Mashable

How to watch Australia vs. India online for free

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Stream Australia vs. India for free on 10Play. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is the 18th edition of the competition, taking place from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10.

And no, we didn't make a mistake there. The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is taking place in 2024 due to high summer temperatures and Qatar's participation in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The tournament was postponed while retaining the original name, so there. Stop trying to catch us out.

If you want to watch Australia vs. India in the AFC Asian Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. India in the AFC Asian Cup?

Australia and India will meet at 11:30 a.m. GMT on Jan. 13. This fixture will take place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.

How to watch Australia vs. India for free

You can watch all of Australia's AFC Asian Cup matches live and free across Network 10, including the fixture between Australia and India. Live streaming is also available for free on 10Play.

10Play is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access 10Play from anywhere in the world.

Access 10Play to stream Australia vs. India by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit 10Play
Steam Australia vs. India for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to 10Play without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch all of Australia's AFC Asian Cup matches without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for 10Play?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking 10Play, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 94 countries including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to five simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Australia vs. India in the AFC Asian Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 13

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 13's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

**Where did Wordle come from?**

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 12.

**What's the best Wordle starting word?**

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

**What happened to the Wordle archive?**

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

**Is Wordle getting harder?**

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

**Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?**

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

**Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:**

To hear.

**Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?**

There are no letters that appear twice.

**Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...**

Today's Wordle starts with the letter H.

**What's the answer to Wordle today?**

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #938 is...

HEARD.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 13

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 02:00:00 +0000

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 13's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

**What is Connections?**

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

**Here's a hint for today's Connections categories**

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: How to get into an event
Green: To lord over
Blue: Football lingo
Purple: To delay

**Here are today's Connections categories**

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Credentials for Entry
Green: Preside Over
Blue: American Football Positions
Purple: Postpone

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #216 is...

**What is the answer to Connections today**

Credentials for Entry: BADGE, INVITE, PASS, TICKET
Preside Over: CHAIR, DIRECT, LEAD, RUN
American Football Positions: CENTER, END, SAFETY, TACKLE
Postpone: HOLD, PUNT, STALL, TABLE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

The best of CES 2024

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 22:28:00 +0000

CES 2024 has been a whirlwind for the Mashable team. Some products were bizarre, including the WeHead, which is designed to put a (creepy) face to AI. Others entertained us, including the TCL RayNeo X2 Lite smart glasses and LG’s smart home robot.

Now that we’re headed back home, it’s time for Mashable to look back at what we’ve seen and determine the best tech products in the following categories: TV, laptop, car, tablet, phone, and wearable.

All of these products demonstrated some degree of innovation, allure, practicality, and technological advancement, eliciting feelings of intrigue, curiosity, and wonder.

Best TV

LG Signature OLED T

Credit: LG

A transparent TV might not be the most practical product. Why would you want a TV you can see through when the goal is to watch it? But that’s where LG’s innovation comes in. The LG Signature OLED T is a regular (albeit high-end) OLED TV that has a transparent mode when the contrast filter is lifted. This means when you’re not watching it, the display seamlessly blends into the background.

Plus, the OLED T comes with special designs and widgets for transparent mode that make it look like what Mashable's Stan Schroeder describes as a "living sculpture." Before you ask, this is not just a concept TV. LG will actually be selling this futuristic display sometime this year. No word on price yet, but you can bet it costs about as much as a priceless work of art.

— Cecily Mauran

Best monitor

Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor

Credit: Dell/Alienware

Meet the world's first world’s first 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor. It supports Dolby Vision, delivers a refresh rate of 240Hz, and offers an impressive responsive rate of 0.03 ms. Plus, according to what I've seen when I visited Dell's suite, it has top-of-the-line color performance, too.

And guess what, it's only priced at $1,199.

Credit: Dell/Alienware

Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

$1,199.99 at Dell

Best car

Razer Lexus TX

Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable

This one gets in on a bit of a technicality because we didn’t technically see it at a CES event. Instead, Razer had its promotional Lexus TX concept car sitting outside our hotel, which we ran across randomly at 11 p.m. one night. Serendipity!

Put simply, it’s a LAN party on wheels. Razer filled this 2024 Lexus TX with gamer chairs in the back rows, four widescreen gaming monitors, and even a desk and keyboard at one of the backseats. There’s a series of RGB lights on the exterior that can change color on demand, too. It looks like a gaming laptop that’s the size and shape of an SUV.

Then you pop the trunk and see a docking station for four Razer gaming laptops and a built-in Xbox Series X. Razer’s Lexus concept car may not be street legal, but it’s our winner for best car at CES 2024.

— Alex Perry

Best tablet

Wacom Cintiq Pro drawing tablets

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I got a chance to test the Wacom Cintiq Pro at Showstoppers, and I was blown away by the number of nuanced tools that I got to use to facilitate my creativity as a drawing hobbyist. It delivers a 4K display, and whether it was the 27-inch, 22-inch or 17-inch, the tablet was spacious enough to tap into my affinity for drawing comics.

The Wacom Cintiq Pro comes with the new Wacom Pen, which felt ergonomic to the touch. It allowed me to use natural touch gestures, including rotating, zooming, and panning.

Credit: Wacom

Wacom Cintiq Pro

$2,199.95 at Amazon

For anyone who is an artist, I'd highly recommend snagging one of Wacom's latest tablets on the market.

— Kimberly Gedeon

Best laptop

Asus Zenbook Duo

This dual-display laptop won our hearts, as it's able to transform into several different modes, including a lie-flat posture for sharing, a book-like mode that lets you multitask between two apps, and a stunning vertical workstation with two 14-inch displays, 3K OLED screen, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

What makes it particularly striking is its pricing. Typically, laptops that facilitate multitasking functionality, including the HP Spectre Fold and the Lenovo Legion 9i, are quite pricey, climbing to $2,000 at the lowest end and up to $5,000 at the top end.

Surprisingly, Asus' Zenbook Duo is only $1,500. Plus, it has a detachable keyboard that can be attached via Bluetooth or pogo pins, and it actually has a touchpad. Most keyboards in this class of laptop typically don't have touchpads, forcing you to navigate with your finger and smudge the display with your dirty little fingers. However, in the case of the Zenbook Duo, it has a touchpad, so you don't need to sully the display with your smears and ugly fingerprints.

The best part of the ZenBook Duo is its accessibility. Dual-display laptops are no longer out of reach for the average consumer.

— Kimberly Gedeon

Best wearable

XReal Air 2 Ultra

Wearables, and specifically AR wearables, were a big thing at CES 2024 this year. So, there are a lot of contenders for best wearable.

Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable

TCL-incubated TCL RayNeo X2 Lite would easily steal the show with its real-time translations, complete with augmented reality captions. These wireless glasses were impressive to see, but it still feels like an early work-in-progress version of what could be a superior future product.

On the contrary, XReal Air 2 Ultra was the most ready for primetime in the category that I tried. XReal is a leader in the AR wearable space and already had an AR glasses product that brings a crisp, clear HD in-glass display for on-the-go gaming and movie watching when you travel. The Air 2 Ultra upgrades those glasses into a light version of the Apple Vision Pro.

What I really liked about XReal's approach here was that they seem to best understand the utility of the AR glasses they make. RayNeo and even Apple appear to believe that you will live in their product and choose the glasses over your smartphone or computer. XReal's approach is different. They seem to know that wearables, at least glasses wearables, are not there. Consumers are interested in using them for specific purposes, like playing video games while on an airplane.

The XReal Air 2 Ultra were also hands-down the most comfortable AR glasses I tried. And in this space, that alone would be enough to come out on top.

— Matt Binder

Best smart home

Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator

Credit: Samsung

What struck me about Samsung's 4-Door Flex Refrigerator is that it can recognize 33 food items, thanks to its AI capabilities. This means that it can detect a variety of food stuff in your fridge, plus it can give you recipes based on what's inside.

— Kimberly Gedeon

Best concept

Bmind smart mirror

Everyone wants an AI in everything now, including your mirror. Last year, Baracoda came to CES with BMind, a smart mirror with a focus on your personal wellness. Now, it’s brought BMind back with a personal AI assistant that speaks to you about gratitude meditation and tips on how to be your best self on a bad day.

Credit: Baracoda

Mashable’s AI reporter Cecily Mauran was able to get a hands-on experience with BMind and said that, unlike other smart AI assistants, Baracoda’s CareOS takes privacy seriously. According to the company, the AI model and the information it receives is stored locally and it only connects to the internet if you want it to.

It’s not available for consumers at the moment, as Baracoda instead is choosing to partner with mirror manufacturers. So don’t be surprised if you see talking mirrors in the near future.

— Chance Townsend

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 5:22 p.m. EST This story has been updated to reflect the XReal Air 2 Ultra was Mashable’s choice for “Best Wearable.”

How to buy the Apple Vision Pro: A checklist of what you'll need at check out

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:32:24 +0000

Pre-orders for Apple's "spatial computing" device, the Apple Vision Pro, begin next week. Here's how to get your hands on the tech that Tim Cook promises will commence a "new era" for the company.

When does the Apple Vision Pro go on sale?

Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro begin at apple.com/apple-vision-pro on Friday, Jan. 19 at 5 a.m. PT. You can buy the Apple Vision Pro at Apple retail stores beginning Friday, Feb. 2.

How much does the Apple Vision Pro cost?

You'll have to shell out a whopping $3,499 to buy Apple's latest gadget, which houses both an M2 chip and the brand-new R1 chip which is dedicated to processing input from the device's cameras, sensors, and microphones to achieve a "virtually lag-free, real-time view of the world." Apple also says the headset's eye-tracking tech will make navigating its visionOS a breeze.

Credit: Apple

What do you need to purchase the Apple Vision Pro?

An iPhone or iPad with Face ID

Apple will employ its own Face ID technology to determine a "precise fit" of the Apple Vision Pro's Light Seal and headband. So no matter where you order your Apple Vision Pro – on the Apple website, Apple Store app, or in person – an iPhone or iPad with Face ID is required. If you're purchasing through the app, make sure you have the most up-to-date version, which became available on January 11.

A vision prescription (if you wear glasses)

Those who wear glasses should be pleased to hear that unlike some of its more commercial predecessors (namely the Meta Quest and Quest 2), the Apple Vision Pro is meant to be worn without glasses. To achieve this, the company has partnered with ZEISS to create custom optical inserts. A few questions during the ordering process will help determine if you need optical inserts and, if you do, a valid prescription from a U.S. eye‑care professional will need to be uploaded after checkout.

Know before you buy with an in-store demo

Still not sure if the Apple Vision Pro is worth the hype? In-store demos of the device will be available over the launch weekend. Apple says sign-ups begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, and that demo times will be available "through the weekend on a first‑come, first‑served basis."

No word on where those demo sign-up links can be found (or if you can show up to the store to physically sign a list), but it's safe to assume they'll at least be available through the Apple website.

Sip back, relax, and enjoy these Josh wine memes because the internet has just discovered Josh Cellars

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:09:46 +0000

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but there's no such saying for wine and its label. So maybe you can judge Josh wine. Yes. Josh wine.

Josh. Wine.

Josh Wine, to be clear, is not the name of an Eastern Kentucky University quarterback from the early 2000s. It's also not a comedian's stage name from the '50s. It is an actual brand. And it's been the subject of viral memes for the past couple of days.

It started with a guy on Twitter with the username @OptimusGrind (sick) who wrote, "I’m not gonna keep telling y’all to grow up and leave that Stella & Barefoot alone" (sicker) while posting a photo holding a bottle of Josh wine merlot (sickest).

Notice on the bottle that it says Josh Cellars. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the name of a rom-com actor once hopefully and falsely dubbed "the next James Van Der Beek." It's the name of the brand. But among a certain circle of extremely online connoisseurs, it's more commonly referred to as Josh wine. And the jokes have been fantastic.

Initially, some laughed at the name because Josh Cellars or Josh wine is a patently ridiculous name for a brand. It just is. I love it. But it's silly. It's tremendously silly.

There were also folks poking fun at the original poster for talking down to people who buy Barefoot when he's touting Josh Cellars. Because, you know, how good can Josh wine be? For context, that normal-sized bottle of Josh (lmao bottle of Josh) goes for about $15, while a jug of Barefoot will run you $12. @OptimusGrind might've had a point on the quality difference between the respective vinos, but the memes persisted. And to be honest, the jokes were good.

The Josh wine discourse has been going steady through Friday. Frankly, it's a welcome relief. For one, it's hilarious to post about wanting a glass of that Josh. But the memes are also an artifact of what Twitter once was. The site has become progressively less fun since around 2016 before taking a steep dive into the Elon Musk/X era. What was once a site for dumb jokes and memes — alongside news — become a cesspool for derision, anger, and bad headlines. It has become infrequent we can get together and make dumbass jokes about something silly, like Josh Cellars.

In fact, to that end, it took about a week for the Josh wine meme to catch on because, well, fun, silly things just don't happen that often on X / Twitter anymore.

So you know what? It's Friday. I've had a long week. Somebody give me a strong pour of the Josh. You know what? Get yourself a chalice of that Josh, pull up some memes, and have a laugh on Twitter for once. We've earned it.

How to sext better

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:23:16 +0000

Sexting, as Bo Burnham taught us, isn't sex — it's the next best thing.

I personally wouldn't go that far, but sexting can be pretty fun and downright hot if done right. The rub is that the act can also be an awkward minefield. Thoughts may cross your mind, like: Is now a good time to sext? What do I even say?

To answer these questions, we asked the sexperts. As it turns out, sexting (like sex itself) is an opportunity for you to liberate yourself, explore what you want in bed, and get to know your partner better.

The joy of sext

Sexting can benefit both you and your budding relationship (or hookup, or however you define it).

By sharing your desires and boundaries together, you're forging a deeper connection. Texting feels lower stakes than talking in person, especially if your relationship is new. Thus, it's a great option if you're shy about sex and have difficulty vocalizing what you want, said Casey Tanner, a certified sex therapist and sex expert for toy brand LELO.

Make no mistake, though: Sexting is legitimate communication, even if it's through screens.

Sending saucy messages back and forth can even be a kind of foreplay. It can build suspense and anticipation for when you see each other in-person next, even if that won't be anytime soon.

Consent first, as always

Before anything else, get consent — both about sexting in general and for individual sessions.

Ask yourself if you trust your partner enough to sext, advised Edwina Caito, a head writer at sex/sex toy blog BedBible. Decide if you're comfortable with the activity in the first place.

If yes, Tanner offered more questions to self-reflect: Is your style more flirty, raunchy, or suggestive? Are you OK sending nudes, and if so, what body parts do you want to photograph?

Have conversations about these boundaries before your first roll around in the digital hay. Set ground rules, said Caito, whether they be time-related — such as, don't send nudes before 6 p.m. when someone may be at work — or about what kind of media and messages you will and won't send.

You can even set a boundary for which messaging services you prefer to use to sext. Apps like Snapchat and Signal have features like disappearing chats, and the former sends a notification when the other person screenshots your messages. Alternatively, turn on Instagram's vanish mode for the same features.

As sexuality educator Jamie J. LeClaire wrote for sex wellness shop Unbound's blog, set an expectation for language used in sexts, too. If you're uncomfortable with some words — say ones that describe genitalia — tell your partner, and encourage them to share any words they dislike in turn.

Furthermore, consent at one time doesn't extend to every time. Always make sure it's OK to send through a naughty text or photo before doing it. A tip from Unbound is having a go-to emoji that serves as a way to ask, "Is now a good time for you to receive some smut?"

And never, ever share messages or other media that a partner sent to you (unless they ask you to, that is).

Sexting is a lower-stakes way to express your desires to your partner. Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

Where should I begin?

Tanner said to keep your messages pithy if you're just starting out. "Keeping messages on the shorter side gives you a little more leeway to ease into something new," she said. "You also give yourself more space to reflect in between texts about what feels good and where your boundaries are."

Your first message can be coy while sparking your partner's interest and making them think (about you, or an experience you both had in the past).

A couple examples Caito gave to get things rolling, are:

"I'm lying in bed and can't stop thinking about you."
"I can't stop thinking about what we did the other night."

Another option is to ask your partner questions, like:

"What would you do if you were here right now?"
"What was your favorite part about the other night?"

These texts are suggestive enough to gauge how your partner feels at the moment and get the conversation going. Feel free to be more direct if that's your style, though. You can let your partner know that, say, you've just gotten out of the shower and haven't put anything on yet. There's also the classic, "What are you wearing?"

Getting hot and heavy in iMessage

Now that you're engaging in textual coitus, where do you go from here?

Be as explicit as you want to be. You don't need to even refer to actual body parts if you don't want to, euphemistically or not. "I'm so wet" has the same impact as literally describing the state of your crotch, for instance.

Caroline Spiegel, founder of audio porn site Quinn, suggests contextualizing your sexy messages by telling your partner how you feel about them, what you want to do with them, and what you believe are their hottest features.

You can ask your partner to share fantasies, but don't feel pressure to reveal everything about your sexuality in one go, said Tanner. Texting your partner that they'll "just have to wait and see" can be just as tantalizing as revealing your desires.

To that end, you don't need to talk about activities you don't want to do. Instead, guide the conversation back to what gets you going, said Caito.

Compliment your partner, said Spiegel, to show you're really paying attention to them. Some examples she said are:

"I love the way you look at me when you…"
"I can't stop thinking about that time when you said…"

Another tip of Spiegel's is to use your partner's actual name as opposed to a pet name. "You might be surprised how hot it is to be called by your real name in a spicy context," she said.

Time to get creative

Texts are great, but you can also incorporate different mediums to produce a multimedia sexting experience.

With iMessage and WhatsApp, for instance, you can send sexy voice notes. "I hear all the time from women how they wish their boyfriends or significant others would send audio notes or videos instead of dick pics," said Spiegel.

Elon Musk still plans to turn X / Twitter into a PayPal dupe

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:48:18 +0000

It looks like X, the app formerly known as Twitter, is slowly but surely morphing into the "everything app" owner Elon Musk wants it to be by taking cues from Venmo and PayPal.

In a Tuesday blog post, the social media site announced it's rolling out a peer-to-peer payment service to "revolutionize 2024," whatever that means. The post doesn't include any information about when or how that might launch, and Musk does have a track record of launching new features and then retracting them.

That said, X Payments is registered in at least 32 states, according to TechCrunch, and Musk has floated this idea for a while now, hoping to disrupt the banking industry. It's at least something we know Musk could theoretically accomplish though, since he was one of the co-founders of PayPal.

X also announced that it is going to keep using AI to enhance search and improve ads, that it will continue to enhance its See Similar Posts feature, and will eventually launch a See Dissimilar Posts feature that will "empower users to explore content that aligns with their interests or challenges their perspectives based on their past activity."

It also announced that it intends to continue to invest in creators, which is notable considering that influential creators like MrBeast have publicly called out the platform for its poor monetization tools.

This is all in Musk's attempt to turn X into an "everything app." But is that what its users want? After all, X is now worth 71 percent less than what Musk paid for it, and it's going to take more than peer-to-peer payment opportunities to bring people back to the app.

How to block annoying robotexts in 5 easy steps

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:27:51 +0000

Besides being a royal pain in the ass, robotexts can be a means of identifying potential scam targets and getting people to click on dangerous links that infect phones with malware. Here are 5 ways to stop robotexts.

CES 2024: Control your Apple devices with the wave of your hand

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:16:49 +0000

Mashable reporter Matt Binder presents the new Apple Mudra Band at CES 2024. Unlike the brand's previous watches, the wristband lets users control their devices with the wave of a hand.

Spend $80 on P&G essentials, get $20 to spend at Amazon

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:02:39 +0000

SPEND $80, GET A $20 AMAZON CREDIT: As of Jan. 12, you can score a $20 Amazon credit when you spend $80 or more on select P&G products like paper towels, laundry detergent, dishwasher pods, and many other essentials.

Credit: P&G

P&G essentials stock up and save deal

Spend $80, get a $20 Amazon credit

If you've ever been to Target, then you're probably well aware of the phenomenon that is planning on buying only toilet paper and soap, blacking out, arriving at checkout, dropping $100, and wondering "What did I even get?" Don't worry: It's not your fault. Prices of everyday essentials are constantly rising, making it harder to stick to a budget. So, even if you resisted every urge to buy those cute throw pillows or that tempting new eyeshadow palette, you still spend more than intended.

While we can't "fix" this problem, we have some good news for you. As of Jan. 12, you can get a $20 Amazon credit just for buying the things you actually need. Send $80 on P&G products — including paper towels, medicine, feminine care products, baby wipes, and much more — and get $20 in Amazon credit to spend on whatever you want. After your purchase, you'll receive an email with your promotional credit. Be sure to use it before it expires on September 30, 2024.

Here are some of the best P&G products to stock up on to reach that $80 threshold and qualify for the Amazon credit:

Bounty Quick-Size paper towels

Credit: P&G

Our pick: Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels

$23.20 at Amazon

You may not think you need eight family rolls of paper towels, but trust us, they'll come in handy. Whether it's cleaning up spills, wiping down surfaces, or even using them as makeshift napkins, having a stash of Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels is always a smart move.

Tide PODS laundry detergent

Credit: P&G

Our pick: Tide PODS laundry detergent

$25.88 at Amazon

With 112 Tide PODS, you'll be set for countless loads of laundry. No need to worry about measuring out liquid or powder detergent — toss a Tide POD into the washing machine and let it do its thing.

Cascade Platinum Plus dishwasher pods

Credit: P&G

Our pick: Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pods

$18.94 at Amazon

Cascade Platinum Plus dishwasher pods have twice the scrubbing power compared to other cleaning brands. A 40% larger liquid top accommodates larger loads and helps remove even the toughest food stains, leaving your dishes sparkling clean. So go ahead and run that dishwasher every night — you'll save 20 gallons of water compared to handwashing.

Get the Google Nest WiFi Pro for 40% off at Amazon

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:51:23 +0000

SAVE 40%: As of Jan. 12, get the Google Nest WiFi Pro for just $499.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of $80.

Credit: Amazon

Google Nest WiFi Pro

$199.99 at Amazon (save $80)

When it comes to whole home WiFi coverage, a mesh WiFi system may be the upgrade you need to have the most reliable connection possible. That means smoother streaming so you can watch your favorite shows, attend work calls on Zoom, or just enjoy gaming sessions with less lag, especially if you live in a large home. While it's true some mesh WiFi systems can be pricey, there are some great routers in the space that aren't just affordable, but great all-around picks to get you up and running. Right now, that includes one of Google's best contenders.

As of Jan. 12, you can get the Google Nest WiFi Pro at Amazon for just $119.99, down from $199.99. That's a 40% discount and $80 off the original price. This price currently only applies to the off-white Lemongrass color.

This mesh WiFi 6E-enabled router is a sleek-looking, simple to install device that can provide up to 2,200 square feet of coverage. If that isn't enough, you can buy additional units for larger spaces, up to 6,600 square feet.

It's powered by a dual-core ARM processor with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash memory as well, with a max speed of 600Mbps. Plus, the router supports WPA3 encryption, MU-MIMO streaming, and 160MHz data transmission. Simply put, it's up to date with all the modern niceties you'd expect from a mesh router, all in a slick package.

If you're looking to establish a mesh router system or add to the one you have, this is an affordable option that should work for just about anyone. It's always a good idea to have better, smoother-running internet, after all.

People on Mars? Whaliens and Other Top Stories — U Need to Know This

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:32:11 +0000

Host Josh Burstein takes us through the science news from the week of Jan 8th: The Webb Telescope just saw something weird on Uranus, Scientists say they conversed with a whale. It may be practice for aliens. and This NASA crew has survived Mars for six months — sort of.

Get ready: SpaceX Starship will try to fly again soon

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:28:13 +0000

Elon Musk lost his claim as having the most powerful space-worthy rocket when NASA blasted its mega rocket to the moon in 2022.

But the SpaceX founder could win back the title with his company's next big project: Starship.

Though the company was unsuccessful during its first two tests in April and November of last year — the skyscraping rocket and spacecraft blasted off only to explode minutes later — SpaceX is confident its Starship will complete an orbital flight soon, breaking records and making history.

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 10:37 a.m. EST SpaceX will target a February launch for its third test flight of Starship, said Jessica Jensen, the company's vice president of customer operations and integration.

During its next test flight, the colossal booster needs to separate about three minutes after liftoff and drop in the Gulf of Mexico, according to federal filings. The rocket should then fly in space around Earth at an altitude of over 150 miles before splashing down off the Hawaiian coast. The whole journey should last about 1.5 hours.

This is a crucial demonstration of hardware that NASA is depending on to get humans back on the moon in the next few years. And, if successful, it'll mean Musk is one small step closer to realizing his personal dream of building a city on Mars.

The billionaire business magnate has oversold timelines in the past. Here's what we know so far about when SpaceX will try this daunting feat again.

What is the SpaceX Starship?

Starship is a super-heavy-lift rocket and spacecraft, built to carry immense cargo and numerous astronauts into deep space.

The 400-foot-tall stainless steel tower looms over NASA's rocket, the Space Launch System. It would take about five billboards stacked on top of the latter to measure up to Musk's space vehicle. SpaceX estimates its rocket also has about twice as much thrust.

The rocket is made of stainless steel, a material Musk is particularly fond of due to its relatively low price. Unlike NASA's mega moon rocket, which flies on super-chilled liquid hydrogen and oxygen, this beast is fueled with 10 million pounds of liquid methane and oxygen. The new fuel can be stored at more manageable temperatures than liquid hydrogen, meaning it doesn't need as much insulation and is less prone to leaks, a problem that often stymies NASA launches.

SpaceX's Starship is made of stainless steel and runs on liquid methane. Credit: SpaceX

Starship is intended to eventually evolve into a fully reusable launch and landing system, designed for trips to the moon, Mars, and other destinations. Its reusability is "the holy grail of space," Musk said at a company event in South Texas in February 2022, because it will make spaceflight more affordable to the average person.

"It's a very hard thing to do," he said. "It's only barely possible with the physics of Earth."

"It's only barely possible with the physics of Earth."

NASA tapped SpaceX to develop a human landing system version of Starship. Credit: SpaceX

How will NASA use Starship?

NASA plans to use Starship to land astronauts on the moon during Artemis III and IV, two upcoming missions which could come as early as 2026 and 2028, respectively.

The space agency has tapped SpaceX to develop a human landing system version of Starship with a $4 billion contract. As part of the deal, the company will need to demonstrate an uncrewed test flight to the moon beforehand.

During Artemis III, Starship is supposed to transport astronauts from NASA's Orion spacecraft to the lunar south pole and back. It would be the first human moon-landing since 1972. The U.S. space agency also has promised the mission will see a woman and person of color walk on the moon for the first time. In the fourth mission, Starship might dock at a moon-orbiting space station, the yet-to-be-built Gateway, and ferry astronauts back and forth to the moon from there.

NASA announced on Jan. 9 it was pushing back Artemis III at least a year to 2026, in large part because of Starship's lag in progress. For the SpaceX spacecraft to reach the moon, it will need to refuel in low-Earth orbit from a space tanker, something never done before.

NASA's confidence in Starship seems to have waned somewhat over the past year. During an Artemis news conference in August, the space agency's Jim Free, then associate administrator of exploration systems, told reporters NASA may end up changing the Artemis III mission objectives if slips in the schedule keep occurring.

When is Starship's space launch?

SpaceX is targeting February 2024 for its third orbital test flight, said Jessica Jensen, SpaceX's vice president of customer operations and integration.

The company has already tried to fly Starship twice but hasn't completed the space journey yet.

The rocket first launched on April 20, exploding 24 miles above the Gulf of Mexico about four minutes later. The rocket didn't separate from its colossal booster and flipped as it fell in the air back toward Earth. SpaceX had said the self-destruct system was commanded for both the booster and ship after several of the engines didn’t fire. Some debris plummeted into the ocean after the rocket exploded on its descent.

In a more extensive statement released months later, SpaceX said the aft end of the booster caught fire from leaking fuel, which severed connection to the primary flight computer.

"This led to a loss of communications to the majority of booster engines and, ultimately, control of the vehicle," according to the statement. "SpaceX has since implemented leak mitigations and improved testing on both engine and booster hardware."

SpaceX's Starship didn't make it to orbit during its first attempt to fly in space on April 20, 2023. It appeared to explode on its descent about four minutes after liftoff. Credit: SpaceX

Additionally, the company said it increased the rocket's fire suppression system, reinforced the launchpad, and installed a flame deflector to address damage caused by the launch.

SpaceX also provided further insight into the explosion. Though the vehicle was ordered to self destruct, there was "an unexpected delay" in activation, meaning aerodynamic pressure ultimately caused Starship to break apart, not the explosives —a possible cause reported by Mashable. SpaceX officials said they've since made improvements to the self-destruct system.

The seven-month delay between the first launch attempt and the second one was due to the company's need for the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a new launch license. The agency had opened a mishap investigation following the failed April test. It asked SpaceX to satisfy 63 corrective actions before doing so. After consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the potential environmental impact, the FAA granted the license.

During the second flight test on Nov. 18, Starship exploded about eight minutes into the flight, after successfully demonstrating a new method of separating the booster from the spacecraft in the air, known as "hot-staging." The procedure should increase Starship's lift capacity and help prevent gravity from slowing down the spacecraft. SpaceX hasn't elaborated yet on what triggered the automated flight termination system.

Where will Starship launch?

Perhaps surprisingly, Starship won't lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where most space fans are accustomed to watching historically significant launches.

Instead, it will take off from Boca Chica, Texas, at SpaceX's own spaceport, known as Starbase. Eventually, the company will launch the rocket from a site under construction in the outer perimeter of the famous Florida pad that shot Apollo 11 to the moon.

"Their plan is that they're going to do a few test flights there" in South Texas, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said. "Once they have the confidence, they will bring the missions to the Cape."

How can I watch the Starship launch?

If you're not on the list to get onto SpaceX's private Starbase but you're in the South Texas area, you could try viewing future flight tests from a public beach on South Padre Island, such as Isla Blanca Park. Locals are known to host watch parties.

For viewers at home, SpaceX will start a live broadcast of the launch countdown about a half-hour before liftoff. The livestream feed will be available on SpaceX's website, and live updates will be posted on X, the social platform owned by Musk.

You can watch Starship's second test flight below:

How likely is Starship to succeed?

Well, SpaceX already struck out on the first and second flight attempt, and that wasn't entirely unexpected.

"We cleared the (launch) tower, which honestly, was our only hope," said Kate Tice, a quality systems engineering manager for the company, during the first flight's live launch broadcast.

SpaceX has launched partial prototypes of Starship to practice landing, and several exploded or crashed in the process. One succeeded in returning unscathed, however, in May 2021, after flying about six miles up in the sky.

Musk, who doesn't parse words when it comes to the realities of spaceflight, once said Starship's test in space wasn't likely to succeed on the first try.

"There's a lot of risk associated with this first launch, so I would not say that it is likely to be successful."

"There's a lot of risk associated with this first launch, so I would not say that it is likely to be successful," he said during a video conference with a National Academies panel in 2021. "But I think we will make a lot of progress."

Administrator Nelson congratulated SpaceX on the bold effort, stating that great achievements through history have demanded "some level of calculated risk."

What is SpaceX's plan for Mars?

The SpaceX founder's ultimate vision is to use a fleet of Starships to send 1 million humans to Mars by 2050.

To be clear, Musk doesn't just want to establish a place for people to visit but a self-sustaining city. He imagines that, with a bit of warming, humans could restore a thick atmosphere and oceans on Mars, making it a more hospitable environment, even able to grow crops.

"There's a fundamental juncture in the history of really any civilization on a single planet, which is, do you get to the second planet, or do you not?" Musk told the National Academies in 2021. "I propose we do, and I think we should as soon as possible."

SpaceX test fired a Starship prototype spacecraft on the ground in December. Credit: SpaceX

"There's a fundamental juncture in the history of really any civilization on a single planet, which is, do you get to the second planet, or do you not?"

The spacecraft would be spacious enough for 100 passengers, along with their luggage, plus the materials to build homes, businesses, rocket fuel stations, and iron foundries.

The journey getting there would be long, Musk said, but the Starship would have entertainment, such as zero-gravity games, movies, lectures, and a restaurant.

"It can't feel cramped or boring," he said at the International Astronautical Congress in 2016, in Guadalajara, Mexico. "It'll be really fun to go. You'll have a great time."

Note: A version of this article was originally published Feb. 4, 2023. It has been updated to reflect progress in Starship's launch campaign.

Today's best deals on unlocked Google Pixel phones, including an all-time low price on the Google Pixel 8

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:20:52 +0000

Whether you're preparing for international travel or simply don't want to be committed to a specific carrier or contract, an unlocked smartphone gives you more flexibility than going the traditional route. With today's sale on unlocked Google Pixel phones at Amazon, you also get the added benefit of saving money.

Here are the best Google Pixel unlocked phone deals as of Jan 12:

Best overall deal

Google Pixel 8 Pro unlocked phone

$799 (save $200)

Best everyday pick

Google Pixel 8 unlocked phone

$549 (save $150)

Best budget-friendly buy

Google Pixel 7a unlocked phone

$399 (save $100)

As of today, Jan. 12, unlocked Google Pixel smartphones are on sale for up to 21% off. Whether you're shopping for a deal on the latest model to take advantage of sophisticated features or you're shopping on a tight budget, today's deals include options at a variety of price points.

Best overall Google Pixel deal

Credit: Google Pixel

Our pick: Google Pixel 8 Pro unlocked phone

$799 at Amazon (save $200)

Why we like it

Google Pixel phones are known for their unparalleled cameras, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the latest model packed with the most advanced features. While the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Google Pixel 8 aren't different enough to warrant the need for an upgrade if you already own the 8, the Pro is an excellent choice for those who are just making the switch over to Google Pixel phones. It's fast, powerful, and has a host of AI features to explore.

While the unlocked Google Pixel 8 Pro usually lists for $999, it's back to its lowest-ever price at Amazon. We previously saw this same price drop over Black Friday and the December holiday season. It's a good idea to act on this deal before the price goes back up again.

Best everyday Google Pixel deal

Credit: Google Pixel

Our pick: Google Pixel 8 unlocked phone

$549 at Amazon (save $150)

Why we like it

As Mashable reviewer Alex Perry noted in his review of the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Google Pixel 8, the Pro doesn't outshine its predecessor by too much. Therefore, if you're keen on spending a little less, the Google Pixel 8 is an excellent value buy. It has up to 8-times zoom compared to the Pro's 30-times, but it still matches the Pro's Best Take technology and Macro focus, two features that the previous generation was missing. Today, the unlocked Google Pixel 8 is on sale for 21% off, taking the price down from $699 to $549. Like the Pro, this model is at its lowest price on record, matching what we saw for the holidays.

Best budget-friendly Google Pixel deal

Credit: Google Pixel

Our pick: Google Pixel 7a unlocked phone

$399 at Amazon (save $100)

Why we like it

While the Google Pixel 7a's camera isn't the same caliber as the Pixel 8's, the unlocked Google Pixel 7a does have an ace up its sleeve: a price point of under $400. While we've seen this model hit a slightly lower price of $379 before, today's limited-time deal is hard to compete with, especially when taking features like 24-hour battery life, 128GB of storage, and enhanced security into consideration. When you score today's deal, you get a budget price without stooping down to budget quality.

Prepare for this weekend's wintery blast with budget-friendly space heaters

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:07:52 +0000

UP TO 33% OFF: Don't get caught in the cold! As of Jan. 12, you can score up to 33% off space heaters at Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.

Our top picks:

Best portable space heater

BLACK+DECKER Portable Space Heater

$19.99 at Amazon (save $10)

Best space heater for large rooms

Honeywell Slim Ceramic Tower Heater

$52.79 at Amazon (save $13.20)

Best propane space heater

Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable 18,000 BTU Propane Heater

$124 at Walmart (save $15.99)

If you haven't turned on the news in a while, you may want to flip it on to check the weather forecast. An intense blast of cold weather that the experts call a "bomb cyclone" is set to hit the US this weekend and early next week.

This is a nationwide hit, with just about every state across the lower 48 experiencing some weather warning or advisory. It's the first arctic outbreak of the winter, and temperatures are expected to drop significantly below normal into what they call "dangerously cold" levels.

Before it sets in, it's important to take precautions and ensure you have a reliable heat source and an emergency plan in place. One cost-effective solution to stay warm during this wintery blast is to invest in a space heater, and right now, a ton of them are on sale at multiple retailers.

Here are some of the best deals on space heaters to help you stay warm without breaking the bank:

Best portable space heater

Credit: BLACK+DECKER

Our pick: BLACK+DECKER Portable Space Heater

$19.99 at Amazon (save $10)

Why we like it

The BLACK+DECKER Portable Space Heater is a budget-friendly option that heats small to medium-sized rooms. It has adjustable thermostat settings (low heat at 750 watts, high heat at 1500 watts, or fan), safety features like overheat protection, and a compact design for easy storage and portability. (Take it from room to room as you need it!) It also has a six-foot power cord, so you can plug it in without an extension cord.

Like all BLACK+DECKER products, this little heater comes with a one-year warranty.

More deals on portable space heaters:

BLACK+DECKER Indoor Space Heater — $24.39 ~~$44.99~~ (save $20.60)
Lasko MyHeat Personal Electric Portable Space Heater — $24.99 ~~$29.99~~ (save $5)
Honeywell UberHeat 5 — $34.49 ~~$39.99~~ (save $5.50)
Honeywell HHF360V — $34.88 ~~$42.99~~ (save $8.11)

Best space heater for large rooms

Credit: Honeywell

Our pick: Honeywell Slim Ceramic Tower Heater

$52.79 at Amazon (save $13.20)

Why we like it

If you need to heat a larger space, the Honeywell Slim Ceramic Tower Heater is a solid choice. It features a 360-degree tip-over switch for safety, two heat settings (1500 and 750 watts), and a programmable thermostat. Reviewers also say that the oscillation feature helps to distribute heat evenly throughout the room. Plus, its slim design makes it easy to fit into tight spaces.

More deals on tower heaters:

BLACK+DECKER Oscillating Space Heater — $35.14 ~~$44.99~~ (save $9.85)
Lasko 1500-Watt Full-Circle Warmth Ceramic Tower Space Heater — $89.99 ~~$99.99~~ (save $10)
Lasko 1500-Watt Bladeless Ceramic Tower Space Heater — $99.99 ~~$109.99~~ (save $10)
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 — $599.99 ~~$749.99~~ (save $150)

Best propane space heater

Credit: Mr. Heater

Our pick: Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable 18,000 BTU Propane Heater

$124 at Walmart (save $15.99)

Why we like it

The Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable 18,000 BTU Propane Heater is an excellent option for those seeking a reliable heat source during power outages or in outdoor settings (it's ideal for heating the garage or camping trips). It has an impressive heat output of 18,000 BTUs and can heat up to 450 square feet.

Its safety features include an auto shut-off, tip-over protection, and a low oxygen shut-off system.

CES 2024: 3 best TVs besides the LG transparent TV, including a rollable display

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:58:11 +0000

One of the best TVs of CES 2024 is certainly the LG transparent OLED T. It's hard to beat a 77-inch TV that you can literally see through! However, there are other TVs showcased at CES 2024 that deserve a pat on the back, too.

The best TVs of CES 2024

1. The Canvas TV

Canvas TV from Hisense Credit: Hisense

This TV is designed to double as a wall painting, sitting flush against your wall. This TV that blends tech and art is from Hisense, and features customizable wood-finish bezels for the frame. It can display curated art while you're not using it, but when you're ready to use it for home entertainment, it can run your favorite programs, too.

2. Rolling Screen Laser TV 4K

Also from Hisense, the Georgia-based company showcased a laser rolling TV that features 4K resolution.

Laser rolling TV Credit: Hisense

You can roll it up to watch it in all of its big-screen glory, but when you're ready to hide it, you can roll it back down.

3. The world's largest QD-Mini LED TV

With a whopping 115-inches of screen real estate, TCL claims that this QD miniLED TV has a peak brightness of 5,000 nits and 20,000 dimming zones for top-of-the-line color accuracy and lighting control.

Mashable's Matt Binder standing in front of the world's largest QD-miniLED TV. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The TV also delivers better, shaper images than all of its predecessors, TCL claims, and taps into AI for advanced upscaling and color reproduction. Plus, this TCL TV is equipped with a beastly Dolby Atmos speaker system as well, so this TV should sound as good as it looks.

'Mean Girls' 2024 cast on what they borrowed from the original movie

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:55:47 +0000

Mashable entertainment reporter Belen Edwards speaks to writer Tina Fey and Mean Girls cast Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Auli'i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, and Christopher Briney about borrowing from the original movie, singing numbers from the Broadway musical, and making new out of the well-known.

Mean Girls (2024) is now out in cinemas.

Roomba models, explained: The 2024 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:48:05 +0000

It would come as a surprise to more people than you think that "roomba" actually isn't the generic term for a robot vacuum. The interchangeability is nearing Band-Aid territory, exemplifying just how iconic iRobot's impact has been on the world of small household appliances.

That can be attributed to the fact that iRobot has consistently been delivering some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but tracking the best Roombas isn't so chaotic when you consider that only a handful of those models are actually relevant at the time of your shopping.

How to tell the difference between the Roomba models

Memorizing the differences between random numbers and letters in a Roomba's title certainly isn't necessary. However, there are some general classification themes that make the Roomba family easier to tell apart.

When shopping for a Roomba, you'll really only be choosing from what we call iRobot's core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series that are currently listed on iRobot's website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter with a number (like j9+ or i5) is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 692). The j Series is iRobot's most advanced right now, followed by the s Series, i Series, and then the 600 Series. A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock. Check our FAQ for more details on Roomba classification.

What is the most recommended Roomba vacuum?

Naturally, there is one Roomba that is technically "the best:" the best at cleaning, the best at navigating, and the best at being self-sufficient. But which Roomba is categorically the best may not be the best Roomba for every household, especially when price tags come into play. We've created a 2024 Roomba comparison guide to help you pinpoint which Roomba would work best for your home's size, floor type, pet situation, and more.

'Build your own' Shark FlexStyle or SpeedStyle and save 17%

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:46:21 +0000

SAVE UP TO $50: Enhance your styling game with the Shark FlexStyle and Shark SpeedStyle, which are both on sale for 17% off at Shark when you build your own bundle. That knocks the FlexStyle down to $249.99 (reg. $299.99) and the SpeedStyle down to $149.99 (reg. $179.99) as of Jan. 12.

Shark styling bundle deals at a glance:

BEST FLEXSTYLE DEAL

Build Your Own Shark FlexStyle Bundle

$249.99 at Shark (save $50)

BEST SPEEDSTYLE DEAL

Build Your Own Shark SpeedStyle

$149.99 at Shark (save $30)

Nobody should be paying $600 for a hair-styling gadget (looking at you, Dyson). That's just criminal — especially when there are quality dupes on shelves. Shark, in particular, is known for their high-end hair tool dupes that are only sweetened by their affordable prices. If you're looking to enhance your hair styling skills this season, check out these sweet deals on two impressive Shark dupes: the FlexStyle and the SpeedStyle. As of Jan. 12, you can build your own bundles (choose your own attachments, essentially) and save up to $50.

Shark FlexStyle

Credit: Shark

Build Your Own Shark FlexStyle bundle

$249.99 at Shark (save $50)

The FlexStyle is "the best hot air styler for most people" and the best Dyson Airwrap dupe on the market, according to Mashable's own Bethany Allard. It allows you to easily convert between a powerful damage-free hair dryer and a versatile multi-styler. It has a wand base with several interchangeable attachment heads that allow you to curl, volumize, smooth, dry, etc.

You can build your own FlexStyle bundle by selecting two additional accessories on top of the four included ones (two 1.25-inch auto-wrap curlers, oval brush, paddle brush, and styling concentrator). It's like choosing your own adventure but for hair styling. Depending on what type of hair texture you have, you can choose two between the round brush, curl-defining diffuser, wide-tooth comb, two .95-inch auto-wrap curlers, frizz-fighting finishing tool (which is currently out of stock), or just a stylish carrying case. That gives you a total of six attachments and the FlexStyle base. It's usually $299.99 for the bundle, but you can save 17% and snag it for only $249.99 as of Jan. 12.

Shark SpeedStyle

Credit: Shark

Build Your Own Shark SpeedStyle bundle

$149.99 at Shark (save $30)

Just released in August, the Shark SpeedStyle is built to give you salon-quality blowouts without heat damage. It's kind of a dupe of the Dyson Supersonic, but also of its own HyperAir dryer. It offers four heat and three airflow settings, and in true Shark fashion, a handful of attachments to customize it to your hair type.

With the build-your-own bundle deal, you can choose any two attachments from the following: wide-tooth comb, turbo concentrator, express touch-up brush, rapidgloss finisher, smoothing brush, or a defrizzing diffuser. The bundle typically goes for $179.99, but as of Jan. 12, you can slash 17% off and build your own for just $149.99.

How to watch Kansas vs. Oklahoma basketball without cable

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:43:00 +0000

Wondering how to watch Kansas vs. Oklahoma men's basketball game?

Exclusive broadcast

ESPN+

$10.99 per month

The Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Big 12 Conference contest at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CT.

Kansas, ranked No. 3 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 13-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. Most recently, UCF beat Kansas 65-60 on Wednesday. Through the first 15 games, Kevin McCullar Jr. leads KU in scoring at 19.8 points per game, and Hunter Dickinson provides 18.9 points per game plus a team-high 11.9 rebounds per contest.

The No. 9-ranked Oklahoma Sooners come into the contest 13-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. On Wednesday, TCU defeated OU 80-71. The leading scorers for Oklahoma after 15 games are Javian McCollum at 14.9 points per contest and Otega Oweh at 14.3 points per game.

Bill Self is the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball head coach. Porter Moser is the Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball head coach.

Kansas vs. OU basketball game time and streaming service

The Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Streaming is the only way to watch the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball game on Saturday.

Exclusive broadcast: ESPN+

Credit: ESPN+

ESPN+

$10.99 per month

ESPN+ has exclusive streaming rights for the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball game on Saturday.

ESPN+ costs $10.99 per month, or you can get it for $109.99 for a year. You can also get ESPN+ bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $14.99 monthly.

How to watch Arizona vs. WSU basketball livestreams

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:38:37 +0000

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Best for affordability

Sling TV Blue Plan + Sports Extra

$31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 )

BEST FOR SINGLE GAME

FuboTV Elite Plan

7-day free trial, then $89.99/month

The Arizona Wildcats and Washington State Cougars men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Pac-12 Conference contest at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington, on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. MST/3 p.m. PT.

Arizona, ranked No. 8 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 12-3 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-12. Most recently, Arizona defeated Utah 92-73 on Jan. 6. Through 15 games this season, Caleb Love leads Arizona in scoring at 17.7 points per game.

Washington State comes into the contest 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Pac-12. On Wednesday, WSU beat USC 72-64. The top two scorers for the WSU Cougars after 16 games are Isaac Jones with 14.8 points per game and Myles Rice at 14.4 points/game.

Tommy Lloyd is the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball head coach. Kyle Smith is the Washington State Cougars men’s basketball head coach.

Arizona vs. WSU basketball game time and network

The Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars men’s basketball game is being broadcast on the Pac-12 Network at 4 p.m. MST/3 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 13.

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, FuboTV and Sling TV offer alternatives to watch the Pac-12 Network.

Best streaming service for the Washington State vs. Arizona basketball game

To check out the WSU Cougars vs. Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball game on Pac-12 Network, here are the top online live streaming services.

Most affordable: Sling TV

Credit: Sling

Sling Blue Plan + Sports Extra

$31 for the first month, then $51/month

To watch the Pac-12 Network for the Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars men’s basketball game requires Sling TV’s Sports Extra package, which is an extra $11/month for 21 additional channels.

In addition to the Sports Extra package, you need the Blue plan. The Blue plan is $20 for the first month and $40/month for subsequent months, and it comes with 40 channels. The Blue plan plus the Sports Extra package is $31 for the first month then $51/month.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV

Credit: FuboTV

FuboTV Elite Plan

7-day free trial, then $89.99/month

FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial period, a selection of 250 live TV channels, and 10-screen streaming. It’s an excellent deal, especially for one-time viewings like the Arizona Wildcats vs. WSU Cougars men’s basketball game. Consistent viewers of the Pac-12 Network will need to make a larger investment and get the Elite plan, and right now, the Elite plan is $89.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Purdue vs. Penn State basketball livestreams

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:37:46 +0000

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Most affordable

Sling TV Blue + Sports Extra

$31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 )

BEST FOR SINGLE GAME

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

The Purdue and Penn State men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Big Ten Conference contest at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game is scheduled to start at 2:15 p.m. ET.

Purdue, ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 14-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Most recently, Nebraska beat Purdue 88-72 on Tuesday. After 16 games, Zach Edey leads Purdue with 21.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Penn State comes into the contest 8–8 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. On Wednesday, Northwestern defeated PSU 76-72. Kanye Clary leads Penn State’s scoring attack with 18.8 points per game this season.

Matt Painter is the Purdue men’s basketball head coach. Mike Rhoades is the Penn State men’s basketball head coach.

Purdue vs. Penn State basketball game time and network

The Purdue vs. Penn State basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast by Big Ten Network at 2:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 13.

But if you don’t have cable or satellite TV, here are some options to watch the game via online live stream. Those options include FuboTV and Sling.

Best streaming services for Purdue vs. PSU basketball game

To watch college basketball without cable or satellite TV, you’ll need to choose a streaming service, and to see the Penn State vs. Purdue men’s basketball game on Big Ten Network, here are your best streaming options.

Most affordable: Sling TV

Credit: Sling

Sling Blue + Sports Extra

$31 for the first month, then $51/month

To get the Big Ten Network for the Purdue vs. Penn State basketball game requires Sling TV’s Sports Extra package and the Sling Blue plan. The Sling Blue plan provides 40 live TV channels. The Blue package is $20 for the first month and $40/month for subsequent months. The Sports Extra package is an extra $11/month for 18 additional channels.

So at $31 for the first month and $51 for subsequent months, you can watch the Big Ten Network through Sling TV.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV

Credit: FuboTV

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial period. It also offers more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once.

College basketball fans can get most of the channels they need through FuboTV’s Pro tier, which is $79.99 per month. Big Ten Network is included in the Pro tier for aspiring Penn State vs. Purdue men’s basketball viewers.

How to watch Arkansas vs. Florida basketball without cable

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:36:29 +0000

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Most affordable

Sling TV Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 )

BEST FOR SINGLE GAME

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

The Arkansas Razorbacks and Florida Gators men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Southeastern Conference contest at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.

Arkansas comes into the matchup 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. Most recently, Georgia beat Arkansas 76-66 on Wednesday. After the first 15 games, Tramon Mark leads Arkansas in scoring at 17.0 points per game.

The Florida Gators enter the contest 10-5 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. On Wednesday, Ole Miss defeated Florida 103-85. Walter Clayton Jr. leads Florida’s scoring at 16.2 points per game after 15 outings.

Eric Musselman is the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball head coach. Todd Golden is the Florida Gators men’s basketball head coach.

Arkansas vs. UF Gators basketball game time and network

The Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 13. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst).

If you're without cable or satellite TV, online live streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the Florida vs. Arkansas basketball game

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s UF Gators vs. Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you.

Most affordable: Sling TV

Credit: Sling

Sling Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month

Sling TV's $55/month package includes 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators men’s basketball. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month.

If you’re looking to mainly watch the Arkansas vs. Florida game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV

Credit: FuboTV

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

FuboTV allows you to try it free for seven days and explore its extensive selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month with channels like ESPN to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators men’s basketball game.

How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M basketball without cable

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:35:25 +0000

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Most affordable

Sling TV Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 )

BEST FOR SINGLE GAME

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

The Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Southeastern Conference contest at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.

Kentucky, ranked No. 6 in The Associated Press poll, comes into the matchup 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the SEC. Most recently, the UK Wildcats defeated Missouri 90-77 on Tuesday. Through the first 14 games, Antonio Reeves leads Kentucky in scoring at 18.6 points per game.

Texas A&M enters the contest 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. On Tuesday, Auburn beat the TAMU Aggies 66-55. Wade Taylor IV leads Texas A&M in scoring at 17.3 points per contest after 15 outings.

John Calipari is the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball head coach. Buzz Williams is the Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball head coach.

UK Wildcats vs. TAMU basketball game time and network

The Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 13. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst).

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the Texas A&M vs. Kentucky basketball game

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s TAMU Aggies vs. UK Wildcats men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you.

Most affordable: Sling TV

Credit: Sling

Sling Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month

Sling TV's $55/month package provides 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball game. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month.

If you’re looking to just watch the Kentucky vs. Texas A&M game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV

Credit: FuboTV

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

You can try FuboTV free for seven days and explore its selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month with channels like ESPN to watch the UK Wildcats vs. Texas A&M men’s basketball game.

How to watch UNC vs. Syracuse basketball without cable

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:34:10 +0000

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Most affordable

Sling TV Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 )

BEST FOR SINGLE GAME

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Syracuse men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday, Jan. 13 The game is scheduled to start at noon ET.

UNC, ranked No. 7 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the ACC. Most recently, North Carolina beat NC State 67-54 on Wednesday. Through 15 games, RJ Davis leads UNC in scoring with 20.3 points per game.

Syracuse comes into the contest 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. On Wednesday, SU beat Boston College 69-59. Judah Mintz paces Syracuse's scoring with 18.5 points per game through 15 contests.

Hubert Davis is the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball head coach. Adrian Autry is the Syracuse men’s basketball head coach.

UNC vs. Syracuse basketball game time and network

The North Carolina vs. Syracuse men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at noon ET on Saturday, Jan. 13. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst).

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the SU vs. North Carolina basketball game

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s Syracuse vs. North Carolina men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you.

Most affordable: Sling TV

Credit: Sling

Sling Orange Plan

$20 for the first month, then $40/month

Sling TV's $55/month package provides 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like SU vs. North Carolina men’s basketball. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month.

If you’re looking to just watch the UNC vs. Syracuse game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV

Credit: FuboTV

FuboTV Pro plan

7-day free trial, then $79.99/month

You can try FuboTV free for seven days and explore its extensive selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month after the free trial, with channels like ESPN to watch the UNC Tar Heels vs. Syracuse men’s basketball game.

Best antivirus software deals for Jan. 2024: McAfee, Aura, and more

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:28:24 +0000

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST This list has been updated with the latest and greatest antivirus software deals across the web.

Best antivirus deals this week:

Best antivirus deal for Macs

Norton Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$19.99 (save $40)

Best antivirus deal for families

Aura Family (one year, up to 50 devices)

$288 at Aura (save $123.43)

The best antivirus software can protect you from online threats such as viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Even if you think you're being as careful as you can possibly be, these cybersecurity tools provide extra protection as you surf the web. New threats are emerging every day, so take our advice: Get your computer set up with antivirus software ASAP. To help you secure your devices, here are the best antivirus software deals we found this week.

Best antivirus deal for Macs

Credit: Norton

Norton Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$19.99 at Norton (save $40)

Why we like it

Norton Antivirus Plus provides all the basics you need from a well-rounded antivirus software package, and it's super affordable at just $19.99 (for your first year, at least). With it, you'll get full malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, 2GB of cloud backup, as well as a password manager. There are other Norton packages that include VPNs, identity theft protection, and more, but this is a great option for Macs, which don't usually require a top-of-the-line security package.

Best antivirus deal for families

Credit: Aura

Aura Family (one year, up to 50 devices)

$288 at Aura (save $123.43)

Why we like it

Aura's antivirus software protection is all-encompassing and covers up to 50 devices as a part of its family plan. You'll also get 24/7 customer support, a VPN for all devices, AI spam call protection, as well as bank fraud monitoring. For the kids, you'll also have access to a slate of key parental controls, as well as voice and text monitoring for gaming.

More antivirus software deals:

Avast Premium Security (one device) — $4.19/month for Mac or PC ~~$6.33/month or $6.50/month~~ (save $2.14/month or $2.31/month, respectively)
Avira Prime (one year, five devices) — $59.99 ~~$104.99~~ (save $45)
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (one year, one device) — $24.99 ~~$59~~ (save $35)
Intego Mac Security X9 (one year, one device) — $39.99 ~~$49.99~~ (save $10)
Kaspersky Premium (one year, 10 devices) — $74.99 ~~$149.99~~ (save $75)
MacKeeper (one year, one Mac) — $65.67 ~~$119.40~~ (save $53.73)
McAfee Total Protection Advanced (one year, unlimited devices) — $89.99 ~~$199.99~~ (save $110)
McAffee Total Protection Premium (one year, unlimited devices) — $49.99 ~~$149.99~~ (save $100)
Nord Antivirus Complete (two years, three extra months free) — $134.73 ~~$447.39~~ (save $312.66)
Sophos Home Premium (one year, unlimited devices) — $44.99 ~~$59.99~~ (save $15)
Surfshark One (28 months) — $75.23 ~~$419.72~~ (save $344.49)
Total AV Antivirus Pro 2023 (Mac) — $19 ~~$119~~ (save $100)
Trend Micro Antivirus+ (one year, one device) — $19.95 ~~$39.95~~ (save $20)
Webroot Antivirus (one year, one device) — $29.99 ~~$39.99~~ (save $10)

The newest Apple Watch is back down to its Cyber Weekend price

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:19:23 +0000

SAVE $70: As of Jan. 12, the Apple Watch Series 9 is just $329 at Amazon. That's a savings of 18%.

Credit: Amazon

Apple Watch Series 9

$329 at Amazon (save $70)

Didn't get the Apple Watch you hoped for over the holidays? Or maybe you missed out on some of the great prices the smartwatches went for on Black Friday and beyond. If you're still hunting for a great Apple Watch deal, now's the perfect time to invest in the newest model as it's currently back down to its Cyber Weekend price.

As of Jan. 12, the Apple Watch Series 9 is just $329 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's $70 off and a discount of 18%. As of the time of writing, that price applies to the 41mm GPS model in the Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Loop, Silver Aluminum Case with Winter Blue Sport Loop, Pink Aluminum Case with Light Pink Sport Loop, and Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Loop colorways.

The Series 9 is a worthy upgrade, despite mostly iterative changes, as Mashable reviewer Stan Schroeder found it a "robust and elite wearable device." He praised it for its "serious power" thanks to its S9 SiP and Ultra Wideband chip, as well as its souped-up peak brightness of up to 2000 nits.

While the Double Tap feature is an interesting addition that uses a simple pinching of your index finger and thumb to perform actions, Schroeder appreciated the Series 9's zippier speed and improved battery life even more, as well as the improved Neural Engine that assists with processing Siri's tasks on the watch itself.

If you're ready for an upgrade or you just want to pick up the latest Apple Watch for yourself, this is a great time to do it. Just be sure to snag yours before they sell out.

Focusing on fitness in 2024? Tonal is offering free delivery and installation for a limited time.

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:52:14 +0000

SAVE $295: As of Jan. 12, Tonal is offering a sweet deal for the new year: For a limited time, you can get free delivery and installation for the fitness mirror, which will save you around $295.

Credit: Tonal

Tonal (with smart accessories)

$3,995 at Tonal (save $295)

The beginning of a new year can be a prime time to set goals and start forming the right habits to achieve them. What those goals entail is entirely up to you, but one that comes up often is focusing on fitness. That's a great goal, but it can be hard to know how to get started if you're not already an experienced gym-goer.

In our opinion, one great way to start is by picking up a fitness mirror — the best ones can pretty much act as an entire home gym, saving you the money and time you'd be spending with a commercial gym membership. One of our favorite fitness mirrors, Tonal, just so happens to be offering a great deal for the start of 2024 — for a limited time, you can get free delivery and installation when you snag one of the luxury devices, saving you about $295 off of your purchase (and when you're spending almost $4,000, every penny counts).

Once Tonal is installed in your home, you'll have access to a wide selection of guided workouts that focus on cardio, strength, mobility, and beyond. If you add on the smart accessory bundle (which we recommend), you'll also be able to challenge yourself with weightlifting exercises. Deputy Shopping Editor, Jae Thomas, really enjoyed their time with Tonal, noting its real-time form feedback, high production value classes, and quality of the strength and weightlifting program as highlights. While Tonal is a steep investment, you do have the option to finance one for yourself to ease some of the upfront cost.

Save $100 when you preorder the Nimble manicure robot

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:16:31 +0000

SAVE $100: Today, Jan. 12, you can save over 14% when you preorder The Nimble Device from Nimble Beauty, taking the price down to $599 from $699.

Credit: Nimble Beauty

The Nimble Device

$599 (save $100)

Anyone who values a good manicure knows that going to the salon can get expensive, but while doing it yourself at home might save you some money, it doesn't always turn out exactly as you hoped. Now, there's a way to get a professional quality manicure right at home (that doesn't involve you having to watch endless TikToks to up your skills).

Meet The Nimble Device, the first-ever manicure robot that just made its debut at CES 2024, where Mashable contributor Cecily Mauran got to test it out. As of today, Jan. 12, you can preorder The Nimble Device from Nimble Beauty and save $100. This brings the price down from $699 to $599. While the sale price is still undeniably an investment, it has the potential to save regular manicure-getters money in the long run. For a limited time, Nimble Beauty is also including the Bestsellers Polish Bundle with your order, which has a $50 value. If you want to be among the first to experience The Nimble Device for yourself, this is a smart time to buy.

Mauran shares how The Nimble Device measured up in her review. "Since there was high demand to test out Nimble, I was only able to get one nail painted. But within minutes, I got polish and a topcoat, and my nail was fully dry," she writes. "If you're like me and struggle with painting your dominant hand, and just want a convenient and clean paint job, Nimble is precise and on par with the pros."

Make The Nimble Device yours when you preorder today from Nimble Beauty.

What to expect from Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked January event

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:32:55 +0000

Samsung is about to launch new smartphone flagships, and we're so here for it.

The company's first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17. The live stream, which will be available on Samsung's website, starts at 1 p.m. ET.

Let's take a quick break here and note that this is very early in the year for a Samsung phone unveiling. The company typically launches its Galaxy S series smartphones in very late January or February, with last year's Galaxy S23 having arrived on February 1.

Officially, we know nothing about what's coming, except that there's going to be a lot of talk about AI (the event's tagline is "Galaxy AI is coming."

Samsung Galaxy S24

However, it's not that hard to guess that the star of the show will be Samsung's new smartphone flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S24.

(Side note: Can you believe we're already at number 24? Samsung launched the first S smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S, back in 2010, but it skipped some numbers, jumping from S10 to S20 in 2020.)

We're probably getting three new Galaxy S variants: The Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Rumors say the design won't change that much. The biggest change across the range might be a flatter display with slimmer bezels for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

In terms of specs, once again, don't expect massive changes. We're talking slight improvements to the displays and cameras, though the new phones will very likely get the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. One particularly interesting rumor says that the entire Galaxy S24 line will start with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.

Finally, when it comes to pricing, we expect the prices to remain the same as last year.

Artificial intelligence

This year's event will be just as much about software as it is about hardware. More specifically, Samsung will make some artificial intelligence announcements, and will be positioning the new phones as "AI phones."

This will surely apply to camera tech, and Samsung has already teased that "zoom with Galaxy AI is coming."

But the company is likely to integrate its own upcoming generative AI model, the recently announced Gauss AI, into the phones. From what we can tell at this point, it will be similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and will consist of three parts: Gauss Language, Gauss Code and Gauss Image. Details are scarce at this point, but given the emphasis Samsung has put on the AI side of things, we expect these phones to be a good deal smarter than before.

Something other than phones?

Sometimes, Samsung uses the Galaxy S24 launch event to showcase new devices that aren't phones, such as laptops, fitness trackers, or tablets. This year, there's chatter about new Galaxy Book Pro laptops as well as a new Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker. As always, take all these predictions with a grain of salt until Samsung gives the official word.

How to watch Africa Cup of Nations online for free

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:34:05 +0000

TL;DR: Access free live streams of AFCON 2023 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's that special time when it seems like all of Africa comes together for a festival of football.

The Africa Cup of Nations is like nothing else. This competition throws together some of the world's best international teams, players, and fans. And the result is always entertaining. We really can't wait to see how things play out. And you can do the same without spending anything.

If you want to watch the African Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is AFCON 2023?

The Africa Cup of Nations (or AFCON) is the main international men's association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football, and was first held in 1957.

Egypt is the most successful nation in the competition's history, winning the tournament seven times. Senegal are the current champions, having beaten Egypt on penalties in the 2021 final.

When is AFCON 2023?

The 2023 African Cup of Nations is the 34th edition of the biennial tournament. It will be hosted by Ivory Coast for the second time.

This edition of the tournament was initially planned to take place during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions. However, it was postponed due to the adverse summer weather concerns in Ivory Coast.

AFCON 2023 will now take place from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11.

Where to watch AFCON 2023?

There are plenty of options when it comes to watching the 2023 African Cup of Nations:

Australia — beIN Sports or Kayo Sports
Belgium — RTBF
Brazil — Band TV
Canada — FuboTV
France — beIN Sports
Germany — Sportdigital
Italy — SportItalia
Nigeria — NTA (free and recommended)
Netherlands — Zigo Sport
Nordics — Viaplay
Portugal — SportTV
South Africa — SABC Sport (free and recommended)
Spain — LaLiga+
UK — BBC iPlayer (free and recommended) or Sky Sports
USA — beIN Sports via Sling TV, FuboTV, Fanatiz, YouTube TV, or Hulu with Live TV

Unfortunately, a lot of these services are not free. And if they are free, they are geo-restricted to a certain location, meaning you'll be blocked it you attempt to connect from another country. That is unless you're equipped with a VPN.

How to watch AFCON 2023 for free

The good news is that AFCON 2023 will be shown free-to-air with popular services like NTA, SABC Sport, and BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is showing 10 games including both semi-finals and the final. NTA and SABC Sport are offering free live streaming of every game from the tournament.

All of these services are geo-restricted to certain locations, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to connect from anywhere else in the world. All is not lost though, because anyone can access these free services with a VPN. These powerful tools hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of AFCON 2023 by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage (Nigeria, South Africa, or the UK)
Visit NTA, SABC Sport, or BBC iPlayer
Watch AFCON 2023 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch AFCON 2023 for free.

What is the best VPN for streaming?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming sport, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 94 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to five simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Watch the Africa Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How is 'Killers of the Flower Moon' different from the book?

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon is not just a brilliant film, but a brilliant adaptation, too.

The film takes on journalist David Grann's nonfiction book of the same name, which explores the organized murders of the Osage people from 1921 to 1926. This string of murders, committed so the white perpetrators could gain access to the oil-rich Osage victims' wealth, became known as the Reign of Terror.

While local law enforcement unsurprisingly did nothing to stop the murders, the FBI — then in its early days — sent agents to Oklahoma to investigate. Grann spends much of Killers of the Flower Moon examining their involvement, subtitling the book: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. He dives into the state of the young bureau under J. Edgar Hoover, as well as the background of former Texas Ranger Tom White (played in the film by Jesse Plemons), who became instrumental in solving the case.

Scorsese and his co-screenwriter Eric Roth omit almost all of that.

Instead of focusing primarily on the FBI's role in the Osage murders, Scorsese and Roth make the marriage between Osage woman Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) and white rancher Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) the heart of the film. The shift's effect is twofold. It expands on a relationship that Grann leaves mostly a mystery in the book, giving the Osage more of a voice in the story in the process. It also alters the way we perceive the murders themselves. Grann presents them as a mystery to be solved, but Scorsese gives us the killers from the jump, getting us up close and personal with the evil that motivated the Reign of Terror.

Killers of the Flower Moon is not a whodunnit.

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Killers of the Flower Moon." Credit: Apple TV+

Where Grann's book plays out like a real-life whodunnit, with White and his men scrambling to find the criminals at the heart of the Osage murders, Scorsese wastes no time in revealing the scheme's mastermind and his accomplices. They are William Hale (Robert de Niro), so-called "King" of the Osage Hills; his nephews Ernest and Byron Burkhart (Scott Shepherd); and a massive web of co-conspirators, including doctors and outlaws.

Originally, Scorsese intended Killers of the Flower Moon to lean further into the FBI aspect of Grann's book, with DiCaprio taking on the role of White. But in an interview with The New Yorker's Richard Brody, Scorsese revealed several reasons why this approach wouldn't work for the story he wanted to tell.

For one, the identities of the murderers would be far too obvious. "[The FBI agents] come in from Washington, and the moment they get off that train, the moment they enter that town, you look around and you see Bob De Niro, you see so-and-so — 'I know who did it.' The audience is way ahead of us," Scorsese told Brody.

That approach would also make the film more of a police procedural, with the FBI searching for answers throughout the Osage Nation just as they do in the second section of Grann's book. "In the book, it works," Scorsese said in The New Yorker. "But a police procedural, for me, I’ll watch it, but I can’t do it. I don’t know how to do it. I don’t know how to do the plot."

Shifting away from the FBI and police procedural stylings allows Scorsese to work in more familiar territory for him. He often places audiences in the point of view of criminals, from the gangsters of Goodfellas to the white collar crooks of The Wolf of Wall Street. Here, we experience much of Killers of the Flower Moon through Ernest's eyes — and the effect is sobering.

In following Ernest, Scorsese makes us live beside the callous greed behind the Osage murders. We watch backroom deals with hit men and insurance fraud schemes meant to profit off Osage deaths. We see a total disregard for human life in the pursuit of more money. And we always, always know who's to blame. No shadowy, murderous figure pulling the strings here, just men on the screen who we've been following for hours.

Making matters worse is the fact that these murderers couldn't be more obvious in their intent. Ernest has a full-on shouting match in the middle of the street about a proposed murder. Kelsie Morrison (Louis Cancelmi) can barely hide his plans to kill his adopted children in order to gain their headrights. There's a sickening casualness to their actions, a feeling not only that they're invincible, but that they're simply going through the motions in order to get the money they think they're owed.

Only Hale manages to put up a non-suspicious front — at least in public. In private, we see his true views of the Osage: That they're just obstacles on the way to getting more money. That knowledge about Hale, which we don't get until later in Grann's book, makes every instance where he grieves the dead or offers assistance with the investigation sting even more. The same goes for Ernest's marriage to Mollie, one of the few places where Ernest appears to experience even a shred of remorse about his relentless quest for riches.

Killers of the Flower Moon centers on a doomed marriage.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone in "Killers of the Flower Moon." Credit: Apple TV+

In de-centering the FBI, Killers of the Flower Moon moves its attention to Mollie and Ernest's marriage. Mollie's trust in Ernest, and his subsequent betrayal of that trust, plays like a microcosm of the larger conflict of the film. People like Hale gained the trust and friendship of members of the Osage Nation, even getting to sit in on meetings where the Osage discussed how to deal with the murders. But Hale and his co-conspirators were wolves in sheep's clothing, using that trust for their own gain.

With Ernest and Mollie, though, Scorsese also explores the confounding love the two share, even as Ernest systematically murders Mollie's entire family. In his meetings with the current-day Osage tribe, which dramatically shaped Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese learned from descendants of families like the Burkharts that Mollie and Ernest really were in love. As Scorsese told Brody in The New Yorker interview, a guiding question for the film became, "How did Mollie stay with Ernest?" Did she know what he was doing, and was she deceiving herself of the fact? Did she think their love could overcome his crimes? These are ideas that Grann's book doesn't grapple much with, leaving space wide open for Scorsese to delve deeper into Mollie's character.

Focusing on Mollie and her family also helped bring the Osage perspective more to the forefront of the film. In various interviews, including one in Rolling Stone exploring his collaboration with the Osage Nation, Scorsese discusses how the Osage were concerned that this crucial part of their history would not be done justice, that they would be portrayed as victims in the background of a white savior narrative. Expanding on Mollie's role is one of many ways in which Scorsese endeavors to surface the Osage perspective, with others including working with Osage language and clothing consultants behind the scenes. The film even interrogates the notion that White and his men are white saviors come to rescue the Osage from their tormentors. When White first arrives, the Osage tribe asks him why the U.S. government hasn't intervened until now — is the government truly concerned? Or is it just now getting involved because the Osage paid them?

**As in Grann's book, Killers of the Flower Moon brings its history to the present.**

Lily Gladstone and Martin Scorsese while shooting "Killers of the Flower Moon." Credit: Apple TV+

Grann's book is divided into three parts. Part one covers the Reign of Terror, as well as the history of the Osage tribe's forced move to Oklahoma. Part two introduces the FBI and Tom White and ends with Hale's conviction. Part three, titled "The Reporter," follows Grann's personal journeys to Oklahoma to conduct research between 2012 to 2015. There, he speaks to Burkhart descendants and other members of the Osage tribe. His research also leads him to discover hundreds of murders that the FBI never investigated, meaning hundreds more Osage families who never received any kind of justice.

Story-wise, Scorsese and Roth only adapt the first two sections of Killers of the Flower Moon, reframing or omitting certain elements to better suit the film's project. However, the third section of the book still comes through thematically in the film's very last scenes.

In one of Killers of the Flower Moon's final sequences, we see a J. Edgar Hoover approved-radio show telling the story of the Osage murders, decades after they occurred. Performed by an all-white cast, the radio show is flippant in its treatment of the murders we've spent the last three hours watching, speaking to the erasure of the true horrors of the Reign of Terror in American (specifically, wealthy white American) culture. The only moment of solemnity comes when Scorsese himself takes the stage, reading Mollie's obituary.

As with Grann's present-day investigations, Scorsese's cameo reads like the storyteller behind Killers of the Flower Moon bearing witness to the history he's entrenched himself in. The Reign of Terror is not taught widely in schools, nor is it a commonly known moment in American history. There is regret in Grann's writing about this failure to fully bring to light the vast conspiracy to murder the Osage, and to preserve these memories in American culture. There's a similar regret in Scorsese's voice as he reads Mollie's obituary.

Yet despite this regret from Grann and Scorsese, both their versions of Killers of the Flower Moon end on more of a hopeful note for the Osage tribe of today. The very last shot of Scorsese's film is an overhead view of the present-day tribe, dancing in a circle around a group of drummers. It's an image of a culture enduring, even after concentrated attempts to stamp it out both from people like Hale and from the U.S. government itself.

Similarly, Grann spends part of the final section of his book speaking with descendants of Osage murder victims and learning about how they remember the murders and how they continue to live today, even with those unspeakably painful memories. Upon one his first visits to Osage county, he quotes Osage historian Louis F. Burns, who wrote in the preface of his History of the Osage People that even when "only shreds and tatters remained" of the Osage, "these remnants turned to the present" and sought to rise "from the ashes of their past."

Killers of the Flower Moon is now streaming on Apple TV+.
David Grann's book Killers of the Flower Moon is available for purchase on Amazon.

UPDATE: Jan. 11, 2024, 5:34 p.m. EST This article was originally republished for the theatrical release of "Killers of the Flower Moon." It has been republished for the film's streaming debut.

'Poor Things' screenwriter Tony McNamara on the flawed humanity of Bella

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:24:46 +0000

Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko speaks to Poor Things screenwriter Tony McNamara about the creativity of literary adaptations, and Bella's (Emma Stone) flawed humanity.

Poor Things is now in cinemas.

'The Book of Clarence' review: The year’s first great comedy is a Biblical epic

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:12:57 +0000

The line between straightforward drama and riotous satire blurs in The Book of Clarence, the second feature film by The Harder They Fall's Jeymes Samuel (stage name: The Bullitts). The English singer-turned-filmmaker sinks his teeth into an ambitious inquiry of faith and morality, with an imagined tale of a wannabe thirteenth Apostle in 33 A.D., who decides to become a new Messiah.

The result is hilarious, romantic, deeply introspective, and surprisingly spiritual for a film that balances an atheistic approach to faith with a distinctly Christian worldview. Though let it not be said that The Book of Clarence is at all agnostic in presentation. It looks simultaneously backward and forward, recalling the Biblical epics of Hollywood's Golden Age, while taking a transformative approach to its ecclesiastical tale.

With a mostly-Black ensemble, the film acts implicitly (and through one hilarious punchline, explicitly) as a corrective to history’s numerous whitewashed Bible films. Samuel further unfurls this racial dynamic into a larger, all-encompassing saga about not just modern Blackness and state oppression, but the modern conundrum of faith, topics it covers while delicately balancing deft visual comedy and emotional sincerity.

Who is Clarence in The Book of Clarence?

Credit: Legendary Entertainment / Moris Puccio

After its Ben-Hur inspired opening titles, The Book of Clarence fittingly begins with a chariot race, in which Mary Magdalene (Teyana Taylor) overtakes best friends Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) and Elijah (RJ Cyler) on the streets of Jerusalem. The film has its farcical elements, but this opening scene isn’t one of them. Rather, it seeks to establish a straightforward approach to character — the film introduces most relationships through movement, tone, and body language, not just dialogue — as well as a matter-of-fact-ness surrounding the idea that the no-good, street level hoodlum Clarence is a Biblical Forrest Gump, intersecting with key figures in the life of Jesus Christ (Nicholas Pinnock), and speaking to them with a mix of medieval “Ye Olde” English and modern AAVE.

Clarence, a known troublemaker, is an atheist, while his estranged, pious twin brother (also played by Stanfield) happens to be the Apostle Thomas. However, the rift between them doesn’t come down to their faith in God, but their faith in each other — or lack thereof — in terms of their personal convictions. Thomas believes the wayward Clarence will never amount to anything. Clarence, meanwhile, holds Thomas’ blinkered dedication to Jesus against him, because it means turning his back on their ailing mother (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), with whom Clarence maintains a friendly, heartfelt dynamic.

Credit: Legendary Entertainment / Moris Puccio

As it happens, Clarence is also deeply in love with Varina (Anna Diop), the sister of one of his creditors: the vengeful Jedediah the Terrible (Eric Kofi-Abrefa). Between a brother he resents (and hopes to one-up) and a love interest one degree away from a dangerous man who wants him dead, Clarence cooks up a scheme to get in Jedediah’s good graces. But when his attempts to become Jesus' 13th Apostle fail, he tries the next best thing: conning his way into Messiah status by manufacturing miracles, in order to earn not only respect, but enough contributions to settle his debts.

There’s a depth to Clarence that Stanfield conveys through his eyes alone. The character is always thinking, considering his next move, and reflecting on his social and moral status. As the film goes on, everything he wants, whether marriage, respect, or freedom from debt, all appear possible if he decides to tidy up his act and be a better, more responsible man. However, while the most obvious path in such stories certainly lies before him — embracing faith and finding God — The Book of Clarence isn’t concerned with a solution this simple. Clarence always sticks to his atheistic guns, because Samuel’s story isn’t about a man finding faith. Rather, it’s about a man working within the same spiritual and ethical framework as those seeking religious salvation. It’s a story about what it takes to become a better person, and the way it’s told is both dazzling and tongue-in-cheek.

The Book of Clarence is a visually-inspired comedy.

Credit: Legendary Entertainment / Moris Puccio

Generally, modern Hollywood comedies take a risk-free aesthetic approach, between flat lighting that conveys little, blocking that conveys even less, and framing geared towards having comedians improvise dialogue. The Book of Clarence shatters that mold completely, by drawing on the classical formalism of the epics on which it riffs (you’re likely to find homages to William Wyler and George Stevens alongside modern tricks like Snorricam).

The film also has no qualms about magical realism, despite its focus on a nonbeliever. On the streets of Jerusalem, hashish gets you high — literally. It makes you float like a hot air balloon. Enlightenment arrives cartoonishly, in the form of glowing white light above your head (lightbulbs haven’t been invented yet), while poetic flirtation, during which couples gaze longingly at one another, is so intoxicating that it changes the color of one’s eyes. Even Jesus is imbued with supernatural abilities akin to Neo from The Matrix (his physical presence, however, is so otherworldly as to be overwhelming; Pinnock conveys an elegant sense of love and wisdom through his gaze).

Despite the movie often breaking the immersion of its antiquated dialogue — at one point, Joseph calls Clarence a “dumbass” — it never turns its back on its visual palette, courtesy of cinematographer Rob Hardy. It’s a gorgeous looking movie, with the warmth and flicker of candle lights illuminating interior scenes, and gentle, soft-focus close-ups capturing Clarence and Varina’s stolen moments of intimacy.

The humor is also punctuated by sudden movements of the frame; it’s a consistently watchable film. That might sound like backhanded praise, but The Book of Clarence is the kind of movie you could watch on mute — which is to say, really watch and understand through its visuals alone. Of course, the precision of its filmmaking would amount to little if what the camera was capturing weren’t so daring and fascinating in the first place.

Jeymes Samuel crafts a smart and rigorous satire.

Credit: Legendary Entertainment / Moris Puccio

Like his first film, the revisionist Western The Harder They Fall, Samuel remixes the myth and history with one eye on the present. With an all-star cast of Black actors from various countries — England’s David Oyelowo plays a sarcastic, short-tempered John the Baptist; French star Omar Sy plays Clarence’s loyal warrior sidekick Barnabas — the film’s casting is deeply political, though not merely through its optics. The characters’ accents run the gamut from American and English to Jamaican and West African (some of the actors are Nigerian and Senegalese), and Samuel is hardly subtle about his social commentary about modern Blackness as a western construct, and the experiences that bind it.

Whenever Roman guards enter the picture, all played by white actors, the racial dynamic becomes overt through both dialogue and action. They behave as historical oppressors would, but some of their specifics are modulated to match how American police officers might behave, like throwing a spear at an unarmed character running away before claiming self-defense — which ultimately leads to a moving subplot about Black resilience in the face of adversity.

This is, however, arguably the meta-textual theme as well. In The Book of Clarence, the suffering of Christ-like figures (whether Clarence or Jesus himself) comes laced with contemporary commentary through fleeting but memorable lines of dialogue — most notably, from Clarence’s mother, who sees the bigger picture of the danger her son is in. If to suffer is to be Christ-like, then how does one confront the notion of an entire people being forced to suffer under the boot-heels of white supremacy?

Credit: Legendary Entertainment / Moris Puccio

Like Jesus, Clarence draws the ire of Roman governor Pontius Pilate (James McAvoy) for his claims of divinity, and the story takes on additional layers the more Clarence’s tale begins to resemble the Bible. While there was no historical or Biblical equivalent to Clarence, Thomas is believed, by some, to be the brother of Jesus — perhaps even his twin — making Samuel’s choice of family connection especially meaningful, as though he had created Clarence as a stand-in for Jesus himself, and for Messianic ideas he wished to explore.

By having two simultaneous Jesus stories unfolding at once, The Book of Clarence is able to confront and reckon with two different paths to scrutinizing morality — religious and non-religious — while presenting a divine and supernatural version of Jesus (as has appeared in numerous films) alongside a a corruptible Messiah with human foibles. While the movie’s version of Jesus has a powerful, all-knowing, all-loving aura, Clarence struggles on a daily basis with the question of whether he can transcend his selfishness despite not believing in God.

The film’s very premise represents a modern crisis of faith in the face of oppression (fewer Black Americans, for instance, have identified as religious in recent years), and Samuel creates dueling embodiments of Jesus by employing a long-held debate about his divinity as though it were a narrative prism. The Book of Clarence uses the dilemma between believing in Jesus, the divine prophet, and Jesus the mortal man — believing in scripture or history — to split the very concept of Jesus in two, but without ever presenting them as mutual exclusives.

It's a stunning reconciliation of ideas usually at odds, taking the form of a knee-slapping historical comedy that proves utterly absorbing and emotionally moving in its finest moments. The Book of Clarence is a farce that takes itself seriously, using clashing questions of belief to turn the well-tread cinematic spectacle of Jesus’ life into a powerful, multifaceted tale of spiritual crisis.

How to watch: The Book of Clarence is now showing in theaters.

Let's talk about 'Killers of the Flower Moon's ending

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000

One of the most anticipated films this year, Killers of the Flower Moon has finally hit cinemas, and it feels like a mammoth achievement. Martin Scorsese's violent and propulsive historical saga is adapted from David Grann's 2017 nonfiction book exploring the conspiracy behind the murders of numerous Osage tribespeople in the 1920s. But the film adaptation remixes Grann's structure, taking a handful of intriguing stylistic liberties. Perhaps the most intriguing flourish is its epilogue, which features a powerful cameo from Scorsese himself.

These murders have featured in major Hollywood films before, but only as a backdrop, such as in Mervyn LeRoy's The FBI Story in 1959. With his epilogue, Scorsese offers salient commentary on how mainstream entertainment has — to ensure white comfort — frequently sanitized such brutality against Native Americans, and how this specific tale has been reduced to an oft-forgotten footnote in the pages of white supremacy.

The events have been fictionalized in numerous novels, but it wasn't until Grann's book that their full scope had been explored. In adapting this story, Scorsese and co-screenwriter Eric Roth refuse to sand down its sickening details, preventing white and other non-Native viewers from being lulled into distant sympathy. After its plot is wrapped up and its killers are caught and convicted, the film remains open-ended in a way, letting its historical wounds linger and fester without bookending them with the traditional closing text of a Hollywood biopic.

Instead, Killers shifts its mode of storytelling. It takes what appears to be a sharp left turn on paper, but this climax proves powerful in execution, fitting perfectly with Scorsese's ambitious mission statement about our collective culpability in American white supremacy, and the erasure of Native suffering from the public consciousness.

**What happens at the end of Killers of the Flower Moon?**

Credit: Apple TV+

After Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) testifies against his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro) — the kingpin behind a serial murder plot to acquire oil rights in Oklahoma — he's confronted by his wife about his own role in the conspiracy. Specifically, Mollie (Lily Gladstone) confronts him about what, if anything, he had been mixing into her insulin shots, strongly implying that she knows he was behind the prolonged illness that nearly took her life.

Despite being given the chance to come clean, Ernest maintains his innocence in a scene where both his festering guilt and Mollie's overwhelming despondency at having been betrayed are nauseating to watch. But as Mollie walks away from Ernest one last time, the scene transitions abruptly to its surprising epilogue. It's set several decades later and features none of the film's main characters.

Where outro text cards might ordinarily provide contemporary context, mentioning what became of each character after the film's conclusion, Scorsese instead dramatizes this concept with a pointed purpose, as if to scrutinize the very idea of "closure" offered by biopics about historical suffering. Where convention might have dictated a touching crescendo, the musical outro to Mollie and Ernest’s final scene is brazen and adventurous.

Instead of fading out, the film transitions suddenly to the 1950s, as an episode of the J. Edgar Hoover-endorsed radio drama True Crime Stories — a fictitious version of shows like The Big Story (1947-1955) and This Is Your FBI (1945-1953) — is being recorded on a theater stage. As a narrator creates a framework and foley artists provide impromptu sound effects, a series of white voice actors (played by the likes of filmmaker Larry Fessenden and Jack White of the White Stripes) step up to a microphone to perform cartoonish versions of characters with whom we've spent the last three hours and change. This also includes caricatured impersonations of Native Americans, as the show dramatizes events that followed Hale's trial.

A well-dressed live audience sits before the performing, laughing and cheering; it's a fun night of casual entertainment. Behind the actors, and the show's orchestra of live musicians, an enormous logo for Lucky Strike looms large. The famous cigarette company is the show's sponsor and its raison d'être; to its corporate executives, how these events are portrayed likely isn't important, so long as the show's version of Ernest mentions their brand.

However, when it comes time to conclude Mollie's story, and the show's narrator mentions her remarriage and her death from diabetes in 1937, her obituary is read aloud by Martin Scorsese himself. From the moment Scorsese appears on screen — shot from a rear angle that highlights his distinct, bespectacled silhouette, as though he were announcing his own arrival — the vibe of the scene shifts dramatically. The snappy, mile-a-minute delivery gives way to a more thoughtful and considered delivery, as the musicians' operatic score and the audience's raucous response is replaced by the reflective silence between Scorsese's words.

After he reads out Mollie's obituary, he makes one departing observation: "There was no mention of the murders."

This line harkens back to the final scene minutes before, between Ernest and his uncle Hal, who attempts to convince his dubious nephew of the futility of testifying in the name of justice for Native Americans. "There might be a public outcry, for a while," Hale whispers. "But then you know what happens? People forget. They don't remember, they don't care. They just don't care. It's just going to be another everyday common tragedy."

Hale, though he represents the uncompromising evil of white supremacy, is correct. The Osage murders would go on to become a historical curio at best to most non-Native Americans. If anything, that a fictitious 1950s radio show would dedicate a whole episode to the killings, racist caricature and all, is an optimistic concoction. The events would appear on a radio broadcast in the '30s (G-Men, later known as Gang Busters) while Mollie was still alive, but after her passing, none of the FBI-centric radio series in the 1940s and '50s would include it in their lineups, as though it had never happened. Even by the time of Mollie's death — a mere decade after the trial — her place as a survivor of one of American history's darkest chapters fails to warrant a mention in her own obituary, as Scorsese reminds us.

However, in its closing shot, the film jumps forward even further in time. Rather than ending on the dour note of historical erasure, as though this were the end of the Osage's story, it pulls out slowly from a close up of a beating drum to an overhead angle of the tribe in modern day, dancing, chanting, and thriving. It's a cinematic celebration of their cultural defiance and spiritual endurance in the face of rampant suffering so often struck from the public narrative. The film wrestles with this dynamic — the opposing forces of historical erasure and course correction — throughout several scenes, culminating in its climactic cameo.

**What does Scorsese's cameo in Killers of the Flower Moon mean?**

Credit: Apple TV+

Scorsese has a tradition of cameos in his films, which dates back to his very first film from 1967, Who's That Knocking at My Door?, in which he plays an uncredited gangster. Across his nearly 20 self-directed cameos, the famed filmmaker usually plays someone interacting with or observing the main characters. In two specific cases — Hugo and The Age of Innocence — that sense of observation becomes distinctly artistic and cinematic, since in both films he plays an early 20th century photographer preserving the characters on film. If you have a keen ear, you might hear his familiar voice in Killers of the Flower Moon's Washington, D.C. scene, when the Osage are posing for a picture. He's directing them to look to the camera. But in the epilogue, Scorsese turns the camera on himself for a distinctly reflective purpose.

By filtering the history of Native genocide and Osage betrayal through the lens of Mollie and Ernest's marriage, Killers of the Flower Moon becomes a dramatic exploration (and exposé) of the collective culpability of white supremacy in the United States. Although only a handful of the film's white characters actually carry out the murders of Native Americans, nearly everyone outside the Osage tribe grants permission to these actions in some way, and ends up benefiting from them. Some provided cover and alibi, looking the other way when necessary, while others indirectly aided the conspiracy with lies and scams of their own. Through his own on-screen presence, Scorsese seems to subtly ask what his own role in this historical hegemony might be, especially against the backdrop of American entertainment

Throughout the film, Scorsese and his Native cast — comprising the likes of Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers, William Belleau, and Tantoo Cardinal — create deeply human portraits of the Osage people. There's a tragic irony to the epilogue being purposefully turned into racist caricature within the radio show performed by a white cast. But here, Scorsese is mindfully illustrating how history and its tragedies are rewritten by those in power, in this case the white colonizers who benefitted by every disenfranchisement of the Native Americans. Such stories are often sanitized for easy enjoyment, either by downplaying the effects of this disenfranchisement and denying Native characters their full humanity (through broad stereotypes like the silent, honorable Native), or by subverting their place in this dynamic altogether, through repeated depictions of Native tribes as inhumane savages who victimize "innocent" white settlers — a common dynamic in Hollywood Westerns.

By recognizing this grim tradition of misrepresentation in its epilogue, Killers of the Flower Moon aims to be a corrective force in this ongoing tradition. It might be the first time many American viewers will have even heard about these murders, despite them having been depicted on screen as far back as the trial itself, in the lost and largely forgotten Tragedies of the Osage Hills by Native filmmaker James Young Deer. Just as the moving image can manipulate a country's self-mythology — archetypes like the heroic cowboy and the "noble savage" have been culturally entrenched for decades — it can also illuminate its real history. For instance, recent HBO shows like Watchmen and Lovecraft Country lead to many American viewers learning of the Tulsa "Black Wall Street" Massacre of 1921. Fittingly, the characters in this film also learn about these Tulsa riots through cinematic news reels, hinting at Scorsese's awareness of cinema's place in the public conversation, and people's understanding of the world.

By making himself the focus in these concluding moments, at a time that coincides with his own childhood and his development as a storyteller — his first short film, Vesuvius VI, was made the same year as The FBI Story — Scorsese re-introduces the question of cinematic culpability. By turning the lens on himself, he transforms this grappling with cinematic history into a personal act. It becomes a vital call to action, demanding a deeper self-assessment by non-Native artists (especially white artists) of their place in this storytelling lineage, and in existing capitalist systems. He recognizes the place of mass entertainment in preserving the past — and in erasing it.

**The epilogue of Killers of the Flower Moon challenges a history of erasure.**

Credit: Apple TV+

Right from its first few scenes, Killers of the Flower Moon portrays the erasures experienced by the Osage tribe — the erasure of its culture and traditions, and the erasure of the Osage people from mainstream American life — using flourishes which draw from literary and cinematic sources. Its opening images, shot in color and widescreen, depict a funeral for a ceremonial pipe rather than a person, symbolizing the loss of Native culture to colonialism; these are taken not from Grann's book but from the novel A Pipe for February by Osage author Charles H. Red Corn, which focuses on the same events. Soon after, when the tribe discovers oil underneath their land, the visual language Scorsese uses to denote their wealth and prosperity is that of early silent cinema, between 4:3 black-and-white footage and inserted title cards.

Coupled with this retro aesthetic, their lavish appearances — from opulent jewelry and flapper outfits, to expensive cars and recreational planes — likens the film's wealthy Osage characters to the larger-than-life stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. This serves a dual purpose: Not only does it quickly tell us about their position in society and the reverence with which their riches were looked upon, but it also acts as an imaginary cinematic corrective. It depicts the film's Native actors as a fixture of the early days of American cinema, a place they were often denied. Scorsese introduces this idea of an alternate cinematic history, only to suddenly interrupt this escapist imagery with stark, violent portrayals of numerous unsolved Osage murders. The last remnants of this black-and-white footage, depicting smiling characters who are soon killed without remorse, ceases to be celebratory. It becomes an obituary in and of itself.

Scorsese's cameo appearance, in which he mentions this erasure, crystalizes the movie's purpose; the director even stands on a stage in front of a microphone as though he were reading from a personal manifesto. His directing prowess has no shortage of critical appraisal, but his place as an actor within his own work is an underrated facet of Scorsese's filmmaking. Some might call director cameos excessive or self-aggrandizing; in Hitchcock's case, they were usually Easter eggs. For Scorsese, these appearances serve a conversational function, but perhaps none more so than in Killers of the Flower Moon.

In concept, the idea of a director centering himself during a film's emotional denouement echoes the prototypical image of an ego-driven auteur. However, there's a knowing and mournful humility to Scorsese's performance here, which warps the film's most farcical scene into its most poignant.

His delivery of Mollie's obituary is a vulnerable lament, from a now-80-year-old filmmaker in the twilight of his career, as though he regrets being unable or unwilling to do more for her and for the Osage tribe — who have now embraced him as "Uncle Marty" — during the preceding years. This is precisely why Killers of the Flower Moon stands as a necessary work in the conversation on American history, cinematic or otherwise. It's not only a reflection of past horrors, but an effort to re-align those horrors with a more detailed understanding of our place within them, as individuals and as a people.

Killers of the Flower Moon is now streaming on Apple TV+.

UPDATE: Jan. 11, 2024, 5:26 p.m. EST This article was originally published for the theatrical release of "Killers of the Flower Moon." It has been republished for the film's streaming debut.

The CES 2024 Sphere challenge: Did iPhone or Android take better photos?

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:08 +0000

The Sphere caught many CES 2024 attendees' eyes as it glittered in the Las Vegas night like a shiny marble. When I visited the world's largest spherical arena, I happened to be lugging around my iPhone 14 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Wouldn't it be a great idea to test both cameras' capabilities in capturing The Sphere? That's what I wondered, and that's what I did. I took pictures of the structure, outside and inside, with both phones' wide lenses.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon/RapidTables

Given that the iPhone 14 Plus sports a mere 12 megapixel wide lens and the Galaxy S22 Ultra offers a 108 megapixel version, the latter seems like the clear winner.

But not so fast.

The iPhone 14 Plus' wide-lens aperture is superior (f/1.5 trumps f/1.8 because a smaller f-stop number infers better light gathering). Plus, the size of the iPhone's pixels appears to be larger and better.

So how does this all translate to actual photos?

The Sphere (outside)

On its vast outside, The Sphere boasts a gigantic, eye-catching display that sometimes advertises brands. At the time I was at the Sphere, it was blasting a Samsung Galaxy ad, aiming to get us pumped for the upcoming Unpacked event.

Here's what happened when I used my iPhone and Android to snap a photo of the Sphere:

Left: Outside of the Sphere (iPhone) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon

Right: Outside of the Sphere (Android) Outside of the Sphere (iPhone) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I asked Jason England, Tom's Guide's Managing Editor of Computing and an expert in mobile devices, to give me an analysis on the photos. Long story short, England prefers the Galaxy S22 Ultra in this round.

"When it comes to nighttime photography, Apple's approach is to try to balance all the light sources, translating into a flatter photo," England said. "However, I prefer Samsung's here as there's more depth and dimension to the shot of the sphere and surrounding lights."

Winner: Android

The Sphere (inside)

Inside was Darren Aronofsky's "Postcard from Earth," an immersive, multi-sensory experience splashed across the venue's bowl-like insides. I snapped multiple pictures showcasing different parts of the "Postcard" experience.

Earth

Left: Inside The Sphere (iPhone) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Right: Inside The Sphere (Android) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

A gorgeous image of the earth appeared — and in this shot, England preferred the iPhone.

"There is a better balance of color across the iPhone's picture," he said. "Samsung's computational photography seems to take the dominant color of a scene (i.e., blue in this case) and alter the hue of the entire shot with it. This explains the cooler hue of the planet that virtually eliminates the green of the land."

Winner: iPhone

Flowers

Left: Inside the Sphere (iPhone) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Darren Aronofsky

Right: Inside the Sphere (Android) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Darren Aronofsky

England gave another win to the iPhone here, for this flower shot. "Samsung's focus on boosting vividness means more intricate details on the flowers are lost," he said. "The iPhone's balanced palette, on the other hand, keeps the veins' clarity for the flowers."

Winner: iPhone

Church

Left: Inside the Sphere (iPhone) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Darren Aronofsky

Right: Inside the Sphere (Android) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Darren Aronofsky

But it wasn't all bad news inside for Android, which England felt delivered the better photo of this virtual church.

"The snapper in the S22 Ultra does a good job of balancing the various light sources in the church and preserving the detail, whereas the darker areas on the iPhone's picture remove the intricacies in the shadows."

Winner: Android

Final thoughts

It looks like the phones are tied here, with Android winning the outside round and Apple winning inside. Of course, this is just England's perspective: check out the photos and decide for yourself.

As for my thoughts: There's a reason why I had two phones in hand. Both the iPhone 14 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra have strengths and weaknesses. If I want to take pictures of things —product shots, must-see attractions — I reached for my iPhone. To my eyes, the photos are more true-to-life, capturing minute, rich details that the naked eye doesn't notice.

However, if I want to take selfies, or other people-based photos, I opt for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The iPhone 14 Plus photo software tends to oversharpen faces, but the Galaxy S22 Ultra appears to smooth out flaws and bring out subjects' undertones.

Your megapixel mileage may vary.

Whoop 4.0 is for people ready to commit to fitness

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

When you start working out, it often feels like the hardest part of making a fitness routine work is finding a way to stick to it. It’s easy to stay motivated for a week — maybe even a few — but eventually the initial sheen of fitness progress starts to fade. It’s that moment, though, that can be pivotal in your fitness journey. Ultimately, the choice to stick to a fitness routine will be up to you, but the Whoop 4.0 puts all the tools at your disposal to make creating and committing to a workout schedule as simple as possible.

You’ve most likely seen ads for the Whoop 4.0 on Instagram — they’re the sleek posts featuring a fitness band that doesn’t have a screen. Like most products heavily advertised on Instagram, I assumed the product was a lot of chic pictures without much substance, but the Whoop 4.0 packs a hell of a punch. Everything works through its accompanying app, which, yes, does require a subscription (an annual membership is $239). The band records metrics to measure your sleep, your heart rate, your recovery, and your calories burned. It also offers features like a daily journal to track your wellness habits, workout coaching, and a community function in which you can compare progress with others.

There is a lot to learn about the Whoop 4.0 and the way it tracks your fitness. Essentially, it measures strain and recovery, and recommends a level of exertion based on those scores. Strain is a number between zero and 21 that’s triangulated by several thoroughly confusing factors meant to indicate how hard your body and mind have been working. Recovery, on the other hand, is a number based on the quality of your sleep, determined by a series of biometrics.

Your strain score represents your body’s total daily exertion. Credit: Whoop

The recovery score measures how your body is adapting to the stress of training or workouts, lack of sleep, illness, or your menstrual cycle. Credit: Whoop

If this sounds confusing, that’s because it is. The Whoop 4.0 was a great workout partner, but understanding how to use it, and how to digest its metrics was akin to taking the SAT. I read paragraph after paragraph of small text in the app, trying to gain an understanding, only to then watch an explainer video and walk away more confused than when I started. In practice, the fitness tracker isn’t hard to use, but to get a sense of what each metric really means, you’ve got to get deep in the weeds.

The Whoop 4.0 is different on purpose

First and foremost this thing doesn’t have a screen. That’s intentional, according to Whoop’s website, so that you can focus on performance instead of a watch face. It was actually nice not to have something flashing, buzzing, or beeping on my arm during my workouts, but when I went for distance runs, it meant that I had no way of knowing how far I’d run. I was forced to keep the app open on my phone, which was a bummer.

Wearing the tracker at night gives you an analysis of your sleep cycles. Credit: Whoop

Whoop tracks your stress levels throughout the day. Credit: Whoop

The Whoop 4.0 purports to be about a more holistic version of fitness, which is why, in addition to tracking how you put your body under stress or strain it also offers a daily habit journal. If you’re consistent with it, the app will offer insights into how your habits affect your sleep and workouts. I found it helpful to note down things like my diet, how working from home affected my mood, or even check in about if I felt “in control of my life,” though it was hard not to feel at least a little judged by the phrasing. Other habit-tracking options, like the option to notate if I had masturbated that day, for instance, felt downright weird and intrusive — it’s not immediately clear where this data is going, and it felt a bit like talking to a personal trainer who was being uncomfortably nosey.

Some of the differences are better than others

Eventually, I gave in to working within the mysterious confines of the strain and recovery metrics, and I enjoyed it for the most part. If the app told me I should go my hardest during a workout that day, I did, and if it told me I needed to recover I took the day off. It was hard to determine what exactly was a high-strain workout — a Crossfit class that left me literally weak in the knees registered as a 12.3 strain, while a mile run came in at 8.1.

With the help of the habits journal I began to see the extreme effect drinking had on my sleep quality, which helped me plan my week much more efficiently. I started to notice habits that affected my mental health and how alert I felt as well. I didn’t miss the step tracking, or live heart rate monitoring that many other fitness bands put front and center, because I was, as advertised, much more focused on my workouts. The Whoop, for its part, was a silent companion while I was at the gym, ready to regale me with data whenever I chose to open the app.

The Whoop has a unique charging situation: Instead of plugging in, you charge a battery pack that slides over the device on your wrist. That means there’s no break in its recording data, but it also means that you’re now keeping track of charging two separate things and that the Whoop itself charges at a snail's pace. Whoop advertises between four and five days of battery life, but I found it to be more like three to four days of battery. It doesn’t seem like a big difference, except that competitors are offering closer to a full seven days of battery for devices, and charging a device twice a week is one more thing to think about.

Is Whoop 4.0 worth it?

This is a fitness band that is built to create a workout routine that will stick. While competitors seem more interested in weaving in movement and activity throughout the day — going for a light walk around the block for instance — the Whoop 4.0 is about building serious, effective, and rigorous workouts that will definitely challenge you.

Were there a few functional downsides? Sure. The app, through which everything runs, was pretty laggy. Connecting to that band to update metrics took a while, which could be annoying at times. The battery, too, presented challenges. Dealbreakers? Certainly not, but they’re small missteps in design that add up in the user experience. They don’t dim the shine of the fantastic, if not initially confusing, spread of metrics and coaching offerings the Whoop 4.0 features.

Jon Hamm's bad cop brings out the best in 'Fargo'

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jon Hamm clearly knows dick. From king dick Don Draper on Mad Men to that cult leader dick on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to that dick who left Kristen Wiig standing on the side of the road in Bridesmaids, his dicks have always been where it's at. And Hamm is serving career-best dick on the fifth and currently airing season of Noah Hawley's anthology series Fargo.

Hamm's Golden-Globe-nominated performance as Sheriff Roy Tillman, a sneering libertarian maniac who terrorizes his entire town — up to and very much including his own family — is so reprehensible a man that the word "dick" doesn't even begin to cover it. But it's a good start!

Hamm has long been relied on to play a captivating cad. Don Draper looked great (understatement, that) and he occasionally lightened up, and the others were chaotically funny enough to lure us in. But with Fargo, Hamm has resolutely cast aside his charms. To flatly call Tillman toxic masculinity made manifest would undersell that toxicity. But Hamm never does. Whether he's threatening a random healthcare worker with blackmail or chaining his ex to a bed — so he can go toss a dead body down a well — he's leaning all the way in here. And it's some of his finest work, utterly noxious though it may be.

Step aside, Jon Hamm's nipple rings!

Credit: Michelle Fay / FX

There was no way to anticipate this at the season's start. All of the press stories that surrounded the premiere episode gleefully focused on Hamm's hot-tub nude scene, and the prosthetic nipple rings he's seen rocking therein. But it turns out we were too busy staring at Hamm's bared butt to notice the great big dick standing right in front of us, warning us to hate him. All of that only became clear as Tillman's utter humorlessness and his raging ego took center stage. This surly sheriff has no wit and no style. One loses count of the number of times he uses the word "subservient." He is an ugly ruin of a man, out to ruin everything within reach.

By the penultimate episode of Season 5, seeing all of the horrific things he's done, there's no mistaking his menace. Nor is there any mistaking what it's done for the show itself. Season 5 has turned out to be a spectacular return to form for the series, the best the show's had to offer since the second season back in 2015 (aka the one where Kirsten Dunst met Jesse Plemons and they gave us relationship goals for life). Hamm's malignant performance as Sheriff Tillman isn't the only cause of that reinvigoration — the rest of the cast top to bottom is on fire, too. But his performance is so fearless and fearsome that it demands celebrating.

Jon Hamm makes Fargo Season 5 a high point for the franchise.

Credit: Michelle Fay / FX

Like a severed leg jiggling in a wood chipper, the previous season of Fargo, which aired in 2020, made us fear there might be nowhere left for the show to go. But it turns out Hawley had an ace up his sleeve, one we'd stopped daring to even dream about. With Season 5 he decided to finally tackle the Coens' original 1996 film — which this anthology series has purposefully avoided before now (save a few subtle Easter eggs).

But Hawley's no fool. He knows that a beat-for-beat reenactment of that masterpiece would be pointless. It's too ingrained in our cultural memory. So, he smartly turned that recognition against us, weaponizing it. Where the Coens managed to find enough sweetness in their Midwestern melange to keep up with the sour, Hawley submerges it all in a poison that feels more appropriate to our darker moment in history. And every wrench he tosses into the works keeps uncovering blacker depths.

So instead of a clueless housewife getting snared by her shitty's husband's ransom plot, Hawley delivers an extremely-not-clueless housewife who's got her own secret life (not to mention her own badass set of survival skills) this time around. Juno Temple stars as Dot, though that isn't her real name. Turns out "Dot" has been on the run from her abusive ex for years — an abusive ex who also happens to be a sheriff. And a dick. And who is played by Jon Hamm.

Fargo Season 5 is the Jon Hamm vs. Juno Temple show.

Credit: Michelle Fay / FX

That's not to say that Fargo's fifth season is a two-hander. Outstanding support comes from Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dot's rich-bitch mother-in-law (who finally uncovered some hinted-at depths in the most recent episode), Dave Foley as her eye-patched fixer, Richa Moorjani as the Gunderson-esque townie law enforcement, and Joe Keery as the Sheriff's shitbag son, Gator.

But all of those characters work in service of pushing Dot and Roy toward their presumed big showdown. Lord knows what twists Hawley still has up his sleeves for the finale. The seventh episode, which hinged on a real rug-puller of a dream sequence, was particularly devastating, with its brutal cut from a scene of female empowerment to an 18-wheeler literally crashing through it. All this underscores how badly we want to see Sheriff Roy get his comeuppance, while also making sure the show never loses sight of how we live in a world where these kinds of bad people may never get their just desserts.

Jon Hamm creates a Trump analog with Tillman.

Credit: Michelle Fay / FX

It's telling that Hawley set this story in 2019, sickeningly square in Trump Country. And wherever the finale lands us, it's clear that Hawley's vision of this place is a far, far darker one than even the Coens — bathing the snow in arterial spray — could manage in the Clinton years of '96. Gone is the plucky Margie Gunderson wondering what the world's come to over a little bit of money. Now, it's Sheriff Tillman standing over a man he's in the middle of murdering asking, "If you're so smart, why are you so dead?" The show isn't quite having an ACAB moment (we do have a couple of decent police officers on the scene). But if it doesn't quite want to show that all cops are bastards, all of the bastards on the show are cops. And that's a long way off from where the Coens ended their tale.

"Minnesota Nice" — defined by the show during the premiere as "an aggressively pleasant demeanor…no matter how bad things get" — has curdled into full-on aggression. And nowhere is that more evident than it is in Hamm's hands. He speaks every line curtly, as if every huffed syllable is meant to be the final say. An implied fist hits with every punctuation. He keeps his eyes set staunchly to piggish taunt. Any sparkle that Don Draper might've had is D.O.A. here, where his demeanor only stinks of straw and muck and cold, unspeakable things on the bottoms of his boots.

Yet for all the villain's macho posturing, Hawley keeps triumphantly finding fresh ways to humiliate Sheriff Tillman. There's a gem of a scene where Jennifer Jason Leigh cuts him straight down to nothing ("You're fighting for your right to be a baby"). Later, he gets hilariously upstaged during a live debate for his reelection that, with its satirical image of half a dozen morons prattling arrogant gibberish, dials the Trump factor up to 20.

Through Hamm's arc, Hawley makes clear the true battle here: In one corner you have a world capable of joy, while on the other stands a man so dead inside that he wants to twist the world to match. Hawley winds that tension of Tillman's twisted quest so tight that at times it's nigh tough to breathe. It's like Joe Pesci's "How am I funny?" moment in Goodfellas magnified —Hawley is showing us how the clowns have turned on us, and how we've all been shell-shocked into traumatic silence. But maybe — just maybe — through Dot's relentlessness, he offers a hint of hope by suggesting what we have to do about such bullies.

Fargo Season 5 is now streaming on Hulu.

'True Detective: Night Country' review: A can't-miss mystery with ghostly bite

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A chill hits your bones mere frames into True Detective: Night Country.

I'll credit some of that creeping cold to the show's location: Ennis, Alaska, 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle. There's nothing there but vistas of crisp, cold blue, extending as far as the eye can see. Even if you're watching Night Country draped in blankets in your warmest room, one look at the infinite ice is enough to make your breath catch in your throat and fog in front of your face.

But more chilling still is Night Country's opening scene. The sun, which is setting for the last time before weeks of endless night, passes behind a calm herd of elk. As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, the elk sniff the air, perk up their ears, and charge off a cliff en masse. What led to this leap into the abyss? Was it some kind of group madness? Or did something — some unknown, unseen force — drive them to it?

That tension between madness and the supernatural, the maybe-real and maybe-paranormal, is what drives True Detective's extraordinary fourth season. Yes, you can certainly expect several of the hallmarks of the much beloved Season 1: A tortured pair of detectives with a contentious relationship, a deeply atmospheric murder case, and even hints at the occult. But in the hands of new showrunner Issa López — who has taken the reins from show creator and exec producer Nic Pizzolatto — True Detective: Night Country leans harder into horror, a choice that perfectly suits its icy, pitch-black setting. That, coupled with two powerhouse leads in Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, makes for a gripping season of television that pays tribute to the True Detective that came before — but more importantly, paves the way forward into something new.

**What is True Detective: Night Country about?**

Jodie Foster and Finn Bennett in "True Detective: Night Country." Credit: Michele K. Short / HBO

Every detective story needs a case, and True Detective: Night Country's is a doozy. As the long night falls over Ennis, eight men working at the remote Tsalal Arctic Research Station go missing. When they do turn up, they're miles out on the ice, fully naked, and frozen together in a grotesque "corpsicle." Grim stuff, with no answers in sight.

The bizarro nature of the case leads Ennis Police Chief Elizabeth Danvers (Foster) to label it a "shitbowl." But that doesn't stop her from seeking out who might be responsible, especially when evidence found at Tsalal links back to a cold case from six years ago: the murder of Iñupiaq activist Annie Masu Kowtok (Nivi Pedersen).

Also on the hunt for answers is trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis). She carries the weight of Annie's unsolved murder with her, even after her dogged pursuit of justice led to her demotion. While Navarro's relationship with Danvers may have soured years ago, the two resolve to work together one last time to understand what, exactly, happened at Tsalal.

True Detective: Night Country gives us two astounding new leads in Danvers and Navarro.

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in "True Detective: Night Country." Credit: Michele K. Short/HBO

The core of True Detective has always been the relationship between its leading detectives: the long nights spent obsessing over a case, the conversations and secrets shared over car rides. That's no different here, with the prickly dynamic between Danvers and Navarro blazing at the heart of Night Country's frigid story. On the basest levels, you can draw a line between this pair and that of True Detective's very first season: Much like the philosophical musings of Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) often ticked off realist Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson), so too do Navarro's more spiritual leanings grate on straight-shooter Danvers. But make no mistake, these women are not rip-offs. They're wholly their own.

Danvers gets on the nerves of seemingly everyone she meets, from a mining bigwig whose husband she slept with to subordinates like police officer Hank Prior (John Hawkes). That suits her just fine: If she doesn't like you, she doesn't give a damn what you think of her. Things get trickier with people she cares more about, like her stepdaughter Leah (Isabella Star LaBlanc) or officer (and Hank's son) Peter (Finn Bennett). How can she let people in when she's too busy barreling across the frozen wastes in search of killers? Foster, phenomenal as always, brings a gritty intensity to Danvers, along with a wry streak of humor that lends a dark season a tad of levity.

In her first TV role, former boxer Reis matches Foster beat for beat, with a powerful screen presence that grips you tightly every second she's on camera. Her Navarro is a fierce fighter with a vulnerable, spiritual streak. She can't stand by while women, especially Indigenous women, are hurt and ignored by the Ennis community — a trait that sometimes drives her to make impulsive, not-quite-legal decisions. She also has a conflicted relationship with God and the possibility that there is more to life than just our world. With a troubled family history, including her sister Julia's (Aka Niviâna) ongoing struggles with mental illness, and visions calling to her from across the ice, Navarro sometimes feels caught between the real and the supernatural. Just like True Detective: Night Country as a whole.

True Detective: Night Country is a hypnotic ghost story.

Kali Reis in "True Detective: Night Country." Credit: Michele K. Short / HBO

True Detective is no stranger to flirting with the paranormal, albeit to varying degrees, depending on your interpretation. But López, known for her horror film Tigers Are Not Afraid, positions us squarely in the realm of ghost stories. Whispered voices issue cryptic warnings. Apparitions guide characters closer to answers. The dead may not always be gone.

Ennis functions as the perfect location for this strangeness to play out. Self-described as "the end of the world" and shrouded in nonstop darkness for months of the year, the town is as close as True Detective can get to the barrier between Earth and whatever lays beyond. For some residents of Ennis, any ghostly happenings are just a part of living there. Survivalist Rose Aguineau (Fiona Shaw) calmly tells people that she gets visits from her late husband. At one point, a resident simply says, "This is Ennis, man. You see people sometimes."

So, are the ghosts just a part of living in the night? Or are they as real as the snow that crunches below Danvers and Navarro's boots? True Detective: Night Country leaves you enough wiggle room to make the call for yourself, forgoing easy answers in favor of deep, dark atmosphere.

All this talk of ghosts doesn't mean True Detective: Night Country steers clear of real-world evils and issues. Night Country is as much a portrait of an embattled isolated community as it is a ghost story. Many of the people of Ennis, especially the Indigenous community, protest the mining operation polluting their water. That same operation fights back with the argument that there would be no town without their presence, even though the Iñupiaq were here long before Ennis. Elsewhere, characters like Leah and Navarro grapple with how to engage with their Iñupiaq identity. And when it comes to the case, Danvers, Navarro, and especially Peter find themselves sacrificing their personal lives for their work too many times to count.

These are all-too-real concerns that are often augmented by the madness of the long night. And while it's quite a bit to juggle, the season's six-episode run is lean and mean enough that this puzzle never outstays its welcome or overspills its bounds. Night Country is a riveting, pensive addition to the True Detective canon, one that invites you deep beneath the ice in search for even a glimmer of light.

True Detective: Night Country premieres Jan. 14 on HBO/Max at 9 p.m ET/PT.

This $99.99 wireless car display is compatible with Apple and Android

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: As of January 12, get this Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Compatibility and Phone Mirroring for only $99.99 — you'll save 28%.

If you are thinking about trading your older car in just to get an infotainment hub like the newer ones, hold that thought. If your vehicle is in good shape, with many miles left to offer, this wireless car display may be a smarter option. And it's on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $139) through January 14.

The seven-inch HD display has a vibrant touchscreen for easy, safer control. And it's made to be easy to install, with a plug-and-play design that can quickly be attached to any smooth surface in your car, like your dashboard or windshield.

This useful piece of tech features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Enjoy the modernity of seamless integration of your iPhone or Android phone with your car's display. Access Siri or Google Assistant, make calls, send messages, and enjoy your favorite music playlists, all without taking your eyes off the road.

Since you can use voice commands and operate your navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze through this car display, you'll have an enhanced GPS experience whether commuting to work or on a family road trip. It also features screen mirroring capabilities, as well as built-in speakers, and comes with all you need to install it, including mounts, brackets, cables, and a user manual.

Don't discard a perfectly good vehicle because of a lack of connectivity. Elevate your driving experience with this feature-packed wireless car display.

Get the 7-inch wireless car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility while it's on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $139) until January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with no coupon codes needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: RochasDivineMart

7-inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Compatibility and Phone Mirroring

$99.99 at the Mashable Shop

This $35 PowerBand has a built-in Apple Watch charger

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: As of January 12, get the PowerBand Apple Watch Band with Built-In MagSafe Charger for $34.97 — a 30% discount.

Our smartwatches have become a major part of our lives. With staying connected being a must these days, our Apple Watches allow us an easier way to do that without being tethered to a phone or laptop. The only thing is that we have to remember to keep them charged, or they become just a bracelet.

Don't let a lack of battery power slow down your day. Pick up the PowerBand and get an Apple Watch band and a way to charge it in one. This innovative idea eliminates the need to keep a charger and cable with you to charge your watch. It has a sleek, seamlessly integrated MagSafe-compatible charger built into the band, as well as a flexible and durable USB connector that tucks away when not in use.

When you want a charge, simply plug the USB connector into a compatible outlet or laptop port. Then, fit your Apple Watch onto the tiny magnetic charger on the band and let it power up.

The band itself is made from breathable, lightweight nylon for comfort. It's also adjustable via the two pull tabs. Plus, the elasticity means it can form to your individual wrist size.

This PowerBand is compatible with all Apple Watch series. Don't miss the chance to grab this handy Apple Watch band while it's on sale.

Get the PowerBand with a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for just $34.97 (reg. $49.99) until January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: WonderCube

PowerBand: Apple Watch Band with Built-In MagSafe Charger

$34.97 at the Mashable Shop

Last chance to get this color-matching tool for $60

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: As of January 12, get the Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor for only $59.97 — a 39% discount.

Whether you're a designer, artist, or simply someone with an eye for detail, color is likely a significant part of your world. If the sight of a random shade of blue gets your creativity flowing, knowing what that color actually is would be incredibly valuable. You can easily unlock the power of color-matching knowledge with the Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor, which is on sale through January 14 for just $59.97 (reg. $99).

All you need to do is scan any surface, and the Nix will match it to any of over 100,000 brand-name paints. So, if you're out at a restaurant and you really love the color of the chairs, simply grab your Nix Mini 2 and see what it's called. It can even match sRGB HEX, CMYK, and LAB colors.

A significant benefit of this Bluetooth tool is that it's super small, so it can be easily stashed in your bag, backpack, or tool kit. Bring it with you on your travels to find inspiration on the road, or keep it in your pocket at work for easy access to instant, accurate readings.

You get lifetime access to the Nix Paints and Nix Digital Android and iOS apps. Use the app to save and store scanned and favorite colors. You'll even be able to share and send to family, friends, clients, or colleagues quickly and efficiently.

This color-matching sensor is a small investment that could make a big impact on your creative endeavors. And this is the last call to buy it at this reduced price.

Get the Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor for just $59.97 (reg. $99) when you order by January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: Nix Sensor

Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor

$59.97 at the Mashable Shop

Jake Johnson's 'Self Reliance' is finally streaming. Here are the best ways to watch.

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The best ways to watch 'Self Reliance' at a glance:

BEST OVERALL

Hulu monthly subscription

Free one-month trial, then $7.99/month

BEST BUNDLE DEAL

Disney Duo Basic Bundle (Hulu and Disney+ With Ads)

$9.99/month (save $5.99/month)

BEST FOR T-MOBILE/SPRINT CUSTOMERS

Hulu Basic (with ads)

free with select plans as of Jan. 24 (save $7.99/month)

BEST FOR STUDENTS

Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu

free one-month trial, then $5.99/month (save up to $12.99/month)

BEST LONG-TERM DEAL

Hulu (with ads) annual subscription

$79.99/year (save 17%)

Originally set to hit Hulu back in September, then pushed back to November, Jake Johnson's feature-length directorial debut Self Reliance is finally gracing us with its streaming presence this month.

The film, which originally premiered back in March 2023 at the SXSW Film Festival, centers around Tommy (Johnson), a middle-aged man stuck in a bit of a rut. Recently dumped by his girlfriend and living with his mom, Tommy is propositioned with an adventure that'll change his life by none other than Andy Samberg. "From its hook, it is outlandish, hilarious, and mind-bending," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review of the film.

It took awhile, but Self Reliance is finally available to watch at home on Jan. 12. Here's what you need to know to tune in.

Is Self Reliance worth watching?

"One of the delights out of SXSW 2023," per Mashable's film editor Kristy Puchko, Self Reliance was written and directed by lovable New Girl actor Jake Johnson. He's also the star of the film. Ambitious much?

As it turns out, Johnson's pretty good at pulling triple duty. The film isn't perfect — it loses its footing in the third act, as Puchko politely put it — but it's still "an enthralling and wildly fun directorial debut." Audiences seem to largely agree, considering it's earned an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes as of the time of writing. Sure, the end could be sharpened a bit. But overall, "it's undeniable that Self Reliance still hits its mark."

Check out the official trailer below to get a glimpse at the twisted tale:

What streaming service is Self Reliance on?

Self Reliance makes its streaming debut exclusively on Hulu on Jan. 12, after quite a few delays and pushbacks. If you're already a Hulu subscriber, you're good to go. Just sign into your account on Jan. 12 (or anytime after) and Self Reliance will be waiting for you to click play. Not a subscriber? Read on to find out the best ways to sign up for free.

Can you watch Self Reliance for free?

Hulu still offers a generous one-month free trial, which is now a rarity in the streaming world. The bad news is you can only access that free trial if you've never subscribed to Hulu before or if you're a returning customer who hasn't recently subscribed (check eligibility and terms to see if you qualify). If you do qualify for the free trial, you'll have plenty of time to watch Self Reliance and other Hulu exclusives for free. If not, there are still a few other ways to score a free or discounted subscription. Here's what you need to know.

Best for most people: Hulu 30-day free trial

Credit: Hulu

Hulu (With Ads)

Free 30-day trial, then $7.99/month

An entire month of free streaming? In 2024, it seems almost impossible to come across. But thankfully, Hulu is still keeping its trial period for newbies alive. As the streamer puts it, "You wouldn’t buy a new car without test driving it first, so that’s why Hulu offers free trials to new and eligible returning subscribers." Bless you, Hulu. If you're new to Hulu or coming back after a long break, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial (which is valid for both the No Ads and With Ads plans) around the time of the Self Reliance release date. That will allow you to watch Jake Johnson's feature-length directorial debut and plenty more on Hulu.

Once your trial is up, you'll have to dish out either $7.99/month for the With Ads plan or $17.99/month for the No Ads plan to keep your subscription going. Otherwise, cancel before your trial ends to call it quits.

Best for T-Mobile customers: Hulu (With Ads) monthly subscription

Credit: Sprint / T-Mobile

Hulu (With Ads)

Free with Sprint Unlimited plans (save $7.99/month)

Former Sprint Unlimited customers (now T-Mobile) can unlock free access to Hulu's With Ads plan — so long as your account remains active and in good standing. (If you choose to switch plans or cancel, your subscription will be suspended.) T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan can also enjoy free access to Hulu as of Jan. 24. Sure, you'll have to wait a bit longer to watch Self Reliance, but it'll be worth the $7.99/month in savings.

Best for students: Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu

Credit: Spotify / Hulu

Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu

Free one-month trial, then $5.99/month (save up to $12.99/month)

Students hoping to watch their favorite grouchy-yet-adorable New Girl character conquer the film world have a couple great options. Our personal pick is signing up for Spotify Premium for Students. Not only can you kick things off with a free one-month trial, but you'll also unlock access to Hulu with ads for no cost. In other words, you can watch Self Reliance and other Hulu exclusives, plus listen to all your favorite tunes ad-free for an entire month without spending a dime. Even better, following the trial period, you'll only have to pay $5.99/month for both Spotify Premium and Hulu with ads. The only requirement is a .edu email address that can be verified through SheerID.

Another option is to open a Hulu student account on its own, which doesn't offer a free trial, but only costs $1.99/month. The same .edu email address rules apply.

Other ways to watch Self Reliance

If you're ineligible for any of the free options, you can still save some money a couple of ways. You could commit to a full year and save about 16%, rather than paying monthly. Or you could bundle your Disney+ account with Hulu and ESPN+ and save over 40%. These options certainly aren't as good as the free ones, but they'll still help you keep more of your hard-earned cash.

Best for long-term viewing: Hulu (With Ads) annual subscription

Credit: Hulu

Hulu (with ads) Annual Subscription

$79.99/year (save 16%)

Hulu will knock 16% off your subscription cost if you sign up for a year of streaming upfront, rather than paying monthly. That drops the $7.99/month cost down to $6.67/month for a total of $79.99 for the year. The good news is you'll have plenty of time to watch Self Reliance, plus re-watch Jake Johnson in every episode of New Girl. Win-win.

Best bundle deal: Disney Duo Basic or Trio Basic Bundle (With Ads)

Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Hulu + Disney+ (with ads)

$9.99/month or $14.99/month (save up to 44%)

The Disney Bundle remains one of the best streaming deals you can get your hands on. For just $9.99/month, you can unlock access to all of the content on Disney+ and Hulu — just $2 more than paying for Hulu on its own. If you're a sports fan as well, you can add ESPN+ into the mix and pay just $14.99/month, which saves you over 40% each month. If you're just looking to watch Self Reliance and be on your way, it's probably not your best option. But for those looking to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to streaming, this is your best bet.

'Killers of the Flower Moon' review: Martin Scorsese's compassion reveals our complicity

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Though superhero obsessives argue otherwise, there is much more to Martin Scorsese's filmography than his gangster movies. He's made mesmerizing and moving music documentaries, like No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, Shine a Light, and Personality Crisis: One Night Only. He's offered sweeping epics like the sprawling 19th-century romance The Age of Innocence, and the rapturous biopics Kundun and The Aviator. He's made daring comedies with The King of Comedy and After Hours. And yes, his "gangster movies" — Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, The Irishman, and arguably The Wolf of Wall Street — are damn fine cinema. (Period.) But with Killers of the Flower Moon, one of the greatest American filmmakers to ever live has bested even himself by twisting his previous modus operandi in crime dramas to demand more of his audience.

Scorsese has long been a master of creating compelling criminals on screen, inviting audiences into the vicarious thrill of being a made man or a Wall Street titan or even a devil-may-care ex-con hellbent on revenge (Cape Fear). With Killers of the Flower Moon, he once more embeds us with criminals at the story's core. But this time, we are not to revel in their cavalier violence or be wooed by their merciless pursuit of wealth and power. Instead, we are made complicit in their ruthless conspiracy of genocide.

**What's Killers of the Flower Moon about?**

Credit: Apple TV+

Based on the David Grann non-fiction book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon delves into a series of murders during the 1920s of Osage tribe members. It's a true story not particularly well known outside of Oklahoma, where the murders took place, or by non-Native Americans.

A Native American tribe that had survived being kicked across the nation by "the great white father" — white colonialists turned governmental forces — the Osage people were eventually cast to a reservation in Oklahoma. They accepted this land in part because it seemed such a desolate space they were sure to be left alone at last. Then they struck oil.

As these Native American families were made wealthy by the find, white men gathered to find ways to wheedle money out of the newly minted millionaires. Killers displays how they managed to do this via conservatorships, predatory business practices, and literal grave-robbing. Among the most heinous of these methods was a conspiracy that led to dozens of homicides.

Scorsese and co-screenwriter Eric Roth make a dramatic change from Grann's book, not in content but in approach. Rather than laying out the crimes and the ensuing FBI investigation, Killers embeds us with the criminals from the start — like many a Scorsese movie before it. However, the criminals here are not chaotically compelling anti-heroes like Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle The Wolf of Wall Street's Jordan Belfort, or Goodfellas' Henry Hill. It's made clear early on that these are cowards and con men who deal in conspiracy, corruption, and white supremacy.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro bring two historical criminals to vivid life.

Credit: Apple TV+

While the film begins with the Osage tribe, who in a solemn funeral ritual recognize their way of life is being lost amid the pressure to assimilate, Killers of the Flower Moon most closely follows a wolf in sheep's clothing. Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a slow-witted but greedy veteran who rolls into Osage territory looking for a leg up from his affluent cattle rancher uncle, William "King" Hale (Robert De Niro).

By bringing together two of his most lauded recurring players/muses, Scorsese might have shaped Ernest and King as a pair of swaggering rogues as he had in his past collaborations. Instead, he pushes each actor out of their niches. DiCaprio sheds his posh posturing, slumping his shoulders and slapping on a set of crooked teeth, a jutting jaw, an accompanying scowl, and a haircut that looks like a punishment. Meanwhile, De Niro's signature snarl and intense gaze have been shelved in favor of a jolly grin, open arms, and a bouncy Southern drawl. These transformations are thorough and treacherous.

On their surface, Ernest seems a genial fool, and King appears to be a sophisticated and caring benefactor, just as he's seen by the Osage community with whom he does business and socializes. But no sooner has Ernest set himself down in one of King's polished chairs that the conspiring begins — a casual conversation about hopes of wealth and women becoming something slick with suspicion and devilish schemes. By binding us to Ernest, Scorsese gets audiences up close and uncomfortably personal with King's poisonous influence, which turned a gold-digging buffoon into a duplicitous killer.

Where many of Scorsese's past crooks and criminal protagonists have been charming or cool or at least having an enviable blast in their decadence, Ernest is none of the above. He's presented as a grimy thief, a petty brat, and a moron with no gift for the long view. Even the romance that might humanize him — with Mollie, a lovely but embattled Osage woman played by Lily Gladstone — serves to villainize him, as each moment of wooing is undercut by his naked pursuit of her family's money.

It's not that Ernest is devoid of charm. Despite his goonishness, he beguiles Mollie with his feral moxie and earnest — though inconsistent — tenderness. Yet this too serves to sicken us, because as she trusts him, we — bound to his shoulder — know what he's up to and what horrors he is capable of. In Killers of the Flower Moon, we are not the enraptured audience to an American folk hero, winning us over with his gift of gab and flashy lifestyle. We are silent witnesses to the hushed racism, vicious murder plots, and blooming cover-ups of a classless moron and his double-talking uncle. Scorsese isn't just ushering us into the backrooms of the criminal world, he is exposing how the insidiousness of white supremacy in America makes all those who do nothing to actively fight it complicit in its evils.

Killers of the Flower Moon respects the Osage people without pretending at their perspective.

Credit: Apple TV+

While the FBI arrives in the form of former Texas Ranger Tom White (Jesse Plemons, with a thrumming certainty), this adaptation doesn't play as a white savior tale. For one thing, these white hats come in far too late for their eventual efforts to be cheered. Even the Osage characters within the film rightly sneer at the body count that had to be met before government intervention. For another, the Osage culture has a bigger role than the FBI in Killers' story.

Throughout the film, elements of Osage life and culture are woven in, creating a balance to Ernest's deadly opportunistic perspective. Some scenes include conversations in the Osage's mother tongue. While some are subtitled — like conversions between Mollie and her mother — others are not, leaving those who don't speak the language out of translation, urged to recognize they are an outsider. Rituals of marriage, child-naming, and remembrance are showcased with a respectful eye, giving time and space to these moments of joy and loss, complete with ceremonial garb, song, and speeches. Though Ernest is studying their culture as part of his aim to seduce Mollie, these speeches and ceremonies are not explained as they normally might be to outsiders. Scorsese is content to give them space to exist without the pressure to appease a non-Native American audience's curiosity.

In sharp contrast to these ceremony sequences are abrupt scenes of death. Osage men and women are slaughtered by white men with ruthless efficiency, their bodies discarded like trash. Every killing scene is shocking, especially as they frequently jump in after a sequence of quiet conversation. Scorsese is not making a spectacle of the violence, but instead illustrating how these deaths came out of nowhere and ice cold. Your breath may catch in shock because a scene of a young mother cradling her child outside her pretty home shouldn't end the way this one will.

Lily Gladstone holds her own in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Credit: Apple TV+

Personalizing the story of these murders is Mollie Burkhart, who is also a central figure in the book, as her family figured on both sides of the killers and the killed. Opposite DiCaprio and De Niro, Gladstone is a rock, standing firm and not to be outshone by these A-listers. Her performance is one of keening and personal agony, but also of joy and steely resilience. While Ernest may be a fool, Mollie isn't. Her slight smirk and playful side-eye show that she understands a lot about his motives from the jump. But how could anyone predict how deep a betrayal this suitor with the foolhardy grin could muster?

Hanging thick over Killers of the Flower Moon is fear for Mollie. Bound to Ernest in even his secret sins, the audience knows better than she what could become of her. Tension burns from this place, torching our nerves as we watch helplessly and terrified for her. But Gladstone doesn't play Mollie as some wilting flower or tragic victim. She has a wry tsk for Ernest's most naked flirtation. She has a snarled huff when her mother plays favorites. She has a delicate touch with her children and a yearning one for her lover. While Mollie is not the center of this film, neither is she cast to its edges. Mollie Burkhart stalwartly joins the ranks of Scorsese women — like Karen Hill, Countess Ellen Olenska, and Ginger McKenna — who will not be conquered by volatile men and are enthralling in their own fullness.

Martin Scorsese delivers a riveting and unflinching film about American evils.

Credit: Apple TV+

At 80, Scorsese is still challenging himself and his audiences to understand America through its criminals. Who do we hold as folk heroes over villains? Which victims will be remembered over scorned or outright overlooked? Whose stories need telling?

For Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese consulted with Osage people to better comprehend their perspective. Within the film, there are several sequences where tribe leaders are given the opportunity to directly communicate their feelings, their memories, and their desires. Mollie's story invites outsiders more deeply into this experience. But Scorsese does not go so far as to center his story in the Osage perspective, because while this film esteems the tribe, it is not solely for them. The Osage people know this horror story. Killers of the Flower Moon is speaking chiefly to those who do not, and more specifically those who might today apply its lessons of the dangers of complacency and complicity to white supremacy.

In a jarring but brilliant epilogue, Scorsese brings himself into the narrative, delivering a brief but deeply moving speech. It's maybe 30 seconds of the movie, but it speaks volumes of his intentions.

It is not enough for us to look back on the past. We must interrogate it rigorously. Scorsese has done so with Killers of the Flower Moon, looking not only at what happened but also how it was handled by the powers of government and media. Through his lens of the coward Ernest Burkhart, Scorsese demystifies the crime and its crafters, revealing them to be craven and callous killers, never as clever as they esteemed themselves to be. But more than this condemnation, through binding his audience to their pursuit and injecting himself in a key cameo, Scorsese challenges viewers to recognize what part they play with their own silence day to day.

In the end, Killers of a Flower Moon is an astonishing accomplishment and easily one of the best films of the year. Yet it is not the definitive take on the Osage murders, and Scorsese knows it. His brilliant film refuses to close the book and instead dares us to read deeper.

How to watch: Killers of the Flower Moon is now streaming on Apple TV+.

UPDATE: Jan. 11, 2024, 5:19 p.m. EST This article was originally published for the theatrical release of "Killers of the Flower Moon." It has been republished for the film's streaming debut.

Most holiday Dyson vacuum deals are gone, but air-purifying heaters and a refurbished Airwrap are on sale

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest list of Dyson vacuums, air-purifying fans, and refurbished haircare on sale after the end of Dyson's huge holiday sale.

Best Dyson deals this week:

Best cordless Dyson vacuum deal

Dyson Gen5detect

$849.99 at Dyson (save $100)

Best Dyson fan deal

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP07

$599.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

Best Dyson hair care deal

Dyson Airwrap Complete Long (refurbished)

$399.99 at Walmart (save $200)

The automated convenience of a robot vacuum is undeniably sweet, but for some, a Roomba just can't compare to the rush or attention to detail of manual vacuuming. That's where the iconic cyclonic suction of a Dyson comes in — and you can bring it home on a budget with this week's deals on Dyson vacuums.

Looking for air care or hair care deals instead? We'll keep you posted on those, too.

Our top pick

Credit: Dyson

Our pick: Dyson Gen5detect

$849.99 at Dyson (save $100)

Why we like it

The more compact version of Dyson's newest (and most powerful) line of vacuums is one of the only cordless Dysons still on sale in the first week of the 2024. (It was $200 off ahead of the holidays compared to the $100 discount now, but it's still something.) The Gen5detect pumps out the same 262 Air Watts of suction power as the Gen5outsize but weighs almost a pound less due to a smaller dust bin. All of that extra oomph doesn't take away from battery life — you can manage up to 70 minutes of cleaning before charging the Gen5detect Absolute.

The Gen5detect line also has whole-machine HEPA filtration and ships with two cleaning heads: the Fluffy Optic head with a laser for illuminating dust and a Digital Motorbar with automatic hair detangling.

More deals on cordless Dyson vacuums

Dyson V10 Animal+ (refurbished) — $249.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $100)
Dyson V11 Extra — $469.99 ~~$599.99~~ (save $130)

Dyson fan deals

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 (refurbished) — $299.99 ~~$399.99~~ (save $100)
Dyson Pure Cool AM11 — $324.99 ~~$429.99~~ (save $105)
Dyson Hot + Cool Jet Focus AM09 — $329.99 ~~$469.99~~ (save $140)
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Gen1 HP10 — $499.99 ~~$599.99~~ (save $100)
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP07 — $599.99 ~~$749.99~~ (save $150)

Dyson hair care deals

Dyson Airwrap Complete Long (refurbished) — $399.99 ~~$599.99~~ (save $200)
Dyson Supersonic (latest gen, refurbished) — $249.99 ~~$429.99~~ (save $180)

Early 2024 TV deals include several premium Samsung QLEDs and cheap TCL and Hisense QLEDs

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest deals on 4K and 8K TVs lingering after the end of post-holiday sales and before spring sales on previous-year models.

Best 4K TV deals this week:

Best 55-inch TV deal

TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

Best 65-inch TV deal

LG 65-inch 99 Series Mini-LED 8K TV

$1,499.99 (save $1,000)

Best 75-inch TV deal

Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV

$529.99 at Best Buy (save $370)

Best 85-inch TV deal

Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$1,999.99 at Samsung (save $1,300)

Upgrading to a 4K TV — even a QLED or OLED — no longer has to be an intimidating financial setback. High-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions have become increasingly affordable for regular consumers, made even more budget-friendly by frequent sales from retailers like Best Buy, Samsung, Walmart, and Amazon.

We've pulled the best TV deals from across the internet as of Jan. 12. Deals are categorized by brand, then listed in order of size (smallest to largest) and price (lowest to highest).

Samsung TV deals

Credit: Samsung

Our pick: Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$2,199.99 at Samsung (save $1,100)

Why we love it

Of the handful of 85-inch Samsung TVs majorly discounted right now, we think the deal on the extra-large Q80C for more than $1,000 off is the best bang for your buck.

The Q80C is Samsung's most advanced QLED (before meeting the Neo QLED side of the family), packing 96 precisely-lit local dimming zones for the meticulous brightness necessary for watching sports in the daylight. Also present are advanced gaming features like a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support.

More Samsung TVs on sale

Samsung 50-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,199.99 ~~$1,599.99~~ (save $400)
Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,119.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $300 plus get a free $100 Best Buy gift card)
Samsung 55-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,199.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $300)
Samsung 55-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,497.99 ~~$1,997.99~~ (save $500)
Samsung 55-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,599.99 ~~$1,899.99~~ (save $300)
Samsung 55-inch S95C OLED TV — $2,099.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $400)
Samsung 65-inch Q60C QLED TV — $749.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $250)
Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,799.99 ~~$2,599.99~~ (save $800)
Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,399.99 ~~$1,999.99~~ (save $600)
Samsung 65-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,699.99 ~~$2,799.99~~ (save $1,100)
Samsung 65-inch The Terrace Full Sun Outdoor QLED TV — $7,499.99 ~~$9,999.99~~ (save $2,500)
Samsung 75-inch Q60C QLED TV — $999.99 ~~$1,399.99~~ (save $400)
Samsung 75-inch Q80C QLED TV — $1,599.99 ~~$2,199.99~~ (save $600)
Samsung 75-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,999.99 ~~$2,699.99~~ (save $700)
Samsung 75-inch QN90C QLED TV — $2,397.99 ~~$2,997.99~~ (save $600)
Samsung 77-inch S89C OLED TV — $2,199.99 ~~$3,599.99~~ (save $1,400)
Samsung 77-inch S90C OLED TV — $2,699.99 ~~$3,199.99~~ (save $500)
Samsung 85-inch CU800 4K TV — $1,199.99 ~~$1,599.99~~ (save $400)
Samsung 85-inch Q60C QLED TV — $1,599.99 ~~$2,299.99~~ (save $700)
Samsung 85-inch Q70C QLED TV — $1,899.99 ~~$2,799.99~~ (save $900)
Samsung 85-inch QN85C QLED TV — $2,299.99 ~~$3,799.99~~ (save $1,500)

LG TV deals

Credit: LG

Our pick: LG 65-inch 99 Series QNED TV

$1,499.99 at Best Buy (save $1,000)

Why we love it

This 2021 65-inch QNED TV is one of the few LG TVs still at their holiday sale price — and the reigning discount happens to be an impressive 40% off. QNED is a mashup of LG's NanoCell technology and quantum dots (which amp up color depth using an extra light filter of nanoparticles) and the backlighting of mini LEDs (like regular LEDs, but smaller for extra precision).

The 99 Series of LG QNEDs also happens to be 8K instead of 4K. That doubled resolution isn't yet necessary for most streaming content that's available right now, but this large, ultra-bright TV is sitting at such a good price that most similarly-sized 4K models from LG won't be cheaper.

More LG TVs on sale

LG 42-inch Flex bendable OLED TV — $1,8866.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $613)
LG 48-inch A2 OLED TV — $599.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $700)
LG 65-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,499.99 ~~$1,999.99~~ (save $500)
LG 65-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $1,799.99 ~~$2,099.99~~ (save $300)
LG 70-inch UQ70 TV — $498 ~~$648~~ (save $150)
LG 75-inch UQ70 4K TV — $579.99 ~~$749.99~~ (save $170)
LG 75-inch 75 Series QNED TV — $999.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $300)
LG 77-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,999.99 ~~$2,899.99~~ (save $900)
LG 77-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $2,699.99 ~~$3,199.99~~ (save $500)
LG 86-inch UR7800 4K TV — $799.99 ~~$1,249.99~~ (save $450)
LG 86-inch 80 Series QNED TV — $1,899.99 ~~$2,299.99~~ (save $400)

Sony TV deals

Credit: Sony

Our pick: Sony 85-inch X90L 4K TV

$2,199.99 at Best Buy (save $600)

Why we love it

Of the several 4K TVs that Sony released in 2023, the X90L is the most premium regular LED model before the lineup switches over to mini-LED. Still, the X90L features full-array backlighting with local dimming that offers more precise brightness across the entire screen than a cheaper edge-lit LED TV. (That's particularly helpful when the screen is so massive.) With better-than-basic lighting plus a high contrast ratio, low input lag, and VRR support, this 85-inch X90L is a great option for a big-screen budget gaming TV.

More Sony TVs on sale

Sony 65-inch X80L OLED TV — $1,999.99 ~~$2,299.99~~ (save $300)
Sony 75-inch X90L 4K TV — $1,699.99 ~~$1,999.99~~ (save $300)
Sony 77-inch A80L OLED TV — $2,899.99 ~~$3,299.99~~ (save $400)

More TV deals from Amazon, TCL, Hisense, and more

Credit: TCL

Our pick: TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

Why we love it

TCL's Q5 series came out in late summer 2023 and knocked the Q6 Series out of its spot as the brand's most affordable QLED. And with Best Buy's discount pushing this model under $300, it's easily the cheapest 55-inch QLED on our list.

A quick scroll up to our mid-size QLED picks from Samsung, Sony, and LG make the rarity of a 55-inch QLED TV under $300 palpable. The Q5 has most of the same specs as the Q6 including HDR PRO+ with Dolby Vision, Motion Rate 240 motion smoothing technology (a win for gamers on a budget), three HDMI ports, and built-in Google Assistant.

More TCL TVs, Vizio TVs, Fire TVs, and other TVs on sale

Insignia 43-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $189.99 ~~$269.99~~ (save $80)
Pioneer 50-inch 4K TV — $219.99 ~~$299.99~~ (save $80)
Vizio 50-inch V Series 4K TV — $248 ~~$319~~ (save $71)
TCL 50-inch Q5 QLED TV — $249.99 ~~$399.99~~ (save $150)
Insignia 55-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $249.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $100)
Pioneer 65-inch 4K TV — $319.99 ~~$499.99~~ (save $180)
Insignia 65-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $349.99 ~~$499.99~~ (save $150)
Insignia 70-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $449.99 ~~$599.99~~ (save $150)
Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV — $529.99 ~~$899.99~~ (save $370)
Toshiba 75-inch C350 4K Fire TV — $539.99 ~~$799.99~~ (save $260)
TCL 85-inch S4 4K TV — $799.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $200)
TCL 85-inch Q6 QLED TV — $999.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $300)
TCL 85-inch QM8 Mini-LED TV — $1,999.99 ~~$2,399.99~~ (save $400)
TCL 98-inch S5 4K TV — $2,999.99 ~~$4,999.99~~ (save $2,000)

The best robot vacuums for every budget

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

There's definitely something to be said for the buzz elicited by the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, then the best robot vacuums could erase that tedious task off of your recurring to-do list.

Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?

Though Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they're not the only good robot vacuums to consider buying. We get why that name comes to mind: Given iRobot's domination of the robot vacuum market since 2002, the fact that much of the general public doesn't realize that "Roomba" isn't the overarching generic term for all robot vacuums isn't surprising. But brands like Roborock and Shark have entered the chat, and we're here to put some respect on their names.

We're regularly testing robot vacuums and keeping a list of ones that impressed us the most based on criteria like navigation and smart mapping, mopping capabilities (if applicable), effectiveness on pet hair, crumbs, and other debris, automatic emptying, and more. So, after conducting extensive cleaning tests, here is the best robot vacuum for every home and budget in 2024:

The best laptops you can buy in 2024 for work, school, and gaming

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST Mashable staff members are currently in the process of testing a slew of new PCs in our quest to find the best laptops, including the Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1, the HP Chromebook 14 Plus x360, the HP Chromebook Plus 15, the Acer Chromebook 516GE, and the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. We're also waiting to get our hands on some new models that debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. Check back soon for these laptop reviews and see if any of them are worthy of spots on this list.

Let's get this out of the way up top: There is no such thing as a universally best laptop. Whether a laptop works well for you — and there could be several that fit the bill — is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use case, your preferred operating system, and your budget.

Our job is to help you narrow down the pool of options based on those three points. We've spent countless hours reviewing popular laptops and identifying the specs that matter, so we know all too well that the sheer number of models out there is enough to make anyone's head spin. (To put things in perspective, Apple's lineup now includes three MacBook Airs and two MacBook Pros across three generations of M-something chips.) Picking the Goldilocks of laptops can be tough, but unless you're a masochist, you don't have to start from square one.

Keep reading for Mashable's guide to the best laptops for 2024, including two Apple MacBooks and several Windows models by Dell, Microsoft, and Lenovo.

Note: All listed specs and prices apply to each model's base configuration.

Best deals on laptops this week

Dell Inspiron 16 5635 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $649.99 (List Price $999.99)
Dell Inspiron 15 3525 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" Laptop — $499.99 (List Price $649.99)
HP 17 Intel i7 Dual Storage 16GB RAM 17.3" 1080p Laptop — $629.99 (List Price $919.99)
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 2.8K Laptop — $699.99 (List Price $999.99)
Asus Vivobook 16X Ryzen 7 512GB SSD 12GB RAM 16" Laptop — $398.99 (List Price $749.99)

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 12

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:50:13 +0000

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Jan. 12, 2024:

Across

Spelling competition

The answer is bee.

Soccer highlight

The answer is goal.

A gift ...

The answer is knack.

... and a curse

The answer is oath.

The "I" in F.W.I.W.

The answer is its.

Down

Pier group?

The answer is boats.

Per person

The answer is each.

Yellowstone National Park is known for having herds of this animal

The answer is elk.

Pesky insect

The answer is gnat.

Decorative pond fish

The answer is koi.

'No Way Up' trailer teases sharks stalking passengers trapped on an underwater plane

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:46:41 +0000

You know when a movie features a line like "What's a shark doing on a plane?" it's destined to be a banger, and Claudio Fäh's No Way Up seems destined to fit the watery bill.

The story follows – wait for it – a group of passengers who are trapped in a plane that's crash-landed underwater, on the edge of a ravine, with sharks circling.

Does it sound absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Do we want to watch it ASAP? Also yes.

No Way Up is in theatres from Feb. 16.

How to watch the 2024 Australian Open online for free

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:08:51 +0000

TL;DR: Stream the 2024 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Australia is the place to be for tennis fans this month, but it's a terribly long way to travel.

Fortunately, you can watch all the action without travelling to the other side of the world. The United Cup, Adelaide International, and Brisbane International kicked off the year, and now for the main event — the Australian Open. The first Grand Slam of the year is the focus for the best players in the world, and you can watch every game without spending anything.

If you want to watch the 2024 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Australian Open?

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. The tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year.

The current singles champions are Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.

When is the 2024 Australian Open?

The 2024 Australian Open is the 112th edition of the tournament. This year's event will take place from Jan. 14 to Jan. 28.

How to watch the 2024 Australian Open for free

You can watch every match from the Australian Open for free on 9Now.

This popular streaming platform is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free service with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit 9Now
Steam the 2024 Australian Open for free

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open for free.

Simply use ExpressVPN to unblock 9Now, watch the Australian Open, and then recover your investment without hassle. It's not complicated.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking 9Now, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 94 countries including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to five simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Watch the 2024 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

WhatsApp introduces in-app custom sticker maker

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:41:04 +0000

WhatsApp stickers are about to get more fun – and personal. The Meta-owned messaging app is rolling out a new feature on iOS that will let users create, edit and share their own stickers.

Previously, stickers were discovered and shared via third-party providers or a person's phone gallery. Now, users can create stickers within the app or edit existing stickers, with the help of a suite of editing tools. The tools include text, drawing, and the ability to overlay other stickers. Custom-made stickers are automatically saved in a user's sticker tray once sent.

The feature is already available on WhatsApp Web and will be rolling out on iOS 17+ in the coming days. On older versions of iOS, WhatsApp users can edit existing stickers but won't be able to make new ones.

Here's how to do it.

Total Time

3-5 minutes.

What You Need

iPhone
WhatsApp app.

Step 1: Open your sticker tray on WhatsApp, by clicking on the sticker icon on the right of the text box.

Step 2: Select "Create Sticker" and choose an image from your gallery.

Step 3: Customize your sticker.

You can choose a cutout, add text, draw, or overlay other stickers to create your custom design.

Tesla reportedly raising US factory workers' pay as union looms

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:17:40 +0000

Tesla is reportedly giving all workers in its US factories a pay rise. This is undoubtedly good news for said workers, though it's unlikely the company is doing this out of the goodness of its heart.

Bloomberg reports that Tesla announced a "market adjustment pay increase" for its US workers via a flyer posted in its Fremont, California factory. It isn't clear exactly how much the pay bump will be, however it will impact production associates, material handlers, and quality inspectors.

Tesla shares fell by over 3 percent apparently in response to the news, though the electric vehicle company had already been on a downswing. Shares were also impacted by car rental company Hertz announcing on the same day that it would sell around one third of its electric vehicles, opting for combustion engines instead.

This unexpected pay raise for Tesla workers comes only a few months after the United Auto Workers (UAW) union successfully negotiated agreements with leading auto manufacturers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The three companies agreed to a 25 percent increase in workers' wages after a six week strike — the longest US auto strike in over two decades.

With that situation resolved, the UAW has turned its attention toward getting Tesla workers unionised as well. While there have been previous attempts to organise Tesla workers in the US, the company remains the only car manufacturer in the country to not have a union. The success of the UAW strike may inspire some Tesla workers to revisit the idea of collective bargaining — or at least explore job opportunities at unionised competitors.

Tesla's "market adjustment" is likely a response to this, aimed at bringing its salaries more in line with its competitors while attempting to convince workers that they don't need their own union in order to get a better deal. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Both Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk don't have the greatest history with unions. In 2018, the billionaire implied that Tesla workers would lose their stock option benefits if they unionised, and accused the UAW of wanting to divide people into a "2 class 'lords & commoners' system." These statements caused reasonable concern regarding union busting at Tesla, compelling the company to explicitly deny that Musk was threatening to take away employee stock options if workers organised.

"He was simply recognizing the fact that no UAW-represented automakers provide stock as compensation, which has particular relevance given that UAW organizers have consistently dismissed the value of Tesla equity as part of our compensation package," claimed Alexandra Veitch, Tesla's senior director of government relations and policy at the time.

Interestingly, Tesla skipped its formerly annual distribution of merit-based stock options to employees last December. It's unclear whether this was an aberration or a permanent change in how Tesla compensates its workers. Either way, it doesn't look great in light of the company's previous emphasis on the importance of its workers' stock options.

Over 30 Tesla workers were reportedly fired last February after attempting to unionise, though their complaint to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was later dismissed. The NLRB also recently ruled that Tesla's clothing policy was unlawful because it implicitly prohibited workers from wearing union apparel.

How to watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United online for free

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Stream Bristol City vs. West Ham United in the FA Cup third round replay for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We were treated to some pretty special FA Cup third round fixtures, but not every score was settled. A few matches were too close to call, so a replay is required to decide who makes it through to the fourth round. That's good news for fans, because it means more games are available to watch for free.

If you want to watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bristol City vs. West Ham United in the FA Cup?

Bristol City and West Ham United will kick off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 16 at Ashton Gate.

How to watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free

You can watch the FA Cup replay between Bristol City and West Ham United live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 7:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 16. You can also live stream this fixture for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can connect to BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Steam Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream games like Bristol City vs. West Ham United before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 94 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to five simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Unblock U.S. Netflix for free with this clever trick

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Access U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world with a streaming-friendly VPN. The best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN.

We're about to share some troubling information with you, so brace yourself.

Netflix only provides access to the movies and shows from your location's content library. That means subscribers are missing out on a massive range of movies and shows purely because of their location on a map. That seems totally unfair, so we're providing you with the tools you need to bypass these geo-restrictions.

If you want to unblock and watch U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch U.S. Netflix for free

U.S. Netflix offers one of the biggest and best content libraries in the world, and you can access everything with the help of a VPN.

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. This simple process makes it look like you're connecting from the country, so you get access to all the movies and shows from the U.S. Netflix library when you next connect.

Access U.S Netflix by following these steps:

Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to Netflix
Watch U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock U.S. Netflix without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term strategy, but it does give you enough time to watch everything on your list before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Netflix?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking extra libraries on Netflix, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 94 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast streaming speeds
Up to five simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 with an extra three months of coverage for free, saving you 49% on list price. This plan includes a year of free Backblaze cloud backup and that all-important 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock U.S. Netflix for free with ExpressVPN.

A lifetime subscription to this intuitive AI Image Generator is on sale for under £20

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Pixilio is on sale for £19.62, saving you 93% on list price.

The process of finding the perfect stock photos for your webpage, social media posts, or presentations can be long and, many times, unsuccessful. To find exactly what you're looking for — no matter how far-fetched you might think it is — you could harness the power of artificial intelligence to generate images for you.

That's where an innovative tool like Pixilio comes in. This helpful app creates AI images for you within seconds, ready to download and use anywhere. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for just £19.62.

You don't need any design experience to use Pixilio. It's made to be an intuitive and easy-to-use creative space. Simply enter your specifications such as colors schemes, style, and aesthetics, and watch the app go to work for you. Unlike sourcing from stock websites, the images you generate will be 100% original and owned by you — so you don't have to credit anyone but yourself when sharing or posting.

Using advanced machine learning algorithms, Pixilio has the ability to create exactly what your brand or website needs. This could be useful for business owners, social media influencers, bloggers, and much more. Plus, this deal gives you access for life, so you can keep on generating as long as you need — no annoying subscription fees to deal with.

Save yourself the headache of searching for a stock photo or graphic that works for you. Take advantage of this sale on a lifetime subscription to Pixilio AI image generator for just £19.62.

Credit: Pixilio

Pixilio AI Image Generator (Lifetime Subscription)

£19.62 at the Mashable Shop

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 12

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 12's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

**Where did Wordle come from?**

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 10.

**What's the best Wordle starting word?**

**What happened to the Wordle archive?**

**Is Wordle getting harder?**

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

**Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?**

**Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:**

A path.

**Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?**

There are no letters that appear twice.

**Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...**

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

**What's the answer to Wordle today?**

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #937 is...

ROUTE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 12

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:00:00 +0000

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 12's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

**What is Connections?**

**Here's a hint for today's Connections categories**

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Conversation
Green: Arcs in a story
Blue: Car lingo
Purple: Colors

**Here are today's Connections categories**

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Topic of Discussion
Green: Section of One's Life
Blue: Parts of a Car, Informally
Purple: Color Homophones

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #215 is...

**What is the answer to Connections today**

Topic of Discussion: ISSUE, MATTER, POINT, SUBJECT
Section of One's Life: CHAPTER, PERIOD, PHASE, STAGE
Parts of a Car, Informally: DASH, SHOCK, TANK, WHEEL
Color Homophones: BLEW, CHORAL, READ, ROWS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Biden launches $623 million grant program for electric vehicle charging

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:55:41 +0000

The Biden administration and U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new investment in the country's push for greater electric vehicle adoption and usage, pledging $623 million in EV charging station grants intended to build out community charging networks around the U.S.

The large investment is part of President Joe Biden's goal of building 500,000 publicly available chargers by the year 2030.

"America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process. This funding will help ensure that EV chargers are accessible, reliable, and convenient for American drivers, while creating jobs in charger manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for American workers," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The Federal Transit Authority is also awarding $311 million to 36 community projects, including indigenous-led projects in Alaska and Arizona.

According to the announcement, the grants are funded through a $2.5 billion EV allocation wedged into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law also authorizes up to $108 billion in public transit infrastructure projects designed to improve transit safety, modernize existing systems, improve access for underserved communities, and transition services into climate-friendly options.

For example, the administration announced a $1.7 billion grant program for zero-emission and reduced-cost buses around the country.

EV charging stations along the country's highway system have previously been funded through the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

In an effort to create an even stronger EV "backbone," as the administration calls it, the Biden administration's new grant program will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, and construct 7,500 EV charging ports.

"From my time working at the local level, I know that finding electric vehicle charging in a community is different from finding charging along highways,'" added Buttigeig. "USDOT is proud to make an investment that will provide Americans with convenient, straightforward charging options in their communities."

Google just laid off hundreds of employees

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:40:35 +0000

It seems that every January after the festivities of the holidays begin to fade and the winter chill settles in, tech companies begin their rounds of layoffs.

Google said on Wednesday that it laid off a few hundred people from its central engineering team, a few hundred people in the Google Assistant team, and a few hundred people from its AR and DSPA teams. If you follow my math (or the Verge's ) that's probably about a thousand people who lost their jobs on Wednesday.

Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman are leaving the company as well, according to Reuters.

"As we’ve said, we’re responsibly investing in our company's biggest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead," a Google spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "To best position us for these opportunities, throughout the second half of 2023, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, and to align their resources to their biggest product priorities. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally. We’re continuing to support any impacted employees as they look for new roles here at Google and beyond."

This isn't the first time a large round of layoffs hit Google in the month of January. In January of 2023, Google laid off approximately 12,000 employees. At the time, U.S. employees received a severance package starting at 16 weeks' salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google. It's unclear how fat the severance package is for the employees laid off today.

Best car CES 2024: Forget the Sony car! This Razer car has an Xbox Series X

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:24:59 +0000

Yes, the Sony car that can be controlled with a DualSense controller is pretty sick — but wait 'til you hear about the Razer car.

We already gushed about the Razer car earlier this week, but after careful deliberation, Mashable has deemed it the best car of CES 2024.

For the unintiated, Razer is known for rolling out badass, sleek gaming laptops that are stamped with a three-headed snake insignia that can emanate electric-green lighting. Razer adopted the same design language for its car — and you won't believe what's in it.

Best car CES 2024: Razer Lexus TX

Razer's decked-out gaming car was stationed on the LinQ Promenade in Las Vegas. It caught the Mashable team's eye, so we decided to check it out. Turns out, the gaming-focused company modified a 2024 Lexus TX, swapping out the original seats for four ultra-comfy Razer Iskur V2 gaming chairs, which retail for about $650 each.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair

$650

The two back seats are tricked out with two 27-inch Razer monitors. Both feature a keyboard and a mouse from the brand, delivering a gamer's paradise for passengers.

This car wouldn't be complete without monitors in the back seats. Credit: Razer

Pop open the trunk and you'll find four Razer Blade gaming laptops, fueled by the Razer Core X Chroma eGPUs, charging on docking stations.

Credit: Amazon

Razer Core X Chroma

$499

Oh, and you'll find an Xbox Series X, too.

It's a gamer's dream. Credit: Amazon

Is this street legal? Probably not. But this eye-catching collaboration between Lexus and Razer, a striking mélange of luxury and gaming, gets Mashable's award for best car of CES 2024 due to its innovative charm and nod to a better future of high-level entertainment inside consumer vehicles.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: What are the differences?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:00:22 +0000

This iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro deep-dive comparative analysis will give you clarity on what, exactly, are the differences between the two phones.

After all, the iPhone 15 costs $800, but the iPhone 15 Pro is more expensive at $1,000. That being said, I know what you're wondering. Does the iPhone 15 Pro really have features that are worth the extra $200?

I won't tell you which phone to get. Instead, I'm going to lay out the differences between the two and let you decide which device is best for your lifestyle. Without further ado, let's dive into this iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro face-off, shall we?

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: price

The iPhone 15 has a starting price of $800 and it comes with the following specs:

128GB of storage
6GB of RAM
A16 Bionic chipset
6.1-inch display

Keep in mind that you can get more storage, but it'll cost you. If you want 256GB of storage, the iPhone 15 will set you back $900. Speaking from experience, I'd recommend getting the 256GB variant, particularly if you love hoarding photos and videos. Otherwise, the 128GB model will haunt you with a "storage full" error, forcing you to delete your treasured media content within a year (or less) of use.

The base iPhone 15 model comes with 128GB of storage. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you're a big spender, you can get the iPhone 15 with 512GB of storage, which costs $1,100. But if you have enough money to spend on that, you'd be better off upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro with 256GB of storage, which is exactly the same price.

Speaking of the iPhone 15 Pro, it has a starting price of $1,000 and it comes with the following specs:

128GB of storage
8GB of RAM
A17 Pro
6.1-inch display

The most expensive iPhone 15 Pro, packed with 1TB of storage, will set you back $1,500. But again, if you have that kind of money to blow, you might as well upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 512GB of storage, which costs $100 less at $1,400.

Again, I'd recommend upgrading to at least 256GB of storage if you have a treasure trove of media you'd like to store. However, if you don't mind deleting a few stuff along the way, or you have cloud storage, the 128GB variant should be fine.

Credit: Apple

iPhone 15

Starting at $799

Credit: Apple

iPhone 15 Pro

Starting at $999

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: design

Cue Sia singing "Titanium" at the top of her lungs! The iPhone 15 Pro's biggest selling point is that it consists of a titanium frame, making it lighter and more durable than its predecessor's stainless-steel chassis.

The iPhone 15, wrapped in an aluminum enclosure, doesn't have a hint of titanium. Womp, womp! It is, however, a little lighter than its Pro sibling (6.03 ounces vs. 6.6 ounces).

As far as colors are concerned, I'd argue that the iPhone 15's colors are more fun.

The iPhone 15 comes in five fun colors. Credit: Apple

It comes in five colors:

Pink
Yellow
Green
Blue
Black

The iPhone 15 Pro is a little bit more bougie — more mature and sophisticated.

The iPhone 15 Pro's colors are a lot more neutral. Credit: Apple

Its colors are more urbane, subtle, and minimalist:

Natural Titanium
Blue Titanium
White Titanium
Black Titanium

One subtle difference between the two phones is the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button feature located on the left side of the chassis. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, still has a very boring mute switch instead. What's so great about the Action Button? You can customize it to launch any app or task you want.

For example, with my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I've set the Action Button to launch the Notes app since I use it so frequently, but the possibilities are endless. You can set up the Action Button to launch whatever app you want.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: display

The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro actually share the same display size: 6.1 inches. If you want something bigger (e.g., 6.7 inches), consider getting the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Dynamic Island is here to stay. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

They also have the same resolution: 2,256 x 1,179 pixels

Although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max share the same screen size, they do not have the same display tech. The iPhone 15 does not have ProMotion technology nor does it have an Always-On display — but the Pro model has both of these perks.

What's ProMotion? It's just a fancy term for, "This phone has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz." In other words, the iPhone 15 Pro has a zippier display that adapts to your workflow. If you're simply scrolling through an article, the refresh rate will slowdown. However, if you fire up a fast-paced mobile game, the refresh rate will pick up.

Conversely, the iPhone 15 has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which will feel slower only if you've ever owned a phone with a refresh rate of 90Hz or higher. And for the uninitiated, an Aways-On display lets you get information like time, widgets, and more at a glance because — well — the screen is always on. I can't say the same for the iPhone 15.

Both have the snazzy Dynamic Island featured at the top of the display, and plus, the duo can climb to a peak brightness of 2,000, according to Apple.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: cameras

Cameras are one of the biggest selling points smartphones, and as you might have guessed, the iPhone 15 Pro has an edge over the iPhone 15. Here's a break down of the camera specs:

iPhone 15

Wide camera - 48MP
Ultrawide camera - 12MP
Selfie camera - 12MP
No telephoto

iPhone 15 Pro

Wide camera - 48MP
Ultrawide camera - 12MP
Selfie camera - 12MP
Telephoto (3X optical zoom)

Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 does not have a telephoto lens, which means that zoomed-in shots will have a dip in quality. It's also worth nothing that the iPhone 15 Pro's ultrawide lens has a slightly wider aperture, which means low-light shots should be better.

If you're a telephoto lens stan, you're going to want to go Pro. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The iPhone 15, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, does not support macro photography, Apple ProRAW, nor Night Mode portraits. (This isn't to be confused with Night Mode, which the iPhone 15 does have.)

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: performance

The iPhone 15 Pro, without a doubt, is zippier and beastlier than the iPhone 15, thanks to its new A17 Pro Bionic chip. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 sports the chipset featured inside the iPhone 14 Pro models: the A16 Bionic.

The iPhone 15 Pro is more of a powerhouse. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Truth be told, the A16 Bionic is still a stellar, breakneck chip that is actually overpowered for what's needed for mobile tasks, so imagine the herculean power behind the A17 Pro.

Without getting into the weeds of things, just know that the A17 Pro is capable of cutting-edge AI computations and graphics. So much so that high-fidelity games like Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage will be headed to the iPhone 15 Pro soon.

It's also worth noting that the iPhone 15 has 6GB of RAM while the iPhone 15 Pro has 8GB of RAM. This means that latter will do a better job at juggling multiple tasks simultaneously (e.g., switching between a bunch of apps should be faster).

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: battery life

Apple ran a video playback test on the iPhone 15 and it lasted 20 hours on a single charge. Compare that to the iPhone 15 Pro, which lasted 23 hours on the same test.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Which should you buy?

To sum it all up, the iPhone 15 Pro has an Action Button that I believe is totally underrated — the iPhone 15 doesn't have one. Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro has a better camera system. If taking better zoomed-in shots are important to you, it'd be worth it to shell out an extra $200.

If you enjoy mobile gaming, with the iPhone 15 Pro getting a GPU boost from its A17 Pro chipset, the upper-tier model is a better choice for you.

However, if neither of those bells and whistles tickle your fancy, you'll be fine with the entry-level iPhone 15.

How to use ChatGPT from your mobile device

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:44:26 +0000

OpenAI has a mobile app for its generative AI tool ChatGPT. Here's how to use it.

CES 2024: This countertop ice cream maker actually makes good soft-serve

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:43:27 +0000

I'm not usually a fan of tech products that claim to be able to make homemade versions of customers' favorite store-bought foods. Sorry to companies like SodaStream, but the end products just never come out tasting right.

But then I came across ColdSnap at CES 2024.

ColdSnap, the countertop ice cream maker at CES 2024. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap is a countertop ice cream maker that claims to make the "creamiest, best tasting ice cream available anywhere." You simply insert a "pod," which looks like a slim can of Coca-Cola, containing one of an assortment of available ice cream flavors into the machine and shortly after, soft-serve ice cream is yours for the eating.

When I first saw ColdSnap, I did not get it. There was a huge line of people around the company's booth because, of course, free food will always attract a crowd. But I've been there and done that when it comes to ice cream makers.

My mom has a "Ninja CREAMi" at her home, a different countertop ice cream maker, which costs less than $200. On visits, I've had Ninja CREAMi soft-serve and it's good, but it's no replacement for real soft-serve like you get at Carvel or Mr. Softee. It's just not "soft" enough. In my experience, Ninja CREAMi ice cream comes out too icy and not creamy enough. I expected ColdSnap to be a bit like that.

I decided to see what the hubbub surrounding ColdSnap was about. And, of course, yeah, the free food.

I was wrong. ColdSnap ice cream actually had the consistency of real soft-serve like you'd get straight from your favorite ice cream truck or soft-serve shop. The ice cream was creamy soft-serve and it was delicious. It seems like its actually possible to replicate store-bought food exactly how it was intended to taste using a homemade ice cream machine.

You can't taste it, but I assure you that ColdSnap's ice cream is very good. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap does come with some issues and unanswered questions. Storing the coke can-sized pods will be less than ideal, and when it comes to disposal, will cities add them to recycling programs for other, similar pods? But the biggest question is: when will it actually be available to buy? ColdSnap actually debuted way back at CES 2021 and stole the show-related headlines then. But the company seemingly disappeared without ever releasing a commercial product.

At CES 2024, ColdSnap was all the rage once again. But the company was showing off a larger machine that they said they don't want to sell to customers. A ColdSnap representative told me they're looking to create a smaller version within the next year to put on the market.

Personally, I don't think the current ColdSnap product is that big. It's a kitchen countertop food maker. These products can be rather large and consumers usually don't mind. And then there's the question of will this smaller ColdSnap device still be able to make creamy soft-serve ice cream? Or will downsizing the product mean the output quality is icier in consistency, putting ColdSnap more in line with the previously mentioned Ninja CREAMi? That would certainly be a huge disappointment.

But, I guess we're closer to finding out than we were when ColdSnap debuted at CES three years ago.

AI George Carlin releases comedy special that real George Carlin would've despised

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:13:58 +0000

George Carlin has dropped a new comedy special. And if that seems weird — because, you know, he died in 2008 — well, it's because it isn't actually Carlin.

The special is from Dudesy, a comedy AI, that co-opted Carlin's persona for a YouTube "special" called George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.

To be clear, the hour-long video from the AI goes out of its way to say the special is not actually Carlin.

"I just want to let you know very clearly that what you're about to hear is not George Carlin. It's my impersonation of George Carlin that I developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would," it says in the video. "I listened to all of George Carlin's material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today. So think of it like Andy Kaufman impersonating Elvis or like Will Ferrell impersonating George W. Bush."

But frankly, the impression is not like that at all. Ferrell and Kaufman were human beings, accentuating certain qualities of powerful people in order to create comedy and social commentary. The Dudesy special is a voice-accurate copy of Carlin, not adding context but rather trying to resurrect a ghost. It's a weird, less funny version of Carlin.

I watched a bit of the video and my takeaway was that, yes, it seemed like an AI impression of Carlin. It talked about some of the topics you'd expect from a modern Carlin: billionaires, the class system in America, and social media. But, from the little bit I saw, it felt like an impression. It didn't have much to say.

The great comedian had a point of view because he was...a great comedian. Dudesy has amalgamated its idea of Carlin into something resembling the genuine article. It's weird, unsettling, and capitalistic nonsense nobody asked for and nobody needs. In other words: The AI version of Carlin sure seems like something Carlin would've hated.

At one point the AI even jokes about replacing stand-up comedians and news anchors because it could stream forever and ever. Ah yes, endless flotsam, the perfect version of art. For what it's worth, Carlin's family seems to agree that the AI special was a bad idea.

"My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," Carlin's daughter Kelly Carlin wrote on Twitter/X. "These AI generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let's let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans are so afraid of the void that we can't let what has fallen into it stay there. Here's an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere."

Pre-order the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro and save $50

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:30:53 +0000

SAVE $50: Pre-order the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for just $449.99, down from its regular price of $499.99. That's a 10% discount.

Credit: Segway

Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro preorder

$449.99 at Segway (save $50 with pre-order)

If you're tired of hopping on the metro for your morning commute or no longer find enjoyment with your rideshare companions, it might be time to find a new way to get into the office. Thanks to today's deal, you can pre-order one of Segway's best commuting scooters and kick off your year with savings.

As of Jan. 11, you can pre-order the new Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for $449.99, a $50 discount off the MSRP of $499.99. Segway estimates shipments will begin on Jan. 25.

The Segway Ninebot E2 Pro is built for daily commuting, running errands, or enjoying an adventure. With a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, the E2 Pro features Segway's RideyLONG technology which adds 20% to the scooter's range without needing an extra battery. At max speed, the E2 Pro gets 16.8 miles of distance on a single charge. There's an anti-skid traction control system should you face precipitation and you get front and rear turning indicators for a safer ride. Plus, the braking system has a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake.

Glide your way up hills with the E2 Pro's ability to head up slopes with up to an 18% incline thanks to the combination of rear-wheel drive and the 750 W motor. It takes about five-and-a-half hours to recharge the scooter for your next ride.

If you're looking for a new way to get around, the new Segway Ninebot E2 Pro scooter could be your dream mode of transportation. Pre-order the scooter today to save $50.

Pre-order the remote-like Oh! vibrator and get it for 50% off prior to release

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:21:06 +0000

SAVE $70: As of Jan. 11, the Oh! vibrator is available for preorder from Ohdoki for $74.95. That's 50% off its normal price of $149.95.

Credit: Okidoki

Oh! vibrator

$74.95 at Amazon (save $70)

Looking to spice things up in the bedroom? Norwegian tech company Ohdoki just debuted one very interesting piece of sextech at CES 2024, and it looks like a very interesting proposition for people with vulvas. The same company, which introduced the automated penis stroker The Handy at last year's tech expo, wants you to meet The Oh!, a new vibrator that looks more like a remote control than something that could rock your world. But despite its looks, it promises some serious sensations.

If you're in the market to try something new beyond your go-to toys, now's a great time to get in on the Oh! craze before it even starts. The newly-announced toy is available for preorder from Ohdoki right now for 50% off its MSRP. That means if you lock in your purchase as of Jan. 11, you can get it for just $74.95, which is down from its suggested price of $149.95.

The Oh! doesn't rely on motors to create those satisfying vibrations you expect from this kind of toy. Instead, according to Ohdoki, it uses sound wave-based "ResoTouch technology" to help users "create their own vibrational patterns." What that means, exactly, is a bit up in the air right now. But it probably translates to you or a partner having a great time.

You can sync up the Oh! with your favorite audio or video through Bluetooth as you take in the vibrations. And there's the opportunity to try it out with a partner using the brand's Handy toy as well, so there's an interesting type of synergy here that could bring you and someone else together while you enjoy content with a little something-something physical in the background.

The Oh! is set to debut this spring, so if you want to get it at its lower price now, be sure to pre-order early.

Netflix's 'Players' trailer makes a play for Valentine's Day viewing

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:18:16 +0000

If you didn't think you could Moneyball dating, Netflix's latest film has a sporting strategy to change your mind.

The streaming service has dropped the trailer for Players, director Trish Sie's romantic comedy following a group of friends who run "plays" to help each other meet people for casual flings. In their dating rulebook, there's only one proviso: You can't start a relationship from a play. Seems somewhat ethical, I guess.

When Mack (Gina Rodriguez) falls for someone she has her eye on, a war correspondent named Nick (Tom Ellis), she goes to the group to help her run a play for something bigger. Her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and the rest of her pals decide to help her out and create a game plan to rival their usual scenarios. But the trailer hints at something else going on closer to home.

Netfix is releasing this one on Valentine's Day, so it's going to be the streaming service's big mushy romance play — and the latest addition to Netflix's existing romantic movie lineup.

Players debuts on Netflix Feb. 14

Charlie Kaufman returns with animated 'Orion and the Dark' trailer

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

After writing surreal, existential dread-inducing movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Charlie Kaufman makes a foray into films for younger audiences with the animated adventure Orion and the Dark.

Directed by Sean Charmatz and based on the book by Emma Yarlett, Orion and the Dark tells the story of elementary schooler Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay). He's overcome with fear of almost everything — but especially the dark. But when the embodiment of darkness itself (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser) pays him a visit, he'll embark on a magical adventure to try to overcome his fears.

The film's first trailer teases Orion and the Dark's fantastic journey and introduces some of Dark's friends: Dreams (voiced by Angela Bassett), Sleep (voiced by Natasia Demetriou), Unexplained Noises (voiced by Golda Rosheuvel), and more.

Orion and the Dark hits Netflix Feb. 2.

The rugged Apple Watch Ultra is under $630 today at Best Buy

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:54:20 +0000

SAVE $170: The Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a 21% discount.

Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular)

$629 at Best Buy (save $170)

If your lifestyle involves mountain adventures, exploring the underwater world while scuba diving, or off-the-map expeditions that rely on GPS, you might have noticed that not all smartwatches can keep up. If you've been let down by a fitness watch in the past, the Apple Watch Ultra might be the one for you, and there's a great deal at Best Buy today.

As of Jan. 11, the Apple Watch Ultra is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a savings of $170, or 21%.

The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for the most rugged of adventures. The watch is built with titanium and combines durability with a lightweight design. The Ultra's face features a super-bright Always‑On Retina display of 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as some other Apple Watch models.

When it comes to wayfinding, the GPS antenna uses dual frequency for better accuracy when you need it most. Should you take a wrong turn, the watch's siren projects an 86-decibel sound pattern to attract help, heard up to 600 feet away.

If normal fitness watches can't keep up with your adventures, the Apple Watch Ultra is up for being your reliable companion. Take advantage of this deal while it lasts.

The Nimble robot does at-home manicures so you don't have to lift a finger

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:45:38 +0000

Previously, your manicure options were going to the salon and spending at least $20 (way more if you live in NYC), or trying to do it yourself at home.

Now there's a third option that gets you the professional salon look, in the comfort of your home, without lifting a finger. At CES 2024, Nimble Beauty showed off its manicure robot that can paint and dry all ten fingers in about 25 minutes. After a few long days at CES, I jumped at the chance for a self-care moment.

Founder Omri Moran came up with the idea in 2016 after a first date was very late due to a botched manicure. The woman tried to fix it herself, then ultimately bailed and removed the whole manicure before rushing out the door. The woman's story got Moran thinking that a manicure is a very different experience from what he expected. "I imagined it with friend, very relaxing," said Moran. "Turns out for many people, it's more like ongoing maintenance. And when they do it at home, it's a chore."

For many, manicures are maintenance or a chore, which is why Moran came up with Nimble. Credit: Nimble

When Moran looked into it, he found a huge market and potential demand. Nimble's Kickstarter campaign initially launched with a $50,000 goal, but ended up raising $2 million. For anyone who gets their nails done, this is obvious, but: manicures are a big business. And by the way, the date ended up becoming Moran's wife, he says.

Back at the booth, trying not to think of Paul Atreides and the Bene Gesserit test, I put my hand inside the 12-inch cube. Once my fingers were correctly and comfortably fitted in between the ridges that ensure proper placement, I pressed the start button on the top of the cube. The accompanying app told me that Nimble was now in the process of calibrating. Using machine vision, tiny cameras, and 3D image processing, Nimble scanned the size and shape of each nail for accurate painting.

Then it got to work. Nimble has developed an AI robotic arm that has the same tactility of human hand to precisely paint each nail.

The app showing the initial calibration phase which is when Nimble scans the size and shape of the nails. Credit: Nimble

The Nimble app was key to the user experience so I could know exactly what was happening inside the cube. Credit: Nimble

It was a little weird feeling the cold, wet polish on my nails without being able to see it, and then the fan blowing air to dry it off. But the Dune comparison stopped as soon as the manicure started, since nothing scary or painful happened, and I was able to follow the process through the app. The app was a critical part of the experience, so I could know exactly what was happening. I only wish there was some kind of status bar on the machine. Otherwise, I was comfortable, especially since Nimble also comes with a little foam pillow to put under your wrist or forearm, allowing you to rest your arm while you wait.

Since there was high demand to test out Nimble, I was only able to get one nail painted. But within minutes, I got polish and a topcoat, and my nail was fully dry. The average manicure might take about 30 minutes, which includes soaking your hands, cuticle clean-up etc. But that doesn't count drying, which Nimble does. In that sense, it might not replace the full salon experience. But if you're like me and struggle with painting your dominant hand, and just want a convenient and clean paint job, Nimble is precise and on par with the pros.

With my single nail polished and dry, I was impressed with the results. The polish was almost perfectly painted on the nail and didn't get on any of the cuticle or surrounding skin. This, Moran told me is also contingent on keeping your hand still, but Nimble's AI algorithm means the robot arm is able to account for small movements and recalibrate accordingly.

For $599, Nimble doesn't come cheap. But if you're someone who regularly gets their nails done, this might pay for itself over time. Moran says they're also planning new services and features like gel polish and pedicures. If that sounds like you, Nimble is available for pre-order and ships in March. Moran says widespread availability is expected this May.

Credit: Nimble Beauty

The Nimble Device

$599 at Nimble Beauty

A vampire ballerina faces off against' 'Scream's Melissa Barrera in 'Abigail' trailer

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:41:07 +0000

Last year, M3GAN gifted us with a pint-sized horror icon with killer dance moves. This year, Universal's Abigail looks to take up the mantle of dancing scream queen with its titular character: a vampiric ballerina (Matilda the Musical's Alisha Weir).

On the outside, Abigail looks like any sweet 12-year-old. But when a group of criminals kidnap her in order to claim a $50 million ransom from her father, they discover she's got a taste for human blood — and they're next on the menu. Locked in an isolated mansion, will these would-be kidnappers be able to survive the night?

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream VI), Abigail stars Melissa Barrera (Scream franchise), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), William Catlett (Black Lightning), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution), and Angus Cloud (Euphoria).

Abigail hits theaters April 19.

Clicks keyboard case hands-on review reveals why the CES 2024 product is so divisive

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:17:02 +0000

Clicks may very well be one of the most divisive iPhone cases ever created.

Mashable published a quick first-look at the smartphone case with the built-in physical keyboard earlier in the week after first seeing the accessory at CES 2024. Other tech outlets did too. The online conversation about the case was all over the place.

A physical keyboard for your iPhone?! Photos of the Clicks furthered the discourse as Clicks certainly has an interesting look, elongating the already quite large iPhone 15.

But, personally, I actually liked the idea. I'm not a fan of typing on a touchscreen. For short emails, text messages, and tweets – fine, it's no big deal. But, anything longer? Sorry, I need to wait until I'm at my laptop or desktop keyboard. If Clicks replicates those experiences, I don't care how big the case is.

Yes, Clicks makes your iPhone much bigger to carry around. But, that's not the problem. Credit: Mashable

So, I was excited to meet with the Clicks team and actually get some hands-on time with Clicks.

Reader, let me tell you, I wanted to like Clicks so much. The idea is there. The team behind it gets all the needs for a physical keyboard for your iPhone. But, the execution…it's just way off.

The Good

But, first, what I liked about Clicks, the iPhone case with a built-in physical keyboard. My favorite thing about the case is that it frees up space on your iPhone screen. When you put Clicks on your iPhone, the touchscreen keyboard disappears. Your device registers there's a physical keyboard plugged in, so the touchscreen keyboard doesn't show up. If you're livestreaming and need extra room to interact with your viewers in the livechat, that extra screen real estate is huge. Same goes for if you're trying to write a long document, note, or journal entry on your iPhone. This is easily Clicks' best feature.

SEE ALSO: 5 most WTF products we saw at CES 2024

The case also brings keyboard shortcuts to your iPhone. For example, just tap the space bar over and over to scroll down a page. Talk-to-text is just one always-visible physical keyboard click away. Clicks is also easy to slide on and off your iPhone, so if a user didn't want the case on all the time, it doesn't have to be.

The Bad

But, here's the negatives – and it's a big one – the keyboard itself is just bad.

If the point of a physical keyboard for the iPhone is to avoid the perils of a touchscreen, like accidentally tapping the wrong key, Clicks doesn't seem to solve that. I was constantly tapping the wrong keys during my hands-on experience. In fact, I was doing even worse than when using the iPhone touchscreen keyboard. The physical keys are just so close together, I was pressing on multiple keys at once at times.

Furthermore, the physical keyboard just doesn't feel like the keyboard I was expecting. The keys are soft and don't really physically push down all that much. There's no satisfying sounding "click" when tapping a key on a keyboard called Clicks!

The Clicks team explained to me that the physical keyboard does take some people time to get used to. My time with the keyboard wasn't that long and there are people who excel at typing on the iPhone touchscreen, so I can certainly believe that there are some users who would get the hang of the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro version of the Clicks case after a little while.

It was difficult to type with Clicks. Credit: Mashable

The team recommended I try out the larger Clicks case for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The keys are slightly more spread apart on that version of the case, so maybe I'd find it easier to use. Unfortunately, the iPhone 15 Pro Max case was even worse. In fact, I found it downright unusable.

When testing out the Clicks case for iPhone 15 Pro Max, I could barely even use the keyboard. Why? The physical keyboard is located all the way at the bottom of the case. So, when you have both hands holding the keyboard so you can type, the entire device feels like it's about to flip over and fall out of your hand due to the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Clicks does not seem to have considered the weight distribution of the case for the largest iPhone model.

Just give me a portable mechanical keyboard

Overall, I was disappointed in the Clicks keyboard case. And that may be an understatement because I wanted to love it. The best things about the device, like the extra screen space, are all secondary benefits. The main selling point – the physical keyboard – is a let down.

Most of the criticisms about the case from those who have yet to try it all focus on the size: It's too big! I disagree. If a physical keyboard for the iPhone replicates the experience of typing at my desktop, I don't care how big it is. Give me a full blown mechanical keyboard for the iPhone!

Instead, it feels like Clicks took the naysayers' critiques to heart and tried to give us a physical keyboard for the iPhone in the most compact size possible. By doing so, it solved none of the biggest problems that people have with the touchscreen keyboard. It's either that or my hands are just too big.

Clicks for iPhone 14 Pro starts shipping next month, with the iPhone 15 Pro model coming out in March, and the Phone 15 Pro Max version launching in the Spring.

The best portable mechanical keyboards you can shop right now

Best For Typing Experience

Epomaker TH80 Pro

$85.99 at Amazon

Best for Compact Design

EPOMAKER TH66 Pro

$89.99 at Amazon

Best For Premium Features

Keychron Q1 Pro

$219.99 at Amazon

The best VPN deals in January 2024: NordVPN's New Year's sale is still live

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:08:41 +0000

UPDATE: Jan. 11, 2024, 11:10 a.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest and greatest VPN deals.

Best VPN deals of the week at a glance:

Best roster of features

NordVPN Standard (2 years)

$3.39/month (save $9.60/month)

Most globally diverse server network

ExpressVPN (1 year + 3 months)

$6.67/month (save $6.28/month)

Best for privacy wonks

Proton VPN Plus (2 years)

$4.99/month (save $5/month)

Best for streaming

CyberGhost VPN (2 years + 2 months)

$2.19/month (save $10.80/month)

Best for VPN newbies

TunnelBear Unlimited (3 years)

$3.33/month (save $6.66/month)

Using a virtual private network (or VPN) is an easy way to bypass geo-restrictions, protect company data while working remotely, and browse privately on public WiFi networks. Most providers' plans cost anywhere from $2 to $13 per month, though many lure customers in with discounted introductory rates that skyrocket after your initial term. To help you lock in a plan that'll fit your budget in the short and long run, we're compiling a weekly roundup of the best deals on all the VPNs we've personally tested. Below, you can check out our top picks as of Jan. 11 — including several lingering holiday sales.

NordVPN

Credit: NordVPN

NordVPN Standard (2 years)

$3.39/month (save $9.60/month)

Read Mashable's review of NordVPN.

Power users shouldn't think twice about signing up for NordVPN, an industry giant that bundles its highly customizable VPN service with advanced security features like Tor access, a dark web monitor, and malware protection. New users can snag a two-year Standard plan for just $3.39/month (billed $81.36 upfront) thanks to its New Year's deal, which takes 74% off its usual $12.99/month rate. The plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and renews annually at $8.29/month after your first term ends.

Optional add-ons include:

Dedicated IP — $4.19/month
Incogni data removal tool — $3.99/month

ExpressVPN

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1 year + 3 months)

$6.67/month (save $6.28/month)

Read Mashable's review of ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is a well-established VPN service with a globally diverse server network, a user-friendly app, a built-in tracker blocker, and a strong commitment to user privacy. Its monthly rate also hovers around the high end of the spectrum at $12.95, so we recommend opting for its 15-month plan at $6.67/month (billed $99.95 upfront) — that's a 49% savings and covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your subscription will convert to an $8.32/month annual plan after the first term is up.

Proton VPN

Credit: Proton VPN

Proton VPN Plus (2 years)

$4.99/month (save $5/month)

Read Mashable's review of Proton VPN.

Proton VPN is another great pick for privacy wonks with open-source apps and ultra-transparent company policies. It offers a decent free plan, but we recommend its Plus tier for full access to its server network, streaming and P2P support, multi-hop, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and Tor access. While monthly subscriptions typically go for $9.99, you can save 50% and pay just $4.99/month (billed $119.76 upfront) by committing to a two-year plan; that's a fixed rate that won't increase after your first term if you decide to extend the subscription, which is pretty rare. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies here, too.

CyberGhost VPN

Credit: CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN (2 years + 2 months)

$2.19/month (save $10.80/month)

Read Mashable's review of CyberGhost VPN.

CyberGhost lays claim to a massive network with special servers optimized for streaming, gaming, and P2P to help minimize lag. New customers can take advantage of its holiday deal and sign up for a 26-month plan at just $2.19/month (billed $56.94 upfront), saving 83% on its standard monthly fee of $12.99. The subscription will renew as a $4.75/month annual plan after your initial term is up, which still isn't terrible — and like all of CyberGhost's multi-year plans, it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee plus free access to its ID Guard and Privacy Guard tools. If you don't want to commit to anything just yet, you can try CyberGhost for free for up to a week, depending on the platform.

Optional add-ons include:

Dedicated IP — $2.50/month ~~$5/month~~ (save 50%) for two years

TunnelBear

Credit: TunnelBear

TunnelBear Unlimited (3 years)

$3.33/month (save $6.66/month)

Read Mashable's review of TunnelBear.

Our go-to recommendation for anyone who's never used the technology before, TunnelBear is a simple, lightweight VPN with an intuitive (and adorable) interface. Though it's incapable of unblocking international streaming sites, it should serve you well for basic web surfing. Pick its Unlimited plan over the free version for unlimited browsing and priority customer service, which costs $3.33/month (billed $120 upfront) when you enroll for three years — that's 67% off its usual $9.99/month rate. Your plan renews at $4.99/month on a yearly plan after the first term. There's no money-back guarantee, unfortunately, but refunds are offered on a case-by-case basis.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

Credit: Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (2 years + 2 months)

$2.19/month (save $9.80/month)

Read Mashable's review of PIA.

It's nothing particularly special, but for users in search of a basic VPN with open-source apps, built-in ad blocking, and unlimited simultaneous connections, PIA is worth a look. You'll pay only $2.19/month (billed $56.94 upfront) if you lock into a 26-month plan, saving 82% on its regular rate of $11.99/month; that does include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your subscription will switch to an annual plan at $4.75/month after the initial term is over.

Optional add-ons include:

Antivirus by PIA — $1.45/month ~~$4.50/month~~ (save 68%) for two years
Dedicated IP — $2.50/month ~~$5/month~~ (save 50%) for two years

IPVanish

Credit: IPVanish

IPVanish (2 years + 3 months)

$2.99/month (save $10/month)

Read Mashable's review of IPVanish.

Another middle-of-the-road pick, IPVanish makes up for a lack of advanced security features with a minimalist, straightforward app and support for unlimited simultaneous connections. You can get your first 27 months for $2.99/month (billed $80.75 upfront), which shaves 77% off its usual monthly rate of $12.99 and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. After that term is up, you'll get bumped to $7.50/month on an annual plan.

Editor’s note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's publisher. Any IPVanish products or services featured on Mashable are covered independently by our team.

Shop the best smartwatch and wellness tracker deals, including some from CES 2024

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:02:29 +0000

The world of wearable tech never sleeps. Sure, many of them track our sleep, but the tech industry's innovations with health and wellness wearables are constantly improving. If you're in the market for a new wearable health device in 2024, these are some of the best deals to shop today at Amazon.

Today's best deals on wearable wellness gadgets

Latest tech wellness wearable deal

Apollo Neuro

$279.99 at Amazon (save $70)

Best Garmin smartwatch deal

Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy)

$231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63)

Best fitness watch deal under $100

Fitbit Inspire 3

$69.95 at Amazon (save $30)

In case you're not one for keeping up with tech news, this week introduces the public to handfuls of tech devices and gadgets to look forward to. CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is currently underway in Las Vegas. While some products have yet to be released, others are already available for you to buy. Health and wellness wearables have seen an eventful week at CES with spotlights on the Evolve MVMT and the Apollo Neuro — both of which present unique wellness tracking.

If you've earmarked 2024 as the year of wellness, here are some of the best fitness and wellness tracker deals today.

Latest tech wellness wearable deal

Credit: Apollo

Our pick: Apollo Neuro

$279.99 at Amazon (save $70)

Why we like it

Wearable fitness trackers have been around for ages. We've become accustomed to them tracking our steps, heart rate, and even sleep cycles, but the Apollo Neuro is a different type of wellness wearable. The Apollo works on vibes and vibes only, and attaches to either your wrist or ankle. From the free Apollo app, you get to select which vibes you're seeking — like Social, Focus, Calm, or Fall Asleep. Depending on which you choose, the Apollo Neuro then send the associated vibrations to the device. Ahead of CES 2024, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon tested out the Apollo Neuro for a week. Her review mentions she found it worked great in the Social mode but was felt skeptical about other modes. If you're curious about how actual vibes can impact your life, the Apollo Neuro is on sale at Amazon for $279.99, marked down from the normal price of $349.99.

Best Garmin smartwatch deal

Credit: Garmin

Our pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy)

$231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63)

Why we like it

Garmin brought the Lily 2 Classic smartwatch to CES this year, but if you're looking for a great deal on a Garmin, we're opting for the Garmin vívoactive 5. In navy, the health and fitness watch is just $231.36 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $299.99. One of the most impressive elements of the vívoactive 5 is its battery life, which can last up to 11 days. This becomes especially useful if you're using a wearable to get a better picture about sleep stats. The Garmin vívoactive 5 also has a wheelchair mode that tracks pushes rather than steps.

Best fitness watch deal under $100

Credit: Fitbit

Our pick: Fitbit Inspire 3

$69.95 at Amazon (save $30)

Why we like it

If you're seeking an uncomplicated wellness wearable, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is back down to just $69.95 at Amazon, matching its lowest price ever. For under $70 this could be perfect for anyone who wants to enter the world of fitness tracking in 2024. The always-on wellness tracker gives out a daily stress management score paired with mindfulness sessions or breathing exercises. You can also connect the Fitbit to receive text messages and app notifications from your smartphone. The Fitbit Inspire 3 can get up to 10 days on one battery charge, so you'll likely only need to recharge once a week.

Google Assistant is losing 17 features: See the list

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:56:59 +0000

Google Assistant is killing off a bunch of its capabilities. The tech giant said it would stop supporting 17 "underutilized features."

Several of these features that'll no longer be supported feel quite useful, including sending a message with your voice or setting alarms on Assistant-enabled devices. The company said it was "making a few changes to focus on quality and reliability" in Assistant, but it's clear this is part of a shift in priorities.

Here is the full list of defunct features, via Google.

There have been a lot of recent changes at the search giant. Google announced this week that it laid off hundreds of workers from its Assistant unit, among other cuts. All of these major changes come, of course, amid its increasing focus on Bard, its AI chatbot.

Assistant's future appears to be inextricably tied to Bard. AI is coming down the pike, whether we like it or not.

Where to find the newly-discontinued fan-favorite Fruit Stripe gum online

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:54:34 +0000

If your world is feeling a little less colorful these days, it might be because the iconic Fruit Stripe gum has been discontinued.

Ferrara Candy Company quietly discontinued the colorful confection, which has been giving fans a burst of fruit flavor since 1969. The gum offered five fruit flavors, which admittedly all tasted the same. It was all about fun over flavor, though, with individual sticks stamped with matching colors and each pack with its own temporary tattoo of mascot Yipes the Zebra.

“We have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit Stripe Gum, but consumers may still be able to find the product at select retailers nationwide,” a spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets.

It's been a staple of the checkout aisle for many, from childhood through adulthood, so this loss has left fans feeling understandably morose. As a result, the remaining packs of gum still available at select stores have been flying off the shelves, making the treat difficult and even somewhat impossible to find now that it's no more.

However, this is the internet, where you can find just about anything as long as you're willing to pay. So, for the sake of all Fruit Stripe fans out there, we asked the question: where can you still find a pack of Fruit Stripe gum online?

How to find Fruit Stripe gum online

Unfortunately, as of Jan. 11, it looks like there are little to no retailers currently selling what's left of the Fruit Stripe gum inventory. Ever since the news dropped that the brand would be discontinued, eager fans have been scooping up the remaining packs left and right. That means, right now, it's unavailable at big box retailers like Amazon and Walmart and even smaller candy stores, as even mom and pop online stores are seemingly completely bereft of the product.

While you can still find the gum available on eBay, the remaining listings at the moment are sparse, and we can't wholeheartedly recommend you spend over $100 on a pack of discontinued gum. Your best bet right now is to keep an eye out and keep searching some of the smaller retailers to see if the gum comes back in terms of stock that still needs to be sold, or look around stores in your area that you know to have stocked it previously. You may happen upon a few packs that people haven't yet purchased.

Fruit Stripe gum alternatives

Don't give up hope just yet. If you're looking for something to satisfy that Fruit Stripe craving, there are a few options you can buy right now to scratch that itch. While they obviously won't be the same, these fruity gums and candies still packed with flavor and should at least tide you over until you can find a coveted pack of your favorite gum.

Juicy Fruit gum 10-pack — $18.43 ~~$30.99~~ (save $12.56)
PUR Jumbo gum — $4.49
Original Chiclets gum (380 pieces) — $9.99
Trident Pineapple Twist (12 packs) — $17.43
Orbit Strawberry (12 packs) — $15.48

Select T-Mobile customers will soon get Hulu for free

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:51:15 +0000

SAVE $95.88: Starting Jan. 24, T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan will get Hulu (with ads) for no extra cost — that's a $7.99/month value (or $95.88 per year) for free. Hulu will join Netflix, Apple TV+, and MLB.tv in T-Mobile's stacked streaming suite.

Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu

Hulu (with ads)

Free for T-Mobile Go5G Next customers (save $7.99/month)

T-Mobile phone plans are the gifts that keep on giving — particularly the Go5G Next phone plan. If you have even the smallest gripe with your current mobile provider, T-Mobile is making a really convincing argument for switching. Currently, T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan get Netflix, Apple TV, and MLB.tv for no extra cost. And this month, Hulu is joining the mix as well.

As of Jan. 24, T-Mobile Go5G Next customers will unlock Hulu's entire library without paying a cent. Usually $7.99 per month for the The Hulu with ads plan usually costs $7.99 per month, so Go5G Next customers will save $95.88 per year just for being a T-Mobile customer. Hulu joins the already stacked T-Mobile streaming suite alongside Apple TV+, Netflix, and MLB.tv, adding up to about $400 in savings per year. Ironically, the same day, Netflix access will be demoted to the standard with ads version for customers as well (bummer, but at least it's still free).

T-Mobile isn't the first provider to offer streaming services as a hook for customers. Similarly, Verizon debuted its streaming bundle last month, which includes Netflix and Max for $10 per month. Unlike Verizon, however, T-Mobile is offering these streamers for no extra cost.

"T-Mobile customers get the best value and the best entertainment streaming bundle in wireless — just for being customers, without having to pay a penny more,” wrote Mike Katz, T-Mobile's president of marketing and strategy.

Hulu is brimming with excellent content, including some of our favorite original series like Only Murders in the Building and The Bear, as well as gems like The Creator, Palm Springs, Rye Lane, and Infinity Pool. Not to mention, you can get your reality TV fix with its extensive library of shows like The Masked Singer, The Bachelor, Love Island (UK), and The Kardashians. While having to watch a few ads every hour isn't ideal, it's easier to overlook the intrusion when you're paying zero dollars for the streaming service.

Buzzy CES vibrator looks — and acts — like a remote

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:45:34 +0000

CES brings cool tech products — and products that make you say "WTF" — to the forefront. One sextech highlight this year is the Oh!, a new vibrator from Norwegian tech company Ohdoki. The company made waves (or…jerks) at CES last year for its flagship product, an automated penis stroker called The Handy.

Oh!, however, is for people with vulvas, and resembles a TV remote. The toy uses "ResoTouch technology," according to Ohdoki's press release, which utilizes sound waves — not motors — to create vibrations. Sound waves can apparently "enable individuals to create their own vibrational patterns with more flexibility and customization," the release states.

The vibe can sync with audio, video, and VR content using Bluetooth. It can also act as an actual remote(!) to control a Handy or another Oh! even from a different location. The Oh! website claims that no sign-ins are needed to do this, so you can be totally anonymous.

Former Mashable reporter Jess Joho warned against using Bluetooth sex toys back in 2020 because they didn't function that well (one reason being that water repels Bluetooth signals, and our bodies are mostly water). Since these Ohdoki toys are for external body use, though, perhaps you'd have better luck with them.

"We aim to empower individuals of all genders to elevate their intimate sexual experiences, as we all deserve to explore ourselves and find new levels of pleasure," said Ohdoki CEO and co-founder Jens Petter "JP" Wilhelmsen in the press release. "That's why I'm so excited to bring Oh! to market and create even more ways to elevate pleasure and joy."

"We've seen incredible positive feedback on our flagship product The Handy and have continued to learn from our community to innovate and create a vibrator for our vulva-owning customers like they've never experienced before," Wilhelmsen continued.

The Oh! will be available for purchase this spring on Ohdoki's website and Amazon. The pre-order price is $74.95, and will eventually double to $149.95.

For more big tech reveals from CES, here's Mashable's CES 2024 highlights.

What's so special about a Stanley? A guide to conspicuous consumption on TikTok.

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:45:07 +0000

Last week, people at Target nearly bloodied each other as they fought to get one of the new, special-edition Valentine's Day cups from Stanley, a company known for its TikTok-famous tumblers.

Stanley is a good tumbler. It keeps your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold, even in a burning car. But it isn't "commit an act of violence" good, and there are a lot of tumblers that do it better. So why are we so obsessed with them that we're willing to camp out in front of a Target to buy them in Cosmo pink?

It's partly due to the scarcity effect, according to a New York Times piece on the phenomenon. The tumbler is a fashion item, and exclusive colors are only available for a short amount of time, making people more inclined to buy them when they drop. But TikTok is also a huge piece of the puzzle.

After gaining some attention from an Instagram blog, the Quencher, Stanley's 40-ounce tumbler, became the It-item on the app, with people showing off their collections of Stanley tumblers which take up entire walls in their homes and sharing affiliate links to accessories for their cups. If TikTok users didn't already have one before Christmas, they likely had it on their lists. And each tumbler is around $50, making them expensive for a cup but still attainable for most shoppers.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite TikTokkers of 2023

The frenzy for the tumblers points to a sensation becoming all too popular on TikTok: The app makes us feel insecure and uncertain of ourselves, and those very insecurities and uncertainties are being exploited for spending power.

Spending to be seen

The Stanley tumbler has become a $50 status symbol, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out, usurping the status symbols of yore: Jimmy Choo shoes and Armani suits. It points to a rise in a centuries-old trend with a new twist fueled by social media: conspicuous consumption.

Conspicuous consumption — a term coined by economist Thorstein Veblen that describes the act of buying something specifically to show off your economic or social status — is not new, but is most often associated with the upper class who have an abundance of disposable income. It's like someone who isn't particularly interested in collecting watches spending thousands of dollars on a Rolex instead of a Timex that has the same functionality. And, as @resumeofficial on TikTok pointed out, "We as the middle class took [conspicuous consumption] and adjusted it" despite not having the same kind of privilege for spending.

Partially, this is because wealth inequality has moved us away from seeing luxury products as aspirational — and some of that aspiration was replaced by parasocial relationships that encourage us all to spend on anything the influencers we see own. Not all of them accumulate luxury products, but a lot of them have smaller in-demand items like Stanleys.

"Many parasocial relationships between online content creators and their audiences is based on aspiration," Ali Fazal, the Vice President of Marketing at GRIN, told Mashable. "Consumers have always been fascinated by the lifestyles of those they follow, but in 2024, instead of those subjects being athletes or major celebrities, they are often influencers and online content creators whose lifestyles seem more within reach. As a result, being able to share products, goods, or services that someone you aspire to be like also deepens the connection."

The Stanley tumbler was quietly advertised to you through TikTok, but not all of those videos were ads. Instead, a few influencers posted about liking them, and the trend snowballed. One study from Binus University showed that there is a direct link between TikTok usage and conspicuous consumption, fueled by a "bandwagon effect." As the Association for Consumer Research points out, "this effect is an attempt to 'keep up with the Joneses' in order to preserve one's self-esteem."

You're willing to spend $50 on a Stanley cup instead of $20 on a Hydro Flask, which tends to perform at a higher level with regards to keeping the temperature of your drink consistent, because of what it symbolizes. You want the Stanley so other people know you're in the know; you are in their same social status; you can afford to spend $50 on a cup; you are the hottest mom on the soccer field and the most desirable vet tech in the office. According to research from Lending Tree, nearly 40 percent of Americans have overspent on clothes, shoes, and accessories — like the Stanley tumbler — to impress others. And in 2022, social media apps made $11 billion from children and teens. The TikTok algorithm feeds us videos that make us feel uncertain and insecure in our lives, showing us something to buy to better fit in or fit a certain ideal.

Buying our way out of uncertainty

In a study in the National Library of Medicine, "The link between self-uncertainty and conspicuous consumption: Tolerance of uncertainty as a moderator," researchers found that people who are uncertain of themselves were more likely to engage in this kind of spending and that people who are less comfortable being uncertain about themselves are even more likely to engage in conspicuous consumption.

While conspicuous consumption isn't new, the way we interact with it is. Fazal said that one of the more significant changes to conspicuous consumption has been that "consumer attention follows influencers now more than anyone else, and as a result, social networks are where this trend is displayed the most." We're no longer trying to fit in with our close-knit community — we're trying to fit in with a community of thousands of people online. TikTok is changing the way we think about ourselves, and how much money we're willing to spend to prove it.

And these trends might be picking up speed. Urvashi Ajmera, senior strategist at digital agency Barbarian, told Digiday that TikTok Shop will transform the experience we have on social media even more than it already has.

"More and more organic content will have the Shop feature, and you’d be scrolling through an infinite feed of shop and sponsored content," Ajmera said.

Social media will only get better at convincing us we need to spend money on stuff to fit in, enjoy life, or inch closer to morphing into our favorite influencer. And the trends will shift.

Now that Stanley tumblers are so popular, consumer trends analysts are predicting that we're all going to hate them soon — and the Stanley obsession will inevitably be replaced with something new that you'll be convinced to buy, too. The cycle always continues, but it's getting more difficult to determine what is being advertised to us and the real motivations behind our purchases.

Be careful what your mind does on social media; before you know it, you might reach for your wallet.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine get up to sexy spy shenanigans in 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' trailer

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:31:54 +0000

What's trickier: high-profile espionage or marriage?

That seems to be the question at the heart of Prime Video's Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a new take on the story that first debuted as a TV series in 1996, then as a 2005 film starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Created by Atlanta's Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, the upcoming series stars Glover and Maya Erskine (PEN15) as lonely strangers John and Jane. They've each landed jobs at a glamorous spy agency, where they'll be posing as a married couple in order to attract less attention. But amidst all the high-profile missions, car chases, and explosions, could they develop real feelings for one another?

The show's trailer teases this growing romance with shots of steamy kisses and confessions of love — all sandwiched between blowout arguments and awkward attempts to dispose of bodies. Oh, and the show promises an all-star cast too, with Paul Dano, Parker Posey, Wagner Moura, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Michaela Coel, Alexander Skarsgård, Sharon Horgan, and Sarah Paulson.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith premieres Feb. 2 on Prime Video.

Too much TV screen time for kids: 5 things to know about the risks

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:07:43 +0000

When a parent flips on the TV, it often affords them 30 minutes or more of relative silence. That's enough time to make dinner, fold a load of laundry, or quickly chat with a friend. TV makes achieving certain parenting goals possible.

Their kid often enjoys it, too. It's time spent in an imaginary world when, importantly, their parent isn't bugging them to put on their shoes or do homework.

But research increasingly suggests that too much TV at a young age may come with risks.

A study published this week in JAMA Pediatrics found an association between TV screen time and what's known as atypical sensory processing. This can include developing sensory-seeking behaviors, like obsessively watching a spinning object, as well as becoming slower to respond to stimuli, like hearing one's name called, and avoiding certain sensory experiences, such as resisting new foods and noisy environments.

Though the researchers did not study children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, such sensory processing difficulties can be common with both conditions.

SEE ALSO: What to know about an 'ADHD watch'

The study's association between screen time and atypical sensory processing builds on past research suggesting a similar link between TV-watching at a young age and language delay, attention problems, emotional dysregulation, brain findings, autism symptoms, and sleep problems.

However, there is no evidence that too much TV causes autism, ADHD, or other conditions. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not consider watching too much TV as a risk factor for autism.

Known risk factors for autism include advanced parental age, genetics, and very low birth weight. Genetics also plays a role in the development of ADHD; other potential risk factors for ADHD include environmental pollutants and premature delivery.

The study's lead author, Dr. Karen Heffler, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, was drawn to this field of research after her own son was diagnosed with autism.

If TV-watching is a risk factor for atypical sensory processing, it is one that can potentially be changed, Heffler said.

"We want to empower parents, we want kids to develop to their potential," she added.

To better understand the role of TV screen time in your child's life, here are five things you should know about the subject:

1. What the guidelines say about screen time for young kids

Heffler strongly urges parents to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for media, which say to avoid digital media use for children younger than 18 to 24 months. The guidelines make an exception for video-chatting, which may be enriching and appropriately engaging when done with family members, for example.

When you do play digital media for toddlers between 18 to 24 months, the AAP recommends turning to high-quality programming and watching it together.

Children between the ages of 2 and 5 should be limited to one hour of high-quality programming per day, which you should also watch with them.

2. Research findings on risks of TV screen time

Heffler's study analyzed data reported between 2011 and 2014 by the parents of 1,471 babies and toddlers. The parents shared how frequently their children watched TV or DVDs. The parents weren't asked about mobile devices, since they were less prevalent at the time.

She and her co-authors found that for 1-year-olds, any TV screen exposure was associated with a doubled likelihood that they would go on to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors when they were nearly 3 years old compared to children with no screen time.

Toddlers between the ages of 18 and 24 months also had higher odds of a similar outcome, but not as marked as infants exposed to TV.

For every hour of TV screen time beyond no screen time at all, 18-month-olds were 23 percent more likely to display behaviors related to avoiding certain sensations and being less responsive to stimuli when they were older.

It's important to remember that while many young children have sensory processing differences, such as sensitivity to a specific noise, those reactions may be fleeting or short-lived. Heffler and her co-authors were specifically looking for atypical behavior in four distinct categories of sensory processing, including sensitivity and avoidance, as reported by the children's parents.

While it's unclear how TV exposure could affect sensory processing, Heffler said one possible explanation is that young children's brains aren't yet prepared to take in and process sensory features of TV, like lights, movement, and colors. It's also possible that TV displaces other behaviors and activities that contribute to typical processing development, like talking, babbling, cooing, playing, and being outside.

3. Does it matter if screen time involves television or a smartphone or tablet?

Heffler's study couldn't evaluate screen time that takes place on a smartphone or tablet, but she suspects that it could lead to similar results. Some research already indicates that screen time on mobile devices is associated with language delay and dysregulation for young children.

If anything, Heffler worries that exposure to screen time at young ages is far more pervasive than it was a decade ago, though more research on smartphone use among babies and toddlers is needed.

"The concern is that children have access to video through mobile devices at a much higher rate than they did even when the study was done," Heffler said.

4. Testing what happens when you reduce screen time for young kids

In her research, Heffler is exploring what happens when parents reduce screen time for young kids, particularly those with autism symptoms.

In the very limited research on the topic, there are glimmers of improvement for some children and their families.

In a pilot study Heffler published in 2022, nine children between the ages of 18 to 40 months old with an autism diagnosis had a history of watching an average of five hours of screen content per day. After their parents received educational information and one-on-one in-home support visits to help them replace screen time with social engagement, testing revealed significant improvements in core autism symptoms and reduced stress for parents.

Heffler said that parents who notice that their child's atypical sensory processing is interfering with their everyday routine could consider doing a trial run of turning off screens and integrating more social, sensory, and play activities to see if it leads to improvements.

Importantly, screen time is just one potential risk factor for atypical sensory processing; some families may reduce screen time and see little or no improvement.

5. Alternatives to TV screen time

Heffler understands just how pressed parents are for time, and that some may experience mental health challenges, like postpartum depression. She believes society should consider the needs of families so that parents can have more support as they raise young children, rather than putting them in a position where TV presents their one break between work and parenting.

Lori Frome, an early childhood interventionist who co-authored Heffler's 2022 pilot study, said parents who feel comfortable with reducing TV time can try various strategies.

That starts with removing the screens themselves, as much as possible. Some parents Frome has worked with have put TVs away or draped them with a blanket. Removing remotes, unplugging TVs, and placing phones and tablets out of reach (for both a child and a parent) can help, too.

Frome recommends that parents frequently involve their children in household routines instead of turning on the TV in order to get something done. Helping with dinner could be as simple as putting carrot sticks in a bowl or napkins on the table. As an alternative to screen time when a parent is present but not available, children can play in a nearby safe, closed-off environment with standard toys, like dolls, blocks, cups, and balls. Children might particularly enjoy toy characters or stuffies featured in their favorite movie or TV show.

But Heffler isn't expecting parents to perform miracles.

"We just hope that they can use this information to the best of their ability under their circumstances," Heffler said.

Action-packed 'Halo' Season 2 trailer promises one hell of a battle

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Halo Season 2 is coming and war is on the cards.

Paramount+ has dropped the trailer for the second season of the Xbox game-inspired TV series from showrunner David Wiener, with Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) back to lead the Spartans against the dastardly Covenant. As the alien threat gathers to attack humanity (they do that), Master Chief has got to find the eponymous Halo to save the world — classic.

Natascha McElhone is back as Dr. Halsey alongside Jen Taylor, Bokeem Woodbine, Shabana Azmi, Natasha Culzac, Olive Gray, Yerin Ha, Bentley Kalu, Kate Kennedy, Charlie Murphy, and Danny Sapani, with a host of new cast members too.

Halo Season 2 will premiere the first two episodes globally on Feb. 8 on Paramount+.

'Hazbin Hotel' review: A24 brings Disney vibes, curse words, and manic musical numbers

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000

A24 has defined its brand as a killer film studio, unleashing such critically heralded marvels as Ari Aster's menacing folk horror hit, Midsommar; Greta Gerwig's universally praised coming-of-age comedy, Lady Bird; and the Daniels' Oscar-winning action adventure, Everything Everywhere All at Once. As the studio expands into television — with edgy offerings like Beef, Euphoria, and The Curse – a venture into adult animation seemed almost inevitable. Where better to give a visual storyteller the space to spin a narrative where literally anything is possible?

Though known for its big swings, Hazbin Hotel seems a safe bet. The animated musical-comedy series has been brewing its brand online through creator Vivienne Medrano's inventive teases, which boast 93 to 156 million views. Plus, co-producer Amazon Studios has an established stable of adult-aimed animated series, like Invincible, The Boys: Diabolical, and The Legend of Vox Machina. But can this perky pink cartoon show about sinners and singing thrive as a fleshed-out series? With Season 2 already confirmed, Season 1 has a lot to prove.

What's Hazbin Hotel about?

Charlie is like the Disney Princess of hell. Credit: Prime Video

Imagine a halfway house for demons and the damned, a sort of purgatory with room service and a bartender who only knows how to serve drinks and tough love. That's the Hazbin Hotel, the passion project of the princess of hell, Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen). Perky and relentless, this leggy blonde in a red tuxedo gives big theater kid energy as she makes her pitch to sinners and angels alike, advocating for rehabilitation over annihilation.

You see, heaven's angels like to invade hell to wipe out the dastardly denizens to prevent overcrowding and ensure the golden gates can never be toppled. But if Charlie and her motley crew of hotel staff can change hearts and minds, maybe the damned can be redeemed and ascend?

Hazbin Hotel struggles to find its footing.

Valentino is a pimp with guns. Credit: Prime Video

Creator Vivienne Medrano (through her online alias VivziePop) charted her course to this Prime Video series through a crowd-funded YouTube-released pilot, webcomics, and a sultry music video, each contributing to the construction of a promising fandom that could ensure the show's success. However, the first three episodes of Hazbin Hotel are unremarkable, at least to a newcomer not already besotted by hell's quirky characters.

The first episode is weighed down by exposition, explaining not only Charlie's whole deal but also Medrano's revisionist version of Christian lore. The second episode builds on this, developing the rivalries between various demons, who deal in propaganda, prostitution, and drugs. And while jaunty song numbers like "Happy Day in Hell" serve to establish the weird world, full of temptation and deranged decadence, they play more Broadway than badass.

The dialogue — thick with curse words — feels jarring, especially contrasted with an animation style that seems to be aping Disney XD. Indeed, it's easy to imagine Charlie popping up in shows like Gravity Falls, Amphibia, The Owl House, or Star vs. The Forces of Evil. The only thing that would clash would be her minimalist red/black/pink color scheme. And while Disney vibes plus dirty talk may be surprising, it's not satisfyingly subversive. Kids shows dealing in colonization, family skeletons, and queer characters finding love and themselves feel more thrilling and vital. But Hazbin Hotel flirts with turning things around in episode 4.

Blake Roman and Keith David elevate Hazbin Hotel.

Blake Roman and Keith David, as Angel and Husk, sing a duet. Credit: Prime Video

The titular hotel is peopled by rowdy residents like surly sidekick Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), kinky maid Niffty (Kimiko Glenn), and the shit-talking Radio Demon (Amir Talai). But the standouts are provocative porn star Angel Dust (Blake Roman) and snarling bartender Husk (Keith David). In "Masquerade," both score the spotlight, inviting audiences into the enticingly dark side of this candy-colored series.

Trapped in a deeply toxic relationship with his boss/beau Valentino (Joel Perez), Angel drops his swaggering facade to let loose with his pain with "Poison," a song that scorches, not only in context but also as a pop banger. Like Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Paula Abdul, or even Olivia Rodrigo, Roman unleashes a dizzying blend of ecstasy and agony, perfectly bolstered by a montage of kinky sex acts, dance breaks, and moments of jolting fear.

Here, the song number sensationally explores the inner workings of a character whose survival tool is playing the flirty fool. Then, Hazbin Hotel doubles down with a duet, wherein a spiraling Angel finds unexpected — but un-cuddly — comfort from Husk, who has denounced him as "fake." It's in these moments that Medrano's series transcends its aesthetic of cutesy meets crass. Keith David's deep, grumbly voice sings of loss, grounding the low point with bravado. Then he chimes, "You're a loser, baby!" And so is born a coarse chorus that plays like an anthem unhinged and cathartic.

However, as the series is focused on Charlie, the most childish and cheery of the crew, I'm doubtful about how much more any daring emotional beats might probe. The very next episode, "Daddy Issues," brings in more characters, but little depth. Perhaps over the nine episodes of its first season, Hazbin Hotel will overcome its growing pains to strike a chord that feels unique, instead of a reaction to the cavalcade of hyperactive heroines who have come before. At present, Medrano's expansion of her online works is flashy but thin.

Hazbin Hotel Season 1's first two episodes will debut with early access on the A24 app on Jan. 12 before hitting Prime Video on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.

CES 2024: Asus Zenbook Duo is a gnarly dual-display monstrosity with a jaw-dropping price

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:35:44 +0000

The Asus Zenbook Duo took everyone's breath away when it got unveiled at CES 2024. How could it not? It looks like two gigantic tablets welded together.

But what really shocked me is its price. You see, the Zenbook Duo's dual-display design isn't new. Lenovo did something similar with the Yoga Book 9i, which is about $2,000 via its official website. If you think that's painful for your wallet, wait until you hear the price for the Spectre Fold I reviewed recently (see GIF below) — it's a whopping $5,000 at HP.

The Spectre Fold isn't a dual-display model per se, but it can split apps between the fold, which delivers a similar functionality.

Via Giphy

But then Asus came in and managed to undercut both Lenovo and HP with a jaw-dropping price tag of $1,400.

Asus Zenbook Duo steals CES 2024 spotlight

Not only is the Zenbook Duo an eye-catching product in its category (i.e., laptops), I'd argue it's a showstopper across all CES 2024 showcase items. For some background, the Asus Zenbook Duo's predecessor had a dual-display, too, but it was a tiny panel that spanned only half of the deck.

The Asus Zenbook Duo's predecessor is now a thing of the past. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This time around, however, Asus launched a mind-blowing upgrade, swapping that limited second display for another jaw-dropping 14-inch display that matches the top panel.

Two sick displays

The Zenbook Duo comes with two full-sized 14-inch, 3K, OLED displays, and when I played around with them, I found that I could make use of both of them with supercharged multitasking.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I can, for example, launch YouTube on the top screen while firing up Google Docs on the second panel to take notes.

However, I worry about the Zenbook Duo's battery life. Not only does it have two sizable screens, but both feature a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness: two aspects that can be a huge drain of battery. We'll be lucky if the Zenbook Duo can last two hours on a charge at this point.

Innovative keyboard

And can we talk about the keyboard?

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

First of all, the second display can double as a gigantic virtual keyboard. Before testing it, I was skeptical. "Pfft, there's no way it'd be comfortable typing on digital keys." To my surprise, the experience was actually comfortable.

I thought I'd need to "feel" the keys to facilitate my touch-typist ways, but as it turns out, they don't need to be tangible to type without looking. The keyboard layout is still familiar, so it supports muscle-memory typists like myself.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Fortunately, if the idea of virtual keys turn you off, the Zenbook Duo features a physical, detachable keyboard that you can place over the second display for that traditional laptop look. Or if you prefer, you can allow both displays to shine and use the keyboard without attaching it to the system.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

And here's what's particularly striking about it — there's actually a touchpad on it, which detachable keyboards typically don't have. (Non-touchpad detachable keyboards force you to use your finger to navigate the display.) The detachable keyboard on the Zenbook Duo, however, has a touchpad, freeing you from being imprisoned to the display for navigation.

You can scribble on it, too

The Zenbook Duo also offers a stylus, the Asus Pen 2, allowing you to smoothly glide across both screens.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

However, the stylus doesn't come with the Zenbook Duo; it's sold seperately.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

It transforms into several different modes

You may be wondering, "How does the Zenbook Duo stand up on its own like that?" Well, on the back of the laptop, you'll find a built-in kickstand that lets you prop it up at the most optimal angle for yourself.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As you can see in this picture, it can transform into a book-like mode that lets you interact with two apps side-by-side. As shown on the far right, you can also lay it flat in a posture Asus calls "sharing mode."

Final thoughts

Asus made a big splash at CES 2024 because the dual-display world is typically inaccessible and painfully pricy. However, the Zenbook Duo only costs $1,400.

It's packed with new Intel Core Ultra processors and offers configurations up to 32GB of memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage. It also has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an audio jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port.

I'm concerned about battery life, but interestingly, the Asus Zenbook Duo is Intel Evo-certified, which means that it has been designed to meet an acceptable battery life standard. But I'll only know for sure when I test it.

Prefer a more traditional 2-in-1 laptop? Here are some on sale right now.

Dell Inspiron 16 7635 Ryzen 5 512GB SSD 16" 2-in-1 Laptop — $599.99 (List Price $849.99)
Dell Inspiron 16 7635 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 2-in-1 Laptop — $749.99 (List Price $999.99)
HP Envy x360 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" 2-in-1 Laptop — $799.99 (List Price $1,099.99)
Lenovo Yoga 7i Intel i7 512GB SSD 14" 2.2k 2-in-1 Laptop — $749.99 (List Price $1,049.99)
Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 Intel i7 512GB AMOLED Laptop — $899.99 (List Price $1,349.99)

CES 2024: The Displace Mini is a 27-inch, wireless TV that can stick to just about anything.

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:30:18 +0000

Mashable reporter Matt Binder takes a look at the Displace Mini. A 27-inch, wireless TV that can stick to just about anything.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 11

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:35:45 +0000

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024:

Across

Dream outfit, for short?

The answer is PJs.

Sometimes it hurts

The answer is truth.

Juliet's lover

The answer is Romeo.

"My money would be ..."

The answer is idbet.

Another name for our sun

The answer is sol.

Down

Pokes

The answer is prods.

Very large

The answer is jumbo.

Material for New York City's Chrysler Building

The answer is steel.

Three: Prefix

The answer is tri.

Faucet that's marked with a "C" in Italy, somewhat confusingly

The answer is hot.

'Back to Black' international teaser trailer gives first glimpse of Amy Winehouse biopic

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 12:47:04 +0000

In one of the films we can't wait to watch in 2024, the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black has released an international teaser trailer.

From Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Johnson and writer Matt Greenhalgh, the film stars Industry's Marisa Abela as the inimitable British singer. Back to Black follows Winehouse beginning her colossal career in London and New York in the 2000s, dealing with the press and a turbulent private life, charting her incredible rise to fame before her death in 2011.

The Crown's Lesley Manville plays Winehouse's grandmother Cynthia, with Jack O'Connell as her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Eddie Marsan as her father Mitch, and Juliet Cowan as her mother Janis. And of course, Back to Black is brimming with a soundtrack of Winehouse's catalogue alongside music production by 1917 and The Power of the Dog's Nina Gold.

Before you watch the film, we can highly recommend watching Asif Kapadia's documentary Amy, which examines Winehouse's rise to fame and the events and people surrounding her death.

Back to Black hits cinemas in the UK and Ireland April. 12 and cinemas in the U.S. May 10.

Yes, you can try out Apple's Vision Pro for free. Here's how.

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:28:13 +0000

Apple's Vision Pro is finally coming to the U.S., with pre-orders starting on Jan. 19 and in-store availability beginning two weeks later on Feb. 2.

The augmented reality headset (or spatial computer, as Apple likes to call it) is very expensive. At $3,499, it's far pricier than most VR headsets out there. But there's a way to try it out before you buy, or even pre-order, the Apple Vision Pro.

In an email sent to customers that subscribed to the mailing list with news on Vision Pro, Apple announced the availability of Apple Vision Pro demos at Apple Stores.

"Starting at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 2, we invite you to sign up for a demo of Apple Vision Pro at your local Apple Store. Demo times will be available Friday through the weekend on a first-come, first-served basis. We can’t wait to see you there," the email read.

There's a lot we don't know here. We can only assume that the demos will be available on a first come, first serve basis, and it sounds like you'll have to physically go to an Apple Store to sign up, though it may be possible to sign up for a demo online as well. The "8:00 a.m." time probably refers to local time. Finally, we don't really know what these demos will be like, or how long they'll last.

Still, this is good news for folks who are interested in demoing in Vision Pro. It's a pricy device, and trying it out before you dish out the eye-watering sum of three-and-a-half thousand dollars is probably a good idea.

Tina Fey breaks down how she cast the new 'Mean Girls' actors

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:22:46 +0000

As well as writing and starring in the new Mean Girls movie, Tina Fey was also heavily involved in the casting — and in the Tonight Show clip above, she tells Jimmy Fallon some roles were easier than others.

Fey says they knew they wanted Renée Rapp to reprise her Broadway role as Regina, and wanted to cast Avantika as Karen ("She's so gorgeous it's like, stupid," says Fey) — but Gretchen took a lot longer.

"I had one day where I was like, 'I'm going to go back and watch every single tape of every Gretchen that's come in," Fey explains. "So I spent a whole day watching all of them, and then I was like, 'This girl, I love this girl, Bebe Wood, she's perfect, she's Gretchen!' We hired her and then we went to look at her IMDb page, and then I realised that I had worked with her when she was 10 on 30 Rock."

On casting Christopher Briney as hearthrob Aaron, meanwhile, Fey explains that she herself can't process him that way — so she casually FaceTimed a group of her daughter's friends during a Zoom callback with Briney to get their approval.

Mean Girls opens in theaters Jan. 12.

CES 2024: You can now cast TikTok to your TV. Here's how.

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:03:36 +0000

TikTok is now TV-compatible, thanks to an update to Chromecast. At CES 2024, Google made the announcement that TikTok videos can be streamed on the big screen through its device.

Starting today, TikTok content can be cast to your television from your phone or laptop via any Chromecast device, whether that's a dongle or one that's built-in to your TV. All you need is your device and Chromecast to be connected to the same WiFi and the latest version of the TikTok app.

How to cast a TikTok video to your TV using Chromecast

Total Time

2 mins

What You Need

TikTop app (latest version)
Chromecast
smart TV
WiFi connection

Step 1: Open the TikTok video you want to cast in the app.

Step 2: Tap "Share" in the lower right corner.

Step 3: Select "Cast" from the options.

It's in the bottom row between "Save video" and "Turn off captions".

Step 4: Select the Chromecast device you want to use.

Step 5: Enjoy your TikTok video on the big screen!

TikTok LIVE videos will also be able to be cast to the big screen soon. TikTok is the latest supported mobile app to join the Chromecast family, which includes over 3,000 apps.

The tech giant also revealed more plans for Chromecast's expansion, like the fact that Chromecast will be built-in to more devices including the 2024 LG TV series. Later in the year, the feature will additionally work with LG Hospitality and Healthcare, so devices in hotels and hospitals will have the streaming option, too.

Google additionally announced that Fast Pair will be available for Google TV devices later this year. Fast Pair allows users to find and connect nearby Bluetooth accessories to devices, which means people can listen to TV via Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

For more big tech reveals, here's Mashable's CES 2024 highlights.

'The Bear' star Ayo Edebiri shares video of her grandmother reacting to the show's swearing

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:39:46 +0000

The Bear might be a show about family, but that doesn't mean it'll appeal to the whole family. Especially if the family member in question happens to be a very religious grandparent who doesn't like curse words.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Golden Globe winner Ayo Edebiri shared a video clip of her own grandmother sharing her (very honest) opinions on her granddaughter's show.

The good news? She loves the acting. The bad news? The swearing – illustrated by the many bleeps in the video – is "too much".

OpenAI launches its own GPT Store

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:11:41 +0000

OpenAI launched its custom GPT Store on Wednesday, opening up user-created bots for customers.

The store makes its debut after a delay, originally intended to launch in November. The platform will allow people who have created their own chatbots to share them publicly.

SEE ALSO: 5 ways AI changed the internet in 2023

OpenAI says that users have already created 3 million custom versions of GPTs. Popular and trending GPTs will be featured weekly, across categories like DALL·E, writing, research, programming, education, and lifestyle. Only paying customers can make custom GPTs.

Available GPTs include a coding tutor from Khan Academy, an AI guide to literature, and a creative writing coach by ChatGPT itself. The likes of Canva, WebPilot, and VEED have also presented their own GPTs.

The AI mammoth also announced its new ChatGPT plan aimed at smaller businesses. Called ChatGPT Team, the service will be open to teams of all sizes and will have GPTs "securely published" to workspaces.

CES 2024: I used this weird AI 'brainband' for a month, and it cured my insomnia

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

When I first stumbled upon the Frenz Brainband AI sleep device at CES earlier this year, I was skeptical. Who wouldn't be? You're telling me this crown-like thingamajig can actually cure my insomnia — with AI and binaural beats?

Pfft, no way. Nope. I don't believe it.

However, Earable Neuroscience (the team behind Frenz) sent me a unit for me to test ahead of its CES 2024 showcase. And to my surprise, after using the Brainband for a month, my doubts were quieted.

However, there are still some flaws that need to be rectified before the product is truly ready for prime time.

Frenz Brainband price

The Brainband costs $520 via Amazon.

Along with the funky-looking, avant-garde crown, it ships with a charging cable.

At first, I thought the device was overpriced. However, I must take into account that the Frenz Brainband is very new to the market, so it's trying to appeal to early adopters who don't mind experimenting with fledgling tech. In time, as it grows in popularity, the price should drop.

Second, in my experience, the device actually works, so the question is, would I drop over $500 on a device that promises to improve my sleep? Hell, yeah.

If a wearable can cost $800 and do nothing for my sleep but track it (I'm lookin' at you Apple Watch Ultra 2), the Frenz Brainband's price is actually quite reasonable.

Credit: Amazon

Frenz Brainband

$520

How does the Frenz Brainband work?

To give you a little background about myself, I suffer from insomnia. There are times I can't seem to fall asleep until 7 a.m. My mind is simply too busy; it's running a million miles per minute, and I can't make it stop.

The Frenz Brainband promises to help you wake up refreshed ... does it work? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I'm not new to sleep tech. For example, I've experimented with the Apollo Neuro, a wearable that, in part, claims to help lull you to sleep. In that review, I explained that it did absolutely nothing for me in terms of improving my slumber. I've tested smartwatches from Apple and Samsung. They track your sleep, but they're not designed to improve it.

The Frenz Brainband, on the other hand, does claim to enhance your sleep, ensuring that you knock out faster and deeper. And not only that, the Frenz Brainband promises to help you wake up refreshed — by using on-device machine-learning that offers personalized sleep and coaching programs. To put it succinctly, the Frenz Brainband relies on sensors to learn who you are and delivers science-backed audio and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) voice coaching that is customized for you.

What I love about the Frenz Brainband

There are pros and cons to every product I review, so first, let's start with what I appreciate about the Frenz Brainband.

Setup was easy

You must connect the Frenz Brainband to your phone via Bluetooth, which lets you interact with a companion app called "FRENZ sleep."

The companion app walks you seamlessly through setup. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The way that the companion app takes you through the setup process step-by-step is thoughtful — as if the Earable Neuroscience team anticipated every head-scratching thought that would plague n00bs during the onboarding journey.

There's a slideshow that walks you through how to wear the Brainband properly, how to connect it to your phone, how to turn off the band, and how binaural beats and voice coaching work in unison to deliver sleep magic.

Sensors detect seven different data points

One thing that shocked me about the Frenz Brainband is that it knows if I'm wearing it upside down. And get this — it can even detect whether you're sleeping on your back, your side, and other positions. How? It's got plenty of sensors that can detect the following:

brain signals
eye signals
muscle signals
motion detection
oxygen levels (spO2)
heart rate
breathing/acoustic sounds

In collecting this data about you, the on-device machine-learning models determine which voice coaching and soothing audio to deliver to you before you sleep. The more you use it, the better it gets at "understanding" you.

The Brainband has sensors detecting a ton of data about how you sleep. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

If you're wondering about privacy, a Frenz rep assured me that all the data is stored locally, and the company does not have access to users' tracked information.

It actually works

I was initially baffled by this AI-powered brainband, and my expectations were low. I thought, "How is this going to work?" On top of that, I thought that even if it did work for some, it wasn't meant for me, because I don't like to sleep with noise. I like complete and utter silence.

I woke up in the morning — well-rested, mind you — and thought, "What just happened?" Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

However, I kept an open mind and gave it a go.

The tunes the AI selected for me sounded like meditation music — ethereal, soothing, and ambient. The voice coaching is reminiscent of any "AI voice" you'd hear in a sci-fi movie. It doesn't sound robotic, but "Siri-esque," if that makes sense. Still, I thought, "Come on; this won't help my insomnia!" Soon after, I woke up in the morning — well-rested, mind you — and thought, "What just happened?"

I sat up in my bed that morning, and at first, I thought something had gone wrong. I no longer heard music or voice coaching, but as it turns out, when the Brainband detects that you've fallen asleep, it ceases all sound. After falling asleep so quickly the first time I used it, I thought, "This must be a fluke."

However, I tried it again and again for a month, and each time I used it, I no longer laid on my back wondering when my mind would stop racing.

It's comfortable to wear (for me)

When I saw the Frenz Brainband, which looks like something straight out of Star Trek, I thought, "Would I feel comfortable wearing that?" As it turns out, it's made out of a material called thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that feels very soft, durable, and pliable — and it's hypoallergenic, too.

Keep in mind that not everyone would agree. One of my coworkers tried it on and didn't find it pleasant to wear.

In-app activity tracking is awesome

Get ready to find out a whole lot more about how you're sleeping. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Under the "Insights" tab in the companion app, you can get a wealth of information on your sleep:

Total sleep time
Sleep efficiency (measures your actual sleep time compared to your total time in bed)
Time to fall asleep (the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep after getting into bed)
Bedtime routine (the time you tend to sleep during the week)
Wake up routine (the time you tend to wake up during the week)
Average heart rate (it should be between 60 and 100)
Blood-oxygen level (it should be between 95% and 100%)

It even picks up on your favorite sleep position! Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It even tells you which sleeping position is your obvious favorite. I seem to prefer sleeping on my back or sleeping on my left in a fetal position.

What's "eh" about Frenz Brainband?

There are aspects about the Frenz Brainband that neither thrill me nor disappoint me; they're just there.

It uses bone conduction

You may be wondering, "If the Brainband wraps around your forehead, how can you hear the audio that emanates from it?" The AI sleep device uses bone conduction, which relies on the the user's skull to conduct sound to the ear, to get around this issue.

It may be difficult to hear sounds from the Brainband when sleeping in certain positions. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In order to hear the Brainband emanate "full sound," there must be some pressure applied between the Brainband and your skull. This means it was difficult for me to hear sounds in certain positions, particularly while sleeping on my back. In this posture, most of the pressure is applied to the back of my head, where there isn't enough exposed skin for bone conduction to do its thing. Sleeping on my side, on the other hand, allowed me to hear the sounds in all their divine glory, thanks to my exposed temples.

It's worth noting, however, that according to a Frenz rep, you don't need to fully hear the voice coaching and ambient audio. Just hearing faint sounds from the voice coach and music should be enough to lull you to sleep.

The Smart Alarm feature is cool, but it can be a bother

I'm sure you've experienced moments when you're suddenly awakened by your phone alarm — and it feels like your soul was electrocuted out of slumber. It's an awful feeling.

Well, the Frenz Brainband has a feature that rectifies this issue. It's called "Smart Alarm," and it's designed to make sure you wake up during the most optimal moment during your sleep stages, so you're refreshed and ready to go.

I tried this feature, and it does, indeed, leave me feeling revitalized in the morning. My only gripe is that sometimes it will wake you up 10 minutes earlier than your target time. Still, I understand that sometimes that needs to be the case, because it's that moment that will bring you the most peaceful wakefulness.

You can't forget to charge it every night!

Considering that the Frenz Brainband is a relatively sleek device, the battery isn't half bad. It lasts about eight hours on a single charge. However, that means you have to remember to charge it every night before you go to bed.

What I don't like about Frenz Brainband

There's plenty I love about the Frenz Brainband, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have flaws.

I want a tighter fit

The Brainband wraps around my forehead with a clasp, but I wish it had some sort of mechanism to tighten the Brainband against my forehead for a more snug fit. This would help the sensors get a better read on my movements and sleep activity. At times, the Brainband shuts off the music and voice coaching prematurely, thinking I've fallen asleep, but I'm still awake.

Suspicious hypnosis

I don't love that the voice coach often starts off by telling users — somewhat hypnotically — that they should use Frenz AI continuously to get the best results.

The Frenz Brainband does have a few flaws, in my opinion. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I understand this may be innocuous, but I can't help but get this nagging feeling that it's a subtle form of hypnosis.

Good for iOS, but not Android

When I tested the Frenz Brainband on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, it worked flawlessly. However, on Android, the companion app doesn't allow the AI to choose the audio and voice coaching on your behalf. It prompts the user to choose from a library for both categories, which takes away from the whole fun of a machine-learning model customizing an optimized sleep program for you.

According to a Frenz rep, this is something they're working on.

Final thoughts

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Frenz Brainband does, indeed, help in lulling me to sleep.

It's difficult, however, to develop a habit of remembering to use it every night. On top of that, you have to make the effort to charge it every day, too. As such, the main challenge that Earable Neuroscience faces with the Frenz Brainband isn't the AI sleep device itself — it's consumer compliance. However, finding a way to increase battery life may help (if they ever come out with Frenz Brainband 2).

Score expert-led Java training for only $25

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: As of January 11, get The 2024 Java Programming Certification Bundle of courses for just $24.99 — a 94% discount.

Java may have been released in 1995, but it continues to be one of the most popular programming languages thanks to its flexibility and scalability, not to mention user-friendliness. Those looking to pivot to a career in software development can pick up Java without feeling intimidated, as it does away with sophisticated syntax. Even those without any prior coding background can find it easy to learn — but with the proper guidance, of course.

If you wish to learn the ins and outs of Java programming, this Java Programming Certification bundle offers seven courses and nearly 90 hours of expert-led instruction. Whether you want to develop a game or build an app for your business, this training is aimed at equipping you with the skills to create whatever you want with Java. Through January 14, it's on sale for $24.99.

All seven courses are taught by Packt Publishing, an e-learning provider for IT professionals. Regardless of your skill level, this training collection will help you gain proficiency in Java and teach you how to utilize it to engineer various digital projects. Aside from theoretical lessons, you'll enjoy hands-on learning by embarking on practical tests to test your new skills. You can expect to learn how to write both simple and complex programs, create production-ready apps, build APIs, and more. While you'll be gaining technical skills, you'll also get to beef up your logical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving prowess through these courses.

Make 2024 the year to explore a career in tech. You can start by learning Java with this training, which is on sale for only $24.99 until January 14, 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: Packt Publishing

The 2024 Java Programming Certification Bundle

$24.99 at the Mashable Shop

Shield your computer from malware with one year of ESET, now $25

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Through January 14, get one year of ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2024 Edition software for only $24.99 — a 37% discount.

It's the start of a new year, which means it may be a good time to up your online security measures, starting with this top-notch antivirus software from ESET. For a limited time, one year of ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2024 Edition is discounted to $24.99 (reg. $39.99) for one Windows PC or Mac.

Comprehensive protection for more peace of mind

Antivirus protection is like having a police officer patrol the streets of your computer, blocking malicious software that may compromise your digital info, like data theft, system damage, and other privacy concerns. With ESET, you’re armored with layers of protection against viruses, ransomware, rootkits, worms, and spyware. ESET also guards you and your information from phishing attempts that seek your usernames, passwords, or banking details.

How good is ESET’s security? Check out their industry-leading scores on trusted testing sources like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Though, it’s important to be aware that no software can guarantee to eliminate all threats.

Software that isn’t complicated or intrusive

ESET is designed to intrude on your browsing as little as possible, with simple installation, a user-friendly interface, and processes that don’t consume much of your computer’s power. Additionally, you can use a battery-saving mode to stay unplugged longer and eliminate pop-ups while streaming or gaming.

This purchase covers one year of protection for one Windows PC or Mac with absolutely no hidden costs or required upgrades. It’s an excellent trial period to see if this security solution works for you long-term.

Try one year of ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2024 Edition for only $24.99 (reg. $39.99) through January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to grab this discount.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: RetailKing

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2024 Edition

$24.99 at the Mashable Shop

Does 'Mean Girls' have a post-credit scene?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Mean Girls is back in theaters. But it's not so much a remake of the 2004 comedy that made "fetch" happen (sort of). It's a movie musical inspired by the Broadway show based on the movie, which Tina Fey wrote after reading Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 parenting book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. Not only will audiences get to see the re-enactment of beloved catchphrases about do's ("On Wednesdays, we wear pink!), don'ts (Mathletes is "social suicide"), and dates (October 3rd!). They'll also get to see Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Avantika, and Auli'i Cravalho sing out the lots of feelings their characters have in this high school comedy.

But when do the laughs stop? Basically — do you need to stay through the credits, lest you miss a post-credit scene that's a must-see?

Blame the MCU for this becoming an ongoing question of which movie theater attendees need to be mindful. Sure, it's unlikely Mean Girls will drop clues to a spinoff, but maybe there's a bonus cameo? Or an extra bit of girly goodness? Without spoilers, we've got the answer below.

Credit: Jojo Whilden / Paramount

Yes. There's a Mean Girls post-credit scene.

If you're still bopping along to the bangers on this soundtrack, be sure to stay through the credits for one more moment of Queen Bee Regina George in all her glory. Consider it the cherry on top for watching the long list of cast and crew members who contributed to this flashy and sassy musical.

Mean Girls opens in theaters Jan. 12.

This MacBook stand is also a USB-C hub, and it's only $102

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Through January 14, get the CASA HUB Stand Pro USB-C Laptop Stand Hub for just $101.99 — that's 20% off.

Whether you're a MacBook or iPad user, you might have already noticed just how many cables flow in and out of your go-to device between the charger and other essential peripherals. If you can't replace all the devices cluttering your space, you may have better luck keeping them organized with a CASA HUB Stand Pro USB-C laptop stand.

This MacBook and iPad-compatible USB stand elevates your device, gives you one convenient place to plug all your other cables into, and it's also totally adjustable for more comfortable work angles.

A USB hub laptop stand

Whether you're giving your laptop fans some room to breathe or just enjoying a slightly more ergonomic working angle, this MacBook stand could be a comfortable match for professionals and students. The CASA Hub is a versatile accessory designed to upgrade your workspace made from super durable aluminum alloy, so it's stable but pretty light. It features a sleek design and silicone rubber pads for stability. The stand offers quick attachment and detachment. See it in action:

The Hub Stand Pro is compatible with M2/M1 MacBook and iPad series, so you may be able to keep using it even when you upgrade to a new laptop or tablet. That's great because once you've gotten used to a 360º rotatable base and adjustable viewing angle, it might be hard to go back to just plopping your computer on a flat surface.

The USB-C hub supports a range of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and RJ45, with Power Delivery Pass-Through charging up to 100W.

Elevate and connect your MacBook or iPad

January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get the 6-in-1 CASA Hub Stand Pro for your laptop for $101.99 (reg. $129).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: Adam Elements

6-in-1 CASA HUB Stand Pro USB-C Laptop Stand Hub

$101.99 at the Mashable Shop

Replace the Siri Remote with this functional alternative for just $45

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Through January 14, get the Function 101 Button Remote (Siri Apple TV Remote alternative) for just $44.99.

Apple TV is a great option for streaming your favorite shows, movies, and more, but the remote is another thing. The Siri Remote may be a novelty, but it's not always the most convenient. The Function101 Button Remote is an alternative to the Siri Remote for Apple TV and gives you a user-friendly interface with more traditional remote control buttons. And for just a few days more, you can get this Apple TV remote for only $44.99.

Replace your Siri Remote

This Apple TV remote synchronizes seamlessly with your TV, providing control over power, volume, and mute functions. The button layout is simple and uncluttered for easy navigation, a more straightforward way to interact with your Apple TV.

This remote has a range of 12 meters and uses infrared technology, so it just needs a line of sight with your Apple TV. And there's no voice function required at all. No more whispering to your TV late into the night. Plus, this remote is compatible with most TV sets and works with Apple TV and Apple TV 4K. Your remote also comes with its own manufacturer's one-year warranty.

A more functional remote for Apple TV

Voice controls aren't the only way to navigate Apple TV or Apple TV 4K anymore. If you want to go back to a more traditional remote, there's still time.

Until January 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV for $44.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Credit: Function101

Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV/Apple TV 4K

$44.99 at the Mashable Shop