Category: 4. Technology

The streak of record-breaking updates continues as the Grow a Garden devs drop yet another weekly event. The Prehistoric Update lives up to its name, with dinosaurs rawring across your plots and Jurassic plants towering over your garden. Oh, and yes, Candy Blossom finally has some real competition. So buckle up, because we’re diving into the Grow a Garden Prehistoric Update patch notes and taking a wild ride back to the old ages.

Prehistoric Event

• A brand-new limited-time event brings dinosaurs and ancient plants to life.
• Complete daily Prehistoric quests to earn prehistoric rewards, including seeds, pets, cosmetics, and more.
• Exchange regular Grow a Garden pets for a chance to get Dino pets or Dino Eggs.
• Finish the full questline to unlock Bone Blossom: a new plant that rivals Candy Blossom.

New Plants

• The Old Seed Shop returns with fresh prehistoric-themed seeds.
• Bone Blossom: Multi-harvest crop with high sell value.
• Burning Bud
• Fossilight
• Firefly Fern
• Boneboo
• Horned Dinoshroom: First multi-harvest mushroom in the game.
• Paradise Petal
• Stonebite

New Pets

• T-Rex
• Brontosaurus
• 3+ additional prehistoric pets are available in Dino Eggs.

Travelling Merchants

• Summer Merchant returns with seasonal goodies.
• Honey Merchant joins with sweet new offerings.

New Items

Weather and Admin Events

• Sandstorm: A lobby event that brings windy chaos and a chance for the Sandy Grow a Garden mutation.
• Sandy Mutation: Offers a 3x multiplier on affected crops.
• Amber Mutation: The first multi-stage mutation, perfect for stacking with other bonuses.
• Plus, several secret weather events are now active if you can find them.

Cosmetics

• Over 6 new summer-themed cosmetics to customize your avatar and garden style.

Fixes, Changes & QoL

• You can now expand your max pet inventory.
• Sprinklers are now shovelable if you want to clear up space.
• Fixed issues with daily quests not tracking properly.
• General performance improvements and bug fixes across the board.

That wraps up the Grow a Garden Prehistoric Update patch notes. Are you also trying out the new update? See you in the garden!

SAVE $150: The Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale at Amazon in all colorways for $849, down from the list price of $999. That’s a 15% discount that matches the lowest we’ve ever seen.

While we enjoy leftover potato salad and watermelon post 4th of July, it’s time to consider what’ll be on your Prime Day shopping list. If you’re one to shop early, there are hundreds of deals already included in the Amazon Prime Day sale, and there’s a particular Apple discount we can’t stop recommending.

As of July 5, the Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $849 in all colorways at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $999. That puts you in line for a savings of $150 from a 15% discount. It also matches the record-low price for this Apple laptop that just debuted in March.

Buying a new laptop can be a scary decision. It’s possible you’ll use the machine everyday and for important tasks like your dissertation or a major project at work. That spells high stakes for choosing the right model. Pair that with laptop jargon and you might be dreading the purchase. But Prime Day is here to save the day because there’s a great deal on a great MacBook.

The M4 MacBook Air impresses in performance. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote in his review, “The new MacBook Air is great. It’s powerful, silent, and comes with a couple of much-needed upgrades. It’s also cheaper than before, making it the best-buy Apple laptop, period.”

Some of the much-needed upgrades Schroeder is referring to include the zippy M4 chip and the significantly improved 16GB RAM. Plus, the new Sky Blue colorway is included in today’s deal. Schroeder also commends the laptop’s silent operation and the ability to use support two external monitors.

If the 13-inch display doesn’t seem like enough for your liking, the 15-inch version is also on sale for $150 off. This early Prime Day sale brings the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air down to $1,049 instead of the usual price of $1,199.

While the Prime Day sale doesn’t start until Tuesday, if you snag these deals over the weekend, the items could very well be on your doorstep by Tuesday. That includes this record-low price on the Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) which is down to $849. Snag this model today and leave Tuesday open for browsing the rest of sale.

SAVE 14%: As of July 5, you can get the 11-inch Apple iPad (128GB) for just $299 at Amazon, down from $349. That’s a $50 savings (14% off) and the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since May.

Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off on Tuesday, July 8, but this weekend is a sweet spot for shoppers. Tons of retailers extended their Fourth of July sales into the weekend, and those discounts are now overlapping with the first wave of early Prime Day deals. We’re covering the best discounts as they pop up, and so far, we’ve seen major price cuts on Amazon devices, robot vacuums, and select Apple products.

As of July 5, you can get the 11-inch Apple iPad (128GB) for just $299 at Amazon, down from $349. That’s a $50 savings (14% off) and the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since May. For a 2025 tablet with an 11-inch liquid retina display, 2360-by-1640-pixel resolution at 264 (ppi), and an A16 chip, this is one of the best iPad deals you’ll find on the web right now, and it’s available for all four colors of the device: blue, pink, yellow, and silver. (Best Buy is also matching this price.)

The 11-inch Apple iPad has an all-day battery life, supports WiFi 6, and has a 12MP wide back camera, which makes it a great device for taking on the go. One of the coolest features (pun intended) of this iPad is that its True Tone technology adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room, so you can read, browse, scroll, etc., in just about any lighting.

Even though the Fourth of July has come and gone, there are plenty of lingering deals today, with discounts available across all manner of things. From everyday essentials to must-have tech, you can still save on it all. A prime example is this current discount on some of the best wireless headphones around: Apple’s updated AirPods Max with USB-C.

Right now, you can get $69 off every color, slashing the price to just $480.. While that’s still a sizable price tag, there’s no denying that the quality on offer here makes the price worth it. And did we mention they come in cool colors? Best Buy is matching the same $480 price but you also get three months of Apple Music thrown in if you go this route.

These headphones’ features are essentially identical to the previous AirPods Max, albeit with a USB-C port in lieu of the previous Lightning port. The switch means that the same charging cable can be used across all of Apple’s latest hardware releases, including iPads, Macs, iPhones and their accessories.

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You can expect strong active noise cancellation performance as well as instant device pairing and switching thanks to Apple’s H1 chip. Support for personalized spatial audio and the excellent transparency mode are also included.

Not sure these AirPods Max are the right option for you? Our collection of the best wireless headphone deals is sure to have something for everyone.

Why this deal matters

While this isn’t quite as low as we’ve seen the AirPods Max go — that was $450 back in January — deals aren’t super common on Apple’s top-tier headphones. That means that this deal is worth taking advantage of while it’s still available.

Amber is one of the coolest-looking mutations in Grow a Garden, introduced with the Prehistoric update. To unlock it, players can either use the Raptor dinosaur pet or the new gear item called the Amber Mutation Spray. If you are aiming to guarantee this powerful mutation on your fruit, you will first need to craft the spray. In this guide, learn how to get the Amber Mutation spray in Grow a Garden and how it works.

Ingredients You Need to Craft Amber Mutation Spray

The Amber Mutation Spray is a special craftable item in Grow a Garden. You will need to collect a few key ingredients before you start crafting. Here are the items you need to make this spray:

How to Craft Amber Mutation Spray in Grow a Garden

Once you have collected all the ingredients, you can craft the spray at the Prehistoric crafting station in the center of the map. Follow these steps to craft the Amber Mutation Spray in Grow a Garden:

• Head to the gear crafting station beside the Blaire NPC and press E to interact.
• In the crafting menu, select the Amber Mutation Spray from the recipe list.
• Click the Craft button and submit all the required materials by pressing E again.
• Now, wait 60 minutes or use 39 Robux to skip the crafting timer.
• Once the timer ends, press E to collect your spray, and it’ll be added to your backpack.

If you complete the Prehistoric quests, you can also collect the Mutation Spray Amber. This can be a regular quest reward or included in the weekly prize.

What Are the Uses of Amber Mutation Spray?

To use the Amber Mutation Spray, open your inventory, equip the spray, and click on the crop you want to mutate. If the crop is eligible, it will instantly apply the Amber mutation. If not, the game will prompt you to select a different target. Keep in mind that the spray only has one charge, so once it’s used, you will need to craft a new one.

Should You Get Amber Mutation Spray?

Once you apply the Amber mutation, it gives a 10x sell value multiplier to the fruit. This results in a huge profit boost, especially if the plant already has other high-value Grow a Garden mutations. The Amber mutation also becomes Ancientamber or Oldamber mutation with time, which makes the spray even more important.

Moreover, the only alternative way to get the Amber mutation is the Raptor pet, which has a very low chance of applying it. That is why you will need to craft this spray. And, given that the Prehistoric event quests require crafting gears in Grow a Garden, it will benefit you to complete that weekly prize meter. This means your chances of claiming the Bone Blossom increase while crafting this spray. Just do it when crafting the Amber Mutation Spray is in your quests.

That’s it. You now have the Amber Mutation Spray in Grow a Garden, ready to use. Make sure to check out other Grow a Garden crafting recipes and see what else you can make in the game.

You can now send your reMarkable notes and doodles straight to Slack. The companies have announced Slack integration for reMarkable tablets, letting you send whatever you want from the e-paper device straight to your workplace chat in one tap. “…we realized that when there’s friction between thinking and producing, you risk losing time, ideas, and momentum,” reMarkable Chief Technology Officer Nico Cormie said in a statement. By linking the tablet with Slack, there’s less friction between coming up with ideas and sharing them with your team, so you can more easily collaborate with others.

reMarkable is an e-paper tablet designed to work with a stylus. Simply put, it’s a digital notebook, where you can sketch, write notes, draw, annotate documents and even read ebooks if you want to treat it more as an eReader like the Kindle. If you want to share your notes with Slack, you simply have to go to the menu on the left-hand corner of your device and choose “Send to Slack.” When you do, it opens into a canvas in Slack containing an image of your file with AI-generated notes. If there’s handwritten text in the image, the canvas will also include your notes that AI has converted to editable text.

To be able to use the Slack integration, you’ll need to be subscribed to reMarkable Connect, which gives you access to unlimited cloud storage and sync for $3 a month. You’ll also need to have a Slack account with a Pro, Business+ or an Enterprise Grid plan.

Modhaus’s Cosmo app launches on the Abstract blockchain to deliver immersive, blockchain fan experiences—enabling artists like tripleS, ARTMS and idntt to connect directly with their global fanbases.

MIAMI, July 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Abstract, a consumer-first blockchain built to accelerate the mass adoption of crypto and lead the next wave of the culture economy, today announced a strategic partnership with Modhaus, the South Korean entertainment company behind breakout K-pop groups tripleS, ARTMS and idntt. As part of the collaboration, Modhaus’s fan engagement platform Cosmo will launch on the Abstract blockchain—marking a major step in bridging global entertainment with next-generation blockchain technology.

Built for mainstream audiences, Abstract delivers seamless, email and passkey-based onboarding and invisible blockchain experiences, making it an ideal home for Modhaus’s Web2-friendly fan engagement app. Cosmo lets millions of fans collect digital photocards, vote on group decisions, and complete interactive quests—all powered by digital collectibles and voting tokens behind the scenes. With its launch on Abstract, Cosmo gains faster performance, scalable infrastructure, and deeper integration with a growing ecosystem of culturally relevant crypto-native apps and global brands.

The partnership comes amid explosive growth in the global K-pop fandom market, a multi-billion-dollar industry fueled by one of the most engaged digitally native communities in the world. tripleS has amassed 3.4 million followers and won Best New Female Artist at the 2023 MAMA Awards, one of the largest and most influential music award ceremonies in the K-pop industry. Meanwhile, ARTMS recently reached #1 on Billboard’s Top New Artist Albums and earned over 90 million streams on Spotify.

“Streetwear, gaming, hip-hop, and now K-pop—each flipped the script and empowered a new generation to move and shape culture,” said Michael Lee, co-founder and CEO of Abstract. “Cosmo is exactly what Abstract was built for—a space where fans don’t just watch, they vote, collect, and move in sync with their favorite artists. Together, Cosmo and Abstract aren’t just tech—they’re the prototype for a new cultural operating system. One that brings back what the internet lost: fun, ownership, and unapologetic creativity.“

By moving to Abstract, Modhaus unlocks faster performance, seamless onboarding with just an email, Touch ID or Face ID, and deeper integration into a growing ecosystem of culturally relevant, consumer-first applications. Fans will gain all the benefits of blockchain without ever needing to understand it – leveraging Abstract’s technology to make Web3 invisible, accessible, and powerful for the everyday user.

Together, Abstract and Modhaus are redefining how fans engage with their favorite artists—bringing the power of blockchain to global audiences without the friction of crypto complexity.

“At Modhaus, we’ve always believed fans deserve a real seat at the table—not just as viewers, but as participants in the creative process,” said Jaden Jeong, CEO of Modhaus. “Partnering with Abstract allows us to elevate that vision on a global scale, without forcing fans to navigate the complexities of blockchain technology. Together, we’re creating a new standard for artist-fan interaction—one that’s immersive, democratic, and built for the next era of K-pop.“

With close to 2 million Abstract Global Wallets deployed, Abstract is fast becoming the blockchain of choice for culture-defining projects that demand speed, scale, and simplicity. Its user base is largely composed of Gen A and Z consumers with discretionary spending power in high-GDP markets—making it a uniquely valuable platform for brands looking to activate digitally native, culturally fluent audiences. The Modhaus integration expands Abstract’s growing roster of high-impact Web3 applications that are reimagining how consumer industries—like music, entertainment, and gaming—use blockchain to unlock new models of growth, participation, and creative ownership.

About Abstract
Abstract is a consumer-first blockchain built to accelerate the mass adoption of crypto and lead the next wave of the culture economy. Its mission is to build the world’s largest onchain community—powered by zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography for fast, low-cost, and secure transactions. At the heart of Abstract is a revolutionary consumer terminal that makes Web3 feel as simple as Web2, offering a seamless gateway to hundreds of intuitive, culturally driven onchain apps. Abstract was created by builders behind Pudgy Penguins, Ethereum, and Kubernetes, combining deep technical expertise with cultural fluency. Learn more at abs.xyz

About Modhaus
Modhaus is an unprecedented open architecture K-Pop agency that aims to lead the global music industry. The company brings fans closer to artists by putting them at the center of the experience. Modhaus seeks to include fans across major stages of production using NFT-powered governance mechanisms.

Media Contact
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (on behalf of Abstract)
[email protected]

SOURCE Abstract

The recent hype around low-key AI companions like the Rabbit R1, screen time apps like One Sec, and pop culture warning signs like Netflix’s Adolescence prove that we, as a society, fully recognize the dangers of excessive smartphone use. But are we really ready to leave our pocket computers at the door?

The answer, for most of us, is still ‘no’, yet this tension between person and product is something that big-name smartphone brands are beginning to recognize and respond to.

Updated July 5 with more details and commentary on the expected battery size increase for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

A new leak suggests that this fall’s Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (expected in September, read this for exactly when) will have a bigger-capacity battery than any iPhone has ever seen. More details have now emerged as to what this will mean.

A new post has appeared from a Weibo user called Instant Digital, whose track record isn’t perfect but has leaked some accurate information in the past, so is worth listening to.

ForbesApple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max Prices Slashed Further In Major Sale On NowBy David Phelan

According to the leak, the iPhone 17 Pro Max battery could be as big as around 5,000mAh, which is bigger than the current biggest iPhone battery, in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which measures 4,676mAh.

It’s long been rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be thicker than before, and it’s been hoped that some of this extra space would be used to increase the battery size, and this new post corroborates that.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25mm thick, and it’s thought its successor will be 8.725mm thick. That’s less than half a millimeter more, so let’s hope it stays comfortable in the hand, but even such a slender increase could have a noticeable effect on the iPhone’s battery life.

Of course, each new iPhone has new features, all of which could affect battery life. On the other hand, the expected new processor for the Pro Max could combine with greater efficiencies in software which could expand battery life.

But the surest way to make a device last longer is a bigger battery, and it seems that could be on the way.

Even though users love new features, battery life stubbornly remains as about the top request. After all, even if your phone can do extraordinary new things, it’s not much use if it’s collapsed by lunchtime each day.

According to 9to5Mac, “Depending on how close to 5,000 the final number ends up being, we could be looking at almost a 10% increase in capacity. It’s important to note, however, that a battery’s capacity doesn’t have a 1:1 correlation with battery life improvements,” it says.

Meanwhile, MacRumors suggests what it might mean. “The battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 33 hours, according to Apple. This is up from 29 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and 28 hours on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro Max had a battery life of just 20 hours. With an extra 300mAh of battery capacity, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be on course to offer around 35 hours of battery life, or perhaps even more,” it reports.

William Gallagher at Apple Insider has a different take on the battery change. The brand estimates that the new battery will have about 324mAh more than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

“However, even if the new figure and the earlier physical size rumors are correct, it does not follow that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have longer battery life. That’s because it depends on the rest of the iPhone 17 Pro Max design. The new model is expected to add new technology that will not impact the battery — such as vapor chamber cooling — but there may be other new features that do,” the report says.

ForbesApple iPhone 17 Pro: New Leak Suggests Startling ChangeBy David Phelan

Though the Fourth of July official holiday was yesterday, we’re still finding tons of deals across just about every category. If you’ve been looking to upgrade your laptop or tablet, now is the perfect time. Major retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are having sales on tech, appliances and more to celebrate Independence Day weekend. Lenovo has also entered the mix with its own sale with deep discounts on laptops, tablets and more.

Whether you’re looking for a new tablet, a high-powered gaming monitor or a portable Chromebook, there are plenty of deals to fit your needs at the Lenovo sale. Be sure to snag these laptop and tablet deals while you can, as most of them will be expiring soon.

The 11-inch Lenovo Chromebook Duet is an excellent 2-in-1 device for students, professionals and everyday browsers. It functions as a tablet and a laptop, and you can snag it for $50 off right now, down to just $350.

If you’re looking for a more advanced laptop, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is deeply discounted right now. The laptop runs on Intel Core Ultra processor for fast performance and AI-assisted productivity. It has a 14-inch display, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and advanced security features. You can currently snag this high-powered laptop for just $1,750. That’s a whopping $1,440 off. 

If you’re looking for a new tablet, consider the Lenovo Tab Plus. This 11.5-inch tablet features a vibrant 2K display. It also offers robust sound with eight built-in JBL speakers with Hi-Fi structure and Dolby Atmos sound. It earned a spot on our best tablets of 2025 list as the best affordable entertainment tablet, and right now it’s even more affordable at $130 off, knocking the price down to just $220. 

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We’ve also found some deep discounts on monitors for those looking to upgrade their gaming setup. The 27-inch Lenovo Legion Y27h-30 monitor is on sale for $298, a $143 discount on its $440 list price. The monitor has a 180Hz refresh rate and 0.5ms response time. It comes loaded with AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA-certified adaptive sync technologies for smooth performance.

Looking for a laptop but aren’t sure if these Lenovo options are right for you? We’ve got a list of the the best laptop deals from several major retailers. Our CNET shopping experts are also tracking upcoming Prime Day deals so you can save on top tech.

Prime Day requires an Amazon Prime membership, though you don’t have to be a paying member to get in on the savings. Start your 30-day Prime free trial now and you’ll be able to shop the best deals without paying for a subscription — just remember to cancel before it renews.

Why this deal matters

Lenovo laptops, computer monitors and tablets often earn a spot (or multiple) on our best lists thanks to their impeccable quality and performance. The current offers present a great opportunity to score some high-quality tech for less with discounts of over $1,000 on select laptops.