Blogroll
Sony and Honda wind down their EV alliance, for now
Now that Sony and Honda have cancelled their Afeela EVs, they're ready to put their automotive joint venture on hold. The Japanese companies have announced that they will "scale down" operations at Sony Honda Mobility.
I built a NAS from a $70 broken laptop—here's why it beats a dedicated enclosure
If you're curious about self-hosting and owning a NAS but got put off by the price of "proper" NAS enclosures, I've got good news for you: you don't need to spend a fortune to get started.
I ran a dealership express lube—these 4 services help your car last 200,000 miles
When it comes to keeping your vehicle on the road for the long haul, oil changes and tire rotations are still king. Most cars have an oil life monitor to let you know when it’s time for an oil change. And since most cars now use a longer-lasting synthetic oil, it’s a good idea to rotate your tires at each oil change (back in the day, you used to rotate your tires every other oil change because the previous interval was 3,000 miles).
Why Instagram was turning some users photos black and white
Have your Instagram posts been turning black and white without your consent? You're not alone.
According to Engadget, some users on Facebook and presumably elsewhere (though I wasn't able to find a lot of complaints on X) have complained that photos uploaded to the Instagram app in color were being automatically and unintentionally turned black and white at some point in the uploading process.
It was enough of a problem that Instagram confirmed its existence to Engadget, explained what the problem was, and claimed it had already been fixed.
SEE ALSO: The top 10 most-followed Instagram accounts"Earlier today, a technical issue caused some HDR photos to appear incorrectly as black-and-white for a subset of accounts,” Instagram told Engadget, before saying the problem was already being fixed.
According to the Instagram spokesperson, anyone still experiencing the problem should simply wait a few hours for the photos to automatically go back to their original, intended state.
In the meantime, if you want to avoid anything like this happening in the future, there's a way to turn off HDR photos on an iPhone. By default, your iPhone will turn on HDR automatically when it's called for, but if you go to Settings, then Camera, then turn off Auto HDR, you can avoid any HDR-related mishaps going forward.
Amazon is launching new Star Wars Echo Dots — The Mandalorian and Grogu preorders are 20% off
SAVE 20%: As of April 21, preorder The Mandalorian or Grogu Amazon Echo Dot bundle for $79.96 and $71.98 respectively ahead of their May 1 release date.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon The Mandalorian Echo Dot $79.96 at Amazon$99.96 Save $20 Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Grogu Echo Dot $71.98 at Amazon
$89.98 Save $18 Pre-order Here
Can't wait to head to the theater for The Mandalorian & Grogu? The May 4th Star Wars deals are already heating up, so you can get your fill of both characters long before the movie arrives. Amazon is sweetening the deal, for instance, on two of its newest Echo Dot bundles so you can bring the pair home to act as your new smart speakers.
As of April 21, preorder The Mandalorian or Grogu Amazon Echo Dot bundle for $79.96 and $71.98 respectively ahead of their May 1 release date. Each bundle comes with an Echo Dot in the color of your choice (charcoal, deep sea blue, or glacier water) as well as a stand, and either a Mandalorian helmet or Grogu, depending on your preference. Or you can get a bundle with both.
SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away free N-1 Starfighter models on Star Wars Day — how to claim yoursOther than the adorable Grogu stand and the menacing Mandalorian helmet, these are your run of the mill Echo Dots with a new facelift for Star Wars fans. You can play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more via the Dot as well as make calls, ask Alexa questions or use apps, and much more.
These tiny smart home hubs are all about connecting your devices and controlling other items throughout your abode. They can link up to and synergize with other Echo products you have as well. You can even control your Fire TV theater system with them if you'd like.
If you want to bring both Echo stands home, you'll have to wait a bit, though. You'll be able to get yours set up just in time for the movie about a month later when you get them on May 1, though The Mandalorian & Grogu launches on May 22.
Linux users claim they want mainstream adoption, but here's why they don't
In a rational world, Linux is just an operating system and people who genuinely believe it's a better operating system than the alternatives would want it to become as easy to use and popular as possible.
Seth Meyers recap of the past 3 weeks is a wild, chaotic ride
Sometimes the news is so chaotic that you forget just how many ridiculous things have happened in a relatively short space of time.
"This is usually the part of the show where we would do our recurring segment 'A Closer Look', about all the crazy things that are happening in the news, but we just got back from a three-week break, and it turns out nothing happened. So instead we're debuting our new segment, 'Everything's Great,'" says Seth Meyers in the Late Night clip above.
"That's right, it's been a quiet three weeks, and nothing really— what's that? Oh, Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed again? OK. Uh, what, Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker? And, sorry, the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship and Iran is vowing to retaliate? Okay, but that's just the Middle East— what? Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi? He posted a meme of himself as Jesus, but then said he thought it was a meme of himself as a doctor? What? He said the Pope is weak on crime?"
The segment goes on like that for a solid two minutes.
Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.
This robotic lawn mower cuts your grass for you, and its never been this cheap
SAVE $300: As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $1,199. That's $300 or 20% off its list price and its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower $1,199.99 at Amazon$1,499.99 Save $300 Get Deal
Summer's right around the corner, which means so is yard work. If you have a lawn that requires constant care, you may want to consider a robotic lawn mower this season. Like robot vacuums, they can take over a chore you'd rather not do and give you hours of your time back every week. They're not the cheapest investments, but Amazon just dropped the price of Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower to save you a big chunk of change.
As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale for just $1,199 at Amazon instead of its usual $1,499. That's 20% or $300 in savings, knocking it down to its cheapest price ever.
The Goat O1000 robot lawn mower is powered by AI Vision and 3D ToF LiDAR, which means it can accurately navigate your lawn for proper upkeep while avoiding obstacles like kids' toys, furniture, pets, and more. It's designed for smaller lawns, with the ability to mow up to a quarter acre or for 1.5 hours before it needs a charge. TrueEdge Trimmer technology helps it conquer clean edges, so you don't need to go back in manually. Plus, you can adjust the cutting height to your preference, from 1.2 to 3.1 inches.
To make the most of the Goat O1000's features, you'll need to download the Ecovacs app. Like a robot vacuum, you'll be able to set no-go areas, create multiple mowing zones, define travel paths, adjust the cutting height and speed, and create your mowing schedules. It's like having a personal lawn care professional in your pocket.
Sure, it's still not the cheapest investment at $1,199, but it's the best price you'll find on the Ecovacs Goat O1000 and it'll save you more money in the long run on lawn care.
5 Milwaukee tools you can’t get from Makita
Every homeowner or DIYer has a few power tools from their preferred brand, with Milwaukee being a popular choice. And while most brands offer the essentials, what sets Milwaukee apart is its vast selection of unique, niche, or trade-specific tools. With that in mind, here are some neat Milwaukee tools you can't get from Makita.
Amazon Pet Days returns in May: Everything you need to know about Prime Day for pets
Amazon isn't hosting its next big sitewide sale until Prime Day in July (or maybe June). But in the meantime, pet owners will be able to stock up on discounted food, treats, toys, apparel, grooming supplies, and other pet essentials during its fifth annual Amazon Pet Days sale next month.
The retail giant confirmed Tuesday that the event will run from May 11 to 15 this year, which makes it the longest Amazon Pet Days sale ever. Here's what you should know about it ahead of time.
What is Amazon Pet Days?Amazon Pet Days is Amazon's yearly sale on pet supplies — pretty straightforward. It always happens in May, which is National Pet Month, but it's never been a five-day event before. It started as a 24-hour event in 2022 and ran for 48 hours from 2023 to 2025. (This is becoming a pattern for Amazon: Last year, it extended its flagship Prime Day sale from 48 hours to four days.)
What kind of deals to expect during Amazon Pet DaysAmazon Pet Days will bring "thousands of deals" on pet essentials for animals of all kinds, according to a company blog post. In the past, it's been a good opportunity to save on the sort of unglamorous petkeeping stuff you probably need to buy anyway, like a new bag of dental chews or a fresh tub of kitty litter.
Most of the deals featured in Amazon Pet Days will revolve around supplies for dogs and cats, the company said, but select products for fish, parrots, reptiles, small mammals, and even horses and chickens will also be on sale. Look for discounts on kibble, toys, and more from big-name brands like Blue Buffalo, Chuckit!, Greenies, Iams, and Purina.
Amazon typically drops a selection of early Amazon Pet Days deals in late April as a way of previewing some of the sale's top offers.
Do you have to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Pet Days?Amazon Pet Days is often called "Prime Day for pets," but unlike actual Prime Day, it's not exclusive to members of Amazon's Prime program — anyone can shop the deals. However, Prime members get the extra benefit of free same-day, one-day, or two-day delivery on millions of items (with no order minimums), which can come in clutch if you find yourself suddenly low on, say, food or poop bags.
If you haven't had a Prime membership recently, you may be eligible for a free 30-day trial.
I wanted a repairable phone, but the Fairphone 6 still has a breaking point
I have long loved the idea of owning a Fairphone, but it wasn't until the latest generation that I decided to make the switch. Unfortunately, shortly after placing the order, I realized this phone wouldn't quite live up to its promise of being fully repairable. In some areas, it is just as vulnerable as any other phone.
Spring for an upgrade to the 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV while its $900 off at Amazon
SAVE $900: The 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, down from the standard price of $2,499.99. That's a 36% discount and the lowest price we've seen on this model in 2026.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV (UN98DU9000, 2024 model) $1,599.99 at Amazon$2,499.99 Save $900.00 Get Deal
We've spotted a really big deal. If you've been yearning for a jumbo TV but haven't felt like the price was reasonable enough to make the leap, this Amazon deal might be your sign.
As of April 21, the 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, marked down from the list price of $2,499.99. That's a 36% discount that takes a massive $900 off the price. It's the lowest price we've seen on this model so far this year.
If you're feeling in the mood to treat yourself, your favorite shows, and your friends, upgrading to the 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal is a great choice. Sure, you could spend the money elsewhere, but what else could give you hours of enjoyment everyday for years to come?
SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 17, 2026)The Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is designed with Samsung's Supersize Picture Enhancer with a wide picture ratio. This means the display remains sharp even at its large size. There's also the Motion Xcelerator that clocks speeds of up to 120Hz, and that means you can use this model as a gaming TV. Image sitting in your climate-controlled living room playing games this summer.
Since 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is sitting at the lowest price we've seen this year, take it as a sign to make the upgrade. You'll be able to stream shows, watch movies, game, and catch this summer's best sporting events while saving $900.
Stop trusting viral 3D printer hacks—they're hiding the real problems with your machine
YouTubers are great at driving interest in 3D printers, especially with fancy time-lapses and early hardware reviews. Some of these polished tutorials tend to hide a trend of viral hacks created for views instead of engineering quality. But replacing mechanical knowledge with surface-level tricks can inadvertently hide hardware problems that need careful consideration.
Digital minimalism is overrated—how more devices made me more productive
Digital minimalism is one of those ideas that sounds wise until you actually live it. The promise is fewer devices, more focus—but what you often get instead is one overloaded machine pulling you in six directions at once. I know because I tried it, and my "optimized" two to three device setup was quietly one of the most distracted periods of my life. More devices fixed that—and the reason has its roots in behavioral psychology.
Score the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for its lowest price yet
SAVE $600.99: As of April 21, get the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for $899 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's a discount of 40% and the lowest price we've seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop $899 at Amazon$1,499.99 Save $600.99 Get Deal
If you're still struggling to keep your home clean when you've got a busy schedule or a full house, you don't have to deal with it alone. You can recruit a robot vacuum to help whip your home into shape, and it won't cost you an entire paycheck. Case in point: we found this robot vacuum for its lowest price ever, and it's got every feature you could want to help tidy up your home in record time.
As of April 21, get the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for $899 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's a discount of 40% and the lowest price we've seen.
SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of lazinessThis robot vacuum and mop eliminates a few steps from your routine. It boasts a strong 19,500Pa of suction to help cut through the dirt, debris, and hair ground into the carpet. All of this is stored in its bagless auto-emptying station. It can handle all the mess, so you just have to occasionally empty the station when it gets full.
It can find its way around your home and create maps of each room to eliminate bumping into things and navigational slowdowns. It can also swap between robot vacuum and mop with ease so you don't have to worry about which mode to use. With its high-density roller, it can scrub hard-to-reach stains as well as edges and corners. When it's finished with its cleaning session, it'll even refill its own tank.
if you're ready to offload these tasks to a robot, now's the time to jump in while this model is the lowest price it's been.
The Soundcore Space 2 headphones prove why Soundcore is the budget brand to beat
Don't you love it when the universe seems to be listening?
For instance, my colleague Samantha Mangino just wrote about how great the budget-friendly Soundcore Space One headphones are, and voilá, Soundcore's new Space 2 headphones are officially available at Amazon and Soundcore's website as of April 20.
Naturally, I couldn't be one to close my ears off to what the universe was offering me, so I got my hands on a pair of the Soundcore Space 2 headphones ahead of their launch, and tested them out over the course of the past two weeks. (As a headphones reviewer, I guess this is also technically my professional obligation, but still.)
Knowing that the Space Ones are great, I've had my eye on the second-gen headphones since their announcement at Mobile World Congress in March — I'm happy to report that these headphones do not disappoint. At a price point far more accessible than premium flagship releases these days, I could see these headphones being the best option for most people, especially if you don't need the absolute top-of-the-line features.
Of course, budget products always come with a few trade-offs, and the Space 2s are no exception. So let's get into it.
Soundcore Space 2: Price and specs The Soundcore Space 2 headphones look (and sound) great. Credit: Bethany Allard / MashableIn an era where one of the big constants of headphones releases is increasing price points, it's nice to see a brand launching well-rounded headphones that don't cost several hundred dollars. It's especially pleasant to see headphones that are just $129.99, as the Soundcore Space 2 are. While this is $30 more than the Space One's $99.99, it's still an incredibly competitive price point. Here's what you'll get with the headphones:
Battery life: 50 hours with ANC on, 70 hours with ANC off
Quick charge: Five minutes of charge for four hours of playback
Listening modes: Noise cancellation, normal, transparency
Drivers: Double-layer 40mm diaphragm drivers
Multipoint connection: Yes, up to two devices
Equalizer: Eight-band custom equalizer, with 22 equalizer presets
Spatial audio: Yes
Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, and LDAC
Passive playback: Yes
On-ear controls: Noise cancellation button, multifunction button, power/Bluetooth button, and volume controls
Colors: Seafoam green, white, black
Out of the box, the Space 2 headphones sound balanced, clear, and generally pretty damn great. But you don't have to stop there.
With the companion app, the Space 2 headphones allow for plenty of customization. There's the eight-band custom equalizer, the HearID test that helps you find your sonic preferences, and the 3D Sound (Soundcore's name for spatial audio). And, as on other Soundcore audio devices, you have your pick from 22 preset equalizer options, too. (I remain partial to the Treble Booster).
I put these headphones to the test with plenty of variety, including "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Aerodynamic" by Daft Punk, "Hooligan" by BTS, and "Here is Someone" by Japanese Breakfast. Whether it was the rock-heavy punches from Queens of the Stone Age, the bass-forward mix of BTS's song, or the lilting vocals and soft strings of "Here is Someone," the Space 2 headphones handled the soundscape deftly. I even listened back to a podcast episode I edited (and therefore, was very familiar with) — Soundcore's headphones sounded great.
SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026 — we tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and BeatsAs a self-proclaimed spatial audio skeptic, I was also pleasantly surprised by the 3D sound feature. Generally, I find spatial audio to sound hollow and tinny in a way that very much does not immerse me. And while Soundcore's version didn't work unanimously across genres, for some songs (again, like "No One Knows") it added the immersive sense, without losing a sense of the song's fullness.
Finally, their noise cancellation. I don't have too much to say here — it's nothing astounding, but it certainly gets the job done, especially on lower-pitched hums. That means if the main reason you're getting noise-cancelling headphones is to block out a lot of talking, you might find these aren't best suited to your needs. Soundcore recommends these for plane rides in particular. While I didn't get a chance to travel during my testing period, I can attest to them being great headphones and great for busy households. Living with eight of my family members in Southern California, I'm very attuned to the sounds of other people playing music, TV shows, cooking, or sounds of the neighborhood, like gardeners with leaf blowers or cars driving by — these headphones handled all of the above with ease.
A better-than-budget look and wearIn my experience, budget headphones tend to show their price point in their design. Maybe they're clunky, have odd colorways, or are more prone to squeezing the head.
This was not the case with the Space 2 headphones. The memory foam ear cushions and padded band made hours of wear entirely possible and comfortable — even when I wore hats or my glasses. The on-ear buttons were intuitively placed, with two on each side (and some customization available through the app), which made pausing music and switching to the next song entirely possible without ever reaching for my devices.
Soundcore's headphones look better than your average pair of budget headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / MashableIn a similar vein, the wear detection worked well most of the time. Mainly, it faltered if the sensor was blocked (one time when I put my headphones on my lap, and another when I only removed one ear cup from my ear). Still, for $130, I'm not complaining.
Finally, Soundcore gives the option of three colorways on these headphones, all of which are cute and fit in with more expensive headphones, like the Bose QuietComforts.
Black and white are the other two available colorways on the Space 2 headphones. Credit: Soundcore Credit: Soundcore Some of the best battery life availableThis isn't going to be a very long section because it's quite straightforward, but the battery life on these headphones deserves a call-out. With noise cancellation, you can get 50 hours of playback. Noise cancellation and wear detection drops that to 45 hours, while no noise cancellation bumps it up to 70 hours. Long story short, it'll take you a minute to run down the battery life.
In my two weeks of testing, they finally ran out on the very last day I was using them — and even then, a five-minute quick charge got me 20 percent of the battery life back. For comparison, significantly more expensive headphones like the Bose QC Ultra 2 and Sony XM6 headphones can each run for 30 hours with ANC. Only a handful of options fall in the higher battery life range, like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Marshall Monitor III headphones, which offer 60 and 70 hours with ANC, respectively.
Unexpected extrasIf a pair of headphones $130 or under nails the sound and design and has decent battery life, I'm typically not expecting much more from them. And yet, this is Soundcore.
What that means is that these headphones come with a couple of interesting extras. One piqued my interest more than the other, but I appreciate the inclusion of both. Let's start with the nap mode feature, which allows you to set white noise and a timer for taking a nap. It's not the most surprising feature, considering Soundcore makes the best sleep earbuds on the market, but I'm not sure over-ear headphones are the most sleep conducive. Still, I guess it's nice that the option is there.
More intriguing was the live translation feature. I'd encountered it before on Soundcore's open earbuds and found it to be pretty reliable. I tested it again by making my friend speak to me in Korean and my mom speak to me in Spanish — with both languages, the translation was about 80 to 90 percent accurate, and relatively fast working. The only place it didn't work was with the automatic language detection — the app kept crashing. However, inputting the language that was to be translated first worked with great results.
What the Soundcore app shows you while using the Live Translation feature. My friend deemed this "impressively accurate." Credit: Screenshot / Soundcore The budget pitfallsI genuinely had a hard time coming up with features of these headphones that I found to be less than ideal. While I don't think any of these features are experience-destroying, they're worth being aware of before purchase.
Slight creaking: While this wasn't the most noticeable, I could occasionally hear slight creaking from the headphones when I moved my head — especially when I wasn't streaming audio. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd experienced on the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones, but it was more noticeable than on a more expensive pair of headphones, like the Bose QuietComforts.
App isn't the best for accessing all the features: These headphones are decently feature-rich, but the app can be a little confusing to navigate, with too many menus hiding all the options for customization.
Noise cancellation lets in higher tones: The noise cancellation for low-tones is great — for higher tones like talking, these headphones tend to show their price more. That's not to say it doesn't work well — it does — but you shouldn't expect Sony performance here.
In a word, yes. In two words, absolutely yes.
Soundcore made a name for itself in creating excellent budget products, and it holds that name up with the Space 2 headphones. I can't think of another pair that offers the same balance of performance, design, and functionality, making these a great buy for everyone, from students to folks on a budget looking for a pair of everyday headphones.
Soundcore Space 2 $129.99 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore
Pixar's best movie isn't one of the old classics, it's this blockbuster from 2017
When you think of the best Pixar movies, a few likely come to mind first—maybe the always-popular Toy Story series or the emotional rollercoaster of Up.
These 3 self-hosted apps are the only reason I finally added more RAM to my NAS
You might think of your NAS as a "build once and forget about it" thing. The thing is, however, that just like your computer does, your NAS can benefit from upgrades. And a really good upgrade people often overlook is RAM. Here's why it'd be worth it to upgrade—if you can afford these RAM prices, that is.
Here’s when your Samsung Galaxy will get Android 17 (One UI 9)
While most Galaxy owners are still waiting for the One UI 8.5 release, Google and Samsung have already begun testing the next big update, One UI 9, based on Android 17. Google announced Android 17 in February and is now beta-testing the new software, which will be available on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets soon.
5 open-source operating systems everyone mistakes for Linux
Linux has been used as a catch-all term for any free, open-source operating system that prioritizes user control over systems like Windows or macOS. Although many share command-line interfaces and a philosophy of freedom, calling every open-source project a Linux distribution ignores important details about computing history and engineering. There are distinctions you need to understand if you want to appreciate the complexity and variety of open-source software. Just remember, not everything that is an outsider is Linux, even though distros can be very different.


