Blogroll

Feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem died on Wednesday, according to a post shared on her Instagram account. She was 92.

The news, shared early Thursday, included a recent photo of Steinem and a statement about her life. "Yesterday, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her. Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," it began. No cause of death was given.

View this post on Instagram

Steinem was a key figure in the feminist movement in the United States, beginning in the 1960s with second-wave feminism. She spoke about gender equality and issues like abortion. She first gained national attention in 1963 when she went undercover as a Playboy bunny and wrote about the experience. Steinem went on to co-found Ms. magazine and remained a prominent voice on gender parity and reproductive rights. Former President Obama awarded Steinhem with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

"Gloria's greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard. Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor," the statement read.

Almost immediately upon the news, fellow feminists, as well as politicians and celebrities, began sharing tributes online.

Writer Roxane Gay commented on the Instagram post, "Gloria was one of a kind. Genuine, generous, curious, thoughtful. She lived a staggering life and her passing is a staggering loss tempered only by the ferocity of her legacy."

"She was our leader," actor and comedian Amy Sedaris commented. "We have to be more like her. Carry her fight."

TV producer Shonda Rhimes commented, "She was fierce and kind and full of grace. What a loss for the world."

"As we elders, our daughters, and our granddaughters continue the fight for power, equality, and respect, we hold you in our hearts with love and gratitude," musician Carole King wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Actor and comedian Sandra Bernhard shared a photo with her and Steinem, writing, "It was an honor to have a conversation with the great [Gloria Steinem.] classy funny she didn't take any punches she had no time to suffer fools & baby she encountered a whole lot of them! Let's honor her life & work & re dedicate it to reclaiming our reproductive rights!"

View this post on Instagram

A Well-Trained Wife author, Tia Levings, wrote on Instagram, "If you, like me, grew up hearing that Gloria Steinem was evil, please use this time of her visible impact to educate yourself on her extraordinary life and fight for all women."

View this post on Instagram

"Gloria Steinem was a fearless trailblazer who transformed the fight for equality in America and inspired generations of women to know their power," Rep. Nancy Pelosi wrote on X.

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

"Meeting heroes always risks disappointment, but knowing Gloria was an honor, where her humor and kindness were matched by a relentless belief that we could be better," former Rep. Stacey Abrams posted on X.

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

CNN's chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, wrote on X, "Gloria Steinem will go down in history as one of the most important activists of all time, leading a movement for the equality of half the world: its women."

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

Steinhem's activism continued later in life, according to the statement. "She spent her recent years doing the two things she loved most: being in community with others and writing. She has welcomed hundreds of guests into her living room for Talking Circles, a tradition she insisted will continue long after she is no longer with us." Her Instagram account features photos of these Talking Circles, including one from less than two months ago.

President of Run For Something, Amanda Litman, wrote about the Talking Circles in her tribute to Steinem on X: "The two talking circles I went to at her home — the first in August 2024, when I was sweating my ass off 8 months pregnant with my second daughter as we talked about the possibility (again!) of electing the first woman president & the second earlier this year, where after a long convo on the future, I got to give her a copy of my book — were experiences I'll never forget."

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

"Gloria loved the tradition of lighting signal fires on hills to light the way to the other side of the mountain. Lighting your own candle for Gloria makes you part of this global and celestial community circle," the statement read. It also noted that, in lieu of flowers, Steinem asked that anyone wishing to honor her make a donation to Gloria's Foundation, which, among providing fellowships and residencies to people working on social justice projects, also facilitates the Talking Circles.

The death of the prominent feminist comes shortly after the deaths of other beloved figures like Dolly Parton. The last post on the Gloria's Foundation Instagram account prior to today's announcement was an archival photo of her and Parton.

View this post on Instagram

TikTok's comment section is about to get a lot more chaotic.

The platform is rolling out a slate of new ways to interact beneath videos, including voice comments, polls, photo carousels, and Live Photos. The four new features expand what users can post beyond text and single image replies, giving TikTok's famously active comment sections even more ways to become part of the content itself.

Those comment sections are already busy. According to the company, more than 1.7 billion comments are posted on the platform every day.

TikTok is bringing voice notes to the comments TikTok's comment section is becoming a group chat. Credit: TikTok

Perhaps the biggest change is Voice Comments, which allow users to record and post audio messages up to 60 seconds long directly beneath a video.

That means instead of typing "I'm screaming," you could, theoretically, let everyone hear you scream.

TikTok imagines people using the feature to leave spoken reactions, laugh along with a meme, or even sing back to a music creator. But anyone who's ever opened the comments on a viral TikTok can probably imagine plenty of other possibilities.

Of course, giving TikTok users 60 seconds to say whatever they want could open up new opportunities for harassment and other harmful behavior. TikTok says Voice Comments will be subject to the same Community Guidelines as other content on the platform. The company will use a combination of human and automated moderation tools, including speech-to-text transcription, to detect and remove violations.

Voice Comments will roll out globally over the next month to users 18 and older.

Creators can now poll their comment sections Take it to a vote. Credit: TikTok

TikTok is also introducing Comment Polls, which allow creators to launch a poll directly in the comment sections of their videos.

Creators could use them to ask followers what they should post next, settle a debate sparked by a video, or let viewers vote on anything from an outfit to a favorite character.

Unlike Voice Comments, there's no waiting for this one: Comment Polls are available globally starting Sept. 3.

Photo comments are becoming photo dumps Why post one reaction photo when you can post nine? Credit: TikTok

TikTok's photo comments are getting an upgrade, too.

With Photo Carousel Comments, users can attach up to nine photos in a single comment. Instead of choosing a single reaction image, commenters can drop an entire photo dump under someone else's video. Photo Carousel Comments will roll out globally over the next month.

There's also Live Photo Comments, which allow users to upload Live Photos directly from their camera rolls. The feature gives viewers a brief glimpse of the movement captured in the image rather than limiting photo replies to static shots. Live Photo Comments are available globally starting Sept. 3.

TikTok wants the comments to be content, too

If you've spent any time on TikTok, none of this feels entirely surprising. "Opening the comments" has practically become part of the viewing experience.

A video's joke gets extended through hundreds of replies. Viewers add context, tell stories, post reaction images, answer questions, and occasionally write something that becomes more memorable than the original TikTok. Creators, meanwhile, routinely turn comments into prompts for their next videos.

These updates give that behavior even more room to grow. TikTok's comment section can now contain text, photos, photo dumps, Live Photos, polls, and, soon, minute-long voice notes.

It's another sign that TikTok doesn't necessarily see comments as something that happens after the content. Increasingly, the comments are part of the content.

And they're about to get a whole lot louder.

The best Costco Labor Day deals: Best Costco Apple Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,849.99 (Save $149.01) Get Deal Best Costco Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ $239.99 (Save $60) Get Deal Best Costco audio deal Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds $199.99 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Labor Day laptop deal HP OmniBook 3, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 (Save $400) Get Deal

Costco is getting a head start on Labor Day savings, with members already able to find discounts across everything from laptops and Apple products to groceries and everyday essentials. This year, Labor Day falls on Sept. 7, but there’s no need to wait for the official holiday weekend to start shopping for discounts.

If you're planning a Costco run anyway, you might as well save some money while you're there. We've rounded up the best Labor Day deals worth checking out right now. But make sure to act fast, as these deals are only live through Sept. 7.

Best Labor Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,849.99 at Costco
$1,999 Save $149.01   Get Deal Why we like it

With RAMageddon still plaguing the tech industry, we're tuned into all the price drops on laptops. Right now, get the Apple MacBook Pro (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for just $1,849.99 at Costco. That's the same low price being offered at Amazon.

The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops you can buy right now with its M5 chip. It has 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, so it can execute high-demand tasks like photo and video editing.

More Labor Day Apple deals

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99.99 $129 (save $29.01)

• Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $148.99 $179 (save $30.01)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Two years of AppleCare+ included) — $229.99 $249 (save $19.01)

• Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $399.99 $449 (save $49.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $649.99 $749 (save $99.01)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,399.99 $1,499 (save $99.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro chip, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,759.99 $2,999 (save $239.01)

Best Labor Day Samsung deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ $239.99 at Costco
$299.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has an 11-inch WUXGA display, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, with support for up to 2TB of expandable storage. Its 7,040mAh battery is rated for up to 15 hours of use, while USB-C fast charging, Bluetooth 5.3, and WiFi cover the basics.

More Labor Day Samsung deals

• Samsung HW-Q60CF 3.1.2 Ch Soundbar — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)

• Galaxy Book4 Edge — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)

Best Labor Day audio deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds $199.99 at Costco
$299.99 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose open-ear headphones are designed to let you stay aware of your surroundings while listening, without covering your ears. They have water resistance, up to seven hours of battery life, and a wireless range of 30 feet. The deal also includes a $50 gift card with purchase, with options including Apple and Google Play.

More Labor Day audio deals

• Bose SoundLink Home Bluetooth Speaker — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort SC Noise Canceling Headphones — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)

• Sonos Arc Ultra 9.1.4 Ch Soundbar Bundle — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)

Best Labor Day laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 3, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 at Costco
$1,199.99 Save $400   Get Deal Why we like it

There is no question that the best laptop battery life we've ever tested was the astounding 40 hours on the HP OmniBook 3. It's an exceptional value for budget-conscious frequent travelers and commuters.

Normally $1,199.99, the HP OmniBook 3 is down to $799.99 at Costco, saving you $400. That's a whole lot of savings on a laptop with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.

More Labor Day laptop deals

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

• Dell Touchscreen, 15.6-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $799.99 $1,099.99 (save $300)

• Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, 14-inch (Snapdragon X Elite 12 Core, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)

• Asus Vivobook Flip, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,499.99 (save $400)

SAVE $102: As of Sept. 3, Samsung's 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $497.99. That's 17% or over $100 off its list price of $599.99 and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV $497.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $102   Get Deal

Labor Day 2026 is proving to be one of the best times of the year to buy a new TV. If you've been waiting for prices to drop before the new NFL season kicks off and don't want to wait until Black Friday, now's the time to pull the trigger. For those looking to upgrade their bedroom TV or seeking a smaller screen for another room in your home, the 43-inch Samsung QN70H should do the trick.

As of Sept. 3, the Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is only $497.99 during Amazon's Labor Day Sale. That's not only over $100 off its list price of $599.99, but it's also its lowest price on record.

The QN70H is Samsung's mid-range Neo QLED model, falling in between the QN80H and M80H. It features mini LEDs with quantum dots for a vast range of colors and, paired with its matte display, is a vibrant choice with deep contrast for a bright room. It has Motion Xcelerator 144Hz technology, which makes it a buttery-smooth pick for gamers. Plus, thanks to Samsung Vision AI Companion with Bixby, you'll be able to tailor your picture and elevate the sound to your liking. Want the background noises at a minimum and the dialogue boosted? Done.

While the QN70H is not quite the fanciest TV in Samsung's lineup, it certainly won't disappoint. It's still a Samsung, after all, which is one of our favorite TV brands. And for less than $500, it's an incredible value.

If you’re someone who uses local AI, you’ve probably heard of LM Studio. It's the app that lets you easily download open-source AI models locally, manage them, and talk to them in a fairly basic chat window. It was cool when it launched, but right now, the way people are using LLMs has evolved.

The best Labor Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 (save $100) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 (save $170) Get Deal

The ongoing memory crisis means higher prices for the tech we've come to depend on. Laptops have been hit especially hard by "RAMageddon," with PC makers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer raising prices to reflect rising component costs. Even Apple marked up its MacBooks by at least $100 apiece this summer. (Gone are the days of the $599 MacBook Neo.)

The current state of the market makes shopping sales feel all the more important. Your last big chance to snag a deeply discounted laptop before Black Friday comes with this weekend's Labor Day sales. Below, we've rounded up the best Labor Day laptop deals we could find, including discounts on MacBooks, Windows laptops, and a very nice Chromebook we've tested.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Amazon and Best Buy
$1,799 Save $100   Get Deal

The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is our favorite MacBook for college students, as it's super portable and a little cheaper than its 15-inch brother. It's a fabulous ultraportable with a crisp, colorful display, amazing speakers, and blazing-fast performance. This upgraded model, with 24GB of RAM and a terabyte of storage, should last you well past graduation. Amazon and Best Buy currently have it on sale for $1,699, or $100 off.

Heads up: If you have a valid student ID, you'll get $100 off and a free $100 gift card if you buy this MacBook directly through the Apple Store during its Back to School sale (live through Sept. 24). However, it won't ship until late September or early October. If you need it sooner, Amazon (with Prime) and Best Buy were both advertising next- or two-day shipping at the time of writing.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $689.99 $699 (save $9.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849.99 $1,999 (save $149.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,759.99 $2,999 (save $239.01)

Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Staples
$1,149.99 Save $550   Get Deal

The OmniBook 3 16 is a slim, big-screened laptop with a mind-blowing battery life of over 40 hours per charge. It's the longest-lasting laptop we've ever tested in more than a decade of reviewing laptops. Just note that its Snapdragon X processor is best for everyday productivity tasks, not intensive app usage. This configuration with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage (a good daily driver combo) is 48% off at Staples for Labor Day. For reference, HP's website lists the same model at $90 more.

Read Mashable's full review of the HP OmniBook 3 16.

More Windows laptop deals

• HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (Snapdragon X2 Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,249.99 (save $450)

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,899.99 $2,199.99 (save $300)

• Dell XPS 14 (Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699.99 $3,149.99 (save $450)

Best Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 at Best Buy
$749 Save $170   Get Deal

This premium Chromebook boasts an 18-hour battery life and a silky-smooth touchscreen display that can flip around 360 degrees. It makes a great MacBook Neo alternative for ultra-casual users who want a laptop that doubles as a tablet. Ahead of Labor Day, it's significantly cheaper than the Neo: Best Buy has it marked down to $579, or 23% off. That more than erases its $50 price hike from May.

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514.

You don't have to look very far on the internet to find someone, somewhere, who is really upset about Final Fantasy games not having turn-based combat anymore.

Final Fantasy games haven’t had it for 25 years, to be clear, but that doesn't stop people from yearning for a time before you had to get good at combos to finish a Final Fantasy. I totally get it, too, as turn-based combat kicks ass. On top of that, the recent success of games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, if nothing else, a sign that people still vibe with it on some level.

Final Fantasy Resonance, which launches on every major platform on Oct. 22, feels like it exists for two reasons: to please longtime FF fans and to make sure the mobile game Brave Exvius — which Resonance is based on — lives on in some form.

I have not played Brave Exvius, but after playing roughly an hour of Resonance at a preview event a couple of weeks ago, I can confirm that the foundations on which Final Fantasy was originally built are still structurally sound. As to whether or not it can transcend its mobile game origins, well, we'll have to wait and see.

SEE ALSO: 'Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave' feels like the true follow-up to 'Three Houses' Final Fantasy Resonance has all your favorite guys in it You've got four people in your party, but really, you've got eight. Credit: Square Enix

First, some context is in order. Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius came out on mobile devices about a decade ago, and it's one of those phone games where you use currency to do fake slot machine pulls to unlock characters, many — but not all — of whom are plucked from the rest of the FF series. My understanding is that Resonance is largely an new game built like a traditional console RPG, but it's definitely been built using some assets and systems from Brave Exvius.

The demo I played didn't give me a great idea of what to expect from the story, but from what I can tell, the main character is a blonde dude with a big sword named Rain. That's the most Final Fantasy thing possible. They should start naming characters in the mainline games after weather again.

Anyway, you have a conventional party of original characters, but characters from older games in the series are present in spirit form. You can unlock them by finding shrines in the overworld and completing little trivia challenges based on the game each character comes from. In the demo, I unlocked Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, but looking through the menus, I could see that they have characters from good games in there, too.

Yep, that's an overworld. Credit: Square Enix

When you're not fighting — we'll get to that shortly — Resonance plays like an RPG from yesteryear. You run around an overworld full of towns, dungeons, and random battles. There are side quests to complete and a big icon that always points toward the next story objective. I played through one major story dungeon that was fairly linear and simplistic, but the demo also seemed to take place early in the game, so I imagine the dungeons aren’t all like that.

Resonance is also rendered in Square Enix's now-signature "HD2D" look, which was most recently used in Octopath Traveler 0 and The Adventures of Elliot. Based on what I played, this is one of the better-looking HD2D games, but there's one caveat: There are pre-rendered CG cutscenes in combat that very clearly come from the mobile game.

On the one hand, I think it's kind of cool for the game to briefly play a video in a completely different art style during fights, but on the other, the cutscenes really look like they came from a phone game. They don't even have English voice acting, despite the rest of the game having it. The transition from mobile free-to-play RPG to console game isn’t totally seamless here. That's forgivable, but it is noticeable.

The combat mixes old-school sensibilities with modern design conventions

Let's talk about fights, which seem like they will make up the bulk of Resonance's gameplay. That's a good thing because I really dug what I played at the preview.

If you've ever played Final Fantasy VI or one of the other games from that era, you'll be right at home here. Fights are turn-based with zero real-time elements, so you have all the time in the world to strategize and make decisions. Each fight is an exercise in figuring out which elemental spells your enemies are weak against. This requires either a slow trial-and-error process, or using a turn to cast Assess and just have the game tell you.

One of my favorite details is that Resonance lets you use every single offensive or restorative spell either on individual characters or groups. That's a holdover from the old games that fell out of favor decades ago, but I always thought it was cool that you could use a healing spell on every ally instead of just one, at the expense of some potency.

As for why all of those old FF characters are in this game, their main function is to provide statistical buffs and additional combat skills to your core party members. You can, for example, assign Cloud from Final Fantasy VII to any character, such as Rain. Cloud has his own set of skills and stat bonuses that will be available to Rain for as long as Cloud is attached to him. Each classic FF character can be freely swapped among the new party members, so figuring out the best fit for each encounter seems like it's going to be a major part of the combat experience.

This guy was a real jerk. Credit: Square Enix

Lastly, because it's a modern Square Enix RPG, enemies all have stagger meters that fill up when you attack their weaknesses. Stagger an enemy and they'll be stunned for a turn while taking more damage than usual. Stagger every enemy in an enounter simultaneously, and you can unleash a big, screen-filling super attack from one of the classic FF characters, which triggers the CG cutscenes I mentioned earlier. I like this feature in pretty much every Square Enix game that has it, but it definitely stands out as a modern idea inserted into an otherwise old-school game.

The best thing I can say about Resonance's combat is that it seems genuinely challenging. I fought a story boss that took around 15 minutes to kill, and there were some close calls throughout the fight. I like a turn-based battle that makes me sweat a little bit.

My time with Final Fantasy Resonance was largely positive, but there are still some unanswered questions. Is the story any good? Will I find myself caring at all about Rain and his friends? Will it overstay its welcome with a bloated runtime like some modern RPGs, or will it be more akin to its 8 and 16-bit inspirations in that regard? We'll find out together in October.

It's no secret that the Milwaukee PACKOUT system is the king of modular storage for all your tools, and users everywhere swear by it. If you're tired of wasting half the day hunting for tools, digging through random bins, or having a cluttered mess in the garage, you need a PACKOUT. Here are a few kits that'll save you hours in the garage or shop, letting you focus on the job at hand.

Since the first lightbulb was invented, technology has evolved to the point where there’s almost nothing a typical modern LED light can’t do. Dimming is a basic feature, but altering the color temperature and actual color, and even creating unique patterns, are also possible. This creates the opportunity for some truly amazing lighting scenes, but getting it all to work can be a challenge. Thankfully, Govee thinks there’s a better way.

When it comes to learning cybersecurity, there's a way to do it that feels less like studying and more like a high-stakes game. I'm talking about Capture the Flag competitions. Out of curiosity, I dived into this interesting world and, before I realized it, I got totally hooked.

SAVE $30: As of Sept. 3, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a $30 discount from its full price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Labor Day sales are a real treat for shoppers who don't want to wait until Black Friday and the holidays to score some good deals. Amazon's been particularly great with discounts so far, including devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which recently saw a price hike. As of Sept. 3, this streaming stick has been slashed to just $19.99.

Compared to its newly increased full price of $49.99, that means you save $30 overall. Price tracker camelcamelcamel even shows that this deal price is just a couple of dollars away from the retailer's lowest-ever price of $17.99, so this is an excellent time to grab it if your streaming setup is in need of an upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and more

Amazon's streaming sticks offer several 4K options, but the 4K Select is the line's entry-level pick. If you're making the jump from HD streaming, this device can deliver a higher-quality picture with support for 4K Ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range 10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for smooth streaming and comes with 8GB of storage to store your favorite apps.

You can even play Xbox games via cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass, though you will need a subscription and a compatible controller to fully jump in on the action. On top of that, the Alexa Voice Remote makes searching for your next favorite show or movie simple and easy, just by using your voice.

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, deals like this may not be around for long. If this Fire TV Stick 4K Select has caught your eye, be quick to save on it at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

I’ve never been very interested in smart glasses. The idea of having a hands-free camera on my face sounds great, but there’s always so much extra stuff that goes along with it. However, my Android brain perked up when I heard HTC was releasing a pair of smart glasses. I’ve been using the Vive Eagle for several weeks, and I have a lot of thoughts.

Are you ready to take your homelab to the next level? This weekend, you should definitely deploy at least one of these three homelab infrastructure projects. They might not be glamorous, but they're sure useful.

Featuring an improved design, including replaceable batteries, along with better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance, the excellent sounding $300 Momentum TWS 5 are top earbuds contender and earn a CNET Editors' Choice award.

Read more about wireless and noise-canceling earbuds: We found the 7 best noise-cancelling earbuds after extensive testing
The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested

Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:21 Design changes
0:41 Replaceable batteries
0:56 New features
1:04 Compared to the Momentum True Wireless 4
1:25 Ear tips
1:53 Tight seal is crucial
2:01 Sound quality
2:31 Sony vs Sennheiser
2:48 Noise cancellation
3:23 Sound test
3:47 Firmware update needed
4:03 Audio dropouts?
4:14 Robust connection
4:32 Codecs
4:57 Battery life
5:17 What do you think?

Video credits
Host: David Carnoy
Scripted by: David Carnoy
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Numi Prasarn
Video editor: Numi Prasarn
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

I've been using Linux more and more over the past year, and one of the things I've come to appreciate is how much choice it gives you. With Windows, you're largely working within the system Microsoft gives you. With Linux, if something doesn't work the way you want, there's probably another distro that handles it differently.

One of the world's largest consumer technology shows kicks off on Friday, and Dreame understood the assignment. IFA is all-in on the robot lawn mowers this year and Dreame has a new model that's set to enter the market in 2027. The brand has been one of Mashable's favorite options for robot vacuums in the last few years and their lineup of robot lawn mowers is getting damn impressive. Welcome to the yard, Dreame A4 AWD Pro Series.

A robot lawn mower with a swing arm

Like robot vacuums, the majority of robot lawn mowers set out to do the same task: rid us of the inconvenience of manually mowing the lawn. But now that the market has a handful of top models and brands, things are starting to get fancier.

The new Dreame A4 AWD Pro Series is the brand's introductory model made with the EdgeMaster 4.0 Precision Edge-Trimming System. This enables a swing arm to extend the standard cutting disc outward as the mower senses nearby boundaries. After playing with a few robot lawn mowers, I can say this will be a major benefit since not all robots are comfortable getting close to the edge. At times, I've gone out with the string trimmer to get a cleaner line around the edge.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock RockNeo Q110H robot lawn mower just landed at Amazon, and it's on sale for just 1 week

Of course, the Dreame does this while still saying a safe distance away from walls, fences, or flower beds, but the zero centimeter edge cutting is a unique feature that makes using a robot lawn mower and truly hands-off experience.

In addition to the arm, the Dreame AWD can handle climbing slopes that measure up to 90% or 42 degrees. It can also glide over holes or divots of about four inches deep and six inches wide.

Advanced navigation and intelligence

Since the little robot is sent out to mow on its own, it relies on a solid navigation system. The new Dreame AWD uses a slew of tech to make this happen like 360-degree 3D LiDAR, satellite and network Omni RTK, and AI-powered binocular vision. The infrared sensor can help keep the mower away from people and pets.

How to buy the Dreame A4 AWD Pro Series

At the time of launch, Dreame's press release mentions the new robot mower will hit global markets in the first half of 2027. Starting price (listed in Euros) translates to about $3,500, but pricing can vary by market so we could see a different price in the U.S. We do have details that two models of the A4 AWD Pro will launch with one being suitable for almost an acre and the other model capable of mowing about 1.2 acres.

If you're looking for a Dreame robot lawn mower that's already on the market, the Dreame LiDAR 3500 Robot Lawn Mower A3 AWD is on sale at Amazon for $2,399.99, down from the list price of $2,999.99.

Tired of USB-C power banks that need to be replaced every few years? Belkin might have your fix: it's releasing its first power banks with semi-solid-state batteries that reportedly last "up to" 3X longer than conventional models.

Times are tough for RAM, SSDs, GPUs, and whatever else comes to mind. Close to a year of the RAM-pocalypse has left the market bone dry, and the aftershocks are reverberating throughout more than just the store shelves. Warranties are affected, too.

The Full Moon wasn't that long ago, but already it's looking a lot different. Its fully illuminated face is shrinking night by night as it moves into the next phase of its lunar cycle.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Sept. 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 62% of its surface visible.

Without visual aids, tonight you can see the Copernicus and Tycho craters and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to spot the Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater and Clavius Crater. Finally, with a telescope you'll also see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance gradually changes as it travels around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days, NASA tells us. What we see from Earth depends on the Moon's position in relation to the Sun, which affects how much of its illuminated side is visible. As the cycle progresses, the Moon passes through a series of phases, from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon, before starting over.

The eight phases are:

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.

SAVE $20: As of Sept. 3, the Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds are down to their lowest-ever price of $79 at Amazon. That's $20 off their full price of $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Ear (3a) $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal

If a new pair of earbuds is on your shopping list, you don't have to wait until Black Friday to score a good deal. Labor Day sales are live across various retailers and offer solid savings to browse. Over at Amazon, the newly released Nothing Ear (3a) is a standout option, sitting at their best-ever price.

As of Sept. 3, these earbuds have had $20 slashed off their $99 full price, bringing them down to $79. According to price tracking website camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price point yet for these earbuds, making now an excellent time to scoop them up. All colors are on sale as well, so you can find your favorite at a discount.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and more

The Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds provide up to 45dB of Active Noise Cancellation, so outside noises won't interrupt what you're listening to. On the opposite end of that, they also have a Transparency Mode that can make you more aware of your surroundings if you'd rather not be closed off while out and about.

When it comes to sound quality, it comes through strong thanks to a 12mm driver that's larger than what the Ear(a) offers. These earbuds also feature Clear Voice Technology, which is helpful on calls. Plus, it has a very beefy battery life, lasting up to 42 hours with the charging case.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on this great offer on the Nothing Ear (3a) at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.