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Dropouts Katie Marovitch on the secrets of Dimension 20: On a Bus Season 2

Mashable - Thu, 04/02/2026 - 01:00

April Fool's Day can be a treacherous time online, with plenty of pranksters looking to play tricks on the average doomscroller. However, Dropout is out here gifting viewers with an April "Fool's Gold" in the form of Dimension 20: On a Bus, Season 2, which was announced this morning. 

This is not a joke. After Katie Marovitch's video pitch for Game Changer's Shark Tank parody scored over 6 million views across the game show's social accounts, Dropout created a second season. Now available on the streaming platform, Dimension 20: On a Bus Season 2 clocks in at 54 minutes, which is about 20 times longer than the original segment. So, how did Marovitch prepare for Season 2, which reunites this proudly know-nothing "Dragon Master" with professional Game Masters Jasmine Bhullar, Aabria Iyengar, Matthew Mercer, and Brennan Lee Mulligan

Mashable spoke with Marovitch over a video call to unearth the secrets of her "homebrew hacks," the entertainment value of irritating Brennan Lee Mulligan, and what celebrity cameo she'd be willing to have in Season 3. 

Brennan Lee Mulligan offered advice on how Katie Marovitch should approach Dimension 20: On a Bus, Season 2.  Brennan Lee Mulligan embraces Dragon Master Katie Marovitch in "Dimension 20: On a Bus" Season 2. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

In "Fool's Gold," Katie's pitch was to bring together "the best DMs in the world" and force them to "sit through whatever bullshit I come up with." Because — as she put it — "what does the internet love more than an upset Brennan?" 

The resulting video delivered exactly that. Yet Marovitch revealed to Mashable that Mulligan did weigh in on how she might best prepare for a second season. 

Speaking of the difference between Season 1 (the viral video shoot) and Season 2, Marovitch said, "Season 1, I'd say I truly went in not having any idea what was gonna come out of my mouth, including the dice system. Had no idea. Anything I said was truly just for the moment." 

She continued, "For Season 2, I will say I put in a lot of effort for bits that I knew I wanted to do and not much else. Actually, I talked to Brennan, and I was like, 'Should I actually know how to play this? Like, is that funnier if I know how to play it now? Or do I need to learn how to play it so that I can then, you know, break the rules and play it badly?' And he thought that the less I knew, the better. And so I still knew nothing, and I still know nothing. But we definitely did plan bits." 

How did Rick Perry contribute to Dimension 20: On a Bus, Season 2? Dragon Master Katie Marovitch stars in "Dimension 20: On a Bus" Season 2. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

The "we" she spoke of includes Dimension 20 production designer Rick Perry and producer Carlos Luna, who offered pitches of their own and helped Marovitch get access to a wealth of the minis, props, and projections to choose from in creating her campaign. Asked about procuring Jasmine's chalice and Critical Role's Vecna model, Marovitch said, "So that was a lot of Rick. Because I really am just a big idiot who knows nothing, but the team behind this really did make sure that I knew which props were available, which little minis were from what campaign, and who had them, and other props that were very specific to individual people — like the Vecna and the glass that was Jasmine's. So it was really just a matter of, like, what is the most personal item that we can use have a little fun?"

As for turning Mulligan's Box of Doom dice tower into a "bejazzled" Cheetos bowl, Marovitch said, "I should have asked if I actually messed anything up. But yeah, it's important to me to have a very strong brand, and my brand is being a Cheetos lover. So I've eaten Cheetos. I've referenced Cheetos in the past, and it was so important for me to bring Cheetos into this game. And so I'm glad I was able to do that." 

Who thought of the Mr. Questions ribbon? Dragon Master Katie Marovitch stars in "Dimension 20: On a Bus" Season 2. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

One of the funniest moments in Dimension 20: On A Bus, Season 2 is when, in her role as Dragon Master, Marovitch scolds Brennan with a big, garish white ribbon that reads "Mr. Questions." Not fitting over his head, the badge sits over his mouth, or as Iyengar pointed out in the episode, "where the questions come from." 

Marovitch credits this inspired bit of flair to a pitch from "either Rick or Carlos." She explained, "They thought it could be funny, because they knew that these professional players are going to be asking questions, desperate to get me to actually make a point. And just making fun of them for trying to play the game well is very fun." 

She added that Mulligan — though he offered some advice in her prep — did not have a role in the season's development. "Brennan had no idea what we were doing," she said. "Brennan was not super involved with the bits, which was by design, so that he could actually be surprised and actually be annoyed. But I was happy to use that on him. And I love that it didn't fit on his head."

Asked how DMing for Brennan compared to him DMing for her in Dimension 20: Mice & Murder, she said, "Oh God, he's so good. When I hear Brennan narrate a story, there's no one else doing it like him. He's so talented. And my best attempt at doing that would fail just completely, and that's why I stole his [A Crown of Candy] monologue. I had to do it." 

While a goal for her Dimension 20 series is to amuse Dropout viewers by riling Mulligan and his fellow DMs, Marovich says, "I want it to be fun for everyone still, and I don't want to ever actually offend people. So, I feel like it is kind of a fine line. I don't want to poke fun at Dimension 20 or at D&D. I want to be like the butt of the joke. I want to be just a big idiot who's playing this badly. I hope I don't ever actually offend them." 

Katie Marovitch reveals the origins of her homebrew hacks.  Dragon Master Katie Marovitch stars in "Dimension 20: On a Bus" Season 2. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

In Season 2, Marovitch throws around Dimension 20 terminology like "homebrew hack," "crit," and "rule of cool" as if she's a young child who's just learned how to say a new phrase and is throwing it around until she can figure out where it sticks. But even without planning for gameplay, Marovitch pulled from her own home and habits to create a homebrew hack or two. 

"I cannot stress how little planning went into those elements," she said of the enormous backpack, binders, and variety of tools she flaunted from her seat as Dragon Master. "The day before, I said, 'I think it'd be funny if I had a bunch of laptops for no reason.' And actually, this is a sort of an inside joke with the College Humor group, because I used to bring three laptops to College Humor every day, each with a different purpose. Which makes absolutely zero sense, because you can do multiple things on one computer. So it was sort of a nod to that. And then I have two graphing calculators in my desk, right next to me, just for if I need one. And so I said, You know what? I'll grab one of those. And then I had no idea that it was going to become central to the game, had no idea. But I hope it sticks. I hope they rewrite, you know, the D&D books to include that. I think it'd be really cool."

A bit about the origins of the graphic calculators: Marovitch has had both since they were demanded for a math class in high school. "They were outrageously expensive," she recalled, "And I will say, I was a big old nerd, and I had my parents buy me two. I had terrible anxiety that in the middle of the math test, my first calculator would stop working, the batteries would stop. So I had my parents buy me two, so that I always had a backup." 

Kate Marovitch fact-checks Dimension 20: On a Bus trivia.  Dragon Master Katie Marovitch stars in "Dimension 20: On a Bus" Season 2. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

While researching ahead of our interview, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko came across some dubious "trivia" in Dimension 20: On a Bus's IMDb page. So, she asked Marovitch to confirm or deny. 

The first claim from IMDb: "The bus in D20: On a Bus was originally going to be played by Philip Seymour Hoffman before he passed." (Editor's Note: Hoffman died in 2014. "Fool's Gold" aired in 2025). 

Marovitch refuted this claim, saying, "Yes, that is sadly not true. And I don't know where that rumor started." 

The second claim from IMDb: "After the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman, they strongly considered Sandra Bullock, but she wouldn't work for anything under 50 mph." 

On this one, Marovitch said, "Yes, OK, that one is true. That one's true. And Sandra, just, just a side note, if you want to come back for Season 3, we'd love to have you." 

Asked if she'd be willing to meet Bullock's need for speed, Marovitch replied, "Yeah, I'm willing. Now that I've had two seasons under my belt, I'm willing." 

Dimension 20: On a Bus Season 2 is now streaming on Dropout.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dimension 20: On a Bus Dragon Master Katie Marovitch on how to win at D&D

Mashable - Thu, 04/02/2026 - 01:00

With Dimension 20: On a Bus, Dropout turned the gaming tables on professional Game Masters Jasmine Bhullar, Aabria Iyengar, Matthew Mercer, and Brennan Lee Mulligan by subjecting them to self-proclaimed "Dragon Master" Katie Marovitch, who proudly admits she knows "nothing" about Dungeons & Dragons. The resulting viral video garnered over 6 million views across Dropout's social media channels. But more impressively, the video has also been ranked on IMDb as the most popular episode of Dimension 20

When Mashable spoke with Marovitch in a video interview, the IMDb ranking for Season 1 was 9.9/10. Marovitch said of this success, "I put so much time into that two-minute and 32-second episode — that was also a full season, by the way — so that makes a lot of sense. I'm sure I work just as hard as Brennan did for all his seasons, so I really, definitely deserve that." 

She went on to say of those IMDb users who ranked the show less than a 10/10 (which at the time of publishing is four users, who opted for a 9 or 8 ranking), "Well, I'm mad at whoever voted an eight. Show yourself!" 

How an elf costume helped Katie Marovitch find her inner Dragon Master.

On the Game Changer episode ("Fool's Gold") in which Marovitch pitched DMing a Dimension 20 episode, she already had locked and loaded an elf costume, which would have "nothing to do with" the proposed campaign.  

The look evolved between the pitch and the resulting video, where Marovitch has a more sexy Legolas look. Speaking to Mashable, she said, "The appearance is not a joke to me; genuinely, I want to look like an elf, and it's not funny to me. It's real, and I need to feel confident. Something happens when I get dressed up in costume, regardless of what it is. It could be a turtle costume. The second I'm in costume, I am confident. It's wild. I just change. I'm a different person. And that's the kind of thing I need when I'm about to Dragon Master, for sure." 

She went on to say, "Everyone needs to be more confident, and everyone should dress like an elf more."

What advice does Katie Marovitch have for new Dragon Masters?  Brennan Lee Mulligan embraces Dragon Master Katie Marovitch. Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

Having now DMed a two-and-a-half-minute first season and a 54-minute second season of Dimension 20, Marovitch was happy to offer advice for newbies to the Dragon Master role. 

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"It is a competition between Dragon Masters," she said. "So you know, go out there, do your best. Win. Be organized. Be prepared, and go in with an open mind and be ready to change hearts, and also do the best that you can do. And just know that I'm there as the mama Dragon Master." 

Sure, typically, Dungeons & Dragons is considered a collaborative versus a competitive game. But by adding points (a homebrew hack?) in Season 2 of Dimension 20: On a Bus, Marovitch literally changed the game. So, does she feel that she's won in her competition against the players in her season? 

"I think I did win," she shared, "I mean, not to toot my own horns, but I think I gave them a run for their money, and I'm so excited. I'm sure they're all desperate to have me on their seasons. I can tell. I really feel like they all can't wait to play with me again. And yeah, so I'm looking forward. I can't wait to do Critical Role and whatever the other people do." 

Would she be up for playing Dimension 20 live? Perhaps if the Dropout cast does another show at Madison Square Garden? "Yeah," she said. "I'll probably do one." 

Dimension 20: On a Bus Season 2 is now streaming on Dropout.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Artemis II launches its historic moon mission: See the launch and mission details

Mashable - Thu, 04/02/2026 - 00:44

For the first time, a woman and a Black astronaut are headed into deep space, breaking through the glass ceiling of low-Earth orbit as they attempt to circle the moon.

At 6:35 p.m. ET on April 1, NASA's 32-story Space Launch System lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. With the horsepower of 160,000 Corvettes, the rocket sent up a column of fire and vapor over the Atlantic Coast. This was no April Fool's Day gag, but a signal that the United States has returned to human-led space exploration. 

More than a half-century after NASA last ventured farther than the International Space Station, Artemis II — including mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover — is on its way toward the moon. The crew is also composed of Commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, who makes history in his own right as the first non-American on a lunar spaceflight. Hansen flies for the Canadian Space Agency.

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Topping the mega moon rocket was the Orion spacecraft, a new capsule designed for the agency's Artemis moon program, which aims to establish a continuous human presence on the moon. There, astronauts will learn how to survive the formidable lunar conditions before pushing on toward Mars, perhaps in the 2030s. 

But the Artemis II crew won't be landing on the surface — that's for a later mission. If all goes according to plan, the four astronauts will test the spacecraft's life-support systems over a 10-day voyage that loops around Earth before slingshotting around the moon. They'll attempt to travel about 248,700 miles from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13's record of 248,655 miles, set in 1970. 

"The thing to celebrate is that we as a world actually are living in an era where we know that we have to go for all and by all," Koch said on Friday about becoming the first woman on a moon mission. "We collectively made the decision to be here."

SEE ALSO: What 'home' will look like for the Artemis 2 crew headed to the moon

Koch and Glover, who were assigned to the crew in 2023, have each downplayed the historic achievement, shifting focus away from their "first" superlatives. The milestones come at a time when NASA, under President Donald Trump's executive order, has ended diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives. When NASA announced its latest astronaut trainees in October 2025, it was the first class in 40 years without any Black candidates, though it included a record number of women. 

For the past year, NASA has stopped talking about putting the first woman and person of color on the moon. It's unclear whether the agency will abandon that commitment, as the space agency has declined to directly discuss it with Mashable. The first moon-landing mission, Artemis IV, is slated for 2028, and NASA has not announced any crews beyond Artemis II.

Challenges before the launch

Today's $4.1 billion launch leaves Earth two months after NASA had initially rolled the rocket out to the launchpad, only to haul it back and forth to the hangar for unexpected tests and repairs. 

Engineers have worked through a handful of problems with the rocket, including hydrogen leaks during a fueling test and helium flow issues during a routine step to restore pressure in the upper stage. Those concerns, combined with the complexity of integrating the rocket, spacecraft, and mobile launcher, have delayed the mission and reshuffled timelines, underscoring the challenges of operating a rocket that has only flown once before. The vehicle made its inaugural voyage, the uncrewed Artemis I mission, in 2022. 

Prior to takeoff, a battery on the launch abort system on Orion posed a potential issue for the rocket, but NASA officials addressed and cleared it.

In the first eight minutes of flight, the crew hurtled an estimated 18,000 mph through the air, enduring intense G-forces — about three times Earth's gravity — to escape the atmosphere. Koch and Glover will set new spaceflight records for women and people of color when Orion surpasses the altitude of the space station, about 250 miles above Earth. 

NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch train together for the Artemis II moon mission in an Orion mockup at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credit: NASA / James Blair History-making moments

That milestone is expected to happen within the first two hours of Flight Day 1. A crucial engine burn should propel the spacecraft into a high-Earth orbit with a peak altitude of about 46,000 miles.

Whether the crew will set the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled remains to be seen. The moment of truth would occur on Flight Day 6, when Orion passes behind the moon from Earth's perspective. 

During those 45 minutes, when the moon literally blocks communication between Earth and the spacecraft, the crew will study and photograph the far side, observing features never seen directly by humans before. Because of the timing of the launch, the flight path, and lighting conditions, the Artemis II astronauts may be the first to lay eyes on Mare Orientale, for example, a lunar landmark nearly 600 miles wide that almost completely escapes Earth's view.

"I would love it if the entire world … could come together and just be hoping and praying for us to get that acquisition of signal," Glover said. "It would be a reminder, a data point that we all share, that we can do challenging and very big and very important things when we work together."

Over a 10-day spaceflight, the Artemis II crew will fly around Earth and then the moon, testing the Orion spacecraft's life-support systems. Credit: NASA infographic

When Orion returns, the capsule will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed, heating to about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the heat shield for Artemis I was damaged during descent, the hardware has raised concerns about crew safety. NASA said the redesigned landing trajectory for Artemis II will prevent Orion from reaching the temperatures of the inaugural flight, which experienced roughly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Orion is expected to splash down on April 10 off the coast of San Diego, California, where U.S. Navy teams will recover the crew and ship.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Play nice with PDFs for life with this $30 app

Mashable - Thu, 04/02/2026 - 00:00

TL;DR: Work smarter, not harder with PDFs thanks to AcePDF Converter and Editor lifetime license, on sale now for $29.99 (reg. $99.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $29.99
$99.99 Save $70   Get Deal

Tired of groaning every time you see the letters PDF? Us too, but now there’s an app to put a stop to it. AcePDF Converter and Editor makes it easy to work with this file format, and right now you can secure a lifetime license to the app for only $29.99 (reg. $99.99).

We run into PDFs almost daily nowadays, but you don’t have to dread them. AcePDF Converter and Editor is ready to make your experience much more pleasant — and unlike most apps on the market, it can be yours with no monthly subscription fees. You only have to pay $30 once to enjoy the app forever.

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AcePDF makes the conversion process a breeze, allowing you to create high-quality conversions with the original layouts, images, and hyperlinks intact. In just a few taps, you can convert a PDF into a Word, Excel, or JPG file, and you can convert an Excel or PPT file into a PDF just as easily. Merging, splitting, and compressing are also just a few taps away.

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Score this AcePDF Converter and Editor lifetime license for only $29.99 (reg. $99.99).

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Categories: IT General, Technology

30+ tech deals still going strong after Amazons spring sale — Save $50 on iPads, $100 on Bose headphones

Mashable - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 23:32

Officially, the Amazon Big Spring Sale ended March 31, but some of the best tech deals are sticking around. So, I scouted out the best deals that are still available after the sale. Some have gone up slightly in price, but they're still discounted enough that I can give you the green light.

Remember: Before recommending a deal, Mashable checks the product's price history to make sure you're actually, definitely, for real getting a good deal. I'm only recommending products with genuine discounts, because we all know big retailers like to play fast and loose with the definition of the word "deal."

Amazon Big Spring Sale tech deals: Still live Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Deal Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones $249 (save $50) Get Deal Best Charger Deal Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger $29.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best Drone Deal DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 (save $500) Get Deal Best Tablet deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16 chip) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best Creator Deal DJI Mic Mini (2TX, 1RX, charging case) $79 (save $20) Get Deal Best Streaming Deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select (sale price for some lucky Amazon accounts) $24.99 (save $25 with code 4KPLUSFTV) Get Deal Best Apple Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best for Early Adopters Xreal 1S AR/XR Glasses $449 (save $80) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal CMF By Nothing Watch 3 Pro $69 (save $30) Get Deal Best Sony Headphones Deal Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones $102.99 (save $75.01) Get Deal

As Mashable's tech editor, I test the latest products from brands like Apple, Samsung, and DJI. I also get to try cool under-the-radar gadgets that only true tech nerds know about. I've personally tested many of these products, and if I haven't, someone else on my team probably has.

Between inflation, a global memory shortage, and overall economic anxiety (trust me — I'm feeling it, too!), you don't want to miss a chance to save some money. So, check out the top tech deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

Grab Sony headphones on sale

Let's start with the bad news: If you were hoping to get the flagship Sony XM6 headphones on sale (or even the past-gen XM5 model), those deals have ended. Now, the good news: Sony's budget and mid-range headphones are still on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones $48 at Amazon
$68 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones $102.99
$178 Save $75.01   Get Deal Select iPads, AirTags, and Apple Watches are all at record prices

Amazon always delivers solid deals on Apple products during its big sales, and even though the sale is over, you can score record-low prices on Apple Watches and newly released MacBook Pro laptops.

Amazon quietly discounted the new AirPods Max 2 by $20, and they don't even come out until April 1. Miraculously, this sale price is still live on select colorways. Early shoppers cleaned up on the M4 MacBook Air and M3 iPad Air, which are now out of stock — womp, womp.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16 chip) $299
$349 Save $50   Get Deal More Apple dealsBose headphones on sale

As recently as this morning, you could still grab the flagship Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) headphones on sale, but as of this writing, they're back to full price. Fortunately, their younger sibling is still on sale — and for $100 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones $249
$349 Save $100   Get Deal Get a new laptop for under $700

While the 2026 Big Spring Sale's list of good laptop deals was flooded with MacBooks, Windows laptop steals include the Asus ROG Flow Z13 with a free code for Crimson Desert and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X and both of those are still around.

And if you're looking for a MacBook, you can still grab the colorful new MacBook Neo for $689.99, a whopping $9.01 discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X (Qualcomm Snapdragon X, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB) $562.99
$629.14 Save $66.15   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo, 13 inches (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99
$699 Save $9.01   Get Deal A smart Anker charger with a smile

Anker makes my favorite fast chargers, and I literally use the company's GaN USB-C chargers every day of my life. However, the next Anker charger I want to try is this little phone charger, which comes with a smart display and fun colors (you can match it to your iPhone, if you're into that sort of thing).

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano 45W GaN Smart Charger $29.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal DJI drones on sale starting at $149

Yes, technically, DJI drones are banned in the United States, but they're still widely available from third-party sellers at Amazon. (It's complicated.) If you're a creator, real estate professional, or wedding photographer who wants to take beautiful aerial videos in 4K — or just an aspiring pilot looking to have some fun outdoors — these drones are by far the most popular choice.

Please note: Due to the ongoing DJI drone ban, all DJI drones are sold through third-party sellers at Amazon. Do your research into the seller and shop accordingly. If you're looking for an alternative to DJI, check out the new Antigravity drones we recently reviewed.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Neo Mini $149
$199 Save $50   Get Deal More deals on dronesAmazon Fire TV sticks are 50% off

As per usual, some of the best deals during the spring Amazon sale were on Amazon's own products, particularly in the Echo lineup. Sadly, most of those devices are back up to full price today. We'll likely have to wait until Prime Day this summer to catch those discounts again.

However, some lucky Amazon accounts can still snag great deals on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. Prime members can use the coupon code 4KPLUSFTV to save 50% for a little while longer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99
$49.99 Save $25.00 Use code '4KPLUSFTV' Get Deal Xreal Smart AR Glasses

As a tech editor, I've been very skeptical of the smart glasses trend. However, I like Xreal's augmented reality glasses precisely because they don't have cameras, so you don't have to worry about creeps and bad behavior.

I use the Xreal One Pro AR glasses when working on planes, and the new Xreal 1S glasses can project a 500-inch virtual screen for work or entertainment wherever you go. Both pairs sank to their lowest-ever prices during the Big Spring Sale, and today, they're only $1 more than their sale price from yesterday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xreal Xreal 1S AR Glasses $449
$529 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xreal Xreal One Pro AR Glasses $599
$769 Save $170   Get Deal Save on popular gadgets from Nothing

Nothing has developed a bit of a cult following in the past year, thanks to its trendy designs and affordable prices. The British brand recently released a new pair of flagship headphones and a smartphone, but a lot of their mid-range and budget tech is still on sale at Amazon.

Our reviewer loved the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro, calling it damn near perfect. You can also find a ton of Nothing headphones and earbuds on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $69
$99 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds $49
$69 Save $20   Get Deal More Nothing dealsTV deals

Amazon forgot to turn the TV deals off when the sale ended. Nearly all of my top picks are still sitting at Big Spring Sale prices. Pro tip: Hisense and TCL Fire TVs are often a better value than Amazon's own Fire TVs. This Big Spring Sale, you can find the 75-inch version of the Hisense U6 Mini-LED Fire TV for $170 less than the 55-inch version of the Amazon Omni Mini-LED Series Fire TV.

You can also still snag new record-low pricing on Samsung QLED TVs released last year, now that the 2026 Samsung QLEDs have been released.

Unfortunately, there weren't any new price drops on my favorite TV: The Frame art TV from Samsung. Most sizes of the 2025 Frame TV are still on sale, but it's nothing we haven't seen before.

Hisense 75-inch U6 Mini-LED QLED 4K Fire TV $549.96 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350.03   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch Q8F 4K QLED Smart TV (2025) $597.97 at Amazon
$897.97 Save $300 Lowest-ever price Get Deal More TV deals SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide DJI creator deals

For the Big Spring Sale, Amazon went hard with DJI deals, and they're almost all still live. You can still find massive discounts on the brand's popular line of creator gadgets. I personally use the DJI Mic Mini and DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal when shooting videos for Mashable (check our Instagram story to see my latest).

The cult-favorite DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlogging camera, which experienced a rare markdown earlier in this sale, is back up to full price. I'm keeping my eyes out for any after-sale price drops, however. Pro creators and YouTubers are obsessed with this camera (in my review, I wrote, "it should replace whatever vlogging camera you're using now").

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal More DJI creator dealsOur favorite affordable stick vacuum

Spring cleaning was a big theme during the Big Spring Sale, from deals on cleaning supply restocks to deals on robot vacuums and cordless vacuums, and it's not too late to get nice deals.

Our favorite stick vacuum deals are actually from Shark, not Dyson. The $149 Shark Pet IX141 has incredibly strong suction for the price, confirmed by a long-time Mashable reporter with a dog. It's still down at this price after the sale.

Shark Pet Cordless Essential Vacuum Cleaner (IX141) $149 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $150.99   See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Headphones

The No. 1 best-selling bone conduction headphones are still on sale after the Amazon Spring Sale, with a discount of 22%. You can pick up these athlete-approved running headphones for under $150.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Headphones $139.95
$179.95 Save $40   Get Deal JBL Bluetooth speakers — save 27%

I'm a big fan of JBL's Bluetooth speakers. In my testing, they've beaten out more expensive Bluetooth speakers from brands like Bose and Sonos. They're also extremely portable, super easy to use, and totally waterproof, i.e., perfect for spring and summer hangouts. Two of my favorite models are still sitting at their Big Spring Sale price today.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Flip 7 Bluetooth Speaker $109.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $40.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Xtreme 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker $299.94 at Amazon
$379.95 Save $80.01   Get Deal Fitness trackers on sale

If you're coming out of a winter funk and looking for some workout motivation, strap on a fitness tracker. You can pick up Fitbit step counters for under $70, or save up to $70 on the latest generation of Apple Watches, which are the same Amazon Big Spring Sale prices we saw yesterday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.96
$99.95 Save $29.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70   Get Deal More fitness tracker deals SEE ALSO: We found the best Apple Watch deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale — deals start at $189 The Brick, an anti-doomscrolling device that works

Have you heard of the viral gadget, The Brick? This humble little gadget helps to lower your screen time by locking you out of your most time-sucking apps. The only way to unlock them is to physically tap your phone to the Brick, and it works. In her review, Mashable's Samantha Mangino wrote that the Brick cut her screen time in half and "finally taught me how to be bored again." The brand is still hosting a spring sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick The Brick $47.20 at Brick
$59 Save $11.80   Get Deal An affordable foldable phone

If you're an Android user on the fence about getting a foldable phone, this deal could help you decide, and it's still live after the sale. The Motorola Razr Ultra was the most underrated phone of 2025, and I was impressed by its battery life, display, and design during testing. If you miss flip phones that slip easily into your pocket, then you'll appreciate this one.

This trendy little flip phone is $500 off at Amazon, even after the Spring Sale. It's far more affordable than Samsung's Z Flip 7, too.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr Ultra, Unlocked $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500   Get Deal SEE ALSO: I've been testing phones for 20 years. Check the top unlocked phone deals in Amazon Spring Sale.
Categories: IT General, Technology

Plex redesign comes to Fire TV, including remote streaming limits

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 22:52

Plex is rolling out its redesigned app to Amazon Fire TV devices, including some important upgrades — as well as the remote streaming restrictions that have irked some people.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Zip drives were supposed to end the floppy era—until one design flaw destroyed everything

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 22:30

Kids today will never know the tyranny of the 1.44MB floppy disk. So traumatic was this format that today the "save" icon in our apps still looks like it, even though no one has actually used it for several decades.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Artemis II launch livestream: Watch the historic NASA launch live

Mashable - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 22:11

NASA is set to send four astronauts on a mission around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, and viewers can watch the launch countdown live on April 1.

Artemis II is a test flight of the U.S. space agency's Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule. The mission follows Artemis I, the successful uncrewed inaugural voyage of the spacecraft in 2022. 

NASA will stream the launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on its website, social media, and its YouTube channel. Live coverage of filling the rocket's tanks with fuel is expected to begin at 7:45 a.m. ET Wednesday on Youtube. Viewers can watch the event on NASA+, the space agency's free streaming service, starting at 12:50 p.m. ET.

The broadcast will track the four-person crew — Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen — as they board Orion. The actual two-hour launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. ET.

SEE ALSO: What 'home' will look like for the Artemis 2 crew headed to the moon

This mission is designed as a roughly 10-day deep space excursion that will loop around Earth before slingshotting around the moon and returning home. If successful, it would mark a major step toward future missions that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface and establish a moon base there.

The flight also carries historic milestones. Koch is set to become the first woman to travel to the moon, and Glover the first Black astronaut to do so. Hansen, a Canadian astronaut, would be the first non-American assigned to a lunar mission. Their journey's estimated distance of 248,700 miles also could set a new record for farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. 

Watch the launch livestream here beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1.

NASA's live coverage typically includes real-time updates from the firing room, views from the launchpad, and commentary explaining each stage of the countdown. The agency will also provide rolling updates on its official Artemis blog.

The forecast so far shows an 80 percent chance of good weather conditions for launch day. Mission managers are mostly concerned about cloud coverage and high winds. 

If the launch attempt is called off for weather or technical issues, the agency could try again any day through April 6. There is one other launch opportunity at the end of this month on April 30. NASA has declined to provide future launch windows beyond April to the public.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi's latest computer is an answer to the RAM pricing crisis

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 21:46

Raspberry Pi has already hiked prices on its single board computers in December and this February in response to AI-related RAM price hikes, but now it's trying something new: a configuration built with the memory crisis in mind. The company has introduced a Raspberry Pi 4 model with 3GB of RAM for just under $84. No, it's not an April Fool's joke.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify tanked my productivity, but this music app helped me regain focus

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 21:45

Music can be an incredibly powerful focus tool for many people, and it can be a good catalyst to improve productivity. With the advent of work and study playlists, apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music are flooded with focus music that aims to strip away distractions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Move over, Game of Thrones—HBO has finally found your replacement

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 21:00

HBO achieved enormous success with Game of Thrones, a fantasy series based on the books of George R.R. Martin. Between its high viewership and significant cultural impact, Game of Thrones became a once-in-a-generation show. While GoT's spin-offs have been successful, they have failed to reach the unfathomable heights of their predecessor. HBO is clearly looking for its next Game of Thrones. Could that next landmark show be Harry Potter?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Newly discovered malware pranks its victims – just in time for April Fools Day

Mashable - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 20:50

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a brand new malware threat called CrystalX RAT, which is making its way around private hacker group chats and forums.

What sets CrystalX RAT apart from other malware?

It's an all-in-one hacker tool that includes data stealing and spyware capabilities. Furthermore, perhaps just in time for April Fools' Day, CrystalX RAT also has unique "prankware" capabilities that can mock and troll its victims in real-time.

On April 1, researchers with cybersecurity firm Kaspersky's Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) published a new report on a new malware they recently discovered in March called CrystalX RAT. 

The team found evidence of this new malware dating back to January, and it was being offered within hacker communities as a MaaS, or Malware-as-a-Service, tool. This means that the developers of CrystalX RAT were offering the malware to less tech-savvy bad actors as a paid subscription service.

RAT stands for Remote Access Trojan and is a particularly dangerous type of malware that gives attackers complete remote access to the targeted computer or mobile device.

However, what caught Kaspersky researchers' eye about CrystalX RAT was its "extensive arsenal of capabilities" when compared to other similar types of malware.

Once a target downloads the CrystalX RAT malware to their device, they have unknowingly provided an attacker with a slew of data-stealing capabilities and spyware functionality. CrystalX RAT includes a stealer, which gathers system information and extracts private credentials from platforms like Telegram, Discord, Steam, and Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome. In addition, an attacker can remotely monitor and control the infected device.

CrystalX RAT also includes a keylogger, which records every key that the victim types, and a clipper, which modifies a victim's clipboard. A hacker can utilize a clipper in order to perform actions such as changing a crypto wallet address when a target goes to paste the address.

However, what truly sets CrystalX RAT apart from other malware is its prankware toolset, which can be used to mock and troll the victim from within their device.

According to Kaspersky, CrystalX RAT comes with a panel titled "Rofl," which includes different methods in which the attacker can remotely prank the target through their infected computer. 

Using CrystalX RAT, a hacker could remotely change a victim's desktop background to any image they like or rotate their computer screen's display, for example.

The attacker could also swap the victim's mouse buttons, disconnect computer peripherals like the monitor or keyboard, or hide desktop icons. CrystalX RAT also provides the capability to completely shutdown or restart an infected device remotely. Furthermore, a victim can receive custom notifications created by the attacker, who can even send messages in a pop-up chat dialog window.

While these may seem like silly pranks, as Kaspersky points out, they add a distressing psychological toll to the target, who is already a victim to an invasive cyberattack.

“Such a diverse feature set effectively enables a 360-degree compromise of the victim and a complete loss of privacy," said senior security researcher at Kaspersky Leonid Bezvershenko in a statement. "Beyond gaining access to account credentials, the stolen data could potentially be used for blackmail."

CrystalX RAT is just one of a number of sophisticated malware attacks to pop up over the past few months. Cybersecurity professionals urge users to be cautious when coming across unknown files online and to stick with downloads from official, trusted sources.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2027 VW Atlas gains ChatGPT and horsepower, but rivals win on maintenance costs

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 20:31

Volkswagen pulled the silk off the 2027 Atlas in the Big Apple during the 2026 New York International Auto Show, and it’s clear the brand has upscaled its three-row SUV, especially the interior. Among the highlights, an AI-powered voice assistant with ChatGPT that responds to driver prompts, whether it's adjusting the climate control or finding a nearby coffee shop or restaurant.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple boots vibe coding app Anything from App Store

Mashable - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 20:23

Apple brought the ban hammer down on an AI-powered iOS app.

The Information reported that Apple pulled an app called "Anything" from the App Store. For the unfamiliar, Anything is/was an app based around using "vibe coding," or the act of using natural language AI prompts to generate apps, often by people with no formal coding experience.

Apple has been either pulling vibe coding apps or blocking them from releasing updates since March, according to The Information, with other apps like Vibecode and Replit becoming victims.

SEE ALSO: Apple celebrates 50th birthday with homepage animation

In case you're wondering why Apple might take a hard line against vibe coding apps, it's not just based on vibes. The company told MacRumors that while there isn't a precise rule against vibe coding, these apps do violate App Store Guideline 2.5.2, which states:

Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user.

So, while there isn't exactly a rule against vibe coding apps, that guideline, as currently written, would make it pretty hard for any of them to exist on the App Store.

App developers have also reported delays in app store approvals this year, with some blaming vibe coding apps for creating a bottleneck. On Apple's end, fewer vibe-coded apps means fewer submissions to review.

But that also means you might need to learn how to code for real if you want to make an iOS app, so not everyone is a winner here.

SEE ALSO: You vibe-coded an app, now what?
Categories: IT General, Technology

Instagram reportedly deletes Bellesa sex toy shop account for using the word clitoris

Mashable - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 20:18

The sex toy shop Bellesa Boutique said today that Instagram "permanently deleted" its account for using the word "clitoris."

Bellesa Boutique offers sex toys for any gender, from vibrators to cuffs. (Bellesa also has a sister site, hosting pornography marketed towards women.)

SEE ALSO: Shockingly low number of adults can identify the clitoris, sex toy shop finds

"Bellesa Boutique (@bellesaco) was just banned from Instagram," the shop posted from a new account, @bellesacensored, on March 31. The original Bellesa Instagram account had 700,000 followers and hosted over a decade's worth of content, the caption stated.

In a statement posted to X, the company provided this explanation: "Our violation? Using the word 'clitoris.'"

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

In email screenshots Bellesa shared with Mashable, Meta stated that the account was disabled for "violating Meta's Community Standards due to sexually explicit language in organic content." (Organic means that Bellesa shared the content on its account rather than in an advertisement.)

The email goes on:

Examples of content that is not allowed include sexually explicit language that uses explicit or graphic detail about:

Genitals

States of sexual arousal (e.g., wetness or erection)

Sexual encounters

Credit: Screenshot: Bellesa

This is language lifted from Meta's Community Standards concerning Adult Sexual Solicitation and Sexually Explicit Language, where it states that the above language isn't allowed, but does not include "content shared in a humorous, satirical context or as sexual cursing."

Cofounder and CEO of Bellesa, Michelle Shnaidman, told Mashable that there wasn't any opportunity to appeal or review specific content before deletion, nor was the company given any warning. The Bellesa team was locked out of the account entirely on Saturday morning, and they were given a notice through the app.

The email also states that the company reviewed the case and determined the account violated its guidelines and can't be re-enabled.

"For over a decade, hundreds of thousands of people came to the @bellesaco community to learn about and celebrate their own bodies — a safe, shame-free space to discuss sexual wellness and pleasure. Instagram deleted it for 'sexually explicit language,' meaning discussing women's bodies in a health context is treated as inherently unacceptable," Shnaidman told Mashable over email.

The account deletion happened days after Meta was found guilty (along with YouTube) of negligent platform design that resulted in the harm of a young person's mental health. (Meta has said it will appeal the verdict.)

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

"Four days after losing a $375M lawsuit in court, Meta needed to look tough," the @bellesacensored post continues. "Instead of fixing what got them sued, they banned a women's sexual health community."

Shnaidman stated similarly that Bellesa wasn't the problem Meta was sued over. "But we're easier to ban than the content that actually got them into court," she said.

This isn't the first time Meta deleted content from a sex toy shop. In 2023, Meta reportedly rejected ads from another sex toy shop, Unbound, until it marketed to men. That same year, Meta seemed to reject period care ads for being "adult" or "political." (Meanwhile, explicit AI girlfriends were OK to advertise on Meta in 2024.) And for years, sex workers as well as LGBTQ content creators have told Mashable that they, too, have been banned or shadowbanned from Instagram.

In a 2025 study on the suppression of sexual and reproductive health on major platforms like Meta, the Center for Intimacy Justice found that of the groups studied, 63 percent had organic content removed from Meta platforms, and 84 percent of businesses and 76 percent of nonprofits had ads rejected by Meta.

The nonprofit Repro Uncensored, which monitors and tracks censorship, documented a wave of increased censorship in Nov. and Dec. 2025, its executive director, Martha Dimitratou, told Mashable.

Even in the last few days, they've seen a new wave of accounts taken down by Meta, including LGBTQ accounts and even accounts for nightclubs. Dimitratou couldn't pinpoint exactly why this is happening right now, but it could be a mix of AI content moderation, people reporting these accounts, or a big political or legal event — like the Meta trial.

Bellesa's Facebook account remains up, along with some Reels, though it has around 40,000 followers compared to Instagram's 700,000.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

"The ability to discuss sexual health online is how an entire generation of women learned what endometriosis is, what a cervical exam involves, that their experiences are normal," Shnaidman said. "Take that away and you're not protecting anyone — you're pushing these convos back into the dark."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung DeX changed how I buy phones: USB ports and processors matter way more than you think

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 20:00

I use a Samsung Galaxy phone plugged into a monitor with DeX mode as my primary computer. This means when I shop for a new phone, I'm also shopping for a PC. The details I pay attention to are different from most. If you're interested in this same setup, here's what to look out for.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Google smart speakers can now understand more commands

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 19:53

Smart homes are supposed to make life easier, but you might know that’s not always the case if you’ve yelled at a speaker that misunderstood a simple command. Following last month’s major update to Gemini for Home, the company is rolling out Google Home v4.2, focusing on fixing these small but frustrating experiences, along with some improvements to smart home controls.

Categories: IT General, Technology

10 tools every homelabber should try at least once

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 19:41

Are you looking for fun (or unique) pieces of software to expand your homelab with? I’ve been on the hunt for new software lately, and found 10 tools that everyone should try at least once. In no particular order, here are tools that have (or will) change how I run my homelab.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the Artemis II launch, the first trip to the Moon in 53 years

How-To Geek - Wed, 04/01/2026 - 19:36

NASA is poised to return to the Moon over 53 years after Apollo 17, and this time you don't need a TV to follow along. The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1st as soon as 6:24PM ET—here's how to watch as astronauts make history.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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