Mashable

Anthropic put the entire tech world on notice last week with an unprecedented announcement: it made an AI model so advanced that it was too dangerous to release to the public. Anthropic said the new frontier language model, Claude Mythos Preview, would "reshape cybersecurity."

Anthropic also announced the formation of Project Glasswing, an invite-only group of organizations — including some of Anthropic's biggest competitors — to test Claude Mythos Preview and secure their infrastructure.

Anthropic said that Claude Mythos Preview "found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities, including some in every major operating system and web browser." (Emphasis in original.) The company said Project Glasswing was necessary "to help secure the world’s most critical software."

By Friday, CNBC reported that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had summoned the high priests of finance (aka banking CEOs) for an emergency meeting about the new model. New York Times writer Thomas Friedman fretted over a "terrifying" future in which any teenager armed with Claude could hack the local power grid.

The reaction to Claude Mythos Preview quickly split along predictable lines. AI boosters hailed the new model as proof that artificial general intelligence (AGI) was nigh, praising Anthropic for rolling it out so responsibly.

Critics and AI skeptics called Project Glasswing a big publicity stunt.

So, which is it?

To find out, Mashable has been reviewing Anthropic's claims and talking to AI and cybersecurity experts.

What is Claude Mythos Preview?

Claude Mythos is a new large-language model that Anthropic says performs significantly better than Claude Opus 4.6, widely considered one of the best AI models in the world, especially in cybersecurity.

"In our testing, Claude Mythos Preview demonstrated a striking leap in cyber capabilities relative to prior models, including the ability to autonomously discover and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers," reads the Claude Mythos system card.

Is Claude Mythos a sign of AGI?

Artificial general intelligence refers to superintelligent AI that can perform better than humans across a wide range of tasks. It's not an exaggeration to say that our entire economy has been organized around the quest for AGI, as Anthropic, Google, Meta, xAI, and OpenAI pour hundreds of billions of dollars into a new arms race.

If Claude Mythos is as capable as Anthropic says, would it be an example of AGI? The model card addresses this question directly, and Anthropic does seem to think it's close to AGI.

In a section about Claude Mythos safety risks, Antropic writes: "Current risks remain low. But we see warning signs that keeping them low could be a major challenge if capabilities continue advancing rapidly (e.g., to the point of strongly superhuman AI systems)." Of course, Anthropic has a strong financial incentive to promote this belief.

This chart shows how Mythos compares to previous Anthropic models on the ECI score, which combines multiple benchmarks into one. Credit: Anthropic

Ultimately, the model card for Claude Mythos is more conservative than the reaction online would suggest.

For example, while the Claude Mythos model card does show that this model performs above the trend line for previous Anthropic models, Anthropic says it does not show evidence of self-improvement or recursive growth. ("The gains we can identify are confidently attributable to human research, not AI assistance.")

Reasons to think Project Glasswing is a publicity stunt

Don't make me tap my sign: "[When] an AI salesman tells you that AI is an unstoppable world-changing technology on the order of the agricultural revolution...you should take this prediction for what it is: a sales pitch."

I wrote those words of caution in response to an essay by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that warned about the potentially cataclysmic dangers of AI. Anthropic also has a history of issuing dire warnings about its AI models.

You may remember the story of the Anthropic model that tried to "blackmail" a company CEO to prevent it from being turned off. In reality, Anthropic designed a test environment where blackmail was a potential outcome. This may be more akin to digital entrapment than genuine model misbehavior.

So, is Claude Mythos the latest example of the industry's Chicken Little problem?

On X, AI safety engineer Heidy Khlaaf listed a number of open questions that cast doubt on Anthropic's claims.

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

Anthropic said the Claude Mythos preview found thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities. But Khlaaf says Anthropic left out key facts needed to assess this claim — the rate of false positives, how Claude Mythos compares to existing cybersecurity tools, and exactly how much manual human review was required.

"Releasing a marketing post with purposely vague language that clearly obscures evidence needed to substantiate Anthropic's claims brings into question if they are trying to garner further investment," Khlaaf told Mashable. "It also serves their 'safety first' image as they're able to frame the lack of public release, even a limited one for independent evaluation, as a public service when it simply obscures even experts' abilities to validate their claims."

We reached out to Anthropic repeatedly about these concerns, but the company did not respond. We will update this article if they do. In the Claude Mythos system card, Anthropic wrote that more data will be released in the coming weeks as the bugs Mythos found are patched and fixed.

Gary Marcus, an AI expert, author, and noted critic of the LLM hype machine, initially told Mashable that it was too soon to know whether Claude Mythos represented a new type of threat.

But Marcus has grown more skeptical since we spoke to him, and he recently wrote on X that Mythos was "nowhere near as scary" as it first seemed. "Folks, you can relax. Mythos is not some off-trend exponential gain," he wrote.

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

Cybersecurity experts told Mashable it's also very unlikely Claude Mythos could be used to "turn off the lights" or bring down critical infrastructure.

"Claims about catastrophic uses of Mythos also significantly misunderstand threat models, cybersecurity risks, and the ability to propagate said risks in a way that could actually lead to safety-critical incidents," Khlaaf told us. "It's not as simple as asking a model 'hack this system,' with Anthropic's own technical blog post demonstrating a requisite of expertise that Anthropic downplays in their marketing posts."

Other experts expressed skepticism, while also acknowledging that Mythos does represent a genuine risk, which Marcus has also said.

"You could argue it didn’t need a public announcement," said Div Garg, a Stanford AI researcher and founder of AGI, Inc.
"However, ultimately, the decision to limit access to only those who develop and maintain critical software is precisely what you want a business to do in such a scenario…It’s easy to criticize the limited access, but worse outcomes would arise if they released it unchecked."

Tal Kollender, Founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Remedio, told Mashable that tools like Claude Mythos are dangerous because they can exploit discovery.

"It's brilliant corporate theater," Kolender said. "Labeling a model 'too dangerous to release to the public' is certainly a marketing flex because it immediately creates mystique and signals immense power to investors. But beneath the PR stunt, there is a very real, very mundane truth...The cybersecurity industry doesn't actually have a 'finding' problem. We are already drowning in tools that detect vulnerabilities. What Mythos does is automate that discovery process at an unprecedented scale."

TL;DR: A week after revealing Claude Mythos Preview, some of Anthropic's biggest claims about the model look a lot sketchier, experts say. However, they also acknowledge that Claude Mythos, and other tools like it, pose a real risk.

Still, there are plenty of very valid reasons to be nervous about the new frontier model.

Reasons to think Claude Mythos Preview is a genuine threat to global cybersecurity

In the New York Times, author Thomas Friedman conjures a scenario straight out of War Games, where a teenager hacks the local power grid after school.

That scenario seems even more far-fetched a week later. But here's a much more likely scenario: A sophisticated group of hackers uses a tool like Claude Mythos to find zero-day vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure, launching attacks faster than organizations can respond.

And that scenario should worry you.

If Claude Mythos isn't the tool that can do it, most experts agree such a tool isn't far off.

And some of the world's leading cybersecurity experts certainly seem worried.

"I've found more bugs in the last couple of weeks [with Claude Mythos] than in the rest of my entire life combined," said Nicholas Carlini, a research scientist affiliated with Anthropic and Google DeepMind, in a video on the Project Glasswing website.

"On Linux, we found a number of vulnerabilities where, as a user with no permissions, I can elevate myself to the administrator by just running some binary on my machine," Carlini said.

This week, the AI Security Institute published its findings on Claude Mythos's capabilities, and it provides some independent verification that it does represent a genuine leap forward.

The AISI is research organization within the UK government's science and technology department. Credit: AISI

Claude Mythos passed cybersecurity tests that no other model had ever completed, scoring higher than any other frontier model on virtually every test.

"Our testing shows that Mythos Preview can exploit systems with weak security posture, and it is likely that more models with these capabilities will be developed," AISI concluded.

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

AISI also identified some limitations with Claude Mythos, which would impair its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

So, was Anthropic’s rollout of Mythos responsible AI stewardship or self-serving marketing? Experts I talked to said these options aren’t mutually exclusive.

"I'd say it's both, and that's not a criticism," said Xu. "Any major platform rollout in this era is going to look different to different audiences depending on their fluency and their fear tolerance. What I care about is whether the intent is real, and the evidence I've seen from Anthropic suggests it mostly is."

As is often the case with fear-inducing AI headlines, the reality turned out to be more complicated.

"Personally, I don't go to bed worrying about a kid with Mythos hacking the power grid, but that doesn't mean the concern is fictional," said Howie Xu, Gen's Chief AI & Innovation Officer. "We're at an inflection point where the creative and collaborative upside of these tools is massive, and the security infrastructure hasn't caught up. That gap is exactly what keeps me busy. Even a fractional probability of a serious incident is too much, which is why building a trust and security layer into the agentic era is my extreme focus."

Finally, as Anthropic stresses in the Claude Mythos model card, tools like this will likely benefit cybersecurity defenders more than hackers in the long-term. And in the short-term, a more cautious approach — like the approach being modeled with Project Glasswing — may be warranted.

TL;DR: Claude Mythos has formidable cybersecurity coding abilities, and it does represent a genuine threat. However, if hackers have access to AI tools like Claude Mythos, so will the organizations defending against such attacks.

TL;DR: Learn to code and score the right tools to help with this Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle, on sale now for $59.99 (reg. $1,999.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 + The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $59.99
$1,999.99 Save $1,940   Get Deal

Want to learn how to code? These days, you can pick it up from the comfort of your couch. The Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle even gives you everything you need to get started for a fraction of the usual price. Right now, you can score both the software and courses for only $59.99 (reg. $1,999.99).

There’s no need to head back to school to learn new skills. This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle sets you up for coding success, providing the tools and the training you need to start coding.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

First up in the bundle? Learn the ins and outs of coding with the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle. Learn from Joseph Delgadillo, these courses are geared toward getting beginners up to speed. Learn C++ in just four hours, then discover integers, operators, and strings. You’ll also master languages like Python and Java.

After the courses, start coding with help from Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026. This edition of the software includes deeper AI integration to help you write high-quality code. You’ll be typing less and coding more with Intellicode, with a ranked list of next best suggestions as you go. Codelens also shows you important information about your code, making the entire process easier.

Become a coder with this Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle, on sale now for $59.99 (reg. $1,999.99).

Grabbing this deal? Score a Microsoft Office 2021 license for free when you apply a code at checkout through 4/19: GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Fully upgrade a computer with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle, now only $104.99 (reg. $448.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $104.99
$448.99 Save $344   Get Deal

When you have to make a big purchase for your computer, it can be tough on the wallet. That’s what this bundle sets out to change — offering two pricey items, a Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business license for PC or Mac and a Windows 11 Pro license bundled for one low price.

Though these two items would regularly set you back $448.99, you can get them together in this bundle for just $104.99.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

You don’t need to shell out for a brand new computer. This Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle gives you everything you need to make an old device feel refreshed with a suite of helpful apps and a brand-new operating system.

First up in this bundle? A Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business license that works on both Mac and PC devices. Give your computer classic staples like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, then upgrade your note-taking with the newer favorite OneNote.

This version improves upon older editions thanks to AI integration, bringing new capabilities to the tools with features like intelligent suggestions for text, formatting, and design elements.

Once you have your new apps installed, change up your operating system with Windows 11 Pro. This OS was designed with modern professionals in mind, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll enjoy an improved workflow. It also gives you access to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, available on the taskbar and via pressing the Windows logo key + C.

Get this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business and Windows 11 Pro Bundle for just $104.99 (reg. $448.99) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you thought Motorola was only making one foldable phone in 2026, you're about to feel real silly.

Motorola's book-style foldable, the Razr Fold, made its grand debut at CES in January, and it's still on track for release this year. However, the next phone in Motorola's regular flip-style Razr lineup may have just leaked, courtesy of some renders shared by Evan Blass on X.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Motorola's Moto G budget phone prices spike up to 50 percent

No specs or features were shared, but the renders Blass posted had four distinct colors with some interesting texture work going on. No surprise, but they look a lot like Motorola's recent Razr phones from 2025. Take a peek for yourselves.

On the other end of the Motorola foldable spectrum, Notebook Check previously reported that the Razr Fold would launch in Europe in April. As of this writing, it's now available for pre-order in the UK, meaning it's now a real device that people can purchase, and not just something that we tried out at CES.

The Motorola Fold is the company's first book-style foldable. Credit: Motorola

The device is priced at €1,999 in Europe and £1,799.99 in the UK, so it'll probably cost a pretty penny in U.S. dollars, too. Unfortunately, we still don't know when it's coming to the U.S. or other markets, but we'll keep an eye out for that information. In the meantime, U.S. shoppers can register to buy the device.

Foldable handsets have become a real and viable market segment in recent years. Samsung has a thriving foldable lineup that's set to expand this year with the introduction of a new "Wide Fold" phone alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

SEE ALSO: Every foldable phone planned or rumored for 2026

Apple, on the other hand, has been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone for years, and most expect the long-awaited iPhone Fold to launch before the end of the year. That'll be exciting.

While it might seem embarrassing that Motorola has beaten Apple to the punch in the foldable space, remember that Apple often lets other brands take the lead before eventually dominating the market, as it did with the iPhone and iPod.

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

The cover of the Future Issue of The New Yorker, dated April 13, 2026, depicts terrifying days ahead.

Created by artist Christoph Niemann, "New Horizon" features a red sky and giant AI bots menacing a clueless human; the bots' eyes pointedly match the bloody-hued background. New Yorker covers can certainly get dark, but "New Horizon" looks like a horror-movie poster, symbolizing the prevailing view among creators about the advent of artificial intelligence.

We asked Niemann, a celebrated artist and recurring New Yorker illustrator, about the impetus of the cover and his feelings on technology. Niemann is no Luddite — he created the New Yorker's first Augmented Reality Cover back in 2016 — but he clearly has reservations about AI's growing role in art and media.

Credit: Image by Christoph Niemann, courtesy "The New Yorker" Hi, Christoph. Did you receive much direction for creating this cover image?

Niemann: As usual, I come up with the topic and the concept, but then I discuss everything with Françoise Mouly (the art editor for the covers). As a teacher of mine once said: It takes a day to come up with a good idea, and then 10 days to make it look like it was done in an hour.

When creating the image, were you thinking more of AI as a menacing figure/figures, or rather technology in general?

For this one, I was clearly thinking about AI.

SEE ALSO: Parents are turning their teens' texts into AI emo songs Tell us about the title of "New Horizons" and why you chose it.

I love the title, but it actually came from the editors. I think it’s rather self-explanatory, given the image with the double pun of the metaphorical and literal horizon.

The human user in "New Horizons" seems happy and, possibly, naïve. What message did you want to send about how people are handling technology's ascendance?

Even when using AI professionally, it always feels benign to me. The simple, clean design of the chatbot sites I’m familiar with. The obedient, relaxed tone of the conversation. It’s designed to feel harmless and fun.

How is it operating as an artist in 2026 when technology and AI have become, to many, a threat? Is there any reason for optimism on the future of human-derived art and media?

I’m not so sure. The economic impact on the art community is huge. Photography fundamentally disrupted the world of painting. But photography was not built to plagiarize painting for profit.

My biggest hope is that people will still care about human-made art. I wouldn’t go to a concert to see a robot play the piano, even if he manages to do so at five times the speed and accuracy of a human.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League showcased some thrilling quarter-final first legs last week, but Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid was probably the best of the bunch. Bayern have a 2-1 advantage coming into the second leg in Munich, but everything is still to play for in the battle to advance to the next round.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid?

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 15. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid for free

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPn for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Sporting CP in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League quarter finals are hanging in the balance, with plenty of questions still to be answered this week. Arsenal hold a 1-0 advantage over Sporting CP as the second leg comes to London. Arsenal will be expected to advance to the next round, but doubt are starting to creep in after recent defeats in the FA Cup and Premier League.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Sporting CP in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Sporting CP?

Arsenal vs. Sporting CP in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 15. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Sporting CP for free

Arsenal vs. Sporting CP is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Arsenal vs. Sporting CP for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Sporting CP for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Arsenal vs. Sporting CP without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Arsenal vs. Sporting CP in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Parents have long turned to social media to unload about the tiny indignities of raising teenagers. The difference now is that they can feed those texts into AI and turn them into pop-punk songs that sound like they were ripped from a 2007 Warped Tour compilation.

Across TikTok and Instagram, parents are using AI music tools like Suno to transform everyday texts from their kids into emo anthems. (Whether all of these creators are actually parents of teenagers is another question.) One moment, it's a daughter demanding Starbucks after school. The next is a full-blown post-hardcore song about forgetting gym shorts, insisting they are literally starving, or begging for a ride home.

The more you watch these videos, the more small details start to come into focus: the sheer amount of Starbucks American teens seem to consume, the way every minor inconvenience becomes a five-alarm emergency, or the casual use of "bro" and "bruh" when talking to parents. In song form, those habits become even funnier, turning ordinary teenage shorthand into lyrics that sound weirdly revealing about the way kids talk now.

There is also something very millennial about the trend. Many of the parents making these videos grew up on emo, pop-punk, and Warped Tour bands, which makes the songs feel a little less like random AI creations and more like affectionate parodies of the music they loved as teenagers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikkie Rogers (@nikkiierogers)

Of course, as with anything involving AI, it's important you know the risks before partaking in the trend. Feeding private family texts into AI tools means handing over personal conversations — sometimes involving minors — to third-party platforms that may store that data, use it to improve their models, or keep copies of the generated songs.

Privacy experts have repeatedly warned that people often treat AI prompts as more private than they actually are, even though many companies reserve broad rights over what users upload. You may not think it matters much when the text is "pick me up from soccer practice," but it is worth thinking about before turning the family group chat into content.

And like so many AI trends right now, the actual technology almost feels secondary to the joke. What people are really sharing is not the amazement that AI can make music. It is the strangely universal realization that "Can we get Starbucks?” already sounds like the kind of lyric that would have shown up in a song about suburban teenage angst.

Google has made some controversial decisions related to its flagship search engine in recent years, but this one will probably be pretty popular.

The company announced in a developer note (via 9to5google) that it will start punishing websites that hijack users' back buttons in their web browsers.

In case you're not familiar with this phenomenon, sometimes you'll click a link on Google and realize it's not what you wanted. When you click the back button, instead of being taken back to Google, you'll be taken to some other part of the website, or an ad, or something else you didn't want to see. This practice is also known as "history manipulation," according to our colleagues at Lifehacker.

"We believe that the user experience comes first. Back button hijacking interferes with the browser's functionality, breaks the expected user journey, and results in user frustration," Google wrote in an update to its spam policy explaining the decision.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome now has vertical tabs, and you should give them a try

I have definitely encountered this phenomenon over the years, and clearly so have others, given that Google is doing something about it.

Anyway, as it is wont to do, Google will penalize sites that engage in this practice by limiting their visibility in search rankings beginning on June 15. It is now officially categorized as a "malicious practice" by the company.

"Pages that are engaging in back button hijacking may be subject to manual spam actions or automated demotions, which can impact the site's performance in Google Search results. To give site owners time to make any needed changes, we're publishing this policy two months in advance of enforcement on June 15, 2026," Google wrote.

A malicious practice is something that "[creates] a mismatch between user expectations and the actual outcome, leading to a negative and deceptive user experience, or compromised user security or privacy." As someone who has experienced back button hijacking, I would say it definitely fits the bill.

Google also had some blunt advice for sites and developers that use this practice: "You are expected to remove or disable it."

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

Sony expanded its Inzone gaming lineup on Tuesday with a new headset, an OLED gaming monitor, and other new releases, but the new H6 Air headset is by far the most interesting of the bunch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Most new headphones prioritize wireless connectivity and active noise-cancellation, but Sony is offering an alternative to ANC headphones that might really appeal to some gamers.

Open-back headphones do have some big advantages, as I learned while testing the Inzone H6 Air ahead of its official release today.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

This headset sounds more expensive than it is. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I'm still in the process of testing the new headset, but read on for my first impressions, as well as my thoughts on why gamers should consider open headsets in the first place.

Why would gamers want open-back headsets?

Open-back headphones have several benefits, but the most important is a more natural soundscape. Because the drivers aren't targeting soundwaves directly at your ear, they can create a wider, more natural soundscape that lets you hear spatial audio much more clearly. So, for gamers who like 360-degree sounds — and esports players who need to be able to pinpoint footsteps and other sound effects — open-back headsets have some big perks.

Combine that with the wired connection, and the H6 Air open-back gaming headset offers fidelity you won't get in most other headsets — or even noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones.

The open design lets you hear spatial audio more clearly. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I've wondered before if headphone technology is plateauing. New releases from Bose, Sony, and Apple make only very marginal improvements over headphones released three or four years ago.

Instead, audio brands seem to be segmenting the audience, offering niche products for every type of consumer. It's the breakfast cerealization of the audio category. You can now choose from wired earbuds, noise-cancelling headphones, bone conduction products, open earbuds, sleep earbuds, and now, open-back headphones.

Open headphones have been around for decades, primarily in HiFi studio monitors. And the Sony Inzone H6 Air are based on Sony studio monitors. The H6 Air features a custom version of the drivers in the Sony MDR-MV1 open-back monitors, which cost $419.99.

Thanks to those studio monitor drivers, this lightweight gaming headset sounds like a pair of $400 headphones — but without the ANC.

First impressions: The H6 Air headset put a smile on my face The H6 Air feature a detachable 3.5mm cable and microphone. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

My favorite headphones in 2026, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, are heavy, and weighing in at just 199 grams (without the microphone), the H6 Air is noticeably lighter. And because of the open-back design, they also have an airy feel (you can literally see the drivers through the back of the headset.

The Inzone H6 Air features the same spring-based adjustable headband as the Sony Inzone H9 II headset, which Sony launched in 2025. This system feels a bit flimsy, but it's a fine tradeoff for a lighter weight. They fit comfortably on my head, even with big hair and glasses.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Sony H6 Air: How do they sound?

As much as I love a slick design, audio is always the most important factor when testing headphones. And the Sony H6 Air sounds much better than I expected.

That's likely because of the wired connection and the MDR-MV1 drivers inside the headset. Sony packed its new gaming headset with drivers from $420 studio monitors, and you can really tell.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Whether playing Cyberpunk: 2077 or listening to Radiohead's "National Anthem," the sound was excellent. And, as promised, the sound felt bigger than usual. I did notice some odd audio distortions. When making phone calls in Cyberpunk, V's voice sounded strange and faraway.

So far, I've also been impressed with the microphone quality, though I don't have much else to say about it yet. The lack of noise cancellation could definitely be an issue with the microphone.

Where to buy the Sony Inzone H6 Air gaming headset

You can buy Sony's new open-back gaming headset at the Sony online store and Amazon. The headset is priced at $199.99

Where to buy Sony H6 Air headset AMAZON Sony H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 Shop Now SONY Sony H6 Air Wired Open-Back Gaming Headset $199.99 Shop Now

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

Sony Inzone H6 Air headset: By the numbers Unboxing the Sony Inzone H6 Air. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Here's the official specs list for the new Sony Inzone gaming headset:

• Style: Open-back wired gaming headset

• Weight: 199 grams (without microphone)

• Drivers: Precision-tuned drivers based on Sony MDR-MV1 studio monitors

• Software support: Access to PC Inzone Hub with USB-C Audio Box

• Audio: 7.1 channel surround sound with 360-degree spatial audio

• Micrphone: Detachable microphone

• Connectivity: 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C adapter

RESTOCK ALERT: As of April 14, the Lego Star Wars Gingerbread AT-AT Walker building set is back in stock at Lego's website for $59.99. This coveted set sold out and shifted to 60 day backorder twice in late 2025, so grab it now before May the 4th shoppers come.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Gingerbread AT-AT Walker (#40806) $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now

Sorry, but Halloween (Home Depot's Halfway to Halloween sale, actually) isn't the only holiday you're going to hear about this April. We're just doing our due diligence and letting you know that the Lego Star Wars Gingerbread AT-AT Walker is in stock for $59.99 as of April 14.

The popular set includes a gingerbread-house-style AT-AT draped in Christmas lights and a gingerbread-house-style Darth Vader minifigure holding a candy cane as a lightsaber. The sides of the AT-AT open up to reveal a fireplace scene complete with stockings, a drink and a cookie, and gifts.

SEE ALSO: Lego has dropped a World Cup collection featuring Messi and Ronaldo: Here’s where to pre-order now

Generally speaking, a spring restock of a holiday Lego may not be a huge deal. But anyone who tried to secure the Gingerbread AT-AT Lego in late 2025 knows the drama behind this set — and probably knows that $60 is around what online resellers want for the gingerbread Darth Vader minifig alone.

Lego's website will be flooded with Star Wars fans as May the 4th hype builds, starting with a Star Wars Day livestream preview on April 15. Before everyone else sees, it'd be wise to click "add to cart" before the button inevitably turns to "backorder." Plus, spending $40 or more on any Lego Star Wars purchase through April 19 unlocks a free exclusive Mini-Build of Vader's TIE Advanced starfighter from A New Hope.

As a refresher, Lego dropped the Gingerbread AT-AT Walker in Oct. 2025. The set sold out immediately, and then sold out again after a big restock in Dec. 2025. For quite some time, there was a 60-day backorder window. So while many folks were waiting two months for their festive AT-AT walker to arrive, yours should ship the very next day.

SAVE UP TO 20%: As of April 14, save up to 20% off the Shark CryoGlow Cooling + LED Face Mask at Sephora with promo code SPRINGSALE. Discounts vary based on Sephora Beauty Insider member tier.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sephora Shark CryoGlow Cooling + LED Face Mask $279.23 at Sephora
$349 Save $69.77 Promo Code: SPRINGSALE Get Deal

Ready to get serious about your skincare? A face mask is always a good idea. But while disposable masks are a one and done situation, products like Shark's CryoGlow Cooling + LED Face Mask can help you look and feel your best in the long run over and over again. And thanks to Sephora Savings Event going on right now, you can score a rare discount on this Shark mask as a member of Sephora's Beauty Insiders program.

As of April 14, save up to 20% off the Shark CryoGlow Cooling + LED Face Mask at Sephora with promo code SPRINGSALE. Discounts vary based on Sephora Beauty Insider member tier. To receive this discount, you must be logged into your Sephora account and a part of the Beauty Insider program. Beauty Insiders receive 10% off, while VIB members receive 15% off. Rouge members receive the highest discount of 20%, which will apply to your order and the mask discounted automatically at checkout.

SEE ALSO: The Shark CryoGlow is the best red light mask we've tested — and it's currently on sale

Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodard took this mask for a spin for 10 months, and confidently labeled it the "best LED mask" she's tried. It's more than a red light mask, however, as it can emit red, blue, and infrared light to help treat everything from fine lines to acne. These addiitons help the mask to stand out from the competition, with the added benefits of its other colored light components.

It also offers special cooling techniques which, aside from giving you a comfortable, airy freeze all over your face, can help to tighten your undereye area and surrounding zones. It has three adjustable chill levels for your comfort, as well as four special treatments optimized by dermatologists you can rely on for each session.

If you've been on the fence about trying this mask out, now's the time to go ahead and give it a try, especially as the mask rarely goes on sale on its own. Take advantage of the discounted percentages for Beauty Insiders and try it out for yourself now.

Justin Bieber wants you to take a chill pill, but this time he's not asking screaming fans to calm down at his show.

We're talking Bieber's SKYLRK fashion brand, the clothing label follow-up to his now-defunct Drew House project from 2018. Home to a variety of hoodies, tees, sunglasses, and a selection of "Bieberchella" merch right now, SKYLRK is the pop star's latest venture aiming to outfit fans with his name and his brand. It also saw one of its first collabs in 2026: the Shark ChillPill Personal Fan SKYLRK-Exclusive.

This limited edition personal fan, which Shark debuted earlier last month, is marketed as a "personal cooling system": a 3-in-1- fan, mist, and InstaChill device that offers "high-speed airflow up to 25 ft/sec", dry-touch misting, and Shark's special cooling plate that the company claims to drop skin temperature by up to 16 degrees on contact.

With 11 hours of battery life (on its lowest speed setting), you should be able to shake off some of the high heat we're expecting across the summer, or at the very least soothe you back to sleep if you wake up overheated and the other side of the pillow doesn't help.

How to buy the Shark ChillPill Personal Fan SKYLRK-Exclusive

While the fan comes in a variety of fun colors (bright teal Glacier, magenta Dragon Fruit, lavender Haze), it's Bieber's SKYLRK version that'll be catching eyes this summer as it comes in a shocking red-orange shell dubbed "Heat". While most of the ChillPill colorways are available to buy on both Amazon and Shark's online storefront, the SKYLRK Heat colorway is only available via SKYLRK and the Shark storefront.

Right now, it looks like SKYLRK no longer features a listing for the ChillPill, so if you want to get your hands on the SKYLRK Exclusive Heat version of the Shark ChillPill, head over to the Shark online storefront, where the Heat colorway is still in stock. It's the same price as the rest of the ChillPill options, so you can still snap up a fashionable color for the second weekend of Coachella or to cool off any time the blazing summer heat starts getting to you.

With Bieber's SKYLRK and Coachella performances going viral ahead of Weekend 2, now's the time to go ahead and lock yours in. We can't imagine the ChillPill will be around much longer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark ChillPill Personal Fan SKYLRK-Exclusive $150.02 at Shark
  Shop Now

When people watched NASA's Artemis II mission return to Earth, they saw helicopter views of little orange-clad figures exiting the spacecraft onto a raft. 

But the U.S. space agency has since released a short closeup video of the Navy recovery team as it opened the hatch on Friday, April 10. The trained divers and medical officers entered the tiny 330 cubic-foot Orion capsule, greeted the four astronauts. 

SEE ALSO: A girl asks for Pluto to regain its planet status. NASA chief: We're looking into it.

From video cameras mounted on the recovery team's helmets, shown in the X post below, it's as if you're right there with them. The team cheers and claps, with shouts of "let's go!" followed by "four green" (a callout that the crew was OK). 

"Welcome home," the recovery team said to the Artemis II crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, the first humans to fly around the moon since 1972. 

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

Up close, the spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by the crew, appeared battered and singed as it bobbed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California. The capsule had just plummeted through Earth's atmosphere, a fiery descent that put the crew through a 25,000 mph ride. 

During that intense and dangerous phase, the astronauts experienced nearly 4Gs, a pressure pushing against them equal to four times their bodyweight. Without proper training, those conditions, coupled with adrenaline overload, could cause a person to blackout. 

But as the recovery team soon discovered, not only was the returning crew healthy, they were in high spirits, smiling as they waited through the procedures to leave the spacecraft. At the end of the video, one of the recovery officials, referred to as "Vlad," said he had something for Wiseman. The clip ends before that "something" is revealed. 

"Jesse, Steve, Laddy, and Vlad….such an incredible feeling to welcome you aboard Integrity after a nearly 700,000 mile journey," Wiseman said in a post on X. "Forever thankful for your service to our crew and the nation."

Featured Video For You NASA's Artemis II mission concludes with a perfect splashdown in the Pacific

What is clear is that the people who welcomed Artemis II back to Earth seemed just as exhilarated as the astronauts themselves. Before climbing inside the crew's living quarters for the 10-day journey, the team almost forgot to place the seal cover over the bottom edge of the hatch in their haste to see their friends. 

Artemis II, which launched April 1, marked NASA's triumphant return of human-led space exploration. It planned the voyage as the critical shakeout cruise for the spacecraft before the agency attempts to land on the moon. During the flight, the Artemis II crew put Orion through its paces, testing everything from propulsion and communications to how well humans can live, work, and make scientific observations far from home.

The day after Artemis II's splashdown, Commander Reid Wiseman visits the Orion spacecraft in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls

Packed with cameras, sensors, and experiments, the mission turned the crew into both test pilots and test subjects, gathering data to shape future Artemis voyages. A successful journey vets the hardware and flight controllers for a moonwalk planned for 2028. 

NASA isn't just motivated to get back to the moon for the moon's sake but to practice keeping humans alive in another world for extended periods. That's crucial before sending astronauts on a months-long spaceflight to Mars, perhaps possible in the late 2030s. 

A new space race also sets the timeline for the Artemis campaign. The United States wants to land on the moon again before China, which is extremely close to achieving its first human moon landing. 

If you thought the splashdown meant Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen could finally relax, you'd be wrong. Just hours after landing, NASA tested the crew's mettle again with an obstacle course. 

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter.

Generally, when the word "immersive" is used in headphones marketing, it means the headphones will have some form of spatial audio, and even more likely, active noise cancellation.

Sony is flipping the script on that idea with the release of the Sony Inzone H6 Air, a wired, open-back gaming headset that, by design, comes without any noise cancellation. The new headset is a part of a larger expansion of the Sony Inzone gaming lineup, announced Tuesday.

The headphones are available now for $199.99. Along with the H6 Air, Sony announced a new OLED gaming monitor optimized for first-person shooters, the Inzone M10S II. The monitor will be available for purchase later this year at a price of $1,099.99.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

In addition, Sony also announced cosmetic updates to existing Inzone products. We've got all the details you need, plus a first look at the new products.

Sony Inzone H6 Air headset: Price, release date, specs

The Sony Inzone H6 Air open-back headphones are available starting April 14 at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy, with a price of $199.99. Because of the open design, they're Sony's lightest gaming headset, and they have the same spring-hinge headband design found on the Inzone H9 II headset.

As an overview, here's what to expect, spec-wise:

• Style: Open-back wired gaming headset

• Weight: 199 grams (without microphone)

• Drivers: 40mm drivers based on Sony's MDR-MV1 studio headphones

• Software support: Access to PC Inzone Hub with USB-C Audio Box

• Audio: 7.1 channel surround sound with 360-degree spatial audio

• Micrphone: Detachable cardioid microphone

The new Sony Inzone H6 Air headphones. Credit: Sony SEE ALSO: The 7 best Sony headphones to buy in 2026, tested by audio experts

Sony has never before offered open-back headphones in their gaming line. However, the company has made premium open-back studio headphones — namely the aforementioned MDR-MV1, which at $419.99, are over double the price of H6 Air headphones.

Open-back headphones are not to be confused with open earbuds. The latter is designed to let sound from the environment in while balancing the streamed audio, essentially functioning as a transparency mode. Open-back headphones, on the other hand, are less about providing situational awareness and more about providing the most realistic spatial soundscape possible.

With an open back, the headphones' acoustics allow for the sound to have more physical space, allowing for a more natural spatial soundstage. (Anyone who's experienced subpar spatial audio features on noise-cancelling headphones knows how huge this feature is). The idea, as Sony explains in their press release, is to both accurately reproduce the sounds of a game, and make it sound as if it's coming from all around the player.

SEE ALSO: The most comfortable headphones we've ever tested will take care of your ears

One of our testers recently described the elite audio experience of open-back headphones while reviewing the Sennheiser HD 599. While open headphones are popular among audiophiles, open-back gaming headsets aren't particularly common in the gaming community, as evidenced by the limited offerings at Micro Center, a PC gaming and electronics store. Sony's pricing seems relatively competitive to the competition — Audio Technica's open-back gaming headphones go for $139.99, while ASUS ROG's go for $299.99.

Further bolstering the sound of these headphones is the equalizer settings, which can be accessed through the Sony Inzone hub. For these headphones, a new setting has been added specifically for role-playing and adventure games.

Mashable's tech editor has been testing the new H6 Air headset ahead of their launch, and so far, he's been impressed with the sound. The headphones are also noticeably lighter than most headphones, with a comfortable fit and a strong microphone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone H6 Air $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Sony Inzone M10S II monitor: Price and specs The Sony Inzone M10S II monitor comes with a dual mode refresh rate of QHD 540Hz and HD 720Hz. Credit: Sony

The Sony Inzone M10S II is the latest gaming monitor from the brand, though it won't be available to purchase until later this year. At this time, Sony puts the suggested retail price at $1,099.99 ($100 cheaper than the last generation Inzone M10S monitor). Here's what you'll get with the monitor:

• Display: OLED

• Size: 27-inch full display mode and 24.5-inch tournament mode display mode

• Refresh rate: Dual mode refresh rate with 540Hz QHD with rapid 0.02ms response time and 720Hz HD

• Tilt: Wide tilt range of -5 to 35 degrees

• Special features: Advanced motion blur reduction, Super Anti-Glare Film

• Warranty: Three-year warranty

This OLED gaming monitor was specifically designed for FPS gamers. It features a FPS Pro mode and FPS Pro+ mode, which optimize gameplay for the OLED experience

Sony collaborated with the esports organization Fnatic to help create a monitor optimized for competitive gamers. The refresh rates and price point certainly point to those players as the target audience — if you main farming sims, this isn't the monitor for you. Comparable dual-mode monitors include the ASUS ROG Swift, also priced at $1,099.99, and this LG UltraGear monitor, which clocks in at $999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone M10S II $1,099.99 at Sony
  Learn More More updates to Sony's Inzone line Esports org Fnatic collabed with Sony on the Mouse-A and gaming mats. Credit: Sony

Sony's Fnatic collab extended into their existing product line, with exclusive Fnatic editions of the Inzone Mouse-A ($169.99), Inzone Mat-F ($74.99), and Inzone Mat-D ($44.99). These products run about $10 to $20 more than the base item without an exclusive design.

Translucent purple joins the Sony Inzone buds lineup. Credit: Sony

Outside of the collaboration with Fnatic, Sony also added a third colorway to their Inzone Buds line: a transparent glass purple joins the existing black and white earbuds. Sony's gaming earbuds come with spatial audio, a 2.4GHz connection, and 12 hours of battery on a single charge. The translucent purple earbuds are available immediately at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy, retailing for the same price as the black and white colorways — $239.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Inzone Buds $239.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

SAVE $14: As of April 14, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC is on sale at Amazon for just $75.99 instead of its usual $89.99. That's 16% in savings and its lowest price in months.

Opens in a new window Credit: 8BitDo 8BitDo Arcade Stick $75.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $14   Get Deal

If you're seeking a beginner-friendly fight stick to accompany your Nintendo Switch or PC gaming, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is calling your name. Not only is it an eye-catching NES-like nostalgic comfort, but it's fully customizable for just about any preference you may have. Plus, more importantly, it's on sale for its lowest price in months.

As of April 14, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is down to just $75.99 at Amazon instead of its usual $89.99. That's 16% in savings and the lowest price we've seen since January.

Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the Arcade Stick an Editors' Choice for budget joysticks. They called it a "capable wireless controller that’s ideal for playing classic arcade games on the PC or Switch," adding that it's a great entry-level fight stick that offers room to grow.

While the Arcade Stick doesn't actually pack high-grade arcade parts, the build quality is solid, the controls are responsive, and the joystick is "satisfyingly clicky." Plus, it's designed with modding in mind, so you can pop open the hood and replace the base parts with whatever you wish.

It can wirelessly connect to a Nintendo Switch or Windows PC through Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB receiver and offers between 30 and 40 hours of battery life depending on which you choose. Of course, you can also keep a wired connection if you want to minimize any input lag. Unfortunately, it's not compatible with Android or any other gaming consoles. Still, for a more arcade-like experience from the comfort of your own home, check out the 8BitDo Arcade Stick while it's on sale.

The free Lego deals for mid-April Restaurants of the World: Mexico (40907) free at Lego with $180 purchase Get Deal Lego Star Wars TIE Advanced Mini-Build free at Lego with $40 Lego Star Wars purchase Get Deal

Aaand we're back with the latest free Lego deals for this month. The warmer weather must have Lego in a good mood, because two free options are up for grabs in mid-April: Spending $180 or more unlocks the Restaurants of the World: Mexico set (a $19.99 value) for Lego Insiders, while spending $40 on Lego Star Wars items gets anyone the TIE Advanced Mini-Build (an exclusive $4.99 value).

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

Lego Insiders is free to join and gives members multiple ways to score even more Lego deals: Earn redeemable loyalty points on each purchase, enjoy member-only discounts, limited time gifts, and early access to new drops. Through May 8, Insiders can enter a member-only sweepstakes to win eight Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets (zero loyalty points required to enter).

Free Lego with highest value Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Restaurants of the World: Mexico (40907) $0
$19.99 Save $19.99   Get Deal

Part of the collectible Restaurants of the World series, this taqueria building set features a colorful taco station (complete with an oversized taco on the roof), a cactus, and a minifigure wearing an apron.

As always, you don't need to track down a singular $180+ Lego set to meet the $180 minimum. You can get your cart to $180 through multiple purchases, including new arrivals like the Nike Air Max 95 x Lego set or Lego Pokémon Eevee, plus any preorders. The only model excluded from the promo is the Lego Jurassic World: Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler.

A cute May the 4th gift Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars TIE Advanced Mini-Build $0
$4.99 Save $4.99   Get Deal

May the 4th is less than a month away, and The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters less than a month after that. If Star Wars excitement is in the air for you, why not grab one of the newest Star Wars sets? You'll get a mini version of Darth Vader's TIE Advanced starfighter from A New Hope out of it. Lego Star Wars sets to grab include the Imperial Star Destroyer, Venator-Class Attack Cruiser, or Lego Smart Play sets, plus preorders for Grogu (Mandalorian Apprentice) or The Razor Crest. BTW, we saw the hallowed Gingerbread AT-AT Walker back in stock.

The gay dating app Sniffies has been relatively quiet since the App Store catastrophe (In case you missed it: The company launched an official iOS app that forced users into a censored "Vanilla Mode" to appease Apple's strict guidelines, only for the app to get pulled anyway — and there's still no word on whether it will return). But this month, the company is launching multiple new features designed to make connecting "faster and more intentional." Which is a super-smart move, IMO. Grindr is getting all kinds of heat right now for pushing paid features and gatekeeping basic functionality in the hopes that users will cough up some cash.

SEE ALSO: The best gay dating apps of 2026: Grindr is still king (even if we sometimes wish it wasn't)

"Sniffies is built for immediacy," Eli Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at Sniffies, said in a press release. "We're not trying to keep people scrolling or upsell basic functionality. We're focused on helping people connect quickly and clearly. That means building tools that make connection easier without putting it behind a paywall."

Here's a quick breakdown of the new features:

Cruiser Cards

"Cruiser Cards" make it way easier to see who's available without having to hunt them down. Instead of dragging your finger across the map, the site pulls nearby active cruisers and highlights them in a scrollable carousel, sorted by the exact time they were last active. It basically turns the map into a live feed of guys who are ready to meet up right now.

Credit: Sniffies Into Filter and Position Icons

If you're sick of clicking into a profile only to realize you're completely sexually incompatible, you'll love the new "Into Filter." It's a ridiculously easy way to distill the map down to guys who are looking for the exact same thing you are.

To make things even more obvious, the new "Position Icons" display a cruiser's preferences directly on their map avatar. You'll know right away whether they're a top (🍆), bottom (🍑), vers (↕️), or side (↔️). The emojis stack based on their profile (a vers top will show up as 🍆↕️, for example).

Credit: Sniffies Share a Spot and Share a Group

Coordinating a meetup is easier now, too. With "Share a Spot," you can drop a temporary map pin right into the chat to suggest a neutral meeting place. The location automatically expires for both of you after 60 minutes, so you don't have to stress about oversharing your exact whereabouts.

Meanwhile, "Share a Group" lets you send live group event details (like the time, activity, and attendee list) directly into a chat.

SAVE $202: As of April 14, the Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for an all-time low $297.99. That's 40% or over $200 off its current list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $297.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $202   Get Deal

It's currently one of the best times of year to buy a new TV. Not only are the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs about to kick off, but it's also prime season to score a 2025 TV model for a steal.

As of April 14, you can get the Hisense 55-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV for only $297.99 at Amazon (or just $2 more at Best Buy). That's 40% or over $200 off its current list price of $499.99 — its cheapest price ever.

If a TV upgrade is in order, but you don't want to spend a ton of money, the Hisense QD7 is an excellent value. Our pals at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the QD7 model the best budget TV, thanks to its full array local dimming (typically only found in more expensive TVs), enhanced contrast levels, and surprisingly high brightness. "The QD7 has the best price-to-performance ratio of any model I have ever reviewed. It is heartily recommended," writes TV expert Ty Pendlebury.

The QD7 also packs features like an AI upscaler, Filmmaker Mode, and a native 144Hz panel with Motion Rate 480, Game Mode Pro, and AMD FreeSync Premium. Whether you're gaming or streaming, you'll enjoy a smooth, lag-free experience. As a Fire TV, it has Alexa built in. That means you can press a button on the remote and ask for everything from content recommendations and sports scores to smart home lighting adjustments and a peek at who's at the front door.

Whether you're looking for a new screen to catch the postseason hockey action, every MLB game, or the new season of Euphoria, the Hisense QD7 is a solid choice at the best price you'll find.

We have bad news for Windows laptop shoppers.

Microsoft has become the latest company to raise prices because of the global memory shortage, announcing wide-ranging price increases for Microsoft Surface laptops.

As reported by Windows Central, Microsoft has increased prices up to $500, specifically citing "recent increases in memory and component costs" in a statement to the site. The new prices are live now at the online Microsoft Store, and retailers will likely update prices soon, too. Every laptop in the Surface lineup has increased in price by at least $100 compared to its 2025 pricetag, and some of these laptops have gone up by as much as $500 since 2024.

For example, the 13-inch Surface Pro was $999 in 2024. A year later, it started at $1,199, with some better specs. Now, in 2026, the same device is $1,499. In just two years, that one laptop has seen a $500 price hike, and it's not alone. Every laptop in the Surface lineup now starts for over $1,000, which wasn't true two years ago. As Windows Central pointed out, it only gets worse the more bells and whistles you attach to each laptop, as the highest-end Surface Laptop 15 is now $3,649.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 price, PS6 release could be impacted by memory shortage

These Surface laptops are the latest in a long and growing list of tech products experiencing price increases due to the global memory shortage. The hardware demands of AI data centers have led to shortages and higher prices for RAM memory components. Combined with the tariff-related price increases seen in 2025, the end result is another year of higher prices for shoppers.

In just the last couple of months, we've seen Sony suspend SD card sales and raise the price of the PS5 game console, and it's become increasingly difficult to buy a Steam Deck at any price due to stock shortages. One has to wonder how much longer the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for $450.

In the laptop market specifically, Apple recently raised prices on its MacBook devices as well; however, the company also introduced a new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, which has put even more pressure on the Windows laptop market.