Feed aggregator

Meta’s Profits More Than Double, While Spending on A.I. Rises

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 16:50
The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp continued to grow, even as it said it would spend billions of dollars more on artificial intelligence.

Biden Signs TikTok Ban Bill Into Law. Here’s What Happens Next.

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 16:00
President Biden has signed the bill to force a sale of the video app or ban it. Now the law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility.

Windows 11 Start menu ads arrive. How to turn them off.

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 15:02

Sometimes it feels like everything is getting a little bit worse every day. This latest Windows 11 update is a good example of that.

In the patch notes for Windows 11 update KB5036980, Microsoft noted that the start menu in Windows 11 will now display recommended apps from the Windows app store. In other words, they put ads in the start menu.

"The Recommended section of the Start menu will show some Microsoft Store apps. These apps come from a small set of curated developers," the patch notes said. "This will help you to discover some of the great apps that are available."

SEE ALSO: Windows 10 will start pushing users to use Microsoft accounts. How to turn it off. How to turn off recommended apps in the Windows 11 start menu

In case you're wondering, yes, you can turn this off. Here's how:

  1. Go to Settings

  2. Click on Personalization

  3. Click on Start

  4. Find the toggle that says "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more"

  5. Turn the toggle off

It's good that Microsoft gives you the option to straight up disable those ads. Take advantage of it while you can.

On TikTok, Potential Ban of App Leads to Resignation and Frustration

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:28
While Congress says the social app is a security threat, critics of the law targeting it say it shows how out of step lawmakers are with young people.

On TikTok, Resignation and Frustration After Potential Ban of App

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:28
While Congress says the social app is a security threat, critics of the law targeting it say it shows how out of step lawmakers are with young people.

What die hard Sonic fans can expect from 'Knuckles'

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:07

Mashable reporter Ty Cole sits down with Idris Elba to discuss his role in the upcoming Knuckles TV mini series and what die hard Sonic fans can expect to learn about him. Knuckles premieres April 26, 2024 on Paramount +.

Watch Ryan Gosling do carpool karaoke — with a stuntman twist

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:41

Ryan Gosling sang in Barbie. He sang at the Oscars. He even sang about Barbie on Saturday Night Live. Now, the Academy Award nominee continues his singing streak with a promotional video for The Fall Guy, a film in which he plays a stuntman.

SEE ALSO: 'The Fall Guy' review: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt make movie magic

In the clip, The Fall Guy director David Leitch tasks Ryan Gosling with driving around and picking up his stuntmen. "It's like Carpool Karaoke... without the music," Leitch tells Gosling.

But not even that will stop Gosling from singing along to Journey's "Any Way You Want It" with his stunt team. First, he picks up Logan Holladay, who roars onscreen on a motorcycle and proceeds to take over driving duty. Then, the two (literally) run into Ben Jenkin. He takes the hit like a champ and joins the fun with some enthusiastic vocals. Rounding out the crew is Troy Brown, who straight-up jumps off a building to get down to Gosling. Why not just use an elevator? "I'm claustrophobic," Brown explains.

With its celebration of stunts and Gosling in full Gleek mode, the clip is a fun preview for what to expect from The Fall Guy, which Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called a "gonzo gift to cinema."

The Fall Guy hits theaters May 3.

Rabbit R1: I spent 17 hours with it — and something's iffy about it

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:34

"Hm, this is a lot wider than I expected," I said when I held the Rabbit R1 for the first time. Laying flat on my hand, the vivid, electric orange chassis exceeded the span of my palm.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

No, it's not the most comfortable gadget to hold with its unforgiving flat edges, but it's not unwieldy either. Buttons, including the scrolling wheel and the push-to-talk button, are strategically placed, allowing my fingers to navigate the Rabbit R1 with ease.

When people gushed about the Rabbit R1, calling it a "beautiful gadget," I didn't get it — until I saw it with my own eyes. "That bright orange chassis is an eye sore," I thought. "What's the big deal?" But now I get it. It's the nostalgia.

With the cute black-and-white rabbit icon bouncing up and down the screen surrounded by a "loud" color, it reminded me of my childhood obsession with 90s pocket toys like the Tamagotchi or Digimon (handheld virtual pets).

Shout out to Teenage Engineering for designing this AI device; the Rabbit R1 makes me feel like a kid again.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

While the Rabbit R1 stirs up memories of the past, I can't help but feel a bit iffy about the gadget. Why? I'll get it into that, but first, my first impressions.

The gestures are addictive

There's something very fidget spinner toy-esque about the Rabbit R1 in that the functions operate differently, whether it's a scrolling wheel or a clicky side button.

The scrolling wheel, to my surprise, is very smooth. In other words, it doesn't have that "staccato" feel, if that makes sense, in which the wheel has fits and starts (à la Apple's digital crown), allowing you to stop at selections.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Instead, you have to keep rolling the wheel downward until your desired word is highlighted in orange. Truthfully, I don't love the scrolling wheel. It takes too many "rolls" to get to the word I want to select.

On the plus side, you can shake the device to invoke the Settings menu. I'm telling you — it's like a Bop It toy.

It has a 2.88-inch screen, but no, it can't browse the web

I thought the Rabbit R1 had a touchscreen, but as it turns out, I was wrong. You'll need to use the scroll wheel to navigate menu options. You can select by using the side button.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

You may be wondering, "Can I browse the web with this thing?" The answer is no. If you had dreams of using this as some sort of mini reading device, I've got no choice but to dash them. Plus, you wouldn't want to — the screen is too dim for that.

No, it doesn't text nor make calls

The Rabbit R1 can do a lot of things, but sending texts and making calls isn't one of them. This was admittedly a bit disappointing. Before grabbing this device, I had fantasies of dictating texts to friends without lifting a finger.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

However, I quickly realized that the Rabbit R1 can't be connected to my phone. Boo!

Faster-than-expected responses

From asking about the local weather (it's 59 degrees today in my town, by the way) to questions about the Premiere League, the Rabbit R1 took about two seconds to respond.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

However, when it comes to using the camera and basing its responses on what it "sees," it took slightly longer. After asking it a question about a painting, it took 2-3 seconds to say "Taking a look now" before responding in one second with its description.

But some answers were wrong

One time, I asked the Rabbit R1, "Which Premiere League team won the most titles?" It correctly responded with "Manchester United." However, it went on to say that it won 13 titles, which I don't believe is accurate.

It can 'see' and describe things

The Rabbit R1 has a cool functionality, thanks to an auto-rotating camera that you can invoke by double tapping the right action button, that lets you point to any object — and it will tell you about it. It's very Google Lens. Hell, even my iPhone can perform this functionality, too.

In the video below, you can see it successfully describing the masterpiece in my living room.

Tweet may have been deleted

However, I tried testing to see if it could, for example, translate a foreign language to English. I thought this see-and-describe feature would be helpful while traveling to countries to diminish language barriers (particularly while ordering at a restaurant with a menu in another language). Sadly, I found that it doesn't have this capability.

So far, the best use case I've found for this is that I can use it to tell me which dishes I can make when I'm stumped.

Tweet may have been deleted Speakers are a bit quiet

Based on its responses, I found the speakers to be too quiet — even at max volume.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Keep in mind that it can play music and podcasts from a paid Spotify account, but I haven't tested it yet.

Yes, you can connect Bluetooth headphones

Fortunately, a solution for the quiet speakers is pairing it with my trusty Sony XM4 headphones. I simply shook the Rabbit R1 to get the Settings menu, turned on Bluetooth, and paired my headphones with ease.

It connects via 4G LTE and Wi-Fi

As it turns out, the Rabbit R1 has a SIM card slot, allowing you to be connected at all times (i.e., 4G LTE). If you don't care to grab a SIM card for this AI assistant, you can also rely on Wi-Fi.

Battery life is OK

Strangely, when I unboxed my Rabbit R1, it wasn't charged. As such, I couldn't even use it at the Rabbit R1 launch party, where I obtained it.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When I got home, I charged it up to about 50% (no, the Rabbit R1 does not come with a charging cable). Seventeen hours later, the battery life is about 15%.

Don't worry, though. In my full review, I'll give you a better idea on battery life at full charge.

But something is iffy about the Rabbit R1

As the old saying goes, "If something is too good to be true, it probably is." Jesse Lyu, CEO of Rabbit R1, keeps boasting that the Rabbit R1 is only $199 and is subscription free. However, there's no way in hell it can be subscription free for long.

Once the hype dies down and nerds like me wipe the shelves clean, what's next? To put it succinctly, how does Rabbit R1 intend to make money?

There's got to something down the pipeline in which Rabbit in tends to squeeze money out of its user base, no?

Also, I'm still not totally clear about whether the Rabbit R1 squelches all privacy concerns consumers may have.

Final thoughts

Someone on Twitter saw a video of me asking the Rabbit R1 to describe what its seeing. Paraphrasing his reply, he said something to the effect of, "Google Lens can do that. Why would be the point of getting this?"

Rabbit's mission here is to create this all-in-one AI device. Yes, it can do what Google Lens can do, but it can also do what Spotify, ChatGPT, DoorDash, and Uber can do in one device — and with nothing but your voice.

There's still so much to test, including ordering DoorDash to my door, but I'll be sure to come back with a thorough review.

'Jim Henson Idea Man' trailer: Meet the man behind the Muppets

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:47

Between the Muppets, Sesame Street, and fantasy films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, there's a good chance Jim Henson played a key part in your childhood. Want to know more about the man behind the puppets? Check out the first trailer for the upcoming Disney+ documentary Jim Henson Idea Man, which dives deep into Henson's storied life and career.

Directed by Ron Howard, Jim Henson Idea Man uses Henson's archival, never-before-seen home videos and sketches to create an in-depth portrait of the beloved puppeteer. The documentary's trailer features behind-the-scenes footage from his best-known work, as well as interviews with Frank Oz, Jennifer Connelly, Rita Moreno, and Henson's children. Oh, and it's all set to Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection," so you may want to have some tissues handy.

Jim Henson Idea Man premieres May 31 on Disney+.

Get a Blueair Air Purifier for 30% off at Amazon and breathe easy

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:42

SAVE $70: As of April 24, get the Blueair Air Purifier for $159.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 30%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blueair Air Purifier $159.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Whether you have severe allergies or you sniffle here and there due to pet dander, dealing with not-so-fresh air in your home can be a nightmare. A runny nose can lead to head congestion and general discomfort along with clogged sinuses, and that's a recipe for disaster during the warmer months. Get ahead of those headaches by introducing an air purifier into your home.

As of April 24, you can get the Blueair Air Purifier for just $159.99 at Amazon. That's $70 off its normal price of $229.99 and a 30% discount.

SEE ALSO: Shop the Brooklinen 10th Anniversary Sale and give your home a cozy spring refresh

This air purifier is part of the Blueair Pure Max series and is perfect for a medium-to-large–size room, as it can clean up to 929 square feet in just 30 minutes. With its proprietary HEPASilent cleaning tech, it claims to perform up to 83% faster with 50% less noise than competitors at just 23-50 dB. It can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles with its carbon filter, including those that cause viruses, as well as smoke, pet dander, mold, dust, and pollen.

You can control the air purifier with its companion app which allows for real-time scheduling, air quality monitoring, and filter tracking. You'll receive alerts when it's time to swap out the filter so you won't accidentally let it marinate in the unit too long. It also has geofencing abilities that can automatically power the unit off and on depending on when you leave or arrive at your home.

If clean air is a consistent issue for you in your home, let this smart unit do all the work while you enjoy the benefits. Everyone deserves fresh air to breathe, after all.

The TikTok ban is law. Here's what happens next.

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:35

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Wednesday that could, effectively, ban TikTok in the U.S. But that doesn't mean you'll be without the app right now or, really, anytime soon.

Like any bill, things are complicated. The bill Biden signed is primarily a foreign aid package that'll send $60 billion to Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion and some $26 billion to both Israel and relief in Gaza. However, tied to that bill was legislation that gave ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, up to one year to divest itself from the app in the U.S.

Basically, it's a demand to sell or be banned.

SEE ALSO: President Biden signs TikTok ban bill into law

So, what happens now? Well, in short, a legal fight. TikTok indicated Wednesday, pretty much right away, that it intended to battle the legislation in court.

"Make no mistake, this is a ban," TikTok CEO Shou Chew said in a video posted to the company's platform on Tuesday.

Chew promised a fight. And, to be clear, there won't be any real changes for TikTok users in the immediate term.

"Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere," Chew said in the TikTok. "We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again."

The lawmakers against TikTok have argued that, since the app is owned by a Chinese company, it could be forced to hand over American users' data to the Chinese government. That would be worrisome, considering there are 170 million American users on the app. Other lawmakers in other countries have successfully made similar arguments to ban or restrict the app.

TikTok has flatly and routinely denied that it shares U.S. users' data with the Chinese government.

SEE ALSO: A TikTok ban would probably also take down CapCut, Lemon8, and more

TikTok has fended off bans in the courts before, notably in Montana last year.

"This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court," TikTok said in a statement Wednesday after Biden signed the bill. "We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation."

So what comes next?

Well, as The Verge noted, if TikTok gets a court to agree with the company or delay enforcement of the legislation, then the timeline for a ban would get extended. In other words, as taking something to court is wont to do, TikTok could drag things out.

And, of course, even if the legislation is upheld, ByteDance has, at minimum, nine months to decide if it will sell the app in the U.S. The timeline can be extended out to a year if the president feels there is progress on a deal.

The next year for TikTok in the U.S. will be rife with lawyers and laws and a PR push. Perhaps the biggest tool at the company's disposal is its massive user base. Remember when it sent a pop-up asking users to call lawmakers, then Congress was inundated with calls? You can expect more messaging from the company as it fights to stay in the U.S.

But as far as a regular user goes, the next year of TikTok might look like, well, the last year on TikTok. For now, things will remain as they were. You'll see videos of people dancing, cute dogs, good food, music, jokes, the whole nine.

But the fight for the long-term survival of the app will hang over it all.

Calling all business owners: Save 25% on the Square Reader with Amazon Prime

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:31

SAVE 25%: The Square Reader (2nd gen) for contactless and chip transactions is just $44.43 at Amazon for Prime members, down from the usual price of $58.99. That's a savings of $14.56.

Opens in a new window Credit: Square Square Reader (2nd gen) for contactless and chip payment $44.43 at Amazon
$58.99 Save $14.56 Prime membership required Get Deal

Owning a small business comes with plenty of challenges, but a few hurdles are becoming easier thanks to tech advancements. If you're ready to start accepting chip and contactless payments, today's deal at Amazon could be a great addition to your business strategy.

As of April 24, the Square Reader (2nd gen) for chip and contactless transactions is just $44.43, down from the normal price of $58.99. That's a 25% discount or a savings of $14.56. To get this sale price, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member, which costs $14.99 per month.

SEE ALSO: TikTok for Business: Everything you need to know

The quest to create the best customer experience is never-ending, but thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, you can make accepting payments faster and more convenient. The Square Reader can handle payments from chip cards or contactless payments like Google Pay or Apple Pay. Square says the chip reader takes about two seconds while the contactless payment method is even faster, saving both you and your customer precious time.

Square designed the 2nd gen Reader with a battery that'll last all day without needing a recharge, which means it can handle 20% more transactions compared to the 1st gen Reader. Worry less about battery life and sell more.

If your business could use an upgrade in how it handles transactions, snag the Square Reader (2nd gen) that's capable of accepting both chip and contactless payments. Your customers will appreciate the convenience and speed.

Binance Founder Should Get Three Years in Prison, Prosecutors Say

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:28
Defense lawyers for Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the crypto exchange Binance, countered that he should receive no prison time.

Microsoft launches Phi-3 Mini, a tiny AI model that packs a punch

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:24

Microsoft released Phi-3 Mini, a new version of its lightweight AI model designed for specific tasks.

According to the research paper published earlier this week, Phi-3 Mini has 3.8 billion parameters which is significantly less than other models like OpenAI's GPT-4, making it small enough to be deployed on a smartphone. OpenAI hasn't shared how many parameters GPT-4 has but it's believed to have over one trillion parameters per Semafor.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT Plus can exploit zero-day security vulnerabilities — why this should concern you

Traditional AI models require massive amounts of computing power, which is very expensive and has a huge carbon footprint. Companies like Microsoft and Google have been working on smaller lightweight models that handle common tasks, which would make hosting their models more sustainable — in the operational sense — and more suitable for smartphones which is where the industry is heavily leaning. Samsung is going all in on generative AI with a collection of features for its Galaxy devices, Google is also adding generative AI features to its Pixel lineup, and even Apple is expected to make some big AI announcements for iOS 18.

Parameters relate to how models are able to tackle complexity, so the more parameters, the more capable a model is at handling vast and nuanced requests. But for everyday tasks that the average user would need from an AI model, such as translating, help drafting an email, or looking for local restaurants, a smaller lightweight model is presumed to be sufficient.

Phi-3 Mini scored similarly against Meta's open-source model Llama 3 and OpenAI's GPT-3.5 on common benchmarks with a few exceptions. It surpassed Llama 3 and scored just below GPT 3.5 in natural language understanding (MMLU) and commonsense reasoning (HellaSwag) and beat both models on arithmetic reasoning (GSM8K). As the paper notes, it scored lower on trivia and "factual knowledge" but researchers believe "such weakness can be resolved by augmentation with a search engine," meaning once the model is hooked up to the internet, that won't be such an issue.

Researchers trained Phi-3 Mini on a combination of "heavily filtered web data" that meets standards for high quality educational information, as well as synthetic data, which challenges the idea that scraping everything from the web is the best way to train a model. The model was also trained on... bedtime stories, according to DailyAI, which actually makes a ton of sense for understanding the way human brains work. The idea is to opt for quality over quantity with curated data so it can run on fewer parameters while still retaining its potency.

Phi-3 Mini is now available on HuggingFace, Azure, and Ollama.

Elon Musk Clashes With Australian Court Over Violent Videos on X

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:09
Mr. Musk’s defiance over removing content is testing the boundaries of international legal systems.

What's your K-pop persona? Spotify wants you to take the quiz to find out.

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:06

Ever wondered what K-pop group member archetype suits you best? If so, you're in luck. Spotify's latest gimmick sorts users into different personas of a K-pop group.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

The feature borrows imagery from a more analog internet and uses your answers to questions like, "What's your favorite thing about K-Pop?" and "A perfect first date with your bias would be..." to define you as a Main Rapper, Main Vocal, Main Dancer, or Main Trainee. Each persona comes with a list of personality traits. Trainees are "curious" and "youthful" while Vocals are "powerful" and "warm."

While anyone can take the quiz and receive a K-pop persona, Spotify users get the additional bonus of a Fan Role as well. Fan Roles range from New Gen Stan of the Group to DJ of the Group. Your K-pop persona and Fan Role are delivered to you as brightly colored, shareable cards.

It's one of several in-app experiences launched by Spotify in recent years to engage different fandoms. For example, last year it told fans their most-streamed Taylor Swift eras.

To find out your K-pop persona go to K-pop persona on mobile, and if you're a Spotify user make sure you're logged into your account. Answer the five questions and your role will be revealed.

Amazon deal of the day: Save $600 on the fancy Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:57
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $999.99 at Amazon (save $600) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL ASUS VG248QG 24-inch G-SYNC gaming monitor $149 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Chromecast with Google TV (HD) $19.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL GE Profile Opal 2.0 countertop nugget ice maker with side tank $499 at Amazon (save $130) Get Deal

If another batch of Amazon deals is what you crave, then bon appétit. We've scoured the mega retailer's pages of listings and hand-picked a few of the best deals worth shopping on April 24 — including top brands like Roborock, ASUS, Google, and GE.

Here are the best Amazon deals of the day to get you past the weekly hump. And don't forget to check out our top picks from April 22 and April 23, as many of those are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Amazon deal of the day: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

Released last April, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is a very expensive, very high-tech robot vacuum and mop combo device. When former Mashable intern Stacia Datskovska tested it out, she found that the fancy functions like self-drying, self-washing, and customization by floor type were "hella cool," but overall it didn't live up to its extreme price tag of $1,599.99. Fortunately, though, it regularly goes on sale. Just last week, it dropped to $1,399.99, making it $200 more affordable. As of April 24, however, the S8 Pro Ultra is back down to its all-time low price of $999.99, making it a full $600 or 38% cheaper.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS VG248QG 24-inch G-SYNC gaming monitor $149.00 at Amazon
$189.00 Save $40.00 Get Deal

There's no need to compromise performance for a low price tag when buying a beginner gaming monitor. You can get the best of both worlds with this deal on the ASUS VG248QG. As Mashable contributor Nicole Bonaccorso noted in her gaming monitor roundup, "You don’t need to spend a fortune on a monitor to have a great gaming experience." An upgraded version of the VG245H (which is featured as our top budget pick), the VG248QG has a better refresh rate, making the gaming experience even more seamless. However, like Bonaccorso noted, it is lacking in the resolution department, so "anyone working with high-end GPUs may be disappointed." As of April 24, it's on sale for just $149 — down from an already affordable $189. That's 21% in savings and matches its previous all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD) $19.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

If you're sick of switching between apps when streaming, the Chromecast with Google TV can make your viewing experience more enjoyable. In his review, Mashable's Alex Perry called it "an affordable top-tier streaming device," noting that it "fixes some of the biggest problems with prior Chromecasts by adding a remote control and a new user interface." It's easy to set up; just plug it into an outlet and into the HDMI port on your TV, put batteries into the remote, and get the Google Home app. Voila — your movies, shows, and live TV are all in one place in up to 1080p HDR. As of April 24, it's on sale for only $19.99 at Amazon — that's just $2 shy of its all-time low price from Black Friday season 2022.

Opens in a new window Credit: GE GE Profile Opal 2.0 countertop nugget ice maker with side tank $499.00 at Amazon
$629.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Nugget ice just tastes better than your typical rock-hard ice cubes. That's why the GE Profile Opal 2.0 continues to be a bestseller. This machine sits atop your counter and pumps out 38 pounds of crunchable nugget ice every 24 hours. You can even use the built-in WiFi with the SmartHQ app to monitor how much ice you have on hand and schedule a fresh batch. It's regularly $629, but you can save $130 as of April 24 and snag it for $499. That's about $50 shy of its lowest price ever from Black Friday season and its lowest price so far this year.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Grab the Anker Soundcore Space A40 noise-canceling earbuds for under $50

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:45

SAVE $50: The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are just $49.99 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $99.99. That's a savings of $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Distractions are everywhere these days. You're in good company if you tend to find everyday noises to be overwhelming, whether it's a fellow commuter talking on the phone or the neighbor's dog barking well into the night. If you need a noise-canceling solution, today's sale on earbuds at Amazon could solve the problem.

As of April 24, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are just $49.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $99.99. That's a savings of $50 or a 50% discount.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best earbuds on Amazon start at just $9

Even at this affordable price, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds don't skimp on features and performance. With up to 50 hours of battery life, these earbuds focus on noise cancellation. Anker says they're capable of reducing noise by up to 98%, which can be perfect if you're hoping to tune out unwanted sounds and tune into your own music, podcasts, or audiobooks.

PCMag (owned by Mashable's publisher Ziff Davis) reviewed the Space A40 earbuds, giving them an "excellent" rating, noting the quality noise cancellation for a low price. The lightweight design clocks in at just 4.9 grams, so, despite the impressive battery life, you won't feel like you're carrying around a hefty battery in your ears. The included five sizes of silicone ear tips should help you get the most comfortable and snug fit possible.

If you need a reliable and affordable pair of noise-canceling earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 could fit the bill. Thanks to today's sale price, you can grab them for an impressive 50% off.

Shop the Brooklinen 10th Anniversary Sale and give your home a cozy spring refresh

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:30

It's time for Brooklinen's 10th Anniversary Sale. Save 25% off sitewide on the brand's bedding and home goods. Here are our top picks from the sale:

Best Brooklinen 10th Anniversary Sale Deals Best comforter deal Brooklinen down comforter (Lightweight/Queen) $224.25 at Brooklinen (Save $74.75) Get Deal Best sheet deal Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore sheet bundle (Queen) $253.80 (Save $169.20 at Brooklinen) Get Deal Best towel deal Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish cotton towel Move-In Bundle $231.41 at Brooklinen (Save $131.59) Get Deal

Spring has officially sprung, and if you haven't already given your home a much-needed seasonal refresh, now's a great time to do so. Donate your old sheets, pillows, and towels and replace them with fresh linens — it's about time you swapped everything out, after all.

Bedding and other home goods can be pricey, especially if you want the best. That's why you should take a moment to shop the Brooklinen 10th Anniversary Sale. As of April 24, the brand is serving up a sitewide discount event with 25% off everything including sheets, pillows, towels, quilts, blankets, and all those other must-have home goods. Check out our picks below.

Best comforter deal Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklinen Brooklinen down comforter (Lightweight/Queen) $224.25 at Brooklinen
$299.00 Save $74.75 Get Deal Why we like it

This super-soft comforter is the perfect addition to snuggly sheets and super-stuffed pillows. With a 100% cotton sateen shell filled with incredibly fluffy down, you'll feel like you're wrapping yourself up in a cloud. Choose from three types of warmth to accommodate the type of sleeper you are and rest easy knowing the hypoallergenic fill won't rouse your allergies and it's treated with antimicrobials so it can stay a major player in your bedtime stories for months to come.

Best sheet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklinen Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore sheet bundle (Queen) $253.80 at Brooklinen
$423.00 Save $169.20 Get Deal Why we like it

The best-selling Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore sheet bundle comes with everything you need to make your bed the place to be. It comes with a Core sheet set, a duvet cover, and additional pillowcases. With a 480-thread count, silky smooth weave, and luminous look, these sateen sheets are the perfect companions for warmth and comfort all year round, even if you're a hot sleeper.

Best towel deal Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklinen Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish cotton towel Move-In Bundle $231.41 at Brooklinen
$363.00 Save $131.59 Get Deal Why we like it

Brooklinen's Super-Plush bath towels are crafted from 100% Turkish cotton. They're extra-thick and cozy, making them the perfect thing to wrap up in after a long, hot shower. This complete move-in set comes with everything you need to swap out your old towels with Brooklinen's double-thick options, including four bath towels, four hand towels, four washcloths, and one bath mat. It's a complete transformation you'll be glad you made.

More Brooklinen 10th Anniversary Sale deals

Save over $1,000 on one of our favorite gaming laptops

Mashable - Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:00

SAVE $1,100: As of April 24, the Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop is on sale for $1,499.99, or $1,100 off the original price of $2,599.99, at Best Buy. It's one of our favorite gaming laptops in general, but we specifically love it for its power, compact design, and impressive battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Blade 14 (AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,599.99 Save $1,100.00 Get Deal

If you're looking to get into PC gaming but don't have the time, money, or space to commit to building a tower and desk setup from scratch, we highly recommend that you consider buying a gaming laptop. They aren't as powerful as desktop PCs, but you can still run some pretty hefty games on them if you get the right one. Plus, they won't occupy a ton of real estate and you can take them on the go.

One of our favorite compact yet powerful gaming laptops is the Razer Blade 14, and it's currently on sale at Best Buy for a whopping $1,100 off the original price of $2,599.99. It's still not cheap at $1,499.99, but we'd absolutely call it a steal considering what you get for the money.

SEE ALSO: The best VR headsets of 2024: Only four models made the cut

The Razer Blade 14 is sort of like the MacBook Pro of gaming laptops. It's compact and sleek (most gaming laptops aren't), extremely powerful, and features a gorgeous display that'll give all of your games that extra "wow" factor. When we tested out the Blade 14 for review, we were extremely impressed with the laptop's battery life of about four hours during heavy gaming sessions. Now, that number may seem low at first glance, but when you put it into the context of gaming laptops, it's actually on the high end — many other gaming laptops clock in at around one or two hours of gameplay, so you pretty much always have to play with them plugged in. And when we weren't playing games, the Razer Blade 14 kept a charge for a little over 10 hours.

Yes, it's a pricey machine, but you really do get what you pay for here: An ultra-powerful, compact gaming rig with high-end specs. At this discount, it's worth every penny.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator