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5 real UFO coverups you missed in Disclosure Day

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:00

Steven Spielberg has captivated audiences for decades with cinematic masterpieces like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., but his film Disclosure Day marks a sharp turn toward historical reality. Inspired by the groundbreaking 2017 New York Times exposé on the Pentagon's secret UAP task force, the film blurs the lines between Hollywood entertainment and genuine ufology. This comprehensive breakdown explores the five real-world historical pillars anchoring the plot, evaluating the actual declassified documents, congressional testimonies, and folklore that Spielberg used to piece together his narrative.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Protect yourself: How to make sure your VPN is shielding you

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:00

Your VPN keeps your data private from snooping eyes, but sometimes the connection drops. When that happens, and you are still connected, you're naked to the world. Here's how to make sure you never get exposed. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

This House of the Dragon character joins Westeros most illustrious tradition

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:51

Does this season of House of the Dragon contain multitudes? Does a dragonseed shit in the woods?

In Season 3, episode 1, one character joins the distinguished ranks of Westeros folk who've pooped onscreen. And it's none other than Ulf the White (Tom Bennett).

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Who is the antlered man near Harrenhal?

Early in the episode, far from the Battle of the Gullet, we reconnect with the wild cards of Westeros. These are the three dragonriders who claimed Silverwing, Seasmoke, and Vermithor: Ulf, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), respectively, despite being born adjacent to the royal bloodline. They've been assigned to a creepy camp near Harrenhal, tasked by Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) to await the arrival of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) on his enormous dragon Vhagar.

The thing is, Aemond's late. And when you've gotta go, you've gotta go, despite the freaky visions you might encounter. And here, we're gifted a charming shot of Ulf having a crap in the woods, with all the juicy foley effects you can imagine.

Those sound effects? Jail. Credit: Ollie

The scene instantly brings to mind one of the opening shots of Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, in which we see Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) letting loose in a very scenic location. And never forget, in Game of Thrones Season 4, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) died on the toilet, possibly mid-poop.

When asked what it was like to join the Westeros Hall of Fame for Characters Who Hath Shat on Camera, Bennett told Mashable he relished the opportunity.

"You know what? That did go through my head. Part of me went, OK, who's had a poo in House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones?" Bennett said.

"He's actually also in a league of his own, because he's at least — to my knowledge — he's the only person that has a dragon and has pooed," noted Liberty. "So, you're very rarefied air."

"Yeah, I get to poo on camera, and uh..maybe you'll see me poo on camera again. Spoiler alert!" said Bennett.

"On Tom's CV, it says 'pooed on camera in House of the Dragon,'" said Liberty.

"'Can poo on camera,'" said Bennett.

"This is HBO," said Bew.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet

All shits aside, it's a complex start to the season for the dragonseeds, as Hugh, Addam, and Ulf's varied personalities clash.

"We have been forced together by circumstances. We've all come from different places, and ultimately, we all want to get something different out of this newfound power. But we're different human beings, so there is a chemistry test happening in real time, where we are forced to sit on the edge of a cliff for three days in the rain," said Bennett.

"But we're being bonded by our frustration of the information flow from our very scary bosses who don't really instil a lot of confidence and security," said Bew.

"No one's ever had that initiation to be a dragonrider...being commoners," said Liberty. "So the fear that you have to go through, I think that also pulls us together."

"We're being bonded by our frustration of the information flow from our very scary bosses..."

The camp where Addam, Ulf, and Hugh spend their assignment was originally filmed at a lakeside location in Wales near sprawling mountains — and it was actually too beautiful to be as creepy as the House of the Dragon team needed it to be.

"It looked like a Nordic vodka commercial," says Bennett. "When it came to the rushes, they went, it looks like they're having too good a time. It looks delightful. It looks like a jolly boys outing. So we had to reshoot everything in this little dank cave with water dripping, because the first time we did it, it just looked too nice."

"I was eating lamb the whole day," said Liberty. "Oh my god, I ate so much lamb. It was amazing, because I didn't eat breakfast, and then we got to set, and I was just being fed lamb. I think there was a take, I forgot my lines, because I was getting lamb out of my teeth, it was class."

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 4 best iPads of 2026: Should you buy the 2026 iPad Air with M4 chip?

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:50

At this point, iPads can do (almost) anything your laptop can do thanks to iPadOS 26. Not to mention, the iPad Air with M4 just got a memory boost up to 12GB, putting it a tier above some laptops. Whether you want to stream, browse the internet, illustrate, or edit videos, you can do it on the iPad. Recent developments in the Pro and Air models also set them up as gaming devices.

The rapid pace of Apple's update schedule makes shopping for a tablet all the more difficult. So, we tested every model to help you find the best iPad for you.

And if you are ready to buy, the best time to do so is during Prime Day, which runs June 23 to June 26. We hope to see new, all-time low prices during Prime Day, but what's the price to beat?

How much will iPads be on Prime Day?

Since we can't predict the future, we can only rely on past data to know how cheap iPads will be during Prime Day. We rounded up the all-time low prices on every iPad model to get an idea of what to expect during Prime Day.

The 11th generation iPad is the cheapest but the iPad Air has had the most recent price drop. Credit: Mashable

The iPad 11th generation and iPad Mini haven't had all-time lows since December 2025 so those models are due for big drops during Prime Day. Meanwhile, the iPad Air and iPad Pro are recent releases, which probably means smaller discounts on those models. However, we have our fingers crossed for the iPad Air to drop to $499 and the iPad Pro to $749. Although, that's perhaps unlikely in the face of Apple price hikes.

Which iPad model should I buy?

The right iPad for you depends purely on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want to use a tablet as your primary workstation? Your answers should factor into your decision.

To get you started, we believe the best iPad for most people is the new M4 iPad Air (2026). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 9 best e-readers weve ever tested — and which to buy during Prime day

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:49

So, what is the best e-reader for 2026? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. If you're gearing up to read more books this year, I can recommend a model you'll love.

I can also say that with Prime Day running June 23 to 26, it's the best time to buy an e-reader, particularly a Kindle. I expect Kindles to hit all-time low prices and hope to see other e-readers like Kobos and the DuRoBo follow suit.

Featured Video For You Latest e-reader news

In April 2026, we added two new e-readers to this list. After months of testing, we've included the Durobo Krono, an open Android e-reader that allows you to access your Kindle, Libby, and Kobo libraries on one device. The Xetink X4 e-reader is a unique, compact device that doesn't look like much, but is pretty impressive.

It's been a busy few months of e-reader news. As of May 20, Amazon ceased support for e-readers released in 2012 or earlier, which includes the first generation of Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite. For Kindle users now in the market for a new e-reader, some are considering a switch to Kobo.

For those on the fence, Kobo just made it a little more enticing. In June 2026, Kobo will launch a Storygraph integration, so your reading progress is automatically synced in the app. This will be available on the Kobo app and e-readers.

Other e-readers we've tested From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

We've also tested the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.

Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.

The Onyx Boox Go 7 is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.

Two e-readers I recently tested included the Boox Palma 2 and the Boox Go 10.3 (Gen 2) Lumi. The Boox Palma 2 was a really solid palm-sized e-reader. On an open-Android system, you can download any reading app from the Google Play store including Libby, Kindle, and Kobo. Unfortunately, the Palma 2 is being discontinued and its availability is dwindling.

The Boox Go 10.3 (Gen 2) Lumi, offered the same operating system as the Palma 2 just in a larger screen with writing capabilities. It's exceptionally similar to the Kindle Scribe but not quite as fast, which is why it doesn't make our list.

What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?

If you're familiar with the Kindle lineup, it may come as a surprise that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we've compared the devices head-to-head. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE's added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.

If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the Kobo Libra Colour.

Where's the Nook on this list?

In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.

Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.

Where to get e-reader books for free

Once you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.

The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.

Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.

If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best deals this week, according to Mashables team of shopping experts

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:40

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Linux distro finally makes switching from Windows feel natural

How-To Geek - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:30

We’ve all heard plenty about the end of Windows 10 support, but that deadline feels a lot more real when you look around your own house and realize you still have a perfectly usable PC or two that can’t make the jump to Windows 11. That was the spot I found myself in. These weren’t dead computers, but they also weren’t machines I wanted to leave stranded on an unsupported version of Windows forever.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Depot is giving away free power tools ahead of Prime Day — heres how to claim yours

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:29
Thest Home Depot deals at a glance: Best power tool deal Free DeWalt Power Tool $229 (save $70 + free DeWalt power tool) Get Deal Best robot lawn mower deal Mammotion Yuka mini 600H $749 (save $350) Get Deal Best robot pool cleaner deal Aiper Scuba X1 $899.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 $254.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best fan deal Dreo TurboCool Outdoor Misting Fan 711AS $161.99 (save $18) Get Deal

Prime Day is almost here. All eyes are on Amazon, but smart shopper know it's wise to check out other retailers.

Home Depot is packed with excellent deals right now, and some of them beat Amazon's early Prime Day offerings. That's especially true if you like getting free power tools.

SEE ALSO: Cordless power tool deals are already live at Amazon before Prime Day starts

If you have home improvement projects to tackle this summer or you'll be spending time in the backyard, check out these great sale prices at Home Depot that are well worth shopping before Prime Day hits.

Best free power tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt Free power tool with purchase of DeWalt 20V/60V MAX Flexvolt Battery and Charger Starter Kit $229 at Home Depot
$299 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

Who could say no to free power tools? Part of Home Depot's Father's Day Gifts events includes this awesome deal on DeWalt cordless power tools. To get the free tool benefit, you'll need to add the DeWalt 20V/60V MAX Flexvolt Lithium-Ion 9.0Ah Battery and Charger Starter Kit to your cart. It's on sale for $229, marked down from the normal price of $299.

Then you'll be eligible to add a free cordless tool to your cart. The free options include 11 DeWalt tools like a 20V cordless concrete and masonry rotary hammer, a sidewinder-style circular saw, or a cordless hammer drill, to name a few options.

More deals to shop at Home Depot
Categories: IT General, Technology

Ive covered Amazon Prime Day for 7 years. Here are the MacBook deals I think well see this time.

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:14

Prime Day 2026 is nearly upon us — and so is one of the best times to get a deal on a MacBook. I've covered Amazon's flagship summer sale for seven years straight now, and I've noticed that Apple's laptops always fall to extra-low prices as part of the festivities. (If they don't hit record-lows, they at least get close.)

Every current MacBook is already on sale ahead of Prime Day, which begins tomorrow June 23 and runs until June 26, but I wouldn't recommend grabbing one just yet. Amazon likes to save its best deals for Prime Day proper, meaning their discounts will likely increase once the sale starts tomorrow. We could even get our first big discount on the new budget MacBook Neo; this is its first Prime Day ever.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is almost here: We found 50+ early deals already live on Apple, Sony, and Lego favorites

Read on for my predictions for the best Prime Day MacBook deals, from the Neo to the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 MacBook Pros. Now is also a good time to check out my separate MacBook buying guide if you're not sure which model is right for you.

Prime Day MacBook Neo deals to look for

Amazon hasn't been totally resistant to putting the Neo on sale — it's been $9 off for several weeks now — but it doesn't get the same big price cuts as Apple's other laptops. (This is probably because it's already a bargain at full price.) With that in mind, I wouldn't count on Amazon matching Apple's $100 student discount on Prime Day; it's still the best way to buy the Neo if you're eligible. But I could see Amazon dropping the base model to $549, or $50 off, luring back-to-school shoppers who don't quality for Apple's education pricing.

Read our review of the MacBook Neo.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Neo deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Air deals to look for

Last year's 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs got $150 discounts for Prime Day 2025, but we've already seen the newer M5 models go on sale for $200 off this spring. While those deals weren't still live at the time of writing, I expect Amazon to revive them once Prime Day begins tomorrow. Look for records low of $899 for the 13-inch configuration and $1,099 for its 15-inch sibling.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Air deals for now: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Pro deals to look for

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Amazon is currently selling it for $1,549, or $150 off, but I wouldn't add it to my cart just yet. It fell to $1,499 earlier this month, and that all-time low will likely return come Prime Day. You might have to be a little patient, though: Last year, an identically configured M4 MacBook Pro didn't get a $200 discount until the fourth (last) day of the sale.

If you need even more power for professional creative or AI work, there's also a 14-inch MacBook Pro that's configurable with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip. If anything, the starting M5 Max model is a relatively safe buy right now: It's currently on sale at its record-low price of $3,316.31, or $282.69 off. (The M5 Pro base model is still $50-ish away from its own record low of $1,983.94, which would save you about $215.) However, its M4 Max counterpart also got much cheaper as Prime Day progressed last year — to the tune of over $400 off. When you're dropping this much cash on a new laptop, I think it's wise to wait and see if prices drop even further.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Pro.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Pro deals for now: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $150) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,034.05 (save $164.95) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,316.31 (save $282.69) Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 5 portable power station deals Id buy before Prime Day — best deals on Jackery, Bluetti, and more

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:02
The best early Prime Day portable power station deals at a glance: Best overall deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $499.99 (save $299.01) Get Deal Best portable deal Bluetti Elite 10 $113 (save $56) Get Deal Best durable deal Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra $999 (save $300) Get Deal Best bundle deal EcoFlow Delta 3 + 220W Solar Panel $669 (save $330) Get Deal Best content creators deal DJI Power 1000 $369.99 (save $329.01) Get Deal

Summer 2026 is in full swing now. Barbecues, camping trips, vacation, and avoiding mosquitos are all on the agenda. But something else big happens every summer — Amazon Prime Day. This year, Amazon is hosting the annual sale earlier than ever with dates set for June 23 to 26. But if you know Amazon, you know you don't necessarily need to wait.

We already have excellent deals happening on portable power stations: from a tiny model that'll keep your phone charged up for a weekend off-grid to major power that can keep your refrigerator cooling for days. Having reviewed dozens of power stations, these are the models I would consider buying when the chaos of Prime Day is just about to begin.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $499.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $299.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

If you're looking to buy your first portable power station, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is an excellent all-around model. It offers a respectable 1,024Wh capacity, which is a bit like a Goldilocks amount. That's a good amount of power for a weekend away, but it doesn't go overboard. It's also easy to transport, coming in at under 25 pounds. It has excellent recharging ability, going from dead to 100% power in under 50 minutes. It's a summer essential for me, and it's also excellent during a power outage.

Best portable deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 10 $113 at Amazon
$169 Save $56   Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't need heaps of power, consider the Bluetti Elite 10, one of my favorite small portable power stations. It comes with 128Wh of power, which is enough to keep your phone, earbuds, or Kindle charged up during a camping trip or when the power goes out. Plus, the green colorway option is undeniably special.

In addition to its small size, the Bluetti Elite 10 is lightweight and great for people to carry from room to room during a power outage. Before Prime Day, it's on sale at Amazon for $113.

Best durable deal Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra $999 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra has a unique feature when it comes to portable power stations — it's resistant to water and dust. As you can imagine, it's not wise to add water into the mix with most portable power stations, but the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra has an IP 65 rating and a level nine seismic shockproofing. All of that means this model is ideal if you'll be in harsh conditions. Bring this model camping in the rain or take it to the job site. It's also ideal if you'll be working in a shed with wood shavings.

The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is currently $999 at Amazon, down $300 from $1,200. The same discount is now running on Jackery as well.

Best bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Delta 3 + 220W Solar Panel $669 at Amazon
$999 Save $330   Get Deal Why we like it

A huge benefit to choosing a portable power station is its ability to recharge via sunlight. Of course, in order to do that, you'll need a solar panel. The EcoFlow Delta 3 with a 220W solar panel is a great deal to hop on. For $669, down from the normal price of $999, you get the EcoFlow Delta 3 and a 220W solar panel for recharging.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 itself comes with 1,024Wh with an impressive 3,600W surge. EcoFlow states the 220W solar panel can recharge the Delta 3 back to 100% in about six hours. Take the power station and solar panel camping this summer and you might be in for unlimited power.

Categories: IT General, Technology

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 1: Lets talk about that major death

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:02

Through fire and blood House of the Dragon has roared back onto HBO for Season 3, and if you've watched episode 1, you might need a cup of tea.

In a colossal, jaw-dropping episode involving the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet and many deaths, events conspired that will change everything for Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and her son, Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett). And Mashable asked the cast about it, so consider this a major spoiler warning.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet What happens in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 1? Jace (Harry Collett) hits the Battle of the Gullet with Vermax. Credit: Courtesy of HBO

In Season 3, episode 1, we're finally here: the Battle of the Gullet, an inevitability the show's been foreshadowing for two seasons with Lord Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) all-important blockade. When the Triarchy shows up, led by Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorne), the battle finally begins.

However, on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra finds herself barred from flying into war by one more man standing in her way, one she didn't expect: her son, Jacaerys. Locked in her chambers by her Queensguard, wearing her riding leathers, Rhaenyra is frustrated enough to tear her court dress to shreds. But it's complicated.

"For two seasons we've seen Rhaenyra restrained from action, often by her male council," D'Arcy tells Mashable. "And at the start of Season 3, there's finally huge momentum in her campaign, and she is poised to move into action. That momentum hits a very sudden brick wall — or locked door.

"Rhaenyra has become very familiar with the ways in which patriarchy looks to consolidate male power, and there's something interesting going on here, where something that's framed as protection or care is actually an arm of control. I think that's a strong tool within the toolkit of patriarchy."

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 1: Why Rhaenyra destroying her court dress is complicated Why did Jace defy Rhaenyra? It's essentially treason with good intentions. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

For Collett, Jace's decision to defy his mother and fight in the Battle of the Gullet in her stead isn't one of malevolence (though it's technically treason). We watch Jace pitch the move as one of valor to his fiancée Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), as a means to prove his worth as the future king of Westeros.

"There's no malice behind it. If she goes, then she could die, and I feel like he'd rather die than lose his mother. It's a protective thing," Collett tells Mashable.

"If things did go his way, then he would have locked her up, won the battle, come back, dealt with the consequences easy, but he still would have won the battle. Well, he technically did win the battle anyway, but he lost his life in it. But there's nothing malicious about it, just all protective."

"He technically did win the battle anyway, but he lost his life in it." Credit: Courtesy of HBO.

Fans are processing the loss of Jacerys and his dragon Vermax, brought down in the midst of battle despite the efforts of Baela and her dragon Moondancer. They're left floating in the turbulent waters between Dragonstone and Driftmark. It's a shocking, deeply upsetting moment, watching Vermax thrashing to survive, slowly going under, with Jace plunged into open water. Then, Triarchy arrows end the young prince's life.

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

Collett took us through how the House of the Dragon team helped him prepare for Jace's tragic demise, ranging from horse riding lessons and wetsuit fittings to developing techniques for conveying emotion on a dragon rig.

"I had loads of meetings with Loni [Peristere], the director of the episode, and Ryan [Condal] talking about how I can portray feelings while being up in the air and having all this stuff going on around me," he said. "We would make up scenarios that would happen with Jace that didn't happen in the show, which really helped me get into character...It was really fun this time around, because I finally get to get out the offices."

When asked about what he learned this season about riding dragons, Collett had one response.

"God, don't fly low next time."

So, what's next for House of the Dragon after Jace's death?

Here's a few things to think about:

  • Jace was the only one who saw Sheepstealer's rider, Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), who has now fled.

  • Rhaenyra doesn't know another of her sons is dead and that she's one major dragon down, so she's likely to react.

  • The young Joffrey Velaryon is Rhaenyra's sole blood heir now, but he's in the Vale, under the protection of Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin).

  • Baela was betrothed to Jace but she's still a high-ranking member of the house, being Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) daughter.

  • We still don't know whether or not Corlys is alive.

  • Harry Collett was not slain in battle as Jace. He's an actor and totally OK.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 everyday problems your 3D printer can solve

How-To Geek - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:00

While you can stick to just making the 3D printing projects that everyone always talks about, like Gridfinity, a Flexy Rex, or other toys, there are a lot of projects to do that nobody ever highlights. Here are five 3D printing projects that I think are fantastic and deserve way more attention than they get.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best AirPods deals ahead of Prime Day — AirPods Pro 3 are at a record-low price

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:57
The best early Prime Day deals on AirPods: Best AirPods Pro 3 Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best AirPods 4 Deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30 at Amazon) Get Deal Best AirPods 4 with ANC deal Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $148.99 (save $30 at Amazon) Get Deal Best Apple headphones deal Apple AirPods Max 2 $499 (save $50 at Amazon) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day season is upon us, and the mega-retailer isn't waiting until the sale proper to drop deals on AirPods.

While Prime Day usually takes place in mid-July, it got bumped up in the schedule this year: the four-day sale will now take place from June 23 to June 26. With less than a day left before the sale, Apple products are starting to get marked down. Already, a classic $99 deal on Apple AirPods 4 wireless earbuds is available at Amazon, and we're expecting even more discounts to drop during the sale itself.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is almost here: We found 50+ early deals

And if you prefer AirPods with active noise-cancellation, you're in luck. We've seen the Apple AirPods Pro 3 as low as $179.99. Also at Amazon, you can grab a deal on the AirPods 4 with ANC earbuds starting at $148.99, saving you $30. And with Prime Day still to officially start, there’s a good chance more deals will continue to pop up.

Until the sale ends on June 26, the Mashable shopping team will be bringing you the top Prime Day deals on Apple products. For now, you'll find all of the best Prime Day AirPods deals right here on this page.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

Technically, we've seen the Apple AirPods 4 drop all the way down to $69, and we're hoping we'll see the same deal when Prime Day begins on June 23. However, given the recent wave of price increases in the tech world, we're not counting on it. So, if you're hoping to avoid the Prime Day sales pressure, pick up these classic Apple earbuds while they're under $100.

More early Prime Day AirPods deals

We will be regularly updating this guide with the best Prime Day AirPods deals, so keep checking back. You can also visit our Prime Day 2026 hub for all the latest updates and price drops.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All of Apples iPads are on sale ahead of Prime Day, but you should probably wait to buy

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:53
The best early Prime Day iPad deals: Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $299 (Save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $559 (Save $40) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) $899.99 (Save $99.01) Get Deal

Is your summer travel booked? If you're getting ready to jet set or hit the road but don't want to lug your laptop around, then it might be time to consider a tablet. Our favorites for performance and overall value are Apple's iPads. So with Prime Day kicking off tomorrow, and running until June 26, we're looking for the best deals on Apple's tablets.

Prime Day doesn't officially start until tomorrow, but iPads are already on sale. Don't get too excited, though. While we found deals on every single iPad model, the markdowns are pretty minor. The good news is, if you need an iPad before Prime Day, you don't need to buy one at full price. Bad news is, you should probably wait until Prime Day for the best savings.

SEE ALSO: A Prime Day Apple deals primer: How low prices will go on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks

But if you need an iPad now, here are the best deals to shop ahead of Prime Day.

Best early Prime Day iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

While we love the iPad Air and think it's the best tablet money can buy, the basic iPad with A16 chip is still a stellar tablet. The 11th-generation model is a speedy tablet perfect for streaming, internet browsing, reading, and gaming. It's a great value at full price and even better when on sale.

Right now, get the 11th-generation iPad with A16 chip for just $299, bringing the tablet under $300. It's not the best price on the iPad, but it is just $25 away from its lowest price, so not bad. Need something more advanced? Well, there are more iPad deals on the Air and Pro to explore, too.

More early Prime Day iPad Mini dealsMore early Prime Day iPad Air dealsMore early Prime Day iPad Pro deals
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I track TV prices all year, so I know these 25+ TV deals ahead of Prime Day are actually worth it

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:47
The best TV deals ahead of Prime Day: Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $529.99 (save $320) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD Mini LED 4K TV $1,797.99 (save $702) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED 4K TV $999.99 (save $1,000) Get Deal

Prime Day season is one of the best times of year to buy a TV on sale. That's been etched into our mental calendars in July for the past decade, but this year, hype for one of the year's biggest shopping events starts in June: Prime Day 2026 will run from June 23 to 26. As always, worthwhile TV deals are already popping up a day before the sale event starts up.

The good pre-Prime Day TV deals aren't just at Amazon. Half the time, the reason that TV deals during Prime Day go so hard is that competing retailers like Best Buy refuse to let Amazon get all the attention — and it has already started this year. If you don't want to wait until tomorrow to grab your new TV, here are 25+ of the best TV deals I've found at Amazon and Best Buy ahead of Prime Day. Most models in this list match or beat their all-time record-low price as well, according to Amazon price tracker camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: 15+ streaming services you can get for 99 cents, plus more early Prime Day streaming deals Best TV deal ahead of Prime Day overall Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense finally launched its highly-awaited RGB TVs on June 2. While both the UR8 and UR9 RGB TVs are on sale at Best Buy, there's another 2026 Hisense TV with a much wilder discount: The 75-inch Hisense U7 Mini LED TV is just $999.99 exclusively for Prime members after a massive 50% price drop from its usual $1,999.99.

Just released in March, the Hisense U7 series has a pretty incredible lighting system for its price range. Its backlight benefits from full-array local dimming, which uses clusters of tiny LED bulbs that can fully turn themselves on or off for more precise contrast during any scene or livestream. Other impressive numbers include a peak brightness of 3,000 nits (great news for FIFA fans trying to watch a game during the daytime) and a native 165Hz refresh rate (great news for gamers on a budget).

Deals on 43-inch TVs and underDeals on 50-inch to 55-inch TVsDeals on 65-inch TVs Deals on 75-inch to 77-inch TVsDeals on 85-inch TVs
Categories: IT General, Technology

Discover the game-changing Docker containers revolutionizing work and creativity

How-To Geek - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:30

Experimenting with Docker containers has become a bit of a hobby lately. Recently, I talked about four of my favorite daily-use containers. Since then, I've “done my homework” and discovered a few more useful containers, and have had a few recommended to me by a very enthusiastic community.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Prime Day DJI deals you can shop now — drones, cameras, and mics at new lows

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:57
The best early DJI Prime Day deals at a glance: Best drone deal DJI Mini 3 $381 (save $38) Get Deal Best camera deal DJI Osmo Action 4 Essential Combo $169 (save $60) Get Deal Best accessory deal DJI Mic 3 $259 (save $70) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, but some of DJI's most popular products are already seeing early discounts at Amazon.

Whether you're looking to capture better travel footage or finally pick up that creator favorite you've had your eye on, these pre-Prime Day deals could save you from waiting until the main event kicks off.

Prime Day officially runs from June 23-26, but the savings have already started landing.

Best early Prime Day DJI drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 $381 at Amazon
$419 Save $38   Get Deal Why we like it

This is a lightweight drone, weighing under 249g, meaning no FAA registration is required for recreational flying. It captures 4K HDR video, supports True Vertical Shooting, and offers stable footage thanks to its 3-axis gimbal and Level 5 wind resistance. It has beginner-friendly features like GPS Return to Home and Auto Takeoff/Landing, so it's a great choice for getting started with a drone.

More early Prime Day DJI drone dealsBest early Prime Day DJI camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Action 4 Essential Combo $169 at Amazon
$229 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

This camera features a 1/1.3-inch sensor for shooting in low-light conditions, as well as 4K video capabilities at up to 120fps with a 155° ultra-wide field of view. It offers up to 150 minutes of battery life and it works in temperatures as low as -20°C. It's even waterproof to depths of 18m, making it an ideal choice for vlogging your outdoor adventures.

More early Prime Day DJI camera dealsBest early Prime Day DJI accessories deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 3 $259 at Amazon
$329 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The DJI Mic 3 is a compact wireless microphone system designed for creators, podcasters, and interviewers who need quality audio while on the go. It supports up to four transmitters, features adaptive gain control and selectable noise cancellation, and uses dual-band transmission for clear audio in busy environments. You'll get up to 28 hours of battery life with the charging case, so it's great for long hours recording. Not to mention, it has compatibility with a huge range of DJI devices.

More early Prime Day DJI accesories deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor has never been cheaper — save $500 at Amazon

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:53

TL;DR: The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 (G91SD) curved gaming monitor is on sale for $799.99 at Amazon, down from its $1,299.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500 Get Deal

If your desk is ready for something massive, Amazon has one of Samsung’s biggest gaming monitors down to a tempting price before Prime Day

As of June 22, the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 (G91SD) curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $799.99, with $500 knocked off its usual $1,299.99 list price. That brings this super-ultrawide display down by 38% as part of a limited-time deal which is set to sell fast — as this is the lowest price this monitor has ever been sold for on the site — as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 49 inches, this is a sizable upgrade in more ways than one. With the Odyssey OLED G9’s curved 32:9 screen and Dual QHD 5120 x 1440 resolution, you’ll essentially have the means for a two-monitor battlestation without the bezel gap in the middle. It also packs 110 pixels per inch, so you’re still getting plenty of clarity across all that screen space. 

What’s more, Samsung’s QD-OLED panel promises vivid colors, true blacks, and deeper contrast compared with regular LED gaming monitors.

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Whether you’re getting set up for grand immersive open-world games like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, or just fancy an upgrade for nightly matches of multiplayers like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals, you’ll always be pulled right into the action. 

Plus, the 144Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GtG response time help keep gameplay smooth and responsive, while G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro are included to help reduce screen tearing, lag, and choppy visuals. 

For more to play on your new setup, Mashable has found an amazing selection of early Prime Day PlayStation deals, covering everything from cheaper PS5 and PS4 games to PS Portals. To game on the go, Amazon has also dropped huge early gaming laptop deals for Prime Day, including the ASUS TUF F16 at $600 off. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Magic: The Gatherings Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is $60 off on Amazon — score the best preorder deal

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:47

TL;DR: Amazon has knocked $60.72 off preorders for Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box, now down to $148.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box $148.98 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $60.72 Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes expansion is almost here, but Amazon has squeezed in another preorder price cut ahead of the release. Ahead of Prime Day, Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is available to pre-order on Amazon for $148.98.

That's $60.72 off this sealed 30-pack display box before the June 26 release date. You’ll only be paying $4.96 per pack before tax. However, you can find this box even cheaper if you’re willing to buy from a non-Amazon storefront. Walmart currently has the same Play Booster Box listed for $129.99 through third-party seller WeTheHobby, while TCGplayer presale listings start at $127.75 with shipping included — matching the market price determined by the trading card retailer. 

The Marvel Super Heroes set brings a full collection of Marvel’s heroes and villains into Magic: The Gathering, with players building comic-inspired teams, suiting them up with iconic gear, and using their powers across the battlefield.

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Just like other Play Booster Boxes, this is built for the usual mix of casual games, deckbuilding, collecting, and Limited play. 

Inside the box, you’ll get 30 Play Boosters, with 14 cards in each pack. Every pack includes one Traditional Foil card and one to four cards of rare or higher rarity, along with commons, uncommons, and a land card. There is also a small chance of pulling a Foil Borderless Mythic Rare, while a Traditional Foil Land replaces the regular land in 20% of boosters. 

Mashable has dug up plenty of other money-saving early Prime Day deals on trading cards — including more from Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, One Piece, and KPop Demon Hunters. What’s more, you can also still grab the Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Bundle for under $40 on Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 22, 2026

Mashable - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:39

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're good at math.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 22, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: In charge

  • Green: Math terms

  • Blue: Linguistics

  • Purple: Ferocious

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Dominant

  • Green: Multiplication indicators

  • Blue: Pronunciation descriptors

  • Purple: Starting with explosive onomatopoeia

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1107 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Dominant: ALPHA, HEAD, LEAD, PRIMARY

  • Multiplication indicators: BY, TIMES, X, •

  • Pronunciation descriptors: SHORT, SILENT, SOFT, STRESSED

  • Starting with explosive onomatopoeia: BANGKOK, BOOMER, POPSICLE, POWDER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 22, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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