Blogroll

Stop overpaying for an EV—the Toyota Corolla costs less to own over 10 years

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 23:00

New car prices continue to climb, with the average transaction price in America now sitting well above $50,000. Many automakers argue that spending more on an electric vehicle is the smartest long-term financial decision, claiming that lower running costs eventually offset the higher purchase price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Tunisia vs. Netherlands online for free

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 23:00

TL;DR: Live stream Tunisia vs. Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching its most exciting phase: the knockout rounds. That means that any team with a chance of topping their group will want to win their final group game and secure an easier route to the final.

Next up is Tunisia vs. Netherlands. After two losses, Tunisia are now playing for pride, but Netherlands want a big win with lots of goals. They looked shaky in their opener against Japan then tore Sweden apart to win 5-1 — can they do the same against Tunisia?

If you want to watch Tunisia vs. Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tunisia vs. Netherlands?

Tunisia vs. Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on June 25. This fixture takes place at the Kansas City Stadium.

How to watch Tunisia vs. Netherlands for free

Tunisia vs. Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Netherlands for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Tunisia vs. Netherlands for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Tunisia vs. Netherlands (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Japan vs. Sweden online for free

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 23:00

TL;DR: Live stream Japan vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockouts are almost here, and all teams are looking to enter the most exciting part of the tournament in style.

Japan are one of the teams to watch. They held Netherlands to a draw and comfortably beat Tunisia. A win over Sweden in this last Group F game could see them win the group. Sweden, on the other hand, absolutely need a win here to regain momentum, having become the first team in World Cup history to win their opener 5-1 then lose their second game 5-1. All of which makes Japan vs. Sweden a game not to miss.

If you want to watch Japan vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Japan vs. Sweden?

Japan vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on June 25. This fixture takes place at the Dallas Stadium.

How to watch Japan vs. Sweden for free

Japan vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Japan vs. Sweden for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Japan vs. Sweden for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Japan vs. Sweden (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Japan vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 50+ best Prime Day outdoor deals are live: Rare Yeti cooler deals just dropped

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 22:30
The best Prime Day outdoor deals at a glance: Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 $799.99 (save $699.01) Get Deal Best cooler deal Yeti Hopper M Series Portable Soft Cooler $227.50 (save $122.50) Get Deal Best solar lights deal Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights (33 feet) $69.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best outdoor projector deal Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector $509.99 (save $240) Get Deal Best robot lawn mower deal Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK $699 (save $300.99) Get Deal Best outdoor speaker deal JBL Charge 6 $159.95 (save $40) Get Deal Best campsite deal Shibumi Park Vista sun canopy shade $192 (save $48) Get Deal Best fire pit deal Solo Stove Mesa XL $81.99 (save $18) Get Deal Best outdoor grill deal Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Outdoor Grill and Smoker $399.98 (save $100.01) Get Deal Best water filter deal LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $9.95 (save $5.54) Get Deal

Even if you're not a hardcore fan of spending time outdoors, you could likely benefit from some fresh outdoor gear. If you don't require a new tent, a comfortable chair to take to the park or the fall soccer game could come in clutch. Amazon Prime Day is always an excellent time to snag fresh outdoor gear. Plus, Prime Day shifting to the end of June this year means you'll have even more time to enjoy the new gear before the weather turns cold.

SEE ALSO: Amazon just dropped some rare Prime Day camping deals on Yeti and Coleman gear

Before the sale even started, there were plenty of power stations and portable speakers on sale. And now that we're in the thick of it, even more outdoor deals on things like Yeti coolers (which rarely go on sale), Coleman tents, and LifeStraw water filters (one of our favorite classic Prime Day deals) have entered the mix.

The sale runs through June 26, and we're tracking all the best Prime Day outdoor deals below.

We will be regularly updating this guide with the best outdoor deals, so keep checking back. You can also visit our Prime Day 2026 hub for all the latest updates and price drops or our live blog for the most up-to-date deals, news, and stock alerts.

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 $699.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $799.01   Get Deal Why we like it

After testing dozens of portable power stations, the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 is the model I take on every camping trip. I like to slightly overestimate my power needs while camping (what if I decide to stay an extra night?), so I prefer the 2,048Wh offered by the C2000 Gen 2.

Anker made this as lightweight as possible, and despite landing in the 2k Wh category, it only weighs about 42 pounds. That'll be a manageable weight for camping trips where the campsite is near the car. It's also perfect for powering up the outdoor projector in the backyard for movie nights this summer. The Prime Day sale price of $699.99 is the lowest price we've seen this year at Amazon. It has since jumped up to $799.99, but we'll be keeping an eye out to see if the lower price returns.

More portable power station dealsBest outdoor projector deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector $509.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $240   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector.

Some of the best summer nights are those spent outside, but if you'd like a bit of variety from staring at campfire flames, consider an outdoor projector. The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is one of my favorite projectors, and it's perfect for backyard movie nights. The onboard battery lasts for about 2.5 hours before you'll need to plug it into power. It can project on a screen up to 120 inches, and it's easy to bring outside. Instead of lugging out a beast of a projector, the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser weighs a bit over two pounds, and it's similar in size to a 12-ounce can of cola.

The Prime Day sale price of $509.99 matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon, but it's rare to see it dip this low, so grab it before the price increases.

More outdoor projector dealsBest outdoor speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

What's an outdoor gathering without a playlist? Suitable for bringing to the beach, the weekend cabin rental, or a poolside party, the JBL Charge 6 is ready to play the tunes. Out of all the waterproof speakers, Mashable's favorite is the JBL Charge 6, thanks to its excellent sound and all-day battery life.

More speaker dealsBest Yeti deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Hopper M30 Portable Soft Cooler $245 at Amazon
$350 Save $105   Get Deal Why we like it

Any outdoorsy person knows Yeti products come with premium price tags and that those steep costs don't drop often. Yeti coolers, specifically, rarely go on sale, but during Prime Day and other major sale events, the brand discounts select colors of many of its popular options. One of our top picks this Prime Day is the Hopper M30 portable soft cooler, which dropped down to $227.50 on day two of Prime Day. Now that we're on day three, the price has jumped a smidge to $245. While it's not quite the same discount, it's still an excellent sale price that's worth jumping on.

The M30 soft cooler features powerful magnets that create a leak-resistant shield, a high-density dryhide shell that withstands everything from punctures to UV rays, a hitchpoint grid for attaching dry gear cases, bottle openers, multitools, and more, and of course, coldcell insulation. It can hold up to 36 cans or 22 pounds of ice. If you don't need something quite as big, check out the Hopper Flip 12 (also on sale), which can hold a case of beer or 16 pounds of ice.

More Yeti dealsMore cooler dealsEven more outdoor deals to shop on Prime Day
Categories: IT General, Technology

4 hot new shows and movies to watch on Apple TV in July 2026

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 22:30

Apple TV is one of those streaming services where not much happens... until it does. It may not dump dozens of titles each month like the Netflixes and Prime Videos of the world. Still, when it launches something—a Severance, a Pluribus, a white-hot Emmy winner like The Studio—it tends to land like an event that's traditionally been reserved for the likes of HBO.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon is practically giving away the Fire TV Stick Select for Prime Day: Get it for under $10

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 22:00

SAVE $30: As of June 25, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers this Prime Day with the on-page coupon code FTVSELECT. That's 75% off its list price and matches its lowest price ever from Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code FTVSELECT Get Deal

One of Mashable readers' favorite deals from Black Friday is back for round two on Prime Day 2026. The newest Amazon Fire TV Stick with 4K quality is 75% off for select customers, and it's a deal worth shouting about.

As of June 25, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is just $9.99 with the on-page coupon code FTVSELECT. That's $30 off its list price of $39.99 and matches its best price ever. That's also cheaper than the Fire TV Stick HD (which does not offer 4K quality). Just be sure to hit "redeem" next to the code on the product page before you add it to your cart.

It's easily the best streaming stick deal overall, but it's only available for select customers. Unfortunately, there's a chance you may not see the on-page coupon. We don't know the rhyme or reason why Amazon does this. If you do see the extra savings beneath the Prime logo, you're one of the lucky ones.

While the 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup that offers 4K quality with HDR10+ support, it's important to note that it's also the first to feature the new Linux-based Vega operating system. That's a good thing and a bad thing. It's great if you found the old operating system a bit laggy like we did. But if you're someone who likes to sideload apps, this streaming stick blocks that option; you'll need one of the older models, like the 4K Plus or 4K Max for that.

Otherwise, it still offers the plug-and-play design you know and love, plus support for Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NordVPN, IPVanish, Alexa+, and Amazon Kids+.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Hulu, and more (June 26-28)

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 22:00

It's time to say goodbye to one of television's best shows of the decade. The fifth season of Hulu's Emmy-winning dramedy The Bear will be its last, which is why it's our number-one ranked show this week. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to stop saying, "Yes, chef!"

Categories: IT General, Technology

Listen up: These Prime Day Sony headphone deals bring high-quality audio for less

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:55
The best Prime Day Sony headphone deals Best Early Prime Day Sony Headphone Deal Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Headphones $459.99 (Save $81.99) Get Deal Best early Prime Day Sony earbud deal Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds $45.95 (Save $24.04) Get Deal Best early Prime Day budget Sony headphone deal Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones $33 (Save $21) Get Deal

Prime Day is happening right now, and anyone looking for a deal on Sony headphones is in luck. Several of our favorite Sony noise-cancelling headphones are discounted as part of the main event, with more expected each day of the sale.

The four-day sale just kicked off on June 23, but you can get your hands on all the discounts right now. Whether you're looking for a pair of great over-the-ear, noise-cancelling favorites or a lightweight set of earbuds, you can catch them all on sale right now for some significant discounts.

We'll keep this guide updated as the sale continues, but for the moment, the best Prime Day Sony headphone deals are below.

Best Prime Day Sony headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Headphones $378.02 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $81.97   Get Deal Why we like it

This pair of cushy over-the-ear headphones isn't just comfortable. They also offer crisp audio, an adaptive microphone system, and real-time noise cancellation to give you the best audio possible. They're improved even over Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones, with additional microphones than before and even more ways to make your favorite songs, podcasts, and even calls sound great no matter where you roam. They come with a compact carrying case and fold into them for safekeeping and offer bombastic sound, bumping bass, and fantastic sound quality no matter what genre you're into.

Best Prime Day Sony earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds $45.95 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $24.04   Get Deal Why we like it

These lightweight earbuds are a strong alternative for the over-the-ear models that Sony offers, but they're still affordable thanks to this Prime Day deal. They offer up to 11 hours of battery with multipoint connection, so you can listen to music on your phone or take calls from your computer and switch between the two — or however you plan to connect to your devices. They're IPX4 water resistant as well, so they're great for taking along to the gym or wearing wherever it is you decide to go. They also feature Ambient Sound Mode to help automatically filter out noise while keeping you aware of your surroundings.

Best Prime Day budget Sony headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones $33 at Amazon
$54 Save $21   Get Deal Why we like it

If you want a pair of Sony headphones without paying the extra cash to secure a pair, this budget-priced option is a great alternative. They offer crisp, high-quality audio with a lengthy 50-hour battery life. You can make and take calls on them, and they're super lightweight and comfortable for long-term wear as well. Like many of Sony's headphones, they also offer multipoint connectivity.

More early Prime Day Sony headphone deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Day deals on small TVs: The Hisense DécoTV that changed the vibe of my bedroom is under $200

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:47
A quick look at the best Prime Day deals on small TVs Best 32-inch TV deal Hisense S5 DécoTV $199.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best budget 43-inch TV deal Insignia 43-inch F50 Series 4K Fire TV $119.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best 43-inch QLED TV deal Amazon 43-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $359.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal Best budget 50-inch TV deal Insignia 50-inch F50 4K Fire TV $159.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best 50-inch QLED TV deal TCL 50-inch QM5K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $329.99 at Best Buy (save $320) Get Deal

Lists of Prime Day TV deals often focus on massive discounts on massive TVs. Most of us would find a four-digit discount on an 85-inch TV thrilling for a few seconds — and then many of us would remember that our home requires a TV of a more practical size.

As someone whose life was recently changed by a 32-inch bedroom TV upgrade, it only felt right that I compile a list of good deals on small TVs this Prime Day. The dollar discounts aren't as large as the ones on the 65-inch+ TVs, but the percentages off are just as intense: You can get up to 50% off TVs from 32 to 50 inches at Amazon and Best Buy.

SEE ALSO: The best streaming deals during Prime Day: 10+ subscriptions for less than $1

Be sure to check back throughout the end of Prime Day on June 26 and follow along with all other categories in Mashable's Prime Day hub.

Best bedroom TV deal for Prime Day Hisense 32-inch S5 DécoTV $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Just released earlier this year, the Hisense DécoTV is the antithesis of the throwaway bedroom TV. It's all white with rounded edges and a sculpture-like base that doesn't require attaching any legs. I replaced my 15-year-old clunker (that was literally too old to handle a Fire TV Stick) with the 32-inch Déco a few months ago and couldn't be happier. It blends in with my room's white and gold decor perfectly — why aren't more small TVs this chic?

The difference between LED and QLED is extremely noticeable when I'm watching TV in the daytime, and the contrast is a million times better for horror movies at night.

Note that the 32-inch Hisense DécoTV is FHD, not 4K. I don't think that's a huge deal for such a small screen, but Hisense did release a 43-inch 4K version of the DécoTV in mid-June. It's also on sale for Prime Day.

Deals on 32-inch TVsDeals on 40 to 43-inch TVsDeals on 50-inch TVs
Categories: IT General, Technology

I tested ChatGPT's most viral image prompts—here are the 7 worth stealing

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:45

For some time, Gemini’s image generation was considered to be superior to ChatGPT’s. With the release of GPT Image 2, OpenAI significantly improved its image-generation capabilities, and in my testing, it now competes with the best AI image generators. I tried out some of the most popular trending ChatGPT image prompts to find the ones worth stealing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Skip the Toyota Crown—This plush German EV offers real luxury for $8,000 less

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:30

Luxury EVs often come with eye-watering price tags when new, especially from premium German brands. But once depreciation kicks in, the story changes quickly, turning cars that once felt aspirational into surprisingly attainable used bargains.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Day ends soon: We found the 120+ best deals on Apple, Sony, DJI, and Lego favorites

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:18
The best Prime Day deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $279 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $198 at Amazon (save $201.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Bissell Furguard Cordless Stick Vacuum $179.99 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best power station deal Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station $199 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best DJI deal DJI Mini 3 $269 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV $1,197.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set $111.99 at Amazon (save $48) Get Deal Best Deal Under $25 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 with code FTVSELECT (save $30) Get Deal

Prime Day 2026 is halfway done, and on day three of the four-day mega sale, popular deals on DJI drones, Ninja appliances, and Yeti coolers have already come and gone. However, new deals are also going online, so you still have time to shop. If you're a Prime member, this is your opportunity to save on almost anything, from boring household essentials like dish soap to big-ticket splurges like a new 65-inch OLED TV. And if you're not sure where to start, we've vetted the best Prime Day deals for you, scouring thousands of offers to find the top discounts on the Apple Watch, Sony headphones, and Kindles.

Prime Day usually takes place in July, but this year, Amazon decided to shake things up and run the sale in June. So, don't forget: Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs through Friday, June 26, and until then, you can enjoy record-low prices on products from Apple, Bose, DJI, Dyson, Lego, Pokémon, and Samsung.

SEE ALSO: The top 30+ Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by a tech editor on a budget

Mashable shopping experts are closely monitoring the latest discounts and collecting all of the top Amazon Prime Day deals into this one-stop shopping guide, so keep checking back for the latest price drops. We're also tracking prices at alternative Prime Day sales from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond, so we'll be sure to point you toward the lowest possible price. And follow along with our live blog for the most up-to-date price drops, news, and stock alerts.

Deals marked with a are Mashable editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available. Deals marked with a 🔥 are at an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) ✅ 🔥 $279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120   Get Deal

We're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals during Prime Day, and right now, the entire Apple Watch lineup is at record-low prices. That means you can save over $100 on the Apple Watch Series 11, a Mashable Choice product. In his review, Mashable's Stan Schroeder said, "the Apple Watch Series 11 isn't all that different from last year's model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, and that's a huge deal."

AirPods dealsiPad dealsMacBook dealsBest Prime Day headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones ✅ 🔥 $198 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

The best deal on headphones goes to the Sony WH-1000XM5s, an older pair of flagship cans that we still love and recommend. "They [have] unbeatable ANC and sound for the money, and even in 2026, they sound shockingly good," writes Bethany Allard, our resident headphones expert. Normally $399.99, they're marked down to just $198 for Prime Day — a 50% savings and their lowest price ever.

More headphones dealsMore earbuds dealsBest Prime Day Amazon device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Amazon's latest Echo devices, the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio, have both hit new, all-time low prices this Prime Day. But the biggest discount is going to the Echo Spot, its smart alarm clock. This tiny speaker sits compactly on nightstands but provides everything you need to start your morning, including a weather report and tunes to get you out of bed.

You can now get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $44.99. That saves you $35 off its $79.99 price tag for a 44% discount.

More Echo dealsMore Amazon device dealsBest Prime Day Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ✅ 🔥 $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Our resident e-reader expert, Samantha Mangino, counts the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition as her daily driver, but for most shoppers, we have to recommend the excellent Kindle Paperwhite, which has proven to be one of the most popular Prime Day deals among Mashable readers this year. Compared to the regular Kindle, the Paperwhite has a larger display, better battery life, a waterproof rating, and an adjustable warm light.

More Kindle dealsBest Prime Day laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) ✅ $1,229.99 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $870.00   Get Deal

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

Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel says, "We loved the Surface Laptop 7 back when it launched in 2024. While its CPU isn't the freshest anymore, it still impresses as a whole: It features a 23-hour battery life, a microSDXC card slot, and a 2.5K touchscreen that's brighter and smoother than a 15-inch MacBook Air's screen.

Amazon's amazing Prime Day deal on this 15-inch model comes just a week after Microsoft announced the very similar Surface Laptop 8 (which isn't on sale just yet). It's currently listed for just $1,229.99 — a whopping 44% off its regular retail price of $2,099.99. I wouldn't be surprised if it disappears long before Prime Day ends, considering the exact same model sold out at Best Buy after dropping to $1,699.99 there."

More Prime Day laptop deals

For discounts on MacBooks, scroll back up to the Apple section in this story or check out our dedicated Prime Day MacBook deals guide.

Best Prime Day DJI deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 🔥 $269 at Amazon
$419 Save $150   Get Deal

DJI's entire fleet of gadgets is on sale this Prime Day, and this deal on its DJI Mini 3 is a standout. Amazon has it discounted to $269, or 36% off — its lowest price ever. (It was $30 more expensive during Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March.) This lightweight entry-level drone can shoot 4K video and fly for almost 40 minutes on a single charge.

Keep in mind that, thanks to the U.S. drone ban and DJI's problems with the FCC, the company's drones and new releases are sold through third-party sellers on Amazon. Not only that, but now that we're halfway through Prime Day, many DJI drones are already out of stock.

More DJI drone dealsDJI camera dealsDJI creator tools on saleBest Prime Day home and kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The Ninja Creami ice cream maker is a cult favorite, and also a personal favorite of our shopping team. Mashable reporter Samantha Mangino called this appliance a lot of fun in her review, and a sweltering hot summer is exactly the right time to try it. Grab one while it's on sale and discover why TikTok is still obsessed with this device.

We should note that the Creami's sibling, the Ninja Slushi, quickly sold out at Amazon during Prime Day, so don't procrastinate if you have your eye on this Ninja ice cream maker!

More kitchen dealsHome dealsBest Prime Day speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex Bluetooth Speaker 🔥 $99 at Amazon
$149 Save $50   Get Deal

So far, Bose has some of the best Prime Day deals of 2026, with 50% off select headphones and 34% off Bluetooth speakers, like the Soundlink Flex. Mashable has reviewed the new Soundlink lineup, and the Flex is a highly portable and waterproof speaker with clear, loud sound that's ideal for summer get-togethers.

More speaker dealsBest Prime Day power station deals Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station, 600W ✅ $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal

Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.

Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times of year to buy these popular devices, and one of our favorite Bluetti power stations is at its lowest price of the year. The Bluetti Elite is a good entry point if you've never owned a power station before. Weighing less than 10 pounds, it's a lightweight device built for weekend excursions.

More portable power station dealsBest Prime Day TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K TV 🔥 $1,197.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $500   Get Deal

Enjoying the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn't up to par, then look for Prime Day deals on award-winning OLED and Micro RGB TVs. Case in point: the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV, on sale now. According to our tech editor, this is the best TV available right now, especially at this all-time low price.

More TV dealsBest Prime Day robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop 🔥 $449.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Mashable's resident vacuum guru, Leah Stodart, named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, delivering spotless cleans. Get the Eufy C28 for just $449.99 during Prime Day. That's the vacuum's lowest price ever, offering $350 in savings.

More robot vacuum dealsMore vacuum dealsUpholstery cleaner dealsBest Prime Day Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set 🔥 $111.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $48.00   Get Deal

No guide to the best Prime Day deals would be complete without some great Lego offers. And according to our biggest Lego nerds, this is the top discount of the sale so far.

We love Star Wars Lego sets, and this epic Star Destroyer is down to its best-ever price at Amazon. If you're a Prime member and a Star Wars fan, you can pick up this 1,555-piece set for $111.99, a 30% discount. And if you're looking for more Lego sets, check out our complete guide to the best Prime Day Lego deals.

More Lego dealsBest Prime Day outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Hopper M Series Portable Soft Coolers ✅ $262.50 at Amazon
$350 Save $87.50   Get Deal

Amazon just dropped a bunch of new Prime Day camping deals, part of its daily deal drops. The standout is definitely this portable soft cooler from Yeti, which our tech editor Timothy Werth has tested on multiple beach days, even though it's not actually a tech product. Hey, sometimes you need to unplug. Yeti's coolers are famous for their durability, and they rarely go on sale outside of Prime Day and Black Friday.

More outdoor and camping dealsBest Prime Day fitness tracker deal Oura Ring 4 ✅ 🔥 $214.70 at Amazon
$349 Save $134.30   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Target

Multiple Mashable team members have tested (and loved) the Oura Ring 4. While it's recently been replaced by the slightly thinner Oura Ring 5, we're big fans of this smart ring. One of our reporters even wore this ring while training for and then running the New York City marathon. While prices vary based on the ring size, the Oura Ring 4 is starting at just $214 for Prime Day, a price we've never seen before and a big discount from the $349 list price.

More fitness tracker deals

Note: For Apple Watch deals, scroll back to the Apple section of this story.

Best Prime Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO HBO Max save 40% on annual subscriptions Get Deal

If you've been feeling left out of the House of the Dragon or Hacks hype, this is easily the best week of the year to sign up for HBO Max — it even beats Black Friday, in terms of how many tiers get the discount. The HBO Max Prime Day deal makes annual subscriptions 40% cheaper than usual. Pay $78.99 for a year of the Basic With Ads tier, $132.99 for a year of the Standard tier, or $164.99 for a year of the Premium tier.

More streaming dealsBest Prime Day gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Curved Gaming Monitor ✅ $265.04 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $134.95 New release Get Deal

If you procrastinated on your Prime Day shopping, then you missed out on the chance to score a 47% discount on the Samsung G8 OLED 4K Gaming Monitor, one of the best Prime Day deals of the sale so far. (It's now marked down to $799, which is still a good discount for a new release.) On day three of Prime Day, the best gaming deal of the moment is this 34% markdown on the Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Curved Gaming Monitor. While it's not an OLED, it has a fast refresh rate, a 1-millisecond response time, and HDR10+ support.

More Prime Day gaming dealsBest Prime Day deals under $50Best Prime Day beauty and personal care deals

Still haven't found what you're looking for? Check out our Prime Day 2026 live blog, where we're providing real-time updates on the latest deals, inventory changes, and competitor sales.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Steam Summer Sale 2026 arrives: 10 deals to know

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:17

If you have a gaming PC, a Steam Deck, or even a brand new Steam Machine, you can currently get a whole lot of great video games for almost no money right now.

That's because the annual Steam Summer Sale kicked off on Thursday, with offers lasting until July 9. That means you have a couple of weeks to get as much as 80 percent off on some of the best games ever made. But if you don't feel like combing through the entire Steam interface to find deals, I've curated 10 of them that I think are definitely worth checking out. These range from mainstream hits to smaller indie games across a variety of genres, but one constant is that I've played and adore all of them.

Here are 10 of the best deals in the Steam Summer Sale.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Fox' for Nintendo Switch 2 is a magnificent Hollywood take on a classic The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition Geralt is a cool guy. Credit: CD Projekt Red/Steam
  • List Price: $49.99

  • Sale Price: $9.99

There's a decent chance you already own The Witcher III, given that it's sold 65 million units since its launch in 2015. But if you don't, there really is no better time than now to hop on the bandwagon.

This is, without sugarcoating it, one of the best RPGs ever made, and you can enjoy it just fine even if you never played its two predecessors or read any of the Polish fantasy novels on which the game series is based. It combines some of the best open-world quest design ever with an emotional, mature story that's more about being a good father than saving the world (though there's some of that, too). The Complete Edition comes with both existing expansion packs, which are 100 percent worth playing, and there's actually a third expansion coming out in 2027 to look forward to, as well.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Cal Kestis is also a cool dude. Credit: Respawn/Steam
  • List Price: $69.99

  • Sale Price: $13.99

There is a litany of Star Wars games available in the Steam sale, but Jedi: Survivor is probably the best deal here, for my money. The sequel to 2019's Jedi: Fallen Order follows surprisingly endearing protagonist Cal Kestis and friends as they search for safe haven from the evil Galactic Empire. It's got great combat, compelling level design, and honestly one of the best stories in any Disney-era Star Wars production. For $13.99, this is a must-buy, as far as I'm concerned.

Titanfall 2 One of the best shooter campaigns ever. Credit: Respawn/Steam
  • List Price: $29.99

  • Sale Price: $4.49

Titanfall 2 has been one of the most perpetually dirt-cheap games on digital storefronts for the past decade, but somehow, there are still people who have never played it. Don't be one of them.

Put simply, this is one of the greatest first-person shooter single-player campaigns ever made. Every moment of it oozes with creativity and excitement, making the best out of extremely fun shooting and traversal mechanics in every mission. You should seriously just block out an entire Saturday afternoon and play it in one sitting.

Burnout Paradise Remastered Racing games don't get much better than this. Credit: Criterion/Steam
  • List Price: $19.99

  • Sale Price: $3.99

Burnout Paradise has a real argument as being one of the four or five best games of the entire Xbox 360/PS3 era, and it's held up beautifully. The remastered version includes all online modes, as well as all of the DLC that was made for the original game. Paradise redefined what an open-world racing game could be, years before games like Forza Horizon carried the torch for the genre. It's simply a lot of fun and very easy to pick up and play in short bursts or long sessions.

Risk of Rain 2 One of the best co-op roguelikes out there. Credit: Hopoo/Steam
  • List Price: $24.99

  • Sale Price: $8.24

Risk of Rain 2 is a shooter roguelike that can be enjoyed solo, but is best played with up to three friends in co-op fashion. You choose from one of several characters and run around procedurally generated levels killing enemies and collecting a wide variety of stacking upgrades, all while contending with a mechanic that increases enemy difficulty the more time elapses. It can get extremely challenging, but also very rewarding, especially if you manage to make a super broken build that basically plays the game by itself.

Stardew Valley Cozy. Credit: ConcernedApe/Steam
  • List Price: $14.99

  • Sale Price: $8.99

One of the biggest breakout indie hits of the last decade, Stardew Valley is still maybe the very best farming/life sim game in a market full of them. Filled to the brim with charming characters, great music, and a large variety of ways to spend your precious time (be it in solo play or multiplayer), it's shockingly easy to lose dozens of hours to this game without even thinking about it. It's also got a vibrant mod scene on PC, if you're into that sort of thing.

Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter Some of the best RPG combat around. Credit: Falcom/Steam
  • List Price: $59.99

  • Sale Price: $29.99

Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter made it onto Mashable's best games of 2025 list because I made sure it did, and I'm going to evangelize it here, too, especially now that it's half off. It's a spiffy new remake of the first game in the long and storied Trails series of Japanese RPGs. There are 13 games in total, with more to come, and all of them are part of a big, sprawling, interconnected story with hundreds of characters spread across a huge, lore-rich continent.

But you don't need to worry too much about that with this game, since it's the first one. It eases you into the setting beautifully and will leave you very excited for the remake of the second game in the series, due out this September. The combat is also incredibly fun. One word of warning, though: You need a healthy tolerance for anime to enjoy this series.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana I can hear this screenshot. Credit: Falcom/Steam
  • List Price: $39.99

  • Sale Price: $19.99

Ignore the roman numerals in title for this game. Yes, it's the eighth entry in the long-running Ys series, but it's also a perfect entry point for newcomers with minimal narrative connection to any other entries.

Do you like running around a vibrant, colorful world while hitting monsters with a sword and listening to some of the most energetic, catchy music in video game history? Do you like RPGs where you don't spend a lot of time in menus and every system fits together cleanly to produce a super satisfying experience? Even if you don't think you like those things, this is really one of the most newcomer-friendly (and also best) RPGs ever made.

Hotline Miami I can also hear this screenshot. Credit: Dennaton/Steam
  • List Price: $9.99

  • Sale Price: $0.99

Once a pillar of trendy indie game success, Hotline Miami's zeitgeist nonetheless ended many years ago. Still, for less than a dollar, you really have no choice but to at least try it out, especially if you missed it in 2012. Hotline Miami is a super fast and twitchy top-down action game filled with pixelated hyper-violence and one of the best video game soundtracks ever. It's like playing through a drug-fueled murder haze, but, you know, a fun one. It's really good, I swear.

American Truck Simulator Sometimes this country is beautiful. Credit: SCS Software/Steam
  • List Price: $19.99

  • Sale Price: $4.99

American Truck Simulator is, indeed, an in-depth simulation of long-haul trucking in the United States. If you want to customize every part of your rig, you can do that. But if you just want to vibe out and listen to internet radio country music stations while driving across Kansas (do not drive across Kansas, it's so boring), you can also do that. It's best played on a racing wheel accessory, but a controller or even keyboard and mouse will do the job, too.

As a bonus, developer SCS Software has developed literally dozens of expansions to add new states to the game over the years. You can get just the base game for $4.99, but if you want to spend as much as $43.85, you can get a bundle that includes everything.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I vetted the 9 best projector deals at Amazon Prime Day — get record-low discounts on Hisense, XGIMI, and Anker

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 21:02
Best Prime Day projector deals at a glance Best overall deal Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector $949.99 (save $350) Get Deal Best portable projector deal Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser $509.99 (save $240) Get Deal Best backyard bundle deal XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser Projector Outdoor Collection $629 (save $270) Get Deal

Movies are a serious topic at my house. As part of our attempt to not wither away while mindlessly scrolling social media, we've implemented movie nights, and the phones are not invited. Since going to the movie theater takes effort, wearing outside clothes, and a good chunk of money, we've done our best to recreate a movie-theater environment at home. A huge elements of this is using a projector instead of a standard TV.

SEE ALSO: Rare Prime Day camping deals are live now : Shop Yeti and Coleman gear on sale

Watching your favorite movies or shows on a 200-inch projector brings on an entirely different experience compared to a 65-inch TV. It's an immersive feeling that makes everything that much more enjoyable. If you're feeling like your home movie setup could use an upgrade, Amazon Prime Day has some excellent options on projectors.

I've scrolled the sale and compiled the best Prime Day projector deals that'll make summer movie nights the best yet.

Best overall projector deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense M2 Pro 4K Projector $949.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $350   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Hisense M2 Pro Projector.

Some people have an emotional support water bottle. I do, too, but I also have an emotional support projector, which I didn't know was possible until I tested the Hisense M2 Pro. Now I feel lost if I'm away from it for too long.

The Hisense M2 Pro is a 4K laser triple-laser projector with up to 1,300 ANSI lumens. Not only does that brightness mean you can watch a movie in daylight, it's a great option for gaming. The Hisense has a 240Hz refresh rate and low lag input. Plus, it can adjust between 65 and 200 inches. The Amazon Prime Day price of $949.99 is the lowest we've seen in 2026.

Best portable projector deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Nebula Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser $509.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $240   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector.

If you love to travel, take road trips, visit friends, and still have epic movie nights, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is travel-ready. I've packed it along to Japan and Europe, and it also comes with me during Christmas break because watching holiday movies is highly important to my family.

The Nebula Capsule 3 Laser weighs about two pounds and is a bit bigger than a 16-ounce can. During Prime Day, snag it on sale for $509.99, down from the normal price of $749.99 for a 32% discount.

Best backyard bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: XGIMI XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser Projector Outdoor Collection $629 at Amazon
$899 Save $270   Get Deal Why we like it

If your idea of summer fun is hanging out in the backyard until bedtime, you've probably considered how to make outdoor movie nights happen. Amazon Prime Day has the perfect bundle in store with the XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser Projector Outdoor Collection. The bundle includes the XGIMI MoGo 4 laser projector, a powerbase stand, a 70-inch screen, four filters, and a carrying case.

That all comes from the sale price of $629, down from the list price at XGIMI of $899 for a savings of $270. If the weather's not suitable for an outdoor movie, set up the included screen inside or forgo the screen and watch a movie on the ceiling from a cozy couch. The XGIMI MoGo 4 has a 360-degree pivoting function, so you can project onto the ceiling.

More Prime Day projector deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

IBM just made the world's first sub-1nm chip—what does it mean for PCs and phones?

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:56

Tech industry pioneer IBM just broke a record for chip design that could have far-reaching consequences for your next PC or phone. The company has introduced what it says is the first sub-1 nanometer chip technology, crossing a symbolic but important hurdle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Prime Day iPad deals: Shop Apple tablets starting under $300 before the price hikes arrive

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:52
The best Prime Day iPad deals: Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $519 (save $80) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $899 (save $100) Get Deal Best iPad mini deal Apple iPad mini (A17, WiFi, 256GB) $499.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal

iPads have everything you love in a MacBook, just in a more portable package, which makes them perfect for summer travel. They fit easily in a personal item or carry-on but still bring Apple's signature speedy performance.

Unfortunately, the entire iPad lineup just got some big price hikes. Apple made its tablets (and laptops) more expensive on June 25, citing soaring memory and storage costs because of AI data center demand. All models are at least $100 more expensive than before.

SEE ALSO: MacBooks and iPads just got more expensive. Lock in Prime Day Apple deals before it's too late.

On the bright side, Amazon isn't matching the Apple Store's newly higher iPad prices just yet. Better still, every model is on sale there for Prime Day this week. If you've been thinking about buying a new iPad, the right time to buy is right now, before Amazon adjusts its listings. It's last call for cheap iPads starting at just $299.

Read on for our full list of the best Prime Day iPad deals; we'll continue to update it through the end of the sale on June 26. If you're thinking of buying any other Apple products, be sure check out our separate guide to the best Prime Day Apple deals, too.

Best Prime Day iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $519 at Amazon
$599 Save $80 Will soon cost $749. Get Deal Why we like it

Our beloved iPad Air is the best tablet money can buy, and it's an even better value on sale. Amazon has the base model marked down to just $519 during Prime Day, which is a new record-low price. You save $80 on its current MSRP of $599. For comparison's sake, the Apple Store just bumped the same model to $749. (If it sells out on Amazon, look for it at Best Buy. The tech retailer was price-matching its Prime Day deal at the time of writing.)

This is an incredible tablet, as powerful as a laptop. So while you can do the tablet basics — streaming, internet browsing, reading, and gaming — it can handle more. For creatives, that means graphic design, illustration, and photo and video editing.

Read our full review of the M4 Apple iPad Air.

More Prime Day iPad Air dealsPrime Day iPad dealsMore Prime Day iPad Pro dealsPrime Day iPad Mini deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Lessons learned from visiting an AI-powered store

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:43

A broken mug sits on a desk in the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Printed across the surviving ceramic shard are the words: "This was made by AI." Our team thinks that the story of this mug neatly captures the hype, hope, and even harm surrounding artificial intelligence. 

At the Division of Digital Psychiatry, we spend our days studying how digital technologies are shaping mental healthcare. Through our research, clinical work, and MindBench.ai — a collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — we examine how AI systems respond when people seek mental health information, support, and guidance. The project brings together researchers, clinicians, and NAMI's nationwide community of people with lived experience, families, advocates, and volunteers to better understand where AI tools are helpful, where they fall short, and how they can be evaluated safely and transparently.

So, we were naturally curious when we heard chatter in the news about Andon Market, the first retail store run entirely by an AI agent named Luna. As AI systems take on increasingly autonomous roles, the questions raised by an AI-run storefront are not entirely different from those emerging in mental healthcare. Where should these systems be trusted? When should humans remain in the loop? And what happens when things go wrong?

The project comes from Andon Labs, whose website describes its mission as building "autonomous organizations without humans in the loop," an endeavor that may have implications for mental health in the near future. But after our experience, we think Luna could have used a few more humans in that loop of hers. 

According to Andon Labs, Luna was given a bank account with $100,000, a lease, and broad responsibility for operating a profitable business in San Francisco. Luna handles staffing decisions, inventory management, marketing materials, and all things in between. The goal is to see how much of a real-world organization can be delegated to an AI system and what questions arise when they try.

SEE ALSO: 4 reasons not to turn ChatGPT into your therapist

It is an experiment that raises many of the same questions now emerging in mental healthcare. As AI systems become more capable, where should they be trusted? When should they be supervised? Where do they fail? And what infrastructure do we need to evaluate and understand the risks of using these tools in places where the stakes are much higher than shopping? 

In her few months of "life," Luna has made some, dare we say, creative choices. She ordered 1,000 toilet bowl covers for the employee bathroom. Naturally, she stocked the store with the extra 999. She also tried to hire a painter for the store, which showed initiative, except the painter was based in Afghanistan. Drop-down menus on Yelp are hard for an LLM to get past the letter "A," it seems.

Still, the hype around the project left us with high expectations when we decided to try the shopping experience for ourselves. What an autonomous storefront looks like now may offer some glimpse into how close we are to AI autonomy in more sensitive spaces.

We decided to buy two mugs that featured Luna's subtle smiley-face logo. If Luna were real, what happened next would not leave her smiling.

Purchasing these two mugs was more difficult than selecting them from the far end of the metal shelf. Customers place orders by picking up a wired blue telephone and speaking directly to Luna. We tried to make our purchase, but the AI system was down, and the order could not be completed. This was our first failure point. It was akin to arriving at a mental health clinic and finding it devoid of any clinicians, leaving the patient completely helpless.

The human employee (yes we live in an era where we need to make that clear) tried to reset the internet and even Luna. But she was offline or off somewhere. We offered to pay by cash, credit card, PayPal, or Venmo, but the human employee was not authorized to accept any of them.

Determined to get the mugs, we followed up by email. What should have been a straightforward customer service interaction (one of the tasks AI is destined to revolutionize) turned into roughly two weeks of back-and-forth. Payment links failed, instructions became confused, and at various points, Luna had forgotten to respond entirely. If this were Dr. Luna and we were the patient, this would again be a critical point of failure. Regardless, it was perhaps a test of sheer perseverance.

Eventually, persistence prevailed. The order was processed, the mugs were shipped, and it appeared that the experiment had reached its happy ending — until the box arrived. Picking up the box made a song of broken pieces, foreshadowing bad news.

The mugs were wrapped in two sheets of tissue paper, then placed together in a brown bag, which was taped shut and placed in a larger cardboard box. Inside was a pile of broken mugs. A mug is a fragile thing to pack, but we are well aware that mental healthcare and the well-being of patients are even more fragile. Even Luna was no longer subtly smiling on one of the mugs; the reality of the real world and shipping had chipped off her subtle grin.

Luna's stakes were mugs, and she still managed to fumble every step of the process. The thing is, if you had asked us to design a perfect illustration of what it looks like when an AI system fails someone in mental health, this would fit pretty close to it: the unreachable first contact, the broken intake, the contradictory guidance, the forgotten silences, and an outcome that left patients who entered without help and even perhaps some harm.

We went to Andon Market to see what AI running a store looked like, and left with a memorable saga and eventually two broken mugs. Luna does not claim to be a therapist, but the parallels are potent. Much of the conversation around AI swings between extremes, but the reality is more nuanced as these systems are remarkably capable in some contexts and surprisingly fragile in others.

Within digital mental health, AI offers enormous potential to expand access to information, services, and mental health support, but their failures can scale just as quickly. Rather than relying on what we are told about AI, we need to put it to the test and see what happens. Luna did not cause us harm, and rather amused us, but it's easy to imagine people soon turning to AI-managed systems for mental health, where the idea is fantastic but the reality is also chipped and broken.

For us, the broken mug has become an unexpectedly useful reminder of why our work in the Division of Digital Psychiatry is important. It sits in the lab as a small artifact of failure from an ambitious AI autonomy experiment. It is also a reminder that capability and reliability are not the same thing.

As AI tools are already being used in mental healthcare, and we look towards a future of increasingly autonomous systems, we must develop ways to safely evaluate them before they also set up storefronts and take on expanded duties. We don’t plan to ask Luna for new mugs and will be keeping the fragments as relics of the early days of AI autonomy and a tangible parable of hype, hope, and real-world considerations for deploying AI.

Dr. John Torous, MD, MBI and Jill Noorily, BA are part of the Division of Digital Psychiatry, a collaborative research group at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School affiliate in Boston.

This article reflects the opinions of the authors.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best fitness tracker deals on Prime Day: Fitbit and Garmin down to lowest-ever prices

Mashable - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:32
The best Prime Day fitness tracker deals: Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 6 $85.45 (Save $74.50) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Garmin Epix Pro (47mm) $499.99 (Save $500) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm) $279 (Save $120) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm) $246.99 (Save $133) Get Deal

Prime Day deals can be totally overwhelming with the sheer volume of products on sale, but the smartest way to shop is to go for what you really need. If you've been in the market for a new fitness tracker in time to hit your summer fitness goals, Prime Day is the best time to buy.

Right now there are a wealth of fitness trackers and smartwatches on sale. Find Fitbits, Garmin smartwatches, and Apple Watches dropping to new lows during Prime Day.

Best Prime Day fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $89.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $70.00   Get Deal

Fitbits are one of the OG fitness trackers, helping people get on their feet and stay active. The Charge 6 displays your daily steps and heart rate. It automatically detects activity and can even link to compatible exercise machines to display your heart rate. And right now, the Fitbit Charge 6 is 38% off ahead of Prime Day.

Grab it for just $89.95 and save $70 off its $159.95 list price. This early Prime Day deal also brings the Charge 6 down to its lowest price ever.

More fitness tracker dealsBest Prime Day smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Epix Pro (47mm) $499.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $500   Get Deal

Garmin smartwatches are a staple among runners who want elite GPS tracking alongside health monitoring. The Garmin Epix Pro is usually a big investment at $999.99, but ahead of Prime Day, it's been cut in half, down to just $499.99, saving you $500.

It has 1.3-inch always on AMOLED display with a built-in LED flashlight. It's for true endurance athletes, providing a hill score for big climbs and endurance scores as you train. For a complete picture of your health, it'll monitor your health 24/7, providing pulse ox and HRV status.

Grab it now ahead of Prime Day for its lowest price ever.

More smartwatch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I mapped my home network and found 5 devices I'd completely forgotten about

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:31

I thought I had a pretty good handle on what was connected to my home network. Then I actually made a map of it, and suddenly my router's device list looked less like a tidy inventory and more like a drawer full of cables I swear I had already sorted. (I do actually have a drawer full of networking gear, but that's beside the point.)

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 free and open-source (FOSS) apps that are better than paid alternatives

How-To Geek - Thu, 06/25/2026 - 20:14

Are monthly software subscriptions draining your wallet? Wondering whether you can replace your premium tools with free alternatives? Well, here are five free, open-source apps that don’t just match their paid counterparts—they often surpass them.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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