Keep things smelling fresh with these handy home gadgets. After researching and testing over a dozen devices, the Urpower Aroma is our favorite for most people.
When shopping for a Valentine's Day gift for the woman in your life, remember that romance doesn't stem from the amount of money you spend (or the number of stems in the bouquet).
The real sparks fly when your gift shows that you pay attention. Think about what type of gift could satisfy her latest obsession, or what type of gift could alleviate her latest pet peeve. Of course, heart-shaped or romantic Valentine's Day gifts are never a bad idea — we're just here to make sure they're not too cliché. Here are our picks for the best Valentine's Day gifts for her in 2026. Thoughtful, practical, whimsical, or appropriately mushy, these unique gift ideas go beyond the classic flowers and jewelry that you've already thought of.
From creating a standout resume to building a budget or drafting an invoice, there are some tasks that are just easier on your PC. If you’re looking to make them even easier, a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license can help. Now you can own eight powerful Microsoft tools for life for just $34.97 (reg. $219.99) through Feb. 22.
Got an endless to-do list piling up? Knock it out with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows. This lifetime license gives you eight apps that make life a little easier — from finishing work tasks to answering emails — and there are no subscription fees required. You’ll get these eight Microsoft essentials for less than $5 each with this license, including new and familiar favorites.
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Draft documents in Word, manage correspondence in Outlook, put together powerful presentations in PowerPoint, and build budgets in Excel. You can also stay connected to others with Teams, manage large databases with Access, take notes more efficiently with OneNote, and create professional documents in Publisher.
Don’t let the year of this edition give you pause — all the apps have been redesigned to help things work smoothly. There’s a ribbon-based interface so you can access features, tools, and customizations more easily. Just make sure your PC is running Windows 10 or 11 before your purchase, as Windows 7 and 8 won’t support the apps.
TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
It's been an action packed week of NBA action for both the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, with multiple games played across a number of arenas.
But this Sunday afternoon fixture should favor the Nuggets, who are riding high in the Western Conference while the Grizzles are scrambling in the bottom half. Can the Grizzlies pull off an unexpected win? Or will the Nuggets notch up another victory in what's shaping up to be a solid season?
If you want to watch Nuggets vs. Grizzlies in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Nuggets vs. Grizzlies?
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA starts at 3.30 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. This game takes place at the FedExForum in Memphis, TN.
How to watch Nuggets vs. Grizzlies for free
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?
ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
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 $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
TL;DR: Live stream Rams vs. Seahawks for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We're at a crucial stage in the NFL playoffs, as the Conference Championship games go down this weekend. In the NFC Championship game, the Los Angeles Rams clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams, the No. 5 seed, have had an exciting playoff run and defeated the Chicago Bears in overtime drama. But they'll face the toughest competition in the entire conference. The Seahawks are the No. 1 seed and they absolutely dominated the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
The winner of this game with face either the Denver Broncos or New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks look like the obvious pick on paper, but — as the Seahawks proved themselves in the last game with a 13-second touchdown — anything can happen at this stage And there was just one point between these teams when they met last month, a game won by Seattle.
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If you want to watch Rams vs. Seahawks in the NFL playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Rams vs. Seahawks?
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks takes place at 6.30 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. This fixture will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
How to watch Rams vs. Seahawks for free
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.
TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but you can access this free streaming platform from anywhere by using a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, allowing you to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world. Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL
The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Rams vs. Seahawks and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% — which includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Patriots vs. Broncos for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Does it get any more exciting than the NFL playoffs? And we're now deep into the postseason. It's time for the Championship Conference games, which means we're just one game away from the Super Bowl. Yes, it's all pretty exciting.
The AFC Championship Game sees the Patriots go on the road for a showdown with the Denver Broncos, with the winner set to face the victor of the Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC Championship Game.
The Broncos are the AFC No. 1 seed and boast a record of 14-3 this season. But they scraped past the Divisional Round thanks to a controversial call against the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Patriots, the No.2 seed, scored a convincing win over the Houston Texans, including a sensational touchdown pass from MVP contender Drake Maye. Can New England continue that momentum and regain their former glory?
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If you want to watch Patriots vs. Broncos in the NFL playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Patriots vs. Broncos?
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos takes place at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. This fixture will be played at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
How to watch Patriots vs. Broncos for free
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.
TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but you can access this free streaming platform from anywhere by using a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, allowing you to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world. Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL
The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Patriots vs. Broncos and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, and includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
At present, I think the best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip. It's a stylish workhorse with enough power to handle demanding workloads and has a premium build as well as an amazing all-day battery life (outdone by just two other models). Even the M4 MacBooks can't keep up. Beyond that, I have other picks for users with different budgets, use cases, and design preferences.
I chose my picks based on hands-on testing conducted by myself and other Mashable staff and contributors. We've reviewed dozens of PCs on the basis of performance, build quality, battery life, and value over the years, and the ones I'm recommending are the cream of recent-gen crops. Most of them scored high enough to secure a Mashable Choice Award, the highest honor we give to the gadgets we review.
New Windows laptops are coming soon — and so are higher prices (maybe)
Every major PC maker announced new Windows laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. They'll all be powered by new Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors, and many of them feature modular or ultra-ultraportable designs. Six of them will succeed some of the current top picks on this list (noted above). We'll be testing as many as possible in the coming months to see what's worthy of our recommendation, so stay tuned.
Relatedly, a word of caution: Next-gen Windows laptops could be significantly more expensive than their predecessors. It's because AI data centers have gobbled up DDR5 RAM and SSDs in recent months, leading to a shortage of such components for laptops and other consumer devices. Experts predict that PCs will get pricier over the coming months or ship with lesser specs, as Mashable's Alex Perry reported.
Very few PC makers have confirmed pricing and availability for their 2026 Windows laptops, so we don't know exactly how the shortage affects them just yet. The good news is that it might be up to a year before we see prices start to skyrocket. In a recent interview with Tom's Guide, a higher-up at Intel said that PC makers have “about nine to 12 months of inventory" on hand as a buffer.
Whether you're buying one of the excellent past-gen models on this list or sticking it out for something newer, I would strongly recommend upgrading your device with as much RAM and storage as your budget allows. You'll add some extra future-proofing while avoiding any potential price hikes down the road.
Before the modern Internet existed, there were still plenty of ways of connecting with other computer users “online”, although many of them might seem completely foreign to those of us in the modern era. One of those systems was the Bulletin Board System, or BBS, which would have been a single computer, often in someone’s home, connected to a single phone line. People accessing the BBS would log in if the line wasn’t busy, leave messages, and quickly log out since the system could only support one user at a time. While perhaps a rose-tinted view, this was a more wholesome and less angsty time than the modern algorithm-driven Internet, and it turns out these systems are making a bit of a comeback as a result.
The video by [The Retro Shack] sets up a lot of this history for context, then, towards the end, uses a modern FPGA-based recreation called the Commodore 64 Ultimate to access a BBS called The Old Net, a modern recreation of what these 80s-era BBS systems were like. This involves using a modern networking card that allows the C64 to connect to Wi-Fi access points to get online instead of an old phone modem, and then using a terminal program called CCGMS to connect to the BBS itself. Once there, users can access mail, share files, and even play a few games.
While the video is a very basic illustration of how these BBS systems worked and how to access one, it is notable in that it’s part of a trend of rejecting more modern technology and systems in favor of older ones, where the users had more control. A retro machine like a C64 or Atari is not required either; modern operating systems can access these with the right terminal program, too. A more in-depth guide to the BBS can be found here for those looking to explore, and we’ve also seen other modern BBS systems recently.
An anonymous reader shared this article from the blog Linuxiac
In a blog post, Alan Pope, a longtime Ubuntu community figure and former Canonical employee who remains an active Snap publisher... [warns of] a persistent campaign of malicious snaps impersonating cryptocurrency wallet applications. These fake apps typically mimic well-known projects such as Exodus, Ledger Live, or Trust Wallet, prompting users to enter wallet recovery phrases, which are then transmitted to attackers, resulting in drained funds.
The perpetrators had originally used similar-looking characters from other alphabets to mimic other app listings, then began uploading "revisions" to other innocuous-seeming (approved) apps that would transform their original listing into that of a fake crypto wallet app.
But now they're re-registering expired domains to take over existing Snap Store accounts, which Pope calls "a significant escalation..."
I worked for Canonical between 2011 and 2021 as an Engineering Manager, Community Manager, and Developer Advocate. I was a strong advocate for snap packages and the Snap Store. While I left the company nearly five years ago, I still maintain nearly 50 packages in the Snap Store, with thousands of users... Personally, I want the Snap Store to be successful, and for users to be confident that the packages they install are trustworthy and safe.
Currently, that confidence isn't warranted, which is a problem for desktop Linux users who install snap packages. I report every bad snap I encounter, and I know other security professionals do the same — even though doing so results in no action for days sometimes... To be clear: none of this should be seen as an attack on the Snap Store, Canonical, or the engineers working on these problems. I'm raising awareness of an issue that exists, because I want it fixed... But pretending there isn't a problem helps nobody.
BMW’s electric M3 will feature authentic audio built from real M-engine recordings, offering selectable sound profiles and simulated gear shifts to preserve the signature M driving experience.
This little fellow is named Sesame. A quadruped robot, it’s built out of 3D-printed components. Each leg features a pair of MG90S hobby servos, one of which rotates the leg around the vertical axis, while the other moves the foot. The ESP32 microcontroller controls all eight servos, enabling remote control of Sesame via its built-in wireless connectivity. Sesame also gets a 128×64 OLED display, which it uses to display a range of emotions.
Mechanically, the Sesame design isn’t particularly sophisticated. Where it shines is that even with such a limited range of motion, between its four legs and its little screen, this robot can display a great deal of emotion. [Dorian] shows this off in the project video, in which Sesame scampers around a desktop with all the joy and verve of a new puppy. It’s also very cheap; [Dorian] estimates you can build your own Sesame for about $60. Files are on GitHub for the curious.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
An anonymous reader shared this report from the Guardian:
Google's search feature AI Overviews cites YouTube more than any medical website when answering queries about health conditions, according to research that raises fresh questions about a tool seen by 2 billion people each month.
The company has said its AI summaries, which appear at the top of search results and use generative AI to answer questions from users, are "reliable" and cite reputable medical sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mayo Clinic. However, a study that analysed responses to more than 50,000 health queries, captured using Google searches from Berlin, found the top cited source was YouTube. The video-sharing platform is the world's second most visited website, after Google itself, and is owned by Google. Researchers at SE Ranking, a search engine optimisation platform, found YouTube made up 4.43% of all AI Overview citations. No hospital network, government health portal, medical association or academic institution came close to that number, they said. "This matters because YouTube is not a medical publisher," the researchers wrote. "It is a general-purpose video platform...."
In one case that experts said was "dangerous" and "alarming", Google provided bogus information about crucial liver function tests that could have left people with serious liver disease wrongly thinking they were healthy. The company later removed AI Overviews for some but not all medical searches... Hannah van Kolfschooten, a researcher specialising in AI, health and law at the University of Basel who was not involved with the research, said: "This study provides empirical evidence that the risks posed by AI Overviews for health are structural, not anecdotal. It becomes difficult for Google to argue that misleading or harmful health outputs are rare cases.
"Instead, the findings show that these risks are embedded in the way AI Overviews are designed. In particular, the heavy reliance on YouTube rather than on public health authorities or medical institutions suggests that visibility and popularity, rather than medical reliability, is the central driver for health knowledge."
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