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Gabi, the newest monk at a temple in Seoul, vowed to not overcharge as it seeks enlightenment.

That was quick.

Some of the biggest AI companies have just agreed to provide the U.S. government with early access to their new AI models. And this went down just one day after a report from the New York Times detailed how the Trump administration was looking into government oversight of new AI models.

According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, three of tech's biggest AI companies — Google, Microsoft, and xAI — have all reached an agreement with the Trump administration to provide access to new frontier models before they are released to the public.

The three companies will provide this access to the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), which will evaluate new AI models on their capabilities and security. OpenAI and Anthropic have both previously agreed to a similar agreement with the Commerce Department in 2024.

CAISI has already completed over 40 evaluations on AI models before their release to the public.

“Independent, rigorous measurement science is essential to understanding frontier AI and its national security implications,” CAISI director Chris Fall said to the WSJ. “These expanded industry collaborations help us scale our work in the public interest at a critical moment.”

Earlier this week, the WSJ also reported that the Trump administration is looking into a "cybersecurity-focused executive order," which would create an oversight group whose role is to create standards for AI models.

These recent developments come in the wake of the Trump administration's feud with AI company Anthropic earlier this year. The US government declared Anthropic and its AI chatbot Claude was a supply chain risk to national security after the AI company requested that the Trump administration not use its technology for warfare or mass surveillance purposes.

Previously, the Trump administration has taken a very pro-AI stance, citing the need for U.S. companies to maintain an edge over their Chinese rivals.

Connections pulled a classic game design trick this week: showing the player a challenge they haven't seen before, but have unknowingly been preparing for this whole time.

The popular New York Times puzzle game, in which players usually are tasked with grouping a bunch of random words together into hidden categories, threw a heck of a curveball on Wednesday, May 6. If you haven't checked it out yet, today's puzzle is a bit strange in that it doesn't include words at all.

Instead, it's a bunch of symbols of mundane objects.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 6, 2026 Uh...what? Credit: Screenshot: The New York Times

The puzzle actually makes some sense if you do what I did and just look up the answers, but for everyday Connections players, it's obviously going to be a more stiff challenge than usual. Of course, people on the internet had some real thoughts about this. Mostly very negative thoughts, to be precise.

Turns out, people really don't like it when you mess with their daily New York Times gaming routine.

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But there was at least one person who thought it was pretty neat.

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

Hopefully, tomorrow's puzzle is just words again.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Apple has reached a $250 million settlement in a lawsuit that accused the company of exaggerating Apple Intelligence's intelligence.

The suit claimed that Apple misled iPhone users about Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI tools, before and after the launch of the iPhone 16 in Sep. 2024. The settlement filing states that U.S. shoppers who bought certain iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 may qualify to receive a portion of the $250 million settlement.

Multiple class-action suits were filed over Apple Intelligence marketing before being combined into a single action. According to the May 5 filing with a U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, both parties in the case have now agreed to settle.

Once a judge approves the agreement, qualifying Apple customers will be able to receive payments between $25 to $95.

As is typical in class-action settlements, Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing, and the company defended itself in a statement to the New York Times: "We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."

Why was Apple sued in the first place?

When ChatGPT burst onto the tech scene in 2022, it ignited a global AI arms race. While companies like Google have been able to release competitors to ChatGPT, Apple has largely been on the sidelines of this race.

However, the company did introduce its own AI tools under the branding Apple Intelligence in 2024. Early promotion for Apple Intelligence highlighted a variety of use cases, such as writing emails and a more conversational, intelligent Siri.

The lawsuit states that Apple promised iPhone shoppers "enhanced Siri features" and advanced AI capabilities, and that its failure to deliver violated consumer protection laws.

Apple's stalled work on an AI version of Siri has been one of the biggest ongoing stories in the tech industry in recent years. The company is expected to finally release the updated Siri at the WWDC 2026 event in June, two years behind schedule.

In short, the suit claims that Apple oversold customers on AI features that weren't even built, and that remain undelivered today.

"We are proud to secure a historic settlement on behalf of consumers who should feel confident and protected when deciding where to spend their hard-earned dollars," said Ryan Clarkson, founder and managing partner of Clarkson Law Firm, one of the firms involved in the class-action case. "We are at an inflection point with AI, and the choices companies and regulators make now will shape how this technology impacts everyday people."

What iPhone models are included in the class-action settlement?

The agreement stipulates that shoppers who reside in the U.S. and purchased iPhones with Apple Intelligence features between June 2024 and March 2025 may be eligible for compensation. The phones named in the agreement include:

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

Typically, class-action settlements like this require approval from a judge. Notices will go out automatically to many customers, and a settlement website will be created with additional information on consumers' rights in the case.

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Microsoft stands out as one of the most environmentally responsible companies in Big Tech, but a new report indicates it may be retreating from one of its most ambitious climate goals.

The Redmond, Washington-based company previously pledged to match 100 percent of its hourly electricity use with renewable energy purchases by 2030; Microsoft already meets its annual targets for renewable energy matches.

SEE ALSO: Trump plans to kill Energy Star appliance program

Now, with pressure to construct data centers to fuel AI, Microsoft is considering delaying or abandoning that hourly goal, Bloomberg reports.

The hourly clean power goal is named 100/100/0, indicating the intent to match all of its energy use, all of the time, with zero-carbon energy purchases. That goal is complicated by the enormous amount Microsoft is spending on data centers, around $190 billion through the end of the year. The data center boom has equated to less money for other corporate endeavors, like clean energy. In the wake of those costs, Microsoft has already begun reducing its carbon-dioxide removal program.

Many tech companies are looking to natural gas — which emits Earth-warming greenhouse gases — to partially power their data centers, rather than cleaner energy sources like solar, wind, or hydro power. 

The companies of Big Tech are all emitting more carbon in the wake of the AI race; Microsoft has seen a 23 percent jump in carbon emissions since late 2022, while Google's increased by 51 percent and Meta's by 64 percent during that same time period, Bloomberg reports.

A Utah law, enacted Wednesday, seeks to ban the use of VPNs to access porn sites.

The statute is part of SB 73, which contains amendments to the state's age-verification law. These laws typically require some proof of age to access adult content (or any content the state deems "harmful to minors").

Utah's age-verification law, SB 287, went into effect in 2023; it requires age verification via a digital ID card, a third-party verification service, or a credit card.

Pornhub promptly blocked users in Utah as the law went into effect.

SEE ALSO: Some UK users can go back on Pornhub. See if you're one of them.

Age verification often doesn't work because it can be circumvented. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which mask a user's real location, are one popular method for doing that. That's what the Utah law aims to tackle when it says porn sites must not allow VPN usage. Here's the relevant language:

A commercial entity that operates a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors may not facilitate or encourage the use of a virtual private network, proxy server, or other means to circumvent age verification requirements, including by providing: (a)instructions on how to use a virtual private network or proxy server to access the website; or (b) means for individuals in this state to circumvent geofencing or blocking.

"Utah just became the first state in the U.S. to target VPN usage, and they are embarrassing themselves," said Lia Holland, campaigns and communications director at digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future, in a statement sent to Mashable.

Holland added that the legal language in question reads like AI slop.

"You cannot require a website doing age verification to determine where someone using a reputable VPN is browsing from — this feat is literally impossible by design for even the best hacker," Holland continued. Websites are left with three choices, Holland said: block everyone using a VPN (which is likely impossible), require every site visitor to verify their age, or censor everything that might fall under Utah's "harmful to minors" standard.

Fight for the Future says it will endorse any lawsuit filed against Utah to overturn this law.

The digital civil liberties nonprofit, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), also criticized SB 73. EFF's associate director of state affairs, Rindala Alajaji, wrote in a blog post published April 30: "These provisions won't stop a tech-savvy teenager, but they certainly will impact the privacy of every regular Utah resident who just wants to keep their data out of the hands of brokers or malicious actors."

Alajaii added: "attacks on VPNs are, at their core, attacks on the tools that enable digital privacy. Utah is setting a precedent that prioritizes government control over the fundamental architecture of a private and secure internet, and it won't stop at the state's borders."

"Protecting kids while preserving freedom is not a new concept," SB 73 sponsor Sen. Calvin Musselman told The Salt Lake Tribune, and compared it to policies about alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. (Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling aren't protected by the First Amendment, however; free speech is.)

SB 73 appears to be the first bill enacted to block VPNs, but another ban has been proposed in Michigan. The UK government is also considering a ban on VPNs for minors.

When speaking with Mashable last year about age-verification, First Amendment experts warned of second-order censorship. The first order is age verification, they explained, but people find workarounds. Second-order censorship means banning the workarounds.

Finding genuinely good deals at Walmart just got a whole lot easier. The creator of camelcamelcamel, a popular free Amazon price tracker, has launched an identical tool for Walmart products called camelmart.

California-based programmer Daniel Green created camelcamelcamel in 2008 as "a code experiment" with Amazon's Product Advertising API, he told Mashable last fall. It took off among shoppers (and shopping reporters) after he put it online, so he hired a team of friends to keep it running — now for nearly two decades.

Camelcamelcamel and its browser extension, The Camelizer, can produce historical price charts for millions of Amazon products, making it easy to see if deals are worth adding to cart — or whether they're even "deals" at all. Users can also set up price-drop alerts to receive an email when an item goes on sale.

Here's camelmart's price history chart for the Apple AirPods Pro 3. At the time of writing, they were only 99 cents away from their record-low price at Walmart. Credit: Screenshot via camelmart.com

Camelmart pulls data from Walmart's official API and has the exact same features as its sister site. If you enter a Walmart product's URL into the search bar, you can view its price history and sign up for deal alerts.

SEE ALSO: What is camelcamelcamel? Just our secret weapon for finding the lowest prices on Amazon.

Camelmart doesn't have its own browser extension yet, but Green tells me via email that "We plan to eventually either add camelmart to our existing extension, or release its own separate extension."

This isn't the first time Green and his team have branched out from Amazon. They released a Best Buy price tracker called camelbuy back in 2009, but eventually shut it down because it "didn't get the traction it needed to sustain itself," Green said. Camelcamelcamel and all of its spinoffs have been supported by affiliate links, so if you buy something through a link on the sites, they may earn a commission.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, has now announced that "age-confirmed" iOS UK users can once again visit Pornhub. In January, the company said that it would block Pornhub in the UK for most people.

The change is due to Apple's release of iOS 26.4, which Aylo's vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, called "the world's first ever device-based age verification solution for its users in the UK" in a press release.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

UK adults who have confirmed their age through Apple's UK age-verification process can now visit Pornhub again.

Age verification can be done with a credit card or by scanning one's passport, driver's license, or other proof-of-age card. Apple will check if the device owner has a credit card on file to confirm if they're 18 or older. For children, teens, and unverified adults, Apple's Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features are automatically turned on. The latter blurs or warns about potentially inappropriate content.

Apple published these age requirements on its website on April 29. They come nearly a year after the UK enacted the Online Safety Act, a wide-ranging age-verification law. It also follows Aylo's request to Apple and other tech giants, Google and Microsoft, to enable device-level age verification in Nov. 2025.

Many people in the adult industry and free speech experts have been advocating for device-level age verification for years.

"We have been reaching out to the operating system providers to emphasize the need for a highly effective device-based solution, that includes Google, that includes Microsoft and Apple," said Solomon Friedman, partner and vice president of compliance at Ethical Capital Partners (which owns Aylo), in a Tuesday press briefing, 404 Media reported. "And on behalf of ownership, we're obviously delighted to see that Apple has instituted UK-wide, effective device-based age assurance."

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This next year or so is gearing up to be a big one for Apple. Case in point: Just this week, Mashable previewed the new features coming to iOS 26.5, and now there's already major news about what's coming in iOS 27.

According to a new report from Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman, Apple will soon let its users choose exactly which third-party AI models that they want to utilize with Apple Intelligence.

Apple is reportedly launching an "Extensions" feature, which will let AI companies opt-in and enable support for the feature through their App Store applications. If and when companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic enable Extensions for Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude, respectively, users will be able to select those AI models for Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools, Siri voice assistant, Image Plaground, and more.

Gurman says that third-party AI tools would be able to power Siri's feature set with their own distinctive voices answering prompts. Apple's own Siri would be able to join in with its own distinct voice as well, though this will likely be powered by Google Gemini.

This feature is scheduled to launch with iOS 27 for iPhone along with iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. iOS 27 will likely be announced at WWDC in June and then released later this year around the same time as Apple's big iPhone event, where the company is slated to unveil iPhone 18 and potentially the brand new iPhone Fold.

SEE ALSO: Apple WWDC 2026: Everything we know so far

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Apple had received criticism over the past few years regarding its lack of AI strategy, and the company has largely been left out of the AI arms race. However, as its competitors have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into developing AI models and infrastructure, Apple has opted to partner with companies like Google and OpenAI, letting its customers reap some of the benefits of AI without spending massive amounts of money.

Of course, Apple's lack of AI technology has also cost the company. Apple recently settled a lawsuit for $250 million over claims that it exaggerated the abilities of Apple Intelligence.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Oh my god, you guys, Legally Blonde's heroine Elle Woods is headed back to our screens. Not in Legally Blonde 3 (although that's been in the works for years), but in a new prequel TV series, titled Elle.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

Created by Laura Kittrell and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, Elle rewinds the clock to 1995, well before Elle set foot on Harvard's campus. Before she began studying fashion merchandising in undergrad, even! Instead, Elle shows us who Elle (Lexi Minetree) was in high school. Spoiler alert: She's just as bubbly as she is in college, and dressed in just as much pink to boot.

However, Elle's high school life isn't all California sunshine. Literally. In the show's teaser, Elle's mother (June Diane Raphael) and father (Tom Everett Scott) reveal that they'll be moving to Seattle. That's right: Elle Woods, the queen of pink, is heading to Seattle, the land of flannel, rain, and apparently, no blonde people.

The Seattle move sets the stage for another fish-out-of-water story for Elle. This time, instead of trying to fit in among snobby law students and old money types, she'll have to contend with her grunge-loving peers. But if there's one thing Elle Woods can do, it's keep it positive and make the most of a tricky situation. What, like it's hard?

Elle premieres July 1 on Prime Video.

Comedian John Early makes his feature directorial debut with Maddie's Secret, an offbeat homage to melodrama that he wrote and headlines as its eponymous heroine.

As an aspiring food influencer, Maddie Ralph (Early) is passionate about her cuisine. And at first glance, she's got a picture-perfect life: a loving husband (Eric Rahill), a devoted best friend (Kate Berlant), and a job at a culinary content studio called Gourmaybe. But as the title suggests, there's a side to Maddie she can't stomach sharing with her loved ones. And this secret could kill her.

Out of the movie's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, I cheered Maddie's Secret, writing in my review for Mashable, "The film is silly and strange, but even amid campy bits, sincere. So, you'll laugh at its parody elements, but may well be genuinely moved by Early's commitment to this strange and splendid film."

I also said "John Early is a better ingénue than Sydney Sweeney," comparing Maddie's Secret to another earnest (but less entertaining) TIFF offering, Christy. And I stand by it.

Maddie's Secret opens in theaters in New York on June 19, and in Los Angeles on June 26.

SAVE 64%: Between May 6 and May 17, you can score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Mother's Day Sale Get up to 64% off plus a free solar panel with purchase Shop Now

I live in an apartment, so I don't exactly have a "whole home" to back up. But if there's one thing I hate, it's losing power. There goes the AC, the internet, the food in the fridge — it's a total nightmare. If you actually own a house and have been putting off buying a backup power system because it's pricey, I have some good news.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 1000 Mini portable power station just launched — U.S. availability is pending

Right now, EcoFlow is running a Mother's Day Sale through May 17 with discounts as high as 64%. They're also throwing in free hardware to sweeten the deal: All single orders between $600 and $3,000 come with a free 45W solar panel, and orders over $3,000 come with two free 160W solar panels. If you're looking for something more portable, their RAPID Power Banks are also up to 53% off right now.

Just keep an eye on the countdown clock — it’s for the Flash Sale items that have even better, limited-time price cuts. If you miss the flash window, the standard Mother's Day and Home Improvement deals (including a $700 installation discount for larger systems) are still valid through mid-May.

Here are a few of the best deals I've spotted so far:

• DELTA 3 Max Plus Portable Power Station (2048Wh) — $1,099 $3,798 (save $1,899)

• DELTA 3 Ultra Series Portable Power Station (3072Wh) — $1,899 $1,899 (save $800)

• DELTA Pro + 2 x 220W Portable Solar Panel — $2,149 $4,997 (save $2,848)

SAVE $50: As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That's a discount of 11%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal

If you want to experience your favorite music to the fullest, you need headphones that are up to the task. Bose can typically be counted on to provide that kind of quality, especially with its QuietComfort lineup. You can try its newest model for less right now for less thanks to this Amazon deal, which heavily discounts the cans so you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on them.

As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That's $50 off and a discount of 11%.

SEE ALSO: We tested the 9 best headphones and earbuds for working out

Though an incremental upgrade from the previous QuietComfort model, these have some new features you'll want to try out. But mostly, these comfortable headphones are all about feeling great on your ears and sounding fantastic. They offer noise cancellation and spatialized audio so it sounds as though you're right where the music is. The new Cinema Mode can help to spatialize and balance background and sound and sound effects when watching movies to help put you right into the film as well.

Beyond that they can be used to take calls with their built-in microphones. They'll last a long time while you're on the phone too, with 30 hours of play time when listening to songs, podcasts, or taking meetings.

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard took the headphones for a spin in her review and and called them a "well-rounded pair of headphones", praising their blend of "comfort, noise cancellation, and sound".

If you're ready to pick up a new pair of headphones at a discount that'll tick all the boxes for you, grab these before the discount disappears.

BUY A DELTA GIFT CARD FOR $300+ AND GET A FREE STARBUCKS GIFT CARD: Through May 11, buy a Delta gift card for $300 or more and get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Delta / Starbucks Free $20 Starbucks eGift card with purchase of $300+ Delta gift card   Get Deal

The price of flying these days is shocking. If you plan on traveling soon on a route served by Delta, it's well worth checking out this deal to get something for free. It'll help ease the pain of the ticket price.

Through May 11, purchase a Delta gift card worth $300 or more and get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card. It's as simple as that. You can also qualify for the deal by buying multiple gift cards that total at least $300. The deal with apply automatically and you'll receive a separate email containing the free Starbucks card.

SEE ALSO: Best Mother's Day sales of 2026 so far: Deals on KitchenAid, Kindle, flowers, more thoughtful gift ideas

Booking flights these days is not much fun. Prices are ahh.... abnormal, but Delta has eased the pain a bit thanks to this deal. The carrier is positioning this free Starbucks gift card deal as a good option for Mother's Day, but realistically, it's useful for anyone who plans to book with Delta soon.

Keep in mind the Delta gift card and Starbucks card will never expire. Delta mentions this offer is valid until May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET or for the first 11,000 purchasers, whichever comes first. That means it might be smart to hop on this deal soon since there's no way to know if it'll last until May 11.

If you plan on flying soon or want to gift a special someone a Delta gift card worth $300 or more, snag this deal to get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card. It's a win-win situation for those who plan to fly with Delta.

FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26: Sign up for a T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan for 24 months and get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) which ordinarily costs $899.99. Existing T-Mobile Go5G Plus members also qualify for the deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free Samsung Galaxy S26 from T-Mobile   Shop Now

It's tough to find a free deal these days. We usually have a massive amount of fine text to read, but T-Mobile is making this deal pretty simple. Sign up for two years of coverage (which you probably needed anyway) and get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB). Here's how to qualify.

To get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) instead of paying the list price of $899.99, sign on for 24 months of a T-Mobile Experience or Better Value plan. You'll save the $900 over the next 24 months of bill credit at T-Mobile. No trade in is required to cash in on this deal.

Announced in February, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is the latest model from the major iPhone competitor. It comes with added features like better AI capabilities and a 50 megapixel camera. Samsung also mentions improvements in display clarity with the new S26, giving off better colors and sharper details.

SEE ALSO: Add the Hisense 55-inch Canvas TV to your gallery wall for $350 less than usual

If you're one for selfies, the Samsung Galaxy S26 could be a great option. Samsung designed the front-facing camera to have a wider view, making it easier to capture selfies with the group.

If you're going with T-Mobile coverage, it's well worth hopping on this free Samsung Galaxy S26 deal. The cell phone bill was inevitable so you might as well snag a free upgraded phone in the process.

Pokémon Pokopia has been a huge hit for Nintendo, so much so that some folks have thought about buying a $450 Switch 2 just to play the cozy life sim. (It's a system exclusive.) Nintendo has seemingly taken notice and announced a Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle this week, combining the game with the console at a slight discount.

The only problem? You probably can't buy it without taking a 15-hour flight.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + "Pokémon Pokopia" Bundle AU$769.95 at My Nintendo Store
  Pre-order Here

Sadly, the Pokopia bundle will only be available in Australia and New Zealand when it launches on June 5. Gamers there can preorder it starting Wednesday, May 6 in the online My Nintendo Store for AU$769.95 or NZ$869.95, which works out to a savings of AU$39.95 or NZ$49.95 (versus buying the game and console separately). A Nintendo Account set to Australia or New Zealand is required to purchase the bundle.

If you live outside Australasia, you can change your account's region to add the bundle to your cart, but there's still the issue of actually getting it in hand. It only ships to local addresses, and it's only available for pickup at Nintendo Australia's Parts and Repairs Store in Victoria at this time.

You'll get this message if you try to buy the Switch 2 + "Pokémon Pokopia" bundle with a U.S. Nintendo Account. Credit: Screenshot via Nintendo.com

The Pokopia bundle will eventually be available for preorder at major Australasian retailers like Costco and JB Hi-Fi "in the near future," according to a Nintendo press release. But the company hasn't said when the bundle will get a wider global release — or if it ever will.

If it makes you feel any better, Team Northern Hemisphere, the bundle doesn't come with any exclusives, and its console is just a regular Switch 2 console; it's not a special-edition variant with Pokopia-inspired accents. Conversely, previous bundles for the first-generation Switch included themed Joy-Con and dock designs.

SEE ALSO: Hands-on: The irresistible cuteness of 'Pokémon Pokopia', my favorite Pokémon game in years

I'll also point out the obvious, which is that the bundle doesn't work out to much of a savings after you factor in the cost of getting to Australia or New Zealand, unless you were already planning on visiting.

It could be worth getting a Switch 2 just for Pokopia: It's a great game, and the system will get even more great exclusives as time goes on. But if you don't live down under, your only reasonable route is still buying them separately. (Read Mashable's full Pokopia review if you're wondering what all the hype is about.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo "Pokémon Pokopia" $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

SAVE 35%: As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That's a 35% discount or $449 savings.

Beatbot AquaSense 2 $849 at Amazon
$1,298 Save $449   Get Deal at Amazon

I don't have a pool (well, not a personal one, anyway; I live in an apartment complex), but I do have a robot vacuum, and I know the joy of watching a little machine clean my floors while I do other things. If you apply that same logic to pool maintenance (which I imagine is a lot more annoying than keeping your floors clean), then investing in a robo pool cleaner makes a lot of sense.

And, right now, you can get one of Amazon's top-rated models for a fraction of the price. As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That's a 35% discount or $449 savings. It's also the lowest price we've seen this model go for. The only problem? Amazon marked this as a "limited-time deal," and the countdown clock shows it ends in about 16 hours.

SEE ALSO: I guessed the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism would be cool, but not this cool

This thing works just like an indoor robot vacuum; it maps out its cleaning path and then uses an onboard 4-core CPU and 16 sensors to navigate using an S-path for the pool floor and an N-path to scrub the walls and waterline. It also has a "Double-Pass Scrubbing" feature for the waterline, so it'll get the grimiest spots twice per pass. Bonus: When it's done cleaning (or when the battery runs low), it automatically parks itself at the surface of the water so you don't have to go diving to retrieve it.

How many times do we have to go through this?

Yes, Mortal Kombat has been a massively popular video game franchise since its spawning in 1992. Yes, its over-the-top kills and thrillingly scornful catchphrases make the fighting games incredibly fun. But despite several attempts including 1995's Mortal Kombat, 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, and the 2021 reboot, also titled Mortal Kombat, not a single good live-action movie has been made from this IP.

Yet here we are again with another ugly, nonsensical mess, this time called Mortal Kombat II.

SEE ALSO: 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' review: Death is coming for us all

Mortal Kombat, the last film in this much-flubbed franchise, centered on Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a descendant of Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), who's a fish out of water in the titular fighting tournament world. This time, he's relegated to a tertiary character, so the sequel can pivot to a new fish out of water, Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a washed-up '90s action star who'd rather crush a beer than a spine. However, when a malevolent conqueror named Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) threatens Earthrealm, it's up to Cage and a coterie of super-powered fighters to win a Mortal Kombat tournament to save their world.

Wisely, Warner Bros. led with Cage in their early promos, releasing teasers that showed a cheeky self-awareness of the Western martial arts movie while suggesting Mortal Kombat II would be funnier than its predecessor. Frustratingly, this is another example of good trailer, bad movie. And a big part of why is that Cage feels like he's been wedged in, rather than centered on, for a new perspective.

Mortal Kombat II is a befuddling eyesore with sub-zero emotional depth. Adeline Rudolph as Kitana. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Mortal Kombat (2021) director Simon McQuoid is back with muddy CGI settings, rubbery CGI fighters, and much of his movie's cast reprising their roles. Along with Tan and Taslim, Jessica McNamee is back as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion.

Joining the fighter line-up opposite Cage are fan-wielding Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), staff-armed Jade (Tati Gabrielle), the many-fanged Baraka (CJ Bloomfield), and Ford as brutish conqueror Shao Kahn.

Now, you might think that's too many characters to create meaningful story arcs over the course of a 116-minute runtime. And you'd be right!

Sure, screenwriter Jeremy Slater could have narrowed the focus to Cage's experience to better create a moving narrative, while still folding in the requisite fighting, brawlers, and game allusions. But hey, why not split the story focus between Cage, whose gruff has-been attitude pitches Mortal Kombat II toward a promising Galaxy Quest vibe, and Kitana, whose rebellious warrior princess thread is reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora as she battled Thanos and her "sister" Nebula. But here, Thanos is Shao Kahn, who murders Kitana's dad in the film's glacially paced opening sequence. And Nebula is Jade, Kitana's bestie/guard since she became Shao Kahn's prisoner as a girl. (If you want more backstory, fret not, there's plenty.)

Tati Gabrielle as Jade. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cage won't even show up for the first 14 minutes of Mortal Kombat II. In that time, the sequel plunges into the same grim and self-serious atmosphere that made McQuoid's first Mortal Kombat a bore. Sure, the fight scenes are really violent and bloody, befitting the film's R-rating. But the fights feel disconnected from the storytelling. Worse yet, these battles are shot with very little visual logic, meaning some big blows just don't hit.

And yep, there sure are recreations of memorable characters, their costumes, weapons, and catchphrases. But the major important distinction between this rebooted movie franchise and the games is, the games were fun.

The most fun Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II can offer is Kano, the only character who resolutely refuses to take things seriously.

Karl Urban shines, but Josh Lawson is Mortal Kombat II's MVP. Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Josh Lawson as Kano. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

As Cage, Urban brings with him an American arrogance that shakes up the seriousness of the Earthrealm battlers. He's snarky where they're stern, creating a feisty dynamic that borders on amusing. But as Cage's clichéd plot line demands he become a selfless, brave hero, he becomes more grave and less giggle-inducing. Thank the gods for Lawson's Kano.

This crusty criminal and unrepentant asshole died in the last movie, but like other MK fighters, he's resurrected for this sequel. Thankfully, rather than being brought back as another humorless revenant, Kano is as chaotically insulting as ever, slinging barbs with reckless abandon. When he mocks necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman) for his "eyeliner," I howled with laughter. And for a brief moment I thought that between Cage and Kano, this movie might actually begin to get fun!

Alas, my hopes were squashed like a skull under a warhammer. Kano and Cage get to be comic relief, while Kitana broods and a new quest kicks off to heist a magical gem from Shao Kahn, which he effectively uses as an immortality cheat code. Again, life-or-death battles and a heist into the heart of a tyrant's castle? This should be exciting and entertaining!

Inexplicably, McQuoid bleeds any tension from these sequences with a mangled visual language that makes fights hard to follow and the quest feel like an afterthought. Suspense cannot build because in every other scene, Slater's script delivers another exposition drop to explain the tournament, the realms, the revenants — on and on! Video games are a visual medium. Movies are a visual medium. Yet much of this movie feels like I got locked into a tedious podcast.

In the end, Mortal Kombat II feels like the wretched compromise of two movie pitches. One is a sequel that closely follows the saga and dolesome tone of the last movie. The other is an action-comedy in the vein of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Whether it's Kano reading other fighters to filth, or a sequence where Cage is chased around a village by a rampaging Baraka, there are moments where Mortal Kombat II flirts with not taking this IP deadly seriously. But then McQuoid pivots back to a tone that's less Shogun and more Iron Fist. And as sloppy and artless as this adaptation is, it probably won't matter.

Gamers need to demand more of video game movies. CJ Bloomfield as Baraka. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

It's long been a cliché that video game movies are traditionally bad. I was recently disappointed by the Until Dawn movie and moved to consider my own mortality over the vacuousness of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. And yet, studios keep plugging along with these movies "for the fans."

Don't be fooled. That's a cynical sales pitch that assumes gamers love the source IP so much that studios don't need to bring skilled filmmakers or spend the money on top-notch fight choreography, stunts, or visual effects. They believe the fans will come regardless of what they actually put on screen. And maybe they're right! After all, critics warned that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a soulless sequel with more allusions than entertainment. But it's nearing a billion dollars for worldwide box office. So, why should studios change strategy?

Warner Bros hired a commercial director to make his feature directorial film debut with Mortal Kombat, and now he's back with a muddled vision that's an ugly and lifeless slog. But if fans go to the theater or stream this exhaustively on HBO Max, like they presumably did its predecessor, then the bar is in hell, and it won't be raised.

At least we have more Last of Us to look forward to, right?

Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters on May 8.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bosch Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine $1,799 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $700   Get Deal

Tired of having to make a run to Starbucks or your local coffee shop every time you want a caffeine hit? Start making it at home with a machine that can handle whatever drink it is that you want to make. We found a heavily discounted coffee and espresso machine that can give you the real thing for less, and it's on sale right now.

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SEE ALSO: Upgrading your coffee machine? The De'Longhi Eletta Explore espresso machine is $500 off at Amazon.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i5-13420H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $100   Get Deal

Whether you're just getting your feet wet in the gaming world or you're looking for a budget-friendly on-the-go setup, the Acer Nitro V 15 laptop is a solid pick — especially when it's on sale.

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