Blogroll
Ryobi 18V, 40V, and 80V tools: Explained
When you're wandering through Home Depot you'll see all sorts of power tool brands, from Milwaukee to DeWALT, but Ryobi's bright tools are the most prominent. And while Ryobi's 18V ONE+ line is everywhere, fans have likely noticed similar tools that take a larger 40V battery, massive 80V packs, and more.
Your laptop has a 'hidden mileage' limit: Here is when it will die
How much life should you expect from a laptop? This is a harder question to answer than you might think. At one point, the generational improvements in computer hardware were so drastic, that keeping a laptop for more than a year or two didn't make sense. Today, even entry-level laptops are powerful enough to effectively serve your needs indefinitely for normal day-to-day computing.
How to watch AMD Keynote at CES 2026
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Dr. Lisa Su will help get CES 2026 underway on Monday, Jan. 5 by delivering a keynote address.
AMD is a major player in the tech world, if perhaps not a household name like Apple or Samsung. It's one of the preeminent chipmakers on the globe, making it increasingly powerful and important in the AI era. OpenAI, in fact, just announced a massive partnership with AMD in an effort to build out AI infrastructure.
AMD wrote on its site that Su will take the "CES stage in Las Vegas to highlight, alongside partners and customers, the AMD vision for delivering future AI solutions – from cloud to enterprise, edge and devices."
You can watch the keynote address on YouTube. It's scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5. We've also embedded the livestream below.
Mashable will be on the ground reporting at CES 2026 — make sure to follow our coverage. You can expect lots of news from the big stories to the weird gadgets.
The GOG games store has a new owner
The GOG PC game storefront is officially splitting from its parent company, CD Projekt, after its co-founder, Michal Kicinski, bought the platform for $25.2 million. This move includes the GOG Galaxy online gaming platform, so the company is losing GOG entirely.
LibreOffice has officially entered virtual reality
LibreOffice might be a great way to view and edit documents on any platform, but it has never crossed into the realm of virtual reality. That's now changing, as LibreOffice is officially available on Meta Quest VR headsets.
Slash your fuel bill by $750 a year with this Japanese hybrid
Rising fuel costs have made efficiency more important than ever, and for many drivers, cutting hundreds of dollars from their annual fuel bill can make a real difference. Based on EPA estimates, this Japanese hybrid stands out for its ability to save drivers as much as $750 a year at the pump compared to similarly sized gas-powered vehicles. That kind of savings adds up quickly, especially for commuters and households watching long-term ownership costs.
Give your pup a fresh start in 2026 with The Farmer’s Dog
If your pup could talk, what would they tell you? That they want to play fetch 24/7 and love it when you feed her people food? Yes, and yes.
As you’re setting healthy New Year’s resolutions for yourself, maybe it’s time to make some positive changes in your best buddy’s life, too. Right now, you can save 50% off your first box of human-grade The Farmer’s Dog pet food, so that’s a great start. Here’s how a fresh-food diet and healthy lifestyle can help keep their tail wagging for years to come.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Farmer's Dog The Farmer's Dog Take 50% off your first box of human-grade pet food Get Deal Fresh food vs. processed kibbleWhile the picture on your go-to bag of dog food might suggest the kibble inside was made with a juicy chicken breast, the reality is likely different. Pet food production in the U.S. is held to alarmingly low quality standards, and even “premium” kibble brands can contain diseased chicken parts and starchy fillers. Yuck.
If that isn’t enough for you to switch from kibble to fresh, a new study from The Farmer’s Dog shows that fresh food can support healthier aging in dogs — and who doesn’t want more good years with their pup?
What’s in The Farmer’s Dog?The Farmer’s Dog makes fresh dog food that’s formulated by on-staff, board-certified veterinary nutritionists. Each batch is made from gently cooked, human-grade meats and vegetables, has no added fillers or preservatives, and is quickly frozen to lock in nutrients.
Unlike bagged kibble that can sit on the shelf for months, The Farmer’s Dog is shipped right to your door while it’s still fresh and nutrient-dense.
Personalized plans and portionsKeeping your pup at a weight that your vet deems healthy is another way to support your dog’s well-being — and The Farmer’s Dog plans can help you with that. Each plan is tailored to meet your pup’s particular needs, based on their weight, body condition, activity level, and other factors. The food is also delivered in pre-portioned packs, so there’s no guesstimating on your part.
Want to help your pup feel their best in 2026 and beyond? Start by saving 50% on your first box of The Farmer’s Dog, then give them fresh veggies like mini-carrots as healthy treats, take them on plenty of walks, and always remind them they’re a very good dog.
The 3 fastest ways to capture (and retrieve) ideas on your Android phone
Are you tired of brilliant ideas vanishing before you can save them? Do you often spend hours searching through your scattered digital notes? Well, let me show you three lightning-fast ways to capture and actually find your thoughts later on Android.
Google Photos and Nano Banana are coming to Samsung TVs
Samsung has a more sentimental vision for AI in your living room. In a Monday press release, the company announced plans to bring Google Photos to its Samsung AI TV lineup, transforming televisions into oversized digital frames that showcase your most meaningful memories.
The integration, currently slated to begin rolling out in 2026, is positioned as a first-of-its-kind experience. Samsung says its TVs will be the first to support Google Photos’ Memories feature on the big screen, offering curated photo stories organized by people, places, and moments. Instead of digging through your phone to relive a vacation or birthday, those highlights could soon greet you directly from your couch.
SEE ALSO: Samsung debuts smart home speaker that looks like a giant eyeSamsung is framing this partnership less as a utility and more as an emotional upgrade to the TV experience. In the release, Kevin Lee, executive vice president of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, described the goal as helping families "rediscover and relive cherished moments" together — language that leans heavily into nostalgia and togetherness rather than raw specs or performance.
Beyond Memories, Samsung and Google plan to roll out additional features later in 2026. These include AI-powered creation tools that can remix photos, apply stylized templates, or even transform still images into short videos, as well as personalized photo slideshows generated around themes like travel or hobbies.
All of this is designed to be integrated into Samsung’s broader Vision AI Companion system, allowing photos to appear contextually throughout the day rather than being confined to a single app.
Tesla will charge you $150 for puking or smoking in its robotaxis, report says
Visiting Austin, Texas and planning to hop into a Tesla robotaxi after a night at the bar? Just don't barf inside the autonomous vehicle or that ride may cost you an extra $150.
According to a report from longtime Tesla influencer Sawyer Merritt, Tesla has rolled out a new cleaning fee system for its robotaxi service, which is currently only available in Austin. Basically, if you make a mess in a robotaxi, it's going to cost you a pretty penny.
Merritt reports that Tesla now has two tiers of potential fees for cleaning up a Tesla after a ride. If a rider makes a "moderate mess," which is described as "food spills, significant dirt and minor stains" then they will be charged an extra $50 for their ride.
However, if a rider makes a "severe mess," which is described as "biowaste or smoking in the vehicle," then that charge is bumped up to an extra $150 for the ride.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."We prioritize maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for all riders and promoting responsible rider behavior," Tesla said in a statement to Merritt. "To address incidents where vehicles require additional cleaning after a trip, we will assess the type and severity of the mess and apply the appropriate fee. Once a fee is assessed, you’ll receive an email notifying you that additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. An updated ride receipt will also be available under the Ride History section of the Robotaxi app. If you believe a charge was made in error, call the Customer Support team and follow the prompts for option 7."
While fee specifics have not yet been posted by Tesla on their Robotaxi Rider Rules page, it does say that dirtying a vehicle will result in an "additional fee" at "Tesla's discretion."
Gizmodo compared Tesla's robotaxi cleaning fees with other car sharing and car rental services. Waymo, the most comparable autonomous car service to Tesla's, charges $50 for a cleaning if the rider self-reports the mess to the company. If they don't report it, Waymo charges $100 for the first incident and then "up to the cost of cleaning" if there are future cases. Recurring incidents can also affect a user's account with Waymo. The largest fine Gizmodo found was a $400 fee for smoking inside a Hertz vehicle.
Tesla's robotaxi service, although promoted as an autonomous experience, actually very much requires human intervention. Texas requires that Tesla provide a human safety monitor be present inside the robotaxi for certain types of trips. And, while we're on the topic of cleaning fees, you can guarantee that a human is going to have to scrub that vomit out of the robotaxi seat.
Tackle tax season for less with this 30% off TurboTax deal
SAVE 30%: As of Dec. 29, you can grab TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Federal & State) for $55.99, down from $79.99, at Amazon.
TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Fed + State Tax Return, Digital Download) $55.99 at Amazon$79.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal at Amazon
As a freelancer, tax season is a multi-week dread that starts as soon as the first 1099 hits your inbox. If you’re like me and literally hate everything about tax time, the goal is always the same: get it over with as quickly and painlessly as possible without leaving money on the table.
Right now, you can grab TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Federal & State) for $55.99 at Amazon. That’s 30% off the $79.99 list price, which is a solid way to use some holiday gift card balance on something you're actually going to need in a few weeks.
SEE ALSO: How to manage quarterly taxes as a solopreneurThis version is specifically designed for people who need to maximize deductions. It searches for over 375 deductions and credits (including home office expenses and charitable donations) to make sure you're getting your biggest possible refund. It also includes five federal e-files and one state download, and it can import your info from last year's return, so you don't have to manually retype every detail.
Just a heads up for my fellow early birds: while the software is available to download now, some specific tax forms might not be finalized by the IRS until mid-February, so you might see a "pending" message on certain sections if you try to file today.
It's time to benchmark your GPU again
Cinebench is one of the most popular benchmarking tools for graphics cards, allowing you to compare your system's GPU performance against countless other devices. Now, Cinebench 2026 has arrived with new features and better support for the latest hardware.
All 6 of the books that inspired "Heated Rivalry" are over half off at Amazon
SAVE $10 PER BOOK: Each of the six titles in the Rachel Reid "Game Changers" series which inspired the show "Heated Rivalry" are on sale in Kindle version for $8.99 each, down from the standard print price of $18.99 each. You can also snag all six titles in a set for $53.94.
Opens in a new window Credit: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp. "Heated Rivalry" by Rachel Reid (Kindle version) $8.99 at Amazon$18.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal
If you don't know how to proceed with life after watching all six episode of "Heated Rivalry" on HBO Max, you're in good company. We're all left with a void in our lives now that season 1 of "Heated Rivalry" is complete and we have no idea how long we'll have to wait until season 2 drops. But in the meantime, you can get back into the wonderful world of Ilya and Shane, and Kip and Scott, among others with this epic deal at Amazon.
As of Dec. 29, all six titles in the Rachel Reid "Game Changers" series are on sale in e-reader format for $8.99 each, marked down from the standard print price of $18.99 each. You can also snag all six titles in a set for $53.94.
If you got a Kindle or a Kobo e-reader for Christmas, it's time to stock up on titles to keep you busy for the winter. The Libby app gives you access to free titles from your local library but the wait times can be lengthy for hot titles. If you're feeling truly lost after the cottage and simply cannot wait the 17-or-whatever weeks until "Heated Rivalry" becomes available for free from your library, you can snag the e-book version for only $8.99 at Amazon.
SEE ALSO: The glorious, easy-to-miss moments in Heated Rivalry's finaleThe Rachel Reid series "Game Changers" series features Scott and Kip's storyline in book one, "Game Changer" while the second book, "Heated Rivalry," explores Ilya and Shane's complicated romance. Of course, you need to read both after binging the show. If you still crave more, get all six e-books for under $54. Keep in mind the sixth book, "The Long Game," picks up on Shane and Ilya's story ten years after "Heated Rivalry," so this title is a must-have.
If you have some time set aside week or plan to read more in 2026, today's sale prices at Amazon offer a great opportunity to dive deeper into the Rachel Reid series that we cannot stop thinking about.
This is the most useful Windows troubleshooting tool you keep overlooking
Troubleshooting a Windows PC can oftentimes be quite a bore—and depending on your specific issue, it can either be pretty easy or absolute hell. And if you're doing so right now, you might want to learn how to use this specific tool to see everything your PC is doing—and where, exactly, it's messing up.
Samsung debuts smart home speaker that looks like a giant eye
We may be in that weird timeframe known to most as “Betwixmas,” but that hasn’t stopped brands from launching new ideas and releasing products just before the new year hits. Just last week, Samsung introduced its 2026 sound device lineup. It’s not available to purchase just yet, so if you’d like to see it in person, you’ll have to go to CES 2026 in Las Vegas (Jan. 6-9).
SEE ALSO: If your Samsung TV sounds underwhelming, it’s because you haven’t applied these cool hacksThe higher-ups are pretty stoked about the newest designs. “For more than a decade, Samsung has shaped the evolution of home audio through advanced acoustics, intelligent features, and thoughtful design,” Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said in a press release. “We’re continuing that legacy with next-generation sound devices designed to deliver a rich, expressive performance for any space and moment."
Whether these new devices are actually revolutionary remains to be seen, but here’s everything we know so far.
There are two new soundbarsSamsung’s 2026 audio lineup includes two new soundbars: the HW-Q990H and the HW-QS90H.
The first is supposed to deliver Samsung’s most “immersive soundbar experience yet,” with an 11.1.4-channel system, a 7.0.2 main bar, 4.0.2 rear speakers, and a dual eight-inch driver with a built-in compact active subwoofer. This soundbar also features “next-generation AI tuning,” though we’re not entirely sure what that entails just yet. This is the first Samsung soundbar to have “Sound Elevation” technology, which Samsung says “lifts dialogue toward the center of the screen.” This soundbar also debuts Samsung’s “Auto Volume” feature, so there’s consistent volume across channels and content.
The second soundbar (the HW-QS90H) is an all-in-one setup that focuses on “aesthetic versatility.” It’s a 7.1.2-channel system with 13 drivers (including nine wide-range speakers) and a built-in Quad Bass Woofer system, so you shouldn't need a separate subwoofer with this one. It also features a “Convertible Fit” design that gives you the option to mount it on the wall or set it on a table — the built-in gyro sensor auto-adapts based on its orientation.
There are two new WiFi speakersIn addition to the soundbars, Samsung is expanding its portfolio with two WiFi speakers, the “Music Studio 5” and “Music Studio 7." These speakers are designed to fit your decor with what Samsung calls a “timeless dot concept” (designed by Erwan Bouroullec), but they definitely look Pixar-coded — like a giant, sleek eye.
The Music Studio 7 will be available in black. Credit: SamsungThe Music Studio 7 offers 3.1.1-channel spatial audio through left, front, right, and top speakers. There’s also an AI Dynamic Bass Control system that gives you the ability to play high-res audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz) with minimal distortion. It's black (there aren’t any other colorways at the moment) and works as a standalone or can be paired with compatible speakers, soundbars, or TVs.
The Music Studio 5 (model LS50H) is a smaller, “gallery-inspired” design for more compact spaces. It features a four-inch woofer and dual tweeters with a built-in waveguide for balanced sound. This speaker also includes the AI Dynamic Bass Control and supports WiFi casting, streaming services, and Bluetooth connectivity.
A more connected ecosystemWhile each of these devices is designed to stand on its own, the real goal here seems to be total integration. Samsung is leaning heavily into Q-Symphony, the tech that allows your TV speakers and external audio gear play at the same time rather than fighting for control. For this new lineup, they’ve bumped the limit to allow up to five sound devices to pair with a single TV at once. The system also uses AI to map out your room and calibrate the sound based on where you’ve actually placed the speakers, which should theoretically make that "eye" on your bookshelf and the bar under your TV feel like parts of the same immersive setup.
The long-lasting American legend that is a decade older than the Porsche 911
Lots of people are hard on American sports cars—I'm one of them sometimes—and it's easy to romanticize a European classic like the Porsche 911 series, but the truth is that the good old US of A has at least one car that's not one whit less iconic than Germany's pride and joy—the Corvette.
Cant sleep? Upgrade to the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds while theyre $30 off
SAVE $30: The Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are on sale at Amazon for $199.99, down from the list price of $229.99. That's a 13% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds $199.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $30 Get Deal
Now that we're almost to New Year's, some of us are considering resolutions for the upcoming year. Sure, getting 10,000 steps everyday or going to the gym a few times per week is great for overall health, but how are you sleeping? If your sleep is not great, it can have negative repercussions on almost every other aspect of life. Instead of suffering through noisy sleep interruptions, check out these sleep earbuds that are on sale at Amazon.
As of Dec. 29, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are on sale at Amazon for $199.99, marked down from the usual price of $229.99. That's a rare 13% discount for these earbuds.
Anker designed the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds to be comfortable enough to wear all night while sleeping, even for side sleepers. But equally important, they can help mask any noises that might wake up in the middle of the night. They'll help you sleep soundly despite a snoring partner, the cat running around the house, or noisy neighbors.
SEE ALSO: The cult-favorite Loftie alarm helped me kick my nighttime phone habitThe Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds came out earlier this year, replacing the previous A20 model. The Sleep A30 earbuds are the first to offer noise cancellation and in Mashable's testing, Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard found the Sleep A30 earbuds to be even more comfortable compared to the A20 earbuds. Plus, Anker says you can get up to 45 hours of playtime before you'll need to recharge. Assuming you sleep about eight hours each night, you'll only need to plug them in about ever sixth day.
In Mashable's review of the best sleep earbuds, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earn the spot as the best noise-cancelling option. Allard wrote, "Sometimes, the sleep situation demands more than passive noise cancellation and good white noise, and that's where the Sleep A30 earbuds come in. As the only pair of sleep earbuds on the market with ANC, the A30s have a clear advantage."
Allard's review goes on to mention sleepers get three types of soundscapes to help with falling and staying asleep: AI audio brainwave, snore masking, and white noise. She also found the app to have a nice layout.
If your sleep quality is suffering due to noise disruptions, consider the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds a necessary form of self-care. Snag them while they're on sale at Amazon for under $200 and make 2026 the year you finally get restorative sleep.
How to turn a Chromebook into a Linux server
If you're like many people, you or a family member has had a low-specced Chromebook collecting dust in the closet for years. I'm one of those people too, and I decided to finally put mine to use by installing Linux on it and setting up a simple server. Here's what I did and what I ended up with.
The Toyota buyers want most right now isn’t the obvious choice
Walk onto a Toyota lot right now and you’d probably assume the RAV4 is still the one everyone’s fighting over. It’s been a sales heavyweight for years, after all.
Google may let Gmail users change their email addresses
If you have an embarrassing or outdated Gmail address, you may soon be able to change that — without losing all your files and records.
The tech site 9to5Google reported that it appears Google may be rolling out the ability to change the address of your gmail.com email without losing all your files.
9to5Google reported that the change was discovered on a Hindi-language support forum page but that the ability was "gradually rolling out to all users." Read the translated forum page:
"The email address associated with your Google Account is the address you use to sign in to Google services. This email address helps you and others identify your account. If you’d like, you can change your Google Account email address that ends in gmail.com to a new email address that ends in gmail.com."
Obviously, the change has not been confirmed just yet. In fact, the English-language version of the support page still reads, "if your account's email address ends in @gmail.com, you usually can't change it."
So if your Gmail address is from middle school and a little embarrassing, you might be able to change it soon. But it's not quite guaranteed.


