A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Qualcomm logo on phone screen

The general perception of RAMageddon has been, for a while now, that it will get worse before it gets better. Qualcomm is seemingly confirming that.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that the chip maker, whose chips can be found in all of Samsung's new foldables, Windows laptops, and smartwatches, has reportedly told clients to expect a price increase on its products for anything shipped after Sept. 1. The specific size of the price increase is not known at this time, but Bloomberg said it will be a percentage in the double digits, so it's not a small one.

All of this, of course, was attributed to rising memory component costs due to the AI spending spree. AI companies are in the midst of a huge data center construction boom, and the industry requires massive amounts of memory. This phenomenon, commonly called RAMageddon, has contributed to a wave of price increases across the tech industry, and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

In our previous reporting on the global memory crisis, experts have told Mashable the situation will likely get worse before it gets better. International Data Corporation research manager Jitesh Ubrani told Mashable earlier this year that relief will likely not happen until at least 2028, and even then, don't expect much.

"The memory supply will remain tight from a device's perspective for the remainder of 2026 and well into 2027," Ubrani told Mashable in May. "We will see some alleviation in 2028, but keep in mind that prices will continue to rise throughout. And even in 2028, assuming this new [memory] capacity comes online and is able to provide some alleviation, we don't see device prices dropping significantly."

In other words: Ouch. Not good.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
PlayStation logo against white background

In a sea of bad headlines for PlayStation, a big network outage probably isn't going to help.

PS5 owners logged into their consoles on Friday to find that PlayStation Network, the online infrastructure that makes everything from game purchases to online matches work, was experiencing an outage. Multiple sources, both primary and secondary, confirm this, as DownDetector shows a steady stream of complaints starting on Friday morning and continuing into the afternoon. On top of that, PlayStation's own server status page showed that all services were experiencing issues at the time of publication.

screenshot of playstation status page showing outage on july 24
Credit: Screenshot courtesy of PlayStation

Mashable has reached out to Sony for comment and will update this article if we receive a response. As of early Friday afternoon, the PlayStation support account on X had not acknowledged the outage at all.

All of this comes amidst a very, very rough time for PlayStation's public relations.

PS5 consoles recently saw price increases nearly six years after the initial launch, and word is that the next PlayStation console might cost north of $1,000 whenever it launches. If that wasn't bad enough, every single PlayStation social media account has been hounded by angry comments from players who are aghast at Sony's recent decision to stop manufacturing games on physical discs in 2028.

Needless to say, this is not the best time for a major, unexplained network outage.

This is a developing story...



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
iphone 17 pro on display at apple park

The iPhone 18 is about to launch, along with the final version of its operating system, iOS 27, most likely in September. But a new report says it may arrive with a feature that lets Apple, and third-party lenders, remotely deactivate phones if customers fall behind on payments.

With the iOS 27 beta now widely available, 9to5Mac found code that would let Apple place delinquent iPhones in "Restricted Mode." This would limit users to a short list of widgets and apps, including the App Store, Clock, Settings, Wallet, and Passwords, according to the report.

In theory, 9to5Mac says the system could work like this: Authorized financing partners who lease iPhones to customers get to perform regular status checks to see if the contract is still valid. If a customer falls behind, Restricted Mode would be activated.

The feature is "unequivocally present" in the iOS 27 beta, according to 9to5Mac — and a future update to iOS 26 could bring this feature to older iPhones as well.

The era of internet-connected "smart" devices has had plenty of benefits for consumers, but as consumer advocates have long warned, it also allows brands to remotely turn off devices.

Why might Apple be testing a tool like this right now? Let's dive in.

the iphone 17e on display
Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

If you've bought any new tech products recently, you've probably noticed: New devices are getting really expensive. Just this month Apple raised prices on a variety of its products. iPhone prices haven't risen just yet, but Tim Cook has prepared the ground for an "unavoidable" iPhone price hike.

Thanks to the ongoing global memory chip crisis known as RAMageddon, new phones now require a serious investment. The new foldable phones released by Samsung this week were preceded by a new Galaxy credit card program.

Apple is believed to be readying a new leasing program of its own. Bloomberg's Apple oracle, Mark Gurman, says Apple will launch the "Apple Upgrade" leasing program later this month.

Gurman calls it "one of the biggest-ever changes to how the company sells" new devices — and says Apple Upgrade will be part of a partnership with the online lender Klarna, giving buyers a lease-to-buy option. iPhone customers who qualify could make monthly payments over two years.

The code discovered by 9to5Mac also reportedly includes another type of locking mechanism called "Partner Finance Lock," which would stop users from trying to resell a financed device.

Clearly, Apple and Klarna can't let customers who miss payments continue to use leased iPhones indefinitely. But it's also an uncomfortable reminder of how much control Big Tech has over our devices.

Mashable reached out to Apple for comment about Restricted Mode; we'll update this story if this famously taciturn tech giant provides new information.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Percy Jackson holding the sky in

For the first time ever, Percy Jackson and the Olympians book fans will get to the see the events of The Titan's Curse, the third book in Rick Riordan's series, play out in live action.

While the first two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians covered books that had already been adapted into films, The Titan's Curse has yet to come to life onscreen. That changes with Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3, and, based on the teaser released at San Diego Comic Con, the show will be pulling no punches.

The teaser cuts right to the chase with a pivotal moment from late in The Titan's Curse, when Percy (Walker Scobell) shoulders the Titan Atlas' burden of holding up the entire sky. (It is, quite literally, the Titan's Curse.)

"It was my choice to hold the weight. The Titan's Curse," Percy thinks in the teaser. "I knew the risk, but if I needed to sacrifice myself to save the world, to save my friends... Was it really a choice?"

Between the talk of self-sacrifice and Percy's anguished screams, it looks like we're in for a dark season. But don't worry: In an interview with Mashable, Scobell confirmed that we would be getting the fan-favorite dam jokes from the book.

He also confirmed that Season 3 is "even better than I imagined," so the hype is real. Bring on the dam jokes, the Titan's Curse, and the arrival of beloved demigods Bianca and Nico di Angelo (Olive Abercrombie and Levi Chrisopulos) in their live-action debut.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 premieres Nov. 20 on Disney+.



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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

With a fresh, passport-sized design, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is optimized for both horizontal and vertical media. It’s also incredibly fun to use. 



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Samsung Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra & Z Flip 8 hands-on

Samsung set up a gym, a kitchen and a darkened test room to show off the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8 and Watch Ultra 2. Here's everything we got our hands on.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor in

Disclosure Day, which hit theaters in early June, marks a return to sci-fi for legendary director Steven Spielberg. Not just sci-fi, but specifically alien-themed sci-fi. It also reunites him with many of his longtime collaborators, including screenwriter David Koepp, who also wrote Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds. In other words, if you're a Spielberg fan, it's a must-watch.

The best ways to watch 'Disclosure Day' at a glance:




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Peacock Premium yearly subscription
$109.99/year (save $21.89)
Peacock app logo

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Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults
$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)
Peacock app logo



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Peacock Premium for Teachers
$6.99/month (save $4/month)
Peacock app logo

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Instacart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free)
$99.99/year (save $109.99/year)
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Walmart app logo

"With Disclosure Day, I experienced the distinctive thrill of watching a master filmmaker do what he does best," Mashable's Kristy Puchko cheered. In her review of the film, she called it "a dizzying mix of action, humor, adventure, sci-fi, and wonder."

Unfortunately, it underperformed at theaters, despite an 80 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. Universal Pictures is hoping to find a wider audience this month, as the alien thriller is officially making its at-home debut. Here are all the streaming details you need to know to watch Disclosure Day.

What is Disclosure Day about?

Disclosure Day follows cybersecurity administrator Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor), who is on the run from a military-industrial corporation called Wardex after he steals sensitive files that he seeks to reveal to the world. I'm not saying it's aliens, but it's definitely aliens. He teams up with TV meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), and they fight "not just for the future of humanity, but also humanity's understanding of the universe," as Mashable's entertainment editor puts it in her review.

Check out the official trailer below.

How to watch Disclosure Day at home

Colman Domingo, Tommy Martinez, Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor in "Disclosure Day"
Credit: Universal Pictures

As of July 21, Disclosure Day is available to watch at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99, or you can wait a little longer to stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

A little over a month after its theatrical release, Disclosure Day made its digital debut on July 21, 2026. This means you can buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers for $24.99 or $19.99. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch as many times as you want.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film. Note that these prices will drop in the coming weeks.

Stream it on Peacock

While no specific streaming date has been officially announced, we can make an educated guess that Disclosure Day will make its streaming debut on Peacock in September 2026. We'll update this story with the latest information once it's revealed.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99 per month, it unfortunately won't grant you access to theatrical releases. You'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month, to stream Disclosure Day. Before you sign up, be sure to check out some of the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming deals

Best Peacock deal: Save up to $33 on an annual subscription

Credit: Peacock
$109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%)

The best way to save money on a streaming subscription on any given day is by opting for the annual plan instead of the monthly plan. Paying for a year of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus up front saves you up to $33.89 per year.

Peacock Premium (with ads) costs $10.99 monthly, which adds up to $131.88 for 12 months. If you pay for the annual plan, however, it'll only cost you $109.99 — a savings of $21.89. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. The annual plan, on the other hand, costs just $169.99 — a savings of $33.89. You'll essentially be getting two months of streaming for free by opting for an annual subscription.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts

Credit: Peacock / Xfinity
Free for select Xfinity customers

Nothing beats free. If you're an Xfinity customer and have yet to check if you get Peacock for free, I highly recommend heading to Xfinity.com for more details. Here's a brief breakdown:

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year

Credit: Peacock
$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)
Credit: Peacock
$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)

Both students and young adults (ages 18 to 24) can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age through SheerID and generate a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just a heads up that once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month

Credit: Peacock
$6.99 per month (save $4 per month)
Credit: Peacock
$6.99/month (save $4 per month)

First responders, medical professionals, teachers, and military personnel can all unlock Peacock Premium subscriptions (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying professional status through SheerID. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, then you can renew your subscription at a discounted rate each year. Prices are subject to change year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription

Credit: Instacart / Peacock
Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year)

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. You'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. Pro tip: Sign up for your trial of Instacart+ when Disclosure Day debuts on Peacock so you can watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount. We recommend setting a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members

One of the best ways to score streaming services for free is by signing up for a Walmart+ membership. A $98 Walmart+ subscription unlocks either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. With Walmart+, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.



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