Blogroll

Stop manually clicking checkboxes in Excel—automate them with formulas instead

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:30

The addition of native in-cell checkboxes to Excel in 2024 finally ended the era of clunky, floating checkboxes from the Developer tab. They're simple to add and manually check—but this ease of use is a trap. If a human can toggle a checkbox, a single click can break a whole spreadsheet. For a pro-level workbook, your checkboxes should be driven by formulas, not people.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo is down to a record-low price at Amazon — save over $300 right now

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:29

SAVE $340: The DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo is on sale for $859 at Amazon, down from the standard bundle price of $1,199. That's a 28% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo $859 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $340   Get Deal

Winter is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. Whether it's a new workout, craft project, or taking a deep dive into a new topic, we still have a time to become an expert at something before spring rolls around. If you've always considered learning how to fly a drone and capture epic footage, check out this beginner-friendly deal at Amazon.

As of Feb. 18, the DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo is on sale for $859 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $1,199 for the bundle. That works out to a savings of $340 from a 28% discount. It's also the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

DJI has become synonymous with some of the most creator-friendly gadgets around. There's the viral DJI Mic Mini, the Osmo Pocket 3, and even the Power 1000 V2 portable power station that are all excellent for content creators. But when it comes to drones, the brand's Fly More Combos offer a great value with plenty of accessories.

The DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo is truly an all-encompassing bundle and drone experience. Instead of watching footage the drone is capturing on your phone or on a remote control, the Avanta 2 Fly More Bundle comes with the DJI Goggles 3. On top of that, you'll be able to control the drone with the intuitive DJI RC Motion 3.

SEE ALSO: Low-price alert: The DJI Neo drone has never been this cheap at Amazon

The Fly More Combo also comes with three DJI Intelligent Batteries, so you'll be able to stay out on drone adventures longer. Plus, the built-in propeller guards offer reassurance for a safe flight. DJI also made it easy to achieve fairly technical maneuvers with a simple touch. The Avanta 2 can achieve a 360-degress flip or roll with a single command.

While the bundle is sitting at a record-low price, become a drone expert with the DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo. Get acquainted now and you'll be a pro come spring and summer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a free $10 Best Buy gift card when you buy a $100 Wayfair gift card

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:23

SPEND $100, GET $10 FOR FREE: As of Feb. 18, you'll get a free $10 Best Buy e-gift card when you buy a $100 Wayfair gift card at Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wayfair Free $10 Best Buy gift card with $100 Wayfair gift card purchase Get Deal

Easter decor, a washable rug to replace what winter slush ruined, a whimsical emotional support lamp for these Dark Times — whatever your spring home refresh involves, stop at Best Buy before you place an order at Wayfair. Buying a $100 Wayfair gift card from Best Buy unlocks a free $10 Best Buy gift card sent to your email.

That $10 can put toward something else on your spring checklist, even if it's as simple as a new phone charger or an AirTag. Best Buy has a ton of tech under $25 to help you get yourself together.

SEE ALSO: I tried Dyson's new PencilVac, a stick vacuum with half the weight, double the lasers. No, I will not 'chill.'

If you're not sure where to start on your home upgrade, Wayfair's current warehouse clearout sale can give you some ideas.

Savings include up to 60% off area rugs and bedding, up to 50% off bedroom and dining furniture, up to 45% off mirrors, decor, and organizational storage, and up to 40% off pet essentials. "Home upgrade" doesn't just have to refer to aesthetics — Wayfair also sells major appliances (up to 30% off), mattresses (up to 30% off), and fitness and exercise equipment (up to 40% off). If you missed out on Presidents' Day home deals, here's a second chance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Binge this critically acclaimed Western while you wait for Taylor Sheridan's Marshals

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:15

In the wake of Yellowstone’s conclusion, many have been looking to fill the neo-Western void. Luckily, its spin-off, Marshals, will arrive soon. Now is the appropriate time to get a taste of the Wild West life, and I’ve got the perfect series to help you do just that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Project Silica’s advances in glass storage technology

Microsoft Research - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:11
At a glance
  • Microsoft Research publishes breakthrough in Nature on glass-based data storage that could preserve information for 10,000 years. 
  • New technique extends technology from expensive fused silica to ordinary borosilicate glass found in kitchen cookware. 
  • Innovations enable faster parallel writing, simplified readers (one camera instead of three), and easier manufacturing. 
  • Phase voxel method requires only a single laser pulse, significantly reducing complexity and cost.

Long-term preservation of digital information has long challenged archivists and datacenters, as magnetic tapes and hard drives degrade within decades. Existing archival storage solutions have limited media lifespans that make them less than ideal for preserving information for future generations.

Now, we are excited to report significant progress on Project Silica (opens in new tab), our effort to encode data in glass using femtosecond lasers, a technology that could preserve information for 10,000 years. Glass is a permanent data storage material that is resistant to water, heat, and dust.

In findings published in Nature (opens in new tab), we describe a breakthrough that extends the technology beyond expensive fused silica to ordinary borosilicate glass. A readily available and lower-cost medium, this is the same material found in kitchen cookware and oven doors. This advance addresses key barriers to commercialization: cost and availability of storage media. We have unlocked the science for parallel high-speed writing and developed a technique to permit accelerated aging tests on the written glass, suggesting that the data should remain intact for at least 10,000 years.

Storing data inside glass with femtosecond (opens in new tab) laser pulses is one of the few technologies on the horizon with the potential for durable, immutable, and long-lived storage. Although we have been leading innovation in this type of storage for years, prior to this research the technique only worked with pure fused silica glass, a type of glass that is relatively difficult to manufacture and available from only a few sources.

In the paper, we show how data can be stored in borosilicate glass. The new technique stores hundreds of layers of data in glass only 2mm thin, as with previous methods, but with important improvements. The reader for the glass now needs only one camera, not three or four, reducing cost and size. In addition, the writing devices require fewer parts, making them easier to manufacture and calibrate, and enabling them to encode data more quickly.

video series

On Second Thought

A video series with Sinead Bovell built around the questions everyone’s asking about AI. With expert voices from across Microsoft, we break down the tension and promise of this rapidly changing technology, exploring what’s evolving and what’s possible.

Explore the series Opens in a new tab Key scientific discoveries

The Nature paper details several key new scientific discoveries:

Advances in birefringent voxel (opens in new tab) writing: For the previous type of data storage in fused silica glass using birefringent (i.e., polarization) voxels, we developed a technique to reduce the number of pulses used to form the voxel from many to only two, critically showing that the polarization of the first pulse is not important to the polarization of the voxel formed. We further developed this to enable pseudo-single-pulse writing, in which a single pulse can be split after its polarization is set to simultaneously form the first pulse for one voxel (where the polarization doesn’t matter) and the second pulse of another (where the set polarization is essential). We demonstrated how to use this pseudo-single-pulse writing to enable fast writing with beam scanning across the media.

Phase voxels, a new storage method: We invented a new type of data storage in glass called phase voxels, in which the phase change of the glass is modified instead of its polarization, showing that only a single pulse is necessary to make a phase voxel. We demonstrated that these phase voxels can also be formed in borosilicate glass and devised a technique to read the phase information from phase voxels encoded in this material. We showed that the much higher levels of three-dimensional inter-symbol interference in phase voxels can be mitigated with a machine learning classification model.

Parallel writing capabilities: By combining a mathematical model of pre-heating and post-heating within the glass with the invention of a multi-beam delivery system, we showed that many data voxels can be written in proximity in the glass at the same time, significantly increasing writing speed. We explained a method for using light emissions (a side effect of voxel formation) for both static calibration and dynamic control to fully support automatic writing operations.

Optimization and longevity testing: We developed a new way to optimize symbol encodings using machine learning and a better way to understand the tradeoff between error rates, error protection, and error recovery when evaluating new digital storage systems. We also created a new nondestructive optical method (opens in new tab) to identify the aging of data storage voxels within the glass, using this and standard accelerated aging techniques to support data lasting 10,000 years. We extended the industry standard Gray codes to apply to nonpower-of-two numbers of symbols.

Skip slideshow for: Previous slide Previous slide

A piece of Project Silica media written with data.

A research-grade Writer used to set the record for high speed data writing into glass.

A research-grade Reader for retrieving data from glass.

Close up of Writer showing high-speed multi-beam data encoding on laser pulses.

End of slideshow for: Demonstrating the technology

As a research initiative, Project Silica has demonstrated these advances through several proofs of concept, including storing Warner Bros.’ “Superman” movie on quartz glass (opens in new tab), partnering with Global Music Vault (opens in new tab) to preserve music under ice for 10,000 years (opens in new tab), and working with students on a “Golden Record 2.0” project (opens in new tab), a digitally curated archive of images, sounds, music, and spoken language, crowdsourced to represent and preserve humanity’s diversity for millennia.

Looking ahead

The research phase is now complete, and we are continuing to consider learnings from Project Silica as we explore the ongoing need for sustainable, long-term preservation of digital information. We have added this paper to our published works so that others can build on them.

Related work

Project Silica has made scientific advances across multiple areas beyond laser direct writing (LDW) in glass, including archival storage systems design, archival workload analysis, datacenter robotics, erasure coding, free-space optical components, and machine learning-based methods for symbol decoding in storage systems. Many of these innovations were described in our ACM Transactions on Storage publication (opens in new tab) in 2025.

Opens in a new tab

The post Project Silica’s advances in glass storage technology appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Categories: Microsoft

Adding my 3D printer to my smart home gave me a ton of new tricks

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 17:00

3D printers and smart homes are relatively nerdy, tech-savvy pursuits. So it makes sense then that one can complement the other, and I’m not even talking about 3D printing mounts for your sensors or other gadgets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Qarabag vs. Newcastle online for free

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:43

TL;DR: Live stream Qarabag vs. Newcastle in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League group stage is particularly challenging since it moved to its current format. You could argue that it's easier to qualify for the knockout rounds, but you end up playing a lot of top teams and placing in the top eight is not straightforward. Just ask Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe's team won four out of eight group-stage games, but that was only enough to secure a spot in the playoff round. They face a trip to Azerbaijan to play Qarabag, a team that finished four points behind Newcastle in the group stage. Newcastle will be expected to progress to the next round, but anything can happen at this late stage. They'll need to be at their best to secure a first-leg result to bring back to St. James' Park. Expect big performances from the likes of Sandro Tonali, Nick Woltemade, and Dan Burn.

If you want to watch Qarabag vs. Newcastle in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Qarabag vs. Newcastle?

Qarabag vs. Newcastle in the Champions League kicks off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Feb. 18. This fixture takes place at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.

How to watch Qarabag vs. Newcastle for free

Qarabag vs. Newcastle is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Qarabag vs. Newcastle for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 Ireland

  4. Visit Virgin Media Player

  5. Watch Qarabag vs. Newcastle for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Qarabag vs. Newcastle (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

  • 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

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Qarabag vs. Newcastle in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the only Linux distros I recommend for sysadmins

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:31

Whether you're running a home server or building out rack-mount data centers, Linux is the OS of choice for servers, and for good reason. But what distro should you go with? Here are the best choices for reliable server distros.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro M5 for a record-low price at Amazon — save almost $200

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:28

SAVE 20%: As of Feb. 18, you can get the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro (M5) for $799.99 at Amazon, down from $999. That's $199.01 in savings. It's also the best price we've seen on this model.

11-inch Apple iPad Pro M5 $999 at Apple.com
  Get Deal at Apple.com Get Deal at Amazon

Presidents' Day is technically over, but Amazon still has a few good deals lingering on the site.

Right now, the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro (M5) is down to $799.99. That’s a $199 price cut from the usual $999 sticker — a solid 20% off. It’s also the lowest we’ve seen this model go for, which is pretty cool considering it just launched back in October.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPad Pro 2024 (13-inch) review: The battery life is bonkers

We called this tablet a "victory lap" for Apple in our review, and honestly, I get it. It’s impossibly thin (somehow thinner than the new iPhone Air, which we dubbed the "sexiest phone ever made") and features a "drool-worthy" Ultra Retina XDR OLED display. Plus, that M5 chip makes it faster than 92% of the laptops we've tested.

At $799.99, it's still a splurge, but if you want the absolute best tablet Apple makes, this is the time to grab it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The LG 75-inch 85A QNED Mini-LED TV is under $900 — its best price ever

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:28

SAVE $703: As of Feb. 18, the LG 75-inch 85A QNED Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale for only $896.99 at Amazon. That's around 44% in savings and matches its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 75-inch QNED Mini-LED 4K TV $896.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $703   Get Deal

While it's not traditionally the best time to buy a TV, it is a pretty great time to buy one specific TV: the LG QNED85A.

As of Feb. 18, the LG 75-inch 85A QNED Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for only $896.99. While Amazon's listing might make it look like a price drop of only $500 or so, it's actually a savings of over $700 (about 44%). The actual list price is between $1,599.99 and $1,799.99 — as seen at Best Buy and LG's own website — so Amazon cuts itself short. This price matches its lowest on record.

The Class 85A series from LG, one of our favorite TV brands, debuted at CES 2025. It's a mid-range Mini-LED option that uses AI to enhance your picture and audio in real time. Its Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen2 can find the perfect HDR and brightness settings for whatever you're watching, while giving the dialogue a boost over background noise and refining the sound to suit your preferences. The AI Magic Remote can also give you content recommendations, picture and audio customizations, and even a generative AI gallery of images to transform your TV into art.

The gaming specs are stacked as well. A 120Hz native refresh rate and VRR 144Hz refresh rate, paired with AMD FreeSync Premium and LG's Game Optimizer, make for a smooth gaming experience. Meanwhile, GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming allow for quick game streaming.

If a big screen with stunning picture quality that won't put a huge dent in your wallet is what you're after, the mid-range LG 75-inch 85A Mini-LED 4K TV is a great pick — especially when it's at its best price ever.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Apple AirTag 4-pack is down to $64 at Amazon — save $35 right now

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:25

SAVE $35: As of Feb. 18, get the Apple AirTag (4-Pack) for $64, down from its usual price of $99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 35%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $64 at Amazon
$99 Save $35   Get Deal

How often do you misplace important items like your keys or wallet? If you're the type of person who just can't find things on a regular basis, you might want to give in and pick up a smart tracker like an Apple AirTag to help in the future. Now's a good time to do so, in fact, as you can get a set of four for an excellent price.

As of Feb. 18, get the Apple AirTag (4-Pack) for $64, down from its usual price of $99 at Amazon. That's $35 off and a discount of 35%.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch Series 11 has hit its best-ever price at Amazon — save $100

Apple AirTags are extremely easy to use and can help you find all your things when you're in a pinch. Just bring one near your iPhone and you can attach it to a single item or keep it freestanding. You can name it and assign an emoji of your choice, then drop it wherever you want it.

You can track down the tag using the Find My app, which leverages nearby iPhones to ping your tag's location. It has a built-in speaker that can play a jingle to help you locate the tag, or you can follow onscreen instructions to get to your lost item. That makes it especially useful for finding your lost wallet, luggage, or even a pet should you lose it.

This deal is for the 1st-gen Apple AirTags, which have a slightly less loud speaker and range than the new models, but if you're someone who loses things often and you need a little help finding things, this 4-pack is a steal. Hand them out in your family, drop one anywhere you need it, and get some peace of mind. Your phone can help you track just about anything down.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hands-on with Google Pixel 10a: A budget phone with a completely flat backside

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:23

Google's Pixel A-series is generally one of the easiest budget handsets to recommend each year. So, those in the market for a new Android phone might want to take a look at the new Pixel 10a, officially announced today.

The Pixel 10a is priced at $499 (no price increase) and delivers modest upgrades over its predecessor. The new phone will be available starting March 4, and you can pre-order the phone starting today.

I got to preview the phone at a recent hands-on demo event, and it looks very similar to last year's Pixel 9a. The prominent horizontal camera bar that adorns the regular Pixel line is still gone, in favor of an inconspicuous little camera array that now sits completely flush with the device's back.

Last year's model also got rid of the horizontal bar, but the camera still jutted out a little bit. Now, you can lay the Pixel 10a completely flat on a table without it rocking around, a big problem with the latest Samsung phones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10a (8GB RAM, 128GB storage) $499 at Google
Ships March 5 Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / Google Google Pixel 10a + $100 Amazon Gift Card $499 at Amazon
Ships March 5 Pre-order Here SEE ALSO: Google responds to claim that it stole NPR host's voice Google Pixel 10a: The specs Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Google Pixel 10a comes in four colors: Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian. It also costs $499, just like the Pixel 9a did. Here are the basic specs:

  • 6.3-inch display with 1080x2424 resolution and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

  • Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness

  • Google Tensor G4 processor

  • 5,100mAh battery

  • 8GB RAM

  • 128/256GB storage

  • Two rear camera lenses: 48MP and 13MP

  • 13MP selfie camera

What's new, what's not The display hasn't changed much. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Eagle-eyed readers will notice quite a few similarities between the Pixel 10a and the Pixel 9a on that list of specs. The battery size, RAM, and storage options are all the same as last year, too. Ditto for the camera specs.

However, the Pixel 10a does carry some upgrades. Google says the Pixel 10a is its most durable A-series phone, with IP68 water and dust resistance. The 6.3-inch Actua display also has new Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and is 11 percent brighter than the 9a.

What kind of performance will it offer? Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Interestingly, the processor hasn't changed, which is unusual for the Pixel A-series. Usually, the budget version of a Pixel phone uses the same processor as the previous model. For example, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a both used the Tensor G4 processor. For some reason, Google has kept the Tensor G4 processor in the Pixel 10a, despite the Pixel 10 running on Tensor G5.

At this moment in time, it's impossible to tell what practical difference this will make on performance, especially given that Google is bringing AI feature parity from the Pixel 10 to the Pixel 10a. It doesn't necessarily do anything new software-wise, but it can do basically everything the Pixel 10 could do, as far as I can tell.

Is the Pixel 10a worth it? Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Processor weirdness aside, the Pixel 10a is looking like another high-value mid-range phone from a company that's gotten very, very good at making those in recent years.

We'll know more about the Pixel 10a once we have a chance to properly test it out, and a full review ill be coming soon.

You can preorder the Google Pixel 10a for $499 at the Google Store. Shoppers who pre-order the phone at Amazon will also get a free $100 Amazon gift card.

See? It's flat. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable
Categories: IT General, Technology

This open-source app revealed my ISP was ripping me off

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:15

The internet is an invaluable part of day-to-day life, but what happens when you don't get the speed you need? How do you even notice, and how can you tell if the problem is on your end or with your ISP?

Categories: IT General, Technology

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

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:09

It's a new lunar phase tonight, but the Moon is still mostly covered in darkness. Things should start to get brighter over the coming days as we move through the lunar cycle, but for now, can you spot the Moon at all?

What is today’s Moon phase?

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

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA tells us that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days. During this cycle, it passes through eight distinct phases. Although we consistently see the same side of the Moon, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its orbit. The changing angle of sunlight reflecting off the Moon’s surface is what makes it appear full, partially lit, or nearly dark at different times. The eight phases include:

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

I love physical notebooks, but I love these 6 digital notetaking features even more

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:01

Whenever I see a pretty notebook sitting on a store shelf, I imagine taking it home and all the great things we can do together. Too bad it rarely works out. Now that I've used a touchscreen with a stylus, I find physical notebooks hard to use. There's so much digital notetaking brings to the table that I miss when I pull out pen and paper.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why streaming apps keep showing you stuff you don’t like (and how to fix it)

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:01

Have you ever felt like you keep seeing the same song, show, or movie recommendation on a streaming service? Recommendation fatigue is real, and it can be frustrating to deal with if you're trying to find new options or stray away from your usual tastes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Pixel 10a arrives with great hardware upgrades, no price increase

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:01

Google's Pixel A-series has been a great choice for anyone wanting an affordable Android phone that doesn't compromise on camera performance or software support. The Pixel 10a has now arrived, and it carries on that tradition with a few helpful enhancements.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Bluetti AC200L portable power station with a 350W solar panel is on a major discount at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 15:52

SAVE $700.02: The Bluetti AC200L portable power station with a 350W solar panel is on sale at Amazon for $1,298.98, down from the list price of $1,999. That's a 35% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC200L portable power station with a 350W solar panel $1,298.98 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $700.02   Get Deal

Back in the day, going camping meant your phone and other gadgets would go dead within a day of arriving. Not to mention the coffee was instant, and once the sun went down, it was flashlight tag to find your friends. Instead of dealing with dead batteries during the upcoming camping season, upgrade the experience with a portable power station. There's a great model on sale today at Amazon, and it comes with a major perk.

As of Feb. 18, the Bluetti AC200L portable power station with a 350W solar panel is on sale at Amazon for $1,298.98, marked down from the normal price of $1,999. That's a 35% discount that saves a hefty $700.02. Note that shipping might take a week or longer, and the solar panel will ship separately from the power station.

Bluetti makes some of the most versatile portable power stations, and the AC200L brings a nice 2,048Wh to the party. This will be a major asset for camping, taking to the worksite, or powering up the backyard projector for movie nights.

The Bluetti AC200L comes with plenty of ports for your charging needs, including four AC ports, two USB-A, two USB-C, and a 30-amp plug. But one of the coolest parts about this deal is that it comes with a foldable 350W solar panel to recharge the power station. With good sun, you'll be able to recharge the AC200L back to 80 percent battery capacity in about 4.5 hours with the solar panel. If you have access to standard wall recharging, you'll get back to 80 percent in about 45 minutes.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C2000 power station is over $700 off right now at Amazon

The Bluetti AC200L also offers a blazing-fast fast uninterrupted power supply (UPS) that measures 0.02 seconds. That's important if you'll be using the power station to keep the WiFi router online or power up a CPAP machine during a power outage. The 0.02-second switch over time means you won't notice the switch at all, giving you an uninterrupted power experience.

Before camping season kicks off, upgrade this year's adventures with the Bluetti AC200L portable power station and a 350W solar panel. As long as you have sunshine at camp, the power station could mean unlimited recharging of all your gadgets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Apple Watch Series 11 has hit its best-ever price at Amazon — save $100

Mashable - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 15:40

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 18, the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for only $299 at Amazon. That's 25% off or $100 less than its list price of $399.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal

The newest Apple Watch isn't a whole lot different than its predecessor, as is the case lately with most new generations of tech products. As Mashable's tech editor put it, "We're living in the era of iterative improvements." But the Apple Watch Series 11 does significantly improve one aspect that really matters: battery life. And that's reason enough to upgrade for some folks. Another reason? It's on sale for $100 off.

As of Feb. 18, the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's 25% off its list price and matches its lowest price on record.

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Anyone who has used an Apple Watch knows how sad the battery life is, but the Series 11 finally offers a much-needed boost. While the Series 10 lasted a mere 18 hours per charge, the Series 11 brings that up to a full 24 hours. That's still not the greatest compared to other smartwatches, but any improvement is welcome in that department.

It looks, performs, and functions almost the same as the previous generation smartwatch, but now has a tougher design with durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, is 5G-capable for quicker connectivity, and has a Sleep Score and hypertension tool that can flag chronic high blood pressure. It's not a massive upgrade, but as Mashable's reviewer Stan Schroeder writes, "Buy it for the battery life."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The amazing Windows 10 feature that Microsoft wants you to forget

How-To Geek - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 15:30

Windows 10 had a powerful productivity tool that functioned as a literal time machine for your computer. It was known as Windows Timeline, and it is suspiciously similar to another feature that would come much later, which is not as good.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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