Blogroll

Linux gives users too much choice, and that its biggest weakness

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:30

Let's get this out of the way—Linux doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. Any discussion about Linux's lack of success is strictly about the desktop operating system market. By every other metric, Linux is king of the hill. When it comes to servers, scientific supercomputers, billions of phones and other embedded systems, Linux is the OS of choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 smart home automations that actually make my life easier (and 2 that were a waste of time)

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:00

Once you set foot down the Home Assistant rabbit hole, you’ll reach a stage where you want to automate everything. As a result, many genuinely useful automations materialize alongside a handful of useless ones that are quickly discarded or never triggered again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Advertisers shift to conservative creators over progressives under Trump

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:00

The pendulum isn’t shifting. It’s shifted.

As we enter year two of the second Trump administration, mainstream brands are becoming more comfortable working with conservative creators and shifting ad dollars to apolitical creators. That’s what several experts on the creator economy told me at SXSW 2026.

Last year, Business Insider reported that blue-chip advertisers were embracing right-wing outlets like Fox News and The Daily Wire. Fox News told Business Insider at the time it had onboarded 125 new large advertisers following Trump’s election. The publication reported that companies feared that “avoiding conservative platforms [was] a risk to their brands,” while others wanted to avoid “signaling a political allegiance on either side of the aisle.”

Now, experts say the same shift is happening in the fast-growing creator economy, where advertisers spent an estimated $37 billion in 2025, according to IAB.

“There’s certainly a level of comfortability with conservatives, no doubt. Look at the mainstream brands who support all the channels today, right?” said Arthur Leopold, CEO and co-founder of Agentio, a programmatic creator advertising startup, in an interview at SXSW.

“If you even consider how much the pendulum has swung, five years ago, if you were a brand and you didn't have the pride flag during June...” Leopold told me, "There would be little boycotts and national news would be covering that X, Y, Z brand doesn't have a pride flag. But now you think back to last year, and you barely saw that, right? So there's been a desensitization to politics and how brands respond to it on social. And because of that, brands care a little bit less about whether they are working with a Ben Shapiro or Meidas Touch.”

Conservative media is home to hundreds of proudly right-wing podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers. And let’s not forget about the right-leaning manosphere. While these creators have always received deals from conservative-aligned brands like Black Rifle Coffee, many are no longer off-limits to mainstream brands.

At the same time, that means proudly progressive creators are sometimes losing out on dollars they used to count on.

Creators often earn limited income from monetization programs on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. Typically, brand deals are essential to building a sustainable career as a creator. So, if progressive creators who are outspoken on LGBTQ+ rights or climate change can’t secure partnerships, their voices could disappear from your feed.

SEE ALSO: The unseen risks creators face when they get political

“These are amazing, amazing people. Incredible freaking people, but there are brands that feel like they shouldn’t be supporting them. Whereas, two years ago, everyone did,” Leopold said.

Antonia Alakija, a creator economy strategist and Meta and TikTok alum, told Mashable she’s definitely seeing brands seek out more apolitical creators.

“I think before it was OK to have more of a social perspective or moral perspective. I'm seeing brands choose creators who don't really speak to those topics and don't have a brand aligned with either side, just because of the polarization and opinions going on right now. So, I would say, in terms of creator selection, I'm definitely seeing that," Alakija said.

Brooke Berry, head of creator development at Snapchat, told Mashable that creators who are having a hard time finding deals because of their political beliefs shouldn’t feel like they need to silence themselves. Instead, they should find other formats and topics to create alongside their more outspoken content.

“I had one of my reality TV star creators say, you know, on another platform, it's hard for him to sometimes find deals, because he does speak out a lot and has very specific views," Berry said. "But that's when I told him, you don't have to necessarily stop what you're speaking about, but you need to identify content formats within other areas. Like, he's into fitness, he's on the spectrum, he has high-functioning autism, and he talks a lot about those. Find the formats within that that brands can plug into.”

However, being too outspoken can still impact a creator’s ability to secure deals, as Mashable has reported before.

“Even sometimes when you do do the apolitical stuff, if you do even have a roster of any political stuff, that could get in the way of opportunities, in this era specifically,” Alakija warned.

Leopold told me there are, of course, hard lines for companies. Whether on the right or left, extreme opinions or controversies are often unattractive to brands, for obvious reasons.

“If there are creators who might be way too controversial or have said something that could be damaging for a brand, we have to be honest with that, and we wouldn't onboard them. We are a closed platform, right?” Leopold told me. “And the brands can also say, ‘Hey, we want to work with creators that are more aligned to certain causes, political or otherwise. You know, we are a brand looking for a highly male audience and success on channels like Ben Shapiro's. So, OK, well, there are similar channels, like maybe outdoor lifestyle channels or apolitical channels that have a similar audience.”

The trend to support apolitical and conservative creators is troubling for left-wing creators trying to carve out a living in the increasingly crowded creator economy.

However, that’s the thing about pendulums.

They always swing back eventually.

The quotes in this story have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score 2 months of Paramount+ for under $6 — the best deal for live streaming March Madness

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:32

TL;DR: Until March 31, get two months of Paramount+ for $2.99 per month. Watch every March Madness game for under $6 with this limited-time offer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ (2-Month Subscription) $2.99 per month until March 31 Shop Now

March Madness is finally underway. College basketball is great all season long, but the real fun starts in March.

It's at this point that a lot of dedicated and casual fans seek out ways to watch the tournament. And as if by magic, Paramount+ just dropped a stunning deal to help you follow the action for less. Until March 31, you can get two months of Paramount+ for just $2.99 per month. The offer is available to new and returning subscribers and applies to monthly plans only.

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

Paramount+ is the streaming hub for CBS-broadcast March Madness games. CBS will air March Madness games from the First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight. It's worth noting that the 2026 men’s Final Four and NCAA national championship games will air on TBS, but you can still watch a huge number of games with Paramount+ and CBS. And for under $6, this really is a great deal for sports fans.

Watch select March Madness games for under $6 with this limited-time Paramount+ offer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to use Watch Window in Excel to track key formulas and their results

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:30

The Excel 101: you update an input, then spend the next 10 minutes jumping between tabs to see how it affected your key data. You then update another input, and it's rinse and repeat. If only there were a way to see the impact immediately! Luckily for you, the Watch Window lets you do exactly that, even if your formulas are in far-away worksheets or workbooks. Here's how to use this game-changing tool.

Categories: IT General, Technology

SNL UKs first promo teases Tina Fey as the first guest host

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:11

Saturday Night Live UK is mere days away from launching, and we now have the first ever promo — featuring SNL royalty Tina Fey herself.

In the clip above cast members Celeste Dring, Hammed Animashaun, Larry Dean, George Fouracres, Jack Shep, Ayoade Bamgboye, Al Nash, Paddy Young, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, and Emma Sidi sit around discussing how they're going to promote the show, when Fey suddenly floats down from the ceiling — in full Mary Poppins regalia — to give them advice.

SNL UK will follow the same guest host format as the original, with Fey hosting in the first week (with musical guest Wet Leg) followed by Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed (with Wolf Alice and Kasabian, respectively) in the upcoming weeks.

Saturday Night Live UK is live on Sky One this Saturday at 10 p.m. BST, and available on streaming service NOW.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has a long list of budget QLED TVs at record-low pricing the week before its spring sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:27
A quick look at the best Amazon TV deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV $693.99 at Amazon (save $306) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon (save $398) Get Deal

Most of the year's major flagship TVs announced in January are typically out by the end of March, cuing retailers to push deals on last year's TVs even harder. March was further established as one of the best months to buy a TV when Amazon started holding a massive annual spring sale. This year, it's longer than ever: The 2026 Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 through 31.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

It's not just Amazon's in-house Fire TVs that see big discounts during the Big Spring Sale — they're hardly the best TVs you can get for the money right now. The most worthwhile Amazon TV deals are typically from solid budget brands like TCL and Hisense, with a few premium options like Samsung's The Frame thrown in. To find deals on premium 2025 OLEDs, Best Buy's spring sale has way more options.

Below is a running list of the best Amazon TV deals live ahead of the Big Spring Sale. Any TV listed below matches or beats its lowest-ever sale price (according to price tracker camelcamelcamel) to ensure you're genuinely looking at a steal. We're keeping our eyes peeled for deals on more of the best 65-inch TVs, manifesting a new record discount on our beloved TCL QM6K.

Best early Big Spring Sale TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,297.99 Save $398   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One TV that's actually beating its previous record-low sale price is the 2025 75-inch Hisense U7. Currently 31 percent off, it's $103 cheaper than it was just a month ago during Presidents' Day sales.

This new price drop tracks, considering the 2026 version of the same TV was just unveiled on March 6. The 2026 75-inch U7 will cost $1,999.99 — more than $1,000 steeper than the 2025 model's $899.99 sale price. Those are the kind of steals we were talking about.

This mini LED model packs a serious punch for the price. Its brightness in SDR and HDR gets consistently great notes across the internet, with glare handling strong enough for most sunlit rooms. You don't always see a 165 Hz refresh rate in budget to mid-range TVs, so the Hisense U7 is a top contender for an XL gaming TV under $1,000.

Deals on 43-inch TVs and underDeals on 50- to 55-inch TVsDeals on 65-inch TVs Deals on 75-inch TVs and up
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best gaming deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale — save on PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:25

TL;DR: Ahead of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, gamers can already score some standout early discounts, including the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor for $349.99, down from $549.99, and NBA 2K26 on PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 for just $19.93 instead of $69.99.

A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals: Best Gaming Monitor Deal 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 (G50SF) $349.99 (save $200) Shop Now Best Video Game Deal NBA 2K26 (PS5) $19.93 (save $50.06) Shop Now

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is nearly here, but gamers don’t have to wait for the official kickoff to start saving. 

A couple of strong early gaming deals have already landed, and they’re the sort of offers that are great for upgrading your setup or catching up on the big releases of years past without paying full price — with plenty more still to come across PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and peripherals like monitors, headsets, mice, and much more. 

Best gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 (G50SF) $349.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $200   Get Deal

As of March 17, the standout hardware deal is the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor, which has dropped to $349.99 from its $549.99 list price. That’s a 36% discount, or $200 off, on a QHD QD-OLED display with specs that are a lot more premium than this new price would suggest. This is even the OLED G5’s lowest price ever on Amazon, as confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel.

This model packs a 180Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and AMD FreeSync support, which is a strong mix for anyone who wants smooth gameplay without moving into the much more expensive OLED monitor tier. Samsung also highlights glare-free tech, HDR10, and Pantone validation, so this one looks particularly appealing if you want your games to pop as much as your frame rates.

Best video game deal Opens in a new window Credit: 2K NBA 2K26 (PS5) $19.93 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $50.06   Get Deal

As for cheaper games, though, NBA 2K26 is down to just $19.93 from $69.99 on PS5 — its lowest price ever, as confirmed with camelcamelcamel, as well. That’s 72% off the full game that includes ProPLAY-enhanced gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and MyNBA modes, giving basketball fans plenty to dig into whether they mostly play solo or jump online with friends.

More Amazon Big Spring Sale gaming deals

PlayStation games

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Xbox games

Gaming mice

Gaming headsets

Gaming monitors

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Pokémon deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:11
A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale Pokémon deals: Best Pokémon Deal Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest - Fall 2025 $47.30 (save $10.69) Shop Now Best Pokémon Preorder Deal Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $59.99 Shop Now

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is almost here, but if you’re a keen Pokémon collector who’s already hoping to save money both on the trading card game, video games, and more, there are plenty of bargains already going right now — starting with the Pokémon TCG. 

Best Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company The Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest Fall 2025 $47.30 at Amazon
$57.99 Save $10.69   Get Deal

The early standout is the Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest – Fall 2025, which is marked down to $47.30 from its $57.99 list price. That’s an 18% discount, or $10.69 in savings, on a bundle that packs in more than just booster packs. 

The tin includes six Pokémon TCG booster packs, three foil cards featuring Ralts, Kirlia, and Riolu, a Mega Lucario coin, four sticker sheets, and a mini portfolio for storage. 

The included six booster packs, according to imagery, are two each of Destined Rivals, Journey Together, and Mega Evolution — each costing between $10 and $15 individually. With that, you’re saving at least $12.70 on the booster packs alone, even before you take the promo cards and storage case into account. 

Best Pokémon preorder deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $59.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

The second option is less of a markdown and more of a strategic preorder for anyone trying to get ahead of the rush. The Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder for $59.99 and is set to release on March 20. 

This set, along with a booster pack each of Phantasmal Flames and Mega Evolution, includes one booster pack containing three of nine illustration rare-style promo cards themed around first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola regions, plus a sticker sheet. 

Currently, this only sits $5 above market price on TCGplayer — and is nearly $5 cheaper than any listing available there, as well. Because this is a limited collection, we expect the value of the First Partner Illustration Collection to go way up once there’s less availability after its release date. 

More Pokémon deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How online prediction markets got people betting on nuclear war

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:09

As Israel and the U.S. launched an attack on Iran in late February, which quickly spilled into a region-wide war, betters on prediction market platform Polymarket have been monetising on the prospect of a nuclear weapon detonation.

In a since-deleted market on the platform, Polymarket users were betting on the chances of a nuclear weapon strike in 2026. But who is gaining from these bets, and is the issue more than ethical? 

Prediction markets are online platforms where people can place bets on pretty much everything — from how much a Pokémon card would cost to how many times Elon Musk is going to post on X on a given month, to who would win Best Picture at the Oscars. There are even bets on whether or not Jesus Christ will return by 2027.

The most popular prediction platforms in the U.S. right now are Kalshi and Polymarket, both headquartered in New York City, but there are many others; just these two are worth $11 billion and $9 billion, respectively.

Prediction markets aren't new, but they really erupted around the 2024 U.S. presidential election. In New York, billboards on Times Square showed live bets people were placing on the election's outcome. In recent months, people have placed predictions on Polymarket on the length of the U.S. government shutdown and whether or not the U.S. would strike Iran. A user on Polymarket, notably, even placed a bet that Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, would be ousted by the U.S. hours before it happened. The prediction earned the better $400,000, but it also raised a lot of questions about insider trading among government officials.

Insider trading is illegal in the U.S. under federal law. Kalshi has prohibited insider trading and has regulations that allow individual users to be tracked and investigated. But Polymarket does not have such rules around tracking. It's also technically not even approved in the U.S. but it still can be accessed using a VPN, so the platform's ability to check who placed which bets is limited.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Amazon Echo deals to shop ahead of the 2026 Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:07
The best Echo deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale: Best Echo deal Echo Show 11 $219.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $29.99 (save $20) Get Deal

I’ll be the first to admit that I rely on my Amazon Echo devices a little too much. But they’re just so damn convenient for literally everything — from setting cooking timers to checking the weather and even turning off my TV (yes, I'm getting a little lazy these days). Alexa+ has made it way too easy.

SEE ALSO: The best early robot vacuum deals to shop ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale

Amazon is notorious for discounting its own tech during major shopping events, and there’s a big one right around the corner: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Consider it the first major savings event before Prime Day. We had Presidents' Day, sure, but that doesn't hold a candle to what this sale is going to be.

Running from March 25 to March 31, the Big Spring Sale will let shoppers snag discounts across just about every category. Last year, we saw markdowns of up to 71% off, and we’re expecting this year to bring more of the same.

Here are the best Echo deals you can shop right now.

Best Amazon Echo deal Amazon Echo Show 11 $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home setup during the Big Spring Sale, the new Amazon Echo Show 11 is our top pick. It has a vibrant 11-inch full-HD touch screen and is designed for Amazon's new, conversational AI assistant, Alexa+. Bonus: It's $169.99 right now, which is the lowest price we've tracked to date. (If you want something a little cheaper, you can get the 8-inch screen for $139.99.)

Over at our sister site PCMag, Andrew Gebhart dubbed the device the best way to bring Alexa+ to big rooms. Gebhart notes that its 1,900-by-1,200 pixel resolution provides a crisper, better picture quality than Amazon's larger, much pricier Echo Show 15 and 21 models.

More Echo deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

You can shop several Dyson deals ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:05
The best Amazon Spring Sale Dyson deals at a glance: Best Dyson Corded Vacuum Deal Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $549.99 (save $155) Get Deal Best Dyson Cordless Vacuum Deal Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 (save $164.99) Get Deal Best Dyson Air Purifier Deal Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 (save $160.99) Get Deal

It's that time again. The Amazon Big Spring Sale is back, and it's set to run from March 25 through March 31. You'll be able to score some serious savings across every conceivable category on the site, so it's time to lock in some of those must-have purchases that have been on your list.

One thing you'll definitely want to keep an eye out for is deep discounts across the Dyson brand, from sales on vacuums to air purifiers. There are already several early deals popping up ahead of the sale that you can shop before the madness.

While there are currently no savings opportunities on Dyson's hair tools and scant savings on its audio products, there are plenty of deals to be found on vacuums and more. That could likely change in the coming days as the sale begins, however.

Right now, we've gathered together the best Dyson deals we could find on Amazon. So if you can't wait, the good news is that you can shop these products right now ahead of the sale.

Best Dyson corded vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $394.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $155   Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful corded vacuum can tackle even the toughest of pet messes and then some. With its tangle-free turbine tool, it offers high-performance cleaning with whole-machine filtration to make sure all those dust and dirt particles it captures don't get released back into the air in your home. It can handle dirt and pet hair no matter where you decide to run it, with three suction modes perfect for deep-, medium-, and low-pile carpets as well as hard floors and other high-traffic areas. It even comes with pet tools for removing hair from upholstery and fabric as well as your car.

Best Dyson cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 at Amazon
$539.99 Save $164.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Dyson is known for its many cordless vacuum options that are just as powerful as its corded models, and this one is no slouch. It has the same powerful motorbar cleaner head to cut through dirt and debris in your home as well as pet hair, with two power modes. Its "Powerful" mode is perfect for regular cleaning across the board, while "Max" mode is better for spot cleaning when you have tough stains and other difficult issues to tackle. Plus, it gives you 40 minutes of runtime so if you have a larger area to clean, it won't run out of battery in the middle of your session. Even better, it can be converted into a handheld vacuum to get in those nooks and crannies or clean out your car, couch, or furniture.

Best Dyson air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $160.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Clear the air in your home with this air purifier that uses both an activated carbon filter and HEPA filter to remove gases and 99.97% of the microscopic allergens that make their way inside. The entirety of the purifier is sealed so it all stays contained, while you breathe fresher air all throughout your home. It claims to capture up to 97% of odors as well, so if you have pets or you've been cooking something pungent, it can trap those smells and make things a bit fresher. Set your own cleaning schedules via the MyDyson app and control and monitor the air quality from there as well. It's simple to set up and keep a tidier home with this Dyson air purifier, and the cherry on top? It can heat and cool your home as well.

More Dyson deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Pay once and secure 100TB of cloud storage for life with this limited-time deal

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: Secure enough cloud storage forever with this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal, now only $974.97 through March 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97
$9,900 Save $8,925.03   Get Deal

Whether you’re a content creator, a heavy-duty data user at work, or you just like documenting your kid’s every move, you know all too well the pain of keeping up with your storage needs. Maybe you have dozens of external hard drives lying around, or you’re paying a small fortune to keep things in the cloud? Internxt Cloud Storage offers a much better solution.

Right now, you can secure a whopping 100TB of space with this lifetime Internxt Cloud Storage subscription for just $974.97 until March 31.

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If you want to put an end to constantly needing to upgrade your cloud storage space and spending more and more money each month, it’s time to check out Internxt Cloud Storage. This cloud storage option lets you pay once and own 100TB of space outright.

Aside from offering you a more affordable option, Internxt Cloud Storage also provides serious privacy. While other companies access and profit from your data, Internxt uses end-to-end encryption that prevents anyone, including Internxt itself, from viewing it. They are also GDPR compliant, audited, and verified by Securitum.

If you’re already storing your data with a big company, Internxt offers easy cross-platform compatibility. User-friendly apps for Android, iOS, web browsers, and desktop make it simple to grab your content from anywhere. They also offer speed without any limits, so you’ll get the best performance out of your connection.

Get this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal for just $974.97 until March 31.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get this MacBook Air for under $200 — a lightweight, reliable Mac

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: Get a Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air (2017) for $199.97 (reg. $999).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03   Get Deal

If you’ve ever wished you had a second laptop for travel, coffee shops, or everyday browsing, you’re not alone. Carrying your primary computer everywhere can feel risky — and buying a brand-new MacBook just to have a backup isn’t exactly budget-friendly.

That’s why refurbished models like this Apple MacBook Air (2017) can be a smart option. It’s available for just $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.

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The MacBook Air has long been known for its thin, lightweight design, which makes it especially convenient for working on the go. This model features a 13.3-inch display with a 1440×900 resolution, giving you plenty of space for documents, browsing, and streaming.

It runs on a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 128GB SSD storage, which is well-suited for everyday tasks like email, writing, spreadsheets, video streaming, and web browsing. The SSD storage keeps things running smoothly, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to stay connected and transfer files. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of battery life, which is helpful for flights, long workdays, or study sessions.

This refurbished model carries a Grade A/B rating, meaning it may show light cosmetic wear but remains fully functional.

At this price, it’s a practical way to add a portable extra computer to your home, travel bag, or workspace. Get this Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air while it’s $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:00

Imagine it's Friday night and you're alone with nothing to do. Out of a combination of boredom and loneliness, you decide you're going to use the internet to score a hookup, if not for this weekend then hopefully for next.

What's your best plan here? What site or app offers you the greatest chance of success? In the wild world of online dating, two names stand above the crowd when it comes to keeping things casual: Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and while both are veterans of the online dating game, they also take very different approaches to connecting strangers. 

Is one inherently better than the other? Not necessarily, but one might be better for you, depending on what you're looking for and how you want to go about your search. To help you pick your best hookup option, we've broken down some of the key differences between Adult Friend Finder and Tinder.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Tinder Tinder   Learn More Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder for hookups

By reputation, both of these options are notoriously hookup-focused, so we're off to a good start there, but they operate in entirely different ways and attract very different people, so it's important to understand the differences.

Do you prefer an app or website?

Tinder began as an app and will remain an app, but Adult Friend Finder is one of the few dating websites that never opted for native smartphone support. If you prefer to do your swiping on the couch or on the toilet, you'll automatically gravitate to Tinder, but if you don't mind using a computer to score your next hookup, you'll probably appreciate the richer feature set of Adult Friend Finder, including chat rooms, discussion boards, and live webcam broadcasts. 

SEE ALSO: All your Hinge questions, answered

From a hookup perspective, Tinder's algorithm-driven approach is somewhat limiting, since the only way to speak to someone is to match first, whereas Adult Friend Finder is more generous in its approach, allowing you both the traditional match-first-and-then-talk approach while also offering you more public spaces to interact with people based on shared interests. If you're looking for the fastest possible connection, AFF is probably the way to go, but if you can be patient, Tinder's ability to serve up an endless array of nearby singles shouldn't be underestimated.

The cost of using both services

If you're cash-strapped or just feeling stingy, it's worth knowing that, while both services can be used for free, Tinder is the better option for people who don't want to submit their credit card information. With a free Tinder account, you can browse, swipe, match, and talk to people, all without ever having to commit to a subscription fee. A free account on Adult Friend Finder only allows you to create a profile, explore the public areas, and interact with people in group settings. If you want to talk to someone one on one through AFF, you'll need to upgrade to a Gold membership.

That being said, if you really want to make the most of both services and maximize your chances of scoring a hookup, the premium membership tiers do offer some valuable features. Tinder has three subscription Tiers — Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum — that offer unlimited likes, the ability to "boost" your profile in the search results, and even, at the highest tier, the ability to message people you haven't already matched with or see people who like your profile. Tinder uses a dynamic pricing model, depending on your age, gender and location, but you should expect to pay between $4.99 and $9.99 in the United States for a Plus membership, and above that for the higher tiers.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

Adult Friend Finder's Gold membership costs between $19.95 and $39.95 per month, depending on the length of the subscription you opt for, and it really helps the site shine. A premium membership unlocks one-on-one messaging, upgrades your search options, and gives you insights into who is checking out your profile, which makes finding a hookup much more efficient. 

The user demographics

Another major difference between Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and one that can make or break your hookup search, is the demographic data. Both Tinder and AFF skew male, with Adult Friend Finder clocking in at approximately 65 percent male, 35 percent female and Tinder posting even more lopsided numbers, with roughly 75 percent of its users identifying as male. But that's not even the most important demographic statistic.

The major difference between Adult Friend Finder users and Tinder users isn't gender but age. Tinder is most popular among the young, with its average user between 18 and 24 years of age. The average Adult Friend Finder user is between 30 and 38 years of age.

So which option offers your best chance for success? If you're younger, or if you live around a lot of younger people, like in a city or college town, you're probably better off fishing in Tinder's waters, but if you're in your 30s or 40s and still looking for something casual, Adult Friend Finder has the most options for you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NVIDIA CEO defends DLSS 5 as gamers label it an AI slop filter

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:00

NVIDIA revealed NVIDIA DLSS 5 on Monday, a new rendering model that uses AI to add "photoreal lighting and materials" to video game graphics. The internet immediately hated it, criticising DLSS 5 for erasing games' intentional artistic styles by basically adding an "AI slop filter." Now CEO Jensen Huang has responded to DLSS 5's critics, stating that they are "completely wrong."

SEE ALSO: Nvidia DLSS 5 games list: Every supported title we know so far

DLSS 5 was unveiled during the NVIDIA GTC keynote, accompanied by a video showcasing the AI tool in action. Displaying clips from games such as Resident Evil Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield, the video compared graphics in their original state to with DLSS 5 turned on, the AI giving them a more photorealistic look.

"DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics — blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression," Huang said in a press release. 

Gamers lambast NVIDIA DLSS 5 as 'AI slop filter'

Unfortunately, gamers aren't sharing Huang's enthusiasm for NVIDIA's new real-time neural rendering model. Many noted that the photorealistic style DLSS 5 applied to the game footage in the demonstration video modified the games' original style, and completely changed characters' appearances to the point where some considered them virtually unrecognisable.

NVIDIA's X post announcing DLSS 5 was swiftly inundated with replies criticising the tool, with derision also filling the comments of the demonstration video on YouTube.

"DLSS5 makes this look like an AI generated dating profile picture used to scam an old person in another country," said X user @GamersNexus, sharing a screenshot of Resident Evil Requiem character Grace with DLSS 5 applied. "Just looks like every other AI generated image of a 'person.' No character or soul to it. Art loses what makes it impressive when it all looks like generated slop."

"Giving games an AI filter is an insult," wrote @kalaelizabeth. "Those aren't even the same characters what the hell."

"Like what's the point?" said @thethiny. "Artists spend hours perfecting a model for you to come and replace it with AI Faces? I seriously hate this so much."

"This looks horrifically bad, nobody wants an AI slop filter on top of their games," wrote @SynthPotato. The post has over 107,000 likes at time of writing. NVIDIA's post has 66,000.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. NVIDIA CEO calls DLSS 5 criticism 'completely wrong'

NVIDIA has now attempted to reassure players and clarify exactly what DLSS 5 does, claiming that it won't override games' art direction. Responding to the backlash during a GTC Q&A, Huang insisted that DLSS 5's generative AI doesn't remove artistic control from game developers, but instead allows them to use it as a tool. Developers will be able to direct and "fine-tune" the AI so that it adheres to their artistic style.

"[A]s I have explained very carefully, DLSS 5 fuses controllability of the geometry and textures and everything about the game with generative AI," said Huang, as reported by Tom's Hardware. "It's not post-processing, it's not post-processing at the frame level, it's generative control at the geometry level… This is very different than generative AI; it’s content-control generative AI. That’s why we call it neural rendering."

The official NVIDIA GeForce YouTube account has responded to criticism in the DLSS 5 announcement video's comments section as well.

"Important to note with this technology advance — game developers have full, detailed artistic control over DLSS 5's effects to ensure they maintain their game's unique aesthetic," NVIDIA wrote in a pinned comment. "The SDK includes things like intensity, color grading and masking off places where the effect shouldn't be applied. It's not a filter — DLSS 5 inputs the game’s color and motion vectors for each frame into the model, anchoring the output in the source 3D content."

Posting on X, NVIDIA's global PR director Ben Berraondo stated that the Resident Evil Requiem DLSS 5 demonstration was worked on by developers Capcom. Starfield developer Bethesda Game Studios also wrote on X that its "art teams will be further adjusting [DLSS 5's] lighting and final effect to look the way we think works best for each game. This will all be under our artists’ control, and totally optional for players."

"With DLSS 5 the artistic style and detail shine through without being held back by the traditional limits of real-time rendering," Bethesda Game Studios' executive producer Todd Howard said in a statement on Monday. "We’re excited to work with this new technology and look to bring DLSS 5 to Starfield and future Bethesda titles."

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Even so, gamers remain unappeased, turning their ire onto the executives promoting NVIDIA's AI tool. Though developers may be able to prompt or direct DLSS 5, using AI to alter an image is not the same as manually creating it themselves.

"Todd realizing he doesn't have to update the prehistoric creation engine because now he can simply fake good graphics with a snapchat filter," wrote @sean_gause.

"If you want to upgrade graphics, hire talented artists to do it instead of using technology that exploited YOUR OWN STUDIO'S COPYRIGHTED WORK — which they originally did without your consent, regardless of you choosing to sell your soul now — that will only wipe out all creative direction in exchange for mid AI slop that no one wants to look at," wrote @homemadehooplah.

It isn't clear what datasets NVIDIA used to train DLSS 5, or how it may have obtained them. However, training AI models is a fraught area, with multiple companies having been accused of using stolen or misappropriated data. 

NVIDIA's DLSS 5 becomes grotesque meme

NVIDIA's side-by-side comparisons showing off its DLSS 5 model have quickly transformed into a meme. Social media users are sharing images of well-known characters, comparing them with similar yet very different versions that ostensibly have DLSS 5 applied. These DLSS 5 versions are often grotesquely detailed, or have been heavily altered to have generic, highly airbrushed features reminiscent of aesthetics in pornography.

Several independent game developers have gotten in on the joke as well.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Unblock Your AI Transformation

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 05:01

Most large-scale companies have initiated AI pilots and provided widespread access to AI tools. But while an AI pilot may succeed individually, saving time and money and making processes more efficient, those gains often don’t scale across the organization. To move beyond isolated, short-term wins, you need to rethink processes, roles, and systems as a whole. Here’s how.  Start with a clean-sheet redesign. Don’t layer AI […]

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Categories: Management

Hurdle hints and answers for March 18, 2026

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 05:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A line.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

QUEUE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A hair type.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CURLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The love god.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CUPID

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Goes around the lips.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LINER

Final Hurdle hint

Late.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

TARDY

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on March 18

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 05:00

Believe it or not, it's not the New Moon yet. Despite looking completely gone from our skies, there is a very, very small sliver of Moon still lit up tonight. If it's clear skies wherever you are, you might just be able to spot the thin crescent.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, March 18, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, just 1% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With so little of the Moon lit up, there's still nothing to see on its surface tonight.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight different phases. We always see the same side, but the Sun lights up different portions as it moves, which is why it can look full, half, or just a thin sliver. These changing shapes are called the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 18, 2026

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 04:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a musician.

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 March 18, 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: A gap

  • Green: Painful reaction

  • Blue: Musical outcomes

  • Purple: They precede the same word

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Interval

  • Green: React to a stubbed toe

  • Blue: Guitar effects pedals

  • Purple: ___ Check

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 #1011 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Interval: PATCH, PERIOD, SPELL, STRETCH

  • React to a stubbed toe: CURSE, HOP, WINCE, YELL

  • Guitar effects pedals: DELAY, REVERB, WAH, WHAMMY

  • ___ Check: BLANK, COAT, RAIN, REALITY

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 March 18, 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 today's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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