Mashable

Amazon never rests. With Prime Big Deal Days (aka October Prime Day) and the holiday shopping season fast approaching, the retail juggernaut is gearing up for some big announcements on Tuesday. The retail giant's Devices & Services team is hosting a NYC-based press conference on Sept. 30, where several new devices will likely make their debut.

While Amazon has yet to publicly announce any concrete details about the event, an invitation, as shared by The Verge, shows a quadrant of four devices, providing a sneak peek into what's to come. While Amazon has yet to publicly comment on which devices and services will be unveiled, here's what we're expecting to see.

Is another new Kindle coming? A new Kindle Scribe arrived last year but is a color version coming soon? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable At $249.99, the Kindle Colorsoft is more expensive than other color e-readers on the market. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Since fall 2024, Amazon has gone non-stop with the updates to Kindles. The biggest innovation to come to their e-readers is the addition of color. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition had a rocky rollout last year with reports of discoloration plaguing some of the devices. While that has been resolved and Amazon has since released the standard Kindle Colorsoft and the Kindle Colorsoft Kids, a fourth Colorsoft entry is seemingly coming.

If Amazon is adding color to its existing line, then there are only two options left: the basic Kindle or the Kindle Scribe. However, according to The Verge, Amazon left a sneaky clue in its invitation. In the quadrant of the invite clearly showing a color Kindle, the line "with the stroke of a pen" appears, implying that it's the Kindle Scribe — the only Kindle with writing abilities — that's getting the color makeover.

This would be a much-needed addition to the Scribe, which is the only Amazon e-reader that has annotation abilities. With color, readers will hopefully be able to highlight in different colors and journal in rainbow. (The new reMarkable tablet lets you write notes in color, for instance.)

If we are getting a color Scribe, that means the Colorsoft line is probably not getting a price cut. Kindle's color e-readers are expensive, and in our opinion, not worth the price compared to color e-readers like Kobos. Considering the current Kindle Scribe has a list price of $449 and Colorsoft devices are averaging $90 more than their non-color counterparts, there's a non-zero chance a Kindle Scribe with color will be priced over $500.

A new Fire TV? The Amazon Fire TV gets bogged down by a clunky OS, so we're looking forward to a new system. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Amazon's Fire TVs are also reportedly getting an update. It's unclear if a hardware or software update is coming, but we think an updated TV operating system is more likely. Vega OS, Amazon's new Linux-based operating system, has been an open secret in the tech world for a while now.

Having tested Amazon's Fire TVs, our main complaint was its laggy OS, so we're hopeful for what the Vega OS may offer.

An updated Echo speaker is also possible

For as popular as they are, Amazon's Echo Dot hasn't seen an upgrade since 2022, nor the Echo Pop since 2023. It wouldn't be a surprise that these compact Echo devices were finally getting an upgrade.

However, as reported by ZDNet (also owned by our parent company Ziff Davis), the Echo image used on the invite to this event looks like the Echo Studio, which is notably no longer listed on Amazon's site.

What about that Android-powered Fire tablet? The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is an affordable and clunky unit. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

First rumored back in August, Amazon Fire tablets are reportedly getting a new Android operating system. The new Android OS would replace its existing in-house operating system, an attempt to compete with Apple and Samsung's higher-end tablets.

While a Fire tablet doesn't appear to be on the leaked invite, that's not to say one isn't coming.

We'll be reporting on Amazon's devices and services event on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Return here for more information as it's revealed.

There's not much of a reason to wait until Black Friday to buy a robot vacuum — not when Amazon treats its October Prime Day sale like Black Friday when it comes to vacuum deals.

In fact, compared to the Prime Day that just happened in July, I'm already seeing many of the same deals live before Prime Big Deal Days even starts next week. Those include a handful of the 2025 Roombas that impressed me during testing and the Eufy robot vacuum that converts to a stick vacuum — a criminally underrated vacuum that more people need to know exists. There's even a substantial discount on the flagship of all flagship robot vacuums that Dreame just announced in August.

A look at the best early robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Editor's pick eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 Stick and Handheld Vacuum Combo $348.99 (save $301) Get Deal Budget pick iRobot Roomba 104 Combo $249.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best mop washing station deal Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,279.99 (save $320) Get Deal Best vacuum-only robot vacuum deal Shark AV2501S AI Ultra $229.99 (save $320) Get Deal

By the time the event officially starts on Oct. 7, I expect to see most (if not all) of the best robot vacuums I've tested on sale. You have until then to read up on what to look for in a robot vacuum and assess the features that are non-negotiables in your home.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't

Regardless of your budget, there's definitely a robot vacuum on sale for you this October Prime Day. I'm tracking all of the best robot vacuum deals at Amazon below, noting when they self-empty, mop, or wash and dry their own mopping pads. All robot vacuums in the list have smart mapping. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best October Prime Day budget robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 104 Combo Robot Vacuum and Mop $249.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Prime Day Roomba deals have been a bust in years past, but that all changed when iRobot overhauled the Roomba lineup in March 2025. iRobot specifically spent extra time on the budget-friendly and mid-tier options with this product drop, and it's easily the most practical pricing I've ever seen from this brand.

One of the new Roombas released was the Roomba 104 Combo: a straightforward mopping, smart mapping, self-emptying Roomba that's an affordable choice for shoppers who want to cover those three crucial features, but don't want anything fancy. I tested the virtually-identical Roomba 105 Combo a few months ago and was satisfied for the price — it was a radically better experience than what I've had with cheap Roombas in the past. It even automatically recognizes carpet and rugs to keep them dry while it's mopping.

Best October Prime Day robot vacuum with mop-washing station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,279.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $320 Get Deal Why we like it

Oh, nothing. It's just the most powerful robot vacuum we've ever seen on sale during any Amazon sale event. No biggie. Meet the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller: one of the flagship Dreame models that was just released in August, already 20% off ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. I haven't personally tested this one yet, but on paper, it's quite the beast.

The Aqua10 Ultra Roller has a jaw-dropping 30,000 Pa of suction power — a market high for any mainstream robot vacuum. That's also significantly more powerful than the 20,000 Pa of the Roborock Saros 10R (my favorite robot vacuum of the year). Interestingly enough, the Aqua10 Ultra Roller's current sale price is the exact same that we saw for the Saros 10R during Prime Day in July. Past its strong suction being great for pet hair, the Aqua10 Ultra Roller also has a two-way livestream camera that I think any pet parent should prioritize.

If you're wondering, the "Roller" part of the title is referring to the paint roller-style roller mop, which rinses itself as it's mopping, not just when it returns to the dock. This is one of a handful of late-2025 robot vacuum and mop combos to ditch the dual spinning pads typically seen in older premium robot vacuums. They're said to offer a bit more heavy-duty scrubbing, and avoid smearing better than spinning and flat pads.

More robot vacuums on sale at AmazonHybrid robot vacuums that mop

• Roborock Q7 M5 — $169.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Yeedi C12 Plus with self-empty station — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Roborock Q8 Max — $259.98 $399.99 (save $140.01)

• Dreame D20 Plus with self-empty station — $296.99 $399.99 (save $103) 🔥

• Roborock Q10 S5+ with self-empty station — $299.99 $549.99 (save $250) 🔥

• 3i G10+ with dust compression — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Narwal Freo Pro with self-empty and mop washing station — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220)

• iRobot Roomba 405 with self-empty and mop washing station — $399.99 $799.99 (save $400) 🔥

• Eufy Omni C20 with self-empty and mop washing station — $379.99 $699.99 (save $320) 🔥

• Yeedi M12 Pro with self-empty and mop washing station — $379.99 $899.99 (save $520) 🔥

• Dreame X40 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $799.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Dreame X50 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $1,199.99 $1,699.99 (save $500) 🔥

• Roborock Saros Z70 with OmniGrip arm, self-empty and mop washing station — $1,999.98 $2,599 (save $599.02) 🔥

Robot vacuums that don't mop

• Eufy C10 with self-empty station — $199.99 $479.99 (save $320) 🔥

• Shark AV2501S AI Ultra with self-empty station — $229.99 $549.99 (save $320) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 105 with self-empty station — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Eufy L60 with self-empty station — $299.99 $559.99 (save $260)

• Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and stick vacuum with self-empty station — $348.99 $649.99 (save $301) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 with self-empty station — $379.99 $749.99 (save $370) 🔥

After recently promising new safety measures for teens, OpenAI introduced new parental controls for ChatGPT. The settings allow parents to monitor their teen's account, as well as restrict certain types of use, like voice chat, memory, and image generation.

The changes debuted a month after two bereaved parents sued OpenAI for the wrongful death of their son, Adam Raine, earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT conversed with their son about his suicidal feelings and behavior, providing explicit instructions for how to take his own life, and discouraging him from disclosing his plans to others.

The complaint also argues that ChatGPT's design features, including its sycophantic tone and anthropomorphic mannerisms, effectively work to "replace human relationships with an artificial confidant" that never refuses a request.

SEE ALSO: Colleges are giving students ChatGPT. Is it safe?

In a blog post about the new parental controls, OpenAI said that it worked with experts, advocacy groups, and policy makers to develop the safeguards.

In order to use the settings, parents must invite their teen to connect accounts. Teen users must accept the invitation, and they can also make the same request of their parent. The adult will be notified if a teen unlinks their account in the future.

Once the accounts are connected, automatic protections are applied to the teen's account. These content restrictions include reduced exposure to graphic material, extreme beauty ideals, and sexual, romantic, or violent roleplay. While parents can turn off these restrictions, teens can't make those changes.

Parents will also be able to make specific choices for their teen's use, such as designating quiet hours during which ChatGPT can't be accessed; turning off memory and voice mode; and removing image generation capabilities. Parents can't see or access their teen's chat logs.

Importantly, OpenAI still sets teen accounts to be used in model training. Parents must opt out of that setting if they don't want OpenAI to use their teen's interactions with ChatGPT to further train and improve their product.

When it comes to handling sensitive situations wherein teens talk to ChatGPT about their mental health, OpenAI has created a notification system so that parents can learn if something may be "seriously wrong."

Though OpenAI did not describe the technical features of this system in its blog post, the company said that it will recognize potential signs that a teen is thinking about harming themselves. If the system detects that intention, a team of "specially trained people" reviews the circumstances. OpenAI will contact parents by their method of choice — email, text message, and push alert — if there are signs of acute distress.

"We are working with mental health and teen experts to design this because we want to get it right," OpenAI said in its post. "No system is perfect, and we know we might sometimes raise an alarm when there isn’t real danger, but we think it’s better to act and alert a parent so they can step in than to stay silent."

OpenAI noted that it's developing protocols for contacting law enforcement and emergency services in cases where a parent can't be reached, or if there's an imminent threat to a teen's life.

Robbie Torney, senior director of AI Programs at Common Sense Media, said in the blog post that the controls were a "good starting point."

Torney recently testified in a Senate hearing on the dangers of AI chatbots. At the time, he referenced the Raine lawsuit and noted that ChatGPT continued to engage Adam Raine in discussion about suicide, rather than trying to redirect the conversation.

SEE ALSO: After losing their son, parents urge Senate to take action on AI chatbots

"Despite Adam using the paid version of ChatGPT — meaning OpenAI had his payment information and could have implemented systems to identify concerning patterns and contact his family during mental health crises — the company had no such intervention mechanisms in place," Torney said in his testimony.

At the same hearing, Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology at the American Psychological Association, testified that Congress should require AI systems accessible by children and adolescents to undergo "rigorous, independent, pre-deployment testing for potential harms to users' psychological and social development."

Prinstein also called for limiting manipulative or persuasive design features that maximize chatbot engagement.

Parents everywhere are likely frightened to count to 10 in their own homes, lest they tempt their children by getting to the numbers six and seven.

If that means nothing to you, then you've successfully avoided the 6-7 meme. Congrats to you and your blissfully offline life. That sounds healthy.

SEE ALSO: Aura farming? Fanum tax? 2025's most viral internet slang, explained

But for the logged-on masses, kids saying six-seven to everything has simply become a fact of life. And yes, that is pretty much it: People are just saying six-seven in a particular cadence...and that is the meme. It's everywhere right now — and it has a somewhat peculiar origin story.

How the 6-7 meme started

In short, the meme comes from a rap track called "Doot Doot" by Skrilla, during which he sings "6-7" in the familiar cadence. Know Your Meme notes this is likely a reference to a street in Philadelphia.

But the meme isn't really in reference to the song. Not really, anyway. TikTok virality relies heavily on sounds, and people used the song to make edits of basketball players — most notably, 6-foot-7 tall LaMelo Ball — which took off.

From there, as memes typically do, the whole meaning and use of 6-7 evolved. The most important iteration involved a kid at a basketball game effectively using the lyric, paired with an up-and-down hand motion, as an emote, which is when an avatar in a video game does a movement typically just for fun or celebration.

That up-and-down movement became the default way kids meme six-seven in real life.

So...what is the 6-7 meme?

In short, it's nonsense. It's silly. It's filler and fun to say. The meme isn't really about the song, or about basketball, or height, or even really the numbers six and seven. It's taking any excuse to be silly. So if someone says six, seven, six-seven, or 67, then you have the opportunity to do the meme. Or you can just do the meme because it's funny to say.

We've written at Mashable in the past that TikTok has a unique ability to shape language. Among kids, that's especially true. Young people have always relied on creating their own shared language, but the TikTok generation is able to do it overnight. You can go from a rap song to a basketball player to a kid at a game to an entirely new, extremely viral phrase in no time at all.

So if you hear a kid saying six-seven all the time, it's likely something they're saying because, well, everyone is saying it. At this point, it is totally divorced from its origins and just a thing to do.

And if it's proven annoying to the parents out there, don't worry. These trends don't last. I see it going on for six, seven more months at most.

Anthropic has formally announced Claude Sonnet 4.5, a new AI model specifically made for coding. During its announcement, Anthropic didn’t mince words, calling Claude Sonnet 4.5 the “best coding model in the world.” Starting today, it’ll power Claude Code, a popular choice for vibe coders and professionals alike. 

The new model is a step up from the old model and seems to be able to do quite a lot. According to Cognition co-founder and CEO Scott Wu, the new model features “the biggest jump we’ve seen since the release of Claude Sonnet 3.6” and can “run longer, handle harder tasks, and deliver production-ready code.”

Anthropic shows this through a variety of charts demonstrating how effective the model can be. For example, Claude Sonnet 4.5 has fewer instances of misaligned behaviors than its direct competitors, including older models from Anthropic. Anthropic AI researcher David Hershey told TechCrunch that he’s seen the model code for 30 hours without interruption in early trials, so overall performance may be difficult to show in benchmarks. 

In addition to better smarts, Anthropic also announced several new features for Claude Code to coincide with the release. That includes checkpoints, a feature that Anthropic says has been requested quite a lot. Checkpoints will save snapshots of the code the user is working on, and then grant the ability to roll back to a prior checkpoint if things go off the rails. There is also a new context editing feature and memory tool that allows AI agents to run longer and handle more complex instructions. 

Anthropic has been on a roll in 2025, as have most AI companies. New models seem to drop every couple of months like clockwork these days. Anthropic’s prior big model release, Claude Opus 4, launched in May 2025, which was also designed for advanced coding. OpenAI launched its latest GPT-5 in early August, and Google joined the fray with Gemini 2.5 over the summer. Thus, AI fans have a lot of new stuff to check out if they haven’t done so in a while. 

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

Apple's first iOS 26 bug fix update is out now.

A new OS launch always comes with its share of user complaints, and some bugs and battery problems are fairly typical following a big update. As expected, Apple has launched iOS 26.0.1, which includes some minor updates for the new OS. iOS 26 finally brings the new Liquid Glass aesthetic to your iPhone, among other changes.

If you have an iPhone whose software is up to date, you can download it now. Here's now.

Hit that button! Credit: Screenshot: Apple/Alex Perry

1. Go to the Settings app

2. Tap "General"

3. Tap "Software Update"

4. Hit the big blue button

If you were hoping for one update that would fix all of your problems with iOS 26, that's not likely to happen with 26.0.1.

Per Apple's release notes, this is mostly a series of bug fixes rather than fundamental changes to how iOS 26 works. Issues that received fixes include WiFi and Bluetooth disconnection errors for iPhone 17 models, blank app icons, and unwanted artifacts in photos. That latter fix is likely related to a "rare glitch" some early testers identified while taking photos at concerts. Bright LED lights had been causing square blank spots to appear in some photos, and Apple said the bug would be fixed in an iOS 26 update.

SEE ALSO: iOS 26: How to turn off Liquid Glass

If you don't like Liquid Glass, you can't fully turn it off. Still, bug fixes are bug fixes, so if you're already bought in on iOS 26, you might as well download the new update.

The best early October Prime Day unlocked phone deals at a glance: Best Samsung Galaxy deal Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 (256GB) $949.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best Motorola deal Motorola Razr Ultra (512GB) $1,099.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Google Pixel deal Google Pixel 9 (128GB) $699 (save $100) Get Deal

If you're looking to upgrade your phone, but don't want to spend a fortune, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days could be your opportunity to score one for less. Instead of coordinating a trade-in and data plan at a specific carrier, you can often find better deals on unlocked devices at Amazon — particularly during sales events. Unlocked phones aren't tied to a specific carrier, so you'll have the flexibility to switch plans and shop new phones as often as you want. Not to mention, you'll be able to use local SIM cards when traveling internationally without having to jump through hoops.

Amazon's October Prime Day event doesn't kick off until Oct. 7, but we're already seeing some unlocked phone deals worth grabbing. A few Motorola and Samsung Galaxy phones have already dropped to record-low prices (marked with a 🔥). Google Pixel, on the other hand, is starting slow with just a single solid deal. If you're looking for iPhone deals, you're better off locking in a contract with a carrier, as it's rare to find a discount on an unlocked iPhone (though we'll never say never).

We'll be keeping an eye on things and updating the list below with any new deals that pop up as we inch closer to the now-annual shopping event. For now, here are the best unlocked phone deals we could find.

Psst: If you're not sure what to do with your old phone, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

The best early October Prime Day unlocked phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 (256GB, Unlocked) 🔥 $949.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $150 Get Deal

The Z Flip7, the smaller of Samsung's latest flagship foldables, features a completely redesigned exterior. The new cover display goes edge-to-edge at 4.1 inches, making it the largest external display on a flip-style phone to date. It also packs a new 120Hz refresh rate, the ability to interact with AI features without opening the phone, and the option to use the camera to show things to the onboard AI. Mashable's reviewer writes, "If you appreciate the foldable form factor, then you'll definitely appreciate the Galaxy Z Flip 7. You can do so much cool stuff with this "AI Flip Phone." Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can slash $150 off the 256GB version in blue shadow, coral red, or jet black — not bad for a phone that's only a couple of months old.

More unlocked phone deals

• Motorola Moto G (128GB) — $174.99 $199.99 (save $25)

• TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER (128GB) — $222.49 $249.99 (save $27.50)

• Motorola Moto G Stylus (256GB) — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Motorola Razr 2024 (256GB) — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• OnePlus 13R (256GB) — $549.99 $599.99 (save $50)

• Motorola Razr 2025 (256GB) — $599.99 $699.99 (save $100)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) — $679.99 $799.99 (save $130) 🔥

• Google Pixel 9 (128GB) — $699 $799 (save $100)

• Samsung Galaxy S25+ (512GB) — $999.99 $1,119.99 (save $120)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) — $1,044.99 $1,299.99 (save $255) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 (512GB) — $1,069.99 $1,219.99 (save $150)

• Motorola Razr Ultra (512GB) — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) — $1,299 $1,419.99 (save $120.99)

LockBit is the notorious ransomware gang responsible for running one of the world's most dangerous Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms. Now, LockBit has reportedly returned with LockBit 5.0, a new variant of the group's ransomware that's already in active use.

In early 2024, a task force of law enforcement agencies conducted Operation Cronos, which took down several big pieces of infrastructure from the prolific ransomware group. As an RaaS provider, the group sold tools and software that affiliates could use for their own hacking operations. It was seen as a major victory at the time. Well over a year later, it seems LockBit is back and, according to a technical analysis by Trend Micro, that isn’t good news. 

In early September, LockBit announced a new version of its ransomware software, LockBit 5.0. Since then, Trend Micro researchers have been looking for examples of LockBit 5.0 being used in the wild, so to speak. Not only was the company able to find examples on Windows, Linux, and ESXi (virtual machines), but its analysis of LockBit Version 5.0 showed that it’s the most advanced ransomware the group has made yet. 

Per Trend Micro, version 5.0 shares some common elements with version 4.0, meaning it's an evolution rather than an entirely new piece of ransomware. The new version adds horrible features like a DLL reflection (the ability to load a DLL from memory), a few new anti-analysis techniques, and — for the Linux variant anyway — the ability to use the command line to target specific directories and file types. All versions also add a random 16-bit string to make getting your data back that much harder. 

Once the ransomware takes control of your computer, it seems to behave the same way that prior LockBit versions did, where you get a ransom note in a text file with instructions on where to go to pay your ransom. There is also the option to “chat with support” to negotiate the ransom. 

In addition to the technical details, it’s been reported that LockBit’s affiliate incentive model has been refreshed, giving bad actors even more incentive to use the software. Reportedly, the refresh was meant to recruit people back to LockBit after the service disruption caused by Operation Cronos last year. 

With LockBit back in action, it joins a new generation of AI-powered ransomware that hit the market in late summer 2025, also known as PromptLock. So, if you haven’t been keeping up to speed on the latest cybersecurity threats and scams, now is a great time to refresh yourself on how to be safe on the Internet.

Apple’s iOS 26 update is a big one — not just because it’s new, but because “Liquid Glass” marks the company’s biggest UI overhaul since the iPhone X.

But the so-called “biggest iOS update in years” hasn’t exactly wowed people. Performance hiccups and a jarring reshuffle of the interface have left many users underwhelmed. Even here at Mashable, reactions are split: some enjoy the new look, while others find it pretty “meh.”

If you’ve upgraded and hate how it looks, here’s the bad news: you can’t roll back to iOS 18. That makes sense, sure — but what if you like iOS 26 overall and just can’t stand Liquid Glass? Also bad news: you can’t turn it off.

What you can do, though, is dive into your iPhone’s accessibility settings to tone down the transparent, glossy effect and make it less in-your-face.

How to change Liquid Glass in iOS 26

To cut down the transparency, head to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Reduce Transparency. This makes elements like folders easier to see when you open them.

You can also tweak the look of your home screen. Just press and hold an empty space until the icons start to jiggle, then tap Edit in the top left corner. From there, select Customize and switch the screen to tinted. You’ll be able to adjust the colors of icons and folders to better match your style. Simple as that.

Apple likes to tout the life-saving potential of its consumer electronics, but AirTags might secretly be the MVP of its portfolio in that regard.

The Leicester Mercury reported that a UK theft victim was able to use the tracking device to find and recover a stolen motorcycle, with the help of local police. Apparently, the AirTag was hidden underneath the bike's seat, and the thief was keeping the bike in his bedroom. Police arrived, announced they were searching the premises, and found it there after it was stolen earlier this month.

SEE ALSO: Every Apple product announcement we still expect in 2025 and beyond — AirTags, Macs, and HomePod

That's stunningly bad OPSEC by the person in question, who pleaded guilty to the theft last week. Funnily enough, that's not even the only time someone recovered a stolen motorcycle using AirTags in the month of September. Two suspects were arrested in Missouri earlier this month after they also allegedly stole a motorcycle, though they at least found and discarded the AirTag shortly after the theft, according to investigators. There was also a case a few weeks ago where someone tracked down their stolen luggage and found an alleged thief wearing their clothes, again just from using AirTags.

At any rate, this is all perfect and totally accidental marketing for Apple.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Fortect Get 65% off Fortect Ultimate: All-in-One Antivirus, VPN, Driver Updater and PC Optimization Suite $58.95 at Fortect
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While Fortect's Ultimate: All-in-One Antivirus, VPN, Driver Updater and PC Optimization suite is usually available for $169.94 annually, Mashable readers can enjoy a 65% discount on it through the link above that drops it to $58.95 annually. This suite is stacked with software to help keep your favorite devices safe, too.

SEE ALSO: Best VPN 2025: Tested for performance, trustworthiness, value, and more

Fortect's Ultimate plan covers up to five devices and features Antivirus software, a cross-platform VPN, driver updater, and full PC optimization all in its app.

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This special promotion won't last for long, so if you've been looking for an all-in-one solution to better optimize your PC and keep it running safely, don't miss out on 65% off Fortect's Ultimate: All-in-One Antivirus, VPN, Driver Updater and PC Optimization suite.

Video game developer Electronic Arts (EA) has been bought out by a group of investors in what is now the largest-ever buyout from private equity firms.

The consortium of investors, which includes Silver Lake, PIF, and Affinity Partners, will be acquiring EA for $55 billion and will be taking the company private.

Silver Lake is a well-known name in the tech sector and was most recently in the news for being one of the Trump administration-approved U.S. companies to take over TikTok. PIF is Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and has largely funded Affinity Partners, which was founded by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

EA is one of the biggest video game developers in the world, with titles ranging from FIFA to Battlefield to The Sims franchise.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business" said EA Chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson in a statement. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come."

As previously reported by Mashable, Saudi Arabia has made a number of investments in the video game industry in recent years. PIF holds stake in Nintendo, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft developer Activision Blizzard, and the developer of the Grand Theft Auto franchise Take-Two Interactive. In fact, PIF already held a nearly 10 percent stake in EA at the time of the acquisition.

The PIF launched the Savvy Games Group in 2021 specifically dedicated to video game and esports-related investments. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman serves as the chairman for the Savvy Games Group.

SAVE $62.65: As of Sept. 29, the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker is on sale for just $116.35 at Amazon. That's 35% off its usual list price of $179 and its best price since January.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker $116.35 at Amazon
$179 Save $62.65 Get Deal

As if you need another excuse to celebrate your favorite beverage, Monday, Sept. 29 is officially National Coffee Day. There are plenty of ways to snag a discounted or free cup, but if you'd rather invest in your at-home coffee experience, you can grab a Nespresso machine for 35% off at Amazon.

As of Sept. 29, the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker is on sale for just $116.35. That's over $62 off its regular list price of $179 and its best price since January. The only thing better than getting your beloved caffeine fix is getting it at a discount. This deal comes just a week ahead of the formal start of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days. There's a chance it could drop even further in price, but if you'd rather not gamble, we can ensure you're getting a great price if you grab it today.

Unlike most countertop espresso makers, which are total eyesores, the Vertuo Next is slim, sleek, and won't take up too much real estate on your countertop. The water tank is even removable to truly optimize your space. It heats up in just 30 seconds and lets you brew coffee in various formats at the touch of a single button. Choose from six different brew styles: 5, 8, 12 and 18-ounce coffees, as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. Just pop in a Nespresso Vertuo capsule, fill up the 37-ounce water tank, select your brew size, and you're good to go. The Vertuo machines can read the barcode on each capsule and automatically adjust the settings to brew it perfectly every time.

If you're looking to step-up your single-serve coffee brewing experience at home, the Nespresso Vertuo Next is a solid pick — especially at 35% off.

Cover screens on older Samsung Galaxy Z Flip models are finally getting access to Google Gemini.

As spotted by Android Authority, the Z Flip 5 and 6 — both of which share the same cover screen design as the newer Flip 7 lineup — have been updated to support Gemini. The feature debuted with the Flip 7 and was notably absent from earlier models.

Using Gemini on the cover screen of the Flip 5 and 6 isn’t entirely seamless, but it works. You still get core features like voice and text input, Gemini Live, and the ability to share your camera feed. Screen sharing, however, is missing. Android Authority also points out that long-pressing the power button simply prompts you to open the phone instead of launching Gemini, which adds to the inconvenience.

The update appears to be tied to Samsung’s One UI 8 rollout over the past few days. For older Z Flip owners, it’s finally a chance to tap into Gemini’s AI features — quirks and all.

Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl 60 halftime show, and while many of us are thrilled about the performance, people on social media are — of course — giving some mixed responses.

Apple Music announced the Puerto Rican superstar as the halftime performer during Sunday Night Football yesterday, according to NBC News.

"What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history," Bad Bunny said in a statement released by the NFL, as reported by CNN. He also added, according to NBC News: "Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL," which roughly translates to: "Go and tell your grandma that we will be the Super Bowl Halftime Show."

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Bad Bunny, who was the third-most-played artist on Spotify in 2024, recently wrapped a 30-show, three-month residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is now gearing up for his international tour.

However, some on social media are calling his upcoming Super Bowl performance hypocritical, pointing out that he isn't playing any U.S. dates on his Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour. In an interview with Variety, he said performing in the U.S. felt "unnecessary," and later told i-D that one reason he avoided U.S. shows was a fear that ICE agents "could be outside my concert."

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That said, plenty of users on X are expressing pure joy at the idea of seeing their favorite musician headline one of the biggest cultural moments in the U.S.

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Would it really be a Super Bowl halftime show without a bit of drama surrounding the headliner? Let’s not forget the conversations sparked by Kendrick Lamar's performance last year.

There are few things in the world as lovely as a cup of coffee. What could be better?

Well, maybe if it were free. Monday, Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day in the U.S. — an invented, faux holiday, sure — but it does mean lots of places are giving out free cups of joe. Here are some of our favorite deals we're seeing across the country.

Starbucks

The uber-popular coffee chain is offering 100 bonus stars in the Starbucks app for any hot or iced coffee.

Dunkin'

The popular chain is offering a free medium hot or iced coffee if you order through the app.

Wawa

The primarily mid-Atlantic chain is offering a free coffee for folks who order through the app. You should get access to a coupon you can use at checkout.

Krispy Kreme

The chain is offering both a free medium coffee and a free doughnut. It also, for whatever reason, paired-up with Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers) for this promotion.

“I went and found the Krispy Kreme team and sat down with them, and I said, 'I want to make National Coffee Day history,' and that's what this is," Jonas said in a statement. OK, sure.

Einstein Bros.

Like lots of other places, the bagel chain is offering a free coffee with a purchase through its app.

Panera

The sandwich-focused chain is offering three months free of its Sip Club. That's effectively three months of free coffee.

Peets

The coffee chain is offering 25 percent off sitewide.

Burger King

Royal Perks members can get a free coffee with a $1 purchase through the app.

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson lead Apple TV+'s new mystery crime thriller in what can only be described as the dream I had last night.

Written by Slow Horses' Morwenna Banks and based on Mick Herron's novel, Down Cemetery Road sees Thompson as hard-edged, quip-savvy private investigator Zoë Boehm, who takes on a case that'll unearth truths all the way to the top. Wilson plays Sarah Trafford, a woman obsessed with a young girl's disappearance after an explosion at her neighbours' house — so she brings in Zoë. But there's more, as in Apple's description of the show, Zoë and Sarah "find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead."

I'm sorry, what? I'm in!

Adeel Akhtar, Tom Goodman-Hill, Fehinti Balogun, Darren Boyd, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, and Aiysha Hart also star, and Bay of Fires' Natalie Bailey is the series' lead director.

Down Cemetery Road debuts on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Oct. 29 followed by new episodes Wednesdays through Dec. 10.

Google has a new look for the first time in a decade.

Almost exactly 10 years after introducing the four-color "G" logo, the company announced in a blog post today that the logo is getting updated across the entire brand. The new logo is basically the same, except the colors smoothly transition into each other with gradients instead of having hard stops between them. According to Google, this new logo will come to its bevy of apps and services "in the coming months."

Left: The old logo... Credit: Google Right: ...the new logo, in all its glory! Credit: Google SEE ALSO: Google and Qualcomm execs confirm Android for PC is coming: 'I've seen it, it is incredible'

This is obviously not a huge change, but Google's stated reasoning for it is worth a read, at any rate.

"The new 'Google G' now represents all of Google — both our brand and the company — and visually reflects our evolution in the AI era," Google's blog post said. "While staying true to Google’s iconic four colors, the brighter hues and gradient design symbolize the surge of AI-driven innovation and creative energy across our products and technology."

Well, alright then. Gradients equal AI innovation now, apparently. Good to know.

SAVE 72%: As of Sept. 29, the JBL Live 460NC wireless on-ear headphones are on sale for just $39.99 at Walmart and the JBL website. That's a 72% discount, according to the MSRP.

With Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event just around the corner, other retailers are starting to drop their own competing deals to get a piece of the action. And right now, Walmart and JBL have the JBL Live 460NC on-ear headphones on sale for $39.99.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love

As of Sept. 29, you can get the JBL Live 460NC on-ear headphones (black colorway) from Walmart and JBL for $39.99, down from $144.95 (Walmart’s list price is incorrect). That’s a 72% discount, a $104.96 savings, and a damn good deal to snag before Prime Big Deal Days officially kicks off on Oct. 7.

Honestly, the fact that you can get a pair of headphones with solid ANC and that signature JBL sound for just $40 is pretty wild. You'll also get up to 50 hours of playtime (with ANC off; 40 with it on), a built-in mic for hands-free calls, and multi-point connection so you can switch from your phone to your laptop in seconds.

SAVE $350.01: The Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier is on sale at Amazon for $284.98, down from the normal price of $599.99. That's a 53% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T20i) $284.98 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $315.01 Get Deal

October is just a few days away and even if it's still hot where you live, winter temps are coming. If you tend to have an air purifier running at all times, winter's chill with the fan blowing on air purifier can add an undesired breeze. Thankfully, there's a great Blueair purifier that doubles as a heater and as a huge bonus, it's on a deep discount today.

As of Sept. 29, the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T20i) is on sale for $284.98 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $599.99. That's a 53% discount that takes a massive $350.01 off the price. It's also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

When I was testing units for the Mashable list of the best air purifiers, the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 blew me away in terms of performance and design. Honestly, the only negative I could come up with was that it comes with a hefty price, which is negated thanks to today's 53% discount.

For starters, the Blueair ComfortPure is designed for larger rooms that measure up to 1,689 square feet. Using it in a smaller space will simply mean you'll get more air changes per hour which just means more clean air. The air purifier uses a HEPA filter to rid your indoor space from dust, dander, pollen, and other irritants. But if we're being honest, that's something a ton of air purifiers can claim.

SEE ALSO: The Shark NeverChange Compact Pro air purifier has a long-lasting filter and is whisper quiet

The Blueair ComfortPure stands out in its ability to serve as both a fan and a heater, and both functions are super effective thanks to the overall design. There's also the remote control, so you can adjust the temperature from the couch. Or you can ditch the remote and control the purifier via your phone and the Blueair app.

Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

From the get-go, it's obvious Blueair knows how to design an air purifier that simply feels like a more luxury model. The back panel effortlessly attaches to the purifier via a magnetic closure system, it can oscillate up to 350 degrees, and the fabric carrying handle is really great.

Overall, this air purifier is really impressive in its ability to clean the air, work as a fan in warm months, and double as a space heater in the winter. I know mine will be switching to warm mode any day now.

While it's on sale a new record-low, snag the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier (T20i) is on sale for $284.98 at Amazon. Buying now will mean you can avoid the chaos that's soon to come with the October Prime Day event.