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The hour is nearly upon us. It's almost time to preorder a Nintendo Switch 2.

With most U.S. retailers set to finally push preorders live at midnight ET on April 24, the priority for most Switch enthusiasts will surely be grabbing one during this first wave. However, let's collectively resign ourselves to the very real possibility that the Switch 2 is going to sell out.

Earlier today, Nintendo issued an apology when interest in the Japanese preorder far exceeded the available supply. In Japan alone, Nintendo said that 2.2 million people applied to preorder the Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store lottery. That doesn't bode well for American gamers, unfortunately.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why might the Switch 2 preorder sell out?

If you don't recall, the last time there was a big console launch with the PlayStation 5, global supply shortages made it nearly impossible to get one unless you got incredibly lucky, and for an inordinately long time. Now, to be fair, COVID-19 played a huge role in that, but it's not like the Nintendo Switch 2 is launching in ideal conditions either, thanks to President Donald Trump's tariffs and an escalating trade war with China. We asked the big retailers (Walmart, Best Buy, Target) how they planned to cope with potential price gougers eager to snap up supplies of the Switch 2, but have yet to hear back.

So, if your retailers of choice don't work out (and the direct-from-Nintendo option doesn't pan out either), you don't need to panic. There will inevitably be more chances to preorder a Switch 2, or even buy one after launch.

There's no telling what the Switch 2 purchasing ecosystem will look like over the next several weeks; it may be tough to get your hands on one. But if you follow these tried-and-true steps for tracking stock online, you can put yourself in a better position to snag a Switch 2 than the average person if it sells out.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder retailer guide: Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart, and Amazon How to track Switch 2 restocks online

Be warned: This is more of an art than a science. But with these tactics, you can at least know when Switch 2 consoles are available, if nothing else.

Switch 2 restocks from retailers themselves

One very quick and simple thing you can do is go to the store pages for retailers like Walmart and GameStop right now, before preorders start, and sign up for stock alerts straight from the source. Those two retailers in particular have prompts on the right side of the store page offering to let you know when stock is available if you give them your email address.

I should note that I've had spotty luck with this feature in the past. It perhaps isn't the most reliable way to track restocks, but it's one of many options to have in your back pocket.

From stock tracking websites

There are various websites that track retail stock in an easy-to-navigate manner. One such site is Restock Tracker, which straightforwardly lists which console models (regular or Mario Kart bundle, in this case) are available at which retailers. You can sign up for email alerts if you feel like making an account, too. I should note that I haven't personally used this particular site before, as I tend to rely on social media for restock alerts, but it looks like it should work okay for this purpose.

Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable From social media accounts

Speaking of social media, I've found that this is (perhaps sadly) the easiest way to keep on top of which consoles are available where. I know, I know — we all want to stop doomscrolling through our feeds. But for Nintendo Switch gamers, you're going to have to do it some more.

Thankfully, there's a whole cottage industry of folks out there who meticulously track things like console sales and deals, and post them to X and BlueSky. Specifically for Switch 2 purposes, Jake Randall and Matt Swider on X should serve your needs, and both have hundreds of thousands of followers, if that somehow proves their legitimacy to you.

My personal favorite social media account for this sort of thing is Wario64, who can be found on X and BlueSky. The enigmatic operator of this account tracks all kinds of stock alerts and deals across mostly the world of gaming, but they also dabble in tech and other pop culture things, too. Wario64's reach can definitely be a little broad if you want to turn on post alerts for an account to find Switch 2 restocks, but I would also say that this account is how I got both a PS5 and Xbox Series X when those two consoles were hard to come by in 2020. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important social media accounts in my life right now.

And if all else fails, you can try smashing the refresh button at your go-to retailer when preorders go live at midnight tonight. Good luck.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at Walmart
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at Target
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at GameStop
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here

SAVE UP TO $87.58: As of April 23, the M4-powered Apple MacBook Air has fallen to a new record-low price on Amazon. You can now score the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air for just $911.42 (normally $999).

Quick links: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $911.42 (save $87.58) Get Deal

Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air just keeps getting cheaper and cheaper thanks to Amazon. After dropping the base models of the 13-inch notebooks to $939 on Tuesday, April 22, the retail giant has put them on sale for even better prices, a mere 24 hours later.

At the time of writing, the midnight black variant of the 13-inch model was listed for only $911.42 on Amazon, or almost $88 off its $999 MSRP. (Other colorways had fallen to $912.) For shoppers interested in a slightly bigger, nicer display, the 15-inch version had dipped to $1,117 in starlight and silver — that's an $82 discount on its $1,199 sticker price. Both come with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, though the 15-inch model has a slightly higher resolution and two extra speakers.

SEE ALSO: Review: I went hands on with the M4 MacBook Air (2025)

Apple released its M4 MacBook Air refresh in mid-March, adding open-lid support for two external displays and a new 12MP Center Stage camera in addition to that zippy new CPU. After testing the 15-inch model, Mashable's Stan Schroeder deemed it "impressively powerful" and "the best-buy Apple laptop, period." We recently named it the best MacBook for most people, and the 13-inch model will soon be crowned our favorite budget MacBook. (Full disclosure: The only reason I spotted Amazon's excellent deal was because I was in the process of adding it to our "best cheap laptops" guide. Stay tuned for its full writeup.)

Snagging either M4 MacBook Air through Amazon right now means locking its lowest price to date — and its lowest price anywhere. B&H Photo had the sky blue 13-inch model on sale for $912 the last time we checked, but all other configurations of both sizes were pricier there than on Amazon. And while you can technically save a whole $100 by going directly through the Apple Store, that offer is reserved for college students and educators.

Meanwhile, the M4 MacBook Airs are stuck at full price at Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple M4 MacBook Air (256GB SSD, 16GB RAM) $911.42 at Amazon
$999 Save $87.58 Get Deal

Jason Citron was a co-founder of the company, which is said to be working toward an initial public offering at some point this year.

The offer, which caused President Trump’s memecoin to surge in price, was his family’s latest effort to profit from cryptocurrencies.

TL;DR: Block ads and prevent contact with malware on family devices with an A$25 AdGuard lifetime subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription AU$25
AU$266 Save AU$241 Get Deal

Set the scene: It's dinner time, and the kids are working on homework. You want to scroll through a recipe blog on your phone to whip something up. One kid needs your laptop to do some science class research.

This could quickly become a digital quagmire where you can't make it through the recipe without another video popping up on screen, and the kids accidentally download malware on your work laptop while researching treefrogs. Or you could use AdGuard and clean up your family's browsing experience for just A$25 with code FAMPLAN for lifetime access.

How does AdGuard protect my family?

AdGuard steps in online when you can't be there. It protects your family with advanced ad-blocking, privacy protection tools, and parental control settings. When you reduce exposure to harmful ads or malicious links with this lifetime access to AdGuard, you'll be able to:

• Eliminate banners, pop-ups, and disruptive video ads to streamline browsing

• Hide your data from trackers or activity analyzers as you use the internet

• Prevent malware and phishing sites

• Restrict access to inappropriate or adult content for kids' devices

You can use AdGuard on up to nine devices. It works across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. On each device, you can access clutter-free websites and prevent accidental encounters with malware.

Your kids are growing up, and you can't look over their shoulders every second. But you can still protect them from digital threats — from the annoying to the malicious — when you use AdGuard across all your family devices. Get lifetime access to this privacy-protecting ad blocker for A$25 (reg. A$266) with code FAMPLAN.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE 25%: Shoppers who sign up for auto-delivery with Keurig today will save 25% and lock in their discounted price through the end of the year. Current auto-delivery customers also lock in current prices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig 'Price Lock Event' Get Deal

As prices continue to rise, brands nationwide are reassuring customers by freezing prices or alerting shoppers to deals and discounts they can take advantage of before tariff pricing affects their wallets. Today, Keurig joined the club with its “Price Lock Event.”

Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the sale:

What is Keurig’s Price Lock Event?

The “Price Lock Event” is a 30-day window where new auto-delivery subscribers can lock in their K-Cup pod prices through the end of 2025 for any purchases made on the Keurig website. (Current auto-delivery customers also lock in current prices.) This ensures subscribers will pay the same price for their pods, regardless of any price increases on Keurig’s end.

“With The Price Lock Event, we’re not just offering a promotion — we’re offering peace of mind,” says Mark Gerner, VP of Keurig.com at Keurig. “We believe everyone deserves coffee they love, at a price they can count on. This is our way of delivering consistency and care in every cup.”

SEE ALSO: Bruvi brewer system: The new and improved Keurig? When does the Price Lock Event end?

The “Price Lock Event” ends on May 23, 2025. So, if you sign up for auto-delivery anytime between today and May 23, you’ll save 25% on most pods, bagged coffee, and select accessories, and lock in today’s price on your favorite K-Cup pods through 2025.

The discount will remain in place as long as your auto-delivery subscription is active, or you’re an active SMART Delivery or Keurig Start Kit program member. There’s no commitment required, and you can skip, swap, or cancel at any time.

If you want to save even more, you can sign up for a Keurig Starter Kit which will get you a brand-new Keurig machine (you can choose from the K-Cafe SMART, K Supreme Plus SMART, or K Supreme SMART) for just $49.99, plus the 25% off discount, and price lock on your K-Cup pods through 2025. But you’ll have to buy at least 32 boxes per year to maintain this deal.

How do I sign up for Keurig's auto-delivery service?

Signing up is pretty straightforward. Just head to Keurig's website, click the “LOCK MY PRICE” button on the homepage, and follow the prompts to create an account.

You’ll be asked to build your order, set a schedule, and provide your payment information. And, for every $1 spent on beverages and accessories, Keurig will give you 10 points toward free coffee and other perks.

Keurig’s also having other deals

If auto-delivery isn’t for you, you can still save on Keurig products by checking out the brand’s sales page.

• Get 15% off flavored beverages (no code required)

• Get up to 30% off select brewers and accessories through May 11 with code LOVE4MOM

• Get a 22-count Starbucks Brown Sugar Cinnamon K-Cup Pods box for just $15.74 through May 11 (no code required)

• Get a K-Iced Plus for just $79.99 through May 11 (no code required)

• Get a Keurig SimpleCafé Frother for just $14.99 through May 11 (no code required)

Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Amy Sherman-Palladino delivers a delightful new TV binge with the ballet-centric Étoile.

Co-created by Sherman-Palladino and her husband Dan Palladino, Étoile takes its name from the French word for star, or the term for a ballet company's principal dancer. And while the series may not immediately shine as brightly as Sherman-Palladino's best-known works, it's still a frothy fun look into the breakneck world of dancers fighting to make art on their own terms.

SEE ALSO: The best comedies on Prime Video for when you need a good laugh What's Étoile about? Charlotte Gainsbourg in "Étoile." Credit: Philippe Antonello / Prime Video

For a show about ballet, Étoile kicks off on a dour note about the art form: It's dying. Two of the world's most renowned ballet companies — France's Ballet National and America's Metropolitan Ballet Theater, both fictional — have seen their ticket sales plummet in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. How can these companies bring eyes back to their work?

Le Ballet National's interim director Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg) presents a bold solution: a trans-Atlantic talent swap. Le Ballet National and the Metropolitan Ballet Theater will run complementary seasons and exchange choreographers and dancers. Geneviève, for example, brings brilliant (and eccentric) choreographer Tobias Bell (Gideon Glick) to Paris. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Ballet Theater director Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby) demands étoile Cheyenne Toussaint (Lou de Laâge) come to New York. Her star power and extraordinary dance skills will surely bring crowds back to the ballet, but her fiery stubbornness threatens to tear the company apart from within. Bring on the balletic culture shock!

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: How does that big death compare to the game? Étoile is an engrossing tale of high-strung artists. Yanic Truesdale and Charlotte Gainsbourg in "Étoile." Credit: Philippe Antonello / Prime Video

Splitting its time between New York City and Paris, Étoile weaves a tale of two very different companies facing similar issues: big egos, pressure from boards and governing bodies, and the sheer worry that no one cares about ballet anymore. Sherman-Palladino brings these problems to the fore with her trademark rapid-fire dialogue, so perfectly calibrated that every exchange calls to mind the show's highly choreographed, lovingly shot dance sequences.

Sherman-Palladino has a background in dance, and Étoile isn't even her first foray into making a TV show about ballet. (That would be 2012's short-lived Bunheads.) That past dance experience lends Étoile a reverence for ballet that shines in its dance scenes (and its dance-centric cameos), but that never overshadows the comedy at the show's heart. The dancers and directors we encounter over the first season aren't the tortured ballerinas of, say, Black Swan, but instead drama kings and queens looking to make their art, their way. Cheyenne scares off her prospective dance partners by telling them bloody tales of murder, while Tobias heckles his own piece on opening night in hopes of fine-tuning it.

Perfection drives characters like Cheyenne and Tobias, for whom dance is everything. Yet there's a larger force orchestrating these artists' every move, one that Jack and Geneviève are all too aware of: money. The entire talent swap is set in motion by of a need for profit, yet it requires money to even get off the ground. That funding comes courtesy of the uber-wealthy (and uber-shady) Crispin Shamblee (Simon Callow), who's of the mind that funding something good like ballet could offset the less-savory ways by which he earned his money. His involvement rankles eco-warrior Cheyenne, but in classic villainous fashion, he asks whether they're so different after all, especially when Cheyenne is so willing to cast others aside in her pursuit of greatness.

It's a fascinating idea, as is the push and pull between art and commerce (see also: The Studio), albeit neither get explored to their fullest extent in what often feels like an overstuffed first season. There are simply too many story threads and not enough time to devote to each, with the Paris half of the show especially feeling short-changed in the season's first few episodes.

Still, Étoile finds its rhythm fairly quickly thanks to a wonderful ensemble cast. Previous Sherman-Palladino performers like Kirby, Glick, and Yanic Truesdale are immediately at home, while new collaborators like de Laâge and Gainsbourg fit right in in this crackling world Sherman-Palladino has built. Chemistry (both comedic and romantic) bursts out of damn near every scene, and the combination of both English and French dialogue helps emphasize the show's trans-Atlantic scale. The overall result is an engrossing, if occasionally self-indulgent, treat.

All eight episodes of Étoile premiere April 24 on Prime Video.

A new video purports to show off what the iPhone 17 Air will look like in your hands. Spoiler alert: You're going to want to see this.

The rumored super-thin model of the upcoming iPhone 17 appeared in dummy model form in a new video from Unbox Therapy on YouTube, via 9to5Mac. In the video, host Lewis George Hilsenteger takes a look at dummy models allegedly from manufacturers in China of various new iPhones, but the iPhone 17 Air is the one you really ought to see. If the leak proves to be legitimate, then the Air could be even thinner than expected.

SEE ALSO: New foldable iPhone specs leaked, including alleged details on the camera and Touch ID

At its smallest point, it measures 5.65mm thick, making it tiny compared to the 8.75mm Pro Max model. For reference, that's even thinner than a pencil, if you can remember those.

Hilsenteger immediately worries about the possibility of the phone bending, though that's impossible to test until the real phone is in people's hands. (And if you've ever wanted to bend your iPhone, then catch up on the latest foldable iPhone rumors.) At this time, Mashable can't verify the validity of this particular leak.

As previous rumors have suggested, the iPhone 17 Air appears to sacrifice some hardware features to achieve that level of thinness. That means it will likely have just one camera lens and could have a smaller battery capacity.

Lately, new iPhone 17 leaks and rumors have been coming hard and fast. Already this week, we reported on a recent leak that suggested the iPhone 17 Pro will allow for new levels of case customization thanks to an extended camera bar. Beyond that, Apple is reportedly planning on doing a new budget "e" model iPhone, which could end up on the annual iPhone release schedule.

Despite sacrificing cameras, an ultra-thin iPhone could certainly become the most fashionable choice, especially if it easily fits in your pocket — can you imagine?

All will be revealed in September, as always.

SAVE UP TO 80%: The Amazon Book Sale is on now through April 28. Take up to 80% off Kindle books and up to 65% off print books, plus discounts on several Kindle models.

Best Amazon Book Sale deals Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) $224.99 (save $55) Get Deal Best subscription deal Kindle Unlimited $0.99 for a three-month subscription (save $34.98) Get Deal Best e-book deal E-books up to 80% off E-books start as low as $0.99 Get Deal Best book deal Save up to 65% on physical books save on fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, kids' books, and more Get Deal

From now through April 28, Amazon is a paradise for readers. The annual Amazon Book Sale kicked off today, offering plenty of discounts to suit all readers. From those deeply into fantasy to those who want all the best titles from BookTok, the sale has something for everyone, including kids.

Not only does the sale slash prices on physical and e-books, Amazon discounted the latest Kindle, the Kindle Colorsoft, which is the first Kindle to include a color screen. You're also in luck if you're in the mood for a cookbook refresh, or if your summer plans involve poolside romantasy reads.

Check out the extensive list of Amazon Book Sale deals here, or browse some of our favorites below.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) $224.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $55 Get Deal Why we like it

The latest Kindle is the first to offer a color screen, which couldn't be more perfect for scrolling magazines, reading graphic novels, or highlighting favorite passages. During the Amazon Book Sale, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) is on sale for $224.99, down from the normal price of $279.99. That matches the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. Plus, Amazon is throwing in three months of free access to Kindle Unlimited, which gives you access to countless titles to fill your new Kindle.

If your summer vacation plans include finally catching up on this year's best novels, consider the packing efficiency that comes from downloading thousands of books to your Kindle compared to lugging around physical books. Plus, the Kindle Colorsoft is waterproof, so you won't need to worry about splashes, and the glare-free screen is great for reading in bright sunlight.

More Kindle deals

• Kindle Essentials Bundle — $146.97 $161.97 (save $15)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle — $479.97 $539.97 (save $60)

Best subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited $0.99 at Amazon
$35.97 Save $34.98 Three-month subscription for $0.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

Can't decide on which titles you'd like to grab during the Amazon Book Sale? No problem — instead, you can grab a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited for just $0.99, which gives you access to over four million digital titles. This pairs perfectly if you're grabbing a new Kindle during the sale or if you have major summer reading plans. Kindle Unlimited also includes access to thousands of audiobooks, which are perfect for any upcoming road trips.

Best e-book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Poisoned Pen Press E-books up to 80% off during the Amazon Book Sale Kindle titles start at just $0.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The 2025 Amazon Book Sale is packed with discounts on Kindle titles, which means this is the perfect time to restock your library with titles for the summer. Pick up the e-book version of the award-winning The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood for just $1.99, or dive into What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand for just $2.99.

More Kindle book deals

• The Teacher by Freida McFadden — $0.99 $3.99 (save $3)

• The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods — $0.99 $14.50 (save $13.51)

• The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson — $0.99 $16.99 (save $16)

• The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult — $1.99 $10.99 (save $9)

• Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver — $1.99 $14.50 (save $12.51)

• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey — $1.99 $15.50 (save $13.51)

• Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah — $1.99 $17 (save $15.01)

• Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce — $1.99 $18 (save $16.01)

• The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware — $2.99 $11.95 (save $8.96)

• Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover — $2.99 $17.95 (save $15)

• Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — $2.99 $19.99 (save $17)

• The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave — $2.99 $23.95 (save $20.96)

• The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell — $2.99 $28.99 (save $26)

Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Algonquin Books Save up to 65% on physical books during the Amazon Book Sale Save on fiction, nonfiction, sci-fi, fantasy, kids' books, and more Get Deal Why we like it

If you're a fan of reading physical books, Amazon has not forgotten to discount thousands of titles as part of this year's sale. You'll be able to save up to 65% on countless titles that span all genres, including great books for kids, cookbooks, memoirs, and more. Check out The Leavers by Lisa Ko on sale for $7.06 instead of the normal price of $18.99. And be sure to read Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary before it becomes a major motion picture, on sale for $13.98 in paperback.

More book deals

• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot — $6.96 $19 (save $12.04)

• The Weight Of Ink by Rachel Kadish — $7.19 $19.99 (save $12.80)

• The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner — $7.28 $18.99 (save $11.71)

• On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass — $7.66 $18.99 (save $11.33)

• The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin — $10.62 $18.99 (save $8.37)

• Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake — $11.39 $20 (save $8.61)

• Artificial Condition: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells — $12.40 $19.99 (save $7.51)

• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer — $12.69 $18 (save $5.31)

• The Emissary by Yoko Tawada — $13.10 $15.95 (save $2.85)

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach — $14.89 $28.99 (save $14.10)

• The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han — $16.15 $35.99 (save $19.84)

The video-streaming platform has revolutionized how we watch things. Here’s a timeline of its biggest moments.

Password sharing keeps getting harder and harder.

After months of updates, Max this week became the latest streamer to crack down on folks sharing passwords, following the lead of competitors like Netflix and Disney+.

On Tuesday, Max announced a new feature, Extra Member Add-On, which is seemingly focused on charging folks for sharing passwords. Similar to other streaming platforms which have put a stop to sharing passwords, the idea is you'll have to pay for someone who uses a Max account outside your home.

SEE ALSO: It was tough, but we found the 25 best movies on Max

Adding a member to your Max account will run you an additional $7.99 per month and you can only stream from one profile on one device at a time. Accounts are also limited to one Extra Member Add-On. The new policy will, however, let you transfer over a profile to be an extra member, meaning that user will keep their preferences and watch history.

In a press statement, Max attempted to make the news sound like a good thing for customers.

"Extra Member Add-On and Profile Transfer are two key Max advancements, designed to help viewers with a new way to enjoy our best-in-class content at an exceptional value, and offer subscribers greater flexibility in managing their accounts," JB Perrette, CEO and president, global streaming and games, Warner Bros Discovery, said in the statement.

"These updates provide a simple way for subscribers to add-on a new member to their account, or for existing subscribers who have users outside of their household to smoothly, and in an uninterrupted fashion, transition their profile so that extra member can continue to access Max."

Featured Video For You The best VPNs for streaming Netflix and Hulu How to navigate Max's password crackdown

In short, there is no simple way to fully get around the crackdown.

If you want to buy an Extra Member Add-On, the option is in Max's subscription settings. If you're looking to transfer a profile, it should be an option when you go to buy the Extra Member Add-On.

As seems to constantly be the case with streamers these days, the answer to your problem seems to be open your wallet. Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and the rest of their ilk have worked in recent years to squeeze dollars out of users. Max certainly hasn't been an exception. Remember when watching an HBO product meant zero ads? Those were the days.

Max upped it prices last summer, charging $16.99 per month for an ad-free plan, with the Ultimate ad-free plan increasing to $20.99 per month. The ad-tier plan will cost you $9.99 per month. Now, if you want to, say, include a friend or family member outside your home, that'll run you an extra $7.99 per month.

If the added cost weren't enough of a bummer, Max — ever since the platform's 2023 merger with Discovery+ — has made it a habit to unceremoniously remove programming from its archives. So forking over that extra cash might not even grant you access to your favorite HBO show.

The Best Lego Star Wars Day Deals Best Lego Star Wars Starship Deal Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon $67.95 (Save $17.04) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars Character Deal Lego Star Wars Chewbacca $172.90 (Save $27.09) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars Helmet Deal Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet $65.99 (Save $14) Get Deal

It may not be May 4 yet (May the 4th be with you), but Lego Star Wars Day is already upon us next week. That means it's time to celebrate the Star Wars franchise with a slew of great prices on some of the coolest Star Wars toys around. While that day will be chock-full of announcements, new releases, and other fun Star Wars news, you can get in on the action right now thanks to tons of great discounts on Lego Star Wars goodies.

Whether you want to put together one of the most iconic Star Wars starships of all time or you're a big Darth Vader fan looking to display the man himself's helmet, there's a little something for everyone in store with these discounts. To help you save, we've rounded up some of our favorite deals on offer that you can snag ahead of the big day.

Below, find the best Lego Star Wars Day deals we've found so far.

Best Lego Star Wars starship deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon $67.95 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $17.04 Get Deal Why we like it

This 921-piece kit is the perfect collector's replica of the Millennium Falcon. The 25th anniversary collectible model stands about 5 inches tall, 9.5 inches long, and 7.5 inches wide. It comes with its own buildable stand that tilts it at the perfect viewing angle, with a dynamic look that makes it seem like it's hurtling through space. It's a great, affordable option for adults and little Lego fans who want to help, and for this price, you'll want to snap it up quick.

Best Lego Star Wars character deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Lego Star Wars Chewbacca $172.90 at Walmart
$199.99 Save $27.09 Get Deal Why we like it

Who doesn't love Chewie? Bring home the fearsome (and totally adorable) Chewbacca with this Lego building kit. This model of Han Solo's right-hand man is a whopping 2,319 pieces and stands about 18 inches tall. The non-posable figure comes with a built-in display and a plaque with information about him as well as a special minifigure. The mini Chewie comes with a stud-shooting bowcaster and looks positively tiny next to his big brother. If you want an iconic character from the Star Wars universe to build, this is the best pick out of the current sales, and you'll love seeing him with the rest of your collectibles.

Best Lego Star Wars helmet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet $65.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $14 Get Deal Why we like it

What says Star Wars more than the legendary Darth Vader? If you're down with the Sith Lord, you'll want this 834-piece wonder as part of your collection. It's only one of the most iconic parts of sci-fi and movie history, and it can intimidate others from your shelf. It's over 8 inches tall when completed, and comes with a buildable display stand that you can use to show it off proudly. And guess what? It's even nicer now that it's on sale.

More Lego Star Wars deals

• Lego Star Wars UCS Razor Crest — $522.19 $599.99 (save $77.80)

• Lego Star Wars Captain Rex Helmet — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian Helmet — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Star Wars Ahsoka's Jedi Interceptor — $38.99 $44.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars The Clone Wars Captain Rex Y-Wing Microfighter — $7.78 $12.99 (save $5.21)

• Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• Lego Star Wars BARC Speeder Escape — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

• Lego Star Wars Jedi Bob’s Starfighter — $31.95 $39.99 (save $8.04)

• Lego Star Wars The Clone Wars Ahsoka's Jedi Interceptor Spaceship — $38.99 $44.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV — $43.99 $54.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s Duel on Peridea — $43.99 $54.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz The Phantom Menace — $44.99 $54.99 (save $10)

• Lego Star Wars Droideka — $51.99 $64.99 (save $13)

• Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV — $63.95 $79.99 (save $16.04)

• Lego Star Wars The Phantom Menace Mos ESPA Podrace Diorama — $65 $79.99 (save $14.99)

• Lego Star Wars R2-D2 — $80 $99.99 (save $19.99)

• Lego Star Wars The Dark Falcon Buildable Starship — $154.99 $179.99 (save $25)

It's the ambition of every tech company to be first, but maybe not this kind of first.

Apple and Meta are being forced to pay up hundreds of millions of dollars by the European Commission, making them the first companies to be fined for violations under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

SEE ALSO: Meta on trial: Every revelation from the Meta-FTC antitrust trial so far

Announced on Wednesday, Apple has been fined €500 million — about $570 million, or 0.15 percent of Apple's $391.04 billion revenue in 2024 — for charges regarding its "anti-steering" practices that didn't comply with DMA antitrust rules. "Anti-steering" is when the Apple App Store restricts developers from informing their users of optional platforms outside of the Apple App Store where they can make purchases.

Meta was fined €200 million — about $230 million, or 0.14 percent of Meta's $164.50 billion revenue in 2024 — for charges regarding Facebook and Instagram's "pay or consent" ad model, in which users have to pay to get an ad-free experience on the social media platform or consent to the platforms using their data.

Both Meta and Apple can get out of the fines if they comply with the European Commission's ruling within the next 60 days. According to the Verge and The New York Times, Apple and Meta both plan to appeal the ruling.

This follows a rough few months for fellow tech giant Google, with two big antitrust decisions and an action against the platform in Japan.

SAVE $100: As of April 23, get a certified renewed Shark FlexStyle HD430 air styling system for $199.99 at Shark's website. That's $100 off the regular refurb price and $40 less than the current sale price on a brand new FlexStyle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle Straight & Wavy (certified renewed) $199.99 at Shark
$299.99 Save $100 Get Deal

Some might say spending money on a new beauty tool is superfluous during Tariff Times. I say it's genius if you find the right deal. When most of the chaos around you is out of your control, counting on a good hair day could do wonders for your attitude.

For those looking into Dyson Airwraps or Airwrap dupes, that "right deal" lies in the refurbished section of Shark's website. There, you can score a certified renewed Shark FlexStyle air styler (the Straight & Wavy model) for $199.99. That's $100 less than the regular refurb price, and $40 less the current $239.99 sale price on the brand-new version of the same FlexStyle.

SEE ALSO: As tariffs invade the apparel market, selling your clothes online is the move — here's how

Coming from someone who bought their Shark FlexStyle used from someone on Mercari for more than $200, I can tell you that this is your cheapest path to a Shark FlexStyle. Plus, the "Certified Renewed" badge means this styler has been professionally tested to be in working condition. If it's not, you have 60 days to return it and get your money back.

Our hot take is that the Shark FlexStyle would still be the move over the Airwrap, even if they were the exact same price. Mashable's Bethany Allard has tested both thoroughly and digs the variety that the plethora of possible Shark attachments bring to the table. They make up for how loud it is.

The renewed version on sale here comes with 1.25-inch auto-wrap curlers that use Coanda technology for that classic blowout look, an oval brush and a paddle brush attachment, and a style concentrator. You could use the money you saved with this deal to buy a few other attachments — the diffuser and Frizz Fighter are crowd favorites.

There's been a lot of talk online about "recession indicators" over the past few months. Now, we have a big one.

Intel is reportedly preparing for its largest round of layoffs ever.

According to a new story from Bloomberg, Intel is set to announce a massive 20 percent reduction in its workforce. This would mark the second time in less than a year that the company laid off employees. In August 2024, Intel cut 15,000 workers. After that round of layoffs, the computing giant had roughly 108,900 employees at the end of 2024.

A 20 percent workforce cut could amount to more than 21,000 employees losing their jobs.

The report says that the layoffs are a part of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's vision to restructure the company to "refocus" on an "engineering-driven" approach. Intel is also looking to cut costs and eliminate "bureaucracy."

The last round of layoffs targeted mostly non-manufacturing and non-engineering roles like those working in sales, marketing, and administration. It's unclear exactly what roles would be eliminated in the potential Intel layoffs. CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over the company last month, does appear interested in eliminating some managerial positions based on his stated plans.

Intel has struggled in recent years as Nvidia took over as the leading chipmaker, buoyed by the rise of AI. Intel has seen its sales decline for three consecutive years now. Clearly, the company is looking for a reset to get business back on track. As companies like OpenAI promise massive productivity gains from AI technology, the move could also reflect a growing confidence among tech leaders that they can now do more with less.

If Intel moves forward with layoffs, the company will join the growing list of tech companies that have laid off workers over the past year.

As the fate of Chrome hangs in the balance of the Google antitrust trial, one thing is clear: OpenAI wants to buy it.

During the ongoing remedy phase of the Department of Justice's case against Google, OpenAI executive Nick Turley testified on Tuesday that his company would be interested in buying Chrome if Google was forced to sell it. Selling the Chrome web browser is one of the DOJ's proposed remedies for breaking up Google's search monopoly.

Turley, head of product for ChatGPT, was a DOJ witness during the hearing. When asked whether OpenAI would be interested in buying Chrome if Google was forced to divest it, Turley said, “Yes, we would, as would many other parties," as Bloomberg reported.

OpenAI is one of Google's chief rivals in the artificial intelligence arms race, and acquiring Chrome could be quite the coup for OpenAI. Chrome currently has around 66 percent of the browser market share.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled last summer that "Google is a monopolist" in the search market. Now, the trial is in its remedy phase, where the court will decide how exactly to break up Google. Besides divesting from Chrome, the DOJ has also suggested that Google could share its search data with other companies.

Enter, OpenAI. Turley also testified that OpenAI approached Google last summer to strike a licensing deal for its search data for developing its ChatGPT search product, which connects ChatGPT to the web for real-time search answers. But Google turned down the offer from its rival, which has siphoned off users who prefer using ChatGPT instead of traditional search engines.

Through OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft, ChatGPT's real-time search uses Bing. But Turley (without naming Microsoft) said forcing Google to share its search data would "'allow us to build a better product faster' by 'improving the quality of real-time information,'" according to The Information.

The outlet previously reported that OpenAI was looking into building its own web browser, even hiring two central people from the Chrome division. An OpenAI web browser with ChatGPT at the forefront and increasing agentic capabilities for autonomous web browsing could be a critical new piece in the user experience.

So, while losing Chrome would be a massive blow to Google's business, losing Chrome to OpenAI could have big implications for the future of the internet as we know it.

As Pee-Wee Herman, Paul Reubens delighted generations of children through his series Pee-wee's Playhouse, and movies like Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Big Top Pee-Wee, and Pee-Wee's Big Holiday. Meanwhile, on late night talk shows and his sold-out stage show, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, he awed adults, by making them feel like kids again. But who was the man behind the bowtie?

SEE ALSO: How 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse' became our home away from home 36 years on

Directed by Matt Wolf, Pee-Wee as Himself is a two-part documentary that features in-depth interviews with Reubens and friends, looking back on his life, his loves, his work, and on the scandals that repeatedly stalled his career. The trailer above addresses the trepidation Reubens had in surrendering his story to the control of Wolf's vision for the documentary. While this conflict between filmmaker and subject is at the core of Pee-Wee as Himself, the resulting doc is the closest fans can come to understanding the late, great Reubens.

In Mashable's review out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, I cheered, "Pee-wee as Himself is not a simple love letter to the iconic character or Reubens. That would suggest Wolf goes easy on either, fawning over them without reservation. This is something greater."

And you can see all that it is when Pee-Wee as Himself comes to streaming next month.

How to watch: Pee-Wee as Himself: Part One debuts May 23 at 8:00-9:40 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. Part Two will follows at 9:40-11:20 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.

$399.99 VALUE: As of April 23, buying any of the three sizes of the 2025 Samsung Frame Pro unlocks a free Samsung Music Frame (a digital picture frame turned Bluetooth speaker).

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung The Frame Pro Neo QLED 4K Art TV (65, 75, and 85 inches) Get a free $399.99 Music Frame with purchase Get Deal

Spotting an early deal on a big tech item that just came out is always fun. But any promo attached to a flagship product hits different when tariffs are causing most other tech to get more expensive. Samsung's definitely not immune to that tariff aftershock, but somehow, it's still giving away free Dolby Atmos-fueled Music Frames to anyone who buys the new Samsung Frame Pro TV. For reference, that just released to the public a few weeks ago.

As of April 23, all three sizes of the Samsung Frame Pro Neo QLED 4K Art TV announced at CES come with one of Samsung's Music Frames for free, which usually cost $399.99. Here's the full bundle breakdown, compared to paying full price for both:

• Samsung Frame Pro 65-inch — $2,199.99 $2,599.98 (save $399.99)

• Samsung Frame Pro 75-inch — $3,199.99 $3,599.98 (save $399.99)

• Samsung Frame Pro 85-inch — $4,299.99 $4,699.98 (save $399.99)

A savings of $399.99 might seem negligible when the TV still costs thousands regardless. But hey, a free $400 Bluetooth speaker digital picture frame is a free $400 Bluetooth speaker digital picture frame. (Nothing's stopping you from selling it.) That's much cheaper than even the best sale price we've seen on the Music Frame by itself, which was $149.99 in February.

If you have an old TV to trade in or recycle, Samsung has programs for that that could save you an extra $50.

SEE ALSO: The 2025 guide to recycling electronics, beauty empties, and clothing

As a refresher, The Frame's whole bit is looking as close to framed wall art as possible when the TV's not on. Picture a picture frame-like bezel instead of the regular plasticky ones most TVs have, an anti-glare matte screen, and access to a library of high-quality digital versions of famous paintings from museums around the world.

One main difference between The Frame and The Frame Pro is the jump to a Neo QLED panel. "Neo" is essentially Samsung's version of mini LED: Neo QLED panels pack thousands of grain of sand-sized LED bulbs behind the screen, offering vast opportunities for tweaking brightness and color in each scene down to the millimeter. That customization leads to starker details and all around exquisite picture quality — quite the accomplishment, considering the regular QLED Frame still looks pretty damn good.

The Frame Pro can also connect to the Wireless One Connect Box wirelessly within 30 feet.

Politics takes a turn for the entertainingly ridiculous in the trailer for Heads of State, an action-comedy about U.S. president Will Derringer (John Cena) becoming stranded with UK prime minister (and rival) Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) in hostile territory.

With the help of MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) the pair find themselves fighting for their lives with minimal allies, but guns and explosions aplenty. Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), Jack Quaid (Companion), Stephen Root (Barry), Sarah Niles (Ted Lasso), Richard Coyle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon) also star.

Heads of State is streaming on Prime Video from July 2.

Imagine an AI video chatbot you can interact with in real-time. Or if you could generate a custom "skin" for Siri, Gemini, or ChatGPT, anthropomorphizing these chatbots in a whole new way. This week, the internet moved one step closer to that reality.

On Monday, April 21, Character.AI revealed AvatarFX, a new AI video generation tool that will allow users to create realistic, long-form video from 2D images, the company said in a blog post. Character.AI users can apply for early access to AvatarFX now. The product is in private beta for now, with an exact launch date yet to be announced.

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Character.AI has more than 10 million "AI characters" that users can chat and roleplay with in real-time. Now, with AvatarFX, users can "make images come to life — and speak, sing, and emote — all with the click of a button." Character.AI promises that users will even be able to generate long-form videos with these characters. For now, users can't interact with their creations in real-time, but it's not hard to imagine that becoming a standard feature for AI chatbots in the very near future.

Do you want your AI chatbot to be a beautiful man or woman? A sci-fi-style robot companion? A vaguely erotic centaur?

A collection of AvatarFX-generated videos on the Character.ai website. Credit: Character.ai

Character.AI is already showing off the capabilities of its new tool, including some videos that will make AI critics very depressed. Not only do the sample videos include a controversial Studio Ghibli-style video podcast, but also a video based on Al Pacino in Scarface and a popular portrait of Albert Einstein.

To prevent deepfakes, the company has put several safety measures in place, including a watermark that will be applied to all videos. In the blog post announcing the new tool, the company outlined a "one-strike policy" for users who violate the terms of service, which "prohibit impersonation, bullying, deepfakes, and use of protected IP without permission."

Interested users can head to the AI chat site to join the waitlist for the AvatarFX beta.