Feed aggregator

This Sunday marks Mother's Day. For many, this holiday is a time to celebrate their moms. For some, it's a day to be honored for being a mom. For others, well, it might be complicated. Whatever your situation this Mother's Day, The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast has some suggested viewing just for you with their third episode of Season 2.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko and internet film critic Jeff Rauseo co-host this movie-recommendations video podcast series. Each episode has a theme, allowing these cinephiles to tout the hit movies, classic films, and hidden gems that are all streaming now on Kanopy.

Kanopy's catalog includes titles from BBC, Criterion, NEON, Samuel Goldwyn, HISTORY, A&E, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, A24, and IFC Films. So for episode 3, "Mother's Day at the Movies: Tender, Terrifying, and Totally Worth Watching," Puchko and Rauseo had plenty of options when it came to the picking a theme-appropriate movie to watch for Mother's Day.

Whether you want something tear-jerking (Terms of Endearment), heartwarming (Mermaids), or totally twisted (The Babadook), Kanopy has a movie that's perfect for the occasion. Want something unexpected? They've got some lesser-known but excellent picks in the mix too. So check out The Film Library.

How to watch: The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast is available on Kanopy, YouTube, and wherever you download podcasts.

Fortnite could be back on iOS in a matter of days.

Though that's not exactly certain right now, it's looking a lot more likely than it did a couple of weeks ago. The official X account for the game posted an update on Friday confirming that it's been submitted to the iOS App Store in the United States for review by Apple. And considering that the Epic Games v Apple case could cost Apple up to $1 billion in app store commissions, that's got to sting a little bit. Epic Games has already been forced to submit Fortnite for review through its European developer account, since Apple nuked Epic’s U.S. developer account.

According to Apple's developer website, most apps are reviewed by Apple within 24 hours. However, given the unique circumstances around Fortnite's return to iOS, it could theoretically take longer in this case.

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

In case you haven't been following along, Fortnite has been unavailable to play natively on iPhones since 2020 because of a still-ongoing legal dispute between Apple and developer Epic Games. The short version is that Apple likes to take a 30 percent commission on in-app purchases in iOS apps, and Epic didn't like that. One thing led to another, and now there's a bona fide antitrust case against Apple. That case recently resulted in the company being named in contempt of court, forcing the company to stop collecting fees from off-app purchases. (That's why you can suddenly buy books in the iOS Kindle app.)

As a result of that ruling, Epic now feels comfortable putting Fortnite back on iOS. When the app will get approved is anyone's guess, but we'll let Mashable readers know when it's available again.

Poker Face's case-cracking heroine Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) is no stranger to rest stops, pausing at countless gas stations on her drifting journey across the United States. So what better place to set a Poker Face-themed pop-up than a gas station?

SEE ALSO: 'Poker Face' Season 2 review: Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne's murder mystery is a gift for TV lovers everywhere

In honor of Poker Face Season 2's premiere, New York City's Mobil Station & Smacking Burger, located at 51-63 Eighth Avenue, has been transformed into the "Charlie Cale's Back on Her BLSH*T Rest Stop." ("Bullshit," of course, being Charlie's catchphrase whenever she catches someone in a lie.) Fans can visit the activation on May 9 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and on May 10 from noon to 8 p.m. ET.

What's at the New York City Poker Face pop-up? Credit: Belen Edwards / Mashable

The Poker Face pop-up aims to put you in Charlie Cale's shoes. First, enter the gas station — as we've seen Charlie do many a time — and grab yourself a (free!) burger. There's both a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option, and each comes with a "side of lies." (Yes, fries are included.)

The gas station also plays clips from Season 2 of Poker Face, along with retro postcards themed around the season's many guest stars. Some we've already met in Season 2's three-episode premiere, like Cynthia Erivo's quintuplet DeDe or John Mulaney's FBI agent Daniel. Others, like characters played by Alia Shawkat and Kumail Nanjiani, remain a mystery... for now.

Credit: Belen Edwards / Mashable

Outside, attendees can also embrace their inner Charlie by posing with a classic 1968 Plymouth Barracuda just like the one she drives in the show. (Run-ins with crime lords not included.)

Finally, attendees can see whether they'd hold their own with Charlie in an investigation by testing their lie-detecting skills in a game. Event staff will ask a series of true or false questions, and all you have to do to win is catch which ones are fakes — or "bullshit," as Charlie would say. There are few times in life when you can enthusiastically yell "bullshit!" at a stranger and have them be okay with it, so take advantage of this opportunity. Or alternatively, keep your cool like Charlie, channel your inner Lyonne, and casually call them out. It's a win-win situation. Plus, if you triumph in the game, you get a prize, with swag including a themed trucker cap and keychain. I won't spoil any of the questions, but I would recommend brushing up on your Poker Face knowledge ahead of time.

What are you waiting for? Make like Charlie and hit the road.

The first three episodes of Poker Face Season 2 are now streaming on Peacock, with a new episode airing every Thursday.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has plans to take advantage of the "AI boom" to fill glaring workforce gaps, following the layoff of thousands of tax agents.

In a May 6 oversight hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the agency would be leaning into AI solutions in order to accommodate further reductions in the IRS' budget and staff and not fall behind on tax collection. The Treasury's budget proposal includes the removal of another 40,000 jobs.

SEE ALSO: Trump plans to kill Energy Star appliance program

According to Bessent, proposed cuts to the agency's IT budget could be an opportunity to modernize and restructure the agency's existing IT infrastructure, as the current administration hones in on "wasteful" spending. "I believe, through smarter IT, through this AI boom, that we can use that to enhance collections. And I would expect that collections would continue to be very robust, as they were this year,” he said.

"IRS already uses AI for business functions including operational efficiency, compliance and fraud detection, and taxpayer services," the agency told the Register.

The tax agency has lost about 11 percent of its workforce since Trump appointee Elon Musk set its sights on downsizing the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE) — Musk has reportedly set a goal of trimming the IRS down by at least 40 percent, with internal memos alerting staff to biweekly Reduction in Force (RIF) notices. According to a recent report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), an agency watchdog, the majority of those cuts have affected revenue agents. Between January and March, 31 percent of agents have been terminated or taken a deferred resignation plan. That's around 3,600 auditors now off the job.

Elsewhere in the federal government, agencies are implementing more AI solutions at the behest of the administration's Big Tech leaders. Supplementing President Trump's executive orders and updated policies on the federal government's AI use, generative AI has become new priority items for the Department of Defense, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In February, Musk announced he was developing an AI chatbot to analyze government contracts and "increase productivity" among U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) employees. DOGE has also reportedly begun staffing a project to place AI agents in government offices. Musk was later accused of directing DOGE to use AI to surveil internal communications between federal workers, including employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If you scroll through Threads and think the only thing that could make the experience more enjoyable is video ads, I have some excellent news for you.

Meta announced at IAB NewFronts, an industry event for social media companies and advertisers, that it will start testing video ads on Threads. Meta began testing other ads earlier this year.

"We’re testing video ads on Threads so businesses can expand their reach and engage with their audience in a familiar way across multiple platforms," Meta wrote in its blog post about the new changes. The company also announced it would be testing Reels trending ads and adding creator marketing solutions on Facebook and Instagram.

SEE ALSO: It's official: Meta's Threads is using 'Threads.com' domain name

The social media giant has been leaning into short-form video as a quick and effective way to catch users' attention, so it's not entirely surprising that they would add this kind of ad into Threads. After all, we have video ads on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

"We recently expanded ads in Threads to all eligible advertisers globally," Meta wrote in its blog post. "Soon, a small number of advertisers will test 16:9 or 1:1 video ad creative delivered in between pieces of organic content in Threads feed to offer businesses a new way to engage with their audience."

This comes just a week after Meta announced at its earnings call that Threads now has 350 million monthly active users and that users on Threads have increased their time spent on the app by 35 percent. A Meta spokesperson told Social Media Today that Threads is "on track to be Meta’s next major social app."

A Virginia man was charged with second degree murder after the shooting. The teenager’s friends told authorities they had been filming a video of the prank for TikTok.

Tariffs have come for another tech product. This time, it's the company Wahoo, which makes bike computers and similar gadgets. The company's first cycling radar has gotten a tariff-related price increase, but you won't notice it until you hit the checkout page. That's where Wahoo seems to have tacked the cost onto the shipping fee, and it's a whopping $50.

According to cycling blog DC Rainmaker, Wahoo buried the tariff surcharge for the TRACKR Radar in the shipping options. The gadget costs $199.99, but when you go to the checkout page, the economy shipping fee now starts at $50 (it goes up to $75 for FedEx two-day shipping and $85 for next-day shipping). So for U.S. customers, the TRACKR Radar will cost you a minimum of $250, plus tax.

By comparison, the cost for shipping in Europe starts at zero euros for economy and ten euros for express shipping. That points to one very likely explanation: the Trump Administration's 145 percent tariffs on exported goods from China has struck again. Mashable has previously reported on tariff-related tech price increases from Anker, Asus, Microsoft/Xbox, Wyze, and popular sex toy brands.

Ray Maker, the blogger and cyclist behind DC Rainmaker, shared these screenshots with Mashable:

The TRACKR Radar will cost at least $50 in shipping fees for U.S. customers. Credit: DC Rainmaker European customers don't have the same problem. Credit: DC Rainmaker SEE ALSO: No, those Chinese factory TikToks won't help you bypass Trump's tariffs

The Wahoo TRACKR Radar is made in China, unlike the Wahoo BOLT 3 and ROAM 3 GPS devices, which are made in Taiwan and also launched this week. As DC Rainmaker noted, the BOLT 3 has a more reasonable minimum shipping cost of $15.

Screenshots of the checkout page show a note saying, "a service charge has been applied to this product. This charge has been applied to the shipping total." Clicking on the hyperlink takes you to a page on the Wahoo site explaining, "due to recent changes to our global supply chain, we find it necessary to implement a service charge on orders shipping from our US Warehouses," noting how the rising costs have specifically impacted delivery costs.

From this standpoint, it makes sense to bake the added cost into the shipping fee. But it might come as jump-scare for U.S. customers towards the end of their purchase. Retailer REI, which also sells the Wahoo TRACKR Radar, has instead just added the cost increase to the overall price of the device, listing it for $250.

Mashable reached out to Wahoo for confirmation that the price increase is tied to tariffs, and we'll update this post if we hear back.

Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.

Every now and then, the world blesses us with an opportunity to get money from a giant tech company. This is one of those times.

If you owned a Siri-enabled device and experienced an "unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication" between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024, you may be eligible for up to $100 in cash from Apple. There's a website where you can read all the specific rules of this class-action settlement and submit claims, with a deadline of July 2. You can submit claims for up to five devices, and there's a payout cap of up to $20 per device, so you could theoretically get as much as $100 from this settlement. Of course, submitting a claim doesn't guarantee you will receive money.

SEE ALSO: Apple is working on a chip for smart glasses, report claims

This is the conclusion of a lawsuit that started in 2019 and ended in January of this year, with Apple agreeing to pay out a $95 million settlement for Siri (and third-party contractors) listening in on private conversations. Apple claims it only gave Siri recordings to those contractors for quality-control testing and never sold anyone's conversations to advertisers.

"Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose," the company said in a statement at the time.

Regardless, some Apple customers can at least get some cash out of it now.

SAVE $133: As of May 9, get the 65-inch LG UR9000 4K TV at Amazon for $496.99, down from its usual price of $629.99. That's a discount of 21%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LG UR9000 4K TV $496.99 at Amazon
$629.99 Save $133 Get Deal

Looking for a new TV to check out all your favorite shows and movies this summer? If you're planning on gathering in your living room all season to be the place everyone gets their binge-watching on, a new screen will make it all the better. And you can get a fantastic deal on an LG TV right now if you head to Amazon.

As of May 9, get the 65-inch LG UR9000 4K TV at Amazon for $496.99, down from its usual price of $629.99. That's $133 off for a discount of 21%.

SEE ALSO: The 50-inch 4-Series Fire TV just hit its lowest price ever by a landslide

The LG UR9000 4K TV boasts upscaling features that can bring your favorite shows into 4K for a more crisp image and lifelike details, with HDR10 support and contrast that helps shows pop off the screen. That means brighter colors and darker shades that feel more realistic.

It's powered by an AI-centred Gen6 processor that handles the upscaling and adjusts the picture using the lighting in the room, so you don't have to worry about manually setting contrast and picture settings on your own. With a 3840 x 2160 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate, it looks great out of the box, but you can tweak the settings further if needed.

The TV also supports LG's webOS, with a swath of over 300 free channels you can surf when there's nothing on TV and Quick Cards that help you move all the apps you use regularly into special categories so you can find them faster.

If it's time to grab a new screen, this LG TV should get you what you're looking for in an affordable package, but be quick. It probably won't last long at this price.

SAVE $90: As of May 9, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are on sale for just $209 instead of $299 at Amazon in the Diamond 60th anniversary edition color option. That's a savings of 30%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open earbuds $209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90 Get Deal

AirPods and their many doppelgängers aren't for everyone. If you're not a fan of the design or fit and want to try something a bit different, the Bose Ultra Open's unique design might be right up your alley — and they're currently on sale for 30% off.

As of May 9, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds in the Diamond 60th Anniversary Edition colorway are on sale for just $209 at Amazon. That's $90 off their usual cost and just $10 away from their best price on record.

The Ultra Open earbuds keep you in touch with your surroundings while you listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. Each earbud loops around the edge of your ear like an earring cuff, rather than going inside your ear canal. The open design (hence the name) makes them a particularly good option for runners, cyclists, or commuters looking to stay aware and alert.

Mashable's reviewer RJ Andersen writes, "Though we were skeptical at first, these buds are extremely comfortable and score top marks for battery life, spatial audio, and sound quality."

The buds clock in at over seven hours of play time and the included charging case offers another 2.5 full charges. Our reviewer found the battery life to be crazy good and right on the money with what Bose claimed.

If you're not into the AirPods-style earbuds and want to try something a little different, the Bose Ultra Open are in a category of their own. Plus, they're $90 cheaper than usual, so why not give them a shot?

SAVE 40%: As of May 9, you can get a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G55C Series QHD 1000R curved gaming monitor for $179.99, down from $299.99, at Amazon. That's a 40% discount for $120 in savings.

SAMSUNG 27-Inch Odyssey G55C Series QHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor, 1ms(MPRT), HDR10, 165Hz, AMD Radeon FreeSync, Eye Care, LS27CG552ENXZA, 2024 $179.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Your gaming experience is only going to be as good as the display you’re playing on, so it might be time for an upgrade. If you’re looking for a bigger and better gaming monitor, Amazon’s got a deal that’s definitely worth checking out.

As of May 9, you can get the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G55C Series QHD 1000R curved gaming monitor (LS27CG552ENXZA, 2024) for $179.99, down from $299.99, at Amazon. That’s a 40% discount and a $120 savings. If you need an even bigger screen, the 32-inch monitor is $273.38.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025 for PC gamers

This monitor features QHD resolution with HDR10 support, 1ms response time, and up to a 165Hz refresh rate. The AMD Radeon FreeSync keeps your monitor and graphics card refresh rate in sync to reduce image tearing and stuttering (which basically means that your game will run smoother). Plus, with the 1000R curved display, you’ll feel like you’re really in the game. (We recommend pairing it with some gaming headphones for the ultimate immersive experience.)

Samsung also added an Eye Saver Mode for intense gaming sessions to minimize blue light and reduce eye strain, so you can keep your eyes on the prize.

SAVE $20: As of May 9, get the Roku Ultra for $79.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roku Ultra $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20 Get Deal

A great streaming device is easy to set up, perfectly portable, and powerful enough to handle whatever you want to throw at it, whether that's streaming in 4K, offering audio options like Dolby Atmos, and the ability to use just about any app you need. The Roku Ultra delivers all that and then some, and it's on sale right now. Summer's here, and if you're planning a vacation where you want to take your shows and movies with you or just staying inside to beat the heat, you should make sure your streaming situation is on lock.

As of May 9, get the Roku Ultra for $79.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's $20 off and a 20% discount.

The Roku Ultra is a 4K streaming device tha supports HDR10+, Dolby vision, Dolby Atmos, and Wi-Fi 6. It's also 30% faster than the previous Roku playesr before it, so apps are snappier and menus load quicker than before.

The Roku itself is about the size of an Apple TV, so it's unobtrusive, and it comes with a Roku remote that you can use to control your streams via voice or dedicated buttons. The Roku Voice Remote Pro even has a lost remote finder if you happen to misplace it.

This is a much more powerful, full-featured version of whatever Roku you may have been using prior, or other streaming device, with more reasons to make it your main platform if you aren't planning on heading out with it. It's also handy for travel given its smaller size. But with $20 off, it's a good time to go ahead and lock yours in if you're interested, especially if you have some binge-watching to do this summer.

SAVE 20%: As of May 9, you can get the Fitbit Inspire 3 for $79.95, down from $99.95, at Amazon. That's a 20% discount for $20 in savings.

Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) $78.90 at Walmart
$89.95 Save $11.05 Get Deal

Each day is a fresh opportunity to get up and try again, and that goes for your fitness, too. Adding a smartwatch to your routines could be a helpful hand in reaching your desired goals — and today's deal might just be your sign that it's time to try one out.

As of May 9, you can get the Fitbit Inspire 3 at Amazon for $79.95, which is $20 cheaper than the original price of $99.95. It’s also just $10 more than its lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the budget-friendly fitness tracker of our dreams

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a basic fitness tracker, but it has a lot of features for the price. You can track your steps, heart rate, sleep (you’ll get a personalized sleep profile), and activity levels. There’s also a Daily Readiness Score to help you start each day with a plan, based on your body and the stats of the day before. Plus, you’ll get a six-month Premium Fitbit membership with your purchase if you’re a new or returning Fitbit Premium customer.

The battery can last up to 10 days, depending on usage. Plus, you can get call and text notifications on your wrist. The smart wake vibrating alarm is also a nice touch.

SAVE 17%: As of May 9, you can get the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for $189, down from $229, at Amazon. That's a 17% discount and a $40 savings.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds (Hazel) $189 at Amazon
$229 Save $40 Get Deal

Finding a good pair of earbuds that are also noise-cancelling isn’t the easiest task, especially if you’re trying to get something that’s high-end but not break-the-bank expensive.

Right now, you can get the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for $189, down from $229, at Amazon. That’s a 17% discount and a $40 savings. It’s also just $10 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked, which was right before Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel Buds review: Android gets a worthy AirPods rival

These buds come in multiple color options (the price doesn’t change with color) and you’ll get four size options, a charging case, and a quick-start guide in the box. They’re also built to be comfortable, secure, and compatible with Google AI. The Tensor A1 chip (the very first to come in an earbud) powers “twice the ANC” and “delivers premium sound,” according to the product description. You can even “lock in” during workouts by adjusting the twist-to-adjust stabilizer.

The Conversation Detection feature pauses your music and switches your earbuds to Transparency Mode whenever you’re talking, so you don’t have to fumble around with the controls to hear what’s going on. And when you’re ready to start listening again, your music will pick up where it left off (you can get 30 hours of listening time on a single charge).

PRE-ORDER NOW: As of May 9, you can pre-order the newly announced Pixar Lamp Lego set from Lego's website. It costs $69.99, and will ship out by June 1, 2025.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set $69.99 at Lego
Pre-order Here

If you're a fan of Lego and Pixar, the perfect intersection of your interests just dropped: Lego just announced a new set that recreates the iconic Pixar Lamp (also known as Luxo Jr.) that we all know and love from the opening credits of the popular animation studio's films. It even comes with the cute little star-branded ball that you can place the lamp on to get the full effect.

The Pixar Lamp Lego set is currently available to pre-order on Lego's website for $69.99, and it'll ship out by June 1, 2025. It's going to look fantastic on your bookshelf.

SEE ALSO: Building the 'Twilight' Lego set was the therapy session I didn’t know I needed

The set comes with 613 pieces in total, and of course includes a handy instruction booklet to guide you along the building process. Once the set is complete, you'll have a fully functional Pixar Lamp that can hinge and rotate like a real desk lamp. You'll also be able to build the Disney Pixar Ball that we mentioned above, which contains some fun hidden Easter eggs from movies like Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Toy Story, and more.

Pre-order yours starting today for just $69.99 on Lego's website — you can expect it to arrive to your door by June 1.

SAVE $20: As of May 9, Best Buy is offering Backbone One carrying cases for just $5 ($20 off the original price). The deal is only live for one day, though, so act fast.

Opens in a new window Credit: Backbone Backbone One Carrying Case $4.99 at Best Buy
$24.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Cloud gaming is looking more promising than ever, with big-name companies like Xbox and PlayStation doubling down on remote play capabilities that you can enjoy from anywhere. But the marquee brands aren't the only ones taking the cloud gaming scene by storm — Backbone is also at the forefront of it all, and they just announced the release of their latest device in the Backbone Pro.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

But if you were an early adopter like us and picked up the original Backbone One, you'll want to take advantage of this deal while you can — Best Buy is offering Backbone One carrying cases for just $5, which is $20 off the original price. If you find yourself taking your controller with you on the go quite often (which you should), grabbing a case at this price is a no-brainer. Just act quickly, though, because this is a one-day-only deal.

The Backbone One is meant to follow you wherever you go. It snaps easily onto your smartphone, and from there, you can start playing games via the cloud (if you have WiFi), or any titles you have downloaded to the device itself. Because it plugs directly into your phone, you'll never need to charge it. You can also record gameplay straight from the controller, and it has a convenient 3.5mm headphone jack. Pick up one of the carrying cases, and your Backbone setup will be complete (and only cost you $5).

SAVE $140: As of May 9, the Amazon 50-inch 4-Series Fire TV is on sale for just $259.99, down from $399.99. That's 35% in savings and its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch 4-Series Fire TV $259.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $140 Get Deal

It's a busy season for TV. There's the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs and the NBA playoffs, new seasons of shows like Poker Face and You, and a ton of great films coming to streaming like Black Bag and Drop. If you want to make the most of your time in front of the old tube, an upgrade may be in order. Now happens to be a great time, as Amazon is running a Fire TV Spotlight sale.

As of May 9, you can pick up the newish 50-inch 4-Series Fire TV at Amazon for just $259.99. That's a massive $140 or 35% discount and its lowest price on record by a landslide.

SEE ALSO: Score Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max for under $40

The latest 4-series model dropped in Nov. 2024 and features an ultraslim bezel that fades into the background, which makes whatever you're watching even more immersive. Otherwise, it's just a newer rendition of Amazon's most popular smart TV. It supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus. For the uninitiated, that's code for vivid color, brightness, and clarity.

It also features four HDMI inputs to connect all of your gaming and audio peripherals and comes with the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, which is not your average remote. The Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced can control compatible soundbars and speakers, jump into apps with preset buttons, and control compatible smart home devices with a click. You can ask Alexa to check the weather, play music, dim the lights, or show your front doorbell camera.

While it doesn't double as artwork like the Omni QLED Series, the 4-Series is still a very good-looking TV. And at just $259.99 for a 50-inch, it's practically a steal.

SAVE 29%: As of May 9, you can buy the Toshiba 65-inch Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD smart Fire TV for just $299.99, down from $419.99, at Amazon. That's a 29% discount and a $120.99 savings.

Toshiba - 65" Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $299.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $120 Get Deal

If you have a large-ish living room and want to upgrade to a moderately sized smart TV for a moderately low price, Amazon’s got a deal for you.

As of May 9, you can get the Toshiba 65-inch Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD smart Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote (65C350LU, 2023 Model) for $299.99, down from $419.99. That’s a 29% discount and a $120.99 savings.

SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV deals

This model features Regza Engine 4K, which Toshiba says optimizes picture quality, and Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 for a broader color palette and increased contrast. With the built-in Fire TV, you can stream over one million movies and episodes from your favorite platforms, including Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount+. The Alexa Voice Remote makes it easy to search for titles, change channels, and control smart home devices.

There’s also an auto-low-latency Game Mode, and you can play games like you stream movies with Amazon Luna or download games from the App Store (no PlayStation or Xbox required; though, you will need a Luna+ or Amazon Prime subscription).

The Trump Administration's massive overhaul of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hitting some of the nation's least controversial, most cost-efficient "green" programs, as the government commits to downsizing the agency's staff.

Next on the admin's chopping block is the bipartisan-supported appliance program Energy Star, which will be shuttered as the EPA is forced to dissolve and restructure its administering office. The decision was announced during an all-hands meeting of the Office of Atmospheric Protection, first reported by CNN and the Washington Post, which spoke to employees under anonymity.

SEE ALSO: U.S. government agency sounds alarm on AI's toll on environment, humanity

First established in 1992, the Energy Star program is a collaborative effort from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, which certifies appliances along the government's energy efficiency standards. Energy Star appliances are eligible for tax credits and rebates, intended to incentivize individuals to buy more eco-friendly appliances. In the decades since, the Energy Star labels have become a fixture of appliance aisles, and, according to the program, have saved Americans nearly $500 billion.

The Trump administration has made a concerted effort to disempower the government's energy efficiency programs, including an executive order titled "Make America's Showers Great Again" that redefined Obama-era shower head efficiency benchmarks and struck out against the previous administration's "green agenda."

This is the second effort to defund the program under President Donald Trump, after introducing a budget plan under his first term that proposed to eliminate Energy Star spending. According to the Associated Press at the time, more than 1,000 companies lobbied for the program to remain, outraged by the administration's decision to cut the relatively modest $50 million line item.

Meanwhile, the cost of foreign-made goods and appliances in the country are steadily rising as the Trump Administration double downs on its steep tariff plan amid trade negotiations with China, with many consumers running to make big purchases before the market gets worse.

SEE ALSO: A tariff survival guide to buying refurbished smartphones, TVs, and headphones

SAVE $25: As of May 9, get the Amazon Kindle Kids for $104.99, down from its usual price of $129.99. That's a discount of 19%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Kids $104.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Wish your kids would spend more time feeding their minds instead of playing games all day? Give them a fun and easy way to consume more books, like an e-reader. Today, thanks to a deal from Amazon, you can save big on a Kindle that's made just for kids to facilitate that.

As of May 9, get the Amazon Kindle Kids for $104.99, down from its usual price of $129.99. That's $25 off for a discount of 19%.

SEE ALSO: The Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle has never been cheaper, so what are you waiting for?

The new Amazon Kindle Kids is just like a regular Kindle, but made especially for kids, with an enhanced, 6-inch, glare-free display and faster page turns than the original device. It comes with a colorful cover (choose from Ocean Explorer, Space Whale, or Unicorn Valley) too, which kids will love. It's also 25% brighter at max setting, which means it's as bright as a Kindle Paperwhite, with light and dark mode.

Most importantly, it comes with a six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, which gives your kids unlimited access to books appropriate for readers 3-12. After six months, you'll have to pay $5.99 a month for the subscription, but you can cancel anytime.

If your kids break this Kindle, Amazon will replace it, too. So you can give it to them with some peace of mind, knowing they can read age-appropriate content, and they can drop it all day long if they have to, with a replacement on the way if there's a problem. It's a great way to instill a love of reading in young users, and perfect for getting the kids off your back about using your e-reader if they're asking.