Blogroll

7 things you can do with Ryobi batteries (aside from powering tools)

How-To Geek - 7 hours 52 min ago

On top of being a budget-friendly choice, Ryobi has a dizzying array of battery-powered gadgets. While most of these are power tools, a huge number fall into other categories.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Record-low drone deal: The lightweight DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is down to under $700 at Amazon

Mashable - 8 hours 4 min ago

SAVE $76: As of Aug. 26, the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is on sale for $683 at Amazon. That's a 10% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro $683 at Amazon
$759 Save $76   Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new drone, some of the latest changes around laws on foreign-made drones might have you confused. While there is a ban on future imports, products that have already made it through the supply chain and are sitting on shelves can still be bought and used as normal.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro hasn't suddenly disappeared from the market. In fact, this drone is on sale right now. And according to camelcamelcamel, it's at its lowest-ever price.

SEE ALSO: Capture action-packed aerial footage with 15% off the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX Drone

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a compact, foldable drone with a palm-sized design that slips easily into a pocket. Despite its size, it still offers 42GB of internal storage.

It has a 1-inch CMOS sensor that captures 4K/60 fps HDR video and a gimbal that supports true vertical filming and 225° roll rotation for more creative angles. The Intelligent Flight Battery also provides up to 36 minutes of flight time, with fast charging that allows three batteries to be charged in around 115 minutes.

With the drone, you'll also get a DJI RC-N3 remote controller, one battery, spare propellers, and more essentials needed to fly. Get this record-low deal from Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

TCL TV deal alert: Get this stunning 65-inch Mini-LED TV for $602 off at Amazon

Mashable - 8 hours 8 min ago

SAVE $602: As of Aug. 27, the TCL 65-inch QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV is down to $897.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount off its usual $1,499.99 — the lowest price we've ever seen for this TV.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $602   Get Deal

Amazon just dropped the 65-inch TCL QM7L Mini-LED QLED Smart TV to $897.99, down from its usual $1,499.99. That's a 40% discount — $600 off — and the best price we've seen for this TV.

TCL's Mini-LED tech is the standout feature here, using thousands of tiny LEDs across over 2,100 independently controlled dimming zones — instead of one big backlight — to deliver deep, true blacks right next to bright highlights without either washing out the other. The color comes from a finer color filter than TCL typically uses, resulting in more accurate, true-to-life color rather than the oversaturated look you've probably seen before. Pair that with an anti-reflective panel, and you get a picture that still looks good even if your living room isn't pitch black.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Aug. 28, 2026)

There's an AI chip running in the background, constantly adjusting picture clarity, contrast, color, and motion based on whatever you're watching, so you're not manually tweaking settings for every movie or show. It also runs Google's Gemini AI, which makes voice commands and recommendations feel a lot more natural.

For gaming, you're getting smoother motion and lower input lag thanks to TCL's Game Accelerator and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro — useful if you're playing fast-paced games and don't want the screen lagging behind your controller. And for sound, this TV's built-in speakers are tuned by Bang & Olufsen, with the option to add a wireless subwoofer and satellite speakers later if you want a fuller home theater setup.

Grab the 65-inch TCL QM7L Mini-LED Smart TV at Amazon while it's at its best-ever price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 reasons Linux is the most valuable software in the world (even though it's free)

How-To Geek - 8 hours 22 min ago

Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel and gave it away for free. Anyone can take it, change it, and do whatever they like with it, as long as the changes they make are also available for free to everyone else.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Ninja HydraSense is a compact countertop water filtration system that removes up to 99% of stuff you dont want to drink

Mashable - 8 hours 29 min ago

It turns out, drinking water is one of the best things we can do when it comes to health. That's good news considering water is one of the most affordable beverages out there. But when we think about the invisible things in our tap water that might not be so great to drink, we run into problems.

Instead of buying endless plastic bottles of water, Ninja has a solution. The new Ninja HydraSense is a sleek and slim countertop water purification system that's a great addition to the lineup of Ninja kitchen appliances we've come to love.

Features of the Ninja HydraSense

The Ninja HydraSense sits on your countertop, plugged in to wall for access to filtered water on-demand. The reservoir can hold 96 ounces of water for less frequent refills, and the touchscreen gives you access to metrics like remaining filter life.

SEE ALSO: Owala Tattoos add a new layer of customization to our favorite emotional support FreeSip bottle

From the touchscreen, you can select your desired ounces, which will send water through the Ninja purifier that'll rid it of up to 99% of contaminates like chlorine, heavy metals, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals. However, Ninja says the filter leaves natural minerals and electrolytes. If you're curious, Ninja has a performance data sheet available to show filtration results from third-party testing.

Each Ninja HydraSense comes with one filter, which is designed to clean 120 gallons of water. Ninja says this can last for up to six months of use. Replacement filers come with a price of $39.99 for a single or $69.99 for a two-pack.

How to buy the Ninja HydraSense

The Ninja HydraSense is already available to buy at both Amazon and Ninja's online storefront. If you like the look of the white or blue, Amazon is a good bet. If you'd prefer the Rosewater Pink or Black HydraSense, they're available at Ninja. If you like freebies, Ninja is tossing in a free 24-ounce Ninja Thirsti Travel Bottle with purchase of HydraSense.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja HydraSense (Dove White or Midnight Blue) $199.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja HydraSense + free Ninja Thirsti 24-ounce Travel Bottle $199.99 at Ninja
  Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Dyson deals dont come around often — save $130 on the Dyson Airwrap i.d. at Amazon

Mashable - 8 hours 32 min ago

SAVE $130: As of Aug. 27, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is on sale for $519.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. $519.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $130   Get Deal

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. has genuinely achieved cult status as a styling product. Famed for its ability to style your hair without damaging it, it's the perfect tool for salon-worthy blowouts at home. If you've been tempted to see what all the fuss is about but are hesitant about the price, it's currently on sale at Amazon.

As of Aug. 27, the styling tool is reduced by $130, taking the price down from $649.99 to $519.99.

SEE ALSO: I found 4 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are almost as good as the real thing

This tool is designed for both straight and wavy hair, giving you six-in-one styling to dry, curl, wave, shape, and smooth without heat damage. It's powered by the Dyson digital motor V9, with its 13-blade impeller spinning at up to 110,000rpm to generate the air pressure that creates the Coanda effect.

It's seriously advanced, with Bluetooth connectivity that lets you pair it with the MyDyson app. In the app, you'll be prompted to answer six questions about your hair type and length, which will help it create a personalized styling profile for your hair. Once paired, your profile tailors the Airwrap i.d.'s styling settings, and the device stores your wrap, style, and cold shot settings for more consistent use.

Find this Dyson deal at Amazon right now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

First look: Lego reveals a $800 Star Wars Star Destroyer — the longest set Lego has ever constructed

Mashable - 8 hours 46 min ago

Only Lego Star Wars fans know the excitement of the latest reveals — that lightsaber-like buzz about which corner of a galaxy far, far away will get the plastic brick treatment next. Well, set the excitement levels to Class 0.5 hyperdrive because Lego has really brought out the big guns for its next Star Wars-themed build. And we do mean big

Due for release on Oct. 4, the Executor Super Star Destroyer is the longest Lego ever made — a 53.5 inches (136 cm) recreation of Darth Vader’s flagship star destroyer, constructed with no fewer than 6,130 pieces.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Executor Super Star Destroyer (75457) $799.99 at Lego
  Learn More

The build is so massive that it required the design team to engineer a new Lego System core that uses Technic outriggers for extra strength to anchor the exterior panels. It also features all-new tile decorations to recreate hull lighting.

Credit: Lego

The Executor Super Star Destroyer was first seen in The Empire Strikes Back, replacing the mighty Death Star as Vader’s base of operations. It’s also where Vader summons six of the galaxy’s toughest bounty hunters. And they’re all included as minifigures in this set — Boba Fett, Dengar, Ig-88, Bossk, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss — along with a Darth Vader minifigure.

This is the first time all six of the bounty hunters have appeared in a single set together. It even comes with a mini-build of the ship’s bridge, allowing you to recreate the scene — Vader lining up the bounty hunters and charging them with the task of finding the Millennium Falcon — plus a to-scale version of the regular Star Destroyer.

Credit: Lego

Eagle-eyed Star Wars fans will appreciate a single round tile of the Millennium Falcon, recreating the moment Han Solo’s ship hides on the regular Star Destroyer — all to give some perspective of just how enormous the Executor is.

This is part of Lego’s Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) — in other words, seriously big and highly detailed — and is priced at $799.99. It's available to purchase from Lego.com and Lego stores from Oct. 1.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Bambu Lab X2D review: The new sweet spot in Bambu’s 3D printer lineup

How-To Geek - 8 hours 52 min ago

It's been nearly four years since Bambu Lab did a refresh of its X series of 3D printers, and the X2D definitely lives up to the hype. It improves on the X1 Carbon in every way, except for the one area where it lowers the bar—price. Here's why the X2D just became my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting to get into 3D printing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Review: Google Pixel 11 is sleek, but you might be happier with a cheap Pixel 10

Mashable - 8 hours 52 min ago

In 2025, Google packed the Pixel 10 full of upgrades over its predecessor. New features like a telephoto lens, a brighter display, and improved battery life made it feel like a real upgrade over the previous base-model Pixel. That is, unfortunately, not really the case with Pixel 11.

That's not to say the Pixel 11 is bad in any way, really. This is a perfect respectable Android phone, but a lack of standout new features (aside from a slimmer camera bar) make it feel significantly more incremental than the Pixel 10 did. It doesn't even have HiLight, the lone hardware "improvement" that graces the Pixel 11 Pro devices. Between that and specs that mostly line up with last year's model, the Pixel 11 sorta feels like a phone that only exists because Google makes a new base model every year and skipping a year would cause business problems.

It also doesn't help that 2026 is a great year to not buy a phone, thanks to RAMageddon price increases.

Google Pixel 11: Design, specs, and price It really is a much smaller camera bar. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

With an $899 starting price, the Pixel 11 does unfortunately separate itself from the Pixel 10 by being $100 more expensive than its predecessor. There is some important context to note with that, though: Google has excised the 128GB storage option this year. That means this isn't technically a price increase because the 256GB Pixel 11 costs the same as the 256GB Pixel 10 did. However, not giving consumers a 128GB option (even if that's a pretty small amount of storage in 2026) means the starting price is higher than last year's model, and that's not great!

The new Pixel 11 comes in four colors: Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio, and Obsidian. I'm pretty partial to the Frost variant, but the rest of them are pretty plain, as far as I'm concerned.

Here are the rest of the basic specs for Pixel 11:

  • Display: 6.3-inch display with 1080x2424 resolution, 60-120Hz refresh rate, and 3,000 nits peak brightness

  • Processor: Google Tensor G6

  • RAM: 12GB

  • Storage: 256/512GB

  • Battery: 4,985mAh

  • Rear cameras: 48MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom

  • Selfie camera: 10.5MP

As far as tech specs are concerned, the Pixel 11 is barely any different from a Pixel 10. I could've copied and pasted most of those specs from last year's review. The Tensor G6 processor is new, but basically everything else is the same. Display size, resolution, and brightness are all identical, which is a mild bummer because the Pro devices this year all got their peak brightness numbered bump up to 3,600 nits. Perhaps Google didn't see fit to improve the base model's brightness two years in a row, but that is one area where the Pro is more enticing, as it should be, I suppose.

Another color for you. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

One thing Google did change is that the camera bar is now a good deal thinner than it was on the Pixel 10. The phone is almost able to lie completely flat on a table, and would definitely do that if you put the right case on it. It's also 0.3 oz lighter than the Pixel 10, so overall, this is a more comfortable phone to hold, and one that will be slightly less awkward in taking up space in general. That's probably the best aspect of the Pixel 11, and the main reason why I would recommend it over the 10.

Speaking of the camera bar, it's worth mentioning that the regular Pixel 11 does not have HiLight, which is the only substantial hardware change made on the Pro-level Pixel 11 phones. It's a little light that lives in the camera bar and illuminates in different colors to do things like notify you of an incoming phone call, but for whatever reason, Google did not see fit to include it in the base model Pixel 11.

That's disappointing considering the starting price increase, but for what it's worth, HiLight is not exactly a show-stopping feature on the phones that do have it. Frankly, you're not missing much if you opt for a Pixel 11 over a Pro, at least in that regard.

Google Pixel 11: Performance

On the Geekbench 7 benchmarking app, the Pixel 11 recorded a single-core CPU score of 2,337 and a multi-core CPU score of 7,085. For reference, that's a few thousand points below something like a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Google's Tensor-powered phones have always come up short in these benchmarking apps, but luckily, that doesn't affect the user experience that much.

I can personally vouch for the Pixel 11's performance profile being totally fine. Apps load quickly and smoothly, on-device AI processing happens in a fairly snappy fashion, and the phone doesn't run all that hot, even without a case. The only minor (and I mean minor) qualm I have is that Google is promising faster Night Sight processing on Pixel 11, but in my testing, it didn't feel noticeably faster than in previous years. It's also not slower, though, so it's no big deal.

Google Pixel 11: AI features

Absent any major hardware upgrades, Google did include some new AI trickery in the Pixel 11's software.

First and foremost is Magic Capture, a new image capture method available in the Camera app. Magic Capture works the same as recording a video, except when you're done recording, the device takes a few seconds to select a few choice stills from the video, complete with optional auto-cropping and unblurring. The idea is to get multiple usable stills of something that's moving or otherwise dynamic and difficult to photograph, like a subway train, small children, or animals.

I used Magic Capture to get these stills of a train and some relatively fast-moving street traffic. The vehicles in these photos are, indeed, moving, but it's hard to tell thanks to whatever software magic is powering Magic Capture. It's honestly a pretty neat and useful feature.

Zooming by. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable This truck was moving pretty fast. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Google has also built on its contextual AI suggestions feature from previous years, so you'll get proactive suggestions about what's happening on-screen. If someone texts you asking about a flight reservation, you'll get flight info right in the text chat. Similarly, visual cards with information about a recommended restaurant can also show up if someone asks about the restaurant. You can also make Google Calendar entries straight from texts using this feature, too.

Again, that's all building upon things Google was already doing, but those features might still be nice for saving a little bit of time here and there. I'm more partial to Rambler, a new speech-to-text feature built right into Gboard. If you want to dictate a text or email to someone, Rambler will remove "ums" and "ahs" and other speech errors to produce a more sterile, normal-sounding sentence. I'd argue this strips some personality out of what you're saying, but it does work as advertised. It was able to turn a mush-mouthed sentence I made up on the spot into something readable.

Of all of these, I would say Rambler and Magic Capture are the real highlights. Magic Capture, in particular, is one of the only reasons I would say someone looking to upgrade from an older Pixel should opt for the 11 rather than try to find a deal on the Pixel 10.

Google Pixel 11: Battery life Nice profile. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Google rates the Pixel 11's battery for 30 hours of life on a single charge, which is the same as what the Pixel 10 was rated for. The battery cell in this device is a little larger than the Pixel 10's, but not enough for Google to alter its official prognostication.

At any rate, using our testing method of playing an HD video on the display until the phone dies, I was able to get a little less than 30 hours of use out of the Pixel 11. For a base-model flagship, that's totally fine, even if it's not all that different from last year.

Google Pixel 11: Cameras

Speaking of things that aren't all that different from last year, the Pixel 11's rear camera array has the exact same megapixel count as the Pixel 10's. One great thing about the Pixel 10 was that it added a telephoto lens to the proceedings, something you don't normally get on base-level phones. The Pixel 11 kept that, which is nice, but nothing here feels as innovative as that did.

Still, the cameras get the job done, thanks in part to Google's classic software processing that makes everything look super nice.

Your friendly neighborhood such-and-such. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

While Night Sight is not quite as instant as Google's marketing would have you believe, the effect is still pretty great. This plant on our windowsill has literally almost no light exposure at night, but the photo came out crystal clear.

No Night Sight. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Yes Night Sight. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The telephoto lens is only good for 5x optical zoom, but the 30x digital zoom is really no slouch here. I was able to get a clear photo of some graffiti on the top of a building that was pretty far away, and it didn't have that typical smeary look that you get when using digital zoom on other devices.

You can barely see the graffiti here. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Pretty good for digital zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

And, as always, I'm a fan of using the macro lens to get in real close on things like flowers.

Macro photography rocks. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Between the quality of the cameras themselves and the addition of Magic Capture, this is a pretty good phone for taking photos, even if it's not going to give you the same kind of output as a Pro device.

Google Pixel 11: The final verdict

I'm a little torn because the biggest problem with the Pixel 11 is that it's just not a very interesting year-over-year upgrade. Aside from slimming down the camera bar and adding a couple of (admittedly neat) AI doohickeys, you could spend less money to get a Pixel 10 and still largely have the same experience if you're upgrading from something significantly older.

As I said, the Pixel 11 feels like it exists out of an obligation to always provide a base-level phone in every annual upgrade cycle. But that doesn't make it a bad device at all. It's comfortable in the hands, the battery lasts a pretty long time, and it takes nice photos. If you get a good enough trade-in deal or something, you'll probably be happy with what you get. But make sure to do your research and check on deals for a Pixel 10, too, because you won't really miss that much if you opt for that route.

Pixel 11, 256 GB, Unlocked $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Best Buy
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

Mashable - 8 hours 52 min ago

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder the best dating site for Gen Z?

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discreet sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a helpful panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you want. Are you here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony. I mean, just read through Reddit. Women are on these apps (despite what all the dudes think/say) and are looking for FWBs, but they ignore 99 percent of messages because guys either send weird openers or pretend to want a relationship just to get a hookup.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "Free Tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide
  • Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in August 2026, it still earns the top spot. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

  • Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

  • FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

  • Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they removed key features like free messaging with non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

  • Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

  • Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels more limited than with more open apps like Tinder.

  • DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

  • Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Troye Sivans Las Culturistas episode is an utter delight

Mashable - 8 hours 56 min ago

The first guest in Las Culturistas' new podcast studio? Troye Sivan. As one YouTube commenter called it, "My gay Mount Rushmore."

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang showed off their newly fitted out space while chatting to the Grammy-nominated artist, and the interview careens from giving "Tro" a new nickname to volume loss and not loving musicals and how the iconic "Troye baby" voice note from "What's the Time Where You Are?" happened.

In a delightful moment, the three also silently watch the video for the unreleased second single from Sivan's upcoming fourth studio album, She's the Best. Essentially, you should always get Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang to watch your unreleased music videos.

As to Sivan's hot take for Las Culturistas' all-important segment "I Don't Think So, Honey!": "Singing."

"I am not fishing for compliments. I'm not that good at it and I'm OK with that. But I think sometimes I will be in the car and I'll sing (and it's just me) and something so diabolical will come out of my mouth that I'm like, I truly scammed the world. And the fact that I have the same job as Beyoncé is just an insane thought," he says.

"But now I will say I care a lot about tone and storytelling, so I understand, I get it. The real magic though is when somebody has tone, storytelling, and they can sing sing, like Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, Sade," Sivan adds. "But I'm just saying the idea of me doing karaoke, or singing at any point where I don't absolutely have to, I will not do it and it's not that fun. It's fun at my shows, because I'm in control. But any other time, absolutely not, no thank you."

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rare Bluetti deal: The Bluetti AC200L power station can run your whole house for under $800

Mashable - 9 hours 46 sec ago

SAVE $300: As of Aug. 27, the Bluetti AC200L portable power station is down to $798.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount off its $1,099 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC200L $798.99 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $300.01   Get Deal

Keeping your home powered through a blackout usually means dropping serious cash, but this Bluetti deal just made it a lot more doable.

The Bluetti AC200L portable power station — a 2048Wh LiFePO4 battery that can push out 3,600W with power lifting — is on sale for $798.99, down from its usual $1,099. That's a 27% discount, or $300 off on whole-home backup power without the whole-home price tag.

The AC200L is the upgraded version of Bluetti's popular AC200MAX, and the biggest change is power — it puts out 2,400 watts continuously, 200 more than the older model, so it can run more devices at once without straining.

Add on extra battery packs, and the total capacity of the AC200L climbs to 8,192Wh, so it can go from powering your phone and WiFi router to backing up a good chunk of your home.

Charging is quick, too. Plug it into a wall outlet, and it reaches 80% in about 45 minutes. If you'd rather charge with solar panels, a full charge takes roughly two hours under the right conditions — useful if you're off-grid or don't have an outlet nearby. It also comes with 11 ports total, including a dedicated 30A port built for RVs, so this isn't just for camping trips or power outages.

$300 in savings, zero regrets when the power goes out. Grab the Bluetti AC200L portable power station at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rare vacuum deal: Score $400 off Eufys flagship E25 HydroJet robot mop

Mashable - 9 hours 10 min ago

SAVE $400: As of Aug. 27, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum $599.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Robot vacuum deals are a great excuse to finally check vacuuming off your chores list once and for all. And as of Aug. 27, we've found the perfect Amazon deal to sway you. Right now, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum has dropped in price by a huge $400, bringing the cost down from just under $1,000 to $599.99.

It's a powerful vacuum, combining 20,000 Pa suction with an always-clean HydroJet mopping system that refreshes the roller mop with clean water twice per second to help prevent cross-contamination while scrubbing stains. It also has DuoSpiral anti-tangle brushes to prevent hair tangles, and a CornerRover arm that extends to clean along baseboards and other tight corners.

SEE ALSO: The best budget robot vacuums to buy in 2026, expert tested at home

For maintenance, it has an all-in-one docking station where it auto-empties dust into a 3-liter bag that lasts around 75 days, self-washes the roller mops, dries them with 50°C hot air, and automatically refills the water. Plus, it comes with laser-guided navigation, so it can self-navigate around your home and remember up to five floor plans.

This eufy deal is available at Amazon right now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Chipotle is giving away free entrées every time Taylor Fritz wins at the U.S. Open — how to claim

Mashable - 9 hours 15 min ago

TL;DR: Chipotle and top-ranked U.S. tennis player Taylor Fritz are teaming up for "Every Win Tastes Better," a promotion that unlocks BOGO entrée codes on his Instagram Story after every singles win at the U.S. Open.

Win a match, win a burrito — that's the deal.

Chipotle's iconic foil wrap just got a courtside upgrade. The chain announced it's teaming up with top-ranked U.S. men's tennis player and superfan Taylor Fritz on "Every Win Tastes Better," a promotion that turns his tournament run into free food for fans.

As Fritz chases becoming the first American in 23 years to win the men's singles title at New York's premier tennis tournament, Chipotle is giving away buy-one-get-one (BOGO) entrée codes after every one of his singles wins.

How to claim this free giveaway

After each Fritz victory, he'll drop a unique text-to-win code on his Instagram Story (@taylor_fritz). Text it to 888-222, and if you're fast enough, you'll get a BOGO entrée offer redeemable on the Chipotle app or Chipotle online.

The number of codes up for grabs grows the further Fritz advances:

  • Round 1 — 2,500 BOGO offers

  • Round 2 — 3,000 BOGO offers

  • Round 3 — 3,500 BOGO offers

  • Round of 16 — 4,000 BOGO offers

  • Quarter-final — 4,500 BOGO offers

  • Semi-final — 5,000 BOGO offers

  • Final — 10,000 BOGO offers

The promo runs until all the codes for a given round are claimed, whichever comes first. It's open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and D.C. who are 13 or older, and you're limited to one code per person per round that Fritz advances. Chipotle will notify winners by text (standard text and data rates apply).

Fritz has been a Team Chipotle athlete for three seasons, wears the logo on his sleeve during tournaments, and holds a Chipotle Celebrity Card that gets him free food for life. He's also said he ate Chipotle on every off day and before every night match during his title run in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Credit: Chipotle

"Anyone who follows me knows I eat a lot of Chipotle when I'm playing tournaments," Fritz said. "I love that every time I win a singles match in New York, fans have another chance to score a BOGO. I'm trying to make them give away as much as possible."

The codes drop fast and disappear faster, so @taylor_fritz is officially a must-follow through the tournament.

Categories: IT General, Technology

First look: Secretlab’s new Spider-Man and Venom gaming chairs are slinging onto shelves

Mashable - 9 hours 20 min ago

TL;DR: Secretlab and Marvel just launched the Titan Evo Marvel Spider-Man Edition, a red-and-black gaming chair featuring a web-patterned back and Venom-inspired tendril details. This limited-edition chair is now available in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.

Secretlab just teamed up with Marvel for the first time, and the result is a gaming chair built entirely around Spider-Man. The Secretlab Titan Evo Marvel Spider-Man Edition features a red-and-black color scheme, riding the wave of Spider-Man: Brand New Day hype. It's available now in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.

If you're in the market for Spider-Man merch that doubles as functional furniture, this chair checks that box. The red-and-black palette is meant to channel the character's classic look, and there's a Spider-Man emblem stitched into the backrest.

Credit: Marvel / Secretlab Credit: Marvel / Secretlab

The back is upholstered in Secretlab's SoftWeave Plus fabric, woven into a web-like pattern of thin lines, made possible through what Secretlab describes as an advanced knitting process. As a nod to Venom, dark tendril patterns creep along the side wings and seat base, too.

Underneath the Spider-Man theming, this is still a Titan Evo, so it comes with the same comfort features as the standard chair. That includes cold-cure foam designed for long sitting sessions, a sculpted "pebble" seat base to distribute pressure more evenly (and leave room for sitting cross-legged), and four-way L-ADAPT lumbar support that adjusts to the curve of your lower back as you shift positions.

SEE ALSO: Umbro’s new Spider-Man streetwear collab just dropped: Shop jackets, backpacks, shorts, and more Spidey gear

This is easily one of Secretlab's best collabs yet, Spider-Man fan or not.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Do we really need a foldable iPhone? Heck yes we do.

Mashable - 9 hours 22 min ago

In January 2007, Steve Jobs took the stage at the Macworld convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco to announce a new product category in Apple’s lineup: A phone.

Back then, PCs were a bigger deal than phones (hence the big Apple event of the year being the Macworld convention, which kept running until 2014). This would change soon. At that stage, Jobs announced a lofty goal. He’d be happy, he said, if Apple would capture 1 percent of the mobile phone market by the end of 2008, which would mean selling roughly 10 million iPhones in a year. Fast forward to today, and Apple sells that many iPhones, on average, roughly every two weeks.

Guess what Apple will release in September in our Big Guessing Game: Apple edition. Enter now for a chance to win!

The iPhone that Jobs held in front of the audience at Moscone was a lot smaller and a lot less powerful than modern smartphones, but its form factor has remained pretty much the same. It’s still a rectangular slab of glass, plastic, metal, and silicon with a large display on one side and almost no moving parts.

Remember this guy? Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007. Credit: David Paul Morris / Getty Images

This is about to change. In September, according to numerous rumors and reports, Apple will launch the first-ever iPhone that’s not candy bar-shaped. Instead, the iPhone Ultra (or iPhone Fold, or whatever the name turns out to be) will be a foldable phone; a fairly regular-looking smartphone when folded, but with a large inner display that’s almost tablet-like when the phone is unfolded.

We’ve seen foldable phones before; Samsung has several in its lineup, which goes back six years, and so does Google, Motorola, and the major Chinese phone manufacturers. For Apple, however, it’s a pretty big leap forward that begs the question: Is this really something the world needs?

I think the answer is yes, but I also think Apple made the right move by waiting until the technology behind foldable phones matures. No one wants a phone with an ugly crease in the middle of the display, or a phone that creaks and cracks when you fold it shut. Often criticized for copying other phone makers, Apple plays the long game and waits until the tech matures. When you sell millions of phones every week, you want to get it perfect the first time around.

Still, many will shun the entire idea. By all accounts, the iPhone Ultra will be a pricy, hard-to-get, heavy phone that unfolds into an iPad mini. We don't know Apple's sales breakdown for tablets, but given the update frequency and the company's marketing efforts, the iPad mini appears to be one of the least popular iPads. It also costs $599, while the iPhone Ultra is rumored to be nearly four times that price. So, who will pay north of two thousand dollars to have a beefier iPhone/iPad mini combo when you can buy a regular iPhone and a separate iPad mini for less money?

I don't know how well the iPhone Ultra will sell. Perhaps it'll end up being a side character in Apple's lineup, just like the iPhone Air. But it will, I'm sure of it, be a lot sexier and cooler than having an iPhone in one hand and an iPad in the other.

The obvious benefit is having a regular-sized phone that expands into something that makes reading, watching movies, and even light work enjoyable on the go. If Apple gets the software part right, and there's little reason to believe it won't, the iPhone Ultra will be exactly this.

There's also the (rumored) twist in Apple's take on the foldable phone. It will be slightly wider than a regular phone, and thus open into an even wider device that actually makes more sense than most foldables on the market today. Samsung took the idea for a spin with its Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and most reviewers seem to like it.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Then there's the software. The apps and games made for the iPhone have always had a very similar format. With the iPhone Ultra, app makers will finally be able to do something new and cool with their software. Besides the obvious, such as giving your favorite game more than twice the screen real estate, we'll also see a bunch of productivity apps (finally, a big calendar!) and entertainment apps (a video side-by-side with your playlist in Music!) take advantage of the larger display.

Yes, Android foldables do have this to some extent, but there's a lot of iPhone-only software out there that never got to do it. And given Apple's massive footprint in the smartphone space, the iPhone Ultra might soon become the most popular foldable model out there, thus prompting app creators to try extra hard to accommodate the new form factor in their app.

Details aside, when was the last time you were truly excited about a new iPhone? The iPhone Air was a thin iPhone; while nice, it wasn't exactly groundbreaking. But the iPhone Ultra should be the first truly different new iPhone Apple has ever made. That alone makes this one worth the wait.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The smart runner’s Apple Watch alternative: Garmin’s Forerunner 165 drops to $199

Mashable - 9 hours 28 min ago

SAVE $50: As of Aug. 27, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is on sale for $199 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 165 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

If you're looking to level up your runs without spending a fortune, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is a great choice. This running-focused smartwatch packs plenty of useful training features into a relatively affordable package, and it's currently available for less at Amazon. As of Aug. 27, this fitness tracker has dropped in price by $50, now priced at $199.

This watch is truly a runner's best companion, packed with loads of features to help you run better. It combines built-in GPS for tracking pace and distance with wrist-based heart rate monitoring, so you can track your effort as well as pace.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy the Garmin Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro: New features, release date, and launch price

It has both an AMOLED touchscreen display and traditional button controls in a lightweight 43mm design, and it offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode.

You'll get personalized daily suggested workouts tailored to your recovery and performance, and you can also use Garmin Coach and race-adaptive training plans for workout suggestions tailored to specific events. Some other features include Training Effect, which shows how your workouts impact your fitness and the benefit of each session, while recovery time helps you know when you're ready for your next high-effort workout.

This Garmin deal is available at Amazon right now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Samsung Internal SSD 990 has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $30

Mashable - 9 hours 30 min ago

SAVE $30: As of Aug. 27, the Samsung Internal SSD 990 1TB is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Internal SSD 990 1TB $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal

If your PC needs a storage overhaul, now could be a good time to upgrade — Samsung's 990 1TB SSD has dropped in price on Amazon. As of Aug. 27, this SSD is down from $229.99 to $199.99, saving you $30. Not only that, but according to camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest-ever price for this popular model from Samsung.

This SSD is an ideal choice if you need a fast, responsive performance from your PC. It has sequential read/write speeds of up to 7,150/6,450 MB/s and random read/write speeds of up to 700K/1,100K IOPS, so you can do everything from loading games to downloading large files.

SEE ALSO: All the phones T-Mobile is giving away for free: Shop iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Google Pixel 11

And if improving your gaming setup is your intention, you'll be pleased to know it is designed to handle large games, as well as other demanding creative projects. And it only uses up to 38% less power per unit of performance than the 990 PRO.

There are both 1TB and 2TB options (2TB is $339 down from $529), so you have plenty of room for games, personal files, and long-term storage.

Head to Amazon now to get this deal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The latest AirPods rumors ahead of the Apple event: AirPods 5, cameras, and AI

Mashable - 9 hours 37 min ago

In early September, we expect Apple to show off at least a few new iPhone 18 models. But there might be a little something for AirPods lovers at the recently announced Sept. 9 special event.

Rumor has it Apple will launch multiple new AirPods models, and we're just two weeks away from finding out for sure. However, the tagline for Apple's event is "Surprise and shine," so who knows exactly what's in store?

Guess what Apple will release in September in our Big Guessing Game: Apple edition. Enter now for a chance to win!

As always, we're here to cut through the noise and give you everything you need to know ahead of time. Here are the latest AirPods rumors ahead of the September iPhone event.

Two new AirPods 5 models

Whenever a big slew of Apple announcements is imminent, it's always worth checking in with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who usually prognosticates correctly about the future of Apple hardware.

Gurman recently reported that Apple is gearing up to announce the AirPods 5 in the near future, possibly at the September event. For reference, Gurman recently reported Apple was getting ready to launch a new Mac Mini, and Apple did exactly that a day later. In short, Gurman's track record is deeply impressive.

Regarding new AirPods, Gurman did not elaborate on how exactly the AirPods 5 would be different from the AirPods 4 released in 2024, but he did expand his reporting on X to say there would be two models: one with active noise cancellation and one without. That was also the case with the AirPods 4.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

That is, unfortunately, seemingly all there is to know about AirPods 5 right now, suggesting this would be a very iterative update. It doesn't seem like Apple is keen to announce the next batch of AirPods Pro earbuds soon, in case you prefer silicone ear tips. The AirPods Pro 3 were refreshed just last year, so we might have to wait a year or two for a new update to that model.

Even without knowing for sure what to expect from AirPods 5, we can make some educated guesses. Apple will probably enhance sound quality in some way, and battery life could always use a boost, too. Otherwise, we'll just have to wait a couple of weeks to find out, presumably.

AirPods with cameras?

Another product that may or may not show up at the September event is a brand new AirPods model with a very interesting and unexpected new feature — cameras.

That's right, the long-rumored AirPods with cameras could be just two weeks away.

Simply put, these AirPods would have cameras built into the stems. They recently appeared in a macOS beta video, so it seems all but certain that they're real and coming soon. The video doesn't show much, but it does definitely show a new pair of AirPods that you can't currently buy.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Some previous reporting by Gurman gives us an idea of what to expect from the AirPods Ultra. Apparently, the cameras will not be used to capture images or video at all; instead, they will only be used to tell an onboard AI assistant what the user is looking at, similar to the way AI in contemporary smart glasses works. That doesn't mean there won't be any controversy regarding privacy concerns, of course, but it does mean this isn't necessarily a Google Glass situation. Think Visual Intelligence and AI assistants, not Meta-RayBans and creepy videos.

Gurman also reported that Apple has been working on two versions of this product internally, with one of them winning out and being fast-tracked to ship in the near future. That might be the one we've seen in the leaked video. There's a real possibility this product appears at the iPhone 18 event, but as always with Apple, there's also a possibility it won't. The event is called "Surprise and shine," after all.

SEE ALSO: AirPods with cameras aren't the only new product that Apple just leaked AirPods Pro or AirPods Ultra?

What are these rumored AirPods with cameras going to be called? No one outside of Apple Park knows for sure, but there are two rumored possibilities. Initially, these AirPods were rumored to be called AirPods Ultra, or AirPods Pro Ultra. That would make sense, as Apple is rumored to be working on a premium iPhone Ultra and MacBook Ultra. However, MacRumors recently reported that they'll be released as a variation on the AirPods Pro. MacRumors cited references to the product in macOS Tahoe that suggest AirPods Pro branding.

Will AirPods increase in price?

Unfortunately, we can never rule out a price increase in 2026. Thanks to the global memory crisis, Apple and other tech companies have been raising prices all year long. The new iPhones are almost certain to see higher prices than previous models. Audio products haven't seen as many price increases as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles have, so if we're lucky, a new AirPods 5 would cost the same as the AirPods 4, which are priced at $129 (without ANC) and $179 (with ANC) — or as low as $99 on sale.

Hopefully, all of these questions will be answered on Sept. 9 at the September Apple event. Mashable will be attending that event and reporting live on all of the announcements, so check back for more info.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Seen an ad with an AI influencer or actor? It may be against the law.

Mashable - 9 hours 52 min ago

In June, a new law went into effect in New York state that requires companies to disclose when they use AI-generated models or actors in advertisements. And now, just a few months after it went into effect, the state is seeing its first complaints reporting advertisers for allegedly running afoul of the law.

In total, four complaints have been filed since the law went into effect, the New York attorney general's office told Mashable. All four are currently under review by the AG.

New York's Synthetic Performers law is the first of its kind in the United States, and with growing anti-AI sentiment, it likely won't be the last. In fact, companies that use AI actors or influencers to promote products without disclosure could also be violating federal law, though the Trump administration has so far taken a hands-off approach to AI regulation.

The first two anonymous complaints under the New York law, which accuse two companies of using synthetic models or performers in their ads without disclosure, were recently obtained and published by Straight Arrow News. The first complaint alleges that "premium performance wear brand" Athletifreak used AI-generated models when promoting the clothing company's products. The complaint includes numerous screenshots taken from Athletifreak's website.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The second complaint sent to the New York attorney general points the finger at London-based eyewear company Bloobloom. The complaint alleges that Bloobloom is running advertisements on social media that use synthetic performers and target New York residents.

Both complaints were sent in June, shortly after the law went into effect.

“In New York, we are setting the rules of the road instead of letting AI run the show,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on June 9 when the law went into effect. “Requiring simple, honest disclosure when an ad uses synthetic performers protects consumers, respects our creative workforce and keeps New York at the forefront of responsible innovation.”

And New York's law did set the rules of the road. The state requires any company that does business in New York to abide by the Synthetic Performers law. If they don't, companies can face fines of $1,00 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for repeat offenses.

Last month, Amazon announced a new requirement for third-party sellers on its platform, stating that they must disclose when AI is used in product images and videos on their listings.

“Recent legislation requires disclosure when images or videos in advertisements contain photorealistic AI-generated people,” Amazon told sellers, referring to the New York state law.

While the New York law is an example of regulation that's welcomed by AI safety advocates and critics of the technology, what about federal regulations that protect consumers?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has long had existing rules barring companies from posting fake reviews and testimonials of their products or services. A few years ago, the FTC updated its fake reviews and testimonials rules to explicitly cover AI-generated content. 

Violating the FTC's rules results in a financial penalty much larger than New York state's law. The maximum fine from the FTC could be a whopping $51,744 per violation.

Mashable previously reached out to the FTC to ask if AI-generated actors and influencers could violate its regulations prohibiting fake reviews and testimonials. 

"If there is an AI-created individual who is essentially playing the same function as a human actor in a commercial, and it is obvious that the speaker is merely an actor, that may be perfectly fine," an FTC spokesperson told us regarding synthetic performers. "If the AI-generated individual is providing a testimonial (which would necessarily be fake) or claiming to have specific expertise (such as a medical degree or license or financial experience) that affects consumers’ perception of the speaker’s credibility, that may be deceptive and could violate both the FTC Act and also the Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials."

With that said, the FTC recently issued an AI policy statement that suggested that "anti-innovation states" like New York lack the authority to enact AI laws like this.

"Importantly, President Trump’s proposed approach is a national AI framework, protecting innovation and competition by providing national regulatory clarity and certainty and avoiding a balkanized or patchwork regulatory approach driven by the states — or, most dangerously, imposed by certain anti-innovation state governments on the rest of the country," reads the FTC's July 1 AI statement. "America’s AI Action Plan and other critical executive actions strike that balance between accelerating innovation and protecting Americans, but anti-innovation states’ recent efforts to regulate AI are concerning."

If the FTC moves to strike state laws prohibiting deceptive AI ads — but doesn't step up its own enforcement in any way — that could clear the path for a lot of sketchiness in advertising. Already, companies are openly advertising services to create "AI influencers" to promote products.

For now, states like New York are stepping up AI regulation, likely because of the Trump administration's hands-off approach to AI regulation. And the four complaints submitted under New York's law are likely just the beginning as awareness of New York's new AI advertisement regulation spreads.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker