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The best Memorial Day TV deals — we tracked down huge discounts on Hisense, Samsung, LG, and more

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 15:40
The best Memorial Day TV deals at a glance: Best TV deal overall Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best art TV deal Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 (save $900) Get Deal Best small TV deal Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV $209.99 (save $140) Get Deal Best splurge Samsung 65-inch S95F OLED 4K TV $2,199.99 (save $400) Get Deal

You probably expect great deals on mattresses and outdoor gear for Memorial Day, but it also happens to be a great time to upgrade your TV. Many of the new releases from CES 2026 are officially on shelves now, and some of those are actually already on sale. If you prefer an even more budget-friendly option, there's also a ton of last-generation models getting the deal treatment to make way for the newer models.

Regardless of your preference, you can bring home a TV from one of our favorite brands — Hisense, Samsung, LG, etc. — in all shapes and sizes for cheaper than usual. I'm tracking all of the best Memorial Day TV deals leading up to and throughout the holiday weekend below, and some of these discounts are massive.

Psst: If you're not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

Best Memorial Day TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $550   Get Deal Why we like it

The U6 Pro is one of Hisense's new mid-range models for 2026 and it's a perfect mashup of performance and value. It packs Mini-LED backlighting, quantum-dot color, AI-driven processing, a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 2.1-channel Dolby Atmos audio. Hisense markets it as an easy way to "step into a premium experience without moving into higher-priced tiers." And that's especially true now that the 75-inch model has received its second price drop since its launch earlier this month.

Best Memorial Day Art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $900   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense also launched a new version of the extremely popular CanvasTV for 2026, which features a Hi-QLED display with an AI RGB ambient light sensor. Not only is the display upgraded with deeper color accuracy and richer hues, but it can also adjust brightness and color temperature based on the lighting in the room. A new motion detection feature will also wake your display when you enter the room and fade when you walk away in order to save some energy. It still packs the same 144Hz refresh rate, Hi-Matte design, teak frame, and free digital art library to turn your TV into fancy artwork. Amazon and Best Buy both have the 65-inch model for $900 off this Memorial Day.

More Memorial Day TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 sound-reactive ESP32 projects to make this weekend (May 22 - 24)

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 15:30

The ESP32 is one of the best microcontrollers on the market for building low-power sensors. By connecting a microphone (and sometimes a few additional components), the ESP32 can react to sound in some interesting ways.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 brilliant weekend NAS upgrades that cost almost nothing

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 15:00

A NAS is easy to set up in a corner and then forget, but even a few free or inexpensive upgrades can make it more useful and more reliable in the long-term. You don't even need to do much—these are 5 ways to improve your NAS without breaking the bank or using up your entire weekend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The MasterClass Memorial Day sale is live now — top courses are up to 40% off

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 15:00

SAVE UP TO 40%: From May 22-25, take up to 40% off MasterClass courses and MasterClass Certificates in the Memorial Day sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: MasterClass MasterClass and MasterClass Certificates: Save up to 40%   Get Deal

For anyone who's looking to do a bit of life enrichment over the summer, MasterClass offers a great option. The platform is full of courses taught by industry pros that are sure to prove insightful. To celebrate Memorial Day, MasterClass has a great sale on tap.

Between May 22 and May 25, save up to 40% on MasterClass lessons and professional MasterClass Certificates.

From cooking courses to personal styling lessons, MasterClass has something everyone will find worthwhile. With lessons in science, technology, writing, music, health, and plenty more, the platform gives access to exceptional learning activities.

SEE ALSO: 40+ of the best Memorial Day deals — TVs, mattresses, headphones, and more on sale

MasterClass Certificates is designed to offer professional advancements through lessons that range from 15 to 20 hours. Taught by industry leaders, they're a great way to learn new in-demand skills that complement your career.

Whether you're looking to broaden your horizons or buy a class as a thoughtful graduation gift, jump on saving up to 40% off on MasterClass lessons this Memorial Day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Im watching the Canadian GP for free this weekend — how to live stream F1 for free

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:45

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Canadian GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

I don't care what anyone says — I've really enjoyed this season of F1. I know the new F1 regulations are not for everyone, not least the drivers. But I like the unpredictability of this season and I'm keen for more after a break post Miami.

Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the standings coming into the Canadian GP, but there's a feeling that McLaren are closing the gap to the Mercedes drivers. Could the tide finally turn this weekend and we get our first winner from another team? It's a Sprint weekend, so it always feels like there's a greater chance of upsetting the odds.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Canadian GP?

The Canadian GP is the fifth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve:

  • Practice 1 — 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on May 22

  • Sprint Qualifying — 4:30-5:14 p.m. ET on May 22

  • Sprint — 12-1 p.m. ET on May 23

  • Qualifying — 4-5 p.m. ET on May 23

  • Race — 4 p.m. ET on May 24

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Canadian GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I very happily pay for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. The access to Prime Video is actually not all that important to me. I occasionally watch the Champions League and NBA, but that's about it. That was until this season of F1 came to Apple TV.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Canadian GP this weekend without spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so you could argue that this isn't really free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

Already used this hack to watch a race this season? It's not your only option.

I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup in Memorial Day sales, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop buying smart switches for every room—this sensor can replace them

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:45

Smart switches are very useful in the smart home. They give you the best of both worlds: you can automate your lights, but you can also control them manually when you need to. Smart switches aren't always the best option for every room, however.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 22, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:37

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you always follow back up.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 22, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Circle back

  • Green: That's how it is

  • Blue: They go round and round

  • Purple: Women's names

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Reach back out

  • Green: The way things are done

  • Blue: Places with conveyor belts

  • Purple: Starting with name homophones

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1076 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Reach back out: CHECK IN, FOLLOW UP, RECONNECT, TOUCH BASE

  • The way things are done: CONVENTION, CUSTOM, SOCIAL NORM, UNWRITTEN RULE

  • Places with conveyor belts: ASSEMBLY LINE, BAGGAGE CLAIM, CHECKOUT LANE, REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

  • Starting with name homophones: CARRY-ON, EL NIÑO, LOOSEY-GOOSEY, TAILOR-MADE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 22, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 22, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:37

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you go big or go home.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 22, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Put down your ruler

The words are related to size.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe large things.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Its Big.

NYT Strands word list for May 22

  • Boundless

  • Epic

  • Vast

  • Immense

  • Its Big

  • Whopping

  • Astronomic

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 22, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:37

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't like to venture out.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 22, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 22, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Regional.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

VOCAL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I fixed random USB disconnects in Windows by changing these 5 settings

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:30

You'd think, with USB being around since the late '90s, that Microsoft would have figured out how to make it work reliably by now. We've had no such luck, sadly. Many a Windows user has experienced random USB drop-outs on their PCs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Memorial Day mattress deals to shop this weekend: Saatva, Nectar, and more

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:22
The best Memorial Day mattress deals at a glance: Best mattress deal overall DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (Queen) $649 (save $1,243) Get Deal Best mattress deal for people with back pain Saatva Rx (Queen) $2,799 (save $650) Get Deal Best organic mattress deal Avocado Green Mattress (Queen) $1,359 (save $240) Get Deal Best bedding deal Quince Classic Organic Percale Deluxe Bedding Bundle (Standard) $146.01 (save $48.69) Get Deal

Memorial Day is one of the best times of the year to buy a new mattress — that's just a fact of life. Discounts during this extended holiday weekend, which marks the unofficial start of summer, typically drop prices by $400 (or more in some cases), and brands love to throw in free add-ons — things such as pillows, sheets, and bedding bundles. It's gentle on your bank balance — not to mention your back, neck, and sense of relaxation.

SEE ALSO: Saatva is already taking $650 off luxury mattresses for Memorial Day

It's true that sleep is no place to place to cheap out. I recently upgraded to the Saatva Rx, which has been one the best decisions I've made all year. But while investing in a good bed is important, there's no reason to pay full price when with all these great a holiday discounts currently available. So, if your current mattress is sagging, overly springy, or you're just tired of waking up stiff as a board, now's the time to scope out the mattress deals and take advantage.

Best Memorial Day mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (Queen) $649 at DreamCloud
$1,892 Save $1,243   Get Deal Why we like it

The best deal you can get right now is on a DreamCloud. The brand's top-rated hybrid Queen mattress — which features six layers, a CloudQuilt quilted cover, cooling fiber technology, and 1 inch of "pressure-relieving" memory foam — is on sale for just $649 (!!) right now. Or, if you need a base and all, the company's basically giving away bundles. You can score a bundle that includes the mattress, an adjustable bed frame, and a full sheet set (pillows and all) for under $2K.

More Memorial Day mattress dealsBest Memorial Day mattress deal for people with back pain Opens in a new window Credit: Saatva Saatva Rx (Queen) $3,074 at Saatva
$3,449 Save $375   Get Deal Why we like it

I'm only 32, but because I live with endometriosis and interstitial cystitis, I experience back pain on the reg. Like, chronic, can't sleep, going to rip my hair out, back pain. This month, I decided to switch from Purple (my former go-to mattress brand) to Saatva, and I couldn't be happier. For someone with chronic, debilitating back pain, the Saatva Rx is the mattress to get, and right now, you can get it (or any mattress on the Saatva site) for $375 off.

Best organic Memorial Day mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Avocado Avocado Green Mattress (Queen) $2,039 at Avocado
$2,399 Save $360   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're trying to be a little greener, Avocado is offering up to 20% off select mattresses, including its luxury mattress collection, and 15% off its Avocado Green Mattress (a best-seller). The Avocado Green Mattress is the "most certified organic mattress" and has a 4.5 average star rating with around 19,439 reviews. It's formaldehyde-free (you'd be surprised how many products contain this nasty stuff!), OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and is available in five comfort levels. Of course, the price will vary depending on the size you get, but a Queen with a "medium" top will cost you $2,039 with the discount.

More organic mattress dealsBest bedding deal Opens in a new window Credit: Quince Quince Classic Organic Percale Deluxe Bedding Bundle (Standard) $146.01 at Quince
$194.70 Save $48.69   Get Deal Why we like it

Quince is one of my all-time favorite bedding brands. I love, love, love my bamboo sheet set — it's ridiculously soft, cooling, and feels oh-so-good against your skin. But that hotel-like quality usually comes at a premium, which is why I only own the one set. So whenever the brand has a sale, I want to shout it from the rooftops. Right now, you can save up to 25% when bundling some of Quince’s best-selling bedding, including their European Linen, Bamboo, and Percale collections.

More Memorial Day bedding deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Paramount+ shows you can finish this weekend (May 22 - 24)

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:00

We made it—it's the weekend, and if you're here, you're likely a U.S. Paramount+ subscriber looking for a great TV show to get into! While the streaming service winds down its new releases for the month, don't fret, there's still a ton of shows, new and old, up for grabs in its formidable library.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Josh Johnson’s formula for the perfect comedy special

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 14:00

Comedian Josh Johnson sits down with Mashable Executive Producer Mark Stetson on Say More to talk about his upcoming HBO original comedy special, Symphony.

Josh reveals the frantic 4-day stretch where he filmed his HBO special, wrote and performed a completely new stand-up set (The Afroman Trial Explained: Cops vs Hip Hop), and then hosted The Daily Show. He also explains his rapid-fire approach to releasing a new special every week on YouTube, why he believes great comedy needs to focus on universal "systems" rather than temporary topical jokes, and why he'll always consider himself a writer and an artist first.

Symphony premieres on HBO Max May 22nd at 8:00pm ET.

(This interview is part 1 of a two part interview. Part 2 releases Sunday, May 24th at 8am EST)

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stephen Colbert perfectly trolls CBS during final Late Show

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 13:54

The Late Show has aired its final episode, with Stephen Colbert taking a final bow among family and friends. While we'll miss the late night host handing it to those in power nightly, one of the segments we'll miss most of all is "Meanwhile..." in which Colbert and his Late Show writers revel in outlandish wordplay to deliver the strange news you might have missed.

For his last "Meanwhile..." Colbert ignored the strange green glow and humming noises affecting the Late Show stage and plunged into the segment's signature verbose address — and it's ship-themed.

"If you watch this show, you know I've spent a lot of my time right over there in the news shipyard assembling the most topical story hull using the finest graphics, flawless camera work, direction, sound, and lighting, all powered by a 2000-horsepower marine diesel engine of jokes for the honour of helming the blissfully steady fly bridge yacht of comedy that is my nightly monologue," said Colbert.

"But sometimes, just sometimes, folks, while wrapping up 11 years of gags about Doritos-flavored liquor, three-penis cadavers, and cocaine sharks, I strip the copper wire out of our control board and strap my love of my staff and crew to my overturned desk and slap on some fans ripped out of our laser printers, then climb inside and putter away in the unsinkable gratitude dinghy of news that is my segment, 'Meanwhile...'"

But the best part of all? Colbert included the news that the owner of the music from Peanuts TV specials including "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is suing multiple companies and the U.S. Department of the Interior for using the copyrighted songs without permission. Cue Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine (The Late Show band) noodling away with a song that sounds legally familiar.

"Oh no!" said Colbert. "I hope this doesn't cost CBS any money!" Heh.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Bambu Lab’s practices are questionable, but it still makes the best printers

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 13:30

Bambu Lab has put its foot in it again, inviting the wrath of open-source advocates and firebrand YouTubers over allegedly patchy adherence to the license that its slicer software depends on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Elon Musk found the cheat code for capitalism. The SpaceX IPO proves it.

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 13:12

Elon Musk, who has effectively admitted cheating at video games, may have found the ultimate cheat code that will turn him into the first trillionaire in the global game of capitalism.

That may well be the story of the SpaceX IPO, for which the company filed its SEC-mandated S1 form Thursday. The document was stuffed with eye-poppingly dubious claims about SpaceX's future as an AI company, as well as eye-wateringly embarrassing admissions about SpaceX, its new subsidiary xAI, and Grok.

And yet, none of these pokes in the eye seem to stop SpaceX from eyeing a record $1.75 trillion valuation.

SEE ALSO: Why SpaceX bought xAI: Data centers in space aren't the only reason What's in the SpaceX IPO? SpaceX's Starship at Orbital Launch Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, on May 21, 2026. Credit: Joe Marino / UPI / Shutterstock

To explain how bizarre the filing really is, and how deeply it might sink other offerings, let's first ignore the words Spacex xAI, Grok, Elon and Musk. Instead, just imagine you're telling your financial advisor you want shares in a new-to-market space launch company.

This company lost nearly $5 billion last year, on $18 billion of revenue. The revenue makes it look tiny, and its losses are increasing. But so is its revenue, so you have high hopes for its future.

OK, says your financial advisor, raising a quizzical eyebrow. A risky bet, but those can pay off big sometimes. What's the angle?

Well, you reply, the CEO is all in on AI. This space launch company is actually an AI company now, since it merged in a hurry earlier this year with one of the CEO's other companies, one he described as "the smallest" of the major AI players. The merger was a millstone, the cause of most of the combined company's losses.

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Still, AI's connection to the space launch business makes total sense. The CEO says he's going to launch AI data centers in space starting in 2028. And you totally believe that, despite this guy having a long history of making bold space-based predictions that don't come to pass.

Do space AI data centers even make sense? Who knows! "The conditions of space on such AI infrastructure have not been tested, by us or anyone else," notes the IPO. "Any component failures could result in permanent capacity loss" — since there are no IT guys up there to fix them.

But hey, what could make sensitive data center components fail in space? I mean, apart from the list in the company's S-1 filing: geomagnetic storms, solar flares, cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, orbital debris, as well as the vibration and thermal shock from launching them in the first place. Oh, and "the useful life of our satellites is inherently shorter than that of the information technology systems and infrastructure they host," the filing also says, but you're trying not to think about what that means in a data center business.

SEE ALSO: Why SpaceX bought xAI: Data centers in space aren't the only reason

Eh, regulatory filings can be such Debbie Downers! What matters is this guy really believes in his AI product, right? So much so that SpaceX's IPO claims a $26.5 trillion addressable AI market (compared to the space launch and Starlink connectivity market, for which it only claims a total potential of $2 trillion). That AI product, by the way, comes in "Unhinged Voice mode" and "Spicy Imagine mode." The IPO notes its "heightened risks" of "reputational harm," not to mention regulatory and legal harm, thanks to "potentially explicit content ... misinformation ... exploitative imagery, intellectual property infringement," or "harmful, harassing, abusive, or discriminatory" content.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, apart from the international investigations that have opened up into whether this company's product was used to make nonconsensual deepfakes of minors, as the IPO is also required to note. (You can almost hear the deep sighs of the lawyers who wrote this — but at least they didn't have to mention the whole MechaHitler thing.)

Speaking of legal harm, you also have no problem with the $3 billion in new data center gas turbine purchases revealed by the IPO, even though this is doubling down on harm for which the company already faces a huge lawsuit from environmental groups. After all, this guy has a history of winning most of his legal battles! Just pay no attention to the last one, where he flouted a court order by skipping off to China, and a jury found he had no right to bring the case in the first place.

Given all that information in the abstract, many financial advisors would advise you the company isn't worth the risk — if they don't advise you to get your head checked.

The cheat code at Tesla Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany. Credit: Joko / imageBROKER / Shutterstock

In the case of SpaceX, however, your financial advisor may be rushing to invest before you do. The IPO sets 30 percent of shares aside for so-called "retail investors," an unusually high percentage; arguably they're more likely to bet on a name, a personality, a legend, than a company's fundamentals.

The reason, essentially, amounts to five words: "never bet against Elon Musk." First uttered by fellow Paypal billionaire and friend Peter Thiel, then SpaceX investor Peter Diamandis, this rallying cry has been taken up by the CEOs of Morgan Stanley and Breyer Capital. It is an article of faith — literally, in articles that use it to wave away Musk's more baffling moves, from the design of the Cybertruck to the overpriced Twitter purchase. (Which, given that Musk turned Twitter into the less popular X, then folded it into xAI, and then folded that into SpaceX, may go down as the most buried sunk cost in business history.)

SEE ALSO: 'Sales suck monkey d*ck': Elon Musk's Tesla in 10 telling quotes

Musk long ago mastered the razzle-dazzle of business showmanship. He has learned to dance on ever-higher tightropes of promised futures. At a crucial moment in the early days of Tesla, he offered preorders for the Model S when its prototype didn't even exist yet. That lesson has come in handy in Tesla's Cybertruck era, when the company has been saddled with an odd looking, low-selling EV that is becoming ever more of a joke with every wheels-could-fall-off recall and watery misdirection, dogged by cheaper Chinese rivals, and boycotted by much of Europe.

In response, Musk simply squeezed billions more out of the company for the honor of having him stay, then pivoted Tesla towards another, bigger promised future. That future — one filled with humanoid robots and robotaxis — is about as airy, as unproven, and as full of pitfalls (literally, the Optimus robots fall over) as AI data centers in space. But at this stage, Musk can simply insist it's going to happen, then sit back and dare Tesla investors to bet against him.

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The Optimus robots, like the SpaceX data centers, "allow for near term demonstrations that look impressive but aren’t meaningfully revenue-generating, while allowing Musk to make long term projections of 'infinite' revenues that can be (nearly) infinitely postponed," noted Tim Farris, president of satellite and telecom industry research firm TMF Associates. The Rorschach test works for investors who want to believe in the "never bet against Musk" myth.

Never mind that "never bet against Musk" is far from literally true. In 2026, you can make money from short-selling (that is, betting against) Tesla stock, which is down just under 5 percent from where it was on Jan. 1. You could also have made a more than 30 percent return on the prediction markets in the past year, as one canny investor did, by predicting Musk's DOGE side quest would ultimately fail.

There are signs of cracks in Wall Street's wall of belief in Tesla. Last year was the company's first ever revenue decline on the books. Tesla investors are reportedly nervous that the SpaceX IPO is going to cost them — SpaceX, one major Tesla investor groused to Fortune, will become Musk's "new baby."

But Musk only has to dance ahead of the Tesla wave a little while longer. If all goes according to plan, and the AI bubble doesn't burst before he can bring his shiny new space AI baby to market next month, a Musk army of retail investors will help turn airy promises into a trillion dollars of net worth for their hero.

And then...we're boldly going where no economist has gone before. With access to that much capital and that much voting power — Musk will control 85 percent of the vote at SpaceX, making him virtually impossible to dislodge as CEO — there's no limit to the height of the tightrope he could dance on. It's not beyond the bounds of reason to imagine Musk folding a failing Tesla inside SpaceX, then dazzling investors by spinning ever more unproven plans for humanoid robots maintaining space data centers.

In the game of global capitalism, becoming a trillionaire may be the ultimate cheat code.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 new Netflix shows to watch this weekend (May 22 - 24)

How-To Geek - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 13:00

Welcome to the last weeks of May, and while you might expect all the streaming services to start scraping the bottom of the barrel for new releases before month's end, Netflix just keeps on keeping on with new and exciting TV shows on tap for U.S. subscribers to watch this weekend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Sonos Roam 2 is down to its lowest-ever price for Memorial Day — save $45 this weekend

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 12:49

SAVE OVER $40: As of May 22, the Sonos Roam 2 has returned to its lowest-ever price of $134 at Amazon. This is $45 off its full price of $179.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Roam 2 $134 at Amazon
$179 Save $45   Get Deal

Sonos is featuring heavily in Memorial Day sales this year. One of our favorites deals is on the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker, which has returned to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. If you've been searching for a solid waterproof speaker to join you at the beach or pool this summer, it's well worth checking out.

As of May 22, the Sonos Roam 2 (in both black and white) is on sale for $134 at Amazon. Compared to its full price of $179, this deal saves you $45 on this portable speaker.

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Offering great sound quality in a compact design — plus a durable build that's IP67 waterproof and dustproof — the Sonos Roam 2 is a portable speaker that's worth bringing along with you on excursions this summer. Its battery can even last up to 10 hours, providing you with plenty of listening time before it needs a recharge. On top of that, it even earned a place on our roundup of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers as the smartest waterproof speaker.

Writer Alex Bracetti writes: "Not only does the Roam 2 connect to Bluetooth, so you can use it with a smartphone in any environment, but it can also automatically switch to WiFi and become part of your Sonos multiroom setup. Having it placed on your balcony or front porch lets you enjoy all interconnected perks, from app-based controls to voice assistance, which performs surprisingly well in loud settings."

The Sonos Roam 2 can help you keep the party going this summer. Don't miss out on this deal during Memorial Day sales.

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The Ninja FrostVault is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $70 on Memorial Day weekend

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 12:45

SAVE $70: As of May 22, the Ninja FrostVault is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon, its lowest-ever price at the retailer. This is $70 off its list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja FrostVault $279.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70   Get Deal

Summer is creeping up on us, and if you're looking forward to camping trips or outdoor hangouts this year, a cooler is well worth picking up to keep your favorite drinks fresh and cold. Thankfully, the 65qt Ninja FrostVault is currently on sale at Amazon during Memorial Day sales, so now is a great time to buy.

The 65qt Ninja FrostVault has dropped to $279.99 at Amazon. This is a solid $70 in savings, and it marks the lowest-ever price for this cooler at the retailer. It may not last for long beyond Memorial Day, so if it has caught your eye, this is the time to grab it.

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No matter what outdoor adventures you have planned for this summer, this Ninja FrostVault has plenty of space for drinks and food. It boasts a 65-quart capacity that can hold up to 97 cans without ice, or 54 cans if you want them kept cool with ice. It even has an extra container for snacks and food called the Dry Zone at the base, which is helpful so your food doesn't get crushed by cans or made soggy by ice in the upper compartment.

It also has a durable build, which is good news for campers or rugged adventurers. Its all-terrain wheels are ultra durable, puncture resistant, and capable of withstanding any kind of weather, and its handle makes moving it around feel nice and easy.

If the 65qt Ninja FrostVault is a must for your summertime plans — act fast to save at Amazon.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Ember 50-inch 4-Series TV is $90 off for Memorial Day — buy now for under $310

Mashable - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 12:42

SAVE $90: As of May 22, the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series TV has been discounted to $309.99 at Amazon. This is $90 off its list price of $399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 50-Inch 4-Series with Fire TV $309.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $90   Get Deal

There are plenty of exciting discounts to check out in Amazon's Memorial Day sale, including some excellent offers on select TVs.

One of our top tech deals is actually on one of Amazon's own TVs, the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series TV. This popular TV has had $90 slashed off its price tag during the sale.

As of May 22, this discount has dropped the price of the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series TV from $399.99 to $309.99. On top of that, your purchase also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass if you're a new user to the service, which is an excellent way to give Microsoft's game subscription a test run if you haven't yet. And on a new 4K TV, no less.

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This Amazon Ember TV — which still comes with the Fire TV operating system and streaming app — is an excellent pick-up for those who love to stream. This smart TV makes jumping into your favorite streaming services simple and easy, and the quad-core processor ensures apps open and load quickly.

What you watch will look great as well, thanks to 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR10+. It also features support for WiFi 6, which means the picture quality will come through smooth on your screen, no matter if you're streaming or playing games.

This is a great Memorial Day deal, so don't miss out on $90 off the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series TV at Amazon.

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Categories: IT General, Technology
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