise: a new approach to charging. The tech giant has unveiled a Magnetic Connect feature that serves as the equivalent to Apple's MagSafe for Windows PCs, with its own set of advantages and tradeoffs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPhone vs. Android on privacy-invasive bloatware: Which lets users remove pre-installed apps?

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:19

Apple has long been criticized for the iPhone's "walled garden," the closed ecosystem that the company has built with iOS that gives Apple tight control over which apps and services can run on its smartphone. Android devices have long been viewed as the more "open" option, giving users more control over what's on their smartphone.

But, when it comes to bloatware, that may not be the case. In fact, a recent study from cybersecurity company Surfshark found that iPhone users can remove more pre-installed apps from their devices than users of phones from some of the top Android smartphone makers like Samsung and Google.

According to the study, the iPhone comes with up to 50 pre-installed apps. Users in the EU can remove 48 of these apps or 96 percent of them. (The Phone app and the Settings app are the only two pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted in the EU.) In the U.S., iPhone users are able to delete 44 of these apps or 88 percent of them.

Samsung devices, on the other hand, come with a whopping 88 pre-installed apps and only 50 of them or 57 percent were marked safe to remove. For Google's Android devices, the database listed 71 pre-installed apps, but only 38 percent of them or 27 apps were marked as safe to remove.

The report states that the average smartphone user has between 60 and 90 apps installed on their device. However, they use roughly 10 of these apps on a daily basis and around 30 of them each month. That leaves many apps unused and taking up space.

But, even worse than that, these apps may not just sit there. They can operate in the background, collecting personal data, making bloatware a privacy risk too.

Apple apps collected on average 8 data types per pre-installed app, which includes location data, behavioral data, and other sensitive information. Apple Music and the Apple Store app collected the most user data types, according to Surfshark, listing 17 and 18 data types, respectively, out of 35 different data types.

The pre-installed apps analyzed on Google devices collected an average of 13 data types per app. Google Gemini and the Google app list the most data types, with each disclosing 29 of 38 different data types, which is more than double the average of the other apps.

The average pre-installed app analyzed on a Samsung device also collected 13 data types. However, the Samsung dataset includes Facebook and Instagram, which are the worst offending apps in the report. These apps disclosed a whopping 37 out of 38 data types.

"Data collection practices by popular applications, particularly social media platforms and chatbots, raise privacy concerns," said Surfshark's Chief Security Officer Tomas Stamulis in a statement. "While certain data points are necessary for basic operational functionality, entities may harvest information for targeted advertising or may even share it with undisclosed third parties. Even never-used applications can gather personal data and link to your device."

"Relying entirely on pre-installed applications can affect your privacy, as apps don't always protect user data as you might expect," Stamulis continued. "Shifting to third-party alternatives that are privacy-focused can help minimize data collection, limit overall exposure, and reduce unwanted targeted ads. It can also mitigate the risks associated with potential data breaches as your personal data is not stored in a single database."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft just gave AI agents guardrails so they can't delete your files by mistake

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:15

AI agents are more capable than ever, and that is exactly what makes them a potential problem. Today, most AI agents have the same permissions and file access as you do, so one hallucination can wipe out an entire folder. Today, Microsoft announced that its fix, Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC), is now generally available. MXC isolates AI agents from the rest of your system, limiting the problems caused by accidents or malicious prompts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Buying physical discs feels like stealing from Hollywood, but the people who made them still get paid

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:15

When I first got Netflix, it was a fantastic deal. It cost literally 20 times less than my satellite subscription; it had a huge library of shows and movies, and the convenience was unparalleled.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best October Prime Day gaming deals: We found PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox deals worth grabbing now

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:00
The best October Prime Day gaming deals: Best video game deal Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $40.33 (save $9.66) Get Deal Best console deal Nintendo Switch (Renewed) $203.99 (save $135.01) Get Deal Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 $219 (save $130.99) Get Deal Best gaming headset deal HyperX Cloud III S $113.99 (save $66) Get Deal Best gaming keyboard deal Razer BlackWidow V4 X $80.74 (save $49.25) Get Deal Best gaming mouse deal Razer Basilisk V3 $34.98 (save $35.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day is here, and the gaming deals are getting better with each day. We’re seeing decent price cuts on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox games, as well as cheaper consoles, gaming monitors, headsets, mice, keyboards, and other setup upgrades for the sale, which is set to end at close of business today, October 7.

Our top picks include a sub-$200 renewed Nintendo Switch, the best deal on Starfield on PS5, and sizeable savings on gaming gear from HyperX, Samsung, Razer, and more.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026 live: Updates on the latest deals on AirPods, Kindles, and Yeti coolers

These are the best gaming deals live right now.

Best video game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $40.33 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $9.66 discount with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it

Starfield only made the jump to PS5 in April, and the Standard Edition is already at a sizable discount. The game is currently listed at $47.31 (usually $49.99), but an on-page coupon drops it to $40.33 at checkout — for a saving of $9.66 in total. This is the full base game rather than a trimmed-down edition, giving you Bethesda’s huge sci-fi RPG with deep character customization, ship building, and over 1,000 planets to explore.

More Prime Day video game deals

PS5

Nintendo Switch

Xbox

Best console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo/Amazon Renewed Store Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con (Renewed) $203.90 at Amazon
$339 Save $135.10   Get Deal Why we like it

The standard Nintendo Switch is still hovering above $300, but Amazon Renewed is once again offering a much cheaper way into the platform. The Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con model is down to $199 in refurbished "Excellent" condition, saving $140 on its $339 list price.

You’ll need to be fine with some light cosmetic wear, but you’re still getting the full 6.2-inch Switch experience with detachable Joy-Con and handheld, tabletop, and docked TV play for plenty of both first-party Nintendo and third-party multiplatform games.

Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) Series QHD Gaming Monitor $219 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $130.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Finding a 32-inch 1440p panel from a top-tier brand for around $200 is nothing to scoff at. You're getting a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, plus G-Sync and FreeSync support to keep fast-paced action smooth and free of screen tearing. It also comes with a height-adjustable ergonomic stand right out of the box, so you can pivot, tilt, and swivel to your setup's needs — a practical feature most budget displays cut to trim costs.

More gaming monitor deals Best gaming headset deal Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud III S – Wireless Gaming Headset for Multi-Platform $113.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $66.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The HyperX Cloud III S is a wireless upgrade at $129.99, down $50 from its $179.99 list price — that's its lowest-ever price on Amazon (confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel). In exchange, you’re getting up to 120 hours of battery life over 2.4GHz, or as much as 200 hours through Bluetooth, alongside 53mm angled drivers and HyperX’s memory foam cushioning. It also works on PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and mobile devices, with both USB-A and USB-C connectors included for easier switching between platforms.

More gaming headset deals Best gaming keyboard and mouse deals Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $81.07 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $48.92   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Basilisk V3 $34.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting a top-tier wired mouse at half off makes the Razer Basilisk V3 an easy pick. It has 11 programmable buttons, a smart scroll wheel that toggles between tactile clicks and free-spin scrolling, and a thumb rest shaped for long gaming sessions.

If you're upgrading your keyboard too, the Razer BlackWidow V4 X has real tactile mechanical switches instead of those squishy membrane keys. It includes six dedicated macro keys, custom RGB lighting for each key, and a physical volume roller right above the number pad, so you don't have to tab out of your game to tweak audio.

More keyboard and mouse deals

Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 4 big Windows gaffes that convinced me to try Linux Mint

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 22:00

I kept my old laptop running Windows 10 for years without a single complaint, then Microsoft told me it wasn't good enough for Windows 11. Not because it was slow or because it crashed, but because the CPU was the wrong generation. That was just one crack that led to so many more. After a while, I didn't feel like I owned my computer anymore. Microsoft did. Linux Mint never asked me for anything but a working computer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Home Assistant projects to stop your plants dying this weekend (Oct 9-11)

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:30

Home Assistant doesn't have to be solely about technology. You can use it for a much wider range of purposes, including helping you to keep your houseplants alive. These projects cover everything from simple monitoring to a fully automated plant-watering system.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Californias new AI law: Ban on bots used to fire employees

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:28

Employers in the Golden State can't offload the hard parts of running a business to AI, according to a new state law.

Signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom last week, SB 947 sets restrictions on the use of the novel technology in disciplinary decision making, including firing employees. SB 947 may sound like an obvious regulatory move as industries continue to worry about AI's impact on employment, but the "No Robo Bosses Act" marks the first law of its kind in the nation.

SEE ALSO: Report: OpenAI should pause ChatGPT for Teens over safety

Other states, including California, have enacted bans on AI-enabled discrimination and laws that restrict the authority of automated systems in hiring and benefits decisions. The federal government has clarified that existing employee discrimination law also covers the use of AI systems. Still, AI remains an elusive element in modern workplace management.

What does the new law do?

Under SB 947, California employers can't exclusively rely on Automated-Decision Systems (“ADS”), including AI, to determine a worker's continued employment or disciplinary status. The bill also limits the use of AI as a "principal tool" in such decision-making.

Any use of AI must be disclosed to the affected employee, including details on personal data given to the model to determine company action.

If an AI tool is a "primary" element of a termination decision, the law mandates that an employer provide a human reviewer who can go over the decision with an employee. The reviewer must provide additional corroborating information, such as evaluations, disciplinary records, and witness testimony.

Newsom vetoed a previous version of the bill in 2025, citing concerns that its notification terms were too broad. The initial text of the bill included mandatory advance notice, which was later struck, alongside language that would have included gig workers. Gig workers are excluded from the new law.

How will the new law affect employers?

All employers in California, no matter their size, are subject to the law.

Employers cannot continue using ADS in ways that may violate state employment law or an employee's protected status, or move forward with an ADS decision that can't be corroborated by a human.

An ADS is defined by the state as "any computational process derived from machine learning, statistical modeling, data analytics, or artificial intelligence that issues simplified output, including a score, classification, or recommendation, that is used to assist or replace human discretionary decision-making and materially impacts natural persons."

If the California Labor Commissioner’s Office finds that a company has violated the law or retaliated against an employee exercising their rights under the law, the employer could face civil penalties.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 public betas arrive. What they include.

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:26

The iOS 27.2 update is coming soon, and Apple just dropped a new beta for it. As a bonus, there's a beta for the macOS equivalent, too.

The second public betas for iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 dropped this week, giving the general populace a chance to test out new features before they arrive for real. As a reminder, if you want to try out the betas yourself, just register for free on the Apple beta website and then install the beta on your iPhone or Mac the same way you would install any other software update.

Without further ado, here's what you can expect from each beta.

SEE ALSO: Apple reportedly teaming with LG for smart home devices, including a doorbell iOS 27.2 public beta 2: What's new

The main attraction for iOS 27.2 is the revamped Health app, which Apple has been teasing for months. It's now divided into three main tabs: Insights, Longevity, and Browse. Insights is a one-stop shop for all your most pertinent recent health metrics, Longevity tracks all of that stuff over longer periods of time, and Browse presumably is how you find anything else you need to find within the Health app.

Other bits and bobs in iOS 27.2 include individual profiles in the Apple TV app, new theme options for CarPlay, and visual tweaks to Clock and Music. Overall, it's not a huge update.

macOS 27.2 public beta 2: What's new

If you think iOS 27.2 sounds modest, it's practically explosive compared to macOS 27.2.

Basically, the main thing to look forward to right now is the addition of five new languages for Siri AI. Those would be Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, and French. I don't want to downplay the importance of adding five extremely widely spoken global languages to the new Siri experience, of course. It's just not headliner material.

As always, make sure you create device backups before installing beta software. Better safe than sorry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi desktop returns to PCs and Macs after years of waiting

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:24

Raspberry Pi has made a long-awaited comeback, potentially giving your old laptops a second life. After a wait of almost four years, Raspberry Pi has finally updated its Debian-based operating system for PCs and Macs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Walmart Fall Deals to shop: TVs, headphones, devices, and toys at steep discounts

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:22
The best Walmart Fall Deals: Best TV deal LG 77-inch C5 Series OLED evo AI 4K Smart TV $1,797 (save $1,902.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best gaming deal Super Mario RPG $34.87 (save $24.13) Get Deal Best Lego deal Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (76419) $136.99 (save $33) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum (NV380) $118 (save $61) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer (8-quart) $109 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days runs Oct. 6-7, which means every other major retailer is currently scrambling to steal your attention with competing sales. (Honestly, in this economy, I definitely don't blame them.)

Walmart is taking on the retail giant with its own "Fall Deals" event that officially kicked off at 12 a.m. ET on Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 11. The best part about Walmart's event is that you don't have to be a paid member to shop, though Walmart+ members are eligible for perks like same day delivery on select items. With the main event officially started, we're seeing 50% off home goods, 40% off tech, and 30% off toys.

SEE ALSO: Target Circle Deal Days also runs Oct. 6-7

Now that Amazon's sale has also kicked off, we're starting to see more competitive deals from Walmart, which tracks with their approach to sales from years past. As such, all the deals on this list are at least as good, if not better, than deals you'll find at Amazon or other retailers.

A word of caution: If you see a deal that's too good to be true while you're perusing the site, it most likely is. We've found tons of sketchy, third-party sellers selling items with inflated list prices. (Anything you buy should have a little note that reads "Sold and shipped by Walmart.com.") That said, all of the deals in this roundup are legit — it's literally our job to find them for you.

Best Walmart TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 77-inch C5 Series OLED evo AI 4K Smart TV $1,797 at Walmart
$3,699.99 Save $1,902.99   Get Deal Why we like it

On the product page, this LG TV deal looks decent. However, Walmart didn't list the correct list price for this TV, which is actually $3,699.99. Immediately, this deal becomes much more impressive but get this — it gets even better. The next closest price you can find it for at the time of writing is $2,199.99 at Best Buy. Meanwhile, it's sold out at Amazon and LG's website. And it's the number one best selling OLED TV at Amazon, and a top-rated TV at Best Buy. In other words, this is a really good deal.

More TV deals Best Walmart headphones and earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Walmart
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds in the biz, especially if you're an Apple user. They have class-leading ANC, great battery life at eight hours per charge, clear and detailed sound out of the box, and unique additional features like live translation and a built-in heart rate monitor. At $179, they're just $10 away from their lowest price ever.

Looking for more headphones deals? Check out our Prime Day headphones deals guide.

More headphones and earbuds dealsBest Walmart video game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Super Mario RPG $34.87 at Walmart
$59 Save $24.13   Get Deal Why we like it

Anything Mario Bros-related is definitely worth snagging while it's on sale. If you're looking for something else to play on your Switch (and you haven't experienced the Mushroom Kingdom, Walmart has the Super Mario RPG game on sale for $34.87.

More video game deals Best Walmart Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (76419) $136.99 at Walmart
$169.99 Save $33   Get Deal Why we like it

The Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (76419) is a big-ticket holiday gift. It's currently on sale for $136.99, down from $169.99. It's possible this will get cheaper the closer we get to the actual sale, but a $33 isn't too shabby.

More Lego deals Best Walmart vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum $118 at Walmart
$179 Save $61   Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum (NV380) is ideal for pet owners or parents who need an easy-to-maneuver vacuum for quick cleanups. And, right now, you can get it for $118, down from $179. That's a $61 savings, but stock is low, so this discount may not last until Oct. 5.

More vacuum deals Even more deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

4 new Google Maps gestures every driver should know

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 21:00

I’ve had Google Maps on my phone for years, and I’ve probably used it more times than I can count. Still, my relationship with it has always been pretty basic: type in a destination, check the ETA, complain about the traffic, and follow the blue line.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark is finally here to take on the MacBook Pro

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:48

After months of teasing, Microsoft and Nvidia are finally ready to offer prices and release dates for the first RTX Spark PCs. Microsoft is starting by opening pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra ahead of its October 16 launch.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Greenworks full 6-piece power tool set is now the price of one drill

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:48

Electric brands like Greenworks have been growing in popularity over the years, as they offer a more convenient solution to their gas-powered counterparts. The issue is that electric tools and machines tend to carry higher price points, but when you can get them on sale, that's the time you want to shop. With Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days underway, you can score impressive savings on Greenworks gear, and none may be a better deal than this 6-tool set, now over 50% off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best last-chance October Prime Day laptop deals: Save up to $750 on MacBooks, Surface Laptops

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:47
The best October Prime Day laptop deals you can still shop: Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,699 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best budget laptop deal (under $1,000) Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Best Buy (save $200) Get Deal Best Microsoft Surface Laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon (save $750.99) Get Deal Another great Windows laptop deal HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,399.99 at Best Buy (save $600) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Acer Nitro V 16S AI (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,401.99 at Amazon (save $248) Get Deal

I've had a weird year as Mashable's resident laptop reporter. In recent months, many of the models I've covered and tested have gotten anywhere from $100 to $950 more expensive due to the ongoing memory crisis, making it harder to pinpoint truly great values on the market. That's why I was particularly antsy for Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon's 48-hour "October Prime Day" sale: It's getting the ball rolling on holiday tech deals that negate a lot of those price hikes.

On the second day of the sale, Amazon is still offering some particularly sweet deals on MacBooks and Microsoft Surface Laptops. The M5 MacBook Air got a long-awaited $200 discount that brings it back down to $1,099 for the first time since June. Meanwhile, a variant of the 2024 Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a whopping 36% off. (Both are Mashable Choice Award winners — we've tested them and love 'em.)

SEE ALSO: The 37 best Prime Day tech deals: We found deals under $25, but also $1,200 savings on OLED TVs

Be sure to shop around a bit before adding anything to your cart. There are also great laptop deals to be had at Best Buy and Walmart, which are both running their own sitewide sales this week. For its part, Best Buy has some of my favorite MacBook Neo and Air alternatives on sale for up to 30% off.

Read on for my definitive guide to the best October Prime Day laptop deals available right now. Keep in mind that Prime Big Deal Days ends at midnight PT tonight (Oct. 7), so any Amazon-exclusive offers will likely be gone by tomorrow.

Best budget laptop deal (under $1,000) Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core 5 320, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Dell's new XPS 13 is a premium-built budget laptop that one-ups Apple's MacBook Neo with a much lighter design, a sharper, smoother touchscreen display, and a backlit keyboard. It also has a much better battery life than the Neo, lasting roughly 19 hours in our video rundown test. The Neo died just before the 15-hour mark.

Best Buy has two 512GB configurations of the XPS 13 on sale for $200 off during its Techtober savings event (starting from just $599.99), a discount that more than erases their price increases from last month. For comparison's sake, a comparable MacBook Neo with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is stuck at its regular sale price of $789.99 on Amazon — a meager $9 off.

More budget laptop Prime Day deals (under $1,000)Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200   Get Deal

No guide to the best Prime Day laptop deals would be complete without the latest MacBook discounts. The M5 MacBook Air is a fabulous all-rounder with incredibly fast performance, a premium haptic touchpad, and a vibrant display. We like the 15-inch model best for most macOS users because it has nicer speakers, a better GPU, and a roomier display, but the 13-inch size is better if you prioritize portability. I recommend it for college students in particular.

The M5 MacBook Air is $200 off at Amazon and Best Buy right now, a discount that brings it back to its pre-price hike rates. (Apple's entire MacBook lineup got price increases in June due to increased component costs.) Choose from either size and any color or configuration starting from just $1,099.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More MacBook Air Prime Day dealsMacBook Pro Prime Day dealsBest Microsoft Surface Laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $750.99   Get Deal

Surface Laptops have also been afflicted with price hikes this year, but Amazon is trying its hardest to mitigate them. The best Microsoft Surface Laptop Prime Day deal I've spotted features a 2024 model with a 13.8-inch display and a Snapdragon X Elite chip, which is now a whopping 36% off — its lowest price since May. This one has a 23-hour battery life, a 120Hz touchscreen, a haptic touchpad, and a sleek, minimalist look. Our former tech editor said it "oozes sophistication and polished refinement." By the way: If you want a newer Surface Laptop 8th Edition with the same amount of RAM and storage, you'll pay $250 more.

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition.

More Surface Laptop Prime Day dealsAnother great Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,399.99 at Best Buy
$1,999.99 Save $600   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (Snapdragon X2 Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799.99 at Best Buy
$2,249.99 Save $450.00   Get Deal

The redesigned OmniBook Ultra 14 is one of the best and prettiest Windows laptops I've tried this year. (It's another great MacBook alternative, I might add.) It has a glorious 2.8K 120Hz OLED display, a haptic touchpad, a very quiet keyboard, and a thin, elegant design featuring an anti-smudge finish and metallic accents around the edges of its chassis. Best Buy has several configurations of on sale for the lowest prices I've seen all year, with savings of up to 30%.

More Windows laptop Prime Day dealsBest gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V 16S AI (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,401.99 at Amazon
$1,649.99 Save $248   Get Deal

Now cheaper than ever, this 16-inch Acer gaming laptop nets you mid-tier RTX 5070 graphics at an RTX 5060 price point. (Note that it's sold out on Acer's website.) It has a good amount of storage, a four-zone RGB keyboard, and a crisp 2.5K display with a premium 180Hz refresh rate that'll make fast-paced shooters look buttery smooth. I found a slightly less expensive RTX 5070 MSI gaming laptop on sale at Walmart, but it has a 144Hz display with a much lousier 1080p resolution.

More gaming laptop Prime Day dealsHow I picked the best October Prime Day laptop deals

The Mashable team and I have tested dozens of laptops this year, and my job involves constantly monitoring their prices for any notable changes.

My top October Prime Day deals on laptops include Amazon's lowest prices on select models in at least three months, according to historical data on the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel. The deals I've highlighted elsewhere feature models that are sitting at their lowest prices of the year so far, to the best of my knowledge.

I've cross-checked all of my picks across various retailers to make sure they're the best deals anywhere. In one case, this alerted me to a deal that's even better than advertised. Walmart says its $1,100 Alienware Aurora 16 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 240H processor, RTX 5050 graphics, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage is $150 off, but it's really $801 off: Dell usually sells the same configuration for $1,900.

I've also come across one instance where Amazon managed to beat Best Buy's price on a 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop by a cool $120.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You should always eject your flash drive and 3 other USB storage myths we need to kill

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:30

Back in the day, pulling a USB flash drive out of your PC without safely ejecting it was a surefire way to get yelled at by a parent or techie friend. And they were right — removing a flash drive without safely ejecting it could interrupt pending transfers, corrupt files, and potentially leave the drive unusable without reformatting.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yeti deals are rare, but we found a bunch for October Prime day: Up to 40% off drinkware, coolers, and more

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:30
The best October Prime Day Yeti deals, at a glance: Best drinkware deal Yeti Rambler Straw Mug (42-ounce) $27 (save $18) Get Deal best cooler deal Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler $243.75 (save $81.25) Get Deal Best camping deal Yeti Lowlands Blanket $152 (save $48) Get Deal

One of my biggest flexes is that I own several Yeti products: a Roadie cooler, and a Rambler bottle, can cooler, and mugs. While most of these were gifts, I rave about them any chance I get. But convincing people to actually splurge on Yeti products is tough. While the quality and IT factor are undeniable, the prices are just a bit too steep for most folks. That's where major shopping events like Prime Day come in.

One of the only times we see Yeti coolers, drinkware, and other products go on sale is during Amazon Prime Day events and lucky for you, we're still smack dab in the middle of one. Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day is still live through the end of the day on Oct. 7, giving you plenty of time to nab the Yeti products you want for less.

Below, we've gathered all the best Yeti deals we could find for October Prime Day.

Best cooler deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler $243.75 at Amazon
$325 Save $81.25   Get Deal Why we like it

The Tundra hard cooler is Yeti's OG baby. It's legendary for its toughness and ice retention and comes in various sizes. One of the best deals we've seen for October Prime Day is the Tundra 45 for 25% off. It can fit 54 cans or 37 pounds of ice, or about 26 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio, and keep everything cold for days. It's pretty heavy, even when it's empty, but its heftiness is what makes it virtually indestructible. Plus, it comes in a gorgeous ultramarine violet shade.

More Yeti cooler dealsBest Yeti drinkware deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler Straw Mug (42-ounce) $27 at Amazon
$45 Save $18   Get Deal Why we like it

Yeti drinkware deals are popping off for October Prime Day, but this 42-ounce Rambler Straw Mug is the best of the bunch at 40% off. Only select colors are on sale, including this vibrant firefly yellow. Like every Yeti cup, it's double-wall vacuum insulated to keep your drinks hot or cold. It's made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, so it's extremely durable and can go safely in the dishwasher. Plus, it fits in a car cupholder.

More Yeti cup and mug dealsOther Yeti deals

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OpenAI shakes up mathematics again, debuting dozens of new math solutions

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:25

OpenAI won't let mathematicians rest.

On Oct. 6, the company released a slew of new mathematical results in the form of a massive GitHub repository — an info dump that will take hundreds of human hours to sift through. The company's internal frontier model provided solutions to more than 300 problems, but the company also implied they expect experts to take issue with them, debuting new processes for paper revisions and citations.

"For future releases, we are committed to further improving the quality of the papers via the citations, mathematical exposition, and presentation of the results for better understanding," wrote OpenAI.

SEE ALSO: Report: OpenAI should pause ChatGPT for Teens over safety

Last month, the developer made an industry-rattling declaration that 10,000 AI agents had worked together to solve the Navier–Stokes existence and smoothness problem, a narrower portion of the unsolved Navier-Stokes equation that's part of the Millennium Prize Problems set. The robot mathematicians' "breakthrough" could have nabbed OpenAI a $1 million prize, but the company declined.

And possibly for good reason, academics later called out the company for solving a subset of the problem, not the whole thing, using a mathematical loophole — an approach that some labeled "unnatural."

OpenAI's pursuit of mathematical greatness isn't so easily deterred.

Following OpenAI's announcement, the Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence at the Institute for Advanced Study⁠ said it did not endorse AI developers using proprietary models to test solutions without the scientific community's involvement. The developer announced a new advisory group to provide recommendations on future releases. But it appears OpenAI used the same unreleased model to solve the latest trove of equations.

Unlike its previous theoretical entries, however, OpenAI alleges the latest problems were solved with just a single prompt fed to a single AI agent, the developer told Scientific American. The claim is already being questioned by experts, who are still awaiting access to the reportedly mathematically advanced model.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best live Prime Day outdoor deals: Anker power stations, Yeti coolers, and LifeStraws are among our top picks

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 20:04
Best October Prime Day outdoor deals, at a glance: Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best cooler deal Yeti Tundra 45 hard cooler $243.75 (save $81.25) Get Deal Best outdoor speaker deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $54.14 (save $45.85) Get Deal Best camping deal Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin $149.99 (save $68.50) Get Deal Best personal water filter LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $12.98 (save $4.97) Get Deal Best outdoor projector deal Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector $559.99 (save $190) Get Deal

If you're like me and prefer to go camping in cooler fall temps instead of the sweltering heat of summer, you're probably in need of fresh outdoor gear. Now's the time to stock up, thanks to October Prime Day, which kicked off Oct. 6 and continues until the end of Oct. 7.

Since camping is generally a summer activity, you'll find even better out-of-season price drops. And we've already rummaged through the sale to dig out the very best camping deals, whether you're searching for upgrades or replacements to your current gear.

These deals will get you outside to enjoy fall colors and cooler temps. Be sure to keep an eye on all of Mashable's October Prime Day coverage as the sale comes to an end.

Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

I've tested dozens of portable power stations while camping over the last few years, and the original Anker Solix C1000 remains a top-tier choice. Now that it's on sale for under $450, it's a great time to make the move to camping with power. Keep phones charged, pack the air fryer, or take your laptop workstation into the great outdoors.

The Anker Solix C1000 packs in 1,056Wh of battery capacity and a peak output of 2,400W. Anker included a massive six AC ports, dual USB-A ports, and dual USB-C ports. I also love the onboard lightbar, and it recharges back to 100 percent in under an hour.

More portable power station dealsBest cooler deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler $243.75 at Amazon
$325 Save $81.25   Get Deal Why we like it

Finding a Yeti cooler on sale is a rarity, so we had to shout out this 25% off deal for Prime members. The eye-catching ultramarine violet Tundra 45 hard cooler is a beast that can keep ice for days, fit 26 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio, and last a lifetime. It's virtually indestructible, thanks to its rotomolded construction, NeverFail hinge system, and FatWall design. It's definitely not light; it weighs 23 pounds when it's empty. But that heftiness is what makes it so sturdy.

More cooler dealsBest outdoor speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $54.14
$99.99 Save $45.85   Get Deal Why we like it

On Mashable's ranking of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 earns the top spot as the model that's ready for both outdoor adventures and the shower. Contributor Alex Bracetti's review says, "The rugged mesh exterior prevents moisture and other hazards from damaging both the inside and outside of the speaker. A 14-hour charge is enough for a month of daily shower use."

More outdoor speaker dealsBest outdoor projector deal Nebula Capsule 3 $559.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $190   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read our full review of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3.

I pack light — as in, my one carry-on backpack comes in at under 20 pounds. Committing to an extra two pounds of tech was actually a big deal for me, but bringing the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector to Japan earned it a permanent place in my travel bag. It projects a 120-inch 1080p display, automatically calibrates its own perfect focus (seriously, it's undeniably gratifying to watch), and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with "damn fine" sound quality.

Best camping deal Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin $149.99 at Amazon
$218.49 Save $68.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Every great camping trip comes with a home base. The Coleman Instant Cabin is a one-minute setup tent that's also easy to store. For October Prime Day, the four-person tent is on sale for $149.99. To make things even easier at the campsite, the Coleman tent has pre-attached poles that only need to be extended. Plus, the included rainfly is integrated into the design, making assembly simple.

More camping deals

Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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