Technology

The modular PC maker Framework unveiled a slew of new products during its jam-packed [Next Gen] Event livestream Tuesday — including the new Laptop 13 Pro, a repairable MacBook Pro alternative.

The Laptop 13 Pro is Framework's fourth laptop since its founding in 2020, when it launched the original Laptop 13. And, "In many ways, this product has been six years in the making," company founder Nirav Patel wrote in a blog post. "We’ve taken all of the feedback you’ve given us on the first seven generations of Framework Laptop 13 to make this the ultimate portable developer and power user machine," he said.

Laptop 13 Pro preorders are now open on Framework's website, starting at $1,199 for the build-your-own "DIY Edition" and $1,499 for pre-built configurations. That includes options pre-loaded with Ubuntu Linux in addition to Windows. The first wave of shipments will go out in June.

Opens in a new window Credit: Framework Framework Laptop 13 Pro (Intel Core Ultra Series 3), DIY Edition $1,199 at Framework
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Framework Framework Laptop 13 Pro (Intel Core Ultra Series 3), Pre-built $1,499 at Framework
  Pre-order Here

Framework also revealed updates to the gaming-ready Laptop 16, a new OCuLink Dev Kit, a new wireless keyboard, and a new laptop sleeve during its livestream. Along with the Laptop 13 Pro, they "represent a step change in our capabilities" and fulfill recurring customer requests, Patel said. "We have the scale and resources to build the products you want from us and to deliver on our mission of remaking consumer electronics."

Read on for a closer look at all of the announcements.

Meet the Framework Laptop 13 Pro The Framework Laptop 13 Pro features a crisp and bright touchscreen (!) display. Credit: Framework

In crafting the Laptop 13 Pro, Framework set out to create a “MacBook Pro for Linux users," Patel said. "We wanted to prove that you can have a computer that is refined, robust, and high performance, that still respects your rights through repairability, upgradeability, and the power to choose the software you want to run on it."

The Laptop 13 Pro sure looks like a MacBook Pro. Weighing just over three pounds, its new, fully CNC aluminum chassis has a flat "slab-like" shape reminiscent of a modern Apple laptop. (In contrast, the standard Laptop 13 has a silver chassis with the wedge shape of an M1 MacBook Air.) It's launching in a graphite finish reminiscent of Apple's space black colorway, but a silver version is coming soon.

SEE ALSO: Framework Laptop 13 review: A good laptop and an even better concept

The Laptop 13 Pro is fueled by powerful Intel Core Ultra Series 3 ("Panther Lake") chips with 16 to 64GB of fast and efficient LPCAMM2 memory. It's available in Core Ultra 5, Core Ultra X7, and Core Ultra X9 configurations.

The Laptop 13 Pro is bedecked with a new 13.5-inch 2,880 x 1,920 display that offers up to 700 nits of brightness, a 30 to 120Hz variable refresh rate, and touchscreen capabilities — something "many of you have been requesting for years," Patel wrote. The screen has newly squared-off corners and an improved anti-glare matte finish.

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro's chassis weighs a little over three pounds. Credit: Framework

The Laptop 13 Pro also sports a new haptic touchpad. "Touchpad feel is an area where Windows and Linux laptops have historically fallen behind Macs, so this is where we’re putting a lot of our focus across our mechanical, electrical, and firmware teams to deliver the best experience possible," Patel said. It has the same keyboard as the regular Laptop 13, but it's available in two more colors besides basic black.

Additionally, the Laptop 13 Pro's speakers are located on both sides of its base rather than underneath it, like they are on the Laptop 13. They support Dolby Atmos, which is a first for a Framework Laptop.

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro (left) will eventually be available in silver to match the original Laptop 13. Credit: Framework

A lower-end touchscreen was previously only available on the Laptop 12, Framework's budget-friendly hybrid, while the haptic touchpad is brand-new for the Framework Laptop series. As with any Framework machine, all of the Laptop 13 Pro's components are user-replaceable and upgradable, and its four port modules are swappable.

Patel called the Laptop 13 Pro "a complete ground up redesign that brings a massive leap in battery life," noting that better stamina has been customers' biggest ask over the years. Its 74Wh battery offers over 20 hours of 4K Netflix streaming per charge, he claimed, which represents a 12-hour boost from the previous-generation Laptop 13 with a 61Wh battery.

SEE ALSO: Memory shortage: Framework raises DDR5 RAM prices again with a per GB price hike

Not only that, Patel added, but the Laptop 13 Pro's battery life is "actually slightly longer than a 14-inch MacBook Pro M5!" A Panther Lake laptop I tested earlier this year offered over 24 hours of video playback, so this isn't totally far-fetched. The M5 MacBook Pro only lasted 21 hours and 17 minutes in our battery life benchmark.

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro's 74Wh battery gives it more stamina than an M5 MacBook Pro, or so the company claims. Credit: Framework

The Laptop 13 Pro also comes with a bigger 100W GaN power adapter for faster charging.

The Laptop 13 Pro isn't meant to replace the base Laptop 13, which will continue to be sold alongside it, starting at $899 for the DIY Edition and $1,099 pre-built. A Framework rep told me that existing Laptop 13 owners will be able to upgrade their device with all of the Laptop 13 Pro's improved components, including the new touchscreen display ($299) and Panther Lake mainboard (starting at $449). The new 74Wh battery ($89) works if you grab a Bottom Cover Upgrade Kit ($169), while an Input Cover Kit ($179) nets you the haptic touchpad. The display and mainboards are now available for preorder in the Framework Marketplace.

Framework Laptop 16 updates — plus an OCuLink Dev Kit in the works The Framework Laptop 16 is getting one-piece haptic touchpad and keyboard modules. Credit: Framework

Framework is dropping some new components for the beefy Laptop 16, its desktop replacement with swappable graphics modules. That includes one-piece haptic touchpad and keyboard modules with no seams; a new translucent smoke gray bezel color; and a new entry-level AMD Ryzen 5 340 CPU option.

The new touchpad and keyboard modules are up for preorder in Laptop 16 configurations that start shipping in June, while the new bezel color will launch sometime later this summer. The Ryzen 5-powered Laptop 16 is preorderable today, starting at $1,249 for the DIY Edition and $1,599 pre-built.

Framework's OCuLink Dev Kit launches later this year. Credit: Framework

In addition, Framework previewed an OCuLink Dev Kit for the Laptop 16 during Tuesday's livestream. This module will "[enable] extremely high throughput peripherals like eGPUs" through the device's rear Expansion Bay, Patel wrote in a separate blog post. Hooking up a laptop to a more powerful eGPU, or external Graphics Processing Unit, is an easy way to bump its graphics performance when you want to use it for ultra-demanding tasks like AAA gaming, 4K video editing, and software development.

The Dev Kit includes an adapter board, a graphics module dock, and a PCIe card dock. It will ship later this year; stay tuned for pricing.

Coming soon: The Framework Wireless Touchpad Keyboard The Framework Wireless Touchpad Keyboard will be able to fit inside a Framework Laptop one day. Credit: Framework

Framework later showcased its forthcoming Wireless Touchpad Keyboard, which is exactly what it sounds like: a compact, portable keyboard with a built-in touchpad on the right-hand side. It's made in partnership with Lite-On, the same Taiwanese tech manufacturer that's made its laptop keyboards for the past five years, and it has the same key spacing and travel. The touchpad itself supports multi-finger gestures.

The Wireless Touchpad Keyboard will have a translucent back cover and a replaceable battery. Framework is currently working on a USB-A Adapter Expansion Card module that lets it sit flush inside its laptops.

SEE ALSO: Framework Laptop 16 (AMD) review: I’m obsessed with both the concept and the laptop

The keyboard won't launch until later this year, but Framework wanted to tease it well ahead of time "to give developers an early start on building around it," Patel said. We don't know how much it will cost yet.

The Framework Laptop Sleeve is here The silver one is kind of giving duct tape. Credit: Framework

Last but not least, Framework is releasing a new carrying case for the Laptop 13 Pro, Laptop 13, and Laptop 12. Priced at $39, it has a padded main pocket and a compartment for accessories. It comes in black and silver. Framework's website still had it listed as "coming soon" at the time of writing.

You can watch the full Framework [Next Gen] Event livestream on the company's YouTube channel.

One of the most promising movie adaptations of a video game is quickly taking shape. A24 and Bandai Namco are producing a live-action movie version of Elden Ring, the popular (over 30 million copies sold) and often-challenging fantasy action role-playing game based on a story by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. Here's everything you need to know for the premiere.

If you’ve ever tried building a smart home across brands, you already know the frustration of devices disconnecting, apps not syncing, and ‘universal standards’ still requiring workarounds. This is a problem that Samsung is now trying to solve. The brand’s global smart home platform, SmartThings now offers native, hub-free integration with 25 IKEA smart home devices. Notably, the partnership goes deeper, instead of the two brands just slapping a compatible sticker on the box and calling it a day.

Many gamers don’t mind spending hundreds of dollars on a new graphics card the moment they notice a performance drop in their favorite games, while the CPU remains untouched for years. While this upgrade pattern can work to some extent, since most games are GPU-bound, that strategy only holds for so long. CPUs aren’t immune to time, and modern games are starting to demand more from them than ever before.

Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in California state court for allegedly forcing early Fire TV Stick users to upgrade by dropping software support.

SAVE $270: The Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $529.99, down from the standard price of $799.99. That works out to a 34% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop $529.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $270   Get Deal

We all deserve a break these days. Even if your schedule is not packed with meetings and errands and other daily chores, having some relaxing time is essential. Instead of spending energy on cleaning the floors, offload the task to a robot. Sure, robots might not be ready to cook us dinner, but they've proven their worth as vacuums and mops. Check out this deal at Amazon today on a budget-friendly model.

As of April 21, the Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $529.99, marked down from the usual price of $799.99. That works out to a 34% discount that shaves $270 off the price.

Mashable's resident expert on robot vacuum and mops, Leah Stodard, ranked the Eufy C28 as the best affordable robot vacuum and mop combo with a self-wash station. In her full review of the Eufy C28, she wrote, "The Eufy C28 is the most affordable mainstream roller mop robot vacuum we've seen so far," and that's even more true now that it's $270 off.

SEE ALSO: Score the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for its lowest price yet

It's a compact model that does a great job at vacuuming and mopping floors given its price point. Stodart mention it doesn't earn a spot on the list of the best robot vacuums for pet hair on carpets, but it does a reliable job with keeping up on the daily.

While it's $270 off, snag the affordable Eufy C28 robot vacuum and mop. You'll be able to offload both vacuuming and mopping so you can take off on summer's best adventures or simply relax on the couch.

For years, smart home systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home have been free to use. If you bought an Amazon Echo smart speaker, for example, you could use it to control your smart home without any additional fees. Both Amazon and Google have recently started to lock some smart home features behind paywalls, but there's a free alternative that never will.

SAVE $20.71: As of April 21, preorder the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven - Play Booster Box (30 Packs) for $143.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $164.70. That's a discount of 13%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven - Play Booster Box (30 Packs) $143.99 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $20.71   Pre-order Here

It's that time again: a new Magic: The Gathering expansion is on its way. Secrets of Strixhaven is officially landing on April 24. It'll bring hundreds of new cards to the game, and if you plan on competing or collecting, you'll want to get your hands on some of the latest and greatest cards. You can do that easily with this discounted set that's up for preorder right now.

As of April 21, preorder the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven - Play Booster Box (30 Packs) for $143.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $164.70. That's $20.71 off and a discount of 13%.

SEE ALSO: Grab the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box for market price at Amazon and TCGplayer

There are nearly 368 new cards that comprise Secrets of Strixhaven, with several magical colleges to explore in the world of Arcavios. This box comes with 30 Play Boosters, each containing 14 cards. That means 1-5 cards of Rare or higher rarity, 3-6 Uncommon, 5-8 Common, and 1 Land card. You'll also find surprises like Traditional Foils, Foil Borderless Mythics, and more in these packs.

This booster box is the best way to build your stores of cards that can be used to create new decks. You'll get a good spread of options for filling in holes or starting a brand new deck to see what the expansion has to offer.

If you're ready to dive into this new addition to the world of Magic, you'll want to lock in your booster box preorder while it's discounted. These things always sell out rather quickly.

Luxury sedans have changed a lot over the last decade. Bigger screens, softer rides, and more driver-assist tech have become the new standard.

Finding the right setup for your garage or DIY shop is easier said than done. A big part of that process is a workbench, which is where you'll complete all your projects. While Ryobi is most known for its wide array of 18V ONE+ tools, the company also makes excellent accessories, including this Ryobi Framework Workbench.

I stopped using Gmail around 8 years ago. The decision did not arrive as a reaction to a single incident or policy change but as a gradual shift in how I thought about email as a system. Gmail worked well then and continues to work well now. What changed for me was not the quality of the product but the role it played in a larger ecosystem that collects and correlates data across nearly every digital interaction (which sounds abstract until you notice how often you click "Sign in with Google").

There are plenty of reasons to want to upgrade that starter or affordable turntable you bought when you first got into vinyl. Maybe your passion has grown, and you want to get a bit more serious, or maybe you got some new speakers and want to do them justice by stepping up from your sub-$300 turntable.

Now that Sony and Honda have cancelled their Afeela EVs, they're ready to put their automotive joint venture on hold. The Japanese companies have announced that they will "scale down" operations at Sony Honda Mobility.

If you're curious about self-hosting and owning a NAS but got put off by the price of "proper" NAS enclosures, I've got good news for you: you don't need to spend a fortune to get started.

When it comes to keeping your vehicle on the road for the long haul, oil changes and tire rotations are still king. Most cars have an oil life monitor to let you know when it’s time for an oil change. And since most cars now use a longer-lasting synthetic oil, it’s a good idea to rotate your tires at each oil change (back in the day, you used to rotate your tires every other oil change because the previous interval was 3,000 miles).

Have your Instagram posts been turning black and white without your consent? You're not alone.

According to Engadget, some users on Facebook and presumably elsewhere (though I wasn't able to find a lot of complaints on X) have complained that photos uploaded to the Instagram app in color were being automatically and unintentionally turned black and white at some point in the uploading process.

It was enough of a problem that Instagram confirmed its existence to Engadget, explained what the problem was, and claimed it had already been fixed.

SEE ALSO: The top 10 most-followed Instagram accounts

"Earlier today, a technical issue caused some HDR photos to appear incorrectly as black-and-white for a subset of accounts,” Instagram told Engadget, before saying the problem was already being fixed.

According to the Instagram spokesperson, anyone still experiencing the problem should simply wait a few hours for the photos to automatically go back to their original, intended state.

In the meantime, if you want to avoid anything like this happening in the future, there's a way to turn off HDR photos on an iPhone. By default, your iPhone will turn on HDR automatically when it's called for, but if you go to Settings, then Camera, then turn off Auto HDR, you can avoid any HDR-related mishaps going forward.

SAVE 20%: As of April 21, preorder The Mandalorian or Grogu Amazon Echo Dot bundle for $79.96 and $71.98 respectively ahead of their May 1 release date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon The Mandalorian Echo Dot $79.96 at Amazon
$99.96 Save $20   Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Grogu Echo Dot $71.98 at Amazon
$89.98 Save $18   Pre-order Here

Can't wait to head to the theater for The Mandalorian & Grogu? The May 4th Star Wars deals are already heating up, so you can get your fill of both characters long before the movie arrives. Amazon is sweetening the deal, for instance, on two of its newest Echo Dot bundles so you can bring the pair home to act as your new smart speakers.

As of April 21, preorder The Mandalorian or Grogu Amazon Echo Dot bundle for $79.96 and $71.98 respectively ahead of their May 1 release date. Each bundle comes with an Echo Dot in the color of your choice (charcoal, deep sea blue, or glacier water) as well as a stand, and either a Mandalorian helmet or Grogu, depending on your preference. Or you can get a bundle with both.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away free N-1 Starfighter models on Star Wars Day — how to claim yours

Other than the adorable Grogu stand and the menacing Mandalorian helmet, these are your run of the mill Echo Dots with a new facelift for Star Wars fans. You can play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more via the Dot as well as make calls, ask Alexa questions or use apps, and much more.

These tiny smart home hubs are all about connecting your devices and controlling other items throughout your abode. They can link up to and synergize with other Echo products you have as well. You can even control your Fire TV theater system with them if you'd like.

If you want to bring both Echo stands home, you'll have to wait a bit, though. You'll be able to get yours set up just in time for the movie about a month later when you get them on May 1, though The Mandalorian & Grogu launches on May 22.

In a rational world, Linux is just an operating system and people who genuinely believe it's a better operating system than the alternatives would want it to become as easy to use and popular as possible.

Sometimes the news is so chaotic that you forget just how many ridiculous things have happened in a relatively short space of time.

"This is usually the part of the show where we would do our recurring segment 'A Closer Look', about all the crazy things that are happening in the news, but we just got back from a three-week break, and it turns out nothing happened. So instead we're debuting our new segment, 'Everything's Great,'" says Seth Meyers in the Late Night clip above.

"That's right, it's been a quiet three weeks, and nothing really— what's that? Oh, Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed again? OK. Uh, what, Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker? And, sorry, the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship and Iran is vowing to retaliate? Okay, but that's just the Middle East— what? Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi? He posted a meme of himself as Jesus, but then said he thought it was a meme of himself as a doctor? What? He said the Pope is weak on crime?"

The segment goes on like that for a solid two minutes.

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SAVE $300: As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $1,199. That's $300 or 20% off its list price and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Summer's right around the corner, which means so is yard work. If you have a lawn that requires constant care, you may want to consider a robotic lawn mower this season. Like robot vacuums, they can take over a chore you'd rather not do and give you hours of your time back every week. They're not the cheapest investments, but Amazon just dropped the price of Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower to save you a big chunk of change.

As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale for just $1,199 at Amazon instead of its usual $1,499. That's 20% or $300 in savings, knocking it down to its cheapest price ever.

The Goat O1000 robot lawn mower is powered by AI Vision and 3D ToF LiDAR, which means it can accurately navigate your lawn for proper upkeep while avoiding obstacles like kids' toys, furniture, pets, and more. It's designed for smaller lawns, with the ability to mow up to a quarter acre or for 1.5 hours before it needs a charge. TrueEdge Trimmer technology helps it conquer clean edges, so you don't need to go back in manually. Plus, you can adjust the cutting height to your preference, from 1.2 to 3.1 inches.

To make the most of the Goat O1000's features, you'll need to download the Ecovacs app. Like a robot vacuum, you'll be able to set no-go areas, create multiple mowing zones, define travel paths, adjust the cutting height and speed, and create your mowing schedules. It's like having a personal lawn care professional in your pocket.

Sure, it's still not the cheapest investment at $1,199, but it's the best price you'll find on the Ecovacs Goat O1000 and it'll save you more money in the long run on lawn care.