Feed aggregator

SAVE $100: As of March 5, get the Google Pixel 8a for $399 at Amazon, which is $100 off its normal price of $499. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 8a $399.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

For anyone buying a new smartphone, a new iPhone or the latest Samsung option might be alluring. But if you can't bring yourself to spend an arm and a leg for the newest model, you still have other phones out there to choose from. The Google Pixel 8a, for example, is one such smartphone that's well worth the price — and it's even on sale right now.

As of March 5, get the Google Pixel 8a for just $399 at Amazon. That's $100 off its usual price of $499, and a discount of 20%. You can choose from four colors: Aloe, Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain.

SEE ALSO: Samsung has phone concepts that bend, stretch and fold in every possible way

The Google Pixel 8a has a crisp 6.1-inch Actua display with 2400x1080 resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Under the hood, you can expect to find a Google Tensor G3 processor, 128GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM. It also includes several AI features, the same that came with the Pixel 8, including Circle to Search, AI call screening, Magic Editor, and more.

Mashable's Alex Perry appreciated the phone's "elite performance coupled with a flagship-esque display and decent enough camera specs are more than enough to make up for some lackluster returning AI features."

There's plenty to keep you busy with on the Pixel 8a, and most importantly, it'll keep additional cash in your pocket for the time being, which we can all agree is a great thing.

Online, the citizens of America are uniting — not for peace, not for progress, not to defend itself, but for a Vice President who is edited to look like a Gerber baby.

Tweet may have been deleted

It's hard to pinpoint an exact starting point for the JD Vance babyface edits, but Know Your Meme attributes it to X user @DaveMcNamee3000, who posted an edited photo of Vance with a rounder face and larger cheeks on Oct. 2, 2024.

"For every 100 likes I will turn JD Vance into a progressively apple-cheeked baby," the user wrote, to the tune of thousands of reposts and hundreds of thousands of likes. Vance got babier. He got apple-cheekier. The internet joined in. The meme snowballed.

But it seems to have reached a fever pitch this week after Vance, on Feb. 28, asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he had "said thank you once" during a meeting between them and President Donald Trump in front of the White House Press Pool. This, X users opined, does sound like something perhaps a baby would say; it is reminiscent of a child refusing to invite you to their birthday party; it is, at best, odd work for the Vice President of the United States.

The internet responded with an electric number of memes depicting the politician as a big, big, baby.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Perhaps what is most remarkable about the trend isn't its oddity but its ability to bring both sides of the political spectrum together. Research from the Carnegie Endowment, for instance, shows that Americans are emotionally polarized, meaning they "harbor [a] strong dislike for members of the other party," an experience often attributed to social media.

But occasionally, social media can give us a bit of respite from that polarization. For instance, these baby-faced memes of Vice President JD Vance.

Making fun of the Republican Vice President might seem like the job for, well, not Republicans, but that's not exactly true. As one post on X pointed out, "Edited fatty JD Vance is the first meme template in a long while where I don’t know if the person sharing it is someone on the Left, or the most virulent Nazi you’ve ever met in your entire life. The entire political spectrum is enjoying these memes, it’s impossible to know."

Tweet may have been deleted

You might think, well, that's just one guy. And that might be true, but the top response is another user who wrote, "It's relatively easy to know, the left can't meme." (The left notoriously can, in fact, meme.) This obviously turned into an Internet Fight.

While not every conservative's post about JD Vance supports the meme, it is beautiful to see us all come together for one unifying cause: JD Vance with a big baby face.

SAVE $80: As of Mar. 5, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for $219 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $299. That's a discount of 27%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $219.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of earbuds? Don't automatically assume AirPods are the only answer. You might want to give Bose's quality offerings a chance. The company knows audio and proves it consistently with its line of products that we have plenty of great things to say about at Mashable. Case in point: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which are on sale today.

As of March 5, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for $219 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $299. That's a discount of 27%.

SEE ALSO: The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are my go-to earbuds — save $50 for a limited time

Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth had plenty of great things to say about these earbuds, awarding them a 4.6 out of 5 in his review. He praised their "excellent noise cancellation," "very cool" immersive 3D audio tech, and "long battery life," giving them the Mashable Choice Award for their performance.

These earbuds offer deep, satisfying bass and crisp treble, with spatial audio support that puts you right in the middle of the action. Plus, their CustomTune tech adapts to your ears and gives you active noise cancellation tailored to your ears. Change out your earbuds with the nine additional eartips and swap between three listening modes, with up to 6 hours of listening time per charge.

Whether you want a new pair of earbuds for a serious upgrade or you just need something a little different, this is a great option that you don't want to pass up now that they're available at a discount.

SAVE UP TO 55%: Several Tempur-Pedic sleep products are on sale at Amazon for up to 55% off, including mattress toppers, pillows, and sheet sets.

Best Tempur-Pedic deals at Amazon Best mattress topper deal Tempur-Adapt Supreme 3-inch memory foam mattress topper (queen) $198.49 (save $220.51) Get Deal Best Tempur-Pedic pillow deal Tempur-Pedic memory foam Symphony Pillow $53.99 (save $65.01) Get Deal Best Tempur-Pedic sheets deal Tempur ProAir sheet set (king, cool gray) $124.99 (save $144.01) Get Deal

Health and wellness hacks are all around us lately. We have supplements, apps, workout equipment, and more to keep us in tip-top shape and feeling good. But one of the simplest wellness hacks is sleep.

Getting a consistent good night's rest does wonders. Sleep is a great influencer in our overall mood, energy levels, and immune system function. Boiled down, it's worth investing in high-quality products that help you get a better night's sleep.

If your mattress, pillow, or sheets are proving to be uncomfortable, check out these Tempur-Pedic sale products at Amazon. Some offer up to 55% off. Here are some of our favorites.

Best Tempur-Pedic mattress topper deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Supreme 3-inch memory foam mattress topper $198.49 at Amazon
$419.00 Save $220.51 Get Deal Why we like it

If you've been sleeping on a mattress that feels too firm and unsupportive, adding a plush mattress topper can completely transform the feel. The three-inch Tempur-Adapt topper is made with the brand's Tempur material which offers ideal support and pressure relief. In a queen size, the Tempur-Adapt mattress topper is on sale for just $198.49 at Amazon which works out to a 53% discount compared to the usual price of $419.

Tempur material is great for light sleepers who are easily disrupted if a partner rolls over or the dog jumps off the bed. It's designed to reduce motion transfer, giving you a better chance of a restorative sleep.

This mattress topper comes with a removable cover that you can clean in the washing machine, adding to the hygiene of your bedding setup. The cover itself is made with a soft, hypoallergenic material that can be great for sleepers with sensitive skin or allergies.

To keep the topper in place, Tempur-Pedic added corner straps, so you won't need to readjust the topper each morning.

Best Tempur-Pedic pillow deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Pedic memory foam Symphony Pillow $53.99 at Amazon
$119.00 Save $65.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Can't remember the last time you got a new pillow? That could mean it's time for an upgrade. Designed with a luxury soft feel, the Tempur-Pedic memory foam Symphony Pillow could be perfect. It typically sells for $119, but today's deal at Amazon shaves 55% off that price, dropping it to just $53.99.

The pillow measures about five inches in height, and Tempur-Pedic mentions the dual-sided design is great for all sleeping positions. One side of the Symphony pillow is contoured for a flatter shape best suited for side or stomach sleepers. The other side offers contoured support, helping the neck, shoulders, and head.

The Tempur-Pedic Symphony pillow's removable cover is machine-washable and hypoallergenic.

Best Tempur-Pedic sheet set deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tempur-Pedic Tempur ProAir sheet set (king, cool gray) $124.99 at Amazon
$269.00 Save $144.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The Tempur ProAir sheets are made with cotton and Tencel Lyocell which makes these perfect for summer months or for those who tend to sleep hot. On the Tempur-Pedic site, a king-size set of the ProAir sheets sells for $269, but Amazon has them on sale today for just $124.99 in the cool gray colorway.

The ProAir sheets are designed to be light and breathable, giving a smooth and silky feel. While the material itself is moisture-wicking, it's also designed to be long-lasting. Tempur-Pedic added Stay Tight corner straps to the fitted sheet which makes it less likely to shift around or pop off. The set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two pillow cases, so your bedding setup will be complete.

More Tempur-Pedic deals at Amazon:

• Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ergo Neck Pillow (Large) — $66 $99 (save $33)

• Tempur ProAir Sheet Set (Azure, Twin) — $78.99 $199 (save $120.01)

• Tempur-Cloud 2-inch Mattress Topper (Queen) — $118.49 $219 (save $100.51)

SAVE 25%: As of March 5, you can get the PuroAir HEPA Air Purifier for $149.99, down from $199, at Amazon. That's a savings of $49.01 and the lowest price we've seen on this model yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: PuroAir PuroAir HEPA Air Purifier $149.99 at Amazon
$199.00 Save $49.01 Get Deal

Although spring is a beautiful time of year, those colorful blooms can trigger everything from sneezing and itchy eyes to headaches and fatigue. One thing that might be able to save you from seasonal allergy misery is a high-quality HEPA air purifier.

Right now, you can get the PuroAir HEPA Air Purifier for $149.99 at Amazon. That’s a 25% discount and the cheapest price we’ve seen this model go for yet.

SEE ALSO: The best air purifiers for pet owners

The PuroAir can cover up to 1,000 square feet and filters up to 99.99% of pollutants, smoke, pollen, and dust. Its auto-detect function monitors indoor air quality and adjusts the fan to keep your home allergen-free. Reviewers also say it’s super quiet, which is good news for light sleepers.

The only caveat is that you’ll need to change the filter every three months or 90 days, but an indicator light reminds you when to swap it out.

SAVE $25: As of March 5, you can get a 16-inch Canupdog digital photo frame for $104.99 at Amazon, down from $129.99. That's a savings of $25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Canupdog 16-inch Canupdog Digital Photo Frame $104.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $25.00 with on-screen coupon Get Deal

If you live in a smaller apartment and lack the physical space to create a gallery wall or show off your camera roll in frames, a digital photo frame is one way to put your memories on display. (It’s also a great way to make sure there aren’t any deductions on your security deposit when you move out.)

As of March 5, you can get the 16-inch Canupdog Digital Photo Frame for just $104.99 at Amazon. That’s a savings of $25. If you want a smaller frame, the 10-inch version is $71.99, or $28 off.

SEE ALSO: Grab a new Breville espresso maker for $200 off and make your perfect brew at home

The Canupdog 16-inch digital photo frame has a 1080p resolution, 32GB of storage capacity (that’s 100,000 photos’ worth of space), and comes with a two-year warranty, just in case. But the coolest thing about this frame is that you can instantly share photos and videos via the Uhale app. This makes it a great gift for grandparents or other family members because you can send them life updates in real-time.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of March 5: OUR TOP PICK Shark SpeedStyle hair dryer $159.99 (save $40 + get $8 Amazon credit) Get Deal BEST CAMERA DEAL DJI Osmo Action 4 $209.99 (save $79.01) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Soundcore Space Q45 headphones $99.99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST POWER BANK DEAL Anker Zolo Power Bank $12.94 (save $13.05) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Amazon Fire TV Cube $109.99 (save $30) Get Deal

Celebrate being halfway to the weekend with another handpicked set of deals at Amazon. Whether you're an Amazon device admirer, love a good Dyson dupe, or are just looking to score some savings on top tech in general, we've got a deal for you. Happy hump day.

Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on March 5. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our picks from March 3 and 4. Many of those are still live, including a Google Pixel 9 and Apple M4 iPad Pro at its best price ever.

Our top pick: Shark SpeedStyle Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SpeedStyle hair dryer for straight and wavy hair $159.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $40.00 get $8 Amazon credit Get Deal

If you've had your eye on the Dyson Supersonic, but can't fathom spending over $400 on a hair dryer, check out the Shark SpeedStyle. The Shark dryer is also designed to give you salon-quality blowouts without the heat damage. It offers four heat and three airflow settings, includes a handful of attachments for customization, is light as a feather, and regulates temperature 1,000 times per second. This particular model is built for straight and wavy hair, so it includes the QuickSmooth Brush, RapidGloss Finisher, and Turbo Concentrator attachments. As of March 5, it's on sale for just $159.99 at Amazon. That's 20% off its usual cost and the lowest price in over a month. Plus, for a limited time, you'll get an $8 Amazon credit automatically added to your account after purchase.

DJI Osmo Action 4 Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Action 4 $209.99 at Amazon
$289.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal

"The DJI Osmo Action 4 makes a good argument for buying an action camera that's not a GoPro," our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) write in their review. It's built to withstand the elements (freeze resistant, waterproof up to 159ft), has a clean interface, lasts up to 2.5 hours on a charge, and has excellent low-light performance and digital stabilization. It would suit content creation and vlogging better than action sports, but is still solid for all sorts of adventures. It's usually $289, but as of March 5, it's on sale for just $209.99 — that's 27% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Soundcore Space Q45 Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Space Q45 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Anker's Soundcore Space Q45 noise-cancelling headphones may not be the fanciest on the market, but they're a worthy option that won't cost a small fortune. Our sister site PCMag called them a "budget-friendly Bose competitor" and credited their solid audio quality, decent noise cancellation, and reasonable price for their rating. The adaptive noise-cancelling feature is customizable with five unique levels and the battery delivers up to 50 hours of audio with ANC turned on. Usually $149.99, you can snag a pair at Amazon for only $99.99 as of March 5. That's 33% in savings.

Anker Zolo Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Zolo power bank $12.94 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $13.05 Get Deal

The Anker Zolo power bank is a fabulous companion for any type of trip. It packs a built-in USB-C cable to juice up newer phones and devices, as well as USB-C and USB-A ports to plug in charging cables for other devices. And thanks to 30W two-way fast-charging, it won't take a million years to bring your device back to life like other power banks. While it's usually pretty affordable at $25.99, it's a total steal as of March 5 at just $12.94. That's 50% in savings.

Amazon Fire TV Cube Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $109.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Part speedy streaming device, part Alexa-enabled speaker, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is one of the most feature-packed media streamers on the market. You can use it as you would a smart speaker — check the weather, control your smart home devices, set timers, etc. — as well as navigating all of your favorite streaming apps in one place. It's the only Fire TV streaming device to offer hands-free voice commands. It's also equipped with WiFi 6E, HDMI pass-through, a speedy 2.0Ghz processor, and 4K and Dolby Atmos support. It's usually $139.99, but you can save 21% at Amazon as of March 5 and grab it for $109.99.

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

SAVE $170: The Best Buy Drops deal for March 5 is the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker for $199.99, down from the usual price of $369.99. That works out to a 46% discount when you buy it through the Best Buy app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker $199.99 at Best Buy
$369.99 Save $170.00 via the Best Buy app Get Deal

Cooking outdoors in the summer is one of life's simple pleasures. Fill your plate with grilled ribs, chicken, or steak and don't forget those perfect summer vegetables. If your outdoor cooking setup could use an upgrade before we hit the summer season, Best Buy has a great deal in store.

The Best Buy Drops deals for March 5 is the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker, on sale for just $199.99 instead of the usual price of $369.99. That's a 46% discount that saves you $170. To grab this grill and smoker at the sale price, you'll need to head into the Best Buy app on your smartphone and be logged in to a My Best Buy account, which is free to join.

Keep in mind that Best Buy Drops only last for one day and they tend to sell out, so hop on this deal quickly if you're interested.

The versatile Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker has seven cooking functions in the one unit: grill, smoker, air crisp, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate. That means you can take your kitchen tasks outside for the summer and perfectly grill steak, roast vegetables, bake cornbread, and air fry wings, all with the same appliance.

SEE ALSO: Snag a refurbished Ninja Slushi machine for $240 and stay cool all summer

The large capacity is great for families or when friends come over. Ninja mentions this model has room to cook two racks of ribs, six steaks, a nine-pound brisket, or 30 hot dogs at once. The nonstick grill grate is perfect for getting those quintessential grill lines.

Since it's designed with premium materials, the Ninja Woodfire is weather-resistant, so there's no harm in leaving it outside for the summer. Since it's significantly smaller than a normal barbecue, this is a great option if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony or a patio. It's also an awesome appliance to pack along on the next RV or camping trip, so long as you'll have electricity.

To get that desirable smoked flavor, the Ninja Woodfire Grill & Smoker uses Ninja Woodfire Pellets, but since it's not the fuel source, you'll only need to use half a cup per smoke. This deal includes two bags of Ninja Woodfire Pellets, with each bag containing enough pellets for up to three cooking sessions.

If you love cooking outdoors but don't love using a full-size barbecue, consider the convenience and versatility of the Ninja Woodfire Grill & Smoker. This model typically costs $369.99, but it's down to just $199.99 today through the Best Buy app. Just let us know what time the barbecue starts, and we'll be right over.

SAVE $200: As of March 5, the Breville Barista Express espresso machine is $549.95 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount and a $200 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine $549.95 at Amazon
$749.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Sure, going to your favorite café every morning has major main character energy (even better if you can walk there), but romanticizing your life aside, the costs can really add up.

If you’re an espresso lover looking to save some cash and have more control over what goes into your daily cup of joe, you can get the Breville Barista Express espresso machine for just $549.95 at Amazon right now. That’s 27% off the list price and a $200 discount.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that actually works on carpet? These 3 performed the best in my home.

The Breville Barista Express is a high-quality, semi-automatic espresso machine that can go from beans to espresso in under a minute. A built-in, conical burr grinder and simple controls make the entire espresso-making process easy. It also comes with a razor dose trimming tool, a stainless steel portafilter, one- and two-cup single-wall filter baskets, a coffee scoop, an integrated tamper, a stainless steel milk jug, a cleaning disc, and cleaning tablets.

Your perfect coffee at home is within reach.

SAVE $60: The Shokz OpenRun Pro bone-conducting headphones (Steel Blue) are on sale at Best Buy for $99.99, down from the standard price of $159.99. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenRun Pro (Steel Blue) $99.99 at Best Buy
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

Spring weather is here (mostly) which means many of us have gone back outside for our weekly runs. If your running headphones didn't make it through the winter, check out this nice deal at Best Buy.

As of March 5, the Shokz OpenRun Pro bone-conducting headphones are on sale for just $99.99, down from the usual price of $159.99. That's a 38% discount that takes $60 off the price tag. You'll want to snag the Steel Blue colorway to get this discount.

The ideal pair of running headphones are comfortable and have nice sound quality, but also don't completely block out the world around you. After all, you'll still want to keep an ear out for traffic, a neighbor saying "hi," or a cyclist passing. The Shokz OpenRun Pro use bone-conducting technology which sends audio through the cheekbones, leaving your ears open to surrounding sounds. This also means an extra comfortable fit.

SEE ALSO: Take up to 40% off on bicycles at REI and prep for summer rides

The Shokz OpenRun Pro are made with a wraparound titanium frame that weighs just 29 grams. They're also water- and sweat-resistant, which are must-haves for running-worthy headphones.

On a single charge, expect to get about 10 hours of playtime from the OpenRun Pro. If you forget to recharge, a quick five-minute charge adds 1.5 hours of playtime.

Get some extra motivation to head out on that morning run this spring by snagging the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones. With today's sale price at Best Buy, a pair in the Steel Blue colorway can be all yours for just $99.99.

Apple surprise-announced a new Mac Studio in the middle of its "Air" week on March 5. The new compact desktop comes in two configurations featuring the M4 Max and all-new M3 Ultra chips, and Apple is calling it "the most powerful Mac ever," to quote its press release.

The new Mac Studio is now available for preorder in the Apple Store starting at $1,999 for the M4 Max version and $3,999 for the M3 Ultra variant. It's set for release on Wednesday, March 12.

This story is developing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max) $1,999.00 at Apple
Pre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) $3,999.00 at Apple
Pre-Order Here

Apple's new MacBook Air has arrived, and as expected, it has an M4 chip.

Slightly less expected is the lower price point. The M4 MacBook Air starts at $999, which is $100 less than previous models. It also comes in a new sky blue color, joining the other options, midnight, starlight, and silver.

SEE ALSO: Here's what you need to know about preordering the new M4 Apple MacBook Air

Thanks to the M4 chip, Apple says the new MacBook Air is two times faster than the M1 MacBook Air, and "accelerates AI-based tasks," which means, yep, Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT. The new device comes with a new 12MP Center Stage camera, 16GB of RAM, and the traditional sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch display options.

The MacBook Air announcement is the third launch in a recent flurry of activity from Apple. Two weeks ago, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, a budget-friendly version of the iPhone series formerly known as SE. The iPhone 16e comes with the same A18 chip as its iPhone 16 siblings, giving it much of the same performance and capabilities.

Yesterday, as hinted by Tim Cook's "there's something in the air" teaser, Apple launched a new iPad Air with an M3 chip. Although it doesn't have the M4, Apple's most advanced chip, it's the same price point as the preview M2 iPad Air. And now we have the MacBook Air — with the powerful M4 chip and 16GB of RAM — for less than $1,000. There's something in the air at Apple, and it seems to be offering powerful performance at more competitive prices.

As previously mentioned, the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M4 chip starts at $999 and the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199. Preorders start today, with availability starting on March 12.

Apple continued its "Air" week with the announcement of the M4-powered MacBook Air on March 5. The latest iteration of the lightweight laptop comes in a new sky blue finish and starts at just $999 with 16GB of RAM (or $100 less than the M3 model).

It's now available for preorder in the Apple Store ahead of its formal launch on Wednesday, March 12.

This story is developing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (M4) $999.00 at Apple
Pre-Order Here

SAVE $50: As of March 5, AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $199 at Amazon. That's 20% off their list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $199.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

No matter if you spend a lot of time at home or on the go, earbuds are a great investment so you can enjoy your favorite music, audiobooks, and podcasts in your own little audio bubble. If you're looking for something new and happen to be an Apple user, I highly recommend the AirPods Pro 2. Not only do they offer great sound quality, but their noise-canceling features are where they truly shine. While they normally run for $249, you can actually score them on sale right now at Amazon.

The AirPods Pro 2 have dropped down to $199 at Amazon, 20% off their list price. While this price isn't as low as it has hit during some of the big seasonal sale events, it's still a great price to carefully consider.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

Sound quality and noise-cancelation are the big stars of the AirPods Pro 2, boasting the H2 chip and Active Noise Cancelation. For those moments when you want to be more aware of your surroundings, like when you're walking around outside or traveling, the Transparency mode also opens things up without breaking up what you're listening to.

These features make them a worthy investment, but these earbuds have even ranked in our list of the best earbuds because "They produce a sound that's rich and well-balanced, they have excellent noise cancellation (that falls just behind the Bose QC Ultras), and they work seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem."

If you're looking for an earbud upgrade, you don't want to miss out on the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

There are a few more earbud deals that are worth checking out right now, too. You can save on the Beats Fit Pro and the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds are discounted at Best Buy.

$5 PRIME VIDEO CREDIT: Amazon is offering a $5 Prime Video credit to those who buy two action movies on Prime Video until March 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Buy 2 Action Movies On Prime Video, Get $5 Prime Video Credit Get Deal

If you're looking to build up your digital movie library, Amazon is offering a great deal right now through Prime Video.

Until March 31, you can score a $5 Prime Video credit when you buy two action films from their impressive selection. This deal covers a variety of action films, so you can choose from a selection of classic action films, action comedies, sci-fi action movies, war action movies, and superhero action movies.

SEE ALSO: The best movies on Prime Video right now

There are plenty of great options scattered throughout each category, but we've included just a few of our favorites below that are worth picking up while this offer is live.

• Top Gun — $16.99

• Alien — $4.99 $19.99

• Jurassic Park — $14.99

• Game Night — $14.99

• The Batman — $9.99 $14.99

• 1917 — $14.99

• The Terminator — $4.99 $14.99

• The Nice Guys — $12.99

• John Wick — $7.99 $14.99

• The Fugitive — $12.99

After picking up your films, you'll get an email from Amazon letting you know that your Prime Video $5 credit has been added to your account. You can then use it towards any other films you feel like buying or renting on the service. This credit "expires 30 days after the date issued," according to Prime Video's promotion terms.

If you're looking for even more great deals on Amazon right now, there are plenty in the world of tech that are worth checking out. At the moment, you can save on Kindle bundles — both the standard Kindle essentials bundle and Kindle Scribe essentials bundle are on sale — and for those looking to upgrade their streaming setup, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also discounted right now.

Character chatbots are a prolific online safety threat, according to a new report on the dissemination of sexualized and violent bots via character platforms like the now infamous Character.AI.

Published by Graphika, a social network analysis company, the study documents the creation and proliferation of harmful chatbots across the internet's most popular AI character platforms, finding tens of thousands of potentially dangerous roleplay bots built by niche digital communities that work around popular models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

SEE ALSO: UK watchdog probes TikTok, Reddit over children's data use

Broadly, youth are migrating to companion chatbots in an increasingly disconnected digital world, appealing to the AI conversationalists to role play, explore academic and creative interests, and to have romantic or sexually explicit exchanges, reports Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz. The trend has prompted alarm from child safety watchdogs and parents, heightened by high profile cases of teens who have engaged in extreme, sometimes life-threatening, behavior in the wake of personal interactions with companion chatbots.

The American Psychological Association appealed to the Federal Trade Commission in January, asking the agency to investigate platforms like Character.AI and the prevalence of deceptively-labeled mental health chatbots. Even less explicit AI companions may perpetuate dangerous ideas about identity, body image, and social behavior.

Graphika's report focuses on three categories of companion chatbots within the evolving industry: chatbot personas representing sexualized minors, those advocating eating disorders or self-harm, and those with hateful or violent extremist tendencies. The report analyzed five prominent bot-creation and character card-hosting platforms (Character.AI, Spicy Chat, Chub AI, CrushOn.AI, and JanitorAI), as well as eight related Reddit communities and associated X accounts. The study looked only at bots active as of Jan. 31.

Sexualized companion chatbots are the biggest threat

The majority of unsafe chatbots, according to the new report, are those labeled as "sexualized, minor-presenting personas," or that engage in roleplay featuring sexualized minors or grooming. The company found more than 10,000 chatbots with such labels across the five platforms.

Four of the prominent character chatbot platforms surfaced over 100 instances of sexualized minor personas, or role-play scenarios featuring characters who are minors, that enable sexually explicit conversations with chatbots, Graphika reports. Chub AI hosted the highest numbers, with more than 7,000 chatbots directly labeled as sexualized minor female characters and another 4,000 labeled as "underage" that were capable of engaging in explicit and implied pedophilia scenarios.

Hateful or violent extremist character chatbots make up a much smaller subset of the chatbot community, with platforms hosting, on average, 50 such bots out of tens of thousands of others — these chatbots often glorified known abusers, white supremacy, and public violence like mass shootings. These chatbots have the potential to reinforce harmful social views, including mental health conditions, the report explains. Chatbots flagged as “ana buddy” (“anorexia buddy”), "meanspo coaches," and toxic roleplay scenarios reinforce the behaviors of users with eating disorders or tendencies toward self-harm, according to the report.

Chatbots are spread by niche online communities

Most of these chatbots, Graphika found, are created by established and pre-existing online networks, including "pro-eating disorder/self harm social media accounts and true-crime fandoms," as well as "hubs of so-called not safe for life (NSFL) / NSFW chatbot creators, who have emerged to focus on evading safeguards." True crime communities and serial killer fandoms also factored heavily into the creation of NSL chatbots.

Many such communities already existed on sites like X and Tumblr, using chatbots to reinforce their interests. Extremist and violent chatbots, however, emerged most often out of individual interest, built by users who received advice from online forums like 4chan’s /g/ technology board, Discord servers, and special-focus subreddits, Graphika explains.

None of these communities have clear consensus about user guardrails and boundaries, the study found.

Creative tech loopholes get chatbots online

"In all the analyzed communities," Graphika explains, "there are users displaying highly technical skills that enable them to create character chatbots capable of circumventing moderation limitations, like deploying fine-tuned, locally run open-source models or jailbreaking closed models. Some are able to plug these models into plug-and-play interface platforms, like SillyTavern. By sharing their knowledge, they make their abilities and experiences useful to the rest of the community." These tech savvy users are often incentivized by community competitions to successfully create such characters.

Other tools harnessed by these chatbot creators include API key exchanges, embedded jailbreaks, alternative spellings, external cataloging, obfuscating minor characters’ ages, and borrowing coded language from the anime and manga communities — all of which are able to work around existing AI models' frameworks and safety guardrails.

"[Jailbreak] prompts set LLM parameters for bypassing safeguards by embedding tailored instructions for the models to generate responses that evade moderation," the report explains. As part of this effort, Chatbot creators have found linguistic grey areas that allow bots to remain on character-hosting platforms, including using familial terms (like "daughter") or foreign languages, rather than age ranges or the term explicit phrase "minor."

While online communities continue to find the gaps in AI developers' moderation, federal legislation is attempting to fill them, including a new California bill aimed at tackling so-called "chatbot addictions" among children.

Breaking into programming is always challenging — especially now — but getting a foothold in the industry while having an arrest record is even more daunting. Formation, an AI-powered interview prep platform designed for present and future software engineers, is offering a leg up to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Formation recently partnered with The Last Mile, an organization providing justice-impacted people with education and employment opportunities, especially in the tech industry. Thanks to the partnership, TLM alumni — who have already received some tech-related training — are allowed free access to Formation's Fellowship Program, which provides support via mock interviews and technical mentorship. Some of the lessons are tailored specifically to the companies applicants hope to snag a job with, including Meta and Google.

"Formation's platform runs on a patented adaptive learning algorithm that rigorously benchmarks an individual's interview readiness across behavioral and technical topics, vs. the industry standard hiring bar and serves them personalized training, career coaching, and technical mentorship to most effectively fill their skill gaps," Formation founder and CEO Sophie Novati explains to Mashable. "Our platform takes into account skill level, prior experience, goals, and job hunting timelines when personalizing the interview prep experience."

SEE ALSO: Man leaked classified Pentagon docs via Discord — now he’s sentenced to 15 years in prison

Formation's remote learning model, which includes at least 15 weekly hours of daily stand-ups, mentor-led sessions, and panels held by industry leaders, does more than help aspiring engineers brush up on their coding skills.

"Formation instills confidence in these individuals by giving them access to training and resources that is personalized to them, their skills, and their lived experience," says Novati. "Formation also provides them top-tier mentorship and career coaching that helps them understand what the expectations are on the job hunt and on the job itself, and helps them understand how to best frame their experience and background on the job hunt — breaking down mental barriers and imposter syndrome many of these individuals face."

Formation describes part of its mission as helping diversify tech, and its partnership with The Last Mile is an extension of that (Formation typically works with companies on bespoke hiring and training programs and individuals looking for personalized career support). Formation representatives contacted TLM, and the latter group's executive director, Kevin McCracken, saw a big opportunity. Considering how many of The Last Mile's clients aspire for engineering and software positions post-prison, the partnership seemed especially beneficial. Even better, the pairing recently notched its first success story — after completing his internship with Formation, a Last Mile client named Jacob was offered a full-time position with Asana.

McCracken says he's received positive feedback regarding Formation's AI-aided career coaching. People impacted by the justice system "don't want to be called out, they want to take what they have learned and apply it in a career," McCracken says. "Formation really looks past the individual's worst mistake and works with them like any other student. It's refreshing, and exactly the narrative that The Last Mile wants to relay."

Two decades after creating Digg, a community-focused social message board, Kevin Rose is reviving the site and teaming up with a founder of Reddit.

It's impossible to rile Joe Keery up with an unpopular opinion, because the man is just far too damn relaxed.

In the video above the Stranger Things star and Djo singer responds to BBC Radio One callers about everything from cats being better than dogs to a bald head with a beard being better than long hair and no beard.

The way he navigates even the trickiest of topics would surely make Steve Harrington proud.

Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton developed reinforcement learning, a technique vital to chatbots like ChatGPT.