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Meta had sued the firm, NSO Group, for using its spyware to hack 1,400 WhatsApp accounts belonging to journalists, dissidents and others.

In a collaboration that feels ripped from the simulation, MrBeast — YouTube’s reigning king of high-stakes philanthro-tainment — is partnering with thriller juggernaut James Patterson to release a novel.

SEE ALSO: MrBeast fans rage as immersive Vegas experience flops

Yes, you read that right. After a bidding war reportedly pushing into eight-figure territory, the mega-creator is making his literary debut with Patterson under the HarperCollins banner. Per Deadline, the book is a high-octane thriller centered on a global, life-or-death competition with a billion-dollar prize dangling at the end. In other words: a MrBeast video, but with chapters.

Deadline’s source claims the working title at the moment is The Most Dangerous Game — a not-so-subtle nod to the classic Richard Connell short story about a man hunted for sport by a wealthy Russian. That is not confirmed, however, and it appears other titles are under consideration.

The book’s premise also wouldn’t be far off from what some contestants claimed they endured on MrBeast’s Amazon-backed game show, Beast Games. Ahead of the show’s release last year, participants alleged that Donaldson’s team subjected them to "dangerous circumstances and conditions."

Still, controversy and legal threats haven’t derailed the MrBeast hype engine. In a statement via United Talent Agency, Donaldson said he’s long wanted to break into fiction — and it was his reps who connected him with Patterson.

The Alex Cross author turned out to be a natural match for the kind of story Donaldson had in mind. Together, they landed on a concept tailored perfectly to the MrBeast brand: high-stakes, high-drama, and engineered for maximum spectacle.

Sometimes, old games come back in style. Sometimes, they never come back at all. And sometimes they just keep coming back regardless of whether anyone asked for it.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the all-time champion in the latter category, having been ported and remastered what feels like 19 times now (at least we're getting Oblivion this time). But on May 5, Microsoft announced Gears of War: Reloaded, a new 4K-enhanced port of the 2006 Xbox 360 classic that's also coming to PS5. That's all fine and dandy, except Gears of War literally already got a remaster in 2015 called Ultimate Edition. So, this is a remaster of a remaster, but at least Ultimate Edition owners get the upgrade for free.

That's goofy, right? But instead of lingering on that, let's celebrate some other old(er) games that could use the remaster treatment instead.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions 5 other video games that deserve remasters

For this list, I'm trying to stick to games that you can't just easily download and play on a modern console. There are a couple of exceptions, but bear with me, OK?

Sleeping Dogs The combat in 'Sleeping Dogs' was amazing. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

I'm going to immediately break my rule with Sleeping Dogs, a game that has a just-OK Definitive Edition port available on current Xbox and PlayStation hardware. That version of the game didn't really feature the kinds of visual or performance enhancements we've come to expect from remasters, and was mostly just an excuse to package the original game with its DLC, so I'm fine throwing that port under the bus here.

Anyway, if you didn't play Sleeping Dogs when it hit Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2012, you really missed out. It's basically Grand Theft Auto, but you play as an undercover cop in Hong Kong. The setting means that guns are very rare, so the developers at the now-defunct United Front Games included a much deeper and more fun melee combat system than any GTA game has to offer. Gorgeous urban visuals, a story that takes itself just seriously enough to be interesting without being boring about it, and all kinds of goofy open-world mayhem defined Sleeping Dogs.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of a sleeper at the time and didn't sell enough to get a real sequel greenlit. But real ones know. Sleeping Dogs deserves another chance in the spotlight.

Where can you play it? Steam, PlayStation 4

Asura's Wrath

Asura's Wrath is the only game on here that I've actually written words about for a real, published book that you can buy in stores. That means it's real art.

Of course, that wouldn't be in dispute to anyone who's seen Asura's Wrath. Also hailing from the Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2012, Asura's Wrath is basically an 8-hour playable anime movie. The gameplay consists largely of timed button presses tied to some of the most absurd, over-the-top action cutscenes ever rendered. At one point, a guy magically extends his sword to such a length that he's able to stab it through the entire planet. I'm pretty sure the moon gets destroyed like halfway through the game and nobody even really stops to point it out.

Asura's Wrath lost points then and now for tying the true ending of the story to a $10 DLC episode. A modern remaster that just makes the game available in full on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles would be amazing.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 3

The Simpsons: Hit & Run

Speaking of Grand Theft Auto, did you know there was a Simpsons-themed ripoff back in 2003?

The Simpsons: Hit & Run speaks for itself, really. You run around an open-world version of Springfield, doing wacky missions for each of its 900 or so colorful side characters. Basically, any vehicle that has ever appeared on-screen in the show is playable, and the town map is full of easter eggs for fans to discover. It's probably the best Simpsons game, but likely due to ancient copyright problems, it's never been re-released in any form.

I'd love a basic HD version of this game for current platforms. You wouldn't even need to do anything to it other than make it look a little sharper. Just save it from PS2 purgatory, please.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 2 (if you can find one)

Bloodborne Credit: PlayStation Store

You didn't think I'd make it all the way through a list of games that need remasters without getting to Bloodborne, did you?

This is really only here as a formality, given that every single PS5 announcement stream carries speculation from fans that this will finally be the one where they announce a Bloodborne remaster. It has yet to actually happen, of course, and it's starting to feel like it never will. But let's talk about it anyway.

Originally released in 2015 for PS4, Bloodborne is the newest game on this list and also the easiest to just buy and play on a PS5 right now. The only problem is that it never got any kind of upgrade patch for PS5, so it runs exactly as it did in 2015, which is to say "not great." Bloodborne in its original state is still fully playable and a wonderful action game in its own right, but people are not necessarily wrong to beg for a remaster.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 4 and PS5

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Last but certainly not least, one of the most self-indulgent pieces of art ever created deserves to be seen again by fresh eyes in 2025 (and beyond).

Metal Gear Solid 4 was a bonafide event in 2008. It's the only video game I've ever waited in line at midnight for. Unfortunately, it has never been released on anything other than PlayStation 3. One would assume that a remaster of this game for modern hardware is in the works, given that a collection of the first three Metal Gear Solid games came out with a "Vol. 1" label on it in late 2023. But it's been nearly 20 years and nothing feels like a given with this game.

If you've never played it, everything that people say (lovingly or otherwise) about director Hideo Kojima is most applicable in MGS4. It has 90-minute cutscenes full of flow charts and meditations on genetic legacy and geopolitics. All of the boss enemies are modeled after real-life female models Kojima liked for some reason. Every single plot thread from every Metal Gear game leading up to 4 is resolved in this game, often in ways that feel contrived and clunky.

It's a beautiful mess of a video game, and it doesn't feel fair that something that made such a big impact nearly two decades ago is just unplayable by a large majority of people now.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 3

Marvel Studios unveiled a bold marketing strategy to promote Thunderbolts* with a promotional billboard and online campaign that many MCU fans have decried as a spoiler.

After making $76 million domestically on the film's opening weekend, Marvel Studios and Thunderbolts* distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures papered over billboards and posters that had the movie's title on them with a new proposed title that finally explained that asterisk: *The New Avengers

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What does the title change from Thunderbolts* to *The New Avengers mean?

Near the end of the 36th MCU movie, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Sentry (Lewis Pullman), the ragtag band of antiheroes known as the Thunderbolts (a name even they couldn't agree on) are redubbed "the New Avengers" in a slick PR (or CYA) move by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).

The movie's post-credit scene takes this rebrand even further, with a potential superhero copyright conflict. Marvel Studios' marketing campaign seems to follow her lead, not only revealing the new title, but also employing the cast to bring more attention to it.

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' tries to tackle mental illness. It almost works.

On Instragram, Marvel Studios revealed footage shot at the film's premiere that shows Florence Pugh peel away the Thunderbolts* title from a poster to reveal *The New Avengers. On Twitter, Marvel Studios posted a video of Sebastian Stan replacing a character poster of his Winter Soldier with a new updated poster.

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

But what do these billboards, posters, and videos touting the title change mean?

Is this movie called Thunderbolts*? Or is it now to be called *The New Avengers? Is this like The Edge of Tomorrow or Ghostbusters (2016), where the studio changed the name of the movie after release? (In the case of those movies to Live Die Repeat and Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, respectively.)

It doesn't appear so.

On Disney's official website, the film is still called Thunderbolts*. If you're booking tickets on Fandango, you'd still be booking Thunderbolts* — even though both sites boast the updated poster. This seems to be a marketing move long in the making, but not an official change of the MCU title.

You can see both old and new posters below.

Left: The original Thunderbolts* Poster The original Thunderbolts* Poster Credit: Disney Studios / Marvel Entertainment Right: The updated *The New Avengers poster The updated *The New Avengers poster Credit: Disney Studios / Marvel Entertainment

Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier explained the marketing move to the New York Times, saying, "It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too. Especially given that the asterisk has been on the movie for a year, hopefully it doesn’t feel sweaty — it feels like this was a plan and we built up to it."

Online, the poster swap went over poorly. Fans weren't upset about the relaunch of the Avengers, but were confused about the seeming title change and annoyed that this third act plot point was outed on the internet and in the real world (via billboards and posters) before the movie had been out even a full week.

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

Will this marketing move help or hurt Thunderbolts* as it moves into its second weekend in theaters? We'll see.

The tech billionaire’s staff were concerned that correspondence about his home in West Lake Hills would become public after neighbors complained.

Over the weekend, we covered the rise of "wrong person" scam texts — seemingly innocent messages that evolve into full-blown crypto cons. And across the U.S., drivers are getting E-ZPass toll road scam texts in droves. Now, we have a clearer picture of where these types of scam texts are coming from.

On Monday, May 5, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Myanmar warlord Saw Chit Thu and his two sons, accusing them of facilitating massive cyberfraud and human trafficking networks. According to the Treasury, Saw Chit Thu and his militia, the Karen National Army, oversaw multibillion-dollar crypto scam operations built on forced labor targeting Americans.

"The KNA profits from cyber scam schemes on an industrial scale by leasing land it controls to other organized crime groups, and providing support for human trafficking, smuggling, and the sale of utilities used to provide energy to scam operations," the U.S. Treasury reported.

SEE ALSO: E-ZPass and toll scam texts are everywhere. What to do if you're targeted.

In the Treasury's statement, the department claimed that Americans lost about $3.5 billion in 2023 to such scams.

Saw Chit Thu leads the Karen National Army, a militia based in Myanmar’s Kayin State. The army controls territory in a so-called "Special Economic Zone" near the Thai border. In this zone, the group has leased land and provided protection to transnational criminal organizations running "scam compounds" — heavily guarded facilities where trafficked workers are forced to carry out online fraud, according to U.S. Treasury officials.

The Treasury says the scam compounds primarily focus on crypto scams.

"Scammers present victims with hints of a wealthy, glamorous lifestyle and induce them to 'invest' in bogus cryptocurrency and trading platforms controlled by the scammers themselves. Victims are shown fake 'returns' on their investments and duped into investing greater and greater sums until the scammers go silent after stealing everything they can from their victims," reads a press release from the Treasury.

The sanctions will freeze any U.S.-based assets held by Saw Chit Thu or his sons and prohibit American individuals or entities from doing business with them. The U.K. and European Union had already sanctioned the group.

Additionally, the Treasury announced plans to sanction a Cambodia-based network accused of laundering money for North Korean cybercriminals. The group is also linked to pig-butchering scams and other fraud operations across Southeast Asia, per Bloomberg.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

The best refurbished Dyson beauty deals at Walmart: DYSON AIRWRAP DEAL Dyson Airwrap Complete Long (Restored Premium) $379.99 (save $120) Get Deal DYSON SUPERSONIC DEAL Dyson Supersonic Origin (Restored Premium) $189.99 (save $130) Get Deal DYSON AIRSTRAIT DEAL Dyson Airstrait (Restored Premium) $249.99 (save $150) Get Deal

There's a reason we are always testing out different Dyson beauty dupes. The real products are simply too damn expensive, making them tough to recommend to about 90 percent of the population.

If you're truly set on a specific Dyson hair tool, your best bet for avoiding the outrageous prices is to buy refurbished. During The Beauty Event at Walmart, running through May 31, you can score a refurbished Dyson Airwrap, Supersonic, or Airstrait for up to $150 off. We're much more inclined to recommend the Supersonic hair dryer when it costs $189.99 rather than $319.99. Here are the nitty-gritty details.

Best Dyson Airwrap deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Complete Long (Restored Premium) $379.99 at Walmart
$499.99 Save $120 Get Deal

It's not rare to see Dyson's coveted hair tool go on sale, but with a $600 asking price, even the sale price of the Complete package (which comes with seven accessories) is often close to $500. That's why this refurbished option is so tempting at $379.99. As a restored premium product, it's in like-new condition with minor or no imperfections at all and has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty. Still debating if it's worth it? The Airwrap is the only multi-styler on the market that doesn't require two different curling barrels to change curl direction, has the most attachments of any multi-styler, and comes with a leather case for storage.

Read our full review of the Dyson Airwrap.

Best Dyson Supersonic deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic Origin (Restored Premium) $189.99 at Walmart
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The bladeless Dyson Supersonic is a truly luxurious hair dryer that uses Air Multiplier technology to dry your hair quickly and quietly. You'll have your pick between three speed and four heat settings, though a temperature scanner ensures the air won't exceed 212 degrees Fahrenheit to protect your hair from damage. Plus, like any other Dyson hair tool, it just looks and feels really fancy. The Origin model only comes with the styling concentrator attachment, but that also helps in keeping the price down. Snag a refurbished model for only $189.99 instead of $319.99; it's in like-new condition and has been professionally tested and cleaned.

Read our full review of the Dyson Supersonic.

Best Dyson Airstrait deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airstrait $249.99 at Walmart
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Dyson's Airstrait swaps out the typical hot plates of a hair straightener for high-pressure airflow, which is supposed to help avoid extreme heat damage. It also combines the drying process with the straightening process, so you can style your hair straight out of the shower — although, personally, I'm still a bit skeptical (I fried my hair with a Remington Wet2Straight in high school). Regularly $499 at full price, a refurbished option will only run you $249.99, making it much more feasible.

I love sleeping — getting under the covers and rubbing my feet together like a little cricket before drifting into an easy sleep. Except that last part — drifting into an easy sleep — doesn't always happen for me. As an anxious person with insomnia, falling asleep is a battle. I've spent my lifetime gathering a tool kit of breathing exercises, trying sleep trackers, and developing a routine to combat sleepless nights. While I'm usually good at counting my breaths in my mindfulness practice, the Moonbird device promises to be a personal breathing coach for further relaxation.

Over a few weeks, I tested the Moonbird handheld breathing coach, using it to relax in the evenings or calm down in anxious moments. While it's an effective tool, I'm not sure it's worth the price. Plus, we've got to talk about its... interesting design. Here are all my thoughts on the Moonbird breathing coach.

It's an effective, distraction-free breathing tool Holding your thumb to the Moonbird's sensor automatically starts a new breathing exercise. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Despite being a tech-based tool, the Moonbird breathing coach is a distraction-free device without any required screen time. To use it, gently shake the device awake and hold it with your thumb resting against the sensor. The device then slowly expands and retracts to signal when you should inhale and exhale. The standard exercise runs for six minutes, and then the device shuts off. If you decide to end the exercise early, take your hand off the sensor, which will shut off after a few moments.

Holding the device is genuinely comforting. The feeling of the smooth silicone expanding and falling emulates the image of a lung expanding or your stomach rising and falling with your breath. What I liked most is that using the device takes the thought out of the exercise. No longer did I need to count the seconds of my breath; instead, I focused on the tactile motions of the device, letting my mind rest.

Plus, I love that the Moonbird has no screen or light. While I enjoy tuning into a meditation app or guided breathing exercise on my phone, I don't love doing so before bed when trying to avoid screen time. With the Moonbird, I hold the device to start the exercise with no blue light exposure. It's also a huge plus when I want to use it in bed. My partner goes to bed much earlier than I do, so I don't want to disturb them with any noise or light when I finally slip into bed. The silent and lightless Moonbird lets me use it without disturbing them.

And the Moonbird does work. One evening after hosting a group of friends for movie night, I was still wired despite feeling exhausted. My brain wouldn't shut off after my evening reading, so I reached for the Moonbird to follow its breath coaching, and before the six-minute exercise was over, I was already drifting off. It proved that it really does come in handy in moments I'd otherwise feel restless.

With the app, get customizable breathing exercises and biometric feedback You can set the duration of any exercise through the app. Credit: Moonbird Have a breathing exercise you like? You can craft it in the Moonbird app. Credit: Moonbird

The Moonbird comes programmed with a standard six-minute breathing exercise, but there are other options. When connected to the Moonbird app, you can adjust the device's settings to other breathing patterns designed for sleep or in the classic box breathing style. There's even an option to create your own breathing program if you have something that already works for you. Custom exercises can range from 2 to 30 minutes. The only downside is that you have to open up your smartphone to do so, defeating the purpose of a screen-free device. I preferred only adjusting the exercises during the day to avoid exposure to nightly screen time.

In addition to other Moonbird settings, the app has a library of educational materials on breathing, stress reduction, and heart rate. When using the app, you also gain access to biometric feedback, such as heart rate, so you can actually see the effects of the Moonbird device.

The Moonbird needs a redesign There's no denying what the Moonbird looks like, but this is no vibrator. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

We've gone this long, it's time to address the elephant in the room. The Moonbird totally looks like a vibrator. My colleagues and I thought so when we first saw the device, and I have touted it to all my friends for their opinions. Let's be clear, despite its looks, it is not a personal massager. While it's silly to acknowledge, its design affects its usage.

There are many situations where I'd love to bring along the Moonbird for some mindfulness on the go, whether coming down from a stressful situation at work or trying to fall asleep while flying. However, I'd be totally embarrassed to bring this on a plane, knowing what it could be misconstrued for.

Moonbird has an alternative design, the Moonbuddy, which is designed for kids and is downright adorable. It doesn't have the same biofeedback or controls as the Moonbird, but I still wish the flagship device would take on a similar design to look less provocative and more appropriate for public use.

The app is buggy and doesn't have a ton to offer

You could use Moonbird without the app and be totally pleased with it, but $199 is a lot of money to spend on just one breathing exercise. Downloading the app unlocks heart rate tracking and a new set of customizable breathing exercises, but the app itself is buggy.

Every time I've gone to open the app, it requires the Moonbird device to reconnect to the app, which takes a few seconds and is a real pain. Plus, it has a limited library of knowledge compared to apps like Headspace or Calm, so while the accompanying app is an added bonus, it doesn't add much value to the Moonbird's $199 price tag.

Is the Moonbird worth it? If you're in desperate need of a distraction-free breathing tool, then the Moonbird might be worth it. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Moonbird might be worth it if you want a distraction-free breathing tool. It is effective and takes the thinking out of your breathing exercise, but other devices with similar functionality cost a lot less. We recently tested the Dodow, a light-based breathing device, which we thought was expensive at $60. Considering the Moonbird is $199, it's hard to justify its cost when it has a design we're skeptical of — and one you can't use in public.

However, the Moonbird's screen-free design is a huge boon. If you've tried meditation apps, tired of their screen time, and want a silent, distraction-free alternative, the Moonbird might be a worthwhile investment.

TL;DR: Save A$109 on an Internxt 10TB lifetime cloud storage subscription with code STORAGE20 at checkout through June 1.

That A$23 monthly cloud storage fee might seem small now, but give it a year or two, and you’ll realize you’ve spent more on renting space for your files than you would owning it. Enter Internxt’s lifetime cloud storage plan: 10TB of encrypted storage for a one-time A$438 payment with code STORAGE20 at checkout (reg. A$547).

Dropbox vs. Internxt

Why should you break up with Dropbox? Let’s start with the obvious: no recurring fees.

But this Internxt cloud storage deal isn’t just about saving money — it actually delivers on features. You’ll get access to desktop and mobile apps for easy uploads, 10TB of storage space (enough for 2.5 million photos or 2,000 hours of HD video), and full end-to-end encryption to keep your files private.

Its privacy is another thing to brag about. Unlike the big-name providers, Internxt’s code is open-source. That means anyone — developers, or even yourself if you know how to examine it — can look for hidden risks. That level of transparency is a major green flag.

For anyone developing subscription fatigue, this is your chance to break away from one of the most annoying charges out there.

Get 10TB of cloud storage with an Internxt lifetime subscription at A$438 with code STORAGE20 at checkout (reg. A$547). This code expires on June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan AU$438
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Even though OpenAI walked back its decision to convert to a traditional for-profit, Elon Musk is going ahead with his lawsuit against the company.

"Nothing in today’s announcement changes the fact that OpenAI will still be developing closed-source AI for the benefit of Altman, his investors, and Microsoft," said Musk's lawyer Marc Toberoff in a statement to Reuters on Monday. Toberoff said OpenAI's decision to remain governed by a nonprofit entity "obscures critical details about the supposed 'non-profit control' arrangement."

OpenAI plans to transition its for-profit LLC to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) that will be governed by the overarching nonprofit and will make the nonprofit a shareholder of the PBC. Toberoff described the new arrangement as a "sharply reduced ownership stake the non-profit will receive in Altman’s for-profit enterprise."

The ChatGPT maker's decision last year to restructure as a for-profit company prompted Musk, who was an early funder in OpenAI's nascent days, to sue the company for breach of contract. He alleged the company deceived him by promising the company's mission was entirely altruistic. More recently, Musk unsuccessfully offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion, which OpenAI rejected, calling it a "sham bid," and accusing Musk of trying to take down a competitor. Musk owns xAI, which makes the Grok AI chatbot.

OpenAI's decision to remain a capped for-profit was a major reversal for the company, which is currently valued at $300 billion. In a blog post explaining the announcement, OpenAI's board chairman Bret Taylor said the decision was made "after hearing from civic leaders and engaging in constructive dialogue with the offices of the Attorney General of Delaware and the Attorney General of California." Last month, former OpenAI staffers and leaders of the AI community sent an open letter to California and Delaware attorneys general urging them to stop OpenAI's restructuring, citing societal safety concerns.

OpenAI may have alleviated the signatories' concerns, but Musk's lawsuit is still going forward. "The founding mission remains betrayed," Toberoff told Bloomberg.

SAVE $85: As of May 6, the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC with the wireless charging case are back down to just $54.99 from $139.99. That's 61% in savings and just $10 shy of their best price on record. If you want to save an extra $10, the wired charging case option is on sale for just $44.99, down from $119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (wireless charging case) $54.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $85 Get Deal

When the third-generation Echo Buds dropped in 2023, the 2021 version became the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation. And although they're a handful of years old, they're still some of our favorite wireless earbuds. "I'd call them a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire," Mashable's Alex Perry wrote in his review of the buds. And that was at their full price of $139.99.

As of May 6, the Echo Buds with ANC are down to just $54.99 if you prefer the wireless charging case, and $44.99 (originally $119.99) if you opt for the wired one. That's 61% or 63% in savings, respectively, and just $10 shy of the best price ever on either pair. It's hardly the first time we've seen this discount, but nevertheless, it's worth highlighting.

SEE ALSO: Beats Solo 4 headphones are back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

While the battery life isn't much to write home about at five hours per charge (up to 15 hours with charging case), they stand out for their comfortable fit, effective noise cancellation, and solid sound quality. Plus, they're device-agnostic, making them a great choice for anyone who isn't particularly partial to Android or iOS. Although they're considered a budget pick and they're a few years old, they're ultimately "a really solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that will go easy on your wallet." And in this economy, that's practically a no-brainer.

Tesla's nosedive in the EU markets continued in April, as Elon Musk's EV company sold less than 900 vehicles in Germany last month.

According to a report from Germany's road traffic and transit authority Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), Tesla sold a total of 885 cars in the country in April 2025. That's down 45.9 percent from last April. 

Last month, Tesla announced that its profit for the first quarter of 2025 fell 71 percent. Tesla sales have also dropped globally since the beginning of the year. The company attributed its decline in part to the mass global protests against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, due to Musk's involvement with the Trump administration.

Musk donated hundreds of millions of dollars to help elect President Donald Trump and other Republicans in 2024, and he has increasingly shared far-right political views. Since Trump's inauguration, Musk has played an integral part in Trump's DOGE initiative, which has seen federal programs slashed and government workers lose their jobs. As for German politics, specifically, Musk has vocally endorsed the country's controversial far-right AfD party.

It's important to note that these latest sales numbers out of Germany would not be reflected in Tesla's last earnings report, as April falls in Q2. This means that Tesla's troubles are far from over.

In fact, Germany's automaker data paints a much more dire picture for Tesla.

While Tesla's April sales numbers fell by nearly half, Germany saw a 53.5 percent increase in the total number of newly registered electric vehicles over the last year. While Tesla sales declined in Germany, sales for the Chinese EV company BYD's vehicles skyrocketed. 

In Germany, BYD has sold 1,566 vehicles in April and a total of 2,791 vehicles for 2025 so far.

Tesla has only sold 5,820 vehicles in Germany since the start of 2025, which is a drop of 60.4 percent from the same period last year.

No, that's not Katy Perry dripping in a dress made of thick, oily liquid. In fact, Katy Perry wasn't even at the Met Gala last night, and that photo, realistic as it may have been for the thousands who reposted it, was created entirely by artificial intelligence.

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In response, Perry posted the edit to her Instagram and captioned it, "couldn’t make it to the MET, I’m on The Lifetimes Tour (see you in Houston tomorrow IRL‼️) P.s. this year I was actually with my mom so she’s safe from the bots but I’m praying for the rest of y’all."

"Not once but twice 😂," her longtime partner, Orlando Bloom, commented under the photo. "still got it 🔥"

But despite Perry very clearly not being there, the internet fell for it. And it's kind of fair — there were multiple angles of the AI look, and even an AI-generated sketch of the outfit made to look like a custom dress illustration.

View this post on Instagram This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This isn't the first time someone used AI to edit Perry into a dress for the Met Gala. Last year, the same thing happened, and she (once again) posted the edited images to her Instagram and captioned them, "couldn’t make it to the MET, had to work."

Please, I'm begging you, stop falling for AI — it's only going to get more convincing.

SAVE $25: Use code ECHOSPOT25 at checkout to get the Amazon Echo Spot for $54.99, down from the normal price of $79.99. That's a 31% discount thanks to the promo code.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot smart alarm clock $54.99
$79.99 Save $25.00 use code ECHOSPOT25 at checkout Get Deal

Mornings can be tough for some people. Sure, we all know we're supposed to get eight or more hours of sleep each night, but those shows won't watch themselves and sometimes we stay up too late. Waking up the following morning, though, is not always easy. Thanks to today's promo code at Amazon, you can make that morning alarm a bit more enjoyable.

As of May 6, the Amazon Echo Spot smart alarm clock is on sale for $54.99 with code ECHOSPOT25, marked down from the normal price of $79.99. That's a 31% discount that takes $25 off the cost.

The Amazon family of Echo devices is extensive and one of most versatile is the Echo Spot. First and foremost, it's an alarm clock that you can customize. Saying, "Alexa, start my day" gives you access to your pre-set morning routine that can include playing your favorite wake-up tunes since the Echo Spot is also a speaker. That also means you can use it to listen to your evening podcasts or pump up the tunes when you're changing the sheets.

SEE ALSO: Feeling sniffly? Grab a $55 Smart Air Quality Monitor with instant alerts

Since it's an Echo device that pairs with Alexa, you can use it to control other Alexa-enabled smart home gadgets like the thermostat, smart lights, and smart plugs. You can also make hands-free calls on the Echo Spot and check the weather.

If you're going for less screen time or have started charging your phone in the living room at night, the Echo Spot is the perfect nightstand accessory to make sure you still wake up on time.

Now's a great time to snag the Echo Spot while saving $25. You'll be getting an alarm clock, a smart speaker, and be able to control your other smart home gadgets for under $55. Be sure to use code ECHOSPOT25 to score the discount.

SAVE 25%: As of May 6, the JBL Tune 510BT Bluetooth Headphones are on sale at Amazon for $29.95, down from $39.95. That's a discount of $10, or 25% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune 510BT Bluetooth Headphones $29.95 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Subways, streets, airports, and office: a good set of headphones will follow wherever you lead. And you can nab a pair of Bluetooth headphones designed to accompany you anywhere for under $30 today.

As of May 6, the JBL Tune 510BT Bluetooth Headphones are on sale at Amazon for $29.95, down from $39.95. That's a discount of $10, or 25% off.

SEE ALSO: Beats Solo 4 headphones are back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

JBL Tunes prioritize reliable sound quality and budget prices. These headphones are meant to last. They're comfortable, too, with cushioned on-ear cups and an adjustable headband.

This Bluetooth model has a long, 40-hour battery life. It also charges quickly; just five minutes of charging will get you two hours of playback, while the whole battery charges in only two hours.

These headphones also have a built-in mic, so you can take voice calls on the street or access Siri and Hey Google.

SAVE $100: As of May 6, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $199.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100 Get Deal

Looking for a last-minute Mother's Day gift? Try something a little different this year, and get Mom a smartwatch. Skip the flowers and give her something she can use long after the holiday ends, and she'll remember this year forever. A smartwatch can of course do much more than track fitness goals and tell time, and if Mom is an Android user, she'll get a lot out of this particular Samsung watch that's on sale right now.

As of May 6, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $199.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's a discount of 33%

The Galaxy Watch 7 offers a variety of fitness tracking options and apps, with heart rate tracking with Galaxy AI, personalized wellness tips, sleep tracking, and more. It can even help to detect sleep apnea as well as analyze additional insights to offer a daily Energy Score so Mom can see whether she's ready to tackle the day or not. Meanwhile, Galaxy AI filters out small movements in the body to offer a more accurate set of readings.

If Mom is someone who likes pushing herself and improving her run times or other accomplishments, the watch also tracks and compares past performance times to current ones, giving her something to strive toward right on her wrist. And of course the watch can be used to sync with her phone to read and write texts, make calls, and handle other phone-related tasks. There's a lot more to it than just fitness.

Give Mom a smartwatch this year and she'll be able to do a lot more on the go. Plus, it's a lot more functional than a necklace or a Bath and Body Works gift set.

Thanks to the fallout from the Epic Games v. Apple ruling on April 30, you can now purchase books directly through Amazon's Kindle app on iOS.

California judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple can no longer take a 27 percent cut from purchases made outside the App Store or prevent developers from directing users to other payment options. (Apple is appealing the ruling, of course.) The court found those restrictions to be anti-competitive.

SEE ALSO: Meta lobbies Apple and Google to take over age verification for young people online

Apple has appealed the decision but is complying with it for now. The decision has allowed Fortnite to return to the app store, and apps like Spotify and Kindle for iOS have pushed out updates that make it easier to complete purchases within the app. It’s a welcome change, since part of Kindle’s dominance in the e-reader space came from the convenience of buying books directly on the device.

With the update, Kindle users on iOS now see a new "Get Book" button next to titles. Tapping it opens a mobile web browser to complete the purchase.

Credit: Amazon Kindle / Timothy Beck Werth

This is far simpler than before, when users had to manually visit Amazon’s web store through a browser, sign in, and then wait for the book to sync back to the app.

That workaround existed to dodge Apple’s 2011 App Store policy requiring developers to strip out links to external purchasing. Then in 2024, Apple added a 27 percent fee for external payments, on top of the 30 percent it already takes for in-app purchases.

That 30 percent fee is still in place, plus Apple could still win its appeal. But for now, buying ebooks on the Kindle iOS app is finally less of a hassle.

Sleep is essential for your physical and mental health, cognitive function, and mood regulation, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. But, as many of us know all too well, a good night’s sleep can’t be forced, especially if you’re a hot sleeper.

If you’ve tried everything to help you doze off — floor fans, blasting the air conditioner all night, sleeping in your birthday suit — and nothing works, maybe your mattress is the culprit.

Many mattresses simply aren’t the right fit for people who sleep hot. Some are made of materials that can trap your body heat and actually make you feel warmer as the night progresses. Some mattresses also have poor ventilation, keeping heat close to your body.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Breeze® Collection Shop Now Why is sleeping cool important?

A cool sleep environment doesn't just feel better, it's also crucial to sleeping well. Our bodies prepare for and begin the transition into sleep by dropping in temperature, helping us feel drowsy. Sleeping cool helps to hasten the body's sleep onset — or the time it needs to fall asleep — and to stay asleep so we can cycle through its deepest stages.

The TEMPUR-Breeze collection stands apart from other Tempur-Pedic mattresses in that it’s specially designed to deliver a cooling experience that lasts from the minute you lie down to the moment you wake up.

Designed for space, perfected for hot sleepers

Tempur-Pedic has a fascinating origin story. In the late 1960s, NASA scientists created a groundbreaking viscoelastic, slow spring-back foam to cushion pilots during the rigors of test flights. In the 1980s, Tempur-Pedic took NASA’s foam technology and spent a decade perfecting it for sleep. And so, TEMPUR-Material™ was born.

Today, every Tempur-Pedic mattress is made with this exclusive TEMPUR-Material, which reacts to your body’s temperature and adapts to your unique weight and shape, delivering customized support. In addition, TEMPUR-Material absorbs an impressive amount of motion, so it feels like you have the entire bed to yourself, by limiting disturbances from your partner, pets, or kids.

How the cooling TEMPUR-Breeze collection stacks up

Both the ProBreeze® and LuxeBreeze® mattresses in the TEMPUR-Breeze collection feature Pure Cool or Pure Cool Plus material as their top layer. Pure Cool is an exclusive Tempur-Pedic technology that actually absorbs heat and pulls it away from your body. Pure Cool Plus, featured in all the LuxeBreeze mattresses, is an upleveled version of the Pure Cool material. Tempur-Pedic claims that a LuxeBreeze mattress can feel up to 10 degrees cooler all night long, making it a solid self-care investment for sweaty sleepers.

Each mattress in the TEMPUR-Breeze collection also contains a layer of Advanced Relief material — the most pressure-relieving material Tempur-Pedic has ever created. It helps to relieve those morning aches and it features added ventilation for increased airflow, another win for hot sleepers. 

To top it all off, each TEMPUR-Breeze mattress comes with a cool-to-the-touch and machine-washable SmartClimate® cover, made with cooling fibers that help you snuggle in under the blankets without heating up.

Get ready for deeper, cooler zzzs

We all need our sleep to feel our best and function during the day. If you’re having trouble falling and staying asleep, a Tempur-Pedic mattress might be a welcome respite. In addition to the adaptable body support and mind-blowing motion absorption, the TEMPUR-Breeze collection is a smart pick for hot sleepers because it can help you stay cool all night and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to roll.

GET $700 OFF: As of May 6, the Bluetti Solar Generator Elite 200 V2 is available to Prime members for $700 off with an on-page coupon. You also get a free camping cookware set with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Solar Generator Elite 200 V2 $999 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $700 Prime members can take advantage of the on-screen coupon to get $700 off and a free item Get Deal

A solar generator is your entry point to energy independence. Whether you're getting ready for a summer of car camping or making sure you have an alternate power source in case of emergency, you can grab a generator for a major 41% off today.

As of May 6, you can get the Bluetti Solar Generator Elite 200 V2 for just $999, down from $1,699, with an on-page coupon for Prime members. That's a discount of $700. Additionally, when you take advantage of the deal, you'll qualify for a free camping cookware set from Bluetti; follow Amazon's directions to claim the free set after you add the generator to your cart.

SEE ALSO: This PGYOB Portable Power Station Deal is right on time for outdoor season

The Bluetti Solar Generator Elite 200 V2 is a powerful solar generator and battery backup. The system has a 2073.6Wh capacity that can run a WiFi router for 72 hours. With fast charging, it can replenish 80% of its capacity in under an hour when plugged into a wall source. It can charge nine devices at the same time through a vast array of sockets.

At 53.35 pounds, this generator isn't featherweight, but it is on the small side and portable. Pack it in your truck and bring it with you to the backcountry.

A 17-year lifespan and around 6,000 cycles of full energy retention ensure this battery will be by your side for years.

People with big monitors can rejoice.

That's because Microsoft is reshaping the Start menu in Windows 11 to be bigger, among other things, per an official company blog post released on Tuesday. The new Start menu not only has a larger layout, but a new view will also sort apps by how often you use them, giving you quick access to your most important apps. On top of that, you can connect an iPhone or Android phone to your PC and get a new phone companion menu on the side of the Start menu, showing contacts and other information.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft reveals 2 compact Surface devices starting well under $1,000

That's just a smaller part of a bigger slew of announcements, which include an AI agent built into the Settings menu and new AI features in Paint. For users with Copilot+ PCs, the new AI agent tool will help them automate and execute tasks in the Settings menu. That means users can describe what they need help with using plain English, such as "I want to make my mouse pointer bigger," and the AI agent will take care of the rest.

The Start menu upgrades were first noticed back in April (courtesy of The Verge) and will roll out over the next month. Microsoft also announced two new Copilot-enabled Surface devices alongside all of this on Tuesday.

But seriously, the Windows 11 Start menu was way too small. Justice has been served.