IT General

Bloat is the bane of modern computing. Have you ever uninstalled apps or disabled services just to put your system on a diet? i3 is like a desktop on a diet, a lean, simple, yet powerful system that improves my workflow efficiency dramatically—and it's not just for experts either.

The Xbox Kinect was Microsoft’s big push into motion and gesture-controlled gaming, debuting right around the same time as the PlayStation Move and the up-on-your-feet console that started the craze, the Nintendo Wii. The only issue is the latter hardware had a head-start over the competition by about four years. Microsoft never really knew how to market the Kinect, which is too bad because—for 2010—it was pretty cutting-edge.

American vehicles have come a long way in terms of quality and dependability, and, while they still have a long way to go, some models in 2025 prove reliability isn't exclusive to foreign brands. Several standout models from U.S. automakers deliver consistent performance, low maintenance costs, and long-term peace of mind.

With the rise of never-ending scrollable feeds on apps like Instagram and TikTok, it's easy to fall into the trap of doomscrolling. But with this comes the risk of giving in to brainrot, something which can be a serious focus deterrent.

The very first video game I ever played starred an anthropomorphized marsupial named Crash Bandicoot. The year was 1996. Having an Internet connection meant paying for AOL, and Disney didn’t own everything yet.

If you're anything like me, then it's very possible you're sick and tired of paying for Audible just to listen to your audiobooks. I found a better way to enjoy my audiobooks without Amazon's hand in my cookie jar, though, and that's with AudioBookshelf.

Budgeting can be a steep hill to climb, but with the right tools in your arsenal, saving, investing, and keeping an eye on your everyday spending can be easy. But with so many free resources and apps to choose from, where do you start?

Whether you're fed up with Google Search returning lots of irrelevant results or you're simply trying to narrow down your search, there are certain things you can do to improve your experience on the world's most frequently used search engine.w

While playing The Sims is fun, it can get stale over time. Players have been thinking up challenges since the early Sims games to add new life to the series. If you need a reason to return, a challenge is likely the smartest thing you can try.

The Dynamic Island displays Live Activities from currently-active apps, allowing you to see live information from them virtually anywhere on your device.

Instagram's Edits just got a few much-anticipated features with teleprompters, overlays, and more, the company announced this week on Instagram.

"New on Edits," the Creators' Instagram account posted on Wednesday. "Update your Edits app today to find more insights, overlays and the much requested Teleprompter feature which allows you to read your script while filming and focus on capturing the perfect take. Swipe through to learn more — and comment below to let us know what features you’d like us to add next!"

The most exciting update in the new package of features is probably the teleprompter feature, which makes content creation a whole lot easier. To try it out yourself, start recording a video by clicking the record button at the bottom of the screen in Edits. On the left, you'll see five options: a music symbol, a little guy with a dotted box around them, a timer button, a zoom button, and, at the bottom of that list, a teleprompter button. Simply click the teleprompter, add your script, and change the text size and teleprompter speed with the slides at the bottom left of the script screen.

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Meta launched Edits in late April. Much like TikTok's CapCut, the app is intended to aid in creating Reels, but it's also pretty clearly a CapCut competitor. The only problem is that CapCut is more established in the space and has a ton more features than Reels does, so the app is having to fight to keep up.

Since Edits launched two months ago, it has added additional fonts, filters, and voice effects, more cropping tools, 35 transition effects, alignment guides and beat markers, tracking sensitivity, and more, as Social Media Today reported.

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of an obsessive streamer, especially when it comes to checking out new content. So far, 2025 has dropped some highly anticipated series on us, such as Dexter: Original Sin, The Studio, Daredevil: Born Again,and MobLand, and they all lived up to their hype. Lucky for us, more are on the way.

Hot hatchbacks have long offered a unique blend of practicality and performance, giving drivers a fun-to-drive experience without sacrificing daily usability. In 2025, one model continues that tradition, delivering serious driving thrills at a price that won’t break the bank.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, June 14, 2025:

AcrossResearch org. that once employed Dr. Fauci

• The answer is NIH.

Conflict ended on 11/11/1918, for short

• The answer is WWI.

Garment with an underwire

• The answer is Bra.

___ Solo of "Star Wars"

• The answer is Han.

Verify the truth of

• The answer is Confirm.

Student's request while preparing for a test

• The answer is Quiz me.

Music player at a '50s-style diner

• The answer is Jukebox.

"All good to go!"

• The answer is A OK.

Prefix meaning "bird" or "flight"

• The answer is Avi.

By way of

• The answer is Via.

Actor Cage, to fans

• The answer is Nic.

Flecks from a campfire

• The answer is Ash.

Nat ___ (TV channel)

• The answer is Geo.

Down"Saturday Night Live" network

• The answer is NBC.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, by another name

• The answer is Iroquois.

Eight-day Jewish holiday

• The answer is Hanukkah.

Sensationally successful, in older slang

• The answer is Whiz bang.

"Full Metal Jacket" or "Saving Private Ryan"

• The answer is War movie.

Where Baja California is, as opposed to California

• The answer is In Mexico.

"Fee, ___, foe, fum"

• The answer is Fie.

Coding language with a coffee cup logo

• The answer is Java.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

Don't risk it: You need a surge protector to save your electronics from power surges. The right surge protector can take a beating and will protect your gadgets even after it fails. We'll help you pick the best ones for your situation.

Smartphones can do as much as traditional PCs, and they're even better for people who had a difficult time with computers before. Yet smartphone innovation isn't limited to phones. Their design revolution has also bled over onto our desktops and laptops.

On your Android phone, you can make an emergency button that sends your current location to your chosen contact. This lets you get the help you need in an emergency situation. I’ll show you how to make that shortcut.

Last month, I finally took the time to move all my web domains to a new registrar, saving me a lot of money in the process. If you’ve accumulated some web domains over the years, it might be time to shop around for a better deal.

Are you intimidated by Arch Linux's reputation for being difficult and hard to use? Do you want an accessible way to get the benefits of Arch without the headaches? Well, here are five Arch-based distros for anyone looking for something powerful but not too technical.

As premium phones continue to go up in cost, the CMF Phone 2 Pro shows that buying one is largely unnecessary. It has its shortcomings, but for the price, they are far fewer than you'd expect.