Tech Boys

The U.S. government may be partially shut down, but that will not affect your 2026 tax filing, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Earlier this month, the government agency shared on its website that operations will continue per usual. That's because the funding lapse narrowly applies to the Department of Homeland Security and agencies that operate under it. "Expect IRS operations to continue as normal with IRS offices maintaining regular hours, on-line self-service help tools available and other services continuing as usual," the IRS stated. "Taxpayers also should continue to meet any federal tax filing or payment obligations as normal." What is the government shutdown about? The shutdown, which began Saturday, Feb. 14, revolves around negotiations between congressional Democrats and the White House over DHS funding. Democrats are seeking reforms to immigration enforcement policies , in the wake of the shooting deaths of American citizens Renee Ni...

Slay the Spire 2 will launch in early access next month. This sequel to the hugely popular 2019 roguelike deckbuilder hits early access on Steam beginning March 5, 2026. Along with releasing the teaser trailer above, developer Mega Crit shared some details about its goals for this phase ahead of the game's official release. " Slay the Spire requires a lot of player feedback so we can balance content, add quality of life features, and make sure the game runs without issues," the developers explained. "Early Access is also a chance for us to test experimental features, try exotic designs, identify niche problems, and helps us make sure the game is headed in the right direction." Slay the Spire 2 is expected to be in early access for a year or two, or more generally "until the game feels great." Mega Crit has also revealed that it will be introducing a new co-op mode where up to four people can team up. This gameplay option will feature some uniq...

TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Slovakia in men's ice hockey for free on CBC Gem . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The international ice hockey we've all been enjoying over the last few weeks is coming to an end. That's a great shame, but the good news is we've still got a number of incredible matchups to watch. USA vs. Slovakia is the second semi final from the men's draw . We're expecting an entertaining battle between two talented squads. They'll be doing everything they can to make this weekend's final . If you want to watch USA vs. Slovakia in men's ice hockey for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is USA vs. Slovakia? USA vs. Slovakia in men's ice hockey takes place at 3:10 p.m. ET on Feb. 20. This fixture takes place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. How to watch USA vs. Slovakia for free USA vs. Slovakia in men's ice hockey is avai...

Google just keeps on releasing new AI tools. On Wednesday, Google rolled out a new AI music generator called Lyria 3 . It's a fairly big upgrade over earlier versions of the model, as it makes music generation a lot easier for users. Lyria 3 can create high-fidelity, 30-second audio tracks in a variety of genres, from short jingles and lo-fi beats to more complex arrangements and songs. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to try Lyria 3 for free Google says that Lyria 3 is available now in the Gemini desktop app (it will be rolling out into the mobile app in the coming days), and it's free for all users 18 and up. Lyria can be used in English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese, with support for additional languages to come. To get started, simply head to the Gemini app. In the "Tools" dropdown menu, look for the "Music" option, which is accompanied by a music note icon. Google...

Last year Dyson introduced the PencilVac , which it immediately declared the "world’s slimmest vacuum cleaner." Presumably, then, the title of world’s slimmest wet floor cleaner goes to the newly unveiled PencilWash. Promising a "lighter, slimmer and smaller solution to wet cleaning without compromising on hygiene," the PencilWash is designed to let you clean everywhere you need to with minimal hassle. Like the vacuum cleaner with which it shares the first part of its name, the handle measures just 1.5 inches in diameter from top to bottom, and the whole thing weighs little more than 2kg. The ultra-thin design allows the cleaner to lie almost completely flat, allowing you to get into tight corners or under low furniture, where more traditionally bulky devices might struggle. Its slender proportions also make it easier to store if your home is on the smaller side. Dyson says the PencilWash only applies fresh water to floors, and after swiftly eliminating spills a...

Do you like your comedy dark? If so, good news: The Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone has a new movie just for you. The director behind such outrageous and hilarious movies as MacGruber and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping has teamed up with Shrinking 's Jason Segel and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come 's Samara Weaving for a darkly funny action thriller about a romance that has festered. Sure, there was presumably a time when this couple was deeply enamored with each other. But by the time they trek to a remote cabin in the woods for a relaxing getaway, they want each other dead more than they want to just break up. Well, at least that's one thing they still have in common? But, wait — the trailer above also features Timothy Olyphant and Juliette Lewis. So what else is going on here? Well, fans of Tommy Wirkola's gnarly comedy The Trip may have some idea. This is Taccone's remake of that Scandinavian offering, which had the warring couple interrupted by a trio o...

Google has announced that using its newly incorporated Lyria 3 model, Gemini users will be able to generate 30-second music tracks based on a prompt, or remix an existing track to their liking. The new model builds on Gemini's pre-existing ability to generate text, images and video, and will also be available in YouTube's "Dream Track" feature, where it can be used to generate detailed backing tracks for Shorts. Like some other music generation tools, prompting Gemini doesn't require a lot of detail to produce serviceable results. Google's example prompt is "a comical R&B slow jam about a sock finding their match," but after playing with Lyria 3, you can definitely get more granular about individual elements of a track — changing the tempo or the style of drumming, for example — if you want to. Outside of text, Gemini can also generate music based on a photo or video, and tracks can be paired with album art created by Google's Nano Bana...

Could you learn all that you need to know about reading, science, and math in just two hours? Two hours spent staring at a screen, with the help of an AI teacher, that is?  A small group of students across the country are testing it out. They're the next generation of learners molded and shaped by the tech teaching of Alpha School, the "AI-powered private school" touted by the federal government as a possible future for education.  SEE ALSO: How Minneapolis used tech to make ICE retreat In a September visit to an Alpha School campus in Austin, Texas, Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that the school was full of potential, an "exemplary" case of what tech can do for American education. The school's co-founders claim there is strong interest in their learning system, which has gained favor among advocates of expanded school choice and alternative learning .  But what exactly is Alpha School selling — and should we take its model s...

TL;DR:  Right now, a 1-year BJ’s Club Card Membership is available for only $20 (reg. $60). Opens in a new window Credit: BJ's Wholesale Club 1-year The Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® (Terms apply.) $20 $60 Save $40   Get Deal Making a budget last is hard enough, but when you factor in things like the price of the gas you burn running errands all over town, you’re basically spending money for the opportunity to spend money. If you want a new way to get your shopping done, check out BJ’s. Whether you’re picking up bulk home essentials or grabbing all your groceries, they’ve always got something to offer, and a BJ’s Club Card Membership is only $20 right now (reg. $60). BJ’s Wholesale Club is a place to shop for family essentials, including fresh foods, produce, deli items, household staples, and more. BJ’s members can save up to 25% off grocery store prices, but that’s not the only reason to shop there. You can also look out for new clot...

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile will be no more this spring. According to Activision, servers will be taken offline for this mobile battle royale game on April 17, 2026. The shooter will remain available for current players until that date. This mobile port of the CoD battle royale mode has been on its way to a finale for the past year, with the game studio sharing in May 2025 that the title would be delisted and would not receive new content. For any people who still want to play the military shooter on their phones, there a mobile version of the main game remains available. Call of Duty: Mobile even offers a battle royale experience, so you can get pretty close to having Warzone if you still want it. "Player passion and feedback continue to shape the future of the Call of Duty franchise, and we look forward to delivering meaningful seasonal content and updates to Call of Duty: Mobile ," Activision said in announcing Warzone 's mobile shutdown. Call of Duty: Warzone i...