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AsgardBench: A benchmark for visually grounded interactive planning

Microsoft Research - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 20:02
At a glance
  • To successfully complete tasks, embodied AI agents must ground and update their plans based on visual feedback.
  • AsgardBench isolates whether agents can use visual observations to revise their plans as tasks unfold.
  • Spanning 108 controlled task instances across 12 task types, the benchmark requires agents to adapt their plans based on what they observe.
  • Because objects can be in different positions and states (e.g., clean or dirty), the same instruction can require different action sequences, even in the same environment.

Imagine a robot tasked with cleaning a kitchen. It needs to observe its environment, decide what to do, and adjust when things don’t go as expected, for example, when the mug it was tasked to wash is already clean, or the sink is full of other items. This is the domain of embodied AI: systems that perceive their environment and act within it.

The field has made rapid progress, but evaluating these systems is harder than it looks. Many benchmarks test perception, navigation, and physical control all at once, making it difficult to isolate whether an AI agent is actually using what it perceives to make better decisions or just getting lucky because the environment is predictable enough to script around.

To address this, we created AsgardBench. In the paper, AsgardBench — Evaluating Visually Grounded Interactive Planning Under Minimal Feedback,” we describe how this benchmark poses a simple but demanding challenge: give an AI agent a household task, let it observe the environment through images, and see whether it can adjust its plan when what it perceives contradicts what it anticipated. Can it notice that the mug it needs to clean is already in the sink, or that it isn’t, and behave accordingly? That is the core question AsgardBench is designed to answer.

Built on AI2-THOR, an interactive 3D simulation environment used to train and evaluate AI agents on household tasks, AsgardBench positions agents near objects and gives them a small, fixed set of actions, such as find, pickup, put, clean, and toggle_on/off. At each turn, the agent proposes a full sequence of steps to complete the task, but only the first step executes. Throughout, the focus is squarely on plan adaptation, not whether an agent can navigate a room or manipulate an object, but whether it can use what it perceives to revise its next step.

For example, the agent may discover a mug to be clean, dirty, or filled with coffee, or it may observe that a sink contains many other items, so the same instruction can require different action sequences as the task unfolds. This process is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Agent observations and corresponding action plans in AsgardBench. Each image is paired with the plan generated from that observation. This illustrates how AsgardBench requires agents to update or change their plans based on new visual evidence rather than following a fixed sequence. How it works

Agents start in interaction-ready positions, so navigation and viewpoint selection are not factors. A find action brings objects into view, and the environment handles the details of container sizing and placement, so the agent does not need to reason about which cabinet or countertop to use. The only inputs are color images, a history of attempted actions with simple success or failure signals, and the agent’s own record of what it plans to do next.

At each turn, the agent proposes a complete sequence of steps to finish the task, but only the first step proceeds. It then receives new images and a simple signal—did that action succeed or fail? This prevents the agent from scripting everything upfront and forces it to re-evaluate and revise its plan at every step. Built-in limits on total steps and repeated actions prevent endless loops. Because the environment provides only simple feedback, the agent must be able to notice what it perceives (e.g., whether a mug is dirty, whether a faucet is running) and keep track of where it is in the task from one step to the next.

Evaluating AsgardBench

We tested several leading vision-capable models on AsgardBench and observed that high-performing models require visual grounding to consistently succeed. Across the models, visual input substantially improved performance: most models more than doubled success rates when given images versus text-only descriptions of the scene. This is in contrast to some prior benchmarks where agents could perform reasonably well without vision by relying on textual feedback on what went wrong.

Providing that kind of detailed failure information raises performance for all models in AsgardBench, too, but it can mask the real problem. The strongest vision-capable models still outperform text-only agents even when those agents are given detailed feedback, demonstrating that the benchmark requires visual grounding that text alone cannot replicate. AsgardBench’s performance is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Success rates for image-based and text-only conditions. Visual input substantially improves performance for all but the weakest agents, while text-only performance remains low, indicating that AsgardBench requires perception-based reasoning.

The results also revealed where today’s agents consistently fall short. Across all models, the same problems kept appearing: agents attempted undoable actions (e.g., trying to clean a mug that was not in the sink), got stuck in repeated action loops, misinterpreted subtle visual cues (on/off, clean/dirty), and lost track of where they were in the task progress from one step to the next. This points to three weaknesses: the inability to distinguish subtle visual details in cluttered scenes, the inability to maintain an accurate picture of task progress across multiple steps, and the inability to consistently translate what the agent sees into timely updates to its plan. Taken together, these point to where the next generation of embodied agents will need to improve.

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Listen now Opens in a new tab Implications and looking ahead

AsgardBench is useful as both a diagnostic and development tool. By varying what feedback agents receive (none, minimal, or detailed), researchers can isolate whether performance gains come from better perception, better memory, or better planning. Promising directions include systems that combine stronger visual understanding with better state tracking, training approaches that emphasize learning to repair plans mid-task, and evaluation methods that measure not just whether an agent succeeds but how well it adapted along the way.

The failure patterns AsgardBench surfaces point toward a concrete next step: building systems that can make finer visual distinctions, keep track of what changed more reliably across steps, and learn to revise plans mid-task rather than plowing ahead on a script. Agents that make progress on these challenges should be meaningfully better equipped for the messiness of real-world environments: unexpected object states, cluttered scenes, and the constant need to adapt.

AsgardBench is open source and available on GitHub (opens in new tab), providing a foundation for advancing research in visually grounded planning.

Acknowledgements

We thank the AI2-THOR community for building the simulation platform and making reproducible embodied evaluation possible.

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The post AsgardBench: A benchmark for visually grounded interactive planning appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Categories: Microsoft

Charging your phone to 100% isn't the problem—this is

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 20:00

If you want to take care of your phone's battery, setting a charging limit to prevent wear might seem like a good idea on the surface. Batteries don’t like to be nearly full or nearly empty, and the feature that most new Androids and iPhones include gives you an easy way to manage them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 open-source Windows apps I can't live without

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:56

Windows isn't usually the operating system that comes to mind when the phrase "open source" gets thrown around, but make no mistake: many of the best Windows apps today are open source. Here are a few great ones I use daily.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 reasons this Lexus is a defining sports sedan of the decade

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:45

Not every sports sedan earns a place in automotive history, but some leave a lasting impression. The Lexus IS 500 F Sport is one of those rare models. With the recent redesign, the Lexus IS lineup has been pared down to the IS 350, leaving the 500 F Sport discontinued. For enthusiasts, that makes this V-8-powered sports sedan even more special, a car we’ll genuinely miss.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buy’s Tech Fest is over, but these deals are still worth your money

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:36
Best Buy spring deals 2026: Best TV deal 65-inch Samsung Class S84F OLED 4K UHD Vision AI Smart Tizen TV $899.99 (save $1,100) Get Deal Best laptop deal 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook 315 (Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB LPDDR4X, 64GB eMMC) + Protective Sleeve $149 (save $150) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale is getting all the attention in the retail world right now (which, fair, it's basically a pregame for July's Prime Day event). But Amazon isn't the only retailer dropping prices this week.

In a completely unsurprising move to steal some of that spotlight, Best Buy threw its own Tech Fest sale over the weekend. The official event has technically wrapped up, but a ton of those discounts are still live on the site as of March 26, including markdowns on big-ticket items like OLED TVs, noise-canceling headphones, and Apple products.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on Apple, Kindle, DJI, and Brooklinen deals

So before you blow your entire shopping budget at Amazon, here are the best leftover Best Buy deals you can add to your cart right now.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 65-inch Samsung Class S84F OLED 4K UHD Vision AI Smart Tizen TV $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,999.99 Save $1,100   Get Deal Why we like it

There are literally hundreds of leftover deals still floating around Best Buy's site right now, and we'll be updating this piece as we dig through more of them. But if we had to single out a discount to jump on right this second, it's this one. Scoring a 65-inch Samsung OLED for under $900 is basically unheard of outside of Black Friday. If you've been waiting for an excuse to finally upgrade your living room setup, saving over a grand on a premium display beats paying full price for whatever shiny new model drops next month.

Best TV deals Best laptop deals Best headphones and earbuds dealsBest speaker dealsBest Apple deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Austria vs. Ghana online for free

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:30

TL;DR: Live stream Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ORF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are an incredible number of top International Friendlies taking place this week. We're being spoilt with Brazil vs. France, Colombia vs. Croatia, and a string of other high-profile contests. Austria vs. Ghana is not the biggest game on the schedule, but we're still making time to watch this interesting matchup.

If you want to watch Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Austria vs. Ghana?

Austria vs. Ghana kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

How to watch Austria vs. Ghana for free

Austria vs. Ghana is available to live stream for free on ORF.

ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access free live streams on ORF from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Austria vs. Ghana for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

  4. Visit ORF

  5. Stream Austria vs. Ghana for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Austria vs. Ghana without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ORF?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ORF, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Austria vs. Ghana for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best tablet deals from Amazons Big Spring Sale 2026: Score deals on the new iPad Air

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:22
Best Big Spring Sale tablet deals Best tablet deal Apple iPad Air (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $559 (save $40) Get Deal Best Android tablet deal Samsung Galaxy S11 $739.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best kids tablet deal Amazon Fire 7 Kids with six months Amazon Kids+ $59.99 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has arrived. The seasonal sale, which runs March 25 through 31, focuses on seasonal transition items — think cleaning supplies to freshen up your home and camping supplies to get outdoors. However, it wouldn't be a sale without tech deals, too.

We've spotted solid savings on tablets, good timing considering Apple just released a brand new one. The Apple iPad Air with M4 chip just dropped this month, and it's already on sale. But if iPads aren't your thing, don't worry, there are plenty of other tablet deals to shop.

Here are all the best tablet deals to shop during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $559 at Amazon
$599 Save $40   Get Deal

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air (M4).

Apple's latest iPad drop is the iPad Air with M4 chip. It's one of the brand's speediest, most efficient tablets, scoring 13,176 on the Geekbench 6 test, which puts it ahead of most laptops. When Apple released the new iPad Air, they didn't raise the price, keeping the midrange tablet at $599. However, it already received a price cut at Amazon.

During the Big Spring Sale, get the Apple iPad Air with M4 chip for just $559. While that's only $40 in savings and less than 10% off its list price, it's still a great deal considering it's a brand-new tablet.

So while we might like this deal best, if you want some bigger savings, there are plenty more deals to shop.

More iPad dealsBest Android tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S11 $739.99 at Amazon
$859.99 Save $120   Get Deal

The best Android tablet to compete with Apple's iPad is the Samsung Galaxy S11. It's more expensive than Apple's iPads, but it has everything we want in a tablet. Speedy processing for gaming and streaming, gorgeous displays and crystal clear resolution, adjustable app windows, and an included stylus for note-taking or drawing. We've previously tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which is a step up from the S11.

During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 for just $739.99. That saves you $120 off its $859.99 list price for 14% savings.

Samsung tablet dealsTCL tablet dealsLenovo tablet dealsKids tablet deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Hackers are exploiting a vulnerability in lots of e-commerce sites

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:16

Hackers have found their way into a large number of internet e-commerce sites.

This latest cybersecurity threat targets web stores running on the Magento or Adobe Commerce platforms, according to BleepingComputer, which cited the security firm Sansec as first publicizing the exploit. That was just over a week ago, and since Sansec exposed the vulnerability, known as PolyShell, the firm claimed that 56 percent of vulnerable stores have been experienced attacks.

SEE ALSO: Hackers says they breached Crunchyroll, stole nearly 7 million users' data

You can check out Sansec's analysis for the full technical details of what's going on, but in the simplest terms possible, it seems hackers have managed to insert a credit card skimmer into the API for Magento, an open-source e-commerce platform acquired by Adobe several years ago. Sansec says it spotted the attack being used on an unnamed "major car manufacturer."

We have contacted Adobe for comment and will update this story if they respond.

Adobe has released a fix for this in the beta branch of its software, but that doesn't help the presumably vast majority of sites running the non-beta version of the software. Until the fix goes public, this will be an issue for any site running Magento or Adobe Commerce.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AMD's FineWine is dead, but NVIDIA just figured out how to bring it back

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:01

The battle between AMD and NVIDIA rages on eternally, it seems, though it's rather a one-sided battle in the desktop PC market, where NVIDIA holds something like 95%, and AMD most of what's left apart from Intel's (almost) 1%.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmart is running its own Spring Sale — save on Apple, Dyson, Shark, Ninja, and more top brands

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:00
The best Walmart Spring Sale deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best headphones deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $41.99 (save $38) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim $479.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best laptop deal Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,449 (save $400.99) Get Deal Best Home Deal Dreo 42-inch Tower Fan $79.99 (Save $63.99) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle $24.96 (Save $13) Get Deal

Now that Amazon's Big Spring Sale has kicked off, we're watching all the savings roll in. And deals are going far beyond Amazon — other retailers are joining in too. Target and Best Buy got in on the savings early, and now Walmart is catching up.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is surprisingly good: We found 111+ deals on Apple, DJI, Sony, and Dyson

Walmart's deals are admittedly the least impressive of all the retailers running spring sales. But we've found some gems, including discounts on a Dyson stick vacuum and a Lenovo gaming laptop that you won't see on Amazon. Beyond those, Walmart is also price-matching some of Amazon's Big Spring Sale offers, which is good to keep in mind in case they wind up selling out there.

Read on to see our list of all the best deals worth shopping during Walmart's Spring Sale.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack) $59.99 at Walmart
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Apple launched the new AirTag 2 in January, which, of course, means the original AirTags are priced to move. Walmart and Amazon are both selling four-packs of them for the record-low price of $59.99 (normally $99), which works out to just $15 per tracker. That's a steal.

More Apple deals

AirPods

iPads

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $41.99 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $38.00   Get Deal

Our favorite budget headphones are the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC headphones, which bring excellent active noise cancellation and 70 hours of battery life. While they won't deliver the best sound you've ever heard, it is going to be clear, well-balanced sound. They're an unbeatable value even when they're not on sale, but right now, you can score a pair for just $41.99 (a $38 savings). Amazon is matching that deal.

More headphone dealsEarbud dealsBest vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V12 Detect Slim $479.99 at Walmart
$729.99 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Our resident cleaning expert thinks the V12 Detect Slim is the best Dyson vacuum for most people, especially folks who live in small spaces. (It has a runtime of about one hour per charge.) There's a green laser on the front of it that spotlights easily missable crumbs and hairs, and it's light enough to wield with one hand. Walmart has it marked down to $479.99, normally $729.99, which matches a deal on Dyson's website. It's not available on Amazon, on sale or not.

More vacuum deals

Robot vacuums

Stick vacuums

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,449 at Walmart
$1,849.99 Save $400.99   Get Deal Why we like it

This 15-inch gaming laptop features a sharp and vibrant OLED display with a silky-smooth 165Hz refresh rate. Walmart is selling it for 22% off, which brings it down to $1,449 (normally $1,849.99). Amazon also has a Lenovo Legion 5i with RTX 5070 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage on sale right now, but it has a worse processor — and it's $20 pricier.

More laptop dealsBest home and outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo 42-inch Tower Fan $79.99 at Walmart
$143.98 Save $63.99   Get Deal

With spring in full swing, warmer temperatures are underway. If things are getting too hot, it might be time to reconsider your cooling setup. A fan is more than a quick fix, but an essential way of keeping cool. Dreo makes our favorite tower fan, which is powerful but safe with its bladeless design. During Walmart's Spring Sale, you can get it for just $79.99. That saves you 44% on its $143.98 list price.

More home and outdoor deals Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beautiful Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle $24.96 at Walmart
$37.96 Save $13   Get Deal

Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection at Walmart earns its name with affordable yet stunning appliances and furniture. During Walmart's Spring Sale, grab the Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle for just $24.96, saving you $13 off its list price. This kettle catches your eye right away with its vibrant tomato red color. It looks far more expensive than it really is.

More kitchen deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Brazil vs. France online for free

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 19:00

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. France in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Cup is looming on the horizon. Preparations are ramping up for the showpiece event on the football schedule, with some absolutely huge international friendlies taking place this week. There are a number of interesting matchups, but Brazil vs. France is probably the best of the bunch.

Both of these sides will expect to be competing in the latter stages of this summer's tournament, so this contest will give fans an important insight into exactly where Brazil and France stand. It's going to be a fascinating battle at the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Expect the likes of Mbappe and Raphinha to light up this hotly-anticipated fixture.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. France in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. France?

Brazil vs. France kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on March 26. This fixture takes place at the Gillette Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. France for free

Brazil vs. France is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Brazil vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Stream Brazil vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brazil vs. France without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Brazil vs. France for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I test new vacuums every month. Here are the robot vacuum deals I think are worth it at Amazons spring sale.

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:47
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals: Best robot vacuum on sale overall Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,359.90 at Amazon (save $340.09) Get Deal Best roller mop robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon (save $270) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ $199.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

I have seven robot vacuums in my apartment right at this moment, and those are all just models that have come out in 2026. Perhaps that gives you an idea of how many robot vacuums I test at home on a yearly basis — and why I'm always super confident in telling readers which robot vacuum deals are worth it during any Amazon sale event.

So, I'm back with an updated list of robot vacuum recommendations for Amazon's 2026 Big Spring Sale, which is live now through March 31. A good robot vacuum is a staple in my general spring cleaning starter kit because automating your floor care quite literally frees up some time to focus on the chores you don't do as often.

SEE ALSO: The Shark UV Reveal robot vacuum came out less than a month ago. It's already on sale for Amazon's spring sale.

A ton of solid robovacs at all price points are up to 50% off, significantly expanding the number of options within your ideal budget. Even the fanciest flagship Dreame, Roborock, and Shark robot vacuums that just came out are already seeing discounts. I'm tracking all of the best Amazon spring sale robot vacuum deals below.

(Looking for the best cordless vacuum deals or the best spring cleaning deals to restock kitchen, bathroom, and laundry products? I'm tracking those, too.)

Best robot vacuum on sale overall Eufy C28 $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Eufy

Read Mashable's review of the Eufy C28.

While I'm stoked that the most powerful robot vacuums of the year are actually seeing decent discounts, they still cost more than $1,000 on sale. So the more realistic route for my "best robot vacuum deal overall" pick is the Eufy C28, now under $500 (compared to its usual $799). It's still a 2026 premium robot vacuum and mop combo that rocked during my testing, and it's likely the most affordable mainstream roller mop robot vacuum you'll find this season.

If you're jaded from a bad mopping robot vacuum experience in the past, it's probably because it smeared dirty water more than it scrubbed. I think that this Eufy's self-rinsing roller mop will change your mind. Its fluffy material is already more absorbent than the typical thin mopping pad — but just to ensure liquid spills aren't being smeared around, the C28's roller gets rinsed with clean water multiple times per second. Its self-emptying dock also washes and dries the mop after each cleaning.

Best budget robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Read Mashable's review of the 3i G10+.

In search of a cheap robot vacuum that doesn't suck? The $149.99 Shark Ion robot vacuum that probably popped up first at Amazon is far from the best robot vacuum under $200 during this sale. Instead, I'd point you to a more niche budget pick that wowed me during testing. Last year, I said that the 3i G10+ was "the most impressive robot vacuum under $500" (and that you've probably never heard of it). Now, it's on sale for a record-low $199.99.

The G10+ uses a unique dust compression system to keep you off dustbin emptying duty for 60 days, but without requiring space for a traditional self-empty dock. This means that the G10+ can live under relatively low-clearance furniture like a couch or TV stand. In this price range, I was blown away by its small obstacle avoidance capabilities and livestream pet camera. The Shark Ion doesn't even have smart mapping for cleaning specific rooms on command.

If you don't want to shell out that extra $50, you can spend the same $149.99 on the Roborock Q7 M5. That still secures mopping, room or zone cleaning through LiDAR smart mapping, and 10,000 Pa of suction power, beating the Shark Ion by a long shot.

SEE ALSO: The best air purifier deals to shop in Amazon's Big Spring Sale — save on Dyson, Sharp, and more More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuums that don't mopRobot vacuum and mop combosRobot vacuum mop combos with self-washing mopping pads
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Italy vs. Northern Ireland online for free

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:45

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free on RaiPlay or BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming sites from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

World Cup qualifiers are taking place this week. Every game at this late stage is absolutely huge with a place in this summer's showpiece event up for grabs.

Italy face off against Northern Ireland at the Stadio di Bergamo. The winner of this one-off semi final will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Italy are favorites to advance from this pot, but they've not been particularly impressive thus far in qualification. Northern Ireland will see this as an opportunity to upset the odds.

If you want to watch Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Northern Ireland?

Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 26. This fixture takes place at the Stadio di Bergamo.

How to watch Italy vs. Northern Ireland for free

Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay or BBC iPlayer.

RaiPlay and BBC iPlayer are geo-restricted to Italy and the UK respectively, but anyone can access these free streaming services with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy or the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on RaiPlay or BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Italy vs. Northern Ireland for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy or the UK

  4. Visit RaiPlay or BBC iPlayer

  5. Stream Italy vs. Northern Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RaiPlay or BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Italy vs. Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best AirPods deals to shop in Amazons Big Spring Sale — $99 AirPods are back!

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:34
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale AirPods deals: Best AirPods 4 Deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best AirPods Max deal AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal

Updated on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET: The AirPods Max 1 headphones are going in and out of stock at Amazon. You can also find them on sale at Target and Walmart — for now.

It's official: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back and going strong until March 31. As always with these big sale events, we've been on the case since kickoff to find the very best deals across all kinds of products. And we've spotted some absolutely stellar deals on Apple AirPods — deals that sound as good as Apple audio tech.

The AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 (both with and without ANC), and first-gen AirPods Max are already on sale at Amazon. Day two of the sale also delivered a surprise: The just-released AirPods Max 2 just got their first discount, if only a teensy one.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale — save on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks

If you've been looking to score new earbuds or headphones to pair with your Apple tech this year, we've gathered up our favorite early AirPods deals for you into one place.

Note that no AirPods (except the just-released AirPods Max 2) have hit their lowest prices on record yet, so there's always a chance they could get cheaper. We'll be sure to update this page if new deals go live throughout the week.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

FYI: You don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to shop the sale, but members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not looking to drop a ton of cash on new earbuds, one of our favorite deals is on the AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation. These AirPods have dropped to just $99 at Amazon, saving you $30 on list price. We think these are the best budget earbuds for Apple users.

If you had your eye on the AirPods 4 with ANC, the good news is those are also on sale right now. They are currently marked down to just $148.99 at Amazon, or about $30 off their original list price of $179. So no matter which option you choose, you can save some cash right now.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 are some of our favorite earbuds for Apple users, earning spots on both our lists of the best headphones and best earbuds. Our review had high praise for them, with writer Adam Doud calling them, "a remarkable upgrade in functionality over their predecessors, with better battery life and ANC, as well as a new heart rate sensor."

Boasting great sound quality and noise-cancelling features, alongside a hefty battery life that can last up to eight hours (with ANC) on a single charge, these AirPods are a nice upgrade indeed. Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, they're marked down to $199.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Best AirPods Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) $449.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $99.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Premium noise-canceling headphones from brands like Sony and Bose are a much better value, but AirPods Max are a popular pick nonetheless. (If nothing else, they're super stylish.) Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 with better ANC and smart features earlier this month, and now the first-gen models with USB-C charging are on sale on Amazon for $449.99. That's about $100 off their regular retail price of $549.

Read Mashable's full review of the first-generation Apple AirPods Max.

More AirPods Max deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

ChatGPT users are flooding to Claude, but most of them are making the same mistakes

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:30

People are canceling their ChatGPT subscriptions in droves and moving over to Claude. According to TechCrunch, Claude's free tier has seen a 60 percent spike since January 2026, and a 2x increase in paid users. However, I’m noticing a pattern—most folks are bringing their ChatGPT habits over to Claude, and it’s holding them back.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Czechia vs. Ireland online for free

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:30

TL;DR: Live stream Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Some huge World Cup qualifiers are taking place this week, including Czechia vs. Ireland. The winner of this one-off semi final will face either Denmark or North Macedonia for a place in the 2026 World Cup. The Fortuna Arena is going to be absolutely electric when these two sides come together to battle it out for a place in this summer's showpiece event.

Ireland will be looking to Troy Parrott to deliver another huge performance in front of goal. Patrik Schick is expected to lead the line for Czechia.

If you want to watch Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Czechia vs. Ireland?

Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 26. This fixture takes place at the Fortuna Arena.

How to watch Czechia vs. Ireland for free

Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can access free live streams on RTÉ Player from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Czechia vs. Ireland for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Visit RTÉ Player

  5. Stream Czechia vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Czechia vs. Ireland in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Our top Apple Watch deals from Amazons Big Spring Sale start at $189

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:24
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Series 11 Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299.00 (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219.00 (save $30) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Ultra Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm) $499 (save $300) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is now well underway and live through March 31. For Apple users, this is a pretty exciting occasion. We're seeing discounts on everything from Apple Watches to AirPods. So, if you've been hoping to get your hands on a brand-new smartwatch but refuse to pay full price, several Apple Watch models are on sale right now, with savings of up to $300.

The Series 11 and SE 3 are the newest shining stars in Apple's lineup, but a few last-generation models are stealing the spotlight during the Big Spring Sale. If you don't mind an older model, you can pick up the Apple Watch SE 2 for just $189 (save $60), or the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $499 (save $300).

Of course, we'll be updating this page as new deals drop, but here are the best Apple Watch deals you can shop right now. So far, Amazon has the best prices, but we're also checking Best Buy, Target, and Walmart for surprise savings.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.

Best Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

A $100 discount on the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 drops it to a record-low price, making it the perfect time to grab what our Tech Editor, Timothy Beck Werth, calls the "Best Apple Upgrade." Mashable's Stan Schroeder agrees, noting the battery life alone is worth the jump. "Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night," he writes.

More Apple Watch dealsBest Apple Watch SE deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 at Amazon
$249 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you just want a reliable smartwatch without paying for features you won't use, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the way to go. We named it the "Best for Most People" in our smartwatch guide because it packs the exact same S10 chip as the Ultra 3 and the same water resistance as the Series 11 — "all for $150 less than the Series 11."

Now that the Big Spring Sale is in full swing, the 40mm model is down to $219, saving you $30. It’s also not the only configuration on sale right now. We've rounded up a few other discounted SE 3 models below so you can pick your preferred setup and still save some cash.

More Apple Watch SE dealsLast-generation Apple Watch deals

Looking for smartwatches that don't fall under the Apple umbrella? Check out our full list of Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the 15 best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:15

It's that time of the year again—not Prime Day, but for the Amazon Big Spring Sale. This seasonal event is much like Prime Day, but you don't need to wait until July to enjoy it. With thousands of items on sale, it can be overwhelming to find what are the best discounts. Don't worry, we have you covered.

Categories: IT General, Technology

40+ deals under $50 from Amazons Big Spring Sale — Amazon devices, earbuds, video games

Mashable - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:04
Best deals under $50 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Soundcore by Anker Space A40 $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best home deal Dreo TurboPoly Table Fan 315 $49.95 (save $6) Get Deal

It's a great week if you like deals. As of March 25, Amazon is hosting the first major sale event of 2026. The Amazon Big Spring Sale spans almost the entire week, ending Tuesday, March 31.

Like all Amazon sales, there is an abundance of deals to sort through, and that's especially true if you're searching for items that fall into the category of under $50. Maybe you're searching for the perfect birthday gift, thinking ahead to Mother's Day (May 10 this year, FYI), or simply don't want to spend a ton; an under-$50 budget allows for plenty of buying power.

We've compiled a list of our favorite deals under $50 to shop during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Check back as we continue to update this article throughout the week.

Best Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon sales are notoriously one of the best opportunities to snag Amazon devices. From Kindles to Fire TV sticks, Amazon loves to put its own products on huge discounts. If you could use a new bedroom smart speaker and clock, the Amazon Echo Spot has a sale price of $49.99, down from the standard price of $79.99. With a quick glance, you'll be able to check the time, weather, and more without having to check your phone. Plus, you can set it to play your favorite wakeup playlist each morning.

More Amazon devices on saleBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore by Anker Soundcore by Anker Space A40 (select colorways) $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds usually come with a price of $79.99, but as long as you're cool with navy, black, or white, they can be yours for only $49.99. The Space A40 earbuds are designed to reduce noise by up to 98 percent, and they come with a massive 50 hours of playback time with the included case. Amazon's Big Spring Sale could be the best opportunity to replace earbuds before we head into the summer.

More headphones, earbuds, and audio dealsBest home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo TurboPoly Table Fan 315 $49.95 at Amazon
$55.99 Save $6.04   Get Deal Why we like it

It's about to get hot. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon enough, we'll be back in sweltering season. This year, head into the warmth with the Dreo TurboPoly Table Fan. Not only does it look great, it has four speeds, an 8-hour timer, and big oscillation power. Dreo says the fan is powerful enough to blow air up to 60 feet, so it'll be ideal for a bedroom or office. Plus, it's a quiet 28 decibels, so there's no issue with sleeping with the fan on.

More home dealsBest gaming deal

Note: All of the below gaming deals are part of the Woot! video game sale that also runs through March 31 (or until supplies last). Woot! is owned by Amazon, and all the games are brand new.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Mario Kart World' for Nintendo Switch 2 $51.99 at Woot!
$79.99 Save $28.00 Use code 'SAVETWENTY' at checkout. Get Deal Why we like it

OK, this one is not technically under $50, but it's so close and such a good deal, we couldn't pass up including it here. One of the more controversial parts of the Switch 2 release was the higher game prices, including on the first title live with the console: Mario Kart World. The good news is that if you've been waiting for the $80 game to drop in price, Spring Sale season has you covered. Thanks to this markdown at Woot!, you can pick it up for $64.99. And as of March 25, you can use the code SAVETWENTY at checkout to knock an additional $13 off the game our reviewer called "chaotic, hilarious fun."

Check out our full review of Mario Kart World.

More gaming deals

Gaming gear

Nintendo Switch

PlayStation

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why using your laptop in bed is slowly destroying your NVMe SSD (and how to fix it)

How-To Geek - Thu, 03/26/2026 - 18:00

Using your laptop in bed is one of the best things about having a portable computer. For those of us who work from home, it makes the dream of working from a comfortable bed a reality. However, did you know that this seemingly harmless habit could be slowly killing your laptop's expensive SSD without you even realizing it?

Categories: IT General, Technology
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