Google is launching a new AI concepting tool that lets you create moodboards to explore design ideas. The Mixboard Google Labs experiment gives users an open canvas to create projects from pre-populated board templates or text prompts using Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash model.The experimental tool is available through public beta in the US. The format is visually similar to platforms like FigJam or Adobe’s Firefly Boards, so this isn’t a unique concept, but it’s interesting to see Google developing more design-based apps.Mixboard users can add their own images, or generate visuals with descriptions like “show me cups, bowls, and plates in Memphis style,” or “plan an autumn party in my living room.” The tool can be used to explore ideas for decorating your home, planning events, or just creating an ensemble of amusing images for entertainment — similar to Pinterest boards. Google says that users can edit boards with natural language prompts to adjust or combine images, or reference uploaded images to generate new visuals. One-click options also enable users to quickly regenerate images or generate similar-looking designs.

Major League Baseball will use so-called robot umpires at home plate beginning in 2026, the league announced today. The system has been tested in minor league games (as explained in this video, included below), spring training, and events like the 2025 All-Star Game.The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) is seen as a fairer, more accurate way to call when a pitch is a ball or a strike, which currently is done by the home plate human umpire. A pitch is a ball when it’s thrown outside the strike zone and a strike when it’s within the zone, but home plate umps are frequently the target of ire when they make bad calls. The strike zone varies for individual players based on their stance and size.ABS won’t totally replace human umpires — it’s only called in when a player challenges an umpire’s call. Each team gets two challenges a game, and the only players who can request an ABS review are the pitcher, catcher, and batter. A team doesn’t lose a challenge if a player requests one and the call is overturned. MLB says the process takes 15 seconds and made sure to note that it “will certify each player’s official height” to ensure an accurately determined strike zone.It uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras placed around the field and connected to a T-Mobile private 5G network to track pitches — the same system used in other sports like tennis to determine if a ball lands in or out of the court’s lines, and in football to measure the down and distance.Using ABS for challenges feels somewhere in the middle of relying on human umpires and going all-in on an automated system. “The strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today,” said baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. As The Athletic reports, how players respond to the new system might depend on what position they play or the situation the player is in (if it’s a full count, bases loaded, your strategy is probably going to be different than if it’s a less consequential call). There’s also the more philosophical question of what ultra-precise technology does to a game that is sometimes frustrating for everyone involved: does litigating the last quarter inch of a strike zone make baseball more or less fun? I suspect just about everyone both benefits from and gets screwed by bad calls once in a while, maybe in equal measure. We’ll see how the system feels next season.In the meantime, MLB released a few interesting statistics from the test during spring training: Teams challenged just over four (4) pitches per game with a success rate near 50%, consistent with results observed during Minor League testing.The offense and defense challenged a similar number of pitches, but the defense was more successful (54% vs. 50% overturn rate).Catchers had the most success challenging (56% overturn rate for catchers vs. 50% for hitters and 41% for pitchers).

Over the years, I’ve bounced between countless file managers on Linux. I tried heavyweight GUIs like Nautilus and Thunar, and I spent plenty of time with terminal staples like Midnight Commander, Ranger, and nnn. Midnight Commander stuck with me the longest since it covered most of my needs, but none of them ever felt like the perfect fit. That changed when I discovered Yazi. This fairly new, Rust-based terminal file manager stands out for its clean design, fast performance, and features that hold their own against both text-based and graphical rivals.

Though technology has always played an important role in the Alien franchise, FX's Alien: Earth series is the first chapter to really dig into the inner workings of the tech companies responsible for unleashing xenomorphs onto humanity. To corporations like Weyland-Yutani and its competitors, the show's aliens present an opportunity to develop products that could boost their stock valuations to astronomical new heights. But to show us how powerful these companies already are, Alien: Earth spends a lot of time focusing on the tech that made them rich - things like futuristic guns, space ships, androids, and tablets.Because Alien: Earth focu …Read the full story at The Verge.

Smart lighting is one of the most useful and enjoyable smart home upgrades you can make. The convenience of turning lights on and off with a voice command or having them come on at precisely the right brightness when you walk into a room, adjusted for the time of day, is a huge quality-of-life upgrade that you can't truly appreciate until you try it. The good news is that now is a great time to consider adding smart lights to your home. The costs of smart LED bulbs, fixtures, and accessories, such as switches, are starting to come down, just as compatibility across smart home platforms and smartphones is going up - thanks to the Matter s …Read the full story at The Verge.

Spotify is good, but the free version has ads, and the premium subscription keeps getting more expensive. On top of that, you have no control over your privacy, and there’s almost no customization. I recently started using an alternative to Spotify called Funkwhale, which you can host yourself, customize, and share on your own terms. This free and open-source audio platform is built by a passionate community, and it lets you stream music and podcasts from anywhere.

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are currently $50 off. Amazon recently announced that its fall Prime Day sale — once again dubbed Prime Big Deal Days — will kick off on Tuesday, October 7th, and run through October 8th. While you have a few weeks to get your wishlist in order, the retailer isn’t waiting for the main event to roll out the savings. Amazon has already started dropping early deals and discounts on a range of gadgets, from phones to charging stations. You can even get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free.We saw some great deals during Amazon’s four-day Prime Day event in July — hell, Apple’s latest iPad Mini dropped to a cool $379 — so we’re hoping to see similar worthwhile discounts this time around. Below, we’ve rounded up the best sales currently available ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We’ll be updating this guide as more deals drop, so be sure to bookmark this page to stay on top of the latest discounts.11-inch iPad Air M3The new 11-inch iPad Air comes with Apple’s M3 chip and GPU upgrades. It’s available in dark gray, blue, purple, and a “starlight” cream shade. Read our review.Where to Buy: $599 $449 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi) $699 $549 at Amazon (256GB, Wi-Fi) $899 $749 at Amazon (512GB, Wi-Fi)Beats Studio BudsThe Studio Buds feature support for iOS and Android as well as noise cancellation, a cozy fit, and good sound quality for the price. They don’t offer the same features as Apple’s iconic AirPods, but their broader compatibility may make them a fine choice on a budget. Read our review.Where to Buy: $149.99 $79.95 at Amazon $149.99 $95.97 at Best Buy $149.99 $99.95 at Walmart8BitDo’s Pro 2 may not be the latest, greatest model available — that title goes to the 8BitDo Pro 3 — but it’s still a good option you can pick up for $42.49 (about $7 off) at Amazon. I’ve been using the wireless gamepad to play games on the Nintendo Switch 2, and it works great with Donkey Kong Bananza (aside from the horrible rumble feedback, which you can thankfully turn off). The retro controller features drift-free Hall effect joysticks, two back buttons on the rear grips, and a switch that allows you to quickly toggle between a range of devices — including the Switch, Steam Deck, smartphones, and Windows PCs.Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus is currently on sale at Amazon for $179.99 ($70 off). The 37-inch soundbar dropped to $149 during Prime Day, so this discount is by no means the lowest we’ve seen. Still, it’s a great, affordable option that supports Dolby Atmos and features three speakers, three tweeters, and two woofers. It also features four listening modes and a center channel for clearer dialogue.You can buy the Alexa Voice Remote Pro on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $27.99 ($7 off), which is a few bucks shy of its all-time low. Along with Alexa integration, the comfortable clicker offers a handy remote finder feature, which allows you to keep tabs on it using an Alexa-based smart speaker, Android, or iOS. It also sports two customizable buttons and backlighting, making it easier to find in the dark. Read our review.JBL Go 3The last-gen JBL Go 3 may not be quite as powerful as larger models in JBL’s current lineup, but it remains a great pool-ready Bluetooth speaker that can fit in your pocket.Where to Buy: $39.95 $29.95 at Amazon $39.95 $31.9 at Walmart $39.95 at JBLThe UE Wonderboom Play is on sale for around $57 (about $33 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target, which is $9 more than its all-time low. The portable Bluetooth speaker delivers big bass in a form factor that’s about the size of a softball; however, despite its compact design, it offers up to 10 hours of continuous playback and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making it well-suited for lazy days outside now that it’s finally cooling down (the low this week in my area of Arizona will be only 82 degrees!).Google Pixel Buds Pro 2Significantly smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also offer stronger noise cancellation, a crystal clear transparency mode, and lengthy battery life. Read our review.Where to Buy: $229 $179 at Amazon $229 $179 at B&H Photo $229 $179 at Google StoreGoogle Pixel 9 (128GB)Google’s Pixel 9 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED display than its predecessor, along with a Tensor G4 processor, a bigger battery, 12GB of RAM, and a dual rear camera setup with a new 48-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide. Read our review.Where to Buy: $799 $599 at Best Buy $799 $699 at Amazon $799 $699 at GoogleIf you have holiday travel plans, now’s a great time to prepare with a four-pack of AirTag, which is down to $74.99 ($25 off) at Amazon and Walmart — about $10 shy of its all-time low. The Bluetooth trackers offer a simple one-tap setup and allow you to keep track of your luggage via Apple’s Find My app. They also feature an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and leverage ultra-wideband technology for precise tracking with iPhone 11 models and later. Read our original review.You can protect your Nintendo Switch 2 with Tomtoc’s slim FancyCase-G05, which is on sale at Amazon in select colors for Prime members for $30.99 ($6 off). The sleek carrying case features a minimalist design that perfectly fits the new handheld console. It boasts a protective hard shell, an adjustable carrying handle, and 12 game card slots, allowing you to take your console and library of games wherever you go.Xiaomi’s Sound Pocket is a durable, compact Bluetooth speaker that you can currently pick up for an all-time low of $26.99 (about $13 off) at Amazon. Xiaomi says the 5W mono speaker lasts up to 10 hours per charge, and two can be paired together for true stereo sound. The speaker’s built-in strap lets you attach it to the loop of a backpack using a carabiner, and it carries an IP67 rating, which means it’s dustproof and can be fully submerged under three feet of water for about half an hour.Apple MagSafe Charger (2m)Apple’s latest MagSafe charger now fully supports the Qi2.2 standard, allowing it to charge compatible devices (including the iPhone 17 series and Google’s Pixel 10 lineup) at 25W rates.Where to Buy: $49 $34.9 at Amazon $49.99 $34.9 at Best Buy $49 at AppleAnker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station 8-in-1A Qi2 pad on the front and a party in the back, with three AC outlets and four USB ports. It can deliver up to 67W through a single USB-C port or divided between its two USB-C and two USB-A ports.Where to Buy: $69.99 $59.99 at Amazon $69.99 $59.99 at Walmart $69.99 at AnkerJackery Explorer 1000 V2The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 offers a higher 1,500W output than its predecessor, along with two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a DC car port, three AC outlets, and a built-in LED light.Where to Buy: $799 $429 at Amazon $799 $449 at Jackery (with auto-applied code)If you’re looking for something smaller, the Jackery Explorer 500 is down to $298.97 (about $201 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Jackery (with an auto-applied code). The portable power station offers a 518Wh battery and supports 500W of output power, with an AC outlet, three USB-A ports, two DC ports, and a car port. However, there are no USB-C ports, so you may need to pick up a USB-A to USB-C cable if you own a modern iPhone or Android device. The power station weighs 13.3 pounds and is about the size of a basketball, with a sturdy handle that makes it easy to transport during camping trips.The JBL Live Beam 3 are down to $139.95 ($90 off) right now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, which is the lowest price we’ve seen on the noise-canceling earbuds in weeks. They feature multipoint connectivity, along with a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen on the charging case that lets you manage your music and see notifications for calls and texts. They also feature a handy transparency mode that lets ambient noise in, keeping you aware of your surroundings, and come with an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance.Roku’s latest Streaming Stick Plus is currently down to around $29 (about $10 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, just a few bucks shy of its all-time low. The affordable streaming stick supports 4K video and features Roku’s excellent UI, which many people love for its easy navigation and lack of ads, along with access to your favorite streaming apps. The Streaming Stick Plus also comes with a powerful voice remote, making it easy to search for your favorite movies, shows, and launch your favorite apps.Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)Anker’s three-port portable charger features a digital display and 140W output, making it perfectly suitable for charging smartphones, laptops, and headphones simultaneously.Where to Buy: $109.99 $87.99 at Amazon $109.99 $87.99 at Best Buy $109.99 $87.99 at Anker (with code WS7DV24X4P4J)Arlo’s Essential Outdoor Cameras are available in a three-pack for an all-time low price of $109.99 ($160 off) at Amazon. The battery-powered security cameras can record 2K video and feature a 130-degree field of view, ensuring they capture a large area. They also include an integrated spotlight for recording video at night and two-way audio, allowing you to talk to friendly visitors. Meanwhile, Arlo estimates the battery can last for up to four months, though your mileage will vary depending on the settings.Amazon is currently offering a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited for free — something I immediately took advantage of when it went live. The service typically costs $11.99 per month, so the deal saves you $35.97 over the course of the trial. Keep in mind that your subscription will automatically renew once the trial period is over. If you sign up, you’ll get access to a library of more than four million books, thousands of audiobooks, and an assortment of magazines. Some must-read titles include classics like The Canterbury Tales and the entire series of The Expanse.Motorola’s latest Moto G Power has returned to an all-time low of around $249 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Motorola’s online storefront. The budget-friendly smartphone boasts a 6.8-inch 120Hz LCD display, a 5,000mAh battery, and wireless charging support, not to mention a 3.5mm audio jack. The device also uses a combination IP68 and IP69, which offers full protection from dust, submersion under water, and exposure to high pressure water jets and steam.Samsung Galaxy S25 EdgeThe Galaxy S25 Edge is just 5.8mm thick and weighs 163 grams, making it one of the thinnest and lightest big phones available. It also boasts a 200-megapixel main camera, plus an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Read our review.Where to Buy: $1099.99 $699.99 at Amazon (256GB) $1099.99 at Best Buy (256GB) $1099.99 at Samsung (256GB)Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Car Charger with Qi2Belkin’s Qi2 vent mount is perfect for long road trips. It provides fast charging of up to 15W, and the pad makes it easy to place a phone in either portrait or landscape orientation.Where to Buy: $71.99 $39.99 at AmazonBoox Palma 2The Boox Palma 2 is a 6.3-inch smartphone-sized e-reader that’s highly portable. It also runs on Android and comes with the Google Play Store built-in, allowing you to download apps for other digital bookstores, newspapers, note-taking apps, and more. Read our review.Where to Buy: $299.99 $269.99 at Amazon (black) $299.99 $269.99 at Amazon (white) $299.99 $269.99 at Boox

Even when connected to its touchscreen dock the DJI Osmo Nano is lighter than the Osmo Action 5 Pro. | Image: DJI Following recent leaks, DJI has announced its new compact and lightweight Osmo Nano. It’s DJI’s smallest action camera to date but features the same 1 / 1.3-inch sensor with 13.5 stops of dynamic range and 4K / 120fps recording capabilities as the company’s flagship Osmo Action 5 Pro DJI, which launched a year ago. As with competitor products like the Insta360 Go Ultra, you’ll need to pair the Osmo Nano with its included modular accessory, called the Multifunctional Vision Dock, if you want a screen or want to boost its battery life.Like other products that DJI introduced this year, including the Mini 5 Pro drone and the wireless Mic 3, the company isn’t planning to immediately release the Osmo Nano in the US. “The Osmo Nano will not be available officially in the U.S. market on official websites upon its global launch on September 23,” according to DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong. “DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions.”It’s launching today in other regions including Canada, where the Osmo Nano with 64GB of built-in storage starts at $309 USD, although that pricing doesn’t necessarily reflect how much it will cost in the US. In the UK, it will start at £239, while in France, Germany, and Spain it will be €279. A version with 128GB of storage is $339 USD, £259, and €309, respectively.The Osmo Nano is much smaller than DJI’s previous attempt at miniaturizing its action camera. The square-shaped Action 2 launched in 2021 with a similar modular design but featured more accessories that could be magnetically attached to the camera to expand its functionality and battery life. The new Nano is pill-shaped, 57mm long, and weighs 52 grams, making it a full gram lighter than the Action 2 and the recently launched Insta360 Go Ultra. It’s also much lighter than the 146-gram Osmo Action 5 Pro — even with the touchscreen dock attached, which bumps the Osmo Nano’s total weight to 124 grams.Battery life is rated at 55 to 60 minutes of 4K / 30fps recording, or up to 90 minutes of 1080p / 24fps recording. That increases to 125 to 135 minutes at 4K / 30fps while the Nano is connected to the dock, or up to 200 minutes at 1080p / 24fps. The Nano is waterproof to depths of up to 10 meters, but the dock, which can also function as a wireless remote with live video previews, has a limited IPX4 splash resistance rating.Two wireless microphones can be directly connected to the Nano without the need for a receiver, and for those times when you’re wearing gloves or don’t have the dexterity to hit a small button, you can start recording by gently patting the camera or simply nodding your head if you’re wearing it on a hat or helmet. There’s also a pre-record option that can save footage captured just before you start a recording, but that could come with an additional hit to battery life.

Years ago, people used to dread seeing a video game franchise getting adapted into a movie or television project. The stigma attached to projects like this was always negative, since many video game adaptations were constantly bad in the eyes of fans. But with more and more games being turned into full-length series and blockbuster films that have become successful at the box office or on streaming services, gamers have become more open to this happening for some of the biggest franchises in gaming. And the next few years show no signs of slowing down, with game companies and Hollywood studios working together to bring their series to life.

The recent release of macOS Tahoe along with the upcoming launch of Windows 11 version 25H2 have made for a sad realization as a former Windows user. This is the first year I'm a Mac user by the time the new annual updates come out, and it's more obvious than ever that Windows 11 updates have become extremely boring.

ABS has a reputation for being one of the more difficult filaments to work with. Even experienced makers often throw up their hands and stick to PLA or PETG when ABS refuses to behave. The usual advice is simple: if you don’t have an enclosure, don’t even bother. For years, I accepted that advice as fact and avoided ABS almost entirely, convinced it would only waste time and plastic.

Volvo’s EX90 SUV was supposed to usher in a new era of electrified dominance for the Chinese-owned, Swedish designed automaker. Instead, the three-row SUV has been plagued by problems from the very start, including blank infotainment screens, faulty climate controls, driver assist failures, and the noticeable lack of a working lidar sensors. Now, the EX90 is getting a fresh coat of paint, and the automaker is promising a much improved experience. In addition to a new 800-volt architecture for improved charging, the EX90 now sports a computer powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Orin system-on-a-chip. This computer upgrade will enable “new and improved safety, collision avoidance, and driver support features,” Volvo now claims. Volvo is also bringing a host of new features to the EX90 centered around safety. Chief among them is Emergency Stop Assist, in which the car will come to a controlled stop in its lane if the driver fails to respond to a series of warnings. Volvo envisions this working in situations where a driver has a medical emergency and can no longer control the vehicle. The news of the upgraded EX90 comes as Volvo is staking its future on a 50 percent volume increase over the next five years, anchored by a $1.3 billion investment in its factory in Charleston, South Carolina. Volvo plans on producing its XC60 mild and plug-in hybrids at the factory, as well as a new, unnamed “next-generation hybrid model” by 2030. (No word on the upcoming all-electric EX60 mid-sized electric crossover, which will be formally revealed on January 21, 2026.) Volvo will have its work cut out for it. In August, the automaker only sold 49,273 cars globally, a 14 percent drop year-over-year and the lowest volume so far in 2025.